Alejandro Davidovich Fokina: Why Tennis Isn't Everything Anymore

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, the 2026 Shanghai Masters champion, opens up about the pressure that nearly made him quit tennis, leaving his longtime coaching setup, and the difficult decision to take control of his own career.After winning junior Wimbledon, Alejandro struggled with expectations and self-doubt. Years later, despite establishing himself on the ATP Tour, he felt he had little say in the decisions shaping his professional life.In this honest conversation with former world No. 4 Caroline Garcia and Borja Durán, Alejandro reveals what led him to leave his familiar environment after more than a decade, move from Málaga to Monaco, and rebuild his team from scratch.He reflects on one of the toughest periods of his career, how his wife helped him see things differently, and why finding happiness and independence away from tennis contributed to his best season in 2025.From managing anxiety and emotions on court to dealing with public expectations, choosing the right coaches, and learning that tennis isn't everything, this episode explores the personal side of professional tennis that fans rarely get to see.What happens when a professional athlete finally takes control of his own career?CHAPTERS00:00 The pressure that almost made Alejandro quit tennis00:45 How Alejandro started tennis with his father02:10 Winning junior Wimbledon — and nearly quitting03:50 Breaking into the ATP Top 10005:45 Battling anxiety and emotions on court07:20 How routines changed his mentality09:20 Marriage, happiness and finding balance outside tennis11:55 Why being obsessed with tennis can hurt your performance14:25 Why Alejandro deleted social media16:45 "I had no voice" — the truth about his former team18:50 Leaving Málaga for Monaco and starting over20:10 Rebuilding his team and finding success in 202522:10 Caroline Garcia shares her own experience24:00 How taking control transformed Alejandro's confidence27:10 Why he wanted coaches who had competed at the highest level30:40 His advice to his younger self LISTEN TO TENNIS INSIDER CLUBSpotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1SDHHtfQmUS0TyP8wqJEh9Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tennis-insider-club/id1721351881FOLLOW TENNIS INSIDER CLUBInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tennisinsiderclub/X: https://x.com/tennisinsiderclSubscribe to Tennis Insider Club for honest conversations with the world's best tennis players, exploring the stories, challenges and experiences behind professional tennis.JOIN THE CONVERSATIONAlejandro believes that taking control of his decisions and surrounding himself with the right people helped transform his career.What do you think matters most for an athlete's success: the right coach, mental confidence, or happiness outside the sport?Share your thoughts in the comments. We read them all.#AlejandroDavidovichFokina #TennisInsiderClub #TennisPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elina Svitolina opens up about the pressure to win, the fear of losing, and learning that a Grand Slam won’t define her worth.In this episode of Tennis Insider Club, Elina joins Caroline Garcia and Borja Duran for an honest conversation about the expectations that shaped her career—from leaving home at 12 and feeling she needed to win almost every match, to dealing with Grand Slam disappointments and finding a healthier relationship with tennis.She shares the difficult parts of her comeback after pregnancy, how quickly expectations returned with her results, and why she needed to step away when the emotional weight became too much.We also talk about life with Gael Monfils, the advice he gave her about winning a Grand Slam, raising their daughter Skai, representing Ukraine, and finding purpose beyond the tennis court.Elina still believes she can win a Grand Slam. She also believes she can have a great career—and a happy life—without one.CHAPTERS00:00 The pressure to win: episode preview00:40 How Elina started playing tennis02:25 Junior success and the difficult road to turning pro05:35 Leaving home at 12 and pressure from her parents09:15 Changing her mindset and coping with painful losses11:45 Why a Grand Slam won’t define her career14:45 Working with a psychologist and Gael’s perspective17:25 What keeps her motivated19:30 Ukraine, her foundation, and finding balance beyond tennis23:50 Pregnancy and uncertainty about returning25:25 The reality of coming back after childbirth29:35 How success brought the pressure back31:20 Becoming a more aggressive player33:00 When tennis became too much—and taking a break37:10 Recognizing emotional exhaustion39:30 Learning to listen to yourself41:15 Life, love, and training with Gael Monfils44:45 How motherhood changed her priorities46:45 Would she want her daughter to play tennis?50:40 Managing expectations around winning a Grand Slam52:45 The nerves of watching each other compete53:50 Her advice for young tennis playersWhich part of Elina’s story resonated with you most? Tell us in the comments.Subscribe to Tennis Insider Club for more honest conversations with the people behind professional tennis.Hosted by Caroline Garcia and Borja Duran.#ElinaSvitolina #TennisInsiderClub #Tennis Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John McEnroe has spent nearly five decades at the center of professional tennis — as a Grand Slam champion, world No. 1, rival, commentator and one of the most recognizable personalities the sport has ever produced.In this episode of Tennis Insider Club, McEnroe joins Caroline Garcia and Borja Durán for a candid conversation about what life at the top really feels like.He reflects on the pressure he experienced from a young age, why controlling his emotions on court was so difficult, and why even winning often brought little satisfaction before his attention immediately shifted to the next challenge.McEnroe also opens up about becoming a father, stepping away from the tour, and the difficult transition athletes face when tennis has become such a large part of their identity.The conversation explores Björn Borg’s sudden departure from the sport, the rivalries that defined McEnroe’s career, and why contrasting personalities remain so important to tennis today. McEnroe shares his perspective on Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz — including why Alcaraz’s ability to appear genuinely happy under enormous pressure fascinates him.Caroline also reflects on her own experience of retirement and the years when her results became inseparable from how she saw herself, leading to an unusually open exchange between two generations of Grand Slam champions.They also discuss:• Why McEnroe believes young players are pushed too hard• The role parents play in creating — or destroying — a healthy relationship with tennis• Why he encourages children to play multiple sports• The difficulty of separating self-worth from results• Why retirement rarely happens the way athletes imagine• How becoming a parent changed McEnroe’s perspective• Why personality and rivalry matter to the future of tennis• What McEnroe would do differently looking backA conversation about winning, pressure, anger, identity and learning how to live with — and eventually beyond — professional tennis.Hosted by Caroline Garcia and Borja Durán. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jessica Pegula watched players her age break through while injuries repeatedly interrupted her own career. After years outside the top 100, she began to wonder: “Is this not meant to be?”In this episode of The Insight, Jessica reveals why arriving later ultimately became one of her greatest strengths.She opens up about the injuries and comparisons that tested her belief, the moment she decided to take complete ownership of her career, and how building the right team helped transform her trajectory. She also explains why the calm exterior people see on court doesn’t always reflect what she is feeling—and why trying to manufacture emotion only made competing more exhausting.Jessica speaks candidly about becoming too focused on results, the burnout that followed, and how small goals—improving a kick serve or developing a drop shot—helped her rediscover the satisfaction of the craft.She also reflects on finally overcoming the Grand Slam “barrier” and reaching the US Open final, only to discover how quickly professional tennis moves on to the next match. Her biggest realization: success isn’t a single destination. The dream is the journey itself—the difficult weeks, the strange losses, the people beside you and the stories you collect along the way.This is an honest conversation about comparison, emotional authenticity, late success and learning to build a career that truly belongs to you.CHAPTERS00:00 “Is this not meant to be?”02:20 Escaping the comparison trap04:00 Why succeeding later helped Jessica05:00 Taking control of her own career08:20 What years of injuries gave her09:45 The truth behind her calm exterior13:05 Results, burnout and rediscovering improvement16:10 Breaking the Grand Slam “barrier”19:15 Why success disappears so quickly21:00 Learning to stop and appreciate it22:00 “The dream is the journey”23:10 Jessica’s advice to her younger self24:10 Why the worst weeks become the best storiesIf Jessica’s story resonated with you, share this episode with someone who feels like their breakthrough is taking too long.Subscribe to Tennis Insider Club for revealing conversations with the people shaping professional tennis.What part of Jessica’s journey changed how you think about success? Let us know in the comments.#JessicaPegula #WTA #Tennis Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Knowles has spent his life around some of the greatest players in tennis — first as a player alongside Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Pete Sampras, and now as a coach working with Jessica Pegula.In this episode, Mark joins Caroline Garcia and Borja Durán for a deeply honest conversation about what actually separates talented players from the ones who reach their full potential.Mark reflects on why he believes he underachieved in singles, how perfectionism hurt his career, and why he now tells players: “Do not chase perfection.”He also opens up about coaching Jessica Pegula — why her team spent nearly a year convincing her to practice less, why elite players sometimes need less information rather than more, and how they are trying to help her take the final step toward winning a Grand Slam.The conversation also turns to one of the most sensitive subjects in tennis: parents.Mark explains why he believes players cannot reach their full potential until they establish the right relationship with their parents, leading Caroline to reflect openly on how her own father’s involvement affected her confidence, independence and decision-making.They also discuss Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick, player development, burnout, confidence, and why some of the hardest moments in a tennis career can become the ones you miss most once it is over. Chapters:00:00 Tennis parents, confidence & “I hated tennis”00:44 Growing up in the Bahamas01:45 Nick Bollettieri discovers Mark03:00 Life inside the Bollettieri academy05:20 Believing he could become World No. 106:35 Why Mark feels he underachieved08:25 Caroline on struggling with