The Tennis Podcast

Novak Djokovic does not look like the US Open champion right now.  So say the Tennis Podcast team after watching the World No.1 struggle and splutter past Jerzy Janowicz, the talented, powerful but erratic Pole, in round one.  Coming in having admitted to a wrist injury, Djokovic won 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, undergoing a lengthy massage to his other arm after just three games. It led to podcast presenters David Law and Catherine Whitaker concluding that, unless his injury problems clear, it’s difficult to imagine him holding the trophy at the end of the tournament.  The podcast also covers the impressive wins of Britain’s Kyle Edmund over the 13th seed Richard Gasquet, and Jo Konta against Bethanie Mattek Sands, and preview the second day, with six more British players in action. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

David Law (BBC Radio 5 Live) and Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) are in New York for the Us Open, and they are joined by Simon Briggs of the Telegraph for a preview Tennis Podcast.  The main news story is the fact that rain will never again interrupt a final thanks to the biggest roof in tennis. But there are plenty more to keep us going. The fitness of top seeds Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams is a big question mark. And what frame of mind are they both in? Will Andy Murray and Angelique Kerber, as the next highest seeds, be there to pick up any pieces? Or are we in for a big shock? What about Laura Robson’s return, and the fact that there are eight British players in the draw? What’s your favourite night session memory?  The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Angelique Kerber stood on the brink of World Number One, but ran into Karolina Pliskova playing at the very top of her game.  Andy Murray faced something similar in Marin Cilic, who won his first Masters 1000 title. But despite the defeat, podcast presenters David Law and Catherine Whitaker reckon he is in perfect position ahead of next week’s US Open in New York.  Grigor Dimitrov, the Tennis Podcast’s favourite player, started to look like his old self last week. Is he back? And, as on-court coaching became a factor again last week in Cincinnati, we ask which matches might have changed history had on-court coaching been a factor. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It took Andy Murray and Juan Martin Del Potro four hours to determine the destination of the men's singles gold medal, and podcast presenters Catherine Whitaker and David Law looked nearly as weary as the two players after staying up all night to watch it.  And, after a week of glorious sport, drama and emotion, Murray and Monica Puig left the biggest smiles, Juan Martin Del Potro a silver and hearts everywhere, and the rules of tennis came under the spotlight. Is it time to remove the best-of-5-set format from the game altogether, or add it to the women's game as well? Should it come in halfway through a Slam, or just for the final? It's all discussed on the latest pod. Puig's extraordinary win, Rafael Nadal's golden return and all of the other medal-winning tennis performances in Rio are discussed, as are the excellent lower level titles of Laura Robson and Dan Evans.  The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After the Olympic tennis in Rio lost the Williams sisters, Murray brothers, Novak Djokovic and the top seeds in men's doubles on the same night, and then Serena Williams fell in singles shortly after, Catherine Whitaker and David Law reconvene on the Tennis Podcast. What is wrong with Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams? Could Juan Martin Del Potro now go all the way? What of Murray, Nadal, Konta, Kerber and the rest? It's all in there. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with The Telegraph.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After Novak Djokovic wins an amazing 30th ATP Masters 1000 title, Catherine Whitaker - unaccompanied by David Law - talks us through an interesting week in Toronto which ended on a familiar note. As well as hearing from both finalists, we also hear from Stan Wawrinka on the shock news that Roger Federer will take no further part in the 2016 season, and from the man of the moment in Canada, 17 year-old Denis Shapovalov.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Johanna Konta won the first WTA title of her career, and the biggest by any British woman in 30 years after defeating Venus Williams in a nerve-shredding three-set final in Stanford.  Konta, who a year ago was ranked outside the World’s Top 100 and playing ITF tournaments, is now World No.14 and currently ninth in the race to the WTA finals in Singapore. According to The Tennis Podcast team, who convened after the final to discuss her rise, she is increasingly looking like a Top Ten player.  Following her 6-4, 6-2 win over Dominika Cibulkova in the semifinal, Konta raced to a 7-5, 4-1, double-break lead over Williams, and looked to be cruising to the title. But she wobbled with the finish line in sight, and Williams roared back to take the set 7-5 and force a decider. After regrouping at the end of set 2, Konta won the third 6-2 to become the first British woman since Sue Barker in 1977 to win the title.  Podcast presenters David Law (BBC 5 Live) and Catherine Whitaker...  See acast.com/privacy for

