E43 - Sorana Cirstea

Solana Cirstea spent 20 years chasing the biggest dreams in tennis — No.1, Grand Slams, perfection.Now, she opens up about pressure, regret, joy, and why 2026 will be her final year…One of the rawest mindset conversations ever on Tennis Insider Club.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS / CHAPTERS01:40 – How her father pushed her into tennis from age 405:10 – Becoming a top junior and breaking into WTA at 1607:20 – The crash after the French Open quarterfinal run10:00 – Struggling with expectations & “learning how to lose”11:50 – The injury that changed everything at 2513:10 – Shifting from results obsession to joy & process17:00 – Why knowing “why you play” changes everything23:00 – Handling wins/losses: staying emotionally steady25:00 – Discovering balance, friendships & life outside tennis33:30 – Playing through pain & the mental toll35:00 – Why 2026 will be her final season37:00 – Making peace with not becoming No.143:00 – “What you’re complaining about is someone’s dream”54:00 – Juniors vs pros: the myth of early success56:00 – School, development & advice for parents58:30 – Generational changes on tour01:02:00 – How the game evolved & the new WTA levelIf you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, drop a like, and share your thoughts in the comments.Which part of Sorana’s story resonated the most with you?This episode is presented in partnership with Hologic, global leader in women’s health. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when you’re labelled “tennis next big thing” at just 17?Olga Danilovic opens up about pressure, expectations, media hype, family, fear, burnout, and how she rebuilt her love for tennis.One of the RAWEST and most relatable conversations we’ve ever had.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS / CHAPTERS01:00 – Olga’s childhood: pressure, media, and early expectations04:00 – Growing up as the daughter of a superstar athlete07:00 – Winning Moscow at 17: blessing or curse?10:00 – Handling fame, pressure & public expectations as a teen14:00 – Guilt, sacrifice & learning to choose yourself17:00 – Life on tour vs. the reality people don’t see20:00 – Mental health, burnout & losing joy in tennis22:00 – Nine months sick: the moment everything changed32:00 – Coaching experiences: what good teams REALLY do45:00 – Playing on big stages & dealing with intrusive thoughts48:00 – On-court panic, fear & wanting to “disappear”56:00 – How she sees her future: identity beyond tennisIf this episode resonated with you, subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with another tennis fan who needs to hear this conversation.Follow UsInstagram → instagram.com/tennisinsiderclubX (Twitter) → https://x.com/tennisinsidercltennisinsider.club🤝 PartnersHologic — advancing global women’s health.Tennis Insider Club is a podcast where the world’s best tennis players, coaches, and insiders share real stories about pressure, mental health, high-performance habits, and life on tour. Hosted by Caroline Garcia and Borja Durán, each episode gives an honest look into the WTA and ATP circuits. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when reaching the Top 100 and entering the Grand Slams main draw doesn’t make life easier, but harder?Eva Lys opens up about pressure, identity, mental health, and rediscovering joy in tennis.One of the most honest conversations ever on Tennis Insider Club.KEY MOMENTS:02:00 – When reaching Top 100 made everything harder05:00 – Identity, results & why losing can break you08:30 – Growing up in a tennis family & emotional sensitivity12:00 – School, structure & the “non-normal” life of junior tennis16:00 – Building life outside the tennis bubble19:00 – Self-worth, relationships & losing matches23:00 – Australian Open run, pressure, and losing the joy28:00 – Qualifying mindset: “I only qualified when I stopped caring”33:00 – Balance, discipline, fun & the stigma on female athletes39:00 – Resetting goals, psychologist, and returning to the roots55:00 – Living with an autoimmune condition as a pro athlete1:02:00 – Social media hate, protecting mental health & blocking people1:12:00 – Why tennis needs more empathy & honestyBROUGHT TO YOU BY HOLOGIC, a global leader in women’s health. Visit hologic.com to learn moreIf you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to subscribe, like, and leave a comment — it really helps us grow and bring more players on the show.