The Tennis Podcast
The Tennis Podcast is a daily tennis round-up show, especially during Grand Slam tournaments. It is part of The Athletic Network and was named in Time Magazine's Top 100 podcasts of all time. The podcast offers exclusive Q&A sessions, Tennis Re-Lived editions, and bonus content for its supporters.
Episodes
Live from Wimbledon Day 5 - Osaka peaks for Sabalenka clash
Catherine, David and Matt were live at the end of Day 5 as a series of brilliant Last 16 women’s matches were set up. We discuss the good mental place Naomi Osaka is in this tournament and whether she can finally trouble Aryna Sabalenka, whether Barbora Krejickova’s closing problem will be an issue for her against Karolina Muchova, how Iva Jovic doesn’t feel out of place in the line-up despit
Live from Wimbledon Day 4 - Dimitrov, Berrettini roll back the years
Catherine, David and Matt were live moments after Grigor Dimitrov beat Jakub Mensik in a match which began outdoors and finished under the roof, exorcising the demons of twelve months ago. Dimitrov now faces Matteo Berrettini who impressed again by beating Arthur Fils. Could one of them..reach the final? The bottom half of the men’s draw remains open and we discuss Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafo
Live from Wimbledon Day 3 - Gauff, Krejcikova classics light up SW19
We start by reacting to Deadline Djokovic and his rapid victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas. How much will that efficiency help him later on in the tournament? We then move on to the two standout matches of the day - Barbora Krejcikova’s thrilling win over French Open champion Mirra Andreeva, and Coco Gauff winning the last six points to survive a final set tiebreak against Solana Sierra. We
Live from Wimbledon Day 2 - Serena shines, but Maya prevails
Catherine, David and Matt react to Serena Williams’ singles return as she lost in three sets on Centre Court to Maya Joint. In what way did this match and occasion actually exceed our expectations? How did Joint manage to overcome her nerves to play so well and win? Would playing a warm-up tournament have helped Serena? And what might the rest of her summer look like? We then wrap up the
Live from Wimbledon Day 1 - Sinner survives scare
Catherine, David and Matt were live at the end of an eventful opening day at Wimbledon in 2026. We start with the day’s most dramatic events including Novak Djokovic’s late night victory on Centre Court, Jannik Sinner overcoming the triple threat of a dramatic fall, a bloody shoe and an inspired performance by Miomir Kecmanovic, French Open finalist Maja Chwalinska’s cruel injury on match poi
Live from Wimbledon preview - Serena steals the show
The night before Wimbledon, Catherine, David and Matt were live for one last hype show. We start by discussing some more pre tournament press conferences and most notably Serena Williams’ return to the media room at Wimbledon. What did we learn? We also have updates from Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu, while Matt is cautiously optimistic about what he heard from Amanda Anisimova. In
Live from Wimbledon - Player media protest gathers pace
Catherine, David and Matt were live to discuss what the players had to say at the end of another media day affected by player protest action over prize money revenue and welfare issues. How much of a feature was this action on media day? Would it help if the players were more specific about the welfare improvements they’re seeking? And where does this movement go from here? Moving on to
Live from Wimbledon - Draw puts Serena, Swiatek on collision course
Catherine, David and Matt were Live at Wimbledon for the first time in 2026 to dissect the singles draws which were made on Friday, headlined by Serena Williams’ return to tennis. In part one, we discuss what it was like during the draw as we waited for Serena’s name, whether first round opponent Maya Joint counts as a good draw, and how far she might go, including a possible round three clas
Wimbledon - Has Sinner conquered the heat?
Catherine, David and Matt are together at Tennis Podcast Towers in Putney as Wimbledon qualifying wrapped up at Roehampton and excitement grows ahead of Friday’s Draw. Part one (00:00 - 27:10) - Wimbledon Qualifying. We cover some of the main headlines from qualifying including Oliver Tarvet making it through, Dan Evans’ singles career ending, and a big moment for Bianca Andreescu. Part
Understanding Marketa Vondrousova's four-year ban
2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova was banned from playing for four years this week for refusing to take an out-of-competition doping test.After Vondrousova’s own complaints and an outcry from other players on social media, Catherine Whitaker speaks to Karen Moorhouse - Chief Executive Officer of the International Tennis Integrity Agency - to understand why she was give such a ban, and ho
Serena’s Wimbledon singles comeback is ON
Catherine, David and Matt were live on YouTube on Sunday night to react to the huge news that Serena Williams will be playing singles at Wimbledon after accepting the last wildcard. Part one - Serena’s singles return at Wimbledon (00:00 - 32:12). We discuss how shocking it is, what to expect, and some fun possible round one matches. Part two (32:13 - 1:15:21) - We cover the big resu
Will Serena play singles at Wimbledon?
