Matthew Futterman Interview: On Doubles Popularity, Tennis' Struggle in the US, & Possible Solutions

Matthew Futterman ( @MattFutterman ) is an award-winning tennis journalist who has worked for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and now, The Athletic. He has authored two books and is working on a third, about tennis, called "The Cruelest Game". This episode is a little different. You're not going to get doubles strategy out of this one, but you will get some deep insights into the world of pro tennis, why it isn't as popular in the US, and why doubles, specifically, has struggled. Matt has covered our sport for the better part of the last two decades interviewing singles stars like Novak Djokovic, doubles specialists like Austin Krajicek, and more. We discuss ideas on how tennis might change the format of doubles to make it more appealing. He also explains why Novak Djokovic is such a fascinating player and person. Matt shares three stories of his that you should read: Austin Krajicek Nearly Gave Up on Tennis to Sell Insurance Abuse in Tennis https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/25/sports/tennis/tennis-predatory-coaches.html https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/23/sports/tennis/usta-coach-sexual-assault.html https://theathletic.com/4928508/2023/10/05/us-tennis-sexual-abuse-pam-shriver/ Coco Gauff and the Unknown of Being a Grand Slam Champion 🎾 Follow Matt on Twitter 🎾 Sign up for Tennis Stories at The Athletic **Doubles Strategy Courses** 25 Winning Doubles Tactics Video Course This video course will teach you the best doubles tactics for serving, returning, rallying, and approaching so that you’ll have a winning plan for every point. Enroll here: https://the-tennis-tribe.teachable.com/p/25-winning-doubles-tactics League Doubles Training Masterclass The ultimate training for league doubles players, teams, & captains. Create smarter game plans for holding serve, return strategy, communication, teamwork, scouting, and every common scenario for 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 doubles. Enroll here: https://the-tennis-tribe.teachable.com/p/league-doubles-training **Doubles Ebooks** These ----- **Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players** New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox **Become a Tennis Tribe Member** Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more. Learn More & Sign Up Here **Other Free Doubles Content** Serve Strategy Cheatsheet Return Strategy Cheatsheet Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course