Today at Court Untold, we bring you the story of ISABELLA TCHERKES—a journey that didn’t start on the tennis court, but in the swimming pool. Born into a family with deep swimming roots, and once an Under-12 Italian National Champion, Isabella made a bold choice: to leave the water behind and chase her passion for tennis.
From competing in ITF tournaments to excelling in college tennis, her journey has been shaped by resilience, determination, and a profound understanding of the sport’s mental and physical demands. Winning ITF titles in San Marino and the Netherlands, along with two WTA doubles titles, became defining moments—reminders of the power of mindset and the strength of a supportive inner circle.
Her career has had its highs and lows, including injuries that tested her resolve. Yet, through every challenge, Isabella has adapted and grown.
Now focusing on doubles, a format she has always loved, she continues to find joy in the game while making smart, strategic choices for her future.
All right, first question—you're a graduate student, right? When are you finishing school?
I’ll be finishing in August. I’m currently doing an MBA, which is a two-year program, but I was granted an extra year of eligibility because of COVID—we didn’t have a college season that year. So, I took this opportunity to complete my MBA.
In May, I have a summer class that’s essentially a project—it's called a CMS project—and it involves a study trip to South Korea. We’ll be visiting companies, participating in industry reviews, and taking part in business-related activities.
Officially, I’ll be done in August. Our tennis season ends in May, so I’ll have a couple of months solely focused on studying and transitioning from tennis into the business world.
Got it. And beyond that, have you considered to pursue a professional tennis career?
Yeah, I’m definitely considering it. I’ve been looking into playing professionally, especially in doubles, since that’s something I’ve always been naturally strong at. Doubles has been a big part of my game, and I’ve competed at a high level in it.
At the same time, college has opened my eyes to other opportunities outside of tennis—things I didn’t even realize I was capable of. Tennis has taught me a lot, not just about competition but also about handling tough situations and finding a positive outlook in challenging moments.
Of course. I wanted to ask about your transition from playing in Italy to college tennis. How was it different? And how does playing ITFs compare to competing in college?
I think for most European players, the transition to college in the U.S. can be tough. But since I had already spent a lot of time in the U.S. growing up, it wasn’t as difficult for me. I was already somewhat familiar with the environment, so I didn’t experience as much of a culture shock.
That being said, freshman year is always an adjustment, no matter how prepared you think you are. People always talk about the challenges of that first year, and they’re right. Looking back, though, I wouldn’t change anything about how I navigated that transition—it’s what led me to where I am today.
That makes sense. One thing I found interesting in our conversation is that many players I’ve interviewed competed in ITFs in the U.S. or Latin America. But you primarily played in Europe, where ITFs are known to be much tougher—even at the Grade 4 or 5 level.
How did playing in Europe shape your perspective on tennis? And when you got to college, did you feel like you were more competitive than other players?
Yeah, ITF tournaments in Europe are definitely more competitive than in the U.S. I remember playing Grade 4 or even Grade 3 events in Europe, and then going to compete in the Orange Bowl U16, where I actually won the doubles title. The level was still high, but it didn’t feel as intense as, say, a Grade 2 or 3 final in Europe.
I think that’s a great way to compare the level of competition. At first, you don’t really know the difference—you just go and compete. But once you experience both, you realize how much tougher the European circuit is. In a way, it prepared me well for college tennis because I had already faced such a high level of competition.
That’s really interesting. So when you started college tennis, how did that transition work for you?
I started my freshman year at SMU (Southern Methodist University) in Dallas, but I later transferred to LMU (Loyola Marymount University) during COVID. My decision to go to SMU was mainly because of a specific coach I wanted to train with. Unfortunately, that coach resigned just a month before I arrived, so I suddenly found myself in a situation where the main reason I had chosen the school was no longer there.
SMU is a fantastic school academically, with amazing facilities, but the level of the tennis team wasn’t quite what I had expected. Since I was still focused on turning pro, I had to figure out how to continue improving my game while also making sure I was on a strong academic path.
That’s when I decided to transfer to LMU. The first year there, we didn’t get to play because of COVID, but the following season, we had an incredible year. We ended up ranked No. 17 in the country out of 350 teams—the highest ranking in LMU’s history.
Ultimately, everything is about perspective and making the best of each situation. Every decision—whether it’s where to play, who to train with, or what opportunities to pursue—comes down to what you want to achieve at that moment.
