Leadership under pressure in elite tennis Real-time coaching communication at the United Cup
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Emotional, behavioural, and cognitive balance is critical for decision-making in elite sport, particularly during moments of maximum competitive pressure. This study examines a real-time coaching intervention delivered during the United Cup, focusing on the psychological content of a coach’s message to an elite tennis player during a key stage of competition. A qualitative single-case study design was employed, supported by interpretative content analysis informed by established frameworks in sport psychology. The analytical corpus consisted of a brief in-competition verbal intervention delivered during a third-set break, which was subsequently transcribed for systematic examination. Findings suggest that the coach’s message contained psychologically meaningful elements, including recognition of prior success, emotional validation, reinforcement of self-confidence, emphasis on personal agency, and encouragement of adaptive coping under pressure. These communicative elements may illustrate how coaching discourse can address psychological dimensions — such as confidence, emotional validation, and personal agency — at a critical moment in the match. However, the present design cannot establish whether they influenced the athlete's emotional state or performance. The case illustrates how coaching communication may function as a situated psychological resource in real time, extending beyond technical instruction by potentially addressing motivation, emotional regulation, and attentional refocusing. The study underscores the importance of leadership grounded in composure, strategic communication, and emotional intelligence, while suggesting that these competencies should be considered relevant components in the preparation and education of elite-level coaches.
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