Tennis is a sport that demands resilience, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to growth—both on and off the court. SEBASTIAN NOTHHAFT, a player from Loyola Marymount University (LMU), talks about his tennis journey in Court Untold.
In this interview, Sebastian shares his journey through the highs and lows of competitive tennis, from overcoming injuries and refining his game to embracing the mental challenges that come with the sport. He opens up about his training experience, the sacrifices required to pursue tennis at a high level, and the invaluable lessons he’s learned along the way.
So, I want to ask you first about your college career. I know you're a graduate student now, and you've been playing college tennis for five years, right? How do you think college tennis has helped you develop as a player?
Yeah, so I think it was super important for me. Of course, when you come into college as a first-year, you’ve played so much junior tennis, traveling the world and competing for your own results.
But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that a lot of those results I chased on my own weren’t actually achieved alone. I owe so much to the people I grew up training with, as well as the coaches and family who supported me along the way.
Coming to college to play, having teammates around you, a coach, and a strong environment—almost like a home away from home—really helps you build relationships and push yourself to reach the next level. You’re no longer just doing it for yourself but also for the people around you, the ones training with you every single day.
It’s helped me develop a routine and a deep sense of respect for the process. Everyone is on their own journey, so you have to stay focused and put in the work every day because, in the end, we’re all striving toward the same goal.
One thing you mentioned is something that other players I’ve interviewed this week also brought up—that college tennis feels like being part of a team. Why do you think that happens, given that tennis is usually seen as an individual sport? How does it change when you're on a team?
You realize that when you're playing for yourself, there are days when you want to make excuses, and you convince yourself that they’re acceptable. To be honest, if you're not feeling a practice, you might slack off a little.
But when you're playing as part of a team, you know it’s bigger than just you. You're competing for your teammates—who also have families and people supporting them—so you know that everyone is there to give 100%. That pushes you to make sure you do your part.
You almost owe it to the team to stay committed. You know the goals the team is working toward, and you don’t want to be the one putting in less effort or not fully investing in the group. You know what I mean?
Now that you’re finishing college, what are your plans for tennis? Are you going to try the professional tour, or are you looking at an off-court career?
Yeah, I think after playing tennis for so many years, it's hard to shake that competitive nature and the desire to stay involved. That’s why, like many players coming out of college, you want to test yourself, see how far you can go, and take on the next challenge.
College is just one step in our overall development, so it makes sense to explore what comes next and see where it takes you.
That’s great because I know a lot of college players end up putting down the racket when they graduate. Tennis is a sport where things can change week by week—one good week, something clicks, and your whole perspective shifts. So I think it’s awesome that you're giving it a shot.
I also wanted to ask you about your junior career, especially your ITF tournaments. I saw you won an ITF and had a strong record. Some players reach the top 100 in ITF juniors by playing tons of tournaments, even if they have a negative win-loss record. But you had a strong winning percentage and a steady transition from your younger years to the later part of your junior career.
Before we dive into that, I noticed there was a gap in 2016. You started playing ITFs in 2015, then there was a break in 2016, and you resumed in 2017. What happened during that year?
Yeah, so I got hurt that year, and I actually remember it as one of the hardest years I had growing up playing tennis. I had struggled with my knee when I was younger, but those were minor issues that I was always able to recover from or push through.
But in 2016, I hurt my wrist and had to take a long break. When I came back, my form felt very on and off, so I decided to take things slow. At the time, I was only 15, so I took some time to grow off the court, enjoy moments with my friends, and focus on getting healthy again.
It was a tough year, but stepping away from competition taught me a lot. It allowed me to reset and come back stronger in 2017, following a longer-term path throughout my junior career. Looking back, I believe that break was crucial for my development in the years that followed.
How did the injury happen?
I overworked it. Honestly, I was training a lot.
At that time, I was starting to play more tournaments against older, more experienced players while still being pretty young in the junior circuit. On top of that, I decided to switch to a one-handed backhand after growing up playing with two hands. I felt it was the right move, but learning a new technique while competing at a high level put extra strain on my arm.
Looking back, it was a combination of overworking, adjusting to a new stroke, and the pressure to perform with the backhand change. All of that added up, and that’s how the injury happened—I just pushed it too hard.