When you were a junior, did you mainly play tournaments in Italy, like national events?
Yeah, I played in the club series—Serie A, the highest level—when I was 14. But I also played major junior events in Italy, like Bonfiglio and Avvenire, which are some of the biggest Tennis Europe tournaments for U16. Then, as a junior, I competed in Bonfiglio (Grade A), Santa Croce (Grade 1), and all the major Italian tournaments.
Since I was part of the federation, I traveled with them all the time and followed their tournament schedule. Sometimes, I would travel with different coaches. I actually went on three trips with [Lorenzo] Musetti’s coach—once to Bulgaria and twice to Italian tournaments.
It was always a mix of different tournaments and different coaches. When I joined the federation, I didn’t really have a main coach because of financial reasons. It’s expensive to have a personal coach travel with you, so the federation helped by covering my costs, but adding an extra coach would have meant splitting resources, meaning I’d play fewer tournaments. So that was always something to consider.
Italy has such a strong level of competition, and I’ve heard that many players don’t feel the need to go abroad for tournaments. Did you ever feel like you needed to travel outside of Italy or Europe for stronger competition?
Honestly, I never really thought about it. It’s funny you bring it up because, at the time, I didn’t even want to go to college. My dad was the one who convinced me—he helped me see the bigger picture, that tennis wouldn’t last forever.
But when it came to junior tournaments, I never felt the need to leave Europe. The competition level was already so high. I don’t remember the exact schedule off the top of my head, and I’m sure it has changed now, but back then, you could compete from January to October without leaving Europe. There were Grade 4s, Grade 3s, Grade 2s, and then the Grade A tournaments, with a Grade 1 right before them as preparation.
Unless you were playing the Australian Open or getting into the Grand Slams, you could literally stay in Europe for an entire season and still have a packed, competitive schedule.
That said, the federation did organize exchanges with other countries. I remember they had groups traveling to South America while South American players would come to Italy for tournaments. They also arranged wildcards through these partnerships, almost like a twinning program between federations. But outside of those situations, we never really felt the need to go abroad for competition, and financially, it made more sense to stay in Europe.
So it was your father who encouraged you to consider going to the U.S. for college?
Yeah, mostly. My dad has two degrees—he’s an orthopedic surgeon in both Russia and Italy. He actually considered moving to the U.S. at one point, but then he thought, "I’m 60 years old, why should I go back to school for something I’ve already done twice?"
He saw the bigger picture for me. He knew I wouldn’t play tennis forever and wanted me to have something beyond just tennis. But at the same time, he knew that whatever I learned in college could still be applied to my career in the sport. It wasn’t like those years would be wasted.
Totally. All right, so let's go back to the very beginning.
When did you start playing tennis, and why?
Oh, I started when I was 11, which is a little later than most people. I think I told you before—I actually started with swimming first. My dad was a big swimmer back in Russia, so he introduced my sister and me to swimming when we were really young.
We were members of a club where we went every day, and they had both a swimming pool and tennis courts. My dad would play tennis with his friends, and I would watch. I really liked the idea of it—it felt like a bit of a puzzle game.
That’s how I got into it.
So you were swimming until you were 11, and then you switched to tennis?
Kind of. I started swimming when I was two or three years old and continued until I was 11. But when I started tennis, I was doing both—swimming three times a week and tennis three times a week.
At some point, I had to compare the two. Did I want to keep swimming for two hours straight every session, or did I want to play points and do something different every day? Tennis felt more engaging and way more fun.
Swimming was in my blood—I had the genetics for it, and I could have been really good. But I chose tennis instead.
Because it was more fun than swimming. Did you compete in swimming?
Yeah, I was actually the Italian Under-12 champion in swimming.
That’s why it was such a surprise for my dad when I told him I wanted to switch to tennis. He wasn’t upset—he just wanted me to do a sport, so he didn’t mind. But he was definitely surprised, like, “Oh, you’re switching to tennis? Sure… whatever.”
I had literally won the national championship, and two months later, I decided I didn’t want to swim anymore. It was a bit of a shock.
That's fine. Actually, it's really similar to Yannick's story—he also started with another sport and then switched to tennis at 12.
