TennisWorthy

Stan Smith saw it coming. The world saw it coming. But no one knew it would happen that fast. In what felt like an instant, a 17 year old Björn Borg went from a promising young star to a dominating force in the sport. By 1974, the future of tennis had arrived.

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 Justine Henin knew from a young age that her dream was to become a champion, in particular at Roland-Garros. She went on to win the tournament four times as part of a decorated career, making sacrifices and staying true to her dream all the while.

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

In the 25th anniversary year of her milestone Roland-Garros singles title, the TennisWorthy Podcast revisits one of its original episodes with Hall of Famer Mary Pierce.

Mary discusses her remarkable career and personal journey with Chris Bowers. Pierce reflects on her early start in tennis, turning pro at 14, and attributes her success to perseverance and hard work.

A significant turning point in her life and career came in 2000, leading to her Roland Garros singles and doubles victories that year despite a shoulder injury. Pierce emphasizes the importance of unconditional love and support for young athletes, advising parents to treat their children the same regardless of their performance. She also shares her pride for her 2019 induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

This episode originally aired in 2023. The TennisWorthy Podcast is presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame. For more information and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.

Chris Bowers sits down for an inspiring interview with Rick Draney, a remarkable individual inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023 as a wheelchair tennis champion and pioneer. Draney shares his powerful journey, which began with a car crash at 19 that left him in a wheelchair. He candidly discusses the struggles of adapting to a new life and how discovering wheelchair tennis became a pivotal turning point in his rehabilitation. Despite initial doubts and challenges with mobility and gripping the racket, Draney's determination led him to innovate his own taping method, which significantly improved his game and established a method for future generations of quad players.

This conversation goes beyond tennis, highlighting how sports can empower individuals to overcome adversity and become their best selves. Draney emphasizes that it's not about what happens to you, but how you choose to deal with it. His story is a testament to perseverance, the importance of support systems, and the vast opportunities available in adaptive sports today. Discover how a willingness to try can lead to incredible achievements and a renewed sense of purpose.

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

As protestors insisted on their rights in Tiananmen Square, Hall of Famer Michael Chang persisted in one of the hardest matches of his career: battling defending champion Ivan Lendl through cramps and doubt in the fourth round at 1989 Roland-Garros.

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

(00:00:15) - When did Michael Chang win the French Open?

Patrick McEnroe welcomes Amit Sood, head of Google Arts & Culture, to discuss Google's partnership with the International Tennis Hall of Fame. McEnroe highlights Google's work in digitizing the "American Lawn Tennis" magazine from the early 1900s, making this valuable historical resource accessible online on Google Arts & Culture's platform. Sood explains Google Arts & Culture's mission to provide access to cultural topics globally through partnerships with museums, archives, and foundations.

The conversation delves into how Google became involved in preserving sports history, starting with tennis in Australia, and the use of AI to enhance the "Serving Tennis History" platform. They also discuss the potential for technology to transform learning and the importance of collaboration between technology and cultural institutions.

View the platform, stories from the full archive of American Lawn Tennis and themes curated by the Hall of Fame and Google Arts & Culture in Serving Tennis History, available online at https://artsandculture.google.com/project/tennis-history.

Host Patrick McEnroe interviews Dana Mathewson, a celebrated wheelchair tennis player and the first American woman to win a major wheelchair title in doubles. Dana shares her journey into tennis, which began after a rare autoimmune disease left her paralyzed at age 10.

The conversation explores themes of overcoming setbacks, the importance of resilience, and Dana's experiences traveling the world for tournaments. Dana also reflects on the significance of representing her country in the Paralympics and her desire to raise the profile of wheelchair tennis in the United States. Dana shares her plans to stay involved in tennis through coaching and commentary, and her efforts to advocate for greater inclusion and accessibility for people with disabilities.

Dana Mathewson is a trailblazer in U.S. wheelchair tennis, recognized as one of the sport’s most prominent figures. A three-time Paralympian and the top-ranked American woman, Dana made history in 2022 as the first American woman to win a Grand Slam title with her doubles victory at Wimbledon. Over her illustrious career, Dana secured 16 singles titles and 32 doubles titles. At the 2023 Para PanAmerican Games in Santiago, Chile, she captured gold medals in both singles and doubles and was honored by her Team USA teammates as a flag bearer. In 2024, she broke new ground again as the first American to compete at the Miami Open Wheelchair Tennis Championship.

This month, the TennisWorthy Podcast explores the theme of dedication, and how champions overcame various challenges in the lives and careers to reach the top. Hear inspiring stories of dedication from three Hall of Famers from the Open Era – Virginia Wade, Goran Ivanišević and Justine Henin – who faced significant journeys to achieve their major goals.

Discover how Wade's early determination, sparked in South Africa, fueled her long-awaited Wimbledon triumph. Goran Ivanišević shares the emotions and belief he needed to capture the Wimbledon title after reaching three previous finals. Explore Henin's deep connection with the French Open and her perseverance to finally claim victory. These inspiring stories highlight the unwavering commitment required at the highest levels of tennis, offering captivating insights.

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 and 48-time major champion Esther Vergeer shares her story of inspiration. After becoming paralyzed at age 8, Esther discovered a love of sport through her rehabilitation process. Following a record-setting wheelchair tennis career, Esther has found her mission in providing opportunities for children with a disability to access and participate in sports. Since 2004, the Esther Vergeer Foundation has transformed lives across the Netherlands.

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

Spanish tennis greats weren't necessarily known for their success on grass before Conchita Martinez made the final at Wimbledon in 1994. Conchita shares the emotions behind her Wimbledon title, and how establishing her legacy on Centre Court paved the way for her to make and impact in coaching some of the greats of the next generation.

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