About this episode
Solana Cirstea spent 20 years chasing the biggest dreams in tennis — No.1, Grand Slams, perfection. Now, she opens up about pressure, regret, joy, and why 2026 will be her final year… One of the rawest mindset conversations ever on Tennis Insider Club. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS / CHAPTERS 01:40 – How her father pushed her into tennis from age 4 05:10 – Becoming a top junior and breaking into WTA at 16 07:20 – The crash after the French Open quarterfinal run 10:00 – Struggling with expectations & “learning how to lose” 11:50 – The injury that changed everything at 25 13:10 – Shifting from results obsession to joy & process 17:00 – Why knowing “why you play” changes everything 23:00 – Handling wins/losses: staying emotionally steady 25:00 – Discovering balance, friendships & life outside tennis 33:30 – Playing through pain & the mental toll 35:00 – Why 2026 will be her final season 37:00 – Making peace with not becoming No.1 43:00 – “What you’re complaining about is someone’s dream” 54:00 – Juniors vs pros: the myth of early success 56:00 – School, development & advice for parents 58:30 – Generational changes on tour 01:02:00 – How the game evolved & the new WTA level If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe , drop a like , and share your thoughts in the comments. Which part of Sorana’s story resonated the most with you? This episode is presented in partnership with Hologic , global leader in women’s health. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.