"It was very emotional and special": Carla Suarez Navarro admits happiness in returning to tennis after cancer, recognised by WTA
WTASaturday, 28 October 2023 at 08:30
Former Spanish tennis star Carla Suarez Navarro has admitted
happiness in returning to tennis after cancer treatment.
The 35-year-old retired from professional tennis after being
diagnosed with cancer.
But soon after, she returned and competed at the highest
level in Tokyo Olympics where she defeated Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur.
Suarez Navarro also went on to play in the US Open and Billie
Jean King Cup finals before eventually calling it a day in 2021.
The Las Palmas-born, was recently quoted on the WTA website
where she explained how emotional it was to play after recovering from such a
serious illness.
“I just wanted to say thanks to all the fans for their
support after so many seasons one last time,” she said. “Personally, it was a
challenge to overcome, play again at the big stages. After all the good things
that tennis gave me, I wanted to give back somehow.”
“They [doctors] weren’t wrong. I never felt scared but
accepted the situation I had to go through,” she said. “It was a tough time for
my family. I didn’t want them to suffer but with cancer there are some
inevitable processes.”
“It was very emotional and special. All of them were
different for various reasons. After all the bad things that happened that was
a present for me, for my family and friends who supported me in tough times.”
Suarez Navarro ended her career after winning three WTA
titles. However, her record in major events was not record.
Despite playing in a Grand Slam on 48 occasions, she never
managed to play in the semifinal or beyond in any of the events.
Suarez Navarro’s most successful competition in terms of win
percentage was the French Open where he end up winning 70 percent matches.
She ended up playing quarterfinal at the Roland Garros two
times — in 2008 and in 2014.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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