The Tennis Podcast

Novak Djokovic will take on Stan Wawrinka in the final of the US Open on Sunday, but the main question that needed answering on the Tennis Podcast on Friday night was: what on earth was Gael Monfils doing? Playing in his first Grand Slam semifinal for eight years, and with a 0-12 record against Djokovic, Monfils appeared to adopt ‘Rope-a-dope’ tactics, trying to mess Djokovic around to a point where he might lose his form. It didn’t work. Accusations of ‘tanking’ - not trying - were levelled from various quarters, but Monfils fiercely denied them. So what did happen?  Presenters Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live) describe the extent of the humidity felt in New York during the semifinals, and try to imagine what it would be like to play in.  During the podcast, Wawrinka walks past and he looks every inch the seasoned Grand Slam finalist after reaching the third of his career. He is yet to lose one.  This is the 250th edition of The Tennis Podcast, which...  See acast.com/privac

With a single double-fault, Serena Williams handed Karolina Pliskova a passage through to her first Grand Slam final, the World No.1 ranking to Angelique Kerber, and dashed her own chances of going ahead of Steffi Graf in the all-time list of Grand Slam title holders. Afterwards, David Law (BBC 5 Live) and Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) got together on the daily US Open Telegraph Tennis Podcast to discuss a couple of hours that shifted the tennis world on its axis.  Where was the Williams-Pliskova match won and lost? What caused Williams to double-fault at match point? Could her nerve be going? How big a factor was the knee injury that she revealed afterwards. Was it poor form to mention it? All discussed on the Tennis Podcast, as well as an assessment of the rise of Kerber, and a preview and predictions of the men’s semifinals. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Catherine Whitaker pre-warned that Kei Nishikori and Michael Chang had been plotting the downfall of Andy Murray on the practice court, and they got what they wanted in the US Open quarterfinals.  Murray had lost over five sets only twice in 8 years - both of them to Novak Djokovic - but for once he dipped into his enormous reserves and found nothing there. Afterwards, Catherine and David Law got together to discuss the match, Murray’s struggle to deal with some of the distractions on the court, and the possible reasons. They also cover the wins of Karolina Pliskova and Serena Williams, as the semifinals approach. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Caroline Wozniacki has looked anything but a Grand Slam finalist this year, but her excellent form has continued at the US Open and she will clash with Angelique Kerber on Thursday.  Catherine Whitaker and David Law took to the 5 Live commentary box to talk about it, and to preview Andy Murray's quarterfinal with Kei Nishikori. Catherine reveals some insight from a Nishikori/Chang practice session, and how Ivan Lendl threw them off the court, and then David reflects on a night-session that was all a bit of damp squib.  Novak Djokovic reached the semifinals of the US Open after his third opponent of the fortnight failed to finish. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

24 hours after Novak Djokovic sent out a statement of intent with a straight sets humbling of Kyle Edmund, Andy Murray responded with one of the most ruthless wins of his career against Grigor Dimitrov.  David Law commentated for BBC 5 Live on Murray’s 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 win, Catherine Whitaker interviewed Murray on-court straight afterwards for Eurosport, and then Law and Whitaker got together to compare notes on The Tennis Podcast. Having reached 23 successive last 16 rounds at Grand Slams, was this Murray’s best performance ever at that stage of a major tournament? Will he and Djokovic be able to recreate those performances over the next few days to meet in the final on Sunday? What of Murray’s quarterfinal opponent Kei Nishikori? How did he look against the giant serving of Ivo Karlovic? And what of sentimental favourites Venus Williams and Juan Martin Del Potro? How did they get on? The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out inf

Was it Novak Djokovic returning to his all-conquering self, or Kyle Edmund struggling to cope with the occasion that led to a fairly lopsided scoreline in their last 16 US Open clash?  In the Telegraph’s latest Tennis Podcast, David Law (BBC 5 Live) and Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) don’t entirely see eye to eye on the subject. Jo Konta had a difficult day in the fourth round, losing in straight sets to Anastasia Sevastova. Did she just hit the wall or was it a huge missed opportunity? More disagreements ensue. Rafael Nadal’s US Open came to an end at the hands at Lucas Pouille of France. Who? The Tennis Podcast team explain, and describe how he took his chance, while also remembering a Nadal forehand that might give the Spaniard nightmares.    The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