Yeah, exactly. And it’s funny because when he came to Italy to train at Piatti’s Academy, he didn’t even speak Italian. It must have been such a challenge for him at first.
Crazy. All right, so when did you start competing in tennis?
From what I saw, you started really young in ITFs—you were 13, right?
Yeah, basically two years later.
Yeah.
At first, I played in club matches, where they have different ranked lines. When I was 14, I played against Roberta Vinci in a club match—she was playing for Parioli.
Three years after I started tennis, I was playing against top-level players because our club didn’t have the budget to recruit players. So I had to play as the number-one singles player against these crazy opponents.
Looking back, I laugh about it, but at the time, it was intense—I was getting so much information all at once. I started doing small regional tournaments at 11, but by 13 or 14, I was already playing national events.
And like you mentioned, in Europe, everything is super close. I could just drive five hours to Croatia for a Tennis Europe event or go to Austria or the south of France for ITF juniors. Italy is a great location for tennis, and I was lucky because of that.
Yeah, totally. And what’s crazy is that you picked up a racket at 11, and just two years later, you were playing ITFs—not just Grade 5, but Grade 2 ITFs.
Yeah.
And you actually did pretty well. I saw that in one of your first ITFs, you lost in the first round, but it was 6-2, 7-6—not bad for someone who had only been playing for a short time.
Yeah. I think playing multiple sports helped me a lot. If I had only started tennis at 11 without any athletic background, it wouldn’t have been the same. Being active my whole life made a difference.
How do you think swimming helped you?
It really helped with coordination and injury prevention.
When I was 15 or 16, I was playing up to seven hours a day. That’s a lot of wear and tear on your body. And now, at almost 24, I’m still doing okay, knock on wood.
I’ve had injuries, of course, but compared to the hours I put in, it’s nothing major. I think swimming built a strong physical foundation for me.
When did you start training that much?
I can’t remember exactly. When I was 12, I trained about two hours per session, maybe four times a week.
So not every day?
No, because I was still swimming and doing other activities. I didn’t fully commit to just tennis right away.
But when I turned 15, I started training seriously. That’s when I moved to San Marino Tennis Academy—I trained there for two years. That’s also when I had my first injury.
What injury did you have?
I tore my meniscus.
Oh, really?
Yeah. And the funny part? My dad did the surgery. I even have pictures of it.
Wait, I don’t think some countries allow family members to perform surgeries like that.
It depends on the type of surgery. For major surgeries like heart or brain operations, they definitely wouldn’t allow it. But for something simpler, like ACL or meniscus repair, it’s not an issue.
Plus, he had other doctors assisting him.
How did the surgery go?
It went well. I was 17, so it was a tough time because I was just starting to break into international tournaments.
But having my dad with me every day really helped. I had a cast for a month, but after that, I was already back to training. And in two months, I was competing again.
How long were you out of the court?
From competing, about two months.
All right. Pretty brief, right?
Yeah, very brief. But then I had a longer injury in college that kept me out for almost six months, basically a whole semester.
I broke my big toe on the side, there’s a small bone there. That injury kept me out for almost six months. And it was tricky to heal because, if you think about it, you’re always on your feet.
Yes.
I still don’t feel full sensitivity in that area sometimes.
Something similar to what happened to Rafa Nadal, right? He also has issues with his feet.
Yeah, exactly. At first, we tried injections and everything, but in the end, we found out it was actually broken.
So we were like, "Why are we injecting it if it’s fractured?"
Going back to what you said about training seven hours a day—does that mean you were homeschooled? How did you make that decision? Was it something your family suggested because you were doing well in tennis?
I was always a good student, I never had any issues in school. I did my first year of high school normally, and I think that helped me develop study habits and organization skills.
Then, I did the rest of high school through homeschooling, but in three different systems. At first, I did an online school from Parma, my hometown.
I only had to take final exams at the end of the year for each subject. I followed that same pattern until I graduated, though I switched schools a couple of times.
The time a regular student spends in a classroom, I spent on the court. We trained from 9 AM to 1 PM, then from 3 PM to 6 PM, so there wasn’t much time left for studying.
Who guided you through this path? Was it your father who told you this was the right way to become a top athlete while still pursuing an education?
Leaving traditional school wasn’t really a question, but when I moved to an academy at 15, I was already playing Tennis Europe events.
