Ane Mintegi: "The dream is still there, no injury is going to take it away from me"

Streaming ATP Geneva live tennis

🎾 Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard

1. Sign up with Bet365 here
2. Make your first deposit of at least €5
3. Go to the “Live” section and watch every match

Watch the match on Bet365

 PUBLICIDAD

Register at bet365, deposit €5 or more into your account and you will receive 100% of your eligible deposit in Bet Credits (up to €100). New customers only. Terms apply. Winnings do not include the value of Bet Credits. Maximum prizes, game restrictions, time limits and terms apply. Registration required.

What happened to that girl with glasses who won Wimbledon Junior a few years ago? More than one must have asked this question in recent times, so here is Punto de Break to bring answers. Let's say life became tough for Ane Mintegi (Idiazábal, 2003) since she made history in London, witnessing how injuries repeatedly interrupted her jump to professionalism. It's the bitter side of sports, but also the challenge for the athlete, not to give up even when the storm rages.

The BBVA Open Internacional de Valencia will always be a special place for the Guipuzcoana, her first tournament after conquering Wimbledon, a moment we took advantage of to interview her for the first time back in 2021. Four years later, meeting again at the Sporting Club facilities, many things have changed, although Ane still maintains the same low profile and calmness in her communication. An extremely reserved personality that, however, arouses tenderness and sympathy. A fighter fully devoted to tennis, willing to pay the highest price to make her dream come true.

With the history of injuries in mind, this question makes more sense than ever: how are you?

That is in the past now, I am physically fine, everything that happened stays in my memory. Now it's time to take a step forward and turn the page.

That's easy to say, but then...

When I have suffered certain injuries or been told that I needed another operation, I always said to myself: there is no other option. We get through it, recover, and try again. Until my moment comes.

Maybe there was another possibility.

I love tennis, despite all these injuries I never doubted that I would play again, that I would come back stronger.

Do you mind if we review everything that has happened since 2021?

At the end of 2021, I began having problems with my elbow, and in April 2022, I had my first surgery. I recovered, started playing again, but still felt the same pain. In November 2022, I had another surgery on my elbow and had a year of recovery. In October 2023, I returned to compete, did a mini pre-season, until in February 2024, I played four tournaments, and in the last one, I had to retire. That's when they told me I had to have hip surgery, in April, so I couldn't compete again until September...

Is it bad luck? Could any of it have been prevented?

It cannot be prevented, we had no idea that all of this would happen; it was entirely a matter of my genetics. Fortunately, everything has turned out very well, both the hip and the elbow.

On a scale of 0 to 10, how hard has it been for you?

It's been very tough, especially when they tell you that you have to have surgery again or be out for another year. I'd say a 7 […] In the end, you have to focus on it in the best way possible, without thinking about the time you are losing, as that's where you can get into a very damaging cycle. Mentally, you can fall into a hole that makes it impossible to move forward.

Did you doubt your body?

Not doubts, but it's true that when you start playing again, you feel very bad, you see that you have lost all the rhythm. That's when I asked myself: Will I be able to play at the same level as before? Right now, I tell you yes, but you have to have a lot of confidence and patience to achieve it.

At what moment in your life did you feel best on the court?

In Wimbledon Junior, 2021. I had more confidence there because I also had a lot more match rhythm.

Back then you had more confidence, tell me something you have more of now.

Mentally, I am stronger because of everything I have experienced in these three years. That has made me stronger.

Who had a harder time, you or your surroundings?

Both […] My family, my coaches, and the entire TEC team have always been a huge support; they have always believed in me to get through that very dark moment.

Where would Ane Mintegi be without injuries? Did you ever ask yourself this question?

I don't know what to say […] I never asked myself that question, nor did I want to put that pressure on myself or hurt myself because of all the time lost. Each one has their career and their path. I believe the potential is still there; obviously, I would have liked to play more during all this time, but also in these three years, I have learned things that I wouldn't have learned without getting injured.

For example?

It has made me work much harder mentally, get through really tough situations, but always knowing how privileged I am. In my daily life, I am aware that many people are going through worse things than I am.

Were you ever tempted to give up?

