In a historic Wimbledon final, Amanda Anisimova faced a crushing 6-0, 6-0 defeat to Iga Swiatek, marking the most lopsided women’s final in the tournament’s 114-year history. The 23-year-old American, who had captivated fans with her remarkable journey to her first Grand Slam final, admitted that nerves and exhaustion overwhelmed her on the big stage.

Anisimova’s path to the final was nothing short of inspiring. Just 18 months after taking a mental health break and plummeting outside the world’s top 400, she fought her way back to form, highlighted by a Qatar Open title in February and a grueling semifinal victory over world number one Aryna Sabalenka. Her efforts at Wimbledon will see her rise to a career-high ranking of seventh, a testament to her resilience and talent.

However, the physical and mental toll of the two-week tournament, compounded by London’s blistering heatwave, left Anisimova drained. “I was a bit frozen there with my nerves,” she said, reflecting on the final. “Maybe the last two weeks I got a bit tired or something.” The demanding semifinal against Sabalenka took so much out of her that she couldn’t practice the day before the final and struggled through her warm-up, needing breaks after every rally.

Despite the disappointment, Anisimova remains optimistic. “It’s not how I would have wanted my first Grand Slam final to go,” she admitted, “but I told myself, ‘I’ll definitely come out stronger after this.’” Viewing the loss as motivation, she sees it as a stepping stone toward her ultimate goal of becoming a Grand Slam champion. “It’s a fork in the road,” she said. “I’m going to choose the path of working towards my goals and to try and keep improving.”

Anisimova pinpointed physical conditioning as a key area for growth. “If anything, it’s my physicality that I need to work on,” she noted, determined to build the stamina needed for the grueling demands of Grand Slam tournaments. With her sights set on future opportunities, Anisimova’s resolve to turn this setback into fuel for success underscores her determination to reach the pinnacle of the sport.