In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson continue their series on the eight pillars of the GreatBase curriculum, focusing on two coaching icons, Peter Burwash and Harry Hopman. They explore how Burwash set new standards of professionalism and service in coaching, while Hopman embodied fitness, discipline, and r…

In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson discuss two of the most influential minds behind the GreatBase philosophy: Dr. Jim Leohr and Coach Jim Verdieck. Through stories, lessons, and personal experiences, they highlight why mental discipline, character, standards, and accountability remain essential in player …

In this episode, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson discuss the upcoming GreatBase Tennis workshop at Ave Maria University (Dec 18–20). They reflect on the enduring coaching philosophies of two key pillars of their curriculum: Welby Van Horn and Dennis VanderMeer. From balance training to group dynamics, they explore what made these legendary teachers e…

In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson announce a three-day workshop set for December at Ave Maria University. Open to all, the event aims to spotlight tennis's "golden growth opportunity" by focusing on the eight core pillars of the GreatBase curriculum and beyond. They discuss the need to improve tennis coa…

Steve Smith and Dave Anderson introduce a “Sunrise to Sunset” tennis fundraiser planned for Ave Maria University. Inspired by a past event in Texas, the goal is to raise support for junior players through a fun, community-driven day of tennis. They outline a 10-hour schedule with training, contests, and food, encouraging players to collect small sp…

In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith is joined by co-host Dave Anderson, Tim Ross, and special guest Max Fomine. Max is a Moldovan-born coach whose path to tennis is as unique as it is inspiring. Max shares his family's immigration story, landing in Canada with no papers and few resources, and how hard work, persistence, and…

In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith is joined by Dave Anderson and Ryan Fleming for a reflective and forward-looking conversation about the launch of a new tennis program at Ave Maria University in Southwest Florida. Steve shares the personal and professional journey behind accepting the position as men’s and women’s tennis…

In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith sits down with longtime friend and coach Ryan Fleming for a reflective and practical conversation about tennis, coaching, and leadership. Fleming shares his journey from hitting on a cinder block wall in North Carolina to playing college tennis for Chuck Kriese at Clemson, and eventually …

In this episode of the Great Base Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith is joined by Dave Anderson, Andy Fitzell, and Tim Ross for a wide-ranging discussion centered on doubles development and the 2025 US Open. The team reflects on the standout performance of Robert Cash and James Trotter Tracy, a former Ohio State duo, analyzing how their college training, …

In this episode of the Great Base Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson explore lessons from the 2025 US Open, breaking down key storylines from Carlos Alcaraz’s win over Jannik Sinner to Amanda Anisimova’s stunning turnaround. They reflect on the leadership journey of figures like Stacey Allaster, and the legacy of tennis education program…

In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith is joined by returning guest Dave Anderson and visiting coach Kervin Ramos. Together, the trio unpacks key storylines from the 2025 US Open — including matches involving Carlos Alcaraz, Frances Tiafoe, Coco Gauff, Alexander Bublik, and Taylor Fritz — while weaving in lessons for players, …

Steve Smith and Dave Anderson sit down to tackle issues shaping today’s tennis, from the growing trend of withdrawals at tournaments like Kalamazoo to the impact of DNFs in college play. They share candid stories—from Connor Smith’s days at Ohio State to the traditions of junior tennis—to underline why competing fully matters more than ever. The co…

Steve Smith hosts a wide-ranging conversation with Ilya Semyonov, Andy Fitzell, and Dave Anderson, diving into common cures for problems in tennis. The discussion kicks off with mixed doubles and its controversial format changes, before branching into broader reflections on the state of the sport. From professional events and scheduling decisions t…

Steve Smith, Costas Alevizopoulos, Dave Anderson, and Andy Fitzell join forces to share coaching wisdom drawn from decades of experience. Together, they explore the systems, habits, and mindsets that form the foundation of great player development. The 261st podcast conversation blends humor, storytelling, and practical guidance, offering value to …

Celebrating five years, the GreatBase Tennis Podcast brings together Steve Smith, Costas Alevizopoulos, and Dave Anderson for stories from the Kalamazoo Nationals, colorful memories of coach T.J. Tisdale, and reflections on building strong player programs. Anecdotes from decades of coaching are blended with insights on training habits, competitive …

Perhaps the most talked about program in US tennis is the USTA's player development program. During the episode at hand, number 259, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson discuss the popular topic and the challenge of improving tennis in America. Points from previous podcasts are repeated and reinforced. Perhaps no people in a position to make major change…

On the 258th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Constantinos Alevizopoulos round up their Wimbledon chat with Dave Anderson. For the third week, the conversation is about Wimbledon 2025. A few questions are also answered. If one were to listen to this episode, number 258, they may say, "Shut up, go by a hot dog and sit in sect…

