As the new year approaches, Steve Smith and co-host Dave Anderson step back and re-center on the fundamentals that drive long-term development in tennis and in life: being proactive, prioritizing what matters, and committing to steady improvement. They connect timeless principles to junior development, especially grips, habits, and the idea that “winning” is built through process and skill-building rather than a scoreboard-driven mindset. The conversation also highlights a set of ten "life le...
In this Christmas Day episode of the Great Base Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith is joined by Dave Anderson and Ilya Samyanov for a wide-ranging conversation that blends reflection, teaching philosophy, and community. The group opens by honoring the legacies of Vic Braden, Dennis VanderMeer, and the late Mark Spann, sharing stories that underscore gratitude, mentorship, and the idea that tennis itself is a gift. The discussion weaves through family, sacrifice, and the responsibility coaches and pa...
Steve Smith and Dave Anderson welcome Coach Jaime Pulgar Garcia, new to the Brookhaven staff and already making a major cultural impact. Jaime shares his tennis origin story from Madrid, Spain, his late start at age 10, and the twin-track journey he and his brother took through college tennis (NC State and San Diego State), pro tennis, and high-performance coaching. The conversation explores how Spanish tennis culture shaped his development and why his family pushed the U.S. college route. Ep...
In this episode of the Great Base Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith welcomes USTA performance analytics expert Mat Cloer and coach Dave Anderson for a deep dive into the USTA’s new coaching initiative and its effort to strengthen education and certification for American tennis teachers. Cloer explains his role inside Player Development, using Hawkeye data, video analysis, and match statistics to help players and coaches better understand patterns in serving, returning, transition play, and net effe...
In this episode of the Great Base Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and co-host Dave Anderson sit down with Texas A&M head coach and former world No. 11, Steve Denton. Denton opens with the incredible story of the Shanghai Masters, how former Aggies Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot, first cousins, battled their way from qualifying and alternates into a dream final on one of tennis’ biggest stages. He explains their roots at Texas A&M, why developing an all-court, forward-moving game...
In this episode, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson sit down with Tim Ross, who spent over a decade at Ernst & Young before making a full-time leap into tennis coaching. Tim shares his early years at the Julian Krinsky School of Tennis, how mentors like Arvin Aravindhan and David Detweiler shaped his development, and how his corporate background now helps him approach coaching with structure and intention. Tim also discusses his time volunteering with the Isha Foundation and how meditation, br...
In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson highlight the final two pillars of the GreatBase curriculum: Bill Jacobson, the pioneer of CompuTennis and modern match charting, and Vic Braden, whose scientific approach revolutionized how the game is taught. They discuss how both men were decades ahead of their time—using data, geometry, physics, and fact-based instruction long before the rest of the tennis world caught up. teve and Dave share stories from the e...
In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson continue their series on the eight pillars of the GreatBase curriculum, focusing on two coaching icons, Peter Burwash and Harry Hopman. They explore how Burwash set new standards of professionalism and service in coaching, while Hopman embodied fitness, discipline, and respect for the sport. The hosts also discuss the upcoming Tennis Golden Growth Opportunity workshop at Ave Maria University, designed to honor the ...
In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson discuss two of the most influential minds behind the GreatBase philosophy: Dr. Jim Leohr and Coach Jim Verdieck. Through stories, lessons, and personal experiences, they highlight why mental discipline, character, standards, and accountability remain essential in player development. Episode 273 also previews the upcoming workshop in Ave Maria, focused on honoring tennis teaching traditions, preserving valuable coac...
In this episode, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson discuss the upcoming GreatBase Tennis workshop at Ave Maria University (Dec 18–20). They reflect on the enduring coaching philosophies of two key pillars of their curriculum: Welby Van Horn and Dennis VanderMeer. From balance training to group dynamics, they explore what made these legendary teachers effective and why their methods are still needed today. The episode also highlights the cultural shift away from fundamentals and discipline in mode...
