The Tennis Podcast

Following on from our most recent edition of Tennis Re-Lived on the life of Althea Gibson, in this episode we turn our attention to Arthur Ashe.

We cover his formative years growing up in Virginia under the Jim Crow laws, his development as an amateur tennis player while at college, his Grand Slam titles, his fights for civil rights and social justice, his passing from AIDS, and his enduring legacy.

Along the way, James Blake reveals how he indirectly credits Ashe with getting him into tennis, Leslie Allen talks about what it was like at Dr Johnson’s training facility for African-American players, Steve Flink analyses Ashe’s 1968 US Open victory and what made him so exciting to watch, Richard Evans discusses Ashe’s tactical masterclass against Jimmy Connors in the 1975 Wimbledon final , John McEnroe describes his special relationship with Ashe, Mary Carillo tells some of her favourite stories involving Arthur to explain what he was like, and Chanda Rubin reflects on his impact in tennis.

After looking closely at Ashe’s activism, including how he took on the issue of apartheid and the way he was criticised in some quarters for not being militant enough, we also reflect on Naomi Osaka’s decision not to play her match on Thursday at the Western & Southern Open, a move which led to tennis taking a stand against racial inequality by suspending play for a day. In what way was Osaka acting in the spirit of Ashe? And has the tide turned enough for athletes to now be rewarded for speaking out?

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.

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In this special edition of Tennis Re-Lived, we examine the life, career and legacy of Althea Gibson, the first black player to compete in and win Grand Slam titles.

We cover her early life growing up in Harlem, her development as a tennis player under the guidance of Dr Eaton and Dr Johnson, Alice Marble’s influential letter challenging the USLTA’s whites-only culture, Gibson’s dramatic first appearance at the US Nationals at Forest Hills in 1950, her friendship and doubles partnership with Angela Buxton, her US Open and Wimbledon titles in 1957 and 1958, the way tennis turned its back on her, and the desperately sad final few decades of her life as she lived in poverty.

We also speak to people who knew her to get a sense of what she was like. Tennis historian Steve Flink tells us what made her such a good player, journalist Richard Evans remembers taking her to the Wimbledon ball, Mary Carillo recounts the first time she met Gibson and the WTA’s emergency meeting to raise funds for her, Zina Garrison looks back on her final encounter with Gibson, and Leslie Allen talks in depth about her experience of being a black person in tennis.

What was it like following in Gibson’s footsteps and constantly being compared to her? How did racism in tennis manifest itself during her career? And how did Allen feel at the unveiling of Gibson’s statue at last year’s US Open?

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.

Coming soon: Tennis Re-Lived: Arthur Ashe and daily US Open podcasts. 

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ATP Tour tennis is back with the first big, combined women's and men's tournament since the pandemic struck down Indian Wells in March. With the 'Cincinnati' draw made, Catherine, David and Matt assembled once more to discuss the highlights, catch up on latest news, and also release our big interview with Lindsay Davenport (from 38.00).

Is the WTA draw now more star-studded than the men's draw, despite the withdrawals?

What did we think of Novak Djokovic's interview with Chris Clarey in the New York Times (linked below)?

And thoughts are exchanged about Denis Shapovalov's rap video.

Later, Davenport talks about tennis in front of no fans, her own career, and the greatness of Serena and Venus Williams.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts, and will be daily throughout the US Open.

Next week, we will produce two big special editions, focusing on first Althea Gibson, and then Arthur Ashe.

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*RELATED READING *

Novak Djokovic interview - https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/20/sports/tennis/djokovic-us-open.html

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Tennis’ return went up a notch last week with many of the biggest names competing in Lexington and Prague.

We discuss the way in which champions Jennifer Brady and Simona Halep picked up where they left off six months ago, describe how it felt seeing top level tennis at a small club in Kentucky, assess Serena Williams’ form, marvel at Venus Williams’ remodelled service motion, and analyse yet another step forward for Coco Gauff.  

David also speaks to Dan Evans about life inside the US Open bubble. What do players have to do when they arrive? What’s the hotel like? And how confident is he that players will follow the protocols?

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.

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On this week’s episode, with actual tennis from Palermo to look back on and the Kentucky-Prague double-header to preview, we find ourselves in unfamiliar, but very welcome, territory.

We react live to Fiona Ferro’s victory in Palermo, and discuss what the players have been saying in their pre-tournament press conferences, including Serena Williams on her caution over the virus, Coco Gauff on how she’s used her platform to tackle issues of social justice, Jo Konta on her American road trip, and Eugenie Bouchard on the possibility of a fresh start.

Finally, after Roger Federer celebrated his 39th birthday last week, we get insight from Stefan Edberg about why he's advised Roger Federer not to retire in the same way he did. 

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.

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Rio 2016 was a particularly emotional and memorable Olympics for tennis, with Andy Murray defending his gold medal, Juan Martin del Potro entering people’s hearts, and shock defeats for Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic.

But it was Monica Puig’s run which best encapsulated the spirit of the Games. Catherine talks to her about how it felt to win Puerto Rico’s first ever gold medal.

As our journey through tennis’ history at the Olympics arrives at its final destination, we also speak to Christopher Clarey and Mary Carillo about their favourite memories and experiences of covering the Games.

Finally, we reflect on tennis’ place in the Olympics and consider the impact of Tokyo’s postponement.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.

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The London Olympics will never be forgotten by our Tennis Podcast team, for the opening ceremony, the incredible athletic feats, all of it happening on their doorsteps, and David's inability to watch any of it.

Andy Murray and Serena Williams were the champions, their gold medal winning runs are discussed, and David talks to Laura Robson, who won a medal alongside Murray.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.

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The Beijing Olympics are perhaps best remembered for the world-beating achievements of Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps, but it was also an unforgettable Games for tennis.

We discuss Russia’s clean sweep of the women’s singles medals, how much a gold meant to Elena Dementieva, the way China embraced tennis, the lasting influence of the Beijing Games on the sport, how much Roger Federer values his doubles gold, and Rafael Nadal’s ascension to World No.1.

There was also an epic semi-final between James Blake and Fernando Gonzalez featuring a moment of controversy over whether or not Gonzalez’s racquet had touched the ball. On the podcast, Blake explains exactly why it made him angry, and Gonzalez gives his version of events.