After Andy Murray won Wimbledon he was straight on a plane to Serbia for the Davis Cup quarterfinals. But not to play. This time it was another British player - Kyle Edmund, who was the hero.  Catherine Whitaker and David Law convene to cover a cracking Davis Cup quarterfinal weekend in which both Croatia and the United States made history, but for rather different reasons. And we enter the Poll Vault. Don't ask. The Tennis Podcast has been produced in association with Telegraph Sport.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

  Andy Murray won the second Wimbledon title of his career, and the Tennis Podcast team were astounded by his level of consistency throughout the final, and during the entire fortnight.  Three closely fought sets against Milos Raonic were won in fine style, and David Law (BBC 5 Live), Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and Simon Briggs (Telegraph Tennis Correspondent) discussed his feat just as Murray himself walked by after the match. And what next for Murray? We hear from Mark Philippoussis, who believes his best is yet to come, including the World No.1 ranking. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Serena Williams has drawn level with Steffi Graf on 22 Grand Slam titles, and the Tennis Podcast team got together to pay tribute to her. The Telegraph's Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs joined BBC 5 Live commentator David Law and Eurosport presenter Catherine Whitaker to review a highly entertaining clash between Williams and Angelique Kerber, and speculate about how many major titles the American will end up with.  After that it was on to the men's final, in which Andy Murray will try to win a second Wimbledon title, and Milos Raonic his first. Where will the match be won and lost? How many sets are we in for? And who will hold the trophy aloft at the end? It's all discussed on the Tennis Podcast, which is produced in association with Telegraph Sport. David Law will be part of the BBC 5 Live commentary team on the men's singles final, which takes place at 2pm on Sunday.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Milos Raonic is into a Grand Slam final for the first time in his career. Andy Murray is there, too, and for the first time he will not have Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic standing in his way. To review semifinals day and preview the final, we hear from the 1996 champion Richard Krajicek, who nearly worked with Raonic himself and shares many things in common. How has Raonic become a finalist? What are the keys to his success? And who will win when the Canadian faces Murray on Sunday? Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport), David Law (BBC 5 Live) and Simon Briggs (The Telegraph) get together to share their thoughts on the men’s semifinals and final, and to preview the women’s final. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Goran Ivanisevic was inconsolable the day after the man he coaches, Marin Cilic, lost out to Roger Federer after holding three match point, and the Croatian now believes Andy Murray will go on to win the title.  In an interview with Tennis Podcast presenter and BBC 5 Live commentator David Law, Ivanisevic said this was the worst he had felt in nearly 20 years, since losing to Pete Sampras in the 1998 final. He believes Federer against Raonic is now '50-50', that Murray will take care of Tomas Berdych, and that Murray will win his second Wimbledon.  Law is joined by co-host Catherine Whitaker, Simon Briggs from the Telegraph, and special guest Russell Fuller, the BBC's Tennis Correspondent, to review the victories of Serena Williams over Elena Vesnina, and Angelique Kerber and Venus Williams.  The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with The Telegraph.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Have we just witnessed the greatest Wimbledon quarterfinals day in history? First Roger Federer recovered from two sets to love down against Marin Cilic to win in the fifth, and then Andy Murray held on in the face of a stunning fightback from Jo Wilfried Tsonga to triumph, also in five. Afterwards, The Tennis Podcast team - Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live) - were joined by The Telegraph's Chief Sports Feature Writer Oliver Brown to weigh up whether we've ever seen anything better, pick apart how Federer did it, and what makes Murray the pit-bull competitor that he is.  The team preview the men's semifinals, and look ahead to the women's semis, which take place on Thursday. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Venus and Serena Williams rolled on to the Wimbledon semifinals, aged 36 and 34 respectively, to keep alive the chance of a history-making all-Williams final. Catherine, David and Simon Briggs (Telegraph) are joined by former ATP pro and BBC 5 Live commentator Jeff Tarango to discuss their extraordinary stories, assess their chances against Angelique Kerber and Elena Vesnina respectively, and to look ahead to the men's quarterfinals on Wednesday. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with The Telegraph  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The supposed 'blockbuster clash' between Andy Murray and Nick Kyrgios turned into a bit of a damp squib as Murray dismissed the Australian's challenge in less than a couple of hours to reach the quarterfinals.  Was it all Murray brilliance that led to the straight sets win, or did Kyrgios let himself down? All discussed on the Tennis Podcast.  Long-time BBC 5 Live tennis commentator Alastair Eykyn joins Telegraph tennis correspondent Simon Briggs and podcast presenters David Law and Catherine Whitaker to discuss a day known as 'manic Monday' because of the number of high profile matches played in one day. They review a comeback win for Milos Raonic, the excellence of Roger Federer and the potential for an all-Williams women's final at Wimbledon.  The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nick Kyrgios finished the job against Feliciano Lopez on Sunday to set up a blockbuster clash in the last 16 on Monday, and afterwards it felt as if he is finally coming of age. Kyrgios was imperious in blunting the serve-volley game of Lopez, and then ditched his normally combative, tetchy demeanour in the post-match press conference to inform, entertain and amuse the assembled media.  Telegraph Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs joined Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live) to discuss his performance, both on court and in the press conference, and to assess how they think Kyrgios vs. Murray will go. The progress of Serena Williams is also covered, with the draws dissected ahead of Manic Monday, when all of the last 16 matches in both singles draws will be played.  The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After a seismic Saturday at Wimbledon, the defending champion and three-time winner, Novak Djokovic was dethroned after a four-set defeat against Sam Querrey of the United States. Four Grand Slam tournaments in a row and two legs of the calendar Slam down, to see Djokovic lose in the first week of a major tournament sent shock waves through the tennis world. The Telegraph's Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs joined Catherine Whitaker and David Law to wade through it all, discuss the size of the shock, and the possible reasons for it.  Plus, what does this now mean for Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Milos Raonic? Who will end up benefiting most? The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Novak Djokovic is in big trouble - down two sets to love against the big-hitting American Sam Querrey - and in the opinion of BBC 5 Live commentator Philip Studd, who was sitting just a few feet from the World No.1 as he struggled, the end is nigh for the Serbian at Wimbledon when they resume.  A dramatic fifth day, in which rain again intervened, is reviewed by presenters David Law and Catherine Whitaker, as well as Charlie Eccleshare from the Telegraph, who was writing about the heroic return of Juan Martin Del Potro. The Argentine courageously overcame Stan Wawrinka in what had been, until Djokovic started to struggle, a major shock. Nine-time Wimbledon doubles champion Todd Woodbridge also joins the show to describe the five-set victory of Nick Kyrgios over Dustin Brown as 'the strongest mental performance of his career'. But how does Woodbridge thing Kyrgios would do if he met Andy Murray in the fourth round?  The Tennis Podcast is a free, downloadable tennis radio show which...  See acast.com/

After two days of rain, Wimbledon enjoyed a festival of matches while playing catch-up, and the seeds were falling all over the place on Thursday. Garbine Muguruza went from French Open champion to second round loser at Wimbledon in the space of a few weeks in the biggest upset of the tournament so far. To talk about everything, Catherine Whitaker and David Law are joined by BBC television presenter Clare Balding, who has spent more than two decades covering Wimbledon.  The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.     See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hearts were won on Centre Court on day 3, but for once, not by seven-time champion Roger Federer. His opponent Marcus Willis, ranked 772 in the world, only won seven games, but the combination of his wide-eyed, cheeky-chappie, smiley reaction to getting his Centre Court opportunity was a breath of fresh of air.  Catherine Whitaker and David Law are joined by the Telegraph's Charlie Eccleshare and BBC 5 Live's Philip Studd to discuss it all. Plus, how did Novak Djokovic look? What about the other Brits - Konta, Evans and Watson? And find out what happened when David bumped into umpires Mohamed lahyani and Carlos Barnardes.  The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport. We will have new shows every night during Wimbledon.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.