The Tennis Podcast

In 2003, Tennis Podcast presenter David Law covered his first Australian Open for BBC Radio 5 Live. He had brown hair, not the grey of today. Andre Agassi won the men’s title. Roger Federer had yet to win a major event and was regarded as an underachieving prodigy who might never fulfil his talent. And hardly anyone had ever heard of Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, who were effectively still children. In the women’s final, Serena Williams beat Venus Williams. Fourteen years later, they will meet in the final again. After witnessing their journey through the semifinals, and then the victory of Federer over Stan Wawrinka, Law and Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) convened to discuss a momentous day on the Tennis Podcast. We also hear from Dani Vallverdu, the coach of Grigor Dimitrov, who will take on Rafael Nadal in the second semifinal on Friday, about how they got together and the difference he has been able to make. There will be daily editions of The Tennis Podcast throughout the...

Grand Slam tennis tournaments always throw up a special moment or two, a decent storyline, and usually a fitting crescendo. But the Australian Open is different. Everywhere you turn there are stories. Yesterday, Roger Federer and Venus Williams, aged 35 and 36 respectively, advanced to the final four. Today it was the turn of Rafael Nadal, who hasn’t reached a Grand Slam semifinal in more than two years, Serena Williams, who is 35 years of age and chasing 23 Grand Slam titles, Grigor Dimitrov, who finally looks like coming of age, and the best of the lot - Mirjana Lucic-Baroni - who reached a semifinal 18 years after her first. 'This moment has made my life,' she said. With all of that in mind, Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live) didn’t really know where to start, so they asked Mark Petchey what he makes of it all instead. Can Federer win title No.18? Will Nadal stop him in the final again? Is Stan Wawrinka going to ruin everyone’s party the way he can? Or is Dimitrov ready to...

On a day that Roger Federer moved one match away from the final of the Australian Open, and Rafael Nadal is still there, Andy Roddick joined The Tennis Podcast to declare that a meeting between the two in the final could be ‘the most historically significant match ever’. Roddick, inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in an on-court ceremony, told podcast presenter Catherine Whitaker (in Melbourne for Eurosport) that it could be an earth-shifting moment for the sport if it happens. He also talks Milos Raonic, Serena and Venus Williams, and who he thinks will win the two titles. The podcast team are also joined by Christopher Clarey, who has covered tennis for the New York Times for more than 20 years. Clarey talks about his impressions of the greats and their resurgence, and the rise of Coco Vandeweghe, who will face Venus Williams in the semis. They also preview Serena Williams vs. Johanna Konta, with Martina Navratilova giving her views on the match to David Law (BBC Radio 5 Live).... &

It’s 2017 but it feels like 2007. The Williams sisters Serena and Venus are in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open on course to meet in the final, and Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will also clash if they win two more tennis matches each. While Nadal put Gael Monfils away in four sets to set up a last 8 clash with the highest remaining seed Milos Raonic, Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live) sat in the Melbourne press room to discuss day 8 at the Australian Open on The Tennis Podcast. What did they think of the defending champion Angelique Kerber’s late-night loss on Sunday? How does the form of Jo Konta compare to Serena Williams, who she will face in the quarterfinals? And who is Mirijana Lucic-Baroni, who has also made the last 8? How much of a surprise is it to see Federer playing tennis like this after six months out of the game? We ask Goran Ivanisevic and Michael Chang. And is he going to go all the way here? There’s also some frustration with Monfils, a question mark...

In a display of serve-volleying and chip-charging that had John McEnroe and Pat Cash drooling, Misha Zverev dumped Andy Murray out of the Australian Open in the last 16. Catherine Whitaker and David Law recorded the Day 7 Tennis Podcast in front of the Australian Open big screen during the final set of Roger Federer vs. Kei Nishikori, but it was the loss of Murray that was the headline news. How did Zverev do it? They discuss it, we hear from Mats Wilander, and the man himself. What, if anything, was wrong with Andy Murray? Federer finally found a way past Nishikori, and must be fancying his chances after the demise of Murray and Djokovic. First though, he needs to stop Zverev in the quarterfinals. Dan Evans’ Australian odyssey came to an end, and on the women’s side, Venus Williams kept on rolling, as did David’s pick for the title - Garbine Muguruza. And, in a moment that earned David's respect, Catherine tried a Brummie accent ... There will be daily editions of The Tennis Podcast throughout the...

