15th Seed Tennis Podcast

15th seed Late decision to add Geneva to the tournament schedule. Going against the strategy of not playing tournaments in the week before a Grand Slam. Felt more important to have matches under the belt. Have played and won first up. Am asked, what is the biggest problem facing tennis today and think the answer may surprise. 15th seed

15th seed The life of a professional athlete can be challenging. A first match loss means few ATP ranking points, little prize money and not matches under the belt in the lead up to a Grand Slam event. There are players who excel on certain surfaces. Clay in particular. Rankings are not particularly relevant when meeting an opponent on that preferred surface. This was the case. There is the need t...

15th seed In Rome feeling poorly. Rest prescribed and am off the court in the lead up. With a bye first round should be ready to go when my first match is scheduled. With the prospect of medication need to be aware of the (appropriate & necessary) WADA rules. Touch on drug testing & the need to advise of your whereabouts during the year. Until the first round, thank you ball persons, thank...

15th seed Wins as many games, more points, one service break each ........ & lose! These are the fine margins that can impact a year, rankings & of course prize money. This is a match that got away .............. One more tournament on clay before the next Grand Slam event at Roland Garros. Needs to be a good one. So off to Rome, to get used to the heat and the court. Until then .... thank...

15th seed 22 April 2024 Madrid, Spain. On the eve of a Masters 1000 event which boasts both Jannik Sinner & Carlos Alcaraz plus the return of five times winner Raffa Nadal. We answer the question of the pace of the various clay surfaces in Europe, start thinking of the distribution of prize money in tennis before looking at the draw. A bye first round so uncertain at this time as to whom will...

15th seed Just been given a clay court tennis lesson by Stefanos Tsitsipas. Straight set loss. Horses for courses, and certain players for certain surfaces. The slow clay courts of Monte Carlo suit Stefanos perfectly and he has made the most of it. Not sure whether he can win the tournament as most likely would have to play Novak Djokovic if he get past Jannik Sinner - but would not discount. Will...

15th seed The first clay court tournament for the year. Monte Carlo no less. Spectacular venue Had a first round victory. In this episode play a South American clay court specialist and after a good win, sets up a match against a top ten player. Need to compete with players of this standard if to maintain or advance the 15th seed ranking. Thank you for coming on the journey of the 15th seed throug...

Players ready, play .............. At Monte Carlo, the first clay court tournament of the 2024 season for the 15th Seed. First match under the belt. A successful outcome but with a challenging draw ahead with most of the best players in attendance. And why not. A Masters 1000 event in a superb location. The 15th Seed expands on the assessment of Nick Kyrgios from the last podcast as a result of fe...

Players ready ......... play. On today's episode, have arrived at Monte Carlo for the start of the clay court season. Start of the second part of the year. Whilst not a favourite surface for results, do enjoy Europe and feel fit & ready to perform. Answer the question of podcast listener Phil A who asks ........ if Nick Kyrgios was to stop his playing career now, where would he rank amongst al...

28 March 2024 Into the fourth round at Miami and full of expectation against a top ten player. That was short lived. The gulf between the top ten and others was evident. Overall a solid tournament and one that was much needed. But still more work to be done. The end of the early US hard Court season. Now off to Europe and the clay. The 15th seed

March 2024 Miami ATP 1000 After a bye in the first round, have succeeded in winning two rounds. The second match by the highest of margins. A third set tie break that could help define the year. Feeling satisfied, but a top ten player to come. Need to refocus. A tournament of upsets to date, but the big stars are still in. Thanks for following the ups & downs of life on the tour. Trust you are...

