It took Iga Swiatek 46 minutes to win her first title in Rome. It took Rafael Nadal 162 minutes to win his 10th title in Rome. They’re at different points in their careers, but let there be little doubt, both players are incredible. This week on Open Era, Simon and Devang recount an amazing week for the Polish teen and examine yet another riveting edition of the Nadal-Djokovic rivalry. That, plus Roger Federer’s return in Geneva, Ash Barty’s injury and Andy Murray’s future coming up on this week...
May 13, 2024•57 min
Was that the best WTA Final of the year? Devang and Simon certainly thought it was right up there. The ATP side? Well, that was a different story. We were both worried that someone would withdraw from the final while it was happening. Enjoy us unpacking a very strange week in Madrid plus Parting Shots as always! Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad...
May 06, 2024•50 min•Ep. 218
Hola a todos! We are pleased to be back after Devang’s back injury. Unfortunately, it will keep him out of the French Open. He joins Simon this week to chat about the winners and losers of the past few weeks on the European Clay Courts. Plus they get into Garbiñe Muguruza’s retirement and Russel Fuller’s article on the future of tennis. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclus...
Apr 29, 2024•46 min•Ep. 217
This week we profile someone that never became world number one or captured a Grand Slam, but accomplished something no other player has . David Nalbandian defied explanation, until you saw what he could do on the court when everything was just ‘right.’ We saw that happen in 2007 at the Madrid Open when he became the first and only person to beat Nadal, Djokovic and Federer at the same tournament. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come j...
Apr 22, 2024•52 min
Stefanos Tsitsipas wins in Monte Carlo again. It’s becoming almost routine for the Greek after he saw off a low ranking Danish player in the final. Devang and Simon examine a controversial week in the tax haven where the debate about line calling continued to dominate the headlines. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEr...
Apr 15, 2024•40 min•Ep. 216
Graf, Navratilova, Seles, Serena, Hingis... Jennifer Capriati not only competed with the game’s greats, she beat them. It was an unconventional path. From youth prodigy to tennis survivor, Capriati put herself back in slam contention in 2003 when she met Justine Henin in an all-time classic semifinal under the lights at Arthur Ashe. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive ...
Apr 08, 2024•53 min
What a week in Miami. A sentence Open Era never thought it would write! Danielle Collins won her home tournament in what will be her final year on tour. Plus, Jannik Sinner continued to steamroll the ATP Tour. Devang and Simon unpack a weighty few weeks in parting shots including skirting close to the edge of a few libel laws. You wouldn’t expect anything else though at this point. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon ...
Apr 01, 2024•53 min•Ep. 215
Iga Swiatek won over 11 thousand ranking points in 2022. That’s the most since Serena Williams in 2003. You know you’re in good company when you’re the “most since Serena.” This week, Devang and Simon look back at a season for the ages. The Polish phenom Iga Swiatek and her record breaking exploits through 2022. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad...
Mar 25, 2024•58 min
Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek win Indian Wells again. We really need better script writers in tennis sometimes. All joking aside, it was actually a really interesting tournament in Indian Wells. Jannik Sinner finally had his 2024 winning streak snapped and we had a Maria Sakkari sighting! Finally, Devang and Simon turn to Parting Shots and try to answer the question which is on everyone’s lips. Was Kate Middleton in Emma Raducanu’s players box? Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Pre...
Mar 18, 2024•51 min•Ep. 214
Some big news comes out of Switzerland and California this week. First, Simon and Devang tackle Simon Halep’s immediate return to tennis after the Romanian was ruled ‘not entirely at fault’ for her positive doping test. Elsewhere, the Rafael Nadal comeback at Indian Wells was over before it began, leading to more questions about the Spaniard's future. Plus on Parting Shots, Andy Murray on tour nice guys, Andrey Rublev apologizes and more! Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on...
Mar 11, 2024•40 min•Ep. 213
Some drama just in time for the Sunshine Double. On this week’s Open Era, Simon and Devang discuss Andrey Rublev’s default and calls for VAR followed by some Ugo Humbert appreciation and the latest news from the tours. In parting shots: we get set for Indian Wells, the Demon doubles up, Andy Murray sees the finish line and we ask how important is March for Rafael Nadal? Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for b...
Mar 04, 2024•54 min•Ep. 212
Iga Swiatek is good at tennis. Shocking we know, but the world number 1 won again at Tour level. We chat about the Pole’s season to date before turning our attention to Jannik Sinner and Jakub Mensik. Wait is that right? Yep, Jakub Mensik. Parting Shots is heavy this week. Strap in for discussion on Gaza, Ukraine, and Navalny. Tennis is weird with how it intersects with geo-politics sometimes. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join ...
Feb 26, 2024•49 min•Ep. 211
The Open Era gang returns to a whole lot of news, results and general ‘stuff’ in the tennis world. On this week’s show, Simon and Devang recap the tournaments since the Australian Open and key in on Leylah Annie Fernandez’s resurgence and Naomi Osaka’s comeback before getting into parting shots, which includes tennis’ dealings with Saudi Arabia, good ATP ads(??) plus much more. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon fami...
Feb 19, 2024•46 min•Ep. 210
The 1997 French Open is known for the breakout of one Gustavo Kuerten, but it also ushered in a change that we are still feeling today. The Tennisnerd’s Jonas Eriksson joins the guys this week to talk about racquets, strings, and Guga. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to...
Feb 12, 2024•1 hr 5 min
In early November 2021, the ATP became a signatory of the United Nations Sports for Climate Action. This announcement came off the back of the COP 26 summit which took place in Glasgow, wherein world leaders were challenged to accelerate sustainability and climate related actions on a global scale. The ATP produced a document which outlined the commitments it had made along with the key commitments within the United Nations agreements. Herein the ATP adopted the framework which committed to two ...
