If you’re only a casual tennis fan, Amanda Anisimova may be the best American player you’ve never heard of. Ranked as high as third in the world earlier this year, Anisimova—a self-described Jersey girl who now lives in Florida—is holding tight at sixth as we enter the early days of Wimbledon, where she reached the finals last year (when she also reached the US Open finals).
In 2023, she attracted a lot of attention for stepping away from the sport just when she seemed to be peaking in order to focus on her mental health—a decision she stands behind, with results to back her up. She’s still searching for that first grand slam title, however, and is off to a good start with a win this morning over Macedonia’s Lina Gjorcheska on her way to what she hopes will be an epic run.
Vogue: When did you arrive in London, and where are you staying?
Amanda Anisimova: I got here a week ago, which gave me plenty of time to get used to the conditions and just walk around and get comfortable. I’m staying 15 minutes outside of Wimbledon at a house, which has been so nice—my team and I have just been relaxing at the house every day.
You’ve obviously played here before and know the city a bit—do you like to get out and about around London, or has it been more of a pre-tournament lockdown mode to get your mind and your body ready for the tournament?
I love London—I love all the coffee shops and I feel like I have my spots and I know the areas that I like to go to, which is not always the case at tournaments. I also have friends here, and family, and a lot of them come out to watch me play. So, yeah—I have great memories from here, and I always feel very comfortable. Some tournaments I’m really locked down and just focused on the tennis, but here I feel like I have outside interests, which I think definitely helps.
And how are you feeling? I know you had a back issue recently—are you 100% back, or still working on some recovery stuff?
No, I’m feeling good—but yeah, I needed to take care of myself, both physically and mentally, so I went home for a few days. It’s felt like a very long season, and I was struggling with an injury, and that all kind of took a toll on me. But I got that figured out, and so when I got here I felt so much better. I also got here early enough to get used to the grass courts here and just get enough training sessions to be ready for the Championships. I’m feeling great and super excited to get started.
When you say “home”—I know you’ve called Florida home for a long time, but you were born in New Jersey. Did you grow up there, to any extent?
Well, my family left when I was only three years old, so I don’t remember too much, but I do think of myself as a New Jersey girl. At the same time, I grew up in Miami, so I’m also a Miami girl.
Forgive me, I wasn’t going to ask, but when I hear “Jersey girl,” it summons up echoes of Bruce Springsteen. Aren’t you from the same town that he’s from?
Yeah, we’re from the same place. I was born in Freehold [Springsteen’s hometown], and we lived in Colt’s Neck [where Springsteen owns a 400-acre equestrian compound].
That’s funny. Have you met him?
