SERVING ACES: Conversations with Alexandra Stevenson

Episode 22 on Serving Aces is mostly about the trouble with the WTA Tour. The top 20 women wrote a letter to the CEO Steve Simon to change working conditions, more financial compensation, and a myriad of other things that they feel is necessary for them to compete on the Tour. The Finals were played in bad weather with winds and rain in Cancun. Ougi discusses an aggressive baseline player in "The Ball is in Ougi's Court." Alexandra gives a shout out to Coach Prime and the Colorado Buffaloes. She says she's still supporting them - though they are in a losing predicament in regard to a Bowl bid. Alexandra says someone needs to strengthen the offensive line so that Shadeur can play his game. His offensive stats are off the charts, but he's been sacked 41 times. Alexandra mentions Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce - and how Taylor has upset the betting world with her Chiefs' appearances. Finally, Alexandra gives a nod to the Dallas Cowboys iconic coach Tom Landry with a quote for Coach Prime - that Landry said in 1971. "A crushing setback today - yes - but I've learned that something constructive comes from defeat." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alexandra Stevenson and Hugues Laverdière join together in Serving Aces to have conversations on Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce. Yes. Boyfriend. Girl Friend. For sure. Indoor tennis. Alexandra's remembrance of a big indoor season in 2002. Alexandra asks again for the ATP and WTA to join together in one association with one commissioner. Alexandra touches on the Israel War and how the Philadelphia Eagles used 10 empty seats and 10 American flags at the Sunday night game against Miami - possible Super Bowl contenders - and how the Eagles ownership wanted to show the NFL world that they stand with Israel and hopes of releasing all hostages, but in this case - 10 American hostages. Alexandra and Ougi go deep into their remembrance of the Indoor season for the women - that is no more. Driving a Porsche on the autobahn. Eating homemade jam and croissants. Choosing the right restaurant for the tournament week. They discuss indoor practice - and Ougi talks strategy and momentum shifts in a match. Ougi talks patterns and how to change your way in a match. Alexandra ends with a fun quote from Marilyn Monroe. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alexandra Stevenson, Conversations with Alexandra and co-host Hugues Laverdière discuss tennis, possibility of WTA and ATP combining associations. Alexandra thinks Roger Federer should be the commissioner. Alexandra offers prayers to Israel - and talks about professional tennis players traveling to countries all over the world - and notes that because of the Israel War - the Tel Aviv Open was cancelled. The duo lead into Alexandra's five things that she teaches kids on her court - including believing in themselves. She discusses how she trains the kids to understand the game between the lines and how they can use their education in tennis in their lives off the court. The five things for kids on court - self esteem, team work, listening skills, problems, and focus. Alexandra also sends a shout out to Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes. Rough go on Friday when they lost in a lopsided battle with Stanford. But she notes that they are leading the country in endorsements. Alexandra throws in - since the writer's strike - the new SNL - Saturday Night Live this past Saturday. Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift made cameos. Alexandra says she feels they are real boyfriend-girlfriend - and is hoping for marriage. Alexandra ends the podcast with a romantic Travis Kelce quote - sure to end up in a Taylor Swift song. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alexandra Stevenson opens Serving Aces with "newsy" topics including Deion Sanders' Colorado Buffaloes win against Arizona State leading them to a 4-2 record and maybe - a chance at a Bowl game. Alexandra talks about the NFL, the missing Taylor Swift in Minnesota, Travis Kelce injured ankle, San Francisco 49ers and Cowboys Sunday night game, baseball - and the legends leading the baseball telecasts including Derek Jeter, (Big Papi) David Ortiz, and Alex Rodriguez. Hugues aka "Ougi" introduces a new segment "The Ball is in Ougi's Court." He talks about mental pressure - and Alexandra gives stories of her playing days and mental toughness - how to be totally ready to play. The checklist for players. A must listen for the different types of junior player personalities on the tennis court. Making a game plan. The duo ends the podcast with the war in Israel and how political problems in countries affects professional tennis players. Alexandra talks about a bomb near her hotel in Turkey, Mexico situation with drug cartels. Moscow after 9-11 and armed guards. At the US Open, Chris Eubanks said he would play in Israel in the Fall. The