With two rounds of the French Open now done, it's time to make some bold calls. Ben is rejoined by Alex Gruskin of the Cracked Racquets media empire to make some bold calls and predictions about the short-term (Roland Garros) and long-term outlook of tennis. From Jelena Ostapenko to Sofia Kenin to Sascha Zverev to Serena Williams to Jannik Sinner, we've got all the hot takes you could ever want...and then some. Thank you again for the incredible support for NCR we've received in recent weeks on ...
Oct 02, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 189
It was an eventful day at Roland Garros, with three-time champ Serena Williams withdrawing due to a lingering Achilles' injury, Victoria Azarenka and Coco Gauff also exiting, and Sara Errani and Kiki Bertens getting into all sorts of drama as their third set rocked (and then rolled). After bits from Serena, Errani, and Bertens, the main body of this episode focuses on two men who advanced on Wednesday: U.S. Open finalists Dominic Thiem and Sascha Zverev. Ben is joined by German reporter Jannik S...
Sep 30, 2020•54 min•Ep. 188
Trying to recreate a Paris tradition in podcast form, Ben and Ricky Dimon try to predict various happenings on Wednesday at the French Open, both on court and off. The questions range from straightforward (How many sets will Pironkova win? How many double faults will Zverev hit?) to more unusual (How many times will the word "ball" be said Nadal's press conference?) 21 prop questions in all, we hope you have fun thinking about these questions and hearing our thought processes. To leave your own ...
Sep 30, 2020•43 min•Ep. 187
We are joined on this Day 2 episode by one of the big winners of the day at Roland Garros: Alexander Bublik (aka Sasha Bubbles in NCRland) who knocked out #8 seed Gael Monfils in four sets. It's a relatively short chat but not short on material: Bublik covers everything from ambition to old men to underhand serving to Faust. And, if you're a Sasha Bubbles celebrator, good news: we'll have a more extended chat that Ben did with him coming later this week on our Patreon . Thank you again for the i...
Sep 29, 2020•16 min•Ep. 186
The marquee matches of the day were both won in decisive straight sets, with Stan Wawrinka romping over Andy Murray, and Coco Gauff controlling play against Johanna Konta. Tumaini Carayol , NCR's newly-enshrined Spain and Sub-Saharan Africa correspondent, joins to discuss these matches and the reactions to them. Is giving a wild card to Murray debatable, as Mats Wilander claimed? Should Konta be less walled off with the media? And what made Wawrinka and Gauff so sharp? Thank you again for the in...
Sep 27, 2020•41 min•Ep. 185
Another Slam approaches at a time of year which has never held a Slam before, so Ben and Courtney try to gather their physical and mental strength to take on what is shaping up to be an incredibly challenging Slam in many ways. We start with the women, where Simona Halep is a clear favorite, but parity abounds also in women's tennis, as always. Garbine Muguruza appears set for success, and Serena and Azarenka are also intriguing in a Slam which may reward power more than the average French Open....
Sep 26, 2020•1 hr 48 min•Ep. 184
On September 23, 1970, women's professional sports were changed forever by the bravery of nine tennis players who defied the sport's authorities and signed $1 contracts to become professionals with Gladys Heldman, setting in motion what would become the WTA Tour we know today as the world's most successful women's professional sport. Kristy Pigeon, one of these "Original 9," joins from her home in Idaho to discuss her life in the sport, the moment everything changed 50 years ago, and where the s...
Sep 22, 2020•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 183
On the week of a massive milestone anniversary in women's tennis history, Ben and Courtney set the table for a discussion of the Original 9, the group of women who broke away from the tennis establishment and risked their careers in order to make women's professional tennis into a viable sport on September 23, 1970. An interview with Kristy Pigeon, one of the nine, will be here on NCR soon, so Ben and Courtney wanted to set the stage a bit and explain what the Original 9 was, why they matter, an...
Sep 21, 2020•23 min•Ep. 182
Desperately missing Rome as we miss out on covering the Italian Open for the first time in many years, Enrico Maria Riva joins from on the grounds of the Foro Italico to discuss what it's like being at the most sensory and vibrant tournament that suddenly is all but empty. Enrico, who works in television graphics, also discusses that side of the tournament, what changes have been made to television production because of coronavirus, and the rise of Italy as a robust and promising contingent in m...
Sep 19, 2020•30 min•Ep. 181
After a men's final that became a battle of nerves late, Dominic Thiem outlasted Sascha Zverev in a fifth set tiebreak to win the U.S. Open, his first Grand Slam title. Ben is joined on late notice by Reem Abulleil to discuss the scratchy final, in which Zverev started well but went back into his shell, which both players failed to serve out when they had the chance, and which became an exciting/excruciating battle of who could manage to eke across the finish line first. Was it a good match, eve...
