Valérie Tétreault stepped away from competitive tennis when she was just 23 in part because she was struggling with her mental health.
Now that she's the tournament director for the National Bank Open, Canada's national championship, she is improving mental health supports for the country's tennis players.
Tennis Canada has recommitted to its Mental Timeout program for a second year, now with the support of Beneva, the largest mutual insurance company in the country.
Tetreault said that part of her motivation to promote better mental health for tennis players was based on her own experience. "Tennis is a pretty tough sport, and it can be a lonely sport, depending on your ranking and what's your financial situation," said Tétreault, who last played competitively in 2011. "I was a player who was ranked around No.