2025 US Open Champions, Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe, take us behind the scenes of their incredible run, sharing details about their mental approach, the dynamics of their successful partnership, and their victory celebration in New York.

• How many days did they take off after winning the US Open?
• How to come back after losing the first set 0-6
• Developing belief as players who don't naturally possess unwavering confidence
• Finding the perfect balance between high energy and mental focus during crucial moments
• Learning to embrace pressure rather than trying to mitigate it
• The technical breakthrough of understanding the serve and volley as one fluid motion
• Navigating the challenges of blending different personalities in their "marriage-like" partnership
• Adopting a mindset of unconditional support for each other during difficult moments
• How smiling helps Gaby in high-pressure situations

I was also able to get to many of your questions from Instagram and Twitter/X. This is a long and fun conversation. Enjoy!

Learn more about Erin & follow:

• WTA Profile
• Wikipedia
• Instagram
• Twitter/X

Learn more about Gaby & follow:

• WTA Profile
• Wikipedia
• Instagram

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Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

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**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Bruce Lipka, coach of US Open doubles champion Erin Routliffe, joins the show for the second time. I spoke with him before Erin Routliffe and Gaby Dabrowski played their semifinal match in New York.

• Why preparing for semifinals involves months of work
• Championship-level doubles requires continuous improvement rather than focusing on winning or losing
• How they turned around a 0-6 first set in the quarterfinals
• The compact tournament format creates challenges with mental recovery as players compete multiple days consecutively 
• Three essential volleys for club players and how to train them
• Club players' biggest mistakes: not moving enough and taking balls they shouldn't touch
• Professional margins are incredibly slim
• "Players don't rise to their level of play; they fall to their level of training."

Have questions about doubles tennis or college tennis? Bruce welcomes inquiries as he also serves as the men's tennis coach at Penn State.

Listen to my previous episode with Bruce.

Learn more about Bruce & follow:

• Twitter/X
• Instagram
• Men’s head coach at Penn State
• Coach of world #1 and 2023 US Open champion, Erin Routliffe

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Three-time US Open Champion Joe Salisbury joined me before the start of this year's tournament to discuss his athleticism, doubles partnership with Neal Skupski, college tennis experience, and more.

Tomorrow, Joe and Neal play in the US Open Final on ESPN. Here's what we discussed before the tournament.

• Attributes his exceptional athleticism to his parents and playing multiple sports growing up
• Credits natural instincts and mobility work for his remarkable court speed and movement
• Explains how he and Neal Skupski overcame early challenges through patience and communication
• Emphasizes college tennis at Memphis as crucial for his development as both a person and a player
• College tennis as a viable pathway, especially for doubles
• His different mindset approach to mixed doubles versus men's doubles
• Shares a thoughtful perspective on the US Open mixed doubles format
• Focuses on winning major tournaments rather than specific ranking goals for 2025

Joe is one of the ATP tour's most dynamic and entertaining players. Watch him tomorrow as he goes for his fourth US Open title and follow him throughout the rest of 2025.

Learn more about Joe & follow:

• ATP Profile
• Wikipedia
• Instagram
• Twitter/X

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Nicole Melichar-Martinez joins us from the US Open to share insights on her recent doubles success and preparation for the final Grand Slam of the year. I spoke with her fresh off a title in Monterey with new partner Cristina Bucșa.

• Detailed breakdown of Nicole's practice routine, including specialized drills for volleys and overheads
• Comparison of New York to other Grand Slam cities, with particular focus on commute times and logistical challenges
• Food recommendations for NYC, with Nicole ranking it among the top tennis tournament destinations for dining
• How Nicole builds chemistry with new doubles partners and the communication strategies that led to her Monterey title
• Discussion of the US Open Mixed Doubles format and Nicole's creative ideas for future improvements
• Nicole's goals for maintaining her top-20 ranking and capturing her first WTA 1000 title
• Insights into how professional doubles players select partners for upcoming seasons

Niki ultimately won two rounds in New York against some tough opponents. If you're enjoying the podcast, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Learn more about Nicole & follow:

• WTA Profile
• Wikipedia
• Instagram
• Twitter/X

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Rajeev Ram joins me for the first time in 2025. He's coming off a Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati with new partner, Nikola Mektić.

Rajeev shares insights on building team chemistry in doubles partnerships. He offers a nuanced perspective on the singles vs doubles player debate and provides practical advice on net play strategy, return tips, and career longevity. We also discussed:

• Fishes
• Building team chemistry quickly in a new partnership
• Explains his "two-by-four" analogy for effective net play as server's partner
• Could Sinner beat two doubles players by himself?
• Insights on return positioning and taking away specific serve patterns
• Plans for the rest of 2025
• Details recovery strategies and skill maintenance as a 41-year-old professional

We also get to some of your questions from Twitter/X and Instagram at the end. Rajeev always has thoughtful answers and great tips for club-doubles players so I know you'll enjoy this one.

Learn more about Rajeev & follow:

• ATP Profile
• Wikipedia
• Instagram
• Twitter/X

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

At the Cincinnati Open, I spoke with the current #1 doubles team on the ATP tour.

Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash's win streak ended at 22 in Cincinnati. We discuss their dominant run on the ATP doubles tour and the mental approach that has led to their success. The pair shares insights into their tiebreaker tactics, physical and mental challenges during their streak, and the fundamentals of what makes a successful doubles partnership.

• Strategies for tiebreakers, including energy management and focusing on team identity
• Why mental fatigue is the biggest challenge for Lloyd during their run
• Working with coaches Barry Fulcher and Luke Hammond on mentality and controllable factors
• Keys to successful doubles partnerships: positioning, communication, and emotional support
• Different approaches when facing singles players versus doubles specialists
• Building confidence from success
• The importance of promoting doubles through media and tournament opportunities

Keep watching as Lloyd and Julian at this year's US Open, where they look to capture a 2nd straight major title.

Learn more about Lloyd & follow:

• ATP Profile
• Wikipedia
• Instagram

Learn more about Julian & follow:

• ATP Profile
• Wikipedia
• Instagram
• Twitter/X
• Previous episode with Julian (July 2025)

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

I spoke with ATP & WTA Coach, Dan Kiernan, in Cincinnati about life as a professional coach, doubles drills, practice sets, and more. This episode will help you rethink how you practice.

Dan works with multiple players on different teams, not uncommon for doubles coaches, so you'll get insights into what his day-to-day responsibilities look like.

• Dan's daily schedule can involve up to 7-8 hours of court time, plus meetings, court bookings, academy management (Soto Tennis Academy), podcasts, and more
• How practice courts are reserved at tournaments
• Practice drills focus on offensive and defensive positioning rather than neutral play
• The "overhead drill" helps players master both offensive overheads and defensive lobs
• The amount of practice time dedicated to serving and returning will be jaw-dropping for club players to hear
• Practice sets serve different purposes depending on team needs and tournament context

I love the topic of game development and practicing with a purpose, and I'm always learning from coaches like Dan. Dabrowski and Routliffe are in the semifinals in Cincinnati, which you can watch on Tennis Channel Plus.

Previous Episodes with Dan Kiernan:

• Dan Kiernan Interview: GROWTH, Coaching ATP Doubles, Aggressive vs Consistent Returns, & an Illegal Volley Drill - April 5, 2023
• Coach Dan Kiernan Interview at the WTA Finals - November 5, 2023
• Coach Dan Kiernan Shares Stories from the WTA Finals, 2nd Set Adjustments, Positive Mindset, & More - November 20, 2024
• Doubles Special: Problems, Solutions, & the Future of the Pro Doubles Tour with Dan Kiernan - March 27, 2025

Learn more about Dan & follow:

• Dan's Podcast - Control the Controllables | Twitter | Instagram
• Soto Tennis Academy | Twitter

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Former Top 70 WTA doubles player Catherine Harrison returns to the show to share her journey recovering from multiple injuries over the past few seasons. We discuss her recent decision to focus exclusively on doubles moving forward.

Catherine came to Fort Worth, Texas, last week, where we spent two days of intensive on-court doubles training. We discussed the key takeaways from the training and more.

• Simple tactical improvements from two days of training.
• Doubles drills that she found helpful.
• Why spreading the service box is generally more effective than body serves.
• Her extensive warm-up routine takes a ground-up approach to injury prevention.
• Importance of proper training blocks between tournaments when recovering from injury.
• Setting both process-oriented and outcome-oriented goals for comeback.
• Dream women's and mixed doubles partners.
• Her mixed feelings about the new US Open mixed doubles format.

Follow Catherine's comeback journey as she aims to return to the Grand Slam level by next year's US Open.

Learn more about Catherine & follow:

• WTA Profile
• Wikipedia
• Instagram
• Previous episode with Catherine (February 2023)

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

This is a free preview of a Tennis Tribe member episode. To hear the full episode, become a member at thetennistribe.com/memberships.

In this episode, I answer three questions from Tennis Tribe members and followers.

• FREE: How to beat unconventional or unorthodox players.
• Why there is no "right way" to hit a tennis ball.
• Topspin can be overrated.
• Members: All the options you have when the opponent hits a lob, and when to use each.
• One of the most underpracticed shots for club players (it's not the overhead).
• Members: How to win with a super weak partner and hold their serve.
• and more...

Members can access the full episode through this page.

New York City Events during the US Open

• Doubles Camp August 30-31
• Rally Trip September 2-4

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

The rising American doubles team of JJ Tracy and Robert Cash share their journey from winning the NCAAs at Ohio State in 2024 to becoming ATP doubles title winners in Los Cabos in 2025. They've climbed to #59 and #62 in the world this year from outside the top 140.

You'll learn what's clicked for them recently, and get to know them as individuals and as a team.

• Working with new coach Andy Fitzell has helped refine their game and contributed to back-to-back titles
• Balancing a lighthearted approach and ability to joke during matches while maintaining an intense work ethic
• The differences between Challenger and ATP Level doubles
• Both players credit Ohio State coaches Ty Tucker and Justin Kronauge for instilling their strong work ethic
• How Robert shares "direct feedback" with JJ during matches
• Their strategy for playing well in tiebreakers
• Future goals
• Racquet changes and customization

The more interviews I do like this, the more I realize how much team chemistry and partnership dynamics matter. These two provide a great example of what a strong partnership looks like. Watch JJ and Robert throughout the rest of the 2025 season as they continue their doubles journey.

Learn more about JJ & follow:

• ATP Profile
• Wikipedia
• Instagram

Learn more about Robert & follow:

• ATP Profile
• Wikipedia
• Instagram

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course