TennisWorthy

In 2021, the International Tennis Hall of Fame inducted its first group of contributors simultaneously: the Original 9. Together in 1970, these nine women broke from the established tennis landscape to sign $1 contracts with promoter Gladys Heldman, creating the first women's tennis tour. The early years of professional women's tennis were challenging, defiant and ultimately, hugely successful in creating equity and a platform for women in sports.Two members of the Original 9, Rosie Casals and Judy Tegart Dalton, along with fellow Hall of Famer Ann Jones, discuss those early years. With Blair Henley, Casals and Dalton share why they risked their careers to break the status quo and why timing in the 1970s was key to gaining momentum. They share memories of playing with and against each other, and the lesser-known hard work behind the scenes of growing women's tennis.Later in the episode, Jones tells Chris Bowers how the camaraderie between the women's players fueled progress in the early years of the Virginia Slims tour. Jones shares how solidarity between the players, regardless of nationality, helped foster a key sense of purpose in making tennis a sustainable career.

Tommy Haas reached the world No. 2 ranking in singles in 2002, and then endured a series of injuries that delivered setbacks. Despite the obstacles, he persisted in his career, remaining at the top of the game for another decade-plus and winning two ATP Comeback Player of the Year awards.With Chris Bowers, Tommy discusses his journey from winning tournaments as a small child in his native Germany to getting the invite to train with Hall of Fame coach Nick Bollettieri in Florida. He details Nick's impact on his career and how he worked to grow on small successes as a junior. Throughout his injuries, he remained positive, and shares how a "why not?" mentality kept him pushing for more.Tommy Haas is a four-time Grand Slam semifinalist in singles, former world No. 2, and an Olympic silver medalist. He captured 15 career singles titles on the ATP Tour. His final victory as a professional player on tour came against Roger Federer in 2017 at age 39. In 2016, Haas was named the Tournament Director for the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, and continues in the role today.

Kim Clijsters mastered the art of the comeback during her tennis career. After first retiring at age 23 to become a mother, she returned to the sport two years later and captured three of her four singles Grand Slam titles in her second act. Through it all, she was able to find the balance needed to be both a mother, daughter, friend and elite athlete.With Brett Haber, Kim discusses a wide array of subjects from her career to her life in retirement. She shares her mental secrets to success, her rivalry with Belgian countrywoman Justine Henin, and her deep love for the sport. In reflecting on some of her greatest moments, she remembers the friendships she developed and the constant support of her family. Kim Clijsters is a three-time US Open singles champion, Australian Open singles champion and doubles champion at both Wimbledon and Roland-Garros. She is a former No. 1 in both singles and doubles, and was inducted to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2017. She currently gives back to the sport as the President of the Hall of Fame, serving as an ambassador and working behind the scenes to grow the Hall's mission to preserve, celebrate and inspire.

Esther Vergeer's career accomplishments and statistics are mind-boggling: 42 Grand Slam titles, 407-match win streak in singles until her retirement, 668 weeks at world No. 1. Her story of illness as a child, to discovering tennis and shattering records, stands unique amongst the sport's legends.With Blair Henley, Esther details how she became an athlete after becoming paralyzed at age 8 and set her sights early on becoming a Paralympian. Once she reached the top, she continuously found ways to remain motivated and find a new edge, working with legendary coach Sven Groeneveld to make each other better. Esther shares her story of motherhood, induction into the Hall of Fame and her steadfast mission to grow exposure for disability sports in the Netherlands and beyond.Esther Vergeer is a 21-time major champion in singles and doubles, seven-time Paralympic gold medalist, and winner of 169 singles titles in her career. In 2023, she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. She is the tournament director of the ABN AMRO Open, Chef de Mission for Team Netherlands, and the founder of the Esther Vergeer Foundation, which provides young people with physical disabilities and chronic conditions the opportunity to exercise regularly, like any other child. The Foundation aims to strengthen self-confidence and self-reliance in participants through sport.

