The Tennis Podcast

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.

With the support of our Kickstarter backers, 2018 has been an exciting year for The Tennis Podcast. We produced well over 100 episodes, including daily shows at all four Grand Slams, the Fever-Tree Championships, the ATP Finals, and the Davis Cup Final.We love talking about tennis, and we don't want to stop. In 2019, we want to keep the podcast going and growing, making it bigger and better than ever before. But, to do that, we need your help once again.On this mini episode, David and Catherine set out their plans for next year with the launch of our third Kickstarter campaign.See below for details of where to go if you want to chip in and back us on Kickstarter.The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with The Telegraph. ***KICKSTARTER 2019***If you want The Tennis Podcast to return in 2019, you can do your bit here: http://po.st/TP_Kickstarter2019There are some special categories if you want to get really involved, but we are grateful for any contribution and all your support. ***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, you can do so here: https://www.thetennispodcast.net/contact/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Croatia are Davis Cup champions for the second time after Marin Cilic clinched the decisive point to earn them a 3-1 win over France. On The Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts react to Sunday’s action, and look ahead to an uncertain future for the competition. Will Marin Cilic and Borna Coric be propelled to even greater heights in 2019 following their flawless performances this weekend? Could France have done anything differently? As the Davis Cup enters a new era, we hear from Lucas Pouille about why he won’t be playing the competition in 2019, and also from Yannick Noah as he delivers an extraordinary speech about why he’s loved the Davis Cup, and why he is “disgusted” at the changes. What do David, Catherine and Matt make of Noah’s comments? And what do they think of the changes? Don’t we all need to give the new format a chance? The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly in association with Telegraph Sport, and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2018 Davis Cup Final will head into Sunday with the tie still in the balance after Saturday’s doubles rubber delivered a thrilling match and a crucial point for France. On The Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts react to Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert’s victory over Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavic, and we hear from Yannick Noah who explains why he was moved to tears during La Marseillaise. What gave the French pair the edge? How was the atmosphere different from the opening day? What caused the fourth set aggro? What is it about doubles that suits Davis Cup so well? And, with today’s best-of-five set doubles match being the last of its kind in a Davis Cup final, what are some of the best doubles matches in the competition’s history? Looking ahead to Sunday, David, Catherine and Matt agree that Noah will surely select Lucas Pouille. But might he also be tempted to pick Herbert? And how likely is it that France can pull off the comeback? The reverse singles action in the final of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas starts at 12pm GMT on Sunday, with France needing to win both matches. To watch a stream in the UK, go to www.daviscup.com. The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly in association with Telegraph Sport, daily during this week’s Davis Cup final, and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Six sets played, six sets won by Croatia, and the chances of France winning the last Davis Cup final played using the traditional format are looking minuscule.The Tennis Podcast team of Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts, who is courtside in Lille, discuss what went on, and we hear from a happy Croatia captain - Zeljko Krajan.Has Borna Coric come of age? Is Marin Cilic over the jitters that seem to afflict him when he is ahead? And has Yannick Noah dropped a massive clanger with his team selection? The podcast team discuss them all.Looking ahead to the doubles rubber, could France do what the United States so nearly did in the semifinals, and come back from 2 rubbers down to win it in 5?The doubles action in the final of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas starts at 1pm GMT, with Nicolas Mahut and Pierre Hugues Herbert needing to beat Ivan Dodig and Matej Pavic to keep the tie alive. To watch a stream in the UK, go to www.daviscup.com. The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly in association with Telegraph Sport, daily during this week’s Davis Cup final, and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the eve of the last traditional Davis Cup by BNP Paribas final, David and Catherine are joined by Grad Matt in Lille to preview France vs. Croatia. For the second year in a row, Yannick Noah sprung a surprise at the draw ceremony, this time selecting Jeremy Chardy ahead of Lucas Pouille. What does that decision say about both players? Can Noah sprinkle his magic dust on this French side to overcome the strongly-favoured