The Tennis Podcast

David and Catherine convene on The Tennis Podcast to discuss another rain-hit day at Roland Garros.

Before play was suspended prematurely, a huge upset was brewing on Court Philippe Chatrier when the free-swinging Diego Schwartzman took the first set against Rafael Nadal.

That’s right. Nadal lost a set. On clay. At Roland Garros. It ended his streak of 38 consecutive sets won on the Parisian clay. Schwartzman also led by a break in the second set and David and Catherine are full of praise for his aggressive game-plan.

Nadal eventually swung the momentum back in his favour, but to what degree was he saved by the rain? And why did he tape up his wrists? Can Schwartzman possibly win another two sets tomorrow?

Elsewhere on Wednesday, the women’s semi-final line-up was completed as Garbiñe Muguruza demolished an erratic Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep displayed great mental fortitude to come from behind and beat Angelique Kerber.

Muguruza and Halep will now meet in a match that will determine who ends the French Open as the World No.1. But who will win? David and Catherine aren’t sure. But it promises to be an absolute belter, doesn’t it?

There’s also a preview of the intriguing contest between Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens. Keys has never won a set against Stephens, but they’ve never played on clay. Who will that favour?

There will be daily editions of The Tennis Podcast throughout the French Open, in association with Telegraph Sport. It is presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport)

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

The match of the tournament came a day later than expected at Roland Garros.

Just 24 hours after the Serena-Sharapova non-event, World No.72 Marco Cecchinato stunned Novak Djokovic in an exhilarating encounter, and one that will be remembered for a pulsating fourth-set tiebreak that transfixed everyone watching.

Catherine Whitaker is joined on The Tennis Podcast by The Telegraph’s tennis correspondent Simon Briggs in the immediate aftermath. Speaking from inside the press centre at Roland Garros, they try to make sense of what happened.

First of all, there’s plenty of praise for Cecchinato. The Italian, who was embroiled in a match-fixing scandal two years ago, had never won a match at a Grand Slam prior to this tournament. But he played with heart to defeat Djokovic, impressing everyone with his blend of on-court craft, penetrative groundstrokes and smooth movement.

Can he keep this improbable run going? He will certainly be the underdog against Dominic Thiem in the semi-finals. Thiem brushed aside Alexander Zverev on Tuesday as the German’s exploits finally caught up with him physically.

Then, mid-podcast, there’s a bombshell. News filters through from Novak Djokovic’s terse press conference. Catherine and Simon react to Djokovic’s declaration that he may skip the entire grass court season. Was this a comment borne of frustration? Or was it indicative of deeper issues? It certainly caught Catherine and Simon off guard.

In the women’s draw, Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys set up a semi-final clash. The Americans have both looked convincing on the clay, but who do Catherine and Simon think will prevail?

Finally, there’s an injury update from Andy Murray. The Brit is still hoping to make his comeback on grass in the coming weeks.

There will be daily editions of The Tennis Podcast throughout the French Open, in association with Telegraph Sport. It is presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport)

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

It was the match everyone wanted to see. But in the end, it didn't happen.

Catherine and David come together on The Tennis Podcast to discuss a day of immense frustration at Roland Garros after Serena Williams was forced to withdraw before taking to the court against Maria Sharapova due to a right pectoral injury.

Were there warning signs from Serena’s doubles match yesterday? Should Serena have even played doubles? And when was the last time the tennis world was so disappointed because a match didn’t happen?

Fortunately, there was some tennis to talk about elsewhere as the quarter-final line-ups were confirmed. World No.1 Simona Halep was in blistering form against Elise Mertens and Angelique Kerber breezed past Caroline Garcia. Those two will meet in a mouth-watering last eight clash.

On the men’s side, Rafael Nadal pulverised Maximilian Marterer, whose pre-match chat with Catherine helped him to a flying 2-love start, and then it was all downhill. Marin Cilic just about outlasted Fabio Fognini in 5, and Diego Schwartzmann pulled off the comeback of the tournament to beat Kevin Anderson from 2-6, 1-6.

There's a preview of Alexander Zverev vs. Dominic Thiem tomorrow, and Sloane Stephens vs. Daria Kasatkina.

The Tennis Podcast is produced daily throughout the French Open, and all the Grand Slams, and weekly throughout the year. It is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law.

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

Cancel your plans, Serena vs Sharapova is happening.

After days of speculation, Catherine and David are giddy with excitement on the latest Tennis Podcast. But will the match live up to expectations?

To preview a showdown of such magnitude, Catherine speaks to the perfect guest – esteemed New York Times writer Christopher Clarey. He’s the man who first described this match-up as an ‘un-rivalry’, but does he think Sharapova is primed to score her first victory against Serena since 2004?

Clarey also gives his take on why Serena has historically had such a hold over Sharapova, debates who has more of a point to prove and explains why Serena vs. Sharapova matches still have such a fierce edge, despite the lopsided head-to-head.

Elsewhere, for the third time this week, Catherine and David find themselves discussing a 5-set victory for Sascha Zverev. Is this shaping up to be a coming of age tournament for the German? Or might his exertions so far be his downfall against Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals?

There’s also more analysis of Novak Djokovic. The Serb convincingly beat Fernando Verdasco and will now play Marco Cecchinato who was a surprise winner over a fatigued David Goffin.

Plus, it was a day of straight-set victories in the women’s draw as Yulia Putintseva, Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys all booked their places in the quarter-finals without much fuss. But Caroline Wozniacki vs. Daria Kasatkina ended for the night in bizarre fashion, with both players wanting to go off for darkness, even though it wasn't particularly late. What was going on?

There will be daily editions of The Tennis Podcast throughout the French Open, in association with Telegraph Sport. It is presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport)

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

Kyle Edmund is out of the French Open. His five-set loss to Fabio Fognini brought an end to the British challenge at Roland Garros for another year. David and Catherine assemble on The Tennis Podcast to talk about it.

