No Challenges Remaining

In Episode 62, Ben and Courtney continue to soldier through the off-season valiantly, kept warm through the bleak tennis-less winter by your questions. Which off-season coaching hires will have the biggest impacts on the 2014 season? Who is more likely to win a Slam next year, Maria Sharapova or Roger Federer? And does Federer's current slide diminish his legacy at all? We then take a number which...

In Episode 61, Ben and Courtney briefly discuss the wildly underwhelming Davis Cup final, then start diving into your questions! You wanted to know lots about the cautionary tale known as Janko Tipsarevic--which top players on both the ATP and WTA are most likely to mirror his slide in 2014? Then we discuss Agnieszka Radwanska, and how elegantly she is masked. Then a hypothetical: could present-da...

For the first time in over a month, Ben and Courtney are finally back together in the NCR Studios for a full episode! There is a whole lot to catch up on, obviously. First, how did Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams change their statuses in the game compared to the rest of the field? And just how much ground did Rafael Nadal and Victoria Azarenka lose, respectively? We also share tales from the ro...

Ben and Courtney tried recording Episode 59 together, but the Internet connection between France and England proved prohibitively terrible, so Ben was left to forage alone in the Parisian desert. But he found an oasis of lovely ladies to talk to there, beginning with Carole Bouchard of L'Equipe. Ben and Carole discuss French tennis, why French fans like booing so much, and why Twitter has proved s...

Ben and Courtney remain on the road, traversing Europe and Asia, but they've now met in the middle just in time to bring you Episode 58, which is an interview with Dmitry Tursunov, one of the game's greatest talkers, and a player who has better blogging bonafides than nearly any other. We talk to Tursunov about the difficulties of life on tour, especially bouncing between the ATP Tour and Challeng...

In Episode 57, Ben and Courtney have no ketchup, but plenty of tennis in Asia! What do our protagonists make of the action in Tokyo, and the surprising results of Kvitova, Venus, and Azarenka? And what about Genie Bouchard, and the showcase-less cohort of young women she seems to be leading at the moment? And what of the Asian swing in general? Precious or pointless? Then we discuss the retirement...

In Episode 56, Ben and Courtney reflect on all sorts of fun stuff, starting with the happenings in this year of Davis Cup. What do we make of the upcoming Americans vs. British battle, and just the Davis Cup format in general? Are major overhauls needed? Then the "diary" of Thomas Drouet, and what (if anything) we learned about the Tomics from it. Did Taylor Townsend stop juniors too early, and ho...

Episode 55b, fittingly, picks up where Episode 55a left off! Ben and Courtney continue discussing the U.S. Open, starting off with Roger Federer's thoroughly depressing tournament. Then comes Richard Gasquet, who finally made it back deep into a Slam. Lastly it's John Isner, and we chat about both the much discussed crowd at his loss to Gael Monfils as well as his (and Tim Smyczek's!) third round...

Our US Open wrap-up episode is better late than never, Ben and Courtney hope! Episode 55 was recorded the night the tournament ended, but has been delayed by a whole lot of technical difficulties (computers) and biomechanical difficulties (sleepy people). But now that it's here, you'll enjoy it! This episode looks back on the 2013 U.S. Open that was, but also the U.S. Open that wasn't. Why did thi...

Live, from New York, it's Episode 54 of No Challenges Remaining! From their Manhattan studio, Ben and Courtney discuss all things 2013 U.S. Open. What do we make of the withdrawal of Maria Sharapova Sugarpova Shoulderpova? Is Serena Williams' year a bust if she doesn't win a second Grand Slam? And is Serena-Sloane actually in some ways the best rivalry in the game today? Other topics include Nadal...

On Episode 53, a roadshow, Ben and Courtney look back in the rearview mirror at happenings in Cincinnati, and forward to what it all means for the U.S. Open. What made Maria Sharapova dump Jimmy Connors after just one match? How is Serena Williams' friendliness toward Victoria Azarenka affecting their matches? Is the Federer-Nadal rivalry we saw glimpses of Cincinnati inherently better than the Dj...

Episode 52A marks just the second time that Ben and Courtney have rushed into the NCR Studios for an "emergency episode," this time necessitated by the shockingly sudden retirement announcement of Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli Wednesday night in Mason, Ohio. We have all sorts of opinions and feelings on the announcement, and on the woman herself. Hear how we found out, surrounded by stunned Fr...

