Amanda Anisimova: From Burnout Break to Grand Slam Chaser at the 2026 US Open
Amanda Anisimova is ranked No. 10 in the world and chasing her first Grand Slam title at the 2026 US Open. Three years ago, she did not pick up a racket for months and her ranking fell outside the top 400.
The arc between those two points is one of the most striking comeback stories in modern tennis.
Anisimova announced in May 2023 that she was taking an indefinite break from the sport, citing burnout and a loss of motivation. The break lasted eight months. She did not touch a racket for long stretches, and her WTA ranking — the points-based standings that determine tournament entry and seedings — tumbled beyond 400th in the world.
Her reasons were layered. Burnout and mental health concerns drove the decision, but they sat on top of grief. Anisimova's father, Konstantin, who was also her longtime coach, died suddenly in August 2019 — just months after she reached the semi-finals of the French Open as a 17-year-old. She withdrew from that year's US Open following his death. The cause was not disclosed.
The 2019 French Open run had marked her as one of the most promising young players in the American game. The loss of her father and coach, followed by the grind of the professional tour, eventually wore her down.
The return was gradual, then explosive. By the end of the 2025 season, Anisimova was ranked No. 4 in the world. In January 2026 she climbed to a career-high No. 3, making her the top-ranked American woman in the WTA singles rankings.
Her 2025 season carried the kind of results that turn a comeback into a story. At Wimbledon, she beat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals to reach the final. There, she ran into Iga Swiatek and lost 6-0, 6-0 — a "double bagel" in tennis shorthand, where the winner concedes no games in either set. Anisimova became the first woman in more than a century not to win a single game in a Wimbledon final.
She also reached the women's singles final at the 2025 US Open, falling short of the title.
Now ranked No. 10, Anisimova heads into the 2026 US Open still searching for that first Grand Slam trophy. She spoke about her journey in an interview conducted as part of her role as an ambassador for Pure Leaf Iced Tea, reflecting on the burnout and grief that once pushed her away from the game.
For a player who once could not bring herself to hold a racket, every deep run now carries a weight beyond the ranking points. The question at Flushing Meadows is whether she can finally convert one.