Two generations collided when Rafael Nadal met Alex Zverev on Saturday, and afterwards David Law (BBC 5 Live), Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and Simon Briggs (Telegraph Sport) convened to discuss it. Given that Zverev won a seemingly pivotal 37-stroke rally, why did he fade afterwards? Is Nadal back to his best? How far can he go? And what does the future hold for the prodigiously talented teen Zverev? It’s all discussed. Meanwhile, Britain’s Jo Konta thrashed a supposedly in-form, former World No.1 in Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 6-1. How far can she go? Could she beat Serena Williams if they meet in the quarterfinals? We hear from her. Catherine is also joined by the former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli to discuss the latest situation in the women’s draw. And the day before Andy Murray takes on Mischa Zverev, Alexander’s elder brother, and then the ‘Brummie Murray’ Dan Evans (as David has nicknamed him) meets Jo Wilfried Tsonga, we wonder whether the British pair can make the quarterfinals. There...

On day 5 of the Australian Open, Dan Evans reached the second week of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in his career and Roger Federer produced an imperious reminder of the player that dominated the sport 10 years ago. Afterwards, Catherine Whitaker and David Law convened in the Eurosport green room to discuss it on the Tennis Podcast, and had the unexpected bonus of a chat with a multiple Grand Slam singles champion. We hear from Evans after his win, and the Great Britain Davis Cup captain Leon Smith about his chances against Jo Wilfried Tsonga. And, ahead of the Rafael Nadal vs. Alex Zverev round three clash, David talks at length to Carlos Moya, who joined Nadal's coaching team at the end of last year. There will be daily editions of The Tennis Podcast throughout the Australian Open, produced in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Boris Becker, Novak Djokovic’s now former coach, and Mats Wilander, a seven-time Grand Slam title winner, sat in the Eurosport studios, watching the Australian Open demise of the six-time champion. In the Tennis Podcast, following a tumultuous day 4 and one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history, presenter Catherine Whitaker, who is part of the Eurosport team, joins David Law and details how the pair reacted to Djokovic’s defeat. Beaten in five sets over nearly five hours by Dennis Istomin, it was Djokovic’s earliest loss in a Grand Slam tournament for nearly nine years. Istomin played the match of his life, but even so, why has Djokovic lost his edge? The Tennis Podcast team try to make sense of it all. The losses of Agnieszka Radwanska and British pair Kyle Edmund and Heather Watson are also discussed, as is the win of Jo Konta, who the team agree is looking more convincing by the day. We also hear from Eurosport pundit and the coach of Serena Williams - Patrick Mouratoglou. He talks...

It started as one of the dullest Grand Slam days in recent memory but ended as one of the most thrilling. In a pulsating evening session, Britain’s Dan Evans won the match of his life by beating Marin Cilic in four sets. At the same time, Nick Kyrgios was beaten in five sets by Andreas Seppi, an exact role reversal from two years ago when Seppi had the two-set lead and Kyrgios responded to win. And just for good measure, Andy Murray turned his ankle while handily ahead against Andrey Rublev. In the day 3 Tennis Podcast from the Australian Open, Simon Briggs (Telegraph Sport) and Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) join David Law (BBC 5 Live) to assess the Evans win, consider how serious the Murray ankle injury is, and argue about Kyrgios. We hear from both Evans and Murray, and Catherine reveals how the first thing Murray said to her on the court after beating Rublev was ‘did Dan win?’. The team also preview day 4, with three more British players in action, and the return of Serena Williams and Rafael...