No one; I have a family-team environment that has never given up on me, perhaps because they saw that I would never give up.

You seem like the type of person who doesn't show weakness to loved ones to prevent them from suffering.

A little bit (laughs).

Does that personality trait help you?

For some things, yes; perhaps not so much for others. I haven't thought about it, but if they had seen a person very affected by this process, it wouldn't have helped them either. I tried to always be optimistic, showing joy and the certainty that we would get through this.

When did you hit rock bottom?

When they told me I had to have hip surgery. Coming back right after the second elbow surgery and being told I had to have hip surgery now... that was like... ugh, I can't […] But I quickly changed my mindset, to get through this and come back strong. Of course, you have your down days, every doctor's visit was very tough, nights of thinking about a lot of things, but I quickly focused on doing my job until the day I could play again.

How do you manage not to play with fear when returning?

When you're recovering, you think about it, the fear of that pain while playing scares you, but since I returned to competing, it hasn't crossed my mind. You have to leave those fears aside; otherwise, it's impossible to compete.

What would your life be like without tennis?

Very family-oriented, I am a girl who enjoys being with her family, in her town, enjoying time with them.

Imagine if they took tennis away from you, could you bear it?

[…] It would hurt, but eventually, I would find something that makes me happy. For me, my family will always be the most important thing.

Many people wonder what happened to Ane Mintegi. What would you tell them?

I would tell them that she was a girl who had a promising career, especially in the junior stage, but when she transitioned to professionalism, she had the misfortune of being injured for two and a half years. A girl who is now back in the game.

Do you worry about losing media attention?

I don't care (laughs).

If I took your phone, I would bet you're not someone who spends 8 hours daily on it.

I use it like anyone else, but I'm not addicted to it either. A few wasted hours on Instagram and TikTok, like almost everyone.

Do you think tennis owes you anything?

I don't think tennis owes me anything; it is a wonderful sport, albeit very tough. It has given me incredible, unforgettable moments, as well as others that I didn't like so much. I love this sport, and it will always be that way.

I think it does owe you something.

I only ask it to bring me health; now I am turning things around, so I only think about having health.

From 2021 to 2025, is it mentally where you have improved the most?

Mentally and physically.

Was there a need to make a leap in physical training?

All the injuries I had were not due to being physically unfit; they were more due to bad luck. Breaking the ligament of my elbow was not due to physical issues. Neither was the hip issue. Yes, we had to improve physically, so I took advantage of the recovery to come back much stronger.

Do you think you can serve as an example for other athletes who may go through something similar?

I think so; TEC players with minor injuries have asked me, and I always told them to stay calm, not to worry, that everything would turn out fine. It wouldn't make sense for me, because of an injury, to make a big deal out of it. I can't do this when thousands of people are experiencing much more serious problems.

It's the second time you've mentioned this, is there a particular issue that concerns you?

The war between Israel and Palestine, all those deaths, all the children suffering in that conflict. Nobody should have to go through something like that.

Does it affect you in your daily life?

Of course, it affects me; we have to be aware of everything that happens in the world, appreciate that we are all privileged not to live in countries where war is still ongoing.

How can people be made more aware?

By being aware, making your contribution, and speaking up when you have the opportunity. We have to be more activist in all these issues; right now, I can't do it because I don't have the media power, but hopefully, one day, I will have that voice.

Here you have a platform, is there any message you would like to send?

What I just said, nobody should have to go through those moments or experience such things.

Returning to your career, do you have any medium-term goals in mind?

The main goal we have set is to have health, then we'll see what comes next. From here on, it's about getting into the rhythm of matches, continuing to compete, and gradually climbing the rankings.

Are you still dreaming big or have you become more realistic?

The dream is always there; no one can take it away from you, much less an injury. My dream is still alive; I hope to become a professional and dedicate myself to tennis, a lot of tennis. The dream of wanting to play tennis has never been taken from me, of wanting this sport as much as I do.

The dream is to make a living from this.

Exactly, I want to dedicate myself to tennis for my whole life, reach the… top 50, for example. For now, I want to focus on my daily life and gradually move up, living this dream.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Ane Mintegi: “El sueño sigue ahí, ninguna lesión me lo va a quitar”