Inside the Wires | Platform Tennis and Paddle podcast · Inside the Wires

S4E15 The men's champs, Stephen Mitchell and Johan du Randt!

·1 hr 39 min·5 clips

Stephen Mitchell played the national championship with two groin tears, relying on pain meds and adrenaline.

This episode features hosts Noah and Ben interviewing Stephen Mitchell and Johan du Randt, the reigning men's national platform tennis champions. Mitchell and du Randt discuss their successful season, which included winning multiple Grand Prix events and the national championship. The conversation covers their recent national title run, during which Mitchell played through a significant groin injury involving two tears. Mitchell details injuring his groin on an underhand serve just days before the tournament and relying on treatment from massage therapist Scott Davis. Du Randt describes adapting his play during their quarterfinal match, taking over most of the court due to Mitchell's limited mobility. The pair analyze a specific moment where a crowd interruption inadvertently fueled du Randt's competitive fire. They discuss the strategic use of aggressive "FYM" shots and chaotic transition play to control match tempo. A notable insight is du Randt's belief that his skills plateaued years ago, while he expected Mitchell to continue improving. Mitchell reveals the severity of his injury left him barely able to walk after the tournament. The champions explain their tactical approach to "organized chaos," using specific shots to force opponents into uncomfortable, fast-paced exchanges. They credit their tennis backgrounds, particularly in doubles and serve-and-volley, for their paddle success. Du Randt shares an amusing story about being frustrated by Randy Lofgren's tricky high-cut serve in a match. The pair humorously debate whether intentionally annoying your partner during a match is a viable strategy. They attribute the strong presence of South African champions in the sport to a cultural emphasis on doubles tennis and varied sports participation during childhood. The tone is casual, humorous, and filled with inside jokes between the longtime partners. This episode is ideal for competitive platform tennis players interested in high-level strategy and the mindset of champions. Listeners who enjoy personal anecdotes and the camaraderie between elite athletes will appreciate the conversation. Those seeking a highly structured, technical lesson might find the free-flowing discussion less applicable.

As heard by us

Stephen Mitchell and Johan Durant reflect on a national-title run with veteran banter and a few sideways detours.

Stephen Mitchell and Johan Durant come through here as the kind of veterans who know exactly how to keep a post-title conversation loose without losing the point.

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Why you'd press play

A lively champs-side chat with Stephen Mitchell and Johan Durant after the national championship.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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