📲 FOLLOW USInstagram → https://www.instagram.com/tennisinsiderclub/X (Twitter) → https://x.com/tennisinsiderclWebsite → https://tennisinsider.club Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At just 29, Garbiñe Muguruza—2x Grand Slam Champion and former World No.1—made the shocking decision to step away from tennis. In this raw, emotional conversation, she opens up to Caroline Garcia and Borja Durán about pressure, burnout, family sacrifice, and finding peace beyond trophies.Key Moments:01:00 – Growing Up in Venezuela & Family Sacrifice06:00 – Strict Parenting and Losing Childhood Innocence12:00 – Breakthrough Moment at Miami Open15:00 – Winning Roland Garros Against Serena Williams19:30 – “No One Cares About the Finalist”23:00 – The Dark Side of Perfectionism33:00 – After the WTA Finals: Relief, Burnout, and Self-Discovery37:00 – Making Peace With Stepping Away From Tennis45:00 – Life After Tennis: Becoming WTA Finals Tournament Director49:00 – Advice to Her Younger SelfIf you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to subscribe, like, and comment your favorite moment! It really helps us bring you more authentic tennis stories.This episode is brought to you by Hologic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From being told she’d never make it… to lifting the Wimbledon trophy. 🏆Marion Bartoli opens up on her fight against doubt, pain, and anorexia — and the moment she proved everyone wrong.CHAPTERS:00:00 – Overcoming doubt & proving critics wrong02:00 – Childhood in France and discovering tennis07:00 – The first Wimbledon final vs Venus Williams13:00 – Training with her father and breaking the rules17:00 – The reality of parent-coach relationships21:00 – Life on tour: obsession, exhaustion & sacrifice25:00 – 2013 Wimbledon: how everything finally clicked33:00 – Serving for the match: the moment of destiny37:00 – Relief, validation, and proving everyone wrong50:00 – Judged for her body & media pressure54:00 – The darkest chapter: anorexia and recoveryCALL TO ACTION:If this inspired you, subscribe for more honest stories from the world’s top players.Like the video, comment your favorite insight, and subscribe for future episodes.🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/1SDHHtfQmUS0TyP8wqJEh9🎧 Listen on Apple → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tennis-insider-club/id1721351881📲 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/tennisinsiderclub/📲 X (Twitter) → https://x.com/tennisinsidercl🌐 Website → https://tennisinsider.club🏠 Partnered with Haier — world No.1 in home appliances, supporting excellence from Roland Garros to your kitchen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to go from a kid in Sweden to becoming an Australian Open champion… and later coaching stars like Maria Sakkari and Kei Nishikori? 🎾Thomas Johansson opens up about his journey, struggles, and lessons learned both on and off the court.Timestamps / Chapters:00:00 – Millimeters between glory and disaster in tennis02:00 – Johansson’s childhood obsession with tennis07:00 – Breaking into the ATP Top 10013:00 – The unforgettable run to the 2002 Australian Open title19:00 – Key differences coaching men vs women22:00 – Life-changing aftermath of winning a Grand Slam26:00 – Battling career-threatening injuries28:00 – Facing Federer, Nadal, Djokovic & two eras of tennis34:00 – Toughest moment: being forced to retire38:00 – Transition into coaching & first steps with Caroline Wozniacki45:00 – Building confidence as a coach and helping players mentally49:00 – Coaching Kei Nishikori: challenges & humility53:00 – Mentoring the next generation of coaches1:02:00 – Advice to his younger selfIf you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to support the channel and never miss future tennis stories!📲 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/tennisinsiderclub/📲 X (Twitter) → https://x.com/tennisinsidercl🌐 Website → https://tennisinsider.club Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At just 1m65, Justine Henin defied all odds to become World No.1 and win 7 Grand Slam titles. Behind the elegant one-handed backhand and the trophies, her story is one of resilience, loss, and an unshakable belief in herself.In this intimate conversation on Tennis Insider Club, Henin opens up about:Growing up in a small Belgian town and finding her place in the family after tragedy.The role of her brothers, father, and late mother in shaping her character.Why she resisted pressure to change her iconic one-handed backhand.The painful years after losing her mother at 12, and how tennis became both an escape and a fight.Her complicated relationship with her father and the courage to leave home at 17 to pursue her dream.What it really takes to beat bigger, stronger opponents like Serena & Venus Williams.The pressures of early success, burnout, and why she retired at 25.Why she believes academies and parents must work together to protect kids from becoming “broken players.”Life after tennis: motherhood, running her academy, and finding happiness outside the spotlight.🎙 Hosted by Caroline Garcia & Borja Durán👉 Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations with the world’s best players and coaches.📲 Follow us for behind-the-scenes & clips: Instagram: @tennisinsiderclub Twitter/X: @tennisinsidercl#JustineHenin #Tennis #WTA #GrandSlamChampion #TennisPodcast #UsOpen #LaverCup #ATP #RolandGarros Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

