https://mindserve-coaching.com/

MindServe Coaching, Rua Placido de Abreu, Lisbon (2026)

20/04/2026

After an injury-plagued 2025 season, Arthur Fils has quietly put together a serious resurgence over the last two months.

He missed 7 months with a back injury, but instead of needing time to find his groove again, the 21-year-old has come out of the gates firing. Only 1 of his 5 losses this year has come against someone outside the Top 10 – and that was to Jiri Lehečka in Miami, who’s currently No. 14 in the world.

His game is built on raw power and explosiveness that can stand toe-to-toe with the very best, including Alcaraz and Sinner. On top of that, he carries a level of confidence and presence on court that you don’t see often. He plays with fire, feeds off big crowds, and looks like he genuinely loves the moment.

That confidence and self-belief will be crucial if Fils wants to consistently challenge the top guys and make deep runs at the Slams. His coach, Goran Ivanišević, knows a thing or two about that – he finally won Wimbledon in 2001 after losing in three previous finals.

So what does Arthur Fils still need to win a Grand Slam?

On the tennis side, he still struggles a bit when he’s rushed, because his massive strokes need time to unwind. That’s why clay still looks like his best surface for now. The positive: he’s already done a better job of redirecting pace and has even shortened his forehand swing a bit. That’ll be key.

On the mental side, Fils has to keep that confidence and swagger when he’s standing across the net from Alcaraz and Sinner. There’s a lot a player has to do to beat the No. 1 or No. 2 in the world — but first, he has to truly believe he can.

And that, it appears, Arthur Fils already has.

20/04/2026

Here’s an Instagram-ready version you can copy, with a clear hook and cleaner flow:

After an injury-plagued 2025 season, Arthur Fils has quietly put together a serious resurgence over the last two months.

He missed 7 months with a back injury, but instead of needing time to find his groove again, the 21-year-old has come out of the gates firing. Only 1 of his 5 losses this year has come against someone outside the Top 10 – and that was to Jiri Lehečka in Miami, who’s currently No. 14 in the world.

His game is built on raw power and explosiveness that can stand toe-to-toe with the very best, including Alcaraz and Sinner. On top of that, he carries a level of confidence and presence on court that you don’t see often. He plays with fire, feeds off big crowds, and looks like he genuinely loves the moment.

That confidence and self-belief will be crucial if Fils wants to consistently challenge the top guys and make deep runs at the Slams. His coach, Goran Ivanišević, knows a thing or two about that – he finally won Wimbledon in 2001 after losing in three previous finals.

So what does Arthur Fils still need to win a Grand Slam?

On the tennis side, he still struggles a bit when he’s rushed, because his massive strokes need time to unwind. That’s why clay still looks like his best surface for now. The positive: he’s already done a better job of redirecting pace and has even shortened his forehand swing a bit. That’ll be key.

On the mental side, Fils has to keep that confidence and swagger when he’s standing across the net from Alcaraz and Sinner. There’s a lot a player has to do to beat the No. 1 or No. 2 in the world — but first, he has to truly believe he can.

And that, it appears, Arthur Fils already has.

20/04/2026

Here’s an Instagram-ready version you can copy, with a clear hook and cleaner flow:

After an injury-plagued 2025 season, Arthur Fils has quietly put together a serious resurgence over the last two months.

He missed 7 months with a back injury, but instead of needing time to find his groove again, the 21-year-old has come out of the gates firing. Only 1 of his 5 losses this year has come against someone outside the Top 10 – and that was to Jiri Lehečka in Miami, who’s currently No. 14 in the world.

His game is built on raw power and explosiveness that can stand toe-to-toe with the very best, including Alcaraz and Sinner. On top of that, he carries a level of confidence and presence on court that you don’t see often. He plays with fire, feeds off big crowds, and looks like he genuinely loves the moment.

That confidence and self-belief will be crucial if Fils wants to consistently challenge the top guys and make deep runs at the Slams. His coach, Goran Ivanišević, knows a thing or two about that – he finally won Wimbledon in 2001 after losing in three previous finals.

