Podcast regulars Mert Ertunga and Skip Schwarzman join host Saqib Ali to talk about the state of the single hand backhand. The stroke has witnessed a gradual decline over the years and it became a louder conversation after Stefanos Tsitsipas departed the top 10 of the ATP rankings a month ago. Being the true students of the game - both Skip and Mert chimed in with their choices and reasons on how the game has reached this point. Tune in for a very rich conversation. Tennis with an accent on twit...
Apr 01, 2024•1 hr 3 min
Former world number 38 Steve Darcis is the podcast guest this week. Darcis lets us in his world where he talks about his tennis career beginning and all the way to an injury forced retirement. Currently he does not miss the life on tour as he is happily married with kids and is incharge of the Davis cup team among other responsibilities with the Belgian tennis federation. He also talks about his wins over Nadal, Roddick, Berdych and other top pros. Last but not the least he gives us an insight o...
Mar 01, 2024•42 min
The AO2024 review episode is here - as Andrew Burton and coach Mert Ertunga join host Matt Zemek to recap the first major of the year. Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka are the focal points of this discussion given their dominant form over the fortnight - which saw them secure the first major of the season. Also discussed in length is the process of Sinner's evolution and the instability of the WTA draws. Tune in! Andrew Burton on twitter - https://twitter.com/burtonad Mert Ertunga on twitter - ...
Jan 29, 2024•1 hr 35 min
Happy new year to all the listeners. Andrew Burton joins Matt Zemek to preview the first major of the year. Andrew breaks down the paths of the top 8 seeds on both ATP and WTA - analyzing which player is likely to falter among the top seeds and who are the safe bets to honor their respective seeding. Its that time of the year - tennis is back already! Start listening folks.
Jan 13, 2024•1 hr
Rising WTA player Gabriela Knutson is the podcast guest this week. Knutson has had a meteoric rise in the WTA ranks - jumping 307 spots during the recently completed 2023 season. He played 77 matches this season which was her second on tour. Knutson took the collegiate route to pro tennis while securing a masters degree in Digital Marketing and Renewable energy along the way. In a very candid interview she talks about various elements of her tennis journey with host Saqib Ali - which includes he...
Dec 26, 2023•56 min
We recap the year with a podcast on the ATP decade of the 2000s with historian Steve Flink and coach Mert Ertunga. Beginning of the 2000s was set for a clash of generations with Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and co ready to take on the new balls please campaign stars in Nicolas Kiefer, Magnus Norman, Andy Roddick, Marat Safin and Lleyton Hewitt among others. The decade belonged to Roger Federer and we look back at his rise to prominence and his storied rivalry with Rafael Nadal - who himself became...
Dec 07, 2023•2 hr 5 min
Andrew Burton joins host Matt Zemek to recap the year end ATP finals. Novak Djokovic reigned supreme for a record 7th time at the year end finals and is one of the focal points of discussion. The duo weighs in on the four semi finalists from this event who also happen to be the four best players of this calendar year. The rise of Jannik Sinner in particular is another focal point of this episode along with notable mentions for Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune. Rafael Nadal's poten...
Nov 23, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Host Matt Zemek is joined by podcast friend and regular contributor Skip Schwarzman in the new episode to talk about the WTA finals and Bercy Indoors. Skip and Matt kickoff the conversation by talking about Iga Swiatek and her dominant form to close out the season. The episode seques into the organizational mess of the chosen venue or venues for the year end WTA finals for last two years. Skip also weighs in on how to market the sport better by potentially having more combined events across both...
Nov 10, 2023•50 min
All time great Ivan Lendl is the podcast guest this week. For a younger fan he is a former great who coaches Andy Murray. But for a generation of players and fans growing up in the 80's he is seen as a true game changer. Prior to the dominance of the big three it was Lendl who had been the pillar of consistency in the men's game. A true trailblazer whose methods and practices became a template for future generations and altered the game of tennis forever. In this episode host Saqib Ali reminisce...
Oct 19, 2023•34 min
Cori Gauff and Novak Djokovic are your 2023 US Open winners. We recap the final weekend with in house analyst Andrew Burton who joins host Matt Zemek to do the honors. Andrew compares his pre tournament notes to how the Open played out eventually. The show also looks forward to the next season by taking the latest developments in NY as the scene setter for both WTA and ATP power rankings. Andrew Burton on twitter - https://twitter.com/burtonad Matt Zemek on twitter -https://twitter.com/mzemek Te...
