The Tennis Podcast

The second instalment of Tennis Re-Lived sees us travel back to the 1980s and 90s.First, we tell the story of Martina Navratilova’s return to her homeland in 1986 when she represented the USA against Czechoslovakia in the Fed Cup Final. Why was this such an important moment in her life? How was she received by the people in Prague? And just how good was her tennis in the decisive match against Hana Mandlikova?Matt unearths some stories from the week and Catherine speaks to Pam Shriver, Navratilova’s doubles partner, for a firsthand account. Pam describes the experience of being there and explains how Navratilova managed to control her emotions.Then, we delve into David’s well of memories to cover Thomas Muster’s epic comeback victory against Boris Becker in the 1995 Monte Carlo Final. There’s chat about Muster’s dominance on clay during that period, his semi-final against Andrea Gaudenzi which left him hospitalised, and Becker’s controversial post match press conference in which he cast doubt over Muster’s me

We’re back with another Q&A edition of The Tennis Podcast, answering listener questions about our dream tennis dinner party, the Grand Slam credentials of Alex de Minaur and Nick Kyrgios, how long the unity between the ATP and the WTA might last, and whether it’s okay to support Tennys Sandgren despite his past Twitter support for the far right.Plus, an update on the cancellation of Montreal, a chat about the tennis players we most resemble, and a massive argument. ­­­The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners every December.* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our news, predictions and Matt’s Stat. Daily at the Grand Slams and weekly throughout the rest of the year - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX* TENNIS RE-LIVED*The next episode of Tennis Re-Lived will drop on Monday 20th April as we look back on the 1986 Fed Cup Final between the USA and Czechoslov

In a Q&A edition which goes off in various directions, we cover topics such as the players we wish we had seen live, the downsides of the Big 3 dominance, how the prolonged break to tennis might affect certain players differently, whether or not Nick Kyrgios is on the boat, and our predictions from the start of the year about what we *thought* would happen in 2020.The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners every December.* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our news, predictions and Matt’s Stat. Daily at the Grand Slams and weekly throughout the rest of the year - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX* TENNIS RE-LIVED*The next episode of Tennis Re-Lived will drop on Monday 20th April as we look back on memorable Fed Cup and Monte Carlo finals.* EMAIL *We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever fee

Catherine Whitaker and David Law set out to examine the way in which covid-19 is impacting tennis players and events. Hear from World No.211 Liam Broady on how he’s coping without tennis as well as the physical, mental and financial challenges he’s facing, LTA chief executive Scott Lloyd on the support package provided to British tennis players, World No.375 Sofia Shapatava on her petition seeking financial assistance from the ITF, and Queen’s tournament director Stephen Farrow on what goes on behind the scenes when a tennis event is cancelled.   Plus, what have the sport’s governing bodies said in their latest statements? And could the US Open take place without fans? The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners every December.* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our news, predictions and Matt’s Stat. Daily at the Grand Slams and weekly throughout the rest of the year - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX* TENNIS RE-LIVED*The n

To launch Tennis Re-Lived, Catherine, David and Matt look back on two classic Miami finals, starting with the first ever final between the Williams sisters in 1999. What was most noticeable about Venus and Serena’s respective games and personalities at the time? How was women’s tennis talked about in this era? And in what way was Richard Williams front and centre? Turning to Murray and Ferrer’s epic in 2013, how did the match become so dramatic after a ropey start? Has there been a more shocking sight in tennis in recent memory than Ferrer cramping? And in what way did this match set the tone for their seasons? The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners every December.* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our news, predictions and Matt’s Stat. Daily at the Grand Slams and weekly throughout the rest of the year - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX* TENNIS RE-LIVED*The next episode of Tennis Re-Lived will drop in two weeks as we look

We knew it was coming, and yet it still felt shocking, and it still hurt. After Wimbledon announced its 134th edition would not take place, and the rest of the grass court season was abandoned because of the Coronavirus, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts were joined on The Tennis Podcast by Simon Briggs, the Tennis Correspondent of The Telegraph. Was there any alternative? What sort of impact will the cancellations have on the tennis world, and those working within it? And when can the sport realistically return?The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners every December.* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our news, predictions and Matt’s Stat. Daily at the Grand Slams and weekly throughout the rest of the year - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX* TENNIS RE-LIVED* In the absence of live tennis, we will be watching classic matches together over the next few months and recording podcasts immediately afterwards with our

