The Cruelest Game with Matt Futterman: Why Players Quit, Their Childhoods, and Happiness Compared to Other Sports

The Cruelest Game with Matt Futterman: Why Players Quit, Their Childhoods, and Happiness Compared to Other Sports

Author: Will Boucek August 7, 2026 Duration: 1:01:37
Matt Futterman is an award-winning sports journalist for The Athletic and New York Times. His new book is The Cruelest Game: Chasing Greatness in Professional Tennis. This is a fascinating conversation about the book and why professional tennis can feel uniquely brutal, even for the best players in the world. We talk through the childhood pipeline, the mental load of constant losing, and what separates the era of Serena, Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic from the stars trying to survive now. ...

Hosted by Will Boucek, the Doubles Only Tennis Podcast is a dedicated space for players and fans who live for the unique challenges and fast-paced action of the doubles court. This isn't just another general tennis show; it's a deep, consistent dive into the strategy, partnerships, and nuanced skills that define the professional game. You'll hear directly from the athletes who make their living at the net, with interviews featuring both ATP and WTA tour doubles specialists, as well as conversations with the coaches who develop winning tactics. Each episode is built around actionable advice, translating pro-level insights into practical tips you can use in your own matches. Whether you're struggling with your serve placement, want to master poaching, or are figuring out how to communicate effectively with a partner, this podcast breaks it down. The mission is clear: to elevate the discussion and appreciation for doubles, providing the focused coverage it deserves while helping you sharpen every aspect of your game. Tune in for a mix of analysis, instruction, and behind-the-scenes perspectives that you won't find anywhere else, all designed to make you a more thoughtful and effective doubles player.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Doubles Only Tennis Podcast
Podcast Episodes
The ATP Doubles Debate with Ben Rothenberg: Should They Cut Doubles? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:59
The ATP is rumored to be shrinking men’s doubles draws and shifting prize money over to singles, part of what has been a slow retreat from doubles over the past few decades. I don't agree with the decision and wanted to…
AMA: Baseline Role, Backhand Volley Fix, How to Beat 2-up, & More [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:55
This AMA episode covers a variety of topics, including net position, formations, and strategy frameworks. A few of the lessons are from a tight mixed doubles match that I recently played, while the others are from Tennis…
3 Lessons from Tennis Summit 2026 with Mehrban Iranshad [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:24
Mehrban Iranshad is the founder of Tennis Summit, an online tennis conference for club players who want to improve. I've presented at the conference for four years in a row and have a presentation this year on doubles fo…