confidence11:25 Becoming a coach13:40 How Mark started working with Jessica Pegula15:05 Do champions need delusional confidence?15:45 Why talent is overrated16:30 “Do not chase perfection”18:40 Caroline’s regret about not celebrating19:20 Mark’s Grand Slam regrets20:00 Teaching Pegula to celebrate winning24:15 Why Jessica Pegula practiced too much25:00 Convincing Pegula to train less26:40 The problem with tennis parents28:35 Caroline opens up about her father29:45 Andy Roddick’s conversation with his dad35:00 How a coach earns a player’s trust36:30 Why Pegula focuses on improvement, not ranking38:00 Why Pegula wants less information40:00 Coaching a player trying to win a Grand Slam42:45 Should players practice on Slam off-days?44:55 Mark’s advice to young players47:00 Why Jannik Sinner barely played juniors49:00 Why reaching the top too young can hurt players50:20 Alcaraz and building a complete game50:50 How Nadal transformed his game52:30 Caroline on what she wishes she had developed53:45 How Federer, Nadal, Djokovic & Sinner kept evolving57:00 Friendship and rivalry on tour58:00 Why Caroline struggled to connect with players59:00 How tennis locker rooms have changed Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ryan Harrison joins Caroline Garcia and Borja Duran for a deep dive into what elite tennis coaching actually looks like — and why some of the most common advice players receive may not help them at all.Now coaching Sebastian Korda, Ryan takes us inside the process of helping a player navigate pressure, setbacks and the biggest moments. He explains how Korda went from losing five straight points from 5–2 up in a deciding tiebreak against Taylor Fritz to handling the pressure differently weeks later against Carlos.Ryan also reflects on his own experience as a teenage prodigy, winning an ATP match at just 15, dealing with expectations and injuries, and what he wishes he had understood much earlier in his career.We get into why players can become obsessed with results instead of improvement, why tennis practice is often too generic, how players should actually choose a coach, and why telling someone to simply “be aggressive” means very little unless you can explain how.Ryan also turns coach for Caroline, breaking down how he would approach a match against Danielle Collins, before discussing parents in tennis, team dynamics, data, on-court coaching and his relationship with his brother Christian Harrison.CHAPTERS00:00 Ryan Harrison’s tennis upbringing & being coached by his dad 01:18 Winning an ATP match at 15: when tennis became real 02:07 Pressure, plateaus & the prodigy trap 08:00 How Ryan’s parents helped him handle the pressure 12:09 What Ryan wishes he understood as a player 15:26 Injuries, COVID & how adversity shaped him as a coach 19:08 Korda vs Fritz → Carlos: learning how to close 21:17 Coaching men vs women 23:42 How Ryan would coach Caroline against Danielle Collins 27:38 Why tennis practice is often too generic 29:52 Stop chasing immediate results 35:23 How tennis players should choose a coach 40:12 On-court coaching, trust & solving matches in real time 43:19 Why “be aggressive” means nothing 45:07 How Ryan uses data without overwhelming players 48:30 What he would tell a 15-year-old prodigy today 50:26 Parents in tennis: knowing when to step back 55:47 Christian Harrison: from sibling rivalry to unconditional support Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do tennis players lose matches they should win?Legendary coach and former World No. 4 Brad Gilbert breaks down the tactics, mindset and tiny margins that separate winning from losing — with lessons from coaching Andre Agassi and insights on Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Caroline Garcia.Brad explains why he once told Agassi, “I never beat you. You lost to yourself,” and how changing the way Andre thought about risk helped transform his results.In this episode of The Insight, Brad reveals:• Why hitting more winners doesn’t necessarily mean playing better tennis• The mistake players make when a game plan stops working• Why you shouldn’t change a winning strategy until your opponent forces you to• How just 5–7 points can decide an entire match• What Roger Federer’s 53% of points won teaches us about greatness• The tactic Andre Agassi hated — even while it was helping him win• Why Novak Djokovic is so effective in pressure moments and tiebreaks• How elite players prepare before a Grand Slam• Why one bad match can never be allowed to become fiveBrad Gilbert built his career around understanding how to win — even when winning doesn’t look pretty. This is a masterclass in playing smarter, managing risk and trusting your strengths when the pressure is highest.CHAPTERS00:00 “You lost to yourself” — Brad on Andre Agassi02:00 Why Caroline Garcia plays “massively risky”03:20 When your game plan isn’t working05:00 Don’t change a winning hand06:30 The tiny margins that decide tennis matches07:20 Federer won only 53% of his points08:15 The statistic Brad changed with Agassi10:00 Why great players need to adapt11:45 The tactic Andre Agassi hated13:30 How to play under pressure15:00 Why Djokovic is so good in tiebreaks17:00 Greatness happens in practice18:00 You don’t need to beat the whole draw19:00 How champions approach Grand Slams22:15 The matches that determine your rankingIf you enjoy conversations that go beyond the headlines and inside the minds of the people who know professional tennis best, subscribe to Tennis Insider Club.