The GreatBase Tennis Podcast (Steve Smith and Associates)

On the 78th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Brandon Flanagan interview Mike McLaughlin. Mike does an excellent job taking us back in time talking about a person who was always way ahead of his own time. 

Our conversation is based on Vic Braden and his contributions to the great sport of tennis.

We hope you find this episode as intriguing and entertaining as we did.

On the 79th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with an assistant tennis professional. 

Gino Octa works at a club outside of Toronto that has supported the GreatBase Tennis curriculum since the late 1980's. Steve and Gino touch upon numerous points pertaining to player and character development. 

We are confident that our listeners will find value hearing the perspective and thoughts from a young coach.

The 80th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast is a special treat; it's a three-hour trip down memory lane. Carlos Goffi has a story to tell, his amazing life in tennis. The Brazilian tennis player from yesteryear touches upon topics from A2Z. 

In the mid-80s, he wrote his best-selling tennis book (Tournament Tough). For over thirty years, Carlos ran his "Tournament Tough" tennis camps and is now on the verge of launching an online version of his work (www.tournamenttough.com).

Einstein said, "If one truly knows their subject, they know the history of their subject."   Carlos was mentored by two of the pillars of the GreatBase, Mr. Harry Hopman and Bill Jacobson.  Additionally, Carlos worked side by side with too many other tennis legends to count. 

To make an understatement, this is a special, special podcast.

On the 81st episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with Karla Navarro Wojcik. Steve and Karla have known each other nearly forty years. At the age of seventeen, with basically just being able to say hello in English, Karla started out as a student in the academic program Steve ran of career-minded tennis teaching professionals.

Karla's first days in tennis started on a chicken farm in Cochabamba, Bolivia. She is the oldest child in a family with seven children.

Her father Willie, who loves tennis as much as anyone on the planet, found a way to have his children travel the world through tennis. With her husband, Robert Wojcik, Karla has three tennis playing children. 

To make an understatement, Karla and the rest her family continue to log a journey in tennis that is filled with fun and valuable stories.

On the 82nd episode of the GreatBase Tennis (GBT) podcast, Steve Smith and Brandon Flanagan interview Cole Reeves. Cole's story is admirable, he wants to develop players in the state where he has grown up. Coach Reeves is based in Arkansas and has been following the GBT tennis content for over ten years.

One significant point is that Cole has primarily learned the GBT pathway via the Internet. He has made at least a half dozen in-person visits to work with Steve.

As Andy Fitzell always says, "Let's just observe how their students hit the ball."  During the podcast, Steve compliments Cole for being an outstanding teacher of technique. By listening, one will find out why and how he would receive such rave reviews.

On the 83rd episode of the GreatBase Podcast, Steve Smith and Brandon Flanagan interview the founder of Tennis Analytics. Warren Pretorius, a native of South Africa, touches upon a wide range of topics related to tennis because of his diversified and international background. Warren is an accomplished player, former teaching pro, and pioneer in the field of statistical analysis. 

His story is a lifetime in tennis, sport, and technology. We are confident that our listeners will be thoroughly impressed with Warren's insightful information, humility, and sense of humor.

On the 84th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Brandon Flanagan interview Mark Spann. Mark's journey started in South Africa under the tutelage of his mother, who was the holder of a Wimbledon title. In addition to teaching within his mother's school, Spann's School of Tennis, he worked for twenty-five years for the Julian Krinsky School of Tennis. For more than the last ten years, he has been the co-owner of the Upper Dublin tennis facility in Philadelphia.  

To make an understatement, Mark has a wealth of experience and we are sure our listeners will benefit greatly be listening to him.

On the 85th of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Brandon Flanagan interview Steve Denton. Their guest has many stories to tell. He is a former world class tennis player and the current head coach of the men's tennis team for Texas A&M University. Steve Denton was once ranked #11 in the world in singles and #2 in doubles. The big serving Texan represented the US in Davis Cup and twice reached the finals of the Australian Open.

On the 86th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Brandon Flanagan have Roger Crawford as their guest.

His story is truly amazing. Sports Illustrated called Roger Crawford one of the greatest achievers among all physically challenged athletes in all of sport. He played NCAA Division I tennis and he is disabled in all four limbs. We are sure everyone will enjoy the interview and we think all junior players with competitive goals should make the session a "must listen."  By doing so, one will have a better chance to never make excuses and to never ever feel sorry for themselves.

On the 87th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Brandon Flanagan interview Dr. Gideon Ariel. He is the founder and chief executive of the board of directors of Ariel Dynamics. 

Gideon is a world-renowned bio-mechanist, former Olympic athlete, author, inventor, breakthrough pioneer in the field of technology for human performance, and a funny, funny guy. 

To spark the attention of our listeners, Vic Braden considered Gideon to be his mentor. The two of them established their own research center and worked with world-class athletes from almost every sport under the sun.

Anyone who loves sport would love to listen to Dr. Gideon Ariel.

On the 88th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Brandon Flanagan have a tennis conversation with Chris Cloer. Chris has a lifetime of tennis experiences. His first exposure to tennis basically started in the cradle because his parents have always worked in the tennis club business. As a junior, he became a blue-chip recruit and then posted an outstanding record while playing for Florida State. Upon graduation, he began his coaching career under the guidance of Harold Solomon.

Chris has coached competitive players at all three levels: juniors, college and pros. He served on the coaching staff for the men's teams at North Carolina State and the University of North Carolina. He also experienced the role of a travel coach on both the WTA and ATP tours.

On the 89th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Natalia Sorokin and Steve Smith interview Kim Wittenberg. Their guest has spent nearly fifty years teaching and coaching tennis.  A native of Southern California, he spent half of his career living and working in Europe. 

We are confident that our listeners will find value in Kim's insightful educational points. A major dose of honesty based on proven principles is healthy tennis medicine.

The GreatBase Tennis Podcast Episode 90 - Steve Smith Q&A

On the 90th episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith is interviewed by Will Reznek.

Will grew up playing junior tennis in Canada; where he earned top five provincial rankings and top ten national rankings. He played college tennis at Marist College; which is in Poughkeepsie, New York.

He has been a tennis-teaching professional since graduating with a degree in psychology. Will currently works in his hometown at the Toronto Cricket, Skating & Curling Club.

Will recently spent three weeks studying tennis with Steve.

