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Tennis Weekly

Tennis Weekly

The tennis podcast by fans served every Monday, delivering tour news, Slam catch-ups and special guests to be your ultimate tennis season companion.

Passing Shot Productions · Joel Girling, Kim Mackenzie & Chris Kneebone

595 episodesEN

About

Brought together by their unified passion for tennis and ability to not take each other too seriously, Joel, Kim & Chris are here every Monday to give their verdict on the biggest stories from everyone’s favourite fuzzy yellow ball sport.From the sublime to the ridiculous (with the odd bit of trivia thrown in), Tennis Weekly serves an all-court mix of ATP/WTA tour catch-ups, Grand Slam round-by-round coverage and special guests in conversation, to be your definitive tennis companion for the 2026 season.So whether you’re a casual baller or a full time diehard, it’s time to pick up your headphones and have a listen to our racket. Ready? Play! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Latest Episodes

View all 595 episodes

Alcaraz injury puts French Open in doubt, Rybakina's wins 2nd Porsche + Shelton's clay victory

Apr 20, 20261h 5m

Sinner beats Alcaraz to reclaim No. 1 ranking, Andreeva wins 5th title + Medvedev meltdown

Apr 13, 20261h 9m

Swiatek gets Nadal masterclass, Pegula defends Charleston + Paul wins 1st clay title

Apr 6, 202657 min

S1 Ep 592Sinner and Sabalenka win historic 'Sunshine Double' + CLAY season predictions!

Sunshine Doubles all round! Join Joel, Kim and Chris at Tennis Weekly HQ as they break down a historic sweep from Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka—becoming the first duo since Djokovic and Azarenka to complete the Indian Wells–Miami double in the same season. We dig into Sinner’s ruthless run—three straight Masters titles without dropping a set—and what it means for the World No.1 race and the looming clay swing, with Alcaraz defending big points. On the women’s side, we explore Sabalenka’s relentless consistency, does she actually have any challengers, and whether she can finally turn dominance into Grand Slam glory at Roland Garros. Plus we make our own 2026 clay-court predictions - dark horses, French Open picks, and who claims the men’s World No. 1 spot by grass season - Sinner or Alcaraz? And finally at HQ, we argue over what we think is tougher - the Sunshine Double or a Slam - and tie up a loosed end from last week: Dominic Thiem’s mystery Monday announcement…BABOLAT COMPETITIONBabolat are giving one lucky listener the chance to win their new 9th generation Pure Aero 98 racket and brand new backpack with a combined worth of £340. To enter head to our Instagram page follow @babolatuk as well as @tennisweeklypod and tag a friend in our competition post.Entries close at Midnight on 5th April and competition is UK only. The winner will be announced on our next episode on 6th April and will be notified by Instagram direct message.To purchase the new 9th generation Pure Aero range go to the Babolat website or find your nearest tennis retailer.SOCIALSFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus email the show [email protected] Tennis Weekly Merch through our Etsy store including limited edition designs by Krippa Design where all proceeds go towards the podcast so we can keep doing what we do!REVIEWS***Please take a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It really means a lot to us at HQ and helps make it easier for new listeners to discover us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 30, 20261h 18m

S1 Ep 591Alcaraz upset in Miami, Swiatek splits with coach + Sinner and Sabalenka on for Double

The Miami Open has hit the midway stage—and it’s already delivered a wave of shock exits, with Carlos Alcaraz, Jack Draper and Iga Świątek all crashing out early. We break down Alcaraz’s surprise loss to Sebastian Korda and ask: should there be concern heading into the clay swing? Fresh off a strong Indian Wells run—including a win over Novak Djokovic—Draper’s momentum stalled as his struggles against big servers continued in defeat to Reilly Opelka. Meanwhile, Świątek’s early exit was quickly followed by a split from coach Wim Fissette, despite their Wimbledon Championships success last year. We dive into what went wrong and who could be next. Juan Carlos Ferrero, anyone? Plus, we react to Wimbledon’s introduction of video reviews, debate a potential WTA Next Gen Finals, and look ahead to week two in Miami. Is the Sunshine Double still on for Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka? We think so!SOCIALSFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus email the show [email protected] Tennis Weekly Merch through our Etsy store including limited edition designs by Krippa Design where all proceeds go towards the podcast so we can keep doing what we do!REVIEWS***Please take a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It really means a lot to us at HQ and helps make it easier for new listeners to discover us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 23, 20261h 1m

S1 Ep 590Sinner back to winning, Alcaraz streak ended + is Sunshine Double on for Sabalenka?

