The Tennis Podcast

After 16 consecutive match wins in a row at Grand Slam tennis tournaments, we are starting to wonder how it is even possible to beat Naomi Osaka at a major event. The Japanese player has been in trouble a number of times, but against Victoria Azarenka she extricated herself again, and is looking more of a threat as she goes along. What is her secret? How much longer can she keep this up? And why d...

A chaotic hour at the end of day four saw huge disappointment for Kiki Bertens as she was forced to retire, narrow and nervy victories for Grigor Dimitrov and Jo Konta, and late-night drama involving Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Benoit Paire. While it was all going on, Catherine Whitaker and Matt Roberts soaked up the atmosphere and recorded the latest Tennis Podcast. What happened to Bertens? How wi...

World No.1 Naomi Osaka stood two points from defeat against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in the first round, but the moment she sealed victory half an hour later, Catherine Whitaker and Matt Roberts were convinced she could win the title. They convened in the media restaurant as usual to debrief on a day full of narrow escapes and drama, with Alexander Zverev surviving in a fifth set against John Mil...

On our 7th birthday, we are back with our Day 2 Tennis Podcast from Roland Garros! Serena Williams has rarely been seen on a tennis court in recent months, but her return to Roland Garros was a welcome one, and she got going eventually. Not before swallowing a 2-6 first set against Vitalia Diatchenko though. So what happened? Catherine Whitaker and Matt Roberts talk us through from the media resta...

As day 1 of the French Open 2019 drew to a close, Catherine, Matt and Simon Briggs got together in the media restaurant to share stories about what they had seen and heard at Roland Garros during an action and people-packed Sunday.  What happened to Angelique Kerber, who was dumped out by a teenager in the first match of the day? How did Roger Federer look - tennis and outfit-wise - on his re...

A new Court Philippe Chatrier has been built, the draws have been made, and the French Open for 2019 is finally here. Which all means that it’s time for the first daily Tennis Podcast, recorded courtside in the new Simonne-Mathieu stadium, which is lined with greenhouses and foliage  Catherine Whitaker is joined by Matt Roberts and Simon Briggs, with Stefanos Tsitsipas practising in front of...

Roland Garros 2019 is just a few days away. Rafael Nadal will be aiming for his 12th title in Paris. It’s mind-boggling to even contemplate. But how did we get here? Starting from the very beginning, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts take you through the story of Rafael Nadal’s career. With stats and anecdotes, they cover his emergence as a teenage sensation, his clay-court dominance,...

While Karolina Pliskova was a surprise first-time winner of the women's title, Rafael Nadal lifted the Rome trophy for a mind-boggling ninth time, defeating his ultimate rival Novak Djokovic in three sets. What has made Pliskova a force on clay? How has the woman she beat in the final, Johanna Konta, gone from a player that couldn't win more than 3 clay matches in a season to a runner-up in one of...

On this week’s Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts discuss a fantastic tournament in Madrid, headlined by titles for Novak Djokovic and Kiki Bertens. After a lacklustre few months, is it any coincidence that Djokovic has returned to top form when Roland Garros is less than two weeks away? How did he see off the challenges mounted by Dominic Thiem and Stefanos Tsitsipas?...

Catherine Whitaker and David Law begin this week’s show by discussing the aftermath of Justin Gimelstob’s decision to finally stand down from his roles on the ATP board and with Tennis Channel. Will this be used as an opportunity to change the culture of men’s tennis? Who are some of the candidates to replace Gimelstob? Did Stan Wawrinka do the right thing by publishing a powerful letter condemnin...

Politics takes over on this week’s Tennis Podcast as Simon Briggs of The Telegraph joins Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts to discuss Justin Gimelstob’s conviction for assault.  What have been the latest developments in the case? Who has spoken out against Gimelstob and why are more people not doing so? How has he been able to become such a prominent figure in tennis? What is lik...

In part one of this week’s Tennis Podcast, David Law and Grad Matt react to a thrilling weekend of Fed Cup action in London which saw Great Britain make a long-awaited return to the World Group with a 3-1 win over Kazakhstan. Just how significant is this victory for Anne Keothavong’s side? What makes Jo Konta and Katie Boulter such good Fed Cup players? And what might the World Group look like nex...

