Rock & Rally Tennis Podcasts

Welcome to another segment of “Just One Tweak”, where I share my thoughts regarding a tweak or refinement I would make to a particular player’s game if I were part of that player’s coaching team. This is “Just One Tweak – Segment #3: Ash Barty”.  Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section. Tags: tennis, rock, rally, podcast, career, match, court, point, question, tweak,...

As the saying goes, “All good things must come to an end!” Congratulations to Daniil Medvedev for winning his first Grand Slam singles title and thwarting Novak Djokovic in his quest to win the calendar Grand Slam. We share our thoughts on Medvedev and the final match of Djokovic’s run at the calendar Grand Slam. Share with...

What a spectacular 2021 US Open – Women’s Final between teenage sensations, Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez!  Congratulations to Raducanu for winning her first Grand Slam singles (and WTA) title. We share our thoughts on what was one of the most memorable US Open Women’s finals in recent years. Share with us your thoughts below in the...

Common scenario: your know your doubles partner has a weak serve, but you play up at the net anyway; your partner serves up a lollipop 2nd serve; the opponent blisters the return directly at you and hits you with the ball; “pleasantries” are exchanged between you and the opponent. So, what about it? We share our thoughts and insights...

Welcome to another segment of “Match Points” where we answer questions from our listeners! In this episode — Match Points segment #24, we share our insights on: (1) whether Djokovic needs to win the calendar Grand Slam to be considered the GOAT; and (2) what is the most important criteria in the GOAT discussion. Share with us your thoughts below in the...

Welcome to our 2021 Wimbledon preview! No Osaka, Halep, Nadal or Thiem. More updates to the Grand Slam record books? Will this be #24 for Serena? Will this be #20 for Djokovic? Who are the potential spoilers? We share our thoughts and insights on the year’s third major. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section.     Tags: tennis,...

Welcome to another segment of “Just One Tweak”, where I share my thoughts regarding a tweak or refinement I would make to a particular player’s game if I were part of that player’s coaching team. This is “Just One Tweak – Segment #2: Felix Auger-Aliassime”.  Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section. Tags:...

This is our 200th podcast! Thank you to our fans! We are deeply humbled by your unwavering support of the Rock & Rally Tennis Podcast since our first podcast in 2016! We look forward to the next 200 podcasts!    Congratulations to the 2021 French Open singles champions, Barbora Krejcikova and Novak Djokovic! Lots of interesting storylines from...

Welcome to our 2021 French Open preview! Lots of great players and intriguing storylines; one of which is whether anyone can stop Nadal from winning his 14th French Open title; 21st overall Grand Slam singles title to edge ahead of Federer in the record books? We share our thoughts and insights on the year’s second major. Share...

The common misconception of aggressive or “offensive tennis” is that it’s only about hitting clean winners or pummeling the ball from all parts of the court. Offensive tennis is so much more than that. We share our thoughts and insights on this popular topic. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section. Tags: tennis,...

Tells are prevalent in virtually all sports. The ability to identify a player’s tells is a skill that every player should work on and try to develop, particularly in this day and age when camera phones are everywhere. We share our thoughts and insights on this popular topic. Share with us your thoughts below in the...

Is it considered poor form or a “cheap tactic” to use an underhand serve or drop shot? We share our thoughts and insights on this popular topic. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section. Tags: tennis, rock, rally, podcast, career, match, court, point, question, instruction, tip, mindset, baseline, serve, return, drop, underhand, sportsmanship, winIs it considered poor...

Mindset can impact your game well beyond the mental aspects. Mindset can also influence the physical aspects of your game, in particular, stroke technique or mechanics. We share our thoughts and insights on this popular topic. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section. Tags: tennis, rock, rally, podcast, career, match, court, point, question, tweak, instruction, tip, mindset,...

Welcome to our new podcast segment called, “Just One Tweak”, which is a fantasy coaching type of segment. We kick off this new podcast segment discussing Serena and the one tweak I believe would be an effective addition to her game at this stage of her career. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments...

Welcome to another segment of “Match Points” where we answer questions from our listeners! In this episode — Match Points segment #23, we share our insights on: (1) the single most important component to good ball striking; and (2) how to deal with opposing players who crowd the “T” when you are serving. Share with us your thoughts below in the...

Employ “The 3-6-9” — a simple and effective tool — to assess how well (or not!) your opponent handles short balls. We share our thoughts and insights on this popular topic. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section.     Tags: tennis, court, rock, rally, podcast, instruction, tip, mobility, 369, short, long, power, baseline, offense, defense, volley, forehand, backhand, volley,...

As players, we have all heard the sound advice to “keep the ball deep”. Well, here’s to hitting it short… intentionally! We share our thoughts and insights on this non-traditional, but effective tactic. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section.     Tags: tennis, rock, rally, podcast, instruction, tip, 2020, 2021, ball, tactic, drop, offense, defense, slice, backhand,...

