“It has been challenging to navigate at times, and it’s caused a reluctance to play and compete during certain periods this year,” he stated.
“It definitely creates a sensation in the stomach – a feeling of nausea. I’ve had difficulty sleeping, and as a result of the stomach issues, I’ve struggled to maintain a healthy diet and eat adequately.
“It’s almost like a sense of impending doom – a feeling that something unfortunate is about to occur.”
He might indulge in occasional social interactions but will otherwise disconnect from tennis until springtime.
Salisbury has several activities planned, including a safari adventure in Kenya, a skiing vacation with his girlfriend’s family, and celebrating Christmas at his family home – something not always feasible for tennis professionals before a season commencing in Australia during early January.
The current tenth-ranked player in the world competed throughout the entire season alongside fellow British player Neal Skupski, and despite not securing a title win, they reached the finals in six tournaments, including the French Open, the US Open, and the ATP Finals in Turin last week.
“I wouldn’t say it negatively impacted my tennis performance significantly,” Salisbury commented regarding his anxiety.
“We’ve performed well, particularly in the last half-year. I believe I’ve managed it effectively and succeeded in achieving a sufficiently positive state on the court to perform well in the majority of matches I’ve played.
“However, I believe it has exacted a greater emotional and mental burden to accomplish this. It’s resulted in a lack of enjoyment during many of the tournaments in which I’ve participated.
“I haven’t discussed the difficulties I’ve encountered with many people – primarily with my team, friends, and family, so not many within the tennis community.
“I think a considerable number of people prefer not to reveal too much because they don’t want others to be aware of it, particularly when they have to compete against them.
“But, in truth, I don’t really care if people are aware. I’m certain that it’s something many other individuals are coping with, and I don’t anticipate it will have any negative impact on me, as it has actually made me mentally stronger than I was previously.”