Edmund vs. Fognini had looked thrilling on paper, but it ultimately failed to catch fire. Why was it such an ordeal? Why was Edmund unable to nullify the Fognini threat? And how much of a missed opportunity was this for the British No.1?

Meanwhile, there was a familiar feeling on Court Philippe Chatrier as Rafael Nadal swept aside Richard Gasquet for the sixteenth time. Catherine bemoans Gasquet’s lack of belief and ponders why most players are so reluctant to do something completely different to try and perturb Nadal.

The predictability of that contest sparked debate over the scheduling logic, particularly because the women’s No.1 Simona Halep was shunned to Court 18. Would that ever happen to a men’s No.1? Catherine and David have their say.

Elsewhere, there’s no doubt that the women’s draw is shaping up very nicely indeed. On Saturday, Kontaveit beat Kvitova, Muguruza thrashed Stosur and Stephens squeezed past Giorgi. Those matches are all discussed. Plus, Maria Sharapova was awesome in blitzing her way past Karolina Pliskova. Is she in Serena-conquering form?

Finally, Catherine reveals the spine-tingling buzz created by the magnificent Goffin vs. Monfils match.

There will be daily editions of The Tennis Podcast throughout the French Open, in association with Telegraph Sport. It is presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport)

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

David and Catherine are back together on The Tennis Podcast to discuss yet another intriguing day at Roland Garros.

The biggest story is the defeat of Elina Svitolina. The No.4 seed was among the favourites for the title, but once again she failed to transfer her fantastic tour form to a Grand Slam. Why does this keep happening?

Svitolina was beaten by the unheralded Mihaela Buzărnescu of Romania whose remarkable ranking rise – from outside the Top-400 to inside the Top-40 in the space of twelve months – is lauded.

Much like Svitolina, Sascha Zverev has also struggled to play his best at Grand Slams. After coming through a 5-setter against Dusan Lajovic in round two, the German was pushed to the brink and forced to save a match point on Friday against Damir Džumhur.

Does it bode well for Zverev that he’s coming through these physical tests? Or does he need to be winning these matches more convincingly? David and Catherine give their thoughts.

Novak Djokovic was also a winner on Day 6, beating Roberto Bautista-Agut in a near 4-hour slugfest. It was a match in which Djokovic smashed his racquet with frustration before producing some of his trademark brilliance. In short, it demonstrated exactly why he remains such a compelling talking-point. How well is he playing? Are we expecting too much too soon from him? Catherine reveals the views of Boris Becker.

Elsewhere, why are Caroline Wozniacki and Madison Keys going so under the radar? Their straight-set victories are discussed.

Finally, just before Catherine tucks into her daily cheeseboard, there’s excitement about Edmund vs. Fognini on Saturday. Will Edmund’s steadiness be too much for Fognini’s flashiness?

There will be daily editions of The Tennis Podcast throughout the French Open, in association with Telegraph Sport. It is presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport)

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

Serena Williams stole the show on Day 5 at Roland Garros, roaring back to defeat Ashleigh Barty in a vintage display. Shortly afterwards, The Telegraph’s Charlie Eccleshare joined David Law on The Tennis Podcast to reflect on the drama.

Trailing by a set and a break, Serena looked out of sorts. But then she started playing like the Serena we all know so well, summoning her ferocious intensity and imposing her aura to turn the match around. Just how well did she play in those last two sets?

Whisper it quietly, but Serena and Sharapova are on a collision course. David and Charlie are salivating at the prospect. Will it happen?

Elsewhere, it was a day of mixed success for the Brits. Heather Watson fell in the second round for the sixth time, Norrie gave a very good account of himself against Lucas Pouille, and Kyle Edmund took the scenic route in beating Marton Fucsovics in a rather strange contest. Those matches are discussed in depth.

What is it that makes Norrie such a nuisance for opponents? And how will Edmund fair against the mercurial Fabio Fognini in the next round? David and Charlie both agree that it won’t be easy.

Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal looked imperious in swatting aside Guido Pella on Thursday. Does anyone in the draw truly believe they can beat Nadal this fortnight? Probably not his next opponent Richard Gasquet. Nadal leads their head-to-head 15-0.

There’s also appreciation for serve-volley outliers, admiration for lucky losers and a quick look ahead to Friday’s order of play. Finally, David and Charlie take a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about the biggest shocks in French Open history.

There will be daily editions of The Tennis Podcast throughout the French Open, in association with Telegraph Sport. It is presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport)

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

It was an action-packed Wednesday at Roland Garros, with thrilling matches everywhere you looked.

On the Tennis Podcast, David and Catherine begin by assessing the comeback victories of Sascha Zverev, Grigor Dimitrov and Kei Nishikori. In particular, was Zverev’s win today a significant step in his bid to end his Grand Slam curse? David thinks it might be. And Catherine explains how Zverev has been showing off his lighter side while speaking to the media.

Elsewhere, what caused Jared Donaldson to hit an underarm serve against Dimitrov? And what on earth is going on with Benoit Paire’s hair-beard combo?

Novak Djokovic’s victory is also discussed. The Serb is the only player in the bottom half of the men’s draw not to drop a set, but how well is he actually playing?

Meanwhile, David has predicted Simona Halep to win her first Grand Slam this fortnight. No wonder he was panicking when she lost the opening set against Alison Riske. Predictions disaster was averted, however, when Halep recovered to win in three. Is the World No.1 the favourite for the title? If she isn’t, who is? And why is no one talking about Madison Keys and Naomi Osaka?

Lastly, Serena Williams will return to the court on Thursday. But what did Patrick Mouratoglou’s think of her first-round performance? Catherine reveals all.

