After a grueling five-set thriller, America’s Ben Shelton upset the number two seed, Carlos Alcaraz advancing to becomes the second American in the US Open semifinals. Meanwhile, Roland-Garros champion Alexander Zverev continues in hopes of securing his first US Open title. But beyond the rankings, statistics, and expectations, there’s another battle players are fighting—the battle for mental resilience.
In the women’s singles, Belarus’s 28 year-old Aryna Sabalenka progressed to the women’s semifinals and is aiming for what would be her third US Open title and fifth Grand Slam. But this success doesn’t come without its tolls. Tennis players may face pressure and conditions that might seem distant from a high-School student’s world, but in reality feeling overwhelmed is familiar. Homework, exams, extracurriculars, and personal life can just pile up as quickly.
“When I start feeling overwhelmed, running helps me the most. It gives me a break from school and homework,” said junior, Sofia Gallo.
Activities like sports, going out with friends, or simply forgetting about school for a second help to maintain a balance.
Sabalenka’s experience shows how even at the highest level of sports, pressure and emotions can affect players both on and off the court. For Alcaraz, his frustration was visible on court during his 2023 Toronto Open loss.
“Good on him for showing he’s human,” said tennis player Nick Kyrgios. This reflection from Kyrgios highlights both sides of an individual.
Not only their success at the highest level, but also that frustration, disappointment, and self-doubt can be present at the same time while acknowledging that this is completely normal.
“Sometimes I feel like life is moving too fast and it feels impossible to have a balanced life,” acknowledged junior Felipe Dominguez.
This feeling is common among young people, specially when there are expectations and hopes set by that person. That’s why grounding oneself and being mindful can provide enormous benefits for individuals.
Germany’s Zverev has previously shared experiences with mental health challenges and finding a balance outside of tennis. Sabalenka encouraged the German to open up about his mental health before these issues destroyed him.
“I’ve been through a lot of difficulties in life generally. I’ve never felt this empty before. Just lacking joy, just lacking joy in everything that I do,” Zverev said.
Like Zverez, much of the time, many teens and adults store emotions which is not the healthiest way to go about it.
One of the most emotionally raw moments occurred during Frances Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen four-hour match. Both players navigated strong emotions and stressful situations. Although, they lost composure at times, they remained resilient throughout their match .
“High school athletes sometimes feel like they have to be good at everything, all at once. Be it school, tennis, family, friends, or their social life. At some point, something is going to be a bit messy, and that’s normal,” said Former ILS Dean of Students and Tennis Head Coach, James Rydborn.
Mr. Rydborn’s reflection offers a supportive perspective, stress is natural but maintaining composure comes from accepting that perfection is not required. The same applies to high school students who navigate daily stress by giving themselves room to breathe.
As the tennis world waits to see who will lift the trophy under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the US Open will crown its champions. But the most important battles might not appear on the scoreboard. Behind the success stories, there are athletes who experienced frustration, disappointment, and doubt. Success can’t be measured by results alone, and for high school students, the lesson is no different. Success can sometimes look like giving a little bit of time to recover and prioritize well-being while continuing to grow.
