The Tennis Podcast

On a largely frustrating, rain-sodden day in Paris, Jelena Ostapenko and Timea Bacsinszky were two of the only people at Roland Garros smiling at the end of the day. Unseeded teenager Ostapenko stunned former World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki in three sets, while Bacsinszky defeated home favourite Kristina Mladenovic. On the latest Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker is joined by her Eurosport colleague, commentator Chris Bradnam, to review where the quarterfinals were won and lost. With the two of the men's quarterfinals held over to Wednesday because of the rain, meaning that all four are played on the same day, Catherine was joined by Pat Cash on Eurosport to chat all things tennis. Cash revealed that Andy Murray's coach Ivan Lendl was 'by far the most annoying person I have ever met in a locker room in my life', that Andre Agassi revealed to him that Novak Djokovic was still very much a work-in-progress, and that Dominic Thiem could take advantage against the defending champion in the heavy, soggy... &

‘Night and day’ said Andy Murray to Catherine Whitaker on Eurosport, when comparing his form before the French Open to the tennis he displayed in reaching the quarterfinals on Monday.That interview, reproduced here on The Tennis Podcast, gives an insight into his growing confidence, self belief, and relaxed state of mind. What does he expect to happen against Kei Nishikori in the next round? What do he and Ivan Lendl talk about in the locker room after matches? And is his daughter Sophia showing any signs of interest in tennis yet? He answers them all, with a twinkle in his eye that comes across even in audio form. On a busy day for Whitaker in Paris, she also tells us about a conversation she had with Goran Ivanisevic, on the day that he separated with Tomas Berdych. Ivanisevic told Whitaker the alliance between Novak Djokovic and Andre Agassi 'is not going to last'.The form of Stan Wawrinka is covered, as his that of his quarterfinal opponent Marin Cilic, and there’s a...  See acast.com/priva

Garbine Muguruza departed the French Open wagging her finger in anger at the local crowd. They didn't care. Kristina Mladenovic, or Kiki as she is known, reached the quarterfinals in a tumultuous atmosphere at Roland Garros, and afterwards the Tennis Podcast team assembled to talk about it.Were the crowd out of order or do players just need to accept and take it? Could Mladenovic go on from here and win the title?Elsewhere, the only man that looked anything like as impressive as Rafael Nadal on day 8 was Dominic Thiem. Could the Austrian find enough inspiration to take out Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals?On Monday, Andy Murray takes on young Russian Karen Khachanov in the last 16. Who is Khachanov? Presenters Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live) reveal all they know.The rest of the results on Sunday are reviewed on the show, with previews of Monday's matches thrown in. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport and...  See acast.com/privacy for privac

As the French Open enters week two, Andy Murray has started to look like the World No.1 for the first time this year, according to the Telegraph's Tennis Podcast team.Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and the Telegraph's Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs met up after Murray's straight sets defeat of Juan Martin del Potro to dissect his win, including a mind-boggling 85 minute first set.We hear from Murray, talking to Whitaker on Eurosport straight after the match, and Briggs proudly airs his down-the-line-drop-shot theory again, which was backed up throughout the contest.They discuss Kyle Edmund's narrow loss to Kevin Anderson, the progress of women's favourite Simona Halep, and the tension between French players Caroline Garcia and Alize Cornet, who face off in the last 16.We also hear from Mats Wilander, who joined Catherine Whitaker in the rain to fill some airtime on Eurosport, and ended up giving the most fascinating insight into the difference between Federer/Nadal and...  See acast.com/privacy f

The French Open Day 6 edition of the Tennis Podcast started with Novak Djokovic two sets to one down. By the time it concluded, he had extricated himself from trouble.Presenter Catherine Whitaker was joined by Eurosport colleagues and commentary team Simon Reed and Frew McMillan as they stepped out of the commentary box following one of their shorter shifts - a 6-0, 6-1, 6-0 victory for Rafael Nadal over Nikoloz Basilashvili. ‘He looked unbeatable’ said McMillan, and Reed agreed.As well as reviewing that awesome performance, Whitaker, Reed and McMillan talked about Djokovic’s struggles against Diego Schwartzman and his alliance with Andre Agassi, as well as all the other week one storylines. Later in the show, we get the chance to hear the thoughts of the Great Britain Davis Cup captain Leon Smith, and his Argentine counterpart Daniel Orsanic ahead of Andy Murray vs. Juan Martin del Potro on Saturday.The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport and...  See acast.com/privac

