Macarena Cabrillana Explained

Macarena Cabrillana
Full Name:Macarena Andrea Cabrillana Sanhueza
Birth Date:31 March 1992
Turnedpro:2011
Plays:Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
Singlestitles:19
Highestsinglesranking:No. 9 (13 September 2021)
Currentsinglesranking:No. 11 (5 September 2022)
Australianopenresult:QF (2021)
Frenchopenresult:1R (2022, 2023)
Usopenresult:1R (2022)
Othertournaments:yes
Paralympicsresult:2R (2016)
Doublestitles:19
Highestdoublesranking:No. 8 (6 June 2022)
Currentdoublesranking:No. 9 (5 September 2022)
Australianopendoublesresult:SF (2021)
Frenchopendoublesresult:SF (2022)
Usopendoublesresult:QF (2022)

Macarena Andrea "Maca" Cabrillana Sanhueza (born 31 March 1992) is a Chilean wheelchair tennis player. She was the first Chilean wheelchair tennis player to compete in a Grand Slam when she competed at the 2021 Australian Open,[1] she was a quarterfinalist in the singles event and a semifinalist in the doubles event. She has also a silver medal in the women's singles at the 2019 Parapan American Games.[2] [3]

Mental health struggle

When Cabrillana was 16, she jumped from the fifth floor of a building as a suicide attempt, she had L3 lumbar paraplegia following her fall and spent a month in hospital. She has spoken openly about living with depression.[4] [5]

Cabrillana was inspired to play tennis by watching Rafael Nadal and Nicolás Massú while growing up and during rehabilitation. She chose to take part in the tennis workshop with Chilean tennis player Hans Gildemeister's sister Doris who trained her once a week and Cabrillana enjoyed her sessions very much.[6] [7]

Notes and References

  1. https://www.usopen.org/amp/en_US/news/articles/2022-09-06/seven_athletes_to_debut_at_2022_us_open_wheelchair_championships.html Seven athletes to debut at 2022 US Open Wheelchair Championships
  2. Web site: 19 January 2022. Macarena Cabrillana - ITF Profile. International Tennis Federation.
  3. https://wrsd.lima2019.pe/parapan/en/results/wheelchair-tennis/athlete-profile-n1152055-cabrillana-macarena-a-.htm Profile of Macarena Cabrillana
  4. Web site: 12 February 2021. Macarena Cabrillana: I think my life story can help other people. alairelibre.
  5. Web site: 11 November 2018. From trying to end her life to a sports figure: the inspiring story of Macarena Cabrillana (in Spanish). biobiochile.cl.
  6. Web site: 2 January 2013. Macarena Cabrillana, rising star in wheelchair (in Spanish). Guioteca.
  7. Web site: 28 March 2021. Hear my voice: Macarena Cabrillana opens up about battle with depression. International Paralympic Committee.