EP13 - Bjorn Fratangelo
02/13/25 • 49 min
Coach Unboxed EP13: Yannick chats with Bjorn Fratangelo, a former world #2 junior and top 100 ATP player, now coaching the newest Australian Open champion and once again top 10, Madison Keys. After a successful junior career winning the Roland Garros Boy’s title and Challenger tournaments at the pro level, Bjorn made the difficult decision to retire from playing due to an injury. Taking on a new tennis path by coaching his wife, Madison, he now finds himself in a position highly seasoned coaches still dream of: a Grand Slam champion.
They discuss Bjorn's family connection to tennis, the challenges he faced from very successful juniors to the professional circuit, and the importance of support systems in navigating his career. He reflects on his aspirations, the impact of his injury and how coaching became his new reality. Bjorn also talks about the dynamics with Madison and the full team, the work done before achieving peak performances and the need for a strong foundation in both personal and professional aspects of life to create more opportunities for success.
About Bjorn Fratangelo:From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Bjorn started his tennis career early on being coached by his father. After moving to Florida to develop his game, Bjorn went on to become ITF world #2 and won the Roland Garros Boy’s Championship in 2011. His junior success led him to soon start his professional career and become a top 100 ATP player, winning four ATP Challenger titles and playing the main draw in all Grand Slams.
In 2023, Bjorn's struggles with a foot injury made him retire from his playing career. He then started helping out his wife and fellow pro player, Madison Keys, with her game after Roland Garros as she had recently split with her previous coach. Their long-lasting relationship off the court translated into a successful partnership on the court, together winning a few WTA titles and the 2025 Australian Open–Madison’s maiden Grand Slam–alongside a great team.
Follow Bjorn Fratangelo:on Instagram@bjornfrat and LinkedInBjorn Fratangelo.
Subscribe to Coach Unboxedand leave your rating and comment! Full episodes onSpotify,Apple Podcasts andYouTube.
Follow Unbox Sportson social media for Coach Unboxed highlights:Instagram,LinkedIn,X and atunboxsports.com.
Production:Unbox Sports; Location:Embarc Collective;Music:BongÔMusics;Photo:ATP
Coach Unboxed EP13: Yannick chats with Bjorn Fratangelo, a former world #2 junior and top 100 ATP player, now coaching the newest Australian Open champion and once again top 10, Madison Keys. After a successful junior career winning the Roland Garros Boy’s title and Challenger tournaments at the pro level, Bjorn made the difficult decision to retire from playing due to an injury. Taking on a new tennis path by coaching his wife, Madison, he now finds himself in a position highly seasoned coaches still dream of: a Grand Slam champion.
They discuss Bjorn's family connection to tennis, the challenges he faced from very successful juniors to the professional circuit, and the importance of support systems in navigating his career. He reflects on his aspirations, the impact of his injury and how coaching became his new reality. Bjorn also talks about the dynamics with Madison and the full team, the work done before achieving peak performances and the need for a strong foundation in both personal and professional aspects of life to create more opportunities for success.
About Bjorn Fratangelo:From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Bjorn started his tennis career early on being coached by his father. After moving to Florida to develop his game, Bjorn went on to become ITF world #2 and won the Roland Garros Boy’s Championship in 2011. His junior success led him to soon start his professional career and become a top 100 ATP player, winning four ATP Challenger titles and playing the main draw in all Grand Slams.
In 2023, Bjorn's struggles with a foot injury made him retire from his playing career. He then started helping out his wife and fellow pro player, Madison Keys, with her game after Roland Garros as she had recently split with her previous coach. Their long-lasting relationship off the court translated into a successful partnership on the court, together winning a few WTA titles and the 2025 Australian Open–Madison’s maiden Grand Slam–alongside a great team.
Follow Bjorn Fratangelo:on Instagram@bjornfrat and LinkedInBjorn Fratangelo.
