What if you didn’t have to be a top junior to become a professional tennis player?

In this episode of Control the Controllables, we speak with Belgian professional tennis player Sander Gille, a Roland Garros finalist, Olympic competitor, Davis Cup player and former World No.18 in doubles.

Sander’s journey to the top of the game is anything but traditional. He wasn’t a standout junior, didn’t grow up expecting to turn professional, and at 17 he chose US college tennis simply to continue playing while earning a degree.

After college, Sander decided to give the professional tour a try — funding his early career through crowdfunding, league tennis, and relentless persistence. Years later, that journey led him to the Roland Garros final and the top of the ATP doubles rankings.

This episode is a powerful reminder that there are many different pathways to success in tennis.

In this episode:

1. Growing up playing multiple sports before choosing tennis
2. Why Sander never planned to become a professional player
3. The decision-making process behind his college career in the US and transitioning to professional tennis
4. How crowdfunding helped keep his career going early on.
5. How injuries shaped his focus from singles to doubles and lessons learned along the way.
6. Key insights on finding his game, mental resilience, and balancing success with authenticity.
7. Memorable experiences, including playing Andy Murray at the Olympics and reaching a Grand Slam final.
8. Reflections on partnership longevity, team dynamics, and future goals in doubles.

If you’re chasing a career in tennis or supporting someone who is, this is a story you need to hear.

CONNECT WITH CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES

Website: https://www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast/

Email us: ctc.podcast@sototennis.com

Join us as we unpack the biggest storylines from the 2026 Australian Open!

From Osaka´s dramatic outfit entrance on Rod Laver Arena to Djokovic rolling back the years to take out Sinner in the semi-finals, we analyse the epic matches, player performances and behind-the-scenes moments in Melbourne.

Host Dan Kiernan is joined by our Grand Slam panelists:

1. Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Doubles Champion, Freddie Nielsen
2. Top S&C Coach Kieron Vorster who has worked with Liam Broady, Dan Evans, Tim Henman and Wayne Ferreira.

Key Talking Points

1. Carlos Alcaraz becoming the youngest ever person to win the career Grand Slam.
2. Novak Djokovic proving he can still push for number 25.
3. Will Rybakina be the player to beat in the women´s game in 2026
4. The role of coaching, technical adjustments, and player development in modern tennis
5. The rise of British doubles dominance, with the current World No.1, 2 & 3 in men’s doubles being British.
6. The debate around camera coverage, player privacy, and the sport's media strategies after Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek’s comments.
7. And our panelist give their predictions on what to expect for the upcoming season. Could we see the return of Serena?

CONNECT WITH CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES

Website: https://www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctc.podcast/

Email us: ctc.podcast@sototennis.com

This episode is brought to you by Novellus Finance.

We’re back for the Australian Open 2026!

Host Dan Kiernan is joined by our Grand Slam panelists to preview all the action we can expect from Melbourne over the next fortnight. They discuss the standout players, popcorn match-ups and potential dark horses.

They also look at the impact of this years tennis balls for players, new 2026 partnerships in the doubles draws and give their predictions for this years winners!

Meet our Panelists:

1. GB Coach Calvin Betton who is currently working with Henry Patten & Harri Heliövaara.
2. Denmark´s Davis Cup Captain and 2012 Wimbledon Doubles Champion, Freddie Nielsen
3. Sports broadcaster and former CNN anchor Candy Reid
4. Top S&C Coach Kieron Vorster who has worked with Liam Broady, Dan Evans, Tim Henman and Wayne Ferreira.

Will Jannik Sinner win his third straight Australian Open title? Or will Carlos Alcaraz become the youngest ever play to win the career Grand Slam. Meanwhile Venus Williams will become the oldest player to play the Grand Slam after accepting a wildcard into the women´s singles event.

Who do you think will be this year's Australian Open champions! Tag @ctc.podcast on Instagram or Twitter or drop us an email to let us know who you're backing!

Links mentioned in this episode:

1. Listen to: Reaction to Alcaraz & Ferraro Split
2. Listen to: Andrea Vavassori: Why winning the US Open Mixed Doubles Title was so Important for Doubles

This episode is brought to you by Novellus Finance.