The Tennis Files Podcast

On Episode 76 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I spoke with Brad Stine about how he coached Kevin Anderson, Jim Courier, and many other players to top ATP world rankings. Brad's philosophies, systems, and strategies have enable him to consistently propel whoever he coaches, from high level juniors, college players and tour pros, to top rankings and grand slam titles. It was fascinating to hear Brad's tennis journey and how both he and his players have risen to the upper echelon of the game. Brad is a world-class tennis coach from Fresno, California who has coached numerous top ATP pros in his career, most notably former world #1 Jim Courier. He currently coaches ATP world #6 Kevin Anderson, and has also previously coached Andrei Medvedev, Jonathan Stark, Mardy Fish, Taylor Dent, Sebastien Grojean, Sargis Sargisian, and Byron Black. Brad played and coached at Fresno State, and led the program to a top 20 DI ranking as a coach. He was also a US National Coach for the USTA and coached the US junior national team, which was loaded with top talent: Jim Courier, Pete Sampras, MaliVai Washington, Todd Martin, Jonathan Stark, Jared Palmer, David Wheaton and Jeff Tarango On this episode, we talk about how Brad became a top level coach and his journey from coaching at the USTA, to college tennis, and eventually to coaching some of the best ATP pros of all time. I really hope you enjoy my interview with Brad! Let us know what you think about this episode in the comments below! Show Notes: Brad’s favorite place in the world to go snowboarding Brad's first memory of hitting a tennis ball How Brad got his start in coaching Brad’s experience coaching the US Junior National Team, which was loaded with top talent: Jim Courier, Pete Sampras, MaliVai Washington, Todd Martin, Jonathan Stark, Jared Palmer, David Wheaton and Jeff Tarango The most important skills Brad focused on developing in the US Junior National Team Coaching D1 college tennis at Fresno State The most important changes Brad made to the Fresno State tennis team that caused the program to eventually get a top 20 DI ranking, and why an atmosphere of respect is so important Differences between coaching in college and the pro tour Going from coaching college tennis to Jim Courier and how they ended up working together Jim’s personality and the approach Brad took to maximize Jim’s abilities Jim’s unorthodox backhand and how the coaching team maximized his game The importance of the backhand slice to Jim’s success The traits and habits that most contributed to Jim Courier’s rise to the top of the game How Brad and Kevin Anderson started their coaching partnership The importance of self-containment and conserving energy and how this has improved Kevin’s results How we can strike a balance between getting pumped up and positive versus conserving energy An example of having a stronger physical presence on the court Kevin’s most important traits that make him a top 10 player Kevin’s increased focus on his fitness training and getting stronger What’s next for Brad and Kevin 3 books Brad would gift to a friend to help them play better tennis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Episode 75 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I answer questions that I've received from tennis players like you about anticipation, fitness, consistency, technique, and more! I routinely receive emails asking questions about all things tennis, and I picked out seven of them to answer on the podcast today. I really enjoy receiving emails from my subscribers and do my best to answer them all (even if it takes a little while!). The questions and answers today are very likely to help a part of your game, and I appreciate every single one of you who has contacted me with your fantastic questions. I really hope you enjoy this episode! If you like the format, let me know in the comments below so that I can do more Q&A episodes in the future! And be sure to subscribe to Tennis Files below to receive the latest tennis content to improve your game straight to your inbox! Show Notes: Q1: How to anticipate where the ball will be to be in the best position to hit an optimal shot and intercept the ball (Dennis - 4.0) Q2: How to motivate a junior player to focus on their fitness instead of spending time on the iPhone/iPad (Kevin - 4.0) Q3: Improving reaction time to the ball and deciding what shot to use (Kay - 3.5) Q4: How to improve the forehand topspin drive (Harlan - 3.5) Q5: Hitting the ball on the run and keeping it in play (John - 3.5) Q6: How to deal with a toxic environment and coach at a tennis club (Prasad - 3.5) Q7: How to learn to play the game correctly and with the right technique so that you don't learn bad habits (Andrea - 2.5) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Episode 74 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I spoke with Jeff Salzenstein about how we can achieve our potential by changing our belief system and attitudes. This is one of the most mind blowing episodes I've done so far, and contains a ton of highly actionable tips that will motivate you to make a shift in your daily habits and approach to life. Be sure to have a pen and pencil handy if you can, you're going to learn a lot from my interview with Jeff on mindset performance! In case you don't know about Jeff, he is a former top 100 ATP Pro and one of the most well-respected tennis coaches in the game. Jeff has battled against many of the best tennis players in the world throughout his career. He has combined that experience, along with his desire to learn all he could about playing optimal tennis, to create many of the most popular online tennis courses in the world. And the very first online tennis course that I ever invested in was from Jeff! He has recently shifted his focus to mindset performance and it was awesome to bring him on the podcast once again. Jeff first made an appearance on Episode 28 of The Tennis Files Podcast. On this episode, we talk about Jeff's famous battle with Michael Chang at the US Open, how to break through negative thought patterns, the importance of communication, surrounding yourself with positive influencers, Jeff's morning routine, and much more! I really hope you enjoy my interview with Jeff! Let us know what you think about this episode in the comments below! Show Notes: Jeff’s 4-set battle with Michael Chang at the U.S. Open How Jeff reached the top 100 ATP rankings and transitioned to a world-class coach Three things most of the world doesn’t know about Jeff Salzenstein Why a person’s mindset is so crucial to their performance and life success The most common roadblocks that prevent people from achieving success on the tennis court Why the focus on mindset is sorely lacking Why Jeff shifted his focus to mindset performance recently How Jeff has personally struggled with the mental game during his career Common negative mental patterns with tennis players Actionable tips that we can implement to improve our mental games What we can do before tennis matches to prepare for the mental battle ahead Mantras to help with our mental performance How to become a high performer by asking yourself one simple question Positive practices off-court to help develop the mental game Why the way we communicate determines our success Jeff’s morning routine Goal setting tips Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Episode 73 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I highlight 10 tips that can supercharge your tennis game. These tips are from 10 of my previous podcast guests, and I wanted to highlight them in this episode because if you implement them, you will reach the next level in your game. After each tip, I provide my take on each comment. I really hope you enjoy this episode! If you like it, I highly encourage you to listen to the full podcast episodes of my guests who gave tips on the show. The links to their show are below. Let me know what you think about this episode and if you liked the format in the comments below! Time-Stamped Show Notes [3:42] Dr. Joe Parent [Ep. 71]: Practicing Big Points [7:38] Peter Freeman [Ep. 70]: Getting 1% Better Each Day [13:07] Johnny Fraser [Ep. 69]: Plan and Prepare/Warm-Up [16:02] Gregory Howe [Ep. 68]: Footwork is King [18:01] Leon Vessels [Ep. 67]: Consistency [21:20] Jamie Loeb [Ep. 66]: Enjoy Your Game and Set Goals [24:03] Denis Kudla [Ep. 65]: Keep it Simple, Enjoy the Game, Body Control [27:29] Ian Westermann [Ep. 61]: Video Yourself [33:12] Gigi Fernandez [Ep. 59]: Watch the Ball on Opponent’s Side [35:47] Ramon Osa [Ep. 58]: Believe in Yourself Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Episode 72 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I talk about best practices when changing your tennis technique. On this solo episode, you'll learn whether you need to change your technique, what strokes you should work on, best practices for changing your technique, how to ensure you won't revert to your old technique, and more! Today's episode is based on a presentation I gave on The Tennis Technique Summit, which included over 30 world-class tennis coaches. There was so much amazing information on that summit, that I decided to talk about how to use that knowledge to improve your tennis technique. I hope you enjoy this episode! Let me know what you think about this one in the comments below! Show Notes Do you need to make technical changes to your game? Evaluating your game; strengths and weaknesses Recording your play and the benefits The biggest return on your investment Focusing on one change at a time Mapping out your vision for the future and SMART Goals Mind Mapping (I use Mindmeister) Reducing environmental pressures when changing your technique and progressions Trusting your coaches Don’t revert back to your old technique Enjoy the learning process Focus and intensity on the court Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Episode 71 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I spoke with Dr. Joseph Parent about how we can play in the zone. Dr. Joseph is the author of Zen Tennis: Playing In The Zone. We talk about everything from why players have trouble playing well in matches vs practice, breathing exercises to help you relax and achieve optimal performance, practicing playing big points, mental fitness, and more! This episode is a really important discussion about a highly overlooked part of tennis, the mental game, and I highly encourage you to hit the play button above to listen to it! In addition to Zen Tennis, Dr. Joe is also the author of Zen Golf: Mastering the Mental Game, Zen Putting: Mastering the Mental Game on the Greens, The Best Diet Book Ever: The Zen of Losing Weight, How to Make Every Putt: The Secret to Winning Golf's Game Within the Game, and A Walk In The Wood: Meditations on Mindfulness with a Bear Named Pooh. Dr. Joe teaches at the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa Resort, and The Los Angeles Country Club. He has been featured on CNN, NBC’s Today in New York, HBO Sports, ESPN, and has also made many appearances on The Golf Channel. Dr. Joe has coached numerous celebrities, including Michael Bolton, Kevin James, Anthony Anderson, George Lopez, Bernie Mac, Michael O’Keefe (Danny Noonan in Caddyshack), Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen, world champion boxer Oscar de la Hoya, and many other elite athletes and celebrity golfers. Golf Digest named Dr. Joe as one of the “Top Ten Mental Game Experts” in the world It was a pleasure speaking with Dr. Joe on the podcast, and I know you'll learn a lot of valuable information that will help you improve your mental game and perform better on the court. Many thanks to Dr. Joe for coming onto the podcast! Let us know what you think about this episode in the comments below! Time-Stamped Show Notes: BEGINNINGS [3:34] How Dr. Parent got his start in tennis and the mental game INTRO TO ZEN TENNIS [5:16] What zen means and its origins/background [7:20] Dr. Joe’s inspiration for writing Zen Tennis and the problem with worrying about results INSIGHTS FROM THE BOOK [11:39] The biggest obstacles players face when trying to play in the zone [13:57] The reason why players practice so well and yet they play poorly in matches when it counts [15:23] Why your intention is crucial to playing well and the NINJA system [17:30] Some things we can do before our matches to give us the best chance of playing in the zone [19:57] Needing to win vs not holding back and doing your best [21:58] How long it takes to improve your mental game [24:27] What is mental fitness, how does it help us and how do we develop it? [26:14] Breathing practices and meditation tips to help you stay focused and grounded CLOSING QUESTIONS [30:24] Other books written by Dr. Joe that we should check out [32:40] Where we can follow Dr. Joe online or in person [34:21] How practicing big points can help us level up our tennis games [36:14] How we can get Dr. Joe's books (see below for the links!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Episode 70 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I spoke with my good friend Peter Freeman about his journey from a top junior to teaching tennis players worldwide how to level up their tennis games. Pete is the founder of Crunch Time Coaching, and does an amazing job of creating tennis videos and other great content to help players improve their technique, strategy, and many other parts of their game. We talk about everything from Pete's development as a junior player, to how he got into coaching and the online tennis instruction space, and a ton of awesome tips on how we can improve and get more power on our serve, backhand, and volleys. This episode is a really fun and value-packed one, and I highly encourage you to hit the play button above to listen to it! In addition to running Crunch Time Coaching, Pete has a long list of credentials that makes him one of the top coaches in the business. Pete has coached division 1 college tennis players, produced state level and national champions, and has been awarded the honor of USTA Georgia Pro of the year. Pete also creates tons of fantastic tennis content on Youtube and I highly recommend you check out his Youtube Channel. He has coached under Tony Palafox, who was John McEnroe’s former coach, and Frank Brennan, a former Stanford University Coach who won 10 national titles. Pete has a huge passion for tennis and will do whatever it takes to get your game to the next level. Pete gave an amazing presentation on how to hit a monster topspin forehand on last year’s Tennis Technique Summit, and one on Slice Serve Strategy on this past year’s Tennis Summit 2018 that I hosted. If you haven't already, you can go to those links to check them out for free! Pete also hosts Tennis Con, an annual online tennis conference with some of the best names in the business like Gigi Fernandez, Rick Macci, Jeff Salzenstein, and many more! On top of all that, he is the Director of Tennis at Gold's Gym in Atlanta. It was a pleasure speaking with Pete on the podcast, and I know you'll really enjoy this episode and learn a lot about how we can improve our serve, backhands and volleys, and what it takes to become a great tennis coach. Many thanks to Pete for coming onto the podcast! Let us know what you think about this episode in the comments below! Time-Stamped Show Notes BEGINNINGS [3:56] How Pete got his start playing tennis [5:56] Pete’s role models growing up [8:32] Pete’s playing style as a junior compared with the pros back then [10:21] Three things most of the world doesn’t know about Pete (and a funny encounter with John McEnroe) COACHING [14:37] Reaching the top ranks as a junior in New Jersey [18:47] A unique event that sparked Pete’s tennis coaching career [22:07] How Pete developed into the great coach that he is today [23:06] Pete’s stint working outside of the tennis world in the real estate industry and the tough realities of being a tennis coach [26:43] The pay structure for head pros of tennis clubs [29:50] The difficulty of teaching players who aren’t passionate about the game [32:47] What caused you to want to take your coaching to the online world and create Crunch Time Coaching? [36:42] Why Pete named his business Crunch Time Coaching [38:01] What excites Pete the most about teaching online [40:03] The biggest roadblock in Pete’s tennis coaching career and how he overcame it [41:55] How do pros go about reserving court time to teach lessons, and the issues pros have with this TIPS FOR TENNIS PLAYERS [43:05] The biggest mistakes tennis players make when they serve [46:14] Where power in the serve come from [49:51] How players can generate more spin on the serve [52:49] Pete’s favorite serve to use in...

