Control the Controllables

What really happens behind the scenes at the world's biggest tennis tournaments?
This week on Control the Controllables, Dan Kiernan is joined by one of the most respected figures in tennis officiating, WTA Supervisor Donna Kelso.
Donna has been a WTA and Grand Slam Supervisor since 1998, having previously been one of only two female Gold Badge chair umpires in the world.
Her extraordinary career has taken her from umpiring junior matches in Australia to sitting in the chair for Grand Slam finals, an Olympic gold medal match and one of the most emotional moments in tennis history, Monica Seles' return to competition following her stabbing in 1993.
Donna shares incredible stories from her decades in the sport, including the challenges she faced as a young female official, the toughest match of her career and how she developed the calmness, fairness and respect that have made her such a popular figure on tour.
We also gets a rare look behind the scenes of the WTA, discussing how tournament schedules are decided, and the delicate balance between looking after players and delivering entertainment for fans.
In this episode, we discuss:
How winning a colouring competition led to an extraordinary career in tennis.
Umpiring Monica Seles' emotional comeback and some of the biggest matches in tennis history.
Breaking barriers as one of the world's first female Gold Badge chair umpires.
The umpiring experience that nearly ended Donna's career.
Donna's three Cs - Communication, Consistency and Common Sense, and why they matter far beyond tennis.
What a WTA Supervisor actually does and how tournament schedules are influenced by players, broadcasters and organisers.
The challenges of late-night matches and whether tennis needs to rethink its scheduling.
Why treating every player with the same respect matters.
The impact of electronic line calling and technology on the future of tennis officiating.

This episode is a must-listen for players, coaches, parents and tennis fans who want to understand what really goes on beyond the court.
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This CTC Short is brought to you live, from a beautiful clay court at SotoTennis Academy, on a lovely, sunny day in Spain. Dan has just arrived back, from a very successful trip in China, where he has been supporting Gaby Dabrowski throughout her back to back title victories in Beijing and Wuhan, alongside Luisa Stefani!
In this episode, Dan takes us through a roundup of the latest stories from across the tennis world, and also lets us know which famous faces have been interacting with our podcast on social media!
Key stories discussed:
Maja Chwalinska wins her first career title in Wuhan
David Goffin retires ❤️
Bianca Andreescu wins biggest title of her career since the 2019 US Open
Davidovich Fokina wins first masters 1000 title in Shanghai
Gaby Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani win back to back WTA 1000s in China
Jodar penalised for unsportsmanlike conduct
Sonay Kartal’s fantastic run in Wuhan

Links Mentioned in this Episode:
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Check out Tennis Athlete Here: https://www.sototennis.com/tennisathlete
Email us: ctc.podcast@sototennis.com
Mentioned in this episode:
Train Smarter Anywhere: Strength & Conditioning for Tennis Players On the Go 🎾
For players who don’t always have access to in-person coaching, progress doesn’t have to stop.
TennisAthlete is an online Strength & Conditioning platform, designed specifically for tennis players who want structured, affordable and flexible training. Wherever they are in the world.

TennisAthlete helps you stay consistent, improve performance, and train with purpose.

Train smarter. Anywhere.
TennisAthlete

This CTC Short is brought to you live from Beijing, at the China Open, where Dan Kiernan is there for the WTA 1000 event!
In this episode Dan takes us through a roundup of the latest stories from across the tennis world, including those that have taken place moments away from our host ,who recorded this special CTC Short on the centre court in Beijing!
Key stories discussed:
⁠Djokovic wins the China Open for the 7th time
Medvedev defaulted from China Open v Djokovic in the semis
Alcaraz wins first title since February in Japan
Legend of the sport, Kei Nishikori retires
⁠WTA announce equal prize money at all combined 1000 events
Jannik Sinner to miss rest of the 2026 season
Navarro opens up about health struggles
Coco Gauff condemns racist abuse after winning China Open first round

Dan is at the China Open with Gaby Dabrowski, who plays the Final of the women’s doubles , on Sunday alongside Luisa Stefani.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:
Follow Control the Controllables: Instagram | YouTube | Website
Check out Tennis Athlete Here: https://www.sototennis.com/tennisathlete
Email us: ctc.podcast@sototennis.com
Mentioned in this episode:
Train Smarter Anywhere: Strength & Conditioning for Tennis Players On the Go 🎾
For players who don’t always have access to in-person coaching, progress doesn’t have to stop.
TennisAthlete is an online Strength & Conditioning platform, designed specifically for tennis players who want structured, affordable and flexible training. Wherever they are in the world.

