Tennis influencer and TikTok sensation Rachel Stuhlmann has revealed she recently underwent surgery to replace a disc in her neck after being involved in a car crash.
Stuhlmann, the former college tennis star with over 300,000 followers on Instagram, shared the update on social media along with a photo of herself wearing a neck brace.
‘Brace yourself.. not my usual post,’ she wrote, ‘but wanted to share a life update – not too long ago I was in a car wreck. I underwent anterior cervical disc replacement surgery to remove the C5-C6 disc in my neck and replace it with an artificial disc.
‘I’m extremely thankful to my surgeon @drkimspinemd and the entire New York City @HSpecialSurgery staff for taking the best care of me and making this process as successful as possible.
‘As I begin the healing process and physical therapy journey, I’m feeling encouraged, determined, and eager to lean into some qualities that I haven’t tapped into since my competitive playing career 10 years ago. Thanking God for a successful surgery.
Tennis influencer Rachel Stuhlmann revealed she recently underwent surgery to replace a disc in her neck after being involved in a car crash
Stuhlmann is a former college tennis star with over 300,000 followers on Instagram
She thanked her surgeon and doctors online for helping her undergo successful surgery
‘And a huge thank you to my amazing family and friends, and everyone who reached out and kept my spirits up. This isn’t a setback! It’s just all part of the comeback and I can’t wait to be feeling 100% again!’
Before gracing the courts as an influencer, having amassed a huge fanbase by frequently sharing racy tennis pictures online, Stuhlmann was a prodigious player in St. Louis.
Prior to starting her collegiate career in 2010, the American, who majored in nutrition and fitness at Mizzou, was ranked 68th in her class and 59th nationally by the Tennis Recruiting Network.
She spent four years at Mizzou but never had her eyes on the tour given the rigors associated with chasing the pro tennis dream.
‘I knew I was good enough and could eventually get there,’ she told The Sun. ‘But I thought the reality was that it would take me five to seven years to get to the top.
‘And I didn’t want to live the lifestyle that came along with playing in small cities and essentially living out of a car.’
Before gracing the courts as an influencer, Stuhlmann was a prodigious player in St. Louis
Stuhlmann has been frequently seen reporting on tennis at tour stops internationally
She has similar ambitions to golf influencer Paige Spiranac – trying to help grow the game in any way possible. Stuhlmann has been seen reporting on tennis at tour stops internationally and spreading the word on her Tik Tok and Instagram pages.
‘My main goals are to make the game more mainstream and relatable. So whatever aligns with that,’ Stuhlmann told The Post.
‘I’ve always said yes to opportunities within the game and just keep creating content around the sport.
‘Get people excited about it, show them the different life stories around the game and in a positive way. That’s what I want to keep doing.’
