The Tennis Podcast

If Saturday was all about Naomi Osaka opening up a gap between herself and the rest of the field, then Sunday was all about Novak Djokovic closing the gap in the Grand Slam Race. After he beat Daniil Medvedev in a surprisingly one-sided final, his18th major title was the subject of our final podcast from the 2021 Australian Open. Why was the match not as close as we expected? Could Medvedev have done anything differently? Why did Djokovic 'need' this title? What might his schedule look like in the future as he worries less about his ranking? And how did Goran Ivanisevic stoke up the Grand Slam Race?The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments.SUPPORT THE TENNIS PODCASTWe are crowdfunded for 2021 but if you’d like to receive a reminder e-mail in December when our next campaign goes live, then you can sign up here - http://eepurl.com/gwWILXNEWSLETTERSign up to get our news,

On Saturday, Naomi Osaka beat Jennifer Brady 6-4, 6-3 to set herself apart. It was her 21st consecutive match win, her 4th Grand Slam title, and her 2nd Australian Open crown. Her 12-0 record at the quarter-finals and beyond in majors is unmatched by anyone else in the Open Era.We look back on where the final was won and lost, reflect on Osaka’s journey to this point and her place in the game, consider her potential on grass and clay, and discuss what the future might hold for Brady. There’s also a preview of tomorrow's men’s final between Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev. How can you back against Djokovic in an Australian Open final? But why do we have a feeling for Medvedev? The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments.NEWSLETTERSign up to get our news, offers, predictions and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRXEMAILWe hope that the podcast helps to provid

Just when Stefanos Tsitsipas thought he’d scaled his Everest by beating Rafael Nadal, he ran into Daniil Medvedev. The Russian picked apart Tsitsipas’ game for his 12th consecutive win over a Top-10 player to set up a final meeting with Novak Djokovic. In part one of this podcast we discuss the match, including the way the crowd influenced both players, the deceptive brilliance of Medvedev, whether Tsitsipas was fatigued, the simmering aggro, and Medvedev’s shot of the tournament contender. In part two, we speak to Simon Briggs to get his views on Medvedev’s appeal in the UK, to hear about his interview with Naomi Osaka’s fitness trainer, to discuss the news that the Australian Open is set to cost Tennis Australia $100m, and to ponder what’s next for the sport in these uncertain times. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments.NEWSLETTERSign up to get our news, off

Day 11 of this Australian Open was a classic day of Grand Slam semi-final tennis, defined by tournament favourites underlining their credentials, an ageing great dealing with the heaviness of defeat, and two inexperienced players anxiously trying to defeat their nerves and each other to reach a first major final. It left us with lots to reflect on and lots to look forward to on the podcast.Osaka shines bright - what makes her so special? Interpreting Serena’s wave goodbye Will Serena get to 24 and does it matter? (Featuring a small argument) Brady survives epic last game to reach first major final - can she trouble Osaka?Djokovic hits peak form at the right timeWhat next for Aslan Karatsev? Medvedev vs. Tsitsipas preview The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments.NEWSLETTERSign up to get our news, offers, predictions and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.co

What a day at the Australian Open: one that began with Ash Barty’s shock defeat to Karolina Muchova, and ended with Stefanos Tsitsipas' remarkable comeback against Rafael Nadal. We tried our best to put it all into words on the podcast. How did Tsitsipas turn the match around? What happened to Nadal in the third set tiebreak and beyond? Why was Barty vs. Muchova so weird? What role did the medical timeout play in the match? Will this defeat leave scar tissue for Barty? What does it mean that Jennifer Brady has backed up her US Open run? And how did Daniil Medvedev display his dominance over Andrey Rublev? The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments.NEWSLETTERSign up to get our news, offers, predictions and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRXEMAILWe hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writ

Osaka solves Hsieh conundrum with ease - how did she do it?Karatsev reaches semis on Grand Slam debut.Dimitrov devastated by back spasm. Vintage Serena beats Halep - will Osaka stop her? Serena and Rafa - an historic double? Djokovic manages injury, mood and Zverev. Crowds to return on Thursday? Fingers crossed.  The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments.NEWSLETTERSign up to get our news, offers, predictions and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRXEMAILWe 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.netSOCIAL MEDIA Twitter - https://twitter.com/TennisPodcastInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast/Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out info

Day 8 didn’t live up to the heights of previous days, with no upsets and no epics. But with the quarter-final line-up complete, we still had lots to cover. Has Jennifer Brady’s rise given Jessica Pegula belief? Why was Rafael Nadal vs. Fabio Fognini so disappointing? Will Matteo Berrettini’s withdrawal help or hinder Stefanos Tsitsipas? And is the lack of crowds benefitting Ash Barty? The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments.NEWSLETTERSign up to get our news, offers, predictions and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRXEMAILWe 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.netSOCIAL MEDIA Twitter - https://twitter.com/TennisPodcastInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast/Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/ &nb

