Following her quarterfinal exit at Wimbledon, world number 50 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova offered a remarkably candid glimpse into the less glamorous realities of life as a professional tennis player. Defeated by Amanda Anisimova in a tough match (1/6, 6/7(9)), the Russian veteran didn`t dwell on the scoreline, but instead focused on the profound exhaustion that comes not just from competing, but from the relentless, often monotonous, routine that underpins the sport.
Speaking in her post-match press conference, Pavlyuchenkova articulated a struggle many can relate to, regardless of profession: the difficulty of daily discipline and routine. “I`ve never liked routine,” she stated with striking honesty. “For me, it`s very difficult. I fight with myself every day to do all this.” She highlighted the mundane yet essential tasks that constitute this routine: the mandatory warm-ups, the constant logistics of booking courts and arranging travel, the never-ending cycle of packing and unpacking bags.
While she loves the core act of playing and competing – “If only you could just go out and play… I love to compete” – it`s the `stuff surrounding it` that proves taxing. The required discipline, the repetition, the sheer grind of managing one`s life on the road in pursuit of performance. It`s a side of professional sports rarely discussed with such openness, revealing the constant internal negotiation required merely to show up prepared day after day.
Her immediate plan is refreshingly simple: escape the routine entirely, if only for a few days. “First, I need to recover,” she explained. “Sleep for a couple of days, not think about warm-ups, booking courts, cars, packing. I`m just very tired of this routine.” This period of intentional disconnection is essential to mentally and physically recharge after the intensity of a Grand Slam fortnight.
However, the demanding calendar of professional tennis offers little respite. The North American hardcourt swing, leading up to the US Open, is just around the corner. Pavlyuchenkova is aware that the break will be brief before the necessary routine must resume. “Then I`ll return to work. The American series is ahead,” she noted, acknowledging the future challenge. Despite her admitted struggle with discipline, she is determined: “I`ll force myself, and we`ll see what I show there, if I can play well and achieve success.”
Pavlyuchenkova`s candid admission serves as a valuable reminder that the life of an elite athlete, while often appearing glamorous from the outside, involves a significant amount of unseen, difficult, and sometimes disliked work. It underscores the mental fortitude required not just to win matches, but to consistently engage with the necessary structure that makes high-level competition possible, a daily battle waged far from the cheering crowds.
Gilbert Pendleton 
Marcus Blakely