Coach Unboxed

Unbox Sports
Coach Unboxed

Hosted by Unbox Sports, an agency elevating professional tour tennis coaches both on and off the court, the Coach Unboxed podcast gives them a platform to share their own stories and perspectives about the sport. Visit unboxsports.com for our coaches portfolio and to get involved as coaches or partners. @unboxsports

Episodes

  1. EP8 - Claudio Pistolesi

    1 DAY AGO

    EP8 - Claudio Pistolesi

    Coach Unboxed EP8: Yannick chats with Claudio Pistolesi, a former world # 1 ITF junior champion and top 100 pro player, former Davis Cup captain and now a top reference coach on both ATP and WTA tours. They discuss Claudio’s early influences, as he succeeded as a world #1 junior champion. Sharing the challenges faced transitioning to the professional tour, Claudio reflects on the impact his coaches and peers had in his career, the memorable moments in the Davis Cup and team competitions, and how continuously chasing opportunities to improve his knowledge paid off with a top coaching job. He emphasizes his deep commitment to teaching and empathy towards players, as well as his focus on developing the next generation through powerful storytelling.  About Claudio Pistolesi: From Italy, Claudio was a 2x Grand Slam junior semifinalist and Orange Bowl champion, becoming World #1 ITF Junior Champion. As a pro player with top 10 wins, he reached a career-high #71 ATP singles and proudly represented Italy in the Davis Cup team for 6 consecutive years, also becoming the Italian champion in 1990. Now a world-renowned coach on both ATP and WTA tours, Claudio worked with Monica Seles, coached Robin Söderling and Daniela Hantuchová as top 5s and multiple players to the top 50 and top 100, winning 10+ titles in the tour as a coach. He has been the Davis Cup captain for Italy and Japan, as well as an Olympic coach in 2012 for the Team Slovakia. Having served in many leadership roles in the ATP, he also leads Claudio Pistolesi Enterprise and the Florida JTCC program, inspiring the industry through his stories. Follow Claudio Pistolesi on Instagram @pistolesienterprise and LinkedIn Claudio Pistolesi. Subscribe to Coach Unboxed and leave your rating and comment! Full episodes on ⁠Spotify⁠, Apple Podcasts and ⁠YouTube⁠.  Follow Unbox Sports on social media for Coach Unboxed highlights: ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠X⁠ and at ⁠unboxsports.com⁠. Production: Unbox Sports; Location: ⁠Embarc Collective⁠; Music: ⁠BongÔMusics⁠; Photo: Claudio Pistolesi

    57 min
  2. EP7 - Nicole Pratt

    18 DEC

    EP7 - Nicole Pratt

    Coach Unboxed EP7: Yannick chats with Nicole Pratt, a former Australian #1 player and multi-WTA winner, and a trusted coach that has also been a leader in advocating for female athletes and coaches in Australia and globally. @nicole_pratt_oly They discuss Nicole’s journey from a 20-people town in Queensland to becoming a prominent figure in Australian tennis, both as a player and a coach. She shares about going from Australian Open junior champion to contributing to the country’s rich legacy in the sport, the incomparable pride in representing the “green and gold,” and her commitment to becoming a great mentor on and off the court through leadership roles. Nicole reflects on the importance of elevating female coaches and the opportunities in adding more coaches to a player’s team, as well as her own aspirations. About Nicole Pratt: Nicole went from #1 Aussie pro player to reference sport leader and coach. Nicole won the Junior Australian Open and 9 WTA titles, also becoming a two-time Olympian and Fed Cup (BJK Cup) team member for almost a decade. She reached #35 WTA singles and #18 in doubles and is now a sought-after mentor globally. Trusted by former #1s and top 25s, Grand Slam champions and many Aussie greats such as Daria Saville, Storm Hunter, Ashleigh Barty, Alicia Molik, Casey Dellacqua and Anastasia Rodionova, she is now also working closely with Kim Birrell. With Tennis Australia, she achieved a 45% increase in the number of female tennis coaches and the highest number of top 250 WTA players in over 40 years, continuing her advocacy on tour. Follow Nicole on Instagram @nicole_pratt_oly and LinkedIn. Subscribe to Coach Unboxed and leave your rating and comment! Full episodes on ⁠Spotify⁠, Apple Podcasts and ⁠YouTube⁠.  Follow Unbox Sports on social media for Coach Unboxed highlights: ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠X⁠ and at ⁠unboxsports.com⁠. Production: Unbox Sports; Location: ⁠Embarc Collective⁠; Music: ⁠BongÔMusics⁠; Photo: Tenis Australia

