Anisimova hopes to burn bright at French Open again after tough journey
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 30, 2025 Denmark's Clara Tauson in action during her third round match against Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 30, 2025 Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. in action during her third round match against Denmark's Clara Tauson REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 30, 2025 Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. in action during her third round match against Denmark's Clara Tauson REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
PARIS - Amanda Anisimova said she experiences flashbacks of her run to the French Open semi-finals six years ago but the American aims to stay in the present at Roland Garros as she bids to continue her resurgence after a mental health break due to burnout.
The powerful 23-year-old burst onto the scene at the Paris Grand Slam as a teenager in 2019 before being beaten by eventual champion Ash Barty, but struggled to hit the same heights since and took a hiatus from the game two years ago.
"When I first got (back) here, I was getting some flashbacks and good memories," Anisimova said on Friday after beating Clara Tauson 7-6(4) 6-4 to reach the fourth round.
"Every time I come here I get a bit of that, but once I get started and get into the groove of the tournament, I try to stay really present and in the moment.
"It's 2025 now, so that's how I look at it. But yeah it's always nice to have that in the back of my head, that I had a great run here and also hopefully that the fans remember that and how they were carrying me through."
Anisimova cultivated an art hobby and sold her paintings for charity before returning to the game last season and is now back in business as she bids to improve her world ranking of 16.
"It's definitely been a journey, and I've had some amazing moments and some tough moments and phases," she said.
"It's been quite a ride. I think the most important thing is just the people I surround myself with, the team I have. I think that's what drives me every day, especially having fun off of the court. That's the most important thing.
"The wins aren't going to happen if you're not happy off of the court."
Up next for Anisimova is world number one Aryna Sabalenka, a player she has a 5-2 win-loss record over having last beaten the Belarusian in the quarter-finals of Toronto last year.
"We're both pretty big hitters, so I'm sure we're going to be going at it back and forth," said Anisimova.
"She's one of the best right now. She's number one. It's always a good matchup. I enjoy the fight and the challenge she brings. I'm looking forward to it.
"Hopefully I can bring my 'A' game. Hopefully it'll be a good match." REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
42 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Sabalenka dethrones four-times champion Swiatek to reach French Open final
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 5, 2025 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka in action during her semi final match against Poland's Iga Swiatek REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY PARIS - Four-times champion Iga Swiatek crashed out of the French Open after a 6-7(1) 6-4 0-6 semi-final defeat by world number one Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday, ending her 26-game winning streak in the tournament. Sabalenka's power was too much for the defending champion, who was looking to become the first female player in the Open era since 1968 to win four consecutive titles in Paris. The top seed will play either France's wildcard Lois Boisson or second seed American Coco Gauff in Saturday's showcase match. "Honestly, it feels incredible but I understand the job is not done yet. I'm just thrilled today with this win and the atmosphere," Sabalenka said. "She's the toughest opponent, especially on clay, especially at Roland Garros. It was a tough match it was a tricky match but I managed." Sabalenka, in her second French open semi-final and seeking her first title in Paris, powered into a 3-0 lead, twice breaking the Pole. Swiatek, who has not won a title this year but reached the semi-finals dropping just one set in five matches, looked completely out of sorts. With seven unforced errors in the first three games she was playing catchup from the start. The Pole, who late last year accepted a one-month doping ban, struggled with her serve and had racked up two double faults by the fifth game. She gradually, however, found her range and precision, countering Sabalenka's raw power with superb ball placement and levelled when her opponent double-faulted on break point. The Belarusian was furious, angrily shouting to her team in the box, before overrunning her opponent in the tiebreak. The pair traded breaks at the start of the second set before Swiatek earned another to level the match. But Sabalenka again broke the 24-year-old world number five at the start of the third to take control and she powered through the decider as the Pole ran out of steam. "It could not be more perfect than that," Sabalenka said of her third set performance. "I'm super proud right now, I'm glad I found my serve (again in the third set)." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
42 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Aryna Sabalenka beats Iga Swiatek to reach French Open final