Sep 14, 2020•43 min•Ep. 180
Naomi Osaka, making herself heard on court and off, won her third Grand Slam title on Saturday at the U.S. Open, coming back from 1-6, 0-2 down to beat Victoria Azarenka in the final. Ben and Courtney chat about the match, the incredibly impressive way Osaka has found her voice and her game, Victoria Azarenka's reemergence, who the current alpha is in women's tennis, and more. Also, Courtney gives some parting thoughts on her hopes for the men's final. Thank you again for the incredible support ...
Sep 13, 2020•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 179
We've got another voice from inside the U.S. Open bubble, man-of-the-people Mike Cation , on NCR to discuss the men's semifinals, from which Sascha Zverev and Dominic Thiem advanced to the final. It wasn't always pretty, especially not for Zverev. What should we think when Zverev, a guy we're convinced can be great wins so unconvincingly? And where does this result leave men's tennis as it seeks new stars? Also, more on life inside the bubble, calling crowdless matches, and looking back at the m...
Sep 12, 2020•57 min•Ep. 178
The women put on an incredible display in their semifinal showcase on Thursday evening at the U.S. Open, with Victoria Azarenka beating Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka besting Jennifer Brady in two spectacular matches. Nick McCarvel , who was one of the 147 people watching Azarenka-Williams in Ashe (yes, he counted) joins Ben to discuss the experience, the matches, the two finalists set for a Saturday showdown, and what has been a surreal and memorable two weeks in the "ghost town" Grand Slam. T...
Sep 11, 2020•58 min•Ep. 177
Mary Carillo, NCR's favorite, joins Ben and Courtney for a third time as the U.S. Open gets to the business end of the draws, as we are now down to four semifinalists for both the men and women. What has it been like calling this completely different tournament from on site at the Open? What have been the unexpected revelations of this new landscape and soundscape? Why does the Chinese restaurant want you to order the fries? We discuss all eight semifinalists in some detail: Jennifer Brady, Vict...
Sep 10, 2020•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 176
Pam Shriver is used to being on the very front lines of tennis reporting for ESPN, running around the grounds of tournaments, hunting down celebrities, coaches, drunk Scottish people on Henman Hill, or whoever else might have something worthwhile to say. In this very different 2020, Pam is at home during this U.S. Open , staying connected to the coverage from afar as she tries to balance work and family priorities amid this pandemic. Pam and Ben discuss the 2020 U.S. Open, how it's coming across...
Sep 09, 2020•33 min•Ep. 175
With the U.S. Open reaching the quarterfinal stage, where the draws get considerably more manageable to process on a more granular basis, Courtney and Ben reconvene to reset the table for the feasts of tennis cooking for the men and women. The men's field is ordering off the kids menu, with the men's game tour finally guaranteed a new Grand Slam champion for the first time in six years. Who is best poised to take advantage of this? How will the new favorites, like Thiem and Zverev, deal with the...
Sep 08, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 174
We made a mega mid-Slam episode for today's shocking developments, as No. 1 Novak Djokovic, the prohibitive favorite, was defaulted from the U.S. Open in the first set of his fourth round match after striking a lineswoman in the throat with a ball. Courtney and Ben are joined by Reem Abulleil to discuss this moment, what it says about Djokovic and the rules of tennis, and where it leaves Djokovic and the tournament going forward. Then in the second half of the show, Ben is joined by Alex Gruskin...
Sep 07, 2020•58 min•Ep. 173
As the first week of the U.S. Open wraps up, we get into (and hopefully wrap up) the story that dominated the first week: the fallout of Benoit Paire's positive coronavirus test last weekend, and the slow-but-severe effect it had on other players he had contacted before testing positive, ending with Kiki Mladenovic getting defaulted from the women's doubles draw to be quarantined fully in her Nassau County hotel. Quentin Moynet of L'Equipe joins to discuss this week and other developments in Fre...
Sep 06, 2020•26 min•Ep. 172
On a typically bizarre 2020 day in which New York Governor Andrew Cuomo had to rule on Adrian Mannarino's U.S. Open eligibility , we at NCR are delighted to bring you a cool, calming chat with Shelby Rogers , who solidified her great year by advancing to the fourth round of the U.S. Open on Friday. Shelby discusses how she used the quarantine time to work on herself physically, mentally, and spiritually, the fun variety of fast courts, and enjoying the solace of tennis in a bubble, even as crazi...
Sep 05, 2020•23 min•Ep. 171
On a day at the U.S. Open on which its co-president Vasek Pospisil upset Milos Raonic, Ben chats about the new Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA, aka pihtihpihAHHH) with Amy Fetherolf , who knows her unions and her tennis. What to make of this new tennis union? Does it need to have more specific goals outlined as it's getting off the ground? What classic anti-union tactics are visible in the resistance it's received? What if the ideas behind this union, like leaving out the women, ar...
