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Control the Controllables

Control the Controllables

By: Dan Kiernan
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Dan Kiernan, Director of SotoTennis Academy in Spain has created a podcast to entertain, educate and energise the tennis community. Hear Dan pick the brains of professional tennis players, coaches, parents, and others involved in High Performance Tennis.Dan Kiernan Hygiene & Healthy Living Tennis
Episodes
  • CTC Short: British Doubles Pioneer – Celebrating Jamie Murray’s Legacy
    Apr 17 2026

    A tribute to a British tennis legend.

    This week on Control the Controllables, we're marking the retirement of one of Great Britain´s greatest ever players, Jamie Murray.

    7 Grand Slam titles. 39 tour-level titles. World Number 1. Davis Cup Winner & Olympian. The man who put British doubles on the map and helped spark a generation of GB doubles players that continue to thrive on the tour today.

    We went back into the archives to pull out one of our favourite moments from our episode with Jamie back in 2020. This short clip is a perfect reminder of just what a remarkable person and player he is.

    In this episode:

    • The story of Jamie's Wimbledon title age 21.
    • Why zero expectation was the secret weapon that fuelled that Wimbledon run.
    • How expectation and pressure change as a career develops.
    • How he felt reaching World Number 1.
    • Becoming Jamie, not just Andy Murray’s brother.
    • Why Dan thinks his impact on tennis will contine.

    From all of us at Control the Controllables, congratulations Jamie. What a career. What a legacy.

    Control the Controllables episodes Jamie Murray features in:

    Episode 13: Jamie Murray - From Dunblane to the top of the world!

    Is Opelka Right - Should Doubles be Scrapped?

    CONNECT WITH CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES

    • Website: https://www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk/
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast/
    • Email us: ctc.podcast@sototennis.com

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    17 mins
  • Adam Jones: Inside Life as a Hitting Partner to the World’s Best
    Apr 2 2026

    What does it really look like behind the scenes with the best players in the world?

    This week on Control the Controllables, we sit down with Adam Jones -hitting partner to the world's best, doubles professional, and the man behind Forehands & Flat Whites, the Instagram account quietly taking over tennis feeds everywhere.

    In 2026 alone, Jonesy has celebrated with the Australian Open women's champion on Rod Laver Arena, hit with Djokovic, Sinner and Rybakina and won his first professional doubles title.

    From taking the bus to junior tournaments with his granddad on the Wirral, to camping on a golf course in Portugal because he couldn't afford the hotel, to warming up Alcaraz on Wimbledon centre court before the 2025 final. Adam's story is proof that your path doesn't have to look like everyone else's to be incredible.

    What he shares in this episode gives a rare, unfiltered look at what it really takes to operate at the top of the game.

    In this episode:

    • What it’s REALLY like to hit with players like Alcaraz, Djokovic and Sinner.
    • Adam opens up about growing up in Birkenhead and the family sacrifices that made his career possible.
    • How elite players prepare — routines, habits, and attention to detail.
    • How Elena Rybakina went out of her way to make Adam feel part of her Australian Open victory in a moment he'll never forget.
    • Why Adam walked off the court six minutes into a hit with an unnamed American player.
    • Lessons Adam has learned from being inside top players’ teams
    • His honest reflection on success, rankings pressure and the mental hole he found himself in earlier in his career.
    • Why personality, connection, and attitude can open doors in tennis

    Follow Adam Jones on Instagram: @adam_jonesyyy123

    CONNECT WITH CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES

    • Website: https://www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk/
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast/
    • Email us: ctc.podcast@sototennis.com

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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • Sander Gillé: The Unconventional Path to the Top of Professional Tennis
    Mar 13 2026

    What if you didn’t have to be a top junior to become a professional tennis player?

    In this episode of Control the Controllables, we speak with Belgian professional tennis player Sander Gille, a Roland Garros finalist, Olympic competitor, Davis Cup player and former World No.18 in doubles.

    Sander’s journey to the top of the game is anything but traditional. He wasn’t a standout junior, didn’t grow up expecting to turn professional, and at 17 he chose US college tennis simply to continue playing while earning a degree.

    After college, Sander decided to give the professional tour a try — funding his early career through crowdfunding, league tennis, and relentless persistence. Years later, that journey led him to the Roland Garros final and the top of the ATP doubles rankings.

    This episode is a powerful reminder that there are many different pathways to success in tennis.

    In this episode:

    1. Growing up playing multiple sports before choosing tennis
    2. Why Sander never planned to become a professional player
    3. The decision-making process behind his college career in the US and transitioning to professional tennis
    4. How crowdfunding helped keep his career going early on.
    5. How injuries shaped his focus from singles to doubles and lessons learned along the way.
    6. Key insights on finding his game, mental resilience, and balancing success with authenticity.
    7. Memorable experiences, including playing Andy Murray at the Olympics and reaching a Grand Slam final.
    8. Reflections on partnership longevity, team dynamics, and future goals in doubles.

    If you’re chasing a career in tennis or supporting someone who is, this is a story you need to hear.

    CONNECT WITH CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES

    Website: https://www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast/

    Email us: ctc.podcast@sototennis.com

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    1 hr and 26 mins
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