Tennis IQ Podcast

David Sammel is a world prominent tennis coach based in the UK who has coached dozens of professional players and international junior players. He’s also the author of the book Locker Room Power and the founder of Mindset College.  

Through this conversation, you will learn what Locker Room Power is, how to develop it, and how to apply it in competition. This includes the concept of mentally unsettling the opponent and using courage as a virtue. 

Locker Room Power: Building an Athlete's Mind https://www.amazon.com/dp/1080758585  

US listeners - Audio version of Locker Room Power: https://www.audible.com/pd/B092L4K5V4 

UK listeners - Audio version of Locker Room Power: https://adbl.co/3nCJZAD 

Mindset College: https://www.mindsetcollege.co.uk

This episode includes a brief discussion on the yips in tennis. The yips has been described as “a sudden and unexplained loss of ability to execute certain skills in experienced athletes”, and though it happens most typically to golfers as they putt, it can happen to tennis players as well.  The remainder of the conversation discussed serving and double faults. Brian and Josh emphasized the importance of resetting and putting the previous point behind you in order to have the best possible mindset for the following point.

This article explains some of the same research discussed in this episode: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2021/sep/27/how-emma-raducanu-prevents-one-mistake-from-leading-to-another?CMP=Share 

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

Josh and Brian review some of the bigger stories from the 2021 US Open through the lens of sport psychology. First, they discuss Emma Raducanu’s victory over Leylah Fernandez in the women's final and the circumstances that led to the unexpected success of each finalist. The guys also discuss Daniil Medvedev’s first Grand Slam triumph, and how he was able to stop Novak Djokovic from completing a calendar year Grand Slam and winning major title number 21.

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ​​​​​​​​​ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

In this episode, Brian and Josh review how to deal with losing. Losing is a necessary and inevitable part of competition and the development process. Discussion points are how to respond to lost points during a match, how to handle and frame difficult losses, and the feeling of loss that athletes can undertake during an injury or retirement. Lastly, Brian and Josh consider the mindset that athletes want to have - 'playing to win' rather than trying to avoid losing.  

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can establish and utilize post-practice and post-match routines to enhance future performance. The co-hosts review recovery routine elements such as nutrition, hydration, stretching, and more. Additionally, they examine how players can utilize journals to reflect on their practices and matches to learn and improve going forward.

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

Dr. Laura Swettenham is a sport and exercise psychologist from the UK, chartered with the British Psychological Society. She has experience working within a range of sports, predominantly professional football (soccer), youth tennis, and e-sports. In her practice, Laura uses acceptance and mindfulness approaches, such as acceptance and commitment therapy, to support athletes and coaches so they can thrive in and out of their performance environment.  

Currently, Laura works at Cultiv8 Academy, the Yorkshire regional player development center for tennis, and is the sport psychology and coach development lead at the federation of e-sports coaches. She is also an associate partner lecturer at the University of Portsmouth and has published multiple research papers within sport psychology utilizing the Think Aloud protocol.

In this conversation, we discuss Think Aloud and its utility in exploring stress and coping mechanisms in tennis. For more information on Think Aloud, please read "Investigating Stress and Coping During Practice and Competition in Tennis using Think Aloud" by Laura and her colleagues. (https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/9077/)  

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ​​​​​​​​​ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

During a tennis match, there can be several key moments that could determine the outcome. Do you perform well in these moments? Are you good at recognizing them?  

In this episode, Brian and Josh review how to create clutch performances. Highlights of the conversation include understanding what a clutch performance is, the concept of "make it happen," and some practical steps you can take to become more clutch. This is a valuable topic for both players and coaches.

At most levels of the game, tennis players are required to call lines and honor the rules of the game. It is a unique feature of the sport and it highlights the importance of sportsmanship when competing. In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss some coaching and parenting behaviors that can promote good sportsmanship along with some behaviors that can lead to unethical decision making. In the end, we need to understand that good sportsmanship makes us better people, and better people are better competitors.  

Better People Make Better Competitors: https://issuu.com/newenglanduspta/docs/summer_2021_2_/18

This episode reviews how tennis players can build mental fortitude and resilience. Brian and Josh base their discussion on the study “Mental fortitude training: An evidence-based approach to developing psychological resilience for sustained success” by David Fletcher and Mustafa Sarkar. Their mental fortitude training program focuses on three main areas: personal qualities, facilitative environment, and challenge mindset.  

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ​​​​​​​​​ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

Josh and Brian review some of the bigger stories from the 2021 Wimbledon Championships through the lens of sport psychology. Topics included are Ash Barty and being the best person you can be, Karolina Pliskova and the importance of self-belief, and the mental strength of Novak Djokovic winning his sixth Wimbledon title and 20th Grand Slam title (tying Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal).  

If you have questions or feedback on this episode, email us at tennisiqpodcast@gmail.com.

Angelo Rossetti is well-known in the tennis and coaching communities as someone who is very positive, very generous, and a wonderful influence on his students. He currently serves as the Director of Racquet Sports for the Inspire Tennis Academy and the Tennis and Fitness Center of Rocky Hill. He's a USPTA P1 Elite Professional, he's PTR Certified, a USTA High Performance and Mental Skills Certified Coach, and ITPTA Certified Pickleball Teaching Professional. He's also a two-time Guinness World Records title holder for the longest tennis rally and the longest tennis volley rally. 