On Episode 69 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I spoke with Jonny Fraser about how tennis players should train when on the road. Whether we are top-ranked players or club players, we often find ourselves traveling to a different area for a tournament, USTA league competition, or match away from our home training centers, and don't know how we should train when away. Jonny and I discuss how you can best prepare yourself when heading to a different area or time zone, what to think about and prepare for before leaving, an awesome sample workout with exercises that you can implement into your training on the road, what equipment we should bring in our tennis bags (there won't always be a gym down the street!), recovery tips, and much more. Jonny is a fantastic guy and I finally got to introduce myself to him at this past year's World Tennis Fitness Conference in Atlanta (shot out to Dr. Mark Kovacs and the International Tennis Performance Association!). Jonny has presented at this conference and others over the past several years, and I've always learned a ton from his presentations. I asked him to come onto the podcast then and we finally made it happen, which I am obviously very happy about! Jonny has worked in tennis strength and conditioning for over ten years. He is currently the Head of Strength and Conditioning at Claudio Pistolesi Enterprise, and is the Assistant Director of Fitness at the Tennis Congress. Jonny also currently runs a business called Science in Tennis dedicated to helping you maximize your performance on court. Jonny acts as an Associate Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University as well, and is certified as a Master Tennis Performance Specialist by the iTPA, which is the highest level of certification. A pretty solid resume if you ask me :) It was a pleasure speaking with Jonny on the podcast, and I know you'll really enjoy this episode and learn a lot about how we can perform better on the court through training effectively on the road. Many thanks to Jonny for coming onto the podcast! Let us know what you think about this episode in the comments below! Time-Stamped Show Notes BEGINNINGS [5:17] How Jonny got his start in the tennis world [7:00] The injury that lit Jonny’s passion for tennis fitness [8:09] Why Jonny loves working in the tennis fitness niche [9:52] Three things most of the world doesn’t know about Jonny Fraser [12:41] What exactly is sports science and how has it evolved over the years? TRAINING ON THE ROAD [17:33] The biggest challenges that players face when traveling on the road [20:30] The huge importance of researching the resources around you [23:00] Similarities and differences for club vs pro players when training on the road [25:52] Jonny’s travels with pro and club players around the world [27:28] The biggest mistakes that tennis players when traveling to play tournaments [28:56] The pieces of equipment that you should bring in your bag [31:09] What resistance level (colors) of bands should we use when warming-up and training? [32:04] Why a hockey or lacrosse ball will help your recovery [35:09] What level of intensity should players have when training on the road? [38:48] The differing number of sets and reps you should use for building muscle, strength, and endurance [41:42] What is undulating periodization and should you use it in your training? [43:08] A sample workout from Jonny that you can use in your training! [46:05] Tips to help maximize your recovery when traveling and playing on the road OTHER QUESTIONS [48:27] One concept about tennis fitness that Jonny has changed his philosophy about over the years [49:56] Why Jonny created Science in Tennis, and what it aims to achieve. ...

On Episode 68 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I spoke with Gregory Howe about how he decided to quit his job as a 34-year old to travel the world playing professional tennis tournaments in search of an ATP ranking. On top of that, Greg wrote a fantastic book called Chasing Points: A Season On The Pro Tennis Circuit detailing his pursuit of his ultimate dream. I have been reading the book and it truly is a fantastic peek into the life of professional tennis, particularly at the lower levels of the sport where people are struggling to make it to the big stage. Greg set his goal of achieving an ATP ranking almost two decades before he decided to drop everything and travel the world, playing Futures tournaments, finally doing what he set out to accomplish, and then eventually playing Challengers and even ATP Tour events while working a job. You will love Greg's story, as it is a very relatable goal for many players, and he had he stones to go through so much adversity and travel to achieve what he dreamed of doing. I highly recommend you check out Greg's book, Chasing Points: A Season On The Pro Tennis Circuit, as it is extremely detailed and a very entertaining read. It was a pleasure speaking with Greg on the podcast, and I know you'll really enjoy this episode about Greg's journey to achieving his ultimate goal of getting an ATP ranking, no matter what it took. We all dream about getting a pro ranking; even I tried my hand at a Futures event a couple years ago. You can listen to my recap of how my pro tournament experience went here (and check out my amazing cover photo skills while you're at it :) ). Let us know what you think about this episode in the comments below! Time-Stamped Show Notes [5:04] How Greg got his start playing tennis [6:00] Playing with his brother on tour [6:57] Greg’s role models growing up [8:25] The peaks and valleys of his junior career. [10:06] An early pro tournament experience that got Greg hooked on playing the Pro Circuit [11:39] The diversity of players in the Gladstone pro tournament [12:50] The difference between those who bounce back and those who give up when adversity hits [14:23] How Greg’s ultimate goal ended up haunting him throughout his life [15:35] The motivation to want to give his dream 100% effort [16:49] Why Greg quit his job to play the pro circuit, even though he had a solid life going for him and despite the risks of doing so. [18:01] How Greg quit his job and what he said to his boss [19:04] What Greg’s wife (then girlfriend) thought about his decision to quit [19:43] The perks of dating someone who works for an airline [20:58] Financial planning for Greg’s travels around the world playing pro tournaments [22:14] The number of countries Greg traveled to during his pro circuit experience that year [23:47] The difference between the different levels on tour (Futures, Challengers, ATP) and ITF vs ATP organizations [25:55] What drew Greg to the ATP Pro touring life the most [26:49] Getting shots before traveling to tournaments [27:58] How Greg managed to recount his experiences so vividly for the book [29:06] Using huge notebooks to write about his travels [30:03] How much luggage Greg brought around the world [31:45] Giving up 45 minutes into a morning training session with Roger Federer’s former coach in Thailand the day before his Futures tournament [33:21] The biggest ups and downs Greg experienced in the several months leading up to getting his first ATP point [35:42] How Greg came back from a devastating injury and his mindset [36:57] The tournament that got Greg his first ATP point [39:43] What Greg was thinking during the last point of the match that would finally earn him his ATP ranking and achieve his...

On Episode 67 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I spoke with Leon Vessels about how he became a practice partner for top ATP and WTA pros. Leon has practiced with Alexander Zverev, Kei Nishikori, Grigor Dmitrov, Eugenie Bouchard, Gael Monfils, John Isner, Janko Tipsarevic, Alexandr Dolgopolov, Rajeev Ram, and countless other top ranked players. I noticed Leon playing with these top players at the Citi Open while covering the tournament over the past few years, and was intrigued about his story. What is particularly amazing about Leon is that although he was a top junior, he did not play college tennis or on the pro tour, took several years off the game, and yet still possesses the skills and focus to practice with the top players in the world. On the podcast we get into how Leon became a practice partner at the Citi Open, how others can become practice partners at tournaments, the level required to practice with the pros, tips he's learned from the best in the world, and much more. It was a pleasure speaking with Leon on the podcast, and I know you'll really enjoy this episode about Leon's journey to becoming a practice partner with these players. I know we'd all love to be in Leon's shoes. Heck, I think becoming a practice partner for the pros is one of my next goals :) Let us know what you think about this episode in the comments below! Time-Stamped Show Notes: [3:46] How Leon got his start playing tennis [6:57] Leon’s ultimate goal in tennis [8:50] Where Leon trained as a junior [12:05] Why Leon decided not to play college tennis due to burnout and other factors [14:40] How Leon made his tennis comeback by getting challenged from his friends [15:56] How Leon first became a practice partner at the Citi Open for Rajeev Ram [18:05] How Leon got a wildcard to play in the Citi Open [20:07] Are there common drills that pros ask for from practice partners? [22:04] The mentality practice partners must have and Leon’s close relationship with Alexander Dolgopolov [23:45] Leon’s rough practice experience practicing with Eugenie Bouchard [25:54] Who are some of the most relaxed and demanding tennis players during practice [30:23] The level of tennis you need to be a practice partner at pro tournaments [32:46] How you can become a practice partner [36:02] The vetting process for practice partner applicant [39:24] Biggest lessons learned from practicing with the pros [40:51] What it feels like to warm-up a top 3 player (Zverev) before a final [44:18] Where we can follow Leon online [45:35] A key tip from Leon to help you improve your tennis game Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Episode 66 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I spoke with WTA world #164 Jamie Loeb about her rise from the juniors to playing the biggest tournaments in the world. Jamie developed into a top junior, had a championship run at the University of North Carolina, and qualified for the US Open while still in college before turning pro full-time. Jamie is grinding it out on the tour and living the dream of traveling the world as a professional tennis player. I first met Jamie at the Player's Party at the Citi Open last month, along with her former teammate and friend Tessa. I remembered that my former assistant coach and teammate Ale Pedergnana is close friends with Jamie, and after a friendly chat and compliments on her dance moves, Jamie was nice enough to come onto the podcast. We chat about her keys to success on the pro tour, how she overcame the toughest moment in her career, how tough it is to survive financially as a pro, what racquets and strings she uses, tips for pros on how to improve your Instagram game, some great insights into how you can improve your tennis game, and much more. I've also added something new for the first time: a transcript of the interview. See below or click here to read the transcript! It was a pleasure speaking with Denis on the podcast, and I wish him all the best in his career. Let us know what you think about this episode in the comments below! Please let me know what you think about whether I should keep doing transcripts for the podcast! Based on your feedback, I'll decide whether to keep doing the transcripts or scrap it. It's an added cost (obviously), and I actually had this one automatically transcribed then fixed it up myself and it took a ton of time, so I'll have to figure out a better way if you want me to keep doing the transcripts. Thanks for your feedback! Time-Stamped Show Notes: [1:57] Jamie’s incredible dance moves [4:09] Breaking the myth about Jamie’s mom being her coach [5:43] How her family influenced her game growing up [7:25] When Jamie knew she wanted to turn pro [8:35] How Jamie’s sister Jenna won a state championship on a broken ankle [8:59] Her tennis role models [9:37] Three things that most of the world doesn’t know about Jamie Loeb [12:03] When Jamie started seriously training for tournaments [13:14] How many tournaments she played as a junior [14:02] Was burnout ever an issue as a junior player? [15:37] The decision to finish up high school online [17:30] Is high school tennis is a good training ground for serious junior tournament players, and potential improvements [19:30] Jamie’s experience training at the John McEnroe Tennis Academy [20:29] A typical day like at JMTA [21:30] Practice matches with John McEnroe and why he never does mini-tennis [24:45] Playing at the US Open in 2015 vs. Wozniacki after winning the American Collegiate Invitational College Tennis at UNC [27:23] Deciding to attend UNC instead of going pro full-time [30:47] What is your first memory of your college tennis career? [32:03] Elements of Jamie’s game she improved the most while at UNC [33:42] How to develop maximal focus and tunnel vision [36:57] The most important piece of advice her coach Brian gave her at UNC [39:51] How many days a week the team trained fitness vs on-court practice in the fall season, and how that changed in the spring [41:31] Deciding to leave school early to turn pro [42:30] Big differences between college tennis and the pro tour [43:59] Focusing on the dynamic warm-up [45:27] A typical day of training while on the tour [46:18] How much weight training is part of her fitness? [47:28] Traveling with a coach, and how frequently her coach joins her at tournaments ...

