Tennis came fast and furious for Gabriela Sabatini. It was bound to. Finessing the sport at the nascent age of 14 comes with certain restraints. Although no hurdle ever stopped the Argentine from attaining her goals, it took a significant toll on her mental health. The sight of friends and friendly faces never brought out her captivating smile, it was the idea of achieving more laurels. Until it wasn’t.

It can get lonely at the top. Unfortunately for Sabatini, she had to endure that miserable picture. The retired tennis pro, who amassed a total of 41 titles – including the 1990 US Open, was the youngest player to win the prestigious Orange Bowl. Despite showcasing immense talent, battling through a pressure cooker of expectations, the Argentine burnt out at age 26. While she briefly returned after 2 years, her exquisite side forever vanished. The once deemed ‘arrogant’ in the sport, had some notable things to highlight on why her demeanor wasn’t appreciated much back in the day.

In an exclusive interview with ‘The Guardian‘ on June 16, 2003, the Argentine touched down on her then-aloof side. Barely known to greet fellow players, Sabatini answered fans’ ever-mysterious questions by saying, “It’s hard to make friends within the tour. It’s an individual sport – you play your match and you leave.” This, in turn, was the former World No. 3’s kryptonite.

While the lack of a professional incentive can potentially result in a turnaround from an existential crisis, being lonely throws those chances out the window. Alone after victory and defeat, a young Gabriela was trapped in a vicious cycle. Other than traveling with just her coach and brother with whom she always shared a special bond, the Argentine was never privy to a retinue. The turmoil of loneliness, coupled with the dying prospect of her passion that drove her to greatness, resulted in her premature exit from the sport.

Sabatini in her prime always let her racket do the talking. However, her arch-nemesis, Steffi Graf, prompted her to indulge in a tactful insight she hoped to come across during her rivalry with the tennis legend.

Gabriela Sabatini’s lack of ‘psychological’ substantiation thwarted her Wimbledon glory

Capturing a maiden Grand Slam singles title was never on the charts for Gabriela Sabatini. At least, mentally it wasn’t. Throughout her illustrious career, the Argentine was presented with the formidable challenge of Graf. The German never let the former World No. 3 claim a more decorated collection of accolades to her name. However, she came very close one time.

In 1991, the South American clashed with the 22-time Major champion in the summit clash of the Wimbledon. Having reached the edge of lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish for the first time in her career, Sabatini served for the championship at (30-15) 6-5 only to endure a nasty twist. The German converted the subsequent points in her favor and eventually concluded her dream run. While the cameras visibly showcased how the Argentine got ahead of herself during the bitter-sweet moment, Sabatini later confessed that there was a psychological factor that she wished she had worked on.

Years after walking away from the sport, the 53-year-old is set to step on the courts once again. The Argentine is slated to feature in a mixed doubles exhibition match at the US Open wherein she will join forces with Juan Martin Del Potro to take on Caroline Wozniacki and Andy Roddick. This will likely allow the new-age fans to have a chance to witness her once prolific elegance in New York.