Bethanie Mattek-Sands is back on the WTA Tour – Tennis Special
One of the most interesting personalities on the WTA tour, Bethanie Mattek-Sands of USA, will return to the tennis courts at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California this week. The American did not play any match for almost
one month due a shoulder injury.
Mattek-Sands started to face pain in her shoulder before the US Open last year. She kept playing but not without facing trouble. After the US Open, her injury aggravated so much that she was even unable to hold a bag of groceries.
The American took a break for some time to heal her shoulder before the new season.
The 26-year-old played well but could not clear the first hurdle in the singles event at the Australian Open, as she was beaten by the eighth seed Agnieszka Radwanska in three sets 6-7(10) 6-4 6-2 in the opening round. Along with
her partner Jarmila Gajdosova, Mattek-Sands lost to sixth seeds Sania Mirza and Elena Vesnina in straight sets 5-7, 3-6 in the round of 16 of doubles event.
However, the American captured first Grand Slam of her career at the Australian Open. She and Horia Tecau of Romania toppled Indian-Russian duo of Leander Paes and Elena Vesnina in three sets 6-3, 5-7, 10-3 in the final of the
mixed doubles event at the opening Grand Slam of the season.
Mattek-Sands could not believe that she has become a Grand Slam champion. She was having a time of her life. The American said, sharing from the past, “He (Tecau) told me, 'Security's going to have to drag me off the court. I'm
not going to leave. I just want to hold onto the trophy and this feeling.”
Mattek-Sands is known for her unique outfits and looks by the fellow players on the WTA tour. She said, “You know, it's funny, I go in the locker room, and the players are like, 'You're getting boring Bethanie. What are you doing?
I didn't know I had to keep up with everything. I have blue hair right now. I wear eye black and knee high socks. This isn't odd?”
The Phoenix, USA resident wore a one-sleeve shirt throughout the Australian Open. Last year, she put on a dress made with tennis balls at the Wimbledon Championships player party.
The American wanted to make her come back at the Qatar Ladies Open last month but she had to withdraw as the condition of her shoulder did not allow her to play back then.
The problem with Mattek-Sands is that she does not allow her shoulder to fully recover. She keeps on playing with soreness unless there is no pain.
The right-hander said, "I'm not going to lie, there's a difference between pain and being really sore. As long I keep it where I was just sore, I am OK with that."
Mattek-Sands finally decided to take some rest after facing severe pain in her shoulder at her last assignment in Paris.
She lost a three set thriller to Italian Roberta Vinci 6-3 1-6 6-3 in the round of 16 at the Open GDF Suez in February. In the doubles event, the American partnered Jarmila Gajdosova and lost to Lyudmyla Kichenok and Nadiya Kichenok
in straight sets 2-6, 2-6 in the first round.
The American is drawn to meet Ekaterina Makarova of Russia in her comeback match at the BNP Paribas Open.
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