    44 min
  3. EP6 - Robert Lindstedt

    11 DEC

    EP6 - Robert Lindstedt

    Coach Unboxed EP6: Yannick chats with Robert Lindstedt, a former #3 doubles player and Australian Open doubles champion, and now a tour coach with experience on both ATP and WTA tours. @robertlindstedt  They discuss Robert’s connection to the sport through his siblings, playing college tennis in the U.S. before considering going pro, and the work ethic he learned over time inspired by fitness. He reflected on giving doubles a chance on tour and finally winning ATP titles at the later stages of his career, followed by his biggest championship at the Australian Open. Robert also shared how good doubles communication translates into good coaching and what it's been like adjusting from player to full-time coach. About Robert Lindstedt: Originally from Sundbyberg, Sweden, Robert played collegiately at Pepperdine University before deciding to go pro and start what would become a 20+ year career. Reaching #3 in the world, he established himself as one of the most hardworking doubles players on tour, winning 23 ATP titles as well as the 2014 Australian Open doubles championship with Łukasz Kubot.  An Olympian with 22 Davis Cup nominations, Robert concluded his playing career in 2021 and was later inducted into the Swedish Tennis Hall of Fame in 2023. He started his coaching career during his last year on tour, mentoring Denis Kudla and now working with Ajla Tomljanović, continuing to build on his passion for the sport. Follow Robert on Instagram @robertlindstedt and Linkedin. Subscribe to Coach Unboxed and leave your rating and comment! Full episodes on ⁠Spotify⁠, Apple Podcasts and ⁠YouTube⁠.  Follow Unbox Sports on social media for Coach Unboxed highlights: ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠X⁠ and at ⁠unboxsports.com⁠. Production: Unbox Sports; Location: ⁠Embarc Collective⁠; Music: ⁠BongÔMusics

    40 min
  4. EP5 - Thomas Johansson

    4 DEC

    EP5 - Thomas Johansson

    Coach Unboxed EP5: Yannick chats with Thomas Johansson, a former top 10 player and Grand Slam champion, and now an experienced coach that has worked with top players on both ATP and WTA tours. @tompatennis They discuss Thomas’ early journey in Sweden surrounded by former and future legends of the game, the influence of his peers on his belief, and the connection with his former coach of 12 years that carried onto life outside tennis. He shares the real story behind his Australian Open championship and the journey from retirement back to tennis. Also reflecting on coaching across both tours, Thomas touches on what shaped his coaching philosophy and what’s really important for players to remember in their career. About Thomas Johansson: The Swede has joined a cohort of national legends since rising to #7 in the world rankings. Thomas has won the 2002 Australian Open singles championship, nine ATP titles, an Olympic silver medal in doubles and the Davis Cup for his home country. After a very successful career, he retired in 2009. Within months, Thomas became the Stockholm Open’s tournament director and started coaching on tour three years later. He has worked with top players such as Caroline Wozniacki, Borna Ćorić, Maria Sakkari, Filip Krajinović, David Goffin, Sorana Cîrstea and now Kei Nishikori, sharing his deep understanding of the game to elevate other tennis greats. Follow Thomas on Instagram @tompatennis  Subscribe to Coach Unboxed and leave your rating and comment! Full episodes on ⁠Spotify⁠, Apple Podcasts and ⁠YouTube⁠.  Follow Unbox Sports on social media for Coach Unboxed highlights: ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠X⁠ and at ⁠unboxsports.com⁠. Production: Unbox Sports; Location: ⁠Embarc Collective⁠; Music: ⁠BongÔMusics; Photo: ASICS

