ELENA BOGDAN BEYOND THE LINES From Professional Tennis to Inner Resilience

I don’t think there was anything I discovered that I wasn’t already aware of, but it was definitely a reminder of the importance of patience, as this whole process lasted over two years. It was also a reminder that if you persevere, you will eventually succeed. As this was an entirely new process for me, there were many times when I wanted to give up, and I’m really glad I didn’t.

I think it’s important to give back in life, and I’m happy to do that on the tennis court. However, there was also a part of me that wanted to make an impact on a larger scale, and that’s how the book came to life. I believe tennis is the sport that most closely relates to life, and I believe many people can benefit from the life lessons we learn as professional tennis players.

Well, this is a great question. I think that, as I’ve done a lot of work on myself and matured, I’ve realized how important it is to define what success looks like to you, because if you don’t, you’ll spend the rest of your life chasing someone else’s version of it.

I’ve stopped measuring my self-worth by the trophies I win or my financial success. Instead, I base it on how I treat others and the impact I have on their lives.

With the knowledge I have now, I think I would tell my younger self, Elena, to follow her own inner voice and define success on her own terms, rather than listening to other people’s opinions.

Well, I would say I’ve never been particularly stubborn.

I think healthy perseverance comes from having a goal that you simply can’t stop thinking about. That was certainly the case with my book.

I believe perseverance becomes unhealthy when you chase a goal that doesn’t align with who you are. Maybe it’s something someone else wants for you, or something you think you should want. I believe things can become toxic in those situations. But when you are fully aligned with your goal, perseverance can be a wonderful thing.

I think confidence, emotional regulation and peak performance are deeply connected. Confidence is not about believing everything will go your way or that you will never make mistakes. It is about trusting yourself and knowing that, whatever happens, you will be able to handle it.

One of the most important things I’ve learned is that you cannot always control the outcome, but you can control how you respond. In tennis, as in life, we often become overwhelmed because we attach too much importance to the result and lose connection with the present moment. I believe the key is to shift your focus from the outcome to the process, one point or one step at a time.

For someone struggling with fear or self-doubt, I would encourage them to become more aware of their inner dialogue, treat themselves with compassion and understand that mistakes are part of growth. Ultimately, peak performance comes when you can give your best without being emotionally attached to the result. When you trust yourself and stay present, you create the conditions to find your flow.

I think it came quite naturally from my own experiences as a professional player. Having worked with a sports psychologist during my career, I understood first-hand how much of a difference the mental side of the game can make, not only to performance but also to the way you experience the sport and yourself.

Throughout my career, I learned many lessons through challenges, setbacks and moments of self-doubt. Over time, I became increasingly interested in understanding the mental side of performance and realised how much I enjoyed sharing those lessons with others.

I think there comes a point when you start looking beyond your own achievements and asking yourself how you can use your experiences to help others. For me, that has become incredibly rewarding. Seeing another player gain confidence, overcome a mental barrier or simply develop a healthier relationship with the game can be just as fulfilling as winning a match yourself.

I think my experience as a professional athlete gives me a valuable starting point because I understand first-hand the pressures, emotions and challenges that come with competing at the highest level. However, I also believe that one of the most important things in coaching is understanding that there is no one-size-fits-all approach.

What worked for me might not necessarily work for someone else. That is why I believe it is important to listen, ask the right questions and understand each individual’s personality, needs and circumstances before offering guidance. I want to combine the lessons I’ve learned throughout my career with the knowledge and tools I am developing, rather than simply telling people what worked for me.

Ultimately, my role is not to give someone my answers, but to help them find their own. I believe the best coaching happens when people feel understood, supported and empowered to discover what works best for them.

I would say the chapter on courage. I think courage is often misunderstood because people associate it with being fearless, when in reality, courage is about taking action despite being afraid. It is about being willing to step outside your comfort zone, take risks and embrace uncertainty, even when you don’t know how things will turn out.

I believe this is particularly relevant in everyday life because so many people stay in situations that no longer fulfil them simply because they are afraid of change or of failing. We often wait until we feel completely ready or confident before taking the next step, but I think courage is about understanding that you may never feel 100% ready.

Applying this principle can be life-changing. Whether it means starting something new, changing careers, pursuing a dream or having a difficult conversation, courage allows you to move forward instead of letting fear make decisions for you. I believe that some of the most meaningful opportunities in life begin when we have the courage to do something that scares us.

I think what matters most to me is knowing that something I’ve experienced or learned along the way can make a positive difference in someone else’s life. Throughout my tennis career, success was often measured through rankings and results, but today I find just as much meaning in being able to help someone overcome a challenge, see things differently or believe in themselves a little more.

With Beyond the Lines, I hope to remind people that there is so much more to life than achievements and external validation. The lessons we learn through sport are incredibly relevant to everyday life, and I would love for the book to reach people who might need a different perspective or a little encouragement at a particular moment in their lives.

If readers were to remember just one thing, I would hope it would be that your worth is not defined by your results, that you always have the ability to choose how you respond to life’s challenges, and that the most important victories are often the ones that happen within you.