Who Is Amanda Anisimova? 5 Things to Know About U.S. Wimbledon Finalist

Tennis superstar Amanda Anisimova made history as the first American Wimbledon women’s finalist since Serena Williams in 2019.

Anisimova initially established herself as a tennis superstar at age 17 when she advanced to the final four at the French Open in 2019. Australia’s Ashleigh Barty won that year’s French Open over Markéta Vondroušová of the Czech Republic, but Anisimova’s unexpected success was enough to propel her to the world stage.

After taking a year off to focus on her mental health, Anisimova came firing back at Wimbledon 2025 to secure a finals placement against Poland’s Iga Świątek on Saturday, July 12. Not only is Anisimova the first American women’s finalist at the tournament since 2019, she is also the youngest player (at age 23) to make the finals since Williams did so in 2004 at age 22.

“It’s been an extraordinary year for me,” she said on the court following her quarterfinal victory. “So many highs. It’s just been such a ride, and I’ve been enjoying every step of the way. … Even times like today, when you’re not sure you’re going to cross the finish line, I keep reminding myself to enjoy the moment.”

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Keep scrolling to learn more about Anisimova’s career and personal life.

1. Anisimova Turned Pro at Age 14

Amanda Anisimova celebrates Wimbeldon 2025 quarter-final win. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

After being ranked No. 2 in the world as a junior player in 2016, Anisimova turned pro by competing in the 2016 U.S. Open qualifiers as a wild card entry. In 2017, she clinched the U.S. Open girls’ singles title. Anisimova continued establishing her reputation as one of tennis’ rising stars with her final four placement at the 2019 French Open and quarterfinals finish at Wimbledon in 2022.

The New Jersey native entered Wimbledon 2025 as the No. 13 seed but stunned the sports universe by upsetting world No. 1 ranked player Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the semifinals. Regardless of whether she defeats Świątek in the Wimbledon finals, Anisimova’s mere advancement to the elite stage secures her best-ever placement in a Grand Slam tournament.

2. Anisimova’s Wimbledon Semifinal Win Was Controversial

Amanda Anisimova and Aryna Sabalenka after their Wimbledon 2025 sem-final. Julian Finney/Getty Images

While Anisimova advanced past Sabalenka on July 10 to meet Świątek in the Wimbledon finals, her semifinals performance was contentious. Sabalenka took issue with a game in the third set where Anisimova’s forehand volley touched the top of the net cord before falling over.

In a postmatch press conference, Sabalenka insisted that Anisimova should have apologized for the lucky shot.

“I just looked at her and I just, for sure, she didn’t hear me, but I was just like, ‘You don’t want to say sorry?’ But she just wanted, I guess, badly to win this match. It’s on her,” Sabalenka told reporters.

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Sabalenka eventually lost the semifinal in a 4-6, 6-4, 4-6 result, though she accused Anisimova of violating a rule by prematurely celebrating a point. After one backhand, Anisimova appeared to shout “come on” before Sabalenka had the chance to to hit the ball back. Sabalenka asked the umpire whether Anisimova’s conduct constituted a “hindrance” (and thus a loss of a point) because players are not allowed to use sounds to distract their opponent from hitting the ball. Anisimova was ultimately given a verbal warning rather than having a point deducted.

“I was just trying to chase the ball. She was already celebrating it. I mean, that’s a bit too early,” Sabalenka complained. “Then she kind of pissed me off, saying, ‘Oh, that’s what she does all the time.’ … I came back because I got really angry in that moment, probably in the third set [which she lost] I should have remembered that.”

Anisimova downplayed the significance of her conduct during a postmatch press conference.

“No, I wasn’t celebrating,” she insisted. “It was just like a long grunt, I guess. I don’t really know what was the deal there to be honest because I didn’t feel like it was that interfering. I tried to not do it again.”

3. Anisimova Overcame a Personal Tragedy

Amanda Anisimova is congratulated by her coach and father Konstantin in 2017. Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images

Anisimova’s father and coach, Konstantin Anisimov, died at age 52 of a suspected heart attack just over two months after her breakout performance at the 2019 French Open. She withdrew from that year’s U.S. Open — which, at that time, was only one week away — in order to grieve with her family.

“It was the worst thing that ever happened to me,” Anisimova told the New York Post in 2020. “It was very tough.”

Anisimova credited her professional tennis schedule with helping her move past the heartbreaking loss of both her father and coach.

“As soon as I got back to tennis, it is what made me happy,” she explained. “And I know that’s what my dad would want me to be doing. That’s what would make him proud.”

4. She Took a Mental Health Break for Nearly a Year

Amanda Anisimova following Wimbledon semi-final win. Julian Finney/Getty Images

On the heels of a quarterfinals finish at Wimbledon in 2022, Anisimova announced that she was taking a break from the sport to focus on her mental health.

“I’ve really been struggling with my mental health and burnout since the summer of 2022,” Anisimova wrote to her social media followers in May 2023. “It’s become unbearable being at tennis tournaments.”

She continued, “At this point, my priority is my mental well-being and taking a break for some time. I’ve worked as hard as I could to push through it. I will miss being out there, and I appreciate all the continuous support.”

In 2025, Anisimova revealed that she’d used her time away from tennis to pursue a lifelong passion for art.

“I picked that hobby up when I was struggling with my mental health,” Anisimova told Olympics.com in June 2025. “It was definitely something that I really enjoyed off the court, for a few hours to reset my mind and put something creative into the world.”

Anisimova further explained, “It was special to me and it felt like I was doing something other than tennis. It was nice to have a few interests outside of tennis.”

5. Anisimova Was Romantically Linked to a Reality Star

In 2020, Anisimova, then 19, was reported to be dating Australian soccer player Tyler Roos. The son of Aussie soccer legend Paul Roos, Tyler played professionally for the Southport Sharks and also modeled. He teamed up with soccer pal Tom Wilkinson to compete on the fourth season of The Amazing Race Australia in 2019, with the pair being eliminated eighth overall.

Roos publicly supported Anisimova prior to the French Open in October 2020 by sharing a picture of the couple cuddling via Instagram.

“Taught her everything I know – G Luck,” he jokingly added in the caption.

Just over one month later, Roos posted another photo of the pair hanging out in Miami Beach, humorously referring to Anisimova as “Mrs. 305.” (305 is the area code for the Miami Dade area, while “Mr. 305” is one of rapper Pitbull’s nicknames. Anisimova now lives in Florida after growing up in Freehold Township, New Jersey.)

Anisimova and Roos have not publicly addressed the status of their relationship in recent years.