Episodes

1d ago

One of the most successful and emotionally connected player–coach partnerships in modern tennis has come to an end. In this episode, Dan breaks down the split between world number 1 Carlos Alcaraz and his long-term coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, analysing their statements, the timing, the power dynamics, and what it means for the 2026 season — including the ripple effect on rivals like Jannik Sinner. Ferrero first spotted Alcaraz at age 14 near his academy in southeast Spain. Their official partnership began in 2018 and lasted 7 years. Achievements together: 24 tour-level titles 6 Grand Slams Youngest world No.1 in ATP history (US Open 2022) This episode was originally recorded live on YouTube — watch the full video version here Follow Control the Controllables on Instagram: @ctc.podcast CTC Tiktok: @controlthecontrollables CTC X: @ctc__podcast Thanks for listening!

4d ago

Christian Harrison’s story isn’t your typical tennis journey. Formerly a top 200 singles player, his career has been repeatedly derailed by surgeries, setbacks, and a foot injury at Wimbledon 2022 that convinced him to walk away from singles altogether. 8 surgeries before age 25 would finish most players. Cristian just adjusted. Now at 31, he’s producing the best tennis of his life on the doubles court. In 2025 Harrison has rocketed to world number 15 alongside partner Evan King. The pair started the year playing Challengers and ended it at the ATP Finals in Turin, after winning titles in Dallas and Acapulco, and having deep runs at Indian Wells, Madrid, and Roland Garros. In today´s episode, Christian talks us through his journey including growing up in a tennis family - his Father Pat is a coach, and his brother Ryan Harrison won the French Open Mens Doubles in 2017. He also discusses the 2026 season which he´ll be playing with new partner and regular CTC guest Neal Skupski . In this episode: Christian reflects on his junior days which saw his family move from Louisiana to Texas to Florida for his tennis. How he kept going after 9 surgeries. Why his older brother Ryan Harrison was crucial in Christian's tennis development. Christian shares insights on coaching and player relationships, including the impact his Dad Pat has had on his career. Why he thinks 2025 has been such a successful year for him. Why he´s decided to play with GB´s Neil Skupski in 2026. Follow us on Instagram and watch all episodes on YouTube ! Control the Controllables is Hiring! We´re offering a university student the chance to spend their placement year working on the Control the Controllables Podcast here in Spain. Applications are open now for the Podcast Placement role starting in September 2026. Find out more about the role and how to apply here. Or you an email the team at ctc.podcast@sototennis.com .

Nov 30

This week we sat down with Jody Maginley , a professional doubles tennis player and co-founder of The Changeover Podcast, one of the fastest-growing shows in tennis. Jody takes us from growing up in Antigua (population ~90k) with limited access to high-level tennis, to navigating US college and chasing points and paychecks on the pro tour. We get into the realities most fans never see; money, logistics, late-night travel and tough losses, and how that experience pushed him to build a platform that shines a spotlight on players outside the Grand Slam bubble. Topics we get into: What it takes to go pro coming from a small island nation. Wild tour stories from life on the road. Why the US College tennis system still has major gaps. Jody´s motivation for setting up The Changeover Podcast. How the show went from zero views to interviewing names like Kyrgios & Tsitsipas. Early-stage podcast growing pains (production, consistency, distribution) How Jody funds his tennis career. We debate whether doubles gets enough respect from singles players. The mindsets, role models, and motivations that keep him improving Links Mentioned in this Episode: Check out Jody´s show The Changeover Podcast Listen to the CTC guests discussed in this episode: Denmark´s August Holmgren , Pat Cash & Sir Andy Murray Follow Control the Controllables on Instagram & YouTube Control the Controllables is Hiring! We´re offering a university student the chance to spend their placement year working on the Control the Controllables Podcast here in Spain. Applications are open now for the Podcast Placement role starting in September 2026. Find out more about the role and how to apply here. Or you an email the team at ctc.podcast@sototennis.com .

Nov 11

It´s been said for many years that data and performance analytics in tennis is way behind other sports. Not just for improving player performance but also fan engagement. One of the reasons for this is the inconsistency of how the data is presented across our industry. TennisViz is trying to correct that. Today we speak to Tm Corrie who is Head of Performance, Media and Broadcast for TennisViz. They provide data for coaches and the media for the ATP tour. In the episode you´ll hear Tom and Dan share their own personal experiences as coaches of this side of the game. They dissect some of the highest profile rivalries and get behind the numbers as to why Carlos Alcaraz seems to have Jannick Sinners number currently. We find out how their data is measured and uniformed across various ages and stages of development and who doesn’t want to know who has the ‘best’ serve in the world!? Episode Highlights: Tom reflects on his coaching journey and the decision to transition into tennis data analysis. The challenges and opportunities in modern tennis coaching and data analytics. The significance of shot quality measures and their impact on coaching strategies and how it´s calculated. Tom gives us data-driven insight into who could explode on the ATP Tour in 2026. The role of technology in providing consistent and objective data for player development. The future of tennis analytics and its potential to revolutionise the sport. Follow us on Instagram @ctc.podcast for the latest news and clips. Don´t miss an episode! Sign up to our email list to get exclusive updates, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes insights delivered straight to your inbox.

Nov 7

In today´s episode, Dan is joined by sports journalist Candy Reid to chat through all the latest action from semi-finals day of the WTA Finals in Riyadh. This episode was originally aired live on our Control the Controllables YouTube channel . Listen to Dan & Candy discuss the dynamics of the event, recap matches, preview today´s semi-finals and answer questions from listeners. They also make their picks for who will win the singles and doubles titles! What we do know is that we will have the 10th different winner of the singles event in 10 years tomorrow! Episode Highlights: Dan & Candy discuss the pressures players face during the season and the role of coaches and support staff. They compare the differences in audience engagement and the overall atmosphere in Riyadh to the ATP Finals. How women´s tennis is changing, with more players capable of winning major titles. Why Demi Shuurs´ social media message indicates upcoming changes in women's doubles. Who to look out for in 2026. Our WTA Finals LIVE Round-ups from Riyadh are brought to you by our Sponsor Novellus Finance Follow the Control the Controllables Podcast on Instagram for all the latest on the show.

Nov 3

In today´s episode Dan is coming to us LIVE from the WTA Finals out in Saudi Arabia. This is a replay of his live stream on our Control the Controllables YouTube channel , where he gave us a round-up all the action from the first 3 days of tennis in Riyadh. Listen to behind-the-scenes insights into the event set-up, and how the top 8 singles players and doubles teams are looking. Dan also recaps of the singles and doubles matches so far. Episode Highlights: Dan discusses the improvements made on site for the players since last year and some of the challenges. Why the players consider the WTA Finals a fifth major. Who is looking on form in Riyadh and who isn´t. Why encouraging young girls to attend the matches is important. Dan describes why he thinks women´s doubles is getting stronger and stronger. Dan answers your questions about the tournament location, the food in Riyadh and his ATP Finals predictions! Follow the Control the Controllables Podcast on Instagram to find out details of our next LIVE from Riyadh, where you can ask questions to Dan about the event.

Oct 9

Anger, tears, frustration - all junior players have experienced this at some point on a tennis court - but these are not signs of weakness. In this powerful episode, leading sports Psychologist Dr. Callum Gowling explains how emotion can fuel performance when it’s understood, not punished. With decades of experience working with elite players and coaches, Dr. Gowling breaks down the real challenges tennis players face, from pressure and confidence to stress and relationships, and how honest conversations are the key to unlocking both performance and wellbeing. This is a must-listen episode for players looking to sharpen their mindset, parents who want to better support their children, and coaches aiming to provide more than just technical guidance. Episode Highlights:- How to build self-awareness and face mental challenges Why early mental development for players is as important as physical development The vital role of parents in an athlete’s journey Mindset strategies to handle stress, pressure, and setbacks Why maintaining a love for the sport matters most How acceptance can reduce stress sensitivity The never-ending journey of performance, growth, and perspective Why relationships between players, coaches, and parents are key Watch the full conversation now on our CTC YouTube channel, and follow us on Instagram @ctc.podcast for the latest news and clips. Don´t miss an episode! Sign up to our email list to get exclusive updates, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes insights delivered straight to your inbox. About Dr Callum Gowling Dr Callum Gowling is the founder of Liquid Sports Psychology which specialises in helping elite junior athletes thrive. Their unique approach, grounded in doctoral research, combines psychology with strong collaboration between players, parents, and coaches. The focus? Building resilience, self-awareness, and a love for the sport all while preparing juniors for the demands of high-level performance.

Sep 9

Listen to our very special US Open Review episode brought to you by Novellus, as we are joined by the 2025 Women’s Doubles Champions Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe! The pair who are coached by CTC Host Dan Kiernan, share their journey to their second Grand Slam title, and answer questions from our panellists and listeners. Our panel also look back on the highs and lows of what was a very eventful 3 weeks at Flushing Meadows, which saw both Carlos Alcaraz & Aryna Sabalenka crowned Champions for the second time. Joining Dan on our Grand Slam panel are:- Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Doubles Champion, Freddie Nielsen Sports broadcaster and former CNN anchor Candy Reid GB Coach Calvin Betton who is currently working with Henry Patten & Harri Heliövaara. Episode Highlights:- Erin and Gaby tell us how they celebrated their win in New York How they got through a tough QF match which saw them fight back from 6-0 2-1 down. Mixed doubles should be a merit-based entry system to ensure fairness. Who can possibly compete with Alcaraz and Sinner? The importance of mental resilience in overcoming challenges during tournaments. What happened to Medvedev, Tsitsipas and Zverev. Anisimova's emotional response to losing the final highlights the pressure of major tournaments. Coco Gauff's coaching changes may have added unnecessary stress before the US Open. Plus many anecdotes from Gaby, Erin and the panel from throughout the fortnight! Enjoy! Head to our CTC YouTube channel to watch the episode and follow us on Instagram @ctc.podcast for all the latest news and clips from the show!

Sep 2

A fortnight on from the much anticipated new mixed doubles format at the US Open, Dan chats to Andrea Vavassori on his win with fellow Italian, Sara Errani As the only specialist doubles team invited to enter, they saw off some of the top singles tennis players in the world to successfully defend their US Open Mixed Doubles title. In this live YouTube episode, Dan is joined by Vavassori to talk about the excitement surrounding the event, the energy from the crowds and why winning the event in New York was so important for the doubles game. They also discuss the importance of social media in promoting doubles, and Andrea´s journey from growing up in Turin to a career high doubles ranking of 6 in the world. He also answers questions from CTC listeners, including what he thinks are the key attributes to be a good doubles partner. This is a great listen! Episode Highlights:- They discuss the challenges of gaining respect for doubles players, and the need for stronger partnerships amongst players. The potential to create stars in doubles tennis and why building a brand is essential. Andrea shares insights on his journey as a player, and the dynamics of playing with Sara Errani. Why he decided to specialise in doubles when he was top 130 in the world in singles. How beneficial the Italian tennis community is by being supportive and close-knit. Andrea gives his advice for tennis players starting out on the Futures tour. Head to our CTC YouTube channel to watch the live episode with Andrea. You can also follow us here: Instagram | Tiktok | X

Aug 24

With the US Open getting underway today, we´re bringing you the Live YouTube episode of our US Open 2025 Preview Dan was joined by CTC favourite and Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain Freddie Nielsen to look at what we can expect from the final Grand Slam of 2025. Listen to them break down the best match ups in the draw, give their dark horses to watch out for and potential winners. Plus, how the unique atmosphere that Flushing Meadows provides can affect player performance. Head to our CTC YouTube channel and remember to like & subscribe to listen to all of Dan´s LIVE updates from the US Open.

Aug 21

The US Open Mixed Doubles has been the talk of tennis the past few days. The new format has been debated for months, and now it´s over, opinion is still divided! Host Dan Kiernan jumps on to today´s CTC Short to recap the event in New York and look at why it has stirred up such strong feelings in the tennis world. With Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori beating Iga Swiatek & Casper Ruud to sucessfully defend their title, Dan looks at why this feels like a victory for all doubles players. What did you think of the new format? Message us on Instagram or send us an email to ctc.podcast@sototennis.com and let us know!

Aug 13

In today's episode, we have the Danish star August Holmgren. Straight after his incredible run at Wimbledon, reaching the 3rd round with 2 matches that lasted 5 sets across qualifying and main draw, before playing Alex De Minaur. And directly following Wimbledon, he went on to win his next Challenger tournament in Granby. August attended the University of San Diego and advanced to the NCAA individual final, where he faced a certain Ben Shelton. Reached a career high of 144 in the world and climbing every year. You guys will love his mindset on steady and consistent progress and blocking out the noise. Talking points: August’s incredible run at 2025 Wimbledon, making round 3 and playing Alex De Minaur. The feeling of winning his 1st and most recent Challenger tour titles. Growing up and playing tennis in Demark. Battling through 2 matches that latest 5 sets at Wimbledon and winning them both. Dealing with heat stroke and vomiting during a match. Playing college and becoming the No. 1-ranked college player in the nation at the University of San Diego. Playing Ben Shelton in the NCAA individual final. How August fights and blocks out demons during his matches. The main differences aspiring tennis players should know between the Future and Challenger tour. Links mentioned in the episode - Ep 108 Holger Rune: https://www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk/episode-108-holger-rune-no-doubt/ Ep 251 Adam Blicher: https://www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk/adam-blicher-getting-to-know-ourselves-rather-than-changing-ourselves/ Ep 254 Ethan Quinn: https://www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk/ethan-quinn-on-the-challenges-of-rising-up-the-atp-rankings/ Don't forget to head to our YouTube Channel and like and subscribe to watch clips and now full episodes of Control The Controllables: www.youtube.com/@ctc.podcast Follow August Holmgren on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/augustholmgren/?hl=en Thanks for listening! Control The Controllables.

Aug 3

In today´s episode we speak to American pro tennis player Tristan Boyer. Tristan has a career high ranking of 109 in the world, and played college tennis at Stanford University. He shares his experiences of moving up the rankings as he tries to break the ATP top 100. From playing Futures as a junior, to winning Challenger events after turning pro in February 2023, to playing top players like Tommy Paul and Alex De Minaur. Episode Highlights:- Tristan reflects on the challenges of managing expectations during tough seasons. He shares insights on the role of coaches in his development. Tristen shares his thoughts on the non-negotiables for success in tennis. Why the ability to play to your own strengths is crucial in tennis. Why he recommends College tennis for personal and tennis development. The differences in playing futures, challengers and ATP matches. Links Mentioned in this Episode:- Episode 254: Ethan Quinn Episode 258: Taro Daniel Follow Tristan on Instagram SotoTennis Academy Don´t forget to head to our CTC YouTube Channel to watch clips and full episodes from the show.

Jul 19

In today´s episode Dan speaks to 2025 Wimbledon Champions Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash. Glasspool and Cash made history at SW19, becoming the first all-British pair to win the Mens Doubles title since 1936. A week on from lifting their first Grand Slam trophy, they tell us all about their run to the title, how they are feeling and if it has sunk in yet. Episode highlights:- What went through Lloyd´s mind as he served for the Championship. Julian talks us through how he almost had to withdraw with injury in the first round! How winning Queens & Eastbourne in the lead up to Wimbledon helped their confidence. Here how they celebrated ... and the now infamous 153 baby Guinness receipt. How this has changed their mindset moving forward into the rest of 2025 and beyond. Catch all of our Wimbledon Live episodes on YouTube , and don´t forget to hit Subscribe to watch all the latest guests from the world of tennis.

Jul 15

Wimbledon 2025 did not disappoint! From early upsets, unexpected runs by qualifiers (and alternates!), to two new Wimbledon champions in Sinner and Swiatek, it´s been an exciting 2 weeks at SW19! And the sun shone throughout! CTC Host Dan Kiernan went live on YouTube to review all of the action with our Grand Slam panellists:- Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Doubles Champion, Freddie Nielsen Top S&C Coach Kieron Vorster who has worked with Liam Broady, Dan Evans, Tim Henman and Wayne Ferreira. Head to our CTC YouTube channel and hit Subscribe to listen to all of Dan´s LIVE updates from Wimbledon.

Jul 12

Our CTC LIVE series is back for Wimbledon 2025! Dan will be rounding up all the action from the Championships, joined by special guests from the world of tennis. Who is winning each final? These are shorter episodes that we´ll bring you throughout the tournament to provide you with insights and a round-up of the biggest talking points of the tournament. Today, Dan is joined by two CTC fan favourites, Calvin Betton and Freddie Nielsen! Episode Highlights:- Reviewing the Men's Singles semi-finals Reviewing the Women's Doubles semi-finals Predictions and breakdown for the Finals this weekend All the information you need to stay up to date with the action ahead of the finals! Catch each episode live on YouTube by searching 'Control the Controllables Podcast' and following our Instagram and Twitter (X) for the latest times! If you have any questions you'd like Dan or our guests to answer live on the episode, please send them through any of our social media channels, sure to get back to you! CTC Instagram: www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast CTC Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@controlthecontrollables CTC X: www.x.com/ctc__podcast Thanks for listening! Control The Controllables.

Jul 11

Our CTC LIVE series is back for Wimbledon 2025! Dan will be rounding up all the action from the Championships, joined by special guests from the world of tennis. These are shorter episodes that we´ll bring you throughout the tournament to provide you with insights and a round-up of the biggest talking points of the tournament. Today, Dan is joined by Mel South, commentator and former WTA top 100 player. As well as Will Boucek, host of the Doubles Only podcast. Episode Highlights:- The amazing Men's doubles semi-finals were filled with many emotions, with Hijikata and Pel making the final after being alternates! Dan's former player, Lloyd Glasspool making his 1st Wimbledon final. Swiatek making the final dominantly. An emotional Mixed doubles final with Siniakova winning her 1st Mixed doubles title alongside Sem Verbeek. Dan's long-time favourite and dark horse, Amanda Anisimova, making her 1st Grand Slam final, beating the world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka. Prediction and analysis for the women's doubles semi-finals Prediction and analysis for the Men's semi-finals. Catch each episode live on YouTube by searching 'Control the Controllables Podcast' and following our Instagram and Twitter (X) for the latest times! If you have any questions you'd like Dan or our guests to answer live on the episode, please send them through any of our social media channels, sure to get back to you! CTC Instagram: www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast CTC Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@controlthecontrollables CTC X: www.x.com/ctc__podcast Thanks for listening! Control The Controllables.

Jul 10

Our CTC LIVE series is back for Wimbledon 2025! Dan will be rounding up all the action from the Championships. Today's episode, we talk about the singles and doubles semi-finals, mixed doubles final and all the action from day 10. We are joined by podcast host, journalist, and former CNN sports anchor Candy Reid. These are shorter episodes that we´ll bring you throughout the tournament to provide you with insights and a round-up of the biggest talking points of the day. Episode Highlights:- Dan reflecting on Gaby and Erin's 2025 Wimbledon. Bencic making the Wimbledon semi-finals just over a year after giving birth Cobolli's incredible run and Wimbledon. Sinner does not seem to be affected despite heavy elbow strapping. Preview for both the men's and women's singles semi-finals. Preview for both the men's and women's doubles semi-finals Preview for the mixed final. Each episode is LIVE on YouTube by searching 'Control the Controllables Podcast' and following our Instagram and Twitter (X) for the latest times! CTC Instagram: www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast CTC Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@controlthecontrollables CTC X: www.x.com/ctc__podcast

Jul 8

Our CTC LIVE series is back for Wimbledon 2025! Dan will be rounding up all the action from the Championships. These are shorter episodes that we´ll bring you throughout the tournament to provide you with insights and a round-up of the biggest talking points of the day. Episode Highlights:- Talking about the heartbreaking moment Grigor Dimitrov had to go off the court due to injury for the 5th Grand Slam in a row. Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe making it into the Quarter Finals at Wimbledon. The emotions of Cobolli's team when making it into the next round. Preview of today's matches with what to look out for. As well as a breakdown of wheelchair tennis with it starting today and the main rivals for men's, women's and doubles. Each episode is LIVE on YouTube by searching 'Control the Controllables Podcast' and following our Instagram and Twitter (X) for the latest times! CTC Instagram: www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast CTC Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@controlthecontrollables CTC X: www.x.com/ctc__podcast

Jul 6

Our CTC LIVE series is back for Wimbledon 2025! Dan will be rounding up all the action from the Championships, joined by special guests from the world of tennis. These are shorter episodes that we´ll bring you throughout the tournament to provide you with insights and a round-up of the biggest talking points of the tournament. Today, Dan is joined by Tom Linley, a hitting partner at Wimbledon this year. Hitting with players such as Novak Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov, Jakub Mensik, Elena Rybakina, and so many more. Episode Highlights:- Tom is talking about what it is like to train with ATP and WTA players whilst at the championships. The conditions and the realities of being a hitting partner at Wimbledon. The biggest stories over the 1st week at Wimbledon. Big matches to watch out for going forward And ending with a Wimbledon celebrity quiz! Each episode is LIVE on YouTube by searching 'Control the Controllables Podcast' and following our Instagram and Twitter (X) for the latest times! If you have any questions you'd like Dan or our guests to answer live on the episode, please send them through any of our social media channels, sure to get back to you! CTC Instagram: www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast CTC Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@controlthecontrollables CTC X: www.x.com/ctc__podcast Thanks for listening! Control The Controllables.

Jul 3

Our CTC LIVE series is back for Wimbledon 2025! Dan will be rounding up all the action from the Championships. These are shorter episodes that we´ll bring you throughout the tournament to provide you with insights and a round-up of the biggest talking points of the day. Today, Dan is joined by Erin Routliffe's coach and head coach of Penn State's tennis program, Bruce Lipka. Episode Highlights:- Cultural differences play a role in how players adapt to international tournaments. More seeded players falling. Oliver Tarvet's debut on Centre Court and Emma Radacanu beating the 2023 Wimbledon Champion in straight sets. Coaches have a crucial role in developing players both on and off the court. College tennis is becoming a legitimate pathway to professional tennis careers. Celebrity sightings at major tournaments can add excitement to the event. The mental aspect of tennis is as important as the physical side. Players need to establish daily rituals to maintain consistency while travelling. Each episode is LIVE on YouTube by searching 'Control the Controllables Podcast' and following our Instagram and Twitter (X) for the latest times! CTC Instagram: www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast CTC Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@controlthecontrollables CTC X: www.x.com/ctc__podcast Thanks for listening!

Jul 2

Our CTC LIVE series is back for Wimbledon 2025! Dan will be rounding up all the action from the Championships. These are shorter episodes that we´ll bring you throughout the tournament to give you insights and a round-up of the biggest talking points of the day. In our Day 1 Recap, Dan is joined by the coach of Elmer Moller and Holmgren and Denmark´s Davis Cup captain, Freddie Nielsen. And Top S&C Coach Kieron Vorster who has worked with Liam Broady, Dan Evans, Tim Henman and Wayne Ferreira. Episode Highlights:- Is tournaments such as Halle, Eastobourne good preparation for Wimbledon Why are so many seeded players going out in round 1 Freddie’s player August Holmgren progressing to Round 2 after a straight sets victory Matches to watch out for on Day 3 Each episode is LIVE on YouTube by searching 'Control the Controllables Podcast' and following our Instagram and Twitter (X) for the latest times! CTC Instagram: www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast CTC Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@controlthecontrollables CTC X: www.x.com/ctc__podcast Thanks for listening!

Jul 1

Our CTC LIVE series is back for Wimbledon 2025! Dan will be rounding up all the action from the Championships. These are shorter episodes that we´ll bring you throughout the tournament to give you insights and a round-up of the biggest talking points of the day. In our Day 1 Recap, Dan is joined by the coach of Elmer Moller and Holmgren and Denmark´s Davis Cup captain, Freddie Nielsen. Episode Highlights:- Men´s seeds Holger Rune, Griekspoor, Medvedev and more who are already out. How are the players coping with the Wimbledon weather. Freddie reflects on Elmer Moller's Wimbledon debut against Francis Tiafoe British players including Sonay Kartal, Oliver Tarvet and Billy Harris who are through to round 2. Each episode is LIVE on YouTube by searching 'Control the Controllables Podcast' and following our Instagram and Twitter (X) for the latest times! CTC Instagram: www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast CTC Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@controlthecontrollables CTC X: www.x.com/ctc__podcast Thanks for listening!

Jun 30

Our favourite Grand Slam here at Control the Controllables is underway! Our panellists are back to chat through everything we can expect from Wimbledon 2025. Dan went live on YouTube from SW19 for this year´s Wimbledon Preview episode. You can listen to everything they discussed, including which players to watch out for, predictions to pick up the titles and their potential popcorn match-ups. 🍿. Joining CTC Host Dan Kiernan on our Live Preview was:- Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Doubles Champion, Freddie Nielsen Top S&C Coach Kieron Vorster who has worked with Liam Broady, Dan Evans, Tim Henman and Wayne Ferreira. Head to our CTC YouTube channel and hit Subscribe to listen to Dan´s LIVE updates from Wimbledon over the next fortnight. And follow us on Instagram to watch what Dan and CTC Producer Harry are up to during the tournament.

Jun 22

Taro Daniel is an American-Japanese pro tennis player and Olympian who´s reached a career high of 58 in the world. He joins Dan to chat through his tennis journey from his upbringing in Japan, the United States and Spain, to wins over some of the biggest names in the sport including Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Casper Ruud & Ben Shelton. Taro speaks openly about the highs and lows of constantly touring, the challenges of maintaining mental health in a competitive environment, and how tennis has changed post-COVID. Episode Highlights: The importance of team dynamics and personal relationships in navigating the ups and downs of his career. Find out the big changes he´s witnessed on the tour since going pro in 2010. The advantages some junior payers had in their training being born in the noughties compared to the nineties! Taro tells us his toughest ever opponent and who he likes playing the least. Links Mentioned in this Episode:- Follow Taro Daniel on Instagram SotoTennis Academy Episode 25: John Millman You can now watch clips and full episodes of Control the Controllables on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ctc.podcast

Jun 10

What a French Open we were given this year, with what many are calling the greatest final of all time between Carlos Alcaraz & Jannik Sinner! In this episode, our Grand Slam panelists break down all the action from Roland Garros which saw Alcaraz & Coco Gauff crowned Singles Champions. GB´s Neal Skupski also makes a special appearance after reaching the final of the Men´s Doubles with fellow Brit Joe Salisbury. Joining CTC host Dan Kiernan are:- Freddie Nielsen : 2012 Wimbledon Men's Doubles Champion, Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and coach to Elmer Møller. Kieron Vorster : Top Strength and Conditioning coach who´s worked with Dan Evans, Liam Broady and Sorana Cirstea. Episode Highlights include:- The significance of the incredible mens final on tennis history. Sinner´s resilience despite losing the final. Neal Skupski shares valuable insights from his fortnight in Paris. How rivalries in tennis can be friendly yet competitive. Coco Gauff's victory showcased her potential as a star for now and the future. Sabalenka's reaction post-match raised questions about sportsmanship. Lois Boisson’s amazing run to the semi-finals and climbing 296 places the WTA rankings. British success in wheelchair tennis & the juniors. If you enjoy this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more tennis players, coaches and parents who need these insights.

Jun 3

Spain has dominated tennis for more than 2 decades, but is their reign finally coming to an end? The country has seen a drop in the number of top 100 players in both the mens and women´s game. In today´s episode we speak to US Coach Chris Lewit who has spent the past 20 years studying Spanish tennis to discuss why this is. We look at the current state and future of tennis in Spain, the impact of more international players training in the country, and why he thinks modernising training methodologies is needed to keep Spain dominant on the world stage. Topics we look into include: Generational shifts in attitudes towards tennis. Has training more international players rather than native Spaniards had an affect? The serve is often neglected in traditional Spanish training. Does this generation of players have the willingness to suffer and sacrifice like Nadal did? Does Carlos Alcaraz represent a new generation of Spanish players with a different style? The future of Spanish tennis depends on evolving methodologies and focusing on grassroots development. Links Mentioned in this episode:- Check out Chris Lewit´s book: The Secrets of Spanish Tennis Support Dan´s 15K Your Way Challenge to raise money for Alzheimer´s Society UK Follow Control the Controllables on Instagram to keep up with all the latest on the show! Find out more about SotoTennis Academy in Spain!

May 25

As the 2025 French Open gets underway today, we´ve brought our Grand Slam panellists together to discuss everything we can expect from the next two weeks at Roland Garros. Can Alcaraz become the new King of Clay after Nadal´s retirement? Will Iga Swiatek win her 4th title in a row in Paris? With so many American men in the draw, will we see our first US Men´s Champion since Agassi in 1999? Our panellists join Dan to chat through these questions, their picks for the title and dark horses to watch out for, plus much more in today´s episode. Our Preview panel includes:- Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Mens Doubles Champion Freddie Nielsen . Sports broadcaster and former CNN anchor Candy Reid GB Coach Calvin Betton who is currently working with Henry Patten. Top tennis strength and conditioning coach and CTC legend Kieron Vorster We want to hear who you think will be this year's French Open champions! Tag @ctc.podcast on Instagram or Twitter or drop us an email to let us know who you´re backing!

May 16

In today´s episode we speak to Ethan Quinn, a young up and coming American player who´s edging closer to breaking into the top 100 in the world. The 21-year-old from California is a former number 1 US junior, and in 2023 won the NCAA men´s singles title in his Freshman year at the University of Georgia. He decided to go pro that summer. Ethan shares how he´s navigating the challenges of the professional circuit, how fellow American Tommy Paul has helped him and what it´s like playing against some of the biggest stars in tennis, Carloz Alcaraz & Fonseka! This is a great listen for young players! Episode Highlights:- 🎾 Ethan talks about the importance of mental resilience in tennis. 🎾 He discusses why he thinks American players struggle on clay. 🎾 The importance of role models in his life including his coaches and players like Tommy Paul. 🎾 Ethan discusses the challenges he faced early in his career and why he believes in controlling the controllables! 🎾 He stresses the importance of being coachable and learning from experiences. Links Mentioned in this Episode:- Follow Ethan Quinn on Instagram Follow Control the Controllables on Instagram to keep up with all the latest on the show! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more tennis players, coaches and parents who need these insights.

May 9

In today´s episode, Dan speaks to the President of the LTA, Sandi Procter. Sandi shares her journey from a PE coach to a leading figure in British tennis. She was instrumental in introducing the now world-wide mini tennis red, orange and green system, as well as the LTA´s Tennis Leaders programme. Sandi also discusses the importance of empowering women in tennis and the need for adaptability in coaching. Sandi is a brilliant example of where the sport of tennis can take you, and how you can inspire others. Enjoy! Episode highlights:- 🎾 What inspired Sandi to come up with the red, orange, and green balls system which has transformed mini tennis. 🎾 How she found love through tennis and how it led to her unexpected transition into coaching. 🎾 How empowering young leaders in tennis is crucial for the sport's future. 🎾 How technology is reshaping how tennis is played and coached. 🎾 Can tennis coexist with emerging sports like Pickleball and Padel? 🎾 Sandi´s vision for the future of tennis and the importance of community involvement in the sport. Links Mentioned in this Episode:- Follow Sandi on Instagram Watch the "best mini tennis point ever" Follow Control the Controllables on Instagram to keep up with all the latest on the show! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more tennis players, coaches and parents who need these insights.