In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson announce a three-day workshop set for December at Ave Maria University. Open to all, the event aims to spotlight tennis's "golden growth opportunity" by focusing on the eight core pillars of the GreatBase curriculum and beyond. They discuss the need to improve tennis coaching at all levels, not just through better technique but through deeper lessons in character, discipline, and education. From grip fundamentals t...
Steve Smith and Dave Anderson introduce a “Sunrise to Sunset” tennis fundraiser planned for Ave Maria University. Inspired by a past event in Texas, the goal is to raise support for junior players through a fun, community-driven day of tennis. They outline a 10-hour schedule with training, contests, and food, encouraging players to collect small sponsorships. The 270th episode reinforces GreatBase values: affordable, inclusive, and education-first tennis.
In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith is joined by co-host Dave Anderson, Tim Ross, and special guest Max Fomine. Max is a Moldovan-born coach whose path to tennis is as unique as it is inspiring. Max shares his family's immigration story, landing in Canada with no papers and few resources, and how hard work, persistence, and a deep love for tennis carried him from junior tournaments in Toronto to the courts of Mississippi State. He discusses the pivotal role his father...
In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith is joined by Dave Anderson and Ryan Fleming for a reflective and forward-looking conversation about the launch of a new tennis program at Ave Maria University in Southwest Florida. Steve shares the personal and professional journey behind accepting the position as men’s and women’s tennis coach, while diving into his vision for reshaping player development at the college level. The discussion covers everything from NCAA structure an...
In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith sits down with longtime friend and coach Ryan Fleming for a reflective and practical conversation about tennis, coaching, and leadership. Fleming shares his journey from hitting on a cinder block wall in North Carolina to playing college tennis for Chuck Kriese at Clemson, and eventually finding the GreatBase system, which reshaped his technique, mindset, and career. They discuss the frustrations of not being taught the fundamentals...
In this episode of the Great Base Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith is joined by Dave Anderson, Andy Fitzell, and Tim Ross for a wide-ranging discussion centered on doubles development and the 2025 US Open. The team reflects on the standout performance of Robert Cash and James Trotter Tracy, a former Ohio State duo, analyzing how their college training, chemistry, and aggressive net play translated to the tour level. The conversation expands into the broader state of doubles, highlighting common ga...
In this episode of the Great Base Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson explore lessons from the 2025 US Open, breaking down key storylines from Carlos Alcaraz’s win over Jannik Sinner to Amanda Anisimova’s stunning turnaround. They reflect on the leadership journey of figures like Stacey Allaster, and the legacy of tennis education programs across the U.S. The conversation expands to include doubles development, court surfaces, the evolution of coaching, and what legends like C...
In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith is joined by returning guest Dave Anderson and visiting coach Kervin Ramos. Together, the trio unpacks key storylines from the 2025 US Open — including matches involving Carlos Alcaraz, Frances Tiafoe, Coco Gauff, Alexander Bublik, and Taylor Fritz — while weaving in lessons for players, parents, and coaches at all levels. Beyond match results, the conversation dives into the mental game, player habits, and the gap between athletici...
Steve Smith and Dave Anderson sit down to tackle issues shaping today’s tennis, from the growing trend of withdrawals at tournaments like Kalamazoo to the impact of DNFs in college play. They share candid stories—from Connor Smith’s days at Ohio State to the traditions of junior tennis—to underline why competing fully matters more than ever. The conversation highlights how playing matches, regardless of the outcome, builds resilience and experience that no shortcut can replace. The discussion...
Steve Smith hosts a wide-ranging conversation with Ilya Semyonov, Andy Fitzell, and Dave Anderson, diving into common cures for problems in tennis. The discussion kicks off with mixed doubles and its controversial format changes, before branching into broader reflections on the state of the sport. From professional events and scheduling decisions to the lessons coaches can draw from doubles specialists, podcast 262 emphasizes how tennis needs both innovation and tradition to thrive. The coach...
Lio Anna Fitzell
Great content! Keep up the amazing work!! :)
Lio Anna Fitzell
Love it! Amazing ideas and insight by GreatBase Tennis! :)