This week on the Functional Tennis Podcast I’m joined once again by Portuguese player Jaime Faria, who continues to make strides on the ATP Tour.Since our last chat, Jaime has broken into the top 100, won two Challenger titles, and battled through Grand Slam qualifying winning 11 of his last 12 matches and even sneaking into the US Open as a lucky loser. One of the standout moments of his year was facing Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open, an experience that gave him a clear view of what it takes to compete with the very best.In this episode, Jaime shares what he learned from that match, the challenges of staying inside the top 100, the grind of playing qualies, and whether he still enjoys the process as much as he once did.🔑 Key Topics:🎾 Lessons from playing Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open🏆 Breaking into the top 100 and winning Challengers🚪 Getting into the US Open as a lucky loser💪 The mental and physical grind of Slam qualifying🧠 Staying motivated and enjoying the processA real behind-the-scenes look at the ups and downs of life on tour from one of Portugal’s rising stars.This podcast is sponsored by ASICS. ASICS is a Japanese company founded in 1949 to give more people the opportunity to experience how sports and movement can have a positive impact on mental well-being.To learn more about ASICS visit their website here: https://www.asics.com/nl/en-nl/sports/tennis/Find us on Social Media:Instagram: Instagram.com/FunctionalTennisTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@functionaltennisYouTube: Functional Tennis Podcast
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“Every Tennis Parent’s Journey Is Different” with Garry Cahill
This week on the Functional Tennis Podcast, I’m joined once again by Garry Cahill, one of Ireland’s most respected coaches, former Davis Cup captain, and Performance Director at Tennis Ireland.In this episode, Garry dives into the realities of tennis parenting and why every family’s journey is unique. He explains why no two kids are the same, why parents shouldn’t try to copy someone else’s pathway, and how circumstances from finances to geography to coaching support, make every story different.We also talk about the challenges parents face in the early years, how to handle the car ride home after a loss, the importance of communication with coaches, and why there’s no one-size-fits-all manual for raising a tennis player.🔑 Key Topics:👨👩👦 Why every tennis parent’s journey is different🚗 The car ride home and handling emotions after matches📈 Setting milestones and planning for the long term💬 The importance of clear parent-coach communication📚 Why tennis needs better resources for parentsWhether you’re a tennis parent, coach, or player, Garry’s advice is packed with insights that can help you navigate the junior journey with more confidence and clarity.FabioThis podcast is sponsored by ASICS. ASICS is a Japanese company founded in 1949 to give more people the opportunity to experience how sports and movement can have a positive impact on mental well-being.To learn more about ASICS visit their website here: https://www.asics.com/nl/en-nl/sports/tennis/Find us on Social Media:Instagram: Instagram.com/FunctionalTennisTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@functionaltennis
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Building People, Not Just Players. John Williams, coach of world no.1 Doubles Taylor Townsend
This week on the Functional Tennis Podcast I’m joined by John Williams, coach and mentor to world number 1 doubles player Taylor Townsend.John’s approach to coaching is anything but conventional. He doesn’t just build tennis players, he builds characters. In this chat we talk about the characteristics he looks for in players, how his outside-the-box thinking shapes their development, and why mindset and life skills are just as important as technique.Key Topics🎾 The traits that separate good players from great ones🧠 Why developing character is as important as developing skills💡 How to think differently about tennis and avoid a conformist mindset📈 Lessons from coaching top pros and upcoming juniorsQuote“I’m not just coaching forehands and backhands, I’m building people.”From guiding top pros to developing juniors, John shares invaluable lessons for players, coaches, and parents who want to understand what it truly takes to succeed in the sport.EnjoyFabioThis podcast is sponsored by ASICS. ASICS is a Japanese company founded in 1949 to give more people the opportunity to experience how sports and movement can have a positive impact on mental well-being.To learn more about ASICS visit their website here: https://www.asics.com/nl/en-nl/sports/tennis/Find us on Social Media:Instagram: Instagram.com/FunctionalTennisTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@functionaltennis
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Going All In Changed Everything for Wheelchair Champ Charlie Cooper
In this episode, I chat with 17-year-old American wheelchair tennis player Charlie Cooper, a rising star who’s already claimed 2 junior wheelchair singles Grand Slam titles.Born with spina bifida, Charlie’s journey into tennis started with local clinics and has now taken him to the top levels of junior competition. He shares how making the decision to go full-time in 2023 completely changed his development, both mentally and physically.We talk about the improvements he’s seen since going all in, the structure of wheelchair tennis, his tournament experiences, and what he hopes to achieve in the future.Key topics:• How going full-time helped Charlie raise his level• What a typical training week looks like for him• Differences in mindset between juniors and pros• How wheelchair tennis works at the top level• His goals for the coming seasonA super insightful conversation for tennis fans and players alike.FabioThis podcast is sponsored by ASICS. ASICS is a Japanese company founded in 1949 to give more people the opportunity to experience how sports and movement can have a positive impact on mental well-being.To learn more about ASICS visit their website here: https://www.asics.com/nl/en-nl/sports/tennis/Find us on Social Media:Instagram: Instagram.com/FunctionalTennis
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College Champ Starting Her Pro Journey, Dasha Vidmanova Ep260
🎙️ This week on the Functional Tennis Podcast, I’m joined by Dasha Vidmanova, the former US College #1 player and 2024 NCAA singles, doubles, and team champion.Born in Moscow and raised in Prague, Dasha’s journey through tennis has been anything but linear. From nearly walking away from the sport to becoming a dominant force in college tennis, she now has her sights set on making waves on the pro tour.We chat about:📍 How college tennis reignited her passion for the game🎓 Why she initially didn’t plan to turn pro💪 Learning to lose as part of going pro🧠 The mindset shift that led to major improvements🇺🇸 What it’s like being the best female college player in the US🎯 Her short-term and long-term goals on tour💼 And why she majored in finance, just in case tennis didn’t work outWhether you’re a parent, coach, or young player weighing up college vs pro tennis, Dasha offers refreshing honesty and insight into both paths.Enjoy, FabioThis podcast is sponsored by ASICS. ASICS is a Japanese company founded in 1949 to give more people the opportunity to experience how sports and movement can have a positive impact on mental well-being.To learn more about ASICS visit their website here: https://www.asics.com/nl/en-nl/sports/tennis/Find us on Social Media:Instagram: Instagram.com/FunctionalTennis
Presented by Fabio Molle, The Functional Tennis Podcast is a downloadable audio show featuring weekly interviews with players, coaches, trainers, tennis parents and experts working at the highest level of tennis.