TennisAthlete helps you stay consistent, improve performance, and train with purpose.

Train smarter. Anywhere.
TennisAthlete

Fifteen months ago Toby Samuel was ranked 1,870 in the world, injured, out of college, and unable to get into the qualifying draw of a 15K.
This month he broke into the ATP top 100, made his Davis Cup debut at the Copper Box and won the first rubber for Great Britain to help them qualify for the Davis Cup Finals.
In 2025, Toby won 62 matches and climbed further up the rankings than any other male player in the world. He did it without fanfare, without headlines and by his own admission, still staying in the bedrooms at the National Tennis Centre.
This is a conversation about the mental side of the game more than anything else, and Toby's answer on competing is one of the best things we've had on this podcast. If you have a junior in your house, play them that bit twice!
In this episode:
The Davis Cup call-up he wasn't expecting, and the most nervous he has ever been before a match.
Losing the first set and finding a way back, and why that is now a pattern rather than a panic.
"Everything is a choice." Toby on how he transformed the mental side of his game.
What he says to his coaches before every single match, and why it has nothing to do with how he is hitting the ball.
Why he has always preferred being the favourite, and what that has cost him against the top guys.
Going from 1,870 in the world to the top 100 in fifteen months
The bone bruising injury that wiped out his ranking, and the ATP Accelerator wildcard that turned it around
Choosing South Carolina over Florida State, the decision that changed his career.
What NIL money has done to college tennis, and why he thinks it needs a limit
How he actually uses data, and the six-monthly meeting that shapes his development
His honest view on the proposed ATP doubles changes
The Quickfire Round

"I don't know how I'm going to be hitting the ball on the day, but I can always choose to compete and be tough"
Links Mentioned in this Episode:
Follow Control the Controllables: Instagram | YouTube | Website
Check out Tennis Athlete Here: https://www.sototennis.com/tennisathlete
Follow SotoTennis Academy Here: https://www.instagram.com/sototennis
Email us: ctc.podcast@sototennis.com

Two Retirements. Two Incredible Careers.
This week on Control the Controllables, we're marking the retirement of Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury, two of the finest doubles players of their generation and two of the most generous guests we´ve had on the show.
Between them: 6 major titles each. 4 men's doubles crowns together, including the Australian Open in 2020 and that remarkable US Open three-peat in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Joe became only the second British man ever to reach World Number 1, holding the position for 23 weeks. Rajeev picked up two Olympic silver medals, 32 ATP titles, 9 Masters titles.
Then this year, with barely any matches between them, they made the US Open semi-finals from nowhere. Form is temporary. Class is permanent.
We've gone back into the archives to pull out the moments from their episodes that we think every player, coach and parent should hear.
In this episode:
Joe on the gap between belief and confidence, and why the two are not the same thing
Rajeev on walking away from singles at 56 in the world to become a doubles specialist
Following your heart when the decision is genuinely difficult, from college to retirement
Why 11 partners in one year is the hardest way to build a career
What Rajeev saw in Joe before anyone else did
Joe on what he wants his legacy in British tennis to be
Dan's challenge to British tennis: what happens when the Louis Cayer era ends?
The Rajeev Ram Instagram post that everyone in this sport should read

Listen to Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury´s full episodes on CTC:
Rajeev Ram - Multiple Grand Slam Champion
Joe Salisbury - Double US Open Champion!

Links Mentioned in this Episode:
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Tennis Athlete - Online Strength & Conditioning for Performance Players
SotoTennis Academy