Voice of the Athlete: Jonathan Stokke
We had the opportunity to interview Jonathan Stokke, a tennis player and coach with stunning achievements. He has won six USTA Super National doubles titles (three on clay court and three on hard court) and has played in the 2001 and 2002 US Opens in doubles. He was a two-time All ACC and All-American at Duke University. Voice of the Athlete: Jonathan Stokke:
Jonathan Stokke coached Wake Forest University Women’s tennis for two years and Duke Men’s tennis for ten years. He has also coached teams to two Elite 8s, and three Sweet 16s, and achieved a team ranking as high as 2 in the country.
How did you get started in tennis?
I played a lot of sports growing up, but when I moved to North Carolina at age 10, I started playing tennis at our local country club. A few weeks later, I entered a tournament and was hooked on the sport and competition.
What do you enjoy most about the game of tennis?
I am fascinated by the mental side of tennis, figuring out ways to improve my performance or help my players play better. I enjoy finding tactics or shots that can pose problems for my opponents. There are so many mental and emotional skills that can help you perform at your best. I find this aspect more interesting than simply hitting the ball well.
You have participated in many tournaments over the years. Do you have a favorite?
Playing doubles in the 2001 and 2002 US Opens as a teenager was a career highlight for me. In my first year, I had a locker right next to Pete Sampras. I've never been so nervous!
What was your biggest source of motivation on days when you didn’t feel like training?
I used to remind myself that every player in the country has days like this, where motivation is low and they don't feel like putting in the work. If I could find a way to dig deep and work hard, I knew I would gain ground on the best players in the country who settled for average practices.
Have you ever had to limit beliefs that you had to overcome to take your performance to the next level?
Certainly. I used to struggle with beating players who were ranked well above me. I was intimidated by their results and put them on a pedestal.
How do you stay focused when you are under pressure?
Having a good mental routine between points is a great way to start. It's also important to know your game style and how you want to perform. If you focus on controllable things like moving your feet, maintaining a positive attitude, executing your best patterns, etc., there's less room to lose focus or get nervous in pressure moments.
What’s the best piece of advice you were ever given?
"If it was easy, everyone would do it." If you want exceptional results, you need an exceptional work ethic and process. Anything worth achieving requires hard work.
Who are your role models both in and out of sport, and how do they inspire you?
I'm inspired by so many people; it's difficult to name them all. In sports, I'm inspired by my friends who have worked hard to achieve success. Rajeev Ram is one of these people. I played doubles with Rajeev growing up, and seeing his long road to winning this year's US Open has been incredible.
What advice would you give to a 10-year-old athlete regarding confidence?
You can improve anything you lack confidence in through deliberate practice. Whether it's your second serve, public speaking, or performing in front of people, you have the power to improve everything!
How has tennis helped you outside of your sport?
I have met many amazing people from all over the world through tennis. The life skills I've learned from the sport have served me well in my adult years.
What advice do you give to your athletes on how not to overthink when learning a new skill?
Be patient. You don't need to fix everything all at once. Focus on one aspect of the skill you're working on and master it before moving on to the next. Breaking things down into smaller pieces can help prevent the process from becoming overwhelming.
About coaching, from whom have you learned the most and why?
How long can this answer be? Everything I know about tennis and coaching, I've learned from others. EVERYTHING. My junior coaches, coaches online, my college coaches, players I competed against, and coaches in other sports. The list is enormous. There are so many incredible resources out there to help you improve.
How do you prepare your athletes before a big event?
Ideally, we prepare for big events the same way we prepare for practices. I want practices to be demanding and focused so that the athletes don't see "big events" as something vastly different. Yes, there are aspects of a big event that can make you feel different, but it's important to acknowledge those aspects beforehand and have a plan for how you want to deal with them.
What kinds of goals have you set for yourself as a coach, and how do you feel about your progress toward those goals?
I haven't set specific goals for myself as a coach. My main focus is on helping my players improve and enjoy the process. I love coaching and feel blessed that I get to assist players on their journeys.
Thank you, Jonathan Stokke, for being the Voice of the Athlete and sharing your journey. Follow Jonathan’s journey: @stokketennis.
Next read: https://mentalaccelerator.com/resource/voice-of-the-athlete/voice-of-the-athlete-pat-neubauer