Doubles Only Tennis Podcast

Mark Ein is the owner of the DC Open, an ATP and WTA 500 tournament starting on July 25. I spoke with Mark the week leading up to the tournament about how he has built the DC Open into one of the premier 500-level tournaments in the world.

We discuss doubles' role in the tournament, his passion for tennis, and plans for the 2026 tournament. Mark also shares his thoughts on the ATP doubles cuts. 

• Mark’s background in sports and business, starting as a ball kid at the tournament
• Why he features star-driven doubles teams and actively recruits singles players into doubles
• What the final week of tournament operations really looks like behind the scenes
• 2026 upgrades to the fan experience including stadium upgrades, merch expansion, and the new “front porch” viewing area
• Why selling an all-day, all-week experience beats marketing individual players in tennis
• The advantages of a combined ATP & WTA 500 level event and why it is rarer than fans think
• How mic'd up doubles players can create must-watch social content and bring fans closer to strategy
• Does ATP doubles cost his tournament money?

Mark has some candid responses, and I appreciate his drive to promote and innovate our sport, something tennis needs. Be sure to watch the DC Open all next week!

Learn more about Mark & follow:

• Instagram
• Twitter/X
• DC Open Tournament Page

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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 Coach Calvin Betton after a second Wimbledon doubles title in three years. Calvin coaches ATP #1, Henry Patten, as well as Luke Johnson. We discussed Henry's Wimbledon run with his doubles partner, Harri Heliovaara, as well as return strategy and the recent news about ATP doubles cuts. 

• Comparing the 2024 and 2026 Wimbledon runs
• Why “no free points” matters more than any "tiebreaker system”
• Balancing aggressive returns vs high-percentage returns by matchup and player profile
• Scouting a recent loss to Arevalo and Pavic
• Finding the right level of focus so pressure builds for your opponents across a match
• What the Wimbledon champions dinner is actually like behind the scenes
• Calvin's philosophy on the returner’s partner positioning
• How he views his role as a coach - I loved this answer
• Henry’s speech after winning the Wimbledon Final
• Reactions on the Wimbledon grounds when the doubles cuts were announced
• Why framing doubles as a product problem ignores marketing and sport economics
• Evidence from social media, ticketing, and packed courts that doubles has demand

Calvin is always a joy to have on the show because he brings strong opinions and insights that make you think.

Learn more about Calvin & follow:

• Instagram
• Twitter
• Host of the Tennis Unfiltered Podcast

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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

Aldila Sutjiadi is the #36 WTA doubles player coming off a grass court title in Bad Homburg alongside Vera Zvonareva. I spoke with Aldila a few days before Wimbledon, so we discussed her preparation, recent title, and more.

We talk through recovery choices, what actually creates doubles chemistry, and her health scare from a few years ago.

• Managing Wimbledon prep with smart on-site time and planned practice blocks
• Handling recovery day to day, including physio for specific pain
• Unpacking the French Open cramp and the role of heat and hydration
• What clicked with Vera Zvonareva in Bad Homburg
• Zvonareva's communications style (I loved this part)
• Grass-court doubles fundamentals, including staying low, first volleys, and serve-plus-one patterns
• Adjusting quickly across many partners by leaning on a hybrid baseline and net game
• Returning from a wrist injury and a sudden hearing-loss episode with vertigo and hospitalization
• Growing Instagram through wins, highlights, and connecting with Indonesian tennis fans

Aldila reached the second round in women's doubles and the quarterfinals in mixed doubles at Wimbledon. Follow Aldila on Instagram below and watch her throughout the 2026 season!

Learn more about Aldila & follow:

• Instagram
• WTA Profile
• Wikipedia

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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 talk with Dan Kiernan from Wimbledon about the proposed ATP doubles changes for 2028 and why doubles players feel blindsided by the messaging. We focus on transparency, intent, and respect, and what doubles players can realistically do next if leadership will not share clear facts.

You'll also hear specific names who we believe may be pushing this agenda forward.

• Initial reactions from doubles players and coaches at Wimbledon
• Why “doubles isn’t sustainable” needs real definitions and data
• How ticket sales, streaming, sponsorship, and event value get misunderstood
• Respect as the foundation for any doubles growth plan
• Why intent matters
• How ATP governance differs from the WTA approach to player input
• What “closing the pathway” could mean for doubles specialists
• Likelihood the 2028 plan moves forward and why a fight is coming
• Practical advice for players: awareness, answers, and sticking together
• Why infighting helps leadership and weakens player leverage on revenue

This is a super informative conversation that I hope helps you better understand all the layers to this situation.

Learn more about Dan & follow:

• Instagram
• Control The Controllables Podcast
• SotoTennis Academy

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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 ATP is rumored to be shrinking men’s doubles draws and shifting prize money over to singles, part of what has been a slow retreat from doubles over the past few decades.

I don't agree with the decision and wanted to talk with someone who understands the ATP's side. Ben Rothenberg is a journalist who broke the news about the potential plans yesterday. He's also been on the show before (listen here).

Ben shares what he knows about what's happening, and the case the ATP has to make such a decision. I attempt to analyze the business logic, the marketing failures, and what it would take for doubles to grow without relying on singles stars.

We discuss:

• The reported draw size reductions at Masters 1000 and other ATP events 
• Product 28 and why 2028 becomes a turning point 
• Prize money reallocation from doubles to lower-ranked singles players 
• Crowding, practice court access, and tournament footprint as drivers
• Why late-round doubles is valued more than early rounds
• Tennis TV production issues and how the viewing experience shapes demand
• Singles specialization and why the ATP singles players rarely play doubles
• The chicken and egg problem of marketing doubles
• What makes a “star” in tennis
• Social media and highlight restrictions that limit player promotion
• Whether a smaller doubles circuit could create more prominence

I'm not exactly satisfied with the conclusion of this conversation, but I want to keep it going to help move tennis and doubles forward.

Feel free to react by posting to Ben (@BenRothenberg) and me (@WillBoucek) on Twitter.

Learn more about Ben & follow:

• 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

Anna Danilina, a 4-time major finalist and 2023 US Open mixed doubles champion, is ranked #6 in the world in doubles. She and Aleksandra Krunic are the #2 team in the 2026 race to the WTA Finals. I spoke with her recently as she prepared for Wimbledon.

We discussed her development over the last several years, mental resets during matches, and how to create belief in yourself. She also shares tactical details you can steal for your own matches, including mixed doubles adjustments and an ad-court return drill that makes big serves feel slower. 

• Her favorite off-court things to do at tournaments
• Influences from watching great champions and what she studies in elite doubles play
• Playing doubles on grass
• Building belief through repetition, preparation, and proof in practice
• College tennis benefits and her time at Florida
• How she decided to focus on doubles full-time after trying to do both
• Why her partnership with Alex clicks and how they approach Grand Slams
• The spontaneous mixed doubles sign-in that led to a US Open title with Harri Heliovaara in 2023
• Ad-court return tips and advice
• What could help pro doubles draw bigger crowds

Anna has become one of the WTA's top doubles players a great one to study. Watch her this week at Wimbledon and throughout the 2026 season!

Learn more about Anna & follow:

• Instagram
• WTA Profile
• Wikipedia

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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

Albano Olivetti is the #22-ranked doubles player on the ATP tour. He recently won a grass court title in Halle and owns the record for the 2nd fastest serve of all time.

In this brief conversation, we unpack what really wins on fast courts and why he and his partner, Theo Arribage, feel confident right now. Albano shares practical serve and return lessons, plus his perspective on building a doubles partnership that keeps getting better. 

• What they learned from 's-Hertogenbosch that helped them win the Halle ATP 500 Title
• What changes when you move from clay to grass, especially with the bounces and slice
• The story behind his 160 mph serve and why the ATP doesn't count it
• Serve advice for people who are not close to 7 feet tall 😆
• Committing to doubles after COVID and why it fit his game 
• Learning from fellow French doubles star, Nicolas Mahut - improving return technique, and using simple return patterns
• How he's made steady ranking progress
• Handling different vs consistent partners on tour
• What makes his chemistry with Theo work, from tactics to technical adjustments - they have four titles in 2026
• Goals for the season, with the ATP Finals as the target
• Honest thoughts on making pro doubles more popular and what support is missing

Follow Albano on Instagram below and watch him play this year on Tennis Channel Plus and Tennis TV.

Learn more about Albano & follow:

• Instagram
• ATP Profile
• Wikipedia

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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 another AMA episode where I focus on the return of serve. Perhaps the most important shot in doubles, and certainly the least practiced.

I break down why the return of serve is misunderstood and how I think about practicing and implementing effective returns. I also dig into consistency, targets, patterns, deuce vs ad court, and tactics for the return. 

• Why returns and groundstrokes are not the same thing.
• One common mistake that you should fix to reduce return errors.
• The two biggest return priorities.
• Crosscourt vs down-the-line vs lob returns.
• What to look for to determine your best return options.
• Members Only: How to handle variety - fast, slow, spin, flat, and weak 2nd serves.
• Members Only: How to cut your return errors from the deuce court.
• Members Only: A practice plan for improving your returns.

Become a Tennis Tribe Member to access the full episode.

Upcoming Camps & Trips:

• Dallas-Fort Worth Doubles Strategy Camp: August 15-16, 2026
• NYC Doubles Strategy Camp: September 3-4, 2026
• Rally Trip: US Open - September 4-7, 2026

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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 AMA episode covers a variety of topics, including net position, formations, and strategy frameworks. A few of the lessons are from a tight mixed doubles match that I recently played, while the others are from Tennis Tribe Members.

1. When is I-formation a bad idea?
2. Why I recently told my partner to stand in two different positions on my return points.
3. When should the baseline player change something? (including how to handle inactive partners at net)
4. Members only: My backhand volley pops up and floats every time. How do I fix it?
5. Members only: How and when to add new strokes to your game. In this case, a semi-western forehand.
6. Members only: What to do against two tall players who rush the net.
7. Members only: The deuce court returner has a great crosscourt forehand. What should we do?

We only have 2 rooms left for the Rally Trip at the US Open!

If you're interested and want to sign up for the Doubles Camp from September 3-4, you can email me: [email protected].

If you're not a Tennis Tribe member and want this full episode, learn more and sign up here.

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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

Greg Kusnierz is a mental performance coach who works with junior and adult tennis players seeking to play better under pressure. Most tennis coaches' and mental gurus' advice about nerves turns me off, but Greg's approach is practical and has actually helped my players on the court.

We discuss why every tennis player gets nervous and how to turn that energy into better decisions instead of tighter swings. We also share practical tools you can use between points so your match level looks more like your practice level. 

• Why nerves show up for every human and how they look different across players
• What mental toughness means as a trainable skill, not a personality trait
• How to measure pressure
• The biggest misconceptions about nerves, pressure, and mental coaching
• Why “just play more matches” and “be positive” fail as advice
• How the Three R method helps you re-frame fast
• How changing your wording shifts your focus from outcomes to controllable actions
• The BFS between points reset: breathing, feel, statement
• Doubles specific advice: acknowledge your partner, ask questions, communicate under stress, be a cheerleader

Greg will be joining our US Open Rally Trip, where he'll present as a guest speaker. Early bird pricing is available through June 14!

Learn more about Greg & follow:

• Instagram
• YouTube

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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