TennisWorthy

Patrick McEnroe and Chris Bowers explore the crucial value of sportsmanship in tennis, and its various definitions with three legends: Hall of Famer Lindsay Davenport, former doubles world No. 1 Rohan Bopanna and two-time major finalist Todd Martin.

Lindsay Davenport defines sportsmanship broadly, as handling defeat, tough calls, and success, while being able to look your opponent in the eye. She shares her own personal examples and role models for sportsmanship in today's game.

Rohan Bopanna discusses one momentous instance of sportsmanship in his career: voluntarily gave up a critical point in the 2023 US Open men's doubles final after the ball lightly brushed his arm. Bopanna discusses how honesty and instinct guide his career and how his gesture inspired others.

Two-time ATP Sportsmanship Award winner Todd Martin stresses that true sportsmanship means putting the sport first and maintains that living with the "bad truth" of a point you didn't deserve isn't worthwhile. He discusses how in an era of electronic line calling, sportsmanship is less about line calls and more about overall consistency, poise, and professionalism on and off the court.

The TennisWorthy Podcast is presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame. For more information and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.

December's theme is Sportsmanship, and Hall of Famer Kim Clijsters is well known for her kindness on and off the court. The 6-time major champion and 8-time WTA Sportsmanship Award winner shares how gratitude is one of the most important aspects of her career, and how keeping perspective was key to her reaching the top.

This episode is part of the International Tennis Hall of Fame's TennisWorthy short-form series. View more TennisWorthy stories at tennisfame.com/tennisworthy.

Patrick McEnroe hosts an insightful conversation with world-renowned performance psychologist Dr. Jim Loehr on mental toughness and the whole person behind elite performance.

Dr. Loehr, who started his career as a licensed psychologist before working with top athletes , discusses his transformative time at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, where he began focusing on the whole person—including physical, emotional, mental, and character health. He argues that improving a person's health in all dimensions, particularly character health, is the single most important dynamic in making them mentally tougher.

Dr. Loehr emphasizes that the purpose of sport should be to use tennis to help athletes become extraordinary human beings. He advocates for focusing on the energy an athlete brings to their time rather than just time management and highlights the importance of resilience, with tennis as the ultimate sport for teaching resiliency to bounce back.

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 continues November's theme of mental toughness with an insightful interview with Hall of Famer and 14-time major champion Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario.

Arantxa returned to Newport this summer for the Induction Celebration, and discusses her incredible career, emphasizing her unwavering fighting spirit and strong mental game. A champion in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, she shares the keys to her success across all three formats, including her exceptional physical condition, tenacity, and discipline.

The conversation dives into the moment her life "changed completely": winning her first major - Roland-Garros - at just 17 years old by defeating Stefanie Graf in an epic final. She reveals the pressures she faced as an underdog, and the inner desire and confidence that drove her to become a pioneer for Spanish tennis.

Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario is a former world No. 1 in both singles and doubles, winner of 14 major titles across all three disciplines and a five-time Billie Jean King Cup champion for Spain.

The TennisWorthy Podcast is presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame. For more information and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.

In this insightful episode of the TennisWorthy Podcast, host Patrick McEnroe welcomes special guest Dr. Brian Hainline, an expert on mental health in sports, former Chief Medical Officer of the NCAA and past President of the USTA. Dr. Hainline discusses the critical shift toward prioritizing mental health in athletics, accelerated by the reduced stigma thanks to high-profile athletes like Naomi Osaka and Michael Phelps.

Mental health symptoms and physical health are inseparable, and should be treated with the same urgency, like an ankle sprain. Dr. Hainline also emphasizes the vital role of sleep, noting that sleep deprivation can predict injury and poor performance more than overtraining. They also explore the unique challenges faced by athletes in individual sports like tennis and the importance of recovery and team environments.

The TennisWorthy Podcast is presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame. For more information and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.