She Taught Me to Love Tennis – And Now I Teach Others
I was four years old the first time I stepped onto a tennis court.
The court was at Wermdö Golf & Country Club – the very same court I’m now responsible for as head coach.Back then, I was just a curious kid with a racket.
But the person standing across from me changed everything.
Her name was Madeleine Pegel.
🎾 A true pioneer – and my first coach
Madeleine Pegel wasn’t just any coach. She was a legend in Swedish tennis.
She became the first Swedish woman to compete internationally as a professional player – and still holds the record for the most Swedish Championship titles in history: 64 SM golds.
But to me, she was more than her achievements.
She was the person who made tennis feel like play, not pressure.
She showed me that growth and joy belong together.
🌱 What she taught me shaped everything
Madeleine had a way of coaching that was lighthearted, clear, and deeply human.
With her, every training session was both structured and playful.
She made it clear:
If you're having fun, you often learn faster.
And if you feel like you're improving, you're more likely to enjoy it.
That idea – that joy and development are connected – became a core principle in how I now coach others.
👣 From student to coach – on the same court
Years later, I find myself walking the same path. Literally.
The court at Wermdö where I took my first steps in tennis – under her guidance – is now the court I run and coach on daily.
And every time I unlock the gate or start a session, I feel a quiet reminder:
This is where it started. This is where it should begin for others too.
💡 My coaching philosophy, inspired by her
Today, I try to give my players what Madeleine gave me:
Playfulness with purpose
Structure with flexibility
Challenge without pressure
Growth with joy
Whether it’s a five-year-old starting fresh or an adult looking to refine their game – I believe tennis should feel inspiring, human and alive.
🙏 To Madeleine
Thank you for showing me the kind of coach I wanted to become – and the kind of tennis I wanted to be part of.
Your legacy lives far beyond titles and records. It lives in every player I now coach, and every moment of joy I try to create on court.
Because when coaching is joyful, development happens naturally.
And when players see their own progress – the joy only grows stronger.
🎾 This post is part of the Mana Tennis Blog – where coaching meets inspiration.
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