Marian Capadocia’s Return to Tennis Is a Return to the Game She Loves

Marian Capadocia, a multi-time PCA Open champion and Southeast Asian Games medalist, never thought of tennis as just competition. It’s been constant—something she keeps coming back to, no matter where life takes her. That’s why her return to the court at the PHILTA Women’s National Open, just months after giving birth, carries a different kind of weight. It’s not just about results—it’s about rediscovering rhythm, identity, and purpose after a life-changing pause. 

“Siguro ano lang. For me, yung comeback, it’s not comeback eh. It’s a home na eh. Like it’s a welcome home sa tennis.”

Because for Capadocia, the past year wasn’t about stepping away from the sport—it was about learning how to carry it with her through one of the biggest changes in her life. She didn’t stop playing when she got pregnant. In fact, she stayed on the court longer than most would expect.

“I’m still playing while I’m pregnant… hanggang nine months. Habang daladala ko siya. Pero mga ano lang, 30 minutes, 30 minutes every day.”

It wasn’t reckless. It was measured, intentional, and guided.

“Nag-consult din ako sa doctor ko if I could play. Sabi niya, go lang.”

Even then, she knew where to draw the line. She stepped away from competition when needed, and after giving birth, she allowed herself to fully pause—something athletes rarely find easy to do.

“After ko siya pinanganak, nag-stop ako… I stopped for 3 months. Like wala talaga kasi may pahinga ako.”

Three months of no physical activity. For most athletes, that alone can feel like starting over. And in many ways, it was.

“Dahan-dahan. Actually, stretching first… after yung stretching, conditioning na. Super dahan-dahan. Walking… after walking, takbo na. Then weights.”

There was no rush. No shortcuts. Just a slow rebuild—one step at a time. Even now, she’s honest about where she stands physically.

“For me, hindi pa talaga ako physically fit this time… siguro mga 60 [percent] pa lang.”

But what she lacks in peak condition, she makes up for in discipline. The work is there, just in a different form.

“Puro takbo lang everyday… mga 12 to 1 tumatakbo ako para masanay ako sa init. After that, afternoon drills… tapos palo ulit sa gabi.”

It’s not just training anymore—it’s scheduling around a new life. Because beyond being a national athlete, Capadocia is now also a mother. And somehow, she’s found a rhythm between the two.

“Yeah, it’s hard. Pero for me, it’s not naman eh… as long as we’re together with my partner.”

There’s no shortcut there either. No delegation of responsibility. Just shared effort.

“Hindi kami kumuha ng yaya. So, very hands-on kami dun sa baby namin.”

Her days are split in ways that didn’t exist before—training in the mornings, recovery in between, and full attention to her child by night.

“Sa umaga, tatakbo ako, tapos training. Tapos sa gabi ko siya talagang alagang-alaga.”

It’s a different kind of balance. One that doesn’t always look perfect, but works because it’s built on intention. And maybe that’s what makes this moment on the court feel different. Not lighter—but clearer. Because now, there’s no pressure to prove anything. No urgency to chase results.

“Happy kasi no expectation for me. Kasi gusto ko lang naman maglaro.”

That mindset changes everything. She’s not chasing a title—not yet. Not forcing a version of herself that isn’t fully back.

“Hindi naman ako naghahangad ng finals this time kasi medyo short pa yung preparation ko.”

But that doesn’t mean she’s stepping in without purpose.

“I’ll do my best.”

And sometimes, that’s what a real return looks like. Not a dramatic comeback. Not a statement win. But a quiet, steady step back into something that has always been part of you.

For Marian Capadocia, tennis was never something she left behind. She just found a new way to come home to it.