Losing, Learning and Launching

You can’t fix what only grace can repair.

On a sunny Saturday last year at Wimbledon, Centre Court had the pleasant buzz of a summer outing — the kind where spectators sip Pimm’s, nibble strawberries drowned in champagne, and pretend they are simply out for a gentle afternoon rather than watching world-class athletes battle nerves and destiny. Amanda Anisimova — young, immensely talented and having just played the match of her life, beating top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in the semis — walked onto the court for the women’s final. It was her first Grand Slam final. Expectations were enormous. Commentators were already envisioning her name on the trophy. The buildup was perfect.

But the match wasn’t.

What unfolded was startling, painful and unforgettable. Anisimova didn’t just lose. She didn’t win a single game, dropping the final 6-0, 6-0 to Iga Swiatek on one of tennis’s most prestigious stages. She lost in front of the entire world, including the Princess of Wales, no less! ...