Indian Wells absolutely DELIVERED. In Tennis Paradise, both finals provided thrilling conclusions with Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka lifting their first-ever titles out in the desert after two blockbuster championship matches. Jannik Sinner continued his incredible hard-court dominance with another flawless, no sets dropped run after his triumph at the Paris Masters, defeating a resurgent Daniil Medvedev in a tense final decided by two tie-breaks. The victory makes Sinner the youngest player ever to complete the set of major hard-court titles — a huge milestone in his career. But while Sinner keeps raising the bar, Medvedev’s run back to the Top 10 has us asking: is he currently the best player outside of Sincaraz, and could he be a genuine Grand Slam contender again? And as the wait for a Sincaraz final this season continues, we also dive into the electric Djokovic vs Draper clash — a match we’re already calling a contender for match of the season — and debate whether that controversial hindrance call against Draper vs. Medvedev was really necessary. We’re still divided on it!On the WTA side, Aryna Sabalenka finally turned the tables on Elena Rybakina in a dramatic final, saving a championship point to snap her recent losing streak against the Kazakh and claim the Indian Wells crown. We discuss the Sabalenka-Rybakina rivalry and whether we think it will be the one to define women’s tour in 2026. Plus, Par for the Court returns and we look ahead to the Miami Open where Novak Djokovic and Emma Raducanu have dropped out with some bold predictions — Sunshine Double for Sinner and Sabalenka anyone?SOCIALSFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus email the show [email protected] Tennis Weekly Merch through our Etsy store including limited edition designs by Krippa Design where all proceeds go towards the podcast so we can keep doing what we do!REVIEWS***Please take a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It really means a lot to us at HQ and helps make it easier for new listeners to discover us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 16, 20261h 3m

S1 Ep 589Alcaraz still undefeated, Sinner vs Fonseca + Sabalenka supports best of 5 sets!

We’re hitting the halfway mark at Indian Wells in Palm Springs, and there’s already plenty of action to unpack as the tournament heads into a fascinating Round 4. At the top of the bill is a blockbuster first-ever meeting between Jannik Sinner and Brazil’s teenage sensation João Fonseca, who appears to have rediscovered his mojo out in the desert. We’ll also debate whether Learner Tien might be staking a claim as the top American right now after an eye-catching win over Ben Shelton. Elsewhere on the men’s side, Novak Djokovic unveiled a mysterious new sleeve — reportedly using infrared healing technology — while Carlos Alcaraz debuted some fresh kit.On the WTA side, Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka are set to face off for the first time since the 2018 US Open in what Sabalenka has jokingly dubbed a potential “fashion show”. Emma Raducanu’s tough loss to Amanda Anisimova in just over fifty minutes also gives us plenty to dig into. And away from the court, there’s no shortage of talking points: eye-watering drink prices at Indian Wells (yes, we’re talking $43 Aperol spritzes), fan frustration over a controversial change to ground-pass ticket policies, and Sabalenka’s spicy claim that she might have even more Grand Slam titles if women played best-of-five sets.Kim on TV Mastermind - BBC iPlayer linkSOCIALSFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus email the show [email protected] Tennis Weekly Merch through our Etsy store including limited edition designs by Krippa Design where all proceeds go towards the podcast so we can keep doing what we do!REVIEWS***Please take a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It really means a lot to us at HQ and helps make it easier for new listeners to discover us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 9, 202654 min

S1 Ep 588Medvedev wins Dubai, Raducanu's new sponsor + Indian Wells Draw Reaction!

