Ever wondered what it’s really like chasing the pro tennis dream? In this episode of the HTP Podcast, Gira sits down with Amanda Moore (Fink), former top 300 player, tennis scholarship to the University of Southern California, and passionate coach, to unpack her journey from age 8 with a racquet in hand to the professional circuit.

Amanda shares the raw realities of life on tour—from the independence and confidence tennis builds to the quiet loneliness between matches.

She dives into the importance of setting realistic goals, understanding your travel and support needs, and planning your path if you’re considering the pro tour. Whether you’re a junior dreaming of the next level or a parent wanting a clearer view of the tennis world, this episode brings real talk and encouragement for your journey.

Key Points:

✅ Amanda's tennis journey: starting from age 8, top 5-10 national junior, USC standout, top 300 in the world.

✅ Life lessons from tennis: independence, resilience, problem-solving, and maturity.

✅ The realities of pro tennis: travel challenges, financial strain, and isolation on tour.

✅ Advice for aspiring pros: setting realistic goals, understanding travel/support needs.

✅ The importance of planning, managing expectations, and defining success in tennis.

In this episode, Nicole Fintell shares her journey from a 7-year-old tennis camper to 2x Texas state champion, D1 college athlete, high-performance junior coach, college coach, and USTA Southwest’s junior player development manager.

We explore the ups and downs of junior tennis, the challenges of isolation, and why it’s essential to focus on long-term development.

Tennis is more than a sport—it’s a lifelong teacher.

Whether you're a player, coach, or parent, you’ll gain practical insights into navigating the challenges and joys of tennis.

Key Points:

1️⃣ Start Young, Grow Strong: Nicole began tennis at age 7, showing how early exposure can ignite a lifelong love for the sport.

2️⃣ Growth Over Instant Success: She emphasizes focusing on long-term improvement rather than chasing quick wins, teaching juniors the value of patience in progress.

3️⃣ Tennis Builds Life Skills: The sport instills resilience, adaptability, and independence, preparing players for challenges on and off the court.

4️⃣ Opportunities Through Tennis: Tennis opened doors for travel, education, and lifelong friendships, proving it’s more than just a game.

5️⃣ Navigating the Journey Matters: Now as a USTA Junior Player Development Manager, Nicole helps parents, players, and coaches navigate the tennis journey with support, perspective, and clarity.

In this episode, Kate Paulus shares her powerful tennis journey—from picking up a racquet in Kansas City to competing at the Division 1 level at TCU.

She opens up about the emotional toll of injuries, the mental pressure of elite tennis, and how gratitude and perspective helped her through the toughest moments.

Kate also gets candid about hot-button topics like fairness in women's sports and the value of creating safe spaces for all athletes.

This conversation is equal parts real, reflective, and inspiring.

Key topics:

• Moving from KC to South Florida to train
• Playing D1 tennis at TCU
• Injury, medical retirement, and recovery
• Mental health in junior tennis
• Pressure, comparison, and emotional burnout
• The value of life skills gained through tennis
• Advocating for fairness in women’s sports
• Her coach’s life-changing advice: “Zoom out.”