Amanda Anisimova Admits Crying in the Ice Bath and Rihanna’s Mantra Saving Her

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Vivek Devane | Last updated Sep 4, 2025 10:38 PM ET

Amanda Anisimova is living a dream season in 2025. After reaching the finals at Wimbledon earlier this year, the 24-year-old American is now into the semifinals of the US Open, where she is facing former champion Naomi Osaka in a blockbuster clash. But while her tennis is peaking, the journey to this point has been anything but smooth.

Anisimova has openly spoken about her battles with mental health and injuries that once forced her away from the sport. She took an extended break from tennis, spending nearly eight months off the tour to recover both physically and mentally. Fatigue, pressure, and nagging injuries had left her questioning whether she could continue at the highest level.

One particular low point came in Doha, where hip pain had become nearly unbearable. “Before my first round in Doha, I was crying in the ice bath from the pain in my hip,” she recalled in an interview with Miami Living Magazine. “I was starting to get worried and stressed that I wouldn’t be able to play, and then I remembered the Rihanna interview ‘fake it till you make it.’”

It was that mantra, famously voiced by Rihanna, that gave Anisimova the spark she needed to push through. She explained how emotions can easily overwhelm an athlete if left unchecked:

“Something I’ve learned is just how important having a positive mindset on and off the court is. There’s a quote, ‘A positive mind finds opportunity in everything, while the negative mind finds faults in everything,’ and it is absolutely so true,” said Anisimova. “With most things there is a fork in the road and it is up to you what way you want to go and how you want to do it.”

For Anisimova, embracing positivity didn’t mean suppressing her feelings but rather channeling them in a way that fueled her tennis instead of holding her back.

“I am all for letting feelings out, however it’s when we get so caught up in them and continue sulking,” she explained. “That’s when it becomes a disservice to oneself, especially when we have something important going on,” she said.

Now, with her game sharper than ever and her mindset fortified, Anisimova is reaping the rewards of her resilience. From ice baths in tears to the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium, her story is a reminder that success in tennis is not just about physical talent, but also weathering storms and emerged stronger.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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