As the last true serve-and-volleyer to capture a singles Grand Slam, Aussie Pat Rafter brought uniqueness to the sport of tennis beyond just his playing style. In this episode, he and host Brett Haber leave few stones unturned, beginning with how he developed his playing style and modeling after legends Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker. Pat speaks the innate abilities needed to reach the top, and how players have changed from his generation to the present. He also takes listeners down memory lane, speaking to his Grand Slam memories, rivalries, and the difficulties of retirement.Pat Rafter is a two-time US Open singles champion, Australian Open doubles champion and former world No. 1. In 1998, he became the first man in the Open Era to achieve the American Summer Slam: winning the Canadian ATP 1000, Cincinnati ATP 1000, and US Open in the same year. He was part of the winning Australian Davis Cup team in 1999, and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2006.Episode transcripts and more information can be found on the podcast homepage:  tennisfame.com/podcast

Few tennis legends sustained longevity in their careers like Australia's Ken Rosewall. During his 30-plus year career on the courts, he captured an astounding 147 singles titles, spanning some of the most turbulent times in the sport. In the TennisWorthy Podcast, Ken discusses his elite tactics, including his legendary backhand, with host Chris Bowers. He shares stories of his doubles partnership with countryman Lew Hoad, the pure accomplishment of winning Grand Slam titles, and straddling the professional and amateur circuits early in the Open Era.As one of Australia's tennis golden age greats, Ken Rosewall won 18 Grand Slam titles (singles, doubles and mixed doubles) and 15 Pro Major singles titles spanning three decades. He was first ranked in the world's top 20 in 1952 and for the last time in 1977. Rosewall contributed to 4 Davis Cup titles for Australia, and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame shortly after his career ended in 1980.Episode transcripts and more information can be found on the podcast homepage:  tennisfame.com/podcast

The TennisWorthy Podcast is back for Season 2! The International Tennis Hall of Fame and host Chris Bowers bring a new set of enlightening interviews with legends and Hall of Famers for the new year. The podcast dives deep into the mindset of champions and uncovering the unique, special characteristics that define excellence on and off the court.Four-time Grand Slam champion Jim Courier brings candid honesty, as always, to start off the season. With Chris, Jim reflects on his youth, competitiveness, and choice to focus on tennis as a junior in Florida. He gives insight into three legendary guideposts during his tennis career - coaches Harry Hopman, Nick Bollettieri, and Dr. Jim Loehr - and how their differing styles molded him. Jim also touches on his relationships with his Hall of Fame peers Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, and shares a bit on his immense talents outside of tennis.Jim Courier is a two-time Australian Open champion, two-time Roland-Garros champion, former world number one and two-time Davis Cup winner from the 1990s. A member of a golden generation of American male champions and now a regular media personality on the tennis circuit, he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005.Episode transcripts and more information can be found on the podcast homepage:  tennisfame.com/podcast

It was Andre Agassi who in the early days of his relationship with Steffi Graf said, "You can always learn from a champion," but what can you learn? We've tended to end our podcast interviews with a question about what advice the legend would give both to tennis playing youngsters and to tennis parents. And there were a few themes that ran through the answers. Hear from the Hall of Famers and legends from Season 1 on what you can take from them onto the court, into your career, and beyond.1:42 - Lleyton Hewitt2:24 - David Hall4:15 - Pam Shriver5:41 - Stan Smith6:54 - Ivan Lendl8:17 - Mary Pierce11:57 - John Newcombe15:24 - Vijay AmritrajSeason 2 of the TennisWorthy Podcast begins on January 11, 2024. Listen to all of Season 1 and access episode transcripts at tennisfame.com/podcast.

The TennisWorthy Podcast revisits Season 1 ahead of Season 2's debut in January 2024, with 5 themed episodes featuring legends and Hall of Famers. One of the great things about tennis is that you can lose yourself in it, but for that very reason, all involved have to remember that tennis doesn't exist in a vacuum. It can be a force for good, but only if it engages in the bigger world. Sports operate in the context of the wider world, whether that's as a force for good or to take a backseat when more important things happen. In this episode, Hall of Famers Stan Smith, Lleyton Hewitt, Pam Shriver, Vijay Amritraj and Mats Wilander share their experiences with their sport colliding with the wider world.For more information on the TennisWorthy podcast and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast. 

