Editor’s note: 10sBalls thanks Noah Rubin for giving us permission to repost these great stories. We wish him and this endeavor the best of luck. Great seeing Noah wearing K-Swiss and playing Solinco Strings.
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“When I was 22 I had glandular fever, which is mono. People go through things much worse, but this was one of my toughest moments because I was at my career high, at the time, of 39 in the world. I remember at the Australian Open, I was just so tired and I could not be asked to walk on for my first round match. The match before me was one of those where you just don’t know when it’s going to finish. I literally warmed up with my fitness coach for an hour just trying to stay warm. I eventually got on court and was down 3-1 in the first set and already cramping. I’m like, ‘For f**k sake.’ I thought it was because my warm-up was too long. I knew I didn’t have enough energy, but at the same time, I’m thinking it is only 3:1 and I’ve just had pre-season, this is not normal. I get down 6:1, 3:1 and called for the doctor. I told him I couldn’t do this and he gave me some sugars and electrolyte drinks and pushed me to keep going. I kept the points as short as possible and somehow managed to win the match and the one after. I caught myself in my room, curled up in a ball thinking, ‘I hate tennis. I don’t really want to play anymore.’ I finally told my coaches how I was feeling and they thought we needed to be training harder. I couldn’t think of anything worse. Even after we put in extra work I felt myself continuing to cramp and feeling extremely tired. I told my agent I was done.” The WTA physios gave me the first piece of helpful advise. They insisted I get blood work done. I got the results that said I had mono. I was actually relieved I had something because I thought I was growing soft and lazy. I took a needed four months off. I struggled to get back, but it was better than before. It had a really big effect on my mental health, which I was struggling with, but at the end of the day, I do really love tennis. In that past Australian Open I was at the stage where whatever my team told me to do, I would do it. Now it’s a conversation and at the end of the day, I make the final decision. My results haven’t been amazing, but what I will say is that I’m very happy on and off the court and tennis isn’t the be-all ,end-all and I’m okay with that.” @heatherwatson92
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