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Amanda Anisimova has become the latest tennis player to take a break from the sport and focus on mental health. Naomi Osaka was among the first to talk about mental health in tennis, and the Japanese has seemingly paved the way for other players to be more open about their issues.
Anisimova took to Instagram on Friday to update her fans and the tennis world about her current status and when they can expect to see her back on the court. The American, who recently lost in the first round of the Madrid Open, talked about suffering from "burnout" and described how tough it has become for her to continue playing at WTA tournaments.
"Hey guys. I thought I’d make a post explaining what’s been going on and my plans. I’ve really been struggling with my mental health and burnout since the summer of 2022. It’s become unbearable being at tennis tournaments," Anisimova wrote in her post.
The 21-year-old went on to say that she has pushed herself as hard as she could to continue competing but that she couldn't bear it anymore. Anisimova is now going to take some time off to work on her mental health and regain the strength to be back on the court.
Amanda Anisimova also thanked her loyal fans for their continuous support and love.
"At this point my priority is my mental well-being and taking a break for some time. I’ve worked as hard as I could to push through it. I will miss being out there, and I appreciate all the continuous support," her post further read.
The World No. 46's decision likely means that in addition to missing the Italian Open, she will not participate at Roland Garros either, where she reached the semi-finals in 2019. Anisimova will also likely miss the Wimbledon Championships, where she was a quarterfinalist last year.
Amanda Anisimova has struggled to rack up wins in 2023
After finishing a respectable 23rd on the WTA tour last year, Amanda Anisimova has struggled to keep up her form in 2023. She has managed to win only three matches across seven tournaments this year, with only two of those coming in main draws.
The American, who has been ranked as high as World No. 21, was visibly struggling during her second round loss to Viktoria Azarenka in the Dubai Open, the same tournament where she won her last game on tour.
Amanda Anisimova was knocked out in the first round by lower-ranked players in her next three tournaments. She most recently went down against World No. 107 Arantxa Rus in the opening round of the Madrid Open.
