Sabalenka urges Zverev to open up to family over mental health issues
Zverev crashed out 7-6(3) 6-7(8) 6-3 6-7(5) 6-4 against Arthur Rinderknech at Wimbledon on Tuesday for his first opening-round loss at a Grand Slam since the 2019 edition of the tournament, leaving the German third seed down in the dumps.
The 28-year-old, who has had to deal with a number of off-court problems in recent years, told reporters after his defeat that he felt "empty" and was considering therapy.
"I had a therapist for five years in my career," Sabalenka said after her win over Marie Bouzkova on Wednesday. "I stopped I don't know, maybe in 2022. It's crazy to hear from someone like Alexander, because he has surrounded himself with his family.
"It's really important to be open and to talk about what you're experiencing because if you're going to keep it inside, it's just going to destroy you. I think that's something happening to him.
"He just needs to open up to whoever is close to him ... people who can accept whatever you're dealing with. The moment you start talk about your problems, you start realising a lot of things. It helps to solve them."
Madison Keys, whose Australian Open triumph in January came in her 46th Grand Slam, had spoken then about how therapy helped her play her best tennis and she said on Wednesday that mental health was being discussed more openly on the tours.
"I think it's definitely got more open," Keys said.
"I don't really remember it being a talking point much. I think more and more players are open to saying, 'I'm talking to someone'. I would say there's probably more of us that are speaking to someone now than there was before.
"We have people every single week at tournaments, which is super helpful. Just to have that support, I think they've done a really good job at really helping all of the players through what is a really tough career."
Sabalenka said she no longer needed a therapist and that she often dealt with her issues by interacting with her team.
"We always talk a lot ... we can talk about whatever," the Belarusian added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Gill's second century puts India on course for big victory
BIRMINGHAM, England :India were closing on an emphatic series-levelling win in the second test against England on Saturday as the hosts stumbled to 72-3 at the close on day four chasing an unlikely victory target of 608. After India captain Shubman Gill had scored another masterful century at Edgbaston, India fast bowlers Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj blew away England's top order. England lost Zak Crawley for a duck when the opener edged Siraj to backward point and Ben Duckett (25) was bowled off an inside edge from Deep that broke the top of his middle stump. India wasted two reviews but did not let up and picked up the crucial wicket of Joe Root when Deep broke through his defence with a delivery that seamed away and hit off stump. Ollie Pope (24) and Harry Brook (15) were at the crease at stumps, with England needing 536 runs to complete by far the largest successful run chase in test history. After his first-innings double century (269), Gill raced to 161 off 162 deliveries to amass 430 runs in the match and sit second behind England's Graham Gooch (456 against India in 1990) for the most runs by a batter in a single test. Gill's knock took him past compatriot Sunil Gavaskar's 344 runs in a test against the West Indies in 1971 to make the Indian record his own. After Gill lost his vice-captain Rishabh Pant (65) following a 110-run partnership, Ravindra Jadeja joined him at the crease and they continued to tire out England's bowlers. Pant had entertained the crowd with his extravagant shots to all corners of the ground and he lost his bat on two occasions when it slipped out of his gloves. He punished the England bowlers after being dropped on 10 but the second time he lost his bat, which landed at mid-wicket, he gave Duckett an easy catch at long off. Just as in the first innings - where Gill and Jadeja shared a 203-run stand - they frustrated the England bowlers with a 175-run partnership. Jadeja (69 not out) played slowly at first but once Gill got to his hundred, the pair cut loose and India added 123 runs after tea. Gill finished with 13 fours and eight sixes, earning a reprieve when Pope lost the ball in the sun's glare when a catch went up to fine leg. Shoaib Bashir finally dismissed Gill when a shot lobbed up in the air for an easy caught and bowled. The crowd expected an immediate declaration but Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar walked out to bat as chants of "Boring, boring India" rang out around Edgbaston.
