Control the Controllables

Nick Bollettieri - The Godfather

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Godfather of tennis comes to help us celebrate our 100th episode of the podcast. The coach to many, namely, Agassi, Seles, Rios, Courier, Arias, S...

David Walsh - Pursuit of the truth

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

David Walsh is the Chief Sports Writer at the Sunday Times. He is famously known for his successful pursuit of justice with cyclist Lance Armstrong an...

Mark Petchey - The man who views tennis through many lenses

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Petchey is a former top 100 ATP player, former British Number 1. He went on the be the Head of Men’s Tennis at the LTA before coaching Andy Mur...

Tom Hill - Return on Investment

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Tom Hill aged 25 from the UK is the coach to WTA 22nd in the world Maria Sakarri. How you may ask? We unlock this and so much more with stories from h...

Australian Open 2021 Preview

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We have a panel of Anne Keothavong, Naomi Broady, Xavier Malisse and Freddie Nielsen to preview the Australian Open. From current news in Melbourne, t...

Eleanor Preston - Tiara’s to Tennis

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Eleanor Preston is the Director of The Emilia Group which is a PR and Media company in sport, but mainly in tennis. She has years of experience which ...

Skupski Brothers - Together again!

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Skupski brothers are back playing together on the ATP Tour 2021 after a couple of years where Neal player with Jamie Murray. We here all about the...

Daria Kasatkina - Tik Tok..It won’t be long till she is back at the top!

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dasha Kasatkina has been talked about as one of the biggest up and coming stars on the WTA Tour with a final in Indian Wells and back to back Quarter ...

2020 Review

31 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This podcast is a review of Control the Controllables in 2020. We discuss our favourites pods, our learnings and what you can expect for 2021 from the...

Oli Golding - The different ‘stages’ of Tennis Life

30 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Oli Golding is a US Open Junior Singles Champion. He was a childhood star on the stage, including the West End and he now works at Santander Bank. We ...

Xavier Malisse - The X Man!

27 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Xavier Malisse is a former top 20 ATP player who made the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 2002. He had wins over Roger Federer,Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovi...

John Morris - ‘Show me the money’

23 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

John Morris is a sports agent who currently works at the LJ Sports Group with Ivan Ljubicic. He was Nick Kygrios’s agent for 10 years and share...

Jodie Burrage - On the rise

19 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Young British player Jodie Burrage is already 250 WTA. She has been through 3 major surgeries, but has developed a maturity and resilience from this t...

Jez Green - Building a body of a champion

16 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jez Green has been working as a top physical conditioning specialist for more than 20 years on the ATP & WTA Tour.During this time he´s worked wi...

Wayne Ferreira - Iron Man

12 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A former World Number 6 in singles and 9 in doubles. A quite incredible record which includes wins over Bjorn Borg and Roger Federer with so many in b...

Lloyd Glasspool - I did it my way!

09 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Lloyd Glasspool is a former NCAA champion and is currently 150 ATP Doubles. He has partnered Dan Evans, Jamie Murray and Andy Murray in recent months....

Steve Davies & Matt Allen - Into the Dragon’s Den

05 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Steve and Matt are the Directors of Active Away. Both had strong tennis coaching careers at clubs, with the LTA and made the decision to set up their ...

Allistair McCaw - Champion Minded

02 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Allistair McCaw has dedicated his life to high performance through working with world class athletes including Xavier Malisse and Kevin Anderson on th...

Nick Weal - LTA Head of Coach Education and Development

28 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nick Weal has spent the last 35 years as a Grand Slam Player, Grand Slam Coach and GB Davis Cup Coach and is now in charge of the LTA Coach Education....

James Auckland - Pro to Parks

26 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

James Auckland is a former British Number 1 Doubles Player with a highest ATP Ranking of 57. We discuss his journey and how the key failures led to th...

Episode 79: Anne Keothavong - A full circle to the Copper Box

21 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Anne Keothavong is the GB Billie Jean King Cup Captain, and former British number 1. She reached a high of 48 in the world WTA during her career. Anne...

Episode 78: Iain Bates - LTA Head Of Women’s Tennis

18 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Iain Bates has gone from promising junior to University lecturer to Team GB Manager in the Olympics and is now LTA Head of Women’s Tennis. A great j...

Episode 77: Dave Sammel - Mindset College

14 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dave Sammel was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has spent his 30 years as a coach in the UK working with some of the best players in...

Episode 76: Fabio Molle - Functional Tennis

11 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Fabio Mole set up Functional Tennis 4.5 years ago and it’s now one of the biggest online tennis platforms out there. Fabio talks through his journey...

Episode 75: Colin Beecher - ‘Beech’

07 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A special guest for a special 75th episode. Colin Beecher have lived and breathed British Tennis for 40 years as a player and then a coach to pretty m...

Episode 74: Stephen Huss - Wimbledon Champ

04 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Stephen Huss partnered Wesley Moodie to win the Men’s Doubles Championship at Wimbledon in 2005. The pair came through qualifying, beating the 1st 2...

Episode 73: Katie Swan - Young experience

31 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Katie Swan has been on our screens for many years, as a 15 year old she made the final of the Junior Australian Girls Event. Katie has had her ups and...

Episode 72: Dominik Koepfer - The Outlier

28 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dominik Koepfer sits as the current 65th best male tennis player in the world, yet he played 1-2 times a week before he was 16. A story that will blow...

Episode 71: Sergiy Stahkovsky - No holds barred

24 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sergiy Stahkovsky is a Ukranian pro tennis player who has been ranked as high as 31 ATP. Sergiy jumped onto our screens in 2013, when he became the lo...

Episode 70: Simon Jones - British Tennis through many lenses

21 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Simon Jones worked for the LTA in many different capacities for 31 years before turning his hand to other sports over the last couple of years. We exp...

Episode 69: Nick Lester - The voice behind your screens

17 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nick Lester is the epitome of what we want from our Tennis Academy. Someone who has truly used his passion for tennis as a vehicle through his life, a...

Episode 68 : Kyle Spencer - US College Life

14 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Kyle Spencer is a former GB number 1 doubles player and represented GB at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He is the current Head Men’s Coach at North Caro...

Episode 67: Leon Smith - The History Maker!

10 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What a story! Leon went from decent junior player to coaching one of the best juniors in the world, Sir Andy Murray. He was catapulted to GB Davis Cup...

Episode 66: Kris Soutar - Mr.Tennis

07 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Kris has dedicated his life to tennis in one form or another. From coaching International Players to coaching parents how to coach, he has worked acro...

Episode 65: Simon Dickson - Red Devil to SW19

04 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Simon Dickson was one of the best junior players in the world with wins over Roger Federer and Leyton Hewitt to name a couple as he grew up.  He ...

Episode 64: Steve Hewitt - People..People.. People!

30 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Steve Hewitt is the CEO of Gym Shark, a fitness clothing and accessory brand that is currently one of the fastest growing businesses in the UK. A few ...

Episode 63: Heather Watson - WTA Tour Life

26 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Heather Watson has been one of Great Britain’s most successful female tennis players of the last 30 years. She won the Wimbledon Mixed Doubles title...

Episode 62: Valorie Kondos Field - Winning doesn’t always equal success

22 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Valorie Kondos Field was Head Gymnastics Coach at UCLA for 29 years. She led them to 7 National Championships and her background wasn’t even in gymn...

Episode 61: Emilio Sanchez - Viva España

19 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Emilio Sanchez comes from the famous Sanchez family who have been so influential on Spanish Tennis. A former World number 1 doubles player and number ...

Episode 60: Lloyd and Anthony Harris - African Champions

16 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We speak to Anthony Harris who is top 100 ATP Player Lloyd Harris’s coach.  Anthony also coached Dudi Sela in his formative years aged 11-19. W...

Episode 59: Sam Jalloh - Tennis saved my life

13 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sam Jalloh was brought up in Sierra Leone in what was a difficult upbringing personally, but also during the civil war which added many complications ...