A dramatic week on the ATP and WTA tours, with events in the Middle East casting a shadow over the tennis world and leaving players stranded across the region. From Tennis Weekly HQ, Joel, Kim and Chris unpack what it means for the sport (and the schedule) — and ask the bigger question: in the grand scheme of things, does tennis even matter? On court, it’s full steam ahead to Indian Wells as we dive into the men’s and women’s draws, lock in our champion predictions, tip our dark horses (yes, Marin Cilic gets a mention), and boldly flag the early exits — including a certain prediction involving Iga Swiatek and Maria Sakkari that may age horribly.We also debate Emma Raducanu’s reunion with Mark Petchey — smart reset or a backwards step, as Tim Henman suggests? — and analyse Carlos Alcaraz’s surprise mullet era, because no big tournament is complete without a bold new barnet. Plus, Laureus Awards chatter as Sinner, Alcaraz and Sabalenka headline the nominations for tennis, but Joao Fonseca’s Breakthrough nod raises eyebrows at HQ. And we round up the week’s champions: Medvedev in Dubai, Cobolli in Acapulco, Bucsa’s double delight in Merida — and yes, Kim’s Mastermind appearance (spoiler alert: her specialist subject was not Rafael Nadal!).SOCIALSFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus email the show [email protected] Tennis Weekly Merch through our Etsy store including limited edition designs by Krippa Design where all proceeds go towards the podcast so we can keep doing what we do!REVIEWS***Please take a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It really means a lot to us at HQ and helps make it easier for new listeners to discover us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 4, 20261h 11m

S1 Ep 587Alcaraz undefeated, Sinner's struggles continue, Pegula wins in Dubai + Serena update!

The unbeaten streak rolls on! It’s been another action-packed week across the ATP and WTA Tours, so join Joel, Kim and Chris at Tennis Weekly HQ as they break down all the biggest stories from around the tennis world. Carlos Alcaraz continues his sensational start to the 2026 season, delivering a ruthless performance in yet another final to extend his undefeated run — leaving us all asking the same question: just how long can he stay unbeaten? And more importantly… is there anyone capable of stopping him?! It was a tougher week for Jannik Sinner, stunned by rising star and Miami Open champion Jakub Mensik. Joel asks whether Mensik could be the man ready to disrupt the emerging Sincaraz dominance — alongside the ever-present Novak Djokovic — at the very top of the men’s game. Elsewhere, there were title celebrations for Tomas Etcheverry in Rio and Sebi Korda at Del Ray Beach.Over on the WTA Tour, Jessica Pegula powered her way to a fourth WTA 1000 title in Dubai, spearheading an impressive American showing in the desert — despite the absence of several big names. We also dive into the growing speculation surrounding Emma Raducanu’s potential sponsorship switch from Nike to Uniqlo, and wonder whether tournaments in Acapulco and Mérida should proceed amid ongoing cartel violence in Mexico. Plus, we look ahead to the week’s action as Jack Draper makes his long-awaited return to the tour in Dubai, while Venus Williams steps back onto court in Austin fresh from receiving a pair of Indian Wells wildcards.SOCIALSFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus email the show [email protected] Tennis Weekly Merch through our Etsy store including limited edition designs by Krippa Design where all proceeds go towards the podcast so we can keep doing what we do!REVIEWS***Please take a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It really means a lot to us at HQ and helps make it easier for new listeners to discover us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 23, 20261h 10m

S1 Ep 586Shelton saves 3 championship points, 3rd time lucky for de Minaur + Muchova magic in Doha

Ben Shelton saved championship points in a full-throttle all-American showdown against Taylor Fritz in Dallas whilst Alex de Minaur triumphed at the third time of asking in Rotterdam. The trio ask each other whether they are Team Fritz or Team Shelton and is de Minaur the tour’s most consistent player outside Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Elsewhere, we get excited about Jack Pinnington Jones’ breakthrough ATP run, Daniil Medvedev’s latest tirade saying the tennis balls aren’t round (classic!) and rumours of David Nalbandian joining Grigor Dimitrov’s coaching team. Just don’t talk to us about Jack Draper’s new haircut…On the WTA tour it was Karolina Muchova magic in the Middle East! It’s been a captivating week on the ATP and WTA Tours with epic finals, teenage sensations… and dodgy barnets. Join Joel, Kim and Chris at Tennis Weekly HQ as they dig into Doha where Karolina Muchova *finally* ended her seven-year title drought against teenage sensation Victoria Mboko who is now into the Top 10. The gang debate has she stolen the top teen title away from Mirra Andreeva? And can Karolina Muchova make good on her talent and win a Grand Slam title?SOCIALSFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus email the show [email protected] Tennis Weekly Merch through our Etsy store including limited edition designs by Krippa Design where all proceeds go towards the podcast so we can keep doing what we do!REVIEWS***Please take a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It really means a lot to us at HQ and helps make it easier for new listeners to discover us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 16, 20261h 7m

S1 Ep 585Draper returns, Raducanu makes first final since US Open + Sinner at the Winter Olympics!

