Control the Controllables

Control the Controllables

Hosted by the Director of SotoTennis Academy, Dan Kiernan, the Control the Controllables podcast aims to entertain, educate and energise the tennis community, and bring valuable insight from all lenses of the sport to our listeners.

In our weekly episodes, Dan picks the brains of current and former professional tennis players, coaches, parents, and others involved in this game that we love.

We were voted ´Best Tennis Podcast´ of 2021, 2022 and 2023 by the Sports Podcast Awards!

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Recent Episodes

305
Sept. 30, 2026

Toby Samuel: “Everything’s a Choice” – The Mentality Behind His Top 100 Breakthrough

Fifteen months ago Toby Samuel was ranked 1,870 in the world, injured, out of college, and unable to get into the qualifying draw of a 15K. This month he broke into the ATP top 100, made his Davis Cup debut at the Copper Box and won the first rubber for Great Britain to help them qualify for the Davis Cup Finals. In 2025, Toby won 62 matches and climbed further up the rankings than any other male player in the world. He did it without fanfare, without headlines and by his own admission, st
304
Sept. 24, 2026

Joe Salisbury & Rajeev Ram Retirement Special

Two Retirements. Two Incredible Careers. This week on Control the Controllables, we're marking the retirement of Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury, two of the finest doubles players of their generation and two of the most generous guests we´ve had on the show. Between them: 6 major titles each. 4 men's doubles crowns together, including the Australian Open in 2020 and that remarkable US Open three-peat in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Joe became only the second British man ever to reach World Number 1,
303
Sept. 16, 2026

US Open 2026 Review: New Champions, Big Talking Points & Lessons from New York

What a US Open! We saw two new champions crowned in New York, plenty of our pre-tournament predictions were ripped up, and both draws gave us lots of storylines. In our final Grand Slam Review episode of 2026, Host Dan Kiernan is joined by our panel:- Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Doubles Champion, Freddie Nielsen Sports broadcaster and former CNN anchor Candy Reid Coach, podcaster and former agent Johnny Delgado Kieron Vorster, Fitness Coach to Tem Henman, Dan Evans & Wa
302
Aug. 30, 2026

US Open Preview 2026! Everything To Look Out For!

Follow the Podcast Here: https://www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast/ Follow Tennis Athlete Here: https://www.instagram.com/tennisathlete_sta/ Follow SotoTennis Academy Here: https://www.instagram.com/sototennis/?hl=en Email us: info@sototennis.com US Open 2026 preview. Dan is joined by Freddie Nielsen, Denmark Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon doubles champion, Candy Reid live in New Yorks, and first-time guest Johnny Delgado, coach and podcaster. In this episode: Are both the men’s and
301
Aug. 28, 2026

Ingrid Neel: How To Be Mentally Resilient Recovering From Injuries And Set Backs.

Follow the Podcast Here: https://www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast/ Follow Tennis Athlete Here: https://www.instagram.com/tennisathlete_sta/ Follow SotoTennis Academy Here: https://www.instagram.com/sototennis/?hl=en Email us: info@sototennis.com You've drilled the technique. You've done the fitness. And still, in the match or the tiebreak, when you have chances to close out, something else takes over. That's not a skill you're missing. It's something that's never actually been measured, until n
Aug. 27, 2026

Reaction To The 2026 US Open Mixed Doubles. Was It A Success?

Reaction to the 2026 US Open Mixed Doubles event. Was it a success? About Control the Controllables US Open Live Dan Kiernan and a different special guest across the US Open fortnight, bringing you analysis from inside the grounds. Live on the CTC YouTube channel. Episodes drop as podcasts the next morning wherever you get your podcasts. Brought to you by Novellus: https://novellusfinance.com/uk/ TennisAthlete delivers age-appropriate, research-backed strength and conditioning programme

About the Host

Daniel Kiernan Profile Photo
Daniel Kiernan

Show Host

As well as the host of the Control the Controllables Podcast, Dan Kiernan is a WTA/ATP doubles coach, Director of SotoTennis Academy in Spain, and Dad of three.

Dan has more than 20 years of coaching experience through all levels of the game. He currently coaches top 10 WTA ranked doubles players Gabriela Dabrowski & Erin Routliffe, guiding them to two US Open doubles titles, and the WTA Tour Finals title in 2024. He has also previously worked with Lloyd Glasspool, Harri Heliövaara, Mike Venus, Nikola Mektić, Evan Hoyt, and multiple top ITF juniors.

Originally from Consett in Co Durham, England, Dan was captain of Louisiana State University Men´s team before turning pro. He achieved a career-high doubles ranking of No. 150 (British No. 1), and competed at Wimbledon in 2004 and 2005.

In 2010, Dan and his wife Victoria founded SotoTennis Academy in Sotogrande, Spain. A boutique performance academy, STA provides personalised training programmes in a supportive and nurturing team environment, using tennis as a vehicle for success both on and off the court.

Alongside his coaching and podcasting, Dan has shared his insights at coaching conferences and provided commentary for the BBC, bringing his experience and passion for the game to a wider audience.

When he´s not on court or interviewing big names in the tennis world, Dan can be found watching his beloved Newcastle United or running around after his 3 children!