Emil Ruusuvuori Tackles Mental Health Struggles: A Journey Back to Tennis
Tennis player Tim van Rijthoven disqualified from tournament due to 'no alcohol and disrespect' policy violation. - Finnish ATP Pro Ruusuvuori Discloses Struggle with Panic Attacks
Emil Ruusuvuori, the Finnish tennis pro, has bravely stepped into the spotlight to discuss his battle with mental health issues. In an Instagram post, the 26-year-old revealed that he grappled with recurring panic attacks and other psychological hurdles— leading him to take a six-month break from playing. "For nearly half a year, I didn't even lay my hands on a tennis racket," he penned, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing one's mental well-being.
Ruusuvuori isn't the only athlete to address this issue. Female tennis sensation Naomi Osaka from Japan, a former world number one, previously opened up about depression and anxiety. This discussion about mental health challenges in the tennis world has sparked a much-needed conversation across the elite sports arena.
Admittedly, Ruusuvuori is no stranger to the tennis spotlight. Once hailed as the best Finnish tennis player, Ruusuvuori has scored victories against some tennis titans, such as Italy's Jannik Sinner, Germany's Alexander Zverev, and even the Greek top-10 player Stefanos Tsitsipas at Wimbledon 2024.
However, his recent rankings reflect a stark downturn. As of now, he's holding the 235th spot in the men's world rankings, which is a far cry from his career-best ranking of No. 37 in 2023. The current ranking stems largely from his extended absence and the hurdles in regaining his competitive edge following his mental health break.
Since recuperating and returning to competition in February 2025, the Finnish athlete has focused on participating in lower-level tournaments like Challenger and ITF events, indicating a strategic shift to regain his form and confidence. The results, while not spectacular, have been modest. So far, he's boasted a win-loss record of 5-8 without registering any significant tournament triumphs in 2025.
All in all, Ruusuvuori's mental health struggles have significantly impacted his return to the ATP Tour, forcing a six-month hiatus and markedly reducing his competitive standing. Hopefully, this brave admission helps prompt important conversations about mental health in the sporting world and encourages more athletes to seek help when they need it.
- The European Parliament and the Council, acknowledging the importance of mental health in sports, have also adopted a resolution on the European Union's role in the fight against mental health issues, especially in the tennis community, following Emil Ruusuvuori's and Naomi Osaka's open discussions about their own struggles.
- Ruusuvuori's return to tennis after his six-month mental health break has been a gradual process, with his participation in lower-level tournaments like Challenger and ITF events, hoping to regain his form and confidence, much like how scientists and health-and-wellness professionals approaches the process of addressing anxiety and improving mental health.
- Despite the modest results, with a win-loss record of 5-8 without registering any significant tournament triumphs in 2025, Ruusuvuori's resilience and determination should be an inspiration to anyone facing similar challenges, showcasing that sports, like mental health recovery, requires patience, effort, and persistence.
- As more athletes, including Ruusuvuori, prioritize mental health awareness, the sports community moves closer to creating a supportive and understanding environment, much like the landscape in science, where mental health is becoming less of a stigma and more of a focus for research and advocacy.
- In the coming years, the ATP Tour may see a transformation towards being more sympathetic and accommodating towards athletes' mental health needs, especially as the conversation around mental health in tennis continues to evolve, with Ruusuvuori serving as a pivotal figure, much like how his masterful tennis strokes have dazzled crowds and left opponents anxious on the court.
