Oceane Dodin the first player to return to tennis after breast augmentation surgery despite being warned 'you won’t be able to play'

French tennis player Oceane Dodin has achieved a unique milestone. The 28-year-old has been playing tennis for a long time and was turned pro back in 2011. In her 14-year career, Dodin has won one WTA and 17 ITF titles.

Her only WTA title came way back in 2016, where she defeated America’s Lauren Davies in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-3 to win the Tournoi de Québec in Canada. Dodin took a long break from tennis and recently returned to the court.

The break was to recover from a long-term ear issue, but during the time off, she decided to go for a breast augmentation surgery, according to a report published by English media outlet The Sun. The report also claimed that Dodin became the first player ever to return to professional tennis after undergoing breast augmentation surgery.

Dodin recently spoke to French media outlet RMC Sport where she explained the reason behind going through a procedure to enhance her physical appearance. Dodin stated that she always wanted to have that surgery done and also highlighted that her preference was to do it at a younger age rather than waiting to retire from the sport and then doing it at the age of 40.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” said Dodin. “It’s true that I took advantage of this break because I told myself that since you have to stop about two months after the operation, when you’re in the season, it’s not possible. So I said to myself, ‘if I’m going to stop for six months, I might as well do what I want’. And then I prefer to do it now than at 40, when I’ll have finished my career.”

Dodin also revealed that she was warned before the surgery that any such procedure will make it extremely difficult for her to continue playing at the highest level. Dodin stated she is ‘very happy’ to have gone through the surgery.

“I’m very happy to have done it, I don’t regret it at all and it doesn’t bother me,” said Dodin. “Everyone told me ‘you’re not going to be able to play’. As if I had put on watermelons. They’re not small, but that doesn’t bother me when I play. There are adapted bras. Simona Halep (had a breast reduction as a junior), but they were very, very big. That handicapped her. But yes, it’s true that I must be the first to play with breast augmentations; there has to be a first for everything.”

Because of staying out of action, Dodin, who once became world number 46, has now being pushed to 363 in the updated WTA rankings. Before she decided to take a lengthy break of tennis, Dodin was world number 92. Dodin recently featured in an ITF W35 event where she produced some impressive performances.

She defeated America’s Carolyn Ansari in the first round with a score of 6-4, 5-7, 6-3. In the second round, Dodin defeated France’s Jenny Lim with a score of 6-3, 3-6, 7-5. In the third round, however, Dodin’s journey in the competition ended as she was forced to retire against Manon Leonard.