Open Era

As a teenager he was featured on the cover of Newsweek magazine alongside Barack Obama. One of the most hyped American athletes of all time had a roller coaster of a career, but never reached the world’s top 30. So much was expected of this young phenom but mis-management, a poor attitude and his game style never allowed him to become an all time great. This week on Open Era we are joined by Andre...

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.

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. Come join the Patreon family for bonus content and ad-free episode...

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. Come join the Patreon fam...

"She has the ability to be the greatest player ever, even better than Serena and I never thought I'd say that.” The BBC’s Sue Barker isn’t alone. Coco Gauff is expected to take over the tennis world. This week Simon and Devang take a deep dive into Gauff’s career so far and reckon with the weight of expectations. Come join the Patreon family for bonus content and ad-free episodes: https://www.patr...

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....

By 2015 Andy Murray was no longer a tough luck loser when it came to Grand Slams, but the Australian Open title remained elusive. In his fourth attempt to win the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, Novak Djokovic once again stood in Murray’s way. The Athletic’s Kaitlyn McGrath joins us this week to relive the 2015 Australian Open Men’s final. Come join the Patreon family for bonus content and ad-free e...

Despite grim predictions the Adria Tour went ahead as planned and in its wake the Tennis world has been left reeling. Novak Djokovic, the tour’s frontman, along with Grigor Dimitrov and Borna Coric tested positive for COVID-19, putting resumption of the 2020 season in doubt. This week Simon and Devang unpack a tumultuous week. Come join the Patreon family for bonus content and ad-free episodes: ht...

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. Come join the Patreon family for bonus content and ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/openera Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! And...

It’s not their most famous match, but when looking back on the Federer-Safin rivalry, this second set tiebreak must be chronicled. This week Open Era heads to 2004 and the Tennis Masters cup semifinal in Houston. Federer was finishing off a simply dominant season and Safin laid the groundwork for one more slam run. That combination created an incredible moment. Come join the Patreon family for bon...

The French Open may happen at some point this year but it must be said, we’re missing the Parisian clay right now. This week we head back to 2003 and the classic semifinal between Serena Williams and Justine Henin. Serena was on a 33-match winning streak at the slams but it was not meant to be on this day in what was an extraordinary contest. You don’t get a moniker like ‘The Hand Match’ for nothi...

10,000 tennis fans packed Centre Court on a Monday to watch two men battle for a prize that had eluded them in the past. Patrick Rafter had come close in 2000, losing to Pete Sampras in the final. Goran Ivanišević’s date with destiny at Wimbledon was a long time coming. He had lost in the final three times prior to that July day in 2001, where a legion of rabid Aussie fans and Goran devotees gathe...

Sure we remember the epic 2009 Australian Open final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, but that wasn’t the best match of the tournament. Fernando Verdasco gave Nadal everything he could for five hours and 14 minutes, but it wasn’t enough. Racquet Magazine’s Giri Nathan joins us this week to relive a RLA masterpiece. Come join the Patreon family for bonus content and ad-free episodes: https:/...

The actions of Gunter Parche changed the sport of tennis for ever on April 30, 1993. Monica Seles was on track to smash the record books until Parche, a Steffi Graf superfan, stabbed Seles during a changeover at the Hamburg tournament. Graf and Seles were lodged in a rivalry that was on track to redefine the sport. Seles remarkably came all the way back, meeting her great rival once again in the 1...

In 1997 it was the end for Andre Agassi. A failed drug test coupled with injuries and the disintegration of his marriage saw the American plummet to 141 in the world rankings. And then, Agassi did something remarkable. This week on the Open Era Podcast, we revisit the 1999 French Open final and Agassi’s date with destiny. Come join the Patreon family for bonus content and ad-free episodes: https:/...

Patreon subscriber and friend of the show Luke Peristy asks Simon and Devang to relive an improbable run in Paris. Francesca Schiavone became the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam tournament, and the first woman in the Open Era to win the French Open while seeded outside the top 10. Schiavone won this tournament using a shot we no longer see much of on the women’s tour. Why? Come join the Pa...

Devang and Simon are back with your usual programming thanks to a rather busy week in the tennis world. The guys discuss a possible ATP-WTA merger and what it could mean for the sport as well as Novak Djokovic’s controversial coronavirus vaccine comments. Finally, with professional tennis in Canada unlikely this Summer, we reflect on our favourite Rogers Cup moments. Come join the Patreon family f...

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. Come join the Patreon family for bonus content and ad-free episodes: https://www....

Simon and Devang revisit the Women’s 2004 Australian Open final and one of the more underrated rivalries in tennis. Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne were the top players in the women’s game and happened to hail from the same small nation: Belgium. Combined, they would win 11 Grand Slams. On this January day in Melbourne, they battled for hardcourt supremacy. Come join the Patreon family fo...

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. Come join the Patreon family for bonus content...

This week we continue on our journey through time to relive some of the best matchups that tennis has offered as we examine the 1980 Wimbledon final between Björn Borg of Sweden and John McEnroe of the United States. Simon Bushell and Devang Desai remember all of the drama, the outbursts and the tie-breaks. This episode originally aired on January 12, 2018 as part of The Sport Chronicle. Come join...

Amidst the suspension and cancellation of several tournaments across the tennis world, we are taking you on a journey back to the 2012 Australian Open where Nadal and Djokovic gave us a final for the ages. Simon Bushell and Devang Desai relive the six hour marathon match between two of the world's best. This episode of The Sport Chronicle originally aired on September 14, 2018. Come join the Patre...

This week on Open Era: Simon speaks with the BBC’s tennis correspondent Russell Fuller about Coronavirus’ impact on the tennis world and Maria Sharapova’s retirement. The guys also cover the wider response to the pandemic and its impact on the 2020 sporting calendar.

This week Open Era takes a deep dive into the young career of Canada’s next tennis phenom, Leylah Annie Fernandez. We’ll also profile Brazilian hotshot Thiago Wild, who became the first player born in the 2000s to win an ATP title. Wrapping things up, we’ll take a look at what’s happened in Monterrey and Lyon.

Plenty to cover on this week’s show. Canadian 17-year-old Leylah Annie Fernandez made her first WTA final in Acapulco, signalling an incredibly bright future. Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal won titles in Dubai and Mexico, respectively, and Maria Sharapova’s retirement leads to a discussion about her complicated legacy.