Kimberly Birrell is the #76 singles player on the WTA tour and reached the finals of the Australian Open in mixed doubles a few months ago. I spoke with Kim after her round-one victory in Austin Texas at the ATX Open. We discussed her recent Australian Open performance, how she's improved her game as her career has developed, and more.

• Kim's experience playing AO mixed with doubles veteran JP Smith
• Singles vs doubles mindset, and the importance of belief and partnership trust
• Discussing goals for the future and her doubles plans
• Ideas on promoting the doubles game and discussion around the mixed changes at the US Open

At the beginning, you'll also hear from Matt, a rockstar tennis WAG. You'll learn what that is and how he manages all the responsibility, including one recent fire he put out in Austin.

Follow Kimberly:

• Instagram
• WTA Profile

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Heather Watson is a Wimbledon mixed doubles champion. Maia Lumsden is the #72 doubles player on the WTA Tour. I spoke with them in Austin after their round one win at the ATX Open. We spoke about the match, the playing conditions, and more.

• Heather's plans for doubles and why she wants to play more
• How Heather prepared for the 2024 Olympics where she reached the quarterfinals in the women's doubles draw
• Maia's goals for the rest of the season
• Strong opinions on the recent mixed doubles changes at the US Open, especially from Heather

Follow these players:

• Follow Heather Watson on Instagram  |  Twitter
• Follow Maia Lumsden on Instagram  |  Twitter

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**Other Free Doubles Content**

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• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

An exploration of the ongoing debate surrounding professional doubles and its future. In this episode, I directly address the recent comments about doubles from Andy Roddick and Jon Wertheim on the Served Podcast, ignited by Reilly Opelka. I also created a separate video addressing the issue (see links in show notes below).

I believe one of the problems we face is that there has been an echo chamber culture around the doubles debate. We need people with different opinions to come together for conversations that create change. While I haven't been able to get Andy, Jon, or Reilly on the podcast yet, I thought this was the next best thing.

Here's what I attempt to cover.

• Where I agree and disagree with Andy & Jon
• Why doubles does have a "user education" problem
• The "business case" for doubles specialists
• Why other sports like professional driving or golf can help
• The economics of doubles at the majors vs 250's & 500's (a topic I'm still trying to understand)
• My vision for a future doubles tour

I hope this episode helps keep the conversation going and creates positive change for tennis. I certainly don't have all the answers, but if we can have productive debates and explore solutions tennis will benefit.

Show Notes:

• Opelka's Initial Comments on Instagram
• Andy & Jon's Reaction on the Served Podcast (minute 25)
• My 7-minute Video on how a consulting firm might view doubles

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• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Rob Galloway is a top 30 doubles player on the ATP Tour. He made the finals of the 2025 Dallas Open with Ariel Behar. Rob's great story shows the importance of hard work and mindset to improve in doubles.

In this conversation, Rob shares.

• Early obstacles and his decision to pursue a professional career
• The transition from college to pro tennis
• The significance of staying healthy and having a growth mindset as a player
• Mixed doubles and being a part of Team USA at the United Cup
• Improving the popularity of doubles

After the episode Rob shared a training hack that I discuss in the intro to this episode so don't skip it.

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• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Jamie Murray is a 7-time Grand Slam Doubles Champion and a former world #1 with 34 career men's doubles titles. I set up a 15-minute interview with Jamie during the Dallas Open and we didn't talk about any of that. We also didn't discuss strategy, tactics, or mindset for improving your doubles game. I never asked about his story, or mentioned his brother Andy or his mother Judy.

Instead, we talked about how to grow professional doubles. And the conversation lasted a full hour.

Jamie is uniquely qualified to tackle this problem because of his success on the pro tour and his experience as the tournament director at the Queen's Club Championships, an ATP 500 Event.

During this conversation, we dive deep into all topics related to making doubles better.

• Rule changes
• Scheduling
• Marketing & social media
• What the tours & tournaments can do
• What the players can and probably should do
• Roadblocks facing doubles
• and more...

My hope is that this episode generates more conversations that lead to positive change for doubles. I think there is a larger market for doubles if it's delivered and broadcasted the right way.

You can do your part by watching doubles on TV, engaging with doubles content on social media, and if you're a player, building your own brand by engaging with fans and media to get your story out there.

• Follow Jamie on Instagram
• Follow Jamie on X
• Learn more about Jamie
  • ATP Tour
  • Wikipedia

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• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Robert Cash and JJ Tracy are two rising doubles stars on the ATP Tour. They reached the semifinals of the Dallas Open, propelling their rankings inside the top 100 for the first time. College teammates at Ohio State, the chemistry between them is obvious when they play.

I chatted with them after their quarterfinal win in Dallas about college tennis and a lot more.

• The serve dominance in their quarterfinal win
• Discussing their Dallas Open tournament experience and venue appeal
• Tactical adjustments during the match
• Balancing singles and doubles in JJ's young career (I LOVE this answer!)
• The impact of college tennis on their professional paths
• Inspirations from established players like the team they had just beaten (Krajicek & Ram)
• The popularity and future of doubles

Robert and JJ are now in the ATP 250 Delray Beach Open semifinals at the time of this publishing. I would not be surprised to be chatting with these guys at bigger doubles tournaments for the next few decades.

