Control the Controllables

This CTC Short is brought to you live from Beijing, at the China Open, where Dan Kiernan is there for the WTA 1000 event! In this episode Dan takes us through a roundup of the latest stories from across the tennis world, including those that have taken place moments away from our host ,who recorded this special CTC Short on the centre court in Beijing! Key stories discussed: ⁠Djokovic wins the China Open for the 7th timeMedvedev defaulted from China Open v Djokovic in the semisAlcaraz wins first title since February in JapanLegend of the sport, Kei Nishikori retires ⁠WTA announce equal prize money at all combined 1000 events Jannik Sinner to miss rest of the 2026 seasonNavarro opens up about health struggles Coco Gauff condemns racist abuse after winning China Open first round Dan is at the China Open with Gaby Dabrowski, who plays the Final of the women’s doubles , on Sunday alongside Luisa Stefani.Links Mentioned in this Episode:Follow Control the Controllables: Instagram | YouTube | WebsiteCheck out Tennis Athlete Here: https://www.sototennis.com/tennisathleteEmail us: [email protected] 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

Fifteen months ago Toby Samuel was ranked 1,870 in the world, injured, out of college, and unable to get into the qualifying draw of a 15K.This month he broke into the ATP top 100, made his Davis Cup debut at the Copper Box and won the first rubber for Great Britain to help them qualify for the Davis Cup Finals.In 2025, Toby won 62 matches and climbed further up the rankings than any other male player in the world. He did it without fanfare, without headlines and by his own admission, still staying in the bedrooms at the National Tennis Centre.This is a conversation about the mental side of the game more than anything else, and Toby's answer on competing is one of the best things we've had on this podcast. If you have a junior in your house, play them that bit twice!In this episode:The Davis Cup call-up he wasn't expecting, and the most nervous he has ever been before a match.Losing the first set and finding a way back, and why that is now a pattern rather than a panic."Everything is a choice." Toby on how he transformed the mental side of his game.What he says to his coaches before every single match, and why it has nothing to do with how he is hitting the ball.Why he has always preferred being the favourite, and what that has cost him against the top guys.Going from 1,870 in the world to the top 100 in fifteen monthsThe bone bruising injury that wiped out his ranking, and the ATP Accelerator wildcard that turned it aroundChoosing South Carolina over Florida State, the decision that changed his career.What NIL money has done to college tennis, and why he thinks it needs a limitHow he actually uses data, and the six-monthly meeting that shapes his developmentHis honest view on the proposed ATP doubles changesThe Quickfire Round"I don't know how I'm going to be hitting the ball on the day, but I can always choose to compete and be tough"Links Mentioned in this Episode:Follow Control the Controllables: Instagram | YouTube | WebsiteCheck out Tennis Athlete Here: https://www.sototennis.com/tennisathleteFollow SotoTennis Academy Here: https://www.instagram.com/sototennisEmail us: [email protected]

Two Retirements. Two Incredible Careers.This week on Control the Controllables, we're marking the retirement of Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury, two of the finest doubles players of their generation and two of the most generous guests we´ve had on the show.Between them: 6 major titles each. 4 men's doubles crowns together, including the Australian Open in 2020 and that remarkable US Open three-peat in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Joe became only the second British man ever to reach World Number 1, holding the position for 23 weeks. Rajeev picked up two Olympic silver medals, 32 ATP titles, 9 Masters titles.Then this year, with barely any matches between them, they made the US Open semi-finals from nowhere. Form is temporary. Class is permanent.We've gone back into the archives to pull out the moments from their episodes that we think every player, coach and parent should hear.In this episode:Joe on the gap between belief and confidence, and why the two are not the same thingRajeev on walking away from singles at 56 in the world to become a doubles specialistFollowing your heart when the decision is genuinely difficult, from college to retirementWhy 11 partners in one year is the hardest way to build a careerWhat Rajeev saw in Joe before anyone else didJoe on what he wants his legacy in British tennis to beDan's challenge to British tennis: what happens when the Louis Cayer era ends?The Rajeev Ram Instagram post that everyone in this sport should readListen to Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury´s full episodes on CTC: Rajeev Ram - Multiple Grand Slam ChampionJoe Salisbury - Double US Open Champion!Links Mentioned in this Episode:Follow CTC on InstagramTennis Athlete - Online Strength & Conditioning for Performance PlayersSotoTennis Academy

What a US Open! We saw two new champions crowned in New York, plenty of our pre-tournament predictions were ripped up, and both draws gave us lots of storylines.In our final Grand Slam Review episode of 2026, Host Dan Kiernan is joined by our panel:-Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Doubles Champion, Freddie NielsenSports broadcaster and former CNN anchor Candy ReidCoach, podcaster and former agent Johnny DelgadoKieron Vorster, Fitness Coach to Tem Henman, Dan Evans & Wayne FerreriaAs ever, this isn’t just a review of the results. The panel gets into the realities behind elite performance: handling pressure, managing expectations, coping with defeat, the role of parents and coaches, and what players at every level can learn from the very best in the game.In this episode:Alexander Zverev finally gets his US Open moment beating Shelton in the final, and his emotional on-court speech about his mother and managing Type 1 diabetes.Ben Shelton´s breakthrough run to his first Grand Slam finalCould 2027 give us a new “Big Three”? The panel discusses whether Zverev can now consistently challenge Alcaraz and Sinner.Rafael Jodar’s shock first-round exit despite being a dark-horse pick off the back of a career-best summer.Elena Rybakina defeats Aryna Sabalenka. Why Rybakina’s balance, composure and first-strike tennis caused Sabalenka so many problems in the final , and the panel discuss how the best players handle nerves differently.Serena Williams skipping press conferences again and the panel's take on tournaments letting stars off the hook.The strength of the women's draw: Zheng Qinwen's run through qualifying, Iva Jovic, Mirra Andreeva and Coco Gauff's continued dominance on and off the courtThe Djokovic debate: a first-round exit, falling out of the world's top 10 for the first time in over two decades, and whether he can still go deep in a Slam at 37.Wheelchair tennis: GB´s Alfie Hewett, Tokito Oda and the extraordinary standard at the top of the wheelchair game.Neal Skupski and Christian Harrison's men's doubles title, and the debate around the future and recognition of doubles tennisKaterina Siniakova keeps making history! Her continued dominance and double Golden Slam achievement.What happens next? The panel looks ahead to the remainder of 2026, including the race for year-end No.1, Holger Rune’s return, the Next Gen Finals and the WTA Finals.There are plenty of disagreements, predictions and laughs along the way, but also some brilliant takeaways for players, parents and coaches on pressure, resilience, expectations and what really separates the very best when the biggest moments arrive.🎧 Sit back and enjoy our US Open 2026 Review!This episode is brought to you by Novellus: https://novellusfinance.com/uk/Links Mentioned in this EpisodeFollow the Podcast here: Instagram | Facebook | Email usSotoTennis Academy: https://www.instagram.com/sototennisMentioned 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

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=enEmail us: [email protected] Open 2026 preview. Dan is joined by Freddie Nielsen, Denmark Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon doubles champion, Candy Reid live in New Yorks, and first-time guest Johnny Delgado, coach and podcaster.In this episode:Are both the men’s and women’s draw wide open?Qinwen Zheng, Paris Olympic champion, coming through qualifying despite elbow surgeryStan Wawrinka getting a wildcard at the last minute and why the panel loves itAlcaraz, will he even make it to the court on day one and how far can he realistically goMen's and women's dark horse picks and winner predictionsThe Djokovic debate: can he recover match after match at nearly 40 and go deep in a slam?Debate around the future of doubles tennisTennisAthlete provides age-appropriate, research-backed strength and conditioning programmes from proven S&C coaches. The platform Dan recommends for physical development. Visit sototennis.com/tennisathleteBrought to you by Novellus: https://novellusfinance.com/uk/