One point away from the biggest win of his life, third round prize money already in his pocket, and finally fulfilling his obvious promise, Dan Evans was the talk of the town in New York on Saturday, even though he did eventually go down. Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport), David Law (BBC 5 Live) and Simon Briggs (Telegraph) assembled for their daily Tennis Podcast chat at Flushing Meadows, to review the day, and the 25 year old from Birmingham was the man they started with. Where did his match with Stan Wawrinka turn? How would he take the defeat, and what about his future? It’s all discussed on the latest show, and we hear from Evans himself, talking about the moment his attitude changed for the better off the court when he was ranked 772 in the world. The podcast team also review the performances of the Williams sisters in reaching the last 16, the trials and tribulations of Andy Murray in edging out Paolo Lorenzi of Italy, and they look ahead to a stunning Sunday.  Jo Konta...  See acast.com/privacy

Andy Murray has spent 11 years reaching the second week of Grand Slam tournaments, but he has never had the company of a fellow British singles player. That is about to change, assuming Murray makes it through against Paolo Lorenzi today. The Tennis Podcast team convened to discuss the performance from Kyle Edmund, who showed maturity and mental strength to go with his power and precision from the baseline. The British player beat John Isner 7-6 in the fourth set.  Could he even trouble the World Number One Novak Djokovic in the last 16? Is Djokovic a little undercooked after his last two opponents withdrew because of injury? Or is Edmund going to be schooled by one of the greatest tennis players of all time? Tennis Podcast presenters Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live) give their views on the latest show. They also discuss the extraordinary through-the-legs lob that Rafael Nadal hit to set up match point in his round three match, the comeback win of Madison...  See acast.com/p

The roof was given a thorough work-out after the mother of all rain storms on Thursday, and Andy Murray passed his own stern examination in match that was closer than the straight-sets score suggested.  The Tennis Podcast convened to discuss his progress, marvel at a fantastic win for Dan Evans and narrow defeat for Naomi Broadway, and to work out whether the additional ambient noise with the roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium is likely to become an issue. We also hear an interview that Tennis Podcast presenter David Law did with Mats Wilander for BBC Radio 5 Live. In it, Wilander recalls when he won three Grand Slams in a year in 1988, and how and why he was unable to repeat the feat the following year.  The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Wednesday 31st August, 2016 will go down the first day that the roof was employed inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open, as The Tennis Podcast acknowledges in another of our daily shows. But while the roof made a little piece of history during the Nadal vs. Seppi match, drama came elsewhere. Britain’s Jo Konta collapsed to the ground at the end of the second set of her match with Tsvetana Pironkova and still came through, Milos Raonic also suffered physically and lost, and the poor form of Garbine Muguruza continued - she went out in the night session.  So what happened to Konta? Catherine Whitaker gives an insight into just how debilitating the on-court weather was. The team then attend Konta’s press conference and deliver further details about what led to her ill-health, before assessing her chances of recovery ahead of her match with Belinda Bencic.  The notable wins of Kyle Edmund, Rafael Nadal and Caroline Wozniacki are also covered. The Tennis Podcast is...  See acast.com/privacy for p

In the eyes of many, the two favourites for the singles title played during the evening session on Tuesday, with first Serena Williams and then Andy Murray taking to the court. In our day 2 Tennis Podcast, recorded moments after Murray’s late-night win, Catherine Whitaker and David Law convened to review the day’s play.  Were there any shaky moments for Murray, and how did Serena handle the former Australian Open semifinalist Ekaterina Makanrova? Why were British players Naomi Broady and Laura Robson  irritated with one another during their clash, and what did day 2 winner Dan Evans say about why his mum doesn’t watch him play? Find out in the latest show. There were also the inevitably highs and lows of the first Nick Kyrgios match to discuss, a preview of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal’s respective matches, and a look ahead to the Brits in action on day 3.  The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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.