The Tennis Podcast

In becoming the first British woman to lift the Miami Open trophy, Jo Konta scored the nation’s most notable win by a female tennis player since Virginia Wade won Wimbledon in 1977, and reached World No.7 in the process. In the view of the Tennis Podcast team, this is only the beginning for Konta. On the latest show, presenters Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport) agreed that she is a going to be a powerful, influential, positive role-model. But how far can she go on the court? They debate her prospects, considering whether Grand Slam titles and perhaps even the World No.1 ranking are possibilities. Roger Federer, meanwhile, keeps winning, aged 35 and a half. Australian Open, Indian Wells, Miami and out, for now, as he revealed he won’t play again until the French Open. How is he doing this? Would he win if he played the 2006 version of himself? And could he even win the French Open? The man he squeezed past in the semifinals, Nick Kyrgios, appears, in the view of the... &#

As Miami got underway and concern grew for the health of Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, the subject of on-court coaching came under the spotlight, and the Tennis Podcast team are debating it in this week’s show. Is it time for the men’s game to follow the lead of the women’s game and allow a mic’d up Ivan Lendl on to the court to tell Murray what’s what? Is it a ‘bad look’ for the sport, as many commentators have deemed it, for only female players to be seen asking for help on court? Should it be taken out of the sport altogether, or should tennis go much further and allow coaching from the stands between points? It’s all discussed in the latest Tennis Podcast. The health of Murray and Djokovic is discussed, the chances of Simona Halep, Jo Konta and the various other runners and riders in Miami are covered, and one of the show’s presenters reveals details of a scarcely credible tennis victory. There is also reaction to the latest Nick Kyrgios Twitter Q & A. The Tennis Podcast is a weekly...

Roger Federer, who will turn 36 in August, will finish 2017 as the World’s No.1 male tennis player if he stays healthy. That’s the view of David Law, the BBC 5 Live and BT Sport tennis commentator and one of the presenters of The Tennis Podcast, which is produced in association with Telegraph Sport. Federer added the Indian Wells title to his win at the Australian Open in Melbourne in January, and Law said on the new edition of the podcast that, with the physical and form issues being experienced by Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic currently, added to the freshness and brilliance being exhibited by Federer, the Swiss player overhauling everyone by the end of the year. Elsewhere, Law and co-host Catherine Whitaker, a tennis presenter for Eurosport, wonder why so many of the players in the latter stages of big tournaments tend to be over 30 these days, including the excellent Elena Vesnina, who won the women’s title 15 months after finishing 2015 outside the world’s Top 100. There is concern over Murray... &

Andy Murray said he had never seen anything like it. Tennis Twitter almost broke. That’s what happened when the BNP Paribas Open draw in Indian Wells pitched Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin Del Potro into the same quarter of the draw, along with precocious talents Alex Zverev and Nick Kyrgios. But who will come through it? Kyrgios faces Zverev, and Djokovic meets Del Potro tonight. The winner of those matches will clash in round 4. And then the winner of that is likely to meet the winner of Federer and Nadal. That’s just to reach the semis. On this week’s Tennis Podcast, Eurosport presenter Catherine Whitaker and BBC 5 Live and BT Sport commentator David Law make their predictions. There’s also discussion about Murray’s early demise in the Californian desert for the fourth time in seven years. What is his problem in Indian Wells? The comments of Caroline Wozniacki about Maria Sharapova’s wild card for Stuttgart, and her wild cards in general, are debated. There’s the... &

The big guns returned to action in Dubai and Acapulco with varying degrees of success, and Catherine and David convened to discuss a jam-packed week on The Tennis Podcast. Andy Murray scooped the title in Dubai, but only after winning a 30-minute, 38-point tie-break. He looked like his old self, according to the Tennis Podcast team. Nick Kyrgios scored one of the biggest wins of his career over Novak Djokovic, making it a hat-trick of wins over Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in his first matches against them. But he promptly lost to Sam Querrey. A fierce argument ensues between Catherine and David about whether he will ever crack it at Grand Slam level. On the subject of Querrey, it wasn’t just a win over Kyrgios. He knocked out seasoned players galore with victories over David Goffin, Dominic Thiem and then Rafael Nadal in the final. Where did that run of form come from, and can he build on it? Roger Federer returned, but it wasn’t one of his better weeks, as he lost a tie-break from 5-1 up...

The Australian Open champion Roger Federer, the World No.1 Andy Murray, and the man who has dominated the men’s tennis world for years, Novak Djokovic, return to action this week, and all are discussed at length in the new Tennis Podcast. Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport) convene to discuss whether they think the headlines about Federer committing to playing for a further three years will be realised, whether Andy Murray might, in the words of the Telegraph’s Simon Briggs, have overtrained and given himself shingles, and why Djokovic has taken a late wild card into Acapulco. Looking back at a packed week on the tennis calendar, the team cover the rise of David Goffin and Elina Svitolina, two relatively unheralded figures, who broke into the world’s Top Ten over the past week. Will they become forces at the Grand Slam tournaments? The podcast looks at Donald Young, so long a relative underachiever, who has a suddenly notable but highly unusual claim to fame - beating...