May 2

Jules Rojer is the definition of a warrior on the ATP Tour. A doubles specialist from the small Caribbean island of Curaco, Rojer´s tennis career has already spanned more than 20 years, winning 37 doubles titles and 4 Grand Slams along the way. Rojer has been as high as world number 3 in doubles. He won his first Men’s doubles Grand Slam at the age of 35 at Wimbledon, and his 3rd aged 41 in Paris in 2021. In today´s episode he shares his story that has led to this point. Jules tells us about:- The early influences that helped shape his mindset and work ethic on his home island of Curaçao. The influence and emotion attached to parental love and support. How winning isn't the only measure of success in sports. How doubles has changed during his career. Jules is a storyteller, and this episode is filled with stories that will make you laugh, smile and the odd tear! But most of all you will learn what it takes to create a champion when the odds are stacked against you, and how you do that whilst maintaining a healthy and humble attitude towards life. Links Mentioned in this Episode:- Folllow Jules Roger on Instagram Listen to Valorie Kondos Field on Control the Controllables. Follow Control the Controllables on Instagram to keep up with all the latest on the show! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more tennis players, coaches and parents who need these insights.

Apr 17

In today´s episode, Dan is joined by friend and former colleague at SotoTennis Academy, Adam Blicher. Adam shares his journey through tennis coaching, health challenges, and the release of his book 'Winning Words'. He reflects on the importance of managing expectations in tennis, the role of parents and coaches, and the impact of his battle with cancer on his perspective. Adam emphasises the need for balance in ambition and the significance of understanding yourself in the coaching profession. This is a great listen for tennis coaches! Episode highlights includes:. 🎾 Adam talks about writing 'Winning Words' and why it was a significant milestone in his career. 🎾 What it means to be a coach and what it takes. 🎾 Adam describes how he coped with the being told his cancer treatment had a 25% success rate. 🎾 The role of parents in a player's journey. 🎾 Becoming a husband and a father when he didn’t think it was possible 🎾 The landscape of tennis is rapidly changing, requiring adaptation. Connect with us:- Watch videos from Adam´s episode on Instagram & YouTube Check out Adam's Book: Winning Words Read more about Adam here

Mar 27

Our 250th episode of Control the Controllables is here and it’s a special episode all about doubles! Dan is joined by doubles analyst, founder of Tennis Tribe and the Doubles Only podcast host, Will Boucek. With this episode also being a collaboration episode over both podcasts! In this conversation, Dan Kiernan and Will discuss the current state and future of doubles in tennis. They explore the origins of their passion for doubles, the challenges it faces, and the innovative experiences that could enhance its appeal. They also discuss: 🎾 Why doubles is often overlooked - but has huge potential. 🎾 New ways to attract more fans to the game. 🎾 How commercial pressures shape the future of doubles. 🎾 The power of emotional connection in growing the sport. 🎾 Why embracing vulnerability can help doubles players build an audience. 🎾 The need for adaptability and innovation to ensure its success. Listen and enjoy! Links to Will Bouceks pages: https://thetennistribe.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thetennistribe/ https://x.com/WillBoucek

Mar 5

Coach Conor Casey is an influencer with over 85,000 Instagram followers, known for his hilarious and relatable tennis content. His comedic clips have taken the tennis world by storm - if you play or follow the sport, you’ve probably seen (and laughed at) his videos! A former US college player originally from Canada, Conor is a tennis coach who sees content as a powerful tool for growing the sport. In this episode, we cover: Junior and College Tennis – Conor shares his love for college tennis, his experiences playing at Ohio State, and what he believes needs to change in the system. The Rise of a Content Creator – How he built his Instagram following through tennis-themed comedy, including viral characters like ‘Rosemary’ and ‘Raw Dog’. Sitcom Writing & Acting – From writing for sitcoms and comedians like Vince Vaughn to starring in the highly rated film BlackBerry . Coaching & Rediscovering Tennis – How stepping into coaching reignited his passion for tennis and led to a unique blend of comedy and sport. Future Aspirations – His plans to publish a book, expand his content, and explore TV and film projects centered around tennis. Links Mentioned in this Episode:- Connect with us : Website | Instagram | Email us Follow Coach Casey on Instagram and Youtube Follow Coach Casey on Substack to read chapters from his upcoming college tennis comedy memoir: https://substack.com/@tenniscoachconorcasey

Feb 18

In today´s episode we´re bringing you the 3rd edition of our CTC Real series, delving into the real side of tennis. Host Dan Kiernan discusses the biggest stories in tennis in the past week including:- Janik Sinner's controversial 3-month ban for doping The changes to the mixed doubles event at the US Open Stefan Vukov´s (former long-term coach to Elina Rybakina) suspension from the WTA tour. ATP Doubles Coach Calvin Betton joins Dan to give his take on what the new mixed doubles format at Flushing Meadows means for doubles players and the sport as a whole. Meanwhile Irish Coach Pete Bothwell shares some humorous and challenging stories from his time on the Futures Tour. Dan also rounds up all the action from the NCAA Indoor Championships, plus more players to watch for 2025. Enjoyed the episode? We´d love to hear from you! Leave us a rating and review here! You can also email the show and make sure you follow us on Instagram , Twitter and Tik Tok for all the latest on Control the Controllables!

Feb 5

We all know how financially demanding it is for players to get started in professional tennis. In today´s episode, we speak to British tennis player and Youtuber Felix Mischker who´s found a different way to fund his pro career. Felix was a junior when his Dad started a YouTube channel about him and his brother Lucian´s tennis. He now documents his life on tour to more than 230,000 subscribers! The content he produces for his channel Tennis Brothers , not only helps support his career, but is inspiring the younger generation of players, and giving him some pretty awesome experiences. Episode Highlights:- Felix tells us about the birth of Tennis Brothers How he balances content creation and his training/travel. His non-negotiables for aspiring tennis players Felix discusses the future of tennis and content creation How he deals with the pressure of public expectations What it´s like to play and film with top pro players like Tsitipas, Rune, Thiem and more! Check out Felix´s YouTube channel Tennis Brothers and subscribe to Control the Controllables while you´re there!

Jan 29

In this episode, we´ve brought our Grand Slam panel back together to review all the action from the 2025 Australian Open! Host Dan Kiernan is joined by Davis Cup captain Freddie Nielsen and top S&C Coach Kieran Vorster to discuss the key performances and memorable moments from Melbourne Park, including Jannik Sinner's dominance, Madison Keys' unexpected victory and the Danielle Collins fund! They also analyse Novak Djokovic's return to form and the implications of Andy Murray's coaching role, and there´s a little bit of tennis trivia too! The panel also discuss:- The emergence of young talents in the men´s game. The importance of team chemistry on success. The significance of stability and continuity in a players team. The role of characters in the sport. The dynamics of women's tennis The panel give us their predictions for the mens and womens game for 2025 and the potential matchups to look forward to. Let us know what you thought of the first Grand Slam of 2025 and anything you would like to hear Dan discuss on the podcast this year! Tag @ctc.podcast on Instagram or email us. 🎧 Join the Control the Controllables team as a Podcast Intern in 2025

Jan 21

Our CTC LIVE series is back for the Australian Open, rounding up all the action from Dan's first-hand experience in Melbourne! In this episode, Dan discusses the latest matches, such as Zverev v Tommy Paul, Baddosa reaching her 1st Grand Slam semi-final as well as both doubles teams of Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe and Michael Venus and Erin Routliffe both reach doubles semi-finals! Dan shares insights on surprising tournament outcomes, the emergence of young talents, predictions for the doubles events and answers questions from our listeners! Also talking about Iga Świątek being unfazed by her drug ban and dominating her opponents, dropping only 11 games total on the way to the AO quarter-final. This is the place to get a quick summary of the events at the Australian Open from a coach's perspective. These shorter episodes aim to provide a round-up of the Australian Open action in Melbourne with Dan Kiernan, coach of doubles pairs Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe and Michael Venus and Nikola Mektić! Make sure to check out the Australian Open PREVIEW FULL EPISODE out on all podcast platforms! Chapters 00:00 Welcome to the Australian Open Round Up 05:56 Surprises and Highlights of the Tournament 11:51 Young Talents and Future Stars 17:35 Iga's Journey and Being Unfazed by the Controversy YouTube: Control the Controllables Podcast Instagram: ctc.podcast Twitter (X): ctc_podcast TikTok: Control the Controllables Podcast Thank you everyone for listening!

Jan 17

Our CTC LIVE series is back for the Australian Open, rounding up all the action from Dan's first-hand experience in Melbourne! In this episode, Dan breaks down the action over the last couple of days from Melbourne. Talking about Medvedev and Tiens late night 5 set brawl of a match, Michael Venus and Nikola Mektic's exit of the slam, Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe fighting back to advance to round 3 and so much more that has happened! This is the place to go to get a quick summary of the events at the Australian Open from a coach's perspective. Also in this episode, Dan is joined by a special guest. The former coach to Pat Cash who won Wimbledon in 1987 and our very own Dan Kiernans former coach, we have the legendary Ian Barclay joining this episode to give his insight and perspective at the 2025 Australian Open. Each episode is LIVE on YouTube by searching 'Control the Controllables Podcast' and following our Instagram and Twitter (X) for the latest times of going LIVE on YouTube! These are shorter episodes aiming to provide a round-up of the Australian Open action in Melbourne with Dan Kiernan, coach of doubles pairs Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe and Michael Venus and Nikola Mektić! Make sure to check out the Australian Open PREVIEW FULL EPISODE out on all podcast platforms! Chapters 00:00 Welcome and update on Venus, Mektic, Dabrowksi and Routliffe 02:46 Young Guns and Tournament Insights reflecting on the last couple days 06:02 The Legend Ian Barclay Joins the Conversation 12:01 Davis Cup Culture and Future Stars 15:45 Advice for Young Players and Grand Slam Preparation and predications YouTube: Control the Controllables Podcast Instagram: ctc.podcast Twitter (X): ctc_podcast TikTok: Control the Controllables Podcast Thank you everyone for listening!

Jan 15

Our CTC LIVE series is back for the Australian Open, rounding up all the action from Dans first-hand experience in Melbourne! Today, Dan breaks down the day's action in Melbourne, including Gaby Dabrowski and Erins Routliffes' battle of a first round, Naomi Osakas looking strong, Jack Draper POWERING through back-to-back five-set thrillers, and much more. As well as being joined by tennis coach Ollie Cores, who has been working at the practice courts at the Australian Open this year, organised courts for the game's biggest stars. Here to give his unique insight into the slam and what it is like to work there. Each episode LIVE on YouTube by searching 'Control the Controllables Podcast' and following our Instagram and Twitter (X) for the latest times of going LIVE on YouTube! These are shorter episodes aiming to provide a round-up of the Australian Open action in Melbourne with Dan Kiernan, coach of doubles pairs Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe and Michael Venus and Nikola Mektić! Make sure to check out the Australian Open PREVIEW FULL EPISODE out on all podcast platforms! Chapters 00:00 Highlights of the Matches 05:45 The Role of Coaches and Players and Meeting Andy Murray again 08:59 Commentary Insights and Experiences 11:54 Emerging Talents in Tennis 15:07 Ollie Cores Joins to Talk about Challenges on the Practice Courts 17:53 Crowd Dynamics and Player Performance 20:46 Ollie's Australian Open Experience as Someone Working at the Slam 23:44 Final Thoughts and Future Prospects YouTube: Control the Controllables Podcast Instagram: ctc.podcast Twitter (X): ctc_podcast TikTok: Control the Controllables Podcast Thank you everyone for listening!

Jan 14

Our CTC LIVE series is back for the Australian Open! Rounding up the action from Dans first-hand expirence in Melbourne! Today Dan is joined by British doubles player Marcus Willis to give his players persepctive of the 2025 Australian Open and also to talk about having to pull out of the mens doubles event because his doubles partner, No. 52 in the world Cameron Norrie picking up an injury. Each episode LIVE on YouTube by searching 'Control the Controllables Podcast' and following our instagram and twitter (X) for the latest times of going LIVE on YouTube! These are shorter episodes aiming to provide a round up of the Australian Open action in Melbourne with Dan Kiernan, coach of doubles pairs Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe as well as Michael Venus and Nikola Mektić! Make sure to check out the Australian Open PREVIEW FULL EPISODE out on all podcast platforms! In This episode: Dan Kiernan and Marcus Willis delve into the Australian Open. They discuss Emma Raducanu's 1st round win against Ekaterina Alexandrova and if the form Stefanos Tsitsipas is temporsary or permanent. As well as the emotional challenges faced by Nick Kyrgios, and the inspiring story of Marcus Willis journey in tennis. The conversation also touches on the financial realities of being a professional player and predictions for the tournament's outcome. A great listen to stay up to date with tennis and the 2025 Australian Open with people such as Dan and guests at the event that have behind the scenes access to what they don;t show you on tv! Many listener question are answered LIVE during the episode with a shout out! If you want to be named and have your question read out in the next LIVE episode during the Australian Open Round Ups submit your questions to our instagram @ctc.podcast or join us LIVE and talk to Dan whilst he is in Melbourne! Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Melbourne and Tennis Updates 02:47 Emma Raducanu: The Rising Star's Journey 05:23 Stefanos Tsitsipas: Current Form and Future Prospects 08:23 Marcus Willis Joins the Conversation 11:27 Nick Kyrgios: The Enigma of Tennis 14:18 Marcus Willis: Reflections on Career and Challenges 17:13 Financial Realities of Professional Tennis 20:07 The Australian Open Experience 23:07 Final Thoughts and Predictions YouTube: Control the Controllables Podcast Instagram: ctc.podcast Twitter (X): ctc_podcast TikTok: Control the Controllables Podcast Thank you everyone for listening!

Jan 13

Our CTC LIVE series is back for the Australian Open! More episode will be coming throughout the 2 weeks of the opening slam of the year with breakdowns of the behind the scenes of the event, talking points and will be joined by many incredbile guests from the world of tennis! Each episode LIVE on YouTube 11am GMT by searching 'Control the Controllables Podcast'! These are shorter episodes aiming to provide a round up of the Australian Open action in Melbourne with Dan Kiernan, coach of doubles pairs Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe as well as Michael Venus and Nikola mektić! Make sure to check out the Australian Open PREVIEW FULL EPISODE out on all podcast platforms! In this episode: Summary Coach Dan Kiernan shares insights from the Australian Open 2025 so far, discussing the dynamics of practice, player entitlement, and the emotional journey of qualifiers. He highlights the importance of player development, particularly focusing on Irina Sabalenka's unique slice technique, and reflects on the emerging talents in tennis. Many listener question are answered LIVE during the episode with a shout out! If you want to be named and have your question read out in the next LIVE episode during the Australian Open Round Ups submit your questions to our instagram @ctc.podcast or join us LIVE and talk to Dan whilst he is in Melbourne! Chapters 00:00 Welcome to the Australian Open 2025 08:15 Player Development: The Sabalenka Slice 15:18 Alex Di Minaurs Slam Chances 22:12 New Doubles Teams and Their Potential YouTube: Control the Controllables Podcast Instagram: ctc.podcast Twitter (X): ctc_podcast TikTok: Control the Controllables Podcast Thank you everyone for listening!

Jan 11

We´re just a few hours away now from the first Grand Slam of the 2025 tennis calendar. We´ve brought our panel back together to preview what we can expect from the Australian Open. Joining Control the Controllables host Dan Kiernan to discuss everything from the Djokovic-Murray team-up, Nick Kyrgios´ return to Grand Slam tennis, players to watch and their picks for the titles, are:- Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Mens Doubles Champion Freddie Nielsen . GB Coach Calvin Betton who is currently working with Wimbledon Champions Henry Patten & Harri Heliövaara. Sports broadcaster and former CNN anchor Candy Reid We want to hear who you think will be this years Australian Open Champions! Tag @ctc.podcast on Instagram or email us and let us know who you´re backing! Vote for us at the Sports Podcast Awards! We´ve been nominated again for Best Tennis and Racket Podcast at the Sports Podcast Awards, and we´d love it if you could help us win! You can vote here for Control the Controllables , it only takes a couple of minutes. Thanks so much for your support 🙏🏻

Dec 31, 2024

With 2024 coming to an end, we´re looking back at some of our favourite moments of the Control the Controllables Podcast. Listen to Host Dan Kiernan and producer Vicki Kiernan share clips from some of the standout stories and key learnings from our amazing guests this year. They chat through some of their special moments including hosting our first Live Show in London in April, to daily Lives on YouTube from the WTA finals in Saudi Arabia, and winning the Best Tennis & Rackets Podcast at the Sports Podcast Awards! A big thank you to listening to the show, and wishing you a Happy New Year and a healthy and happy 2025! 🎧 Join the Control the Controllables team as a Podcast Intern in 2025 🗳️ Vote for us in the Sports Podcast Awards! Head here for links to our favourite moments of 2024 and to find out what are your most listened to episodes of the year ❤️

Dec 18, 2024

In this week´s episode, we speak to former GB tennis player and TV presenter Dan Lobb. Dan played professionally for 2 years before joining Sky Sports as a presenter and later moving to GMTV. He was Sports Editor on ITV´s replacement breakfast programme Daybreak, before becoming co-presenter of the main show. He has since produced the heartwarming documentary Silver Servers, which tells the story of 4 players in their 80´s and 90´s who are still travelling the world competing in ITF events. Dan reflects on his experiences in the world of television and tennis, sharing insights from his time on the 2011 season of Strictly Come Dancing, and the importance of community in tennis. He also discusses his friendship with a remarkable tennis player called Leonid from Ukraine, and the lessons learned about controlling what one can do in life. Links Mentioned in this Episode:- Watch´s Dan´s Documentary ¨Silver Servers" Follow us on Instagram to keep up with all the latest episodes of Control the Controllables Help us Win Best Tennis Podcast! We´re so excited that Control the Controllables is a finalist at the Sports Podcast Awards! We´ve been nominated for Best Tennis & Racket Podcast and we´d love it if you could vote for us! Vote for us here (it only takes a couple of minutes) and spread the link around as much as you can! Thank you for all your support 🙏🏻

Dec 11, 2024

In this week´s episode we have the second edition of our CTC Real series, uncovering and exploring the real side of tennis. Dan discusses two of the biggest stories in tennis the past couple of weeks (and possibly of the year): Iga Swiatek´s failed doping test and Sir Andy Murray joining Djokovic´s coaching team. He´s joined by GB player Ben Jones who is currently No.214 in the world in doubles, who gives us some interesting stories about what life is really like on the Futures Tour. Ben also discusses the significance of having supportive fellow players to travel with. Dan is then joined by Sarah Borwell from Tennis Smart/Keystone Sports to talk about the new NCAA tennis structure. They discuss the impact of the changes in NCAA rules, the tournament calendar and scholarships on the future of college tennis. In this series, we'll be bringing you some of the stories you might not have spotted in the world of tennis, from the top level all the way down to the lowest level of professional tennis that rarely gets a mention. Let us know what you think of the series and what you would like to see on the next editions of the show!

Nov 29, 2024

In today´s episode, GB´s Jacob Fearnley shares his journey to becoming a top 100 ATP player, reflecting on the surreal experience of his recent success. Jacob graduated from Texas Christian University (TCU) in May this year, with his team winning the NCAA´s. By October, he was ranked 98 in the world, winning 27 out of 28 ATP Challenger matches along the way. Jacob joins CTC host Dan Kiernan to discuss the challenges and triumphs he´s faced so far in his tennis journey. He shares insights from his experiences playing against top players like Carlos Alcaraz and Yannik Sinner as a junior, and what it was like taking on Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon this summer. Jacob also discusses:- The importance of naivety and lack of pressure starting out. The influence of his family, particularly his grandparents on his tennis journey The role of College Tennis in his development and it´s rise as a legitimate pathway for players. The significance of having supportive coaches The importance of a strong mindset and goal setting, and the influence of Andy Murray on his career. This is a fascinating listen for players and parents! 🛍️ DON´T MISS OUR BLACK FRIDAY OFFER 🛍️ Unlock 20% Off Access Weeks at SotoTennis Academy From 10am on Friday 29th November until 11:59pm on Monday 2nd December, you can enjoy 20% off an Access Week at SotoTennis Academy! This is the perfect opportunity to join Team Soto—whether you’ve been waiting for the right moment to train at the Academy, or you’re looking for an unforgettable Christmas gift for the tennis player in your life. But hurry—spaces are limited! Get your discount code here!

Nov 15, 2024

Our Final LIVE episode on the WTA Finals, reflecting on the action in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and talking about the positives and negatives from the tournament and how it was ran as well as looking back and Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe's WINNING the WTA Finals. This is the final of the shorter episodes aiming to provide a round up of the WTA Finals action in Riyadh with coach of WTA Finals doubles pair Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe! Our FULL episode #240 with former CNN sports anchor Candy Reid who has incredible stories to tell and has interviewed superstars such as Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Tiger Woods and much more! In This Episode: Dan reflects on the WTA Finals held in Riyadh, discussing the event's successes, cultural insights, areas for improvement, and the importance of supporting women in sports. He emphasises the positive atmosphere among players, the need for better logistical arrangements, and the significance of building a supportive tennis culture in Britain. Dan also highlights the impact of the event on local communities and the importance of promoting women's achievements in sports. Chapters 00:00 Welcome and Overview of the Event 06:07 Cultural Insights and Personal Experiences 11:54 Team Dynamics and Sportsmanship 18:52 Impact of the Event on Saudi Arabia and Women's Tennis YouTube: Control the Controllables Podcast Instagram: ctc.podcast Twitter (X): ctc_podcast TikTok: Control the Controllables Podcast

Nov 14, 2024

In today´s episode we speak to broadcaster and former CNN sports anchor Candy Reid. Candy shares her remarkable journey from a promising tennis player to a successful broadcaster, running a tennis academy, and now Commentator and Podcast Host. With years of experience in the industry, Candy has interviewed the biggest names in tennis—Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, and many more! She shares the inside story of how she broke into sports broadcasting, her early days on the tennis court, and the dedication and sacrifices it took to rise to success at CNN. Packed with incredible stories, Candy recounts unforgettable moments, from dancing with Novak Djokovic to an entire day filming with Serena Williams. The conversation also touches on the pressures of competition, the common traits of successful athletes, the challenges of balancing career and family life, and the evolving role of women in sports media. This is an episode you won’t want to miss! Episode Links: Check out Candy’s podcast ‘Diary of a Professional Tennis Coach’ including the episode with Dan Kiernan whilst out in China. Listen here . SotoTennis Academy Watch clips from the episode on YouTube

Nov 10, 2024

Day 12 and the final LIVE podcast from the WTA Finals in Riyadh. A special edition joined by the CHAMPIONS of the WTA Finals, Gaby Dabrowksi and Erin Routliffe hours after winning the finals match in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia! This is the final of the shorter episodes aiming to provide a round up of the WTA Finals action in Riyadh with coach of WTA Finals doubles pair Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe! Make sure to check out the Asian Swing Review FULL EPISODE out on all podcast platforms and YouTube! In the Episode: Dan celebrates the achievements of beating Siniaková and Townsend 7-5 6-3 in the WTA FINALS FINAL joined with Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe, the newly crowned WTA Finals doubles champions. The discussion covers their journey through the tournament, their reflections on playing in Riyadh, and the importance of maintaining a positive mindset. The champions answer questions sent in by our listeners via our social media and share insights into their preparation, the challenges they faced, and their future aspirations in tennis. The conversation highlights the significance of their victory in the context of women's tennis and the impact it has on inspiring future generations. Dan also wraps up the tournament, reflecting on Coco Gauff's resilient performance in the singles finals, how the tournament was ran, crowd atmosphere and final thoughts before going off to celebrate the victory! Chapters 00:00 Celebrating Champions: WTA Finals Highlights 04:03 Gaby and Erin Join to talk about them winning the WTA Finals! 05:33 Gaby and Erin Answering Questions about the Victory and the Year 11:32 Reflecting on Overcoming Challenges: The Journey to Victory 17:09 Personal Moments: Celebrations and Memories YouTube: Control the Controllables Podcast Instagram: ctc.podcast Twitter (X): ctc_podcast TikTok: Control the Controllables Podcast

Nov 9, 2024

Day 11 WTA Finals Riyadh Round Up talking all about the big topics during the Finals. The night before the WTA Finals final for doubles and singles! Joined by elite tennis analyst for players such as Coco Gauff, Holger Rune, Stefanos Tsitsipas and more! Here to break down how Gauff made it to the final and improved her games, the doubles match in the final and much more in detailed analysis to listen out for! You can check out the video format of each of these LIVE podcasts on YouTube by searching 'Control the Contollables Podcast' all available NOW. Episode with Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe directly after WINNING the WTA Finals is also OUT NOW on our YouTube channel and will be out on all podcast platforms Sunday 10th November so watch out! These are shorter episodes aiming to provide a round up of the WTA Finals action in Riyadh with coach of WTA Finals doubles pair Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe! Make sure to check out the Asian Swing Review FULL EPISODE out on all podcast platforms and YouTube! In This Episode: Dan and Mike discuss the highlights of the tennis tournament in Riyadh, focusing on the performances of Coco Gauff and Zheng. Mike James provides insights into Gauff's impressive play and her potential to dominate women's tennis. Dan also talks about the finals taking place and the emotions and feeling before a final! The conversation also touches on the ATP Finals and the dynamics of the tournament, including the unique atmosphere and fan engagement compared to other events! Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Day 11 in Riyadh 02:48 Coco Gauff's Impressive Performance 11:47 Analyzing the Final Matchup of Gauff and Zheng and Gaby and Erins final match 17:47 Insights on WTA Finals and Player Development and Mike congratulating Dan YouTube: Control the Controllables Podcast Instagram: ctc.podcast Twitter (X): ctc_podcast TikTok: Control the Controllables Podcast

Nov 8, 2024

Day 10 WTA Finals Riyadh Round Up talking all about the big topics during the Finals joined by the agent of Andrey Rublev, Alex De Minaur and Daria Kasatkina, John Morris! Live from the ATP Finals in Turin! Watch LIVE at 8pm GMT DAILY during the WTA Finals on YouTube by searching 'Control the Controllables Podcast'! These are shorter episodes aiming to provide a round up of the WTA Finals action in Riyadh with coach of WTA Finals doubles pair Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe! Make sure to check out the Asian Swing Review FULL EPISODE out on all podcast platforms and YouTube! In This Episode: In this conversation, Dan is joined by John Morris, a sports agent, who provides insights into player management, the challenges faced by athletes, and the importance of being prepared for high-stakes matches. John Morris talks about what happens behind the scenes when one of his players, Daria Kasatkina, gets called up last minute for the WTA Finals. John Morris also talks about the feeling players such as Rublev and De Minaur have to end of year events such as the ATP Finals and the importance of these compared to Grand Slams. As well as his players aims for the year and how Novak Djokovic withdrawing effects his players. The discussion also touches on the cultural changes in Saudi Arabia regarding women's rights, the commercial opportunities for players, and the overall experience of the tournament in Riyadh compared to Turin. Dan also talks about the Gaby and Erins 3rd win in a row in the group stage as they get ready and prepare for their semi-finals battle against Melichar-Martinez and Perez! Predictions for the finals and reflections on the tournament's significance are also shared. Dan also discusses the audiences during the finals as well as Coco Gauff being one of the first to speak out about her concerns before coming to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A really great insight into the behind the scenes of what happens when tennis players make it to these prestigious events in terms of sponsorships, reaching out to brands and much more! Chapters 00:00 WTA Finals Overview and Key Matches 02:57 Insights from John Morris on Player Management 05:56 Performance Analysis: Players and Conditions 08:45 ATP Finals Preview and Player Insights 11:54 Commercial Importance of ATP Finals 14:43 Cultural Impact of Tennis in Saudi Arabia 17:47 Final Predictions and Closing Thoughts YouTube: Control the Controllables Podcast Instagram: ctc.podcast Twitter (X): ctc_podcast TikTok: Control the Controllables Podcast

Nov 7, 2024

Day 9 WTA Finals Riyadh Round Up talking all about the big topics during the Finals joined by the sister of Erin Routliffe, Tara Routliffe. Watch LIVE at 8pm GMT DAILY during the WTA Finals on YouTube by searching 'Control the Controllables Podcast'! These are shorter episodes aiming to provide a round up of the WTA Finals action in Riyadh with coach of WTA Finals doubles pair Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe! Make sure to check out the Asian Swing Review FULL EPISODE out on both all podcast platforms and YouTube! In This Episode: Dan is joined by Tara Routliffe who is also out in Riyadh and is here who share her experiences and insights from the WTA tournament in Riyadh. Tara discusses the luxurious treatment of players, the cultural adjustments required in Saudi Arabia, and the importance of humour and camaraderie within the team, sharing insight into Erin Routliffe and Gaby Dabrowski's training camp. Tara gives a great insight into a different perspective of being at the WTA Finals, supporting her sister and her experience of Riyadh. The conversation also discusses women's rights in the region, predictions for the tournament, and fan interactions, culminating in Tara's reflections on her time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Finishes with Dan reviewing the latest results, what this means for the rest of the tournament and player to look out for. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Overview of the Episode 02:29 Tara's Experience in Riyadh 05:18 Insights on Women's Rights and Local Culture 07:23 The Importance of Humor and Team Dynamics 11:08 Quickfire Round: Experiences in Riyadh 16:10 Predictions for the Tournament 18:27 Fan Questions and Lighthearted Moments 24:08 Tara's Favorite Moments and Reflections 26:37 Wrap-Up and Future Plans YouTube: Control the Controllables Podcast Instagram: ctc.podcast Twitter (X): ctc_podcast TikTok: Control the Controllables Podcast

Nov 6, 2024

Day 8 WTA Finals Riyadh Round Up talking all about the big topics during the Finals including Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe's incredible comeback win against Paolini and Errani. Which also secures them top of the white group and therefore through to the semi-finals! Watch LIVE at 8pm GMT DAILY during the WTA Finals on YouTube by searching 'Control the Controllables Podcast'! These are shorter episodes aiming to provide a round up of the WTA Finals action in Riyadh with coach of WTA Finals doubles pair Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe! Make sure to check out the Asian Swing Review FULL EPISODE out on both all podcast platforms and YouTube! In this episode: Dan Kiernan discusses the impressive rollercoaster match and comeback of Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe in their match against Paolini and Errani. He analyses their performance, the tactical shifts made during the match, and the importance of mindset in doubles tennis. The conversation also touches on the performances of other players, including Jess Pegula and Coco Gauff, and looks ahead to upcoming matches and tournament predictions. Chapters 00:00 Welcome and Reflections on the WTA Finals and Gaby and Erins match 09:20 Tactical Insights: Understanding Opponent Strategies 18:24 Looking Ahead: Upcoming Matches and Predictions YouTube: Control the Controllables Podcast Instagram: ctc.podcast Twitter (X): ctc_podcast TikTok: Control the Controllables Podcast

Nov 5, 2024

Day 7 WTA Finals Riyadh Round Up talking all about the big topics during the Finals! Watch LIVE at 8pm GMT DAILY during the WTA Finals on YouTube by searching 'Control the Controllables Podcast'! These are shorter episodes aiming to provide a round up of the WTA Finals action in Riyadh with coach of WTA Finals doubles pair Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe! Make sure to check out the Asian Swing Review FULL EPISODE out on both all podcast platforms and YouTube! In This Episode: Dan discusses the ongoing WTA finals in Riyadh, highlighting the challenges and lack of fan engagement and attendance during the matches in Riyadh, the performances of various players, and the emergence of superstars in tennis. He reflects on the importance of live sports and the need for better strategies to attract local fans, particularly in the context of the significant investment made in the event. The conversation also touches on the global representation of tennis players and the potential for growth in South America. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Lack of attendance during matches 05:35 Tennis Matches and Player Performances 11:44 Superstars of Tennis and Global Representation 17:57 Future of Tennis in South America and Upcoming Matches YouTube: Control the Controllables Podcast Instagram: ctc.podcast Twitter (X): ctc_podcast TikTok: Control the Controllables Podcast