Catherine and David are rejoined by Matt, who’s back from Chicago, to catch up on the week’s results so far and speculate about whether Serena Williams will play more than just doubles at Wimbledon. Part one (00:00 - 25:45) - We start with Wimbledon’s wildcard decisions. Is a spot being saved for Serena to play singles? Do we think she will take it? Is that something we would like to see? And
Dan Evans - The party's (almost) over
Dan Evans has decided to call time on his career, with one more Wimbledon to play first. After making his decision just before the French Open, Evans sat down with David Law to talk about the many ups and downs of his 15-year career.00.00 - Intro02.00 - Why Dan is retiring now and how the decision was made08.00 - The early years37.00 - Breakthrough at the US Open 201340.00 - Ups and downs43.00 - M
Grass! Donna Vekic, Emma Raducanu and Ben Shelton enter the chat
With Matt in CHICAGO! Catherine and David get together to look back on the first week of the grass court season in 2026.Part one - The WTA event in Queen’s, where Donna Vekic and Emma Raducanu provided timely reminders of just how dangerous they can be on grass, particularly with coaches they know and trust. Also chat about Amanda Anisimova, the returning Serena Williams, and a title for Robin Mon
French Open Day 15 - Zverev wins, but polarises
Catherine, David and Matt convene at Roland Garros for one last time in 2026 after Alexander Zverev won his first Grand Slam title, beating Flavio Cobolli in a five-set struggle. Part one - Our review of the final including both players’ nerves, how Zverev said his cramps helped him to ‘let go’, and whether Cobolli will have any regrets. Part two (26:07) - We discuss what it all means. Will Coboll
French Open Day 14 - Andreeva’s dream comes true
Catherine, David and Matt react to Mirra Andreeva’s 6-3 6-2 win over qualifier Maja Chwalinska in the Roland Garros final. Part one - We discuss Andreeva’s journey to becoming a Grand Slam champion, the role of coach Conchita Martinez, how Andreeva dealt with the occasion and elevated her game to win the final, and what the future might hold for Chwalinska. Part two (33:17) - We run through the da
French Open Day 13 - Surely now for Zverev?
On a very strange day at Roland Garros, Catherine, David and Matt discuss Alexander Zverev reaching a fourth Grand Slam final and a semi-final that didn’t happen. Part one - Reaction to Matteo Arnaldi’s withdrawal, what it might mean for Flavio Cobolli ahead of the final, a surreal joint press conference, and the issue of split session men’s semi-finals. Part two (16:32) - We discuss how Zverev be
French Open Day 12 - Will Maja Chwalinska match Raducanu’s title run?
Catherine, David and Matt are joined by The Athletic’s Charlie Eccleshare on the day that Maja Chwalinska and Mirra Andreeva booked their spots in Saturday’s Roland Garros Final. Part one - We react to Chwalinska’s absorbing victory over Diana Shnaider and the continuation of her remarkable run from qualifying. How did Chwalinska showcase the full range of her game? And how will she handle the nex
French Open Day 11 - Sabalenka self-destructs in the wind
Catherine, David and Matt react to another seismic upset at Roland Garros as Aryna Sabalenka lost 12 of the last 13 games in her quarter-final against Diana Shnaider.Part one - Our reaction to a shocking Sabalenka loss in the wind. How did she lose 10 games in a row from 6-3 5-3? How come she didn’t learn from last year’s final against Gauff? And can we now say she’s under performing at the majors
French Open Day 10 - Can Kostyuk win it all for Ukraine?
