Tennis Insider Club with Caro Garcia

Gavin MacMillan spent years building athletes nobody expected to make it — boxers, hockey players, tennis pros. Then Aryna Sabalenka hired him, and the tennis world started paying attention.In this episode, Gavin breaks down the serve transformation that took Sabalenka from 6 double faults in a single final to 6 double faults across an entire tournament. He explains why 99% of strength coaches in tennis are operating on the wrong principles — and why bigger, faster, stronger is the biggest lie in the sport.He's now working with Coco Gauff. And he has thoughts.🎾 WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE→ Why conventional weight training is actively hurting tennis players→ The Federer "toothpick" principle: how elasticity beats muscle→ Sabalenka's serve rebuild — the real story, step by step→ What Gavin is working on with Coco Gauff right now→ Why you can't think your way through a serve under pressure→ The coaching lie: "I played it, so I can teach it"→ The broken ATP/WTA system — and why nobody's fixing it→ Caro Garcia on what she'd change about her career if she started over→ Why tennis is the single hardest sport in the world to succeed in professionally━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━⏱ CHAPTERS01:00 Gavin's background — 7 sports, hockey, losing his mom at 1502:00 Narcissistic tennis parents & the crystal ball problem03:30 Why tennis is the hardest sport in the world to succeed in professionally06:00 Tennis vs the fight business — the only comparable mental challenge07:30 Inside boxing: weight cuts, Cotto vs Canelo, and the A-side10:30 Why conventional weight training is destroying tennis players12:00 Force vs power — the Soviet training science nobody in tennis is using13:00 Federer's toothpick body vs Nadal — the real difference explained15:00 The door analogy — why bigger muscles increase injury risk18:00 Why there's almost no science in tennis coaching20:00 Gavin's live analysis of Caro Garcia's game22:00 Caro's shoulder injury & the 22,000 serves per year problem25:00 The insane tennis calendar — no other professional sport does this28:00 Instagram fitness coaches on tour & the science nobody uses29:00 Technical flaws in the modern game — you cannot hide them anymore32:00 Federer's on-the-run forehand & why Sampras would dominate today35:00 The skills gap — why top players still can't execute the basics37:00 Gavin joins Coco Gauff's team — his exact role39:00 How long does it really take to change technique on a pro player?42:00 Coco's serve numbers — the before and after44:00 The Sabalenka serve transformation — the full story47:00 The reps math — why "5-minute serve fixes" are for functional morons48:00 What Freddie Roach taught Gavin about great coaching51:00 One thing in the corner — simplicity under extreme pressure56:00 The 70% first serve rule that made Sabalenka unbeatable1:00:00 Advice to young players: what actually builds a career1:01:00 The 85% rule — why going 100% loses Grand Slams1:07:00 Women's tennis marketing — why the tour is failing its own players1:11:00 Identity, mental health & living and dying with every point1:18:00 The camera on Sabalenka after a loss — the tour's exploitation problem1:22:00 Federer's parents — what Gavin learned meeting them at the Australian Open1:24:00 Coco Gauff at 21 — changing her serve the week before the US Open1:29:00 Caro: "I would have had a better team" — what she'd change about her career1:31:00 Every athlete falls to their level of preparation — not one rises above it1:34:00 George St-Pierre, stars aligning, and the luck factor in elite sport1:37:00 The unlicensed conditioning industry — and why it's getting players hurt1:40:00 Injury prevention: the right evaluation every player should have but doesn't1:42:00 The serve biomechanics breakdown — why Rafter's motion damaged him and Federer's didn't🎾 TENNIS INSIDER CLUBThe inside story of professional tennis — hosted by Caroline Garcia (former World No. 4, 2022 WTA Finals Champion) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arthur Rinderknech, a French pro who went to Texas A&M and climbed into the ATP Top 30, shares his non-traditional rise. He talks about quitting at 18 to study, the French vs American sporting mindsets, nearly leaving tennis, calling Lucas Pouille for help, learning to train less and win more, and what late-career success feels like at 29.