Lastly, Angelo is a published author of the book TENNACITY: The Tenacious Mindset On & Off the Court which is based on his mental skills training for tennis players and athletes (available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/TENNACITY-Tenacious-Mindset-Off-Court/dp/0998576689).  

His online mental skills course can be found at Tennacity.org.

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ​​​​​​​​​ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can handle pre-match preparation. The co-hosts review how utilizing mental skills the day before and morning of a match can be the difference between performing well and under-performing. They also discuss how scheduling sleep, meals, and hydration can make a big difference in how an athlete feels once their match begins. Lastly, they emphasize that planning for certain scenarios and designing contingency responses can be beneficial just in case those situations end up occurring during matches.  

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ​​​​​​​​​ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

Mental health and mental toughness were on full display at the 2021 French Open, and in this episode, Josh and Brian review some of the bigger stories from the tournament through the lens of sport psychology. Topics included are Naomi Osaka's withdrawal, two first-time Grand Slam finalists in the women's draw, and the mental strength of Novak Djokovic.

If you have questions or feedback on this episode, email us at tennisiqpodcast@gmail.com.

Steve O'Connell is an accomplished racquet sport professional and educator who is a USPTA elite certified pro, wheelchair tennis instructor, certified platform tennis instructor and a certified pickleball instructor. Through his careers in both tennis and education, Steve has been a long-time advocate of journaling and writing, emphasizing the many benefits of these practices to his students.  

Interview Highlights: 

1:25 - Steve explains his introduction to tennis 

4:35 - The similarities between coaches and teachers 

8:06 - How Steve got involved with journaling 

10:01 - Using journaling as a tool with developing tennis players 

13:01 - The best ways to get started with journaling 

20:27 - How much time should you wait before journaling about a match or practice? 

27:02 - Introducing journaling to tennis coaches 

33:40 - Helping athletes and coaches commit to journaling on a regular basis 

38:12 - The habit of learning from past journal entries 

45:01 - The benefits of writing things down after tennis lessons, practices, or matches 

51:09 - Best practices related to journaling and final thoughts  

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ​​​​​​​​​ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

Note: This episode was recorded on Sunday (5/30) which was before the news broke of Naomi Osaka's withdrawal from the 2021 Roland Garros tournament.  

This episode dives into the quote "Keep standards high and expectations low" which was originally used by Mikaela Shiffrin (Olympic and World Cup ski champion), but has been embraced and thoroughly discussed by Iga Swiatek. Brian and Josh discuss the expectations placed on various ATP and WTA players currently, and review how these expectations and pressures could impact them in the 2021 Roland Garros tournament. The co-hosts talk about certain players who have benefitted based on their focus on keeping their personal standards high without too much of a focus on the outcome and winning.  

We’re not the good guys: Osaka shows up problems of press conferences - Jonathan Liew - https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2021/may/31/were-not-the-good-guys-osaka-shows-up-problems-of-press-conferences  

Reporter Congratulates Nicolas Mahut After Loss - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Vnx-q_AdNM  

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ​​​​​​​​​ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

Ryan Harry has established himself as an industry leader within the tennis community. His 21-year career has presented opportunities to work at some of the most established clubs within the nation. Most recently, Ryan held the position as Head Professional for the International Tennis Hall of Fame. In February, 2021 Ryan launched Play Tennis Academy, a management company designed to bring club-level programming to your neighborhood. These efforts are to provide convenient junior and adult training opportunities at affordable rates.  Ryan's career highlights include USPTA pro of the year (RI), PTR pro of the year (RI), featured in Tennis Channel magazine, Tennis Industry magazine, and two developmental videos that are currently featured on Tennis Channel Academy.  

Play Tennis Academy - https://www.playtennisacademy.net/ 

Episode highlights: 

2:40 - Ryan describes his introduction to the sport of tennis 

7:07 - The beginning of Ryan's coaching journey 

9:20 - How positive coaches surrounding Ryan influenced his coaching philosophy 

16:28 - What Ryan looks for in the coaches that he hires at Play Tennis Academy 

20:37 - The challenges and successes during the launch of Play Tennis Academy 

24:16 - Ryan's journey as a coach and business owner from a mental toughness perspective 

26:54 - The shift in Ryan's coaching philosophy over the years 

31:25 - The mission behind Play Tennis Academy 

34:19 - The importance of play, fun, and enjoyment when learning tennis 

39:29 - Making matches and matchplay fun 

42:05 - The impact that tennis can make in a child's life 

45:45 - Helping kids get more engaged into tennis and become a 'student of the game' 

49:21 - Learning from the pros and having a hero to look up to 

53:32 - Creating a team-based environment within junior tennis 

59:54 - The mentality of playing one point at a time and never taking a point off 

1:05:52 - The benefits of playing different levels of players and learning from winning and losing 

1:07:11 - Creating a positive learning environment that promotes character development 

1:09:08 - Manipulating the rules of practice to better prepare players for the challenges of matches 

1:12:17 - Final thoughts and a challenge to the listeners - get out and play tennis tomorrow!

