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Dallas Open Tournament Director Peter Lebedevs joins the podcast to discuss the big news that his event is upgrading to a 500 level competition in 2025. Lebedevs discusses the planning that goes into such a great event, and how partnering with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys has helped elevate the tournament in the eyes of the fans and the players. And he discusses the importance for more tennis events in the United States, while explaining why new and innovative ideas are crucial for growing the game and increasing fan interest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tim Stallard, executive director of The Bush Tennis Center in Midland, Texas, joins the show for a conversation about how he developed a passion for the game and and for helping others over several decades of work. Stallard explains how he was drawn to tennis at a young age, got into coaching, and helped grow the sport in the southern region of the country. He discusses his experience at the Challenger level, and recalls a certain player he gave a wild card to before she became a global superstar. Stallard also discusses why it was important to bring the pros to San Antonio, which is hosting the "International Team Tennis Championship" November 10-12. And the coach dives into what it was like coaching former all-star NFL quarterback Drew Brees and tennis hall-of-famer Andy Roddick during their formative years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's podcast features two players are different trajectories in pursuit of the same tennis goals. Kamau Murray sits down with Ethan Quinn, the winner of the NCAA men's singles title this past year as he begins his pro career. Quinn explains how he fell in love with the game, the decision to go to Georgia, and what ultimately led to his choice to turn pro in 2023. The young man from Fresno also shares some of his favorite moments being coached, and what the transition has been like on the tour. And then Illya Marchenko joins the show for an in-person interview. Marchenko has been a pro since 2005, and he describes how he was able to make it to the big-time from the Ukraine. The veteran also recounts his experience facing Nick Kyrgios, why he decided to start a successful tennis YouTube channel, and why he is starting a foray into coaching. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“What I landed on was starting an organization and trying to leverage my connections and my relationships in the sporting world to try and bring effective giving into the total sporting arena." This week’s guest is Marcus Daniell, a world No. 41-ranked doubles star with a much bigger purpose in life than just tennis. The 31-year-old has made it his mission to help others through charitable work, and founded High Impact Athletes last year to help athletes give back more effectively. Daniell hails from New Zealand and opted against college tennis to turn pro. He began focusing on only doubles in 2015, and has won five ATP doubles titles. Just last month, he broke through at the Grand Slam level by reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open (with Philipp Oswald). Philanthropy has always been a part of Daniell’s life and as his tennis career earnings grew, so did his donations. He has been donating a portion of his earnings each season, and this year, he became a member of Giving What We Can, where members pledge to give 10 percent of their income to charities. Daniell explains it’s not just about how much you choose to donate, it’s also about where. During the tour shutdown in 2020, he discovered effective altruism, a philosophy that advocates using evidence and reasoning to determine the most effective ways to benefit others. That same year, High Impact Athletes was born. The purpose of Daniell’s organization is to connect athletes and the general public with the most effective, evidence-based non-profits in the world. Over 30 athletes have joined HIA including Stefanos Tsitsipas, Milos Raonic and Rajeev Ram. The main areas of focus are animal welfare, extreme poverty and climate change, all of which Daniell is passionate about. He explains how he got into tennis and philanthropy, how he’s combined those two loves, and why effective altruism is so important to helping better the world. Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"It’s those times where you’re sort of sitting there figuring out what can we do to make the most of this tournament in terms of publicizing our sport? It's just finding the different avenues to tell people about our game." Though a lot of focus has been on the players and all of the obstacles they’ve had to endure this past month and year, reporters like this week's guest Blair Henley have had to adjust, too. Henley is a recognizable face on the tour as one of the top digital media creators and stadium hosts out there. After her own playing career wrapped up at Rice University, Henley got her start making instructional videos for Tennis Now and writing for outlets like TENNIS Magazine. Since 2015, she has been a stadium host at some of the most popular calendar stops like the US Open, Cincinnati, Indian Wells and Delray Beach. Her job is to put the players, and the tournaments, on the map. She tells us all about her career and what it has been like to get quality time with big names like Roger Federer while building relationships with new faces like Coco Gauff and Sebastian Korda.  To start of the year, she was one fate lucky few on site at Delray Beach. Then during the Austrian Open swing, she did online interviews called “Quarantine Chronicles” with Victoria Azarenka, Stefanos Tsitsitpas and Rajeev Ram for her YouTube channel.  She explains how her work has been impacted by the pandemic, though it hasn’t been all bad: Zoom has made reporting and content creation possible from anywhere in the world. Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“When we see an American player have a breakthrough, have a good result, we’re all high-fiving and texting and jumping up and down. It really means a lot for us, this is way more than just a job for us." The Australian Open has been one for the history books and Martin Blackman joins the show to help put things in perspective. He's the general manager of player development at the USTA and has a lot to be proud of this month.  It’s an exciting time for the USTA with 18 American women inside of the Top 100. Though the men haven’t fared as well Down Under, it’s still been a breakthrough fortnight for former UCLA Bruin Mackenzie McDonald as he made the fourth round. Blackman shares how, soon after his arrival, the USTA adapted to better support emerging college players. He has relished in seeing three American women make the Australian Open quarterfinals, Serena Williams, Jennifer Brady and Jessica Pegula (another American, Shelby Rogers, reached the fourth round). Brady, also a former Bruin, and Serena would advance to the semifinals, with Serena losing to Naomi Osaka and Brady topping Karolina Muchova to appear in her first career Grand Slam final. Brady trained at the USTA National Campus for three years before she began working with German coach Michael Geserer in 2019. Blackman and the USTA are still on hand to support the 25-year-old with anything she needs, and even hopped on Zoom to give her some tips during her 14-day hard lockdown. As is to be expected, Blackman has only great things to say about Brady and her team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Doubles is more enjoyable for me