There will be daily editions of The Tennis Podcast throughout the French Open, in association with Telegraph Sport. It is presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport).

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

The story on everyone’s lips on Day 3 at Roland Garros was the return of Serena Williams. The American beat Kristyna Pliskova 7-6, 6-4 to win her first Grand Slam match since giving birth. Catherine is joined by Simon Briggs, tennis correspondent for The Telegraph, to talk all about it.

How well did Serena play? How will she cope with the tactical nous of Ashleigh Barty in the next round? And what was the story behind the catsuit she wore on court?

Speaking of fashion, Simon thinks Kyle Edmund’s latest outfit might be inspired by Liquorice Allsorts. There’s plenty of chat about that, as well as Edmund’s tennis, which was mightily impressive. Tougher tests await the in-form Brit.

Rafael Nadal was also a winner on Day 3 after overcoming the stern challenge posed by Simone Bolelli in their rain-interrupted match. How convincing was the 10-time champion? And has the cavalier Italian provided the blueprint for threatening Nadal?

There’s also condemnation of Jack Sock’s behaviour. The American caused a stir during his first-round loss with a series of outbursts towards the umpire. Simon gives all the details and says it’s time for Sock to improve his “disrespectful attitude”.

On Wednesday, Cameron Norrie will play his first ever match on the Philippe Chatrier court. Catherine has a sneaky feeling that he might cause an upset against Lucas Pouille…

There will be daily editions of The Tennis Podcast throughout the French Open, in association with Telegraph Sport. It is presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport).

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

Despite some late drama, the Sunday start at Roland Garros had felt a little flat. Fortunately, that all changed on day two and there was plenty for David (at a wildlife centre) and Catherine (at the tennis) to talk about.

While a number of big names may have taken to the court, it was the World No.190 Marco Trungelliti who stole the headlines. The lucky loser’s 9-hour road trip from Barcelona, which caught the imagination of everyone at Roland Garros, got the Hollywood finale it deserved as he defeated Bernard Tomic to reach the second round. Catherine and David delight in the sheer romance of the story.

It was also a successful day from a British perspective as Cameron Norrie and Heather Watson won convincingly. Both players are talking with real confidence. How might they fare in the next round?

Elsewhere, there were wins for Petra Kvitova, Caroline Wozniacki, Dominic Thiem and Novak Djokovic. Who impressed most?

But there was no such luck for Wawrinka. His ranking will drop alarmingly after a first round loss to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. But is there a crumb of comfort to be found in the way Stan is speaking optimistically about his health?

Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal was delayed by the rain and an inspired performance from Simone Bolelli. How much of a role did the heavy conditions play in that match?

Looking ahead to Tuesday, Serena Williams will play her much-anticipated first Grand Slam match for 16 months. What can we expect from her return?

There will be daily editions of The Tennis Podcast throughout the French Open, in association with Telegraph Sport. It is presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport).

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

As The Tennis Podcast turned six-years-old, Catherine & David celebrated by discussing the opening day of action at Roland Garros.

But there was no cause for Johanna Konta to celebrate. The British No.1 lost in the first round at the French Open for the fourth consecutive year, beaten by Yulia Putintseva. Catherine gives us the lowdown on the talking points from Konta’s post-match press conference, which at one stage turned a little more feisty than usual. With these disappointing losses beginning to stack up for Konta, how concerned should we all be about her form?

Elsewhere, there was a big shock as defending champion Jelena Ostapenko lost in straight sets to Kateryna Kozlova.

Those upsets brought some much-needed drama to an opening day which felt underwhelming at times, and left Catherine & David debating the pros and cons of a Sunday start.

There’s also a brief chat about Monday’s play, when a number of the big names will get their campaigns underway. Plus, David reveals how lucky loser Marco Trungelliti is making a 9-hour car journey to Paris from Barcelona in order to take up his place in the draw.

There will be daily editions of The Tennis Podcast throughout the French Open, in association with Telegraph Sport. It is presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport).

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

As the French Open prepares to get underway at Roland Garros in Paris, Catherine Whitaker sits courtside as Serena Williams goes through her preparation for the year’s second Grand Slam tournament.

What did Simona Halep and Jelena Ostapenko have to say ahead of Roland Garros? Catherine has been talking to them.

Who is scheduled to meet Rafael Nadal as he tries to win his 11th French Open title? Catherine and David look at his likely route.

And what on earth is Dominic Thiem doing playing and winning the Lyon tournament the day before a Grand Slam tournament gets underway? Is he not going to have worn himself out? Or does he know something we don’t?

There’s talk of Kyle Edmund, Jo Konta, and a resurgent James Ward, who has reached the final in the Loughborough challenger tournament.

There will daily editions of The Tennis Podcast throughout the French Open, in association with Telegraph Sport. It is presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport).

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

Just moments after Rafael Nadal was crowned Champion in Rome for the eighth time, Catherine & David bask in the London sunshine to discuss the King of Clay's rain-assisted victory over Sascha Zverev, and the extraordinary performance of Elina Svitolina earlier in the day to dismantle an out-of-sorts Simona Halep. Other Rome talking points are also in the spotlight, including Karolina Pliskova's uncharacteristic outburst of on-court anger, and the WTA's decision not to disclose her punishment. Plus we ask for the thousandth time this year... Is Djokovic finally back?

And with the main French Open warm-up events now done and dusted, David & Catherine examine the runners and riders for the second Grand Slam of the year - how likely is Jelena Ostapenko to repeat her heroics of 2017? And can Zverev really be considered second favourite for a maiden Grand Slam title?

Oh, and of course there is mention of the Royal Wedding and a certain GOAT's attendance...

The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments, in association with Telegraph Sport. It is presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport). 