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss goal-setting strategies that can help tennis players further their development. The conversation starts by discussing the importance of crafting an identity for the person that you want to become, and then crafting goals relating to that new identity. They also discuss how tennis players ought to break down their larger "outcome goals" into smaller pieces using performance and process goals, and then develop new habits and systems to pursue those goals. Lastly, they review the relevant length of time to set goals for and the importance of focusing on short-term and medium-term goals rather than getting too caught up on long-term goals that can be discouraging and may feel unachievable.  

USTA HIGH PERFORMANCE COACHING PROGRAM DEVELOPMENTAL PLAN - https://s3.amazonaws.com/ustaassets/assets/689/15/16777_c_ny_19_playerdevelopment_reformatresources_pd_developmentalplan.pdf 

Don’t Dream Big | Eric Butorac | TEDxBinghamtonUniversity  -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3OoH_O9Y-U 

Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment - George Leonard - https://www.amazon.com/Mastery-Keys-Success-Long-Term-Fulfillment/dp/0452267560 

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ
on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

In this episode, Brian and Josh dive into the topic of choking and cover strategies that tennis players can utilize when they feel a match starting to slip away. First, the co-hosts discuss a few root issues relating to choking including identifying oneself as a "choker" or expecting that you will choke because you've choked in the past. Additionally, they examine how focusing too much on the score and the outcome of the match can cause players to play hesitantly so as to avoid losing rather than playing to win. Lastly, Brian and Josh review how implementing mental skills including mindfulness, self-talk, and visualization gives tennis players the best possible chance to handle choking situations well when they encounter them.  

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ​​​​​​​​​ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

When it comes to developing your potential as a tennis player, there are a number of factors involved. In this episode, Brian and Josh review several of those factors including the relationship between talent and potential, your genes, access to facilities and/or coaching, and the mindset required to develop your talent.  

The Performance Equation 

[Actual Performance] = [Potential Performance] - [Interference]

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can embrace the mentality of playing one point at a time. Many players notice that when they buy in to a one point at a time mentality, they feel less pressure and may even feel that it makes it easier for them to perform. The co-hosts review the "formula" to playing one point at a time (below) and explain that it is necessary to determine what a quality point means for each player, depending on their playing style. Lastly, Brian and Josh examine the importance of pre-point planning and utilizing an in-between point routine, and the need to be non-judgmental when assessing one's performance.  

The formula to play one point at a time:  

1. Play a quality point  

2. Recover  

3. Reset  

4. Refocus  

5. Repeat steps 1 - 4 until the match is over  

Winner's Creed by Bill Tym  - https://www.tennistakes.com/winners-creed/ 

Perfect Practice Formula by Bill Tym (Corrective Methodology) - https://performancextra.com/bill-tyms-perfect-practice-formula/  

Everything is Practice - https://performancextra.com/competitive-mindsets/everything-is-practice/  

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ​​​​​​​​​ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how athletes should approach returning back to tennis after an injury or break from the sport. Many athletes experienced the challenges of taking an extended break from their sport during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the co-hosts discuss the psychological differences between this stoppage and breaks due to injuries. Additionally, they talk about certain issues that commonly occur when tennis players return to the court after an extended break. Lastly, they discuss the need to keep expectations low at the start of a return from injury and the importance of prioritizing finding rhythm when an athlete returns to the court.  

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ​​​​​​​​ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis coaches and players can integrate mental skills on the practice court. It begins with utilizing deliberate and purposeful practice as a way to maximize time on court. Subsequently, Brian and Josh review the need to play practice matches and simulate higher-pressure situations in practice that are likely to occur during matches. Lastly, they reflect on how setting small daily goals and aiming to improve by 1% each day while practicing stressful situations will help athletes incrementally improve their games over time.  

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ​​​​​​​ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

Flow is a psychological concept that was named by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi in 1975 and can be defined as a state of complete immersion in an activity. In this episode, Brian and Josh describe this concept and its characteristics. Additionally, they explain some ways that tennis players can increase their likelihood of achieving flow on the court. Though it is likely that most of the time tennis players will not achieve a flow state, the strategies discussed to increase the likelihood of achieving flow are the same strategies that boost tennis performance as a whole.  

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ​​​​​​ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the concept of fear of failure. From their perspective, it is important to determine what it is exactly that is being feared, and how fear manifests itself on the court with physical, mental, and emotional consequences. Mindset shifts and physical tension release strategies to help tennis players deal with these symptoms of fear and pressure are reviewed. Lastly, Brian and Josh talk about how failure and losing are an important and necessary part of the improvement process, and provide quotes (below) relating to this idea.  

“Nana korobi, ya oki”  (English translation: Fall down seven times, stand up eight) - Japanese proverb  

“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” - Thomas Edison  

"I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." - Michael Jordan  

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ​​​​​ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

In this episode, Brian and Josh explore the topic of positive psychology and offer some interventions that can be helpful for tennis players. Positive psychology takes a strengths-based approach focusing on utilizing the strengths and positive emotions of individuals with the goal of thriving, flourishing, and well-being. Topics of discussion are the importance of having a high ratio of positive to negative emotions on the tennis court, continuing to work on the strengths of your tennis game rather than just focusing on weaknesses, and how to use the concept of Appreciative Inquiry to discover what is working in your game.  

