Embracing Transition: How the TAP Global Mentoring Program Supported My Journey Beyond Professional Tennis

My experience with The True Athlete Project has been incredibly rewarding thus far, and I am especially grateful for the positive impact it has had during my transition out of professional sport. In reflecting on the ways it has helped, there are a few areas that stand out: presence, connection, and perspective.

There was probably not a more opportune time for the TAP Global Mentoring Program to cross my inbox than when it did, last October. I had been competing on the @Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tour since 2019 and spent the better part of 2023 rehabbing from a hand surgery. At the same time, I was also contemplating the prospect of retiring from professional tennis, which was difficult to work through, as I know is often the case for athletes faced with the idea of retiring from their sport. Fortunately, I had a great support network in my family, my training team, and my friends. I discovered the TAP Global Mentoring Program through another sports-related organization, High Impact Athletes , and as I read more about TAP, it was apparent this was an organization that took a holistic approach to the athlete experience.

The Global Mentoring Program stood out to me for a number of reasons. As someone who has benefited greatly from the positive impact of mentors throughout both my sporting career and personal life, I felt it would be a special opportunity to mentor a young athlete and to develop the skills to grow as a mentor. And relative to where I was at with my own sporting career at the time, many of the foundations of the TAP mentoring curriculum resonated, particularly those related to identity and values. We are now over halfway through the mentoring year, which is hard to believe. I was paired with an amazing mentee for whom I could not be more grateful, and as a cohort, we have gone through several practical and thought-provoking workshops. Since joining TAP, I rehabbed my injury, returned to competition, and ultimately decided to retire from professional tennis in April of this year.

Presence.

When I first thought about leaving professional tennis, I had a flood of emotions: fear, doubt, joy, excitement, anxiety, sadness, gratitude, confusion, and probably everything in between. These were tough to deal with, especially given how much I had trained as an athlete to regulate my emotions when I needed to perform. I found it difficult to stay present. Something I love about TAP is that mindfulness is a cornerstone. Early in the year, all mentors and mentees went through a five-part TAP mindfulness series, and from this, I have been able to re-establish a daily mindfulness routine. As mindfulness was a consistent part of my old training routines, the program has reminded me of how useful these practices can be in everyday life, and especially for me now during this period of transition. Maintaining awareness of the present moment… observing thoughts without getting entangled in them… remembering self-compassion… these have all been helpful tools in dealing with various ups and downs.

Connection.

I think the process of retiring from professional sport is a unique experience and can at times be hard to describe. It is a major adjustment: mentally, physically, emotionally and more. I am deeply grateful for those around me, particularly my family and friends, whose love and encouragement has made this a relatively smooth transition and whose unwavering support has always given me the courage to chase after my dreams. These relationships are ones I do not take for granted. With that said, there have certainly been times when I have found the retirement process, and all the emotions that have come with it, to feel a bit lonely. I imagine this is probably the case with most significant life changes. TAP has been a strong source of connection for me, particularly among the other mentors, and it has offered an environment that feels free of judgment, yet full of understanding. Several of the other mentors have already retired from their sport, several are still competing, and some are even considering retirement in the near future. While none of our experiences have been or will be the same, I think there is a sort of mutual understanding that is unique and a certain safety to be felt in being surrounded by people who can relate in such a similar way. This source of connection has helped me to be more vulnerable, to connect more deeply with others, and to more intentionally connect with myself.

Perspective.

Taylor Ng