Russian-born Armenian tennis player Elina Avanesyan has revealed a months-long battle with mononucleosis.
Recovery from the condition, which is better known as glandular fever, typically lasts between two and four weeks.
But in some cases, effects can be felt for months, as they have for 22-year-old Avanesyan, who shared her health battle in a long post on social media.
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“Hi everyone, I wanted to take a moment to share something more personal with you all, because these past months have been very challenging for me,” she wrote.
“Back in March, I was diagnosed with mononucleosis.
“At first I didn’t fully realise how much it would affect me, but soon I was feeling exhausted all the time, with no energy, and even the simplest training sessions became really difficult.
“This was especially hard to accept because the first two months of the season had gone so well. I was competing at a high level, feeling in great shape, and truly enjoying my tennis.
“To go from that to feeling so weak and unable to perform was incredibly frustrating.”
The world No.104 has played in just six tournaments since the end of March, at which point she was ranked as high as 36 in the world.
Avanesyan has been bundled out in the first round of all bar one of those six events — she lost in the second round of the UniCredit Iasi Open.
“In Miami I started to struggle with significant wrist pain, which took a long time to recover from,” she added.
“Just when I thought I was getting better, I faced another setback with shoulder pain, and it has felt like one thing after another ever since.
“These physical issues have been very difficult to manage, especially because my body hasn’t fully recovered from the illness.
“It feels like everything has taken longer than usual to heal, which makes the process even more challenging.
“I have been working closely with my team every single day, doing everything possible to heal, regain my strength, and prepare myself to compete again at 100 per cent.
“But the truth is, this journey has tested me in ways I didn’t expect. There have been moments of frustration and even doubt, but I have also learned a lot about patience, resilience, and how much I truly love this sport.
“Being able to play matches again has been a big step, but competing while not feeling like myself on court is really hard.
“More than anything, I miss being able to fight at my highest level and enjoy the game the way I know I can. That is what keeps me motivated every day to push through this process.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you who continue to support me through the ups and downs. Your kind messages and encouragement mean more to me than I can put into words. They give me strength on the hard days and remind me why I keep fighting.
“I believe this is just one chapter, and I cannot wait to be back out there competing pain-free, healthy, and stronger than ever.”
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