Alex’s Breaking Point
Alex was 14 years old, ranked in the top 50 in his age group, and absolutely terrified of tournaments.
In practice, he was brilliant—precise groundstrokes, a killer serve, incredible court sense. In matches?
He fell apart.
His father called me after Alex lost in the first round of another regional tournament—to a player he’d
beaten easily in practice the week before. “He has the skills,” his dad said, frustrated. “But when it
counts, he chokes. We need help.”
I watched Alex play his next tournament. He served three double faults in the opening game. On game point,
he hit a routine forehand into the net—then smashed his racket on the ground. His body language screamed
defeat before the match was even close to over.
After the match, I asked him: “What’s going through your head when you step on that tournament court?”
He looked at the ground. “I’m thinking about how I can’t lose. How my parents paid for this tournament.
How my coach will be disappointed. How everyone’s watching. I’m thinking about everything except tennis.”
That’s when I knew: Alex didn’t need more forehand drills. He needed to learn how to compete.
How to manage pressure. How to turn his brain from enemy into ally.
We started tournament preparation training. Not more hitting—mental toughness, match strategy, pressure
simulation. We worked on his pre-match routines, his between-point rituals, his self-talk. We practiced
playing from behind, handling bad line calls, staying calm when nothing was working.
Three months later, Alex won his first tournament title. Six months after that, he’d climbed 20 spots
in the rankings. But more importantly, he stopped being afraid of competing. He learned to love the
pressure instead of crumbling under it.
“I still get nervous,” he told me before his last tournament. “But now I know what to do with those nerves.
They don’t control me anymore.”
That’s what tournament preparation does. It transforms technical players into competitors.
What Tournament Preparation Includes
🧠 Mental Toughness Training
We work on the psychological side of competition: managing nerves, staying focused under pressure,
bouncing back from mistakes, handling hostile crowds or bad officiating.
I teach you pre-match routines, between-point rituals, and mental reset techniques that elite
players use. The mental game is 50% of tournament success—maybe more.
📊 Match Strategy & Tactics
How do you construct a point to win? When should you play aggressively vs. defensively? How do you
exploit your opponent’s weaknesses while protecting your own?
We analyze common opponent types and develop game plans for each. You’ll learn how to scout opponents,
adjust tactics mid-match, and think strategically under pressure.
⚡ Pressure Simulation
We create tournament-like pressure in practice: playing sets with consequences, practicing with a
“crowd” watching, simulating close matches where every point matters.
You can’t eliminate pressure—but you can train yourself to perform well despite it. That only happens
through exposure and practice.
🎯 Situational Match Play
We practice specific match situations: “You’re down 2-5 in the third set. What’s your strategy?”
“You just lost your serve. How do you respond mentally?” “Your opponent is tanking—how do you stay focused?”
Tournaments throw unexpected situations at you. We prepare you for all of them so nothing catches
you off-guard.
📹 Video Analysis
We record your practice matches and analyze them together: decision-making, body language, patterns,
tactical choices. You’ll see what you’re doing right—and what’s costing you matches.
We also analyze video of your opponents (if available) to prepare specific game plans before tournaments.
🔧 Technical Refinement Under Pressure
Your strokes might be solid in practice, but do they hold up when you’re nervous, tired, or behind
in a match? We identify which parts of your game break down under pressure and fix them.
Tournament tennis requires consistent, reliable strokes—not flashy ones that only work when you’re relaxed.
Tournament Prep Is For Players Who…
🏆 Compete Regularly
You play in USTA tournaments, local leagues, high school matches, or junior circuits. You’re not
playing casually—you’re playing to win.
💪 Have Skills But Lose Close Matches
You can hit every shot, but you keep losing tight matches: 6-4, 7-5, tiebreakers. The difference
isn’t skill—it’s mental toughness and match strategy.
😰 Get Nervous in Competition
You play great in practice but fall apart in tournaments. Your serve gets shaky, you miss easy shots,
you second-guess yourself. You need to train your mind, not just your body.
🎓 Want to Play College Tennis
You’re aiming for a college scholarship or roster spot. Tournament results matter, and you need
coaching that understands what college recruiters look for: not just skill, but competitiveness.
📈 Are Stuck at a Plateau
You’ve been the same ranking for months (or years). You’re not getting worse, but you’re not improving
either. You need a fresh perspective and advanced training to break through.
🔥 Want to Take Tennis Seriously
You’re ready to commit to competitive tennis—training multiple times per week, entering tournaments
regularly, making tennis a priority. You want coaching that matches your dedication.
Tournament Preparation Pricing
Single Session
- One-on-one intensive training
- Focus on specific tournament challenges
- Mental toughness or tactical work
- Perfect for pre-tournament tune-ups
- Video analysis available
Monthly Program
- 8 sessions per month (2 per week)
- Ongoing tournament preparation and support
- Video analysis of tournament matches
- Personalized match strategy documents
- Text/email support between sessions
- Pre-tournament game planning calls
- Save €110/month vs. individual sessions
Pre-Tournament Intensive
- Focused prep before major tournament
- Opponent scouting (if applicable)
- Match strategy development
- Mental preparation and routines
- Pressure simulation
- Post-tournament debrief included
For serious competitors: If you’re training 3+ times per week and entering tournaments
monthly, ask about my Elite Competitor Program—comprehensive training, fitness guidance, nutrition planning,
and full tournament support.
Results guarantee: If you complete a Monthly Program (minimum 3 months) and don’t see
measurable improvement in your tournament results, I’ll work with you for free until you do. That’s how
confident I am in this training.
What Competitive Players Say
“I was stuck at a 4.0 USTA rating for three years. After working with Olga on tournament prep,
I’m now 4.5 and winning matches I would have lost before. She changed how I think about competing.”
“My daughter had the skills but lost confidence in tournaments. Olga’s mental toughness training
transformed her. She’s now ranked in the top 20 in her state and committed to a Division I school.”
“Olga doesn’t just teach you how to hit—she teaches you how to win. The match strategy and mental
preparation made me a smarter, tougher competitor. I wish I’d found her years ago.”