Karolina Pliskova has only lost one match all year, winning the title in Doha last week to add to her Brisbane victory and Fed Cup success. She reached the final of the US Open last September, beating Venus and Serena Williams along the way. So, is Pliskova the next new Grand Slam champion and World No.1 on the WTA Tour? In the latest Tennis Podcast, recorded in London Marylebone station, David Law (BBC 5 Live and BT Sport) and Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) made their predictions, as did legions of the show’s listeners. On the men’s side, there were three surprising winners - Jo Wilfried Tsonga lifting his first trophy in two years (Rotterdam), Alexandr Dolgopolov his first for 5 years (Buenos Aires), and a tearful Ryan Harrison won the first title of his career (Memphis). The return of Juan Martin Del Potro to play his first tennis of the year is discussed, and the team also debate the fact that Serena Williams, Caroline Wozniacki and Eugenie Bouchard appeared in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit...

It was Fed Cup week, and Britain were celebrating progress, despite it going down to the wire. Captain Anne Keothavong joins David Law and Catherine Whitaker to describe the emotions she was going through and how she made her big doubles decision. Elsewhere, Czech Republic kept on rolling, and will now face USA, who were trying to deal with controversy having played a World War 2 version of the German national anthem. On the men’s tour, there were three very different winners in Grigor Dimitrov, Alex Zverev and Victor Estrella-Burgos. All three are discussed in the latest Tennis Podcast. And we debate the subject of Maria Sharapova and wild cards. Madrid have announced that they are awarding her one, but what will Wimbledon do if she doesn’t have the ranking points to qualify automatically? The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

An otherwise thrilling Davis Cup weekend ended in numbed silence after 17-year-old Denis Shapovalov smashed a ball away in frustration which crashed into the eye of chair umpire Arnaud Gabas. He was instantly defaulted, sending Great Britain through, and Canada out of the competition. A few hours after the incident, Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport), freshly back from Melbourne and wrapped in a comical coat to protect against the weather, and David Law (BBC 5 Live) met at London Marylebone station to discuss what had happened. Should Shapovalov have been dealt a harsher punishment? Is a lengthy ban in order? Or was it just an accident and everyone should leave him alone? That and all of the other Davis Cup ties are covered, as is a big win for Kiki Mladenovic, and the Fed Cup is previewed. Plus, David gives the inside track on what Rafael Nadal did next after his Australian Open final defeat (they shared a plane). The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.  See acast.co

Fittingly, it went five sets, and they saved the best for last. Roger Federer produced a period of other-worldly tennis to win his 18th Grand Slam title against his biggest rival of all. Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live) concur that it amounts to the greatest of all of his victories. In a Tennis Podcast recorded moments afterwards, they explain why. Over the course of the 30-minute show, they discuss where the match was won and lost, what happened to Nadal after going a break up in the fifth, and Mats Wilander drops by to give his verdict. We also hear from Rene Stauffer, journalist from Tages Anzeiger in Switzerland. Stauffer has covered Federer since he was junior and is uniquely placed to sum up the victory. The Tennis Podcast in Australia was produced in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport. The weekly show will return soon.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Serena Williams made history by winning a 23rd Grand Slam singles title, and then the tennis world's attention turned to Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal. In the Day 13 Tennis Podcast from the Australian Open, Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live) convened to look back and ahead. What was the match like between Serena and Venus? How big an achievement is a 23rd Slam? Will she break Margaret Court's number of 24? And how long will she continue to play? As we look ahead to Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer, Catherine interviews John McEnroe, David speaks to Boris Becker, and we hear from Federer, interviewed by Mats Wilander for Eurosport. A Tennis Podcast, produced in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport, will be available to download after the men's singles final on Sunday.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nine years since the one and only time that Serena Williams played Venus Williams, and Roger Federer met Rafael Nadal in the same Grand Slam tournament, it will happen against this weekend. After Nadal somehow subdued the brave, magical tennis of Grigor Dimitrov in a five-set, near five-hour epic on Friday night, Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport), David Law (BBC 5 Live) and Simon Briggs (Telegraph) got together on the Tennis Podcast to try to make sense of it all. Where was the match won and lost? How devastated was Dimitrov in his post-match interview? And what physical state will Nadal be in by the time he makes the final? Plus, with less than 24 hours to go until the Venus Williams vs. Serena Williams final on Saturday, who do the team think will come out on top? Will Venus win the title for the first time, in her 37th year? Or will Serena break the record she shares with Steffi Graf for Grand Slam title No.23? It’s all discussed in the Tennis Podcast. A new Tennis Podcast is available throughout the...

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...