Sep 04, 2020•47 min•Ep. 170
Ben and Courtney reconvene on Day 3 of the U.S. Open to recalibrate their forecasts for the top half of the women's draw, which saw top-seeded Karolina Pliskova knocked out, as well as somewhat surprising exits by Alison Riske, Marketa Vondrousova, and Dayana Yastremska. Who is well-positioned for success going forward? Who looks comfortable in these unusual conditions? Is Naomi Osaka a fair favorite to win it all? And what makes Madison Brengle's approach so delightful? Also, we discuss some of...
Sep 03, 2020•43 min•Ep. 169
The second day of first round play included many impressive comebacks, both mid-match and several years in the making. Kim Clijsters played her first Slam match in eight years, Andy Murray won ( and stuck up for women again, as per ), and, in her first match in more than three years, Tsvetana Pironkova took advantage of the fast courts to lay a beatdown on Liudmila Samsonova. Ben and Courtney caught up with Pironkova after her win to hear about her decision to come back, playing as a mom, and fi...
Sep 02, 2020•19 min•Ep. 168
Day 1 of the U.S. Open was dominated by talk of the decisions made a day earlier, when a number of players who were in contact with Benoit Paire after his positive test for coronavirus were still allowed to play their matches , albeit under tighter restrictions which one referred to as "a bubble within a bubble." You'll hear from two of those double-bubbled players, Adrian Mannarino and Kiki Mladenovic, as well as from Noah Rubin, host of Behind the Racquet , who spread word of this late last ni...
Sep 01, 2020•38 min•Ep. 167
As Ben and Courtney prepare watch and cover this U.S. Open from home, they check in with a buddy who has been on the ground in New York for "Cincinnati" and will be for the U.S. Open as well: Blair Henley , on-court interviewer to the stars and a woman of many varied talents in tennis. Blair discusses her journey through tennis from teaching pro to writer to YouTuber to on-court emcee, what makes for the best on-court exchanges with players, and how much preparation it takes to pull off a MarioK...
Aug 30, 2020•57 min•Ep. 166
Ben and Courtney break down the U.S. Open draw amid a tournament build-up which feels very different to that of a normal Grand Slam, particularly as we aren't even in New York this week. We discuss the women's draw first, where 2018 champ Naomi Osaka impressed on and off the court during "Cincinnati" but comes in carrying a hamstring injury. What to make of Serena's form since the shutdown? Can Kim Clijsters make an impact? Also, Dayana Yastremska is very much. On the men's side, after a helpful...
Aug 30, 2020•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 165
UPDATE: After Osaka initially withdrew from Thursday's semifinals, she has agreed to play on Friday after the entire day of play was postponed on Thursday. Postponing the semifinals of the Western & Southern Open because of continuing police violence against Black people, Naomi Osaka joined an escalating wave of anti-racism athlete activism that began in basketball and has echoed across North American sports. Tennis has been seen as remedial in recent years when it comes to athlete engagemen...
Aug 27, 2020•40 min•Ep. 164
For the first time in two-months-but-feels-like-much-longer, Courtney returns to an NCR episode! She graces us with her presence as we discuss tennis getting back underway in earnest now with a few weeks of the WTA Tour behind us and the New York swing of "Cincinnati" and the U.S. Open rapidly approaching. What do we make of the challenge of covering the sport remotely? Who has stood out in the on-court action we've seen so far from the women? Will this U.S. Open be "asterisked," and what does a...
Aug 21, 2020•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 163
The most talked about TV show in the tennis world during this long stretch of indoor entertainment, without doubt, has been the Netflix comedy "Never Have I Ever," narrated by John McEnroe and featuring Sendhil Ramamurthy as the tennis-loving father of protagonist Devi Vishwakumar. Sendhil doesn't just play a tennis lover on TV; the dude seriously plays and knows his tennis, and we're delighted to have him on NCR to discuss his love for tennis, working with John McEnroe, the relative lack of ten...
Aug 18, 2020•40 min•Ep. 162
The New Yorker 's Louisa Thomas is back with us to discuss the comprehensive piece she published about the state of tennis in these tumultuous last five months, " The Fractured World of Tennis Amid a Prolonged Pandemic ." Louisa and Ben discuss the notion of self-centeredness and tennis and how players are trained by people to potentially hurt those same people, how tennis' structure reflects both its strengths and weaknesses, the fast-approaching U.S. Open, and much more, including, inevitably,...
Aug 14, 2020•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 161
Well, tennis is back, folks! But at the same time, tennis continues to go away. What to make of it all? To help make sense of it all, Ben is rejoined by Reem Abulleil and Tumaini Carayol who also have been (virtually) covering the WTA's return event in Palermo this week. Is the tour set to succeed? And how do we think this sort of virtual coverage will change our work? We also discuss the cancellation of Madrid and the new rules document from the U.S. Open , as well as the decision of defending ...
Aug 06, 2020•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 160