On the 91st episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with Roberto Calla. The Peruvian is not new to a large percentage of the GreatBase Tennis network and alumni because he worked with Steve for fifteen years. According to Steve, Roberto has a magic about him.  Roberto translates his life's journey and mastery of soccer with a complete and in-depth understanding of tennis.

We advise our listeners trying to acquire golden nuggets for their tennis treasure chest to find a few minutes here and there to listen to this week's podcast. 

On the 92nd episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Roberto Calla have an in-depth conversation with one of their former students.

Alex Vuckovic is a parent yet his son is too young for his father to be a tennis parent.  Alex is not currently a player or a coach either. Nevertheless, his passion for the game alone qualifies him for a tennis audience filled with everyone from a beginner to a veteran.

We encourage our listeners to find at least ten-minute segments throughout the course of their week to listen to Alex. We cover the whole gamut of Alex's tennis journey: transitioning from high school to college, the SAT's, playing for Princeton, teaching top juniors, the pain of regret, ego, maturity, and why the word "options" is the most important word in the game of tennis.

On the 93rd episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Roberto Calla covered another segment centered on practice. The focal point of their conversation was on technical routines that can be completed by a player within the comfort of their own home. Additional tennis information, ideas and insights were shared to help deepen one's understanding of player development.

On the 94th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Roberto Calla have an in-depth conversation with Chad Berryhill. Currently, Chad is the Head Men's and Women's Tennis Coach at St. Leo University in Florida.

Chad has nearly twenty years of experience as a college tennis coach. Upon graduating from Ferris State University's Professional Tennis Management program, Chad worked with Steve and Roberto for five years. During that period, he completed his master's in Physical Education at South Florida University, managed a twenty-eight court complex, worked 24/7 with goal-oriented juniors, and won an NJCAA national title as one of the youngest in the history of college tennis.

On the 95th episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and Karla Navarro Wojick interview Alex Slezak. Their guest is a physical education teacher and high school tennis coach in Pittsburgh, PA. 

Alex has spent decades studying tennis, fitness and coaching. Over the last seventeen years, he has held the same position and has built a positive and productive tennis culture. 

Alex utilizes the GreatBase system in his programs and believes the body of work  can be a catalyst to improve the level of high school tennis in America.

On the 96th episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and Roberto Calla have a conversation on the task of being competitive. One's true competition is in the mirror and the challenge of having goal-oriented players break comfort zones is becoming more and more difficult. Ego is quite often the enemy and one self-destructs through the unnecessary interference they create.

We are confident that tennis enthusiasts will find at least a few pearls of wisdom to add to their tennis treasure chest by listening to Steve and Roberto's points.

On the 97th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith is joined by Malhar Patel. 

Malhar, a student-assistant and goal-oriented player, keeps tally of Steve's communication hiccups during the podcast. Steve encourages the coaches he trains to record themselves to reduce their "OK's" & "Add-ons."

Steve reviewed the purpose, procedures and principles as well as other points of the tennis assessment he has conducted for five decades.

On the 98th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith covers a requested topic: Situational Training. Steve is assisted by Malhar Patel, a student assistant and goal-oriented player.

Webster's dictionary defines situation as a set of circumstances in which one finds themselves. The same definition applies to competitive tennis. We are confident that our listeners will acquire at least a couple of golden nuggets to add to their tennis treasure chest in this week's episode.

On the 99th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Malhar Patel address a topic that made Wayne Gretzky, Wayne Gretzky. We realize there are few from the world of tennis who don't know 99 was Wayne's number when he was breaking over 60 records in the best hockey league on the planet.

Under the guidance of his father, Walter, Wayne completed routine after routine on their back yard rink (Wally's Coliseum). Hockey players find ways to work on hockey skills in their basement, driveway and the street in front of their home. From our experiences, most tennis players do not have "at home" tennis routines.

On the 100th episode of the GreatBase Tennis (GBT) podcast, Steve Smith interviews Jeremy Wurtzman. The two have known each other for 30 years, so their conversation goes back to when Jeremy was 10 years old. Now 40, Jeremy is the father of three children and the Head Men's Tennis Coach at Indiana University.

On the GBT website, there is a free educational course called "Tennis Intelligence Applied" and one of the short videos is a pre-post of Jeremy. He re-built his technical base under Steve's tutelage and the improvements reveal change for the better. Becoming the #1 ranked singles player in division I tennis is just one of Jeremy's numerous accomplishments.

We are confident that those who can make time to listen to Steve and Jeremy will thoroughly enjoy their conversation.

On the hundred and first podcast of the GreatBase Tennis (GBT) podcast, Mat Cloer is interviewed. Being #101, the theme of the conversation between Mat and Steve Smith is Basics 101.   

To make an understatement, Mat has a thorough understanding of the history and educational merit of the free educational content the GBT offers to assist players and coaches with tennis development. Mat and Steve have worked together on numerous projects over the last fifteen years.

After nearly six years of serving as a national coach with the USTA, Mat and his family have relocated to Gainesville, Florida. Mat will work as the associate head men's tennis coach under Bryan Shelton.  One can find an in-depth report on Mat's playing and coaching background on the University of Florida Athletic web site

On the 102nd episode of the GreatBase Tennis (GBT) podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with Andres Barbosa.

Andres is a veteran tennis coach who resides and works in Miami. In the early years of his career, Andres's teaching and coaching was influenced by several highly reputable tennis minds. For last ten plus years, he has been a follower and supporter of the body of work Steve has provided to the tennis industry.

He also is the "fact-checker" for the GBT podcast. In other words, Andres helps Steve with his senior moments and brain cramps.

We are confident that you thoroughly enjoy this podcast

On the 103rd episode of the GreatBase Tennis (GBT) podcast, Steve Smith interviews Lorenzo Panariti.

Lorenzo grew up playing junior tennis in Italy and played college tennis in the US. Upon completing his undergraduate work, he moved to back to Europe  to further his education in business. He currently is coaching tennis in Odense, Denmark and recently brought a small group of juniors to work with Steve.

 We are confident that our listeners will enjoy Lorenzo's tennis story. To make an understatement, the tennis world needs more coaches with Lorenzo's passion and dedication.

On the 104th episode of the GreatBase Tennis (GBT), Steve Smith interviews Phil Ritchie. 