It was still short of Andy Murray's vintage, Grand Slam title-winning best form, but he is into round three of the French Open, and according to Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and the Telegraph's tennis correspondent Simon Briggs, he has the perfect platform to build on.In the latest Tennis Podcast, Whitaker and Briggs discuss the contrasting routes through to the third round of Murray and Juan Martin del Potro, and speculate as to what might happen when they meet on Saturday.Del Potro's heartbreaking, retirement win over Nicolas Almagro, who departed the court in agony and floods of tears after injuring his knee, reminded everyone what a sporting man Del Potro is. The Argentine rushed to Almagro's aid and comforted him throughout.Kyle Edmund joined Murray in round three, and will now face Kevin Anderson, a surprise winner over Nick Kyrgios. Can Edmund keep his run going?And there's debate over Margaret Court's controversial comments about same-sex marriage, and the response...  See acast.com/privac

Day four of the French Open started with everyone expecting to talk about Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Garbine Muguruza. It ended with the latest Tennis Podcast leading on Steve Johnson, the World No.26. While Nadal and Djokovic cruised to victory, Johnson dragged himself through four ageing sets against Borna Coric. Not that big a deal on the face of it, until you saw him on match point, falling to his knees and sobbing uncontrollably. A few weeks earlier, his father and mentor, Steve senior, had died suddenly at the age of 58. Podcast presenter Catherine Whitaker admitted to welling up watching him, and she wasn’t the only one.The wins of Nadal and Djokovic are also discussed, as is the surprising loss of Jo Wilfried Tsonga to Renzo Olivo. Could that open a door for Britain’s Kyle Edmund, who now plays Olivo in round 2 today?Two of the favourites for the women’s title, Muguruza and Svetlana Kuznetsova squeezed through in three sets, and Caroline Wozniacki dished out a 6-0...  See acast.co

Andy Murray arrived in Paris with little form to speak of, under the weather, and by all accounts, tetchy. After losing the second set 6-4 against Andrey Kuznetsov, things were not looking up. According to Tennis Podcast presenters David Law and Catherine Whitaker, sets 3 and 4 of his first round win could end up being the turning point of his French Open. Perhaps even his year. He found renewed purpose, positive body language and incisive play. He looked more like the World No.1.The news was less positive for Johanna Konta, who lost from a set up, and Alexander Zverev, who couldn’t reproduce the form that landed him the Rome title. The podcast team assess their defeats, while also covering the win of Nick Kyrgios and the return of his good friend, Thanasi Kokkinakis. They also react to the storm over the actions of French tennis player Maxime Hamou towards Eurosport reporter Maly Thomas during an interview, behaviour described by the French Tennis Federation as ‘reprehensible’. The...  See aca

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic started their campaigns at Roland Garros, but while both registered convincing looking straight set wins, not everyone was convinced by what they saw.On the Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker was joined by two Eurosport colleagues - former World No.5 Jo Durie and commentator Chris Bradnam - to dissect day 2 at the French Open.How did the Djokovic / Andrew Agassi partnership seem like it was working? Was Agassi the coach sitting stony-faced like Ivan Lendl, or fidgeting and pumping his fist at his charge like John McEnroe?How did Nadal look as he started his quest for a tenth title in Paris?What was going on with one of the pre-tournament favourites in the women’s draw - Kristina Mladenovic - who became entangled in a 3-hour epic with Jennifer Brady?Looking ahead to Tuesday, how do Durie and Bradnam rate the chances of British pair Andy Murray and Johanna Konta, who both start their campaigns?It’s all discussed on the latest Tennis...  See acast.com/privacy for privacy

