Miami’s Own Amanda Anisimova Talks Tennis, Mental Health, and the Power of Staying Present

In this exclusive interview, American tennis star Amanda Anisimova opens up about her proudest moments on tour, the mental tools she relies on during high-stakes matches, and what it means to come home to South Beach.

Interview by Markin Abras

Amanda burst onto the global tennis stage as a teenager, quickly earning recognition for her fluid shot-making, powerful baseline game, and calm presence. Born and raised in Miami, she still proudly calls South Beach home — even if she only sleeps in her own bed just a few weeks out of the year due to the WTA’s demanding travel schedule.

Her career has been marked by both stunning breakthroughs and challenging setbacks. A defining personal moment came early in her career with the sudden loss of her father and coach, which Amanda has spoken about with grace and vulnerability. Since then, she’s made it a priority to build not just her physical game, but also her emotional and mental strength.

Perhaps one of the most powerful examples of Amanda’s priorities is the mental resilience she showed after a devastating 6–0, 6–0 loss to Iga Świątek in the 2025 Wimbledon final — a scoreline that would crush many athletes. But instead of spiraling, Amanda did the inner work. She rebuilt her mindset, sharpened her focus, and when they met again at the 2025 US Open, she delivered a stunning upset — defeating Świątek 6–3, 6–4. Although she ultimately lost to the eventual champion, Aryna Sabalenka, in the US Open final, these recent performances weren’t just about tennis; they were a direct reflection of Amanda’s mental transformation.

Miami Living: You’ve talked before about the importance of staying composed during a match. What have you found most effective in helping you stay present and mentally grounded, especially during high-pressure moments?

Amanda Anisimova: My ability to stay composed from start to finish of a match has been a game changer. If I notice myself starting to drift off or get upset about a shot, I’ve trained myself to quickly acknowledge the miss and come back to the present moment. The ability to be in the present and not get caught up in the past or future, when in an incredibly high stakes match is so so important.

Miami Living: Can you tell us about a moment in the past year that you're particularly proud of—whether on or off the court—and what made it so meaningful to you?

Amanda Anisimova: I would say the proudest moment has been my win in Doha. It’s extra special because I felt like I persevered so much in the weeks leading up to the tournament. I was very sad to miss Singapore and Abu Dhabi, as I was very eager to get back on court after my AO loss. However, in my training I hurt my hip and that didn’t allow me to properly train or get ready for Doha, which was super nerve-wracking and disappointing. I obviously had the option to just go home and rehab but I stayed hopeful and positive. I did as much training as I could, so I worked a lot on the mental side since I could not do much physical work. Just being able to participate and play the first round of the tournament would’ve been enough for me, so on top of that there are no words to explain what winning the title meant to me.

Miami Living: What’s something important you’ve learned about mindset, and how has that shaped the way you approach your career or life in general?

Amanda Anisimova: Something I’ve learned is just how important having a positive mindset on and off the court is. There’s a quote “A positive mind finds opportunity in everything, while the negative mind finds faults in everything” and it is absolutely so true. With most things there is a fork in the road and it is up to you what way you want to go and how you want to do it.

Before my first round in Doha, I was crying in the ice bath from the pain in my hip. I was starting to get worried and stressed that I wouldn’t be able to play, and then I remembered the Rihanna interview “fake it till you make it” That’s why emotions can be so tricky. I am all for letting feelings out, however it’s when we get so caught up in them and continue sulking. That’s when it becomes a disservice to oneself, especially when we have something important going on. That’s why that video is just brilliant for when you need a quick pep talk! Haha

Miami Living: You’re constantly traveling as part of the tour, but you call South Beach home. What’s it like balancing that intense travel schedule with staying grounded in your hometown?

Amanda Anisimova: I live in South Beach. I grew up in Miami, so it is so nice to have always been able to call this city home. I sleep in my own bed for maybe 10–12 weeks out of the year! It is crazy how much we travel, however it is also such a privilege. We get to see so many cool places and cities!

Miami Living: Do you have a favorite recent memory outside of tennis that really stands out to you? Something that reminded you of the importance of family or downtime?

Amanda Anisimova: A memorable experience a few months back in October was getting to see my sister-in-law, Jenny, get married. I thought I wasn’t going to be able to go due to my tournament schedule, however my season got cut short because of an injury. So I flew to New York from Asia. It was so nice to be able to be there and see my mom, sister, nephews, and extended family after being away from home for so long. I had a great time and it was the best way to kick off my off season after a short vacation in Tokyo.

Miami Living: You seem super focused on court, but what’s something surprising or lighthearted about you that fans might not expect?

Amanda Anisimova: Despite the amount of coffee I drink everyday, you’ll find me daydreaming or zoning out a lot.

By ML. Photos/Amanda Anisimova/Instagram