One month after his retirement, former tennis player Giovanni Lapentti decided to undergo surgery for an elbow injury that had been bothering him since mid-2016. The Guayaquil native underwent a surgical procedure this past March in the United States.
Lapentti retired from professional tennis after playing in the Ecuador Open ATP in Quito in February 2017. This past March, he underwent a procedure called “Tenex,” which is minimally invasive, facilitating his recovery.
The surgery required a small incision, less than a centimeter long, through which the doctor inserts an instrument to locate and remove the damaged tissue.
The Guayaquil resident suffered from lateral epicondylitis, better known as “tennis elbow”. This condition prevents natural movements due to a lack of flexibility in the muscles and tendons.
Dr. Alejandro Badia, a hand and upper extremity surgeon, was in charge of the procedure. The athlete is currently in the recovery stage and will be able to return to playing at an amateur level in approximately three weeks.
Lapentti won nine Challenger titles during his 15-year career. Seven of those tournaments were played in his home country, one in Brazil, and another in the United States. In 2005, he reached his highest ATP ranking, peakng at number 110.
