Pro Tennis to Roland Garros | Irina Falconi Hartman on Mindset & Motherhood

👉 Subscribe for more interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@WeighingInWithTravisHartman?sub_confirmation=1 ___________________________________________________________ Former professional tennis player, Pan American Games gold medalist, former World No. 62, Georgia Tech All-American, and now tennis commentator heading to Roland Garros — Irina Falconi Hartman joins the podcast. In this episode, we dive deep into her journey from starting tennis at just 4 years old to becoming the highest-ranked Ecuadorian-born female tennis player of all time. We talk about the grind of professional tennis, the financial realities behind the sport, life on tour, mental toughness, motherhood, and what it takes to compete at the highest level. Irina shares stories from the US Open on Arthur Ashe Stadium, winning gold at the Pan American Games, battling self-doubt, proving critics wrong, and transitioning into a successful broadcasting career with Tennis Channel and the US Open. We also compare the mental side of tennis and boxing, discuss raising strong kids, work ethic, and even get into sourdough bread and rapid-fire questions at the end. This one is packed with behind-the-scenes stories, elite athlete mindset, and plenty of husband-wife banter. 🔥 Topics Covered: * Pro tennis life behind the scenes * US Open + Arthur Ashe Stadium story * Winning Pan Am Games Gold * Roland Garros commentary opportunity * Mental toughness in tennis vs boxing * Parenting, discipline & hard work * Transition from athlete to broadcaster * Rapid fire tennis questions Subscribe for more conversations with athletes, entrepreneurs, and high performers. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro + “I’m not shaking your hand either” 00:42 Introducing Irina Falconi Hartman 02:10 Heading to Roland Garros as a commentator 04:12 Starting tennis at 4 years old 05:35 When she realized she was special in tennis 08:15 Georgia Tech, All-American & No. 1 in the country 10:05 Motivation: proving doubters wrong 13:10 Bogota title story + crazy traffic before semifinals 17:30 Life on pro tour: hardest part of tennis 19:45 Financial reality of professional tennis 24:20 Travel life vs loneliness on tour 27:10 Boxing advice: “At least you’re not getting punched in the face” 31:40 Biggest tennis match: Arthur Ashe Stadium at US Open 38:15 Pan American Games Gold Medal moment 40:10 Tennis vs boxing: the mental battle 45:30 Learning how to lose every week 49:20 Mental toughness & raising resilient kids 54:15 Parenting, discipline & hard work 58:30 Biggest boxing regrets + short-notice fights 1:06:15 Fighting Terence Crawford, Keith Thurman & chasing greatness 1:13:40 No regrets, faith, and becoming better every day 1:17:20 How commentating started 1:23:15 Getting the US Open commentary job 1:27:10 Why kindness and networking matter 1:31:40 WTA Board + serving with Serena Williams 1:35:00 Preparing for Roland Garros commentary 1:40:15 Breaking tennis down for casual fans 1:45:10 Sourdough bread debate 1:48:00 Rapid Fire Finish 1:51:20 Final thoughts + outro #Tennis #RolandGarros #MentalToughness #WTA #TennisChannel #AthleteMindset #Boxing