How Alysa Liu’s stunning gold medal performance helped Amanda Anisimova return to her roots – Tennis Now
Amanda Anisimova went through a difficult time in her career. While some players are built for the rigors of the tour, others, like Anisimova, need to carve their own path while still maintaining a sense of self that helps them become themselves.
Today, Anisimova is admittedly still trying to find that balance (though her recent level of competition feels like a walk in the park every day), but she has a new source of inspiration: gold medal figure skater Alysa Liu.
Anisimova, like many Americans, was mesmerized watching the native of Oakland, Calif., win gold at the Milan-Cortina Games. It’s not just the medals, it’s the joy of life she skates and the fact that Liu, like Anisimova, has had her share of struggles.
Liu had breakthrough success at age 13 and eventually needed to retire from the sport. The same was true for Anisimova, although her first rise to prominence came much later, at the age of 17. For Anisimova, Liu’s story resonated with her and reminded her that no matter what others say, you can live life in sports on your own terms.
“I think she has a great sense of balance,” Anisimova said. “She not only trains, trains, trains, but she has to miss everything. I can agree with her. But you still have to balance the two or you’re not going to get to that level.”
Anisimova, 24, will face Victoria Mboko in the round of 16, who withdrew from the tournament in May 2023 due to mental health reasons. Since her return, she has become a standout on tour, reaching two Grand Slam finals last year.
She said she found Liu’s story inspiring, and that the Northern California native’s joy and freedom while skating helped her bounce back.
“It was refreshing because I felt like I might have strayed away from where I was at the beginning of the year,” Anisimova explained. “I feel like I put a lot of pressure on myself and tried to be too perfect at what I was doing and really try to improve. It took everything away from me last year.”
“I think it’s very inspiring and I love that she’s still so young and she’s choosing to be very independent and make decisions for herself,” Anisimova said. “She doesn’t do things the way she’s told and that’s how I came back into my career.
“I see a lot of similarities. She’s definitely more extreme, which I like. It looks like she doesn’t care about anything, which I definitely like, and it seems to fit her personality.”
Finally, watching Liu Xiang rise to the occasion and glide like the wind, Anisimova’s sails also set sail.
“I feel like I really need something like this to remind myself that, yes, life is short, try to enjoy what you’re doing and don’t take things too seriously. That way, at least for me personally, when I have that mindset, the results will come.
“I really needed this. Even though she is much younger than me, she is my role model.”