Moving on from Melbourne! Back on the circuit and it was a bumper week for British tennis as Jack Draper made his long-awaited return to help Great Britain dominate Norway in the Davis Cup Qualifiers. Chris exclusively spoke to Jack ahead of the tie on his comeback. Meanwhile, Emma Raducanu reached her first WTA final since her historic US Open 2021 victory (have we really had to wait that long?!) and Katie Boulter lifted the Ostrava title with Joel wondering if she can reclaim her British No. 1 ranking this season.Elsewhere we discuss Felix Auger-Aliassime putting a shock Australian Open exit behind him to defend his Montpellier crown, Czech rising star Sara Bejlek shocking the field in Abu Dhabi, and look forward to the first WTA 1000 event of the season in Doha where defending champion Amanda Anisimova is already out. Plus, we talk about Jannik Sinner becoming a ticket inspector at the Winter Olympics, debate which tennis players would dominate what snow sports and how comfortable we feel with Serena Williams weight loss advert that aired at the Super Bowl.SOCIALSFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus email the show [email protected] Tennis Weekly Merch through our Etsy store including limited edition designs by Krippa Design where all proceeds go towards the podcast so we can keep doing what we do!REVIEWS***Please take a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It really means a lot to us at HQ and helps make it easier for new listeners to discover us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 9, 20261h 13m

S1 Ep 584Australian Open Wrap-up - Fashion Moments, Racket Smashing, Cheddar Apple Pie + TW Awards

The Australian Open 2026 is done and dusted, so it’s time for our Tennis Weekly Australian Open Wrap Up Show. After two weeks of daily pods, early mornings and late nights, Joel, Kim and Chris sit down to relive the tournament in all its glory — the good, the bad and the downright bizarre.We look back on Melbourne through our patented Peak, Pit & Pleasant Surprise scorecard, debating everything from Rafa watching Carlos complete the set, to crowd controversies, fashion moments, and why lights on the net were actually… kind of brilliant? We hand out our picks for best match, biggest upset, biggest surprise and one to watch across both the men’s and women’s draws — with plenty of disagreement along the way.There’s also a full prediction post-mortem. Who nailed their Australian Open champion picks? Who absolutely did not? From Alcaraz and Rybakina lifting trophies to bold calls involving Bublik, Jovic and Medvedev (honestly, what were Joel and Kim thinking), nothing is swept under the carpet including the ceremonious dishing out of the Slam of Spoon of Shame.Support the podcast by donating to our Tennis Weekly 2026 Crowdfund. Your support no matter how large or small is hugely appreciated, from listening to donating we couldn’t be more thankful to our audience! Click the link above or go to gofundme.com/tennis-weekly-2026AO Travel & Experiences Learn more and book your tickets through AO Travel & Experiences at ausopentravel.comSOCIALSFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus email the show [email protected] Tennis Weekly Merch through our Etsy store including limited edition designs by Krippa Design where all proceeds go towards the podcast so we can keep doing what we do!REVIEWS***Please take a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It really means a lot to us at HQ and helps make it easier for new listeners to discover us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 2, 202641 min

S1 Ep 583Australian Open Day 15 - Carlos Alcaraz completes the Career Grand Slam at 22!

