Ivan Ljubicic and Louis Cayer on Defining Leadership in Tennis
For October's TennisWorthy theme of Leadership, Patrick McEnroe and Chris Bowers focus on the attributes of leadership in tennis, both on and off the court. This all-new episode features interviews from former world No. 3 and Roger Federer's former coach, Ivan Ljubicic, and renowned Canadian doubles coach Louis Cayer.Ljubicic discusses leadership in the wider tennis world, emphasizing the importance of getting information, listening, understanding, and then making decisions. He shares lessons from his time on the ATP Player Council and Board, noting that players need to be explained the reasoning behind decisions on and off the court.Cayer, who currently coaches many successful British doubles teams, explains his leadership model for doubles partnerships. He discusses the roles of tactical and energy leaders, often suggesting a leader to the team. The energy leader provides "unconditional high positive energy," acts as a role model, is vocal, and helps a partner stay in the present. Cayer also encourages communication between partners, including using a "three-second rule" after a point to team up.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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Vic Braden, a Leader in Innovation | TennisWorthy Moments
Hall of Famer Tracy Austin reflects on one of her earliest coaches, Hall of Famer Vic Braden, who brought many firsts to the sport of tennis. His unique skillset of combining humor, science and the developing world of video analysis made him one of tennis' most sought-after coaches, teaching a generation of legends how to perform at their best.This episode is part of the International Tennis Hall of Fame's TennisWorthy short-form series. View more TennisWorthy stories at tennisfame.com/tennisworthy.
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Richard Evans on Perspective, Journalism and 65 Years of Tennis History
Hall of Famer Richard Evans discusses his fascinating career as a tennis journalist, which led him to the International Hall of Fame as an inductee in the Contributor Category. He reflects on the qualities that make a Hall of Famer, emphasizing achievement, personality, and character.With his longtime colleague Chris Bowers, Evans recounts how he got his start in tennis journalism at the age of 21, ghostwriting columns for tennis champions like Althea Gibson and Jaroslav Drobný. He shares a pivotal moment when he took Gibson to the Wimbledon Ball, highlighting the subtle discrimination she faced as a Black woman. Evans also talks about the role of tennis designer and player liaison, Ted Tinling, and his efforts to introduce color into Wimbledon's all-white dress codeThe Hall of Famer delves into his time as the European Director for the ATP, where he worked to professionalize tennis and advocated for players' rights against outdated amateur officials. He concludes by discussing his close relationships with players like Rod Laver and John Newcombe, and his belief that the modern game has lost something due to the disconnect between players and journalists.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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Ann Jones on the Amateur Era and the Fight for Women's Tennis
On the 55th anniversary of the Original 9's signing of the first professional women's contract in 1970, we're sharing an insightful interview with one of women's tennis' early professional pioneers, Hall of Famer Ann Jones.With Chris Bowers, Jones discusses her career and the evolution of the sport. She recounts how she, along with a small group of players, fought for women's rights in tennis by establishing a professional circuit, and demanding better prize money. Jones views her off-court contributions as being just as significant as her on-court achievements, and her belief that the pressures on players haven't lessened, only evolved.Jones recalls competing against icons like Billie Jean King and Margaret Court during the transition to Open tennis. She shares her experience of playing both table tennis and lawn tennis, and the challenges of being a professional in the amateur era, and how she navigated the world of sports despite coming from a modest background.
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Lindsay Davenport on Confidence to Reach Potential | TennisWorthy Moments
United States Billie Jean King Cup Captain and Hall of Famer Lindsay Davenport reflects on one of the most impactful experiences of her career: playing for her country at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Davenport shares how an honest assessment from her own legendary captain pushed her to achieve her full potential on the grandest of stages.This episode is part of the International Tennis Hall of Fame's TennisWorthy short-form series. View more TennisWorthy stories at tennisfame.com/tennisworthy.
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.