Open Era

How good is Iga Swiatek? She's really good, and for much of the 2023 French Open nobody could come close to beating her. But in the final, Karolina Muchova gave Swiatek all she could handle. In Simon’s Favourite Women's match of the year, he and Devang look back at a memorable day in Paris. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the P...

At least Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz won their respective French Opens.  In what could have been an all time PR and moral disaster for tennis, Alexander Zverev was stopped from winning his first Grand Slam title.  Iga continued being Iga against a very game Jasmine Paolini.  We wrap up the year’s second major with Parting Shots while asking is Kaylan Bigun is the best name in tennis. Sick of he...

With Devang away, Simon is joined by Priyanka Dobson to chat about just the 4th loss of Rafael Nada’s French Open Career. Also, they turn their attention to an almighty clash between Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek in the 2nd Round. They round out the show with Parting Shots, some Challengers discussion and ask the question of whether this French Open crowd has finally gone too far! Read Priyanka’s Su...

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.  Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to...

Rome, it’s been a slice. On this week’s Open Era, Simon and Devang recap another Iga Swiatek vs. Aryna Sabalenka final, with the Pole coming out on top yet again. The boys discuss the WTA landscape and just how much of a favourite Iga will be in Paris.  On the men’s side, it was a shitshow. Nadal’s early exit, Djokovic and the bottle and a wide open field are among the topics discussed before the...

It took Iga Swiatek 46 minutes to win her first title in Rome. It took Rafael Nadal 162 minutes to win his 10th title in Rome. They’re at different points in their careers, but let there be little doubt, both players are incredible. This week on Open Era, Simon and Devang recount an amazing week for the Polish teen and examine yet another riveting edition of the Nadal-Djokovic rivalry. That, plus...

Was that the best WTA Final of the year? Devang and Simon certainly thought it was right up there. The ATP side? Well, that was a different story. We were both worried that someone would withdraw from the final while it was happening. Enjoy us unpacking a very strange week in Madrid plus Parting Shots as always! Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of...

Hola a todos! We are pleased to be back after Devang’s back injury. Unfortunately, it will keep him out of the French Open. He joins Simon this week to chat about the winners and losers of the past few weeks on the European Clay Courts. Plus they get into Garbiñe Muguruza’s retirement and Russel Fuller’s article on the future of tennis.  Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Ap...

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....

Stefanos Tsitsipas wins in Monte Carlo again. It’s becoming almost routine for the Greek after he saw off a low ranking Danish player in the final. Devang and Simon examine a controversial week in the tax haven where the debate about line calling continued to dominate the headlines.  Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon...

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.  Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple...

What a week in Miami. A sentence Open Era never thought it would write! Danielle Collins won her home tournament in what will be her final year on tour. Plus, Jannik Sinner continued to steamroll the ATP Tour. Devang and Simon unpack a weighty few weeks in parting shots including skirting close to the edge of a few libel laws. You wouldn’t expect anything else though at this point.  Sick of hearin...

Iga Swiatek won over 11 thousand ranking points in 2022. That’s the most since Serena Williams in 2003. You know you’re in good company when you’re the “most since Serena.” This week, Devang and Simon look back at a season for the ages. The Polish phenom Iga Swiatek and her record breaking exploits through 2022.  Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid o...

Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek win Indian Wells again. We really need better script writers in tennis sometimes. All joking aside, it was actually a really interesting tournament in Indian Wells. Jannik Sinner finally had his 2024 winning streak snapped and we had a Maria Sakkari sighting! Finally, Devang and Simon turn to Parting Shots and try to answer the question which is on everyone’s lips. W...

Some big news comes out of Switzerland and California this week. First, Simon and Devang tackle Simon Halep’s immediate return to tennis after the Romanian was ruled ‘not entirely at fault’ for her positive doping test. Elsewhere, the Rafael Nadal comeback at Indian Wells was over before it began, leading to more questions about the Spaniard's future. Plus on Parting Shots, Andy Murray on tour nic...

Some drama just in time for the Sunshine Double. On this week’s Open Era, Simon and Devang discuss Andrey Rublev’s default and calls for VAR followed by some Ugo Humbert appreciation and the latest news from the tours. In parting shots: we get set for Indian Wells, the Demon doubles up, Andy Murray sees the finish line and we ask how important is March for Rafael Nadal? Sick of hearing all the ads...

Iga Swiatek is good at tennis. Shocking we know, but the world number 1 won again at Tour level. We chat about the Pole’s season to date before turning our attention to Jannik Sinner and Jakub Mensik. Wait is that right? Yep, Jakub Mensik. Parting Shots is heavy this week. Strap in for discussion on Gaza, Ukraine, and Navalny. Tennis is weird with how it intersects with geo-politics sometimes. Sic...

The Open Era gang returns to a whole lot of news, results and general ‘stuff’ in the tennis world. On this week’s show, Simon and Devang recap the tournaments since the Australian Open and key in on Leylah Annie Fernandez’s resurgence and Naomi Osaka’s comeback before getting into parting shots, which includes tennis’ dealings with Saudi Arabia, good ATP ads(??) plus much more. Sick of hearing all...

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. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive...

In early November 2021, the ATP became a signatory of the United Nations Sports for Climate Action. This announcement came off the back of the COP 26 summit which took place in Glasgow, wherein world leaders were challenged to accelerate sustainability and climate related actions on a global scale. The ATP produced a document which outlined the commitments it had made along with the key commitment...

In a tale of two finals, Aryna Sabalenka made back to back Australian Opens look smooth sailing. Jannik Sinner definitely did not make easy work of it to win his first Grand Slam. All that being said, it was a jam packed second week at the first major of the year. Sin, Sabs, Bops and Hshieh headline both very much a changing of the guard and very much not a changing of the guard. Plus Parting Shot...

Hello good world, Open Era is back. Friend of the show Owen Lewis joins Simon and Devang to unpack an eventful week in Melbourne. The guys talk about Djokovic, Swiatek, Sabalenka, Tsitsipas and more before getting into Parting Shots and the Australian Open’s decision to have Alexander Zverev play on Rod Laver Arena. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get ri...

Can you believe the first Grand Slam of the season is here? That’s right! It’s Australian Open time! Devang and Simon preview the tournament by highlighting a few players ranked outside of the top 20. Then they turn their attention to Parting Shots and dig into the innuendo filled saga of ballgate. Osaka Athletic article: https://theathletic.com/5174377/2024/01/11/naomi-osaka-australian-open/ Sick...

Once every year Devang and Simon get to talk about some things which aren’t tennis related. It’s a very rare occasion where we get to veer off-script. If it isn’t your thing, we totally get it, we’re back talking tennis next week for the start of the 2024 campaign. If you do stick with it though you’ll get our personal reflections on the year, favourite moments or media along with our thoughts on...

Was this the best match of 2023? Open Era certainly thinks so. For his final Open Era Gold pick of the season, Devang selected the Australian Open final between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina. Join us as Devang and Simon relive an encounter that set the stage for a sensational season of women’s tennis. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them!...