And that’s a wrap on Melbourne! Carlos Alcaraz is your Australian Open champion who becomes the youngest men’s player ever to complete the Career Grand Slam. In doing so, he handed Novak Djokovic his first-ever defeat in an Australian Open final, snapping the Serb’s perfect 10–0 record on Rod Laver Arena and sending the wait for Grand Slam title number 25 on.We break down exactly how Alcaraz turned the match after a nervy start, why that pivotal 4–4 game in the fourth set changed everything, and what truly separates Carlos from Jannik Sinner when facing Djokovic on the biggest stages. And yes, we tackle the elephant in the room — what does King Carlos’s win mean for his relationship with former coach Juan Carlos Ferrero…For Djokovic, it was a sobering comedown after a blockbuster semi-final win over Sinner. Was this his last genuine shot at Slam 25? And will we see him back at Melbourne Park next year? Plus, Chris gives his verdict on the women’s final, we go full Rafa-watch as Nadal looks on from the stands, and we reveal the winner of our exclusive Australian Open competition.Support the podcast by donating to our Tennis Weekly 2026 Crowdfund. Your support no matter how large or small is hugely appreciated, from listening to donating we couldn’t be more thankful to our audience! Click the link above or go to gofundme.com/tennis-weekly-2026AO Travel & Experiences Learn more and book your tickets through AO Travel & Experiences at ausopentravel.comSOCIALSFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus email the show [email protected] Tennis Weekly Merch through our Etsy store including limited edition designs by Krippa Design where all proceeds go towards the podcast so we can keep doing what we do!REVIEWS***Please take a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It really means a lot to us at HQ and helps make it easier for new listeners to discover us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 1, 202646 min

S1 Ep 582Australian Open Day 14 - Elena Rybakina comes back to defeat Sabalenka for first AO crown

Elena Rybakina has won the Australian Open! It looked like it was heading for a repeat of the 2023 Final where Sabalenka came back to win in three sets but Rybakina had a comeback of her own from 3-0 down in the Final set, storming back to close out the match 6-4 4-6 6-4. It was a long wait for a second major for Rybakina who triumphed at Wimbledon in 2022 but has had ups and downs professionally and personally but managed to set all of that aside to win in Melbourne. She moves up to number three in the ranking and adds the trophy to her recently won WTA Finals title to establish herself as the form player on the WTA Tour.Joel and Kim ask how high can Rybakina go and question why Sabalenka isn’t able to close out major finals despite being the dominant force on the tour. Sabalenka is now 4-4 in grand slam finals and has won just 1 of her last 4 since her 2024 US Open triumph. They also announce the winner of collect a set and who is taking home the official AO cap and they wrap-up the doubles where Zhang and Mertens and Harrison and Skupski came out on top. They also make their last observations ahead of the Men’s Finals the day after the semi-final epics in Melbourne Park.AO Travel & Experiences Learn more and book your tickets through AO Travel & Experiences at ausopentravel.comSOCIALSFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus email the show [email protected] Tennis Weekly Merch through our Etsy store including limited edition designs by Krippa Design where all proceeds go towards the podcast so we can keep doing what we do!REVIEWS***Please take a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It really means a lot to us at HQ and helps make it easier for new listeners to discover us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 31, 202640 min

S1 Ep 581Australian Open Day 13 - Djokovic defeats Sinner in 5 sets to set up historic Alcaraz Final

What did we just witness?! Australian Open Day 13 delivered with aplomb so we had no choice but to all jump on the mics together at Tennis Weekly HQ and get our heads around the absolute treat that was the men’s semifinals action. Novak Djokovic rolled back the years in one of his all-time great Australian Open performances, outlasting Jannik Sinner in a five-set epic to move one win away from a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title. At 38 years old, Novak went full Houdini on Rod Laver Arena, saving break point after break point after break point. Is this one of the greatest wins of his career? And what does this say about the Alcaraz-Sinner era when a 38 year old can defeat them?Carlos Alcaraz also survived a brutal 5 hour 27 minute marathon against Alexander Zverev to reach his first Australian Open final, in the longest men’s semi-final in tournament history (who remembers that match between Nadal vs Verdasco?). Cramp, controversy, medical timeouts, blown chances and unreal mentality. Did Zverev choke it or did Alcaraz win it? And should cramp ever equal an MTO? We also look ahead to a blockbuster Australian Open final: Djokovic vs Alcaraz. Slam 25 or a historic career Grand Slam at 22. Goosebumps already.AO Travel & Experiences Learn more and book your tickets through AO Travel & Experiences at ausopentravel.comSOCIALSFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus email the show [email protected] Tennis Weekly Merch through our Etsy store including limited edition designs by Krippa Design where all proceeds go towards the podcast so we can keep doing what we do!REVIEWS***Please take a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It really means a lot to us at HQ and helps make it easier for new listeners to discover us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 30, 202647 min

S1 Ep 580Australian Open Day 12 - Sabalenka to face Rybakina in Final + Men's Semifinals Preview

