The Davis Cup Finals by Rakuten are about to get underway, and Matt is in Madrid to give us the lowdown. Who are the favourites, what are the best matches to look forward to, and who has David predicted will win this time? There's also discussion of the Simon Briggs report in which he says the event is going to move to Abu Dhabi in a five year deal. BECOME A FRIEND OF THE TENNIS PODCAST Rather than running another Kickstarter, we will launch a subscription service called Friends of The Tennis Po...
Nov 24, 2021•55 min•Ep. 922
Alexander Zverev won a second ATP Finals title. He was excellent, and we examine his on-court performances in detail. We also provide an update on the ATP's internal investigation into domestic abuse allegations against him. Plus, there's the doubles final, the latest on Peng Shuai, rule changes for next year, and we introduce Friends of The Tennis Podcast. BECOME A FRIEND OF THE TENNIS PODCAST Rather than running another Kickstarter, we will launch a subscription service called Friends of The T...
Nov 22, 2021•55 min•Ep. 921
David and Matt bring you the latest in the story involving Peng Shuai’s disappearance and discuss the main talking points from Turin as the ATP Finals group stage comes to a close. In what way was Daniil Medvedev vs. Jannik Sinner the best dead rubber of all time? Why did Medvedev’s fake yawn provoke such a reaction? Why does David like Casper Ruud so much? How did Ruud get the better of Andrey Rublev for the first time? What insights did Ruud give in his post match press conference? And how mig...
Nov 19, 2021•40 min•Ep. 920
We begin this episode by discussing the latest developments surrounding Peng Shuai who has not been heard from since she made sexual assault allegations against a top Chinese government official two weeks ago. Steve Simon, chairman of the WTA, has continued to take a strong stance by casting doubt on an email released by Chinese state media attributed to Peng Shuai and saying that there remains a lot of concern for her safety. Elsewhere, David and Matt talk all about Garbine Muguruza winning the...
Nov 18, 2021•53 min•Ep. 919
It’s down to the final four at the WTA Finals in Guadalajara. David and Matt discuss how perfect it feels for Paula Badosa to be facing Garbine Muguruza in the semis, the way in which Maria Sakkari’s physical prowess should enable her to recover from her gruelling win over Aryna Sabalenka, and whether Anett Kontaveit’s momentum has been snapped at just the wrong time. Over in Turin, the ATP Finals are underway. Why does it look and feel so similar to London? Will Matteo Berrettini have to withdr...
Nov 16, 2021•51 min•Ep. 918
The WTA Finals in Guadalajara have come to life, with Garbine Muguruza keeping her hopes alive, Paula Badosa battling past Maria Sakkari, and Aryna Sabalenka using the crowd's energy and support to summon her best tennis. David and Matt talk about it all and we hear from Iga Swiatek who spoke openly in her press conference about how PMS affected her in the first match. There's also a review of Tommy Paul's victory over Denis Shapovalov in Stockholm, more excitement about Carlos Alcaraz after he ...
Nov 14, 2021•46 min•Ep. 917
With everyone having played their first match at the WTA Finals, Catherine, David and Matt discuss the main talking points so far, including the epic contest between Garbine Muguruza and Karolina Pliskova, the strong performances from Paula Badosa and Maria Sakkari, Iga Swiatek’s sadness at her own display, and Anett Kontaveit continuing her awesome form. There’s also discussion about the conditions in Guadalajara, an argument about the court colour, and confusion about the sponsor. Elsewhere, w...
Nov 12, 2021•50 min•Ep. 916
Catherine Whitaker is back alongside David Law to talk about another extraordinary achievement from Novak Djokovic - ending a year as the World No.1 male for a record 7th time. They cover the stress of his semifinal and serenity and joy of his final against Daniil Medvedev. Plus, there's chat about the crowd, Hugo Gaston, and what the week might mean for the Djokovic vs. Medvedev rivalry. With a busy week ahead, there's also debate about the new rules at the Next Gen finals, and Catherine gives ...
Nov 08, 2021•57 min•Ep. 915
Russia won the Billie Jean King Cup and Matt had himself quite a day. A last minute selection change from Russia did not go down well with Switzerland, and Matt was in the middle of one of the more tense press conferences we’ve witnessed. Hear it all on this edition of The Tennis Podcast. And if that’s not enough, Matt sat down with Billie Jean King for a chat on the pod about her memories of this event, her time as captain, and her experience in Prague. Finally, we reflect on the significance o...
Nov 07, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 914
Russia and Switzerland booked their places in the final of the Billie Jean King Cup in contrasting fashion on Friday. Russia had to work extremely hard to beat USA, with Liudmila Samsonova starring in singles and doubles. Switzerland, meanwhile, were comfortable winners over Australia. David and Matt talk about both ties, react to press conference clips from Danielle Collins, Jil Teichmann and Heinz Günthardt, and preview tomorrow’s final. To subscribe and watch a stream of the action for €7.99 ...