Catherine, David and Matt look back on a day which saw Mirra Andreeva, Marta Kostyuk, Alexander Zverev and Jakub Mensik reach the semi-finals at Roland Garros. Part one - We discuss Kostyuk’s remarkable surge to defeat Svitolina, her moving words about the the significance of an all-Ukrainian match on a day when Kyiv was hit by bombing, and her chances of going on to win the title. Plus, analysis
French Open Day 9 - Sabalenka shines as Serena announces return
Catherine, David and Matt wrap up another eventful day, headlined at Roland Garros by Aryna Sabalenka vs Naomi Osaka in the night session, and elsewhere in the tennis world by the news that Serena Williams is making a comeback. Part one - We discuss Sabalenka’s statement win, how the match-up against Osaka reveals just how much she’s improved as a player over the years, and the use of Sabalenka’s
French Open Day 8 - Kostyuk and stress send Swiatek packing
This crazy French Open took yet another twist on Sunday as Iga Swiatek was beaten by Marta Kostyuk before a thrilling Joao Fonseca performance in the night session. Catherine, David and Matt recorded on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the end of it all. Part one - We unpack Swiatek’s loss. Where did it go wrong for her? Will she ever rediscover her best form? How did the combination of Kostyuk's game a
French Open Day 7 - Gauff falls, so who’s in the title Mix now?
Catherine, David and Matt review yet another dramatic day at Roland Garros, headlined by defeat for defending champion Coco Gauff to Anastasia Potapova.Part one - Women’s draw. We discuss how Gauff’s loss unfolded, the extraordinary level and resilience of Potapova, and where this leaves Gauff going into the grass court season. Plus, all the talking points from Amanda Anisimova’s loss to Diane Par
French Open Day 6 - Djokovic downed as Fonseca comes of age
At the end of another extraordinary day at this year’s French Open, Catherine, David and Matt are together at Tennis Podcast Towers in Paris to discuss an historically wide-open men’s tournament following Joao Fonseca’s incredible win over Novak Djokovic.Part one - Men’s draw. How did Fonseca mount his comeback from two sets down against Djokovic? What did it feel like in the stadium? And what doe
French Open Day 5 - Sinner STUNNED! What happened, and what now?
Catherine, David and Matt react to Jannik Sinner’s loss at Roland Garros, a result which blows the whole tournament wide open.Part one - Men’s draw. We discuss how Sinner’s dramatic defeat to Juan Manuel Cerundolo unfolded as his 6-3 6-2 5-1 lead evaporated and his body wilted in the heat. How did Sinner explain what happened in his press conference? And what does it mean for the tournament? Ben S
French Open Day 4 - A frenzy of drama, injuries and upsets
Catherine, David and Matt convene at the end of a quite crazy day at Roland Garros, headlined by Elena Rybakina’s defeat in a final set tiebreak.Part one - Women’s results. This was a very good day for Iga Swiatek, right? She beat Sara Bejlek, Jelena Ostapenko lost to Magda Linette, and Rybakina was beaten by Yulia Starodubtseva. We discuss all of those matches and their ramifications. Does this p
French Open Day 3 - Is the sun Sinner’s most dangerous opponent?
It was a bit of a weird day at Roland Garros, bookended by a couple of big upsets, with Daniil Medvedev and Jessica Pegula both losing. Catherine, David and Matt discuss it all as we finally completed round one. Part one - Men’s results. We cover Medvedev’s loss to Adam Walton and his poor record generally at the French Open. Felix Auger-Aliassime survived in a fifth set tiebreak, but with that pa
French Open Day 2 - Svitolina, Ruud survive scares
Catherine, David and Matt capture another day at Roland Garros which saw Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils say goodbye, Elina Svitolina and Casper Ruud survive, and more players succumb to hot conditions. Part one - Day session. We cover Svitolina’s hard fought win over Anna Bondar, overcoming her recent difficulties in that match up. What makes Bondar tricky for her? And how did she come through? El
French Open Day 1 - Djokovic fights through, but how did he look?