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

Sheltering just metres from Craven Cottage and an army of angry Derby County football fans, David & Catherine digest the extraordinary and contrasting title wins in Madrid for Alex Zverev and Petra Kvitova. Who of the two will go further at Roland Garros? And why did David not think to ask that question as a poll vault?

Plus there's analysis of Nadal's (not so) shock defeat to Dominic Thiem, and chat about the (not quite) biggest win of Kyle Edmund's career over Novak Djokovic. And speaking of Djokovic.. Mary Carillo gives her astoundingly excellent thoughts about what's going on with him and why, all via the medium of Whatsapp.

All that as well as a Serena Williams comeback update, pronunciation corner, and a rare mention for Tom Okker.

The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments, in association with Telegraph Sport. It is presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport). 

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

After a week when the Munich, Estoril and Prague titles were all won by home favourites, attention now turns to Madrid, which is a veritable who’s who of the best, healthy tennis players in the world. Catherine Whitaker, sitting in a car park, and David Law in a window-less room, go through a draw that has thrown up some corkers. 

The wins of Alexander Zverev in Munich, Petra Kvitova in Prague and Joao Sousa in Estoril are covered, and David wants to know why Portugal, where Sousa’s triumph was celebrated, has produced so few top players over the years.

The awful stabbing of Monica Seles is remembered, 25 years on. Just how good could she have been if that had not happened?

Seles features in many listeners’ memories of the best matches of the 1990s.

The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments, in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport. It is presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport). 

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

After clinching his second 'undecima' of the season in Barcelona following yet another week of straight sets victories, David & Catherine meet in the pub to ponder what the miracle formula might be to muster a challenge to the King of Clay. Is Nadal's lack of competition hurting men's tennis? And how annoyed are we allowed to be at Roger Federer for denying us the chance to see the rivals face off on clay once more.

Karolina Pliskova's Stuttgart win is also discussed, as is the surprise clay court form of her final opponent Coco Vandeweghe. Via the revolutionary medium of whatsapp, David is even able to share first hand secrets from Vandeweghe's coach, 1987 Wimbledon winner Pat Cash.

There is talk of Dan Evans' return to action in Scotstoun (correct pronunciation clarified herein) following his 12 months drugs ban, and the 'cockle-warming' reunion of Stan Wawrinka with his former coach Magnus Norman. we trail the upcoming fly-on-the-wall HBO documentary about Serena Williams.

The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments, in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport, and presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport). 

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

Rafael Nadal won his 36th consecutive set of clay court tennis, dropping an average of two games per set, to claim his 11th Monte Carlo title. Afterwards, the Tennis Podcast team found themselves asking who can stop him on the surface, and how?

Presenter David Law was joined by Telegraph Sport tennis correspondent Simon Briggs to work their way through the potential candidates to ‘do a Robin Soderling’ - who beat Nadal at the French Open in 2009 - and how. Is it an in-form Juan Martin Del Potro? Could Novak Djokovic return to exert his former hold over the clay court master? Maybe big John Isner? Or is it simply impossible if Nadal is fit and at his best? They also wonder whether underarm serving might be a legitimate tactic to use against Nadal, given that he operates so far back behind his baseline.

The Fed Cup weekend results are discussed - Great Britain’s narrow, heartbreaking defeat to Japan, and the wins for Czech Republic and the United States to reach the final. Was there anything that the British team or captain could/should have done differently? 

Briggs was in Miami when the controversy over Caroline Wozniacki’s treatment by the crowd erupted, and he gives his view about the reaction of the tournament, and also tells us the story of Rob Fahey and Camden Riviere, the ‘Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal of Real Tennis’, who will face off at The Queen’s Club this week.

The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments, in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport, and presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport). 

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

David Law is back from holiday and full of beans. Catherine Whitaker is off on holiday and bemused by washing machines on tennis courts.

In the 401st Tennis Podcast, they look ahead to Monte Carlo, back on rain-drenched Lugano - which a shocked Catherine reports had a washing machine on court throughout, and the exploits and ultimate disappointment of Kyle Edmund, who lost in the final of Marrakech.

They continue their debate about the Wimbledon queue with listener thoughts and Wimbledon’s reaction thrown in, talk about Novak Djokovic and Marian Vajda reconnecting, and David drops the sizeable name of Sue Barker following an alleged recent text conversation. 

Plus, what’s the most impressive performance by a player on his/her least favourite surface?

It’s all discussed in the latest Tennis Podcast, produced in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport. 

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

With David Law swanning off on holiday, we've recorded our third listener-questions show - the 400th in our six year history - guest edited by Lea Lahnstein.

David and Catherine Whitaker have answered the best of them, such as what makes a good coaching partnership and the fascination of what goes on behind closed doors, how many is the perfect number of seeds at Grand Slams, and whether or not the Wimbledon queue is a fair and fun thing. Plus David Catherine compare their own playing styles to pro players, with amusing results.

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As the sunshine swing draws to a close in Miami the latest Tennis Podcast reviews an extraordinary pair of titles for American players Sloane Stephens and John Isner. Stephens has endured a disappointing run of form since becoming a surprise US Open winner in September last year, but her exceptional performances in Miami lead the podcast team to speculate whether she may always be a player that experiences high peaks and low troughs. Stephens’ beaten final opponent Jelena Ostapenko is also discussed, as she embarks upon the build-up to defending her own surprise Grand Slam title of 2017 on the clay in Paris. 

Meanwhile, in the men’s final Isner proved that being older than Catherine & taller than David is no barrier to winning an ATP Masters 1000 title. At 32 years of age and 6ft 10in tall, the American’s thrilling thee set victory over Alex Zverev anointed him the oldest ever debut Masters champion, and the tallest-ever, full-stop. 

Also covered is the breaking news that Andre Agassi has left his role as coach to Novak Djokovic, in what sounds like a less than mutual agreement. How can 12-time Grand Slam Champion Djokovic reverse his slump and become a relevant force in the sport once again?

