"I never regretted taking that break in 2023," asserts Anisimova

Amanda Anisimova will indeed compete in the second round of the US Open 2025. The American, ranked 9th in the world, defeated Kimberly Birrell in her opening match (6-3, 6-2) and will face another Australian player in the next round, Maya Joint.

The player who has never advanced past the third round in New York seems to be in the best form of her career, having reached the Wimbledon final and won her first WTA 1000 title in Doha this season.

In a press conference after her first-round victory at Flushing Meadows, the 23-year-old emphasized the importance of her eight-month break from the tour in 2023 to preserve her mental health.

"I never regretted taking that break in 2023. It gave me a whole new perspective on things. Even during training days, I appreciate the process much more than before.

Overall, I love the lifestyle and the journey of the professional tour. I've really experienced a lot since my junior days. My title at the US Open Juniors (in 2017) feels like such a long time ago.

But it certainly made the transition to the professional tour easier for me. Winning a junior Grand Slam and then moving straight to the professional tour really helped me build confidence. That way, I ended my junior career exactly how I wanted to.

There are tons of good and bad memories, but it's all part of the experience. It's been quite an adventure, and I'm just happy to be where I am today," Anisimova told Tennis Up To Date.