The GreatBase Tennis Podcast
The GreatBase Tennis Podcast is a weekly audio show presented by Steve Smith and associates. Information, ideas, and insights are provided to help those connected to the game of tennis.
Episodes
286 episodes
Tennis Culture: Europe vs America
Coach Florian Kuehne joins Steve Smith and Dave Anderson to share his tennis journey. From starting at seven and competing in Tennis Europe and German club leagues, to earning his German C and B licenses by 19 (then the youngest German coach to...
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1:44:31
How Points Are Built
Steve Smith and Dave Anderson preview the Australian Open semifinals through a GreatBase lens, stressing that skill must come before strategy. They revisit court geometry, targets, and why understanding space, margins, and shot production is es...
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1:44:26
Team Luke: Lessons That Last
Former pro doubles standout and longtime Texas Tech head coach Tim Siegel joins Steve Smith and Dave Anderson to trace his tennis path from junior doubles titles in Louisiana to competing at the majors, then into college coaching, then 23 years...
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58:50
Mentors, Moments, and Memories
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...
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1:40:15
What Juniors Need Most
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 wi...
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1:15:16
Confidence Doesn't Equal Competence
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 ...
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1:04:06
Begin With the End in Mind
As the new year approaches, Steve Smith and co-host Dave Anderson step back and re-center on the fundamentals that drive long-term development in tennis and in life: being proactive, prioritizing what matters, and committing to steady improveme...
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1:03:48
Golden Growth Recap
In this Christmas Day episode of the Great Base Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith is joined by Dave Anderson and Ilya Samyanov for a wide-ranging conversation that blends reflection, teaching philosophy, and community. The group opens by honoring the...
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53:24
How Spain Builds Players
Steve Smith and Dave Anderson welcome Coach Jaime Pulgar Garcia, new to the Brookhaven staff and already making a major cultural impact. Jaime shares his tennis origin story from Madrid, Spain, his late start at age 10, and the twin-track journ...
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1:17:03
How Analytics Shape Tennis
In this episode of the Great Base Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith welcomes USTA performance analytics expert Mat Cloer and coach Dave Anderson for a deep dive into the USTA’s new coaching initiative and its effort to strengthen education and certif...
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59:16
Lessons from Steve Denton
In this episode of the Great Base Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and co-host Dave Anderson sit down with Texas A&M head coach and former world No. 11, Steve Denton. Denton opens with the incredible story of the Shanghai Masters, how former Agg...
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1:16:03
Training a Tennis Mind
In this episode, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson sit down with Tim Ross, who spent over a decade at Ernst & Young before making a full-time leap into tennis coaching. Tim shares his early years at the Julian Krinsky School of Tennis, how ment...
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1:07:33
Blueprints for Smarter Tennis
In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson highlight the final two pillars of the GreatBase curriculum: Bill Jacobson, the pioneer of CompuTennis and modern match charting, and Vic Braden, whose scientific ap...
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12:43
Raising the Bar in Tennis Coaching
In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson continue their series on the eight pillars of the GreatBase curriculum, focusing on two coaching icons, Peter Burwash and Harry Hopman. They explore how Burwash set ...
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12:18
Carrying the Torch
In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson discuss two of the most influential minds behind the GreatBase philosophy: Dr. Jim Leohr and Coach Jim Verdieck. Through stories, lessons, and personal experiences, ...
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13:31
Learning from the Legends
In this episode, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson discuss the upcoming GreatBase Tennis workshop at Ave Maria University (Dec 18–20). They reflect on the enduring coaching philosophies of two key pillars of their curriculum: Welby Van Horn and Den...
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12:05
Tennis' Golden Growth Opportunity
In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson announce a three-day workshop set for December at Ave Maria University. Open to all, the event aims to spotlight tennis's "golden growth opportunity" by focusing on ...
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10:01
Sunrise to Sunset
Steve Smith and Dave Anderson introduce a “Sunrise to Sunset” tennis fundraiser planned for Ave Maria University. Inspired by a past event in Texas, the goal is to raise support for junior players through a fun, community-driven day of tennis.<...
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11:30
Max Fomine: Coaching That Lasts
In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith is joined by co-host Dave Anderson, Tim Ross, and special guest Max Fomine. Max is a Moldovan-born coach whose path to tennis is as unique as it is inspiring.Max shares his fam...
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43:27
The Ave Maria Tennis Project
In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith is joined by Dave Anderson and Ryan Fleming for a reflective and forward-looking conversation about the launch of a new tennis program at Ave Maria University in Southwest Florida. St...
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56:17
From The Wall To Wintergreen
In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith sits down with longtime friend and coach Ryan Fleming for a reflective and practical conversation about tennis, coaching, and leadership. Fleming shares his journey from hitting on a ...
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1:11:13
Behind The Run: Cash & Tracy
In this episode of the Great Base Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith is joined by Dave Anderson, Andy Fitzell, and Tim Ross for a wide-ranging discussion centered on doubles development and the 2025 US Open. The team reflects on the standout performan...
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1:12:15
US Open Recap
In this episode of the Great Base Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson explore lessons from the 2025 US Open, breaking down key storylines from Carlos Alcaraz’s win over Jannik Sinner to Amanda Anisimova’s stunning turnaround. They ref...
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1:01:04