Tennis IQ Podcast
by Tennis IQ Podcast
Ninety percent of tennis performance is mental and that's what makes the sport so difficult. Sport psychology professionals Brian Lomax and Josh Burger share their insights on mental performance in tennis, discuss current events in the world of tennis, and interview guests with a unique perspective on mental toughness. Whether you want to learn more about the mental game in tennis or you just have an interest in the sport, this is the podcast for you. Send your questions to [email protected] or via Twitter using #tennisiq.
Episodes
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Ep. 267 - John Mollura and Making Good Decisions Repeatable
John Mollura is a keynote speaker, author of Let It Fly, and leadership coach who helps high-performing leaders and organizations create clarity, build trust, take decisive action, and grow confidence. John spent 15 years leading mission-critical field testing supporting NASA and elite U.S....
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Ep. 266 - Min Hoezoo-Mahmut on Pursuing Tennis and Other Passions
Min Hoezoo-Mahmut is a national and international competitive female player, a writer with experience at national publications, and a university student. The conversation covers Min’s varied background and interests in fashion, music, and the arts paired with her competitive tennis experience at...
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Ep. 265 - Motivational Interviewing Part 2 - RULE
In this second episode on Motivational Interviewing (MI), Brian and Josh discuss the acronym RULE which stands for resist the righting reflex, understand the patient’s own motivations, listen with empathy, and empower the person. The co-hosts review how these four guidelines can be helpful for...
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Ep. 264 - The Daily Champions Mind with Dr. Jim Afremow and Phil White
In this episode, Josh and Brian talk to Dr. Jim Afremow and Phil White about their new book, The Daily Champions Mind: 365 Days of Mental Toughness Training with the World's Greatest Athletes. Jim Afremow, PhD, is a sport and performance psychologist, licensed professional counselor, and the...
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Ep. 263 - Motivational Interviewing and Behavior Change | Part 1 OARS
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss part one of a three part series on motivational interviewing (MI). In this first episode, they review the acronym OARS (Open ended questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summarize) as a means of understanding a person's motivation to change. The co-hosts...
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Ep. 262 - The Focus on Character in Little Mo Tournaments
Cindy Brinker Simmons is a Dallas-based businesswoman, philanthropist, author, and longtime leader in junior tennis. She is the daughter of legendary tennis champion Maureen “Little Mo” Connolly Brinker. Cindy was a nationally ranked junior player, ranked No. 1 in Texas in her age division. She...
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Ep. 261 - On Court Exercises For Concentration And Attention
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss four concentration exercises from the book Mindset: A Mental Guide for Sport by Jackie Reardon and Hans Dekkers. The co-hosts described the four exercises: feeling (internal + narrow focus), zooming (external + narrow focus), scanning (external + broad...
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Ep. 260 - On Becoming Antifragile
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the concept of fragility, and how tennis players can learn to become antifragile. Various Stoic principles connected to fragility are examined including controlling the controllables, anticipating and expecting difficulties, and not letting events and…
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Ep. 259 - "I'm way better than my rating!"
Whether it's UTR, WTN, NTRP, or some other rating system, it's likely that you believe you're a better player than the rating suggests. In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss this common belief and why players think that way. They also review how obsessing over ratings and rankings actually…
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Ep. 258 - Dr. Sue Jackson and Flow in Tennis
Dr. Sue Jackson is a performance psychologist and leading expert in the psychology of flow – the state of deep focus and full absorption where people perform at their best and experience their work and life most fully. She works with high performers across sport, business, medicine, and the arts,...
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Ep. 257 - How To Create More Clutch Moments In A Match
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can generate more clutch moments in their matches. The co-hosts review research from multiple sports about the conditions that lead to a greater likelihood of clutch moments, and offer practical suggestions that players can use during...
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Ep. 256 - "Every time I lose, it's like the end of the world"
"Every time I lose, it's like the end of the world." This is what Mirra Andreeva said after losing the final in Madrid in May of this year. Josh and Brian discuss this quote from a psychological point of view. Although much of the discussion centers on Andreeva, she represents what a lot of…
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Ep. 255 - A Mental Performance Look at Roland Garros 2026
Roland Garros 2026 has wrapped up with Mirra Andreeva winning the women’s singles title over Maja Chwalińska 6-3, 6-2, and Alexander Zverev winning the men’s singles title over Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1. In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the women’s and men’s singles...
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Ep. 254 - How to Use Patience in a Match and in Your Career
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the virtue of patience and its importance both within a point and match (micro) as well as throughout a player’s career and tennis journey. Various mental skills are discussed that players can work to help them to develop patience within the micro and the...
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Ep. 253 - Lisa Stone of ParentingAces | Helping Families Navigate Junior Tennis
Lisa Stone is the founder and creator of ParentingAces, a podcast and digital platform dedicated to junior and college tennis parents and coaches. Lisa is a lifelong tennis player and UCLA graduate, she grew up in Louisiana and raised three children, one of whom developed into a highly…
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Ep. 252 - A Tribute to Jim Loehr | A Pioneer in Sport Psychology for Tennis
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the legacy of Dr. Jim Loehr. The episode is divided into four sections: 1) Dr. Loehr as a pioneer and “the first one out there” in the field of sport/performance psychology within tennis, 2) the legacy and importance of the 16‑Second Cure, 3) his shift in...