Blake also discusses his one and only victory over Roger Federer and reveals how difficult it was to bounce back from a loss and play the bronze medal match.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.

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We begin this episode by discussing the news that Rafael Nadal has opted not to defend his US Open title due to health risks before moving on to re-live the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

It was a Games which saw Justine Henin-Hardenne win gold, Roger Federer stunned by Tomas Berdych, and double gold for Chile as Nicolas Massu won singles and doubles, alongside Fernando Gonzalez.

We hear from both men at length about their magical week together and what it meant to their country.

The men’s singles silver medallist, Mardy Fish, also opens up about the heartbreak of missing out on gold, what he was feeling while standing on the podium with silver, and why the scar tissue from that experience meant he never played again at the Olympics.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.

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Tennis is back. But there are still question marks about the sport’s short-term future.

In the first half of this episode we discuss the return of the WTA Tour in Palermo and the mood surrounding the US Open before wrapping up the results from the various exhibition events. 

Then, we hear from former World No.4 and current Miami Open tournament director James Blake (starting 43:26).

He takes us through what happened during the week in March when Miami was cancelled and explains why he’s struggling to envisage the US Open going well.

He also praises the way in which Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff have used their platform for good during the last few months and declares why he thinks more unity between the WTA and ATP would benefit tennis.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.

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The 2000 Sydney Olympics were a happier time. Steve Redgrave won his 5th gold for Great Britain and Cathy Freeman became a symbol of national reconciliation for Australia.

In this episode, we look back on a tennis event which also delivered compelling storylines, including double gold for Venus Williams to cap an extraordinary summer and a 4th place finish for a young Roger Federer.

We also hear from men’s singles gold medallist Yevgeny Kafelnikov (starting 23m 27s) about his epic final against Tommy Haas, his experiences in the village, why his gold medal has defined his legacy in Russia, and how he compares it to his Grand Slam titles.

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David was at university, Catherine was 10 and Matt was a baby.

The 1996 Atlanta Olympics saw Michael Johnson dominate, Britain struggle, and some wonderful tennis stories unfold.

In this edition of the podcast we talk to four medallists who had very different stories. From the bittersweet feelings of Gigi Fernandez, to the disbelief of Lindsay Davenport, and a life goal achieved for Leander Paes.

Gigi Fernandez (gold in doubles) - 11m 38s

Lindsay Davenport (gold in singles) - 23m 17s

Sergi Bruguera (silver in singles) - 30m 55s

Leander Paes (bronze in singles) - 37m 01s

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This is the first of several podcasts telling the story of modern tennis at the Olympic Games.

We start with 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona, events that produced so many memorable moments.

If you want to go straight to Barcelona, it begins at 50m.20s.

We have spoken to five medallists for this podcast.

1988 Seoul 

Zina Garrison (bronze in singles, gold in doubles) - 19m 55s

Tim Mayotte (silver in singles) - 38m 36s

1992 Barcelona

Marc Rosset (gold in singles) - 1h 02m 04s

Michael Stich (gold in doubles) - 1h 11m 28s

Gigi Fernandez (gold in doubles) - 1h 25m 50s

NOTE - This episode is longer than we intended it to be, so we may split them up for the future!

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We're back! And we're answering your questions, as selected by listeners Drew and David, who backed our crowdfunding Kickstarter so generously. Here are the questions:

•Is it the players’ responsibility to do what’s safe for themselves, or is it the tournament’s responsibility to guarantee safety regarding covid-19? (4:30)

•Is the Western & Southern Open too ‘intense’ for the first sanctioned event of the restarted ATP Tour? (10:30)

•If we were players, would we be happy to travel to New York for the US Open? (15:30)

•How fundamental is tennis’ scoring system to the DNA of the game? (27:00) 

•What do we think about the use of artificial crowd noise for behind-closed-doors matches? (32:28)

•Will covid-19 hasten the progress of all electronic line calling, or will there be an emotional appeal to return to the norm when restrictions ease? (37:40)

•Should Thiem prioritise the US Open or Roland Garros? (39:10)

•Was talk of more ATP-WTA unity just a flash in the pan? (42:54)

•Who should be the commissioner of tennis? (50:17)

•How do we view Madison Keys’ potential to win Grand Slam titles? (53:25)

•And will there be a flood of retirements following Tokyo 2021 or after the full regular season of tennis? (59:52)

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The 1983 French Open champion, Yannick Noah, is our guest this week.

In an exclusive and extensive interview with David Law, Noah tells stories in his inimitable style about the influence Arthur Ashe had on his career, the time they played doubles together, the dream he had before the Roland Garros final, the words he exchanged with his father after beating Mats Wilander to win the title, why he could never crack Wimbledon, what it was like playing in the same era as legends like John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl, and the emotions evoked by winning the Davis Cup.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.

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The biggest scare Serena Williams faced en route to winning the Wimbledon title in 2015 came from an unlikely source, as Heather Watson pushed her right to the brink in a third-round match which encapsulated the idea of a plucky Brit.

The occasion was also memorable for the raucous atmosphere, and we discuss the elements of that which we felt crossed the line, along with how Serena managed to fight through and why Watson has not gone on to back up that performance at the Grand Slams.  

There’s also a big tangent about Henmania and a rundown of the latest news, including Wimbledon’s decision to pay players and officials, the announcements from the ATP and the WTA about ranking points, and the ever-changing likelihood of the US Open going ahead. 

So, come for all of that, and stay right until the end for some unmissable cameos and naughty behaviour from Magnus…

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December. 

* TENNIS RE-LIVED *

We have done daily shows throughout the original Wimbledon dates, looking back on some of the tournament’s best matches and most important stories. A full replay of Serena Williams vs. Heather Watson from 2015 is available on YouTube.

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In the penultimate episode of Wimbledon Re-Lived, we take ourselves back to July 7th 2013 when Andy Murray became the first British man to win Wimbledon since 1936 by beating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 6-4.

In what way had the British public come to embrace Murray before the 2013 final? What impact had Ivan Lendl had on Murray’s game and his rivalry with Djokovic? How much of a factor was the weight of Britain’s 77-year drought for Murray? Why did Djokovic put in a flat performance? And what was everyone feeling during that final game?

