Todd Woodbridge encourages people to see their doctor after he had a mild heart attack

Tennis champion Todd Woodbridge is urging people to get a health check after suffering a heart episode he describes as “a wake-up call”.

Todd Woodbridge says he had chest pains while exercising last week, which turned out to be a mild heart attack.

Australian tennis champion Todd Woodbridge has urged people to get their health checked after suffering a mild heart attack last week.

Woodbridge revealed his shock at experiencing symptoms as a fit 51-year-old.

“It was last Thursday, I tried to keep my routine having travelled to the US Open and London and I was just exercising and had chest pains and every symptom when you look up Google – full sweats and I felt awful,’’ Woodbridge said.

“I had a little heart episode that goes down as a mild heart attack which is a bit of a shock to me.

“And you’re personally still coming to terms with somebody like myself who I consider to lead a pretty good fit healthy lifestyle – I keep active, I eat well, I do all the right things, I enjoy doing that.

“It’s been a wake-up call to me to make sure I look after myself. If it can happen to me it shows that it can happen to anybody.”

Woodbridge says ‘it’s been a wake up call to me to make sure I look after myself’. Picture: Ian Currie

Woodbridge co-hosted the Australian Open launch alongside Jelena Dokic on Wednesday and was filming for Postcards on Tuesday. He is “back up and running” after undergoing thorough testing but will take it easy in the short term.

The esteemed commentator retired in 2005 after winning 16 grand slam doubles titles overall – 11 as half of the ‘Woodies’ with doubles partner Mark Woodforde – said it was important to get tested, particularly after the past two years through the Covid pandemic. He said he’s learnt that past family history can be a key indicator.

“I’ve hit that age now where I need to make sure that I have regular testing, get to the doctors,’’ he said.

Woodbridge and Jelena Dokic co-hosted the Australian Open launch on Wednesday. Picture: Tennis Australia/Fiona Hamilton

“I’d urge anybody out there coming off the last couple of years, where we’ve gone, nah I’m OK, haven’t been to doctors, haven’t had check ups, to ensure you get out there and do that.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to go and get all the tests and I’m OK. With good monitoring and a bit of mild medication moving forward, I’ll be fine.

“But what I did learn was how important hereditary genes are to your health and I am aware that both my mum and dad have had a few issues with needing some stents and my dad had very high cholesterol. If I take care of that I have the ability to be fine into the future. But if you don’t take care of that you are putting yourself at risk.

“My advice is don’t put off what you’ve been planning to do. Because I’d been planning to get my next bits of tests, we all lead a busy life and that becomes next month and then that becomes six months and you still haven’t done it and I was a bit guilty of that.

“The best part is I’m back up and running. I need to take it easy, I can’t do anything physical but I’m still able to do my general work.”