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After being mercilessly thrashed without so much as winning a game in her first ever Grand Slam final, Amanda Anisimova tugged on the heart strings of the tennis world when she broke down in tears during an emotional post-match interview at Wimbledon.
The American star immediately choked up before congratulating her tormentor, Poland's Iga Swiatek, apologizing for not providing more of a competitive spectacle, and then heaping praise on inspirational mother Olga six years after the death of her father Konstantin. Then attention turned to the future.
'I know I didn’t have enough today, but I’m going to keep putting in the work,' she said defiantly while wiping away the tears. 'I always believe in myself so I hope to be back here again one day.'
If returning to a Grand Slam final and, at the very least, giving a better account of herself is the ambition, Anisimova may not have to wait too long to fulfill it.
That's because on Wednesday evening, less than two months after her emotional Wimbledon monologue, the 24-year-old exercised her demons by toppling six-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek in straight sets at the US Open to both avenge that loss and progress to the semifinals of the last major championship of the year.
Amanda Anisimova conquered her Wimbledon demons against Iga Swiatek at the US Open
The American star broke down after being destroyed by Swiatek at Wimbledon back in July
She did so thanks to a breathtaking mixture of guts and genius. Unlike in SW19, where she hit 28 unforced errors and five double faults as nerves got the better of her, Anisimova recorded just 12 unforced errors and two double faults - numbers that were both topped by Swiatek this time around (15 unforced errors and three double faults).
The girl from Florida (No 8) outshone Swiatek (No 2) in almost every department. Her first serves was more accurate (56 percent-50 percent), she hit more winners (23-13), won the majority of all rallies above four shots (14-10) and clinched more baseline points (37-27).
Quite simply, this was a masterful display from Anisimova, who received overwhelming support in New York City. The Arthur Ashe crowd, seemingly won over by her show of vulnerability at Wimbledon this summer, rarely tired of screaming her name in their thousands as she sealed one of the greatest - and surely most satisfying - victories of her career to date.
She got off to the worst start imaginable when Swiatek immediately broke her serve in the match opener to make it 13-0 after the Wimbledon drubbing. But to set the tone for a significantly more spirited and impressive display, this time she broke straight back. There would be no repeat 6-0, 6-0 humiliation.
From that point onwards Anisimova truly rose to the occasion, while mistakes equally crept into Swiatek's game. The Wimbledon champion was far from her best, though six unforced errors over the course of the first set is hardly a shameful return. More tellingly, her rejuvenated opponent forced 19 errors out of her to go 1-0 ahead.
She also suffered a break of serve in the opening game of the second set, before Swiatek held her serve to take a 2-0 lead. However, once again Anisimova showed her resolve by fighting back to 2-2. The pair both continued to hold serve, until a catastrophic double fault from the Wimbledon champion left her one game away from defeat.
Anisimova, serving for the win, stormed 40-0 in front before Swiatek made her sweat when she lost the first two of her three match points. Then it was third time lucky thanks to a shot which struck the net and dropped onto the other side of the court, rather cruelly for Iga.
Before her hiatus in 2023 due to mental health issues, Anisimova had already showed glimpses of her superstar potential by getting to the 2019 French Open semifinals at just 17 years of age - making her the youngest player to reach the last four for 13 years - and making it to the Wimbledon quarterfinals three years later.
Anisimova defeated the world No 2 in straight sets to avenge that drubbing two months later
Swiatek was far from her best, but her opponent's brilliance forced 19 errors out of her
Anisimova was visibly delighted after getting over the line to advance to the US Open semi final
The 24-year-old has all the ingredients to go on and become an American tennis superstar
In her second full season back on the court she is now turning that potential into reality, with this dominant victory over a serious force in Swiatek making the world sit up and take notice again eight weeks after she dispatched of world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon.
With the home crowd firmly behind her at Flushing Meadows, it would take a brave punter to bet against her going all the way and capturing a first ever Grand Slam title this weekend.
Standing in her way of a second final appearance in the space of two months will be either No 11 Karolina Muchova or No 23 Naomi Osaka, who are set to contest the second quarterfinal of the day at Arthur Ashe this evening.
Anisimova now has serious momentum behind her as she gears up for that last-four tussle, which is brutally taking place in 24 hours' time. There will be no rest day for either player in a savage test of conditioning and mental toughness.
Though having overcome an embarrassing loss on one of the biggest stages imaginable back in July so swiftly, Amanda has already proven she has the willpower to match her mesmerizing quality. And they are the ingredients required to become an American superstar.
