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Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, the 2026 Shanghai Masters champion, opens up about the pressure that nearly made him quit tennis, leaving his longtime coaching setup, and the difficult decision to take control of his own career. After winning junior Wimbledon, Alejandro struggled with expectations and self-doubt. Years later, despite establishing himself on the ATP Tour, he felt he had little say in the decisions shaping his professional life. In this honest conversation with former world No. 4 Caroline Garcia and Borja Durán, Alejandro reveals what led him to leave his familiar environment after more than a decade, move from Málaga to Monaco, and rebuild his team from scratch. He reflects on one of the toughest periods of his career, how his wife helped him see things differently, and why finding happiness and independence away from tennis contributed to his best season in 2025. From managing anxiety and emotions on court to dealing with public expectations, choosing the right coaches, and learning that tennis isn't everything, this episode explores the personal side of professional tennis that fans rarely get to see. What happens when a professional athlete finally takes control of his own career? CHAPTERS00:00 The pressure that almost made Alejandro quit tennis 00:45 How Alejandro started tennis with his father 02:10 Winning junior Wimbledon — and nearly quitting 03:50 Breaking into the ATP Top 100 05:45 Battling anxiety and emotions on court 07:20 How routines changed his mentality 09:20 Marriage, happiness and finding balance outside tennis 11:55 Why being obsessed with tennis can hurt your performance 14:25 Why Alejandro deleted social media 16:45 "I had no voice" — the truth about his former team 18:50 Leaving Málaga for Monaco and starting over 20:10 Rebuilding his team and finding success in 2025 22:10 Caroline Garcia shares her own experience 24:00 How taking control transformed Alejandro's confidence 27:10 Why he wanted coaches who had competed at the highest level 30:40 His advice to his younger self LISTEN TO TENNIS INSIDER CLUBSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1SDHHtfQmUS0TyP8wqJEh9 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tennis-insider-club/id1721351881 FOLLOW TENNIS INSIDER CLUBInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tennisinsiderclub/ X: https://x.com/tennisinsidercl Subscribe to Tennis Insider Club for honest conversations with the world's best tennis players, exploring the stories, challenges and experiences behind professional tennis. JOIN THE CONVERSATIONAlejandro believes that taking control of his decisions and surrounding himself with the right people helped transform his career. What do you think matters most for an athlete's success: the right coach, mental confidence, or happiness outside the sport? Share your thoughts in the comments. We read them all. #AlejandroDavidovichFokina #TennisInsiderClub #TennisPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elina Svitolina opens up about the pressure to win, the fear of losing, and learning that a Grand Slam won’t define her worth. In this episode of Tennis Insider Club, Elina joins Caroline Garcia and Borja Duran for an honest conversation about the expectations that shaped her career—from leaving home at 12 and feeling she needed to win almost every match, to dealing with Grand Slam disappointments and finding a healthier relationship with tennis. She shares the difficult parts of her comeback after pregnancy, how quickly expectations returned with her results, and why she needed to step away when the emotional weight became too much. We also talk about life with Gael Monfils, the advice he gave her about winning a Grand Slam, raising their daughter Skai, representing Ukraine, and finding purpose beyond the tennis court. Elina still believes she can win a Grand Slam. She also believes she can have a great career—and a happy life—without one. CHAPTERS 00:00 The pressure to win: episode preview 00:40 How Elina started playing tennis 02:25 Junior success and the difficult road to turning pro 05:35 Leaving home at 12 and pressure from her parents 09:15 Changing her mindset and coping with painful losses 11:45 Why a Grand Slam won’t define her career 14:45 Working with a psychologist and Gael’s perspective 17:25 What keeps her motivated 19:30 Ukraine, her foundation, and finding balance beyond tennis 23:50 Pregnancy and uncertainty about returning 25:25 The reality of coming back after childbirth 29:35 How success brought the pressure back 31:20 Becoming a more aggressive player 33:00 When tennis became too much—and taking a break 37:10 Recognizing emotional exhaustion 39:30 Learning to listen to yourself 41:15 Life, love, and training with Gael Monfils 44:45 How motherhood changed her priorities 46:45 Would she want her daughter to play tennis? 