Amanda Anisimova, the American tennis star who was trolled over her 'giant boobs' and 'unathletic body,' has said she 'feels like herself again' after taking an eight-month break from the sport to address mental health and burnout. The 24-year-old returned to Wimbledon on Tuesday, winning her first-round match 6-3 6-2 against North Macedonian qualifier Lina Gjorcheska on Court Two.
Body Shaming and a Brutal Defeat
Anisimova stepped away from tennis in 2023 after receiving harsh criticism from a fan who commented on her physique, calling her 'the most unathletic body ever! Narrow shoulders and giant boobs.' The comment sparked widespread online trolling. After her break, she returned to the court in 2024 and has been rebuilding her career, even reaching two Grand Slam finals last year. However, she suffered a devastating defeat in the 2025 Wimbledon final, losing 6-0, 6-0 to Iga Swiatek in under an hour. That loss made her only the third woman to lose a major final without winning a game, and the first at Wimbledon since 1911.
A Fresh Start at SW19
In her first match back at the All England Club since that defeat, Anisimova looked composed and determined. 'Yeah, I feel good. I feel very refreshed,' she said after her victory. 'I think the last two months really took a lot out of me, and just the start of the year, it wasn't the best way to start things out. But at the same time, it's part of the sport, and I feel like I did my best and tried to be as ready as possible for every single tournament that I have played.'
She added: 'When I feel like I'm not ready, then I prefer not to compete. So yeah, I'm really happy that I took those few days off that I needed, and I feel much more like myself again, because I was starting to feel like I was getting a bit away from that. So, yeah, I just needed a bit of a reset. Yeah, I'm really refreshed and excited to be competing here.'
Mental Health and the Need for a Reset
Anisimova explained why she felt the need for a break, citing the stress and monotony of the tour. 'I think just taking myself out of this environment for a little bit. It's a lot of stress. It's kind of the same routines every single day. I think the fact that I was injured and I had a lot of different changes that I was getting used to, and not being able to compete, it was new for me, especially because I wasn't even home.'
She continued: 'So it was definitely a bit of a strange experience, having to train and train and not knowing if I'm ready to play the tournaments. I was also working hard and doing my best, and I think I just got a bit tired at the end of that. And then it's always nice to see my family and my friends. It's just a few days. To be at home where things feel familiar, I think that really helped me.'
Anisimova acknowledged feeling guilty about stepping away but emphasised the importance of prioritising her well-being. 'Yeah, again, like I kind of felt a bit guilty maybe doing that, but at the same time, I'm human, and it was best for me. I'm really happy I did it, because I feel like I'm really hungry and very eager to play now. That's the way I like to be.'
Next Up: Sofia Kenin
The sixth seed will face compatriot Sofia Kenin in the second round. Kenin advanced after defeating Croatian Petra Marcinko 7-6, 6-4. Anisimova will look to continue her resurgence and put the memories of last year's final behind her.
