MADRID, 3 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The former tennis player Carla Suárez valued this Tuesday the “good moment” of Spanish women’s tennis, confessing that she sees Paula Badosa as “number one” in the world if she continues “with patience and without haste”, at the same time that she celebrated having given the “hundred percent” always during his professional career.
“With patience and without haste, I see Paula as number one. She is ‘close’. She only has Swiatek ahead of her. She is doing things very well,” Suárez said in statements provided by the organization of the Ciudad de la Raqueta Awards.
The former tennis player sees Spanish women’s tennis “at a very good time” and with the ability to “give joy” to the fans. “Last year, Paula (Badosa) took a giant step and, furthermore, this year, she is consolidating it. We already know what Garbiñe is capable of if her injuries respect her. Behind her, there are people like Sorribes or Párrizas and young tennis players with a lot of enthusiasm”, he analysed.
Thus, the Canarian tennis player pointed out that the circuit is “very open” after the withdrawal of the Australian Ashleigh Barty, with “many players who are candidates to win big titles.” “The great dominator is Swiatek, who has won four tournaments and also important ones,” she decided.
Carla Suárez, who announced on September 1, 2020 that she suffered from Hodgkin’s lymphoma, played her last match on November 3 of last year at the Billie Jean King Cup. And from that day on, the tennis player tried to disconnect “quite a lot”, to start multiple projects. “One of them excites me a lot, social action with the COE. Hopefully we can put it into practice soon,” she said.
“At the moment, I don’t have any professional connection with tennis. I don’t miss it, but I follow all the news from my colleagues. Professionally I don’t know where I’m going to go, but I think that in this social field I can do a lot. The help to others, it is always necessary,” he added.
“RETIREMENT WITH RACKET IN HAND WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME”
The winner of five WTA titles, three of them in the doubles category, does not believe that she will be a coach in the short term, something that has not yet been considered. “It’s still early. I finished in November. To be a coach you have to dedicate yourself one hundred percent and I needed a break. In the long term, we’ll see. Tennis has always been part of my life and I’m not going to close doors on myself”, express.
Suárez took stock of his career, with “many good moments” and in which he has “always” given “one hundred percent”. “Looking at everything with perspective, having been able to play in the best tournaments in the world and against the best tennis players makes me think that it was worth it,” he confessed.
“I don’t think I’ve left anything out. But yes, I could have made other decisions at times. Perhaps having listened more, paid more attention, which is something that doesn’t guarantee you win a Grand Slam, but it would have helped” , stated about her achievements, becoming among the top six in the world, although without reaching the final rounds in Grand Slams. “Perhaps at that time I did not compete one hundred percent or the rivals performed better than me those days,” she admitted.
However, the Canarian is proud of the “affection” received by the fans. “Maybe because of my personality or style of play,” she argued. “Then with the disease, the affection doubles. Everyone had a little while to call me and take an interest in me. I would have liked 2020 to be different, but the pandemic and the disease prevented it. I am very grateful. I retired with the racket in the hand, it was very important for me,” he said.
Carla Suárez will receive the Ciudad de la Raqueta Special Award on May 9, in a joint act of the María de Villota and Ciudad de la Raqueta Awards in which Marc Márquez, Laia Sanz, Toni Bou or ‘Pato’ Clavet will also be recognized , among others. The Canarian was very happy to receive an award “with a lot of tradition and so much media coverage”.