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Ep. 251 - The Paradox of Outcomes and Cameron Young
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss an article about Cameron Young from the PGA Tour and the paradox of outcomes. They talked about how acceptance of his self-talk, staying present, and taking things one shot at a time ultimately led to his success at The Players Championship. The co-hosts...
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Ep. 250 - Finding Your Natural Style of Play
In this episode, Brian and Josh review an article about Emma Raadacanu losing her “natural” playing style and trying to find it again. They discuss the issues with coaches teaching a ‘one size fits all’ approach to tennis and advocate for players to build their game based on individual strengths...
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Ep. 249 - Understanding First Round/Match Anxiety
The first round of a tournament or the first match of a league/conference championship weekend can lead to more anxious feelings for tennis players. In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss research on first match anxiety to help you understand it better, and take practical steps to handle it...
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Ep. 248 - The Benefits of Using Constraints
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can benefit by taking a constraints led approach. They talk about constraints that tennis players can establish in practices and matches, and differentiate between preclude and promote constraints. Although it may seem that constraints…
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Ep. 247 - Rethinking The Origins Of Greatness
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the origins of greatness in performance, and whether early specialization increases one's chances of becoming truly elite. They review research that showed 90% of top performers were not the top juniors and, conversely that 90% of the top junior players did...
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Ep. 246 - The Impact of Mental Fatigue on Performance and Accuracy
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the impact of mental fatigue on tennis performance. Research on this topic includes a systematic review from 2024 which looked at mental fatigue in various racquet sports, as well as a 2025 Turkish study which showed that mental fatigue impaired...
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Ep. 245 - A Critical Look at AI in Tennis
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss artificial intelligence (AI) and its applications within tennis. The co-hosts discuss certain benefits of using tennis chatbots for training and preparing for matches, while also caution against the over-reliance on this technology. They emphasize that AI...
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Ep. 244 - Turning Concepts Into Actions - That's Elite
In this episode Brian and Josh discuss the concept of “knowing the nouns and practicing the verbs”. The co-hosts discussed how tennis players ought to prioritize taking action when it comes to their progress as a player and should strive to focus on the process needed to improve rather than...
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Ep. 243 - Mental Performance Themes at the 2026 Australian Open
The 2026 Australian Open has wrapped up with Elena Rybakina winning the women’s singles title over Aryna Sabalenka 6–4, 4-6, 6-4, and Carlos Alcaraz winning the men’s singles title over Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5. In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the women’s and men’s singles...
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Ep. 242 - The Long-Term Problem Of Playing With Fear
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can choose to become great or stay within their comfort zone and limit their growth. The co-hosts discussed how focusing on long-term progress by playing the best version of their game and focusing on becoming the best player that they…
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Tribute to Bill Tym - The Evolution of a Champion (Ep. 13)
With the recent passing of Bill Tym, we wanted to re-release our interview with him from 2020 as a tribute to his legacy. Coach Tym was a major influence in the development of some truly excellent competitors in tennis. We hope that you will be inspired by his words and stories. Check out the…
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Ep. 241 - Don't Skip Out On Your Habits
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the importance of habit consistency. Based on a chapter from Areté by Brian Johnson, they talked about why just showing up to perform your habit behavior is actually more important than feeling like you need to be great at your habits. The pair also…
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Ep. 240 - Emotional Intelligence and Performance
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss emotional intelligence and its impact on tennis performance. They define the term and cover its application to tennis. Additionally, they discuss how building greater emotional intelligence leads tennis players to improve their performance and have more...
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Ep. 239 - Mental Fortitude and Amanda Anisimova
Based on an interview with The Guardian, Brian and Josh discuss some mental performance themes behind Amanda Anisimova's remarkable 2025 season. Link to interview…
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Ep. 238 - Attribution Theory and How We Explain Results
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss attribution theory and its impact on tennis performance. The co-hosts talk about how the interpretation of results makes a significant difference in how tennis players move on and grow from matches that they play. They reviewed the various factors that are...
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Ep. 237 - Chris Harwood and the 5Cs
Chris Harwood, PhD is a Professor of Sport Psychology at Nottingham Trent University and an Honorary Professor of Loughborough University in the UK. He is currently the Director of the Sport, Health and Performance Enhancement (SHAPE) research centre at NTU where his research interests lie in the...
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Ep. 236 - The Connection Between Passion and Performance
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the multi-faceted relationship between passion and performance (The Dualistic Model of Passion). The co-hosts review the applications of this research for tennis performance, and cover how athletes can improve performance and foster subjective well-being…
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Ep. 235 - The Value of Precommitments in Tennis
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the concept of precommitments as a means for setting intentions for coping with challenges and adversity. Tennis is tough; can you precommit to enjoying yourself, learning, and embracing the challenge? Precommiting to such behaviors gives you a greater…
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Ep. 234 - Do You Get Bored in Your Training?