The TennisWorthy Podcast revisits Season 1 ahead of Season 2's debut in January 2024, with 5 themed episodes featuring legends and Hall of Famers. Today's theme is the importance of family and the role parents play in the development of young, promising tennis talents. Such as the competitive nature of tennis and the need to start relatively early, that it's hard to get to the top without having had at least one parent who gave up an awful lot to help their child get a foothold in the sport. Legends of the game Vijay Amritraj, John Newcombe, Mary Pierce and Tracy Austin speak to the impact their families had on their careers, both positive and negative, and how to parent aspiring tennis players today.For more information on the TennisWorthy podcast and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast. 

The TennisWorthy Podcast revisits Season 1 ahead of Season 2's debut in January 2024, with 5 themed episodes featuring legends and Hall of Famers. Today's theme is learning, improving and psychology, and among the players, explaining how they learned, how they worked on ironing out their weaknesses without undermining their strengths and how to deal with the mental side of the game. Hear from Hall of Famers Ivan Lendl, Gigi Fernandez, Pam Shriver, and John Newcombe alongside host Chris Bowers. We all know what we mean by learning, but how do the greats go about absorbing and performing?For more information on the TennisWorthy podcast and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast. 

The TennisWorthy Podcast revisits Season 1 ahead of Season 2's debut in January 2024, with 5 themed episodes featuring legends and Hall of Famers. Today's theme is motivation and determination, and among the players, explaining what motivated them to dig deep and find something in their determination that made the difference between winning and losing. Featuring Lleyton Hewitt, Tracy Austin, Mats Wilander, Stan Smith, David Hall, and Mark Woodforde, host Chris Bowers presents this review of the great names talking about what fueled their desire on the court.For more information on the TennisWorthy podcast and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast. 

With an illustrious career marked by 26 Grand Slam titles, there is no question John Newcombe is a tennis legend. But what doesn’t appear on the stat sheet is what separates the Hall of Famer in a league of his own in his native Australia – and the sport of tennis as a whole.   In the season finale, John emphasizes the importance of prioritizing self-analysis, visualization and mental fortitude — all in an era prior to sports psychology’s normalcy. The pioneer, who turned his practices into the acclaimed book, “The Power Within: How to create a high performance mind” speaks to how his mindset translated towards his tennis game, Aussie comradery, and prioritizing family while on tour around the globe.  John Newcombe captured seven major singles titles in 10 opportunities, all of which on grass. Collectively he claimed 34 singles titles and 33 doubles championships, allowing him to become one of the few players to hold the world No. 1 ranking in both singles, (1967, 1970, 1971) and doubles, (1965). John also aided Australia to five Davis Cups prior to being named the Australia’s Davis Cup captain from 1995 to 2000 – where he led the team to a 1999 title after a 13-year drought.   For more information on the TennisWorthy podcast and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.  

In 1982, Mats Wilander took the tennis world by storm when he won Roland-Garros at age 17. At the time, he was the youngest male player to ever win a major title in singles. He went on to capture 8 Grand Slam titles during his Hall of Fame career.In this episode, Mats recalls that memorable run in Paris, his mental toughness, and his incredible display of sportsmanship at match point in the semifinal that year. He also discusses his legacy, growing up as a Swedish tennis player in the shadow of Bjorn Borg, and his memories of being inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2002.Mats Wilander is a three-time champion at both Roland-Garros and the Australian Open, and captured the US Open title in 1988. In 1986, he partnered with fellow Swede Joakim Nystrom to win his only Grand Slam doubles titles at Wimbledon. Mats was part of the dominating Swedish Davis Cup team that captured titles in 1984, 1985, and 1987.For more information on the TennisWorthy podcast and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.