Did you need surgery, or was it just rest and rehab?
No, I didn’t have any surgeries for it. I took a three-month break and wore a cast on my hand.
I still went to the gym during that time, just modifying exercises to avoid using my arms too much. I tried to stay as active as possible, focusing on other areas while letting my wrist heal.
How do you think that year off helped you in the long run?
I think just taking some time to slow down was really important. As a kid growing up playing tennis, everything moves so fast—you’re always jumping from one tournament to the next, chasing results, and constantly trying to achieve the next goal.
When I was injured, I was stuck in that mindset. I was really worried about falling behind in the rankings and missing out on points, to the point where I stopped thinking about other things, like spending time with family and friends.
That period ended up being a good reset for me. It helped me realize the value of those moments off the court, and even now, when I compete, I try to carry that perspective with me—understanding that there’s more to life than just a tennis match.
Yeah, absolutely. I think it’s important to recognize that there’s more to life than just tennis. The best players understand that and maintain a strong balance between tennis and the rest of their lives.
If you get too caught up in the sport—where losses feel unbearable and wins become your only focus—it can turn toxic in the long run.
By the way, I wanted to ask—when did you start playing tennis?
I started playing when I was around five or six years old. My dad played club matches, and I would sit and watch him, waiting until he was done so we could hit for 20 or 30 minutes.
Then, I started watching players like Federer and Nadal on TV when I was about six or seven. Seeing how they hit the ball, especially Federer’s one-handed backhand, really caught my attention and made me fall in love with the game.
I started competing pretty young—probably around eight, during the under-10 tournaments. It’s been a long journey since then!
Did you play any other sports, or have you been focused on tennis since the beginning?
I played a lot of sports growing up. I’ve always been super active and curious about learning different things.
I played basketball, football for my school, and watched a lot of football as well. I also did some skiing.
I just loved trying out different sports, and honestly, I think they helped me with my tennis too.
What made you choose tennis over the other sports you played?
I think just realizing how much tennis has impacted me from the moment I decided to compete and take it seriously. It taught me so many life lessons—managing my own schedule, thinking strategically, and adapting during matches.
All those little things that come with being a tennis player have shaped me in a way that other sports didn’t. I felt really connected to it, like it was something personal.
So yeah, choosing tennis just felt special.
When you were young, you mentioned starting to compete before the age of 10. Who introduced you to competition?
Was it something you naturally wanted, or did your parents encourage you to compete?
I think it was a mix of both. My coaches were a huge help in guiding me toward the right training environment and finding good people to practice with as I grew up.
But when it came to tournaments, that was something I always knew I wanted to do from a young age. Competing felt natural, and once I found an academy and training partners with similar goals, everything kind of fell into place.
That said, it definitely took my own desire to pursue it, along with the support of my parents, to make it all happen.
By the way, something I just noticed while looking at the ITFs you’ve played is that most of them were in Asia. I thought you were from the United States—where did you grow up?
Yeah, it's a long story. My dad is from Germany, and my mom is from Hong Kong.
I was born in Hong Kong and grew up training there, but I also spent a lot of time in Germany working with a coach I've known for years. So, it's a mix of both, a little bit of everything.
But I've been representing Hong Kong, playing national events for them. That’s where I live now, and my whole family is based there—so yeah, Hong Kong is home.
Oh, that’s cool! I actually thought you were fully American.
No, no.
I saw that you were representing Hong Kong, and I was curious—where did you grow up?
What’s the competition like there? How did you get into ITFs? Is it common culturally to play ITFs, or was it more of a personal choice?
For example, in Spain, ITFs aren’t as big unless you’re a top player. Most players stick to national tournaments. How is it in Germany and Hong Kong for you?
So in Germany, there are a lot of ITFs and competitive national tournaments, and it's very accessible to compete there. When I'm in Hong Kong, I spend a lot of summers playing tournaments in Europe, mixing local tournaments with ITFs.
In Hong Kong, since it's much smaller, the competition isn't as deep. So ITFs are a great way to get more international exposure. There are events close by in Asia or even organized in Hong Kong, which bring in a mix of players.
