The Tennis Podcast
David Law, Catherine Whitaker, Matt Roberts
Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts talk tennis weekly throughout the year and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. Friends of The Tennis Podcast have access to exclusive Q & A's, new editions of Tennis Re-Lived and more bonus contents. To become a Friend - https://bit.ly/FriendOfTheTennisPodcast.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Backhand delivers; Fonseca - the future, and the present?
Catherine, David and Matt are back already, this time to discuss an exciting week of action on the court, headlined by titles for Amanda Anisimova and Joao Fonseca. Part one - WTA Doha Review. Matt gets his chance to wax lyrical about Amanda Anisimova and THAT backhand winning the biggest title of her career, and we wonder what it might mean for her career. Plus, Jelena Ostapenko improves her record against Iga Swiatek to 5-0! And early losses for Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka. Part two (from 3
Sinner’s convenient ban, Vukov’s suspension and Mixed Doubles madness
It's been a big week of news in tennis so Catherine, David and Matt convene to cover and react to it all. Part one - World number one Jannik Sinner banned for three months after reaching a settlement with WADA. Part two (from 37m24s) - WTA suspends Elena Rybakina's coach, Stefano Vukov, for a year. Part three (from 47m53s) - US Open announces drastic change to its mixed doubles event. Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts, including Tennis Re-Lived e
Alcaraz is back, Shapovalov & Bencic send reminders, and how to remember Simona Halep?
Catherine, David and Matt discuss a busy week of news, comebacks, thrilling matches, and nasal strips in the tennis world. Part one - Simona Halep announces her retirement. How will she be remembered in the sport? Plus, David’s takes on Anastasia Potapova who won the title in Cluj-Napoca. Part two (from 21m42s) - Belinda Bencic wins Abu Dhabi, watched on by daughter Bella. Carlos Alcaraz win his first indoor title, beating Alex de Minaur in Rotterdam. And Denis Shapovalov wins the biggest title
Davis Cup is alive! (if you can find it)
Catherine, David and Matt convene to round up everything that’s happened in tennis since returning from the Australian Open in Melbourne. Part one - Davis Cup Qualifiers including an impressive comeback from Denmark to beat Serbia, huge drama in the Belgium vs Chile tie, aggro involving Arthur Fils and Thiago Seyboth Wild, and disappointment for Great Britain. Plus, titles for Felix Auger-Aliassime, Ekaterina Alexandrova and Elise Mertens on tour. Part two (from 43m25s) - News round up. US Open
Aus Open Day 15 - Sinner secures third Slam; Zverev protester’s voice is heard
Catherine, David and Matt react to Jannik Sinner defending his Australian Open title with a straight sets victory over Alexander Zverev. Part one - Sinner’s dominance in the final, a poor performance from Zverev, what the future might hold for both players. Part two (from 39m13s) - Zverev heckled over domestic abuse allegations.Part three (from 46m41s) - Women’s and men’s doubles finals and tournament reflections. The Tennis Podcast during the Australian Open will be brought to you by Steve Furg
Aus Open Day 14 - Madison's moment
Catherine, David and Matt discuss how Madison Keys became a Grand Slam champion for the first time, beating Aryna Sabalenka in a compelling and thrilling final at Melbourne Park. Part one - How the women’s final was won and lost, Keys' fast start and boldness in the big moments, how Sabalenka handled a tough night, and Keys explains the importance of therapy in her life. Part two (from 38m55s) - Results round up including victory for Alfie Hewett. The men’s doubles final will be covered in
Aus Open Day 13 - Djokovic hits wall, Sinner cramp question mark, Sabalenka-Keys preview
Catherine, David and Matt wrap up men’s semi-finals day as Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev booked a Sunday showdown. Part one - Djokovic retires against Zverev, what does the future hold for him? Part two (from 19m36s) - Sinner overcomes Shelton…and cramps Part three (from 35m46s) - Results round up and Sabalenka vs Keys final preview The Tennis Podcast during the Australian Open will be brought to you by Steve Furgal’s International Tennis Tours, your gateway to premium tennis events worldwi
Aus Open Day 12 - Major Keys stuns Swiatek
Catherine, David and Matt recap an extraordinary women's semi-final night as Madison Keys stunned Iga Swiatek in a thriller to set up a final against Aryna Sabalenka. Part one - Keys’ extraordinary win over Swiatek Part two (from 25m46s) - Sabalenka finds her peak to beat Paula Badosa Part three (from 43m37s) - Men’s semi finals preview The Tennis Podcast during the Australian Open will be brought to you by Steve Furgal’s International Tennis Tours, your gateway to premium tennis events worldwid
Aus Open Day 11 - Sizzling semis set
Catherine, David and Matt wrap up Day 11 at the Australian Open as the singles semi-final line-ups were completed. Part one - Women’s Results. Swiatek keeps up incredible form to beat Navarro and set up semi-final clash with Keys. Double bounce controversy. Part two (from 26m15s) - Men’s Results. Sinner demolishes De Minaur yet again, Shelton fights past Sonego in an entertaining match. Part three (from 41m51s) - Ben Shelton calls out the broadcasters and on court interviews, plus women’s semi-
Aus Open Day 10 - Djokovic vs. Alcaraz reviewed; Gauff floored by Badosa
Tuesday at the Australian Open was bookended by a pair of extraordinary results as Paula Badosa beat Coco Gauff and Novak Djokovic overcame Carlos Alcaraz. It meant that Catherine, David and Matt were recording the podcast at well after 3am in an adrenaline-fuelled frenzy. Part one - Djokovic vs Alcaraz & Zverev vs Paul review. Part two (from 32m25s) - Gauff vs Badosa & Sabalenka vs Pavlyuchenkova review.Part three (from 57m11s) - Goran Ivanisevic quits working with Rybakina and Day 11 order of
Aus Open Day 9 - Heat takes its toll; Alcaraz-Djokovic preview and predictions
On a scorching day in Melbourne, the quarter-final line-ups were complete. Catherine, David and Matt wrapped it all up at the end of the night. Part one - Men’s Results. Sinner struggles with illness in brutal heat, De Minaur reaches his first Australian Open quarter-final, Monfils’ magic finally runs out, how the compromised matches got us thinking about the best of three vs best of five debate again. Part two (from 33m21s) - Women’s Results. Swiatek continues her march through the draw and fac
Aus Open Day 8 - Dull day explodes into controversy
Day 8 at the Australian Open will not go down in history as a classic Grand Slam day, but it ended in dramatic fashion with Novak Djokovic refusing to do an on court interview after a comment made by a Channel Nine reporter. Catherine, David and Matt discuss it all. Part one - Women’s Results. Gauff and Sabalenka remain on a collision course, but can Badosa and Pavlyuchenkova trouble them? We discuss Gauff’s intriguing match against Bencic, Sabalenka’s demolition of Andreeva, and the knee i
Aus Open Day 7 - GEMS Life!
It was another thrilling day at the Australian Open, headlined by shock defeats for Taylor Fritz and Jasmine Paolini, courtesy of GEMS Life. Catherine, David and Matt discuss it all. Part one - Monfils shocks Fritz, Tien and Michelsen back up big wins and keep their runs going, De Minaur battles past Cerundolo. Part two (from 24m00s) - Swiatek dominates Raducanu, injury concern for Rybakina, Yastremska’s brainless tennis, Navarro outlasts Jabeur and wins third straight deciding set, lucky loser
Aus Open Day 6 - Epics, upsets, fightbacks, FUN!
There was a familiar Grand Slam feeling for Catherine, David and Matt on Friday - recovering from a 3am finish involving Daniil Medvedev. But fortunately the Australian Open delivered more great tennis. Part one - Men's Results. Draper beats his second Sensation and wins his third straight five setter, Djokovic cruises past the disappointing Machac, Alcaraz drops a set but wins comfortably enough, Fils retires against Humbert, Davidovich Fokina comes back from two sets down again. Part two (from
Aus Open Day 5 - Another new star lights up Melbourne!
Catherine, David and Matt assemble before and after midnight to review another crazy day at the Australian Open. Part one - Men’s results. Sinner’s slow start against Schoolkate, Sonego stops Fonseca, Fritz’s ruthlessness, Musetti and Shelton set up R3 clash, Hurkacz beaten comprehensively. Part two (from 25m07s) - Women’s results. Raducanu fights past Anisimova, positive signs for Jabeur, Rybakina beats another teenager. Part three (from 42m54s) - Tien beats Medvedev, crazy late finish, Collins
Aus Open Day 4 - Electric night follows rainy day; Osaka rolls back the years
Day four began in thrilling fashion with dramatic matches galore, then became very wet and windy, and finally finished with a feverish atmosphere around the grounds as fans made up for lost time. Catherine, David and Matt react to all the fun. Part one - Women's results. Zheng beaten by Siegemund, Osaka gets revenge on Muchova, Sabalenka and Gauff both win through without their best tennis. Part two (from 31m50s) - Men's results. Djokovic looks vulnerable again, Machac survives Opelka test, Mens
Aus Open Day 3 - Tennis has a new star
Day three at the Australian Open was another good one and it will be remembered for the astonishing Grand Slam debut of Joao Fonseca. Catherine, David and Matt review it all. Part one - Men's results. Fonseca rocks Rublev - what's so special about him? Medvedev survives against the World No.418, De Minaur beats Botic, Shelton impresses against Nakashima, Musetti wins awkward Italian showdown with Arnaldi, Monfils puts on a show to beat Mpetshi Perricard. Part two (from 39m30s) - Women's results.
Aus Open Day 2 - The REAL Day One Delivers
After a slow start on Sunday, the Australian Open really got going on Monday, with big names in action and stories galore. Catherine, David and Matt got stuck into it all. Part one - Men's results. Basavareddy impresses, how Djokovic and Murray need to get to know each other, Alcaraz and Sinner through in straight sets, Michelsen schools jades Tsitsipas, Post Puke Tiafoe. Part two (from 45 minutes) - Women's results. Gauff and Swiatek progress, Bencic battles past Ostapenko, Osaka gets revenge o
Aus Open Day 1 - We Bring The Vibes on Vibe-free Day
Day One at this year's Australian Open wasn't a classic. Rain delayed much of the action and when the avalanche of matches finally took to court, they weren't exactly thrillers. But Catherine, David and Matt still had plenty to discuss as they recorded on 1573 Arena at Melbourne Park. Part one - Women's results and stories including Sabalenka feeling the love, Andreeva's connection with coach Conchita Martinez, and wins for Vekic and Zheng. Part two (from 31m52s) - Men's round up including Ruud
Aus Open Preview - Let’s get pumped!
On the eve of the Australian Open, Catherine, David and Matt were live on YouTube to get hyped for the start of the tournament. Part one - Our reaction to press conferences from Carlos Alcaraz, Jack Draper, Elena Rybakina and Mirra Andreeva. Part two (from 36m47s) - Titles for Gael Monfils, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Madison Keys and McCartney Kessler. Part three (from 52m28s) - Day one preview and questions from the live chat. The Tennis Podcast during the Australian Open will be brought to you by
Aus Open - Draw dissection, player chats and punchy predictions
Melbourne! Catherine, David and Matt are in position for 17 podcasts in 17 days, and in this one they go through the draws and tell tales from their chats with players in the interview room.Part One - Men's draw dissection. Who's got the toughest draw, will Alcaraz - Djokovic happen and who wins if it does? Plus, David details the results of his loitering.Part Two (from 50 minutes) - Women's draw dissection. Sabalenka, Gauff on collision course as Swiatek faces tricky task.Part Three (from 1h23m
'New' Coco Gauff downs Swiatek; Machac melts down; Rybakina coaching news rocks tennis
It's been quite a week. Catherine, David and Matt convene to review the United Cup, Brisbane, Auckland, the extraordinary performances of Coco Gauff, and an increasingly disturbing storyline on the WTA Tour.Part one - Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz give US victory in the United Cup. Is this a new Gauff? Plus, Tomas Machac shows his two sides, and Elena Rybakina clashes with WTA after announcing suspended Stefano Vukov will return to her team.Part two (from 44 minutes) - What happened in Brisbane, Auck
Same year, new season!
Catherine is in Perth for the United Cup and she’s joined by Matt to discuss everything they’ve seen and soaked up from the first tournament of the new season. Part one - Headlines from Perth including Elena Rybakina’s new partnership with Goran Ivanisevic, Leylah Fernandez’s serve vs Taylor Fritz, and the lack of vibes in Team Greece. Part two (from 33 minutes) - Sydney so far including Casper Ruud’s thrilling win over Tomas Machac and Belinda Bencic’s reality check against Jasmine Paolini. Plu
Coaching carousel reaches crescendo; Off-season news and views
Catherine, David and Matt convene to catch up on all the latest news from the off season and to look ahead to 2025. Part one - Coaching updates. Hubert Hurkacz hires Ivan Lendl AND Nicolas Massu; Donna Vekic teams up with Sascha Bajin; Emma Raducanu starts working with fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura. Part two (from 32 minutes) - Davis Cup Final 8 moves to Italy; Del Potro’s sad farewell in Argentina; Joao Lucas Reis Da Silva becomes first active male pro player to come out as gay; WTA Awards. P
2024 Season Review
How will we look back on and remember the 2024 tennis season? Catherine, David and Matt react to voice notes from Matt Futterman, Hannah Wilks, Pam Shriver, Charlie Eccleshare, Scott Barclay, Mary Carillo and Simon Briggs for a final reflection on the year. Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts, including Tennis Re-Lived episodes, Grand Slam Review Shows, and monthly Live Shows on YouTube. Friends also get access to The Barge, Hannah’s Column, and an
Swiatek suspended for anti-doping violation
An emergency podcast to discuss the shock news that 5 time grand Slam Champion Iga Swiatek has accepted a one month suspension for an anti doping violation that has been ruled unintentional. Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to also help us to produce the show year-round, receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout 2024, including Tennis Re-Lived and Grand Slam review shows, read Hannah's Column and watch monthly live shows on YouTube. Sign up to receive our free New
Davis Cup Final - Italy double up, Sinner stars and Berrettini leaves lasting memories
Italy have defended the Davis Cup title in Malaga with an emphatic victory over the Dutch. How did they do it and what does it mean? When did Jannik Sinner's brilliance become so routine? And why does Matteo Berrettini make us all feel things?Part one - Discussing the singles victories for Sinner and Berrettini that led Italy to a comprehensive Davis Cup title defence, and left the Dutch heartbroken. Part two (from 39 minutes) - Reflecting on the 2024 Davis Cup as a whole and examining the forma
Davis Cup Finals Day 5 - Italy win through to face Netherlands; Andy Murray to coach Novak Djokovic. WTF!?
What. A. Day. Italy are back in the Davis Cup final and Andy Murray is now the coach of Novak Djokovic, no joke. Part one - Italy triumph over Australia, and Lleyton Hewitt is exposed as not being a TTP listener. Part two (from 34 minutes) - Italy are the undeniable favourites but do the Netherlands have a sneaky good chance in the final?Part three (from 50 minutes) - We have officially entered the twilight zone because Andy Murray is coaching Novak Djokovic. Our reactions. Buy Tickets to the Da
Davis Cup Finals Day 4 - Netherlands conquer nerves to make history
The Netherlands have made history after reaching the Davis Cup final for the first time in their 104 year history in the competition. We discuss that, their incredible 'orange wall' of support, and we look ahead to the second semi final between favourites Italy and Lleyton Hewitt's dogged AustraliaPart one - Looking back on an historic night for the Netherlands, including the 'marvel' that is Botic Van De Zandschulp, and a Dutch team that choked and won anyway. Part two (from 35 minutes) - Looki
Davis Cup Finals Day 3 - Selections drama as Australia oust USA; Italy await in semis
It was a day of high drama in Malaga as Team USA once again failed to live up to its promise, and Captain Bob Bryan come under intense scrutiny for his team selections. Meanwhile Lleyton Hewitt showed how Captaincy is done, and Jannik Sinner propelled Italy to join Australia in the semis. Part one - Matt is on fire telling us where it all went wrong for Team USA, and bringing the receipts on the full backstory. He also recounts a tense but revealing encounter with victorious Australia Captain Ll
BJK Cup Final Day 7 - Forza! Paolini powers Italy to victory
Jasmine Paolini has topped off her incredible 2024 by leading her country to victory in the Billie Jean King Cup, cementing Italy's status as the world's leading tennis nation. Part one - Matt, David & Catherine discuss a comprehensive 2-0 victory for Italy over Slovakia, and the stunning transformation in their taliswoman Jasmine Paolini, from also-ran to world beater in the space of a year. Part two (from 32 minutes) - The team discuss the existential challenges facing the Billie Jean King Cu
Davis Cup Finals Day 2 - Germany sink Canada in style; Who wins USA-Australia blockbuster?
Catherine and Matt catch up on Germany's victory over Canada and look ahead to USA vs Australia and Italy vs Argentina on Thursday. Part one - Struff seals the tie for Germany as Shapovalov slips up; Altmaier overcomes his nerves Part two (from 13 minutes) - Big decisions for Australia and USA captains; can Argentina upset Italy? Buy Tickets to the Davis Cup Finals!Join The Barge! Our safe online community space to talk tennis with Friends.Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to get access to T
Gracias Rafa
Rafael Nadal's tennis career is over. Catherine, David and Matt look back on an emotional night in Malaga as Spain were beaten at the Davis Cup Finals by The Netherlands after Slovakia had shocked Great Britain to reach the Billie Jean King Cup Final. Part one - Nadal's retirement ceremony; Ferrer's decision to play Nadal in singles; Koolhof and Van de Zandschulp star for the Dutch. Part two (from 40 minutes) - Slovakia's win over GB in the BJK Cup Finals and a preview of the Italy vs Slovakia f
BJK Cup Finals Day 5 - Sara Errani, what did you just do?!
Catherine and Matt react to Italy’s thrilling win over Poland - underarm serve and all - and look ahead to Great Britain’s semi-final against Slovakia at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. Buy Tickets to the Davis Cup Finals!Join The Barge! Our safe online community space to talk tennis with Friends.Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to get access to The Barge, receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout 2024, read Hannah's Column and watch monthly live shows on YouTube. Sign up to re
Davis Cup Finals Preview - Time to say goodbye, but will Rafa play?
Catherine and Matt in Malaga, and David in Solihull look ahead to the Davis Cup Finals and the final act of Rafael Nadal's career.Part one - Spain and Rafael Nadal's press conference - our reaction, a team selection dilemma for David Ferrer, and will they win?Part two (from 27 mins) - Previewing Canada vs. Germany; Any issues with Zverev and Auger-Aliassime not showing?Part three (from 36 mins) - Previewing Italy vs. Argentina and USA vs. Australia; Who is winning this whole thing?Buy Tickets to
ATP Finals - Sinner the unstoppable, Turin insights, and what next for Novak Djokovic?
David is joined by Charlie Eccleshare and Matt Futterman from The Athletic to review the ATP Finals in Turin and look ahead to 2025.Part one - Just how good was Jannik Sinner in his straight sets win over Taylor Fritz, and how good was he in 2024?Part two (from 15 minutes) - Hating indoor tennis, Golden Set Tim wins big, and reporting on Sinner with the WADA cloud hanging over him. Part three (from 26 minutes) - What will happen to Novak Djokovic in 2025?Join The Barge! Our safe online community
BJK Cup Finals Day 4 - GB storm into semis; Kuzmova comes good for Matt
Catherine and Matt round up day four of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals which saw Great Britain and Slovakia set up a semi-final clash. Part one - GB vs Canada; Why Britain's run to the SFs feels different to 2022; Fernandez's serving woes. Part two (from 18 minutes) - Slovakia vs Australia. Viktoria Hruncakova delivers for Slovakia...and for Matt. Part three (from 26 minutes) - Poland vs Italy preview. Buy Tickets to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals!Join The Barge! Our safe online community spac
BJK Cup Finals Day 3 - Swiatek doubles up to make history for Poland; Sinner to face Fritz in ATP Finals climax
Catherine, David and Matt catch up on a thrilling day in Malaga as Poland and Italy both won doubles deciders to set up a semi-final to savour. Over in Turin, Fritz continued his recent dominance over Zverev and will now face Sinner in the final. Part One - Poland vs Czechia; Swiatek’s incredible double duty. Part Two (from 15 minutes) - Italy vs Japan; Paolini’s incredible double duty. Part Three (from 27 minutes) - ATP Finals semi-finals; why Fritz enjoys the Zverev match-up, Fritz’s fang stat
BJK Cup Finals Day 2 - Poland advance; GB cruise; Turin semis set
The quarter final line up was set in Malaga as GB and Poland notched up emphatic victories; meanwhile in Turin the ATP Finals reaches the knock out stage, as Sinner & Zverev set the pace. Part one - Despite being usurped from his recording position by David Ferrer, Matt relocates to bring us the scoop from Team Poland's victory over hosts Spain, and an outspoken Iga Swiatek press conference. Part two (from 24 minutes) - David continues to eat humble pie about his Zverev takes, while also doublin
BJK Cup Finals Day 1 - USA crash out on day of knock out drama
The Billie Jean King Cup made up for lost time with a fantastic opening day of action in Malaga. Part one - Matt runs us through a pretty unsettling day of rain and floods that meant a change of hotel and the event to be postponed. Part two (from 14 minutes) - Japan produced a comeback that reminded David why he was so keen on knockout tennis.Part three (from 30 minutes) - The dramatic scenes in Slovakia vs. USABuy Tickets to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals!Join The Barge! Our safe online commu
BJK Cup Finals Preview - Draw breakdown with Matt in Malaga
Matt is in Malaga for the start of the Billie Jean King Cup! Catherine and David join him from afar to talk about what to expect.Part one - What are Matt's impressions of Malaga, and its dual hosting of the BJK and Davis Cups? How is the region coping in the aftermath of its flooding tragedy.Part two (from 21 minutes) - Breaking down the Billie Jean King Cup draws, and picking our winners.Part three (from 41 minutes) - The Barbora Krejcikova-Jon Wertheim storyBuy Tickets to the Billie Jean King
WTA Finals - Gauff edges Zheng in classic; ATP Finals preview
Catherine, David and Matt are joined by Charlie Eccleshare of The Athletic to review the WTA Finals in Riyadh and look ahead to the ATP Finals in Turin. Part one - Coco Gauff’s thrilling victory over Zheng Qinwen in the final and what it might mean for the 2025 season. Part two (from 22 minutes) - Charlie Eccleshare shares his experience of being in Saudi Arabia to cover the WTA Finals. Part three (from 39 minutes) - Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe’s doubles victory in Riyadh; ATP Finals p
WTA Finals heads for climax as Sabalenka seals No.1
Catherine, David and Matt are together in Solihull to wrap up the Group Stages of the WTA Finals and look ahead to finals weekend in Riyadh. Part one - Purple Group Review as Aryna Sabalenka seals year-end number one, there are promising signs for Elena Rybakina, and Zheng Qinwen brings in the crowds. Part two (from 20 minutes) - Orange Group Review as Coco Gauff earns a big win over Iga Swiatek but Barbora Krejcikova pinches first place. Part three (from 41 minutes) - Gauff vs Sabalenka & Zhen
WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia - early impressions; Zverev wins Paris, but David holds firm
Catherine, David and Matt convene for a Sunday night pod to review Paris and the early stages of the WTA Finals. Part one - Zverev thrashes Humbert in Paris final; Humbert-Khachanov aggro; Alcaraz's comments about surface speed; David defends last week's Zverev takes; how much we'll miss Bercy. Part two (from 26 minutes) - Players and WTA Chief Executive Portia Archer face questions about Saudi Arabia; wins for Sabalenka, Swiatek, Paolini and Gauff discussed. Part three (from 57 minutes) - Doubl
WTA Finals - Goran to guide Rybakina as Draws revealed
Catherine, David and Matt bring you a preview of the WTA Finals which begin on Saturday in Saudi Arabia. Part one - Purple Group preview and predictions; Rybakina announces Goran Ivanisevic as her new coach for 2025, can anyone stop Sabalenka in Riyadh? Part two (from 30 minutes) - White Group preview and predictions; Gauff's poor head-to-head against her group rivals. Part three (from 39 minutes) - The doubles draw Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to also help us to produce
There's a new #NextGen in town
It was a big week for lots of the tours’ emerging talents as Catherine, David and Matt discuss titles for Jack Draper in Vienna, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in Basel, and Zheng Qinwen in Tokyo. Part one: ATP Results - Draper takes down Khachanov impressively; Mpetshi Perricard redefines the second serve; young generation get the better of Zverev, Tsitsipas, Rublev et al; an update on the Race to Turin and a preview of Paris Part two (from 36 minutes): WTA Results - Zheng Qinwen improves to 29-4 s
Saudi Kings cash in, but at what cost?
Catherine, David and Matt convene to discuss the latest results and news. Part 1: A review of last week’s tour events, including a title for Daria Kasatkina in Ningbo and Tommy Paul in Stockholm.Part 2 (from 25 minutes): Six Kings Slam. Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and friends made millions in Saudi Arabia, but with precious little mention of the spectre of sportswashing. We discuss the subject in depth. Part 3 (from 52 minutes): News - Danielle Collins announces she's not retiring yet, Iga Swi
Sabalenka-Sinner double again; Djokovic motivation question; Stop scheduling clashes!
For the fourth time this year, Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner have won titles in the same week. Sabalenka won in Wuhan, beating Zheng Qinwen in a brilliant final, while Sinner became Shanghai champion by beating Novak Djokovic in a rather flat final. Catherine, David and Matt discuss both matches and the talking points from both tournaments, including how Zheng is viewed in the locker room, Coco Gauff’s 21 doubles faults in the semi-final, and whether Novak Djokovic can ever rediscover the ed
Goodbye Rafa
The day has come: Rafael Nadal has announced that he will be retiring at the Davis Cup Finals in November. Catherine, David and Matt assemble to react to the news, discuss how it's left them feeling, and share a few Nadal memories. There's also two big announcements from Wimbledon to discuss, reports of a possible ATP-WTA commercial merger, and some appalling behaviour from players towards umpires in Shanghai. Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to also help us to produce the sh
Gauff finds final form; Swiatek seeks new guidance; Djokovic returns
Remember when The Tennis Podcast didn't feature Matt Roberts? No, us neither. But here's a reminder of what we were missing. We did our best with chat about Coco Gauff's Beijing triumph, Karolina Muchova's near miss and the coaching change being sought by Iga Swiatek. Plus, there's a look at the decision to move the Billie Jean King Cup and the Davis Cup back towards home and away ties.Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to also help us to produce the show year-round, receive ex
Alcaraz vs Sinner delivers; Fils finds new level
Catherine, David and Matt are back with a bonus pod to react to Carlos Alcaraz’s thrilling win over Jannik Sinner in the Beijing final. There’s chat about why the match was so electrifying and how Alcaraz has gained the upper hand in their rivalry this year. Elsewhere, David gets the chance to wax lyrical about Arthur Fils’ incredible title run in Tokyo, we think about what 2025 might look like for Fils, and there’s a round up of the latest action from WTA Beijing, including an impressive run to
Sinner faces WADA appeal, Wimbledon wins big, Asian swing intensifies
It’s been a big week of news in tennis and Catherine, David and Matt start by discussing the fact that the World Anti Doping Agency are appealing against the decision to clear Jannik Sinner of blame after he twice tested positive for a banned substance. There’s chat about why WADA have come to a different conclusion to the ITIA and what this means for both Sinner and the sport going forward. Elsewhere, there’s reaction to Wimbledon’s expansion plans being approved, Rafael Nadal being selected fo
Laver Cup - What it’s like being there; Gauff/Gilbert go separate ways
After the seventh edition of The Laver Cup, which was won by Team Europe, Catherine, David and Matt are joined by Charlie Eccleshare of The Athletic who was in Berlin to cover the event. Charlie reports on what it was like attending for the first time, how his view of the event has evolved, and what it's like to watch tennis with Andre Agassi. We discuss the brilliant player interactions, what we learned about some of the players involved, the one or two gripes we still have, and how it might ac
What's happened since New York?
What's happened since the US Open? The answer is quite a lot. Catherine, David and Matt catch up on all the Davis Cup results which saw Carlos Alcaraz thrive, Great Britain lose, and lots of frustration about scheduling as the sport reaches breaking point. There's also Rafael Nadal's withdrawal from Laver Cup and what that might mean, a first WTA title for both Sonay Kartal and Magdalena Frech, and Naomi Osaka's split with Wim Fissette and rumoured partnership with Patrick Mouratoglou. Join The
US Open Day 14 - Sinner sends Fritz packing to claim second Slam
Jannik Sinner has won his second Grand Slam title, beating Taylor Fritz in straight sets in the US Open final. Catherine, David and Matt discuss the match, the way in which Sinner raised his level for the final while Fritz didn't have his best game, the post match press conference in which Sinner opened up on the struggles of dealing with his positive drugs tests, and what Sinner's victory means for the sport. AO TRAVELThe Tennis Podcast during the US Open is brought to you in partnership with A
US Open Day 13 - Sabalenka slays New York demons in classic final
Aryna Sabalenka is a US Open champion at last. After a series of near misses in New York, she faced down her demons and beat Jessica Pegula 7-5 7-5 in a brilliant final on Saturday. Catherine, David and Matt discuss where the match was won and lost and what the result means for both players. There’s also an existential best of three versus best of five debate, a round up of the other doubles and junior results at the US Open, reporting on the final day of tennis at the Paralympics, a discussion
US Open Day 12 - Puke, Nerves, Agony, Ecstasy, Puke
Men's semi-finals day was mostly about how nerves affected Jack Draper and Frances Tiafoe. For the American, it manifested in a physical fade and loss of form at the crucial moment, for the Brit it manifested in puke. Lots of it. Catherine, David and Matt analyse both matches and look ahead to the final between Jannik Sinner and Taylor Fritz. AO TRAVELThe Tennis Podcast during the US Open is brought to you in partnership with AO Travel & Experiences -- your one-stop shop for the Australian Open.
US Open Day 11 - Women's semi-final night with Pam's tequila slammers
Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula will face off in Saturday's US Open final after they came through intriguing matches against Emma Navarro and Karolina Muchova on women's semi-final night. Pam Shriver joins Catherine, David and Matt to dissect both matches, preview the final, and look ahead to tomorrow's men's semi-finals. AO TRAVELThe Tennis Podcast during the US Open is brought to you in partnership with AO Travel & Experiences -- your one-stop shop for the Australian Open.Go to Ao Travel &
US Open Day 10 - Crap matches, good stories
The tennis was weird and bad on Wednesday at the US Open, but there were still plenty of talking points for Catherine, David and Matt. We cover Jessica Pegula breaking her Grand Slam quarter-final duck, the state of Iga Swiatek's game and recent major record outside of Roland Garros, how Karolina Muchova overcame discomfort on court to reach the semis, Jack Draper's victory over an injured Alex De Minaur, and a bizarre match between Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev. Join The Barge!Become a Frie
US Open Day 9 - Sabalenka sizzles; Fritz, Tiafoe to clash for final place
It was an incredible day for the Americans at the US Open with Emma Navarro, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe all reaching the semi-finals of the singles, while Taylor Townsend and Donald Young also made it through to the mixed doubles final. Catherine, David and Matt cover it all, including Paula Badosa's collapse from 5-1 up in the second set, an awesome performance from Aryna Sabalenka in the night session, how Zheng Qinwen was affected by her late finish, Alexander Zverev's tendency to get pa
US Open Day 8 - Muchova magic; Sinner vs. Medvedev is on; Pegula’s quest continues
It wasn't exactly a show stopping day on Labor Day at the US Open, but Catherine, David and Matt chat about Karolina Muchova's stunning performance to stop Jasmine Paolini, Jack Draper reaching a Grand Slam quarter-final after a dismal display from Tomas Machac, and the setting up of two tantalising quarter-finals: Daniil Medvedev vs Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek vs Jessica Pegula. Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to also help us to produce the show year-round, receive exclu
US Open Day 7 - Gauff’s double trouble; Record late finish is nothing to celebrate
Defending champion Coco Gauff is out of the US Open after hitting 19 double faults in a three set loss to Emma Navarro. In part one of the pod, we discuss the match and ponder what’s next for Gauff as she looks to rebuild her game. In part two, we cover the latest ever finish to a women’s match at the US Open as Zheng Qinwen beat Donna Vekic at 2.15am. Catherine, David and Matt were all in the stadium and there’s reaction to Zheng’s phenomenal performance as well as the absurdity of the situatio
US Open Day 6 - Calm follows the storm; Double bounce video controversy
There was a ‘morning after the two nights before’ feeling about Saturday at the US Open as most of the singles matches finished in straight sets and the big names avoided the upsets. Catherine, David and Matt discuss the setting up of Jasmine Paolini vs Karolina Muchova, statement performances from Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev, VAR controversy involving Beatriz Haddad Maia and Anna Kalinskaya, and Iga Swiatek's progress. Plus, Botic van de Zandschulp reverts to type, we're proud of The Best
US Open Day 5 - Djokovic follows Alcaraz through exit door; Sabalenka, Gauff roar back
Chaos! It’s happening! One wild night on Arthur Ashe Stadium turned into two as Novak Djokovic followed Carlos Alcaraz out of the tournament. Catherine, David and Matt react to Djokovic's performance which he described as one of his worst ever, praise Alexei Popyrin for the biggest win of his career, and analyse what it means for the rest of the draw. Elsewhere, there's the customary Grand Slam rant about the scheduling as Aryna Sabalenka and Ekaterina Alexandrova walked onto court at past midni
US Open Day 4 - Alcaraz out; Botic Van de Zandschulp, what did you do!?
Carlos Alcaraz is out of the US Open. The Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion was beaten in straight sets by Botic van de Zandschulp on a shocking night on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Catherine, David and Matt watched every ball and went to Alcaraz's press conference. What went wrong? Just how impressive was Van de Zandschulp? How did Alcaraz explain his performance? And what does it mean for the rest of the tournament? We discuss all of that, as well as Karolina Muchova's victory over Naomi Osaka, th
US Open Day 3 - Shelton vs. Tiafoe is ON; Wimbledon champ falls
At the end of a brutally hot and humid day in New York, Catherine, David and Matt convene to discuss Novak Djokovic's struggles in the conditions, the setting up of Ben Shelton vs Frances Tiafoe, Coco Gauff's difficulties with her serve, defeat for Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova, epic five set wins for Andrey Rublev, Jiri Lehecka and Lorenzo Musetti, the impressive form of Paula Badosa and Aryna Sabalenka, and another slow start overcome by Zheng Qinwen. Plus, an update from Emma Raducanu
US Open Day 2 - Stories everywhere, a lost generation and the longest match ever
It was an extraordinary second day at the US Open. Catherine, David and Matt cover Jasmine Paolini coming back to beat Bianca Andreescu, Noami Osaka’s awesome performance and statement outfit, Dan Evans winning the longest match in US Open history, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner both dropping sets, the lost generation of Stefanos Tsitsipas, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov, Iga Swiatek’s struggles with the schedule, and the end of Danielle Collins' Grand Slam singles career. Join The
US Open Day 1 - Big guns cruise, but is it time to reframe Rune?
Day one of the US Open saw Coco Gauff and Novak Djokovic begin their title defences successfully, Zheng Qinwen fight back to beat Amanda Anisimova, brutal defeats for Holger Rune and Sloane Stephens, and the end of Dominic Thiem’s grand slam career. Catherine, David and Matt discuss all of that and much more. Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to also help us to produce the show year-round, receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout 2024, including Tennis Re-Lived an
US Open Preview - Medvedev's mic drop, Draper’s despair, and getting pumped for Day 1
We are live in our NYC apartment for one final preview of the US Open. We lift the lid on media day at Grand Slams, take questions from the chat, and run through the Order of Play for Days 1 and 2. Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to also help us to produce the show year-round, receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout 2024, including Tennis Re-Lived and Grand Slam review shows, read Hannah's Column and watch monthly live shows on YouTube. Sign up to receive our N
US Open - Djokovic, Alcaraz allay injury concerns; Krejcikova embraces the stage
Catherine, David and Matt are on site at the US Open on a day when Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Barbora Krejcikova, Naomi Osaka and Jack Draper came through the press conference room. Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to also help us to produce the show year-round, receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout 2024, including Tennis Re-Lived and Grand Slam review shows, read Hannah's Column and watch monthly live shows on YouTube. Sign up to receive our Newsletter (
US Open - Draws! And Sinner faces the music
Catherine, David and Matt break down the US Open draws and react to media day which was headlined by Jannik Sinner's first press conference since news emerged that he had twice tested positive for a banned substance. OUR LINKS: Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to also help us to produce the show year-round, receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout 2024, including Tennis Re-Lived and Grand Slam review shows, read Hannah's Column and watch monthly live shows on You
Sinner’s title and positive test bombshell - our reaction
It had already been a dramatic week in tennis but the sport was rocked on Tuesday when news came out that Jannik Sinner had twice tested positive for a banned substance in March. The world number one has been cleared of any wrongdoing and won't serve a suspension, but lots of questions remain. Catherine, David and Matt react to it all, detail the player reaction so far, and discuss what it means for Sinner, the sport, and the anti-doping process in tennis. Elsewhere, there's chat about Sinner's
Canada - Pegula defends, Popyrin stuns, and are we in for a wild US Open?
Catherine, David and Matt were live to talk all things Canada including Jessica Pegula defending her title, a great week for Amanda Anisimova, and Alexei Popyrin’s incredible run to the title. There’s also chat about what it might all mean for the US Open in a couple of weeks, Naomi Osaka’s loss in Cincinnati qualifying, and Stefanos Tsitsipas announcing that his father is no longer his coach. THE TENNIS PODCAST - LIVE IN NEW YORKIn-person tickets have gone, but you can buy a virtual ticket to w
Olympics - Imperious Djokovic completes tennis with gold, but is he done?
Novak Djokovic has finally won Olympic gold, delivering an incredible performance to beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 7-6 in the final. Catherine, David and Matt discuss Djokovic’s remarkable level, how it appeared to shock Alcaraz, and what finally winning gold might mean for the rest of Djokovic’s career. Elsewhere, we reflect on Zheng Qinwen’s gold-medal winning moment, wrap up all the doubles results, give our thoughts on Olympics tennis generally, and react to results in Washington. THE TENNIS PODCA
Olympics - Swiatek shocked, the end for Andy, Djokovic’s dream in danger & Vekic victorious
It's only been a few days since our last episode but SO much has happened in Paris. Catherine, David and Matt recap Andy Murray's career ending, Zheng Qinwen beating Iga Swiatek, all kinds of aggro involving Danielle Collins and Emma Navarro, no medal matches for Coco Gauff, a big injury scare for Novak Djokovic, the end of Nadalcaraz in doubles but progression for Alcaraz in singles, the form of Lorenzo Musetti and Felix Auger-Aliassime, and all the key doubles results. Plus, Pam Shriver pops i
Olympics - Djokovic vs. Nadal reviewed, Murray’s career continues and what a week so far
Catherine, David and Matt convene to discuss the first few days of action in Paris. There's chat about Andy Murray and Dan Evans saving five match points to prolong Murray's career and how perfect it was, victory for Nadalcaraz despite Carlos Alcaraz's nerves and lack of doubles experience, a dominant win for Novak Djokovic over Rafael Nadal in singles and what it means for both players, strong performances from Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek, and Sara Errani serving Daniil Medvedev off the court. P
The Olympics - Paris 2024 draws and hype!
The Olympics are almost here and Catherine, David and Matt are pumped! Moments after the draws were made, there's reaction to a potential Djokovic vs Nadal clash in R2, tough draws for Iga Swiatek and Nadalcaraz, and loads of fun mixed doubles pairings. There's also chat about the high profile withdrawals this week including Jannik Sinner's due to tonsilitis, Coco Gauff carrying the flag for Team USA, life in the athlete's village for tennis players, and whether we want top seeds progressing or
What's happened since Wimbledon? (includes Fils vs. Zverev fallout)
No Wimbledon, no crowds, no Matt! But we still have a Tennis Podcast that we hope you will enjoy, looking back on Rafael Nadal's run in Bastad, the fallout of Arthur Fils vs. Alexander Zverev, and the many more tournaments held the week after Wimbledon.THE TENNIS PODCAST - LIVE IN NEW YORKIn-person tickets have gone, but you can buy a virtual ticket to watch the live stream of our New York live show on Thursday 22nd August, here.HANNAH’S COLUMN: Read the final Wimbledon thoughts of Hannah Wilks.
Live from Wimbledon Day 14 - Awesome Alcaraz makes it 4; What next for Djokovic? Hewett dream comes true
Catherine, David and Matt react to Carlos Alcaraz's 6-2 6-2 7-6 victory over Novak Djokovic in the men's final and discuss what it means for both players. WIMBLEDON SHOP:To check out the full range of the Wimbledon collection, go to: shop.wimbledon.comOUR LINKS: Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to also help us to produce the show year-round, receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout 2024, including Tennis Re-Lived and Grand Slam review shows, read Hannah's Column
Live from Wimbledon Day 13 - Krejcikova’s dream comes true; What next for Paolini?
Catherine, David and Matt are joined by the one and only Pam Shriver to discuss Barbora Krejcikova's victory over Jasmine Paolini, what it might mean for both players, and the men's final between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz. WIMBLEDON SHOP:To check out the full range of the Wimbledon collection, go to: shop.wimbledon.comOUR LINKS: Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to also help us to produce the show year-round, receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout 2024,
Live from Wimbledon Day 12 - Alcaraz vs. Djokovic: the rematch is on!
Catherine, David and Matt were live at the end of men's semi-finals day to react to Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic setting up a repeat of last year's final with wins over Daniil Medvedev and Lorenzo Musetti.WIMBLEDON SHOP:To check out the full range of the Wimbledon collection, go to: shop.wimbledon.comOUR LINKS: Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to also help us to produce the show year-round, receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout 2024, including Tennis Re-L
Live from Wimbledon Day 11 - Paolini joins the greats; Men’s semifinal preview
Catherine, David and Matt react to a thrilling women's semi-final day at Wimbledon which saw Jasmine Paolini win an epic over Donna Vekic and Barbora Krejcikova upset Elena Rybakina.WIMBLEDON SHOP:To check out the full range of the Wimbledon collection, go to: shop.wimbledon.comOUR LINKS: Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to also help us to produce the show year-round, receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout 2024, including Tennis Re-Lived and Grand Slam review s
Live from Wimbledon Day 10 - Musetti takes flight; Rybakina, Krejcikova on collision course
Catherine, David and Matt are live immediately after Lorenzo Musetti's five set victory over Taylor Fritz to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals. There's chat about Musetti's tactical mastery to tun the match in his favour and how this feels like one that got away from Fritz. Elsewhere, there's a Next Gen reckoning, sympathy for Alex de Minaur, and chat about how Elena Rybakina and Barbora Krejcikova got through to the last four. Is this tournament on Rybakina's racquet? How can Krejcikova disrupt h
Live from Wimbledon Day 9 - Sick Sinner beaten by Medvedev; Paolini powers on as Vekic breaks new ground
Catherine, David and Matt discuss Daniil Medvedev's five set victory over Jannik Sinner, a brilliant performance from Carlos Alcaraz, Donna Vekic breaking new ground and reaching her first Grand Slam semi-final, and the sheer joy of Jasmine Paolini.WIMBLEDON SHOP:To check out the full range of the Wimbledon collection, go to: shop.wimbledon.comOUR LINKS: Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to also help us to produce the show year-round, receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts
Live from Wimbledon Day 8 - Djokovic bids Rune Gooooodnight and takes on crowd; Svitolina’s emotional victory
Catherine, David and Matt react live to Novak Djokovic's straight sets victory over Holger Rune and, in particular, to his post match interview when he took on the crowd. There's discussion about what that says about Djokovic's state of mind, analysis of his performance, and debate about where this performance leaves Rune. Elsewhere, there's chat about Taylor Fritz's comeback from two sets down to beat Alexander Zverev, a big milestone for Alex de Minaur but also worry he's injured himself on ma
Live from Wimbledon Day 7 - Gauff, Raducanu derailed by inspired opponents; Alcaraz, Sinner roll on
Catherine, David and Matt were live to react to a day of upsets in the women's draw at Wimbledon, while Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz rolled on in the men's.WIMBLEDON SHOP:To check out the full range of the Wimbledon collection, go to: shop.wimbledon.comOUR LINKS: Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to also help us to produce the show year-round, receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout 2024, including Tennis Re-Lived and Grand Slam review shows, read Hannah's Co
Live from Wimbledon Day 6 - Swiatek comes up short on grass again; RaducAndy gate
At the end of an eventful day at Wimbledon, Catherine, David and Matt begin the show by discussing Iga Swiatek's shock third round defeat to Yulia Putintseva. There's analysis of what Putintseva did so well tactically, where it went wrong for Swiatek, how Swiatek reacted in her post match press conference, and whether she will ever crack grass. Last year's finalist, Ons Jabeur, was also beaten as the top half of the women's draw opened up. But Elena Rybakina put in a statement performance to thr
Live from Wimbledon Day 5 - Alcaraz survives and thrives; is Raducanu in the mix?
On a rainy day at Wimbledon, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz survived a big scare against Frances Tiafoe. Catherine, David and Matt assembled under cover to discuss the match, Alcaraz's ups and downs, and his incredible fifth set record. There's also much excitement about Emma Raducanu as she reached the second week of a slam for the first time since 2021 by defeating Maria Sakkari. How hyped are we? Elsewhere, there's chat about Paula Badosa and Daria Kasatkina setting up a fourth round clash
Live from Wimbledon Day 4 - Murray leaves heart on Centre Court; Shocks, drama, trauma everywhere
Wimbledon has said goodbye and thank you to Andy Murray. Catherine, David and Matt react to his first round doubles defeat with Jamie, the return of Sue Barker, the touching ceremony that followed, and his press conference. There are reflections on his career and what he's meant to us, and the sport, over the years. Elsewhere, we react to a shock defeat for Jessica Pegula, another wild Grand Slam exit for Hubert Hurkacz, upset wins in the all-British matches on Court One, victories for Iga Swiat
Live from Wimbledon Day 3 - Sinner survives Berretini test; Raducanu, Andreescu, Gauff serve up reminders
Catherine, David and Matt were live moments after Jannik Sinner's four set victory over Matteo Berrettini to end Day 3 at Wimbledon. There's chat about Sinner's match toughness, Carlos Alcaraz winning comfortably and setting up a showdown with Frances Tiafoe, a vulnerable looking Daniil Medvedev, David Goffin losing from 5-0 up in the fifth set to Tomas Machac, and the end of Casper Ruud's grass court "season". On the women's side, Bianca Andreescu and Emma Raducanu's victories stood out, Naomi
Live from Wimbledon Day 2 - Murray: It wasn’t meant to be; Champ Vondrousova crashes out
It was an emotional day at Wimbledon as Marketa Vondrousova was beaten in the first round and revealed that the pressure and nerves of being the defending champion were too much. Catherine, David and Matt talk a lot about that and get to know her opponent, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, who played superbly and has an epic tattoo. Before all that, Andy Murray withdrew from the singles, leaving the pod team feeling a mixture of sadness and relief. He was replaced on Centre Court by Jack Draper who did hi
Live from Wimbledon Day 1 - Sabalenka’s sorrow, Raducanu wins ugly, Alcaraz & Sinner advance
The big headline on Day One was Aryna Sabalenka’s withdrawal due to her shoulder injury. Catherine, David and Matt discuss the news and speculate about who might benefit. Could it be Emma Raducanu after her victory on Monday? Elsewhere, there’s chat about Naomi Osaka’s topsy turvy victory over Diane Parry, an impressive showing from Diana Schnaider, and an unwanted statistic for Zhang Shuai. On the men’s side, there’s reaction to Jannik Sinner surviving a brief scare to set up a showdown with Ma
Live from Wimbledon - Day 1 preview; The future - for Andy Murray and Wimbledon
Moments after England's dramatic win at the Euros, Catherine, David and Matt were live to look ahead to Day One at Wimbledon. There's reaction to Andy Murray's press conference as he explained in more detail about the surgery he's had and how he hopes to get some closure by playing Wimbledon one last time. Naomi Osaka and Marketa Vondrousova were also in the interview room, there's a rundown of the day one schedule, and we answer some questions from the chat. Plus, we speak to tournament directo
Live from Wimbledon - Sabalenka injury scare but other top stars glow; Andy continues to agonise
It was media day at Wimbledon which meant that most of the leading players came into the press conference room, and Catherine, David and Matt were there to ask them questions. On the pod, there's discussion of Aryna Sabalenka revealing that she's not 100% fit because of her shoulder injury, Novak Djokovic's remarkable recovery from knee surgery as he eyes up an 8th title, the confidence radiating from Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff and Jannik Sinner, the way Iga Swiatek is going to try to adapt her
Live from Wimbledon - Draw Day
Catherine, David and Matt are back at Wimbledon and in our first live show of The Championships we react to the men's and women's singles draws. They didn't exactly throw up many enticing first round matches, but there's still plenty to discuss. There's chat about a tough section for Iga Swiatek, a potential Jannik Sinner vs Matteo Berrettini clash in round two, excitement for aggro re-lived between Ajla Tomljanovic and Jelena Ostapenko, British hopes and expectations for Emma Raducanu and Jack
Murray in turmoil but Djokovic looks ready; Tales from Wimbledon qualifying
Our 2024 Wimbledon coverage begins at Qualifying where Catherine, David and Matt soak up the special atmosphere at Roehampton and report on the biggest stories from the week. Elsewhere, there's reaction to Andy Murray's injury update and the turmoil he's facing to get the send off he wants and deserves, the latest results from Eastbourne, Bad Homburg and Mallorca, and the prospect of Novak Djokovic playing Wimbledon despite knee surgery just a few weeks ago. OUR LINKS: Join The Barge!Become a Fr
Stars in Wimbledon waiting game; Sinner, Pegula, Paul post statement wins
It was an eventful week in tennis headlined by Andy Murray having to retire from his second round match at Queen’s and then have surgery on his back. It leaves his Wimbledon participation in doubt. Catherine, David and Matt share their feelings and look ahead to what might happen over the next few days. Elsewhere, there’s chat about Tommy Paul’s title at Queen’s, Lorenzo Musetti’s run to the final, and Jack Draper’s big win over Carlos Alcaraz. Matt is full of praise for Jannik Sinner winni
Grass! Draper, Boulter double for Britain; Wayne Ferreira interview
The grass court season is well underway and it was a big week of British success with Jack Draper winning his first career title in Stuttgart and Katie Boulter defending her title in Nottingham. Catherine, David and Matt cover it all and David speaks to Draper's coach, Wayne Ferreira, to find out more about their partnership, and what to expect of Draper in the future. Elsewhere, Emma Raducanu's decision to turn down an Olympics wildcard is debated, Matteo Berrettini's run to the Stuttgart
Bianca Andreescu
Catherine and Matt sit down with Bianca Andreescu to talk about her career so far and the journey ahead. Andreescu opens up about the fearlessness she felt in 2019 when she won her US Open title, the injury and mental health struggles which followed, the new perspective on life that she's gained, and why her goals and ambitions remain high. Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to also help us to produce the show year-round, receive exclusive access to bonus podcast
RG Day 15 - Alcaraz escapes to history
Carlos Alcaraz is the Roland Garros champion, coming back from two sets to one down to defeat Alexander Zverev in the final. Catherine, David and Matt discuss all the key moments in the match, how Alcaraz combined tactics, physical prowess and mental strength to win, and what this means for his career. Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to also help us to produce the show year-round, receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout 2024, including
RG Day 14 - History made and Iga eager for more; Alcaraz vs. Zverev preview
Iga Swiatek has won Roland Garros for a fourth time, beating Jasmine Paolini 6-2 6-1 in the final. Catherine, David and Matt discuss the match, Swiatek’s peerlessness on clay, her place in the sport’s history, and what the future might hold for her. There’s also a round up of all the other results and a preview of the men’s final between Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev. OUR LINKS:Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to also help us to produce the show year
RG Day 13 - Alcaraz outlasts Sinner; Zverev case discontinued; Swiatek vs. Paolini preview
Carlos Alcaraz will face Alexander Zverev in Sunday's men's final at Roland Garros. Alcaraz beat Jannik Sinner in five sets on Friday in a match affected by cramp, while Zverev beat Casper Ruud in a match affected by Ruud's ill health. Catherine, David and Matt discuss both matches, analyse in depth what we learned from Alcaraz vs Sinner, and report the news that Zverev's domestic abuse case in Germany has been discontinued. There's also a preview of the women's final between Iga Swiatek and Jas
RG Day 12 - Talking all the tennis with Mary Carillo
As is tradition on women's semi-finals day at Roland Garros, we welcome Mary Carillo onto the pod! We discuss a couple of one-sided semi-finals, the Iga Swiatek vs Coco Gauff match-up, and whether Jasmine Paolini stands any chance at all in Saturday's final. There's also a big preview of the men's semi-finals which are headlined by the latest instalment of Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner. OUR LINKS:Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to also help us to produce the
RG Day 11 - Paolini, Andreeva rock Roland Garros; Zverev advances
The anticipated semi-final between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina became Jasmine Paolini vs Mirra Andreeva after a day of huge upsets at Roland Garros. Catherine, David and Matt react to the matches, discuss how they made them feel, and look ahead to tomorrow's semi-finals. On the men's side, there's chat about Alexander Zverev's victory over Alex de Minaur. OUR LINKS:Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to also help us to produce the show year-round, receive e
RG Day 10 - Injury dashes Djokovic hopes; Swiatek vs. Gauff, Alcaraz vs. Sinner are ON
It was a seismic day at Roland Garros as Novak Djokovic withdrew from the tournament due to his knee injury. Catherine, David and Matt react to the news and what it might mean for Djokovic's future. The most immediate impact is that Jannik Sinner will become the new world number one on Monday and he found out just after his quarter-final win over Grigor Dimitrov. There's chat about that, the stunning Coco Gauff vs Ons Jabeur match to start the day, another dominant display from Iga Swiatek over
RG Day 9 - More Djokovic drama; What a women’s quarterfinal lineup
There was a moment on Monday at Roland Garros when it felt like Novak Djokovic was about to lose to Francisco Cerundolo, but he once again defied his age and his body to come through in five sets. How did he do it? And what does it mean for the rest of his tournament? Catherine, David and Matt discuss all of that as well as another five set win for Alexander Zverev, the clay court breakthrough of Alex de Minaur, and why this feels like such a big chance for Casper Ruud. On the women's side there
RG Day 8 - Big names roll, but what on earth was Hubert Hurkacz thinking?
There was a morning after the night before feeling to Day 8 at Roland Garros as the tournament picked up following the 3am finish. Catherine, David and Matt discuss Iga Swiatek’s double bagel and look ahead to quarter-final match ups between Coco Gauff and Ons Jabeur and Stefanos Tsitsipas and Carlos Alcaraz. There’s also chat about Jannik Sinner coming through the Corentin Moutet test and Hubert Hurkacz’s bizarre effort to get the umpire changed. OUR LINKS:Join The Barge!Become a 
RG Day 7 - Defiant Djokovic strikes back in the dead of the night
This was the day the French Open went a bit crazy. Catherine, David and Matt talk about the latest finish in tournament history as Novak Djokovic fought back to defeat Lorenzo Musetti. There's also chat about Alexander Zverev's fifth set tiebreak survival against Tallon Griekspoor, the wonder that was Tomas Machac vs Daniil Medvedev, Jasmine Paolini's win over Bianca Andreescu which was played in pouring rain, Elena Rybakina's return to the press conference room, Elina Avanesyan's upset of Zheng
RG Day 6 - Jabeur, Alcaraz are back; Moutet brings home the vibes
The vibes came late on day six at Roland Garros but when they came, they were sensational. Carlos Alcaraz played a great match to defeat Sebastian Korda and Corentin Moutet had the Lenglen crowd in the palm of his hand as he reached round four. There's chat about both matches in part two of the pod, while part one focuses on Iga Swiatek's birthday victory, Ons Jabeur's joyful win over Leylah Fernandez, and Matteo Arnaldi's upset of Andrey Rublev. OUR LINKS:Join The Barge!Become a Frien
RG Day 5 - One of the great nights of Grand Slam tennis
A rain-soaked and miserable day session turned into an electric and thrilling night session at Roland Garros, meaning that Catherine, David and Matt were buzzing when recording the pod in the media centre at 1am. There's chat about Holger Rune surviving a fifth set tiebreak against Flavio Cobolli, aggro involving Denis Shapovalov and Frances Tiafoe, a Djokovician performance from Novak Djokovic, shock defeats for Danielle Collins and Jelena Ostapenko, a press conference no show from Elena R
RG Day 4 - Swiatek, Osaka serve up classic
It was a dreary day at Roland Garros, with the rain falling and play on the outside courts cancelled, but it came to life when Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka came onto Court Philippe-Chatrier and played one of the most thrilling matches of the year. Swiatek escaped as the winner, saving a match point, but it felt like Osaka won something too as she played her best tennis in years. On the pod, Catherine, David and Matt cover the match, the press conferences, and the disappointing crowd. Elsewhere, t
RG Day 3 - Rybakina imperious on-court, irritable off it; Djokovic dials in
On the final day of round one action at Roland Garros, rain fell for most of it, but once the clouds cleared there were plenty of talking points for Catherine, David and Matt. There's chat about Elena Rybakina's awesome performance on court before a pretty chippy press conference, Novak Djokovic showing some signs of life, a dreadful day for French players, Alize Cornet's retirement, and excitement for a fun order of play on Day 4. OUR LINKS:Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis
RG Day 2 - Sun sets on Rafa’s Roland Garros reign
Rafael Nadal may have played his final match at Roland Garros. That's a lot to comes to terms with, but we tried on the pod after watching his straight sets defeat to Alexander Zverev. We describe where the match was won and lost, how it made us feel, and whether Nadal will fare better at the Olympics in a couple of months. Elsewhere, there's chat about convincing wins for Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff, a winning return for Bianca Andreescu, mixed fortunes for French players, and much more. OUR LIN
RG Day 1 - Fun first day, but Djokovic reveals doubts
As opening days of Grand Slam tournaments go, that was a pretty crazy one, starting with Naomi Osaka winning a match that became too close for comfort, ending with Andy Murray walking off Court Philippe-Chatrier for probably the final time, and featuring lots of fun matches involving French players. The new Suzanne Lenglen roof was also unveiled and Novak Djokovic gave a cryptic press conference where he talked about having 'low expectations'. Catherine, David and Matt wrap it all up on a two-pa
Roland Garros Preview - Nadal gives reasons to believe
In our final preview show ahead of this year's Roland Garros, we were live in our AirBnB in Paris to react to an astonishing Rafael Nadal press conferences as he confirmed that he's feeling better, said there's a chance he could play this tournament again next year, and revealed that he's been practising well in preparation for his first round match against Alexander Zverev. There was a dose of realism in there too - he hasn't played at a high level for a long time - but his mood was much more b
Roland Garros - Sinner & Alcaraz calm injury concerns; Swiatek owns the room
Catherine, David and Matt divided and conquered on media day at Roland Garros as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner both spoke positively about their fitness, Daniil Medvedev and Coco Gauff discussed their serves, Andy Murray reflected on his 2017 semi-final against Stan Wawrinka, Alexander Zverev talked about his round one showdown with Rafael Nadal, and Iga Swiatek gave off a real air of confidence. Plus, David doorstepped some Danish journalists to find out about the real Holger Rune, and we wa
Roland Garros - Draw drama as Nadal faces Zverev
The Roland Garros draw threw up 128 first round singles matches, but there’s only one which everyone is talking about: 14-time champion Rafael Nadal drawn to face Alexander Zverev. On the pod, hear the reaction from inside the room when Zverev’s name was drawn next to Nadal’s, as well as Catherine, David and Matt’s own feelings about the prospect of that match. Elsewhere, there’s chat about the draws facing all the other leading contenders, the state of French tennis, and Dominic Thiem
Swiatek’s in a Mix of one at Roland Garros; Thiem’s quest to qualify
It’s Roland Garros week! And Iga Swiatek will head to Paris as an overwhelming favourite for the French Open title after her dominant victory over Aryna Sabalenka in Rome. Catherine, David and Matt discuss the final, Swiatek’s game on the clay, and where she stands in relation to some of the all-time greats. On the men’s side, Alexander Zverev won his second Rome title over Nicolas Jarry in the final. Where does he rank among the Roland Garros favourites and will the fact that his trial for
Rome chaos reigns for the men while Swiatek-Sabalenka ride again
Catherine, David and Matt are together at Tennis Podcast Towers to discuss everything that's happened in Rome since Monday. There's lots of excitement about a final rematch between Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, David's hopped on board Matt's Nicolas Jarry hype train, and Catherine rants about the French Open's decision not to give Dominic Thiem a wildcard. OUR LINKS:Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to also help us to produce the show year-round, receive excl
Djokovic doubts, a Mix of many and we’re Live in London!
For the first time since 2004, neither Novak Djokovic nor Rafael Nadal will feature in the quarter-finals of Rome as both lost early at the Foro Italico. Djokovic was beaten in just over an hour by Alejandro Tabilo, a couple of days after being hit on the head by a water bottle, while Nadal was a shadow of himself in a 6-1 6-3 loss to Hubert Hurkacz. Catherine, David and Matt discuss both results and, with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner both sidelined with injury, there’s lots of cha
Madrid - Swiatek wins true classic; Rublev defies illness to triumph
Catherine, David and Matt look back on Finals weekend in Madrid which saw Iga Swiatek win an absolute thriller against Aryna Sabalenka and Andrey Rublev overcome illness to defeat Felix Auger-Aliassime. There's chat about both matches, how this sets us up for Roland Garros, and a look ahead to Rome. OUR LINKS:Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to also help us to produce the show year-round, receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout 2024, including Ten
Madrid - Sabalenka sets up Swiatek showdown; Leading men struggle; Shirt-gate
Madrid is nearing the finish line, so here's a podcast to round up what's happened since the last one. There's coverage of Arena Sabalenka's comebacks against Danielle Collins and Elena Rybakina, a men's draw that has rather fallen apart, and concerns over Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev. Plus, the latest on Rafael Nadal, and of course our reaction to the Twitter storm we were part of: Shirt-gate!We have free UK shipping in The Tennis Podcast Shop until midnight on Monday. OUR
Resurgent Rafa, meandering Madrid, but here comes Collins vs Sabalenka!
With Madrid pretty much at the halfway stage, Catherine, David and Matt catch up to cover the biggest stories so far, headlined by Rafael Nadal’s stirring victory over Alex de Minaur. We also cover defeats for Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune, promising signs for Carlos Alcaraz, a ridiculous match between Corentin Moutet and Juncheng Shang, convincing victories for most of the top women, and a clash to savour between Danielle Collins and Aryna Sabalenka. Elsewhere, there’s our usual
Rybakina, Ruud conquer clay, Rafa's ready to ‘die’ on Chatrier, and Muguruza retires
Catherine, David and Matt round up the results from another hectic week on the clay, headlined by Elena Rybakina’s victory in Stuttgart. We discuss her win over Iga Swiatek and what that might mean for the pair’s rivalry, and pay tribute to an incredible week for Marta Kostyuk. Elsewhere, Sloane Stephens’ run to the title in Rouen had us checking the Roland Garros odds and Catherine was trolled by Casper Ruud avenging his Monte Carlo defeat to Stefanos Tsitsipas by winning in Barcelona. Is
Tsitsipas rises again, Nadal is back and Raducanu inspires GB comeback
An eventful week in Monte Carlo means there's lots for Catherine, David and Matt to discuss, not least a return to form for Stefanos Tsitsipas. In what ways is he just a much better player on clay? And can he make sure his Monte Carlo title is not just a one off? There's also chat about Holger Rune's tweets, another week for Novak Djokovic without his top level, Casper Ruud's Finals problem, and Jannik Sinner's second defeat of the season. Elsewhere, we wrap up the results from the Billie Jean K
Collins' streak continues as WTA heads for Saudi Arabia
For the second week in a row, Danielle Collins headlines the pod after she kept her winning streak going in Charleston. Catherine, David and Matt try to find new things to say about her incredible form and wonder once again whether this puts her In The Mix at the remaining Grand Slams this year. Elsewhere there's chat about some surprise winners on the clay on the ATP Tour in the form of Matteo Berrettini, Hubert Hurkacz and Ben Shelton. We also discuss the news that the WTA Finals are heading t
Ivanisevic interview - coaching Djokovic, the split, and what’s next for Goran
David speaks to Goran Ivanisevic after his recent split from Novak Djokovic. Goran talks about what it was like coaching Djokovic over the last five years, the areas they worked on together, their on court dynamic, the reasons for the split, Djokovic's biggest rivals, how much time Djokovic might have left in the sport, and what's next for both of them. OUR LINKS:Join The Barge!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to also help us to produce the show year-round, receive exclusive
Miami - Collins crowns final season; Sinner cements his status at the top
Our post-Miami live show was mostly devoted to the two champions, Danielle Collins and Jannik Sinner. With the help of listener Vicki Spreadbury, Catherine distills why it means a lot to see a woman like Collins succeed, Matt explains why she's now a certified member of The Backhand List, and David wonders how much more she could achieve before she retires at the end of the year. As for Sinner, there's chat about the Novak Djokovic-ification of his game and his dominance over Daniil Medvedev and
Miami heats up; Djokovic shock split
Catherine, David and Matt convene to discuss a busy few days in Miami. The women’s final is set between Elena Rybakina and Danielle Collins and there’s chat about Rybakina’s resilient run so far, Collins’ more destructive path through, and what might happen in the final. How much has her decision to retire at the end of the season helped Collins on court? Should she be on The Backhand List? And why does Rybakina keep playing epics? On the men’s side, the big headline has been Grigor Di
Miami - Ruud’s rant, Halep’s spat and Murray’s throwback
Catherine, David and Matt catch up on the opening few days of action in Miami which have been heavily rain-affected. There’s chat about Casper Ruud’s takedown of the event, Simona Halep’s return and Caroline Wozniacki’s feelings about her wildcard, some greatest hits from Andy Murray, the latest editions in the Caroline Garcia vs Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek vs Linda Noskova rivalries, heavy defeats for Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune, and a tough set of results for the American men. 
Indian Wells - Swiatek, Alcaraz electric again
Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz are the Indian Wells champions. Catherine, David and Matt discuss Swiatek's utter dominance in the desert, whether she can translate her tour hard court success to the slams, and how Alcaraz rediscovered his best form and his joy on court in his first title run since Wimbledon. There's also chat about the strides made by Maria Sakkari this week, Coco Gauff's serve, a Sinner-Alcaraz semi-final which was at times (but not always) spectacular, and a crossroads for Dan
Indian Wells - Alcaraz buzz returns
The last few days at Indian Wells have been some of the most eventful of the tennis season so far. We’ve had a bee invasion, the setting up of Post Sting Alcaraz vs Post Puke Sinner, shock defeats for Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka, and lots of politics as Saudi Arabia looks to grow its influence in tennis. Catherine, David and Matt get stuck into it all. OUR LINKS:Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to
Halep back, anti-doping system in tatters; Indian Wells update
Indian Wells is underway but it was a news-heavy week in the tennis world and Catherine, David and Matt begin by discussing the fact that Simona Halep can return to tennis after CAS reduced her suspension to 9 months. Why did CAS come to such a different conclusion to the ITIA? How do we feel about tennis’ anti-doping system in light of this case? And what do we make of Halep receiving a wildcard to play Miami? Elsewhere, there’s chat about Netflix not renewing Break Point for season t
Boulter & De Minaur, tennis' newest power couple
Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter are tennis' latest power couple after they both won 500 events in Acapulco and San Diego respectively. Catherine, David and Matt discuss the improvements to their games and how high they could go. Elsewhere, there's a similar conversation about Ugo Humbert after he picked up yet another title, this time in Dubai. We also give our takes on Andrey Rublev's disqualification, news that the Saudi PIF have struck a multi million dollar partnership with the ATP, Andy Mu
Paolini proves David wrong; Mensik and Fonseca arrive in style
After a week of planning meetings and tech tests in Solihull, Catherine, David and Matt come together to discuss the week’s biggest stories. We analyse the surprise final between Jasmine Paolini and Anna Kalinskaya in Dubai, eat our words about Paolini, and reflect on the new back-to-back nature of February’s WTA 1000 events. On the men’s side, youngsters Joao Fonseca and Jakub Mensik took the headlines, but Sebastian Baez, Jordan Thompson and Karen Khachanov were the week’s champions.
Swiatek, Sinner roll on, but what's up with Alcaraz?
Catherine, David and Matt are together to look back on an eventful week, headlined by Iga Swiatek's third straight title in Doha. We discuss the significance of her victory over Elena Rybakina in Doha, an extraordinary week for Karolina Pliskova as she dashed from Cluj, and the latest instalment of Victoria Azarenka beating Jelena Ostapenko which came with delicious handshake aggro. On the men's side, there's chat about Jannik Sinner backing up his Australian Open title, Alex de Minaur's improve
Rybakina returns, Humbert delivers and what is Holger Rune doing?
Catherine, David and Matt start with an eventful week in Abu Dhabi which saw Elena Rybakina lift her second trophy of the season, Daria Kasatkina impress, and injury concern for Ons Jabeur. Elsewhere there’s chat about Karolina Pliskova’s first title in four years, Ugo Humbert delivering on his immense talent by winning in Marseille, Tommy Paul’s title run in Dallas, and an all-qualifier final in Cordoba. There’s also a disqualification in UTS, coaching news for Holger Rune and Jessica
David's back! And tennis never went away
We’re home from Melbourne, David is feeling better, and we’re here to talk about the tennis that’s happened since the Australian Open. There’s chat about Jelena Ostapenko’s incredible consistency in 2024, Diana Shnaider and her bandana, Alexander Bublik's unlikely record-setting week in Montpellier, the latest round of Davis Cup Qualifiers, Holger Rune’s quick split with Severin Luthi, and a tweet from Andy Murray which caused a storm. OUR LINKS:Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast&nb
AO Day 15 - Sinner seizes maiden slam
Jannik Sinner is a Grand Slam champion! He came back from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev in a fascinating Australian Open final. Catherine and Matt discuss how Sinner did it, what another loss from two sets up means for Medvedev, the role Medvedev's path to the final played in his performance, the way Sinner has proved us wrong, and what lies ahead for him in the short and long term. There's also chat about Su Wei Hsieh and Elise Mertens winning the women's doubles title and some final re
AO Day 14 - Aryna's Aussie Double
Aryna Sabalenka has won her second straight Australian Open title, defeating Zheng Qinwen 6-3 6-2 in the final. It wasn't a classic contest, but Catherine and Matt talk through where it was won and lost, the joy Sabalenka felt in her moment of victory, whether Sabalenka can back this up and win at other slams, and how Zheng's game can still develop. There's also a preview of the men's final and a round up of all the wheelchair and junior results. ON LOCATION:We are proud to be sponsored by
AO Day 13 - Sinner stuns Djokovic; Daniil delivers Karma
Sometimes a day of tennis comes along and blows you away, and Friday at the Australian Open was one of those days. First, Jannik Sinner did the impossible and beat Novak Djokovic on the Rod Laver Arena in a semi-final, with Djokovic playing one of the worst matches of his Grand Slam career. Then, Daniil Medvedev produced his second comeback from two sets down this tournament to send Alexander Zverev packing at midnight. Catherine, David and Matt talk about the matches, the press conference
AO Day 12 - Shriver's semifinal verdict
On women's semi-final night we were joined by the one and only Pam Shriver to talk about wins for Aryna Sabalenka and Zheng Qinwen. There's chat about why Gauff-Sabalenka is such a good match up, the differences between this match and their US Open final, and how Zheng might handle her first major final. We also round up a fun day of doubles and look ahead to the men's semis. ON LOCATION:We are proud to be sponsored by On Location, the premium hospitality and experience provider, throughout
AO Day 11 - Alcaraz ousted; Qinwen Zheng surges to semis
Shortly after watching Carlos Alcaraz lose to Alexander Zverev from courtside, Catherine, David and Matt convene at TP Towers to discuss what on earth happened. There's chat about Zverev's incredible serving, the way Alcaraz was off his game, and what might have caused such a below par performance. Zverev's semi-final with Daniil Medvedev is previewed, Dayana Yastremska's run to the semis as a qualifier is analysed, and there's lots of admiration for the way Zheng Qinwen has handled the pressure
AO Day 10 - Dream semis set
On another crazy day at Melbourne Park, Catherine, David and Matt bring you a two-part podcast to discuss how Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner were set up. There’s chat about how we felt watching Gauff’s error-ridden performance, the way in which Djokovic’s managed the conditions, Sabalenka’s continued dominance, Sinner’s surge to condemn Andrey Rublev to a 10th straight slam QF defeat, and how the organisers were saved from a ridiculously late finish, even
AO Day 9 - More mayhem
The quarter-final line-ups are set and the two draws could scarcely be more different. In the women's draw, the top half became an even bigger land of opportunity as Victoria Azarenka was beaten by Dayana Yastremska, and Elina Svitolina had to retire against Linda Noskova. On the pod, David reveals his best Noskova anecdote, and we also discuss how Zheng Qinwen might handle the pressure of being the favourite to reach the final. Meanwhile in the men's draw, Carlos Alcaraz dazzled on court but co
AO Day 8 - Aussie agony; Awesome Aryna
After a number of big upsets in the past few days, Sunday at the Australian Open saw the top seeds mostly deliver statement performances. Catherine, David and Matt chat about Andrey Rublev's impressive surge to beat Alex de Minaur, triple bagel watch briefly being on as Novak Djokovic dismissed Adrian Mannarino, the current state of Stefanos Tsitsipas' career after he lost to Taylor Fritz, and how Jannik Sinner emphatically beat Karen Khachanov. In the women's draw, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauf
AO Day 7 - Swiatek Shocked
A quiet day turned into one of the most significant of the tournament as Iga Swiatek was beaten by Linda Noskova, throwing the top half of the women’s draw wide open. It left Catherine, David and Matt reeling and trying to make sense of it all on the podcast, recorded at Melbourne Park with some beers and some G&Ts. On LocationWe are proud to be sponsored by On Location, the premium hospitality and experience provider, throughout the Australian Open.And for the first time ever, On
AO Day 6 - Tequila and dreams
After the mayhem of Day 5, the Australian Open chilled out a bit on Friday with lots of one-sided matches to start the day, but it came alive as Mirra Andreeva and Adrian Mannarino mounted incredible comebacks. Those two players were - perhaps unexpectedly - the focus of the pod as Catherine, David and Matt recorded back at TP Towers in Melbourne. We also talk Taylor Fritz and Stefanos Tsitsipas, excitement for Aryna Sabalenka vs Amanda Anisimova, Jannik Sinner's impressive first week, Coco
AO Day 5 - Carnage
The Australian Open delivered one of the most extraordinary Grand Slam days on Thursday as Elena Rybakina was beaten 22-20 in a deciding set tiebreak by Anna Blinkova, Jessica Pegula lost to Clara Burel, Iga Swiatek somehow survived against Danielle Collins, Holger Rune was upset by Arthur Cazaux, and Daniil Medvedev was left playing on the Rod Laver at gone 3am. Catherine, David and Matt get stuck into the wonder and absurdity of it all. On LocationWe are proud to be sponsored by On Locati
AO Day 4 - Andreeva arrives; Djokovic pushed again
Catherine, David and Matt discuss the main stories from Day 4 at the Australian Open, which saw Novak Djokovic once again lose a set, Mirra Andreeva thrash her idol Ons Jabeur 6-0 6-2, Tomas Machac live up to our bit of calling him the best player in the world, Storm Hunter crown herself Sensation of the Day, Caroline Garcia lose to Magdelena Frech, and Ben Shelton and Stefanos Tsitsipas pushed to four sets. We also pay tribute to our colleague, Mike Dickson, who we will miss enormously. On Loca
AO Day 3 - Big guns weather early storms
The first round is finally over! Catherine, David and Matt look back on day three which saw Iga Swiatek come through a tough test against Sofia Kenin, Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina headline the night session, Jack Draper win his first ever five set match and then vomit into a bin, and Emma Raducanu making a winning Grand Slam return. There's also discussion about ATP players 'no commenting' questions about Alexander Zverev being elected to the ATP player council and news that Rafael Nadal ha
AO Day 2 - Osaka gets Garcia-ed, Grim reality greets Murray
Monday at the Australian Open ended with Catherine, David and Matt together at Tennis Podcast Towers in Melbourne, watching Felix Auger-Aliassime and Dominic Thiem slug it out over five hours and five sets, with the final stages captured on the pod. There's also chat about Caroline Garcia's flawless performance to beat Naomi Osaka, new service motions for Coco Gauff and Stefanos Tsitsipas, a heavy defeat for Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, and a flat display from Andy Murray which i
AO Day 1 - Djokovic pushed like never before; The Backhand is back
On the first ever Sunday start at the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic was pushed to four hours by 18-year-old Dino Prizmic. On the pod, Catherine, David and Matt discuss what made Prizmic's performance so impressive, why Djokovic was full of praise for him, and what effect this might have on Djokovic for the rest of the tournament. The length of that match meant that Aryna Sabalenka didn't step onto court until 11:33pm to a largely empty stadium, meaning the special moment of her return as defen
Australian Open Media Day & Preview - Live from Melbourne!
Join Catherine, David and Matt live in Melbourne to look back on media day and ahead to day one of the Australian Open. There's chat about Iga Swiatek's mindset, our excitement to see Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff's first major as a Grand Slam champion, a real mix of encouragement and worry for Emma Raducanu, whether Jannik Sinner can carry his blistering end of season form into 2024, and how long Daniil Medvedev's 'new year, new me' energy will last. On LocationWe are proud to be sponsored by On
Australian Open - Draw Day!
