The Inside-In Tennis Podcast

Charlie Pasarell's Journey From Puerto Rico to The Hall of Fame, His Friendship With Arthur Ashe and Creating The Indian Wells Tournament

The Inside-In Tennis Podcast

Show Notes

International Tennis Hall of Famer Charlie Pasarell is the guest on this episode for a great and revealing conversation. Quite simply a pioneer, Pasarell discusses his new book, "Serving First: Dreams Realized and Lessons Learned from Family, Friends, and a Life in Tennis." Pasarell dives into his upbringing in Puerto Rico, what drew him to chase excellence, and how he became one of the most important tennis figures in the 20th century.

Pasarell sheds light on his close friendship with Arthur Ashe and he explains just what made Pancho Gonzales, Rod Laver and other players from his era so special. The Hall of Famer opens up about his serving prowess and how it came to be his signature shot, and why playing for the USA Davis Cup Team was his most proud tennis honor. And Pasarell reveals how he came to found the tennis tournament now known as the BNP Paribas Open, and why he understood early that Indian Wells had the potential to be a smash hit. Hosted by Mitch Michals. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

More from The Inside-In Tennis Podcast

Oct 23, 2026

Mark Knowles returns to the podcast to recap another outstanding year working with Jessica Pegula, who improved her ranking and has the most wins on tour heading into the WTA Finals. The coach explains how their dynamic works in terms of goal-setting, communication, and using practice efficiently. Knowles weighs on the current landscape at the top of the women's game, and highlights how young players such as Linda Noskova and Mirra Andreeva have entered the conversation of the very best in the world.

Oct 20, 2026

CiCi Bellis joins the podcast for a wide-ranging chat about her life after tennis, how she came to terms with the end of her playing career, and transitioned to a successful position in the venture capital world. Bellis discusses everything from the business of sports, the grueling tennis schedule, and her role as a board member on the USTA. The former Top 40 player also recaps the career-defining wins by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Shanghai and Maja Chwalinska in Wuhan.

Oct 15, 2026

Christopher Clarey joins the podcast for a great conversation about what's going on in the world of pro tennis. Clarey recaps Qinwen Zheng's big title in Beijing, and reflects on a few outbursts and controversies during the Asian Swing. The journalist also dives into Carlos Alcaraz's quest to return to the top of the sport, Alexander Zverev as a the year-end No. 1, and Ben Shelton's potential to keep growing.

Oct 13, 2026

Rachel Stuhlmann joins the podcast to discuss her path to becoming the No. 1 influencer in tennis, and how she tries to put a spotlight on game at all levels. Stuhlmann reflects on how a gig in Bulgaria at the Sofia Open was the jumping off point for her career, and how the game continues to grow with more brand partnerships than ever before. The former Mizzou college tennis player discusses her 2026 US Open experience that featured an influx of influencers, and recounted watching Ben Shelton make his career breakthrough after notching a thrilling victory over Carlos Alcaraz.

Oct 9, 2026

Monica Puig joins the podcast to discuss a wide range of topics in the tennis world, which proved in the past week that there is no shortage of drama and breaking news. Puig recaps Novak Djokovic's title-run in Beijing, and analyzes how the 24-time major champion can carry this into 2027. The 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist also reacts to Jannik Sinner's decision to end his 2026 season, and dives into Carlos Alcaraz's Tokyo triumph and his ability to enjoy the process.

See all episodes →