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Gabriela Sabatini’s tennis career took off quickly. It was bound to. Finessing the sport at the tender age of 14 comes with some limitations. Although no obstacle ever prevented the Argentine from achieving her ambitions, it had a profound impact on her mental health. The sight of friends and friendly faces never brought out her dazzling smile; it was the prospect of earning more accolades. Until it was not.
It might become lonely at the top. Unfortunately for Sabatini, she had to see that depressing image. The retired tennis pro won 41 trophies, including the 1990 US Open, and was the youngest player to win the famous Orange Bowl. Despite displaying enormous skill and straining against a pressure cooker of expectations, the Argentine burned out at the age of 26. While she momentarily returned after two years, her lovely side was forever gone. The former ‘arrogant’ athlete had some prominent reasons why her demeanour was not well-liked at the time.

In an exclusive interview with ‘The Guardian’ on June 16, 2003, the Argentine spoke up about her then-aloof side. Sabatini, who is rarely seen greeting fellow players, responded to fans’ ever-mysterious queries by saying, “It’s difficult to make friends on tour. It’s a solitary sport; you play your match and then leave. This was the former World No. 3’s kryptonite.

While a lack of professional motive may result in a recovery from an existential crisis, loneliness eliminates those possibilities. After success and failure, a young Gabriela found herself imprisoned in a terrible cycle. Aside from travelling with her coach and brother, with whom she had a unique affinity, the Argentine was never accompanied by a retinue. The torment of loneliness, along with the dying prospect of her passion, which drove her to greatness, resulted in her premature retirement from sports.