Caroline Wozniacki on illness: "Couldn't lift my arms"
In an interview with Bild am Sonntag , Caroline Wozniacki , who only ended her career in January of this year, talks about a persistent illness with which she still struggles today.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Dec 28, 2020, 08:42 pm
It was one of the big farewells that could be seen on the big tennis stage this year. Caroline Wozniacki, number one in the tennis world for 71 weeks, said "goodbye" after the Australian Open in January and ended her professional career at just 29 years old. The beginning of the end of her career was a diagnosis that she was to get at the climax of that, the diagnosis of "rheumatoid arthritis" in spring 2018.
"I was at the height of my tennis career in 2018 when I was diagnosed. I had won the Australian Open in January of that year, 2018 was supposed to be my golden year, but in the run-up to the US Open I was experiencing joint pain, constant fatigue and other inexplicable things Symptoms appear ", the Dane remembers the hard time in an interview with Bild am Sonntag . During this time, she lost games that she actually couldn't have lost.
For Wozniacki, however, the diagnosis was supposed to be a relief, as she had previously had to spend "several nerve-wracking months". That is how long it would have taken before she was properly diagnosed. According to the 30-year-old, this experience is also the reason why she stands up for women with such complaints: "Even as an athlete at the highest level with direct access to medical help at tournaments, I had enormous difficulties finding the right diagnosis to get."
"Couldn't Raise Arms"
Because the effects of the disease alone are already a major burden in everyday life, as Wozniacki explains: "I couldn't lift my arms, my shoulders, my elbows, my hands and my feet hurt. I found it difficult to brush my hair and fall out to come to the bed. " One day she even woke up in such great pain that she had to carry her husband out of bed.
He and her family are said to have been there for them during this difficult time. "My husband and family were very supportive. But it wasn't always easy for them. Especially before I got my proper diagnosis, it was an emotional and physical roller coaster ride because I didn't know how to touch the people in my life the sudden Should explain symptoms that I had. " During this time, she sometimes felt very alone, but her husband always encouraged her to continue looking for the cause of her complaints.
Healthy lifestyle as the key
Today Wozniacki claims that she has the disease more or less under control, and the stress that has decreased since she ended her career has made a significant contribution to this. In addition, the Dane now knows what things can prevent this disease: "I recommend everyone to do everything for their health: eat as healthily as possible, get enough sleep, do sports in the gym or do yoga. Training helps me to listen into my body and to establish a connection with it. "
However, the 30-year-old has turned her back on tennis for some time, and has only been on the court twice since the end of her career. Rather, Wozniacki is currently enjoying intensive work-outs, preferably with her husband. The fitness trainer from her active time also continues to look after her. And she also "loves" "going for long walks or runs."