A lot of people go to Germany to play competitive tournaments, whereas in Hong Kong, you have to actively look for those opportunities and play events where Asian players or even some Europeans come to compete.
Yeah, I imagine that in Germany, the local level must be really strong. Of course, if you're exceptionally good, you'd need to compete internationally, but I’d guess there’s a solid circuit of players, so you wouldn’t necessarily have to travel unless you’re at the top level. Is that right?
Yeah, definitely. I think there’s a lot of hype around big academies and well-known training centers, but at the same time, having your family and a strong support system is just as important.
If you can build that foundation at home and develop your game until you're ready to take that next step—whether it’s training with top players or moving to a new environment—it makes a huge difference. But I think people often forget how valuable that home support system is in the long run.
Yeah, totally. I want to go back to when you had your wrist injury. How was the process of coming back?
What was it like returning to training and then to competition? For many players, regaining that competitive rhythm after an injury is really tough—they need to play a lot of matches to feel sharp again. How was it for you?
Yeah, it was definitely about playing more matches and getting used to competing again to regain my level and confidence from before the injury.
At the same time, it’s hard to explain, but I was really excited to get back out there. Taking that break gave me a refreshed mindset, and I felt like I was being careful and taking the right steps toward recovery. Even though there were some setbacks with my results or how I felt physically, I knew I was on the right track.
It’s a process, and sometimes it takes longer than you expect to feel 100% again. We see that all the time, even at the pro level.
Totally, that’s exactly why I was asking.
A lot of players might be playing really well, but after an injury, they come back and lose their first four matches, which can really shake their confidence. It definitely affects a player mentally.
That’s why I found your perspective on your injury so interesting—you said you were just grateful to be back. Did the results not affect your confidence at all? Did you fully trust that you were on the right path and that the results would come, or was there any doubt along the way?
For sure. Growing up in juniors, you always feel like you have to keep progressing and reaching new levels. So when that doesn’t happen, or your results aren’t what you hoped for, it can definitely be discouraging.
But I owe a lot to the people around me who supported me during those tough moments. Not every day was easy, but those experiences helped me build a new foundation. Instead of just trying to get back to my previous level, I focused on creating a new routine—almost like turning the page and developing my game in a different way.
I was also changing my backhand at the time, so there were a lot of moving pieces. My mindset wasn’t just about how I’d perform in 2017, but more about the bigger picture—where I wanted to be by the end of my junior career. It was tough, but I had to challenge myself to think differently. Sometimes, you almost have to convince yourself to believe in the process, you know?
Yeah, one more thing I wanted to ask—did you go to a traditional high school, or were you homeschooled?
No, I was in a unique school setup in Germany. We only went to school once a week to pick up assignments and attend tutoring sessions, but most of the week, we were back in our home cities training.
During high school, I was living in Germany and working full-time with a coach I had known and trusted for years. I trained with him for about three or four years, which made it easier to dedicate a lot of time to tennis.
That experience was crucial to my journey—not just for tennis, but also for developing the discipline to manage school and, later, college. Since we had to be in charge of our own work, it taught me a lot about independence.
At first, it was a bit of an adjustment. Not being in school every day meant I wasn’t reading as much, and honestly, I started slacking off a little. But over time, I figured out how to balance everything.
And I also wanted to ask—so you were working with one coach, not training at an academy, right?
No, I wasn’t. My coach was actually a good friend of my dad’s. We started working together over the summers in Germany when I would go there to play tournaments on clay.
When I moved to Germany for high school, he had a few other strong players who also wanted to train every day. So we formed a training group. It was set up similarly to an academy, with different players coming in and out, but it still had a more personal feel.
I had a close relationship with my coach, which made the experience even better. It was a super cool setup.
How did you feel about that setup—training with your coach while balancing school? Your experience in high school must have been very different from a typical student who spends eight hours in class and then does homework.
Tennis is often seen as a lonely sport, and I imagine following this path could feel isolating at times.
Did you ever feel lonely because of your choice? Did it feel like you were sacrificing a lot, or were you so sure about your path that it never really felt like a sacrifice?
Yeah, I mean, it definitely has its lonely days. Tennis is often called an individual sport, and for good reason. I used to feel that loneliness a lot more when I was younger.