in the sense that it just feels kinder on my heart and my soul when I play." This week's show features world No. 57 doubles pro Sharon Fichman. The Canadian calls in from Melbourne where she talks about her quarantine experience, the reason she quit the tour for two years, and how she rediscovered her love for competition. Competing this week at the Australian Open (she and Giuliana Olmos upset No. 5 seeds Hao-ching Chan and Latisha Chan and are through to the third round), Fichman shares what it has been like traveling Down Under and preparing for a major in unprecedented circumstances. The 30-year-old gives an honest take on what it’s like to be a doubles specialist through all of the chaos and uncertainty surrounding the new normal. Growing up in Toronto, Fichman was a junior phenom, peaking at No. 5 in the world. She'd turned pro as a teenager, rising as high as No. 77 in 2014. But she began dealing with injuries and setbacks, and ultimately stepped away from the game for two years. After getting into coaching and broadcasting, she made a comeback—in only doubles—in 2018. Rising back up the rankings fast, she has claimed two WTA doubles titles in her second career, and has returned to the Grand Slam stage.  Fichman's career has taken a lot of twists and turns, and everyone can learn from her zen-like, optimistic attitude as she continues to play the game she loves, the way she wants to play it.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Some people just think they’re the best, they grow up knowing or getting told that they’re going to be No. 1 in the word, but I’ve never had that." This week we hear from Dominik Koepfer, a 26-year-old German who has taken one of the more unique paths to the Top 100. After barely competing as a junior, Koepfer played college tennis at Tulane University for four years before taking a shot at the pro tour. Now he's ranked No. 68 as he heads into the Australian Open.  A talented athlete, Koepfer juggled golf, soccer, skiing, and tennis before focusing on the latter more seriously at 16. Tulane took a risk on him as his junior resume was lacking, but it paid off big-time as he would climb all the way to No. 1 in the ITA rankings.  He shares his story from growing up as a sports-addicted child in rural Germany to maturing on- and off-court at Tulane, and setting up a training base in Tampa, Fla. with coaches Billy Heiser and Rhyne Williams. Having picked up his first ATP ranking point at the age of 21, and securing his first tour-level win a year later, he gives his take on the importance of college tennis and on being labeled a "late bloomer".  This month will mark just his second main draw appearance in Melbourne Park, but Koepfer has already made a splash on the Grand Slam stage, having made it all the way to the fourth round of the 2019 US Open. Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While her Buffalo Bills have ended their 2021 season, Jessica Pegula is just starting her campaign Down Under. The world No. 64 has been in modified quarantine for two weeks as she prepares for the Yarra Valley Classic WTA 500 in Melbourne.  Pegula turned a corner in her career in 2019 when she cracked the Top 100 for the first time and won her first WTA title in Washington, D.C. The 26-year-old started 2020 with a run to the Auckland final and during the summer in New York she picked up wins over Jennifer Brady, Amanda Anisimova and Aryna Sabalenka.  Pegula has big goals in mind on the court, but she's also got a lot going on off it as she's planning to get married this fall. She explains what went into postponing her wedding from 2020 and how she's kept very zen about it all.  She's just nine spots shy of her career-high ranking of No. 55 and gives her perspective on how rankings can affect a player's mindset.Though preparing for a Grand Slam in quarantine isn't ideal, Pegula and her coach David Witt have been making the most of it with five hours of outdoor time per day (72 players weren't so lucky). Pegula teamed up with Witt, the former longtime coach of Venus Williams, just before her title win in D.C. She zoned in on working as hard as possible during all of the time off last year with great results, and she hopes it pays off in 2021, too.  Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we catch up with Tennis Channel's own Chanda Rubin and get her take on covering tennis in the new normal. While she has been in the US Open and Roland Garros bubbles, she will cover the upcoming Australian Open from the new Los Angeles studio. Rubin brings a lot of personal experience to her current broadcasting gig after reaching as high as No. 6 in the world, winning the 1996 Australian Open doubles crown, and claiming seven career WTA titles. The Melbourne heat suited her just fine as she reached the 1996 singles semifinals in her best Grand Slam showing. The 44-year-old checks in from her home where she's juggling two children, a (mostly) virtual broadcasting career, and her own YouTube show with Zina Garrison called "Game. Set.Chat!". She gives insight into how she launched her WTA and broadcast careers (Roger Federer was her very first on-court interview), and discusses the challenges facing players in 2021. Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"You have to win the most important points so we talk about having a goal, setting up, and the Bryans are so great at figuring stuff out." As the former traveling coach of Bob and Mike Bryan, Dave Marshall brings a lot of experience to the show this week. He worked with the record-setting doubles duo during the final few years of their career, including the 2018 season Mike Bryan won two Grand Slams with Jack Sock. Marshall's coaching career began when he was just 16, and he now runs the Dave Marshall Tennis and Fitness center in Lewes, Delaware. Before and after touring with the Bryans and Dave Macpherson, Marshall has worked with the best junior and college players in the nation, like former Top 40 pro Madison Brengle. He shares his best stories from the tour and the locker room, including ones about Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, dives into his memories from working with the Bryans, and explains what made the twins so successful. And even though the Bryans retired last summer, Marshall believes they still had plenty of great tennis left in them. Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"It’s fun to be a part of it if you’re a part of the team when they break through or when they change something and you see the benefit right away."  A new year means New Year's resolutions and there's arguably no one more in demand this time of the year than a fitness trainer. This week brings in strength coach Gunnar Peterson to talk all things fitness, health and nutrition, with a touch of celebrity status mixed in. Though he loathes being dubbed a "celebrity trainer", he has worked with plenty of big names including Pete Sampras, Matthew McConaughey, Sylvester Stallone, Dwayne Johnson, Hugh Jackman and the Kardashians (he's even appeared on "Revenge Body with Khloe Kardashian"). Peterson is also currently the head of strength training for the Lakers. He'll surprise you with his take on who actually works out the hardest as he shares tales from his Beverly Hills gym, talks about the power of motivation and the importance of supplements, and explains what was so special about working with Sampras. Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An unusual year is officially over and it's time to recap the best players and moments of 2020 while looking forward to a new, and hopefully more normal, 2021. TENNIS.com's Matt Fitzgerald joins the show to discuss the Top 10 players of the year. The list features Daniil Medvedev and Victoria Azarenka at No. 5, Andrey Rublev and Simona Halep at No. 4, Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek at No. 3, Dominic Thiem and Naomi Osaka at No. 2, and Novak Djokovic and Sofia Kenin at No. 1. New honors are given out for most interesting person of the year and votes are added to the 2020 topical events campaign. With the start of the 2021 season fast approaching, there's also a discussion over who we're most looking forward to seeing return in the new year, what is the oddest part of holding the Australian Open in February and what we're grateful for after a hectic year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kamau Murray is on-site from his own club, as the XS Tennis Center is hosting a men's tournament as part of the Oracle Challenger Series. Ernesto Escobedo sits down for a chat about finding a renewed love of tennis, his decision to represent Mexico, and why there's no secret other than hard work in establishing a pro career. And former Michigan standout Andrew Fenty joins the show to discuss the start of his rookie year on tour, and what the biggest adjustments have been since college. Fenty, a product of the Washington D.C. area, explains what advice Frances Tiafoe & Denis Kudla have given him as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The sporting word, historically, has always been about men, so we're always playing catchup. And it's one of the reasons why, getting the chance to do this, it just really shines a spotlight on what still needs to be done." Co-producers Judy Murray and Rosemary Reed join the show to discuss their new SkyTv docuseries "Driving Force". They help tell the stories of 10 female athletes who have succeeded in a challenging climate. Behind every successful athlete is a driving force, and uncovering that is the focus of the 11-part series, which began airing in late November. The first episode tells the story of Murray raising two world No. 1's in Scotland, and then she becomes the host for conversations with 10 female British Olympic athletes.  Murray explains how she embraced the role of interviewer and was able to relate to the athletes quite naturally thanks to her years of experience. Reed, the founder of Power of Women TV, shares what she learned from Murray, and why the project was so enlightening to them both. Beyond the docuseries, Reed aims to bolster females in the film industry while Murray hopes to encourage more females to get into coaching. Through their own stories, they help explain why women need to stick together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I don’t think people recognize the level of play in college tennis, even down to Division III, and the dual match is the exciting piece." This week is all about college tennis, a sector of the sport that has been hit the hardest by the pandemic. Tim Cass, the general manager of the USTA National Campus, joins the show to discuss the importance of college tennis and what's being done to help it survive and grow.  Cass has been the general manager since 2016, when the sprawling 100-court facility opened in Lake Nona, Fla. He brought his own tennis-rich background to the job, having played at the University of New Mexico before starting a coaching career that included a decade at Texas A&M.  He stresses how important college tennis is for the general ecosystem of the sport, and how hard programs have been hit in 2020 with tennis the No. 1 most-affected college sport. The dual season ended abruptly in March, and since then, nearly 60 programs have been cut at all levels, including 17 at Division I.  The USTA is a huge support system, and the National Campus is hoping to host the 2021 Division I NCAA National Championships as well as looking to become the first facility to host all three NCAA National Championships in 2023.  College tennis has become a proper gateway to the pros with the likes of John Isner, Steve Johnson, Danielle Collins and Jennifer Brady leading the way. Cass discusses why that is, while also highlighting what improvements could be made to make college tennis even more TV, fan and player friendly in the future.  Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"As an athlete you can't tell us when to stop, you can’t. You can’t because then we’ll always have these regrets and whatnot." Filled with anecdotes and wisdom, Lisa Raymond joins the show to give an update on her coaching and playing career, as well as react to her nomination for the International Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 2021. Raymond has been ranked No. 1 in the world in doubles and as high as No. 15 in singles. Though known mostly for her doubles success, she didn't focus only on a doubles-only career until her 30s. She explains how her life has been a collection of mini-careers from when she left the University of Florida in 1993, with a number of highs and lows, including a battle with her fitness.  The 47-year-old has won four WTA singles titles and a whopping 79 in doubles with a variety of partners including Samantha Stosur, Rennae Stubbs, Liezel Huber, Lindsay Davenport and Martina Navratilova. She has hoisted 11 Grand Slam trophies in women's doubles and mixed, and had a bronze medal placed around her neck in 2012. After playing what she thought was her last match at the 2015 US Open, Raymond made a seamless transition to coaching by joining Madison Keys' team. She prides herself on choosing to stop in her own time, instead of listening to those who felt she should have called it a career much earlier.  In 2019, the American began working with Allie Kiick, and she came out of retirement for an ITF W60 with more on-court appearances looming on the horizon.  Raymond is nominated for the Hall of Fame ballot alongside Lleyton Hewitt, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Sergi Bruguera and Jonas Bjorkman. Fan voting closed with Raymond finishing in second place, and the inductees will be announced in early 2021.  Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The whole purpose of the PTPA is strictly to organize and unite the players and be represented in a proper way where we actually have the ability to impact major decisions that are made that affect our livelihoods." A few weeks removed from a final run in Sofia to end his 2020 season, Vasek Pospisil joins the TENNIS.com Podcast to talk all things on court and off.  The 30-year-old Canadian turned pro back in 2007 and would make his biggest splash in 2014 when he won Wimbledon (with Jack Sock) and climbed to No. 25 in the world in singles. Now he's soaring back up the ranks after returning from back surgery in 2019. This year, Pospisil reached the final of Montpellier and Sofia, and the fourth round of the US Open, helping him finish his best season since 2015 at No. 61. He's been even more busy off the court. During his injury hiatus, on top of gaining 24 pounds (something he laughs at now), he began creating the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA). That's not all the off-court developments for Pospisil. When the tour was shut down, he co-hosted the digital ATP-WTA showTennis United with Bethanie Mattek-Sands and co-founded a functional mushroom supplement company called Hekate. Though he gained viral fame for chugging maple syrup in Montpellier, he swears by the mushroom powder that eases inflammation and boosts recovery efforts.  