Carling Bassett met Robert Seguso’s introduction at the 1986 French Open. He, a young tennis talent, crossed paths with Carling, already the seasoned pro. She had turned pro three years prior at the tender age of 18 and was just starting to flex her tennis muscles by reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the semifinals of the U.S. Open.
Really Devastating
Carling’s performance at Roland Garros left an impression on Seguso, who reached the third round. She reached the fourth round, even though she was grieving her father’s recent passing due to brain cancer.
“She always talked about it. Her mother pushed her to go play, get out of Toronto, and try to take her mind off of it,” Seguso said recently. It was really devastating to her. She was really close to her father. It was probably a good thing (that she played). That’s when I met her. She seemed fine.”
Marriage to Seguso revealed Carling’s inner struggles stemming from a challenging childhood. Raised at Nick Bollettieri‘s tennis camp, she learned resilience but was also battling childhood demons. Her tenure there had a negative impact on her career trajectory negatively, cancelling out her initial success.
“That’s the best thing I could have done,” The Palm Beach Post reported her saying last week about her experience at the French Open. That’s the only thing I knew how to do. It was automatic for me. Fortunately, I met Rob. I wouldn’t have met Rob if I had plopped myself back (on the Women’s Tennis Association tour) a week after (the tournament ended).”
The Height Of Her Career
Despite early achievements in tennis, including two singles and two doubles titles, Carling retired abruptly at the height of her career. Unbeknownst to many, she was fighting bulimia, a secret she kept even from her husband, Seguso. Her struggles with depression and addiction worsened over the years, exacerbated by her traumatic childhood.
Traditional treatments failed to ease her suffering, leading her down a dark path of addiction. The burden weighed heavily on her family, especially her children, who struggled to comprehend her erratic behavior.
“Most people, when they clean up, they thrive, but I (got) worse,” she said. ”Conventional medicine and therapy really didn’t fit my gig, and I fell into the worst of the worst. Doctors tried everything, and nothing was working. I lived in a halfway house for two months; I couldn’t touch my kids.”
Moving back to South Florida marked a turning point, offering her a chance to heal and rediscover purpose.
Overcoming Addiction
Recovery wasn’t swift; it involved overcoming addiction and trauma. Psilocybin mushrooms played a pivotal role, offering a glimmer of hope amid all the despair. Rediscovering sports, particularly pickleball, provided her with solace and camaraderie and today, Carling is an active member of the pickleball community, finding a renewed joy in competition and companionship.
Her journey reflects a newfound resilience and contentment. Through pickleball, she found not only personal fulfillment but also witnessed positive transformations within her family. Seguso, relieved by his wife’s transformation, marvels at her newfound happiness.
Carling’s approach to pickleball is a direct reflection of how she plays tennis. She plays with vigor and enthusiasm, embracing the competition while cherishing the sport’s famous camaraderie.
“I know this kind of sounds corny, but I’ve been through a lot in my life. I think the universe put pickleball here to heal the world,” Bassett-Seguso said.
“I always have a great time,” she said. “I play in tournaments now, which I love. If you’re going to get on me, I’m not going to play with you because I give 150%. I train my butt off. I’m out here to have fun, compete like hell, but when it’s done, I’m leaving it as done.”
“Been There, Done That”
During one of her daughter’s recent tournament matches, Bassett-Seguso restrained herself as her daughter’s opponent, prompted by their mother, mistakenly announced the score in a match without an on-court referee, resulting in their defeat.
A nearby parent sympathetically offered her a vape to ease her nerves. Chuckling, she declined, stating, “I’m alright. Been there, done that.”
