On the 230th episode of the GreatBase Tennis Education (GBTE)  podcast, Steve Smith, Ilja Semjonovs, Richard Hernandez, and Dave Anderson discuss mentoring and its significance. Listeners are assured of a few laughs and a few nuggets for their tennis treasure chest.

Please note that one can find more free educational tennis content on GBTE's website (www.greatbasetennis.com). Five courses with optional certification exams are available. Additionally, there are books, articles, and much more.

On the 229th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith, Ivan Ozerets, Andy Fitzell, and Dave Anderson discuss the ins and outs of making resolutions for the new year. As always, we hope our listeners find value in listening and occasionally can chuckle at our attempt at humor.

We wish everyone all the best for 2025.

Happy New Year

Merry Christmas 

On the 228th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve, Ivan, and Andy interview Peter Kobelt. To make an understatement, Peter's journey in tennis is remarkable. As a first-year student at Ohio State University (OSU), Peter red-shirted. Then as a red-shirt freshman, he only played doubles. 

By the end of his collegiate career, he held the OSU record for most doubles matches won and tied the record for most matches won in a single season. Furthermore, he earned the #1 singles ranking in doubles and the #2 national ranking in doubles.

He was honored as an All-American multiple times and then proceeded to travel the world playing pro tennis. He reached the ATP rankings, 332 in singles and 378 in doubles. Following his pro career, Peter spent two years working as a volunteer coach at the University of Kentucky. From there, he moved on to the University of Nebraska as an assistant and, at the young age of 34, was promoted to the head coach position.

On the 227th episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and Andy Fitzell talk about some tennis books from the GreatBase Tennis library.

The GreatBase Tennis library now includes all the tennis books from Vic Braden’s library. Overall, the GBTE has over 1500 tennis books.

Andy Fitzell being with Steve Smith when the last shipment of Vic’s books arrived was quite appropriate. The two spent decades under Vic’s tutelage.

On the 226th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast Steve Smith and Andy Fitzell interview Dave Secker. Their guest is the Associate Head Coach of the North Carolina State women’s tennis team. 

Dave, who has previously donated his time to support our efforts to inform the tennis public, addresses numerous issues pertaining to college tennis in the US. To make an understatement, the Englishmen is well-informed.

On the 225th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast Steve Smith and Ivan Ozerets interview Jeff Moore. To make an understatement, their humble and honest guest has oodles of wisdom to share. We are confident that the session should be classified as a master class for anyone and everyone hungry for improvement; no matter what the endeavor.

As an athlete, he played college tennis for the incomparable Jim Verdieck. As a coach, he led the University of Texas women's tennis team to two national championships. As a consultant, he has successfully impacted a wide assortment of teams, athletic departments, and companies.

We highly recommend reading his book, Strive Together. One may contact Jeff via his website (www.mooreleadership.com).

On the 224th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Ivan Ozerets are joined by Andreas Barbosa. The tennis teaching professional based in Miami has been a frequent guest.  He serves the GreatBase podcast as a contributor, fact-checker, and coach. 

The main topic of this week's conversation is podcasts; in particular tennis podcasts. Andreas ranks his top three tennis podcasts and Steve mentions approximately fifteen podcasts for fellow tennis enthusiasts to check out. 

On the 223rd episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith, Ivan Ozerets, Dave Anderson, and Andy Fitzell talk tennis. With player development as their purpose, the foursome look backwards with the goal of helping fellow tennis enthusiasts. 

Listeners are given points to ponder. The panel's insights and perspectives should prove to be of value. Everyone has heard that hindsight is 20-20.  No one has a crystal ball. No one knows for sure what will unfold in the future. Yet foresight to avoid certain tennis pitfalls is of great importance.

On the 222nd episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith, Ivan Ozerets, Dave Anderson, and Andy Fitzel discuss a rather simple concept. With reflective thought, a tennis teaching professional should strive to deliver enjoyment, exercise, and education each and everyday.

Hopefully by listening tennis enthusiasts and experts will find a golden nugget or two to add to their tennis treasure chest.

Thanks for supporting our non-profit organization (Great Base Tennis Education).

On the 221st episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith, Ivan Ozerets, Dave Anderson, and Andy Fitzell pay tribute to Rafael Nadal. The over-used cliche, there will never be another, applies. 

We all have heard the phrase, never say never. Yet in the history of tennis, there is one situation that comes to mind where the word never can be used. Never again, will one tennis player win 14 French Opens.

The commentary of our foursome is certainly more of a review of Rafa's character than his tennis. With total humility, Rafa displayed the absolute best example of the human competitive spirit. Every curriculum for tennis development from this point forward should have a chapter dedicated to Rafael and his team.