50:40 Managing expectations around winning a Grand Slam 52:45 The nerves of watching each other compete 53:50 Her advice for young tennis players Which part of Elina’s story resonated with you most? Tell us in the comments. Subscribe to Tennis Insider Club for more honest conversations with the people behind professional tennis. Hosted by Caroline Garcia and Borja Duran. #ElinaSvitolina #TennisInsiderClub #Tennis Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John McEnroe has spent nearly five decades at the center of professional tennis — as a Grand Slam champion, world No. 1, rival, commentator and one of the most recognizable personalities the sport has ever produced. In this episode of Tennis Insider Club, McEnroe joins Caroline Garcia and Borja Durán for a candid conversation about what life at the top really feels like. He reflects on the pressure he experienced from a young age, why controlling his emotions on court was so difficult, and why even winning often brought little satisfaction before his attention immediately shifted to the next challenge. McEnroe also opens up about becoming a father, stepping away from the tour, and the difficult transition athletes face when tennis has become such a large part of their identity. The conversation explores Björn Borg’s sudden departure from the sport, the rivalries that defined McEnroe’s career, and why contrasting personalities remain so important to tennis today. McEnroe shares his perspective on Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz — including why Alcaraz’s ability to appear genuinely happy under enormous pressure fascinates him. Caroline also reflects on her own experience of retirement and the years when her results became inseparable from how she saw herself, leading to an unusually open exchange between two generations of Grand Slam champions. They also discuss: • Why McEnroe believes young players are pushed too hard • The role parents play in creating — or destroying — a healthy relationship with tennis • Why he encourages children to play multiple sports • The difficulty of separating self-worth from results • Why retirement rarely happens the way athletes imagine • How becoming a parent changed McEnroe’s perspective • Why personality and rivalry matter to the future of tennis • What McEnroe would do differently looking back A conversation about winning, pressure, anger, identity and learning how to live with — and eventually beyond — professional tennis. Hosted by Caroline Garcia and Borja Durán. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jessica Pegula watched players her age break through while injuries repeatedly interrupted her own career. After years outside the top 100, she began to wonder: “Is this not meant to be?” In this episode of The Insight, Jessica reveals why arriving later ultimately became one of her greatest strengths. She opens up about the injuries and comparisons that tested her belief, the moment she decided to take complete ownership of her career, and how building the right team helped transform her trajectory. She also explains why the calm exterior people see on court doesn’t always reflect what she is feeling—and why trying to manufacture emotion only made competing more exhausting. Jessica speaks candidly about becoming too focused on results, the burnout that followed, and how small goals—improving a kick serve or developing a drop shot—helped her rediscover the satisfaction of the craft. She also reflects on finally overcoming the Grand Slam “barrier” and reaching the US Open final, only to discover how quickly professional tennis moves on to the next match. Her biggest realization: success isn’t a single destination. The dream is the journey itself—the difficult weeks, the strange losses, the people beside you and the stories you collect along the way. This is an honest conversation about comparison, emotional authenticity, late success and learning to build a career that truly belongs to you. CHAPTERS 00:00 “Is this not meant to be?” 02:20 Escaping the comparison trap 04:00 Why succeeding later helped Jessica 05:00 Taking control of her own career 08:20 What years of injuries gave her 09:45 The truth behind her calm exterior 13:05 Results, burnout and rediscovering improvement 16:10 Breaking the Grand Slam “barrier” 19:15 Why success disappears so quickly 21:00 Learning to stop and appreciate it 22:00 “The dream is the journey” 23:10 Jessica’s advice to her younger self 24:10 Why the worst weeks become the best stories If Jessica’s story resonated with you, share this episode with someone who feels like their breakthrough is taking too long. Subscribe to Tennis Insider Club for revealing conversations with the people shaping professional tennis. What part of Jessica’s journey changed how you think about success? Let us know in the comments. #JessicaPegula #WTA #Tennis Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Knowles has spent his life around some of the greatest players in tennis — first as a player alongside Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Pete Sampras, and now as a coach working with Jessica Pegula. In this episode, Mark joins Caroline Garcia and Borja Durán for a deeply honest conversation about what actually separates talented players from the ones who reach their full potential. Mark reflects on why he believes he underachieved in singles, how perfectionism hurt his career, and why he now tells players: “Do not chase perfection.” He also opens up about coaching Jessica Pegula — why her team spent nearly a year convincing her to practice less, why elite players sometimes need less information rather than more, and how they are trying to help her take the final step toward winning a Grand Slam. The conversation also turns to one of the most sensitive subjects in tennis: parents. Mark explains why he believes players cannot reach their full potential until they establish the right relationship with their parents, leading Caroline to reflect openly on how her own father’s involvement affected her confidence, independence and decision-making. They also discuss Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick, player development, burnout, confidence, and why some of the hardest moments in a tennis career can become the ones you miss most once it is over.  