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Consistent Swiatek outclasses out-of-sorts Collins at Wimbledon
LONDON :Poland's Iga Swiatek strode imperiously into the fourth round at Wimbledon on Saturday, with a dominant 6-2 6-3 win over Danielle Collins and said she felt the balls were listening to her this year. The former world number one broke the 31-year-old American's serve in the third game of the Centre Court match to set the tone, adding another break in the fifth and wrapping up the set with a big serve. "I was in the zone and I knew that I had to be brave," Swiatek said in a courtside interview. She said she had never felt so comfortable playing on grass. "I had practices where the ball was listening to me," she said. "Today was a good day and it is a new experience feeling good on this surface." It was Swiatek's eighth victory over Collins, but the American beat her most recently at the Italian Open in May. "I tried to play fast because you can't let Danielle play her winners. I am really happy with my consistency at the moment," Swiatek, who described herself as "an intense person", added. In contrast Collins looked out of sorts. She slipped twice on the grass and racked up 25 unforced errors as the 24-year-old Pole intensified the pressure. Collins offered some moments of resistance through her own powerful serve and swinging backhand but she failed to find her range against her determined opponent. Despite winning five Grand Slams, Swiatek, now ranked fourth in the world, has never progressed beyond the quarter-finals here but said she was having much more fun this year. "If the ball is listening to me, I don't need to do much. I try to be aggressive and I am moving a lot better here." Swiatek claimed victory in confident style after one hour and 15 minutes on Collins's serve with a forehand winner to set up a clash with Denmark's Clara Tauson, seeded 23, in the fourth round on Monday.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Krejcikova's reign over as ailing champion is beaten by Navarro
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 5, 2025 Emma Navarro of the U.S. in action during her third round match against Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq LONDON - Ailing defending champion Barbora Krejcikova was knocked out of Wimbledon when she was beaten 2-6 6-3 6-4 by American 10th seed Emma Navarro in a disjointed Court One contest on Saturday. Czech Krejcikova, seeded 17, led by a set and a break of serve but faded badly and looked physically drained in the final set in which she required treatment from the doctor. A distressed Krejcikova, who has had a difficult season plagued by a back injury, battled on but appeared to be in tears as she prepared to serve to stay in the tournament at 3-5 in the decider, bravely holding serve to prolong the contest. But Navarro held her nerve to seal victory and ensure that, for the eighth Wimbledon in a row, the women's singles champion will be a first-time winner. Navarro, who reached the quarter-finals last year, will face 18-year-old seventh seed Mirra Andreeva in the next round. A 15-minute interruption for drizzle after two games and a blustery breeze hardly helped the flow of an untidy contest in which Navarro struck only 13 winners to Krejcikova's 34. But the American managed to focus through the distractions, with Krejcikova at times bent double between points in the third set after having her blood pressure and pulse checked. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Asean needs 'bolder reforms' to attract investments in more fragmented global economy: PM Wong Singapore CPF members can make housing, retirement and health insurance plans with new digital platform Singapore CPF's central philosophy of self-reliance remains as pertinent as ever: SM Lee Singapore Credit reports among personal data of 190,000 breached, put for sale on Dark Web; IT vendor fined Asia Dalai Lama hopes to live beyond 130 years, much longer than predicted Singapore Tan Cheng Bock, Hazel Poa step down from PSP leadership; party launches 'renewal plan' Sport Liverpool will move on after Jota's tragic death, but he will never be forgotten Singapore Rock climbing fan suddenly could not jump, get up from squats "It was tough out here today, neither of us played our best tennis, she was dealing with some injuries and I was dealing with whatever I was dealing with," Navarro said on court. "It's not easy to be composed (when your opponent is struggling). Part of you is saying just put a bunch of balls in the court and that's all you need to do. "But then you trick yourself into not playing the way you want to play." After the early rain stoppage left the players twiddling their thumbs on court with officials opting not to shut the roof or cover the grass, Krejcikova settled better and reeled off four games in a row on her way to taking the opening set. Krejcikova broke serve for a 2-1 lead in the second set but, unlike earlier when she went on a roll, she lost the momentum as Navarro began to dig in her heels. "I like to play scrappy and get a few more balls back in the court," Navarro said of her change in fortunes. Navarro broke serve twice on her way to levelling the match with Krejcikova then going off court for a comfort break and Navarro having a long pep talk from her coach Peter Ayers. The 24-year-old saved five break points in the second game of the third set and Krejcikova looked mortified when she was broken in the next game, staring into space as her hopes faded. Krejcikova broke back, but then lost her own serve immediately as Navarro found the corner with a sweetly-struck backhand. After being checked over by the doctor, Krejcikova dragged herself back to the baseline and even found some inspiration to level the set at 3-3. Despite the support of a sympathetic crowd, Krejcikova looked close to collapse at times in the finals stages as her Wimbledon reign came to a bitter end. REUTERS
