The Tennis Files Podcast

On today's episode, Mulumba from Tennis Column and I discuss the 2016 Citi Open championship matches and recap our thoughts about the players' performances. This year's tournament brought us a lot of fantastic matches and showcased the talent of many of the best tennis players in the world. We had a blast attending and analyzing the tennis matches this year! We speak about the epic Monfils-Karlovic match, a very tight men's doubles final between two elite teams, and some fantastic tennis from Yanina Wickmayer, who took home two titles this weekend! We discuss match strategy, tactics, how the pros can improve their games to take it to the next level, and we even talk about Federer's big announcement and Nick Kyrgios's obsession with Pokemon Go (gotta catch 'em all, right?)! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, I spoke with Mulumba from Tennis Column about the action at the 2016 Citi Open up to the 2nd day of the main draw (Tuesday). I met him last year in the media tent at the Citi Open. It was the first time both of us reported on the event, and I was extremely impressed by Mulumba's knowledge. Fast-forward to 2016, and I knew Mulumba would be the perfect person to talk about the matches at the Citi Open. I asked Mulumba about his thoughts on the performances of several players in the tournament so far. You'll hear everything from interesting backstories on players, to technical critiques, and our picks for who will win the Citi Open this year. I plan on connecting with Mulumba again for another episode during the tournament. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest on today's show is Stephen Warboys. Stephen became the #1 Junior player in the world and peaked at #73 on the ATP Tour. Throughout his career, Stephen has gone head-to-head against some of the biggest legends to ever play the game, including Jimmy Connors, Guillermo Vilas, Bjorn Borg, and Ilie Nastase. Stephen is currently a Head Tennis Professional at the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club. He took the job after his professional career and has been there since 1986. Stephen retired at the age of 22 after turning pro when he was 16. Despite what many consider to be a short career, Stephen consistently competed at the highest level of the game against hall of fame players. He also reached the Junior Wimbledon final and the top of the junior ranks in 1971. Stephen was born in Essex (UK) and currently resides in Toronto. I first heard about Stephen when listening to him commentate on TSN's International Sports Report radio show. Stephen's expertise is a great asset to the show, and once I heard him speak I knew he'd be a great guest. I had a fantastic time interviewing Stephen, and enjoyed hearing his insights on the game when he was on tour, what he thinks of the game now, and his amazing experience against the greatest players of all time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I spoke with Scott Baxter, CEO and Founder of PlayYourCourt. Scott is a USPTA certified tennis coach with over 12 years of coaching experience. He used his problem solving skills and passion for tennis to create a unique platform to help you find the right coach for your tennis game. By entering your location and answering […] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I spoke with ATP Pro Junior Ore on Episode 22 of The Tennis Files Podcast. I first met Junior at the Aspen Hill Club when he was 7 years old. Everyone at the club knew that he was a very unique talent who loved tennis and could make it to the highest levels of the sport. Fortunately, he has proved us right (thanks, Junior!). Junior has always had an extremely strong passion for the game. Since Junior was 5, his dream was to become a professional tennis player. He set high goals, committed to achieving them, and is now playing and beating pros all around the world. I had the great pleasure of seeing Junior at the US Open Sectional Qualifying tournament at the Junior Tennis Champions Center a couple weeks ago. I had not seen Junior for over a decade, although I kept track of how he was doing in college and recently on the pro tour. I ended up playing against him, and his serve was the biggest that I've ever played against. Even more impressive than his game, though, was how much of a class act he was both on and off the court. I was thankfully able to win a few games off of Junior, but I was in awe of his game, much like we were at the beginning of his career, when he was a short, thin little boy at our tennis club beating players who were many years older than him. Junior turned pro last September after a very successful career at Texas A&M, and has already picked up several ATP points and a ranking just outside the top 1000 in singles and in the 700s in doubles. He and his grandfather's dedication to tennis from a young age set the foundation for his rise to the pro tour. While I've had some fantastic interviews so far on The Tennis Files Podcast, my interview with Junior easily ranks up there as one of the best. His story is inspirational, motivating, and enlightening. You will pick up a ton of amazing tips and advice on how you can maximize your game and distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, I discuss my experience playing in my first professional tennis tournament, an ITF Futures event. Challenging yourself is the best way to improve yourself, and I had a blast testing my game against world-class competition. I learned a lot about Futures events and what it takes to be successful at this level. In particular, I discuss how you sign-up for these events, how you can get into them, the different lists that players are placed on, and what I learned from playing in this tournament. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I spoke with Dan Waldman, a world champion tennis player. Dan, who is 60 years old, regularly competes in national and international tennis tournaments and ends up winning most of them. Despite working as an attorney at Arnold and Porter, Dan is also dedicated to his tennis and his training. This is why he continues to tear it up on the Senior Circuit. Dan talked to me about his training and tennis playing frequency, the importance of stretching, his diet, his experiences playing tennis for Harvard University alongside current Harvard Tennis Coach Dave Fish, and playing professional tournaments. I know this interview will help a lot of you, especially those in your 50s and beyond. I have received many emails and comments about how to successfully compete as you get older. Dan, a world champion singles and doubles player, shows us what it takes to be the best no matter what your age is! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, I discuss 7 reasons that caused me to lose my match in a men's open tournament this past weekend. Analyzing your losses and figuring out what to improve is one of the most important things you can do for your tennis game. After I lost, I was more motivated than ever to ramp up my training and play better tennis. I walked through my matches in the tournament and discovered 7 crucial mistakes that I made before and during my match against the #4 seed. Despite our best intentions, we don't always perform our best and end up losing matches, but as long as we can take away something positive from our experience and commit to taking bold action to develop our tennis game, we have won. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest on The Tennis Files Podcast is master racquet technician Tim Strawn. Tim is the Executive Director of The International Alliance of Racquet Technicians. He has an extensive amount of stringing and racquet knowledge, and has strung racquets at some of the best professional tournaments in the world, including Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, and the Sony Ericsson Open. Tim created the grandslamstringers.com website and message board, which evolved into the International Alliance of Racquet Technicians. He also put together the annual IART Symposium to bring all those currently working or interested in the racquet and string industry together to enhance their knowledge and expertise. Tim was also the Racquet Sports Industry's 2007 Stringer of the Year. Tim was kind enough to tell us how we can choose the right strings to suit our racquet and our tennis game. He went into detail about the different types of strings, the right tension and gauge to have them strung, and common pitfalls that stringers and players make when stringing their racquets. This episode is a must listen for anyone who wants to optimize their string setup and play better tennis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is my friend and ATP coach Othmane Garma. Othmane coaches Treat Huey, who with Max Mirnyi, is the #3 doubles team in the world. Treat is ranked #26 on the ATP doubles tour and he spoke with me on Episode 7 of The Tennis Files Podcast. I first met Othmane as a junior player in the Mid-Atlantic area. Othmane was a tough and powerful junior and college player whose love for the game pushed him towards the coaching profession. On the show, Othmane and I discussed how he got into coaching, the role of coaches, and his experiences on the ATP Tour. Othmane also gave us a ton of fantastic information about how to play optimal doubles for club players up to the professional level. We analyzed Treat's progression and how he was able to push his way to the top levels of the ATP doubles tour. Othmane is also an entreprenuer: OG (Othmane's nickname) and another friend of mine, Farshad Garakani, created an awesome platform, Courtplay, to help players find coaches and schedule lessons online. Othmane and Farshad also lessons at their tennis program, Courtplay Athletics, in Vienna, Virginia. It has been such a pleasure to watch two guys who I knew from junior tennis progress so far up the tennis ranks, and I know you will learn a ton and gain fantastic insights into the world of being an ATP Tour tennis coach from my interview with Othmane! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is ATP Pro Jesse Witten. Jesse has been ranked as high as #163 in the world and reached the 3rd round of the 2009 US Open, where he took a set off tennis superpower Novak Djokovic. Jesse has also played in the main draws of the French Open and Wimbledon. He reached the final of the NCAA Division I Championships as a freshman at the University of Kentucky and was its first 5-time ITA All-American (4 singles, 1 doubles). I first noticed Jesse back in the juniors when he played and won a Super National Clay Court tournament in Maryland in 1999. It was my first time watching the best juniors in the country play against each other, and I witnessed him dominate the entire field. I was fortunate enough to play in this event two years later, but Jesse's performance always stuck in my mind as the best I had ever seen by a junior tennis player. I was fortunate enough to speak to Jesse about his career, from reaching the top ranks of the juniors, to how he developed into an elite tennis professional. He also discussed his time playing tennis at The University of Kentucky, and the impact that it had on his tennis game. We also paid tribute to Bruno Agostinelli, a former University of Kentucky tennis player who tragically passed away recently. Bruno was a great teammate and tennis player, but an even better person. He reached #2 in the NCAA rankings, and famously clinched a 5-set victory in the deciding Davis Cup match for Canada in 2009. A Gofundme page has been set up for Bruno's family, and they would definitely appreciate it if you could donate to the fund. Thanks to Jesse for being a fantastic guest on The Tennis Files Podcast. And shout out to Elliott Datlow, a fellow Kentucky Wildcat Tennis alumni, for putting