Match Point Canada

While 2024 is winding down, the latest tennis season is already in full flight. Canadian tennis player Stacey Fung makes her first appearance on Match Point Canada this week as she joins host Ben Lewis to discuss competing for her nation at the upcoming United Cup in Australia. Fung also looks back at her performances this season including a title in Portugal, and talks about the challenges and go...

With the tennis season winding down, Mike catches up with another rising young Canadian! He speaks with Kayla Cross, who enjoyed a terrific 2024 campaign, winning the Saskatoon Challenger in singles, and two big doubles crowns at the Edmonton and Calgary National Bank Challengers. She also reached the singles final at the Tevlin Challenger and Granby National Bank Championships. Cross discusses he...

She's back on Match Point Canada! Young Canadian Marina Stakusic returns to the podcast this week as she speaks with Mike for a feature interview to discuss her 2024 campaign. Stakusic looks at the positives of her season, elements she's focused on improving going forward, and goals for 2025. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The tennis season has officially come to a close! Hosts Ben and Mike reconvene this week to break down all the ATP and WTA award nominees for 2024, and debate their selections on Player of the Year, Most Improved, Comeback Player, Newcomer and much more. They also discuss Novak Djokovic's huge hire of Andy Murray as his next coach, a final farewell from Juan Martin del Potro, and Iga Swiatek's dop...

Newmarket, Ontario's Liam Draxl returns to Match Point Canada! The 22-year-old Canadian catches up with Ben in a lengthy feature interview as he looks back on his first full season as an ATP pro, the rigours of the Challenger circuit, finding success in doubles and more. We also have signed tennis balls from Draxl for one lucky listener. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoice...

The ATP Finals have officially wrapped up! Tennis Channel host Steve Weissman stops by to speak with Ben about Jannik Sinner's title and massive 2024 campaign, takeaways from his rival Carlos Alcaraz, the consistency and improvement from Taylor Fritz and much more. They also discuss Rafael Nadal's final goodbye upcoming at the Davis Cup Finals and the resurgence of Denis Shapovalov. Meanwhile, the...

Rebecca Marino joins Ben on Match Point Canada to discuss her team's squad heading into the Billie Jean King Cup Finals! Marino is joined by Leylah Fernandez, Gabriela Dabrowski, and Marina Stakusic, as the team gets set for action this week. The veteran also discusses her recent success on the WTA, including the biggest title of her career in Midland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podca...

The WTA Finals have officially come and gone! Versatile host Blair Henley, who took in the action in Riyadh, joins Ben and Mike to recap the end-of-year championship which featured a first-time win from Coco Gauff, and an electric final against Qinwen Zheng. Meanwhile, Ben and Mike also look back on a huge week for Canadian tennis! Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe notched the doubles crown in Riy...

He's a 12-time major champion and a former world No. 1 in doubles! Canadian tennis great Daniel Nestor returns to Match Point Canada, on the heels of his recent induction to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and receiving the Order of Sport. Nestor reflects on some of his top career highlights, why he feels he hasn't gotten a spot in the International Tennis Hall of Fame yet, competing against the Brya...

National Coach Kai Schrameyer returns to Match Point Canada to discuss the exciting new Wheelchair Tennis Player Development Pathway. He also covers recent results from Wheelchair tennis players in Canada, and the significant growth in the sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

She's a 17-time WTA singles winner and two-time Grand Slam finalist! Karolina Pliskova returns to Match Point Canada, as she spoke with Mike from the National Bank Open about her signature weapon, the serve, challenges in staying healthy, tennis in Czech Republic, and future goals. Meanwhile, Canadian Gabriel Diallo enjoyed a breakthrough week, reaching his first career ATP final. Hosts Ben and Mi...

A tennis legend is calling it a career. Rafael Nadal has officially announced his upcoming retirement from tennis at the end of the season, and author and regular guest Christopher Clarey joins Match Point Canada this week to reflect on his incredible career and legacy. Clarey chats with Mike and Ben about the timing of the decision, his meaning to tennis, and expectations for Davis Cup. Meanwhile...

