We´re just a few hours away now from the first Grand Slam of the 2025 tennis calendar.

We´ve brought our panel back together to preview what we can expect from the Australian Open.

Joining Control the Controllables host Dan Kiernan to discuss everything from the Djokovic-Murray team-up, Nick Kyrgios´ return to Grand Slam tennis, players to watch and their picks for the titles, are:-

• Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Mens Doubles Champion Freddie Nielsen.
• GB Coach Calvin Betton who is currently working with Wimbledon Champions Henry Patten & Harri Heliövaara.
• Sports broadcaster and former CNN anchor Candy Reid

We want to hear who you think will be this years Australian Open Champions! Tag @ctc.podcast on Instagram or email us and let us know who you´re backing!

We´ve been nominated again for Best Tennis and Racket Podcast at the Sports Podcast Awards, and we´d love it if you could help us win!

You can vote here for Control the Controllables, it only takes a couple of minutes. Thanks so much for your support 🙏🏻

With 2024 coming to an end, we´re looking back at some of our favourite moments of the Control the Controllables Podcast.

Listen to Host Dan Kiernan and producer Vicki Kiernan share clips from some of the standout stories and key learnings from our amazing guests this year.

They chat through some of their special moments including hosting our first Live Show in London in April, to daily Lives on YouTube from the WTA finals in Saudi Arabia, and winning the Best Tennis & Rackets Podcast at the Sports Podcast Awards!

A big thank you to listening to the show, and wishing you a Happy New Year and a healthy and happy 2025!

🎧 Join the Control the Controllables team as a Podcast Intern in 2025

🗳️ Vote for us in the Sports Podcast Awards!

Head here for links to our favourite moments of 2024 and to find out what are your most listened to episodes of the year ❤️

In this week´s episode, we speak to former GB tennis player and TV presenter Dan Lobb.

Dan played professionally for 2 years before joining Sky Sports as a presenter and later moving to GMTV. He was Sports Editor on ITV´s replacement breakfast programme Daybreak, before becoming co-presenter of the main show.

He has since produced the heartwarming documentary Silver Servers, which tells the story of 4 players in their 80´s and 90´s who are still travelling the world competing in ITF events.

Dan reflects on his experiences in the world of television and tennis, sharing insights from his time on the 2011 season of Strictly Come Dancing, and the importance of community in tennis.

He also discusses his friendship with a remarkable tennis player called Leonid from Ukraine, and the lessons learned about controlling what one can do in life.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:-

• Watch´s Dan´s Documentary ¨Silver Servers"
• Follow us on Instagram to keep up with all the latest episodes of Control the Controllables

We´re so excited that Control the Controllables is a finalist at the Sports Podcast Awards! We´ve been nominated for Best Tennis & Racket Podcast and we´d love it if you could vote for us!

Vote for us here (it only takes a couple of minutes) and spread the link around as much as you can! Thank you for all your support 🙏🏻

In this week´s episode we have the second edition of our CTC Real series, uncovering and exploring the real side of tennis.

Dan discusses two of the biggest stories in tennis the past couple of weeks (and possibly of the year): Iga Swiatek´s failed doping test and Sir Andy Murray joining Djokovic´s coaching team.

He´s joined by GB player Ben Jones who is currently No.214 in the world in doubles, who gives us some interesting stories about what life is really like on the Futures Tour. Ben also discusses the significance of having supportive fellow players to travel with.

Dan is then joined by Sarah Borwell from Tennis Smart/Keystone Sports to talk about the new NCAA tennis structure. They discuss the impact of the changes in NCAA rules, the tournament calendar and scholarships on the future of college tennis.

In this series, we'll be bringing you some of the stories you might not have spotted in the world of tennis, from the top level all the way down to the lowest level of professional tennis that rarely gets a mention.

Let us know what you think of the series and what you would like to see on the next editions of the show!

In today´s episode, GB´s Jacob Fearnley shares his journey to becoming a top 100 ATP player, reflecting on the surreal experience of his recent success.

Jacob graduated from Texas Christian University (TCU) in May this year, with his team winning the NCAA´s. By October, he was ranked 98 in the world, winning 27 out of 28 ATP Challenger matches along the way.

Jacob joins CTC host Dan Kiernan to discuss the challenges and triumphs he´s faced so far in his tennis journey. He shares insights from his experiences playing against top players like Carlos Alcaraz and Yannik Sinner as a junior, and what it was like taking on Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon this summer.

Jacob also discusses:-

• The importance of naivety and lack of pressure starting out.
• The influence of his family, particularly his grandparents on his tennis journey
• The role of College Tennis in his development and it´s rise as a legitimate pathway for players.
• The significance of having supportive coaches
• The importance of a strong mindset and goal setting, and the influence of Andy Murray on his career.

This is a fascinating listen for players and parents!

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Our Final LIVE episode on the WTA Finals, reflecting on the action in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and talking about the positives and negatives from the tournament and how it was ran as well as looking back and Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe's WINNING the WTA Finals.

This is the final of the shorter episodes aiming to provide a round up of the WTA Finals action in Riyadh with coach of WTA Finals doubles pair Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe!

Our FULL episode #240 with former CNN sports anchor Candy Reid who has incredible stories to tell and has interviewed superstars such as Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Tiger Woods and much more!

In This Episode:

Dan reflects on the WTA Finals held in Riyadh, discussing the event's successes, cultural insights, areas for improvement, and the importance of supporting women in sports.

He emphasises the positive atmosphere among players, the need for better logistical arrangements, and the significance of building a supportive tennis culture in Britain.

Dan also highlights the impact of the event on local communities and the importance of promoting women's achievements in sports.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Overview of the Event

06:07 Cultural Insights and Personal Experiences

11:54 Team Dynamics and Sportsmanship

18:52 Impact of the Event on Saudi Arabia and Women's Tennis

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In today´s episode we speak to broadcaster and former CNN sports anchor Candy Reid.

Candy shares her remarkable journey from a promising tennis player to a successful broadcaster, running a tennis academy, and now Commentator and Podcast Host.

With years of experience in the industry, Candy has interviewed the biggest names in tennis—Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, and many more! She shares the inside story of how she broke into sports broadcasting, her early days on the tennis court, and the dedication and sacrifices it took to rise to success at CNN.

Packed with incredible stories, Candy recounts unforgettable moments, from dancing with Novak Djokovic to an entire day filming with Serena Williams. The conversation also touches on the pressures of competition, the common traits of successful athletes, the challenges of balancing career and family life, and the evolving role of women in sports media. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!

Episode Links:

• Check out Candy’s podcast ‘Diary of a Professional Tennis Coach’ including the episode with Dan Kiernan whilst out in China. Listen here.
• SotoTennis Academy
• Watch clips from the episode on YouTube

Day 12 and the final LIVE podcast from the WTA Finals in Riyadh. A special edition joined by the CHAMPIONS of the WTA Finals, Gaby Dabrowksi and Erin Routliffe hours after winning the finals match in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia!

This is the final of the shorter episodes aiming to provide a round up of the WTA Finals action in Riyadh with coach of WTA Finals doubles pair Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe!

Make sure to check out the Asian Swing Review FULL EPISODE out on all podcast platforms and YouTube!

In the Episode:

Dan celebrates the achievements of beating Siniaková and Townsend 7-5 6-3 in the WTA FINALS FINAL joined with Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe, the newly crowned WTA Finals doubles champions.

The discussion covers their journey through the tournament, their reflections on playing in Riyadh, and the importance of maintaining a positive mindset. The champions answer questions sent in by our listeners via our social media and share insights into their preparation, the challenges they faced, and their future aspirations in tennis.

The conversation highlights the significance of their victory in the context of women's tennis and the impact it has on inspiring future generations.

Dan also wraps up the tournament, reflecting on Coco Gauff's resilient performance in the singles finals, how the tournament was ran, crowd atmosphere and final thoughts before going off to celebrate the victory!

Chapters

00:00 Celebrating Champions: WTA Finals Highlights

04:03 Gaby and Erin Join to talk about them winning the WTA Finals!

05:33 Gaby and Erin Answering Questions about the Victory and the Year

11:32 Reflecting on Overcoming Challenges: The Journey to Victory

17:09 Personal Moments: Celebrations and Memories

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