We also speak at length to Judy Murray about the journey that led to the 2013 Wimbledon final and her experiences of that day. Judy talks about how the 2012 Olympics helped Murray to get over his Wimbledon final defeat to Federer, the stress of sitting in the player box at Wimbledon, the scrutiny she faced for her role in Murray’s career, the champion’s dinner, and how Murray’s victory in 2016 compared.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December. 

* TENNIS RE-LIVED *

We will be doing daily shows throughout the original Wimbledon dates, looking back on some of the tournament’s best matches and most important stories. Extended highlights and the final game of Andy Murray vs. Novak Djokovic in 2013 are available on YouTube, along with a full replay of Serena Williams vs. Heather Watson from 2015, which is our final match to cover.

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Finding new words to do justice to the 2008 men’s final at Wimbledon between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer is not easy, but that’s our task on this episode as we look back on the match regarded by many as the greatest in tennis history.

There’s talk about the sense before the match that it could finally be Nadal’s time, Federer’s missed opportunities in the first two sets, the way in which their match-up favoured Nadal, Federer’s fitful forehand, why the epic fourth set tiebreak echoed Borg-McEnroe, Nadal’s ability to recover in the fifth set as darkness fell, and the graciousness between the two camps.

We also hear from Mary Carillo who explains why the match lives up to the hype, Larry Stefanki about how Nadal had adapted his game to help him thrive on grass in 2008, Nadal’s PR manager, Benito Perez-Barbadillo, on how Nadal was feeling during the fifth set rain delay, and Chris Clarey to sum up the rivalry and relationship between Nadal and Federer.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December. 

* TENNIS RE-LIVED *

We will be doing daily shows throughout the original Wimbledon dates, looking back on some of the tournament’s best matches and most important stories. You can watch a full replay of Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer from 2008 on YouTube, as well as extended highlights and the final game of Andy Murray vs. Novak Djokovic in 2013, which we will cover tomorrow.

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Venus Williams’ 4-6, 7-6, 9-7 victory over Lindsay Davenport in 2005 is the longest women’s final in Wimbledon history, and possibly the greatest.

We discuss the sustained excellence from both players, the joy of watching Venus in her prime, the way she fought for equal prize money the night before the final, and how her uninhibited and jubilant celebration revealed a side to her which we don’t usually see.

Davenport also describes the particular challenge of facing Venus on grass, the point the match slipped away from her in the deciding set, and how she was able to appreciate how good the match was even while playing it.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December. 

* TENNIS RE-LIVED *

We will be doing daily shows throughout the original Wimbledon dates, looking back on some of the tournament’s best matches and most important stories. You can watch a full replay of Venus Williams vs. Lindsay Davenport from 2005 on YouTube, as well as Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer from 2008, which we will be covering tomorrow.

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When Maria Sharapova beat Serena Williams in the 2004 Wimbledon final, few could have predicted the path their rivalry would take over the next fifteen years.

In this episode, we discuss why Sharapova’s run aged 17 wasn’t completely out of the blue and the way in which Serena was slightly under prepared, and Mary Carillo explains what impressed her most about Sharapova’s performance on that day and why she felt Serena was surprised by Sharapova’s level.

Then, we look more closely at the development of the Serena-Sharapova “unrivalry”, including an analysis of the language Sharapova used to frame herself against Serena in her autobiography.

Finally, Sharapova’s coach of seven years, Michael Joyce, gives an insight into the Maria he knows, the pressure she was under after winning Wimbledon aged 17, and why he thinks Serena came to dominate their matches.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December. 

* TENNIS RE-LIVED *

We will be doing daily shows throughout the original Wimbledon dates, looking back on some of the tournament’s best matches and most important stories. Extended highlights of Maria Sharapova vs. Serena Williams from 2004 are available on YouTube, where you can also watch a full replay of Venus Williams vs. Lindsay Davenport from 2005, which we will be focusing on tomorrow.

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The 2001 men’s Wimbledon final, which saw wildcard and three-time runner-up Goran Ivanisevic win his first title against Pat Rafter on People’s Monday, is one of the most famous matches in tennis history.

So, for this episode, we wanted to get a range of perspectives on this much-told story.

Ivan Ljubicic explains the significance of Ivanisevic’s victory for people in Croatia, Charlie Eccleshare talks about the experience of being in the crowd, Ivanisevic tells us (colourfully) why he thinks the final game is the worst in Grand Slam history, and Rafter opens up about the match from his point of view, including how much the loss hurt him and the relationship he now has with Goran.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December. 

* TENNIS RE-LIVED *

We will be doing daily shows throughout the original Wimbledon dates, looking back on some of the tournament’s best matches and most important stories. The 2001 final between Goran Ivanisevic and Pat Rafter can be watched in full on YouTube. Extended highlights of our next match, Maria Sharapova vs. Serena Williams from 2004, are also available.

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The only ever meeting between Pete Sampras and Roger Federer came at Wimbledon in 2001, when Sampras was a 7-time champion in the twilight of his career, and Federer was an emerging talent who hadn’t yet fulfilled his potential.

Looking back now, it can be seen as a changing of the guard moment, with Federer prevailing in five sets. Is that how it was covered at the time? In what way did Federer grow as a tennis player on that day? And why did it take him another two years to win his first Grand Slam title?

We speak to Paul Annacone, who was on Sampras’ team at the time and would go on to coach Federer a decade later, about how aware he and Pete were of the challenge a young Federer might pose on that day, and how they felt during the match. Annacone also tells a story about when he took Federer and Sampras out for dinner together many years later.

Finally, David recalls his trip to Switzerland towards the end of 2001 to profile Federer. The article he wrote is up now on our website – https://www.thetennispodcast.net/blog/2020/7/6/federer-comes-of-age-2001

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December. 

* TENNIS RE-LIVED *

We will be doing daily shows throughout the original Wimbledon dates. Pete Sampras vs. Roger Federer is available in full, here. Tomorrow’s focus, the 2001 final between Goran Ivanisevic and Pat Rafter can be watched in full on YouTube. 

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In 1997, Martina Hingis beat Jana Novotna to become the youngest Wimbledon winner in the Open Era, aged 16. She also put together one of the best seasons in tennis history, winning all but one of her Grand Slam matches.