Nov 4, 2024

Day 6 WTA Finals Riyadh Round Up following Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe's 1st win of the WTA Finals! Watch LIVE at 8pm GMT DAILY during the Finals on YouTube by searching 'Control the Controllables Podcast'! These are shorter episode aiming to provide a round up of the WTA Finals action in Riyadh with coach of WTA Finals doubles pair Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe! Joined by fan favourite and former Wimbledon Men's Doubles champion Frederik Nielsen to talk about the WTA Finals so far and comparing it to his ATP Finals experience when he played in the Finals. Make sure to check out our Asian Swing Review FULL EPISODE avaliable now on YouTube and all podcast platforms! In This Episode: Dan and Freddie discuss the days action at the WTA Finals from a coach and spectator perspective, with Freddie reflecting on their experiences in ATP Finals, the atmosphere of the events in Saudi, and analysing player performances, particularly focusing on Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff. They delve into technical aspects of the players' games, offering insights on areas for improvement and the challenges of making changes to established techniques. And of course reflecting on Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe's 1st win in straight sets(7-6, 6-4). Chapters 00:00 Welcome to the WTA Finals 00:57 Freddie Nielsen's ATP Finals Experience 02:42 The Atmosphere of Finals 07:10 Analysing Current Matches and Players including Gaby and Erin's 09:44 Coco Gauff's Performance and Potential 17:47 Technical Insights on Player Development 25:06 Match Previews and Predictions YouTube: Control the Controllables podcast Instagram: ctc.podcast X: ctc_podcast Tiktok: Control the Controllables Podcast

Nov 3, 2024

Day 5 of our DAILY Riyadh Round Up during the WTA Finals and match play has begun! Watch each episode LIVE at 8pm GMT on YouTube by searching 'Control the Controllables Podcast'! These shorter episode aim to bring DAILY insight into the behind the scenes of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia! In This Episode: Dan and former CNN sports broadcaster Candy Reid discuss the ongoing WTA Finals, reviewing the matches from Day 1 of match play, analysing player performances and making predictions for upcoming matches. They delve into coaching changes, player dynamics, and the impact of doubles play on singles performance. The discussion highlights key players like Sabalenka, Gauff, and Pegula, while also exploring the strategies that may influence the outcomes of the tournament. Also reviewing the matches from the Singles Purple group. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the WTA Finals Live Stream 04:21 Coaching Changes and Player Performances 10:24 Doubles Match Preview and Player Dynamics 16:13 Final Thoughts and Predictions YouTube: Control the Controllables Podcast Instagram: ctc.podcast X: ctc_podcast

Nov 2, 2024

Day 4 of our DAILY Riyadh Round Ups during the WTA Finals! Watch LIVE each day 8pm GMT on our YouTube channel 'Control the Controllables Podcast'! These shorter episodes aim to bring DAILY insight into the behind the scenes of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia! In this episode: Todays episode is focused around building the ULTIMATE WTA player by analysing various skills and attributes of top players, emphasising the significance of mentality and personality in tennis. Categories include: Serve Backhand Forehand Slice Volleys and coming forward Defence Personality Dan talks about the training of the day and players he has spoken to whilst out in Riyadh and the importance of innovation in sports. The conversation concludes by answering live viewers questions with thoughts on the future of players and the sport. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to the WTA Finals 05:07 Building the Ultimate WTA Player 24:36 Recap of the Ultimate Player Attributes YouTube: Control the Controllables Podcast Instagram: ctc.podcast X: ctc_podcast

Nov 1, 2024

Day 3 we are joined by the Wimbledon winning pair in Henry Patten and Harri Heliövaara! Watch each episode LIVE on YouTube 8pm GMT DAILY on the 'Control the Controllables Podcast' YouTube channel. These are shorter episodes that aim to bring DAILY insight into the behind the scenes of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia! In this episode: Dan discusses insights from media day at the WTA Finals and the importance players are putting into social media to grow their own following and tennis as a whole. Dan is also joined by Harri Heliövaara and Henry Patten to discuss the differences between ATP Finals and WTA Finals as well as them recently qualifying for the 2024 ATP Finals in Turin! Episode concludes with both Henry and Harri answering fan questions submitted via our instagram 'ctc.podcast'. If you want to ask any questions about the WTA Finals out in Riyadh or to any future guests on the live shows don't hesitate to send them in! Chapters 00:00 Welcome and Overview of the WTA Finals 03:05 Media Day Insights and Player Experiences 05:55 The Impact of Social Media on Tennis 08:48 Introduction of Special Guests: Harry Heliovara and Henry Patten 12:01 Reflections on the ATP Finals and Player Experiences 15:05 The Importance of Social Media and Player Engagement 17:57 Expectations and Experiences at the ATP Finals 20:45 The Race to the ATP Finals and Its Significance 24:03 Fan Questions and Player Insights 26:43 Closing Thoughts and Future Aspirations Let us know what you are thinking of the LIVE episodes and always send in questions you have about the WTA Finals in Riyadh. Join us for tonights episode that will be a slightly later time of 9pm GMT building the ULTIMATE WTA player and answering any questions you have! YouTube: Control the Controllables Podcast Instagram: ctc.podcast X: ctc_podcast

Nov 1, 2024

In today´s epsiode we´re rounding up all the action from the 2024 Asian Swing. It´s back in the tennis calendar after its sudden halt in 2020, and it did not disappoint. From tantrums to the emergence of local talents, CTC host Dan Kiernan is joined by journalists and coaches who were out in China and Japan to discuss it all. Our panellists are:- British Journalist and former CNN anchor Candy Reid Sports journalist and broadcaster Eleanor Preston And CTC regular Calvin Betton, Coach of the 2024 Wimbledon Mens Doubles Champions, Henry Pattern & Harri Heliovarra. Episode Highlights include:- Why regional heroes play a crucial role in the sport's popularity. Is the Asian swing too long for players' well-being? Women's rights and representation in tennis are ongoing conversations. How money influences decisions in tennis, including tournament locations. How Karolina Mukova's versatility makes her a player to watch in the future. Why young players' naivety can be both an asset and a challenge. Does the ATP needs a stronger code of conduct for player behaviour, after outbursts from Tsitsipas, Tiafoe and Zverev. Rafael Nadal's impact on the sport as he announces his retirement. ➡️ Head to Youtube to listen Live to Dan from Riyadh every evening as he gives daily updates from the WTA Finals ⬅️

Oct 31, 2024

Day 2 of our LIVE Riyadh Round Ups! Watch LIVE each day on our YouTube channel 8pm GMT DAILY! Join us on YouTube by searching 'Control the Controllables Podcast'! These shorter episodes aim to bring DAILY insight into the behind the scenes of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia! In this episode: Dan and guest Mike Digby discuss the WTA Finals in Riyadh, sharing insights about the players' experiences, the dynamics of the matches, and reflections on past tournaments. They analyse upcoming matches, player strategies, and the unique atmosphere of the finals in Saudi Arabia. The conversation also touches on venue improvements and the importance of fan engagement. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to WTA Finals and Riyadh Experience 04:22 Insights from Mike Digby on WTA Finals 09:14 Player Dynamics and Tournament Atmosphere 14:23 Match Previews and Predictions 19:09 Doubles Matchups and Tactical Insights 24:15 Final Thoughts and Venue Improvements Day 3 WTA Finals Riyadh Round will be joined by 2024 Wimbledon Winning doubles pair Henry Pattern and Harri Heliövaara! Live on YouTube! Keep sending in your questions about the WTA Finals for Dan to answer LIVE! YouTube: Control the Controllables Podcast Instagram: ctc.podcast X: ctc_podcast

Oct 30, 2024

We are bringing you guys a BRAND NEW series of shows during the WTA Finals out in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia! In this series we will bring you guys shorter, daily round ups of the behind the scenes access of the WTA Finals, the training of all the top players, how the female players are treated and will not avoid the big topics! If you want to join in on the action LIVE then tune each day on our YouTube channel 'Control the Controllables podcast' where you can ask questions LIVE and be involved with a CTC podcast! Live 8pm GMT during the WTA Finals! In this episode: In this conversation, Dan Kiernan discusses the WTA Finals taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, highlighting the event's setup, the political context surrounding it, and the experiences of players. Comparing the current tournament to previous ones in Cancun and Turin, emphasising the improvements in player treatment and event organisation. Also delving into the training and preparation required for the finals, the differences between the WTA Finals and Grand Slam tournaments, and the overall atmosphere among players. Concludes with insights on the draw and matchups, expressing optimism for the event's impact on women's tennis in the region. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to the Live Stream 02:50 Insights from the WTA Finals in Riyadh 12:24 Comparing Tournament Experiences: Riyadh vs Cancun 18:07 Player Preparation and Tournament Dynamics 26:04 The Draw and Match Expectations 37:19 Closing Thoughts and Future Engagements Let us know what to think of the new show by DM and messaging us! Join the Live on YouTube: Control the Controllables Podcast Instagram: ctc.podcast X: ctc_podcast

Oct 24, 2024

Back in April, we brought Control the Controllables to a fantastic live audience in London, diving into the future of professional tennis. We loved the buzz of the live show and we loved meeting so many of our regular listeners in person. With the Six King Slam recently concluded and the WTA Finals coming up next month in Saudi Arabia, it felt like the perfect time to release the full CTC LIVE episode. Our expert panel joining CTC Host Dan Kiernan on the night included:- CTC regular and former Wimbledon Champion, Freddie Nielsen John Morris , the ´super agent´ to many stars including Andrey Rublev and the former agent to Nick Kygrios Justin Sherring , the coach of Joe Salisbury and Jack Draper. During our live show we discussed Saudi Arabia's rising influence in tennis, the shifting power dynamics between governing bodies and players, and what these changes might mean for the sport's future. Are we witnessing the dawn of a new era in tennis? and what will this mean across all levels of the game? Listen to insightful discussions on the potential for an "Elite Tour" and the evolving landscape of tennis. Whether you're a player, coach, or passionate fan, there’s plenty to reflect on. Enjoy and join the conversation shaping the future of the game! ▶️ Follow us on on YouTube to watch clips from the evening.

Oct 12, 2024

Louis Cayer is one of the most successful coaches in tennis. He´s transformed doubles in Great Britain, guiding 3 British players to World Mens doubles number 1 and coaching players to a whopping 19 Grand Slam titles! It´s no surprise that his chat with CTC host Dan Kiernan back in 2021 is still our 2nd most listened to episode, and is too good not to bring back to you. Listen to Louis discuss the evolution of doubles, and how to pick the right partner. He also shares his top 3 tips for doubles players of all levels. There are some gems in here, as there always is when talking to Louis. Enjoy! Listen to more from Louis in his full episode here. Follow Control the Controllables on Instagram

Sep 30, 2024

It´s International Podcast Day, and we have a great guest for this special episode in Yasmin Clarke. Yasmin is a coach, athlete mentor and commentator. A former pro player, she was GB junior number 1 before quitting tennis at the age of just 19. She chats to CTC host Dan Kiernan about the challenges faced by female coaches in a male-dominated sport, the importance of family support, and the cultural shifts needed to create more opportunities for women in coaching roles. This is a great listen for anyone interested in all aspects of the tennis world from a perspective that isn’t normally given a big enough voice. Episode Highlights:- Yaz discusses her experiences with early success, winning multiple junior championships The importance of mental health, and the need for a supportive environment in sports. She reflects on the pressures of competition, the significance of enjoying the journey, and the evolution of tennis culture, particularly regarding college tennis as a pathway for player development. She discusses the dynamics of coaching within families, particularly her relationship with her brother, Great Britain´s Jay Clarke. To mark International Podcast Day today, we´ve picked out some of our favourite quotes from our CTC guests! Head over to our Instagram to watch! 🎙️

Sep 17, 2024

Just over 2 years ago, we spoke to GB´s Jack Draper who at 20, had just broken into the world´s top 100 ATP rankings. Fast forward to 2024, and Jack has moved up to 20 in the world, reaching his first Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open this month. To mark this, we wanted to bring you a clip from Jack´s episode of Control the Controllables back in June 2022. In this CTC Short, listen to Jack talk about the danger of outcome goal setting, and the importance of good people setting the right environment to grow and develop. 🎧 Listen to all of Episode 166 with Jack Draper 🎥 Watch the Control the Controllables Podcast on You Tube

Sep 11, 2024

Today's episode wraps up the final Grand Slam of the year. Our panel discusses all things US Open, and there were certainly lots of storylines for us to get stuck into! With two new US Open Champions in Jannik Sinner & Aryna Sabalenka, GB´s Dan Evans winning the longest ever match at Flushing Meadows and GB´s Mika Stojsavljevic winning the Girls title, New York did not disappoint! Davis Cup Captain Freddie Nielsen and coach of Wimbledon Men´s Doubles Champion Henry Pattern, Calvin Betton join our host, Dan Kiernan to give a unique perspective on the events of the US Open 2024. And find out if their pre-tournament predictions were right?! Episode Highlights:- Is there an asterix on Jannick Sinner´s title given his recent failed drug tests? Will Sabelenka continue to be a dominant force in tennis and can any other player keep up with her going into the final couple of months of the season? An interesting take on the drop in form of Carlos Alcaraz Talking points of the men's final. Taylor Fritz or Taylor Swift? Coaching whilst the match goes on, a good thing or not? Our panelists share their opinions on what good coaching looks like from the sidelines of a match court. Review, comment, like and follow the podcast on all platforms! Tag us @ctc.podcast and enjoy the episode. Links Mentioned in this Episode Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email SotoTennis Academy

Sep 8, 2024

In today´s episode we speak to Damian Hughes from the High Performance Podcast. Damian is a best selling author and international speaker who excels in building high performance cultures. He´s worked with Sale Sharks, Warrington Wolves, England and GB Rugby League team, and his podcast with Jake Humphrey has hosted some of the top names in sport. Dan chats to Damian about:- How his Father created a high performing culture. How he was given an education on world class coaching watching his Dad and other top coaches in the boxing world. Imposter Syndrome and ways of dealing with it. The shift in understanding that mental fitness is as important as physical fitness. Damian´s 3 non-negotiables. Plus many more captivating stories that Damian and Dan share together. Links Mentioned in this Episode Watch Damian´s TED Talk Find out more about Damien´s High Performance Coaching Days SotoTennis Academy Follow us on Instagram

Aug 24, 2024

With the final Grand Slam of 2024 about to get underway on Monday, we´ve brought our amazing panelists together to discuss all things US Open. The tennis world has been talking about one thing only in the run up to New York - men´s world number 1 Jannik Sinner being cleared of doping, after testing positive twice for clostebol. Davis Cup Captain Freddie Nielsen and S&C Coach Kieron Vorster join CTC Host Dan Kiernan to discuss the story which has divided tennis this past week. They also give their predictions and players to watch in today´s episode. Will in-form Jessica Pegula continue her recent form to claim her first Grand Slam or will Coco Gauff manage her defend her title at Flushing Meadows? Can Djokovic build on his Olympic Gold to win back-to-back US Open titles? Whoever ends up lifting the trophies, we are in for a brilliant fortnight! Send us your thoughts and predictions by tagging in @ctc.podcast on Instagram on all social media platforms!

Aug 14, 2024

This week on CTC, we welcome to the show coach of 31 time Grand Slam champion Alfie Hewett, Craig Allen! Craig is a fantastic and generous guest, telling the great story of how he came to coach Alfie, giving his opinions on all things wheelchair tennis, and telling us about his experience coaching some of the brightest juniors in the UK, including Alistair Filmer and Lewis Burton. This one is a must listen for all young coaches as Craig shares his invaluable advice from 35 years of experience, as well as sharing a little about how to get into pro-level coaching without necessarily being a professional yourself. Craig's insight and passion for the game of wheelchair tennis is also endearing and fantastic to see so enjoy the episode! Tag @ctc.podcast on Instagram or Twitter and check out our YouTube to let us know what you're thinking, and to check out exclusive video clips of all our podcasts! Alfie Hewett on Episode 202 here The Vodafone advert is here Lewis Burton on Episode 113 here Alistair Filmer on Episode 134 here

Aug 6, 2024

This week we welcome back to the show 31-time Grand Slam champion, but first time singles wheelchair Wimbledon champion Alfie Hewett. On Episode 202 of CTC, Alfie spoke to us about his tennis dreams, and top of the list after two finals defeats in a row was clinching that elusive Wimbledon singles title. Now chasing a career golden slam at this year's Paralympics later this month, Alfie comes on to talk all about his recent success, his ambitions for the summer, and whether the US Open is making a mistake by cancelling the wheelchair event this year. Listen to Episode 202 of CTC here Follow us on Instagram and Twitter , and subscribe to our revamped YouTube channel as well to catch unfiltered and never-seen-before clips from our latest episodes

Jul 30, 2024

This week we bring to you a brand new format requested on CTC. With this new show, we'll be bringing to you some of the stories you might not have spotted in the world of tennis, from the top level all the way down to the lowest level of professional tennis that rarely gets a mention. In this first edition, we explore everything that's been happening in this first 6 months of the year, discussing the one handed backhand, tennis players retiring, college tennis and so much more, as well as bringing you a load of exciting sections, uncovering statistics you never knew you needed. Every edition of this series, we'll be bringing on someone toiling on the fringes of the ATP Tour and Dan will quiz them on their experiences of some of the crazier and wilder things happening in tennis' version of the Wild West. This week, we welcome Finn Bass, ranked 1100 in the world ATP singles, and 800 in doubles. Let us know what you think of this brand new series and give us some ideas of what you would like to see on the next editions of the show! Some links from the episode: Our socials: Instagram | Twitter | YouTube Finn's tweet is here

Jul 18, 2024

What a brilliant two weeks of Wimbledon that was! And as always Dan is here with the usual amazing panel to discuss all things SW19. We also have some amazing guest appearances from the most iconic final of this Grand Slam! Our panelists are: Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Mens Doubles Champion Freddie Nielsen . GB Coach Calvin Betton who is currently working with Henry Patten. Our panel debate and dissect a range of the cutting edge topics at the forefront of the tennis world, including doubles' role in tennis with Wimbledon winning players and coaches, Novak Djokovic's tournament and where is women's tennis going next! And we want to hear your opinions on this! Tag @ctc.podcast on Instagram or Twitter and check out our YouTube to let us know what you're thinking, and to check out exclusive video clips of all our podcasts!

Jul 12, 2024

As we enter Finals weekend here at Wimbledon, we look back to Episode 188, when we welcomed our first singles Wimbledon champion to the show, the one and only Pat Cash! As we wait to see whether new champions will be crowned on the world famous Centre Court, Pat gives an amazing insight into what it's like to try and lift the famous title as he did, beating Ivan Lendl in straight sets 37 years ago in 1987. This episode has great advice for both players and coaches on how to lift yourself to become a true champion, so we hope you enjoy! Check out our socials for more clips of this episode and so many more, as well as behind the scenes content as Dan coaches as Wimbledon: Follow us on Instagram and Twitter , and subscribe to our revamped YouTube channel as well to catch unfiltered and never-seen-before clips from our latest episodes

Jun 29, 2024

Wimbledon is here! Once again, Dan has brought together another amazing panel of CTC regulars to discuss all of the storylines taking place around the most historic tennis tournament in the world, from former champions returning to take the crown, to controversial qualifying moments and heartwarming wildcards! Our amazing panelists are: Wimbledon always throws up some unexpected surprises and we're excited to see what 's new this year! Let us know what you think, Tag @ctc.podcast on Instagram and @ctc__podcast on Twitter to let us know your opinions! Check out our YouTube as well for exclusive longer video clips from all of our newest episodes!

Jun 20, 2024

In this week's instalment, we bring you someone at the very cutting edge of player development at the USTA, who had a fantastic playing career herself, Megan Moulton Levy! Having reached the top 50 in the world in doubles, and the top 250 in singles, all whilst being just 5 feet tall in a game which is fast becoming dictated by height, Megan brings a unique perspective to developing a young tennis player. From stories about her own process, growing up going to boarding school in Switzerland and on to US college, to her current roles on the board of the USTA and as Head of Player Development at the JTCC, Megan really has been behind the scenes at all levels of tennis, which makes for a fascinating interview! Some links from the episode: Our socials: Instagram | Twitter | YouTube Eric Butorac's Episode is here Our Female Tennis Empowerment Episodes: Sue Anstiss | Olivia Nicholls

Jun 13, 2024

What an incredible two weeks of tennis we've had to enjoy! Iga Swiatek winning her third consecutive Roland Garros title, and Carlos Alcaraz becoming the youngest player ever to win 3 Grand Slams on three different surfaces. We've brought back our amazing panel to react with Dan to all this and more. Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Mens Doubles Champion Freddie Nielsen . GB Coach Calvin Betton who is currently working with Henry Patten. Women's tennis stalwart who recently won her 1000th match on the tour Emily Webley Smith Top tennis strength and conditioning coach and CTC legend Kieron Vorster Our panel debate and dissect a range of the cutting edge topics at the forefront of the tennis world, including scheduling, Rafa Nadal's retirement and much more! And we want to hear your opinions on this! Tag @ctc.podcast on Instagram or Twitter and check out our YouTube to let us know what you're thinking, and to check out exclusive video clips of all our podcasts!

May 27, 2024

The second Grand Slam of 2024 is finally underway! We´ve brought our panel back together to preview everything we can expect from the French Open. Dan is joined this year by: Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Mens Doubles Champion Freddie Nielsen . GB Coach Calvin Betton who is currently working with Henry Patten. Women's tennis stalwart who recently won her 1000th match on the tour Emily Webley Smith Top tennis strength and conditioning coach and CTC legend Kieron Vorster They discuss all of the big storylines coming into this year's Roland Garros tournament, from saying goodbye to a 14-time champion to the upcoming Olympics, as well as giving their insight on some of the up and coming stars to look out for. We want to hear who you think will be this year's French Open champions! Tag @ctc.podcast on Instagram or Twitter and check out our YouTube to let us know who you´re backing! Check out Emily's amazing charity triathlon here!

May 25, 2024

This week we welcome back to the show another one of our classic guests, it’s seven-time NCAA national champion winning coach with the team at UCLA, Valorie Kondos Field. Valorie initially appeared on Episode 62 of Control the Controllables, soon after her viral Ted Talk, ‘Why Winning Doesn’t Always Equal Success,’ and she shared her experience coaching in a sport that she didn't grow up playing or coaching in, and talked about her plans after she retired from UCLA in 2018. In this edition, Valorie returns to talk about her experience since then and how that has shaped the way she has cultivated her philosophy on coaching and life. Valorie also talks about writing her new book, an update to her first book, Life is Short, Don't Wait to Dance, where she discusses a possible return to coaching and her experience of motivating athletes to compete at the top level whilst experiencing personal trauma, in her case this was breast cancer in 2014. Once again, Valorie is an incredible listen for coaches and playing a life, bringing her experience of a whole career of learning the art of coaching to the episode. Connect with us: Follow us on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook for all the latest news on Control the Controllables Podcast! Valorie’s social media: Instagram - Twitter Episode 62 of Control the Controllables Valorie’s Ted Talk CTC Youtube SotoTennis Academy: Instagram | X | Website

Apr 8, 2024

Tennis is being disrupted, whether we like it or not! As we prepare to debate this in our first ever Control the Controllables Live Show on April 19th, never has it been clearer that we need to sit up and listen. Today´s episode is a new extract from Dan´s chat with Jonathan Overend a few weeks ago. They trade opinions on the Saudi Arabian influence on tennis, the future of doubles, and the topic of our upcoming live show - The Great Tennis Shake-up: Is the new ‘Elite Tour’ good for tennis? The new tour being is proposed by the Grand Slams and would see only around 100 players compete in a streamlined calendar. But what does all this mean for the tennis industry? Join Dan at the Tileyard in London on 19th April as he debates this in our first Live Show with special guests.. John Morris - Tennis super-agent at the heart of these discussions Freddie Nielsen - 2012 Wimbledon doubles champion and Danish Davis Cup captain Gaby Dabrowski - 2023 US Open champion and WTA Board Member Calvin Betton - ATP doubles coach If you can’t join us in person, don’t worry, you can still follow online live on the night and ask your questions directly to the panel. ⇨ Get your tickets and find out more about the event! ⇦

Mar 30, 2024

We´re excited to announce that Control the Controllables is coming to London! We´re hosting our first LIVE SHOW on Friday 19th April 2024. This is your chance to come and join CTC Host Dan Kiernan and our special guests as they debate one of the hottest topics in tennis right now: Is the new ‘Elite Tour’ good for tennis. You´ll also have the chance to ask your own questions to Dan and our guests, live at the event. The new tour being proposed is backed by the Grand Slams and would see only the top players compete in a reduced number of tournaments for an exponential rise in prize money. Join us at Tileyard in London, as we discuss the biggest potential shake up we've ever seen in tennis, and what it means for those of us working in the sport. Can´t make it to London on April 19th? You can also join us online on the night. Book your tickets here! In today´s episode, you can hear more details from Dan about the Live Show and our exciting panellists. You can also head to our Instagram for more details. We look forward to seeing you there!

Mar 19, 2024

In today´s episode we speak to top British tennis coach, Justin Sherring. Justin has had the distinction of bringing through some of the brightest young tennis players of British tennis’ current golden generation including Jack Draper, Johanna Konta, and former doubles World Number 1 Joe Salisbury. Justin is currently working with Salisbury on the ATP tour and took some time to chat to Dan about how he´s developed some of the best British Players of the past 15 years. Justin shares his coaching philosophies, including the importance of learning how to bring the best out of your player, and tells lots of stories along the way including talking himself onto court with Nick Bollettieri! Tennis coaches and parents, this is not an episode to be missed! Links Mentioned in this Episode:- #166: Jack Draper - GB´s Rising Star on the ATP Tour #132: Joe Salisbury - Double US Open Champion! #102: Louis Cayer- The Doubles Guru #100: Nick Bollettieri - The Godfather of Tennis Follow CTC on Instagram: @ctc.podcast

Mar 8, 2024

To mark International Women´s Day, we have author, podcaster, presenter, campaigner, triathlete and all-round inspiration Sue Anstiss on the show. Sue has been campaigning for women in sport for over 20 years through her organisation Fearless Women, receiving an MBE for her service. More recently, Sue has released her book, Game On: The Unstoppable Rise of Women’s Sport in 2021. This was commissioned as a documentary by Netflix in 2023, which she directed and was susequently nominated for a Broadcast Sport Award. Sue has also got her own podcast, The Game Changers, on which female elite sports stars share their stories, including top tennis players like Caroline Wozniacki. Sue has come on the show as part of our Women’s Tennis campaign here at SotoTennis Academy, as she talks to Dan about her work fighting for gender equality in sport, and what we can do to help. Sue has had a great career making real change in women’s sport and she makes this episode a fantastic listen. Connect with us:- Follow us on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook for all the latest news on Control the Controllables Podcast! Listen to more of Sue on The Game Changers Podcast FInd out more about The Women´s Sport Collective Sue’s Socials: Instagram | Twitter

Mar 3, 2024

In this week’s episode we are speaking to British doubles player Olivia Nicholls. Olivia is a former Wimbledon mixed doubles semi-finalist and a role model for young players looking to make it on the tour. She took the non-traditional route of going to Loughborough University in the UK, as opposed to US college or going pro, and has built a remarkable career as a doubles player on the tour. Olivia has reached a career high ranking of 59 in the world, with appearances in the main draw of all four Grand Slams. She´s represented her country on the biggest stage at the BJK Cup Finals in 2022, losing out in the tightest possible fashion against Sam Stosur and former world number 1 Storm Hunter. She is a guest who has epitomised the mantra of this podcast ‘control the controllables,’ and is a fantastic listen. Episode Highlights include:- Life on the tour for those not at the top of the game Is US college the best route to make it pro? What it’s like to compete at the biggest international tennis tournaments in the world Her Wimbledon mixed doubles run with Jonny O’Mara in 2022 Announcing Our First Live Podcast! Join us for a live recording of Control the Controllables on April 19th 2024 in London! We´re so excited to be coming to the UK for our first live show! Dan will be joined by a panel of pro players, coaches and agents to discuss The Great Tennis Shake Up: Is the new ´Elite Tour´ good for tennis? Keep an eye on our Instagram for more details in the next few days!

Feb 11, 2024

In today’s episode we welcome the voice of tennis for his second appearance on the show, it´s Jonathan Overend! Jonathan speaks to us in a week where Sky Sports are launching their own tennis channel in the UK and Ireland, Sky Sports Tennis. Jonathan is a major part of the team they have in place to deliver their promise of 24/7 coverage from all of the ATP & WTA events. Jonathan had some beautiful words for the late Mike Dickson, the tennis correspondent at the Daily Mail for the last 30 years who we devastatingly lost during this years Australian Open. He also shares his top commentary secrets, and look out for who he thinks could be dominating women´s tennis over the next few years. This is not an episode to miss. CTC Wins Best Tennis Podcast! Control The Controllables has won Best Tennis Podcast at the Sports Podcast Awards for the third year in a row! The winners are voted for by listeners, and there were some amazing tennis podcasts in the category this year, so this really is very special to us. If you took the time to vote for us, thank you, we are so grateful!