Catherine, David and Matt are together in Melbourne after the Australian Open draws have been made to talk through all the headlines, including Iga Swiatek’s loaded section, Naomi Osaka facing Caroline Garcia in the first round, and Jannik Sinner landing in Novak Djokovic’s half. On LocationWe are proud to be sponsored by On Location, the premium hospitality and experience provider throughout the Australian Open.And, for the first time in history, official Paris 2024 Travel Packages from On
Germany wins, Rybakina & Gauff hit form, and Grigor’s looking dangerous
After a dramatic day of tennis, Catherine, David and Matt discuss all the winners and losers from the opening week of the season. There's chat about Germany's extraordinary victory at the United Cup, our thoughts and feelings about the second edition of that event, Alex de Minaur's Top 10 debut, Elena Rybakina's dominant display to thrash Aryna Sabalenka in Brisbane, a first title since 2017 for Grigor Dimitrov, and Rafael Nadal's withdrawal from the Australian Open. We also cover Coco Gauff's v
2024! Catherine in Perth, Osaka & Nadal Return, Snake Scare
The 2024 tennis season is here and Catherine is in Perth to tell David and Matt all about the United Cup so far. There’s chat about the vibe and feel of the tournament, the format changes this year, some technique tweaks for Iga Swiatek, great wins for Katie Boulter and Zheng Qinwen, and why mixed doubles is so much fun.Elsewhere, Naomi Osaka made her comeback in Brisbane and got us all excited by the way she was playing, Rafael Nadal is preparing for his return which will be against Dominic Thi
Off-court updates, news and a 2024 preview
Even in the off season, tennis has produced enough talking points for Catherine, David and Matt to come together for one final pod in 2023. There’s chat about what the restructuring at the WTA might mean as Steve Simon relinquishes his role as chief executive to become executive chairman, Simona Halep distancing herself from Patrick Mouratoglou ahead of her appeal date in February, victory for Jack Draper at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown in London, David vs Nick Kyrgios on Twitter/X, news th
2023 In Review
It’s time for Catherine, David and Matt to reflect on the 2023 tennis season, with the help of voice notes from Pam Shriver, Mary Carillo, Matt Futterman, Chris Clarey, Hannah Wilks, and Dan Evans. We cover the moments we will remember most from 2023, our biggest surprises and disappointments, and our hopes and fears for the future. OUR LINKS:Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout 2
Next Gen, Politics and 2024
The tennis off season is officially here! In part one of the pod, Catherine, David and Matt wrap up the ATP Next Gen Finals where we learned a lot about Hamad Medjedovic. There’s also the annual rant about the scoring system, excitement for the return of Rafael Nadal in Brisbane, and news that Zheng Qinwen is going to be coached by Pere Riba again. Plus, we’re very excited to reveal our own big plans for 2024! In part two, we speak to Matt Futterman of The Athletic about his story that the
Davis Cup Finals Day 6 - Sinner Leads Italy to Stunning Victory
Italy are the Davis Cup Champions after an emphatic 2-0 victory over Australia in Sunday's final. Have these past few weeks proven that Jannik Sinner is ready for Grand Slam glory? Can Italy build a Davis Cup dynasty with this generation of players? And after two consecutive final defeats, who can step up to support Alex De Minaur? All that is discussed in depth, plus our annual review and debate about the competition's format and future. Challenge round, anyone?OUR LINKS:Become a Friend of
Davis Cup Finals Day 5 - Italy in the final as Sinner beats Djokovic...twice!
Saturday in Malaga was a quite extraordinary day as Jannik Sinner did the seemingly impossible, beating Novak Djokovic from match points down in singles and then returning to court to beat him in doubles too, sending Italy through to the Davis Cup Final. Catherine is in Malaga with Matt to discuss how on earth he pulled it off and what it might mean for Sunday's final against Australia. OUR LINKS:Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to help us to produce the show year-round, and recei
Davis Cup Finals Day 4 - Finland fun is over but Aussies bring the vibes
The Finland funtime has officially been brought to an end by Lleyton Hewitt and his ruthless band of Aussies. Catherine, David & Matt are all together to discuss talisman De Minaur and David's new favourite player Alexei Popyrin. Will Hewitt make changes for the final? And who will that final be against, Italy or Serbia? OUR LINKS:Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout 2023, includin
Davis Cup Finals Day 3 - Djokovic & Sinner set up semi final showdown
It was double duty for Matt on Thursday as both remaining quarter finals were played in at the Davis Cup Finals. They saw victories for Italy and for Serbia, meaning that Malaga is on for a repeat of the ATP Finals final of just four days ago, between Jannik Sinner & Novak Djokovic, the two highest ranked singles players at the tournament. Plus there's a look ahead to more FINLAND FUN ahead of their semi final clash with Australia. OUR LINKS:Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to
Davis Cup Finals Day 2 - De Minaur magic sparks Aussie fightback
Czechia were just a game away from a Davis Cup semi final... enter Alex De Minaur and the sort of comeback that he describes as 'part of his identity'. And enter Matt and Catherine to discuss it all; a second day of decisive doubles, an evening of misery for Jiri Lehecka and the grown up approach of Team Australia to a competition they both resent and commit themselves to entirely. Plus there's a look ahead to the mouth watering GB vs Serbia tie, and some bonus Finland chat because, well, we lov
Davis Cup Finals Day 1 - FINLAND!
A delirious Matt and David review an extraordinary opening day in the Davis Cup finals between defending champs Canada and debutants Finland, and look ahead to Day 2.OUR LINKS:Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts, including Tennis Re-Lived, listener questions pods, and Grand Slam review shows.Sign up to receive our Newsletter (daily at Slams and weekly the rest of the year, featuring Ma
Davis Cup Finals Preview - Champions, Contenders ... Finland!
Matt is in Malaga and he attended every press conference going as he soaked up the atmosphere ahead of the Davis Cup Finals, which start on Tuesday. Who are the favourites, how are the defending champions looking, and tell us everything you know about Finland! Just some of the questions put Matt's way by Catherine and David in our preview show. We will be with you every night this week. OUR LINKS:Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to help us to produce the show year-round, and recei
ATP Finals - Djokovic dunks on Sinner & Alcaraz for record 7th title
Novak Djokovic did it again, and routined both Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz along the way. It brought a close to both the ATP Finals, and Amazon Prime Video's coverage of the sport in the UK, so Catherine went straight from the presenter's mic to the podcast mic to talk to David and Matt about the last couple of days. We also cover the doubles final, and hear from Matt about what Malaga is like. Pods will be nightly throughout the Davis Cup Finals.Ravi's Story - Today's podcast was introduce
ATP Finals - Sinner's the star so far; spectacular semi-final Saturday awaits
The ATP Finals semi-finals are set and they are mouthwatering: Daniil Medvedev will face Jannik Sinner (and the Turin crowd) before Novak Djokovic takes on Carlos Alcaraz. Catherine is in Turin and she joins David and Matt to talk all about the atmosphere, some round robin related awkwardness, the way Sinner has been the star of the show so far, whether Djokovic will have more of an edge this weekend, Alcaraz's clear improvement throughout the week, and Medvedev's fine form. There's also coverag
BJK Cup Finals Day 6 - Canada wins! Matt discusses Saudi Arabia with Billie Jean King
A momentous day for Canada who are Billie Jean King Cup champions for the first time. Afterwards, Matt in Seville, Catherine in Turin and David in Solihull caught up to talk about what happened, and look ahead to the future for their star players Leylah Fernandez and Marina Stakusic. Also on the show, Matt had a moving, important conversation with Billie Jean King about tennis going to Saudi Arabia, and changes that could and should be made to the BJK Cup in the future. Plus, Catherine told us a
BJK Cup Finals Day 5 - Leylah Fernandez. That’s the title.
There have been some truly great individual performances in team competition over the years, but surely none better than what Leylah Fernandez produced on Saturday. On the pod, Catherine, David and Matt dissect her wins over Marketa Vondrousova, and the team of Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova in doubles. Plus, they preview Canada’s final against Italy, which promises to be interesting. Could Canada spring a selection surprise?Follow the Billie Jean King Cup Finals on the official websi
BJK Cup Finals Day 4 - Czechia keep on coming; Semifinal preview, and an ATP Finals look ahead
We got a glorious winner-take-all match in USA vs. Czechia, and Catherine, David and Matt revelled in the matches, drama and talking points. Why did USA make a late change to their doubles team? Was it the right call? And what makes Czechia so special in this competition? The semifinals of the Billie Jean King Cup are both previewed, and we also look ahead to the ATP Finals, which starts on Sunday. Follow the Billie Jean King Cup Finals on the official website.OUR LINKS:Become a Friend
BJK Cup Finals Day 3 - Matt investigates the mystery of Rybakina's absence; Italy, Canada book semi spots; David drops a bomb from the Lost Law Years
With just one day of the group stages to go, two teams have already qualified for the semi finals, and from the looks of their form so far, both Canada and Italy will take some beating. Kazakhstan struggled without Elena Rybakina, but why was she mysteriously absent? Matt has the scoop. Plus there's a smattering of David Law gems, including a soap box rant about round robin tennis, and an epic anecdote about his would-be life as a reality TV star.Follow the Billie Jean King Cup Finals on the off
BJK Cup Finals Day 2 - The Leylah Fernandez show is back!
Led by an inspired Leylah Fernandez, Canada made a winning start to their campaign for a first ever BJK Cup title, but at the expense of hosts Spain. Is the Canadian on her way to capturing the form that took her to the US Open final in 2021? Plus David eats his words about (previously) good draw Jasmine Paolini and Matt tells more tales from the lunch room.OUR LINKS:Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to bonus p
BJK Cup Finals Day 1 - Slovenia & Czechia storm to opening day wins, plus your daily update on Matt's lunch
Day One of the Billie Jean King Cup finals is in the books and it saw a David and Goliath victory for Slovenia, and a strong start for 11 time former Champions Czechia. Plus Matt tells the tale of how Storm Hunter came straight from a plane to the tennis court, winning her match but losing her luggage. Follow the Billie Jean King Cup Finals on the official website.OUR LINKS:Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to
Sublime Swiatek cruises amidst the chaos
As a bumpy week in Cancun reaches its conclusion, Catherine and David discuss Iga Swiatek's statement performance in the final and her triumphant return to World Number One. Plus, is this the end of the road for beleaguered WTA CEO Steve Simon?OUR LINKS:Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout 2023, including Tennis Re-Lived, listener questions pods, and Grand Slam review shows.Sign up to
BJK Cup Final Preview with Matt's tales from Seville; Djokovic dominates devastated Dimitrov
The Billie Jean King Cup Finals have rolled into Seville and so has Matt Roberts. It's the eve of the finals and Matt has been interviewing players, with some dramatic and amusing results.Plus we digest another dominant week in Paris for seven time Champ Novak Djokovic, and the devastation he inflicted on Grigor Dimitrov in the final. Follow the Billie Jean King Cup Finals on the official website. Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to help us to produce the show year-roun
Cancun chaos reaches crescendo
The group stages of the WTA Finals are over and Catherine and Matt are together to discuss the No.1 being on the line between Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, a semi-final to savour between doubles partners Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff, the way in which the tournament has been affected by incredibly windy conditions, and the players voicing their frustration. OUR LINKS:Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to
WTA Finals underway, but the players aren't happy
The WTA Finals in Cancun have begun, but the build up to the event was marred by strong player criticism about the venue, with limited practice time and a Centre Court which was only just ready for action. Catherine and Matt are joined by special guest Pam Shriver to discuss how and why this happened, the current state of the WTA, and the possible future of this event.On the court, Karolina Muchova's withdrawal was felt as replacement Maria Sakkari was thrashed by Aryna Sabalenka, and Jessica Pe
Shelton shows he's got the goods
In this episode the focus is on Ben Shelton winning his first ATP Tour title in Tokyo. Catherine, David and Matt discuss his apparent freshness at this time of the year, his tactical variation, and his 2023 season as a whole. There’s also chat about titles for Gael Monfils, Alexander Bublik and Katerina Siniakova, the wide open Race to Turin, a breakthrough week for Shintaro Mochizuki in Tokyo, some quotes from Emma Raducanu about her comeback and her approach to coaches, injury concern for
Hurkacz, Rublev rip it up in Shanghai; The best show in tennis is back
After 12 long days, Shanghai is finally over, and it was won by Hubert Hurkacz over Andrey Rublev in the final. Catherine, David and Matt chat about both players and get stuck into all the other major talking points from the week, including Grigor Dimitrov’s victory over Carlos Alcaraz. On the women’s side, there’s chat about a special victory for Jessica Pegula in Seoul, a thrilling final in Hong Kong which was won by Leylah Fernandez, and Zheng Qinwen’s impressive run of form continuing i
Iga is back, Melbourne is longer, and Shanghai is still going
Catherine, David and Matt are back to talk about Iga Swiatek’s title run in Beijing where she cut out the unforced errors, re-established her dominance over Coco Gauff, and looked free and unburdened on court. On the men’s side, Jannik Sinner went from vomiting in a bin against Grigor Dimitrov to beating Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev in back-to-back matches. Just how impressive were both Swiatek and Sinner? There’s also discussion about the main storylines from Shanghai so far, the Aus
Winning!
Catherine, David and Matt are thoroughly confused by the current tennis scheduling, but there’s chat about a first hard court title for Ons Jabeur, Veronika Kudermetova’s brilliant week in Tokyo, the abuse players receive on social media, poor crowds at many of the matches in China, Alexander Zverev’s good run of form, and Wim Fissette leaving Zheng Qinwen to work with Naomi Osaka again. Plus, if you’ll allow us, a few minutes of smugness to talk about our victory at the British Podcast Awa
Sakkari succeeds, Rybakina complains, and Laver Cup - meh.
Catherine, David and Matt convene to discuss a week which saw Maria Sakkari win the biggest title of her career in Guadalajara, the return of tennis to China, and victory for Team World in the Laver Cup in Vancouver where existentialism was a Monfilsism. VISIT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN IN STYLEThe Tennis Podcast during the US Open was brought to you in association with AO Travel, who can take care of your flights, premium accommodation, tournament tickets and behind-the-scenes experiences. They can no
The Simona Halep case and the Davis Cup
The US Open and Grand Slam season may be over for another year, but the tennis news keeps coming, with Simona Halep receiving a four-year ban following breaches of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme. Catherine, David and Matt react to the 126-page report published by the International Tennis Integrity Agency. Elsewhere, there’s chat about a week of Davis Cup action which saw the very best of the what the competition has to offer as Great Britain beat France in a thrilling tie in Manchest
US Open Day 14 - Djokovic the undisputed
Novak Djokovic is a 24 time Grand Slam winner and Catherine, David and Matt have to find new words to say about one of the sport's greatest ever champions. Reflecting on his victory over Daniil Medvedev in straight sets on Sunday night, there's analysis of Djokovic serve and volley tactic, the stubbornness of Medvedev, an extraordinary 1h44m second set where Medvedev had his chances, the resilience of Djokovic, and what to expect from him next season when goals like Calendar Slam and Olympic Gol
US Open Day 13 - It’s Coco Time
Coco Gauff is the US Open champion, coming from a set down to beat Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday's final. Catherine, David and Matt discuss the quality of the match, the way in which Gauff brought it back, Sabalenka's lack of a plan B, the special atmosphere inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, Gauff's enlightening press conference, and what it might all mean for the future.Join us live on YouTube at 2pm New York time before the men's final on Sunday! Win The Tennis Trip of a Lifetime!As you’ll know if you
US Open Day 12 - Daniil the disruptor; Djokovic hangs up on Shelton
Novak Djokovic will face Daniil Medvedev in Sunday's men's final after Djokovic beat Ben Shelton in straight sets and Medvedev stunned Carlos Alcaraz in an incredible night session match on Friday. Catherine, David and Matt discuss how Medvedev solved his match-up problem with Alcaraz, the sweet spot aggro as Djokovic copied Shelton's celebration, and what to expect on Sunday. There's also a round up of all the doubles and wheelchair results as well as a preview of the women's final between Coco
US Open Day 11 - Bad, Bizarre, Brilliant: Women’s semis reviewed; Men’s semis preview
Women's semi-final night at the US Open has delivered guaranteed drama in recent years, and Thursday night was no exception. Catherine, David and Matt discuss Aryna Sabalenka's mental resilience to come back from 0-6 down to win despite all her Grand Slam baggage, whether Madison Keys will have any regrets despite a great performance, how Coco Gauff vs Karolina Muchova went from horror show to absolute thriller, and the climate protest which interrupted play for more than 45 minutes. Our men's
US Open Day 10 - Semifinals set, and previewed
With all four of Wednesday's quarter-finals finishing in straight sets, it wasn't exactly a classic day, but it has set up a slate of exciting semi-finals. In part one, Catherine, David and Matt get stuck into Aryna Sabalenka's dominant victory over Zheng Qinwen and her consistency at slams, Daniil Medvedev's defeat of Andrey Rublev in brutal conditions and what the sport is confronting with rising temperatures, and the return of Naomi Osaka to the US Open as she spoke on a panel about mental he
US Open Day 9 - The Shelton Show meets Novak The Great; Gauff vs. Muchova - Yes Please!
In part one, Catherine, David and Matt are joined by Pam Shriver, in between her shifts on ESPN, to talk mainly about Coco Gauff reaching the semi-finals. Pam was courtside for her match against Jelena Ostapenko and shared all her insights, including a chat about scheduling biases and inequalities at major tournaments. Elsewhere, there’s great excitement about the prospect of Gauff meeting Karolina Muchova in the semis, analysis of Novak Djokovic’s victory over Taylor Fritz, and chat a
US Open Day 8 - Heat causes havoc as big names fall
After Iga Swiatek’s exit on Sunday, the tournament had a different feel on Monday, and all the more so when Jessica Pegula and Ons Jabeur followed her out of the tournament. Catherine, David and Matt discuss that, review great performances from Zheng Qinwen and Madison Keys, take stock of Pegula’s career, and review the men’s matches which included Carlos Alcaraz putting on a show and Alexander Zverev winning a gruelling battle with Jannik Sinner as the humidity took its toll on both player
US Open Day 7 - Swiatek shocked, Sabalenka seizes No.1 and is an ATP/WTA Merger coming?
Day 7 at the US Open ushered in a brave new world, in so many ways, for Catherine, David and Matt to discuss. Iga Swiatek will lose her number one ranking after her three set defeat to Jelena Ostapenko, a new women's US Open champion is guaranteed, three American men are into the quarter-finals for the first time since 2005, and Simon Briggs joins to tell us about a possible ATP-WTA merger. Win The Tennis Trip of a Lifetime!As you’ll know if you’ve been listening to our US Open podcasts, The Ten
US Open Day 6 - Electric Alcaraz and the darkness of Ons
It was another glorious day in New York which started with Carlos Alcaraz putting on a show, finished with Daniil Medvedev and Pam Shriver gifting us an all-time great on court interview, and featured big wins for the likes of Jessica Pegula, Ons Jabeur and Jannik Sinner. Catherine, David and Matt talk through all of that, as well as Jack Draper's best Grand Slam result, more misplaced belief in Grigor Dimitrov, and another bad day for Cameron Norrie. Win The Tennis Trip of a Lifetime!As yo
US Open Day 5 - American pack hunters; Djokovic survives but Rybakina doesn't
It was a great day for Americans at the US Open as Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, Taylor Fritz and Coco Gauff all made it through to the second week. Catherine, David and Matt discuss their victories as well as Iga Swiatek’s ruthlessness, another big win for Caroline Wozniacki, Daniil Medvedev’s spectacular aggro and trolling from the night before, defeat for Elena Rybakina, and a late night scare for Novak Djokovic. Win The Tennis Trip of a Lifetime!As you’ll know if you’ve been
US Open Day 4 - Joy, despair: Wawrinka, Murray span the range
On day four of the US Open, 38-year-old Stan Wawrinka got the big match moment he was looking for, but 36-year-old Andy Murray did not. Catherine, David and Matt discuss those two matches and dig deep into Andy Murray's post match interviews in which he questioned his future. Elsewhere, there's chat about Jack Draper beating Hubert Hurkacz, Jessica Pegula and Elina Svitolina setting up an enticing third round match, the end of John Isner's career, and Carlos Alcaraz bringing some much-needed fun
US Open Day 3 - Americans advance; Wozniacki rolls back years
Catherine, David and Matt discuss all the major storylines from Day 3 at the US Open, including Dominic Stricker's defeat of Stefanos Tsitsipas, the sad and sudden retirement of Dominic Thiem, impressive victories for Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz, a five-set loss for last year's finalist Casper Ruud, the best moment yet of Caroline Wozniacki's comeback, a big win for Taylor Townsend over Beatriz Haddad Maia, and wins for Coco Gauff and Elise Mertens to set up a third round encount
US Open Day 2 - Was that the worst Ashe day ever?
There's no point pretending otherwise: Tuesday on the Arthur Ashe Stadium was a complete dud, with two extremely one-sided matches in the day session and two awkward ones at night, including a retirement. But there was still plenty for Catherine, David and Matt to discuss elsewhere, including a perfect day for the Brits, the first use of VAR in tennis which failed spectacularly, Ons Jabeur winning despite being ill, another rough defeat for Caroline Garcia, a comeback victory for Hubert Hurkacz,
US Open Day 1 - Coco survives the circus; Rune relegated to the boondocks
Day one of the US Open had a bit of everything - dominant displays from Iga Swiatek and Novak Djokovic, upsets as Maria Sakkari and Holger Rune were beaten, sweet spot aggro between Coco Gauff and Laura Siegemund, a first Grand Slam win in almost three years for Dominic Thiem, and a powerful ceremony with Billie Jean King and Michelle Obama to celebrate 50 years of equal prize money. Catherine, David and Matt discuss it all. AO TRAVEL:Our US Open dailies this year are brought to you in partners
US Open - Tales from the Interview Room
Shortly after attending media day, Catherine, David and Matt gather to reflect on what the players had to say ahead of the final Grand Slam tournament of the season. There’s chat about Jessica Pegula’s need to elevate at slams, lots of players dodging questions about Saudi Arabia, Coco Gauff’s relationship with new coach Brad Gilbert, Marketa Vondrousova’s experience so far at her first major since becoming Wimbledon champion, the way in which Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic are dominatin
US Open - The Draws!
Catherine, David and Matt are all in New York to discuss the US Open draws which were revealed - disappointingly - on Thursday. There's lots of excitement about Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff being in the same quarter, as well as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, plus chat about a dream draw for Novak Djokovic, a tough one for Stefanos Tsitsipas, and speculation about how the likes of Jessica Pegula, Marketa Vondrousova, Ons Jabeur and Aryna Sabalenka might get on. OUR LINKS:Become a Friend of
Cincinnati - Drunk on Djokovic - Alcaraz; Crazy for Coco
With Catherine and Matt in the departures lounge at Heathrow before their flight to New York, this podcast with David was recorded hours after that Novak Djokovic vs. Carlos Alcaraz Cincinnati final, and Coco Gauff's first WTA 1000 win. They were giddy. Enjoy. OUR LINKS:Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout 2023, including Tennis Re-Lived, listener questions pods, and Grand Slam review
Mid-Cincinnati chat
Catherine, David and Matt catch up halfway through Cincinnati to discuss what’s happened so far. It’s been a tournament which has seen lots of upsets on the men’s side while most of the big names remain in the hunt in the women’s draw. OUR LINKS:Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout 2023, including Tennis Re-Lived, listener questions pods, and Grand Slam review shows.Sign up to rec
Canada - Pegula, Sinner make statements, but what do they mean?
Jessica Pegula and Jannik Sinner are the Canada champions and David is back from holiday to talk it all through with Catherine and Matt. In what way did the rain and scheduling affect the women's event? How did Pegula show off just how good of a player she is to overcome Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek (and Cotton Eye Joe)? And are both players in the US Open Mix or not? Elsewhere, there's chat about what this week means for Carlos Alcaraz, Alex de Minaur and Liudmila Samsonova, a quick look ahead to
Montreal & Toronto - Throwbacks, upsets, and a mixed bag for Canada
The first few days of Canada have delivered so many good storylines for Catherine and Matt to discuss. There's chat about the returns of Jennifer Brady and Caroline Wozniacki, big wins for Gael Monfils and Andy Murray, and special moments for Milos Raonic and Leylah Fernandez in front of their home crowd. There's also some clarity from Stefanos Tsitsipas about his coaching situation, yet another loss for Felix Auger-Aliassime, and lots of excitement about the Last 16 line-ups. OUR LINKS:Become a
Gauff and Evans win big in Washington; Thiem takes a big step forward
A fun week of tennis in Washington DC ended with Coco Gauff and Dan Evans as the champions, with both players winning the biggest titles of their career. Catherine and Matt discuss the stress-free experience of watching Gauff as her forehand help up well, her new coaching set up, whether Maria Sakkari needs a change despite finally winning a semi-final, the highlight reel tennis of Evans, and where this triumph of his has come from after a desperate run of form since April. There's also chat abo
What's happened since Wimbledon?
Catherine, David and Matt are back together for the first time since Wimbledon to look back on what’s happened over the last couple of weeks. That’s chat about the return of Hopman Cup, a first title at home for Iga Swiatek, exciting tennis from Arthur Fils and Noma Noha Akugue in Hamburg, an emotional loss for Stan Wawrinka against the impressive Alexei Popyrin in Umag, and a strong start on US hard courts for Taylor Fritz. There’s also plenty of news to cover, including Mikael Ymer’s
Max Eisenbud - Agent to Sharapova, Raducanu, Li Na
Max Eisenbud has spent the last 20 years as an IMG agent to tennis stars Maria Sharapova, Emma Raducanu and Li Na. In this hour-long interview, he tells us about what makes a good agent, how his life changed when Maria Sharapova became part of it, dealing with tennis parents, and why he doesn't expect to see Emma Raducanu change her approach to hiring coaches. OUR LINKS:Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to bonu
Live from Wimbledon Day 14 - Alcaraz achieves the ultimate
Catherine, David and Matt react to Carlos Alcaraz's epic five-set victory over Novak Djokovic. There's analysis of each set and the way in which Alcaraz managed to win so many of the big moments, lots of general excitement about how great it was, and chat about what it means for both Alcaraz and Djokovic in the future. OUR LINKS:Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout 2023, including Tenn
Live from Wimbledon Day 13 - Vondrousova's moment, but will it happen for Jabeur?
Catherine, David and Matt look back on the women's final as Marketa Vondrousova beat Ons Jabeur 6-4 6-4 to become a Wimbledon and Grand Slam champion for the first time. There's chat about how Jabeur's nerves took hold of her and prevented her playing her best tennis, whether she will ever win a major title, the way in which Vondrousova played a smart match and became a nightmare opponent for Jabeur, what this title might do for Vondrousova's career, and much more. Elsewhere, we round up the res
Live from Wimbledon Day 12 - Djokovic. Alcaraz. It’s on.
The men's semi-finals did not live up to expectations, with straight sets wins for Novak Djokovic over Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz over Daniil Medvedev, but they have set up a mouth-watering final. On the pod, Catherine, David and Matt are joined by BBC commentator Andrew Cotter to talk through it all. There's chat about why Sinner came less close to winning this year against Djokovic, the way Djokovic is using his aura and enjoying his status in the sport, the hindrance call against Djokov
Live from Wimbledon Day 11 - Is this Ons Jabeur's time?
The one and only Pam Shriver joins Catherine, David and Matt to review the women's semi-finals. How did Ons Jabeur turn the match around against Aryna Sabalenka? Does Sabalenka have some semi-final scar tissue? And how will Jabeur cope against Marketa Vondrousova in the final? All that plus a preview of the men's semi-finals on Friday. OUR LINKS:Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout 202
Live from Wimbledon Day 10 - Jabeur's revenge tour; Alcaraz vs Medvedev is on
The singles semi-final line-ups are set, with Ons Jabeur vs Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz vs Daniil Medvedev completing the set. Catherine, David and Matt are joined by Charlie Eccleshare of The Athletic to discuss Wednesday's matches. Was that the best tennis Jabeur has ever played? What made David so sure that Jabeur would win? And will Jabeur be able to do to Sabalenka what she did to Rybakina? On the men's side there's chat about how Medvedev turned the match around, what Christopher Eu
Live from Wimbledon Day 9 - New Svitolina rolls on; Djokovic tells kids ‘It ain’t happening’
Two of the singles semi-finals at Wimbledon are set: Elina Svitolina vs Marketa Vondrousova and Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner. On the podcast, Catherine, David and Matt are joined by Simon Briggs of The Telegraph to talk about Tuesday's quarter-finals. How did Svitolina show again that she's transformed as a player? How much traction is her story getting in the UK press? What happened to Swiatek's forehand? And how much regret will Jessica Pegula have about losing a 4-1 lead in the final set a
Live from Wimbledon Day 8 - Jabeur ignites, Djokovic defiant, Alcaraz-Rune: YES PLEASE
While the women shone on Sunday, it was the men's matches which stood out on Monday. Catherine, David and Matt discuss Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune's comebacks over Matteo Berrettini and Grigor Dimitrov as they set up a tantalising semi-final, the way in which Christopher Eubanks has started to feel like he belongs on the Grand Slam stage, and where this defeat leaves Stefanos Tsitsipas. In the women's draw, there's chat about an inexplicable performance by Petra Kvitova, excitement for the 20
Live from Wimbledon Day 7 - Women's Tennis Takeover; Djokovic delayed overnight
It was a day of high drama in the women's draw so Catherine, David and Matt begin by talking about the simultaneous epics that played out on Centre Court. How did Elina Svitolina come back to defeat Victoria Azarenka for the first time? How has she changed as a tennis player since coming back to the tour? What made this one of the best moments of Svitolina's life? What can tennis do about the booing that keeps happening when there's no handshake? And how did Iga Swiatek save match points to beat
Live from Wimbledon Day 6 - Favourites thrive and David goes big on Berrettini
Catherine, David and Matt are back to discuss the biggest talking points from Day 6 at Wimbledon. There’s chat about Ons Jabeur’s comeback against Bianca Andreescu, her upcoming match against Petra Kvitova, the form of Beatriz Haddad Maia and Madison Keys, a disastrous underarm serve by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, a thriller between Carlos Alcaraz and Nicolas Jarry, and the doubles antics of Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Plus, mid, pod, David goes very big on Matteo Berrettini after watch
Live from Wimbledon Day 5 - British hearts broken; Sabalenka survives
Friday was the day Wimbledon got back on track, with late night wins for Novak Djokovic and Marie Bouzkova ensuring that the schedule will now neatly return to having different halves of the draw on different days. Hallelujah. At the end of it all, Catherine, David and Matt reviewed Novak Djokovic's efficiency, the hurt Andy Murray felt after losing in five sets to Stefanos Tsitsipas, Matteo Berrettini rediscovering his form, a career best moment for Christopher Eubanks, Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sa
Live from Wimbledon Day 4 - Tears, comebacks and corking matches
Moments after Andy Murray's match with Stefanos Tsitsipas was suspended with Murray leading two sets to one, Catherine, David and Matt went live to discuss the day's play. Just how high was the level in that match? Will Murray's groin/hip be ok? And what will happen when they resume tomorrow? Elsewhere, there's chat about the best win of Liam Broady's career, Casper Ruud's attitude to grass, a selection of stunning women's matches including Donna Vekic's comeback against Sloane Stephens, and the
Live from Wimbledon Day 3 - Seeds survive, and Tsitsipas vs Murray is ON
We didn't quite get through the scheduled 87 matches because of more rain, but the tournament finally got moving on Wednesday, and Catherine, David and Matt review the best of it. There's chat about Petra Kvitova surviving, Stefanos Tsitsipas feeling empty after his win over Dominic Thiem, Frances Tiafoe talking up his prospects, Daniil Medvedev being on his best behaviour, Marta Kostyuk getting her first Top 10 win over Maria Sakkari, and much more. OUR LINKS:Become a Friend of the Tennis
Live from Wimbledon Day 2 - Rybakina, Roger and rain return
Persistent rain meant that only 8 matches were finished on Tuesday and that Catherine, David and Matt needed to shelter from the rain for the Day 2 pod. There's chat about Roger Federer's return to Wimbledon, a nervy start from Elena Rybakina, lots of great shot-making from Carlos Alcaraz and Ons Jabeur, an efficient win and a new service motion for Andy Murray, Aryna Sabalenka's first match back after the Russia and Belarus ban, and a look ahead to Day 3 with an eye-watering 87 singles matches
Live from Wimbledon Day 1 - Kenin vs. Gauff ignites strange first day
Day 1 of Wimbledon is in the books, and after a slow start due to rain, the day came to life as Sofia Kenin rediscovered her 2020 Australian Open form to beat Coco Gauff in a thrilling, high-quality three-setter. Catherine, David and Matt discuss that, the state of Gauff's game, Venus Williams' special return to Centre Court which ended in unfortunate fashion, victories for Iga Swiatek and Novak Djokovic which were interrupted by rain, tough days for Dan Evans, Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-A
Live from Wimbledon - Media Day
Lots of the big name players have been into the Wimbledon interview room, and Catherine, David and Matt are here to tell you all about it. There's chat about a Venus Williams scoop courtesy of David, Iga Swiatek's approach to improving on grass, Aryna Sabalenka's decision not to talk politics this tournament, how Ons Jabeur is feeling being back at Wimbledon after reaching the final, some (minor) shade from Coco Gauff towards Sofia Kenin, a very confident and very relaxed looking Novak Djokovic,
Live from Wimbledon - The Draws!
Catherine, David and Matt are sheltering from the rain at Wimbledon to discuss the draws and preview the tournament. There's chat about great draws for Iga Swiatek and Novak Djokovic, the gasp that went around the room as Venus Williams drew Elina Svitolina, and a fun section involving Andy Murray, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Dominic Thiem. OUR LINKS:Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout 202
Grass court Carlos, Peaking Petra and The Tennis Podcast - Live at Wimbledon
Carlos Alcaraz is the new Queen’s champion, Petra Kvitova and Jelena Ostapenko are Wimbledon contenders after their titles in Berlin and Birmingham, and Venus Williams has won a match on tour aged 43. Catherine, David and Matt discuss all of that, as well as a title out of nowhere for Alexander Bublik in Halle, news of Anett Kontaveit’s retirement, and potential Saudi investment in tennis. There's also our reaction to our own bit of news, that the pod will be streamed Live from Wimbled
GRASS!
Clay has turned to grass and Catherine, David and Matt are back to discuss the stories of the swing so far. Catherine has been at Queen's for media day and she relates what Ben Shelton, Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune had to say, Andy Murray is on a 10-match winning streak at Challenger level, Frances Tiafoe has become a Top 10 player for the first time, and British women had a great week in Nottingham, right when they needed it. OUR LINKS:Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to help u
Roland Garros Day 15 - Djokovic overtakes Nadal at last; Mauresmo talks
Novak Djokovic stands alone at the top of men's tennis after winning his 23rd major title at Roland Garros. Catherine, David and Matt discuss his 7-6 6-3 7-5 victory over Casper Ruud, his first set nerves, his extraordinary tiebreak record, the significance of the moment and how happy he seemed, and how motivated he is to keep winning. Elsewhere, we finally get to speak to Amelie Mauresmo about the night sessions and scheduling. ON LOCATION:The Tennis Podcast throughout Roland Garros is brought
Roland Garros Day 14 - Iga in a classic; Djokovic-Ruud preview
Iga Swiatek is a three time French Open champion and a four time major winner after beating Karolina Muchova 6-2 5-7 6-4. Catherine, David and Matt discuss what it was like to finally see Swiatek in a third set at Roland Garros, the way Muchova turned the match into a classic after being 6-2 3-0 down, and what might be next for both players. There's also a preview of the men's final between Novak Djokovic and Casper Ruud, the latest on "Tsitsidosa", and a round up of all the other results. ON LO
Roland Garros Day 13 - In the end, it was just … cramp
For two sets, Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic was the match we hoped it would be, but then Alcaraz started full body cramping and was unable to really move or compete in sets three and four. Catherine, David and Matt discuss the feeling of deflation, analyse how Djokovic stamped his authority in the first set before Alcaraz hit back, and describe what went wrong for Alcaraz at the start of the third. What did Alcaraz have to say about what happened? And in what way did the aura and presence of
Roland Garros Day 12 - Semis reviewed, Alcaraz-Djokovic previewed with Mary Carillo
At the end of a special women's semi-finals day, the one and only Mary Carillo joined us on the pod. We talked about how much of a joy it is to watch Karolina Muchova play tennis, the way Aryna Sabalenka let it slip in the closing stages, how Iga Swiatek dug deep to see off the challenge of Beatriz Haddad Maia, and who we think will win out of Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz on Friday. WIN WITH WILSON!We have teamed up with Wilson, providers of the official ball at Roland Garros, to give away
Roland Garros Day 11 - Semifinals set!
The semi-final line-ups are set at Roland Garros. Catherine, David and Matt discuss how Beatriz Haddad Maia fought back against Ons Jabeur, why Jabeur should have regrets about the second set, Coco Gauff’s new tactic against Iga Swiatek, a completely bizarre match between Casper Ruud and Holger Rune, and how Alexander Zverev has made it back into the final four a year on from his horrific ankle injury. ON LOCATION:The Tennis Podcast throughout Roland Garros is brought to you in association
Roland Garros Day 10 - Alcaraz vs. Djokovic is ON; The sadness of Sabalenka vs. Svitolina
Clear your schedules: Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz is finally happening. They will meet in the French Open semi-finals on Friday and the hype begins now. Catherine, David and Matt discuss how they both got there with stellar performances on Tuesday, as Djokovic came back to beat Karen Khachanov before Alcaraz thrashed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the night session. On the women's side, we talk about Karolina Muchova and Aryna Sabalenka reaching the semi-finals as well as Sabalenka's return to the p
Roland Garros Day 9 - Rune arrives in 5; Swiatek-Gauff is on; We ❤️ Tim Puetz
There's loads for Catherine, David and Matt to discuss: Alexander Zverev crushing Grigor Dimitrov and his chances of reaching the final, a fifth set tiebreak win for Holger Rune over Francisco Cerundolo and the opportunity to face Casper Ruud again, Beatriz Haddad Maia winning the longest match of the year, another Coco Gauff-Iga Swiatek match being set up, and a lovely press conference involving Miyu Kato and Tim Puetz. ON LOCATION:The Tennis Podcast throughout Roland Garros is brought to you i
Roland Garros Day 8 - Sabalenka, Stephens star at night; Djokovic vs. Alcaraz - it’s getting closer
At the end of a great night session match between Aryna Sabalenka and Sloane Stephens, Catherine, David and Matt discuss whether this was Sabalenka demonstrating how much of a title contender she is, debate how well Stephens played, explain why it mattered that this match was good, and react to the fact that Sabalenka once again did not do a press conference. Elsewhere, there's excitement about how close we now are to Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz, an assessment of how they looked and the per
Roland Garros Day 7 - Rybakina run ruined by illness; A week of opportunity awaits
It wasn't a vintage day at Roland Garros - Elena Rybakina's sad withdrawal rather set the tone for a day filled with defeats for lots of fun players and plenty of one-sided matches. But Catherine, David and Matt still had lots to discuss, including Iga Swiatek's form after her 6-0 6-0 victory, how Coco Gauff showed her maturity to beat Mirra Andreeva, breakthrough wins for Beatriz Haddad Maia and Nicolas Jarry, Taylor Fritz being booed onto court, Ons Jabeur finishing in style against Olga Danil
Roland Garros Day 6 - Sabalenka swerves media, sets up Stephens blockbuster
At the end of Day 6 at Roland Garros, Catherine, David and Matt cover the longest straight sets match of Novak Djokovic's career against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Carlos Alcaraz's thrashing of Denis Shapovalov in the night session, a tantalising last 16 match between Aryna Sabalenka and Sloane Stephens, Sabalenka's decision to skip her press conference and how it was handled by the tournament, defeats for Andrey Rublev and Jessica Pegula, and the joy of having Elina Svitolina, Karolina Muchov
Roland Garros Day 5 - Sinner shocked, Swiatek & Rybakina roll, Fritz finds inner Medvedev
The drama just keeps coming at Roland Garros. On the Day 5 pod, Catherine, David and Matt discuss Daniel Altmaier’s incredible win over Jannik Sinner, Mirra Andreeva and Coco Gauff setting up a tantalising R3 encounter, the form of Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina, Taylor Fritz making himself public enemy number one, and much more.ON LOCATION:This edition of The Tennis Podcast is brought to you in association with On Location, the premium hospitality and experience provider. On Location took us to
Roland Garros Day 4 - Rough day for France as Alcaraz-Djokovic draws closer
There was a ‘morning after the night before’ feeling to Wednesday at Roland Garros, with the reverberations from Gael Monfils’ epic late night win still being felt around the grounds. But such is the pace of these Grand Slam tournaments, new stories quickly formed on Day 4. Catherine, David and Matt discuss Novak Djokovic's victory over Marton Fucsovics which included an epic first set, defeat for Caroline Garcia as she got tight against Anna Blinkova, a five set victory for Thanasi Kokkinakis a
Roland Garros Day 3 - Thrillers on court, discomfort off it
Tuesday at Roland Garros was a lot: Gael Monfils somehow came back from 0-4 down in the final set while cramping, Rome champion Daniil Medvedev was beaten by Thiago Seyboth Wild in five dramatic sets, and Bianca Andreescu came surging back to defeat Victoria Azarenka in a thriller. Catherine, David and Matt cover all of that, as well as the domestic violence charge facing Seyboth Wild, wins for Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Ons Jabeur, and a first round loss for Barbora Krejcikova. ON LOCATION:Thi
Roland Garros Day 2 - Geopolitics, throwbacks and sadness
Novak Djokovic won his opening round match at Roland Garros on Monday without too much fuss, but he sparked a potential political row after writing the phrase ‘Kosovo is the heart of Serbia’ in the customary post-match camera signing. We discuss what he was referring to, why it's a controversial statement, and the rest of what he had to say in the Serbian part of his press conference. Elsewhere, Catherine, David and Matt discuss throwback wins for Sloane Stephens, Stan Wawrinka and Elina Svitoli
Roland Garros Day 1 - Sabalenka/Kostyuk tension escalates; Pouille’s redemption
There's no longer such as thing as a slow Sunday start at Roland Garros. Catherine, David and Matt discuss Lucas Pouille's comeback continuing, the tension on court and in the press conference room between Aryna Sabalenka and Marta Kostyuk, Karolina Muchova's "upset" win over Maria Sakkari, a survival act by Stefanos Tsitsipas against Jiri Vesely, lots of fun from Constant Lestienne, and meeting Arthur Fils in the interview room. ON LOCATION:This edition of The Tennis Podcast is brought to you i
Roland Garros - Tales from the interview room
Shortly after attending media day at Roland Garros, Catherine, David and Matt react to what the players had to say. There's chat about Stefanos Tsitsipas' coaching set up, Coco Gauff's forehand, Iga Swiatek's health, Aryna Sabalenka and Daniil Medvedev's developing relationships with clay, the way Carlos Alcaraz is taking everything in his stride, and much more. ON LOCATION:This edition of The Tennis Podcast is brought to you in association with On Location, the premium hospitality and experienc
Welcome to Paris!
Catherine, David and Matt have arrived in Paris and attended the Roland Garros draw ceremony! What do we make of Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic being in the same half? Has David changed his mind about Daniil Medvedev not being in The Mix? What are the most eye-catching round matches of the women's draw? Is this a good draw or a bad draw for Aryna Sabalenka? And much more. ON LOCATION:This edition of The Tennis Podcast is brought to you in association with On Location, the premium hospitality
Rome - Medvedev, Rybakina reign in rain; Halep charged again; Roland Garros Mix chat
Another week in tennis, another tournament where the women were treated as second class citizens. This time, the singles final didn’t start until 11pm and the doubles final took place on a non-televised court. There were some reasons for this - rain being the obvious one - but Catherine, David and Matt discuss why this shouldn’t be acceptable. There’s also chat about Anhelina Kalinina’s great week before her unfortunate retirement in the final through injury, debate about whether Rome cham
Rafael Nadal reflections as the end nears; Rome - stories galore
It's been quite a day in tennis as Rafael Nadal held a press conference to announce that he will be missing Roland Garros while he takes an extended break from the sport in an attempt to recover from the injury he sustained at the Australian Open. He also said that he plans to retire after the 2024 season. In this show we react to that news, discuss the reasons behind his decisions, ponder what his farewell tour may be like, and offer some reflections on one of the greatest players this sport ha
Rome - Inequalities, early results and is Pietrangeli the best court in the world?
While Rome has been underway for a few days now, we pick off this episode where we left off, by discussing the fallout from the women’s doubles final ceremony in Madrid where the players were not allowed to speak. Four days after the event, the tournament finally apologised, but not before Jessica Pegula had had more to say and a piece by Matt Futterman in the New York Times had drawn attention to the large scale inequalities faced by women in tennis. Catherine, David and Matt discuss
Madrid - Sabalenka, Alcaraz win again; Women's doubles finalists censored!?
It was a thrilling finals weekend in Madrid with Aryna Sabalenka getting revenge on Iga Swiatek before Carlos Alcaraz survived a great performance by Jan-Lennard Struff to defend his title. Catherine is back home and she joins David and Matt to review it all. Is Sabalenka-Swiatek now a legitimate rivalry? Will Sabalenka be able to take this form to Rome and Roland Garros? And did Struff provide a blueprint for facing Alcaraz?Sadly, the great tennis was somewhat overshadowed by the fact that the
Madrid - Rivalry time, Raducanu’s agony and ‘Model Ball Girls’ must stop
Iga Swiatek will face Aryna Sabalenka's in Saturday's Madrid final which means the rivalry we've all wanted is officially happening. David, Catherine (in Madrid) and Matt talk through how both players have got there, Swiatek's intensity and focus this week, and the way in which Sabalenka is embracing the prospect of a rematch with the world number one. On the men's side, we look ahead to the Carlos Alcaraz vs Borna Coric and Aslan Karatsev vs Jan-Lennard Struff semi-finals. Yes, you read that co
Madrid - Aggro, action and agony everywhere
With Madrid well underway, Catherine, David and Matt catch up to discuss everything that's happened so far. There's chat about an impressive win for Maria Sakkari over the improving-but-not-there-yet Paula Badosa, more forehand woes for Coco Gauff, Mayar Sherif becoming the first Egyptian to reach a WTA 1000 quarter-final, and the thrilling run of 15/16 year old Mirra Andreeva to the fourth round. On the men's side, Holger Rune brought the aggro (of course), Dominic Thiem came so close to beatin
Barcelona/Alcaraz = Stuttgart/Swiatek in everything but prize money
There was a feeling of déjà vu this week as Iga Swiatek in Stuttgart, Carlos Alcaraz in Barcelona and Holger Rune in Munich all defended their titles. In what way was this a big statement from Swiatek? Just how dominant was Alcaraz against Stefanos Tsitsipas? And how did Botic van de Zandschulp let it slip in the Munich final? Catherine, David and Matt discuss all of that, as well as a hard-earned title for Dusan Lajovic in Banja Luka, a worrying injury update from Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokov
Monte Carlo - Andrey at last; Aggro galore
The week in Monte Carlo belonged to Andrey Rublev and it belonged to aggro. In this episode we discuss Rublev finally winning his first Masters 1000 title, why it was so deserved, and what it might mean for his career, and we savour the way in which Taylor Fritz, Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune all provided aggro that was right in the sweet spot. There's also a round up of all the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers and a worrying fitness update from Rafael Nadal. ON LOCATIONThis edition of The Tenn
WTA lifts China suspension - our reaction; Monte Carlo latest; News, Results round-up
Their WTA's suspension of business in China in reaction to the allegations and silencing of Peng Shuai lasted 16 months. In this podcast, recorded a few days later than usual due to Matt's ill health, covers our reaction to that WTA announcement. We also update on Monte Carlo, including a loss for Novak Djokovic and the re-emergence of clay-court Medvedev.ON LOCATIONThis edition of The Tennis Podcast is sponsored by On location, the premium experience and hospitality provider. On Location sent u
An Update
Friends of the Tennis Podcast help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout the year, including Tennis Re-Lived, listener questions, and Grand Slam review shows. Become a FriendSign up to receive our Newsletter (daily at Slams and weekly the rest of the year, featuring Matt’s Stat, mascot photos, predictions, and more)Follow us on TwitterFollow us on Instagram (@thetennispodcast)Check out our ShopRead our
Miami - Medvedev, Kvitova clean up; Wimbledon decision reaction
The last few days in Miami did not go as expected, with both Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina unable to complete the Sunshine Double. Instead, Petra Kvitova rolled back the years and Daniil Medvedev showed why he's a specialist in hard courts. David, Catherine and Matt are together to discuss an uplifting week from Kvitova, whether fatigue played a role in Rybakina's final performance, the latest epic instalment of the Sinner vs Alcaraz rivalry, why the match up against Medvedev is such a bad o
Miami - Alcaraz, Rybakina keep rolling; Wimbledon lifts ban on Russians/Belarusians
With Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina both still on course for the Sunshine Double, we catch up on the last few days of action in Miami. David and Matt go through the biggest stories, from the run of Christopher Eubanks, some comments by Stefanos Tsitsipas that got everyone checking the ATP rulebook, and the Indian Summer of Sorana Cirstea's career, while Catherine sends voice notes about her impressions from on site in Miami. David also covers the news that Wimbledon has lifted its ban on Russ
Magic, Madness, Miami Time
Catherine, David and Matt reconvene for the first time since Indian Wells to chat about everything which has happened in the last week, from playing tennis with Pam Shriver, going to Las Vegas to see Taylor Swift, and of course lots of great matches in Miami. We cover the form of Indian Wells champions Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina, dispiriting losses for Casper Ruud and Matteo Berrettini, another bad day for Coco Gauff’s forehand, Barbora Krejcikova’s desire to be part of a WTA Big 4, and m
Indian Wells - Rybakina’s Revenge; Alcarazmatazz
Elena Rybakina and Carlos Alcaraz are the 2023 Indian Wells champions. Rybakina got her first victory over Aryna Sabalenka to get some semblance of revenge for the Australian Open final, while Alcaraz destroyed Daniil Medvedev. On one final pod from Indian Wells, Catherine, David and Matt discuss the incredible first set between Rybakina and Sabalenka, the return of Sabalenka’s double faults, what Rybakina’s victory means for the WTA Tour, the tactical elements which helped Alcaraz to domin
Indian Wells - Medvedev to meet 'the famous' Carlos Alcaraz
Daniil Medvedev will take on the famous Carlos Alcaraz in a mouth-watering men's final at Indian Wells on Sunday. Catherine, David and Matt discuss how both players made it, chat about what might happen when they meet for only the second time, and preview the blockbuster women's final between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina. ROLAND GARROS TICKET OFFERWe have a 15% discount for Tennis Podcast listeners to buy Roland Garros tickets and hospitality packages, courtesy of Steve Furgal’s Internatio
Indian Wells - Rybakina vs. Sabalenka, The Rematch; Alcaraz is at 60% of his potential - Ferrero
The Indian Wells final will be a repeat of the epic Australian Open final between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina. Sabalenka's victory over Maria Sakkari was no surprise, but Rybakina's 6-2 6-2 demolition of Iga Swiatek certainly was. Catherine, David and Matt analyse what went wrong for Swiatek and why that match-up causes her so many problems. Ahead of the men's semis, the next instalment of #DoorsteppedByDavid sees him speak to Juan Carlos Ferrero for more insight into Carlos Alcaraz's car
Indian Wells - Dream semis set; David doorsteps Darren Cahill
A stunning semi-final line-up at Indian Wells is set: Iga Swiatek vs Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka vs Maria Sakkari, Daniil Medvedev vs Frances Tiafoe, and Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner. No notes. But lots of analysis from Catherine, David and Matt about how they all got there and what might happen.ROLAND GARROS TICKET OFFERWe have a 15% discount for Tennis Podcast listeners to buy Roland Garros tickets and hospitality packages, courtesy of Steve Furgal’s International Tennis Tours.Just go t
Indian Wells - Tuesday teems with titanic tussles
Can you tell we like alliteration? Catherine, David and Matt look back on a day of Last 16 action at Indian Wells. There’s chat about Iga Swiatek’s ruthlessness, an epic match between Petra Kvitova and Jessica Pegula, yet another three set victory for Maria Sakkari, Coco Gauff’s fighting spirit, how Daniil Medvedev survived an ankle roll to beat Alexander Zverev, the sparkling form of Cameron Norrie and Taylor Fritz, aggro between Stan Wawrinka and Holger Rune, and a late night win for Felix Aug
Meeting Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev joins Catherine, David and Matt on the pod to talk through his third round match at Indian Wells, his view on the slow courts, the men's backhand list, and much more. We also chat Alcaraz, Murray, Shelton, Jabeur, Pegula, Raducanu and Swiatek. ON LOCATIONThis edition of The Tennis Podcast is sponsored by On location, the premium experience and hospitality provider. On Location will be sending us to the BNP PARIBAS Open in Indian Wells on one of Steve Furgal’s International Tennis
Indian Wells - Murray gives Thiem, Berrettini, Raducanu reason to hope
A couple of days into the Indian Wells action, Catherine, David and Matt catch up on what they've seen so far, including defeats for Stefanos Tsitsipas, Matteo Berrettini, Denis Shapovalov and Dominic Thiem, and wins for Andy Murray, Emma Raducanu and Maria Sakkari. ON LOCATIONThis edition of The Tennis Podcast is sponsored by On location, the premium experience and hospitality provider. On Location will be sending us to the BNP PARIBAS Open in Indian Wells on one of Steve Furgal’s International
We're at Indian Wells!
Welcome to Indian Wells! Catherine, David and Matt have made it to Palm Springs and the place they call Tennis Paradise for the first combined Masters 1000 event of the year. In this show we talk about our experience so far, discuss all the main talking points from media day, and catch up on the results from last week. There's chat about Aryna Sabalenka's joy at being a Slam champion, Stefanos Tsitsipas' injury worries, whether Iga Swiatek has been winning too easily, Denis Shapovalov's essay ab
Medvedev maintains fab form; De Minaur the last man standing in Acapulco
Daniil Medvedev can’t stop winning. After he won his third title in as many weeks in Dubai, beating Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals and Andrey Rublev in the final, Catherine, David and Matt react to his scintillating form and amusing speech at the trophy ceremony as he took the opportunity to troll Stefanos Tsitsipas. Elsewhere, the gruelling conditions were the big talking point in Acapulco as Holger Rune experienced full body cramps and Taylor Fritz vomited on court. Eventually, Alex de
Krejcikova - Iga's kryptonite?; Alcaraz injured again; More Murray marathons
It seemed for a while like this week’s show might be a rinse and repeat job from last week when we talked about Daniil Medvedev, Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz all winning titles. In the end, Medvedev managed to repeat the feat, but Swiatek and Alcaraz were stopped by Barbora Krejcikova and Cameron Norrie in Dubai and Rio respectively, giving Catherine, David and Matt lots to discuss. Why does Krejcikova seem to have Swiatek’s number? In what way did Alcaraz’s injury make the Rio final comp
Imperious Iga and the return of the famous Carlos Alcaraz
While last week’s pod introduced us to a lot of new names, this week was all about the established stars as Iga Swiatek, Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz won titles. Catherine, David and Matt discuss all of that as well as more struggles for Dominic Thiem, Novak Djokovic earning the most weeks ever as World No.1, and the incredible story of Matija Pecotic in Delray Beach. ON LOCATIONThis edition of The Tennis Podcast is sponsored by On location, the premium experience and ho
What's happened since Melbourne?
New blood is the talk of the pod this week. Alycia Parks, Wu Yibing and Artur Fils are at embryonic stages of their careers, but goodness me they are exciting. We talk about why, cover all of the main results and news stories that have taken place since The Australian Open, and get pumped for what is to come. ON LOCATIONThis edition of The Tennis Podcast is sponsored by On location, the premium experience and hospitality provider. On Location will be sending us to the BNP PARIBAS Open in Indian
AO Day 14 - Djokovic Feeling 22
Novak Djokovic is a 10-time Australian Open winner and 22-time Grand Slam champion after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets on Sunday. Catherine, David and Matt discuss the match, why we were a bit disappointed by Tsitsipas' performance, the enormously emotional reaction from Djokovic when he won, what this means for the Grand Slam Race, and much more. *WIN A 3-NIGHT STAY AT THE MIAMI OPEN!*On Location, our Australian Open sponsor, has given us one of Steve Furgal’s International Tennis
AO Day 13 - Now THAT was a final; Courier previews Djokovic vs Tsitsipas
Wow. We wanted a great final and we got a spectacular one as Aryna Sabalenka came from a set down to beat Elena Rybakina and win her first Grand Slam title. Catherine, David and Matt gather in Garden Square to react to the match, discuss Sabalenka's journey to this point, and consider what it might mean for her career. There's also live reaction to the Sensations - Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler - winning the men's doubles title, a round up of all the results including wheelchair matches and ju
AO Day 12 - Fantastic finals await; Djokovic deals with Dad’s controversy
Catherine, David and Matt react to the men's semi-finals which saw Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Karen Khachanov to reach a first Australian Open final and Novak Djokovic beat Tommy Paul to reach a tenth. We discuss the way in which Djokovic still won without his best tennis, how he dealt in press with the controversy surrounding his father and how he made his position clear on the war, the spectacular sight that was Tsitsipas' forehand, and how much their history against one another will affect the o
AO Day 11 - Fierce final guaranteed; Pro Russia demonstrations dominate headlines
Get ready for power in the women's final on Saturday after Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka set up what promises to be a fearsome showdown on Saturday. How did Rybakina win the first set against Victoria Azarenka despite her first serve going missing? Just how impressive was Sabalenka to overcome her Grand Slam semi-final scar tissue? And how will they match up against each other in the final? Elsewhere, with tennis crossing over into geopolitics in the last 24 hours, after Novak Djokovic's fa
AO Day 10 - Pam Shriver and the Joy of Coaching; Semifinals set
As the semi-final line-ups were complete, we were thrilled to welcome Pam Shriver onto the show to talk all about her experience coaching Donna Vekic at this year's Australian Open. Pam opens up about why she's enjoyed the fortnight so much, what she sees as Vekic's potential, how she prepared Vekic for her quarter-final against Aryna Sabalenka, and what happened to Vekic's serve in that match. We also talk about Magda Linette's breakthrough, why Andrey Rublev's match against Novak Djokovic was
AO Day 9 - Victoria Azarenka ten years later
It wasn't a vintage day at the Australian Open with three straight sets matches and one retirement, but there was a vintage performance by Victoria Azarenka as she beat Jessica Pegula 6-4 6-1 to reach the semi-finals in Melbourne for the first time since her title run in 2013. Catherine, David and Matt talk all about that, as well as her extraordinary press conference in which she opened up about the fears and anxiety she experienced last year. There's also our take on what went wrong for Jessic
AO Day 8 - The real Novak Djokovic is here - good luck everyone
Moments after Novak Djokovic produced a masterclass and gave us all an early night, we headed to Garden Square to record the Day 8 pod. We discuss just how good that performance was from Djokovic and what it might mean for the rest of the tournament, Andrey Rublev's nail-biting victory over Holger Rune and what it told us about both players, and our interactions with Ben Shelton and why we think he's such good news for the sport. In the women's draw, we focus on Aryna Sabalenka's statement perfo
AO Day 7 - Swiatek feels weight of World No.1
Our day began with watching Elena Rybakina beating Iga Swiatek on the Rod Laver, a result which set the tone for a dramatic day as Coco Gauff and Felix Auger-Aliassime were also beaten, while Sebastian Korda and Stefanos Tsitsipas survived five setters. Catherine, David and Matt get stuck into it all on the podcast. *WIN A 3-NIGHT STAY AT THE MIAMI OPEN!*On Location, our Australian Open sponsor, has given us one of Steve Furgal’s International Tennis Tours packages to the Miami Open presented by
AO Day 6 - Murray leaves his mark on Melbourne; Sabalenka vs. Bencic? Yes please!
When we came to Melbourne for the Australian Open, we did not expect to be talking so much about Andy Murray, but once again he was the main story on Day 6, even in defeat. With his match against Roberto Bautista Agut only lasting 3h30m, we finally got the chance to record on site in Garden Square with a beer in hand and tennis noises in the background. There's also discussion about the state of Novak Djokovic's hamstring, the elite form of Andrey Rublev, Caroline Garcia surviving a tricky
AO Day 5 - Seeds wasteland, Korda's coming, cracking matches ahead
The day began with an Andy Murray induced hangover, but it picked up by the night session leaving Catherine, David and Matt plenty to discuss: Women’s fourth round blockbusters setPegula drops two games, Swiatek drops oneKeys crumbles against AzarenkaKorda delivers a big statement to beat MedvedevTiafoe and Shapovalov fall short of Murray-esque comebacksDid Norrie overplay before the Australian Open?What’s different about Tsitsipas this tournament?*WIN A 3-NIGHT STAY AT THE MIAMI OPEN!*On Locati
AO Day 4 - Magic, Madness, Andy Murray
The whole feel of the Australian Open changed on Thursday as big names and high seeds were beaten, leaving sections of both draws wide open and setting us up for a potentially wild second week.And then as the day morphed into the night, Andy Murray played the longest and most ridiculous match of his career, coming back from two sets down and clinching victory at 4:05am.Catherine, David and Matt tried to put all of that into words on the podcast.*WIN A 3-NIGHT STAY AT THE MIAMI OPEN!*On Location,
AO Day 3 -The Sadness of Rafael Nadal; Is RaduCoco the future? Yes Please
It was a day of rain delays and high emotion at Melbourne Park. Catherine and Matt discuss: More Melbourne pain for NadalAuger-Aliassime comes from two sets downDiscovering Diana SchnaiderGauff-Raducanu ignites after a slow startNo Swiatek-Andreescu - why can’t we have nice things?Watch out for Elena Rybakina*WIN A 3-NIGHT STAY AT THE MIAMI OPEN!*On Location, our Australian Open sponsor, has given us one of Steve Furgal’s International Tennis Tours packages to the Miami Open presented by Itau, i
AO Day 2 - Andy Murray ain’t f***ing done yet
Day two at the Australian Open was all about one man and his metal hip as Andy Murray beat Matteo Berrettini in an epic match that went all the way to a fifth set tiebreak. We talk a lot about where this level of performance from Murray has come from, why it was so moving to see it, and THAT miss on match point by Berrettini. Elsewhere, Novak Djokovic made a strong return to Melbourne, there were dispiriting losses for Garbine Muguruza and Dominic Thiem, much of the day was disrupted by extreme
AO Day 1 - WTA Avengers ascend; Nadal needs more; Crushed Kyrgios out
Day 1 of the 2023 Grand Slam season is in the books at the Australian Open - Catherine, David and Matt talk it all through. Raducanu vs Gauff in round two….YES PLEASEAndreescu is happening and Catherine is excitedInjury scare for Collins…and lots of dramaDraper learns the hard way about facing NadalKyrgios calls a press conference and withdrawsCatherine rants about faff…againAuger-Aliassime overcomes a terrible start to beat PospisilSwiatek passes tricky Neimeier testWelcome On LocationThe Tenni
AO Preview - Media Day, and a Big Announcement
Catherine, David and Matt react to the best lines to come out of media day at the Australian Open. In what way did Rafael Nadal make us feel more confident about his prospects? How did Novak Djokovic seem on his return to Melbourne? What's on Ons Jabeur's lock screen this time? What does Iga Swiatek consider to be her biggest strengths? And lots more. We also cover the results from qualifying, Adelaide 2 and Auckland before discussing the pretty seismic news that the ITF has ended its Davis Cup
Welcome To Melbourne! AO Draws Dissected
For the first time in three years, Catherine, David and Matt are all together in Melbourne for the Australian Open. And after Thursday's draw, the excitement has only grown for the year's first major. We talk through those draws, speculate about what might happen over the next two weeks, and cover the biggest storylines from this week so far, including Naomi Osaka's announcement that she is pregnant. Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to help us to produce the show year-round, and r
Live from the Departures Lounge - United Cup, Djokovic, and Melbourne here we come
With seconds to spare before boarding the plane to fly to Melbourne, Catherine and Matt join David from the London Gatwick Departures Lounge to look back on the United Cup, the week of Novak Djokovic and everything else that went on in the tennis world over the last 7 days. FRIENDSAt 12.01am tonight (Monday 9th January), a special edition of The Tennis Podcast reviewing Break Point, the Netflix tennis documentary, will be published for Friends of the Tennis Podcast. Friends help us to produce th
The United Cup - our verdict; Who looks good, who doesn’t?
Happy new year! With the 2023 tennis season very much underway, Catherine, David and Matt get stuck into the United Cup. What have we made of the event generally? Is there a way to guarantee more live mixed doubles matches? And which players have impressed? We talk Iga Swiatek, Paula Badosa, Taylor Fritz, Cameron Norrie and Rafael Nadal. Elsewhere, Holger Rune and Felix Auger-Aliassime failed to pick up where they left off in 2022, Bianca Andreescu mounted an extraordinary comeback to beat
Coaching carousel, exhibitions and 2023 hype
It's our final Tennis Podcast of 2022, and Catherine and Matt joined David at his home in Solihull for the occasion! We talk about coaching changes, the ever diminishing off-season and generally hype up 2023. Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout 2023, including Tennis Re-Lived, listener questions pods, and Grand Slam review shows. Sign up to receive our Newsletter (daily at Slams
Plans!
A quick pod to let you know that we’re re-launching Friends of The Tennis Podcast for 2023 - our subscription service that gives you access to bonus podcasts such as Tennis Re-Lived and Grand Slam review shows, the opportunity to enter our competitions, and the chance to involved by getting yourself a shout-out or an intro, taking us on at predictions, becoming a guest editor, or having your pet as a mascot.Become a Friend of The Tennis Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i
Davis Cup Final - Champions at last; What about the future?
It was the first Davis Cup final without a European team in it for 32 years, and both Canada and Australia had produced heroics this week to get there.Catherine and David convened after the tie to talk about where it was won and lost, what was said in the press conferences, and to hear a contribution from the much-missed Matt!Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout the year, including Tennis R
Davis Cup Finals Day 5 - O Canada
Canada have set up a Davis Cup final clash with Australia after a thrilling semi final victory over Italy. David and Catherine dissect all the day's drama, including some very eyebrow raising doubles picks by both teams. Exactly how desolate were the Italians, and is it fair that the Canadians are in the competition at all? Plus a look ahead to a mouth watering final. Friends of the Tennis Podcast help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts through
Davis Cup Finals Day 4 - Australia ends 19 years of hurt
Australia have reached a first Davis Cup Final since 2003, thanks to the heroics of Braveheart/Alex de Minaur and the unexpected doubles pairing of Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell. Who will they face in the final, and who will Italy and Canada put in to battle? Plus the fallout from Ram-gate rumbles on on Tommy Paul's twitter account. Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout the year,
Davis Cup Finals Day 3 - US challenge ends, fallout begins; Canada storms back
The United States and Canada experienced very different endings to their Davis Cup by Rakuten quarterfinals, and Catherine and David are here to discuss all of the many storylines that emanated.Surely now Mardy Fish accepts he made the wrong call about Rajeev Ram. Or does he? Where did Italy win the tie? And how did Denis Shapovalov go through such a spectacular metamorphosis from set 1 to sets 2 and 3?Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to help us to produce the show year-round, and rece
Davis Cup Finals Day 2 - The ordeal of watching Marin Cilic; Matt grills Mardy Fish
There is nothing quite like watching Marin Cilic, both in a positive and a negative sense. Catherine, Matt and David describe the latest instalment of the experience after Croatia's Davis Cup quarterfinal against Spain in Malaga.Plus Matt catches up with USA captain and Mardy Fish to ask him the question we've been so curious about: why did he not pick Rajeev Ram for doubles??There's also a Thursday, and David some detective work about the absence of Wimbledon champs Max Purcell and Matt Ebden f
Davis Cup Finals Day 1 - Australia see off spirited Netherlands to reach semis
Australia have beaten Netherlands 2-0 to reach the Davis Cup semi-finals. Catherine, David and Matt discuss comeback wins for both Jordan Thompson and Alex de Minaur, Lleyton Hewitt as a captain, the good atmosphere for the tie in Malaga, and what might happen tomorrow between Spain and Croatia. Tickets for the Davis Cup FinalsFriends of the Tennis Podcast help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout the year, including Tennis Re-Liv
Davis Cup Finals Preview - Matt's in Malaga!
Matt's in Malaga for the Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals. What's it like?Running through the teams, and what to expect.Day 1 Predictions.Tickets for the Davis Cup FinalsFriends of the Tennis Podcast help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout the year, including Tennis Re-Lived, listener questions, and Grand Slam review shows. Become a FriendSign up to receive our Newsletter (daily at Slams and weekly the rest of the year, fea
ATP Finals final - Title No.6 for Djokovic, Bring on 2023!
Djokovic draws level with Federer on 6 titlesWhy were sets 1 and 2 so different?Does Ruud need to stop being so nice?What happens when this Djokovic comes up against the pack of cubs in ’23?Salisbury/Ram land title at lastFriends of the Tennis Podcast help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout the year, including Tennis Re-Lived, listener questions, and Grand Slam review shows. Become a FriendSign up to receive our Newsletter&
ATP Finals semis - Is Ruud ready to derail Djokovic? Andrea Gaudenzi chat
Novak Djokovic and Casper Ruud will face off in the final match of the 2022 ATP season after Djokovic’s narrow victory over Taylor Fritz and Ruud’s thumping of Andrey Rublev. How well did Djokovic play against Fritz? Could Fritz have done more? What happened to Rublev’s newfound mental resilience? How much has Ruud improved as a player? And does he have the belief to beat Djokovic? With Catherine joining David and Matt from Turin, we also chat about the doubles semi-finals as well as C
ATP Finals - Group stages over, bring on the semis! Wimbledon changes all-white rule for women at last
With the semi-final line-up set at the ATP Finals, we hear from Catherine in Turin, discuss the biggest storylines so far, and look ahead to the weekend's action. What's impressed us most about Andrey Rublev at this tournament? In what way has Novak Djokovic looked a level above the rest of the field? Will his 3+ hours on court on Friday cost him against Taylor Fritz? Why did we expect more from Felix Auger-Aliassime? And how do we reflect on Daniil Medvedev's season? All that plus reaction to
BJK Cup Finals Day 6 - Switzerland at last; ATP Finals underway
Twelve months on from the heartbreak of Prague, Switzerland are the Billie Jean King Cup champions for the first time ever after beating Australia in the final in Glasgow. David and Matt react to wins for Jil Teichmann and Belinda Bencic, discuss the celebrations, and go inside the press conference room as Matt came full circle with a very happy (and tipsy) Swiss team. There’s also admiration for Storm Sanders’ efforts, discussion about how Australia can turn themselves into champions,
BJK Cup Finals Day 5 - Heartbreak and hope as final is set; Matt meets Billie Jean King
The two most recent runners-up, Switzerland and Australia, will play the Billie Jean King Cup Final on Sunday after another absorbing day of action in Glasgow. David and Matt discuss the way in which Storm Sanders and Harriet Dart stepped up for their teams, whether they can take this form onto the tour, a curious team selection from the Czechs, and why Sunday’s final matters so much to both teams. Elsewhere, to top off a great day, Matt speaks to Billie Jean King about her time in Gla
BJK Cup Finals Day 4 - Captains go big not home as Swiss & Czechs reach semis
Switzerland vs Canada and Czech Republic vs USA did not quite produce the spectacular showdowns we were expecting, but there’s still lots for David, Catherine and Matt to discuss, including some bold team selections by the captains, a good day for Matt’s backhand list, the state of Coco Gauff’s forehand, why Bianca Andreescu isn’t the same player as the one who won the US Open in 2019, and a preview of the semi-finals between GB-Australia and Switzerland-Czech Republic. Can Britain do it again?&
BJK Cup Finals Day 3 - Great Britain stun Spain to reach semis; Showdowns set for Friday
It was a surreal day in Glasgow as Great Britain won all three matches in straight sets to defeat Spain and reach the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup for the first time since 1981. David and Matt discuss how it happened, from Heather Watson's superb performance to get things going, to Harriet Dart upsetting Paula Badosa, to the relatively unknown duo of Alicia Barnett and Olivia Nicholls combining to win the decisive point. Elsewhere, there's chat about Australia booking their last four
BJK Cup Finals Day 2 - Epics galore but McCoco get the memo
Well we got the epic matches we were craving at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, but at the cost of a post-midnight finish in Glasgow.David and Matt chat about deciding set tiebreak wins for Jil Teichmann, Nuria Parrizas Diaz and Danielle Collins, a welcome return to form for Paula Badosa, a disappointing display from Madison Keys, and an emphatic victory for Coco Gauff and Caty McNally, AKA McCoco.We also hear Matt's chat with a cheery Belinda Bencic and Teichmann, we touch on the United Cup re
BJK Cup Finals Day 1 - Tomljanovic takes centre stage; WTA Finals - Garcia wins big
Day 1 of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals from Glasgow is in the books and David, Catherine and Matt are all together to talk through Kazakhstan’s victory over Great Britain and Australia’s win against Slovakia. How did Rybakina and Putintseva display their quality over Dart and Boulter? How far can Australia go in this event? And why do we think people will come to love Ajla Tomljanovic when they see her on the Netflix series next year? We hear from Tomljanovic in conversation with Matt aft
BJK Cup Finals Preview - Nations ready to rumble in Glasgow, and Matt is there
The Billie Jean King Cup Finals by Gainbridge are here, or in Glasgow to be more precise. There for us is Matt, who spent the day in and out of preview press conferences talking to the teams, captains and players.That meant being reunited with the Swiss team, who Matt interrogated after a controversial loss in the final last year. We hear all of the gossip and chat from behind the scenes, despite the lights going out on Matt mid-pod, and try to work out who is most likely to come through each gr
Paris - Rune arrives, but what's next for him and Djokovic? WTA Finals final set
We knew Holger Rune was good, but did we know he was this good?What happened to Novak Djokovic in the final, and what can we expect from them both going forwards?Stefanos Tsitsipas has left the 'sweet-spot' behind. So now what?The WTA Finals final is set, but will Catherine (Sabaelnka) or David (Garcia) win?Plus, lots of news to catch up on.Friends of the Tennis Podcast help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout the year, including Tennis Re
WTA Finals Group Stages - Swiatek and Sakkari soar; Pegula and Gauff hit the wall
With the WTA Finals having reached the last four stage, David and Matt come together to wrap up the Round Robin action which saw some surprising results (Maria Sakkari finding her best form) and some unsurprising ones (Iga Swiatek serving up bagels). There’s chat about Sakkari playing with freedom again, Swiatek dominating everyone, a gripping and dramatic match between Caroline Garcia and Daria Kasatkina with semi-final qualification on the line, and the fact that Jessica Pegula and Coco G
WTA Finals Preview with Pam Shriver! Plus, is this a new Auger-Aliassime?
The WTA Finals are here and who better to preview the tournament than 10-time WTA Finals doubles champion Pam Shriver?! Pam joins Catherine and Matt to discuss what to expect from the next week in Fort Worth. What will the conditions be like and who will they favour? Can anyone stop Iga Swiatek? Can Coco Gauff make some headway in her rivalry with Swiatek? Does Ons Jabeur have something to prove? And how is Pam feeling about having a doubles group named after her? We also talk about Da
Reaction to Halep's suspension; Pegula's big breakthrough; Andreescu & Thiem set for a big 2023?
The tennis world was shocked this week by the news that Simona Halep has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance at the US Open. We start this week's podcast by reacting to that news and how it fits into a turbulent year for Halep.Elsewhere, with David away on holiday, Catherine and Matt discuss Jessica Pegula seizing her moment in Guadalajara, the completion of the WTA Finals lineup, and a great week for Gen Z on the ATP Tour with Holger Rune, Lorenzo Musetti
San Diego, Gijon, Florence...and ‘Pickleball’
For the eighth time this season we’re talking about an Iga Swiatek title this week after she beat Donna Vekic to win in not-so-sunny San Diego. Catherine, David and Matt discuss the impressive nature of her run and her dominance over what should be her closest rivals. There’s also chat about Andrey Rublev doing what he does best by winning the ATP 250 in Gijon, Felix Auger-Aliassime improving his finals record in Florence, the hunt for WTA Finals qualification as the tour moves to Guadalaja
Krejcikova beats Swiatek in a final!!! Do we have a rivalry at last???
Ostrava!!! is fast becoming one of our favourite tournaments of the year and last week it lived up to its exclamation marks with an epic final between Barbora Krejcikova and Iga Swiatek.How did Krejcikova manage to do what no else could this year and beat Swiatek in a final? Where has this surge in form come from? And could Krejcikova and Swiatek develop a compelling WTA rivalry? Elsewhere, Catherine, David and Matt chat about Caty McNally and Alycia Parks teaming up to win the Ostrava!!! d
Matt’s back, events everywhere, let’s go!
For the first time in three weeks, Catherine, David and Matt are together to record a podcast, this one to look back on an interesting week which saw some new champions and some new events. In what way is Mayar Sherif already building on Ons Jabeur’s legacy? Will Maria Sakkari ever overcome her tightness on court? What makes Yoshihito Nishioka so awkward to play against (especially for Dan Evans)? Has Barbora Krejcikova rediscovered her best form? How is Novak Djokovic able to play so well
The tears of Federer & Nadal; Laver Cup, Davis Cup review
We nearly called this the 'ILL PODCAST' because we're all a bit under the weather. However, that's not very enticing is it, and not producing a show was never an option. So Catherine and David (get well soon, Matt) came together to talk about the extraordinarily emotional scenes at Laver Cup, with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in tears. They also discussed the results of the week, how important they are, and reviewed the week's Tour events, and the Davis Cup group stages from the week before.Fo
Federer's final press conference
The world's media assembled in London to talk to Roger Federer one final time in his professional playing career. David Law was among them. This is what Federer had to say. Catherine and Matt will be back with David on Monday.For Friends of The Tennis Podcast, three new podcasts (David's Diary, our US Open 2022 review and a Q & A podcast with listeners) are now available. Become a Friend to access those bonus podcasts and to support The Tennis Podcast.Sign up to receive our weekly Newsletter
Ivan Ljubicic: Coaching, playing and knowing Roger Federer
Ivan Ljubicic began coaching Roger Federer in 2016, and did not speak to the media about Federer for the next 6 years. Now, after Federer announced his retirement last week, Ljubicic opens up to David Law about the moments that led to the Swiss deciding it was time to end his career, what happened when Federer asked him to join his coaching team in 2016, the highs and lows that followed, and what it was like to play against him.For Friends of The Tennis Podcast, two new podcasts (David's Diary a
Goodbye Roger Federer
Roger Federer has announced his professional retirement. A career spanning 24 years, Federer began in Gstaad, Switzerland in July 1998, a tournament attended by our own David Law. David details some of his memories, talks to Telegraph Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs about covering Federer, and we hear from Catherine Whitaker and Matt Roberts, who send in their thoughts and memories via voice note.If you would like to hear more about Roger Federer, go back to our special episode recorded in Jul
US Open Day 14: Carlos Alcaraz - the present and the future
There were special scenes on Sunday night in New York as Carlos Alcaraz beat Casper Ruud to become the youngest US Open men's champion since Pete Sampras in 1990 and the youngest ATP World No.1 ever. Catherine, David and Matt were in the stadium to witness it and they discuss the match and the significance of the moment on the podcast. What made it such an enjoyable match? How did Alcaraz make up for any fatigue he was feeling? And will Ruud have regrets? Throwing it ahead, are we entering the A
US Open Day 13 - Swiatek, Jabeur light up New York; Alcarez vs. Ruud - who wins?