On Episode 65 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I spoke with ATP world #73 Denis Kudla about how his obsession with tennis turned into a pro career. Denis turned pro as teenager and has had his share of ups and downs, but through it all his passion for the game and excellent support system has helped him catapult back into the Top 100 once again. Denis has always been one of my favorite players to root for because he is from Arlington, Virginia, which is very close to where I'm from (Maryland), and also because he is a very down to Earth guy. I first met and interviewed Denis at the Citi Open last month after he and Frances Tiafoe played a doubles match (two in the same day actually). Denis wore a Washington Capitals shirt, which has been the pride of DC for their championship win (and one of my favorite hats to wear). Denis was kind enough to make some time to speak with me while he was in New York preparing for the U.S. Open. You'll hear Denis talk about his tennis career from the beginning, how he trained as a junior at the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC), why he has always prioritized fitness, and how he bounced back from the lowest point of his career. It was a pleasure speaking with Denis on the podcast, and I wish him all the best in his career. Let us know what you think about this episode in the comments below! Time-Stamped Show Notes [2:36] Denis's training and preparation for the US Open [3:43] Playing golf at the Stowe Tennis tournament in Vermont [4:26] Similarities between tennis and golf [5:27] Why this has been the best year of Denis's sports fan life (Washington Capitals / Philadelphia Eagles) [7:47] Denis's first memory of hitting a tennis ball [9:04] Transition to training at the Junior Tennis Champions Center, and why Denis's family made the decision [10:37] How Denis stayed focused on his tennis training as a junior and avoided distractions [11:54] The most important changes Denis made in his game as a junior [13:27] A quote that has always stuck with Denis throughout his career [14:05] The structure and hours of being homeschooled at a tennis academy (Junior Tennis Champions Center) [15:51] Denis's closest friends and competitors during his junior career [17:17] How to overcome your doubts against stiff competition [18:26] Why Denis decided to turn pro instead of going to college [19:44] The lowest point in Denis's professional career and how he bounced back to the Top 100 [21:34] What caused Denis to hit rock bottom as an ATP pro [22:59] Differences between Challenger and ATP Tour Level players [24:14] Why routines don't always work as a professional tennis player [25:44] What Denis changed in his fitness routine after losing a two set lead vs. Thiem at the Australian Open [26:39] Denis's approach to fitness in the off-season [27:22] One piece of advice from Denis to help you improve your tennis game Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Episode 64 of The Tennis Files Podcast, you'll hear several of my interviews with some of the best tennis players in the world and my top takeways from them to help improve your tennis game. I spoke one-on-one with David Goffin, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Donald Young, Marcos Baghdatis, Hyeon Chung, and Thai-Son Kwiatkowski at the 2018 Citi Open last week after their matches and heard a ton of excellent tips from these amazing players that I want to share with you on the podcast. It was a pleasure interviewing these players, and I have to thank everyone from the Citi Open, ATP Tour, and LINK Strategic partners for helping make these interviews happen. If you want to see more media from this year's tournament, including my interviews and press conferences, head over to my Youtube Channel! I hope you enjoy this episode of TFP with the pros, and let me know what you think in the comments below! Time-Stamped Show Notes Interviews: Donald Young - 4:30 Thai-Son Kwiatkowski - 11:28 Marcos Baghdatis - 16:39 Hyeon Chung - 21:32 David Goffin - 26:09 Stefanos Tsitsipas - 34:40 and 43:51 Bonus Clip: Alexander Zverev Championship Press Conference snippet (pretty funny :) ) - 50:58 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Tennis Files Podcast, I spoke with Mark Gonzalez from Alpha Racquet Sports about stringing machines. I asked Mark about the different types of stringing machines, how to choose the right one for you, and tips and tricks to become a great stringer. The International Alliance of Racquet Stringers (IART) has said that Mark’s knowledge of stringing machines ranks among the very best in the industry. Mark wears many hats in the tennis world; he is a Sales Manager for Alpha Racquet Sports, an industry consultant for IART, and a Yonex rep. Mark has a reputation for being super responsive and has helped me figure out my stringing machine needs. When I did research on best value stringing machines, Alpha was the brand that popped up more often than all the others in the forums and everywhere else, which is why I decided to bring Mark on the podcast. It was a pleasure having Mark on The Tennis Files Podcast, and I know this episode will help you choose the right stringing machine for your game and become a better stringer. You'll also save a lot of cash if you get a tennis machine which you can use to play more tennis, upgrade your racquets, and enjoy happy hour after your league matches (if you are of-age, anyway! :) ) I hope you enjoy this episode of TFP with Mark, and let us know what you think in the comments below! Time-Stamped Show Notes Intro [4:02] The biggest advantage of owning a stringing machine [5:32] The biggest hesitation that players have when deciding whether to buy a stringing machine [7:20] What sparked Mark’s interest into the world of stringing machines [9:46] The stringing machines Mark has used throughout his tennis and stringing career? Researching Stringing Machines [11:47] The optimal approach to buying a machine [14:30] When buying a stringing machine, do we plan for the short term or long term? i.e. space in apartment, stringing skill level, potential to string for others, etc. [15:47] What are the biggest mistakes people make when buying a stringing machine? Different Types of Stringing Machines [17:31] What are the different types of stringing machines? [20:42] The kind of machine Mark recommends for a player’s first machine, that plays 2-3 times a week and breaks strings once every 2-3 weeks? [21:55] The drop weight machine is the cheapest kind generally - why is that? [23:53] Who would you suggest a drop weight machine for? [25:06] Why drop weights can be one of the most accurate types of stringing machines despite the price [25:47] Is an electric machine worth it, and if so, what type of players would you suggest get one? [27:58] 2 point vs 6 point machines - what does this mean, and does it matter? Stringing Accessories [29:38] The most helpful stringing tools for stringing raquets [32:29] What part of the stringing machine tends to break the fastest and what to do about it [34:55] What is the WISE electronic tensioner head and what type of benefit would we gain from getting one? Is it worth it? Stringing Racquets at this year’s Australian Open [37:33] Mark’s experience stringing at the Australian Open and the ATP/WTA players he strung racquets for Stringing Technique [40:19] The biggest mistakes novice and intermediate stringers make [41:40] The best way to measure how much string you need to string your racquet and the “4-Wingspan Rule” Alpha Stringing Machines [42:57] The awesome stringing machines Alpha has in its lineup and a cool story about customer service [49:46] Are there any new machines planned for Alpha in the near future, and how we can get an Alpha stringing machine if we are...

On today's episode, I review the 7 biggest serve killers and how to fix them. Over several decades of playing the game, observing other players, learning from my coaches, and the hundreds of interviews on my podcast, Tennis Summits, and Youtube channel, I've come to identify several huge leaks in tennis players' serves. And today I'm speaking with you one on one about them. I've personally struggled (and still sometimes do) with several of these leaks, and I hope that you find this episode as useful as I do in identifying and finding ways to fix your biggest serve killers. It's certainly not an easy process, but if you work diligently and consistently at your serve killers, you will come out a much more powerful and consistent server. I hope you enjoy this episode on the 7 Serve Killers and How to Fix Them! Let me know what you think in the comments below! 7 Serve Killers (and How to Fix Them) I Discuss on the Show: 1. Serve Grip 2. Toss 3. Hitch in Motion 4. Shallow Racquet Drop 5. Weight Distribution 6. Opening Up Early 7. Eyes Not Watching the Ball Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Tennis Files Podcast, I spoke with my friend Ian Westermann, founder of Essential Tennis. I asked him about his passion for the game, how he went from country club tennis instructor to one of the biggest online tennis instructional sites in the world, and how we can become better singles and doubles players, among many other interesting topics. Ian was featured in Forbes as one of the most successful online tennis instruction entrepreneurs and he is considered one of the pioneers of online tennis instruction. Ian started the Essential Tennis Podcast in 2008, which is one of the most popular tennis podcasts of all time. Ian and his awesome team at ET have produced an incredible amount of free, high-quality, value-filled videos that have helped millions of people improve their tennis games. The proof is in the pudding: Essential Tennis currently has over 125k subscribers on Youtube, which says a lot about the quality of ET’s instructional content. Ian and his team have also created tons of amazing premium tennis courses at EssentialTennis.com. It was a pleasure having Ian on The Tennis Files Podcast, especially because we both share the same passion as you do: to become better tennis players. I hope you enjoy this episode of TFP with Ian, and let us know what you think in the comments below! Time-Stamped Show Notes [3:36] Ian’s secret nickname [4:49] Does Ian really have an Essential Tennis tattoo? [5:19] How Ian got his start in tennis [9:08] Ian’s incredible passion for the game [13:22] Ian’s junior career [16:47] Not making the college team the first year [19:22] The highlight of Ian’s college tennis career - playing in the zone [24:32] Ian’s experience taking the Professional Tennis Management Program at Ferris State [28:35] Ian’s coaching jobs at various tennis and country clubs and the frustrations he experienced [33:56] Tough career choices [36:23] The Essential Tennis Podcast: one of the longest standing tennis podcast out there [38:32] What to expect next from The Essential Tennis Podcast [41:15] Leading yourself through the tennis learning process when you can’t find a coach for you [44:04] Ian’s 3 key tips to playing better singles [46:10] How to become a better doubles player [50:28] What is a Vlog and why Ian started one [54:52] Three books Ian would gift to a friend to help him/her become a better tennis player [58:36] When to expect Ian’s new book [59:38] What’s in store next from Essential Tennis [1:00:46] Where can we connect with Ian and Essential Tennis online [1:01:51] One key tip to help us improve our tennis games Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After nearly 4 months of hard work, I'm proud to announce that I'll be hosting the world's biggest online tennis conference: Tennis Summit 2018! From April 25-30, you'll be able to watch presentations and interviews from 30+ world-class coaches on your computer and smartphone. And you can get a free ticket to watch all the sessions! On today's episode of TFP, I put together a preview of Tennis Summit 2018. You'll get to listen to five ten-minute clips of some of the best sessions on the summit. These sessions include presentations and interviews from Paul Annacone (coach of Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, and Tim Henman), 17-time grand slam champion Gigi Fernandez, sports performance expert and iTPA/Kovacs Institute founder Dr. Mark Kovacs, performance consultant and founder of the McCaw Method, Allistair McCaw, and registered Dietician Jeff Rothtschild, who has worked with the Brian Brothers and other famous athletes from multiple sports. I hope you enjoy this preview episode of Tennis Summit 2018, and be sure to get your free ticket to the summit here! Time-Stamped Show Notes [2:38] Paul Annacone - The Secrets of Federer, Sampras, and Henman [14:16] Gigi Fernandez - Optimal Doubles Strategy From a 17-Time Grand Slam Champion [26:01] Dr. Mark Kovacs - Mastering Your On-Court Movement [37:39] Allistair McCaw - How to Become Champion Minded [50:10] Jeff Rothschild - Carbohydrates, Sports Drinks, and the Heat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, I spoke with 17-time grand slam champion Gigi Fernandez about her unique path to becoming one of the legends of tennis. Gigi is widely considered to be one of the best doubles players of all time. She won 2 Australian Opens, 6 French Opens, 4 Wimbledons, and 5 US Opens, 2 Olympic Gold Medals with Mary Joe Fernandez, the 1990 Fed Cup, and is a Hall of Famer. In 2000, Gigi was named Puerto Rican Athlete of the Century. The former world #1 doubles and #17 singles player now spends her time coaching adult players how to excel in tennis and developed the Gigi Method of doubles. We discussed how Gigi overcame a lack of resources as a junior in Puerto Rico, her strategies for playing dominating doubles, her journey to winning 17-grand slam doubles titles, the Olympics, life after tennis, and much more on Episode 59 of the The Tennis Files Podcast! I hope you enjoy my interview with Gigi, and let us know what you think in the comments below! Time-Stamped Show Notes: [3:03] Where Gigi stores her 17-grand slam trophies and the 100s of other trophies she won in her lifetime [3:33] What Gigi would have been if she wasn’t a professional tennis player [4:28] 3 things most of the world doesn’t know about Gigi Fernandez [5:49] How Gigi got her start in tennis [6:42] Memories of her Gigi's first tennis tournament [12:36] Gigi’s lack of role models and how she blazed her own trail instead [8:03] Where she trained as a junior [9:26] How Gigi elevated herself to the best player in Puerto Rico despite very few resources [14:40] Gigi’s most memorable experience as a junior [16:21] What made her decide to play at Clemson [19:02] Why Gigi improved her game the most in college vs any other time in her career [23:47] Gigi’s most memorable Grand Slam win and how changing her thoughts helped her come back from her lowest point in her career [27:40] Why detaching from the outcome is the most important advice Gigi has ever received in her career [29:13] The benefits of meditation and how it helps control your emotions [31:43] How doubles has changed from when she played vs. today [34:33] Gigi’s most important accomplishment in her pro career out of all the grand slams, the #1 rankings, the gold medals, Fed Cup title, Hall of Fame induction, and all of her other titles [35:23] Gigi’s experience at the Olympics and the difference playing for your country vs. at pro tournaments [36:39] How Gigi was able to stay consistently successful during her remarkable run of winning at least one Grand Slam title every year from 1988–1997, except in 1989, and for three straight years winning three of the four Grand Slam doubles titles in the same year (1992–1994) [39:36] How Gigi balanced her singles training with her doubles training, since she played both at a very high level [41:48] Doubles drills she practiced with her partners [43:22] Why she decided to retire in 1997 at the age of 33 [46:10] Life after pro tennis and earning a new identity: coaching pros and going back to school [48:32] What is the Gigi Method and Doubles.tv all about? [52:31] Big improvements players have made through learning tennis at doubles.tv [54:44] Books she'd gift to a friend to help them become a better tennis player [56:51] One big myth that a lot of tennis players and/or coaches believe today [58:21] One key tip from Gigi to help us improve our tennis games [1:00:16] Where we can find Gigi online and in person Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, I spoke with Ramon Osa from Osa Tennis 360 about how to hit kick serves. Ramon is an expert at helping tennis players discover the fun in tennis, while showing them what they need to do to improve their technique and tactics. Ramon is the founder of Osa Tennis 360, where he produces value-filled and fun tennis videos. He also has an awesome Youtube channel with fantastic tips and advice. Ramon believes that fun, along with the right system to develop world-class strokes and sound fundamentals, is the key to improving your tennis game. We discussed technical aspects of the kick serve, how to toss the ball properly when hitting a kick serve, kick serve strategy, Ramon's approach on how to learn this severely underused and often feared serve, and much more on Episode 58 of the The Tennis Files Podcast! I hope you enjoy my interview with Ramon, and let us know what you think in the comments below! Time-Stamped Show Notes [5:56] What is the kick serve, and how can it help us win tennis matches? [9:07] Why are players uncomfortable hitting or trying to hit kick serves? [11:05] At what level (NTRP rating) do players consistently use the kick serve? [12:34] The number one thing that players do incorrectly when trying to hit a kick serve. [13:41] How to be more relaxed when serving [15:15] The technical differences between the kick serve and a flat or slice serve [17:38] How we should toss the ball when we hit a kick serve. [18:45] How should we approach developing our kick serve -- piece by piece or as a whole? [20:17] Ramon's two favorite drills that teaches us how to hit a kick serve. [22:28] How far forward should we lean into the court for kick serves? [25:21] How often should we use the kick serve in tennis matches? [27:26] Why we should use the kick serve more often in doubles matches [23:18] One key tip to help us hit better kick serves [30:52] How Ramon's serve course helps tennis players develop their kick serves [34:56] What is in the course, and how is it organized? [38:44] Results Ramon's players have achieved through his instruction and courses [41:55] Advice to players who don't believe they can develop a solid kick serve Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's show, I reveal the top 10 things that improved my tennis game in 2017. It's always critical to periodically examine your progress so that you can figure out what is working and what you may need to change to become a better tennis player. I sat down and made a list of things that I did differently in 2017, and then marked the top 10 of those changes to discuss on the podcast. I encourage you to pick one or two of the things I mention on the show, try them out, and see how it works for you. Let me know what you think in the comments below! Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoy this episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's show, I spoke with sports performance coach Dean Hollingworth about how we can train to become stronger, fitter, and faster tennis players and athletes. I first met Dean while eating breakfast before the World Tennis and Fitness Conference, hosted by the International Tennis Performance Association. Dean gave a fantastic presentation about plyometrics, and I knew that he would be the perfect guest for the podcast. Dean is the Director of Fitness and Sports Performance at Club Sportif Cote-de-Liesse (CDL) in Montreal, Canada. He has over 25 years of experience in the health and fitness industry, and is a highly regarded author, speaker, and fitness and performance consultant. Dean is the only strength and conditioning coach in Canada to be certified as a Master Tennis Performance Specialist by the iTPA. He is also a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Speed and Agility Coach, and worked as the S&C coach for Canada’s Fed Cup team win against Serbia in 2014. Dean coaches a wide gamut of athletes, including professional tennis players such as Elena Vesnina and Francoise Abanda. We spoke about why strength and power training is essential for your tennis career, exercises to increase your strength, power and movement, why plyometrics is a great way to improve your speed and power on the court, Dean's experience as part of Elena Vesnina's team, and much more. I hope you enjoy my interview with Dean, and let us know what you think in the comments below! Time-Stamped Show Notes: [3:59] Why focusing on our fitness training is so important in helping us become better tennis players [5:05] The specific benefits we get from fitness training for tennis [6:34] How Dean became a world-class fitness and sports performance coach [8:31] Associations and conferences that helped Dean expand his tennis fitness knowledge [9:45] Dean's first exposure to tennis [11:19] Why tennis is the hardest sport to train athletes for [14:47] Should we use undulating periodization in our training? [16:29] Why we must decide when we want to peak, or else we won't improve [17:54] The biggest mistakes that tennis players make in the gym [19:45] Dean’s favorite thing about being a fitness coach [20:53] Examples of tennis players Dean trained that focused seriously on their fitness and had a huge improvement on their game [22:21] Dispelling the myth that weight training is bad for your tennis game [24:53] Part of the body tennis players need to improve the most [26:31] The importance of “heavy lifts” i.e. deadlifts, squats, and bench press, and why single leg training is so critical [29:32] How many days per week to perform fitness training, and considerations when creating a program [31:34] Tips for training on the road and in faraway places with little equipment [33:30] Exercises for speed training [34:57] How long does each set last for speed training [36:18] What is plyometrics and how can it help our speed on the court? [39:15] How to integrate plyometrics with speed training [41:03] Plyometrics technique tips [42:00] Plyometrics exercises you can perform to improve your speed [44:47] How many reps per set should we perform for plyometrics? [46:07] Key principles to help us do plyometrics the right way? [48:10] If an athlete is deficient in a certain area, and you focus on that more so in their training, once they are proficient in it, do you then reduce focus on that area and train everything equally again? [49:36] Static stretching routine and optimal number of exercises [51:05] Dean’s advice for improving our endurance on court [53:02] Should we do heavier lifts in certain parts of the season, such as squats, deadlifts, and bench press, or all-year...

On today's show, I had the honor of speaking with James Blake, former ATP world #4, about his new book Ways of Grace: Stories of Activism, Adversity, and How Sports Can Bring Us Together. James has amassed 10 singles titles, appeared in 24 singles finals, and beaten some of the greatest tennis players in the world, including Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi, Lleyton Hewitt, and Andy Roddick. I was fortunate enough to connect with James and speak with him while he was in LA commentating on the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters tournament. One of the things that stood out the most about James to me was his class on the court. When my dad and I used to watch James play in DC at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic (now the Citi Open), he would thank the ballkids every time they gave him tennis balls or fetched him a towel. James also had one of the biggest forehands on tour, which he used to propel himself up the ranks into the top 5 of the ATP Tour. James continues to impress off the court as well with his second book, Ways of Grace, which he wrote ten years after his first book, Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My Life. James discusses the incredible athletes in Ways of Grace that have spoken out for a cause, the most difficult time in James's career, James's secret weapon for coming back from difficult times, when James experienced discrimination on tour, and more on Episode 55 of The Tennis Files Podcast. Special thanks to GetCharly for helping set up my interview with James! You should definitely check out this fantastic app if you haven't yet! I hope you enjoy my interview with James, and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below this post! Time-Stamped Show Notes [2:30] How writing James’s second book, Ways of Grace, was a completely different experience from his first book Breaking Back [4:10] What James wants readers to get out of reading Ways of Grace [6:04] The incredible athletes that James discusses in his book [7:26] Why famous individuals should speak out about what they believe in, and the possible repercussions of doing so [10:11] One of James’s favorite athletes and what she did to advance society [12:05] Times when James experienced discrimination on the ATP Tour [14:15] James’s toughest moment in his career and how he persevered through that adversity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's show, I spoke with sports performance specialist Allistair McCaw about how we can become Champion Minded. Allistair was a guest on the podcast on Episode 11 of TFP, when we chatted about developing world class athletes. Allistair recently published his newest book, Champion Minded: An Athlete's Guide to Achieving Excellence in Sports and Life with Jenny W. Robb. Allistair is also the owner of The McCaw Method, a former professional athlete, and trains many world class athletes, including US Open Finalist Kevin Anderson (ranked as high as #10 in the world). Allistair walks the walk, with multiple top 5 finishes in the World Duathlon Championships, completing 12 marathons in 12 months, and winning South Africa's fittest man competition among his many accomplishments. We speak about the importance of vision, why your morning routine can set up the rest of your day for success, how Kevin Anderson exhibits the traits of being Champion Minded, why you need resilience and grit to achieve your goals, and much more on Episode 54 of The Tennis Files Podcast. I hope you enjoy my interview with Allistair, and let us know what you think in the comments below! Time-Stamped Show Notes [2:25] Did it get any easier for Allistair to write his second book, Champion Minded, after his first book (7 Keys to Being a Great Coach)? [4:16] Allistair's inspiration for writing Champion Minded [6:06] The importance of vision, and how Allistair guides his athletes to developing the right vision that will help them achieve their goals [8:04] Why Allistair stuck a sign above his bed as a young kid that said “Allistair McCaw - World Champion” and other encouraging signs [9:54] How to overcome laziness and the feeling of wanting to be comfortable so you can make the right decision [12:14] Allistair’s morning routine [15:24] Why Allistair has kept a training journal since he was 11, and the type of information to record in it [18:14] Why Athletes digest information best in short doses and how that influenced the structure of Champion Minded [20:55] Why competing is what athletes have trouble with the most [22:35] How Kevin Anderson exhibits the traits of being Champion Minded? [24:16] Allistair’s most memorable moments with Kevin and the team during the US Open finals against Rafael Nadal [26:43] The importance of grit and resilience and how to develop it to help you achieve your goals [29:14] Why reading Champion Minded will help you perform better on the court and in life Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Ben Rothenberg, New York Times Writer and host of the No Challenges Remaining Podcast, recapped the 2017 Citi Open with me on championship Sunday. Ben travels the globe to cover tennis tournaments, and he is one of the most knowledgeable journalists in the world about the ATP and WTA tours. One thing I didn't know about Ben is how excellent of a spelling bee contest host he is when it rains at tennis tournaments :) Ben and I discussed the most impressive players of the tournament, the championship matches featuring Alexander Zverev, Kevin Anderson, Ekaterina Makerova and Julia Goerges, controversies at the Citi Open (Jack Sock "worst court on the tour" cough cough), and other interesting factoids about the men's and women's tours. I definitely had a blast hearing the opinions and insights from Ben, and I know you will enjoy the interview, especially if you like hearing the latest about the ATP and WTA. I hope you enjoy my interview with Ben, and let me know what you think in the comments below! Time-Stamped Show Notes [2:48] General thoughts about the 2017 Citi Open [3:55] Biggest surprise of the tournament [5:03] Most impressive players on the women's side [6:37] Effect of the long schedule on the seeded players' poor performances [7:22] Dimitrov's early upset and Medvedev's confrontation with Johnson [10:05] Jack Sock calls Citi Open's stadium court the worst court on tour [12:21] Assessing Sock's mental toughness and future potential [13:59] An impressive run to the finals for Kevin Anderson [15:37] Hardest working pros on tour [16:48] When do players get paid appearances fees to play in tournaments? [21:00] The Kontinen/Peers vs Melo/Kubot championship match and Melo coaching Zverev [22:30] The future of the Bryan Brothers [24:03] Thoughts on Julia Goerges and her solid run to the finals [24:34] Ben's crazy travel schedule to cover pro tournaments [26:30] No Challenges Remaining podcast [27:46] Where we can find Ben on social media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's show, I spoke with ATP Pro Dennis Novikov. As an 18-year old, Dennis gained direct entry to the 2012 US Open singles and doubles main draws by winning both titles at the Boys 18s National Championship at Kalamazoo. Dennis impressively won his first round singles and doubles matches at the US Open, and has been steadily climbing up the ATP Tour ladder ever since, reaching a career high of #119 in the world last year. He also played two years of college tennis at UCLA, a top-ranked school that another podcast guest, Clay Thompson, attended. You'll hear about Dennis's daily routines, how he handles adversity, the type of training he does in the gym, and tips for improving your tennis game on Episode 52 of The Tennis Files Podcast. I first met Dennis after a World Team Tennis match between the Washington Kastles and the Orange County Breakers in D.C. My dad and I chatted briefly with Dennis in the garage elevator, and it is really cool to have him on as a guest on the podcast. I hope you enjoy my interview with Dennis, and let me know what you think in the comments below! Time-Stamped Show Notes [3:57] Dennis's first memory of hitting a tennis ball [4:46] Dennis’s brother’s influence on Dennis’s tennis game? [5:10] Other sports/activities Dennis played as a youngster [5:58] How not specializing early helped Dennis's tennis game [6:38] Dennis's favorite hockey player [7:00] When Dennis believed that he could be a professional tennis player [7:42] Dennis's role models growing up [8:12] Having your dad as your tennis coach [8:45] Pressures as a top-ranked junior [9:29] When Dennis reached the top rankings in juniors [10:36] Winning without training at tennis academies [11:21] Why being a successful junior player doesn’t really translate to the pros [13:41] Dennis's experience winning both the 18s singles and doubles titles in Kalamazoo [15:09] Going pro versus playing college tennis [16:09] Biggest improvements in his game while at UCLA [16:59] Where Dennis would have gone has he not chosen UCLA [17:36] Why Dennis left UCLA after two years [18:12] The most memorable moment as a Bruin [19:15] Winning both first round matches at the 2012 US Open as an 18 year old [20:52] The toughest moment in Dennis's career and how he overcame it [22:10] Differences between the juniors, college, and the pro game [23:10] What Dennis has changed in his training over the past few years on the ATP tour [23:42] Dennis's speed and agility workouts [24:19] Changes in the pro game: shortening matches and using a time clock between points [25:28] A typical day in the life of Dennis Novikov on non-tournament days [26:22] Dennis's go-to breakfast [27:00] Dennis's frequency training strength, speed, agility, power, and endurance [27:41] Dennis's go-to exercises in the weight room [28:15] The importance of different set and rep schemes in your workouts (i.e. endurance vs. power) [28:59] What Dennis eats and drinks during a match [29:45] Does Dennis practice meditation or yoga? [30:28] Caloric intake and the 14k diet [30:55] How many meals Dennis eats a day [31:06] Dennis's favorite TV shows [31:55] Sustaining a pro tennis career from a financial standpoint [33:02] Why Dennis couldn’t take a dime of money for reaching the second round of singles and doubles at the US Open as an 18 year old [33:21] Dennis's racquet, strings, and tension setup [33:58] 3 books Dennis recommends tennis players read to improve [34:46] Dennis’s thoughts on the McGregor - Mayweather fight [36:00] Tips to help improve our serves [36:39] Dennis's schedule over the next few months [37:31] Where we can follow Dennis...

