The Tennis Podcast

Thanasi Kokkinakis takes on fellow #NextGen star Daniil Medvedev on centre court at the Aegon Championships today, and part of his pre-match preparation was to join Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and Gigi Salmon (BBC 5 Live) on the Tennis Podcast.

How many text messages did he receive after his stunning win over Milos Raonic in the previous round? How stressful was it trying to close out a match of that magnitude after so long out? And most importantly, what superpower would he choose - invisibility, x-ray vision, or the ability to fly?

Elsewhere, Tomas Berdych won the match of the tournament so far, edging out Denis Shapovalov, and Grigor Dimitrov overcame a set deficit against Julien Benneteau.

The Tennis Podcast is a free, weekly, downloadable tennis audio show, with daily editions during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is produced in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport. 

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

On a day of high-drama at the Aegon Championships as the top three seeds all fell, it was Andy Murray’s surprise defeat to Jordan Thompson that dominated the discussion on the Tennis Podcast.

Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and Gigi Salmon (BBC) discuss the match in depth from a shell-shocked Queen’s Club. Would Murray of a year ago have won today? And should the World No.1 enter Eastbourne next week before he heads to Wimbledon to defend his title? There are more questions than answers right now.

A disappointed Murray spoke to Gigi post-match. We hear that full interview.

And what of Jordan Thompson? The Australian was a lucky loser replacement for Aljaz Bedene but he was far from an understudy. He played an impressively smart match, serving 12 aces, and deserves immense credit.

Elsewhere, Stan Wawrinka lost to Feliciano Lopez. Catherine and Gigi agree that while it was an upset on paper, Lopez’s love for grass meant that many saw it...

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

The Queen’s Club was baked in sunshine as the Aegon Championships got underway, and The Tennis Podcast team of Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and Gigi Salmon (BBC) are on hand to review the day’s action.

Billed as match of the day, Denis Shapovalov and Kyle Edmund didn’t disappoint, playing three sets of thrilling tennis in the late afternoon on Centre Court. Shapovalov in particular was impressive, building on his qualifying run to beat Edmund 6-4 in the third. Catherine could barely contain her excitement at his lefty single-handed backhand. We hear from the ATP #NextGen star.

Elsewhere, there was disappointment for Nick Kyrgios. The Australian unfortunately had to retire mid-match against Donald Young but is still optimistic for Wimbledon.

There were no other big name casualties on the opening day as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Grigor Dimitrov and Tomas Berdych all looked good in straight-set wins.

Looking ahead to day two, Andy Murray begins his title defence. His full pre-tournament...

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

Clay has turned to grass, and in the first of the daily podcasts from the Aegon Championships, David Law (BBC 5 Live) and Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) are together on a scorching hot day at The Queen’s Club to preview the tournament.

One of the players Catherine spoke to on a busy day of media activity was Nick Kyrgios, who plays Donald Young on day one. The Australian is yet to win a match at The Queen’s Club, but as he told Catherine, he is in a very good place, physically and mentally, at the moment.

Also on the schedule for Monday are Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Grigor Dimitrov. They will be the favourites in their matches, but the Tennis Podcast team believe both Adrian Mannarino and Ryan Harrison are capable of causing an upset.

Monday’s headline match is last on Centre Court, between Denis Shapovalov and Kyle Edmund. They met in the Davis Cup in March with Shapovalov losing through disqualification - he hit a ball away in anger that smashed into the face of the chair umpire - an...

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

Rafael Nadal became the first man in history to win ten Grand Slam titles at a single event, and after completing La Decima at Roland Garros, Catherine Whitaker spoke to David Law about it on The Tennis Podcast.

Where was the match won and lost? Is it fair to be disappointed in the performance of Stan Wawrinka? Or was Nadal just so good that a competitive contest was simply out of the question?

Nadal will now travel to the Aegon Championships at The Queen's Club as he tries to transfer his form from clay to grass ahead of Wimbledon. Will his relatively easy passage through in Paris make him fresh enough to do what he did in 2008 when he won the Roland Garros-Queen's-Wimbledon treble?

