This week on the Functional Tennis Podcast, I’m joined by American ATP player Aleks Kovacevic, currently ranked #77 ATP

Aleks takes us through his surprising journey to the pro tour, from not thinking he’d ever go pro to finding belief during college and climbing the ATP rankings, including a big win over world #5 Andrey Rublev. He opens up about learning to lose, building confidence, and handling pressure on tour.

We also dive into his one-handed backhand, how he approaches training and improvement, and why he’s added the Functional Tennis Saber to his warmup to help with timing and focus.

Packed with honest insights and practical takeaways, this is a great listen for aspiring players, coaches, and fans of the grind.

Fabio

This podcast is sponsored by ASICS. ASICS is a Japanese company founded in 1949 to give more people the opportunity to experience how sports and movement can have a positive impact on mental well-being.

To learn more about ASICS visit their website here: https://www.asics.com/nl/en-nl/sports/tennis/

Find us on Social Media:

Instagram: Instagram.com/FunctionalTennis

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@functionaltennis

In this episode, I speak with Clinton Coleman, Senior Scout at IMG Tennis, who helped discover and guide some of the sport’s brightest young talents, including Nick Kyrgios, Alexander Eala, Mirra Andreeva at 11. Clinton shares what he really looks for in juniors, why mindset often matters more than strokes, and how parents can either help or hinder a player’s development. We also chat about the biggest scouting misconceptions and what separates good from great in today’s tennis landscape.

• What he really looks for in young players
• How Clinton spotted Mirra Andreeva at age 11
• The biggest misconceptions about talent and technique
• The role of parents in player development
• Why mindset and competitiveness matter most

Hope you enjoy

Fabio

This podcast is sponsored by ASICS. ASICS is a Japanese company founded in 1949 to give more people the opportunity to experience how sports and movement can have a positive impact on mental well-being.

To learn more about ASICS visit their website here: https://www.asics.com/nl/en-nl/sports/tennis/

Find us on Social Media:

Instagram: Instagram.com/FunctionalTennis

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@functionaltennis

This week I’m joined by Luca Van Assche, one of France’s top young players and a former Roland Garros junior champion. We chat about his fast rise to the ATP top 70, what it really takes to make the jump from juniors to the pros, and how Futures helped build his resilience and confidence. Luca opens up about the pressure of expectations, how he’s managing a ranking drop, and why balancing university studies with tennis keeps him grounded. There’s loads of insight here into how belief, hard work, and enjoying the game really shape a career.

🗣️ 3 Key Quotes

1. “You can win 20 junior Slams and not win matches in the pros.”

2. “Sometimes you’re in a bad place and you say, maybe just one year as a normal person would be nice.”

3. “If you’re not 100 percent from the first point, you’re out in 40 minutes.”

✅ 5 Takeaway Points:

• Winning a junior Slam is just the beginning, not the end goal

• Futures helped him build confidence and mental focus

• The ATP level demands intensity from the very first point

• Balancing school and tennis adds purpose beyond rankings

• Long-term goals fuel motivation during tough stretches

This podcast is sponsored by ASICS. ASICS is a Japanese company founded in 1949 to give more people the opportunity to experience how sports and movement can have a positive impact on mental well-being.

To learn more about ASICS visit their website here: https://www.asics.com/nl/en-nl/sports/tennis/

Find us on Social Media:

Instagram: Instagram.com/FunctionalTennis

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@functionaltennis