Are her achievements from that year underrated? How were her sassy comments and confidence received at the time? In what way did she sometimes get herself in trouble with remarks about fellow players? What made her such a joy to watch? And why did she not go on to dominate for years despite a couple of comebacks?

Mary Carillo and Lindsay Davenport give perspective on how the power revolution in women’s tennis caught up with Hingis, and Martina herself explains why she thinks players are no longer having the success she had as a teenager.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December. 

* TENNIS RE-LIVED *

We will be doing daily shows throughout the original Wimbledon dates, looking back on some of the tournament’s best matches and most important stories. Highlights of Martina Hingis’ title run in 1997 can be viewed on YouTube. Tomorrow we will be focusing on the fourth round match between Pete Sampras and Roger Federer in 2001 which is available in full, here.

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Nobody has ever had a connection with Wimbledon like Jana Novotna. In this episode, with the help of the storytelling of Mary Carillo and Chris Clarey, and the insights of Hana Mandlikova, the long-time coach and friend of Novotna, we cover the full emotional arc of her career and life.

There’s discussion of Novotna’s choke in the 1993 final against Steffi Graf, the iconic image of her crying on the shoulder of the Duchess of Kent afterwards, her second Wimbledon final loss to Martina Hingis in 1997, her long-awaited moment of triumph against Nathalie Tauziat a year later, and the legacy she left after her death in 2017.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December. 

* TENNIS RE-LIVED *

We will be doing daily shows throughout the original Wimbledon dates, looking back on some of the tournament’s best matches and most important stories. Jana Novotna’s heart-breaking 1993 defeat against Steffi Graf is available on YouTube, as is her victory in 1998. Tomorrow’s focus will be Martina Hingis’ title run in 1997 aged 16.    

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* KICKSTARTER * 

We are crowdfunded for 2020, but if you’d like to receive a reminder e-mail when we launch our next Kickstarter in December, then you can put your details here - http://eepurl.com/gwWILX

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Nobody expected Andre Agassi’s first Grand Slam title to come on grass at Wimbledon, a tournament he’d boycotted for a few years.

But Agassi always did things his own way, and when he won the tournament in 1992, he did it from the baseline, beating former champions Boris Becker and John McEnroe en route to the final, before overcoming the massive serve of Goran Ivanisevic in five sets.

Why was Agassi’s story such a big deal? What had happened in his first three Grand Slam finals for him to have developed a reputation for style over substance? And in what way was his return his biggest weapon against Ivanisevic in the final?

Larry Stefanki, who was coaching McEnroe at the time, contextualises Agassi’s feat and explains how he managed to beat so many classic grass courters. Chris Clarey of the New York Times, meanwhile, talks about what it was like to cover Agassi in the early 90s. 

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.  

* TENNIS RE-LIVED *

We will be doing daily shows throughout the original Wimbledon dates, looking back on some of the tournament’s best matches and most important stories. Andre Agassi vs. Goran Ivanisevic from 1992, is available in full. Tomorrow we’re telling Jana Novtona’s Wimbledon story, starting with her heart-breaking 1993 defeat against Steffi Graf, and ending with her moment of triumph in 1998.

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Going into Wimbledon in 1991, Steffi Graf’s supremacy was under threat. She hadn’t won a Grand Slam title for 18 months, she’d lost her No.1 ranking to Monica Seles, her father’s scandalous private life meant she was being hounded by the tabloids, and Gabriela Sabatini had emerged as a real rival.

But Graf rose above everything, dominating the draw before winning a classic final 8-6 in the third set against Sabatini.

How did Seles’ withdrawal pave the way for Graf? In what way did Sabatini revolutionise her game during her run to the 1990 US Open title to try to combat Graf? What made Graf such a formidable player? And does her career get the credit it deserves?

Finally, we hear from Christopher Clarey and Mary Carillo about why they loved watching Sabatini play and the reasons why they think she only won one Grand Slam title.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.  

* TENNIS RE-LIVED *

We will be doing daily shows throughout the original Wimbledon dates, looking back on some of the tournament’s best matches and most important stories. The 1991 final between Steffi Graf and Gabriela Sabatini is split into parts 1, 2 & 3 on YouTube, while tomorrow’s match, Andre Agassi vs. Goran Ivanisevic from 1992, is available in full.

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We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net

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We are crowdfunded for 2020, but if you’d like to receive a reminder e-mail when we launch our next Kickstarter in December, then you can put your details here - http://eepurl.com/gwWILX

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In 1985, a strawberry-blonde, unseeded, 17-year-old German named Boris Becker won Wimbledon, beating Kevin Curren in the final, and suddenly tennis had a new star.

In what way did Becker bring levels of power and athleticism which hadn’t been seen before on a tennis court? And how did people react to his arrival on the world stage?

We hear from Johan Kriek, the man who predicted Becker’s victory at Wimbledon after losing to him at Queen’s two weeks earlier, and Curren discusses his own run which saw him beat John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors without losing a set, before underestimating Becker’s big-match mentality in the final.

Becker went on to have a lot more success at Wimbledon, including a hat-trick of finals against Stefan Edberg. The Swede tells us about their rivalry.

Finally, we look at how fame changed Becker’s life forever, and not always for the better.  

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December. 

* TENNIS RE-LIVED *

We will be doing daily shows throughout the original Wimbledon dates, looking back on some of the tournament’s best matches and most important stories. The 1985 men’s final between Boris Becker and Kevin Curren is available on YouTube. On Thursday we will re-watch the epic 1991 final between Steffi Graf and Gabriela Sabatini which is split into parts 1, 2 & 3.

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* KICKSTARTER * 

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The 1980 Wimbledon men’s final between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe is one of the most famous tennis matches of all time, and it lived up to expectations as we re-watched it ahead of our second Wimbledon Re-Lived show.

How was McEnroe viewed by British tennis fans at the time? How did his behaviour change when he played Borg? And in what way does this match carry a cultural influence which transcends tennis?

The apex of the match was the epic fourth set tiebreak, won by McEnroe 18-16 as the level of tennis reached dizzying heights and the momentum swung back-and-forth. What was it like to play? Did McEnroe feel afterwards like he would go on to win the match? And how on earth did Borg recover for the deciding set? We hear from both men.

