Coco Gauff has spoken favourably about Amanda Anisimova's decision to prioritise her mental health ahead of tennis.
The American player has long been touted as the next best tennis player on the WTA Tour, but the tremendous pressure got to her more than once. Earlier this year, Anisimova announced a break from tennis and recently provided an update explaining that she's enjoying time away from the sport.
Obviously, Anisimova does miss the sport, but like her fellow colleague Garbine Muguruza, she found happiness away from the sport as well. Fellow American Coco Gauff was asked ahead of the 2023 US Open about her colleague's decision to step away, and she supports it.
Yeah, I would say when she announced the initial break, I was surprised. I don't think anybody was expecting it or anything. But I can understand really. There is probably a lot of players who need to take a break who don't take a break.
Not putting this for myself, maybe one day I'll need to take a break, I don't know. I definitely can understand when tennis has been so much a part of your life. She's been good also, a great player in juniors, obviously in pros doing well.
Having a similar trajectory to Anisimova allows Gauff to relate really well. She, too, emerged fairly young and was hailed as the next big superstar, which put a lot of pressure on her. She's handling it as well as anybody, but people are different and deal with things differently.
I think it's a much different pressure when you're good I guess throughout pretty much when you hold the racquet. Amanda always has been one to watch, at least since I was a little girl, since she was. She was always considered to be the next thing. I can really understand the pressure that she's probably felt.
She had a lot to deal with with the loss of her dad. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure he started her in tennis. I was really surprised personally how she was able to be able to continue to play. She ended up beating me at Wimbledon I think a year or two after. I was really amazed how she was able to overcome all of that. I completely understand.
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