Guarachi eyes September return to court
Seth Stringer
sstringer@nwfdailynews.com
The greatest women's tennis player to come out of the Emerald Coast is back on the court.
By September, Alexa Guarachi hopes to continue her ascent up the WTA ranks.
The 25-year-old Destin native is nearing the end of month six in her climb back from reconstructive surgery to repair a torn ACL and meniscus in her right knee, the only road block that's seemed to halt her momentum.
Before the setback, Guarachi – an All-American who graduated from Alabama as the most decorated tennis player ever to come out of Tuscaloosa – was enjoying a career year. She climbed as high as 347 in singles and 203 in doubles, marks that have currently fallen to 480 and 382 after 7 months away from competition.
Yet, since her surgery on Dec. 10 at the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Gulf Breeze, Guarachi hasn't stood idly by. In fact, "active" is underselling it. Try tenacious, strong-willed and unshakable in her pursuit to get back to the sport she eats, sleeps and breathes.
"I feel great," said Guarachi, who's won eight doubles titles and one singles title. "I've come a long way. I've been on the court with the ball machine for the last couple of weeks, and a few weeks ago I started a running routine (the Andrews Institute) gave me. There are seven phases and I believe I'm on the fourth. Over the next two weeks I'll be moving on to cutting and shifting and putting more and more weight (on my right leg).
The typical recovery time on a torn ACL is 9-12 months, which puts Guarachi's goal at September return. Of course that could change.
"If it's sooner, great," said the former South Walton state champion. "If it's later, that's to be expected. I'm not putting any pressure on myself. I'm just taking it day by day."
When she does return, she understands there will be a learning curve. That means less travel starting out, smaller tournaments and tak-ing into account the implausibility of recapturing the career-best rankings right away. After all, a torn ACL in tennis is no small feet to over-come.
"I'm just focusing on what I can take care of right now," Guarachi said. "Once I see how my knee responds at the start and see where I'm at, then I'll probably start setting goals."
Once those goals are set, they'll likely be lofty. Think back to April when she spoke of qualifying for the Australian Open, a stage she could very well reach one day in singles or doubles.
"The success in doubles carries over to singles play," Guarachi said of her eight doubles titles. "Before the injury I was playing some of my best tennis. I just need to continue to work hard and stay positive."
Follow Alexa Guarachi at www.alexaguarachi.com, where you can find up-to-date pictures, videos and blog entries on her workout routines and progress. You can also donate to her future travel and tournament expenses.
Alexa Guarachi's website