TennisWorthy – Details, episodes & analysis

Andre Agassi made bravery a key part of his game, learning to use his elite ball-striking abilities to make gutsy shots and keep his opponents on their toes. Andre details what bravery means to him, and how tennis can test character more than any other sport.

This episode is part of the International Tennis Hall of Fame's TennisWorthy short-form series. View more TennisWorthy stories at tennisfame.com/tennisworthy

In the aftermath of the 50th anniversary of Arthur Ashe's groundbreaking Wimbledon title, Charlie Pasarell remembers the champion. Before they were at the top of the game, they were friends and teammates. Charlie reflects on Arthur's impact beyond tennis.

This episode is part of the International Tennis Hall of Fame's TennisWorthy short-form series. View more TennisWorthy stories at tennisfame.com/tennisworthy

Patrick McEnroe welcomes Amit Sood, head of Google Arts & Culture, to discuss Google's partnership with the International Tennis Hall of Fame. McEnroe highlights Google's work in digitizing the "American Lawn Tennis" magazine from the early 1900s, making this valuable historical resource accessible online on Google Arts & Culture's platform. Sood explains Google Arts & Culture's mission to provide access to cultural topics globally through partnerships with museums, archives, and foundations.

The conversation delves into how Google became involved in preserving sports history, starting with tennis in Australia, and the use of AI to enhance the "Serving Tennis History" platform. They also discuss the potential for technology to transform learning and the importance of collaboration between technology and cultural institutions.

View the platform, stories from the full archive of American Lawn Tennis and themes curated by the Hall of Fame and Google Arts & Culture in Serving Tennis History, available online at https://artsandculture.google.com/project/tennis-history.

Host Patrick McEnroe interviews Dana Mathewson, a celebrated wheelchair tennis player and the first American woman to win a major wheelchair title in doubles. Dana shares her journey into tennis, which began after a rare autoimmune disease left her paralyzed at age 10.

The conversation explores themes of overcoming setbacks, the importance of resilience, and Dana's experiences traveling the world for tournaments. Dana also reflects on the significance of representing her country in the Paralympics and her desire to raise the profile of wheelchair tennis in the United States. Dana shares her plans to stay involved in tennis through coaching and commentary, and her efforts to advocate for greater inclusion and accessibility for people with disabilities.

Dana Mathewson is a trailblazer in U.S. wheelchair tennis, recognized as one of the sport’s most prominent figures. A three-time Paralympian and the top-ranked American woman, Dana made history in 2022 as the first American woman to win a Grand Slam title with her doubles victory at Wimbledon. Over her illustrious career, Dana secured 16 singles titles and 32 doubles titles. At the 2023 Para PanAmerican Games in Santiago, Chile, she captured gold medals in both singles and doubles and was honored by her Team USA teammates as a flag bearer. In 2024, she broke new ground again as the first American to compete at the Miami Open Wheelchair Tennis Championship.

This month, the TennisWorthy Podcast explores the theme of dedication, and how champions overcame various challenges in the lives and careers to reach the top. Hear inspiring stories of dedication from three Hall of Famers from the Open Era – Virginia Wade, Goran Ivanišević and Justine Henin – who faced significant journeys to achieve their major goals.

Discover how Wade's early determination, sparked in South Africa, fueled her long-awaited Wimbledon triumph. Goran Ivanišević shares the emotions and belief he needed to capture the Wimbledon title after reaching three previous finals. Explore Henin's deep connection with the French Open and her perseverance to finally claim victory. These inspiring stories highlight the unwavering commitment required at the highest levels of tennis, offering captivating insights.

The TennisWorthy Podcast is presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame. For more information and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.

Hall of Famer and 48-time major champion Esther Vergeer shares her story of inspiration. After becoming paralyzed at age 8, Esther discovered a love of sport through her rehabilitation process. Following a record-setting wheelchair tennis career, Esther has found her mission in providing opportunities for children with a disability to access and participate in sports. Since 2004, the Esther Vergeer Foundation has transformed lives across the Netherlands.

This episode is part of the International Tennis Hall of Fame's TennisWorthy short-form series. View more TennisWorthy stories at tennisfame.com/tennisworthy.

Spanish tennis greats weren't necessarily known for their success on grass before Conchita Martinez made the final at Wimbledon in 1994. Conchita shares the emotions behind her Wimbledon title, and how establishing her legacy on Centre Court paved the way for her to make and impact in coaching some of the greats of the next generation.

This episode is part of the International Tennis Hall of Fame's TennisWorthy short-form series. View more TennisWorthy stories at tennisfame.com/tennisworthy

Host Patrick McEnroe catches up with Hall of Famer Gigi Fernandez, discussing her career in the framework of tradition. Patrick and Gigi go behind the scenes at Wimbledon and the other Majors, sharing stories and memories of their favorite traditions in tennis, such as wearing white at Wimbledon, the evolution of night tennis, and the debate over best-of-five sets in men's tennis.

Patrick and Gigi open the episode with takeaways from their experience at the launch event of Serving Tennis History, a digital collaboration between the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Google Arts & Culture featuring the full run of American Lawn Tennis magazine. Gigi also shares her personal connection to tennis and her efforts to give back through her foundation, Tennis for Hope, which supports those in the tennis community affected by natural disasters.

Gigi Fernandez is a 17-time major champion in doubles and a two-time Olympic gold medalist for the United States. She was named Puerto Rico's Female Athlete of the Century in 1999 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside her longtime doubles partner Natasha Zvereva in 2010.

The TennisWorthy Podcast is presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame. For more information and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.

In April, we explore the delicate balance between tradition and progress in the world of tennis, focusing on the four major tournaments: Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and US Open. Each tournament, while steeped in history, has had to adapt to the changing times.  

Chris Bowers delves into the decisions behind venue changes, like the Australian and US Opens' move to new, purpose-built facilities, and the choice of Wimbledon and Roland Garros to stay rooted in their historic locations.  

He also explores the efforts to modernize while preserving the unique identities of these events, from addressing logistical challenges at Wimbledon to Philippe Chatrier’s vision for Roland Garros.  

The TennisWorthy Podcast is presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame. For more information and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.

In 2021, the International Tennis Hall of Fame inducted the Original 9, pioneers who signed $1 contracts in 1970 to create the first women's tennis tour. Facing challenges, they paved the way for equity in sports.

Rosie Casals, Judy Tegart Dalton, and Ann Jones reflect on those early years with Blair Henley, discussing their risks, timing, and behind-the-scenes efforts. Later, Jones tells Chris Bowers how player camaraderie fueled progress on the Virginia Slims tour, uniting women across nationalities to make tennis a viable career.

This episode originally aired in 2024.