"Fell a bit ill today, but gave it my all regardless" - Amanda Anisimova reveals reason behind lacklustre performance in defeat at Canadian Open
WTA
Amanda Anisimova revealed on social media that she did not feel her best after her Canadian Open campaign came to an end. She was defeated by Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-1 in the round of 16. She was not at her best in the match and was punished by the Ukrainian.
This was the American's first tournament after famously reaching the Wimbledon final, where she was battered 6-0, 6-0 by Iga Swiatek in a haunting performance. In that run, she defeated the likes of world number one Aryna Sabalenka before running out of steam in her first Grand Slam final.
She was looking for a statement response to the disappointment, but she could not replicate the tennis she played a few weeks ago and ultimately failed to progress.
Anisimova's Montreal campaign comes to an end
She picked herself up well from it, defeating 2024 Wimbledon quarter-finalist Lulu Sun 7-6, 6-4 in straight sets after a tricky game. Her next game was a lot more routine, comfortably defeating former US Open champion Emma Raducanu 6-2, 6-1 to set up a tie with Svitolina.
Amisimova and Svitolina traded breaks of serve early on, before she failed to take three consecutive breaks to put her 4-3 ahead. The world number 13 would take her second break point in the final game of set one to claim a one-set advantage.
The number 10 seed then took command from then on. She won five consecutive games, including one with eight deuces, to breeze to the quarter-finals, where she will face four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.
The American had chances to close the gap in the second set, but failed to take five break points on offer. In the whole game, she only won one of her nine break points in a disappointing end to a tournament she had a lot of onlookers for.
After the match, she went to social media to reveal the reason behind her performance. "Fell a bit ill today, but gave it my all regardless thank you always Canada," she wrote in the caption.
Her fans will hope that the illness is not serious, and that the American can recover ahead of a busy schedule, where she will be hoping to play better than she did against the Ukrainian.
New mentality after Wimbledon disappointment
Anisimova had the dream championship run, overshadowed by a cruel ending, after she failed to win a single game in the final. She was emotional and upset after the match, and took some time off before travelling to Montreal to compete in the Canadian Open.
There are many positives to take from this run, with the American up to a career-high ranking, now seventh in the world. Unfortunately, she could not use that ranking advantage in Canada, but she may have found a new mentality from that defeat, as she told herself that she would 'come out stronger'.
“It was a bit tough to digest, obviously, especially during and right after. It's not how I would have wanted my first Grand Slam final to go,” Anisimova said after the defeat. “I think I was a little bit in shock after, as well.
“I told myself, I'll definitely come out stronger after this. I mean, that's not an easy thing to go through, losing 0-0 in a Grand Slam final. If anything, I can look at it as a positive and something I can look at as motivation going forward. Obviously there's a lot of things I need to do to progress.”
With another Masters 1000 event following this one in Cincinnati before the US Open starts, it is an important period on home soil for Anisimova. She will hope her new mentality pushes her through to new levels and more big wins.
Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist
Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.
Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.
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