Salisbury: "Over the last year, it has made me mentally stronger than before"
The world number 10 in doubles speaks honestly about the anxiety he experiences and the break he will take.
Mental health is becoming an increasingly important topic in the world of sports, especially in tennis. In this case, Joe Salisbury, ranked 10th in doubles, has been forced to take a break from his professional activities due to mental health issues.
The 33-year-old British player announced this just after reaching the final of the ATP Finals 2025 (in the doubles category) and spoke candidly about how these issues affect his daily life.
"I've had palpitations, a feeling like my heart is beating all over my body. You feel like your body is shaking a bit, as if your whole body is vibrating slightly," Joe Salisbury confessed in an interview with BBC. It has been difficult to cope with at times and has taken away my desire to play and compete at some moments throughout the year."
How does anxiety affect his career?
"You definitely feel it a lot in your stomach, you feel unwell. I struggle to sleep, and because of that feeling, I also struggle to eat well, to eat enough. It's almost like a sense of dread, as if something bad is going to happen. I wouldn't say it affected my tennis much. We have played well, especially in the last six months. I feel like I have handled it well and have managed to be in a good state on the court to perform well in most of the matches I've played.
It has been an additional emotional and mental strain for me. It has meant that I have not enjoyed many of the tournaments I've participated in. I haven't talked to many people about the difficulties I've had, mainly with my team, friends, and family, so not with many people in the tennis world."
Tennis and mental health
"Many people don't want to share too much because they don't want others to know, especially when you have to compete against them. To be honest, I don't mind people knowing. I'm sure it's something many people have to deal with, and I don't think it affects me, on the contrary, over the past year, it has made me mentally stronger than before."
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Salisbury: "Durante el último año me ha hecho mentalmente más fuerte que antes"