Feb 05, 2024•49 min
In a tale of two finals, Aryna Sabalenka made back to back Australian Opens look smooth sailing. Jannik Sinner definitely did not make easy work of it to win his first Grand Slam. All that being said, it was a jam packed second week at the first major of the year. Sin, Sabs, Bops and Hshieh headline both very much a changing of the guard and very much not a changing of the guard. Plus Parting Shots as Devang and Simon ask the age of question of whether this was actually a good tournament. Sick o...
Jan 29, 2024•48 min•Ep. 209
Hello good world, Open Era is back. Friend of the show Owen Lewis joins Simon and Devang to unpack an eventful week in Melbourne. The guys talk about Djokovic, Swiatek, Sabalenka, Tsitsipas and more before getting into Parting Shots and the Australian Open’s decision to have Alexander Zverev play on Rod Laver Arena. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server an...
Jan 22, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 208
Can you believe the first Grand Slam of the season is here? That’s right! It’s Australian Open time! Devang and Simon preview the tournament by highlighting a few players ranked outside of the top 20. Then they turn their attention to Parting Shots and dig into the innuendo filled saga of ballgate. Osaka Athletic article: https://theathletic.com/5174377/2024/01/11/naomi-osaka-australian-open/ Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join t...
Jan 13, 2024•40 min•Ep. 207
Once every year Devang and Simon get to talk about some things which aren’t tennis related. It’s a very rare occasion where we get to veer off-script. If it isn’t your thing, we totally get it, we’re back talking tennis next week for the start of the 2024 campaign. If you do stick with it though you’ll get our personal reflections on the year, favourite moments or media along with our thoughts on the biggest stories of 2023. Plus some new year's resolutions, and who doesn’t love those! Sick of h...
Jan 08, 2024•46 min•Ep. 206
Was this the best match of 2023? Open Era certainly thinks so. For his final Open Era Gold pick of the season, Devang selected the Australian Open final between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina. Join us as Devang and Simon relive an encounter that set the stage for a sensational season of women’s tennis. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free ...
Jan 01, 2024•23 min•Ep. 205
For Devang’s first Open Era Gold selection, let’s go back to beautiful Mason, Ohio for one of the best matches of the year. Following Carlos Alcaraz’s incredible triumph at Wimbledon, the Tennis world was ready to move on from stars of the past. But as he so often does, Novak Djokovic made time stand still on the court. On this week’s show, Simon and Devang relive an epic match between the top two men’s players of 2023. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to ...
Dec 25, 2023•24 min•Ep. 204
How good is Iga Swiatek? She's really good, and for much of the 2023 French Open nobody could come close to beating her. But in the final, Karolina Muchova gave Swiatek all she could handle. In Simon’s Favourite Women's match of the year, he and Devang look back at a memorable day in Paris. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow...
Dec 18, 2023•22 min•Ep. 203
Andy Murray is a two time Wimbledon Champion and is in stellar form going into the 2023 event. Stefanos Tsitsipas is not a two time Wimbledon Champion and is not in good form going into the 2023 event. In Simon’s Favourite Men’s match of the year, he and Devang explore a contest played over two days in a monumentally tight affair. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive di...
Dec 11, 2023•24 min•Ep. 202
Put on your finest dress, it’s time for the Golden Rackets! Yes, the Open Era award show is here. Simon and Devang hand out the trophies for Best Beef, the OE Story of the Year, and plenty more! Will your favourite make the cut? Probably not, but tune in anyways. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! Whi...
Dec 04, 2023•41 min•Ep. 201
Episode 200! Simon and Devang return for their monumental 200th episode of Open Era. On this week’s show: Davis Cup reaction, Novak Djokovic yells at some Brits, Jannik Sinner makes some history, a new Saudi Super League in Tennis beckons as the WTA and ATP may change forever and we get into plenty more on Parting Shots. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord serv...
Nov 27, 2023•52 min•Ep. 200
The boys are finally back. After a prolonged hiatus, Simon and Devang return to unpack a whole lot of stuff that’s happened since they’ve been gone. ATP Finals, WTA Finals, BJK Cup, Paris Bercy, Basel, drama, intrigue..we can keep going. So join us for a mega episode to celebrate the almost end of the 2023 tennis season. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord serv...
Nov 20, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 199
Men’s tennis at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics was turned upside down by Juan Martin del Potro. The Tower of Tandil stunned world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the first round. Del Potro, recovering from a wrist injury, would meet Rafael Nadal in the semifinal and remind us why the lanky Argentinian was such a unique talent. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server a...
Nov 13, 2023•40 min
Canadian tennis is in good hands thanks to a trio of young stars. One has already won a grand slam, but this week we’re taking a look back at the moment when Bianca Andreescu, Felix Auger Aliassime, and Denis Shapovalov announced their arrival on the tennis scene. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! Wh...
Nov 06, 2023•1 hr
It’s never boring when it comes to Nick Kyrgios. The Australian taltenizes with his ability on the court and his penchant for keeping to extremely real off of it. Ask 10 tennis fans about Kyrgios you’re going to get 10 different answers about their personal feelings towards the ATP’s iconoclast. This week revisit his stunning run in Acapulco and a new appreciation for NK. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for...
Oct 30, 2023•1 hr
This week our hosts take a quick detour from their examination of the best matches through the years and instead turn their attention to the career of Andy Murray. Devang and Simon take a look back across the career of the Brit including two Olympic Golds and three Grand Slams. This episode of The Sport Chronicle originally aired on January 21, 2018. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access...
Oct 23, 2023•30 min
