TENNIS.com Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Five-Time NCAA National Champion Coach Peter Smith On His Life In The Game Apr 14, 2023

Show notes

Kamau Murray is joined by Peter Smith, a legend in the game of college tennis, and somebody that continues to dedicate his life to teaching the sport. Smith discusses his time leading program's at the NCAA level, which started at Long Beach State, as the youngest coach in history. His path led him to several stops before he took over USC and established a dynasty, winning five team national championships.

The member of this year's ITA Men's College Hall of Fame class explains how developed his coaching style, why he was put on this earth to teach the game, and what it was like working with Steve Johnson as he won 72 straight matches for the Trojans. Smith also delves into his current role as the General Manager & Director of Tennis at the legendary Jack Kramer Tennis Club.

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Miami Open Analysis & Clay Court Contenders With Craig O'Shannessy Apr 04, 2023

Show notes

Tennis analyst & coach Craig O'Shannessy returns to break down the 2023 Miami Open, and offer up his take on the event's most exciting matches & interesting outcomes. The Director of Brain Game Tennis discusses the epic match between Jannik Sinner & Carlos Alcaraz, how each young player has progressed, and why Karen Khachanov has really caught his eye with his improvements.

O'Shannessy & host Kamau Murray then turn their attention towards clay court season, explaining which WTA players are primed to have a great spring on the red surface. The coaches also discuss the return of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal trying to return to full-health, and whether a young player can have a big breakthrough on the clay.

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Craig O'Shannessy on the Triumph of Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells, & A Preview of The Miami Open Mar 21, 2023

Show notes

Craig O'Shannessy, Australian tennis coach & director of "Brain Game Tennis" joins Kamau Murray to recap the 2023 Indian Wells tournament. The guys recap how Carlos Alcaraz played dazzling and cerebral tennis to win the title, Daniil Medvedev's struggles in the final, and which other players stood on in an action-filled event.

O'Shannessy discusses the state of the female game after Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka to win the women's title, and how Iga Swiatek can correct the struggles that she made in the semifinals. Both coaches then preview the Miami Open before making their picks for the second leg of the sunshine double.

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Brian Teacher: From Australian Open Glory to Changing The Game with the Full Court Tennis App Mar 14, 2023

Show notes

Kamau Murray is joined by Brian Teacher, the 1980 Australian Open men's singles champion who's new passion is changing how the game is coached and taught with technology. Teacher explains how it all came together to win a grand slam trophy, and what it was like competing against Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, & other legends of his era.

And the SoCal native explains how he's helping to change the game with Full Court Tennis, an app that makes it easy to coach & teach remotely for players at all levels. Whether you're a professional looking for improvements that will take you to the next level, or a recreational player just trying to better your game, Brian Teacher's app has got you covered and he explains why in great detail.

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Award Winning Coach & Critically Acclaimed Author Frank Giampaolo On Maximizing Tennis Potential Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

Kamau Murray chats with award-winning coach & renowned author Frank Giampaolo in a wide-ranging conversation about maximizing tennis potential. Giampaolo explains how parents & coaches can develop players that enjoy the game & find success, while becoming problem solvers in their own regard. A best-selling author, Giampaolo's latest book "The Psychology of Tennis Parenting" is available on Amazon today.

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Katrina Adams: From Chicago to USTA CEO Trailblazer Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

Former USTA President & CEO Katrina Adams joins the show for a thoughtful chat about the sport of tennis, growth, & how it can open doors to a better & more fulfilled life. Adams explains how she was drawn to tennis as a kid in Chicago, & how she ended up staying local for college at Northwestern. After a decade on tour, Adams dives into her trailblazing run with the USTA, where she became a pioneer as the USTA CEO & President for two successful terms.

Adams, who also serves on the board of directors for the International Tennis Hall of Fame, discusses the importance of having diversity of thought in the game, and how tennis has made her life & countless others significantly better. As the first black woman & youngest person ever to lead the USTA, Adams has a lot say with her good friend Kamau Murray.

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USTA General Manager of Player Development Martin Blackman On Guiding The Current Wave of American Stars Feb 14, 2023

Show notes

This week's guest on the Tennis.com Podcast is Martin Blackman, who currently serves as the General Manager of Player Development with the USTA & has had an huge role in shaping the current wave of American tennis stars making an impact on the world stage. Blackman goes in depth about his upbringing in Barbados, and how he was given the opportunity of a lifetime to train at the Bollettieri Tennis Academy alongside Jim Courier, Andre Agassi, and many other elite prospects. That opportunity led him to Stanford and a brief pro career before he found his true calling, working with younger generations & developing their skills on & off the court.

Blackman explains why college is now a viable pathway for pro success, the importance of having pro events in the United States, and why team competitions like the Davis Cup & Billie Jean King Cup are meaningful experiences. Listen to the man who helped shape some of the rising stars on the ATP & WTA on this episode.

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Stan Smith: From Tennis Champion to Sneaker Icon Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

Kamau Murray is joined by the legend Stan Smith on this week's podcast. Smith explains how he rose to prominence in the tennis world, rising up the junior, collegiate, & professional ranks to become a champion at every level. The Hall of Famer shares stories of playing with and against tennis legends like Arthur Ashe, Ilie Năstase & countless others.

Stan Smith is also known as an O.G. in the world of sneakers, as his signature Adidas shoe was the first of it's kind. Smith shares the origin story of the shoe, how it has remained relevant and popular with young people, and what it was like to get name-checked in a Jay-Z song.

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South Carolina Men's Tennis Coach Josh Goffi; From Student to Teacher in the Game Feb 01, 2023

Show notes

South Carolina men's tennis coach Josh Goffi joins Kamau Murray for a wide-ranging interview on what it's like to shape the game & lives of young men in the world of tennis. The son of a world renowned teacher himself, Goffi explains what his childhood was like, having known John McEnroe as a student at his father's academy.

Goffi also details why he chose coaching after a brief pro career, what his recruiting strategy is, and how he came to coach two current pros in Paul Jubb & Francisco Cerundolo. And did you know that Goffi has a victory over Stan Wawrinka? That career-win & more are covered on this week's episode of the Tennis.com Podcast with Kamau Murray.

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Boris Kodjoe: From the Tennis Courts to Hollywood Jan 17, 2023

Show notes

Kamau Murray is joined by the best tennis player in Hollywood, actor & producer Boris Kodjoe. A former tennis prodigy, Kodjoe recalls how he discovered the game growing up in Germany, and how he credits the sport for providing him his life as a TV star in the United States. The "Station 19" TV star discusses what it was like meeting Boris Becker as a youth, the advice he offers to Frances Tiafoe & other athletes, and which current talents he thinks are destined to win major championships.

And Kodjoe also explains why it was important to create the Love All Scholarship Program in conjunction with Tennis Channel, which provides young African American tennis players an opportunity to attend the prestigious Mouratoglou Academy in France.

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