Dellacqua still suffering one year after concussion

The Australian suffered a freak accident in Beijing last year.

Published Oct 06, 2016

CONCUSSION ... It's been a year since I fell on court in Beijing and a lot of people have asked me what happened?! As you can see my determination to make the shot is evident but unfortunately it was a shot I wish I never went for. The fall and the aftermath of the fall resulted in some of the toughest days I've had to overcome. Concussion is not a common tennis injury and I never really knew anything about brain injuries prior to my accident. I genuinely thought after a couple of weeks I would be all good and back on court, however this was far from the case at all. My post-concussion symptoms were terrible and for weeks I could not look at my phone or the TV as I was so sensitive to light. I could not concentrate long enough to hold a conversation and I felt like I was in a world of drowsiness. My headaches were constant, painful and they were wearing me down. I wondered when or if they would ever go away. I also suffered whiplash as I flung my head back so my neck was bloody painful all the time too. But it was after my physical symptoms subsided and I started to feel better the worst was yet to come. I experienced terrible anxiety to the point where I couldn't leave the house. I have never experienced anxiety before and it was really scary. I was reassured that it was all part of the concussion but at the time I just couldn't understand why I wasn't back to feeling my confident and bubbly self. I fought hard to get back on court earlier this year but again I didn't feel myself at all so I decided to take a protected ranking and really take my time to recover fully both mentally and physically, as health is always priority. As they say "everything happens for a reason" and I feel so extremely grateful for the time I have had at home with my family. Especially since our daughter Andie was born I have been able to be at home and really enjoy my time with our children which is the greatest gift of all. I hope to be back on court competing soon but for now I just wanted to say thanks for your support always ❤❤ xx
Posted by Casey Dellacqua on Tuesday, October 4, 2016

On the one-year anniversary, Casey Dellacqua has updated her fans on her break from tennis after a freak accident in Beijing last year. In the clip, you can see her fall during the semifinal against Hao-Ching Chan and Yung-Jan Chan. Her partner Yaroslava Shvedova could only look on as the incident unfolded.

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Casey Dellacqua opens up about her post-concussion symptoms on Facebook. https://t.co/8ctTG349jc pic.twitter.com/Pgafred5yy
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) October 4, 2016

"Unfortunately it's a shot I wish I never went for..." Dellacqua writes. "I genuinely thought after a couple of weeks I would be all good and back on court, however this was far from the case at all. My post-concussion symptoms were terrible..."

The four-time doubles Grand Slam finalist was forced into a four-month hiatus from the game despite reaching her career-high doubles ranking of No. 3 in February of this year. Dellacqua has played just five events in 2016, last appearing in Charleston (playing doubles with Sam Stosur).

Concussions, though rare in tennis, have occurred before. Eugenie Bouchard was the last to suffer the injury, but her fall happened in the US Open locker room in 2015. Victoria Azarenka also suffered an off-court fall before retiring from the 2010 US Open with a concussion.

Both Bouchard and Azarenka have recovered, while the 31-year-old Dellacqua is still dealing with post-concussion symptoms.

"But it was after my physical symptoms subsided and I started to feel better that the worst was yet to come. I experienced terrible anxiety to the point where I couldn't leave the house," Dellacqua writes. "I have never experienced anxiety before and it was really scary."

The Australian has not stated when she will return.

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