Unlike many former players, Andy Roddick has stepped away from tennis since his retirement in 2012, occupying his life with various other ventures. But he’s still as passionate and as insightful about the game as ever. In an interview with David Law, Roddick explains what keeps him busy these days, the reasons behind his absence from tennis, and why the door will always remain open for him to retu...

Catherine Whitaker and David Law are back with another Q & A edition of The Tennis Podcast, with this week’s questions chosen by guest editor James Meredith. - Will playing more doubles help or hinder Stefanos Tsitsipas in singles? (01:10) - Will Kyle Edmund have a better career than Tim Henman? (08:44) - Who are the most underrated players in today’s game? (13:41) - Who will finish the year r...

When Janko Tipsarevic first appeared on The Tennis Podcast in 2012, he was ranked No.8 in the world and at the height of his powers. Seven years and seven surgeries later, he returns to the show to open up about the injuries that have plagued his career since then, his mental health struggles, and his plans for the future, including the launch of his mastermind programme for aspiring athletes.&nbs...

For the next two weeks our listeners will be setting the agenda on The Tennis Podcast as Catherine Whitaker and David Law take part in a couple of Q&A episodes. This week’s questions have been chosen by guest editor Keturah Anderssen-Chivers: ·      Are players damaging their chances of progressing in Grand Slams by regularly requesting on-court coaching on the WT...

This week’s Tennis Podcast starts by addressing the elephant in the room: last week’s prediction that Roger Federer might not even be on the list to win the title in Miami.  Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Grad Matt discuss how Federer discovered his best form, the way he dismantled a legion of big servers en route to lifting the trophy, and how he will approach the clay court swing. ...

The 2019 Miami Open is less than a week old but there’s already been loads of talking points for Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Grad Matt to get stuck into on this week’s Tennis Podcast.  First of all, the move away from Crandon Park to the Hard Rock Stadium is discussed. What have the players been saying about the new venue? And how does it come across on television?  In the women’s...

Two thrilling finals at Indian Wells produced two surprising winners in the form of Bianca Andreescu and Dominic Thiem. On the Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker and David Law discuss their remarkable performances. In Andreescu, it feels like tennis has a new teenage star, one who embraces meditation and plays with stunning variety. What makes her so special? And how does she compare to the other...

At the end of a week where on-court action has been overshadowed by political turmoil in tennis, Catherine Whitaker and David Law begin The Tennis Podcast by discussing the news that Chris Kermode will leave his role as ATP President at the end of the year, after the players’ representatives on the board voted not to renew his contract. Why has no official statement been released to explain the re...

Andy Murray has spoken to the media, including The Tennis Podcast, for the first time since undergoing hip resurfacing surgery at the end of January, opening up about the details of the operation, his rehabilitation programme, his improved quality of life now that he’s pain-free, and how he still hopes to make a competitive return. This bonus edition of the podcast, recorded at The Queen’s Club, i...

At the end of a thrilling week of tennis in Dubai and Acapulco, there was no shortage of talking points for David Law and Catherine Whitaker on The Tennis Podcast. They begin by trying to find new superlatives for Roger Federer after he won his 100th career title. How fitting was it that it came in Dubai, a place where Federer has had his ups and downs? How well did he play throughout the week? Wh...

Three and a half years after an extraordinary title run in Toronto, Belinda Bencic has produced another one, this time in Dubai.  On The Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts discuss what makes Bencic such a brilliant player, and wonder whether she can start producing these exceptional weeks more often.  Elsewhere in Dubai, Naomi Osaka lost her first match withou...

After a few weeks apart, David Law, Catherine Whitaker and Matt Roberts are back together on this week’s podcast, and the only place to start is Naomi Osaka’s split with Sascha Bajin.  What could be the reasons behind it ? Should we have seen it coming? And how important is it that she’s prioritising her mental health over her on court success?  On a similar theme, is Simona Halep on a m...

This week, The Tennis Podcast is joined by Laura Robson, who is due to make her return to action tomorrow in Shrewsbury after 8 months on the sidelines with hip surgery. Before commentating on a dramatic final Fed Cup rubber in Bath for BT Sport, Robson tells David Law about the emotions she has experienced while watching the British team that she hopes to be part of again, her long physical rehab...