British tennis star Katie Swan reveals mental health battles before French Open

HONEST Katie Swan came close to quitting French Open as she struggled with mental health issues.

Britain’s No.5 female tennis star lost in the final round of qualifying on Friday but admits she almost never travelled to Paris.

The 20-year-old from Bristol says she turned her mindset around after meeting with a psychologist.

Swan has only played in one major – 2018 Wimbledon – but that was thanks to a wildcard entry.

In a lengthy Twitter message, Swan said: “In the last 6-8 months, I have struggled with my confidence on and off the court and also finding joy in what I’m doing for different reasons.

“I was so afraid of disappointing my family, team and all the people around supporting me and I lost a lot of belief in myself.

“I decided to keep most of these thoughts to myself because I didn’t want to be a burden for anyone and it’s also very hard to open up about this.

“Every match I lost I didn’t just feel like a worse tennis player, but also less of a person.

“I decided to meet up with a psychologist and really open up about everything I have been feeling.

“I now realise that this life of a tennis player isn’t about pleasing people or showing your worth to them, it’s about proving it to yourself.

“If you can go to bed at night and tell yourself you are proud of yourself, then that is all the reason you need to be happy and satisfied.

“Three weeks ago, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to play in Roland Garros because I was afraid to embarrass myself.

“Today I am heading back to London with my head held high and feeling very proud. Proud of the way I turned things around mentally in such a short time and still with a lot of improvement to go.

“This isn’t something I would normally open up about but it has made such a big difference to my overall well being, so I thought it was worth sharing. If you are struggling in life, please get help, it is so worth it!”