Chapters: 00:00 Tennis parents, confidence & “I hated tennis” 00:44 Growing up in the Bahamas 01:45 Nick Bollettieri discovers Mark 03:00 Life inside the Bollettieri academy 05:20 Believing he could become World No. 1 06:35 Why Mark feels he underachieved 08:25 Caroline on struggling with confidence 11:25 Becoming a coach 13:40 How Mark started working with Jessica Pegula 15:05 Do champions need delusional confidence? 15:45 Why talent is overrated 16:30 “Do not chase perfection” 18:40 Caroline’s regret about not celebrating 19:20 Mark’s Grand Slam regrets 20:00 Teaching Pegula to celebrate winning 24:15 Why Jessica Pegula practiced too much 25:00 Convincing Pegula to train less 26:40 The problem with tennis parents 28:35 Caroline opens up about her father 29:45 Andy Roddick’s conversation with his dad 35:00 How a coach earns a player’s trust 36:30 Why Pegula focuses on improvement, not ranking 38:00 Why Pegula wants less information 40:00 Coaching a player trying to win a Grand Slam 42:45 Should players practice on Slam off-days? 44:55 Mark’s advice to young players 47:00 Why Jannik Sinner barely played juniors 49:00 Why reaching the top too young can hurt players 50:20 Alcaraz and building a complete game 50:50 How Nadal transformed his game 52:30 Caroline on what she wishes she had developed 53:45 How Federer, Nadal, Djokovic & Sinner kept evolving 57:00 Friendship and rivalry on tour 58:00 Why Caroline struggled to connect with players 59:00 How tennis locker rooms have changed Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ryan Harrison joins Caroline Garcia and Borja Duran for a deep dive into what elite tennis coaching actually looks like — and why some of the most common advice players receive may not help them at all. Now coaching Sebastian Korda, Ryan takes us inside the process of helping a player navigate pressure, setbacks and the biggest moments. He explains how Korda went from losing five straight points from 5–2 up in a deciding tiebreak against Taylor Fritz to handling the pressure differently weeks later against Carlos. Ryan also reflects on his own experience as a teenage prodigy, winning an ATP match at just 15, dealing with expectations and injuries, and what he wishes he had understood much earlier in his career. We get into why players can become obsessed with results instead of improvement, why tennis practice is often too generic, how players should actually choose a coach, and why telling someone to simply “be aggressive” means very little unless you can explain how. Ryan also turns coach for Caroline, breaking down how he would approach a match against Danielle Collins, before discussing parents in tennis, team dynamics, data, on-court coaching and his relationship with his brother Christian Harrison. CHAPTERS 00:00 Ryan Harrison’s tennis upbringing & being coached by his dad 01:18 Winning an ATP match at 15: when tennis became real 02:07 Pressure, plateaus & the prodigy trap 08:00 How Ryan’s parents helped him handle the pressure 12:09 What Ryan wishes he understood as a player 15:26 Injuries, COVID & how adversity shaped him as a coach 19:08 Korda vs Fritz → Carlos: learning how to close 21:17 Coaching men vs women 23:42 How Ryan would coach Caroline against Danielle Collins 27:38 Why tennis practice is often too generic 29:52 Stop chasing immediate results 35:23 How tennis players should choose a coach 40:12 On-court coaching, trust & solving matches in real time 43:19 Why “be aggressive” means nothing 45:07 How Ryan uses data without overwhelming players 48:30 What he would tell a 15-year-old prodigy today 50:26 Parents in tennis: knowing when to step back 55:47 Christian Harrison: from sibling rivalry to unconditional support Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do tennis players lose matches they should win? Legendary coach and former World No. 4 Brad Gilbert breaks down the tactics, mindset and tiny margins that separate winning from losing — with lessons from coaching Andre Agassi and insights on Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Caroline Garcia. Brad explains why he once told Agassi, “I never beat you. You lost to yourself,” and how changing the way Andre thought about risk helped transform his results. In this episode of The Insight, Brad reveals: • Why hitting more winners doesn’t necessarily mean playing better tennis • The mistake players make when a game plan stops working • Why you shouldn’t change a winning strategy until your opponent forces you to • How just 5–7 points can decide an entire match • What Roger Federer’s 53% of points won teaches us about greatness • The tactic Andre Agassi hated — even while it was helping him win • Why Novak Djokovic is so effective