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the importance of embracing boredom and the mundane in an athlete’s journey towards improvement. They discuss a recent LinkedIn post by Alex Auerbach in which he noted that athletes who embrace boredom during training and competition tend to excel and have...
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Ep. 233 - Unwrapping the Gift of Greatness
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how to attain greatness through adaptability and balance. The co-hosts discuss various chapters from Brian Johnson’s book Areté, which emphasize the importance of these two skills. Lastly, they review how tennis players can become more adaptable over time…
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Ep. 232 - Handling the Loss of Skill or Talent Level
In this episode, Brian and Josh talk about a recent article from the Journal of the Philosophy of Sport regarding "talent loss." The co-hosts outline the three central views of talent loss from the article, share personal experiences and discuss various pro tennis players who have navigated life...
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Ep. 231 - Reframing Situations to Improve Performance
In this episode, Brian and Josh cover how tennis players can build the skill of reframing situations and shifting perspective. The co-hosts discuss why reframing is an important skill for players, review situations where it’s important to be able to reframe, and offer suggestions for how tennis...
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Ep. 230 - Mental Performance Themes from US Open 2025 | Sabalenka, Anisimova, Alcaraz, Sinner
In this episode, Brian and Josh cover the 2025 U.S. Open Championships. They discuss various themes and sport psychology concepts that emerged from the tournament, particularly by champions and finalists Aryna Sabalenka, Amanda Anisimova, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner. To learn more about…
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Ep. 229 - Are Double Faults a Purely Technical Issue?
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss whether double faulting is solely a technical issue, a mental issue, or a combination of the two. Recently Coco Gauff decided to start working with biomechanical expert Gavin MacMillan to help her overcome her increase in double faults. The co-hosts discuss...
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Ep. 228 - The Necessity of Commitment and Enthusiasm on Your Tennis Journey
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the connection between commitment and enthusiasm. Using several quotes as inspiration, they review how tennis players can demonstrate commitment to their journey, show commitment to their goals, and how they can pursue their chosen journey and goals with...
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Ep. 227 - Building Momentum and Breaking It
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the concept of momentum in tennis. First, they define the term, then they discuss the research about momentum in tennis and question whether momentum objectively exists. They review ways for tennis players to build streaks of points, and also ways to…
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Ep. 226 - Developing Wisdom As A Competitive Skill
In this episode, Brian and Josh utilize a recent article about Taylor Fritz as inspiration to discuss the path of wisdom for elite competitors. In the discussion, they discuss specific aspects of Fritz's perspectives on success and achievement, and compare those to the perspectives of elite...
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Ep. 225 - Handling Difficult Emotions Between Points
In this episode, Brian and Josh respond to a listener's question regarding resetting between points and handling emotions on the court. The co-hosts talk about how tennis players can focus on their competitive and fighting skills in addition to their tennis skills and strokes while playing....
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Ep. 224 - The Necessity for Rest and Energy Management
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how to handle training and rest leading up to tournaments. They review how players can approach their tournament schedule for the year to ensure that it aligns with their goals and vision for themselves. Additionally, they examine the importance of rest...
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Ep. 223 - Wimbledon 2025 Mental Performance Themes | Sinner, Alcaraz, Swiatek, Anisimova
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the 2025 Wimbledon Championships. Iga Świątek won the women’s singles title over Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6,0, and Jannik Sinner won the men’s singles title over Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. The co-hosts discuss the women’s and men’s singles championship...
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Ep. 222 - The Benefits of Deep Breathing
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the impact of deep breathing for tennis players. They review the benefits of breathing from a scientific perspective, discuss how tennis players can breathe more effectively during points, and cover how specific breathing exercises can be utilized off the...
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Ep. 221 - How to Use Time as a Tool to Benefit Your Game
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the benefit of going backwards or forwards in time to gain perspective and to perform better in the present. They talk about how looking back to one’s past journey can lead people to find perspective, give themselves more credit, and be proud of the path...
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Ep. 220 - Roland Garros 2025 | Gauff, Sabalenka, Alcaraz, and Sinner
Roland Garros 2025 has wrapped up with Coco Gauff winning the women’s singles title over Aryna Sabalenka 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4, and Carlos Alcaraz winning the men’s singles title over Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2). In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the women’s and men’s singles...
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Ep. 219 - ADHD in Tennis with Dr Josephine Perry
This episode focuses on ADHD in sport, and features an interview with Dr. Josephine Perry. Dr. Josephine Perry is a Chartered Sport Psychologist who works with record breaking athletes, performers on the stage and screen and senior leaders in business, medicine and law. She helps her clients...
About this show
Ninety percent of tennis performance is mental and that's what makes the sport so difficult. Sport psychology professionals Brian Lomax and Josh Burger share their insights on mental performance in tennis, discuss current events in the world of tennis, and interview guests with a unique perspective on mental toughness. Whether you want to learn more about the mental game in tennis or you just have an interest in the sport, this is the podcast for you. Send your questions to [email protected] or via Twitter using #tennisiq.
Hosted by
Tennis IQ Podcast