Croatian team? Will Jo-Wilfried Tsonga be able to replicate Henri Leconte’s heroics from 1991? And which team will prefer the clay?Later, listen to Grad Matt’s interview with ITF President David Haggerty about the new-look Davis Cup for 2019. What does Haggerty make of the reaction to the reform? Does he feel threatened by the ATP Cup? And does he agree with Chris Kermode that it would be “insane” to have two team competitions? Find out if there’s a realistic chance of a combined team event in the future, and the reaction of David and Catherine in this week’s show. The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly in association with Telegraph Sport, daily during this week’s Davis Cup final, and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alexander Zverev delivered on his gargantuan talent in London to add a straight sets win over Novak Djokovic to his one against Roger Federer the day before. It landed him the ATP Finals title, and Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts got together to discuss it on The Tennis Podcast.With The O2 Arena being disassembled around them, the trio talked about where the final was won and lost, what changed since Djokovic’s 6-4, 6-1 win over Zverev in the round-robin stages, and what the result might mean for 2019.Could Zverev-Tsitsipas be the next compelling rivalry on the ATP circuit? Will it feature some of the aggro that has been in evidence between the two in recent months?There’s also a look at the doubles final, won by Jack Sock and Mike Bryan. The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly in association with Telegraph Sport, and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the immediate aftermath of Alexander Zverev’s victory over Roger Federer, David is joined by Simon Briggs and Grad Matt to discuss Zverev’s excellent performance, the moment of controversy that overshadowed the ending, and the crowd’s reaction. Firstly, was the incident with the ball-boy handled correctly? Was Annabel Croft right to step in and tell the crowd off for their booing? Could Zverev’s humble response endear him to more people? And what did both players say about the incident in their press conferences? None of the controversy should detract from Zverev’s efforts. David, Simon and Matt agree he played brilliantly. Did we see the Lendl effect on his forehand? Has he found extra pop on his serve this week? And what happened to Federer’s serve in the tight moments? In the second half of the pod, David and Grad Matt catch their breath after Djokovic’s dismantlement of Kevin Anderson. Is Djokovic playing better than ever? Does Zverev stand a chance in tomorrow’s final? The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly in association with Telegraph Sport, and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Alexander Zverev reached the last four of the ATP Finals for the first time, Leon Smith joined David and Grad Matt to talk all about him.What does Leon make of Zverev’s progress? When will he start breaking through at the Grand Slams? Are we expecting too much too soon, bearing in mind he’s still up against the likes of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer? What will Ivan Lendl bring him? And has he possibly played the Lendl card too soon?Leon also looks ahead to Saturday’s semi-finals at the O2. Will Federer’s variety be too much for Zverev? What makes Djokovic such a brilliant returner?Finally, Leon shares his thoughts on the ATP Cup launch and reminisces about captaining Britain to Davis Cup glory.The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly in association with Telegraph Sport, and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 1976 French Open champion Sue Barker is our special guest as we digest the launch of the ATP Cup and what it means for the Davis Cup finals in the future. What did the power-brokers say in response to Novak Djokovic’s assertion that it could lead to two ‘average’ events? What does Sue, Catherine Whitaker, Simon Briggs and David Law make of it all? And should Davis Cup have changed in the first place? Sue isn’t so sure.The BBC’s long-time tennis presenter also talks about the matches at The O2, gives her predictions for the next few days, her thoughts on whether Andy Murray will make it back to the top of the game, and whether Johanna Konta can return to her peak.The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly in association with Telegraph Sport, and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alexander Zverev has already won a trio of Masters 1000 titles, been ranked as high as No.3, and qualified for the ATP Finals for two straight seasons. He’s a major player in the sport, and promises to be for years to come. We know he isn’t afraid to complain about the length of the season and the content of interview questions, but do we really know what he’s like? To find out more about him, David chats to his long-time friend and colleague Andrej Antic, a German tennis writer who has worked for Tennis MAGAZIN for over two decades. How is Zverev viewed in Germany? Could he create a tennis boom in the country, like during the days of Boris Becker and Steffi Graf? And what is his relationship like with Ivan Lendl? Antic reveals all before discussing his own