On the 257th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Constantinos Alevizopoulos are once again at the table, and Dave Anderson is on the phone. There will be a quiz on how to spell the full name of our friend from Greece. Just printing out "Good Guy" will be accepted and understood. Now that everybody and their brother has a podcas…

On the 256th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Constantinos Alevizopoulos are at the table and Dave Anderson is on the phone. Constantinos is coaching with Steve at the Wintergreen Resort; the beautiful mountainside facility is in Virginia. Dave leads one of the most productive junior development programs in the US at the pre…

On the 255th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith, Ilja Semjonovs, and Dave Anderson ask Dr. Tracey King questions. Currently, Tracey leads mental training skills for the Brookhaven program in Dallas, Texas. As a player, she was a top junior player who earned a Division I scholarship. She also played at the professional level and re…

On the 254th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith, Jeff Lewis, and Dave Anderson share odds and ends. As always, the effort is to enlighten tennis enthusiasts. In this episode, there was also an attempt to entertain our listeners. Thank you for listening and sharing.By Steve Smith and Associates

On the 253rd episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith, Jeff Lewis, and Dave Anderson talk tennis. Their conversation focuses primarily on competitive junior tennis in the US. The trio have history. Steve has known Dave for forty years and Jeff for nearly thirty. Hopefully, their time in developmental tennis translates into an interestin…

On the 252nd episode of GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith, Dave Anderson, and Ivan Ozerets discuss tennis doubles. The trio is confident that their conversation will help listeners improve their overall understanding of doubles. Thank you for listening, and please consider sharing our website: www.greatbasetennis.com. GreatBase Tennis Education…

On the 251st episode of the GreatBase tennis podcast, Steve Smith, Ivan Ozerets, and Dave Anderson talk with Sam Garcia. Sam is currently the director of tennis at the prestigious Quail Valley River Club in Vero Beach, Florida. Sam is an award-winning pro who works at an award-winning club. Steve, Dave, and Sam reminisce. The three have known each …

On the 250th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith, Dave Anderson, and Ivan Ozerets share more technical input for those running summer tennis camps. The content will also serve as an intro for first-time listeners and a refresher for those long-time followers.By Steve Smith and Associates

On the 249th episode of the GreatBase tennis podcast, Steve Smith, Ivan Ozerets, and Dave Anderson share information, ideas, and insights directed to those involved with summer tennis camps. Their discussion certainly applies to anyone and everyone connected to tennis instruction. The main focus of this session is ground strokes. With confidence, w…

On the 248th episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith, Ivan Ozerets, and Dave Anderson discuss technical information for teaching stroke production. Today's segment is one of three that were produced with the idea of helping summer tennis camp directors and their staff.By Steve Smith and Associates

On the 247th episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith, Ivan Ozerets, and Dave Anderson discuss summer tennis camps. Their conversation coincides with their efforts to produce an instructional tape for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). Almost all college coaches direct summer tennis camps. (The tape will soon be shared on the…

On the 246th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson have a tennis conversation with Frank Butera. Their guest is a tennis teaching professional based in Boston, Massachusetts. The veteran pro teaches adults and juniors at MIT and the Marcus Lewis Indoor Center. He was born in Boston and then raised in Italy until the…

On the 245th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith, Dave Anderson, and Ivan Ozerets have a tennis conversation with Petrus Koekemoer. Their guest is a long-time associate who lives and works in his native South Africa (SA). He currently leads a unique development program serving underprivileged children at the Rosemoor Tennis Centre …

On the 244th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith, Dave Anderson, and Ivan Ozerets interview Dave Sivertson. On the podcast previous to this edition, Dave shared information, ideas, and insights related to on-court success. The USTA national title holder and ITF international team champion has been equally as successful off the cour…

On the 243rd episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith, Dave Anderson, and Ivan Ozerets interview an amazing tennis mind. Dave Sivertson knows games within the game of tennis. The ultimate competitor keeps getting better. He has won multiple national championships and multiple international team championships representing the US. Not eve…

Dave Anderson joins Steve Smith and Ivan Ozerets on the 242nd episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast. Dave leads a highly successful player development program at the Brookhaven Country Club in Dallas, Texas. He has been in his current position for over 30 years and their program has developed 400 plus college tennis players. Dave shares his thoug…

On the 241st episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith's guest is Patrick Geoffrion-Amorim. Patrick, a native of Montreal, currently coaches and works in Toronto. He accompanied a dozen or more kids to the Wintergreen Resort in Wintergreen, Virginia, for a two-week immersion camp with Steve. One of the highlights of their trip was travel…

