Legendary College Tennis Coach Dick Gould on Building Greatness at Stanford

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.

Patricia Tarabini joins the show to discuss her path from a small town in Argentina to the world of pro tennis, where she continues to make a lasting impact. Tarabini explains how she became involved in the coaching world after a successful playing career, and goes in depth into her long-lasting relationship with her current player, Anna Kalinskaya. Listen as the coach shares the dynamics to their relationship, the keys to structuring a good practice, and how both teacher and tennis pupil are able to learn from one another and build a successful partnership in this fascinating conversation. 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.

John Lloyd joins the podcast to recap the 2026 US Open finals, which saw Alexander Zverev and Elena Rybakina reign over the tennis world. Lloyd explains how Zverev enacted a masterful strategy from start to finish against Ben Shelton, and goes in depth about why Zverev is a different player now that he has broken through and won major titles. The former British No. 1 also evaluates Ben Shelton's game and the American's potential to win a slam in the future. Lloyd reviews the high-quality tennis that Rybakina played in her final victory over Aryna Sabalenka, and why the newly minted No. 1 player in the world has embraced the role. Lloyd also gives his thoughts on Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula as well as a few other players he enjoys watching on the WTA. And Lloyd makes his passionate plea for areas that tennis can improve, from axing early morning finishes and limiting time in between first and second serves, to his more controversial take... the end of best-of-5 sets. 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.

TennisNow writer Chris Oddo joins the podcast to discuss the epic 2026 US Open, which has featured triumphs, heartbreaks, emotional wins and tears of both joy and sadness. Oddo recaps Ben Shelton's thrilling win over Carlos Alcaraz, and explains why it's the biggest American men's tennis win in decades. The writer also dives into Frances Tiafoe snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, and his emotional embrace with Alex Michelsen. Oddo analyzes how the top four seeds all advanced to the women's Semifinal round, which include the two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka. The journalist gives his thoughts on Coco Gauff's comeback win over Andreeva, Elena Rybakina's win that clinched the World No. 1 ranking, and whether it's time for Jessica Pegula win her first major title. And Oddo proviews all the semifinal matches, which includes an All-American showdown between Shelton and Tiafoe. 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.

Nick Monroe joins the podcast on-site from The US Open to dive into all the action and drama from Flushing Meadows. Monroe breaks down Carlos Alcaraz's impressive form in his return, and looks at how Ben Shelton can rise to the challenge in their upcoming quarterfinal match. The broadcaster also explains how Frances Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen have elevated their games in NYC, and assesses Alexander Zverev's level as he looks to claim his first US Open title. Monroe also weighs in on the women's draw, where Qinwen Zheng rallied from 5-0 down in two consecutive matches, with the latter being a tremendous upset win over Iga Swiatek. The former player discusses Elena Rybakina's sustained brilliance in her win over Naomi Osaka, Aryna Sabalenka's game rounding into form, and Linda Noskova's tremendous short-term memory. And Monroe explains how Americans Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro are racking up the wins at The US Open. 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.

Barstool Hubbs joins the podcast for some early US Open reactions, where the much anticipated return of Carlos Alcaraz continues to capture the headlines. Hubbs evaluates Alcaraz's play, and looks at if the American men are ready to end the 23-year slam drought. The online personality breaks down Ben Shelton's dynamic game, Taylor Fritz flying under the radar, and whether Tommy Paul or Frances Tiafoe can have their moment in New York. Hubbs also recaps the early results in the women's draw, where Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek are continuing to shine on the hard courts. The Barstool Sports writer weighs in on Jessica Pegula's chances to finally capture a major, Aryna Sabalenka's mission to repeat as champion, and Mirra Andreeva's highs and lows. And Hubbs lists his favorite Round 3 matchups as the 2026 US Open rolls along. 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.

Steve Flink joins the podcast to discuss a wide range of topics from the 2026 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony to the start of The US Open, and his new excellent book about the greatest names in American tennis history. Flink, who was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2017, recaps this year's festivities which saw Roger Federer and Mary Carillo take their place in tennis eternity. He also explains why his new book: "The Immortals of American Tennis," provides an all-encompassing look at the greatest and most impactful names the USA has produced in this sport. The author details his writing process, the emphasis on the pre-open era stars, and what readers can expect to learn as they dive into the pages. Flink also looks at the beginning of the 2026 US Open, which saw Novak Djokovic lose his opening match to Mariano Navone in five agonizing sets. The journalist recaps the match, details the biggest obstacles in Djokovic's way, and predicts where the Serbian legend might go from here. And Flink gives his thoughts on the other early storylines from Flushing Meadows, which included Carlos Alcaraz's return to the court, Stefanos Tsitsipas' huge upset win over Arthur Fils, and the decision to start the Venus Williams/Sofia Kenin match after midnight. 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.