The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments, in association with Telegraph Sport.

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

As Federer and Serena fall early in Miami, David & Catherine discuss the future for both; will we ever see Federer at the French Open again now he's announced he'll skip the clay once more, and how long is Serena's road back to full match fitness post pregnancy? And speaking of long roads back, Andy Murray has been spotted on the practice court for the first time since his hip surgery, but if Novak Djokovic's current form is anything to go by, returning from injury can be a bumpy ride for former world number ones.

The pair also discuss the developing stand-off between Caroline Wozniacki and the Miami Open over abuse she alleges she and her family received from the crowd during her defeat last week to Monica Puig, and they throw in their two cents on the McEnroe/Navratilova pay gap story.

The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments, in association with Telegraph Sport.

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

With Juan Martin Del Potro and Naomi Osaka mixing up tennis’ natural order in Indian Wells, Catherine & David meet in the Putney Exchange to discuss what the pair’s respective victories mean for the future. 

Does Osaka have the desire and ruthlessness to propel her to World Number One? And how powerful a role model could she end up being? Can Del Potro continue his rise back up the rankings? And will Federer maintain his Number One status, and beard, in Miami? And how good was that final??

Also discussed is the ATP and ITF ‘arms race’ to stage the definitive tennis team competition. Is further division the last thing tennis needs? Plus Catherine gets a long-awaited chance to talk about her love affair with gin and tonic. 

The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments, in association with Telegraph Sport.

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

With the Sunshine Swing well underway in the Californian Desert, Catherine and David address all the key talking points from week one of Indian Wells, including Serena Williams’ so-far impressive return to post-baby action, and Novak Djokovic’s inverse fortunes on the comeback trail. 

Other developments in the tennis world include Maria Sharapova’s split with long-time coach Sven Groenveld, and Goran Ivanisevic rejoining the coaching carousel alongside Canadian Milos Raonic. Plus with 16 year old Amanda Anisimova and 17 year old Felix Auger-Aliassime recording ground-breaking victories in Indian Wells, Catherine & David put the spotlight on some of the outrageously young players taking the sport by storm.

The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments, in association with Telegraph Sport.

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

In a Tennis Podcast Extra, we have an exclusive interview with World No.3 Marin Cilic who has some strong views on the ITF’s proposals for the Davis Cup.

David Law also asks him how long it took to recover from his heartbreaking final loss to Roger Federer at Wimbledon, how long he thinks it will take for Andy Murray to return to the top once fully fit, and his impressions of Britain’s Kyle Edmund.

Cilic was speaking on the day that he, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Grigor Dimitrov all announced their intention to play in The Queen’s Club Championships, 18th-24th June. Tickets are now available - po.st/QueensGeneralSale

The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments, in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport.

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

After a four week podcast hiatus to cover doubles luge and the like (men lying on top of one another and flinging themselves down an icy hill), Catherine reunites with David just in time to discuss the newly proposed sweeping reforms to the Davis Cup that some are welcoming with open arms, and some are heralding as the 'death of the Davis Cup'. David & Catherine delve into the depth of strong opinion on the future of the competition as well as addressing some of the big results and stories from the tennis world this week, including a breakthrough title for Juan Martin Del Potro (could he win a Slam this year?), an injury-enforced lay-off for Rafael Nadal and a 'hefty' settlement for Genie Bouchard in her civil suit against the USTA.

Plus there's chat about ferret couture, romantic billboard declarations and whether or not 1998 Australian Open Champion Petr Korda has ever received an invitation to the Oscars.

The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments, in association with Telegraph Sport.

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With Catherine Whitaker on her way back from the Winter Olympics in Korea, here's our second listener-questions show, guest edited by Grace Onions.

Catherine and David Law answered the best of them, such as what tennis life will look like after Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal retire, whether players should steer clear of off-court issues in press conferences, and their current favourite rumours.

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Roger Federer has spent more than half of his life as a professional tennis player, becoming in the eyes of most people, and according to most stats, the best male player ever to pick up a racquet. 

After becoming the oldest person to reach World No.1 since the rankings began, two men that have covered every one of Federer’s 20 years playing the sport got together on the latest Tennis Podcast to reminisce and assess his latest feat.

Presenter David Law (BBC 5 Live) asks guest Christopher Clarey (New York Times) for his early memories of Federer, where he believes the Swiss stands in the pantheon of all-time sporting greats, what he’s really like, and whether he thinks Federer has decided on a retirement plan. 

They also discuss the comeback of Serena Williams, the state of the WTA Tour, and the issues of ‘grunting’ raised by Caroline Wozniacki.

The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments, in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport.

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

We have thrown the next two editions of The Tennis Podcast over to our listeners to fire their questions at hosts Catherine Whitaker and David Law.

This week, with Guest Editor Jim Boyle in the chair to choose the questions and throw in a couple of his own, Catherine and David are put on the spot to reveal the players that are the most challenging to interview, which tournaments are the best to cover and why, and what they would give as advice to players about how best to handle social media. 

Should there be an ATP-1000 tournament on grass? Is it time to reassess the late-night scheduling of matches at Grand Slams, and if so, in what way? And who is C.Burel?

All of those questions and more are addressed on the latest show.

David also takes us through what has happened over the course of the last week in tennis, and what is to come. 

The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments, in association with Telegraph Sport.

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

Great Britain might have gone out 3-1 in the first round of the Davis Cup to Spain, but the talk of The Tennis Podcast was the performance of Cameron Norrie, who beat Roberto Bautista Agut and pushed Albert Ramos Vinolas all the way.

Just who is this 22 year-old who had never previously played a professional clay court match before he discomfited two players that had been brought up on the surface? Can he take this form into his ATP World Tour career? And has he shown that college tennis is the way forward for aspiring young British players?

