Océane Dodin addresses surgery questions after return to tennis
French tennis player Océane Dodin was left stunned after being asked by a male journalist whether she was still able to play following breast enhancement surgery, reports BritPanorama.
The 28-year-old, who once reached the world’s top 50, had only just returned to competition after nearly a year away due to a chronic inner-ear condition that required treatment. Dodin stepped back from tennis in December 2024, delaying her comeback until she felt fully ready.
Upon her return this September, Dodin competed in an ITF tournament in Reims, where she won her first match against a lower-ranked opponent. However, a recent interview with RMC Sport brought substantial media attention to her resurfacing in the sport.
Dodin’s admission of undergoing breast augmentation surgery has attracted international coverage, as she became, by her account, the first active professional female tennis player to have done so. The discussion took an unexpected turn during the interview, with a journalist inquiring whether her surgery had impacted her ability to perform on the court.
Reflecting on the exchange, Dodin laughed and remarked, “He asked me, ‘But can you still play?’” She assured him that she was capable of competing, stating, “Of course, yes! I didn’t put everything crazy. Of course, they’re big, but it’s not like I can’t play, you know?”
Dodin noted that the intensity of the media reaction was surprising, considering her expectations. “Yes, because in this sport, it’s not like usual — nobody has done it before, so I knew people and journalists were going to talk about it. But no, because for me it’s nothing crazy. It’s just boobs, it’s nothing,” she conveyed.
Many fans praised Dodin’s forthrightness amidst what she described as a dated perspective on women’s bodies in sports. The French player emphasized the preparation that went into her surgery, stating, “My surgeon knows tennis very well and was careful because I want to come back and play at a high level again.”
While comparisons were made to Simona Halep, who spoke publicly about her breast reduction surgery in 2009, Dodin clarified that her context was distinct. “For me, it’s good to talk about something else besides tennis,” she expressed, highlighting the commonality of such surgeries in daily life.
Dodin’s straightforward approach reflects the ongoing evolution of attitudes towards athlete health and personal choice, challenging the notion of players as mere symbols of physicality. As she retrains in pursuit of her place in the sport again, her narrative serves as a reminder that athletes, much like everyone else, navigate personal challenges alongside their professional journeys.
