Amanda Anisimova makes winning return after long tennis break
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Amanda Anisimova withdrew completely from tennis for four months, before gradually resuming training in September 2023.
PHOTO: AMANDA ANISIMOVA/INSTAGRAM
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AUCKLAND – American wild card Amanda Anisimova claimed a sizeable scalp on Jan 1 in her return after eight months away from tennis, upsetting Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in straight sets at the Auckland Classic.
Anisimova toppled her accomplished Russian opponent 7-5, 6-4 in her first appearance on the WTA Tour since announcing in May she would take an indefinite break, citing burnout and concerns for her mental health.
The 22-year-old former French Open semi-finalist showed no sign of rust, displaying the powerful game that lifted her to a world ranking just outside the top 20 in her teens.
Anisimova spoke in the lead up to the tournament of being better equipped mentally for the rigours of the professional circuit thanks to her break.
She withdrew completely from tennis for four months, before gradually resuming training in September.
But she revealed she nearly did not take the court for her first-round match after waking up with “horrible” muscle spasms in her shoulder.
“I was just so upset because I had the wild card for this tournament,” she said. “I really wanted to play for myself today but also for the tournament – I was really appreciative of them giving me the opportunity.
“Until the last second, I wasn’t sure, so I’m proud of myself for coming out here and really pushing myself.”
Anisimova also received treatment to her left upper leg after winning the first set, describing it as a “little tweak”.
She emerged strongly, going 5-1 up in the second set against 32-year-old Pavlyuchenkova, a 12-time title winner and former French Open finalist.
Anisimova will next face fifth seed Marie Bouzkova after the Czech beat Poland’s Magdalena Frech 6-0, 3-6, 6-4.
The other seeds in action on day one were all victorious, namely third-seeded Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko, fourth-seeded American Emma Navarro and sixth seed Wang Xinyu of China.
Tsurenko beat American qualifier Sachia Vickery 7-5, 6-4, Navarro defeated Czech teen Linda Fruhvirtova 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 and Wang took down Kazakh Yulia Putintseva 6-4, 7-5.
World No. 3 and defending champion Coco Gauff will play her opening match on Jan 2 against American compatriot Claire Liu.
Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu also starts her campaign against Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse on the same day.
The Briton, who has not played for eight months due to injury, said ahead of her return: “I feel reborn in a way. I feel ready, I feel happy, I feel excited.
“Overall, I’m feeling very positive, and lighter. I think for two years after the US Open, I felt maybe a bit more weight on my shoulders. But now I feel completely fresh.” AFP
