Luxembourg's rising tennis star Chris Rodesch joined Letz Talk Sport on Today Radio this week for a wide-ranging conversation that offered rare insight into life on tour, the pressure of performing on the big stage, and what it means to represent your country.

Fresh from qualifying for the main draw at Wimbledon, Rodesch spoke with honesty and warmth about the journey that brought him from playing against a wall in Junglinster to sharing practice courts with Carlos Alcaraz.

"I don't come from a tennis family", he said. "But I saw Federer on TV when I was five and just started hitting the ball against the wall. I was hooked."

Born and raised in Luxembourg, Rodesch grew up in a sporty household. His father played for the national football team at youth level, and his mother was a national basketball player. That competitive environment gave him early momentum, but his preference for being fully in control drew him to tennis over team sports.

As his junior career gained pace, Rodesch trained with ESTESS and eventually moved to the University of Virginia, where college tennis reignited his ambition to turn professional. This came after a serious nerve condition at 18, which threatened to derail his future in the sport.

"College tennis gave me back my motivation", he explained. "You're playing for something bigger than yourself. The atmosphere is wild, with six matches happening at once and trash talk from the crowd. It teaches you how to handle pressure."

That grounding helped as he stepped onto tennis's biggest stages this year, competing in the qualifiers for Roland Garros and Wimbledon. The experience at Wimbledon proved transformational.

"At Roland Garros, I didn't feel like I belonged", he admitted. "I was overwhelmed. But by the time I got to Wimbledon, I had learned to manage that. I qualified for the main draw, and suddenly I'm eating lunch near Alcaraz and practicing with Christopher Eubanks. I realised I'm here. I earned this."

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Rodesch also spoke about his connection with Gilles Müller, Luxembourg's most successful tennis player, who now captains the national Davis Cup team.

"Gilles is an idol, but also a mentor", said Rodesch. "He's always around, giving advice, and coached me through our Davis Cup tie in Luxembourg this year. I lost badly on day one but came back to win on day two in front of over a thousand fans. He's one of my best memories."

Now ranked inside the ATP top 150, Rodesch is focused on pushing into the top 100. His strategy is clear: play his game, control the match, and sharpen the weapons that got him this far, a big serve and forehand combination he believes can take him even further.

"I've learned how to walk into the locker room with my chest out", he said. "That feeling of belonging is everything."

For more great interviews with Luxembourg's top athlete's make sure to catch Letz Talk Sport on Today Radio every Wednesday and Sunday at 7pm.