On the 240th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson are joined by Patrick Geoffrion-Amorim. Patrick, a native of Montreal, lives with his wife in Toronto. Patrick was thrilled to converse with Dave Anderson for the first time. Patrick is a young passionate coach who understands the benefits of circulating around vete…

On the 239th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith, Ivan Ozerets and Dave Anderson interview David Geatz. What a delight for our listeners to listen to Coach Geatz! Simply put, the native of North Dakota is a delightful man. We promise to have Coach Geatz on our podcast again. Based on his humility, he requested to flip the script an…

On the 238th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith, Dave Anderson, and Ivan Ozerets interview Brandon Fallon. Their guest lives in SoCal (San Juan Capistrano, California) with his wife and two daughters. He currently is the assistant director of the Laguna Nigel Racquet Club. From a tennis point of view, you name it and Brandon Fallo…

On the 237th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith, Dave Anderson, and Ivan Ozerets have a conversation with Andres Barbosa. Our long-time associate, Andres, played college tennis around the same time the University of Illinois won the NCAA national championship in men's tennis. A former Illinois tennis player, Michael Kosta, has gon…

On the 236th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Doug Cash is interviewed by Steve Smith, Dave Anderson, and Ivan Ozerets. Wow! In regard to this episode, "wow" stands for "words of wisdom." Doug Cash is 75 years young. He is known as one of the best in the world in his area of expertise. Simply put, Doug knows the business of tennis. He was t…

On the 235th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith, Ivan Ozerets, Andy Fitzell, and Dave Anderson reflect upon the 2025 Australian Open. A wide range of topics were touched upon. GreatBase Tennis Education (GBTE) shares free educational content. Please consider checking out our website (www.greatbasetennis.com). One will find five co…

On the 234th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Dave Secker talk tennis with Mat Cloer. Mat holds a senior position with the USTA's Player Development Department. Their conversation is centered around tennis analytics. The saga of the GreatBase Tennis Education (GBTE) continues. Our non-profit organization shares free educatio…

In the 233rd episode of the GreatBase Tennis Education (GBTE) podcast, Steve Smith, Dave Anderson, Dave Secker, and Ivan Ozerets share their thoughts regarding tennis academies. Their conversation covers a wide spectrum of points and should serve the purpose of helping to educate the tennis consumer. Thanks for listening and thanks for caring about…

The 232nd episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast is based on a question Steve Smith asked Dave Anderson. Steve asked David, "What should be a theme to help US tennis?" David answered, "Back to the future." In basing a podcast episode on Dave's answer, Steve stated that there would be no one better to address the topic than the legendary Chuck Krie…

On the 231st episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Ilja Semjonovs re-visit thoughts and principles shared by the late Don Meyer. Mr. Meyer was a basketball coach who touched the lives of thousands of people. His contributions should not be forgotten. He mentored legends of his sport. To take in his humor, simply YouTube: Don Meye…

On the 230th episode of the GreatBase Tennis Education (GBTE) podcast, Steve Smith, Ilja Semjonovs, Richard Hernandez, and Dave Anderson discuss mentoring and its significance. Listeners are assured of a few laughs and a few nuggets for their tennis treasure chest. Please note that one can find more free educational tennis content on GBTE's website…

On the 229th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith, Ivan Ozerets, Andy Fitzell, and Dave Anderson discuss the ins and outs of making resolutions for the new year. As always, we hope our listeners find value in listening and occasionally can chuckle at our attempt at humor. We wish everyone all the best for 2025. Happy New Year…

Merry Christmas On the 228th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve, Ivan, and Andy interview Peter Kobelt. To make an understatement, Peter's journey in tennis is remarkable. As a first-year student at Ohio State University (OSU), Peter red-shirted. Then as a red-shirt freshman, he only played doubles. By the end of his collegiate career, …

On the 227th episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and Andy Fitzell talk about some tennis books from the GreatBase Tennis library. The GreatBase Tennis library now includes all the tennis books from Vic Braden’s library. Overall, the GBTE has over 1500 tennis books. Andy Fitzell being with Steve Smith when the last shipment of Vic’s…

On the 226th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast Steve Smith and Andy Fitzell interview Dave Secker. Their guest is the Associate Head Coach of the North Carolina State women’s tennis team. Dave, who has previously donated his time to support our efforts to inform the tennis public, addresses numerous issues pertaining to college tennis in the …

On the 225th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast Steve Smith and Ivan Ozerets interview Jeff Moore. To make an understatement, their humble and honest guest has oodles of wisdom to share. We are confident that the session should be classified as a master class for anyone and everyone hungry for improvement; no matter what the endeavor. As an at…