She won the US Open at 19… then came injuries, pressure, and doubt. But Bianca Andreescu is still fighting—with powerful resilience—to return to the top.In this powerful episode of Tennis Insider Club, Bianca opens up like never before. She shares the emotional weight of early success, the loneliness of repeated setbacks, and the inner work she’s done to rediscover her purpose. From visualizing her US Open win years before it happened, to nearly quitting the sport during a dark mental health spiral, Bianca's story is raw, inspiring, and deeply human.Keywords: Bianca Andreescu interview, tennis mental health, US Open champion, tennis comeback, tennis podcastHighlights:06:45 – 2019: The Year Everything Clicked12:23 – “I Was Done With Tennis”18:10 – Therapy, Spirituality & the Journey Inward25:38 – Redefining Success After Hitting Rock Bottom32:17 – Lessons from Losing—and Learning to Let Go39:05 – The Comeback: Playing With Joy Again44:31 – Advice to the Next Gen: “Don’t Rush Your Path”48:52 – New Season, New IntentionsEnjoyed this episode? Watch next: 🎙️ Ben Shelton: Rising a Champion the Right Way → E35: Bryan Shelton🎙️ Jessica Pegula on Late Blooming & Mental Resilience → E34: Jessica PegulaFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/tennisinsiderclub Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to raise and coach a Grand Slam quarterfinalist? In this Tennis Insider Club episode, Bryan Shelton — former ATP pro, champion college coach, and father of rising star Ben Shelton — opens up about the unique challenges of guiding your own child through tennis.From growing up in Alabama to facing Boris Becker at Wimbledon, Bryan shares the lessons that shaped his career… and the philosophy that keeps his son grounded in a high-pressure sport.We discuss:The dangers of over-involved tennis parentsWhy mental skills matter more than strokes at the top levelHow to balance joy, discipline, and performanceThe difference between European and American confidence mindsetsWhy sometimes you have to “fake” confidence until you feel itBest Moments:[00:01:03] The Day Bryan Shelton Fell in Love with Tennis[00:03:00] Why He Chose College Over Turning Pro at 18[00:07:30] Facing Becker and Connors in His First Grand Slams[00:10:00] Breaking Into the Top 100: A Pro’s First Goal[00:11:00] Wimbledon 1994: His Greatest Memory on Tour[00:14:00] From Player to Coach: Bryan’s Second Career[00:17:00] How Ben Shelton Finally Chose Tennis at 11[00:23:30] Ben’s Secret Weapon: Relentless Confidence[00:27:10] The Three Tournament Rule Every Young Player Needs[00:43:00] Balancing Dad and Coach on the Pro Tour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jessica Pegula opens up like never before — from starting tennis at age 7, to dealing with pressure from her parents, to overcoming years of injuries and finally breaking into the top of the game in her mid-20s. In this candid conversation, we talk about finding your own path in tennis, the mental battles of the tour, handling media expectations, and why making her own decisions changed everything.🎙 Hosted by Caroline Garcia & Borja Duran — Tennis Insider Club.🎧 Listen on: Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6Vcjpr6Vj8UO5bbz9NWRDo Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/tennis-insider-club/id1664385813💡 Episode sponsor — Saily eSIMs: Stay connected anywhere in the world with Saily — the easiest way to get mobile data without roaming fees. 🌍 Get 15% OFF here: https://www.saily.com/tennisinsiderChapters: 00:01:08 – How Jessica started tennis00:09:36 – College vs turning pro; “I hated school” vibe00:11:06 – Breaking Top 100 after injuries; relief at ~2500:13:19 – “Own journey” mindset; using peers as motivation00:21:23 – “I make every decision now” — taking ownership00:31:01 – Managing your team like a business; lessons from family00:36:30 – Burnout, perspective reset, and handling losses00:50:41 – Slowing down to appreciate wins; “the dream is the journey”00:54:14 – How long she’ll play; LA Olympics carrot, 35 cap Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.