His captain, Leon Smith, has been guiding the Great Britain team for the last eight years. We hear from him in conversation with presenter David Law about this latest tie in Marbella, and then the Telegraph’s Charlie Eccleshare joins to ponder just how impressive Smith’s reign has been. 

Smith’s time in charge is compared to that of Jim Courier, who took over the United States in 2010 and has yet to reach a Davis Cup final. After America’s comfortable win in Serbia, is this the year they go all the way?

Away from Davis Cup, wins for Petra Kvitova and Kei Nishikori are discussed, as is the ‘small medical intervention’ Novak Djokovic reported that he had undergone for his troublesome right elbow.

The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments, in association with Telegraph Sport.

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

Roger Federer made it an extraordinary 20 Grand Slam singles titles with a 5-set win over Marin Cilic in the Australian Open final, and as he embarked on a celebration tour of television studio interviews, Catherine Whitaker and David Law try to make sense of his achievement on The Tennis Podcast.

Federer was overcome with emotion in his on-court victory speech, and the team discuss why this one got to him so much.

They also analyse the match and the claustrophobic and heat and humidity that it could have been played in before the decision was taken, on the eve of the final, to shut the roof. Did that play into Federer’s hands? Was it the right decision? Did Cilic ever look likely to win? And why was their such a muted reaction when the underdog started to mount a comeback? All questions answered on the latest show. 

As Federer, aged 36, contemplated another addition to his major title collection, Whitaker and Law discuss what it brings to his legacy, how much longer he might go on for, and how many more goals he has left.

The Tennis Podcast was produced daily throughout the Australian Open, presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live), in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport. 

The weekly podcast will return on Monday 5th February, and the show will be daily during the French Open, The Queen’s Club Championships, Wimbledon and the US Open. 

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As Caroline Wozniacki walked by from television studio to television studio after claiming her long-awaited first Grand Slam title, Catherine Whitaker and David Law tried to do justice on The Tennis Podcast to an epic three-set tussle which had numerous storylines dripping with emotion. 

Where was the match won and lost? How did Wozniacki react after finally making her dream come true? And will Simona Halep ever get over the finish line in a Slam final herself?

The asterisk of ‘never won a Grand Slam’ has been removed forever from Wozniacki’s bio, so is Halep now the best player never to have won a major title? It’s all discussed in the latest daily podcast from the Australian Open.

Looking ahead to the men’s singles final on Sunday, what did Goran Ivanisevic tell the pod team he had said to Marin Cilic before his compatriot won his 2014 US Open clash with Roger Federer? And what does Goran think will happen this time?

The experiences of Wayne Ferreira describing how he beat Federer many moons ago are recounted, and former World No.2 Alex Corretja drops by to explain how he managed to win matches against the great man. Both admit that Federer is a very different player today.

On Sunday, the men’s singles final will be broadcast live on Eurosport, with coverage starting at 8am UK time. BBC Radio 5 Live will carry live commentary from 8.30am. 

The Tennis Podcast is produced daily throughout the Australian Open, presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live), in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport. 

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

Moments after Hyeon Chung pulled out of his Australian Open semifinal because of blisters, ensuring Roger Federer would reach a 30th Grand Slam singles final, Boris Becker joined Catherine Whitaker and David Law on the Tennis Podcast to look ahead to Sunday’s clash with Marin Cilic. 

The two-time champion also previews the women’s final between Caroline Wozniacki and Simona Halep, explains why he left the stadium immediately after match point in the 1991 final, and predicts how a peak Becker would have done against Federer.

As well as Becker, Catherine Whitaker and David Law are joined by Mary Carillo, who was voted by listeners as the podcast’s favourite guest of 2017. A former player and feted broadcaster in the United States for her work on tennis, documentaries and coverage of the winter and summer Olympics for NBC, Carillo talks about her reaction to Chung’s decision to retire mid-match, her expectations for the men’s and women’s finals, and the documentary she has produced about Margaret Court. 

On Saturday, the women’s final will be broadcast live on Eurosport, with coverage starting at 8am UK time. BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra will carry commentary from 8.30am. 

The Tennis Podcast is produced daily throughout the Australian Open, presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live), in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport. 

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Moment after Kyle Edmund’s Australian Open odyssey ended at the hands of Marin Cilic, Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport), David Law (BBC 5 Live) and Simon Briggs (Telegraph) got together in the media cafe to talk over where the match was won and lost.

Could he have done anything differently? How big a factor was the injury he apparently sustained? And will Cilic be able to go all the way in the final?

Earlier in the day, Simona Halep saved match points for a second time in a week to reach the final. She will face another player that saved match points along the way - Caroline Wozniacki. 

Halep’s match with Angelique Kerber went from damp squib to instant classic in a sensational 9-7 third set, and meant that Catherine Whitaker did not have to follow through with her threat to ‘sue the tennis gods’ if another match didn’t live up to expectations.

Where does the Halep vs. Kerber third set rank among the all-time greats? What did the players say afterwards that so uplifted the podcast team? And how surprising was it that Wozniacki revealed she had been suffering with nerves as she closed in on a semifinal victory against Elise Martens?

The women’s final will now feature Halep vs. Wozniack, with one of them crowned a Grand Slam champion for the first time. It will also decide the World No.1 ranking.

On Friday, the second men’s semifinal - Roger Federer vs. Hyeon Chung - will be live on Eurosport, with coverage starting at 8am UK time. Both Whitaker and Law think it will be a lot closer than most people seem to expect. 

The Tennis Podcast is produced daily throughout the Australian Open, presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live), in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport. 

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All of the four quarterfinals played on Wednesday were won in straight sets, but each had its own story, and the resulting semifinals are mouth-watering, according to the Tennis Podcast team. 

