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US Open 2026 preview. Dan is joined by Freddie Nielsen, Denmark Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon doubles champion, Candy Reid live in New Yorks, and first-time guest Johnny Delgado, coach and podcaster.

In this episode:

• Are both the men’s and women’s draw wide open?
• Qinwen Zheng, Paris Olympic champion, coming through qualifying despite elbow surgery
• Stan Wawrinka getting a wildcard at the last minute and why the panel loves it
• Alcaraz, will he even make it to the court on day one and how far can he realistically go
• Men's and women's dark horse picks and winner predictions
• The Djokovic debate: can he recover match after match at nearly 40 and go deep in a slam?
• Debate around the future of doubles tennis

TennisAthlete provides age-appropriate, research-backed strength and conditioning programmes from proven S&C coaches. The platform Dan recommends for physical development. Visit sototennis.com/tennisathlete

Brought to you by Novellus: https://novellusfinance.com/uk/

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Email us: info@sototennis.com

You've drilled the technique. You've done the fitness. And still, in the match or the tiebreak, when you have chances to close out, something else takes over. That's not a skill you're missing. It's something that's never actually been measured, until now.

Click the link here for a FREE diagnostic: https://clutchquotient2026.scoreapp.com/

Ingrid Neel

Ingrid Neel was one of the most decorated US juniors of her generation, winning every Little Mo age group, a 10-and-under world championship in France, and the deciding match in the NCAA finals. Then came a slipped disc in Tokyo, wrist surgery, two and a half years away from the sport, and a ranking that dropped to zero.

A year on, she made the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, which was her best-ever Grand Slam result. On the court she loves most.

This episode is one of the most honest and warm conversations we've had on Control the Controllables. Ingrid speaks about injury, identity, friendship, family and what it really means to keep going when you've lost your relevance, your ranking and your answer to the question of who you are without the sport.

In this episode:

• Wimbledon quarterfinalist, reflecting on her best ever Grand Slam result a year after wrist surgery
• Being present at Wimbledon and the US Open while injured and not competing, and why it helped
• How she genuinely celebrated others' success while struggling herself
• Can you have true, real friendships in an individual sport and still be the ultimate competitor?
• The back injury that nearly ended her season in Tokyo, and how she won the tournament anyway
• The wrist surgery that made her question whether she'd ever play again
• Growing up in Minnesota, the Bollettieri Academy and Nick giving her open access
• Being a prodigy, winning every Little Mo age group and a 10-and-under world title in France
• Did the values her parents instilled help her, or hold her back?
• Self-worth, identity and who you are when the ranking says inactive
• Choosing to represent Estonia and the story of the grandmother she is named after
• The Quickfire Round

TennisAthlete provides age-appropriate, research-backed strength and conditioning programmes from proven S&C coaches. The platform Dan recommends for physical development. Visit sototennis.com/tennisathlete

Reaction to the 2026 US Open Mixed Doubles event. Was it a success?

About Control the Controllables US Open Live

Dan Kiernan and a different special guest across the US Open fortnight, bringing you analysis from inside the grounds. Live on the CTC YouTube channel. Episodes drop as podcasts the next morning wherever you get your podcasts.

Brought to you by Novellus: https://novellusfinance.com/uk/

TennisAthlete delivers age-appropriate, research-backed strength and conditioning programmes from proven S&C coaches. The platform Dan recommends for physical development. Visit https://linktr.ee/tennisathlete

Send your questions via Instagram @ctc.podcast or email info@sototennis.com.

Follow the Podcast Here: https://www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast/

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Follow SotoTennis Academy Here: https://www.instagram.com/sototennis/?hl=en