Tennis Insider Club with Caro Garcia

Caroline Garcia & Borja Duran

Unfiltered conversations with the world’s best tennis players, on the game, the pressure, and the person behind the rankings. Hosted by tennis pro Caroline Garcia and Borja Duran. The side of pro tennis you never see on TV. Including guests like Iga Swiatek, John McEnroe, Naomi Osaka, Taylor Fritz, Jessica Pegula, Nick Kyrgios, Ana Ivanovic, Jannik Sinner's coach, Eva Lys, Bryan Shelton, Justin Henin, Brad Gilbert. Stefanos Tsitsipas, Patrick Mouratoglou, Ons Jabeur or Andrey Rublev. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Madison Keys on Winning a Grand Slam, Therapy & Finally Letting Go

    May 19

    Madison Keys on Winning a Grand Slam, Therapy & Finally Letting Go

    Madison Keys joins us for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had on Tennis Insider Club. After years of being told she would win a Grand Slam, Madison opens up about the pressure that followed her from a very young age, the weight of expectations, and the painful thought that no matter how much she had achieved, her career might still feel incomplete without a Slam. She reflects on the 2017 US Open final, the emotional exhaustion of Grand Slam runs, playing Sloane Stephens in New York, and how badly it hurt to feel so close to a dream and watch it disappear so quickly. Madison also shares the inner work that changed everything: therapy, separating her self-worth from results, learning to stop living only for tennis, and finally reaching the point where she could say, “I’m just going to play tennis how I want to play it.” Then she won the Australian Open. This episode is about pressure, perfectionism, identity, friendship, balance, and the difficult but powerful process of becoming kinder to yourself. Chapters: 00:00 Madison Keys on feeling like a failure without a Slam 00:39 How Venus Williams inspired Madison to start tennis 03:42 Sponsor break: IM8 04:55 Turning pro at 14 07:42 Being called “the next Serena Williams” 09:18 The pressure of not winning a Grand Slam 12:15 The pain of the 2017 US Open final 18:00 Therapy, letting go, and finally winning Australia 21:35 Why winning brought old habits back 25:28 Separating Madison the person from Madison the player 29:15 What’s the point of winning if you’re miserable? 31:35 Did winning the Australian Open feel like relief? 34:00 Radical honesty and avoiding easy tennis excuses 36:35 Perfectionism: gift or curse? 41:48 Having her husband as her coach 46:15 What motivates Madison now? 50:25 Madison’s foundation and giving kids access to tennis 54:35 Madison’s advice to her younger self This episode is sponsored by IM8. Get 10% off your first order. Code TIC auto-applies at checkout: https://im8health.com/discount/TIC A special thank you to InterContinental Rome for hosting us. Follow Tennis Insider Club: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tennisinsiderclub/ X: https://x.com/tennisinsidercl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    58 min
  2. Diego Schwartzman Opens Up About Retirement, Anxiety & The Big 3