Nov 06, 2021•36 min•Ep. 913
Switzerland will face Australia in the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup after a day of surprises in Prague. How much was Switzerland’s win down to their brilliance versus Czech Republic underperforming? In what way was Belinda Bencic the MVP of the tie? And how much does Australia’s team spirit help them on court? David and Matt discuss all of that, react to Ajla Tomljanovic’s press conference, and preview the mouth-watering semi-final between USA and Russia. To subscribe and watch a stre...
Nov 05, 2021•31 min•Ep. 912
It seems the USA team said “and I took that personally” after losing to Slovakia. On Wednesday, they qualified for the semi-finals by beating Spain, with Danielle Collins thumping Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-1 6-0. David and Matt react to that awesome performance and discuss what Sloane Stephens had to say in press after her victory. Elsewhere, hear Matt’s chat with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova after she beat Alize Cornet in a thrilling match to secure a semi-final spot for the Russian Tennis Federation. ...
Nov 03, 2021•30 min•Ep. 911
It was a day of upsets in Prague as Viktoria Kuzmova (remember her?!) led Slovakia to a thrilling win over USA and Daria Gavrilova, playing her first match for 10 months, set Australia on the path to victory against Belgium. David and Matt talk about a nail-biting decisive doubles match, react to Gavrilova’s press conference in which she talked openly about the tough year she’s had, and admire Belinda Bencic’s performance against Angelique Kerber. To subscribe and watch a stream of the action fo...
Nov 03, 2021•40 min•Ep. 910
The pressure was on the Czech Republic, and Barbora Krejcikova in particular, to produce in front of a passionate home crowd on Day 1 of the Billie Jean King Cup in Prague. Matt Roberts was there to witness it all, and afterwards he joined David Law to talk about the upsets, injuries and inspired play that lit up The O2 Arena on Monday. To subscribe and watch a stream of the action for €7.99 - https://video.billiejeankingcup.com The Tennis Podcast will be with you nightly throughout the week. SU...
Nov 02, 2021•34 min•Ep. 909
Matt is in Prague for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, and Catherine and David are jealous. Find out what he asked in a weekend of press conferences, which group he sees as the Group of Death, and what the vibe is like on the ground. Elsewhere, Catherine assesses Emma Raducanu’s week, reveals her feelings about Halloween and the clocks going back, the form of Frances Tiafoe gets bigged up, and Anett Kontaveit's incredible run to reach the WTA Finals is discussed. Finally, remember Marin Cilic? S...
Oct 31, 2021•59 min•Ep. 908
Catherine, David and Matt tackle another set of listener questions, guest edited by Dave Courteen. How will Raducanu’s US Open victory affect her career in the long run? Has the ship sailed for the Dimitrov-Nishikori-Raonic generation? In what order will Swiatek, Fernandez, Gauff and Raducanu be ranked at the end of 2022? Who will be the next first-time major winners? What would tennis be like if there were only one serve? Has electronic line calling been a positive or negative addition to the s...
Oct 25, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 907
Paula Badosa and Cameron Norrie are the 2021 Indian Wells champions! Catherine, David and Matt discuss why the women’s final was a contender for match of the year, whether Badosa can use this victory as a springboard for further success, how #shoegate returned to bother Norrie before the biggest match of his life, the Nadal-like qualities to Norrie’s approach to tennis, and whether or not he will qualify for the ATP Finals in Turin. We also review Citizen Ashe and King Richard which were screene...
Oct 18, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 906
Catherine, David and Matt discuss the biggest moments from the last few days at Indian Wells, including premature congratulations to Ons Jabeur for reaching the Top 10, Jelena Ostapenko making her way into the semi-finals impressively, Daniil Medvedev’s collapse from 6-4 4-1 up against Grigor Dimitrov, a return to form for Alex de Minaur, more encouraging signs for Andy Murray (even if he doesn’t think so), Reilly Opelka’s no-holds-barred interview, and much more. The Tennis Podcast is presented...
Oct 14, 2021•57 min•Ep. 905
With Indian Wells in full swing, Catherine, David and Matt talk about some of the biggest stories so far, including Andy Murray’s fantastic three-set win over Carlos Alcaraz, Leylah Fernandez picking up where she left off in New York, and Iga Swiatek donating her prize money to a nonprofit mental health organisation. In the U.K. much of the coverage has been centred on Emma Raducanu’s defeat to Aliaksandra Sasnovich. We discuss the match and why we’re not going to read too much into the result b...
Oct 11, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 904
Indian Wells is back! As the tours return to Tennis Paradise, Catherine, David and Matt are together in the same room to talk through the draws, the pre tournament press conferences, the fact that Emma Raducanu is the favourite for the title, how big The Mix is on the men's side, and drama involving Andy Murray's shoes. Before all of that, we also discuss Monday's announcement that the ATP has launched an internal investigation into the abuse accusations against Alexander Zverev. The Tennis Podc...