So what does Arthur Fils still need to win a Grand Slam?

On the tennis side, he still struggles a bit when he’s rushed, because his massive strokes need time to unwind. That’s why clay still looks like his best surface for now. The positive: he’s already done a better job of redirecting pace and has even shortened his forehand swing a bit. That’ll be key.

On the mental side, Fils has to keep that confidence and swagger when he’s standing across the net from Alcaraz and Sinner. There’s a lot a player has to do to beat the No. 1 or No. 2 in the world — but first, he has to truly believe he can.

And that, it appears, Arthur Fils already has.

✨

17/04/2026

You will not be able to change your parents or coaches overnight.
But you can change how you react to their expectations.
Here are 3 tools I use with players who feel a lot of external pressure:
1) Have your priorities straight
Before a match, ask: “What is my job today?”
Examples:
• Compete with full effort
• Stick to my patterns on big points
• Keep strong body language
Your job is not “prove my worth” or “make everyone happy.”
2) Structure your thoughts before you play
Tell yourself:
“I can care about what they think, but I don’t have to play for them. I play for my own growth and goals.”
You can appreciate the people around you without carrying all their fears on your shoulders.
3) A simple conversation structure
Most parents and coaches actually want to help but don’t realise how their words land.
Use this 3-step script:
“I appreciate everything you do.”
“Sometimes I feel extra pressure when...”
“What helps me most is when you...”
Example:
“I really appreciate how much you invest in my tennis. Sometimes when we talk about ranking and points immediately after a loss, I feel even more pressure. What helps me most is if we wait and talk about my effort and attitude first.”
No drama. No blame. Just clear communication.
Screenshot or save this and use it as a guide for your next conversation.
Share this with a parent or coach who truly wants to support you but might not know how.

16/04/2026

Your match. Your shoulders.
You can love the people around you deeply and still not carry their fears on court.
You can appreciate what your parents sacrifice, respect what your coach expects, and value the chance you’ve been given — without letting all of that sit on your shoulders every time you step on court.
Their support matters. Their presence matters.
But their anxiety is not yours to solve mid-match.
Your job is to compete. To be present. To give your best effort.
Not to manage everyone’s emotions while you’re trying to hit a forehand.
Love them. Appreciate them.
And protect the space you need to perform.
Save this. Share it with someone who carries too much on court.

14/04/2026

A lot of players aren’t just playing for themselves.
They’re playing for:
• Parents who invest money and time
• Coaches who want results
• Colleges or federations who gave them a chance
That’s when thoughts like these show up:
• “I can’t waste the sacrifice my parents made.”
• “If I lose again, my coach will be disappointed.”
• “If I don’t perform, my spot/scholarship is in danger.”
Suddenly, it’s not just a tennis match anymore.
It feels like your relationships and your future are on the line.
When that happens, you stop playing to solve problems.
You start playing to avoid disappointing people.
On court, that pressure often looks like:
• Tightness on big points
• Overly safe tennis
• Emotional reactions when certain people watch
• Obsession with what others are thinking
You can’t control what they feel or expect.
But you can control how you prepare, how you compete, and how you respond to pressure.
Your job is to play your match, not deal with everyone else’s fears.
Save this if you feel extra tight when parents, coaches or scouts are around.
Next post: I’ll share concrete tools to handle that pressure and talk to the people around you in a healthy way.

12/04/2026

When these two tennis giants face off, the level is so high that the tiniest details decide everything.

Alcaraz still leads the overall head-to-head 11–7, but since the start of 2025 it’s only 4–3 in his favor – a perfect reflection of how razor-thin the margin is between them right now.

One of those small details showed up today in the Monte Carlo final. Carlos Alcaraz, usually overflowing with positive energy and confidence, looked genuinely unnerved by Sinner. There was constant chatter with his box, and coach Samuel López kept reminding him to stay positive – something you rarely see being an issue for Alcaraz.

Sinner’s consistency and ball-striking are so relentless that even the world No. 1 (at least until tomorrow) started to doubt and lose a bit of belief.

Next time, this matchup could look completely different. Alcaraz has all the variety to get the ball out of Sinner’s strike zone and make the Italian uncomfortable. But today, those little doubts that crept into Alcaraz’s mind might have been the difference between winning and losing.

Game, set and match: Sinner.

12/04/2026

When these two face off, the level is so high that the tiniest details decide everything.

Alcaraz still leads the overall head-to-head 11–7, but since the start of 2025 it’s only 4–3 in his favor – a perfect reflection of how razor-thin the margin is between them right now.

One of those small details showed up today in the Monte Carlo final. Carlos Alcaraz, usually overflowing with positive energy and confidence, looked genuinely unnerved by Sinner. There was constant chatter with his box, and coach Samuel López kept reminding him to stay positive – something you rarely see being an issue for Alcaraz.

Sinner’s consistency and ball-striking are so relentless that even the world No. 1 (at least until tomorrow) started to doubt and lose a bit of belief.

Next time, this matchup could look completely different. Alcaraz has all the variety to drag the ball out of Sinner’s strike zone and make the Italian uncomfortable. But today, those little doubts that crept into Alcaraz’s mind might have been the difference between winning and losing.

Game, set and match: Sinner.

10/04/2026

You can’t avoid losing.
But you can decide what you do with it.

Instead of replaying the worst points in your head for hours, try this simple 3-question debrief after every match (especially the painful ones):

1️⃣ What did I do well today?
Force yourself to find it, even in a bad loss:
• Effort and fight
• Body language
• Certain patterns or decisions

This keeps your brain from going straight to “everything was terrible” and protects your confidence.

2️⃣ What did I learn?
Be specific, not dramatic:
• “My level drops when I start thinking about the score.”
• “I struggled with his high, heavy forehand.”
• “Bad calls distract me for 2–3 games.”

A loss with learning is already a step forward.

3️⃣ What will I do differently next time?
Turn that learning into action:
• Add a drill to practice the situation
• Work on a routine for bad calls
• Train a clear pattern for pressure points

Now the loss has a purpose. It’s not just pain; it’s direction.

Do this consistently and you’ll still hate losing, but you won’t fear it as much — because you know you’ll come out better on the other side.

👉 Screenshot or save this and use it after your next match.
👇 Comment “LOSS” if losses hit you hard and you want more tools for handling them

09/04/2026

Tough on my game. Gentle on myself.

It’s ok to be demanding with your tennis.
Push yourself in practice. Set high standards. Want more from your game.

But find ways to be good to yourself.

The way you talk to yourself after a bad point, a tough loss, a frustrating week — that matters more than any technical adjustment.

You can be ambitious and still be kind to yourself.
You can want to win and still not destroy yourself when you don’t.

The best players I work with aren’t the ones who are hardest on themselves.
They’re the ones who know when to push — and when to breathe.

Be tough on your game.
Be gentle on yourself.

Save this. Share it with a player who’s too hard on themselves.

07/04/2026

Losing is not the problem.
What you allow losing to do to you is the problem.
After a loss, most players:
• Replay every mistake
• Compare their results to others
• Question their talent, career, or identity
One bad day becomes:
“Maybe I’m just not good enough.”
When every loss attacks your self-worth, tennis becomes survival:
you play to avoid pain and embarrassment instead of to compete and grow.
Here’s the reality: even top pros lose all the time.
Most weeks, almost everyone loses at some stage of the tournament.
The difference is how they frame that loss.
Great players see losses as information, not a verdict.
Not: “I’m a loser.”
But: “I lost today… and this is what it’s telling me about my game, my habits, my mindset.”
One match is a snapshot, not your entire story.
Save this for your next tough loss.
In the next post I’ll give you a simple 3-question debrief you can use to process losses like a pro.

05/04/2026

When you lose, your brain wants to make it mean something about who you are.

"I'm not good enough."
"I'll never make it."

But a loss is just data:
→ What worked?
→ What didn't?
→ What do I adjust?

That's it. No drama. No identity crisis. Just information to get better.

Stay in learning mode, not self-destruction mode.

MindServe Coaching

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