Referred to as the Barry White of tennis, Match Point Canada welcomes chair umpire Kader Nouni this week! The French tennis official joins the podcast to discuss his evolving role in the chair, the impact of technology in the sport, and how he's often spoken about for his baritone voice. Meanwhile, Ben and Mike break down action at the Asian events including titles from Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcar...

She was the first Canadian player to ever reach a Grand Slam singles final! Genie Bouchard returns to Match Point Canada for the first time in a few years, and reflects on great memories including the 10 year anniversary of her run to the Wimbledon finals back in 2014. She also discusses working within the media landscape and what she still has left to give to the game. Meanwhile, Ben and Mike bre...

They're heading back to Malaga! Team Canada enjoyed a big week in Manchester, winning Group D and booking their spot in the Davis Cup Finals this November. Tumaini Carayol, journalist from The Guardian, joins Ben and Mike to recap the action, including big performances from Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime. We also discuss a coaching change for Naomi Osaka, Novak Djokovic's priorities, a...

He broke through for a run to the third round of the US Open, and now returns to Team Canada's Davis Cup roster. Canadian Gabriel Diallo joins Match Point Canada this week, following his career best performance at Flushing Meadows. He reflects on his great success in New York, a big summer, and looks ahead to Canada's tie in Manchester. Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka are the US Open...

We are through the first week of action at Flushing Meadows! Lukas Weese, Staff Editor at The Athletic, joins Match Point Canada to breakdown the storylines from the US Open which has included big time upsets of Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. Weese discusses the impressive tennis of Zheng Qinwen, Daniil Medvedev flying under the radar, the struggles of Coco Gauff, and experiencing the atmosphe...

The Paralympic Games are officially underway in Paris! Wheelchair tennis athlete Rob Shaw is set to represent Canada at the event in Quads, as he looks to build on what's been an outstanding 2024 season. Ben of Match Point Canada chats with Shaw about his year, evolving as a player later in his career, the Paralympic experience, and much more. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcast...

The breakthrough tennis continues for Canadians Mia Kupres and Ariana Arseneault, who captured the Saskatoon Challenger as a doubles tandem, their second title this summer! Mike spoke with the pair in Toronto for a special sit down interview, following their surprising run to the quarterfinals of the National Bank Open. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The final Grand Slam of the 2024 tennis calendar is officially upon us! The US Open from Flushing Meadows is now underway, and hosts Ben and Mike tackle the last major of the season with a full tournament preview. They cover a full breakdown of both the men's and women's draws, how things are shaping up for the Canadians, and offer their dark horse picks. The pair also discuss the controversy surr...

She's been ranked as high as No. 3 in the world, won 17 titles on the WTA circuit, and has reached three singles semifinals at Grand Slams. Veteran Elina Svitolina is back on Match Point Canada, as she caught up with Mike at the National Bank Open the other week in Toronto! Meanwhile, Ben and Mike dive in on Cincinnati action and titles from Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, a controversial call...

She's a former world no. 21, French Open semifinalist, and owns two career WTA titles. Amanda Anisimova is the latest guest on Match Point Canada! It comes at a time she's enjoying a breakthrough week in Toronto. She chats with Ben about time away from the sport, her goals, her clean ball striking, and takes on some rapid fire questions. Ben and Mike tackle the late stages of the event and preview...

Hosts Ben and Mike speak with sisters Leylah Annie and Bianca Jolie Fernandez following their surprise semifinals run in doubles at the National Bank Open! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

She's inside the top 15, recently reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, and has one title already on tour! Emma Navarro makes her first ever appearance on Match Point Canada, as she's broken through for a run in Toronto, and recently represented the USA at the Paris Olympics. Meanwhile, Ben and Mike tackle an upset win from Diana Shnaider, Canadian action in doubles, and our favourite to win the...

She's an Australian Open quarterfinalist, has reached a career high ranking of 17, and has made finals in Berlin and Dubai this season. 25-year-old rising star Anna Kalinskaya joins Match Point Canada, her first time ever speaking on a podcast as she discusses her career success. Meanwhile, Ben and Mike cover early day action at the NBO including big wins from Marina Stakusic and Leylah Annie Fern...