career. How has his job of producing a magazine changed in the era of social media? On court today, Zverev was beaten by Novak Djokovic. What happened in the match? And are we entering ‘foregone conclusion’ territory with Djokovic this week? In the evening session, Marin Cilic won just his second ever match at the ATP Finals, closing out John Isner in the tournament’s first singles three setter. Bearing in mind his recent lapses when playing with the lead, how important will this win prove to be for Cilic? Finally, there’s a moment to pay tribute to Agnieszka Radwanska who has announced her retirement. How will she be remembered? And did she under-achieve or maximise her potential? The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly in association with Telegraph Sport, and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catherine is back! And there’s plenty to talk about…Does Roger Federer receive preferential treatment from tournament directors? That was the allegation made by Julien Benneteau on French radio last week. On today’s podcast, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Simon Briggs discuss the ins and outs of the story, including Federer’s relationship with CEO of Tennis Australia Craig Tiley, the conflicts of interest within the sport, and the importance of market forces in all this. Later in the podcast, hear from Federer himself as he answered Benneteau's reported allegations. David and Grad Matt, who were both there, describe the atmosphere in the room. David says it was one of the steeliest looks he’s ever seen Federer give. On court, Federer was a comfortable winner against Dominic Thiem. How much better did he play than on Sunday night? And how bad was Dominic Thiem? Less bad than Kei Nishikori, who was thumped 0-6, 1-6 by Kevin Anderson. What are the qualification scenarios for that group? And why have there been so many one-sided matches? There’s also a look ahead to tomorrow’s play. How can Alexander Zverev possibly trouble Novak Djokovic? And what makes John Isner the slight favourite against Marin Cilic? The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly in association with Telegraph Sport, and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former British doubles player Colin Fleming spent the day at the O2 arena as a fan, and afterwards he joined David and Charlie Eccleshare on The Tennis Podcast. Beers in hand, they start by discussing a masterclass from Novak Djokovic who dispatched John Isner in the evening session.How did he handle the Isner serve so easily? And can anyone realistically stop Djokovic this week? The day’s other singles match saw Alexander Zverev defeat Marin Cilic. It was a match in which Cilic once again let a lead slip. Why does this keep happening? And how can he stop it? As for Zverev, how well did he play? Why was he talking to his coaching team so often? And what does Fleming think of Zverev’s partnership with Ivan Lendl? Finally, discussion turns to the Next Gen Finals, and specifically the different format showcased. Fleming was in Milan for the event and is a big proponent of many of the innovations. Why does he believe short sets could add intrigue to the ATP Tour? He defends his views against a host of counter-arguments. Do short sets not take away the ebb and flow of a set? Do they not introduce an unwanted element of randomness? The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly in association with Telegraph Sport, and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London arrived in numbers to celebrate another year of Roger Federer, but his fans left disappointed as Kei Nishikori became the first man to beat him in straight sets in the round robin stages of the ATP Finals. After a tumultuous, but error-strewn night, David Law was joined on The Tennis Podcast by Grad Matt Roberts to discuss what happened. What happened to Federer? Why did he lose his temper with umpire Damien Steiner? And what did Nishikori do differently to beat a man he had trailed 2-7 in head-to-head meetings?Earlier, David and Matt were joined by Simon Briggs of the Telegraph to cover the afternoon’s match between Kevin Anderson and Dominic Thiem. Why does Anderson always beat Thiem, and how much further can he go?Memories of O2 events gone by are discussed, including the Federer-Wawrinka-Mirka saga, and Andy Murray reaching World No.1 in 2016. In the Fed Cup final, the Czech Republic defeated the United States 3-0, but the third rubber was an absolute epic. Why are the Czech’s such an amazing tennis nation?In coaching news, World No.1 Simona Halep and Darren Cahill parted ways. Find out what the podcast team make of it all. The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly in association with Telegraph Sport, and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the ATP Finals just a couple of days away, Catherine and David get together on The Tennis Podcast to preview all the major storylines and make some predictions.After Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are heavily favoured to come through their groups, but who do Catherine and David think will join them in the semi-finals? Is Kevin Anderson the tournament’s dark horse? Can Marin Cilic overcome his recent habit of losing from a winning position? And might John Isner capitalise on his late-entry?Elsewhere, Grad Matt was on the ground at the O2 on media day, and he’s told David and Catherine all about what the players have been saying, including Federer’s comments about his scheduling and the developing ‘aggro’ between Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas.Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, has opened up in a rare newspaper interview with Simon Briggs of Telegraph Sport, part of which you can hear on the podcast. Why did Djokovic feel ‘guilty’ after having surgery? Was he surprised that he lost motivation to compete? And how has fatherhood changed him?Finally, the Telegraph’s Charlie Eccleshare gives his impressions of the Next Gen Finals in Milan. Which players stood out? Does the event offer a glimpse into tennis’ future? And which of the rule experiments stand a chance of coming into effect on the main tour? The Tennis Podcast is uploaded weekly throughout the year and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments. It is produced in association with Telegraph Sport. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As 2018 draws to a close, a new man has arrived on the scene, beaten the best players and won the biggest title of his life. His name is Karen Khachanov. In a Tennis Podcast to review Paris, the Tennis Podcast team analyse the performance of the big Russian, how he ended the winning run of Novak Djokovic in the final, and what he might do next. Will he win a Slam before Zverev or Tsitsipas?The return to form of Roger Federer is discussed, whether he and Cilic choked against Djokovic, and the Elite Trophy victory of Ash Barty in Zhuhai is covered.Catherine Whitaker and David Law are joined by a special guest as the Next Gen Finals and ATP Finals are previewed, and the lack of top Americans as part the Fed Cup final is lamented.The Tennis Podcast is published every Monday throughout the year, and daily at the Grand Slam tournament. It is produced in association with Telegraph Sport. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a few weeks apart, Catherine and David are back together in London for this week’s show, with Elina Svitolina’s sensational title run in Singapore at the top of the agenda. Why did nobody see it coming? Can she now ‘do a Wozniacki’ and go on to win her first Grand Slam next year?The other major storylines from the WTA Finals are also discussed, including Wozniacki’s rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis.In Basel, Roger Federer won the 99th title of his career, but what should we make of his week? Did he find form just in time for the ATP Finals or did his run just paper over some cracks?Elsewhere, the past week featured yet another case of ‘tennis player treats ballkid badly’, this time involving Stefanos Tsitsipas. His behaviour is bemoaned, but his public apology is commended.As the tour heads to Paris, Nadal and Djokovic are locked in a battle for the World No.1 ranking, but they’re also coming under increasing pressure to cancel their controversial exhibition in Saudi Arabia. They’ve both been talking about the issue, and Catherine and David give their reaction.In coaching news, Andre Agassi has been spotted in Paris helping out Grigor Dimitrov. Could it be the start of a successful partnership? Can Agassi rebuild his reputation as a coach after a failed stint with Djokovic? Is Dimitrov the perfect pupil? Catherine and David can’t wait to find out.Finally, there’s time for the long-awaited segment on Tennis Chokes.The Tennis Podcast is uploaded weekly throughout the year and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments. It is produced in association with Telegraph Sport. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catherine and David began a recent episode of The Tennis Podcast by delving deep into Kyle Edmund’s ongoing title drought. This time, a mere two weeks later, they start by lauding Edmund’s emotional maiden title victory in Antwerp. How significant is it that he’s got the monkey off his back?Edmund was one of three young titlists on the ATP Tour this week. Stefanos Tsitsipas and Karen Khachanov were the other two. Out of that triumvirate, who will have the best career?On the women’s side, Daria Kasatkina won a thrilling final in Moscow against the marvellous Ons Jabeur. It was a match that turned on its head after Phillipe Dehaes delivered a rousing message during a coaching timeout. But should it be allowed? In light of Patrick Mouratoglou’s comments on Twitter, in which he made a strong case in favour of on-court coaching, Catherine and David re-open the debate.Elsewhere, Wimbledon announced the introduction of final set tiebreaks at 12-12 from next year. Is that a good decision? Only a tiny number of matches even reach 12-12 in the deciding set, so why has the news received such attention?Last but not least, with the WTA Finals in full-swing, Catherine and David give their take on the week so far. Why is the court so slow? Is round-robin the best format? And who is the favourite to win the title?The Tennis Podcast is uploaded weekly throughout the year and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments. It is produced in association with Telegraph Sport. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Novak Djokovic looks as if he has stepped in a time machine and taken us all back to 2015, such is the level of tennis he is producing in the second half of 2018. In the latest Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker and David Law get together to look back on Djokovic's victory in Shanghai, where he didn't lose a set and never looked likely to. Who, when, where and how is anyone going to stop him? Or will his level inevitably drop?The man he beat in the final - Borna Coric - has made major strides recently, and his journey is reviewed, and Roger Federer comes into view after a so-so week in which he reached the semis but went down comfortably to Coric. What would be the tipping point for Federer to call it a day? And why do people get so upset when anyone dares to bring it up? Well, we do it on The Tennis Podcast.The latest Davis Cup frustrations are discussed, events on the WTA Tour in Hong Kong and Tianjin covered, and while recording the podcast, news breaks of Juan Martin del Potro suffering what sounds like a very serious injury.The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly in association with Telegraph Sport, and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inspired by a certain Tennis Podcast presenter’s loss from match point up, David and Catherine begin this week’s show by discussing the phenomenon of ‘choking’ in sport. What causes it? And what’s the biggest choke in tennis history?In Beijing this week, Kyle Edmund didn’t choke, but he did miss a big opportunity to win his first ATP title. How important is it that he overcomes this hurdle sooner rather than later?Two men who have got the title-winning bug, however, are Daniil Medvedev and Nikoloz Basilashvili. David and Catherine hail their respective victories in Tokyo and Beijing, as well as their rise up the rankings in 2018. Why do their efforts seem to slip under the radar compared to those of Shapovalov and Tsitsipas?Caroline Wozniacki, meanwhile, won her first Premier Mandatory title since 2011, doing so without dropping a single set in Beijing. After a few months of injury and poor form, where did this flawless week come from?There’s also time to salute Kevin Anderson’s good nature, debate the different merits of one-handed and two-handed backhands, and discuss the excellent news that Britain will be hosting a Fed Cup tie for the first time since 1993.Catherine ends the show with two bits of advice: 1) Check out Jo Konta’s cute new dog. 2) Consider checking in to Agnieszka Radwanska’s tennis-themed hotel.The Tennis Podcast is uploaded weekly throughout the year and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments. It is produced in association with Telegraph Sport. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2018 has been a turbulent year for tennis, with warring factions and uncertainty over where the sport is heading. In this week’s podcast, Simon Briggs joins David and Catherine to discuss the political state of the sport.How optimistic can we be that the governing bodies will eventually find a solution that works best for tennis rather just their own agendas? Will the sport produce a Davis Cup that works as well as golf’s Ryder Cup? And what will happen about on-court coaching?Briggs reveals the contents of his recent conversation with Wimbledon’s Phillip Brook, who admitted to him that the level of political tension within tennis may be at an all-time high. Despite the ongoing background noise, there has been lots of compelling action throughout Asia in the past week, including a title for Aryna Sabalenka in Wuhan. Catherine and David are really impressed by her immense appetite for the sport. Can she rule the women’s game for years to come? Plus, with the WTA Race to Singapore coming to an end, what are her chances of sneaking into the top eight?Bernard Tomic was also a title winner last week, in Chengdu. His ups and downs have been well-documented, but Catherine and David agree that it’s nice to see him become a force once again. The wins of Yoshihito Nishioka and Margarita Gasparyan, who have both suffered serious injury in the past, are also discussed.Finally, there’s reaction to the viral clip of Fernando Verdasco giving short shrift to a ball boy in Shenzhen. Why should ball kids have to pick up players’ towels? And will this incident lead to much-needed change?The Tennis Podcast is uploaded weekly throughout the year and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments. It is produced in association with Telegraph Sport. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s a lot to cover on the new Tennis Podcast.For the second week in a row, David and Catherine begin by talking about the form of Naomi Osaka. The Japanese reached the final in Tokyo to back up her US Open title. Why was that so impressive? And just how well did Karolina Pliskova have to play to beat her?Elsewhere, Andy Murray has decided that he will shut down his 2018 season after Shenzhen and Beijing in order to focus on being in the best possible shape for Australia. David and Catherine agree that it's a smart move.There’s also discussion about Serena’s complicated relationship with her coach Patrick Mouratoglou, Mohamed Lahyani’s suspension by the ATP, and more progress for Dominic Thiem on hard courts. Plus, tribute is paid to Mikhail Youzhny following his retirement.Finally, this week saw the second edition of the Laver Cup. What do David and Catherine think of the event? And what does the future hold for it?The Tennis Podcast is uploaded weekly throughout the year and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments. It is produced in association with Telegraph Sport and sponsored by Amazon Prime Video.