In Episode 11, hosts Ryan Redondo and Steve Adamson take a closer look at one of the most important decisions a parent can make in a young athlete’s journey: choosing the right coach. Drawing from their experiences as players, coaches, and parents, Ryan and Steve discuss what separates a great coach from a good instructor and why the person guiding a young athlete can have an impact that extends far beyond the tennis court.

Ryan and Steve explain that great coaching is about much more than forehands, backhands, technique, or credentials. The best coaches care about their players, understand how to develop them over time, build trust, and create an environment where athletes feel empowered to grow. They also discuss why the relationship between a player and coach can influence a young athlete for years to come.

The conversation then turns to what parents should actually look for when evaluating a coach. Ryan and Steve discuss the importance of character, communication, development, trust, coaching style, and finding the right personality fit for each individual athlete. They also explain why a highly credentialed coach isn’t necessarily the right coach for every player and why the relationship itself can matter more than a résumé.

In this episode, they explore:

✅ What parents should look for when choosing a coach
✅ Why a coach’s influence extends beyond teaching tennis
✅ Why caring and character can matter more than credentials
✅ The importance of trust between the player, coach, and parent
✅ How the right coach can help develop both the athlete and the person
✅ Why the best coach for one player may not be the best coach for another
✅ The difference between transformational and transactional coaching
✅ When bringing in a specialized or additional coach can help
✅ Why too many coaching voices can become confusing for young athletes
✅ The importance of having a long-term development plan
✅ How a coach’s personality and coaching style should fit the individual player
✅ Why the culture and environment surrounding a coach matter
✅ How involved parents should be in their child’s development
✅ Why young athletes need opportunities to struggle, fail, and solve problems on their own
✅ How parents, players, and coaches can communicate more effectively
✅ When it may be time to change coaches
✅ Why losing matches doesn’t necessarily mean a player needs a new coach
✅ Why parents should look for a mentor, not just an instructor

Ryan and Steve also discuss the role parents play in the player-coach relationship. While parents make enormous sacrifices to support young athletes, they explain why there also needs to be room for players to develop independence, experience failure, and learn how to solve problems on their own. Open communication between the parent, player, and coach can help everyone understand their role while keeping the athlete’s long-term development at the center of the process.

The conversation also tackles one of the most difficult questions for families: when is it time to change coaches? Ryan and Steve explain why a few bad results shouldn’t automatically lead to a coaching change and why development can sometimes require temporary struggles. Instead, parents should pay attention to whether the coach still believes in the player, cares about their development, communicates openly, and remains invested in helping them reach their goals.

Ultimately, Ryan and Steve return to a simple idea: choose character over credentials and look for a mentor, not just an instructor. The right coach should care, build trust, understand development, and help guide a young athlete both on and off the court.

Whether you’re a parent searching for the right coach, a young athlete navigating your development, or a coach looking to make a greater impact, this episode offers an in-depth look at the relationships, trust, communication, and environment that can shape an athlete’s journey for years to come.

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Hosted by Ryan Redondo and Steve Adamson and recorded at the Barnes Tennis Center, home of Youth Tennis San Diego.

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In Episode 10, hosts Ryan Redondo and Steve Adamson welcome Billie Jean King, one of the most influential figures in the history of tennis and sports. A 39-time Grand Slam champion and trailblazer for women’s sports, she joins the show during the Billie Jean King Girls Nationals at Barnes Tennis Center to reflect on her journey, the lessons tennis has taught her, and the advice she hopes the next generation will carry forward.

Billie Jean King reflects on watching today’s junior players compete and remembering what it was like to be their age. Despite eventually becoming one of the greatest players in tennis history, she shares that she never won a junior national title and understands firsthand the pressure young athletes experience. She explains why pressure can be a privilege and why staying focused on the process is so important when competing in big moments.

The conversation then turns to her beginnings on the public courts of Long Beach, where free access to tennis helped change the course of her life. Billie Jean King recalls earning the money for her first racket, the coaches and community members who supported her development, and the role her parents played in teaching her responsibility, determination, and belief in herself.