Apologies for the delay. We have been experiencing issues with our Tennis Podcast platform provider, which is why your podcast has not been available.Iga Świątek is the toughest final challenge in tennis. Ons Jabeur rose to that challenge. Catherine, Matt and David, in a car ride and on the streets of New York, look at where the match was won and lost and what it might mean for the future. They also run over the other results on Day 13 and look ahead to the men's singles final.If you would like
US Open Day 12 - Alcaraz vs Ruud with World No.1 on the line
Casper Ruud and Carlos Alcaraz will face off on Sunday with the winner becoming US Open champion and the new World No.1. It could hardly get more tantalising. In this podcast, we chat about how they both got there, with Ruud winning a 55-shot rally and surviving a mini Karen Khachanov fightback, and Alcaraz once again going the distance late at night to beat an inspired Frances Tiafoe. How well did Ruud handle the match and the pressure of being the favourite? And what made Alcaraz vs Tiafoe suc
US Open Day 11 - Swiatek & Jabeur set up fitting finale
With the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, it was been a strange, unsettling day at the US Open. Sporting coverage on BBC Radio was replaced with rolling news and obituary programming, meaning David didn’t commentate on the tennis. Catherine wasn’t required to present Prime Video’s coverage and a moment’s silence was held on court ahead of the women’s semi-finals. We discussed what to do with the podcast and decided to continue production - we are a tennis podcast on-site at the US Open
US Open Day 10 - Alcaraz vs Sinner - greatest match ever?
Wednesday was a good day. It was David’s birthday, Catherine and Matt met Lin Manuel Miranda, Frances Tiafoe brought the good vibes to Flushing Meadows by becoming the first American man to reach the US Open semi-finals since 2006, Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka set up a mouthwatering semi-final, and Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner played a match for the ages, a quite simply bonkers match, showing that the future of tennis is oh so bright. We get stuck into it all on the podcast. WIN A TR
US Open Day 9 - First semis set; Alcaraz-Sinner - is this the rivalry?
On the first quarter-final day at the US Open, we cover Caroline Garcia’s incredible form to beat home favourite Coco Gauff, Ons Jabeur’s up and down victory over Ajla Tomljanovic, Matteo Berrettini’s poor performance and whether that match changes how we feel about him and Casper Ruud, a surprising but brilliant five set victory for Karen Khachanov over Nick Kyrgios, and much excitement for the latest chapter in the Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner rivalry. WIN A TRIP TO THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN:Our
US Open Day 8 - Time for Tiafoe as Nadal falls short
It took until 5th September, but Rafael Nadal has finally lost a Grand Slam match in 2022. He was beaten in sensational fashion by Frances Tiafoe, a result which blows the men’s draw wide open and sets up a fascinating second week. On the podcast, we cover what went wrong for Nadal, whether we should have seen it coming, what makes Tiafoe so great to watch, and what this means for his career. Elsewhere, we discuss a rare disappointing day for Cameron Norrie, an unconvincing victory for Iga
US Open Day 7 - Kyrgios masters Medvedev; New York loves Coco
The great tennis just keeps coming at this US Open. In part one, Catherine, David and Matt discuss Coco Gauff's special connection with the New York crowd and the way she’s been afforded time to grow her game and become a Grand Slam contender, the formidable form of Caroline Garcia, a five set win for Matteo Berrettini over the always fun Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, some minor aggro between Corentin Moutet and Casper Ruud, and Matt revises The Backhand List. In the night session, did
US Open Day 6 - The morning after Serena's exit, final set tiebreaks, Azarenka speaks out
There was a morning after feeling to Day 6 at the US Open following Serena Williams’ defeat on Friday night. But it actually didn’t take long for great matches to start happening again, bringing new life to the tournament and giving us plenty to talk about on the podcast. After a night off, Catherine re-joined David and Matt for all of her Serena vs Tomljanovic takes plus lots of chat about Saturday’s action. We reflect some more on Serena's legacy before talking about final set tiebreak vi
US Open Day 5 - Serena says goodbye in style
Serena Williams' tennis career is over. On an extraordinary night in New York, David and Matt react to her fitting final match against Ajla Tomljanovic and the emotions it provoked. There's also chat about Andy Murray's defeat to Matteo Berrettini, Coco Gauff's statement performance to beat Madison Keys, and great wins for Casper Ruud and Ons Jabeur. WIN A TRIP TO THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN:Our US Open dailies this year are brought to you in association with AO Travel, who provide the Australian Open e
US Open Day 4 - Nadal’s search for form goes on
We talk about whether Iga Swiatek is hitting her stride, who are looking like the biggest contenders in the women’s draw, Paula Badosa’s struggles, an uncomfortable encounter between Marta Kostyuk and Victoria Azarenka, four British men making it through to the third round and the competition between them, how Jenson Brooksby got on Borna Coric’s nerves, one final act from Serena and Venus Williams in doubles, and a very weird match between Rafael Nadal and Fabio Fognini. WIN A TRIP TO THE
US Open Day 3 - Serena shines to beat Kontaveit. Can she win the whole tournament?
Serena Williams has got us all dreaming. After she played some vintage tennis to beat World No.2 Anett Kontaveit, Catherine, David and Matt discuss whether she can go on to win the entire tournament. How is Serena's run making us feel? What was better about today's performance compared to Monday's? And will there be anyone who can cope with the crowd and the sheer enormity of the occasion to actually beat her? We also talk about Jack Draper's routine victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime, Coco
US Open Day 2 - Raducanu: a fairytale ends, a career begins
This US Open keeps on delivering. To wrap up Day 2, David and Matt discuss: How Emma Raducanu is looking to the future after her title defence ended against Alize Cornet Venus Williams’ moment in the spotlight on Ashe Stadium Iga Swiatek and Sloane Stephens setting up a second round blockbuster Why Andrea Petkovic will be much missed from the sport The incredible level produced by Danielle Collins and Naomi Osaka Rafael Nadal’s comeback victory over the impressive R
US Open Day 1 - Serena's not done yet; upsets galore
We may have had the Serena celebration, but we haven't had her final match. Not yet. At the end of an extraordinary evening - which saw Serena honoured on court before, during and after her victory over Danka Kovinic - David, Catherine and Matt try to sum it all up. Why was it better to stage Serena's ceremony tonight rather than after a loss? How much better did her game look than in Cincinnati? And can she now go on a run? Elsewhere, it was a day of upsets with Simona Halep, Daria Kasatkina, S
US Open Preview - Media Day, Qualifying, The Serena Show
On the eve of the US Open, David, Catherine and Matt are together on site to reflect on what the players said on media day, to react to the news that Serena and Venus Williams are playing doubles together, to highlight some of the best stories from qualifying, and to preview Monday’s action. We discuss lots of the players' tributes to Serena, whether Iga Swiatek is going to thrive or not in New York, Rafael Nadal’s fitness, Naomi Osaka’s form, some punchy comments from Elena Rybakina and Ta
Welcome To New York
After three years away, The Tennis Podcast is back in New York for the US Open! David, Catherine and Matt soak up some of the sights and sounds of Manhattan, react to Novak Djokovic's withdrawal, and discuss some of the biggest headlines from the draws. What are the chances of a fitting send off for Serena Williams? How does Emma Raducanu start her title defence? And is Rafael Nadal in the better half of the draw compared to Daniil Medvedev? FRIENDS OF THE TENNIS PODCAST: Friends help
Cincinnati - Coric & Garcia champions, but who is in The Mix for the US Open?
We could be in for a wild US Open. That’s our big takeaway following Cincinnati where Borna Coric and Caroline Garcia won the titles. In our final show before leaving for New York we talk about Coric’s sudden return to form, a mysterious but encouraging week for Stefanos Tsitsipas, who the US Open favourite is between Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev, whether Caroline Garcia is in The Mix after her incredible run of form continued, and where the likes of Emma Raducanu, Madison Keys, Jessica Pegu
Cincinnati update - the quest for the title, form, and rest
Catherine, David and Matt get together for a catch up at the halfway point in Cincinnati. There’s chat about the gruelling turnaround after Canada, some high profile withdrawals from the women’s draw, why Serena Williams vs Emma Raducanu wasn’t the memorable occasion we expected, Raducanu’s improved form, Iga Swiatek’s criticism of the balls, struggles for Naomi Osaka, the emergence of Ben Shelton, Rafael Nadal’s defeat to Borna Coric, and Andy Murray’s cramping issues. FRIENDS OF THE TENNI
Canada - Halep & Carreno Busta champions, but what does it mean for The Mix? Coco Gauff is doubles No.1
Simona Halep is back where she belongs - winning big titles and inside the World’s Top 10. How did she win in Toronto without always playing her best tennis? In what way has Patrick Mouratoglou helped her this season? And can she keep it going in New York? Catherine, David and Matt talk it all through at the end of a thrilling week. Elsewhere from Toronto, there’s chat about Beatriz Haddad Maia doing big things, Iga Swiatek’s dip in form, and Coco Gauff becoming doubles World No.1. Ove
Farewell Serena
Serena Williams has published an article in Vogue announcing that she is “evolving away” from tennis, with the upcoming US Open expected to be her final tournament. It will bring to an end one of the greatest sporting careers of all time. In the first part of this podcast, Catherine, David and Matt react to the news, discuss the effect it will have on tennis, and offer some reflections on Serena’s career. We then get into the biggest stories from Canada so far, including encouraging si
‘Free’ Kasatkina wins San Jose; Is Kyrgios in the US Open mix? Canada Preview
With the US Open series in full swing, Catherine, David and Matt review title runs for Daria Kasatkina, Nick Kyrgios, Liudmila Samsonova and Daniil Medvedev. In what way did Kasatkina use her game to pick apart some big hitters? Does this title for Kyrgios in DC feel different to his one in 2019? How significant is it that Medvedev has ended his losing streak in finals? And what can we read into so many Russians doing well after their Wimbledon ban? There’s also chat about Shelby Roger
Garcia stops Swiatek; Sinner's edge over Alcaraz continues; Raducanu & Tursunov team up
David’s back! Fresh from his holiday, he joins Catherine and Matt to talk all about the last week in tennis, headlined by Caroline Garcia’s victory over Iga Swiatek and subsequent title in Warsaw, as well as Jannik Sinner’s victory in Umag. Has Garcia provided the rest of the tour with a blueprint for how to beat Swiatek? How much longer might she be able to keep up this red hot form? And what’s giving Sinner the edge in his rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz?There’s also chat about titles for Mar
We’re back! And a lot has happened since Wimbledon.
It's been a minute but we're back for the first time since Wimbledon to catch up on everything which has happened over the last couple of weeks. With David away on holiday, Catherine and Matt are joined by friend of the pod Charlie Eccleshare for a long overdue appearance! In a packed show, we discuss the strangeness of the post-Wimbledon period in tennis, titles for Lorenzo Musetti, Bernarda Pera and Casper Ruud, the return to form of Dominic Thiem and Anett Kontaveit, our early US Open fa
Wimbledon Day 14 - Djokovic joins Sampras on seven but now heads into the unknown
After Novak Djokovic defeated Nick Kyrgios in a great four-set final, Catherine, David and Matt got together for one last Wimbledon 2022 pod. We discussed where the final was won and lost, the press conferences, what the future might hold for both players, the significance of Wimbledon as a tournament for Djokovic, and the Grand Slam Race. There's also a round up of the doubles and juniors results as well as chat about Shingo Kunieda completing the career Golden Slam and heartbreak for Alfie Hew
Wimbledon Day 13 - Rybakina reigns supreme; Jabeur's time will come
Elena Rybakina is a Wimbledon champion, coming from a set down to defeat Ons Jabeur in an exciting final on Saturday. How did Rybakina overcome her nerves to turn the match around? What could Jabeur have done differently? And will both players win slams in the future? Catherine, David and Matt go through it all while reviewing the match. There's also chat about the questioning Rybakina received on her lack of celebration and the fact she was born in Moscow, Jabeur's upbeat press conference, and
Wimbledon Day 12 - Djokovic vs Kyrgios is on; Jabeur's Journey
Novak Djokovic will face Nick Kyrgios in the Wimbledon men's final after Djokovic's four set victory over Cameron Norrie on Friday. Why does Djokovic keep having slow starts? How did he turn the match around? Where might Sunday's final be won and lost? And in what ways was Kyrgios' pre final press conference his most candid and interesting of the tournament? These are all questions for Catherine, David and Matt on the pod. To preview the women's final, we hear from Reem Abulleil, a journalist wh
Wimbledon Day 11 - Jabeur, Rybakina break new ground; Nadal's agony
This is a podcast in two halves! In the first part, David and Matt react to Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal from Wimbledon, the bombshell news which broke at around 7pm on Thursday. How did the story unfold throughout the day? And what reasons did Nadal give for his decision? Earlier, Catherine, David and Matt were joined by Simon Briggs to talk about Ons Jabeur and Elena Rybakina reaching the women’s final. We covered their semi-final performances, the Jabeur story and why it’s so important
Wimbledon Day 10 - How did Nadal do THAT?; Is Halep the title favourite?
A few hours after Rafael Nadal's extraordinary victory over Taylor Fritz in a fifth set tiebreak, Catherine, David and Matt react to all the drama. How did he manage his ab injury to still win the match? Should Fritz have done better? And will Nadal even be able to play his semi-final? Elsewhere, we discuss Nick Kyrgios' tennis and the way he responded to questions about being his court summons. In the women's draw, is Simona Halep now the favourite for the title after another Centre Court maste
Wimbledon Day 9 - Titanic Tuesday, comebacks and hugs
It was a day of high emotions and comebacks with all four quarter-finals being won by the player who lost the opening set, meaning that we had plenty to get stuck into as we recorded in fading light at Wimbledon. Why did Djokovic's comeback against Sinner feel inevitable? In what way did Norrie connect with the Wimbledon fans today? What made the hug between Niemeier and Maria so special? And how did Jabeur take charge in her victory over Bouzkova? BECOME A FRIEND OF THE TENNIS PODCAST F
Wimbledon Day 8 - Calm Kyrgios, Halep comes home, Nadal countdown
On what used to be Magic Monday, everything felt a lot calmer and more manageable at Wimbledon today, meaning we had time to do our favourite thing and record on site. But there was no shortage of talking points as the quarter-final line-ups were completed. In what way was Nick Kyrgios a changed man? How did Cristian Garin complete the first two sets to love comeback of the tournament against Alex de Minaur? And how will Taylor Fritz and Rafael Nadal match up in their quarter
Wimbledon Day 7 - Sunday fun day, Draws open up for Djokovic and Jabeur, a Federer surprise
There's always a keen sense of history at Wimbledon, but even more so today as former champions - from Angela Mortimer to Roger Federer - all gathered to celebrate 100 years of Centre Court. Catherine, David and Matt talk about the special parade of champions and review all the matches which took place on Middle Sunday. How did Jannik Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz and can they form a rivalry? Just how good is Novak Djokovic's form? Is Ons Jabeur in David's Mix yet? And how big is this opportunity f
Wimbledon Day 6 - Swiatek's streak snapped; The Kyrgios-Tsitsipas circus
For our 1000th episode we got to talk about a lot of aggro between Nick Kyrgios and Stefanos Tsitsipas, a shock defeat for the World No.1 Iga Swiatek, and Amanda Anisimova backhands. The tennis gods must have been looking down on us. BECOME A FRIEND OF THE TENNIS PODCAST Friends of The Tennis Podcast help us to produce the show year-round, and receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout the year, including Tennis Re-Lived, listener questions, and Grand Slam review shows. Last
Wimbledon Day 5 - Djokovic & Alcaraz on a collision course; Kerber & Sakkari out; Norrie & Watson break new ground
The tennis finished early on Friday which meant that for the first time since the tournament began we got to record on site! But there was no shortage of stories and we get stuck into statement performances from Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Ons Jabeur, British success in the form of Cameron Norrie and Heather Watson, notable wins for Frances Tiafoe and Jelena Ostapenko, and mini upsets with defeats for Angelique Kerber and Maria Sakkari. BECOME A FRIEND OF THE TENNIS PODCAST Frie
Wimbledon Day 4 - Nadal and Swiatek survive despite struggles; Kyrgios conversation grows
It was another eventful day at Wimbledon, with wins for Katie Boulter and Liam Broady standing out from a British perspective. Catherine, David and Matt talk about why they were pretty big deals and get stuck in to all of the other big talking points. Is Nick Kyrgios in The Mix? When will Iga Swiatek and Rafael Nadal start playing better? And how is round three shaping up? We also talk about the form of Petra Kvitova, leftover aggro from Harmony Tan and Tamara Korpatsch, and the Wimbledon roof p
Wimbledon Day 3 - Raducanu & Murray beaten, wide open draws, fortune cookies
There was a morning after the night before feel to Day 3 at Wimbledon. Rain delayed the start of play by a couple of hours and when it eventually did begin, defeats for Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray dampened home spirits. In a podcast which goes in many directions, Catherine, David and Matt discuss those results and the press conferences which followed, as well as the rest of the day’s stories, including a much better performance from Novak Djokovic, Anett Kontaveit’s covid struggles, Garbi
Wimbledon Day 2 - Serena's last stand on Centre Court?
It was a day which began with Matteo Berrettini’s withdrawal after testing positive for covid-19, and ended with Serena Williams’ departing Centre Court possibly for the last time after a dramatic loss to Harmony Tan, meaning it was a day of big emotions all round. As the clock ticked past midnight, Catherine, David and Matt tried to process it all. How did it feel to watch Serena again? And what might she do next? We also talked about battling wins for Rafael Nadal, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Coco
Wimbledon Day 1 - Raducanu's sparkling Centre Court debut; David's predictions nightmare
Day one at Wimbledon began slowly with rain suspending play for a few hours, but soon came to life with Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray on Centre, a couple of epic five setters with big implications for the men's draw, and David's finalist prediction coming crashing down. Catherine, David and Matt got together at Tennis Podcast Towers to talk it all through: - Jabeur puts Roland Garros behind her- Haddad Maia defeated, David despairs- Raducanu embraces Centre Court debut- Djokovic wins but d
Wimbledon Preview - Draws, media day, and a jaw-dropping prediction
Catherine, David and Matt are back together, sitting on a bench above Court 18, to look ahead to Wimbledon 2022. With less than one day to go until the tournament starts, we look through the draws, discuss what the players said on media day, and scrutinise David's predictions. Why does Simona Halep not have the honour of opening Centre Court on Tuesday? What do we expect from Serena Williams this fortnight? Has Ons Jabeur put what happened at Roland Garros behind her? How quickly will Rafael Nad
Serena's back! And who's in the Wimbledon Mix?
Serena Williams is back! Catherine, David and Matt react to the news that she’s playing doubles in Eastbourne before heading to Wimbledon for singles. How did we feel when she announced her return? And how might she fare at Wimbledon? More good news followed this week when Rafael Nadal announced that his radio frequency ablation therapy had gone well and that he plans to play Wimbledon, but Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal and doubts over the fitness of Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu did dampen spir
Grass! Raducanu & Murray worry, Berrettini back, and who is Tim Van Rijthoven?
We're back from Paris and the grass court season is upon us! David, Catherine and Matt discuss the sudden surface switch, Catherine's experience of media day at Queen's, the winning return of Matteo Berrettini in Stuttgart, the brilliant form of Andy Murray followed by a concerning injury, the pressures on Emma Raducanu, and Tim Van Rijthoven's fairytale run in 's-Hertogenbosch. BECOME A FRIEND OF THE TENNIS PODCAST Friends of The Tennis Podcast help us to produce the show year-round, and r
Roland Garros Day 15 - Rafa's feeling 22, but what about the future?
It's hard to know what to say about the extraordinary Rafael Nadal winning a 14th Roland Garros title and a 22nd Grand Slam title, but Catherine, David and Matt try their best to put his achievement into words. How did Casper Ruud provide the perfect match up for Nadal? Did Ruud's idolisation of Nadal affect the match? In what way did the match not quite feel fitting for the occasion? What does Nadal plan to do now to treat his foot? And will he end up winning the Grand Slam race? BECOME A FRIEN
Roland Garros Day 14 - Awesome Iga Takes title No.2
Iga Swiatek is the Roland Garros champion for a second time, beating Coco Gauff 6-1 6-3 to win her 35th consecutive match. After watching it together in the stadium, Catherine, David and Matt discuss how Swiatek asserted her dominance, whether Gauff was nervous, how on earth someone might beat Swiatek in this form, the two press conferences, Swiatek's prospects at Wimbledon, and much more. BECOME A FRIEND OF THE TENNIS PODCAST Friends of The Tennis Podcast help us to produce the show year-r
Roland Garros Day 13 - Agony, ecstasy, history - Nadal vs. Ruud in final
It was a weird day at Roland Garros, with Alexander Zverev's injury curtailing the first semi-final and a protestor interrupting the second. Catherine, David and Matt discuss where the matches were won and lost, how the conditions impacted Zverev vs. Nadal, the emotional toll this tournament is taking on Nadal, what happened to Marin Cilic as he faded, and why reaching a first slam final is a big deal for Casper Ruud. BECOME A FRIEND OF THE TENNIS PODCAST Friends of The Tennis Podcast help
Roland Garros Day 12 - Swiatek and Gauff set up sizzling final; When Catherine met Amelie
After Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek set up a dream women's final, Catherine, David and Matt are joined by Pam Shriver to review the semi-finals, to discuss the careers of Gauff and Swiatek to date and the possibility of a new rivalry blossoming, and to look ahead to Saturday's final. How has Gauff developed over the last few years? And how does Swiatek compare to other dominant World No.1s? We also chat about the men's semi-finals and the spectacular Casper Ruud-Holger Rune aggro before moving on t
Roland Garros Day 11 - Semis set; Mauresmo's disappointing remarks
With everyone still recovering from the very late finish to Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic, Wednesday dawned with Amelie Mauresmo’s press conference, and Catherine was there to ask her about why the scheduling has favoured men’s matches over women’s matches this tournament. Mauresmo's comments - that it’s because men’s tennis is more appealing - cast a big shadow over the day’s play and we talked about why they were so damaging and disappointing on the pod. Elsewhere, we discuss Iga Swiatek's fo
Roland Garros Day 10 - Will it be #22 and out for extraordinary Rafael Nadal?
We've known for years that you should never count out Rafael Nadal. And yet we keep doing it! After his epic four set victory over Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros, Catherine, David and Matt gather in the middle of the night to talk about how he did it and what it all means. There's chat about Nadal's fast start, Djokovic's recovery, the way Nadal looked physically stronger, the role of the crowd, the tension between the two players, and Nadal's press conference where he stressed once again that
Roland Garros Day 9 - Shocks shake Paris as Swiatek survives; Nadal-Djokovic at NIGHT
Monday was the day when the bottom half of the men's draw blew wide open, with Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniil Medvedev both losing to inspired performances from Holger Rune and Marin Cilic. Is that the best Cilic has played since the 2014 US Open? How did Tsitsipas assess the match in his press conference? And who is favourite to come through the bottom half? In the women's draw, we talk about an epic first set between Iga Swiatek and Qinwen Zheng, the importance of Zheng openly talking about her
Roland Garros Day 8 - Nadal vs. Djokovic - It's On! WTA Avengers assemble
We asked the tennis gods for better matches, and they delivered, with Rafael Nadal defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime in five sets on Sunday. How come it never ceases to be amazing to watch Nadal win like this at Roland Garros? Will he recover in time for Djokovic? And is Felix getting closer? Elsewhere, Catherine, David and Matt are stunned by the level of Carlos Alcaraz and assess his quarter-final against Alexander Zverev. In the women's draw, is Coco Gauff ready to go all the way? How did Leyla
Roland Garros Day 7 - Medvedev makes his move; Swiatek shows she's human
How do you perk up a dull day at Roland Garros? You get Simon Briggs on the pod! He joined Catherine, David and Matt to talk through Iga Swiatek's worst performance in a while and why Qinwen Zheng could trouble her in the next round, the excellent form of Daniil Medvedev, a bad day for French players on Chatrier, Paula Badosa's injury, a much-needed easy win for Stefanos Tsitsipas, and growing excitement for a potential Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal quarter-final. While Simon was with us, he al
Roland Garros Day 6 - Alcaraz accelerates; Fernandez finds US Open form
For our second pod of the day, Catherine, David and Matt are together to talk through everything which happened at Roland Garros. There's chat about Carlos Alcaraz's statement performance against Sebastian Korda, how the scheduling might affect the potential quarter-final between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic which moved a step nearer, big wins for fan favourites Leylah Fernandez and Jil Teichmann, a sad end to Amanda Anisimova vs Karolina Muchova, and tempered excitement about Sloane Stephens
Here's to 10 years, with Mary Carillo!
On 27th May 2012, Catherine and David recorded the first edition of The Tennis Podcast in David’s parent’s house. Ten years later, we’ve come a long way, and we marked the occasion by recording a bonus podcast from on site at Roland Garros with our favourite guest, Mary Carillo! Mary tells us some stories from her visits to Paris over the years and we can get stuck into some of the biggest issues facing tennis today. BECOME A FRIEND OF THE TENNIS PODCAST Friends of The Tennis Podc
Roland Garros Day 5 - Swiatek's Boulangerie; Tsitsipas survives...again
After the drama of Wednesday, it was a bit of a slow news day at Roland Garros today, but Catherine, David and Matt made up for it by recording most of the pod on site with some beers. We talk about discovering Leolia JeanJean, Iga Swiatek's ruthlessness, a confidence boost for Paula Badosa, the aggro on display between Jelena Ostapenko and Alize Cornet in the best night session so far, and Stefanos Tsitsipas' sketchy form.BECOME A FRIEND OF THE TENNIS PODCAST Friends of The Tennis Podcast
Roland Garros Day 4 - Escape for Alcaraz; Give Raducanu time
Wednesday was the day this Roland Garros came alive, with Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev both being forced to save match point in their five-set victories, and the women’s draw losing Maria Sakkari, all in the space of a few hours. How come Alcaraz ended up having to save match point? And will this match make him more or less likely to win the tournament? Catherine, David and Matt also talk about Emma Raducanu's defeat and the coverage of it, how Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are shaping
Roland Garros Day 3 - Tsitsipas survives and Tsonga brings down the curtain
Day three at Roland Garros belonged to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Catherine, David and Matt discuss how he briefly rolled back the years against Casper Ruud before the moving scenes of his injury and retirement ceremony. How will he be remembered in tennis? Elsewhere, why can’t Lorenzo Musetti win from two sets up? How much fun was Hugo Gaston vs Alex de Minaur? Are the night sessions at Roland Garros working? And how disappointing is it that most players' views on Wimbledon are entirely self-intereste
Roland Garros Day 2 - Big names cruise; Krejcikova out; Naomi no to Wimbledon?
On a wet day at Roland Garros, Rafael Nadal, Iga Swiatek and Novak Djokovic all cruised through their matches, while Naomi Osaka was beaten by Amanda Anisimova before saying that she might not play Wimbledon due to the lack of ranking points. Catherine, David and Matt talk through all of that, as well as comeback victories for Emma Raducanu and Bianca Andreescu, a round one exit for defending champion Barbora Krejcikova, the special Angelique Kerber scenes, and all of the player reaction to the
Roland Garros Day 1 - Ons ousted; Thiem's troubles; Alcaraz - one down, six to go?
So much for a leisurely Sunday start to Roland Garros. Catherine, David and Matt convene at the end of a day which saw Ons Jabeur upset by Magda Linette in the first match of the tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier. What happened to Jabeur? What was the feeling like around the grounds when she lost? And will this defeat have lasting effects as she heads to Wimbledon? Elsewhere, we talk about unsurprising but sad defeats for Garbine Muguruza and Dominic Thiem, Felix Auger-Aliassime's fightback,
Wimbledon stripped of ranking points & Inside Roland Garros Media Day
We begin by discussing the fact that the ATP, WTA and ITF have decided to strip Wimbledon of ranking points over its decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players. What are the main factors behind this decision? What other options were available to them? Will this lead to further stand offs between the tours and the Grand Slams? And why have the ATP and WTA not stripped tour events of ranking points too? We then switch to talking about the headlines from an excellent media day at Roland Garros,
Roland Garros - The draws!
We made it to Paris! Despite Eurostar’s best efforts to thwart our journey, Catherine, David and Matt are on site all together at a Grand Slam for the first time since January 2020, and we’re very excited about that. After detailing our journey, we get stuck into the draws. How do we feel about Djokovic, Alcaraz and Nadal all being in the same half? Who will capitalise in the other half? Who could stand in Iga Swiatek’s way? And who will emerge from the bottom half headlined by Naomi Osaka
Rome: Swiatek and Djokovic dominate - who can stop them in Paris?
Catherine, David and Matt review the last few days in Rome, which saw Iga Swiatek and Novak Djokovic sweep all before them. Will Swiatek be on her own in a mix of one at Roland Garros? What about Ons Jabeur? Did Djokovic find exactly what he needed to be ready for the French Open? How much of a concern is Rafael Nadal's foot pain? And how do we rate Stefanos Tsitsipas' chances in Paris? BECOME A FRIEND OF THE TENNIS PODCAST Friends of The Tennis Podcast help us to produce the show year-roun
Rome - Stars find form, David rants and Wimbledon-Tours stand-off intensifies
Together at Tennis Podcast Towers, Catherine, David and Matt catch up to discuss the biggest stories from the first few days of Rome. There's much excitement about Swiatek vs Andreescu, aggro from Danielle Collins and Yulia Putintseva, and some of the leading men finding form. Elsewhere, we continue our criticism of the unequal prize money and look at how the ATP and WTA might take ranking points away from Wimbledon following the decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players. BECOME A FRIEND OF
Madrid - Alcaraz wins and sends a message; Jabeur blazes a trail
On finals weekend in Madrid, Carlos Alcaraz beat Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev back-to-back-to-back and Ons Jabeur became the first Arab woman to lift a WTA 1000 title, leaving us with two stunning stories to discuss. Catherine joins David and Matt to reveal what it was like to be there and watch it all from up close. Which of Alcaraz's wins was the most impressive? How will Nadal and Djokovic respond to his challenge going into Roland Garros? How does Jabeur embrace being a
Madrid - Nadal vs. Alcaraz is on; Ons Jabeur steps up; Disappointing scheduling
David and Matt get stuck into the main talking point from the last few days in Madrid. What's different about Ons Jabeur this week? Why will so many people be happy if she wins the title? And what's going on with the scheduling which made Jessica Pegula and Jil Teichmann walk out to a practically empty stadium for their semi-final? On the men's side, disappointment about Andy Murray's withdrawal ahead of facing Novak Djokovic is made up for by excitement about Carlos Alcaraz vs Rafael Nadal. We
Madrid - Big names fall but Raducanu, Andreescu & Halep impress; Boris Becker jailed
Madrid is well underway, Catherine is there for Amazon Prime Video, and David and Matt talk about the big stories so far. How did Simona Halep beat Paula Badosa so easily? What do we make of Emma Raducanu's decision to split with Torben Beltz? And how do we judge Naomi Osaka on clay after one win and one defeat? On the men's side, there's chat about an exciting half of the draw featuring the returning Rafael Nadal as well as Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz. We also discuss a thrilling week fro
Our reaction to Pam Shriver’s story, Wimbledon’s ban, and a big week of tennis
It’s been an extraordinary week in the world of tennis, and this is our chance to react to it.0 mins - 28 mins: Pam Shriver joins us to reflect on the story she told us last week, how she’s since learned that she was also a victim of physical abuse, and what next steps should be for tennis to improve its safeguarding measures. 28 mins - 53 mins: Pam stays with us to react to the decision of Wimbledon to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes.54 mins to 91 mins: Stuttgart, Barcelona, Belgrade,
WTA CEO Steve Simon - Pam Shriver’s story, Wimbledon’s ban on Russian & Belarusian players, Peng Shuai, 5 sets at slams
With so many geopolitical events affecting tennis, it’s a timely moment for Catherine to speak at length to WTA CEO Steve Simon. Following yesterday’s interview with Pam Shriver, and the decision of Wimbledon and the LTA to ban Russian and Belarusian players, Catherine starts by asking him about those urgent issues. Later, there’s discussion about the WTA’s decision to pull out of China, Tennis United, the latest on Peng Shuai, new title sponsor Hologic, on court coaching, and the best
Pam Shriver’s Story: Me, my coach, and the dangers of crossing boundaries
This is Pam Shriver’s story. In an interview with Catherine, she reveals publicly for the first time that she had an inappropriate and damaging relationship with her much older coach, which began when she was 17 and lasted for over five years. Pam tells the story from the beginning, describing how it affected her tennis career and her personal life for many years. She is doing this to try to help young athletes, coaches and the governing bodies to recognise and understand the impo
Tsitsipas reigns in Monte Carlo again; Raducanu's first steps on clay; Bianca's back - an interview with Andreescu
With the clay court season in full swing, Catherine and Matt talk through the main headlines from an exciting week in Monte Carlo, including how Stefanos Tsitsipas' game suits clay so much, what makes Alejandro Davidovich Fokina so fun to watch, and why there's pressure on Novak Djokovic to win matches over the next few weeks after his early exit. There's also a round up of what happened in the Billie Jean King Cup, including poignant scenes at the tie between United States and Ukraine, as well
CLAY! And recording a pod in person
It's time for clay court tennis! Hooray! And Catherine and Matt are chatting in person! Hooray x 2!Charleston, Houston, Monte Carlo and much more discussed.Sign up to our newsletter - https://bit.ly/TennisPodcastNewsletterFollow us on:Instagram - www.instagram/thetennispodcastTwitter - www.twitter.com/tennispodcastFRIENDS OF THE TENNIS PODCAST Friends of The Tennis Podcast receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout the year and help to keep the weekl
Miami - Swiatek, Alcaraz and the start of their takeover?
It turns out nobody could stop Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz in Miami. Catherine, David and Matt discuss how they won the titles and the significance of their victories. In what way is Swiatek’s confidence manifesting itself right now? Does Swiatek-Osaka have potential to become a true rivalry? And how is Alcaraz changing the sport? Sign up to our newsletter - https://bit.ly/TennisPodcastNewsletterFollow us on:Instagram - www.instagram/thetennispodcastTwitter -&nbs
Miami - Who can stop Swiatek and Alcaraz?
As Miami moves towards finals weekend, will the titles be heading to Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz? Their fearsome form is the subject of much discussion between Catherine, David and Matt who also can't help getting excited about the prospect of seeing Swiatek vs Osaka AND Alcaraz vs Medvedev in the coming days. Elsewhere, there's chat about Alexander Zverev's disappointing season so far, the extraordinary run of Francisco Cerundolo, Nick Kyrgios' treatment of umpire Carlos Bernardes, the consi
Miami - World No.1 Iga Swiatek; Murray-Lendl 3.0; Is Kyrgioptimism back?
With Miami well underway, Catherine, David and Matt discuss the main talking points so far, including: Iga Swiatek's ascension to World No.1Naomi Osaka's good form and the possible reasons for itThe emergence of 16-year-old Linda FruhvirtovaA regrettable moment from Victoria AzarenkaSparkling tennis from Nick KyrgiosJenson Brooksby's racquet throw and whether the ATP needs to clamp down and give harsher punishmentsAndy Murray's first match in front of Ivan Lendl for five years against Daniil Med
Ash Barty Retires - She did it her way
Ash Barty - the reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open champion, and World No.1 for the last 114 weeks - has announced her retirement. In this emergency edition of the podcast, David, Catherine and Matt react to the news. How much of a surprise is it? Is it possible to feel happy for Barty but sad for tennis at the same time? In what way is this different from the last time Barty stepped away from the sport? How has the tennis world responded to the news? Might she be back at some point in the f
Indian Wells - Fritz's fangs; Nadal’s streak ends but Swiatek’s goes on
Before flying home from California, Catherine joins David and Matt to discuss everything which went on during an eventful (and windy) finals few days at Indian Wells. There's chat about what's different for Iga Swiatek in 2022, how much progress Maria Sakkari made this tournament, whether Taylor Fritz has developed fangs in front of our eyes, and how Rafael Nadal vs Carlos Alcaraz lived up to expectations. Sign up to our newsletter - https://bit.ly/TennisPodcastNewsletterFollow us on:I
Indian Wells - Who will be the champions? Final set tiebreaks at slams - our reaction
David and Matt catch up to discuss how the Indian Wells draws are shaping up and who might win the titles from here. How much of an issue is Nadal's foot? Is Alcaraz ready to win big? And what made Halep and Swiatek's quarter-final victories so one sided? We also hear from Catherine with more of her impressions from on site and we react to the news that all four Grand Slam tournaments will be implementing final set 10-point tiebreaks. Sign up to our newsletter - https://bit.ly/TennisPo
Indian Wells - Stories everywhere, Kyrgios vs. Ruud at last, Catherine’s on-site view
Less than a week into Indian Wells and there’s already loads for David and Matt - with some thoughts and impressions from Catherine on site - to discuss. We talk about why it was understandable that Naomi Osaka got upset after being heckled, whether or not Sebastian Korda choked against Rafael Nadal, encouraging signs for Emma Raducanu, surprise defeats for Felix Auger-Aliassime and Garbine Muguruza, the disrespect shown to defending champion Cameron Norrie, the ultra aggressive tennis of T
Svitolina, Yastremska play for Ukraine like never before, WTA’s win, Djokovic & Murray’s big coaching news
The tennis news keeps coming, meaning Catherine, David and Matt have a lot to discuss, including: The WTA’s new title sponsor - Hologic - and how it came about from the tour’s stance on Peng Shuai and ChinaThe inspirational run of Dayana Yastremska in Lyon just days after she fled Ukraine with her younger sisterThe governing bodies’ swift action to stop Russian and Belarusian players from competing under their national flag following a statement from Elina SvitolinaAn absorbing Monterr
Russia's invasion of Ukraine - what it means for tennis; Medvedev reaches No.1; Zverev’s disgrace
We begin this week’s episode by talking about how tennis is affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. What have Russian and Ukrainian players be saying on social media? Should Russia be banned from team competitions in the sport? And should that ban extend to Russian players competing on tour? It’s a complex situation without any easy answers. Elsewhere, Catherine, David and Matt react to Daniil Medvedev becoming World No.1, titles for Andrey Rublev and Rafael Nadal in Dubai and Acapulco, a
Djokovic returns; Ostapenko peaks; Alcaraz rising
Novak Djokovic is back. How did he look in his first match of the year against Lorenzo Musetti in Dubai? And what did we make of his interview with Amol Rajan of the BBC? Elsewhere, we talk about Jelena Ostapenko’s destructive week in Dubai and whether or not she can keep it going, Cameron Norrie’s impressive title run in Delray Beach, and Carlos Alcaraz winning in Rio. Is he in the mix for Roland Garros? There’s also news of yet another format change for the Davis Cup, Jannik Sinner s
Auger-Aliassime Unleashed; Ruud & Kontaveit Keep Winning; Farewell Delpo
Felix Auger-Aliassime has done it! In his ninth ATP final, he finally won his first title in Rotterdam, and Catherine, David and Matt begin this episode by discussing what it means for him now and in the future. There’s also chat about Anett Kontaveit and Casper Ruud continuing their respective winning streaks indoors and on clay, Maria Sakkari’s tendency to get tight in big moments, and the emotional scenes in Buenos Aires as Juan Martin Del Potro played what seemed like the last match of
AO Day 14 - Rafael Nadal completes ultimate comeback to lead Grand Slam race
Catherine, David and Matt react to the news that Rafael Nadal leads the Grand Slam race for the first time. Catherine and Matt were courtside throughout, in the interview room straight after and you will hear: Where the match was won and lostWhat it looked, felt and sounded like in the stadium throughoutWhat Nadal said to Catherine afterwardsHow upset Medvedev was in his post-match press conference, and whyWere the crowd out of order?Why Nadal's win was so utterly extraordinaryWhether an asteris
AO Day 13 - Joy unconfined for Ash Barty and Australia
Ash Barty became the first Australian to win the singles title at her home Grand Slam in Melbourne for the first time in 44 years. Catherine and Matt were there, and joined David to review it all. A special night as Barty wins her home slamThe significance of Dellacqua & Goolagong to BartyBarty’s chance to dominate women’s tennisReflections on Collins’ tournamentSpecial K’s beat the M&M’sNadal vs Medvedev previewSign up to our newsletter - https://bit.ly/TennisPodcastNewsletter
AO Day 12 - The incredible Rafael Nadal; Medvedev blocks path to 21, again
Two crackling men's semifinals to look back at for Catherine, David and Matt, and two sensational singles finals to look forward to.How good was Rafael Nadal?How concerning is it that he faded?Will Matteo Berrettini have regrets?Where was Medvedev vs. Tsitsipas won and lost?Aggro analysed, deeplyAsh Barty vs. Danielle - PredictionsSign up to our newsletter - https://bit.ly/TennisPodcastNewsletterFollow us on:Instagram - www.instagram/thetennispodcastTwitter - www.tw
AO Day 11 - History beckons for Barty; Who will make the men's final?
After the Ash Barty vs. Madison Keys and Danielle Collins vs. Iga Swiatek semifinals, Catherine, David and Matt convened to consider the following:Is Collins the toughest final opponent for Barty?How do you counter the Barty slice?Are Kyrgios and Kokkinakis revolutionising doubles?How did the baton pass from Alcott to Schroder?Are the men’s semi-finals certain to be epic?Who will win them?Sign up to our newsletter - https://bit.ly/TennisPodcastNewsletterFollow us on:Instagram -&nb
AO Day 10 - Semifinals set, potential for aggro
The semifinals are set for the Australian, and the pod team of Catherine Whitaker and Matt Roberts in Melbourne, and David Law in Solihull, had plenty to talk about.The best yet from Felix Auger-Aliassime, but not quite enoughShould the Canadian have regrets, or did Daniil Medvedev take it from him?What does this mean for the pair of them going forwards?Where has THAT Stefanos Tsitsipas been?Will we get aggro in the semifinals?Swiatek and Collins prevail - a review of their quarterfinal winsWome
AO Day 9 - Nadal + Shapovalov, Monfils + Berrettini = Epics
Catherine, David and Matt watched a lot of tennis, and then talked about the following:Can a tennis player change his/her DNA?Where was Nadal vs. Shapovalov and Monfils vs. Berrettini won and lost?Keys handles the heat vs KrejcikovaBarty slices her way to the semisDoubles round up and thoughts on the “Special K” showSign up to our newsletter - https://bit.ly/TennisPodcastNewsletterFollow us on: Instagram - www.instagram/thetennispodcastTwitter - www.twitter.com/tenn
AO Day 8 - "It's never too late to try again"
Catherine, David and Matt catch up as the quarter-final line-ups are completed at the Australian Open: The inaugural AO Pride DayTsitsipas-Fritz epicWhy Sinner isn’t boringCressy disrupts MedvedevCornet the quarter-finalist at lastSabalenka’s lives run outSign up to our newsletter - https://bit.ly/TennisPodcastNewsletterFollow us on: Instagram - www.instagram/thetennispodcastTwitter - www.twitter.com/tennispodcastFRIENDS OF THE TENNIS PODCAST There are three ne
AO Day 7 - Nadal knows Denis can be a menace; Major Keys is back
Most people had Alexander Zverev in the men's singles final, not least Alexander Zverev. Denis Shapovalov was not one of them. So how did he do it? Catherine, David and Matt all watched it and have takes, and David spoke to Shapovalov's new coach Jamie Delgado to find out more. Catherine got a fascinating answer from Rafael Nadal in his press conference (you can hear that in this podcast), and are Madison Keys and Gael Monfils playing the finest tennis of their careers?Sign up to our:Newsletter
AO Day 6 - The perseverance of Aryna Sabalenka, Marin Cilic lives and meet Maxime Cressy
Maxime Cressy and Aryna Sabalenka excellent on court on Saturday, and they were arguably even better in the interview room afterwards. Catherine and Matt went to meet them both. The chat with Cressy is in today's pod, and Matt's grilling of Sabalenka can be found in today's newsletter (link to receive it below). There's also chat about Marin Cilic vs. Andrey Rublev, Clara Tauson vs. Danielle Collins and much more. Sign up to our:Newsletter - https://bit.ly/TennisPodcastNewsletterInstagram - www.
AO Day 5 - Epics galore light up Melbourne
It was one epic crowd-pleaser after another on Friday at the Australian Open, and Catherine Whitaker and Matt Roberts were courtside for everything on a hot and steamy day in Melbourne. Paul Badosa vs. Marta Kotyuk, Carlos Alcaraz vs. Matteo Berrettini and Naomi Osaka vs. Amanda Anisimova are all covered in our Day 5 podcast. Sign up to our:Newsletter - https://bit.ly/TennisPodcastNewsletterInstagram - www.instagram/thetennispodcastTwitter - www.twitter.com/tennispodcastFRIENDS OF THE TENNIS POD
AO Day 4 - Medvedev vs. Kygrios, Raducanu, Murray and big upsets
What a day! From Kyrgios vs. Medvedev, to Emma Raducanu, Andy Murray and upsets galore, Catherine and Matt were anywhere and everywhere at Melbourne Park to take it all in. Then they got together with David to talk about it. Sign up to our:Newsletter - https://bit.ly/TennisPodcastNewsletterInstagram - www.instagram/thetennispodcastTwitter - www.twitter.com/tennispodcastFRIENDS OF THE TENNIS PODCAST There are three new podcasts about the Australian Open waiting for all Friends of The Tennis
AO Day 3 - 'Yes please' matches everywhere
The words ‘Yes please’ are uttered several times in this edition of The Tennis Podcast, such are the third round matches that Day 3 at the Australian Open has set up. Catherine and Matt convened in Melbourne with David in Solihull to go through all of it. Sign up to our:Newsletter - https://bit.ly/TennisPodcastNewsletterInstagram - www.instagram/thetennispodcastTwitter - www.twitter.com/tennispodcastFRIENDS OF THE TENNIS PODCAST There are three new podcasts about the Australian Open wa
AO Day 2 - Raducanu’s US form returns as Murray completes incredible comeback
Catherine, David and Matt are together to talk through the biggest stories from Day 2, which was headlined by Emma Raducanu’s win over Sloane Stephens and Andy Murray’s victorious return to the John Cain Arena after THAT retirement video three years ago. Elsewhere, there’s chat about the Nick Kyrgios show and our feeling towards it, Liam Broady’s rainbow laces, a shock defeat for Leylah Fernandez, Aryna Sabalenka’s serving yips, a battle for Felix Aguer-Aliassime, and an emotional win for S
AO Day 1 - Nadal, Badosa, Barty soothe our souls
Day one was unspectacular, but somewhat soothing. Afterwards, Catherine, David and Matt convened to figure out why it felt flat. How much of it was due to lingering fallout from all of the Novak Djokovic drama? And how much of it was the simple lack of compelling matches? Even so, there were plenty of interesting stories to discuss, including Coco Gauff’s shock defeat to Qiang Wang, mixed fortunes for recent champions Madison Keys, Aslan Karatsev and Thanasi Kokkinakis, winning returns for Rafae
Djokovic deported - our reaction; AO Preview
Novak Djokovic will not compete at the 2022 Australian Open after losing his appeal in the Federal Court and being deported from Australia. How did it all come to this? And what effect will it have on the tournament? In terms of actual tennis, Catherine, David and Matt look through the draws, pick out some interesting storylines, decide who's in and who's out of The Mix, and reveal what went on during media day on Saturday. FRIENDS OF THE TENNIS PODCAST All Friends of The Tennis Podcast wil
Djokovic visa cancelled again - what now? Catherine and Matt in Melbourne!
With 3 days until the start of the Australian Open, we still do not know if Novak Djokovic will be cleared to play.On Friday, he had his visa cancelled again, and again he appealed. Catherine and Matt were in Melbourne, with David in Solihull, UK, when the verdict dropped, and they bring us up-to-date, tell us about ramifications and the Melbourne Park setup, and talk about the latest tennis action on the court. FRIENDS OF THE TENNIS PODCAST All Friends of The Tennis Podcast will receive ex
Djokovic released but uncertainty remains; and let’s talk about tennis
The Novak Djokovic saga, which is dominating headlines around the world, rumbles on. Catherine, David and Matt discuss all the latest developments, including how he won his court court, the unanswered questions which remain surrounding the timing of his positive covid test, the Djokovic family press conference, Craig Tiley’s first public appearance in a while, and how everything might affect Djokovic on court at the Australian Open, if he plays. Elsewhere, it was an excellent opening w
Djokovic detained in Australia
Catherine and Matt are joined by Simon Briggs to discuss the events which led to Novak Djokovic being detained in an immigration hotel while waiting a decision on his deportation from Australia, the way in which nobody comes out of this situation looking good, how the saga might develop, and what it says about Djokovic that this has happened to him.FRIENDS OF THE TENNIS PODCAST All Friends of The Tennis Podcast will receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts throughout the year and help to
2022 Season Preview
Tennis is back! In the first pod of 2022, Catherine, David and Matt discuss how they’re feeling about the ATP Cup, analyse performances from Daniil Medvedev, Alex de Minaur and Stefanos Tsitsipas, take a deep dive into Tsitsipas’ tweets, and ponder how much can be read into ATP Cup results ahead of the Australian Open. On the women’s side, there’s talk about the season ahead for Leylah Fernandez, why it’s nice to see Naomi Osaka and Simona Halep back, and early results from Adelaide. W
Listener Qu's 2 - Final sets at Slams, Tournament must-visits, Rule changes
In our final episode of the year, Catherine, David and Matt answered more listener questions.Rank the Slams for their final set solutionsMost significant matches you have commentated on/presented?Which 250, 500 and 1000 tournaments should be visited?What hobbies do Catherine, David and Matt have?Which tennis rule would you change?Which countries would rule in a combined men's and women's team event?FRIENDS OF THE TENNIS PODCAST All Friends of The Tennis Podcast will receive exclusive access
Listener Qu's 1 - Can Nadal still top Djokovic? 2022 Top 5 Rankings; Underarm serves - the future
In our penultimate episode of the year, Catherine, David and Matt get stuck into answering some listener questions. How plausible is it that Nadal finishes with more majors than Djokovic? Is the underarm serve here to stay?In what way could the Laver Cup be re-designed?Who will be ranked in the Top 5 at the end of 2022?What goes into being a radio commentator (David) and a TV presenter (Catherine)? FRIEND OF THE TENNIS PODCAST We’ve launched a subscription service called Friends o
2021 Review part 2: Raducanu Re-Lived; Djokovic, Barty, Medvedev memories
In part two of our review of 2021, we re-live the journey we all went on with Emma Raducanu this year, from watching her breakthrough at Wimbledon to seeing her lift the US Open trophy in September. Elsewhere, there’s chat about Ash Barty’s dream coming true, what made the US Open so special, and the lasting significance of that US Open final on Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev.David also shares a very personal story about his year. FRIEND OF THE TENNIS PODCAST We’ve launched a
2021 Review part 1: Serena’s wave, Re-thinking Naomi Osaka, Djokovic domination
In part one of our review of 2021, Catherine, David and Matt review the first two Grand Slams of the year and some of the major events in between, including: The chaos and uncertainty around the Australian Open How great it felt to have fans back Serena’s wave goodbye and tearful press conference in Melbourne Discovering Barbora Krejcikova as a singles player The time Vasek Pospisil ranted about Andrea Gaudenzi during a match in Miami The way Ash Barty and Aryna Sab
Introducing Friends of The Tennis Podcast
Catherine, David and Matt are here to tell you all about the launch of our new subscription service called Friends of The Tennis Podcast. Find out what you can expect from becoming a Friend, how it will work, and why we think it’s the right move for the future of the podcast. BECOME A FRIEND OF THE TENNIS PODCAST - https://bit.ly/FriendOfTheTennisPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Davis Cup - Russia’s trophy; What we thought of the event; Confusion reigns over next year
Catherine, David and Matt discuss Russia’s Davis Cup Final victory over Croatia, the winning performances of Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, the celebrations, the event as a whole, and why questions remain unanswered about its future. BECOME A FRIEND OF THE TENNIS PODCASTRather than running another Kickstarter, we will launch a subscription service called Friends of The Tennis Podcast to help us keep the show on the road in 2022. All 'Friends' will receive exclusive access to bonus podca
Davis Cup - The Daniil Medvedev Show, Croatia vs Russia Final
Russia reached the Davis Cup Final and while the actual tennis on Saturday wasn’t particularly compelling, Daniil Medvedev provided all the drama we needed. Catherine, David and Matt discuss Medvedev provoking the crowd, his fascinating press conference, Rublev’s ruthlessness, more reflections on Novak Djokovic’s exit, and how much of a chance Croatia stands against Russia in the final. Plus, Iga Swiatek splitting with her coach and tribute to Darlene Hard. BECOME A FRIEND OF THE TENNIS POD
Davis Cup - Djokovic downed by Mektic/Pavic as Croatia reach final
Catherine and David look back on Friday's action at the Davis Cup Finals. Gojo shows resilience to be his country’s hero once again. But why was Lajovic selected?Was Troicki right to blame Lajovic for the team’s defeat?Djokovic calls for a Serbian specialist doubles team to help them to Davis Cup glory in the futureMektic & Pavic are the difference makers once again. Singles players vs doubles teams. Do Germany stand a chance vs Russia? Can Rublev bury his demons? And why is Medvedev a
Peng Shuai and a line in the sand; Davis Cup semis set; Jo Konta retires
Catherine, David and Matt begin this episode by discussing the WTA’s decision to suspend tournaments in China as Peng Shuai’s situation remains unresolved. What sort of message does it send? And what’s been the response of the ATP and the ITF? Onto the Davis Cup Finals, we cover how Serbia and the Russian Tennis Federation booked their spots in the last four, including heroics from Mikhail Kukushkin for Kazakhstan, impressive displays from Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev, and a nervy per
Davis Cup Finals - Croatia and Germany win doubles deciders to reach semis
One of the best things about Davis Cup has always been decisive doubles matches so you can imagine our excitement when the first two quarter-finals - Italy vs Croatia and Germany vs Great Britain - both came down to the doubles. Catherine, David and Matt recap both ties in full, including Borna Gojo’s heroics, Marin Cilic’s nerves, Mektic and Pavic’s reliability, and lots of missed opportunities for Great Britain. There’s also discussion about Serbia making it through the Groups (just!
Davis Cup Finals - Group Stages done, bring on the knockouts
Catherine, David and Matt convene to discuss the biggest stories from the 2021 Davis Cup Finals so far. Who’s through to the quarter-finals? And who’s out? Those prove to be trickier questions to answer than expected with Group Stage qualification scenarios driving us mad. Despite the mathematics, there’s been plenty of good tennis to cover, including Feliciano Lopez rolling back the years against Andrey Rublev, Alexander Bublik channelling his inner Daniil Medvedev, Tomas Machac impressing
Davis Cup Finals preview - Matt's in Madrid!
The Davis Cup Finals by Rakuten are about to get underway, and Matt is in Madrid to give us the lowdown. Who are the favourites, what are the best matches to look forward to, and who has David predicted will win this time? There's also discussion of the Simon Briggs report in which he says the event is going to move to Abu Dhabi in a five year deal. BECOME A FRIEND OF THE TENNIS PODCASTRather than running another Kickstarter, we will launch a subscription service called Friends of The Tennis Po
ATP Finals - Zverev's title - what happens next? Peng Shuai latest, and some news from us
Alexander Zverev won a second ATP Finals title. He was excellent, and we examine his on-court performances in detail. We also provide an update on the ATP's internal investigation into domestic abuse allegations against him. Plus, there's the doubles final, the latest on Peng Shuai, rule changes for next year, and we introduce Friends of The Tennis Podcast.BECOME A FRIEND OF THE TENNIS PODCASTRather than running another Kickstarter, we will launch a subscription service called Friends of The Ten
ATP Finals - Medvedev’s yawn, Ruud’s rise, Djokovic vs. Zverev preview
David and Matt bring you the latest in the story involving Peng Shuai’s disappearance and discuss the main talking points from Turin as the ATP Finals group stage comes to a close. In what way was Daniil Medvedev vs. Jannik Sinner the best dead rubber of all time? Why did Medvedev’s fake yawn provoke such a reaction? Why does David like Casper Ruud so much? How did Ruud get the better of Andrey Rublev for the first time? What insights did Ruud give in his post match press conference? A
Peng Shuai fears grow; WTA Finals bliss for Muguruza…and Catherine
We begin this episode by discussing the latest developments surrounding Peng Shuai who has not been heard from since she made sexual assault allegations against a top Chinese government official two weeks ago. Steve Simon, chairman of the WTA, has continued to take a strong stance by casting doubt on an email released by Chinese state media attributed to Peng Shuai and saying that there remains a lot of concern for her safety. Elsewhere, David and Matt talk all about Garbine Muguruza w
Semi-finals set in Guadalajara; Turin feels a lot like London
It’s down to the final four at the WTA Finals in Guadalajara. David and Matt discuss how perfect it feels for Paula Badosa to be facing Garbine Muguruza in the semis, the way in which Maria Sakkari’s physical prowess should enable her to recover from her gruelling win over Aryna Sabalenka, and whether Anett Kontaveit’s momentum has been snapped at just the wrong time. Over in Turin, the ATP Finals are underway. Why does it look and feel so similar to London? Will Matteo Berrettini have to w
WTA Finals - Badosa & Sabalenka soar, Swiatek out but still a winner; Where is Peng Shuai?
The WTA Finals in Guadalajara have come to life, with Garbine Muguruza keeping her hopes alive, Paula Badosa battling past Maria Sakkari, and Aryna Sabalenka using the crowd's energy and support to summon her best tennis. David and Matt talk about it all and we hear from Iga Swiatek who spoke openly in her press conference about how PMS affected her in the first match. There's also a review of Tommy Paul's victory over Denis Shapovalov in Stockholm, more excitement about Carlos Alcaraz after he
WTA Finals so far, altitude, ATP Finals preview and a misunderstanding
With everyone having played their first match at the WTA Finals, Catherine, David and Matt discuss the main talking points so far, including the epic contest between Garbine Muguruza and Karolina Pliskova, the strong performances from Paula Badosa and Maria Sakkari, Iga Swiatek’s sadness at her own display, and Anett Kontaveit continuing her awesome form. There’s also discussion about the conditions in Guadalajara, an argument about the court colour, and confusion about the sponsor. Elsewhe
Paris - Djokovic goes where no man has gone before
Catherine Whitaker is back alongside David Law to talk about another extraordinary achievement from Novak Djokovic - ending a year as the World No.1 male for a record 7th time. They cover the stress of his semifinal and serenity and joy of his final against Daniil Medvedev. Plus, there's chat about the crowd, Hugo Gaston, and what the week might mean for the Djokovic vs. Medvedev rivalry.With a busy week ahead, there's also debate about the new rules at the Next Gen finals, and Catherine gives h
BJK Cup Final - Russia wins, Aggro galore and Matt meets Billie Jean King!
Russia won the Billie Jean King Cup and Matt had himself quite a day.A last minute selection change from Russia did not go down well with Switzerland, and Matt was in the middle of one of the more tense press conferences we’ve witnessed. Hear it all on this edition of The Tennis Podcast. And if that’s not enough, Matt sat down with Billie Jean King for a chat on the pod about her memories of this event, her time as captain, and her experience in Prague. Finally, we reflect on the significan
BJK Cup Finals Day 5 - Stage set for Russia-Switzerland showdown
Russia and Switzerland booked their places in the final of the Billie Jean King Cup in contrasting fashion on Friday. Russia had to work extremely hard to beat USA, with Liudmila Samsonova starring in singles and doubles. Switzerland, meanwhile, were comfortable winners over Australia. David and Matt talk about both ties, react to press conference clips from Danielle Collins, Jil Teichmann and Heinz Günthardt, and preview tomorrow’s final. To subscribe and watch a stream of the action for €
BJK Cup Finals Day 4 - Semis set after more surprises
Switzerland will face Australia in the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup after a day of surprises in Prague. How much was Switzerland’s win down to their brilliance versus Czech Republic underperforming? In what way was Belinda Bencic the MVP of the tie? And how much does Australia’s team spirit help them on court? David and Matt discuss all of that, react to Ajla Tomljanovic’s press conference, and preview the mouth-watering semi-final between USA and Russia. To subscribe and watch a
BJK Cup Finals Day 3 - USA & Russia reach semi-finals; Pavlyuchenkova interview
It seems the USA team said “and I took that personally” after losing to Slovakia. On Wednesday, they qualified for the semi-finals by beating Spain, with Danielle Collins thumping Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-1 6-0. David and Matt react to that awesome performance and discuss what Sloane Stephens had to say in press after her victory. Elsewhere, hear Matt’s chat with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova after she beat Alize Cornet in a thrilling match to secure a semi-final spot for the Russian Tennis Federation.&
BJK Cup Finals Day 2 - Kuzmova 2-1 USA; Gavrilova returns as Australia stun Belgium
It was a day of upsets in Prague as Viktoria Kuzmova (remember her?!) led Slovakia to a thrilling win over USA and Daria Gavrilova, playing her first match for 10 months, set Australia on the path to victory against Belgium. David and Matt talk about a nail-biting decisive doubles match, react to Gavrilova’s press conference in which she talked openly about the tough year she’s had, and admire Belinda Bencic’s performance against Angelique Kerber. To subscribe and watch a stream of the
BJK Cup Finals Day 1 - Czech’s Prevail, but what’s up with Krejcikova? Canada upset France
The pressure was on the Czech Republic, and Barbora Krejcikova in particular, to produce in front of a passionate home crowd on Day 1 of the Billie Jean King Cup in Prague. Matt Roberts was there to witness it all, and afterwards he joined David Law to talk about the upsets, injuries and inspired play that lit up The O2 Arena on Monday. To subscribe and watch a stream of the action for €7.99 - https://video.billiejeankingcup.comThe Tennis Podcast will be with you nightly throughout the
BJK Cup - Matt’s in Prague! Kontaveit qualifies for WTA Finals; Turbo Tiafoe
Matt is in Prague for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, and Catherine and David are jealous.Find out what he asked in a weekend of press conferences, which group he sees as the Group of Death, and what the vibe is like on the ground.Elsewhere, Catherine assesses Emma Raducanu’s week, reveals her feelings about Halloween and the clocks going back, the form of Frances Tiafoe gets bigged up, and Anett Kontaveit's incredible run to reach the WTA Finals is discussed. Finally, remember Marin Cilic? SUP
Listener questions - WTA teenage talent, ATP lost boys, tennis with one serve
Catherine, David and Matt tackle another set of listener questions, guest edited by Dave Courteen. How will Raducanu’s US Open victory affect her career in the long run? Has the ship sailed for the Dimitrov-Nishikori-Raonic generation? In what order will Swiatek, Fernandez, Gauff and Raducanu be ranked at the end of 2022? Who will be the next first-time major winners? What would tennis be like if there were only one serve? Has electronic line calling been a positive or negative addition to
Indian Wells - Badosa vs. Azarenka - Match of the year? Norrie knows no limits
Paula Badosa and Cameron Norrie are the 2021 Indian Wells champions! Catherine, David and Matt discuss why the women’s final was a contender for match of the year, whether Badosa can use this victory as a springboard for further success, how #shoegate returned to bother Norrie before the biggest match of his life, the Nadal-like qualities to Norrie’s approach to tennis, and whether or not he will qualify for the ATP Finals in Turin. We also review Citizen Ashe and King Richard which were screene
Indian Wells - Medvedev melts down to open door for Dimitrov; Jabeur breaks new ground, or does she?
Catherine, David and Matt discuss the biggest moments from the last few days at Indian Wells, including premature congratulations to Ons Jabeur for reaching the Top 10, Jelena Ostapenko making her way into the semi-finals impressively, Daniil Medvedev’s collapse from 6-4 4-1 up against Grigor Dimitrov, a return to form for Alex de Minaur, more encouraging signs for Andy Murray (even if he doesn’t think so), Reilly Opelka’s no-holds-barred interview, and much more. The Tennis Podcast is pres
Indian Wells - Murray magic; What next for Emma Raducanu?
With Indian Wells in full swing, Catherine, David and Matt talk about some of the biggest stories so far, including Andy Murray’s fantastic three-set win over Carlos Alcaraz, Leylah Fernandez picking up where she left off in New York, and Iga Swiatek donating her prize money to a nonprofit mental health organisation. In the U.K. much of the coverage has been centred on Emma Raducanu’s defeat to Aliaksandra Sasnovich. We discuss the match and why we’re not going to read too much into the res
Indian Wells Preview; Zverev investigation latest; and where is Andy Murray's wedding ring?
Indian Wells is back! As the tours return to Tennis Paradise, Catherine, David and Matt are together in the same room to talk through the draws, the pre tournament press conferences, the fact that Emma Raducanu is the favourite for the title, how big The Mix is on the men's side, and drama involving Andy Murray's shoes. Before all of that, we also discuss Monday's announcement that the ATP has launched an internal investigation into the abuse accusations against Alexander Zverev. The Tennis Podc
San Diego, Chicago - Yes please!
With new tournaments in San Diego and Chicago proving a big hit, Catherine, David and Matt are together to talk through the last week in tennis. How far can Casper Ruud go over the next few years? In what way does Cameron Norrie keep impressing? Did we learn anything new about Jannik Sinner after he successfully defended his title in Sofia? What’s made Chicago champion Garbine Muguruza so enjoyable to watch in 2021? And how did Alison van Uytvanck keep up her 100% record in finals?&nbs
Laver Cup, Raducanu’s coach capers and OSTRAVA!!!
For the first time in a couple of weeks, Catherine, David and Matt are all together to review what was a pretty busy week in tennis, headlined by the fourth edition of The Laver Cup. We discuss Europe’s dominance, what we continue to like and dislike about the event, how it might be improved, and Mary Carillo’s decision to step down from her Laver Cup role due to the event’s handling of Alexander Zverev and the accusations against him. Elsewhere, there’s chat about Annett Kontaveit’s v
Raducanu, Djokovic/Medvedev and the US Open, one week on - David Law's Takes!
One week on from the most extraordinary Grand Slam tennis tournament in recent memory, David Law returns to give his takes!What did he think of Emma Raducanu’s win, what has he made of the media coverage one week on, and what should we expect in the future? Joined by Catherine Whitaker with Matt Roberts is on holiday, David is grilled about the men’s final between Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic, the latest win by Clara Tauson, and the discord over Laver Cup. The Tennis Podcast is p
US Open Day 14 - Medvedev poops on Djokovic's Grand Slam party
Rod Laver in 1969 is STILL the last man to complete the calendar Grand Slam after Novak Djokovic fell one match short by losing in straight sets to Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final.Catherine and Matt talk about Djokovic's sub-par performance and the possible reasons for it, the extraordinary moment he received the support of the crowd and what that meant to him, the ways in which Medvedev played a fantastic match, and the story behind his legendary celebration.Elsewhere, there's chat about w
US Open Day 13 - Raducanu is the champion; Djokovic vs Medvedev Preview
Emma Raducanu is the US Open champion. At 18, on just her second Grand Slam appearance, she qualified and went all the way to the title without dropping a set. There's never been anything else like it in tennis.At the end of an incredible night, Catherine and Matt react to her 6-4 6-3 win over Leylah Fernandez, the high-quality tennis on display, the feeling of joy it elicited, the extraordinary post-match speech by Fernandez, and why it's a moment beyond compare.Looking ahead to the men's final
US Open Day 12 - Djokovic: 27 down, 1 to go; Raducanu vs. Fernandez Preview
Novak Djokovic is on the verge of history; after beating Alexander Zverev in five sets, he stands just one match win away from completing The Grand Slam. His opponent will be Daniil Medvedev who easily beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in the other semi-final. On the back end of the pod, we take stock of the Canadian's career, discuss how well Djokovic was forced to play, and consider how on earth Medvedev might stop him in the final.To start the show, Catherine, David and Matt are back together to pre
US Open Day 11 - Raducanu. Fernandez. WHAT IS HAPPENING?
The teenage dream will extend all the way to the US Open final after Leylah Fernandez and Emma Raducanu booked their places in Saturday's showpiece event. At the end of an extraordinary women's semi-final night, David and Matt try to convey what they saw and how they felt. How much was Aryna Sabalenka her own worst enemy? What did Fernandez do to cause Sabalenka's downfall? In what way did Raducanu neutralise Maria Sakkari's physical presence? And how did the Brit maintain her composure througho
US Open Day 10 - Raducanu makes history; Djokovic's quest continues
Emma Raducanu is into the semi-finals of the US Open. It sounds unbelievable, but it's happening. David and Matt try to make sense of it all with a discussion of how she beat Belinda Bencic and the hype surrounding her run. How might she fare against Maria Sakkari after her victory over Karolina Pliskova? Will we see an all-teenage final or will Aryna Sabalenka have too much for Leylah Fernandez?On the men's side, there's chat about how Lloyd Harris missed his chance against Alexander Zverev as
US Open Day 9 - David is back! Fernandez keeps shining
David is back! Feeling better after a few days away, he chats to Matt about all the stories from the last 24 hours, including Maria Sakkari's thrilling win over Bianca Andreescu, a weird victory for Daniil Medvedev against Botic van de Zandschulp, and the continuation of Leylah Fernandez's magical run. There's also a look ahead to Emma Raducanu's quarter-final against Belinda Bencic and a mid-pod surprise involving Catherine. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, a
US Open Day 8 - Is Emma Raducanu in the mix?
Recorded while watching Jenson Brooksby throw everything at Novak Djokovic during the night session, Catherine and Matt wrap up yet another excellent day at the 2021 US Open, headlined by Emma Raducanu reaching the quarter-finals. We discuss how she overcame her nerves, the way in which she belongs on the big stage, and whether or not she's 'in the mix'. And if she's not, who is?Elsewhere, there's praise for Matteo Berrettini, recaps of Belinda Bencic vs Iga Swiatek and Alexander Zverev vs Janni
US Open Day 7 - Leylah gets New York on its feet
Halfway through this US Open and it just keeps getting better and better. Catherine and Matt chat about how defeat for Ash Barty changes the complexion of the draw, the way Leylah Fernandez out-Kerbered Angelique Kerber and took the New York crowd with her, how Spain is covering Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev's masterclass against Dan Evans, the way Elina Svitolina stepped up to beat Simona Halep, and a big moment for Botic van de Zandschulp.The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whi
US Open Day 6 - The sensational slam continues
Just when you think this US Open has peaked, it throws up yet more drama. Catherine and Matt discuss Naomi Osaka's defeat and emotional press conference, an extraordinary performance from Emma Raducanu, the way in which Novak Djokovic was tested more than usual by Kei Nishikori, a ruthless and efficient victory for Bianca Andreescu, and five set wins Frances Tiafoe and Jannik Sinner. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced we
US Open Day 5 - Match of the tournament x6
Quite simply, that was one of the best ever days of Grand Slam tennis. Surely. Catherine and Matt recap Carlos Alcaraz's stunning performance to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas, the way the crowd turned on Tsitsipas, Simona Halep's victory over Elena Rybakina which included an epic tiebreak, a significant step in the career of Dan Evans, the continued reawakening of Angelique Kerber, and the chilled energy of Garbine Muguruza which is producing big results in New York for the first time.The Tennis Podca
US Open Day 4 - Raducanu rules; Relay tennis; ATP Players on Pride Day
Catherine, David and Matt react to Wednesday night's storm, a dazzling display from Emma Raducanu, smooth progress for Angelique Kerber and Ash Barty, a fun win for Matteo Berrettini over Corentin Moutet, and the Movement-stopping powers of Andreas Seppi. We also invent a game called Relay Tennis.Finally, there's discussion about the responses from top male players to a question from Matt, on Pride Day at the US Open, about the lack of openly gay players on the ATP Tour. What's the next step for
US Open Day 3 - WTA Avengers Assembling
Catherine, David and Matt discuss Pride Day at the US Open, Sloane Stephens schooling Coco Gauff, the discrepancy in quality and intrigue between the R3 women's line-up and the R3 men's line-up, statement wins for Garbine Muguruza, Simona Halep and Daniil Medvedev, confusion over the difference between booing and Rune-ing in Novak Djokovic's first win, and Bianca Andreescu's thrill ride of a round one victory.The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt
US Open Day 2 - More toilet chat; Barty, Raducanu roar through
Day 2 started with a tweet as Andy Murray threw some more shade at Stefanos Tsitsipas. It prompted yet more discussion about bathroom breaks in tennis and that's where Catherine, David and Matt begin this episode. Elsewhere, we talk about Emma Raducanu's impressive performance on her US Open debut, a test passed for Ash Barty in her opening match, and a couple of enthralling fifth set tiebreaks.The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is
US Open Day 1 - Total Andy Murray
Day one felt like the US Open again and Andy Murray looked like Andy Murray again. Those were the big takeaways for Catherine, David and Matt on the first nightly podcast from this year’s tournament at the end of a day packed with drama, epic matches, and even some aggro.How did it feel different watching Murray this time compared to other recent matches? Should he have won? And why has he “lost respect” for Stefanos Tsitsipas after the Greek’s lengthy bathroom break? Elsewhere, we dis
US Open Preview - All eyes on Djokovic; Osaka's search for meaning
With Catherine and Matt together at Tennis Podcast Towers, and David in Salford, we discuss qualifying success for Britain's women, how Novak Djokovic is embracing the challenge of his Grand Slam pursuit, whether Andy Murray has a chance against Stefanos Tsitsipas, what to expect from Naomi Osaka, and why Sloane Stephens vs. Madison Keys in round 1 makes us a bit sad.There's also reaction to Alexander Zverev's press conference after more allegations of domestic abuse from his ex-girlfriend Olga
US Open Re-Lived: 2015 - When Vinci beat Serena
“History was thwarted not with a spectacular act of violence, but with a half volley. Roberta Vinci tiptoed near the net and barely brushed the ball with her racket, depositing it gently on Serena's side of the court, where it bounced multiple times and died a quiet death.” That was Sports Illustrated’s take on the final act of one of tennis’ biggest ever where-were-you-when moments as Roberta Vinci ended Serena Williams’ quest for the Grand Slam at the US Open in 2015. In this episode
US Open Re-Lived: Marat Safin 2000
“In a performance so casual it was chilling, Safin announced himself as the game's next big thing by dismantling the best player ever.” Those were the words of S.L. Price in Sports Illustrated after 20-year-old Marat Safin beat Pete Sampras to win the US Open in 2000, a story we tell on this edition of Tennis Re-Lived. Why did Chris Clarey think Safin would be a future World No.1 from the moment he saw him? What did Yevgeny Kafelnikov think of Safin when they first met at the Davis Cup
Making of The Master - Roger Federer, by Chris Clarey
This episode is a discussion with esteemed New York Times journalist and friend of the pod Chris Clarey about his new biography of Roger Federer, titled ‘The Master’. Chris speaks to David about the process of writing the book and what he learned along the way, the several exclusives he’s had with Federer over the years, the 82 interviews he conducted specifically for the book, why the likes of Mirka Federer, Peter Carter and Pierre Paganini have been fundamental to Federer’s success, how F
Cincinnati - Barty getting even better; Zverev zoning
Ash Barty and Alexander Zverev are the Cincinnati champions, Jil Teichmann and Andrey Rublev had impressive runs to the final, and it was a big week for new types of aggro. Catherine, David and Matt discuss all of that, as well as the pay gap between the ATP and WTA events, Rafael Nadal's announcement that he will miss the rest of the season, and the Chicago final between Clara Tauson and Emma Raducanu.The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts
Osaka Returns - to the court and the interview room
Catherine, David and Matt catch up to discuss everything which has happened in Cincinnati so far this week, including Naomi Osaka’s win over Coco Gauff, her two press conferences, encouraging signs for Andy Murray, a women’s tournament full of great matches, and the news that Dominic Thiem will be out for the rest of the season. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam to
Federer - Is this the end? Canada - Giorgi, Medvedev take titles
As Roger Federer announced that he will be having a third surgery on his knee, saying there is just a “glimmer of hope” of returning to the tour, Catherine, David and Matt reflect on what feels like the end for one of the greatest ever tennis careers. In Canada, there was an unexpected title for Camila Giorgi and a statement title for Daniil Medvedev. Where has this new level of tennis from Giorgi come from? Does Karolina Pliskova have a finals problem? Is either player in the ‘mix’ for the
Canada update - Who’s hot, who’s not and things look rough for Rafa
While there have been some excellent matches in Toronto and Montreal, we begin by discussing the unfortunate news that none of the Big 3 nor Serena Williams will play again before the US Open, after Rafael Nadal’s ongoing foot problem has forced him to return home and Serena’s leg injury from Wimbledon will prevent her from playing Cincinnati next week. Will New York be last chance saloon? Turning our attention to the week’s tennis, Catherine, David and Matt talk about how nice it is to see
Nadal is back, Djokovic/Federer are not, and is Danielle Collins in the mix?
Catherine, David and Matt catch up to discuss all the main talking points from the start of the North American hard court swing. Does Novak Djokovic’s decision to skip Cincinnati feel like the right one? What does Roger Federer’s withdrawal from the US Open lead-in events suggest about the state of his knee? How did Rafael Nadal seem on his return in Washington and how much of a concern is his foot injury? Why is Andy Murray singling out Jenson Brooksby as an exciting prospec
Olympics - Final medals won; Ruud's achievement
So that’s it for tennis at the Tokyo Olympics. In one final podcast, Catherine, David and Matt look back on the last day of action with the gold medals going to the Czech Republic, Germany and Russia. How is Barbora Krejcikova managing to juggle singles and doubles so successfully? What made the Russian team at this Olympics such good value? In what way did Alexandr Zverev play pretty much the perfect match to win gold against Karen Khachanov? What did Mary Carillo and Darren Cahill say abo
Olympics nirvana for Bencic, Svitolina, Carreno Busta; Djokovic loses and leaves
The tennis on Saturday felt more like the Olympics we know and love, with amazing scenes as Belinda Bencic, Elina Svitolina and Pablo Carreno Busta were overcome with emotion after winning medals. Catherine, David and Matt talk through it all. Will this be a springboard for Bencic or could this be the pinnacle of her career? Does Elena Rybakina have a problem with closing out matches? What is it about Carreno Busta’s game which gets under Novak Djokovic’s skin? Should Djokovic have played h
Olympics - Djokovic's Dream Dies
There will be no Golden Slam for Novak Djokovic in 2021 after he was stunned by Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals in Tokyo. What on earth happened to him when he was leading by a set and a break? And what could this defeat mean for his pursuit of the calendar Grand Slam in New York? Elsewhere, Catherine, David and Matt discuss Karen Khachanov being guaranteed a medal and what it means for his career, a deserved gold for Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic over their Croatian compatriots, a secon
The Weird Olympics - where are all the good matches?