Congratulations to the 2020 French Open singles champions, Iga Swiatek and Rafael Nadal! We share our thoughts and insights on the final major of this most unusual 2020. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section.     Tags: tennis, rock and rally, podcast, instruction, 2020, ball, Australian, U.S., Open, French Swiatek, Kenin, Barty, Halep, Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Schwartzmann, champion,...

It’s time for the 2020 French Open! Who are our top picks to win at Roland Garros in this most unusual year? Will the fall weather and playing conditions be an important factor to consider? We share our thoughts and insights on the final major of 2020. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section.    ...

Congratulations to the 2020 U.S. Open champions — Naomi Osaka; and Dominic Thiem!  We share our takeaways from this atypical U.S. Open, along with thoughts on the champions, Djokovic and others. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section.     Tags: tennis, rock and rally, podcast, instruction, career, 2020, French, U.S., Open, Osaka, Azarenka, Serena, Sabalenka, Mertens, Thiem, Zverev, Carreno Busta, Federer, Nadal,...

The 2020 U.S. Open is upon us! Find out who our favorites are to win this first major played under these challenging and unconventional circumstances. We share our thoughts and insights on the impact of the current pandemic on the Women’s and Men’s fields. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section.     Tags: tennis, rock and rally, podcast,...

Welcome to another “Match Points” segment where we answer questions from our listeners! In this episode — Match Points segment #22, we share our insights on: (1) regaining your form after a long layoff; (2) what is most important when it comes to getting the most out of your practice sessions. Share with us your thoughts below in the...

Should you avoid using so-called “negative” terminology or descriptions when it comes to assessing your own game? We share our thoughts and insights on this popular topic. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section.   Tags: tennis, rock, rally, podcast, tip, instruction, serve, game, assess, real, negative, weak, vulnerable, player, coach

As a player, you will come across or receive a wide array of tips, instruction or advice from a myriad sources throughout your tennis journey. Thus, it goes without saying how important it is to determine if a tip, piece of instruction or advice is relevant or applicable to you. We share our thoughts and insights...

Aside from health and safety precautions, one of the main adjustments many recreational players must make to the new normal in tennis is transitioning to singles from doubles practice and play. We share some fun ways to keep your game sharp as you make the transition. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section. Tags: tennis, rock, rally, podcast, career, game, set, match,...

We share our thoughts and insights on the age old question in tennis: Should you swing hard or swing fast? Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section. Tags: tennis, rock, rally, podcast, career, game, set, match, court, point, focus, mindset, swing, hard, fast, racket, speed, velocity, muscle, stroke, quality, consistency, error, efficiency  

Employ the neutral volley! Improve your net game; win more points, games and matches! We share our thoughts and insights on this popular topic. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section. Tags: tennis, rock, rally, podcast, career, match, court, point, focus, mindset, margin, net, volley, neutral, offensive, coronavirus, placement, percentage, margin, aggressive, Federer

Welcome to another “Match Points” segment where we field questions from our listeners! In this episode — Match Points segment #21, we share our insights on: (1) developing greater consistency; (2) keys to a good overhead; and (3) maintaining your level of play in a match when you fatigue. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section....

Playing against “loopers” — i.e. players who hit primarily “loopy” topspin shots — can often be a challenging and frustrating experience. Listen to our podcast, as we share a couple of ways to beat the looper! Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section.   Tags: tennis, rock, rally, podcast, career, loop, moon, ball, pusher, defense, topspin, baseline, net,...

For doubles teams who employ the 1 Up / 1 Back formation; this podcast is for you! Listen to our podcast, as we share our thoughts and insights on this topic. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section.   Tags: tennis, rock, rally, podcast, career, ball, baseline, volley, doubles, offense, defense, neutral, formation, up, down,...

Congratulations to the 2020 Australian Open champions — Sofia Kenin; and Novak Djokovic!  Listen to our 2020 Australian Open recap for our takeaways from the year’s first major, along with thoughts on Kenin, Muguruza, Serena, Barty, Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Thiem and others. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section.     Tags: tennis, rock and rally, podcast, career, 2020,...

When it comes to passing shots, many players these days are all about hitting with high “mph”. But often times, what makes for an effective passing shot is not only pure pace; it’s also the action on the ball. Listen to our podcast, as we share our thoughts and insights on this popular topic. Share with...

It’s 2020 — a new year; new decade; new tennis season! The year’s first Grand Slam is fast approaching! Who will be crowned the 2020 Australian Open Women’s and Men’s champions when all is said and done? Will Barty continue her reign at #1? Will Serena finally capture her Grand Slam Singles title #24? Will the Big...

