Television made me nervous, says a recovered Sabine Lisicki

Sabine Lisicki returned to the court for some competitive tennis at the January 3-9 Hopman in Perth for the first time since succumbing to a serious knee injury during her fourth-round exit at the 2015 US Open

Sabine Lisicki returned to the court for some competitive tennis at the January 3-9 Hopman in Perth for the first time since succumbing to a serious knee injury during her fourth-round exit at the US Open in September.


Sabine Lisicki. Pic/Getty Images

The 26-year-old's break though hasn't been all that boring, as the German ace dabbled with television during her time off tennis. However, her brush with the small screen has only drawn her closer to tennis, she said. Lisicki featured in a series of quiz and cookery shows on German TV when she realised that her recovery period was taking longer than she expected. But the TV job was a lot tougher than tennis.

"I was a bit nervous because you don't want to embarrass yourself in front of millions of people," Lisicki said about her TV stint. "In the beginning, it's fun, but then you start to go, 'Hmmm, I actually prefer to be on court'."

World No 32 Lisicki has been through long-term injuries in the past — a serious ankle injury in 2010 saw her sidelined for five months — and her time off tennis has only made her realise how much she loves the game.

"When you're on tour for so long and play day in and day out, you kind of sometimes forget how good your life is in a way. We're travelling so much. It's jet lag. We live out of suitcases. We miss our friends and family. But you do find your love again (when you're out injured). You appreciate it more."

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