When you're a kid growing up in tennis, everyone is following their own path. You still have friends you can catch up with, but we're so focused on the sport that there are a lot of plans you have to turn down—birthdays, celebrations, even family events.
At the same time, when you choose to play tennis at a high level and stick with it every single day, that’s the sacrifice that comes with it. It’s not always easy, but you come to terms with it.
Even though it can feel lonely, I’ve realized I’m not actually doing it alone. There have been so many supportive people along the way who have stuck with me, and that makes a huge difference.
Was there ever a moment when you started to doubt if all the work you’d put into tennis was worth it?
Since you dedicated your whole life to the sport, did you ever feel uncertain—maybe because of certain results or seeing friends or competitors achieving big milestones?
Did you ever question whether you’d make it as a pro or get into a top college?
100 percent. As a tennis player, it's in your blood to have confidence in yourself, but at the same time, be your biggest critic. That’s just part of the journey—you have moments where you ask yourself, Can I really do this?
It’s easy to look at what someone else is doing, especially when you see friends or players you know having success. I’ve had friends do really well on the pro tour, and I’ve also had friends who don’t play tennis anymore.
At the end of the day, everyone is on their own path. A lot of it is in your control, but at the same time, you have to accept that everyone’s journey looks different.
Totally, I’ve felt the same way when looking at the guys I played with. A lot of them made it to really good college programs, while others ended up quitting the sport entirely—that was actually my case because my high school situation was a mess.
There were quite a few people in the same boat as me who had to give up tennis, while others managed to go pro. In fact, one of the guys I used to play with, Alejandro Moro, is now around the top 150. I’m not sure if you know him—he’s a Spanish player who has made it into a few Grand Slam qualifiers.
He’s been doing really well, and it’s fascinating to see how people who grew up training together end up on such different paths.
Yeah, exactly. And over time, you start to develop a real sense of respect for the journey—everyone is trying to do their own thing, chasing their own goals.
Especially when it’s your friends and you see them doing well, you learn to appreciate it. It’s easy to get caught up in your own results, always thinking, Where do I need to be next? What’s my next milestone?
But sometimes you forget that everyone else is also working just as hard. So when you see your friends succeed, it’s actually really great to witness.
I also wanted to ask—how do you feel tennis has shaped you into the person you are today?
But before that, let’s talk about your injury. Do you think that experience was something meant to happen for you to become the player you are now?
Have you ever wondered if, without that wrist injury, you might have become an even better player? Or do you see it as something that had to happen for your growth?
Yeah, I think it even surprised me looking back on it. But it’s good that you brought up that year with my wrist injury because, honestly, I had kind of forgotten how big of a moment that was.
Now thinking about it, that injury was actually a really important turning point for me. That was the same time I was switching to a one-handed backhand—at 15 years old, already playing competitive tennis, suddenly picking up something completely new. Of course, there was a lot of uncertainty in that.
But it gave me a chance to grow and reconnect with the sport. I had been playing tournaments nonstop from the time I was eight until I was 14 or 15. When you’re always chasing the next tournament, the next ranking, it’s easy to lose sight of where you’re actually trying to go.
So having to slow down for a bit made me realize that setbacks aren’t the end of the world. You can always bounce back, and you can always learn something new—even from unexpected situations, like an injury. That period was really crucial for me because, at the end of the day, anyone can hit a tennis ball, but the mental side of the game is just as important.
Keeping your mind fresh and your perspective strong is key to the journey.
Totally. Another thing I wanted to ask—you know, people who have played tennis see life differently compared to those who haven’t played a sport at a high level.
Earlier, you mentioned that tennis has taught you a lot of lessons throughout your life.
What do you think are the biggest lessons the sport has given you, and how have they shaped your perspective on life?
Yeah, I think the number one lesson for me is that you can’t do it alone.
Of course, in a tennis match, you’re out there by yourself, and ultimately, it’s in your hands to decide the outcome. But outside of that, it’s easy to forget that you wouldn’t be anywhere without the people around you—the coaches who have trained you, the teammates who have pushed you to work harder, the family that has supported you through the ups and downs. That’s definitely lesson number one.
