Patrick McEnroe continues November's theme of mental toughness with an insightful interview with Hall of Famer and 14-time major champion Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario.

Arantxa returned to Newport this summer for the Induction Celebration, and discusses her incredible career, emphasizing her unwavering fighting spirit and strong mental game. A champion in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, she shares the keys to her success across all three formats, including her exceptional physical condition, tenacity, and discipline.

The conversation dives into the moment her life "changed completely": winning her first major - Roland-Garros - at just 17 years old by defeating Stefanie Graf in an epic final. She reveals the pressures she faced as an underdog, and the inner desire and confidence that drove her to become a pioneer for Spanish tennis.

Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario is a former world No. 1 in both singles and doubles, winner of 14 major titles across all three disciplines and a five-time Billie Jean King Cup champion for Spain.

The TennisWorthy Podcast is presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame. For more information and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.

In this insightful episode of the TennisWorthy Podcast, host Patrick McEnroe welcomes special guest Dr. Brian Hainline, an expert on mental health in sports, former Chief Medical Officer of the NCAA and past President of the USTA. Dr. Hainline discusses the critical shift toward prioritizing mental health in athletics, accelerated by the reduced stigma thanks to high-profile athletes like Naomi Osaka and Michael Phelps.

Mental health symptoms and physical health are inseparable, and should be treated with the same urgency, like an ankle sprain. Dr. Hainline also emphasizes the vital role of sleep, noting that sleep deprivation can predict injury and poor performance more than overtraining. They also explore the unique challenges faced by athletes in individual sports like tennis and the importance of recovery and team environments.

The TennisWorthy Podcast is presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame. For more information and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.

Patrick McEnroe and Chris Bowers explore the vital quality of mental toughness with three of tennis' toughest competitors: Hall of Famers Jim Courier, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, and Michael Chang.

Former World No. 1 and 4-time major champion Jim Courier defines mental toughness as the ability to handle pressure and the capacity to compartmentalize and ignore the score, citing Rafael Nadal as a prime example. Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario, former world No. 1 in singles and doubles, emphasizes the importance of her strong physical condition and the desire to give my best and never give up.

Chris Bowers then looks at Michael Chang’s legendary 1989 French Open run, where he overcame extreme cramping and Ivan Lendl by refusing to be a quitter, demonstrating the unwavering mindset needed to win. Learn whether mental toughness is innate or can be developed, and how it separates the top players.

The TennisWorthy Podcast is presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame. For more information and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.

Patrick McEnroe chats with Katrina Adams in this all-new episode of the TennisWorthy Podcast, exploring the month's theme of leadership. Adams, a former top player and two-term USTA president, discusses how leadership has shaped her career, from playing number one as a freshman at Northwestern University to becoming a number three ranked doubles team on the WTA Tour.

She shares her journey to becoming the first African-American and first former player to serve as USTA President. Adams reflects on "leading with a purpose," focusing on being intentional and impactful. She also discusses her book, Own the Arena, and navigating controversies, such as the 2018 US Open Women's Final. Finally, she highlights her passion project, the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program, which gives kids an opportunity to be champions in life.

Katrina Adams is the first African American to head the USTA, serving as Chair and President from 2015 to 2018 and as the first former player in that role. Under her leadership, the USTA opened the National Campus and transformed the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center while promoting tennis in underserved communities. She won 20 doubles titles on the WTA Tour as a professional player, and currently serves the International Tennis Hall of Fame as Chair of the enshrinement committee.

After defecting from Czechoslovakia to the United States and leaving her family behind in 1975, Martina Navratilova made her first return to her home nation as part of the United States' Fed Cup team in 1986. Fellow Hall of Famers Pam Shriver and Hana Mandlikova join Martina in recounting the emotions, her drive and the courage needed to reach her potential.

This episode is part of the International Tennis Hall of Fame's TennisWorthy short-form series. View more TennisWorthy stories at tennisfame.com/tennisworthy.

For October's TennisWorthy theme of Leadership, Patrick McEnroe and Chris Bowers focus on the attributes of leadership in tennis, both on and off the court. This all-new episode features interviews from former world No. 3 and Roger Federer's former coach, Ivan Ljubicic, and renowned Canadian doubles coach Louis Cayer.

Ljubicic discusses leadership in the wider tennis world, emphasizing the importance of getting information, listening, understanding, and then making decisions. He shares lessons from his time on the ATP Player Council and Board, noting that players need to be explained the reasoning behind decisions on and off the court.

Cayer, who currently coaches many successful British doubles teams, explains his leadership model for doubles partnerships. He discusses the roles of tactical and energy leaders, often suggesting a leader to the team. The energy leader provides "unconditional high positive energy," acts as a role model, is vocal, and helps a partner stay in the present. Cayer also encourages communication between partners, including using a "three-second rule" after a point to team up.

The TennisWorthy Podcast is presented by the International Tennis Hall of fame. For more information and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.

Hall of Famer Tracy Austin reflects on one of her earliest coaches, Hall of Famer Vic Braden, who brought many firsts to the sport of tennis. His unique skillset of combining humor, science and the developing world of video analysis made him one of tennis' most sought-after coaches, teaching a generation of legends how to perform at their best.

This episode is part of the International Tennis Hall of Fame's TennisWorthy short-form series. View more TennisWorthy stories at tennisfame.com/tennisworthy.

Hall of Famer Richard Evans discusses his fascinating career as a tennis journalist, which led him to the International Hall of Fame as an inductee in the Contributor Category. He reflects on the qualities that make a Hall of Famer, emphasizing achievement, personality, and character.

With his longtime colleague Chris Bowers, Evans recounts how he got his start in tennis journalism at the age of 21, ghostwriting columns for tennis champions like Althea Gibson and Jaroslav Drobný. He shares a pivotal moment when he took Gibson to the Wimbledon Ball, highlighting the subtle discrimination she faced as a Black woman. Evans also talks about the role of tennis designer and player liaison, Ted Tinling, and his efforts to introduce color into Wimbledon's all-white dress code

The Hall of Famer delves into his time as the European Director for the ATP, where he worked to professionalize tennis and advocated for players' rights against outdated amateur officials. He concludes by discussing his close relationships with players like Rod Laver and John Newcombe, and his belief that the modern game has lost something due to the disconnect between players and journalists.

The TennisWorthy Podcast is presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame. For more information and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.

On the 55th anniversary of the Original 9's signing of the first professional women's contract in 1970, we're sharing an insightful interview with one of women's tennis' early professional pioneers, Hall of Famer Ann Jones.

With Chris Bowers, Jones discusses her career and the evolution of the sport. She recounts how she, along with a small group of players, fought for women's rights in tennis by establishing a professional circuit, and demanding better prize money. Jones views her off-court contributions as being just as significant as her on-court achievements, and her belief that the pressures on players haven't lessened, only evolved.

Jones recalls competing against icons like Billie Jean King and Margaret Court during the transition to Open tennis. She shares her experience of playing both table tennis and lawn tennis, and the challenges of being a professional in the amateur era, and how she navigated the world of sports despite coming from a modest background.

United States Billie Jean King Cup Captain and Hall of Famer Lindsay Davenport reflects on one of the most impactful experiences of her career: playing for her country at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Davenport shares how an honest assessment from her own legendary captain pushed her to achieve her full potential on the grandest of stages.

This episode is part of the International Tennis Hall of Fame's TennisWorthy short-form series. View more TennisWorthy stories at tennisfame.com/tennisworthy.