March 2024 Miami USA On the eve of the tournament, the draw is announced. Have prepared for this tournament as a season defining event. There is expectation. There is a degree of trepidation. The 15th seed

17 March 2024 Miami USA ATP 1000 Prepared like never before. This is a pivotal tournament. The time on the court, in the gym, running and mental preparation are all covered. this may well be a season defining tournament. And the listeners question ....... are there players whose conduct or antics put you off. Thanks for your company. The 15th seed

March 2024 Indian Wells, California, USA. First match defeat. Recriminations & ramifications. The thoughts of a beaten athlete. The worth of "byes" ......... or not. The 15th seed

4 March 2024 Awaiting the outcome of the first round to see who will play at Indian Wells. Need to get back on the winning track so an important event. Especially as it an ATP Masters 1000 tournament with a strong field. Weather is problematic so uncertain if the tournament will start on time. Answer Kim's question of .............with whom do I travel. thanks for your interest. The 15th seed

February 2024 15th Seed Another early exit and disappointing performance. No excuses, as to opponent was far too good, but recrimination. Not a performance of a top 20 player. Need to learn to "win ugly" if that is what it takes. The insight, the explanation, the mindset is revealed. The 15th Seed

Acapulco Mexico February 2024 Despite recent climate issues & concerns the ATP Master 500 event at Acapulco will go ahead. Great credit to the locals. Strong tournament. Looking forward to it. Provides a great opportunity for any player aspiring to a top 10 ranking., Carlos Alcaraz is out with a hamstring concern but is still great depth in the field. Podcast listener, Rachael asks whether the...

17 February 2024 Devastating semi final defeat at Delray Beach, Florida. What does it mean and where to from here. The thoughts & insights as to the mindset of the 15th seed after a humbling loss. Concern as to the next tournament in Acapulco where there was a significant earth quake this day. Just adds to the uncertainties of life on the tour. Glad to have your interest and support The 15th s...

February 2024 The 15th seed is in Florida for the Delray Beach tournament. It is the evening of the second of two good wins (after a bye) and which sets up a match against the second seed. Here is the 15th seed's self assessment. And thanks to a suggestion by listener Rachael, the Podcast sign off has been amended to be "non gender / non binary" which is more appropriate for this day & age. so...

February 2024 The start of the US hard Court swing. At Delray Beach Florida for the ATP tournament starting this week. The week of the Super Bowl. Answer the question of ..... who will be this years "up & comers" Thanks for taking an interest in the life of a tennis player on tour in 2024. The 15th Seed

January 2024 Melbourne Australia for the Australian Open. After two strong wins then take on 23 yr old Czech Tomas Machac before a 4th round clash with Italian superstar, Jannik Sinner. Opportunity for the 15th seed to measure himself against the very best. Pleasing tournament and leave knowing there is still much to work on. Thanks for your company on the tennis journey in 2024. Early day, but an...

January 2024. The first Grand is underway in Melbourne Australia. Two wins is an excellent start and builds confidence. Here is the review - so far. Had to work hard in both matches and are clearly parts of the game that needs work. The listener question is whether the 15th seed watches the match involving the next round opponent. Until we know who that player will be ....... thank you for listeni...

January 2024 Melbourne Australia The 15th seed tennis podcast is the record of the 15th seed's journey in the 2024 tennis season. This week am at Melbourne Australia, the location of the first “Grand Slam” tournament of the year. The draw is now out. 128 players. 32 seeds. What does it look like for the 15th seed ? Tough first round and same section of the draw as the “hottest” player on tour at p...

January 2024 Melbourne, Australia. The fifteenth seed podcast records the insights of life on the tour. After a disappointing first tournament in Brisbane, the 15th seed travels to Melbourne Australia to prepare for the Australian Open. The Australian Open being the first of the Grand Slam tournaments (one of four major tennis events of the year). The practice sessions, preparation and thoughts. T...

05.01.2024 The 15th seed tennis podcast is a diary of life on the men's professional tennis tour. This episode reviews the first tournament of the year in Brisbane Australia. The result. The thoughts, feelings & overall assessment of the performance. An analysis of the success (or otherwise) of the changes made over the “off season”. And how this match may affect or influence the year ahead. A...