Welcome to Season 15 Episode 39 of the ParentingAces Podcast! Tennis should build confident kids, not exhausted robots. Adriana Dino shares the coaching philosophy that helps young players grow into thinkers, leaders, and lifelong fans of the game—while showing parents exactly when to step back and when to lean in.
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Born and raised in Romania, Adriana started with a wooden racket, a straight-talking father, and a coach who changed her life. After playing, studying physical education, and coaching for nearly 20 years in the United States, she brings a rare perspective to the parent-coach-player triangle that drives junior tennis.
Tennis Parent Takeaways
- Support your child with unconditional love rather than constant technical instruction.
- Learn to recognize when encouragement has become pressure.
- Gradually transfer responsibility for preparation, performance, and problem-solving to your child.
- Help your player develop routines for resetting after mistakes and bad line calls.
- Focus on resilience, confidence, and personal growth—not only wins and rankings.
- Accept that high-performance tennis may not be the right path for every talented player.
- Keep your child’s love of tennis at the center of the experience.
Lisa and Adriana also break down the mental side of junior competition, including what to do after a bad call, how to reset between points, and why tournaments are one of the best classrooms for resilience. Adriana’s approach is simple but powerful: coach the person first, develop the player second, and keep the love for tennis intact for life.
She also shares the unforgettable influence of playing Monica Niculescu as a 14-year-old in Bucharest, and why exposure to higher-level tennis can shape a junior’s mindset long before they’re ready for the professional circuit.
This episode is essential listening for tennis parents, junior players, and coaches who want more than wins—they want growth, confidence, and a healthier relationship with the sport.
Adriana is based in the DC area and coaches players from beginner to advanced, with a focus on bringing out the best in each athlete as a human being first.
Connect with Coach Adriana
To get more information on Coach Adriana, visit her website at www.adrianadinutennisacademy.com. You can email her directly at [email protected]. Be sure to follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
Connect with Lisa
As always, Lisa is available for one-to-one consultations to work with you as you find your way through junior tennis and the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through the ParentingAces shop.
If you’re so inclined, please share this—and all our episodes—with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app.
Be sure to check out our logoed merchandise, as well as our à la carte personal consultations, in our online shop.
Credits
Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE
Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone
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