After taking an indefinite break from tennis earlier this season, Amanda Anisimova might be gearing up for a comeback.
The 22-year-old shared an update on her Instagram on Wednesday, with a video showing Anisimova engaged in jogging and practicing on a tennis court with a hitting partner. From the post's caption, it was her second day of practice fueling speculation that she might be returning to action very soon.
Anisimova hasn't played on the WTA Tour since April when she lost to Arantxa Rus in the first round of the Madrid Open. She has a modest three wins from 11 matches this season and was on a five-match winless run when she announced that she needed to step away.
Anisimova cited her struggles in coping with mental health in the wake of a nasty and inappropriate body-shaming comment from an obnoxious fan. She also revealed the severe burnout from the previous season that drained every kilojoule of energy out of her body.
Anisimova is among a handful of tennis players who have been through the thickets in the journey of overcoming mental health issues, with fellow WTA Bianca Andreescu having previously taken time away from the sport only to return with renewed vigor.
A stellar 2022 campaign saw Anisimova return to the winner's podium for the first time in three years, winning her second career title at the Melbourne Summer Set 2. That year, Anisimova reached the second week in three of the four Slams, including a maiden Wimbledon quarterfinal.
She compiled a 33-14 record last year - undoubtedly her best on the WTA Tour, but was sadly curtailed with a toe injury that forced her to abandon her season after a shock first-round exit at the 2022 US Open. She struggled to replicate that form at the start of 2023.
And with her hiatus stretching into a fifth month, Anisimova's ranking has tanked into a lowly 342 with precisely six weeks of the regular season remaining.
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