Is it just us or has the tennis event at these Olympics been a bit of a disappointment so far? We try to figure out why we’re feeling like that before discussing the main stories since Monday, including Naomi Osaka’s defeat, the change to scheduling which came too late for Paula Badosa, Novak Djokovic’s imperious performance against Kei Nishikori, defeat for Andy Murray and Joe Salisbury, Liam Broady’s fine efforts, great runs to the gold medal match from Marketa Vondrousova and Belinda Bencic,
Osaka’s Olympics - The Story So Far
With the whole world watching, Naomi Osaka re-emerged into the spotlight, lit the cauldron, and opened the Tokyo Olympic Games in a powerful and significant moment for tennis. Catherine, David and Matt talk all about that, as well as her excellent performances so far, the way in which the conditions are impacting matches, Ash Barty's defeat to Sara Sorribes Tormo, Iga Swiatek's tears, Novak Djokovic's popularity in the athlete's village, Andy Murray's withdrawal from the singles and victory in t
Olympics Draws! More listener questions
The Tokyo Olympics - at long last - are almost here! Catherine, David and Matt talk through the draws before answering more listener questions. Should Richard Williams and Oracene Price be inducted into the Hall of Fame? When did we fall in love with tennis? How does watching tennis for a job differ to watching as a fan? Which significant results from recent tennis history would we change? Will Andrey Rublev win a major? And who might be the next Aslan Karatsev? Ten
A wedding, Olympics build-up, listener questions answered
We’re back! Catherine, David and Matt run through what’s happened since Wimbledon - including the G.E.M.S Life wedding, some fantastic Hall of Fame inductions, Timea Bacsinszky's retirement, more drop outs from the Olympics, and yet another title for Barbora Krejcikova - before moving on to answering listener questions, guest edited by Kickstarter backer Lynn Charles. Was there ever such a thing as a Big 4? What’s the biggest thing that people outside of tennis don’t understand about tennis
Wimbledon Day 13 - Djokovic draws level at last
The moment has arrived - Novak Djokovic has tied Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on twenty Grand Slam titles. He did it by winning his sixth Wimbledon crown, coming back from a set down to defeat Matteo Berrettini. On the podcast, Catherine, David and Matt are together one last time at Wimbledon to discuss how he managed it, his comments about his Olympics participation being in doubt, the way in which Goran Ivanisevic is hyping up the calendar Grand Slam, and the general significance of the achi
Wimbledon Day 12 - Ash Barty's dream comes true
After Ash Barty achieved her childhood dream of winning Wimbledon, following in the footsteps on her mentor Evonne Goolagong, Catherine, David and Matt convened to discuss the significance of such a special moment. What did she do to beat Karolina Pliskova? How did Pliskova recover from her terrible start? What did Pliskova prove to everyone this fortnight? How has Barty transformed her mindset over the past few years? And what's next for her?The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker
Wimbledon Day 11 - Djokovic, Berrettini ready to rumble; Barty vs. Pliskova preview
Friday at Wimbledon saw Matteo Berrettini beat Hubert Hurkacz to reach his first Grand Slam final and Novak Djokovic beat Denis Shapovalov to reach his 30th. Why did Hurkacz freeze? How has Berrettini coped with the pressure on him so well? What is it about his game that's so effective on grass? In what way does it feel like Shapovalov made a step forward despite the loss? How did Djokovic manage the match expertly? And what can we expect on Sunday? Those are all questions for Catherine, David a
Wimbledon Day 10 - Pliskova, Barty ready to party; Who wins the men’s semis?
After a couple of excellent women's semi-finals, Catherine, David and Matt are joined by Pam Shriver to talk all about them. How did Ash Barty put on a tactical masterclass to stop Angelique Kerber? In what way does Barty seem more comfortable than ever in her own skin? Where has this run from Karolina Pliskova come from? How has her movement on grass improved? And will Aryna Sabalenka have any regrets?Looking ahead to tomorrow, who will have the edge between Matteo Berrettini and Hubert Hurkacz
Wimbledon Day 9 - Semis set, and what now for Roger Federer?
Catherine, David and Matt's mood, after watching England reach the Euros final, did not match the mood at Wimbledon, as Roger Federer lost in straight sets to Hubert Hurkacz. What happened? How did Federer explain the result in his press conference? And will we see him again at Wimbledon?Elsewhere, there's chat about Matteo Berrettini living up to expectations, Novak Djokovic doing all he needed to against Marton Fucsovics, and Denis Shapovalov's breakthrough five-set win over Karen Khachanov.Th
Wimbledon Day 8 - Sabalenka, Barty, Kerber and Pliskova to shine in semis
Women's quarter-final day never quite caught fire, but there were some stellar performances from Aryna Sabalenka, Karolina Pliskova, Angelique Kerber and Ash Barty, and it's set up two tantalising semi-finals on Thursday.Catherine, David and Matt discuss all of that, Hubert Hurkacz's upset of Daniil Medvedev, and the reaction to Emma Raducanu's statement.The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily dur
Wimbledon Day 7 - Just a final Manic Monday
The last ever Manic Monday was a day of breakthroughs, with 11 players reaching their first quarter-final at Wimbledon, among them Ons Jabeur, Aryna Sabalenka, Ash Barty, Karolina Pliskova, Denis Shapovalov, and Felix Auger-Aliassime. Catherine, David and Matt chat about all of those significant wins, but not before discussing the sad end to Emma Raducanu’s run, who was forced to retire against Ajla Tomljanovic due to breathing difficulties.The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whita
Wimbledon Day 6 - Emma Raducanu. Remember the name
Recorded after spending the evening with Billie Jean King(!) and Ilana Kloss(!) while watching England progress to the semi-finals of the Euros(!), Catherine, David and Matt take in another sensational day at Wimbledon, headlined by Emma Raducanu's dazzling display to reach the Last 16. What makes her special? Just how surprising is this run? And can she go further?Elsewhere, there's chat about Roger Federer winning in four sets against Cameron Norrie, much excitement over the aggro between Jele
Wimbledon Day 5 - Jabeur, Korda & Shapovalov Take Centre Stage; VeNick Win on Debut
Making your debut on Centre Court at Wimbledon can be an intimidating experience, but Ons Jabeur, Sebastian Korda and Denis Shapovalov all relished it in different ways on Friday to reach the second week.How did Jabeur compose herself after vomiting underneath the Royal Box? Where does Korda get his calm temperament from? Can Shapovalov back up his win over Andy Murray against Roberto Bautista Agut in the next round? In what way did Murray's quite downbeat press conference change our perspective
Wimbledon Day 4 - Match of the tournament, Raducanu arrives, Federer finds form
Why was Angelique Kerber vs. Sara Sorribes Tormo the match of the tournament?How did Richard Gasquet play Roger Federer into form?Matteo Berrettini and Felix Auger-Aliassime come through testsEmma Raducanu arrives with stunning winDial-a-Dan - let’s talk about Nick KyrgiosThe Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.SUPPORT
Wimbledon Day 3 - Andy Murray: It was all for this
Andy Murray is still playing tennis for moments like his five-set victory over Oscar Otte on Centre Court. How did he manage it? How did he make us feel? And what chance will he have against Denis Shapovalov in the next round? Those were the questions for Catherine, David and Matt at the end of a thrilling night. There's also chat about what Aryna Sabalenka proved in her three-set win over Katie Boulter, Bianca Andreescu's honesty about how hard she's finding bubble life, an impressive win for M
Wimbledon Day 2 - The Sadness of Serena Williams
Tuesday at Wimbledon elicited so many emotions - excitement as Nick Kyrgios returned to tennis, tension as Roger Federer got a lucky escape, uplifting joy as Carla Suarez Navarro got the send off she deserved, and overwhelming sadness as Serena Williams was forced to retire after just a few games. Afterwards, Catherine, David and Matt convened at Tennis Podcast Towers to take it all in. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced
Wimbledon Day 1 - The Return of Andy Murray; The Return of Wimbledon
Wimbledon is back! After a rain-interrupted first few hours, the day and tournament suddenly sprung to life as Jack Draper won the opening set against Novak Djokovic, Sloane Stephens and Frances Tiafoe upset Petra Kvitova and Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Andy Murray eventually and agonisingly got the better of Nikoloz Basilashvili.On the podcast, Catherine, David and Matt discuss all of those matches, reflect on what it was like to be on site as Wimbledon returned, and despair at a terrible day for p
Wimbledon Preview - Djokovic, Serena, Barty, Federer, Murray, and Dial-a-Dan Evans
After two years, it’s back! Wimbledon and us, here with daily pods. We work our way through the draws, assess the prospects of Serena Williams, Ash Barty, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, and introduce our new feature - Dial-a-Dan Evans! We also react to the jarring news that Jo Konta is out after a close contact in her team tested positive for COVID-19.The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round,
Wimbledon Re-Lived: Journey to Equal Prize Money
From 1968, when Billie Jean King was paid less than half of what Rod Laver received for winning Wimbledon, to 2007 when the champions finally received the same prize money, this podcast charts a long, extraordinary journey. We hear from BJK herself about the moves she made to get to where we are, from former WTA CEO Larry Scott, who helped take the final steps in the quest for equality, and about the enormous influence of Venus Williams, who stood up repeatedly for what she believed in. The
Wimbledon Re-Lived: 1973 - The Boycott
In this Wimbledon edition of Tennis Re-Lived we tell the story of the 1973 boycott year, when more than 80 men withdrew from the tournament to protest the suspension of Yugoslavia’s number one player Nikola Pilic, opening the door for Jan Kodes to win the title.Journalist Richard Evans talks us through the political background which led to the boycott, Cliff Drysdale, who was ATP President at the time, explains why the players felt they had to unite, and Billie Jean King reveals why the women we
Live from Queen's - Winners, Losers and Stories Galore
Catherine, David and Matt convened in the media centre at Queen’s to discuss all the major storylines from the cinch Championships, including Matteo Berrettini’s title-winning week and prospects at Wimbledon, Cameron Norrie’s immense improvement in 2021, how Andy Murray looked in his first matches for several months, and Jack Draper’s breakthrough wins. Elsewhere, there’s chat about Ugo Humbert’s triumph in Halle, what defeat to Felix Auger-Aliassime might mean for Roger Federer, and the si
Roland Garros Day 15 - Double Slam For Djokovic! Tennis Podcast Reunited
After 467 days apart, Catherine, David and Matt finally got to record a podcast together in person. In it, we talked about Novak Djokovic winning his 19th Grand Slam title and completing his second lap around the majors.How did Djokovic come back from two sets down?In what way has Djokovic taken a massive leap in the GOAT race? What’s Djokovic’s most impressive statistic? Can he win the golden calendar Slam? How will this loss affect Tsitsipas? And might it help him in the lo
Roland Garros Day 14 - Krejcikova wins hearts and title
On a day of high emotions in Paris, Barbora Krejcikova entered the hearts of the tennis world by becoming a Grand Slam champion for the first time, while Pierre Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut won their second Roland Garros title in front of an adoring home crowd. What makes Krejcikova such a likeable champion? How did she beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the final? And what can we expect from her in the future? The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and
Roland Garros Day 13 - Djokovic climbs tennis Everest; Greatest set ever? Tsitsipas in the final
When Andy Roddick says it’s one of the greatest matches he’s ever seen, Andy Murray describes it as ‘perfect’, and Cher weighs in, you know a tennis match has been a bit special. After Novak Djokovic did the impossible - again! - and beat Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros, Catherine, David and Matt tried to make sense of it all. How did he do it? What was up with Nadal? And was the third set the best set of tennis ever? There’s also chat about Stefanos Tsitsipas’ emotional victory over Ale
Roland Garros Day 12 - Krejcikova makes us cry; Nadal vs. Djokovic 58 preview
Women’s semi-finals day at Roland Garros 2021 will live long in the memory, with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova reaching a first Grand Slam final in her 52nd appearance and Barbora Krejcikova winning an absolute classic against Maria Sakkari. We discuss Krejcikova’s composure and mental resilience, her moonballling tactics, the extraordinary closing stages as match points came and went for both players, Hawkeye on clay, Krejcikova’s emotional tribute to late coach Jana Novotna, how the defeat wil
Roland Garros Day 11 - Nadal, Djokovic roar to final four; Fab stories galore in women’s semis
How does Krejcikova summon the spirit of Novotna? What will Gauff learn from her defeat?How much of a factor was Swiatek’s injury in her defeat? Where has Sakkari’s run come from? In what way did Schwartzman bring the best out of Nadal? How did the presence of fans followed by the curfew impact the night session match? What caused Djokovic’s angry roar at the end?The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produce
Roland Garros Day 10 - Tsitsipas shuts his **** up and wins
Tuesday at Roland Garros was enthralling, beginning with new names doing battle in unfamiliar territory and ending with old enemies duking it out under the lights. Afterwards, Catherine, David and Matt talked it through. Where was all the aggro between Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas? How did the clay help Tsitsipas? And how much of a chance will Zverev have against Tsitsipas in this form in the semi-finals? In the women’s draw, the quarter-finals delivered so much drama and yie
Roland Garros Day 9 - Djokovic Downs Magnetic Musetti; Can anyone stop Swiatek?
Monday at Roland Garros saw the quarter-final line-up completed, impressive displays by title favourites Iga Swiatek and Rafael Nadal, a slew of straight-set matches, and one enthralling contest, which stood out above all the others, between Novak Djokovic and Lorenzo Musetti. What did we learn about Musetti? How did he manage to win the first two sets against Djokovic? Why did it all change so suddenly? And should Musetti have finished the match instead of retiring? Elsewhere, we talk
Roland Garros Day 8 - Serena sunk; Federer pulls out
Could Roger Federer and Serena Williams have played their last ever matches at Roland Garros? That was the question on the Day 8 podcast after they both exited the tournament on Sunday, in drastically different circumstances. Did Federer do the right thing by withdrawing ahead of his 4th round match? And how did Elena Rybakina beat Serena?Elsewhere, there’s much excitement as Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniil Medvedev set up their last eight clash and chat about a host of surprise women’s quart
Roland Garros Day 7 - Roger Federer did what?!
There aren’t many new experiences for Roger Federer in tennis these days, but playing and winning in an empty stadium at past midnight is certainly one of them. We discuss how on earth he managed to beat Dominik Koepfer, what the result said about his character, and how we ended up with this absurd night session scheduling. Elsewhere, there’s a look at Sloane Stephens' silky tennis, Coco Gauff’s professional progression, straightforward days for Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, and the
Roland Garros Day 6 - Tsitsipas survives; Serena soars; Sabalenka slumps
If you watched any of Day 6 at Roland Garros, chances are you had a bona fide Grand Slam experience, because it really did have a bit of everything. Catherine, David and Matt feasted on it and then talked all about it.Why did watching Aryna Sabalenka lose to Anastastia Pavlyuchenkova feel oh-so-familiar? How good did Serena Williams look in beating Danielle Collins? What will Stefanos Tsitsipas take from passing the John Isner test? Why was Paula Badosa vs Ana Bogdan one of the be
Roland Garros Day 5 - Barty out; Fiery Federer forces way through
Catherine, David and Matt recorded tonight's podcast while watching Rafael Nadal beat Richard Gasquet for the 17th time in a row, on a day at Roland Garros which was rather marred by the exit through injury of Ash Barty. What happened to her? And how does her retirement affect the women's draw? Elsewhere, there's a look at how everyone's favourite Federer, grumpy Federer, beat Marin Cilic in four sets, reflections on sublime performances from Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek, growing excitement ab
Roland Garros Day 4 - Serena steadies herself, and is Daniil Medvedev conquering clay?
After finally making it through a tumultuous and protracted opening round, Day 4 at Roland Garros was all about the tennis, and it certainly delivered the goods. Catherine, David and Matt talked all about it.Vondrousova, Kasatkina, Badosa - will one of them reach the SFs? Has Sabalenka figured out how to win when she’s not at her best? How well is Serena playing? Can Tsitsipas handle the expectations? Is Medvedev conquering clay before our eyes? The Tennis Podcast i
Roland Garros Day 3 - Rublev falls, Carla bows out and Monfils makes us smile
After a difficult, distressing few days, attentions returned to happier matters on the Day 3 pod.Monfils makes us all feel betterCarla Suarez Navarro’s French Open career is over, but she didn’t go quietlyRafa, Novak off and runningRublev & Auger-Aliassime out in a bad day for The MovementBarty's injury concernsBrady explains her split from coach GesererNaomi Osaka - A final word, for nowThe Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is pro
Roland Garros Day 2 - Osaka withdraws and tennis reels; Federer returns
As the Paris curfew came into effect, day two of Roland Garros ended in a silence which reflected the sad and somber mood after Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal. On the podcast, we begin by talking about that, wishing Osaka well, and wondering how it all came to this. Turning our attention to the tennis, we discuss the lovely vibes between Iga Swiatek and Kaja Juvan, a strong start for Serena Williams, an important win in a fun match for Sofia Kenin, an early exit for an under-prepared Bianca
Roland Garros Day 1 - Slams escalate Osaka row; Thiem falls
A lot happened on the opening day of Roland Garros 2021, but it was still a day where the headlines were dominated by Naomi Osaka. We discuss Osaka’s victory over Patricia Maria Tig, her on court interview, and the joint statement released by the Grand Slams warning that she could face expulsion if her media boycott continues. Was such an escalation necessary? And how could this all end up? Elsewhere, we analyse Dominic Thiem’s loss from two sets up against Pablo Andujar and ponder wha
Roland Garros preview and all about Naomi Osaka
The draws are out, most of the top players have spoken to the media, and the opening day of Roland Garros 2021 is almost here. We discuss the significance of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer all being in the same half of the draw, the pressure on Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach the final, the mouthwatering first-round clash between Alexander Bublik and Daniil Medvedev, the main contenders in the women’s draw, and what to expect on the opening day. But the build-up has of cour
Roland Garros Re-Lived: Jim Courier - from Agassi’s shadow to global dominance
When Jim Courier beat Andre Agassi in the 1991 French Open final, it wasn’t just his first Grand Slam title, it wasn’t just a win which would set him on his way to dominating the sport for the next two years, it was also a sweet moment of retribution against an old roommate from the Nick Bollettieri Academy who had been tipped for greatness ahead of him. On this episode, with the help of Mary Carillo and Courier’s coaches at the time, Jose Higueras and Brad Stine, we tell that story. W
Tsitsipas soars, Coco cracks Top 25, and what’s up with Thiem?
With Roland Garros around the corner, Catherine, David and Matt discuss the biggest stories from last week’s tune-up tournaments, including setbacks for Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Dominic Thiem in their preparation, a second career title for Coco Gauff, and victories for Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud which underline their French Open credentials. There’s also discussion of Denis Shapovalov’s unfortunate withdrawal from Roland Garros, news that Indian Wells will be held in Octob
Roland Garros Re-Lived: Suzanne Lenglen
In this episode of Tennis Re-Lived we venture back one hundred years to cover the remarkable career and life of tennis’ first superstar, Suzanne Lenglen, whose name now adorns the second show court at Roland Garros. We talk about her upbringing by an overbearing father, how the war both delayed her career and created a world which was ready for her, the extraordinary records she achieved in amateur tennis, her boundary breaking fashion choices, the reasons why she was so famous, her controv
Rome - 10 for Nadal, History for Swiatek, Catherine meets Cobra Kai
The current Roland Garros champions - Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek - reigned in Rome last week. But they took different routes to the title. Catherine, David and Matt react to Swiatek double bagelling Karolina Pliskova and Nadal earning a tight three set win in his 57th meeting with Novak Djokovic. How much of the 6-0 6-0 scoreline was about Swiatek being amazing and how much was it down to Pliskova’s performance? Where does Swiatek’s ruthlessness come from? Why was Djokovic vs. Tsitsi
Rome - Serena, Osaka scramble for form; Nadal fights back from brink
With time running out ahead of Roland Garros, the Rome draws have been packed to the rafters with big names. Not all of them are in form. We talk about our first sighting on clay of Serena Williams, our impressions of Naomi Osaka, a big week so far for Coco Gauff, what we made of Rafael Nadal extracting himself from the jaws of defeat, and why Daniil Medvedev continues to entertain us massively.The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It pub
Madrid - Sabalenka, Zverev take titles
The last few weeks have seen the blossoming of a new rivalry in women’s tennis and the latest meeting between Ash Barty and Aryna Sabalenka didn’t disappoint. Catherine, David and Matt discuss how Sabalenka won the opening set of the Madrid final 6-0, the impressive way she competed in the decider, and whether or not this victory changes her prospects at Roland Garros. We then turn our attention to the men’s event. Is Matteo Berrettini a better player than we’d realised? Why did we enj
Can Barty Stop Sabalenka? Thiem Returns, Ruud Arrives
Ash Barty is World No.1 and with good reason. Aryna Sabalenka is sweeping quality players aside as if they’re nothing. So what will happen when they clash in the Madrid final on Saturday? Catherine, David and Matt assemble ahead of the business end of the tournament, give their picks, and look at the other big storylines from the men's event in the Spanish capital. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It publishes on Mondays and Thu
Ash Barty - Roland Garros boss; Will Naomi Osaka crack clay?
Madrid is bubbling away and Catherine finishes a day of presenting Amazon Prime Video tv coverage of the event by joining David and Matt to pick the bones out of the stories so far. What happened when Ash Barty faced Iga Swiatek? Why has Naomi Osaka yet to transfer her hard court form to clay, and will she in the future? Karolina Muchova - what makes her so dangerous?Dan Evans - maximiser.The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Robert
Madrid underway, My Perfect Team Event and who should Andy Murray coach?
In this fragmented week for tennis - with WTA Madrid getting underway while ATP events take place in Estoril and Munich - we’ve split today’s podcast into two halves. We begin by covering the incredible WTA draw in Madrid, Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal, the return to form for Kevin Anderson and Marin Cilic, and news that there will be play on Middle Sunday at Wimbledon from 2022 onwards. Then, in part two, we tackle questions, guest edited by listener and Kickstarter backer Eli Kronenber
Barcelona, Belgrade, Barty bonanza
Catherine, David and Matt discuss an exhilarating finals weekend of clay-court tennis across Europe. Has Aryna Sabalenka conquered clay now after her run to the Stuttgart final? What is Ash Barty’s best surface? How did Aslan Karatsev save 23 break points against Novak Djokovic in Belgrade? In what way has Matteo Berrettini been a forgotten man? Can Stefanos Tsitsipas take belief and confidence from his performance against Rafael Nadal in Barcelona? Why did victory mean so much to Nadal? An
Rafa's road to Roland Garros starts here
With ATP and WTA 500 tournaments in full swing in Barcelona and Stuttgart, Catherine, David and Matt react to the action so far, including what Felix Auger-Aliassime’s win over Denis Shapovalov tells us about both players, a lovely moment between Frances Tiafoe and Carlos Alcaraz, Fabio Fognini’s disqualification, aggro between Dan Evans and Corentin Moutet, another anxious performance from Rafael Nadal, a cracker between Maria Sakkari and Petra Kvitova, Ash Barty’s first steps on red clay since
Monte Carlo - A new step for Stefanos; Charleston 2 - A whole new world for Astra
After Stefanos Tsitsipas easily beat Dan Evans and Andrey Rublev on finals weekend in Monte Carlo to claim the title, Catherine, David and Matt talk it all through. Why does Tsitsipas’ game transfer so well to clay? How significant was it that he won a Masters 1000 event for the first time? What did we learn about Rublev this week? And what should we make of Rafael Nadal’s first tournament back on his favourite surface? We also cover a career best week for Astra Sharma at Charleston 2,
Dirtball Dan Downs Djokovic
After Dan Evans stunned Novak Djokovic in Monte Carlo for the biggest win of his career, we thought we’d better record a podcast. How much was Evans’ victory down to his inspired play and how much was it due to Djokovic being below par? Can we read anything into this defeat for Djokovic? Where has Evans’ clay court form come from? And in what way is his new approach on the surface similar to the one taken by Tim Henman when he reached the French Open semi-finals in 2004? Elsewhere, we
Clay court love affair rekindled; Quest for equality continues
Catherine emerges from a day talking to Billie Jean King, Victoria Azarenka, Chanda Rubin, Caroline Weir and Annika Sorenstam on the ITF’s global forum on gender equality to share her experience with David and Matt. If you would like to watch the forum, you can - https://youtu.be/YFnEdyIIycE.After that, Catherine, David and Matt discussed the start of the springtime clay court season, why they love it, and the early storylines. They also pick over the appointment of Toni Nadal by Felix Augu
Esther Vergeer - Undefeated
Our guest this week is wheelchair tennis legend Esther Vergeer. One of the sport’s greatest ever champions, Vergeer spoke to Catherine about how turning to sport helped her after she became paralysed from the waist down as a child, why she embraced using a mental coach throughout her career, what it’s like psychologically to be on a 470-match winning streak, the time she almost lost at the Beijing Paralympics, designing her own wheelchair, how she feels about the word “inspirational” to describe
Hurkacz hits new heights, Miami twice for Barty, and let’s talk about doubles
The final few days in Miami gave Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts much to discuss. In what way did Ash Barty make a statement by defending her title? How much did we miss out on by not seeing a fully fit Bianca Andreescu in the final? Were we surprised by the level of tennis Hubert Hurkacz produced to win his maiden Masters 1000 title? What’s special about Jannik Sinner’s approach to tennis? And did we sit the limit to Andrey Rublev’s game? We also get stuck into the week
Barty makes moves in Miami
As the Miami Open reaches the closing stages, Catherine Whitaker and David Law catch up to discuss the tournament’s major storylines from the second week so far: Why are David and Catherine surprised by how excited they are about Sebastian Korda’s potential? How does Roberto Bautista Agut cause Daniil Medvedev problems every time they face off? Was Stefanos Tsitsipas correct when he called his defeat to Hubert Hurkacz a ‘self explosion’? Why is Jannik Sinner Catherine’s candi
WTA Avengers light up Miami; Medvedev survives cramp; #PlayersVoice discussed
A few days into the Miami Open and we don’t know where to look because there are so many fantastic matches and storylines. Catherine stepped out of the Prime Video studio for a while to join David and Matt to cover the wins for Bianca Andreescu, Ash Barty and Ons Jabeur, as well as a cramping Daniil Medvedev, a resurgent Frances Tiafoe and young Fin, Emil Ruusuvuori.We also cover the latest reaction to Vasek Pospisil’s on-court rant, from several players under the hashtag #PlayersVoice.The Tenni
Miami underway, Pospisil melts down, more Murray & Delpo misery
Catherine is presenting live TV coverage of the Miami Open on Prime Video, but that isn’t enough to stop podcast production, and we had plenty to get our teeth into, including the comeback of Ana Konjuh, confidence-boosting wins for Sloane Stephens and Katie Boulter, and Jack Draper's unfortunate retirement. Elsewhere, we dissect the explosive comments of Vasek Pospisil in the direction of ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, cover Andy Murray and Juan Martin del Potro's latest injury set-backs, and ta
Karatsev conquers all, Kasatkina comes back, and what’s that brewing in Miami?
Catherine, David and Matt round off the results from last week’s slate of tournaments, including debut titles for Aslan Karatsev and Leylah Fernandez, yet another semi-final defeat for Denis Shapovalov, more fireworks from Lorenzo Musetti in Acapulco, a mid-match earthquake, a tense victory for Alexander Zverev over Stefanos Tsitsipas, and the continued resurgence of Daria Kasatkina in St Petersburg. This week, the players (minus Serena Williams and the Big 3) are heading to Miami for the f
Sorry Jeremy, Thiem's troubles and is Karatsev in the kitchen?
In this mid-week pod, we compare the ceilings of Jannik Sinner, Andrey Rublev and Denis Shapovalov, apologise to Jeremy Chardy, discuss what’s going wrong for Dominic Thiem at the moment, revel in a big week so far for Lorenzo Musetti in Acapulco, and note the big Russian presence in the St Petersburg quarter-finals. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments.SU
Muguruza’s moment, Herbert’s hair and introducing Barbora Krejcikova
Garbiñe Muguruza has finally turned her fantastic form into a title with victory in Dubai. In what way was she feeling the pressure of ending her title drought? How much of a role has Conchita Martínez played in her improved consistency? And how might her season develop from here? As for the woman she beat in the final, Barbora Krejčíková, David explains why we’ve mistakenly considered her to be exclusively a doubles player up until now, the advice she received from her former coach Jana No
Federer's back, briefly
Roger Federer returned to action after 405 days and two knee surgeries with a 3-set win over Dan Evans before a 3-set loss to Nikoloz Basilashvili in Doha. Catherine, David and Matt discuss how it felt to watch him play again, what we made of his two performances, whether we were surprised or in any way alarmed by how quickly he faded physically, and our immediate reaction to his decision to skip Dubai next week. Elsewhere, who has more potential out of Fritz and Shapovalov? How has Ru
Roger returns - what to expect; Djokovic makes history; Here comes Clara
Roger Federer is back! In this episode, Catherine, David and Matt react to his pre tournament press conference in Doha as he prepares for his first match since January 2020. Did he consider retirement while he was out injured? How confident is he that the knee will hold up? What are his main goals for the season? And is he still motivated by the Grand Slam race?We also cover the main stories from last week, including another step forward for Andrey Rublev, a first victory on home soil for D
Inside the mind of Andy Murray
We discuss what we’ve seen so far this week in Doha and Rotterdam, including a barnstormer between Garbine Muguruza and Aryna Sabalenka, progress for Kei Nishikori, the end of Stefanos Tsitsipas’ losing streak in doubles, and Andy Murray’s 7-5, 6-2 defeat against Andrey Rublev. Hear part of Murray’s fascinating post match press conference in which he explains why he was disappointed in his performance and why he will continue to demand a lot of himself. There’s also news of Marcus Will
Listener questions - Key stats, dream mixed doubles and the Lost Law Years
We’re back! Catherine and David catch up and discuss what’s been happening since the Australian Open, including Andy Murray’s comeback in Montpellier, titles for Iga Swiatek and David Goffin, the latest Hall of Fame nominations, and tweets from John Isner about the ATP being a ‘broken system’. Then, in part two, we dive into some listener questions, chosen by guest editor Simon Pearce. Is percentage of second serves won the most underrated but critical statistic in tennis? Who would be invo
Aus Open Day 14 - Sublime Djokovic closes the gap
If Saturday was all about Naomi Osaka opening up a gap between herself and the rest of the field, then Sunday was all about Novak Djokovic closing the gap in the Grand Slam Race. After he beat Daniil Medvedev in a surprisingly one-sided final, his18th major title was the subject of our final podcast from the 2021 Australian Open. Why was the match not as close as we expected? Could Medvedev have done anything differently? Why did Djokovic 'need' this title? What might his schedule look
Aus Open Day 13 - Osaka joins Seles and Federer in the record books
On Saturday, Naomi Osaka beat Jennifer Brady 6-4, 6-3 to set herself apart. It was her 21st consecutive match win, her 4th Grand Slam title, and her 2nd Australian Open crown. Her 12-0 record at the quarter-finals and beyond in majors is unmatched by anyone else in the Open Era.We look back on where the final was won and lost, reflect on Osaka’s journey to this point and her place in the game, consider her potential on grass and clay, and discuss what the future might hold for Brady. T
Aus Open Day 12 - Mount Medvedev too much for Tsitsipas
Just when Stefanos Tsitsipas thought he’d scaled his Everest by beating Rafael Nadal, he ran into Daniil Medvedev. The Russian picked apart Tsitsipas’ game for his 12th consecutive win over a Top-10 player to set up a final meeting with Novak Djokovic. In part one of this podcast we discuss the match, including the way the crowd influenced both players, the deceptive brilliance of Medvedev, whether Tsitsipas was fatigued, the simmering aggro, and Medvedev’s shot of the tournament contender.
Aus Open Day 11 - Is this where Naomi Osaka takes over?
Day 11 of this Australian Open was a classic day of Grand Slam semi-final tennis, defined by tournament favourites underlining their credentials, an ageing great dealing with the heaviness of defeat, and two inexperienced players anxiously trying to defeat their nerves and each other to reach a first major final. It left us with lots to reflect on and lots to look forward to on the podcast.Osaka shines bright - what makes her so special? Interpreting Serena’s wave goodbye Will Serena g
Aus Open Day 10 - Tsitsipas conquers Nadal and Barty loses her way
What a day at the Australian Open: one that began with Ash Barty’s shock defeat to Karolina Muchova, and ended with Stefanos Tsitsipas' remarkable comeback against Rafael Nadal. We tried our best to put it all into words on the podcast. How did Tsitsipas turn the match around? What happened to Nadal in the third set tiebreak and beyond? Why was Barty vs. Muchova so weird? What role did the medical timeout play in the match? Will this defeat leave scar tissue for Barty? What does it mean tha
Aus Open Day 9 - Serena-Osaka is ON
Osaka solves Hsieh conundrum with ease - how did she do it?Karatsev reaches semis on Grand Slam debut.Dimitrov devastated by back spasm. Vintage Serena beats Halep - will Osaka stop her? Serena and Rafa - an historic double? Djokovic manages injury, mood and Zverev. Crowds to return on Thursday? Fingers crossed. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Gran
Aus Open Day 8 - A dud of a day but the pod’s great, honest
Day 8 didn’t live up to the heights of previous days, with no upsets and no epics. But with the quarter-final line-up complete, we still had lots to cover. Has Jennifer Brady’s rise given Jessica Pegula belief? Why was Rafael Nadal vs. Fabio Fognini so disappointing? Will Matteo Berrettini’s withdrawal help or hinder Stefanos Tsitsipas? And is the lack of crowds benefitting Ash Barty? The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is
Aus Open Day 7 - Slam finals galore in round 4; Thiem tonked
All eyes were on the blockbuster Naomi Osaka vs. Garbine Muguruza and Serena Williams vs. Aryna Sabalenka matches on Sunday, and they didn’t disappoint. How did Osaka manage to raise her game when she needed it most? Did Muguruza get tight at the finish? And where did Serena’s incredible movement and defence come from? We also discuss what makes Su-Wei Hsieh’s presence in the quarter-finals so exciting for the tournament and why Simona Halep seems to be in a really good place. In
Aus Open Day 6 - Silent, subdued, but intriguing
Saturday was the quietest day of this Australian Open so far, in all senses of the word. The fans were sorely missed and there wasn’t quite the same amount of drama or fun as previous days. But it was still a Grand Slam day, meaning there was still plenty for us to discuss, including:Silent stadia - pros and consNadal makes progress; Will Fognini stop him?Berrettini wins, but bigger battles awaitTsitsipas enjoys a quiet lifeWhat happened to Daniil Medvedev?Just how good is Casper Ruud?Barty
Aus Open Day 5 - Last night at the tennis
Well that was one of the most surreal nights of tennis we’ve ever seen. The announcement of a Victoria state lockdown from midnight in Melbourne put the attendance of fans at the Australian Open on a ticking clock and led to one of the most electric atmospheres imaginable for all five mesmerising sets of Nick Kyrgios vs. Dominic Thiem and then to a mass exodus of fans mid-way through Novak Djokovic’s match against Taylor Fritz. The rest of it, as Djokovic struggled on through injury to win
Aus Open Day 4 - Kenin conquered, Nadal heckled, Italian aggro
After the joy of Wednesday’s atmosphere at Melbourne Park, Day 4 at the Australian Open had a tough act to follow, but it certainly delivered drama.Why was it not surprising that defending champion Sofia Kenin lost? How did Stefanos Tsitsipas find himself in a five set battle with Thanasi Kokkinakis? Should we be talking about Karolina Pliskova as a title contender? Is Jennifer Brady in the mix now? How did Rafael Nadal react to being given the middle finger by a fan? And what on earth was the p
Aus Open Day 3 - The Day Tennis Came Home
Days of tennis don’t come much better than that. In a packed podcast, we cover: The joy of tennis with crowdsKyrgios sending Melbourne Park into a frenzy Inspirational Venus carrying on despite injury, but losing to Errani Hsieh bamboozling Andreescu Tiafoe testing Djokovic on a hot and quick Rod Laver ArenaFucsovics beating Wawrinka in fifth set tiebreak Halep coming back from the brink against Tomljanovic Osaka, Swiatek and Serena easing through Cirstea upset
Aus Open Day 2 - Brits abroad, Vika’s gone, Stef’s awkward interview
Even on a relatively quiet day at the Australian Open, there were still significant results and storylines which altered the feel of the tournament. We discuss Sofia Kenin’s nerves, the ongoing talking point about how much hard quarantine is affecting players and impacting results, defeats for Maria Sakkari and Victoria Azarenka which have opened up their quarter, a 6-0 6-0 victory for Ash Barty, an injury for Jo Konta, how Rafael Nadal’s back held up in his straight-sets victory, Dan Evans’ dis
Aus Open Day 1 - Bianca's back as WTA Avengers Assemble; Shapovalov-Sinner Epic
After an exhilarating opening day at the Australian Open - featuring dominant performance from the leading women’s contenders and culminating in a five-set epic under the lights - Catherine, David and Matt had plenty to discuss on the pod. In what ways did both Shapovalov and Sinner impress in their late night epic? How did Kyrgios respond to Djokovic’s comment that he doesn’t “respect” him off court? Who sent the biggest statement - Halep, Serena or Osaka? What did Kerber have to say about
Aus Open 2021 - Let's Do This!
There have been moments over the last few days, weeks and months when the chances of there even being an Australian Open in 2021 have felt slim. But one of the great feats of organisation has been pulled off, some bullets have been dodged, our fingers remain crossed, and play is set to get underway in a few hours. In this episode we wrap up the results from the six lead-in tournaments. What is Dan Evans’ ranking ceiling after he won his first ATP title? Why has Felix Auger-Aliassime not eve
Aus Open - Draw Dissection
After a 24-hour stoppage with everyone holding their breath, tennis returned again in Melbourne with all six Australian Open warm up tournaments now hurtling towards the finish line. In the first half of the show we discuss the possible motivation behind the large number of retirements and walkovers, assess how concerned we are about Simona Halep and Rafael Nadal’s physical state, marvel at Garbine Muguruza’s form, and cover Dan Evans’ run to the semi-final of the Murray River Open. Th
Tennis stops and fingers cross
A positive covid test from someone who had worked at the Australian Open quarantine hotel appeared to leave the tournament teetering on a cliff edge last night, with hundreds of players and staff forced to isolate again. After 24 hours of mass testing, however, Craig Tiley says the tournament will go ahead as planned. For now.It’s a situation which has served as a reminder of the precariousness of Tennis Australia’s operation to stage the event and in this episode we talk all about it. We a
So much tennis!
With six tournaments all taking place at Melbourne Park this week, we try to get our heads around it all and discuss what we’ve seen so far. How did Serena Williams look in her first match? What about Katie Boulter? What do we expect from Bianca Andreescu in her first tournament for 15 months? Why have the crowds not shown up yet? And will the ATP Cup provide good preparation for the Australian Open? We also reveal our plans to refer to the second stadium at Melbourne Park as the Evonne Goo
Aus Open Re-Lived: 2017 - Serena, Venus, Federer, Nadal and all that
In this episode we travel back four years to bask in the wonder that was the 2017 Australian Open. There was so much to cover (hence the length of this show) from shock defeats for Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, exciting runs from Dan Evans and Jo Konta, the re-emergence of Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, controversy surrounding Nick Kyrgios, and ultimately a throwback finals weekend which saw Serena defeat Venus and Roger defeat Rafa. We react to clips from the daily pods, get Mary Carillo's take, and c
Aus Open Re-Lived: 1995 - The tears of Pete Sampras
In 1995, Pete Sampras was the world No.1, a five-time major winner, and the defending Australian Open champion. He was also a dominant and stoic figure, labelled by many as boring and representative of a sport in decline. All that changed early in the fifth set of Sampras’ quarter-final match against Jim Courier when, overcome with emotion as he thought of his friend and coach Tim Gullikson, who had flown home from Melbourne with serious health problems, Sampras began to weep uncontrollably
Aus Open Re-Lived: 1988 - Kooyong to Flinders Park
These days the Australian Open sits alongside the other Grand Slam tournaments as one of the best and most prestigious tennis events in the world, but it wasn’t always that way. In this episode, we tell the story of its transformative move from Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club to Flinders Park in 1988.Pat Cash, who lost back-to-back five-set finals in 1987 and 1988 talks us through it all, including what Kooyong was like as a venue, why his 1987 defeat to Stefan Edberg feels like the one that got away i
Aus Open Re-Lived: Evonne Goolagong
With contributions from Billie Jean King, Mary Carillo, Pam Shriver and Pat Cash, we tell Evonne Goolagong’s story, including her upbringing in New South Wales and the discrimination she faced, her early discovery of tennis, her poetic style of play, her Grand Slam successes throughout the 1970s, her crowning achievement by winning Wimbledon as a mother, her charity work for indigenous Australians, and her influence on Ash Barty. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and Dav
Billie Jean King - The Reaction; And what’s next for us
Catherine is joined by David and Matt to react to her big interview with Billie Jean King. Picking up on some of the points raised by Billie Jean, we discuss the way she makes us feel when she talks about tennis, the way she forces us to challenge our preconceptions, the emphasis she puts on the importance of knowing your history, the lessons she can teach us about not alienating your audience, the place of team events in tennis, and the majors vs. slams debate.We also share our plans for Austra
Billie Jean King - The Interview
This episode is a conversation between Catherine Whitaker and Billie Jean King. Through stories about the Battle of the Sexes, the Original 9, the awarding of equal prize money at the US Open in 1973, her time spent with Bud Collins, and knowing Althea Gibson, Billie Jean connects the past with the present, explaining why it’s so important to know your tennis history and how it impacts the modern game. Now 77-years-old, Billie Jean’s love for tennis and her desire for it to be as good
Melbourne Mayhem - An Emergency Podcast
Positive covid cases, more than 70 players facing two weeks stuck inside without any practice, and mice in hotel rooms…it all calls for an emergency pod. Catherine and David convene to discuss the situation in Melbourne. How has it all got out of control so quickly? What is Tennis Australia’s role now? How much sympathy do we feel for the players in all of this? And does it change who should be considered the Australian Open favourite? We also speak to Pam Shriver about how she thinks
Murray misery, Sabalenka soars, and a few feel-good stories
The first titles of the 2021 season have been won and players are now flocking to Australia for two weeks of quarantine. But not everything is going according to plan, with Andy Murray isolating at home after testing positive for covid-19 and Tennys Sandgren boarding his flight to Melbourne despite returning a positive test. We react to those two bits of news and discuss where it leaves the Australian Open. Wrapping up this week’s results, we ask whether Aryna Sabalenka can translate her do
Tennis everywhere, and Ons Jabeur - trailblazer, inspiration, contender?
We’re only halfway through the first week of the new season but there’s already plenty for us to cover, including the fine form shown by Maria Sakkari and Aryna Sabalenka in Abu Dhabi, a curious collapse from Sofia Kenin, news of a separate Australian Open quarantine in Adelaide for top players, David Ferrer and Alexander Zverev’s split, Dayana Yastremska's provisional suspension after a positive doping test, our apologies to Gippslanders, and Matt’s 2021 player to watch.Plus, David speaks to On
Tennis is back!
In this episode we navigate Billie Jean’s mischief to cover the matches we’ve seen and the storylines that have arisen in Abu Dhabi so far, more news about the Melbourne swing prior to the Australian Open, and confirmation of some WTA quarantine practice pairings. We also pay tribute to Bob Brett and Tom Perrotta, who the tennis world sadly lost this week. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, a
Tennis Aggro 2
We’re starting the new year with a bumper edition of the pod to conclude our countdown of the best ever moments of tennis aggro. The Top 5 looks like this: 5 - Andy Murray, “Shut up!” & “Everyone hates you” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo_E_azZOoc & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-XiZF08DY84 - Jeff Tarango defaults himself at Wimbledon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzQ2-EwgdXQ3 - Broady/Ostapenko Auckland 2016 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPhiBazkhMU2 - Mirka &a
Tennis Aggro 1
The moment has arrived. After 780 episodes, the time has finally come to dedicate a couple of pods to some of the best ever moments of tennis aggro. In part one of our countdown: 10 - Serena/Jankovic, Dubai 2014: http://youtu.be/rZCOCPbIPKc9 - Errani/Cornet, “Why you say vamos?”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLRV7QCs5L0&ab_channel=nobodycares8 - Kim Sears, Parental Advisory Explicit Content: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qivF3oIZJUo&ab_channel=AustralianOpenTV7 - Roddick/Djokov
Federer, Murray and Sliding Doors 3
Our third and final instalment of Sliding Doors tennis sees us talk about a medley of moments which have shaped Roger Federer’s career, the period Serena Williams missed after stepping on glass in 2010, and a world in which Billie Jean King didn’t win the Battle of the Sexes. We also discuss the news that Federer will miss the Australian Open and that Andy Murray will start his 2021 season in Delray Beach. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and feature
Sliding Doors - Part 2
We’re back with a Christmas Eve special to discuss more Sliding Doors moments from tennis history. Would Tim Henman have won Wimbledon in 2001 if it hadn’t rained during his semi-final against Goran Ivanisevic? Could Juan Martin del Potro have turned the Big 4 into a Big 5 if his career hadn’t been interrupted by injuries? And how would tennis have been different if the conditions - especially at Wimbledon - hadn’t been slowed down in the early 2000s? We also say hello to Billie Jean and di
Sliding Doors - Part 1
This week we’re taking an in-depth look at some Sliding Doors moments in tennis history. In part one, how would Rafael Nadal’s rivalry with Roger Federer have been different if Nadal had been a natural right-hander? Would Martina Hingis have won the calendar Grand Slam if she hadn’t fallen off a horse prior to Roland Garros in 1997? And how might Monica Seles’ career have unfolded if she hadn’t been stabbed by a deranged Steffi Graf fan in 1993? More to come on Thursday. We also discuss the
Lost in Time - Part 2
In the second half of our ‘Lost in Time’ series, we focus on the opportunism and sudden decline of Juan Carlos Ferrero, the way in which Hana Mandlikova’s achievements were swallowed up by the era defined by Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, the gold-medal winner Miloslav Mecir who bamboozled other top players, and how the tennis media did Dinara Safina - and the women’s game - a disservice by making light of her near misses in Grand Slams. There’s also reaction to the release of the ATP
Lost in Time - Part 1
This week we’re celebrating former players who have been, in one way or another, ‘lost in time’ or under-appreciated. In part one, we discuss Manuel Orantes’ clay court dominance in the 1970s, Mark Edmondson’s Australian Open victory while ranked 212th, how Mary Pierce’s abusive father overshadowed her three peaks, the way in which Arantxa Sanchez Vicario did a lot more than finish in second place all the time, and Wendy Turnbull’s decade of consistency. The Tennis Podcast is presented
Running the ATP - Chris Kermode
In this episode, we speak to Chris Kermode to look back on his time as ATP CEO, discuss what he did and still hoped to achieve in the job, reflect on the reasons for his departure, and consider the issues tennis is facing during the covid-19 pandemic. Approx Time Stamps: Start to 7:45 - Catherine, David and Matt catch up7:45 to 38:10 - Chris Kermode interview38:10 to end - Reaction *SUPPORT THE TENNIS PODCAST* Our Kickstarter campaign to crowdfund 2021 went live on December 1
Our 2020 awards, and a bit of news
The time has come for our final look back on 2020 as we hand out our annual awards. Categories include player, match, uplifting moment, peak weird moment, pandemic faux pas, most missed, shock, and podcast moment. You can expect tributes to Naomi Osaka, Sofia Kenin, Dominic Thiem, Coco Gauff, Rafael Nadal and women’s semi-final night at the US Open, as well as takedowns of the Adria Tour, Night Train and the ‘Ultimate’ ‘Tennis’ ‘Showdown’. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Cather
Annus Horribilis Re-Lived - Part 2
Part two of our 2020 review begins with a reflection on our Tennis Re-Lived episodes covering the Olympics, Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe. What stood out? And what did we learn? We then move on to the return of tour tennis in August by looking back on how we felt at the time and how it would end up differing from our expectations. Next, we go over the main storylines from the US Open - including the way in which Naomi Osaka combined on court winning with activism, an uplifting night of
Annus Horribilis Re-Lived - Part 1
We realise that re-living 2020 probably isn’t high on your list of priorities, but we can promise that this week’s podcasts are not all doom and gloom as we look back on this strange but momentous tennis year and the way we covered it as a podcast. In this episode, with the help of clips from throughout the year, we reminisce about the Australian Open, the warning signs in February and March that covid-19 was spreading, the sudden shutdown of the world, and the launch of our Tennis Re-Lived
Inside the ‘brutal experience’ of Australian quarantine, with John Millman
In this bonus edition of the pod, John Millman speaks to David and Catherine from his hotel room in Sydney where he’s quarantining for 14 days following the end of the season and his return to Australia. John talks candidly about his experience of travelling the ATP Tour throughout the pandemic, the mental toll of being in quarantine without even being allowed to open a window, his role on the ATP player council, his views on the PTPA, and the possible scenarios for next year’s Australian O
ATP Finals Day 8 - Medvedev does it his way as event leaves London
Daniil Medvedev has never followed the crowd, and the manner in which he brought the curtain down on London’s 12-year hosting of the ATP Finals suggested he isn’t about to start now.In an eighth and final edition of The Tennis Podcast from The O2 this week, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts talk about the final between Medvedev and Dominic Thiem, what went on afterwards, what the results this week might mean for the future, the doubles final, and the memories that the pod team will
ATP Finals Day 7 - Nadal vs. Djokovic becomes Thiem vs. Medvedev; Catherine’s meme moment
Novak Djokovic led Dominic Thiem 4-0 in a deciding set tie-break, Rafael Nadal served for the match against Daniil Medvedev, and Thiem will now face Medvedev in the final.What happened and why? Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts try to work it out.The heartbreak of Joe Salisbury is covered, as are concerns over the Australian Open. And then there’s the moment that Catherine Whitaker became a meme. The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam
ATP Finals Day 6 - Semis: Djokovic vs. Thiem, Nadal vs. Medvedev. Yes please.
If the pod team could have chosen the semi-final line-up at the start of the tournament, it’s likely these four names would have featured. But who will come out on top? After much deliberation, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts make their picks. They also cover some important press conferences involving Djokovic and Alexander Zverev, relate some weird, wonderful, heartbreaking and downright awkward doubles news, and receive and react to a tweet from Pam Shriver. The Tennis
ATP Finals Day 5 - Rafa remains, bubble struggle and what’s that hair?
Rafael Nadal has never won the ATP Finals. Not yet, anyway. After a three-set tussle with Stefanos Tsitsipas, we assessed his performance, considered the way in which he causes Tsitsipas problems, and then reported on the Greek’s press conference in which he described the mental challenges posed by ‘bubble life’.The drudgery of dead rubbers gets the treatment, the chopping and changing of doubles teams is discussed, Joe Salisbury is lauded, and Catherine gives David and Matt a mid-pod shock.The
ATP Finals Day 4 - Medvedev Makes Statement
A match hyped to the hilt ended more abruptly than expected, and Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts were able to talk about Daniil Medvedev vs. Novak Djokovic soon afterwards. Where was the match won and lost? How come Djokovic lost seven games in a row? And does this make Medvedev the favourite for the title?The podcast trio discuss all of that, and also cover Alexander Zverev vs. Diego Schwartzman, while giving the lowdown on what Medvedev said about the Zverev domestic abuse alleg
ATP Finals Day 3 - Thiem-Nadal instant classic, and trouble brewing for tennis in Australia
On-court, lack of fans aside, today was a joy to behold for the tennis world. Dominic Thiem and Rafael Nadal fought out an instant classic, and then Stefanos Tsitsispas and Andrey Rublev went at it in the evening. Off the court though, there are concerns for the viability of the Australian Open. In the latest daily edition of The Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker joins from inside the O2 Arena bubble to describe the feeling of being courtside for such a great tussle, and discusses wit
ATP Finals Day 2 - A review and a Roger Federer row
Let's be honest, Day 2 at the ATP Finals was not exactly a thriller, and it got us talking about the worst matches we can remember from the O2 era and whether or not it's fair to call this year's edition the 'Zombie Finals'', a term coined by Simon Briggs. On the court, there were straight-set wins for Novak Djokovic over Diego Schwartzman and Daniil Medvedev over Alexander Zverev. We discuss the bad match-up for Schwartzman, Djokovic's ability to open his shoulders and play expansive tennis, hi
ATP Finals Day 1 - Thiem vs. Tsitsipas reprised, but this time it’s different
The opening singles match of the 2020 ATP Finals was a repeat of last year's closer between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Dominic Thiem, a fact which served only to emphasise the differences and remind us of what we're missing. On the podcast, Catherine describes the bittersweet feeling of what it was like to be inside the O2 arena without fans as London hosts the event for the last time.Still, the tennis was high-quality and we discuss how Thiem managed to get his revenge, the way his game has develop
Silence broken, ATP Finals preview, Catherine in the bubble
In this episode we look ahead to the ATP Finals – the final event of this strange tennis season and the final time it will be staged in London. Catherine details her experience inside the O2 bubble so far, as well as the dental emergency which almost scuppered her plans. We also analyse the two singles groups, discuss what we learned on media day, and make some predictions.Just how motivated will Djokovic be to win the title? Is Nadal better suited to indoor tennis than ever? Does Medvedev have
Zverev, Paris and uncomfortable silence
On-court action unfortunately takes a back seat on the podcast this week as we discuss in depth the allegations from Olya Sharypova that her ex-boyfriend, Alexander Zverev, physically and emotionally abused her during their relationship.We lay out the new allegations from Sharypova detailed in her interview with Racquet Magazine, present Zverev’s responses throughout the week to questions about the accusations, and talk through Jon Wertheim’s extensive take on the issue.We also examine the way i
More listener questions – Federer in bronze, Felix or Denis, the best/worst of each Slam
Catherine, David and Matt are back to answer more listener questions. In the mailbag this week:· Who will win a Grand Slam title first – Denis Shapovalov or Felix Auger-Aliassime?· Who will be the next first time Grand Slam champion in the women’s game?· Is Roger Federer in danger of the bronze medal when it comes to who is best out of The Big 3?· What are w
Vienna, Nur-Sultan, and Djokovic or Sampras - whose No.1 record is better?
Our focus this week is on Vienna after Andrey Rublev won his 5th title of the season there. Does Rublev’s consistency at ATP 500 level make him a contender for men’s player of the year? The other big talking points involved Novak Djokovic who clinched the year-end No.1 ranking for the sixth time, equalling Pete Sampras’ record, before losing 6-2, 6-1 against the impressive Lorenzo Sonego. What happened? What did we make of Djokovic’s post-match comments? Should his year-end finish as No.1 come w
Listener questions special - travel tales, worst 5-set matches and what should Wimbledon change?
In the first of two pods over the next week answering listener questions, we discuss who is the best at tennis out of Catherine, David and Matt, whether there should be a free-for-all tournament without seeds, our worst travel disasters, who might be a good coach to take Stefanos Tsitsipas to the next level, the Wimbledon traditions we would ditch, how social media has increased tribal fan support in tennis, and the worst five set matches we’ve watched. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Ca
Cologne 2, Ostrava !!! And should Hawkeye stay or go?
We discuss whether we learned anything new about Aryna Sabalenka and Alexander Zverev after their victories in Ostrava(!!!) and Cologne(2), the possible reasons why Sabalenka hasn’t translated tour success to the Grand Slams, how high the ceiling could be for Antwerp champion Ugo Humbert, and, after David’s discussion on Twitter with Denis Shapovalov, whether tennis is better off with or without Hawkeye. Should entertainment be the number one priority? Could there be a compromise by reducing the
Andy's agony, Cologne 1, St Petersburg and the longest ceremony
With the dust having settled on Roland Garros, the tennis season stutters on, and Catherine, David and Matt are back to talk about everything that was weird and wonderful in Cologne 1 and St Petersburg, including dogs on sun loungers, a live band at changeovers, and a 40-minute Eurovision-style closing ceremony.How motivated are we to watch non-Grand Slam tennis at the moment? What’s going wrong for Felix Auger-Aliassime in finals? How concerned should we be about Andy Murray’s latest
Roland Garros Day 15 - When 20-20 made us smile
Rafael Nadal has won Roland Garros for a 13th time, equaling Roger Federer's record for the most Grand Slam men's singles titles, after crushing his other great rival, Novak Djokovic, 6-0, 6-2, 7-5. We discuss whether Nadal's incredible level surprised Djokovic, the astute tactical performance that Nadal put in, Djokovic's persistent use of the drop shot, what Nadal's relatively understated celebration revealed about him, whether this is Nadal's greatest ever victory at Roland Garros, and where
Roland Garros Day 14 - Iga Swiatek Superstar, Ted Robinson, Nadal vs. Djokovic predictions
Tennis has a new star after Iga Swiatek completed a record-breaking run to her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, beating Sofia Kenin in the same dominant fashion she'd seen off the rest of the field. Catherine, David and Matt review the match, salute Swiatek, consider the wider significance of the result, and look ahead to Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic on Sunday. David also speaks to legendary sports broadcaster Ted Robinson about his time covering tennis during the pandemic. 0.00 - 30.
Roland Garros Day 13 - Nadal vs Djokovic is on! But it nearly wasn't.
The most abnormal of Grand Slam tennis seasons will end with something very normal: the 56th instalment of Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic in the Roland Garros final. On the podcast, Catherine, David and Matt discuss how both players made it there. How well did Nadal have to play against Diego Schwartzman? Did he get nervous towards the end? What happened for Tsitsipas to mount his comeback? Who will have the edge on Sunday? And who will Federer be supporting?! There’s also a preview of the wome
Roland Garros Day 12 - Mary Carillo!
The only possible way to follow yesterday’s Four Whisky Law podcast was to invite the one and only Mary Carillo on for a chat. She joined to share her views on women's finalists Sofia Kenin and Iga Swiatek, preview Friday's men's semi-finals, and discuss her experience of this year's Roland Garros. In the second half of the show, Catherine, David and Matt react to Mary's thoughts, get stuck into the reasons behind Swiatek's sudden ascension, consider Kenin's trademarks on court, and make the cas
Roland Garros Day 11 - Tennis, Diego and David
Where was all the aggro in Kenin vs. Collins?How did Tsitsipas turn the match around against Rublev? How concerning is Djokovic’s neck problem? And who will reach the women’s final? Those were the big questions for Catherine, David and Matt to discuss after a Wednesday at Roland Garros which didn’t quite live up to the heights of previous days. But, with David on the whisky, there was no shortage of fun to be had on the podcast. So, come for the tennis chat, stay for David’s anecdote about playi
Roland Garros Day 10 - Records, roars and routine wins
There are no night sessions at this year’s French Open, but that didn’t stop play on Day 10 finishing at 1:25am in Paris after an epic match between Diego Schwartzman and Dominic Thiem provided the “embouteillage” which Catherine predicted.On the podcast, Catherine, David and Matt (1.00) discuss how Schwartzman’s nerves vs Thiem’s physical struggles made the match dramatic, the significance of Schwartzman’s victory, and whether or not Jannik Sinner provided Rafael Nadal with the test he required
Roland Garros Day 9 - Powerplays, rematches and whisky
After a very wet day at Roland Garros, we discuss the wins and performances of Australian Open champions Novak Djokovic and Sofia Kenin, the poignancy felt by seeing Petra Kvitova tear up and Grigor Dimitrov lose to Stefanos Tsitsipas, the ingredients missing from Karen Khachanov, the Hamburg final re-match that's set between Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev, the extraordinary moment Kenin's dad went to sit next to Fiona Ferro's coach, Laura Siegemund's food intake during her victory, and who the fav
Roland Garros Day 8 - Now that’s a Grand Slam day, but what was Zverev thinking?
Electric matches, comebacks, breakthrough performances, and a heavy dose of controversy: Sunday at Roland Garros felt like a proper Grand Slam day. Catherine, David and Matt got stuck into it all on the podcast. Why did Zverev play despite displaying covid symptoms? Does the responsibility to prevent that from happening lie with Zverev or the tournament? Just how good was Iga Swiatek's performance to beat Simona Halep? Has Dominic Thiem hit the wall? Will Jannik Sinner be able to trouble Ra
Roland Garros Day 7 - Briggs, the bubble and the banquet
Simon Briggs, quarantining at home in the UK after returning from Roland Garros, joins Catherine, David and Matt to share his experience of being in Paris, his thoughts on the event so far, how he sees the tournament progressing next week, and the reasons behind Britain’s doubles success.We also discuss the main results from Saturday which introduced us to Daniel Altmaier, saw another good win for Fiona Ferro, and more smooth progress for Novak Djokovic.The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catheri
Roland Garros Day 6 – Fifty shades of grey and the odd bit of blue
As the rain poured down at Roland Garros on Day 6, some matches failed to deliver on the hype, while others brought unexpected drama and two French players provided rays of sunshine. Catherine, David and Matt discussed it all on the podcast.Roof and unadvertised night sessions keep tournament on track (0-4 mins)Wawrinka – OUT, Thiem vs Wawrinka – OFF, Hugo Gaston – BONJOUR! (4-19 mins)Does Nadal need to be tested? Korda up next. (19-29 mins)Inspired Garcia beats Mertens in front of an actual cro
Roland Garros Day 5 - Ostapenko reborn; Shapovalov combusts; Pas de bulle à Paris
It took until Day 5, but David has finally got a prediction correct! We rejoice about that, discuss a day which didn't exactly catch fire in terms of epic matches but did deliver numerous talking points, and hear from an angry Denis Shapovalov about the non-existent Roland Garros 'bubble'.Return of Ostapenko, fall of Pliskova (0.00)Fiona Ferro - David’s new fave (11.00)Sofia Kenin - an anxious watch, but still going (17.00)Garbine Muguruza looking solid (22.30)Denis Shapovalov - angry and o
Roland Garros Day 4 - Sonic Boom, Serena Out and Aggro Galore
Just when we thought the 2020 French Open couldn’t get any weirder, Day 4 began with a Sonic Boom over Paris as a fighter plane broke the sound barrier, and this was followed by Serena Williams withdrawing from the tournament with an Achilles injury. Elsewhere, we discuss Anna Karolina Schmiedlova's story after she beat Victoria Azarenka, the drama and fallout between Sara Errani and Kiki Bertens, impressive wins for Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem and Stan Wawrinka, and yet another five-setter
Roland Garros Day 3 - New stars emerge, others come-of-age, some are as good as ever
On Day 3 of this mysterious French Open, there were plenty of reasons for it to feel more like a normal Grand Slam: epic matches, new stars emerging, familiar names winning, and results which left predictions in tatters. But Catherine, David and Matt still have a nagging sense that something isn't quite right.Jelena Ostapenko. Remember her? (0-4 mins)Clara Tauson breaks Brady’s heart (and more importantly, David’s) (5-9 mins)Who is Clara Tauson, anyway? (9-12 minutes)Danielle Collins - that’s ho
Roland Garros Day 2 - Familiar sights, but things feel different
Some familiar faces took to the court on day two, but that didn’t stop things feeling weird. Catherine, David and Matt convened to look back on those that won, those that lost, and where we go from here. Nadal is back, but how did he look? (4.00 - 12.00)Serena soared, eventually. Her prospects discussed. (12.30 - 16.20)Medvedev out, again. Will he ever conquer clay? (21.00 - 25.00)Thiem looks the business, but his draw is tough. Help or hindrance? (27.30 - 31.00)Svitolina, Bertens, Mug
Roland Garros Day 1 - It's all just so weird
The opening day of the French Open somehow managed to make 2020 just that little bit weirder, with the cold and blustery autumnal conditions dominating discussion and impacting matches. It meant there was plenty for Catherine, David and Matt to cover, including Victoria Azarenka’s stand, Stan Wawrinka’s destruction of Andy Murray, Mats Wilander’s comments about Murray, defeats for Jo Konta and Dan Evans, and much more. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and
Roland Garros Preview, ‘Drip’ Review
A few months later than usual, but the French Open is here and the draws have been made.We reflect on the significance of the headline match between Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka, discuss Jo Konta’s chances against Coco Gauff, break down a tough route for Stefanos Tsitsipas, consider a wide-open bottom half of the women’s draw, and debate whether Rafael Nadal can be viewed as more of a favourite than Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem.We also review “Drip” by Denis Shapovalov and Corentin Moutet,
Rome - Halep, Djokovic deliver; Is Rafa ready?
Despite having scarcely recovered from the US Open, Catherine, David and Matt are back to reflect on the week in Rome, which created plenty of talking points ahead of Roland Garros.How did Djokovic look en route to the title in his first matches since his US Open default? Why did Diego Schwartzman and Denis Shapovalov both catch the eye? In what way is this year's French Open looking like a slightly different proposition for a rusty Rafael Nadal? How much of a favourite is Simona Halep? Is Victo
US Open Day 14 - Thiem at last; Zverev devastated
Dominic Thiem is finally a Grand Slam champion, but he had to do it the hard way, becoming the first man in US Open history to mount a comeback from two sets to love down in the final, triumphing in a deciding set tiebreak against Alexander Zverev.On the podcast, we try to get our heads around what happened. Why did Thiem start so slowly? In what way did Zverev's gameplan impress early on? How did the match turn around? What did it feel like to see both players confront nerves in that excruciati
US Open Day 13 - Naomi Osaka - Champion; Catherine's capers
Naomi Osaka has won her third Grand Slam title and second US Open, defeating Victoria Azarenka 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the final. We discuss her growing significance in the sport, how she turned the match around, the perfection of her post-match celebration, the line which summed up her activism, and her future in the sport. Catherine also reveals why she missed yesterday's podcast (a story not to be missed) and we look ahead to the men's final. How much of a chance does Alexander Zverev have and what
US Open Day 12 – Zverev, Thiem, and MARY CARILLO!
The men’s US Open final is set: Alexander Zverev vs Dominic Thiem. In the first half of the pod we discuss how they both got there in two contrasting semi-final matches. In part two, the great Mary Carillo, who was in the stadium for the women’s semi-finals, speaks to David about why it was one of the greatest nights of tennis she can remember. She also looks ahead to the final, gives an insight into what it’s like to be on site at this most extraordinary of US Opens, and explains why it fe
US Open Day 11 - Wonder Women
On the day when tennis celebrated the trailblazing Original 9, it felt right that Naomi Osaka, Jennifer Brady, Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams produced one of the greatest semi-final nights of all time. We break down both matches and discuss the breathtaking quality of Osaka vs Brady, Osaka's final game nerves, Serena's blistering start, Azarenka's extraordinary comeback and how this defeat for Serena compares to her recent setbacks in her quest for No.24. The Tennis Podcast is presen
US Open Day 10 - Serena Williams vs. Victoria Azarenka. Yes please.
A new chapter will be written in one of tennis' most interesting rivalries when Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka face off in Thursday's semi-finals. In this episode we discuss Azarenka's demolition of Elise Mertens, the way we're having to consider her as a real force in the game once again, her different mindset, Serena's problem solving against Tsvetana Pironkova, and the way both players will relish the challenge. On the men's side, Daniil Medvedev beat Andrey Rublev in a match which was
US Open Day 9 - Brady transformation complete, Osaka next; Zverev squeezes through
On the first day of quarter-final matches at the US Open, we discuss Jennifer Brady's dominance so far this tournament, her transformation as a tennis player, how she might match up against Naomi Osaka in the semi-finals, and the way in which Osaka's development as a person is helping her tennis. On the men's side, we reflect on the ordeal that was Zverev vs. Coric, debate whether or not it was compelling, and try to figure out the reasons for his erratic serving.The Tennis Podcast is presented
US Open Day 8 - Serena Survives; Thiem's Time?
Monday felt like the morning after the night before, with the shockwaves from Novak Djokovic's default still being felt at the 2020 US Open. We begin this episode with further reaction to that incident before moving on to the tennis. We discuss Serena Willams' fightback against Maria Sakkari, Dominic Thiem's statement performance, a reality check for Felix Auger-Aliassime, and the unexpected head-to-heads in Tuesday's quarter-final matches. There's also discussion about Roland Garros' plans to h
US Open Day 7 - Djokovic Defaulted. Our Reaction.
In one of the biggest stories in Grand Slam history, Novak Djokovic's unbeaten streak came to a dramatic end on Sunday as he was defaulted from the US Open for hitting a line judge with a ball.We discuss the incident, place it in the context of his career, react to his statement, consider his decision not to attend a post-match press conference, and debate who the new favourite is in the men's draw. Catherine also talks about what it was like to be presenting live TV coverage at the time of Djok
US Open Day 6 - Serena’s statement; Felix takes flight; Tsitsipas - What happened!?
Our 100th episode of the year re-capping another eventful day at the US Open. Approximate episode time stamps: 0-22 minutes - Tsitsipas: What happened!?22-34 minutes - Serena’s statement win35 - 50 minutes - Felix takes flight50-57 minutes - Women's mix chat57 minutes to the end - Mladenovic/Babos withdrawn from doubles The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It
US Open Day 5 - Brits booted, Shapo’s escape, and the curious case of Adrian Mannarino
We begin by discussing Felix Auger-Aliassime's victory over Andy Murray in yesterday's night session. How much was the one-sided result down to Auger-Aliassime's brilliance and how much was it because of Murray's depleted physical condition? Moving on to Friday's action, there's chat about disappointing defeats for Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans, Naomi Osaka's stressful victory over Marta Kostyuk, Denis Shapovalov's escape against Taylor Fritz, and the bizarre delay to Adrian Mannarino vs Alexande
US Open Day 4 – Today felt like a Grand Slam
Thursday at the US Open was a day of thrilling matches, significant upsets, and interesting storylines. In other words, it felt like a proper Grand Slam day. We discuss Tsvetana Pironkova’s return to tennis and victory against Garbine Muguruza, Sorana Cirstea’s stunning performance to knock out Jo Konta, Grigor Dimitrov’s concerning physical collapse against Marton Fucsovics, and the chaotic but entertaining match between Dan Evans and Corentin Moutet. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Cat
US Open Day 3 - Top seed Pliskova sent packing; Kiki kicks off; Djokovic survives lost set
After 29 of the 32 seeds reached round two in the women's singles event, Wednesday saw many of them tumble, including Karolina Pliskova. We try to figure out, yet again, why her recent Grand Slam record is so poor. We also chat about Kiki Mladenovic's loss from 6-1 5-1 up, discuss her colourful comments about the restrictions placed upon her following her contact with Benoit Paire, and analyse Kyle Edmund's mid-match deflation against Novak Djokovic.Approximate episode time stamps:0.00 - 15.00&n
US Open Day 2 - How did Andy Murray win that?
He was down two sets to love. He was down a break in the third. He was down match point. And he was down a break in the decider. But Andy Murray still managed to beat Yoshito Nishioka on Tuesday at the US Open in his first Grand Slam singles match since the 2019 Australian Open.We discuss how he did it, the reason for his slow start, and how he's holding up physically.We also cover Jo Konta's mood and form after her defeat of compatriot Heather Watson, Serena Williams' opener, an epic between Ka
US Open Day 1 - Covid concerns; Brits advance; Murray ready to return
A two-part podcast covering the main talking points from Day 1 of this weird and wonderful US Open. Timecodes:3.00 - 8.40 Cameron Norrie vs. Diego Schwartzman8.40 - 10.30 Alexander Zverev10.30 - 12.40 Stefanos Tsitsipas and towels13.00 - Coco Gauff vs. Anastasia Sevastova17.00 - Other results22.00 - Benoit Paire and tests30.00 - Kyle Edmund32.00 - Novak Djokovic39.00 - Andy Murray45.00 - Jo Konta vs. Heather WatsonThe Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and feat
US Open Preview, Predictions, PTPA, Politics
No shortage of talking points as we discuss the formation of the Professional Tennis Players’ Association with Simon Briggs, Naomi Osaka’s stand against racism, titles for Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka at the Western and Southern Open, a wide-open women’s draw at the US Open, the Bryan Brothers’ retirement, and the sad news that legendary commentator David Mercer has died.What do the players hope to achieve with the PTPA? Why set it up now? Where does it go from here? How does Djokov
US Open Re-Lived: Arthur Ashe
Following on from our most recent edition of Tennis Re-Lived on the life of Althea Gibson, in this episode we turn our attention to Arthur Ashe.We cover his formative years growing up in Virginia under the Jim Crow laws, his development as an amateur tennis player while at college, his Grand Slam titles, his fights for civil rights and social justice, his passing from AIDS, and his enduring legacy.Along the way, James Blake reveals how he indirectly credits Ashe with getting him into tennis, Les
US Open Re-Lived: Althea Gibson
In this special edition of Tennis Re-Lived, we examine the life, career and legacy of Althea Gibson, the first black player to compete in and win Grand Slam titles.We cover her early life growing up in Harlem, her development as a tennis player under the guidance of Dr Eaton and Dr Johnson, Alice Marble’s influential letter challenging the USLTA’s whites-only culture, Gibson’s dramatic first appearance at the US Nationals at Forest Hills in 1950, her friendship and doubles partnership with Angel
'Cincinnati' preview; Lindsay Davenport interview
ATP Tour tennis is back with the first big, combined women's and men's tournament since the pandemic struck down Indian Wells in March. With the 'Cincinnati' draw made, Catherine, David and Matt assembled once more to discuss the highlights, catch up on latest news, and also release our big interview with Lindsay Davenport (from 38.00).Is the WTA draw now more star-studded than the men's draw, despite the withdrawals?What did we think of Novak Djokovic's interview with Chris Clarey in the New Yo
Lexington, Prague and Life inside the US Open bubble
Tennis’ return went up a notch last week with many of the biggest names competing in Lexington and Prague.We discuss the way in which champions Jennifer Brady and Simona Halep picked up where they left off six months ago, describe how it felt seeing top level tennis at a small club in Kentucky, assess Serena Williams’ form, marvel at Venus Williams’ remodelled service motion, and analyse yet another step forward for Coco Gauff. David also speaks to Dan Evans about life inside the US O
Actual tennis tournaments; 'Federer should avoid my retirement mistake’ - Edberg
On this week’s episode, with actual tennis from Palermo to look back on and the Kentucky-Prague double-header to preview, we find ourselves in unfamiliar, but very welcome, territory.We react live to Fiona Ferro’s victory in Palermo, and discuss what the players have been saying in their pre-tournament press conferences, including Serena Williams on her caution over the virus, Coco Gauff on how she’s used her platform to tackle issues of social justice, Jo Konta on her American road trip, and Eu
Olympics Re-Lived: 2016 Rio
Rio 2016 was a particularly emotional and memorable Olympics for tennis, with Andy Murray defending his gold medal, Juan Martin del Potro entering people’s hearts, and shock defeats for Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic.But it was Monica Puig’s run which best encapsulated the spirit of the Games. Catherine talks to her about how it felt to win Puerto Rico’s first ever gold medal.As our journey through tennis’ history at the Olympics arrives at its final destination, we also speak to Christopher
Olympics Re-Lived - 2012 London
The London Olympics will never be forgotten by our Tennis Podcast team, for the opening ceremony, the incredible athletic feats, all of it happening on their doorsteps, and David's inability to watch any of it. Andy Murray and Serena Williams were the champions, their gold medal winning runs are discussed, and David talks to Laura Robson, who won a medal alongside Murray. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-ro
Olympics Re-Lived: 2008 Beijing
The Beijing Olympics are perhaps best remembered for the world-beating achievements of Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps, but it was also an unforgettable Games for tennis. We discuss Russia’s clean sweep of the women’s singles medals, how much a gold meant to Elena Dementieva, the way China embraced tennis, the lasting influence of the Beijing Games on the sport, how much Roger Federer values his doubles gold, and Rafael Nadal’s ascension to World No.1. There was also an epic semi-final between Jam
No US Open for Nadal; Olympics Re-Lived: 2004 Athens
We begin this episode by discussing the news that Rafael Nadal has opted not to defend his US Open title due to health risks before moving on to re-live the 2004 Olympics in Athens.It was a Games which saw Justine Henin-Hardenne win gold, Roger Federer stunned by Tomas Berdych, and double gold for Chile as Nicolas Massu won singles and doubles, alongside Fernando Gonzalez.We hear from both men at length about their magical week together and what it meant to their country.The men’s singles silver
Tennis is back; James Blake discusses the challenges
Tennis is back. But there are still question marks about the sport’s short-term future.In the first half of this episode we discuss the return of the WTA Tour in Palermo and the mood surrounding the US Open before wrapping up the results from the various exhibition events. Then, we hear from former World No.4 and current Miami Open tournament director James Blake (starting 43:26).He takes us through what happened during the week in March when Miami was cancelled and explains why he’s strugg
Olympics Re-Lived: 2000 Sydney
The 2000 Sydney Olympics were a happier time. Steve Redgrave won his 5th gold for Great Britain and Cathy Freeman became a symbol of national reconciliation for Australia. In this episode, we look back on a tennis event which also delivered compelling storylines, including double gold for Venus Williams to cap an extraordinary summer and a 4th place finish for a young Roger Federer. We also hear from men’s singles gold medallist Yevgeny Kafelnikov (starting 23m 27s) about his epic final against
Olympics Re-Lived: 1996 Atlanta
David was at university, Catherine was 10 and Matt was a baby.The 1996 Atlanta Olympics saw Michael Johnson dominate, Britain struggle, and some wonderful tennis stories unfold.In this edition of the podcast we talk to four medallists who had very different stories. From the bittersweet feelings of Gigi Fernandez, to the disbelief of Lindsay Davenport, and a life goal achieved for Leander Paes.Gigi Fernandez (gold in doubles) - 11m 38sLindsay Davenport (gold in singles) - 23m 17sSergi Bruguera (
Olympics Re-Lived: 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona
This is the first of several podcasts telling the story of modern tennis at the Olympic Games.We start with 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona, events that produced so many memorable moments. If you want to go straight to Barcelona, it begins at 50m.20s.We have spoken to five medallists for this podcast.1988 Seoul Zina Garrison (bronze in singles, gold in doubles) - 19m 55sTim Mayotte (silver in singles) - 38m 36s1992 BarcelonaMarc Rosset (gold in singles) - 1h 02m 04sMichael Stich (gold in doub
Listener Qu's - Covid-19 and the future of tennis
We're back! And we're answering your questions, as selected by listeners Drew and David, who backed our crowdfunding Kickstarter so generously. Here are the questions:•Is it the players’ responsibility to do what’s safe for themselves, or is it the tournament’s responsibility to guarantee safety regarding covid-19? (4:30)•Is the Western & Southern Open too ‘intense’ for the first sanctioned event of the restarted ATP Tour? (10:30)•If we were players, would we be happy to travel to New York f
Yannick Noah Interview
The 1983 French Open champion, Yannick Noah, is our guest this week.In an exclusive and extensive interview with David Law, Noah tells stories in his inimitable style about the influence Arthur Ashe had on his career, the time they played doubles together, the dream he had before the Roland Garros final, the words he exchanged with his father after beating Mats Wilander to win the title, why he could never crack Wimbledon, what it was like playing in the same era as legends like John McEnroe, Ji
Wimbledon Re-Lived 2015: Plucky Watson, Serena’s Escape
The biggest scare Serena Williams faced en route to winning the Wimbledon title in 2015 came from an unlikely source, as Heather Watson pushed her right to the brink in a third-round match which encapsulated the idea of a plucky Brit.The occasion was also memorable for the raucous atmosphere, and we discuss the elements of that which we felt crossed the line, along with how Serena managed to fight through and why Watson has not gone on to back up that performance at the Grand Slams. T
Wimbledon Re-Lived 2013: Andy’s Title, Judy’s Journey
In the penultimate episode of Wimbledon Re-Lived, we take ourselves back to July 7th 2013 when Andy Murray became the first British man to win Wimbledon since 1936 by beating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 6-4.In what way had the British public come to embrace Murray before the 2013 final? What impact had Ivan Lendl had on Murray’s game and his rivalry with Djokovic? How much of a factor was the weight of Britain’s 77-year drought for Murray? Why did Djokovic put in a flat performance? And what was ev
Wimbledon Re-Lived 2008: Rafael Nadal - King of grass
Finding new words to do justice to the 2008 men’s final at Wimbledon between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer is not easy, but that’s our task on this episode as we look back on the match regarded by many as the greatest in tennis history.There’s talk about the sense before the match that it could finally be Nadal’s time, Federer’s missed opportunities in the first two sets, the way in which their match-up favoured Nadal, Federer’s fitful forehand, why the epic fourth set tiebreak echoed Borg-McEn
Wimbledon Re-Lived 2005: Venus Williams - Game Changer
Venus Williams’ 4-6, 7-6, 9-7 victory over Lindsay Davenport in 2005 is the longest women’s final in Wimbledon history, and possibly the greatest. We discuss the sustained excellence from both players, the joy of watching Venus in her prime, the way she fought for equal prize money the night before the final, and how her uninhibited and jubilant celebration revealed a side to her which we don’t usually see. Davenport also describes the particular challenge of facing Venus on grass, the point the
Wimbledon Re-Lived 2004: The making of an unrivalry
When Maria Sharapova beat Serena Williams in the 2004 Wimbledon final, few could have predicted the path their rivalry would take over the next fifteen years.In this episode, we discuss why Sharapova’s run aged 17 wasn’t completely out of the blue and the way in which Serena was slightly under prepared, and Mary Carillo explains what impressed her most about Sharapova’s performance on that day and why she felt Serena was surprised by Sharapova’s level.Then, we look more closely at the developmen
Wimbledon Re-Lived 2001: Goran vs. Rafter, in their own words
The 2001 men’s Wimbledon final, which saw wildcard and three-time runner-up Goran Ivanisevic win his first title against Pat Rafter on People’s Monday, is one of the most famous matches in tennis history.So, for this episode, we wanted to get a range of perspectives on this much-told story.Ivan Ljubicic explains the significance of Ivanisevic’s victory for people in Croatia, Charlie Eccleshare talks about the experience of being in the crowd, Ivanisevic tells us (colourfully) why he thinks the f
Wimbledon Re-Lived 2001: Federer Comes Of Age
The only ever meeting between Pete Sampras and Roger Federer came at Wimbledon in 2001, when Sampras was a 7-time champion in the twilight of his career, and Federer was an emerging talent who hadn’t yet fulfilled his potential.Looking back now, it can be seen as a changing of the guard moment, with Federer prevailing in five sets. Is that how it was covered at the time? In what way did Federer grow as a tennis player on that day? And why did it take him another two years to win his first Grand
Wimbledon Re-Lived 1997 - Martina Hingis: Sixteen, Sassy, Sensational
In 1997, Martina Hingis beat Jana Novotna to become the youngest Wimbledon winner in the Open Era, aged 16. She also put together one of the best seasons in tennis history, winning all but one of her Grand Slam matches.Are her achievements from that year underrated? How were her sassy comments and confidence received at the time? In what way did she sometimes get herself in trouble with remarks about fellow players? What made her such a joy to watch? And why did she not go on to dominate for yea
Wimbledon Re-Lived 1993-98: The Jana Novotna Story
Nobody has ever had a connection with Wimbledon like Jana Novotna. In this episode, with the help of the storytelling of Mary Carillo and Chris Clarey, and the insights of Hana Mandlikova, the long-time coach and friend of Novotna, we cover the full emotional arc of her career and life. There’s discussion of Novotna’s choke in the 1993 final against Steffi Graf, the iconic image of her crying on the shoulder of the Duchess of Kent afterwards, her second Wimbledon final loss to Martina Hingis in
Wimbledon Re-Lived 1992: Andre from the baseline
Nobody expected Andre Agassi’s first Grand Slam title to come on grass at Wimbledon, a tournament he’d boycotted for a few years.But Agassi always did things his own way, and when he won the tournament in 1992, he did it from the baseline, beating former champions Boris Becker and John McEnroe en route to the final, before overcoming the massive serve of Goran Ivanisevic in five sets.Why was Agassi’s story such a big deal? What had happened in his first three Grand Slam finals for him to have de
Wimbledon Re-Lived 1991: Sabatini’s moment, Graf’s title
Going into Wimbledon in 1991, Steffi Graf’s supremacy was under threat. She hadn’t won a Grand Slam title for 18 months, she’d lost her No.1 ranking to Monica Seles, her father’s scandalous private life meant she was being hounded by the tabloids, and Gabriela Sabatini had emerged as a real rival.But Graf rose above everything, dominating the draw before winning a classic final 8-6 in the third set against Sabatini. How did Seles’ withdrawal pave the way for Graf? In what way did Sabatini revolu
Wimbledon Re-Lived 1985: Boris Becker, Just 17
In 1985, a strawberry-blonde, unseeded, 17-year-old German named Boris Becker won Wimbledon, beating Kevin Curren in the final, and suddenly tennis had a new star. In what way did Becker bring levels of power and athleticism which hadn’t been seen before on a tennis court? And how did people react to his arrival on the world stage?We hear from Johan Kriek, the man who predicted Becker’s victory at Wimbledon after losing to him at Queen’s two weeks earlier, and Curren discusses his own run which
Wimbledon Re-Lived 1980: Borg vs. McEnroe
The 1980 Wimbledon men’s final between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe is one of the most famous tennis matches of all time, and it lived up to expectations as we re-watched it ahead of our second Wimbledon Re-Lived show.How was McEnroe viewed by British tennis fans at the time? How did his behaviour change when he played Borg? And in what way does this match carry a cultural influence which transcends tennis?The apex of the match was the epic fourth set tiebreak, won by McEnroe 18-16 as the level o
Wimbledon Re-Lived 1978-90: Martina - The Greatest Champion
With nine singles titles to her name, Martina Navratilova is the most successful player in Wimbledon history. In this episode, we focus on the first of her wins – in 1978 against Chris Evert – and the last of them – in 1990 against Zina Garrison.In between analysing those matches, there’s discussion about the leaner years at the start of Navratilova’s career, her rivalry with Evert, the way she developed athletically into the sport’s most dominant figure, her special connection with Wimbledon, a
New Nadir - Djokovic Has Coronavirus
The fallout from the Adria Tour continued on Tuesday as world number one and event organiser Novak Djokovic tested positive for covid-19. The Telegraph’s Simon Briggs joins Catherine Whitaker and David Law to talk through the situation.Djokovic’s second statement of the day was better than his first, but which questions remain unanswered? Is Djokovic’s position as president of the ATP player council still tenable? How much damage has he done to tennis and to his own reputation? And where will th
Covid crisis on the Adria Tour – what were they thinking?
With Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki all testing positive for covid-19 after playing the Adria Tour, we discuss the inevitability and seriousness of the situation, Novak Djokovic’s role and responsibility in all this, and the possible implications for the sport. There’s also a preview of this week’s Battle of the Brits event and we hear from Andy Murray about last year’s run to the doubles titles at Queen’s with Feliciano Lopez. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitak
Tennis to return, but not as we know it
Tennis is on its way back, but not as we know it. The US Open, the French Open and many other big events in-between have been scheduled, and not everyone is happy about it.Catherine, David and Matt review the announcement, discuss the various issues it raises, and speculate about how many of the world’s leading players will opt out of competing in any of the events. Last weekend’s exhibition events - the Adria Tour and the ‘Ultimate Tennis Showdown’ also get the Tennis Podcast treatmen
Chris Evert - Oral History
Following Catherine’s interview with Chris Evert, we take the chance to tell the story of the 18-time Grand Slam champion in full.We discuss her most extraordinary records and achievements, consider her influence and legacy in the sport, ponder the reasons why she might be under-appreciated, reflect on her comments about the struggle of developing as a person while playing professional tennis, and look at the way she uses her platform for good. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitak
Chris Evert Interview
Catherine speaks to 18-time Grand Slam singles champion Chris Evert about her extraordinary tennis career.Evert reflects on how her childhood shaped the rest of her life, the early years of the WTA Tour, the challenge of being a well-adjusted human being as well as a great champion, her rivalry with Martina Navratilova and the way they were each portrayed by the media, the achievements she's most proud of, and her period of self-discovery following retirement.The Tennis Podcast is presented by C
Roland Garros Re-Lived 2018: Halep lays Grand Slam ghosts to rest
When Simona Halep beat Sloane Stephens in the 2018 Roland Garros final, the tennis world could breathe a sigh of relief. Finally, she was a Grand Slam champion. We discuss her previous three final losses, analyse a memorable match against Stephens, and reflect on how she lived with that victory during the months that followed. In a fascinating interview, her coach, Darren Cahill, reveals the switch he made to his usual pre-match pep talk before the final, the tactical change that helped Halep tu
Roland Garros Re-Lived 2015/16: When Stan became the Man and Novak completed the Slam
Novak Djokovic’s quest to win Roland Garros and complete his career Grand Slam is the focus of this episode as we look back on his near miss against Stan Wawrinka in the 2015 final and his moment of triumph over Andy Murray a year later.How can Wawrinka trouble Djokovic like nobody else? What was memorable about the ovation Djokovic received after that final? How did he bounce back from such a painful defeat? Was Murray’s fatigue a factor in the 2016 final? And how significant is it that Djokovi
Roland Garros Re-Lived 2009: When Rafa lost and Roger won
The 2009 French Open is best remembered for Rafael Nadal’s first loss at Roland Garros and for Roger Federer’s only title there. The man at the centre of both storylines, Robin Soderling, joins us for an exclusive interview.Soderling talks about how he stepped on court against Nadal with belief that he could win despite losing 6-1, 6-0 to him in Rome a few weeks earlier, how he respected but didn’t worship Nadal, what it felt like to be the first man to beat him in Paris, and the way in which Fe
Roland Garros Re-Lived 2005: Rafael Nadal – The Dominance Begins
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer first met in a Grand Slam in the semi-finals of the 2005 French Open when the tone for their rivalry on clay, and Nadal’s dominance at Roland Garros, was set. Nadal won in four sets and then won the title two days later against Mariano Puerta.In what way did Federer have the tennis world transfixed during this period? Did that cause people to underestimate Nadal in their matches? And what were the keys to victory for Nadal?Mary Carillo explains what made the Nadal-
Roland Garros Re-Lived 2003: Henin and Clijsters – it’s complicated
Justine Henin won the first of her four Roland Garros titles in 2003, beating Serena Williams in a controversial semi-final and Kim Clijsters in a one-sided final. With the help of Mary Carillo, we look back on those rivalries which shaped Henin’s career as well as her very strong record at the French Open during the mid-2000s. What made Henin such a threat to Serena? Did Henin and Clijsters like each other? What caused their rivalry to be a bit weird? How did it evolve? And why did Henin have s
Roland Garros Re-Lived 2002: The Serena Slam Begins
The 2002 French Open final is etched into tennis history as the only meeting between Serena and Venus Williams at Roland Garros and the start of their run of four consecutive Grand Slam finals against each other which ended with Serena winning her first Serena Slam.How did the sisters take the sport to new heights during this period? What did Venus’ reaction to defeat reveal about her character and her relationship with Serena? And how have their careers shined a light on race issues in tennis?W
Roland Garros Re-Lived 2001: Jennifer Capriati – the crowning, and the cautionary tale
The 2001 French Open saw Jennifer Capriati beat Kim Clijsters 12-10 in the final set to win her second Grand Slam title, but this was just a small part of Capriati’s story, one we tell in full on this podcast with the help of Tom Gullikson (her former coach), Lindsay Davenport (her compatriot) and Mary Carillo (someone who tracked her career closely).We cover Capriati’s prodigious talent and breakthrough results, her downward spiral and the events which turned her into a cautionary tale, her res
Roland Garros Re-Lived 1999: Agassi At Last
Not many people expected Andre Agassi to win the French Open, especially not in 1999, and certainly not when he fell two sets down in the final against Andrei Medvedev. But then he produced one of the greatest comebacks of all time, recovering to beat Medvedev and complete the coveted career Grand Slam. In this episode we talk through the events which led Agassi to that point. What had happened in his previous two French Open finals? Why did he used to skip Wimbledon and the Australian Open? And
Roland Garros Re-Lived 1999: Graf vs. Hingis - Ecstasy, Agony, Aggro
Martina Hingis never won the French Open, but the 1999 final was definitely the one that got away as she let slip a comfortable lead against Steffi Graf in a classic match filled with aggro.How did Hingis stir things up before the match with her comments about Graf? What incidents turned the crowd against Hingis and caused her to get a point penalty? And in what way were the scenes at the end of the match - as Hingis returned to the court in tears comforted by her mother - so pathos heavy?We hea
Roland Garros Re-Lived 1997: Allez Guga! Allez Guga!
Almost nobody had heard of Gustavo Kuerten when he entered Roland Garros in 1997, but everyone knew who he was when he walked away as the champion. So, how did he do it? Kuerten tells us about the moment he first felt the love of the French fans, his difficult matches against Thomas Muster and Yevgeny Kafelnikov en route to the final, and just how much tennis still means to him. We also hear from Sergi Bruguera, the runner-up that year, about what it was like to play against Kuerten and his memo
Roland Garros Re-Lived 1992: Seles vs. Graf - The greatest final but a bittersweet rivalry
Monica Seles’ 6-2, 3-6, 10-8 victory over Steffi Graf in 1992 is widely considered to be the best Roland Garros final of all time.Catherine, David and Matt explain how they felt while watching it and discuss some of the reasons why it was so special.We also hear from Graf’s coach at the time, Heinz Günthardt, who offers insight into why Seles caused Graf so many problems, especially on clay.New York Times journalist Christopher Clarey explains where the match ranks among the best he’s ever witne
Roland Garros Re-Lived 1989: Michael Chang makes history
When Michael Chang beat Stefan Edberg in the 1989 French Open final, he became the youngest man ever to win a Grand Slam title, but it’s his fourth-round match against Ivan Lendl which is most famous.Chang was trailing by two sets to love, but several moonballs, numerous bouts of cramp, and even an underarm serve later, he’d won the match and turned it into the stuff of legend. In an exclusive interview, Chang discusses his tactics to turn the match around, the way he got booed during the t
Roland Garros Re-Lived 1985: Chris Evert vs. Martina Navratilova – The Rivalry
Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova met 80 times in total, and their 1985 French Open final, won 7-5 in the third set by Evert, was one of their best ever matches.In an exclusive interview, Evert explains why she will be inextricably bound in history with Navratilova, the way they were portrayed as opposites, the reasons Navratilova was the favourite ahead of their 1985 Roland Garros final, why this victory stands out as her greatest, and the way it lengthened her career.The Tennis Podcast is pr
Roland Garros Re-Lived 1984: The match that haunts McEnroe
John McEnroe never won the French Open. But he should have done in 1984. Instead, he lost a two-set lead in the final against Ivan Lendl. So, what happened?Having re-watched the whole match, Catherine, David and Matt give their analysis. In what way did McEnroe allow himself to get distracted? Did he choke? How did Lendl mount his comeback? And what did this match do for both of their careers?We also hear from Mary Carillo who recounts why it hurt McEnroe so much to lose specifically to Lendl, t
Roland Garros Re-Lived 1983: Yannick Noah and the power of dreams
Who better to tell the story of Yannick Noah’s historic victory at the French Open in 1983 than the man himself?In an enthralling, exclusive interview, Noah takes us through it all, including the extra work he put in during the build-up to Roland Garros that year, his nerve-wracking victory over Ivan Lendl, the relief he felt when Jimmy Connors lost, the dream he had before the final, the words he exchanged with his father after beating Mats Wilander to win the title, and why he could never repl
Rome Re-Lived: Sabatini’s stylish dominance; Nadal and Federer’s 2006 classic
We begin this week’s Tennis Re-Lived in 1992 when Gabriela Sabatini won her fourth title in Rome, beating Monica Seles in her prime in the final.How come Sabatini had such a special connection with Rome? In what way did she manage to make Seles’ game seem a bit limited in that match? And why have Sabatini’s achievements faded from tennis conversation?Then, we go back to 2006 to cover Rafael Nadal’s epic five set win over Roger Federer. In what way was Nadal kryptonite for Federer in this period?
Your questions answered – tennis without crowds, Thiem vs. Ibbou & the big doubles debate
We take listener questions on a range of topics, including what can be done to make tennis behind closed doors more enjoyable, Innes Ibbou’s rebuttal to Dominic Thiem’s comments about lower ranked players, results from the past that we’d like to change, the best and worst coaching appointments, and whether doubles should be made more prominent.The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand
Madrid Re-Lived - When Clay Turned Blue; Maria Sharapova: Clay Court Specialist
Catherine, David and Matt return with another episode of Tennis Re-Lived, this time looking back on a couple of classic finals and storylines from Madrid.In 2012, the clay turned blue, and Janko Tipsarevic explains what it was really like to play on, who it favoured, how it affected Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, why it was ditched, and the reason it was slippery.Plus, in what way was the final a microcosm of Tomas Berdych’s career? And how did Federer find his feet when others struggled?The 2
Worst of the Big 3
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are the three best male players of all time, but they haven’t always been so great...In the final episode of our ‘worst of’ series (for now), we reflect on those rare moments when they struggled on court, including their respective slumps in 2013, 2015 and 2017.Plus, what happened to Federer at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics? How did he lose to Guillermo Cañas in back-to-back tournaments in 2007? Why did Nadal’s Wimbledon results go downhill from 2012 o
Worst Grand Slam finals ever
Our countdown of the Top 10 worst Grand Slam finals of all time, including a weekend of double disappointment in 1983, the only 6-0 6-0 in Open Era history, a couple of Wimbledon finals which prompted change, and a controversial mid-match retirement.‘Worst of’ fortnight will conclude on Thursday when we discuss the low points in the careers of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is pr
Worst Tennis Podcast predictions ever - part 2
If you enjoyed part one of our worst ever predictions podcast, then you’re going to love part two.Our self-imposed humiliation intensifies as we re-play a couple of clips to make Catherine cringe, go deep on David’s wildly changeable views on Nick Kyrgios, and laugh at Matt picking Victoria Kuzmova to do big things.Plus, in a segment on our wildly inaccurate ranking projections, find out which player, who has never been ranked inside the Top 100, David thought would be Top 20 by 2020.‘Worst of’
Worst Tennis Podcast predictions ever - part 1
This week we are venturing nervously into the archives to dissect and discuss our worst ever predictions.Part one includes a couple of clangers involving Serena Williams, examples of our overly optimistic outlook on Grigor Dimitrov, and jinxing the big Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal match that everyone wanted to see at the US Open.The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tourname
Pam Shriver - US Open finalist aged 16, winning Olympic Gold, and partnering Martina Navratilova
Catherine speaks to former world No.3 and 22-time Grand Slam doubles champion Pam Shriver, covering the start of her partnership with Martina Navratilova and their many successes together, her memories of the historic 1986 Fed Cup Final, her gold medal winning run with Zina Garrison in Seoul, what it was like to reach the US Open final as a 16-year-old, and her thoughts on when tennis might return.The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is
Federer: WTA/ATP Should Merge - our reaction; John Millman nearly retired, then beat Federer - our interview
We hadn’t planned to record a podcast today, but then Roger Federer tweeted about merging the ATP and WTA, and we were suddenly in emergency podcast territory.Why has it taken until now, during a global pandemic and 50 years after Billie Jean King first proposed the idea, for some of the top men to get behind it? How likely is it to actually happen? And what are the potential stumbling blocks?In the second half of the show, David speaks to John Millman about his life without tennis, the need to
Fed Cup & Monte Carlo Re-Lived: Navratilova’s Homecoming, Muster’s Controversial Comeback
The second instalment of Tennis Re-Lived sees us travel back to the 1980s and 90s.First, we tell the story of Martina Navratilova’s return to her homeland in 1986 when she represented the USA against Czechoslovakia in the Fed Cup Final. Why was this such an important moment in her life? How was she received by the people in Prague? And just how good was her tennis in the decisive match against Hana Mandlikova?Matt unearths some stories from the week and Catherine speaks to Pam Shriver, Navratilo
Perfect tennis dinner companions, will ATP-WTA unity last, and is it ok to support Tennys Sandgren?
We’re back with another Q&A edition of The Tennis Podcast, answering listener questions about our dream tennis dinner party, the Grand Slam credentials of Alex de Minaur and Nick Kyrgios, how long the unity between the ATP and the WTA might last, and whether it’s okay to support Tennys Sandgren despite his past Twitter support for the far right.Plus, an update on the cancellation of Montreal, a chat about the tennis players we most resemble, and a massive argument. The Tennis Podcast is p
Big 3 downsides, Blue clay, and is Kyrgios on the boat? A listener questions special
In a Q&A edition which goes off in various directions, we cover topics such as the players we wish we had seen live, the downsides of the Big 3 dominance, how the prolonged break to tennis might affect certain players differently, whether or not Nick Kyrgios is on the boat, and our predictions from the start of the year about what we *thought* would happen in 2020.The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, an
What happens when tennis stops?
Catherine Whitaker and David Law set out to examine the way in which covid-19 is impacting tennis players and events. Hear from World No.211 Liam Broady on how he’s coping without tennis as well as the physical, mental and financial challenges he’s facing, LTA chief executive Scott Lloyd on the support package provided to British tennis players, World No.375 Sofia Shapatava on her petition seeking financial assistance from the ITF, and Queen’s tournament director Stephen Farrow on what goes on b
Miami Re-Lived: Venus vs. Serena 1999; Murray vs. Ferrer 2013
To launch Tennis Re-Lived, Catherine, David and Matt look back on two classic Miami finals, starting with the first ever final between the Williams sisters in 1999. What was most noticeable about Venus and Serena’s respective games and personalities at the time? How was women’s tennis talked about in this era? And in what way was Richard Williams front and centre? Turning to Murray and Ferrer’s epic in 2013, how did the match become so dramatic after a ropey start? Has there been a more shocking
Wimbledon cancelled; Grass court season shelved - Our reaction
We knew it was coming, and yet it still felt shocking, and it still hurt. After Wimbledon announced its 134th edition would not take place, and the rest of the grass court season was abandoned because of the Coronavirus, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts were joined on The Tennis Podcast by Simon Briggs, the Tennis Correspondent of The Telegraph. Was there any alternative? What sort of impact will the cancellations have on the tennis world, and those working within it? And
Olympics Postponed; Mary Carillo Q&A - Part 2!
We begin this week’s show by discussing the one-year postponement of the Tokyo Olympics and launching Tennis Re-Lived. That's followed by part two of our Q&A with Mary Carillo as she talks more about her own career – including her memories of the French Open mixed doubles title she won with John McEnroe and the worst match she’s ever commentated on.The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners every December.* NE
Q&A with Mary Carillo - Part 1!
Mary Carillo joins Catherine, David and Matt from Florida to catch up and answer some listener questions.In part one, she talks about how the enforced break due to Coronavirus could affect different players, whether a champion's mentality can be learned, and how Coco Gauff's career might unfold compared to other teenage stars.The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners every December.* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get ou
The French Open in…September?
The French Open in…September?Catherine, David and Matt are back for a bonus mid-week pod to discuss all the fallout from Roland Garros going rogue in the wake of Coronavirus and re-positioning itself in the calendar for this year.What are the political implications of such a move? Will this actually bring tennis’ fractious governing bodies together? Could it lead to long-term change? And what’s the likelihood of it going ahead like this?There’s also news of David’s AMA on Reddit, Matt quotes Sta
The Tennis Podcast Goes On
Catherine, David and Matt talk about the dramatic developments since Indian Wells’ cancellation, the absence and importance of sport in our lives, the impact this break could have when tennis eventually returns, and which players they would choose to self-isolate with. Plus, Dan Evans and Bethanie Mattek-Sands give insight into what it was like on site at Indian Wells last week, the communication they’ve had from the tours about Coronavirus, how this suspension will impact players, an
Indian Wells Cancelled
Catherine was supposed to be flying to Indian Wells today, but instead she’s chatting to David and Matt all about the fact that the tournament has been cancelled because of Coronavirus. Discussion includes what to make of the decision, how it affects livelihoods in tennis, and the way the situation could potentially escalate to affect more tournaments,The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners every December.* NEW
Invincible Djokovic - can he go 2020 unbeaten?
Catherine, David and Matt are together again to review another busy week in the packed February schedule, one which saw Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal seamlessly return to the tour and win titles, Heather Watson and Dan Evans impress, and the emergence of more teenage stars. What's changed in 2020 for Djokovic to be able to dominate the tour once again? Was it appropriate for Tsitsipas' mum to attend his press conference in Dubai and what does it say about their relationship? And what did we le
Maria Sharapova Retires - Our Reaction, With Chris Clarey
Maria Sharapova, who beat Serena Williams to win Wimbledon aged 17, completed the career Grand Slam, and then failed an anti-doping test, has retired.In a special edition of The Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker and David Law are joined by the man that broke the news of her retirement, Chris Clarey of the New York Times, to react to the announcement.Why did she stop now? How will her career be remembered? Could she have done more? Is she legacy tainted by the positive test? And what will she do
Federer Sidelined by Surgery - Curse or Blessing? Plus Rybakina's Rise & Halep's Heroics
Catherine, David and Matt catch up to discuss a busy week which saw Roger Federer announce knee surgery, Kim Clijsters impress in her first match for seven years, Simona Halep beat Elena Rybakina in a thriller in Dubai, and Dominic Thiem struggle in Rio. Could Federer’s enforced break actually be a blessing in disguise when it comes to Wimbledon and the Olympics this summer? What makes Rybakina special? And who is 16-year-old Carlos Alcaraz who won a match in Rio?* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to ge
Catching up since Melbourne - Fed Cup, Clijsters’ Comeback, Monfils’ Momentum
Catherine, David and Matt are back together for the first time since the Australian Open with plenty to catch up on, including an exciting Fed Cup weekend, titles for Kiki Bertens, Gael Monfils and Kyle Edmund, and the impending return of Kim Clijsters. How important is it that home and away ties continue to exist in Fed Cup? Why did Jo Konta not commit to it? And will Monfils build on this form at bigger events? There’s also a chance to look back on our interview with Marion Bartoli,
Marion Bartoli – Winning Wimbledon, Overcoming Anorexia, Coaching Ostapenko
Before leaving Melbourne, Catherine Whitaker and David Law spent an hour in the company of Marion Bartoli. What followed was, we believe, one of the most powerful and important podcasts we’ve ever done.Topics include how Bartoli came to play double-handed on both sides, the way tennis affected her relationship with her father and brother growing up, why she felt like a failure after losing the 2007 Wimbledon final, what it felt like to finally win Wimbledon in 2013, her sudden retirement from th
Aus Open Day 14 - Djokovic Denies Thiem for Slam 17
Catherine, David and Matt bring you one final Tennis Podcast from the 2020 Australian Open after Novak Djokovic beat Dominic Thiem in five sets to win an 8th title in Melbourne and a 17th Grand Slam overall. There’s chat about Djokovic’s fast start, the way in which the crowd and Thiem started to rattle him, his time violations, his mid-match lull, and his fifth set resurgence. Can he catch Nadal and Federer this year? How will the Olympics affect the Grand Slam race this season? And i
Aus Open Day 13 - Kick Ass Kenin Crowned Champ
Sofia Kenin is a Grand Slam champion. How did she fight back against Muguruza? What boat-worthy character traits does she have? And how will she build on this victory? Catherine, David and Matt discuss all that and more before looking ahead to Thiem vs. Djokovic.* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our news, predictions and Matt’s Stat. Daily at the Grand Slams and weekly throughout the rest of the year - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX* REDDIT *We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community f
Aus Open Day 12 - Thiem vs. Djokovic Final Set; Kenin vs. Muguruza Preview
After Dominic Thiem beat Alexander Zverev to reach his first Grand Slam final on a hard court, Catherine, David and Matt were joined by The Telegraph’s Simon Briggs to talk all about it. How did Thiem adjust mentally and tactically from the Nadal match? Why did Zverev not play more aggressively? And in what way can Thiem trouble Djokovic? Looking ahead to the women’s final, there’s discussion about why Sofia Kenin hasn’t received much hype, how her career might develop after this run, and G
Aus Open Day 11 - Did Barty Blow It?
The women’s final will be Sofia Kenin vs. Garbiñe Muguruza. How did that happen? Catherine, David and Matt discuss at the end of a scorching hot day in Melbourne. How much of an impact did the conditions have on the women’s semi-finals? In what way were they similar matches? Did Ash Barty choke against Kenin? How much will this defeat have hurt her? And who will have the edge in the final? In the night session, a hampered Roger Federer did take to the court against Novak Djokovic, but
Aus Open Day 10 - Thiem's Time Has Come
Dominic Thiem did it. He proved Catherine, David and Matt right (for once) by beating Rafael Nadal in four pulsating sets. How significant does it feel that he beat Nadal at his own game? What made Nadal look agitated? And can Thiem peak again for the rest of this tournament? There’s also chat about Alexander Zverev reaching his first Grand Slam semi-final with victory over Stan Wawrinka, and the way he’s turned his serve into a weapon again, approached this year’s Australian Open with lowe
Aus Open Day 9 - Federer's Melbourne Miracle and Barty's Bigtime Revenge
Novak Djokovic’s straightforward victory over Milos Raonic in the night session meant a rare early(ish) finish for Catherine, David and Matt. But it was a day with plenty of drama as Roger Federer saved 7 match points to beat Tennys Sandgren. How did he do it? And what state will he be in for his semi-final? Elsewhere, there’s discussion about Ash Barty avenging last year’s quarter-final defeat to Petra Kvitova. In what way did it show how much she’s improved? Will she have her work cut out
Aus Open Day 8 - Nadal Edges New Kyrgios; Goran Goes In-Depth On Djokovic
Another night at this year’s Australian Open, another Nick Kyrgios match that had everyone engrossed. This time, he lost against Rafael Nadal in a pulsating four-set contest, but he showed a commitment we’d never seen from him before. Afterwards, Catherine, David and Matt sat down with some beers to digest the match. There’s also chat about Dominic Thiem’s reasons for splitting with Thomas Muster, the awesome sight of Stan Wawrinka in full flight, Garbiñe Muguruza’s ambition, Alexander Zver
Aus Open Day 7 - Barty Survives Riske; Wilander - Change Ain’t Coming Yet
Ash Barty has had her problems with Alison Riske, but she scraped past her nemesis to keep hopes of a home title alive. Afterwards, while Roger Federer faced Marton Fucsovics, David and Matt went round to Catherine’s apartment to watch the last match of the day, drink beer and eat snacks galore. Then they recorded the Day 7 pod to look back on the day. How far can Federer go? What aggro went on between Fabio Fognini and Tennys Sandgren? And who will win between Alexander Zverev and Andrey R
Aus Open Day 6 – Kyrgios’ Finest Hour; Pliskova’s Grand Slam Curse; Muguruza’s Revival
After Friday’s drama at the Australian Open, there was a sense of déjà vu on Saturday with more top seeds going out and another engrossing fifth set tiebreak to end the night, only this time with Nick Kyrgios involved. Catherine, David and Matt sat down to talk it all through. What made Kyrgios’ victory over Khachanov feel like the best and most important of his career? Why does Pliskova keep failing at Grand Slams? And are we witnessing Muguruza’s rejuvenation?* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our n
Aus Open Night 5 - Yet More Drama; Gauff Stuns Osaka; Federer Somehow Survives
On a day of snowballing drama, Catherine, David and Matt got together again for a second podcast to capture the excitement of a night session which saw defending champion Naomi Osaka beaten by Coco Gauff, Stefanos Tsitsipas shown up by Milos Raonic, and Roger Federer pushed to the brink by John Millman in a match ending with the first ever fifth set tiebreak on the Rod Laver Arena. It left everyone wondering: has there ever been a better day of tennis?* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our news, predi
EMERGENCY POD - Serena Out; Wozniacki Retires
An extraordinarily dramatic Friday afternoon in Melbourne which saw Serena Williams beaten by Qiang Wang and Caroline Wozniacki sent into retirement by Ons Jabeur called for an emergency edition of The Tennis Podcast. So, Catherine, David and Matt gathered amid the Garden Square hubbub to try to make sense of it all. What happened to Serena? Where does this leave her quest to win No.24? And what did Wozniacki's emotion say about her? * NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our news, predictions and Matt’s
Aus Open Day 4 - Late Night Epics; Kyrgios Keeps It Together; Dust Stops Play
It felt like the 2020 Australian Open came to life on Thursday evening as a series of matches turned into epics under the lights. Afterwards, Catherine, David and Matt met up to talk about them, as well as everything else they'd seen on a breathless day. Why are Kyrgioptimism levels higher than ever before after his victory over Simon? Why did dust force play to stop? And how has Cici Bellis defied her injuries?* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our news, predictions and Matt’s Stat. Daily at the Gran
Aus Open Day 3 - Wozniacki Won't Retire; Federer vs. Millman - The Rematch
Caroline Wozniacki will retire from tennis over the next two weeks. But not today. Her comeback win against Dayana Yastremska is discussed on the latest daily pod from the Australian Open, as is another triumph for Coco Gauff, serene progress for the big names, and the prospect of Roger Federer vs. John Millman - the rematch. * LEAVE US A REVIEW *We reached No.4 in the Apple Podcasts charts today. Leave us a review so everyone knows what you think of us! (as long as it's good) - https://podcasts
Aus Open Day 2 – 88 matches and the return of Kyrgioptimism
At the end of a day when 88 matches were played at the Australian Open, Catherine, David and Matt were all in desperate need of a beer as they recorded the latest Tennis Podcast from inside the media centre. They discuss Tiafoe’s encouraging performance in defeat against Medvedev, plenty of British misfortune, whether probation suits Kyrgios and if he will be able to beat Simon, a match which felt like the end of the road for Sharapova, and results which have left predictions in tatte
Aus Open Day 1 - Catherine! And Serena, Federer, Djokovic, Osaka ...
As the clock struck midnight and David and Matt prepared to record the pod after day one of the Australian Open, Catherine arrived! Together, they discussed the straightforward days for Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Naomi Osaka, a weirdly scrappy evening session featuring Ash Barty and Novak Djokovic, and a backwards step for Denis Shapovalov.* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our news, predictions and Matt’s Stat. Daily at the Grand Slams and weekly throughout the rest of the year - http://
Aus Open – Draw Dissection and Predictions
David and Matt sit down to dissect the draws and make their predictions for the 2020 Australian Open, with a few surprising choices and disagreements along the way. Will Serena Williams finally claim No.24? And is this the moment that the Big 3’s Grand Slam dominance will be broken? * KICKSTARTER *There are just a few hours to go in our 2020 crowdfunding campaign. If you'd like to support us, this is your last chance to do so - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thetennispodcast/the-
Aus Open - Inside the Interview Room
David and Matt take you inside the press room at the Australian Open where they spent media day asking questions and getting a sense of how the top players are feeling. There’s news of how Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal spoke to tournament officials about the air pollution, Daniil Medvedev’s admission that last year’s run could have been a hot streak, Caroline Wozniacki’s reflections on her career, and Naomi Osaka’s desire to have a rival. * KICKSTARTER *There are just under two days t
Aus Open - The draw, the vibe, but where's Catherine?
David and Matt have made it to Melbourne! For now, with Catherine still in the U.K. as she recovers from her eye infection, they are joined by The Telegraph’s Simon Briggs to discuss the controversial build-up to this year’s Australian Open. Simon has been down under for a few weeks, and he gives the lowdown on how he thinks the ATP Cup might affect players, the criticism faced by Tennis Australia as qualifying went ahead in spite of the poor air quality, the main talking points from Thursday's
Serena's Significant Win; Djokovic Off To A Flier
David is back together with Catherine and Matt to discuss a busy opening week of the 2020 season. The significance of Serena Williams’ title in Auckland is assessed, caution is urged after Karolina Pliskova’s triumph in Brisbane, there are debates about the real meaning of Serbia’s ATP Cup victory and the possible solution to tennis’ team event conundrum, and a row ensues about Novak Djokovic’s status as the Australian Open favourite. *** KICKSTARTER ***Thanks to everyone who has he
ATP Cup - Yes or No?
A new decade, a new tennis season, and the new ATP Cup. In our first episode of 2020, Catherine Whitaker and Matt Roberts discuss what they've made of the first few days of the tournament, how it compares to the revamped Davis Cup, whether it's what tennis needs, and some of the notable results so far. There's also a look at some of the main stories from the off season and a preview of the new WTA season.*** KICKSTARTER ***Thanks to everyone who has backed us so far. If you enjoy the show and wa
Marcos Baghdatis Interview
Our final episode of 2019 is a big interview with Marcos Baghdatis (details below). In the meantime, our Kickstarter continues to run, and we will be back in the first week of January to preview the new season. Thanks to everyone who has supported us throughout the year. To back The Tennis Podcast in 2020 - http://po.st/TP_Kickstarter2020*** BAGHDATIS INTERVIEW ***Marcos Baghdatis opens up to David Law on a range of topics, including:Australian Open final run in 2006Idolising Andre AgassiInjury
2019 Awards Show
Shortly after our live show at The Queen’s Club, Catherine, David and Matt recorded the final regular edition of The Tennis Podcast in 2019 to reflect on the night and hand out our awards for the season. The categories were:· Player of the year (08:32)· Team of the year (13:18)· Match of the year (18:35)· Disappointment of the year (21:57)·
The Tennis Podcast - Looking Back, Looking Forwards
Why do we like podcasting? What were our highlights of producing 130 of them in 2019? And why are we crowdfunding again?We - Catherine, David and Matt - get together over a beer to tell you on a special mini-pod. Our campaign to crowdfund The Tennis Podcast in 2020 is now live. If you would like to support us, please access the link below. Thank you.Support The Tennis Podcast - http://po.st/TP_Kickstarter2020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Davis Cup Finals Day 7 - Spain Wins; Pique's Perspective; Haggerty Grilled; Clarey's View
Davis Cup Finals Day 7 - Nadal, Bautista Agut Win For Spain; Pique Perspective; Haggerty Grilled; Chris Clarey View Rafael Nadal did what Rafael Nadal does - perform heroically, and win for himself and his nation.What Roberto Bautista Agut did was arguably even more impressive - suiting up for Spain just three days after his father had died, and putting his nation 1-0 up.Catherine Whitaker, David Law, and Matt Roberts on the ground come together to review another extraordinary couple of day
Davis Cup Finals Day 6 - Superman Nadal vs. GB, Canada and the world
Rafael Nadal is the closest thing in tennis to Superman. And on Saturday, he continued to take on the world, beating Great Britain almost single-handedly and setting up a final against Canada.The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, with Matt Roberts. It is produced daily during all of the Grand Slams, the WTA and ATP Finals, and the Fed and Davis Cups, in association with Telegraph Sport.***LINKS***Support The Tennis Podcast - Help keep The Tennis Podcast going and g
Davis Cup Finals Day 5 - This Is What We Came For. This Is What We Want.
This is the day that Gerard Pique would have been dreaming about when he invested in the Davis Cup and turned it into a single week finals with 18 teams.Despair for Serbia, joy for Russia, Spain and Great Britain, with some of the most emotional scenes of the year, on and off the court.Afterwards, Catherine Whitaker (Amazon Prime tv presenter), David Law (BBC Radio commentator), and Matt Roberts got together as usual to share their experiences of a spellbinding day.We hear the best (or worst, de
Davis Cup Finals Day 4 - Matt Meets Novak; Canada Makes Semis
Early night for Matt Roberts, who got to bed at 2am after running out of the Magic Box before it shut. Once home, he told us why Nick Kyrgios didn't play for Australia against Canada, what it was like hanging out with the Canadian ultras, and what he asked Novak Djokovic. Matt, Catherine Whitaker and David Law reviewed the rest of the day in Madrid. The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year, daily during the Grand Slam tournaments, the WTA and ATP Finals, and the Fed Cup and Davi
Davis Cup Finals Day 3 - Miffed Murray Wins; Canadian Controversy
With tennis still going on at 2am in Madrid, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts discussed the return to the Davis Cup of Andy Murray. It wasn't all plain sailing, and he had plenty to say afterwards. Novak Djokovic wasn't short of a word or two either. We hear from the both on The Tennis Podcast. The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year, daily during the Grand Slam tournaments, the WTA and ATP Finals, and the Fed Cup and Davis Cup finals.***LINKS***:Davis Cup Finals
Davis Cup Finals Day 2 - Midnight mayhem, but a proper atmosphere
The old Davis Cup atmosphere is alive and well if today is anything to go by in Madrid, even if only when the home nation plays. Spain vs. Russia was electric, and at the time of recording - well after midnight - it was still going on. Why did it go on so late? How was Rafael Nadal playing? And what was the deal with Canada allowing the USA a walkover in their doubles rubber?Matt Roberts was still in Madrid as the clock neared 1am, and talked to David Law about an interesting day.The Tennis Podc
Davis Cup Finals Day 1 - So, what was it like?
Davis Cup, but not as we know it, began on Monday. So, what was it like? Matt Roberts was on the ground in Madrid and spoke to Catherine Whitaker and David Law on the pod afterwards.The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year, daily during the Grand Slam tournaments, the WTA and ATP Finals, and the Fed Cup and Davis Cup finals.***LINKS***:Davis Cup Finals tickets code - Get 15% off, on us, by going to DavisCupFinals.com and putting in the code TTPDavisCupFinals.Tennis Podcast Live&
ATP Finals Day 8 - "Tsit-si-pas" wins London hearts ; New era for Davis Cup in Madrid
Stefanos Tsitsipas is the ATP Finals champion and the future of men’s tennis looks bright.With the tennis court at the O2 being dismantled around them, Catherine Whitaker and David Law discuss Tsitsipas’ thrilling final set tiebreak victory over Dominic Thiem. Where was the match won and lost? What makes people fall in love with Tsitsipas? How confident can we be that both players will deliver more of the same next year? And what made this such a memorable tournament?Then, David catches up with
ATP Finals Day 7 - Tsitsipas vs. Thiem In Dream Final
Stefanos Tsitsipas downed Roger Federer in straight sets despite setting up a third of the break points that they great man conjured, and squandered. So what happened? Catherine Whitaker and David Law talk it through.The Greek will now face Dominic Thiem in what looks like being one of the most interesting matches of the year.The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year, daily during the Grand Slam tournaments, the WTA and ATP Finals, and the Fed Cup and Davis Cup finals.LINKS:Tenni
ATP Finals Day 6 - No.1 Nadal Departs With Head Held High
Rafael Nadal played his best tennis of the ATP Finals, celebrated ending the year as World No.1, but still failed to reach the semifinals. Afterwards, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts discussed his extraordinary year, and his reaction afterwards.They also covered Alexander Zverev's win over Daniil Medvedev and previewed the semifinals. The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year, daily during the Grand Slam tournaments, the WTA and ATP Finals, and the Fed Cup and Davi
ATP Finals Day 5 - Roger's Revenge
Roger Federer put his Novak Djokovic demons to bed for a night and handed Rafael Nadal the year-end No.1 at the ATP Finals on Thursday.Afterwards, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts went to the bar to talk about it.The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year, daily during the Grand Slam tournaments, the WTA and ATP Finals, and the Fed Cup and Davis Cup finals.LINKS:Tennis Podcast Live - If you would like to enter the ballot for tickets to Tennis Podcast Live at The Quee
ATP Finals Day 4 - Nadal-Medvedev: Comeback or Choke? Tsitsipas Delivers, Zverev Disappoints
Rafael Nadal trailed Daniil Medvedev 1-5 in the third set, and won. What on earth happened? Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts convened with Simon Briggs of The Telegraph to try to work it out.How good was Stefanos Tsitsipas? And how bad was Alexander Zverev?The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year, and daily at all the Grand Slams, the WTA and ATP Finals, and the Fed and Davis Cup finals.Newsletter - Weekly predictions, Matt’s Stat and Memory Lane are coming your wa
ATP Finals Day 3 - Thiem Downs Djokovic In Classic; Andy Murray Interview!
Dominic Thiem vs. Novak Djokovic was one of the best matches The O2 has ever seen. Catherine Whitaker, Matt Roberts, David Law and special guest Charlie Eccleshare were suitably thrilled on the pod.Plus, we talk to Andy Murray about fatherhood for the first time, the Davis Cup finals, what would constitute success in 2020, and how he doesn't want to end up like Ivan Lendl.Newsletter - Weekly predictions, Matt’s Stat and Memory Lane are coming your way if you sign up free, here - http://po.st/TTP
ATP Finals Day 2 - Zverev, Tsitsipas Savour Landmark Wins
Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas started Monday with 0-5 records against Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev, but ended it with significant victories.Afterwards, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts got together to talk about what happened, the delirious interviews they attended, and what they think will happen next for the young Next Gen stars.The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year, daily at all of the Grand Slams, Tour Finals, and Davis and Fed Cup final in ass
ATP Finals Day 1 - Thiem Takes Out Federer; Djokovic Batters Berrettini; Who is Jannik Sinner?
The Tennis Podcast crew were pleading with Dominic Thiem to show up on day one of the ATP Finals, and he did so with bells on. The Austrian defeated Roger Federer in the night session, and Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts convened afterwards to talk about what went on. Novak Djokovic beating Matteo Berretti wasn’t a great surprise, but the manner of it was chastening. What happened? The pod team discuss. And in the aftermath of an 18-year-old winning the Next Gen Finals,
Fed Cup Final Day 2 - Mladenovic's moment; Joy for France as Australia look to the future
France are the Fed Cup champions for the first time since 2003 after Kiki Mladenovic seized the day for her country, beating Ash Barty in both singles and doubles.David Law, Catherine Whitaker and Matt Roberts are together to talk it all through, including Mladenovic and Garcia's redemption narrative, Julien Benneteau's gamble that paid off, and Barty and Stosur's tears.Also, hear from a jubilant French team immediately after their victory, and a disconsolate Australian side in press. Does capta
Fed Cup Final Day 1 - Dreams and nightmares; ATP Finals Preview - Tales from media day
The Fed Cup final is evenly poised going into Sunday after a very strange opening day which saw Kiki Mladenovic thrash Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1, 6-1, before Ash Barty levelled for Australia with a 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Caroline Garcia. Catherine Whitaker and Matt Roberts try to make sense of it all.Why were the matches so one-sided? Was Tomljanovic simply affected by nerves? Was it really the best match Barty has ever played? And will the captains make changes to their teams tomorrow? All that and
Fed Cup Final Preview: Australia vs. France – Who has the edge?
On the eve of the Fed Cup final in Perth, Catherine Whitaker and Matt Roberts are together at the O2 to look ahead to the tie. They discuss the growing status of Ash Barty in Australia, the controversy surrounding Ajla Tomljanovic’s switch of allegiance, and the often-tumultuous but always-crucial relationship between Kiki Mladenovic and Caroline Garcia for France. Elsewhere, David Law speaks to Nicole Pratt for an insight into the Australian camp. She talks about the ins and outs of her role as
WTA Finals 8 - Breathtaking Barty Makes History; Djokovic Dominates As Denis Disappears
Ash Barty made history on Sunday by winning more money than any tennis player ever has at a tennis tournament. And she did so with a performance that took the breath away.Afterwards, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts went to an agricultural public house in Putney to swap notes on The Tennis Podcast.They also talked about a disappointing Paris singles final that Novak Djokovic played superbly in, and Denis Shapovalov didn’t.The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly year-round in associat
WTA Finals Day 7 - Barty Comes Alive; Faces Svitolina in final; Paris - Djokovic vs. Shapovalov final
Saturday was another bittersweet day of tennis, with Belinda Bencic and Rafael Nadal both succumbing to injuries in Shenzhen and Paris respectively.But Catherine Whitaker and David Law got over it eventually on The Tennis Podcast to talk about the good bits. Namely Ash Barty, Elina Svitolina, and Novak Djokovic vs. Grigor Dimitrov. The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly year-round in association with Telegraph Sport, and daily during all four Grand Slams, the WTA and ATP Finals, and the Fed
WTA Finals Day 6 – Cahill and Halep: Disgrace-gate; Pliskova hits form; Djokovic dominates in Paris
At last! After a couple of frustrating days in Shenzhen, there was no shortage of drama on Friday with two gripping matches and one extraordinary on-court coaching timeout involving Darren Cahill and Simona Halep.Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts get stuck into it all on The Tennis Podcast.How did it feel to watch Cahill call Halep a ‘disgrace’? Was it out of order or was Cahill well within his rights to use that language and tone? And what effect did it have on Halep?There’s also p
WTA Finals Day 5 - More Shenzhen misery, but Shapovalov cheers us up in Paris
It was a downbeat day in Shenzhen, with alternate Kiki Bertens being forced to retire against Belinda Bencic, and Ash Barty easily beating Petra Kvitova.Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts do their best to find some talking points amid the gloom.Why are so many players getting ill or injured? Would the tennis be more interesting on a faster court? And how much better did Ash Barty play today than in her second match?In Paris, there was at least a thrilling performance from Denis Shapo
WTA Finals Day 4 – Svitolina stars again; More Andreescu injury concern; Federer out of ATP Cup
Elina Svitolina is becoming a WTA Finals expert, Simona Halep and Karolina Pliskova will meet for a place in the semi-finals, and Bianca Andreescu is injured…again. Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts talk it all through. There’s also debate over on-court coaching, and chat about the colour and speed of the court in Shenzhen, Roger Federer’s decision to withdraw from the ATP Cup, and Jack Sock losing his ATP singles ranking. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph
WTA Finals Day 3 - Osaka agony; Barty’s baffling defeat; and in ATP news, Medvedev lost a match
Naomi Osaka’s WTA Finals journey is over. How? Why?Ash Barty suffered a bizarre defeat from a set and break up against Osaka’s replacement - Kiki Bertens, and Daniil Medvedev did something he hasn’t done against anyone other than Rafael Nadal recently - he lost a tennis match. Catherine Whitaker and David Law talk about what happened. The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly year-round in association with Telegraph Sport, and daily during all four Grand Slams, the WTA and ATP Finals, and
WTA Finals Day 2 - Halep edges Andreescu; Epic tie-break and done for Svitolina; Thiem Time Upon Us?
Elina Svitolina vs. Karoline Pliskova was all about the 14-12 tie-break.Simon Halep vs. Bianca Andreescu was all about everything.Catherine Whitaker and David Law spent half an hour in the pub over a beer to talk about day 2 of the WTA Finals, and as well as today's matches they touched on Dominic Thiem time. Is this it?The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly year-round in association with Telegraph Sport, and daily during all four Grand Slams, the WTA and ATP Finals, and the Fed and Davis Cup fin
WTA Finals Day 1 – Shenzhen era begins; Osaka and Barty win; Andrew Bettles Interview
David Law and Matt Roberts recap the opening day of the WTA Finals as Naomi Osaka beat Petra Kvitova and Ash Barty defeated Belinda Bencic, both in three sets. How was the staging and crowd support in Shenzhen? In what way was Naomi Osaka’s honest and open coaching timeout with her father a demonstration of her mental strength rather than a sign of any weakness? And how did Ash Barty pick her game up so dramatically after a slow start? Looking ahead to Day 2, David speaks to Andrew Bettles, coac
WTA Finals - Preview and Predictions
In the first of daily editions of The Tennis Podcast from this year’s WTA Finals, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts make their predictions for the tournament. The move to Shenzhen is discussed, as well as the record-breaking prize money on offer and the intriguing group stage matches thrown up by the draw. Will Bencic continue to thwart Osaka? How will Barty fare with the Fed Cup final in the back of her mind? And will Andreescu vs. Halep live up to expectations?We are pro
Andy Murray - Comeback Complete; Bencic, Shapovalov, Rublev Win Big
Just when you think Andy Murray can’t surprise you any more, he wins an ATP title just 10 months after it looks like he’s about to retire. From the most heart wrenching press conference in Melbourne, to the day after his extraordinary comeback win in Antwerp, Catherine Whitaker and David Law have been there, and this is their reaction.There were also titles for Belinda Bencic, Denis Shapovalov and Andrey Rublev to talk about, and loads of off-court substance to get our teeth into.Newsletter
Is Daniil Medvedev currently the best male player in the world?
Shortly after Daniil Medvedev won his second straight Masters 1000 title in Shanghai, debate raged on The Tennis Podcast WhatsApp group: is this just a 4-month hot streak, or is Medvedev actually the best of the ATP #NextGen and the current best in the world?It's a conversation which Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts continue on this week's episode. They also get stuck into the other talking points from Shanghai, including ATP Finals qualification for Stefanos Tsitsipas, aggro invol
Brilliant Beijing – Osaka, Thiem win titles; Djokovic dominates in Tokyo
It’s the first ever Tennis Podcast road trip and Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts are together in Solihull, with plenty to discuss after a fantastic week of action in Beijing.There’s chat about a week of exciting match-ups and the current strength of the WTA Tour, the problem solving of Naomi Osaka and how this title might change the way people view her 2019 season, an actual defeat for Bianca Andreescu, the explosive tennis of Dominic Thiem en route to victory over Stefanos Tsitsi
Wuhan wonderland; Murray makes progress; What is Alexander Zverev doing?
On International Podcast Day, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts recorded The Tennis Podcast via Facetime Video for the first time ever. It was an experience.Titles for Aryna Sabalenka and Alex De Minaur are reviewed, there’s encouragement over Andy Murray’s performances in Zhuhai, and delight that the WTA event in Wuhan is beginning to grow.Elsewhere, the timing of the ATP’s decision to hand Nick Kyrgios a suspended sentence is discussed, and Alexander Zverev’s announcement that he
The Sweary One
After Laver Cup intoxicated tennis with its myriad storylines, content and Roger Federer swearing like a trooper, The Tennis Podcast team assembled in a pub in London to talk about it.Joining Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts was Charlie Eccleshare, and they got carried away, hence the length of this week's show.As well as Federer's language, the coaching of Rafael Nadal and future prospects of the Laver Cup are also discussed.As are Naomi Osaka's Osaka win, Daniil Medvedev winning
Ask Catherine and David 9 - Future WTA Rivalries, Bad Behaviour Rising, Post-Career Plans For Big 3?
Recorded over lunch in New York, Catherine Whitaker and David Law answer a bunch of listeners questions.· Is player abuse towards umpires on the rise? (4 mins)· Which #NextGen player is most likely to consistently challenge for Grand Slam titles? (12 mins)· Who will make the best coach or commentator out of the Big 3? (21 mins)· Which players could deve
US Open Day 14 - 19 For Nadal! Daniil Medvedev - Hero
Rafa did it. And he did it the hard way with Daniil Medvedev pushing him all the way. Here’s Catherine Whitaker and David Law one last time from Flushing Meadows in 2019 to try to make sense of it. Newsletter - The US Open is over, but there’s one more Matt’s stat to enjoy, and then we’re weekly. Sign up free, here - http://po.st/TTP_NewsletterSupport The Tennis Podcast - Help keep The Tennis Podcast going and growing. Sign up for a reminder about our 2020 crowdfunding campaign on Dece
US Open Day 13 - Andreescu Arrives; Serena - Will It Happen? Nadal vs. Medvedev Preview
Bianca Andreescu has arrived on the biggest stage of all. Hear all about it on the latest Tennis Podcast from the US Open.And what now for Serena Williams? Catherine Whitaker and David Law discuss the match, the aftermath and the future.Newsletter (including Rubbish Predictions, Memory Lane and Matt’s Stat). Sign up free, here - http://po.st/TTP_NewsletterSupport The Tennis Podcast - Help keep The Tennis Podcast going and growing. Sign up for a reminder about our 2020 crowdfunding campaign on De
US Open Day 12 - Nadal vs. Medvedev is set; Serena vs. Bianca Preview
Here's Catherine Whitaker, David Law et al reviewing the men's US Open semifinals and looking ahead to Serena Williams vs. Bianca Andreescu in the women's final.STUFFNewsletter (including Rubbish Predictions, Memory Lane and Matt’s Stat). Sign up free, here - http://po.st/TTP_NewsletterSupport The Tennis Podcast - Help keep The Tennis Podcast going and growing. Sign up for a reminder about our 2020 crowdfunding campaign on December 1st, when we launch - http://po.st/SupportTheTennisPodcastLeave
US Open Day 11 - Serena. Bianca. It Is On; Is This Dimitrov's Time?
Bianca Andreescu was not born when Serena Williams won her first US Open title in 1999. They will clash in the final on Saturday.After their respective semifinals, Catherine Whitaker and David Law shared a car back to Manhattan and talked about it on The Tennis Podcast.Plus, they preview the men's semifinals - Grigor Dimtrov vs. Daniil Medvedev and Rafael Nadal vs. Matteo Berrettini. Newsletter (including Rubbish Predictions, Memory Lane and Matt’s Stat). Sign up free, here - http://po.st/TTP_Ne
US Open Day 10 - New kids on the block. And Rafa.
After a pulsating day of quarterfinal action, it was mostly in with the new as a bunch of young guns showed what they'd got and reached the semifinals.Plus, Rafael Nadal.The Tennis Podcast is produced daily during Grand Slam events and weekly throughout the year.Support the show - we will crowdfund our 2020 season in December. For a reminder when our campaign opens on December 1st, sign up here http://po.st/SupportTheTennisPodcastNewsletter - Rubbish Predictions, Memory Lane and Matt’s Stat. Sig
US Open Day 9 - Federer Falls as Dimitrov Delivers; Serena’s Getting Closer
Roger Federer will not win the US Open in 2019. What happened against Grigor Dimitrov? David Law was courtside and explains all.Serena Williams won in 44 minutes. Was she that good?Jo Konta is out, the Daniil Medvedev story continues. Catherine Whitaker joins David to look back on the day session.Rubbish Predictions, Memory Lane and Matt’s Stat - all in our daily US Open newsletter. Sign up free, here - http://po.st/TTP_NewsletterLeave us an iTunes review please! http://po.st/TTP_iTunesWant to h
US Open Day 8 - A new Slam finalist beckons; Jaws on floor for Rafa
The World No.1 and defending champion departed, but it didn’t feel that surprising. Why? Catherine Whitaker and David Law explain all in the back of a car heading back from Flushing Meadows to Manhattan.They also talk about the angst they felt while watching Donna Vekic overcome Julia Goerges, the curious case of Alexander Zverev and his conqueror Diego Schwartzman.Then, after the evening session, David returns to talk about Nadal vs. Cilic and the burgeoning Bianca Andreescu.Rubbish Predictions
US Open Day 7 - Konta Breaks New Ground; Wawrinka Knocks Out Injured Djokovic
Day 7 at the US Open began with a shock as Ash Barty lost to Qiang Wang, ended with another one as Stan Wawrinka knocked out Novak Djokovic, and included a big victory for Jo Konta over Karolina Pliskova. Catherine Whitaker and David Law (with a quick appearance from Matt Roberts) get stuck into it all on The Tennis Podcast. How has Konta changed as a player and a person over the past few months? What is it about playing Djokovic at Grand Slams that brings out the best in Wawrinka? And how does
US Open Day 6 - Young Guns Having Some Fun, Some Not
Shortly after watching an electrifying Saturday night session together, Catherine Whitaker (Amazon Prime Video, Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport) reacted to everything they’d seen.They discuss Nick Kyrgios’ strange performance, a heart-breaking defeat for Denis Shapovalov, and Naomi Osaka’s statement win over Coco Gauff.In the day session, Bianca Andreescu showed off her skills to the Arthur Ashe Stadium for the first time, Taylor Townsend backed up her big win over Simona Halep, a
US Open Day 5 - Christopher Clarey on The Coco Gauff Story, Serena’s Chase For 24, Nick Kyrgios’ Behaviour & Damian Steiner’s Sacking
David Law is joined by esteemed New York Times journalist Christopher Clarey to discuss the major stories from this year’s US Open so far. They talk about the way in which Coco Gauff’s run is transcending tennis, Serena Williams’s chase for 24, how the sport should deal with Nick Kyrgios, and the reasons behind umpire Damian Steiner's dismissal. Finally, the best of the action from Friday at Flushing Meadows is wrapped up, including an update on the health of Novak Djokovic’s shoulder, and news
US Open Day 4 - Serve-and-Volley Lives, Evans vs. Federer, Post-coital Cigarettes
After the washout on Wednesday, Thursday was throbbing with matches at the US Open.Taylor Townsend was the feel-good story, reminding us all what serve-and-volley tennis feels like to watch. She knocked out Simona Halep.Dan Evans set up a belter against Roger Federer. Do the Tennis Podcast team think he stands a chance?And Simon Briggs was back to talk about the tennis he's seen so far, deleted tweets and post-coital cigarettes ...The Tennis Podcast is produced daily during the US Open, in assoc
US Open Day 3 - Federer Finds Feet; Kyrgios Kicks Off Again
Only nine matches were completed on Wednesday at the US Open as rain fell in New York, but there were still things for Catherine Whitaker and David Law to discuss.They start with some Nick Kyrgios drama from the night before, and in particular his comment that the ATP is "pretty corrupt". Can he say that without evidence? Was he wise to clarify that position in a statement? And is all this just a distraction from the fact that his behaviour in Cincinnati is still under review and he still hasn't
US Open Day 2 - Big Upsets and Narrow Escapes
Day two at the US Open was one of those days where you didn't know where to look. With so much happening, including upsets galore in the men's draw, Catherine Whitaker and David Law had to convene twice to discuss it all on The Tennis Podcast.Defeats for Stefanos Tsitsipas, Dominic Thiem and Roberto Bautista Agut have thrown things wide open in the bottom half of the men's draw. Is Tsitsipas simply suffering from burnout? How well did Andrey Rublev do to navigate the drama and disrupt him? And i
US Open Day 1 - Serena's Sharapova Statement; Federer Beats Nagal; Konta, Evans Edge Through;
Serena Williams is her best self every time Maria Sharapova faces her across a tennis net. Day one of the US Open was no different.Afterwards, drinks in hand, Catherine Whitaker and David Law convened to review the day in the lobby of a hotel in which players past and present wandered by, including Nick Kyrgios heading out ...Why does Sharapova bring out the best in Serena? Is it personal? Will this be the catalyst for a run to major 24?Elsewhere, what happened with the British players, who look
US Open Preview – Media Day Moods; Serena vs Sharapova in Round 1!
Catherine Whitaker and David Law are in New York to look ahead to the US Open.All the exciting first round matches are previewed and plenty of predictions for the tournament are made.How pumped should we be for Serena vs. Sharapova in round one? And which one of them will rise to the occasion the best?Elsewhere, Catherine reveals the moods of the top players during media day. Why does Naomi Osaka seem sad? In what way was Jo Konta talking up her chances? How is Roger Federer feeling compared to
Larry Stefanki interview - Coaching Ríos, Henman, Roddick; Turning down Andy Murray
Larry Stefanki is one of the most respected and successful coaches in tennis. In this wide-ranging interview with David Law, Stefanki tells stories from his time coaching Marcelo Ríos, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Tim Henman, Fernando Gonzalez and Andy Roddick, and offers insight into what each player was like.Why has he not spoken to Ríos for over 20 years? What was Henman lacking in the big matches? Were there similarities between Kafelnikov and Roddick? Why did he choose to coach Gonzalez rather than
Cincinnati - Are Keys and Medvedev now in the US Open mix?
Madison Keys and Daniil Medvedev are the Cincinnati champions, but are they in the mix to win the US Open? That's the big question for Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts to discuss with the final Grand Slam of the year just days away. What's changed in Keys' game? And how sustainable is Medvedev's new tactic of hitting two first serves?All the other major talking points from Cincinnati are also discussed, including Svetlana Kuznetsova's superb run to the final, an early exit for Roge
Andy Murray, Singles Player, Returns
Andy Murray, singles player, is back.After his 6-4, 6-4 loss to Richard Gasquet, David Law and Matt Roberts convened for a bonus pod to talk about how he looked, his prospects, and the fact that he isn't going to play singles at the US Open.Plus, Matt goes big in the early US Open predictions stakes.Sign up to our weekly newsletter (daily at Slams) here - http://po.st/TTP_NewsletterWe will crowdfund our 2020 season in December. If you would like to support us and want a December 1st reminder, pu
Canada - Andreescu, Nadal Scoop Titles; Andy Murray’s Singles Return; Roger/Rafa Enter Political Fray
Rafael Nadal and Bianca Andreescu both did something they had never done when they won their titles in Canada, and the Tennis Podcast team were on hand to talk about them afterwards.With Catherine Whitaker courtside in Montreal, and David Law hosting from ‘sunny’ Solihull at 1am, conversation covered the drama that follows Andreescu wherever she goes, the retirement after just 4 games of Serena Williams, and the form of Nadal heading into the US Open.Plus, Andy Murray will make his return to sin
Nick Kyrgios did what?
Nick Kyrgios doesn't win tournaments very often, he wins them when you least expect it, but boy, when he wins them you know about it.Catherine Whitaker (in Montreal) and David Law convened on The Tennis Podcast after a giddy couple of days in Washington in which Kyrgios won the title with the most spellbinding tennis imaginable, and plenty of drama and theatrics thrown in.The dropshot serve, the new signature move on match point, the meltdowns are all discussed, and the pod team try to work out
Zverev-Lendl Split; Peter McNamara Tribute; Listener Questions Answered
Catherine and David catch up to discuss the main headlines since Wimbledon, including Ivan Lendl and Alexander Zverev’s split, a star-studded doubles draw in Washington, and Novak Djokovic’s decision to skip Montreal. They also share their memories of Peter McNamara, the Australian doubles legend who died earlier this month.Then, in the second half of the podcast, Catherine, David and Matt answer more listener questions.How should Wimbledon expand? (25:01)Has Venus Williams underachieved in her
Ask Catherine & David 8 – Garbiñe Muguruza; The Calendar; Lack of Openly Gay Male Players
Catherine and David tackle three big questions in the latest Q&A edition of The Tennis Podcast:- What’s next for Garbiñe Muguruza after she finally split with Sam Sumyk? (03:23)- What changes should be made to the tennis calendar? (19:33)- Why are there no openly gay male tennis players? (37:01)This week’s show has been guest edited by Alex Petalas, owner of Ryo with a Y, our 2019 mascot.The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily at the Grand Slams (US Open next
Wimbledon Day 13 - Djokovic Edges Classic; Federer Devastated; Gap Closes
Novak Djokovic is the Wimbledon champion again, but Roger Federer will feel like it was one that got away.Two match points came and went, so what happened, how, why and when? The Tennis Podcast team convened one final time to dissect a match that finished 13-12 in the fifth set. It also has far-reaching consequences for in the Grand Slam title race between Federer, Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. So what next?The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year, daily at the Slams (US Open next)
Wimbledon Day 12 - Halep Stuns Serena; Federer vs. Djokovic - The Preview
Simona Halep is the Wimbledon Champion. Serena Williams is still on 23 Slams. Time for a Tennis Podcast dissection.Roger Federer vs. Novak Djokovic. What, when, where, how, why? The men's singles final preview.For our predictions, Matt's Statt, and Memory Lane, sign up to our newsletter - http://po.st/TTP_NewsletterWe will crowdfund the 2020 Tennis Podcast in December. If you would like a reminder on December 1st when our campaign opens, sign up here: http://po.st/SupportTheTennisPodcast Hosted
Wimbledon Day 11 - Federer Downs Nadal; Djokovic Awaits; Serena vs. Halep Preview
Eleven years on, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal met again at Wimbledon, this time with the result reversed. To talk all about it, and to preview Saturday’s women’s final, Catherine, David and Matt were joined by WTA Insider Courtney Nguyen. Did Federer vs. Nadal live up to expectations? Will Nadal have any regrets about his performance? And how has Federer flipped their rivalry on its head? In the other men’s semi-final, Djokovic beat Bautista Agut in four sets. But how well did he act
Wimbledon Day 10 - Mary Carillo guests; Serena, Simona Stroll; Federer vs. Nadal preview
Serena Williams and Simona Halep were in awesome form on Thursday, but not quite as good as the Tennis Podcast team, complete with special guest Mary Carillo.Semifinal reviews, an in-depth preview of Federer vs. Nadal, and much more.For our predictions and Matt's stat, sign up to our free e-mail newsletter - http://po.st/TTP_NewsletterThe Tennis Podcast in 2020 will be crowdfunded by our listeners in December. If you would like to contribute, sign up for a December 1st reminder here - http://po.
Wimbledon Day 9 - Federer vs. Nadal is on, #SerAndy are out
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will meet at Wimbledon for the first time since their classic 2008 final. To discuss how they both got there, and the rest of the day’s men's quarter-final action, Catherine, David and Matt are joined by Molly McElwee, a reporter for Telegraph Women’s Sport. Were today’s matches underwhelming? Or did they just demonstrate how far ahead of the rest of the field Djokovic, Nadal and Federer all are? And what might happen on Friday? Elsewhere, there’s ch
Wimbledon Day 8: Jo Konta – The Loss, The Press Conference; Serena Summons Her Best In Singles And Doubles
Women’s quarter-final day delivered plenty of talking points on and off the court, and afterwards Catherine, David and Matt were joined by The Telegraph’s Charlie Eccleshare to talk it all through.Firstly, how much was Jo Konta's defeat down to Barbora Strycova’s cunning game plan? And how much of it was down to Konta’s own performance?After the match, Konta took exception to the tone of a question during her press conference. What happened? What prompted the line of questioning and was it fair?
Wimbledon Day 7 - Barty, Pliskova Crash; Konta Through; Federer, Nadal, Djokovic Stroll
Manic Monday came and went with all of the main drama in the women's draw, so when Simon Briggs joined The Tennis Podcast team to look back, there was plenty to get his seeth stuck into.Ash Barty and Karolina Pliskova, two of the favourites for the title, crashed out. Which was the bigger surprise, and how did Alison Riske and Karolina Muchova win over Barty and Pliskova respectively? Where does that leave Jo Konta and Serena Williams, who were both victorious on Monday? Will Serena win her 24th
Wimbledon Day 6 - Evans Agony; Konta Comes Good; #SerAndy Is Here
Ecstasy, Agony and a jolly good time were the short descriptions of the respective days endured by Johanna Konta, Dan Evans and Andy Murray/Serena Williams on Saturday at Wimbledon.While Konta fought her way back to defeat Sloane Stephens in 3, Evans endured savage disappointment after leading in all 5 sets of his match with Joao Sousa before going down. For Andy Murray and Serena Williams, playing mixed doubles together for the first time, it was happiness all round. Afterwards, Catherine Whita
Wimbledon Day 5 - Coco Gauff Mania Grips SW19; Anderson Crashes; Pliskova, Djokovic Struggle Through
Coco Gauff. 15 years old and the story of Wimbledon 2019 so far.As she completed a stunning victory to reach week 2, Catherine, David and Matt convened on the edge of Henman Hill to soak up the atmosphere and revel in the story. At the same time, they sound a cautionary note.There's chat about the struggles of Kevin Anderson, Novak Djokovic and Karolina Pliskova, and a preview of middle Saturday.Want to sign up to our email newsletter? Click - http://po.st/TTP_Newsletter.The Tennis Podcast is pr
Wimbledon Day 4 - Nadal Downs Kyrgios In Crackling, Compelling Classic; Kerber Crashes; Brits Battle On
We try to keep the daily shows at Grand Slams to 30 minutes, but after 18 minutes went by talking about Rafael Nadal vs. Nick Kyrgios, we decided we needed to go over a bit …A quite extraordinary day of action on numerous courts saw three British players reach the third round, the defending champion Angelique Kerber go out, and one of the most pulsating, crackling matches in years on Centre Court.Won’t waste any more of your time. Just listen to it.And sign up to our daily newsletter - http://po
Wimbledon Day 3 - Kyle Edmund Fades Badly; Ruthless Azarenka Wins 21 Games In A Row; Murray/Serena Reaction
The Day 3 Tennis Podcast from Wimbledon sees Catherine back alongside David and Matt, and the main topic of conversation is Kyle Edmund's disappointing defeat from two sets up against Fernando Verdasco. What went wrong? Edmund's post-match press conference left us with more questions than answers.Elsewhere, there's a look at the day's other notable results, including Reilly Opelka's comeback victory against Stan Wawrinka and the ruthless form of Victoria Azarenka. We also react to last night's n
Wimbledon Day 2 - Federer, Kerber, Serena Stutter; Brit Bonanza; Tomic, Kyrgios Confuse
Roger Federer and Serena Williams typically stroll regally into round 2 at Slams, but on Tuesday, they stuttered before advancing.Afterwards, David Law and Matt Roberts convened to discuss their progress, that of Angelique Kerber, and the impressive return of 7 British players into round 2 of Wimbledon.The bizarre, bewildering performances of Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios are discussed, as is the mouth-watering prospect of Kyrgios vs. Rafael Nadal.News of Andy Murray playing mixed doubles with
Wimbledon Day 1 - Apocalyptic Shocks Galore
Day 2 of Wimbledon was supposed to be the one that we remembered, but it will take some going to beat Day 1 for drama.Naomi Osaka, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev all went tumbling in the space of a couple of hours, and today's Tennis Podcast trio of David Law, Charlie Eccleshare and Matt Roberts had their hands full making sense of it all. They gave it a good go on the broadcast roof at Wimbledon.What happened to them all? Which was the biggest surprise? And how concerned should they al
Wimbledon Preview - The Mix; Djokovic and Goran; Murray and Serena?
With the 2019 Championships at Wimbledon upon us, Catherine invites David and Matt round to her garden to drink beer, eat strawberries and dissect the draws.They do all of the above in our pre-Wimbledon podcast, whilst also trying to define 'the mix' at this year's event, discuss the new coaching relationship between Goran Ivanisevic and Novak Djokovic, and determine whether Andy Murray and Serena Williams will end up playing mixed doubles together.The Tennis Podcast will be published daily thro
Queen's Day 7 - Lopez At The Double; The Andy Murray Story Continues; Ash Barty, New World No.1
Feliciano Lopez produced an astonishing day of tennis to win the singles and doubles titles at the Fever-Tree Championships at the age of 37, joining forces with Andy Murray after beating Gilles Simon. Afterwards, an exhausted Catherine and David hauled themselves behind the microphone to reminisce, exchange stories, and talk about the latest tennis World No.1 - Ash Barty.How did Barty get there and what are her prospects now. And are Lopez and Federer in the Wimbledon mix after their titles at
Queen’s Day 6 - Winner Stays On
Feliciano Lopez won singles, then doubles, then doubles again to earn places in both finals at the Fever-Tree Championships on Sunday.The 37-year-old Spaniard outlasted 18-year-old Felix Auger-Aliassime in three sets, and played two matches with Andy Murray to defy belief.Afterwards, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts convened to try to work out how on earth he did it.There’s also Joe Salisbury chat. The Tennis Podcast is produced with Telegraph Sport, and available daily throug
Queen’s Day 5 - Felix Auger-Aliassime Arrives
The name Felix Auger-Aliassime has been thrown around for a few years, and his rise up the rankings this year has been one of the most interest talking points of 2019.Even the Tennis Podcast team weren’t expecting what he produced this week at Queen’s, beating Grigor Dimitrov, Nick Kyrgios and Stefanos Tsitsipas in the space of 26 hours.He’s now into the semifinals against Feliciano Lopez, a man more than twice his age. Lopez came back from a set down to beat Milos Raonic in a final set tie-brea
Queen’s Day 4 - Andy Murray Is Back
When Andy Murray struggled to haul himself onto a stool so that Catherine Whitaker could interview him in Australia, the idea that he would play stunning doubles at The Queen’s Club and celebrate like a big kid would have seemed frankly ridiculous.But that’s what has happened. Catherine spoke live to Murray for Prime Video after his straight sets win alongside Feliciano Lopez against top seeds Cabal and Farah, and David sat in on all of his interviews. Murray could not stop talking. It was
Queen’s Day 3 - Rain, Tennis, Drama
More rain, but actual tennis as well. That’s the gist of the day 3 Tennis Podcast from the Fever-Tree Championships at The Queen’s Club.Juan Martin del Potro looked in fine fettle against Denis Shapovalov, but then hurt himself and was forced to withdraw from the tournament with yet another knee injury.Stan Wawrinka looked like he had added a turbo boost to his standard diesel engine as he raced to a 3-0 lead against Dan Evans, and never looked back. Is he in the mix? What about for Wimbledon?St
Queen's Day 2 - We don't need tennis for a tennis podcast.
Not a single ball struck at the Fever-Tree Championships on Tuesday after only the third washout in the last 18 years. But that doesn't mean there's no Tennis Podcast, as David Law and Catherine Whitaker prove here. They swap stories about their days in the Tournament Office and Prime Video studios respectively, and there's name-dropping and anecdotes galore about Stan Wawrinka, Andy Murray and Mark Philippoussis.We also hear about tomorrow's order of play, updates on events in Halle and Birming
Queen's Day 1 - Stories, Gossip, Nostalgia galore
Catherine, David and Matt meet on the Queen's Club balcony to share stories from their respective opening days at Queen's.As well as the on-court action, Catherine talks about Greg Rusedski's brand new interest, Matt hits the nail on the head about Daniil Medvedev, and David delves into his monster memory-bank to recall his first locker room experience. It involves, Wayne Ferreira, Michael Stich and a final set tie-break with light fading.The Tennis Podcast is produced daily throughout the Fever
Queen's 2019 Preview - Andy Murray's Return; Press Room Tales; Who Is In The Mix?