Judy Murray, Scottish coach and mother of Andy and Jamie Murray, shares her old-school, practical approach to developing players. She talks about low-budget creativity, avoiding burnout, when to be parent not coach, teaching independence, and why US college tennis can be a game-changer. Short, frank stories and playful solutions make the conversation fun and unpretentious.

Eugenie Bouchard, Canadian pro who made the 2014 Wimbledon final and reached the top 10, shares her story of sudden fame and its costs. She talks about the pressure of rapid success and why she avoided discussing mental health. Social media double standards, the pain of the Wimbledon final, concussion recovery, and how therapy helped round out the conversation.

Jim Courier, former world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion, reflects on rising fast through the 1990s and fierce rivalries with Agassi and Sampras. He talks about the locker-room reality of pro life, dealing with fame and pressure at the top, why he retired young, and how he found balance in broadcasting, events and family after tennis.

Jason Stacy, a performance coach and sports psychologist who guides Aryna Sabalenka’s team, shares behind-the-scenes stories. He explains fixing a serve yips crisis, the hard “stop or change” choice that reset a career, and how breathwork and energy management calm players between points. He also explores building resilient team cultures and why purpose keeps champions going.

Iga Świątek, a multiple Grand Slam champion from Poland known for her strategic gameplay, shares her journey from high school to tennis stardom. She reveals the pressures of sudden fame and the 'imposter syndrome' she faced early in her career. Iga recounts her unexpected triumph at Roland Garros 2020, stressing the role of fewer fans in helping her focus. She opens up about her long-term work with a psychologist and how managing expectations has shaped her mindset. Iga encourages embracing personal growth and emphasizes team support.

Lorenzo Musetti, a rising Italian tennis star known for his stunning one-handed backhand, opens up about the fierce competition alongside Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. He discusses the vital role of consistency in reaching the top 10 and how fatherhood has reshaped his approach to the game. Musetti reflects on his Olympic experience, the pressure of media expectations, and the unique challenges of being labeled 'Next Gen'. He emphasizes balancing creativity with strategic consistency and credits his supportive coach and family for his growth.

What truly makes a coach great? Legendary coach Darren Cahill reveals that it's about teaching players to think independently, not simply giving answers. He emphasizes the importance of communication, trust, and knowing when it's time for a new voice. Cahill shares insights on developing tactical intelligence and how empathy plays a crucial role in coaching, especially with female athletes. Ultimately, great coaches empower players for independence, illustrating that these lessons extend beyond just tennis.

She nearly quit tennis last year.Seven surgeries, constant setbacks, and a body few doctors understood.Today, Francesca Jones reveals how she fought through doubt, pain, and pressure to break into the Top 100 — and what she’s learned along the way.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS / CHAPTERS00:00 – “This year was supposed to be my last…” Career crossroads, feeling stuck, and finding unexpected freedom.03:10 – Moving to Spain alone at 10 to chase a dream Early sacrifices, school-life balance, and building identity away from tennis.06:20 – Toxic coaches, abuse of power & lack of safeguarding in tennis Francesca opens up about dangerous dynamics young players face. Episode Francesca Jones12:40 – Becoming the CEO of her own career at 16 Learning decision-making, emotional intelligence, and firing the wrong people.21:00 – Living with a rare syndrome & surgeries no doctor understood How unique biomechanics shaped her challenges and mindset.27:00 – The brutal truth: she had to stop tennis to rebuild her body Three-month physical reset, strength work, and realizing the sport changed.31:30 – “I’ll die on the court if I have to” — her mentality explained Obsession, overtraining, collapsing in matches, and learning limits.44:00 – The moment she almost quit tennis forever Doubt, burnout, Patagonia reflections, and the conversation that saved her.52:00 – Breaking Top 100 & what’s next Long-term goals, redefining success, and chasing stability for the first time.If you enjoyed this conversation, hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and drop a comment telling us your favorite insight from Francesca.Your support helps us bring more raw, honest stories from the world’s best players.This episode is brought to you by Hologic, a global leader in women’s health — dedicated to early detection, innovation, and helping women live healthier, longer lives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.