Lesson two is that nothing happens without hard work. When you’ve done something for so many years, you realize that improvement is a never-ending process. Even guys like Djokovic, in their late 30s, are still finding ways to get just a little bit better every day. That’s something I really admire and try to apply not just in tennis, but in life.
There’s always something to improve, whether it’s on the court or off it. You have to keep pushing, keep finding ways to grow, and most importantly, always give 100%. You can’t reach your goals without that. Those are probably the two biggest lessons I’ve learned.
Yeah, I totally agree with you. Actually, I wanted to ask you something more about the competition side of tennis—specifically about handling pressure.
How do you manage those high-pressure moments, like a tiebreak or a deciding set? What goes through your mind in those situations to stay calm and give yourself the best chance to win?
Yeah, so I actually argue with my teammates a lot about this because in college, we play a deciding point at deuce, whereas on the pro tour, deuce can go on for multiple points. They always say they prefer the traditional two-point deuce.
But honestly? I prefer the one-point deuce.
I know—it’s a lot of pressure. But for me, it’s almost counterintuitive. In those moments, I know the score is super important, so I actually try not to think about it too much. I keep track, of course, but if I focus too much on the score, it might make me second-guess my shots or hesitate.
My argument is that if I’m more prepared for that deuce point than my opponent, then I shouldn't have anything to worry about. And at the end of the day, I know that pressure isn’t just on me—it’s on them too.
If you don’t go for it, you might regret it later. You can’t always control the result, but you can control your mindset and how you step up in those moments. That’s how I try to approach it.
Yeah, I totally agree. I wouldn’t prefer the one-point deuce either because it can really change the outcome of a match. With a two-point deuce, the score might end up 6-4, but with a one-point deuce, it could just as easily be 6-2 based on a couple of key points.
So yeah, handling pressure in those moments becomes even more crucial.
Alright, last serious question before we wrap up with a couple of fun ones—if you could sit down and talk to your younger self, whether when you were just starting or around 15-16 years old, what advice would you give him?
Probably the same thing I’d tell myself in those high-pressure moments—you have to go for it.
If you want to see results, if you want to chase your dreams and goals, it’s not going to just be handed to you. You have to take your opportunities. And yeah, there’s always going to be pressure, but you owe it to yourself to take every shot you get.
At the same time, it’s important to remember that it’s not the end of the world if something doesn’t go your way. The journey is long—both in tennis and in life. No matter what happens, you have to find a way to accept it, keep moving forward, and enjoy the process of going after those chances.
I totally agree with you.
Now, for the last two fun questions—first, would you rather win a Grand Slam or be ranked number one in the world?
Oh, probably winning a Grand Slam, to be honest. That’s been the childhood dream—even in actual dreams, going to bed and picturing myself lifting the trophy after a tight match.
I’m sure so many tennis players have grown up dreaming of winning Wimbledon. It’s just so iconic. There will always be new world number ones, but when you win a Slam, you become part of history. That’s definitely the dream.
And if you have to pick one?
Wimbledon, probably, yeah.
Yeah, I totally relate to that—I had the same dream. I would always imagine myself lifting the trophy, looking at the crowd. I think that’s something every tennis player has dreamed of, both when they first started and as they grew up.
And yeah, I agree—it’s probably more meaningful than being world number one. Like you said, there have been many number ones, and sometimes a player might hold the ranking for just a week without even fully realizing it. But winning a Grand Slam is a whole different feeling.
Definitely, 100%.
So, last question—who was your tennis idol growing up?
I’d have to say Roger. Just the way he carries himself—not only as a tennis player but as a person. The respect he has from the entire tennis community says everything about the kind of person he is.
And then, of course, there’s his game—just unbelievable, flawless tennis. It looks effortless, it’s beautiful to watch, and everyone talks about it. Iconic, for sure.
He truly is the definition of tennis.
For me, my idol growing up was—and still is—Rafael Nadal. He’s a tennis icon. When people think of tennis, Roger Federer is often the first name that comes to mind, but I believe Rafa belongs in that conversation too.
He represents the sport’s core values—tenacity, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of improvement. That’s something I’ve always admired about him.