For the Love of the Game
When you are passionate and love something so much, it is hard to imagine living a life
without it. Your commitment forces you to live it and breathe it every moment of the day.
However, sometimes the passion fizzles out after dedicating countless years, months,
and days to this thing you love. Taking a step back and reevaluating your life and your
path will sometimes lead you back to where you started. Being an athlete, you face
many challenges, such as burning out. If you ever reach this moment at which seems to
be a dead end, you must focus on what it was that made you love and enjoy the game
in the beginning.
The Athletic DNA team thought it would be beneficial to get some insight on this topic of
loving the game and its challenges by one of our pros, Lauren Embree. The topic of
burning out is one that is rarely talked about, but we want to recognize it and discuss
ways to handle this. Early in 2016, Lauren decided to retire from tennis at only 25 years
old. A few months into her
retirement, Lauren missed the
game she loved and decided to
make a comeback.
Lauren has plenty of experience
across the board from being a
former collegiate athlete to now
playing on the professional tour.
She is a remarkable athlete and
respected on and off the court. In
this ADNA Blog Series, she will
tell us her unique story of her
decision to come out of
retirement. What made you go into retirement?
I definitely feel like I have a better head
on my shoulders maturity wise. I would
LE: I was honestly pretty unhappy on
like to think I was pretty level headed and
tour. I knew I had to make a change
worked hard etc etc, like everyone does,
because I lost the enjoyment and
but now I think my mindset and
competitive spirit that had always been a
perspective is just different. I realize this
part of me. I had been burnt out before,
is my last shot and am starting back at 0
but never like I experienced in February.
so why not go all out. It's a challenge for
When I would be on court and not really
me that I am excited to face. I got caught
care if I won or lost, dreading seeing a
up in other voices and opinions, and now
practice court, I knew I had to maybe take
really just focused on myself and what I
time away to appreciate it more what I
have to do to get back. I learned a lot
worked my
from the past and
entire life at.
just want to carry
“ …I would be on court and not over all my
Why did you
experiences into
really care if I won or lost,
decide to
this next step of my
dreading seeing a practice
come out of
career.
retirement?
court…”
Is there
Now that you are
anything in
older and have
particular
more experience,
-Lauren Embree
that
what advice
influenced
would you give
you?
the younger Lauren that was a college
player?
LE: To be honest, I didn't ever plan to
come back. At the time I stopped, I was in
LE: I would tell the old Lauren to be more
my mind done with tennis forever. It gave
patient with her. I am a perfectionist when
me so many happy moments and
it comes to my tennis, something that
incredible experiences, but [I] was ready
probably won't change, but I could have
to put it to rest. I really hated it.
been more patient and put less pressure
on myself to beat every girl I played
I started working out in California, grew
against. Obviously, you want to try and
up a little, and realized what I was doing
win every time, but it hurt me in a way. I
wasn’t all that bad. I thought I was really
was so caught up in winning in college
bad at tennis and didn't give myself any
because I was (well am) so competitive, I
credit for what I was going through. I
developed some bad habits, sometimes I
think I gave up on myself, didn't give
lost track of the process of getting better.
myself a fair chance or enough time to
I over trained and it took a toll on my
reach my goals, and stopped too soon.
body. I don't regret anything I
accomplished or did in my college career
Do you feel more prepared now with
because it was an incredible ride, but
your previous experiences on tour?
maybe not put so much pressure on
Why?
myself and trust and believe in my game
style no matter what other people wanted
to say.
What advice would you give a junior
who is struggling to find that selfmotivation to keep improving?
What is your goal for 2017? Anything
in particular you are focusing on this
offseason to
prepare for 2017?
LE: I think really enjoy the gift you have.
Sometimes
players get so
up in
“…enjoy the gift you have… caught
LE: I am in a really
always wanting
be patient and nice to
good place tennis
to do better
and life wise right
(which is key
yourself.”
now. I am working
don't get me
with two coaches
wrong) but to
who have helped
take a step back
-Lauren Embree
me tremendously in
and be patient
such a short time.
and nice to
My goal is to obviously get back to where
yourself. When I stopped, I was 250 (yes,
I was when I stopped but to also not put a
not amazing and not making the big
result limit or a time limit on my career. I
bucks) but in the 16 months I gave myself
just want to give it everything I had so
after college it wasn't so bad. So, I think
when I am done (for real this time) I have
just to always give your best effort
no regrets with my decision.
because you can control that, be
coachable, admit when you are wrong,
and understand it takes time to get there,
and if you have the right mindset and
positive people around you it can be
done.
You have dealt with a few comebacks,
injuries, and mental comeback, will
this one be the hardest comeback?
What does your daily
routine look like?
LE: Right now, I am training at
Saddlebrook in Tampa. The first few
weeks we just focused on getting myself
stronger. Two fitness sessions (usually a
strength and conditioning each) then
worked my way in to the tennis part after
that.
LE: I think all my injuries or what not has
always made me come back stronger.
Yes, injuries happen, it's part of it. But
you can't sit back and play victim, you
just take the time to get healthy, use it to
get mentally stronger and come back with
a fresh head on your shoulders. This
might be the toughest, yes, ranking wise
and what not, but the people I have
surrounding me make it fun and
enjoyable to try and work my way back
up. It's a big challenge for me, but I think
that's what makes me driven to get to
where I want to be.