Phil,  a triplet from New Jersey, earned his stripes completing a summer internship with GBT. We are sure our listeners will find Phil's thoughts interesting and insightful. To make an understatement, Phil's performance was outstanding and he made major contributions to everyone connected with the summer of '22.  

 On the 105th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith interviews Ed Weiss.

To make an understatement, Ed is a passionate and dedicated student of tennis. He shares his experiences from his lifetime journey in tennis. He learned the game from accomplished instructors and observed others. Ed was part of a national championship program as a college player and was honored as an All-American. He has had an instrumental role in building a program for underprivileged children, coached high school tennis, read hundreds of tennis books and written a fabulous book on Welby Van Horn.

With great humility, Ed wondered why I would want to interview him? After talking with Mr. Weiss on the phone for years and then working with his associates and him in Connecticut, I knew his story would be enjoyable for our listeners and that his wisdom would prove to be more golden nuggets for one's tennis treasure chest.

On the 106th episode of the GreatBase Tennis (GBT) podcast, Steve Smith talks tennis with Dave Secker.

Dave Secker and his boss, head coach Simon Earnshaw, are orchestrating a tennis success story that is getting better and better. Dave updates and reports on the North Carolina State women's tennis team. The team's climb has been fast and fabulous. 

Dave, who was previously a guest on the GBT podcast, shares invaluable tips, insightful wisdom and a few laughs. We are confident that our listeners will thoroughly enjoy a second-go-around with Dave.

On the 107th episode of the GreatBase Tennis (GBT) podcast, Steve Smith interviews Henry Park.

Henry discovered our free educational content by surfing the Internet. He immersed himself in the information starting at the age of thirteen. Now a little more than three years later, he has a story to tell.  

Self-learning and peer teaching are cornerstones of the GBT tennis curriculum. A quote from the late Vic Braden applies, "Never underestimate the capacity of the learner."  We are confident that our listeners will find Henry and his story to be refreshing and inspiring.

On the 108th episode of the GreatBase Tennis (GBT) podcast, Steve Smith and Austin Krajicek have a tennis conversation. The two have known each other for twenty-five years. A couple of weeks before Austin turned 8 years old, Steve produced a narrated slow-motion analysis for Austin and his parents, Rob and Sherry. Austin was on his way to a national event (Little Mo). Steve suggested that the family wait until they return from the tournament for Austin to begin the process to re-building his technical base. 

 To make an understatement, Austin has an extremely impressive resume. He is a Kalamazoo (US national 18's) champion, a six time All-American, a member of the Texas A & M Hall of Fame and a US Olympian. In singles, Austin earned a top 100 ranking. In doubles, he currently is ranked 15 in the world. Most recently, he and his partner (Ivan Dodig) reached the French Open finals.

We are confident that our audience will thoroughly enjoy listening to this podcast. Austin certainly knows his way around the tennis world and has an abundance of tennis and life experiences to share.

On the 109th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith has an in-depth conversation with Patrick Geoffrion-Amorim. Steve's guest, Patrick, is a passionate and dedicated tennis teaching professional based in Quebec, Canada.

As a junior player, Patrick trained at numerous academies in both Florida and Spain as well as in his native Canada. Patrick played college tennis at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Currently he works at CDL tennis club in Montreal.

Patrick speaks from the heart and tells a story that should be heard by players, parents and coaches.

On the 110th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with John Posey.

Posey was the kid that every tennis program needs. He was cut from his college tennis team and returned a year later after having dedicated endless hours to   improve and, fortunately, earned a spot in line-up. 

One of the best compliments for parents to hear is that their kid is low maintenance. Google low maintenance and a photo of Posey should pop up. His shoulder bag was a garbage bag. He would hit balls until both his shoes and socks had holes and his toes were bleeding. On his day off, he would hit the backboard from sun-up to sun-down. 

To make an understatement, we feel our listeners can find great value by listening to Steve and John reminisce. 

Roger Federer Retires

On the 111th episode of the GreatBaseTennis podcast, Steve Smith and Andres Barbosa discuss Roger Federer's remarkable tennis career. Words cannot sufficiently define the class, elegance and beauty of Roger the person and Roger the player.

His life, both on-court and off-court, has truly been an inspiration. Thank you, Roger. 

On the 112th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with Nicole Erickson. She is the Mental Performance Coach for the FM Tennis Performance Center. 

After suffering two severe knee injuries while playing scholastic basketball, Nicole transferred her energy into sports psychology. To prepare for her new passion she completed two degrees as well as numerous certifications and internships. She has worked with all types of athletes, both on an individual basis and a team format. Over the last year, Nicole has worked with players, parents and coaches who have travelled to work with Steve and the feedback regarding her work has been outstanding. Simply put, her work made a difference that was proven by results.

To contact Nicole: (Instagram) @Coachnicole.e / (Website) fm-tennis.com/performance-center

On the 113th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with Jim Klein. He is the Director of Tennis of the Doylestown Tennis Club in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. 

Our listeners who honor and respect the life-long work of the late Vic Braden would appreciate knowing that Jim led the efforts to have Vic inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Another extremely noteworthy point is the longevity of Jim's staff of teaching professionals. 

Jim shares a bundle of brilliant thoughts for those who love tennis, especially those who own tennis facilities and direct all-encompassing tennis programs. Our podcast with Jim is a gem.

On the 114th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with Caleb Hyatt. Steve's guest has worked as a junior, high school and college coach. Caleb served as a member of the tennis teaching staff at the USTA National Campus and also served as a massage therapist at the IMG athletic compound.

Caleb recently spent two weeks shadowing Steve. Caleb presents notes, quotes and questions that add up to an informative and enjoyable session.

An Interview with George Goldhoff

On the 115th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with George Goldhoff. Steve's guest is twenty-seven years young and has a number of meaningful and worthwhile experiences to share. George was a top nationally ranked junior and played for the University of Texas Longhorns. He also coached at Baylor University when the team reached the NCAA finals and in between found the time to earn ATP points in both singles and doubles. 

The first time George worked with Steve was for seven days. Then, based on the circumstances caused by the pandemic, George spent seven months immersed in the GreatBase Tennis bubble. We are sure our listeners will be able to find more golden nuggets from this episode to add to their tennis treasure chest.

 Interview with Mike Carter

On the 116th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with Mike Carter.  Mike spent five years studying tennis with Steve back in the 1980's and has spent the last thirty years working for USTA:Texas. 