Sep 12, 2023•1 hr 11 min
In the latest episode of the podcast we preview the 2023 US Open. Host Matt Zemek is joined by in house analysts Mert Ertunga and Andrew Burton. We look at both ATP and WTA draws and address the big questions ahead of the last major of the year.
Aug 27, 2023•1 hr 25 min
In the new episode we take a look back at Stefan Edberg's twin titles in New York. Hall of famer Steve Flink and noted tennis historian Richard Evans join host Saqib Ali to remember the Edberg years in Flushing Meadows. It was not exactly love at first sight between Edberg and New York. Like many european players Edberg struggled to find his rhythm in the last major of the year. This episode focuses on his ups and downs at the US Open under the watchful tutelage of Toni Pickard. Flink and Evans ...
Aug 22, 2023•47 min
Devang Desai of Sportsnet and Open Era podcast fame is the guest this week as he speaks with host Matt Zemek. Desai was on site in Toronto for the men's edition of the Canadian Open and witnessed the comeback runs of Milos Raonic and Gael Monfils. He also had an opportunity to interview Frederic Fontang - coach of FAA among other interviews. He provides insights on FAA's injury prone season and weighs in on the title runs of Pegula and Sinner. Last but not the least we discuss the incredibly dif...
Aug 16, 2023•43 min
Natalija Stevanović is the podcast guest this week. In a career spanning little over a decade - Stevanović made her biggest breakthrough at Wimbledon this year when she beat former finalist Karolina Pliskova. In a candid chat with host Saqib Ali she opens up about her big week at Wimbledon, her newly gained fame, her recovery from a serious surgery and the Serbian tennis federation. https://www.wtatennis.com/players/317349/natalija-stevanovic
Aug 03, 2023•38 min
Turkish tennis player Ayla Aksu is the podcast guest this week. This episode was recorded earlier in the year. Aksu was coached by the friend of the podcast - Coach Mert Ertunga till end of 2022. She is currently ranked 413 on the WTA rankings and has won 11 ITF level titles in singles. She is one of the better players to have come out of Turkey. In this episode she gets candid about her career and tennis journey in particular. A lot of ground is covered here. A must listen for a tennis fan! htt...
Jul 26, 2023•52 min
Carlos Alcaraz is the 2023 Wimbledon men's singles champion. He is the first non big 4 player to win the championships since Lleyton Hewitt won the 2002 edition. Andrew Burton joins Matt Zemek and Saqib Ali to talk about the generational Djokovic Alcaraz final.
Jul 18, 2023•1 hr 11 min
On the eve of the 136th edition of The Championships we look back at the ultimate wild card in the glorious history of Wimbledon - Goran Ivanisevic. Historian and hall of famer Steve Flink joins Saqib Ali to revisit the 2001 title run by the southpaw from Croatia. https://www.amazon.com/Pete-Sampras-Greatness-Steve-Flink/dp/1937559947
Jul 02, 2023•38 min
Christopher Clarey is one of the most prominent tennis voices of the last three decades in the printed world. In the latest edition of the podcast he joins hosts Saqib Ali and Andrew Burton in a conversation which is full of candid reflections about his journey as a tennis reporter for NY times. After thirty two years with the NYT Clarey is now transitioning into the role of a full time author - on the back of his successful biography on Roger Federer that came out two years ago. In this episode...
Jun 24, 2023•58 min
In this episode Matt and Saqib talk about the monumental achievement of Novak Djokovic as he completed a record third career grand slam and also took the lead for the most majors won on the men's side. Djokovic keeps making new standards of being the clutchest athlete in all of sports. We also revisit the final before the final on the men's side as Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz faced off in one of the most anticipated matches of the recent tennis memory. The conversation also tips its hat to one C...
Jun 15, 2023•1 hr 3 min
In this week's episode of the podcast host Matt Zemek is joined by in house analysts Andrew Burton and Mert Ertunga to speak about the situation of Rafael Nadal. In a deep winded conversation the group reflects the graph of Nadal's career and also speculates on what may lie ahead for the great champion. Its fitting to release this episode on the birthday of Rafa Nadal. Mert Ertunga on twitter - https://twitter.com/MertovsTDesk Andrew Burton on twitter - https://twitter.com/burtonad Matt Zemek on...
