Amanda Anisimova defeated Lina Gjorcheska, 6-3, 6-2, in the first round of Wimbledon.
Last year’s finalist made an excellent start to her tournament, defeating the Macedonian number one in straight sets.
There had been some concern over what level Anisimova would produce at SW19, having recently withdrawn from the Berlin Open due to a back issue.
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After the match, Anisimova shared a fitness update, recalling what happened in the lead-up to Wimbledon.
Amanda Anisimova says she is in a ‘much better place now’ after injury woes
During her post-match press conference, Anisimova was asked how she was feeling physically.
“Yeah, I feel good. I feel very refreshed,” she said.
“I think the last two months really took a lot out of me, and just the start of the year, it wasn’t the best way to start things out.
Amanda Anisimova’s 2026 results
| Tournament | Performance | Match wins | Defeat |
| Brisbane International | Third round | 1 (Kimberly Birrell) | Marta Kostyuk |
| Australian Open | Quarter-final | 4 (Simona Waltert, Katerina Siniakova, Peyton Stearns, Wang Xinyu) | Jessica Pegula |
| Qatar Open | Second round | 0 | Karolina Pliskova |
| Dubai Tennis Championships | Semi-final | 2 (Janice Tjen, Mirra Andreeva) | Jessica Pegula |
| Indian Wells | Fourth round | 2 (Anna Blinkova, Emma Raducanu) | Victoria Mboko |
| Miami Open | Fourth round | 2 (Ajla Tomljanovic, Yuliia Starodubtseva) | Belinda Bencic |
| French Open | Third round | 2 (Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah, Julia Grabher) | Diane Parry |
| Queen’s Club Championships | Quarter-final | 1 (Laura Siegemund) | Iva Jovic |
| Wimbledon | Second round* | 1 (Lina Gjorcheska) | – |
“But at the same time, it’s part of the sport, and I feel like I did my best and tried to be as ready as possible for every single tournament that I have played.
“When I feel like I’m not ready, then I prefer not to compete. So yeah, I’m really happy that I took those few days off that I needed, and I feel much more like myself again, because I was starting to feel like I was getting a bit away from that.
“So, yeah, I just needed a bit of a reset. Yeah, I’m really refreshed and excited to be competing here.”
She was then asked what she got up to when she returned home after Queen’s and why the break was good for her.
“I think just taking myself out of this environment for a little bit. It’s a lot of stress. It’s kind of the same routines every single day,” said Anisimova.
“I think the fact that I was injured and I had a lot of different changes that I was getting used to, and not being able to compete, it was new for me, especially because I wasn’t even home.
“So it was definitely a bit of a strange experience, having to train and train and not knowing if I’m ready to play the tournaments.
“I was also working hard and doing my best, and I think I just got a bit tired at the end of that.
“And then, yeah, it’s always nice to see my family and my friends. It’s just a few days. To be at home where things feel familiar, I think that really helped me.
“Yeah, again, like I kind of felt a bit guilty maybe doing that, but at the same time, I’m human, and it was best for me.
“I’m really happy I did it, because I feel like I’m really hungry and very eager to play now.
“That’s the way I like to be.”
Anisimova certainly looked eager against Gjorcheska, playing at Wimbledon for the first time since her 6-0, 6-0 final defeat to Iga Swiatek 12 months ago.
The American may not be expected to return to the final in 2026, but will be keen to make a deep run at SW19 nevertheless.
If she fails to do so, Anisimova may find herself out of the top-10 before too long.
Why Amanda Anisimova can’t afford to disappoint at Wimbledon
Anisimova excelled at Wimbledon and the US Open last year, reaching the final of both Grand Slam events.
In doing so, she earned herself 2,600 ranking points.
Today, Anisimova sits sixth in the world rankings, largely thanks to those impressive runs at SW19 and Flushing Meadows.
However, a slower start to her 2026 campaign has left her vulnerable to a top-10 exit.
She currently sits 18th in the ‘Live WTA Race’, having accumulated fewer points than 17 other players this season.
Live WTA Race
- 16. Madison Keys – 1,514 points
- 17. Maja Chwalinska – 1,464 points
- 18. Amanda Anisimova – 1,438 points
- 19. Anastasia Potapova – 1,433 points
- 20. Anna Kalinskaya – 1,430 points
Unless Anisimova can repeat the heroics of 12 months ago, it’s unlikely that she will qualify for the WTA Finals or finish the season inside the top 10.
However, there is a lot of tennis to be played between now and the end of the year, and Anisimova has proven time and time again, that when she is fit, she can play anyone off the court.
She will look to do just that when she returns for her second-round match against Sofia Kenin on Thursday, July 2.