All eyes were on the blockbuster Naomi Osaka vs. Garbine Muguruza and Serena Williams vs. Aryna Sabalenka matches on Sunday, and they didn’t disappoint. How did Osaka manage to raise her game when she needed it most? Did Muguruza get tight at the finish? And where did Serena’s incredible movement and defence come from? We also discuss what makes Su-Wei Hsieh’s presence in the quarter-finals so exciting for the tournament and why Simona Halep seems to be in a really good place. In the men’s draw, Novak Djokovic took to the court and beat Milos Raonic for the 12th time. How much did his side strain affect his play? And how might he fare against Alexander Zverev next? Plus, how did Grigor Dimitrov beat Dominic Thiem so easily? And what happened for Aslan Karatsev to come from two sets down to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime? The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tourname

Saturday was the quietest day of this Australian Open so far, in all senses of the word. The fans were sorely missed and there wasn’t quite the same amount of drama or fun as previous days. But it was still a Grand Slam day, meaning there was still plenty for us to discuss, including: Silent stadia - pros and cons Nadal makes progress; Will Fognini stop him? Berrettini wins, but bigger battles await Tsitsipas enjoys a quiet life What happened to Daniil Medvedev? Just how good is Casper Ruud? Barty braced for deep run. Who can stop her? 'Jen' Brady, perhaps The curious case of Karolina PliskovaThe Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments.*NEWSLETTER*Sign up to get our news, offers, predictions and Matt’s Stat - 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

Well that was one of the most surreal nights of tennis we’ve ever seen. The announcement of a Victoria state lockdown from midnight in Melbourne put the attendance of fans at the Australian Open on a ticking clock and led to one of the most electric atmospheres imaginable for all five mesmerising sets of Nick Kyrgios vs. Dominic Thiem and then to a mass exodus of fans mid-way through Novak Djokovic’s match against Taylor Fritz. The rest of it, as Djokovic struggled on through injury to win in a decider, was played in eerie silence. We did our best to process it all on the podcast. It was also a day which saw Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams and Iga Swiatek set up blockbuster R4 matches against Garbine Muguruza, Aryna Sabalenka and Simona Halep respectively. Their performances are analysed, Su-Wei Hsieh’s post-match interview is praised, and we learn about Aslan Karatsev. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-r

After the joy of Wednesday’s atmosphere at Melbourne Park, Day 4 at the Australian Open had a tough act to follow, but it certainly delivered drama.Why was it not surprising that defending champion Sofia Kenin lost? How did Stefanos Tsitsipas find himself in a five set battle with Thanasi Kokkinakis? Should we be talking about Karolina Pliskova as a title contender? Is Jennifer Brady in the mix now? How did Rafael Nadal react to being given the middle finger by a fan? And what on earth was the post-match aggro between Fabio Fognini and Salvatore Caruso all about? The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments.*NEWSLETTER*Sign up to get our news, offers, predictions and Matt’s Stat - 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@te

Days of tennis don’t come much better than that. In a packed podcast, we cover: The joy of tennis with crowdsKyrgios sending Melbourne Park into a frenzy Inspirational Venus carrying on despite injury, but losing to Errani Hsieh bamboozling Andreescu Tiafoe testing Djokovic on a hot and quick Rod Laver ArenaFucsovics beating Wawrinka in fifth set tiebreak Halep coming back from the brink against Tomljanovic Osaka, Swiatek and Serena easing through Cirstea upsetting Kvitova Tank tops and tennis bodies - a new perspectiveThe Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments.*NEWSLETTER*Sign up to get our news, offers, predictions and Matt’s Stat - 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@tennispodcas

Even on a relatively quiet day at the Australian Open, there were still significant results and storylines which altered the feel of the tournament. We discuss Sofia Kenin’s nerves, the ongoing talking point about how much hard quarantine is affecting players and impacting results, defeats for Maria Sakkari and Victoria Azarenka which have opened up their quarter, a 6-0 6-0 victory for Ash Barty, an injury for Jo Konta, how Rafael Nadal’s back held up in his straight-sets victory, Dan Evans’ disappointment at losing to Cameron Norrie, and Stefanos Tsitsipas' very awkward post-match interview. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments.*NEWSLETTER*Sign up to get our news, offers, predictions and Matt’s Stat - 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

