a (non-exhaustive) list of current wta players with *disabilities/chronic illnesses/chronic conditions!
*i am using these words knowing that there is a large chance a lot of these players do NOT consider themselves disabled and/or chronically ill, and that these words as identifiers may not represent the players i am talking about. i am just making this list as a physically disabled tennis fan with chronic pain who is just passionate about disability in sports, and for all the other fans like me who are curious if there are players like us out there! (yes, there are, in multiple places! this list, however, is just a list of standing tennis players, and does not include any wheelchair tennis players).
additionally, while i am disabled myself, i do not have any of the following conditions and am collecting information about these conditions doing online research. feel free to correct me in the comments or reblogs if needed, or to provide more information, and i encourage you to reblog with other current players and their conditions if you know of any!
eva lys - GER, spondylarthritis. this is an encompassing term for multiple autoimmune diseases, with its most notable subtypes including enteropathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondilitis, and reactive arthritis. some symptoms of this condition include back pain, joint inflammation associated with arthritis, and inflammation of bone adhering ligaments and tendons. (i have not watched this interview yet, but eva talks a bit about her experiences with it in this video).
katie boulter - GBR, chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). boulter was diagnosed with chronic fatigue as a teenager, and her symptoms have seemingly improved as she's aged, as she references here. some symptoms of this condition include fatigue/exhaustion that does not improve with rest, cognitive difficulties and struggling with memory, joint and/or muscle pain, and dizziness.
venus williams - USA, sjogren's disease. this is an autoimmune condition that primarily affects the exocrine glands. some symptoms of this condition include dry eyes, dry mouth, joint pain, and can cause fatigue as well as impacting other organs such as the lungs, kidneys, and the nervous system.
fran jones - GBR, ectrodactyly-ectodermal dysplasia-cleft syndrome (EEC). this is a rare genetic condition. in jones's case, she was born with three fingers and a thumb on each hand, and this condition has given her a proclivity for illness/injury and other physical issues. jones has often had to retire during matches due to this.
