Control the Controllables

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

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 AlcarazTalking 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 EpisodeControl the Controllables: Website | Instagram | EmailSotoTennis Academy

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 EpisodeWatch Damian´s TED TalkFind out more about Damien´s High Performance Coaching DaysSotoTennis AcademyFollow us on Instagram

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!

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 hereThe Vodafone advert is hereLewis Burton on Episode 113 hereAlistair Filmer on Episode 134 here

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 hereFollow 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

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 | YouTubeFinn's tweet is here

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!

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

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!

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 | YouTubeEric Butorac's Episode is hereOur Female Tennis Empowerment Episodes: Sue Anstiss | Olivia Nicholls

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 SmithTop tennis strength and conditioning coach and CTC legend Kieron VorsterOur 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!

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 SmithTop tennis strength and conditioning coach and CTC legend Kieron VorsterThey 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!

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 - TwitterEpisode 62 of Control the ControllablesValorie’s Ted TalkCTC YoutubeSotoTennis Academy: Instagram | X | Website

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 discussionsFreddie Nielsen - 2012 Wimbledon doubles champion and Danish Davis Cup captainGaby Dabrowski - 2023 US Open champion and WTA Board MemberCalvin Betton - ATP doubles coachIf 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! ⇦

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!

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 TennisFollow CTC on Instagram: @ctc.podcast

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 PodcastFInd out more about The Women´s Sport CollectiveSue’s Socials: Instagram | Twitter

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 gameIs US college the best route to make it pro?What it’s like to compete at the biggest international tennis tournaments in the worldHer Wimbledon mixed doubles run with Jonny O’Mara in 2022Announcing 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!

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!

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

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 🙏🏻

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 DabrowskiDenmark´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 🙏🏻

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

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!

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! 🌟

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.

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.

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

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 EpisodeListen to Valorie´s Full CTC Episode here.Valorie´s Tedtalk: Why winning doesn´t always equal successGet your Black Friday Discount to train at SotoTennis Academy HERE!

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.

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.

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 NielsenS&C Coach to Liam Broady, Dan Evans & Sorana Mihaela Cîrstea, Kieron VorsterGB´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 ReidAnd so much more! Enjoy!

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.

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 MurrayHave 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.

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 usDon´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.

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 SuccessRead full shownotes here.

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 ChampionFull shownotes hereHelp Dan & Vicki raise money for Alzheimer's Society as they take on the Great North Run in Newcastle next month.

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 CoachHow his coaching philosophy has changed over the years.Nigel´s non-negotiables when working with a playerThe impotance of adapting your coaching style to match players' individual needs and game strategies.His reflections on his coaching careerLinks Mentioned in this Epsiode:-Connect with us : Website | Instagram | Email usHelp 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

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 NielsenCanadian WTA player Gaby Dabrowski who has been as high has 4 in the world doubles rankingsGB´s Emily Webley-Smith who has been on the women´s tour for more than 20 years.A brilliant episode! Enjoy!Links & ResourcesControl the Controllables website Follow Control the Controllables on InstagramFind out more and get tickets for the Lexus British Open Wheelchair ChampionshipsFind out more about SotoTennis Academy:  Website | Instagram |Twitter | Facebook

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 journeyHis 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.

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 NielsenCanadian WTA player Gaby Dabrowski who has been as high has 4 in the world doubles rankingsPiotr 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!

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 businessThe influence of Coaches and MentorsManaging people and building a cultureWhat does "making it" mean?Overcoming dark moments after tennis and finding a new focus.The importance of doing things which makes you happyThe transferable skills he developed during his tennis days which he thinks has given him the edge in business.Links Mentioned in this EpisodeCheck out Triple Two CoffeeLearn more about SotoTennis Academy: Website | Instagram |Twitter | FacebookFollow Control the Controllables on Instagram: @ctc.podcastListen to our episode with British Coaching legend John Hicks

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 NielsenCanadian WTA player Gaby Dabrowski who has been as high has 4 in the world doubles rankingsPiotr 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.

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 PlayHis take on Kato´s default at the French Open and more...Read full show notes here.Order a copy of ‘Championship Points’ here.

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 NielsenCanadian WTA player Gaby Dabrowski who has been as high has 4 in the world doubles rankingsPiotr 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.

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: @TheTennisTalkerListen to Episode 142: Fran Jones - Northern GritListen to Episode 188: Pat Cash - Wimbledon Men´s Champion 1987SotoTennis Academy: Website | Instagram | Twitter | FacebookConnect with us : Website | Instagram | Email us

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! 🙏

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 MurrayFormer ATP singles player Noah RubinATP Doubles Coach Calvin BettonAre 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! 🙏

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 hereControl the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email Find out more about SotoTennis Academy