Jennifer’s shocking breakdown after winning the 1992 Olympics was unparalleled. Capriati appeared content, but she was secretly struggling with melancholy and exhaustion.
She took a break from professional tennis in 1993 to concentrate on her personal life. Police detained her for “accidental shoplifting” that year. She was charged with marijuana possession the next year. The New York Times reported that Jennifer had considered suicide:
Mentally, I simply snapped. I was not content with anything, including my tennis, my life, my parents, my coaches, or my friend. I saw a distorted reflection when I looked in the mirror because I was so overweight and ugly that I truly just wanted to kill myself.
Pam Shriver, a professional tennis player, said on ESPN that Jennifer might have been too young to handle her sudden fame:
“She was just a kid and she was top four in the world. She lost her balance since many adults were unable to handle the pressure, which is especially difficult for young people going through puberty.”
Capriati’s terrible accident served as the impetus for the WTA to enact rules to safeguard rising tennis players. Players between the ages of 13 and 16 cannot, for example, compete full-time on the circuit.
“Over the years, I had a great lot of difficulty managing my injuries and coming to terms with the possibility that I would never compete again. I put in a ton of effort during my playing career and even more so when I decided to come back. That is why I find this moment to be so amazing on so many levels.
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