Control the Controllables

What does it really take to coach at the very top of the game?
And how does a 32-year-old coach find himself leading the journey of one of the fastest-rising players in world tennis?
In this episode of Control the Controllables, we sit down with Maxime Tchoutakian, the coach of Vicky Mboko — a 19-year-old who has taken the tennis world by storm, breaking into the Top 10 in less than a year.
But Max’s story is just as compelling as the player he now coaches.
Ranked 530 in the world as a player, he took the US college route at Baylor University, rebuilt his career from scratch after COVID, and walked into the Mouratoglou Academy with no clear coaching plan, only to have one practice with Victoria Azarenka and receive a call from her agent 30 minutes later.
What he shares in this episode gives a rare, honest look at what it really means to operate inside the world's best tennis teams.
In this episode:
What it was actually like telling a former World Number 1 how to improve her game at age 26.
The moment Azarenka asked him to become her full-time coach and how scary that felt.
Why adaptation is the single most important skill to survive life on the WTA tour.
His honest take on whether coaches are paid well enough for what they sacrifice.
What makes Victoria Mboko so special and why Max believes she will win multiple Grand Slams.
The brutal truth about French tennis: why talented kids keep falling short when it matters most.
His biggest coaching regret and why he wishes he'd trusted himself sooner.

CONNECT WITH CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES
Website: https://www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast/
Email us: [email protected]

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

A tribute to a British tennis legend.
This week on Control the Controllables, we're marking the retirement of one of Great Britain´s greatest ever players, Jamie Murray.
7 Grand Slam titles. 39 tour-level titles. World Number 1. Davis Cup Winner & Olympian. The man who put British doubles on the map and helped spark a generation of GB doubles players that continue to thrive on the tour today.
We went back into the archives to pull out one of our favourite moments from our episode with Jamie back in 2020. This short clip is a perfect reminder of just what a remarkable person and player he is.
In this episode:
The story of Jamie's Wimbledon title age 21.
Why zero expectation was the secret weapon that fuelled that Wimbledon run.
How expectation and pressure change as a career develops.
How he felt reaching World Number 1.
Becoming Jamie, not just Andy Murray’s brother.
Why Dan thinks his impact on tennis will contine.

From all of us at Control the Controllables, congratulations Jamie. What a career. What a legacy.
Control the Controllables episodes Jamie Murray features in:
Episode 13: Jamie Murray - From Dunblane to the top of the world!
Is Opelka Right - Should Doubles be Scrapped?
CONNECT WITH CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES
Website: https://www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast/
Email us: [email protected]

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

What does it really look like behind the scenes with the best players in the world?
This week on Control the Controllables, we sit down with Adam Jones -hitting partner to the world's best, doubles professional, and the man behind Forehands & Flat Whites, the Instagram account quietly taking over tennis feeds everywhere.
In 2026 alone, Jonesy has celebrated with the Australian Open women's champion on Rod Laver Arena, hit with Djokovic, Sinner and Rybakina and won his first professional doubles title.
From taking the bus to junior tournaments with his granddad on the Wirral, to camping on a golf course in Portugal because he couldn't afford the hotel, to warming up Alcaraz on Wimbledon centre court before the 2025 final. Adam's story is proof that your path doesn't have to look like everyone else's to be incredible.
What he shares in this episode gives a rare, unfiltered look at what it really takes to operate at the top of the game.
In this episode:
What it’s REALLY like to hit with players like Alcaraz, Djokovic and Sinner.
Adam opens up about growing up in Birkenhead and the family sacrifices that made his career possible.
How elite players prepare — routines, habits, and attention to detail.
How Elena Rybakina went out of her way to make Adam feel part of her Australian Open victory in a moment he'll never forget.
Why Adam walked off the court six minutes into a hit with an unnamed American player.
Lessons Adam has learned from being inside top players’ teams
His honest reflection on success, rankings pressure and the mental hole he found himself in earlier in his career.
Why personality, connection, and attitude can open doors in tennis

Follow Adam Jones on Instagram: @adam_jonesyyy123
CONNECT WITH CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES
Website: https://www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast/
Email us: [email protected]

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

What if you didn’t have to be a top junior to become a professional tennis player?
In this episode of Control the Controllables, we speak with Belgian professional tennis player Sander Gille, a Roland Garros finalist, Olympic competitor, Davis Cup player and former World No.18 in doubles.
Sander’s journey to the top of the game is anything but traditional. He wasn’t a standout junior, didn’t grow up expecting to turn professional, and at 17 he chose US college tennis simply to continue playing while earning a degree.
After college, Sander decided to give the professional tour a try — funding his early career through crowdfunding, league tennis, and relentless persistence. Years later, that journey led him to the Roland Garros final and the top of the ATP doubles rankings.
This episode is a powerful reminder that there are many different pathways to success in tennis.
In this episode:
Growing up playing multiple sports before choosing tennis
Why Sander never planned to become a professional player
The decision-making process behind his college career in the US and transitioning to professional tennis
How crowdfunding helped keep his career going early on.
How injuries shaped his focus from singles to doubles and lessons learned along the way.
Key insights on finding his game, mental resilience, and balancing success with authenticity.
Memorable experiences, including playing Andy Murray at the Olympics and reaching a Grand Slam final.
Reflections on partnership longevity, team dynamics, and future goals in doubles.

If you’re chasing a career in tennis or supporting someone who is, this is a story you need to hear.
CONNECT WITH CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES
Website: https://www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast/
Email us: [email protected]
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

Join us as we unpack the biggest storylines from the 2026 Australian Open!
From Osaka´s dramatic outfit entrance on Rod Laver Arena to Djokovic rolling back the years to take out Sinner in the semi-finals, we analyse the epic matches, player performances and behind-the-scenes moments in Melbourne.
Host Dan Kiernan is joined by our Grand Slam panelists:
Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Doubles Champion, Freddie Nielsen
Top S&C Coach Kieron Vorster who has worked with Liam Broady, Dan Evans, Tim Henman and Wayne Ferreira.

Key Talking Points
Carlos Alcaraz becoming the youngest ever person to win the career Grand Slam.
Novak Djokovic proving he can still push for number 25.
Will Rybakina be the player to beat in the women´s game in 2026
The role of coaching, technical adjustments, and player development in modern tennis
The rise of British doubles dominance, with the current World No.1, 2 & 3 in men’s doubles being British.
The debate around camera coverage, player privacy, and the sport's media strategies after Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek’s comments.
And our panelist give their predictions on what to expect for the upcoming season. Could we see the return of Serena?

CONNECT WITH CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES
Website: https://www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast/
Email us: [email protected]
This episode is brought to you by Novellus Finance.
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