The Tennis Podcast

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 Konta on clay? And why has Federer vs Wawrinka not been scheduled on Court Philippe Chatrier? Elsewhere, all the results from day 9 are covered, including Simona Halep’s convincing win over Iga Swiatek, Alexander Zverev’s best ever win at a Grand Slam, history for teenage sensation Amanda Anisimova, and Karen Khachanov's love affair with Paris.There will be daily editions of The Tennis Podcast throughout Roland Garros, The Fever-Tree Championships, and Wimbledon. It is produced in association with The Telegraph. *** Social Media *** Instagram - http://po.st/TTP_InstagramTwitter - http://po.st/TTP_TwitterFacebook - http://po.st/TTP_Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Whitaker rate Wawrinka’s chances against Roger Federer in the quarterfinals?Elsewhere, Johanna Konta is a 100%, cast-iron member of ‘The Mix’ after her straight sets defeat of Donna Vekic. She now faces Sloane Stephens in the last 8. So who will win? The performances of Federer and Rafael Nadal are also covered, and there’s reaction to Dominic Thiem’s anger at being moved from the biggest interview room to make way for Serena Williams yesterday. The Tennis Podcast will be daily throughout the French Open, the Fever-Tree Championships at Queen’s, and Wimbledon.It is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.The Rafael Nadal Story - A Tennis Podcast SpecialListen - http://po.st/Nadal_Story Download - http://po.st/Nadal_Download iTunes - http://po.st/Nadal_Apple Spotify - http://po.st/Nadal_Spotify The Tennis Podcast LinksInstagram - http://po.st/TTP_InstagramTwitter - http://po.st/TTP_TwitterFacebook - http://po.st/TTP_FacebookWebsite - https://www.thetennispodcast.net/Shop - http://po.st/TTP_ShopNewsletter Sign Up - http://po.st/TTP_Newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 context of Serena’s quest for 24?Elsewhere, Catherine and Matt chat about all the other action, including yet another five-set win for Alexander Zverev and smooth progress for Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep.Finally, there’s a look ahead to a marvellous Sunday schedule which includes the mouthwatering prospect of Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Stan Wawrinka.The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout Roland Garros, The Fever-Tree Championships and Wimbledon, in association with The Telegraph.  *** SOCIAL MEDIA ***Instagram - http://po.st/TTP_InstagramTwitter - http://po.st/TTP_TwitterFacebook - http://po.st/TTP_Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Nishikori, and we finally chased him down to ask what's happened to the underarm serve he promised Catherine. Matt attended his press conference with one goal in mind ...The Tennis Podcast will be daily throughout the French Open, the Fever-Tree Championships at Queen’s, and Wimbledon.It is produced in association with Telegraph Sport. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Whitaker, Matt Roberts and Simon Briggs from the Telegraph assemble to talk it through. Elsewhere, Kyle Edmund lost limply, complaining of a knee injury as he retired set 3 against Pablo Cuevas. What’s going on with Kyle?There was also a big win for Amanda Anisimova, scrapes for Dominic Thiem, Belinda Bencic and Simona Halep, and comfortable passages for Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev.And, with the subject of long bathroom breaks coming up after an 11-minuter at the end of set 2 between Osaka and Azarenka, Catherine and Simon discuss the subject of menstruation, and whether it’s time for allowances to be made within the rule, and also consideration given to it as a possibility for for commentators to mention.The Tennis Podcast will be daily throughout the French Open, the Fever-Tree Championships at Queen’s, and Wimbledon.It is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.The Rafael Nadal Story - A Tennis Podcast SpecialListen - http://po.st/Nadal_Story Download - http://po.st/Nadal_Download iTunes - http://po.st/Nadal_Apple Spotify - http://po.st/Nadal_Spotify The Tennis Podcast LinksInstagram - http://po.st/TTP_InstagramTwitter - http://po.st/TTP_TwitterFacebook - http://po.st/TTP_FacebookWebsite - https://www.thetennispodcast.net/Shop - http://po.st/TTP_ShopNewsletter Sign Up - http://po.st/TTP_Newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 neither one of Dimitrov and Cilic hold on to the lead?Elsewhere, what did Stefanos Tsitsipas have to say at the end of his enthralling win against Hugo Dellien? Why does everyone in the men’s draw need to watch out for Stan Wawrinka after his demolition job on Cristian Garín? And why are the grounds so busy but the stands so empty?Finally, straightforward wins for Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Garbiñe Muguruza and Karolina Pliskova are discussed.The Tennis Podcast will be daily throughout the French Open, the Fever-Tree Championships at Queen’s, and Wimbledon. It is produced in association with Telegraph Sport. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Catherine and Matt struggled to take their eyes off what he was wearing.The other notable results of the day are discussed, as is the split between Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares, and there's a preview of all the big day 4 matches, including the relegation of 11-time champion Rafael Nadal from the Chatrier Court.The Tennis Podcast will be daily throughout the French Open, the Fever-Tree Championships at Queen’s, and Wimbledon.It is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.The Rafael Nadal Story - A Tennis Podcast SpecialListen - http://po.st/Nadal_Story Download - http://po.st/Nadal_Download iTunes - http://po.st/Nadal_Apple Spotify - http://po.st/Nadal_Spotify The Tennis Podcast LinksInstagram - http://po.st/TTP_InstagramTwitter - http://po.st/TTP_TwitterFacebook - http://po.st/TTP_FacebookWebsite - https://www.thetennispodcast.net/Shop - http://po.st/TTP_ShopNewsletter Sign Up - http://po.st/TTP_Newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 finalists in the men’s draw, but Dominic Thiem had a right old scrap on his hands against Tommy Paul. So how did they all look? Catherine and Matt give us the lo-down, with a little bit of assistance from David Law in Solihull. Jo Konta got her first win in the main draw, Pierre-Hugues Herbert followed his old mate Nicolas Mahut in nailing a stunning 5-set comeback and the pod team pay tribute to 19-year-old Paul Jubb, who did something no British player has done before.  The Tennis Podcast will be daily throughout the French Open, the Fever-Tree Championships at Queen’s, and Wimbledon.It is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.The Rafael Nadal Story - A Tennis Podcast SpecialListen - http://po.st/Nadal_Story Download - http://po.st/Nadal_Download iTunes - http://po.st/Nadal_Apple Spotify - http://po.st/Nadal_Spotify The Tennis Podcast LinksInstagram - http://po.st/TTP_InstagramTwitter - http://po.st/TTP_TwitterFacebook - http://po.st/TTP_FacebookWebsite - https://www.thetennispodcast.net/Shop - http://po.st/TTP_ShopNewsletter Sign Up - http://po.st/TTP_Newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 fashion choice. The performances of Stefano Tsitsipas, Garbine Muguruza and Grigor Dimitrov were examined, and the team look ahead to day 2. The Tennis Podcast will be daily throughout the French Open, the Fever-Tree Championships at Queen’s, and Wimbledon.It is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.The Rafael Nadal Story - A Tennis Podcast SpecialListen - http://po.st/Nadal_Story Download - http://po.st/Nadal_Download iTunes - http://po.st/Nadal_Apple Spotify - http://po.st/Nadal_Spotify The Tennis Podcast LinksInstagram - http://po.st/TTP_InstagramTwitter - http://po.st/TTP_TwitterFacebook - http://po.st/TTP_FacebookWebsite - https://www.thetennispodcast.net/Shop - http://po.st/TTP_ShopNewsletter Sign Up - http://po.st/TTP_Newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 of the remodelled Roland Garros.What do they make of the likely roads to the latter stages of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Simona Halep and the rest? Who has got lucky, and who hasn’t? Was Halep underestimating the field when she suggested that there are 10 possible champions in Paris? Is the calendar year Slam a possibility for Naomi Osaka? And what has Dan Evans been saying this time?The Tennis Podcast will be daily throughout the French Open, the Fever-Tree Championships at Queen’s, and Wimbledon.It is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.The Rafael Nadal Story - A Tennis Podcast SpecialListen - http://po.st/Nadal_Story Download - http://po.st/Nadal_Download iTunes - http://po.st/Nadal_Apple Spotify - http://po.st/Nadal_Spotify The Tennis Podcast LinksInstagram - http://po.st/TTP_InstagramTwitter - http://po.st/TTP_TwitterFacebook - http://po.st/TTP_FacebookWebsite - https://www.thetennispodcast.net/Shop - http://po.st/TTP_ShopNewsletter Sign Up - http://po.st/TTP_Newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Djokovic, his injury trouble, and his longevity.Along the way they try to answer some key questions. How important was Uncle Toni’s decision to encourage him to play left-handed? Is the 2008 Wimbledon final the greatest match of all time? What makes Nadal so special compared to his biggest rivals? And will he win more Grand Slams in the future?The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments, in association with Telegraph Sport.  *** Follow us on social media ***Instagram - http://po.st/TTP_InstagramTwitter - http://po.st/TTP_TwitterFacebook - http://po.st/TTP_Facebook *** We will be producing daily newsletters throughout Roland Garros ***Sign up - http://po.st/TTP_Newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 for the French Open title?Rafael Nadal had not won a title all year, until now. But was it fair that Novak Djokovic had considerably less time to prepare for their final? What happened in the final to swing it Nadal's direction? And is the Spaniard favourite for a 12th title in Paris?And what about Nick Kyrgios after his explosive interview on No Challenges Remaining and subsequent default from his second round match in Rome?The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport, and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 on the list of French Open favourites?All the other major storylines from Madrid are also discussed. How did Tsitsipas conquer his demons to beat Rafael Nadal for the first time? Should we be worried by Nadal’s form? How did Roger Federer look on his return to clay? And what on earth happened for Viktoria Kuzmova to lose 6-0 6-0 to Simona Halep?Finally, a word on the retiring David Ferrer. How will we look back on his career?The Tennis Podcast will be produced weekly throughout 2019, and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments, after our Kickstarter was successfully funded by our listeners. It is produced in association with The Telegraph. *** SOCIAL MEDIA ***Instagram - http://po.st/TTP_InstagramTwitter - http://po.st/TTP_TwitterFacebook - http://po.st/TTP_Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Djokovic all so reluctant to express similar feelings? Turning to actual tennis results, there’s a look at Jo Konta’s improved clay court form, the rise of Cristian Garin, titles for Greek duo Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari, and Pablo Cuevas’ new penchant for trick shots.All the major storylines from the first few days of Madrid are also covered, including Roger Federer’s return to clay, Sloane Stephens’ new partnership with Sven Groeneveld, and Felix Auger-Aliassime’s win over Denis Shapovalov.Finally, Catherine gets a chance to take stock of Janko Tipsarevic’s Tennis Podcast interview with David, which was released on April 11th. In particular, Catherine scrutinises Tipsarevic’s views on equal prize money.The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments. It is produced in association with The Telegraph. *** Social Media ***Instagram - http://po.st/TTP_InstagramTwitter - http://po.st/TTP_TwitterFacebook - http://po.st/TTP_Facebook *** Janko Tipsarevic Interview ***Listen - http://po.st/TP_520 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 he does, what does that say about tennis? Elsewhere, there’s chat about Marco Trungelliti being snubbed for blowing the whistle on match-fixing, and the news that the ATP Finals will move from London to Turin in 2021. On the court this week, Dominic Thiem beat Rafael Nadal in Barcelona and went on to win the title. Who is the favourite for the French Open? The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments. It is produced in association with The Telegraph.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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-court swing in Monte Carlo. Will Fabio Fognini ever be able to find some consistency to go with his occasional weeks of majestic tennis? Why was Rafael Nadal not at his best? And is Novak Djokovic’s lacklustre form becoming a cause for concern?The Tennis Podcast will be produced weekly throughout the year and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments after our listeners successfully funded our Kickstarter. It is produced in association with The Telegraph. *** SOCIAL MEDIA *** Instagram - http://po.st/TTP_InstagramTwitter - http://po.st/TTP_TwitterFacebook - http://po.st/TTP_Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, including Novak Djokovic’s chances of becoming the GOAT, ATP Politics, and Davis Cup reform.Roddick also gives a fascinating insight into the Serena Williams he knows. What is she like away from the court? Will she ever address what happened in last year’s US Open final? And will she break the Grand Slam record?Finally, it’s been almost ten years since Roddick’s most famous match – the 2009 Wimbledon final against Roger Federer which he lost 16-14 in the final set. Does he think that serving second in the fifth set was a disadvantage? And would he have liked a tiebreak at 12-12? Roddick looks back on the match and discusses the different final set scoring systems currently in use at the four Grand Slams.The Tennis Podcast will be produced weekly throughout 2019 and daily at the Grand Slams after our listeners successfully funded our Kickstarter. It is produced in association with The Telegraph. *** FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA ***Instagram - http://po.st/TTP_InstagramTwitter - http://po.st/TTP_TwitterFacebook - http://po.st/TTP_Facebook *** SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER ***http://po.st/TTP_Newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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? (21:38)- Who are the best players to have never won a Grand Slam? (29:10)- Should Serena publicly address the events of the US Open final? And will it help her to do so? (34:38)- Should coaches be eligible for the Hall of Fame? (37:52)The Tennis Podcast will be produced weekly throughout the year and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments after our Kickstarter was successfully funded by our listeners. It is produced in association with The Telegraph.*** SOCIAL MEDIA *** Instagram - http://po.st/TTP_InstagramTwitter - http://po.st/TTP_TwitterFacebook - http://po.st/TTP_Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Djokovic is really like, why he’s convinced that Andy Murray will win another Grand Slam title, the harmful impact of the ITF World Tour, the political situation at the ATP, his views on prize money and gender equality in tennis, and what he thinks of the #NextGen players.The Tennis Podcast will be produced weekly throughout the year and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments after our Kickstarter was successfully funded by our listeners. It is produced in association with The Telegraph.