In August, Pospisil and Novak Djokovic launched the PTPA with the support of most of their peers. It hasn't been easy as the power struggle on the ATP tour intensifies, and recently, Djokovic and Pospisil were in the news for trying to return to the ATP Player Council.  Pospisil clears the air about the PTPA's intentions and his reasons for accepting nomination for the Council, which was quickly blocked by the ATP. He gives an inside take on why tennis needs the PTPA, how he gained support and what the association's status is going into 2021. Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I'm still trying to figure out myself really and see what 2021 is: if I'm a doubles player or if I'm a singles player because I'm definitely going to be one or the other." Evan King is on the show this week to discuss life at the crossroads as he decides if he's going to drop his singles pursuits for a doubles career.  Ranked No. 420 in singles and No. 126 in doubles, King is not ready to give up on his dreams. Since graduating from the University of Michigan in 2013, the Chicago native has won six ITF titles and was ranked as high as No. 185 in singles in 2018. On the doubles court, he has won seven ATP Challengers and 22 ITF crowns, and earlier this year, he was on the cusp of breaking the Top 100.  Calling in from Austin, Texas, the 28-year-old has embraced the nomad lifestyle to the fullest, but it wasn't always such a simple choice. In 2013 and 2014, he struggled at the ITF level and abandoned the tour for a volunteer assistant position at Michigan. Not able to give up the game, he eventually threw himself into a full-time career and played as many weeks as he could in places like Uzbekistan, India, Zimbabwe, the Dominican Republic, China, Portugal, Japan and more.  But now, King hasn't had the same dedication for competing anywhere, anytime, as he faces what he calls an "identity crisis." Though tournament options are limited for a player in his ranking bracket, there are places he could have gone, including in the United States. Instead, he's taking his time and preparing for 2021.  Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I enjoy being in the gym and trying to become the best athlete I can be. I enjoy being on the court as many hours as I need to be." This week brings Nick Monroe to the show following his 17th year on tour. The 38-year-old is moving full speed ahead into 2021 by putting 100 percent effort into getting fitter and better every single day.  Monroe played college tennis for the University of North Carolina before pursuing a pro career. He'd get up to No. 253 in singles before focusing only on doubles after turning 30. Now ranked No. 73 in doubles, he has won four career ATP titles and just reached the quarterfinals of Roland Garros alongside Tommy Paul. All along the way, his father has been his coach, and he explains how their relationship has evolved.  Talking from his home base in Austin, Texas, Monroe reflects on a rollercoaster season full of bubbles and COVID-19 tests. While many have struggled this year to find motivation, Monroe is a testament to how far hard work can get you. He has a passion for training that's simply unparalleled and has no plans to slow down.  Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I think I'm one of the few players that have made it here without being a good junior. So it's not like I was super good or I'm going to make it for sure." This week brings Maria Sakkari as she discusses her unique path to the Top 20 and how her tennis-rich family history has influenced her. Admitting she wasn't the best junior, Sakkari gave herself until the age of 22 to make it. She cracked the Top 100 in 2016 just before her 21st birthday, and she hasn't looked back. This year, she entered the Top 20 for the first time, reached two WTA semifinals and picked up a huge win over Serena Williams at the Western & Southern Open. The 25-year-old would make the second week at two majors, the Australian Open and Roland Garros, and is poised for a bigger breakthrough in 2021.  The Greek opines on the new normal and shares what it's like to work with a coach (Tom Hill) and physical therapist (Daniel Pohl) that are the same age as her, as well as why they actually enjoy being in bubble environments.  While she was never her full-time coach, Sakkari's mom Angeliki was ranked as high as No. 43 in the 1980s before retiring at the age of 25, a retirement age Sakkari cannot imagine. Sakkari shares how her mom influenced her career and what it was like to have her grandfather Dimitris, also a former pro, as her first coach.  Sakkari and her team ended the 2020 season in Ostrava and she'll next begin preparations for the 2021 Australian swing.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The time off just let me mentally relax and just enjoy life, but enjoy tennis for fun not because I had to do it but I wanted to do it, so I think that was important." Doubles champion Nicole Melichar is on the show this week to recap her very successful summer. The world No. 11 won titles in West Virginia and Strasbourg, reached the final of "Cincy" and the US Open, and appeared in the semifinals of Roland Garros (the latter of which with Iga Swiatek). Melichar pursued a pro career early in lieu of the college route, and initially focused on making it in singles, getting as high as No. 400 before zoning in on doubles. She would break through in 2018, cracking the Top 20 after winning two titles with Kveta Peschke and winning the Wimbledon mixed doubles crown. The 27-year-old explains what caused the shifts in her careers, first to doubles and later to the top of the rankings. She gives her assessment of Swiatek's talent and explains how she has been maneuvering through partners (and opponents) with Peschke's husband Torsten as her coach. Melichar also shares what goes into figuring out doubles practice and how she's helping design clothes for Neptune Athletics.  Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ken Skupski is on the show this week to talk all things doubles and brotherhood. The 37-year-old has helped his younger brother Neal on his tennis journey while enjoying a successful and lengthy career himself.  After a respectable junior career in England, the Liverpool native took his talents to Louisiana State University where he remains one of the most decorated players in LSU history. He took his skills to the pro tour in 2007 and is currently ranked No. 57, which is 13 spots shy of his career-high ranking. He'd pave the way for Neal, who would also thrive at LSU and join the tour in 2013. While Bob and Mike Bryan were the most prolific doubles duo of all time, the Skupskis fared very well together by reaching eight ATP finals (and winning two of them). The elder Skupski explains why he believed so much in his little brother, what it's like being on tour with three young children at home and what has made British doubles tennis so strong. He also gives his candid take on Neal splitting up with him to team with Jamie Murray at the start of 2020.  Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Look at Billie Jean King. Would the three of us be sitting here having this conversation about tennis on TENNIS.com if it hadn’t been for women like her?" News anchor Dana Perino joins the show to share how tennis enriched her life during one of the most challenging periods of her career. She talks about her newfound love for the game, her White House experiences, how she deals with haters on Twitter, the power of the athlete voice, and why she's writing a third book to help young women navigate through the dreaded quarter-life crisis. Nicknamed "The Voice of Reason", Perino was appointed White House press secretary by President George W. Bush in 2007. That made her just the second female in history to hold the position. The 48-year-old is currently an anchor for Fox News covering her third presidential election, and is the host of "The Daily Briefing" and "The Five". She's also the author of two books, "And the Good News Is..." and "Let Me Tell You About Jasper", the latter of which focuses on her beloved Vizsla, Jasper. Tennis came into her life during the 2016 presidential election when she says she went from being America's sweetheart to America's ex-wife. She and her husband Peter McMahon began taking lessons together and even attended a tennis camp in South Carolina on vacation. Like the quality time spent with her famous dog Jasper, tennis became a way to balance out her hectic work life, and while it's a sport she picked up late, she's planning to play for life. Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Journalist Peter Bodo joins Kamau Murray to preview the 2023 Wimbledon Championships, with a look at whether Novak Djokovic can add another title to his collection at the All England Club. Bodo examines which male players can stand in Djokovic's way, whether Frances Tiafoe is legit contender to go all the way, and if Elena Rybakina can repeat on the women's side. Bodo also shares some of his favorite stories covering the event over the years as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Co-hosts Nina Pantic and Irina Falconi give their take on what has stood out the most from a busy fortnight in Paris. There have been underhand serves and a surge in drop shots, shocking upsets and late-night marathons, and an unprecedented flurry of Cinderella runs. While some favorites are still alive in the Roland Garros draw, this year has been all about the unexpected—especially in the women's draw. Combined factors like the cold conditions, limited fans, the turbulent calendar and the lack of match play have opened up opportunities for new faces to go deep. One player that has really made a name for herself is Iga Swiatek, a teenager that Falconi played in 2018 before the Pole enjoyed her breakthrough. Falconi has also faced Nadia Podoroska, the world No. 113-ranked qualifier that has made history in Paris. Falconi gives her inside take on both rising stars, as well as looks ahead at what is coming next with another period of uncertainty looming in the calendar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Whenever we have a doubles team they are very good, but none of the coaches think of a second option as a doubles career, which is shame." With Roland Garros underway, Frenchman Fabrice Martin is the prefect guest to talk all things doubles and Paris. Ranked No. 23 in the world, he's teaming up with compatriot Jeremy Chardy and the duo are seeded No. 14.  Last year, Martin and Chardy reached the final, marking their best career major performance. The dream run was made extra special by happening in front of a home crowd. While this year will be very different with limited fans and chilly temperatures, Martin is eager to keep doing what he loves on the biggest stages.  Hailing from Bayonne, France, Martin's family relocated to Colombia and then settled in Bradenton, Fla. in 2001, where his mother is a school teacher at the IMG Academy. It made for a great base as Martin opted against college and pursued a career in both singles and doubles, while working on his surfing hobby. He'd get up to as high as No. 228 before focusing solely on doubles, beginning in 2016.  The 34-year-old gives his candid take on why doubles isn't a priority in France, how other nations like Great Britain are doing it better, and how he has dealt with doubles specialist stigma. Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Whether I’m at Court 7 at Jack Puryear Park in St. Pete, Florida or I’m on Arthur Ashe at the US Open, I’m going to bring the same energy and effort." Danielle Collins joins the show this week to give her take on the new normal, reveal her off-court interests and explain why her famous competitive spirit won't be dimmed by a lack of fans.  The American had humble beginnings growing up on public courts and she would opt for the college route partially due to family finances. She would start her college career in 2012 near home in Florida before transferring to the University of Virginia where she won the NCAA individual championships, twice.  Currently ranked No. 57 in the world, Collins has made huge waves since breaking through in 2018—just a couple of years into her pro career. That year, she won a WTA 125K Series title and made two WTA semifinals to finish inside of the Top 50 for the first time. She carried that momentum right into 2019 when she enjoyed a memorable semifinal run at the 2019 Australian Open.  Armed with a Bachelor's degree, Collins is dedicated to her education and has just enrolled in an online Master's program. With her eye on the future, the 26-year-old dives into her interest in sports management and explains why she thinks her unique skillset is valuable.  Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I love my tennis identity. It's given me so much in life and it's part of who I am. I've worked so hard for everything I've done on court and I think I enjoy having that part of me." The TENNIS.com Podcast catches up with Caroline Wozniacki this week to talk about her retirement, the launch of Advantage Hers, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, her friendship with Serena Williams, her relationship with her dad, and a lot more. Wozniacki picked up 30 titles during a successful career that spanned 15 years. Turning pro at 15 in 2005, Wozniacki would skyrocket all the way to No. 1 by 2010 and finish as the year-end No. 1 two years in a row. An incredibly consistent performer, the Dane won at least one title every year from 2008 until 2018. She picked up her then-biggest title at the 2017 WTA Finals and followed that with her first Grand Slam title at the 2018 Australian Open. By that year's end, she revealed a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. She'd continue her career for another season before announcing her retirement and playing her final match in the third round of the 2020 Australian Open. Since leaving the tour, Wozniacki has jumped into a new post-tennis life that has involved filming a TV show that follows her up Mount Kilimanjaro, quarantining with her husband David Lee (a former NBA champion), working out a lot and preparing for commentary. She just launched Advantage Hers, an awareness and empowerment campaign for women living with chronic inflammatory diseases. As expected, Wozniacki has taken her signature positive attitude from the court into tackling inflammatory diseases. Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"This is what the Taste does, it brings people of all different cultures together to celebrate tennis and food and the cities that we’re in. It’s just cool to be a part of." This week brings Citi Taste of Tennis CEO Penny Lerner to the show to shed light on how the events industry is faring during the pandemic. In normal times, Lerner would have just held a lavish party in New York City to kick off the US Open with regulars like Serena and Venus Williams walking the red carpet. Lerner and her mother Judy are co-founders of AYS World, a sports marketing company that started Taste of Tennis over 20 years ago to give players a literal taste of the cities they are in with food from the best chefs in the world. Each year, the culinary-tennis extravaganza takes over Melbourne (new in 2020), Indian Wells, Miami, Washington, D.C. and New York (yet another new stop would have taken place in London). With COVID-19 decimating the dining and events worlds, Lerner had to adapt and so #WhatsinURKitchen was born. Players like Sofia Kenin, Sam Querrey, Alison Riske and the Bryan brothers jumped at the chance to virtually show off their cooking skills on Instagram. The pandemic has been brutal for chefs and event planners, but the silver lining is Lerner has developed even stronger relationships within the tight-knit tennis and chef community. Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I'm never really used to seeing people in the hotel especially not in New York because usually we all kind of do our own thing with where we stay. And now you see all these players and it’s such a big event that it’s just different so it’s kind of like our own little village." Ajla Tomljanovic joins the TENNIS.com Podcast from inside the New York City bubble. The world No. 57 has spent quality time at the official hotel and on site for the Western & Southern Open and US Open. Before arriving in New York, the 27-year-old had a busy summer training in Florida and playing a number of events including the UTR Pro Series in West Palm Beach, team tennis in Charleston and West Virginia, and WTA tournaments in Lexington and Cincinnati. As a Las Vegas Roller at World TeamTennis over the summer, Tomljanovic was one of the last players to compete alongside Bob and Mike Bryan and she shares how special that honor is. Given her match experience in 2020 she's grown accustomed to the new normal and explains how the lack of fans is harder as a spectator than a player. The Aussie also gives an inside look at how players are staying entertained in New York, what the pros and cons are of mask wearing, how she handled COVID-19 testing anxiety and what her secret weapon is for dealing with hot weather.  Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I don’t want to be gone when important things are happening. So hopefully I can play for a few more years, but there’s going to be a side of me that probably will be more at home than he is on the road.” After a quick catch-up with Irina Falconi as she heads for the New York bubble, Nina Pantic chats with world No. 63 Stevie Johnson (interview starts at 7:07). The 30-year-old discusses his impending fatherhood and how that life milestone is going to impact his career. Admitting he needs a reason to stay motivated, the former University of Southern California star took 75 days off during the shutdown and has restarted his ATP season in New York. He played in exhibition events during the summer as well as the three-week-long season of World TeamTennis so he's not completely rusty. But no matter what happens on court next, what Johnson will remember his 2020 season for is becoming a parent. He and his wife Kendall will welcome a daughter in December. The growing family are moving into a new home in Manhattan Beach where Johnson plans to “live happily ever after.” Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"It was interesting trying to think about what to do after I got inside of 100; that was always my goal to get inside of 100. It took six years to do that for me. It was like what do I do now? Do I just move the marker to 50? Can I do that? Am I good enough? You just don't know." This week brings Tennys Sandgren to the show to talk about his career, the fallout he has dealt with, and what's next for him as the ATP tour restarts in New York (interview starts at 3:38). The world No. 55 spent the shutdown working on his drumming skills (he covered a few of his heavy metal favorites on Instagram), training in the gym, and getting valuable match play at World TeamTennis where his Orlando Storm squad made the playoffs. Sandgren gets into talking about his early tennis start, his college experience and his humble beginnings on the ITF tour. After three semesters at the University of Tennessee, he went pro in 2011 and enjoyed respectable success until a big breakthrough in 2018. That year, he reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and soon after he'd crack the Top 50. Off the court, the Tennessee native faced backlash for his old tweets, and he discusses how that impacted his career and life. Sandgren would go on to win his first ATP title at the start of 2019 in Auckland and he gives listeners a candid take on what celebrations can be like on tour. This year, he reached the quarterfinals Down Under once again, complete with a dramatic loss to Roger Federer after holding seven match points. The 29-year-old is returning to the tour at the Western & Southern Open and US Open this month after having not played an ATP match since February. Watch this episode on YouTube or Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"If someone calls you and is like, 'Hey, do you want to be in Vogue, yes or no?' What are you going to do, say no? And tennis brought me that opportunity, so it’s like, of course, I'm a tennis player first and foremost, but it opened other doors." Eugenie Bouchard joins the show this week (interview begins at 8:28) and discusses juggling her playing career, her online presence and the off-court opportunities that have come her way.   After a successful season of World TeamTennis in West Virginia, Bouchard won her opening round in Prague on Monday over world No. 40 Veronika Kudermetova. It marked her first WTA victory since January and it's a winning performance that she's been patiently working toward.  The Canadian spent the long shutdown in Las Vegas training with esteemed fitness coach Gill Reyes as well as living legends Andre Agassi and Steffi Graff. Though she's currently ranked No. 330, Bouchard is undeterred in her mission to keep improving at a job she's grateful to have. Once ranked as high as No. 5 in the world, Bouchard has been through a lot of ups and downs—including a 13-match losing streak in 2019—but her love and dedication for the game has never dimmed. It certainly shows in her willingness to compete hard anywhere, from an ITF W60 first round to the Wimbledon final. Since bursting onto the scene in 2014, Bouchard has picked up a huge fan base and learned a lot about herself while maturing in the public eye and tuning out the haters, particularly online. One of her tweets, a bet with a fan about the 2017 Super Bowl, is being turned into a movie that she's helping produce. She explains the details of the film, shares what her relationship status is with the fan (John Goehrke) and defends her choice to enjoy her life off the court to the absolute fullest.  Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"My last year was so bad that actually, I'm not going to lie, it feels like this year is better." Daria Gavrilova joins the show to give everyone an update on her comeback and how the latest shutdown in Australia has impacted her plans. The 26-year-old explains why this year has been better for her than 2019, when injuries pushed her from starting at No. 34 to ending outside of the Top 200. In March, with her Achilles tendon fully rehabbed, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented her from playing her first scheduled tournament back. Off the court, the former world No. 20 has stayed busy by taking WTA University courses, making TikToks and playing with her dog Tofu. She shares how Tofu got his name, how her training is going and when she's going to marry her fiancé Luke Saville. Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

American Austin Krajicek joins the podcast to discuss the biggest triumph of his career, winning this year's Roland Garros men's doubles title with Ivan Dodig. Krajicek explains how he transitioned from college to the pros, why he decided to put all of his energy into doubles, and how he rebounded from last year's heartbreak in the French Open final to claim the trophy in 2023. It's an all encompassing chat with a player who grinded for years to rise all the way to world #1 in men's doubles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Right now it’s just deciding between whether you want to play tennis or you want to just end the career, so at this point it's just, yeah I want to continue, so I’ll have to make the sacrifice." Former University of Virginia standout Julia Elbaba is on this week to talk college tennis, injuries, reality TV and the US Open. The 26-year-old was working on a comeback from an elbow injury when the shutdown halted her progress. The former college No. 1 has been ranked as high as No. 374 on tour, but is having to start over from scratch. She's also dealing with the aftermath of the USTA shutting down player development in New York. The Long Island native talks about getting into the media world and having her first taste of reality TV on the Bravo show "Summerhouse". She also opines on the US Open's unusual plans for 2020 and how her friend Bianca Andreescu winning it all in 2019 inspired her. Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"One of my biggest strengths on the court is definitely my mental game and just being in every point, in every match, and not getting too down on myself or getting too excited." This week, listeners get to meet one of the newest and mentally toughest teens on tour, Brandon Nakashima. After just one semester at the University of Virginia, the 18-year-old turned pro. He'd win his second ITF Futures title in January and make his ATP debut as a wild card in Delray Beach. Making the most of opportunity, the San Diego native reached the quarterfinals. He impressed the world with his mental toughness and his all-court game style—which he likens to Novak Djokovic's. While the shutdown stalled his climb up the rankings, the world No. 220 made the most of his spare time by training hard and tweaking his team (it now includes Pat Cash and Dusan Vemic). The teen is competing for the Chicago Smash this month in West Virginia while looking forward to the tour restarting. Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Comedy is in a way a lot like tennis. You’re by yourself, you’re thinking through a lot of things. If you have a great gig you feel amazing, if you have a terrible gig it’s like taking a hard loss." It's a hilarious episode this week with comedian Elliot Loney. The Australian unleashes some of his best impersonations, which include Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Jim Courier.  Loney grew up playing tennis and even chased the pro dream before a skateboarding accident ruined his chances. He got into comedy quite naturally, starting with prank calls to his friends, breaking through with his Bear Grylls video "Man vs Metro 1" and progressing to stand-up.  He puts a personalized spin on each impersonation, which is why he wears a sideways hat for Kyrgios and adds poetry to his Nadal skits. He's even met Nadal, quite memorably at the Rogers Cup one year.  His YouTube channel boasts a lot of his best work, including a recently launched podcast. He shares how he became friends with Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios, what the secret to a good impersonation is, and how tennis' ups and downs are similar to comedy.  Watch this episode on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"In my generation, it's all new, a black woman on the tour; I better be on my best behavior because I don’t want to mess it up for the next generation. So for [Coco] to have that freedom and to take advantage of that platform, it's fabulous." Leslie Allen is known as “The Professor” and she joins us this week to educate. After a career at USC, Allen competed in the 1970s and '80's, becoming the first black woman since Althea Gibson to win a WTA title. She would reach as high as No. 17 in singles and No. 10 in doubles. She's been a media director, a tournament director, a TV broadcaster, a WTA board director and is the CEO of Win4Life. The 63-year-old is thrilled to see young players like Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka speaking out during the Black Lives Matter movement as it's a freedom she wasn't granted during her era on tour. After always worrying about ruining it for the next black player, she isn't afraid to speak up now. She explains what upset her about the USTA's BLM statement, what exactly systematic racism is and how white people can make a difference, using Alice Marble in 1950 as an example.  Watch this episode on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I’ve experienced a lot of discrimination. I've been kicked off courts before and told like I don’t belong here and I shouldn’t be playing here. That actually happened really recently." Sachia Vickery is our guest this week, and she's got a lot to say. The world No. 158 sounds off on the US Open's decision not to host a qualifying draw this year and shares what inspired her to create a Check Your Privilege video with her neighbor. Vickery was a top-ranked American junior and turned pro as a teenager. It took time for her to find her footing on the WTA tour, and the 25-year-old cracked the Top 100 in 2018 after a stunning upset of Garbine Muguruza in Indian Wells.  During the Black Lives Matter movement, Vickery has been vocal on her social platforms and is hoping to see even more players come together for the cause. She also has some advice for anyone dealing with hate, be it online or in real life. Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I think as a wheelchair coach you have to have some comfort of being in the chair and understanding mobility patterns, understanding chair set up. That takes time." USTA Wheelchair National Manager and Head Coach Jason Harnett is on the show this week to talk wheelchair tennis. Harnett has coached wheelchair athletes for over 20 years, and guides the World Team Cup and Paralympic squads. Wheelchair tennis has been in the news recently after the US Open cancelled the 2020 event. Amidst backlash, some options were discussed and the USTA announced the wheelchair tournament will be held after all. Harnett shares how he got into coaching wheelchair tennis and what it's like to be an able-bodied coach and player in his field. He dives into some of the issues facing wheelchair players while recognizing how far the sport, and its stars like David Wagner, Dylan Alcott, Mackenzie Soldan and Shingo Kunieda, have come. Recorded before the COVID-19 outbreak, this episode is available to watch on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I think athletes, if they are organized, can be the biggest element of change of anybody because they have a platform. They can stand up and talk everyday and people want to cover them." As tennis' first sports agent Donald Dell has a lot of insight on how far the sport has come, and how much farther it has to go. The Hall of Famer joins the TENNIS.com Podcast this week to talk about why a tour merger is necessary, how he helped push for prize money at the start of the Open era, what his relationship with Arthur Ashe was like and how he ended up working for Robert F. Kennedy. After his own career, Dell became the youngest Davis Cup captain at 29 and led the U.S. team to victory in 1968 and '69. His talented Davis Cup team included Stan Smith and Arthur Ashe, who he would represent for decades. Ashe and Dell's relationship is rich, with Ashe once referring to Dell as one of the two people in the world he would trust with his life, along with his own father.  