Episode 58: Magnus Tideman - ATP Coach Life

08 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Magnus Tideman is a former top 80 ATP Player who came from an amazing crop of Swedish Players, where his practice partners included Bjorn Borg, Mats W...

Episode 57: Mark Jeffery - Between the White Lines

05 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mark has had tennis running through his life for 60 years. He was in the military, and has worked closely with David Lloyd and Jimmy Connors on previo...

Episode 56: Kieron Vorster - Nature or Nurture

02 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Kieron Vorster has been a strength and conditioning coach on the ATP Tour for 25 years. He started his career with Wayne Ferreira before spending many...

Episode 55: Cameron Norrie - College Stud to Pro Life

31 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Cameron Norrie has an illustrious College career at Texas Christian University before seamlessly moving into the top 100 ATP. Since recording, he has ...

Episode 54: Nick Monroe - No stone unturned

29 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nick Monroe has been on the ATP Tour for the last 17 years with a career high of 30 ATP doubles. Nick speaks to us from the US Open Bubble as he prepa...

Episode 53: Nick Morgan - Make better choices more often

26 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nick Morgan is a former UK University Tennis Champion whilst graduating from Bath University before turning his career to the Sports Science world. Th...

Episode 52: Jonathan Overend - The voice of tennis 🎾

22 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan worked for BBC radio for over 25 years and brought the famous moments to life for many of us including his final match for the BBC.. The Men’...

Episode 51: Dan Evans & Mark Hilton - US Open Bubble 2020

20 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dan Evans and Mark Hilton speak to us from New York as they prepare for the US Open 2020. Hear all about the ‘bubble’ at the US Open and how prepa...

Episode 50: James Cluskey - Necker Island Networking

19 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

James Cluskey was top 150 ATP and represented Ireland in Davis Cup. He has used his tennis as a vehicle to attack the business world. He is Sir Richar...

Episode 49: Bruno Argudo & Juan Beaus - Spanish Tennis vs British Tennis

15 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Bruno and Juan both have extensive experience of being brought up through the ‘Spanish System’ as players and coaches. Yet both have had experienc...

Episode 48: Dan Cox - I’ll be back!

12 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dan spent many years in the top 5 in the UK and top 250 ATP after a successful junior career including making final of the prestigious Tarbes U14 even...

Episode 47: Neil Harman - Close Quarters

08 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Neil Harman worked tirelessly for many years for many of the top UK Newspapers in football, and then mainly as a tennis correspondent.  An award-...

Episode 46: Barry Fulcher - Progressive minded

05 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Barry Fulcher was an excellent tennis player who has turned his passion to not only coaching, but also to creating a competitive structure in the UK t...

Episode 45: Michael Joyce - From top ATP player to top WTA Coach

01 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Joyce had a very successful playing career with a career high of 64 ATP. Michael has gone on to coach some of the biggest stars in the women’...

Episode 44: Mark Bullock - Tennis is for everyone!

30 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Bullock has dedicated his coaching career to making tennis inclusive to all. He spent many years at ITF working and developing wheelchair tennis ...

Mike Dickson - Tennis through a ‘media’ lens

25 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mike Dickson is the UK Daily Mail´s Tennis Correspondent.He has been a sports journalist for more than 35 years, predominantly covering tennis as his...

Episode 42: James McGee - The light side of Vegas!

22 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

James McGee is a former Irish Davis Cup Player and number one. Reached the top 150 ATP including qualifying at the 2014 US Open in dramatic circumstan...

Episode 41: Mental Health Awareness Week - Anthony Ross

18 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Anthony Ross is a world leading Sports Psychologist whose background is in Clinical Psychology. Anthony takes a look at our stories from the week and ...

Episode 40: Mental Health Awareness Week - Matt Hingley

17 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Matt has competed on and off on the ITF futures tour for the last 7-8 years whilst juggling a tennis coaching career to fund this. But then does he do...

Episode 39: Mental Health Awareness Week - Joe Dixon

16 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Joe Dixon was a SotoTennis Academy Coach for 6 years and continues to work at an International Player level. Joe has experienced depression and anxiet...

Episode 38: Mental Health Awareness Week - Liam Broady

15 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Liam Broady discusses the mental health battles he has experienced over the past few years and how he has worked through and built himself back up, ju...

Episode 37: Mental Health Awareness Week - Fran Lewis

14 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Fran is a tough coach in Wales working with top International Juniors. She discusses the potential challenges for coaches working with young elite pla...

Episode 36: Mental Health Awareness Week - Noah Rubin

13 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Noah Rubin has been as high as 125 ATP and is a former Junior Wimbledon Champion. Noah has set up his own ‘Behind the Racket’ platform which is gi...

Episode 35 - Mental Health Awareness Week Introduction

12 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dan introduces the fantastic guests that we have throughout the week with 1 podcast being released each day to help bring awareness to a subject that ...

Episode 34: Paul Casey - Bleed Green

11 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Former Irish National Coach Paul Casey talks from the heart about his ideas on how Irish Tennis can and should develop from his experiences as a playe...

Episode 33: Donald Young - Young superstar to seasoned veteran!

08 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Young has been on our screens since he was World Junior Number 1 aged 15, to top 100 ATP AT 18. His story is full of ups and downs which he sha...

Episode 32: Martin Lee - Management of disappointment

04 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Martin Lee is one of a very select few British Male Players to reach the ‘Holy Grail’ of Top 100 ATP. Was it an easy journey there? Find out more....

Episode 31: Barry Cowan - You’ll never walk alone!

01 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Former GB Davis Cup Player Barry Cowan discusses his tennis journey which took him from Liverpool to taking Pete Sampras to 5 tough sets at Wimbledon....

Episode 30: Peter Bothwell - Realities of the Futures Tour

27 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Irish Davis Cup Player Peter Bothwell has recently retired from the ATP/ITF Tour after 6 years of professional tennis. We dig into why Pete has made t...

Episode 29: James Trotman - Born to Coach!

24 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

James Trotman was a top 10 player in Europe from an early age, before winning multiple Junior Grand Slams. He was then struck down with a career endin...

Episode 28: Aisam Qureshi - Humanity first.. Tennis second!

20 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Aisam Qureshi is a tennis player from Pakistan who has made the top 10 ATP Doubles and two Grand Slam finals. He is Pakistan´s most successful single...

Episode 27: Judy Murray - Super Mum!

17 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Judy Murray is a Scottish tennis coach and the Mum of global superstars Jamie and Andy Murray. A former player, she became Scottish National Coach in ...

Episode 26: Dan Evans - Skills pay the bills!

15 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dan Evans talks to Control the Controllables about his incredible journey which has taken him inside the top 100 ATP on 3 occasions. The British numbe...

Episode 25: John Millman - The journey man.. or is he?

13 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

John Millman has been ranked as high as 33 in the world. He has beaten Roger Federer to progress to 2018 US Open Quarter-final. We delve into his tenn...

Episode 24: Sarah Borwell - The US College Guru!

10 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Borwell went from a nervous young girl who didn’t want to compete to the top 200 WTA singles and 65 in the world in doubles.  Listen to w...

Episode 23: Craig O’Shannessy - Money ball of tennis!

06 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Craig O´Shannessy is recognised as a world leader in data analysis and is changing the landscape of how coaches view data within tennis. He spent 3 y...

Episode 22: Dan Kiernan: Control the Controllables

04 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dan moves to the other side of the microphone, as he chats with Graeme Foreman. Dan discusses the influence of his north east upbringing and how this ...

Episode 21: Ian Barclay - Not in the net!

03 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

‘Barkers’ as Ian is known in the tennis world talks us through how he got into tennis, to the amazing journey of taking Pat Cash from aged 11 to W...

Episode 20: Paul Jubb - NCAA Champ

30 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Paul Jubb was dealt an extremely difficult start to life, as he lost both parents at an early age. This wasn’t going to stop him achieve what he wan...

Episode 19: Conor Niland - The luck of the Irish

27 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Ireland’s Davis Cup Captain and ATP 129 at his best, Conor talks through his journey from Edgbaston to Limerick to Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York pla...

Episode 18: Calvin Betton: Train with purpose

24 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Calvin Betton has been a tennis coach for 20 years working at all levels. He has developed a passion for purposeful practice and skill acquisition and...

Episode 17: Euan McGinn- GB University Tennis

24 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Euan has been head coach at Stirling University after years at US College as a player and also on the lower levels of the Pro Tour. His passion has he...

Episode 16: Emily Webley-Smith - The Comeback Queen.

20 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Emily Webley-Smith has been competing on the ITF/WTA tour for the past 18 years. She has reached a career high of 240 in singles and 113 in doubles. E...

Episode 15: Will Herbert - Tour Physio

19 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Will Herbert is currently Kyle Edmund’s physio and has previously worked with Alexander and Misha Zverev, Ana Ivanovic to name a few.  He was a...

Episode 14: John Hicks- A British Coaching Legend

14 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

87 year old coach John Hicks talks about his tennis story. From the early days, to his favour Wrexham squad, the British players such as Tim Henman an...

Episode 13: Jamie Murray - From Dunblane to the top of the world!

10 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode you will hear how Jamie & Andy grew up as one, the reason behind Jamie taking to doubles so early in his career, how he chooses his do...

Episode 12: Lee Childs- Life is one big competition.

08 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Head Coach of the prestigious Queens Club in England Lee Childs discusses his tennis journey. From U18 European Champion to playing Rafa Nadal at Wimb...

Episode 11: Ali Collins- You cannot be (too) serious!

06 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

WTA player Ali Collins talks candidly about how tennis is taken too seriously at a young age and the effects it can have on a players mental health, i...

Episode 10: Gordon Reid- Turning challenging times into opportunity

30 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Multiple Grand Slam Champion, Paralympic Gold Medalist and the first ever Wimbledon Wheelchair Champion in 2016, Gordon Reid. Gordon tells his story f...

Episode 9: Mark Hilton- Life of an ATP Coach

29 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

From talented British junior, to a successful playing career before moving onto the ATP Tour as a coach, Mark Hilton has an amazing story. As well as ...

Episode 8: Dr Anthony Ross - Emotional Fitness

19 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We get a chance to get inside the mind of one of the worlds best sports psychologists. Dr Anthony Ross, Director of Mentally Tough Tennis and a former...

Episode 7: Eden Silva & Evan Hoyt - From Heathrow to Wimbledon Quarter Finals

16 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Eden Silva and Evan Hoyt discuss their unexpected run to being the longest standing British tennis players at Wimbledon in 2019. After being given a w...

Episode 6: Liam Broady and Josh Ward-Hibbert. ‘Care Free Juniors to Real Life adulthood’

11 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Liam and Josh were the 2012 Australian Opens Boys Doubles Champions and had successful junior careers. How have they transitioned into the pro game of...

Episode 5: The Skupski Brothers

09 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Two lads from Liverpool who realise their dream and both make it into the top 45 ATP doubles players in the world, and doing it together.  But no...

Episode 4: Freddie Nielsen & Jonny Marray Part Three -What’s next?

06 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Part Three of our chat with 2012 Wimbledon Mens Doubles Champions Freddie Nielsen & Jonny Marray. Freddie and Jonny take us through their journeys...

Episode 3: Freddie Nielsen & Jonny Marray Part Two, Wimbledon 2012 - The Fortnight

03 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Part Two of our chat with 2012 Wimbledon Mens Doubles Champions Freddie Nielsen and Jonny Marray. Freddie and Jonny get into Wimbledon Men’s Doubles...

Freddie Nielsen & Jonny Marray Part One: Pre Wimbledon 2012

03 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Freddie Nielsen and Jonny Marray talk about their journeys into pro tennis and it’s not as traditional a route as you may think. Did...