TennisWorthy

What made Roger Federer one of the greatest champions to ever compete down under? Patrick McEnroe is joined by 15-time ATP champion Tommy Haas, Hall of Famer Steve Flink, and fellow host and journalist Chris Bowers to celebrate the Melbourne career of the soon-to-be Hall of Famer Federer. The panel dives deep into his storied history at the Australian Open, a tournament he dubbed the "Happy Slam" and won six times.

The conversation highlights Federer’s evolution from a talented but temperamental youngster to a dominant world number one. Key moments discussed include:

• The sensational 20-minute period during the 2017 final where Federer overcame a deficit against Rafael Nadal.
• The technical shift to a larger racquet head that revitalized his one-handed backhand.
• His profound respect for tennis history and his unique global appeal.

From his "ruthless" competitive streak to his reputation as a "first-class human being," our in-the-know panel reflects on why Federer remains one of the greatest athletes of all time.

The TennisWorthy Podcast, presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame, uncovers the sport's history and mindset of champions. Listen to every episode and view transcripts at tennisfame.com/podcast.

Patrick welcomes former player and current commentator Sam Querrey to kick off the 2026 season. The pair discuss what's ahead for the Australian Open, including the current dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. They also cover the depth of the women's game, Amanda Anisimova’s potential to reach world No. 1, and the challenges of the modern tennis schedule.

Sam reflects on Roger Federer's greatness ahead of his Hall of Fame induction this summer. He shares a touching story of meeting Roger for the first time as a starstruck 19-year-old in an Australian elevator, and how it reflects on Roger's immense impact on and off the court.

Sam Querrey is a 10-time ATP singles champion and former world No. 11. He regularly appears on ESPN, Tennis Channel and TNT and co-hosts the Nothing Major podcast with fellow former American players Steve Johnson, John Isner and Jack Sock.

The TennisWorthy Podcast, presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame, uncovers the sport's history and the mindset of champions. Listen to every episode and view transcripts at tennisfame.com/podcast.

It's the kickoff of 2026 tennis season, and the fourth season of the TennisWorthy Podcast is here! As tournaments down under begin, hosts Patrick McEnroe and Chris Bowers explore the rich history of the sport in Australia, the Australian Open and the nation's rise as a global tennis powerhouse. From its 1905 origins as the Australasian Championships to its modern status as the Happy Slam, this episode traces the tournament's challenging journey.

The episode features the voices of 10 Aussie legends, including Ken Rosewall, Margaret Court, and Rod Laver, who share personal stories of the "bunker mentality" required to compete while living months away from home. Discover how the Davis Cup first popularized the sport down under in the 1930s and how the 1988 move to Melbourne Park finally established parity with other majors. Whether it’s Lleyton Hewitt’s grit or the Woodies winning Olympic gold, celebrate the tradition and spirit of the season's first major.

The TennisWorthy Podcast, presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame, uncovers the sport's history and the mindset of champions. Listen to every episode and view transcripts at tennisfame.com/podcast.

Join hosts Patrick McEnroe and Chris Bowers for a special year-end review of the most impactful insights from the TennisWorthy Podcast in 2025. This episode reflects on a landmark year, featuring highlights from the 2025 induction of Maria Sharapova and legendary doubles duo Bob and Mike Bryan.

Explore the diverse dimensions of greatness as Sharapova discusses her early drive for mastery and the Bryans share the unique family philosophy behind their record-breaking 119 titles. Delve into the history of The Original 9 and the pursuit of mental toughness with four-time major champion Jim Courier. Finally, we honor the career and integrity of the retiring Rohan Bopanna, whose acts of sportsmanship remind us that the way you conduct yourself matters more than the final score.

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

Pete Sampras’s fate at the 1994 Lipton Championship was resting in the hands of Andre Agassi.

That morning, a very ill Sampras woke up knowing he’d be unable to play as scheduled. He also knew that in that moment Agassi could walk away with the trophy and the check without looking back, but Agassi chose a different path. He opted to delay the match in hopes it would give Pete enough time to get back on his feet.

Said Agassi: “If I can’t beat the best player in the world, I don’t deserve the trophy. I especially don’t deserve it if I can’t beat him when he’s sick.”

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 John Newcombe reflects on his successful season in 1973. Already a three-time major champion that year, he was set to make a run at the title match of the ATP Masters that year. But when injury struck at the most crucial moment, Newcombe ultimately showed his character and sportsmanship in doing the honorable thing.

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

Patrick McEnroe and Chris Bowers explore the crucial value of sportsmanship in tennis, and its various definitions with three legends: Hall of Famer Lindsay Davenport, former doubles world No. 1 Rohan Bopanna and two-time major finalist Todd Martin.

Lindsay Davenport defines sportsmanship broadly, as handling defeat, tough calls, and success, while being able to look your opponent in the eye. She shares her own personal examples and role models for sportsmanship in today's game.

Rohan Bopanna discusses one momentous instance of sportsmanship in his career: voluntarily gave up a critical point in the 2023 US Open men's doubles final after the ball lightly brushed his arm. Bopanna discusses how honesty and instinct guide his career and how his gesture inspired others.

Two-time ATP Sportsmanship Award winner Todd Martin stresses that true sportsmanship means putting the sport first and maintains that living with the "bad truth" of a point you didn't deserve isn't worthwhile. He discusses how in an era of electronic line calling, sportsmanship is less about line calls and more about overall consistency, poise, and professionalism on and off the court.

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

December's theme is Sportsmanship, and Hall of Famer Kim Clijsters is well known for her kindness on and off the court. The 6-time major champion and 8-time WTA Sportsmanship Award winner shares how gratitude is one of the most important aspects of her career, and how keeping perspective was key to her reaching the top.

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

Patrick McEnroe hosts an insightful conversation with world-renowned performance psychologist Dr. Jim Loehr on mental toughness and the whole person behind elite performance.

Dr. Loehr, who started his career as a licensed psychologist before working with top athletes , discusses his transformative time at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, where he began focusing on the whole person—including physical, emotional, mental, and character health. He argues that improving a person's health in all dimensions, particularly character health, is the single most important dynamic in making them mentally tougher.

Dr. Loehr emphasizes that the purpose of sport should be to use tennis to help athletes become extraordinary human beings. He advocates for focusing on the energy an athlete brings to their time rather than just time management and highlights the importance of resilience, with tennis as the ultimate sport for teaching resiliency to bounce back.

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 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.