At just 28 years old, Sara Sorribes, a bronze medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has decided to step away from professional tennis indefinitely. The announcement, shared via her Instagram account, sent ripples across the tennis community.
Sorribes opened up about her struggles, revealing that she has been battling both mental and physical challenges that have taken a toll on her passion for the sport.
The decision was met with widespread reactions, with none more notable than the words of support from Carlos Alcaraz, the Spanish phenom and reigning ATP standout.
Sorribes turned professional in 2012 and quickly carved a name for herself on the WTA circuit. She reached a career-high singles ranking of World No. 32 and claimed two WTA 250 titles. But her prowess wasn’t limited to singles. In doubles, she soared as high as World No. 17 and etched her name in Olympic history alongside Cristina Bucsa, capturing the bronze medal at Paris 2024.
Bronze Medallists, Sara Sorribes Tormo and Cristina Bucsa of Team Spain pose with the Spanish flag on the podium during 2024 Olympics. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Sorribes’ emotional announcement
On Instagram, Sorribes laid bare her struggles in a heartfelt message to her followers. “I wanted to share that I’ve decided to take some time off—for my mind, my body, and myself. I’ve been suffering on the tennis court for months. The cheerful, happy Sara you see off the court is far from the reality I’m living inside,” she wrote.
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“I’ve lost the drive to train, improve, and even to compete in tournaments. The moments of struggle far outweigh the calm ones, and this is coming from someone who has always loved the grind of work, improvement, and competition,” Sorribes continued.
“That’s why I feel the need to stop and rest. I don’t know if this break will be temporary or permanent, but I want to be honest with myself and my body. See you soon, Sara,” she added.
Carlos Alcaraz steps in with support
Carlos Alcaraz, one of Spain’s brightest tennis talents, weighed in on Sorribes’ decision, empathizing with her struggles and shedding light on the mental strain tennis players endure.
“People—and we as players too—pay a lot of attention to social media,” Alcaraz shared. “Unfortunately, we focus more on the negative than the positive, and it affects us. Tennis is a very demanding sport, and it’s nonstop week after week. You don’t realize you need to stop until you’ve reached a point where a few days off aren’t enough, and you need much longer”.
The World No.2 also reflected on his personal journey, recounting how a brief break after his early exit at the Miami Open helped him reset. “Thankfully, I’ve never had to take an indefinite or extended break. After Miami, I knew I needed to disconnect for a few days to clear my mind and focus on what truly matters. It really helped me prepare for the clay court season,” he continued.
Alcaraz then offered words of encouragement to Sorribes, emphasizing her resilience. “It’s a shame to see someone as cheerful as Sara having to step away from tennis. I hope we’ll see her back soon, competing and fighting because she’s a warrior,” he said.