In this episode, they explore:

✅ What the Billie Jean King Girls Nationals means to her
✅ Why pressure is a privilege and how young athletes can handle big moments
✅ The importance of staying in the process and learning to “go slow to go fast”
✅ Why watching the ball all the way to the contact point matters
✅ How her parents helped develop her competitive mindset and belief in herself
✅ Growing up in an era when girls were discouraged from participating in sports
✅ The impact of her first coach, Clyde Walker, and free public tennis in Long Beach
✅ Why young athletes should only play if they truly love the game
✅ How training in Australia helped her become the No. 1 player in the world
✅ Why relationships are everything in sports and life
✅ Why tennis should be promoted as both a team and individual sport
✅ Earning the money to buy her first tennis racket
✅ Why understanding the history of tennis can help shape the future of the sport
✅ The three life lessons Billie Jean King believes everyone should carry with them
✅ Why tennis teaches responsibility, problem-solving, concentration, and resilience
✅ Her message to young people: believe in yourself and define yourself

Billie Jean King also shares three principles developed through years of observing people: relationships are everything, keep learning and keep learning how to learn, and be a problem solver and an innovator. She explains how these lessons extend far beyond the tennis court and can help people throughout every stage of life.

Ryan, Steve, and Billie Jean King also discuss the importance of making tennis accessible, the value of team environments for young players, learning from the history of the sport, and the responsibility athletes develop through competition. She reflects on the people and opportunities that helped shape her career and why creating those same opportunities for future generations remains so important.

The episode closes with a powerful message from Billie Jean King to young people: go for it, believe in yourself, and don’t let others define you. You define yourself.

Whether you’re a player, parent, coach, sports fan, or someone pursuing a goal of your own, this episode offers a rare conversation about competition, opportunity, relationships, responsibility, and the lessons that helped Billie Jean King change tennis and sports forever.

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Hosted by Ryan Redondo and Steve Adamson and recorded at the Barnes Tennis Center, home of Youth Tennis San Diego.

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In Episode 9, hosts Ryan Redondo and Steve Adamson welcome James McKie, Director of College and Pro Player Development at UTR, to discuss player development, college tennis, the role of UTR, and why ratings and rankings should never become more important than the process of becoming a better player. James McKie brings a unique perspective shaped by his journey from Scotland to Division I college tennis, 12 years of college coaching, and his current role helping connect collegiate and professional player development at UTR.

James McKie reflects on beginning tennis at four years old in Scotland, including being coached by Judy Murray, before eventually coming to the United States to play at Drake University. He shares how his experiences as a player shaped his approach to development, including one lesson he wishes he had understood earlier: the importance of truly believing in yourself and developing the confidence to compete against anyone.

The conversation then turns to James McKie's coaching career at Fresno State, Tulane, and Tennessee and the environments that help players develop. James McKie explains why athletes need to become comfortable being uncomfortable, why coaches shouldn't make everything easy for their players, and why competing, relationships, character, and enjoying the game are critical parts of long-term development.

In this episode, they explore:

✅ Growing up playing tennis in Scotland and being coached by Judy Murray
✅ Playing Division I college tennis at Drake University
✅ Why James McKie wishes he had believed in himself more as a player
✅ How confidence, competitiveness, and environment shape player development
✅ Coaching at Fresno State, Tulane, and Tennessee
✅ Why players need to become comfortable being uncomfortable
✅ The importance of making tennis challenging while keeping the game fun
✅ Why parents need to trust the coaches and environments they choose for their children
✅ How UTR is being used throughout junior, collegiate, and professional tennis
✅ How the changing landscape of college tennis is affecting junior players and recruiting
✅ Why young players should use increased competition for college roster spots as motivation
✅ How the UTR Pro Tennis Tour can help aspiring professionals develop through meaningful match play
✅ Why players and parents shouldn't obsess over their UTR rating
✅ Why character can sometimes tell coaches more about a player than rankings or ratings

James McKie also offers a particularly important message for players and parents: stop checking the number all the time. While UTR can provide an accurate benchmark of a player's level, James McKie argues that development should remain focused on environment, coaching, competition, enjoyment, and consistently showing up to improve.

