Best Functional Tennis Podcasts (2025)

1
Going All In Changed Everything for Wheelchair Champ Charlie Cooper 33:27

1d ago33:27

33:27

In this episode, I chat with 17-year-old American wheelchair tennis player Charlie Cooper, a rising star who’s already claimed 2 junior wheelchair singles Grand Slam titles. Born with spina bifida, Charlie’s journey into tennis started with local clinics and has now taken him to the top levels of junior competition. He shares how making the decisio…

1
Competitive Edge: Developing Mental Toughness in Elite Tennis with Milena Volkova 32:29

1d ago32:29

32:29

Unlock the mental edge in tennis with insights from elite coach Milena Volkova. Learn how top tennis players develop unshakeable focus and resilience under pressure. In this episode of Charge Forward Coaching, host James Blasco is joined by renowned tennis coach Milena Volkova to unpack the crucial role of mental toughness in tennis. From junior de…

1
Building Unshakeable Confidence: The Athlete's Guide to Mental Mastery 11:33

7d ago11:33

11:33

Unpack the power of true confidence in sports and competition with James Blasco. In this episode, James explores how genuine self-belief is built through experience, feedback, and recovery—not just positive self-talk. Whether you're an athlete, coach, or driven professional, you'll discover practical strategies to boost your mental game and perform…

1
Indrek Tustit 55:39

8d ago55:39

55:39

Indrek Tustit is a physiotherapist and fitness coach - and today the Estonian speaks to DOAPTC about his professional relationship with Canadian tennis player Dennis Shapovalov, who has just won the Los Cabos title in Mexico. Indrek has worked with High Jumpers, Shot Putters, Javelin throwers, discus throwers, and tennis players, including Shapo, K…

1
Mastering the Pressure Gap: Mental Toughness for Athletes 11:48

13d ago11:48

11:48

In this episode of the Charge Forward Coaching Podcast, host James Blasco tackles the "pressure gap"—a common challenge faced by athletes as they transition from confident practice sessions to anxiety-filled game days. Blasco, a Certified Mental Toughness and Resilience Coach and Certified Neuroscience Coach, unpacks the psychology behind this phen…

1
Fueling Your Mental Edge: The Science of Sports Nutrition for Peak Performance with Collier Madaleno 25:40

20d ago25:40

25:40

Deep dive into the world of sports nutrition with Collier Madaleno, a renowned expert in athletic performance nutrition and the Sales and Service Executive at Red Card Athletics, a fueling and meal management platform designed specifically for college athletic departments and professional sports teams. From fueling strategies that sharpen mental fo…

1
Brain Training: Harnessing Predictive Processing for Mental Toughness 8:59

29d ago8:59

8:59

Unlock the Power of Your Mind: Predictive Processing for Peak Performance James Blasco explores the fascinating concept of predictive processing and its profound impact on mental toughness and confidence in this eye-opening episode of the Charge Forward Coaching Podcast. Drawing insights from Lisa Feldman Barrett's "Seven and a Half Lessons about t…

1
College Champ Starting Her Pro Journey, Dasha Vidmanova Ep260 24:18

29d ago24:18

24:18

🎙️ This week on the Functional Tennis Podcast, I’m joined by Dasha Vidmanova, the former US College #1 player and 2024 NCAA singles, doubles, and team champion. Born in Moscow and raised in Prague, Dasha’s journey through tennis has been anything but linear. From nearly walking away from the sport to becoming a dominant force in college tennis, she…

1
Claudio Pistolesi 1:03:06

1M ago1:03:06

1:03:06

On the latest edition of DOAPTC, host Candy Reid speaks to Claudio Pistolesi, a former Italian pro tennis player, turned excellent coach! The former World No. 71 has worked with the likes of Robin Soderling, Daniela Hantuchova and Monica Seles, amongst many, many others, and he knows literally everyone in the world of tennis! Claudio reveals the se…

1
The Mental Edge: Transforming Inner Chatter into Performance Fuel 11:15

1M ago11:15

11:15

Is your inner voice helping you win — or holding you back? 🧠⚡ In this episode of Charge Forward Coaching, host James Blasco explores powerful strategies to manage your inner chatter and build elite-level mental toughness — inspired by insights from Chatter by Ethan Kross. Blasco focuses on two game-changing tools: environment and rituals. ✔️ Learn …

