In Episode 6, hosts Ryan Redondo and Steve Adamson welcome Sem Verbeek, Wimbledon Mixed Doubles Champion, ATP Tour professional, former ITF World No. 1, and one of the most inspiring stories in professional tennis. Sem shares his remarkable journey from discovering tennis at age 10 in Amsterdam to winning Wimbledon, proving that success isn't determined by how early you start; it's built through discipline, purpose, and a relentless commitment to the process.

Sem opens up about his unconventional path through junior tennis, training at IMG Academy, competing in NCAA Division I tennis at the University of the Pacific, and the strategic four-year plans that guided every stage of his professional career. Throughout the conversation, he shares why focusing on daily improvement, rather than results, became the foundation for reaching the highest levels of the sport.

In this episode, they explore:

✅ Starting tennis at age 10 and choosing it over soccer at 12
✅ Training at IMG Academy and overcoming the challenges of being overlooked as a recruit
✅ How college tennis transformed his confidence, discipline, and professional aspirations
✅ Why creating long-term strategic plans helped shape his career
✅ The mental side of professional tennis and managing pressure through process goals
✅ Winning the 2025 Wimbledon Mixed Doubles Championship and embracing the biggest moments in tennis
✅ Building resilience through setbacks, injuries, and years on the professional tour
✅ The importance of mentorship, emotional intelligence, and surrounding yourself with the right people
✅ Lessons for players, parents, and coaches on development, mindset, and long-term success
✅ His goals beyond Wimbledon, including pursuing the 2028 Olympic Games and continuing to grow both on and off the court

Ryan, Steve, and Sem also discuss why emotions should be trained just like forehands and serves, how preparation creates confidence, and why success comes from consistently investing in the process rather than obsessing over results. Sem's journey is a powerful reminder that greatness isn't about where you begin; it's about the habits, people, and mindset you build along the way.

Whether you're a player, parent, coach, or sports fan, this episode delivers valuable lessons on resilience, discipline, leadership, and what it truly means to keep Serving the Future.

Connect with The Serving the Future Show

Follow us for clips, behind-the-scenes content, guest highlights, and conversations about tennis, pickleball, padel, athlete development, and the future of racquet sports.

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Hosted by Ryan Redondo and Steve Adamson and recorded at the Barnes Tennis Center, home of Youth Tennis San Diego.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Your support helps us reach more players, parents, coaches, and fans across the racquet sports community.

Welcome back to The Serving the Future Show, recorded at the Barnes Tennis Center, home of Youth Tennis San Diego.

In Episode 5, hosts Ryan Redondo and Steve Adamson welcome one of the most accomplished athletes in tennis history, David Wagner, a 29-time Grand Slam Champion, multiple Paralympic medalist, former World No. 1, and one of the pioneers who helped transform wheelchair tennis on the global stage. David shares his remarkable journey from discovering tennis as a college student, overcoming a life-changing spinal cord injury, to becoming one of the greatest wheelchair tennis players of all time.

David reflects on the mindset, resilience, and support system that carried him through unimaginable adversity. He discusses how his family, coaches, and community helped shape his outlook, why preparation became his greatest competitive advantage, and how embracing challenges, not avoiding them, led to decades of success. He also shares behind-the-scenes stories from the Paralympics and Grand Slams, including friendships with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, and other legends of the sport.

In this episode, they explore:

✅ David's journey from aspiring basketball player to wheelchair tennis legend
✅ Recovering from a life-changing spinal cord injury at just 21 years old
✅ How mindset, resilience, and community shaped his championship career
✅ The evolution of wheelchair tennis and helping bring the sport to the Grand Slams
✅ Winning 29 Grand Slam titles and multiple Paralympic medals
✅ Managing pressure, overcoming setbacks, and sustaining excellence for decades
✅ The importance of preparation, self-belief, and continuous improvement
✅ Stories from competing alongside Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Serena Williams, and other tennis greats
✅ Why coaching and mentoring the next generation has become David's new mission
✅ Advice for players, parents, and coaches on building resilience, confidence, and long-term success

Ryan, Steve, and David also discuss the growth of wheelchair tennis, the importance of creating opportunities for young athletes with disabilities, and how sports can transform lives far beyond competition. David's story is a powerful reminder that greatness isn't defined by circumstances—it's built through perseverance, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to becoming the best version of yourself.

Whether you're a player, parent, coach, or sports fan, this episode delivers inspiring lessons on resilience, leadership, mindset, and what it truly means to keep Serving the Future. 🎾

📺 Watch David's documentary, "Lines of Determination," from Your Everyday Heroes to learn more about his incredible journey.

https://youreverydayheroes.com/hero/david-wagner-hero-story/

Connect with The Serving the Future Show

Follow us for clips, behind-the-scenes content, guest highlights, and conversations about tennis, pickleball, padel, athlete development, and the future of racquet sports.

Instagram: @servingthefutureshow
X: @TSTF_Show
TikTok: @servingthefutureshow
Facebook: Serving the Future Show
YouTube: @ServingtheFutureShow

Hosted by Ryan Redondo and Steve Adamson and recorded at the Barnes Tennis Center, home of Youth Tennis San Diego.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Your support helps us reach more players, parents, coaches, and fans across the racquet sports community.

Welcome back to The Serving the Future Show, recorded at the Barnes Tennis Center, home of Youth Tennis San Diego.

In this episode, hosts Ryan Redondo and Steve Adamson tackle one of the most common questions they hear from parents of junior athletes:

What's the best educational path for my child? Public school, private school, an academy, or online learning?

Drawing from their own experiences in tennis and decades of coaching junior players, Ryan and Steve dive into the realities of balancing education, player development, tournament travel, and long-term success. Ryan shares his personal journey through public school, tennis academies, and online education, while Steve offers insight from coaching players who have gone on to compete at top colleges and on the professional tour.

In this episode, they explore:

✅ The advantages and challenges of public school, private school, academies, and online learning
✅ How parents can realistically assess their child's goals, development, and opportunities
✅ Why there is no single "right" pathway for every athlete
✅ The importance of social development, relationships, and life experiences outside of tennis
✅ How the modern junior tennis landscape has changed with ITF rankings, international competition, and college recruiting
✅ Why environment, culture, accountability, and personal growth matter as much as results
✅ When online schooling may be the right choice, and when traditional school may provide greater long-term benefits

The conversation also examines the increasing professionalization of youth sports, the evolving college tennis landscape, and the difficult decisions families face when pursuing high-level athletic goals.

Whether you're a parent, player, coach, or educator, this episode offers honest perspectives and practical insights into finding the pathway that best supports both athletic success and personal development.

Because the goal isn't just to develop great players, it's to develop great people.

Connect with The Serving the Future Show

Follow us for clips, behind-the-scenes content, guest highlights, and conversations about tennis, pickleball, padel, athlete development, and the future of racquet sports.

Instagram: @servingthefutureshow
X: @TSTF_Show
TikTok: @servingthefutureshow
Facebook: Serving the Future Show
YouTube: @ServingtheFutureShow

Hosted by Ryan Redondo and Steve Adamson and recorded at the Barnes Tennis Center, home of Youth Tennis San Diego.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Your support helps us reach more players, parents, coaches, and fans across the racquet sports community.