Doubles Only Tennis Podcast

We catch up with Nicole Melichar-Martinez from Rome and unpack the day-to-day life behind WTA doubles, from gym sessions and practice blocks to physio, massage, and travel logistics. We also zoom out on the clay season, her Stuttgart win, team chemistry, and the mindset shift Nicole is making to stay present when momentum flips fast.
Favorite clay-season meal in Stuttgart and the no-menu restaurant experience
How a Rome tournament day is structured from gym to practice
How tour physios and tournament massage work, including booking and priority
What clicked in Stuttgart with Samsonova, and why indoor clay suits her game
How doubles prep changes when partners are singles-focused
Billie Jean King Cup, the Olympics, and playing for Team USA
What makes Siniakova and Townsend so tough, and how to scout a streaking team
What she's doing on the court to help her play better under pressure and enjoy the moments (you should do this too!)
Nicole has advanced to the Rome quarterfinals alongside Cristina Bucsa. Be sure to follow along throughout the rest of the year. You can watch all her doubles matches on Tennis Channel Plus.
Learn more about Nicole & follow:
Instagram
WTA Profile
Wikipedia
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Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.
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**Other Free Doubles Content**
Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
Return Strategy Cheatsheet
Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Marcus Daniell is an Olympic Bronze Medalist and former top 35 ATP doubles player who reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon and the Australian Open. He also founded High Impact Athletes, a company that connects professional athletes with high-impact charities.
Gaby Dabrowski recently launched a fundraising campaign with HIA called Gaby's Games for Good to help protect women and girls from violence.
👉 DONATE TO GABY'S CAMPAIGN HERE
This episode digs into charities, giving, and, of course, doubles!
How Gaby’s Games for Good works and how the 1 in 3 Fund makes a huge difference in protecting women and girls
Why Marcus shifted from singles to doubles and what he would change about that timeline
The “Chapel of Bull$&*t” lesson from coach David Sammel
How to train full mental presence in short bursts
What Marcus’s doubles style looks like and how to beat him
The Tokyo Olympic bronze story with Michael Venus and what he did when he felt burnt out 
A practical three-step approach to handling nerves in tiebreakers and closing moments
Net positioning tips for the server’s partner and the returner’s partner 
What could make pro doubles more popular, including stable teams and better storytelling 
Why High Impact Athletes exists and how effective giving can multiply the impact of each dollar
I learned a ton in this one, especially as Marcus described his Olympic story. I also hope you'll join me in donating below.
HIA Links:
Gaby's Games for Good
High Impact Athletes Website
Instagram
Learn more about Marcus & follow:
ATP Profile
Wikipedia
Instagram
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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players** 
New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.
Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**
Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
Return Strategy Cheatsheet
Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Mehrban Iranshad is the founder of Tennis Summit, an online tennis conference for club players who want to improve. I've presented at the conference for four years in a row and have a presentation this year on doubles formations (live now).

Sign up for here to watch my presentation. You'll also get access to lessons from other coaches like Paul Annacone, the former coach of Pete Sampras and Roger Federer, 19x grand slam champion Gigi Fernandez, Jonathan Stokke, and more.

In this podcast, Mehrban covers his 3 favorite lessons from Tennis Summit so far.
The best volley targets from Peter Freeman.
Anticipation tips from Louis Cayer.
Australian formation benefits from... me 🙂
I also discussed a few other doubles strategies in this one. If you're serious about improving your game, do not miss this opportunity to learn for free.

Sign up for Tennis Summit here.
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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players** 
New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.
Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**
Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
Return Strategy Cheatsheet
Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

In this AMA episode, I answer questions from players I've coached recently, as well as Tennis Tribe Members.
You'll learn how to respond when an opponent has a clear pattern that keeps beating you, an in-depth breakdown of I-Formation, practice ideas, and how to play with non-strategically minded partners.
The first 3 are free to all, while you'll need to become a member for the last 3.
How to handle someone who hits sharp angles.
What to do if someone keeps lobbing the return vs the I-formation.
How to play doubles with a partner who isn't interested in strategy and just "smacks the ball."
Member only: The best way to attack the I-formation, and what to consider.
Member only: All the different ways to cover the lob after you get a short, approach shot.
Member only: 12+ themed practice ideas for a 90-minute clinic, and how I think about planning drills.
If you're in the Miami area and want to sign up for my doubles camp on April 18-19, we do have a couple of spots left. Shoot me an email (will[at]thetennistribe.com) or sign up here.
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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players** 
New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.
Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**
Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
Return Strategy Cheatsheet
Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Andy Fitzell is the coach of rising US doubles stars JJ Tracy and Robert Cash. I spoke with Andy at Indian Wells to unpack how a pro team actually prepares, competes, and keeps improving when the margins are almost invisible.
We dig into scouting, training plans, partner psychology, and what tennis needs to change for doubles to get the attention it deserves. 
Match-day practice and routines at Indian Wells 
The use of film for both scouting and technical improvement
Learning doubles through Vic Braden, Steve Smith, and other coaching mentors
Developing JJ and Robert as individuals and as a team
Using brain typing to tailor coaching, improve communication, and reduce friction 
Changing serve technique and improving net play with video, rationale, and practice
Why change feels hard, and how daily reps overwrite old habits
Managing expectations after breakout results and staying with the process
Learning from losses by reviewing video and spotting repeatable patterns
The doubles scoring system and what could make doubles more popular
Andy is a walking encyclopedia of tennis knowledge, so I'm sure I'll have him on again in the future. Be sure to watch JJ Tracy and Robert Cash on Tennis TV and TC Plus this year!
Links:
Vic Braden - watch his "Go for a Winner" video
Steve Smith from Great Base Tennis
Learn more about Andy & follow:
GPTCA Profile
Instagram
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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players** 
New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.
Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**
Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
Return Strategy Cheatsheet
Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course