Embracing Transition: How the TAP Global Mentoring Program Supported My Journey Beyond Professional Tennis

​My TAP experience has been incredibly rewarding thus far, and I am especially grateful for the positive impact it has had during my transition out of professional sport. In reflecting on the ways it has helped, there are a few areas that stand out: presence, connection, and perspective.

There was probably not a more opportune time for the TAP Global Mentoring Program to cross my inbox than when it did, last October. I had been competing on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tour since 2019 and spent the better part of 2023 rehabbing from a hand surgery. At the same time, I was also contemplating the prospect of retiring from professional tennis, which was difficult to work through, as I know is often the case for athletes faced with the idea of retiring from their sport. Fortunately, I had a great support network in my family, my training team, and my friends.

I discovered the TAP Global Mentoring Program through another sports-related organization, High Impact Athletes, and as I read more about TAP, it was apparent this was an organization that took a holistic approach to the athlete experience. The Global Mentoring Program stood out to me for a number of reasons. As someone who has benefited greatly from the positive impact of mentors throughout both my sporting career and personal life, I felt it would be a special opportunity to mentor a young athlete and to develop the skills to grow as a mentor. And relative to where I was at with my own sporting career at the time, many of the foundations of the TAP mentoring curriculum resonated, particularly those related to identity and values.

We are now over halfway through the mentoring year, which is hard to believe. I was paired with an amazing mentee for whom I could not be more grateful, and as a cohort, we have gone through several practical and thought-provoking workshops. Since joining TAP, I rehabbed my injury, returned to competition, and ultimately decided to retire from professional tennis in April of this year.

Presence.

When I first thought about leaving professional tennis, I had a flood of emotions: fear, doubt, joy, excitement, anxiety, sadness, gratitude, confusion, and probably everything in between. These were tough to deal with, especially given how much I had trained as an athlete to regulate my emotions when I needed to perform. I found it difficult to stay present.

Something I love about TAP is that mindfulness is a cornerstone. Early in the year, all mentors and mentees went through a five-part TAP mindfulness series, and from this, I have been able to re-establish a daily mindfulness routine. As mindfulness was a consistent part of my old training routines, the program has reminded me of how useful these practices can be in everyday life, and especially for me now during this period of transition. Maintaining awareness of the present moment… observing thoughts without getting entangled in them… remembering self-compassion… these have all been helpful tools in dealing with various ups and downs.

Connection.

I think the process of retiring from professional sport is a unique experience and can at times be hard to describe. It is a major adjustment: mentally, physically, emotionally and more. I am deeply grateful for those around me, particularly my family and friends, whose love and encouragement has made this a relatively smooth transition and whose unwavering support has always given me the courage to chase after my dreams. These relationships are ones I do not take for granted. With that said, there have certainly been times when I have found the retirement process, and all the emotions that have come with it, to feel a bit lonely. I imagine this is probably the case with most significant life changes.
TAP has been a strong source of connection for me, particularly among the other mentors, and it has offered an environment that feels free of judgment, yet full of understanding. Several of the other mentors have already retired from their sport, several are still competing, and some are even considering retirement in the near future. While none of our experiences have been or will be the same, I think there is a sort of mutual understanding that is unique and a certain safety to be felt in being surrounded by people who can relate in such a similar way. This source of connection has helped me to be more vulnerable, to connect more deeply with others, and to more intentionally connect with myself.

Perspective.

​I knew that I wanted to stay involved in sports to some degree after I stopped competing, but I was not entirely sure in what capacity. To be honest, I think this is still something I am figuring out. But the TAP Global Mentoring Program has allowed me to engage with a wide-reaching sports community in a way that I really appreciate. On one end of the spectrum, I have enjoyed interacting with so many young athlete mentees during various group workshops, and I feel a strong sense of purpose in working to develop my skills as a mentor in order to better support my mentee. Engaging with young athletes in the early stages of their athletic careers has offered a perspective that is both energizing and inspiring.
On the other end of the spectrum, I have enjoyed engaging with the other mentors, some of whom are in the latter stages of their sporting careers, but many of whom have embraced and excelled in new chapters of their lives while still remaining connected to sport. Going through the mentor workshops together offers great perspective, as the topics and skills that we focus on are applicable both within and beyond sport. Importantly, throughout the program, I am constantly reminded through readings, reflections and discussions that the athlete mindset is always a part of us. And that the lessons we learn, the skills we develop, and the impact we have on the world around us lasts well beyond our sporting careers.
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Going into the latter half of this year, I feel a lot of excitement about the opportunities that lie ahead. I am grateful for all that the TAP experience has given me thus far – the relationships it has brought me, the space it has given me to reflect, and the ways it has helped me to grow. I look forward to continuing to explore what the program has to offer, and I look forward to all that is to come in this next chapter of life.