“Routine” can often be misunderstood as monotonous, but on tour, it means consistency and discipline in daily work. Today, with the temperature at -3°C, we once again chose to start the day in the gym. As we edge closer to competition, our training is shifting more towards anaerobic work. As usual, we began with our morning routine of mobility exercises and dynamic stretching, followed by an intense interval training session on the treadmill. We wrapped up the gym session with injury prevention exercises using elastic bands.
After the gym, we headed to the players’ resting area to revisit our patterns and tactical goals for the day. This was key in preparing for our first on-court session, ensuring we had a clear plan of action and expectations.
Our first session followed the routine of the past few days—45 minutes of focused footwork and recovery drills without ball contact. The aim was to continue building muscle memory, laying the foundation for the rest of the day.
By noon, we hit the court with a solid Turkish player for our first hitting session. It was a productive hour of cross-court rallies, volleys, and finishing with some points. Stefi’s level continues to improve daily—her decisions on court are becoming more analytical and less driven by emotion. Her footwork is more precise, and she’s creating better space before hitting the ball, which is giving her cleaner shots and more time to execute simple, effective patterns. We’ve also made some adjustments to her serve, which is boosting her confidence.
Afterward, we took a much-needed break for lunch. Our meal was focused on protein and vegetables, but I have to admit, the array of delicious Turkish desserts is making it hard to stick to my diet! I’m trying my best to resist the temptation, but it’s no easy task…
At 3:00 p.m., we were back on court, this time hitting with a Russian player with a strong WTA ranking. Thankfully, the wind had died down, making it easier to train in the cold. Stefi is making fewer and fewer errors, adapting well to the altitude and the speed of the balls. This should give her an advantage as we head into the tournament this week.
We ended the day with a 30-minute session in the gym, focusing on mobility and stretching. As the tournament draws closer, we’re tightening up on rest times and managing the workload carefully. Tomorrow’s training will be more specific, with less volume but more focus on quality.
By 6:00 p.m., the tournament draw for next week will be released. Stefi is currently positioned as the No.3 seed in the qualification draw. However, if no one claims a special exempt spot and someone from the main draw withdraws last minute (which is quite possible), we might get bumped up directly to the main draw. Otherwise, we’ll be battling it out in the qualification rounds.
It’s now 5:30 p.m., and we’re planning to have an early dinner and rest up. I’ll update you tomorrow on what happens with the draw—consider this a bit of suspense, like a good TV series cliffhanger!