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US Open may be over, but Naomi Osaka’s new life is just getting started. While her victory in New York was overshadowed, she’s capitalised brilliantly on the moment by signing an endorsement deal with Nissan and appearing on The Ellen Show.On The Tennis Podcast, Catherine and David wonder how Osaka will handle her newfound status as a Grand Slam champion. What are some of the challenges she will face?Elsewhere, this past weekend saw the first Davis Cup action since the vote to revamp the competition. How did Catherine and David feel while watching it? Did the Croatia vs. USA tie showcase everything that’s good about the current format? Or did it prove everything that’s wrong with it?The decision to award two wildcards for next year’s Davis Cup Finals still sits uncomfortably with both David and Catherine. Will they just be a way of guaranteeing star power?There’s also discussion about the decision to stick with 32 seeds at Grand Slams, reaction to the latest developments surrounding Serena Williams and Carlos Ramos, and a nod of appreciation to two teenagers – Amanda Anisimova and Jack Draper – who both registered noteworthy results.The Tennis Podcast is uploaded weekly throughout the year and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments. It is produced in association with Telegraph Sport and sponsored by Amazon Prime Video.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Enric Molina has umpired four Grand Slam singles finals, four Davis Cup finals and two Olympic finals.So what when through his mind when he saw the events of the weekend at the US Open, with former colleague Carlos Ramos warning Serena Williams three times, docking her a point and then a game, and the subsequent reactions from former players and governing bodies?Molina joins David Law on The Tennis Podcast to give his view on the decisions taken by Ramos, whether anything could have been done differently, and what should, in his view, have happened afterwards.The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport and sponsored by Amazon Prime Video. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Novak Djokovic is the US Open champion for the third time, beating Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 7-6, 6-3. On The Tennis Podcast, David and Catherine discuss his brilliant performance. Does the straight-sets scoreline do Del Potro a disservice? Was he a little too cautious early on? Did the slow conditions play a part? How crucial was that epic 20-minute game? Djokovic is now level with Pete Sampras on 14 Grand Slams titles. It suddenly looks possible that he might bridge the gap to Nadal and Federer, doesn’t it? Without question, his relentless dominance is back. How has he turned his season around so spectacularly since losing early at the French Open? Will he now end the year as World No.1? Elsewhere, the fallout has continued from the women’s final. David and Catherine discuss the statement from WTA CEO Steve Simon and tackle the big question: was there sexism at play? Finally, there’s time reflect on the 2018 US Open as a whole. What were the highlights? How will it be remembered? The Tennis Podcast is uploaded weekly throughout the year and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments. It is produced in associated with Telegraph Sport and sponsored by Amazon Prime Video, the new home of the US Open in the UK. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the end of a mind-blowing day, and one of the most controversy-filled Grand Slams finals in history, David and Catherine sit down to run through the events in full.With emotions running high, the theme of the discussion is the need for nuance. Can we accept Serena as a highly-inspirational role model who is also capable of quite unedifying behaviour? And were all three code violations justified?Not for the first time this tournament, the incident brought the role of the umpire into question. How can Carlos Ramos be criticised for sticking to the letter of the law? Could he have issued a soft warning? Are different standards applied to men and women?None of the controversy should detract, however, from the spell-binding performance of Naomi Osaka. Before everything kicked off, she was beating Serena handily. In fact, was her brilliance the root cause of Serena's bad temper?Has there ever been a better performance on debut in a Grand Slam final? We knew Osaka could strike the ball cleanly, but she also proved she can handle an occasion. This was her moment and she seized it. There will be daily editions of The Tennis Podcast throughout the US Open fortnight. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with the Telegraph and sponsored by Amazon Prime Video, the new home of the US Open in the UK. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.