Q & A from 2024 Canadian, tennis Olympian, and bronze medalist, Gaby Dabrowski

In the moment, I felt elated. I was surprised it was all over because the week was challenging physically and mentally. I was relieved. I also felt validated for all of the hard work I'd put in for my entire career. 

It is an honour to compete alongside the greatest athletes in the world. Having support from the tennis community meant I got to showcase my skills in front of a lot of people. Of course, there is pressure because you want to perform well for yourself, your partner, and Team Canada, but this is an aspect of the sport that you cannot change nor control so it's important to focus more on being present and on your tasks at hand than what other people think. 

I think for younger kids and recreational players it's important that tennis is fun and not too serious. If someone is trying to become a professional player or an elite college athlete then there will be many moments that aren't so fun and that require a lot of sacrifice. That said, I think Buddy the Ball is a symbol of finding joy through sport with a community feel and I think it is crucial for every sport to have great programs that have a positive impact on our youth. I think Buddy the Ball makes kids want to play tennis and this is super important when trying to grow a sport and making it accessible to as many people as possible. 

The generic answer here is to dream big and keep pushing your boundaries. The more nuanced answer is, it depends... I would have different advice based on a predominantly singles or doubles (or both) career. In general, though, if Olympics is the goal, I would go into tennis knowing that there is no easy way to achieve greatness. Whatever your pathway, juniors to pros, juniors to college to pros, straight to pros, etc, each have their benefits and downfalls and when deciding what to do, you have to choose what's best for you. My advice to young players that want to pursue tennis seriously is, if you're not sure about what you're willing to give up for your sport, make college your goal. Then, you will at least have other options for your future and you can develop as a person. That said, if you're sure you are willing to make big sacrifices (i.e. missing holidays, birthdays, school, friendships, family gatherings, and at times losing your sanity), then go for it and don't let anyone stop you. If you're financially able, work with coaches who have your back and who continuously grow in their expertise. If you're not financially able, know that the road to success will be more challenging and stressful, there will be a lot you have to figure out on your own, and be extremely grateful to those who help you without wanting anything in return.

I only recently learned how to be positive in times of stress on a tennis court. I used to be very negative and get in my own way. That said, the standard I hold myself to is one reason why I have been able to play some great tennis. There really is a balance between having high expectations for yourself and not judging yourself too harshly when you don't meet them. I would say everyone has a different way of motivating themselves to be better, and there is no perfect way to do this and no formula that is 100% correct. You have to figure out for yourself what type of attitude helps you be your best self on the tennis court (and off). Within the past couple of years I discovered that being kinder to myself when I was struggling helped me more than beating myself up for the mistakes I'd made. 

I definitely had dreams of winning an Olympic medal. The Olympics were a big part of my life growing up and the Games meant more than any other sporting event. Basically, not wasting my potential has kept me motivated. Becoming financially stable has kept me motivated. Creating winning opportunities at major tennis events, including the Olympics, has kept me motivated. Now, mastering the craft of doubles keeps me motivated. Luckily, within the past few years I have actually started to genuinely enjoy the process of growth and improvement in the sport of tennis. 

I love the opportunities that tennis presents, in more ways than just winning tennis matches. Tennis is unique as it is an individual sport, until doubles comes along and teaches you how to really work alongside another person. Doubles tennis has taught me so much about how to manage another person, without micromanaging them. Doubles allows you to share the good, the bad, and the ugly with a teammate. Winning on a team is also so much more fun than winning alone. As a young kid, tennis forces you to mature quickly, and unless you have everyone around you doing everything for you, it also forces you to take care of yourself and be independent. That said, sometimes tennis players can be very selfish, and while this isn't an inherently negative trait, it can cause damage to the people around you if you're not careful. I also love that tennis is a lifelong sport, and you can pick it up at any age, making it one of the healthiest sports in the world. Finally, tennis has given me a small platform to do some good, and I've been able to positively improve the lives of others by contributing to organizations that have a huge impact on people and our planet. 

I loved sharing the following evening after winning with two people who mean a lot to me. We went to the Eiffel Tower and took photos together with medal. It's a memory I will cherish forever. I had previous memories with them in Paris and so walking around the city with a medal in hand felt like a full circle moment. I think sharing success with those that have helped you along your journey is a very beautiful thing. 

Patrick is an excellent coach and a great player. Pat is someone I've enjoyed working with so much. He is the hardest worker you'll come across and is extremely dedicated to his players. My favourite thing about Pat is how he is always learning. Every time I see him he tells me about a new improvement one of his players made, a tactic he wants to try, new positioning he is considering, footwork that may benefit some players but not others... Pat is always adapting to the players he works with and this is a quality that is not easy to find in this sport. I've often found that coaches tend to be quite linear in their thinking and have a difficult time holding multiple opinions on a gamestyle, tactic, technique, or fitness routine at the same time. Pat can consider all options and weigh pros and cons and come up with a plan depending on what a player needs, knowing along the way that change is okay and welcome. Pat has taught me that it's okay to be myself, to trust my instincts, and reminds me of ways to be a little bit better every time I step on court. I think being accepted for who you are while also being encouraged to improve as a person and a player is the valuable lesson that Pat teaches and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to learn from him. 

I want to add one more piece of advice I wish I understood better when I was younger: Tennis does not define you as a human. Tennis is a sport that you play, and while it can offer some of the most incredible experiences, it is still not everything. The friendships you cultivate and the positive impact you have on others will always be more important than any result or any number attached to your name.