World #23 Olivia Nicholls joins us fresh off her first title with partner Tereza Mihalíková in Berlin. She discusses her career-high ranking, steady rise in doubles, and shares insights on overcoming challenges throughout her career journey.

• Defeating Roland Garros Champs, Errani and Paolini, in Berlin, breaking their 13-match win streak, including tactical adjustments
• On developing a belief in her game to beat any team
• Overcoming four consecutive first-round losses during the clay season
• Working with coach Craig Veal (previous podcast guest)
• 2025 goals and the WTA Finals
• Mixed doubles success with Henry Patten, making semifinals in Australia and quarterfinals at Roland Garros
• Thoughts on the US Open mixed doubles changes that prioritize singles rankings

Olivia's dedication and work ethic are super impressive, and she shows how consistency pays off. Watch her this week at Wimbledon and throughout the rest of 2025.

Learn more about Olivia & follow:

• WTA Profile
• Wikipedia
• Instagram
• Twitter/X

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Neal Skupski, the #11 ranked doubles player on the ATP Tour and three-time Wimbledon champion, discusses his partnership with Joe Salisbury, their recent Roland Garros finals run, and more.

I spoke with Neal during his off day in Eastbourne, where he was preparing for the quarterfinals. He and Joe won that match and are now in the semis.

• Working through the chemistry and tactical adjustments of a new partnership
• The significant adjustments required to transition from clay to grass
• Is grass Neal's best surface?
• Having a positive "performer" mentality - a term used by many of the British players and coaches
• What "take it one point at a time" means to Neal, and how he implements that mentality
• Thoughts on the mixed doubles format changes at the US Open

We didn't have time to get to all your Instagram/Twitter questions, but I'll try to get Neal back later this year for more.

Learn more about Neal & follow:

• ATP Profile
• Wikipedia
• Instagram
• Twitter/X

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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.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

The US Open just announced its entry list for the 2025 Mixed Doubles Tournament. In case you missed it, they've made significant changes to the event this year, which I discussed with Dan Kiernan and many players at Indian Wells back in March on the podcast.

This episode, recorded on Instagram Live with Philip from Tweener Head Tennis, includes my initial reaction to the entry list and a deeper discussion surrounding mixed doubles and ATP/WTA doubles.

As the US Open revamps the event with singles stars over doubles specialists, there's one thing we know for sure... change is already here, and more is coming.

Here's a bit of what we discuss.

• The initial entry list featured nine of the top ten singles players from the ATP & WTA, and only two doubles specialists
• Fast-4 scoring & whether people want to call the winners true "Grand Slam Champions"
• The more important reason I think it's tough to call it a real Grand Slam tournament
• The dramatic prize money increase - Champions win 5x from 2024
• The agreement with ESPN
• And more...

I enjoy conversations like this to explore the solutions and potential changes for doubles. I hope this leads to positive outcomes for doubles and doubles specialists.

If you have a reaction to share, reach out! I'd love to hear from you.

Show notes:

• Tweener Head on Instagram
• The US Open Announcement
• Doubles Special with Dan Kiernan

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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

For the first time in a while, a strategy episode! I'm celebrating the launch of the new Tennis Tribe Memberships. Learn more here.

The margins in tennis are incredibly small, with the Roland Garros finals being decided by just a few points across all four finals. Effective strategies can make all the difference in gaining a few extra points, resulting in a win or a loss. In this episode, I cover three areas that might be holding you back.

• Why you should play closer to the net... sometimes
• A new way to think about the serve for club-level players & how you might be wasting your time
• A huge communication mistake I've seen recently with my private clients and in doubles camps

*Join our free webinar on June 11th at 8pm CT about why strategy should be your top focus as a doubles player.

*The Tennis Tribe memberships are now available with 20% off through June 15th for lifetime discounts.

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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

Sander Arends, Luke Johnson, and Coach Calvin Betton offer a behind-the-scenes look at their preparation between matches during their French Open quarterfinal run.

They shared thoughts on their R3 victory, off-day schedule, pre-match routines, and more.

• How they reset mentally after the momentum shifted in their R3 match
• Coach Calvin's approach to supporting from the player box without micromanaging
• The importance of team identity and consistent playing style in doubles
• How players structure their off-days during a two-week tournament
• Detailed pre-match routines, from sleep schedules to practice timing
• Player superstitions, including Sander's preferred French Open meal
• The scouting process and how data informs match strategy
• Treatment of doubles players at major tournaments compared to singles

Calvin also discussed the doubles crowds in Paris. You can stream their quarterfinal match on MAX.

Listen to my previous conversations:

• Calvin Betton at the Australian Open 2025
• Luke Johnson after their Barcelona win in April 2025

Learn more & follow:

• Calvin Betton
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Host of the Tennis Unfiltered Podcast
• Luke Johnson
  • Instagram
  • ATP Profile
  • Wikipedia
• Sander Arends
  • Instagram
  • ATP Profile
  • Wikipedia

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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

Nicole Melichar-Martinez, ranked #21 on the WTA doubles tour, shares insider perspectives on partnership dynamics, tournament conditions, and the future of doubles.

• The clay season in Europe offers beautiful cities, but she isn't a fan of the extended tournaments
• Which tournaments treat the doubles players well, and which ones need improvement
• WTA now conducts post-tournament surveys to gather player feedback
• Her take on the 2025 season so far, including partnership breakups, WTA Finals favorites, and more
• Why finding a doubles partner is similar to dating
• Her perspective on mixed doubles and playing Indian Wells with Andrey Rublev
• How WTA supports players with mental health resources
• Her Foodie Instagram account (below) showcases Nicole's passion for food photography

She also answered a lot of your questions from Twitter and Instagram. Follow Niki below and watch her throughout the rest of the 2025 season.

Learn more about Nicole & follow:

• Instagram
• Twitter/X
• WTA Profile
• Wikipedia Profile
• Nicole's Food 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

Craig Veal shares his experience coaching three top-40 WTA doubles players: Desirae Krawczyk (#14), Olivia Nicholls (#32), and Teresa Mihalikova (#34). Currently in Paris, preparing his players for the upcoming French Open, Craig and I discussed how he manages multiple players while sharing strategy insights, and more.

• Craig's coaching philosophy centers on "coaching people first, tennis second," which has led to long-term coaching relationships
• He shares one doubles tactic that is more effective on clay vs other surfaces
• His top 3 questions for club doubles players playing with new partners
• How Olivia Nicholls has improved her ranking so consistently, plus insights into her match review process
• Why right-handed players in the ad court should hit more forehands rather than relying solely on backhands
• Where Des Krawczyk's mixed doubles success comes from, including her in-match "dad jokes" 🤣
• Why ATP doubles faces different challenges than WTA doubles

This was a fun conversation that I think everyone will enjoy, whether you're a club player looking to improve or a WTA doubles fan. Watch Craig's players this year and follow him below.

Learn more about Craig & follow:

• Instagram
• Twitter/X
• WTA Coach Profile

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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