The grass court season has arrived and The Tennis Podcast team of Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts are back with a preview of the 2019 Fever-Tree Championships. Who is the favourite to win the title? Is the draw really as wide open as it seems? Has there ever been so much interest in the doubles draw as Andy Murray returns from hip surgery to partner Feliciano Lopez? And what have the main players been saying on media day? There will be daily editions of The Tennis Podcast througho
French Open Day 15 - Nadal's Ridiculous Dozen; Thiem gets closer
It’s getting ridiculous now. After Rafael Nadal takes Roland Garros for the 12th time, Catherine, David and Matt chat on The Tennis Podcast about where the final was won and lost against Dominic Thiem, before trying to put Nadal’s achievements into context. Was the first set one of the best ever in a Grand Slam final? How did Nadal outlast Thiem both mentally and physically throughout the match? And can Thiem take heart from this defeat, knowing that he won a set at least, or was it fu
French Open Day 14 - Brilliant Barty Wins First Grand Slam; Thiem Takes Out Djokovic
Ash Barty has become a Grand Slam singles champion, just as David Law predicted would happen this year on The Tennis Podcast over a month ago. We are never going to hear the end of it.On the penultimate day of the 2019 French Open, David is joined by Catherine Whitaker and Matt Roberts to chat about how Barty did it, and gloat about his prediction. What makes Barty so popular? If clay is not her favourite surface, will she now go on to win more Grand Slams elsewhere, particularly on th
French Open Day 13 - Nadal thrashes Federer; Konta misses chance; Barty breaks new ground; Djokovic vs. Thiem Suspended;
Day 13 at Roland Garros saw unpredictability and excitement in the women’s draw, the top men’s seeds playing well, rain and wind affecting conditions, and some baffling scheduling decisions. In short, it was in keeping with the themes of this year’s tournament. Catherine, David and Matt are together on the podcast to talk it all through. In the women’s semi-finals, did Jo Konta choke against Marketa Vondrousova? What did Konta have to say about her match being scheduled on Court Simonne-Mat
French Open Day 12 - A New Star Is Born; Djokovic Sets Up Thiem Clash; Controversy Over Schedule
The champions was dethrone and a new star confirmed as Simona Halep was beaten by Amanda Anisimova, the 17-year-old reaching the semifinals of the French Open.How did she do it? Catherine Whitaker is joined by Simon Briggs of the Telegraph to talk it through. Is Halep too content to compete at the level she needs to, or Anisimova simply not give her the chance? Is Anisimova’s backhand the best in tennis, man or woman?The American will now face Ash Barty, who overcame Madison Keys. So who is the
French Open Day 11 - Andrei Medvedev Interview: 20 years since reaching the Roland Garros Final
It’s been 20 years since Andrei Medvedev, ranked No.100 in the world, beat Pete Sampras and Gustavo Kuerten to reach the final at Roland Garros. Matt spoke to him to find out his memories of that run. Is it true that just a few weeks earlier he had told Andre Agassi that he wanted to quit tennis? How did it feel to then be across the net from Agassi in the French Open final? And what caused him to lose a two-set lead on that day? In an in-depth interview, Medvedev also opens up about how his hap
French Open Day 10 - Konta cruises, Vondrousova delights; Get ready for Federer vs Nadal
An exciting day at Roland Garros has set up two tantalising semi-finals: Britain’s Jo Konta will meet 19-year-old Marketa Vondrousova, while Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will renew their rivalry. On The Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker and David Law, who can barely contain their excitement, discuss it all.Has Konta ever played a better match than the one she played to blitz Sloane Stephens? How nice was it to see her looking so happy on court? And how will she cope against the extraordinary
French Open Day 9 - At The Champagne Bar With Mary Carillo
It wouldn’t be a Grand Slam without at least one daily Tennis Podcast featuring Mary Carillo. Joining Catherine Whitaker and Matt Roberts at the champagne bar at Roland Garros, Mary taps into her mind palace to unleash her usual combination of hilarious anecdotes and piercing tennis wisdom. Does Tsitsipas have what it takes to be the next apex predator of men’s tennis? What improvements can he still make to his serve? What is Madison Keys’ best surface? How has coach Dmitri Zavialoff helped Jo K
French Open Day 8 - Wawrinka vs. Tsitsipas - all-time classic; Konta continues stunning run; Thiem shows teeth after press room run-in
It is hard to imagine that we will see a better tennis match than Stan Wawrinka vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas this fortnight, or even this year.Five sets and more than five hours of intoxicating drama, and spellbinding shotmaking which forms the centrepiece of our Day 8 Tennis Podcast from the French Open. How did Wawrinka outlast a man well over 10 years his junior? What state was Tsitsipas in when he spoke about it afterwards? (Matt Roberts went along to find out). And how do Matt and Catherine
French Open Day 7 - Osaka's Grand Slam Streak Ends; Serena Stunned By Kenin
Naomi Osaka has finally run out of lives. On the latest Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker and Matt Roberts discuss how her 16-match winning streak at Grand Slams came to an end at Roland Garros against the doubles No.1, Katerina Siniakova. What happened to Osaka? How did she explain the defeat? And how does her exit alter the draw?Later, Osaka was followed out of the tournament by Serena Williams. What made Sofia Kenin such an awkward opponent for Serena? And what does defeat mean in the contex
French Open Day 6 - Crowd chaos causes concern; Sevastova, Martic light up Roland Garros; Nadal loses a set
A day full of stunning matches was marred by crowd chaos and The Tennis Podcast has an insight into a situation that could have been serious, and must be addressed.On the court, Petra Martic and Anastasia Sevastova starred, producing wonderful all-court tennis to knock out Karolina Pliskova and Elise Mertens respectively. The pod team were in awe.Rafael Nadal lost a set of tennis at Roland Garros. Find out against whom, and how, on the pod.His quarterfinal opponent might end up being Kei Nishiko
French Open Day 5 - How on earth do you beat Naomi Osaka at a Slam? Edmund out; The bathroom break debate
After 16 consecutive match wins in a row at Grand Slam tennis tournaments, we are starting to wonder how it is even possible to beat Naomi Osaka at a major event. The Japanese player has been in trouble a number of times, but against Victoria Azarenka she extricated herself again, and is looking more of a threat as she goes along.What is her secret? How much longer can she keep this up? And why does she fail to perform well until she is nearly down and out? The Tennis Podcast team of Catherine W
French Open Day 4 – Heartbreak for Bertens; Wawrinka sends a message; Why are the stands so empty?
A chaotic hour at the end of day four saw huge disappointment for Kiki Bertens as she was forced to retire, narrow and nervy victories for Grigor Dimitrov and Jo Konta, and late-night drama involving Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Benoit Paire. While it was all going on, Catherine Whitaker and Matt Roberts soaked up the atmosphere and recorded the latest Tennis Podcast.What happened to Bertens? How will Jo Konta fare against the rising and increasingly prominent Viktoria Kuzmova? And why could neithe
French Open Day 3 - Osaka escapes. Watch out; Zverev struggles but survives. Murray/Soares split
World No.1 Naomi Osaka stood two points from defeat against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in the first round, but the moment she sealed victory half an hour later, Catherine Whitaker and Matt Roberts were convinced she could win the title.They convened in the media restaurant as usual to debrief on a day full of narrow escapes and drama, with Alexander Zverev surviving in a fifth set against John Millman.Kyle Edmund got the job done after resuming at 5-5 in the fifth against Jeremy Chardy, but Cathe
French Open Day 2 - Serena sends Diatchenko packing, eventually; Djokovic, Nadal cruise; Edmund’s epic
On our 7th birthday, we are back with our Day 2 Tennis Podcast from Roland Garros!Serena Williams has rarely been seen on a tennis court in recent months, but her return to Roland Garros was a welcome one, and she got going eventually. Not before swallowing a 2-6 first set against Vitalia Diatchenko though. So what happened? Catherine Whitaker and Matt Roberts talk us through from the media restaurant. Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic jumped out of the blocks looking every bit the likely fin
French Open Day 1 - Kerber, Venus out; Federer returns and wins, but what on earth was he wearing?
As day 1 of the French Open 2019 drew to a close, Catherine, Matt and Simon Briggs got together in the media restaurant to share stories about what they had seen and heard at Roland Garros during an action and people-packed Sunday. What happened to Angelique Kerber, who was dumped out by a teenager in the first match of the day?How did Roger Federer look - tennis and outfit-wise - on his return to Roland Garros after four years away. Opinions differed, particularly when it came to his fashi
French Open Preview - Draw Dissection, Predictions, Press Room Tales
A new Court Philippe Chatrier has been built, the draws have been made, and the French Open for 2019 is finally here.Which all means that it’s time for the first daily Tennis Podcast, recorded courtside in the new Simonne-Mathieu stadium, which is lined with greenhouses and foliage Catherine Whitaker is joined by Matt Roberts and Simon Briggs, with Stefanos Tsitsipas practising in front of them, to assess the draws of the leading lights, tell tales from media day and give their impressions
The Rafael Nadal Story - A Tennis Podcast Special
Roland Garros 2019 is just a few days away. Rafael Nadal will be aiming for his 12th title in Paris. It’s mind-boggling to even contemplate. But how did we get here?Starting from the very beginning, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts take you through the story of Rafael Nadal’s career. With stats and anecdotes, they cover his emergence as a teenage sensation, his clay-court dominance, his hold over Roger Federer, his ability to adapt to grass and hard courts, his rivalry with Novak D
Rome - Pliskova and Nadal Take Titles; Djokovic, Konta ... Kyrgios
While Karolina Pliskova was a surprise first-time winner of the women's title, Rafael Nadal lifted the Rome trophy for a mind-boggling ninth time, defeating his ultimate rival Novak Djokovic in three sets.What has made Pliskova a force on clay? How has the woman she beat in the final, Johanna Konta, gone from a player that couldn't win more than 3 clay matches in a season to a runner-up in one of the biggest red dust tournaments in the world? And where does this leave us in terms of favourites f
Madrid - Here Comes Djokovic; Bertens Earns The Spotlight
On this week’s Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts discuss a fantastic tournament in Madrid, headlined by titles for Novak Djokovic and Kiki Bertens.After a lacklustre few months, is it any coincidence that Djokovic has returned to top form when Roland Garros is less than two weeks away? How did he see off the challenges mounted by Dominic Thiem and Stefanos Tsitsipas?As for Kiki Bertens, what’s changed to turn her into a winner of big titles? And where does she rank o
Justin Gimelstob Aftermath; Clay Headlines So Far – Konta’s Improvement, Federer’s Return; Challenging Janko Tipsarevic’s Equal Prize Money Views
Catherine Whitaker and David Law begin this week’s show by discussing the aftermath of Justin Gimelstob’s decision to finally stand down from his roles on the ATP board and with Tennis Channel.Will this be used as an opportunity to change the culture of men’s tennis? Who are some of the candidates to replace Gimelstob? Did Stan Wawrinka do the right thing by publishing a powerful letter condemning Gimelstob and the actions of the ATP board? And why were Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djok
Why Gimelstob Must Go
Politics takes over on this week’s Tennis Podcast as Simon Briggs of The Telegraph joins Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts to discuss Justin Gimelstob’s conviction for assault. What have been the latest developments in the case? Who has spoken out against Gimelstob and why are more people not doing so? How has he been able to become such a prominent figure in tennis? What is likely to happen next? Is it really conceivable that he could keep his position on the ATP board? And if
Fed Cup – Joy At Last For Great Britain; Monte Carlo – Fabulous Fognini, Nadal Nowhere Near His Best, Djokovic’s Dry Spell
In part one of this week’s Tennis Podcast, David Law and Grad Matt react to a thrilling weekend of Fed Cup action in London which saw Great Britain make a long-awaited return to the World Group with a 3-1 win over Kazakhstan.Just how significant is this victory for Anne Keothavong’s side? What makes Jo Konta and Katie Boulter such good Fed Cup players? And what might the World Group look like next year?In part two, David is joined by Catherine Whitaker to discuss a surprising start to the clay-c
Andy Roddick Interview – Enjoying Retirement, 10 Years Since That 2009 Wimbledon Final, The Real Serena, GOAT Debate, Davis Cup Reform, His Future In Tennis
Unlike many former players, Andy Roddick has stepped away from tennis since his retirement in 2012, occupying his life with various other ventures. But he’s still as passionate and as insightful about the game as ever.In an interview with David Law, Roddick explains what keeps him busy these days, the reasons behind his absence from tennis, and why the door will always remain open for him to return one day.Elsewhere, David gets Roddick’s views on a number of topical issues within the sport, incl
Ask Catherine & David 7 – Does playing doubles help or hinder your singles? Who are the most underrated players? Will Edmund have a better career than Henman?
Catherine Whitaker and David Law are back with another Q & A edition of The Tennis Podcast, with this week’s questions chosen by guest editor James Meredith.- Will playing more doubles help or hinder Stefanos Tsitsipas in singles? (01:10)- Will Kyle Edmund have a better career than Tim Henman? (08:44)- Who are the most underrated players in today’s game? (13:41)- Who will finish the year ranked higher, Johanna Konta or Dan Evans? (19:09)- Which junior No.1s never lived up to expectations? (2
Janko Tipsarevic Interview - Injury Hell, Mental Health, Murray's Return, The Real Novak Djokovic, ATP Politics, ITF World Tennis Tour
When Janko Tipsarevic first appeared on The Tennis Podcast in 2012, he was ranked No.8 in the world and at the height of his powers. Seven years and seven surgeries later, he returns to the show to open up about the injuries that have plagued his career since then, his mental health struggles, and his plans for the future, including the launch of his mastermind programme for aspiring athletes. In a wide-ranging and powerful interview with David Law, Tipsarevic also discusses what Novak Djok
Ask Catherine & David 6 – Can players become over reliant on their coaches? Is dominance good for tennis? Which new rule changes should be trialled?
For the next two weeks our listeners will be setting the agenda on The Tennis Podcast as Catherine Whitaker and David Law take part in a couple of Q&A episodes. This week’s questions have been chosen by guest editor Keturah Anderssen-Chivers:· Are players damaging their chances of progressing in Grand Slams by regularly requesting on-court coaching on the WTA Tour? (01:09) · Is it better for the sport to have four out
Miami - Federer Finds Top Form; Brilliant Barty Steps Up; Inspirational Bryan Brothers
This week’s Tennis Podcast starts by addressing the elephant in the room: last week’s prediction that Roger Federer might not even be on the list to win the title in Miami. Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Grad Matt discuss how Federer discovered his best form, the way he dismantled a legion of big servers en route to lifting the trophy, and how he will approach the clay court swing. Elsewhere in the men’s draw, breakthroughs for Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov got everyone
Miami - New Venue and Aggro Aplenty
The 2019 Miami Open is less than a week old but there’s already been loads of talking points for Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Grad Matt to get stuck into on this week’s Tennis Podcast. First of all, the move away from Crandon Park to the Hard Rock Stadium is discussed. What have the players been saying about the new venue? And how does it come across on television? In the women’s draw, Bianca Andreescu is once again the centre of attention. How is she managing to back up her India
Indian Wells - Is Bianca Andreescu The Next Big Tennis Star?; Thiem Edges Federer
Two thrilling finals at Indian Wells produced two surprising winners in the form of Bianca Andreescu and Dominic Thiem. On the Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker and David Law discuss their remarkable performances. In Andreescu, it feels like tennis has a new teenage star, one who embraces meditation and plays with stunning variety. What makes her so special? And how does she compare to the other crop of youngsters who are breaking through so rapidly on the women’s tour? As for Dominic Thiem, ho
Chris Kermode Ousted – Why and What Next?; Indian Wells – What’s Happened So Far?
At the end of a week where on-court action has been overshadowed by political turmoil in tennis, Catherine Whitaker and David Law begin The Tennis Podcast by discussing the news that Chris Kermode will leave his role as ATP President at the end of the year, after the players’ representatives on the board voted not to renew his contract. Why has no official statement been released to explain the reasons behind this decision? How have people reacted to the news? And has Chris Kermode been made the
Andy Murray: "I'm pain-free and want to come back" - Bonus Podcast
Andy Murray has spoken to the media, including The Tennis Podcast, for the first time since undergoing hip resurfacing surgery at the end of January, opening up about the details of the operation, his rehabilitation programme, his improved quality of life now that he’s pain-free, and how he still hopes to make a competitive return.This bonus edition of the podcast, recorded at The Queen’s Club, is the only place to hear Murray’s comments in full. Afterwards, David Law and Simon Briggs of Telegra
Roger Federer - 100 Titles; Nick Kyrgios Goes Loco In Acapulco
At the end of a thrilling week of tennis in Dubai and Acapulco, there was no shortage of talking points for David Law and Catherine Whitaker on The Tennis Podcast.They begin by trying to find new superlatives for Roger Federer after he won his 100th career title. How fitting was it that it came in Dubai, a place where Federer has had his ups and downs? How well did he play throughout the week? What did he do differently to get revenge on Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final? And can he now go on to c
Belinda Bencic Back; Evans, Auger-Aliassime Fall Just Short; Naomi Osaka - Cause For Concern?
Three and a half years after an extraordinary title run in Toronto, Belinda Bencic has produced another one, this time in Dubai. On The Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts discuss what makes Bencic such a brilliant player, and wonder whether she can start producing these exceptional weeks more often. Elsewhere in Dubai, Naomi Osaka lost her first match without Sascha Bajin and afterwards gave an emotional press conference. Is there cause for concern? Or are w
Naomi Osaka / Sascha Bajin Split - Why? Wawrinka & Monfils Roll Back Years; Mertens, Opelka Make Their Mark
After a few weeks apart, David Law, Catherine Whitaker and Matt Roberts are back together on this week’s podcast, and the only place to start is Naomi Osaka’s split with Sascha Bajin. What could be the reasons behind it ? Should we have seen it coming? And how important is it that she’s prioritising her mental health over her on court success? On a similar theme, is Simona Halep on a mission to prove she can win big without a coach? Her trial period with Thierry Van Cleemput was unsucc
Laura Robson: Comeback trail, commentary box tales, and solving tennis' problems with Clare Balding
This week, The Tennis Podcast is joined by Laura Robson, who is due to make her return to action tomorrow in Shrewsbury after 8 months on the sidelines with hip surgery.Before commentating on a dramatic final Fed Cup rubber in Bath for BT Sport, Robson tells David Law about the emotions she has experienced while watching the British team that she hopes to be part of again, her long physical rehabilitation process, and her hopes for the future.Recorded in the BT Sport make-up room, Robson and Law
Ask Catherine & David 5 – How long will Lendl keep coaching Zverev? Should let serves be abolished? What goes into player appearance fee negotiations?
Before they left Melbourne to return home following the Australian Open, David Law and Catherine Whitaker recorded another Q&A special edition of The Tennis Podcast, featuring discussion on numerous topical issues within the sport. This one is guest edited by Jim Boyle.- How long will Ivan Lendl maintain patience with Alexander Zverev? (01:25)- Where does Milos Raonic rank in the list of favourites for Wimbledon? (06:45)- Who has more potential – Katie Swan or Katie Boulter? (10:58)- Will La
Australian Open Day 14 – Sublime Djokovic Wins 15th Grand Slam; But What Happened To Nadal?
As we expected, Novak Djokovic is the Australian Open champion. But the manner of his victory - an emphatic straight-sets thrashing of Rafael Nadal – came as a big surprise. On The Tennis Podcast, David Law, Catherine Whitaker and Matt Roberts discuss the final in depth.What makes Djokovic so effective against Nadal on a hard court? Will he be able to translate the formula to clay and win a fourth consecutive slam at the French Open? And will he end up winning more slams than both Nadal and Fede
Australian Open Day 13 - Superstar Osaka Wins Second Consecutive Grand Slam; Djokovic vs. Nadal Final Preview
After an exhilarating women’s final was won by Naomi Osaka over Petra Kvitova, David Law, Catherine Whitaker and Grad Matt revel in the brilliance of Osaka.What caused her second set wobble? And how did she manage to recover from losing that set in such crushing circumstances?How significant is it that Osaka has now won back-to-back Grand Slams? And how is she so at ease with her relatively newfound status as a champion?Looking ahead to the men’s final between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, wi
Australian Open Day 12 – Brunch With Mary Carillo; Breathtaking Djokovic; Women’s Final Preview
In what’s becoming a tradition of the Grand Slam daily pods, Catherine Whitaker and David Law are joined by the great Mary Carillo for a wide-ranging, free-flowing chat over brunch.Who does Mary think will win the women’s final between Kvitova and Osaka? How impressed has she been by Rafael Nadal? Why does she think the scheduling at the Australian Open is ‘terrible’? And what three things would she change in tennis?Catherine and David then return at the end of the show to discuss Novak Djokovic
Australian Open Day 11 – Goran Guests; Extreme Heat; Kvitova, Osaka Set Up Final With No.1 On The Line; Nadal Destroys Tsitsipas
After chasing him all tournament, David Law and Catherine Whitaker are finally joined by Goran Ivanisevic in part one of today’s podcast.Goran gives an insight into life as Milos Raonic’s coach, compares Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev, and explains why he’s strongly against on-court coaching.Also, what qualities are required to be a good coach? How does the feeling of winning as a coach compare to winning as a player? How often does he watch the 2001 Wimbledon final? And why have we nev
Australian Open Day 10 - Serena Squanders 5-1 Lead; The Mauresmo Effect
After the earliest finish of the tournament so far, David Law, Catherine Whitaker and Grad Matt look back on another dramatic day, headlined by Karolina Pliskova’s victory over Serena Williams. In what way is Karolina Pliskova’s new coaching set-up helping her? How much was Serena’s ankle injury to blame for her final set capitulation? And how much of a missed opportunity was this for Serena in her quest to win a 24th Grand Slam?Pliskova will play Naomi Osaka next after she beat Elina Svito
Australian Open Day 9 - Can Tsitsipas Beat Nadal?; Kvitova Back In Grand Slam Contention
Moments after Rafael Nadal booked his semi-final spot, David Law and Catherine Whitaker got together on The Tennis Podcast to review all the day’s action.Why was Nadal so emotional about reaching the semi-finals? How did he break down Tiafoe’s game so effectively? And will he have the same joy against Tsitsipas?As for Tsitsipas, how did he find a way past Bautista Agut? How significant is it that he’s now backed up the win over Federer? Was today’s victory actually even more impressive than that
Australian Open Day 8 - Serena Wins Classic Against Halep; Another Grand Slam Failure For Zverev – Why Does This Keep Happening?
On day 8 of the Australian Open, all eyes were on Serena Williams vs. Simona Halep, and the match did not disappoint. On The Tennis Podcast, David Law and Catherine Whitaker are full of praise for both players.Was that the best Serena has played since returning from giving birth? How was she able to wrestle control in the decider? And has being without a coach actually helped to liberate Halep this tournament?Alexander Zverev, on the other hand, played very badly in a straight-sets defeat to Mil
Australian Open Day 7 – Sensational Tsitsipas Beats Federer – Changing of the Guard?; Fearless Collins 'Sploshes' Kerber; The Barty Party Goes On
At 02:30am in Melbourne, David Law, Catherine Whitaker and Matt get together on The Tennis Podcast to discuss a tumultuous day of tennis at the Australian Open.And there's only one place to start: Stefanos Tsitsipas’ thrilling late-night defeat of Roger Federer. What was the key to his victory? How does he manage to play with so much belief? How high was Federer’s level? And does this result signal a changing of the guard?Afterwards, Federer announced that he intends to play on clay in 2019. Wha
Australian Open Day 6 – Top Seeds Keep Advancing, Where Are All The Shocks?; Coachless Halep Coping Well; Federer vs. Tsitsipas Preview
Why have there barely been any upsets at this year’s Australian Open so far? That’s the big question for David, Catherine and Grad Matt on The Tennis Podcast after another day which saw the top seeds progress.There were shocks brewing in the morning as both Naomi Osaka and Elina Svitolina found themselves a set down. How did they pull through?Later in the day, Serena Williams and Simona Halep both won to set up their blockbuster Last 16 match. What was Halep like when she spoke to Catherine afte
Australian Open Day 5 – Man vs. Boy As Nadal Dominates De Minaur; Could 17-year-old Amanda Anisimova Win The Title?; Inside The Dimitrov-Agassi Coaching Partnership
Shortly after Rafael Nadal had beaten Alex de Minaur on Friday night, David Law, Catherine Whitaker and Grad Matt convened to review day 5 at the Australian Open. Is Nadal playing better than we expected? Does this result tell us anything we didn’t already know about De Minaur? Roger Federer was also a comfortable winner on Friday. Will he have more trouble against Stefanos Tsitsipas? Frances Tiafoe backed up his win over Kevin Anderson by beating Andreas Seppi. Is that indicative
Australian Open Day 4 - Post 3am Finish After Classics Galore; Halep, Zverev Survive; That Svitolina Question
The latest ever start to a match at the Australian Open, and one of the latest ever Tennis Podcast recordings, as David Law, Catherine Whitaker and Grad Matt got together at 12:46am, with tennis still being played, to discuss the events of Day 4 at the Australian Open.The day began with Grad Matt’s quarter-final pick Viktoria Kuzmova being beaten. What happened? Is Elina Svitolina playing better than expected? And was it appropriate to ask her about her relationship with Gael Monfils?The match o
Australian Open Day 3 - Evans Earns Ultimate Compliment From Federer; Anderson's Loss, Dimitrov's Gain? 67 Aces And He Still Didn't Win
Dan Evans didn’t beat Roger Federer, but he pushed him hard, and did himself proud. That’s the view of David Law, Catherine Whitaker and Grad Matt on The Tennis Podcast at the end of day three at the 2019 Australian Open.How did Evans cause Federer problems? Should he have won the opening set? And how confident should we be that Evans has got his career back on track and won’t have another lapse?Elsewhere, the biggest shock of the tournament so far saw Kevin Anderson lose to Frances Tiafoe. How
Australian Open Day 2 - Mind Over Matter For Halep; Williams Sisters Impress; Dysfunctional Australian Tennis
There was less drama on day two of the 2019 Australian Open, but still plenty for David Law, Catherine Whitaker and Grad Matt to talk about on The Tennis Podcast.The biggest story was Simona Halep’s comeback victory against Kaia Kanepi. Just how significant was that for Halep? What was she like when she spoke to Catherine? And can she now go far in the tournament?Halep might run into Serena Williams in the fourth round. Serena thrashed Tatjana Maria in less than an hour. But why did she not do a
Australian Open Day 1 - Murray Rolls Back Years In Glorious Defeat - Perfect Goodbye, Or A Stepping Stone To Wimbledon?
We thought we’d seen it all from Andy Murray, but in what could be his final ever match, he left us spellbound once more.On The Tennis Podcast, David Law and Catherine Whitaker discuss one of the most extraordinary opening days in Grand Slam history, as Murray produced a rousing comeback in a match of unrivalled poignancy and significance. It wasn’t quite enough for him to beat Roberto Bautista-Agut, but it provided hours of compelling drama. What were David and Catherine feeling as they watched
Australian Open 2019 – Draw Dissection & Predictions
With less than 24 hours to go until the start of the 2019 Australian Open, the time has come for David Law, Catherine Whitaker and Grad Matt to dissect the draws and make their predictions.There are some potentially dangerous players in Djokovic’s section, but will any of them actually stop him? How will Nadal’s body hold up? And will Zverev reach a Grand Slam semi-final for the first time?On the women’s side, the consensus is that Simona Halep’s draw is as tough as it gets. How will she cope wi
Tennis World Stops For Andy Murray, Until Politics Takes Over; Kyrgios Wins Our Hearts Again; What's With Rafa's New Serve?
With two days to go before the 2019 Australian Open, the main story in town is still Andy Murray’s announcement that he will retire before the end of the year. Following their immediate reaction to the news yesterday, David Law and Catherine Whitaker were joined for further reflections on Saturday by The Telegraph’s Simon Briggs.The self-proclaimed ‘Andy Murray correspondent’ has spent eight years covering Murray’s career, so what does he make of yesterday’s events? What was Murray like in
Andy Murray Announces Impending Retirement - Catherine and David react from Melbourne
Hours after David Law joined Catherine Whitaker in Melbourne, Andy Murray came into the interview room, choked up with emotion, and revealed that he could no longer play with the pain that he is experiencing while trying to play tennis. He will retire at Wimbledon, if not before.Afterwards, David and Catherine got together, and instead of dissecting the draws, they reacted to the news that so many had feared was coming.They explain what the atmosphere was like in the room, what he said to Cather
Goodbye Hopman Cup? Say It Ain’t So; Andy Murray Returns; Naomi Osaka Opens Up; Who Are The Australian Open Favourites?
The opening week of the 2019 tennis season has come and gone, and there’s a lot for David and Catherine to discuss before they set off to Melbourne for the Australian Open.The Hopman Cup once again proved a big hit. Does anyone actually want the ATP Cup to replace it next year? What makes the Hopman Cup feel more significant than other exhibitions? And shouldn’t tennis be promoting mixed team competitions, not getting rid of the best one?After despairing at the whole situation (04:40), David and
2019. Ready? Play.
The calendar hasn’t even ticked over to 2019 yet, but the new tennis season is officially here and that can only mean one thing: Catherine and David are back together on The Tennis Podcast to preview it!Most of the top players appear to be in better health than they were twelve months ago, but two men with question marks still hanging over their physical condition are Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal. Is there cause for concern after Nadal withdrew from an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi? (09:56) And
Tennis Podcast LIVE - 2018 Awards Show
The first ever Tennis Podcast LIVE took place in London on Tuesday 11th December at Café Rouge as David and Catherine handed out their awards for the 2018 tennis season in front of an audience of Kickstarter backers and friends of the podcast. It was a special evening, and you can now listen to the full show in podcast form! Who was the player of the year? What was the best match? What was the biggest surprise? Who made the best breakthrough? And what was the worst podcast prediction?
The Tennis Podcast 2019
With the support of our Kickstarter backers, 2018 has been an exciting year for The Tennis Podcast. We produced well over 100 episodes, including daily shows at all four Grand Slams, the Fever-Tree Championships, the ATP Finals, and the Davis Cup Final.We love talking about tennis, and we don't want to stop. In 2019, we want to keep the podcast going and growing, making it bigger and better than ever before. But, to do that, we need your help once again.On this mini episode, David and Catherine
Davis Cup Final Day 3 - Croatia Are Champions; Noah Lets Rip About Davis Cup Changes
Croatia are Davis Cup champions for the second time after Marin Cilic clinched the decisive point to earn them a 3-1 win over France. On The Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts react to Sunday’s action, and look ahead to an uncertain future for the competition. Will Marin Cilic and Borna Coric be propelled to even greater heights in 2019 following their flawless performances this weekend? Could France have done anything differently? As the Davis Cup ente
Davis Cup Final Day 2 - Herbert/Mahut Keep French Hopes (And The Old Davis Cup Format) Alive; Will A Miracle Happen?
The 2018 Davis Cup Final will head into Sunday with the tie still in the balance after Saturday’s doubles rubber delivered a thrilling match and a crucial point for France. On The Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts react to Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert’s victory over Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavic, and we hear from Yannick Noah who explains why he was moved to tears during La Marseillaise. What gave the French pair the edge? How was the atmosphere diff
Davis Cup Final Day 1 - Croatia Dominate; Has Yannick Noah Dropped A Clanger? Can France Overturn 79 Years Of History?
Six sets played, six sets won by Croatia, and the chances of France winning the last Davis Cup final played using the traditional format are looking minuscule.The Tennis Podcast team of Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts, who is courtside in Lille, discuss what went on, and we hear from a happy Croatia captain - Zeljko Krajan.Has Borna Coric come of age? Is Marin Cilic over the jitters that seem to afflict him when he is ahead? And has Yannick Noah dropped a massive clanger with his
Davis Cup Final Preview - Noah Springs Draw Surprise; David Haggerty Reveals Hope For One, Big Tennis Team Event
On the eve of the last traditional Davis Cup by BNP Paribas final, David and Catherine are joined by Grad Matt in Lille to preview France vs. Croatia. For the second year in a row, Yannick Noah sprung a surprise at the draw ceremony, this time selecting Jeremy Chardy ahead of Lucas Pouille. What does that decision say about both players? Can Noah sprinkle his magic dust on this French side to overcome the strongly-favoured Croatian team? Will Jo-Wilfried Tsonga be able to replicate Henri Le
ATP Finals Day 8 - Zverev Downs Djokovic To Win Big In London; What Does This Mean For 2019?
Alexander Zverev delivered on his gargantuan talent in London to add a straight sets win over Novak Djokovic to his one against Roger Federer the day before. It landed him the ATP Finals title, and Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts got together to discuss it on The Tennis Podcast.With The O2 Arena being disassembled around them, the trio talked about where the final was won and lost, what changed since Djokovic’s 6-4, 6-1 win over Zverev in the round-robin stages, and what the resul
ATP Finals Day 7 - Drama At Last As Zverev Beats Federer In Hostile Atmosphere; Dreamy Djokovic Cruises
In the immediate aftermath of Alexander Zverev’s victory over Roger Federer, David is joined by Simon Briggs and Grad Matt to discuss Zverev’s excellent performance, the moment of controversy that overshadowed the ending, and the crowd’s reaction. Firstly, was the incident with the ball-boy handled correctly? Was Annabel Croft right to step in and tell the crowd off for their booing? Could Zverev’s humble response endear him to more people? And what did both players say about the incident i
ATP Finals Day 6 - Leon Smith Guests! Deep Dive on Alexander Zverev; Semi-Finals Previewed
As Alexander Zverev reached the last four of the ATP Finals for the first time, Leon Smith joined David and Grad Matt to talk all about him.What does Leon make of Zverev’s progress? When will he start breaking through at the Grand Slams? Are we expecting too much too soon, bearing in mind he’s still up against the likes of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer? What will Ivan Lendl bring him? And has he possibly played the Lendl card too soon?Leon also looks ahead to Saturday’s semi-finals at the O2.
ATP Finals Day 5 - Sue Barker guests! ATP Cup launch reaction
The 1976 French Open champion Sue Barker is our special guest as we digest the launch of the ATP Cup and what it means for the Davis Cup finals in the future. What did the power-brokers say in response to Novak Djokovic’s assertion that it could lead to two ‘average’ events? What does Sue, Catherine Whitaker, Simon Briggs and David Law make of it all? And should Davis Cup have changed in the first place? Sue isn’t so sure.The BBC’s long-time tennis presenter also talks about the matches at
ATP Finals Day 4 - Zverev Stirs The Pot; Djokovic, Cilic Prevail; Radwanska Calls It A Day
Alexander Zverev has already won a trio of Masters 1000 titles, been ranked as high as No.3, and qualified for the ATP Finals for two straight seasons. He’s a major player in the sport, and promises to be for years to come. We know he isn’t afraid to complain about the length of the season and the content of interview questions, but do we really know what he’s like? To find out more about him, David chats to his long-time friend and colleague Andrej Antic, a German tennis writer who has wor
ATP Finals Day 3 - Does Federer Get Preferential Treatment? Discussed, With Federer's Response; He Wins, Anderson Cruises
Catherine is back! And there’s plenty to talk about…Does Roger Federer receive preferential treatment from tournament directors? That was the allegation made by Julien Benneteau on French radio last week. On today’s podcast, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Simon Briggs discuss the ins and outs of the story, including Federer’s relationship with CEO of Tennis Australia Craig Tiley, the conflicts of interest within the sport, and the importance of market forces in all this. Later in th
ATP Finals Day 2 - How Do You Stop Novak Djokovic? Why Does Marin Cilic Keep Losing Leads? Traditional vs. Short Format Tennis
Former British doubles player Colin Fleming spent the day at the O2 arena as a fan, and afterwards he joined David and Charlie Eccleshare on The Tennis Podcast. Beers in hand, they start by discussing a masterclass from Novak Djokovic who dispatched John Isner in the evening session.How did he handle the Isner serve so easily? And can anyone realistically stop Djokovic this week? The day’s other singles match saw Alexander Zverev defeat Marin Cilic. It was a match in which Cilic once again
ATP Finals Day 1 - Federer Fumbles vs. Sturdy Nishikori; Anderson Downs Thiem; Czechs Make It 6 Fed Cups In 8 Years; Halep-Cahill Separate
London arrived in numbers to celebrate another year of Roger Federer, but his fans left disappointed as Kei Nishikori became the first man to beat him in straight sets in the round robin stages of the ATP Finals. After a tumultuous, but error-strewn night, David Law was joined on The Tennis Podcast by Grad Matt Roberts to discuss what happened. What happened to Federer? Why did he lose his temper with umpire Damien Steiner? And what did Nishikori do differently to beat a man he had trailed
ATP Finals Preview; Novak Djokovic Interview – Surgery Guilt, Motivation Loss; Next Gen Finals - A Glimpse Into Tennis’ Future?
With the ATP Finals just a couple of days away, Catherine and David get together on The Tennis Podcast to preview all the major storylines and make some predictions.After Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are heavily favoured to come through their groups, but who do Catherine and David think will join them in the semi-finals? Is Kevin Anderson the tournament’s dark horse? Can Marin Cilic overcome his recent habit of losing from a winning position? And might John Isner c
Paris - Khachanov Ruins Djokovic Run; Federer Back? When Is A Choke A Choke? Zhuhai Crowns Barty
As 2018 draws to a close, a new man has arrived on the scene, beaten the best players and won the biggest title of his life. His name is Karen Khachanov. In a Tennis Podcast to review Paris, the Tennis Podcast team analyse the performance of the big Russian, how he ended the winning run of Novak Djokovic in the final, and what he might do next. Will he win a Slam before Zverev or Tsitsipas?The return to form of Roger Federer is discussed, whether he and Cilic choked against Djokovic, and the Eli
Svitolina Stars in Singapore; Federer Wins 99th Title; Agassi and Dimitrov Join Forces
After a few weeks apart, Catherine and David are back together in London for this week’s show, with Elina Svitolina’s sensational title run in Singapore at the top of the agenda. Why did nobody see it coming? Can she now ‘do a Wozniacki’ and go on to win her first Grand Slam next year?The other major storylines from the WTA Finals are also discussed, including Wozniacki’s rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis.In Basel, Roger Federer won the 99th title of his career, but what should we make of his week?
Emotional Edmund Wins First ATP Title; Mid-Match Coaching Debate Reignited; Deciding Set Tie-Breaks At Wimbledon; WTA Finals In Full Swing
Catherine and David began a recent episode of The Tennis Podcast by delving deep into Kyle Edmund’s ongoing title drought. This time, a mere two weeks later, they start by lauding Edmund’s emotional maiden title victory in Antwerp. How significant is it that he’s got the monkey off his back?Edmund was one of three young titlists on the ATP Tour this week. Stefanos Tsitsipas and Karen Khachanov were the other two. Out of that triumvirate, who will have the best career?On the women’s side, Daria K
Unstoppable Djokovic Wins Shanghai; Delpo Devastation; Davis Cup Mess Continues
Novak Djokovic looks as if he has stepped in a time machine and taken us all back to 2015, such is the level of tennis he is producing in the second half of 2018. In the latest Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker and David Law get together to look back on Djokovic's victory in Shanghai, where he didn't lose a set and never looked likely to. Who, when, where and how is anyone going to stop him? Or will his level inevitably drop?The man he beat in the final - Borna Coric - has made major strides re
Kyle Edmund Continues Search For First ATP Title; Medvedev & Basilashvili Shine In The Far East; Dominant Wozniacki Wins Beijing
Inspired by a certain Tennis Podcast presenter’s loss from match point up, David and Catherine begin this week’s show by discussing the phenomenon of ‘choking’ in sport. What causes it? And what’s the biggest choke in tennis history?In Beijing this week, Kyle Edmund didn’t choke, but he did miss a big opportunity to win his first ATP title. How important is it that he overcomes this hurdle sooner rather than later?Two men who have got the title-winning bug, however, are Daniil Medvedev and Nikol
The Political State of Tennis; Sabalenka Storms to Wuhan Title; Tomic Back in the Winner’s Circle
2018 has been a turbulent year for tennis, with warring factions and uncertainty over where the sport is heading. In this week’s podcast, Simon Briggs joins David and Catherine to discuss the political state of the sport.How optimistic can we be that the governing bodies will eventually find a solution that works best for tennis rather just their own agendas? Will the sport produce a Davis Cup that works as well as golf’s Ryder Cup? And what will happen about on-court coaching?Briggs reveals the
Osaka backs up US Open victory; Pliskova & Thiem win hard court titles; Lahyani suspended by ATP; Murray to shut down season after Beijing; Laver Cup – what does the future hold?
There’s a lot to cover on the new Tennis Podcast.For the second week in a row, David and Catherine begin by talking about the form of Naomi Osaka. The Japanese reached the final in Tokyo to back up her US Open title. Why was that so impressive? And just how well did Karolina Pliskova have to play to beat her?Elsewhere, Andy Murray has decided that he will shut down his 2018 season after Shenzhen and Beijing in order to focus on being in the best possible shape for Australia. David and Catherine
Naomi Osaka’s Lap Of Honour – How Will She Cope With Being US Open Champion?; France & Croatia To Contest Last Davis Cup Final In Its Traditional Format
The US Open may be over, but Naomi Osaka’s new life is just getting started. While her victory in New York was overshadowed, she’s capitalised brilliantly on the moment by signing an endorsement deal with Nissan and appearing on The Ellen Show.On The Tennis Podcast, Catherine and David wonder how Osaka will handle her newfound status as a Grand Slam champion. What are some of the challenges she will face?Elsewhere, this past weekend saw the first Davis Cup action since the vote to revamp the com
A View From The Chair - Enric Molina On Carlos Ramos vs. Serena Williams; USTA/WTA Reaction; What Should Have Happened
Enric Molina has umpired four Grand Slam singles finals, four Davis Cup finals and two Olympic finals.So what when through his mind when he saw the events of the weekend at the US Open, with former colleague Carlos Ramos warning Serena Williams three times, docking her a point and then a game, and the subsequent reactions from former players and governing bodies?Molina joins David Law on The Tennis Podcast to give his view on the decisions taken by Ramos, whether anything could have been done di
US Open Day 14 – Dominant Djokovic Beats Del Potro To Win 14th Grand Slam Title; Fallout Continues From Women’s Final – Was Sexism At Play?
Novak Djokovic is the US Open champion for the third time, beating Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 7-6, 6-3. On The Tennis Podcast, David and Catherine discuss his brilliant performance. Does the straight-sets scoreline do Del Potro a disservice? Was he a little too cautious early on? Did the slow conditions play a part? How crucial was that epic 20-minute game? Djokovic is now level with Pete Sampras on 14 Grand Slams titles. It suddenly looks possible that he might bridge the gap to Nadal and Feder
US Open Day 13 – Spellbinding Naomi Osaka Wins First Grand Slam Title; Serena Sees Red In Controversy-Filled Final
At the end of a mind-blowing day, and one of the most controversy-filled Grand Slams finals in history, David and Catherine sit down to run through the events in full.With emotions running high, the theme of the discussion is the need for nuance. Can we accept Serena as a highly-inspirational role model who is also capable of quite unedifying behaviour? And were all three code violations justified?Not for the first time this tournament, the incident brought the role of the umpire into question.
US Open Day 12 - Nadal Injury Prevents Del Potro Classic; Is Tennis Becoming Too Physical?; Sublime Djokovic Looks Back To His Very Best
The US Open men’s semi-finals did not deliver the competitiveness they promised – partly due to Rafael Nadal’s knee, partly due to Novak Djokovic’s brilliance.On The Tennis Podcast, on his birthday, David is joined separately by Simon Briggs of Telegraph Sport and Catherine to talk about it all.Nadal’s knee meant he had to retire when trailing Juan Martin del Potro by two sets. Is it a coincidence that he’s had to pull out of both hard court slams in 2018? How will he manage his body going forwa
US Open Day 11 - Net-Rushing Serena Storms Into Final; Osaka Overcomes Keys; Men’s Semi-Finals Previewed
The women’s final is set: Serena Williams will face Naomi Osaka on Saturday. On The Tennis Podcast, David and Catherine discuss how both players got there.Serena beat Anastasija Sevastova 6-3, 6-0. What made this such a formidable performance? David was struck by Serena's net game. Has she ever been forward more? And was it a pre-planned tactic or a mid-match adjustment?Is there a difference between “needing” and “wanting” Grand Slam titles? Catherine wonders whether, with Olympia now in her lif
US Open Day 10 - Osaka & Nishikori Create History For Japan; Keys & Djokovic Win In Strange Night Session; Women’s Semi-Finals Previewed
For the first time in the Open Era there will be a Japanese man and woman in the semi-finals of a Grand Slam after contrasting wins for Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori.Osaka was brilliant again, cruising past an out-of-sorts Lesia Tsurenko. Is she playing the best tennis of anyone in the draw?Nishikori then reeled in Marin Cilic to win in five sets. Was he inspired by Osaka’s victory? Not for the first time, Cilic suffered an alarmingly sudden loss of form and became very agitated. Why does this k
US Open Day 9 - Nadal Wins Late-Night Epic Against Thiem; Sevastova Bamboozles Stephens; Serena Eases Past Pliskova; Is There An Irresistible Force Behind Del Potro?
For the second night in a row, the end of The Tennis Podcast had to be recorded at past 2am in New York.That’s because Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem played a marathon match long into the night, with Nadal prevailing in a thrilling deciding set tiebreak.This was tennis at its absolute best, say David and Catherine, and also a brilliant advert for fifth set tiebreaks.Nadal will now face Del Potro in a repeat of last year’s semi-final. Del Potro beat Isner in a match that played out as most people
US Open Day 8 – Federer Suffers Shock Defeat To Millman; Sharapova Loses 100% Night Session Record; Osaka, Keys & Djokovic Progress
This is a Tennis Podcast in two parts.First of all, David and Catherine recorded almost half an hour of chat about the day session, reflecting on wins for Naomi Osaka, Madison Keys and Novak Djokovic, and looking ahead to the quarter-finals.Then the night session happened. And all hell broke loose. At 2:15am, David and Simon Briggs tried to pick up the pieces following Roger Federer’s shock defeat to John Millman. Federer hit 76 unforced errors, made 10 double faults and landed less than 50
US Open Day 7 - Sublime Stephens Puts Down A Marker; Serena Impresses Again; Nadal Tested By Brilliant Basilashvili
With no obvious headline on Day 7 at the US Open, David and Catherine start the Tennis Podcast by purring over the form of Sloane Stephens and trying to pin down what makes her such a sublime player. They agree she has a sixth sense, but is she unstoppable at her best? It certainly felt like it against Elise Mertens. Another good performance from Serena is discussed. How well did she do to weather the second set onslaught from Kaia Kanepi? Will the quietly impressive Karolina Pliskova
US Open Day 6 - Federer Puts On A Show Against Kyrgios; Kerber, Zverev Lose On Day Of Upsets
Federer vs. Kyrgios may not have lived up to our lofty expectations, but it still delivered a number of talking points for Catherine and David on The Tennis Podcast.It was neither a total capitulation nor a fully-engaged performance from Kyrgios. Why does Catherine believe it was a step backwards? Will he finally get a coach?Federer, meanwhile, produced a shot of genius. You must have seen it. Where does it rank in his long list of memorable moments?Elsewhere, it was a day laden with upsets. The
US Open Day 5 – Serena Sends Message; Khachanov Arrives, Nadal Survives; Federer vs. Kyrgios Preview
After all the off-court drama of the past few days, the excitement on day five at the US Open was to be found on the court. David is joined separately by Simon Briggs and Catherine to talk about it all.Serena vs. Venus was a remarkable occasion, as expected, but Serena’s brilliance made it a one-sided contest. Has she sent a message to the rest of the field?The match of the day was undoubtedly the four-hour epic between Karen Khachanov and Rafael Nadal. Is it time to raise our expectations of Kh
US Open Day 4 - Lahyani/Kyrgios Controversy Dominates Discussion; Best Third Round Line-up Ever?
Not for the first time, a Nick Kyrgios match dominates discussion on The Tennis Podcast. This time, however, Kyrgios is ceding much of the spotlight to umpire Mohamed Lahyani, whose decision to get down from his chair and apparently give Kyrgios a pep talk has caused a lot of controversy.David and Catherine give their reaction to the incident and its aftermath. Was Lahyani trying to cajole and counsel Kyrgios? Did he overstep the mark? What would be an appropriate sanction for Lahyani? And
US Open Day 3 - Murray Out, But Not Without A Fight; Stephens Survives Scare; Serena & Venus To Meet In Third Round
Andy Murray is out of the US Open. But not without a fight. Not without looking much like his old self in a four-set defeat to Fernando Verdasco.After another scorching day in New York, Catherine joins David on The Tennis Podcast to discuss the match in detail. What made this the most encouraging performance of Murray’s comeback so far? What did Murray say in his press conference? How well did Verdasco do to hold his nerve in that thrilling final game?In the women’s draw, defending champion Sloa
US Open Day 2 – New York Becomes Sweltering Furnace; Djokovic Battles Through; Konta Beaten By Garcia
On a day of extreme heat and humidity at the US Open, when merely breathing was a challenge, Simon Briggs of Telegraph Sport joins David to salute all the players that managed to actually play high-level tennis in such brutal conditions.The decision of the tournament organisers to invoke the heat rule, including one for the men, is praised. But should play have been cancelled altogether?Novak Djokovic was one of a number of players to be seriously affected by the weather, but he battled through
US Open Day 1 – Halep Crashes Out, Murray Makes Winning Return, Daniela Hantuchova Guests
Former World No.5 turned Amazon Prime Video UK pundit Daniela Hantuchova joins David and Catherine to review an eventful opening day at the US Open.For the first time in the tournament’s history, the women’s top seed lost in the first round. Where did it all go wrong for Simona Halep against Kaia Kanepi? Why was there no real fightback? Has she become over-reliant on Darren Cahill? Hantuchova thinks she might still need time to recover from the high of winning at Roland Garros.From a British per
US Open 2018 Preview - Media Day Reaction; Draws Discussed; Predictions; Greg Rusedski & Annabel Croft Cameos
Spirits are high on the new Tennis Podcast with David and Catherine back together on Fifth Avenue to preview the US Open.David may have just stepped off the plane, but Catherine has been in New York for a couple of days. In that time, she’s seen the brand-new Louis Armstrong Stadium, soaked up the joy of Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day and spoken to a number of players at the “Superbowl style” media day, including Andy Murray. What state of mind is he in? And how far can he realistically go this fortnight
Controversial Davis Cup Reforms Approved – What Next?; Djokovic Becomes The Grandmaster; Bertens Blasts Her Way To Cincinnati Title
It was a monumental week for tennis as the ITF’s proposals to reform the Davis Cup were approved. The decision sparked a huge reaction, with much of it negative. But is it all doom and gloom? On the new Tennis Podcast, Catherine and Charlie Eccleshare of Telegraph Sport give their take on the news.Can the new Davis Cup and the planned World Team Cup possibly co-exist? Will the $3billion investment help smaller tennis nations? And are some players scared to come out in support of the reforms?On c
Halep & Nadal Win In Canada; Tsitsipas Comes Of Age; ATP Finals Venue Up For Tender; Davis Cup Vote To Take Place
With David away on holiday, The Telegraph’s Charlie Eccleshare joins Catherine on The Tennis Podcast to review the action from the Rogers Cup in Canada, where world No.1s Simona Halep and Rafael Nadal picked up the titles in Montreal and Toronto respectively.Halep battled past Stephens in a thrilling final. Can the pair now establish a genuine, lasting rivalry at the top of the game? And is it too early to call them the two clear favourites for the US Open?Nadal, meanwhile, withstood the challen
Tears Flow As Murray Makes Hard Court Return; Dominant Zverev Wins Washington; Buzarnescu’s Long Road To First WTA Title; Jo Konta 6-1, 6-0 Serena Williams – What Happened?
Unsurprisingly, the eventful return of Andy Murray dominates discussion on this week’s Tennis Podcast.After Murray played and won his first hard court matches since March 2017 by advancing to the quarter-finals in Washington, David and Catherine are on hand to talk all about it.What did we learn about Murray? How well did he play? And why did he end up in tears after beating Marius Copil? The 3:02am finish might have had something to do with it…On that note, the scheduling issues in Washington a
What’s Happened Since Wimbledon?; Challenger Tour Revamp; Serena’s Drug Testing Frustration; Djokovic Reveals Struggles In Open Letter; #TennisPodCastaways Winners Announced
Catherine and David are back with a bumper edition of The Tennis Podcast to reflect on everything that’s happened in the sport since Wimbledon. From Newport to Nanchang, all the noteworthy results and their implications are covered. Can Cecchinato or Fognini reach the ATP World Tour Finals? Who is 17-year-old Moscow titlist Olga Danilovic? And what’s the key to John Isner’s sustained success in Atlanta?Moreover, Britain’s Jay Clarke won the Binghamton Challenger. His prospects are discussed
Ask Catherine & David 4 – Nadal-Federer GOAT Debate; Should Women Play Best-of-Five Sets?; Does Tennis Need A Unified Governing Body?; Is Doubles In Crisis?
After producing 39 podcasts in 50 days during the French Open, the Fever-Tree Championships and Wimbledon, Catherine and David have handed over editorial control to the listeners for the latest show.In the fourth instalment this year of Ask Catherine & David, the hosts do their best to answer all the questions selected by executive producer Melanie Bose.What does Rafael Nadal need to achieve to become widely considered the GOAT? Would tennis be better off with a commissioner rather than a co
Wimbledon Day 13 - Djokovic Is Back In The Big-Time; Mental Health In Tennis Discussed
Novak Djokovic has been through some dark times over the past couple of years, but his 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 win over Kevin Anderson in the Wimbledon final proved that he is very much back in the big time. Afterwards, Tennis Podcast presenter David Law was joined by Charlie Eccleshare of the Telegraph to look back on a final that didn't get going until set three, and ultimately proved a step too far for Anderson. Just how good was Djokovic? Where does this leave him for the US Open in a few weeks time?
Wimbledon Day 12 - Kerber Beats Serena But Both Are The Story; Djokovic Is Back After Edging All-Time Classic With Nadal
With Royalty in attendance - the Duchesses of Cambridge and Sussex - Angelique Kerber defeated Serena Williams to win the Wimbledon title, and Novak Djokovic overcame Rafael Nadal in an all-time classic to reach the men’s final.Afterwards, Catherine Whitaker was joined by Charlie Eccleshare of the Telegraph, and later David Law, to review the day.Why was Kerber such a comfortable winner over Williams? How will the final be reported in the pages of the Telegraph? And what next for both players?Wh
Wimbledon Day 11 - Djokovic, Nadal Held Overnight After Classic; Anderson Outlasts Isner, Reaches Final And Asks For Rule Change; Serena vs. Kerber Preview
A memorable, bizarre, pulsating day at Wimbledon ended with Kevin Anderson in the men’s singles final after a 6 hour 36 minute epic, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal needing to come back out to continue battle on Saturday with Djokovic ahead 2 sets to 1, and a women’s final likely to be delayed as a result. In total darkness after the 11pm curfew had brought play to a halt, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Simon Briggs got together to review matters.Is it time for a final set tie-break to b
Wimbledon Day 10 - Mary Carillo! Serena Returns To Rightful Place; Faces Kerber In 2016 Repeat; Djokovic or Nadal?
After two one-sided women’s semifinals at Wimbledon, the prospect of a Serena Williams vs. Angelique Kerber final is mouthwatering, and who better to talk about it, and everything else, than Mary Carillo.The Tennis Podcast’s favourite guest joins Catherine Whitaker and David Law on the broadcast roof to cover matches galore, look ahead to Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal, and tell us an anecdote involving Roger Federer’s kids!The Tennis Podcast is produced daily throughout Wimbledon, present
Wimbledon Day 9 - Federer Falls To Anderson; Nadal Wins Del Potro Epic; Djokovic Delivers; Big John’s Big Moment
A day that began with Roger Federer looking serene ended with him out of the tournament, Rafael Nadal fighting through at the last, and David Law speaking to a couple of special guests - BBC commentators Vassos Alexander and Russell Fuller - to try to cover it all on The Tennis Podcast.Federer was felled by Kevin Anderson, who saved match point and came back from two sets to love down to overcome Federer in 5. Was it a question of sensational play from the South African, or did Federer look shor
Wimbledon Day 8 - Kerber & Kasatkina Dazzle on Centre; Serena Battles through; Federer relegated to Court One
After a women's quarter finals day that did not disappoint, David & Catherine are left to dissect four quarter final matches, and four deserving semi finalists. David picks Serena as the title favourite while Catherine thinks Angelique Kerber is the one to watch, and what about Jelena Ostapenko, a woman who is capable of hitting any opponent clean off the court. And although not a winner on Tuesday, Daria Kasatkina sure did seize the opportunity to show the Centre Court crowd what she's made
Wimbledon Day 7 - Manic Monday scheduling under the spotlight; Federer, Nadal & Djokovic through but who will play on Centre Court on Wednesday?
As the annual tennis festival that is 'Manic Monday' comes and goes, David & Catherine meet in their usual spot on the broadcast roof to analyse not only the matches themselves, but also their scheduling. Six men's and three women's matches on the three main show courts, and Djokovic relegated to Court One once again while Federer enjoys his usual Centre Court procession - is it fair? And if not, does it even matter so long as the paying public are happy?And what of the women's round of 16 m
Wimbledon Day 6 - Tired Halep Crashes Out; Djokovic Rises from the ashes to end British Hopes
As the first week of Wimbledon 2018 draws to a close, Catherine & David meet on the broadcast centre roof overlooking the grounds to discuss yet another shock defeat in the women's draw, that of top seed and French Open Champion Simona Halep to perennial Grand Slam giant-killer Su-Wei Hseih. They also discuss the rest of the day's women's results which included wins for 'tennis magicians' Daria Kasatkina and Belinda Bencic, and another jaw-dropping performance by on-fire Jelena Ostapenko.The
Wimbledon Day 5 - Venus & Keys lose while Serena marches on; Federer breaks yet more records; Special Guest BBC's Phil Studd
After a day that drew to a close with just two of the women's top ten seeds left standing, Catherine & David are joined by BBC commentator Phil Studd to dissect a horrific defeat for Madison Keys to the world no 120, and a battling defeat for five-time Champion Venus Williams to the no-longer-a-clay-court-specialist Kiki Bertens. Oh, and while we're on the subject of Venus.. what's up with her court assignments in recent years? The Tennis Podcast team delve into the debate.While seeds tumble
Wimbledon Day 4 - McEnroe, Henman Assess Edmund vs. Djokovic; Muguruza, Cilic, Konta Crash Out; Special Guest - BBC’s Iain Carter
A stunning day of upsets at Wimbledon saw defending champion Garbine Muguruza go out, podcast-pick Marin Cilic fall, and Jo Konta defeated, and The Tennis Podcast has an equally dramatic line-up of guests to round it all up.John McEnroe and Tim Henman talk to The Tennis Podcast about Kyle Edmund’s win over Bradley Klahn and look ahead to Edmund vs. Novak Djokovic in round 3. Could Edmund score a stunning win?The BBC’s Iain Carter joins presenter David Law to reflect on the losses of Cilic and Ko
Wimbledon Day 3 - Whinging Wozniacki’s Parting Shot At Makarova; Federer, Serena Stroll; Brits Get Ready To Rumble
After the English footballing euphoria of Tuesday night, day 3 at Wimbledon occupied national centre stage and the main talking point on The Tennis Podcast was the demise of one of the top seeds.While Serena Williams and Roger Federer strolled to victory on Centre Court, Caroline Wozniacki endured a torrid time on Court One, crashing out at the hands of Ekaterina Makaraova. Afterwards, Wozniacki was in somewhat uncharitable mood towards her opponent and doesn’t think she will go much further.The
Wimbledon Day 2 - Kvitova Falls; Nadal Cruises; Konta, Edmund Move On
The second day of the Wimbledon Championships saw popular pick for the title - Petra Kvitova go spinning out at the first round stage.Afterwards, Catherine Whitaker and David Law got together to talk about what happened to the Czech, what they thought of the performances of Rafael Nadal, Johanna Konta and Kyle Edmund, and what constitutes an ‘introvert’.The Tennis Podcast will be daily throughout Wimbledon, presented by David Law and Catherine Whitaker.It is produced in associated with Telegraph
Wimbledon Day 1 - Serena’s Return; Stan The Man Is Back! Sloane Slumps; Federer’s Sartorial Statement
On the day that Serena Williams returned to Wimbledon for the first time in a couple of years and won her first round, Stan Wawrinka scored the biggest win of his career since returning from knee surgery.Wawrinka overcame Grigor Dimitrov in exhilarating fashion on Centre Court, commentated on for BBC 5 Live by David Law. Afterwards, he and Catherine Whitaker met up to mull over the day’s action, including a shocking loss for Sloane Stephens, they talk about the clothing label change of Roger Fed
Wimbledon Preview - Nadal vs. Federer 10 years on - will it happen? Serena Williams back: What should we expect? Oh no, Andy Murray
What looked like being the calm before the storm on the day before The Championships, erupted into life a day early with Andy Murray’s sudden withdrawal.The news is crow-barred into the preview pod after its initial recording, with more considered attention given to who might win the men’s and women’s singles titles. David Law is joined by Simon Briggs from the Telegraph, who thinks that Roger Federer fans are going to be disappointed this time around. So who will dethrone the mighty Swiss?
Queen's Day 7 - Cilic Banishes Demons; Djokovic Devastated; Who Is Wimbledon Favourite Now?
A year ago, Marin Cilic cut a disconsolate figure as he lost the final against Feliciano Lopez from match point down. A year on, it was his turn to save match point against Novak Djokovic before winning through in the longest match in the history of the Fever-Tree Championships at The Queen's Club.Afterwards, Cilic spoke to David Law, and, sitting overlooking centre court, Law and Catherine Whitaker debriefed over the match they had just witnessed. What happened to Djokovic - was it a choke? Or
Queen's Day 6 - Djokovic vs. Cilic Final - we speak to both; Marian Vajda - why he came back to coach Djokovic
Novak Djokovic is into an ATP final for the first time since he returned from a serious elbow injury, and afterwards he spoke to The Tennis Podcast. He is up against Marin Cilic in the title-decider for the Fever-Tree Championships. The Croatian also joined Gigi Salmon to chat on the pod.Elsewhere, we hear from Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett during the ever first wheelchair exhibition tournament at Queen's, and from Novak Djokovic's coach Marian Vajda, who explains why he returned to his man's sid
Queen's Day 5 - Kyrgios imperious, Djokovic daunting, Chardy Sharp, Cilic chasing glory.
Down to the final four at the Fever-Tree Championships, and on quarterfinals day at The Queen’s Club, Marin Cilic, Nick Kyrgios, Novak Djokovic and Jeremy Chardy were all in formidable form.On the Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker and Gigi Salmon discuss their respective wins, and we hear from Cilic whose week on the court is going as well as that of his country Croatia in the World Cup. We dip into the press conferences of Kyrgios and Djokovic who both seem serene and ready for a big weekend.
Queen’s Day 4 - Jason Isaacs, Novak Djokovic and Catherine and David back together
Not every celebrity tennis fan could hold court on the Tennis Podcast, but not everyone celebrity fan is Jason Isaacs from Harry Potter fame.Isaacs comes straight from watching Nick Kyrgios edge Kyle Edmund in the second round to join David Law in the players lounge at the Fever-Tree Championships at The Queen’s Club. What does someone known for being one of the great character actors make of a character like Kyrgios? Later, Novak Djokovic overcame Grigor Dimitrov comfortably, and afte
Queen’s Day 3 - Meet Frances Tiafoe; Hewitt Rolls Back The Years; Querrey overcomes Wawrinka
Queen’s Day 3 - Meet Frances Tiafoe; Hewitt Rolls Back The Years; Querrey overcomes WawrinkaHello and welcome to take 2 of Wednesday’s Tennis Podcast from the Fever-Tree Championships.Take 1 was an award-winning edition featuring Catherine Whitaker and Gigi Salmon. That one didn’t record…Take 2 features David Law and Queen’s Tournament Director Stephen Farrow having a beer after work in Stephen’s office, and looking back on a day in which Lleyton Hewitt and Nick Kyrgios won their doubles match a
Queen’s Day 2 - Murray Edged But Encouraged; Kyrgios Copes; Stan The Gift-Buyer
Three hundred and forty one day days had passed since Andy Murray last took to a competitive match court, and few people would have expected him to play as well as he did at the Fever-Tree Championships on Tuesday. The five-time champion fought, scrapped and dragged himself to within each of the finish-line, but Kyrgios found a way through in the end. Afterwards, Catherine Whitaker and Gigi Salmon convened next to a covered Centre Court to assess how Murray looked, and whether Kyrgios shoul
Queen's Day 1 - Nick Kyrgios On Andy Murray; Dimitrov's Royal Meeting; Dan Evans Speaks At Last
Day one of the Fever-Tree Championships at The Queen’s Club saw some cracking tennis, no big shocks, and the arrival of Nick Kyrgios.Ahead of Kyrgios vs. Andy Murray, Catherine Whitaker spoke to the Australian to find out how he’s feeling, where his game and health are at, and how he planned to get a first win over a man he freely admits is ‘a mate’.We also hear from Dan Evans on his return to the game after suspension, and Grigor Dimitrov tells Gigi Salmon about his visit to see the Duke of Cam
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic on their turmoil without tennis, and desire to return
Andy Murray is back! After almost a year side-lined by injury, he will make his competitive return at The Queen’s Club against Nick Kyrgios on Tuesday.In the first of daily podcasts from the Fever-Tree Championships, Murray’s last-minute decision to play dominates discussion.In an incredibly honest interview, Murray opens up to Catherine about his difficult year and his prospects for the future. How has his relationships with the sport changed? How low did he feel during the long months of rehab
30 minutes with Lleyton Hewitt - Tennis Addiction, Facing Rafa on Clay and Why Davis Cup Must Not Change
Ahead of his return to The Queen's Club for doubles in the Fever-Tree Championships, Lleyton Hewitt sat down with David Law and Charlie Eccleshare of the Telegraph for half an hour to talk about why he can't and doesn't want to give the sport up, what it was like facing a man arguably even more intense than him - Rafael Nadal on Clay, and why he thinks the plans to try to change the Davis Cup must be stopped. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
French Open Day 15 – Nadal Reigns Supreme At Roland Garros For The 11th Time
Rafael Nadal is the French Open champion. Sound familiar?On the Tennis Podcast, Catherine and David look back on the way Nadal overcame Dominic Thiem and a bout of cramp to win at Roland Garros for the eleventh time.The scoreline shows that Nadal won 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. Does that reflect harshly on Thiem? Could he have done anything differently? And has his run to the final justified his decision to play such a packed schedule?As for Nadal, he came through a closely-fought first set and then took con
French Open Day 14 - Simona Halep – Grand Slam Champion At Last; Can Thiem Topple Nadal?
Simona Halep is a Grand Slam champion at last.Having lost her previous three finals, Halep finally ended her drought by battling past Sloane Stephens in a captivating contest at Roland Garros. On the Tennis Podcast, Catherine and David pay tribute to her resilience.Trailing by a set and a break to Stephens, who was looking close to unbeatable, it felt like Halep would fall short once again. So how did she turn it around? Did the quality of Stephens' tennis actually help Halep to play more aggres
French Open Day 13 – Special Guest – Mary Carillo Is Back To Preview Halep vs. Stephens; Nadal And Thiem Set Up Final Showdown.
The one and only Mary Carillo is back! After debuting on The Tennis Podcast at last year’s US Open, Carillo is at her storytelling best as she joins Catherine from Roland Garros to preview Satuday’s women’s final between Simona Halep and Sloane Stephens. Carillo is the first to admit that this year’s French Open hasn’t caught fire. But that doesn’t dampen her enthusiasm for the women’s final. Will it live up to expectations? Find out why Carillo’s nerves are jangling for Halep, how she’s got to
French Open Day 12 - Halep vs. Stephens: A Final Clash Of Brilliant Players & Different Personalities; How Much Is Nadal Feeling The Pressure?; Weather Crucial As Weekend Approaches.
Simona Halep has lost all three of her Grand Slam finals. Will she make it fourth time lucky on Saturday at Roland Garros when she faces Sloane Stephens?On the Tennis Podcast, Catherine and David discuss how both players got there, marvelling at the way in which they handled their big-hitting opponents with relative ease in Thursday’s semi-finals. Halep put up an impenetrable wall to defeat Garbiñe Muguruza in surprisingly straightforward fashion. Why was it not the blockbuster we were expecting
French Open Day 11 – Halep & Muguruza Set Up Semi-Final With No.1 Ranking On The Line; Schwartzman Shines Before Rain Saves Nadal
David and Catherine convene on The Tennis Podcast to discuss another rain-hit day at Roland Garros.Before play was suspended prematurely, a huge upset was brewing on Court Philippe Chatrier when the free-swinging Diego Schwartzman took the first set against Rafael Nadal.That’s right. Nadal lost a set. On clay. At Roland Garros. It ended his streak of 38 consecutive sets won on the Parisian clay. Schwartzman also led by a break in the second set and David and Catherine are full of praise for his
French Open Day 10 – Marco Cecchinato In Dreamland; Live Reaction To Djokovic’s Downbeat Press Conference, Keys & Stephens Set Up Semi-Final Clash; Murray Progress Update
The match of the tournament came a day later than expected at Roland Garros.Just 24 hours after the Serena-Sharapova non-event, World No.72 Marco Cecchinato stunned Novak Djokovic in an exhilarating encounter, and one that will be remembered for a pulsating fourth-set tiebreak that transfixed everyone watching.Catherine Whitaker is joined on The Tennis Podcast by The Telegraph’s tennis correspondent Simon Briggs in the immediate aftermath. Speaking from inside the press centre at Roland Garros,
French Open Day 9 - Serena vs. Sharapova Off, and Everyone's Gutted; Kasatkina Finishes Job; Schwartzmann's Stunning Fightback
It was the match everyone wanted to see. But in the end, it didn't happen.Catherine and David come together on The Tennis Podcast to discuss a day of immense frustration at Roland Garros after Serena Williams was forced to withdraw before taking to the court against Maria Sharapova due to a right pectoral injury.Were there warning signs from Serena’s doubles match yesterday? Should Serena have even played doubles? And when was the last time the tennis world was so disappointed because a match di
French Open Day 8 – Christopher Clarey Previews Serena vs Sharapova Showdown; Is Sascha Zverev Running Out Of Lives?; Bad Light Stops Play In Bizarre Fashion
Cancel your plans, Serena vs Sharapova is happening. After days of speculation, Catherine and David are giddy with excitement on the latest Tennis Podcast. But will the match live up to expectations? To preview a showdown of such magnitude, Catherine speaks to the perfect guest – esteemed New York Times writer Christopher Clarey. He’s the man who first described this match-up as an ‘un-rivalry’, but does he think Sharapova is primed to score her first victory against Serena since 2004? Clarey al
French Open Day 7 – Fognini Beats Edmund in Five-Set Ordeal; Nadal Dominates Gasquet; Scheduling Controversy; Awesome Sharapova Thrashes Pliskova
Kyle Edmund is out of the French Open. His five-set loss to Fabio Fognini brought an end to the British challenge at Roland Garros for another year. David and Catherine assemble on The Tennis Podcast to talk about it.Edmund vs. Fognini had looked thrilling on paper, but it ultimately failed to catch fire. Why was it such an ordeal? Why was Edmund unable to nullify the Fognini threat? And how much of a missed opportunity was this for the British No.1?Meanwhile, there was a familiar feeling on Cou
French Open Day 6 – Svitolina Slips Up Again; Zverev Hangs On; The Compelling Case Of Novak Djokovic; Edmund vs Fognini Preview
David and Catherine are back together on The Tennis Podcast to discuss yet another intriguing day at Roland Garros.The biggest story is the defeat of Elina Svitolina. The No.4 seed was among the favourites for the title, but once again she failed to transfer her fantastic tour form to a Grand Slam. Why does this keep happening?Svitolina was beaten by the unheralded Mihaela Buzărnescu of Romania whose remarkable ranking rise – from outside the Top-400 to inside the Top-40 in the space of twelve m
French Open Day 5 - Williams Summons The Real Serena; Mixed Fortunes For Brits; Does Anyone Truly Believe They Can Beat Nadal?; Biggest Shocks In French Open History
Serena Williams stole the show on Day 5 at Roland Garros, roaring back to defeat Ashleigh Barty in a vintage display. Shortly afterwards, The Telegraph’s Charlie Eccleshare joined David Law on The Tennis Podcast to reflect on the drama.Trailing by a set and a break, Serena looked out of sorts. But then she started playing like the Serena we all know so well, summoning her ferocious intensity and imposing her aura to turn the match around. Just how well did she play in those last two sets?Whisper
French Open Day 4 – Zverev Makes Significant Step; Dimitrov & Nishikori Survive Scares; Who Is The Favourite For The Women’s Title?
It was an action-packed Wednesday at Roland Garros, with thrilling matches everywhere you looked. On the Tennis Podcast, David and Catherine begin by assessing the comeback victories of Sascha Zverev, Grigor Dimitrov and Kei Nishikori. In particular, was Zverev’s win today a significant step in his bid to end his Grand Slam curse? David thinks it might be. And Catherine explains how Zverev has been showing off his lighter side while speaking to the media.Elsewhere, what caused Jared Donaldson to
French Open Day 3 - Serena Wins on Return; Edmund Impresses; Outfits Analysed; Sock's Shocking Behaviour; Briggs Backs Norrie To Spring Upset
The story on everyone’s lips on Day 3 at Roland Garros was the return of Serena Williams. The American beat Kristyna Pliskova 7-6, 6-4 to win her first Grand Slam match since giving birth. Catherine is joined by Simon Briggs, tennis correspondent for The Telegraph, to talk all about it. How well did Serena play? How will she cope with the tactical nous of Ashleigh Barty in the next round? And what was the story behind the catsuit she wore on court?Speaking of fashion, Simon thinks Kyle Edmund’s
French Open Day 2 – Lucky Loser Trungelliti Captures Hearts; British Bullishness; Nadal Frustrated; Serena Ready To Return
Despite some late drama, the Sunday start at Roland Garros had felt a little flat. Fortunately, that all changed on day two and there was plenty for David (at a wildlife centre) and Catherine (at the tennis) to talk about.While a number of big names may have taken to the court, it was the World No.190 Marco Trungelliti who stole the headlines. The lucky loser’s 9-hour road trip from Barcelona, which caught the imagination of everyone at Roland Garros, got the Hollywood finale it deserved as he d
French Open Day 1 - Defending Champion Ostapenko Out; Konta's Woes Continue; Does a Sunday Start Work?
As The Tennis Podcast turned six-years-old, Catherine & David celebrated by discussing the opening day of action at Roland Garros.But there was no cause for Johanna Konta to celebrate. The British No.1 lost in the first round at the French Open for the fourth consecutive year, beaten by Yulia Putintseva. Catherine gives us the lowdown on the talking points from Konta’s post-match press conference, which at one stage turned a little more feisty than usual. With these disappointing losses begi
French Open Preview - Catherine Courtside With Serena Williams; Draw Dissection; And What On Earth Is Dominic Thiem Doing?
As the French Open prepares to get underway at Roland Garros in Paris, Catherine Whitaker sits courtside as Serena Williams goes through her preparation for the year’s second Grand Slam tournament.What did Simona Halep and Jelena Ostapenko have to say ahead of Roland Garros? Catherine has been talking to them.Who is scheduled to meet Rafael Nadal as he tries to win his 11th French Open title? Catherine and David look at his likely route.And what on earth is Dominic Thiem doing playing and winnin
Rome Review - Svitolina Sizzles & Rain Helps Rafa to Victory; Pliskova explodes, Halep implodes; Is Djokovic really back this time?
Just moments after Rafael Nadal was crowned Champion in Rome for the eighth time, Catherine & David bask in the London sunshine to discuss the King of Clay's rain-assisted victory over Sascha Zverev, and the extraordinary performance of Elina Svitolina earlier in the day to dismantle an out-of-sorts Simona Halep. Other Rome talking points are also in the spotlight, including Karolina Pliskova's uncharacteristic outburst of on-court anger, and the WTA's decision not to disclose her punishment
Kvitova & Zverev Triumph at Altitude, only one marches on Rome; Mary Carillo's take on Djokovic's strife; Plus Pronunciation Corner
Sheltering just metres from Craven Cottage and an army of angry Derby County football fans, David & Catherine digest the extraordinary and contrasting title wins in Madrid for Alex Zverev and Petra Kvitova. Who of the two will go further at Roland Garros? And why did David not think to ask that question as a poll vault?Plus there's analysis of Nadal's (not so) shock defeat to Dominic Thiem, and chat about the (not quite) biggest win of Kyle Edmund's career over Novak Djokovic. And speaking o
Madrid Madness underway; Why Doesn't Portugal Have More Tennis Champions? Just How Good Could Monica Seles Have Been?
After a week when the Munich, Estoril and Prague titles were all won by home favourites, attention now turns to Madrid, which is a veritable who’s who of the best, healthy tennis players in the world. Catherine Whitaker, sitting in a car park, and David Law in a window-less room, go through a draw that has thrown up some corkers. The wins of Alexander Zverev in Munich, Petra Kvitova in Prague and Joao Sousa in Estoril are covered, and David wants to know why Portugal, where Sousa’s triumph
The Pub Podcast! Barcelona Title No 11 - Is Nadal becoming unbeatable? Pliskova wins in Stuttgart & Cash shares Vandeweghe's clay court secrets
After clinching his second 'undecima' of the season in Barcelona following yet another week of straight sets victories, David & Catherine meet in the pub to ponder what the miracle formula might be to muster a challenge to the King of Clay. Is Nadal's lack of competition hurting men's tennis? And how annoyed are we allowed to be at Roger Federer for denying us the chance to see the rivals face off on clay once more.Karolina Pliskova's Stuttgart win is also discussed, as is the surprise clay
Monte Carlo Title No.11 - Who Can Stop Rafael Nadal On Clay and How? Fed Cup Despair Goes On For Britain; Czech vs. USA Final;
Rafael Nadal won his 36th consecutive set of clay court tennis, dropping an average of two games per set, to claim his 11th Monte Carlo title. Afterwards, the Tennis Podcast team found themselves asking who can stop him on the surface, and how?Presenter David Law was joined by Telegraph Sport tennis correspondent Simon Briggs to work their way through the potential candidates to ‘do a Robin Soderling’ - who beat Nadal at the French Open in 2009 - and how. Is it an in-form Juan Martin Del Potro?
Monte Carlo, Djokovic / Vajda Back Together, Kyle Edmund’s New Ground, Wimbledon Queue Continued, Greatest Achievements On Worst Surfaces
David Law is back from holiday and full of beans. Catherine Whitaker is off on holiday and bemused by washing machines on tennis courts.In the 401st Tennis Podcast, they look ahead to Monte Carlo, back on rain-drenched Lugano - which a shocked Catherine reports had a washing machine on court throughout, and the exploits and ultimate disappointment of Kyle Edmund, who lost in the final of Marrakech.They continue their debate about the Wimbledon queue with listener thoughts and Wimbledon’s reactio
Ask Catherine & David 3 - Coaching Insights / Wimbledon Queuing / Clay Court Transitions
With David Law swanning off on holiday, we've recorded our third listener-questions show - the 400th in our six year history - guest edited by Lea Lahnstein.David and Catherine Whitaker have answered the best of them, such as what makes a good coaching partnership and the fascination of what goes on behind closed doors, how many is the perfect number of seeds at Grand Slams, and whether or not the Wimbledon queue is a fair and fun thing. Plus David Catherine compare their own playing styles to p
Miami - Stephens & Isner win as USA dominate; Agassi departs team Djokovic; Who will prevail on clay?
