“People were talking about me like I was the next big thing, the next Maria Sharapova,” she said. “I felt like, ‘Wow, now I have to be a legend. Maybe next year, I have to be a Top 10 player.’ So, for me, it was a lot of pressure…
“Life didn’t have a lot of sense because ever since I was seven years old, my dream was to be a professional tennis player. It was very bad. I didn’t want to go on a tennis court.”
The Spaniard revealed that she sought the help of mental health professionals, along with the support of friends and family, in order to turn things around. And now, Badosa is back on track in tennis too: The former world No. 2 recently returned to the Top 10 for the first time since 2023 after recovering from a back injury.
Read More: Quote of the Day: Paula Badosa manifested her “dream come true” Top 10 comeback
After lifting the trophy in Doha, Rublev’s first ATP title in nearly 10 months, the Russian bowed out in the opening round of singles and doubles in Dubai.
“I’m not in a good or bad place, but I’m not feeling any more stress, not having depression,” Rublev said. “I’m just neutral, not happy, not bad. At least I found the base, and that’s a beginning.”
