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 / CHAPTERS

01:40 – How her father pushed her into tennis from age 4

05:10 – Becoming a top junior and breaking into WTA at 16

07:20 – The crash after the French Open quarterfinal run

10:00 – Struggling with expectations & “learning how to lose”

11:50 – The injury that changed everything at 25

13:10 – Shifting from results obsession to joy & process

17:00 – Why knowing “why you play” changes everything

23:00 – Handling wins/losses: staying emotionally steady

25:00 – Discovering balance, friendships & life outside tennis

33:30 – Playing through pain & the mental toll

35:00 – Why 2026 will be her final season

37:00 – Making peace with not becoming No.1

43:00 – “What you’re complaining about is someone’s dream”

54:00 – Juniors vs pros: the myth of early success

56:00 – School, development & advice for parents

58:30 – Generational changes on tour

01:02:00 – How the game evolved & the new WTA level

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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 / CHAPTERS

01:00 – Olga’s childhood: pressure, media, and early expectations

04:00 – Growing up as the daughter of a superstar athlete

07:00 – Winning Moscow at 17: blessing or curse?

10:00 – Handling fame, pressure & public expectations as a teen

14:00 – Guilt, sacrifice & learning to choose yourself

17:00 – Life on tour vs. the reality people don’t see

20:00 – Mental health, burnout & losing joy in tennis

22:00 – Nine months sick: the moment everything changed

32:00 – Coaching experiences: what good teams REALLY do

45:00 – Playing on big stages & dealing with intrusive thoughts

48:00 – On-court panic, fear & wanting to “disappear”

56:00 – How she sees her future: identity beyond tennis

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🤝 Partners

Hologic — 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 harder

05:00 – Identity, results & why losing can break you

08:30 – Growing up in a tennis family & emotional sensitivity

12:00 – School, structure & the “non-normal” life of junior tennis

16:00 – Building life outside the tennis bubble

19:00 – Self-worth, relationships & losing matches

23:00 – Australian Open run, pressure, and losing the joy

28:00 – Qualifying mindset: “I only qualified when I stopped caring”

33:00 – Balance, discipline, fun & the stigma on female athletes

39:00 – Resetting goals, psychologist, and returning to the roots

55:00 – Living with an autoimmune condition as a pro athlete

1:02:00 – Social media hate, protecting mental health & blocking people

1:12:00 – Why tennis needs more empathy & honesty

BROUGHT TO YOU BY HOLOGIC, a global leader in women’s health. Visit hologic.com to learn more

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Website → https://tennisinsider.club

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