"It was very emotional and special": Carla Suarez Navarro admits happiness in returning to tennis after cancer, recognised by WTA

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.