We begin this week’s show by discussing the one-year postponement of the Tokyo Olympics and launching Tennis Re-Lived. That's followed by part two of our Q&A with Mary Carillo as she talks more about her own career – including her memories of the French Open mixed doubles title she won with John McEnroe and the worst match she’s ever commentated on.The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners every December.* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our news, predictions and Matt’s Stat. Daily at the Grand Slams and weekly throughout the rest of the year - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX* TENNIS RE-LIVED* In the absence of live tennis, we will be watching classic matches together over the next few months and recording podcasts immediately afterwards with our reaction, research and reminiscences. The first episode will be out on Monday 6th April when we will be discussing two classic Miami finals: Venus vs Serena from 1999 and Murray vs Ferre

Mary Carillo joins Catherine, David and Matt from Florida to catch up and answer some listener questions.In part one, she talks about how the enforced break due to Coronavirus could affect different players, whether a champion's mentality can be learned, and how Coco Gauff's career might unfold compared to other teenage stars.The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners every December.* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our news, predictions and Matt’s Stat. Daily at the Grand Slams and weekly throughout the rest of the year - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX* EMAIL * We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net* REDDIT *We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community where more than 800 listeners chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/ 

The French Open in…September?Catherine, David and Matt are back for a bonus mid-week pod to discuss all the fallout from Roland Garros going rogue in the wake of Coronavirus and re-positioning itself in the calendar for this year.What are the political implications of such a move? Will this actually bring tennis’ fractious governing bodies together? Could it lead to long-term change? And what’s the likelihood of it going ahead like this?There’s also news of David’s AMA on Reddit, Matt quotes Star Wars, and Catherine provides important updates on bra wearing, suitcase unpacking, and karaoke.The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners every December.* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our news, predictions and Matt’s Stat. Daily at the Grand Slams and weekly throughout the rest of the year - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX* EMAIL * We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever fee

Catherine, David and Matt talk about the dramatic developments since Indian Wells’ cancellation, the absence and importance of sport in our lives, the impact this break could have when tennis eventually returns, and which players they would choose to self-isolate with.  Plus, Dan Evans and Bethanie Mattek-Sands give insight into what it was like on site at Indian Wells last week, the communication they’ve had from the tours about Coronavirus, how this suspension will impact players, and what they’re doing to balance unexpected free time with training.The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners every December.* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our news, predictions and Matt’s Stat. Daily at the Grand Slams and weekly throughout the rest of the year - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX* REDDIT *We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community where more than 700 listeners chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in

Catherine was supposed to be flying to Indian Wells today, but instead she’s chatting to David and Matt all about the fact that the tournament has been cancelled because of Coronavirus. Discussion includes what to make of the decision, how it affects livelihoods in tennis, and the way the situation could potentially escalate to affect more tournaments,The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners every December.* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our news, predictions and Matt’s Stat. Daily at the Grand Slams and weekly throughout the rest of the year - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX* REDDIT *We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community where more than 700 listeners chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/ * SOCIAL MEDIA *Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast/Twitter - https://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast/  See acast.c

Catherine, David and Matt are together again to review another busy week in the packed February schedule, one which saw Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal seamlessly return to the tour and win titles, Heather Watson and Dan Evans impress, and the emergence of more teenage stars. What's changed in 2020 for Djokovic to be able to dominate the tour once again? Was it appropriate for Tsitsipas' mum to attend his press conference in Dubai and what does it say about their relationship? And what did we learn about Leylah Fernandez and Thiago Seyboth Wild?The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners every December.* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our news, predictions and Matt’s Stat. Daily at the Grand Slams and weekly throughout the rest of the year - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX* REDDIT *We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community where more than 700 listeners chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://

Maria Sharapova, who beat Serena Williams to win Wimbledon aged 17, completed the career Grand Slam, and then failed an anti-doping test, has retired.In a special edition of The Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker and David Law are joined by the man that broke the news of her retirement, Chris Clarey of the New York Times, to react to the announcement.Why did she stop now? How will her career be remembered? Could she have done more? Is she legacy tainted by the positive test? And what will she do next? All answered on the show.The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners every December.* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our news, predictions and Matt’s Stat. Daily at the Grand Slams and weekly throughout the rest of the year - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX* REDDIT *We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community where more than 700 listeners chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://www.reddit.com/r/th

Catherine, David and Matt catch up to discuss a busy week which saw Roger Federer announce knee surgery, Kim Clijsters impress in her first match for seven years, Simona Halep beat Elena Rybakina in a thriller in Dubai, and Dominic Thiem struggle in Rio. Could Federer’s enforced break actually be a blessing in disguise when it comes to Wimbledon and the Olympics this summer? What makes Rybakina special? And who is 16-year-old Carlos Alcaraz who won a match in Rio?* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our news, predictions and Matt’s Stat. Daily at the Grand Slams and weekly throughout the rest of the year - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX* REDDIT *We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community with over 700 members where listeners can chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/ * SOCIAL MEDIA *Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast/Twitter - https://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast/  See acast.com/privacy