    May 4

    Diego Schwartzman Opens Up About Retirement, Anxiety & The Big 3

    Diego Schwartzman joins Caroline Garcia and Borja Durán for a deeply honest conversation about the real cost of a life in professional tennis. From growing up in Argentina with limited resources, to fighting his way through Futures and Challengers, to facing Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer on the biggest stages, Diego built one of the most respected careers in tennis through discipline, intelligence, resilience and heart. But in this episode, Diego opens up about the side of tennis fans rarely see: the anxiety, the exhaustion, the constant travel, the pressure to keep going, and the moment he realized that even winning matches no longer felt good. He shares why he decided to retire, what it felt like to write his retirement letter, why Djokovic was the hardest player he faced, what young players misunderstand about building a team, and why sometimes the bravest decision is knowing when to stop. A raw, funny and emotional conversation with one of tennis’ most loved competitors. Listen to Tennis Insider Club on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1SDHHtfQmUS0TyP8wqJEh9 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tennis-insider-club/id1721351881 Follow Tennis Insider Club: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tennisinsiderclub/ X: https://x.com/tennisinsidercl #DiegoSchwartzman #TennisInsiderClub #TennisPodcast #CarolineGarcia #ATP #Tennis Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:45 How Diego started playing tennis 02:10 The financial reality of becoming a pro 04:20 Managing outside support and pressure 05:10 Moving from Argentina to Europe 06:30 Why Diego didn’t play the traditional junior route 07:30 Breaking through Futures and Challengers 09:10 Building belief as a smaller player 10:50 Did his height ever make him doubt himself? 12:05 The tactics that shaped Diego’s game 14:20 Winning without playing your best 16:30 The team that pushed Diego to the limit 17:10 Why Diego retired at 32 18:00 Caroline and Diego on losing the fire 19:45 Why athletes don’t have to play until 35 21:15 The first signs something was wrong 22:10 When winning no longer felt good 23:20 Anxiety, burnout and listening to his body 24:30 The psychologist who told Diego the truth 26:45 Sponsors, money and the pressure to continue 27:45 Announcing his retirement 30:00 Crying after writing his retirement letter 31:20 Did Diego have balance during his career? 32:15 How COVID affected tennis players 34:45 Playing the ATP Finals with no fans 36:35 Diego’s best memory from his career 37:35 Why Diego kept tennis simple 38:40 Why your team matters so much 40:05 The Argentinian mentality in tennis 41:05 Alcaraz, Ferrero and staying fresh 42:50 Diego’s advice: invest in your team 44:45 Facing Rafa, Novak and Roger 45:25 Why Djokovic was the hardest opponent 46:10 The chaos of tennis scheduling 47:40 Was Diego born in the wrong era? 48:50 Giving back to South American tennis 49:30 Could Diego become a coach? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    55 min
  3. Paula Badosa on Pressure, Pain and Inner Peace

    Apr 20

    Paula Badosa on Pressure, Pain and Inner Peace

    Former World No. 2 Paula Badosa opens up to Caroline Garcia about the grueling reality of chronic injuries and the hidden struggles of the pro tour. Paula reveals the physical toll of playing matches on painkillers, the mental exhaustion of dealing with social media trolls, and the exclusive one-hour phone call with her idol, Rafael Nadal, that helped her navigate her darkest moments. 🌟 SPONSOR: IM8 Health A special thanks to IM8 Health for sponsoring this episode! IM8 Daily Essentials is our non-negotiable on tour—delivering 99 clinically dosed ingredients for gut, energy, and joint support to help with longevity and performance. 💪 Get 10% off your first order (code TIC auto-applies at checkout): https://im8health.com/discount/TIC In this episode, we cover: (00:00) The reality of chronic injuries and the Miami incident(04:01) Changing her tennis identity to protect her body(09:00) Escaping the lonely, intense energy of the Tour(14:00) The toxic trap of linking self-worth to winning(19:00) "Let's try one more time": Playing through the pain(26:00) Fighting back against social media trolls(37:00) The one-hour phone call with Rafael Nadal(41:00) The biggest mistake young tennis players make(49:00) Why she is chasing inner peace over happinessJoin the Club: If you loved this raw conversation, make sure to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Follow Us: 📲 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/tennisinsiderclub/ 📲 X (Twitter) → https://x.com/tennisinsidercl 🌐 Website → https://tennisinsider.club 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@TennisInsiderClub?sub_confirmation=1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min
  4. He Quit Tennis, Was Hitting With Sharapova as a Favour — Now He's Coaching a Top WTA Player | Tom Hill

    Apr 7

    He Quit Tennis, Was Hitting With Sharapova as a Favour — Now He's Coaching a Top WTA Player | Tom Hill