As the sunshine swing draws to a close in Miami the latest Tennis Podcast reviews an extraordinary pair of titles for American players Sloane Stephens and John Isner. Stephens has endured a disappointing run of form since becoming a surprise US Open winner in September last year, but her exceptional performances in Miami lead the podcast team to speculate whether she may always be a player that experiences high peaks and low troughs. Stephens’ beaten final opponent Jelena Ostapenko is also disc
Miami Midway Review - Federer Falls; Serena & Djokovic falter on comeback trail; Wozniacki suffers on court abuse
As Federer and Serena fall early in Miami, David & Catherine discuss the future for both; will we ever see Federer at the French Open again now he's announced he'll skip the clay once more, and how long is Serena's road back to full match fitness post pregnancy? And speaking of long roads back, Andy Murray has been spotted on the practice court for the first time since his hip surgery, but if Novak Djokovic's current form is anything to go by, returning from injury can be a bumpy ride for fo
Indian Wells Review; Osaka & Del Potro shine, Federer flounders at the final hurdle
With Juan Martin Del Potro and Naomi Osaka mixing up tennis’ natural order in Indian Wells, Catherine & David meet in the Putney Exchange to discuss what the pair’s respective victories mean for the future. Does Osaka have the desire and ruthlessness to propel her to World Number One? And how powerful a role model could she end up being? Can Del Potro continue his rise back up the rankings? And will Federer maintain his Number One status, and beard, in Miami? And how good was that final
Serena, Djokovic Make Contrasting Returns; Coaching Carousel Keeps Turning; Here Come The Kids
With the Sunshine Swing well underway in the Californian Desert, Catherine and David address all the key talking points from week one of Indian Wells, including Serena Williams’ so-far impressive return to post-baby action, and Novak Djokovic’s inverse fortunes on the comeback trail. Other developments in the tennis world include Maria Sharapova’s split with long-time coach Sven Groenveld, and Goran Ivanisevic rejoining the coaching carousel alongside Canadian Milos Raonic. Plus with 16 yea
Marin Cilic on Davis Cup proposals, Wimbledon heartbreak and Andy Murray's return
In a Tennis Podcast Extra, we have an exclusive interview with World No.3 Marin Cilic who has some strong views on the ITF’s proposals for the Davis Cup.David Law also asks him how long it took to recover from his heartbreaking final loss to Roger Federer at Wimbledon, how long he thinks it will take for Andy Murray to return to the top once fully fit, and his impressions of Britain’s Kyle Edmund.Cilic was speaking on the day that he, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Grigor Dimitrov all announced t
Davis Cup Reforms - Gerard Pique & ITF team up to create proposed 'World Cup of Tennis'; Nadal Out Until the clay - Could it be a blessing in disguise?; Bouchard - The settlement, the tweet and the wildcard
After a four week podcast hiatus to cover doubles luge and the like (men lying on top of one another and flinging themselves down an icy hill), Catherine reunites with David just in time to discuss the newly proposed sweeping reforms to the Davis Cup that some are welcoming with open arms, and some are heralding as the 'death of the Davis Cup'. David & Catherine delve into the depth of strong opinion on the future of the competition as well as addressing some of the big results and stories f
Ask Catherine & David 2 - Life after Federer / Nadal / Serena; Tennis Politics; Rumours
With Catherine Whitaker on her way back from the Winter Olympics in Korea, here's our second listener-questions show, guest edited by Grace Onions.Catherine and David Law answered the best of them, such as what tennis life will look like after Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal retire, whether players should steer clear of off-court issues in press conferences, and their current favourite rumours. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
20 Years Following Federer - The Oldest No.1 Tennis Player Ever
Roger Federer has spent more than half of his life as a professional tennis player, becoming in the eyes of most people, and according to most stats, the best male player ever to pick up a racquet. After becoming the oldest person to reach World No.1 since the rankings began, two men that have covered every one of Federer’s 20 years playing the sport got together on the latest Tennis Podcast to reminisce and assess his latest feat.Presenter David Law (BBC 5 Live) asks guest Christopher Clar
Ask Catherine & David - Who are the most ‘difficult’ players? What are the best tournaments to cover? How should players handle social media?
We have thrown the next two editions of The Tennis Podcast over to our listeners to fire their questions at hosts Catherine Whitaker and David Law.This week, with Guest Editor Jim Boyle in the chair to choose the questions and throw in a couple of his own, Catherine and David are put on the spot to reveal the players that are the most challenging to interview, which tournaments are the best to cover and why, and what they would give as advice to players about how best to handle social media.&nbs
Davis Cup - Spain Beat GB But A New British Star Is Born; Just How Good Is Captain Leon Smith? Is This Courier’s Year? Djokovic’s ‘Small Medical Intervention’
Great Britain might have gone out 3-1 in the first round of the Davis Cup to Spain, but the talk of The Tennis Podcast was the performance of Cameron Norrie, who beat Roberto Bautista Agut and pushed Albert Ramos Vinolas all the way.Just who is this 22 year-old who had never previously played a professional clay court match before he discomfited two players that had been brought up on the surface? Can he take this form into his ATP World Tour career? And has he shown that college tennis is the w
Aus Open Day 14 - 20 Slams For Federer; Tears And Cheers As 36-year-old Overcomes Cilic In 5
Roger Federer made it an extraordinary 20 Grand Slam singles titles with a 5-set win over Marin Cilic in the Australian Open final, and as he embarked on a celebration tour of television studio interviews, Catherine Whitaker and David Law try to make sense of his achievement on The Tennis Podcast.Federer was overcome with emotion in his on-court victory speech, and the team discuss why this one got to him so much.They also analyse the match and the claustrophobic and heat and humidity that it co
Aus Open Day 13 - Wozniacki Dream Comes True; Halep’s Hopes Shattered Again After Classic; Federer vs. Cilic Preview
As Caroline Wozniacki walked by from television studio to television studio after claiming her long-awaited first Grand Slam title, Catherine Whitaker and David Law tried to do justice on The Tennis Podcast to an epic three-set tussle which had numerous storylines dripping with emotion. Where was the match won and lost? How did Wozniacki react after finally making her dream come true? And will Simona Halep ever get over the finish line in a Slam final herself?The asterisk of ‘never won a Gr
Aus Open Day 12 - Boris Becker on Federer vs. Cilic, Halep vs. Wozniacki and how peak Becker would have done against Federer; Mary Carillo on everything
Moments after Hyeon Chung pulled out of his Australian Open semifinal because of blisters, ensuring Roger Federer would reach a 30th Grand Slam singles final, Boris Becker joined Catherine Whitaker and David Law on the Tennis Podcast to look ahead to Sunday’s clash with Marin Cilic. The two-time champion also previews the women’s final between Caroline Wozniacki and Simona Halep, explains why he left the stadium immediately after match point in the 1991 final, and predicts how a peak Becker
Aus Open Day 11 - Halep Wins Instant Classic To Set Up Winner-Take-All Clash With Wozniacki; Edmund Journey Ends; Federer vs. Chung preview
Moment after Kyle Edmund’s Australian Open odyssey ended at the hands of Marin Cilic, Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport), David Law (BBC 5 Live) and Simon Briggs (Telegraph) got together in the media cafe to talk over where the match was won and lost.Could he have done anything differently? How big a factor was the injury he apparently sustained? And will Cilic be able to go all the way in the final?Earlier in the day, Simona Halep saved match points for a second time in a week to reach the final. S
Aus Open Day 10 - Chung vs. Federer, Halep vs. Kerber In Semis; Edmund Prepares For Biggest Day Of His Life; Tennys Takes Aim
All of the four quarterfinals played on Wednesday were won in straight sets, but each had its own story, and the resulting semifinals are mouth-watering, according to the Tennis Podcast team. Hyeon Chung is one of the stories of the tournament and he backed up his straight sets win over Novak Djokovic by overcoming a very difference challenge - being the favourite to win against the World No. 97, Tennys Sandgren. It made Chung the first Korean ever to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam to
Aus Open Day 9 - Kyle Edmund: Grand Slam Semifinalist; Injured Nadal Downed By Cilic; Mertens Makes Semis; Catherine Whitaker’s BEST DAY EVER!
In 2010, Andy Murray went through to the semifinals of the Australian Open for the first time when Rafael Nadal retired with injury. His opponent in the final four was Marin Cilic. He then met Roger Federer in the final.Eight years on, Nadal retired with injury from a Grand Slam match for only the second time in his career. It was also at the Australian Open, and the result is that a British player will once again be playing against Marin Cilic for a place in the final, and Roger Federer might a
Aus Open Day 8 - Djokovic Downed By Awesome Chung - What Next For Novak? Kerber / Keys To Clash; Anyone For Tennys?
Novak Djokovic found himself ‘playing in front of a mirror’ according to The Tennis Podcast team, as he was knocked out of the Australian Open by Hyeon Chung at the fourth round stage.Chung out-Djokovic’d Djokovic, pounding whiplash groundstrokes, hitting lines, reaching seemingly irretrievable balls in a blur of speed, and doing the splits when forced out wide. After winning 7-6, 7-5, 7-6 Chung was given a standing ovation inside the Rod Laver Arena. On the podcast, concern turned to the health
Aus Open Day 7 - Dimitrov Downs Kyrgios In Classic; Faces Edmund In Quarters; Nadal, Cilic Toil; Wozniacki Cruises
Grigor Dimitrov vs. Nick Kyrgios was ‘instant classic’ material, and only made better from a British perspective in that the winner plays Kyle Edmund, who is into his first Grand Slam quarterfinal.On the Tennis Podcast afterwards, David Law said the match between Dimitrov and Kyrgios was a ‘win-win’ for tennis, but not everyone agrees. Did Kyrgios cross the line with his ranting in the direction of his support team? Or is it time to cut him some slack and celebrate a brilliant performance and an
Aus Open Day 6 - Heroic Halep Wins Epic; Kerber Crushes Sharapova Challenge; Zverev, Delpo Fall; Naomi Broady Guests As Jetlagged Murray Engages On Twitter
Simona Halep produced an incredible feat of fitness and fire to save three match points and win 15-13 in the final set against Lauren Davis, and afterwards The Tennis Podcast team got together to marvel at it. They were joined by British No.3 Naomi Broady, and while chatting, Andy Murray began a jetlag fuelled Q & A session on Twitter. So, Broady told Catherine Whitaker and David Law about the Andy Murray she knows, and also gave a backstage insight into Nick Kyrgios. Later, W
Aus Open Day 5 - Kyrgios Comes Good; Edmund Handles Heat; Ostapenko Out
On a day when temperatures exceeded 40 degrees for a second day in a row, the last thing Kyle Edmund would have wanted was a 5-set, near 4-hour match, but that’s what he got, and he came through it. Catherine Whitaker was the first person to speak to him afterwards, for Eurosport, and Simon Briggs sat watching him for the full duration. They give the lowdown on what he went through to reach the last 16 of the Australian Open, and what they make of his chances against Andreas Seppi next.Later, th
Aus Open Day 4 - Big Names Wilt in Brutal Heat
As temperatures exceed 40 degrees celcius on day four of the Australian Open, Catherine & David question why on earth the heat policy wasn't invoked, and indeed whether there should even be a heat policy (some merciless people seem to think there shouldn't!).They also analyse those that survived the withering conditions - including a warrior-like Novak Djokovic, who 'out-bluffed' Gael Monfils in the heat of the day - and those that didn't, including third seed Garbina Muguruza, seventh seed
Aus Open Day 3 - Alex Corretja Guests as Wozniacki, Tsonga & Dimitrov Survive Stern Tests
Recorded live from the Eurosport Green Room during Grigor Dimitrov's epic five setter with American Mackenzie McDonald, former World No 2 Alex Corretja shares his thoughts on all things Australian Open, including heat waves, big match pressure and who he thinks will win the men's and women's titles.He also joins David & Catherine in talking through the dramatic events of the day, including second seed Caroline Wozniacki snatching victory from the jaws of defeat and a 'highly stressful' three
Aus Open Day 2 - Novak Djokovic Is Back With A Bang But What Did He Say About That Player Meeting?
Aus Open Day 2 - Novak Djokovic Is Back With A Bang But What Did He Say About That Player Meeting?Novak Djokovic was front and centre on Tuesday, both on and off the court, as he played a competitive tennis match for the first time since Wimbledon and then addressed reports about his role in the Player Meeting on Friday.In the latest Tennis Podcast, we hear his post-match press conference in which he denied talking about a potential boycott, insisted he had been misrepresented in reports, and sa
Aus Open Day 1 - Djokovic Intervention Dominates Day One Chat; Stephens, Williams Tumble; Edmund Scores Career-Best Win
On an opening day when big names were beaten and all of them American, and Kyle Edmund scored arguably the most important victory of his career, the main topic of conversation at the Australian Open was about Novak Djokovic’s player meeting intervention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aus Open Interview Room - Roger's Mind Games, Stan & Novak’s Return, Billie Jean’s Stand
Catherine Whitaker and David Law are here to tell you all the tales from the interview room ahead of the Australian Open. From Roger Federer's mind games to Stan Wawrinka's tough times, to Billie Jean King's stand against the Margaret Court Arena. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aus Open Draws Dissected; Sharapova’s Involvement Questioned; Serena’s Struggle Revealede
With the first Grand Slam tournament of 2018 upon us, Catherine Whitaker and David Law are in Melbourne, and were joined by Telegraph Tennis Correspondent to dissect the draws of the Australian Open.Who has the best road to the final? What are the outstanding first round matches? And who is likely to clash in the last 16 and onwards? The team talk it through. The fitness of Novak Djokovic is discussed, as his difficult draw.Aside from the potential match-ups, one of the main tournament talking p
Andy Murray Goes Under The Knife; Kyrgios Wins In Australia; Serena Won't Make Melbourne; Simon Briggs, Nigel Sears Guest
Andy Murray has taken the plunge and gone under the knife after his frustrated attempts to come back from a hip injury.David Law, deserted by an ill Catherine Whitaker, gives his verdict on whether Murray has made the right call, and what happens next. He is also joined by Telegraph Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs to talk about Murray and other main stories ahead of the Australian, and leading coach Nigel Sears to run through the long list of players on the WTA Tour competing for major honours
Andy Murray's Agony; As the 2018 tennis season kicks off in earnest, Catherine & David meet in familiar surrounds to discuss the notable absentees (Murray, Djokovic, Serena, Wawrinka, Nishikori) and their prospects of a swift return.
Andy Murray's Agony; As the 2018 tennis season kicks off in earnest, there are still some notable absences, probably most notable the man who was World No 1 this time last year, Andy Murray, who has made a gut-wrenching statement declaring that he may require surgery on his injured hip. That is discussed, along with the continued injury absence of Murray's rival, Novak Djokovic, and the persistent speculation surrounding Serena Williams' return to Tour action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri
Battle of the Sexes - The Catherine Whitaker Review; Sexism and Attitudes To Sexual Orientation - Where Is Tennis Now?
The 1973 Battle of the Sexes between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs was a landmark event in so many ways, and this cinematic telling of the story has been reviewed extensively in recent months. But not by Catherine Whitaker of The Tennis Podcast. Not until now. In this special edition podcast, Catherine gives her verdict on the film as a piece of entertainment, including her views on the performances of Emma Stone as Billie Jean King and Steve Carrell as Bobby Riggs.Catherine and David La
The Tennis Podcast Year End Awards (and a few bits of coaching news)
With the whopping four weeks of tennis' off-season well underway, Catherine & David are missing the sport so much they've decided to record a special '2017 Awards' edition of `The Tennis Podcast, which includes hotly disputed categories such as 'player of the year', 'meltdown of the year' and 'comeback of the year'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Tennis Podcast 2018
We want to continue to produce the Tennis Podcast in 2018, and to make it better than ever. But to do that, we need your help! Please take just 5 minutes to hear why we are asking, and how you can help us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Davis Cup Final Day Three - France Finally Taste Davis Cup Glory Again
As France lift the tenth Davis Cup title in their illustrious history, and the first following a 16 year drought, Catherine reports in for a final time from Lille to recount one of the most electric moments in French tennis history. Pouille was the hero of the hour, clinching the fifth and decisive rubber, so what could this experience propel him to achieve in his individual career? And what of David Goffin, a hero in his own right for Belgium, but leaving Lille bitterly empty-handed. Hear the t
Davis Cup Final Day 2 - Gasquet/Herbert win doubles thriller to give France the edge
In the aftermath of France's scintillating four set doubles victory over Belgium, Catherine reports in from Lille to tell David about what French Captain Yannick Noah has said is the greatest atmosphere he's ever experienced. With France now leading 2-1, they can clinch their first Davis Cup title in 16 years if Tsonga seals victory over Goffin on Sunday. But what Goffin forces a fifth and decisive rubber....? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Davis Cup Final Day One; Goffin & Tsonga Emphatic Winners - Doubles set to be crucial
Emphatic victories for the Belgian Number One David Goffin & French Number One Jo Wilfried Tsonga have left the Davis Cup Final poised at 1-1 going into day two, which leaves David & Catherine to speculate about who will take to the court in the crucial doubles rubber. We get insights from Team Captains Johan Van Herck and Yannick Noah, and we hear the visceral reaction of the 27,000 fans inside the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio
Davis Cup Final Preview - Yannick Noah's Gasquet Gamble
On the eve of the Davis Cup Final between France and Belgium, Catherine reports in from the 29000 seater Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille to bring us all the news from the draw, as well as an exclusive insight from French Team Captain Yannick Noah as to why he made some quite controversial 11th hour changes to his team selection. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
'Daredevil' Dimitrov's London Triumph; Plus Nadal's Anguish, Federer's Grumpiness & Murray and Lendl's Break-Up Take Two
In the wake of the final match of the 2017 ATP Tour season at London's O2 Arena, Catherine, David & The Telegraph's Simon Briggs analyse a breakthrough moment in the career of Grigor Dimitrov, the newly crowned ATP Finals Champion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Andy Murray Live, The Next Gen Experiment, & the O2 Draw; How fit is Andy Murray, how do we feel about headset coaching, and who's going to win the ATP Finals at O2. All discussed and more.
David hot-foots it back from Glasgow to give Catherine his 'enthused' verdict on Andy Murray Live, plus there's a point by point review of every experimental rule change trialled at the NextGen Finals in Milan, and some inevitably dreadful predictions about how things will play out at the ATP Finals following the mid-week draw at the O2 Arena. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The 'Disappointing & Disgusting' Next Gen Finals Draw: The Tennis Podcast Take. Plus Jack Sock's London Surge & An Emotional Introduction to Filip Krajinovic
With the ripples of shock and horror still reverberating around the tennis world following the 'misogynistic' and 'inappropriate' draw ceremony to launch the Next Gen Finals in Milan, David & Catherine give their take on the events and the various parties' responses. Plus there is heated debate over Top Ten debutant and London quaifier Jack Sock as well as an assessment of each and every one of the many rule changes being trialled in Milan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in
Wozniacki's Winning Week in Singapore and Venus Williams' Bittersweet Brilliance; Plus the race to London keeps getting hotter AND David speaks to Martina Hingis
With David standing amid the confetti which moments before was falling on freshly WTA Finals Champion Caroline Wozniacki, and Catherine in a very gloomy post Autumn Equniox London, the Tennis Podcast team unite to discuss all things Singapore, including the biggest ever title of Wozniacki's career, and the stinging pain of defeat for Venus Williams once again. Plus there are two places up for grabs at the ATP finals in London, but six contenders. Who will miss out? And David speaks to the now re
Singapore Special - Live From The WTA Finals; Del Potro Wins Big; Magic's Revenge
With David Law’s ferocious 24 hour bug, day jobs and a seven-hour time difference getting in the way, the Tennis Podcast’s Singapore WTA Finals show is a bit delayed, but worth the wait. Just not in quite the way you might imagine.There’s the usual review of last week’s action, including great wins for Juan Martin del Potro, Julia Goerges, Jo Wilfried Tsonga and others, an update and insight from Singapore where David is on-site at the WTA Finals, and then something unexpected happens. The
Sharapova & Federer are Champions in China; Nadal Number One but Still in Federer's Shadow?
The Putney Exchange is the setting, David and Catherine are the presenters and Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are the topics of discussion... where have we heard that before? Plus the duo discuss Maria Sharapova's return to title-winning ways in Tianjin, and the respective races to London and Singapore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Halep the Latest New No 1 & Garcia the Conqueror; Plus Kyrgios/Nadal Live & the Dan Evans Judgment Discussed.
Back on pigeon-watch at Waterloo station, Catherine & David arrive fresh from commentary duties to discuss the brand new WTA Number One Simona Halep and the awesome woman that beat her to lift the Beijing title, Caroline Garcia. They also give live updates on a match that has already happened (Nadal vs Kyrgios), discuss the ITF judgment handed down to Dan Evans and look ahead to the return of Roger Federer in Shanghai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Borg vs. McEnroe - The Big Movie Review; Asian Swing Continues - Wuhan, Tashkent, Shenzen & Chengdu
Catherine & David reunite at Waterloo station to review the second week of the year's Asian swing, with breakout results for Ash Barty, Caroline Garcia and 33 year-old Vera Zvonareva. Also discussed; a first title in three years for David Goffin, more injury heartbreak for Marcos Baghdatis and a worrying trend of losses for Singapore-chasing Jo Konta. PLUS a first ever film review section as both Catherine & David give their verdicts on new release 'Borg vs McEnroe'. Hosted on Acast. Se
Laver Cup Verdict - New Ryder Cup Or Just Another Exhibition? Race To Singapore, Davis Cup update; Catherine's new forehand
A couple of weeks off after the US Open, and the Tennis Podcast team are back with a bang to assess the Laver Cup, which took place over the weekend. What did everyone think of it? Is it tennis’ answer to the Ryder Cup, or can it only ever be an exhibition event? We hear from the Telegraph’s Simon Briggs, who was in Prague to watch it in person, and Catherine Whitaker and David Law are back together to give their impressions. Was the event scripted to provide a Federer vs. Kyrgios climax? Does t
US Open Day 14 - Nadal Clinches 16th Grand Slam title; How Many Will He Get? Hingis Makes It 25 Not Out
Rafael Nadal ensured the old guard collected the entire Grand Slam title haul in 2017 by winning the US Open, and afterwards the Tennis Podcast team wondered how many more he might pocket. Where was the final against Kevin Anderson won and lost? Compared to the Nadal of the past, how well is he playing right now?And can tennis expect a golden period with the return of Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic in January?Finally, how good is Martina Hingis at doubles?The Tennis Podcast is presente
US Open Day 13 - Sloane Stephens - Grand Slam Champion; Jamie Murray/Martina Hingis Triumph; Nadal vs. Anderson Preview
Sloane Stephens completed one of the most remarkable injury comebacks in recent memory to win her first Grand Slam title, and the Tennis Podcast convened to talk about it. Stephens beat compatriot Madison Keys 6-3, 6-0 in a contest as one-sided as it sounds. So why was the scoreline so lopsided? Was Stephens that good, Keys that bad, or a combination of the two?How did Stephens recover from surgery and a ranking of nearly 1,000 to win the US Open inside a year? And will she go on to win mor
US Open Day 12 - Nadal, Anderson Fire Back To Meet In Final; Stephens vs. Keys - A women’s singles final preview
Rafael Nadal will contest his 23rd Grand Slam final and Kevin Anderson his first when they clash in the climax to the US Open on Sunday, and The Tennis Podcast team convened after their semifinals to look ahead. Presenter David Law was joined by Telegraph tennis correspondent Simon Briggs and former Top 50 player Jeff Tarango to talk about the point at which Nadal gained the upper hand against Juan Martin del Potro. Was Nadal's comeback all about him, or was Del Potro's fatigue a factor?How
US Open Day 11 - Stephens Stuns Venus Williams; Faces Keys In final; Special Guest Mats Wilander previews Men’s semifinals
Tennis will have a new Grand Slam champion after two of the most exciting, talented young players in the sport reached the US Open women’s final.Sloane Stephens overcame Venus Williams in a deciding set - one of the best sets of the year, and then Madison Keys hammered Coco Vandeweghe 6-1, 6-2.So what did The Tennis Podcast team make of it all? Former Top 50 player Jill Craybas joins presenter David Law to assess where the matches were won and lost.Has the 11-month injury and surgery Stephens en
US Open Day 10 - Del Potro Dashes New York's Federer vs. Nadal Dream; An American Will Win The Women's Title - Guaranteed
Juan Martin del Potro partied like it was 2009 to beat Roger Federer in the US Open semifinals and deny New York the Nadal vs. Federer clash it craved. Afterwards, Telegraph Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs joined Tennis Podcast presenter David Law to talk about where it all went right for the Argentine and wrong for the five-time champion. Federer squandered four set points in the third set tie-break with the match tied at one set all. Did he choke? Given Del P
US Open Day 9 - Special Guest - Mary Carillo previews Federer vs. Delpo and more; Venus Wins Kvitova Classic; Meets Sloane Stephens In Semis
As the US Open nears a first ever New York clash between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, the Tennis Podcast team are joined by award-winning American commentator Mary Carillo to talk about the tournament so far, and preview what is to come.As a New Yorker, who has worked for decades for CBS, NBC and now The Tennis Channel, covering countless Grand Slam tennis tournaments and 13 Summer and Winter Olympic games, Carillo gives her verdict on why her city loves comeback king Juan Martin del Potro, a
US Open Day 8 - Del Potro Comeback The Stuff Of Legend; Federer Next in 2009 Rematch; Nadal, Pliskova Cruise
Juan Martin del Potro produced one of the most extraordinary comebacks the US Open has ever seen on Monday night, and The Tennis Podcast team were there to witness it.Presenters Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live) looked back on the match which saw the Argentine go two sets to love behind after winning only three games, nearly retiring because of a virus, saving two match points, and then coming all the way back to win in the most pulsating manner imaginable. Del Potro
US Open Day 7 - Kvitova Stuns Muguruza To Meet Venus; Querrey New US No.1; Shapovalov Odyssey Ends; Will Nadal vs. Federer Happen?
Middle Sunday at Wimbledon is a day of rest, but not at the US Open, and not for The Tennis Podcast team. The rain frustrated for a while, but all the matches were played, with some stunning performances along the way.Petra Kvitova was awesome in her straight sets defeat of pre-tournament favourite Garbine Muguruza. Could she win the title less than a year after she was attacked with a knife in her own home? Venus Williams was also victorious and will be Kvitova’s next opponent.Sam Querrey follo
US Open Day 6 - Big Names Survive; Fognini’s Disgrace; Worst Handshake Ever?
In what has otherwise become known as the Upset Open, the big names just about avoided defeat on Saturday, but The Tennis Podcast team had plenty to get their teeth into.How close did World No.1 Karolina Pliskova come to going out? Is her arm injury going to be a deciding factor in how far she goes?Much of the conversation in New York on Saturday centred around the behaviour of Fabio Fognini. The Italian had already been fined $24,000 by organisers after verbally abusing umpire Louise Engzell du
US Open Day 5 - Lopez: ‘This Could Be The last Time I Face Federer’; Edmund unlucky as Shapovalov moves on; Muguruza, Venus, Sharapova Cruise;
Feliciano Lopez, like Mikhail Youzhny in the previous round, is one year younger than 36-year-old Roger Federer, and is also yet to beat the great man. He hopes, he tells The Tennis Podcast’s Catherine Whitaker on today’s show, that their 13th match will be the one where his luck changes.Denis Shapovalov is quickly becoming one of the main stories of the US Open in 2017, and The Tennis Podcast team can’t get enough of him.His progress was aided by the retirement mid-match of Kyle Edmund, bu
US Open Day 4 - Federer Survives; Youzhny Heartache; Toni Nadal and Carlos Moya Talk Rafa; Wilander Hails ‘Exciting’ Shapovalov
The US Open still holds out hope of a first meeting between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in New York, but as the Tennis Podcast team were reminded on Day 4, that clash is still some distance away.Both Federer and Nadal scraped into the third round, Federer winning a second successive five-set match against a man he had previously held a 16-0 record against, while Nadal toiled for three hours before quelling the challenge of Taro Daniel in four sets.What do Nadal’s uncle Toni and coach Carlos M
US Open Day 3 - Edmund, Shapovalov On US Open Collision Course; Zverev Comes Up Short In Slams Again
The Tennis Podcast team had their work cut out to sum up an extraordinary day in which 87 singles matches were played to catch up after the rain on Day 3, but Catherine Whitaker and David Law have done exactly that in their latest daily show from the US Open in New York. Kyle Edmund overcame American Steve Johnson in straight sets and now faces 18-year-old Denis Shapovalov in the 3rd round. That match will take place in the bottom half of the draw - which is increasingly looking like a land
US Open Day 2 - Kerber’s Reign Over; Meet Her Conqueror, Naomi Osaka; Federer Through, Just; Rain Ruins The Rest
The weather wrecked the vast majority of the scheduled matches at the US Open on Tuesday, but the roof on Arthur Ashe stadium enabled Japanese player Naomi Osaka to trounce defending champion Angelique Kerber, and Roger Federer to squeeze through in five against Francis Tiafoe.The Tennis Podcast team dodged the showers to reflect on a miserable 12 months for Kerber in which the role of World No.1 and defending Grand Slam champion has not always sat well.We meet her conqueror, 19-year-old Japanes
US Open Day 1 - Sharapova Back With A Bang; Konta Crashes Out
Day one of the US Open was dominated by the women’s draw, with the big upset of British No.1 Johanna Konta and the stunning win of Maria Sharapova over Simona Halep.After a long, breathless day, the Tennis Podcast team of David Law (BBC 5 Live), Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and Simon Briggs (Telegraph tennis correspondent) got together to look back on it all.Did Sharapova surpass expectations, or was Halep disappointing? Will the Romanian ever actually reach World No.1 having come within touch
US Open Preview - Murray Withdrawal Reaction; Injuries - Does Something Need To Change? Draw Preview, Predictions
A day before the US Open gets underway, and a day after Andy Murray announced his withdrawal, Tennis Podcast presenters Catherine Whitaker and David Law convened at Flushing Meadows to preview the year’s Grand Slam tournament.Was Murray right to make the call to withdraw? Should he have done so earlier? And should that be it for the year?Why are so many top players getting injured - all of last year’s Top 5 men? Is it coincidence or the sign of a more significant problem? And does tennis need to
Cincinnati - Dimitrov Delivers; Muguruza Hammers Halep; Nadal No.1 But Not US Open Favourite?
Grigor Dimitrov has made a career out of promising much but failing to deliver, while Garbine Muguruza follows Grand Slam breakthroughs with slumps. Until now.This week’s Tennis Podcast discusses their impressive victories in Cincinnati and wonders whether they could be the forerunners to even bigger wins at the US Open, which starts next week.With Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori all out injured, and question marks over the fitness of Roger Federer and Andy Murray, is this Dimitr
Montreal/Toronto - Are Alexander Zverev and Elina Svitolina US Open Favourites? How Bad Is Roger Federer’s Injury? The Big Nick Kyrgios Argument
Another week and another piece of evidence that both Alexander Zverev and Elina Svitolina are the real deal in tennis terms.Both Zverev and Svitolina won their fifth titles of 2017 in Montreal and Toronto respectively, and with the US Open just around the corner, the Tennis Podcast team are wondering whether they might reproduce those wins in the Big Apple?Zverev saw off Roger Federer in straight sets, inflicting only the third defeat of the year on the 19-time Grand Slam champion. But as well a
What’s Happened Since Wimbledon? With Djokovic, Wawrinka Out, Is This Zverev’s Time? Will Sharapova’s Body Allow Her To Return? The Bizarre Case Of Sara Errani.
Three weeks have passed since Wimbledon, two weeks since our last podcast, and a lot has happened.Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka won’t be in New York. David Law and Catherine Whitaker speculate about whether Roger Federer’s decision not to play again in 2016, followed by such spectacular 2017 results, might have influenced the length of lay-off taken by his two rivals.Former French Open finalist Sara Errani has tested positive for a banned substance and yet only been banned for two months. The
The Roger Federer Story - A Tennis Podcast Special
We know about the 19 Grand Slam singles titles, the 302 weeks at World No.1, the incredible comeback to win an 8th Wimbledon title at the age of nearly 36.But where did it all start for Roger Federer? Where did he make his professional debut? What was he like as a teenager? Is it true that he had a bad temper? And were there really doubts about whether he would deliver on his talent?In a special edition of The Tennis Podcast, The Roger Federer Story is told through the eyes of BBC 5 Live comment
Wimbledon Day 13 - Is Roger Federer The Greatest Sports Person Ever?
After Roger Federer became the only man ever to win eight Grand Slam title singles titles and 19 Grand Slam crowns overall, The Tennis Podcast discussed where he sits in the pantheon of all-time greats - and not just in tennis. Is he better than Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, and Rafael Nadal (who has a winning record against him)? Are his achievements superior to those of Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan and Usain Bolt? Impossible questions to answer, perhaps, but that doesn’t stop David Law and the T
Wimbledon Day 12 - Garbine Muguruza - Champion; Venus Dream Dashed; Roger Federer vs. Marin Cilic Predictions
Garbine Muguruza dashed the dream of Venus Williams in the Wimbledon final and the Tennis Podcast team were as perplexed by the vast difference in quality between the two sets played as everyone else. Williams was arguably the better player in a first set that she lost 7-5, so why did she fade so considerably in set two?Where did that Muguruza performance come from? Should she and will she now go and hire Conchita Martinez as a full-time coach? And can she take her Wimbledon form into the r
Wimbledon Day 11 - Federer vs. Cilic Final; Venus vs. Muguruza preview and predictions; Who is the most ‘adaptable’ tennis player ever?
Roger Federer will appear in his 11th Wimbledon final, his 29th Grand Slam singles final overall, and against a man that thrashed him in the US Open semifinal in 2014. Tennis Podcast presenters Catherine Whitaker and David Law are joined by Telegraph tennis correspondent Simon Briggs to look back on Federer’s tight three-set win over Tomas Berdych, and the Marin Cilic defeat of Sam Querrey.After six minutes of Briggs talking and typing as he tried to make his deadline, the Federer press con
Wimbledon Day 10 - Venus Williams The Marvel Makes Wimbledon Final; Konta’s Dream Over For 2017; Federer/Berdych, Cilic/Querrey - Who Wins?
Jo Konta’s Wimbledon dream may have ended for 2017 but the journey of Venus Williams to the final is an extraordinary story, and one which The Tennis Podcast team review in the latest show.How has a woman of 37 been able to return to the final 17 years after her first title at the All England Club? Where did her match against Konta turn? And how will she get on against Garbine Muguruza in the final?For Konta it was a disappointing day. What happened after she held break point at 4 games all? Did
Wimbledon Day 9 - Murray, Djokovic Crash In Quarters; Federer Flies; Cilic Edges Muller; Konta/Venus preview; Goran For Strictly Come Dancing?
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have won the last four Wimbledon men’s singles titles between them, but they both exited in a manner that prompted as many questions and answers.The Tennis Podcast team - led by presenters Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and joined by Charlie Eccleshare of the Telegraph - assembled to talk it through on the daily show. How injured was Murray, and did the injury decide the outcome of the match? Was Sam Querrey just too good? Should Murray take a significant t
Wimbledon Day 8 - The meteorological apocalypse arrives at SW19 as the Konta whirlwind keeps on spinning
After a thrilling, (if a little soggy), women's quarter finals day, David & Catherine sought shelter in Southfields to digest an extraordinary battle between 'warriors' Jo Konta and Simona Halep, and an historic victory for sixth seed Konta. Plus, the collapse of Vandeweghe, the surge or Rybarikova, the resurgence of Muguruza and the Majestic Venus. Plus a slightly disgruntled Novak Djokovic, albeit a winning one. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wimbledon Day 7 - Manic Monday: Huge Nadal Upset, Kerber No.1 Ranking Gone, British History Made, Djokovic Delayed
Manic Monday lived up to its name in every sense, with a massive upset, British history made, the World No.1 in the women’s game going out, and a will-they, won’t-they saga about moving Novak Djokovic on to Centre Court late at night. Afterwards, Telegraph tennis correspondent Simon Briggs joined Tennis Podcast presenters Catherine Whitaker and David Law, who are part of the BBC 5 Live team at Wimbledon, to review the day.What a story with Gilles Muller beating Rafael Nadal 15-13 in the 5th
Wimbledon Day 6 - The Big Manic Monday Schedule Debate; Kerber, Wozniacki Survive; Federer, Djokovic Cruise;
On a day when many of the leading female players fought through scares to take their places in the last 16, and the top male stars cruised into week two of Wimbledon, the main topic of conversation on Saturday was ‘who will be scheduled where on Manic Monday?’It’s a topic that was picked up immediately on The Tennis Podcast, with The Telegraph’s correspondent Simon Briggs joining presenters David Law and Catherine Whitaker.Four men’s matches on Monday (involving the so-called Big 4 of Andy
Wimbledon Day 5 - Murray Wins Late-Night Classic; Azarenka Edges Watson; Konta Cruises; Nadal Looks Imperious
Andy Murray experienced the full Fabio Fognini effect in a Friday night thriller at Wimbledon, and came through it to tell the tale. Fognini hit an array of outrageous winners, some terrible errors, and challenged a vital call mid-rally when he had not challenges remaining. He was also warned for visible obscenities. Tennis Podcast presenters Catherine Whitaker and David Law took a break from their BBC Radio 5 Live broadcasting duties to sit in the crowd and soak it up. Afterwards, they con
Wimbledon Day 4 - Pliskova beaten; Mattek Sands Horror; Konta Argument; Federer, Djokovic freewheel
The day after the pre-tournament favourite Petra Kvitova went out of Wimbledon she was followed onto the sidelines by her compatriot Karolina Pliskova.That means The Tennis Podcast team’s two picks for the women's title are not going to win the event, and so our predictions lie in tatters …Was Pliskova losing really that big a shock? What does that mean for Jo Konta? Is she, as some bookmakers have suggested, now the clear favourite for title? It’s a question that led to BBC Radio 5 Live colleag
Wimbledon Day 3 - Flying Ants; Courageous Konta; Ruthless Rafa; Handy Andy; #PredictionsGate
The Tennis Podcast team reckon Jo Konta entered the consciousness of more British people than at any time in her career thanks to her classic 10-8 final set win on Wimbledon’s Centre Court against Donna Vekic. An Australian Open semifinal, a title win in Miami and a Top 10 ranking were enough to get year-round tennis fans on-board, but Wimbledon is where stars are made and this was a perfect setting. How did Konta do it? Was it a Vekic capitulation, or did Konta wrestle the win away fr
Wimbledon Day 2 - Team Djokovic - An Insight; Injury pull-outs dominate discussion - are players wrong to play when hurt? Tomic walks dangerous line
The Day Two Tennis Podcast from Wimbledon is dominated by discussion of injury retirements and whether the Grand Slam tournaments need to change their rules to stop players taking to the court with physical problems to ensure they still get a £35,000 first-round loser cheque.The team quote Andy Murray from the US Open 2015. He seems to have the solution.Meanwhile, presenter David Law gives us an insight into new Team Novak Djokovic. The three-time champion practised with his new coaching team of
Wimbledon Day 1 - Wawrinka Falls, Murray Looks Fine (and discusses his love of Peppa Pig) and Konta, Kvitova Cruise
US Open champion Stan Wawrinka lost, Andy Murray’s hip looked fine, he revealed his penchant for watching Peppa Pig, and Jo Konta was calm personified in a first-round win. Those were the headline talking points on The Tennis Podcast after day one at Wimbledon.Presenters Catherine Whitaker and David Law, who are part of the BBC Radio 5 Live team at Wimbledon, convened to talk through a cracking opening day. Everyone was watching Murray’s movement closely, and he looked bemused by the i
Wimbledon Preview - ‘The Big Four Are Still The Four To Beat’ - Roger Federer
Andy Murray has a sore hip, Novak Djokovic isn’t in the form of 12-18 months ago, Rafael Nadal hasn’t reached the Wimbledon quarters for six years and Roger Federer is closer to 40 years of age than 30. But according to Federer, on the pre-Wimbledon edition of The Tennis Podcast, the Big Four are still the players to beat in the men’s draw. “Andy, Rafa and Novak are the clear favourites to me,” Federer told podcast host Catherine Whitaker. “Andy is the champion and Rafa is coming off an unb
Queen's Day 7 - Feliciano Lopez: ‘It’s The Best Week Of My Life’; Marin Cilic 2nd favourite for Wimbledon; Murray/Soares on their title celebration technique
The final Tennis Podcast from the Aegon Championships at The Queen’s Club features the men of the hour, live.The champion Feliciano Lopez tells Catherine Whitaker and Gigi Salmon just what becoming the oldest man in the Open era means to him.“It’s the best week of my life,” says Lopez. “Not only to win at Queen’s but to beat those players (Stan Wawrinka, Tomas Berdych, Grigor Dimitrov and Marin Cilic in the final). It makes it so special. I take a lot of pride in being the oldest champion in the
Queen's/Halle Day 6 - Lopez Dream Stays Alive; Cilic - 3 Matches In A Day; Federer vs. Zverev in Halle final
The final of the Aegon Championships is upon us, and although it might lack the top 3 seeds Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka and Milos Raonic, who all lost on Tuesday, the Tennis Podcast team is predicting an emotional day.The previous final appearance of Feliciano Lopez, in 2014, ended in an agonising loss in a final set tie-break. That was after he had held match point, and it hurt the Spaniard more than just any other loss in his career. 'I’ve wanted to win this tournament so badly throughout m
Queen’s Day 5 - Dimitrov vs. Lopez - the sequel; special guest - Gilles Muller; Hear Dan Evans’ statement
While the world discussed the positive test of Dan Evans on Friday, Grigor Dimitrov, Feliciano Lopez, Marin Cilic and Gilles Muller were making their way to the semifinals of the Aegon Championships.In the latest Tennis Podcast, we hear the statement read by Evans after his positive test for cocaine. One of the semifinalist at Queen’s - Gilles Muller - joins presenters Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and Gigi Salmon (BBC) to celebrate National Luxembourg Day, talk about the first two titles
Queen's Day 4 - Jonas Bjorkman on ‘President’ Marin Cilic; Meet Daniil Medvedev
Two years ago, Jonas Bjorkman was part of the Andy Murray coaching team. Now, he is a key cog in Team Marin Cilic, who is into the quarterfinals of the Aegon Championships at The Queen’s Club.In the latest daily Tennis Podcast from Queen’s, Bjorkman joins presenters Catherine Whitaker and Gigi Salmon to talk about life with the big Croatian, who won the US Open in 2014.For starters, they call him The President of the team, although Bjorkman jokes ‘actually he is more like a Dictator’, and that C
Queen's Day 3 - Special guest Thanasi Kokkinakis on 200 post-match messages, Superhero powers and Glastonbury; Berdych edges new star Shapovalov; Dimitrov survives
Thanasi Kokkinakis takes on fellow #NextGen star Daniil Medvedev on centre court at the Aegon Championships today, and part of his pre-match preparation was to join Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and Gigi Salmon (BBC 5 Live) on the Tennis Podcast.How many text messages did he receive after his stunning win over Milos Raonic in the previous round? How stressful was it trying to close out a match of that magnitude after so long out? And most importantly, what superpower would he choose - invisibil
Queen's Day 2 - Top Three Seeds Tumble at the Aegon Championships as Murray, Raonic & Wawrinka all head for an early exit.
On a day of high-drama at the Aegon Championships as the top three seeds all fell, it was Andy Murray’s surprise defeat to Jordan Thompson that dominated the discussion on the Tennis Podcast.Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and Gigi Salmon (BBC) discuss the match in depth from a shell-shocked Queen’s Club. Would Murray of a year ago have won today? And should the World No.1 enter Eastbourne next week before he heads to Wimbledon to defend his title? There are more questions than answers right now.
Queen's Day 1 - Dimitrov, Tsonga Sail; Kyrgios Crocked; Shapovalov Soars; and John Bishop guests
The Queen’s Club was baked in sunshine as the Aegon Championships got underway, and The Tennis Podcast team of Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and Gigi Salmon (BBC) are on hand to review the day’s action.Billed as match of the day, Denis Shapovalov and Kyle Edmund didn’t disappoint, playing three sets of thrilling tennis in the late afternoon on Centre Court. Shapovalov in particular was impressive, building on his qualifying run to beat Edmund 6-4 in the third. Catherine could barely contain her
Queen's Preview - Murrray, King Of Queen's, Returns; Dimitrov's Love Affair To Continue? Kyrgios Content
Clay has turned to grass, and in the first of the daily podcasts from the Aegon Championships, David Law (BBC 5 Live) and Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) are together on a scorching hot day at The Queen’s Club to preview the tournament.One of the players Catherine spoke to on a busy day of media activity was Nick Kyrgios, who plays Donald Young on day one. The Australian is yet to win a match at The Queen’s Club, but as he told Catherine, he is in a very good place, physically and mentally, at th
French Open Day 15 - La Decima For Nadal; What Happened And What Will Happen Next On Grass?
Rafael Nadal became the first man in history to win ten Grand Slam titles at a single event, and after completing La Decima at Roland Garros, Catherine Whitaker spoke to David Law about it on The Tennis Podcast.Where was the match won and lost? Is it fair to be disappointed in the performance of Stan Wawrinka? Or was Nadal just so good that a competitive contest was simply out of the question?Nadal will now travel to the Aegon Championships at The Queen's Club as he tries to transfer his form fr
French Open Day 14 - Ostapenko the champion, but how good will she become?; ‘Would any sporting achievement top Nadal winning 10 French Opens? I don’t think so.’ - John McEnroe;
Jelena Ostapenko is the French Open champion, but was it a red-hot couple of weeks and ultimately a flash in the pan, or will she go on to win multiple Grand Slam titles? It provoked a fiery disagreement on the latest Tennis Podcast between presenters Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live). Ahead of the men’s final, John McEnroe joined Whitaker on Eurosport to sum up the magnitude of achievement if Nadal were to seize his 10th title on Sunday.“Nadal winning ten titles at
Chris Evert's Women's Final Preview
Jelena Ostapenko takes on Simona Halep in the final of the French Open.Few people know more about winning Grand Slam titles than Chris Evert, and she joined Tennis Podcast presenter Catherine Whitaker on Eurosport to preview the match.Where will the match be won and lost? What will it be like for Ostapenko to play in her first Grand Slam final at the age of 20? Evert knows - she met Margaret Court when she was just 18 years of age. How has Halep turned things around from some of her lows earlier
French Open Day 13 - Murray brilliant, Wawrinka better; Halep vs. Ostapenko final preview
How could Andy Murray play that well and not win? That was the first thought of Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live) on the The Tennis Podcast, recorded shortly after the semifinals.The answer, they concluded, came from down the other end of the court, where Stan Wawrinka was firing his bullets for more than four hours. Where was the match won and lost? What did Murray think of his performance? - we hear from him. And what sort of chance do the podcast team give Wawrinka in
French Open Day 12 - ‘Andy Murray now looks like the Andy Murray of last year’ - Boris Becker
Andy Murray is now playing like the man that reached World No.1 at the end of last year, according to Boris Becker. As Murray prepared to take on Stan Wawrinka in the French Open semifinals, Becker spoke to Tennis Podcast presenter Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) to assess the British player’s improvement over the course of the tournament. “Andy Murray now looks like the Andy Murray of last year,” said Becker. Even after the match against (Juan Martin) Del Potro in the third round, he h
French Open Day 11 - What Next For Novak Djokovic? Murray, Stan, Nadal, Thiem Through; Pliskova or Halep New World No.1?
After a busy day in which all four of the men’s quarterfinals and two of the women’s quarters were played, the question on everyone’s lips was ‘what was wrong with Novak Djokovic’.Listeners to The Tennis Podcast will know that it has been a recurring conversation over the past 12 months, and if anything, this latest episode - a straight sets defeat to Dominic Thiem - was even more mystifying.So, what is wrong with Djokovic? Did he, as John McEnroe suggested in commentary on Eurosport, ‘tank’ in
French Open Day 10 - Ostapenko Stuns Wozniacki To Make Semis; Pat Cash: 'Ivan Lendl Is The Most Annoying Person I Have Met In The Locker Room In My Life'; 'Thiem Can Beat Djokovic In These Conditions'
On a largely frustrating, rain-sodden day in Paris, Jelena Ostapenko and Timea Bacsinszky were two of the only people at Roland Garros smiling at the end of the day.Unseeded teenager Ostapenko stunned former World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki in three sets, while Bacsinszky defeated home favourite Kristina Mladenovic. On the latest Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker is joined by her Eurosport colleague, commentator Chris Bradnam, to review where the quarterfinals were won and lost.With the two of the
French Open Day 9 - 'Agassi/Djokovic won't last' - Goran Ivanisevic; Andy Murray on his 'night and day' improvement; Quarterfinals previewed
‘Night and day’ said Andy Murray to Catherine Whitaker on Eurosport, when comparing his form before the French Open to the tennis he displayed in reaching the quarterfinals on Monday.That interview, reproduced here on The Tennis Podcast, gives an insight into his growing confidence, self belief, and relaxed state of mind. What does he expect to happen against Kei Nishikori in the next round? What do he and Ivan Lendl talk about in the locker room after matches? And is his daughter Sophia showing
French Open Day 8 - Muguruza Dethroned As Mladenovic Soars; Can Thiem Take Out Djokovic? Who Is Karen Khachanov?
Garbine Muguruza departed the French Open wagging her finger in anger at the local crowd. They didn't care. Kristina Mladenovic, or Kiki as she is known, reached the quarterfinals in a tumultuous atmosphere at Roland Garros, and afterwards the Tennis Podcast team assembled to talk about it.Were the crowd out of order or do players just need to accept and take it? Could Mladenovic go on from here and win the title?Elsewhere, the only man that looked anything like as impressive as Rafael Nadal on
French Open Day 7 - Murray Shows No.1 Quality In Del Potro Win; Edmund Ousted in 5; Special Guest - Mats Wilander
As the French Open enters week two, Andy Murray has started to look like the World No.1 for the first time this year, according to the Telegraph's Tennis Podcast team.Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and the Telegraph's Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs met up after Murray's straight sets defeat of Juan Martin del Potro to dissect his win, including a mind-boggling 85 minute first set.We hear from Murray, talking to Whitaker on Eurosport straight after the match, and Briggs proudly airs his down-t
French Open Day 6 - Djokovic survives in 5; ‘Unbeatable’ Nadal Rolls; Murray vs. Del Potro: Previewed with GB and Argentina Davis Cup Captains
The French Open Day 6 edition of the Tennis Podcast started with Novak Djokovic two sets to one down. By the time it concluded, he had extricated himself from trouble.Presenter Catherine Whitaker was joined by Eurosport colleagues and commentary team Simon Reed and Frew McMillan as they stepped out of the commentary box following one of their shorter shifts - a 6-0, 6-1, 6-0 victory for Rafael Nadal over Nikoloz Basilashvili. ‘He looked unbeatable’ said McMillan, and Reed agreed.As well as revie
French Open Day 5 - Murray Sets Up Del Potro Clash; Edmund Through; Time To Rename Margaret Court Arena?
It was still short of Andy Murray's vintage, Grand Slam title-winning best form, but he is into round three of the French Open, and according to Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and the Telegraph's tennis correspondent Simon Briggs, he has the perfect platform to build on.In the latest Tennis Podcast, Whitaker and Briggs discuss the contrasting routes through to the third round of Murray and Juan Martin del Potro, and speculate as to what might happen when they meet on Saturday.Del Potro's heartbr
French Open Day 4 - Devastated Johnson Captures Hearts In Paris; Djokovic Adopts Agassi Way; Wozniacki's double-bagel
Day four of the French Open started with everyone expecting to talk about Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Garbine Muguruza. It ended with the latest Tennis Podcast leading on Steve Johnson, the World No.26. While Nadal and Djokovic cruised to victory, Johnson dragged himself through four ageing sets against Borna Coric. Not that big a deal on the face of it, until you saw him on match point, falling to his knees and sobbing uncontrollably. A few weeks earlier, his father and mentor, Steve
French Open Day 3 - Is Andy Murray Back? Konta, Zverev Fall; Special Guests - Victoria Azarenka, Mats Wilander
Andy Murray arrived in Paris with little form to speak of, under the weather, and by all accounts, tetchy. After losing the second set 6-4 against Andrey Kuznetsov, things were not looking up. According to Tennis Podcast presenters David Law and Catherine Whitaker, sets 3 and 4 of his first round win could end up being the turning point of his French Open. Perhaps even his year. He found renewed purpose, positive body language and incisive play. He looked more like the World No.1.The news was le
French Open Day 2: Nadal, Djokovic - Convincing Wins, But Not Everyone’s Convinced
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic started their campaigns at Roland Garros, but while both registered convincing looking straight set wins, not everyone was convinced by what they saw.On the Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker was joined by two Eurosport colleagues - former World No.5 Jo Durie and commentator Chris Bradnam - to dissect day 2 at the French Open.How did the Djokovic / Andrew Agassi partnership seem like it was working? Was Agassi the coach sitting stony-faced like Ivan Lendl, or fidg
French Open Day 1 - Kvitova 'Wins French Open' On Opening Day; Kerber Out; Evans Toils
The Tennis Podcast - Kvitova ‘Wins French Open’ On Opening DayIt was only the first day, but it already felt as though Petra Kvitova had won the French Open.Six months after being subjected to a terrifying knife attack in her own home, Kvitova returned to the court and won her first match at Roland Garros. Simon Briggs, the Telegraph’s Tennis Correspondent, appears on the latest Tennis Podcast and says that she was unquestionably the story of the opening day of the tournament. That’s on a d
Roland Garros Preview; Predictions, Excitement and Intrigue Abound as Catherine and David look ahead to the 2017 French
A year ago, the weather was awful, Rafael Nadal pulled out just as he was about to get going, and Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray marched to a final meeting, while Garbine Muguruza ousted Serena Williams in the final. As the French Open prepares to get underway in 2017, things could not be more different. The weather is glorious, Nadal is the overwhelming favourite to land an extraordinary 10th title, and Djokovic and Murray are scratching around for form. Meanwhile, Muguruza is similar
Andre Agassi ‘Super Coach’ - What Will He Be Like?
Andre Agassi will return to the sport as its latest ‘Super Coach’, Maria Sharapova will play in Wimbledon qualifying and Victoria Azarenka will return to the sport seven months after having her baby boy, Leo. Just another week in on the global tennis tour.It all gave the Tennis Podcast team plenty to get their teeth into in the latest edition of the show, which is available to listen to now.What do we expect to happen when Agassi and Djokovic get together in Paris? Will it be a success?What will
The Punchy Podcast - Injury & wildcard misery for Sharapova; Nadal & Halep the ones to beat on clay; Murray, Djokovic woes continue; Federer out of Roland Garros
With nine days having passed since the last podcast was recorded, an awful lot has happened in the fast-moving tennis world, including the announcement that the FFT have denied Maria Sharapova a wildcard into either the main draw or the qualifying event at Roland Garros. Catherine & David pick apart the decision, the way it was announced and the way the tennis world has reacted to it, as well as discussing the 4000 other things that have happened in tennis this week including yet another cla
Agassi, Sampras, Wilander? Who Does Novak Djokovic Need As His Next Coach?
It was midway through recording of the latest Tennis Podcast that presenters Catherine Whitaker and David Law received a message from the Telegraph’s tennis correspondent Simon Briggs which detailed his story about Andre Agassi being a potential coach for Novak Djokovic.Djokovic had cleared out virtually all of his support team in one go last week, and the podcast’s attentions immediately turned to who might replace him. Could it be Pete Sampras, the 14-time Grand Slam champion that Djokovic ido
Tennis Podcast Extra - Andy Murray
It’s been a rough few months with illness and injury, but Andy Murray believes that he has come in the clay court season in 2017 ‘in a better place’ than he did the 2016 in which he ended up reaching the French Open final. Murray joined Catherine Whitaker for Tennis Podcast Extra, and described his season so far, his hopes for the clay court season, and the challenge of staying at World No.1.The interview took place at The Queen’s Club - home of the Aegon Championships which Murray has won
Sharapova’s Return - How Was It For You? La Decima No.2 (of 3?) For Rafa; Who Is The Drop Shot Dragon?
Maria Sharapova is back. Many are happy to see her, many less so, but her return can not be ignored, and it’s the central theme on this week’s Tennis Podcast. How will she reflect on her run to the semifinals? Did she strike the notes in her post-match press conference? And is she a French Open contender?The team also look at the continuing form of Rafael Nadal, who followed up his 10th title in Monte Carlo with a second La Decima in Barcelona. Can anyone stop him from making it three in Roland
Tennis Podcast Extra: Nick Kyrgios - Coming Of Age; Kyrgios and Lleyton Hewitt interviews
In the first Tennis Podcast Extra, we focus on Nick Kyrgios, hearing from the man himself about what makes him tick, the ‘dark place’ he found himself in after the Australian Open, and how he got himself out of it to beat everyone except Roger Federer.We also hear from his Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt, who gives an insight into how to get the best out of Kyrgios, his potential, and the man that he knows behind the scenes. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport and
Nastase’s Disgrace, Sharapova’s Return
Results of tennis matches take a back-seat on this week’s Tennis Podcast after the behaviour of Ilie Nastase over the weekend and the return of Maria Sharapova imminent following a 15-month suspension for a failed drugs test. The former French Open champion and BBC presenter Sue Barker joins Tennis Podcast hosts Catherine Whitaker and David Law to expresses her shock and disappointment at Nastase’s ‘unforgivable’ behaviour.The Telegraph’s Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs is a guest from Buchare
Monte Carlo - Djokovic, Murray, Nadal or 'Another'?; Fed Cup - Do Great Britain Stand A Chance?; Tennis Grunting - What, if anything, should be done?
The year's first big clay court event is upon us and there are more unknowns than perhaps any edition of the Monte Carlo Masters over the last decade. The Tennis Podcast team are here to pick through it all. Is Andy Murray's elbow in a sufficient state for a proper clay court campaign?Is Novak Djokovic ready to rediscover his true form, or will he come unstuck again like he did against Jiri Vesely a year ago?And what of Rafael Nadal? After a strong start to the year, albeit in the slipstream of
Davis Cup - The Djokovic Catalyst? Kyrgios Comes Good Again; Kasatkina’s First Title; The Mary Carillo-Steve Simon Interview
After a Davis Cup weekend in which Lleyton Hewitt got the very best out of Australia, France’s strength in depth quelled Great Britain and Novak Djokovic played his first tie in more than a year, the Tennis Podcast team assembled to discuss the results. Is Nick Kyrgios’ recent excellence now just ‘a thing’? Could Britain have done any more? And will Djokovic returning to the Davis Cup fold be the catalyst for renewed form on the singles circuit?The podcast team also discuss the first title won b
Jo Konta: Champion, Role-Model, Future No.1? Incredible Federer - Three Titles And Out, For Now; Kyrgios Comes-Of-Age.
In becoming the first British woman to lift the Miami Open trophy, Jo Konta scored the nation’s most notable win by a female tennis player since Virginia Wade won Wimbledon in 1977, and reached World No.7 in the process.In the view of the Tennis Podcast team, this is only the beginning for Konta. On the latest show, presenters Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport) agreed that she is a going to be a powerful, influential, positive role-model. But how far can she go o
Miami underway, Murray and Djokovic hurt, and what should tennis do with on-court coaching?
As Miami got underway and concern grew for the health of Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, the subject of on-court coaching came under the spotlight, and the Tennis Podcast team are debating it in this week’s show. Is it time for the men’s game to follow the lead of the women’s game and allow a mic’d up Ivan Lendl on to the court to tell Murray what’s what?Is it a ‘bad look’ for the sport, as many commentators have deemed it, for only female players to be seen asking for help on court? Should it b
‘Federer will finish 2017 as the World No.1’; Vesnina Makes The Heart Sing In Indian Wells; Why is 30 the new 20?
Roger Federer, who will turn 36 in August, will finish 2017 as the World’s No.1 male tennis player if he stays healthy.That’s the view of David Law, the BBC 5 Live and BT Sport tennis commentator and one of the presenters of The Tennis Podcast, which is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.Federer added the Indian Wells title to his win at the Australian Open in Melbourne in January, and Law said on the new edition of the podcast that, with the physical and form issues being experienced
Indian Wells Quarter Of Death; Why Can't Andy Murray Crack It? Wozniacki / Sharapova Fall-Out; Who Is Kayla Day?
Andy Murray said he had never seen anything like it. Tennis Twitter almost broke. That’s what happened when the BNP Paribas Open draw in Indian Wells pitched Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin Del Potro into the same quarter of the draw, along with precocious talents Alex Zverev and Nick Kyrgios.But who will come through it? Kyrgios faces Zverev, and Djokovic meets Del Potro tonight. The winner of those matches will clash in round 4. And then the winner of that is likely
Murray Back And Bouncing; Kyrgios - Will He Ever Crack It? Sam Querrey - Where Did That Come From? Roger Federer - What Happened? #MyChildhoodTennisMemory
The big guns returned to action in Dubai and Acapulco with varying degrees of success, and Catherine and David convened to discuss a jam-packed week on The Tennis Podcast.Andy Murray scooped the title in Dubai, but only after winning a 30-minute, 38-point tie-break. He looked like his old self, according to the Tennis Podcast team. Nick Kyrgios scored one of the biggest wins of his career over Novak Djokovic, making it a hat-trick of wins over Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in his firs
Federer - 3 More Years? Did Murray Overtrain? Why Is Djokovic Playing Acapulco?
The Australian Open champion Roger Federer, the World No.1 Andy Murray, and the man who has dominated the men’s tennis world for years, Novak Djokovic, return to action this week, and all are discussed at length in the new Tennis Podcast.Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport) convene to discuss whether they think the headlines about Federer committing to playing for a further three years will be realised, whether Andy Murray might, in the words of the Telegraph’s Sim
Karolina Pliskova - No.1 Material? Surprising Winners - Harrison, Dolgopolov, Tsonga; What Next For Juan Martin Del Potro?
Karolina Pliskova has only lost one match all year, winning the title in Doha last week to add to her Brisbane victory and Fed Cup success. She reached the final of the US Open last September, beating Venus and Serena Williams along the way. So, is Pliskova the next new Grand Slam champion and World No.1 on the WTA Tour?In the latest Tennis Podcast, recorded in London Marylebone station, David Law (BBC 5 Live and BT Sport) and Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) made their predictions, as did legions
Britain Final Through In Fed Cup; Dimitrov Delight In Sofia; Maria Sharapova - Should Wimbledon Give Her A Wild Card?
It was Fed Cup week, and Britain were celebrating progress, despite it going down to the wire. Captain Anne Keothavong joins David Law and Catherine Whitaker to describe the emotions she was going through and how she made her big doubles decision.Elsewhere, Czech Republic kept on rolling, and will now face USA, who were trying to deal with controversy having played a World War 2 version of the German national anthem. On the men’s tour, there were three very different winners in Grigor Dimitrov,
Shapovalov - Should Tennis Have Stiffer Sanctions? Davis Cup Review; Rafael Nadal - What Happened Next?
An otherwise thrilling Davis Cup weekend ended in numbed silence after 17-year-old Denis Shapovalov smashed a ball away in frustration which crashed into the eye of chair umpire Arnaud Gabas. He was instantly defaulted, sending Great Britain through, and Canada out of the competition. A few hours after the incident, Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport), freshly back from Melbourne and wrapped in a comical coat to protect against the weather, and David Law (BBC 5 Live) met at London Marylebone station
Australian Open Day 14 - Federer's 18th: His Greatest Achievement?
Fittingly, it went five sets, and they saved the best for last. Roger Federer produced a period of other-worldly tennis to win his 18th Grand Slam title against his biggest rival of all.Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live) concur that it amounts to the greatest of all of his victories. In a Tennis Podcast recorded moments afterwards, they explain why.Over the course of the 30-minute show, they discuss where the match was won and lost, what happened to Nadal after going a bre
Australian Open Day 13 - Serena Williams Makes History; Roger vs. Rafa - Previewed with John McEnroe and Boris Becker
Serena Williams made history by winning a 23rd Grand Slam singles title, and then the tennis world's attention turned to Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal. In the Day 13 Tennis Podcast from the Australian Open, Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live) convened to look back and ahead. What was the match like between Serena and Venus? How big an achievement is a 23rd Slam? Will she break Margaret Court's number of 24? And how long will she continue to play?As we look ahead to Rafael
Australian Open Day 12 - Federer vs. Nadal. It's On. Dimitrov Has Arrived; Serena vs. Venus - The Preview
Nine years since the one and only time that Serena Williams played Venus Williams, and Roger Federer met Rafael Nadal in the same Grand Slam tournament, it will happen against this weekend.After Nadal somehow subdued the brave, magical tennis of Grigor Dimitrov in a five-set, near five-hour epic on Friday night, Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport), David Law (BBC 5 Live) and Simon Briggs (Telegraph) got together on the Tennis Podcast to try to make sense of it all.Where was the match won and lost? Ho
Australian Open Day 11 - Williams Sisters To Meet, Same Place, 14 Years On; Federer Into Final; Dani Vallverdu Interview
In 2003, Tennis Podcast presenter David Law covered his first Australian Open for BBC Radio 5 Live.He had brown hair, not the grey of today. Andre Agassi won the men’s title. Roger Federer had yet to win a major event and was regarded as an underachieving prodigy who might never fulfil his talent. And hardly anyone had ever heard of Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, who were effectively still children.In the women’s final, Serena Williams beat Venus Williams. Fourteen years later, t
Australian Open Day 10 - Finally Grigor; Rafa’s Renaissance; Serena Slams Konta; Lucic-Baroni: ‘This Moment Has Made My Life’
Grand Slam tennis tournaments always throw up a special moment or two, a decent storyline, and usually a fitting crescendo.But the Australian Open is different. Everywhere you turn there are stories.Yesterday, Roger Federer and Venus Williams, aged 35 and 36 respectively, advanced to the final four. Today it was the turn of Rafael Nadal, who hasn’t reached a Grand Slam semifinal in more than two years, Serena Williams, who is 35 years of age and chasing 23 Grand Slam titles, Grigor Dimitrov, who
Australian Open Day 9 - Andy Roddick: ‘A Federer vs. Nadal final would be the most important Australian Open match ever’; Martina Navratilova on Konta vs. Serena; Chris Clarey on everything
On a day that Roger Federer moved one match away from the final of the Australian Open, and Rafael Nadal is still there, Andy Roddick joined The Tennis Podcast to declare that a meeting between the two in the final could be ‘the most historically significant match ever’. Roddick, inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in an on-court ceremony, told podcast presenter Catherine Whitaker (in Melbourne for Eurosport) that it could be an earth-shifting moment for the sport if it happens.
Australian Open Day 8 - Serena, Venus, Nadal, Federer Rage Against The Dying Of The Light; The Lucic-Baroni Story; and will Dan Evans make his flight?
It’s 2017 but it feels like 2007. The Williams sisters Serena and Venus are in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open on course to meet in the final, and Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will also clash if they win two more tennis matches each.While Nadal put Gael Monfils away in four sets to set up a last 8 clash with the highest remaining seed Milos Raonic, Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live) sat in the Melbourne press room to discuss day 8 at the Australian Open on The T
Australian Open day 7 - Murray Out In Stunning Upset; Zverev, Wilander Reaction; Federer, Venus Roll On; Evans Run Ends
In a display of serve-volleying and chip-charging that had John McEnroe and Pat Cash drooling, Misha Zverev dumped Andy Murray out of the Australian Open in the last 16.Catherine Whitaker and David Law recorded the Day 7 Tennis Podcast in front of the Australian Open big screen during the final set of Roger Federer vs. Kei Nishikori, but it was the loss of Murray that was the headline news.How did Zverev do it? They discuss it, we hear from Mats Wilander, and the man himself. What, if anything,
Australian Open Day 6 - Nadal Outlasts Zverev; Konta Destroys Wozniack; Brummie Murray Prepares For Battle
Two generations collided when Rafael Nadal met Alex Zverev on Saturday, and afterwards David Law (BBC 5 Live), Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and Simon Briggs (Telegraph Sport) convened to discuss it. Given that Zverev won a seemingly pivotal 37-stroke rally, why did he fade afterwards? Is Nadal back to his best? How far can he go? And what does the future hold for the prodigiously talented teen Zverev? It’s all discussed.Meanwhile, Britain’s Jo Konta thrashed a supposedly in-form, former World
Australian Open Day 5 - Federer Flies; Evans Soars; Carlos Moya Interview
On day 5 of the Australian Open, Dan Evans reached the second week of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in his career and Roger Federer produced an imperious reminder of the player that dominated the sport 10 years ago.Afterwards, Catherine Whitaker and David Law convened in the Eurosport green room to discuss it on the Tennis Podcast, and had the unexpected bonus of a chat with a multiple Grand Slam singles champion.We hear from Evans after his win, and the Great Britain Davis Cup capt
Australian Open Day 4 - Djokovic Dealt Seismic Shock By Istomin; Mouratoglou - Serena Is Still The Best; Nadal Looking Good
Boris Becker, Novak Djokovic’s now former coach, and Mats Wilander, a seven-time Grand Slam title winner, sat in the Eurosport studios, watching the Australian Open demise of the six-time champion.In the Tennis Podcast, following a tumultuous day 4 and one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history, presenter Catherine Whitaker, who is part of the Eurosport team, joins David Law and details how the pair reacted to Djokovic’s defeat. Beaten in five sets over nearly five hours by Dennis Ist
Australian Open Day 3 - Evans’ Biggest Win; Murray’s ankle concern; Kyrgios’ curious collapse
It started as one of the dullest Grand Slam days in recent memory but ended as one of the most thrilling.In a pulsating evening session, Britain’s Dan Evans won the match of his life by beating Marin Cilic in four sets. At the same time, Nick Kyrgios was beaten in five sets by Andreas Seppi, an exact role reversal from two years ago when Seppi had the two-set lead and Kyrgios responded to win. And just for good measure, Andy Murray turned his ankle while handily ahead against Andrey Rublev.In th
Australian Open Day 2 - ‘Djokovic Passes Verdasco Test; 5 Brits in Rd 2; Murray on Lendl, No.1
A couple of weeks ago, Novak Djokovic fought through five match points to beat Fernando Verdasco and reach the Doha final. There was no such drama this time, and although it was far from vintage Djokovic, he did more than enough to go through to round two. In the Telegraph’s Tennis Podcast on day two of the Australian Open, presenters Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live) assess Djokovic’s form, and also try to establish what Boris Becker meant when he said the World Number 2
Australian Open Day 1 - Federer Returns (we have a cool Federer anecdote), Murray toils, Halep crashes, Wawrinka survives
Roger Federer is back after six months away, and Catherine Whitaker has a pretty cool anecdote about what she saw moments before the 17-time Grand Slam champion took to the court against Jurgen Melzer.As for the match, how did he play in his four-set win? What are his prospects for the rest of the tournament? And how did Federer think Andy Murray would be influenced by coming into a Grand Slam tournament for the first time as the World No.1? We hear from him on The Tennis Podcast. Murray won in
Australian Open Preview - The Draw!
The Australian Open draw has been made, the Tennis Podcast’s Kickstarter targets have been met, and Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport), David Law (BBC 5 Live) and Simon Briggs (Telegraph) have convened to plot the next two weeks for Andy Murray, Roger Federer, Serena Williams and the rest. Which of the leading players can be most happy with their draws? Murray, who could face Federer in the quarters, or Novak Djokovic, who has Fernando Verdasco for his opener? Wawrinka, who could meet Nick Kyrgios i
Djokovic/Murray - Now Where Does The Balance Lie? Dimitrov Back From The Wilderness; David's Early Aus Open Prediction
One of the most pulsating first weeks of the tennis season that we can remember concluded with Novak Djokovic edging Andy Murray in the Doha final. What does that do to the balance of power with Murray the World No.1 but Djokovic a six-time Australian Open champion?In Brisbane, Grigor Dimitrov returned from the wilderness to beat three Top-10 players and win his first title in two and a half years. Is he back for good or is this just a token reminder of what might have been?Karolina Pliskova won
2017 Season Preview; Nigel Sears On Sir Andy Murray, Ana Ivanovic Retirement, Anne Keothavong Fed Cup Captain
Tennis Podcast listeners successfully funded the weekly show to continue in 2017, and so we are back!Catherine and David convene to discuss the seven tournaments that have started the new year with a bang, to talk about Andy Murray’s knighthood, to make their 2017 tennis wishes, and to delve into the Poll Vault.Nigel Sears, former coach of Ana Ivanovic and Daniella Hantuchova, and Murray’s father-in-law, tells us who he will be looking out for on the WTA circuit in 2017. He also gives us his tho
Kvitova Horror, Ivanovic Retirement, Coaching Carousel and Federer Is Back
After taking a break for a month, The Tennis Podcast is back for one last episode in 2016, and there is a lot for Catherine and David to cover.The awful knife attack suffered by Petra Kvitova, the retirement of Ana Ivanovic, and the Australian Open withdrawals of Juan Martin Del Potro and Madison Keys kick off the show. The coaching carousel has been spinning like a Rafael Nadal forehand, and Nadal’s new alliance with Carlos Moya is one of the main topics discussed. What to make of the separatio
The Tennis Podcast 2017
After 260 episodes and five years of The Tennis Podcast, we are asking for your help to keep it going in 2017, and to make it bigger and better than ever. To find out how, go to: https://goo.gl/NLHqvq Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Davis Cup Ecstasy For Argentina; 2016 Awards
One of the most memorable Davis Cup finals in history, a 0-2 comeback from the one and only Juan Martin Del Potro, and a first triumph in Argentina's history.Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport) spend half of The Tennis Podcast talking about all of that, and the other half debating who warrants the Tennis Podcast 2016 Awards.Who is the player of the year? What was the biggest shock of 2016? Who had the biggest breakthrough? And who lays dubious claim to Meltdown of
Davis Cup Final Preview - Argentina Seek To End Excruciating Wait; Karlovic Seeks Fairytale Finishd Episode
Argentina have been trying to win the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas for more than a hundred years, and after four failed final attempts, they will be hoping that this is their year.Ahead of their final against Croatia in Zagreb, the Tennis Podcast team of David Law and Catherine Whitaker get together to discuss their chances, the late selection of 37-year-old Ivo Karlovic - the oldest man to have played singles in a final since the 20's, and the journey of Juan Martin Del Potro.Who will win? It's dis
Murray Conquers Nemesis Djokovic To Seal World No.1 Ranking For 2016
After Novak Djokovic dominated the first half of the year, and Andy Murray the second, the two met in the final match of the ATP season, with the World No.1 ranking at stake.Murray triumphed, and afterwards Catherine Whitaker and David Law talked it over inside The 02 on the Tennis Podcast.Where was the match won and lost? How did Murray dig out that performance when he must have been running on fumes?What happened to Djokovic after he had looked so good 24 hours earlier against Kei Nishikori? W
ATP Finals Preview - Murray's Horror Draw; Djokovic To Rediscover Form? Federer's Awards. Again.
Andy Murray arrives to the 02 Arena as the favourite to win the title for the first time, but he's been handed a horror draw.With a couple of days until the event starts, Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport) get together to discuss the chances of Murray winning, Djokovic returning to form, and someone else upsetting all the odds. Catherine pretty much goes with the obvious, but David has gone out on a limb. What do our listeners say in Poll Vault?We also hear about
Andy Murray: World No. 1
In his 12th year as a tennis professional, after winning multiple Grand Slam titles, the Davis Cup and two Olympic gold medals, Andy Murray has finally forced his way past Novak Djokovic to top the world rankings.A few hours after Murray underlined his new status by winning in Paris Bercy, David Law and Catherine Whitaker got together to reflect on a monumental achievement.What turned Murray into serial contender to the No. 1 player in the world? How big an impact did his coaching team of Ivan L
WTA Finals - Cibulkova Strikes Gold; Andy Murray Closes On No.1; Chris Evert Interview
Dominika Cibulkova told the Tennis Podcast that winning the WTA Finals was the ‘happiest day of my life’, and the pod team convened afterwards to discuss it.With David in Dubai airport on route back from Singapore, and Catherine in the UK, they chatted about a week of thrilling matches in which there were a number of surprises.Plus, as Andy Murray continues to close on World Number One, Catherine and David discuss whether he will he get there before the end of the year.There’s also a big intervi
WTA Finals Preview - Kerber, Halep, Muguruza, Keys all join us; Tie Break Tens; Andy Murray on World No 1
A star studded line up of players from the WTA Finals (and Andy Murray) join David (who is in Singapore) and Catherine (who has just got back from Vienna Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sharapova Decision, Kyrgios Suspension, Serena Pull-out, Djokovic Burnout, No.1 Murray (?)
Since Catherine Whitaker and David Law last convened on the Tennis Podcast, Maria Sharapova’s sentence has been reduced by nine months, Andy Murray has won 20 sets out of 20 to move to within sight of World No.1, and Novak Djokovic has continued to struggle. On the day we recorded this edition, Serena Williams withdrew from the WTA Finals because of her ongoing shoulder issues, and Nick Kyrgios was fined and suspended for ’tanking’ in Shanghai, with that suspension being reduced to 3 weeks prov
Marcus Willis - 'I don't want to be remembered for losing second round at Wimbledon'.
He was the talk of Wimbledon for the first few days. The man who nearly quit the sport until his girlfriend told him not to, who entered pre-qualifying, won six matches, and made it into the main draw before bowing out to Roger Federer in round two.But as Marcus Willis tells David Law on the Tennis Podcast, he doesn't want to remembered for losing in the second round at Wimbledon.The journey to achieve more starts here, with masses of off-court training, a qualifying wild card at the Erste Bank
Wuhan Review & Beijing Preview; Road to Singapore/London Maths & Permutations
David & Catherine meet at a new London eaterie to discuss a barnstorming week in Wuhan for Petra Kvitova and how it affects the Race to Singapore, which is really hotting up. As well as an update on the podcast's newly assigned mascot (Rosie the dog), the Tennis Podcast team also review another #NextGen title on the ATP Tour and analyse Novak Djokovic's withdrawal from Beijing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Osaka, Zverev - Future No.1's; The Davis Cup Debate; A Surprising Guest
Two weeks since the US Open podcasts and Catherine Whitaker has finally returned, joining up with David Law to review debut career titles for Alex Zverev and Lucas Pouille, a run to the final in Tokyo by Naomi Osaka, and to preview Wuhan.Catherine comes out firing, predicting that both Osaka and Zverev will be World No.1's.There's much Osaka/Zverev insight and excitement, much bewilderment at Dominic Thiem continuing to play every week, and a big debate about the proposed changes to the Davis Cu
Introducing The Tennis Podcast
The Tennis Podcast is a downloadable tennis radio show presented by BBC Radio 5 Live and BT Sport tennis commentator David Law and Eurosport presenter Catherine Whitaker.This is a 2 minute flavour to introduce you to the sound of the show, the type of guests you will hear and the reason that David refuses to play Catherine at tennis.The Tennis Podcast is a weekly show throughout the year, with daily editions during Grand Slam tournaments and other big events.Since its launch in May 2012, more th
Davis Cup Semis - Argentina Break British Hearts; Face Croatia In Final
Juan Martin Del Potro came close to hanging up his tennis racquet for good 18 months ago. In Glasgow he did what no man had ever done before - beating Andy Murray on home territory in the Davis Cup, as Argentina eventually knocked out the defending champions Great Britain. After his win over Murray, he spoke to BBC 5 Live commentator and Tennis Podcast presenter David Law about the experience. And, moments after Leonardo Mayer sealed victory with a win over Dan Evans, Law joined Murray’s form
US Open Day 14 - Sensational Stan Wins Slam No.3; Djokovic's Body Fails Him In Final
After two gruelling weeks in which Stan Wawrinka stood a point from defeat against Britain's Dan Evans, and spent more than 20 hours on the court, it was Novak Djokovic's body that ultimately broke down in the final. A pulsating four-set tussle was won by Wawrinka - his third Grand Slam title - and afterwards the Telegraph's Tennis Podcast team got together to work out where it went right for Stan, and wrong for Novak. Eurosport presenter Catherine Whitaker and BBC 5 Live commentator David Law d
US Open Day 13 - Kerber Wins US Open In Classic; Jamie Murray/Bruno Soares Doubles Champions; Catherine/David Wage War With New York Bus Driver
Eight months ago, Angelique Kerber was match point down in the first round of the Australian Open. Eight months on, having saved that match point, she is the Australian Open and US Open champion, the World No.1, a Wimbledon runner-up, and an Olympic silver-medalist. After a classic 3-set tussle between Kerber and Karolina Pliskova, the Tennis Podcast’s team of Eurosport presenter Catherine Whitaker, BBC Radio 5 Live commentator David Law and Telegraph tennis correspondent Simon Briggs caught up
US Open Day 12 - Djokovic vs. Wawrinka final; What on earth was Gael Monfils Doing? 250th Episode, 2 Millionth Download;
Novak Djokovic will take on Stan Wawrinka in the final of the US Open on Sunday, but the main question that needed answering on the Tennis Podcast on Friday night was: what on earth was Gael Monfils doing? Playing in his first Grand Slam semifinal for eight years, and with a 0-12 record against Djokovic, Monfils appeared to adopt ‘Rope-a-dope’ tactics, trying to mess Djokovic around to a point where he might lose his form. It didn’t work. Accusations of ‘tanking’ - not trying - were levelled fro
US Open Day 11 - Angelique Kerber - World No.1; Serena Shocked And Crocked; Pliskova Breaks Through
With a single double-fault, Serena Williams handed Karolina Pliskova a passage through to her first Grand Slam final, the World No.1 ranking to Angelique Kerber, and dashed her own chances of going ahead of Steffi Graf in the all-time list of Grand Slam title holders. Afterwards, David Law (BBC 5 Live) and Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) got together on the daily US Open Telegraph Tennis Podcast to discuss a couple of hours that shifted the tennis world on its axis. Where was the Williams-Plisko
US Open Day 10 - Murray Falls To Nishikori; Del Potro Dream Over; Serena Wins Classic
Catherine Whitaker pre-warned that Kei Nishikori and Michael Chang had been plotting the downfall of Andy Murray on the practice court, and they got what they wanted in the US Open quarterfinals. Murray had lost over five sets only twice in 8 years - both of them to Novak Djokovic - but for once he dipped into his enormous reserves and found nothing there. Afterwards, Catherine and David Law got together to discuss the match, Murray’s struggle to deal with some of the distractions on the court,
US Open Day 9 - Wozniacki Sets Up Kerber Semi; Djokovic Through To Semis After 2 Complete Matches; Monfils 15 for 15
Caroline Wozniacki has looked anything but a Grand Slam finalist this year, but her excellent form has continued at the US Open and she will clash with Angelique Kerber on Thursday. Catherine Whitaker and David Law took to the 5 Live commentary box to talk about it, and to preview Andy Murray's quarterfinal with Kei Nishikori. Catherine reveals some insight from a Nishikori/Chang practice session, and how Ivan Lendl threw them off the court, and then David reflects on a night-session that was a
US Open Day 8 - Murray Destroys Dimitrov; Del Potro Fairytale Continues; Venus Loses Heartbreaker
24 hours after Novak Djokovic sent out a statement of intent with a straight sets humbling of Kyle Edmund, Andy Murray responded with one of the most ruthless wins of his career against Grigor Dimitrov. David Law commentated for BBC 5 Live on Murray’s 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 win, Catherine Whitaker interviewed Murray on-court straight afterwards for Eurosport, and then Law and Whitaker got together to compare notes on The Tennis Podcast. Having reached 23 successive last 16 rounds at Grand Slams, was thi
US Open Day 7 - Is Djokovic Back To His Best? Nadal Falls To Pouille In Instant Classic; Konta Hits The Wall
Was it Novak Djokovic returning to his all-conquering self, or Kyle Edmund struggling to cope with the occasion that led to a fairly lopsided scoreline in their last 16 US Open clash? In the Telegraph’s latest Tennis Podcast, David Law (BBC 5 Live) and Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) don’t entirely see eye to eye on the subject. Jo Konta had a difficult day in the fourth round, losing in straight sets to Anastasia Sevastova. Did she just hit the wall or was it a huge missed opportunity? More dis
US Open Day 6 - Excellent Evans Inconsolable; Stan Suffers But Survives; Serena, Venus Soar; Murray Labours
One point away from the biggest win of his life, third round prize money already in his pocket, and finally fulfilling his obvious promise, Dan Evans was the talk of the town in New York on Saturday, even though he did eventually go down. Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport), David Law (BBC 5 Live) and Simon Briggs (Telegraph) assembled for their daily Tennis Podcast chat at Flushing Meadows, to review the day, and the 25 year old from Birmingham was the man they started with. Where did his match with
US Open Day 5 - Two Brits Into Last 16 - Neither Called Murray; Rafa’s Tweener; Keys’ Comeback
Andy Murray has spent 11 years reaching the second week of Grand Slam tournaments, but he has never had the company of a fellow British singles player. That is about to change, assuming Murray makes it through against Paolo Lorenzi today. The Tennis Podcast team convened to discuss the performance from Kyle Edmund, who showed maturity and mental strength to go with his power and precision from the baseline. The British player beat John Isner 7-6 in the fourth set. Could he even trouble the Worl
US Open Day 4 - The Challenge Facing Novak Djokovic, by Mats Wilander; Murray, Roof Get A Work-out; Evans Makes It 3
The roof was given a thorough work-out after the mother of all rain storms on Thursday, and Andy Murray passed his own stern examination in match that was closer than the straight-sets score suggested. The Tennis Podcast convened to discuss his progress, marvel at a fantastic win for Dan Evans and narrow defeat for Naomi Broadway, and to work out whether the additional ambient noise with the roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium is likely to become an issue. We also hear an interview that Tennis Podcast
US Open Day 3 - ROOF; Konta Collapses But Still Wins; Raonic, Muguruza fall
Wednesday 31st August, 2016 will go down the first day that the roof was employed inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open, as The Tennis Podcast acknowledges in another of our daily shows. But while the roof made a little piece of history during the Nadal vs. Seppi match, drama came elsewhere. Britain’s Jo Konta collapsed to the ground at the end of the second set of her match with Tsvetana Pironkova and still came through, Milos Raonic also suffered physically and lost, and the poor form
US Open Day 2 - Serena, Murray Live Up To Favourites Tag; Venus Survives; Broady Edges Robson
In the eyes of many, the two favourites for the singles title played during the evening session on Tuesday, with first Serena Williams and then Andy Murray taking to the court. In our day 2 Tennis Podcast, recorded moments after Murray’s late-night win, Catherine Whitaker and David Law convened to review the day’s play. Were there any shaky moments for Murray, and how did Serena handle the former Australian Open semifinalist Ekaterina Makanrova? Why were British players Naomi Broady and Laura R
US Open Day 1 - Djokovic Some Way Short Of Title Winning Shape, Form; Konta, Edmund Score Good Wins; Isner Breaks Tiafoe's Heart
Novak Djokovic does not look like the US Open champion right now. So say the Tennis Podcast team after watching the World No.1 struggle and splutter past Jerzy Janowicz, the talented, powerful but erratic Pole, in round one. Coming in having admitted to a wrist injury, Djokovic won 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, undergoing a lengthy massage to his other arm after just three games. It led to podcast presenters David Law and Catherine Whitaker concluding that, unless his injury problems clear, it’s difficu
US Open Preview - Murray, Djokovic, Serena, Kerber, Robson, Roof
David Law (BBC Radio 5 Live) and Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) are in New York for the Us Open, and they are joined by Simon Briggs of the Telegraph for a preview Tennis Podcast. The main news story is the fact that rain will never again interrupt a final thanks to the biggest roof in tennis. But there are plenty more to keep us going. The fitness of top seeds Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams is a big question mark. And what frame of mind are they both in? Will Andy Murray and Angelique Kerb
Cincinnati - Kerber Comes Up One Match Short; Cilic Conquers Murray But Brit In Perfect Pre-US Open Shape; On-Court Coaching Time Machine
Angelique Kerber stood on the brink of World Number One, but ran into Karolina Pliskova playing at the very top of her game. Andy Murray faced something similar in Marin Cilic, who won his first Masters 1000 title. But despite the defeat, podcast presenters David Law and Catherine Whitaker reckon he is in perfect position ahead of next week’s US Open in New York. Grigor Dimitrov, the Tennis Podcast’s favourite player, started to look like his old self last week. Is he back? And, as on-court co
Olympics - Murray, Puig, Del Potro, Nadal Win Medals And Hearts In Rio
It took Andy Murray and Juan Martin Del Potro four hours to determine the destination of the men's singles gold medal, and podcast presenters Catherine Whitaker and David Law looked nearly as weary as the two players after staying up all night to watch it. And, after a week of glorious sport, drama and emotion, Murray and Monica Puig left the biggest smiles, Juan Martin Del Potro a silver and hearts everywhere, and the rules of tennis came under the spotlight. Is it time to remove the best-of-5
Olympics Mayhem; Del Potro Joy; Djokovic, Serena Struggling; Federer - Is This It?
After the Olympic tennis in Rio lost the Williams sisters, Murray brothers, Novak Djokovic and the top seeds in men's doubles on the same night, and then Serena Williams fell in singles shortly after, Catherine Whitaker and David Law reconvene on the Tennis Podcast. What is wrong with Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams? Could Juan Martin Del Potro now go all the way? What of Murray, Nadal, Konta, Kerber and the rest? It's all in there. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with The Teleg
Toronto - Djokovic 'Slump' Over: A Catherine Whitaker Monologue With Special Guest Stars
After Novak Djokovic wins an amazing 30th ATP Masters 1000 title, Catherine Whitaker - unaccompanied by David Law - talks us through an interesting week in Toronto which ended on a familiar note. As well as hearing from both finalists, we also hear from Stan Wawrinka on the shock news that Roger Federer will take no further part in the 2016 season, and from the man of the moment in Canada, 17 year-old Denis Shapovalov. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Konta Wins First WTA Title; Monfils' Biggest Victory; Cilic, Dimitrov Coaching News; Poll Vault Gone For Good?
Johanna Konta won the first WTA title of her career, and the biggest by any British woman in 30 years after defeating Venus Williams in a nerve-shredding three-set final in Stanford. Konta, who a year ago was ranked outside the World’s Top 100 and playing ITF tournaments, is now World No.14 and currently ninth in the race to the WTA finals in Singapore. According to The Tennis Podcast team, who convened after the final to discuss her rise, she is increasingly looking like a Top Ten player. Fol
Davis Cup Quarters - Edmund Soars, Croatia Creates History, US Crashes; Poll Vault Launches
After Andy Murray won Wimbledon he was straight on a plane to Serbia for the Davis Cup quarterfinals. But not to play. This time it was another British player - Kyle Edmund, who was the hero. Catherine Whitaker and David Law convene to cover a cracking Davis Cup quarterfinal weekend in which both Croatia and the United States made history, but for rather different reasons. And we enter the Poll Vault. Don't ask. The Tennis Podcast has been produced in association with Telegraph Sport. Hosted o
Wimbledon Day 14 - Murray Wins Title No.2; Philippoussis Says No.1 Ranking Reachable
Andy Murray won the second Wimbledon title of his career, and the Tennis Podcast team were astounded by his level of consistency throughout the final, and during the entire fortnight. Three closely fought sets against Milos Raonic were won in fine style, and David Law (BBC 5 Live), Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and Simon Briggs (Telegraph Tennis Correspondent) discussed his feat just as Murray himself walked by after the match. And what next for Murray? We hear from Mark Philippoussis, who b
Wimbledon Day 13 - Serena Seals Slam 22 At Last! Murray vs. Raonic - The Preview
Serena Williams has drawn level with Steffi Graf on 22 Grand Slam titles, and the Tennis Podcast team got together to pay tribute to her. The Telegraph's Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs joined BBC 5 Live commentator David Law and Eurosport presenter Catherine Whitaker to review a highly entertaining clash between Williams and Angelique Kerber, and speculate about how many major titles the American will end up with. After that it was on to the men's final, in which Andy Murray will try to win
Wimbledon Day 12 - Murray To Meet Raonic In Final - Richard Krajicek’s View
Milos Raonic is into a Grand Slam final for the first time in his career. Andy Murray is there, too, and for the first time he will not have Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic standing in his way. To review semifinals day and preview the final, we hear from the 1996 champion Richard Krajicek, who nearly worked with Raonic himself and shares many things in common. How has Raonic become a finalist? What are the keys to his success? And who will win when the Canadian faces Murray on Sunday? Catherine
Wimbledon Day 11 - Heartbroken Goran Picks Murray For The Title; Serena vs. Kerber The Rematch
Goran Ivanisevic was inconsolable the day after the man he coaches, Marin Cilic, lost out to Roger Federer after holding three match point, and the Croatian now believes Andy Murray will go on to win the title. In an interview with Tennis Podcast presenter and BBC 5 Live commentator David Law, Ivanisevic said this was the worst he had felt in nearly 20 years, since losing to Pete Sampras in the 1998 final. He believes Federer against Raonic is now '50-50', that Murray will take care of Tomas Be
Wimbledon Day 10 - Greatest Quarterfinal Day Ever? Federer, Murray Survive
Have we just witnessed the greatest Wimbledon quarterfinals day in history? First Roger Federer recovered from two sets to love down against Marin Cilic to win in the fifth, and then Andy Murray held on in the face of a stunning fightback from Jo Wilfried Tsonga to triumph, also in five. Afterwards, The Tennis Podcast team - Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live) - were joined by The Telegraph's Chief Sports Feature Writer Oliver Brown to weigh up whether we've ever seen anyth
Wimbledon Day 9 - Venus / Serena - History Beckons; Jeff Tarango Picks Tsonga To Cause Murray Problems
Venus and Serena Williams rolled on to the Wimbledon semifinals, aged 36 and 34 respectively, to keep alive the chance of a history-making all-Williams final. Catherine, David and Simon Briggs (Telegraph) are joined by former ATP pro and BBC 5 Live commentator Jeff Tarango to discuss their extraordinary stories, assess their chances against Angelique Kerber and Elena Vesnina respectively, and to look ahead to the men's quarterfinals on Wednesday. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association wit
Wimbledon Day 8 - Murray Masters Kyrgios; All-Williams Final Is ON! Alastair Eykyn Guests
The supposed 'blockbuster clash' between Andy Murray and Nick Kyrgios turned into a bit of a damp squib as Murray dismissed the Australian's challenge in less than a couple of hours to reach the quarterfinals. Was it all Murray brilliance that led to the straight sets win, or did Kyrgios let himself down? All discussed on the Tennis Podcast. Long-time BBC 5 Live tennis commentator Alastair Eykyn joins Telegraph tennis correspondent Simon Briggs and podcast presenters David Law and Catherine Wh
Wimbledon Peoples' Sunday - Has Kyrgios Come Of Age? Murray Next
Nick Kyrgios finished the job against Feliciano Lopez on Sunday to set up a blockbuster clash in the last 16 on Monday, and afterwards it felt as if he is finally coming of age. Kyrgios was imperious in blunting the serve-volley game of Lopez, and then ditched his normally combative, tetchy demeanour in the post-match press conference to inform, entertain and amuse the assembled media. Telegraph Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs joined Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live) t
Wimbledon Day 6 - Djokovic Dethroned; Calendar Slam Hopes End
After a seismic Saturday at Wimbledon, the defending champion and three-time winner, Novak Djokovic was dethroned after a four-set defeat against Sam Querrey of the United States. Four Grand Slam tournaments in a row and two legs of the calendar Slam down, to see Djokovic lose in the first week of a major tournament sent shock waves through the tennis world. The Telegraph's Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs joined Catherine Whitaker and David Law to wade through it all, discuss the size of the s
Wimbledon Day 5 - Djokovic 2 Down But Not Out; Todd Woodbridge: 'That Was Kyrgios' Strongest Mental Performance Yet'
Novak Djokovic is in big trouble - down two sets to love against the big-hitting American Sam Querrey - and in the opinion of BBC 5 Live commentator Philip Studd, who was sitting just a few feet from the World No.1 as he struggled, the end is nigh for the Serbian at Wimbledon when they resume. A dramatic fifth day, in which rain again intervened, is reviewed by presenters David Law and Catherine Whitaker, as well as Charlie Eccleshare from the Telegraph, who was writing about the heroic return
Wimbledon Day 4 - Muguruza Crashes; Upsets Galore; Clare Balding Guests
After two days of rain, Wimbledon enjoyed a festival of matches while playing catch-up, and the seeds were falling all over the place on Thursday. Garbine Muguruza went from French Open champion to second round loser at Wimbledon in the space of a few weeks in the biggest upset of the tournament so far. To talk about everything, Catherine Whitaker and David Law are joined by BBC television presenter Clare Balding, who has spent more than two decades covering Wimbledon. The Tennis Podcast is pro
Wimbledon Day 3 - Willis Wins Wimbledon Hearts; Federer Prevails; Djokovic Cruises, Konta Canters
Hearts were won on Centre Court on day 3, but for once, not by seven-time champion Roger Federer. His opponent Marcus Willis, ranked 772 in the world, only won seven games, but the combination of his wide-eyed, cheeky-chappie, smiley reaction to getting his Centre Court opportunity was a breath of fresh of air. Catherine Whitaker and David Law are joined by the Telegraph's Charlie Eccleshare and BBC 5 Live's Philip Studd to discuss it all. Plus, how did Novak Djokovic look? What about the other
Wimbledon Day 2 - Serena, Murray off and running; Jonathan Overend guests
Rain intervened on Day 2 at Wimbledon, but not before Serena Williams and Andy Murray began their latest quests for the respective titles. To discuss their progress, the Stan Wawrinka vs. Taylor Fritz match, and to preview the latest instalment of the Marcus Willis fairytale, Catherine Whitaker and David Law are joined by Simon Briggs of the Telegraph and Jonathan Overend from BBC TV. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for
Wimbledon Day 1 - Marcus Willis Wonderland; Federer Next
Marcus Willis - British No.23, World No.772 and winner of $64 so far in 2016, faces one of the greatest tennis players ever to pick up a racquet - Roger Federer - in the second round of Wimbledon, and The Tennis Podcast team couldn’t wait to talk about it. Gigi Salmon tells us what it was like to be in amongst the Court 17 crowd, describing the Willis victory scenes for BBC Radio 5 Live. Annabel Croft drops by to share the stories she’s heard about Willis, and to reveal that Garbine Muguruza is
Wimbledon 2016 - Preview; Draws; Djokovic, Murray, Federer, Serena, Muguruza, Brits
Wimbledon is here, the draws are out and The Tennis Podcast team is here to preview the fortnight. Catherine Whitaker and David Law are joined by Simon Briggs, the Telegraph’s Tennis Correspondent, and all three concur on who they see winning the Wimbledon title on the men’s side, with a few disagreements along the way. On the women’s side, no-one seems to agree on anything. There’s the fairytale run of Marcus Willis, ranked No.775, who has won through 6 matches to make the main draw, and 15 Br
Queen's Day 7 - Andy Murray Makes History With Title No.5; Ivan Lendl; Rick Astley
Andy Murray made history on Sunday with a stunning fightback win against Milos Raonic to become the first five-time winner of the Aegon Championships at The Queen's Club. Catherine Whitaker and Gigi Salmon were there to review it all for the Tennis Podcast. They spoke to Murray's coach Ivan Lendl straight afterwards, and the No.1 Album artist Rick Astley, who was in the crowd to watch. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with The Telegraph. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for
Queen's Day 6 - Simon Briggs Joins Catherine & Gigi to Preview Murray vs Raonic & Lendl vs McEnroe
Following the semi final victories of Andy Murray and Milos Raonic, Telegraph Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs joins Catherine Whitaker and Gigi Salmon to look ahead to the pair's first ever grass court meeting in the final of the 2016 Aegon Championships. Not only will we see Murray bidding for a record breaking fifth Queen's title and Raonic bidding for a precious first, but we'll also see Ivan Lendl vs John McEnroe in the coach's box for the very first time. The Tennis Podcast is produced
Queen's Day 5 - McEnroe, Becker, Hewitt, Emerson Guest As Murray Edges Edmund
It was one of the most special days in the history of the Aegon Championships on Friday, with four of the tournament's eight four-time champions present to receive replica trophies in front of a packed Centre Court crowd. Roy Emerson, John McEnroe, Boris Becker and Lleyton Hewitt all talked to The Tennis Podcast about their memories, and McEnroe gives his early impressions about coaching, which he appears to have taken to well. There's also a preview of the semifinals, which pit Andy Murray agai
Queen's Day 4 - Leon Smith Previews Murray vs. Edmund; Bernard Tomic; Kelsey Anderson - Tennis Wife On Tour; Nick Matthew - Squash vs. Tennis
As the Aegon Championships at The Queen’s Club prepares for its first all-British quarterfinal in the Open era, The Tennis Podcast welcomes Davis Cup captain Leon Smith onto the show. Does Kyle Edmund stand a chance against Andy Murray? They faced off in a first-to-ten-point tie-break at an event called Tie Break Tens at the Royal Albert Hall in December. Edmund won it 10-7, and Smith feels he has a puncher’s chance. Presenters Catherine Whitaker and Gigi Salmon also speak to Bernard Tomic, Kev
Queen's Day 3 - Peter Fleming On John McEnroe The Coach; Jamie Murray; And Jeremy Clarkson - Tennis Fan
What will John McEnroe be like as a coach? We ask Peter Fleming. The tall, blonde-haired American won four Wimbledon doubles titles alongside McEnroe over a five-year period between 1979 and 1984, and knows him better than just about anyone. Fleming is a special guest on the Tennis Podcast from the Aegon Championships. We also hear from Jamie Murray - World No.1 doubles players - and former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, who reveals why he loves tennis so much. The Tennis Podcast at The Q
Queen's Day 2 - Lendl Returns; Goran Gives Rain Advice; Chelsea Goalkeeper On The Show
Ivan Lendl arrived to resume his coaching role with Andy Murray after a two year absence, and the British Number One edged his way past Nicolas Mahut. On the Tennis Podcast, recorded at the Aegon Championships, Catherine Whitaker and Gigi Salmon convened to exchange stories from the side of the practice court where Murray and Lendl got the old band back together. Special guest Goran Ivanisevic joined the show to explain how to cope during rain delays - after all, this is the man that won a thr
Queen's Day 1 - Krajicek On The Coaching Role He Craved; Raonic Plays 'Which Art Gallery?'; Dimitrov's Love Affair With Queen's
It was a frustrating, rain-interrupted day at The Aegon Championships, but that hasn't stopped The Tennis Podcast team hunting down the biggest names for a chat. It's 20 years since Richard Krajicek won the Wimbledon title, but as well as looking annoyingly young at 44, he's also thrilled to be back on the road, this time as a coach. As he tells Catherine Whitaker, he has craved a coaching role for more than a decade, and now he has the chance to make an impact on grass with Stan Wawrinka. Milo
Queen's Preview - Andy Murray On Lendl, Cooking & A Good Night Out; DAVID BECKHAM INTERVIEW!
As clay turned to grass, Andy Murray turned to Ivan Lendl, the man that helped him to his Wimbledon, US Open and Olympic titles. In the first of our podcasts from the Aegon Championships at The Queen's Club, we talk to Murray about his reasons for reuniting with the former World Number One. Murray also tells us about his cooking skills, and what listeners should do for a good night out in London. Oh, and David Beckham joins us to tell us about his tennis-playing son, and how he embarrassed he f
Maria Sharapova podcast
A two-year suspension, a 33-page document, and a tennis world in shock. That was the result of a hearing into Maria Sharapova's failed doping test. Here's an emergency Tennis Podcast that discusses it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
French Open - Djokovic Makes History, How Many More Will He Win? Muguruza Comes Of Age; Serena - Still On For The Record?
He’s only the third man to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time, just two behind Rafael Nadal on 14, and five behind Roger Federer on 17, but where will Novak Djokovic end up when his career finally comes to a close? In a Tennis Podcast to review the men’s and women’s French Open finals, we flash back to when presenter David Law interviewed Federer in August 2010, while the great man was the same age as Djokovic is now (29), and on 16 Grand Slam titles. Law asked Federer if he would
French Open Finals - Serena vs. Muguruza; Djokovic vs. Murray
Andy Murray is trying to be the first British man in 81 years to win the French Open, Djokovic will try to complete a career Grand Slam on Sunday, Garbine Muguruza is after her first ever major title, and Serena Williams is trying to tie Steffi Graf on 22. The only prediction anyone can make with confidence is that tennis is in for an emotional weekend. After a day packed with semifinals, tennis broadcasters Catherine Whitaker and David Law convened for a Tennis Podcast which reviewed a scintil
French Open - Week 2 Starts With Washout; John McEnroe - Super Coach; What Now For Nadal? Djokovic, Murray
After play was called off for the day because of bad weather on Monday, the Telegraph’s Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs joined Catherine Whitaker to discuss week one and look ahead to week two. Will the tournament get back on track, or is a third Monday in store? What does the future look like for Rafael Nadal after his shock withdrawal because of a wrist injury? What will new super-coach John McEnroe bring to the career of Milos Raonic? How is Andy Murray looking now that he has got his tour
French Open - Marathon Man Murray Discussed; First Two Rounds Reviewed
Andy Murray was one of the favourites for the title a week ago, but after two five-set epics against players ranked outside the world's Top 100, does he still have a chance of going all the way? Catherine Whitaker is joined by the Telegraph's Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs to discuss an eventful first five days in Paris. The Murray/Mauresmo situation is detailed, Murray's travails covered, and Briggs assesses whether the British player still needs to find a Super Coach or not. And what of Djo
French Open - The Draws! Magnus Norman - How To Beat Novak Djokovic; David Law: 'The French Open Cost Me My A-Levels'
The French Open for 2016 is upon us, the draws have been made, and Catherine Whitaker is in Paris for the fortnight. David Law isn't, but that doesn't stop them getting together to pour over the potential match-ups and make the usual batch of sweeping, and most likely ill conceived predictions. We hear from Magnus Norman, coach to Stan Wawrinka, about how you beat Novak Djokovic in a Grand Slam tournament, from catherine about what Roland Garros is like (full of quiche, apparently) and from Davi
Rome - Murray Masters Djokovic; Martina Navratilova Interview: 'Serena and Djokovic Still The Ones To Beat'; Who To Coach Andy?
Serena Williams had not won a tournament all year, until now, and after lifting the trophy in Rome for a fourth time, Martina Navratilova told The Tennis Podcast that she is still very much the favourite for the French Open title. The great Navratilova also thinks Novak Djokovic is still the one to beat on the men's side, even though Andy Murray's straight sets win over the Serb in the Rome final will have given hope to the rest. Presenters Catherine Whitaker and David Law convened to discuss t
Madrid - 'This Is The Year Novak Djokovic Wins The French Open'
Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray for a 12th time in 13 meetings to banish memories of his early loss to Jiri Vesely in Monte Carlo, and our presenter David Law now believes that he will go on to finally land that elusive Roland Garros crown. Law is joined by Catherine Whitaker from Madrid, who witness the Djokovic express close up in a final that became increasingly intriguing as it went on. There’s also talk of Simona Halep’s title win, the returning Serena Williams in Rome, and a poll about who
Episode 200
Four years of conversation between BBC 5 Live and BT Sportcommentator David Law and Eurosport Catherine Whitaker have led tothis point - the 200th edition of The Tennis Podcast.In it, we hear Catherine cringe as a snippet of episodes 1 and 2are played out, Roger Federer’s explanation for why he has pulledout of Madrid and his assessment of his clay court career, anddebate about Grigor Dimitrov, who made headlines with a spectacularon-court meltdown in Istanbul. Where to next for the man that has
Barcelona, Stuttgart - Nadal Roll Continues; Kerber - Leicester City Of Tennis; Jo Durie
Another week, another significant step for Rafael Nadal. His 49th clay court title, his ninth Barcelona crown (to go with his nine Monte Carlo and Roland Garros victories), and the ever-growing feeling that he is back to his best.Catherine and David convene to reflect on his week, to talk about Angelique Kerber's win in Stuttgart, the rise of Laura Siegemund, and to remember the day that Roger Federer was given a cow to mark his first Wimbledon title. There is also an exclusive interview with Jo
Monte Carlo - Nadal Is Back!
After a three-year absence, Rafael Nadal is back in the winner's circle in Monte Carlo, making it title No.9 in the process.After a week spent sunning herself in the principality, Catherine Whitaker describes the scenes she saw from courtside, and provides interview clips from Nadal, Monfils, Federer, Murray, and the conqueror of Novak Djokovic - Jiri Vesely. Talking with David Law, who was not in Monte Carlo, the pair discuss the significance of Nadal's win and Djokovic's defeat, review a stunn
Monte Carlo - Federer looked at me and said 'How come I lose all the close matches?'
One of the longest-running and most glamorous tennis tournaments on the calendar is about to get underway in Monte Carlo. Catherine Whitaker is there, as are the best male players in the world. David Law isn’t (and boy is he letting everyone know about it…).That hasn’t stopped them getting together for a Tennis Podcast, nor has it prevented David from telling a story about how he once shared an elevator with Federer, moments after the great man, then only a teenager, had lost 7-5 in the third. ‘
Miami - Who Can Stop A Djokovic 'Golden Slam'?; Serena - Beginning Of The End?; Federer's Love Of WWE
Novak Djokovic completed his fourth Indian Wells / Miami double, won a record 28th Masters 1000 title, and prompted the question of whether there is anyone or anything that can stand between him and a Golden Grand Slam in 2016.David Law and Catherine Whitaker convene to discuss who, when and where someone might get in his way after the World No.1 continued his global dominance. Victoria Azarenka also won her second successive big title, raising further questions over the form of Serena Williams.
Jamie Murray No.1; Miami Memories; Your Rubbish Predictions
Four years ago, Jamie Murray had more doubles partners than months in a year, couldn’t reach the final of a futures tournament in Loughborough and looked as if he was going to retire. Now, he’s the World No.1In the latest Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker and David Law discuss his huge, history-making achievement, and that of Jo Konta and Heather Watson reaching the last 16 in Miami.There’s a recap of the events that have followed since Novak Djokovic sparked an equal prize money debate a week
Indian Wells - Djokovic Sparks Equal Prize Money Debate After Winning Title; Raymond Moore Comments Reaction; Azarenka Beats Serena; Jez Green Interview
On a day when we expected to be headlining with Azarenka’s win over Serena Williams, instead all the talk was of Indian Wells Tournament Director Raymond Moore’s astonishing comments about the women’s game, and a response from Novak Djokovic that reopened the equal prize money debate.David Law and Catherine Whitaker review what was said by whom, and react to it. Does Djokovic have a point? Is it time the debate was put to bed by making tennis equal pay for equal play? Or is it just too depressin
Interview - ATP Boss Chris Kermode; Sharapova latest; Venus' Indian Wells Return
It’s been a turbulent couple of months for the boss of men’s tennis - ATP Executive Chairman and President Chris Kermode, who is a guest on this week’s Tennis Podcast, which is produced in association with the Telegraph. An investigative report into suspicious betting patterns by the BBC and Buzzfeed led to allegations of match-fixing on the eve of the Australian Open in January, an independent review was hastily called by Kermode and the other governing bodies to look at make-up, funding and p
Maria Sharapova Bombshell; Murray & Djokovic on Davis Cup Collision Course; Bud Collins - A Tribute
She was expected to announce her retirement, but instead Maria Sharapova revealed even more shocking news in a Los Angeles press conference - she had tested positive for the banned substance meldonium, which she said she had been taking for ten years for a health condition, but which had been added to the banned list at the start of 2016.In the latest Tennis Podcast, you can hear Sharapova's statement in full, and presenters David Law and Catherine Whitaker discuss the implications for Sharapova
Andy Murray On Fatherhood, 10 Years At The Top, And Plans To Play Into His Mid-30's
Andy Murray On Fatherhood, 10 Years At The Top, And Plans To Play Into His Mid-30'sAndy Murray has just become a father, celebrated ten years since his first ATP title, and now returns to work to start the defence of the Davis Cup, which Britain won in November. In an exclusive interview, Murray talks to Catherine Whitaker on the Tennis Podcast about his relief at arriving home from Australia in time for the birth of his daughter, Sophia, his hour on the phone with coach and fellow new-parent Am
Comebacks Special - Agassi, Seles, Capriati ... Borg
Inspired by the returning Juan Martin del Potro, BBC 5 Live and BT Sport commentator David Law, and Eurosport presenter Catherine Whitaker discuss the most memorable tennis comebacks of all time - those that turned out well, and those that didn'tHear about Seles returning from being stabbed. Agassi's response to plummeting to 141 in the world. Capriati being irrelevant in the game for 5 years and returning to win Slams. Clijsters having a baby and then winning big.And many more. The Tennis Podca
Will Federer or Nadal Ever Win Another Major Title? Kerber - Is This The Start Or The End Of Her Slam Success? Gerald Williams - A Tribute
Roger Federer has won more Grand Slam singles titles (17), and spent more weeks as World No.1 than anyone in history. Rafael Nadal has won 14 major wins, including 9 French Open crowns, and Olympic singles gold. But is that it? Will either win another major title in their careers?The Tennis Podcast team (BBC 5 Live and BT Sport commentator David Law, and Eurosport commentator Catherine Whitaker) convened to debate the issue and ask for listener’s opinions in a poll. The results were not what the
Aus Open highlights, lowlights; Fed Cup fever; SIX Top 100 GB players
After running the podcast single-handed for a fortnight of the Australian Open, David Law is rejoined by TV's Catherine Whitaker to share notes about what went on in Melbourne.Catherine reveals the tears that flowed in the Eurosport studios, her highlights and lowlights of the tournament, and her concern that it will take 'a Soderling moment' to provide a different Grand Slam male champion.A fabulous Fed Cup weekend is reviewed, but is there something we can do to make the thing more easily unde
Aus Open Finals - Djokovic Joins Laver, Borg; Serena Shocked By Kerber; Jamie Murray Ends 82-year wait
Novak Djokovic made it Grand Slam title No.11 to draw level with Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg, and afterwards Simon Briggs of the Telegraph and Sports Illustrated's Jon Wertheim joined David Law to talk about it.It was straight sets for Djokovic over Murray, but not straightforward, and the trio discussed whether Boris Becker or Ivan Lendl were the biggest reasons for the shift in power in the Djokovic/Murray rivalry.Meanwhile, after Angelique Kerber made her dreams come true by winning her first ma
Aus Open Men's Final Preview - Goran Ivanisevic: 'Djokovic Could Break Every Record'; BBC 5 Live Team Make The Case For Murray
Ahead of the Australian Open men's final between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, the BBC Radio 5 Live commentary team get together to assess the chances of Murray in his fifth attempt at winning the title.In the final he faces the ultimate challenge, the 'Everest' of tennis, in the form of Novak Djokovic. Goran Ivanisevic talks to the pod team to explain why it is such a nightmare trying to coach against him. In his opinion, Djokovic can break all records.The Tennis Podcast is produced in associ
Aus Open Day 12 - Murray Outlasts Raonic; Can He Scale Mount Djokovic? Serena Set To Match Steffi
It took 5 sets and more than 4 hours, but Andy Murray finally set up another final against Novak Djokovic after defeating Milos Raonic at the Australian Open, and the Tennis Podcast team got together afterwards to discuss it.The Telegraph’s Chief Sports Feature Writer Oliver Brown joined Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs and BBC 5 Live commentator David Law to talk about how Murray came back from two sets to one, marvel at the tennis shown by Raonic, and wonder whether there’s any way Murray can
Australian Open Day 11 - Djokovic's Best Ever Performance? Konta Journey Ends; Serena Marches On
Novak Djokovic was Boris Becker-like in his presence in the Australian Open semifinals on Thursday night, and despite a spirited Roger Federer fightback, it was Djokovic who reached yet another Grand Slam final. David Law is joined by Telegraph Sport's Simon Briggs to talk it through, before going on to discuss the journey of Johanna Konta, which finally came to an end at the Australian Open in the semifinals. Plus, Serena Williams was a destructive as ever.And, with Andy Murray due to take on M
Aus Open Day 9 - Federer vs. Djokovic 45 Is Coming! Serena Swats Sharapova Aside; Azarenka - Chris Clarey's Take
Everything went to form on day nine at the Australian Open, with victory for Serena over Sharapova, and wins for Federer and Djokovic.It all means that a dream semifinal between Federer and Djokovic - the 45th match between them - will take place on Thursday. Who will win? David Law and special guest Chris Clarey of the New York Times break it down, and the conclusion might surprise you.And what about Victoria Azarenka? Blazing through the draw, the Belorussian is the second best player in the w
Australian Open Day 7 - Woodbridge on Tomic, Kyrgios; Corretja on Moya/Raonic; Durie on Konta
After a stressful middle Saturday, in which the coach of Ana Ivanovic (Nigel Sears) was taken ill but since discharged from hospital, his son-in-law Andy Murray can look ahead to a fourth round clash with Bernard Tomic.We speak to Todd Woodbridge about Tomic - what makes him tick? What does he need to do to break the Top Ten? Woodbridge tells us. And what about Nick Kyrgios? We get a view from the great Australian doubles player on that, too. Meanwhile, another fourth round blockbuster is Stan W
Australian Open Day 4 - Darren Cahill on Lleyton Hewitt - 'Australia's Greatest Davis Cup Player Ever'; Colin Fleming talks Andy Murray, fatherhood and doubles chemistry
After an emotional night when Lleyton Hewitt's 20-year career came to an end, his first coach Darren Cahill joins BBC 5 Live tennis commentator David Law on the Tennis Podcast to discuss his fabulous career. Cahill remembers the 12-year-old that turned up at his door 'dressed in Agassi gear' and says that he was already a pro, even at that age. Memories of Hewitt's greatest achievements are discussed, what he was like to coach, and what Cahill thinks we can expect of Hewitt the coach.Craig Willi
Australian Open - Pat Rafter: "Hewitt Is The Greatest Battler Ever"; Leon Smith Talks Nadal's Defeat and British Success; Simon Briggs Reviews the suspected match-fixing stories
After Monday’s allegations of suspected match-fixing, Telegraph Sport’s Simon Briggs joins Tennis Podcast presenter David Law (BBC 5 Live) to give his view on the situation, review a day in which Johanna Konta beat Venus Williams, and Andy Murray cruised through in style against Alex Zverev.Pat Rafter, a two-time Australian Open champion, also joins the show to reminisce about Lleyton Hewitt, who is playing in his final tournament.And Great Britain Davis Cup captain Leon Smith reviews a day in w
Australian Open preview - 'Andy Murray Has The Perfect Draw'; Marcos Baghdatis 10 Years On; Bye Bye Lleyton
The Australian Open draw is out, and so is The Tennis Podcast, dissecting and previewing what is to come over the next fortnight.Catherine Whitaker is in the UK to present the tournament’s Highlights Show on Eurosport, David Law is in Melbourne for BBC Radio 5 Live, and so is the Telegraph’s correspondent Simon Briggs.Andy Murray was drawn in the opposite half of the draw to Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, meaning he can only face one of them. According to Simon Briggs, Murray has the ideal d
Australian Open Run-up - Djokovic Dominant; Rafa Rocked; Raonic Ready; Vintage Vika
With Catherine back from Doha, and David about to set off to Melbourne, the Putney Exchange shopping centre once again plays host to half an hour of chat about the latest goings-on in the tennis world.When Novak Djokovic thrashed Rafael Nadal in Doha, Catherine didn't know where to look. When Victoria Azarenka rolled back the years in Brisbane, did she become the favourite for the title? And was the win of Milos Raonic over Roger Federer a taste of things to come? It's all discussed here on The
2016 Preview; Kyle Edmund interview: Training with Murray, new goals, and not celebrating his birthday
In the first Tennis Podcast of 2016, Catherine Whitaker is in Doha (for BeIn Sports), David Law is in London (for BT Sport) and they both come together to preview the new season.Will Andy Murray ever be World No.1? Will Agnieszka Radwanska ever win a Grand Slam title? And what next for Kyle Edmund, who made such a splash in the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas final, and then won Tie Break Tens. Catherine speaks to him to find out.The awarding of SI Sports Person of the Year to Serena Williams is also d
Tennis Podcast Awards 2015 - With Alan Mills
After 12 months of tennis, 85 episodes of The Tennis Podcast, and some incredible highlights, the 2015 season has come to a close.In our final show of the year, Catherine and David debate the 2015 Tennis Podcast Awards, with the final verdict from special guest Alan Mills - the Wimbledon Referee of 23 years. Who is the Player of the Year, The Most Improved, and who had the most spectacular hairstyle (good or bad)?Merry Christmas one and all, thanks for listening, and have a happy new year! Host
John McEnroe - Smiling More Can Help Murray Beat Djokovic
Tennis Legend John McEnroe speaks exclusively to the Tennis Podcast about Andy Murray's Davis Cup win, 2016 hopes and why he believes one of the secrets to beating Djokovic is to smile more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jamie Murray - Davis Cup glory, best year yet, and a new partner for 2016
In the bowels of the iconic Royal Albert Hall Jamie Murray settles in for an exclusive chat with The Tennis Podcast. Has the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas win sunk in yet? How nervous was he during that doubles rubber? And what are his plans for the off-season ahead of teaming with Bruno Soares? This is the only place to find out.The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with The Telegraph. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Davis Cup Final Day Three - 79 Years Of Hurt Are Over; Britain Are Champions
Great Britain has won the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas, completing a journey from the brink of Division 4 - Euro Africa Zone 3 - to lifting the cup in the space of just five years.Telegraph Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs joins David Law review the final, talk about its significance for the legacy and future of Andy Murray, and Jeremy Bates - the first man ever to pick Andy Murray for a Davis Cup team - remembers what Murray was like in that very firs tie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f
Davis Cup Final Day Two - Henri Leconte & Chris Bradnam
Great Britain is one Andy Murray victory away from winning a first Davis Cup by BNP Paribas in 79 years, and after a thrilling doubles rubber, David is joined by Eurosport commentator Chris Bradnam and Davis Cup winner Henri Leconte to review day two.Leconte, meanwhile remembers how he helped France to victory over the United States in 1991. Barely able to walk, he was coaxed off his chair by Yannick Noah, and trained himself into fighting condition to down Pete Sampras. Hosted on Acast. See ac
Davis Cup Final Day One - Guests Simon Reed & Colin Fleming
After an intriguing first two rubbers of the Davis Cup final between Belgium and GB, David is joined by Eurosport commentator Simon Reed, and pundit Colin Fleming to dissect the ins and outs of day one, including a standout two sets from Kyle Edmund. The trio analyse Edmund's performance, as well as Andy Murray's efforts against Ruben Bemelmens to level the tie at 1-1. Plus the trio look ahead to Saturday's all-important doubles rubber. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio
Davis Cup Final Preview - Andy Murray 'Pumped'; Goffin Ready; Edmund To Make Debut In Final
After a week of uncertainty, the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas final is all set to take place in Ghent, Belgium, and The Tennis Podcast brings you the lowdown from courtside on the day that the draw was made.Joining presenter David Law were the Telegraph’s Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs and British Eurosport presenter Rob Curling to discuss the news that Kyle Edmund will make his debut (IN THE FINAL!), and Andy Murray will open against the unheralded Ruben Bemelmans.What has the atmosphere been li
ATP World Tour Finals Review; Novak Djokovic & One of the Best Ever Tennis Seasons
Amid the dismantling of the O2 Arena tennis court, David & Catherine meet to digest a fascinating World Tour Finals ending in the 'Groundhog Day scenario' of an emphatic Novak Djokovic victory. So has this been the most dominant ever tennis season from one individual? And will the Serb remain as dominant in 2016?Plus we discuss a breakthrough week for Rafael Nadal, and look ahead to the Davis Cup Final, the staging of which is currently mired in doubt and fear due to the terror alert in the Belg
ATP World Tour Finals Preview, Predictions, Gossip; Tim Henman Is Going To The Davis Cup Final, As a Fan!
The draw has been made, the groups are set, and the ATP World Tour Finals are about to get underway.So, it’s time for a pre-tournament Tennis Podcast to talk it over. David Law and Catherine Whitaker pick their semifinalists, finalists and champion.And in an interview conducted with Tim Henman a few weeks ago, we discover that the great man will be at the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas final, as a fan! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
John McEnroe Predicts GB Victory; Big Four Becomes Big One; Venus Back In Top Ten
With the tennis of Novak Djokovic once again suggesting that the 'Big Four' has become a 'Big One', Andy Murray now takes to the clay to try to balance preparation for the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas final with a need to concentrate on the ATP World Tour Finals at the 02. Phew!John McEnroe tells us about 1978, when he played his first Davis Cup singles rubbers in the final against Great Britain. He also predicts victory for Britain this time.Meanwhile, Catherine and David reveal their tennis wish f
Jedi Radwanska Wins WTA Finals; Federer Conquers Nadal In Basel; American Teens; Off-season Debate
Agnieszka Radwanska is the champion of the 2015 WTA Finals in Singapore, Roger Federer edged Rafael Nadal in the 34th instalment of their rivalry, and Andy Murray has confirmed that he intends to play the ATP World Tour Finals at the 02 Arena.Catherine and David get together to talk it over, and we also hear about a new teenage generation of American players who have a nation expecting. Oh, and Catherine is furious with someone. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with The Telegraph.
Marat Safin - Breaking Racquets, Facing Federer, Hall of Fame reaction, Life In Parliament; WTA Finals Preview
Marat Safin is an exclusive guest on the Tennis Podcast this week. The two-time Grand Slam champion talks to our reporter David Lewy at the Kia Motor Champions Cup about facing Federer, his major titles, and the racquets he smashed along the the way. He also gives an insight into his new life in Parliament and explains why he feels Grand Slam titles were harder to win in the era in which he played. Meanwhile, Catherine Whitaker is in Singapore for the WTA Finals and talks to David Law about the
Dominant Djokovic - Appreciated but not universally adored. Yet...
After a week where Novak Djokovic won yet another Masters Series title in Shanghai and cemented his place even more firmly as the most dominant player on the ATP World Tour, David & Catherine meet (you guessed it, in the Putney Exchange shopping centre) to discuss his stranglehold over the rest. Is he getting better? How do you stop him? And why he isn’t held in the same esteem as previously dominant players, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal? Other topics from the world of tennis this week include
Coaching Andy Murray, by Alex Corretja; Nadal - Has Djokovic Found The Kryptonite?; Muguruza - Slam Winner In 2016
After Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal for the seventh time in eight meetings, Catherine Whitaker and David Law discuss whether Nadal will ever be a dominant force again.Also in Beijing, Garbine Muguruza emerged triumphant in the WTA Premier Mandatory tournament. Will she win a Grand Slam title in 2016?And, in a week when Catherine was 'swanning around Mallorca' on the ATP Champions Tour, the result was an exclusive interview with Alex Corretja in which he described what it was like to coach
Serena's Season Ends; Venus Vaults Into Singapore Reckoning; 'Konta Can Be Top 20 By Wimbledon' - Keothavong
After yet more breakthroughs for the new British Number One and World No.49 Jo Konta, fellow BT Sport commentator Anne Keothavong tells David Law that she thinks Konta could make it into the World's Top 20 by Wimbledon 2016. Plus David & Catherine Whitaker debate the future of Serena Williams - how deep an impact will her US Open loss to Vinci prove to have? - and the amazing success of her sister and newly crowned Wuhan Open Champion Venus. All that, plus plenty more talking points, including w
Andy Murray's Dilemma; The Asian Swing Begins; Time Machine Tennis of a Different Kind
What are the most unbelievable things that have happened in tennis in the last 11 years? And what will happen over the next 11? All discussed by David & a gravelly-voiced Catherine as well as Andy Murray's bold revelation that he may miss the ATP World Tour Finals in order to prepare for the Davis Cup final. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Davis Cup - Britain into Final For first Time Since 1978; Away To Belgium
Great Britain is into a Davis Cup final for the first time since 1978, and the Tennis Podcast reviews a week in which Andy Murray shouldered his nation’s fortunes successfully, yet again. Telegraph Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs joins Tennis Podcast presenters David Law (BBC Radio 5 Live) and Catherine Whitaker to talk about Murray’s exploits, carried out, as we discover on the show, with a bad back. Lleyton Hewitt’s glorious Davis Cup playing career also came to an end in Glasgow, and he ref
Davis Cup Saturday - ‘One of the most memorable days in British tennis history’ - Annabel Croft
The Murray brothers’ five-set win over Sam Groth and Lleyton Hewitt was ‘one of the most memorable days in British tennis history’, according to British Eurosport pundit Annabel Croft. With Great Britain standing one Andy Murray match win away from a Davis Cup by BNP Paribas final for the first time since 1978, Croft joined David Law (BBC 5 Live) and Catherine Whitaker on the Tennis Podcast to talk about an epic doubles encounter. "I've never experienced an atmosphere in my life like the one in
Davis Cup - Greg Rusedski Backs Britain To Reach Final; Both Semifinals Level Overnight
Former British Davis Cup player Greg Rusedski has backed Britain to go on from their 1-1 overnight scoreline to reach the final of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas for the first time in 37 years. In a guest appearance on Tennis Podcast, Rusedski told presenters David Law and Catherine Whitaker that Andy Murray is looking better than ever, and believes he will play in Saturday’s doubles and carry Britain to victory on Sunday, Captains Leon Smith and Wally Masur give their verdicts on day one, with M
Davis Cup Semifinal Previews - Exclusive 'Know Your Team' Interviews; Dan Evans Selection Reaction; Predictions
Great Britain are about to play Australia in the host nation’s first Davis Cup by BNP Paribas semifinal for 34 years, and as well as previewing the tie in Glasgow, The Tennis Podcast has spoken exclusively to both teams to find out more about them. For instance, which of them would get on best at Strictly Come Dancing? Who knows their capital cities? And who spends the most time in front of the mirror? As you will hear, the team members on the respective teams do not always agree… Fun and games
US Open - Djokovic ‘Could Catch’ Federer; Flavia's Fitting Finale
The newly crown US Open champion Novak Djokovic is capable of winning more Grand Slam titles than Roger Federer, according to the Telegraph’s Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs. In a Tennis Podcast recorded just moments after Djokovic’s victory in the final of the US Open - his tenth major title - Briggs told presenter David Law (who commentated on the match for BBC Radio 5 Live) that ‘it is not impossible’ for Djokovic to reach and surpass Federer’s current total of 17. In the podcast, Briggs, L
US Open - Serena Slammed - The Biggest Tennis Upset Ever? Italian Delight; Federer vs. Djokovic 42; Murray (Not That One) Final Preview
Serena Williams’ dream of becoming the first tennis player to win a calendar-year Grand Slam in 27 years was dashed by Roberta Vinci, who had never previously taken a set from her, never gone beyond a major quarterfinal, and lost more tennis matches than she had won in 2015 prior to the US Open. Afterwards, the Telegraph’s Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs joined BBC Radio 5 Live commentator David Law on the Tennis Podcast to try to make sense of it all, and answer the question ‘was this the big
US Open - Goran Ivanisevic, Mark Philippoussis Preview Fantastic Friday
After a frustrating day of rain at the US Open on Thursday, the silver lining is Fantastic Friday, with all four of the men’s and women’s semifinals played on the same day. The Tennis Podcast’s David Law (BBC Radio 5 Live) and Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) get together to look forward to the action, with special guests Mark Philippoussis - the 1998 US Open runner-up, and Goran Ivanisevic - coach of defending champion Marin Cilic. Philippoussis looks back on when he was the first ever opponent
US Open - Murray Out; Venus vs. Serena Preview; Konta’s Dream Run Ends
A run of 18 straight Grand Slam quarterfinals came to an end for Andy Murray as Kevin Anderson reached the last 8 of a major tournament for the first time in his career. What did the Telegraph’s tennis correspondent Simon Briggs make of it? He joined the Tennis Podcast’s David Law (a BBC 5 Live commentator) and Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) to reflect on Murray’s exit, discuss the main reasons for it, and whether it will prove a silver lining for Britain’s hopes in next week’s Davis Cup by BNP
US Open - Murray Back From Brink; Konta Comes Of Age; Should 5-Set Format Continue?
After Andy Murray and Johanna Konta reached the last 32 of the US Open in 3-hour + epics, The Tennis Podcast discussed their post-match moods, which could hardly have been more different. While Konta celebrated the best win of her career - over the Wimbledon runner-up Garbine Muguruza - Murray went two sets down before roaring back to beat Adrian Mannarino in 5 in draining humidity. Telegraph tennis correspondent Simon Briggs joined presenters David Law (BBC Radio 5 Live) and Catherine Whitaker
US Open Preview - Serena's Slam Quest; Bencic Banana Skin; Murray vs. Kyrgios; The Problem With Federer
Will Serena clinch the Calendar Grand Slam? What now for injured Sharapova? And could Belinda Bencic cause an upset? And on the men's side, can Federer win a magical 18th Major? Will Djokovic seal his place among the greats? Could Murray muscle in on the action? Or will 'the walking headline' Nick Kyrgios take him out in the first round?David Law is joined by The Telegraph's Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs to preview the 2015 US Open! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information
Cincinnati - Federer Invents New Shots On Way To Title; Djokovic Struggles; Serena Soars; Kyrgio Sanctions Reaction
With a week to go until the US Open, Roger Federer has joined Andy Murray in beating Novak Djokovic in a big final to throw the year’s final Grand Slam tournament wide open.In the latest Tennis Podcast, produced in association with The Telegraph, presenter David Law talks to co-host Catherine Whitaker, who was courtside at the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati, about Federer’s latest age-defying feat.After 17 years as a professional, he appeared to ‘invent’ new strokes in Cincinnati, while
Andy Murray - Beating Novak Djokovic; Belinda Bencic Arrives; Nick Kyrgios Fall-out
Andy Murray has beaten Novak Djokovic for the first time since the 2013 Wimbledon final to win the Rogers Cup in Montreal, and in an interview with Tennis Podcast presenter Catherine Whitaker immediately afterwards, he talked about the significance of the victory. Had the two-year, eight-match losing streak against Djokovic had been preying on his mind? Does the win give him belief that he can make it to World Number One? And what was his reaction to the news that his coach Amelie Mauresmo gave
Pete Sampras Interview - Talking Roger, Rafa, Novak, Andy, Serena
The Tennis Podcast is back after a few weeks of holiday, and before we get into the fall-out from Nick Kyrgios and cover the latest from both the Tours, here’s an exclusive interview with the great Pete Sampras. This week, Sampras has been in Knokke, Belgium playing in the Optima Open, one of the tournaments on the ATP Champions Tour. Today he meets Xavier Malisse in the final. Our reporter Stuart Fraser caught up with him to ask if he thinks Roger Federer can win another Grand Slam, whether Raf
Davis Cup Sunday - Murray, Hewitt Set Up GB vs. Australia Semifinal Showdown; Leon Smith interview
Davis Cup Sunday - Murray, Hewitt Set Up GB vs. Australia Semifinal Showdown; Leon Smith interview Great Britain Davis Cup captain Leon Smith told The Tennis Podcast that Andy Murray is ‘a phenomenal competitive animal’ after he carried the nation to the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas semifinals for the first time since 1981. Smith joined Tennis Podcast presenters David Law and Catherine Whitaker to reflect upon a tie that Britain won 3-1 against France. It set up a final four meeting with Australia,
Davis Cup Saturday - Murray Brothers Carry Britain To Brink Of Semis; Australia Hit Back; Belgium, Argentina Through
Greg Rusedski has told The Tennis Podcast that victory on Sunday over France would be the most important win for Britain’s Davis Cup team could lead to them lifting the Davis Cup outright given the teams left in the competition. Team GB are three sets away from reaching the semifinals of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas semifinals for the first time in 34 years. Andy and Jamie Murray joined forces on Saturday to fight back from a set down and defeat Jo Wilfried Tsonga and Nicolas Mahut. Andy Murray
Davis Cup Friday - Murray, Simon Make It GB 1-1 France Overnight; Australia In Trouble; Arnaud Clement Interview; Singing
After the first day of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas quarterfinals on Friday, Great Britain and France stand 1-1 overnight, with the winner looking increasingly likely to face Kazakhstan, who took a shook 2-0 lead in Australia. Tennis Podcast presenters David Law and Catherine Whitaker sit next to the centre court at The Queen’s Club to reflect on a pulsating if largely predictable day one in London, and speculate over Saturday’s doubles pairings. Would a chat with France captain Arnaud Clement s
Davis Cup preview - Inside GB Team Room; Gilles Simon 1-1; Quarterfinal Preview
With the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas quarterfinals about to get underway, The Tennis Podcast's David Law was invited inside the Great Britain team room to talk to captain Leon Smith, Andy and Jamie Murray, and James Ward and Dominic Inglot together, moments after the draw for their tie with France. What does the captain's job entail? Which Davis Cup memory stands out for Andy Murray from his childhood? And what are Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot's thoughts after being picked for the doubles?We als
Wimbledon Day 13 - Djokovic Downs Federer For Wimbledon No.3
Novak Djokovic ended Roger Federer’s dreams of an 8th Wimbledon title for the second year in a row, and our Tennis Podcast team got back together for one last time at Wimbledon to talk about it. Jim White of the Telegraph joined presenters David Law (BBC Radio 5 Live) and Catherine Whitaker (Live at Wimbledon) to discuss the turning points, the incredible 12-10 second set tie-break, and Djokovic’s position in the all-time list as a 9-time Grand Slam champion. The podcast team will return on Thu
Wimbledon Day 12 - Serena’s 21st Slam; Federer vs. Djokovic preview
Serena Williams moved one Grand Slam title behind Steffi Graf in the all-time list after claiming her 21st major crown on Saturday. Can Roger Federer do something similar on Sunday? Tennis Podcast presenters David Law (BBC Radio 5 Live) and Catherine Whitaker (Live at Wimbledon) are joined by Daniel Schofield of the Telegraph, and in an impromptu cameo, John Inverdale, to look back on Wiliams’ 6-4, 6-4 win over Garbine Muguruza in the Ladies Final, and ahead to the Men’s Final. Can Federer win a
Wimbledon Day 11 - Flawless Federer Floors Murray; Meets Djokovic In Sunday’s Final; Serena Williams vs. Garbine Muguruza final preview
Just a few days short of his 34th birthday, Roger Federer delivered one of the greatest performances that the Wimbledon Centre Court has ever seen to defeat Andy Murray in straight sets and set up a final with Novak Djokovic. Tennis Podcast presenters David Law (BBC Radio 5 Live) and Catherine Whitaker (Live at Wimbledon) lifted their jaws off the floor long enough to talk it through, and were joined after print deadlines had been satisfied by the Telegraph’s Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs.
Wimbledon Day 10 - Serena Smashes Sharapova; Muguruza’s First Final; Murray vs. Federer, Djokovic vs. Gasquet Preview
Serena Williams vs. Maria Sharapova has produced the same result for more than a a decade and the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2015 were no exception. Joining David Law (BBC Radio 5 Live) and Catherine Whitaker (Live at Wimbledon) on the Tennis Podcast to talk about that, and Garbine Muguruza’s fabulous run to the final, is Telegraph Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs. On Friday, Andy Murray faces Roger Federer for a place in the final, and Simon gives an insight into what the Telegraph will be doi
Wimbledon Day 9 - Murray, Federer To Clash; Gasquet Shocks Stan To Meet Djokovic; Serena vs. Sharapova, Muguruza vs. Radwanksa preview
Andy Murray will face Roger Federer in a blockbuster semifinal on Friday after straight sets wins on Wednesday, and Tennis Podcast presenter David Law (BBC Radio 5 Live) returns from his sick-bed to talk about it with Catherine Whitaker and the Telegraph’s Jim White. Which of them looks the most impressive? Which of their previous 23 matches (Federer leads 12-11) is most relevant? Who will win? All questions asked and answered in the latest show. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic will take on Richard G
Wimbledon Day 8 - Will we have a new Big 4 in the men’s semis? Serena, Sharapova on collision course
After a thrilling set of women’s quarterfinals on Tuesday, Catherine Whitaker (Live at Wimbledon) is joined by the Telegraph’s Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs to review them all, and look ahead to Maria Sharapova vs. Serena Williams and Agnieszka Radwanska vs. Garbine Muguruza. Simon also teases Greg Rusedski’s Telegraph column which reveals the former British No.1 thinks Stan Wawrinka will reach the semifinals to set up a ‘new’ Big 4. All of the men’s quarterfinals are previewed. The Tennis P
Wimbledon Day 7 - Murray overcomes big Ivo, Kyrgios, Berdych fall, Serena downs Venus, Djokovic/Anderson come back tomorrow
As Andy Murray overcame Ivo The Giant, another giant (our presenter David Law) was also brought down to earth - by food poisoning.That left Catherine Whitaker and Telegraph Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs to look back on Manic Monday, with all of the last 16 matches completed. Novak Djokovic and Kevin Anderson will have to come back tomorrow after levelling at two sets all, Tomas Berdych crashed out, and Serena overcame Venus in straightforward fashion. And there’s yet more Nick Kyrgios discus
Mats Wilander interview - 'Serena Williams Will Do The Calendar Slam'; 'Nick Kyrgios Can Do What Becker Did'; Heather Watson Has Top Ten Potential'
On middle Sunday we bring you a special bonus Tennis Podcast in association with the Telegraph and supported by BNP Paribas - an exclusive 1-1 interview with Mats Wilander.Speaking with Catherine Whitaker, Wilander says that Serena Williams will, in his view, win the calendar-year Grand Slam, that Nick Kyrgios is fully capable of winning Wimbledon this year, and that Heather Watson is 'Top Ten material'.He also raves about the form of Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Roger Federer and suggests we
Wimbledon Day 6 - Champ Kvitova out; Brown back down to earth, James Ward heartbreak and Murray/Federer lose a set but make week 2
The defending champion Petra Kvitova has gone, and The Tennis Podcast team - David Law (BBC Radio 5 Live), Catherine Whitaker (Live at Wimbledon) and the Telegraph’s Charlie Eccleshare get together to talk about what went wrong. Plus, Dustin Brown’s hopes were ended, James Ward suffered a brave defeat, and Andy Murray and Roger Federer both lost sets. Is there anything to worry about? With middle-Sunday beckoning, Catherine gives a sneak preview of her exclusive interview with Mats Wilander, whi
Wimbledon Day 5 - Watson’s Wimbledon Heartbreak As Serena Escapes; Venus Next; Dimitrov Downed; Kyrgios Moves On
After Heather Watson’s riveting, pulsating battle with Serena Williams, David Law (BBC Radio 5 Live) swapped the commentary box for the Tennis Podcast microphone to talk to Catherine Whitaker and the Telegraph’s Charlie Eccleshare about an incredible day at Wimbledon. David lets us know what Watson’s crestfallen coach Diego Veronelli and GB Fed Cup captain Judy Murray said to hin on 5 Live straight afterwards, and Catherine relays everything seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander, who she
Wimbledon Day 4 - Dustin Brown shocks Nadal; Ward, Murray, Federer through, Nick Kyrgios - brat or brilliant?
Dustin Brown recorded the biggest upset of the 2015 Wimbledon Championships so far, or did he? He was the fourth player ranked outside the world’s Top 100 in four years to knock Rafael Nadal out of the tournament. But this was still Nadal, twice a champion. Telegraph Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs joinsTennis Podcast presenters Catherine Whitaker and David Law to look back on the spectacular performance of the dreadlocked German, and ask ‘what went wrong for Nadal?’ Elsewhere, Murray and Fede
Wimbledon Day 3 - Watson wins, Novak, Stan stroll, Nishikori, Ivanovic out; Plus, is Andy Murray Britain’s best sportsperson?
A couple of big names fell on Wednesday, with Nishikori withdrawing and Ivanovic going out, but Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka cruised through. But, as the Telegraph’s Jim White joins The Tennis Podcast presenters David Law (BBC 5 Live) and Catherine Whitaker (Live at Wimbledon), the talk of the town is Heather Watson, who reached the third round, and now faces Serena Williams … The team also preview Thursday’s order of play, and discuss where Andy Murray sits among all time British sporting
Wimbledon Day 2 - Federer, Nadal, Kvitova cruise; Murray toils; Halep, Bouchard crash; Brits thrive
On a day when Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray made their 2015 Wimbledon bows, the Telegraph’s Chief Sports Feature Writer Oliver Brown joins Tennis Podcast presenters David Law (BBC 5 Live) and Catherine Whitaker (Live At Wimbledon) to talk about it all. Petra Kvitova won in half an hour to start her title defence, but the woman she beat in last year’s final, Eugenie Bouchard, and the third seed Simona Halep, both fell. It was also a fantastic day for British tennis, with Heather Wat
Wimbledon Day 1 - Hewitt Says Goodbye, Djokovic Strolls, Broady Breaks Through,
On a day when Lleyton Hewitt’s glorious Wimbledon singles career came to an end, Novak Djokovic cruised into round two and Stan Wawrinka also advanced. Aside from Hewitt’s 11-9 fifth set defeat to Jarkko Nieminen, one of the stories of the day was the comeback of Liam Broady from two sets to love down. Jonathan Liew of the Telegraph joins Catherine Whitaker and David Law to talk it through and look ahead to day 2. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with the Telegraph and supported by
Wimbledon preview - Draws dissected, predictions, Top 50 Wimbledon players ever
As Wimbledon prepares to get underway, Tennis Podcast presenters David Law and Catherine Whitaker are joined by the Telegraph’s Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs to dissect the singles draws. All three put their necks on the line with a string of predictions, Simon is grilled about his choices in the Telegraph website’s Top 50 men and women Wimbledon players ever, and David reminisces about his first queueing experience exactly 20 years ago. The Tennis Podcast is supported by BNP Paribas, the Ba
Queen's Day 7 - Murray makes it four; Leon Smith backs him for Wimbledon
After Andy Murray won a record equalling fourth Aegon Championships title, David Law and Catherine Whitaker get together one final time at The Queen's Club....until the Davis Cup. Murray talks to Catherine live on centre court about his title win while David joins British Davis Cup captain Leon Smith in the Player Lounge. According to Smith, Murray is the favourite for Wimbledon having begun to use his variety aggressively. He also gives the lowdown on the Great Britain against France Davis Cup
Queen’s Day 6 - Jose Mourinho on the tears he shed when Murray won Wimbledon
On a rain interrupted semi finals day at the Aegon Championships, David had the chance to chat to Chelsea Manager Jose Mourinho about his relationship with Rafael Nadal, what football can learn from tennis and the tears he shed when Andy Murray won Wimbledon. He also talks about why he likes tennis, how he would like to spend time with Murray to compare notes on their respective sports, and how he could never cope with being a tennis coach - unable to give team-talks during a match. Also in thi
Queen's Day 5 - Toni Nadal Exclusive Interview; Murray Into Semis
On a day when Andy Murray came back from a set down to defeat Gilles Muller, we hear from the British Number One about how he did it.Meanwhile, Catherine Whitaker asks Gilles Simon who has the best serve in the world, and how he blunted the Milos Raonic delivery.Toni Nadal gives an exclusive interview in which he talks about his nephew's quest for confidence, and how he will enter Wimbledon pain-free for the first time in years. And Catherine and David Law are joined by one of the longest-runnin
Queen's Day 4 - Murray Into Quarters, Dimitrov Denied and David & Catherine chat to Team Muller
On another day of high drama at the Aegon Championships, David and Catherine are joined by special guest David Lewy to discuss the defeat of defending champion Grigor Dimitrov and the progress of three-time champion Andy Murray.Also in today's episode, Jamie Delgado and Gilles Muller join us to talk about Delgado's super-coach status. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Queen's Day 3 - Another giant is slayed (Wawrinka) plus David chats to Annabel Croft, Kevin Anderson, Dom Inglot And Team Raonic
Following Stan Wawrinka's shock defeat on day three of the Aegon Championships, David Law chats to the victor, Kevin Anderson. Plus Ivan Ljubicic tells us about working working with Milos Raonic and Annabel Croft drops in to pick over the bones of another drama-filled day at the Queen's Club.And of course, David challenges Catherine to beat the listeners with her (awful) predictions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Queen's Day 2 - Nadal Falls, Judy Murray Interview, Andy Murray vs. Jack Whitehall vs. Liam Payne
What did Andy Murray think when he saw comedian Jack Whitehall and Liam Payne of One Direction play tennis? Find out in the latest Aegon Championships Tennis Podcast. After another corking day of tennis at the Aegon Championships, David Law joins Catherine Whitaker and Simon Briggs from the Telegraph to talk it over.Judy Murray drops by to talk about her first ever experience of going into a player lounge, how Amelie Mauresmo has Andy Murray using his variet again, and whether she would be prepa
Queen's Day 1 - Jonas Bjorkman Exclusive, Rafa Returns, Lleyton Leaves With His Head Held High
Epic matches, thrilling comebacks and the return of one of the greatest and most popular tennis players of all time. That was day one at the Aegon Championships, a day when Lleyton Hewitt was forced to call time on his Queen’s Club singles career. We review Monday’s action in the company of Andy Murray’s former coach Miles Maclagan, talk exclusively to one of his current coaches, Jonas Bjorkman, and Catherine Whitaker speaks to Rafael Nadal and Stan Wawrinka. Four-time champion Roy Emerson is ce
Queen's Preview - Hewitt Prepares For Final Bow, Dimitrov's Defence; Kyrgios And The Bizarre Impulse Buy
In a special series of daily shows, the Aegon Championships Tennis Podcast in association with the Telegraph includes chat about the on-court action, interviews with the biggest stars and special tributes to the tournament’s legends (today, Rod Laver). In the podcast - a free, downloadable, tennis radio show - Lleyton Hewitt looks ahead to competing at The Queen’s Club for the final time, Andy Murray talks coaching set-ups, and Nick Kyrgios tells us about a bizarre impulse buy. Hosted on Acast.
Stan the Man - French Open Review plus Special Grass Court Preview
David & Catherine meet at the immaculate grass courts of the Queen's Club to review a sensational conclusion to Roland Garros 2015 and to look ahead eagerly to the grass court season. Plus a special interview with Graham Kimpton - head groundskeeper at the Queen's Club - and Clive Brunskill - lead tennis photographer at Getty images. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Arantxa Sanchez Vicario - Backing Rafa For No.10, Her 4-3 Record vs. Serena, Favourite Career Memories, WTA Finals Ambassador
Arantxa Sanchez Vicario won the Roland Garros title three time, including her incredible victory as a 17-year-old in 1989. The Spaniard joins Catherine Whitaker to talk about her new role as a WTA Finals Ambassador, the Legends Classic she will play against Martina Navratilova in Singapore, and to look ahead to week two of the 2015 French Open.Will Rafa Nadal win a 10th title? Yes, she says. How did she amass a 4-3 career record against Serena Williams? Arantxa explains all. And what were her me
French Open 2015 Preview - The Draw! Nadal vs. Djokovic Quarterfinal! What’s Mauresmo Really Like? Special Guest - Carol Bouchard
The draw has been made for the French Open, and Catherine Whitaker is joined in the media cafe in Roland Garros by esteemed French journalist Carol Bouchard. What to make of a quarterfinal that could pit Djokovic against Nadal? What does that mean for the winner, for Federer, for Murray, for everyone!? What is Amelie Mauresmo really like? Carol gives us the lowdown. And who does she think will come out on top in the GB vs. France Davis Cup tie? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in
Martina Navratilova - French Open preview, the Chris Evert rivalry, and Martina vs. Serena - what would have happened?
The great Martina Navratilova joins David to talk about her childhood memories, her rivalry with Chris Evert, and her thoughts on the game today. Who does she think will come out on top in the upcoming French Open? Which of the young guns most excites her? Can Serena Williams surpass Steffi Graf Grand Slams singles titles won? And Serena vs. Martina - what would have happened? Plus, Rafael Nadal's battle with nerves, Novak Djokovic's dominance, and Andy Murray's opportunity. Finally, Catherine W
Madrid Review - Is Murray 2nd Favourite For The French Open?
After a stunning final victory for Andy Murray over Rafael Nadal in Madrid, Catherine Whitaker is joined courtside by tennis journalist Alix Ramsay to discuss his performance and assess Greg Rusedski’s view that he is now second favourite for the French Open. And what of Nadal? Plus, a Rome preview, including the return of Novak Djokovic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Who Is The Greatest - Federer 2006, Nadal 2010 or Djokovic 2015? Special Guest - Paul Hutchins
Given Novak Djokovic's 2015 heorics, just whose era over the last year has been the greatest? Was it Federer in 2006? Nadal in 2010? Or does Djokovic today beat them both? Catherine and David debate the issue passionately.Our special guest is the last man to captain Great Britain to the Davis Cup final - Paul Hutchins, who recalls the final in which John McEnroe played his first ever Davis Cup rubber, how he got the best out of the Lloyd brothers, and what he thinks Dan Maskell might have made o
Rafael Nadal - When does a crisis become a crisis?
Following his early loss to Fabio Fognini in Barcelona, David and Catherine debate the French Open prospects of Rafael Nada, and discuss the potential threat of 'Agassi-like' Kei Nishikori. On the women's side, topics include the 'sophomore freefall' of Genie Bouchard and the split between Agnieszka Radwanska and Martina Navratilova. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Monte Carlo - Djokovic Underlines Favourite Status; Special Guest Robbie Koenig
Recorded courtside in Monte Carlo just minutes after the final, Catherine Whitaker is joined by World Feed television commentator and former player Robbie Koenig to review another title for Novak Djokovic. Can anyone beat him, and if so, by whom, how, when and where? Where is Rafa Nadal in his progress towards and intended tenth French Open title, and what of the other runners and riders? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Beating Agassi, Wimbledon Heartbreak, and Why Djokovic Is Nailed On For The French Open - Special Guest Jeremy Bates
Jeremy Bates beat Andre Agassi, John McEnroe and Boris Becker during his career, but he's never experienced anything like the ten days of Wimbledon in 1992. In an in-depth chat with David Law, Bates describes the trance he was in after missing out on match point for a place in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, the circus that followed, and why Andy Murray's tennis will benefit from him being married. Bates also talks about tennis today, and expresses his view about who will win the French Open. "Djok
Miami Review (well, sort of) & the Big On-Court Coaching Debate
David takes time out of his busy commentary schedule to join Catherine for a discussion of all things Miami Open, including the brilliance of Serena Williams & Novak Djokovic, the rise of Carla Suarez Navarro & signs of progress for Andy Murray. PLUS we debate the merits of on court coaching, and give Catherine plenty of grief for her terrible predictions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Downey - The four year plan for British Tennis
The man in charge of British Tennis, LTA CEO Michael Downey, exclusively talks to David & Catherine about his blueprint for progress - 'it starts with participation and ends with participation' - GB Davis Cup success & the importance of Andy Murray. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Indian Wells Review, Miami Preview & a Big Announcement from Rafa
David & Catherine meet up in their favourite Putney coffee shop to pick over the bones of two sensational Indian Wells finals and look ahead to the Miami Open. Who is the best player in the world over three sets, is Novak Djokovic made of elastic, and isn't it time we started talking about Timea Bacsinszky? Plus, we discuss Rafa's decision to return to the AEGON Championships and the Queen's Club in June. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Indian Wells - Serena's Return, Heather Watson's Big Win, Greatest Ever Event Comebacks
David & Catherine reunite in their favourite Putney shopping centre to discuss all the action from Indian Wells, including Serena Williams' hugely anticipated return, other great tennis comebacks & the biggest win of Heather Watson's career so far. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Davis Cup Reflections After GB Downs USA Again - with Miles Maclagan & Simon Briggs (Episode 92)
Miles Maclagan and Telegraph Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs join David Law in Glasgow to talk about Great Britain's win over the United States to reach the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup World Group. Will Britain beat France? Where will it be played? Can Andy Murray have a big clay court season? Will Laura Robson return to her best? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nigel Sears - Serena Williams Is The Best Ever; Life As A Coach; GB vs. USA Davis Cup Preview
As the middle-east swing of tournaments culminated, top Tour coach Nigel Sears, who now commentates for BT Sport, joined David Law to talk about the greatest female tennis players of all time, life as a tour coach, and to preview upcoming Davis Cup tie between GB and USA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Brad Gilbert - Winning Ugly, Coaching Andre, Nicknames and a New No.1 (Episode 90)
The author of Winning Ugly, and one of the greatest coaches the game has ever known - Brad Gilbert - joined Catherine Whitaker at the ATP Champions Tour event in Delray Beach to talk about coaching against Federer and Sampras, joining forces with Agassi, and how he comes up with those nicknames.Add to that, a prediction for a New No.1 in the world, his thoughts on Kyrgios, Kokkinakis, Zverev et al, and some advice for David Law ... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
James Blake - Federer, Murray, Life After Tennis, Youth Development (Episode 89)
After making his debut on the ATP Champions Tour in Delray Beach, James Blake joined Catherine Whitaker to talk about what it was like to face a peak Roger Federer, his expectations for Andy Murray, his own life since retiring from the sport, and what he believes is the best way to develop young tennis players. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.