The American author Marianne Williamson once wrote: “Pain can burn you up and destroy you, or burn you up and redeem you.”
Amanda Anisimova is a regular reader of Williamson’s work and that is a quotation she takes to heart. Never more so than on Saturday afternoon after being overwhelmed by Iga Swiatek 6-0, 6-0.
“I love that quote,” she said. “It's definitely something that I try to live by also. I've passed that quote (on) a few times.
“When I got back to the locker room, I kind of had that switch in my mind of, 'you know what, this is probably going to make you stronger in the end' and to not really dig myself down or put myself down after today. And just try and focus on how I can come out stronger after this.
“I think it's honestly a fork in the road. It's whatever direction you want to go in.
“I'm going to choose the path of working towards my goals and to try and keep improving, hopefully put myself in more positions and opportunities like today.”
This was a remarkable turnaround – 90 minutes earlier, Anisimova had sobbed her way through her speech at the trophy presentation on Centre Court.
It was her first Grand Slam final, her family had flown in to watch and she was felled by nerves, fatigue and the former world No.1 in devastating form. This was not how it was meant to be.
The 15,000 spectators willed her on as she choked back the tears but she was determined to say her piece – warm congratulations to Swiatek and heartfelt appreciation for her team, her family and, in particular, her mum.
“My mom has sacrificed so much,” she said, now dry eyed. “That was why I was getting so emotional, because she's literally done everything she can and more to get me to this point in my life. Same goes for my sister.
“She would do anything for her kids. She's literally the most selfless person that I'll ever meet. I'm a very lucky daughter to have her in my life.”
Outsiders might imagine that Anisimova would want to forget about her final experience. Not a bit of it. The Championships are not just about the final; she had plenty of positive memories to take away with her from this Fortnight.
To be able to last two weeks in a Grand Slam is definitely something that you need to work a lot on.
“I feel like the last two weeks, if anything, I've learned it was 'you're never going to be perfect, and every match is different',” the American said.
“I think my fighting spirit has gotten me to the final of today. It wasn't me playing perfect in a way. There were matches where I struggled and I wasn't playing to my full potential.
“I think me just staying focused and fighting my way through certain moments and focusing and also lifting myself up and trying to not get negative on myself was the most important thing. I think that's really what got me to the final.”
Last year, ranked No.189, she lost in Qualifying; 12 months on and she is a Wimbledon finalist and will be ranked in the top 10 next week. It was just those 57 minutes against Swiatek that did not go according to plan.
“I was nervous, but it wasn't anything out of this world,” she said. “If anything, I was more excited to go out there and compete.
“But I think that I was just really fatigued. I could feel it also in my warm-up this
morning. If anything, it's my physicality that I need to work on. To be able to last
two weeks in a Grand Slam is definitely something that you need to work a lot on.
It's not an easy feat.
“There's a lot of room for improvement, I think. If anything, I think it's more experience for me on how to handle nerves. It's my first Slam final, so at least I have that experience now.”
Anisimova has been through a lot in the past few years. From stepping away from the sport for the sake of her mental health to coming back to work her way back up the rankings and now to being on the receiving end of the might of Swiatek in full flight. And she wanted more of it; she is a fighter.
“It's been such a special two weeks for me,” she said. “I've enjoyed every moment that I got to experience out there. There's a lot of positives I can take with me.
“I think that's going to help me reach my goals.”