At the end of a hot and steamy day in Paris, Catherine, David and Matt wrap up the main results from Roland Garros, headlined by Novak Djokovic’s win in the night session. Part one - Men’s results. We cover Djokovic’s four set win over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, assess just how much trouble he was in, and whether he can use this performance as a springboard. We also go in depth into Nishesh Basav
French Open Preview, Arthur’s agony and an extraordinary Oliynykova interview
On the eve of the French Open, Catherine, David and Matt are joined by The Athletic’s Ava Wallace to preview the tournament and make some predictions. Part one - We react to the sad news that Arthur Fils has withdrawn, talk about what it means for the landscape of men’s tennis as the significant injuries pile up, and provide a further update on the player’s media action. Part two (15:58) - We talk
French Open Media Day - A boycott of sorts, but did it work?
Catherine, David and Matt report from media day at Roland Garros as the top players cut short their media commitments in a protest over prize money and treatment from the Grand Slams. Part one - We discuss how today’s protest played out and whether it met our expectations. Why did it all feel a little bit flat? In what way could it have been successful? And what is next for this movement? Part two
French Open Draws - Swiatek vs. Ostapenko could be ON!
Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts are in Paris where the Roland Garros draws have taken place as players plan to protest the prize money on offer by limiting their media commitments. Part one - Carlos Alcaraz is out of Wimbledon (00:00 - 12:57) Our reaction, what it means for Alcaraz, and what it means for men’s tennis. Part two - Roland Garros draws. (12:57 - 50:07) We break down the
Rome - Svitolina, Sinner’s stunning title wins
Catherine, David and Matt convened for a live show to discuss Elina Svitolina crowning one of the all-time great title runs, Jannik Sinner completing his set of all the Masters titles, and what it all means for Paris. Part one - WTA (00:00 - 33:48). What made the final between Svitolina and Coco Gauff so compelling? How did Svitolina’s victory show off her evolution as a player? And what’s th
Rome - So is Swiatek back, or what?
Catherine, David and Matt review an eventful few days of action in Rome and look ahead to finals weekend. Part one - WTA (00:00 - 44:40). We discuss how Elina Svitolina and Coco Gauff have both reached the final, including Svitolina’s remarkable wins on back-to-back nights over Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek, as well as Gauff’s battling victory over Mirra Andreeva and gradual improvement in f
Rome brings drama, but boycott talk dominates
Catherine, David and the Athletic’s Charlie Eccleshare look back on a dramatic opening week at Rome’s Foro Italico.Part one - WTA (00:00 - 16:41). Charlie brings us up to speed on the latest stand off between the top players and the Grand Slams over prize money, and Aryna Sabalenka’s bold claim that the players are prepared to boycott in order to achieve the revenue share they think they deserve.
Madrid - What do Sinner & Kostyuk's titles mean for the French Open mix?
Catherine, David and Matt are joined by The Athletic’s Matt Futterman to discuss finals weekend in Madrid and what it might all mean for Roland Garros. Part one - ATP (00:00 - 38:00). We start with Jannik Sinner’s demolition of Alexander Zverev and what it told us about their match up and the gap between Sinner and everyone else in the field in the absence of Carlos Alcaraz. Why was Zverev so
Madrid - Sabalenka stopped, but what about Sinner?
Catherine, David and Matt look ahead to the women’s final and the men’s semis in Madrid. Part one - WTA (00:00 - 29:59). The Athletic’s Matt Futterman provides a report from on the ground in Madrid before we discuss Hailey Baptiste’s thrilling upset of Aryna Sabalenka as well as the paths that Mirra Andreeva and Marta Kostyuk have taken to the final. Part two - ATP (30:00 - 56:16). After
Madrid - Can Rafael Jodar fill the Alcaraz void?
Catherine, David and Matt catch up on all things Madrid - a tournament which has been hit by a bout of apparent food poisoning, but with plenty of interesting plot lines still developing. Part one - WTA (00:00 - 32:38). We cover Post Puke Gauff’s gutsy victory over Sorana Cirstea, Elena Rybakina coming through a couple of testing three setters, and a nice run for Hailey Baptiste. Plus, David
Emergency pod - Alcaraz out of Roland Garros
Catherine, David and Matt convened for an emergency live show to react to the sad news that defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from next month's Roland Garros due to a wrist injury.We discussed what this means for Alcaraz, how it might affect Jannik Sinner going for the Career Slam, and the different feel the tournament will have without Alcaraz. Who can step up in his absence?Become
Arthur Fils - future Roland Garros champion?