Catherine, David and Matt are back together for the first time since the Australian Open with plenty to catch up on, including an exciting Fed Cup weekend, titles for Kiki Bertens, Gael Monfils and Kyle Edmund, and the impending return of Kim Clijsters. How important is it that home and away ties continue to exist in Fed Cup? Why did Jo Konta not commit to it? And will Monfils build on this form at bigger events? There’s also a chance to look back on our interview with Marion Bartoli, discuss some Fed Cup outfit fiascos, and collectively cringe at some social media #content involving Edmund.* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our news, predictions and Matt’s Stat. Daily at the Grand Slams and weekly throughout the rest of the year - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX* REDDIT *We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community with over 700 members where listeners can chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/ * SOCIAL MEDIA *Instagram - 

Before leaving Melbourne, Catherine Whitaker and David Law spent an hour in the company of Marion Bartoli. What followed was, we believe, one of the most powerful and important podcasts we’ve ever done.Topics include how Bartoli came to play double-handed on both sides, the way tennis affected her relationship with her father and brother growing up, why she felt like a failure after losing the 2007 Wimbledon final, what it felt like to finally win Wimbledon in 2013, her sudden retirement from the sport, the dark place she was in while suffering from anorexia, how she overcame it, the current state of the WTA Tour, whether Serena Williams will overtake the Grand Slam record, and coaching Jelena Ostapenko.* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our news, predictions and Matt’s Stat. Daily at the Grand Slams and weekly throughout the rest of the year - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX* REDDIT *We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community with over 700 members where listeners can chat about the show and all thing

Catherine, David and Matt bring you one final Tennis Podcast from the 2020 Australian Open after Novak Djokovic beat Dominic Thiem in five sets to win an 8th title in Melbourne and a 17th Grand Slam overall. There’s chat about Djokovic’s fast start, the way in which the crowd and Thiem started to rattle him, his time violations, his mid-match lull, and his fifth set resurgence. Can he catch Nadal and Federer this year? How will the Olympics affect the Grand Slam race this season? And in what way is Thiem becoming like Andy Murray?*FEVER-TREE CHAMPIONSHIPS (QUEEN'S) VIP EXPERIENCES*This episode of The Tennis Podcast has been sponsored by the Fever-Tree Championships at The Queen's Club, which takes place 15-21 June. Keith Prowse is the tournament's hospitality provider, and offers VIP wining and dining experiences along with premium centre court seats. For more information - https://www.keithprowse.co.uk/queens-club/fever-tree-championships/?sid=6571&utm_source=TennisPodcast&utm_medium=o

Sofia Kenin is a Grand Slam champion. How did she fight back against Muguruza? What boat-worthy character traits does she have? And how will she build on this victory? Catherine, David and Matt discuss all that and more before looking ahead to Thiem vs. Djokovic.* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our news, predictions and Matt’s Stat. Daily at the Grand Slams and weekly throughout the rest of the year - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX* REDDIT *We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community for listeners to chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in the fun - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/* SOCIAL MEDIA *Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast/Twitter - https://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After Dominic Thiem beat Alexander Zverev to reach his first Grand Slam final on a hard court, Catherine, David and Matt were joined by The Telegraph’s Simon Briggs to talk all about it. How did Thiem adjust mentally and tactically from the Nadal match? Why did Zverev not play more aggressively? And in what way can Thiem trouble Djokovic? Looking ahead to the women’s final, there’s discussion about why Sofia Kenin hasn’t received much hype, how her career might develop after this run, and Garbine Muguruza’s pre-season Kilimanjaro excursion. Finally, stay for an all-time great anecdote from Simon.* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our news, predictions and Matt’s Stat. Daily at the Grand Slams and weekly throughout the rest of the year - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX* REDDIT *We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community for listeners to chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in the fun - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/* SOCIAL MEDIA *Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theten

The women’s final will be Sofia Kenin vs. Garbiñe Muguruza. How did that happen? Catherine, David and Matt discuss at the end of a scorching hot day in Melbourne. How much of an impact did the conditions have on the women’s semi-finals? In what way were they similar matches? Did Ash Barty choke against Kenin? How much will this defeat have hurt her? And who will have the edge in the final? In the night session, a hampered Roger Federer did take to the court against Novak Djokovic, but was comfortably beaten in straight sets. How did Federer’s fast start briefly distract Djokovic? Why did Djokovic not finish him off more ruthlessly? And who would pose more threat to Djokovic in the final - Thiem or Zverev?* NEWSLETTER *Sign up to get our news, predictions and Matt’s Stat. Daily at the Grand Slams and weekly throughout the rest of the year - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX* REDDIT *We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community for listeners to chat about the show and all things tennis. Join