American tennis star Amanda Anisimova has pulled out of next week’s US Open after her father suddenly died on Tuesday.
Konstantin Anisimov, who was also the coach of the 17-year-old, has been found dead. No details have been released surrounding the cause of Anisimov’s death. According to tennis.life, he was not known to have been ill and was on his own at the time of his death. He was in his 50s. The news was confirmed by ESPN’s Alyssa Roenigk after she contacted Anisimova’s agent.
“I am heartbroken for Amanda, Olga, Maria and the entire Anisimova family,” Roenigk tweeted. “The worst kind of news to have to report.”
Anisimova’s parents moved to America from Russia back in 1998, three years before she was born. They chose to emigrate in order to provide more opportunities for their oldest daughter Maria. Maria played tennis during her younger years before embarking upon a career in finance.
“My wife had relatives who had lived a long time in the United States,” Anisimov once told the New York Times about his decision to move to America. “They sent us an invitation to come visit this country. We visited it, and we liked it more and more, and we start thinking and taking it seriously.”
Rising star Anisimova is regarded as one of the brightest prospects on the tennis tour. A successful junior career saw her win the 2017 US Open girls’ title, where she defeated Coco Gauff 6-2, 6-0, in the final. On the professional tour, she has produced wins over top 10 players Simona Halep and Karolina Pliskova. She is currently the youngest player in the top 100.
Currently ranked 24th in the world, Anisimova has achieved a win-loss of 24-11 so far this season. In April she won her first WTA title at the Bogota Open in Colombia. Then at the French Open she achieved her best run at a grand slam yet by reaching the semi-finals. Becoming the youngest player to do so since Nicole Vaidisova in 2006. However, the American has been sidelined from action in recent weeks due to a back injury. Missing both the Rogers Cup and Cincinnati.
There has been no comment from Anisimova’s family concerning the death of Anisimov.