Hyeon Chung is one of the stories of the tournament and he backed up his straight sets win over Novak Djokovic by overcoming a very difference challenge - being the favourite to win against the World No. 97, Tennys Sandgren. It made Chung the first Korean ever to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament and put him into a semifinal against Roger Federer. Sandgren continued to create headlines of his own because of his social media activity, and responded with a statement in his post-match press conference. 

What sort of challenge do the Tennis Podcast team think Chung can pose to Federer? Catherine Whitaker and David Law weigh up whether the similarities of his strengths to those of Djokovic might be a factor.

Federer saved set points against Tomas Berdych and has yet to drop a set, but how well is he actually playing?

In the women’s quarterfinals, classics were hoped for but didn’t materialise, partially because of the brilliance of Angelique Kerber and Simon Halep, partly because of erratic displays from Madison Keys and Karolina Pliskova. Surely Kerber vs. Halep is going to deliver?

Meanwhile, Kyle Edmund prepares for the biggest match of his career in the semifinals against Marin Cilic. It will be live on Eurosport and BBC Radio 5 Live from 8am UK time. 

A Tennis Podcast will follow the match, presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live), in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport. 

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In 2010, Andy Murray went through to the semifinals of the Australian Open for the first time when Rafael Nadal retired with injury. His opponent in the final four was Marin Cilic. He then met Roger Federer in the final.

Eight years on, Nadal retired with injury from a Grand Slam match for only the second time in his career. It was also at the Australian Open, and the result is that a British player will once again be playing against Marin Cilic for a place in the final, and Roger Federer might again be waiting. This time though, Murray is at home recovering from hip surgery, and the name on everyone’s lips is Kyle Edmund.

After a tumultuous day of tennis, presenters Catherine Whitaker and David Law, who are in Melbourne for Eurosport and BBC Radio 5 Live respectively, sat down with Telegraph tennis correspondent Simon Briggs to try to make sense of what they had seen.

Will Edmund go another step and reach the final? What do the team think will happen between Madison Keys and Angelique Kerber, and Simona Halep and Karolina Pliskova on Wednesday? 

Will Tomas Berdych be able to turn his rivalry against Roger Federer around? And why is everyone so angry at Tennys Sandgren, who takes on Hyeon Chung for a place in the semis? All explained on the latest Tennis Podcast.

The Australian Open will be live on Eurosport from midnight, with radio commentary available on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.

The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open, presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live), in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport. 

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Novak Djokovic found himself ‘playing in front of a mirror’ according to The Tennis Podcast team, as he was knocked out of the Australian Open by Hyeon Chung at the fourth round stage.

Chung out-Djokovic’d Djokovic, pounding whiplash groundstrokes, hitting lines, reaching seemingly irretrievable balls in a blur of speed, and doing the splits when forced out wide. After winning 7-6, 7-5, 7-6 Chung was given a standing ovation inside the Rod Laver Arena. On the podcast, concern turned to the health of Djokovic, who admitted he was in a bad way with his elbow, and that he was back to the drawing board.

Elsewhere, World No.96 Tennys Sandgren defeated Dominic Thiem in 5 sets, and will now meet Chung in the quarters. Is that clash, between the World No’s 97 and 54 one of the most unlikely last eight clashes ever? 

In the other quarterfinal in the bottom half of the draw, Roger Federer will take on Tomas Berdych for a 26th time. Federer leads the head-to-head 19-6, winning their last eight clashes. Can Berdych to turn it around?

In the women’s draw, Angelique Kerber and Madison Keys will face off in a blockbuster quarterfinal. How did they get there and what do the team expect when they face off? Plus, is Simona Halep really back to her best after that 15-13 final set epic?

And ahead of the Kyle Edmund vs. Grigor Dimitrov clash on Tuesday, the Tennis Podcast team give their predictions. 

The Australian Open will be live on Eurosport from midnight, with radio commentary available on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.

The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open, presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live), in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport. 

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

Grigor Dimitrov vs. Nick Kyrgios was ‘instant classic’ material, and only made better from a British perspective in that the winner plays Kyle Edmund, who is into his first Grand Slam quarterfinal.

On the Tennis Podcast afterwards, David Law said the match between Dimitrov and Kyrgios was a ‘win-win’ for tennis, but not everyone agrees. Did Kyrgios cross the line with his ranting in the direction of his support team? Or is it time to cut him some slack and celebrate a brilliant performance and an even better one from his opponent? Regarding Dimitrov, is he finally ready to fully deliver on his enormous talent?

Edmund’s four-set win over Seppi again saw him fight back from behind to prevail, becoming the first British man not named Andy Murray to reach an Australian Open quarterfinal in 33 years. What do the Tennis Podcast team think of his chances against Dimitrov?

There’s also discussion of Rafael Nadal and Marin Cilic’s tricky tussles as they set up a quarterfinal clash, and the ever-improving Caroline Wozniacki who is looking more of a threat for the title with every match. 

The Australian Open will be live on Eurosport from midnight, with radio commentary available on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.

The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open, presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live), in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport.

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

Simona Halep produced an incredible feat of fitness and fire to save three match points and win 15-13 in the final set against Lauren Davis, and afterwards The Tennis Podcast team got together to marvel at it. 

They were joined by British No.3 Naomi Broady, and while chatting, Andy Murray began a jetlag fuelled Q & A session on Twitter. So, Broady told Catherine Whitaker and David Law about the Andy Murray she knows, and also gave a backstage insight into Nick Kyrgios. 

Later, Whitaker and Law reflected on Angelique Kerber's comfortable win over Maria Sharapova. Is she now the favourite for the title?