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss handling pressure. Some common barriers to performing well under pressure, including unrealistic expectations, are reviewed. They break down higher-pressure matches and tournaments and give some tips for how to mentally prepare for these instances. Mentally rehearsing and preparing for high-pressure moments in matches including break points, deuce points, and tiebreakers are suggestions that are offered. Lastly, the two hosts discuss how the expectations or perceived expectations of others can often lead to feeling more pressure.  

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ​​​ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

Marius Barnard is a former ATP pro who spent 13 years on the tour, winning 6 titles, and reaching the men’s doubles quarterfinals at both Wimbledon and the Australian Open. During his playing career, he also had doubles wins over 6 world number ones, including Roger Federer. While playing on the tour, Marius studied psychology and business management. After his career was over, he used his expertise in performance psychology and business to become a coach and mentor. Today, Marius is an executive coach helping CEOs, Directors, and Managers improve their performance with tailored development programs and managing their work pressures with self-belief, optimism and resilience.   

Interview Highlights: 

2:11 - Marius explains his introduction to tennis and transition from a professional tennis player to an executive coach 

5:40 - The Clear Links model and the importance of self-belief to tennis players 

11:10 - Utilizing interventions including visualization within the Clear Links model 

22:02 - Developing a "highlight reel" from your matches to build confidence 

23:58 - Focusing on the present moment in competition 

28:56 - Helping athletes develop awareness 

30:52 - The differences between confidence and self-belief 

35:57 - How is optimism connected to self-belief? 

42:11 - The parallels between life as a professional tennis player and working as an executive coach 

46:27 - Resilience during a global pandemic 

56:07 - Finding the silver lining from difficult situations  

https://www.mariusbarnard.com/ - Marius Barnard - Performance Executive Coach

The 2021 Australian Open has concluded with Naomi Osaka and Novak Djokovic claiming the singles titles. We discuss how dominant each of these champions have been (Djokovic is 9-0 in Australian Open title matches and Osaka is 4-0 in her first four major finals), and how their mental strength has allowed them to become the champions that they are today. We also reflect on other storylines from the Australian Open including Aslan Karatsev's run to the semi-finals, Daniil Medvedev's performance throughout the tournament and final, and Jennifer Brady's run to the final.  

Links to videos mentioned in this episode:  

Naomi Osaka: "I was extremely nervous" press conference (F) | Australian Open 2021 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idmw9aWm3K8 

Aslan Karatsev: "I'll try to enjoy the moment" press conference (QF) | Australian Open 2021  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEy6hw2AP48 

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and Sport Psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the importance of focusing on the process. First, they break down the improvement process of becoming a better tennis player, which is slow and gradual. Next, they address the importance of enjoyment during the development process and how aiming for 1% improvements on a daily basis leads to significant long-term results. Lastly, they talk about the importance of having trust and faith in the process as improvements often can't be noticed until a later time.  

Don’t Dream Big | Eric Butorac TEDx Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3OoH_O9Y-U 

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ​​ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

Cristina Rolo and Dave de Haan co-founded Rolo Mental Coaching in 2005, and their coaching focuses on performance enhancement and quality of life. Both Cristina and Dave are internationally recognized experts in the area of performance psychology and mental coaching, especially in tennis. They have extensive experience at the elite and ATP professional level, and they co-authored the book, Mental Training in Tennis: Applied Strategies for Success.  

Interview Highlights:

1:27 - Cristina and Dave explain how they initially got involved in sport psychology 

7:11 - Tennis as a microcosm of life 

13:30 - How adversity can spur the transformation process 

19:42 - Helping athletes develop their own personal philosophies 

24:54 - Working with players on the ATP Tour 

36:02 - Having a person-oriented holistic approach to athletes who are entering retirement 

43:54 - "Why mental training" and how the chair analogy can be used to demonstrate the importance of mental training 

54:28 - The philosophy of viewing everything as practice 

58:18 - Helping tennis players develop mental skills from a young age as part of their athletic foundation  

Rolo Mental Coaching - rolomentalcoaching.com  

Mental Training in Tennis: Applied Strategies for Success - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B088XR3WXW/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss routines and break down routines into three parts. First, they review pre-performance routines and how to prepare mentally and physically leading up to a competition. Next, they address during-performance routines, and specifically the "16 second cure" developed by Dr. Jim Loehr to help tennis players manage their time in-between points. Lastly, they talk about post-performance routines and how to systematically learn from competition.  

The 16-Second Cure with Dr. Jim Loehr - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AviGTb3GKhQ 

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ
on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

In this episode, Brian and Josh explore the topic of mindfulness. They broadly define and discuss the importance of the topic and discuss how mindfulness can be trained for tennis players. Additionally, thoughts are provided on how mindfulness can be practiced in a number of ways including meditation, mindful walks, mindful eating, and choosing to "savor" the present moment. Lastly, Brian and Josh talk about their own introductions to the topic of mindfulness and their experiences practicing mindfulness/meditation.  