Finally, Mary Carillo explains why it’s the best match she’s ever watched, reveals the extraordinary scene she witnessed as she flew home on the same plane as the McEnroe family, and sets up a discussion about the reasons why the Borg-McEnroe rivalry continues to shine such a bright light across the sport, despite its brevity.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December. 

* TENNIS RE-LIVED *

We will be doing daily shows throughout the original Wimbledon dates, looking back on some of the tournament’s best matches and most important stories. Bjorn Borg vs. John McEnroe can be watched in full here, while tomorrow’s match, the 1985 men’s final between Boris Becker and Kevin Curren, is available on YouTube.

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With nine singles titles to her name, Martina Navratilova is the most successful player in Wimbledon history. In this episode, we focus on the first of her wins – in 1978 against Chris Evert – and the last of them – in 1990 against Zina Garrison.

In between analysing those matches, there’s discussion about the leaner years at the start of Navratilova’s career, her rivalry with Evert, the way she developed athletically into the sport’s most dominant figure, her special connection with Wimbledon, and the longevity of her career.

We also get Evert’s view on the 1978 final and hear Navratilova’s own reflections on her career. 

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December. 

* TENNIS RE-LIVED *

We will be doing daily shows throughout the original Wimbledon dates, looking back on some of the tournament’s best matches and most important stories. You can watch extended highlights of Navratilova’s 1978 and 1990 victories on YouTube. Tomorrow we will be discussing John McEnroe vs. Bjorn Borg from 1980. Extended highlights and the full fourth set tiebreak are available.

* NEWSLETTER *

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We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net

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* KICKSTARTER * 

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The fallout from the Adria Tour continued on Tuesday as world number one and event organiser Novak Djokovic tested positive for covid-19. The Telegraph’s Simon Briggs joins Catherine Whitaker and David Law to talk through the situation.

Djokovic’s second statement of the day was better than his first, but which questions remain unanswered? Is Djokovic’s position as president of the ATP player council still tenable? How much damage has he done to tennis and to his own reputation? And where will this story go from here?

There’s also a quick chat about how Andy Murray looked on his return to tennis at the Battle of the Brits. 

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December. 

* NEWSLETTER *

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* EMAIL *

We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net

*REDDIT *

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* KICKSTARTER * 

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With Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki all testing positive for covid-19 after playing the Adria Tour, we discuss the inevitability and seriousness of the situation, Novak Djokovic’s role and responsibility in all this, and the possible implications for the sport.

There’s also a preview of this week’s Battle of the Brits event and we hear from Andy Murray about last year’s run to the doubles titles at Queen’s with Feliciano Lopez.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December. 

* NEWSLETTER *

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* EMAIL *

We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net

*REDDIT *

We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community where over 900 listeners chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/

* KICKSTARTER * 

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Tennis is on its way back, but not as we know it. 

The US Open, the French Open and many other big events in-between have been scheduled, and not everyone is happy about it.

Catherine, David and Matt review the announcement, discuss the various issues it raises, and speculate about how many of the world’s leading players will opt out of competing in any of the events. 

Last weekend’s exhibition events - the Adria Tour and the ‘Ultimate Tennis Showdown’ also get the Tennis Podcast treatment. 

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.  

* NEWSLETTER *

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* EMAIL *

We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net

*REDDIT *

We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community where over 900 listeners chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/

* KICKSTARTER * 

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Following Catherine’s interview with Chris Evert, we take the chance to tell the story of the 18-time Grand Slam champion in full.

We discuss her most extraordinary records and achievements, consider her influence and legacy in the sport, ponder the reasons why she might be under-appreciated, reflect on her comments about the struggle of developing as a person while playing professional tennis, and look at the way she uses her platform for good.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.  

* CHRIS EVERT INTERVIEW *

Catherine’s interview with Chris Evert is available here.

* NEWSLETTER *

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* TENNIS RE-LIVED *

We have produced daily shows throughout the original Roland Garros dates, looking back on 15 classic matches and stories from the tournament’s history. We will also be doing editions for Wimbledon.

* KICKSTARTER * 

We are crowdfunded for 2020, but if you’d like to receive a reminder e-mail when we launch our next Kickstarter in December, then you can put your details here - http://eepurl.com/gwWILX

* EMAIL *

We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net

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Catherine speaks to 18-time Grand Slam singles champion Chris Evert about her extraordinary tennis career.

Evert reflects on how her childhood shaped the rest of her life, the early years of the WTA Tour, the challenge of being a well-adjusted human being as well as a great champion, her rivalry with Martina Navratilova and the way they were each portrayed by the media, the achievements she's most proud of, and her period of self-discovery following retirement.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.  

* NEWSLETTER *

Sign up to get our news, isolation diaries and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX

* TENNIS RE-LIVED *

We have produced daily shows throughout the original Roland Garros dates, looking back on 15 classic matches and stories from the tournament’s history. We will also be doing editions for Wimbledon.

* KICKSTARTER * 

We are crowdfunded for 2020, but if you’d like to receive a reminder e-mail when we launch our next Kickstarter in December, then you can put your details here - http://eepurl.com/gwWILX

* EMAIL *

We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net

*REDDIT *

We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community where over 900 listeners chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/

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When Simona Halep beat Sloane Stephens in the 2018 Roland Garros final, the tennis world could breathe a sigh of relief. Finally, she was a Grand Slam champion.

We discuss her previous three final losses, analyse a memorable match against Stephens, and reflect on how she lived with that victory during the months that followed.

In a fascinating interview, her coach, Darren Cahill, reveals the switch he made to his usual pre-match pep talk before the final, the tactical change that helped Halep turn the match around in the second set, the weight of expectation on Halep, and the reception and adoration she received when she returned to Romania with the trophy.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.  

* NEWSLETTER *

Sign up to get our news, isolation diaries and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX

* TENNIS RE-LIVED *

We have produced daily shows throughout the original Roland Garros dates, looking back on 15 classic matches and stories from the tournament’s history. We will also be doing editions for Wimbledon.

