Coach Unboxed – Details, episodes & analysis

Welcome to Coach Unboxed! Founding partners Yannick Yoshizawa and Flavia Araujo chat about meeting each other through tennis, how Unbox Sports was created, what they have learned alongside coaches and their aspirations for the agency and podcast.

About Unbox Sports: The agency is elevating professional tour tennis coaches to help them reach their true potential both on and off the court. Unbox Sports’ future is dedicated towards creating a more sustainable workplace for coaches via brand building, content exposure, contract negotiations, commercial investment and much more.

Subscribe to Coach Unboxed and leave your rating and comment! Full episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Follow Unbox Sports on social media for Coach Unboxed highlights: Instagram, LinkedIn, X and at unboxsports.com.

Production: Unbox Sports; Location: Embarc Collective; Music: BongÔMusics; Photo: Felipe Figueiredo

Coach Unboxed EP2: Yannick chats with Wim Fissette, one of the most accomplished active coaches on the professional tennis tour. They discuss Wim's journey from being a player in Belgium to Kim Clijsters' hitting partner and eventually a multi Grand Slam winning coach. Wim shares insights on methodologies, the evolution of coaching and the challenges behind the job. He also reflects on the day-to-day life of a coach, as well as the need for support among peers in the tennis community.

About Wim Fissette: Now coaching Iga Świątek, the Belgian has been coaching on the WTA Tour for 15+ years and has won six Grand Slam championships as a coach. Wim has been previously trusted by five former #1 players: Naomi Osaka, Victoria Azarenka, Angelique Kerber, Simona Halep and Kim Clijsters, among other champions. He is also a two-time Olympic coach and captain of Team Belgium in the Billie Jean King Cup. Wim is a proud husband and father of two.

Follow WimonInstagram andLinkedin. 

Subscribe to Coach Unboxedand leave your rating and comment! Full episodes on⁠Spotify⁠,Apple Podcasts and⁠YouTube⁠. 

Follow Unbox Sports on social media for Coach Unboxed highlights:⁠Instagram⁠,⁠LinkedIn⁠,⁠X⁠ and at⁠unboxsports.com⁠.

Production: Unbox Sports;Location:⁠Embarc Collective⁠;Music:⁠BongÔMusics;Photo:Felipe Figueiredo

Coach Unboxed EP3: Yannick chats with Kamau Murray, who is a major part of the trailblazing legacy of South Chicago tennis. They discuss Kamau’s early days choosing tennis over basketball, learning about college tennis and moving to NYC for a career in business.

Kamau talks about juggling different full-time jobs before focusing on the tour when he met Sloane Stephens. He also reflects on the importance of building trust with players and letting them lead, and emphasizes his passion for creating opportunities for minorities in tennis through his academy, XS Tennis, in the community he loves. 

About Kamau Murray: Kamau is only the third African American to coach a pro to a Grand Slam title, in which he won with Sloane Stephens. A former Florida A&M student-athlete and MBA graduate, he led Sloane to the top 3 with 5 WTA titles and Monica Puig to the top 30. Kamau founded XS Tennis to guide underserved Chicago youth down a pathway to attaining a college tennis scholarship ($4.1M achieved), training more nationally ranked minority players than any other organization in the country.

Follow KamauonLinkedin andInstagram.

Subscribe to Coach Unboxedand leave your rating and comment! Full episodes on⁠Spotify⁠,Apple Podcasts and⁠YouTube⁠. 

Follow Unbox Sportson social media for Coach Unboxed highlights:⁠Instagram⁠,⁠LinkedIn⁠,⁠X⁠ and at⁠unboxsports.com⁠.

Production:Unbox Sports; Location:⁠Embarc Collective⁠;Music:⁠BongÔMusics

Coach Unboxed EP4: Yannick chats with Sandra Zaniewska, a former pro herself and now a reference in professional tennis as one of the top female coaches on tour. Special guest: Mander. @sandrazaniewska

They discuss Sandra’s journey as a young athlete in Poland and her experiences transitioning from junior to pro tennis, traveling alone and the pressures of performance. She reflects on coaching coming naturally into her life and the importance of working with the person before the player, also sharing the stories behind her creative endeavors such as writing books and starting a podcast. Throughout, Sandra highlights the significance of human connection in coaching and the joy of the journey in sports.

About Sandra Zaniewska:As a pro player in Poland in 2009, Sandra has won 17 ITF pro titles between singles and doubles before finding a new tennis passion in coaching. She has worked with top WTA players Petra Martić, Alizé Cornet and Marta Kostyuk, also having spent two years at Mouratoglou Tennis Academy and Champ’seed Foundation. 

Sandra is a two-time book author (Raising Champions: The Ultimate Guide for Tennis Parents;Coaching 2.0: How to Develop Great Female Players On and Off the Court) and an advocate for women coaches and creating a healthy connection between coaches and players.

Follow SandraonLinkedin andInstagram.

Subscribe to Coach Unboxedand leave your rating and comment! Full episodes on⁠Spotify⁠,Apple Podcasts and⁠YouTube⁠. 

Follow Unbox Sportson social media for Coach Unboxed highlights:⁠Instagram⁠,⁠LinkedIn⁠,⁠X⁠ and at⁠unboxsports.com⁠.

Production:Unbox Sports; Location:⁠Embarc Collective⁠;Music:⁠BongÔMusics⁠;Photo:Felipe Figueiredo

Coach Unboxed EP5: Yannick chats with Thomas Johansson, a former top 10 player and Grand Slam champion, and now an experienced coach that has worked with top players on both ATP and WTA tours. @tompatennis

They discuss Thomas’ early journey in Sweden surrounded by former and future legends of the game, the influence of his peers on his belief, and the connection with his former coach of 12 years that carried onto life outside tennis. He shares the real story behind his Australian Open championship and the journey from retirement back to tennis. Also reflecting on coaching across both tours, Thomas touches on what shaped his coaching philosophy and what’s really important for players to remember in their career.

About Thomas Johansson: The Swede has joined a cohort of national legends since rising to #7 in the world rankings. Thomas has won the 2002 Australian Open singles championship, nine ATP titles, an Olympic silver medal in doubles and the Davis Cup for his home country. After a very successful career, he retired in 2009.

Within months, Thomas became the Stockholm Open’s tournament director and started coaching on tour three years later. He has worked with top players such as Caroline Wozniacki, Borna Ćorić, Maria Sakkari, Filip Krajinović, David Goffin, Sorana Cîrstea and now Kei Nishikori, sharing his deep understanding of the game to elevate other tennis greats.

Follow Thomas on Instagram @tompatennis 

Subscribe to Coach Unboxed and leave your rating and comment! Full episodes on ⁠Spotify⁠, Apple Podcasts and ⁠YouTube⁠. 

Follow Unbox Sports on social media for Coach Unboxed highlights: ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠X⁠ and at ⁠unboxsports.com⁠.

Production: Unbox Sports; Location: ⁠Embarc Collective⁠; Music: ⁠BongÔMusics; Photo: ASICS

Coach Unboxed EP6: Yannick chats with Robert Lindstedt, a former #3 doubles player and Australian Open doubles champion, and now a tour coach with experience on both ATP and WTA tours. @robertlindstedt 

They discuss Robert’s connection to the sport through his siblings, playing college tennis in the U.S. before considering going pro, and the work ethic he learned over time inspired by fitness. He reflected on giving doubles a chance on tour and finally winning ATP titles at the later stages of his career, followed by his biggest championship at the Australian Open. Robert also shared how good doubles communication translates into good coaching and what it's been like adjusting from player to full-time coach.

About Robert Lindstedt: Originally from Sundbyberg, Sweden, Robert played collegiately at Pepperdine University before deciding to go pro and start what would become a 20+ year career. Reaching #3 in the world, he established himself as one of the most hardworking doubles players on tour, winning 23 ATP titles as well as the 2014 Australian Open doubles championship with Łukasz Kubot. 

An Olympian with 22 Davis Cup nominations, Robert concluded his playing career in 2021 and was later inducted into the Swedish Tennis Hall of Fame in 2023. He started his coaching career during his last year on tour, mentoring Denis Kudla and now working with Ajla Tomljanović, continuing to build on his passion for the sport.

Follow Robert on Instagram @robertlindstedt and Linkedin.

Subscribe to Coach Unboxed and leave your rating and comment! Full episodes on ⁠Spotify⁠, Apple Podcasts and ⁠YouTube⁠. 

Follow Unbox Sports on social media for Coach Unboxed highlights: ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠X⁠ and at ⁠unboxsports.com⁠.

Production: Unbox Sports; Location: ⁠Embarc Collective⁠; Music: ⁠BongÔMusics

Coach Unboxed EP7: Yannick chats with Nicole Pratt, a former Australian #1 player and multi-WTA winner, and a trusted coach that has also been a leader in advocating for female athletes and coaches in Australia and globally. @nicole_pratt_oly

They discuss Nicole’s journey from a 20-people town in Queensland to becoming a prominent figure in Australian tennis, both as a player and a coach. She shares about going from Australian Open junior champion to contributing to the country’s rich legacy in the sport, the incomparable pride in representing the “green and gold,” and her commitment to becoming a great mentor on and off the court through leadership roles. Nicole reflects on the importance of elevating female coaches and the opportunities in adding more coaches to a player’s team, as well as her own aspirations.

About Nicole Pratt: Nicole went from #1 Aussie pro player to reference sport leader and coach. Nicole won the Junior Australian Open and 9 WTA titles, also becoming a two-time Olympian and Fed Cup (BJK Cup) team member for almost a decade. She reached #35 WTA singles and #18 in doubles and is now a sought-after mentor globally.

Trusted by former #1s and top 25s, Grand Slam champions and many Aussie greats such as Daria Saville, Storm Hunter, Ashleigh Barty, Alicia Molik, Casey Dellacqua and Anastasia Rodionova, she is now also working closely with Kim Birrell. With Tennis Australia, she achieved a 45% increase in the number of female tennis coaches and the highest number of top 250 WTA players in over 40 years, continuing her advocacy on tour.

Follow Nicole on Instagram @nicole_pratt_oly and LinkedIn.

Subscribe to Coach Unboxed and leave your rating and comment! Full episodes on ⁠Spotify⁠, Apple Podcasts and ⁠YouTube⁠. 

Follow Unbox Sports on social media for Coach Unboxed highlights: ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠X⁠ and at ⁠unboxsports.com⁠.

Production: Unbox Sports; Location: ⁠Embarc Collective⁠; Music: ⁠BongÔMusics⁠; Photo: Tenis Australia

Coach Unboxed EP8: Yannick chats with Claudio Pistolesi, a former world # 1 ITF junior champion and top 100 pro player, former Davis Cup captain and now a top reference coach on both ATP and WTA tours.

They discuss Claudio’s early influences, as he succeeded as a world #1 junior champion. Sharing the challenges faced transitioning to the professional tour, Claudio reflects on the impact his coaches and peers had in his career, the memorable moments in the Davis Cup and team competitions, and how continuously chasing opportunities to improve his knowledge paid off with a top coaching job. He emphasizes his deep commitment to teaching and empathy towards players, as well as his focus on developing the next generation through powerful storytelling. 

About Claudio Pistolesi: From Italy, Claudio was a 2x Grand Slam junior semifinalist and Orange Bowl champion, becoming World #1 ITF Junior Champion. As a pro player with top 10 wins, he reached a career-high #71 ATP singles and proudly represented Italy in the Davis Cup team for 6 consecutive years, also becoming the Italian champion in 1990.

Now a world-renowned coach on both ATP and WTA tours, Claudio worked with Monica Seles, coached Robin Söderling and Daniela Hantuchová as top 5s and multiple players to the top 50 and top 100, winning 10+ titles in the tour as a coach. He has been the captain of Mediterranean Games for Italy and captain of Hopman Cup for Italy and Japan, as well as an Olympic coach in 2012 for the Team Slovakia. Having served in many leadership roles in the ATP, he also leads Claudio Pistolesi Enterprise and the Florida JTCC program, inspiring the industry through his stories.

Follow Claudio Pistolesi on Instagram @pistolesienterprise and LinkedIn Claudio Pistolesi.

Subscribe to Coach Unboxed and leave your rating and comment! Full episodes on ⁠Spotify⁠, Apple Podcasts and ⁠YouTube⁠. 

Follow Unbox Sports on social media for Coach Unboxed highlights: ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠X⁠ and at ⁠unboxsports.com⁠.

Production: Unbox Sports; Location: ⁠Embarc Collective⁠; Music: ⁠BongÔMusics⁠; Photo: Claudio Pistolesi

Coach Unboxed EP9: Yannick chats with Kristof Vliegen, a former ATP top 30 who took his first player as a coach from unranked to a career-high ranking #21 and has now returned to Belgium for his next coaching chapter. @kristof_vliegen

They discuss Kristof’s unique introduction to tennis and his development as a junior just having fun with the sport. Kristof shares his pro experiences from Futures to the Davis Cup to reaching high rankings before being told an injury would not allow him to play anymore. He reflects on taking the entrepreneurial route by chance and eventually finding his way back to tennis through coaching guiding a few promising young players. Kristof also shares insights on his new coaching role and what it means to be back to his roots coaching a fellow Belgian.

About Kristof Vliegen: He reached career highs of #12 in singles and #4 in doubles ITF world rankings, winning the Wimbledon Boy’s doubles championship and making it to the quarterfinals at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Transitioning into the ATP tour, he became a top 30 player and represented Belgium for eight years in the Davis Cup. 

In 2012, Kristof started what would become almost a decade-long partnership with Dutch player Tallon Griekspoor, taking him from unranked all the way to #21 ATP with multiple titles. He has recently started coaching fellow Belgian Zizou Bergs, and he is also the director of a tennis, paddle and squash club in Belgium, BATD.

Follow Kristof Vliegen on Instagram @kristof_vliegen and LinkedIn.

Subscribe to Coach Unboxed and leave your rating and comment! Full episodes on ⁠Spotify⁠, Apple Podcasts and ⁠YouTube⁠. 

Follow Unbox Sports on social media for Coach Unboxed highlights: ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠X⁠ and at ⁠unboxsports.com⁠.

Production: Unbox Sports; Location: ⁠Embarc Collective⁠; Music: ⁠BongÔMusics⁠; Photo: Felipe Figueiredo

Coach Unboxed EP10: Yannick chats with Facundo Lugones, ATP Coach of the Year in 2021 who guided his former college teammate from outside top 500 to a career best of #8 in the world ranking. @falugones 

They discuss Facundo's early influences in Argentina and strong family bonds that propelled him to compete. Facundo shares his path towards college tennis in the U.S., being a senior leader in the team and eventually developing a connection with a freshman teammate that went on to become an almost decade-long, coach-player partnership on the ATP Tour. He gives insights on pressures and expectations faced by players, particularly after a successful season, and what it means to him to still have the support of coaches who worked with him building unmeasurable respect for their contributions.

About Facundo Lugones: From Argentina, Facundo followed his family passion for the sport and went on to become a top 10 national player. After experiencing the professional tour, he played college tennis in the U.S. as a student-athlete for Texas Christian University (TCU) and started his coaching career by working with his former TCU teammate, Cameron Norrie.

Facundo led Cam from outside 500 ATP to #8 in the ATP Tour, having won a Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells among other stellar results. The outstanding season in 2021 rewarded him with ATP Coach of the Year, which was followed by Cam’s best Grand Slam result with semifinals in Wimbledon. Facundo remains a loyal partner to the TCU Horned Frogs, often practicing with and taking advice from the team there.

Follow Facundo Lugones on Instagram @falugones and LinkedIn Facundo Lugones

Subscribe to Coach Unboxed and leave your rating and comment! Full episodes on ⁠Spotify⁠, Apple Podcasts and ⁠YouTube⁠. 

Follow Unbox Sports on social media for Coach Unboxed highlights: ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠X⁠ and at ⁠unboxsports.com⁠.

Production: Unbox Sports; Location: ⁠Embarc Collective⁠; Music: ⁠BongÔMusics⁠; Photo: Unbox Sports