Part one - WTA (00:00 - 32:07). We start with Elena Rybakina’s title in Stuttgart which takes her to the top of the WTA Race for 2026. What were the keys to her victory? How did she come through an extraordinary match with Leylah Fernandez? And what might this mean for the rest of the clay court swing? There’s also chat about Karolina Muchova’s brilliant run and another loss from a set up for Iga
Has women’s tennis served its purpose for Saudi Arabia?
Catherine and Matt are together for a mid week catch up with events in Stuttgart, Barcelona, Munich and Rouen in full swing. Part one - ATP (00:00 - 34:41). How concerning is Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal from Barcelona with a wrist injury? We react to his press conference and discuss the difficulty of his clay court season scheduling. Elsewhere in Barcelona, Lorenzo Musetti has picked up some
Monte Carlo - Was Sinner’s statement win a game-changer?
Catherine, David and Matt are here to look back on the first Sinner-Alcaraz match of the 2026 season. Part one - Monte Carlo (00:00 - 30:59). We discuss Jannik Sinner’s victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the final and how it sets up their rivalry and the clay court season ahead. In what way did Sinner cope best with the windy conditions? How much confidence will he take from his? And how might Al
Monte Carlo - What on earth was Daniil Medvedev doing?
Part one (00:00 - 41:30) David and Matt catch up on all things Monte Carlo which has seen Daniil Medvedev get double bagelled, Jannik Sinner actually drop a set, Valentin Vacherot win some thrillers, Joao Fonseca look impressive, and Alexander Zverev come back from the brink of defeat. How might the rest of the week unfold? Part two (41:31 - 56:11) - The Lilli Tagger show in Linz and a previe
Will Nadal inspire a Swiatek surge?
Catherine, David and Matt are together to discuss the start of the clay court season and a fascinating week of coaching changes on both tours. Part one - Coaching carousel (00:00 - 33:55). With the news that Iga Swiatek has hired Francisco Roig, we talk about whether her training block in Mallorca with Rafael Nadal can help inspire her for the clay court season ahead. Could this be just the b
Miami - Are Sinner & Sabalenka getting even better?
David, Catherine and the Athletic's Matt Futterman had plenty to talk about after Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka completed the rare Double Sunshine Double with their Miami Open titles. Part one - ATP (00:00 - 37:45) We start with the extraordinary dominance of Jannik Sinner who has won the Indian Wells & Miami titles without dropping a set. With the points gap quickly closing on Carlos
Miami - Why Arthur Fils is the next guy
After a dramatic few days in Miami, there’s lots to discuss for Catherine and David, who are holding the fort while Matt gets stopped by fans at Gatwick airport. Part one - (00:00 - 18:25) Shortly after discussing Iga Swiatek’s crisis of form and confidence on the last pod, news broke that Wim Fissette had been axed from the Swiatek team. Is it the right move? And who will the for the former
Miami - What happened to Swiatek & Alcaraz?
It was a rainy first few days of Miami but things have picked up since then and a couple of big shocks - defeats for Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz - have left Catherine, David and Matt with plenty to discuss. Part one - WTA (00:00 - 43:51) We start with Swiatek’s defeat to Magda Linette as she opened up about the tennis “nightmare” she’s experiencing on court. What’s going wrong for her? And
Indian Wells - Sabalenka, Sinner win…just
Catherine, David and Matt are joined by The Athletic’s Charlie Eccleshare for a live show looking back on a dramatic finals weekend at Indian Wells. Part one - WTA (00:00 - 34:39). We react to Aryana Sabalenka’s incredible match point-saving victory over Elena Rybakina, discuss where the match was won and lost, and consider what it means for their rivalry. Plus, a Backhand List update and ana
Indian Wells - Sincaraz, Sabatek finals incoming?
It’s only been a few days since the last pod but so much has happened at Indian Wells for Catherine, David and Matt to get stuck into. Part one - ATP (00:00 - 40:17) It’s been a thrilling week on the ATP side with the return of Jack Draper and Arthur Fils helping to reinvigorate the tour. We discuss Draper’s epic win over Novak Djokovic and the technical tweaks which have helped Fils on his r
Indian Wells - The story so far
Catherine, David and Matt catch up on the biggest talking points so far at Indian Wells. Part one (00:00 - 12:00). We start by picking up where we left off last week with an update on how tennis players escaped the United Arab Emirates as the conflict in the Middle East escalated.Part two (12:01 - 38:35). Men’s draw. Joao Fonseca is having a big week and now faces Jannik Sinner, Carlos A
As world events unfold, what happens to tennis?