– Aryna Sabalenka ended Iga Swiatek's bid for a fourth straight French Open title as the world No. 1 powered her way to a maiden Roland Garros final on June 5. The Belarusian snapped Swiatek's French Open winning streak at 26 matches with a 7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 6-0 win and will face either second seed Coco Gauff or French surprise hero Lois Boisson for the title on June 7. 'Honestly it feels incredible, but I also understand the job is not done yet,' said Sabalenka. 'I'm just thrilled with my performance today and with the win. The atmosphere in the stadium, thank you so much. It makes us feel amazing, so thank you. 'Iga is the toughest opponent, especially on the clay and at Roland Garros. I'm proud that I was able to get this win. It was a tough match, it was tricky, but I managed it somehow and I'm super proud right now. I'm glad that I found my serve (in the third set]). It was a bit easier with the serve. What can I say, 6-0 – it couldn't be much more perfect than that!' Sabalenka's power was too much for defending champion Swiatek, who was looking to become the first female player in the Open era since 1968 to win four consecutive titles in Paris. The 27-year-old has reached the final of her last three Grand Slams – winning the 2024 US Open and losing to Madison Keys in the Australian Open in January – and is the first to do so since Serena Williams in 2016. Sabalenka edged a topsy-turvy first set that featured eight breaks of serve in a tie-break, before Polish star Swiatek hit back to level the match. The finale turned out to be a complete anti-climax, as Swiatek made 12 unforced errors in the third set and won only six points. Sabalenka is targeting a fourth Grand Slam title and first not on hard courts, after winning last season's US Open and the Australian Open back-to-back in 2023 and 2024. Swiatek has still not reached a WTA final since lifting the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen 12 months ago. She showed signs of a revival on the Paris clay where she has dominated since lifting the title as a teenager in 2020, but her game deserted her in the deciding set as she slipped to only the third French Open defeat of her career. Sabalenka has now won their last two meetings, and five of 13 in total. This was the first time the pair, the dominant players in women's tennis of the past few years, have gone head-to-head at a Grand Slam tournament since Swiatek's win in the 2022 US Open semi-finals en route to the title. Sabalenka will be a strong favourite to lift the trophy when she takes on either Gauff, whom she lost to in the 2023 US Open final, or world No. 361 Boisson. Earlier in the day, Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori of Italy swept to a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Americans Taylor Townsend and Evan King to claim the mixed doubles crown. Errani and Vavassori won their second mixed doubles Grand Slam crown, with the first coming at the US Open last season when they also defeated Townsend and her longtime former partner Donald Young. The Italian duo were tested early in the first set but saved two breakpoints to secure a tight hold at 1-1, before grabbing the decisive break and taking a 4-3 lead when Townsend sent a forehand wide. They then dialled up the intensity to overwhelm their opponents, twice breaking serve in the second set before Townsend netted a volley to give the third seeds a dominant win. The American pairing looked disjointed throughout the match and racked up 25 unforced errors, almost three times as many as Errani and Vavassori's nine. 'Thanks to Andrea, to my best friend, it's so much fun to play with you. You're an amazing person and it's so special to be here with you,' said Errani. The 38-year-old reached the Roland Garros women's singles final in 2012 and has already completed a career Grand Slam in women's doubles, with five Major titles. She also won Olympic gold in Paris last summer playing with compatriot Jasmine Paolini. AFP, REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Sabalenka dethrones four-times champion Swiatek to reach French Open final
PARIS :Four-times champion Iga Swiatek crashed out of the French Open after a 6-7(1) 6-4 0-6 semi-final defeat by world number one Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday, ending her 26-game winning streak in the tournament. Sabalenka's power was too much for the defending champion, who was looking to become the first female player in the Open era since 1968 to win four consecutive titles in Paris. The top seed will play either France's wildcard Lois Boisson or second seed American Coco Gauff in Saturday's showcase match. "Honestly, it feels incredible but I understand the job is not done yet. I'm just thrilled today with this win and the atmosphere," Sabalenka said. "She's the toughest opponent, especially on clay, especially at Roland Garros. It was a tough match it was a tricky match but I managed." Sabalenka, in her second French open semi-final and seeking her first title in Paris, powered into a 3-0 lead, twice breaking the Pole. Swiatek, who has not won a title this year but reached the semi-finals dropping just one set in five matches, looked completely out of sorts. With seven unforced errors in the first three games she was playing catchup from the start. The Pole, who late last year accepted a one-month doping ban, struggled with her serve and had racked up two double faults by the fifth game. She gradually, however, found her range and precision, countering Sabalenka's raw power with superb ball placement and levelled when her opponent double-faulted on break point. The Belarusian was furious, angrily shouting to her team in the box, before overrunning her opponent in the tiebreak. The pair traded breaks at the start of the second set before Swiatek earned another to level the match. But Sabalenka again broke the 24-year-old world number five at the start of the third to take control and she powered through the decider as the Pole ran out of steam. "It could not be more perfect than that," Sabalenka said of her third set performance.
