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The GreatBase Tennis Podcast

The GreatBase Tennis Podcast

Steve Smith and Associates 306 Episodes Oct 14, 2026

The GreatBase Tennis Podcast is a weekly audio show presented by Steve Smith and associates. It provides information, ideas, and insights to help those connected to the game of tennis.

Episodes

Hall of Fame Parents w/ Dominic Moore
Hall of Fame Parents w/ Dominic Moore Oct 14, 2026 3632 Steve Smith and Richard Hernandez welcome former NHL player Dominic Moore to episode 322 of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast for a deep conversation about family, resilience, and the path that took three brothers from a Toronto cul-de-sac to Harvard. Dominic traces his hockey and tennis upbringing alongside brothers Mark and Steve, the adversity his family has weathered, and the role his parents’ sacr
Grips, Pros, and Physics
Grips, Pros, and Physics Oct 7, 2026 6190 Steve Smith, Dave Anderson, and Pol O'Callaghan welcome content creator and teaching pro Jeff Lewis to the latest episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast for a deep dive into grips and stroke production across the history of pro tennis. The group works through the evolution of forehand grips from Eastern to extreme Western, naming benchmark players for each style, from Don Budge and Welby Van
Over 500 Hours and Counting
Over 500 Hours and Counting Sep 30, 2026 3981 Steve Smith, Dave Anderson, and Pol O'Callaghan welcome longtime listener Simon Schlesinger, a teaching pro from Toronto who caught up on nearly 300 episodes of the podcast, to hear his story of falling in and out of love with tennis before finding his way back into coaching. Simon traces his path from childhood tennis in Ottawa, through a detour into arts and creative writing in Montreal, to
Federer's List
Federer's List Sep 23, 2026 4755 Steve Smith, Dave Anderson, and Pol O'Callaghan dedicate episode 319 of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast to a deep dive into Roger Federer's meticulous approach to building his game, breaking down the list of over forty shots he set out to master and what that "begin with the end in mind" mentality means for junior development today.The group closes with a broader discussion on why
US Open Review 2026
US Open Review 2026 Sep 16, 2026 5252 Steve Smith, Dave Anderson, and Pol O'Callaghan dedicate episode 318 of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast to a wide-ranging review of the U.S. Open, opening with Roger Federer's emotional Hall of Fame ceremony and moving into a deep discussion on the brutal, unforgiving nature of professional tennis. Drawing on Matt Futterman's book "Tennis is the Cruelest Game," the group brea
The Wolf in Winter Review
The Wolf in Winter Review Sep 9, 2026 3426 Steve Smith and Dave Anderson dedicate episode 317 of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast to a discussion of the new Novak Djokovic documentary, Wolf in Winter, breaking down its themes of sacrifice, discipline, and the unusual path that shaped one of the greatest careers in tennis history. The two dig into Djokovic's childhood in war-torn Yugoslavia, his early coaching influences, and the family dy
Low Performance Coach
Low Performance Coach Sep 2, 2026 5637 Steve Smith and Dave Anderson welcome Cris Valverde, a longtime pro from Portland, Oregon, back to the GreatBase Tennis Podcast to talk about his son taking a gap year at the Ave Maria program before college. The conversation opens light, touching on teaching your own spouse and staying humble in the profession, before moving into a broader discussion on mentorship, onboarding new coaches, and the
The Three Legged Stool
The Three Legged Stool Aug 26, 2026 4159 Steve Smith and Dave Anderson are joined by Pol O'Callaghan for episode 315 of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, kicking off with news of the USTA's new AI-powered coaching platform co-founded by Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf. The three dig into what AI can and cannot do for player development, making the case that no amount of technology can replace thousands of hours of hands-on coaching an
Records, Rivalries and Respect
Records, Rivalries and Respect Aug 19, 2026 5946 Steve Smith and Dave Anderson dedicate the latest episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast to the Chrissie and Martina documentary, taking listeners on a deep and detailed walk through the records, rivalries, and history behind two of the greatest careers in tennis. Steve runs through an exhaustive list of Chris Evert's win loss records against nearly every rival of her era, while both hosts r
Fear of Losing Is the Enemy
Fear of Losing Is the Enemy Aug 12, 2026 6353 Steve Smith welcomes Pol Otin O'Callaghan back to the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, a highly ranked Spanish junior and former Campbell University standout who holds a master's in Data Analytics and will begin his first season as Head Coach of Ave Maria's Men's and Women's Tennis Teams for 2026-27. Pol will be mentored by Steve, who is serving the Ave Maria Athletic Department
The Wall Was My Babysitter
The Wall Was My Babysitter Aug 5, 2026 6223 Steve Smith and Dave Anderson welcome Egor Shestakov to the latest episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, a 24-year-old teaching pro originally from Kaliningrad, Russia, now based in Dallas and coaching on staff at Brookhaven Tennis Academy. Egor shares his journey from hitting balls on hardwood and carpet courts as a kid, to becoming team captain at the University of Texas at Tyler, to working
Arvind Aravindhan: A Life in Tennis
Arvind Aravindhan: A Life in Tennis Jul 29, 2026 7370 Steve Smith and Dave Anderson welcome Arvind Aravindhan to the latest episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, a high performance coach, CEO of Gulph Mills Tennis Club, and Executive Director of the Julian Krinsky School of Tennis. Arvind brings a remarkable resume to the conversation, having competed as the number two junior in India and a top 75 ITF junior, coached at all four majors, and served

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