• Follow JJ Tracy on Instagram
• Follow Robert Cash on Instagram
• Follow the Dallas Open on Instagram

-----

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• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Ariel Behar and Rob Galloway made the finals at the Dallas Open and are now ranked #41 and #25 on the ATP doubles tour, respectively. In this post-match interview, we discuss their quarterfinal win in Dallas, their goals for 2025, the potential for making doubles more popular, and more.

• Insight on their quarterfinal and R16 match where they faced the top seeds and friends of Rob - Nate Lammons & Jackson Withrow
• Goals vs process and enjoying the journey
• Enhancing doubles visibility through social engagement
• Strategic differences when playing against singles vs. doubles specialists
• Rob reflects on the experience representing Team USA at the United Cup

This team is playing some high-level doubles so you'll see their names more throughout the 2025 season. We also had a longer conversation with Rob later in the week which will be coming to the podcast soon.

• Follow Rob Galloway on Instagram
• Follow the Dallas Open on Instagram

-----

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• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Jamie Murray and John Peers are both multiple-time Grand Slam Doubles Champions. They reached the semifinals of the 2025 Dallas Open where I spoke with them after their quarterfinal win.

They reflect on their crazy comeback victory from a set and 2-6 down in the 2nd set tiebreaker. By ATP standards, this is a huge deficit. We talk about resilience, adjustments related to the match, and more.

• How they climbed out of their big hole in the tiebreaker
• Insights on mental strength and key strategic adjustments
• Advice for club players on maintaining focus during tense situations and 10-point tiebreakers
• Reflections on the Dallas Open experience
• How to make doubles more popular

I also spoke with Jamie for a longer podcast coming soon.

• Follow Jamie Murray on Instagram
• Follow John Peers on Instagram
• Follow the Dallas Open on Instagram

-----

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**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

This episode includes two post-match interviews with 2025 Dallas Open Champions, Christian Harrison and Evan King. They won six matches without dropping a set, resulting in new career-high ATP doubles rankings of 55 and 54.

They share the importance of teamwork, communication, and chemistry. We also discussed the effective return strategy that I believe helped lead them to the success they had in Dallas.

• Importance of chemistry and their off-court friendship
• Strategy of the two-back return formation and its execution
• Impact of crowd support on their performance
• Future goals and plans after their success in Dallas

I expect these two to continue climbing up the rankings and you'll hear from them again throughout the 2025 season.

• Follow Christian Harrison on Instagram
• Follow Evan King on Instagram
• Follow the Dallas Open on Instagram

-----

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**Other Free Doubles Content**

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• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Louis Cayer is one of the smartest doubles minds on the planet. He is a Senior Performance Advisor for the LTA, and the strategic brain behind every successful British ATP doubles player of the last few decades. He's worked with players doubles grand slam champions like Jamie Murray, Joe Salisbury, Neal Skupski, Henry Patten, and more.

I spoke with Louis at the 2025 Australian Open, several days before one of his teams (Henry Patten & Harri Heliovaara) won the title. Whether you're a coach or player, this is an episode you'll want to listen to more than once.

We explore the world of doubles coaching on the ATP Tour, the difference between the player and the performer, and how to effectively communicate. The discussion highlights Louis' coaching philosophy, evolving strategies, and passion for doubles within professional tennis.

• Why clear communication is key to good coaching, plus the exact phrases Louis uses with his players
• The significance of a supportive team environment in doubles
• Balancing team strengths vs opponents' weaknesses
• The evolving role of a coach: from directive to empowering
• Mistakes he's learned from in coaching
• ATP doubles changes & growth of the sport

This is one of my favorite conversations I've had on the podcast and Louis is someone I look up to greatly. I hope to speak with him again at some point to dive deeper into the puzzle that is doubles strategy.

-----

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**Other Free Doubles Content**

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• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

For the 4th year in a row, I bring Peter Lebedevs on the show to preview the Dallas Open.

The 2025 tournament is undergoing remarkable changes as it transitions to an ATP 500-level tournament, bringing in a stronger singles and doubles field. It's also moving to a larger venue at the Dallas Cowboys' practice facility in Frisco, Texas. Fans can expect world-class tennis, great food & drinks, and unique player engagement opportunities throughout the tournament.

We discuss:

• Transitioning from an ATP 250 to a 500-level tournament
• The player lineup featuring Grand Slam champions and rising stars
• Venue change to the Cowboys’ Ford Center with expanded 6,000-seat capacity
• Challenges presented by the Super Bowl overlap
• Active recruitment of players by Peter, a year-round process
• Enhanced fan experiences including a vibrant outdoor fan zone

More from this episode:

• Follow Peter on Twitter | Follow the Dallas Open on Twitter and Instagram
• Buy tickets, volunteer, or find more information about the tournament at DallasOpen.com

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• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course