Guillermo Coria is determined to represent Argentina at the Beijing Olympics after returning from injury.
Clay-courter hopes confidence problem is behind him
Guillermo Coria is determined to represent Argentina at the Beijing Olympics after returning from a lengthy injury absence.
The former French Open runner-up last played on the ATP Tour in August 2006 but has since been sidelined by a shoulder injury.
The injury was related to a crisis in confidence which saw him commit a large number of double-faults, but the clay-court specialist believes both problems are now in the past.
A nine-time winner on tour and a former world number three, Coria was also hit by a three-month suspension for inadvertently taking nandrolone in 2001.
Now he is back in action in Chile this week and hopes a successful return will be enough to secure his passage to China in August.
Stressed
"I needed to stop," he said. "My head was very tired, I was very stressed after so many years on the circuit. I was unwilling to wake up and train.
"The doping case and the shoulder surgery made me be without confidence when playing. Now I'm trying to return to the circuit to enjoy it.
"I don't know if the confidence is back to play at a good level - but I'm very close to achieving that. When I finally do it, I will have my best level.
"I will play the tournaments I like to play, at which I am comfortable.
"I need points and I would like to do my best to reach the Olympic Games, something I have never played.
"I want to quit this sport in the best way."
