TENNIS.com Podcast: Craig Acker on working out the top U.S. talent

Jan 02, 2020
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TENNIS.com Podcast: Craig Acker on working out the top U.S. talent

The strength and conditioning coach has trained with every top American pro including CiCi Bellis, Reilly Opelka, Michael Mmoh and many more.

Published Jan 02, 2020

"I can never want it more than the athlete, like it starts and ends there. If they're a pro [with] all these opportunities that they have, which I envy a lot, the life of a pro athlete is pretty incredible. But I can't want it more than them."

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The 2020 season of the TENNIS.com Podcast kicks off with USTA strength and conditioning coach Craig Acker.

Based in Lake Nona, Fla. at the home of American tennis, Acker works with players of all ages and levels. He played an integral role in helping CiCi Bellis get back on the court after her four arm surgeries, and worked with Reilly Opelka well before he made his way to the Top 40.

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TENNIS.com Podcast: Craig Acker on working out the top U.S. talent

TENNIS.com Podcast: Craig Acker on working out the top U.S. talent

© (C)2011

Acker started working at the USTA in Lake Nona in 2016.

He tells us about his day-to-day life in the gym at the USTA National Campus, and the rewards and challenges of working out for a living. His job requires a lot of attention to detail with each player having different needs and goals. He gives us his opinion on tennis players doing Olympic weight lifting, and the importance of having a full team to help an injured player properly recover.

And how much of his job involves yelling at players to run faster or lift more? Luckily for Acker, he works with an inspired group of players that don't need to be pushed to work hard.

The views, information, and/or opinions expressed are solely those of the podcast creators and do not necessarily represent those of The Tennis Channel, Inc., its affiliates or subsidiaries.