Wim Fissette never dreamed of becoming a top coach — until a chance call from Kim Clijsters changed his life forever. In this raw and honest conversation, Wim opens up about his unlikely journey, coaching legends like Iga Świątek, Naomi Osaka, and Kim, and what it really takes to help players win at the highest level.

This episode is a goldmine for coaches, parents, and players who want to understand tennis beyond technique — from communication and data to confidence, mindset, and long-term growth.

⏱ Best Moments

00:00 – 🎙 "Dare to dream." Wim’s life philosophy and why belief is everything

03:00 – ⚖️ Quitting tennis at 20 and shifting to a logistics career

10:30 – 📞 The call from Kim Clijsters that changed his life

12:30 – 🛫 Quitting his job to follow a coaching dream

16:30 – 📊 Bringing data to WTA coaching before it was mainstream

20:30 – 📓 The power of journaling and taking ownership of your tennis

28:00 – 🧠 Coaching Iga Świątek vs. other players – knowing when to evolve

34:30 – 🏋️‍♀️ Why physical readiness is key to technical improvement

38:20 – 🏀 Top advice for young players: diversify, don’t specialize too soon

48:00 – 🧠 Mental strength under pressure — and why it must be trained

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What happens when your childhood dream becomes your worst nightmare?

In this raw, emotional conversation, Finnish tennis star Emil Ruusuvuori opens up about his four-year battle with panic attacks, burnout, and depression — including breaking down during matches and questioning the meaning of life. From rising through the ranks to cracking the Top 50, to walking away from the sport he once loved, Emil shares what no press conference ever showed.

Best Moments:

[00:04:35] “I just couldn’t breathe… My body shut down”

[00:08:20] “I didn’t care anymore if I won or lost”

[00:11:45] “Life didn’t matter at that point”

[00:17:10] “You lose your identity when you stop playing”

[00:23:40] “Everyone says you’re living the dream… but it felt like hell”

[00:30:15] “I started therapy—and finally, I could breathe”

[00:37:05] “I had to re-learn who I am without tennis”

[00:41:50] “We’re not machines… even if we’re ranked Top 50”

[00:48:25] “Now I’m building something new. For the first time, I feel excited.”

[00:53:40] “If this helps even one person, I’m glad I shared it.”

This is not just a sports episode. It’s a story about mental health, identity, and what it means to be enough.

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In this intimate and revealing conversation, legendary coach and former world #4 Brad Gilbert opens up like never before. From coaching Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, and Coco Gauff, to dissecting what truly separates good players from great ones — Brad shares raw lessons, wild stories, and tactical gems from decades inside the sport.

You’ll hear why Agassi never actually beat him, how Coco Gauff processes coaching in real-time, what junior parents often get wrong, and the exact mindset shifts that change careers. No sugarcoating. Just real talk, real insights.

Hosted by Caroline Garcia, this episode dives deep into the coaching mind — strategy, psychology, parenting, and the small decisions that lead to big wins (or painful regrets).

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🧠 Topics discussed:

• Competing vs Drilling

• Coaching Agassi vs Roddick vs Coco

• The danger of overcoaching during matches

• The role of parents in a tennis career

• Why small margins decide everything in tennis

• Emotional burnouts and honesty in coaching

• And yes… that wild match vs Caroline in Miami.

🔔 Subscribe for more raw, intelligent tennis conversations with the pros who live it.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.