I spoke with ATP & WTA Coach, Dan Kiernan, in Cincinnati about life as a professional coach, doubles drills, practice sets, and more. This episode will help you rethink how you practice.
Dan works with multiple players on different teams, not uncommon for doubles coaches, so you'll get insights into what his day-to-day responsibilities look like.
- Dan's daily schedule can involve up to 7-8 hours of court time, plus meetings, court bookings, academy management (Soto Tennis Academy), podcasts, and more
- How practice courts are reserved at tournaments
- Practice drills focus on offensive and defensive positioning rather than neutral play
- The "overhead drill" helps players master both offensive overheads and defensive lobs
- The amount of practice time dedicated to serving and returning will be jaw-dropping for club players to hear
- Practice sets serve different purposes depending on team needs and tournament context
I love the topic of game development and practicing with a purpose, and I'm always learning from coaches like Dan. Dabrowski and Routliffe are in the semifinals in Cincinnati, which you can watch on Tennis Channel Plus.
Previous Episodes with Dan Kiernan:
- Dan Kiernan Interview: GROWTH, Coaching ATP Doubles, Aggressive vs Consistent Returns, & an Illegal Volley Drill - April 5, 2023
- Coach Dan Kiernan Interview at the WTA Finals - November 5, 2023
- Coach Dan Kiernan Shares Stories from the WTA Finals, 2nd Set Adjustments, Positive Mindset, & More - November 20, 2024
- Doubles Special: Problems, Solutions, & the Future of the Pro Doubles Tour with Dan Kiernan - March 27, 2025
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