Amanda Anisimova’s Dramatic 2025 US Open Comeback: Stunning Upset, Reactions & Highlights

Amanda Anisimova is turning heads again at the 2025 US Open, completing a remarkable journey from a 2023 mental-health hiatus to a Top-10 ranking and genuine title contention. Two years ago the American announced she was “suffering from burnout” and stepped away from the tour; today she arrives in New York as the No. 8 seed and fresh Wimbledon runner-up, armed with renewed confidence and a 32-8 season record. Anisimova’s first-round win over Australia’s Kimberley Birrell, 6-3 6-2, set the tone for a fortnight she hopes will eclipse her junior triumph here in 2017. “I feel like I could have played better, but it wasn’t bad either,” the 23-year-old smiled in her post-match press conference, noting the symbolic red outfit that mirrors her junior title run. Asked about that long-ago final against Coco Gauff, she laughed: “It’s so far back to even think about, but maybe the red can recreate that moment.” Her draw opens up enticing possibilities. A third-round clash with Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian looms on Saturday, and should Anisimova advance she could meet Coco Gauff in a blockbuster semifinal—eight years after their epic junior showdown. Tournament organizers have already tagged the Floridian as one of the five marquee stories of the first week. The narrative behind her resurgence is as compelling as her one-handed backhand is lethal. In 2024 she re-entered the tour ranked No. 373, built momentum on clay, then shocked the tennis world by reaching the 2025 Wimbledon final, falling only to Iga Swiatek. The defeat—-a humbling 6-0 6-0 scoreline—-didn’t break her spirit; instead, it underlined the emotional maturity she cultivated during therapy and months spent away from the grind. “If I can touch anyone’s life in that sense, that makes me very happy,” she told reporters, fielding yet another question about adversity. On hard courts she has been even more formidable: 14-3 this summer, highlighted by a Cincinnati semifinal in which she toppled world No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka. Statistically, her average first-serve speed is up three miles per hour from 2022, while her break-point conversion rate has climbed to 46 percent—both career highs. Coach Carlos Martinez credits a simplified service motion and “a new appreciation for the boring work,” adding that daily mindfulness sessions are now non-negotiable. Fans planning their Labor Day weekend should note that Anisimova’s third-round match is scheduled for Louis Armstrong Stadium in the Saturday day session, approximate start 1:00 p.m. ET; tickets remain on sale through the official US Open site. For streaming viewers, ESPN+ and the Tennis Channel will carry live coverage in the United States, while Prime Video has rights in the U.K. Social media engagement is already surging: #Anisimova amassed over 120 million views on TikTok during the first 48 hours of the tournament, and her post-match Instagram reel crossed the one-million-like mark overnight. Key sponsors have taken notice. Adidas unveiled a limited-edition “AA23” New York collection, and Babolat reports a 40 percent spike in Pure Drive orders with her nameplate. Marketing analysts Project IQ estimate her endorsement value climbed from $1.8 million pre-Wimbledon to $6.5 million entering the US Open, a figure that could double with a deep run. Yet amid the hype, Anisimova remains grounded. “It’s been a hell of a ride, and I’m just happy to be where I am today,” she said, reflecting on the loss of her father and lifelong coach in 2019, the burnout that followed, and the therapy that helped her reclaim joy on court. Victory in Flushing Meadows would make her the first American woman outside the Williams-Gauff-Kenin trio to win a Grand Slam singles title since 2017. Whether or not she lifts the trophy, the 2025 US Open is already the stage for one of sport’s most inspiring comeback stories. And if the red kit truly channels déjà vu, New York might soon witness Amanda Anisimova rewriting her fairy tale—this time in the women’s draw.