What happened to Jared Donaldson?

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On Monday, March 5, 2018, days after reaching the semifinals in Acapulco, Jared Donaldson became World No. 48. He achieved his highest ranking ever and positioned himself as the fourth best man from his country, reasons enough to celebrate. However, something inside him told him that this adventure would not last forever. Unfortunately, he was right.

One year later, at the Miami Masters 1000, Jared would play the final tournament of his career. Forced to retire at 25 years old due to chronic knee tendinitis, the Providence native made a radical turn in his life and fully embraced his studies. Make no mistake, his story is not that of a loser, but of a man who was able to reinvent himself and now smiles when he remembers what he was and what he ended up being. Through the blog Behind the racquet, no one better than himself to tell it.

INTEGRAL LETTER BY JARED DONALDSON

"I had constant pain for three and a half years. I was so desperate to find any fulfilling alternative that it was almost a relief when I was given the option to retire and bet everything on my studies. Many people say to me: 'Wow, it must have been quite a challenge.' The answer to that question is... yes and no. It wasn't a huge challenge in the sense that I didn't have any other option either. It wasn't as if I had to leave my career due to lack of talent or desire. The reason was that physically I couldn't."

"What really struck me was when I went to college and had to ask for help. I was used to always being very good, so asking for help felt strange. That was the most challenging part of the transition, but I never really felt sad, as I didn't have any other choice either. Life doesn't always work out the way you want, you have to adapt."

"One thing I try to tell kids is that tennis is great, it provided me with many opportunities for which I will always be grateful, but that athletic character ends someday. Tennis ends. It is very important to be well-rounded and open to other opportunities instead of closing yourself off and thinking: 'I only do this, I will only do this for the rest of my days'."

"Honestly, it's been a relief to step away from tennis. Just before my second surgery, I remember being on the phone with someone and saying to myself that if the surgery didn't work, I would have to stop and resume my studies. That conversation was a relief because I had already started thinking about the rehabilitation and the misery that it all could be. Now it's impossible for me to imagine what my life was like before, I just say that there should have been more possibility around what entails sacrifice. I think there should be more understanding and praise for players who take a big risk and miss many life events that are transformative and normal for the dream of playing tennis."

"Certainly, having turned 27 and entering my last year of university was not my first choice, but I will always be grateful to the University of Pennsylvania. I love academics, I feel like I put myself in an enviable position after tennis, a new career that gave me opportunities to pursue what I want to do. I am very lucky for this opportunity, although it required a lot of effort, dedication, commitment, and intensity, the same as I once put into tennis."

"With tennis, I just wanted to get better every day. Now, in life, professionally, I just want to learn a little more. I don't enjoy tennis anymore, I don't play as often, but I am very happy. I loved being on the circuit, the competition, and the pursuit of something that is really challenging. That's maybe what I miss, the experience I took away from tennis, what I truly like."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, ¿Qué fue de Jared Donaldson?