As we embark on a new year and decade, we’d like to share our top New Year’s resolution! Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section. Tags: tennis, tip, rock, rally, podcast, career, wonder, game, ball, court, coach, player, teacher, mentor, team, skill, ambassador, year, new, competitor, student, person, sport

Welcome to another “Match Points” segment where we field questions from our listeners! In this episode — Match Points segment #20, we share our insights on: (1) the importance of a healthy mindset versus players you believe you should beat; (2) making good use of the time spent waiting for playing partners to arrive; and (3) bringing your game...

“Good” balance is commonly misunderstood. In this podcast, we discuss the notion of “good” balance; “good enough” balance; and “optimum” balance. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section.     Tags: tennis, tip, rock, rally, podcast, career, wonder, game, ball, court, player, forehand, backhand, serve, volley, footwork, balance, optimum, movement, strike, recover

Can Djokovic and Nadal still improve their games? We believe the answer is a resounding, “Yes!” In this podcast, we discuss the specific areas of Djokovic’s and Nadal’s respective games that we believe can be improved. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section.     Tags: tennis, tip, rock, rally, podcast, career, wonder, game, ball, court, player, backhand, line,...

Knowing your game and yourself as a player is essential to playing your best tennis. In this podcast, we discuss the age-old expression in sports: “Know your game!” / “Know yourself!”. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section.     Tags: tennis, tip, rock, rally, podcast, career, wonder, game, ball, court, player, forehand, serve,...

Want to know which two shots every recreational and club player should add to their arsenal? We share our thoughts and insights on how these commonly overlooked shots can help raise your game to another level. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section.     Tags: tennis, tip, rock, rally, podcast, career, wonder, game,...

Congratulations to Bianca Adreescu for winning her first U.S. Open and career Grand Slam singles title!  We share our thoughts and insights on Andreescu, including: Will she be the dominant champion for years to come; and be the true successor to Serena? Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section.     Tags: tennis, rock, rally, podcast,...

The 2019 U.S. Open begins next week! Will Ash Barty cap off a breakthrough year with her second major of 2019? Will Naomi Osaka make it two US Opens in a row? It’s going to be Djokovic, Federer or Nadal holding the trophy, right? (Again?! ^-^) We share our thoughts and insights on the year’s final...

Tweaking your strokes? The solution may be hiding in plain sight! In this podcast, we share our thoughts and insights on how small adjustments to your grip can dramatically improve your strokes. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section.     Tags: tennis, tip, rock, rally, podcast, career, wonder, game, ball, court, player, grip, forehand,...

Welcome to another “Match Points” segment where we field questions from our listeners! In this episode — Match Points segment #19, we share our insights on: (1) unique aspects of playing on clay; (2) the key to hitting effective offensive lobs; and (3) outlook on Stefanos Tsitsipas. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section. Tags: tennis,...

Having trouble against the doubles teams who play from “No Man’s Land”? They seem to get every ball back into play! In this podcast, we share our thoughts and insights on the keys to winning against these type of players. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section.     Tags: tennis, tip, rock, rally, podcast,...

In the current era of “first strike” or power tennis, feel is often overlooked as an essential aspect of the game. In this podcast, we share our thoughts and insights on a simple way to increase feel on your shots: lower the string tension! Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section.     Tags:...

What an awesome Wimbledon! Congratulations to the 2019 Wimbledon Women’s and Men’s champions – Simon Halep and Novak Djokovic!  For Halep, this was her first Wimbledon singles crown and second Grand Slam singles title overall. For Djokovic, this was his fifth Wimbledon singles crown and 16th Grand Slam singles title overall. Listen to our podcast as we...

The 2019 Wimbledon begins next week with a high level of excitement and anticipation. Among the top storylines: Ash Barty will enter Wimbledon as the new world #1, top Women’s seed, and clear favorite to win Wimbledon; the Big Three are all healthy and in top form; Andy Murray is back from hip surgery and...

Making adjustments during a match can be challenging, particularly in the heat of battle. In this podcast, we share our thoughts and insights on a simple approach to making in-match adjustments. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section.     Tags: tennis, tip, rock, rally, podcast, career, wonder, game, ball, court, player,...

Another French Open; another Rafael Nadal victory! Congratulations to Nadal for his 12th French Open singles title! Listen to our podcast as we share our thoughts and insights about the 2019 French Open. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section. Tags: tennis, rock, rally, podcast, career, 2018, 2019, first, 20, 18, 15, French,...

Congratulations to the 2019 French Open Women’s champion: Ash Barty! What were the surprises and takeaways from this year’s French Open? Listen to our podcast as we share our insights. Share with us your thoughts below in the comments section. Tags: tennis, rock, rally, podcast, career, 2018, 2019, first, strike ball, slam, major, French, Wimbledon defense, offense,...

The 2019 French Open begins next week with many intriguing storylines. Will Osaka capture her third consecutive major? Will Nadal reign supreme in Paris again? Will Djokovic complete the Djokovic Slam for the second time; and be only the second man in the Open Era to have won the career Grand Slam twice? How will...