Jesper De Jong, a rising Dutch tennis player, shares his journey from a young athlete to competing on the world stage, including his experiences qualifying for his first Grand Slam and playing against top players like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. With a steady rise in rankings and a strong team behind him, Jesper emphasizes the importance of consistency and hard work in achieving his goals. He discusses the challenges of balancing training in a beautiful yet distracting location like Bali, while also reflecting on the camaraderie fostered by training with teammates. Jesper candidly reveals the impact of his battle with mononucleosis on his career trajectory, and how he has managed to regain and build upon his form. As he looks forward to breaking into the top 100, he highlights the significance of enjoying the sport and maintaining a healthy mindset throughout his journey.

Takeaways:

• Jesper De Jong emphasizes the importance of enjoying tennis, especially during the early years of training.
• He shares his journey from a tennis novice to competing against top players like Alcaraz and Sinner.
• The experience of qualifying for his first Grand Slam brought immense relief and joy.
• Jesper highlights the significant role of team spirit during preseason training in Bali.
• He reflects on the differences in playing styles between top players like Sinner and Alcaraz.
• The support from the Dutch Federation was crucial in shaping his early professional career.

This podcast is sponsored by ASICS. ASICS is a Japanese company founded in 1949 to give more people the opportunity to experience how sports and movement can have a positive impact on mental well-being.

To learn more about ASICS visit their website here: https://www.asics.com/nl/en-nl/sports/tennis/

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