Alexis Galarneau lifted his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title final week on house soil in Granby, Canada. Whereas followers may even see the 24-year-old strike a fuzzy yellow ball, they could not know his off-court routine that features every day meditation and talking to a sports activities psychologist.
A former North Carolina State College standout, Galarneau departed Raleigh with an all-time college singles report (65-36) and a Bachelor’s Diploma in finance. The 2-time ITA All-American then transitioned to the professionals and made a dedication to work with a sports activities psychologist. Galarneau has continued these conferences on a near-weekly foundation for two-and-a-half years.
“I believed popping out of faculty, it might be an incredible alternative to speak to somebody,” Galarneau instructed ATPTour.com. “If you’re on the street, it may be lonely generally, and maintaining observe of issues that you just’re doing properly, issues that you just’re not doing as properly.
“It is necessary to actually take your psychological well being [seriously] and likewise put together your self in your finest performances. I believe everybody ought to use it.”
This yr, Galarneau turned an envoy for Tennis Canada’s Psychological Timeout Intivative, alongside WTA star Bianca Andreescu and Canada’s top-ranked wheelchair participant Rob Shaw. The purpose of the initiative is to be a number one voice for psychological wellness in sport by way of consciousness, promotion and schooling.
Galarneau even curated a Spotify ‘Psychological Timeout’ playlist that options 10 songs, beginning with Fleetwood Mac’s ‘In every single place’, he listens to when he must calm his thoughts. Andreescu and Shaw additionally constructed a playlist.
One other means Galarneau quiets his ideas is by drawing. At a career-high No. 162 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Galarneau not too long ago began carving out time to get pleasure from the brand new passion he found when he purchased an iPad.
“I will simply take photos from my cellphone that I took and attempt to recreate the canvas,” Galarneau mentioned. “Currently, it has been numerous photos from my room window. It sort of jogs my memory of house as properly. It is a cool little day off. You placed on a little bit little bit of music and also you’re probably not considering, simply drawing on my iPad. I will take 30, 45 minutes a day to try to put in my form of little meditation.”
Drawing could deliver the Laval-native recollections of house, very like how he’ll bear in mind his first ATP Challenger Tour title. Galarneau turned the primary Canadian Challenger champion of 2023, triumphing in Granby, simply 90 minutes from his hometown.
Alexis Galarneau the Challenger 100 occasion in Granby, Canada. Credit score: Sarah-Jäde Champagne
Galarneau is one among 5 Canadians to win the Granby Challenger, becoming a member of Frank Dancevic, Vasek Pospisil, Peter Polansky and Gabriel Diallo.
“It felt wonderful. I visualised this second a tonne of occasions rising up, watching previous Canadian champions win it,” Galarneau mentioned. “I felt prefer it’d be an incredible achievement and an incredible feeling for me to go on and do the identical factor they did. I felt actually happy with that and having my entire household there was a very particular second for me.”
When Galarneau made his ATP Tour debut final August on the Nationwide Financial institution Open, he sported lengthy hair in a ponytail and pushed fifteenth seed Grigor Dimitrov to 2 tight units within the opening spherical.
This yr, Galarneau will goal for his maiden tour-level victory when he as soon as once more competes on the ATP Masters 1000 occasion in Canada as a wild card. However there will probably be no ponytail this time. Galarneau first showcased a contemporary haircut in Might and regardless of lifting his first Challenger title in brief hair, he acknowledged that there’s nothing superstitious in regards to the change.
“I believed it was time. It was only a lot,” Galarneau mentioned. “It took numerous time to clean and put together. I simply needed to maintain it easy. It feels cleaner. I believe there was a wild facet to the lengthy hair.”
Alexis Galarneau in motion on the 2022 Nationwide Financial institution Open. Credit score: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Pictures
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