What has happened to French tennis star, Titiana Golovin? After turning pro in 2002, Golovin had a top 30 season in 2005 and 2006, and a top 20 season in 2007. She won two WTA Tour singles titles in 2007, and was ranked as high as No. 12 in the world on February 4, 2008. Then she disappeared from tennis the Spring of 2008. For those wondering what happened to this up-and-coming 21-year-old tennis star, here’s the scoop.
Golovin struggled with injuries throughout her short career. She suffered several ankle injuries in 2006 and missed a lot of events that year. In 2007 she suffered more ankle injuries which caused her to miss several events. However, 2008 was her most injury-marred season. After climbing to her career high ranking after the Australian Open, a back injury caused her to withdraw from Antwerp, Indian Wells, and Miami. She then withdrew from Amelia Island and Charleston to recover from back surgery. She played two events in the Spring, losing in early rounds, and then withdrew from all events for the rest of the season because of her back injury.
That back injury has now been diagnosed as spondylitis of the back, a long-term disease that causes inflammation of the joints between the spinal bones and the joints between the spine and the pelvis. That injury is threatening to take her out of the tennis spotlight for good. She is still experiencing heavy pain in her back when she tries to practice. She was quoted while speaking to L’Equipe, âLearning my condition was a big shock, but now I know what I have and what I have, you canât cure. Do I have any chance to play again? Itâs not advised, but Iâm still young. The pain may suddenly disappear.â So while she doesn’t seem to have given up hope, her tennis future is very much in doubt.
That is unfortunate, for we may have lost a potential great tennis star. She was named Tour Newcomer of the Year in 2004. She reached the Quarterfinals of the U.S. Open in 2006. She won her first Tour singles title in 2007 at Amelia Island, defeating Nadia Petrova in the final. Her second title came later that year at Portoroz where she defeated Katarina Srebotnik for the championship. We will never know just how good she might have been. We may have missed out on dominating world No. 1 on the WTA Tour.
I hope her back injury will not keep her from leading a normal life. And if all goes well, perhaps she can return to the tennis courts one day and enjoy the game, even if only on a recreational level, as many of us do.
Golovin is pictured above playing in her last Grand Slam event, the 2008 Australian Open where she lost in the 2nd round to Aravane Rezai of France.
