TennisWorthy

This week, we remember the legacy and impact of Dr. Jim Loehr, a groundbreaking performance psychologist in tennis, who passed last week at age 83. Last year, Patrick McEnroe and Dr. Loehr had an insightful conversation on mental toughness and the whole person behind elite performance, which we're resharing today.Dr. Loehr's contributions to tennis were profound and lasting. Over more than three decades, he worked alongside some of the sport's most respected coaches and guided thousands of professional and junior players. His landmark first book, Mental Toughness Training for Sports, features a foreword by Arthur Ashe, and remains a foundational text for athletes to this day.His reach extended well beyond tennis. Dr. Loehr worked with more than 17 number-one-ranked athletes and teams across professional tennis, golf, basketball, football, hockey, boxing, motorsport, and the Olympics. His energy management principles were applied across sports, business, medicine, and the military. He authored 19 books, including the co-authored bestseller The Power of Full Engagement.The TennisWorthy Podcast is presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame. For more information and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.

Patrick McEnroe sits down with renowned journalist and author Christopher Clarey to discuss the legacy of Roger Federer. Drawing from his book, The Master, Clarey explores Federer’s transformation from a volatile, "hotheaded" teenager into a global cultural icon defined by grace and grit.The conversation delves into the pivotal figures behind Federer’s success—including Peter Carter, Pierre Paganini, and his wife, Mirka—while examining his legendary rivalries with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Clarey also reveals Federer’s philosophy for longevity: the ability to "clench and unclench" the fist to avoid burnout. It's insightful look at the resilience and aesthetic beauty that cemented Federer as a true master of the sport.Christopher Clarey covered tennis, the Olympics and more for the New York Times for over 30 years, and remains a leading journalist in tennis. He is the author of The Master: The Brilliant Career of Roger Federer and most recently, The Warrior: Rafael Nadal and His Kingdom of Clay. Chris continues to give his current tennis insights at Christopher Clarey's Tennis and Beyond on Substack.The TennisWorthy Podcast, presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame, uncovers the sport's history and mindset of champions. Listen to every episode and view transcripts at tennisfame.com/podcast.

In this inspiring episode, Patrick McEnroe sits down with one of the individuals who created and formalized wheelchair tennis: Hall of Famer Brad Parks.Following a life-altering skiing accident, Parks turned his competitive spirit toward tennis. Hear how he collaborated with recreational therapist Jeff Minnebraker to build a lightweight aluminum chair. Parks details the development of the "two-bounce rule", tweaking to push a wheelchair while holding a racket, and laying the groundwork for an adaptive sport.Parks shares the remarkable journey of the game’s evolution—from the early days of playing in heavy hospital wheelchairs with wooden rackets to the high-tech, elite global competition it is today. He reflects on the challenges of balancing his roles as a top-ranked player and the sport’s lead administrator, his historic Paralympic gold medal win, and his 2010 induction into the Hall of Fame.The TennisWorthy Podcast, presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame, uncovers the sport's history and mindset of champions. Listen to every episode and view transcripts at tennisfame.com/podcasts.

In this special edition of the Tennisworthy Podcast, Patrick McEnroe and Chris Bowers highlight and celebrate 2026's 50th anniversary of the sport of Wheelchair Tennis. Chris brights insightful intergenerational conversations with three of the sport's most decorated athletes: Diede de Groot, Daniela Di Toro, and Gordon Reid.The guests reflect on the dramatic evolution of the game, from playing in everyday collapsible wheelchairs to the elite athleticism seen today at all four Grand Slams. They discuss the "Dutch dominance" inspired by legend Esther Vergeer, the importance of visibility for women in disability sports, and the shift toward being recognized as high-performance athletes rather than just "inspirational" backstories. From Paralympic gold medals to the "running tennis" vs. able-bodied debate, discover how wheelchair tennis has spent 50 years breaking barriers and building a global community.Diede de Groot is one of the most accomplished athletes in wheelchair tennis history. She is a 42-time major champion, and former world No. 1 in both singles and doubles. She is the first wheelchair tennis player to ever complete the quintuple career Grand Slam, and is a five-time Paralympic medalist for the Netherlands.Daniela Di Toro is a former world No. 1 in singles, and captured two US Open titles, the 2000 Wheelchair Tennis Masters Doubles title, and two-time Paralympic medalist. Following her 2005 retirement, she remains active in the wheelchair tennis community in her home country of Australia.Gordon Reid is a 29-time major champion, including a record 27 in doubles, and former world No. 1 in both singles and doubles. The Brit has captured three Paralympic medals, including gold with partner Alfie Hewett in 2024.

What makes a rivalry truly legendary? Patrick McEnroe and Chris Bowers welcome Joan Solsona, Marca's lead tennis journalist based in Barcelona, to dissect the rivalry origins and legacy of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at the Sunshine Double.The trio explores the unique "season of its own" known as the Sunshine Double: winning back-to-back titles at the BNP Paribas Open and the Miami Open. They dive into Federer’s remarkable 2017 resurgence, where he overcame his "stubbornness" to finally master the high-bouncing backhand that had long been his Achilles' heel against Nadal.The group explores how their contrasting styles created a "magnetic" rivalry that transcended the sport and redefined excellence. From the heavy winds of Key Biscayne to the flying balls of the California desert, our experts break down how these two icons adapted their games to push one another to new heights.The TennisWorthy Podcast, presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame, uncovers the sport's history and mindset of champions. Listen to every episode and view transcripts at tennisfame.com/podcast.