Day 4 of our DAILY Riyadh Round Ups during the WTA Finals!

Watch LIVE each day 8pm GMT on our YouTube channel 'Control the Controllables Podcast'!

These shorter episodes aim to bring DAILY insight into the behind the scenes of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia!

In this episode:

Todays episode is focused around building the ULTIMATE WTA player by analysing various skills and attributes of top players, emphasising the significance of mentality and personality in tennis.

Categories include:

Serve

Backhand

Forehand

Slice

Volleys and coming forward

Defence

Personality

Dan talks about the training of the day and players he has spoken to whilst out in Riyadh and the importance of innovation in sports. The conversation concludes by answering live viewers questions with thoughts on the future of players and the sport.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to the WTA Finals

05:07 Building the Ultimate WTA Player

24:36 Recap of the Ultimate Player Attributes

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Day 3 we are joined by the Wimbledon winning pair in Henry Patten and Harri Heliövaara!

Watch each episode LIVE on YouTube 8pm GMT DAILY on the 'Control the Controllables Podcast' YouTube channel.

These are shorter episodes that aim to bring DAILY insight into the behind the scenes of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia!

In this episode:

Dan discusses insights from media day at the WTA Finals and the importance players are putting into social media to grow their own following and tennis as a whole.

Dan is also joined by Harri Heliövaara and Henry Patten to discuss the differences between ATP Finals and WTA Finals as well as them recently qualifying for the 2024 ATP Finals in Turin!

Episode concludes with both Henry and Harri answering fan questions submitted via our instagram 'ctc.podcast'.

If you want to ask any questions about the WTA Finals out in Riyadh or to any future guests on the live shows don't hesitate to send them in!

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Overview of the WTA Finals

03:05 Media Day Insights and Player Experiences

05:55 The Impact of Social Media on Tennis

08:48 Introduction of Special Guests: Harry Heliovara and Henry Patten

12:01 Reflections on the ATP Finals and Player Experiences

15:05 The Importance of Social Media and Player Engagement

17:57 Expectations and Experiences at the ATP Finals

20:45 The Race to the ATP Finals and Its Significance

24:03 Fan Questions and Player Insights

26:43 Closing Thoughts and Future Aspirations

Let us know what you are thinking of the LIVE episodes and always send in questions you have about the WTA Finals in Riyadh.

Join us for tonights episode that will be a slightly later time of 9pm GMT building the ULTIMATE WTA player and answering any questions you have!

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In today´s epsiode we´re rounding up all the action from the 2024 Asian Swing.

It´s back in the tennis calendar after its sudden halt in 2020, and it did not disappoint. From tantrums to the emergence of local talents, CTC host Dan Kiernan is joined by journalists and coaches who were out in China and Japan to discuss it all.

Our panellists are:-

• British Journalist and former CNN anchor Candy Reid
• Sports journalist and broadcaster Eleanor Preston
• And CTC regular Calvin Betton, Coach of the 2024 Wimbledon Mens Doubles Champions, Henry Pattern & Harri Heliovarra.

Episode Highlights include:-

• Why regional heroes play a crucial role in the sport's popularity.
• Is the Asian swing too long for players' well-being?
• Women's rights and representation in tennis are ongoing conversations.
• How money influences decisions in tennis, including tournament locations.
• How Karolina Mukova's versatility makes her a player to watch in the future.
• Why young players' naivety can be both an asset and a challenge.
• Does the ATP needs a stronger code of conduct for player behaviour, after outbursts from Tsitsipas, Tiafoe and Zverev.
• Rafael Nadal's impact on the sport as he announces his retirement.

➡️ Head to Youtube to listen Live to Dan from Riyadh every evening as he gives daily updates from the WTA Finals ⬅️

Day 2 of our LIVE Riyadh Round Ups!

Watch LIVE each day on our YouTube channel 8pm GMT DAILY!

Join us on YouTube by searching 'Control the Controllables Podcast'!

These shorter episodes aim to bring DAILY insight into the behind the scenes of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia!

In this episode:

Dan and guest Mike Digby discuss the WTA Finals in Riyadh, sharing insights about the players' experiences, the dynamics of the matches, and reflections on past tournaments.

They analyse upcoming matches, player strategies, and the unique atmosphere of the finals in Saudi Arabia.

The conversation also touches on venue improvements and the importance of fan engagement.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to WTA Finals and Riyadh Experience

04:22 Insights from Mike Digby on WTA Finals

09:14 Player Dynamics and Tournament Atmosphere

14:23 Match Previews and Predictions

19:09 Doubles Matchups and Tactical Insights

24:15 Final Thoughts and Venue Improvements

Day 3 WTA Finals Riyadh Round will be joined by 2024 Wimbledon Winning doubles pair Henry Pattern and Harri Heliövaara! Live on YouTube!

Keep sending in your questions about the WTA Finals for Dan to answer LIVE!

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We are bringing you guys a BRAND NEW series of shows during the WTA Finals out in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia!

In this series we will bring you guys shorter, daily round ups of the behind the scenes access of the WTA Finals, the training of all the top players, how the female players are treated and will not avoid the big topics!

If you want to join in on the action LIVE then tune each day on our YouTube channel 'Control the Controllables podcast' where you can ask questions LIVE and be involved with a CTC podcast!

Live 8pm GMT during the WTA Finals!

In this episode:

In this conversation, Dan Kiernan discusses the WTA Finals taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, highlighting the event's setup, the political context surrounding it, and the experiences of players.

Comparing the current tournament to previous ones in Cancun and Turin, emphasising the improvements in player treatment and event organisation.

Also delving into the training and preparation required for the finals, the differences between the WTA Finals and Grand Slam tournaments, and the overall atmosphere among players.

Concludes with insights on the draw and matchups, expressing optimism for the event's impact on women's tennis in the region.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to the Live Stream

02:50 Insights from the WTA Finals in Riyadh

12:24 Comparing Tournament Experiences: Riyadh vs Cancun

18:07 Player Preparation and Tournament Dynamics

26:04 The Draw and Match Expectations

37:19 Closing Thoughts and Future Engagements

Let us know what to think of the new show by DM and messaging us!

Join the Live on YouTube: Control the Controllables Podcast

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Back in April, we brought Control the Controllables to a fantastic live audience in London, diving into the future of professional tennis. We loved the buzz of the live show and we loved meeting so many of our regular listeners in person.

With the Six King Slam recently concluded and the WTA Finals coming up next month in Saudi Arabia, it felt like the perfect time to release the full CTC LIVE episode.

Our expert panel joining CTC Host Dan Kiernan on the night included:-

• CTC regular and former Wimbledon Champion, Freddie Nielsen
• John Morris, the ´super agent´ to many stars including Andrey Rublev and the former agent to Nick Kygrios
• Justin Sherring, the coach of Joe Salisbury and Jack Draper.

During our live show we discussed Saudi Arabia's rising influence in tennis, the shifting power dynamics between governing bodies and players, and what these changes might mean for the sport's future. Are we witnessing the dawn of a new era in tennis? and what will this mean across all levels of the game?

Listen to insightful discussions on the potential for an "Elite Tour" and the evolving landscape of tennis. Whether you're a player, coach, or passionate fan, there’s plenty to reflect on.

Enjoy and join the conversation shaping the future of the game!

▶️ Follow us on on YouTube to watch clips from the evening.

Louis Cayer is one of the most successful coaches in tennis.

He´s transformed doubles in Great Britain, guiding 3 British players to World Mens doubles number 1 and coaching players to a whopping 19 Grand Slam titles!

It´s no surprise that his chat with CTC host Dan Kiernan back in 2021 is still our 2nd most listened to episode, and is too good not to bring back to you.

Listen to Louis discuss the evolution of doubles, and how to pick the right partner. He also shares his top 3 tips for doubles players of all levels.

There are some gems in here, as there always is when talking to Louis. Enjoy!

Listen to more from Louis in his full episode here.

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It´s International Podcast Day, and we have a great guest for this special episode in Yasmin Clarke.

Yasmin is a coach, athlete mentor and commentator. A former pro player, she was GB junior number 1 before quitting tennis at the age of just 19.

She chats to CTC host Dan Kiernan about the challenges faced by female coaches in a male-dominated sport, the importance of family support, and the cultural shifts needed to create more opportunities for women in coaching roles.

This is a great listen for anyone interested in all aspects of the tennis world from a perspective that isn’t normally given a big enough voice.

Episode Highlights:-

• Yaz discusses her experiences with early success, winning multiple junior championships
• The importance of mental health, and the need for a supportive environment in sports.
• She reflects on the pressures of competition, the significance of enjoying the journey, and the evolution of tennis culture, particularly regarding college tennis as a pathway for player development. 
• She discusses the dynamics of coaching within families, particularly her relationship with her brother, Great Britain´s Jay Clarke.

To mark International Podcast Day today, we´ve picked out some of our favourite quotes from our CTC guests! Head over to our Instagram to watch!🎙️

Just over 2 years ago, we spoke to GB´s Jack Draper who at 20, had just broken into the world´s top 100 ATP rankings.

Fast forward to 2024, and Jack has moved up to 20 in the world, reaching his first Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open this month.

To mark this, we wanted to bring you a clip from Jack´s episode of Control the Controllables back in June 2022.

In this CTC Short, listen to Jack talk about the danger of outcome goal setting, and the importance of good people setting the right environment to grow and develop.

🎧 Listen to all of Episode 166 with Jack Draper

🎥 Watch the Control the Controllables Podcast on You Tube

Today's episode wraps up the final Grand Slam of the year. 

Our panel discusses all things US Open, and there were certainly lots of storylines for us to get stuck into! With two new US Open Champions in Jannik Sinner & Aryna Sabalenka, GB´s Dan Evans winning the longest ever match at Flushing Meadows and GB´s Mika Stojsavljevic winning the Girls title, New York did not disappoint!

Davis Cup Captain Freddie Nielsen and coach of Wimbledon Men´s Doubles Champion Henry Pattern, Calvin Betton join our host, Dan Kiernan to give a unique perspective on the events of the US Open 2024.

And find out if their pre-tournament predictions were right?!

Episode Highlights:-

• Is there an asterix on Jannick Sinner´s title given his recent failed drug tests?
• Will Sabelenka continue to be a dominant force in tennis and can any other player keep up with her going into the final couple of months of the season?
• An interesting take on the drop in form of Carlos Alcaraz
• Talking points of the men's final. Taylor Fritz or Taylor Swift?
• Coaching whilst the match goes on, a good thing or not?
• Our panelists share their opinions on what good coaching looks like from the sidelines of a match court.

Review, comment, like and follow the podcast on all platforms!

Tag us @ctc.podcast and enjoy the episode.

Links Mentioned in this Episode

• Control the Controllables: Website | Instagram | Email
• SotoTennis Academy