Retired for 27 years, Gabriela Sabatini She is an exceptional spectator in women’s tennis, one of the great references in the history of the WTA Tour, which turns 50 this year.
The unforgettable Gaby, 53, starred in epic duels with the German Steffi Graf or with the Serbian Monica Seles. It also rivaled the Spanish Arantxa Sanchez Vicario y conchita martinez. Even with the legendary Martina Navratilova.
In a few weeks the US Openwhere he achieved his most important title, his only Grand Slam, in 1990, along with two women’s Masters, also in NYand an Olympic silver, in seoul 1988.
From Switzerland, where she lives for much of the year, Gabriela Sabatini answered her phone and gave an interview to Agencia EFE.
-How is life now for Gabriela Sabatini?
I have several tasks. Some related to tennis, others not so much. I have had my perfumes for many years. Then I do various things around tennis. Some companies I work with. I’m pretty busy almost all the time.
Gabriela Sabatini with Juan Martín Del Potro, two glories of Argentine sports. Photo: Twitter.
-He has been retired for 27 years. She is a luxury spectator of tennis. What differences does she see between the tennis of her time and hers today?
-I think that generations advance and technology also changes. Everything advances. There is now a very powerful game for both women and men. Perhaps less variety is seen in the women’s game. But the reality is that they hit him very hard and the physiques have also changed. They are much stronger, different aspects are worked on and that is the difference.
-You retired a long time ago from the tracks, but have you ever missed the circuit or the competition?
-The reality is that my decision to stop playing was well considered and I took the necessary time to think that it was the right decision and it was. I took some time to think about it. And since I made the decision to stop playing, the reality is that I have never missed being on a court. Yes as a spectator and perhaps what is missed are some places, some tournaments, the people… But being back on a tennis court I have never felt the desire to be there again.
Gabriela Sabatini and Gisela Dulko, present at the Roland Garros legends tournament.
-In any case, you have always had a certain connection to exhibitions or charity events.
-Yeah. That was always present. In fact I did exhibitions after playing. I hadn’t touched a racket and at the age of five or six I played again, an exhibition. Then the same thing happened. Every once in a while I always play. In fact, last year I was invited to play by the legends at Roland Garros and I played there more often. It was nice to be there at Roland Garros again and see players from my time who today are great friends and tennis is still a great family for me.
Gabriela Sabatini during an exhibition in Buenos Aires with Rafael Nadal, Gisella Dulko and Casper Rudd. Photo: EFE/ Matias Campaya.
-Fifty years have passed since the creation of the WTA Tour. What progress do you think has been made in this time?
-The equality of prizes is a very important matter and the situation has been equalized a lot there. It is something that has been achieved with a lot of work and that has been achieved with a lot of time and many years of constant struggle so that women are in the same place. The effort, the work, the sacrifice is the same as that of men and that is why women also deserved to be on equal terms. That is the most important thing, the economic aspect because from there many things have been possible. The amount of tournaments and competition out there today is amazing. In fact, in Argentina, the economic situation has been a bit difficult and today many tournaments are held and that helps local players a lot because it is difficult for them to compete or travel abroad due to the exchange difference and having competition within of the country makes them improve their level and that there is not so much difference with the rest.
-What aspects remain to be done so that there is more equality between men’s and women’s tennis?
– I believe that from the promotion, the publicity of the contagion. All of this makes people want to consume more sneakers and from there you have to work. In taking advantage of the great players in the world ranking to promote tennis and make it reach everywhere. It has to be a sport of crowds and popular. So it’s a lot of work to promote it and get it to the whole world.
-Would a merger of the ATP and WTA be a big step forward?
I think that would be a good idea. It works on that. In fact, more and more tournaments are shared between men and women. It would be good, because they both have the same objectives, they work a little on the same thing and a merger would give tennis many advantages.
-Now we see the momentum and strength of women’s football with the World Cup. In this sense, has tennis been a pioneer for women’s sport, has it opened paths?
-Yes, definitely. She has shown how far girls can go. I follow women’s football and the World Cup and the potential and how far it can go is incredible. The difference falls on the most underdeveloped countries and there the economic issue influences a lot. The fact that in tennis and other sports women show that they can do it and that they can be up there, it helps other sports a lot.
-You who lived and starred in epic duels with some of the best players in history such as Graf and Seles, do you miss duels of that level, of that rivalry in tennis today?
-Today, the domain of tennis is more changing. Before there was a smaller group of players who led the tournaments and today there is more rotation. It’s hard to know who is number two or number three, but I also think that it can have its advantages because many players from Eastern Europe have been seen doing very well. There are really very attractive players to watch. I really like Ons Jabeur, Karolina Muchova too, what Iga Swiatek is doing is incredible. Holding that number one for a long time. There are really high-ranking players and I think that’s good.
Rivals and friends, Sabatini and Martina Navratilova at an exhibition organized in Buenos Aires, in 2009. Photo: AFP PHOTO/Alejandro PAGNI.
-A bit like the ‘Big Three’ in men’s tennis. Do you see that a change of order has already arrived in men’s tennis? Do you feel that this time is running out?
-That situation is difficult. Let players of that level come out and stay for so long. What Roger Federer meant. I have seen few players with the mentality of these three and sustain it for so long. That is changing a lot too. The fact that the life of a tennis player is extended so much. Roger demonstrated it and Rafa (Nadal) and Novak (Djokovic) demonstrate it, who until a long time later are at the same high level and that was unthinkable. Much progress has been made in that as well.
-Carlos Alcaraz is fresh air for a long time?
Yes, I have seen him play. I saw him in Buenos Aires that he was this year. Everything he is doing is amazing. At Wimbledon he showed something else still. The maturity with which he led the game. We already know what he is as a tennis player and an athlete, and how he moves on the court and his mentality. But there, at Wimbledon, he showed something else and it was the maturity with which he handled that match with Djokovic.
Gaby, splendid in the award ceremony of the Argentina Open 2023, which consecrated Alcaraz as champion. Photo: Maxi Failla.
-How do you see the conflict between the Ukrainian players with the Russians and Belarusians? The refusal of the Ukrainians to shake hands and greet their opponents.
-We are experiencing a difficult situation for everyone. It is something very personal for each one and it is very difficult to give an opinion. I believe that sport should never mix with politics. But it is something personal and it is difficult to comment on that.
-As for Argentine tennis, it seems that a promising new generation is breaking through, especially in men’s tennis.
-Very nice to see and also in the girls, with players who do very well, win challenger tournaments and advance. It is very good to see because it is the result of all the work that is done and the competition in Argentina. The fruit of the work is seen in the long term and this is the moment. All these guys are there and I’m so glad to see them. I love following and supporting them.
Gabriela Sabatini during an event in New York, on the 25th anniversary of her title at the United States Open. Photo: AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY.
-The US Open is coming up. There he lived one of his best moments as a professional when he won the tournament, his only Grand Slam in 1990. An unforgettable memory for you.
-My most important triumph. A tournament that for me is unforgettable. Playing in New York is something special. There I won the US Open, two Masters. All that energy from the city has always done me good and being there is always a pleasure. Last year I was, this year I also intend to go too. One always thrives on being there.
By Santiago Aparicio of the EFE Agency
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2023-08-09 16:42:19
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