The Functional Tennis Podcast

37:40

How Many Hours Should Junior Tennis Players Train?...

The Functional Tennis Podcast ·

2026/10/12

How much time should your child spend on court and when does more practice stop helping?Coach Piotr Sierzputowski returns to the Functional Tennis Podcast to discuss one of the questions I hear most often from parents. Focusing on players aged 16–18, we explore his approach to training hours, why the quality of each session matters, and why adding more practice isn’t always the answer.We chat about group versus individual training, balancing tennis with fitness and school, and recognising when a

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32:50

Can the Pure Aero Keep Its Crown? Racket Talk with...

The Functional Tennis Podcast ·

2026/10/07

Jonas Eriksson, aka Tennisnerd, is back for our annual racket catch-up on the Functional Tennis Podcast.We discuss why the new Babolat Pure Aero has divided opinion, why players are stocking up on the 2023 version, and whether Wilson can take the crown in our Racket of the Year vote.We also get into the latest from Head, Dunlop and Tecnifibre, why some pros switch back to their old rackets, and the balance between power, spin, control and comfort. Plus, Jonas talks about his Toroline string

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28:47

25 Years of the HEAD iPrestige: Bringing a Classic...

The Functional Tennis Podcast ·

2026/09/22

What makes the HEAD Prestige so special, and where does it fit in today’s game?I am joined by Max Defregger, HEAD’s Global Business Unit Manager for Tennis Rackets, Bags and Accessories, to celebrate 25 years of the iPrestige and explore the two rackets marking the occasion: the iPrestige MP 2.0 and the Prestige Limited.Max takes us behind the scenes of bringing a classic back, explaining what HEAD wanted to preserve from the original and how the more forgiving Prestige Limited offers a modern

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31:22

Ryan Peniston: Leaving His Family at 13 to Pursue a...

The Functional Tennis Podcast ·

2026/08/05

Ryan Peniston left his family at just 13 years old to move to France and pursue his dream of becoming a professional tennis player. After five years there, he moved to the United States to play college tennis at the University of Memphis spending nine formative years away from home.In this episode, Ryan reflects on the sacrifices involved and whether he would make the same decision again. He also discusses reaching a career-high ranking of world No. 123, defeating Casper Ruud at Queen’s, playing at

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37:44

Is College Tennis In Trouble? with ITA CEO Dave Mullins

The Functional Tennis Podcast ·

2026/05/26

College tennis has never been stronger on court… but behind the scenes, major changes are happening.In this episode, I’m joined by ITA CEO Dave Mullins to break down what’s really going on in US college tennis right now.We discuss NIL deals, players getting paid, why some universities are cutting tennis programmes, and whether the current system is sustainable long term.We also chat about:Why more international players are choosing the college pathwayHow college tennis is producing stronger ATP and

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10:22

Luciano Darderi on Reaching the ATP Top 20

The Functional Tennis Podcast ·

2026/05/13

While at the Italian Open in Rome with ASICS, I got the chance to sit down with Luciano Darderi for this mini episode of the Functional Tennis Podcast.Luciano talks about growing up between Argentina and Italy, being coached by his dad, and why his family sacrificed so much to help him pursue professional tennis. He also shares what changed as he climbed the rankings, what separates the very best players from the rest, and what it actually feels like practising and competing against players like

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14:05

“I Wasn’t a Great Junior” ATP no.73 Mattia Bellucci

The Functional Tennis Podcast ·

2026/05/11

In this short episode from the Italian Open in Rome, I sit down with Mattia Bellucci for a quick chat about his journey from an average junior career to breaking into the ATP Top 100.Mattia talks about growing up in Italy, being coached by his dad, why he decided to stop focusing on juniors and jump into Futures events early, and what changed once he started competing at ATP level. He also shares what it feels like playing in Rome in front of the Italian crowd and his move to becoming an official

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25:47

What It Takes at U12 Level Now - Sebastian Lavie at...

The Functional Tennis Podcast ·

2026/05/01

What does it actually take to compete at the top level in under-12 tennis today?In this episode, I’m at the IMG Future Stars in Greece, where some of the best young players in the world come together to compete, learn, and experience life at a high-performance event.I sit down with Sebastian Lavie to get his perspective as a coach on what’s changed over the last few years, what stands out at this level now, and what players really need if they want to progress.We talk about the level of the players,

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02:49

I Tried Something New… (My First YouTube Video Is Live)

The Functional Tennis Podcast ·

2026/04/15

I tried something new.For a long time, I’ve talked about starting a YouTube channel where I get back on court and test myself against players better than me. The reality is, I never really had the time to do it properly.Now I’ve finally started.In this first video, I take on one of Ireland’s best players, Sinead Lohan, to see how I stack up and to explore the level difference.This is the first of many, and I’m still figuring out the format, so I’d really appreciate your feedback.You can watch the

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50:58

Does the Saber Improve Your Tennis? Here’s What the...

The Functional Tennis Podcast ·

2026/03/27

Overthepast12months,I’vebeenworkingwithbiomechanicsresearcherDrNickBusuttiltobetterunderstandonesimplequestion…DoestheFunctionalTennisSaberactuallyimproveyourgame?Inthisepisode,wediveintothefindingsfromthatresearchandwhatreallyhappenswhenplayerstrainwithaconstraintracket.WediscusshowtheSaberinfluencesstrokemechanics,whyplayersmayinitiallyfeellessaccurate,andhowthat“usefulstruggle”canactuallyhelpbuildbettertiming,contactawarenessandmoreconsistentstrokesovertime.NickalsoexplainswhytoolsliketheSabercanp

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37:15

Balancing Singles Ambition and Doubles Success with...

The Functional Tennis Podcast ·

2026/03/10

Marc Polmans is now ranked inside the top 60 in doubles after making the Australian Open doubles final but he still sees himself as a singles player.In this episode, we talk about the reality of balancing singles ambition with doubles opportunity, and how one Grand Slam run can shift your season financially, mentally, and strategically.Marc shares:From not being in the draw to Aussie Open finalistThe difference between Futures and Challenger levelWhy ranking points at Slams change everythingHis

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38:43

Why 55% of the Top 100 Use Luxilon with Justin Van...

The Functional Tennis Podcast ·

2026/02/25

Justin Van Malderen from Luxilon is back on the Functional Tennis Podcast.At the 2025 US Open, 55% of the Top 100 were using Luxilon strings. In this episode, we discuss why.We talk about falling string tensions on tour, how modern powerful rackets are changing string demands, and why today’s aggressive baseline game requires more durability and control than ever.We also dive into why I chose Luxilon Element for the FT99 racket, how it compares to 4G and Alu Power, and who it’s best suited

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30:28

The new ASICS Solution Speed FF4 with Yuhi Tanigaki

The Functional Tennis Podcast ·

2026/02/05

In this episode of the Functional Tennis Podcast, I’m joined by Yuhi Tanigaki, Product Manager for Tennis Footwear at ASICS, to go behind the scenes of the new Solution Speed FF4.Yuhi plays a central role in shaping ASICS tennis shoes, working closely with designers, researchers, professional athletes, and recreational players to turn feedback into real on court performance.We cover what actually goes into building a modern tennis shoe and how small changes can make a big difference.In this episode,

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11:11

Quick Update from Functional Tennis

The Functional Tennis Podcast ·

2026/02/03

A brief catchup with whats been going on at Functional TennisPodcast breakNew Saber EditionsThe FT99New 2027 productsTariff complicationsPodcast guests

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32:13

Wilson's "Pure Aero" - Racket catchup with The...

The Functional Tennis Podcast ·

2025/10/18

This week on the Functional Tennis Podcast, Fabio chats with Jonas Eriksson, better known as Tennis Nerd, the go-to voice in the tennis world for rackets.With the Functional Tennis Racket of the Year competition underway, Fabio and Jonas break down the most talked-about rackets of 2025, what to expect from the 2026 launches, and why so many pros are playing with blacked-out frames. They also dive into Wilson’s upcoming Pure Aero-style spin racket, shifts in pro player trends, and what makes the

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28:33

Jesper De Jong's linear progression continues

The Functional Tennis Podcast ·

2025/09/30

This week I’m joined once again by Dutch ATP player Jesper de Jong, who has continued his steady rise on the professional circuit.Since our last chat, Jesper has broken into the top 100, reached his first ATP final at the Swedish Open, and played a key role for the Netherlands in Davis Cup. We talk about what feels different now that he’s inside the top 100, the lessons he’s learned from the tour grind, and how he balances results with enjoying the process. Jesper also shares insights from training

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37:11

“Djokovic Match Showed Me the Level” Jaime Faria

The Functional Tennis Podcast ·

2025/09/16

This week on the Functional Tennis Podcast I’m joined once again by Portuguese player Jaime Faria, who continues to make strides on the ATP Tour.Since our last chat, Jaime has broken into the top 100, won two Challenger titles, and battled through Grand Slam qualifying winning 11 of his last 12 matches and even sneaking into the US Open as a lucky loser. One of the standout moments of his year was facing Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open, an experience that gave him a clear view of what it takes

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50:14

“Every Tennis Parent’s Journey Is Different” with...

The Functional Tennis Podcast ·

2025/09/03

This week on the Functional Tennis Podcast, I’m joined once again by Garry Cahill, one of Ireland’s most respected coaches, former Davis Cup captain, and Performance Director at Tennis Ireland.In this episode, Garry dives into the realities of tennis parenting and why every family’s journey is unique. He explains why no two kids are the same, why parents shouldn’t try to copy someone else’s pathway, and how circumstances from finances to geography to coaching support, make every story different.We

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56:50

Building People, Not Just Players. John Williams,...

The Functional Tennis Podcast ·

2025/08/12

This week on the Functional Tennis Podcast I’m joined by John Williams, coach and mentor to world number 1 doubles player Taylor Townsend.John’s approach to coaching is anything but conventional. He doesn’t just build tennis players, he builds characters. In this chat we talk about the characteristics he looks for in players, how his outside-the-box thinking shapes their development, and why mindset and life skills are just as important as technique.Key Topics🎾 The traits that separate good players

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33:27

Going All In Changed Everything for Wheelchair Champ...

The Functional Tennis Podcast ·

2025/07/28

In this episode, I chat with 17-year-old American wheelchair tennis player Charlie Cooper, a rising star who’s already claimed 2 junior wheelchair singles Grand Slam titles.Born with spina bifida, Charlie’s journey into tennis started with local clinics and has now taken him to the top levels of junior competition. He shares how making the decision to go full-time in 2023 completely changed his development, both mentally and physically.We talk about the improvements he’s seen since going all in, the

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