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 outstanding players who dominate, or have a range of players competing more evenly? (14:25)·      Is it unfair for a top player to enter 250 events - where they are likely to dominate - just so they can hit milestones? (20:31)·      Which new rule changes should be trialled at this year’s Next Gen Finals? (24:30)·      What are the pros and cons of working at tennis tournaments as journalists rather than attending as fans? (30:05)·      Who are the best players aged 25 and above not to have won a Grand Slam title? And will they win one? (35:55)·      Which players have had the most disappointing start to 2019? (39:45)The Tennis Podcast will be released weekly throughout the year and daily at all four Grand Slam tournaments, courtesy of our Kickstarter backers. It is produced in association with The Telegraph. *** SOCIAL MEDIA ***Instagram - http://po.st/TTP_InstagramTwitter - http://po.st/TTP_TwitterFacebook - http://po.st/TTP_Facebook *** NEWSLETTER ***Sign-up here to receive our weekly newsletter - http://po.st/TTP_Newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 talking. But did Shapovalov approach his match against Federer in the wrong way? And are we beginning to find out what makes Auger-Aliassime so special? In the women’s draw, what’s changed to allow Ash Barty to produce her best tennis on the big stage for the first time? And will she go on to win Grand Slams? Finally, what might Andy Murray have felt while watching Bob Bryan win the doubles title just months after hip surgery? The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments, thanks to our Kickstarter backers, and in association with Telegraph Sport. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Indian Wells title so impressively? And did Angelique Kerber overstep the line when she called Andreescu “the biggest drama queen ever”? Or was it just harmless, fun aggro? Elsewhere, is there any reason to be worried about Naomi Osaka after she lost early again? And is Serena going to break Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles or not? Her withdrawal is discussed. On the men’s side, unconvincing wins for Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are assessed, the poor form of Alexander Zverev is scrutinised, and another Nick Kyrgios circus act has everyone buzzing. The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments, thanks to our Kickstarter backers, in association with Telegraph Sport. *** SOCIAL MEDIA ***Instagram - http://po.st/TTP_InstagramTwitter - http://po.st/TTP_TwitterFacebook - http://po.st/TTP_Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, how did he wrestle the final away from Roger Federer? And how has he adjusted his game to suit hard courts? Other talking points from Indian Wells include another knee injury for Rafael Nadal, and a small blip for Novak Djokovic. Elsewhere, there’s debate about the potential of having Main Draw lucky losers, an update on ATP politics, and tribute to Paul Hutchins. The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments, thanks to our Kickstarter backers, in association with Telegraph Sport.  *** SOCIAL MEDIA ***Instagram - http://po.st/TTP_InstagramTwitter - http://po.st/TTP_TwitterFacebook - http://po.st/TTP_Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 scapegoat when what some players are really after is a fundamental restructuring of the ATP? Elsewhere, Catherine chats about her first experience of Indian Wells, and there’s a look at the major storylines from the tournament so far. Those include Felix Auger-Aliassime’s hold over Stefanos Tsitsipas, the awesome sight of Serena Williams vs Victoria Azarenka followed by the distressing sight of Serena retiring against Garbine Muguruza, Sloane Stephens’ slump in form, the limitless talent of Bianca Andreescu, and unfulfilled hype as Nick Kyrgios vs. Novak Djokovic won’t be happening. The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily at Grand Slam tournaments, thanks to our Kickstarter backers, and in association with Telegraph Sport.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Telegraph Sport give their reaction.What persuaded Murray to choose Sarah Muirhead-Allwood as his surgeon? What new things have we learned about his current condition? How different was Murray’s frame of mind compared to when we last saw him in Australia? And what’s the likelihood that we see him back on court in the future?Simon also gives an update on the political situation at the ATP ahead of a council meeting at Indian Wells that will see players discuss the possible ejection of president Chris Kermode.The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments, thanks to our Kickstarter backers, in association with Telegraph Sport. *** SOCIAL MEDIA ***Instagram - http://po.st/TTP_InstagramTwitter - http://po.st/TTP_TwitterFacebook - http://po.st/TTP_Facebook*** WEEKLY NEWSLETTER *** Sign up - http://po.st/TTP_Newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 catch Jimmy Connors’ Open Era record of 109 titles?In Acapulco, we saw the whole Nick Kyrgios package, and wasn’t it wonderful? But have we learned anything new about Kyrgios? Or just been reminded of what we already knew? His comeback against Nadal is discussed, his demolition of Alexander Zverev is praised, and his use of the underarm serve is debated. Is it a legitimate tactic, obnoxious, or both?The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments, thanks to our Kickstarter backers. It is produced in association with The Telegraph. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 we just not used to a player being so in touch with their emotions? And who might her next coach be? David has a hunch...On the men’s side, Dan Evans came so close to winning his first title, but fell short against Radu Albot in Delray Beach. What made it such a fun match to watch? And how much can Evans achieve this year? In Rio, Felix Auger-Aliassime made his move by reaching the final. Why is he being tipped for stardom? And tribute is paid to the victorious Laslo Djere, who has tragically lost both of his parents to cancer. Finally, Stefanos Tsitsipas won his second career title in Marseille. How significant is it that he’s backing up his form from Australia? The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments, thanks to our Kickstarter backers. It is produced in association with The Telegraph. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 unsuccessful, but she still reached the final in Doha. What makes her conqueror Elise Mertens such a brilliant player? Elsewhere, the biggest men’s results from the past fortnight are discussed. How good could New York Open champion Reilly Opelka become? What makes Stan Wawrinka’s return to form so uplifting? Will Gael Monfils kick on from his win in Rotterdam? And why should we be paying close attention to the form of Daniil Medvedev? The Tennis Podcast will be weekly throughout 2019 and daily at all the Grand Slam tournaments. It is produced in association with The Telegraph. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 are also joined by broadcaster Clare Balding to share stories from the week in Bath, talk about the potential of rising British player Katie Boulter, and solve a few of tennis' current problems, including the creation of a combined Fed and Davis Cup played every two years ...After the Fed Cup tie concludes, Law speaks to former World No.5 and veteran Fed Cup player Jo Durie to look back on a dramatic final rubber in which Jo Konta collapsed and still dragged herself and the British team over the finish line.The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments, in association with Telegraph Sport. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Caja Mágica in Madrid make a good venue for the Davis Cup Finals? (14:28)- Who is best-placed to succeed Serena Williams as the next serial winner of Grand Slams? (17:13)- What goes into negotiations for appearance fees? (22:44)- Should the Let serve be abolished? (26:24)- Why do some players want to remove Chris Kermode from his position as ATP president? (31:42)- Has women’s tennis ever been in a better place? (36:20)The Tennis Podcast will be uploaded weekly throughout 2019 and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments, courtesy of our Kickstarter backers. It is produced in associated with The Telegraph. *** SOCIAL MEDIA ***Instagram - http://po.st/TTP_InstagramTwitter - http://po.st/TTP_TwitterFacebook - http://po.st/TTP_Facebook*** NEWSLETTER *** Sign-up here for our weekly newsletter - http://po.st/TTP_Newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Federer?As for Nadal, was he nervous throughout the final? And why did he not try to play his new, more aggressive hard-court game? Would it have even made any difference?Elsewhere, Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut completed their career Grand Slam. What makes them work so well together?Finally, how will we all remember the 2019 Australian Open?The Tennis Podcast will be produced weekly throughout the year and daily at all the Grand Slam tournaments in 2019, courtesy of our Kickstarter backers. It is produced in association with The Telegraph. ***SOCIAL MEDIA***: Twitter – http://po.st/TTP_TwitterFacebook – http://po.st/TTP_FacebookInstagram - http://po.st/TTP_Instagram***NEWSLETTER***: We will be producing a weekly newsletter through the year! Sign-up here: http://po.st/TTP_Newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, will it be anything like their 5h53m epic from 2012? If it is, who will it favour? And will Nadal’s new, more aggressive hard court game be able to hurt Djokovic? The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open, and at all the Grand Slams in 2019. It is produced in association with The Telegraph.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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’s impeccable performance against Lucas Pouille. Has he ever played better? Sunday’s final against Nadal has all the ingredients to be a classic, doesn’t it?Looking ahead to the women’s final, both David and Catherine think it will be incredibly close, but why are they both giving the edge to Kvitova?There’s also a review of the uplifting women’s doubles final, won by Sam Stosur and Zhang Shuai.The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open (and at all the Grand Slams in 2019) after our Kickstarter was successfully funded. It is produced in association with The Telegraph.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 never seen him on Strictly Come Dancing?!In part two, Catherine, David and Grad Matt discuss the day’s singles matches, which were all played in extreme heat. Was it a good decision to close the roof? Is the new heat stress scale a satisfactory solution?As for the tennis, Petra Kvitova and Naomi Osaka set up a “no-lose” final. What makes Osaka so impressive in press? How much did the indoor conditions help Kvitova today?In the evening session, Nadal thrashed Tsitsipas. Has Nadal ever played better on hard courts? And why do we think it’s a good thing that Tsitsipas looked distraught in his press conference?The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open (and at all the Grand Slams in 2019) after our Kickstarter was successfully funded. It is produced in association with The Telegraph.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Svitolina. Who will have the edge in that match? In the men’s draw, Kei Nishikori was forced to retire against Novak Djokovic. Why was there a sense of inevitability about the whole thing? Djokovic’s semi-final opponent will be Lucas Pouille. How impressive were his tactics to beat Milos Raonic? And what influence is Amélie Mauresmo having on his game? Looking ahead to Day 11, who will reach the women’s final? And can Tsitsipas beat Nadal? The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open (and at all the Grand Slams in 2019) after our Kickstarter was successfully funded. It is produced in association with The Telegraph. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 one? And how will his backhand stand up against Nadal’s topspin forehand?In the women’s draw, Petra Kvitova made light work of Ash Barty. Given the knife attack she suffered just over two years ago, are we guilty of taking her success for granted? Kvitova will face Danielle Collins in the last four. David and Catherine agree that Collins will probably divide opinion, but they explain why they firmly believe she's a good thing for tennis.Finally, David gets a nasty surprise mid-podcast.The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open (and at all the Slams) after our Kickstarter was funded by our listeners. It is produced in association with The Telegraph. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Milos Raonic. Why can’t Zverev step up at Grand Slams? What has happened to his serve? Does he have an attitude problem? And how long will Ivan Lendl stick around if this keeps happening?Elsewhere, Novak Djokovic beat Daniil Medvedev, but not without a few problems. Are there some vulnerabilities in the World No.1's game?Finally, David and Catherine discuss impressive wins for Naomi Osaka and Lucas Pouille. And what caused Pablo Carreño Busta to lose his temper with the umpire after losing a five-setter to Kei Nishikori?The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open (and at all the Slams) after our Kickstarter was funded by our listeners. It is produced in association with The Telegraph. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. What’s behind that decision?Arguably the biggest shock of the day, however, came in the women’s draw as Danielle Collins thrashed Angelique Kerber. What on earth happened there? And what do we think of the way Collins embraces confrontation?Elsewhere, there’s a look back on Ash Barty’s win over Maria Sharapova. Can the Australian keep it going? And why did Sharapova’s game just disintegrate?The impressive form of Rafael Nadal is also discussed, as well as another step in Frances Tiafoe’s journey. The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open (and at all the Slams) after our Kickstarter was funded by our listeners. It is produced in association with The Telegraph. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 afterwards? And how is she getting on without a coach?In the men’s draw, Novak Djokovic beat Denis Shapovalov easily. But what caused his third set wobble? And are we right to be a bit disappointed in Shapovalov’s performance?Looking ahead to Day 7, why does David have a sneaky feeling that Stefanos Tsitsipas might beat Roger Federer?The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open (and at all the Slams) after our Kickstarter was funded by our listeners. It is produced in association with The Telegraph. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 of yet another step forward? Tiafoe plays Grigor Dimitrov next, and Catherine talks about her interview with Andre Agassi. In the women’s draw, we were all blown away by the performance of Amanda Anisimova. Could she possibly win the whole tournament? There’s also a preview to day 6. Why is Simona Halep vs Venus Williams not on Rod Laver Arena? Will Denis Shapovalov have any joy against Novak Djokovic? The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open (and at all the Slams) after our Kickstarter was funded by our listeners. It is produced in association with The Telegraph. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 of the day was Milos Raonic vs. Stan Wawrinka. Did we see Goran Ivanisevic’s influence on Raonic? Despite losing, is Stan Wawrinka properly back now?In the women’s event, Serena Williams and Simona Halep remain on a collision course. But how much is Halep struggling physically?Elsewhere, contrasting late-night wins for Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic are discussed, there’s chat about the new Dunlop balls being used this year, and a look ahead to Day 5.The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open (and at all the Slams) after our Kickstarter was funded by our listeners. It is produced in association with The Telegraph. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 much was Anderson’s injury a factor? And why does this feel like a significant step forward for Tiafoe?Anderson’s loss opens up the draw for Grigor Dimitrov. How did he look today against Pablo Cuevas?In the night session, David’s man-of-the-tournament Roberto Bautista Agut won a second straight five-setter, this time against John Millman. How does he keep doing it? There was better news for home fans when Alex de Minaur held his nerve to win in five. But is he showing signs of fatigue?There’s also discussion about Bob Bryan’s insight into Andy Murray’s hip injury and surgery, news of David (Thomas Fabbiano) beating Goliath (Reilly Opelka - 67 aces and all), and word on Aryna Sabalenka’s victory over Katie Boulter.The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open (and at all the Slams) after our Kickstarter was funded by our listeners. It is produced in association with The Telegraph.