The Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast · Craig Shapiro

High Performance Coach and Broadcaster Craig Kardon Talks Tennis with Craig Shapiro

·28 min·2 clips

How did a handwritten diagram help Martina Navratilova defeat Monica Seles in a Paris final?

The episode is structured into a five-set format, with host Craig Shapiro guiding the conversation. In the first set, the 'Off the Court Report,' Kardon talks about attending the Arizona Tennis Classic in Phoenix, highlighting its old-school, intimate feel and player-friendly environment. The second set, 'On the Court Report,' delves into the current tennis season, with Kardon praising Daniil Medvedev's tactical adjustment against Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells and discussing the challenges of desert tennis. He also touches on women's tennis, noting Elena Rybakina's strong form and Iga Świątek's impressive run. The third set focuses on Kardon's career, starting with his early tennis days in Dallas and his scholarship to the University of Texas. He details his coaching journey, beginning with Martina Navratilova in 1988, sharing anecdotes like driving in Australia to fetch her skirt and strategizing her win over Monica Seles in Paris. Kardon also mentions coaching Mary Pierce and others, emphasizing the importance of listening and adaptability in coaching. The fourth set is a rapid-fire '10 Ball Scramble' where Kardon answers quick questions, revealing his favorite players and opinions on tour issues like ball quality and player box etiquette. The fifth set, 'King of the Court,' has Kardon propose eliminating let serves to improve match fluidity. The episode concludes with Kardon's upcoming plans, including work with Tennis Channel and support for players like Mitchell Krueger and Adrian Mannarino.

As heard by us

A brisk look at a coach’s life in elite tennis, with the real pull coming from how he sees the game.

Craig Kardon’s story moves from Dallas to Texas scholarship tennis, then into the pro circuit and the coaching work that followed. The most engaging part is how ordinary the details feel and how much they add up: Brookhaven Country Club, the Texas practice courts, Martina…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

For a straight-talk route from Dallas tennis to the inside of Martina's world.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from The Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast