As anticipated, snow returned to our facility overnight, leaving everything covered in a pristine white blanket. The courts, hotel access, and paths were all icy and hazardous, creating a beautiful postcard scene but a nightmare for the players. The organizers, due to the icy conditions, made the decision to move some matches to courts in town, located about 1000 meters below where we are. Unfortunately, with many qualification matches still ongoing, they canceled all doubles matches for the day. This meant no match for Stefi today.
After breakfast, and once we had the updated match schedule, we adjusted our plans to make the most of the day. We headed to the gym for a session focused on mobility and injury prevention. We wrapped it up with some anaerobic intervals on the treadmill to work on endurance.
Next, we found an alternative training space. What was once a conference room had been cleared of chairs by the organizers, making it a perfect spot to work on footwork and reaction drills. Luckily, we were the first to discover it, giving us plenty of time and space to train before other players, who were still crowded in the gym, realized there was a new area to work out. By the time we finished, the room was packed.
One tool we’ve been using lately is the Whoop app, a device that functions like a watch and provides real-time data on physical activity, sleep quality, stress levels, recovery, and energy. It’s been essential for us to track workload and ensure Stefi’s energy and rest levels are in perfect balance. Today, since Stefi didn’t sleep as well as usual (perhaps due to yesterday’s massage), we decided she’d take a one-hour nap after lunch and then reassess our plan for the rest of the day.
With the entire day spent indoors, I decided to take a walk to check on the courts. The sun had come out slightly, and I hoped they would dry enough for us to squeeze in a short session before dusk. The courts weren’t in perfect condition—there was still some snow at the edges and patches of ice and water—but they were playable, at least for a light hit. Other coaches and players had the same idea. Once Stefi woke up, we quickly found a hitting partner and headed to the courts for a 45-minute session. It was great to get some contact with the ball, practicing rallies, volleys, serves, and returns to keep her sharp for tomorrow.
I’m relieved we managed to get on the court today. I didn’t want Stefi to enter tomorrow’s singles and doubles matches without having practiced on-court at all today. After our session, it was time for recovery—Stefi spent some time stretching, swimming, and enjoying the sauna. But before that, I challenged her to a game of darts, just to get her competitive juices flowing. Of course, Coach Andreu secured a clear victory this time.
We’re still waiting for the qualification matches in town to wrap up, so the ITF supervisor can release tomorrow’s order of play. Once we have it, we’ll finalize our preparation. For now, it’s time for dinner and some conversation to ensure Stefi is in the right mindset for tomorrow.
Tomorrow is the big day—the competition we’ve been waiting for. I hope the work we’ve put in over the last few days has had a positive impact on Stefi’s game and motivation. No matter what happens tomorrow, I’m confident I’ll feel proud of her effort.
More to come tomorrow, but not better.