The Mindful Athlete - George Mumford - https://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Athlete-Secrets-Pure-Performance/dp/1941529259/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1611972272&sr=1-1 

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ​ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how to handle playing against difficult opponents and cheating. They discuss the mentality needed leading up to the match to perform at a high level against difficult opponents, including having contingency plans and the ability to reset after a cheating incident. They also share anecdotes of situations from their own playing and coaching careers when they handled playing against difficult opponents in a better or worse manner.  

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ
on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

In this episode, Brian and Josh explore the topic of "mental toughness" and break the concept into key attributes and characteristics of mentally tough tennis players and athletes. Mental toughness is often cited as a differentiating factor between tennis players of similar playing levels, but defining the concept and outlining it's attributes/characteristics can be challenging. This episode includes Brian's outline of the character traits of mentally tough athletes, and Josh's outline of the attributes of mentally tough tennis players.  

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

Episode 22 of the Tennis IQ Podcast discusses senior tennis through the perspective of self-determination theory (SDT). We discuss autonomy, competence (mastery), and relatedness as critical factors for helping senior tennis players stay motivated. We also discuss the importance of training perceptual skills, decision making skills, and mental toughness as a way for players to continue to perform at a high level and even improve as a they get older.  

Links:  

Tips for maintaining your edge: https://www.fredericknewspost.com/public/ap/older-amateurs-offer-tips-for-maintaining-your-athletic-edge/article_cc86a80a-3a9d-56c3-9ca7-03a72ed6ee03.html  

Motivation and morality in senior athletes: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1612197x.2014.956326?casa_token=dU3COke3lY4AAAAA%3Af67dgFQcXdeQxmcCnKfH1jX9-_C3jzLkfckHpW1ExYNJHju_5G8S-R11Bm2bCsSAQdGgLfR-NEwC&  

Articles on why tennis is a great sport for long-term health:  

https://www.mdlinx.com/article/people-who-play-this-sport-live-longest/lfc-3433  

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/05/well/move/the-best-sport-for-a-longer-life-try-tennis.html  

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

Jeff Greenwald is an internationally recognized sport psychology consultant and licensed therapist. For over twenty years he has been helping athletes and professionals around the world transform and take their performances, and their lives to another level through his personal coaching, seminars, book, audio programs, and online courses.

Frustrated with his performance as a modestly ranked professional tennis player in his twenties, Jeff went on to earn Master’s Degrees in clinical and sport psychology. During this process, he discovered the fundamental principles of athletic performance which propelled him from a moderately successful tennis player to No. 1 in the world in his age group with two ITF world titles.

Interview Highlights:

2:05 - Jeff's introduction to the sport of tennis

4:22 - Overcoming adversity and Jeff's experience of leaving home and training at the Bollettieri Tennis Academy

5:44 - Jeff's college tennis experience and his transition to the professional tour

9:31 - The concept of "Fearless Tennis"

11:51 - Helping tennis players redirect their focus

14:37 - How can tennis players go from feeling tight to playing loose

20:30 - Helping players maximize their time in-between points and during changeovers through routines and mindfulness

26:28 - Developing pre-match routines to prepare for competition

29:52 - Utilizing a clinical background to aid with sport/performance psychology

33:34 - Accepting thoughts and feelings that arise during competition

36:20 - The importance of gratitude and the link between gratitude and performance

41:22 - Helping athletes understand that focusing on the process will ultimately lead to better results

45:58 - Figuring out your "recipe" for performing at your best

48:02 - Jeff's experiences utilizing sport/performance psychology tools on the court as he continues to compete

49:37 - How Jeff's experience as a competitor helps him identify with his clients

53:59 - How expectations and focusing on the outcome can lead to tightness on court

55:54 - Jeff's current focuses including his recent courses Fearless Tennis and Getting Tight

Book: The Best Tennis of Your Life: 50 Mental Strategies for Fearless Performance - https://www.amazon.com/Best-Tennis-Your-Life-Performance-ebook/dp/B00506VMWE/

Course: Fearless Tennis Online Training - https://fearlesstennis.com/online-tennis-mental-training-course/

Course: Getting Tight with Craig O'Shannessy - https://www.braingametennis.com/getting-tight-preview-opponent-awareness/?fbclid=IwAR2AhMisCLKK9jFqILirnCSAMPUtYg4sflr5opIwTOOFVvl-b6Gxs4eXA6Y

Nikola Milinkovic has extensive work experience in sport and performance psychology and leadership coaching across a variety of high-performing environments. Nikola works with team and individual athletes, currently focusing on elite junior, ATP and WTA tennis players. Nikola spent over a decade directing sport psychology programs in high performance tennis settings in the US and the Netherlands. He played college tennis, is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), and a certified professional level coach through the US Professional Tennis Registry (USPTR).    

