Tales from Tennis

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with presenter, producer and writer Nick McCarvel, who has covered all four Grand Slams, hundreds of tour-level events, multiple Olympic Games and some of the biggest moments in tennis. Nick takes us behind the scenes of life at the majors and the many different roles he has played across tennis media, from presenting and producing live shows t...

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Gustavo Marcaccio, Director of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, to go behind the scenes of one of the most renowned tennis academies in the world. Gustavo takes us inside his day-to-day role running the Academy, the continued influence of Rafael Nadal and the philosophy that underpins the development of young players. We discuss what it...

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with former Irish professional Conor Niland to discuss his award-winning book The Racket , which tells the story of life on the professional tennis circuit and the reality of competing outside the very top of the sport. Conor takes us inside some of the biggest moments of his career, from beating Roger Federer as a teenager to qualifying for Wi...

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Sebastián Varela, co-founder of CLAY and winner of the 2025 Tom Perrotta Prize for Tennis Journalism. Sebastián takes us inside the stories that earned him one of tennis journalism's leading young-writer awards, including his extraordinary feature on a man who escaped drug trafficking and went on to transform lives through tennis. We also...

In this episode of Tales from Tennis, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Mitch Michals, podcast host, producer and editor at Tennis Channel and host of The Inside-In Tennis Podcast. Mitch takes us behind the scenes of his work in tennis media, from producing and editing at Tennis Channel to hosting Inside-In and interviewing some of the biggest names across the sport. We hear stories from c...

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Alex Gruskin, host of Cracked Racquets and one of the leading voices covering college tennis and the ATP Challenger Tour. Alex takes us inside the growing world of college tennis, exploring why more young players are choosing the American college route, the unique atmosphere around the sport and how the system is producing a new generation...

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe are joined by broadcaster Marcus Buckland, who spent 12 years as the lead tennis presenter at Sky Sports, covering the sport's biggest tournaments throughout the unforgettable Big Four era. Marcus reflects on some of the defining moments of his career, including being in New York to witness Andy Murray win his first Grand Slam title, presenting coverage...

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe are joined by award-winning filmmaker and photographer Adam Docker, whose work has taken him to more than 100 countries, capturing some of the biggest names and most remarkable stories in sport. Adam shares behind-the-scenes experiences filming Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, explains how he worked alongside Martin Landaluce to tell the story of the...

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe are joined by broadcaster and commentator Abigail Johnson, who has covered everything from ATP Challenger events to Grand Slams. Abigail reflects on witnessing the rise of some of the game's biggest stars, including Joao Fonseca, Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper, sharing the early signs that suggested they were destined for the top. She also discusses Aryn...

In this episode, Sam Jacot sits down with Jordanian tennis player Abdullah Shelbayh, one of the most exciting young players on the ATP Challenger Tour, who has trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy since the age of 14. Shelbayh reflects on his journey from Jordan to Spain, explaining how Rafael Nadal and Toni Nadal helped shape his development, the advice he has received from Nadal over the years and...

In this on-site special episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Taylor Fritz, Jenson Brooksby, Daniel Altmaier and Rajeev Ram in Eastbourne to hear their stories in the game. The guests reflect on defining moments from their careers, from chasing Wimbledon success to breakthrough runs at majors, while also offering rare behind-the-scenes insight into life on Tour. They discuss training...

In this third on-site episode from the Lexus Ilkley Open, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with a range of Top 150 players competing during the grass-court season, bringing together stories from behind the scenes of the tennis world as the road to Wimbledon continues. Featuring Darwin Blanch, Lulu Sun, Viktorija Golubic, Arthur Gea, Dane Sweeny, Harmony Tan and August Holmgren, the episode exp...

In this second on-site episode from the Lexus Ilkley Open, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with a range of British players competing during the grass-court season as the countdown to Wimbledon continues. Featuring conversations with Jack Pinnington Jones, Charlie Broom, Paul Jubb, Toby Samuel, Oliver Crawford and physio Sam Carter, the episode explores the realities of life at ATP Challenger...

In this special on-site episode of Tales from Tennis, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe head to the Lexus Ilkley Open to uncover what it really takes to run a professional tennis tournament. While fans see the matches, the atmosphere and the drama on court, there is a huge team working behind the scenes to make the event happen. Throughout the week, Sam and Jerome spoke to the people who help bring the...

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Alex Hyman to discuss his journey from competitive tennis player to working across some of the biggest events and stories in the sport. Hyman reflects on his early experiences in college tennis, including a memorable battle against Ben Shelton, before explaining how he broke into the tennis media industry and built a career spanning commun...

In this 20th episode of Tales from Tennis , Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe turn the microphones on themselves to share the stories behind the podcast and how they ended up covering tennis full time. The pair reflects on their journeys into tennis media, from first tournaments and nerve-filled early interviews to surreal moments alongside some of the biggest names in the sport, including Roger Federer...

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Tom Corrie from TennisViz to explore how analytics and data are changing the way tennis is understood at the highest level. Corrie, who is Head of Performance, Media and Broadcast at TennisViz, explains how platforms help coaches, players and the media analyse the modern game, before diving into what the numbers reveal about stars includin...

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Russell Fuller to explore what it’s really like covering the biggest moments as the BBC’s tennis correspondent for the past 13 years. Fuller reflects on his experiences following some of the sport’s biggest stars, including Andy Murray, Serena Williams, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, and shares insight into the frantic nature of life at...

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with broadcaster Richard Connelly to explore what it’s really like being courtside for some of the biggest moments in tennis. Connelly shares behind-the-scenes stories from his time interviewing the game’s top stars, including Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Roger Federer, offering insight into what players are truly like in those high-pressu...

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Arthur Fils' coach Ivan Cinkus to go inside the rise of the Frenchman and what it takes to build one of the most exciting young players in the game. Cinkus reflects on Fils’ impressive return from injury, detailing the work behind the scenes that has fuelled his recent surge, including a title in Barcelona and deep runs in Miami and Indian...

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with award-winning tennis journalist Molly McElwee, winner of the 2024 Tom Perrotta Prize for Tennis Journalism and author of Building Champions: Paths to Success in Women’s Tennis . Molly shares her journey into the sport and what it’s really like covering tennis at the highest level, from long days at Grand Slams to the challenge of building...

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with renowned tennis photographer Corinne Dubreuil, who has spent more than 35 years capturing some of the sport’s most iconic moments. From Grand Slam finals to intimate behind-the-scenes access, Dubreuil shares what it takes to document the game at the very highest level. She reflects on her close working relationship with Rafael Nadal, inclu...

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with physiotherapist Nicolas Dams, who works closely with Zizou Bergs and Alexander Blockx, as well as supporting both the Belgian Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup teams. Dams offers a fascinating insight into the vital role physios play on the professional tour and within team environments. He takes us behind the scenes of life at Grand Slam...

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with former top-10 junior and Wake Forest University player Charlie Robertson. Charlie shares his journey through the junior ranks into college tennis, offering an inside look at why the US college pathway is becoming an increasingly attractive route for aspiring professionals. The Scot reflects on his experiences training with countryman Andy...

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with coach Yari Bernardo, who is working with former World No. 1 doubles star Marcelo Arevalo. Bernardo shares his insights into what it takes to build success at the highest level of doubles, including the key qualities, communication and trust required to form a winning partnership. He reflects on helping guide Arevalo to Grand Slam success a...