Catherine, David and Matt catch up on all the latest results and news in a week which saw the illusion of tennis existing outside of world events collapse again. Part one - ATP (00:00 - 48:17). We cover the dystopian scene of the doubles final in Dubai taking place despite American and Israeli strikes on Tehran and Iran’s retaliatory attacks across the region. Plus, an update on the players a
Alcaraz wins 12 in a row and Fils-Ivanisevic: The Inside Story
Part one - WTA Dubai (00:00 - 44:40). Jessica Pegula has capped a remarkable recent run with a big title. Is she playing the best tennis of her career? And what makes her so well set up to be a consistent force? We also cover an extraordinary semi-final won by Elina Svitolina against Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova finding some form, and the announcement of the new WTA Tour Architecture Council as th
Muchova’s moment - the first of many?
Catherine, David and Matt discuss an exhilarating week of action across events in Doha, Rotterdam, Dallas and Buenos Aires. Part one - WTA Doha (00:00 - 34:36). The joy of seeing Karolina Muchova win another title at last, Victoria Mboko showing she belongs in the Top 10 after incredible wins over Mirra Andreeva and Elena Rybakina, varying degrees of concern for Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek and Am
What's happened since the Australian Open?
Catherine, David and Matt are home from Melbourne and here to look back on another busy week of tennis as the tours moved onto the Middle East and indoors in Europe. Part one (00:00 - 34:52) - Women’s results. We discuss the rise of another young Czech as Sara Bejlek won her first career title in Abu Dhabi, a title in her home country for Sorana Cirstea, an eventful week for Emma Raducanu as
Aus Open Day 15 - Carlos Alcaraz: History Boy
History was made at the Australian Open on Sunday as Carlos Alcaraz beat Novak Djokovic to become the youngest man to win the career Grand Slam. Catherine, David and Matt react to a special night in Melbourne. Part one - Djokovic’s incredible start to the match, Alcaraz’s tactical adjustments and impressive mindset, a tense fourth set as Djokovic upped his intensity, and Alcaraz proving the d
Aus Open Day 14 - Rybakina’s glory but did Sabalenka blow it?
At the end of women’s final night, Catherine, David and Matt discuss Elena Rybakina’s 6-4 4-6 6-4 win over Aryna Sabalenka as she became a two-time major champion. Part one - All the talking points from the women’s final including Rybakina’s incredible start and finish, how Sabalenka lost her 3-0 lead in the decider, whether or not Sabalenka has a Grand Slam finals problem, the optics of Stef
Aus Open Day 13 - Djokovic vs Alcaraz, for history
The Dud Slam is no more! Catherine, David and Matt react to an extraordinary day as Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic both reached the final in impossibly dramatic fashion. Part one - We start with Djokovic’s late night comeback victory over Jannik Sinner. How did he do it? What was new from him and what was vintage? And what more could Sinner have done on his many unconverted break points?&n
Aus Open Day 12 - Rybakina vs. Sabalenka showdown set
Catherine, David and Matt are in Garden Square to talk about Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina reaching the women’s final. Part one - Women’s semi-finals. Some actual drama as Jessica Pegula tried to mount a dramatic comeback in the second set against Rybakina, a dominant display from Sabalenka versus Elina Svitolina which was propelled by a controversial hindrance call, and some early thoug
Aus Open Day 11 - Djokovic dream still alive, or is it?
The semi-finals are set as Catherine, David and Matt wrap up another day of straight sets matches at this most unusual Australian Open. Part one - Men’s Results. We cover the devastation of Lorenzo Musetti when forced to retire two sets up, another lucky break for Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner’s continued dominance over Ben Shelton, and whether Djokovic can rediscover any kind of form before
Aus Open Day 10 - What happened to Coco Gauff?