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 pre-tournament press conference? Venus Williams was also a winner on Tuesday. Does she get the credit she deserves for her longevity? Is it understandable why she doesn’t give much time to the media?The biggest off-court story was Bernard Tomic’s criticism of Lleyton Hewitt. Why are there so many rifts within Australian tennis?There’s also a look ahead to day three. Can Katie Boulter beat Aryna Sabalenka? And how much will the heat of the day help Dan Evans against Roger Federer? The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open (and at all the Slams) after our Kickstarter was funded by our listeners. It is produced in association with The Telegraph. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Murray look like Murray again?They also consider his possible next steps. Have we really seen the last of Murray? What was he like in press? Was this match the perfect send off?It was a day of mixed fortunes for the other six Brits in action. Harriet Dart lost 0-6, 0-6 to Maria Sharapova. Was that a harsh scoreline or did it reflect the match? Since when has Katie Boulter been capable of the gritty, aggressive tennis that saw her beat Ekaterina Makarova? And what about Dan Evans? Catherine’s description of his victory over Tatsuma Ito is not to be missed.There’s also excitement over wins for Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari, an analysis of Rafael Nadal’s performance, and David discovers the day’s handshake controversy.The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open (and at all the Slams) after our Kickstarter was funded by our listeners. It is produced in association with The Telegraph.Our Crowdfunding Kickstarter closes at midnight UK today, so you have a few hours to do your bit and get your name on our backers page, intro a show or take on Catherine and David on at their year's predictions - http://po.st/TP_Kickstarter2019 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 with it? Will the dream quarter-final of Sabalenka against Barty actually happen? And how will Naomi Osaka deal with the new pressure that comes with being a Grand Slam champion?The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open (and at all the Slams) after our Kickstarter was funded by our listeners.If you would like to chip in and have your name on the Tennis Podcast website backers page, you can, until it closes on Monday – http://po.st/TP_Kickstarter2019 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 his half hour sit-down with the British press corps? And has he given himself some wriggle room by talking about a possible hip resurfacing operation?Nick Kyrgios was one of many players to pay tribute to Murray. In an interview with Catherine, he even hinted that he’d like to be coached by Murray one day. How might that work? And what of Kyrgios’ own chances this fortnight?Finally, Simon gives his take on the political storm surrounding tonight’s player council meeting in Melbourne. Why do some players want to eject Chris Kermode from his position as ATP president? Are they actually calling for a players’ union? And how is the situation complicated by the felony charge hanging over Justin Gimelstob? The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open (and at all the Slams) after our Kickstarter was funded by our listeners.If you would like to chip in and have your name on the Tennis Podcast website backers page, you can, until it closes on Monday - http://po.st/TP_Kickstarter2019 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Catherine in their Eurosport interview, and Catherine describes an emotional scene with his coach, Jamie Delgado.The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open (and at all the Slams) after our Kickstarter was funded by our listeners.If you would like to chip in and have your name on the Tennis Podcast website backers page, you can, until it closes on Wednesday - http://po.st/TP_Kickstarter2019 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Catherine turn their attention to the tennis on display in Perth. Has Federer’s sparkling form boosted his prospects in Melbourne? (09:07) And did Serena Williams show enough to be considered the favourite for the Australian Open? (17:56)Elsewhere, how did Andy Murray perform in Brisbane? Can we look beyond the limp and find reasons for optimism? (23:02)In Doha, Novak Djokovic lost to Roberto Bautista-Agut. Does that defeat make any difference to his chances at the Australian Open? (37:48)David and Catherine also assess title-winning weeks for Kevin Anderson, Karolina Pliskova and Aryna Sabalenka. Where do they all rank in the list of favourites in Melbourne? (40:25)There’s also discussion about Naomi Osaka’s incredibly honest and reflective post-defeat press conference (32:58), and excitement over rising star Bianca Andreescu (44:41).The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with The Telegraph. ***KICKSTARTER 2019***Since last week’s show our Kickstarter has made some serious strides towards our target. We are now 83% funded with over 650 backers! Thanks to everyone who has supported us. The deadline is on Monday 14th January.Kickstarters are all-or-nothing, meaning we won’t get a penny unless we hit 100%. That could make for a nerve-wracking next week or so, but, with your help, we hope to get there.If you’d like to see us reach our funding goal, you can do your bit here: http://po.st/TP_Kickstarter2019Every single backer that wants to will have their name published on our website.There are also lots of rewards available if you’d like to get really involved – including the opportunity to introduce the pod, an invitation to our end-of-year awards show and guest editorship of an episode.Plus, if you think you really know your tennis, you can join over 20 other backers so far who have entered our predictions competition to pit their wits against Catherine and David!