Jan 31, 2024

We´re reviewing all the action from the 2024 Australian Open in today´s episode. What a way to start the year of tennis, as Aryna Sabalenka didn’t drop a set on the way to her second consecutive Australian Open title. Jannik Sinner shocked the tennis world by defeating Novak Djokovic and performing a miraculous fightback against Daniil Medvedev to lift his first ever major title, and become the youngest winner since Djokovic himself in 2008! Here to round up the past two weeks in Melbourne alongside CTC host Dan Kiernan who was at the event, we have our panel of experts: Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Mens Doubles Champion and (most importantly!) CTC regular Freddie Nielsen . GB Coach Calvin Betton who is currently working with Henry Pattern. They discuss their risky picks from our Aussie Open Preview episode, whether eras really do come to an end, all of the 35 five set matches that happened over the two weeks, and whether the Australian Open has finally got it right with their 15 day schedule. Let us know what you thought of the event and anything you would like to hear Dan discuss on the podcast about anything in the tennis world! Tag @ctc.podcast on Instagram or email us. 🎧 Join the Control the Controllables team as a Podcast Intern in 2024

Jan 22, 2024

Today we welcome British doubles specialist and Grand Slam quarter-finalist turned coach and commentator, Colin Fleming. Colin reached a career high of 17 in the world in doubles, consistently reaching the main draws of Grand Slams. He represented GB in the Davis Cup and at the Olympics before turning his expertise to coaching, then commentating. He now covers some of the biggest tennis tournaments in the world for Eurosport, Sky Sports and the BBC. Colin has partnered some of the biggest names in British and world tennis, including both Jamie and Andy Murray, Ken Skupski, and Rohan Bopanna, and chats to Dan about life as a doubles specialist at the top level. They also discuss Tennis Scotland and the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open 2024. Colin brings a wealth of stories, experience and laughs, as well as some more emotive stories as well, so this is an all round entertaining episode and a must-listen! Read full shownotes here. Help us Win Best Tennis Podcast! We´re so excited that Control the Controllables is a finalist at the Sports Podcast Awards! We´ve been nominated for Best Tennis & Racket Podcast and we´d love it if you could vote for us! Vote for us here (it only takes a couple of minutes) and spread the link around as much as you can! Thank you for all your support 🙏🏻

Jan 14, 2024

The first Grand Slam of 2024 is finally underway! We´ve brought our panel back together to preview everything we can expect from the Australian Open. Control the Controllables host Dan Kiernan is in Melbourne this year, and is joined by:- US Open Doubles Champion and top 10 WTA doubles player, Gaby Dabrowski Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Mens Doubles Champion Freddie Nielsen . GB Coach Calvin Betton who is currently working with Henry Pattern. They discuss the "popcorn-ready" match-ups, the dark horses to look out for and their picks for the titles, plus what they think will be the main storylines in tennis in 2024. We want to hear who you think will be this years Australian Open Champions! Tag @ctc.podcast on Instagram or email us and let us know who you´re backing! Vote for us at the Sports Podcast Awards! We´ve been nominated again for Best Tennis and Racket Podcast at the Sports Podcast Awards, and we´d love it if you could help us win! You can vote here for Control the Controllables , it only takes a couple of minutes. Thanks so much for your support 🙏🏻

Jan 10, 2024

In today´s CTC Short we bring you a true stalwart of the tennis tour and someone who is calling time on his career after this year’s Australian Open- it´s former US Open quarter finalist and Episode 25 guest John Millman. Over the span of a 15 year professional tennis career, John Millman has established himself as one of the most consistent and hard-working players on the tour, being a constant in the top 100 ATP Rankings. In 2018 he reached a career high of 33 after a remarkable run to the quarter finals of the US Open, beating Roger Federer. We spoke to John in June 2020 and he went detail on the unseen side of tennis, describing the hard yards required to get to tennis’ top table, and how to stay there when you are playing the biggest names in the sport. In this clip, John also reflects on his career, going into detail on how his goals and his measure of success changed as he progressed further up the rankings and got older. John Millman is the embodiment of everything Control the Controllables stands for, working hard and maximising your potential, and his retirement is a fitting opportunity to reflect on al the lessons this podcast can teach! Read full shownotes here. Vote for us at the Sports Podcast Awards! We´d love it if you could help us win Best Tennis & Racket Podcast at the Sports Podcast Awards! We´re so excited to be a finalist at this years awards. You can vote for us here 🙏🏻 Links Mentioned in this Episode:- #25: John Millman - The Journeyman...or is he? #130: Craig Tiley - Leading from the Front

Dec 30, 2023

As 2023 draws to a close, we´ve sat down to look back at some of our most memorable moments of the Control the Controllables Podcast this year. From Sir Andy Murray agreeing to be our Special Guest for our 200th episode, to winning Best Tennis Podcast at the Sports Podcast Awards, and having 6 Grand Slam Champions in one episode, we´ve had some very special moments this year. Listen to CTC Host Dan Kiernan and producer Vicki Kiernan chat through their favourite clips and biggest learnings of 2023 in our final episode of the year. Thank you so much for listening to the show and wishing you Happy New Year and all the best for 2024! 🎧 Join the Control the Controllables team as a Podcast Intern in 2024 🗳️ Vote for us in the Sports Podcast Awards!

Dec 23, 2023

In our third CTC Short we have a clip from our 200th Episode with Sir Andy Murray. CTC Host Dan Kiernan spoke to Andy back in August 2023, and unsurprisingly, it is our most listened to episode to date. Andy gave us lots of takeaways, including how important he feels it is for aspiring players to watch full matches, and not just the highlights reel. In this clip, Andy explains how watching tennis helped him and how he wished he´d had time to do it more during his career. It´s one of many great learnings from Andy Murray´s chat with Dan. You can listen to the full episode here. Read full show notes. CTC is a Finalist at the Sports Podcast Awards! We´re so excited to announce that we´ve made the final shortlist in the category Best Tennis and Racket Podcast at the Sports Podcast Awards! The winner is voted for by the public, which makes it even more special. We we would be so grateful it if you could take a moment to vote for Control The Controllables here! As always, thank you so much for your support! 🌟

Dec 18, 2023

In today´s episode we welcome someone who´s been at the heart of tennis as the BBC’s Tennis Correspondent for over ten years, Russell Fuller. Russell has worked his way up through the ranks of tennis media, working for the BBC World Service presenting Sportsworld, before earning his big break commentating on his first Wimbledon Final in 2013, when Andy Murray defeated Novak Djokovic to become Champion for the first time. Russell has gone on to be the voice of British tennis’ greatest moments, including the Davis Cup win in 2015, and Emma Raducanu’s shock victory at the US Open in 2021. In this episode, Russell takes Dan behind the scenes of the top level of tennis journalism, revealing how tennis players interact with the media, as well as what the future could hold, as he lifts the lid on his latest article on Saudi Arabian influence in tennis. There is no one better to give you insight on some of our sport’s greatest moments than someone who has witnessed them first hand, so this is a great listen, but especially for those looking to get “under the bonnet” of tennis, as we do on Control the Controllables. Read full shownotes here. Enjoyed the episode? We´d love to hear from you! Leave us a rating and review here! You can also follow us on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook for all the latest on Control the Controllables! Find Russell on Twitter here.

Dec 9, 2023

Welcome to the 2nd of our CTC Podcast Shorts. In this clip, we have former top-5 doubles and top-40 singles player turned US Davis Cup captain and coach Tom Gullikson. Tom appeared on Episode 110 of Control the Controllables in April 2021, and talked about playing in the Golden era of US tennis in the 70´s and 80´s. His twin brother Tim Gullikson was Pete Sampras´ coach before he passed away in 1996 to brain cancer. In this clip, Tom speaks about the influence Tim had on Sampras´ career and how he still impacts his own coaching philosophy now. Tom is a powerful speaker and an inspirational story-teller. This is a special listen. Read full shownotes here.

Dec 3, 2023

In today´s episode we welcome 2002 Australian Open Champion and former world number 7 Thomas Johansson! Thomas began his career in the heyday of Swedish tennis, preceded and surrounded by legends such as Bjorn Borg, Mats Wilander and Stefan Edberg. As a result, he went under the radar until his career defining run at the Australian Open in 2002. He beat 9th seed Marat Safin to become the first male player seeded 16th to win a major in the Open Era. He is one of only 7 players to win the Men´s title in Melbourne since 2000! Thomas has since gone on to have a fantastic career as a coach, working with top 10 tour level players like David Goffin and most recently Sorana Cirstea, who knocked out world number 4 Elena Rybakina at the 2023 US Open. Thomas gives us some great stories from his time at the top of the game, and explains why he thinks building a team was the most successful formula for Swedish tennis. Read full shownotes here. Links mentioned in this Episode:- Follow Thomas on Instagram | Twitter Thomas’ charities: https://www.tapprabarn.se/ https://zbfoundation.se/ SotoTennis Academy

Nov 24, 2023

Welcome to an all new feature here at Control the Controllables, our Podcast Shorts. With these we’re bringing out all of the most entertaining, informative, heart-warming and hilarious moments from all of your favourite CTC episodes in bitesized chunks for you to enjoy. Whether you’ve been listening to CTC for years or if this is your first sample, Shorts are perfect for you to submerse yourself in the world of tennis and elite sport in short, manageable chunks, or whetting your appetite for more! In this first CTC Podcast Short, we join Dan with Episode 62 guest Valorie Kondos Field as she talks openly and honestly through the challenges of coaching and parenting in elite sport. Valorie was Head Gymnastics Coach at UCLA for 29 years, leading them to 7 National Championships despite having no experience in gymnastics. In this clip, Valorie talks frankly about being too hard on her athletes in the early stages of her coaching journey, and how important it is to make sure athletes enjoy their sport. She also gives her key pieces of advice for parents getting used to their child competing in elite sport. What better way to start our brand new series of shorts than with one of the most successful coaches in US college history giving key lessons for young coaches and parents on how to get it right when developing athletes! Read full show notes here. Links mentioned in this Episode Listen to Valorie´s Full CTC Episode here. Valorie´s Tedtalk: Why winning doesn´t always equal success Get your Black Friday Discount to train at SotoTennis Academy HERE!

Nov 21, 2023

In today’s episode we speak to former Canadian pro tennis player Patricia Hy. Patricia was a top 30 WTA player and a Grand Slam quarter finalist, who has since become a successful mental skills coach, using her perspective as a former player, coach and tennis parent to help nurture relationships between the three. As a child, she faced hardship like no other tennis player at that time. Born in Cambodia, Hy and her mother were forced to flee the country on foot, escaping to Thailand and then Hong Kong just a week before the Cambodia border closed in 1971. Patricia chats to CTC Host Dan Kiernan about how this experience shaped her professional tennis career and life, and how she dealt with hardships in the sport, including falling off the world rankings 3 times. Patricia’s story is one of hard work, perspective, resilience and mental strength. Get the notepad ready for some life and tennis lessons from someone who has seen all areas in the sport. Read full show-notes here.

Oct 9, 2023

A month on from the US Open, and we´re delighted to say we´ve been able to bring the 3 winning doubles pairs together, to tell us about their incredible fortnight in New York. First we chat to Rajeev Ram & Joe Salisbury who made history by becoming the first pair in the Open Era to win the US Open Men´s doubles 3 years in a row! We then catch up with Women´s Doubles Champions Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe, who reflect on their amazing run at Flushing Meadows in just their 4th tournament together. And finally we speak to Harri Heliövaara and Anna Danilina in their first chat together since winning the Mixed Doubles title after only meeting at the sign in desk the week before! Six Grand Slam Champions in one episode makes for a special listen! Gain a deeper understanding of the unique dynamics and strategies at the highest level of men´s and women´s doubles. Enjoy! The key moments in this episode are:- The emotions of winning a Grand Slam; before, during and after. Why Rajeev & Joe´s 3rd US Open title was the most emotional. The ideal scoring system in pro doubles. The Challenges of enjoying success in tennis. Perceptions of Success and Failure. Success Factors in Women's Doubles. Hear how Gaby & Erin manage expectations and focus on the process. The Story of How Harri & Anna became partners for the Mixed Doubles. Overcoming Nerves in a Big Match.

Sep 16, 2023

The 2023 US Open didn´t disappoint as we saw Coco Gauff win her first Grand Slam title, and Novak Djokovic collect his record-equalling 24th! It was also an incredible fortnight for our very own CTC Host Dan Kiernan who guided his players to not one, but two doubles titles! CTC regular Gaby Dabrowski and her partner Erin Routliffe won the Women´s doubles title, while Harri Heliövaara and Anna Danilina won the Mixed Doubles after only meeting at the sign-in desk the week before. Gaby reunites with Dan for our US Open Review to tell us about her amazing 2 weeks in New York. Also returning to our US Open Panel is:- Denmark´s Davis Cup Caption Freddie Nielsen S&C Coach to Liam Broady, Dan Evans & Sorana Mihaela Cîrstea, Kieron Vorster GB´s Emily Webley-Smith who has been on the women´s tour for more than 20 years. We look into many topics including:- Coco Gauff´s amazing American summer on the back of her new player coach relationship with Brad Gilbert. The influence (or not) of courtside coaching. Are players becoming too dependent on their coaches? Should the Slams be broadcasting what the coaches are saying to players and private moments of the players? What drives Djokovic to keep going? The all-British Men´s wheelchair final between Alfie Hewitt and Gordon Reid And so much more! Enjoy!

Sep 8, 2023

In today´s episode we speak to British pro wheelchair tennis player Alfie Hewett. Alfie is 25 and already a 25-time Grand Slam Champion, winning 7 singles and 18 doubles titles with fellow Brit Gordon Reid. Born with the congenital heart defect Tetralogy of Fallot, Alfie was diagnosed with Perthes Disease at the age of six. He chats to CTC Host Dan Kiernan about his journey from being told he was wheelchair-bound at just 7-years-old , to becoming the youngest men´s singles world number 1, aged 20. Alfie´s story is one of perseverance, resilience and the power of family. Enjoy listening to this inspirational chat with an inspirational young man. Read full show-notes here.

Aug 28, 2023

As the final Grand Slam of 2023 gets underway today, we´ve brought our amazing panelists together to discuss all things US Open. Joining CTC Host Dan Kiernan is 2012 Wimbledon Men´s Doubles Champion and Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain, Freddie Nielsen , WTA doubles player Gaby Dabrowski , and S&C Coach to Liam Broady, Kieron Vorster . They share personal stories, insights into pro life at Flushing Meadows and their predictions for this years Champions, as well as players to watch out for. Will we see a repeat of the amazing final in Cincinnati between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz? Will Coco Gauff be able continue her recent form over 2 weeks in New York? Send us your thoughts and predictions by tagging in @ctc.podcast on Instagram or @sototennis on all social media platforms. We will share the best picks! Celebrating our 200th Episode with Sir Andy Murray Have you listened to our 200th Episode of Control the Controllables yet? To celebrate the milestone episode, we had none other than Sir Andy Murray as our guest. It´s not one to miss! Listen here.

Aug 25, 2023

To celebrate our 200th episode of the Control the Controllables podcast we speak to none other than British sporting legend, Sir Andy Murray. Andy is the most successful British tennis player in history, winning 3 Grand Slams and two Olympic Gold medals. In 2015 he led Great Britain to their first Davis Cup title since 1936. He backed that up in 2016, winning his 2nd Wimbledon title, and finishing the year as World number 1. Since 2016, Andy has had to deal with adversity as his career came to a stop whilst he had a hip resurfacing operation. He has shown incredible grit and resilience to make his way back into the worlds top 40 and winning ATP events again. Arguably, Andy will not only go down in history as a multiple slam champion, but also for his off court ‘voice’, arguing for equal pay in tennis and highlighting subtle sexism. Listen to him chat to CTC host Dan Kiernan about his career, the challenges he´s faced and much more in this brilliant episode. Episode highlights include:- What makes the immortals of tennis. How three main significant events when he was younger shaped his life. How important watching tennis is to his development, and how he made notes on players on the tour when he was a junior! What he is most proud of in his career and what he wishes he´d done differently. His opinion on the GOAT! What he would like to do after his playing career. Connect with us Don´t want to miss an episode? Follow us on Apple Podcasts and on Instagram @ctc.podcast . You can also check out our 199 other episodes, including chats with Iga Swiatek, Holger Rune and Judy Murray here.

Aug 21, 2023

Czech tennis has quietly been leading the way in tennis player development for the past 10-15 years, particularly on the women’s side of the game. What seems like a conveyor belt of world class players have been arriving into the worlds top 100 players and beyond, including Petra Kvitova and Karolina Pliskova. Marketa Vondrousova became the latest Czech player to rock the tennis world when she won Wimbledon in July. Czech players also lifted the ladies doubles, the girls and the boys doubles trophies, showing that the future continues to be bright for the nation. So what is the secret to the success of Czech tennis? In todays episode we speak to Jan Stoces, Head of the Czech Tennis Federation to find out! Episode highlights include:- Why he thinks the country is producing so many female players. Can the Czech system be copied in other countries? The Importance of Goal Setting and how it helped him overcome a career-ending injury. Adapting to the player, not the player adapting to the system. The importance of a good tournament system in player development. Why he thinks Doubles is so important for the development of players. Staying Humble in the Face of Success Read full shownotes here.

Aug 11, 2023

In today´s episode we talk to Dave O´Hare who coaches one of the best doubles teams on the ATP Tour. Dave is a former pro player and still represents Ireland in the Davis Cup. He´s been working with Joe Salisbury & Rajeev Ram for almost 3 years, helping them to World number 1 doubles pair and the 2022 US Open mens doubles title. Dave and Joe were college roommates and doubles partners at the University of Memphis. They also played together on the tour before Dave started coaching Joe & Rajeev in 2021. Dave´s passion for the sport and doubles shines through in this chat. Highlights include:- Imposter syndrome on the tour. Helping his players through the highs and lows of pro tennis. Individual vs. Team Coaching in Doubles. The importance of process over outcome. Louis Cayer´s Impact on British doubles. His and Joe´s transition from College teammates to Coach and player. The importance of communication and synergy in doubles partnerships. Which doubles pairs to look out for in 2023. Other Episodes you might like:- #102: Louis Cayer- The Doubles Guru (Our most popular episode!) #132: Joe Salisbury - Double US Open Champion #140: Rajeev Ram - Multiple Grand Slam Champion Full shownotes here Help Dan & Vicki raise money for Alzheimer's Society as they take on the Great North Run in Newcastle next month.

Aug 1, 2023

In today´s episode we speak to British tennis coach Nigel Sears who has worked at the top of the women´s game for the past 35 years. During that time, Nigel has worked with 8 players who have reached the top 10 in the world, including Daniela Hantuchova, Ana Ivanovic and GB´s Emma Raducanu. His success as a player and a WTA Tour coach has taken him to various roles including Head of Womens Tennis at the LTA, GB Fed Cup Captain and a commentator. He´s also Father-in-Law to a certain Sir Andy Murray. Nigel´s wealth of experience in the game is there for all to see, and now for you all to hear! Enjoy 68 minutes of storytelling, insights and advice. Whether you´re a player, parent, coach or just a tennis/sports enthusiast, this is not one to miss. Episode Highlights:- How Nigel became a known as a WTA Coach How his coaching philosophy has changed over the years. Nigel´s non-negotiables when working with a player The impotance of adapting your coaching style to match players' individual needs and game strategies. His reflections on his coaching career Links Mentioned in this Epsiode:- Connect with us : Website | Instagram | Email us Help Dan & Vicki raise money for Alzheimer's Society as they take on the Great North Run in Newcastle next month. SotoTennis Academy: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Jul 21, 2023

The 2023 Wimbledon Championships gave us some amazing moments, and a new King and Queen of Centre Court. Carlos Alcaraz became the first man outside of the Big 4 to win the Wimbledon men´s singles title since 2002. Meanwhile the Czech Republic´s Marketa Vondrousova was the first unseeded player to win the women´s title in the Open era. It was a great year for GB tennis too, with 3 British Wimbledon titles, and in today´s episode we speak to two of the Champions! World men´s doubles number 1 Neal Skupski chats to the panel about winning the doubles title with partner Wesley Kooloff for the first time. GB´s Gordon Reid also joins the show to talk about his 5th Wimbledon men´s wheelchair doubles title with Alfie Hewett, and that incredible crowd on Court number 1! Joining CTC Host Dan Kiernan to discuss all of the storylines from this year´s Championships are:- Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Doubles Champion, Freddie Nielsen Canadian WTA player Gaby Dabrowski who has been as high has 4 in the world doubles rankings GB´s Emily Webley-Smith who has been on the women´s tour for more than 20 years. A brilliant episode! Enjoy! Links & Resources Control the Controllables website Follow Control the Controllables on Instagram Find out more and get tickets for the Lexus British Open Wheelchair Championships Find out more about SotoTennis Academy: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Jul 17, 2023

Dominic Iannotti is a current world No. 3 tennis player. His career has taken him from his home in Prestwick, Scotland to Australia, Ecuador and around Europe representing the Great Britain Learning Disability National Squad. Dominic was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at 4 years old and has been playing elite level tennis since he was 14. Now 25, Dominic has recently been both training and coaching at SotoTennis Academy in Spain. In June he competed at the 2023 Virtus Global Games in France, winning the Bronze medal in Men’s Singles, and three Gold medals in the Team Event, Men’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles for GB. In today´s episode Dominic tells us all about:- How he has managed his life with Aspergers.. The life he has created for himself, and the amazing opportunities Learning Disability Tennis has given him. His advice to parents and others that are starting out on this journey His hopes for Intellectually Impaired Tennis to be included in the Paralympics and so much more.... Be ready to be inspired and share the word of Learning Disability Sport, and all that it gives to so many.

Jul 2, 2023

We´re just a few hours away from the beautiful green grass of Wimbledon being on our screens. It´s our favourite Grand Slam here at Control the Controllables, and we´ve brought back our awesome panellists to chat through what we can expect at SW19 this year! Will Djokovic make it 24 Grand Slam titles? Can Iga win back to back Slams despite not getting past the last 16 here before? Who are the in-form challengers and who should we be looking out for? Our panel also give their inside knowledge of how the courts are playing at Wimbledon and who´s game they think it will favour. Joining CTC Host Dan Kiernan on this years Wimbledon Preview Panel are:- Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Doubles Champion, Freddie Nielsen Canadian WTA player Gaby Dabrowski who has been as high has 4 in the world doubles rankings Piotr Sierzputowski is coach to USA´s Shelby Rogers, and guided Iga Swiatek to her first Grand Slam back in 2020. Kieron Vorster is Liam Broady´s S&C Coach, and has also worked with Tim Henman and Wayne Ferreira. GB´s Emily Webley-Smith who has been on the women´s tour for more than 20 years. A great listen!

Jun 29, 2023

David Hodgetts´ tennis story is one that many players can relate to. From a talented junior who dedicated his life to becoming a pro tennis player, the rigours of tennis took their toll, and by 19 he´d fallen out of love with the sport and made the decision to stop playing. To help him overcome the feelings of failure and losing his identity, David found a new focus: to build an international coffee shop brand. Fast forward a few years and David sold his Triple Two Coffee business to Cooks Global Foods which runs more than 140 coffee stores around the world. Listen to him chat to CTC Host Dan Kiernan about his journey from player to young entrepreneur of the year, and how he credits his success to the skills he developed playing tennis. Episode Highlights:- Similarities between sport and business The influence of Coaches and Mentors Managing people and building a culture What does "making it" mean? Overcoming dark moments after tennis and finding a new focus. The importance of doing things which makes you happy The transferable skills he developed during his tennis days which he thinks has given him the edge in business. Links Mentioned in this Episode Check out Triple Two Coffee Learn more about SotoTennis Academy: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Follow Control the Controllables on Instagram: @ctc.podcast Listen to our episode with British Coaching legend John Hicks

Jun 16, 2023

It was another French Open for the history books this year, as Novak Djokovic became the first man to win 23 Grand Slam titles. His win at Roland Garros also means he´s the first man to win each Grand Slam three times. In the women´s, Iga Swiatek lifted the trophy for the third time in four years. But there was also plenty of drama, stories, and inspirational moments in Paris this year. From the French crowd´s booing of Taylor Fritz, Elina Svitolina´s incredible run just 8 months after giving birth, Alcaraz cramping, to Japan´s Miyu Kato being controversially defaulted in the women´s doubles, then going onto win the Mixed Doubles. Joining CTC Host Dan Kiernan to unpack all of this and give their expert opinions and insights is our French Open panel:- Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Doubles Champion, Freddie Nielsen Canadian WTA player Gaby Dabrowski who has been as high has 4 in the world doubles rankings Piotr Sierzputowski is coach to USA´s Shelby Rogers, and guided Iga Swiatek to her first Grand Slam back in 2020. Kieron Vorster is Liam Broady´s S&C Coach, and has also worked with Tim Henman and Wayne Ferreira. GB´s Emily Webley-Smith who has been on the women´s tour for more than 20 years. Another must listen full of insight, inside knowledge, expert advice and a few laughs as well! Read full shownotes here.

Jun 13, 2023

As the clay court season comes to an end, it means we´re just a few weeks away from the next Grand Slam of the year (and our favourite), Wimbledon. 🌱🇬🇧 In today´s episode we talk to someone who knows the tournament more than most. Andrew Jarrett was the Referee at Wimbledon for 14 years between 2006 and 2019. A former player from Derby, Andrew represented Great Britain in the Davis Cup, and was a coach before becoming a world-renowned referee, and the face we were so used to seeing on the side of Centre Court! Andrew´s now written a book called ‘Championship Points’ all about his years at Wimbledon and his career in tennis, and chats to us about some of the highs and lows including:- How his playing days helped him in his later careers. Fearing for his safety in Nigeria. How he felt playing the first ever live Davis Cup singles match for Great Britain. Why he didn´t sleep much during the Wimbledon fortnight! The headaches and hard work involved in creating the Order of Play His take on Kato´s default at the French Open and more... Read full show notes here. Order a copy of ‘Championship Points’ here.

May 29, 2023

The 2023 French Open is underway in Paris, without Rafael Nadal in the draw for the first time in 19 years. Who is going to make the most of his absence to lift the men´s trophy? Will Iga Swiatek defend her womens title? Or could we see Sabalenka win her 2nd Grand Slam of the year? We have a packed panel of coaches and players joining CTC host Dan Kiernan to give their expert opinions on all this and more:- Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Doubles Champion, Freddie Nielsen Canadian WTA player Gaby Dabrowski who has been as high has 4 in the world doubles rankings Piotr Sierzputowski is coach to USA´s Shelby Rogers, and guided Iga Swiatek to her first Grand Slam back in 2020. Kieron Vorster is Liam Broady´s S&C Coach, and has also worked with Tim Henman and Wayne Ferreira. GB´s Emily Webley-Smith who has been on the women´s tour for more than 20 years. Hear their picks for the mens and women´s title at this years event, as well as their ‘dark horses to watch’. The panel also discuss whether the Masters events leading up to the French Open are working for players and spectators, now that they are two weeks long. Enjoy all the excitement from Roland Garros and don´t forget to check back in at the end of the fortnight for our French Open Review! Read full show notes here.

May 24, 2023

If you´re a tennis fan on Twitter, you´ll probably have come across The Tennis Talker. With more than 350,000 tweets and 14,000 followers to date, Chis Goldsmith, aka the Tennis Talker has become an authority on tennis, particularly amongst British tennis fans. He tweets daily news, views and results from the ATP, WTA and ITF circuits, and is often the first source of tennis news and scores for tennis followers. A big tennis fan himself, little more has been known about Chris..until now! Find out more about the man behind the tweets in today´s episode with Dan. Read full show notes here. Links Mentioned in this Episode:- Follow The Tennis Talker on Twitter: @TheTennisTalker Listen to Episode 142: Fran Jones - Northern Grit Listen to Episode 188: Pat Cash - Wimbledon Men´s Champion 1987 SotoTennis Academy: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Connect with us : Website | Instagram | Email us

May 12, 2023

In today´s episode we´re talking to 1987 Wimbledon Men´s Singles Champion Pat Cash. Pat is one of the legends of Australian tennis and was a huge fan favourite around the world in the 80´s and 90´s. Known for his black and white chequered headband, he´s widely regarded as one of the greatest serve-and-volley players of all time. Since retiring from pro tennis, Pat has become a respected commentator and analyst, sharing his expert insights with audiences around the world. He talks to us about the highs and lows of his career, gives his thoughts on tennis today and tells lots of stories. A brilliant listen! Read full show notes here . Episode highlights include:- What he told himself before serving for the Wimbledon title. He tells us about one of the biggest highlights of his career - 1984 Super Saturday at the US Open! How he dealt with depression during and after his career. Taking on a 14-year-old Rafael Nadal on clay. Did a Hungarian Princess really offer him a gift of $1 million? What he wants to be remembered for. We´ve Won Best Tennis Podcast! 🎉 Control The Controllables has been awarded Best Tennis Podcast for the second year in a row at the 2023 Sports Podcast Awards ! A massive thank you must go to YOU, for listening to and supporting Control the Controllables. If you took the time to vote for us, we are so grateful! 🙏

Mar 24, 2023

Today we´re talking doubles, after the debate over whether it should continue at the professional level reared its ugly head again. American tennis player Reilly Opelka this week suggested tennis should ‘get rid of doubles’ in a post on instagram. CTC Host Dan Kiernan is currently at the Miami Open for the "Sunshine Double" and sat down with a few people who´ve experienced both doubles and singles on the tour over the past 20 years:- Former World Number 1 doubles player and 7 time Grand Slam champion Jamie Murray Former ATP singles player Noah Rubin ATP Doubles Coach Calvin Betton Are doubles players failed singles players? Do singles players deserve more than the current 80% distribution of wages? Where is the value in having doubles a part of the Tour, was Reilly correct? Does doubles have a problem, or is it a marketing problem? The panel discuss all this and more. Dan also shares some of his experience from the last few weeks at the Indian Wells and Miami ATP/WTA 1000 events, and the differences and similarities between these tournaments and the ITF Pro Circuit Events. Not an episode to be missed! Control the Controllables Shortlisted for Best Tennis Podcast! We´re very excited to have been nominated for ´Best Tennis Podcast´ by the Sports Podcast Awards for the second year in a row! 🎧 Your amazing support last year helped us win Best Tennis Podcast and we´d love it if you could spare some time to vote for us again!! Head here to register and vote before April 6th! Thank you! 🙏

Mar 14, 2023

You won´t find many people with more experience in tennis and passion for the sport than Ireland´s Dave Miley. Dave is a former pro tennis player, coach and author who worked at the ITF for 25 years. During that time he helped bring in the mini tennis ball rule change for 10U competition adopted by the ITF and was responsible for the introduction of the combined ranking in Junior Tennis in 2005. Dave is the current Tennis Director of the Kazakhstan Federation and chats to Dan about all of this and more. Enjoy! Follow Dave Miley on Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn Read some of Dave Miley´s articles here Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email Find out more about SotoTennis Academy

Feb 12, 2023

The 2023 Australian Open saw Aryna Sabalenka winning her first Grand Slam, and Novak Djokovic equalling Rafael Nadal´s record of 22 Grand Slam titles. But it will be hard to look back on this year´s event without thinking of Sir Andy Murray´s incredible run in Week 1. Our panel of experts are back to chat to CTC Host Dan Kiernan about all the action in Melbourne... Top tennis commentator and former pro Robbie Koenig gives us an inside look from his two weeks at Melbourne Park. Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Mens Doubles Champion Freddie Nielsen . Kieron Vorster is Liam Broady´s S&C Coach, and has also worked with Tim Henman and Wayne Ferreira. GB´s Emily Webley-Smith who has been on the women´s tour for more than 20 years. And listen out for a cameo appearance from Andy Murray´s coach, Mark Hilton! He shares the view of Team Murray after Andy won all our hearts again with his superhuman 5-set battles in Australia. A jam-packed, brilliant episode. Enjoy! Read the full shownotes. We´re hiring! The Control the Controllables team is offering one lucky university student the chance to spend their placement year working on the show out here in Spain. Find out more about the role which starts in Sepemebter 2023, here . Or you an email us at ctc.podcast@sototennis.com .

Jan 24, 2023

WTA player Tamara Zidansek jumped onto our screens during the 2021 French Open, when as an unseeded player she made it through to the semi-finals at Roland Garros. Since then, the Slovenian has reached a career high of 22 WTA and this week lost in a 3 set battle to World Number 2 Ons Jabeur at the Australian Open. CTC host Dan Kiernan caught up with Tamara just before she started pre-season training last month to chat about her tennis career so far including.. How she thinks she deals with losses too well. Dealing with the emotions of playing in a Grand Slam compared to other tournaments. How she didn´t play on a hard court until she was 15-years-old. The impact periods have on womens tennis and her thoughts on Wimbledon allowing women to wear dark underwear from 2023. And so much more. Another episode not to be missed! Read more in the shownotes. Want to join the Control the Controllables Team? Starting in September 2023, we´re offering a university student the chance to spend their placement year working on the Control the Controllables Podcast here in Spain. Find out more about the role and how to apply here . Or you an email the team at ctc.podcast@sototennis.com .