Catherine, David and Matt discuss another day of matches without much jeopardy, but one that saw Aryna Sabalenka, Elina Svitolina, Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz all reach the semi-finals.Part one - Men’s results. We cover the total brilliance of Carlos Alcaraz in the night session, a new Alcaraz theory that David’s developed, the devastation of Alex de Minaur, and the remarkable serving perf
Aus Open Day 9 - Can Showtime Shelton shock Sinner?
It was another day at the Australian Open without the matches we were hoping for, but with a record-breaking quarter-final line up in terms of top seeds, surely they’re coming. Catherine, David and Matt discuss it all.Part one - Women’s results. We cover Madison Keys going out of the tournament and look ahead to Amanda Anisimova vs Jessica Pegula and Iga Swiatek vs Elena Rybakina in the quarter-fi
Aus Open Day 8 - The day the big guns arrived
Catherine, David and Matt review a day which promised much only to deliver little in the way of drama, but did feature several incredible performances from some of the sport’s biggest names and rising stars. Part one - Men’s results. We start with the news of Jakub Mensik’s withdrawal and how much it could help Novak Djokovic, before moving on to the day’s matches which saw standout performan
Aus Open Day 7 - Are Sinner and Djokovic lucky to still be in the tournament?
Catherine, David and Matt catch up at the end of a day of scorching heat in Melbourne as Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic both survived very different scares. Part one - Men’s results. We cover all the drama of Sinner’s victory against Eliot Spizzirri as the Italian cramped badly before the closing of the roof came to his rescue. What can Sinner do to avoid these situations? As for Djokovic, just
Aus Open Day 6 - Things are about to get serious
Catherine, David and Matt discuss a day which saw almost all of the big names win through to set up a series of enticing Last 16 matches. Part one - Women’s results. We discuss Coco Gauff’s comeback against Hailey Baptiste, Aryna Sabalenka needing her tiebreak record to come through, a breakout performance from Iva Jovic to beat Jasmine Paolini, and some incredible Yulia Putintseva celebratio
Aus Open Day 5 - What led to Osaka aggro?
Catherine, David and Matt are together to look back on Stan Wawrinka’s epic victory and a day with some aggro as well as the first big upset in the women’s draw. Part one - Men’s results. We discuss Wawrinka stealing the show by winning a fifth set tiebreak against Arthur Gea, another comfortable day for Novak Djokovic, a somewhat surprising loss for Hubert Hurkacz, a sad Stefanos Tsitsipas s
Aus Open Day 4 - Where does this loss leave Raducanu?
Part one - Men’s results. We discuss Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev withstanding good performances from Yannick Hanfmann and Quentin Halys, Alex de Minaur weathering a bit of a storm on Laver, Alexander Zverev finding his best form, and the distinct lack of upsets so far. Part two (30:21) - Women’s Results. We cover a dispiriting performance from Emma Raducanu and concerns over the direct
Aus Open Day 3 - Keys, Sinner start title defences well
Catherine, David and Matt gathered on an outside court towards the end of day three as round one came to a close. Part one - We focus on the day’s fun matches including Madison Keys coming through the unique test of Oleksandra Oliynykova, Janic Tjen impressing against Leylah Fernandez, and Dane Sweeney outlasting Gael Monfils. Part two (25:27) - Unfortunately there were some tougher scen
Aus Open Day 2 - Big guns progress, but who looked best?
Part one - Women’s results. We cover Iga Swiatek passing a pretty tough test against Yuan Yue, Mirra Andreeva’s Mix credentials after her comeback win over Donna Vekic, victories for Coco Gauff and Amanda Anisimova, more injury concern for Barbora Krejcikova, and the extraordinary scenes around Melbourne Park for Alexandra Eala’s match. Part two (49:32) - Men’s results. We discuss Novak Djoko
Aus Open Day 1 - How did post-Ferrero Alcaraz look?
Catherine, David and Matt review an opening day which saw the big contenders advance at night after a fun day session filled with upsets. Part one - Men’s Results. We discuss Carlos Alcaraz’s first match without Juan Carlos Ferrero on his team, an unfortunate day for Flavio Cobolli, a disciplined performance from Alexander Bublik, Alexander Zverev finding some form after a slow start, and a b
Aus Open Preview with Pam Shriver!