On today's show, I spoke with footwork expert Dave Bailey about how we can improve our movement on the court. Dave is the creator of the Bailey Tennis Footwork Method, used by top professionals all the way down to the amateur level. Dave has worked with over 21 Grand Slam Players, including Monica Seles, Jarmilla Gajdosova, Zang Shaui, Jelena Dokic, Bethanie Mattek, Anne Kethavong, Misaki Doe, Irina Falconi, and Vince Spadea. Dave has spent over 30 years studying and researching the steps and movements of the top tennis professionals. Clearly, he really knows his stuff about footwork. After his intensive study of the best players in the world, Dave created the Bailey Tennis Footwork Method, which is arguably the most advanced and comprehensive tennis footwork training program in the world today. Dave was a real pleasure to speak with, and I hope to someday take him up on his offer of doing scissor kick smashes in the sand dunes of Sydney, Australia. I'll try not to puke though :) Many thanks to Dave for the fantastic tips and information on how we can all level up our tennis footwork. And if you can only remember one thing that Dave said (originally from Nick Bollettieri), remember this: "it's footwork, not footwalk." I hope you enjoy this episode and let us know what you think in the comments below! Time-Stamped Show Notes: [2:03] What caused Dave to become so passionate about tennis footwork [2:50] Dave’s competitive and educational background [4:02] How Bruce Lee was one of Dave’s biggest influencers in studying tennis and footwork [5:38] 3 things most of the world doesn’t know about Dave Bailey [6:20] Why improving our footwork is critical if we want to reach the next level in our tennis careers [7:21] Why tennis footwork is often under-appreciated in favor of other aspects of tennis like technique or strategy [8:42] Why so many players develop inefficient footwork mechanics [10:44] How different types of players tend to have different movement patterns [12:36] The biggest mistakes amateurs make with their footwork [13:41] What is the Bailey Tennis Footwork Method? [14:52] What are the basic tenets of the Bailey Tennis Footwork Method? [17:08] Which of the 5 R’s are players the most deficient in and how can we improve it? [18:21] Contact and Balance Moves [21:49] How to prevent information overwhelm when learning the different moves in footwork [23:36] Walk through of a typical footwork training session that Dave would give to a 4.0 or 4.5-rated adult tennis player [26:32] How long does it normally take for students on the Bailey Tennis Footwork Method to see improvements in their footwork? [27:56] Types of training equipment do you use to help players improve their footwork? [30:47] Would you recommend the jumprope to players who want to improve their footwork? [31:45] What is the key to eliminating bad footwork patterns and developing efficient patterns? [33:34] Are there any muscles that are routinely undertrained or ignored which contribute to bad footwork? [35:19] What’s the first thing you have an athlete you are coaching do when you want to improve that person’s footwork technique [37:06] What is one drill that tennis players can do right now that will help them improve their footwork? [40:00] How heavy of a medicine ball should we use? [41:01] How can we improve our footspeed/footwork intensity? [43:03] What mistakes do players make in their training that actually slows them down instead of making them quicker on the court? [45:34] What role does the mind play in whether a player has efficient or inefficient footwork? [47:34] Using visualization to help athletes’ footwork [49:16] What type of mindset should we have to...

On today's episode I spoke with Allan Iverson, Babolat's Sales Representative in Southern California and the 2014 Tennis Industry Sales Rep of the Year. Allan and I discussed the history of Babolat, the best approach to choosing racquets and strings, and improvements in tennis technology over the past few decades. In addition to his job with Babolat, Allan is also a USPTA P-1 teaching pro with more than two decades of experience. In 2012, he was Babolat’s National Salesperson of the Year. Allan travels far and wide, including a recent trip to China, to help enrich the tennis industry's knowledge about the latest products that Babolat has to offer. He has become such a wealth of information that one of Allan's bosses recently said “his knowledge of the brand is better than anybody I have worked with.” Allan is no slouch on the court either; he played number one at his high school and all 4 years at Christ College of Irvine. I hope you enjoy my interview with Allan! If you have an interest in racquets, strings (which tennis player doesn't?), and tennis products in general, you will really like this episode. Choosing the right equipment for your game is crucial, and whether or not you go with Babolat products, you will learn a ton from Allan about what is available and how to determine what is best for your game. I use Babolat racquets and strings and highly recommend them. There are a ton of choices out there, and this episode will help you narrow down the playing field. Thanks for listening! Time-Stamped Show Notes [3:35] How Allan became a highly respected sales rep for Babolat [5:20] The farthest that he has ever traveled to promote the Babolat brand [6:46] Allan's favorite thing about being a Babolat sales manager? [7:56] What are 3 things most of the world doesn’t know about Allan? [9:30] When, where and how was Babolat founded? [12:47] What was Babolat’s first breakthrough product? [14:22] Which pro has done the most to further Babolat’s brand out of all the players, past and present, on the tour? [17:33] What is Babolat’s most successful racquet line of all time? [19:24] The difference between the European and American approach of making products [21:29] Longest tenured pro with Babolat [22:27] Tips for playtesting racquets and racquets in Babolat’s line that players should demo [25:31] What does the VS stand for in the VS Aero Pro line of racquets? [26:56] The new iteration of the Pure Control [28:03] What does the 16x20 string pattern do to a racquet’s feel/power/control? [29:19] What types of racquets in Babolat’s line are best suited for certain types of players? [31:17] The Pure Strike racquet that Dominic Thiem uses [32:04] Pure Aero VS racquet review [34:03] Allan’s take on the racquet [34:50] Pure Strike 100 racquet review [36:48] Allan’s take on the Pure Strike [38:34] Pure Strike Team 100 racquet review [41:01] What racquets would Allan recommend our audience try, being that most of our audience is between a 3.5-4.5 NTRP level [42:04] The racquet that Allan uses [43:19] How much has the Pure Aero changed since it first came on the market? [46:59] How long do frames normally “last” for before they decline in performance and the one thing that wears out your racquet the most [50:57] RPM Blast Rough strings review [52:23] Allan’s insight on RPM Blast Rough [55:23] Does color of string make a difference in the string’s performance, and the process of making different types of strings [57:36] Hybrid - RPM Blast / VS Touch strings review [1:01:33] Full vs half poly in the Aero Pro [1:03:44] Stringing with electric machines and other string choices [1:07:26] Best practices for stringing racquets ...

On today's show, I spoke with Yale standout Tyler Lu. Tyler has played #1 at Yale since his freshman year, and was ranked as high as #64 in the country in college. We discussed Tyler's journey from starting tennis at 12 years old to transitioning to the pro tour, and some excellent tips that can help improve your serve and mindset on the court. Tyler, a blue chip recruit, has defeated a bunch of top 40 ranked college tennis players and was ranked as high as No. 3 in the Southern California (SoCal) region as a junior and No. 24 in the nation by the USTA. I am definitely glad that Tyler's brother Austin reached out to me to get this interview set up. Thanks to Tyler for coming onto The Tennis Files Podcast! I really enjoyed speaking with him. Tyler is a very intelligent young man with a bright future ahead of him. I hope you enjoy his very insightful thoughts about tennis and advice on how we can all play better tennis. Time-Stamped Show Notes [1:49] Sports and activities Tyler did as a young kid before playing tennis [3:25] Tyler's first memory of hitting a tennis ball [4:17] ] Was it difficult starting tennis at a relatively late age? [6:07] Tyler started practicing seriously from day 1 [6:57] Tyler's first tournament experience and its impact on his career [7:52] How playing other sports helps tennis players on the mental side of the game and competing [9:15] Tyler not making his high school tennis team first year [10:17] The structure of Tyler's high school tennis team tryouts [11:15] How Tyler responded after not making his high school team [13:02] Why Tyler didn’t train at a tennis academy and still improved his game a ton [14:16] Tyler's experience with coaches as a junior player [14:51] When Tyler started to reach a high ranking in Southern California and the nation [15:41] What helped Tyler reach the top of the junior rankings in such a relatively short period of time [17:09] Tyler's playing style, and how it evolved as he got older up until college? [18:46] How to selectively go for your shots [19:31] Tyler's proudest moment in his junior tennis career [20:29] His biggest victories in the juniors [21:29] The recruiting process as an upperclassman in high school [22:13] How and why Tyler choose Yale over other big name schools? [23:27] The school Tyler would have gone to if he didn't select Yale [24:39] Which Ivy League school had the highest-ranked tennis program [25:12] What part of Tyler's game he improved the most while at Yale? [26:28] Key tip to improve your serve -Visualize yourself hitting the top of the ball up on your serve for more power -Works for flat and topspin serves -Slice side of the ball for slice serves [30:34] What was a typical day of practice like in college? [32:54] How difficult was it to balance studies at a top Ivy League school with Division I tennis? [34:47] How much off-court training (weight training, agility/sprints) did the team do? [36:45] What was the lowest point in Tyler's college tennis career, and how he overcame it [40:05] The college tennis dynamics of supporting your teammates while competing for a spot in the lineup [42:12] Tyler's most memorable team match with Yale [44:32] Why confidence is so importance for tennis players [49:04] Factors Tyler considered when deciding whether to go pro [50:45] The profession Tyler would take up if he didn’t decide to go pro [52:00] How Tyler plans to handle the financial burden of playing on the pro tour [54:10] Why domestic tournaments can cost more than international tournaments [56:26] Tyler's goals for his first year on tour [57:20] Will Tyler be traveling with a coach and/or team during this...

On today's episode of The Tennis Files Podcast, I spoke with Dominic King, Head of Athlete Development for Everyball Tennis at Halton Tennis Centre in the United Kingdom. Dom is an expert in strength and conditioning for tennis players, and it was a great pleasure speaking with him and learning about many important principles and tips about tennis fitness. Dom has a very accomplished background. He is an iTPA Master Tennis Performance Specialist (MTPS), one of only a small number of people to hold this designation worldwide. Dom is also an Accredited Strength & Conditioning Coach (ASCC) with the UK Strength & Conditioning Association, and an NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES). Dom holds numerous other professional qualifications as well. Dom trains club players anywhere from 8 to 80 + years old and loves helping each player improve and develop as a tennis athlete. We covered several important areas of tennis strength and conditioning, including how players can optimize their workouts, optimal rep ranges and recovery periods, and key exercises to improve your tennis game. I hope you enjoy my interview with Dom! Time-Stamped Show Notes [3:16] What made Dom decide to specialize in the fitness side of tennis? [5:19] Dom's competitive tennis background [6:27] Accreditations and degrees Dom finds the most useful for his profession as a tennis strength and conditioning expert [9:13] Mehrban talks about taking the iTPA exam to become a certified Tennis Performance Trainer in 3 months [10:15] Athletes/coaches Dom looked up to the most when he was figuring out his career path [12:43] How many strength and conditioning sessions do Dom's players usually partake in per week? [14:30] How long does each S&C training session last for on average? [15:50] How should we split our workouts in terms of what part of the body is being worked out (i.e. legs day, arms day, push-pull etc.)? [17:43] Why working out for a tennis player is different than general weight training [21:53] Rep ranges and recovery periods that Dom's players use, and whether it varies on the off season or type of workout [25:10] Is there a use for low rep ranges and 90%+ of 1 rep max for tennis players? [27:52] 3 exercises that transfer into better performance on the court [32:39] Is the bench press a useful exercise for tennis players? [34:33] How often you should change up a workout routine [36:44] Should we use tennis-specific exercises in our weight training, or should we get players strong in a more traditional manner first? [39:30] The biggest mistake that tennis players make when training [42:20] Tips for players to maintain their strength and conditioning while constantly traveling on the road to tournaments [46:42] Can players have a good S&C workout without weights? What types of equipment do you suggest they use? [48:39] Use of the legs and rotation to generate power and what we can learn from boxing and other combat sports [53:10] How important are the legs for the serve? [55:57] What other sports are most similar to tennis? [58:44] Dom's experiences working with players of all different ages [1:04:17] A typical day training tennis players at Halton Tennis Centre in the UK [1:07:00] 3 books Dom would gift to a friend to help them increase their knowledge about tennis fitness and strength and conditioning. [1:09:18] Where we can find Dom online and in person [1:11:04] One myth about strength and conditioning for tennis [1:12:28] One key tip to help you improve your strength and conditioning for tennis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I spoke with Charlie Hoeveler, CEO and Founder of US Sports Camps. Charlie discussed his secrets to success and longevity in tennis and how he manages to run the largest sports camps organizations in the world. Charlie is also a very accomplished player and gave some fantastic advice on how older players can continue to be successful in the sport. He has been ranked number one in the world in singles (ITF) in 1991 (45's), 1995 (50's) and #2 in 2001 (55's) as well as #1 in singles in the U.S. twice (1990 and 2001). Charlie has won 48 Gold Balls for USTA national championships in singles (11), doubles (11), mixed doubles (2), and Father/Son (24) with a string of 24 consecutive years with a Gold Ball (1990 through 2013). Charlie and his VP’s of Tennis, Matt, Wendy and Siera, have managed to snag some of the best coaches in the country to run their programs, including Paul Goldstein, Stanford University Men’s Tennis Coach, and Billy Pate, Princeton Men’s Tennis Coach. In addition to his tennis accomplishments, Charlie is a Founding Member National Junior Tennis League of San Francisco, The Charles Schwab Youth Foundation, Special Olympics organizer in Marin County (CA). Charlie is also an Honorary Member of the IC of Great Britain and a member of the USTA/Norcal Hall of Fame. Here's what you'll learn in my interview with Charlie: What Charlie loves the most about tennis. His first memory on the court. Charlie's tennis idols growing up and a legend he got to hit with. If he could give his younger self advice on how to play better tennis, what he would tell himself. Charlie's secrets to success and longevity in tennis. His routine before tennis matches. Charlie's advice to senior players on how they can keep playing How US Sports Camps and Nike Tennis Camps was born How many players have gone through US Sports Camps and Nike Tennis Camps’s camps (hint: its a lot!). The structure and duration of Nike Tennis Camps. What sets US Sports Camps and Nike Tennis Camps apart from other tennis camps. One key piece of advice to help tennis players improve their games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jeff Greenwald, an internationally recognized sports psychology consultant and licensed therapist who specializes in the mental game of tennis. Jeff gave us some fantastic advice on how we can play better tennis by improving the way we think on court and about the game on Episode 46 of The Tennis Files Podcast. If you haven't listened to Episode 44 with Neil Endicott on Mindfulness-Based Tennis Psychology yet, definitely check that one out as well. Jeff is author of a fantastic book entitled The Best Tennis of Your Life: 50 Strategies for Fearless Performance. He is also a speaker and a former world-ranked pro on the ATP Tour who went on to reach the No. 1 ITF ranking in the world and U.S in the men’s 35-age division. The mental game is such an important part of tennis and I am really excited to bring you this interview with Jeff. We discuss the most important lessons Jeff has learned about the mental game, his biggest struggles on the court, advice that he'd give his younger college/ATP pro playing self, tips on how to improve your mental approach, and much more. Jeff's advice will help you deal with pressure during matches so you can play better tennis. Click the play button above to listen to the interview. Enjoy! Time-Stamped Show Notes: [1:11] How did Jeff got to where he is today in his tennis career [1:55] What Jeff learned most from The Bollettieri Academy [3:10] Jeff's most difficult moment as a professional tennis player that pushed him mentally? [5:27] Jeff's advice to himself as a 20-year old college/ATP pro player [7:47] What can we do to strengthen our mental game? [10:15] What are a few things we can do during a match to help us reset for the next point? [13:12] How can we stay positive after a series of losses? [15:45] Strategies from Jeff’s book that will make a substantial impact on your performance [18:36] Books Jeff recommends you read to improve your mental game The Power of Full Engagement - Jim Loehr Way of the Peaceful Warrior - Dan Millman Winning Ugly - Brad Gilbert Open - Andre Agassi Man’s Search for Meaning - Viktor E. Frankl and William J. Winslade Mindset: The New Psychology of Success - Carol S. Dweck [22:02] One key tip from Jeff to help you improve your tennis game Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark Ein, founder and owner of the six-time World Team Tennis Champion Washington Kastles, was thrilled to hear that two members of the Kastles family sealed their places in the 2017 Australian Open final. Mark spoke about his friendship with Serena and Venus Williams, their impact on the Washington Kastles and the community, how he felt when he heard the final was set, and plans for the upcoming Washington Kastles season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode I had the pleasure of speaking with Neil Endicott, a coach and author who specializes in Mindfulness-Based Tennis Psychology (MBTP). Neil discussed how tennis players can play more confident and effective tennis by training the mental part of their game through MBTP. Neil has written numerous articles that have been featured in publications such as The Huffington Post and Tennis Magazine. Even Novak Djokovic has talked about how mindfulness helped him reach new heights in his career in his book Serve to Win. If one of the greats in the game believes in training yourself to be more mindful, it's worth a try. We discuss human psychology, how players can change their mindset through MBTP, meditation, and how we can train ourselves to perform our best by being in the moment and recognizing negative thoughts for what they are: thoughts and nothing more. I know a lot of you struggle with pressure and negative emotions on the court. This episode will help you on your journey to overcoming these mental obstacles. I hope you enjoy this fantastic episode on mindfulness with Neil. Time-Stamped Show Notes [4:43] How did you end up becoming an expert on the mental side of tennis? [10:29] Were there any particular books or courses that you read which laid the foundation for your philosophy about the mental game? [14:17] If you could give your 16-year old self advice, what would you say? [15:55] What pros use mindful meditation to help their tennis games? [20:52] More relaxed versus fiery players and how both can use mindfulness based tennis psychology to excel on the court they should mentally approach tennis matches [24:19] How Mindfulness Based Tennis Psychology is structured to help tennis players [28:35] Here’s a scenario: I get an easy sitter on a crucial break point, and blast the ball long. I immediately get a negative thought about what just happened. What should I do? [32:28] Mistakes are a part of tennis. [33:56] Why we tend to battle against ourselves in our minds and what to do about it [38:43] What is a basic meditation that we can start with that will help us be more mindful? [42:06] How long should we meditate for? When is the optimal time to meditate; in the morning, before a match, or after a match? [45:22] How long does it normally take before we will see results from MBTP? [47:43] Mindfulness doesn’t necessarily mean hard work [50:22] When we play against players that are ranked higher than us, there is often an innate feeling that we are supposed to lose/cannot win. How can we overcome these thoughts? [55:08] One key to improve our tennis games [57:43] Mindfulness Based Tennis Psychology can help you excel in other parts of your life as well Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's show I had the pleasure of speaking with Matt Bilger, Director of Tennis at Chantilly National Golf and Country Club. Matt was my former assistant coach at The University of Maryland, Baltimore County where I played Division I college tennis. He always kept our team positive and ready to handle adversity. Matt brings the same expertise and energy to the court with his current players, and it was my pleasure to interview Matt on the podcast. Matt and I discussed his passion for the game and tips for running a successful tennis program. Matt talks about his approach for teaching club level players, how he structures his programs, and common mistakes that he fixes in his students' games. It was awesome to speak with Matt and I appreciate the enthusiasm and effort that he brings to every lesson and clinic he teaches. Enjoy the episode and let me know what you think in the comments below! Time-Stamped Show Notes [4:15] Matt journey from a late start in tennis to Director at a country club [5:58] How Matt’s mentor influenced his passion for tennis [7:22] At what age did Matt start playing competitive tennis? [8:43] Advice for aspiring Directors of a tennis/country club [12:18] How Matt overcame the lowest point in his career [14:17] What are three things the world doesn’t know about Matt Bilger? [15:57] Three of the biggest mistakes that Matt sees club players make [17:28] The structure of tennis programs at Chantilly National. [19:02] How Matt gets more players to be engaged and participate in your programs, particularly with social media [20:32] How to fix technical issues in club players [22:03] How to approach teaching beginner tennis players [24:10] Matt’s affable personality; was it always this way? [25:30] How to maintain motivation teaching long hours [27:04] What are 3 tips to improve our serves? [29:19] How Matt incorporates fitness into his clinics [31:15] Some of Matt’s favorite tennis drills [33:10] Favorite tennis books? Winning Ugly - Brad Gilbert Agassi’s Book - Open Pete Sampras - A Champion's Mind: Lessons From a Life in Tennis [34:08] The best advice Matt's ever been given about tennis [35:23] One key tip to help tennis players improve their game [36:22] Where we can follow Matt online and on social media If you enjoyed my interview with Matt, subscribe to The Tennis Files Podcast in iTunes or your favorite podcast app! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode I spoke with professional tennis player Clay Thompson, a serious contender for most interesting man in the world (move over, Dos Equis guy!). Clay grinds mostly Challengers and some Futures events as he pursues his dream of becoming a top-ranked professional tennis player. Clay has been ranked as high as 408 in the world (last year) and is famous for a viral video of him smiling and fist-pumping his way to the semifinals of the Champaign Challenger last year. His high-energy and carefree approach is what makes Clay such an entertaining and enjoyable player to watch. Even more impressive is Clay's business acumen and his outside interests, which include creative writing and helping grow the game of tennis. If you dare press the play button above, you are in for two of the most entertaining and insightful hours of audio that I have produced on The Tennis Files Podcast so far. And it only took me 42 episodes to crack a decent joke or three on the show! Thanks again to Clay for coming onto the podcast and showing us how we can improve our tennis games with a more positive mindset and an attitude of gratitude for the game we love. Time-Stamped Show Notes Beginnings [2:00] Clay's first memory of playing tennis [3:09] Playing other sports and how he decided on pursuing tennis [4:33] Clay's tennis idols growing up [6:55] Clay on the importance of personality in tennis [8:30] What are 3 things most of the world doesn’t know about Clay Thompson Creative writing, screen writing, business ventures, alternative medicine [12:41] Favorite video games. Final Fantasy, League of Legends, Counterstrike Junior Career [14:42] The first tournament Clay played as a young kid [15:55] What it felt like to win his first tournament [17:57] Clay's highest ranking as a junior player [23:13] Going toe to toe with Jack Sock in the Juniors [26:50] Technical changes in the juniors. [30:14] Unique stroke techniques - Gulbis, McEnroe Transition to College Tennis [31:27] A pivotal moment for Clay in 2012 in the All-American Championships that helped change his perspective on the game and save his career [38:24] What type of yoga does Clay practice and how it helps Clay’s tennis [41:01] The most influential person in UCLA Tennis that helped grow his game and character. [44:29] A point away from winning the NCAA Championship match to UVA [47:51] Clay's impressions about Mackenzie McDonald, a fellow UCLA Bruin and teammate, on his prospects on the pro tour? Pro Tour [50:33] What is the hardest part about being a professional tennis player? Being like a CEO and managing your finances. [53:18] Dealing with no job security in tennis [57:38] Solutions for the financial black hole for professional tennis players [59:58] A normal day of training when Clay isn't playing a tournament? [1:03:49] Typical workout day for Clay [1:06:07] Differences between working out for tennis and other sports [1:08:29] Shake-weight training for tennis! (just a joke :) ) [1:09:12] His experience reaching the semis at the Champaign Challenger last year [1:11:24] Plan to have an awesome year and executing on it with great results [1:14:27] How to plan financially as a professional tennis player; documenting expenses and your budget [1:17:13] The importance of mind maps and Mind Meister (tennisfiles.com/mindmap) [1:18:39] The need for more business courses to teach professional players to manage their finances [1:19:04] The benefits of forming a company (i.e. LLC) as a pro [1:20:58] A fine example of a terribly-executed Chappelle-show joke Learn...