Jun 03, 2023•52 min
Daniil Medvedev and Elena Rybakina have conquered the clay at the Foro italico complex with a convincing display of patience and shot selection. To break down their respective wins and the leading takeaways from Rome we have Andrew Burton joining Matt Zemek on the podcast this week. Other players discussed are Holger Rune, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Jelena Ostapenko and Iga Swiatek. Andrew takes a closer look at these players as we approach the 2023 edition of Roland Gar...
May 24, 2023•55 min
Hollywood Reporter's Chief TV critic Daniel Fienberg is the podcast guest this week. Fienberg joins host Saqib Ali to talk about Alex Gibney's documentary on former wimbledon champion Boris Becker. Becker's a compelling sports figure whose rise and fall has taken place in the public spotlight. Fienberg weighs on many aspects of the documentary along with Gibney's style of filmmaking. Conversation also explores blatant comparisons with another fallen hero - Lance Armstrong. If you are a tennis fa...
May 17, 2023•54 min
Matt Zemek joins Saqib Ali to talk about the Madrid results. It's been a while since both Matt and Saqib appeared on the show together! which means there is a lot of catching up to do in the middle of the clay season. Matt breaks down the WTA favorites with a spotlight on two time Madrid winner Aryna Sabalenka. He also shares his WTA power rankings with the listeners. Second half of the conversation focuses on Carlos Alcaraz and Jan Lennard Struff along with other top ATP names and their respect...
May 08, 2023•1 hr 12 min
In the latest episode of the podcast host Saqib Ali is joined by historian and hall of famer Steve Flink and tennis channel broadcaster Gill Gross to look ahead at the leading candidates for the clay season on the men's side. Steve and Gill categorize their contenders using a tier 1 and tier 2 system of allocation. The usual star cast of Djokovic, Alcaraz, Nadal, Sinner, Tsitsipas and Medvedev get mentioned and analyzed by the two guests. The conversation also covers other players like Zverev, M...
Apr 13, 2023•1 hr 15 min
Skip Schwarzman joins host Saqib to talk about the live tennis they both watched this week in Estoril. Players discussed are Dominic Thiem, Casper Ruud, Marco Cecchinato, Quentin Halys and Miomir Kecmanovic.
Apr 08, 2023•31 min
Interview with Olympic double gold medalist Nicolas Massu.
Apr 07, 2023•9 min
TWAA contributor Skip Schwarzman joins host Matt Zemek for the latest edition of the podcast. Matt and Skip engage in a broader conversation using some of the successful players as vehicles to understand the current trends and patterns across both tours. Be it the Serena serve, the Federer serve plus one or the importance of pro coaches on the tour. In a fun and in depth conversation Skip breaks down lot of common terms as well like rushing an opponent rather than taking time away from her. Skip...
Mar 31, 2023•1 hr 8 min
Coach Brad Stine is the podcast guest this week. Saqib caught up with Brad while the later was driving home from the Indian Wells tournament. Stine is the current coach of Tommy Paul. He has been coaching top level professionals on the ATP tour since the early 90's. Some of his past charges include the likes of Jim Courier, Mardy Fish, Sebastien Grosjean and Andrei Medvedev. In this conversation we cover Stine's time with Jim Courier and how he looks back at the success they achieved. Stine also...
Mar 16, 2023•1 hr 29 min
Tennis TV commentator Nick Lester returns as the podcast guest this week to talk about the talent pool of the ATP. This conversation is aimed at some of the prime talents of the men's game that are looking to join the top tier of the sport - namely Jannik Sinner, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov. Lester shares his progress report on these payers and how their respective trajectories are shaping the conversation. The episode also covers the rise of the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor who acc...
Feb 23, 2023•26 min
Former top ten player Tim Mayotte returns to the podcast to discuss the resurgence of the men's game in America. Currently there are 15 American men in the top 100 of the ATP rankings. This depth of the talent pool of USTA is one of the breakout stories of the recently concluded Australian Open. Andy Roddick was the last American male champion at a major. Are we approaching a time when an American male can actually win a major? Mayotte weighs in on the prospects of Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz, ...
Feb 14, 2023•46 min
