Life after the ATP Tour is increasingly becoming a focal point for many players, as they seek to prepare for the next chapter of their lives. A new initiative, the ATP Player Mentoring Programme, is designed to assist both current and recently retired professionals in this transition. Launched in 2024, the programme connects players with established business leaders in various fields, thereby broadening their networks and guiding them toward post-career opportunities.
Success Stories from the Mentoring Programme
Two notable participants, Roberto Bautista Agut and Mikhail Kukushkin, are both planning to retire in 2026 and took part in the programme’s second cohort during the 2025–2026 season. Bautista Agut, a former world No. 9 in the PIF ATP Rankings, worked with his mentor, Fernando Ferran, to develop vital skills in portfolio structure, asset allocation, income planning, investment funds, and company operations. He plans to take a more active role in his Spanish agriculture business while staying connected to tennis. This includes exploring short-term opportunities to work with a player and leveraging his on-court experience for new ventures.
Kukushkin, 38, shared that the support he received transformed his uncertainty about life after tennis into a clear and actionable plan. Through extensive discussions with his mentor, Ferran Prieto, he decided to move away from his initial ideas and focus on launching a tennis academy—a project he now feels fully prepared to undertake.
As the second year of the programme draws to a close, preparations for the new cohort for 2026–2027 have already begun. This group includes players like Joe Salisbury, Pierre-Hugues Herbert, and retired athlete Kyle Edmund, among others. The selected player-mentor pairings for this new intake are:
- Diego Hidalgo with Fernando Martin
- Romain Arneodo with Eugenio Cicconetti
- Pierre-Hugues Herbert with Paddy Cosgrave
- Joe Salisbury with Kevin Clancy
- Orlando Luz with Rafael Westrupp
- Luke Johnson with Chris Beltran
- Robert Cash with Ander Michelena
- Ryan Peniston with Alex Attard-Manché
- JJ Tracy with David Kasper
- Kyle Edmund with Ferran Prieto
- Neil Oberleitner with Karl Altenburg
The primary goal of the ATP Player Mentoring Programme remains consistent: to help players continue learning, build practical business knowledge, and confidently transition into life beyond the tour. With such initiatives, former athletes can successfully navigate the complexities of their post-tennis careers.