How High Performers Stay Composed Under Pressure? Insights from Pro Tennis Player, and UKG partner, Alexei Popyrin

High performers stay composed by trusting their preparation, leaning on their team, and focusing on what they can control.

For professional Australian tennis player Alexei Popyrin, that mindset underpins how he approaches pressure, setbacks, and continuous improvement across a long and demanding season.

UKG is a proud sponsor of Alexei Popyrin. Across Asia Pacific, UKG Asia Pacific is championing the development of local players who exemplify the characteristics and values we strive to inspire in workplaces everywhere.

Pressure reveals preparation

When early matches become tight, Popyrin resets by returning to fundamentals and trusting the work he has already put in.

What helps me kind of reset in tough moments [is] to go back to the basics and think about all the hard work that you’ve done going into these tough moments … and once you realise that you’ve done this hard work and you’ve done everything you can these tough moments will become less and less tough.

Why it matters at work:

Teams that trust their preparation spend less time reacting and more time executing. When pressure hits, confidence comes from knowing the system holds.

Resilience is rarely a solo effort

Setbacks are inevitable over the course of a season. For Popyrin, maintaining belief during tougher stretches depends heavily on the people around him.

I think a very important aspect of keeping that self belief is having a great support system. I’ve got an unbelievable family, an unbelievable team, I’ve got my fiancé, and I think that for me is one of the most important things to be able to kind of bounce back through those tough stretches.

Why it matters at work:

Confidence is rarely individual. Organisations that invest in strong teams and consistent preparation recover faster from disruption.

Why a one team mindset drives continuous improvement

Progress, according to Popyrin, is driven by trust, communication, and a willingness to challenge each other.

I think what we do so well as a team is challenge each other, I challenge them with my questions and they challenge me with you know the exercises that I do in the gym or the stuff that I do on the court and that way the machine is always ticking.

Why it matters at work:

High-performing organisations create environments where people feel supported and challenged. Progress depends on both.

What leaders can take away

Whether in elite sport or the workplace, sustained performance is built long before pressure arrives. Preparation, strong support systems, and aligned teams create the conditions for people to perform with confidence and improve over time. When organisations prioritise all three, they are better positioned to navigate complexity and deliver consistent results.