The episode closes with a powerful example from James McKie's recruiting career about taking a chance on a player because of his character rather than simply his rating. That player entered Tennessee as a 12.1 UTR and eventually developed into a 14.5-level player ranked around No. 200 in the world.

Whether you're a junior tennis player, parent, coach, college athlete, or aspiring professional, this episode offers an inside look at what ratings can tell you, what they can't, and why the person and player you become matters more than the number next to your name.

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Hosted by Ryan Redondo and Steve Adamson and recorded at the Barnes Tennis Center, home of Youth Tennis San Diego.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Your support helps us reach more players, parents, coaches, and fans across the racquet sports community.

In Episode 8, hosts Ryan Redondo and Steve Adamson welcome the show’s first professional pickleball guest, Jay Devilliers, a professional pickleball player, former APP Tour No. 1, and Major League Pickleball athlete. Jay shares his journey from growing up in France and pursuing a career in professional tennis to becoming one of the top players in professional pickleball.

Jay reflects on growing up as the youngest of seven children in an intensely competitive family, choosing tennis over soccer at age 14, and leaving France to train at a tennis academy in Spain. He discusses how different training environments shaped him as an athlete, the injuries that changed his tennis career, and his eventual move to the United States to play Division I college tennis at Wichita State.

The conversation then turns to the unexpected opportunity that introduced Jay to pickleball. After college, Jay accepted a job as a pickleball director despite having never played the sport. As pickleball began to grow, he discovered an opportunity to revive his dream of becoming a professional athlete and took a chance on pursuing the sport full-time.

In this episode, they explore:

✅ Growing up in France as the youngest of seven children in an extremely competitive family
✅ Choosing between high-level soccer and tennis at just 14 years old
✅ Leaving home to train at a tennis academy in Spain and developing a "warrior" mentality
✅ How injuries changed his path toward becoming a professional tennis player
✅ The decision to come to the United States and play Division I college tennis at Wichita State
✅ How college tennis improved his doubles game and helped prepare him for pickleball
✅ Taking a job as a pickleball director before he had ever played the sport
✅ Why Jay decided to gamble on professional pickleball while the sport was still developing
✅ How his tennis background, preparation, and competitive mindset gave him an edge in professional pickleball
✅ Why Jay is willing to do whatever it takes to compete and win
✅ The importance of parents understanding what their children truly want from sports
✅ Why every young athlete has their own path to development and success

Ryan, Steve, and Jay also discuss the differences between tennis development in France, Spain, and the United States, what it takes to create a professional mindset, and how the competitive landscape of pickleball has evolved. Jay shares his perspective as both a professional athlete and a parent, emphasizing the importance of supporting young athletes without trying to live your own dreams through them.

Whether you're a tennis or pickleball player, parent, coach, or sports fan, this episode offers a fascinating look at competition, development, adaptability, and what can happen when one athletic dream leads to an entirely new opportunity.

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Hosted by Ryan Redondo and Steve Adamson and recorded at the Barnes Tennis Center, home of Youth Tennis San Diego.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Your support helps us reach more players, parents, coaches, and fans across the racquet sports community.

In Episode 7, hosts Ryan Redondo and Steve Adamson welcome Brandon Nakashima, ATP Tour professional, San Diego native, ATP Tour champion, and current World No. 31. Brandon shares the journey that took him from local courts in San Diego to competing among the world's best, offering an inside look at the mindset, habits, and support system that have shaped his career.

Brandon reflects on his early years in tennis, the importance of building strong fundamentals, and why enjoying the process mattered more than chasing rankings or trophies. He discusses the role his family and first coach played in his development, his experiences in junior tennis, his decision to attend the University of Virginia before turning professional, and the lessons he's learned from competing on the ATP Tour. Throughout the conversation, Brandon emphasizes that success is built through consistency, humility, and a commitment to improving every day.

