Sabatini: Too Much Fame Kept Me From No. 1

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 21st October 2013

Sabatini: Too Much Fame Kept Me From No. 1

Old-time tennis great Gabriela Sabatini reacts during a doubles show match with Germany's Boris Becker against German comedian Otto Waalkes and Michael Stich in Hamburg 17 May 2003. EPA-PHOTO/dpa/Ulrich Perrey |

It’s hard to imagine former US Open champion Gabriela Sabatini as a shy young girl these days as she traipses the globe comfortably promoting her line of perfume and cosmetics.

But there was a time when she was an up and coming player that she was so besieged by media attention that she claimed to have deliberately lost matches so she wouldn’t have to talk to the press.

Now 43, Sabatini was junior phenom, having won the Orange Bowl at the age of 13 and reaching the French Open semis at the age of 15 years and three weeks.

“When I was younger and thought that I had to talk after winning a tournament, I often lost in the semifinals so I did not have to. It was that bad!” Sabatini told La Nacion. “I was very introverted. I had some issues at school because I was very inward-looking. I was very nervous that time. But at the same time, I very competitive and I was frustrated not to win. When I lost the first set when I was little , and threw the match, it was because I had so much anger and could not stand losing the first set. It was like I did not care . There were several issues and fame for me was an issue. That aside, I did not like recognition.”

The 43-year-old Sabatini won the 1990 US Open, but was unable to repeat the next year. She was factor at every Grand Slam, reaching the Wimbledon final in 1991 and the French and Australian semis on numerous occasions. But considered a beauty, photographers followed her everywhere, which she found hard to adjust to.

“Fame should be treated with care,” she said. “Many times I didn’t feel good about things I was living through or photographers following me around . But I was young and did not understand anything. I’d read a newspaper article that did not speak well of me , that would read ” Gabriela is vacant ” and other negative things . I was wondering how could they say that when they didn’t know me? It was hard.

At one point I had to stop reading because it affected me. If someone is talking about something negative and baseless, it’s not good . It cost me to understand that. I had a maturation process. That was one of the things that I most had to deal with in my tennis career, and it was required of me to become a No. 1. While I wanted to be the No.1 , that extra thing I did [better]. Being famous has some positive things, but otherwise it wasn’t what I liked. I think my fame and exposure had something to do with why I did not become No 1. Having so much fame and coming to No.1 at the same time was an issue.”

Sabatini was not only considered beautiful off court, but she had a stylistic, graceful game, even though she also had technical problems. She mixed and matched a lot of shots and came to the net quite often, although it was not easy at times given how spotty her serve was. The only players amongst today’s ranks who plays a bit like she does is Roberta Vinci.

“It’s different,” she said.” One isn’t better than the other. That does not exist. Today is tennis is more powerful than before, they hit harder. Beginning with Williams sisters, who had physiques we had not seen before. Today players hit flatter and they all play very similar. As soon you have a player with more variety, who can play with more topspin, you can start to bother them. But you have to have a strong base to counter those deep, powerful strokes.”

Topics: 10sballs.com, French Open, Gabriela Sabatini, Grand Slam, Roberta Vinci, Tennis, Tennis News, US Open, Wimbledon

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NewYorkPuck says:

October 21, 2013 at 11:57 am

RT @10sBalls_com: Sabatini: Too Much Fame Kept Me From No. 1: It’s hard to imagine former US Open champion Gabriela Sab… http://t.co/1HiS…
neelimer says:

October 21, 2013 at 6:52 pm

RT @scottmitch10s: One of my favorites, Sabatini http://t.co/euA3iitZeg