Federico Gomez had never experienced such a successful season in his career as in 2024. He won his first Challenger in Milan, followed by titles in Trieste and Guayaquil, and broke into the top 150 for the first time. This was a remarkable achievement, particularly considering he started the year ranked 373rd. He even secured his first ATP main draw victory in Chengdu (6-4 7-5 against Muller). Yet, despite these accomplishments, Gomez has been grappling with inner demons and decided to share his journey on Instagram.
A Heartfelt Message
“Dear tennis… The sport that has given me everything and taken so much from me at the same time. I regret hitting rock bottom, but I also want to use this situation to gain momentum and lift myself back up,” he began his post.
“While 2024 was undoubtedly the best year of my tennis career, it was also the toughest personally, especially recently. The last six months have been some of the most challenging of my life,” revealed the Argentinian.
The Courage to Speak Out
“Dealing with thoughts of quitting tennis altogether, questioning whether it’s all worth it, and even struggling with suicidal thoughts–these are difficult things to admit. I wanted to share this so you can understand some of my actions and behaviors during this time,” he continued.
“I’m not sharing this for attention, but to show that we all have internal battles, whether they’re visible or not,” explained the World #135, who admitted how emotionally taxing it was to write such a candid message: “It’s hard for me to write all this without breaking down in tears, but I believe it’s the best decision I could make right now to lift this heavy weight that’s been weighing on me constantly.”
A Journey Toward Healing
“I aim to rediscover the natural joy that defines me and, most importantly, to feel good about myself again, understanding that ‘it’s okay not to be okay.’ […] I’m still striving for my best self. I will work towards reclaiming the emotional well-being I once had,” Gomez concluded.
The 28-year-old showed immense bravery in opening up and sharing his feelings in such a raw confession, which is incredibly important. Mental health is a serious issue that is often overlooked, especially in the world of professional tennis, where the glamorous aspects often overshadow the challenges such as loneliness on tour.
Main Photo Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
