As we near the start of the tournament, and after several intense days of physical and technical work, we decided to scale back on volume and focus on quality. The plan for today was to prioritize mobility, shorter on-court sessions (about 45 minutes), recovery in the gym, and a much-needed massage.
Once again, the weather wasn’t on our side. With temperatures at -3°C and a biting wind, practicing in such conditions is tough. The players are forced to wear multiple layers, which affects their mobility and technique. But we pushed through, and this morning, we were fortunate to find a male player who had a match later in the day. He asked Stefi to warm him up, which resulted in a more intense and rhythmic practice session. This was exactly what Stefi needed. After feeling out of sync during yesterday’s sessions, today’s rhythm gave her an extra boost of confidence.
Afterward, we broke for lunch and enjoyed some delicious Turkish food. During our break, we discussed the next session and headed back to the courts for a short practice with the Turkish girl who shares a room with Stefi. Despite the freezing cold, the session went really well. We focused on returning serve, and more importantly, not rushing in the rallies. The goal was to keep the ball in play, force the opponent to take more responsibility, while still maintaining control of the point.
It’s easier said than done. Emotions and the desire to win often interfere with making the right decisions regarding power, spin, and direction. But today, for the first time, I saw Stefi embracing that control—playing without rushing or getting stressed. It was a breakthrough moment for her, and I could see the enjoyment she got from staying composed and executing the plan.
I’m really happy with the overall progress Stefi has made. Initially, I was concerned about making so many corrections in such a short time, but she’s a quick learner. Seeing the spark in her eyes as the things we’ve worked on begin to click on the court has been incredibly rewarding.
During the evening session, we played some points, which confirmed the improvement and gave us an additional boost of confidence heading into the tournament. Just before wrapping up, we stopped by the tournament office, and they confirmed that tomorrow will be dedicated solely to doubles matches, with singles starting the day after. This is great news as it gives us one more day to sharpen Stefi’s rhythm in competition. The organizers are also anticipating bad weather tonight and want to avoid scheduling too many matches. Fortunately, the forecast suggests tomorrow will be the last day of these freezing temperatures.
Right now, Stefi is in the massage room, and as soon as she’s done, we’ll enjoy a well-deserved dinner. Then, it’s time for some rest before we dive into the first day of competition.
More updates tomorrow—stay tuned!