At age 16, David Hall was in accident that caused him to lose his legs. After picking himself back up, both physically and mentally, he went on to become a hugely successful wheelchair tennis player, capturing over 80 titles, six Paralympic medals, and the ultimate honor in tennis - induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.In this episode, David goes deep with host Chris Bowers, talking about the never quit mindset that drove him as an athlete. He talks about the life-changing decision to leave a steady career and pursue his passion, wheelchair tennis, and the success that came because of his drive. Like so many of us, David is driven by music, and he talks about his affinity for heavy medal and a related, unique donation to the ITHF's museum collection.David Hall is one of Australia's greatest Paralympic athletes, having won over 80 career titles including seven Australian Opens and eight US Opens. A native of Sydney, he captured Paralympic singles gold at the Paralympic Games in his hometown in 2000. For more information on the TennisWorthy podcast and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.

Mark Woodforde is one of the most dominant doubles players of all time, capturing 17 Grand Slam titles, including 12 on the doubles side and 5 in mixed doubles. In a career full of knowledge and growth, he credits John McEnroe for showing him what it took to become an elite doubles partner.In this candid conversation with host Chris Bowers, Mark reveals what made his career so successful, and gives insight into what makes doubles teams click. He also talks about his pride in playing for Australia in Davis Cup, how he dedicated himself to becoming a top singles player at a young age, and the fascinating story behind meeting McEnroe.Mark Woodforde holds a career Slam in both doubles and mixed doubles. He is an Olympic Gold medalist, and was part of Australia's 1999 Davis Cup title team. For more information on the TennisWorthy podcast and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.

Vijay Amritraj is one of India's most successful tennis players. He's also the only person in history to play a match at Wimbledon in the morning, and end up in James Bond movie in the afternoon.In this episode, Vijay and Chris discuss how he overcame significant health issues to become a professional player, his experiences as a representative of India on the international stage, and of course, his role in the 1983 James Bond flick Octopussy.During his extensive career as a top-20 player, Vijay broke barriers and popularized tennis across more than half the world’s population throughout the Asian continent. Following his fruitful tennis career, he became an actor, commentator, and most notably, humanitarian, through his role as United Nations Messenger of Peace (2001-06) and through The Vijay Amritraj Foundation.  For more information on the TennisWorthy podcast and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.

Stan Smith is much more than just the man behind the legendary Adidas sneaker. Learn his backstory, from how he became a star tennis player despite it not being his first focus, to pulling double duty with military service during his career, and much more. A seven-time major champion, Stan Smith is a former world No. 1 player and standout on the Davis Cup stage for the United States. Stan won his first singles major title at the 1971 US Open and captured the Wimbledon crown in 1972. He discusses the importance of character, confidence, how he reached four specific stated goals, and his shoe with host Chris Bowers in the TennisWorthy Podcast.For more information on the TennisWorthy podcast and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.

Pam Shriver was half of an unstoppable team alongside Martina Navratilova during her playing career. In today's episode of the TennisWorthy podcast, Pam talks about that partnership, and how she was uniquely positioned from a young age to capitalize on her natural gifts. Pam lifts the curtain on what made her teamwork with Martina so unique, and candidly talks about the relationship with her coach, Don Candy, that she revealed in 2022. She also reveals some of her favorite memories competing for the United States, how it naturally ties in with her birthday.Together, Pam and Martina amassed 74 doubles titles, 20 of which were Grand Slams. Their partnership included a 109-match win streak from 1983-85. As a singles player, Pam reached six major semifinals, the final of the 1978 US Open, and a career-high ranking of No. 3 in the world. Today, she's best known for her broadcast work with Tennis Channel, ESPN, and more, and as a coach.For more information on the TennisWorthy podcast and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.

Gigi Fernandez is one of the most successful doubles players in the history of the WTA Tour, but before she became known for her doubles mastery, she was joining her family on court growing up in Puerto Rico.On the island, she carved a path to play through determination, eventually becoming a collegiate champion and turned professional. Following her playing career, she became a sought-after coach in both skills and mental toughness. In today's episode, she reveals insight on positive self-talk, improvements to make to your game, and her greatest achievements.Gigi Fernandez is a 17-time Grand Slam champion in doubles, which she captured alongside three different Hall of Famers. She is a two-time Olympic Gold medalist for the United States in doubles (1992, 1996), and owns 69 career doubles titles. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside doubles partner Natasha Zvereva in 2010.For more information on the TennisWorthy podcast and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.

