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WIMBLEDON — In a remarkable display of resilience, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is making headlines at Wimbledon after overcoming a challenging battle with Lyme disease earlier this year. The 34-year-old Russian, unseeded and currently ranked No. 50, stunned many by defeating former Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the third round, a victory that marks a significant milestone in her ongoing recovery.
Pavlyuchenkova, who began 2025 with a strong showing at the Australian Open by reaching her ninth Grand Slam quarterfinal, revealed she was diagnosed with Lyme disease—a tick-borne infection—just before the Indian Wells tournament. The illness left her fatigued, irritable, and plagued by persistent headaches and brain fog. “It was horrible,” she said. “I was fatigued, I was very neurotic and irritated. I constantly had headaches—especially in my right temple, it was pressing on my head all the time. I had a brain fog. I would start practicing and couldn’t even see clear sometimes—whenever the heart rate was going up, it was hitting me. I never thought it would be such a nasty disease”.
Tracing the source of her illness, Pavlyuchenkova suspects she contracted Lyme disease last year. She recounted an incident where she removed a tick from her boyfriend, who also had the disease, and later noticed a red spot on her own hand. Initially, she attributed her extreme fatigue to the rigors of preseason training and her age, only realizing the severity of her condition after her diagnosis.
Her recovery has been anything but straightforward. After a six-week course of antibiotics, Pavlyuchenkova struggled with setbacks, often returning to training prematurely. “I would feel OK, so I would go practice. Then I’d almost pass out. Before Eastbourne, I had to take a week off because I started again too early and recovery was very bad. But I didn’t have any crazy symptoms. I was just tired. That’s why it was so difficult, because is it ‘tired’ where it’s still OK to push, or is it ‘tired’ where you need to be in bed?” she explained.
Now, as she advances at Wimbledon, Pavlyuchenkova feels she is finally regaining control—both physically and mentally. The experience has given her a new appreciation for her career and the opportunities she still has. “It feels almost yesterday I was the youngest on tour. I was taking everything for granted. Every match I was winning I was like, pffft, just another match I won. Third round of a Slam, pffft. I was not appreciating anything because it was coming too easy. But I started to appreciate every match and every moment. A few months ago I couldn’t even practise. Then you think, maybe you will never have this moment again. I also don’t know how much is left in my career because I am very old now. It’s something I want to take to the fullest, so I don’t have regrets afterwards”.
As Wimbledon progresses, all eyes will be on Pavlyuchenkova to see how far her renewed determination and hard-won health can take her.
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information as of July 2025 and is not intended as medical advice. For health concerns or more information about Lyme disease, please consult a qualified medical professional.