#BradGilbert #AndreAgassi #Tennis #TennisTips #WinningUgly #NovakDjokovic #RogerFederer #CarolineGarcia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can a parent also be the coach? And can perfectionism create greatness without destroying the person?Former world No. 3 and Roger Federer’s former coach Ivan Ljubicic joins Caroline Garcia and Borja Duran for an honest conversation about tennis parents, junior development, elite coaching and the hidden cost of becoming one of the best.Ivan explains why parents should be responsible for developing the human being—not coaching the tennis player—and how even a small expression of doubt can undermine a child’s relationship with their coach. He discusses parents who project their own ambitions, the difficult transition toward independence, and why a parent can never fully occupy both roles.They also explore why results should not be the objective, how Jannik Sinner focuses on constant improvement, why junior success can be misleading, and what players should value when choosing a coach.Ivan then reveals what made Roger Federer so professional and coachable, how Federer treated the people around him, and why the greatest players never stop adding new tools to their game.In this episode:• The biggest mistakes tennis parents make• How to raise an ambitious but independent young athlete• Why results are outside a player’s control• The relationship between perfectionism, success and happiness• How to choose the right coach• Why player and coach must share the same ambition• The danger of becoming successful too young• How elite tennis teams are built• What players can learn from Roger Federer• Why players must take ownership of their careersCan a parent successfully be both the parent and the coach? Share your perspective in the episode comments.Follow Tennis Insider Club for more honest conversations with the greatest players, coaches and minds in tennis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Shelton did not seriously choose tennis until he was 11. His father and coach, Bryan Shelton, reveals how he helped build Ben’s extraordinary confidence—without controlling him, limiting his personality or coaching the talent out of him.From setting his own alarm for 6 a.m. practices to leaving college early and eventually asking his father to join him on tour, Ben’s journey was built around responsibility, independence and belief.Bryan explains why he only gives Ben “five or ten percent” of what he knows, why he smiles from the player box even when things are going badly, and why parents should ask more questions instead of constantly telling young athletes what to do.This is The Insight: the most powerful lessons from our complete conversation with Bryan Shelton.Watch the full Bryan Shelton episode:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JOp69bDfkgCHAPTERS00:00 Ben Didn’t Want to Play Tennis 01:24 The 6 A.M. Practice Rule 02:08 Developing the Person, Not Just the Player 03:05 Ben’s Unusual Confidence 04:18 Don’t Put Him in a Box 05:18 Raising the Floor Without Lowering the Ceiling 06:22 Keep Making the Right Mistakes 07:48 Why Ben Left College Early 10:23 “Dad, You Have to Come Out Here With Me” 10:50 Balancing Being a Father and Coach 12:12 Why Bryan Only Gives Ben 10% 12:54 Why Bryan Always Smiles 13:58 What Parents Project From the Player Box 15:24 Confidence Before Results 17:18 Bryan’s Advice to Parents 19:18 The Lesson Every Sports Parent Should HearFollow Tennis Insider Club:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tennisinsiderclub/X: https://x.com/tennisinsiderclSubscribe for honest conversations with the players, coaches and people shaping professional tennis.#BenShelton #Tennis #TennisInsiderClub Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corentin Moutet is known for playing—and reacting—differently. But behind the emotional moments and public labels is a player trying to understand why losing once felt unbearable, why tennis celebrates personality and then punishes it, and how to find peace in a sport he still loves.In this honest conversation with Caroline Garcia and Borja Durán, Corentin explains why he never learned how to lose, how winning became connected to his self-worth, why he struggled to control his emotions, and what facing Carlos Alcaraz revealed about his game.He also opens up about being misunderstood as lazy, the freedom he finds through music, his unique relationship with Roland-Garros, why he believes tennis culture must evolve, and the goal that matters more to him than rankings or money: finding peace before his career ends.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Why Moutet couldn’t stop breaking rackets01:00 Growing up with tennis as a game06:00 The origins of his unique playing style08:00 Why he never learned how to lose13:00 Anger, rackets and emotional control15:00 When winning became personal worth21:00 The mentality hurting professional athletes23:00 Tennis promotes personality—then punishes it27:00 What Carlos Alcaraz exposed in his game33:00 Unlearning childhood beliefs36:00 Music, balance and being misunderstood44:00 Why Roland-Garros feels like home47:00 Why tennis culture must change49:00 “Tennis is boring” and the ATP contradiction52:00 His goals beyond results56:00 Finding peace before retirementTennis Insider Club is where the people who have lived professional tennis share the stories and lessons fans rarely get to hear.Subscribe for more honest, player-to-player conversations from inside the tour.LISTEN TO TENNIS INSIDER CLUBListen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1SDHHtfQmUS0TyP8wqJEh9Listen on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tennis-insider-club/id1721351881FOLLOW TENNIS INSIDER CLUBInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/tennisinsiderclub/X:https://x.com/tennisinsidercl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.