Chris Evertsent her support to Amanda Anisimova, telling the 21-year-old American to take all the time she needs to get her mental health back where it should be. Anisimova, a two-time WTA champion and a former world No 21, has stepped away from tennis to address her mental health issues.
Evert, a former 18-time Grand Slam champion, acknowledged that being a tennis star “is not always glamorous life.” “It seems like a glamorous life, but it isn’t. For a teenager, it is not a normal life. Every day, you’re either a winner or a loser.
You’re put on a pedestal or you’re shamed on social media. The highs and lows provide no balance. There is a price. Take your time Amanda,” Evert tweeted.
Anisimova did well during the first half of the 2022 season but then started struggling with her game and results in the second part of the 2022 season.
At the start of this season, Anisimova didn’t manage to turn her situation around and start playing better. After picking up her fourth consecutive defeat at the Madrid Open and falling to a 3-8 record on the season, Anisimova figured out the best thing to do was to take a break and return to tennis when she feels ready to play again.
“Hey guys. I thought I’d make a post explaining what’s been going on and my plans. I’ve really been struggling with my mental health and burnout since the summer of 2022. It’s become unbearable being at tennis tournaments.
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,” Anisimova wrote on Instagram over the weekend. It remains to be seen when Anisimova will return to tennis.