1
Fasting Your Way to a Healthier Gut: Unlocking the Power of GLP-1 & GLP-2 9:11

1M ago9:11

9:11

Have you heard about intermittent fasting? Its not just a weight loss trend anymore. Its also great for boosting your bodys natural hormones, like GLP-1 and GLP-2. These important gut peptides help manage appetite, control blood sugar, and repair the digestive tract. GLP-1 helps your body release insulin, slows down how quickly your stomach empties…

1
Manny Diaz 51:14

1M ago51:14

51:14

Manny Diaz is a University of Georgia legend. He coached the Bulldogs to four NCAA championships, in 1999, 2001, 2007, when John Isner led the team, and 2008 Manny joins host Candy Reid on DOAPTC to talk about the challenges, the successes, and everything in between. It's a great conversation with someone who has simply seen it all! Hosted on Acast…

1
“I Didn’t Think I’d Go Pro” Aleks Kovacevic ATP #77 43:47

1M ago43:47

43:47

This week on the Functional Tennis Podcast, I’m joined by American ATP player Aleks Kovacevic, currently ranked #77 ATP Aleks takes us through his surprising journey to the pro tour, from not thinking he’d ever go pro to finding belief during college and climbing the ATP rankings, including a big win over world #5 Andrey Rublev. He opens up about l…

1
Mindset Matters: Cultivating Mental Toughness in Young Athletes with Cat Lutz 30:13

2M ago30:13

30:13

Master mental performance with Cat Lutz of IMG Academy. Discover how to build focus, manage emotions, and set goals that elevate athletic success—essential strategies for high performers and young athletes. This episode of Charge Forward Coaching features Cat Lutz, Head of Mental Performance at IMG Academy. Cat discusses the importance of mental pe…

1
Roland-Garros-day-15 47:43

2M ago47:43

47:43

Roland Garros is over for another year and what a way to end! A magnificent men's final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz went the distance and was won by the defending champion, who played a blockbuster tie-breaker to seal the come-from-behind victory. Host Candy Reid is joined by Mark Gellard and David Sammel, who are two of the best coach…

1
Roland-Garros-day-14 31:42

2M ago31:42

31:42

Host Candy Reid is joined by accomplished coach Vlado Platenik and WTA player Christina McHale to discuss Women's final day and Coco Gauff's 2nd Major Singles Title. The 21-year-old came from a set down to beat Arnya Sabalenka in a roller-coaster match, which saw the Belarussian hit 67 unforced errors. The trio also discuss the girls' final, won by…

1
Roland-Garros-day-13 18:49

2M ago18:49

18:49

Host Candy Reid and Coach Justin Sherring discuss day 13 at Roland Garros 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Roland-Garros-day-12 43:39

2M ago43:39

43:39

RG live host Candy Reid is joined by Broadcaster Nick McCarvel and Serbian Journalist Vuk Brajovic on Day 12 of RG 2025. The trio discuss Novak Djokovic's terrific run to the SF, following a come-from-behind 4-set win over Alexander Zverev. Novak faces Sinner next - who has only lost one match in 2025; while the other SF sees defending champion Car…

1
Roland-Garros-day-11 50:54

2M ago50:54

50:54

Mark Gellard joins Candy Reid to talk about the results on Day 11 of RG 2025 - should Musetti have been disqualified; do the women have a point and should be playing evening matches on Chatrier; and can anyone beat world number one Jannik Sinner (or even take a set off him)? The duo discuss all the big topics and there's even a guest appearance fro…

1
Spotting Tennis’s Next Star with Clinton Coleman from IMG Tennis 1:18:18

2M ago1:18:18

1:18:18

In this episode, I speak with Clinton Coleman, Senior Scout at IMG Tennis, who helped discover and guide some of the sport’s brightest young talents, including Nick Kyrgios, Alexander Eala, Mirra Andreeva at 11. Clinton shares what he really looks for in juniors, why mindset often matters more than strokes, and how parents can either help or hinder…

1
Master Time Management: Harnessing Beginnings, Midpoints, and Endings 16:41

2M ago16:41

16:41

Time management can make or break your success. Learn how to harness the power of beginnings, midpoints, and endings to achieve your goals faster. In this episode of Charge Forward Coaching, Mental Toughness and Resilience Coach James Blasco explores the intricate relationship between time and goal achievement. Discover how understanding and levera…

1
Roland-Garros-day-10 1:14:24

2M ago1:14:24

1:14:24

RG Live Host Candy Reid is joined by Bryan Shelton (father and coach of player Ben) and top doubles coach Dan Kiernan on Day 10 of RG 2025. The trio discuss Ben Shelton's terrific clay court season, which included a R16 run and close 4-set defeat by defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Bryan gives insight into a great Clay Major for the USA players a…

1
Roland-Garros-day-9 43:47

2M ago43:47

43:47

Haresh Ramchandani and Mitch Michals join RG Live host Candy Reid to talk about the remaining round of 16 matches at Roland Garros. There were two huge upsets - one on the men's side as Alexander (don't call him Sascha) Bublik, beat Jack Draper and one on the women's as WC Lois Boisson got the better of Jessica Pegula. The trio break all the result…

1
Roland Garros Day 8 55:23

2M ago55:23

55:23

Mark Gellard and Olga Savchuk join host Candy Reid on RG Live this Sunday to talk about what happened on Day 8 of the Clay Court Major. Savchuk has coached Elina Svitolina and explains the 30-yo's incredible hunger for success and busy schedule with her work in Ukraine. The discussion includes why the US players are all doing so well on the women's…

1
Alex Dulgheru 1:14:23

2M ago1:14:23

1:14:23

On this edition of DOAPTC, Former top 30 WTA player and current broadcaster, Alex Dulgheru, joins the pod, to talk about her impressive career; the coaches who helped her along the way and what they did; and how she got the better of one opponent from 1-5 down in the third. She also recounts a funny (and very painful) story where she took another p…

1
Roland Garros Day 7 1:07:35

2M ago1:07:35

1:07:35

Day 7 on RG Live features John Williams and Craig Boynton on DOAPTC. John, coach of twice Major doubles champion Taylor Townsend, and Craig, former coach of Hubi Hurkacz, Jim Courier and Mardy Fish (amongst others) chat with Candy Reid in a fascinating 1 hour of match recap and look ahead to Sunday's matches. The trio discuss Joao Fonseca running o…

1
Roland Garros Day 6 1:03:26

2M ago1:03:26

1:03:26

RG Live on DOAPTC looks at Friday's Day 6 results as host Candy Reid is joined by experienced Coach Vlado Platenik and twice Major Champion Vania King. The trio discuss mental health breaks in tennis after Amanda Anisimova continued her return to the top of the game with a straight sets win over Clara Tauson. It's a wide-ranging chat which includes…

1
Roland Garros Day 5 46:59

2M ago46:59

46:59

Day 5 of RG consisted of the last match of Richard Gasquet's career - the 38yo Frenchman, who started playing at RG in 2002, was beaten by top seed Jannik Sinner. Mark Gellard and Candy Reid discuss Gasquet's career; how tennis is really hard; how to prepare for retirement; and what brings some players back to the game. The duo also look ahead to a…

1
Roland Garros Day 4 1:06:27

2M ago1:06:27

1:06:27

RG LIVE day 4 sees host Candy Reid joined by USA player Christina McHale (a former WTA top 40 player and 2012 third round at RG), and GB's Emily Appleton, who has just made her RG debut, The trio discuss the latest results including defeats to Ruud, Tsitsipas and Vekic and wins for Swiatek, Rybakina and Qinwen. The chat includes Coco forgetting her…

1
Supercharge Your Daily Schedule: Proven Strategies for Focus and Flow 14:50

2M ago14:50

14:50

Ever wonder how elite athletes seem to do more, recover faster, and stay locked in — all within the same 24 hours you have? Learn how to maximize your productivity with proven time management strategies, optimize your daily schedule based on natural energy rhythms. Mental Toughness Coach James Blasco draws insights from scientific research and infl…

1
Roland Garros Day 3 1:15:58

2M ago1:15:58

1:15:58

Coco forgets her racquets; Novak wins in straight sets and Joao Fonseca beats Hurkacz in 3 - an eventful day at Roland Garros - and Candy is joined by the former coach of Maria Sharapova and current coach of Ashlyn Krueger, Mike Joyce, plus top Serbian tennis journalist, Vuk Brajovic, to break it all down and have a few laughs a long the way! RG Li…

1
Roland Garros Day 2 1:01:51

2M ago1:01:51

1:01:51

Special guests today are Dan Kiernan, a top doubles coach and LSU Alum, and University of Georgia Head Coach for 36 years, Manny Diaz. Along with host Candy Reid, the trio discuss Emma Navarro's 0,1 defeat, the best chance of victory of the USA players and a whole lot more, including whether Stan Wawrinka, the 2015 Champ, will play RG again after l…

1
Wimbledon Champion 48:46

2M ago48:46

48:46

He's the current Wimbledon and Australian Open Champion - and he also has a fear of flying! Meet GB's Henry Patten, who talks to DOAPTC about his time in US College, how he teamed up with his current doubles partner and why the relationship works so well! Henry also recounts some funny moments, including on the stairs in Monte Carlo and who he'd ta…

1
Roland Garros Day 1 55:36

2M ago55:36

55:36

Day 1 of RG 2025 is in the books - and it was a day dominated by Rafa Nadal, who was back on the court in which he made his own. Experts Brett Philips and Steph Myles got emotional, as did everyone else watching proceedings. Candy breaks down the results with Steph and Brett and looks ahead to Day 2! Join us at 9pm Paris time everyday during Roland…

1
Roland Garros Preview 1:27:18

2M ago1:27:18

1:27:18

Over the next 15 days, DOAPTC will be going live to talk about Roland Garros every night. First up - a preview of the 2nd Major of the year. Host Candy Reid is joined by John Williams, coach of Taylor Townsend, Christopher Clarey, tennis writer and journalist, and of course resident expert Mark Gellard, coach of Magda Linette. The chat includes det…

1
Luca Van Assche: Building Belief, Beating Pressure, and Loving the Grind 32:50

2M ago32:50

32:50

This week I’m joined by Luca Van Assche, one of France’s top young players and a former Roland Garros junior champion. We chat about his fast rise to the ATP top 70, what it really takes to make the jump from juniors to the pros, and how Futures helped build his resilience and confidence. Luca opens up about the pressure of expectations, how he’s m…

1
Tom Gutteridge 1:03:51

2M ago1:03:51

1:03:51

Tom Gutteridge is a British coach making huge waves Stateside on the coaching front. He is currently working with 17yo Iva Jovic, who won her first match in a Major in 2024 (against Mark's player, Magda Linette at the US Open!) Iva, with Tom's help has gone from strength to strength since then - winning a round at the Australian Open earlier this y…

1
Racquet Stringer 58:19

3M ago58:19

58:19

Richard Parnell, creator of the 'knot' was on DOAPTC in 2024, this year, our stringing guest is Curt Stefan, who is based in Florida and has worked on hundred's of top professional tennis players' racquets. There is nothing that Curt doesn't know about customisation, strings, grips and racquet weight, and he answers all the probing questions on thi…

1
How to Silence Your Inner Critic & Finally Chase Your Dreams 14:16

3M ago14:16

14:16

Tackle the pervasive challenge of internal criticism and self-doubt, offering listeners powerful strategies to achieve their goals. Certified Mental Toughness Coach, James Blasco explores the origins of the inner critic and shares actionable methods to overcome it, emphasizing the crucial role of mental toughness in personal and professional succes…

1
Sacrificing Will Pay Off in the End – Liam Broady | Ep. 256 55:43

3M ago55:43

55:43

Liam Broady returns to the Functional Tennis Podcast to reflect on the highs, lows, and lessons of his 11-year pro journey. From dealing with a concussion just before Wimbledon to learning how to separate self-worth from rankings, Liam opens up on the mental battles that come with life on tour. He also shares what a conversation with Pep Guardiola …

1
Neuroscientist! 56:02

3M ago56:02

56:02

Dr. Niklas Häusler is the Founder and CEO of NEURO 11 - he has a Doctorate in neuroscience & psychology - and has worked with the Liverpool Football Team, top tennis players, golfers and many other sports stars. In this fascinating chat with Mark and Candy, he talks about how his work is elevating top pro's; how he looks at live brain data and puts…

1
How to Handle Criticism & Build Mental Toughness 12:47

3M ago12:47

12:47

In this episode of Charge Forward Coaching, host James Blasco tackles the challenge of dealing with external critics and "dream killers" who attempt to derail your ambitious goals. As a certified Mental Toughness and Resilience Coach, James shares powerful strategies to help you build mental fortitude, emphasizing the importance of challenge, commi…

1
David Sammel 59:29

3M ago59:29

59:29

David Sammel is on this week's DOAPTC. Sammel has been based in Great Britain for most of his coaching career and is easily one of the most respected voices, having worked with multiple professionals and top juniors. Sammel is now also a sports consultant and the author of the book Locker Room Power: Building an Athlete’s Mind. In this episode, Sam…

1
Master Your Mindset: The 4C's of Mental Toughness Every Athlete Needs 9:53

3M ago9:53

9:53

Looking to boost your mental game? In just 10 minutes, coach James Blasco unpacks the key traits that define resilient athletes. Using real-life inspiration and the science behind grit, he reveals how the 4C’s of mental toughness: Control, Commitment, Challenge, and Confidence can transform your mindset. Take the MTQ Plus assessment, available on t…

1
Belief Built Through Hard Work with Francisco Comesaña (ATP 70) 22:22

3M ago22:22

22:22

In this episode, I’m joined by rising Argentine star Francisco Comesaña, currently sitting inside the ATP top 70. Francisco shares the grind of coming up through Futures with no funding, how a mindset shift helped him break through, and what it was like beating top names like Rublev and Zverev. We also talk about his first Slam experience at Wimble…

1
Wesley Koolhof 48:36

3M ago48:36

48:36

Wesley Koolhof joins DOAPTC this week to talk retirement; marriage, dogs and how he and the Dutch Davis Cup team ended Rafael Nadal's tennis career in Malaga. Plus, Wesley talks about the highs and lows of playing sport; the best and worst food on Tour; and who he'd have in the car for a tennis road-trip! Please let us know if you're interested in …

1
Mario Andretti: A Champion's Mindset 23:15

4M ago23:15

23:15

In this episode of Charge Forward Coaching, host James Blasco is joined by racing legend, Mario Andretti, to explore the mindset and desire that fueled his illustrious career from age 19 to age 60. Throughout their thrilling conversation, Mario shares details about his early life in Italy where he discovered his life’s passion after witnessing the …

1
"It takes a village - The Return of Coach Joe O'Dwyer on the Functional Tennis Podcast 58:58

4M ago58:58

58:58

The return of Joe O'Dwyer to the Function Tennis Podcast marks a significant occasion, as it has been five years since his previous appearance. In this enlightening conversation, O'Dwyer, a seasoned ATP and WTA coach, reflects upon his extensive career on the tour, which began in 1999 and has traversed through various eras of tennis. He recounts hi…

1
Luke and Daria Saville 51:38

4M ago51:38

51:38

On DOAPTC this time - is a chat with former junior number 1's, Luke and Daria Saville - who will now get to see each other more, after Luke officially retired from tennis at the AO 2025 and signed on as Daria's part-time coach. We speak about the success of Madison Keys with her husband Bjorn taking over the coaching reigns and whether they provide…

1
The Mental Edge: Mastering Focus and Attention Control for Athletes 11:41

4M ago11:41

11:41

Mental toughness, attention control, and mastering focus under pressure are what separate great athletes from average ones. In this episode of Charge Forward Coaching, host James Blasco, a certified mental toughness and resilience coach, unpacks the strategies elite athletes use to stay locked in—even when the stakes are sky high. From building pow…

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