Flora Lacoste: tennis as a life lesson.

What happens when you dedicate part of your childhood and adolescence to elite-level sport, but decide to take a different path once you reach adulthood?

Flora Lacoste could have devoted her life to tennis. But in the end, after years on the court, she chose a different direction. This young woman, whose energy is as radiant as it is contagious, has built herself both with and against tennis. An inspiring journey where enjoyment, self-awareness, and recovery take center stage.

From the playground to the tennis courts: the birth of a passion

Flora’s childhood and adolescence were shaped by tennis. She hit her first balls at the age of seven. And although she admits that at first it was just a hobby, she gradually got hooked.

There is a spark of determination in Flora’s eyes, and tennis gave her the opportunity to challenge herself day after day.“Let’s be honest: when you start playing tennis, you miss every ball. You begin by trying to hit slightly better shots. Then you try to add spin and find the areas that put your opponent in difficulty. All of that is built gradually through training. At the beginning, the goal is simply to place the ball in the same spot twice.”

One day, Flora reached a level that allowed her to enter her first tournament. She recalls with a burst of laughter:“When you start playing and winning matches, of course it makes you want to keep going. I liked winning, I have a competitive spirit. Then you lose, and that teaches you too. My game was quite skillful, so I did well. I loved it.”

Her ranking became so good that she joined a sport-studies tennis program.“I trained much less than other girls who had the same ranking as me. I was reaching a key age, and I wanted to see how far I could go, how much I could still improve. I completely adapted my schooling. For two years, I took correspondence courses so I could train.”

Building yourself with balls and a racket

Doing so much sport at such a young age raises questions. But for Flora, tennis played a crucial role during a period of life when you are searching for your identity.“I was able to grow in an environment that suited what I needed at that time. I tended to question myself a lot, I lacked self-confidence. I felt useless, not good enough. Eventually, I realized that I was playing well and improving quickly. I received positive feedback on my game.”

The irony? Those around her said her game was very offensive, that she was well grounded, particularly solid, and that she really “hit hard.” There could be no better way to describe Flora.

However, even though this period helped her grow, it was not without difficulties.“I didn’t experience it too badly, because I improved my hitting intensity. In tennis, repetition and consistency are the keys to progress. I did well at school. And on a human level, I experienced very enriching things. But combining sport and school is extremely hard. I was in boarding school with a very strict schedule. I was often exhausted. During that time, I climbed three rankings, but when I turned 17, I felt like I had reached a plateau. That’s when I started questioning what would come next. What do I do? Do I continue? I could no longer find meaning in what I was doing.”

Rebuilding after competition?

Going pro? Flora is clear-eyed.“I knew that my ranking wasn’t good enough for my age. Playing professionally is something you dream about when you’re eight or nine. But in reality, it’s often something parents project onto us. I don’t regret having done all that, but I wanted to pursue my studies.”

Continuing to train harder when the meaning was gone became painful.“Tennis had become a chore. When I picked up my racket, I felt a kind of pressure. I stopped correspondence courses in my final year of high school, and going back to regular classes was difficult. After two years in a microcosm of just twelve students, I had to readjust. Time management was completely different. Tennis was still a priority, but one priority among many others. I had to learn how to keep enough energy not to fall asleep in class, to keep my grades up, and to have a social life. Sitting still for eight or nine hours a day was really hard. I experienced my final year as a transition that helped me find a new balance.”

During her higher education, Flora broke away from tennis.“I was fed up. And I had many other things to deal with in my life, so I put my racket down for almost two years,until I moved to Bordeaux, where I live today.”

This break enriched her self-awareness.“The hardest part is learning to play for yourself. At a high level, I feel there’s often a tendency to play for your parents or loved ones. Now, I play only because it brings me pleasure. No one forces me to do anything. I’m more relaxed, even if I no longer have the level I had a few years ago. I’m going to start playing tournaments and team matches again.”

Making tennis pure enjoyment through recovery

Today, Flora manages to perfectly balance her professional life, personal life, and sporting life. Her secret? “I take a systemic approach to recovery!”She views recovery through several angles that resonate across all aspects of her daily life, a method she built as she learned to better understand her body and listen to her sensations.

“Sport contributes to my overall balance. I need it. And I’m lucky to have a job that offers some flexibility. I diversify my activities: I go to the gym, I run, I do yoga. When you do a lot of sport, it’s true that something always hurts a bit. But as soon as I feel something unusual, or more tired than usual, I accept slowing down. I take time to do something that makes me feel good. I watch a series, spend time with my dog. It’s important to disconnect. On the other hand, if it’s just laziness keeping me glued to the couch, I force myself.”

Recovery also involves sleep.“It’s not easy when you have a demanding job and a busy social life. But I try to sleep at least seven to eight hours a night.”

“All that I’ve been through has caused me a lot of stress and anxiety. Today, I have a healthier relationship with sport. I listen to the signals my body sends me. I know when and how it somatizes. Right now, for example, I have back pain because I’m tired. So I see physiotherapists and osteopaths. I allow myself to breathe, literally. And I write! It helps with everything. When I feel overwhelmed, I put it all down on paper, and it helps me gain perspective.”

Flora concludes:“I have a story with sport that is both intense and full of ups and downs. But I like to remember that this is exactly why I enjoy playing so much today. Now, tennis is nothing but pure enjoyment for me. I love pushing myself, and my practice fuels my motivation. It helps me set goals and refocus, day after day.”