Sara Sorribes Tormo to Return to Tennis After Mental Health Break
After a six-month break for mental health, Sara Sorribes Tormo plans to resume her professional tennis career at the WTA 125 event in Colina, Chile, starting on 17 November. The Olympic doubles bronze medalist has been away since April, following the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers where she won both singles and doubles matches.
Battle with Depression
Sorribes Tormo revealed she was diagnosed with depression during her hiatus. She described losing her passion for tennis and struggling to face the sport she once loved. In an interview with El Mundo, she explained how difficult it was to even step onto a tennis court.
"I couldn't even step onto a tennis court. I'd wake up in the morning and think that the more hours I had until I could train, the better. I'd step onto the court and want to leave immediately. I'd go to training and not last more than 10 minutes. I'd burst into tears in the middle of training. After I'd been out for a month, I came to play here with my mother and lasted three minutes; I had a panic attack and we had to leave."
She expressed how the loss of joy in tennis was painful, especially since she has always loved the sport and played to improve. Instead of feeling motivated, she just wanted time to pass and dreaded tournaments.
"It was killing me not to enjoy it, because I've always loved tennis and I've always played to try and improve. I just wanted the hours to pass. It was like coming to clock in. I didn't want to go to tournaments. That, combined with a lot of anxiety, made things very difficult."
Impact on Daily Life
During the toughest period, Sorribes Tormo was so drained that she could barely stay awake or get through the day, spending most of her time sleeping.
Upcoming Comeback
Now recovering, the 32-year-old Spaniard is preparing to make her comeback in Chile, marking a hopeful return to professional tennis and a positive step in her journey back from mental health struggles.
Author’s summary: Sara Sorribes Tormo plans a comeback after battling depression, sharing candidly how she lost her joy for tennis and struggled with anxiety before deciding to return to the court in Chile this November.