In this episode, they explore:

✅ Growing up in San Diego and discovering a love for tennis at an early age
✅ Why strong fundamentals and great coaching lay the foundation for long-term success
✅ The role his family played in supporting his journey while keeping the focus on enjoyment and development
✅ Why junior players should prioritize development over rankings and move up only when they're ready
✅ The value of college tennis and how it prepared him for life on the ATP Tour
✅ The challenges of transitioning from junior tennis to the professional game
✅ What separates the world's best players from everyone else, both mentally and physically
✅ Why focusing on the process instead of results leads to long-term success
✅ Staying humble, giving back to the community, and remembering where you came from
✅ Why tennis should never define who you are as a person

Ryan, Steve, and Brandon also discuss the importance of mental resilience, learning to handle pressure, trusting your preparation, and surrounding yourself with people who keep you grounded. Brandon shares practical advice for players, parents, and coaches on creating healthy environments for development and why true success extends far beyond wins, losses, and rankings.

Whether you're a player, parent, coach, or sports fan, this episode offers valuable insights on player development, mindset, resilience, and the habits that create lasting success, both on and off the court.

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Follow us for clips, behind-the-scenes content, guest highlights, and conversations about tennis, pickleball, padel, athlete development, and the future of racquet sports.

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Hosted by Ryan Redondo and Steve Adamson and recorded at the Barnes Tennis Center, home of Youth Tennis San Diego.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Your support helps us reach more players, parents, coaches, and fans across the racquet sports community.

In Episode 6, hosts Ryan Redondo and Steve Adamson welcome Sem Verbeek, Wimbledon Mixed Doubles Champion, ATP Tour professional, former ITF World No. 1, and one of the most inspiring stories in professional tennis. Sem shares his remarkable journey from discovering tennis at age 10 in Amsterdam to winning Wimbledon, proving that success isn't determined by how early you start; it's built through discipline, purpose, and a relentless commitment to the process.

Sem opens up about his unconventional path through junior tennis, training at IMG Academy, competing in NCAA Division I tennis at the University of the Pacific, and the strategic four-year plans that guided every stage of his professional career. Throughout the conversation, he shares why focusing on daily improvement, rather than results, became the foundation for reaching the highest levels of the sport.

In this episode, they explore:

✅ Starting tennis at age 10 and choosing it over soccer at 12
✅ Training at IMG Academy and overcoming the challenges of being overlooked as a recruit
✅ How college tennis transformed his confidence, discipline, and professional aspirations
✅ Why creating long-term strategic plans helped shape his career
✅ The mental side of professional tennis and managing pressure through process goals
✅ Winning the 2025 Wimbledon Mixed Doubles Championship and embracing the biggest moments in tennis
✅ Building resilience through setbacks, injuries, and years on the professional tour
✅ The importance of mentorship, emotional intelligence, and surrounding yourself with the right people
✅ Lessons for players, parents, and coaches on development, mindset, and long-term success
✅ His goals beyond Wimbledon, including pursuing the 2028 Olympic Games and continuing to grow both on and off the court

Ryan, Steve, and Sem also discuss why emotions should be trained just like forehands and serves, how preparation creates confidence, and why success comes from consistently investing in the process rather than obsessing over results. Sem's journey is a powerful reminder that greatness isn't about where you begin; it's about the habits, people, and mindset you build along the way.

Whether you're a player, parent, coach, or sports fan, this episode delivers valuable lessons on resilience, discipline, leadership, and what it truly means to keep Serving the Future.

Connect with The Serving the Future Show

Follow us for clips, behind-the-scenes content, guest highlights, and conversations about tennis, pickleball, padel, athlete development, and the future of racquet sports.

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Hosted by Ryan Redondo and Steve Adamson and recorded at the Barnes Tennis Center, home of Youth Tennis San Diego.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Your support helps us reach more players, parents, coaches, and fans across the racquet sports community.

Welcome back to The Serving the Future Show, recorded at the Barnes Tennis Center, home of Youth Tennis San Diego.

