TennisWorthy

It's the kickoff of 2026 tennis season, and the fourth season of the TennisWorthy Podcast is here! As tournaments down under begin, hosts Patrick McEnroe and Chris Bowers explore the rich history of the sport in Australia, the Australian Open and the nation's rise as a global tennis powerhouse. From its 1905 origins as the Australasian Championships to its modern status as the Happy Slam, thi...

Join hosts Patrick McEnroe and Chris Bowers for a special year-end review of the most impactful insights from the TennisWorthy Podcast in 2025. This episode reflects on a landmark year, featuring highlights from the 2025 induction of Maria Sharapova and legendary doubles duo Bob and Mike Bryan. Explore the diverse dimensions of greatness as Sharapova discusses her early drive for mastery and the B...

Pete Sampras’s fate at the 1994 Lipton Championship was resting in the hands of Andre Agassi. That morning, a very ill Sampras woke up knowing he’d be unable to play as scheduled. He also knew that in that moment Agassi could walk away with the trophy and the check without looking back, but Agassi chose a different path. He opted to delay the match in hopes it would give Pete enough time to get ba...

Hall of Famer John Newcombe reflects on his successful season in 1973. Already a three-time major champion that year, he was set to make a run at the title match of the ATP Masters that year. But when injury struck at the most crucial moment, Newcombe ultimately showed his character and sportsmanship in doing the honorable thing. This episode is part of the International Tennis Hall of Fame's Tenn...

Patrick McEnroe and Chris Bowers explore the crucial value of sportsmanship in tennis, and its various definitions with three legends: Hall of Famer Lindsay Davenport, former doubles world No. 1 Rohan Bopanna and two-time major finalist Todd Martin. Lindsay Davenport defines sportsmanship broadly, as handling defeat, tough calls, and success, while being able to look your opponent in the eye. She...

December's theme is Sportsmanship, and Hall of Famer Kim Clijsters is well known for her kindness on and off the court. The 6-time major champion and 8-time WTA Sportsmanship Award winner shares how gratitude is one of the most important aspects of her career, and how keeping perspective was key to her reaching the top. This episode is part of the International Tennis Hall of Fame's TennisWorthy s...

Patrick McEnroe hosts an insightful conversation with world-renowned performance psychologist Dr. Jim Loehr on mental toughness and the whole person behind elite performance. Dr. Loehr, who started his career as a licensed psychologist before working with top athletes , discusses his transformative time at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, where he began focusing on the whole person—including p...

Patrick McEnroe continues November's theme of mental toughness with an insightful interview with Hall of Famer and 14-time major champion Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario. Arantxa returned to Newport this summer for the Induction Celebration, and discusses her incredible career, emphasizing her unwavering fighting spirit and strong mental game. A champion in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, she shares...

In this insightful episode of the TennisWorthy Podcast, host Patrick McEnroe welcomes special guest Dr. Brian Hainline, an expert on mental health in sports, former Chief Medical Officer of the NCAA and past President of the USTA. Dr. Hainline discusses the critical shift toward prioritizing mental health in athletics, accelerated by the reduced stigma thanks to high-profile athletes like Naomi Os...

Patrick McEnroe and Chris Bowers explore the vital quality of mental toughness with three of tennis' toughest competitors: Hall of Famers Jim Courier, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, and Michael Chang. Former World No. 1 and 4-time major champion Jim Courier defines mental toughness as the ability to handle pressure and the capacity to compartmentalize and ignore the score, citing Rafael Nadal as a prime...

Patrick McEnroe chats with Katrina Adams in this all-new episode of the TennisWorthy Podcast, exploring the month's theme of leadership. Adams, a former top player and two-term USTA president, discusses how leadership has shaped her career, from playing number one as a freshman at Northwestern University to becoming a number three ranked doubles team on the WTA Tour. She shares her journey to beco...

After defecting from Czechoslovakia to the United States and leaving her family behind in 1975, Martina Navratilova made her first return to her home nation as part of the United States' Fed Cup team in 1986. Fellow Hall of Famers Pam Shriver and Hana Mandlikova join Martina in recounting the emotions, her drive and the courage needed to reach her potential. This episode is part of the Internation...

For October's TennisWorthy theme of Leadership, Patrick McEnroe and Chris Bowers focus on the attributes of leadership in tennis, both on and off the court. This all-new episode features interviews from former world No. 3 and Roger Federer's former coach, Ivan Ljubicic, and renowned Canadian doubles coach Louis Cayer. Ljubicic discusses leadership in the wider tennis world, emphasizing the importa...

Hall of Famer Tracy Austin reflects on one of her earliest coaches, Hall of Famer Vic Braden, who brought many firsts to the sport of tennis. His unique skillset of combining humor, science and the developing world of video analysis made him one of tennis' most sought-after coaches, teaching a generation of legends how to perform at their best. This episode is part of the International Tennis Hall...

Hall of Famer Richard Evans discusses his fascinating career as a tennis journalist, which led him to the International Hall of Fame as an inductee in the Contributor Category. He reflects on the qualities that make a Hall of Famer, emphasizing achievement, personality, and character. With his longtime colleague Chris Bowers, Evans recounts how he got his start in tennis journalism at the age of 2...

On the 55th anniversary of the Original 9's signing of the first professional women's contract in 1970, we're sharing an insightful interview with one of women's tennis' early professional pioneers, Hall of Famer Ann Jones. With Chris Bowers, Jones discusses her career and the evolution of the sport. She recounts how she, along with a small group of players, fought for women's rights in tennis by...

United States Billie Jean King Cup Captain and Hall of Famer Lindsay Davenport reflects on one of the most impactful experiences of her career: playing for her country at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Davenport shares how an honest assessment from her own legendary captain pushed her to achieve her full potential on the grandest of stages. This episode is part of the International Tennis Hall...

On the 35th anniversary of Gabriela Sabatini's 1990 US Open victory, she recalls reaching the top of the mountain to claim her first major singles title. Gaby remembers facing the toughest of opponents - top-seeded Steffi Graf - and her tactics to capture the win. The feeling of finally winning a major tournament was unmatched, especially as the first Argentinian woman to do so in singles. This ep...

75 years ago this week, Althea Gibson broke the color barrier at the U.S. National Lawn Tennis Championships, becoming the first Black player permitted to compete. Her boldness set the stage for continued change, opening the door for Arthur Ashe's groundbreaking Wimbledon title and her own three major titles in the years to come. We revisit several seminal moments in tennis history in this episode...

Patrick McEnroe and the TennisWorthy Podcast hosted Hall of Famer Chris Evert live in the Fame Fest village at the Induction Celebration: a weekend full of festivities celebrating the Hall of Fame induction of Maria Sharapova and Bob & Mike Bryan. The legendary player turned broadcaster chatted with her friend and colleague McEnroe on a wide range of topics, including the Chris Evert Learning...

Three days before they're officially inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Bob and Mike Bryan detail their incredible career as arguably the greatest men's doubles team of all time. Chris Bowers and the twins share stories from their upbringing, which was immersed in tennis due to their parents, Wayne and Kathy Bryan. From a young age, they were taught the value of sportsmanship and...

It's induction week at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and the TennisWorthy Podcast is celebrating the Class of 2025, Maria Sharapova and Bob & Mike Bryan. This week, we highlight their careers and accomplishments before they receive tennis' ultimate honor on August 23. In this episode, Patrick McEnroe and Chris Bowers chart Maria's career, from her childhood in Russia to becoming a ten...

Take a trip back to the "most exciting decade in tennis" - the 1970s - with former player and current commentator John Lloyd. In this episode of the TennisWorthy podcast, Chris Bowers sits down with Lloyd, a major single, an Australian Open singles finalist, to discuss what separates a "good" player from a "great" one. Lloyd shares his unique perspective as both a participant in the sport's open e...

Andre Agassi made bravery a key part of his game, learning to use his elite ball-striking abilities to make gutsy shots and keep his opponents on their toes. Andre details what bravery means to him, and how tennis can test character more than any other sport. This episode is part of the International Tennis Hall of Fame's TennisWorthy short-form series. View more TennisWorthy stories at tennisfame...

In the aftermath of the 50th anniversary of Arthur Ashe's groundbreaking Wimbledon title, Charlie Pasarell remembers the champion. Before they were at the top of the game, they were friends and teammates. Charlie reflects on Arthur's impact beyond tennis. This episode is part of the International Tennis Hall of Fame's TennisWorthy short-form series. View more TennisWorthy stories at tennisfame.com...