For 24-year-old tennis player Naya Morgan, all that glittered certainly wasn't gold. In her relentless pursuit of victory, she had strayed far from the joy of simply playing the game she loved.
Naya's life takes an unexpected turn when she crosses p...
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Even though Naya wished her family could extend their stay, her time at the Wimbledon tournament had come to an end. She recognized that everyone had responsibilities and lives waiting for them back home in Atlanta.
She couldn't keep herself from crying when her family headed home, but distance between them was something she'd come to accept upon moving to Madrid earlier that year.
Throughout the years, Naya had encountered various injuries, but this was the first instance where she found herself unable to even participate in her training routine.
It turns out that she had picked up a slight sprain dating back to before the start of Wimbledon, and when she made a run for the ball, she landed on her foot incorrectly, further damaging her ankle.
The pain had dulled, but sometimes Naya would forget she was injured and try to move too fast, only to be reminded by a sharp twinge in her ankle.
Her doctor had advised her to rest and allow the injury to heal properly, but in all honesty, she didn't know how to.
Naya's idea of relaxation was hours spent on a tennis court perfecting her craft, and for the first time since picking up a racket at the age of seven, she wasn't able to.
After arriving back in Madrid to meet with her doctors, Naya's foot was wrapped and put into a protective boot to keep it from getting further injured.
The frustration of being sidelined was palpable, and Naya struggled to come to terms with the fact that she had to take a break from the sport she loved so much.
She found herself restless, unable to focus on anything. Her coaches tried to keep her occupied, suggesting different activities and hobbies to take her mind off the injury, but nothing seemed to work.
When she voiced her frustrations to Jude over the phone, the first thing he did was invite her back out to Germany to be with him ahead of his final against Spain after beating the Netherlands to secure England's place in the UEFA European championship final.
Owing to the fact that Naya was injured, he offered to hire a private jet to make traveling easier for her, an idea that Naya quickly shut down.
She'd happily join him, but a private jet for just herself really wasn't necessary. Although navigating through the airport with a broken ankle wasn't the easiest, she'd rather do that than accept such an extravagant offer.
Instead, Naya decided to book a regular flight to Germany to support Jude in person. She knew how important this match was for him and wanted to be there, even if it meant dealing with the hassle of airport security and long lines with her injury.
As she sat on the plane, Naya couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. She was excited to see Jude and cheer him on, but at the same time, she couldn't shake off the disappointment of not being able to play the sport she loved. The sound of the engines drowned out her thoughts as the plane took off, carrying her closer to Jude and the upcoming match.