It wasn’t my dad’s idea. It was more the coaches and people around me who said, "If you’re planning to play professionally or take tennis more seriously, you’ll have to do homeschooling."
We discussed it with my parents and also with the federation, and they confirmed it. If they were going to support me financially for travel and tournaments, I had to fully commit to tennis.
So it was more of a word-of-mouth thing from different people in the tennis world. My dad didn’t really know much about it, to be honest.
For some people, homeschooling adds extra pressure because they feel responsible for improving and proving themselves with results. Did you feel that pressure?
Homeschooling itself? No. But performance pressure?
Yes, especially from the federation. Looking back now, I understand that feeling pressure is actually a privilege.
But at 15, what do you think? You’re freaking out, thinking, "If I don’t perform, they’ll kick me out."
That was always in my head, and I didn’t know how to handle it. I was also a pretty feisty kid, very vocal, and I struggled to channel that energy the right way.
I think that’s part of the reason I eventually burned out at the academy. That’s why I decided to go back home and keep training just as hard, but with the people I started playing tennis with.
And that meniscus injury you had—were you scared of it? Did you ever fear that you wouldn’t become as good as you wanted to be?
No, not really. I had a really strong support system. I was surrounded by experienced people—like the former captain of the Fed Cup team and a knowledgeable assistant. Plus, there were players competing at a high level around me.
So injuries and setbacks were things we had already discussed. We knew they were bound to happen at some point. It was more about accepting it and focusing on the bigger picture.
You’re not just training for those two months of recovery; you’re training for something bigger.
Yeah. It’s clear that you’ve made a lot of sacrifices to become a great tennis player.
How did it feel to give up so much? From what I understand, you sacrificed the typical high school experience—traditional education, hanging out with friends, attending classes, parties, and all that.
Did you ever feel lonely because of this? Tennis is often seen as a lonely sport due to the sacrifices required.
Yeah, definitely. It’s part of the sport. But now, looking back, I see the bigger picture. At the time, it hurt—I felt like I was missing out on what other kids were doing.
For example, in middle school, when school ended at 3 PM, everyone would go to the park to play and hang out. But I had to rush home to go to practice. It was a completely different experience.
It makes you think a lot about the path you’re on. Yes, it’s a sacrifice, but it’s also what brought me here. Now, I live in L.A. for free, play the sport I love, and get an education because of it.
So it’s all about perspective. At the time, it was tough, but you have to go through uncomfortable situations to achieve something.
Yeah, definitely. And now you can look back and connect the dots—it all worked out for you.
You’ve been playing tennis since you were 11, and it has shaped your life. What are the biggest lessons tennis has taught you?
What has the sport given you that others might not have learned?
I think one of the biggest things tennis teaches you is how to accept failure.
In this sport, you lose almost every week. Pablo Carreño Busta once joked that he loses nearly every week, yet he was still ranked ninth in the world.
So it’s about understanding that failure is part of the process. One bad match doesn’t define you or change how you approach your goals.
Another huge lesson is resilience. Hard work is essential, but being able to push through setbacks is just as important. Now that I’m transitioning into the business world, I see how valuable that mindset is.
Tennis also taught me organization—especially in college. Even as a junior, I had to plan my entire year, schedule my practices, and manage my time effectively.
At 14, I flew to Miami alone to play the Orange Bowl. That forced me to develop independence and adaptability—both of which are crucial in life. You learn not to be rigid in your thinking and to be open to different approaches.
Yeah, totally. The first thing you mentioned was learning to deal with failure.
How do you manage that?
Let’s say you lose two first-round matches in a row. Tennis is a sport where confidence is everything—you could have the same level of skill, but your confidence determines whether you win or lose.
How do you keep a bad streak from affecting your confidence?
Right now, with more experience, I handle it differently than I did before.
At this stage, I take ownership of my game—how I play, how I prepare. But having a strong support system is key.
When I was 15, 16, or 17, if I had tough losses, the first thing I’d do was call my mom. I needed to vent, and she was always there to offer perspective and encouragement.
She and my dad always saw the bigger picture, which helped me stay motivated.
Now, I can process those moments better on my own. But it really depends on where you are in life and who you surround yourself with.
Being self-aware and having good people around you makes a huge difference.
