Published by Dan Kiernan
Dan Kiernan, Director of SotoTennis Academy in Spain has created a podcast to entertain, educate and energise the tennis community. Hear Dan pick the brains of professional tennis players, coaches, parents, and others involved in High Performance Tennis.
Listen on Apple Podcasts1 hr 26 min
Follow the Podcast Here: https://www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast/ Follow Tennis Athlete Here: https://www.instagram.com/tennisathlete_sta/ Follow SotoTennis Academy Here: https://www.instagram.com/sototennis/?hl=en Email us: info@sototennis.com Meet our panellists: Denmark's Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Doubles Champion, Freddie Nielsen - currently coaching August Holmgren, who is in the final round of qualifying as we record. GB Coach Calvin Betton who is currently working with Henry Patten & Harri Heliövaara. Top S&C Coach Kieron Vorster who has worked with Liam Broady, Dan Evans, Tim Henman and Wayne Ferreira. Sports broadcaster and former CNN anchor Candy Reid , Tennessee Vols alumna and one of the great voices of tennis. The ATP is proposing to reshape men's doubles from 2028. Halved draws. Halved prize money. Doubles specialists effectively pushed out of the sport. In this episode, Dan takes on the proposals in a full debate segment, then reviews the fortnight at Wimbledon 2026 that has just wrapped up. Recorded after the Wimbledon Live series ended. THE MAIN DEBATE: Should the ATP be allowed to kill men's doubles? The 2028 proposal in detail : doubles draws halved at Masters 1000s, prize money split shifted from 80-20 to 90-10 in favour of singles, Challenger Tour entry handed to singles players ahead of doubles specialists. Our panelist discuss these proposals in depth. In the Wimbledon 2026 Review: Sinner defends his title , 5th career Grand Slam, only 10th man in the Open Era to defend Wimbledon Linda Nosková becomes the youngest women's champion since Kvitova in 2011 , in the first all-Czech final in the Open Era Arthur Fery's historic wildcard SF run , the deepest British men's Wimbledon run since Cameron Norrie in 2022 Djokovic equals Federer's all-time record of 105 Wimbledon match wins Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid win their 7th Wimbledon men's wheelchair doubles title The 3 Czech Wimbledon women's champions in the last four years : Vondrousova (2023), Krejcikova (2024), and now Nosková (2026) The women's draw wide open : 10 different champions in 10 years, the longest streak in Wimbledon history Timestamps 05:21 -Inside Sinner's fifth Slam: why he wins even when he's not at his best, and Vozzi breaks down his movement 09:06 - Arthur Fery's fairytale run: turning heroic losses into gritty wins, and what his future really looks like 16:36 - A new Alexander Zverev? How Roland Garros changed him, and dissecting that stunning first set of the final 22:14 - Djokovic at 39: the chase for 25, why his body can't do back-to-back matches anymore, and the Sinner semi 27:53 - Nosková's astonishing comeback from 6-2, 5-2 down, plus the truth about her "friendship" with Muchová 36:20 - The Doubles Debate Begins About Control the Controllables Hosted by Dan Kiernan, Director of SotoTennis Academy and coach to top ATP and WTA doubles players. Control the Controllables was voted x3 Best Tennis Podcast.
32 min
Day 11 of our Wimbledon 2026 daily live series, recorded inside the grounds. Brought to you by Novellus. Live every night at 9pm UK across the Wimbledon fortnight, with Wimbledon champions, tennis icons and special guests joining Dan to break down the day's biggest stories from inside the grounds at SW19. In this episode: Major Moments (brought to you by SotoTennis Academy): the first-ever all-Czech Wimbledon women's singles final in the Open Era is set Karolína Muchova beats Coco Gauff 6-2, 1-6, 7-6(12-10) after saving a match point at 9-8 in the tiebreak, in 2h35m in 33 degree heat on Centre Court Linda Noskova beats Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-4 to reach her first Grand Slam final The 10th different women's Wimbledon champion in 10 years is already guaranteed , the longest run in the tournament's history The men's doubles final is set : Heliovaara and Patten [1] vs Arévalo and Pavić [6], a repeat of last month's Queen's final TennisAthlete Player of the Day: Linda Noskova Mixed doubles winners Marcelo Arevalo and Jelena Ostapenko Gordon Reid joins the show , 7-time Wimbledon champion (1 singles, 6 doubles) and 30-time Grand Slam winner across singles and doubles in wheelchair tennis Gordon on winning the inaugural Wimbledon men's wheelchair singles title in 2016 Gordon on preparing for that inaugural final the day after playing two matches, and the calm of relying on his usual routines The Wimbledon Quickfire with Gordon Reid Dear Dan : how Dan's team Dabrowski and Stefani are feeling going into their Court 1 semi-final Tomorrow on the show: Day 12 delivers the men's singles semi-finals: Djokovic vs Sinner and Arthur Fery vs Alexander Zverev, plus Gaby Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani in their women's doubles semi-final on Court 1 at 1pm. About Control the Controllables Wimbledon Live Dan Kiernan and a different special guest every night, bringing you analysis from inside the grounds at Wimbledon. Wimbledon champions, tennis icons, players, coaches and analysts join across the fortnight. Live every evening at 9pm UK on the CTC YouTube channel. Episodes drop as podcasts the next morning wherever you get your podcasts. Send your Dear Dan questions via Instagram @ctc.podcast or email info@sototennis.com . Brought to you by Novellus. Major Moments segment brought to you by SotoTennis Academy. Visit sototennis.com . Player of the Day brought to you by TennisAthlete , age-appropriate, research-backed strength and conditioning programmes from proven S&C coaches. The platform Dan recommends for physical development. Visit sototennis.com/tennisathlete .
39 min
Day 10 of our Wimbledon 2026 daily live series, recorded inside the grounds. Brought to you by Novellus. Live every night at 9pm UK across the Wimbledon fortnight, with Wimbledon champions, tennis icons and special guests joining Dan to break down the day's biggest stories from inside the grounds at SW19. In this episode: Major Moments (brought to you by SotoTennis Academy): Arthur Fery makes British tennis history and the semi-final line-up is confirmed Fery beats Flavio Cobolli 6-4, 7-6, 6-0 on Centre Court, only the 5th British man to reach a Wimbledon SF in the Open Era and only the second wildcard since Goran Ivanisevic in 2001. Alexander Zverev's straight-set dismantling of Taylor Fritz , and whether the French Open champion has now truly clicked into the next gear First-time Wimbledon semi-finalists Marta Kostyuk and Linda Noskova into the women's SFs , both under 25 and both playing career-best tennis Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool's title defence ends 6-2, 7-6 to Arévalo and Pavić, with Cash broken twice on serve A very personal Dan moment : Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani, the team Dan is coaching, into the women's doubles semi-finals with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 win TennisAthlete Player of the Day: Arthur Fery , the third time this fortnight, for the physical resilience of putting together the deepest British men's Wimbledon run in years Lee Childs joins the show on his 2003 Wimbledon run and playing 17-year-old Rafael Nadal in the second round on Court 13 The Wimbledon Quickfire with Lee Childs Dear Dan : how much time coaches actually spend watching other players' matches during a Slam, and how to strike the balance between focus and enjoyment in a Grand Slam quarter-final Tomorrow on the show: Day 11 delivers Fery vs Zverev in the semi-finals, plus Djokovic vs Sinner on Centre Court, plus the doubles semi-finals across the men's, women's and mixed draws. About Control the Controllables Wimbledon Live Dan Kiernan and a different special guest every night, bringing you analysis from inside the grounds at Wimbledon. Wimbledon champions, tennis icons, players, coaches and analysts join across the fortnight. Live every evening at 9pm UK on the CTC YouTube channel. Episodes drop as podcasts the next morning wherever you get your podcasts. Send your Dear Dan questions via Instagram @ctc.podcast or email info@sototennis.com . Brought to you by Novellus. Major Moments segment brought to you by SotoTennis Academy. Visit sototennis.com . Player of the Day brought to you by TennisAthlete , age-appropriate, research-backed strength and conditioning programmes from proven S&C coaches. The platform Dan recommends for physical development. Visit sototennis.com/tennisathlete .
33 min
Day 9 of our Wimbledon 2026 daily live series, recorded inside the grounds. Brought to you by Novellus. Live every night at 9pm UK across the Wimbledon fortnight, with Wimbledon champions, tennis icons and special guests joining Dan to break down the day's biggest stories from inside the grounds at SW19. In this episode: Major Moments (brought to you by SotoTennis Academy) Sinner into his 10th Grand Slam semi-final at 24 , one of only 5 players since 2000 to reach 10 men's singles semis at the majors before turning 25 alongside Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Alcaraz Sinner beats Struff to extend his Wimbledon winning streak to 12 and reach the semi-finals of his title defence Coco Gauff into her first Wimbledon semi-final with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over Jessica Pegula, who was playing her first ever Centre Court match Karolina Muchova through past Naomi Osaka , setting up a Gauff vs Muchova semi-final and a chance for Gauff to extend her 6-1 head-to-head record TennisAthlete Player of the Day: Coco Gauff Patten and Heliovaara win their third consecutive 7-6 in the third Ken Skupski joins the show on coaching his younger brother Neal to the 2023 Wimbledon men's doubles title Ken on the emotional control it takes to sit in the box and be the calm face his brother needed on the biggest day of his career The Wimbledon Quickfire with Ken Skupski Dear Dan : the process of a coach and pro player starting to work together, and what a dream recovery day at a Grand Slam actually looks like Tomorrow on the show: Day 10 delivers the men's semi-finals, plus Dabrowski and Stefani in their women's doubles quarter-final on Court 2. About Control the Controllables Wimbledon Live Dan Kiernan and a different special guest every night, bringing you analysis from inside the grounds at Wimbledon. Wimbledon champions, tennis icons, players, coaches and analysts join across the fortnight. Live every evening at 9pm UK on the CTC YouTube channel. Episodes drop as podcasts the next morning wherever you get your podcasts. Send your Dear Dan questions via Instagram @ctc.podcast or email info@sototennis.com . Brought to you by Novellus. Major Moments segment brought to you by SotoTennis Academy. Visit sototennis.com . Player of the Day brought to you by TennisAthlete , age-appropriate, research-backed strength and conditioning programmes from proven S&C coaches. The platform Dan recommends for physical development. Visit sototennis.com/tennisathlete .
36 min
Day 8 of our Wimbledon 2026 daily live series, recorded inside the grounds. Brought to you by Novellus. Live every night at 9pm UK across the Wimbledon fortnight, with Wimbledon champions, tennis icons and special guests joining Dan to break down the day's biggest stories from inside the grounds at SW19. In this episode: Major Moments (brought to you by SotoTennis Academy): Arthur Fery does it again, from two sets to one and a break down to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals Taylor Fritz cruises past Alexander Bublik The women's draw guaranteed to produce the 10th different champion in 10 years , Paolini won through 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 over Alexandra Eala TennisAthlete Player of the Day: Arthur Fery A big day in the men's doubles : Cash and Glasspool through in three, Arévalo and Pavić beat Rojer and Winegar, Krajicek and Middelkoop through the QFs, Skupski and Harrison out to the alternates Martin Lee joins the show , the 1995 Wimbledon boys' doubles champion with James Trotman, on the day that made front-page news ahead of Sampras beating Becker in the men's final Martin on Boris Becker's speech that night , when he said out loud he didn't know what was going on on Court One but it sounded "a lot more exciting than this court" The Wimbledon Quickfire with Martin Lee Dear Dan : Mertens' upset of Rybakina and whether she's the real threat now, and how the men's doubles game has evolved since Dan's playing days Tomorrow on the show: Day 9 brings the first men's quarter-finals of the fortnight, plus the Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani women's doubles action Dan is coaching on Court 12 at 1 pm 7th July so make sure to tune in to watch! About Control the Controllables Wimbledon Live Dan Kiernan and a different special guest every night, bringing you analysis from inside the grounds at Wimbledon. Wimbledon champions, tennis icons, players, coaches and analysts join across the fortnight. Live every evening at 9pm UK on the CTC YouTube channel. Episodes drop as podcasts the next morning wherever you get your podcasts. Send your Dear Dan questions via Instagram @ctc.podcast or email info@sototennis.com . Brought to you by Novellus. Major Moments segment brought to you by SotoTennis Academy. Visit sototennis.com . Player of the Day brought to you by TennisAthlete , age-appropriate, research-backed strength and conditioning programmes from proven S&C coaches. The platform Dan recommends for physical development. Visit sototennis.com/tennisathlete .
38 min
Day 7 of our Wimbledon 2026 daily live series, recorded inside the grounds. Brought to you by Novellus. Live every night at 9pm UK across the Wimbledon fortnight, with Wimbledon champions, tennis icons and special guests joining Dan to break down the day's biggest stories from inside the grounds at SW19. In this episode: Major Moments (brought to you by SotoTennis Academy): the world No. 1 out, the defending champion out, and Wimbledon 2026 guaranteed a first-time women's champion Naomi Osaka beats Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 7-6(2) on Centre Court to reach her first ever Wimbledon quarter-final Karolina Muchova beats defending champion Barbora Krejcikova 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 in an all-Czech thriller Jessica Pegula fights back from a set down to beat 18-year-old Iva Jovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 Jan-Lennard Struff into his first ever Grand Slam quarter-final at 36 , after Hubert Hurkacz retires hurt from two sets to love up Novak Djokovic through to the quarter-finals in another tough four-setter, closing on major title No. 25 Felix Auger-Aliassime from a set down to beat Davidovich Fokina , on a collision course with Djokovic TennisAthlete Player of the Day: Naomi Osaka , the physical rebuild after motherhood, back to beating the World No. 1 Jonathan Overend joins the show live from the BBC Radio 5 Live commentary box on Centre Court, mid-Sinner match, as the roof closes above him Jonathan takes Dan back to 7 July 2013 and the Andy Murray Wimbledon final , from the same seat he's sitting in tonight Jonathan on the extraordinary 40-love championship point game , why Djokovic might have been the favourite at 40-love, and how Andy Murray closed it out Dan on watching Ivan Lendl and Andy Murray from the box in the 2012 Australian Open semi-final and the moment he saw belief descend The Wimbledon Quickfire with Jonathan Overend Dear Dan : which men's doubles teams look most dangerous heading into the QFs, and which doubles team from history would Dan most love to have coached Tomorrow on the show: Manic Monday delivers all four men's quarter-finals from the top half of the draw, plus the Fery vs Dimitrov story that has all of British tennis holding its breath. About Control the Controllables Wimbledon Live Dan Kiernan and a different special guest every night, bringing you analysis from inside the grounds at Wimbledon. Wimbledon champions, tennis icons, players, coaches and analysts join across the fortnight. Live every evening at 9pm UK on the CTC YouTube channel. Episodes drop as podcasts the next morning wherever you get your podcasts. Send your Dear Dan questions via Instagram @ctc.podcast or email info@sototennis.com . Brought to you by Novellus Finance. Major Moments segment brought to you by SotoTennis Academy. Visit sototennis.com . Player of the Day brought to you by TennisAthlete , age-appropriate, research-backed strength and conditioning programmes from proven S&C coaches. The platform Dan recommends for physical development. Visit sototennis.com/tennisathlete .
33 min
Day 6 of our Wimbledon 2026 daily live series, recorded inside the grounds. Brought to you by Novellus. Live every night at 9pm UK across the Wimbledon fortnight, with Wimbledon champions, tennis icons and special guests joining Dan to break down the day's biggest stories from inside the grounds at SW19. In this episode: Major Moments (brought to you by SotoTennis Academy): a day of women's upsets and a British wildcard writing history on Court 18 Iga Świątek out to Alexandra Eala 7-6, 6-2 , the first Filipino ever into the second week of a Grand Slam Rybakina beaten by Elise Mertens 7-6, 6-1 on a poor day at the office, with only 42% of first serves in play Amanda Anisimova out to Madison Keys 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 , last year's finalist gone Arthur Fery beats Zizou Bergs 2-6, 7-5, 2-6, 7-6, 7-6 in four and a half hours to become only the sixth British male in the last 40 years to reach Week 2 at Wimbledon TennisAthlete Player of the Day: Alexandra Eala , seven years at the Rafa Nadal Academy, her body and mind built for the biggest stage Danny Sapsford joins the show on his 1999 Wimbledon run through pre-qualifying, qualifying, and into the third round to face Pete Sampras on Court One Danny on why he decided not to warm up for the biggest match of his life , and what it was like standing across from Sampras' serve for the first time Danny on retiring at 30 to become an LTA coach , and the charity work through Bright Ideas for Tennis that has raised over £1 million and coached 30,000+ players The Wimbledon Quickfire with Danny: his memory of standing on Centre Court behind Björn Borg as a kid, his favourite ever champion, and the strawberries and cream question The Andrew Foster story , the last British wildcard to make Week 2 at Wimbledon in 1993, whom Danny had run into that very day A special moment on the doubles side : Julian Rojer, 45 years old, five-time Slam doubles champion, into R3 with Theo Winegar in a properly told journeyman story Dear Dan : the next Grand Slam winner from the current generation, and Dan's favourite moment of Week 1 Tomorrow on the show: Jonathan Overend joins Dan , the broadcaster who commentated on Andy Murray's first Wimbledon title in 2013 , ending Britain's 77-year wait for a men's singles champion. About Control the Controllables Wimbledon Live Dan Kiernan and a different special guest every night, bringing you analysis from inside the grounds at Wimbledon. Wimbledon champions, tennis icons, players, coaches and analysts join across the fortnight. Live every evening at 9pm UK on the CTC YouTube channel. Episodes drop as podcasts the next morning wherever you get your podcasts. Send your Dear Dan questions via Instagram @ctc.podcast or email info@sototennis.com . Brought to you by Novellus. Major Moments segment brought to you by SotoTennis Academy. Visit sototennis.com . Player of the Day brought to you by TennisAthlete , age-appropriate, research-backed strength and conditioning programmes from proven S&C coaches. The platform Dan recommends for physical development. Visit sototennis.com/tennisathlete .
36 min
CTC Wimbledon Live: Day 5, Calvin Betton, the Doubles Battle and the "Older Boys" Doing Their Job Day 5 of our Wimbledon 2026 daily live series, recorded inside the grounds. Brought to you by Novellus. Live every night at 9pm UK across the Wimbledon fortnight, with Wimbledon champions, tennis icons and special guests joining Dan to break down the day's biggest stories from inside the grounds at SW19. Dan and Calvin talk on the fight for the future of doubles There's a fight going on off the court this week that could reshape the sport for a generation. The ATP's proposed changes would cut doubles draws, shift the prize money split further in favour of singles, and effectively push doubles specialists out of the game. Dan shares his unfiltered take tonight, plus what current Wimbledon champions Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool said publicly today, and Calvin Betton's fired-up response. In this episode: Major Moments (brought to you by SotoTennis Academy): the older boys deliver as Sinner and Djokovic cruise into R4, while the young stars fall on grass Djokovic beats Rinderknech in four to equal Federer's all-time Wimbledon record of 105 match wins Sinner past Brooksby 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 with 13 aces, into R4 for a fifth consecutive year TennisAthlete Player of the Day: Shintaro Mochizuki , the 2019 Wimbledon boys' champion turned qualifier turned R4-bound, seven matches in eight days at SW19 Calvin Betton on coaching Patten and Heliövaara to the 2024 Wimbledon title , and being the "face of reason" in the box when everyone else was overwhelmed Calvin's unfiltered defence of doubles : why the ATP is a governing body not a business, why "not financially viable" doesn't hold up, and why the 2024 Wimbledon final was proof The Wimbledon Quickfire with Calvin: the Agassi 1991 all-white moment, his Wimbledon guilty pleasure, and his one thing he'd change about The Championships Dear Dan : an insider tip for a first-time Wimbledon visitor, and what Dan actually loves about being a coach on the pro tour Tomorrow on the show: Middle Saturday at Wimbledon, with Danny Sapsford joining Dan. About Control the Controllables Wimbledon Live Dan Kiernan and a different special guest every night, bringing you analysis from inside the grounds at Wimbledon. Wimbledon champions, tennis icons, players, coaches and analysts join across the fortnight. Live every evening at 9pm UK on the CTC YouTube channel. Episodes drop as podcasts the next morning wherever you get your podcasts. Send your Dear Dan questions via Instagram @ctc.podcast or email info@sototennis.com . Major Moments segment brought to you by SotoTennis Academy. Visit sototennis.com . Player of the Day brought to you by TennisAthlete , age-appropriate, research-backed strength and conditioning programmes from proven S&C coaches. The platform Dan recommends for physical development. Visit sototennis.com/tennisathlete .
55 min
Day 3 of our Wimbledon 2026 daily live series, recorded inside the grounds. Brought to you by Novellus. Live every night at 9pm UK across the Wimbledon fortnight, with Wimbledon champions, tennis icons and special guests joining Dan to break down the day's biggest stories from inside the grounds at SW19. A quick note: today's episode runs a little longer than usual as Dan and Freddie dive into the significant news emerging around proposed ATP doubles changes and what they could mean for the future of the sport. In this episode: Major Moments (brought to you by SotoTennis Academy): Krejcikova ends Mirra Andreeva's Wimbledon hopes, Dan's Bartunkova prediction comes good, and Jannik Sinner records his 95th Grand Slam win Bublik and Kyrgios lose to Arevalo and Pavic, sparking a passionate discussion with Freddie Nielsen on the future of doubles and the proposed ATP changes Dan Evans' retirement announcement, his unforgettable Washington title run, and why his career should be celebrated Freddie relives his 2012 Wimbledon title run with Jonathan Marray, including the famous "If Carlsberg did moments to live for" exchange before serving for the title The Wimbledon Quickfire with Freddie TennisAthlete Player of the Day: Jenson Brooksby, completing one of tennis's most remarkable comeback stories Dear Dan: what separates the world's best doubles players, coaching Grand Slam finals, and Dan's favourite court at Wimbledon Tomorrow on the show: Jonny O'Mara joins Dan to preview Day 4 at SW19 About Control the Controllables Wimbledon Live Dan Kiernan and a different special guest every night, bringing you analysis from inside the grounds at Wimbledon. Wimbledon champions, tennis icons, players, coaches and analysts join across the fortnight. Live every evening at 9pm UK on the CTC YouTube channel. Send your Dear Dan questions via Instagram @ctc.podcast or email info@sototennis.com . Brought to you by Novellus. Major Moments segment brought to you by SotoTennis Academy. Visit sototennis.com. Player of the Day brought to you by TennisAthlete, age-appropriate, research-backed strength and conditioning programmes from proven S&C coaches. The platform Dan recommends for physical development. Visit: sototennis.com/tennisathlete.
40 min
Day 2 of our Wimbledon 2026 daily live series, recorded inside the grounds. Brought to you by Novellus. Live every night at 9pm UK across the Wimbledon fortnight, with Wimbledon champions, tennis icons and special guests joining Dan to break down the day's biggest stories from inside the grounds at SW19. In this episode: Major Moments (brought to you by SotoTennis Academy): the curse of the grass court champions, with Cerundolo and Shelton both out in round one, and Bergs surviving the Eastbourne final repeat Ben Shelton's stunning loss to Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 6-2, 7-6 in the final-set tiebreak Dan's "Two Jacobs" moment from the players' cafeteria , a story about Jakub Mensik and Jacob Fearnley that's worth the listen alone British comeback Tuesday , with Fearnley's two-set fightback against Michelsen, plus wins for Arthur Fery and Katie Swan Live updates from Serena Williams' Centre Court return against Maya Joint, recorded as the match was unfolding TennisAthlete Player of the Day: Katie Swan , coaching in Kansas eighteen months ago, World No. 1,114 in her rear-view mirror, back at Wimbledon and winning against the same player she beat eight years ago Erin Routliffe joins the show on her 2024 Wimbledon final run with Gaby Dabrowski Erin on facing Serena Williams twice in 12 days at Queen's and now Wimbledon, including the moment in their first meeting that she's still kicking herself over Erin's honest take on stepping away from tennis , working a "real job", and what brought her back The Wimbledon Quickfire with Erin: childhood Wimbledon memories, Taylor Swift walk-on songs, the one thing she'd change about The Championships Dear Dan : the atmosphere in the players' area at a Slam, what makes Wimbledon different from every other tournament, and the physical quality that matters most on grass Tomorrow on the show: Freddie Nielsen , 2012 Wimbledon men's doubles champion, joins Dan as Day 3 brings round-two action and the second wave of the British contingent into play. About Control the Controllables Wimbledon Live Dan Kiernan and a different special guest every night, bringing you analysis from inside the grounds at Wimbledon. Wimbledon champions, tennis icons, players, coaches and analysts join across the fortnight. Live every evening at 9pm UK on the CTC YouTube channel. Episodes drop as podcasts the next morning wherever you get your podcasts. Send your Dear Dan questions via Instagram @ctc.podcast or email info@sototennis.com . Brought to you by Novellus. Major Moments segment brought to you by SotoTennis Academy. Visit sototennis.com . Player of the Day brought to you by TennisAthlete , age-appropriate, research-backed strength and conditioning programmes from proven S&C coaches. The platform Dan recommends for physical development. Visit sototennis.com/tennisathlete .
33 min
The first episode of our Wimbledon 2026 daily live series, recorded inside the grounds on Day 1 of The Championships. Brought to you by Novellus. Live every night at 9 pm UK across the Wimbledon fortnight, with Wimbledon champions, tennis icons and special guests joining Dan to break down the day's biggest stories from inside the grounds at SW19. In this episode: Major Moments (brought to you by SotoTennis Academy): Raducanu and Draper both withdrew, Norrie beaten in five by qualifier Michael Zheng, and a brutal Day 1 for the British contingent Jannik Sinner survives a three-and-a-half-hour scare against Kecmanović, including the Centre Court fall that briefly stopped play TennisAthlete Player of the Day : Michael Zheng, the Columbia graduate ranked No. 144 who outlasted Norrie over four hours. Lloyd Glasspool joins the show on what it feels like coming back as defending champion, the surreal moment of seeing his face on the wall, and why he didn't celebrate the title the way everyone expected Lloyd's honest take on the British injuries The Wimbledon Quickfire with Lloyd: first memories, favourite British food, greatest grass-court players and the celebrity he'd want courtside Dear Dan : scouting opposition and the young players to watch this fortnight Tomorrow on the show: Erin Routliffe joins Dan as Day 2 brings Katie Boulter, Jacob Fearnley, Arthur Fery, Jan Choinski, Toby Samuel, Billy Harris and Katie Swan into action, plus the Centre Court return of Serena Williams. About Control the Controllables Wimbledon Live Dan Kiernan and a different special guest every night, bringing you analysis from inside the grounds at Wimbledon. Wimbledon champions, tennis icons, players, coaches and analysts join across the fortnight. Live every evening at 9pm UK on the CTC YouTube channel. Episodes drop as podcasts the next morning wherever you get your podcasts. Send your Dear Dan questions via Instagram @ctc.podcast or email info@sototennis.com . Brought to you by Novellus Finance. Major Moments segment brought to you by SotoTennis Academy -visit sototennis.com . Player of the Day brought to you by TennisAthlete -age-appropriate, research-backed strength and conditioning programmes from proven S&C coaches. The platform Dan recommends for physical development. Visit sototennis.com/tennisathlete .
1 hr 5 min
It is Wimbledon time! Dan is Joined by the ever present Freddie Nielsen, Denmark Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon doubles champion, and Kieran Vorster, S&C coach and one of the sharpest minds in the game, currently working with Henry Searle and Dan Evans among others. There is plenty to get into before a ball has even been struck, from retirements and comebacks to doping bans and prize money rows. You will have to listen to find out who they are backing, and there are a couple of calls in there that might surprise you! Key talking points: Dan Evans retires from singles and misses out on a Wimbledon singles wild card, with Kieran and Freddie paying tribute to his career and discussing what he brings to coaching, and whether the communication around the wild card decision was handled well. Vondrousova was banned for four years after refusing a doping test outside her guaranteed whereabouts window, with the panel breaking down the rules, the context and whether the punishment fits the circumstances. Wimbledon prize money is up twenty percent but Kieran has the actual numbers to show it still only represents around twelve percent of turnover, and why the players may be pushing for change in the wrong place. Serena Williams gets a wild card into the singles draw and faces Maya Joint in the first round, with the panel debating whether she can win a match and what her return means for the sport. Women's dark horses and winner picks across both draws, with some bold calls and a couple of genuine outside shouts you will not want to miss. Men's draw highlights including Fritz versus Draper, Fonseca versus Felix Auger-Aliassime, Kyrgios and Bublik paired together in the doubles, and a fascinating and heated debate on whether Djokovic can go deep again. The introduction of video review on the show courts at Wimbledon and what difference it will actually make. Chapters 00:00 Welcome and introduction 03:00 Dan Evans, his retirement and the wild card debate 10:00 Vondrousova and the four year doping ban 16:00 Wimbledon prize money and the twenty percent increase 24:00 Serena Williams wild card and first round draw 32:00 Women's dark horses and winner picks 42:00 Men's draw, dark horses and first round highlights 52:00 The Djokovic debate 56:00 Video review at Wimbledon and storylines to watch Also, CTC Wimbledon Live Shows ARE BACK! . Live on YouTube and uploaded on all podcast platforms! THE backstage pass to Wimbledon 2026, through the eyes of the coaches and insiders living it from the inside. Each evening at 9 pm UK time throughout the fortnight! Watch Live here: CTC YouTube Segments include: Wimbledon Stories - Where Wimbledon icons join as guests each episode to tell their most memorable championship stories! The “Major” Moments - Talking about all the big talking points of the day's Wimbledon action! Brought to you by SotoTennis Academy. Tennis Athlete’s Player Of The Day - Deciding the best player with the best performance of the day! Brought to you by Tennis Athlete. Quick Fire Round - A Wimbledon-themed set of rapid questions! Dear Dan - Where Dan answers your questions! Any questions, including the experience at Wimbledon, coaching advice, behind-the-scenes questions, anything you want! Send in your questions for Dan via our live comment section or our Instagram DM: CTC Instagram here 🔗 Train Smarter Anywhere: Strength & Conditioning for Tennis Players On the Go 🎾 For players who don’t always have access to in-person coaching, progress doesn’t have to stop. TennisAthlete is an online Strength & Conditioning platform, designed specifically for tennis players who want structured, affordable and flexible training. Wherever they are in the world. TennisAthlete helps you stay consistent, improve performance, and train with purpose. Train smarter. Anywhere. TennisAthlete Thank you everyone for listening! Never miss a Wimbledon live show this fortnight!
55 min
This week Dan is joined by ATP pro Zach Svajda, fresh off a stunning run to the last 16 of Roland Garros 2026. There he beat the heat, the occasion and a host of higher ranked players before falling to eventual finalist Flavio Cobolli in a fourth set tie break. Currently ranked 69 in the world with a career high of 62, Zach is 23 and only just getting started. This is a genuinely special and emotional conversation. Zach opens up about the unconventional path that got him to top level tennis, from using a full size racket at age two to taking nearly five years away from junior tournaments, busting a host of tennis development myths along the way. Zach also reflects movingly on the loss of his father to cancer and how that continues to shape why he plays. Key talking points: Zach's remarkable Roland Garros run to the last 16 despite his lack of clay court experience. What it felt like inside the locker room in Paris the day Sinner went out. The unconventional development path set by his father Zach talks about the impact of the passing of his father and how he carries his memory and lessons with him on court. He tells us what is was like playing Novak Djokovic on Arthur Ashe at the US Open. His relationship with younger brother Trevor, a rising college star, and the prospect of the two one day facing off on tour. A brilliant and honest conversation with a player on the rise. Make sure to give this one a listen. Read full shownotes here . Links Mentioned in this Episode: Connect with us: Instagram | Website | Email Follow Zach on Instagram: @zachsvadja SotoTennis Academy Mentioned in this episode: Train Smarter Anywhere: Strength & Conditioning for Tennis Players On the Go 🎾 For players who don’t always have access to in-person coaching, progress doesn’t have to stop. TennisAthlete is an online Strength & Conditioning platform, designed specifically for tennis players who want structured, affordable and flexible training. Wherever they are in the world. TennisAthlete helps you stay consistent, improve performance, and train with purpose. Train smarter. Anywhere. TennisAthlete
1 hr 37 min
Our Roland Garros 2026 Review Show is here! What a fortnight in Paris it´s been, with two new Grand Slam Champions in Sascha Zverev & Mirra Andreeva. Host Dan Kiernan is joined by Denmark Davis Cup Captain Freddie Nielsen and GB doubles coach Calvin Betton to look back on a quite extraordinary French Open. Calvin joins us fresh from coaching Henry Patten and Harri Heliövaara to their third Grand Slam final and their first ever world number one ranking in men's doubles, so there is plenty to get stuck into from the off. Key talking points: Henry and Harry reach the Roland Garros final and claim the world number 1 ranking, with Calvin giving an honest account of what went wrong on the day. Sinner's shock exit and whether it was truly an upset, or the inevitable result of an overcrowded schedule catching up with him. Fonseca versus Djokovic and whether Roland Garros 2026 was the moment a future Grand Slam champion announced himself on the biggest stage. Zverev wins his first Grand Slam but the panel debate whether men's tennis is currently lacking variety and real tactical depth. Mirra Andreeva wins the women's title age 19, plus the remarkable story of qualifier Maja Chwalinska reaching the final. The Italian tennis culture, Roland Garros and electronic line calling, plus a few strong opinions on how the tournament is run. On to the grass! This episode is brought to you by Novellus Finance Connect with us: Instagram: ctc.podcast Website: www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk Watch the full video version over on the Control the Controllables YouTube Channel Mentioned in this episode: Train Smarter Anywhere: Strength & Conditioning for Tennis Players On the Go 🎾 For players who don’t always have access to in-person coaching, progress doesn’t have to stop. TennisAthlete is an online Strength & Conditioning platform, designed specifically for tennis players who want structured, affordable and flexible training. Wherever they are in the world. TennisAthlete helps you stay consistent, improve performance, and train with purpose. Train smarter. Anywhere. TennisAthlete
46 min
Our CTC Live series continues from Roland Garros 2026! Host Dan Kiernan is joined by broadcaster Candy Reid and performance analyst Mike James to round up an extraordinary first week at the French Open. From Fonseca's stunning comeback against Djokovic to Sinner's shock exit in the heat, the drama has been non-stop. Dan also gives us a first-hand account of being at the tournament with his players, including a brilliant moment with Landaluce after his 5hr 58 minute epic. This is the place to go for a round-up of Roland Garros action from a coach's perspective. Key talking points: Jannik Sinner's shock exit to Cerundolo in the heat, with Mike noting odds of 12,500 to 1 on that result, and Candy raising an interesting theory about redheads and the MC1R gene explaining Sinner's struggles in extreme temperatures. Fonseca's extraordinary comeback from two sets down to beat Novak Djokovic, with Dan sharing what it was like to witness that match in person sitting next to the Fonseca family, and the panel debating whether it was Novak's Roland Garros farewell. Rafael Jodar continuing his run and the unprecedented state of the men's draw, with no former Grand Slam champion remaining in the last 16 for the first time since 1968. The injury crisis gripping the tournament? Marta Kostyuk beating Iga Swiatek and her remarkable mindset, with Mike sharing a powerful insight about her playing on the same day she received a photo of her family home being destroyed back in Ukraine. The Vallejo umpire controversy, with the panel giving a balanced take and calling for the matter to be put to rest following his apology. Each CTC Live episode streams on YouTube during the fortnight. Search Control the Controllables Podcast and follow our Instagram and Twitter for the latest live times! Chapters 00:00 Welcome and tournament atmosphere from Paris 04:00 Sinner's exit, Hada's rise and the unprecedented men's draw 08:00 Fonseca vs Djokovic, a match for the ages 14:00 The injury crisis and the roof court debate 22:00 Marta Kostyuk's mindset and win over Swiatek 32:00 Women's draw quarter final preview 40:00 Sabalenka vs Osaka preview and what to expect 43:00 The Vallejo controversy YouTube: Control the Controllables Podcast Instagram: ctc.podcast Twitter (X): ctc__podcast TikTok: Control the Controllables Podcast Thank you everyone for listening! Follow @ctc.podcast on Instagram to be the first to know when we are going live from Paris throughout the fortnight! Watch the full video version over on the Control the Controllables YouTube channel .
45 min
Listen to Dan and guest Freddie Nielsen chat through all the action from Day 4 & 5 at Roland Garros, including the shock departure of Jannik Sinner. They analyse what went wrong for Sinner, key upcoming matches, and who they think could now lift the trophy. Key Topics Yannick Sinner's unexpected exit and the implications for men's singles With the men´s draw wide open, anyone from Felix to Zverev or Cerundolo could take the title Heat, mental fatigue, and injuries are influencing player performances more than ever Doubles draw controversies and rule changes affecting participation Emerging young talents and dark horses in the tournament Connect with us! Website: https://www.controlthecontrollables.com Email us: ctc.podcast@sototennis.com This episode is sponsored by Novellus Finance: https://www.novellusfinance.com/uk/
45 min
Our CTC Live series is back for Roland Garros 2026, bringing you first-hand updates from the courts of Paris! Sponsored by Novellus Finance: https://novellusfinance.com/uk/ In this episode, Dan is joined by Calvin Betton, a 2 time Grand Slam-winning coach, live from the tournament, to break down the action from the first three days. They cover the extraordinary heat gripping Paris, the big seeds falling, integrity questions around the doubles draw, and some brilliant stories from inside the locker room and beyond. This is the place to go for a quick round-up of Roland Garros action from a coach's perspective. Key talking points: Temperatures hitting 37 degrees Celsius in Paris and how the courts are staying surprisingly slow despite the heat, thanks to Roland Garros's unique watering and salting process. Big names out early, including Taylor Fritz, Medvedev and Bublik, plus Jessica Pegula going out to Kim Birrell on day three. The doubles draw integrity debate, with six first-round withdrawals and singles players pocketing prize money without hitting a ball. The Serena Williams comeback rumours, with Calvin giving a frank take on wildcards, integrity and whether the sport should be rolling out the red carpet. A brilliant exclusive Gael Monfils story from a five-a-side football game at the National Tennis Centre. French youngster Kwame, born in 2009, is impressing on his Roland Garros debut and drawing comparisons to a young Wayne Rooney. Each CTC Live episode streams on YouTube during the fortnight. Search Control the Controllables Podcast and follow our Instagram and Twitter for the latest live times! Chapters 00:00 Welcome, the Paris heat and court conditions 06:30 Integrity in the doubles draw and prize money controversy 15:00 Serena Williams comeback rumours and the wildcard debate 22:00 Bublik's behaviour and a Medvedev tribute 30:00 Monfils, Wawrinka and the end of an era 36:00 French youngster Kwame and the next generation 40:00 Can anyone stop Sinner? The men's and women's draws were reviewed Follow @ctc.podcast on Instagram to be the first to know when we are going live from Paris throughout the fortnight! Watch the full video version over here: https://www.youtube.com/@ctc.podcast. YouTube: Control the Controllables Podcast Website: https://www.controlthecontrollables.c... Email us: ctc.podcast@sototennis.com
1 hr 27 min
We're back for Roland Garros 2026! Host Dan Kiernan is joined by our Grand Slam panellists, two of them live from Paris during qualifying week, to preview all the action we can expect from the clay courts over the next fortnight. They discuss the Carlos Alcaraz injury situation and the wider player burnout debate, the future of US college tennis, and the prize money controversy making headlines at this year's tournament. Plus dark horses across both draws, key storylines to watch, and their winner predictions! Meet our panellists: Denmark's Davis Cup Captain and coach of August Holmgren, Freddie Nielsen Performance analyst and coach Mike James making his panel debut! Sports broadcaster and former CNN anchor Candy Reid Key talking points: Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from both Roland Garros and Wimbledon with a wrist injury, and the panel debate whether rising ball speeds, heavier balls and relentless scheduling are pushing players beyond their physical limits. US college tennis is at a crossroads, with the Arkansas programme cuts a sign of things to come as NIL money floods into football and basketball and squeezes tennis budgets at major universities. The panel share their genuine dark horse picks across both draws, with some bold names put forward on the men's side in particular. Top players are reportedly refusing all non-mandatory press at Roland Garros as a prize money protest, and the panel debate whether they are targeting the right thing. Will Yannick Sinner march to a dominant Roland Garros title, or will the wide open draws on both sides deliver a first-time Grand Slam champion? The panel have their say and there are some bold calls in there. Who do you think will be this year's Roland Garros champions? Tag @ctc.podcast on Instagram or Twitter or drop us an email to let us know who you're backing! Links mentioned in this episode: Listen to: August Holmgren: Wimbledon Sensation and Challenger Champion Listen to: Candy Reid, From the Court to CNN Listen to: Mike James - A Numbers Game Listen to: Freddie Nielsen & Jonny Marray Part One: Pre Wimbledon 2012 Mentioned in this episode: Train Smarter Anywhere: Strength & Conditioning for Tennis Players On the Go 🎾 For players who don’t always have access to in-person coaching, progress doesn’t have to stop. TennisAthlete is an online Strength & Conditioning platform, designed specifically for tennis players who want structured, affordable and flexible training. Wherever they are in the world. TennisAthlete helps you stay consistent, improve performance, and train with purpose. Train smarter. Anywhere. TennisAthlete
21 min
Today´s episode is a tribute to one of sport's greatest minds Dr. Jim Loehr, who sadly passed away last month aged 83. Dr. Loehr was one of the world’s leading performance psychologists and a true pioneer in mental fitness. Across a remarkable five-decade career, he worked with hundreds of elite athletes including Grand Slam champions Jim Courier, Monica Seles and Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario. His work helped transform the way athletes viewed mental performance — not as a weakness, but as an essential part of achieving greatness. We were incredibly fortunate to welcome Dr. Loehr onto the podcast in 2021, and his episode remains one of the most listened-to conversations on Control the Controllables. In this special CTC Short, Dan reflects on Dr. Loehr’s impact on tennis and sport before revisiting a powerful clip from their original conversation. Links Mentioned in this Episode: Listen to Dr Jim Loehr´s episode in full Episode 120: Marcus Daniell High Impact Athletes SotoTennis Academy "Treatment of others is the gold standard of a fulfilled and satisfying life." - Dr. Jim Loehr Mentioned in this episode: Train Smarter Anywhere: Strength & Conditioning for Tennis Players On the Go 🎾 For players who don’t always have access to in-person coaching, progress doesn’t have to stop. TennisAthlete is an online Strength & Conditioning platform, designed specifically for tennis players who want structured, affordable and flexible training. Wherever they are in the world. TennisAthlete helps you stay consistent, improve performance, and train with purpose. Train smarter. Anywhere. TennisAthlete
1 hr 20 min
What does it really take to coach at the very top of the game? And how does a 32-year-old coach find himself leading the journey of one of the fastest-rising players in world tennis? In this episode of Control the Controllables, we sit down with Maxime Tchoutakian, the coach of Vicky Mboko — a 19-year-old who has taken the tennis world by storm, breaking into the Top 10 in less than a year. But Max’s story is just as compelling as the player he now coaches. Ranked 530 in the world as a player, he took the US college route at Baylor University, rebuilt his career from scratch after COVID, and walked into the Mouratoglou Academy with no clear coaching plan, only to have one practice with Victoria Azarenka and receive a call from her agent 30 minutes later. What he shares in this episode gives a rare, honest look at what it really means to operate inside the world's best tennis teams. In this episode: What it was actually like telling a former World Number 1 how to improve her game at age 26. The moment Azarenka asked him to become her full-time coach and how scary that felt. Why adaptation is the single most important skill to survive life on the WTA tour. His honest take on whether coaches are paid well enough for what they sacrifice. What makes Victoria Mboko so special and why Max believes she will win multiple Grand Slams. The brutal truth about French tennis: why talented kids keep falling short when it matters most. His biggest coaching regret and why he wishes he'd trusted himself sooner. CONNECT WITH CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES Website: https://www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast/ Email us: ctc.podcast@sototennis.com Mentioned in this episode: Train Smarter Anywhere: Strength & Conditioning for Tennis Players On the Go 🎾 For players who don’t always have access to in-person coaching, progress doesn’t have to stop. TennisAthlete is an online Strength & Conditioning platform, designed specifically for tennis players who want structured, affordable and flexible training. Wherever they are in the world. TennisAthlete helps you stay consistent, improve performance, and train with purpose. Train smarter. Anywhere. TennisAthlete