Beyond getting his athletes the best deals, Dell has been a strong proponent of growing tennis, and pushing for a more cohesive tour system. That goal hasn't changed one bit over 50-plus years.  You can also watch this TENNIS.com Podcast episode on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Sometimes it’s uncomfortable the changes that you need to make in your game, but you know that if you don’t make them you’re not going to get to that level." This week, Christina McHale gives an update on her preparation for the upcoming World TeamTennis season. The world No. 88 has been training and quarantining with her sister Lauren and brother-in-law Ryan Harrison in Atlanta. McHale has been a staple in the Top 100 for the last nine years, reaching as high as No. 24 in 2012. She explains why, even at 28 years of age, she's not fully settled on tour as she's always looking to improve and stay on top of the new waves of players. She talks about her start on the pro tour, being a part of the 2012 Olympic team and her impressive track record against Serena Williams. The New Jersey native also shares some fun facts about herself like how she works on her Mandarin Chinese language skills, why her cooking had to improve, what her first trip to Cuba was like and how Vampire Diaries has helped her get through the shutdown. Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"He picked the image by the way, and my time that I spent with him is absolutely priceless." It's Roland Garros Week on Tennis Channel and 12-time champion Rafael Nadal's achievements stand alone in history. Artist Bruce Sulzberg joins the show to talk about his experience working with and painting the King of Clay. A child prodigy, Sulzberg has spend decades developing a unique 3D painting technique, and brings to life athletes like Lebron James, Prince Fielder, Muhammad Ali, and tennis' own Nadal. A junior and college player himself, Sulzberg understands the lifestyle, work ethic and mentality of athletes, and isn't fazed by the superstars he works with. He sought out Nadal's team and made an adventurous (and costly) trip to Spain to pitch his vision in person. After wowing Nadal, "VAMOS!" came to life based on a photo of the Spaniard from the 2014 French Open. Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"When you’re deeply rooted in the principles and the values that are most important to you then navigating rough waters are a little bit easier." This week, USTA national coach Andy Gerst joins the show to talk about his unique journey in tennis. Last year, the 32-year-old was handpicked by Kathy Rinaldi to work with American WTA pros, and he's even been coaching TENNIS.com Podcast co-host Irina Falconi. Gerst gives insight into the mind of a coach, and what his influences, philosophy and goals are. He shares his story from college player to club coach to ATP pro to Tennis Warehouse playtester to traveling with Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova and to now working for the USTA. His own pro tennis dreams were cut short by a motorcycle accident in Thailand. Through it all, Gerst has kept his passion for the game in the forefront and his options wide open. Opportunities have come his way in more ways than he could have dreamed of. Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Georgia men's tennis head coach Manny Diaz joins Kamau Murray for an insightful chat about his tenure with the Bulldogs, and how he built a successful culture in over three decades with the program. Diaz recalls his experiences coaching John Isner & other standouts, details what a day in the life of an athlete on his team entails, and professes his philosophy in player development & a commitment to team success. The coach also dives into topics such as the transfer portal's effect on the tennis world, & how the game can be grown with media exposure. Manny Diaz is one of the most successful college tennis coaches of his era, and this podcast takes you inside the mind of the man who built a juggernaut in Athens, Georgia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"It is somewhat of a life changing moment. I’m not going to sit here and say it’s not because it was. I tried to win one of these for a long time." World No. 9 Rajeev Ram joins the show this week to talk doubles, Indiana and Pete Sampras.  As the reigning Australian Open men’s doubles champion he shares what it was like to win the crown with Joe Salisbury, what he looks for in a partnership and how he ended up teaming up with Venus Williams in Rio. The former singles world No. 56 stopped playing singles in 2017 after winning two titles (both in Newport) and now focuses solely on doubles. The 36-year-old sounds off on solutions to doubles always being in the shadow of singles, while opining on ways the game might stand to change in the future. And finally, the Indiana native looks back at his humble beginnings in Carmel as reasons why his game is modeled closely after Pete Sampras and also why he’s so invested in helping young players with his charity EntouRaj for Kids.  Watch TENNIS.com Podcast episodes on YouTube and Facebook.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Pete [Sampras] and Andre [Agassi] were obviously as different as a mongoose and a cobra." This week features esteemed coach Tom Gullikson as he dives into stories from his 40-plus years playing and coaching professional tennis. Known affectionately as Gully, the 68-year-old American became a pro after a college career at Northern Illinois and stint as a teaching pro alongside his twin brother Tim (who passed away in 1996). Within a year of turning pro, Gully cracked the Top 50, and would peak at No. 34 in singles and No. 4 in doubles. After he got into coaching full-time, Gully worked with the likes of Jim Courier, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Todd Martin, Michael Chang and Pete Sampras. He was one of the first-ever USTA Player Development coaches, and was the Davis Cup captain from 1994-1999, leading the U.S. team to victory in 1995. As Team USA's coach, Gully also helped Agassi win a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"It’s hard sometimes when things aren’t going well, but realizing it’s a moment and the next one could be much better allows you to move forward." It's Underrated Week on TENNIS.com and Dr. Larry Lauer joins the show to talk mental strength, one of the most underestimated skills in the game. The mental skills specialist chatted with co-hosts Nina Pantic and Irina Falconi at the USTA National Campus (before the coronavirus pandemic began). Lauer works for USTA Player Development and has been a sport psychology consultant for elite tennis players for over a decade. He shares how he got into the field after his own baseball career, and why he relates so well to the loss of identity athletes feel after their playing days are over. He shares some of the mental exercises he practices with players, including how to deal with chasing results and how to learn from failure. He also explains the overall values of improving your mental strength, both for your game and your life. Watch this TENNIS.com Podcast episode on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices