Dr. Jim Loehr on Character, Mental Toughness, and the Whole Person in Tennis
Patrick McEnroe hosts an insightful conversation with world-renowned performance psychologist Dr. Jim Loehr on mental toughness and the whole person behind elite performance.Dr. Loehr, who started his career as a licensed psychologist before working with top athletes , discusses his transformative time at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, where he began focusing on the whole person—including physical, emotional, mental, and character health. He argues that improving a person's health in all dimensions, particularly character health, is the single most important dynamic in making them mentally tougher.Dr. Loehr emphasizes that the purpose of sport should be to use tennis to help athletes become extraordinary human beings. He advocates for focusing on the energy an athlete brings to their time rather than just time management and highlights the importance of resilience, with tennis as the ultimate sport for teaching resiliency to bounce back.The TennisWorthy Podcast is presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame. For more information and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.
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Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario on Keys to a Strong Mental Game
Patrick McEnroe continues November's theme of mental toughness with an insightful interview with Hall of Famer and 14-time major champion Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario.Arantxa returned to Newport this summer for the Induction Celebration, and discusses her incredible career, emphasizing her unwavering fighting spirit and strong mental game. A champion in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, she shares the keys to her success across all three formats, including her exceptional physical condition, tenacity, and discipline.The conversation dives into the moment her life "changed completely": winning her first major - Roland-Garros - at just 17 years old by defeating Stefanie Graf in an epic final. She reveals the pressures she faced as an underdog, and the inner desire and confidence that drove her to become a pioneer for Spanish tennis.Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario is a former world No. 1 in both singles and doubles, winner of 14 major titles across all three disciplines and a five-time Billie Jean King Cup champion for Spain.The TennisWorthy Podcast is presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame. For more information and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.
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Dr. Brian Hainline on Prioritizing Mental Health
In this insightful episode of the TennisWorthy Podcast, host Patrick McEnroe welcomes special guest Dr. Brian Hainline, an expert on mental health in sports, former Chief Medical Officer of the NCAA and past President of the USTA. Dr. Hainline discusses the critical shift toward prioritizing mental health in athletics, accelerated by the reduced stigma thanks to high-profile athletes like Naomi Osaka and Michael Phelps.Mental health symptoms and physical health are inseparable, and should be treated with the same urgency, like an ankle sprain. Dr. Hainline also emphasizes the vital role of sleep, noting that sleep deprivation can predict injury and poor performance more than overtraining. They also explore the unique challenges faced by athletes in individual sports like tennis and the importance of recovery and team environments.The TennisWorthy Podcast is presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame. For more information and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.
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Jim Courier, Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario and Michael Chang on Mastering Mental Toughness
Patrick McEnroe and Chris Bowers explore the vital quality of mental toughness with three of tennis' toughest competitors: Hall of Famers Jim Courier, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, and Michael Chang.Former World No. 1 and 4-time major champion Jim Courier defines mental toughness as the ability to handle pressure and the capacity to compartmentalize and ignore the score, citing Rafael Nadal as a prime example. Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario, former world No. 1 in singles and doubles, emphasizes the importance of her strong physical condition and the desire to give my best and never give up.Chris Bowers then looks at Michael Chang’s legendary 1989 French Open run, where he overcame extreme cramping and Ivan Lendl by refusing to be a quitter, demonstrating the unwavering mindset needed to win. Learn whether mental toughness is innate or can be developed, and how it separates the top players.The TennisWorthy Podcast is presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame. For more information and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.
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Katrina Adams on Legacy, Diversity and Leading with Purpose
Patrick McEnroe chats with Katrina Adams in this all-new episode of the TennisWorthy Podcast, exploring the month's theme of leadership. Adams, a former top player and two-term USTA president, discusses how leadership has shaped her career, from playing number one as a freshman at Northwestern University to becoming a number three ranked doubles team on the WTA Tour.She shares her journey to becoming the first African-American and first former player to serve as USTA President. Adams reflects on "leading with a purpose," focusing on being intentional and impactful. She also discusses her book, Own the Arena, and navigating controversies, such as the 2018 US Open Women's Final. Finally, she highlights her passion project, the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program, which gives kids an opportunity to be champions in life.Katrina Adams is the first African American to head the USTA, serving as Chair and President from 2015 to 2018 and as the first former player in that role. Under her leadership, the USTA opened the National Campus and transformed the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center while promoting tennis in underserved communities. She won 20 doubles titles on the WTA Tour as a professional player, and currently serves the International Tennis Hall of Fame as Chair of the enshrinement committee.
What makes a Hall of Famer? What is that unique something that led to their historic success? Was it innate? Or did they need to cultivate a winning mindset?
TennisWorthy, a podcast presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame, seeks to answer these questions and uncover what it takes to become the greatest of champions. These wide-reaching conversations go beyond on-court results, and reveal the mindset of the sport’s legends. Hear from greats like Lleyton Hewitt, Tracy Austin, Ivan Lendl and more on what it takes to set yourself apart.
Colombia