    Tom Hill never planned to be a tennis coach. He finished college, put his rackets in the wardrobe, and was planning law school. Then a chance encounter at a bar in Santa Monica led to a hitting session with Maria Sharapova. Then a call from Danielle Collins — ranked 250 in the world at the time. Eight months later she was Top 30. Then came Maria Sakkari. And six years, a Top 3 ranking and countless close-misses later, Tom is one of the most respected coaches on the WTA tour. In this episode, Tom joins Caroline Garcia and Borja for an unfiltered look inside professional tennis coaching: How he accidentally became a tennis coach — via Sharapova, a bar in Santa Monica and a visa expiryGoing from 0 coaching experience to taking Danielle Collins from 250 to Top 30 in 8 monthsThe real story of coaching Maria Sakkari to World No.3 — and why they eventually parted waysHow to handle a player who's losing their confidence — what you say, and what you never sayThe match point Maria had against Kvitova at Roland Garros — and how that one moment changed everythingWhy he never sets ranking goals — and what he focuses on insteadThe truth about travelling 45 weeks a year with a player and why he burned outHow to coach two players at once — and why it only works if roles are crystal clearWhat coaches like Wim Fissette get right that most coaches get completely wrongWhy winning junior Grand Slams means absolutely nothing for your professional career Timestamps: 03:30 The bar in Santa Monica — the conversation that changed everything 04:30 Hitting with Maria Sharapova at IMG Academy 07:00 How Danielle Collins found him — and why that hour changed his life 10:30 Falling in love with coaching — helping players become their best 12:00 Taking Collins from 250 to Top 30 in 8 months — with zero coaching experience 13:30 "Me and you against the world" — starting out with no reputation 15:00 The Instagram post that led to Maria Sakkari 16:00 Working under Thomas Johansson — still messaging him once a week 18:00 Imposter syndrome as the youngest coach on tour 19:00 The hardest part of being a coach — 45 weeks a year on the road 20:30 Never setting ranking goals — why he focuses on the process 22:00 How Maria went from 30 to No.3 — four years of consistent improvement 29:30 "The best skill a coach can have is becoming what the player needs" 31:00 Why great coaches with one player often fail with the next 32:30 Can you be friends with your players? 34:00 The coach-player disagreement — what the coach sees vs what the player feels 37:00 How to handle a player after a devastating loss 40:30 How to plan a schedule — training weeks vs tournament weeks 43:00 More hours on court vs smart hours — what actually works 45:30 Why they stopped working together — and why coming back was an easy yes 47:30 Bringing in consultant coaches — threat or opportunity? 49:00 Two coaches at once: why roles must be crystal clear 50:00 Yannick Sinner's team — why Simone and Darren work so well together 51:30 The hitting partner debate — when do top players need one? 53:30 Why men rarely travel with hitting partners 54:30 Managing a big team — physio, fitness coach, psychologist and more 55:30 Every person in the team has their specialty 57:00 "If you're happy off the court, you play well on the court" 59:00 Parents as coaches — when it works, when it doesn't 1:00:00 Caroline opens up about her dad as her coach 1:01:00 Why coaches can't have emotions — the hardest part of the job 1:03:00 Would he ever coach on the ATP tour? 1:04:00 His advice for young players: build the right style, not the best results 1:06:00 Why winning junior Grand Slams means nothing for your pro career 💊 THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY IM8 IM8 Daily Essentials is the all-in-one supplement Caroline uses on tour — 99 clinically dosed ingredients covering gut health, energy, joint support and longevity in a single daily sachet. No stack needed. 🔗 Try IM8 and get 10% off your first order → im8health.com/discount/TIC (use code TIC at checkout) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 8m
  5. Gavin MacMillan: He Fixed Sabalenka's Serve. Now He's Working With Coco Gauff

    Mar 23

    Gavin MacMillan: He Fixed Sabalenka's Serve. Now He's Working With Coco Gauff

    Gavin MacMillan spent years building athletes nobody expected to make it — boxers, hockey players, tennis pros. Then Aryna Sabalenka hired him, and the tennis world started paying attention. In this episode, Gavin breaks down the serve transformation that took Sabalenka from 6 double faults in a single final to 6 double faults across an entire tournament. He explains why 99% of strength coaches in tennis are operating on the wrong principles — and why bigger, faster, stronger is the biggest lie in the sport. He's now working with Coco Gauff. And he has thoughts. 🎾 WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE → Why conventional weight training is actively hurting tennis players → The Federer "toothpick" principle: how elasticity beats muscle → Sabalenka's serve rebuild — the real story, step by step → What Gavin is working on with Coco Gauff right now → Why you can't think your way through a serve under pressure → The coaching lie: "I played it, so I can teach it" → The broken ATP/WTA system — and why nobody's fixing it → Caro Garcia on what she'd change about her career if she started over → Why tennis is the single hardest sport in the world to succeed in professionally ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⏱ CHAPTERS 01:00 Gavin's background — 7 sports, hockey, losing his mom at 15 02:00 Narcissistic tennis parents & the crystal ball problem 03:30 Why tennis is the hardest sport in the world to succeed in professionally 06:00 Tennis vs the fight business — the only comparable mental challenge 07:30 Inside boxing: weight cuts, Cotto vs Canelo, and the A-side 10:30 Why conventional weight training is destroying tennis players 12:00 Force vs power — the Soviet training science nobody in tennis is using 13:00 Federer's toothpick body vs Nadal — the real difference explained 15:00 The door analogy — why bigger muscles increase injury risk 18:00 Why there's almost no science in tennis coaching 20:00 Gavin's live analysis of Caro Garcia's game 22:00 Caro's shoulder injury & the 22,000 serves per year problem 25:00 The insane tennis calendar — no other professional sport does this 28:00 Instagram fitness coaches on tour & the science nobody uses 29:00 Technical flaws in the modern game — you cannot hide them anymore 32:00 Federer's on-the-run forehand & why Sampras would dominate today 35:00 The skills gap — why top players still can't execute the basics 37:00 Gavin joins Coco Gauff's team — his exact role 39:00 How long does it really take to change technique on a pro player? 42:00 Coco's serve numbers — the before and after 44:00 The Sabalenka serve transformation — the full story 47:00 The reps math — why "5-minute serve fixes" are for functional morons 48:00 What Freddie Roach taught Gavin about great coaching 51:00 One thing in the corner — simplicity under extreme pressure 56:00 The 70% first serve rule that made Sabalenka unbeatable 1:00:00 Advice to young players: what actually builds a career 1:01:00 The 85% rule — why going 100% loses Grand Slams 1:07:00 Women's tennis marketing — why the tour is failing its own players 1:11:00 Identity, mental health & living and dying with every point 1:18:00 The camera on Sabalenka after a loss — the tour's exploitation problem 1:22:00 Federer's parents — what Gavin learned meeting them at the Australian Open 1:24:00 Coco Gauff at 21 — changing her serve the week before the US Open 1:29:00 Caro: "I would have had a better team" — what she'd change about her career 1:31:00 Every athlete falls to their level of preparation — not one rises above it 1:34:00 George St-Pierre, stars aligning, and the luck factor in elite sport 1:37:00 The unlicensed conditioning industry — and why it's getting players hurt 1:40:00 Injury prevention: the right evaluation every player should have but doesn't 1:42:00 The serve biomechanics breakdown — why Rafter's motion damaged him and Federer's didn't 🎾 TENNIS INSIDER CLUB The inside story of professional tennis — hosted by Caroline Garcia (former World No. 4, 2022 WTA Finals Champion) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 43m
4.6
out of 5
94 Ratings

About

Unfiltered conversations with the world’s best tennis players, on the game, the pressure, and the person behind the rankings. Hosted by tennis pro Caroline Garcia and Borja Duran. The side of pro tennis you never see on TV. Including guests like Iga Swiatek, John McEnroe, Naomi Osaka, Taylor Fritz, Jessica Pegula, Nick Kyrgios, Ana Ivanovic, Jannik Sinner's coach, Eva Lys, Bryan Shelton, Justin Henin, Brad Gilbert. Stefanos Tsitsipas, Patrick Mouratoglou, Ons Jabeur or Andrey Rublev. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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