Meanwhile, what happened to Alexander Zverev, the fourth seeded German that everyone's been talking about? Beaten in a fifth set by Hyeon Chung, how much should be read into another disappointing Grand Slam loss? And what did Roger Federer say to Zverev in a quiet locker room moment afterwards?

The podcast team also discuss the progress of the wonderfully named Tennys Sandgren, and Lleyton Hewitt's refusal to retire. 

The Australian Open will be live on Eurosport from midnight, with radio commentary available on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.

The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open, presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live), in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport. 

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

On a day when temperatures exceeded 40 degrees for a second day in a row, the last thing Kyle Edmund would have wanted was a 5-set, near 4-hour match, but that’s what he got, and he came through it. Catherine Whitaker was the first person to speak to him afterwards, for Eurosport, and Simon Briggs sat watching him for the full duration. They give the lowdown on what he went through to reach the last 16 of the Australian Open, and what they make of his chances against Andreas Seppi next.

Later, the win scored by Nick Kyrgios over Jo Wilfried Tsonga is dissected by Whitaker and David Law, and they assess how the Australian public is taking to the man who sampled victory on Rod Laver Arena for the first time. 

Whitaker reports what Kyrgios’ fourth round opponent Grigor Dimitrov was doing before taking to the court against Andrey Rublev, there’s discussion about Roger Federer’s quotes about the potential for a player union and a greater piece of Grand Slam revenues, and the WTA Finals moving to Shenzhen for ten years with double prize money is covered.

The Australian Open will be live on Eurosport from midnight, with radio commentary available on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.

The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open, in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport. 

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

As temperatures exceed 40 degrees celcius on day four of the Australian Open, Catherine & David question why on earth the heat policy wasn't invoked, and indeed whether there should even be a heat policy (some merciless people seem to think there shouldn't!).

They also analyse those that survived the withering conditions - including a warrior-like Novak Djokovic, who 'out-bluffed' Gael Monfils in the heat of the day - and those that didn't, including third seed Garbina Muguruza, seventh seed David Goffin and Britain's Jo Konta.

The Australian Open will be live on Eurosport from midnight, with radio commentary available on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.

The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open, in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport. 

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

Recorded live from the Eurosport Green Room during Grigor Dimitrov's epic five setter with American Mackenzie McDonald, former World No 2 Alex Corretja shares his thoughts on all things Australian Open, including heat waves, big match pressure and who he thinks will win the men's and women's titles.

He also joins David & Catherine in talking through the dramatic events of the day, including second seed Caroline Wozniacki snatching victory from the jaws of defeat and a 'highly stressful' three set win for Nick Kyrgios. There was also a statement win for Rafael Nadal, shock defeats for form players Belinda Bencic and Julia Georges, and an incredible breakthrough for 15 year-old Marta Kostyuk.

The Australian Open will be live on Eurosport from midnight, with radio commentary available on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.

The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open, in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport. 

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

Aus Open Day 2 - Novak Djokovic Is Back With A Bang But What Did He Say About That Player Meeting?

Novak Djokovic was front and centre on Tuesday, both on and off the court, as he played a competitive tennis match for the first time since Wimbledon and then addressed reports about his role in the Player Meeting on Friday.

In the latest Tennis Podcast, we hear his post-match press conference in which he denied talking about a potential boycott, insisted he had been misrepresented in reports, and said he merely wanted to get the players together to discuss certain ‘topics’ amongst themselves. We get the reaction of Telegraph tennis correspondent Simon Briggs on the podcast.

On the court, Djokovic was imperious on his return, and he was joined by Stan Wawrinka. Podcast presenter David Law is joined by former Top 50 player Jil Craybas to assess how they looked, examine the form of Maria Sharapova in her first match since testing positive at the event two years ago, and predict who will win the men’s and women’s events.

The Australian Open will be live on Eurosport from midnight, with radio commentary available on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.

The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open, in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport. 

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

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

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

With the first Grand Slam tournament of 2018 upon us, Catherine Whitaker and David Law are in Melbourne, and were joined by Telegraph Tennis Correspondent to dissect the draws of the Australian Open.

Who has the best road to the final? What are the outstanding first round matches? And who is likely to clash in the last 16 and onwards? The team talk it through. The fitness of Novak Djokovic is discussed, as his difficult draw.

Aside from the potential match-ups, one of the main tournament talking points was why the Australian Open chose to have Maria Sharapova in the place of Serena Williams to launch the tournament at the official draw. The pod team get stuck in.

And on the subject of Serena, they cover the remarkable story told in Vogue Magazine about the complications and health setbacks Williams suffered during and after the birth of her daughter, how she has dealt with having to play against her sister Venus, and the role she feels she wants to play in the sport in the future.

The Tennis Podcast will be produced daily throughout the Australian Open, in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport. 

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Andy Murray has taken the plunge and gone under the knife after his frustrated attempts to come back from a hip injury.

David Law, deserted by an ill Catherine Whitaker, gives his verdict on whether Murray has made the right call, and what happens next. He is also joined by Telegraph Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs to talk about Murray and other main stories ahead of the Australian, and leading coach Nigel Sears to run through the long list of players on the WTA Tour competing for major honours this year.

The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly, in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport, and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments.

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

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

The 1973 Battle of the Sexes between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs was a landmark event in so many ways, and this cinematic telling of the story has been reviewed extensively in recent months. But not by Catherine Whitaker of The Tennis Podcast. Not until now. 

In this special edition podcast, Catherine gives her verdict on the film as a piece of entertainment, including her views on the performances of Emma Stone as Billie Jean King and Steve Carrell as Bobby Riggs.

Catherine and David Law also discuss sexism and attitudes to sexual orientation in tennis, how far we have come, and how far we still have to go.

The Tennis Podcast is presented by broadcasters Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport, BBC 5 Live) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport). It is produced weekly throughout the year, and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments, in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport. www.TheTennisPodcast.net

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

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

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