Oct 07, 2021•44 min•Ep. 903
With new tournaments in San Diego and Chicago proving a big hit, Catherine, David and Matt are together to talk through the last week in tennis. How far can Casper Ruud go over the next few years? In what way does Cameron Norrie keep impressing? Did we learn anything new about Jannik Sinner after he successfully defended his title in Sofia? What’s made Chicago champion Garbine Muguruza so enjoyable to watch in 2021? And how did Alison van Uytvanck keep up her 100% record in finals? Elsewhere, th...
Oct 04, 2021•59 min•Ep. 902
For the first time in a couple of weeks, Catherine, David and Matt are all together to review what was a pretty busy week in tennis, headlined by the fourth edition of The Laver Cup. We discuss Europe’s dominance, what we continue to like and dislike about the event, how it might be improved, and Mary Carillo’s decision to step down from her Laver Cup role due to the event’s handling of Alexander Zverev and the accusations against him. Elsewhere, there’s chat about Annett Kontaveit’s victory ove...
Sep 27, 2021•55 min•Ep. 901
One week on from the most extraordinary Grand Slam tennis tournament in recent memory, David Law returns to give his takes! What did he think of Emma Raducanu’s win, what has he made of the media coverage one week on, and what should we expect in the future? Joined by Catherine Whitaker with Matt Roberts is on holiday, David is grilled about the men’s final between Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic, the latest win by Clara Tauson, and the discord over Laver Cup. The Tennis Podcast is presented ...
Sep 20, 2021•51 min•Ep. 900
Rod Laver in 1969 is STILL the last man to complete the calendar Grand Slam after Novak Djokovic fell one match short by losing in straight sets to Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final. Catherine and Matt talk about Djokovic's sub-par performance and the possible reasons for it, the extraordinary moment he received the support of the crowd and what that meant to him, the ways in which Medvedev played a fantastic match, and the story behind his legendary celebration. Elsewhere, there's chat about...
Sep 13, 2021•51 min•Ep. 899
Emma Raducanu is the US Open champion. At 18, on just her second Grand Slam appearance, she qualified and went all the way to the title without dropping a set. There's never been anything else like it in tennis. At the end of an incredible night, Catherine and Matt react to her 6-4 6-3 win over Leylah Fernandez, the high-quality tennis on display, the feeling of joy it elicited, the extraordinary post-match speech by Fernandez, and why it's a moment beyond compare. Looking ahead to the men's fin...
Sep 12, 2021•48 min•Ep. 898
Novak Djokovic is on the verge of history; after beating Alexander Zverev in five sets, he stands just one match win away from completing The Grand Slam. His opponent will be Daniil Medvedev who easily beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in the other semi-final. On the back end of the pod, we take stock of the Canadian's career, discuss how well Djokovic was forced to play, and consider how on earth Medvedev might stop him in the final. To start the show, Catherine, David and Matt are back together to pr...
Sep 11, 2021•46 min•Ep. 897
The teenage dream will extend all the way to the US Open final after Leylah Fernandez and Emma Raducanu booked their places in Saturday's showpiece event. At the end of an extraordinary women's semi-final night, David and Matt try to convey what they saw and how they felt. How much was Aryna Sabalenka her own worst enemy? What did Fernandez do to cause Sabalenka's downfall? In what way did Raducanu neutralise Maria Sakkari's physical presence? And how did the Brit maintain her composure througho...
Sep 10, 2021•42 min•Ep. 896
Emma Raducanu is into the semi-finals of the US Open. It sounds unbelievable, but it's happening. David and Matt try to make sense of it all with a discussion of how she beat Belinda Bencic and the hype surrounding her run. How might she fare against Maria Sakkari after her victory over Karolina Pliskova? Will we see an all-teenage final or will Aryna Sabalenka have too much for Leylah Fernandez? On the men's side, there's chat about how Lloyd Harris missed his chance against Alexander Zverev as...
Sep 09, 2021•35 min•Ep. 895
David is back! Feeling better after a few days away, he chats to Matt about all the stories from the last 24 hours, including Maria Sakkari's thrilling win over Bianca Andreescu, a weird victory for Daniil Medvedev against Botic van de Zandschulp, and the continuation of Leylah Fernandez's magical run. There's also a look ahead to Emma Raducanu's quarter-final against Belinda Bencic and a mid-pod surprise involving Catherine. The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, a...
Sep 08, 2021•45 min•Ep. 894
Recorded while watching Jenson Brooksby throw everything at Novak Djokovic during the night session, Catherine and Matt wrap up yet another excellent day at the 2021 US Open, headlined by Emma Raducanu reaching the quarter-finals. We discuss how she overcame her nerves, the way in which she belongs on the big stage, and whether or not she's 'in the mix'. And if she's not, who is? Elsewhere, there's praise for Matteo Berrettini, recaps of Belinda Bencic vs Iga Swiatek and Alexander Zverev vs Jann...
Sep 07, 2021•49 min•Ep. 893
