“Self-determination is very fulfilling,” says Gabriela Sabatini.

In the 20th century, Gabriela Sabatini was one of the most well-known female sports. This year, she turned 50. The Argentine liked tennis but didn’t like being famous. Self-determination in competitive sports and how to live a happy old age are talked about.

In May, you turned 50. Are the claims that the happiness curve is U-shaped and that you start to feel happy again in your mid-40s true?
Even though I don’t really care about my birthday, I am happy today. I am aware of my age, of course, but I feel great. I’m thankful that I’m okay. For everything I’ve done and the way I live now.

Do you agree with the saying “50 is the new 30”?
I feel like a young person, which is partly because of how I live my life. If I can, I start every day with sports. I like riding and I jog and swim a lot. It makes me feel good and calms me down. I’m also very busy in other ways and travel a lot. This helps me keep my mind sharp.As people age, do they become more independent?
Of course. You learn to set boundaries and choose what’s best for you over time. Things I do are more picky, and I only meet people I want to be with. To be able to choose for yourself is very satisfying and adds a new depth to life.

You were a tennis star as a child and got to the top very quickly. When you were 14, you were the best youth tennis player in the world. When you were 15, you made it to the French Open semifinals. Did you ever feel like your youth was lost or controlled by other people?
I think you feel free if you do the things that are important to you. But there were times when I cared more about what the people and the media want from me than what I want for myself. And that was before Facebook. Today, this stress is a lot worse for the young players.

You later admitted that it was hard for you to become famous so quickly.
To be honest, I was very shy and quiet at the start of my career. I also didn’t speak English very well, which is why I found it so hard to do interviews with foreign media.