me in touch with Jesse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest is rising WTA tennis pro Sophie Chang. At only 18 years of age, Sophie reached career high rankings of #569 in singles and #283 in doubles this week. Sophie is very well-spoken, intelligent, and mature beyond her years. We discussed how she went from not winning a match as a 7 year-old when she first started competing to becoming a top-ranked junior and then a professional tennis player. Sophie also talked to me about her training, diet, and how she deals with the ups and downs on the USTA Pro Circuit. I found out about Sophie when several of my friends shared clips of her playing and training on social media. I also realized that Sophie is originally from Maryland, my home state, and immediately knew that I wanted her to be a guest on The Tennis Files Podcast. Sophie is an amazing talent and I expect to see great things from her in the future! There is a ton of great information in this episode that you can use to improve your mindset, training, and your tennis game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is Jeff Rothschild, a Registered Dietitian (RD) and NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with a Master’s degree in Nutritional Science. Jeff’s clients include Mike Bryan, Stefan Kozlov, and James Valentine from Maroon 5. He has also worked with other elite ATP and NCAA tennis players, endurance athletes, boxers, swimmers, and a number of touring musicians at TriFit in Santa Monica, CA. On this episode, Jeff gives our audience a ton of amazing advice about nutrition, sleep, meal timing, protein bars, supplements, and hydration. You will take your game to the next level if you follow Jeff’s tips about preparing your body to perform at its best. Jeff also has a fantastic website at http://www.eatsleep.fit and has authored several scientific papers that have been published in peer-reviewed nutrition and food science journals. He has presented his research at national nutrition conferences. Jeff spent five years as the assistant tennis coach at CSU Los Angeles and helped the Golden Eagles earn national Top-25 rankings each of those years. Jeff is also a two-time winner of Assistant Coach of the Year for the West Region by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Jeff has competed as a cyclist and continues to play competitive tennis. Mike Bryan calls Jeff an encyclopedia of knowledge, and he proved it during our interview! Thanks to Jeff for speaking with me on The Tennis Files Podcast! Note: The medical and/or nutritional information in this episode is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding this information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I host a solo episode discussing an aspect of tennis that is widely ignored and severely underutilized: pre-match strategy. Tennis players often arrive to a match without thinking through the strategies and point patterns which will maximize their success on the court. Players should always consider the strengths and weaknesses of their own game, their opponent's game, and formulate a strategy based on these considerations that will give them the best chance to win the match. A pre-match gameplan will serve as your roadmap to success and guide you on how you need to play against your opponent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Episode 12 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I spoke with Dave Fish, coach of Harvard University Men's Tennis, about the Universal Tennis Rating system (UTR). UTR provides tennis players worldwide a common scale to determine their level of play based on actual match results without regard for age, gender or where the matches are played. Dave also discussed audience-submitted questions regarding what it is like to be on the Harvard Men's Tennis Team. The UTR system helps facilitate more competitive matches and gives players a more accurate way of determining their skill level. Even John McEnroe is a fan of UTR because of its ability to provide players with more competitive local-based matchplay. With UTR, tennis players can compare their skill level with other players from all around the world. UTR is not only a wonderful resource for tennis players, but it helps coaches, parents, tennis associations and tournament directors more accurately gauge players' tennis abilities based on UTR's 16 level-scale. College tennis recruits can use UTR to figure out the ratings of a team's roster and help them decide whether that school is a fit for them and their tennis skills. UTR is an exciting new rating system that is revolutionizing the game of tennis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Allistair McCaw is today's guest on The Tennis Files Podcast. Allistair is a world class sports performance specialist and owner of The McCaw Method. He has trained some of the best tennis players in the world, including Kevin Anderson, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Xavier Malisse, Bernard Tomic, and Jelena Dokic. Allistair talks about the importance of setting standards when working with athletes and parents, and how playing other sports will make us better tennis players. He explains that we first have to focus on the fundamentals and then take care of the "one-percents" to maximize our athletic capabilities. Allistair also answers several audience questions on injuries, imbalances, recovery, training, and dealing with the heat. Thanks to Allistair for being on the show, and for teaching us the principles that we must follow to achieve athletic and personal excellence. His passion and energy for making people better is something that every athlete, coach, and parent can learn from. Take Allistair's advice to heart and you will take your game to the next level. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Doug Neagle, Head Coach of the Towson University Women’s Tennis Program, talked to me about the recruiting process, important rules that parents, coaches, and players must follow, and the keys to getting a scholarship to play college tennis. You will learn about eligibility, the best way to communicate with coaches, how scholarships are given to players, and excellent resources to help you navigate your way through the complex path of college tennis recruiting and scholarships. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ATP Pro Jason Jung is ranked #245 in the world. He is a regular on the Challenger Tour and is working hard to make the main draws of ATP and Grand Slam events. Jason spoke with me about his junior career, college tennis, and his plans to reach the next level in his tennis career. He also answered several questions from TFP listeners. Jason discussed his love for competition, how he dominated in the juniors, and how his decision to play tennis for the University of Michigan helped better prepare him to become a professional tennis player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ATP Pro Collin Johns talks about his experiences playing on the Futures Tour. Futures events are lower-tier professional tournaments where tennis players grind out wins to move up in the rankings. Collin has picked up ATP points in Futures events all over the world, including places like South Africa, Nicaragua, Israel, and Mexico. Collin spoke to me about the difficulties, expenses, and problems that he faces playing these Futures events. Collin also told me how he got his start playing tennis, his junior career, his unique training methods, and how he went from a 3-star recruit to competing and winning against the best players in the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Treat Huey, ranked #30 in the world on the ATP doubles tour, is my guest on today’s episode of The Tennis Files Podcast. At the 2016 Australian Open, Treat reached the quarterfinals of the men’s doubles with Max Mirnyi and the semifinals of the mixed doubles with Andreja Klepac. He also reached the men’s doubles quarterfinals of the 2013 US Open and the 2014 Australian Open.Treat is a friend of mine who I met while playing junior tournaments in the Mid-Atlantic section. He is a talented athlete with a wicked lefty-serve and amazing volleys. Treat’s passion for tennis and mental fortitude has made him one of the most versatile doubles players in the game today. He has played numerous Davis Cup matches for the Philippines. Treat was also ranked #4 in college in singles, behind John Isner, University of Virginia teammate Somdev Devvaarman, and Kevin Anderson.I truly admire Treat’s professionalism, his competitive drive, and his impressive rise to the elite levels of the game. Treat tells us how his love for the game and belief in his abilities helps him be one of the best doubles players in the world.In this interview, you will learn: How Treat’s passion for tennis drives him to be the best player he can be What it is like to play the biggest tournaments and best players in the world Why Treat’s serve is so effective Why Treat decided to specialize in doubles How college tennis at UVA helped him understand how to play points smarter A normal day of training on the ATP Tour How to develop great anticipation at net What it feels like to volley Nadal’s forehand Treat’s experiences representing the Philippines in Davis Cup How to adjust playing with different doubles partners …and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tomaz Mencinger from feeltennis.net shows us a simpler way to learn and play tennis more efficiently with his unique feel-based approach to the game. Tomaz talks about how spending thousands of hours hitting down the middle of the court with intention and focusing on biomechanics helped him develop superior technique.He debunks several myths among the tennis community and helps us understand how and why we unnecessarily end up overcomplicating how we think about hitting a tennis ball. Tomaz also gives us his top mental mindset tips, and explains why simplifying a player’s learning environment and removing stress variables is the best way to learn a new technique or strategy. In this episode, you will learn: How to simplify the way you learn tennis Why you should focus on biomechanics instead of form How hitting down the middle can massively improve your technique Why playing other sports can help your tennis game How and why you must hit with intention The importance of anticipation How many players overload their mental capacity when learning technique The benefits of meditation and relaxation techniques Why believing you should make every ball can destroy your game Why it is crucial to quiet the mind when playing tennis …and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on TFP I spoke with Punch Maleka, former ATP professional. Punch hails from South Africa and he told me about his experiences training in his home country that equipped him with the tools and mental attitudes to succeed on the tour. He has defeated several top 300 players while he was a professional, and is still crushing it in mens open money tournaments at the age of 37.Punch recently defeated two ATP players, one currently ranked in the top #250. Punch also coaches students at the Gulph Mills Tennis Club in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. His passion and knowledge of the game shines as brightly as his tennis career in this interview. You don’t want to miss all the wonderful advice and tips that Punch told me on the fifth episode of TFP.In this episode, we learn about: What it was like to train in South Africa The importance of having great mentors and coaches How character and integrity determine your true success in life How to play more efficiently by watching other players Training with a purpose instead of training for volume How nutrition is critical to your performance and training Why you must develop your tools before you can compete effectively How training with weaker players can help your game What it was like to play a close match against James Blake The difference between the top levels of the ATP Tour Training with Wayne Ferreira, Raven Klaasen and Punch’s brother KB How to play at a high-level well into your 30s I really enjoyed speaking with Punch about all the experiences that helped shape him into the successful tennis player and person that he is today. I’m sure you will learn a ton from listening to my conversation with Punch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on TFP I talk about 10 crucial concepts that every tennis player needs to understand and implement in order to maximize their tennis potential. Most tennis players don’t succeed because they lack the commitment to one or more of these principles. Change the way you approach the game at a higher level and you will be well on your way to becoming a great tennis player.In this episode, you will learn how to: Remove self-imposed limitations Turn fear into strength Focus on what matters most Overcome negativity Prioritize for maximum results, and more. Thanks for checking out my episode on 10 Keys to Tennis Success. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected], or leave a comment below!Right Click Here to Download the MP3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest today is former ATP professional Paul Harsanyi. Paul talks us through his training, how he was able to rise to the professional level, and the key differences between the top-ranked players.Paul reached a career high ranking of 751 in the world. Paul has also been extremely successful in his career after tennis, thanks to the principles that he learned while training to become an elite tennis player.In this episode, we will cover: How to handle pressure The importance of playing against better players Drills to improve your game Playing to your strengths Key differences between skill levels Being realistic about your tennis career Mental strategies on big points and other awesome content.Right Click Here to Download the MP3I hope you gained a lot of value from this episode of TFP with former ATP Pro Paul Harsanyi. Thanks for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Tennis Files Podcast is here!Over the past couple months, I realized how amazing it would be to start a podcast devoted to helping you improve your tennis game. Podcasts are awesome because people can listen to them from just about anywhere.During December and January, I read books, articles, and watched video tutorials on how to start podcasting. Then I recorded my first episode, deleted it, recorded it, deleted that one too, and finally recorded one that I liked. Third time is the charm, I suppose!After that, I scheduled two interviews: one with an extremely successful coach and another with a former ATP Pro. I recorded those episodes, and will be releasing them within the next few days (stay tuned!).The Tennis Files Podcast (TFP for short) will be a weekly podcast. It is unique from the other tennis podcasts out there, because I will interview top tennis experts and ask them for advice on how to help you become a better tennis player.There are several podcasts devoted to the pro game, and another handful that give instruction and tips, but I haven’t seen one that consistently interviews players, coaches, and other tennis experts to learn from their experiences and help their listeners improve their tennis skills.While many of my episodes will be interviews, I will also host several solo shows as well. On those episodes, I will tell you everything that I have learned and am learning about the game that will help you play better tennis.I truly believe that you will benefit immensely from listening to the show, and I will find the best guests that I can to help you break through your struggles and reach your tennis potential. I am committed to helping you improve your game.I hope you enjoy the show! If you do, please share TFP and this episode with your friends by clicking the button that looks like a triangle on the podcast player! Thanks for listening!iTunesWithin the next week or so, The Tennis Files Podcast will be on iTunes and other podcast directories! Soon you will be able to listen to future episodes on either tennisfiles.com or iTunes and through other podcast apps (I will submit TFP to all the ones I can find!). Once the show is up on iTunes, I will update this page and future podcast entries with a link to subscribe to The Tennis Files Podcast on iTunes.Show NotesOn this episode, I introduce you to Tennis Files and the reason why I created it: to help you improve your tennis game. Since this is the first episode, I also give you some background on who I am, and my passion for tennis. I explain how TFP is unique from the other tennis podcasts, and speak about the benefits of playing tennis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest on this episode is Keith Puryear, Head Coach of the Navy Women’s tennis team. Keith has over 560 wins as a coach at the Division I level, and he was my college tennis coach when I played at UMBC.He has been recognized as the USPTA Mid-Atlantic Section College Coach of the Year, and the Wilson ITA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year.Keith has taught so many people, including me, how to be great tennis players and even better people by focusing on the process and improving.In this episode, we cover: Keys to being a successful player How to play big points Drills to help you improve your game Focusing on the process High Percentage return strategies Winning Point Patterns The importance of doubles Setting Goals Fundamentals …and more.Right Click Here to Download The MP3I hope you enjoy my interview with Keith, and I am confident that if you take his advice, you will drastically improve your game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices