CiCi Bellis on Life After Tennis, Investing In Sports, Chwalinska and Fokina's 1000 Level Titles and Jovic's Potential

CiCi Bellis joins the podcast for a wide-ranging chat about her life after tennis, how she came to terms with the end of her playing career, and transitioned to a successful position in the venture capital world. Bellis discusses everything from the business of sports, the grueling tennis schedule, and her role as a board member on the USTA. The former Top 40 player also recaps the career-defining wins by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Shanghai and Maja Chwalinska in Wuhan. Bellis also analyzes what makes Iva Jovic so special, who's coach Tom Gutteridge was hers as well. The former American mainstay and founding partner of Cartan Capital reacts to the race for the ATP and WTA Finals, Jannik Sinner's injury, and more. Hosted by Mitch Michals. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Christopher Clarey joins the podcast for a great conversation about what's going on in the world of pro tennis. Clarey recaps Qinwen Zheng's big title in Beijing, and reflects on a few outbursts and controversies during the Asian Swing. The journalist also dives into Carlos Alcaraz's quest to return to the top of the sport, Alexander Zverev as a the year-end No. 1, and Ben Shelton's potential to keep growing. Clarey takes a detailed look at some tennis coaching news, with Ivan Ljubičić working with Felix Auger-Aliassime and rumors swirling around Jannik Sinner's team in 2027. The esteemed author reflects on Gael Monfils' career after the Frenchman's confirmed retirement, and discusses the impact of books in the tennis space, including several that he has written. Hosted by Mitch Michals. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rachel Stuhlmann joins the podcast to discuss her path to becoming the No. 1 influencer in tennis, and how she tries to put a spotlight on game at all levels. Stuhlmann reflects on how a gig in Bulgaria at the Sofia Open was the jumping off point for her career, and how the game continues to grow with more brand partnerships than ever before. The former Mizzou college tennis player discusses her 2026 US Open experience that featured an influx of influencers, and recounted watching Ben Shelton make his career breakthrough after notching a thrilling victory over Carlos Alcaraz. Stuhlmann discusses several topics including her friendship with Genie Bouchard, working with Hall of Famers Tracy Austin and Gigi Fernandez, and meeting Serena Williams. The influencer also lists off her favorite players to watch in the current game and some rising talents that everyone should keep an eye on. Hosted by Mitch Michals. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Monica Puig joins the podcast to discuss a wide range of topics in the tennis world, which proved in the past week that there is no shortage of drama and breaking news. Puig recaps Novak Djokovic's title-run in Beijing, and analyzes how the 24-time major champion can carry this into 2027. The 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist also reacts to Jannik Sinner's decision to end his 2026 season, and dives into Carlos Alcaraz's Tokyo triumph and his ability to enjoy the process. Puig also explains why she's not reading too much into the early losses of Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka in China, and explains why the latter is perfectly fine balancing her off-court and on-court lives. And Puig goes in depth about Emma Navarro's public disclosure of her health conditions, speaking passionately about the struggles female athletes face and how brave the young American is in speaking up. Hosted by Mitch Michals. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Scott Sheffield joins the podcast for a conversation about his path from successful oil businessman to philanthropist and tennis enthusiast who is actively growing the game. Sheffield discusses his philanthropical efforts with the New Mexico First Serve Foundation, and their newly minted "Forked Lightning Racquet Club" that was just honored as the USTA's Feature Facility of the Year. On October 17th, First Serve New Mexico will host it's second gala that will feature legends of the sport such as Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova playing, connecting, and supporting local youth in the tennis community. Sheffield explains what is on tap for this event, why the game means so much to his family. and why he's still a dedicated player himself. Hosted by Mitch Michals. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

International Tennis Hall of Famer Charlie Pasarell is the guest on this episode for a great and revealing conversation. Quite simply a pioneer, Pasarell discusses his new book, "Serving First: Dreams Realized and Lessons Learned from Family, Friends, and a Life in Tennis." Pasarell dives into his upbringing in Puerto Rico, what drew him to chase excellence, and how he became one of the most important tennis figures in the 20th century. Pasarell sheds light on his close friendship with Arthur Ashe and he explains just what made Pancho Gonzales, Rod Laver and other players from his era so special. The Hall of Famer opens up about his serving prowess and how it came to be his signature shot, and why playing for the USA Davis Cup Team was his most proud tennis honor. And Pasarell reveals how he came to found the tennis tournament now known as the BNP Paribas Open, and why he understood early that Indian Wells had the potential to be a smash hit. Hosted by Mitch Michals. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan-Michael Gambill joins the show to chat about a wide range of tennis topics, including Jannik Sinner continuing to miss time with a knee injury. Gambill gives his thoughts on Sinner's recovery process and what it means for the men's game, which has an sizable opening in the World No. 1's absence. The commentator breaks down Alexander Zverev's sustained success after notching the clinching victory in the Laver Cup, and the race for the ATP Finals which could feature several Americans such as Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz. Gambill also recaps Czechia's triumph in the Billie Jean King Cup, and explains why that relatively small nation has been able to pump out world class women's players for several generations. The broadcaster shares his fixes for all the late finishes at the US Open, reacts to a controversial decision to prevent Tatiana Prozorova from taking the court in Singapore, and ponders what next season could hold for Amanda Anisimova after she decided to conclude her 2026 campaign. Hosted by Mitch Michals. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jason Stacy joins the podcast to discuss his new book, "The Pressure Code: How Elite Performers Align Their Energy, Emotions, and Environment." Stacy explains why he decided to write his first book, and the decision to discuss deeply personal topics and obstacles from his life. The mental and performance coach for Aryna Sabalenka dives into how he collaborates with a team of coaches, the value he gets from martial arts and reading, and why "meeting people where they are at" is a core component in his work and life. Stacy discloses what "The Pressure Code" is all about, and how tennis players and everyday people alike can learn from his writing debut. it's a fascinating chat with the longest-running member of Sabalenka's team, a self-made high-performance coach and a true innovator in the pro tennis space. Hosted by Mitch Michals. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Gill Gross joins the podcast to recap his time covering the US Open, and to shed light on some of the post-match interviews he conducted with the game's best players. Gross assesses how Alexander Zverev changed his career trajectory in the span of a few months, and analyzes Elena Rybakina's key attributes that guide her in big moments. The broadcaster dives into Holger Rune's return to the court after 11 months, Joao Fonseca's unfortunate injury luck, and why the Davis Cup reverting back to the environments of the past is a wise move. Gross also predicts who Juan Carlos Ferrero will coach next, and lists a few players you might not expect. The commentator forecasts Jannik Sinner's level when he resumes competition, states his case for why tactics are lacking in the current pro game, and gives an outlook on Novak Djokovic in the winter of his legendary career. Hosted by Mitch Michals. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dick Gould joins the show to discuss his extraordinary life in tennis, and how he established one of the all-time greatest athletic programs in college sports. Gould led the Stanford Cardinal men's tennis team to 17 NCAA team titles during his 38 seasons as head coach, and he explains how he built that program from the ground up with proper teaching, honest recruiting, and a willingness to trust his players. The coach shares his own tennis upbringing story, discusses the current developments in the game, and shares some personal antidotes from coaching legends of the sport such as John McEnroe and Bob & Mike Bryan. Gould was honored at the 2026 US Open for his contributions to the tennis community as an educator and an innovator, and he reflects on what tennis means to him in this episode. Hosted by Mitch Michals. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.