    45 min
  5. EP4 - Sandra Zaniewska

    27 NOV

    EP4 - Sandra Zaniewska

    In this episode of Coach Unboxed, Yannick chats with Sandra Zaniewska, a former pro herself and now a reference in professional tennis as one of the top female coaches on tour. Special guest: Mander. @sandrazaniewska They discuss Sandra’s journey as a young athlete in Poland and her experiences transitioning from junior to pro tennis, traveling alone and the pressures of performance. She reflects on coaching coming naturally into her life and the importance of working with the person before the player, also sharing the stories behind her creative endeavors such as writing books and starting a podcast. Throughout, Sandra highlights the significance of human connection in coaching and the joy of the journey in sports. About Sandra Zaniewska: As a pro player in Poland in 2009, Sandra has won 17 ITF pro titles between singles and doubles before finding a new tennis passion in coaching. She has worked with top WTA players Petra Martić, Alizé Cornet and Marta Kostyuk, also having spent two years at Mouratoglou Tennis Academy and Champ’seed Foundation.  Sandra is a two-time book author (Raising Champions: The Ultimate Guide for Tennis Parents; Coaching 2.0: How to Develop Great Female Players On and Off the Court) and an advocate for women coaches and creating a healthy connection between coaches and players. Follow Sandra on Linkedin and Instagram. Subscribe to Coach Unboxed and leave your rating and comment! Full episodes on ⁠Spotify⁠, Apple Podcasts and ⁠YouTube⁠.  Follow Unbox Sports on social media for Coach Unboxed highlights: ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠X⁠ and at ⁠unboxsports.com⁠. Production: Unbox Sports; Location: ⁠Embarc Collective⁠; Music: ⁠BongÔMusics⁠; Photo: Felipe Figueiredo

    50 min
  6. EP3 - Kamau Murray

    20 NOV

    EP3 - Kamau Murray

    In this episode of Coach Unboxed, Yannick chats with Kamau Murray, who is a major part of the trailblazing legacy of South Chicago tennis. They discuss Kamau’s early days choosing tennis over basketball, learning about college tennis and moving to NYC for a career in business. Kamau talks about juggling different full-time jobs before focusing on the tour when he met Sloane Stephens. He also reflects on the importance of building trust with players and letting them lead, and emphasizes his passion for creating opportunities for minorities in tennis through his academy, XS Tennis, in the community he loves.  About Kamau Murray: Kamau is only the third African American to coach a pro to a Grand Slam title, in which he won with Sloane Stephens. A former Florida A&M student-athlete and MBA graduate, he led Sloane to the top 3 with 5 WTA titles and Monica Puig to the top 30. Kamau founded XS Tennis to guide underserved Chicago youth down a pathway to attaining a college tennis scholarship ($4.1M achieved), training more nationally ranked minority players than any other organization in the country. Follow Kamau on Linkedin and Instagram. Subscribe to Coach Unboxed and leave your rating and comment! Full episodes on ⁠Spotify⁠, Apple Podcasts and ⁠YouTube⁠.  Follow Unbox Sports on social media for Coach Unboxed highlights: ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠X⁠ and at ⁠unboxsports.com⁠. Production: Unbox Sports; Location: ⁠Embarc Collective⁠; Music: ⁠BongÔMusics

    55 min

About

Hosted by Unbox Sports, an agency elevating professional tour tennis coaches both on and off the court, the Coach Unboxed podcast gives them a platform to share their own stories and perspectives about the sport. Visit unboxsports.com for our coaches portfolio and to get involved as coaches or partners. @unboxsports

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