Jan 15, 2023

We´re just a few hours away now from the first Grand Slam of the year! We´ve been studying the draws and have brought our panel back together for today´s episode to preview the 2023 Australian Open. Joining Control the Controllables host Dan Kiernan to discuss the "popcorn-ready" match-ups, the dark horses to look out for and their picks for the titles are:- Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Mens Doubles Champion Freddie Nielsen . Kieron Vorster is Liam Broady´s S&C Coach, and has also worked with Tim Henman and Wayne Ferreira. GB´s Emily Webley-Smith who has been on the women´s tour for more than 20 years. We want to hear who you think will be this years Australian Open Champions! Tag @ctc.podcast on Instagram or email us and let us know who you´re backing! Read full show notes here. Links & Resources: DM us on Instagram Find out more about the show and our guests on the Control the Controllables website SotoTennis Academy website Australian Open website

Jan 10, 2023

12 months ago, GB´s Henry Patten and Julian Cash were two of many pro players travelling the world on a shoe-string budget, dreaming of competing at the big events. With rankings outside of the worlds top 600, Grand Slams seemed a long way away. Fast forward to December 2022, and Patten & Cash had the most successful year on the ATP Challenger Tour.. ever! And they only played their first event together in June. With a winning streak that saw the pair win 14 trophies including 10 ATP Challenger titles, they have moved into the top 70 in the mens doubles rankings. It means the pair start 2023 with their first direct entry into a Grand Slam in Melbourne next week. In today´s episode, Henry and Julian talk through their amazing year. How did they do it? They also chat about:- The trials and tribulations of being a tennis player The feeling of going from event to event winning! Being away from home for 4 months without friends, family or coaches. What´s next for the pair? A must-listen to hear a real life Roy of the Rovers tennis story. Connect with us:- Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email Follow Henry Patten on Instagram Follow Julian Cash on Instagram

Dec 27, 2022

If you watch a lot of tennis, then you´ll be familiar with the voice of today´s guest. You may have even caught one of his legendary one-liners! Robbie Koenig is a former tennis player from South Africa who is now one of the leading commentators in the sport. Robbie won 5 doubles titles during his pro career, before turning his hand to coaching, then broadcasting. It´s not often we get to hear the views of someone with such experience in so many roles within the sport. Robbie comes from the angle of former player, coach, tennis parent and top level commentary. This unique blend gives us rare insights that you do not want to miss! Enjoy! Connect Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email Follow Robbie Koenig on Twitter Check out SotoTennis Academy

Nov 29, 2022

It´s been quite the year for Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliövaara. The GB/Finnish pair began 2022 playing the Challenger circuit, and ended it at the ATP Finals in Turin as the 5th best men´s doubles team in the world. Since January, they´ve won an ATP Title in Hamburg, reached another 6 ATP Finals, and 2 Grand Slam Quarter-finals. It´s seen Lloyd and Harri hit career high rankings of 12 and 11 in the world respectively. We speak to them fresh off the back of their run to the semi-finals of the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy to find out more about their breakthrough year, and why they work together so well. Links Mentioned in this Episode Learn more about Lloyd Glasspool in Episode 88 Listen to Louis Cayer on Control the Controllables Donate to Dan´s Movember Fundraiser for Men´s Health Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email SotoTennis Academy

Nov 8, 2022

In today´s episode we´re talking tennis and football with journalist Henry Winter. Henry is currently the Chief Football Writer for the Times. He´s written several books during his career and makes regular appearances as a pundit on TV and radio. Henry chats to us about equality in sport, and the coverage of women´s sports in the media. He gives us his thoughts on the impact of social media on journalism over the past 15 years and why he thinks sport teaches us about life. There´s also some great stories from his 35 years of writing about football, including seeing the competitive side of Tim Henman in a friendly match! Links Mentioned in this Episode:- Episode 108: Holger Rune - No Doubt Episode 84: Lloyd Glasspool - I did it my way! Connect Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email Follow Henry Winter on Twitter SotoTennis Academy: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Oct 18, 2022

In today´s episode we speak to the tennis queen of tik tok, Daria Saville! Daria is currently recovering from surgery after tearing her ACL during a match against Naomi Osaka at the Pan Pacific Open last month. A former world junior number 1, Daria won the US Open Girls title in 2010, before reaching a career high of 20 in the WTA rankings in 2017. This is her third major injury in the last few years, and in today´s episode Daria opens up about how she stays positive during months of rehab. She also talks to CTC host Dan Kiernan about being diagnosed with ADHD in her 20´s. Originally from Russia, Daria chats about her move to Australia, the pressure she puts on herself at Grand Slams and what inspires her tik tok posts that now have almost 40 million likes! Refreshingly open and entertaining, if you want to hear an honest account of what life is really like on the WTA Tour, this episode is for you! Connect Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email Follow Daria on TikTok and Instagram SotoTennis Academy

Oct 7, 2022

Eric Butorac is the Director Professional of of tennis operations and player relations at the USTA. A former American top 20 doubles player, Eric won 18 ATP doubles titles during his career and reached the final of the Australian Open in 2014. He was half of the famous Stretch and Booty doubles partnership with Jamie Murray. Since retiring from pro tennis, Butorac has also served as assistant tournament director of the combined ATP and WTA 1000-level US Open Series event. In today´s episode he chats to Control the Controllables host Dan Kiernan about his US College and pro tennis career, life after tennis, and much more... Episode Highlights:- What it was like to be part of Serena´s final US Open. Eric describes the influence a Control the Controllables mindset has had on his tennis career. Why he decided to leave a Division 1 US college team to go to a Division III college. His belief in a multi-sport approach to developing athletes. Why we need to encourage children to develop a love for the game rather than focusing on winning. This is a great episode for parents of young tennis players, enjoy! Links Mentioned in Episode:- Follow Eric Butorac on Twitter: @ebutorac #62: Valorie Kondos Field - Winning doesn’t always equal success Connect with the Control the Controllables Podcast: Website | Instagram | Email SotoTennis Academy: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Sep 30, 2022

In today´s episode we speak to GB´s Ryan Peniston. Ryan has had his breakthrough year on the ATP Tour reaching a career high of 123, with wins over top 50 players Casper Rudd, Holger Rune and Francisco Cerundolo. He had an amazing run during the grass court season reaching the quarter-finals at Nottingham, Queen's and Eastbourne, and the 2nd round of Wimbledon on his debut at SW19. Ryan was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 1, spending months in hospital undergoing surgery and chemotherapy. He tells us about how this has shaped the person he is today, and talks us through his career and goals for the next year. Ryan´s story is a great example of perseverance and hard work, a great listen for young players! Today is also International Podcast Day and we want to take this opportunity to thank you for listening to the show. We love making this podcast and we hope you´re enjoying it and learning as much from it as we are! We would love to know who your favourite guests have been, or who you would like to hear from next! Email us at ctc.podcast@sototennis.com or reach out to us on Instagram! Links Mentioned in this Episode:- Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email SotoTennis Academy: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter Episode 175: Roger Federer Retirement Special

Sep 23, 2022

Roger Federer will play the final match of his incredible career today at the Laver Cup in London. The 20 time Grand Slam Champion and former World number 1 will team up with his greatest rival Rafael Nadal in the doubles, as Europe take on the rest of the word at the 02 arena. To mark his final farewell to tennis, we´ve brought together these brilliant guests to share their tributes and stories and let us know what Roger is really like behind the scenes... 🎾 Former Belgian Pro Player Xavier Malisse 🎾 WTA Coach and STA Performance Director Carl Maes 🎾 British Pro Player Liam Broady 🎾 Pakistani Pro Player Aisam Qureshi 🎾 Journalist Neil Harman 🎾 GB Coach and Roger Federer super fan, Mark Hayden 🎾 Ukraine´s Sergiy Stakhovsky who beat Federer in the 2nd Round of Wimbledon in 2013. Our guests take a trip down memory lane and delve into the spectacular career of Roger Federer, discussing how he has been an inspiration to millions of fans all across the world 🌍 and how he will go down as one of the greatest of all time! 🐐 Packed full of stories about Roger from on and off the court, this is an episode you don't want to miss! Connect Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email SotoTennis Academy: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Sep 14, 2022

What an amazing two weeks at Flushing Meadows for the 2022 US Open! We have two new US Open Champions, a new world number 1, and we said good bye to the GOAT of the women´s game, Serena Williams. So much to discuss with our panelists, from the old to the new and story lines aplenty in between. Returning to our panel is US pro player and New York native Noah Rubin and Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain Freddie Nielsen , a Control the Controllables regular. We look into many topics including:- Has the game evolved and changed once again? How do these athletes continue to push the boundaries? Is this really the last we will see of Serena? The late finishes, why? Is this beneficial to tennis? And so much more! Enjoy... Connect with Us Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email Follow Noah Rubin on Twitter Listen´s to Noah´s podcast Behind the Racquet Follow Freddie Nielsen on Twitter SotoTennis Academy: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Sep 6, 2022

What an exciting US Open it´s been! As it draws to an end, we´ve taken the chance to speak to former England cricketer Monty Panesar about the trials and tribulations of professional sport. As you´ll hear, there´s many similarities between professional cricket and tennis. Monty tells us about his own mental health battles during his career, and the importance of sport specific fitness training. He shares stories from Ashes winning moments and what it felt like bowling out some of the greats. He also talks about his life after cricket.... will he be the next Graham Norton? Enjoy the episode and look out for our US Open Review coming next week! Connect Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email Follow Monty Panesar on Twitter Listen to Monty´s Podcast Monty Meets SotoTennis Academy

Aug 30, 2022

As the final Grand Slam of 2022 gets started, we bring together our amazing panelists to discuss all things US Open. We are joined for the first time on our Grand Slam panel by native New Yorker and ATP Player Noah Rubin who is alongside Mark Hilton, current coach to Sir Andy Murray and ever present former Wimbledon Men´s Doubles Champion and current Danish Davis Cup Captain, Freddie Nielsen. The panelists share personal stories, insights into life at the US Open and their predictions for the up and coming event from story lines to watch out for to players to watch out for. Could we have another Emma Raducanu moment? Will Serena go out the high she deserves? And finally, our panelists pick their winners for the Women´s and Men´s Singles Events. Do you agree? Send us your picks by tagging in @ctc.podcast on Instagram or @sototennis on all social media platforms. We will share the best picks!

Aug 9, 2022

Ken Skupski is one of GB´s most successful doubles players. After a career spanning 3 decades, he recently retired from pro tennis playing his last match in the Mens Doubles at Wimbledon. In today´s episode, Ken talks through his career in numbers and in words. From his success in Juniors, to his US College days at Louisiana State University, through to his 18 years on the pro tour, he shares his honest learnings, his memories and the challenges of the past 20+ years including:- GB´s Davis Cup Final win in 2015, including that winning moment. Reaching a career high doubles ranking of ATP 44, three times! The challenge of choosing the right doubles partner and when to move on. The pride he felt living out a family ambition as he partnered brother Neal to many successes. Life after pro tennis, including the Skupski Doubles Academy. Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email Find out more about the Skupski Doubles Academy

Jul 26, 2022

In today´s episode we speak to ATP Coach and former pro player Neville Godwin. Neville reached a career high of 90 in the world in singles and 57 in doubles during his career, and won the US Open Boys Doubles as a junior in 1993. After retiring he became a coach, helping fellow South African Kevin Anderson to a world top 10 ranking and the US Open final in 2017. Neville won ATP Coach of the Year that same year. After he split with Anderson, he worked with Hyeon Chung who became the first South Korean player to reach the semis of a Grand Slam in Melbourne in 2018. Neville has mostly recently worked with Reilly Opelka. A great listen! Episode Highlights:- Neville reflects on his playing career and what has changed/is still the same on the tour. Why he thinks going to US College could have given his career more longevity. He gives us an insight into Reilly Opelka´s training and why he thinks he will definitely be a top 10 player. Why he thinks the new ATP/WTA Coaching rule will be huge for Coaches. If you´re a lefty, you might want to listen out for his rule change suggestion in the Quick Fire Round! Connect with us: Instagram | Website | Email

Jul 16, 2022

Wimbledon 2022 was another fantastic event, full of stories and stand out performances. After all the pre-event hype around the ban of Russian and Belarusian players and no ATP/WTA points, the tennis did the talking at SW19. In today´s episode we are joined by some of the players behind those stories, as well as two of our regular Grand Slam panelists:- Mixed Doubles Champions Desirae Krawczyk from the USA and GB´s Neal Skupski tell us about winning their 2nd Wimbledon title in a row together. Find out if they plan to team up again next year! GB´s Lissey Barnett made the mixed doubles QF with Jonny O´Mara, beating Venus Williams and Jamie Murray in arguably the most dramatic tie-break of the Championships! Lissey shares her reflections of the match with us. Kieron Vorster, the current fitness coach of Liam Broady who had a breakthrough move to the 3rd round with a win over Diego Schwartzmann, and former Wimbledon mens doubles champion Freddie Nielsen complete our panel! Listen out for our special guest, Paul Jubb who also jumps on to share his thoughts on playing the enigmatic Nick Kygrios in round 1. Jubb came close to beating the eventual finalist, losing 7-5 in the 5th set. An episode full of laughs, surprises, exclusives and a shared love of our beautiful game at the greatest event on the planet! Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email SotoTennis Academy: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Jul 8, 2022

Ross Hutchins is a former top 30 doubles player and the Chief Player Officer at the ATP. He comes from a strong British tennis stock, as the son of Paul Hutchins, former GB Davis Cup captain and British tennis great. Ross won 5 ATP doubles titles during his pro career, reaching 13 ATP Tour doubles finals, and representing Great Britain several times in the Davis Cup. He was ranked 28 in the world in doubles in 2012 when he made the shock announcement that he´d been diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma. He made a full recovery before returning to pro tennis for a short time in 2014. After retiring from the game, Ross served as Tournament Director for the Aegon Championships at The Queen´s Club, before moving to work at the ATP. In today´s episode Ross talks to Control the Controllables about his junior and pro career, how Andy Murray supported him through his battle with cancer, his work at the ATP and more! Connect Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email Ross Hutchins on Twitter SotoTennis Academy ATP Tour

Jun 28, 2022

It´s our favourite time of the year, and Wimbledon 2022 has kicked off with a bang! 9 Brits are already through to Round 2, the most since 1997. This year there are more than 60 former and current US College players in the main draw at SW19! In today´s episode we are getting to know 5 GB players who are making their Wimbledon debuts after successful US/UK university careers. Joining CTC Host Dan Kiernan on this years Wimbledon Preview Panel are:- Julian Cash reached number 1 doubles in the nation while at Oklahoma State University. He´s just won the 2022 Surbiton Trophy and the Ilkley Trophy with partner Henry Patten Henry Patten was also ranked number 1 in the nation in doubles during his time at UNC Ashville. After picking up 2 titles this month with Cash, he now has a career high ranking of 156 ATP in doubles. Alicia Barnett has just broken into the top 100 doubles WTA. She was on the women´s team at North-Western in Chicago, before winning 13 ITF titles and reaching the final of the Lyon Open womens doubles in her WTA debut with Olivia Nicholls. Olivia Nicholls graduated from Loughborough University and currently has a WTA doubles ranking of 104. She has won 15 ITF Doubles titles. Nell Miller is still on the womens tennis team at NC State. After claiming the NCAA doubles title last month, she was awarded a wild-card into the womens doubles with fellow Brit Sonay Kartal. Sarah Borwell is former GB British Doubles number 1 and founder of US college placement company Tennis Smart. There´s so much to talk about in this episode! Hear how their college careers have helped them reach the Wimbledon main draw. How do they feel about not receiving any points? Find out what Wimbledon tips Sarah and Dan have for them and listen to all the panelist have their Wimbledon knowledge put to the test in the Quickfire Round! A fun listen! Read full shownotes here. Enjoying hearing more about our British players? Don´t miss our chat with GB´s Jack Draper here.

Jun 21, 2022

Jack Draper is one of Great Britain´s hottest up and coming prospects. At 20-years-old he broke into the world´s top 100 ATP rankings last week. It came on the same day that he picked up his first win over a top 20 player, beating Taylor Fritz in the first round at Queens. Jack sat down with CTC Host Dan Kiernan for the first time, as he prepared for the ATP grass court event in Eastbourne. Listen to him talk about his career so far, including reaching the final of Junior Wimbledon at aged 16. An inspiring listen for any upcoming young players! Read full show notes here.

Jun 7, 2022

The 2022 French Open was an historic event. Rafael Nadal won his 14th Roland Garros and 22nd Grand Slam, as he beat Casper Ruud in the final. Iga Swiatek moved to 35 match wins in a row, and her 2nd French Open title in 3 years as she swept past 18-year-old Coco Gauff in the womens final. More records were broken as Jean Julien Rojer became the oldest male play to win a Grand Slam in the Open era, as he partnered the first ever player from Central America to win a Grand Slam, Marcelo Arvevalo in the Mens Doubles. After a week of training at SotoTennis Academy and travelling with our coach Bruno Argudo, Gordon Reid and his partner Alfie Hewitt won their 10th Grand Slam in a row by defending the men´s wheelchair doubles title. So much for our panel of experts to unpack in today´s episode! 2012 Wimbledon Doubles Champion Freddie Nielsen and Kieron Vorster (Current fitness coach to Liam Broady and former fitness coach to Dan Evans, Tim Henman, Wayne Ferreira to name a few) return to the show to see how their picks faired from our French Open Preview! They also dig into the amazing acheivements and matches we witnessed throughout the fortnight. Listen out for a little bonus Wimbledon 2022 preview, as they pick their winners for this years event at SW19. Another must listen full of insight, inside knowledge, fun and a few belly laughs as well! Links Mentioned in this Episode:- Episode 114: Iga Swiatek - Teenage Gran Slam Champion Episode 108 Holger Rune - No Doubt Episode 10: Gordon Reid - Turning Challenging Times into Opportunity SotoTennis Academy

Jun 4, 2022

We first spoke to Cameron Norrie on the Control the Controllables podcast back in August 2020. He was at the US Open and sat at 76 in the ATP rankings. Since then, Cameron has won 4 ATP titles including the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells and broke into the top 10 in the world in April. Today he joins us with his coach Facu Lugones to catch up on Cameron´s amazing run of form since he was last on the show, and what he´s done differently to be able to move up the rankings. Read full shownotes here . Connect with Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email

May 26, 2022

The second Grand Slam of the season is underway! Can Iga Swiatek build on her 30-match winning streak to win the French Open for a second time? Will it be Djokovic, Nadal or man of the moment Carlos Alcaraz making it through the top half of the mens draw? Or, will we have a surprise finalist? Joining CTC host Dan Kiernan to give their expert opinions on all these questions and more are:- Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Doubles Champion, Freddie Nielsen Kieron Vorster , who has been S&C Coach to Tim Henman, Wayne Ferreira and more recently Dan Evans. Hear their picks for the mens and women´s title at this years event, as well as their ‘outsiders to watch’. They also discuss what impact the ATP and WTA´s decision to remove points from Wimbledon could have on the players, the tournament and the fans. Enjoy all the excitement from Roland Garros and don´t forget to check back in at the end of the fortnight for our French Open Review! Connect with us! Head over to Instagram and follow us at @ctc.podcast You can also keep up with all the latest from Control the Controllables on our website, www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk

May 17, 2022

Mark ¨Beef¨ Taylor is the Head S&C Coach at Tennis Australia based out of Brisbane. He is better known as fitness coach to former WTA world number 1 Ash Barty, before she shocked the tennis world by quitting the game aged 25 in March. Mark also spent many years working at the LTA (British Tennis Federation) working with players such as Jo Konta and Dan Evans. In this episode, he chats to Dan about life as an S&C coach to some of the top tennis players in the world. He also looks back on his time working with Ash Barty, and his thoughts on her going from Australian Open Champion to retirement within 2 months. Episode Highlights:- The real Ash Barty, is she who we see on TV? The demands of working with a world number one…or not? How working for free helped kickstart his career. Mark tells us where is nickname “Beef” came from! Are S&C Coaches preparing players for matchplay? Listen to his advice for aspiring S&C coaches, including understanding that they are a support service for the player and coach. Links Mentioned in this Episode Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email Follow Mark “Beef” Taylor on Twitter Episode 102: Louis Cayer - The Guru Episode 136: Matt Little - Andy Murray´s S&C Coach Episode 142: Keith Reynolds - Are we selling the game of tennis the right way? SotoTennis Academy

May 10, 2022

Dalma Gálfi is a former World junior number 1 and Junior Grand Slam champion. Dalma had a strong start to her Pro career, quickly rising up the WTA rankings to 136 in the world aged just 19. After a challenging 4 years, the 23-year-old from Hungary has just broken into the top 100 for the first time. In this episode, Dalma tells us about the pressures and expectations she faced moving into the pro game after her success as a Junior, and why she wouldn´t change a thing. Episode Highlights:- Dalma describes her feelings of relief at becoming a top 100 player. Why quick success at a young age isn´t always beneficial. How the COVID-19 pandemic helped give her perspective on her tennis career. The differences she sees between Hungarian and British tennis cultures. Dealing with the media pressures and expectations that comes with being world junior number 1. Her advice for up and coming players moving into the pro game. Links Mentioned in this Episode Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email Follow Dalma Gálfi: Instagram | Twitter SotoTennis Academy

May 3, 2022

Jofre Porta is one of a handful of tennis coaches who can say they´ve worked with two world number 1 players from a young age. The Spanish coach helped guide Carlos Moya from juniors to top of the ATP rankings, and also worked with Rafael Nadal as a junior. Jofre has previously worked for the Spanish Tennis Federation, he´s been a tennis commentator and is currently the Director of Global Tennis Team Academy in Mallorca. In this episode, he talks to Dan about coaching Moya and Nadal, why Spain produces so many players, his thoughts on the up and coming Carlos Alcaraz and much more! Episode Highlights:- Hear about Jofre´s time with Carlos Moya and Rafael Nadal. The similarities and differences between Rafa Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz at 18. The special relationship between Moya and Nadal. Why he believes effort is not a sacrifice. How he uses technology to help develop resistance. Read the Episode shownotes here. Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email Global Tennis Team International Tennis Academy SotoTennis Academy

Apr 12, 2022

At 14, Josh Sapwell was tipped to be the next Andy Murray. Having won National and European events as a junior, he became the U14 Junior World Champion in 2010, winning the prestigious Orange Bowl event in Miami. Josh was only the 3rd British player to win the boys event. He went on to be a Quarter-Finalist at Junior Wimbledon, but a catalogue of events led to him quitting the sport at the tender age of 20. In today´s episode Josh speaks about his journey and why he stopped playing for the first time. A powerful listen. Read full shownotes and more at www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk/159

Apr 5, 2022

In today´s episode we´re unpacking the biomechanics of the serve with Dr Mark Kovacs. Known as the number one serve doctor in the world, Dr Mark Kovacs has held a number of roles in elite sport including performance physiologist, sport technology consultant, researcher, coach, speaker and author. You can check out his awesome courses here. A former pro player and NCAA Doubles Champion, Mark has worked with dozens of tennis players including John Isner, Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys. Listen to him chat to Dan about the 8 stages of the tennis serve, and much more. Get your pen and notepad ready for this one! Read the full shownotes here . Control the Controllables is named Best Tennis Podcast! Control the Controllables has won Best Tennis Podcast of 2021 at the Sports Podcast Awards! 🎉 We would like to say a massive thank you for listening, voting, and for your support of the show. A huge thank you also to all of our amazing guests in 2021 who gave up their free time to tell us their stories, and pass on their tennis wisdom and experiences! The award is amazing recognition for our team behind the scenes, and will keep us even more motivated to keep bringing you exciting guests as we continue to look to get under the bonnet of the sport that we all love so much! 🎾 😍 Links Mentioned in this Episode Learn more from Dr Kovacs in one his courses Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email

Mar 29, 2022

This episode aims to shine a light on a very different area of tennis: betting and gambling. Tennis is one of the most popular sports to bet on, but match fixing is also an ongoing issue. Dave Pilgrim has over 20 years of experience in the betting industry, and is currently a betting and data expert at Sky Bet. Dave applies that expertise to tennis and has a close lens on how the tennis governing bodies and the betting companies are working together to create a safe and controlled environment for all involved. This is a polarising topic and an episode that will get you thinking about the relationship between the sport and the gambling industry as a whole. Episode Highlights:- How common is Matchfixing in tennis? Courtsiding and how the betting industry is trying to combat it. Why Dave thinks tennis and the betting industry have a mutually beneficial relationship. Where does the money that goes into tennis from the betting industry come from? What the gaming industry does to support the life threatening challenges of gambling addicts. You can call the National Gambling Helpline , for free, on 0808 8020 133. You can also access online support groups, forums and free resource at gamblingtherapy.org or download the app. Links Mentioned in this Episode Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email GAMSTOP International Tennis Integrity Agency Episode 114: Iga Swiatek - Teenage Grand Slam Champion Episode 132: Joe Salisbury - Double US Open Champion

Mar 22, 2022

In today´s episode we speak to Australian tennis player Matt Reid. Matt has partnered some of the biggest names in Australian tennis during his career, including Nick Kyrgios, Lleyton Hewitt and Bernard Tomic. He has a career high ranking of number 60 in Doubles and 183 in singles. Matt has consistently been part of Australia´s Davis Cup squad as a hitting partner and unofficial mentor to the team. He also coached Nick Kyrgios for two years, whilst playing doubles together. Matt gives us a fascinating insight into his time on the tour, and some great stories! A brilliant listen! Read full shownotes here. Episode Highlights:- The highs and lows of his career so far Why he thinks juniors is such a good route for players. How Australia´s Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt helped him to decide to focus on doubles. His role as unofficial mentor and hitter in the Davis Cup Team. What is was like working with Kygios as a coach & doubles partner And lots more stories from the tour! Connect Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email Follow Matt Reid on Instagram Check out SotoTennis Academy

Mar 15, 2022

“It feels like he´s got the momentum right now¨ “There´s been a big shift in momentum in this set¨ “Everything seems to be going against her¨ We hear phrases like these a lot when we watch tennis, and we can feel them when we play. But what really is momentum? In today´s episode we speak to Alistair Higham who is an international expert on matchplay and momentum in sport. Alistair has written online courses and two best-selling books on Momentum, and regularly speaks at conferences around the world. A former player and GB National Coach, Alistair was also Head of Coach Education at the LTA. He is currently GB Team Manager for World Student Games and heads up the GB University Programme for the LTA. Listen to Dan quiz Alistair about match flow and momentum and why it´s so important. This is a long episode but jam-packed full of learnings for coaches and tennis parents. Read full shownotes here. Links Mentioned in this Episode Check out the Match Flow & Momentum Online Courses Find out more about tennis in British Universities: www.lta.org.uk/universities Episode 143: Keith Reynolds - Are we selling the game of tennis the right way? Connect Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email Follow Alistair Higham: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn Momentum in Sport: Instagram | Twitter British University Tennis on Twitter

Mar 8, 2022

Today is International Women´s Day and what better way to mark it than hearing from one of the most recognisable faces and voices in tennis. Barbara Schett-Eagle reached a career high of number 7 in the world in singles and 8 in doubles, making her the highest ranked Austrian female tennis player of all time. She retired from tennis at the 2005 Australian Open, moving straight into presenting and commentating for Eurosport at Roland Garros that same year. Barbara is probably most well known for Game, Set Mats, the daily live show that she hosts with Mats Wilander at all four Grand Slams. In today´s episode, Barbara chats to Dan about her tennis career, her smooth transition into broadcasting, and marrying her former Wimbledon mixed doubles partner! Episode Highlights:- How working with a sports psychologist to cope with negative thoughts helped her break into the top 10 in the world. What it was like being on the end of Steffi Graf´s slice! How her physical and mental preparation for reporting on Grand Slams is similar to when she was playing at them. The importance of goal setting and how she still sets herself targets now. Her memories of winning the Wimbledon Invitational with Jana Novotna. Read full show notes here. Links Mentioned in this Episode Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email Follow Barbara Schett-Eagle: Instagram | Twitter Watch Barbara speak to Elina Svitolina about her fears for Ukraine Episode 153: Ukraine´s Sergiy Stakhovsky on fighting for his country Donate to Tennis Plays for Peace

Mar 1, 2022

Just a few weeks ago, Ukrainian tennis player Sergiy Stakhovsky was playing the final match of his career at the Australian Open. After nearly 20 years on the tour, the 36-year-old announced his retirement in January, ready to spend more time with his wife and three children. Instead, and despite no military experience, Sergiy has enlisted in the Ukrainian military reserves to defend his country against its invasion by Russia. We caught up with Sergiy from his home city of Kyiv, to talk about his decision and what life is like there currently. A sobering, but important listen. #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 Read the full shownotes here . Connect Follow Sergiy Stakhovsky on Twitter Control the Controllables Website | Instagram | Email Listen to Episode 91: Sergiy Stakhovsky - No Holds Barred SotoTennis Academy We´ve been Nominated for Best Tennis Podcast! There´s just a few days left to vote for us for us for ´Best Tennis Podcast of the Year´ by the Sports Podcast Awards 🎧🏆 We are so excited to be nominated, and would be so grateful it if you could spare a couple of minutes to register here and vote for Control the Controllables! Voting closes on March 6th 2022. Thank you 🙏

Feb 22, 2022

In today´s episode we speak to Piotr Sierzputowski, the former coach of top 5 WTA player Iga Swiatek. Piotr was Iga´s coach from age 15 to 20, guiding her from top junior to a career high of 4 in the WTA rankings. Iga became the first Polish player to win a Grand Slam title at the 2020 French Open, when she lifted the trophy at just 19-years-old. That same year Piotr was named the WTA Coach of the Year. They recently parted ways, and in his chat with Dan, Piotr reflects on their split, and 5 years working together. He also gives amazing insight into his coaching philosophy, how he brought together Iga´s team and why he wasn´t afraid to hire people who had more skills than him. Episode Highlights:- How Piotr first started working with Iga despite being a young, inexperienced Coach. He talks through Iga´s win at Roland Garros in 2020. Why it´s so important for Coaches to put their ego´s aside and listen to their players. Why you shouldn´t change the team around a player, if everything is working well. Why he thinks the team around Iga was so crucial to her early success. How he uses data analysis as a development tool for players, and to help keep training fresh. Read full show notes here. Listen to Iga Swiatek´s episode on Control the Controllables We need your vote! We´re very excited to have been shortlisted for ´Best Tennis Podcast of the Year´ by the Sports Podcast Awards 🎧🏆 We would massively appreciate it if you could spare just a couple of minutes to register here and vote for Control the Controllables before voting closes on March 6th! Thank you!

Feb 15, 2022

Dan Smethurst is a British tennis coach and former player who most recently worked with top WTA player Johanna Konta. A talented youngster, Dan was world junior number 29 before playing on the ITF and ATP Challenger Tour, reaching a career high ranking of 234 in 2014. After quitting tennis he moved into coaching, working with Team Bath Tennis high performance players. Dan was Konta´s assistant coach and hitting partner for 2 years before her retirement in 2021, including her run to the French Open semi-final in 2019. He´s currently working with GB´s Aidan McHugh. In this episode, Dan chats to Control the Controllables about:- His journey from a top junior into the pro tour, including why he nearly stopped playing tennis at 13. How he uses his playing experience as a coach to help players in tough moments. What he learned from working with Johanna Konta. The advice he would give to his younger self, and what he wished he´d learned as a player....and much more! See full show notes here. 150th Episode Giveaway Winner! In today´s episode we also announce the lucky winner of our 150th Episode Giveaway! Find out who has won a FREE training week at SotoTennis Academy! We´ve been nominated for Best Tennis Podcast! We´re very excited to have been shortlisted for ´Best Tennis Podcast of the Year´ by the Sports Podcast Awards 🎧🏆 We would massively appreciate it if you could spare just a couple of minutes to register here and vote for Control the Controllables! It is also a great chance to discover some other brilliant sport podcasts! Thank you 🙏

Feb 8, 2022

It´s our 150th episode of Control the Controllables! And for a special episode, we have a special guest as we speak to former US number 1 and current Davis Cup Captain Mardy Fish. Mardy won 14 singles and doubles titles and reached number 7 in the world, before an anxiety disorder threatened his career. After suffering with anxiety and panic attacks, he was forced to withdraw from the 2012 US Open at the peak of his game, not returning to professional tennis until 2015. He recently told his story in the must-watch Netflix documentary, Untold:Breaking Point. In this episode, Mardy talks to us about his career and mental health battles, and why he wants us to stop thinking of mental health as separate to physical health. A powerful episode! Read full show notes here. Links & Resources Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email Mardy Fish on Twitter Watch the Netflix documentary Untold: Breaking Point Mardy Fish Children´s Foundation SotoTennis Academy Win a Free Training Week at SotoTennis Academy! Thank you so much for helping us reach 150 episodes of Control the Controllables! To celebrate, we are giving you/your child the chance to win a free training week at SotoTennis Academy. Here´s how you can enter:- Follow @ctc.podcast and @sototennis on Instagram Like one of our podcast posts on Instagram Tag 3 friends in the comments underneath Get a Bonus Entry by sharing on your story! You have until Monday 14th February 8pm CET to get your entry in. Good luck! If our podcast or an episode inspires you in some way, please consider making a donation to support and say thank you, by buying us a coffee ☕️! This will assist with the time and costs involved in bringing each episode to you, as we continue to improve and grow the podcast. Thank you for your listening to the show and for all your support! ⭐

Jan 31, 2022

We won´t be forgetting the 2022 Australian Open for a while! It´s been one for the history books, with Rafael Nadal winning his 21st Grand Slam thanks to an epic five-set victory over Daniil Medvedev. Ash Barty became the first Australian to win in Melbourne in 44 years. And let´s not forget the all-Aussie mens doubles final, won by wildcards and this years crowd entertainers Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis! Brits Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewitt won their 9th consecutive Grand Slam wheelchair men´s doubles title, while Australian Dylan Alcott bid an emotional farewell to the crowds on the Rod Laver Arena. And then there was the small cat. 😳 We´ve brought our panel together to chat through all of this and more from an incredible fortnight in Melbourne! Joining CTC host Dan Kiernan are:- 2005 Wimbledon Doubles Champion and USTA Coach Stephen Huss Former British number 1 turned Coach and TV commentator Lucie Ahl Former Belgian number 1 and ATP top 25 player Xavier Malisse Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Doubles Champion Freddie Nielsen Kieron Vorster who has been S&C Coach to Tim Henman, Wayne Ferreira and recently Dan Evans. Read full shownotes here. We need your vote! 🙏 We are very excited to have been shortlisted for ´Best Tennis Podcast of the Year´ by the Sports Podcast Awards, powered by Sport Industry 🎧🏆 We would massively appreciate it if you could spare just a couple of minutes to register here and vote for Control the Controllables! It is also a great chance to discover some other brilliant sport podcasts! Thank you 🙏

Jan 25, 2022

Stanford Evans Boster is a South African who has made USA his home, and American Tennis is lucky to have him. He is the current coach to Junior World Number 4, Victor Lilov who made the final of the Boys Singles at Junior Wimbledon 2021. Stanford is no stranger to working with World Class Juniors. He coached Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish in their formative Junior days and was working for the USTA at the time when Taylor Fritz, Reilly Opelka, Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe, Noah Rubin, Stefan Kozlov and co were coming through. So developing world class juniors into pros is in his blood. In today´s episode, Stanford tells his journey from the South African who entered America with $250 in his pocket, to the coach who was developing a future world number 1 and multiple Grand Slam winner. Episode highlights include:- His non-negotiables to be a top pro player. Why developing a top 100 ATP player ´ísn´t difficult´. Stories from Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish´s junior days. Why he was fired from the Evert Tennis Academy, and the player they told him to take with him! What one thing he sees parents getting wrong. An episode full of rich learnings and insightful, fun stories! Links & Resources DM us on Instagram Control the Controllables website Email Control the Controllables SotoTennis Academy website Full shownotes are available here. We´ve been Nominated! We are very excited to have been shortlisted for ´Best Tennis Podcast of the Year´ by the Sports Podcast Awards, powered by Sport Industry 🎧🏆 We are up against some fierce competition, so if you listen to and enjoy our podcast, your help would be massively appreciated 😊 It takes just a couple of minutes to register here and vote for Control the Controllables! It is also a great chance to discover some other brilliant sport podcasts! Thank you 🙏

Jan 17, 2022

With the first Grand Slam of 2022 underway, we´ve brought our panel of former pros back together to preview the Australian Open. What a few weeks it’s been, tennis has been global news with the Novak Djokovic visa saga, and we are ready to start focusing on the tennis over the next 2 weeks in Melbourne. Listen to Dan discuss all the latest from Melbourne with our Aussie Open Preview panellists:- Former British player, coach and TV commentator Lucie Ahl Former Belgian number 1 and ATP top 25 player Xavier Malisse GB Coach Mark Hilton and former coach to Dan Evans and Liam Broady South African, Kieron Vorster the former S&C Coach to Tim Henman, Wayne Ferreira and recently Dan Evans. Listen to their favourite Aussie Open stories and hear their favourites, as well as their outsiders to watch for both the Women’s and Men’s events. We want to hear your picks for the titles this year! Do you think we could see another surprise winner like Emma Raducanu at the the US Open? Head over to our Instagram page or email us at ctc.podcast@sototennis.com and let us know! Links & Resources: DM us on Instagram Control the Controllables website SotoTennis Academy website Full show notes are available here Enjoying the Podcast? Follow us on your favourite podcast player, and head over to the Control the Controllables website to choose your next episode!

Dec 29, 2021

In today´s episode, Dan sits down with Vicki to chat through their favourite moments and key learnings from 2021 on Control the Controllables. Listen to some of the most inspirational stories from this years guests, and find out which have been the top 5 most listened to episodes of 2021. Can we take this opportunity to thank you for supporting Control the Controllables this year. We wish you a happy new year and a healthy and happy 2022!

Dec 14, 2021

In this week´s episode we get to know up-and-coming British player Sonay Kartal. Sonay, 20, has had an impressive 2021. After coming back from injury earlier in the year, she won the UK Pro League Masters event. She also won her first two ITF Pro Circuit titles, breaking into the top 900 for the first time. You may have seen Sonay recently in a clip that went viral on social media. The video is an epic point against US Open Champion Emma Raducanu in an orange ball match when they were both just 9-year-olds. Sonay talks about this and more in a fascinating episode. Episode Highlights include:- How the UK Pro League has helped Sonay. Why she doesn´t pay attention to rankings. How having to take ownership of her tennis from a young age has helped her. Why she chose against the US College route. Why she believes losing is important. Links Mentioned in this Episode Episode 143: Keith Reynolds - Are we selling the game of tennis the right way? Episode 26: Dan Evans - Skills pay the bills UK Pro League

Dec 7, 2021

Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna has achieved so much in his playing career. A Grand Slam champion, he has also reached multiple Grand Slam finals, and reached number 3 in the world in doubles. On top of this, he is already looking ahead to help the next generation of Indian tennis players through the Rohan Bopanna Tennis Academy in Bangalore. He balances this with his own coffee brand, Maverick & Farmer . Rohan is a delightful man, with messages that are important to be heard. He is a big supporter of the PTPA and what could happen if they are able to push their voice through. He discusses all of this and more in another must listen episode! Links mentioned in this Episode:- Rohan Bopanna Tennis Academy SotoTennis Academy Maverick & Farmer Coffee Episode 143: Keith Reynolds - Are we selling the game of tennis the right way? Connect Follow Rohan on Twitter: @rohanbopanna Follow Rohan on Instagram: @rohanbopanna0403 Follow SotoTennis Academy on Instagram: @sototennis

Nov 30, 2021

Keith Reynolds is a tennis coach who has experienced the sport at all levels. He is the co-owner and founder of The Watchorn Tennis Club in Derbyshire which has produced 29 National Champions. He´s also coached many top international and national players, including GB Davis Cup player Jamie Baker. A strong sportsman himself, Keith played tennis to international level as a junior and reached a career high ITF ranking of 491. He was also the +35 GB National Champion. Keith is well known for developing coaches and coach education, and is the author of The Tennis Coach’s Toolkit . In 2015, he won the LTA´s Aegon Lifetime Achievement Award. In this episode, Keith and CTC host Dan Kiernan discuss... Are we selling tennis correctly? Why tennis as a sport needs to appeal to wider communities. His belief that tennis makes us better equipped for what life throws at us. The importance of understanding the realities of tennis. Connect Follow Keith on Twitter: @tennistoolkit Follow Control the Controllables on Instagam: @ctc.podcast Don´t miss an episode of Control the Controllables! Head to our website to choose an episode to listen to next and read more on our guests!

Nov 16, 2021

Francesca Jones is a British tennis player who is currently ranked 153 in the world. Originally from Bradford, the 21-year-old moved to Spain at age 10 to train at the Sanchez Casal Tennis Academy. She reached number 31 in the junior world rankings, before qualifying for her first Grand Slam at the Australian Open in January. Francesca was born with Ectrodactyly Ectodermal Dysplasia (EED) syndrome, which is a rare genetic condition that has required her to have more than 10 surgeries. She is missing a finger on each hand and 3 toes, something which doctors told her parents would prevent her from playing tennis. Instead, she has risen up the rankings and played at all 4 Grand Slams this year. In today´s episode, CTC Host Dan Kiernan chats to Francesca about: Her unusual introduction to tennis. Her reflections on her achievements in 2021. How her physical differences affect her training and how she´s overcome them. The influence training at Spanish Academies has had on her tennis game. The expectations she put on herself after qualifying for the 2021 Australian Open. Why she took the decision to end her season in September. Let us know your thoughts on this episode! Email us at ctc.podcast@sototennis.com or you can find us on instagram, @ctc.podcast

Nov 9, 2021

Lucie Ahl is a former British number 1 and WTA 161 singles player. She competed numerous times at Grand Slams and has a 100% record at the Fed Cup representing Great Britain. Life after playing tennis professionally has taken Lucie into coaching, as a travelling coach with Laura Robson, Jodie Burrage and many more. She has had a successful coaching career working with top British juniors and senior players, both male and female. She´s also now a member of the LTA Coach Education Team, helping develop the next generation of GB coaches. Lucie´s voice can be frequently heard on TV and Radio as a commentator for Amazon Prime, Tennis TV, Eurosport and Wimbledon Radio. In today´s episode, listen to Lucie Ahl chat to CTC Host Dan Kiernan about:- Her journey from average junior to British number one. Her reflections on the highs and lows of her pro career. The challenges of being a female coach in a male dominant industry. The challenges she set herself away from the court, including Ironman targets. British Tennis Coaches and the shortage of career pathways. Her favourite tennis moments she has commentated on. Links Mentioned in this episode:- Episode 87: Jodie Burrage - On the Rise Episode 63: Heather Watson - WTA Tour Life Episode 14: John Hicks - A British Coaching Legend SotoTennis Academy LTA Coach Development & Education

Nov 2, 2021

Rajeev Ram is a multiple Grand Slam Champion and the current World number 4 mens doubles player. The 37-year-old American has won the Australian Open mixed doubles twice with Barbora Krejčíková. He´s reached 3 Grand Slam mens doubles finals with GB´s Joe Salisbury, winning the 2020 Australian Open and 2021 US Open titles. Rajeev was a successful junior, and reached a career high of 56 in the world in singles in 2016, before deciding to focus on doubles. Rajeev has reached the final of 40 ATP doubles events during his career, and next month will make his Davis Cup debut for the USA. In this episode, listen to Rajeev Ram talk to CTC Host Dan Kiernan about:- How tennis started for him as a fun Father/Son activity. His decision to go to US College and winning a NCAA Championship. Why he regrets leaving the University of Illinois after just 1 season. How going back to playing his own game style helped him break into the top 100. Coping with the losses and how he still enjoys learning and improving from them. His successful partnership with GB´s Joe Salisbury. Do they plan on playing together in 2022?

Oct 26, 2021

Jimmy Arias is a former world number 5. At the age of 15, he became the youngest person to achieve a world ranking, and went onto win 5 ATP singles titles and the 1981 French Open Mixed Doubles. During his career he has had wins over Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Boris Becker, Jim Courier, Mats Wilander, Pat Cash and Goran Ivanisevic. Jimmy Arias´name is synonymous with the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, now known as the IMG Academy. He was one of the original students at the academy in 1978, and in 2018 he became Director of Tennis. He has been a commentator for ESPN and the Tennis Channel, and as you will find out in this episode, he is a great storyteller! Episode Highlights include:- How his relationship with his father shaped his tennis career. How the famous Arias forehand came about. Why he made the decision to work with Nick Bollettieri His time as an ¨original¨ at the IMG Academy. His inner belief from a young age. How he changed his game after being diagnosed with Mono. Find out which tennis legends he found the most difficult to play! What frustrates him about the current game, and what has changed since his era. An entertaining episode, enjoy! Connect with Jimmy Arias:- Twitter: @ariastennis Instragram: @jimmyariastennis Website: www.jimmyarias.com

Oct 19, 2021

Fernando Segal is a world-leading coach, tennis development expert and an influential figure in the tennis world. From Argentina, Fernando has more than 40 years experience in coaching. During that time he´s written 11 books, and directed development programs for National Tennis Federations in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, New Zealand, and others. From these, junior players have been developed who have won 16 Junior Grand Slams, Top 10 ATP / WTA and multiple Top 100 players including David Nalbandian, Paula Ormaechea, Guillermo Coria and Cara Black. His goal is to professionalise the tennis industry and between 27th-30th October 2021 his organisation Segal Institute, is hosting the first international virtual tennis event. TBD Innovation Week will bring together and give everyone involved in tennis the opportunity to connect and learn from more than 80 speakers at the online event. Dr Jim Loehr , Allistair McCaw , Janko Tipsarovic, and our own CTC Host Dan Kiernan are among the line-up, with topics like uniting tennis through technology, the future of college tennis, and female player development and communication and more! In this episode, Fernando Segal chats to CTC Host Dan Kiernan about:- Why he believes we should all know more about the history of our sport. Why he always knew coaching would be his calling. Why he wants to professionalise the tennis industry. His goal for everyone in tennis to work together to promote the sport. The role of Federations and coaches in promoting tennis. His belief that there´s too much emphasis on high performance, and not enough on grass roots tennis. Read more on Fernando Segal Sign up to TBD Innovation Week!

Oct 12, 2021

Ben Haran is one of the leading tennis coaches in Great Britain. He is the Head Coach at Reeds Tennis Academy in Surrey, where for the past 17 years he´s guided dozens of young players to national and international level. A former player himself, Ben left home at 10-year-old to join the Slater Squad, based at Reeds School. There, he grew up training with fellow Brits Tim Henman & Jamie Delgado. Ben has recently worked with James Ward & Dan Evans and was mentored by legendary Australian coach Bob Brett. Listen to Ben chat to CTC Host Dan Kiernan about:- The importance of learning your trade in coaching. How he found leaving home at 10 to join the Slater Squad. Why Tim Henman was the most successful player from the squad? How Bob Brett became his mentor (this is a great story!) and the impact he has had on his career. Why he thinks it´s so beneficial for coaches to have a mentor. Control the Controllables on Instagram: @ctc.podcast

Oct 5, 2021

Matt Little is one of the world´s most renowned S&C Coaches. He´s worked with Andy Murray for the past 14 years, through the highs and lows of 3 Grand Slam titles, 2 Olympic gold medals, a Davis Cup win and career-threatening injuries. Matt was by Murray´s side through two hip surgeries, his gruelling recovery and inspiring return to tennis. He´s just released a new book, The Way of the Tortoise: Why You Have to Take the Slow Lane to Get Ahead. In today´s episode, Matt chats to CTC Host Dan Kiernan about working with Andy, his career in S&C, and gives some fascinating insight into :- His journey from young tennis player to coaching a World Number 1. How he prepares himself to watch Murray´s matches. How his role in Andy Murray´s team has developed through the years. What working with Murray in 2016 was really like! The impact Murray´s hip injuries had on the team, and how rewarding his return to tennis has been. The importance of soft skills in coaching. Why he recommends young tennis & S&C coaches find their own niche in tennis. The inspiration for his new book The Way of the Tortoise. What´s next for S&C in tennis. Episode ShowNotes Control the Controllables on Instagram: @ctc.podcast SotoTennis Academy on Instagram: @sototennis

Sep 28, 2021

Ryan Jones is a British Coach who has been working on the ATP/ITF tour for the past 10 years. Ryan has taken Borna Coric and Kyle Edmund into the ATP top 100 and is well on the way to the same result with young British hope Jack Draper. You may have seen Jack take the first set off World Number one Novak Djokovic in his Wimbledon debut this summer. Ryan comes from a strong tennis pedigree, as the son of Alan Jones. Alan famously coached Jo Durie to the top 5 in the world back in the 1980´s. All three now work together at Junior Elite Tennis academy in the UK. Ryan is clearly passionate about tennis and, like his dad, has discipline at the heart of his coaching philosophy. He gives us raw insight into how he works and what he believes. He also chats to CTC Host Dan Kiernan about:- The impact his father Alan Jones has had on his playing and coaching career. The traits he looks for in a player. Are Coaches in the UK too soft on players? The sacrifices needed to be a tennis coach. His journey so far with Jack Draper. If becoming a Father will change his coaching style. A great listen! Links Mentioned in this Episode:- Episode 103: Borna Coric - Ownership Episode 131: Facundo Lugones - Find a Way Don´t miss an episode of Control the Controllables! Check out our website , and subscribe to the podcast here! You can also follow @ctc.podcast on Instagram!

Sep 21, 2021

Up until the 2021 US Open, Alastair Filmer was known as one of Great Britain´s leading performance coaches. He´s now more commonly referred to as Emma Raducanu´s former coach. The 18-year-old has been in the spotlight since she stormed to the women´s title as a qualifier earlier this month. Alistair coached Emma between the ages of 11 - 14, guiding her to her first ITF title at 13, and 3rd place at the U14 Orange Bowl. He was Head of Performance at Bromley Tennis Centre for 7 years, before moving to Dukes Meadows as Head of the Regional Performance Centre. In this episode, Alastair talks to Control the Controllables about:- How he felt watching Emma Raducanu win her first Grand Slam. He gives us an insight into her training schedule at age 11 - 14. Did he think she was going to be a superstar at this age? The challenges that come with coaching high-level players. He discusses self-worth and judgment linked to the player you work with, rather than the job you do. Setting the culture and building character first. A fascinating listen! Let us know your thoughts on this episode! Leave a rating and review or you can email us directly at ctc.podcast@sototennis.com Don´t want to miss an episode? Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and follow us on Instagram @ctc.podcast

Sep 20, 2021

In this bonus episode, we speak to Alexa Guarachi who is currently World Number 12 in Womens´doubles. Alexa has just reached the Semi-Final of the Women´s Doubles at the US Open with partner Desirae Krawczyk. The pair previously reached the final at Roland Garros in 2020. The daughter of an American mother and a Chilean Father, the 30-year-old has represented Chile since 2015. She has 5 WTA and 20 ITF Doubles titles to her name and is currently coached by GB´s Craig Veal. Listen to Alexa speak to CTC Host Dan Kiernan about:- How she´s been able to rise up the rankings each year. The impact her tennis-playing parents have had on her career. Her time at the University of Alabama, where she broke the record for the most wins in one season. Coming back from tearing her ACL and how it changed her mindset on her tennis. Her decision to focus on Doubles. How her positive attitude has helped her tennis career. What she believes makes a good doubles partner. The number 1 thing she looks for in a coach. Enjoy! Links Mentioned in this Episode: Follow Alexa on Instagram: @aguarachi Follow Alexa on Twitter: @aguarachi Episode 129: Wimbledon Review Episode 103: Craig Veal - Step by Step Find out more about SotoTennis Academy and keep up with all the latest at the Academy over on Instagram .

Sep 14, 2021

It´s not been a bad few weeks for GB´s Joe Salisbury. In fact, it´s not been a bad year! The 29-year-old completed a US Open double at the weekend, winning the Men´s Doubles with partner Rajeev Ram on Friday, followed by the Mixed Doubles title with Desirae Krawczyk the next day. Joe has now reached 5 Grand Slam doubles finals in 2021, winning 3 of them. He´s now world number 4 and a 4-time Grand Slam Champion. In this episode, Joe talks to CTC Host Dan Kiernan about his amazing fortnight at Flushing Meadows and the incredible run to the women´s title by fellow Brit Emma Raducanu. He also discusses:- Why 2021 has been such a successful year for him. The benefits of his consistent partnership with Rajeev Ram. The impact of coaches Justin Sherring, Louis Cayer & Rob Morgan on his career. Playing his first Olympics this summer with Andy Murray. He confirms if he and Desirae Krawczyk will go for their 3rd Grand Slam together at the Aussie Open. His goals for his tennis career and after. Links Mentioned in this Episode: Episode 129: Wimbledon Review Episode 102: Louis Cayer - The Guru! Follow Joe Salisbury on Twitter: @joesalisbury92 Follow Joe Salisbury on Instagram: @joesalisbury92

Sep 7, 2021

Facundo Lugones has been Cameron Norrie´s coach since 2017. The pair played together on the Mens Tennis Team at Texas Christian University for 12 months, before Facu became a Graduate Coach for the team. The 28-year-old Argentinian has guided Norrie to 3 ATP Challenger Tour titles, and 2 ATP Tour Doubles Titles. In June, Norrie reached the final at Queens, before winning his first ATP title in July in Los Cabos, breaking into the top 30 for the first time. In this episode, CTC Host Dan Kiernan chats to Facu about:- Why he thinks Norrie has had such a successful 2021 so far. Growing up playing in Argentina with Diego Schwartzman & Nicolás Kicker Why he thinks Argentina is producing so many players Why he doesn´t think money is an obstacle for players to be successful HIs time at US College and how he moved from playing into coaching. His advice to young coaches. Links Mentioned in this Episode Episode 55: Cameron Norrie - College Stud to Pro Life Episode 96: David Walsh - Pursuit of the Truth Follow Facu Lugones on Twitter: @faculugones Follow Control the Controllables on Instagram: @ctc.podcast

Aug 29, 2021

If you watched any of the 2021 Australian Open in January, you wouldn´t have missed Craig Tiley. The Director of the Aussie Open was on our screens throughout the tournament as he dealt with tennis players and officials in hotel quarantine for 14 days, and a local lockdown in Melbourne. In this episode, Craig talks to CTC Host Dan Kiernan about the difficulties of running a Grand Slam during the pandemic, and shares all the latest of what the 2022 Australian Open will look like. Craig also looks back on his career in tennis which started in is native South Africa and includes being South Africa´s Davis Cup Captain for 3 years. He also spent 11 years in the USA as Head Coach at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. There he led the mens team to 2 National Team Indoor Championships, as well a 32–0 record and an NCAA Championship in 2003. Now, as well as running the Australian Open, Craig is also the CEO of Tennis Australia. Craig´s passion for tennis and love of helping others shines through in this episode. Enjoy! Enjoyed the episode? We´d love to hear from you! Leave us a rating and review here! You can also head over to our website or follow us on Instagram for all the latest on Control the Controllables! Follow Craig Tiley on Twitter

Aug 12, 2021

We´ve kept you waiting for this episode, but it´s worth the wait! Listen to our review of the 2021 Wimbledon Championships with this year´s Mixed Doubles Champions Neal Skupski & Desirae Krawczyk. Neil has recently reached a career high of 14 in the world in doubles. The Brit teamed up with Desirae for the first time at Wimbledon, fresh off the back of her French Open Mixed doubles title with GB´s Joe Salisbury. Also joining the review is Desirae´s coach Craig Veal. They chat to CTC host Dan Kiernan about the highs and lows at SW19 this year, their experience on Centre Court and run to the Mixed doubles title. They also chat about Neils experience representing GB at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Desirae also answers the burning question....who will she be playing with in the Mixed at next month´s US Open, Joe or Neil?! Enjoy! Connect with us! For all the latest on the Control the Controllables podcast, head to our website www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk You can also follow us on Instagram at @ctc.podcast We´d love to hear from you! If you´re feeling extra generous, you can leave us a rating and review over on Apple Podcasts.

Jul 13, 2021

Maik Burlage is a former professional tennis player, and now the founder and CEO of Wingfield. The 30-year-old German played professionally for nearly 3 years, before moving into Coaching and then tech innovation. He set up Wingfield with the aim to bring affordable smart match and performance analysis to the wider tennis community. Wingfield´s technology gives players the opportunity to receive instant video and data from their practise session or match at their local club. The data, like your first serve percentage, is delivered on the court or through a smart phone app. Listen to Maik talk to CTC Host Dan Kiernan about:- His tennis career How he moved from player to coach to entrepreneur. Where his love of data came from. How he used the skills he acquired as a tennis player to set up his own company. How he would use data analysis as a coach. The future of data in the sport of tennis. Links Mentioned in this Episode:- Find out more about Wingfield Episode 123: Luke Jensen - Choose Confidence A fan of Data Analysis? You might also like these episodes:- Episode 116: Mike James - A Numbers Game Episode 23: Craig O’Shannessy - Money ball of tennis! Don´t miss an episode! Hit Subscribe on Apple Podcasts. You can also Rate and Review the podcast and let us know what you think. Or head over to @ctc.podcast on Instagram and hit follow. We´d love to hear from you!

Jul 6, 2021

Dr Jim Loehr is a world-renowned performance psychologist. He´s worked with hundreds of top athletes including Olympic Gold medalists and tennis players Jim Courier, Monica Seles & Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario. During his career he´s also worked with military Special Forces, Hostage Rescue teams, surgeons and Fortune 500 CEOs to achieve sustained high performance. Listen to Dr Loehr talk to CTC Host Dan Kiernan about:- How he started working with his first tennis player, Tom Gullikson His time working with Jimmy Connors & Nick Bollettieri´s Tennis Academy (now IMG Academy) Why he thinks more players aren´t travelling with sports psychologists…yet. How to train mentally and emotionally. Tips to help build your confidence. His belief that character strength can be built in the same way that muscle strength is built, through energy investment. The Hidden Scorecard – the importance of having different success measures. His time working with Olympic gold medal speed skater Dan Jansen. Advice to parents, players and coaches who don´t have access to a sports psychologist. An incredibly informative episode, get your notepads and pens at the ready! Links Mentioned in this Episode Website: www.jim-loehr.com Check our Dr Jim Loehrs books here Watch Dan Jansens´s Story - Never Give Up Listen to our episode with Tom Gullikson

Jun 29, 2021

In this episode we speak to British youngster Arthur Fery. The 19-year-old came within 1 match of making the main draw at Wimbledon this year, beating former top 40 player Matthew Ebden in the Qualifying at Roehampton. Arthur has recently hit a career high world ranking of 840. He had a successful junior career reaching world junior number 12, and made the semi-finals of the boys doubles at both Wimbledon and the Australian Open. He´s now studying at California´s Stanford University, signing with the highest UTR of all freshman in 2019, 13.94. Arthur´s parents are French but he grew up in Wimbledon, not far from the All England Club. His mother, Olivia, also played professional tennis, reaching the top 200 in the world and representing France in the Fed Cup. His father Loic is the owner of French Ligue 1 football team Lorient. Listen to Arthur talk to CTC host Dan Kiernan about:- Why he thinks his junior career was so beneficial The impact his Mum has had on his tennis Why he thinks game identity is so important His decision to go to US College and his time so far at Stanford University The benefits of working with 2 Coaches The importance of enjoying your tennis! Enjoying Wimbledon? You won´t want to miss our Brits at Wimbledon Special! 10 former and current British players including Kyle Edmund, Chris Wilkinson & Claire Taylor relive their Wimbledon stories and experiences. Links Mentioned in this Episode:- Arthur Ferry on Instagram: @arthurfery Episode 108: Holger Rune - No Doubt Episode 125: Brits at Wimbledon Special!

Jun 25, 2021

We´ve had to wait two years, but we´re now just a few days away from watching the green grass of Wimbledon on our screens! To celebrate the return of SW19, we´ve brought together a group of 10 former and current British Tennis players to talk about the highs and lows of being a British tennis player during the grass court season! And what a line-up it is... Kyle Edmund Harriet Dart Katie O´Brien Lucie Ahl Chris Wilkinson Danny Sapsford Claire Taylor Lee Childs Luke Milligan Julie Salmon All 10 players share their Wimbledon experiences, and what that feeling is really like walking out onto Centre Court. They also discuss how they managed the expectations of the press, the crowds and the opportunities and challenges that the grass court season brings for Brits. A brilliant episode, full of memorable Wimbledon stories! Not to be missed for British tennis fans! Want more Wimbledon discussion? Don´t miss our Wimbledon Review and Roland Garros Review episode also!

Jun 22, 2021

As the grass court season moves into its second week, our Grand Slam panellists are back! Former Belgium number 1 Xavier Mallise, and GB Coach Mark Hilton join host Dan Kiernan to review the French Open and preview Wimbledon. Hear their thoughts on all the action at Roland Garros, and what the short transition from clay to grass is like for the players. Can Roger lift that Wimbledon trophy one more time? Will Serena be able to clinch her 24th Grand Slam? The panellists give their predictions for the men´s and womens title, and picks for ´outsiders to watch!´ It´s without doubt our favourite time of year, and we´ve had to wait 2 years for it! Enjoy this episode and enjoy watching all the grass-court action! Don´t forget to check back in at the end of the fortnight for our Wimbledon Review! You also won´t want to miss our special Wimbledon episode on Friday 25th June! Dan chats to 10 former and current British Tennis players including Kyle Edmund, Harriet Dart, Lucie Ahl & Chris Wilkinson about the opportunities and challenges of the grass court season for British players. A brilliant episode and not to be missed for British tennis fans! Connect with us! Head over to Instagram and follow us at @ctc.podcast You can also keep up with all the latest from Control the Controllables on our website !

Jun 15, 2021

If you were a tennis fan in the 80´s and 90´s, you wouldn´t have missed the Jensen Brothers! The original American doubles brothers, Luke & Murphy Jensen were known for their high energy on court, chest bumping and high fives, as well as their long hair and bandanas. Nicknamed the Rock n Roll tennis brothers, they won the mens doubles title at Roland Garros in 1993. Product endorsements poured in and the pair went onto appear on the cover of Rolling Stone and People magazines, increasing global recognition of doubles. In this episode we speak to Luke Jensen, the elder brother, about his tennis journey which saw him reach world junior number 1 in singles and doubles, and number 6 ATP in doubles. Luke has since moved into coaching and is also an analyst for ESPN. He was Head Coach of the Women´s Syracuse tennis team for 7 seasons, and is current Coach of the NY Empires who won the 2020 World Team Tennis title. He also co-founded the Jensen-Schmidt Tennis Academy for Down Syndrome. Luke tells us what is was like growing up in a successful tennis family, his sisters also played to Grand Slam level, and discusses Murphy´s struggle with alcohol and drug addiction during their playing days, and how they are using that experience to help others. An episode full of energy and fun, enjoy! Links Mentioned in this Episode:- Watch Murphy Jenson´s story on The Tennis Channel´s Heroes We Connect , the technology company founded by Murphy Jensen that helps people struggling with drug & alcohol issues. The Jensen-Schmidt Tennis Academy for Down Syndrome. Coco Vanderwegh´s forehand return winner to win the 2020 World Team Tennis Title for the NY Empires. Connect with Us! Catch up with all the latest episodes on our website, www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk Head over to @ctc.podcast on Instagram and hit follow Don´t miss an episode! Hit Subscribe on Apple Podcasts. You can also Rate and Review the podcast and let us know what you think. We´d love to hear from you!