As the youngest American to ever turn pro at the time, Mary Pierce’s entrée into tennis is the stuff of a Hollywood film. But it was her perseverance and belief that generated sustained results over the course of a Hall of Fame career. In a wide-ranging and revealing conversation, Mary tells her story from how fate led her to pick up a racquet at age 10, to how she continues to give back to the sport today. Episode 4 of TennisWorthy details how Mary’s desire to be the best she could possibly be in everything she did and ability to focus on what she could control led to a positive focus. Mary Pierce is a four-time Grand Slam champion, and the most recent French person, man or woman, to win the singles title at Roland Garros. In 2000, in addition to lifting the singles trophy, she teamed with Martina Hingis to win the French Open doubles title. She finished her career with 18 WTA singles titles and 10 doubles titles, and reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 3 in the world. In 2019, she became the fifth Frenchwoman inducted into the Hall of Fame. For more information on today’s episode and the TennisWorthy podcast, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.

What drove one of the most consistent careers in tennis history? Hall of Famer Ivan Lendl credits his success to consistently showing up, believing in himself and putting in the work. In Episode 3’s conversation with Chris Bowers, Ivan opens up about how absorbing experiences on court – such as being a ball kid for his Czechoslovakian countryman Jan Kodeš – led to mastering the intricacies of the sport. Despite the slew of major titles to his name, Ivan considers his learning experiences and versatility to be his greatest achievements. Ivan Lendl is an eight-time Grand Slam champion in singles, former world No. 1 player and winner of 100 professional titles. Cumulatively, Lendl spent 270 weeks atop the mountain as the best player in the world during a championship-laden 13-year span. For eight straight years (1982-89), tennis fans couldn’t tune into a US Open men’s singles championship match without seeing Lendl as one of the two finalists. He reached 19 major singles finals (third best all-time), won eight of them, including three at the US Open, three at the French Open and two at the Australian Open. For more information on today’s episode and the TennisWorthy podcast, visit tennisfame.com/ podcast.

Tracy Austin remains the youngest US Open champion in tournament history at just 16 years old, but her story actually begins much earlier, with a young girl dreaming to reach the sport’s highest heights. In Episode 2 of TennisWorthy, Tracy details her immersion in the sport from her earliest days, her innate ability to push herself, and the importance of taking small steps. Tracy Austin is a former world No. 1 women’s singles tennis player, with three Grand Slam titles to her name. Austin’s mature game, exceedingly advanced for a player so young, led her to win two US Opens over the game’s premier legends – Chris Evert in 1979 and Martina Navratilova in 1981. In 1980, Austin teamed with her brother John to win the 1980 Wimbledon Mixed Doubles Championship, the first brother-sister combination to achieve that feat. In 1992, she became the youngest person (29 years old) inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. For more information on today’s episode and the TennisWorthy podcast, visit tennisfame.com/ podcast.

Welcome to the TennisWorthy podcast presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame, diving deep into the mindset of champions and uncovering the unique, special characteristics that define tennis legends and Hall of Famers on and off the court. The inaugural episode features Class of 2021 inductee and Australian great Lleyton Hewitt. Esteemed tennis journalist Chris Bowers and Lleyton discuss the unrelenting drive, intensity, and ‘never say die’ attitude that he credits for his immense success on and off the court. From Lleyton’s early beginnings as an athlete (in a different sport than tennis), to his mentality on the biggest stages and the Aussie traditions he holds dear, learn about the qualities and values that helped build his Hall of Fame career. Lleyton Hewitt is a Wimbledon champion, US Open champion and two-time Davis Cup champion. Known for his competitiveness, he is the youngest player to ascend to the ATP Tour’s world No. 1 ranking, which he achieved at age 20. He won 30 career singles titles and remains dedicated to his country’s tennis legacy as Australia’s current Davis Cup team captain. For more information on today’s episode and the TennisWorthy podcast, visit tennisfame.com/ podcast.