What does it really take to turn a life on the court into a sustainable career in racquet sports?

In this episode of Racquet Fuel, longtime tennis pro, club owner, and author Greg Moran joins hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale to unpack 40 years of experience in a single facility, and the powerful lessons that came with it.

From starting as a ball boy to building one of Connecticut’s most successful clubs, Greg shares how intentional leadership, early financial planning, and a commitment to professionalism shaped his long career. He also opens up about his own mistakes, including spreading himself too thin and failing to delegate, and offers clear advice for anyone wanting to stay in this profession for the long haul.

If you've ever wondered how to create a fulfilling, sustainable life in racquet sports (or how to mentor others to do the same) this conversation is a must-listen.

By the end of this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to lead yourself before leading a team
• Why many teaching pros hit a wall—and how to avoid it
• The critical difference between coaching and being a racquet sports professional
• How to build confidence in junior pros through gradual leadership experiences
• What Greg would do differently if he could start over
• Why thinking long-term is key to both financial and professional growth
• The unseen cost of ignoring physical wear-and-tear in racquet sports careers
• How to inspire your team through example, not just instruction

Resources & Mentions

• Books by Greg Moran
• Jorge Capestany's TennisDrills.tv: https://www.tennisdrills.tv
• Referenced quote from Joe Curdo: “If you don’t have a sense of humor in the tennis business, you’re never going to last.”

Learn More & Get Certified

Looking to become a more confident, competent, and clear business leader in racquet sports? Start your journey TODAY with online courses on racquet sports leadership:

• Personal Brand Management for the Racquets Industry - START TODAY 🎁 Use code RF25 for $25 off for a limited time
• Course 1: Facilities, Operations, Marketing & More in the Era of Multiple Racquet Sports - START TODAY 🎁 Use code RF100 for $100 off for a limited time
• Course 2: Leadership, management & finance For the Racquets Leader - COMING SOON

What if your greatest coaching lesson came off the court?

In this episode of Racquet Fuel, Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Emma Doyle: tennis coach, keynote speaker, and expert in emotional intelligence, to explore what it really takes to coach with impact, whether you're leading athletes, employees, or entire teams.

Emma shares her remarkable journey from teenage coach in Australia to global thought leader and business coach. She opens up about the pivotal moments that shaped her career including burnout, reinvention, and finding her voice during COVID... and the frameworks she now uses to train leaders in Fortune 500 boardrooms and racquet clubs alike.

With humor, heart, and contagious energy, Emma shows us how coaching is a title AND a way of leading that centers on empathy, curiosity, and action.

Whether you’re a club director, department manager, or aspiring coach, her insights will challenge and inspire you to listen deeper, lead better, and unlock the potential in those around you.

By the end of this episode, you'll learn:
- How coaching cultures can elevate performance and reduce disengagement
- Why the best leaders ask better questions instead of giving all the answers
- How to empower others through curiosity, not control
- The mindset shift needed to lead people, not just programs
- Why the phrase “next time” might be your most powerful coaching tool

Whether you're building a business, managing a team, or coaching on court, this conversation will equip you with practical tools and perspective for becoming the kind of leader people want to follow.

🔗 Connect with Emma Doyle on LinkedIn or at CoachEM.cc
🔗 Watch her TEDx talk: "Unleashing Female Potential"
🔗 Explore her podcast: The Coaching Podcast

Looking to become a more confident, competent, and clear business leader with a lifelong career in the racquets industry? Become a Certified Director of Racquet Sports. Visit our website to learn more!

What happens when you bring together startup ambition, big-event expertise, and a deep commitment to human connection? You get RacquetX: an experience designed to connect every corner of the racquet sports industry.

In this episode of Racquet Fuel, Kim Bastable and Simon Gale talk with Robyn Duda, the founder and creative mind behind RacquetX. With a background in designing global corporate events, Robyn saw a gap in the racquet sports space: no centralized experience for connection, collaboration, and future-focused growth. So, she built it.

This conversation unpacks the real challenges and vision behind building an industry-first event from the ground up—complete with indoor courts, live programming, and an unshakable focus on belonging. Robyn shares what it’s like to lead with vulnerability, navigate the unknown, and reshape how racquet sports professionals come together to move the industry forward.

By the end of this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why the racquet sports industry needed something like RacquetX—and what makes it different
• The real challenges of launching a startup within a traditional industry
• What goes into creating meaningful experiences that connect diverse sectors
• How leadership, risk, and emotional honesty shape powerful innovation
• What clubs, coaches, and brands are craving when it comes to the future of community

Whether you're a club director, brand leader, coach, or entrepreneur, this episode will expand how you think about progress in racquet sports—and how bold ideas turn into movement.

Listen to hear how one person’s clarity of vision—and willingness to do the hard work—is reshaping how the racquet sports world shows up and connects.

Connect with Robyn Duda at TheRacquetX.com
Connect with Kim Bastable on LinkedIn
Connect with Simon Gale on LinkedIn

Looking to become a more confident, competent, and clear business leader with a lifelong career in the racquets industry? Visit our website to learn more!