* KICKSTARTER * 

We are crowdfunded for 2020, but if you’d like to receive a reminder e-mail when we launch our next Kickstarter in December, then you can put your details here - http://eepurl.com/gwWILX

* EMAIL *

We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net

*REDDIT *

We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community where over 900 listeners chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/

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Novak Djokovic’s quest to win Roland Garros and complete his career Grand Slam is the focus of this episode as we look back on his near miss against Stan Wawrinka in the 2015 final and his moment of triumph over Andy Murray a year later.

How can Wawrinka trouble Djokovic like nobody else? What was memorable about the ovation Djokovic received after that final? How did he bounce back from such a painful defeat? Was Murray’s fatigue a factor in the 2016 final? And how significant is it that Djokovic, by holding all four slams at once, accomplished something that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have never done?

We also speak to Marian Vajda, Djokovic’s long-time coach and confidant, who tells us about the way in which Nadal’s dominance gradually eroded Djokovic’s love of clay, the emotions Novak experienced after finally beating Nadal but then losing to Wawrinka in 2015, whether he ever doubted that Djokovic would win at Roland Garros, and the stress Djokovic felt before facing Murray in 2016.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.  

* NEWSLETTER *

Sign up to get our news, isolation diaries and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX

* ROLAND GARROS RE-LIVED *

We are producing daily shows throughout the original Roland Garros dates, looking back on 15 classic matches and stories from the tournament’s history. Our final show will be a review of Simona Halep’s victory in 2018. Her final against Sloane Stephens can be watched in full here. We will also be doing editions for Wimbledon.

* EMAIL *

We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net

*REDDIT *

We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community where over 900 listeners chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/

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The 2009 French Open is best remembered for Rafael Nadal’s first loss at Roland Garros and for Roger Federer’s only title there. The man at the centre of both storylines, Robin Soderling, joins us for an exclusive interview.

Soderling talks about how he stepped on court against Nadal with belief that he could win despite losing 6-1, 6-0 to him in Rome a few weeks earlier, how he respected but didn’t worship Nadal, what it felt like to be the first man to beat him in Paris, and the way in which Federer was a more difficult opponent for him in the final.

Was Nadal struggling with an injury that year? Would Federer have ever won Roland Garros if Soderling hadn’t beaten Nadal? How did he nervously get over the line? And what is Soderling’s place in tennis history? He opens up about his struggles with glandular fever, his attempts to come back, and the equal parts sadness and relief he felt when he finally decided to retire.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.  

* NEWSLETTER *

Sign up to get our news, isolation diaries and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX

* ROLAND GARROS RE-LIVED *

We are producing daily shows throughout the original Roland Garros dates, looking back on 15 classic matches and stories from the tournament’s history. Tomorrow we turn our attention to Novak Djokovic and his attempts to complete the career Grand Slam at the French Open. His 2015 final vs Wawrinka and his 2016 final vs Murray can both be seen in full on YouTube. We will also be doing editions for Wimbledon.

* EMAIL *

We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net

*REDDIT *

We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community where almost 900 listeners chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/

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Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer first met in a Grand Slam in the semi-finals of the 2005 French Open when the tone for their rivalry on clay, and Nadal’s dominance at Roland Garros, was set. Nadal won in four sets and then won the title two days later against Mariano Puerta.

In what way did Federer have the tennis world transfixed during this period? Did that cause people to underestimate Nadal in their matches? And what were the keys to victory for Nadal?

Mary Carillo explains what made the Nadal-Federer match-up so one-sided in the early days and reveals how she felt covering their many duels in Paris. 

Finally, after Christopher Clarey puts Nadal’s record of 12 French Open titles into context, we reflect on his extraordinary achievements at Roland Garros.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.  

* NEWSLETTER *

Sign up to get our news, isolation diaries and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX

* ROLAND GARROS RE-LIVED *

We are producing daily shows throughout the original Roland Garros dates, looking back on 15 classic matches and stories from the tournament’s history. Tomorrow’s focus will be Robin Soderling’s run in 2009, including his historic victory over Rafael Nadal (Set 1, Set 2, Set 3, Highlights) and his final versus Roger Federer (highlights). We will also be doing editions for Wimbledon.

* EMAIL *

We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net

*REDDIT *

We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community where almost 900 listeners chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/

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Justine Henin won the first of her four Roland Garros titles in 2003, beating Serena Williams in a controversial semi-final and Kim Clijsters in a one-sided final.

With the help of Mary Carillo, we look back on those rivalries which shaped Henin’s career as well as her very strong record at the French Open during the mid-2000s.

What made Henin such a threat to Serena? Did Henin and Clijsters like each other? What caused their rivalry to be a bit weird? How did it evolve? And why did Henin have such a special connection with Roland Garros?

Finally, we hear from Henin herself who talks about the importance of rivalries and the way in which they made her a better player.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December. 

* NEWSLETTER *

Sign up to get our news, isolation diaries and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX

* ROLAND GARROS RE-LIVED *

We are producing daily shows throughout the original Roland Garros dates, looking back on 15 classic matches and stories from the tournament’s history. Tomorrow’s focus will be Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer in the 2005 semi-final, which is available in full on YouTube. We will also be doing editions for Wimbledon.

* EMAIL *

We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net

*REDDIT *

We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community where more than 875 listeners chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/

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The 2002 French Open final is etched into tennis history as the only meeting between Serena and Venus Williams at Roland Garros and the start of their run of four consecutive Grand Slam finals against each other which ended with Serena winning her first Serena Slam.

How did the sisters take the sport to new heights during this period? What did Venus’ reaction to defeat reveal about her character and her relationship with Serena? And how have their careers shined a light on race issues in tennis?

We also hear from Mary Carillo and Christopher Clarey who talk more about how their sibling rivalry played out on court, the way in which Serena embraced clay more than Venus, and whether or not they enjoyed watching the Williams sisters face off.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.

* NEWSLETTER *

Sign up to get our news, isolation diaries and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX

* ROLAND GARROS RE-LIVED *

We are producing daily shows throughout the original Roland Garros dates, looking back on 15 classic matches and stories from the tournament’s history. Tomorrow’s focus will be Justin Henin’s dominance and her rivalry with Kim Clijsters. Highlights of their 2003 final are on YouTube. We will also be doing editions for Wimbledon.

