Tennis player Ernests Gulbis told the magazine "Annas psiholoģija" in an interview that for about two years before matches in Grand Slam tournaments, he experienced panic attacks.
"Physically, I was in my best shape then, but when you step onto the court — you feel like your ears are blocked, and within twenty minutes your legs cramp, your hands shake... And essentially, you can't do anything," Gulbis admitted, adding that he had never spoken about this publicly before.
He noted that over time he mastered techniques that helped him cope with panic attacks. "It's good that there were people around who could give me practical tools — meditation, specific breathing exercises. It really helped," the athlete said.
According to the Latvian National Encyclopedia, Gulbis is the first and so far the only Latvian tennis player to enter the top 10 of the ATP men's singles world rankings, reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament, and win six ATP singles tournaments.
