Welcome to the Coaching Corner
Whether you’re a player striving to improve, a coach looking for fresh ideas, or a parent supporting your athlete’s journey, Coaching Corner is here to inspire and educate.
Here, you’ll find expert advice, training tips, and strategies from top coaches—alongside personal stories and experiences that bring the game to life. Learn from real moments on and off the court, as coaches share their challenges, successes, and lessons learned throughout their careers.
Check back regularly for new insights, and let these experiences guide you on your own tennis journey!
Explore the Latest Articles Below!
Tricks of the Trade
Focus on the Process, Not the Outcome
Stay Calm, stay Focused.
Positive Self-Talk – Players like Serena Williams and Roger Federer often use affirmations to keep their minds focused, such as “I’ve got this” or “Stay in the moment.”
Routine – By focusing on specific practices, a player can create a sense of consistency and control before and during their matches, allowing them to stay calm and prepared for competition like Nadal, Djokovic, Alcaraz, Serena and many other top professionals.
Strategic Play – Roger Federer is known for his ability to adapt his game during matches based on the opponent’s weaknesses.
Learn from your Losses
Staying Present – Focus on the current point rather than getting caught up in past mistakes or future outcomes.
Visualize Success as part of your pre match routine.
Stay Confident. Use positive gestures throughout your match.
Serve Strategy – Mix it Up – Vary your serves between flat, kick, and slice and by locations (wide, down the T, body) to keep your opponent off balance.
Serve and Volley when appropriate. It can be an effective weapon if used well.
Coach Chronicles
Izabel Nikolaeva – Journey from Player to Coach
By Isabel Nikolaeva….
Stepping into the coaching world as a young woman has been a journey filled with challenges, growth and rewarding experiences. For me, coaching isn’t just a profession – it’s a calling to guide, inspire, and help players achieve their fullest potential. My path has been shaped by my experiences as a player and the incredible mentors and athletes I’ve had the privilege to work with.
My journey began in Bulgaria, where I had the honor of representing my country on the Bulgarian National Junior Team. I won multiple national junior championships. My proudest achievement as a junior was reaching a Tennis Europe Junior Ranking of 95. I then transitioned to American collegiate tennis competing at the Division 1 Level in the MEAC.
Collegiate tennis led me directly into a coaching career. The experiences of college tennis taught me the physical, mental and strategic demands of the game that I can now share with others. One of my proudest moments was when the University of West Georgia achieved the most wins in its history since 2010….and I was a part of it! Iuliia Dmitrieva, the No. 1 on the team, set a program record for most singles wins in a season as well!
For me, tennis has always been more than a sport – it’s a way to teach and learn discipline, foster resilience, and create meaningful relationships. As I continue my coaching journey, I hope to inspire other young women to pursue coaching as a career, bringing their fresh perspectives to the world of tennis.
Izabel currently coaches at Laurel Park Tennis Center in Marietta.
