Tennis / News
Bristol tennis star Katie Swan shares her struggles with confidence
Just one game away from qualifying for the main draw of the French Open, Katie Swan has left Paris with her head held high.
After losing at Roland Garros, the Bristol tennis star opened up on social media about mental health in an attempt to help others.
Twenty-year-old Swan, who grew up in Abbots Leigh and went to Bristol Grammar School, wrote about her recent struggles with confidence.
is needed now More than ever
Katie Swan is managed by Andy Murray
Writing on Twitter, the British number five said she was “afraid to embarrass” herself at the French Open before deciding to seek help for confidence issues.
She said that she felt “less of a person” after every defeat and has recently started meeting a psychologist to “actively change and improve things”.
“It has made a big difference to my overall wellbeing,” said Swan, who is ranked 208th in the world and reached the second round of Wimbledon in 2018.
“Three weeks ago I wasn’t sure I wanted to play in Roland Garros because I was afraid to embarrass myself,” Swan wrote..
“I’m heading back to London with my head held high and feeling very proud. This isn’t something I’d normally open up about but it has made such a big difference to my overall well-being.”
She added: “Now I realise that the life of a tennis player isn’t about pleasing people or proving your worth to them.
“It’s about proving it to yourself. If you can go to bed at night and tell yourself you are proud of yourself then that is all the reason you need to be happy and satisfied.”
Swan said she has struggled with her confidence on and off court in the “last six to eight months” and decided to seek help a fortnight ago.
“Every match I lost I didn’t just feel a worse tennis player, I also felt less of a person,” she said.
“I decided to keep most of these thoughts to myself because I didn’t want to be a burden for anyone and it is very hard to open up about this.
“However, a couple of weeks ago I thought to myself this could go one of two ways – I can keep feeling more and more down until I really can’t take it anymore or I can actively try to change and improve things.”
Swan is expected to receive a wildcard into the Wimbledon ladies singles tournament, which starts in SW19 on July 1.
Photos courtesy of @Katieswan99 on Twitter
Read more: Katie Swan flying flag for GB at Wimbledon
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