***MAILING LIST***If you would like to join our mailing list to be alerted to our news, you can now sign up at the following link: http://po.st/TP_MailingList***SOCIAL MEDIA***Get involved with the podcast by following us on social media! Expect plenty of debate, photos and news all year long! Twitter – https://twitter.com/tennispodcastInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast/Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/TheTennisPodcast/***CONTACT US***We love hearing from you!If you want to join in one of our discussion points, or write to us about a subject of your own, go ­­­­­here: https://www.thetennispodcast.net/contact/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 what should we make of Murray’s recent comments about his hip injury? (19:50)Novak Djokovic, on the other hand, looked sharp during his matches in Abu Dhabi. Is there anyone in the locker room who won’t feel intimidated by Djokovic’s form and aura ahead of the Australian Open? (14:10)In Brisbane, Jo Konta has yet another difficult-looking first-round match against Sloane Stephens. But could it actually be the ideal time to play the American? (28:48). Stephens is currently “on a break” from her coach Kamau Murray. Is that a wise move? How will Stephens and Simona Halep cope Down Under without their long-term coaches in their corners? (49:29)Looking ahead to the year as a whole, David and Catherine give their wishes and predictions for the 2019 season (54:44).There’s also plenty of reaction to various bits of news from the off-season, including Wimbledon’s expansion plans (38:10) and the WTA rule changes aimed at helping players returning from maternity leave and long-term injury (40:16). The introduction of a 10-point final-set tiebreak at the Australian Open is also discussed (41:29).The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with The Telegraph. ***KICKSTARTER 2019***We really want The Tennis Podcast to be better than ever in 2019. If you’d like that too, our Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign is open for two more weeks. With over 500 backers so far, we’re almost 70% of the way to reaching our target. Thanks to everyone who has pitched in – we’re truly overwhelmed by the level of support. If you are keen to help keep the podcast going and growing in 2019, but haven’t yet chipped in to the Kickstarter, you can do so here: http://po.st/TP_Kickstarter2019Every single backer that wants to will have their name published on our website. There are also lots of rewards available if you’d like to get really involved – including the opportunity to introduce the pod, an invitation to our end-of-year awards show and guest editorship of an episode. Plus, if you think you really know your tennis, you can pit your wits against Catherine and David by entering our predictions competition.  ***MAILING LIST***If you would like to join our mailing list to be alerted to our news, you can now sign up at the following link: http://po.st/TP_MailingList***SOCIAL MEDIA***Get involved with the podcast by following us on social media! Expect plenty of debate, photos and news all year long! Twitter – https://twitter.com/tennispodcastInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast/Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/TheTennisPodcast/***CONTACT US***We love hearing from you!If you want to join in one of our discussion points, or write to us about a subject of your own, go here: https://www.thetennispodcast.net/contact/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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? David and Catherine discuss 15 categories in total. No Tennis Podcast awards show would be complete without an adjudicator, to settle the inevitable disputes between Catherine and David, and this year we were delighted to have the incomparable Mary Carillo on hand via video link to give her verdict for each category. Her word is final, but will she agree more with David or Catherine? Finally, after the results of our year-long predictions competition are revealed, overall winner Greg Gaynor sends us his acceptance speech from Detroit. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with The Telegraph.   ***KICKSTARTER 2019***Our Kickstarter campaign for 2019 is in full-swing! After launching on Monday 3rd December, we are thrilled to be almost 50% funded already. Thanks to everyone who has backed us so far. If you would like the podcast to return in 2019, and if you’d like to attend Tennis Podcast LIVE next year, but haven’t yet chipped in to the Kickstarter, you can do so here: http://po.st/TP_Kickstarter2019 ***MAILING LIST***If you would like to join our mailing list to be alerted to our news, you can now sign up at the following link: http://po.st/TP_MailingList ***SOCIAL MEDIA***Get involved with the podcast by following us on social media! Expect plenty of debate, photos and news all year long! Twitter – https://twitter.com/tennispodcastInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast/Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/TheTennisPodcast/ ***BLOG***Catherine Whitaker has written about how the podcast helped her to find her way in life - https://www.thetennispodcast.net/blog/2018/12/4/tennis-lost-and-found ***CONTACT US***We love hearing from you! If you want to join in one of our discussion points, or write to us about a subject of your own, go here: https://www.thetennispodcast.net/contact/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.