Tennis is a sport where managing pressure in key moments is crucial to winning. I wanted to ask you, how do you handle pressure in those moments—whether it's a tiebreak or a deciding set—when the match is on the line?
For me, body language is key, along with the way I talk to myself. Staying positive is crucial—whether I hit an incredible shot or completely miss one, I don’t let it affect me. My opponent knows when I’ve made a mistake; I don’t need to reinforce it with my reaction.
Tennis is such a mental game—I'd say 90% of it is mental. But at the same time, 90% of success comes from just showing up every day. The more you put yourself in pressure situations, the more experienced you become. You can’t expect immediate results, but over time, that consistency pays off. That’s where the real growth happens.
I completely agree. Everyone talks about the mental side of tennis being the most important part, but many don’t really know how to train it. What you said makes so much sense—showing up, not complaining when things aren’t going your way, and continuing to push forward. That’s how you build mental strength. And like you said, body language and self-talk play a huge role in that.
Exactly.
I have one more serious question before a couple of fun ones. If you could sit down with your younger self—maybe when you were 15 or 16—what advice would you give?
I think we touched on this earlier, but I’d tell myself to better understand pressure—what it really means and how to handle it. Looking back, I played so many big tournaments and was a strong player, but that extra edge that separates good from great often comes down to handling pressure.
I’d want my younger self to see pressure as a privilege. If you feel pressure, it means people believe in you. It could be because they see your potential, or sometimes even because they’re jealous. Either way, it’s there for a reason, and learning to manage it is key.
That said, I wouldn’t change anything about my journey because every experience brought me to where I am today. And in the end, what matters most are the people you meet and the relationships you build. College, for example, was incredibly valuable to me because of the friendships and connections I made. So, my advice would be to embrace pressure but also to stay true to yourself, because that’s what defines you in the long run.
Yeah, I saw that you won two ITF titles. Was that a big confidence booster for you? Did it change your mindset, making you realize you were playing at a high level while still having room to improve? How did those wins feel?
Honestly, it felt like a momentum thing—I was playing well at the time, but if you look at my results leading up to it, you can see some fluctuations. Winning those tournaments was great, but I think what really made a difference was the overall experience—traveling with a solid group of players.
I remember winning the doubles title in the Netherlands with a teammate I often played with, and we were part of a larger group of about eight or nine Italian players traveling together. That environment put me in a good mental space, which, in turn, helped my performance.
Tennis itself doesn’t change—you don’t forget how to play after a week off. But back then, I didn’t see it that way. I thought I needed to be constantly playing to stay sharp. Over time, I’ve realized that my level remains the same, and it’s really about being in the right headspace. That was the key takeaway from that period.
Yeah, I was asking about singles because I saw you had strong doubles results too, winning eight titles. Since you also had good results in college, I’m guessing that’s why you’re considering focusing on doubles now, right?
Exactly. It’s also a smarter move for me given my injuries—especially the foot issue I’ve dealt with. College tennis is physically demanding, and it takes a toll on your body. Doubles feels like a safer way for me to keep competing while managing my body better.
Plus, I’ve always enjoyed doubles more than singles—it’s just way more fun for me.
That makes sense. Okay, I’ve got two fun questions to wrap things up.
First, would you rather win a Grand Slam or be ranked No. 1 in the world?
A Grand Slam, for sure. Statistics show that if you win a Slam, you have a good chance of reaching No. 1—but not necessarily the other way around.
I’d want to do something like Marion Bartoli—win Wimbledon and then retire!
That’s wild! I mean, Italian players have done that too—like wasn’t it Roberta Vinci who won the US Open and then retired?
It was actually Flavia Pennetta!
Right, Pennetta!
Okay, last question—who was your tennis idol growing up?
Rafa Nadal.
Same here! Why Nadal for you?
Well, he’s a lefty like me, and he used the same racket as I did. But beyond that, everything about him—his playing style, his dominance on clay—was just unreal. No one will ever come close to what he’s achieved on that surface.
There will always be insane all-surface players like Djokovic, but Rafa embodies everything tennis stands for.
Yeah, he represents all the values of tennis—his tenacity, his ability to keep fighting no matter the score. He could be down 5-1, and somehow, he’d still find a way back.
And the respect he has for the sport—never breaking a racket, rarely retiring from matches, always giving his all even when it might hurt his ranking. He respects his opponents and the game itself. That’s something really special.