in pressure moments and tiebreaks • How elite players prepare before a Grand Slam • Why one bad match can never be allowed to become five Brad Gilbert built his career around understanding how to win — even when winning doesn’t look pretty. This is a masterclass in playing smarter, managing risk and trusting your strengths when the pressure is highest. CHAPTERS 00:00 “You lost to yourself” — Brad on Andre Agassi 02:00 Why Caroline Garcia plays “massively risky” 03:20 When your game plan isn’t working 05:00 Don’t change a winning hand 06:30 The tiny margins that decide tennis matches 07:20 Federer won only 53% of his points 08:15 The statistic Brad changed with Agassi 10:00 Why great players need to adapt 11:45 The tactic Andre Agassi hated 13:30 How to play under pressure 15:00 Why Djokovic is so good in tiebreaks 17:00 Greatness happens in practice 18:00 You don’t need to beat the whole draw 19:00 How champions approach Grand Slams 22:15 The matches that determine your ranking If you enjoy conversations that go beyond the headlines and inside the minds of the people who know professional tennis best, subscribe to Tennis Insider Club. #BradGilbert #AndreAgassi #Tennis #TennisTips #WinningUgly #NovakDjokovic #RogerFederer #CarolineGarcia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can a parent also be the coach? And can perfectionism create greatness without destroying the person? Former world No. 3 and Roger Federer’s former coach Ivan Ljubicic joins Caroline Garcia and Borja Duran for an honest conversation about tennis parents, junior development, elite coaching and the hidden cost of becoming one of the best. Ivan explains why parents should be responsible for developing the human being—not coaching the tennis player—and how even a small expression of doubt can undermine a child’s relationship with their coach. He discusses parents who project their own ambitions, the difficult transition toward independence, and why a parent can never fully occupy both roles. They also explore why results should not be the objective, how Jannik Sinner focuses on constant improvement, why junior success can be misleading, and what players should value when choosing a coach. Ivan then reveals what made Roger Federer so professional and coachable, how Federer treated the people around him, and why the greatest players never stop adding new tools to their game. In this episode: • The biggest mistakes tennis parents make • How to raise an ambitious but independent young athlete • Why results are outside a player’s control • The relationship between perfectionism, success and happiness • How to choose the right coach • Why player and coach must share the same ambition • The danger of becoming successful too young • How elite tennis teams are built • What players can learn from Roger Federer • Why players must take ownership of their careers Can a parent successfully be both the parent and the coach? Share your perspective in the episode comments. Follow Tennis Insider Club for more honest conversations with the greatest players, coaches and minds in tennis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Shelton did not seriously choose tennis until he was 11. His father and coach, Bryan Shelton, reveals how he helped build Ben’s extraordinary confidence—without controlling him, limiting his personality or coaching the talent out of him. From setting his own alarm for 6 a.m. practices to leaving college early and eventually asking his father to join him on tour, Ben’s journey was built around responsibility, independence and belief. Bryan explains why he only gives Ben “five or ten percent” of what he knows, why he smiles from the player box even when things are going badly, and why parents should ask more questions instead of constantly telling young athletes what to do. This is The Insight: the most powerful lessons from our complete conversation with Bryan Shelton. Watch the full Bryan Shelton episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JOp69bDfkg CHAPTERS 00:00 Ben Didn’t Want to Play Tennis 01:24 The 6 A.M. Practice Rule 02:08 Developing the Person, Not Just the Player 03:05 Ben’s Unusual Confidence 04:18 Don’t Put Him in a Box 05:18 Raising the Floor Without Lowering the Ceiling 06:22 Keep Making the Right Mistakes 07:48 Why Ben Left College Early 10:23 “Dad, You Have to Come Out Here With Me” 10:50 Balancing Being a Father and Coach 12:12 Why Bryan Only Gives Ben 10% 12:54 Why Bryan Always Smiles 13:58 What Parents Project From the Player Box 15:24 Confidence Before Results 17:18 Bryan’s Advice to Parents 19:18 The Lesson Every Sports Parent Should Hear Follow Tennis Insider Club: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tennisinsiderclub/ X: https://x.com/tennisinsidercl Subscribe for honest conversations with the players, coaches and people shaping professional tennis. #BenShelton #Tennis #TennisInsiderClub Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corentin Moutet is known for playing—and reacting—differently. But behind the emotional moments and public labels is a player trying to understand why losing once felt unbearable, why tennis celebrates personality and then punishes it, and how to find peace in a sport he still loves. In this honest conversation with Caroline Garcia and Borja Durán, Corentin explains why he never learned how to lose, how winning became connected to his self-worth, why he struggled to control his emotions, and what facing Carlos Alcaraz revealed about his game. He also opens up about being misunderstood as lazy, the freedom he finds through music, his unique relationship with Roland-Garros, why he believes tennis culture must evolve, and the goal that matters more to him than rankings or money: finding peace before his career ends. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Why Moutet couldn’t stop breaking rackets 01:00 Growing up with tennis as a game 06:00 The origins of his unique playing style 08:00 Why he never learned how to lose 13:00 Anger, rackets and emotional control 15:00 When winning became personal worth 21:00 The mentality hurting professional athletes 23:00 Tennis promotes personality—then punishes it 27:00 What Carlos Alcaraz exposed in his game 33:00 Unlearning childhood beliefs 36:00 Music, balance and being misunderstood 44:00 Why Roland-Garros feels like home 47:00 Why tennis culture must change 49:00 “Tennis is boring” and the ATP contradiction 52:00 His goals beyond results 56:00 Finding peace before retirement Tennis Insider Club is where the people who have lived professional tennis share the stories and lessons fans rarely get to hear. Subscribe for more honest, player-to-player conversations from inside the tour. LISTEN TO TENNIS INSIDER CLUB Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1SDHHtfQmUS0TyP8wqJEh9 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tennis-insider-club/id1721351881 FOLLOW TENNIS INSIDER CLUB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tennisinsiderclub/ X: https://x.com/tennisinsidercl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Henman joins Caroline Garcia and Borja Durán to discuss Wimbledon pressure, prize money, family legacy and what success really means. A former World No.4 and four-time Wimbledon semifinalist, Tim opens up about growing up with Wimbledon in his family, carrying British expectations, the debate around Grand Slam prize money, and why tennis needs better communication between players and tournaments. Caroline, Borja and Tim also explore parenting, pressure, respect, success beyond winning, and how the sport can build a healthier future. Follow Tennis Insider Club for unfiltered conversations with the world’s best tennis players, coaches and insiders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marta Kostyuk’s coach Sandra Zaniewska joins Caroline Garcia and Borja Duran on Tennis Insider Club for a deep conversation about emotions, pressure, coaching, parents, data, recovery and what it really takes to build a top tennis player. Sandra shares how she went from professional player to coach, what she learned from working with Petra Martić and Alizé Cornet, and how she built a long-term relationship with Marta Kostyuk. She explains why she loves emotional players, why the goal is not to get rid of emotions, and how Marta is learning to turn them into strength. They also discuss the pressure of winning titles, the difference between being an underdog and a top seed, why Sandra does not set ranking goals, how she uses data to measure progress, how players can recover mentally during a long WTA season, and why tennis parents need more education and support. This episode is for Marta Kostyuk fans, tennis coaches, tennis parents, junior players, WTA fans, and anyone interested in elite sport, mental performance and high performance. This episode is sponsored by IM8. IM8 Daily Essentials is one of Caroline’s non-negotiables. One sachet includes 99 clinically dosed ingredients supporting gut health, energy, immunity, joint support and more. IM8 Longevity Powder is designed to support your body at a cellular level for long-term health and performance. Try IM8 here: https://iam8health.com/discount/TIC Use code TIC at checkout for 10% off your first order. Follow Tennis Insider Club: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tennisinsiderclub/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tennisinsiderclub Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1SDHHtfQmUS0TyP8wqJEh9 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tennis-insider-club/id1721351881 Chapters: 00:00 Intro: emotions, parents and coaching 00:42 How Sandra Zaniewska started playing tennis 02:20 Why you don’t need to start tennis at age three 03:00 Retiring as a player and becoming a coach 04:05 IM8 Daily Essentials ad 05:20 From player to coach: the transition 06:30 Coaching Petra Martić and learning on the job 08:00 Petra Martić’s French Open quarterfinal and Sandra’s breakthrough moment 09:15 Why coach-player splits feel like breakups 11:00 Learning to coach different personalities 12:00 How to start with a new player and build trust 14:00 Joining a team and working with staff 14:40 Coaching Marta Kostyuk under pressure 17:00 Why Sandra loves emotional players 19:15 The pressure of being an underdog vs a top seed 22:00 What happens after winning a title 23:15 Managing expectations after big success 24:00 Marta Kostyuk’s “princess treatment” at Roland Garros 25:20 Why Marta skipped Rome 26:00 Mental recovery and protecting the player 27:00 Why Sandra told Marta to consider stopping her season 29:00 Giving