We have our ladies finalists! Australian Open Day 12 did not come to play – and neither did we. In this episode, Joel and Chris break down all the drama from Melbourne as Aryna Sabalenka bulldozes her way into a fourth straight Australian Open final, doing it the scary way: without dropping a set and with plenty of spice along the way (yes, we’re talking that hindrance call). We also dive into Elena Rybakina’s ice-cold win over Jessica Pegula, saving set points, firing aces when it mattered, and booking a blockbuster AO final rematch with Sabalenka. Joel and Chris hope that maybe we will get a ladies match that goes the distance in the business end of the tournament which has been strangely lacking.Elsewhere, we preview the men’s semi-finals with Djokovic, Sinner, Alcaraz and Zverev all lining up, ask whether anyone can actually stop Carlos, and look at how much Zverev’s serve decides his fate. Plus, all the latest from the doubles and mixed doubles finals and a quick detour across to America as the Serena Williams ‘will she, won’t she’ comeback takes on another development…AO Travel & Experiences Learn more and book your tickets through AO Travel & Experiences at ausopentravel.comSOCIALSFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus email the show [email protected] Tennis Weekly Merch through our Etsy store including limited edition designs by Krippa Design where all proceeds go towards the podcast so we can keep doing what we do!REVIEWS***Please take a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It really means a lot to us at HQ and helps make it easier for new listeners to discover us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 29, 202641 min

S1 Ep 579Australian Open Day 11 - Djokovic handed AO lifeline + Women's Semifinal Preview!

Another day, another very eventful 24 hours at the Australian Open, and Joel and Chris are back at Tennis Weekly HQ to unpack it all as the semi-final line-ups are all locked in. We dive into Novak Djokovic’s latest Houdini act after Lorenzo Musetti was forced to retire despite leading by two sets, handing Novak yet another date with destiny — and Jannik Sinner. The Italian barely broke a sweat against Ben Shelton, cruising into another Australian Open semi and extending a frankly brutal head-to-head. Is Shelton running out of answers against the very elite, and is this era already beginning to define him?On the women’s side, Elena Rybakina laid down a serious marker by dismantling Iga Swiatek to set up a semi-final showdown with Jessica Pegula. We debate whether Iga has a genuine Rybakina problem, or if the rest of the field is simply catching up — and then get into Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Pegula speaking out about behind-the-scenes cameras and life “in the zoo” at Melbourne Park. Plus, we announce our Australian Open competition to win an official Australian Open towel and tennis ball, and look ahead to ladies’ semi-finals day with some fresh (and possibly questionable) predictions.AO Travel & Experiences Learn more and book your tickets through AO Travel & Experiences at ausopentravel.comSOCIALSFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus email the show [email protected] Tennis Weekly Merch through our Etsy store including limited edition designs by Krippa Design where all proceeds go towards the podcast so we can keep doing what we do!REVIEWS***Please take a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It really means a lot to us at HQ and helps make it easier for new listeners to discover us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 28, 202643 min

S1 Ep 578Australian Open Day 10 - Alcaraz makes first AO semifinal, Svitolina to face Sabalenka

It was a big day for Carlos Alcaraz and Elina Svitolina in Melbourne where both made their first ever Australian Open semifinals. Alcaraz produced a dominant display to defeat home hope Alex de Minaur in straight sets as Svitolina upset No.3 seed Coco Gauff in just 59 minutes. Alcaraz is still on track to become the youngest man to complete the career grand slam should he win on Sunday and based on his form his semifinal opponent Alexander Zverev will have to produce the performance of a lifetime to prevent the Spaniard from making another grand slam final. Zverev won his semifinal mainly thanks to his impeccable service display hitting 24 aces and 1 double fault to down next gen player Learner Tien in 4 sets. Svitolina will go on to face Sabalenka who dismantled 18 year old Iva Jovic in straight sets in sweltering conditions in Melbourne. Sabalenka has now made the semis or better at the last 8 grand slams and 14 of the last 17. Chris and Kim also talk tennis’ bad boy Nick Kyrgios who was spotted partying on two consecutive nights before his AO Mixed Doubles Round 2 loss with Leylah Fernandez. They question if it is time for Tennis Australia’s support of Nick to stop after such a display. Also up for discussion is player privacy after Coco Gauff was filmed smashing a racket after her semifinal loss and made it clear she felt there was not somewhere private apart from the locker room for the players to go. Finally they give a collect-a-set update where three players are still in the running to win the official AO cap thanks to our sponsor AO Travel & Experiences. AO Travel & Experiences Learn more and book your tickets through AO Travel & Experiences at ausopentravel.comSOCIALSFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus email the show [email protected] Tennis Weekly Merch through our Etsy store including limited edition designs by Krippa Design where all proceeds go towards the podcast so we can keep doing what we do!REVIEWS***Please take a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It really means a lot to us at HQ and helps make it easier for new listeners to discover us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 27, 202644 min

S1 Ep 577Australian Open Day 9 - Sinner back on track, Anisimova through + Swiatek scheduling!

Australian Open 2026 rolls on and Tennis Weekly is back with Joel and Chris for your Day 9 recap. On the men’s side, Jannik Sinner delivered a serving masterclass in Melbourne, firing 19 aces and reminding everyone why he’s the man to beat as he sets up a mouth-watering Australian Open quarterfinal against Ben Shelton. Can Shelton’s crowd-surfing energy and net-rushing chaos trouble the ice-cold Italian? Lorenzo Musetti also cruised past Taylor Fritz in straight sets to complete a full set of Grand Slam quarterfinals. Is he cementing himself as a bonafide Top 5 player on the tour? We’re asking the question — and previewing what awaits against a well-rested Novak Djokovic (just don’t look at H2H Musetti fans).Over on the women’s draw, Iga Swiatek makes light work of Maddison Inglis… but not without sparking a full-blown scheduling debate behind the scenes as her day match request was denied. We ask the question - should players be able to dictate when they play? We also look ahead to Iga Swiatek vs Elena Rybakina in one of the standout quarterfinals of Australian Open 2026. Plus: Jessica Pegula knocks out defending champion Madison Keys (and wins an apple pie with cheddar bet), Juan Carlos Ferrero takes up golf coaching (because why not), and we preview a brutally hot Day 10 in Melbourne.AO Travel & Experiences Learn more and book your tickets through AO Travel & Experiences at ausopentravel.comSOCIALSFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus email the show [email protected] Tennis Weekly Merch through our Etsy store including limited edition designs by Krippa Design where all proceeds go towards the podcast so we can keep doing what we do!REVIEWS***Please take a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It really means a lot to us at HQ and helps make it easier for new listeners to discover us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 26, 202649 min

S1 Ep 576Australian Open Day 8 - Alcaraz sets up de Minaur showdown as Gauff + Sabalenka progress

We are getting to the business end of the Australian Open and Day 8 brought statement wins for the top Men’s seeds with Alcaraz, Zverev and de Minaur winning in emphatic style. Particularly impressive was home hope Alex de Minaur who took out his Roland-Garros conqueror Alexander Bublik in style, winning emphatically 6-4 6-1 6-1. The big question on Australia’s lips is can he do the impossible and take out World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals to make his first slam semi. Also causing a shock in a rematch from last year was Next Gen favourite Learner Tien who bageled Daniil Medvedev as he made it to his first quarter-final and as the youngest since 2015 to do it at Melbourne Park.. On the women’s side Coco Gauff rallied past tricky customer Karolina Muchova to make another quarterfinal in Australia where she will face off against veteran of the game Elina Svitolina who got the better of Mirra Andreeva in the night session, Svitolina has gone 9-0 in 2026 after ending her season following her first round defeat at the US Open last year. In the first match on Rod Laver, Sabalenka won her 20th consecutive tiebreak at grand slam level to oust teenage sensation Mboko but will have to do it again when she takes on another teen sensation Iva Jovic in the last 8. The team are also joined by their by David MacCallum, Director & General Manager of STH Group, the company responsible for all things AO Travel and Experiences. He joins the pod to tell Chris and our listeners more about their exciting offering and how you can secure the best AO Experience for 2027.AO Travel & Experiences Learn more and book your tickets through AO Travel & Experiences at ausopentravel.comSOCIALSFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus email the show [email protected] Tennis Weekly Merch through our Etsy store including limited edition designs by Krippa Design where all proceeds go towards the podcast so we can keep doing what we do!REVIEWS***Please take a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It really means a lot to us at HQ and helps make it easier for new listeners to discover us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 25, 20261h 2m
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