Spotting Future Champions: Natalia Mordasova on Scouting, Talent Identification, and Maaya Rajeshwaran’s Rising Potential

Natalia Mordasova, a scout manager at the prestigious Rafa Nadal Academy, has had an inspiring journey from playing tennis in Ukraine to coaching high-performance players. In this exclusive interview to Indian Tennis Daily, she shares her experiences, challenges, and how she found her way to one of the most renowned tennis academies in the world.

Gopi: Can you talk about where you grew up in Ukraine and how your journey in tennis began?

Natalia: I was born in 1988 and played tennis at the national level in Ukraine. Eventually, I attempted to compete in international tournaments and played some ITF events, but I wasn’t very successful. Although I gave my best effort, financial constraints prevented my family from supporting extensive travel for tournaments. I spent about a year on the professional circuit when I was 17, but without significant results, I decided to shift my focus. My true passion had always been coaching, so I transitioned into becoming a sparring partner first and later a coach.

I started as a sparring partner and even worked briefly with Elina Svitolina. She had a coach in Ukraine, and I would train with her as part of my development. Soon after, I began coaching kids and formed my own groups, which later grew into a full-fledged tennis school with over a hundred students. It was a wonderful period in my life, helping young players develop their skills and passion for the sport.

Gopi: How did your journey with Rafa Nadal Academy begin?

Natalia: In February 2016, I received an invitation from Joel Figueras to join Rafa Nadal Academy as a coach. It was an incredible opportunity, and I knew that to grow as a coach, I needed to step into an international setting. Ukraine had limited resources for professional tennis, and my dream had always been to work at the highest level—either as a player or a coach.

It took me about eight months to complete all the necessary paperwork and documentation. Finally, in February 2017, I arrived in Mallorca and started working with high-performance players. From that time until February 2023, I primarily coached ITF-level girls, focusing on high-performance training for 18-and-under groups.

Gopi: Can you share more details about your role as a talent scout?

Natalia: In February 2023, I was officially included in the scouting program at the academy. At that time, we were looking for talented players, and I was balancing my work as both a coach and a scout. I was assisting our head coaches in selecting promising players while also learning about the key factors to consider in young athletes, what to pay attention to, and how to build a network with coaches, families, and agents.

One of my significant successes was with Alina Korneeva. I approached her when she was 14, and it was a great achievement for me because I was able to invite her to the academy. She liked it here, and eventually, this became her training base. Now, she is a multiple Junior Grand Slam champion and one of the best young players in the world.

At the same time, I identified several other talented players, and I realized that scouting was a path where I could continue to grow. In February 2023, after having my baby, I decided to transition into a full-time scouting role, as managing both coaching and scouting was becoming challenging. I took a break from coaching and fully dedicated myself to scouting at the academy and I’m really happy with this decision

Gopi: If a player is performing well in the national circuit in the U10 and U12 categories, what kind of tournaments would you recommend they play to ensure they are on your radar?

Natalia: Based on my experience, if a player is from a country like India or anywhere in Asia, they need to be seen at big international events. They should aim to participate in tournaments like Eddie Herr and Orange Bowl in the U12 and U14 categories because these events attract agents and scouts from all over the world. Players from different academies and various countries compete in these tournaments, which helps them gain visibility.

If a player is in Europe or the United States, the pathway is somewhat easier. However, for those outside these regions, it is crucial to select major international events to compete in. Besides Eddie Herr and Orange Bowl, I would also recommend playing top-level Tennis Europe tournaments.

For U12, the biggest event is Auray, and for U14, the most important ones are Tarbes and other key Tennis Europe events. Even if a player doesn’t win these tournaments, simply qualifying and competing in them increases their chances of being noticed. This exposure can lead to invitations and new opportunities in their tennis journey.

Gopi: What are the key aspects that a scout looks for in junior players?

Natalia: Obviously, results and titles are important indicators of a player’s progress, but they only help me identify who is performing well. The key factor, however, is the actual level of the player’s game. I would recommend focusing on hard work and training with a team of trusted and experienced coaches.

