The US Open is off to a rough start, and it’s not just about the competition. Maria Sakkari‘s tearful exit due to shoulder injuries has already set a somber tone, and now, American sensation Amanda Anisimova is the latest to face the cruel twist. Despite their grueling preparations, these players are finding themselves on the brink of heartbreak, as injuries take center stage. The anticipation of a thrilling tournament might be tinged with concerns now.

Anisimova began the match sensationally by winning the first set, as she baffled Qinwen Zheng 6-4. But she found herself engulfed by a series of injury woes thereafter. She was spotted struggling in the match with a visible pain prevailing on her face. The star player then opted for a medical time-out at the end of the second set, after struggling with pain in her left ankle and losing the set 6-4. But the agony continued to persist for her.

As Anisimova tried to get her claws back in the match, she continued to struggle with pain in her wrist. The 22-year-old threw her racquets away after a returning shot intensified her pain. Zheng, on the other hand, was fresh off her victory at the Paris Olympics and did not fail to use this opportunity, as she defeated the American sensation in a three-setter by 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. This defeat was indeed a major setback for Anisimova.

The budding star reached the first WTA 1000 finals of her career at the Canadian Open this month. This gave her the much-needed confidence and boost for the US Open, as she said, “This is a great achievement for me, something I’ve worked very hard for. Honestly, I’m very happy with my week, I’m quite surprised by how well it has gone so far.” But the injury-driven defeat against Zheng was something that Anisimova would have hardly envisioned. However, she is not the only player who faced such a scenario on the first day of the US Open. 

Playing against Wang Yafan, Maria Sakkari also witnessed a similar fate, as a shoulder injury forced her to withdraw from the match. Similar scenes unfolded for Elina Svitolina as well, who called for a medical timeout during her match due to a foot issue. However, she managed to overcome the challenges and won the match, unlike Sakkari and Anisimova. The latest injury that Anisimova faced might be raising alarm for other players as well, making Iga Swiatek’s fear come true.

Is Iga Swiatek’s warning coming true for players like Amanda Anisimova?

Swiatek is one of those players who has been vocal about the challenges that tennis players are facing due to back-to-back tournaments. She hinted towards a tragic fate which ultimately is witnessed by players like Amanda Anisimova, raising questions about the scheduling challenges once again. 

Calling out the scheduling challenges during Cincinnati Masters, Swiatek said, “I think we have too many tournaments in the season. It’s not going to end well.” Continuing further, she highlighted the emotions of players. “It makes tennis less fun for us. we deserve to rest a little bit more.”

Anisimova might be witnessing the woes due to her consecutive tournaments. After her Wimbledon campaign, she participated in the Citi Open in Washington and the Canadian Open in Toronto. As she entered another event, she eventually witnessed a turbulent exit. But as the season evolves, it would be interesting to see if Anisimova can overcome the challenges and win big in other tournaments.