The 25-year-old Scot was bedridden for several months after a first mild coronavirus crisis in October 2020 turned into something much more debilitating.
He feared his career was over, but he was able to make a tentative return to the box last spring regardless, and thankfully, it turned into a full-time comeback.
Earlier this week, she was rewarded for a strong doubles season, adding a run to the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, with a first call-up from Great Britain for this weekend’s play-off against Sweden in London.
“During that time, I didn’t think I’d bet again for a while, so now to be part of the British team is amazing,” Lumsden told the PA news agency.
“I feel like I didn’t understand it, in the last 4 weeks I’ve played 4 tournaments in a row, so I feel like it happened pretty quickly.
“It’s a great moment for me. It’s an amazing feeling to have been selected for Great Britain for the first time and to be part of this team with all the other girls, it’s great. A lot of them have a lot of experience and have played. ” There are a lot of games, so it’s wonderful to be with everyone.
“The first time I saw professional tennis was at Davis Cup matches at Braehead (in Glasgow), so I enjoyed the team competitions and my purpose was to be part of a team like this because that’s what encouraged me when I was younger. “
With Katie Boulter, Jodie Burrage, Harriet Dart and Heather Watson also on the team, Lumsden is unlikely to play a game, but it will still be a proud moment for his circle of family members in the stands at the Copper Box.
“They will come to see the draw,” he said. “I think everyone is very happy, everyone who is close to me and who has lived through those difficult times. It seems like a big change. “
“When things get tough in tournaments, I find that they used to be a lot harder. “
Lumsden was one of Britain’s most promising juniors and had hoped to have a top-level singles career, but, with her doubles rating now at 74, making her Britain’s number one, her focus has changed.
The less physically difficult form of play also proved to be more suitable, with Lumsden wary of pushing himself too hard.
“When I came back here, I had minor injuries, I guess because I was away for a long time,” he said.
“The double definitely fits a lot more of that. It’s less physically difficult. I can take care of so much more. Sometimes I still get a little more tired than I think is normal. I still pay attention to my training, don’t push it too hard.
“That’s one of my goals for this year. . . I’m just trying to do everything I can to stay healthy and have a full season. “
Lumsden has formed a very promising partnership with fellow Briton Naiktha Bains, and either of them will continue their progress in 2024.
Their Wimbledon run made them the first all-British duo to triumph in the last 16 in women’s doubles in 40 years and Lumsden said: “It’s been exciting.
“That breakthrough at Wimbledon was wonderful, it just allowed us to play in the biggest WTA tournaments. That replaced the rest of the year. It’s wonderful to notice all those new things.
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