The third time is the charm applies to Mike Carter's journey in tennis. His dream job in tennis was living in his beloved Austin and working for the sectional tennis office; which used to be called the Texas Tennis Association. He applied twice before being selected. His secondary plans were truly remarkable; opportunities of a lifetime. He worked for both the late Dennis Van der Meer and the late Vic Braden. 

The episode with Steve and Mike is informative and inspiring. A couple of highlights: Mike's climb to winning national titles as a tri-athlete and Steve having Mike dig out a twenty year old speech. 

Nick White

On the 117th episode to the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with Nick White. Nick was recently appointed as the Head Men's Tennis Coach at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York.

For a young man, Nick has a long history in tennis. He played junior and college tennis. Following his college days, he played Future events and during that time he started to study the information, ideas and insights that the GreatBase Tennis curriculum provides. For more than ten years, he has paid his dues serving as an assistant college coach for both DI and DIII tennis teams.

Steve and Nick discuss his plans and vision for building a championship culture as well as making an impact on the lives of his players and the community and surrounding areas of Saratoga Springs. 

A Rainy Day Review

On the 118th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith reviews routines for goal-oriented players to consider doing everyday.  He shares points he covered with a group of players on recent rainy day in sunny Florida. 

The messages regarding non-required practice time are powerful and parents should consider having their juniors listen to the podcast as they drive to and from their respective tennis programs.

Group Dynamics

In the 119th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with his long time associate, Richard Hernandez. Their topic was group dynamics.

Richard, who is originally from Trinidad, lives in Toronto, Canada. Richard would like to see Tennis Ontario and Tennis Canada train tennis teachers to work with twenty or more beginners on one tennis court. The court is 7200 square feet and in places like the Great White North (Canada) the large indoor space requires heat and light.  Richard expresses and explains in details how the growth and welfare of tennis is in jeopardy if the up and coming tennis teachers are only educating one person at a time for the going rate of $100 per hour.

Interview with Brian Clark

On the 120th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith interviews Brian Clark. Brian certainly has many stories and lessons to share. His father, a former athlete, was instrumental in building an eight indoor tennis facility in Cincinnati; which Brian now owns and operates with his brother.

Brian also was an athlete having captained his high school football team to a state championship while playing as an inside linebacker. At Xavier University, he and his partner broke the team's record for most doubles matches won. After his high school and college days, he obtained more insight into sport and people by being active as a white water kayaker and a snowboarder.

Through their conversation, Brian interrelates his past and present experiences with our tennis curriculum. Soon he will have spent ten years supporting and implementing the educational content assembled to form what Brian calls, "An incredibly detailed road map built on truth."

On the 121st episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith interviews Ty Tucker. Ty is the head men's tennis coach at Ohio State and also oversees the women's team as their director. 

He was twice an All-American for his beloved Buckeyes and, while playing on the ATP tour, he had wins over Tim Henman and Jimmy Arias (two top ten players).

Ty returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach and in 1999 and was named head coach. His success at Ohio State may be best defined by having the new tennis complex on campus bear his name (Ty Tucker Tennis Center).

We are extremely confident that people who appreciate a non-stop work ethic and gritty competitiveness will find listening to Ty Tucker to be a total delight; even if you are a Michigan fan.

On the 122nd episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith had a conversation with Julian Krinsky and his wife, Tina. 

Starting in the late 70's, Julian founded the Julian Krinsky School of Tennis (JKST) in Philadelphia. JKST evolved into Julian Krinsky Camps and Programs (JKCP); which became one of the largest and most diversified summer camps in the US. Julian's  tennis business runs on year round basis and is conducted on college campuses as well as two indoor clubs he owns.

Julian grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa and excelled in the classroom and the courts. He won medals at the Maccabiah Games in tennis representing South African in 1969 and medals representing the United States in squash in 1981. In tennis, he traveled the international circuit and played both Wimbledon and the French Open.

According to Steve, "Julian is a world-class pied piper and throughout his career hit tons of home runs in the kid business. He should be at the top of the list for anyone seeking advice on owning and operating any type of camp."

On the 123rd episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with Cole Reeves and Gino Octa. The two tennis teaching professionals were visiting the sunshine state for the annual Orange Bowl, one of the most prestigious junior tennis tournaments in the world.

A number of key points were covered with the purpose of helping families better navigate their journeys in tennis. Hopefully by listening one will be able to add another golden nugget or two to their tennis treasure chest.

On the 124th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith wishes the listeners all the best for the new year. He also reviews the history and educational merit of the GreatBase Tennis curriculum.

On the 125th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith interviews Andrew Rueb, the head men's tennis coach at Harvard University. We are confident that our listeners will thoroughly enjoy learning about Andrew's journey in tennis. 

During the podcast, Andrew's delightful personality shines through, along with a deep, well-thought-out philosophy on how to best impact student-athletes.

On the 126th episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith interviews Ram Vuppaladadiyam. Ram is better known in our circles as Rammie-baby or Super Intern. He is currently a software engineer and analyst in the hedge fund industry in NYC. Originally from Denver, Colorado, Ram played as a junior and is an avid student of the GreatBase. 

In his teenage years, Ram became a certified tennis teaching professional and worked with underprivileged children and wheelchair players. He also immersed himself in our body of work while completing GreatBase internships in the US and Europe.

On the 127th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith's guest is Johann Frühling, who plans on making fitness and wellness his life's work. The native of Hamburg, Germany has completed sport science studies at the undergraduate level at the University of Leipzig and plans on completing his masters in the US.

Johann conducts running courses for his university and works for Blackroll, the largest foam rolling company in Germany. An active triathlete, Johann also works as a coach in a triathlon club. Over the last two years, he has studied tennis under Steve Smith's tutelage while working with GreatBase players.

On the 128th episode of the GreatBase podcast, Steve Smith interviews Bud Schultz. The session covers a tennis story that must be heard.

Bud, who never played a junior tournament, climbed to #39 on the ATP Tour. His story is truly inspirational and is an in-depth lesson in numerous ways for players, parents, and coaches. 

On the 129th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith has a tennis conversation with Casey Curtis. Coach Curtis is a veteran tennis coach; the Californian native spent nearly forty years developing junior players in Canada. His most successful student, a player he worked with from age eight to seventeen, reached the Wimbledon final and a world ranking of #3.