A couple of weeks ago, Novak Djokovic fought through five match points to beat Fernando Verdasco and reach the Doha final. There was no such drama this time, and although it was far from vintage Djokovic, he did more than enough to go through to round two. In the Telegraph’s Tennis Podcast on day two of the Australian Open, presenters Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live) assess Djokovic’s form, and also try to establish what Boris Becker meant when he said the World Number 2 had not worked hard enough late last year. They asked both Djokovic and Becker for clarity, and you can hear those exchanges here. Five British players have reached the second round at the Australian Open for the first time in 30 years (1987), and the team react to the wins of Heather Watson, Jo Konta and Kyle Edmund on day 2. All of the other big stories on day 2 are reviewed and we also look ahead to Andy Murray’s second round match against Andrey Rublev on Wednesday. Catherine’s exclusive interview with... &

Roger Federer is back after six months away, and Catherine Whitaker has a pretty cool anecdote about what she saw moments before the 17-time Grand Slam champion took to the court against Jurgen Melzer. As for the match, how did he play in his four-set win? What are his prospects for the rest of the tournament? And how did Federer think Andy Murray would be influenced by coming into a Grand Slam tournament for the first time as the World No.1? We hear from him on The Tennis Podcast. Murray won in straight sets, but not comfortably, and there were narrow squeaks for Kei Nishikori and Stan Wawrinka. The latter was a break down in the fifth, and drew gasps from the crowd when he nailed a forehand into a defenceless Martin Klizan at the net. Did he deliberately hit his opponent? David Law, who was commentating for BBC radio, gives his view. On the women’s side of the draw, Simona Halep is out and World No.1 Angelique Kerber looked a little vulnerable. Catherine and David assess what they’ve seen on day...

The Australian Open draw has been made, the Tennis Podcast’s Kickstarter targets have been met, and Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport), David Law (BBC 5 Live) and Simon Briggs (Telegraph) have convened to plot the next two weeks for Andy Murray, Roger Federer, Serena Williams and the rest. Which of the leading players can be most happy with their draws? Murray, who could face Federer in the quarters, or Novak Djokovic, who has Fernando Verdasco for his opener? Wawrinka, who could meet Nick Kyrgios in round 4, or Nadal who might meet Alex Zverev in the third round? On the women’s side, why is everyone so concerned about top seed Angelique Kerber? What does Serena’s route to the final look like? And what did Jo Konta do to deserve her horror draw? It’s all discussed in the latest Tennis Podcast, which is produced in association with Telegraph Sport, and during the Australian Open, Eurosport.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

One of the most pulsating first weeks of the tennis season that we can remember concluded with Novak Djokovic edging Andy Murray in the Doha final. What does that do to the balance of power with Murray the World No.1 but Djokovic a six-time Australian Open champion? In Brisbane, Grigor Dimitrov returned from the wilderness to beat three Top-10 players and win his first title in two and a half years. Is he back for good or is this just a token reminder of what might have been? Karolina Pliskova won the women’s event in Brisbane, and that tournament prompted our presenter David Law to make a big, early pick for the Australian Open women’s title. And it isn’t Pliskova. We discuss which rivalry makes for the best matches, and David has a spectacular rant about how Stan Wawrinka never gets picked by anyone to win anything. So does this mean he’s picking him? The Tennis Podcast is presented by David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport) and Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport), and produced in association with Telegraph... &

Tennis Podcast listeners successfully funded the weekly show to continue in 2017, and so we are back! Catherine and David convene to discuss the seven tournaments that have started the new year with a bang, to talk about Andy Murray’s knighthood, to make their 2017 tennis wishes, and to delve into the Poll Vault. Nigel Sears, former coach of Ana Ivanovic and Daniella Hantuchova, and Murray’s father-in-law, tells us who he will be looking out for on the WTA circuit in 2017. He also gives us his thoughts on the retirement of Ivanovic, how he thinks Anne Keothavong will fair as Great Britain Fed Cup captain, and whether he will be addressing Murray as ‘Sir Andy’. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport) and produced in association with Telegraph Sport. The podcast’s crowdfunding Kickstarter will end on January 14th at Noon UK time. If it reaches £15,000, the team will produce 45 daily podcasts at the Grand Slam tournaments in 2017. Go to...