Jun 8, 2021

Mike Digby has been a hitting partner to some of the biggest names in tennis. A late-comer to the game, the 23-year-old Brit played tennis to US College level. He´s since travelled to some of the biggest tournaments in the game, practising with and warming up players like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Simona Halep and Coco Gauff. He´s currently a coach at SotoTennis Academy , and has recently returned from hitting with ATP & WTA players at the Madrid Masters. Not an easy job, it´s often role of the hitting partner to emulate the next opponent as much as possible, so having a versatile game, being flexible with your hours and catering to the players wants and needs is a must! In this episode, Mike gives us an insight into what life is really like as a hitting partner to the pros, from the best experiences to the worst! Episode Highlights: [09:00] Hitting with Coco Gauff at the Madrid Masters [13:54] The difference between hitting with the younger and more senior players on the tour [16:03] How Mike got started as a hitting partner to the pros [17:58] Listen to his Novak Djokovic experience! [22:18] Find out which player was Mike´s worst hitting experience [31:14] What a typical day as a hitting partner looks like [34:17] How he became a regular hitting partner for Simona Halep [37:30] What´s Medvedev really like? [55:25] Listen to his experience hitting with Roger Federer at the ATP Finals Links Mentioned in this Episode Mike Digby on Instagram: @mikedigbyy SotoTennis Academy on Instagram: @sototennis Episode 98: Tom Hill - Return on Investment See all the latest episodes on Control the Controllables and read more about our guests on our website.

Jun 2, 2021

Naomi Osaka´s withdrawal from the French Open this week has called attention to the mental health of professional tennis players. The world number 2 was fined $15,000 for not taking part in a post-match press conference, and threatened with expulsion if she continued to not talk to the media. She pulled out of the tournament on Monday. In this bonus episode we speak to Daria Abramowicz, the sports psychologist of defending French Open Champion Iga Swiatek. A former competitive sailor for Poland, Daria has been a part of Iga´s travelling team since 2019. She gives us her thoughts on the chain of events leading up to Osaka´s withdrawal, and how she hopes this will be a turning point for the mental health of athletes. She also describes her work with Iga and gives advice to players who aren´t able to work with a sports psychologist. Connect Follow Daria on Twitter: @abramowiczd Follow Control the Controllables on Instagram: @ctc.podcast Visit SotoTennis Academy´s Website: www.sototennis.com Listen to the episode with Iga Swiatek on Control the Controllables

Jun 1, 2021

Marcus Daniell is not your ordinary professional tennis player. The 31-year-old from New Zealand has reached as high as 34 in the world in Doubles and has 5 ATP doubles titles to his name, but he´s also known for his work off the court. Since 2015 Marcus has donated a percentage of his earnings to charity, and in December 2020 he launched High Impact Athletes . The organisation channels charitable donations to the most effective evidence-based charities in the word, including extreme poverty, children´s, and environmental impact charities. In just 6 months, he´s signed up dozens of professional athletes including tennis players Stefanos Tsitsipas and John Millman to pledge a percentage of their earnings to help others. His goal is to reach $1 million in donations by the end of the year. In 2021, Marcus announced that he would be donating at least 10 per cent of his annual winnings to effective charity organisations for the rest of his life. Listen to Marcus discuss this, his career and more in this very inspiring episode. Some highlights of the episode:- [05:21] Growing up playing and competing in New Zealand [11:43] His experience moving to Slovakia as a junior to train [20:07] Imposter Syndrome and how he needed to break through a belief barrier to help him rise up the rankings [28:56] How he´s using his voice for doubles as a member of the ATP Council. [29:54] Marcus discusses the drop in prize money for doubles players at the this years French Open. [33:23] What ranking do you need as a pro doubles player to break even? [37:27] Discovering Effective Altruisim and donating 10% of his winnings to charity. [38:54] Why he decided to set up High Impact Athletes and the potential impact it will have as it grows. Links Mentioned in this Episode:- Follow Marcus on Twitter: @MarcusDaniell Website: High Impact Athletes Giving What We Can 80,000 Hours Episode 39: Mental Health Awareness Week - Joe Dixon

May 29, 2021

With less that 24 hours to go until Roland Garros gets underway in Paris, we´ve brought our panel of former and current pros back together to preview the French Open. Our panellists are:- GB´s Billy Jean King Cup Captain and former British number 1 Anne Keothavong 2012 Wimbledon mens doubles champion and former Denmark number 1 Freddie Nielsen GB Coach Mark Hilton Hear their picks for the mens and women´s title at this years event, as well as their ‘outsiders to watch’. Defending champion Iga Swiatek will make her return, after her win in Rome. She spoke to Control the Controllables at the start of the clay-court season. Listen to the episode here. Meanwhile Rafa Nadal will be aiming for his 14th French Open title. A win again at Roland Garros would give him 21 Grand Slam titles, moving him ahead of Roger Federer. Anne, Freddie and Mark give us lots of insights, predictions and stories ahead of the the start of the first round matches tomorrow. Don´t forget to check back in at the end of the fortnight for our French Open Review! Connect with us! Head over to Instagram and follow us at @ctc.podcast You can also keep up with all the latest from Control the Controllables on our website www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk

May 25, 2021

Alex Ward is a British tennis coach and former player. He reached a career high ATP ranking of 242, winning 14 Futures titles. Alex was part of the 2010 GB Davis Cup squad and played Wimbledon in 2016 & 2017. He came through Qualifying in 2017, losing to fellow Brit Kyle Edmund in the first round. He retired from professional tennis in 2018, moving into coaching, and has most recently been working with Heather Watson. In this episode you´ll hear Alex talk to Dan about:- [06:46] His move to a Spanish Academy at 16 after being coached by his Father [10:43] Spanish Academies v the British tennis system [22:17] The influence the late Paul Hutchins had on his career [25:27] How he was able to play for 10/11 years on the tour. [30:26] His experiences at Wimbledon [39:55] His transition into coaching and working with GB´s Heather Watson Connect Alex on Twitter: @alexward1990 Alex on Instagram: @theawardd Control the Controllables on Instagram: @ctc.podcast Don´t forget to rate, review & subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts!

May 18, 2021

Paul Annacone is one of the world´s leading coaches. He´s worked with some of the greats including Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Tim Henman. Annacone guided Sampras to nine of his 14 Grand Slam Titles, leading to Sports Illustrated calling him “the court whisperer”. He helped GB´s Tim Henman rise from number 41 in the world to a career high of 4. He also led Roger Federer back to World number 1 and his 7th Wimbledon title in 2012. In between this, Annacone was also Managing Director of the USTA Performance Programme from 2001 - 2003 and was LTA Men´s Head Coach for 3 years. More recently he´s worked with Sloane Stephens and is currently coaching Taylor Fritz. A former professional player, Annacone won three ATP titles and reached a career high ranking of No. 12 in singles and 3 in doubles. He won the Mens doubles at thenAustralian Open in 1985 with long-time partner Christo van Rensburg, and won 14 doubles titles during his career. In this episode, Annacone discusses his coaching philosophy and how he thinks his playing career helped him as a coach. He also tells us stories from his time working with Sampras, Henman and Federer and the differences between them. A must listen! Here´s some of the highlights:- [09:00] Why it´s important to know how to give the same message to different personalities. [18:24] The importance of game identity and working on your/a players strengths. [19:50] Find out what he learned from Pete Sampras as a young coach that helped shape his coaching philosphy. [23:33] Listen to Roger Federer´s reaction to a heartbreaking loss at Wimbledon [28:29] Big picture mentality: Paul discusses his run to the Wimbledon Quarter-finals in 1984 straight out of US College. [33:31] Listen to Paul´s stand-out memory from his time working with Sampras. [38:55] Why he thinks Henman had an ideal game for Clay [44:06] Listen to his memories from the 2012 Federer v Murray Wimbledon Final [47:51] Does he think Federer can win another Wimbledon? [48:51] Who was the easiest to coach? Who had the best backhand? Find out in the Sampras v Henman v Federer Quickfire round! Links Mentioned in this Episode: Paul Annacone on Twitter: @paul_annacone Paul Annacone on Instagram @paulannacone10s Website: https://paulannacone.com/ Episode 114: Iga Swiatek - Teenage Grand Slam Champion Iga Swiatek at SotoTennis Academy Episode 62: Valerie Kondos-Field - Winning doesn´t always equal success

May 11, 2021

In this episode, we´re talking all things data with ATP/WTA tennis analyst Mike James. Mike is a former UK tennis coach who moved into the world of tennis data analysis in 2014. Since then he´s worked with many top players and coaches like Stan Wawrinka and Misha Kecmanovic and is now the data analyst for the 2020 French Open Champion Iga Swiatek. He has also set up his own company, Sport Analytics . Mike tells us how he fits into a pro players team, and what information they will ask him for. He explains what he tracks, what trends he looks for and how that data and video footage can be used for player development, scouting reports, pre and post-injury comparison reports etc. If you´re a Coach, he also gives you his top tips for how you can use data to help you improve, and in turn improve your players. He also details how he sets up a scouting report on a player. A great listen! Highlights from the episode: [06:50] Mike describes his journey into tennis analysis [20:03] Mike talks about his experience working with Stan Wawrinka and his coach Magnus Norman [23:32] Pen & paper at the ready! Mike details how he sets up a scouting report on a player. [30:31] Find out at what stage in a match there would tend to be longer rallies. [33:33] Why his relationship will be with the Coach and not the pro player. [37:11] What is the criteria for a "net point" and why it varies. [50:19] Mike talks Primary Patterns and if this applies to the top players [53:52] How he fits into Iga Swiatek´s team and how they use him [1:00:56] One for Coaches! Mike gives his top tips for how you can use data to improve your players. Links Mentioned in this Episode:- Mike James on Twitter: @mikejamestennis Mike James on Instagram: @mikejames_tennis_analyst Tennis Coaches Support Network on Facebook Summer Training Weeks at SotoTennis Academy. Email info@sototennis.com for more information!

May 4, 2021

Carl Maes is best known as being former world number 1 Kim Clijster´s coach for more than a decade. As a young coach he worked with the top players in Belgium including Xavier Malisse, Olivier Rochus and Justine Henin. He led the Belgian Fed Cup team to the final in 2006 and has since worked with players like Yanina Wickmayer, Kirsten Flipkens and Laura Robson. Carl spent 6 years at the LTA as Head of Women´s Tennis. He was also the Academy Director at Kim Clijsters Academy for 6 years, before joining Tenerife Tennis Academy as Performance Director in 2020. He is also currently coaching Sorana Cirstea and is the co-founder of Orange Coach Exchange, which offers webinars and one-to-one sessions where coaches can 'exchange' knowledge. In this episode he looks back on his career, including his playing days and his journey with Kim Clijsters, as well as the Golden era of Belgian tennis. Enjoy! Here´s a glance at the episode:- [6:17] Carl talks about his decision to move to Tenerife. [10:16] Carl discusses how as a coach you have to be available full-time for your team of players, coaches and parents. [20:00] Listen to the SAS system Carl uses as a coach [18:30] Carl explains his coaching philosophy of making people comfortable being uncomfortable. [23:35] Why it´s so important to understand why someone plays tennis. [28:26] Carl tells us about his tennis playing career and why he´s more suited to coaching [37:16] Carl describes how his relationship with Kim Clijsters began [39:51] Carl discusses the golden era of Belgian tennis when he was working with Xavier Malisse, Olivier Rochus, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin [46:53] He reflects on his time at the LTA as Head of Women´s Tennis [57:11} Why he thinks the culture and tournament structure in Spain works well for developing young players Links Mentioned in this Episode:- Check out Carl on Twitter: @carlmaes SotoTennis Academy Tenerife Tennis Academy Orange Coach Exchange Rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts Head over to Instagram to like Control the Controllables

Apr 27, 2021

Iga Swiatek is the 2020 French Open Champion and world number 17. At just 19 years of age, she became the lowest-ranked woman to reach the final at Roland Garros since rankings began. She also became the first Polish tennis player ever to win a Grand Slam singles title. Not only that, but Iga didn´t drop a set along the way. Iga talks to Control the Controllables about her incredible journey from a young tennis player to becoming a Grand Slam champion as a teenager. She reveals how she felt at the time and afterwards, and talks about the impact her Father, an Olympic rower, has had on her career. A successful junior, in 2018 she won junior Grand Slam doubles titles at Roland Garros and the US Open, as well as the girls singles titles at Wimbledon. Iga has been training at SotoTennis Academy for 9 days as she prepares for the 2021 Clay court season. She tells Dan how she´s feeling now she´s returning no longer as an underdog, but as a Grand Slam Champion. Here are some of the highlights of the episode:- [7:49] Iga talks about the impact her Father who is an Olympic rower has had on her tennis journey. [13:28] Iga tells Dan when she realized that she wanted to be a Pro tennis player. [14:44] Iga looks back at winning Roland Garros last year and what was going through her mind. [17:58] Dan asks Iga if she had moments of thinking she could win, or if she was able to stay in the process. [20:40] Iga discusses her decision to travel with a sports psychologist and how important that´s been. [23:10] Iga describes how the relationship with her Coach, 2020 Coach of the Year started by accident. [26:05] Iga tells us her hopes for the 2021 Clay Court season. [27:47] Listen to what Iga will look back on as success in her tennis career. Connect Follow Iga Swiatek on Twitter: @iga_swiatek Follow Iga Swiatek on Instagram: @iga.swiatek Follow Control the Controllables on Instagram: @ctc.podcast.com We would love to hear what you think of the episode! Rate, review and subscribe to Control the Controllables on Apple Podcasts. Your reviews really do go a long way! You can also email us directly at info@sototennis.com

Apr 20, 2021

Tennis fans will know Lewis Burton as a former British tennis player who reached the final of the Wimbledon boys doubles in 2010. Non-tennis fans will know Lewis as the boyfriend of TV presenter Caroline Flack when she tragically died in February 2020 at the age of 40. In this episode of Control the Controllables, Lewis looks back on his tennis career which saw him reach a high of 218 in doubles and 626 in singles. He won 26 ITF pro circuit doubles titles and qualified for the Wimbledon Men´s Doubles, before retiring two years later at just 22 years of age. Lewis discusses the impact tennis has had on his life and how it helped him as he moved into the modelling and business world, as well as dealing with the immense pain and grief that comes with losing someone you love. Links from the Episode:- Episode 112: Dan Evans & Neal Skupski – Fire & Ice Episode 105: Marcus Willis - From Zero to Hero! Episode 26: Dan Evans – Skills pay the bills!

Apr 19, 2021

Dan Evans & Neal Skupski speak to Control the Controllables fresh from their amazing run at the Miami & Monte Carlo ATP 1000 events. Dan made his way to his first ever ATP 1000 semi-final including a stunning victory over world number 1 Novak Djokovic at the Monte Carlo Masters. Up until last week, Dan had only won 4 career clay court matches. Dan and Neal paired up 2 weeks ago after Neal´s regular partner and brother, Ken Skupski returned home from their ATP 500 victory in Acapulco with a blood clot which will keep him away for a few weeks. The British pair have gone on to have 4 top 10 doubles victories and 8 wins in total on their way to the final of both Miami and Monte Carto. It means they are now number 5 in the ATP race. We caught up with Dan and Neal before their first round match in Barcelona this week. They talk about about what they were thinking and feeling during some of the best shots (including those lobs!) and best moments of the last couple of weeks. Follow Dan Evans on Instagram: @danevo.official Follow Neal Skupksi on Twitter: @nealskupski

Apr 13, 2021

In this week´s episode we speak to GB´s Jonny O´Mara and his coach Toby Smith. Jonny O´Mara is a doubles specialist from Scotland who has reached a career high ATP doubles ranking of 44. He´s been working with fellow Scot Toby Smith for more than two years. Toby is the former Head Coach of Tennis Scotland, as well as working with many top British Players to the highest level of the Junior Game. He is also the big brother of GB Davis Cup Captain, Leon Smith. They have a wonderful player/coach relationship that has organically grown the last 15 years and we are lucky get an insiders view into what makes them tick. Here´s a glance at the episode... [14:20] Jonny describes his relationship with Toby. [22:00] Toby explains what he likes to do when he starts working with a new player. [29:00] Jonny explains why he doesn´t like the phrases ¨talent¨ or ¨potential¨ [35:09] Jonny discusses making the decision to concentrate on doubles [39:52] Listen to Toby´s thoughts on Jonny deciding to focus his career on doubles. [46:24] Toby describes Louie Cayer´s influence on his coaching [1:08:05] Is Jonny happy with where his career his currently? [1:21:01] Find out who has improved the most on court in the past 13 months, the player, or the coach?! Follow Jonny O´Mara on Twitter: @Jonny_OMara Follow Toby Smith on Instagram: @tsa.tennis Head over to instagram to like our new Control the Controllables page @ctc.podcast Don´t miss all the latest from the podcast at www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk

Apr 6, 2021

If you´re a fan of McEnroe, Borg, Sampras, Agassi or Courier, this is a must-listen episode! Tom Gullikson reached as high as 34 in the world in singles and 4 in doubles. He is a 2-time Grand Slam finalist, winning the Mixed Doubles at the US Open in 1983. Also known as Gully, Tom was the US Davis Cup Captain between 1994 and 1999, leading the US team of Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Michael Chang to victory in 1995. As Team USA's coach, Tom also helped Agassi win a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Tom talks to Dan about his playing and coaching career, including what is was like being the other side of the net when John McEnroe yelled "You cannot be serious¨ for the first time at Wimbledon! He also speaks about his twin brother Tim´s influence on Pete Sampras´career and the impact of Tim´s death in 1996 to brain cancer. Here are some of Toms best stories..... [21:33] Tom speaks about his twin brother Tim´s relationship with Pete Sampras, and Pete´s incredible gesture on the day of Tims funeral. [25:42] Tom relives reaching the final of the Wimbledon Mens Doubles with Tim in 1983 [30:03] Tom describes the week the Australian Open in 1995, when Pete Sampras broke down crying court against Jim Courier after learning of Tim´s diagnosis with brain cancer. [48:40] Tom tells Dan how he managed all the different characters and personalities in the winning US Davis Cup Team during his 6 years as Captain. [1:01:19] Tom describes his experiences playing Bjorn Borg [1:06:25] Tom tells all on that infamous You cannot be serious! moment in the match against John McEnroe at Wimbledon! Follow Tom on Twitter: @captaingully Control the Controllables is on Instagram! You can now find Control the Controllables on Instagram! Here we´ll be sharing all the latest from the Podcast on it´s very own dedicated account! Head over to instagram and follow @ctc.podcast You can also keep up with all the latest episode on our website www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know in the reviews section on Apple Podcasts! You can reach us directly on info@sototennis.com

Mar 30, 2021

David Mullins is the current Managing Director of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). He spent 12 years as Head Coach at the University of Oklahoma and previously played for Fresno State in California for 4 years, so he really has seen US College from all sides. David is currently leading them through challenging times with 60 colleges across all 5 divisions cancelling their tennis programmes during the global pandemic. David discusses this in great detail as well as his other passion, Tennis in his home country of Ireland. Twitter: @davemullins_ITA Website: www.wearecollegetennis.com This episode is 12 months to the day of our very first episode on Control the Controllables! We have loved every episode and second of bringing this podcast to you, thank you for listening! You can check out all of our episodes over the past year and our fantastic guests on our sparkly new website here !

Mar 24, 2021

Holger Rune has been the World Junior Number 1 for the last 3 years and at age 17 he has already started to make his move on the ATP Tour reaching the Quarter Finals last week in Santiago, Chile beating World Number 29 Benoit Paire in straight sets on the way. Holger is full of self belief, confidence and an unwavering focus on the prize ahead.

Mar 24, 2021

Britain´s Dom Inglot has been as high as 18 ATP Doubles, is a Davis Cup Winner, and Grand Slam Semi-Finalist, but he is much more. He is a smart, articulate man who discusses many topics with Dan including self awareness, US College, dumping partners and so much more. This episode was recorded live from SotoTennis Academy in Spain where Dom is training as he prepares for the Andalucia Open ATP event in Marbella. A great listen for aspiring players, parents and coaches. Enjoy! Twitter: @dominglot Instagram: @dominglot

Mar 24, 2021

Craig Veal is the current coach to WTA Doubles 15 in the world Alexa Guarachi. Alexa just last week won the WTA 1000 in Dubai with her partner Darija Jurak. Craig is 30 and has already worked at all levels of the sport. He tells us his story and many great insights and learnings along his coaching journey to date. Enjoy 😊 Twitter: @craigveal90 Linkedin: linkedin/in/craig-veal

Mar 24, 2021

In 2016, British tennis player Marcus Willis rose to fame with one of the most memorable runs to the 2nd round of Wimbledon in the tournament´s history. In just a few weeks the 25-year-old went from giving up tennis and coaching part-time to ´chancing his arm´ at Wimbledon Pre Qualifying. He was the last man to get into the event at a ranking of 772 ATP. 7 matches later he had won through pre-qualifying, qualifying and his first round Main Draw before finding himself up against Roger Federer on Centre Court. Now 30, Marcus has this week announced his retirement from tennis. Listen to him discuss the reasons for his decision, his reflections on his career, and the complexities of the sport before and after that euphoric moment at Wimbledon. This episode has so many great learnings for us all. Enjoy 😊 Twitter: @Willbomb90 Apple Podcast: What you talking about Willis? Check out the online courses and programmes available for players and coaches at SotoTennis Academy Online

Mar 24, 2021

John Cavill is an inspiration to us all, as he creates opportunities for coaches and clubs across the UK through bringing remote ‘tennis’ classes to thousands and thousands of school kids in the UK. This is where it all starts in our sport. Not only has the initiative created lots of local media attention but John has recently featured on BBC Breakfast, BBC Look East and ITV Anglia. Tennis Works is now involved in raising funds for Comic Relief through the Red Nose Tennis Challenge and hope that children and adults across the country will get involved. Listen to how John is now working with over 2000 schools a week through lockdown and get involved in his Red Nose Day challenge! Email John to get involved in the Red Nose Day Challenge: john.cavill@tennisworks.net You can donate to the Red Nose Day Challenge here:https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tennisu-rednoseday21 Facebook: www.facebook.com/TennisUnlocked Twitter: @tennisunlocked Instagram: @tennis.unlocked

Mar 24, 2021

Borna Coric is coming to the peak of his career on the ATP Tour with a current ranking of 24 in the world and a career high of 12. He gives us insights that we rarely get into a player ‘in’ their career. Insights into his development and continued growth to his opinions on who is really the GOAT! This is a brilliant listen. Enjoy 😊

Mar 24, 2021

Louis Cayer has coached multiple Top 100 singles players, but has made his global name through coaching multiple Grand Slam Doubles Champions and World Number 1’s including changing the landscape of British Doubles over the last 15 years. His knowledge truly is second to none, make sure you have a note pad ready for this one. Enjoy 😊 To celebrate the release of the 100th Control the Controllables Podcast this week, we are giving you the chance to win a SotoTennis Academy Online Course of your choice! 👀 To give yourself a chance of winning this Instagram giveaway, you have to: 1. Like our Instagram GIVEAWAY POST here and follow @sototennis and @macxtennisacademy. 2. Tag a friend in the comments and tell us your favourite podcast to date. 3. Score a bonus entry by reposting on your Instastory and tagging us. IMPORTANT: For bonus entries, please make your account public so we can see your story and include your extra chance to win in the prize draw! The Giveaway ends on Tuesday 2nd March at 2pm CET. The winner will be randomly selected and will be notified via direct message on Instagram. GOOD LUCK! We look forward to seeing your favourite podcasts! Want to check out what you can win? Explore STA's Online Courses here!

Mar 24, 2021

We review the Australian Open 2021 with our amazing panellists Anne Keothavong, Naomi Broady, Xavier Malisse and Mark Hilton. A fun, insightful show 😊

Mar 24, 2021

The Godfather of tennis comes to help us celebrate our 100th episode of the podcast. The coach to many, namely, Agassi, Seles, Rios, Courier, Arias, Sharapova, Becker..The list goes on. The man who changed the landscape of Tennis Academies globally. This is not a one to miss.. Enjoy 😊 Twitter: @nickbollettieri Instagram: @officialnickbollettieri Facebook: @nickbollettieri IMG Academy: www.imgacademy.com Bollettieri Tennis and Learning, the inner city program that Nick founded: www.officialbtl.com

Mar 24, 2021

Eleanor Preston is the Director of The Emilia Group which is a PR and Media company in sport, but mainly in tennis. She has years of experience which includes Journalism, Broadcasting, Agent to the late Elena Baltacha, and multiple years at the Olympics and all the Grand Slams making sure all is working well behind the scenes. In this episode, Eleanor shares her stories and insights from it all. Enjoy 😊 Twitter: @eleanorpres The Emilia Group: Website: www.theemiliagroup.com Twitter: @TheEmiliaGroup

Mar 24, 2021

Tom Hill aged 25 from the UK is the coach to WTA 22nd in the world Maria Sakarri. How you may ask? We unlock this and so much more with stories from his hitting partner days, his IMG Academy days, his time coaching Danielle Collins and much more. You get out what you put in. Enjoy Twitter: @Hill_Thomas

Mar 24, 2021

We have a panel of Anne Keothavong, Naomi Broady, Xavier Malisse and Freddie Nielsen to preview the Australian Open. From current news in Melbourne, to their favourite Aussie Open stories. We then dig into their picks for this years event and also their ‘watch out’ outsiders for both the Women’s and Men’s events. The episode is full of fun, insight and knowledge. Enjoy 😊

Mar 24, 2021

David Walsh is the Chief Sports Writer at the Sunday Times. He is famously known for his successful pursuit of justice with cyclist Lance Armstrong and his doping charges. David continued to track the truth down despite Armstrong throwing all of his power at him and the Sunday Times. His work outside of this continues to be commendable including ghost writing for Kevin Pietersen´s autobiography and to come soon, research into the great Tom Brady. This is a must listen, enjoy 😊 Twitter: @DavidWalshST Book: Seven Deadly Sins: My Pursuit of Lance Armstrong Movie: The Program (Available on Netflix)

Mar 24, 2021

Mark Petchey is a former top 100 ATP player, former British Number 1. He went on the be the Head of Men’s Tennis at the LTA before coaching Andy Murray as he transitioned from 350 to top 50 ATP. His last 15 years have been spent mainly on our screens as a SKY, BBC, Amazon Prime Commentator and pundit with a small stint coaching Maria Sakarri. His daughters both have US College scholarships, so he truly has seen tennis from all sides. A great listen

Mar 24, 2021

The Skupski brothers are back playing together on the ATP Tour 2021 after a couple of years where Neal player with Jamie Murray. We here all about the split, the realities at the top level of the doubles tour and why the boys are back together.. Oh and their opinions and facts shared on the quarantine in Australia right now the Aus Open 2021. Are the players or Aus Open negligent to the Quarantine challenges?

Mar 24, 2021

Dasha Kasatkina has been talked about as one of the biggest up and coming stars on the WTA Tour with a final in Indian Wells and back to back Quarter Finals at French Open and Wimbledon moving her to top 10 aged 21. Then expectation hit and the last 2 years haven’t been quite the same due to not being ready to handle that pressure, but the comeback to the top of the game is on! She discusses it all. Enjoy ☺️

Dec 31, 2020

This podcast is a review of Control the Controllables in 2020. We discuss our favourites pods, our learnings and what you can expect for 2021 from the podcast. Can we also take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy new year and a year of health and happiness.

Dec 30, 2020

Oli Golding is a US Open Junior Singles Champion. He was a childhood star on the stage, including the West End and he now works at Santander Bank. We discuss the challenges of the journey, and his reflections on why he didn’t succeed to the dizzy heights that all had planned for him in the tennis world, but was it all a waste of time? Fanatic honest reflections that will resonate with many.

Dec 27, 2020

Xavier Malisse is a former top 20 ATP player who made the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 2002. He had wins over Roger Federer,Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray in his career. Xavier discusses his journey into tennis, his regrets, his honest reflections on whether his talent level was lived up too. Great stories and insights from a brilliant tennis player and an even better person. Enjoy 😊

Dec 23, 2020

John Morris is a sports agent who currently works at the LJ Sports Group with Ivan Ljubicic. He was Nick Kygrios’s agent for 10 years and shares many stories from the tour, as well as valuable insights and dos and donts for young players. A great listen! Read full show notes here. Links & Resources Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email LJ Sports Group website Follow John Morris on Twitter SotoTennis Academy website

Dec 19, 2020

Young British player Jodie Burrage is already 250 WTA. She has been through 3 major surgeries, but has developed a maturity and resilience from this that puts her in a great place. She discusses how that mindset changed and how her love for the sport developed in a humble yet insightful way. Enjoy

Dec 16, 2020

Jez Green has been working as a top physical conditioning specialist for more than 20 years on the ATP & WTA Tour. During this time he´s worked with Tomas Berdych, the USTA, and Harvard University, but he´s best known for his work with Andy Murray, helping him to 2 Grand Slam wins and an Olympic Gold medal. Jez has been working with Alexander Zverev since 2015. In this episode Jez looks back at all this and more. He goes into amazing detail around philosophy, preparation around Murray and Zverev and so much more. A real treat! Read full shownotes here . Connect with Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email

Dec 12, 2020

A former World Number 6 in singles and 9 in doubles. A quite incredible record which includes wins over Bjorn Borg and Roger Federer with so many in between. He discusses it all. The Olympic highs and lows and we get to see into a mind of a champion as a player and now as a coach to Frances Tiafoe. An amazing listen

Dec 9, 2020

Lloyd Glasspool is a former NCAA champion and is currently 150 ATP Doubles. He has partnered Dan Evans, Jamie Murray and Andy Murray in recent months. his journey from quiet teen to pro player who is also studying his MBA is full of great lessons and stories

Dec 5, 2020

Steve and Matt are the Directors of Active Away. Both had strong tennis coaching careers at clubs, with the LTA and made the decision to set up their own Business running Tennis Holidays. Business as slow, so they decided to apply to the BBC show, Dragons Den. See what happens and much more during the podcast. A great story

Dec 2, 2020

Allistair McCaw has dedicated his life to high performance through working with world class athletes including Xavier Malisse and Kevin Anderson on the fitness side of their game. This has evolved into mindset training and now an author to 3 books. In this episode Allistair talks through his story which may surprise many and how those lessons have been transferred into his philosophy. Life lessons, emotion and so much more. Website: www.allistairmccaw.com Instagram: @bechampionminded Books: www.allistairmccaw.com/books Donate to the STA Christmas Dinner Challenge here .

Nov 28, 2020

Nick Weal has spent the last 35 years as a Grand Slam Player, Grand Slam Coach and GB Davis Cup Coach and is now in charge of the LTA Coach Education. He shares his experiences, his vision, his opinions and more in an educational and entertaining podcast.

Nov 26, 2020

James Auckland is a former British Number 1 Doubles Player with a highest ATP Ranking of 57. We discuss his journey and how the key failures led to the passion and fire to drive and ‘prove people wrong’. This led him to playing doubles with his good friend Andy Murray and a win over the great Rafael Nadal. He now spends his days increasing participation in the sport and throwing that same passion at the grass roots level. As per mentioned in this Episode, here’s the LINK to have a preview and sign up option to STA’s Online Courses ➡️ https://sototennis-academy.teachable.com/courses

Nov 21, 2020

Anne Keothavong is the GB Billie Jean King Cup Captain, and former British number 1. She reached a high of 48 in the world WTA during her career. Anne shares her story, from the big impact of her parents and upbringing, to the trials and tribulations of pro tennis. She has gone onto commentate for BT Sport and is now driving the culture for the national team. She shares openly and with great humility and we know you will love the show. Enjoy 😊 Follow Anne on Twitter: @annekeothavong As mentioned in this episode, here’s the link to preview and sign up option to SotoTennis Academy´s Online Courses.