In Episode 52, Ben and Courtney broadcast from all over the tennis hotbed of Mason, Ohio. They begin in the parking lot of the tournament, opining on what it means for world class players to be here in this unlikeliest of host cities, as well as the Applebees that might as well be City Hall.  They then look back across the Great Lakes at Canada, where Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil met in an unth...

Episode 51 is a very big show. First, Ben and Courtney look at the two former U.S. Open champions who lifted trophies last weekend, and what we make of their pasts and futures. How does Sam Stosur only have four career titles? How does Juan Martin del Potro fit into the conversation for the upcoming U.S. Open and beyond? And what are the legacies of the fading Carlsbad event and the successful but...

It's Episode 50! For reaching this milestone, Ben and Courtney treat themselves (and you) to a new theme song! And then there's lots more! After a brief detour to Stanford, we throw ourselves headfirst into the big news of the week, which is the anti-doping violations of Viktor Troicki and Marin Cilic. First on Troicki, is he cheaty or just bratty? Then, what do the circumstances of Cilic's violat...

In Episode 49, Ben and Courtney take lots of questions about all sorts of topics in tennis, like what we make of Federer being put out to pasture on post-Wimbledon clay, and if he should look that gift cow in the mouth? Also what livestock would be best for the rest of the Big 4? And what to make of the barnyard fun that is World TeamTennis? And who has had the better career, Samantha Stosur or Ca...

In a sweaty, summery Episode 48, Ben and Courtney beat the heat with the help of some surprising news and special guests. First, we discuss the recent spins of the coaching carousel, specifically how Maria Sharapova wound up working with Jimmy Connors, as well as what the solutions might be for struggling players ranging from Caroline Wozniacki to Ryan Harrison. We then discuss the unclear comebac...

In this wondrous Wimbledon wrap episode, Ben and Courtney have lots of thoughts on the two new champions. First, Andy Murray: what does his win mean for Britain, and how does that reflect on Britain? And what did his match against Djokovic say about the state of the men's game? And how will he move forward as a favorite, no longer a lovable loser-type? Then, Marion Bartoli: how did that happen? An...

After Ben and Courtney last spoke to you on calamitous "Black Wednesday," not much had happened at Wimbledon, until midday Monday when the top of the women's draw went boom (boom). Sabine Lisicki's upset of Serena Williams was a huge surprise, but what does it mean for Serena? And what do Ben and Courtney make of Lisicki, as far as what lies behind that oft-cited smile? We also talk about the Brit...

Things got way too real at Wimbledon on Wednesday, so Ben and Courtney needed to rush to the microphone to come to grips with perhaps the craziest day of results and withdrawals in tennis history. After Rafael Nadal exited in the first round Monday, Wednesday saw the exits of Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Caroline Wozniacki, Marin Cilic, Ana Ivanovic, Jelen...

In this episode live from the Wimbledon Village, Ben and Courtney have a whooooole lot to talk about on the eve of Wimbledon.  First we discuss the controversial Serena Williams profile published this week by Rolling Stone, so we discuss the piece and her controversial comments on Steubenville. We then discuss Maria Sharapova's shocking takedown of Williams' personal life in her pre-tournament pre...

The grass season has started off with a bang, and so does this episode! In their respective press rooms in Halle and Birmingham, which are full of fun sudden ambient noises, Ben and Courtney discuss the start of the grass season. Is Queen's as stuffy and bothersomely bougey as its made out to be? (Yes). Is Halle a delightful place full of beer, sausage, pretzels, and tuba music? (Yes). How do you...

In this French Open Second Week special, Ben and Courtney catch up on all the happenings in the middle of the French Open, and look forward to the exciting last few matches of the tournament. We also find ourselves on the opposite sides of a few issues that arose. Should the tours do more to stop excessive grunting, after the chorus of shriek-denouncers again arose during the Sharapova-Azarenka se...

In this very special midway-through-the-French-Open episode, Ben and Courtney discuss the first week in Paris. The highs, and the lows. What was it like to watch Venus in orbit, even if she burned bright but not for long? What do we make of a section that featured Berdych, Gulbis, and Monfils but yielded Tommy Robredo? And are the Big 4 boring in press, like Gulbis said? We have lots of thoughts,...

In our 40th(!) episode, Ben and Courtney are all about the French Open, wearing berets, eating croissants, and being generally disdainful for no particular reason. We have the same picks to win the title, but we explore how things could possibly go wrong for both him (Rafael Nadal) and her (Serena Williams). Then we do a more thorough breakdown of our entire draws, which is very detailed and featu...