Amanda Anisimova’s Journey Post Wimbledon Final Defeat

One year on from a significant defeat in the Wimbledon final, Amanda Anisimova returned to the All England Club with newfound self-belief and resilience following various setbacks. The 24-year-old entered this year’s tournament, ready to face mixed emotions, having experienced both monumental highs and crippling lows at Wimbledon.

Her road to last year’s final was remarkable, culminating in a match where she faced Iga Swiatek and suffered a crushing 6-0, 6-0 loss—the first time in over a century that a Wimbledon final ended in that scoreline. Her former coach described it as “the worst off day we have ever experienced.” However, Anisimova quickly put that tragedy behind her; only six weeks later, she avenged the loss by defeating Swiatek at the US Open and reached another grand slam final.

In that US Open final against Aryna Sabalenka, Anisimova showcased a different attitude, transitioning from nerves to exhibiting her powerful first-strike tennis, narrowly missing opportunities to push the match to a deciding set, ultimately losing 6-4, 7-6.

Anisimova’s journey has been defined by her resilience in overcoming adversity. Instead of shying away from her Wimbledon defeat, she analyzed the match thoroughly to prepare for her rematch against Swiatek in New York. "Nobody told me to, but I watched it back, as painful as it was," she remarked. Although nerves crept in during a quarter-final matchup, she regained her focus, stating, "I feel like I really made a point to myself... if you really put a positive mindset out there... then you can have a positive outcome."

The Wimbledon loss had been a low point, but Anisimova had previously conquered even more significant challenges, notably the tragic passing of her father and coach, Konstantin, just before the US Open in 2019. That loss pushed her to take a hiatus from tennis to focus on her mental health, during which she studied business and psychology and rediscovered interests like painting.

Returning to the tour in January 2024, Anisimova initially faced hurdles; she did not qualify for Wimbledon that year but rebounded significantly in 2025 with two WTA 1000 titles and reaching two slam finals. However, her 2026 journey included challenges: parting ways with her coach Hendrik Vleeshouwers and a wrist injury that sidelined her for two months.

As the sixth seed entering Wimbledon 2026, she faced a first-round qualifier, with potential matches against former grand slam champions Sofia Kenin and Madison Keys later on. Anisimova’s path reflects the difficulties of sustaining success at the elite level, underlined by the experiences of players like Jasmine Paolini. Nevertheless, her numerous setbacks may have built her mental fortitude, a trait she now regards as central to navigating the pressures of professional tennis. "I think I have really worked on myself to really be able to handle those moments and to believe in myself," Anisimova said after her US Open run. The lessons learned from last year’s Wimbledon final might just serve as valuable tools as she aims to find her footing again in the sport.