Pod Laver Arena

What happens in Miami... is up for full and frank discussion! Such as: why did Coco Gauff wear a hat? Also, in this bombastic episode, host Lizzy Hoo reveals that Monte Carlo - the place - is actually, a sh*thole. Hot take, Lizzy! We marvel at the tennis-themed wizardry of Jannik Sinner, and dive headfirst into the murky world of 'ball daddies' (fully grown ball kids). What we find, will shock you. We also discuss Dr Rafael Nadal's impressive cloak, and chat in-studio to American gun, Jessica 'the JPEG' Pegula. Cancel your plans, stay in, and listen to this! You can use the skip forward 15 seconds feature to skim past Mike's Anagrams - he understands. AusOpen.comiHeartApple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this bone-rattling episode, we dig down dangerously into the Miami Open, at the exact same time of making fun of Mike's little moustache. We give a laser-focussed analysis of the Danielle Collins and Corentin Moutet SHORT KING DRAMA, and it ends with Lizzy speaking in a dubious French accent that no one enjoys. Sam gets bold and attacks the rat-like features of Alex de Minaur (game recognise game), comparing him to that of the bogan varietal. Oh, and Mike's Anagrams cements itself as the most dogsh*t segment we could ever dream up. Look... if you had a podcast, we'd listen to yours. AusOpen.comiHeartApple PodcastsSpotifyYouTube  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pod Laver Arena — the only tennis podcast in the world (please don't Google) — is back! Hosts Lizzy, Mike and Sam dive racquet-first into the week's tennis news, and also into things that are barely tennis news. Mike's been to Indian Wells and he crosses to us from a dingy room to talk about it (spoiler alert: Tommy Haas did not return his calls). The guys also examine Aryna Sabalenka's wonderful, heavenly, love-filled week that saw win a big tournament and get a little dog. Also Mike does his weekly anagram and it's every bit as rage-inducing as you can imagine. Oh, and Elina Svitolina rang and said, "Hey, can you please run my interview from the AO?" So we did. AusOpen.comiHeartApple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Okay, tennis heads! Mike (@comedymikegoldstein) and Sam (@samtaunton) are back in the Pod Laver Arena studio, bringing you searing wit and lacerating wordplay! Sam tarnishes the solid gold legacy of Craig Tiley, while Mike quietly wishes he had a private Rage Room like the one at the ATX Open. There's a weirdly long analysis of Valentin Vacherot's 'Chubb Close Call', and we crescendo to an interview with the still ruggedly handsome Tommy Haas, who performs a savage takedown of pickleball! This podcast will self-destruct by midnight tonight, so watch it before it explodes in your hands, you dorks! AusOpen.comiHeartApple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike and Lizzy carry on their tradition of singing a tennis-themed song at the start of the pod and immediately a cease-and-desist letter from Will.I.Am drops from the ceiling. We expose tennis cheaters, examine the unstoppable force that is Carlos Alcaraz, and settle on calling our legion of fans 'Laverinos', which is probably a mistake. And are we mad that Alexandra Eala appeared on The Sit-Down and not our podcast? No! No way! Why would you say that? HAHAHAHAHAHA! Also, Mike is persisting with his anagram segment and, TBH, this edition is actually awesome. Plus, an interview with the best voice in tennis, Jakub Mensik. Slurp it up, Laverinos! AusOpen.comiHeartApple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back by popular demand (we assume)! In this pod we speak to Alex de Minaur's coach, Matt Reid, hot off Alex's triumph in Rotterdam. We ask him a bunch of dumb questions and probably waste his time! Mike (@comedymikegoldstein) toys with the idea of changing his name, and he also admits to watching the Winter Olympics - the worst kind of Olympics. And, in a bombshell move, Lizzy (@lizzyhoo) admits that she is indeed a "boob girl" (pertaining to Alexander Bublik). We cap off these hijinks by speaking to none other than The Mooch - Karolína Muchová! In Pod we trust. AusOpen.comiHeartApple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey we're back! And where did everybody go? Seriously... it's like a ghost town around here. No one. Nothing. Not even one Shake Shack. Anyway, Mike (@comedymikegoldstein) and Lizzy (@lizzyhoo) were clearly up all night partying with Kyrgios because they are dusty and barely making sense. There's tennis-adjacent chat, new (and very cheap) graphics, and some wild speculation about what AO champion, Carlos Alcaraz, will get for a tattoo. And all this happens while Ace vapes in the corner, giving off a menacing vibe. Oh, and we finish with a very special visit from the uber-sensual tennis legend, Marat Safin. Gee he's cool. And smells nice. I mean like, really nice. I would best describe it as an intoxicating mix of moisturising cream and sandalwood. AusOpen.comiHeartApple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

And just like that, it’s over. We’re not crying, you are. But fear not, because we’re here to unpack absolutely everything from the men’s final, from the match itself right through to an unexpected but forensic audit of Rafa’s hair. In a welcome surprise to us, it looks like Novak Djokovic is bringing Borat “not” jokes back into the cultural conversation and frankly we’re here for it. We also relive that moment during the KIA guy’s speech, plus the epic tale of Mike and Sam getting kicked out of a media function, only to still somehow have the last laugh. Suck on that, Belinda. Mike and Sam dust off the vocal cords and deliver what can only be described as one of the songs of the summer, despite a deeply questionable attempt to rhyme the word 'Wimbledon'. And finally, things completely derail as we unleash one of the most unhinged press conferences you’ve ever heard from our very own Ace-Man. If you’re not laughing by the end of the pod, Mike will eat a tennis ball. No follow up questions. Listen to The AO Wrap to stay up to date with the latest results each day of the main draw. AusOpen.comiHeartApple PodcastsSpotifyYouTube    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You turn your back for one second, and M&Ms mascots come into the studio and mess up the place. But the boys recover to talk smack about Elena Rybakina's victory over Aryna Sabalenka in the women's final. Great match, good times, subdued celebration. Not that Sam would know much about it - he was eating a charcuterie board with his girlfriend during the match. And will our brazen hosts sneak their way into the men's final tonight? Almost certainly not. I mean, the M&Ms mascots have a better chance, let's be honest. If that wasn't enough (which it isn't), Aussie tennis legend Pat Rafter drops in and hammers a ping pong ball into Sam Taunton's back fat. Wham! Footnote: In a breathtaking power move, Mike wears stolen sunglasses for this entire ep. It's stirring stuff. Listen to The AO Wrap to stay up to date with the latest results each day of the main draw. AusOpen.comiHeartApple PodcastsSpotifyYouTube  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.