The issue of depression in Tennis

cross post from Fansided.com

Rightly or wrongly, mental health issues are a taboo topic in the sporting world. It is rare for a sports star to reveal any problems they are having publicly. Depression in tennis is painted by the same brush. It is rarely talked about and yet it would be hard to suggest it wasn’t a problem.

it is important that the topic of mental health is not a topic that tennis players avoid discussing

Only the other day Nick Kyrgios stated burnout as the reason that he was withdrawing from the remainder of the tournament of the year. At first glance you might think it seems crazy that a 19-year-old, who has only seemingly come into the public view, is suffering from mental fatigue.

However, we are only seeing him at the peak of his development. Nobody knows the sacrifices he has made to get to the top of the game. We don’t see the hours on the practice court and in the gym. Promising Brit Heather Watson admitted to having similar problems.

In a transparent interview with the Telegraph, Watson explained:

"“The mental confidence at the end was so bad, 10 times worse than the physical … I had worries, depression – I couldn’t sleep and didn’t want to play anymore.” – Heather Watson"

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The pressure of young players to succeed is enormous. This may be a big factor in why we are seeing so few teenagers break onto the main tour. The mental side of the game should not be underestimated, just look what players like Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic go through on a daily basis, experiencing a range of intense emotions.

People will argue that choosing a career in tennis comes with these pressures and I would agree. But it is important that the topic of mental health is not a topic that tennis players avoid discussing.

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