Control the Controllables

Day 2 of our Wimbledon 2026 daily live series, recorded inside the grounds. Brought to you by Novellus.

Live every night at 9pm UK across the Wimbledon fortnight, with Wimbledon champions, tennis icons and special guests joining Dan to break down the day's biggest stories from inside the grounds at SW19.

In this episode:
Major Moments (brought to you by SotoTennis Academy): the curse of the grass court champions, with Cerundolo and Shelton both out in round one, and Bergs surviving the Eastbourne final repeat
Ben Shelton's stunning loss to Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 6-2, 7-6 in the final-set tiebreak
Dan's "Two Jacobs" moment from the players' cafeteria, a story about Jakub Mensik and Jacob Fearnley that's worth the listen alone
British comeback Tuesday, with Fearnley's two-set fightback against Michelsen, plus wins for Arthur Fery and Katie Swan
Live updates from Serena Williams' Centre Court return against Maya Joint, recorded as the match was unfolding
TennisAthlete Player of the Day: Katie Swan, coaching in Kansas eighteen months ago, World No. 1,114 in her rear-view mirror, back at Wimbledon and winning against the same player she beat eight years ago
Erin Routliffe joins the show on her 2024 Wimbledon final run with Gaby Dabrowski
Erin on facing Serena Williams twice in 12 days at Queen's and now Wimbledon, including the moment in their first meeting that she's still kicking herself over
Erin's honest take on stepping away from tennis, working a "real job", and what brought her back
The Wimbledon Quickfire with Erin: childhood Wimbledon memories, Taylor Swift walk-on songs, the one thing she'd change about The Championships
Dear Dan: the atmosphere in the players' area at a Slam, what makes Wimbledon different from every other tournament, and the physical quality that matters most on grass

Tomorrow on the show: Freddie Nielsen, 2012 Wimbledon men's doubles champion, joins Dan as Day 3 brings round-two action and the second wave of the British contingent into play.

About Control the Controllables Wimbledon Live
Dan Kiernan and a different special guest every night, bringing you analysis from inside the grounds at Wimbledon. Wimbledon champions, tennis icons, players, coaches and analysts join across the fortnight. Live every evening at 9pm UK on the CTC YouTube channel. Episodes drop as podcasts the next morning wherever you get your podcasts.

Send your Dear Dan questions via Instagram @ctc.podcast or email info@sototennis.com.

Brought to you by Novellus.

Major Moments segment brought to you by SotoTennis Academy. Visit sototennis.com.

Player of the Day brought to you by TennisAthlete, age-appropriate, research-backed strength and conditioning programmes from proven S&C coaches. The platform Dan recommends for physical development. Visit sototennis.com/tennisathlete.

The first episode of our Wimbledon 2026 daily live series, recorded inside the grounds on Day 1 of The Championships. Brought to you by Novellus.
Live every night at 9 pm UK across the Wimbledon fortnight, with Wimbledon champions, tennis icons and special guests joining Dan to break down the day's biggest stories from inside the grounds at SW19.
In this episode:
Major Moments (brought to you by SotoTennis Academy): Raducanu and Draper both withdrew, Norrie beaten in five by qualifier Michael Zheng, and a brutal Day 1 for the British contingent
Jannik Sinner survives a three-and-a-half-hour scare against Kecmanović, including the Centre Court fall that briefly stopped play
TennisAthlete Player of the Day: Michael Zheng, the Columbia graduate ranked No. 144 who outlasted Norrie over four hours.
Lloyd Glasspool joins the show on what it feels like coming back as defending champion, the surreal moment of seeing his face on the wall, and why he didn't celebrate the title the way everyone expected
Lloyd's honest take on the British injuries
The Wimbledon Quickfire with Lloyd: first memories, favourite British food, greatest grass-court players and the celebrity he'd want courtside
Dear Dan: scouting opposition and the young players to watch this fortnight

Tomorrow on the show: Erin Routliffe joins Dan as Day 2 brings Katie Boulter, Jacob Fearnley, Arthur Fery, Jan Choinski, Toby Samuel, Billy Harris and Katie Swan into action, plus the Centre Court return of Serena Williams.
About Control the Controllables Wimbledon Live
Dan Kiernan and a different special guest every night, bringing you analysis from inside the grounds at Wimbledon. Wimbledon champions, tennis icons, players, coaches and analysts join across the fortnight. Live every evening at 9pm UK on the CTC YouTube channel. Episodes drop as podcasts the next morning wherever you get your podcasts.
Send your Dear Dan questions via Instagram @ctc.podcast or email info@sototennis.com.
Brought to you by Novellus Finance.
Major Moments segment brought to you by SotoTennis Academy -visit sototennis.com.
Player of the Day brought to you by TennisAthlete -age-appropriate, research-backed strength and conditioning programmes from proven S&C coaches. The platform Dan recommends for physical development. Visit sototennis.com/tennisathlete.

It is Wimbledon time! Dan is Joined by the ever present Freddie Nielsen, Denmark Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon doubles champion, and Kieran Vorster, S&C coach and one of the sharpest minds in the game, currently working with Henry Searle and Dan Evans among others.
There is plenty to get into before a ball has even been struck, from retirements and comebacks to doping bans and prize money rows.

You will have to listen to find out who they are backing, and there are a couple of calls in there that might surprise you!

