Anger, tears, frustration - all junior players have experienced this at some point on a tennis court - but these are not signs of weakness.

In this powerful episode, leading sports Psychologist Dr. Callum Gowling explains how emotion can fuel performance when it’s understood, not punished.

With decades of experience working with elite players and coaches, Dr. Gowling breaks down the real challenges tennis players face, from pressure and confidence to stress and relationships, and how honest conversations are the key to unlocking both performance and wellbeing.

This is a must-listen episode for players looking to sharpen their mindset, parents who want to better support their children, and coaches aiming to provide more than just technical guidance.

Episode Highlights:-

• How to build self-awareness and face mental challenges
• Why early mental development for players is as important as physical development
• The vital role of parents in an athlete’s journey
• Mindset strategies to handle stress, pressure, and setbacks
• Why maintaining a love for the sport matters most
• How acceptance can reduce stress sensitivity
• The never-ending journey of performance, growth, and perspective
• Why relationships between players, coaches, and parents are key

Watch the full conversation now on our CTC YouTube channel, and follow us on Instagram @ctc.podcast for the latest news and clips.

Don´t miss an episode! Sign up to our email list to get exclusive updates, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes insights delivered straight to your inbox.

About Dr Callum Gowling

Dr Callum Gowling is the founder of Liquid Sports Psychology which specialises in helping elite junior athletes thrive. Their unique approach, grounded in doctoral research, combines psychology with strong collaboration between players, parents, and coaches. The focus? Building resilience, self-awareness, and a love for the sport all while preparing juniors for the demands of high-level performance.

Listen to our very special US Open Review episode brought to you by Novellus, as we are joined by the 2025 Women’s Doubles Champions Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe!

The pair who are coached by CTC Host Dan Kiernan, share their journey to their second Grand Slam title, and answer questions from our panellists and listeners.

Our panel also look back on the highs and lows of what was a very eventful 3 weeks at Flushing Meadows, which saw both Carlos Alcaraz & Aryna Sabalenka crowned Champions for the second time.

Joining Dan on our Grand Slam panel are:-

• Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Doubles Champion, Freddie Nielsen
• Sports broadcaster and former CNN anchor Candy Reid
• GB Coach Calvin Betton who is currently working with Henry Patten & Harri Heliövaara.

• Erin and Gaby tell us how they celebrated their win in New York
• How they got through a tough QF match which saw them fight back from 6-0 2-1 down.
• Mixed doubles should be a merit-based entry system to ensure fairness.
• Who can possibly compete with Alcaraz and Sinner?
• The importance of mental resilience in overcoming challenges during tournaments.
• What happened to Medvedev, Tsitsipas and Zverev.
• Anisimova's emotional response to losing the final highlights the pressure of major tournaments.
• Coco Gauff's coaching changes may have added unnecessary stress before the US Open.

Plus many anecdotes from Gaby, Erin and the panel from throughout the fortnight! Enjoy!

Head to our CTC YouTube channel to watch the episode and follow us on Instagram @ctc.podcast for all the latest news and clips from the show!

A fortnight on from the much anticipated new mixed doubles format at the US Open, Dan chats to Andrea Vavassori on his win with fellow Italian, Sara Errani

As the only specialist doubles team invited to enter, they saw off some of the top singles tennis players in the world to successfully defend their US Open Mixed Doubles title.

In this live YouTube episode, Dan is joined by Vavassori to talk about the excitement surrounding the event, the energy from the crowds and why winning the event in New York was so important for the doubles game.

They also discuss the importance of social media in promoting doubles, and Andrea´s journey from growing up in Turin to a career high doubles ranking of 6 in the world.

He also answers questions from CTC listeners, including what he thinks are the key attributes to be a good doubles partner.

This is a great listen!

Episode Highlights:-

• They discuss the challenges of gaining respect for doubles players, and the need for stronger partnerships amongst players.
• The potential to create stars in doubles tennis and why building a brand is essential.
• Andrea shares insights on his journey as a player, and the dynamics of playing with Sara Errani.
• Why he decided to specialise in doubles when he was top 130 in the world in singles.
• How beneficial the Italian tennis community is by being supportive and close-knit.
• Andrea gives his advice for tennis players starting out on the Futures tour.

Head to our CTC YouTube channel to watch the live episode with Andrea.

You can also follow us here: Instagram | Tiktok | X