Tennisnerd - Where we bond over tennis

Switching to a new racquet comes with its own set of mental and technical hurdles. My friend and excellent tennis player, Daniel Rutkowski, and I discuss the process of going from a more classical control racquet to a more modern, powerful racquet. You can also find our conversation in video format on our YouTube channel. If you like to see more discussions like this, please comment below.

Rubin Statham’s story reads like a classic tennis hustle: a decade-plus on the road representing New Zealand in the Davis Cup, grinding out Challengers, then channeling all that lived pain (and string bills!) into a product players actually need. He retired in December and is now full-time at the helm of Pro Stringer - portable, pro-grade stringing machines you’ve likely seen popping up in player lounges and, yes, even on trains.

Petros Tsitsipas has spent most of his career carving out a place on the doubles tour, often alongside his brother Stefanos, but in recent months, he has been shifting his focus back to singles. I recently had the chance to sit down with him for a long conversation about life on tour, the unique dynamic of playing with siblings, the changing nature of doubles, and, of course, his gear.

In this episode of the Tennisnerd podcast, I sit down with none other than Ashley Neaves – The Tennis Mentor – to dive into all things tennis improvement. Ashley recently crossed 100,000 subscribers on YouTube, a huge milestone that reflects his impact on club players and coaches around the world. We chat about his journey creating tennis content, what he's learned from coaching thousands of players, and how you can level up your game with smart, practical tips. One of the highlights? Ashley introduces his brand new Tennis Training Deck – a unique tool designed to help players of all levels structure their practice sessions and improve faster. Whether you're a weekend warrior, an aspiring competitor, or a coach looking for fresh ideas, this conversation is packed with insight, inspiration, and actionable advice.

I had the pleasure of chatting with Swiss-American ATP pro Alexander Ritschard, who’s working hard to come back from a tricky shoulder injury. You might remember Alexander from his breakout 2024 season, where he captured three Challenger titles and looked set for a steady rise up the rankings. But, as tennis so often reminds us, nothing is guaranteed, and an unlucky muscle tear put him on the sidelines. We went deep in this conversation — not just about his comeback, but about the mindset, routines, and tough realities that come with life on the professional tennis circuit.