World Mental Health Day: the importance of mental wellbeing in tennis
World Mental Health Day is a timely reminder that mental wellbeing is just as important as physical fitness, especially in tennis.
To mark the day, listen to this fascinating discussion between two experts in their field: Kathy Martin, the WTA’s Senior Director of Mental Health and Performance, and Elaine Maclagan, World Tennis’s Sports Physiotherapy and Healthcare Consultant.
Tennis is often viewed through the lens of performance, rankings and results, but behind every player is a person managing pressure, expectations, travel, finances and the demands of competition.
World Tennis and the WTA have joined forces to develop mental health first aid resources for physiotherapists and medical staff on site to recognise the early signs of players requiring additional support.
The training encourages open conversations about mental health, which helps normalise discussions and reduce stigma and increase the likelihood of players seeking help early from those they trust.
World Tennis has also introduced a programme which sees a sports psychologist specialising in tennis attending events across the World Tennis Tour, giving players access to specialist support while competing at events.
World Tennis and the WTA are proud to be supporting World Mental Health Day and are committed to helping players feel supported to reach their potential both on and off the court.