Former tennis star Jennifer Capriati was recovering yesterday from an accidental overdose of prescribed medication, a family spokeswoman said.
The 34-year-old Capriati, once ranked No. 1 in a career sidetracked by personal troubles, was in stable condition and expected to make a full recovery, spokeswoman Lacey Wickline told the Associated Press. She declined to identify the medication.
Capriati was rushed to a South Florida hospital early Sunday morning, she said. Wickline would not say how Capriati was found or who called emergency services.
“In response to an outpouring of concern and support shown by Jennifer’s fans and friends worldwide, we would like to acknowledge that Jen is recuperating at a South Florida hospital from an accidental overdose of medication prescribed to Jen by her personal physician,” Wickline said. “Jen is recovering fully and stably.”
At Wimbledon, Venus and Serena Williams paused after wins yesterday to extend their concern.
“I probably will definitely see how that goes and pray for everyone involved,” Serena Williams said. “If there’s any way I can do anything to help, reach out, I definitely will do that.”
A child prodigy on the tennis court, Capriati burned out and retired several times from a game she had been pushed to play nearly her entire life.
However, she came back strong several times from both injuries and personal issues.
She won three majors — two Australian Opens and one French Open between 2001-02 — to go along with her gold medal in the 1992 Olympics.