For Amanda Anisimova, being outside is a non-negotiable in her every day. The 24-year-old tennis pro, who recently partnered with the the Greek sun care and tanning brand Carroten, spends much of her time in the sun, whether she’s training, at the beach or pool with friends or simply trying to recharge between tournaments.
She’s also mindful of the realities that come with that exposure. While there’s no such thing as a safe tan from UV exposure, Anisimova still stresses the importance of SPF—something dermatologists agree is nonnegotiable. Her go-to combination is Carroten Intensive Tanning Gel ($32), layered over sunscreen. It’s not a flawless system, but it’s an honest one.
These days, she’s more intentional than ever about how she takes care of herself on and off the court. After stepping away from tennis in 2023 to focus on her mental health—and returning with a renewed sense of balance—she’s carried that approach into every part of her routine. In between her busy schedule, she caught up with us about all things sun care, wellness and recovery.
On balance…
“I definitely changed up a lot of things when I decided to come back to tennis. I took quite a long break off, so I had a lot of time to think about what I was going to do differently and how I was going to prevent burnout and just be my happiest self. And I knew that I was going to really have to prioritize my balance off the court…doing things I enjoy…not being pushed into certain things…and just putting myself first more than I did in the past.”
On her wellness rituals…
“I’m very big into mindfulness and just mental health in general. So I’ve definitely practiced a lot of things over the last few years, especially in tennis. We’re constantly under stress and pressure, and it’s not good for our nervous system and cortisol, so I really try to be mindful of that.
I do like ice baths—that’s definitely highest on my priority list during tournaments—not just for soreness but also for resetting my nervous system after a really long day of training and stress. And then I also love to use the sauna or red lights for recovery and keeping my stress levels down.
Sometimes meditation is as simple as just dropping into three minutes of breathing. If I feel like I’m stressed, I try to be really self-aware of when I start getting anxious, so I’ll do a quick two-minute reset. Or I’ll find something on Spotify or YouTube. It’s not like I follow anyone specific, I just search based on how I’m feeling. There are so many options, so it really depends on what I want in the moment.
I’ll also do a 10- or 15-minute meditation. I try to do it most nights—it’s hard to stay consistent every day, but I do my best.”
On her partnership with Carroten…
“I love the brand, and I love the products. As someone who’s from Miami, I go to the beach all the time and go to the pool. I love being outside—it’s my favorite way to recharge, especially because I’m so tired from my trainings and tournaments. And also, I like to look tan year-round.”
On confidence…
“I’d say confidence now is staying true to myself, no matter what happens. Following my intuition and my gut, and doing things the way I want to do them, has been the most important thing.”
