Kostyuk on her mindset change: "I no longer sink into deep emotional breakdowns like before"
Despite some good stretches in her season, Marta Kostyuk experienced an up-and-down season. After going through a slump mid-season, the Ukrainian still managed to maintain her place in the top 30. In an interview with local media, the 23-year-old player discussed her evolution in mindset, and doesn't want tennis to have too much influence on her mood.
"In my opinion, the problem of burnout is particularly visible in tennis. The season is extremely long, exhausting, and difficult. It's important for me to remember that, even though tennis is my professional priority, I have other things to handle in daily life that are just as important.
First of all, my family. It's impossible to be focused solely on work, to concentrate only on results while staying in harmony. Therefore, I try to clearly separate the personal side from the professional aspect. Whatever my feelings and results on court, that shouldn't define my daily life.
I can be upset and disappointed after losing a match, that's normal. But when training ends, I change. I am the founder of my foundation, I have dogs, my own business to manage, and I consciously redirect my attention to all that. That doesn't mean I don't think about tennis at all, but I try to make sure it doesn't affect my mood.
And it's very important to keep the joy of the game itself. Because if you start living only for tennis and everything depends solely on results, the mind simply can't handle it. Balance and healthy detachment are key factors to avoid burnout.
I no longer sink into deep emotional breakdowns like before. My mood has become more stable, and I truly enjoy the whole process, meaning both the game and the training," Kostyuk assured in recent hours for the BTU media.
