In a stunning reversal of fortune at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Amanda Anisimova showcased the very resilience that has defined her 2025 season. Facing compatriot Madison Keys, Anisimova dropped a hard-fought first set 4-6, finding herself on the back foot and struggling to find her rhythm against the Australian Open champion’s power. However, demonstrating a newfound mental fortitude, she engineered a spectacular turnaround, storming back to take the second set 6-3 and eventually clinching the final set 6-2 to keep her hopes alive in the tournament.

This victory was more than just a win; it was a testament to her ability to reset and fight back from a deficit, a skill that has propelled her from a ranking of No. 359 at the end of 2023 to a career-high of World No. 4. The early struggles in a high-stakes debut at the WTA Finals are a challenge unique to the event’s pressure-cooker environment. On X, Serena Williams’ ex-coach, Rennae Stubbs, pinpointed this experience as a key factor in Anisimova’s shaky start, offering a veteran’s perspective on the rookie’s journey.

Stubbs explained the unique pressure of the tournament, stating, “Safe to say Amanda has finally started to feel ‘normal’ on the court in Riyadh. Let me explain, it’s different feeling playing in the wta finals. I can’t explain it but it’s unique. Rookies often struggle their first time playing, so let’s see what happens now going into the 3rd.”

This insight highlights the immense psychological hurdle Amanda Anisimova had to cross in her debut, making her subsequent comeback all the more impressive. Stubbs has been a steadfast supporter of Anisimova, having previously defended her after a devastating 6-0, 6-0 loss in the Wimbledon final, urging critics to remember the personal hardships she has overcome, including the loss of her father as a teenager.

Well, Anisimova’s triumphant 2025 campaign is a powerful narrative of perseverance. And just prior to this match, she also revealed a dark reality surrounding the sport.

Amanda Anisimova is spitting nothing but facts

Amanda Anisimova’s success comes from a philosophy she crafted after taking a break from the sport in 2023, a time when the pressures of professional tennis felt overwhelming. She has shared her thoughts on dealing with pressure, highlighting how crucial it is to be self-aware and to have a solid support system, especially for young players who find themselves in the spotlight.

Looking back on her early success, including a semi-final appearance at the French Open at just 17, Anisimova recognizes the heavy expectations that come with being a young athlete. She stated, “When you do so well at a young age, there’s obviously a lot of pressure and expectations. And a lot of new things that you’ve never experienced before. And it’s a lot for a young kid who’s not developed fully, like not even close to fully. So it’s definitely a lot.”

She tried to handle all that pressure for a long time, but it eventually led to some serious burnout and depression, turning her life on tour into something she just couldn’t keep up with. She also mentioned, “And I would say that the younger girls on tour right now are doing a great job of balancing and managing that. I think the one thing that I would say that’s important is the people you surround yourself with and the guidance and the advice.”

Amanda Anisimova talked about how her mindset has changed, saying, “I think it’s really important to let girls know, or boys, to make the right decisions for yourself and listen to yourself and not try and say yes to everything and feel like you have to do certain things. I think that’s a big killer in certain ways, is just feeling like you have to do certain things and that can really lead to burnout. So that’s definitely something that I would have done differently.”

For years, she stuck to the usual tennis mindset of always pushing ahead, but she realized that this way of thinking just wasn’t working for her mental health anymore. She came to understand that it was important, to focus on her well-being, which is why she decided to take a full break in 2023. While she was away, she didn’t pick up a racket for months and just focused on doing normal things like making art and attending college classes.

This journey showed that taking a break isn’t the end of your career; it can actually lead you back to the top, and she’s really proud to represent that lesson. Now, we just have to wait and see how she performs in the rest of the WTA Finals in Riyadh.