Control the Controllables

The first episode of our Wimbledon 2026 daily live series, recorded inside the grounds on Day 1 of The Championships. Brought to you by Novellus.

Live every night at 9 pm UK across the Wimbledon fortnight, with Wimbledon champions, tennis icons and special guests joining Dan to break down the day's biggest stories from inside the grounds at SW19.

In this episode:

• Major Moments (brought to you by SotoTennis Academy): Raducanu and Draper both withdrew, Norrie beaten in five by qualifier Michael Zheng, and a brutal Day 1 for the British contingent
• Jannik Sinner survives a three-and-a-half-hour scare against Kecmanović, including the Centre Court fall that briefly stopped play
• TennisAthlete Player of the Day: Michael Zheng, the Columbia graduate ranked No. 144 who outlasted Norrie over four hours.
• Lloyd Glasspool joins the show on what it feels like coming back as defending champion, the surreal moment of seeing his face on the wall, and why he didn't celebrate the title the way everyone expected
• Lloyd's honest take on the British injuries
• The Wimbledon Quickfire with Lloyd: first memories, favourite British food, greatest grass-court players and the celebrity he'd want courtside
• Dear Dan: scouting opposition and the young players to watch this fortnight

Tomorrow on the show: Erin Routliffe joins Dan as Day 2 brings Katie Boulter, Jacob Fearnley, Arthur Fery, Jan Choinski, Toby Samuel, Billy Harris and Katie Swan into action, plus the Centre Court return of Serena Williams.

About Control the Controllables Wimbledon Live

Dan Kiernan and a different special guest every night, bringing you analysis from inside the grounds at Wimbledon. Wimbledon champions, tennis icons, players, coaches and analysts join across the fortnight. Live every evening at 9pm UK on the CTC YouTube channel. Episodes drop as podcasts the next morning wherever you get your podcasts.

Send your Dear Dan questions via Instagram @ctc.podcast or email [email protected].

Brought to you by Novellus Finance.

Major Moments segment brought to you by SotoTennis Academy -visit sototennis.com.

Player of the Day brought to you by TennisAthlete -age-appropriate, research-backed strength and conditioning programmes from proven S&C coaches. The platform Dan recommends for physical development. Visit sototennis.com/tennisathlete.

It is Wimbledon time! Dan is Joined by the ever present Freddie Nielsen, Denmark Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon doubles champion, and Kieran Vorster, S&C coach and one of the sharpest minds in the game, currently working with Henry Searle and Dan Evans among others.

There is plenty to get into before a ball has even been struck, from retirements and comebacks to doping bans and prize money rows.

You will have to listen to find out who they are backing, and there are a couple of calls in there that might surprise you!

Key talking points:

1. Dan Evans retires from singles and misses out on a Wimbledon singles wild card, with Kieran and Freddie paying tribute to his career and discussing what he brings to coaching, and whether the communication around the wild card decision was handled well.
2. Vondrousova was banned for four years after refusing a doping test outside her guaranteed whereabouts window, with the panel breaking down the rules, the context and whether the punishment fits the circumstances.
3. Wimbledon prize money is up twenty percent but Kieran has the actual numbers to show it still only represents around twelve percent of turnover, and why the players may be pushing for change in the wrong place.
4. Serena Williams gets a wild card into the singles draw and faces Maya Joint in the first round, with the panel debating whether she can win a match and what her return means for the sport.
5. Women's dark horses and winner picks across both draws, with some bold calls and a couple of genuine outside shouts you will not want to miss.
6. Men's draw highlights including Fritz versus Draper, Fonseca versus Felix Auger-Aliassime, Kyrgios and Bublik paired together in the doubles, and a fascinating and heated debate on whether Djokovic can go deep again.
7. The introduction of video review on the show courts at Wimbledon and what difference it will actually make.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introduction

03:00 Dan Evans, his retirement and the wild card debate

10:00 Vondrousova and the four year doping ban

16:00 Wimbledon prize money and the twenty percent increase

24:00 Serena Williams wild card and first round draw

32:00 Women's dark horses and winner picks

42:00 Men's draw, dark horses and first round highlights

52:00 The Djokovic debate

56:00 Video review at Wimbledon and storylines to watch

Also, CTC Wimbledon Live Shows ARE BACK!. Live on YouTube and uploaded on all podcast platforms!

THE backstage pass to Wimbledon 2026, through the eyes of the coaches and insiders living it from the inside.

Each evening at 9 pm UK time throughout the fortnight!

Watch Live here: CTC YouTube

Segments include:

Wimbledon Stories - Where Wimbledon icons join as guests each episode to tell their most memorable championship stories!

The “Major” Moments - Talking about all the big talking points of the day's Wimbledon action! Brought to you by SotoTennis Academy.

Tennis Athlete’s Player Of The Day - Deciding the best player with the best performance of the day! Brought to you by Tennis Athlete.

Quick Fire Round - A Wimbledon-themed set of rapid questions!

Dear Dan - Where Dan answers your questions! Any questions, including the experience at Wimbledon, coaching advice, behind-the-scenes questions, anything you want!

Send in your questions for Dan via our live comment section or our Instagram DM:

CTC Instagram here 🔗

Train Smarter Anywhere: Strength & Conditioning for Tennis Players On the Go 🎾

For players who don’t always have access to in-person coaching, progress doesn’t have to stop. TennisAthlete is an online Strength & Conditioning platform, designed specifically for tennis players who want structured, affordable and flexible training. Wherever they are in the world. TennisAthlete helps you stay consistent, improve performance, and train with purpose. Train smarter. Anywhere.

TennisAthlete

Thank you everyone for listening!

Never miss a Wimbledon live show this fortnight!

This week Dan is joined by ATP pro Zach Svajda, fresh off a stunning run to the last 16 of Roland Garros 2026.

There he beat the heat, the occasion and a host of higher ranked players before falling to eventual finalist Flavio Cobolli in a fourth set tie break. Currently ranked 69 in the world with a career high of 62, Zach is 23 and only just getting started.

This is a genuinely special and emotional conversation. Zach opens up about the unconventional path that got him to top level tennis, from using a full size racket at age two to taking nearly five years away from junior tournaments, busting a host of tennis development myths along the way.

Zach also reflects movingly on the loss of his father to cancer and how that continues to shape why he plays.

Key talking points:

• Zach's remarkable Roland Garros run to the last 16 despite his lack of clay court experience.
• What it felt like inside the locker room in Paris the day Sinner went out.
• The unconventional development path set by his father
• Zach talks about the impact of the passing of his father and how he carries his memory and lessons with him on court.
• He tells us what is was like playing Novak Djokovic on Arthur Ashe at the US Open.
• His relationship with younger brother Trevor, a rising college star, and the prospect of the two one day facing off on tour.

A brilliant and honest conversation with a player on the rise. Make sure to give this one a listen.

Read full shownotes here.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

• Connect with us: Instagram | Website | Email
• Follow Zach on Instagram: @zachsvadja
• SotoTennis Academy

Mentioned in this episode:

Train Smarter Anywhere: Strength & Conditioning for Tennis Players On the Go 🎾

For players who don’t always have access to in-person coaching, progress doesn’t have to stop.

TennisAthlete

Our Roland Garros 2026 Review Show is here!

What a fortnight in Paris it´s been, with two new Grand Slam Champions in Sascha Zverev & Mirra Andreeva.

Host Dan Kiernan is joined by Denmark Davis Cup Captain Freddie Nielsen and GB doubles coach Calvin Betton to look back on a quite extraordinary French Open.

Calvin joins us fresh from coaching Henry Patten and Harri Heliövaara to their third Grand Slam final and their first ever world number one ranking in men's doubles, so there is plenty to get stuck into from the off.

Key talking points:

• Henry and Harry reach the Roland Garros final and claim the world number 1 ranking, with Calvin giving an honest account of what went wrong on the day.
• Sinner's shock exit and whether it was truly an upset, or the inevitable result of an overcrowded schedule catching up with him.
• Fonseca versus Djokovic and whether Roland Garros 2026 was the moment a future Grand Slam champion announced himself on the biggest stage.
• Zverev wins his first Grand Slam but the panel debate whether men's tennis is currently lacking variety and real tactical depth.
• Mirra Andreeva wins the women's title age 19, plus the remarkable story of qualifier Maja Chwalinska reaching the final.
• The Italian tennis culture, Roland Garros and electronic line calling, plus a few strong opinions on how the tournament is run.

On to the grass!

This episode is brought to you by Novellus Finance

Connect with us:

• Instagram: ctc.podcast
• Website: www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk

Watch the full video version over on the Control the Controllables YouTube Channel

Mentioned in this episode:

Train Smarter Anywhere: Strength & Conditioning for Tennis Players On the Go 🎾

For players who don’t always have access to in-person coaching, progress doesn’t have to stop.

TennisAthlete

Our CTC Live series continues from Roland Garros 2026! Host Dan Kiernan is joined by broadcaster Candy Reid and performance analyst Mike James to round up an extraordinary first week at the French Open.

From Fonseca's stunning comeback against Djokovic to Sinner's shock exit in the heat, the drama has been non-stop. Dan also gives us a first-hand account of being at the tournament with his players, including a brilliant moment with Landaluce after his 5hr 58 minute epic.

This is the place to go for a round-up of Roland Garros action from a coach's perspective.

Key talking points:

1. Jannik Sinner's shock exit to Cerundolo in the heat, with Mike noting odds of 12,500 to 1 on that result, and Candy raising an interesting theory about redheads and the MC1R gene explaining Sinner's struggles in extreme temperatures.
2. Fonseca's extraordinary comeback from two sets down to beat Novak Djokovic, with Dan sharing what it was like to witness that match in person sitting next to the Fonseca family, and the panel debating whether it was Novak's Roland Garros farewell.
3. Rafael Jodar continuing his run and the unprecedented state of the men's draw, with no former Grand Slam champion remaining in the last 16 for the first time since 1968.
4. The injury crisis gripping the tournament?
5. Marta Kostyuk beating Iga Swiatek and her remarkable mindset, with Mike sharing a powerful insight about her playing on the same day she received a photo of her family home being destroyed back in Ukraine.
6. The Vallejo umpire controversy, with the panel giving a balanced take and calling for the matter to be put to rest following his apology.

Each CTC Live episode streams on YouTube during the fortnight. Search Control the Controllables Podcast and follow our Instagram and Twitter for the latest live times!

Chapters 00:00 Welcome and tournament atmosphere from Paris

04:00 Sinner's exit, Hada's rise and the unprecedented men's draw

08:00 Fonseca vs Djokovic, a match for the ages

14:00 The injury crisis and the roof court debate

22:00 Marta Kostyuk's mindset and win over Swiatek

32:00 Women's draw quarter final preview

40:00 Sabalenka vs Osaka preview and what to expect

43:00 The Vallejo controversy

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Instagram: ctc.podcast Twitter

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TikTok: Control the Controllables Podcast

Thank you everyone for listening!

Follow @ctc.podcast on Instagram to be the first to know when we are going live from Paris throughout the fortnight!

Watch the full video version over on the Control the Controllables YouTube channel.

Listen to Dan and guest Freddie Nielsen chat through all the action from Day 4 & 5 at Roland Garros, including the shock departure of Jannik Sinner.

They analyse what went wrong for Sinner, key upcoming matches, and who they think could now lift the trophy.

• Yannick Sinner's unexpected exit and the implications for men's singles
• With the men´s draw wide open, anyone from Felix to Zverev or Cerundolo could take the title
• Heat, mental fatigue, and injuries are influencing player performances more than ever
• Doubles draw controversies and rule changes affecting participation
• Emerging young talents and dark horses in the tournament

• Website: https://www.controlthecontrollables.com
• Email us: [email protected]

This episode is sponsored by Novellus Finance: https://www.novellusfinance.com/uk/

Our CTC Live series is back for Roland Garros 2026, bringing you first-hand updates from the courts of Paris!

Sponsored by Novellus Finance: https://novellusfinance.com/uk/

In this episode, Dan is joined by Calvin Betton, a 2 time Grand Slam-winning coach, live from the tournament, to break down the action from the first three days. They cover the extraordinary heat gripping Paris, the big seeds falling, integrity questions around the doubles draw, and some brilliant stories from inside the locker room and beyond.

This is the place to go for a quick round-up of Roland Garros action from a coach's perspective.

Key talking points:

1. Temperatures hitting 37 degrees Celsius in Paris and how the courts are staying surprisingly slow despite the heat, thanks to Roland Garros's unique watering and salting process.
2. Big names out early, including Taylor Fritz, Medvedev and Bublik, plus Jessica Pegula going out to Kim Birrell on day three.
3. The doubles draw integrity debate, with six first-round withdrawals and singles players pocketing prize money without hitting a ball.
4. The Serena Williams comeback rumours, with Calvin giving a frank take on wildcards, integrity and whether the sport should be rolling out the red carpet.
5. A brilliant exclusive Gael Monfils story from a five-a-side football game at the National Tennis Centre.
6. French youngster Kwame, born in 2009, is impressing on his Roland Garros debut and drawing comparisons to a young Wayne Rooney.

Each CTC Live episode streams on YouTube during the fortnight. Search Control the Controllables Podcast and follow our Instagram and Twitter for the latest live times!

Chapters

00:00 Welcome, the Paris heat and court conditions

06:30 Integrity in the doubles draw and prize money controversy

15:00 Serena Williams comeback rumours and the wildcard debate

22:00 Bublik's behaviour and a Medvedev tribute

30:00 Monfils, Wawrinka and the end of an era

36:00 French youngster Kwame and the next generation 40:00 Can anyone stop Sinner? The men's and women's draws were reviewed

Follow @ctc.podcast on Instagram to be the first to know when we are going live from Paris throughout the fortnight!

Watch the full video version over here: https://www.youtube.com/@ctc.podcast.

YouTube: Control the Controllables Podcast

Website: https://www.controlthecontrollables.c...

Email us: [email protected]

We're back for Roland Garros 2026! Host Dan Kiernan is joined by our Grand Slam panellists, two of them live from Paris during qualifying week, to preview all the action we can expect from the clay courts over the next fortnight.

They discuss the Carlos Alcaraz injury situation and the wider player burnout debate, the future of US college tennis, and the prize money controversy making headlines at this year's tournament. Plus dark horses across both draws, key storylines to watch, and their winner predictions!

Meet our panellists:

1. Denmark's Davis Cup Captain and coach of August Holmgren, Freddie Nielsen
2. Performance analyst and coach Mike James making his panel debut!
3. Sports broadcaster and former CNN anchor Candy Reid

Key talking points:

1. Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from both Roland Garros and Wimbledon with a wrist injury, and the panel debate whether rising ball speeds, heavier balls and relentless scheduling are pushing players beyond their physical limits.
2. US college tennis is at a crossroads, with the Arkansas programme cuts a sign of things to come as NIL money floods into football and basketball and squeezes tennis budgets at major universities.
3. The panel share their genuine dark horse picks across both draws, with some bold names put forward on the men's side in particular.
4. Top players are reportedly refusing all non-mandatory press at Roland Garros as a prize money protest, and the panel debate whether they are targeting the right thing.

Will Yannick Sinner march to a dominant Roland Garros title, or will the wide open draws on both sides deliver a first-time Grand Slam champion? The panel have their say and there are some bold calls in there.

Who do you think will be this year's Roland Garros champions? Tag @ctc.podcast on Instagram or Twitter or drop us an email to let us know who you're backing!

Links mentioned in this episode:

1. Listen to: August Holmgren: Wimbledon Sensation and Challenger Champion
2. Listen to: Candy Reid, From the Court to CNN
3. Listen to: Mike James - A Numbers Game
4. Listen to: Freddie Nielsen & Jonny Marray Part One: Pre Wimbledon 2012

Mentioned in this episode:

Train Smarter Anywhere: Strength & Conditioning for Tennis Players On the Go 🎾

For players who don’t always have access to in-person coaching, progress doesn’t have to stop.

TennisAthlete

Today´s episode is a tribute to one of sport's greatest minds Dr. Jim Loehr, who sadly passed away last month aged 83.

Dr. Loehr was one of the world’s leading performance psychologists and a true pioneer in mental fitness. Across a remarkable five-decade career, he worked with hundreds of elite athletes including Grand Slam champions Jim Courier, Monica Seles and Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario.

His work helped transform the way athletes viewed mental performance — not as a weakness, but as an essential part of achieving greatness.

We were incredibly fortunate to welcome Dr. Loehr onto the podcast in 2021, and his episode remains one of the most listened-to conversations on Control the Controllables.

In this special CTC Short, Dan reflects on Dr. Loehr’s impact on tennis and sport before revisiting a powerful clip from their original conversation.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

• Listen to Dr Jim Loehr´s episode in full
• Episode 120: Marcus Daniell
• High Impact Athletes
• SotoTennis Academy

Mentioned in this episode:

Train Smarter Anywhere: Strength & Conditioning for Tennis Players On the Go 🎾

For players who don’t always have access to in-person coaching, progress doesn’t have to stop.

TennisAthlete

What does it really take to coach at the very top of the game?

And how does a 32-year-old coach find himself leading the journey of one of the fastest-rising players in world tennis?

In this episode of Control the Controllables, we sit down with Maxime Tchoutakian, the coach of Vicky Mboko — a 19-year-old who has taken the tennis world by storm, breaking into the Top 10 in less than a year.

But Max’s story is just as compelling as the player he now coaches.

Ranked 530 in the world as a player, he took the US college route at Baylor University, rebuilt his career from scratch after COVID, and walked into the Mouratoglou Academy with no clear coaching plan, only to have one practice with Victoria Azarenka and receive a call from her agent 30 minutes later.

What he shares in this episode gives a rare, honest look at what it really means to operate inside the world's best tennis teams.

In this episode:

• What it was actually like telling a former World Number 1 how to improve her game at age 26.
• The moment Azarenka asked him to become her full-time coach and how scary that felt.
• Why adaptation is the single most important skill to survive life on the WTA tour.
• His honest take on whether coaches are paid well enough for what they sacrifice.
• What makes Victoria Mboko so special and why Max believes she will win multiple Grand Slams.
• The brutal truth about French tennis: why talented kids keep falling short when it matters most.
• His biggest coaching regret and why he wishes he'd trusted himself sooner.

CONNECT WITH CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES

• Website: https://www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast/
• Email us: [email protected]

Mentioned in this episode:

Train Smarter Anywhere: Strength & Conditioning for Tennis Players On the Go 🎾

For players who don’t always have access to in-person coaching, progress doesn’t have to stop.

TennisAthlete