This year’s Australian open has shown to be an exciting one. Just today Amanda Anisimova is rising to the top after eliminating four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka. The court went wild chanting Amanda in support of the 20-year-old who has proven to be a promising player.
Anisimova lost her father and longtime coach, Konstantin, to a heart attack in August 2019 before the U.S. Open. She withdrew from the tournament and came back later that year. However, since then she has struggled with her emotions and consistency in matches. “I think definitely that’s the reason why I had a couple tough years playing tennis,” Anisimova said. During this tournament, she is making a comeback and really giving it all she’s got!
Anisimova’s Take
This was Anisimova’s first match against Osaka and she didn’t back down. She prevailed in three challenging sets 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10-5) and saved two match points on her serve during the final set.
“I think it was the hardest in the first set, to be honest; I was just trying to step up my game, and I think that’s why my nerves were kicking in a little bit,” Anisimova said in an interview. “I love playing in these high-pressure moments, and I think it’s really fun to play in Melbourne in front of a crowd like that. So I was just trying to enjoy every moment really. I kept reminding myself, ‘I’m at a Grand Slam playing against Naomi Osaka, just try to enjoy it, because it’ll be over soon.’”
"Just how authentic she is…I think she's really funny and sweet"@AnisimovaAmanda on her admiration for @naomiosaka #AusOpen • #AO2022• #AOpresscon pic.twitter.com/est2N2iq4x
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2022
Osaka’s Take
Anisimova isn’t the only one who has felt lost in recent years. Osaka has also been open about her emotional struggle with depression. Within the past year, she took two months off and returned during the Olympics but lost in the third round because of the pressure to succeed.
While Osaka has seemed downtrodden in the past when losing tournaments, this time she was more optimistic. “I fought for every point, I can’t be sad about that,” Osaka said. “You know, like, I’m not God, I can’t win every match. So I just have to take that into account…”
She continued saying. “I feel like I grew a lot in this match. The last match that I played in New York I think I had a completely different attitude.” You can hear more of her feelings about the match below.
https://twitter.com/WTA/status/1484544357885616138
Onwards and Upwards
We are happy to see things looking up for these two players! We are also excited to see what this year will bring for our favorite tennis players! Check back on our blog for the latest trends and updates. For everything tennis, visit Tennis Express for all the latest gear!
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