In addition to having worked in sport, Nikola transferred his expertise into sport organizations in Serbia, the United Nations (UN) and the Performing Arts industry. He served as a visiting performance and leadership consultant at Belgrade Sports Coaching Academy, UNICEF and as a Learning & Development and Performance Management coordinator for the UN agencies in the Netherlands. Nikola appeared on national television and is an international published author and presenter. He earned his BA degree in Psychology, and Theater Arts, from Clark University, and his EdM degree in Counseling, with focus on Sport Psychology, from Boston University.  

Interview highlights: 

2:56 - Nikola describes his introduction to the sport of tennis and overcoming performance anxiety 

7:51 - Nikola's journey to returning to tennis years after quitting the sport 

11:39 - How anxiety manifests itself in tennis, and how anxiety can be broken down into three pieces (emotional, mental and behavioral) 

25:49 - Focusing on WIN (what's important now) and the improvement process rather than just focusing on the outcome of winning matches 

33:52 - Staying "present" during competition 

40:01 - Integrating mental skills into practice and practice matches 

50:28 - How working in a variety of settings (theatre, the UN, etc.) has impacted Nikola's perspective as a sport and performance psychology professional 

58:00 - Having a "strengths based approach" and seeing people through a positive psychology perspective 

1:03:16 - Common obstacles that hold back elite junior and professional tennis players

In this episode of the Tennis IQ Podcast, Josh and Brian share their favorite books related to sport/performance psychology and tennis. With the holidays right around the corner, this is a great chance to look into getting these books for someone close to you or for yourself. These books vary greatly in terms of topic, perspective, and age, but all share valuable insights for athletes, coaches, and fans of tennis. Feel free to reach out via email at tennisiqpodcast@gmail.com with any books that you feel that we should add to our lists!

Josh's Top 5 Books:

Winning Ugly by Brad Gilbert

The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey

Heads-Up Baseball by Ken Ravizza and Tom Hanson

Life As Sport by Jonathan Fader

The New Toughness Training for Sports by James Loehr

Brian's Top 5 Books:

In Pursuit of Excellence by Terry Orlick

The Only Way to Win by James Loehr

Atomic Habits by James Clear

The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday

Tennis: Winning the Mental Match by Allen Fox

Bonus book for coaches: Coaching Athletes to Be Their Best: Motivational Interviewing in Sports by Stephen Rollnick, Jonathan Fader, Jeff Breckon, and Theresa B. Moyers.

A list of good sport and positive psychology books: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/86517.Best_Positive_And_Sports_Psychology_Books

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

For the 18th episode of the Tennis IQ Podcast, Brian and Josh discuss visualization and imagery and how these tools can be used to improve performance. To begin, they discuss how visualization/imagery can be used off-court, and how tennis champions like Novak Djokovic and Bianca Andreescu have utilized these mental tools to improve their performance. Next, they discuss how visualization and imagery can be trained on-court and how coaches can help tennis players utilize these skills on the practice court. Lastly, they discuss how these skills can be helpful for players to utilize while competing.

Links:

Novak Djokovic on visualization - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/turning-point/201509/champion-novak-djokovic-reveals-the-power-visualization

Bianca Andreescu on visualization - https://youtu.be/1kRjvvUmjAY

Inner Game of Tennis - Tennis Lesson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieb1lmm9xHk

Using visualization to improve learning and performance - https://performancextra.com/training/using-visualization-to-improve-learning-and-performance/

Other ideas for using visualization - https://performancextra.com/50-for-50/50-50-ideas-13-14-15-visualization/

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

As 2020 comes to a close, Brian and Josh discuss how to review the year of 2020 and how to plan for the year to come. Despite how challenging of a year 2020 was, it is important to highlight accomplishments and milestones that were reached throughout the year. The development of healthy habits and process goals are discussed in order to achieve larger performance and outcome goals. Additionally, the importance of establishing a developmental plan and utilizing a training journal to track your progress is also discussed.

Links:

Webinar on goal setting: https://youtu.be/qew8TGcS1ps

USTA Developmental Plan: https://s3.amazonaws.com/ustaassets/assets/689/15/16777_c_ny_19_playerdevelopment_reformatresources_pd_developmentalplan.pdf

Francisco Montoya's talk on Developmental Plans and Goal Setting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edOFPk0Hdqo&feature=youtu.be

USTA Player Development Training Journal: https://s3.amazonaws.com/ustaassets/assets/689/15/player_development_journal_2020.pdf

A list of 50 ideas for improving your life: https://performancextra.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/50-for-50.pdf

The 50 for 50 blog series: https://performancextra.com/category/50-for-50/

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and Sport Psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

Dr. Stephen Walker has been involved in the sport and performance psychology field since 1983 when he began at the Human Performance Laboratory at the University of Colorado. He is board certified with the Association of Applied Sport Psychology and is a member of the United States Olympic committee's registry of sport psychologists. Over the years, he has developed mental training programs for several accomplished athletes in a wide variety of sports from professional and Olympic levels to high school and club teams. Outside of his practice, Dr. Walker is also the editor in chief of Podium Sports Journal, a well-respected sport psychology blog.

