Wimbledon star Amanda Anisimova quit for university and was 'humiliated' by Emma Raducanu

Amanda Anisimova has had quite the journey leading her to the Wimbledon semi-final, where she will face Aryna Sabalenka. The American reached the same stage of the French Open as a 17-year-old in 2019, but just four years later announced that she would be quitting tennis indefinitely.

Anisimova, at 17, led the legendary Ash Barty by a set and break in the Roland Garros final four. However, she was unable to take advantage and lost in three sets to the eventual winner. She entered the tournament unseeded but launched herself into stardom with that run.

But on the pro circuit, the intensity of matches and training day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, continued to drain the young star.

For years she played through mental and physical discomfort and eventually did what few players do, put down the racket.

"I was obviously privileged and able to take a break," she explained after quitting in May 2023. "I know not many people are able to take a break from their career or their life. So, of course, I'm very grateful that I had the opportunity to do that.

"If I wasn't going to be ready to come back, or if my body wasn't going to be able to handle it, I knew that I would have to figure out something else to do. But I don't think pushing through it was an option for me at that point."

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For a semester, Anisimova studied at Florida's Nova Southeastern University in person after previously conducting her undergraduate degree, business with psychology, online.

She took up painting, a previous afterthought due to her tennis career, and donated the art to charitable organisations. By the end of 2023, Anisimova found her way back to tennis and was on the tour once again in 2024.

One of her first matches came in March last year against Emma Raducanu at the Miami Open.

The Brit took the opening set 6-1 and Annabel Croft, on commentary duty for Sky Sports, brutally dressed down the returning prodigy.

"She is all over the place," Croft said of Anisimova. "That sigh says it all. Fed up out here. Not enjoying this. She's being humiliated.

"She just had no clue how to play Raducanu in that first set, and she sort of almost lost interest in it, hadn't she? She was getting irritated, and also the way her body language was, she was rushing through service games like she wasn't ready or prepared to think about it or compose herself before the point. She is totally rattled emotionally."

Raducanu ultimately triumphed 6-1, 6-3 to progress into the quarter-finals.

But this time, on Raducanu's favourite court, Anisimova will be hoping to do what the 2021 US Open winner couldn't - beat Sabalenka at Wimbledon.

She has already earned hordes of new fans at SW19 on a remarkable comeback journey, she will have no fear taking on the world No. 1 on Centre Court.