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Canada won their maiden Billie Jean King Cup title on Sunday after defeating Italy in the final, in Seville. For Italy, despite their loss, the overall event was still euphoric. This was because the Italian team had made a trip back to the title round of the coveted tournament for the first time in over a decade, since 2013.
However, soon after the result, a news came about from the Italian camp, from the team captain, Tathiana Garbin. This put the result in a poignant perspective for them. Garbin said that she’s been facing a personal health problem for the past some time, in the form of cancer.
“Today, I wish to share with all of you an important part of my life journey. It is with serenity and confidence I announce that in October I underwent surgery to treat a rare tumor,” Garbin said. The 46-year-old also added that she would need to have another surgery in order to set herself on the path to recovery.
She mentioned, “However, I would like to inform you that I will have to undergo a second surgery as per the doctors’ planned treatment plan. Thanks to my rapid recovery, I am optimistic about my ability to return to the field”.
Tathiana Garbin's fight endures
Garbin also acknowledged the support she’d received from the Italian tennis federation that also went a way long way in helping her to focus on the Billie Jean King Cup. "A heartfelt thank you also goes to my Federation, which with extraordinary solidarity and sensitivity has supported me and granted me full support.
The (schedule) in Seville was very important for me, which I absolutely did not want to miss despite being very close to the operation: the Federation displayed their full confidence in me”. Romanian tennis player Ana Bogdan shared her well-wishes to Garbin by tagging her in an Instagram story. Bogdan’s caption read, “Forza, Tathiana Garbin! I’m sending you all my positive thoughts”.