At one stage, Amanda Anisimova appeared to have a desire to conclude her tennis career, but the American will now compete in the final of the 2024 Canadian Open after defeating fellow countrywoman Emma Navarro. Anisimova emerged as a young prodigy who had a remarkable run at Roland Garros a few years ago. Although she did not reach the final, her performance alone was sufficient to demonstrate her talent and potential on the WTA Tour. However, the subsequent years were plagued with inconsistencies. She faced injuries and significant mental fatigue, prompting her to take a hiatus from tennis, which sparked discussions within the tennis community.
Anisimova remained steadfast in her belief that she needed this break, and in retrospect, it seems she was correct. Her motivation seemed lacking at that time, but she currently appears highly motivated. Throughout her comeback this year, her performances have been intermittently inconsistent, but this week in Toronto, she has experienced tremendous success at the age of 22. She achieved notable victories, and when she triumphed over Aryna Sabalenka in two sets, it became evident that she was having an exceptional week. This trend continued in the semi-final of the WTA 1000 event against fellow American Navarro, who has also been in excellent form recently.
The match between them was intriguing due to their contrasting playing styles. Anisimova is a typical aggressive baseliner who excels at attacking, while Navarro possesses a more varied game due to her lack of power compared to top players. Nonetheless, she adeptly navigates most matches, showcasing her tennis intelligence. In the early stages of this match, power prevailed, as Anisimova immediately broke serve, securing a 3-0 lead. Navarro’s poor serving allowed Anisimova to exploit this weakness effectively. Although Navarro’s serve lacks power, she typically places it well. By neutralizing her limited power, Anisimova essentially had an easy target to aim for.
From the baseline, Anisimova relentlessly unleashed powerful shots, hitting them with precision. On her own serve, she delivered precise and forceful shots, further facilitating her victory in the first set with a comfortable 6-3 scoreline. Anisimova had never reached a WTA 1000 final before, and now she was just one set away from achieving this milestone. The second set commenced without any breaks of serve in the first two games. Anisimova exerted immense pressure in the third game and, after a grueling battle, finally managed to break serve, taking a 2-1 lead. However, she immediately followed it with a poor game, allowing Navarro to level the score at 2-2 and then take a 3-2 lead. Navarro extended her lead to 5-2 as Anisimova succumbed to a series of errors. This is the downside of an attacking style, and it became evident as Navarro clinched the second set with a 6-2 victory.
Anisimova made a strong recovery in the beginning of the third set, securing an early advantage by breaking her opponent’s serve and taking a 2-1 lead. She later managed to break her opponent’s serve again, ultimately winning the match with a score of 6-3, 2-6, 6-2. As a result, she advanced to the final of the 2024 Canadian Open, where she will face the winner of the match between fellow countrywoman Jessica Pegula and Diana Shnaider.
Photo from Amanda Anisimova Instagram
