‘I Just Wanted to Kill Myself’ – When American Star Jennifer Capriati Made a Debilitating Statement After Experiencing Tennis Burnout

The former American tennis player, Jennifer Capriati, achieved great success during her glorious tennis journey. Capriati was just 13 years old when she started setting various records after her debut on the professional tour in 1990. However, the 3-time Grand Slam winner also faced several off-court issues and injuries at a young age. Capriati once talked about her mental health during the dark phase of her tennis journey.

Although she later became the no. 1 ranked player in the WTA rankings, issues constantly rose from time to time throughout her career.

Jennifer Capriati once talked about her mental health issues

After her debut on the tennis court in 1990, Jennifer Capriati struggled with her mental health issues during the initial part of her journey. The former American tennis player was not performing at her best level on the tour in 1994. She was also knocked out of the first-round of the US Open in that season.

Capriati also struggled with tennis burnout and self-image issues during her journey. As a result, the former Wimbledon champion once faced mental health issues. During that time, Capriati stated, in an interview with the New York Times, “Mentally, I just lost it. I really was not happy with myself, my tennis, my life, my parents, my coaches, my friend… When I looked in the mirror, I actually saw this distorted image: I was so ugly and fat, I just wanted to kill myself, really.”

In 1994, Capriati was also charged with drug possession and went to a rehab center on Miami beach. However, despite her hardships, Capriati trained hard and won her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 2001. Later, she grabbed another Grand Slam title at the French Open.

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The 3-time Grand Slam champion was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2012.

Capriati struggled with her injuries

The former American tennis player achieved many recognitions during her time on the tour, but she moved away from the court in 2004. Capriati faced various injuries that were a huge setback for her during the journey. Her struggles with injuries and health issues restrained her from participating in various tennis tournaments. Capriati also faced issues during her training sessions because of her injuries.

Additionally, Capriati once revealed that she was surprised that her agency and the United States Tennis Association were ignoring her when she was not participating in tennis tournaments because of her injuries. Meanwhile, she also received support from her compatriot and rival, Serena Williams.

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