Building People, Not Just Players. John Williams, coach of world no.1 Doubles Taylor Townsend
This week on the Functional Tennis Podcast I’m joined by John Williams, coach and mentor to world number 1 doubles player Taylor Townsend.John’s approach to coaching is anything but conventional. He doesn’t just build tennis players, he builds characters. In this chat we talk about the characteristics he looks for in players, how his outside-the-box thinking shapes their development, and why mindset and life skills are just as important as technique.Key Topics🎾 The traits that separate good players from great ones🧠 Why developing character is as important as developing skills💡 How to think differently about tennis and avoid a conformist mindset📈 Lessons from coaching top pros and upcoming juniorsQuote“I’m not just coaching forehands and backhands, I’m building people.”From guiding top pros to developing juniors, John shares invaluable lessons for players, coaches, and parents who want to understand what it truly takes to succeed in the sport.EnjoyFabioThis podcast is sponsored by ASICS. ASICS is a Japanese company founded in 1949 to give more people the opportunity to experience how sports and movement can have a positive impact on mental well-being.To learn more about ASICS visit their website here: https://www.asics.com/nl/en-nl/sports/tennis/Find us on Social Media:Instagram: Instagram.com/FunctionalTennisTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@functionaltennis
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Going All In Changed Everything for Wheelchair Champ Charlie Cooper
In this episode, I chat with 17-year-old American wheelchair tennis player Charlie Cooper, a rising star who’s already claimed 2 junior wheelchair singles Grand Slam titles.Born with spina bifida, Charlie’s journey into tennis started with local clinics and has now taken him to the top levels of junior competition. He shares how making the decision to go full-time in 2023 completely changed his development, both mentally and physically.We talk about the improvements he’s seen since going all in, the structure of wheelchair tennis, his tournament experiences, and what he hopes to achieve in the future.Key topics:• How going full-time helped Charlie raise his level• What a typical training week looks like for him• Differences in mindset between juniors and pros• How wheelchair tennis works at the top level• His goals for the coming seasonA super insightful conversation for tennis fans and players alike.FabioThis podcast is sponsored by ASICS. ASICS is a Japanese company founded in 1949 to give more people the opportunity to experience how sports and movement can have a positive impact on mental well-being.To learn more about ASICS visit their website here: https://www.asics.com/nl/en-nl/sports/tennis/Find us on Social Media:Instagram: Instagram.com/FunctionalTennis
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College Champ Starting Her Pro Journey, Dasha Vidmanova Ep260
🎙️ This week on the Functional Tennis Podcast, I’m joined by Dasha Vidmanova, the former US College #1 player and 2024 NCAA singles, doubles, and team champion.Born in Moscow and raised in Prague, Dasha’s journey through tennis has been anything but linear. From nearly walking away from the sport to becoming a dominant force in college tennis, she now has her sights set on making waves on the pro tour.We chat about:📍 How college tennis reignited her passion for the game🎓 Why she initially didn’t plan to turn pro💪 Learning to lose as part of going pro🧠 The mindset shift that led to major improvements🇺🇸 What it’s like being the best female college player in the US🎯 Her short-term and long-term goals on tour💼 And why she majored in finance, just in case tennis didn’t work outWhether you’re a parent, coach, or young player weighing up college vs pro tennis, Dasha offers refreshing honesty and insight into both paths.Enjoy, FabioThis podcast is sponsored by ASICS. ASICS is a Japanese company founded in 1949 to give more people the opportunity to experience how sports and movement can have a positive impact on mental well-being.To learn more about ASICS visit their website here: https://www.asics.com/nl/en-nl/sports/tennis/Find us on Social Media:Instagram: Instagram.com/FunctionalTennis
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“I Didn’t Think I’d Go Pro” Aleks Kovacevic ATP #77
This week on the Functional Tennis Podcast, I’m joined by American ATP player Aleks Kovacevic, currently ranked #77 ATPAleks takes us through his surprising journey to the pro tour, from not thinking he’d ever go pro to finding belief during college and climbing the ATP rankings, including a big win over world #5 Andrey Rublev. He opens up about learning to lose, building confidence, and handling pressure on tour.We also dive into his one-handed backhand, how he approaches training and improvement, and why he’s added the Functional Tennis Saber to his warmup to help with timing and focus.Packed with honest insights and practical takeaways, this is a great listen for aspiring players, coaches, and fans of the grind.FabioThis podcast is sponsored by ASICS. ASICS is a Japanese company founded in 1949 to give more people the opportunity to experience how sports and movement can have a positive impact on mental well-being.To learn more about ASICS visit their website here: https://www.asics.com/nl/en-nl/sports/tennis/Find us on Social Media:Instagram: Instagram.com/FunctionalTennisTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@functionaltennis
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Spotting Tennis’s Next Star with Clinton Coleman from IMG Tennis
In this episode, I speak with Clinton Coleman, Senior Scout at IMG Tennis, who helped discover and guide some of the sport’s brightest young talents, including Nick Kyrgios, Alexander Eala, Mirra Andreeva at 11. Clinton shares what he really looks for in juniors, why mindset often matters more than strokes, and how parents can either help or hinder a player’s development. We also chat about the biggest scouting misconceptions and what separates good from great in today’s tennis landscape.What he really looks for in young playersHow Clinton spotted Mirra Andreeva at age 11The biggest misconceptions about talent and techniqueThe role of parents in player developmentWhy mindset and competitiveness matter mostHope you enjoyFabioThis podcast is sponsored by ASICS. ASICS is a Japanese company founded in 1949 to give more people the opportunity to experience how sports and movement can have a positive impact on mental well-being.To learn more about ASICS visit their website here: https://www.asics.com/nl/en-nl/sports/tennis/Find us on Social Media:Instagram: Instagram.com/FunctionalTennisTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@functionaltennis
Presented by Fabio Molle, The Functional Tennis Podcast is a downloadable audio show featuring weekly interviews with players, coaches, trainers, tennis parents and experts working at the highest level of tennis.
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