After taking a break for a month, The Tennis Podcast is back for one last episode in 2016, and there is a lot for Catherine and David to cover. The awful knife attack suffered by Petra Kvitova, the retirement of Ana Ivanovic, and the Australian Open withdrawals of Juan Martin Del Potro and Madison Keys kick off the show. The coaching carousel has been spinning like a Rafael Nadal forehand, and Nadal’s new alliance with Carlos Moya is one of the main topics discussed. What to make of the separation of Novak Djokovic and Boris Becker, and Jo Konta and Esteban Carril? And what will Richard Krajicek bring to Milos Raonic? We also talk about Roger Federer’s return, his periscoped practice session, and Andy Murray winning Sports Personality of the Year for a third time. And finally, don’t forget that The Tennis Podcast is running a crowdfunding Kickstarter to try to keep the show going in 2017. Please go to Kickstarter.com and search Tennis Podcast if you would like to contribute. Direct link -...  

After 260 episodes and five years of The Tennis Podcast, we are asking for your help to keep it going in 2017, and to make it bigger and better than ever. To find out how, go to: https://goo.gl/NLHqvq  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

One of the most memorable Davis Cup finals in history, a 0-2 comeback from the one and only Juan Martin Del Potro, and a first triumph in Argentina's history. Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport) spend half of The Tennis Podcast talking about all of that, and the other half debating who warrants the Tennis Podcast 2016 Awards. Who is the player of the year? What was the biggest shock of 2016? Who had the biggest breakthrough? And who lays dubious claim to Meltdown of the Year? Those and many more are discussed on the penultimate Tennis Podcast of 2016. The Tennis Podcast is a weekly, downloadable tennis radio show which is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Argentina have been trying to win the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas for more than a hundred years, and after four failed final attempts, they will be hoping that this is their year. Ahead of their final against Croatia in Zagreb, the Tennis Podcast team of David Law and Catherine Whitaker get together to discuss their chances, the late selection of 37-year-old Ivo Karlovic - the oldest man to have played singles in a final since the 20's, and the journey of Juan Martin Del Potro. Who will win? It's discussed, with predictions from presenters and listeners. And before signing off, they reminisce about great Davis Cup finals from the past. This edition of The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport and sponsored by The Davis Cup by BNP Paribas. www.daviscup.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After Novak Djokovic dominated the first half of the year, and Andy Murray the second, the two met in the final match of the ATP season, with the World No.1 ranking at stake. Murray triumphed, and afterwards Catherine Whitaker and David Law talked it over inside The 02 on the Tennis Podcast. Where was the match won and lost? How did Murray dig out that performance when he must have been running on fumes? What happened to Djokovic after he had looked so good 24 hours earlier against Kei Nishikori? Will his coaching relationship with Boris Becker and Marian Vajda continue in 2017? It's all discussed on the latest Tennis Podcast, which is produced in association with Telegraph Sport. eg65pxp6  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Andy Murray arrives to the 02 Arena as the favourite to win the title for the first time, but he's been handed a horror draw. With a couple of days until the event starts, Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport) get together to discuss the chances of Murray winning, Djokovic returning to form, and someone else upsetting all the odds. Catherine pretty much goes with the obvious, but David has gone out on a limb. What do our listeners say in Poll Vault? We also hear about what David thinks of the ATP's latest round of awards, including the stick he took for commenting on the sportsmanship of the year gong. And if Catherine and David could have any coach in the world to guide their own feeble talents, who would they choose? The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport. eg65pxp6  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.