Nov 18, 2020

Iain Bates has gone from promising junior to University lecturer to Team GB Manager in the Olympics and is now LTA Head of Women’s Tennis. A great journey and by his own admission he is a ‘thinker’ and gives us his thoughts on many topics within tennis. A great listen. As per mentioned in this Episode, here’s the LINK to have a preview and sign up option to STA’s Online Courses ➡️ https://sototennis-academy.teachable.com/courses

Nov 14, 2020

Dave Sammel was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has spent his 30 years as a coach in the UK working with some of the best players in GB. He is currently Liam Broady´s coach. Dave has strong views, and clear philosophies which have proven to work and they will also provoke thought. Enjoy a great listen. Twitter: @davesammel As mentioned in this Episode, here’s the LINK to have a preview and sign up option to STA’s Online Courses ➡️ https://sototennis-academy.teachable.com/courses

Nov 11, 2020

Fabio Mole set up Functional Tennis 4.5 years ago and it’s now one of the biggest online tennis platforms out there. Fabio talks through his journey from the Astro courts in Ireland to his fast food business, to Christmas jumpers before heading back to tennis where his true love is. How do you make a living through social media? Is it sustainable? Find out more... enjoy 😊 As per mentioned in this Episode, here’s the LINK to have a preview and sign up option to STA’s Online Courses ➡️ https://sototennis-academy.teachable.com/courses

Nov 7, 2020

A special guest for a special 75th episode. Colin Beecher have lived and breathed British Tennis for 40 years as a player and then a coach to pretty much every British Player Men and Women over the years. He is the current coach to Kyle Edmund. Look at for Ivan Lendl stories that will make you laugh and his Davis Cup experience as the Davis Cup coach over the last 10 years. A great listen

Nov 4, 2020

Stephen Huss partnered Wesley Moodie to win the Men’s Doubles Championship at Wimbledon in 2005. The pair came through qualifying, beating the 1st 2nd and 3rd seeds en route. Stephen reached a career high of 21 in the world in doubles before retiring from professional tennis in 2011. He is currently a USTA National team coach, working with top female players. In this episode, Stephen shares his experience on tour and the journey that took him from an ‘ok’ junior in Australia to a good US college player, to a Wimbledon Champion. We then delve into his coaching philosophies and much more, as we discuss life on tour as a coach, life working at the USTA, and where the game goes next? A great listen! Read the full shownotes here . Connect with Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email

Oct 31, 2020

Katie Swan has been on our screens for many years, as a 15 year old she made the final of the Junior Australian Girls Event. Katie has had her ups and her downs, but has moved into a place where she has a happy, healthy mindset that stands her in a great place for the rest of her career. Enjoy Katie’s story 😊

Oct 28, 2020

Dominik Koepfer sits as the current 65th best male tennis player in the world, yet he played 1-2 times a week before he was 16. A story that will blow you away and you think not possible.

Oct 24, 2020

Sergiy Stahkovsky is a Ukranian pro tennis player who has been ranked as high as 31 ATP. Sergiy jumped onto our screens in 2013, when he became the lowest ranked player to beat Roger Federer at a Grand Slam. He knocked the defending champion out of Wimbledon on Centre Court in the 2nd round. Since recording this podcast, Sergiy has retired from professional tennis, announcing he was hanging up his rackets in January 2022. He has been a member of the ATP Player Council and has been outspoken on many controversial topics, including equal pay in tennis. In this episode, Sergiy opens up and provides context to all his thoughts in an amazing podcast. Enjoy. Read full shownotes here. Links & Resources Control the Controllables: Instagram | Website | Email Follow Sergiy Stahkovsky on Twitter SotoTennis Academy website Follow Control the Controllables on itunes

Oct 21, 2020

Simon Jones worked for the LTA in many different capacities for 31 years before turning his hand to other sports over the last couple of years. We explore the similarities and differences between sports and his opinions from the inside looking in to British Tennis and from the outside looking in. A honest, healthy discussion which we hope will provoke thought for you all. Enjoy 😊

Oct 17, 2020

Nick Lester is the epitome of what we want from our Tennis Academy. Someone who has truly used his passion for tennis as a vehicle through his life, as a player, as a coach and over the last 15 years as a tennis commentator on Sky Sports, Amazon Prime, BBC, Eurosport and the World Feed. Nick shares his story, tennis stories and insights and his favourite experiences including Novak Djokovic winning his 9th Master Series event in Cincinnati. Enjoy 😊 Twitter: @nicklester

Oct 14, 2020

Kyle Spencer is a former GB number 1 doubles player and represented GB at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He is the current Head Men’s Coach at North Carolina State University and has experienced US College in all positions as a player, Assistant Coach and Head Coach. Kyle offers valuable insights and stories to connect the opportunity for many and the cons to be aware of. This listen is highly recommended.

Oct 10, 2020

What a story! Leon went from decent junior player to coaching one of the best juniors in the world, Sir Andy Murray. He was catapulted to GB Davis Cup Captain over 10 years ago where he´s guided the team to glory on the court as the 2015 Davis Cup Winners, but also to a collective culture that brings positivity, team spirit and much more. Leon is the LTA Head of Men’s Tennis and he doesn’t hold back his insights in the podcast. See him as you haven’t seen him before. A wonderful listen. Twitter: @leonsmith

Oct 7, 2020

Kris has dedicated his life to tennis in one form or another. From coaching International Players to coaching parents how to coach, he has worked across the spectrum, but always to a very high level. Kris was part of the Scottish National team when Andy and Jamie Murray were coming through the junior ranks and he now works very closely with Judy Murray for her foundation and other projects. A coach who has inside knowledge behind the scenes and who shares his story and philosophies in an articulate manner. Lots of learning to take from this one! Twitter: @krissoutar Podcast: Kris Soutar´s Tennis Journal, The Podcast YouTube: Kris Soutar´s Tennis Journal

Oct 4, 2020

Simon Dickson was one of the best junior players in the world with wins over Roger Federer and Leyton Hewitt to name a couple as he grew up. He combined this with playing football for Manchester United Juniors when he was younger. Yet his highest ATP ranking was 469. We explore why? Does he regret it? What has he learned? And what is he now passing onto the juniors he works with at Edgbaston Priory Club? Simon is one of the nicest, most humble men you will ever meet and it is a treat to discuss tennis with him. Enjoy

Sep 30, 2020

Steve Hewitt is the CEO of Gym Shark, a fitness clothing and accessory brand that is currently one of the fastest growing businesses in the UK. A few weeks ago it was valued at $1.3 billion from the humble beginnings of the founder, Ben Francis home with his Mums sewing machine. We discuss the transferable skills from sport to business and the importance of culture in any business. Steve is also a ‘tennis parent’ and we explore this side of his life and where his business lessons have helped. A must listen. Enjoy 😊 Website: www.gymshark.com

Sep 26, 2020

Heather Watson has been one of Great Britain’s most successful female tennis players of the last 30 years. She won the Wimbledon Mixed Doubles title in 2016, has won 4 WTA titles and has a career high of 38 in the world. Heather moved from her home island of Guernsey aged 11 to go to Florida and we learn all about that journey of dedicating her life to tennis and whether she has been ‘successful’ in her career. Heather gives fascinating insight and shares her story so well. Enjoy

Sep 22, 2020

Valorie Kondos Field was Head Gymnastics Coach at UCLA for 29 years. She led them to 7 National Championships and her background wasn’t even in gymnastics. She dramatically changed her philosophies throughout her coaching career. Find out why in this episode. Valorie has since gone on to deliver TED Talks with her philosophy of ‘Winning doesn’t always equal success’. Her inspiration has come from meetings with the late Kobe Bryant, her mentor John Wooden and listening to her team, some of whom were survivors of the USA Gymnastics sexual abuse scandal. You will learn and take so much from this podcast, we promise 😊. Enjoy. Click here sign up to the summit to hear Valorie, Dan and many more in action September 24-26, 2020 Website: www.officialmissval.com Valorie´s Tedtalk: Why winning doesn´t always equal success Twitter: @OfficalMissVal

Sep 19, 2020

Emilio Sanchez comes from the famous Sanchez family who have been so influential on Spanish Tennis. A former World number 1 doubles player and number 7 singles player at the same time, he won 5 Grand slam doubles titles and the men´s doubles silver medal at the 1988 Olympic Games. Emilio is the brother of Arantcha Sanchez Vicario and later in his career, her coach. After retiring, Emilio captained Spain to Davis Cup victory in 2008. He also joined forces with Sergio Casal to set up the Sanchez- Casal Academy in Barcelona. They now have 4 academies in Spain, USA and China. A great conversation. Enjoy! Emilio is one of the keynote speakers at the upcoming Between the White Lines Summit. The 2 day event will take place on September 24-26th 2020, giving coaches an opportunity to connect with and learn from tennis-preneurs and like-minded people in the tennis world. Book your place on the summit to listen to Emilio and 44 other big names in tennis and sport. Twitter: @emiliosvicario LinkedIn: tennis-worldwide-leadership-sanchez-casal-academy

Sep 16, 2020

We speak to Anthony Harris who is top 100 ATP Player Lloyd Harris’s coach. Anthony also coached Dudi Sela in his formative years aged 11-19. We discuss his Academy and philosophy in South Africa and the journey to creating an African Champion. Halfway through the pod Lloyd Harris joins us for 15 mins to offer his amazing insight, enjoy this episode!

Sep 13, 2020

Sam Jalloh was brought up in Sierra Leone in what was a difficult upbringing personally, but also during the civil war which added many complications which included living on the streets, seeing his best friend get shot and killed and being taken from his family aged 5. So how did this young boy who didn’t own shoes until he was 14-years-old manage to get to the point of playing on the ITF circuit, hitting with Andrey Rublev and many more? It is a fascinating, inspirational story we all have to listen and learn from. Sam is now a motivational speaker and tennis coach and you will see why when you listen to him. Enjoy! Connect with Sam Jollah Website: spjalloh.com Twitter: @samuelpjalloh Book: How Tennis Saved my Life Let us know what you think of this episode! Email us at ctc.podcast@sototennis.com You can also find us on Instagram @ctc.podcast

Sep 8, 2020

Magnus Tideman is a former top 80 ATP Player who came from an amazing crop of Swedish Players, where his practice partners included Bjorn Borg, Mats Wilander and many more. He turned his hand to coaching 29 years ago and has spent most of that at the top end of the ATP Tour, including coaching Thomas Johansson to the 2002 Australian Open Title. Magnus shares opinions, insights and stories. A brilliant listen!

Sep 5, 2020

Mark has had tennis running through his life for 60 years. He was in the military, and has worked closely with David Lloyd and Jimmy Connors on previous projects. He´s currently taking on his biggest challenge yet, as he is looking to bring the private sector of tennis together postcode by postcode. We discuss his reasons and drive behind this, and the similarities with the PTPA movement with Novak Djokovic and where this is going in the future. A great passionate listen. Mark is running the Between the White Lines Summit on September 24-26th 2020. 45 world-class tennis-preneurs from around the world will be sharing their experiences, cutting-edge strategies, and knowledge over the 2 days, including Control the Controllables host and SotoTennis Academy Director Dan Kiernan. Not one to be missed! Book your place here. LinkedIn: markjjeffery

Sep 2, 2020

Kieron Vorster has been a strength and conditioning coach on the ATP Tour for 25 years. He started his career with Wayne Ferreira before spending many years with Tim Henman. Kieron is currently working with British number 1 Dan Evans. We talk through nature vs nature, hard work vs sport science. How Dan has prepared for the US Open and much more. Twitter: @vossy1973

Aug 31, 2020

Cameron Norrie has an illustrious College career at Texas Christian University before seamlessly moving into the top 100 ATP. Since recording, he has reached a career high of 12, and is the current British number 1. In this episode, Cameron speaks to us from the US Open bubble where we discuss positive COVID tests and PTPA movements with Novak Djokovic spearheading a new player association. Read the full shownotes here. Links & Resources Control the Controllables: Instagram | Website | Email Cameron Norrie on I nstagram SotoTennis Academy website Check out Tennis Smart for advice and support for US College options Texas Christian University

Aug 29, 2020

Nick Monroe has been on the ATP Tour for the last 17 years with a career high of 30 ATP doubles. Nick speaks to us from the US Open Bubble as he prepares to play next week. Nick was a top USTA Junior, US College All-American and 17 years as a pro. Fascinating insights and told with such humility. Enjoy

Aug 26, 2020

Nick Morgan is a former UK University Tennis Champion whilst graduating from Bath University before turning his career to the Sports Science world. This started at Lilleshall home of England Football and took him around many British Football Clubs as well as Masters Series Events on the Tennis Tour. He now runs his own commercial nutritional company and consults for big brands globally. All through the vehicle of tennis. We discuss and compare two main topics, Nutrition and Data. A highly educational and thought provoking podcast. Enjoy

Aug 22, 2020

Jonathan worked for BBC radio for over 25 years and brought the famous moments to life for many of us including his final match for the BBC.. The Men’s Wimbledon 2013 final where Andy Murray overcame 77 years of hurt for Men’s tennis in Britain. His voice is silk, his stories are full of passion and his ability to paint the picture is sublime. We loved bringing this pod together and we know you will love listening to Jonathan. Enjoy

Aug 20, 2020

Dan Evans and Mark Hilton speak to us from New York as they prepare for the US Open 2020. Hear all about the ‘bubble’ at the US Open and how preparation has been going.

Aug 19, 2020

James Cluskey was top 150 ATP and represented Ireland in Davis Cup. He has used his tennis as a vehicle to attack the business world. He is Sir Richard Branson’s private’s tennis coach and he has leveraged this and more to move forward in the business world. A fascinating story and so many learnings for us all. Enjoy

Aug 15, 2020

Bruno and Juan both have extensive experience of being brought up through the ‘Spanish System’ as players and coaches. Yet both have had experience in the British Tennis world as players at Stirling University. Bruno is now a National Coach at the National Academy in Stirling, UK and Juan runs his own Academy in Sevilla, Spain. We explore the differences, positives, negatives of both tennis cultures including characters, tournament structure, climate and much more....

Aug 12, 2020

Dan spent many years in the top 5 in the UK and top 250 ATP after a successful junior career including making final of the prestigious Tarbes U14 event. Dan retired aged 26 back in 2016, but as the pandemic has had an effect on us all, it has got Dan motivated to give it another go on the tour. Hear about all the ups and downs that go into these careers and the insights into why decisions like this are made. A great listen

Aug 8, 2020

Neil Harman worked tirelessly for many years for many of the top UK Newspapers in football, and then mainly as a tennis correspondent. An award-winning journalist and author, Neil connected with the top players such as Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka . Neil´s world fell apart in 2014 when he was sacked by The Times for plagiarism of the Wimbledon Annual which he had written for 10 years. A fantastic story of ups and downs with honest and insightful reflections from Neil. A great listen. Book: Close Quarters: An Extraordinary Season on the Brink Twitter: @Neil_Harman57 LinkedIn: Neil-Harman

Aug 5, 2020

Barry Fulcher was an excellent tennis player who has turned his passion to not only coaching, but also to creating a competitive structure in the UK that allows players to compete, learn and earn. This passion has been solely driven by Barry and his own bank balance. It finally got the recognition the Progress Tour deserves as he ran the top ladies event in the UK last week which attracted all of the GBs top female players. This is only the start of his journey, as he continues to juggle his coaching and playing international veteran tennis. An inspiration to us all, as on top of this he overcame cancer a few years ago. Enjoy his story

Aug 1, 2020

Michael Joyce had a very successful playing career with a career high of 64 ATP. Michael has gone on to coach some of the biggest stars in the women’s game including Victoria Azarenka, Genie Bouchard, Johanna Konta, Timea Babos and most notably Maria Sharapova. The American worked with Sharapova for 7 years, winning 3 Grand Slams together. In this episode of Control the Controllables, Michael gives us fascinating insights into his role as a coach, from contracts to training. It´s a must listen. Enjoy!

Jul 30, 2020

Mark Bullock has dedicated his coaching career to making tennis inclusive to all. He spent many years at ITF working and developing wheelchair tennis globally including its presence at all 4 of the Grand Slams. Over the last few years he has turned his attention to visually impaired tennis and other sports where he continues to innovate and inspire. A great listen and so many lessons for us all to learn.

Jul 25, 2020

Mike Dickson is the UK Daily Mail´s Tennis Correspondent. He has been a sports journalist for more than 35 years, predominantly covering tennis as his major sport during this time. He´s one of the most respected and admired journalists in tennis, and is very close to British Tennis, reporting on all its successes and failures. Mike shares many stories and insights from the world of Sports Journalism during this episode, which makes it a great listen. Links mentioned in this episode:- Mike Dickson on Twitter Follow Control the Controllables on Instagram SotoTennis Academy

Jul 22, 2020

James McGee is a former Irish Davis Cup Player and number one. Reached the top 150 ATP including qualifying at the 2014 US Open in dramatic circumstances, listen out for that. Shares his insights into the tour, Irish Tennis, his mental battles and how he now put all of those learnings to great use. A great listen

Jul 18, 2020

Anthony Ross is a world leading Sports Psychologist whose background is in Clinical Psychology. Anthony takes a look at our stories from the week and offers advice, reframes the way that we look at mental health ‘issues’ and brings an expert feedback to the many areas of Mental Health that tennis players/ coaches and everyone else experiences in this life. Thanks for supporting our mental health awareness week to all our listeners.

Jul 17, 2020

Matt has competed on and off on the ITF futures tour for the last 7-8 years whilst juggling a tennis coaching career to fund this. But then does he do either to the best of his ability? And what mental health difficulties does this bring? A common tennis story and so grateful that Matt has shared his thoughts and experience for many to learn from.

Jul 16, 2020

Joe Dixon was a SotoTennis Academy Coach for 6 years and continues to work at an International Player level. Joe has experienced depression and anxiety throughout his life and this came to a head when he tried to take his life in 2018. Joe has built his life back up and is now in a fantastic place with his mental health and has shown strength in sharing his story for you all the learn and draw from. It really is a must listen.

Jul 15, 2020

Liam Broady discusses the mental health battles he has experienced over the past few years and how he has worked through and built himself back up, just as you would do with physical health problems. A short, sharp and insightful podcast we are sure many will relate too.

Jul 14, 2020

Fran is a tough coach in Wales working with top International Juniors. She discusses the potential challenges for coaches working with young elite players around expectation of time, commitment and from parents which can lead to mental health difficulties around work-life balance. A great listen

Jul 13, 2020

Noah Rubin has been as high as 125 ATP and is a former Junior Wimbledon Champion. Noah has set up his own ‘Behind the Racket’ platform which is giving players a voice on their stories. We speak about current affairs around tournaments and what can learned from the period, as well as Noah opening up in detail on his mental health journey. So many great lessons for us all. Enjoy

Jul 12, 2020

Dan introduces the fantastic guests that we have throughout the week with 1 podcast being released each day to help bring awareness to a subject that isn’t talked about enough, yet is in all of our daily lives. Dan also explains the motivation behind setting up the Mental Health Awareness Week. Enjoy

Jul 11, 2020

Former Irish National Coach Paul Casey talks from the heart about his ideas on how Irish Tennis can and should develop from his experiences as a player and as a coach for 40+ years. He talks about his support for former ITF President Dave Miley and how that may have been a big opportunity missed. Straight talking and open. A great listen

Jul 8, 2020

Donald Young has been on our screens since he was World Junior Number 1 aged 15, to top 100 ATP AT 18. His story is full of ups and downs which he shares in detail, but one things hasn’t changed.. his love for the sport. A great listen

Jul 4, 2020

Martin Lee is one of a very select few British Male Players to reach the ‘Holy Grail’ of Top 100 ATP. Was it an easy journey there? Find out more....

Jul 1, 2020

Former GB Davis Cup Player Barry Cowan discusses his tennis journey which took him from Liverpool to taking Pete Sampras to 5 tough sets at Wimbledon. Since then he moved onto the other side of the camera as a Sky Sports and Amazon Prime Commentator. An open, honest chat with many great takeaways.

Jun 27, 2020

Irish Davis Cup Player Peter Bothwell has recently retired from the ATP/ITF Tour after 6 years of professional tennis. We dig into why Pete has made that decision at the age of 24 and the realities of the futures tour and in turn difficulties that so many have. A great insight.

Jun 24, 2020

James Trotman was a top 10 player in Europe from an early age, before winning multiple Junior Grand Slams. He was then struck down with a career ending illness. Not a one to dwell, he put his passion into his coaching and has become one of the UK’s finest. Working with many top 100 ATP players and representing both Tennis Australia and the LTA for the last 20 years where he currently oversees the players on the LTA Pro Scholarship Programme. A great story..

Jun 20, 2020

Aisam Qureshi is a tennis player from Pakistan who has made the top 10 ATP Doubles and two Grand Slam finals. He is Pakistan´s most successful singles and doubles player and at age 41, he is still going strong. Aisam has used his tennis platform to create awareness and open up political doors through his connections and his amazing way with people. In November 2010 he was appointed goodwill ambassador for The United Nations Development Program. That same year, Aisam and his doubles partner Rohan Bopanna from India were awarded the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year award. They also received the Peace and Sport Image of the Year award for bringing political authorities from their respective countries together. Together, they created the Stop War Start Tennis campaign to promote peace through tennis. His story is tennis, but it is so much more and an inspiration to us all. Connect with Aisam Follow Aisam on Twitter: @aisamhqureshi Follow Stop War Start Tennis on Instagram: @stop_war_start_tennis

Jun 17, 2020

Judy Murray is a Scottish tennis coach and the Mum of global superstars Jamie and Andy Murray. A former player, she became Scottish National Coach in 1995. She was the GB Fed Cup Captain between 2011-2016, and in 2017 was awarded an OBE for services to tennis, women in sport and charity. Away from tennis, she´s also appeared on The Chase, Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Masterchef. In this episode Judy discusses her journey into tennis, her life as a coach and Mum to the boys, and their journeys and experiences. We then delve into the ‘real’ Judy Murray. Keeeeep Dancing! Connect with Judy Follow Judy on Twitter: @JudyMurray Follow the Judy Murray Foundation on Twitter: @JudyMurrayFdn Visit the Judy Murray Foundation´s Website: www.judymurrayfoundation.com You may also like these episodes of Control the Controllables:- Episode 111: Jonny O´Mara & Toby Smith - Double Trouble Episode 67: Leon Smith - The History Maker Episode 66: Kris Soutar - Mr Tennis Episode 13: Jamie Murray - From Dunblane to the top of the world! Episode 11: Ali Collins - You cannot be (too) serious!

Jun 15, 2020

Dan Evans talks to Control the Controllables about his incredible journey which has taken him inside the top 100 ATP on 3 occasions. The British number 1 discusses how he overcame injuries and a drug ban, and what has made him continue to what is now a career high of 26 ATP. A must listen for anyone with an interest in the real journey of a professional tennis player. Connect Follow Dan on Instagram: @danevo.official Follow Control the Controllables on Instagram: @ctc.podcast Visit Control the Controllables Website: www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk

Jun 13, 2020

John Millman has been ranked as high as 33 in the world. He has beaten Roger Federer to progress to 2018 US Open Quarter-final. We delve into his tennis journey and into his strong intelligent opinions on the direction of the sport and so much more...

Jun 10, 2020

Sarah Borwell went from a nervous young girl who didn’t want to compete to the top 200 WTA singles and 65 in the world in doubles. Listen to why, how and what she is now doing helping 100´s of young players realise their potential through US College Scholarships. Website: https://tennissmart.net/ Facebook: TennisSmart

Jun 6, 2020

Craig O´Shannessy is recognised as a world leader in data analysis and is changing the landscape of how coaches view data within tennis. He spent 3 years working with Novak Djokovic and is the strategy analyst for the ATP Tour, Wimbledon, the Italian Tennis Federation and The New York Times. Craig talks to Control the Controllables about his tennis journey which has taken him to the top of the game as a data analyst. Connect with Craig Follow Craig on Twitter: @braingametennis Visit Craig´s Website: www.braingametennis.com Connect with us! Follow Control the Controllables on Instagram: @ctc.podcast Follow SotoTennis Academy on Instagram: @sototennis Visit SotoTennis Academy´s website: www.sototennis.com

Jun 4, 2020

Dan moves to the other side of the microphone, as he chats with Graeme Foreman. Dan discusses the influence of his north east upbringing and how this led to his Control the Controllables philosophy out at SotoTennis Academy in Spain and much more...

Jun 3, 2020

‘Barkers’ as Ian is known in the tennis world talks us through how he got into tennis, to the amazing journey of taking Pat Cash from aged 11 to Wimbledon Champion. Ian discusses his time in the UK in depth, as he created a winning culture through his job at the LTA national centre at Bisham Abbey.

May 30, 2020

Paul Jubb was dealt an extremely difficult start to life, as he lost both parents at an early age. This wasn’t going to stop him achieve what he wants in a sport that he loves. In 2019, Paul won the division 1 NCAA Tennis Championship and played Wimbledon for the first time. He has recently signed with Andy Murray’s Sports agency and his journey on the pro tour is beginning. A must listen!

May 27, 2020

Ireland’s Davis Cup Captain and ATP 129 at his best, Conor talks through his journey from Edgbaston to Limerick to Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York playing against Novak Djokovic. We also dig into the details around Irish Tennis throughout the episode.

May 24, 2020

Calvin Betton has been a tennis coach for 20 years working at all levels. He has developed a passion for purposeful practice and skill acquisition and we attack both subjects with live examples from his career.

May 24, 2020

Euan has been head coach at Stirling University after years at US College as a player and also on the lower levels of the Pro Tour. His passion has helped bring GB Universities to the conversation of player development and we delve into this and more..

May 20, 2020

Emily Webley-Smith has been competing on the ITF/WTA tour for the past 18 years. She has reached a career high of 240 in singles and 113 in doubles. Emily has overcome 7 major injuries during her career, but she continues to make big improvements through passion, desire and hard work. The tennis journey is not an easy one, but if you have the love of the sport, it overcomes all. We get into all of this with Emily in this episode. Enjoy! Connect Follow Emily on Twitter: @ews24 Follow Emily on Instagram: @emilywebleysmith Follow Control the Controllables on Instagram: @ctc.podcast

May 19, 2020

Will Herbert is currently Kyle Edmund’s physio and has previously worked with Alexander and Misha Zverev, Ana Ivanovic to name a few. He was a top UK Junior player funded through the LTA system, and has used his tennis playing to create an opportunity to be part of that world as a physio. In this episode, Will gives us an insight into the role of a physio on a pro players team, and shares his experiences working with Zverev, Ivanovic and Kyle Edmund. He also tells us the story behind Ivan Lendl´s nickname for him! A great story, enjoy! ***After recording this episode, Will was part of Emma Raducanu´s team at the 2021 US Open where she won her first Grand Slam, aged just 19-years-old. 🏆 Episode Shownotes

May 14, 2020

87 year old coach John Hicks talks about his tennis story. From the early days, to his favour Wrexham squad, the British players such as Tim Henman and Andy Murray who he helped shape, to what has kept his mind and body in such great shape!

May 10, 2020

In this episode you will hear how Jamie & Andy grew up as one, the reason behind Jamie taking to doubles so early in his career, how he chooses his doubles partner carefully and the impact of his Mum, Judy on himself and Andy. A fascinating listen. Enjoy 😊

May 8, 2020

Head Coach of the prestigious Queens Club in England Lee Childs discusses his tennis journey. From U18 European Champion to playing Rafa Nadal at Wimbledon. To the big question, why didn’t he become a top 100 ATP despite being touted for this in the tennis world?

May 6, 2020

WTA player Ali Collins talks candidly about how tennis is taken too seriously at a young age and the effects it can have on a players mental health, if we are not careful. We discuss the transition from being a top junior player into the Pro Game and much more.. Instagram: @alicollins27

Apr 30, 2020

Multiple Grand Slam Champion, Paralympic Gold Medalist and the first ever Wimbledon Wheelchair Champion in 2016, Gordon Reid. Gordon tells his story from the beginning to being the champion he is today. Gordon Reid on Twitter: @GordonReid91 Website: www.gordonreidtennis.com

Apr 29, 2020

From talented British junior, to a successful playing career before moving onto the ATP Tour as a coach, Mark Hilton has an amazing story. As well as helping GB´s Liam Broady reach World Junior number 2 in 2012, Mark has also coached Kyle Edmund and has coached Dan Evans three times over a 15 year period. Enjoy the show! Mark on Twitter: @markhilts

Apr 19, 2020

We get a chance to get inside the mind of one of the worlds best sports psychologists. Dr Anthony Ross, Director of Mentally Tough Tennis and a former top 150 ATP player shares his own personal and professional journey with us. And it’s been far from plain sailing.... Find out more about Dr Anthony Ross here:- Instagram: @mentally_tough_tennis Website: www.mentallytoughtennis.com

Apr 16, 2020

Eden Silva and Evan Hoyt discuss their unexpected run to being the longest standing British tennis players at Wimbledon in 2019. After being given a wildcard into the Mixed Doubles, they reached the quarter-finals going further than Andy Murray and Serena Williams. Eden and Evan chat to Control the Controllables about that unforgettable fortnight, as well as their plans for who they will play with in 2021. Does she say yes? Eden on Instagram: @edensilva Evan on Instagram: @evan_hoyt Evan Hoyt Youtube Channel

Apr 11, 2020

Liam and Josh were the 2012 Australian Opens Boys Doubles Champions and had successful junior careers. How have they transitioned into the pro game of tennis.. or is it basketball?

Apr 9, 2020

Two lads from Liverpool who realise their dream and both make it into the top 45 ATP doubles players in the world, and doing it together. But not all things happen so easy, listen to brothers Ken & Neal Skupski to find out more... Skupski Brothers onTwitter: @skupskibros Neal Skupski on Twitter: @nealskupski Ken Skupski on Twitter: @k_skupski

Apr 6, 2020

Part Three of our chat with 2012 Wimbledon Mens Doubles Champions Freddie Nielsen & Jonny Marray. Freddie and Jonny take us through their journeys post Wimbledon 2012 and look at the impact of their new found fame and ranking status. We explore how they transition their experiences and philosophies into the coaching world.

Apr 3, 2020

Part Two of our chat with 2012 Wimbledon Mens Doubles Champions Freddie Nielsen and Jonny Marray. Freddie and Jonny get into Wimbledon Men’s Doubles as wildcards, and go onto lift the winners trophy. Go on their incredible 2 week journey with them, as they take us through the incredible experience blow by blow. An episode that is rich in learnings for players, coaches and parents and a one that isn’t to be missed.

Apr 3, 2020

In this episode Freddie Nielsen and Jonny Marray talk about their journeys into pro tennis and it’s not as traditional a route as you may think. Did they always believe they would become Wimbledon Champions? Listen to Part 1 of their chat with CTC Host Dan Kiernan to find out.

Mar 30, 2020

Former British number one Doubles player Dan Kiernan and current Irish Fed Cup Captain John McGahon introduce their new podcast which will aim to entertain, educate and energise the tennis community through this difficult period.. and maybe beyond 😊