After an exhilarating opening day at the Australian Open - featuring dominant performance from the leading women’s contenders and culminating in a five-set epic under the lights - Catherine, David and Matt had plenty to discuss on the pod. In what ways did both Shapovalov and Sinner impress in their late night epic? How did Kyrgios respond to Djokovic’s comment that he doesn’t “respect” him off court? Who sent the biggest statement - Halep, Serena or Osaka? What did Kerber have to say about the impact of 14-day quarantine after her heavy defeat? Why did Gael Monfils get so emotional in his press conference? And how did it feel to watch Andreescu play and win a tennis match again? The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments.*NEWSLETTER*Sign up to get our news, offers, predictions and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX*EMAIL*We hope that the podcast helps to provid

There have been moments over the last few days, weeks and months when the chances of there even being an Australian Open in 2021 have felt slim. But one of the great feats of organisation has been pulled off, some bullets have been dodged, our fingers remain crossed, and play is set to get underway in a few hours. In this episode we wrap up the results from the six lead-in tournaments. What is Dan Evans’ ranking ceiling after he won his first ATP title? Why has Felix Auger-Aliassime not even won a set in his seven finals? Will Jannik Sinner be physically compromised after his efforts this week? In what way did Ash Barty send a statement to the rest of the tour in her victory over Garbine Muguruza? And is Andrey Rublev in the Australian Open mix? We also discuss the major talking points from the pre tournament press conferences, including what Novak Djokovic thinks of Nick Kyrgios, Iga Swiatek’s honesty about how she’s dealing with being a Grand Slam champion, updates on the fitness of Rafael Nadal a

After a 24-hour stoppage with everyone holding their breath, tennis returned again in Melbourne with all six Australian Open warm up tournaments now hurtling towards the finish line. In the first half of the show we discuss the possible motivation behind the large number of retirements and walkovers, assess how concerned we are about Simona Halep and Rafael Nadal’s physical state, marvel at Garbine Muguruza’s form, and cover Dan Evans’ run to the semi-final of the Murray River Open. Then, it’s time to break down the Australian Open draws. What makes the bottom half of the women’s draw so mouthwatering? And in what way does the men’s one look more balanced overall? The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments.*NEWSLETTER*Sign up to get our news, offers, predictions and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX*EMAIL*We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form

A positive covid test from someone who had worked at the Australian Open quarantine hotel appeared to leave the tournament teetering on a cliff edge last night, with hundreds of players and staff forced to isolate again. After 24 hours of mass testing, however, Craig Tiley says the tournament will go ahead as planned. For now.It’s a situation which has served as a reminder of the precariousness of Tennis Australia’s operation to stage the event and in this episode we talk all about it. We also reflect on what we’ve seen so far from the the lead-in tournaments. Who has impressed at the ATP Cup? How is Iga Swiatek adjusting to life as a Grand Slam champion? How do we feel about the latest Nick Kyrgios circus? And what makes Carlos Alcaraz so good? Finally, we respond to some of the feedback we’ve received about our decision to refer to the second stadium court at Melbourne Park as the Evonne Goolagong Arena. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Ro

With six tournaments all taking place at Melbourne Park this week, we try to get our heads around it all and discuss what we’ve seen so far. How did Serena Williams look in her first match? What about Katie Boulter? What do we expect from Bianca Andreescu in her first tournament for 15 months? Why have the crowds not shown up yet? And will the ATP Cup provide good preparation for the Australian Open? We also reveal our plans to refer to the second stadium at Melbourne Park as the Evonne Goolagong Arena. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments.*NEWSLETTER*Sign up to get our news, offers, predictions and Matt’s Stat - 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*SOCIAL MEDIA* Twitter - https:

In this episode we travel back four years to bask in the wonder that was the 2017 Australian Open. There was so much to cover (hence the length of this show) from shock defeats for Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, exciting runs from Dan Evans and Jo Konta, the re-emergence of Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, controversy surrounding Nick Kyrgios, and ultimately a throwback finals weekend which saw Serena defeat Venus and Roger defeat Rafa. We react to clips from the daily pods, get Mary Carillo's take, and consider the lasting significance of the tournament. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments.*NEWSLETTER*Sign up to get our news, offers, predictions and Matt’s Stat - 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*SOCIAL

In 1995, Pete Sampras was the world No.1, a five-time major winner, and the defending Australian Open champion. He was also a dominant and stoic figure, labelled by many as boring and representative of a sport in decline. All that changed early in the fifth set of Sampras’ quarter-final match against Jim Courier when, overcome with emotion as he thought of his friend and coach Tim Gullikson, who had flown home from Melbourne with serious health problems, Sampras began to weep uncontrollably. He somehow managed to ace his way through the tears and win the match, but it was an extraordinary moment, and one that altered the public’s perception of Sampras. Mary Carillo, who was commentating on the match for ESPN, tells the story from her vantage point, and David remembers how he felt at the time, as a huge Sampras fan watching it all unfold on TV. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during t