Tel Aviv Open is in November - but with the war declared in Israel - the tournament will certainly be cancelled for the safety of everyone. The quote of the podcast goes to Dick Butkus, RIP..."I worked hard at becoming a professional football player - just like society says you should. It said you had to be fierce. Tough. I was tough" Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Serving Aces offers a special look into the tennis landscape with pop culture and the NFL colliding into everyone's daily intake of news. That would be Taylor Swift appearing in Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce's box - with his mother, Donna - at Arrowhead Stadium. The new "maybe" couple did a nice walk outside the locker room, Taylor all smiles. Alexandra Stevenson and Hugues Laverdière talk about the tennis season, where is Peng Shuai, and why is the WTA going to China? Money, of course. A brief look at the Laver Cup and the terrible schedule that the founding members including Roger Federer have to face. Alexandra gives a shout out to Deion Sanders and his Colorado Buffaloes. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Serving Aces brings Alexandra Stevenson and Hugues Laverdière back together after a Grand Slam summer hiatus. This episode discusses the University of Colorado and the football team. The Hollywood atmosphere surrounding the team has brought a world fascination to Coach Prime, Deion Sanders - and his team. Colorado is Alexandra's alma mater, so she was especially interested in the Colorado CSU game last Saturday. College football has never been so entertaining! Alexandra and Ougi discuss expectations for athletes, ATP, WTA stories, the Sabalenka racket smash - and the Halep four year drug ban. They also discuss coaching from the sidelines and how it has changed the game of tennis. And somehow Pickleball has become the fastest growing sport in America with Genie Bouchard and Jack Sock joining Pickleball teams. http://@alexandrastevenson Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alexandra returns from three weeks in New York at the US OPEN. She welcomes back Ougi, and they discuss what went on at the Open, and thoughts on Djokovic and Gauff. All while watching Monday night football in the background! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alexandra Stevenson with Hugues Laverdière talk grass season warmups to Wimbledon on the ATP and WTA Tours. The duo comes up with fantasy coach and fantasy player for Wimbledon - men and women. They salute Wyndham Clark, the 29 year old from Colorado who won the US Open at the LA Country Club. Alexandra and Ougi discuss the differences in grass tournaments - and the platform underneath Wimbledon's grass and the special art form of making it the Wimbledon green. Alexandra discusses the change in grass seeds and why Wimbledon was slowed down for television. No longer serve volley winner. No more Boris Becker - as Ougi reminds, "Boom Boom" Becker. Field of Dreams. Alexandra discusses building a grass court 27 ft wide. Mowing the lawn to 8 mm. She talks about the guys at Wimbledon who measure the grass every morning. Alexandra is on her way to analyze Wimbledon for ESPN - as a commentator for the 2023 tournament. Alexandra talks about her collection of towels and how players revere the towels at Wimbledon. Ends with Walt Disney quote from the man, Walt Disney. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Episode 13, Serving Aces, Alexandra Stevenson and co-host Hugues Laverdière discuss the semifinals and finals of the women and men at the French Open. John Austin returns to assist them in their recap. The trio all have wondrous words for Novak Djokovic and his 23rd Grand Slam, a historic day for tennis worldwide. Alexandra recalls that Novak really is the "wolf" - the animal from his country that he most identifies with in his competitive life. On the women's side, Swiatek brings her athletic presence to the court and Alexandra notes that this year's final had not just skilled players, but athletic women who took over the tennis court at Roland Garros. Alexandra points out that Tom Brady sat in Novak's box next to Djokovic's wife - and after - in Novak's speech, he included Brady in "the football stars" - the European soccer boys - who came out to cheer him on. She thought perhaps Novak didn't understand that one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the game - was indeed - in his box! Alexandra gave a Tom Brady quote of the podcast to honor his first appearance at the French Open. http://@alexandrastevenson Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alexandra and Ougi are joined by John Austin for Part 2 of Serving Aces episode 12http://@alexandrastevenson Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 12, part one of Serving Aces. Alexandra Stevenson and co host Hugues Laverdière welcome guest John Austin, formerly 40 in the world on the ATP Tour with wins against McEnroe, Gomez, and Noah - among others. Alexandra leads Austin through many questions about the 1980s - and later the 1990s - and his coaching career. Austin took Michael Chang, the 1989 defending French Open champion back to Roland Garros the year after winning. Austin brings his memories of Chang and Paris - and takes a look at the present day players - including the results of the fourth round and looking ahead to the Finals weekend. Austin and Laverdiere both bring a "professorial" look at present day players. Alexandra adds her quote of the podcast taken from the Barbie movie - a summer blockbuster. http://@Alexandrastevenson Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Serving Aces, Episode 11, host Alexandra Stevenson and co-host Hugues Laverdière talk everything French Open. They discuss the first round results on the first day. Red clay vs green clay. Alexandra discusses how to bring your game to the red clay instead of adjusting to the red clay. Alexandra and Ougi project their semifinal picks in the top and bottom half of the draw. Alexandra talks about the Amazon movie "Air" and her visit to the Nike campus in Beaverton in 1999, including her first in-person meeting with Phil Knight at Wimbledon. Alexandra gives a Ben Affleck-Phil Knight quote from "Air -" and a look to the color of the summer - pink, with a nod to "Barbie Core."http://@alexandrastevesnon Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alexandra Stevenson and Hugues Laverdière discuss Rome and French Open qualifying. Medvedev and Rune - with Medvedev winning. Rybakina defeated Kalinina on the women's side. Alexandra found the women "boring" and the men entertaining on these slow wet clay courts. Rome was full of heavy conditions. Warmups to the French - and the deep look at French Open qualifying - and other Grand Slams. The types of players that have big games but are relegated to qualifying. Alexandra and Ougi discuss Michael Block, the golf pro who had an "ace" hole in one at the PGA Championship with Rory McElroy. The two of them throw in summer movies coming out and a sturdy quote from Indiana Jones.http://@alexandrastevenson Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alexandra Stevenson and Hugues Laverdière have a knack for placing pop culture right in the middle of tennis. From the Coronation to the Met Gala to the little horse that could, Mage, winning the Kentucky Derby, Alexandra and Ougi have a lot of fun with the world around them. The tennis topics are about the clay season and kick serves. They touch on mounting injuries and the challenges of playing on clay.http://@alexandrastevenson News and notes on players: Andy Murray dropped down to the challengers to win an event. Imagine. And, he played Tommy Paul in the Finals! Sloane Stephens won a 125 WTA event. All of the players, minus Rafael Nadal, are looking for clay court play - before the French Open - May 22-June11. Alexandra and Ougi discuss the odds of Nadal making it to the French, a Grand Slam event that he has won 14 times. He is working diligently to recover from his hip and foot issues. Don't miss the Guardians of the Galaxy quote of the podcast. http://@alexandrastevenson @hugueslaverdiere Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Episode 8 of Serving Aces, Alexandra Stevenson and co host Hugues Laverdière talk about clay tournaments, forehands, freezing eggs in Barcelona, and their fantasy five top forehands from male and female professional tennis players. Alexandra and Hugues, known as "Ougi" talk about the King of Clay, Rafael Nadal, who has announced through his Uncle Tony Nadal, that he will definitely play the French Open. Alexandra mentions that he might play Rome. Ougi and Alexandra discuss Nadal rituals and his top displays of character on and off the court. Alexandra highlights the first Monday in May and the Met Gala, with Roger Federer as a co host at Anna Wintour's iconic Vogue gala at the Metropolitan Museum. Celebrities, newsmakers, politicians - they all come to celebrate the day and the honored title/personhttp://@alexandrastevenson for the night. This gala will acknowledge the late Karl Lagerfeld and his fabulous collections and style. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Serving Aces host Alexandra Stevenson and co host Hugues Laverdière talk about the ATP and WTA clay court tournaments taking place now - and include three men's events and one women's event. Alexandra and Hugues discuss the Medvedev-Zverev fight on court in Monte Carlo. Following their discussion Alexandra and Hugues talk about what teaching they are giving their kids on court. They want their kids to know they don't stink. They're just experiencing the growing pains of learning how to play the game of tennis. They touch on movies and the NBA Playoffs.http://@Alexandrastevenson Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Serving Aces, episode 6, Alexandra Stevenson and Hugues Laverdiere introduce their first guest, journalist Joel Drucker. Drucker has been writing about sports, pop culture, and business for 35 years. He was named Historian at Large by the Tennis Hall Of Fame because of his knowledge and passion for the game of tennis. Stevenson leads the discussion into three parts from the iconic 70s... Part One, Christ Evert and Martina Navratilova and their 80 match rivalry from 1972 to 1988. Part Two, the founding of the ATP and the crossover of Lamar Hunt's WCT, the handsome eight - and more men's tennis including the grand Cliff Drysdale. Part three, Rock and Roll tennis with Jimmy Connors, the first rock tennis star in the 1970s. Connors brought a boxer's mentality to his "Friday Night at the Fights" matches. Drucker wrote a book, "Jimmy Connors Saved My Life: A Personal Biography." Drucker talks about why Connors was so important to him as a 12 year old in the 70s - and later in his reporter life. Stevenson continues her weekly fantasy coaches and players picks. Laverdiere and Drucker join in with their male and female picks and the coaches who will help them in the clay season. Stevenson is a storyteller. Though she was a 1980s baby - she has memories and meetings with many of the 1970s legends. Guest Drucker and co-host Laverdiere join in with their own memories. Quote of the Podcast: "I never lost a tennis match. I just ran out of time." Jimmy Connors. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In "Serving Aces," Episode 5, Alexandra Stevenson and guest host Hugues Laverdiere discuss a myriad of topics including the start of Major League Baseball and the three rules changes, ATP and WTA Tour players in the Miami Open, all things basketball in the Men's NCAA Final Four, and the Women's NCAA Championship. They throw in the entertaining Pickleball Slam, with Grand Slam tennis champions John McEnroe, Michael Chang, Andre Agassi, and Andy Roddick going at it - in the new paddle competition - singles and doubles - playing for a million dollars. Alexandra and Hughes, who goes by the nickname, Ougi, give their opinion on ATP players Medvedev and Sinner - and the WTA players, Rybakina and Kvitova in the finals of the Miami Open. Ougi and Alexandra discuss the different ways of being a champion - not always having to win a championship. They note that in the men's Final Four, Florida Atlantic walks away as champions. As to the women's NCAA basketball players, Alexandra notes that some of them could be recruited by the WWE, as indicated by their rough and tough play on court, hands and elbows flying, bodies busting up plays. 8-time Grand Slam champion, the legendary Andre Agassi - who played in the Pickleball Slam at the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida - gives Alexandra's chosen quote of the episode..."Pickleball is where tennis players go to die, so I'm officially dying."http://@alexandrastevenson Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alexandra Stevenson and Hughes Laverdiere, an American and a Canadian open up their arsenal of knowledge on kids playing tennis. How do you teach competition, the ability to understand winning and losing. Train them up and trust them to do the work - only as Alexandra and Ougi discuss - it doesn't always happen that way. The duo throw in their Fantasy coaching team for the Miami Open. Mental Tactical and Physical. What player will get to the Finals with this Fantasy team - male and female. Alexandra wonders how many got the March Madness Final Four bracket...she says they need to go out and buy a lottery ticket right now! http://@Alexandrastevenson Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

http://@alexandrastevensonAlexandra Stevenson and Guest - Canadian coach Hugues Laverdiere are back together - discussing the Indian Wells Final, and their perfect coaching team for the Miami Open - which is the second half of the Sunshine Double. They throw in March Madness, their own broken brackets, and a look back at fashion - at the 95th Academy Awards. Alexandra gives a nod to Anna Wintour, who anointed the tennis playing teenager, Carlos Alcatraz as "King Carlos" in the March issue of Vogue. Alexandra ends the show with a quote from a movie, something she will do each episode. http://@AlexandraStevenson Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alexandra Stevenson and Guest Canadian Coach Hugues Laverdiere talk tennis, players, and coaches. They introduce their original fantasy coaching tennis team. Much like fantasy football. The talk about their time together in the 2000s on the WTA tour. Adding a bit of pop culture they talk about the 95th Academy awards- including Canadian Stars nominated.http://@Alexandrastevenson Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode talks about Novak Djokovic, Andre Agassi, the serve for men and women, the introduction of serve coaches on both tours, a little LeBron James, young American ben Shelton, and Pickle ball!http://www.instagram.com/alexandrastevensonhttp://www.instagram.com/sambgore Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.