Another crucial factor is the family environment. We have encountered multiple situations where a player is performing exceptionally well, but their family dynamics create challenges. Some parents become overly anxious about their child’s career, rush into decisions too soon, or struggle to manage their emotions during competitions. This can make it very difficult to work with them. So, for me, the family factor is extremely important.

Additionally, we always assess the player’s potential. Even if a player achieves strong results in the U12 and U14 categories, we look at their playing style and their capacity for growth and improvement. Our goal is to help players transition from juniors to professionals. To achieve that, a player must demonstrate both consistent performance and the ability to develop their game in the long run.

Gopi: How did Maaya’s journey begin with Rafa Nadal Academy? How and when was she first noticed?

Natalia: Maaya had mainly been playing in India, which initially made me uncertain about her level. I wasn’t sure if her ranking accurately reflected her true ability.

So, I started looking for videos of her on YouTube and social media. When I first saw Maaya play, I really liked her game—especially her footwork, which truly amazed me. The way she moved on the court made it clear that she wasn’t just a number on a ranking list; she was a player with real potential.

That’s when I got in touch with her mother and invited Maaya for a trial week at the academy. Initially, some members of the academy’s coaching team weren’t entirely convinced that we should invite her. But they trusted my judgment, and we extended the invitation.

As soon as Maaya arrived at the academy, there were no doubts left—she was an exceptional player. Throughout her first week, all the head coaches observed her on court, and they immediately recognized her talent. They all agreed that they really liked her game. It was an amazing moment.

Gopi: What were the first impressions of Maaya that convinced the academy to offer her a one-year contract?

Natalia: We are very selective at the academy. It’s true that we don’t invite too many players, and we offer contracts to only a very few.

As I mentioned, we were really impressed by Maaya’s intensity on court and the way she played. Her attitude was also a key factor—it was clear that she is a hardworking player. Hard work is crucial, and we believed that with her dedication and our guidance, we could help her develop into a very strong player.

At the same time, her mother demonstrated that the family is well-educated and supportive, which is an important factor for us. We wanted to build a relationship not just with Maaya but also with her family.

A one-year contract is a standard initial offer at our academy—we never offer anything longer right away. However, we strongly believe that our collaboration with Maaya will be long-term.

Gopi: What are your thoughts on Maaya’s run at the WTA Mumbai Open? Did those results surprise you?

Natalia: Of course, we weren’t expecting those results on one hand, but on the other, as I mentioned, I was a coach before, and I had watched Maaya play quite a bit. I saw that she was capable of playing at a very high level. However, the challenge was that she struggled to sustain that level for long periods.

Even in her junior results—like in December, for example—she played an excellent match and was able to defeat a high-level opponent. But in the next round, she would lose because she couldn’t maintain that same level of performance. We talked a lot about this issue with Maaya, especially in terms of her mental approach.

I think the coaches and staff did an amazing job working with her on this aspect, helping her understand how to sustain her level and fully utilize the strengths of her game.

When she went to India to play those women’s events, I believe what happened was that she felt completely relaxed—there was no pressure on her. As a result, she was able to play freely and show her true level. The biggest improvement she demonstrated was her ability to maintain that level throughout multiple matches.

Now, we can see that she is truly capable of competing at this level. The focus moving forward will be on continuing to develop her game and aiming even higher.

Gopi: What are the academy’s focus areas for Maaya over the next few months?

Natalia: Our short-term goal is to have a very good training block here first. Then, we want to focus more on junior tournaments because our goal is for Maaya to play at Roland Garros. Since she hasn’t played many junior events recently, her ranking has dropped.

So, we are planning for her to compete in a few junior tournaments to improve her ranking and secure a spot at Roland Garros—ideally in the main draw, if possible. That’s our primary objective for now.

Additionally, we are waiting for a decision on whether she will be part of the Billie Jean King Cup team.