If you would like to receive Dr. Walker's FREE guide to getting Competition Ready, send him an email at doc@drstephenwalker.com. Also, you can visit his website drstephenwalker.com

Interview highlights:

2:32 - Dr. Walker describes his background in sports and his introduction to the field of sport psychology

10:32 - The concept of Tennis IQ and being "in sync with your body"

15:40 - Mental preparation in sports

25:33 - The importance of positivity for athletes and parents

32:21 - Building a team and support system around tennis players and the importance of everyone understanding their roles in that team

34:47 - The importance of staying present rather than "time traveling" and future thinking

40:11 - Building confidence systematically through a confidence journal

52:54 - Process-based thinking rather than outcome-based thinking in pre-competition routines

1:01:27 - PETTLEP imagery while preparing for competition

For the 15th episode of the Tennis IQ Podcast, Brian and Josh discuss motivation and the importance of having a clear idea of what motivates each individual as tennis players and as performers. The academic concepts of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, as well as self-determination theory, are covered in relation to improving your motivation for tennis. Brian and Josh also reveal their  “origin stories” - how they started playing tennis and were subsequently motivated to pursue the sport in a serious way.

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

Sean Brawley is a former Top 150 world ranked tennis professional who competed at the highest level of the game including Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. After the tennis tour, Sean met and began working closely with Tim Gallwey, the author of The Inner Game series of books including the classic, The Inner Game of Tennis. Sean is the first certified Inner Game coach in the world. He has facilitated numerous Inner Game of Tennis and Golf workshops in the past 20 years. In 1997, Sean helped Gallwey revise the tennis and golf books and in 2008 organized the first ever Inner Game coaching conference. In 2012, Sean co-founded the Inner Game School of Coaching with Gallwey and served as the lead facilitator. As a facilitator and coach, he has custom designed highly unique, experiential programs for many well-known organizations such as GE, ITT, Union Bank, the New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and the U.S. Tennis Association. Sean was the primary mental coach for the USC football team for 9 years and helped Pete Carroll and the Trojans win 2 national championships.

Links:

Bounce-Hit - https://seanbrawley.mykajabi.com/single-greatest-exercise-for-tennis

Sean's TED Talk on the Power of Focus - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QkHv7pKHBc&t

Sean's interviews with Wilson's top players (registration required) - https://wdt.wilson.com/w-club/

Interview highlights:

2:41 - Sean describes his introduction to tennis

9:00 - College tennis at USC and playing alongside top collegiate players

10:57 - Transitioning to the professional tour and travelling to play the Grand Slams and other tournaments around the world

15:44 - The pressures of competing as a professional tennis player

19:24 - Meeting and working with Tim Gallwey

25:50 - Teaching tennis based on the "Inner Game"

33:49 - Focusing on solely what's most critical to aid tennis development

34:51 - Bounce-Hit

41:55 - Identifying and focusing on the most critical aspects of any new skill while teaching and coaching

48:14 - The most common pitfalls and roadblocks that interfere with the "natural" learning process

52:28 - Mindfulness meditation and its impact on awareness

57:03 - The patterns and insights that emerged from interviewing Wilson's top players such as Roger Federer and Venus Williams on the "Inner Game"

1:11:20 - Working with USC Football

Coach Bill Tym was an All-American at the University of Florida where he won 2 Southeastern conference singles titles, and is also in the UF Athletics Hall of Fame. He went on to compete on the professional tour where he won 10 national and international titles. As a coach, he is a USPTA Master Professional and past USPTA president, and a member of the USPTA Hall of Fame. He was named USPTA Professional of the Year in 1982, College Coach of the Year in 1989 (Vanderbilt), and Touring Coach of the Year in 1997 and 2002. He also received the George Bacso Lifetime Achievement Award from the USPTA in 2001.

Interview highlights:

2:43 - Bill describes his introduction to competing as a college tennis player and professional player, and how he started coaching college tennis

25:10 - The Evolution of a Champion - "Champions are not born. They are made."

27:58 - The importance of developing each part of the tennis game from a young age

33:53 - Bill describes his approach to coaching college teams and how he utilized different surfaces to help players develop their games

41:05 - Developing mental toughness within college tennis teams

42:10 - The Greatest Salesman in the World - Og Mandino

49:18 - Tennis as a proposed mandatory subject in schools

53:23 - The Winner's Creed

1:07:25 - Using tennis as a vehicle for personal growth

1:09:15 - Creating the Perfect Practice

Links:

The Winner's Creed: https://www.tennistakes.com/winners-creed/

Bill Tym's Coaching Philosophy - The Evolution of a Champion: https://performancextra.com/evolution-of-a-champion/

Creating the Perfect Practice: https://performancextra.com/bill-tyms-perfect-practice-formula/

The 2020 French Open has concluded with Rafael Nadal winning an astonishing 13th French Open title and record-tying 20th major in the men’s championship, and Iga Swiatek winning her first French Open and major title in the women’s championship. We review the Nadal-Djokovic and Swiatek-Kenin final matches and offer insights into the factors that determined the outcomes of each match. Additionally, we discuss the common links between the two champions and their ability to stay in the moment, even in the highest-pressure situations of a match.

