LA GAZZETTA DELLO SPORT TENNIS SABATINI, A LIFE DEDICATED TO TENNIS: ‘SOMETIMES I PREFERRED TO LOSE TO AVOID THE PRESS

fame and success often go hand in hand. However, for Gabriela Sabatini, the legendary Argentine tennis player, the pursuit of greatness was a constant battle against the trappings of celebrity. In a recent interview with La Nacion, she reflected on her career, revealing that she sometimes preferred losing matches to avoiding the media and posing for photographs.

Throughout the ’80s and ’90s, Gabriela Sabatini’s tennis prowess shone brightly as she clinched 27 singles titles, including a memorable victory at the US Open in 1990. Yet, she was anything but a typical sports star. She admitted, “If I had become number 1, it would have been a problem.” This paradox was rooted in her innate shyness and aversion to the spotlight, which persisted despite her fierce competitiveness on the court.

Sabatini’s introverted nature led her to confess to intentionally losing in semifinals to escape the notoriety that came with winning. “I was always very competitive and viewed every defeat as a frustration. But fame was a problem, something I disliked,” she shared. Her reluctance to embrace fame may have even played a role in her not ascending to the number 1 ranking. Nonetheless, she cherished the love of tennis, competition, and victory.

On the court, Sabatini was a lioness, known for her determination and tenacity, often challenging and defeating iconic players like Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, and Monica Seles. While today’s tennis stars in Argentina are Gisela Dulko and Paula Ormaechea, Sabatini remains an unmatched national icon, having achieved an Olympic silver medal in 1988 and a Wimbledon final in 1991. She has no regrets, stating, “I’ve achieved so much, and life has given me wonderful moments.”

Seventeen years after retiring from professional tennis, Sabatini doesn’t miss the sport at all. She has stored her tennis equipment in the back of a closet, and the game no longer excites her. She observes that today’s tennis is different, emphasizing power over technique. She notes the change in physicality, exemplified by players like the Williams sisters.

Despite her retirement from competitive tennis, Sabatini maintains an active lifestyle with cycling, swimming, and her home gym. Her favorite pastime is traveling, something she couldn’t enjoy while playing professionally due to a hectic schedule. At 43 years old, she looks forward to visiting India and China, filling her life with new adventures, much like the time when she gracefully wielded a tennis racket, always preferring to remain out of the spotlight.