In Episode 5, hosts Ryan Redondo and Steve Adamson welcome one of the most accomplished athletes in tennis history, David Wagner, a 29-time Grand Slam Champion, multiple Paralympic medalist, former World No. 1, and one of the pioneers who helped transform wheelchair tennis on the global stage. David shares his remarkable journey from discovering tennis as a college student, overcoming a life-changing spinal cord injury, to becoming one of the greatest wheelchair tennis players of all time.

David reflects on the mindset, resilience, and support system that carried him through unimaginable adversity. He discusses how his family, coaches, and community helped shape his outlook, why preparation became his greatest competitive advantage, and how embracing challenges, not avoiding them, led to decades of success. He also shares behind-the-scenes stories from the Paralympics and Grand Slams, including friendships with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, and other legends of the sport.

In this episode, they explore:

✅ David's journey from aspiring basketball player to wheelchair tennis legend
✅ Recovering from a life-changing spinal cord injury at just 21 years old
✅ How mindset, resilience, and community shaped his championship career
✅ The evolution of wheelchair tennis and helping bring the sport to the Grand Slams
✅ Winning 29 Grand Slam titles and multiple Paralympic medals
✅ Managing pressure, overcoming setbacks, and sustaining excellence for decades
✅ The importance of preparation, self-belief, and continuous improvement
✅ Stories from competing alongside Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Serena Williams, and other tennis greats
✅ Why coaching and mentoring the next generation has become David's new mission
✅ Advice for players, parents, and coaches on building resilience, confidence, and long-term success

Ryan, Steve, and David also discuss the growth of wheelchair tennis, the importance of creating opportunities for young athletes with disabilities, and how sports can transform lives far beyond competition. David's story is a powerful reminder that greatness isn't defined by circumstances—it's built through perseverance, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to becoming the best version of yourself.

Whether you're a player, parent, coach, or sports fan, this episode delivers inspiring lessons on resilience, leadership, mindset, and what it truly means to keep Serving the Future. 🎾

📺 Watch David's documentary, "Lines of Determination," from Your Everyday Heroes to learn more about his incredible journey.

https://youreverydayheroes.com/hero/david-wagner-hero-story/

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Hosted by Ryan Redondo and Steve Adamson and recorded at the Barnes Tennis Center, home of Youth Tennis San Diego.

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Welcome back to The Serving the Future Show, recorded at the Barnes Tennis Center, home of Youth Tennis San Diego.

In this episode, hosts Ryan Redondo and Steve Adamson tackle one of the most common questions they hear from parents of junior athletes:

What's the best educational path for my child? Public school, private school, an academy, or online learning?

Drawing from their own experiences in tennis and decades of coaching junior players, Ryan and Steve dive into the realities of balancing education, player development, tournament travel, and long-term success. Ryan shares his personal journey through public school, tennis academies, and online education, while Steve offers insight from coaching players who have gone on to compete at top colleges and on the professional tour.

In this episode, they explore:

✅ The advantages and challenges of public school, private school, academies, and online learning
✅ How parents can realistically assess their child's goals, development, and opportunities
✅ Why there is no single "right" pathway for every athlete
✅ The importance of social development, relationships, and life experiences outside of tennis
✅ How the modern junior tennis landscape has changed with ITF rankings, international competition, and college recruiting
✅ Why environment, culture, accountability, and personal growth matter as much as results
✅ When online schooling may be the right choice, and when traditional school may provide greater long-term benefits

The conversation also examines the increasing professionalization of youth sports, the evolving college tennis landscape, and the difficult decisions families face when pursuing high-level athletic goals.

Whether you're a parent, player, coach, or educator, this episode offers honest perspectives and practical insights into finding the pathway that best supports both athletic success and personal development.

Because the goal isn't just to develop great players, it's to develop great people.

Connect with The Serving the Future Show

Follow us for clips, behind-the-scenes content, guest highlights, and conversations about tennis, pickleball, padel, athlete development, and the future of racquet sports.

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Hosted by Ryan Redondo and Steve Adamson and recorded at the Barnes Tennis Center, home of Youth Tennis San Diego.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Your support helps us reach more players, parents, coaches, and fans across the racquet sports community.