The Tennis Podcast - Kvitova ‘Wins French Open’ On Opening DayIt was only the first day, but it already felt as though Petra Kvitova had won the French Open.Six months after being subjected to a terrifying knife attack in her own home, Kvitova returned to the court and won her first match at Roland Garros. Simon Briggs, the Telegraph’s Tennis Correspondent, appears on the latest Tennis Podcast and says that she was unquestionably the story of the opening day of the tournament. That’s on a day when the World No.1 Angelique Kerber suffered a humbling defeat at the hands of Ekaterina Makarova. The German seemed a shadow of the woman that won two major titles a year ago. What did Briggs and Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) make of her defeat?Catherine Whitaker was courtside during the Dan Evans vs. Tommy Robredo match, and described the conditions as some of the most oppressive she had ever experienced, such was the heat. The pod team assess the performance of...  See acast.com/privacy for privacy an

A year ago, the weather was awful, Rafael Nadal pulled out just as he was about to get going, and Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray marched to a final meeting, while Garbine Muguruza ousted Serena Williams in the final. As the French Open prepares to get underway in 2017, things could not be more different. The weather is glorious, Nadal is the overwhelming favourite to land an extraordinary 10th title, and Djokovic and Murray are scratching around for form. Meanwhile, Muguruza is similarly short of her title-winning best from last year and Serena Williams is off the circuit for a while as she prepares to give birth to her first baby.The Tennis Podcast team are here to go through it all.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Andre Agassi will return to the sport as its latest ‘Super Coach’, Maria Sharapova will play in Wimbledon qualifying and Victoria Azarenka will return to the sport seven months after having her baby boy, Leo. Just another week in on the global tennis tour.It all gave the Tennis Podcast team plenty to get their teeth into in the latest edition of the show, which is available to listen to now.What do we expect to happen when Agassi and Djokovic get together in Paris? Will it be a success?What will it be like when Sharapova plays Wimbledon qualifying?And how will will Victoria Azarenka get on when she returns? According to presenters Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport), there is a lot more to Azarenka than meets the eye. The break-out victory in Rome of Alexander Zverev is discussed, as is the win for Elina Svitolina, and the team try to work out what happened to Simona Halep in...  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With nine days having passed since the last podcast was recorded, an awful lot has happened in the fast-moving tennis world, including the announcement that the FFT have denied Maria Sharapova a wildcard into either the main draw or the qualifying event at Roland Garros. Catherine & David pick apart the decision, the way it was announced and the way the tennis world has reacted to it, as well as discussing the 4000 other things that have happened in tennis this week including yet another clay court title for Rafael Nadal, and the decision by Roger Federer to skip the French Open and focus on Wimbledon.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It was midway through recording of the latest Tennis Podcast that presenters Catherine Whitaker and David Law received a message from the Telegraph’s tennis correspondent Simon Briggs which detailed his story about Andre Agassi being a potential coach for Novak Djokovic.Djokovic had cleared out virtually all of his support team in one go last week, and the podcast’s attentions immediately turned to who might replace him. Could it be Pete Sampras, the 14-time Grand Slam champion that Djokovic idolised as a boy? Maybe Mats Wilander? Or perhaps a non-playing established coach? Or maybe he would just play without a coach for a while.Then, the Agassi story landed at Tennis Podcast HQ, and the debate intensified still further. The results of the past week are discussed, there’s a preview of Madrid, the appalling social media abuse of Gael Monfils is detailed, and the team give their impressions of Tie Break Tens, the new short format of the game that...  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out