Links to articles mentioned in this episode:

Profile and interview with Daria Abramowicz, Iga Swiatek's sport psychologist: https://www.wtatennis.com/news/1856382/how-swiatek-s-sports-psychologist-honed-her-mental-game

Nadal and Swiatek Stay in the Moment: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/12/sports/tennis/french-open-rafael-nadal-iga-swiatek.html

The Tao of Rafael Nadal: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/11/sports/tennis/french-open-rafael-nadal.html

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and Sport Psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

Dr. Judy Van Raalte is a Professor of Psychology at Springfield College, a Certified Consultant (CMPC) for the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, and is listed in the United States Olympic Committee Sport Psychology Registry. She has presented at conferences in 18 countries and published more than 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health, the NCAA, and the International Tennis Federation. She served as president of the American Psychological Association's Society of Sport, Exercise & Performance Psychology and as vice president of the International Society of Sport Psychology.

Highlights from the interview:

4:17 - Judy discusses her introduction to the sport of tennis and her interest in the mental side of sports

7:27 - Negative self-talk in tennis and why the sport causes tennis players to outwardly show frustrations and publicly insult themselves

9:43 - Judy's introduction to self-talk in an academic sport psychology setting

14:15 - How tennis players and athletes learn self-talk

20:06 - System 1 and System 2 self-talk

29:31 - The connection between self-talk and staying mindful in the present moment

33:57 - Instructional and motivational self-talk

38:05 - Pairing self-talk with sport psychology interventions such as imagery and mindfulness

44:12 - The connection between sport psychology research and how it is applied in practice

49:57 - Suggestions for tennis players on how to improve their self-talk

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and Sport Psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

Bob Dallis is in his 19th season as the Head Coach of the Dartmouth College Women's Tennis Team. Prior to Dartmouth he was the Head Men's and Women's Tennis Coach at Colgate University and was the Head Men's Tennis Coach at Boston University. He was a four-year member of the Boston University Men's Tennis Team and played on the professional circuit. Bob completed his doctoral degree at Boston University in Sport and Exercise Psychology where he completed his dissertation on "The Design and Implementation of an Elite Training System for Tennis."

Notable moments from the interview: 

2:34 - Bob describes his introduction to coaching college tennis at age 23 and his path to pursuing a doctoral degree in Sport Psychology 

6:04 - Creating a team culture in college tennis and the difficulty of "getting into the team room" at Dartmouth 

11:14 - College tennis as a team sport and how one player's negativity can lead to the negativity of their teammates 

16:05 - How to practice "positive response training" at practice in a team environment 

19:20 - Bob discusses how his Sport Psychology doctoral dissertation fits into his coaching style and philosophy 

28:01 - The importance of practice matches for college tennis players 

32:40 - How video analysis and match analysis can help improve performance 

36:06 - The importance of accepting the outcome and focusing on the process and doing your best 

41:18 - The improvements of college tennis players over four years 

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

Tennis is generally considered an individual sport because of the emphasis on singles, especially at the professional level. However, doubles in tennis is extremely popular and prevalent in the game. And unlike singles, it is a team sport that has its own set of challenges.  

In this episode, Josh and Brian discuss the various components of team dynamics in doubles that many players struggle with such as how to form an effective team, implementing successful communication strategies on and off the court, and how to be a great teammate. Lastly, Josh and Brian talk about their experiences coaching doubles teams at the college level from a sport psychology perspective.  

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!

William Boe-Wiegaard is in his fourth season as Head Men's and Women's Tennis Coach at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. Prior to Sacred Heart, William was a highly successful professional player on the ITF and ATP tours and collegiate player at Bates College. William played on the ITF and ATP tours for 13 years and in 2014 he reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of 1,002 and doubles ranking of 900. He was a five-time All-American selection at Bates College and won the 2006 NCAA Division III singles championship.

Interview highlights:

3:21 - William's background as a junior, collegiate, and professional player and how he got involved in collegiate coaching

13:15 - The importance of writing down your goals and having visual reminders

17:45 - The pros and cons of being an extremely competitive person

22:10 - Life as a professional tennis player on the ITF and ATP Tours and the importance of mental toughness

35:15 - The difference between being competitive and being a good competitor

42:20 - William's coaching philosophy and how to control the controllables to give yourself the best chance for success

51:53 - The NAVY Seal mentality of seeing situations as challenges instead of threats

56:59 - The challenges of college sports during the COVID-19 pandemic and how challenging situations can lead to growth and resilience

The 2020 US Open is reminding us once again that even the best players in the world are human and they can struggle with mental toughness. At the same time, there are also reminders of how incredibly tough and resilient these great players can be. The first 10 days of the Open, have given us a lot to talk about in terms of mental toughness.

In this conversation, Josh and Brian discuss the exit of Novak Djokovic, the Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Borna Coric match, and Serena Williams' quest for major title # 24 through the lens of sport psychology.

1:35 - What happened with Novak Djokovic and the difficulties of anger

18:15 - Tsitsipas vs. Coric: Closing out matches and coming back when you are down

29:24 - Serena Williams: Lots of three set matches, nerves, etc.

To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and Sport Psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game of tennis, email us at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com or use the hashtag #tennisIQ on Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Spotify, Apple, Google, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes!