The title of teenage prodigy is never sought after by young tennis players, but rather awarded to those who show promise early on.
Amanda Anisimova knows what it feels like.
The American had a stunning junior career before announcing herself on a much bigger stage, the 2019 French Open.
She reached the semi-finals of Roland Garros at the age of 17, becoming the first player born in the 2000s to progress that far in a major tournament.
Defending champion Simona Halep was among those she defeated en route to the semi-finals and later that year she reached a career-high ranking of No. 21.
But after being tipped as the “next big thing” in women’s tennis amid rising public expectations, Anisimova has faced a series of challenges that have taken a toll on her mental health.
She took an indefinite hiatus from tennis last May, citing burnout among the reasons for her decision.
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“It has become unbearable to attend tennis tournaments,” Anisimova wrote on Instagram at the time.
“At this point my priority is my mental wellbeing and taking a break for a while. I’ve worked as hard as I can to achieve that.”
Anisimova returned to the WTA Tour earlier this month, reaching the second round in Auckland.
The 22-year-old then won her first-round match at the Australian Open on Sunday, beating 13th seed Liudmila Samsonova 6-3, 6-4.
Speaking after her win, Anisimova revealed how lucky she felt to have put her mental health before her career.
“The most important thing is that I feel much more rested,” she said.
“I enjoy training. I enjoy every second I spend on the field. Even when I was at my lowest today, I still enjoyed the challenge.
“I’m just happy with how I feel coming back. I felt like I was really exhausted while I was playing, and it really wasn’t a good feeling.
“Being able to just reset is really nice.”
Finding balance in his life was also crucial.
Studying at university, selling art and spending time at home are just some of the ways Anisimova has spent her time outside of the game.
She says the break has given her a new perspective on life that she hopes will help her continue her return to touring.
“Being in such a stressful environment is unlike anything else,” Anisimova said.
“But I’ve also really enjoyed my time at home. I think it’s really special to spend time with my friends and family and have a normal everyday life. For me, both of those things are really nice.”
“But I didn’t miss it (tennis) in a way, just like the day-to-day. I don’t know. They’re two very different aspects of life.”
Anisimova added: “I’m just here for the journey right now and to see how far I can progress. I think I would accept it whatever result I get.
“But I’m happy with my wins and I really hope I can build on them.”
