The Line with Dr Kristen Holmes

We Almost Quit in 2022! Aryna Sabalenka’s Coach on the Journey to Be World’s #1 Tennis Player

37 snips
Dec 4, 2025
Jason Stacy, a high-performance coach renowned for guiding Aryna Sabalenka to the top of tennis, shares his inspiring journey from a challenging childhood to elite coaching. He discusses the vital role of emotional regulation in sports and how it can be harnessed for success. Jason emphasizes the importance of making training fun and unique, while also revealing insights from Aryna’s toughest moments. Learn how shifting mindsets from 'fighting' to 'winning' transformed her game, alongside practical tips for athletes and coaches alike to achieve peak performance.
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INSIGHT

Three Pillars Built The Puzzle

  • Jason focused on three puzzle pieces for Aryna: environment, physical/technical, and emotional awareness.
  • He prioritised athlete wellbeing first to build sustainable elite performance.
ADVICE

Create Psychological Safety First

  • Build loyalty and consistency in your team to earn trust and psychological safety.
  • Use that trust to allow vulnerability, experimentation, and resilience under pressure.
ADVICE

Debrief Then Train In-Moment Control

  • Debrief emotional breakdowns after the fact to build awareness before changing in-the-moment reactions.
  • Then practice simple tools (breath, focus anchor) so awareness shifts earlier and becomes usable in matches.
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