Why Amanda Anisimova’s emotional post-match interview was a masterclass in handling failure

On Saturday at Wimbledon, Amanda Anisimova faced one of the most challenging moments of her career. In just 57 minutes, she was defeated in the women’s singles final by Iga Świątek, who delivered a crushing 6-0, 6-0 performance. It was a stark and painful loss, the kind that leaves little room for interpretation. And yet, within minutes of stepping off the court, Anisimova transformed that disappointment into something remarkable — a heartfelt, emotionally raw reflection that resonated far beyond the sport itself.

Her post-match interview quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the tournament. It was a rare display of vulnerability and authenticity in the highly competitive world of professional tennis. With only one question posed to her, the 23-year-old American held back tears as she praised her opponent, expressed gratitude to the fans, and even offered an apology for her performance. Then, as she spoke of her mother — who had stood by her side through the grief of losing her father in 2019 and supported her during an eight-month break from the sport that began in 2023 — she could no longer hold back her emotions.

“I know I didn’t have enough today,” Anisimova said, gently brushing away tears. “But I’m going to keep working. I always believe in myself, and I hope I’ll be back here again someday.”

It’s easy to understand why this moment spread so quickly online. For tennis enthusiasts, it was a raw and humanizing glimpse into the emotional toll the game can take. For others, it was a poignant reminder of how one can carry themselves with dignity in the face of adversity. But to Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson, a leading voice in organizational behavior and leadership, it was something else entirely — a case study in how to handle failure with grace and wisdom.

While referring to Anisimova’s remarks as a “lesson in failure” may sound harsh, Edmondson doesn’t intend it that way. She’s devoted much of her academic career to studying human errors and believes that failure, when approached the right way, is not only inevitable but beneficial. Watching Anisimova speak, Edmondson saw a real-life example of the key principles she outlined in her 2023 book, Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well.

“It took courage,” Edmondson said of Anisimova’s remarks. “It was an honest moment, and when you see someone being that open, vulnerable, and gracious after a painful experience, it leaves a lasting impression. That’s rare.”

According to Edmondson, some of the most successful individuals and organizations aren’t the ones who avoid failure entirely — quite the opposite. In her view, high-performing teams and companies tend to fail more frequently, but they are quick to identify those failures, learn from them, and make adjustments. These organizations embrace risk in unfamiliar situations, which often leads to innovation — but also, inevitably, to setbacks.

Edmondson outlines three primary types of failure in her framework. The first is basic failure, typically caused by simple mistakes, such as sending an email to the wrong recipient or miscalculating figures in a report. These are usually the result of carelessness and can be prevented with more attention to detail.

The second category is complex failure, which happens when several systems or factors break down at once. A good example would be supply chain disruptions during the pandemic, where multiple forces collided to create large-scale issues. These failures are more difficult to predict but still manageable with better coordination and communication.

But it is the third category — intelligent failure — that Edmondson finds most valuable. This type occurs when someone steps into unknown territory with a clear goal, forms a hypothesis, weighs the risks, and proceeds carefully. Even if the result is not what was hoped for, valuable insights are gained.

“When a scientist tests a hypothesis and it turns out to be wrong, that’s not a waste,” Edmondson explained. “It’s a necessary part of discovery. Each failure brings us closer to a breakthrough.”

The same applies in sports. Top athletes often understand the importance of learning from defeat. Earlier this year, Jannik Sinner lost a grueling five-set battle to Carlos Alcaraz at the French Open. But when they met again at Wimbledon, Sinner emerged victorious — and credited the earlier loss with helping him improve. “You have to learn from what didn’t work,” he said.

Pete Sampras once described his 1992 U.S. Open loss to Stefan Edberg as the defining moment of his career. He won the first set, then faltered in the second and third. After that, his energy waned and Edberg seized control. Sampras later admitted he hadn’t fought as hard as he could have.

“I realized afterward that I didn’t give it everything,” Sampras recalled. “I told myself I would never let that happen again. That match, even though I lost, changed everything for me.” Over the next decade, he would go on to win 13 more Grand Slam titles.

Most of us aren’t professional athletes, but Edmondson believes we can still benefit from approaching failure the same way. Unfortunately, many people find it easier to critique the mistakes of others than to examine their own. Regardless of the type of failure — whether basic, complex, or intelligent — it’s essential to respond with curiosity rather than shame.

“We have to build our tolerance for failure in unfamiliar territory,” she said.

This doesn’t mean becoming careless or reckless. Edmondson advises taking a thoughtful approach: consider what’s truly at stake in any situation, then assess the consequences realistically. In Anisimova’s case, losing the final meant missing out on prize money and ranking points. But in the larger context of life, it was still just a tennis match — not a defining verdict on her worth or potential.

On the court, Anisimova never found an answer to Świątek’s game. She became only the second woman ever to lose a Grand Slam final without winning a single game. Afterward, she reflected honestly on what had gone wrong. She admitted that after her tough semifinal win against Aryna Sabalenka, fatigue had set in. She also struggled to manage her nerves.

“I felt frozen,” she said.

But what came next was even more important. Anisimova chose to reframe her defeat not as a permanent mark on her career, but as an opportunity for personal development. She found strength in a quote from author Marianne Williamson: “Pain can burn you up and destroy you, or burn you up and redeem you.”

“I told myself, ‘This is going to make me stronger,’” Anisimova said. “Losing 6-0, 6-0 in a Grand Slam final is incredibly tough. But if there’s a silver lining, it’s that I can use this as fuel. I’ll turn it into something positive.”

And with that, Anisimova didn’t just endure one of the most difficult moments of her professional life — she elevated it. By doing so, she reminded us all that failure isn’t the end. Sometimes, it’s just the beginning of something better.