Casey covers a vast number of topics pertaining to his life-long passion. To make an understatement, listening to Casey Curtis will help parents, players, and coaches add invaluable tennis nuggets to their tennis treasure chest.

Casey's Website: https://www.curtistennis.com/

On the 130th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with Ilja Semjonovs. Steve compliments his guest by calling him a total package coach; meaning Ilja can cover all four components of the game with extremely high levels of competency. 

Ilja, a native of Latvia, added to the GreatBase curriculum by designing a metronome system. He synchronized the checkpoints of all the essential strokes to a progressive and rhythmic count. 

To make an understatement, the welfare of our great game needs more coaches with the skill set and passion of Ilja Semjonovs. 

On the 131st episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Andres Barbosa discuss the 2023 Australian Open men's final. Perhaps Novak Djokovic was not 100% because of his injury. Perhaps Stefanos Tsitsipas could have played the one set point he earned in a different manner. 

Perhaps this and perhaps that was discussed for students of the game to wonder and ponder.

As the final analysis, we all should be grateful to watch such a splendid event and such outstanding tennis players.  

On the 132nd episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with Andres Quijada. The Venezuelan is the director of the high-performance players at the Brookhaven Tennis Academy in Dallas. Prior to joining the private sector, Andres and his wife, the former Stephanie Wooten, spent years coaching college tennis.

Andres grew up in Caracas under the tutelage of his father, a teaching pro. Andres found his way to the US to play college tennis and he eventually earned ATP points. 

Tennis needs to have more young tennis leaders like Andres. Our listeners will appreciate his input. I think people will agree that one must have the character to help others build character. 

On the 133rd episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith's guest is Jacob Hansen. The two tennis teaching professionals discuss the life and career of the late Peter Burwash.  Jacob worked for  Peter Burwash International (PBI) for ten years. 

The native of California currently leads a junior development program in Utah and is in the process of building a tennis club near Salt Lake. Jacob, who has a degree in economics, has grown to appreciate the tennis math that supports the GreatBase tennis curriculum. 

Steve was excited to have Jacob share his experiences with Peter and PBI because he firmly believes Peter's work should never be forgotten.

On the 134th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith (SS) has a conversation with Steve Campbell (SC). SS & SC studied tennis together in the '80s and, most importantly, both worked for the late Vic Braden.

SC and his wife, Colleen, have a wealth of tennis wisdom to share. They currently work together at the Wintergreen Resort in Wintergreen, Virginia. Steve serves as the tennis director.

Starting this summer, parents, players, coaches, program directors, and club owners can visit the beautiful mountainside resort to learn a mountain of tennis information, insights, and ideas.

On the 135th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Ivan Ozerets reviews the eight pillars of the GreatBase. Short clips are shown from previous podcasts on the mentors and teachers behind the GreatBase Tennis curriculum.

The pillars of the GreatBase are reviewed in this order: Jim Verdieck, Welby Van Horn, Bill Jacobson, Dr. Jim Loehr, Peter Burwash, Mr. Harry Hopman, Dennis Van Der Meer, and Vic Braden.

On the 136th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Ivan Ozerets reviews the strokes that were covered in previous episodes of the podcast. Short clips are shown from previous podcasts that have Steve Smith and Andy Fitzell talking about the solid fundamentals for the basic strokes.

The strokes are reviewed in this order: the serve, the forehand, the volley, the backhand, the overhead, the one-handed underpin backhand (slice), and the return of serve.

On the 137th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Andres Barbosa, discuss a fictional friend, Rocky Balboa, who has inspired people for nearly 50 years. "Yo Adrian, you be walking down the street and you will be breaking hearts, you know what I mean."

They also reinforce basics by reviewing the fundamental foundations of Elena Rybakina and Carlos Alcaraz. 

Lastly, the two discuss, Steve recovering from his recent ten-day visit to a hospital; where he discovered he was 68 and not 28.

On the 138th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith interviews Ry Tarpley.  Steve feels strongly that Ry's story is inspirational and should be heard by older players who need to make technical changes in their games. Ry had already weathered through the competitive trenches of junior, college, and pro tennis before he completed an assessment with Steve. Upon reviewing the inefficient aspects of Ry's technical foundation, Steve asked Ry if he would like to be ranked number one in the US in the 35s.

Ry was in his late twenties and, at the time, was discouraged to finally hear the rationale that brought clarity to his on-court troubles. Ry has a great passion for tennis and continues to work on his game. He was too busy with his new profession to play national 35's but he did earn the #1 ranking in the national 40s; proving it is never too late to go back to the drawing board and work on basics.

On the 139th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with Andres Barbosa. They discussed the Pickle Ball Slam with Agassi, McEnroe, Roddick, and Chang. They also touched upon pro tennis, junior tennis, and other related topics. 

As always, GreatBase Tennis continues to share free educational tennis content with the hope of helping tennis players, parents, and teachers. In addition to podcasts, GreatBase has 5 online courses (www.greatbasetennis.com), 15 years of daily posts on Facebook, and 500+ video clips on Instagram. 

On the 140th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with Lenny Schloss.  Mr. Schloss is the founder and president of the Billie Jean King Eye Coach. The goal of his team of associates is to help all levels of tennis by researching the connection and function between the eyes and the brain.

Lenny, an All-American at the University of Tennessee, played in all four majors. He was ranked in the top ten among US pros.  Following his playing career, he owned and operated retail shops, all-encompassing tennis programs, and indoor clubs. 

Throughout the different phases of his life in tennis, being a player, coach, businessman, and educator, he has always been passionate and intrigued by finding the difference makers in human performance. 

On the 141st episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Andres Barbosa have a conversation with Steve Robertson. Their guest is a South African who came to the US nearly 30 years ago with his wife, Colleen, and their two children. 

Steve's youth was filled with playing multiple sports. Tennis eventually became his primary sport and his passion served as a vehicle for him to travel around the world working with thousands of students and hundreds of staff members connected to the world of summer camps.

Combining his experiences and intellectual curiosity, Steve became a devoted student to the various generations he was dealing with in his diversified workplace. Today he is considered an international expert and works as a consultant for companies, camps, universities, and professional sports teams.

After listening to Steve, we are confident that our listeners will want to read his book, "Gen Z, Aliens Among US."  Steve Robertson's heartfelt, deep, and, insightful advice will help everyone with an overall understanding of how to improve day-to-day situations.

On the 142nd episode of the GreatBase Tennis (GBT) podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with Stephen Baccari. Our guest is highly educated; having received an undergraduate degree in marketing from Bentley University and two master's degrees from Northeastern University, one in finance and the other in accounting.

Stephen's full-time position is working at Mass Bay Community College as a comptroller. He completed GBT training online and in person. He works part-time as a tennis instructor.

By listening to Stephen, one will instantly know he has done his homework and is deeply concerned about the growth and welfare of our game. 

On the 143rd episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith interviews Ricardo Acioly. To make an understatement, Ricardo's background is truly exceptional.  The expression, 'you name and he has done it', applies to his journey in tennis.

Ricardo, who grew up just outside of Rio de Janeiro, acquired his passion for tennis from his parents and older brother. As a player and coach, he represented Brazil in both Davis Cup and the Olympics.  He traveled the world,  competed in all the majors, and experienced playing against the likes of McEnroe, Sampras, Agassi, and Becker.

Mr. Acioly has worked as an ATP officer, ATP tournament director, TV commentator, and academy owner. As a coach, he has worked with icons, former number ones, outstanding juniors, and elite college players.

Currently, he resides, with his wife and two children, in Boca Raton, Florida; where he works as the Director of Strategic Development for the Evert Academy. The podcast is filled with pearls of wisdom and golden nuggets for players, parents, and coaches to add to their tennis treasure chest.

On the 144th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Andres Barbosa discuss their thoughts on the role of the sparring partner. Like anything, there are numerous interesting points to discuss. 

The term sparring comes from boxing; where one practices techniques and tactics to enhance performance. The sparring partner in boxing typically wears protective headgear, a mouth guard, and does not have a speaking part. 

The opposite occurs in tennis; where quite often the sparring partner in tennis takes on the role of also being a talking technician. The complexities pertaining to a sparring partner are of great significance because, without successful practice sessions, one will simply not become a successful player.

On the 145th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson have a conversation pertaining to the outsider's criticism of their work. They plan on collaborating on more episodes to review core tennis information; which has been requested by numerous listeners. 

Dave Anderson has led the tennis instructional staff at the Brookhaven Country Club in Dallas, Texas for over thirty years. In doing so, he and his staff have developed approximately 500 college tennis players. 

GreatBase Tennis Education (GBTE) aspires to help educate tennis players, parents, coaches, and administrators. In addition to the podcast, GBTE offers five online courses, five hundred plus Instagram posts, and fifteen years of daily Facebook posts. GBTE's educational content is free.

On the 146th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Andres Barbosa talk tennis. Andres is a veteran tennis coach who lives and works in Miami and understands our curriculum's history and depth. 

GreatBase Tennis Education (GBTE) aspires to help educate tennis players, parents, coaches, and administrators. In addition to the podcast, GBTE offers numerous articles, five online courses, five hundred plus Instagram posts, and fifteen years of daily Facebook posts. 

GBTE's educational content is free. Thank you for sharing our content.

Under the leadership of their head coach, Claremont-Mudd-Scripts's women's tennis team has won the national championship in three of the last four years. Dave Schwarz also led Middlebury College to two national championships. He is the fifth coach in college tennis history to win national titles with both the men's and women's teams. He was the first tennis coach to win national titles at two different schools.

We are confident that our listeners will enjoy Dave's story because he is humble, and honest and had to earn his position the good ole' fashion way. Simply put, as a player and coach, he figured out how to add up his different and diversified experiences to be successful. The interview produced numerous golden nuggets for one's tennis treasure chest.

Our GreatBase Tennis Education (GBTE) offers 15 years of daily Facebook posts, 5 educational courses, 500+ Instagram clips, and nearly 150 podcasts for free. (www.greatbasetennis.com).

David Schwarz's Website: https://www.daveschwarztennis.com/

On the 148th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith talks with Stuart Van Horn. They talk about the playing and teaching career of Stuart's father, Welby Van Horn. His record as a player and teacher is nothing short of elite.

In his era, Welby played against the best and beat the best. In 1939 at the age of 19, he was the youngest US Open finalist until Pete Sampras broke the record. His playing career was cut short by World War II and an asthmatic condition, yet he played professionally for a decade and was in the top ten in the world numerous times.

Following his playing career, he taught tennis on four courts in San Juan, Puerto Rico and only taught the members' children. In the 1960s, he developed more US junior national champions than the state of Florida. He created his own systematic approach which was primarily based on balance. 

Tennis leaders around the world should embrace Welby's approach to starting beginning players. If so, more entry-level players would stay with tennis, and the game of tennis would enjoy increased participation.

On the 149th episode of the GreatBase Tennis Education (GBTE) podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with Dave Anderson, a long-time associate, and highly accomplished coach. Steve asks David questions with the purpose of reviewing technical and tactical information. Other pertinent points regarding player development are covered.

Thank you for supporting and sharing GBTE. Our goal is to contribute to the growth and welfare of tennis. Our free educational content includes 15 years of daily Facebook posts, 500+ Instagram clips, 5 free courses, and nearly 150 podcasts. One of the courses, Tennis Intelligence Applied, is 25 hours long. Our web site www.greatbasetennis.com.

On the 150th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast,  Steve Smith has a conversation with Dave Secker.

The Englishman gives us an update on his team. To make an understatement, the Wolfpack have gained a tremendous amount of respect based on their rapid climb from obscurity to reaching the NCAA team final at the end of the 2023 season.

Dave also shares thoughts on Diana Shnaider, who played for North Carolina State this past year. The nineteen-year-old Russian entered college as the number 3 junior in the world and, as of this writing, is ranked 88 among WTA professionals.

As always, we hope to add golden nuggets to one's tennis treasure chest and strongly believe listening to Dave Secker is a sure way to do so.

On the 151st episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith interviews Nicole Erickson. She is a Mental Performance Coach and is based at the FM Performance Center in Boynton Beach, Florida. She has worked with numerous players and coaches associated with Steve and the results and, therefore, feedback has been outstanding.

The focus of their conversation is directed toward her new online project, "The Parents Championship Course." 

We would highly recommend parents contact Nicole (nicoleeric@gmail.com), register, and complete her course. The course will help parents help their players and themselves. Ideas, thoughts, and concepts are shared that can be and should be difference-makers.

On the 152nd episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with Jim Rogers. The Canadian from Winnipeg, Manitoba has expertise in three sports: hockey, tennis, and golf.

Their discussion covers the benefits of learning on red clay, the golfer's mentality towards technique, accountability in tennis coaching, the differences between European and North American tennis, chirping from the hockey culture, playing club tennis in Germany, and much more.

Steve is excited to bring our listeners Jim's gems. Listen for comments such as: suck it up buttercup, activity does not equal achievement, Junior Wimbledon is a junior tournament, and much more. The stories go back almost forty years when Steve and Jim first met.

On the 153rd episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Dave Anderson and Andre Barbosa join Steve Smith. Collectively, the three have over a hundred years of tennis teaching and coaching experience. 

Their conversation covers the gamut; touching upon a wide variety of topics. 

We are confident that our listeners will be able to add at least a few more golden nuggets to their tennis treasure chest by tuning in.

On the 154th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith interviews Greg Patton. Coach Patton is 70 years young and has 50-plus years of experience to share. In a perfect world, Greg's passion and love for tennis is placed in a bottle and everyone drinks the Patton Potion. The liquid is magical and gets everyone fired up about tennis.

The human spirit, altruism, team building, family, top juniors, college tennis, world team tennis, and much, much more are covered. 

Listeners will love to listen to Greg. Tune in, sit back, and enjoy. 

On the 155th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith interviews Constantinos Alevizopoulos. The two have never met in person. The young tennis coach from Greece first met Steve by studying a technical training tape and then thoroughly studying the free educational content provided by GreatBase via the Internet.

The bulk of their conversation is about Stefanos Tsitsipas. Constantinos has an experience that so, so few have in tennis. He experienced being around a top-five ATP player during the player's formative years. After all, perhaps only a percent of a percent of a percent climb the ladder of pro tennis to such an elite level. Both Constantinos and Stefanos were taught by Giorgos Fountoukos, who used Vic Braden's educational materials as a resource. 

We are confident that players, parents, coaches, and general tennis enthusiasts will benefit by listening. Words starting with the letter P prevail. Stories of passion, persistency, perseverance, and precision are healthy medicine for those connected to a player with competitive goals.

The 156th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast is a milestone. We have presented a weekly podcast for three years.

We aim to help tennis, and on this podcast, Steve Smith and Ivan Ozerets ask for financial help.

GreatBase Tennis will continue to provide free educational tennis content. We would like those who find our content beneficial to consider contributing a minimum of $10 on a recurring monthly basis.

Besides starting a financial campaign with this week’s episode, Steve and Ivan discuss several relevant issues that would be of interest to those genuinely concerned about tennis' growth and welfare.

On the 158th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Dave Watts and Steve Smith exchange questions.

Dave and his family live in San Antonio. He is the head men's and women's tennis coach at Our Lady of the Lake University. He is also the head professional at the Blossom Athletic Center. To make an understatement, Dave Watts loves tennis.

Like always, there are a number of golden nuggets from this episode to add to one's tennis treasure chest. There are also a few laughs over a hypothetical dinner party to address ways to improve American tennis.

On the 159th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with Jensen Rideout. Jensen is a twenty-one-year-old tennis teacher from Salt Lake, Utah. 

Steve stated that posting Jensen's podcast during the US Open is appropriate and significant. Steve's point is simple, American tennis needs more upcoming young tennis teachers with Jensen's values, knowledge, and communication skills. US tennis needs young coaches teaching young students with integrity and competency.

As an added bonus, Jensen sings America's national anthem at the end of the podcast. Wow!

On the 160th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith chats with Dave Secker and Spencer Johnson.

Dave is the associate head women’s tennis coach at North Carolina State and Spencer is a UCLA-bound tennis player.

A highlight of the podcast is the advice the college coach gives the incoming freshman. Of course, there are other nuggets for tennis enthusiasts to add to their tennis treasure chest.

On the 161st episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith & Ivan Ozerets cover fundraising, their recent broadcasting of the US Open singles finals, simple stats pertaining to the singles finals, and a general review of ten chapters of core subjects for player and coach development.

Additionally, Steve makes brief comments about the type of daily text and e-mail messages he receives. One message for parents and coaches connected to little kid tennis, the trophy is enough. Point being, too much attention creates problems. Steve expounds upon other typical mistakes made when trying to take a tennis player down the road of becoming a competitive player. Ivan, also, shares key points that are worthy of being written down and shared.

On the 162nd episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with Dave Anderson. Coach Anderson has been associated with Steve since 1985. He is the director of player development and pro-education at the Brookhaven facility in Dallas, Texas, USA.

Dave has become a regular guest on our podcast because of his ability to bring clarity to key points pertaining to tennis education. The purpose of each podcast is to share information, ideas, and insights that will help everyone connect to the great game of tennis. 

Thanks for listening and thanks for telling tennis people about our free educational content (www.greatbasetennis.com).

On the 163rd episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith interviews Paul Wardlaw. Paul is a veteran college coach with over 35 years of diversified experience. His teams have won three national titles and produced numerous All-Americans.

The author (Tennis Pressure) is best known for his work called Wardlaw Directionals. His contributions to tennis as an educator have helped literally thousands of players, parents, teachers, and coaches.

By listening to our podcast, one will quickly realize that Coach Wardlaw is a deep thinker and a premier student with an all-encompassing base of knowledge for tennis that far exceeds just the concept of directionals. The wisdom he shares is golden; it should be written down and thoroughly studied.

On the 164th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and fellow teaching pro, Ethan Matthews, discuss one of the most revered coaches in all of sport. Ethan is a diehard Green Packer fan and Steve grew up in the '60s when Vince Lombardi's 'Be Brilliant with Basics' approach ruled professional football. 

Steve and Ethan review the why's and how's to Mr. Lombardi's success. Their conversation will appeal to anyone who thinks a teacher and a coach should go beyond their sport and address values and principles for building character and life skills.

Some say that the Lombardi way is wrong for today's society, others say what is wrong with society today is we have forgotten the Lombardi way. Listen in and decide for yourself.

On the 165th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast two senior citizens, Steve Smith and Mark Costello, have a conversation. They have known each other since 1964, so theoretically, they should have some wisdom.

When asked, the old tennis coach and the old hockey coach agreed that their chat might be best to hit the editing floor. However, the producer of the GreatBase Tennis podcast (Ivan Ozerets) insisted that worthwhile and meaningful points were made. 

Raven Klaasen returns as a guest on the 166th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast. Steve Smith congratulates the 40-year-old on his career and discusses the options he can explore now that he has retired from the tour.

By listening to Raven, one will discover that the role of a tennis educator is quite apparent. To make an understatement, tennis would greatly benefit from his input.

On the 167th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith interviews Alex Terzic. The native of Belgrade, Serbia talks about the conditions in his homeland during the Bosnian war; the place where his passion for tennis began. He and his family immigrated to Canada when he was a young teenager. He continued to play tennis on a limited basis. His priorities were learning a new language, completing school, and helping his family make a new way in a new country.

He completed a college degree in marketing and eventually started a career in sales, where he progressed from knocking on one door to the next. Steve and Alex talk about the importance of acquiring salesmanship skills.

Alex currently lives with his Russian wife, Inna, in Toronto. His desire to have a life in tennis never left him. He shares the steps he has taken to become a tennis teaching professional and the circumstances that led him to customize a five-week internship under Steve's tutelage. 

By listening one will be inspired and informed. 

On the 168th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Alex Terzic assist Dave Anderson. Anderson, a frequent guest on our podcast, presents a list of 10 do's and 10 don'ts for tennis parents.

David, a longtime associate of Steve Smith, has had a long and successful career developing tennis players. He and his staff have produced over 500 college players.

For an upcoming episode, David will prepare a list of do's and don'ts for tennis teachers and coaches.

We are confident that our listeners will find some golden nuggets for their tennis treasure chest in this episode. 

For the betterment of tennis, thank you.

On the 169th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Ivan Ozerets talk tennis with Nick Nemerof. He is the Director of Operations for Court 16, Inc. His organization offers all-encompassing instructional programs at multiple sites in New York City.

Nick loves tennis, tennis teaching, and studying the Big Three. 

If one wants to learn more about Roger Federer, Rafael, Nadal, and Novak Djokovic they need to listen to Nick. The man has done his homework and is a walking encyclopedia specializing in three of the greatest players in the history of our game. We are confident that our listeners will appreciate the information and insights that he shares. 

On the 170th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Alex Terzic talk tennis. Along with a few others, Steve and Alex recently spent a day at a Challenger event.

Like always, we hope our listeners will find at least a few golden nuggets for their tennis treasure chest by enduring our long format.

Please keep in mind that GreatBase Tennis Education (GBTE) has other platforms that provide free educational content. There are 15 years of daily GreatBase Tennis Facebook posts, 500+ Instagram videos, and five free courses on the GreatBase Tennis website (www.greatbasetennis.com).

On the 171st episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith talks tennis with Joel Drucker. To make an understatement, Steve's guest knows tennis backwards, forwards, and upside down. Joel is a walking tennis encyclopedia. 

Joel is an author, telecaster, producer, and consultant. As an award-winning writer, he has covered the full gamut. He knows the details of tennis instruction, instructors' past and present, players' past and present, tennis history, and on and on. His tennis well, like his passion for the sport, runs deep, very, very deep.

Anyone who loves to learn more about tennis will, no doubt, thoroughly enjoy listening to Joel.

On the 172nd episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with Mark Hamlin. The two are just a few months shy of having known each other for sixty years. They initially talk sports and life but then focus primarily on tennis.

Mark was a member of Vic Braden's staff at Coto de Caza in California and at multiple sites in Germany; where he has lived the last forty-two years. In addition to being a true Bradenite, he has a diversified background that ranges from club ownership to representing the Professional Tennis Registry in Europe.

By listening, one is assured a few laughs. Most importantly, the basics are reviewed.

On the 173rd episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with Sujay Lama. Steve's guest was formally educated in his native Nepal, India, and the US. His education in tennis is also very diverse and complete.

By listening one will learn of his father's passion for tennis and the influence of his siblings, especially his brother Raj.  Sujay's journey in tennis has taken him all over the world and one will find out that he is equally excited about running a tennis camp for kids as he was with traveling and coaching top players in the world. 

His career is filled with highlights, one being part of a championship culture at the University of Florida. The veteran coach, husband, and father is now leading the women's tennis team at Arkansas State. 

Sit back and enjoy listening to Sujay's story. One is sure to add golden nuggets to their tennis treasure chest. 

On the 174th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith, Ivan Ozerets, and Dave Anderson review a document pertaining to GBTE (GreatBase Tennis Education). Their discussion should help listeners obtain a more in-depth understanding of the comprehensive curriculum that has been assembled over decades.

Based on the contributions of our eight pillars and numerous others, we are confident that one would find the free educational content found on our website (www.greatbasetennis.com) to be rich in value.

Thank you for listening and thank you for your support.

On the 175th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Dave Anderson presents the Do's and Don'ts for Tennis Coaches. Anderson, who literally has developed hundreds of college tennis players, previously shared a similar list for tennis parents. In the future, he will present a list for players and administrators.

Thank you for listening to our tennis podcast. The goal is for our audience to add golden nuggets to their tennis treasure chest. Please note, one can find additional free educational content on our website (www.greatbasetennis.com).

On the 176th episode of GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith has a tennis conversation with Domantas Sadauskas. Domi recently joined Steve to be trained to teach and coach a couple of young tennis hopefuls that Steve and his associates have coached for the last two years.

To make an understatement, the Lithuanian is passionate about the game of tennis. Domi studied in Ireland, France, and the US and has worked in Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Senegal. Among the highlights of his young career is serving on the staff of the Rafael Tennis Academy.

A wide range of topics were discussed and listeners are assured to be enlightened. 

On the 177th episode of the GreatBase Tennis (GBTE) podcast, Steve Smith has a conversation with Tomas Placatka. Steve's guest was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia (1972), and grew up in nearby Kladno. 

Tomas's primary sport was ice hockey. He played at the professional level in his homeland and in Denmark. Like many of his fellow Czechs, tennis was his sport in the off-season. 

Since retiring from hockey, he has worked in the healthcare industry. Yet tennis is his true passion. Tomas has coached part-time for ten years and is a dedicated student of our educational content.

A number of topics were discussed; including thoughts on why the Czechs are so successful in tennis.