Imagine an Olympic medalist from one sport being completely awestruck by another. That's exactly what happened when surfing sensation Kanoa Igarashi stepped into the electrifying world of the Nitto ATP Finals. But here's where it gets fascinating: this wasn't just a casual fan experience. Igarashi, a seasoned athlete himself, found himself taking meticulous notes, inspired by the mental and physical prowess of tennis' elite.
Kanoa Igarashi, the 28-year-old silver medalist from the Tokyo Olympics, is no stranger to high-stakes competition. Yet, his first encounter with the Nitto ATP Finals left him in awe. “Tennis, to me, is the ultimate test of both physical and mental endurance,” Igarashi shared with ATPTour.com. “As an athlete, I’ve always looked up to tennis players for inspiration, but witnessing the Finals in Turin was a game-changer. It was like my brain was on overdrive, absorbing every detail.”
Based in Lisbon, Igarashi has quickly become an avid tennis enthusiast. His journey into the sport’s inner circle began at the Rolex Paris Masters, where he served as a content creator for the ATP. From there, he transitioned to the Nitto ATP Finals, rubbing shoulders with some of tennis’ greatest stars. “Building relationships with these athletes and hearing their stories was eye-opening,” he said. “The similarities between sports are staggering. Whether it’s soccer, basketball, tennis, or surfing, we’re all chasing the same goal: to be the best.”
And this is the part most people miss: Igarashi didn’t just observe—he actively engaged. Each day, he returned home with pages of notes, jotting down insights from conversations about training, mental preparation, and even breathing techniques. “Some of the players shared unique approaches to their craft,” he explained. “They’d ask, ‘Have you ever tried this type of exercise? Or looked at your sport from this angle?’ It was like unlocking new dimensions of athleticism for me.”
One conversation, in particular, stood out—his exchange with Felix Auger-Aliassime, who qualified for Turin in the season’s final week. The two discussed the art of resetting after a point or a wave, a skill crucial in both tennis and surfing. “Tennis is about being fresh for the next point, win or lose,” Igarashi noted. “In surfing, it’s the same—you reset after each wave, ensuring you’re physically and mentally ready for the next ride. Felix and I swapped techniques, and it was incredibly enriching.”
But here’s the controversial part: Igarashi believes that athletes across different sports could benefit immensely from cross-disciplinary learning. “Why limit ourselves to our own fields?” he questioned. “There’s so much to gain from understanding how others train, think, and compete. It’s not just about physical skills—it’s about mindset, strategy, and resilience.”
As a member of the newly launched Tennis Creator Network, a global initiative by the ATP and TikTok, Igarashi is bridging the gap between sports. Representing Indian Wells in Turin, he’s not just a spectator but a contributor to the sport’s evolving narrative.
So, here’s the question for you: Do you think athletes from different sports should collaborate more often? Could cross-sport learning revolutionize how we approach competition? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s spark a conversation!