On Episode 41 of TFP I had the pleasure of speaking with Adam Blicher about coaching elite junior players and high-performance tennis principles. I first heard about Adam when I searched for tennis podcasts on iTunes. The Adam Blicher Show popped up, and ever since, I have learned a lot from Adam and the fantastic guests he has had on his show. Adam focuses on dissecting and deconstructing the minds of world-class performers &amp; leading specialist in our sport. This is something that I love doing as well, so it is not surprising that we connected and did an episode that will help you all improve your tennis games. Adam also has a really cool show called Adam's Advice that will be up around the time of this episode. I highly encourage you to check out Adam's podcast and his show to further immerse yourself in the world of experts so that you can improve your tennis game! Time-Stamped Show Notes [2:33] How did you get to where you are today in your tennis career? [3:51] What is it about tennis that inspires and motivates you to get up and coach your players every single day? [5:01] What are 3 things most of the world doesn’t know about Adam Blicher [5:57] In your bio, it mentions that you dissect and deconstruct the best tennis performers and athletes so that you can teach others; How does one go about doing this type of in-depth study to improve themselves? [8:55] If you could go back and talk to yourself when you were a junior, what advice would you give yourself? [10:25] Pressure is a huge part of tennis; what type of mental exercises or training do you have your players go through to help them with this part of their game? [13:01] What type of advice do you give your players before they step out on the court? [15:25] What are your thoughts about meditation? [18:26] How can a player break through a losing streak? [20:22] If a player constantly gets tight on big points, what advice would you tell that player to help him/her perform optimally in critical situations. [22:10] What is a typical day of coaching like for you? [23:37] What are three keys to successfully coaching juniors in the 14-16 age group? [25:43] How much traveling do your players do, and do they ever have issues coping with the travel? If so, how do you help them with this? [28:00] What are some mistakes that you see other coaches making that inhibits the growth of their players? [30:48] What should a player do if they have to make a big technical change to a stroke (i.e. how much tournament play should they be doing)? [34:20] What type of fitness regimen do you put your players through? [39:22] Who are a couple of your high-performing junior players and what about them makes them so successful? [42:18] What did you learn from interning at the Patrick Mouratoglou Academy? What is it about coach Mouratoglou that makes him a great coach? [45:41] Which interview on The Adam Blicher Show is your all-time favorite, and why? [48:52] What was the best piece of advice your podcast guest gave on the show? [50:16] I understand you are planning to release Adam’s Advice; can you tell us about it? [51:12] What are three books that you would give as a gift to your tennis players? [52:37] Do you have a morning routine, and if so, what is it? [53:47] Adam’s favorite type of coffee [54:33] Where can our audience find you online and in person? [56:20] Upcoming podcast episodes [57:50] Key piece of advice to improve your tennis game Many thanks to Adam for coming onto The Tennis Files Podcast and providing our audience with a lot of great advice and tips to help you improve your tennis game! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a...

On today's episode, I spoke with Brian Smith, creator of Performance Tennis Training, about tennis serve technique. Brian and I went through each phase of the tennis serve, from the grip to the finish. The serve is easily the most important part of the game. As I've said time and time again, we serve half the time, and you can start dictating with it immediately. Brian creates fantastic, value-filled videos about all aspects of tennis, including stroke mechanics and footwork, on his Performance Tennis Training Youtube Page. I've watched many of them, and when I've implemented Brian's tips, they have worked really well for me. Thanks to Brian for being on the show and talking about the most important stroke in tennis, the serve! Time-Stamped Show Notes [2:32] How Brian Smith became an expert tennis coach [3:52] Tennis book that made the most impact on Brian's tennis career [4:49] What motivates Brian to be the best tennis coach he can be every day [6:23] Why the tennis serve is the most important part of your game [7:16] The grip we should use for the tennis serve and some alternatives [9:09] Various stances for the serve (platform, pinpoint) [10:35] Brian's preferred backswing technique (abbreviated vs. full/classic) [13:23] How to develop a smoother backswing on the serve [15:19] Tools we can use to smooth out the serve [16:57] How much should we rotate our bodies on the serve? [18:32] The ideal loading position for the serve [19:42] Ideal height to toss the ball [21:17] How to toss the ball properly [23:04] What is pronation and how does it help us hit better serves? [24:42] Would a weak continental grip still allow us to pronate effectively? [26:22] The different types of second serves [28:19] How can we produce more spin on our serves? [30:10] Tips for generating power on our first serves [34:03] How can players hit flat serves? [37:58] Brian's favorite serve placements [40:14] How many serves should we practice hitting a day? [42:32] What parts of our body should we be strengthening to hit better serves [43:57] Favorite point patterns off the serve [46:19] Exercises to keep the rotator cuff healthy [47:27] Resources to improve players' serves [49:52] How did Brian come up with the idea for Performance Tennis Training? [51:23] Why should players check out Performance Tennis Training? [53:07] Brian's favorite PTT video [54:30] Future plans for PTT [55:59] One key piece of advice on how you can improve your tennis serve [56:57] Where can we follow Brian and PTT online? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I had the pleasure of speaking with Todd Ellenbecker, DPT, MS, SCS, OCS, CSCS (whew!). Todd is the Vice President of Medical Services for the ATP Tour and a Director of Physiotherapy Associates Scottsdale Sports Clinic in Arizona. He was kind enough to join me to talk about injury prevention and recovery for tennis players. I received a ton of questions from all of you because injuries are a huge part of the game. We must take measures to prevent injuries, and properly recover when we have the misfortune of getting them. Otherwise, we will not be able to play the sport we love for very long. Todd's advice goes beyond helping your tennis game, and will help you lead a much healthier, more functional life. If you don't make time to work on your physical strength and flexibility, you'll never reach your tennis potential. Todd, along with recent The Tennis Files Podcast guest Dr. Mark Kovacs and Paul E. Roetert, is a co-author of Complete Conditioning for Tennis. This book has been a life-changer for me and my game. I have used it to formulate my own periodized workout routine and am seeing fantastic results on and off the court because I am committed to the program. Thanks so much to Todd for coming onto The Tennis Files Podcast and providing us all with such amazing value. His expertise in the area of physiotherapy is truly second to none! Time-Stamped Show Notes [1:49] How Todd became the VP of Medical Services for the ATP Tour and Director of a Physiotherapy Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ [3:36] Todd's degrees and certifications [5:29] Three things most of the world doesn't know about Todd [6:20] Why do tennis players get injured? [7:37] Can you get injured with good technique? [9:09] Three of the most common injuries on the ATP Tour today [10:52] Difference in injuries now versus previous generations of players [12:20] What we can do to protect the shoulder [13:53] Why traditional heavy lifting can be detrimental to tennis players [16:20] The optimal time to train and perform exercises [18:30] A case study on how Ram, a member of our audience, can recover from a rotator cuff injury [21:09] The cause of hip pain and how to remedy it [23:14] Todd's duties as the Vice President of Medical Services for the ATP Tour, and how Todd and other ATP physiotherapists go out on the court to treat professional tennis players during medical timeouts [25:00] The most common injuries treated during medical timeouts [26:17] How often are medical timeouts used for gamesmanship, and how are trainers supposed to respond if they sense this [27:41] Todd's favorite tools that we can use to prevent injuries [30:28] Three things that amateur players can do to prevent injuries [33:45] How can Doug help his team deal with shin splints [36:44] Where can our audience follow Todd online? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Preston Lemon, a Territory Sales Manager for Wilson Sporting Goods Co. in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Preston, a former college tennis player at Virginia Tech, joined me on the podcast to give you some fantastic tips on how to choose the best tennis racquet for your game. Afterwards, we examined 6 of Wilson's newest racquets on the market: the Blade 18x20 Countervail, Blade 16x19 Countervail, Blade 98S (Spin) Countervail, Pro Staff 97, Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph, and the Ultra 100. Preston and I spoke about each racquet's specs and then discussed our experiences playing with them. Preston was kind enough to send me the six racquets above to playtest, and I have really enjoyed hitting with Wilson's latest sticks. In addition to the racquets, Preston also sent me several packets of Luxilon 4g string 125mm and Wilson Revolve 16g strings. We gave our thoughts on the 4g and Revolve as well. I really appreciate Preston coming onto the show, and for sending me the latest Wilson racquets and strings to playtest. Preston has been a pleasure to work with, and I can only hope that the majority of racquet reps are as good as he is at what he does! Tune in to Episode 38 of The Tennis Files Podcast to enhance your knowledge about racquets and find out which one of them is our hands down favorite! This episode will help you learn how to choose the best racquet for your game, and whether one of Wilson's racquets may be right for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Luca Corinteli from the University of Virginia Men's Tennis team. Luca is an elite tennis player and was ranked as high as #2 in doubles in the country with partner Ryan Shane. Luca has helped UVA Men's Tennis win the NCAA Division I national championship the past two years in a row. Brian Boland, head coach of UVA Men's Tennis and a recent guest on The Tennis Files Podcast, highly recommended that I interview Luca when I asked Coach Boland who he might suggest I speak to from his team. Coach Boland was right on the money (per usual). The senior Wahoo with proud Georgian roots gave us a truly fantastic interview on the life of a college tennis player at the #1 college tennis program in the country. Luca is mature well beyond his years, and we wish him and UVA Tennis all the best this season and into the team's professional careers. Time-Stamped Show Notes [3:15] How does the championship ring feel? [4:13] How Luca got his start playing tennis [5:57] How judo helped Luca's tennis game [7:12] Luca's first tournament experience [7:59] Role models growing up as a junior [9:34] How Vesa Ponkka has helped Luca's tennis career [11:08] An overview of Luca's junior career [12:54] How Luca overcame a low point as a younger player [14:42] Luca's biggest accomplishment in his junior career [15:49] How Coach Boland recruited Luca onto UVA Men's Tennis Team [16:57] Luca's biggest improvement since joining UVA Tennis [18:36] Overcoming adversity in college tennis [20:51] Best advice from the coaching staff [23:08] Luca's favorite drills in team practices [24:18] Ratio of on-court to off-court training [26:50] What part of Luca's game did Luca have to improve the most when he came to UVA? [28:28] Luca's most memorable moment at UVA [30:16] Rivalries in college tennis [31:45] What went through Luca's mind when Henrik Wiersholm clinched the 2016 National Championship for UVA Men's Tennis [33:15] Funniest moment with the team [34:50] The sickest match that Luca has played in college [36:33] Luca describes how he held serve down a break point at 5-5 30-40 in the national championship match at #1 doubles against Oklahoma [37:27] How Luca calmed himself down after shaking before serving down break point in the national championship [38:29] What makes Luca a great doubles player [39:50] How Luca decides when to poach in doubles [40:57] Winning point patterns in doubles [42:46] Difference in levels between college tennis and ITF Futures events [44:05] Luca's plans on whether to play professional tennis after college [45:20] Three things that most people don't know about Luca Corinteli [47:27] Luca's favorite tennis book [49:07] Where can we follow Luca online [49:52] One key tip that will help us improve our tennis games Special shout out to UVA Men's Tennis, as Luca is the 3rd guest I've had on the show in 37 episodes that has ties to the program. Coach Brian Boland (Episode 34) and Treat Huey (Episode 7) have also been on The Tennis Files Podcast. Treat just qualified for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in doubles with Max Mirnyi, which is an incredible accomplishment! Go Treat! Thanks again to Luca for coming onto the Tennis Files Podcast and speaking about his experiences as a player on UVA's Men's Tennis Team! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Episode 36 of TFP, Kim Selzman from The Tennis Quick Tips Podcast and tennisfixation.com joined me to give you some of her best tips to help you improve your game. Kim started playing tennis at 40 years old and fell in love with the game immediately. She is a super passionate tennis player that enjoys sharing what she knows and learns about the game with her audience. Well that sounds a little familiar! :) Kim does an awesome job of giving her audience value-packed tips that are quick and easy to implement, and can really boost your game. She has produced over 140 podcast episodes and it was a lot of fun to speak with her on the show. I also included her podcast in my article The 41 Best Tennis Resources Every Player Should Know. Time-Stamped Show Notes: [2:58] How Kim got her start in tennis [5:34] Kim's website and podcast [9:09] 3 tips to improve your serve [15:35] One tip Kim follows every time she plays tennis [18:52] Why Kim changed her mind about lobbing [22:43] Resources that Kim uses to improve her game [26:03] Favorite tennis books Kim would give as a gift to someone who wants to improve their tennis game [30:33] One Key Tip to improve your tennis game [34:06] Where can we find Kim online A big shout out to Kim for coming onto the podcast and giving us some great tips on how we can all become better tennis players! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's show, I had the pleasure of speaking with Martin Blackman, General Manager of the United States Tennis Association's (USTA) Player Development Program. Coach Blackman is responsible for partnering with the U.S. tennis community to identify and develop the next generation of world-class American tennis players. The former ATP pro and college tennis coach spoke to us about the USTA's player development program that has recently seen a lot of success and a ton of top-ranked American talent. The current head of USTA PD was one of the top juniors in the world and eventually climbed to a ranking of #158 on the ATP Tour. He also played Davis Cup for Barbados. After his pro career, Blackman coached the American University tennis team and top junior players at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in Maryland. On Episode 35, Coach Blackman speaks to us about what the USTA is doing to bolster the development of top American tennis players. We can adopt many of Coach Blackman's and the USTA's principles into our own way of thinking to help us improve our tennis games. Time-Stamped Show Notes: [3:44] How Martin Blackman started playing tennis [5:00] Coach Blackman's college and pro tennis career [8:00] The most important part of the evolution of a tennis coach [9:35] How Martin figured out to have a stronger connection with his players [10:50] Advice Coach Blackman would give to his 20-year old self [11:50] The importance of embracing the process [13:11] How does Coach Blackman define player development? [18:57] What key characteristics or traits need the most development among top tennis players? [22:40] Knowing the long-term vision for the player and sacrificing short-term gain [23:11] Why Pete Sampras switched to a one-handed backhand, and Martin's victory over Pete in the juniors [25:10] What our audience can do to help improve their tennis games A huge thanks to Coach Blackman for coming onto the show and for speaking with me about how the USTA, and you all as players and coaches, can better develop into successful tennis players. I hope you enjoy my interview with Coach Blackman! Let me know what you think by leaving a comment! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Episode 34 of TFP, I had the honor of speaking with Brian Boland, Coach of the 2013, 2015, and 2016 NCAA Division I Championship University of Virginia Men's Tennis program. Coach Boland shows us how we can produce better leaders and human beings through college tennis. This approach is ultimately what determines whether coaches and players are truly successful in life. Coach Boland's approach of focusing on developing his players have resulted in incredible accomplishments, both on and off the court. Virginia Men's Tennis has been ranked in the top five of the ITA’s final rankings in 8 of the past 10 seasons, and they've also won 5 ITA National Team Indoor Championships, 14 conference championships and 18 NCAA and ITA individual national championships. What is so striking about Coach Boland is that he doesn't focus on the results so much as the development of his players. That his favorite moment at Virginia Men's Tennis has been attending weddings of his players, rather than winning titles, speaks volumes about his values. Coach Boland was also the very first contributor to one of my most popular articles, 30 College Tennis Coaches Reveal Top Character Traits of Successful Student-Athletes. Huge thanks to Coach Boland for coming onto the show! This episode is a must-listen for any coaches and players who want to get the most out of themselves and their players. Coach Boland shows us how we can do this through leadership, integrity, and character. Time-Stamped Show Notes (clickable!): [1:44] How did Coach Boland become a head coach at UVA? [5:03] One thing that the world doesn't know about Coach Boland [7:06] How do you keep motivated after winning everything there is to win in college tennis? [9:37] How did UVA bounce back from adversity this year to win the NCAA Championship? [13:06] How do you deal with players who aren't in the lineup [16:43] Challenges in maintaining an elite team year after year [18:42] What did Coach Boland mean when he said "It takes a village to be the best at what you can do." [23:38] What systems do you have in place to ensure that your players succeed? [26:42] How and where Coach Boland recruit players [29:49] The success of local mid-atlantic players at UVA [34:25] How UVA tennis player Thai-Son Kwiatkowski is skyrocketing up the ATP rankings [40:04] Shout out to Dr. Mark Kovacs (guest on Episode 34 of TFP) [40:51] Treat Huey's rise to the top of the ATP doubles ranks [47:02] What's the goal for UVA during the fall college tennis season? [52:07] UVA's individual and team practices in the fall and spring [54:12] The structure of individual practices [55:31] Difference between fall and spring seasons [58:42] Drilling during practices [61:20] Coach Boland's favorite drills [64:14] How to determine UVA's lineup [67:34] Coach Boland's toughest and most enjoyable moments at UVA [74:02] Sanam Singh's wedding [78:28] How has UVA Tennis changed over the years? [79:54] How can we save our college tennis programs? [81:40] Coach Boland's morning routine [85:26] Books that Coach Boland would gift someone looking to improve their tennis game [86:51] The importance of tennis coaches and experts sharing information with the community [89:15] Best advice that Coach Boland has every received [90:31] Where can we follow Coach Boland and UVA Men's Tennis online [92:08] One tip from Coach Boland that will help us improve our tennis games I hope you enjoy my interview with Coach Boland! Let me know what you think in the comments section! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, I spoke with world renowned sports science and fitness expert Dr. Mark Kovacs about strength and conditioning for tennis. Mark has trained numerous top professional tennis players, including John Isner, Sloane Stephens, Sam Querrey, Donald Young, and Melanie Oudin. In 2015, Stack named Mark one of the Top 31 Fitness Professionals to Follow in 2015. Mark is a performance physiologist, researcher, professor, author, speaker and coach with an extensive background training and researching elite athletes. He has been featured in many of the biggest sports and news publications, including ESPN, the New York Times, and Tennis Magazine. Mark was also a top college player at Auburn and achieved a world ranking on the ATP Tour. To sum it up, Mark has one heck of a resume, and it is an honor to speak with him on the show today. Mark co-authored an amazing book and resource, Complete Conditioning for Tennis (2nd edition), which was published a couple months ago. I have a copy of his book and have had a hard time putting it down in my spare time. It has a ton of invaluable information on how we can put together a personalized fitness program using the exercises and in-depth knowledge from Mark, E. Paul Roetert (former managing director of the United States Tennis Association’s Player Development Program) and Todd S. Ellenbecker (Vice President, Medical Services ATP World Tour, and clinic director at Physiotherapy Associates Scottsdale Sports Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona). The book also includes 56 videos illustrating the exercises and stretches which you can access online. The value in this book is unparalleled in comparison to any other tennis fitness book I've seen on the market so far. In this episode, I ask Mark questions on how we can improve our tennis fitness to become better tennis players. We also talk about Complete Conditioning for Tennis (2nd edition) and some of the principles in the book that will help take your game to the next level. Mark has an unbelievable amount of knowledge in sports science for tennis, and provided us all with a ton of value on The Tennis Files Podcast. Time Stamped Show Notes: [3:18] - How Mark became a world-class fitness expert [5:08] - Mark's degrees and certifications [7:14] - One thing about Mark that most people don't know [8:27] - The elements of tennis fitness [10:25] - How to train the different elements of fitness [12:30] - What most tennis players lack in their fitness [14:12] - The muscle group that amateur players tend to undertrain the most [15:39] - Ways to train your your weakest muscle group [17:16] - How low should we go when we squat [19:22] - What type of squat should we use during training [22:35] - Will partial squats put pressure on the knees [25:04] - What set/rep/weight ranges should we use for our exercises and what are the effects of using different ones [29:16] - What is periodization and how does it affect our training [32:30] - In what order should we train the different fitness elements in a periodization program for maximum results [36:07] - What are the best strengthening exercises for the serve [38:37] - The importance of the kinetic chain and discussing Mark's "An 8-stage model for the tennis serve" scientific study [42:47] - How do we correct inefficient footwork [45:56] - Mark's favorite footwork drills to help your speed and agility [49:10] - Stretches that tennis players should incorporate into their routine [51:41] - Analysis of professional tennis players' fitness and why tennis is one of the toughest sports in the world [53:53] - How can we get the most value out of Complete Conditioning for Tennis (2nd ed.) and put what we learn into action ...

Today I discuss 10 of my favorite tennis tools that I regularly use and recommend. These tools will help you improve your tennis game in many different ways, from learning more about the game to finding hitting partners. I recently published a blog post on The 41 Best Tennis Resources Every Tennis Player Should Know, and wanted to talk about the ones I use the most. These are the resources that I think will take your game to the next level. On this episode, you will learn about the following resources: Tennis Books Search Tools to find players, coaches, and tennis courts Online Tennis Instructors Youtube Online Forums Facebook Groups USTA Podcasts Blogs, and Organizational Tools I hope you find the resources in this episode useful! Try using them and let me know what you think! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's show, I discuss 7 of the best technique tips I've ever learned in my 20+ years of playing and coaching tennis. These tips are awesome because they are easy to implement, and you will notice the positive effects on your game immediately. Pick one to use during your next hitting session and you will be really pleased with the results! The technique tips that I discuss cover different parts of your game, from the serve to groundstrokes and volleys. I racked my brain trying to think of which tips I've received that would offer the most value to you, my loyal and awesome audience, and I really hope you enjoy what I came up with. Let me know how the tips work out for you in the comments section below! On this episode, you will learn tips to instantly improve the following problems: Hitting the ball too short Inconsistent and weak serves Inability to follow-through on your strokes Erratic volleys Framing or shanking your groundstrokes, serves and volleys Hitting serves into the net Balance issues while serving Do me a huge favor and share this episode so that everyone can benefit from the value this episode will bring to your game! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, 15 professional tennis players answer the question: "How can our audience improve their tennis games?" I placed their answers in this episode and commented on their responses. The idea for this unique episode came to me when I attended Podcast Movement 2016 in Chicago last month. One of the presenters, Pat Flynn, gave us a list of cool podcast episode ideas. One of these was to ask a bunch of experts one question, and include them all on an episode. This is a brilliant idea, so when I was part of the media at the 2016 Citi Open, I ended just about all of my twenty or so interviews with ATP and WTA pros by asking what the key is to improving our tennis games. It is inspiring to hear what the best tennis players in the world think we should be focusing on to take our games to the next level. I hope you enjoy this unique podcast episode format! On this episode, you will hear answers from the following ATP and WTA tour professionals: Alexander Dolgopolov (#58 ATP) Alexander Peya (#25 ATP) Alla Kudryatseva (#155 WTA) Borna Coric (#40 ATP) Camila Giorgi (#66) Edouard Roger-Vasselin (#13 ATP) Ivo Karlovic (#23 ATP) James Duckworth (#199 ATP) Jessica Pegula (#139 WTA) Jordan Thompson (#92 ATP) Lauren Davis (#105 WTA) Mackenzie "Mackie" McDonald (#412) Malek Jaziri (#53 ATP) Yen-Hsun "Rendy" Lu (#72) Yuichi Sugita (#83) I hope you like this episode! Let me know what you think about it in the comments section below! I appreciate your feedback! If you enjoyed listening, share this episode using the social buttons above or below this post! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today my guest is Dave Mullins, former head coach of the Oklahoma Women’s Tennis Team. Dave has had an extremely successful coaching career. His accomplishments include five NCAA tournament appearances, five ITA regional championships. three seasons with at least 17 victories, and ITA Central Regional Coach of the Year honors in 2014. Dave retired from college coaching this past […] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I spoke with Jeff Salzenstein, a former top 100 ATP Pro and one of the most well-respected tennis coaches in the game. Jeff has battled against many of the best tennis players in the world throughout his career. He has combined that experience, along with his desire to learn all he could about playing optimal tennis, to create many of the most popular online tennis courses in the world. The very first online tennis course that I ever purchased was from Jeff! Jeff has recently moved his popular online tennis instruction site (jeffsalzensteintennis.com) to Tennis Evolution. There, he continues to create the highest-quality tennis instructional videos possible. I can speak from experience, having purchased both a fitness course and a tennis serve course from Jeff. Both these courses surprised me with the number of videos and how much value each one provided. My interview with Jeff was one of the best episodes I've had so far on The Tennis Files Podcast. Jeff answered each question with amazing insight, and I learned so much from speaking with him. I definitely encourage everyone to check out Tennis Evolution. Jeff also has a ton (and I mean a ton!) of free instructional videos on Youtube that will provide a ton of value and help with your game. If you aren't familiar with Jeff's work, watch some of his videos on Youtube and you will understand why he is one of the best instructors out there today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode I had the pleasure of speaking with three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Ram. Andy won the 2006 Wimbledon mixed doubles championship, the 2007 mixed French Open title, and the 2008 Australian Open men's doubles championship. He retired in 2014 after Israel's Davis Cup match in September, and soon after became an entrepreneur in the tennis world. Andy is the co-founder and CEO of Pulse Play, a wearable technology and app for amateur tennis players around the world. Pulse Play has come out with a tennis smart watch that helps players keep score, find other players to play with, and ranks players based on a complex mathematical algorithm. The best part of Pulse Play is that Andy created it knowing what tennis players would want in a smartwatch. After all, he made a living playing the game and knows it inside and out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices