Matt Davis joins Steve Smith and Dave Anderson to discuss his journey from Palmyra, New York, to becoming Director of Rackets at Park Ridge Country Club in the Chicago area. He reflects on early technical training at Midtown Tennis in Rochester, his education at Ferris State in Professional Tennis Management, and the foundation those experiences provided.

The later part of the episode turns into a wide-ranging walk through tennis history, with rapid-fire stories and name drops from decades in the game. Coaches, administrators, players, and mentors are all referenced as the conversation highlights the relationships, lessons, and shared experiences that shape long careers in tennis.

Ashley Hobson joins Steve Smith and Dave Anderson to discuss coach mentorship, player development, and building athletes from the inside out. Hobson shares his path from South Africa and Lesotho into elite coaching, including formative years with Dennis Van der Meer and a decade with Peter Burwash, experiences that shaped his progression-based approach and emphasis on professionalism.

Episode 283 covers what has changed in junior tennis, including the rise of early “teams” around young players, the value of long-term coach player relationships, and why post-match evaluation and character-driven habits matter as much as technique. Listeners should also check out Hobson’s coaching resources and, separately, Robert Davis’s book Elements of Coaching Professional Tennis.

Robert Davis joins Steve Smith, Dave Anderson, and Ilja Semjonovs for a wide-ranging conversation on what pro-level coaching actually requires. With over 30 years on the ATP Tour and experience as a technical director and national coach across multiple federations, Davis brings a global perspective shaped by high-performance environments and his work as editor-in-chief of ELITE Tennis Journal.

The discussion examines coaching as a long-term responsibility, the difference between confidence and competence, and why doubles remains essential to complete player development. Episode 282 also breaks down professional routines such as planning, recovery, nutrition, and deliberate training, and how these habits separate coaches and players who continue to grow from those who stagnate.

Listeners are encouraged to check out Robert Davis’s book Elements of Coaching Professional Tennis for a deeper dive into the principles discussed in this episode.