Key talking points:
Dan Evans retires from singles and misses out on a Wimbledon singles wild card, with Kieran and Freddie paying tribute to his career and discussing what he brings to coaching, and whether the communication around the wild card decision was handled well.
Vondrousova was banned for four years after refusing a doping test outside her guaranteed whereabouts window, with the panel breaking down the rules, the context and whether the punishment fits the circumstances.
Wimbledon prize money is up twenty percent but Kieran has the actual numbers to show it still only represents around twelve percent of turnover, and why the players may be pushing for change in the wrong place.
Serena Williams gets a wild card into the singles draw and faces Maya Joint in the first round, with the panel debating whether she can win a match and what her return means for the sport.
Women's dark horses and winner picks across both draws, with some bold calls and a couple of genuine outside shouts you will not want to miss.
Men's draw highlights including Fritz versus Draper, Fonseca versus Felix Auger-Aliassime, Kyrgios and Bublik paired together in the doubles, and a fascinating and heated debate on whether Djokovic can go deep again.
The introduction of video review on the show courts at Wimbledon and what difference it will actually make.

Chapters
00:00 Welcome and introduction
03:00 Dan Evans, his retirement and the wild card debate
10:00 Vondrousova and the four year doping ban
16:00 Wimbledon prize money and the twenty percent increase
24:00 Serena Williams wild card and first round draw
32:00 Women's dark horses and winner picks
42:00 Men's draw, dark horses and first round highlights
52:00 The Djokovic debate
56:00 Video review at Wimbledon and storylines to watch

Also, CTC Wimbledon Live Shows ARE BACK!. Live on YouTube and uploaded on all podcast platforms!

THE backstage pass to Wimbledon 2026, through the eyes of the coaches and insiders living it from the inside.
Each evening at 9 pm UK time throughout the fortnight!

Watch Live here: CTC YouTube

Segments include:

Wimbledon Stories - Where Wimbledon icons join as guests each episode to tell their most memorable championship stories!
The “Major” Moments - Talking about all the big talking points of the day's Wimbledon action! Brought to you by SotoTennis Academy.
Tennis Athlete’s Player Of The Day - Deciding the best player with the best performance of the day! Brought to you by Tennis Athlete.
Quick Fire Round - A Wimbledon-themed set of rapid questions!
Dear Dan - Where Dan answers your questions! Any questions, including the experience at Wimbledon, coaching advice, behind-the-scenes questions, anything you want!

Send in your questions for Dan via our live comment section or our Instagram DM:
CTC Instagram here 🔗

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

Thank you everyone for listening!
Never miss a Wimbledon live show this fortnight!

This week Dan is joined by ATP pro Zach Svajda, fresh off a stunning run to the last 16 of Roland Garros 2026.
There he beat the heat, the occasion and a host of higher ranked players before falling to eventual finalist Flavio Cobolli in a fourth set tie break. Currently ranked 69 in the world with a career high of 62, Zach is 23 and only just getting started.
This is a genuinely special and emotional conversation. Zach opens up about the unconventional path that got him to top level tennis, from using a full size racket at age two to taking nearly five years away from junior tournaments, busting a host of tennis development myths along the way.
Zach also reflects movingly on the loss of his father to cancer and how that continues to shape why he plays.
Key talking points:
Zach's remarkable Roland Garros run to the last 16 despite his lack of clay court experience.
What it felt like inside the locker room in Paris the day Sinner went out.
The unconventional development path set by his father
Zach talks about the impact of the passing of his father and how he carries his memory and lessons with him on court.
He tells us what is was like playing Novak Djokovic on Arthur Ashe at the US Open.
His relationship with younger brother Trevor, a rising college star, and the prospect of the two one day facing off on tour.

A brilliant and honest conversation with a player on the rise. Make sure to give this one a listen.
Read full shownotes here.
Links Mentioned in this Episode:
Connect with us: Instagram | Website | Email
Follow Zach on Instagram: @zachsvadja
SotoTennis Academy

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

Our Roland Garros 2026 Review Show is here!
What a fortnight in Paris it´s been, with two new Grand Slam Champions in Sascha Zverev & Mirra Andreeva.
Host Dan Kiernan is joined by Denmark Davis Cup Captain Freddie Nielsen and GB doubles coach Calvin Betton to look back on a quite extraordinary French Open.
Calvin joins us fresh from coaching Henry Patten and Harri Heliövaara to their third Grand Slam final and their first ever world number one ranking in men's doubles, so there is plenty to get stuck into from the off.
Key talking points:
Henry and Harry reach the Roland Garros final and claim the world number 1 ranking, with Calvin giving an honest account of what went wrong on the day.
Sinner's shock exit and whether it was truly an upset, or the inevitable result of an overcrowded schedule catching up with him.
Fonseca versus Djokovic and whether Roland Garros 2026 was the moment a future Grand Slam champion announced himself on the biggest stage.
Zverev wins his first Grand Slam but the panel debate whether men's tennis is currently lacking variety and real tactical depth.
Mirra Andreeva wins the women's title age 19, plus the remarkable story of qualifier Maja Chwalinska reaching the final.
The Italian tennis culture, Roland Garros and electronic line calling, plus a few strong opinions on how the tournament is run.

On to the grass!
This episode is brought to you by Novellus Finance
Connect with us:
Instagram: ctc.podcast
Website: www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk

Watch the full video version over on the Control the Controllables YouTube Channel
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