Tennis is abuzz with a new trend—journaling on the court. This practice is particularly embraced by rising stars, such as 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva and former world number one Naomi Osaka.
Andreeva, who is capturing attention in the tennis scene, claims her secret journaling routine has played a significant role in her rapid ascent in the sport. The young Russian expressed that jotting down tactics and notes before each match was crucial to her recent victories at the WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells. In a conversation with Tennis BOL’SHE, she revealed that this technique serves as a motivational and concentration booster.
Osaka, who had a tough 2025 season after withdrawing from the ASB Classic due to an abdominal issue and facing early exits at the Australian Open and Indian Wells, appears to have turned a corner with her performance at the Miami Open. Osaka’s impressive display included victories over Ukraine’s Yulia Starodubtseva and Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova. What drew particular attention was Osaka's focus on her notes during a second-round match, reinforcing her commitment to her journaling strategy.
Coach Patrick Mouratoglou shared his admiration for Osaka’s focus and dedication on Instagram, reflecting the growing respect for the journaling habit among players. Previously, Osaka confirmed that adopting journaling last year has significantly helped her play with more intention when executing her shots.
This practice, first noticed during the Miami Open in 2024, has become an integral part of Osaka’s match routine. At the 2024 Italian Open, she was seen reading notes mid-match, illustrating the role affirmations contained within her journal play in reinforcing her confidence. Both players’ success stories appear to validate the efficacy of journaling as a pre-game ritual.
Rick Macci, who coached Serena Williams during her formative years, emphasized that Andreeva’s recent success is merely the beginning and encourages young athletes to adopt her journaling practice on the court. Andreeva has officially made history as the youngest WTA player since 2009 to secure a 1000-level event victory, boasting a remarkable 12-match winning streak. Her recent wins against top players like Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina not only catapulted her into the top 10 for the first time but also led to her achieving a consecutive second WTA 1000 title.
Currently, eyes are glued on Andreeva as she prepares to face fellow Russian player Veronika Kudermetova in her next match at the Miami Open. Fans and analysts alike eagerly anticipate whether Andreeva can clinch her third consecutive WTA 1000 title in 2025.
On another note, Elina Svitolina has been making waves herself at the Miami Open, recently overwhelming Belinda Bencic with a 6-1, 6-2 victory, demonstrating her mastery throughout the match by converting on all five of her break point opportunities while preventing Bencic from capitalizing on any. This victory marks Svitolina's third win over Bencic, improving their head-to-head record to 3-2 in favor of the Ukrainian.
Svitolina now looks ahead to a challenging third-round match against Karolina Muchova, the 15th seed who secured her place after Victoria Azarenka retired due to illness. Interestingly, Svitolina has not faced Muchova in six years, with their last meeting resulting in a win for Svitolina in Dubai.
This upcoming matchup is particularly enticing as Muchova has significantly improved since their last clash, making for a high-stakes encounter. Despite Svitolina’s recent dominant performance, Muchova promises to be a formidable challenge, suggesting that the Miami Open will continue to deliver thrilling tennis.
The increasing popularity of journaling among these athletes highlights a potential shift in how psychological preparation is approached in professional tennis. As the tennis community monitors how players like Andreeva and Osaka leverage their writing practices for success, one can only wonder if journaling will infiltrate the training regimens of more athletes, becoming a common strategy in the pursuit of excellence on the court.