Subscribe to Coach Unboxedand leave your rating and comment! Full episodes onSpotify,Apple Podcasts andYouTube.
Follow Unbox Sportson social media for Coach Unboxed highlights:Instagram,LinkedIn,X and atunboxsports.com.
Production:Unbox Sports; Location:Embarc Collective;Music:BongÔMusics;Photo:ATP
Previous Episode
EP12 - Martin Vilar
Coach Unboxed EP12: Yannick chats with Martin Vilar, a seasoned tennis coach with 35+ years of experience on tour having coached 10 top 100 players and also worked with players in both the Davis Cup and BJK Cup for four different countries. @martinvilar
They discuss Martin's upbringing between Argentina and the U.S. and how he found his way to Europe, making it his home. Martin shares how getting involved in the club management side of tennis led him to a career in the pro tour. He also emphasizes the role of mental strength, the cultural differences he encounters while coaching players from various backgrounds and how speaking many languages has allowed him to truly understand and connect better with his players. He then reflects on the challenges faced by modern players, including maintaining a balanced life.
About Martin Vilar: With almost four decades of experience as a tour coach, Martin has developed multiple tennis programs for juniors and professional players in European academies and for the Saudi Tennis Federation. As a private coach, he has guided players into the top 3 on both WTA (doubles) and ITF (juniors) tours, as well as 2 singles top 20s (Medina Garrigues, Bovina), 4 top 30s (Dulgheru, Leon) and 10 top 100s. He is now coaching top 50 Diane Parry.
Besides private coaching and academies, Martin has also been deeply involved in team competitions. In the Davis Cup, he worked with some of the Morocco and Algeria team players, and for the BJK Cup, he supported players representing Spain and France. He has been a reference among his peers and never hesitates to share his knowledge, and great life stories.
Follow Martin Vilar on Instagram @martinvilar and LinkedIn Martin Vilar.
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: Unbox Sports
Next Episode
EP14 - Carlos Kirmayr
Coach Unboxed EP14: Yannick chats with Carlos Alberto Kirmayr, a former Brazilian #1 player and ATP #36 singles and #6 doubles, who as a coach has guided Gabriela Sabatini, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario and Conchita Martínez all to top 3 WTA and a US Open championship (with Sabatini). He now leads his training center mentoring future generations of players and coaches.
They discuss Kirmayr’s California college tennis days, the challenges of “going pro” back in the ‘70s and enjoying tennis as a lifestyle on tour and in the later years as he matured. He talks about the Davis Cup making him known in Brazil, playing other legends and the natural transition into coaching pro players due to his affinity with the tour. Kirmayr shares more on building off-court dynamics that contributed to his players’ success and how continuous coaching education should be a priority at all levels.
About Carlos Alberto Kirmayr: Fondly known as “Kirma,” he has a career spanning 65+ years dedicated to tennis. He started playing at the age of 4 and at 17 set off to study in the U.S., winning several college titles. From that success, Kirmayr represented Brazil for 15 years in the Davis Cup (also as a coach and captain). He became #1 in Brazil and went on to reach #36 ATP in singles and #6 in doubles, winning 15 doubles titles and 14 runner-ups. Some of his best wins came against John McEnroe, Ilie Nastase, Ivan Lendl, among other greats.
Kirmayr eventually became a tour coach, winning the 1990 U.S. Open title with Gabriela Sabatini and guiding her, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario and Conchita Martínez all to the top 3 WTA with combined 22 WTA singles titles and multiple Grand Slam semifinals. Fifteen years ago, Kirmayr opened this training center in Serra Negra, Brazil, offering a complete academic and tennis program for prospective college players. He has helped develop 200+ players, and also guided 5,000+ coaches through his advocacy and training, now continuing the work as the GPTCA National President of Brazil.
Follow Carlos Kirmayr on Instagram @kirmayroficial and LinkedIn Carlos Kirmayr.
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: CarlosKirmayr
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