Tennis comeback after 20 years and breast cancer battle

Pamela Laufer-Ukeles is stepping back onto the tennis court, not just to compete, but to reclaim a part of herself she set aside for two decades. The 50-year-old law professor and avid player first left the sport to focus on her studies, career, and family, a decision that made sense at the time but left a void.

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I'll train, and I'll show up and give it my best shot. That's all I can do.

Her life took a more challenging turn when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. This battle, she says, taught her a profound lesson about trusting her body, a lesson that now intersects with her return to tennis. The sport that once demanded discipline and perseverance now offers a path to healing and renewed confidence.

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Have you ever played before?

Laufer-Ukeles is preparing for Sharsheret's upcoming tennis tournament, an event that bridges her two significant life experiences. While she aims to win, her participation is about more than just the score. "I'll train, and I'll show up and give it my best shot," she stated. "That's all I can do." This attitude reflects a deeper understanding of resilience gained through both athletic competition and her fight against cancer.

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She also knows what it feels like to question whether you can trust your body. Breast cancer taught her that. And she knows what it feels like to discover, slowly and deliberately, that perhaps you can. Tennis taught her that.