The one and only Pam Shriver joins Catherine, David and Matt to get hyped for the start of the Australian Open.Part one - Tales from the press conference room as Novak Djokovic enters this Australian Open strangely under the radar, Emma Raducanu reveals a technique change on the forehand, and Daria Kasatkina opens up about the joy of becoming an Australian citizen.Part two (29:42) - Titles for Mir
Aus Open Media Day - Alcaraz faces Ferrero questioning
Catherine and Matt and are joined by The Athletic’s Matt Futterman to discuss the major talking points from media day, where the vibes were mostly very good. There’s chat about Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek going for the career Grand Slam, the confidence of Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner, tales from some of the smaller interview rooms, Coco Gauff’s search for consistency, and a call out f
Aus Open Draws - Winners, losers, picks and shocks
It was draw day at the Australian Open on Thursday and Catherine, David and Matt are here to dissect them, make predictions, and pick out the must-watch round one matches. Part one - Women’s Draw. Will Matt be going blond? Part two (36:06) - Men’s Draw. Can anyone stop another Sinner vs Alcaraz final? Well David has a big prediction. Part three (1:10:34) - Reaction to Roger Federer’
Aus Open - Inside The One Point Slam
Catherine, David and Matt are together in Melbourne for the Australian Open and we start our coverage Down Under by reacting to the One Point Slam which we all attended on the Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday night. We discuss how the event differed from last year’s, the parts that worked and the parts that didn’t, the glorious journeys of eventual champion Jordan Smith and breakout star Joanna G
Poland win United Cup, but is Swiatek’s form a worry?
Catherine is in Melbourne and David and Matt are heading there soon, but first we catch up on all the results from the first week of the 2026 tennis season. Part one (00:00 - 39:14) We discuss how Poland won the United Cup despite Iga Swiatek losing her final two matches against Coco Gauff and Belinda Bencic. In what way was the nature of those defeats worrying for Swiatek heading into the Au
2026 - Who’s started well, and who hasn’t?
The new tennis season is underway! David, Matt and Catherine in Perth discuss everything that’s happened so far. Part one (00:00 - 42:43) All the talking points from the United Cup in Perth, including some concerns and controversy for Taylor Fritz and Coco Gauff, good vibes in Team Greece, and Stan Wawrinka rolling back the years. But will he receive an Australian Open wildcard? Part two
Cheap, flat and shallow. Did anyone really win the Battle of the Sexes?
Catherine and Matt are joined by The Athletic’s Charlie Eccleshare to review The Battle of the Sexes and look ahead to the new tennis season. Part one (00:00 - 27:12) How did the reality of the Battle of the Sexes compare to our low expectations? Part two (27:13 - 45:51) Juan Carlos Ferrero opens up on his split from Carlos Alcaraz. Part three (45:52 - 1:20:13) 2026 season preview s
Off season intrigue grows
Catherine, David and Matt catch up on bits and bobs of news as the off season begins to draw to a close. Part one (00:00 - 26:20) We start with some more reaction to Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero splitting including reports out of Spain about tensions between Ferrero and the Alcaraz team. There’s also chat about Grigor Dimitrov’s situation as he and Dani Vallverdu part ways, as well
Alcaraz-Ferrero split!
Hours after the bombshell news that Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero have split, Catherine, David and Matt were joined by The Athletic's Matt Futterman to try to make sense of it, and speculate about how it might affect Alcaraz's career. Become a Friend of The Tennis PodcastCheck out our new merch shop! Talk tennis with Friends on The Barge! Si
2025 Season Review
Catherine, David and Matt, with the help of voice notes from an esteemed list of colleagues and Friends, look back on the 2025 tennis season. Part one (00:00 - 40:24) - A very special discussion between Pam Shriver and Mary Carillo on Amanda Anisimova’s resilience, a year of two halves for Coco Gauff, and the way Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz separated themselves from the field. Part
Should the BBC be showing the ‘Battle of the Sexes’?
The tennis off season is here and so are Catherine, David and Matt for their first catch up since the Davis Cup. Part one (00:00 - 26:12) - Reaction to our interview with Andy Murray and concerns as Jack Draper pulls out of playing UTS. Part two (26:13 - 51:49) - Everything we dislike about the upcoming ‘Battle of the Sexes’ including the platforming of Nick Kyrgios, Aryna Sabalenka’s in
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