Q&A: Austin Krajicek Discusses his alphabeats Mettle after his Olympic Medal

American doubles tennis player Austin Krajicek has been part of the No. 1 ranked doubles team in the world and he has won a French Open championship. This past week in Paris, the 34-year-old Texan and alphabeats user added Olympic Silver Medalist to his resume with longtime partner Rajeev Ram. The duo lost a titanic three-set battle to Australians Matthew Ebden and John Peers 6-7 (6), 7-6 (1), 10-8 in the Gold Medal final.

Next up for Austin will be the final Grand Slam of 2024 - the U.S. Open in New York - but we sat down with him before he took off for Paris to discuss his journey, covering the role of mental fitness in his training and how alphabeats has become a central piece of his preparation.

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Austin, you have quite a storied career in tennis. How did you first get into the sport?

My journey started in Florida where I grew up and trained at IMG Academy, known for its excellent sports psychology program. I had the privilege of working with some of the best athletes and coaches there. I went on to play college tennis at Texas A&M, which was one of the best decisions I made. After college, I turned professional in 2011 and have been competing on the tour since then.

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How did you come across alphabeats and what drew you to it?

Maarten Paes, a goalkeeper for Dallas FC, introduced me to alphabeats earlier this year. We were talking about the mental aspects of sports, and he mentioned alphabeats. I’ve been using it for the last few months and it’s become an essential part of my daily routine. alphabeats helps me get clear and calm, which is crucial in tennis, because the margins for error are so small. It’s really helped me enhance my focus and recognize when I am distracted so I can quickly get back on track and into the flow.

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How do you integrate alphabeats into your training and daily routine?

I use alphabeats twice a day, sometimes even more. In the morning, I incorporate it into my stretching routine before practice or a match. This helps me start the day with a calm and focused mind. After a long day of training, I use it again to relax and unwind so I can get a good night's sleep. Having this tool to get me in the right mental state has been a game changer for me, especially on match days.

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Tennis can be mentally demanding, especially in high-stakes matches. How has alphabeats helped you handle those pressures?

Yes, tennis is a highly mental sport, especially in doubles. The outcome can hinge on a single point and you have to stay calm and focused under this pressure, without the help of a coach talking you through the game. You really have to dig into yourself in those moments. alphabeats has helped me develop greater awareness of my mental state. For example, during changeovers or tight moments, I use techniques I've practiced with alphabeats to bring myself back to the right state of mind. Of course other things play into whether we score a win or not, but I’ve really seen the impact on my performance and how I handle the anxiety that is a part of the process for us all.

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Professional sports come with immense pressure. How do you manage the mental aspect of competing at such a high level?

Mental health and fitness is incredibly important. It’s important to talk about it openly, as the pressures of professional sports can take a toll. We all need strategies to manage stress and maintain mental well-being. alphabeats is really helping me in this regard – to stay calm and composed under pressure – which is why I’m passionate about sharing it as a tool for others to benefit from as well.

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What challenges have you faced in your career, and how have you overcome them?

Competing at this level comes with a lot of pressure and expectations. Dealing with losses and injuries is part of the journey. Last year, we had a great season, winning five tournaments, but we still played around 30, so had losses in the others. That can be mentally draining. Having a strong support system and tools that help me maintain and get back into balance have been key.

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Can you share a specific instance where alphabeats made a significant impact during a match?

alphabeats has been instrumental in helping me stay calm and composed during matches. For instance, during a recent match at Queens, things weren't going our way, and I felt anxiety creeping in. By using the techniques I practiced with alphabeats, I was able to reset my mental state and stay focused, which helped us turn the match around. It's about finding that calm in the chaos, and alphabeats has been crucial in achieving that.

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How does alphabeats help you beyond the tennis court?

The benefits of alphabeats extend beyond tennis. It has helped me stay calm in various aspects of my life, such as managing investments or dealing with stressful situations. The ability to center myself quickly and maintain a state of calm has been invaluable, both on and off the court.

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What are your goals moving forward, particularly with the Olympics on the horizon?

The Olympics is my primary focus right now. I'm continually working on improving both my physical and mental game, and alphabeats will remain a key part of my training routine. Beyond that, I'm looking forward to continuing to compete at the highest level while growing my mental and physical skills.

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Ok, here’s another one we’re really curious about – what are your go-to alphabeats playlists?

Well, I’m from Texas so perhaps it’s no surprise that I use the country playlist the most. But I like to switch it up too, depending where I’m at. Like, when I’m in Europe, I might tune into some dance or techno, especially if I'm looking for a bit more energy before a match. I always like to mix in a little hip hop here and there too.  It really depends on the mood and what I need at the time, but I’d say overall, country is my go-to.

Austin Krajicek's dedication to both his physical and mental training is truly inspiring. As he heads to the Olympics, we wish him the best of luck and look forward to seeing the impact of his hard work and innovative approach to mental fitness with alphabeats.

For more on Austin’s alphabeats journey, check out this recent profile in Sports Business Journal as well.