Climbing the Mountain: Jorge’s Journey From Player to Coach

Pjotr van Koesveld

Playing tennis was the love of his life—until an injury stopped him cold. Suddenly, Jorge (25) could no longer play the sport he woke up for every day. Here, he reflects on his passion for tennis, the challenges he faced, and how he now inspires others as a coach.

The Early Years

“I started playing tennis when I was six years old. My parents always said: it doesn’t matter what you do, but you have to practice some sport. Don’t just stay at home.

I tried different activities—chess, football—but tennis was what I loved most. My cousins were in a tennis club, and my mother encouraged me to join too. I played with a great group, six or seven boys. We’d spend whole afternoons together on the court.”

The Enjoyment

“The best part was being with my friends. Tennis always cleared my mind. School was long and tiring, but tennis gave me something to look forward to every day.

It was always a physical effort, but when I finished, I felt proud of myself. While others my age preferred going to the pub, I didn’t enjoy that. Tennis gave me a healthier, more positive feeling.

What I loved most is that tennis is an individual sport. Everything depends on you. Of course you have coaches and parents, but during a match, you’re the one making the decisions. That responsibility suited me—I’ve always been a bit shy and independent.”

The Injury

“In the beginning, I just played for fun. Later, I enjoyed competing in tournaments—at my club, in my region. I never thought of going fully professional, but I played at a level between amateur and semi-pro.

Tennis was the love of my life. But at 17, I suffered a serious waist injury. I had been training six days a week, two hours a day. My body couldn’t handle it and eventually broke down. At first, nobody knew what was wrong. I went to doctors and surgeons.

I tried physiotherapy, but the pain kept coming back after a month or two. Eventually, I told my parents: I have to stop. It doesn’t make sense anymore. That was one of the hardest moments of my life.”

The Coaching

“At that point, the option of coaching appeared. I couldn’t play, but I loved the idea of motivating others. I got my regional coaching license at 16 and started training kids. What began as fun became a possible future career.

I enjoy helping kids find the same motivation and joy I felt. I tell them: if you’re here, it’s because you want to be here. If you enjoy it, keep going. If not, it’s okay to stop—you can do something else.

For me, tennis isn’t about results or becoming professional. It’s about enjoying the sport. Not every day is your day, and that’s okay. I love giving kids tools they can carry into life, especially between ages 12 and 14—such important years for shaping who they become.”

Motivation and Discipline

“I always try to help kids understand motivation. It’s about connecting what you’re doing with what you want.

For example, when I played, I hated the endless gym work or running. But I knew why I was doing it—it made me a better player. That kept me going through the boring parts.

Still, I prefer the word discipline. You’re not always motivated. Discipline means: I do it because I have to, whether I feel good or bad. And that discipline is what makes you improve.”

The Rollercoaster

“Tennis is a rollercoaster. Some days you can’t hit a single shot; other days, everything lands perfectly. Sometimes I trained hard all week and then played terribly. The real fight is always with yourself, not the opponent.

When negative thoughts came, I reminded myself why I loved the sport. I saw it as a mountain to climb. In sports, anything is possible. If you can’t climb the mountain today, maybe tomorrow you can.

My relationship with tennis was like a love story. It started beautifully, then became toxic because of my injury. But I learned to accept that not everything goes as planned. There’s always something good to take from it.”

Life Lessons

“Tennis taught me that no matter the score, there’s always time to turn things around. Even if you’re losing badly, you can change the match.

One of my biggest inspirations is Rafael Nadal. Maybe he isn’t as naturally talented as Federer or Djokovic, but his mentality and discipline made him one of the greatest. That’s what I try to pass on to the kids I coach.”