Emil Ruusuvuori: The Tennis Pro Negotiating Panic Attacks and Rankings
Tennis player Ruusuvuori openly discusses his battle with panic attacks. - Finnish Tennis Pro Ruusuvuori Experiences Panic Attacks
Embrace the conversational! Let's dive into the world of tennis where Finnish star, Emil Ruusuvuori, shares his own battle with mental health. His elbow on the tennis racket went cold, and it wasn't due to the chilly court. The former world No. 37 grappled with his own demon - panic attacks, along with other mental issues.
He traded his racket for a breather, taking a six-month break from the competition. "For four and a half months, I didn't have any fling with a tennis racket - I was simply too drained to step onto the court", he penned in an Instagram post. Emphasizing the crucial need for self-care and mental wellness, he added his voice to the growing chorus championing mental health in sports.
Sound familiar? Naomi Osaka, a world-renowned athlete, grappled with the same specter. Emil's story echoed the conversation that circled the tennis realm and elite sport for some time now. Osaka boldly discussed depression and anxiety, eventually taking a more extended break to prioritize her mental health.
Ruusuvuori used to be the pride of Finnish tennis. With his muscular right arm swinging the racket, he toppled tennis heavyweights like Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, and even Stefanos Tsitsipas at Wimbledon 2024. However, his current ranking casts a sobering shadow over his achievements. As of the writing, he's ranked a lowly No. 235 in the men's world rankings. His last dance on the ATP Tour happened in July 2024 in Washington. Since then, the courts have barely seen him; instead, he's been gliding on the lower-level Challenger and ITF courts.
While Osaka's break was more high-profile and prolonged, Emil's return seems to be a steady climb back on the rankings, albeit with less media limelight, reflecting how male and female athletes might manage such breaks differently in tennis. He's clawing his way back, playing in recent ATP events like the Gwangju 2025 Round of 32 and the Zagreb 2025 Round of 32, with his ranking tiptoeing towards improvement.
- Emil Ruusuvuori
- Naomi Osaka
- Panic Attack
- ATP Tour
- Helsinki
- The European Parliament and the Council might consider the role of mental health support in professional sports, as seen in the cases of Emil Ruusuvuori and Naomi Osaka, who took breaks to address panic attacks and prioritize their mental well-being, respectively.
- In the realm of science and sports, researchers could explore the correlation between tennis performance and mental health issues, shedding light on the unique challenges faced by athletes like Ruusuvuori and Osaka, both of whom have battled panic attacks during their career.
- After his return to the ATP Tour, Emil Ruusuvuori could look into integrating health-and-wellness practices into his training regimen, potentially including mental health resources and stress management techniques to aid in his performance and prevent future occurrences of panic attacks, especially considering his home city of Helsinki boasts numerous clinics and wellness centers focused on mental health.