players space outside tennis 30:30 Learning when not to play 32:00 The ranking trap and outside pressure 33:30 What parents misunderstand in junior tennis 35:00 Why tennis parents need more education 36:00 Sandra’s advice to parents of young players 38:30 Parents living through their children 40:30 Why players must enjoy the journey 42:30 What really changed before Marta Kostyuk’s breakthrough 45:00 Why Sandra doesn’t set ranking goals 46:30 Using data to prove progress 48:15 How long should a coach-player relationship last? 49:45 The stats Sandra uses with Marta Kostyuk 51:00 Scouting opponents and choosing the right tools Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eugenie Bouchard returns to Tennis Insider Club for one of her most honest conversations yet. After reaching the Wimbledon final at 20, becoming one of the most talked-about players in tennis, and carrying the pressure of expectation for years, Genie opens up about why she really decided to retire. In this episode, she talks with Caroline Garcia and Borja Duran about the emotional cost of elite tennis, the pressure to repeat her 2014 breakthrough, the criticism she received for building a life beyond the court, the injuries she played through, and the strange freedom that came once she finally said: this is the end. Genie explains that she did not retire because she could no longer play. She still knew she could compete. But the demands of giving everything to tennis left little room for anything else in life. She also reflects on the mental spiral after difficult losses, how negative self-talk can become dangerous, and why being famous so young is much harder than people imagine. This is a conversation about retirement, but also about identity, ambition, sacrifice, fame, pressure, and learning to define success on your own terms. Follow Tennis Insider Club for more honest conversations with the biggest names in tennis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before what is expected to be his final Roland Garros, Gaël Monfils opens up about one of the biggest misconceptions of his career: that it was ever just about the show. For years, fans saw the smile, the energy, the jumping smashes, the tweeners, and the impossible athleticism. But behind all of that, Gaël says there was always one thing first: the desire to win. In this short episode, Gaël reflects on the pressure of being called a “showman,” why his spectacular style came naturally to him, the sacrifices behind a long career, the weight of comparison, and why enjoying the journey has been essential to surviving more than two decades at the highest level. As he prepares for his last Roland Garros before retiring at the end of the season, this is a tribute to one of tennis’ most beloved players — in his own words. This episode is sponsored by IM8. 🔗 Try IM8 and get 10% off your first order → im8health.com/discount/TIC Use code TIC at checkout. 🎧 Follow Tennis Insider Club for more honest conversations with the biggest names in tennis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Madison Keys joins us for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had on Tennis Insider Club. After years of being told she would win a Grand Slam, Madison opens up about the pressure that followed her from a very young age, the weight of expectations, and the painful thought that no matter how much she had achieved, her career might still feel incomplete without a Slam. She reflects on the 2017 US Open final, the emotional exhaustion of Grand Slam runs, playing Sloane Stephens in New York, and how badly it hurt to feel so close to a dream and watch it disappear so quickly. Madison also shares the inner work that changed everything: therapy, separating her self-worth from results, learning to stop living only for tennis, and finally reaching the point where she could say, “I’m just going to play tennis how I want to play it.” Then she won the Australian Open. This episode is about pressure, perfectionism, identity, friendship, balance, and the difficult but powerful process of becoming kinder to yourself. Chapters: 00:00 Madison Keys on feeling like a failure without a Slam 00:39 How Venus Williams inspired Madison to start tennis 03:42 Sponsor break: IM8 04:55 Turning pro at 14 07:42 Being called “the next Serena Williams” 09:18 The pressure of not winning a Grand Slam 12:15 The pain of the 2017 US Open final 18:00 Therapy, letting go, and finally winning Australia 21:35 Why winning brought old habits back 25:28 Separating Madison the person from Madison the player 29:15 What’s the point of winning if you’re miserable? 31:35 Did winning the Australian Open feel like relief? 34:00 Radical honesty and avoiding easy tennis excuses 36:35 Perfectionism: gift or curse? 41:48 Having her husband as her coach 46:15 What motivates Madison now? 50:25 Madison’s foundation and giving kids access to tennis 54:35 Madison’s advice to her younger self This episode is sponsored by IM8. Get 10% off your first order. Code TIC auto-applies at checkout: https://im8health.com/discount/TIC A special thank you to InterContinental Rome for hosting us. Follow Tennis Insider Club: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tennisinsiderclub/ X: https://x.com/tennisinsidercl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.