Talking tennis balls with HEAD's Mauro Pinaffo

Switching to a new racquet comes with its own set of mental and technical hurdles. My friend and excellent tennis player, Daniel Rutkowski, and I discuss the process of going from a more classical control racquet to a more modern, powerful racquet. You can also find our conversation in video format on our YouTube channel. If you like to see more discussions like this, please comment below.

Rubin Statham’s story reads like a classic tennis hustle: a decade-plus on the road representing New Zealand in the Davis Cup, grinding out Challengers, then channeling all that lived pain (and string bills!) into a product players actually need. He retired in December and is now full-time at the helm of Pro Stringer - portable, pro-grade stringing machines you’ve likely seen popping up in player lounges and, yes, even on trains.

Petros Tsitsipas has spent most of his career carving out a place on the doubles tour, often alongside his brother Stefanos, but in recent months, he has been shifting his focus back to singles. I recently had the chance to sit down with him for a long conversation about life on tour, the unique dynamic of playing with siblings, the changing nature of doubles, and, of course, his gear.

In this episode of the Tennisnerd podcast, I sit down with none other than Ashley Neaves – The Tennis Mentor – to dive into all things tennis improvement. Ashley recently crossed 100,000 subscribers on YouTube, a huge milestone that reflects his impact on club players and coaches around the world. We chat about his journey creating tennis content, what he's learned from coaching thousands of players, and how you can level up your game with smart, practical tips. One of the highlights? Ashley introduces his brand new Tennis Training Deck – a unique tool designed to help players of all levels structure their practice sessions and improve faster. Whether you're a weekend warrior, an aspiring competitor, or a coach looking for fresh ideas, this conversation is packed with insight, inspiration, and actionable advice.

I had the pleasure of chatting with Swiss-American ATP pro Alexander Ritschard, who’s working hard to come back from a tricky shoulder injury. You might remember Alexander from his breakout 2024 season, where he captured three Challenger titles and looked set for a steady rise up the rankings. But, as tennis so often reminds us, nothing is guaranteed, and an unlucky muscle tear put him on the sidelines. We went deep in this conversation — not just about his comeback, but about the mindset, routines, and tough realities that come with life on the professional tennis circuit.

In this episode, WTA pro Tamara Zidanšek gets real about life on tour. From the mental battles and injury setbacks to the constant surface changes and pressure of rankings—she doesn’t hold back. We talk about confidence, coaching, journaling, and what it really takes to stay in the game. She also reflects on her deep run at the 2021 French Open and how it changed things. If you're curious about the behind-the-scenes reality of pro tennis, this one’s a must-listen.

Nikola Aracic from Intuitive Tennis returns to the pod to recap the French Open 2025. We discuss the amazing Alcaraz vs. Sinner match, Sabalenka's salty speech, why women should play five sets, why even pros struggle with their racquets, and delve in-depth into Nikola's frustrating racquet testing journey.

Christopher Clarey is a tennis writer with decades of experience of interviewing and reporting on the best players in the world. He is a New York Times bestselling author with the book The Master, about Roger Federer's astonishing career. Now he has written The Warrior: Rafael Nadal and his Kingdom of Clay, a book that is a biography of Rafa, but also of the tournament and place where he won 14 of his Grand Slam titles, Roland Garros. Read more about The Warrior. Purchase The Warrior.

Henrik Wallensten, Davis Cup stringer, racquet tester, and tennis journalist, joins the pod again to talk about the latest experiments and the never-ending racquet tinkering madness. Are you looking for a new racquet or string? Check out our page about recommended racquets or strings on Tennisnerd.net. And don't forget our exclusive deals and discounts.

Pro player and YouTuber Karue Sell is back on the podcast to talk about his latest adventures on the Challenger Tour and coming back from his recent injury. We also get into his racquet change and the YouTuber life. Karue is, as always, entertaining and refreshingly straightforward. If you are not already subscribed, you can check out his YouTube channel here.