It’s been a rough few months with illness and injury, but Andy Murray believes that he has come in the clay court season in 2017 ‘in a better place’ than he did the 2016 in which he ended up reaching the French Open final. Murray joined Catherine Whitaker for Tennis Podcast Extra, and described his season so far, his hopes for the clay court season, and the challenge of staying at World No.1.The interview took place at The Queen’s Club - home of the Aegon Championships which Murray has won a record five times. What is he expecting from the grass court season? Why does Queen’s work for him so well as preparation for Wimbledon? And does he have anything planned for his 30th birthday later this month? Murray also talks about the progress of fellow British players Johanna Konta, Kyle Edmund and Dan Evans, as well as how he hopes to play Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at some point this year. The Tennis Podcast is a...  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Maria Sharapova is back. Many are happy to see her, many less so, but her return can not be ignored, and it’s the central theme on this week’s Tennis Podcast. How will she reflect on her run to the semifinals? Did she strike the notes in her post-match press conference? And is she a French Open contender? The team also look at the continuing form of Rafael Nadal, who followed up his 10th title in Monte Carlo with a second La Decima in Barcelona. Can anyone stop him from making it three in Roland Garros next month? A certain Roger Federer, perhaps? As the tennis world awaits the return of Victoria Azarenka, and eventually, perhaps, Serena Williams after pregnancy, we hear from Kim Clijsters on what it was like for her to come back to win Grand Slam titles after becoming a mother. The wins of Laura Siegemund in Stuttgart, and Lucas Pouille in Budapest are also covered, the team preview a star-studded line-up for the third Tie Break Tens tournament which takes place in Madrid on Thursday, and we hear... &#

In the first Tennis Podcast Extra, we focus on Nick Kyrgios, hearing from the man himself about what makes him tick, the ‘dark place’ he found himself in after the Australian Open, and how he got himself out of it to beat everyone except Roger Federer. We also hear from his Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt, who gives an insight into how to get the best out of Kyrgios, his potential, and the man that he knows behind the scenes. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Results of tennis matches take a back-seat on this week’s Tennis Podcast after the behaviour of Ilie Nastase over the weekend and the return of Maria Sharapova imminent following a 15-month suspension for a failed drugs test. The former French Open champion and BBC presenter Sue Barker joins Tennis Podcast hosts Catherine Whitaker and David Law to expresses her shock and disappointment at Nastase’s ‘unforgivable’ behaviour. The Telegraph’s Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs is a guest from Bucharest en route to Stuttgart in Germany, where Sharapova’s comeback will commence. Briggs details the ‘edginess’ felt by himself and the rest of the British media when the Nastase Fed Cup furore began to bubble over, and what to expect around the Sharapova story over the coming week. Pod presenters Whitaker and Law have their say about a deeply uncomfortable few days which culminated in Nastase being banned from ITF events pending an investigation, and the bizarre comments of Sharapova’s agent Max Eisenbud.... &n

The year's first big clay court event is upon us and there are more unknowns than perhaps any edition of the Monte Carlo Masters over the last decade. The Tennis Podcast team are here to pick through it all. Is Andy Murray's elbow in a sufficient state for a proper clay court campaign? Is Novak Djokovic ready to rediscover his true form, or will he come unstuck again like he did against Jiri Vesely a year ago? And what of Rafael Nadal? After a strong start to the year, albeit in the slipstream of Roger Federer (who plans to put his feet up for the next six weeks), is the Spaniard in the right frame of mind to win a 10th Monte Carlo crown? Presenters Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport) discuss the possibilities over a pint in the pub. There's also a preview of Britain's attempt to beat Romania, in Romania, in the Fed Cup World Group 2 Play-offs. Can Jo Konta, Heather Watson and co pull off a big upset? We also review last week's tournaments, celebrating a new... &nbs

After a Davis Cup weekend in which Lleyton Hewitt got the very best out of Australia, France’s strength in depth quelled Great Britain and Novak Djokovic played his first tie in more than a year, the Tennis Podcast team assembled to discuss the results. Is Nick Kyrgios’ recent excellence now just ‘a thing’? Could Britain have done any more? And will Djokovic returning to the Davis Cup fold be the catalyst for renewed form on the singles circuit? The podcast team also discuss the first title won by 19-year-old Russian Daria Kasatkina, the somewhat less-than-gracious runners-up speech of her opponent Jelena Ostapenko, and the subsequent tweet of Elena Vesnina, who wasn’t impressed. On-court coaching again comes up, as does player ‘grunting’ in a review of Mary Carillo’s interview with WTA CEO Steve Simon on the Tennis Channel. The Tennis Podcast is a weekly, downloadable tennis audio show presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport), with daily editions during the... &