* EMAIL *

We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net

*REDDIT *

We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community where more than 875 listeners chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/

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The 2001 French Open saw Jennifer Capriati beat Kim Clijsters 12-10 in the final set to win her second Grand Slam title, but this was just a small part of Capriati’s story, one we tell in full on this podcast with the help of Tom Gullikson (her former coach), Lindsay Davenport (her compatriot) and Mary Carillo (someone who tracked her career closely).

We cover Capriati’s prodigious talent and breakthrough results, her downward spiral and the events which turned her into a cautionary tale, her resurgence and Grand Slam wins, and the way in which she is still troubled today.

Reflecting on her run to the Roland Garros title, we discuss the symbolism of Capriati’s semi-final victory over Martina Hingis and the dramatic but error-ridden nature of the final against Clijsters.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.

* NEWSLETTER *

Sign up to get our news, isolation diaries and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX

* ROLAND GARROS RE-LIVED *

We are producing daily shows throughout the original Roland Garros dates, looking back on 15 classic matches and stories from the tournament’s history. Tomorrow’s focus will be Serena vs. Venus Williams in the 2002 final, highlights of which are available on YouTube. We will also be doing editions for Wimbledon.

* EMAIL *

We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net

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Not many people expected Andre Agassi to win the French Open, especially not in 1999, and certainly not when he fell two sets down in the final against Andrei Medvedev.

But then he produced one of the greatest comebacks of all time, recovering to beat Medvedev and complete the coveted career Grand Slam.

In this episode we talk through the events which led Agassi to that point. What had happened in his previous two French Open finals? Why did he used to skip Wimbledon and the Australian Open? And how did he get his career back on track after dropping to No.141 in the world?

We hear from Brad Gilbert, Agassi’s coach at Roland Garros in 1999, who explains why Agassi’s participation at that year’s French Open was in doubt, how he came through a tough draw, and what he said to him during the rain delay.

Andrei Medvedev, meanwhile, gives his version of events, and Chris Clarey of the New York Times tells us how Agassi’s Roland Garros title set in motion the most dominant spell of his career. 

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.

* NEWSLETTER *

Sign up to get our news, isolation diaries and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX

* ROLAND GARROS RE-LIVED *

We are producing daily shows throughout the original Roland Garros dates, looking back on 15 classic matches and stories from the tournament’s history. Tomorrow’s focus will be Jennifer Capriati against Kim Clijsters in the 2001 final, which is available to watch in full on YouTube. We will also be doing editions for Wimbledon.

* EMAIL *

We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net

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We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community where more than 875 listeners chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/

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Martina Hingis never won the French Open, but the 1999 final was definitely the one that got away as she let slip a comfortable lead against Steffi Graf in a classic match filled with aggro.

How did Hingis stir things up before the match with her comments about Graf? What incidents turned the crowd against Hingis and caused her to get a point penalty? And in what way were the scenes at the end of the match - as Hingis returned to the court in tears comforted by her mother - so pathos heavy?

We hear from Mary Carillo about why she loved watching Hingis play and why she always assumed that the Swiss would win Roland Garros one day.

As for Graf, this turned out to be her last Grand Slam title, and she retired shortly afterwards. Her coach, Heinz Günthardt, talks candidly about the match and reveals the exact moment Graf knew her time in the sport was up.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.

* NEWSLETTER *

Sign up to get our news, isolation diaries and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX

* ROLAND GARROS RE-LIVED *

We are producing daily shows throughout the original Roland Garros dates, looking back on 15 classic matches and stories from the tournament’s history. This weekend, our focus is on the 1999 edition of the French Open. You can watch Steffi Graf vs. Martina Hingis in full on YouTube , and on Sunday we will be going back to Andre Agassi vs. Andrei Medvedev. We will also be doing editions for Wimbledon.

* EMAIL *

We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net

*REDDIT *

We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community where more than 875 listeners chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/

*SOCIAL MEDIA *

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast/

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Almost nobody had heard of Gustavo Kuerten when he entered Roland Garros in 1997, but everyone knew who he was when he walked away as the champion. So, how did he do it?

Kuerten tells us about the moment he first felt the love of the French fans, his difficult matches against Thomas Muster and Yevgeny Kafelnikov en route to the final, and just how much tennis still means to him.

We also hear from Sergi Bruguera, the runner-up that year, about what it was like to play against Kuerten and his memories of the final.

Then, New York Times journalist Christopher Clarey explains the buzz around Kuerten’s story that fortnight and why the 1997 French Open is one of his all-time favourites as a reporter.

Finally, we celebrate Kuerten’s career and his lasting impact on the sport.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.

* NEWSLETTER *

Sign up to get our news, isolation diaries and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX

* ROLAND GARROS RE-LIVED *

We are producing daily shows throughout the original Roland Garros dates, looking back on 15 classic matches and stories from the tournament’s history. You can watch Gustavo Kuerten’s victory over Sergi Bruguera in the 1997 final on YouTube. This weekend, our focus will be on the 1999 edition of the French Open. On Saturday, we will be watching Steffi Graf vs. Martina Hingis, and on Sunday we will be going back to Andre Agassi vs. Andrei Medvedev. We will also be doing editions for Wimbledon.

* EMAIL *

We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net

*REDDIT *

We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community where more than 875 listeners chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/

*SOCIAL MEDIA *

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/TennisPodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Monica Seles’ 6-2, 3-6, 10-8 victory over Steffi Graf in 1992 is widely considered to be the best Roland Garros final of all time.

Catherine, David and Matt explain how they felt while watching it and discuss some of the reasons why it was so special.

We also hear from Graf’s coach at the time, Heinz Günthardt, who offers insight into why Seles caused Graf so many problems, especially on clay.

New York Times journalist Christopher Clarey explains where the match ranks among the best he’s ever witnessed, and discusses the tragic interruption to their rivalry when Seles was stabbed in 1993.

How did that incident change Seles as a person forever? In what way did it bind Graf and Seles together in a unique way? And how did it alter the course of tennis history?

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.

* NEWSLETTER *

Sign up to get our news, isolation diaries and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX

* ROLAND GARROS RE-LIVED *

We are producing daily shows throughout the original Roland Garros dates, looking back on 15 classic matches and stories from the tournament’s history. You can watch the 1992 final between Steffi Graf and Monica Seles in full on YouTube. Tomorrow we will be going back to Gustavo Kuerten’s first title in 1997. His final against Sergi Bruguera is also available on YouTube. We will also be doing editions for Wimbledon.

* EMAIL *

We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net

*REDDIT *

We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community where more than 875 listeners chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/

*SOCIAL MEDIA *

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/TennisPodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Michael Chang beat Stefan Edberg in the 1989 French Open final, he became the youngest man ever to win a Grand Slam title, but it’s his fourth-round match against Ivan Lendl which is most famous.

Chang was trailing by two sets to love, but several moonballs, numerous bouts of cramp, and even an underarm serve later, he’d won the match and turned it into the stuff of legend. 

In an exclusive interview, Chang discusses his tactics to turn the match around, the way he got booed during the tournament after mentioning his faith, his relationship with Lendl, and how he coped during the tournament despite hearing news of the Tiananmen Square Massacre.

We also analyse Chang’s performance in the final, hear from Edberg about how he let that match slip and how gutted he was to lose it, and look at Chang’s place in tennis history.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.

* NEWSLETTER *

Sign up to get our news, isolation diaries and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX

* ROLAND GARROS RE-LIVED *

We are producing daily shows throughout the original Roland Garros dates, looking back on 15 classic matches and stories from the tournament’s history. You can watch extensive highlights of Chang vs. Edberg on YouTube. Tomorrow we will be watching the 1992 final between Steffi Graf and Monica Seles. The full match is available on YouTube. We will also be doing editions for Wimbledon.

* EMAIL *

We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net

*REDDIT *

We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community where more than 875 listeners chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/

*SOCIAL MEDIA *

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/TennisPodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova met 80 times in total, and their 1985 French Open final, won 7-5 in the third set by Evert, was one of their best ever matches.

In an exclusive interview, Evert explains why she will be inextricably bound in history with Navratilova, the way they were portrayed as opposites, the reasons Navratilova was the favourite ahead of their 1985 Roland Garros final, why this victory stands out as her greatest, and the way it lengthened her career.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.

* NEWSLETTER *

Sign up to get our news, isolation diaries and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX

* ROLAND GARROS RE-LIVED *

We are producing daily shows throughout the original Roland Garros dates, looking back on 15 classic matches and stories from the tournament’s history. You can watch extensive highlights of Evert vs. Navratilova on YouTube. Tomorrow we will be covering Michael Chang's victory as a 17-year-old in 1989. Highlights of his final against Edberg are available on YouTube. We will also be doing editions for Wimbledon.

* EMAIL *

We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net

*REDDIT *

We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community where more than 875 listeners chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/

*SOCIAL MEDIA *

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/TennisPodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John McEnroe never won the French Open. But he should have done in 1984. Instead, he lost a two-set lead in the final against Ivan Lendl. So, what happened?

Having re-watched the whole match, Catherine, David and Matt give their analysis. In what way did McEnroe allow himself to get distracted? Did he choke? How did Lendl mount his comeback? And what did this match do for both of their careers?

We also hear from Mary Carillo who recounts why it hurt McEnroe so much to lose specifically to Lendl, the way he’s still affected by the missed opportunity whenever he arrives at Roland Garros, and the poignant conversation that took place between the McEnroe brothers after the match.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.

* NEWSLETTER *

Sign up to get our news, isolation diaries and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX

* ROLAND GARROS RE-LIVED *

We are producing daily shows throughout the original Roland Garros dates, looking back on 15 classic matches and stories from the tournament’s history. You can watch McEnroe vs. Lendl in full on YouTube. Tomorrow we will be covering Chris Evert vs. Martina Navratilova in the 1985 final. The full match is available on YouTube: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4. We will also be doing editions for Wimbledon.

* EMAIL *

We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net

*REDDIT *

We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community where more than 875 listeners chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/

*SOCIAL MEDIA *

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/TennisPodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who better to tell the story of Yannick Noah’s historic victory at the French Open in 1983 than the man himself?

In an enthralling, exclusive interview, Noah takes us through it all, including the extra work he put in during the build-up to Roland Garros that year, his nerve-wracking victory over Ivan Lendl, the relief he felt when Jimmy Connors lost, the dream he had before the final, the words he exchanged with his father after beating Mats Wilander to win the title, and why he could never replicate those feelings elsewhere.

Afterwards, we discuss our own Yannick Noah memories, his game style on clay, and his enduring cultural importance in France.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.

* NEWSLETTER *

Sign up to get our news, isolation diaries and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX

* ROLAND GARROS RE-LIVED *

We are producing daily shows throughout the original Roland Garros dates, looking back on 15 classic matches and stories from the tournament’s history. Tomorrow we will be covering Ivan Lendl vs. John McEnroe in the 1984 final. The full match is available on YouTube. We will also be doing editions for Wimbledon.

* EMAIL *

We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net

*REDDIT *

We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community where more than 875 listeners chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/

*SOCIAL MEDIA *

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/TennisPodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We begin this week’s Tennis Re-Lived in 1992 when Gabriela Sabatini won her fourth title in Rome, beating Monica Seles in her prime in the final.

How come Sabatini had such a special connection with Rome? In what way did she manage to make Seles’ game seem a bit limited in that match? And why have Sabatini’s achievements faded from tennis conversation?

Then, we go back to 2006 to cover Rafael Nadal’s epic five set win over Roger Federer. In what way was Nadal kryptonite for Federer in this period? How has he developed his game since then? And might victory for Federer have changed the course of his rivalry with Nadal on clay?

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, featuring Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is crowdfunded by listeners each December.

* NEWSLETTER *

Sign up to get our weekly news, isolation diaries and Matt’s Stat - http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX

* TENNIS RE-LIVED *

Our Tennis Re-Lived series will return on Sunday 24th May for the first of our Roland Garros daily shows. Keep an eye on our social media channels in the coming days for details of the matches we will be covering. We will also be doing editions for Wimbledon.

* EMAIL *

We hope that the podcast helps to provide some form of escape during these challenging times. If you ever feel like writing to us, our e-mail is open – info@tennispodcast.net

*REDDIT *

We have a sub-reddit page! It's a growing online community where more than 875 listeners chat about the show and all things tennis. Join in - https://www.reddit.com/r/thetennispodcast/

*SOCIAL MEDIA *

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/TennisPodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.