The podcast team also discuss the withdrawal of Maria Sharapova from Wimbledon qualies, and there's bad news for Dan Evans.

The Tennis Podcast is a free, weekly downloadable tennis audio show, with daily editions during the Grand Slam tournaments at next week at The Queen's Club. The podcast is...

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

Jelena Ostapenko is the French Open champion, but was it a red-hot couple of weeks and ultimately a flash in the pan, or will she go on to win multiple Grand Slam titles? It provoked a fiery disagreement on the latest Tennis Podcast between presenters Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live). 

Ahead of the men’s final, John McEnroe joined Whitaker on Eurosport to sum up the magnitude of achievement if Nadal were to seize his 10th title on Sunday.

“Nadal winning ten titles at the French Open would be at the top of all sporting achievements,” said McEnroe. “Guys like Phelps have had all those gold medals, and there are so many other great achievements, and Federer’s are up alongside him, but then you think, has anyone ever topped this? I don’t think so.”

Does McEnroe think Wawrinka could spring an upset?

“Stan has to hurt him early on, he is incredibly fit, and we have to make sure people realise how great a player Wawrinka has become. But this is the ultimate...

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

Jelena Ostapenko takes on Simona Halep in the final of the French Open.

Few people know more about winning Grand Slam titles than Chris Evert, and she joined Tennis Podcast presenter Catherine Whitaker on Eurosport to preview the match.

Where will the match be won and lost? What will it be like for Ostapenko to play in her first Grand Slam final at the age of 20? Evert knows - she met Margaret Court when she was just 18 years of age. How has Halep turned things around from some of her lows earlier in the year? And who is Evert picking to win?

Listen to the interview in full on the Tennis Podcast.

The French Open women's final starts at 3pm local, 2pm UK time time. It will be shown live on Eurosport and the Eurosport player.

The Tennis Podcast is a free, weekly, downloadable tennis audio show, with daily editions during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is produced in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport. 

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

How could Andy Murray play that well and not win? That was the first thought of Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live) on the The Tennis Podcast, recorded shortly after the semifinals.

The answer, they concluded, came from down the other end of the court, where Stan Wawrinka was firing his bullets for more than four hours. Where was the match won and lost? What did Murray think of his performance? - we hear from him. And what sort of chance do the podcast team give Wawrinka in the final against Rafael Nadal?

Meanwhile, with the women’s final coming up on Saturday, what do they expect to happen? And what did Halep’s coach Darren Cahill say to Catherine when she asked him for an interview on Eurosport?

Both finals will be broadcast on Eurosport and Eurosport player. 

The Tennis Podcast is a free, weekly, downloadable tennis audio show, with daily editions during the Grand Slam tournaments. It is produced in association with Telegraph Sport and...

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

Andy Murray is now playing like the man that reached World No.1 at the end of last year, according to Boris Becker. 

As Murray prepared to take on Stan Wawrinka in the French Open semifinals, Becker spoke to Tennis Podcast presenter Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) to assess the British player’s improvement over the course of the tournament. 

“Andy Murray now looks like the Andy Murray of last year,” said Becker. Even after the match against (Juan Martin) Del Potro in the third round, he has looked like himself. I think Ivan Lendl arriving has made a real difference. It’s like Murray is unchaining himself from everything that has gone before earlier this year. He’s a champion, and champions know how to win. He’s No.1 for a reason, and with Wawrinka playing so well, this could be a classic between two titans.”

Becker also previews the semifinal between Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem on the podcast, and Whitaker speaks to Eurosport commentator Chris Bradnam about the superb...

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

After a busy day in which all four of the men’s quarterfinals and two of the women’s quarters were played, the question on everyone’s lips was ‘what was wrong with Novak Djokovic’.

Listeners to The Tennis Podcast will know that it has been a recurring conversation over the past 12 months, and if anything, this latest episode - a straight sets defeat to Dominic Thiem - was even more mystifying.

So, what is wrong with Djokovic? Did he, as John McEnroe suggested in commentary on Eurosport, ‘tank’ in the third set? Or, are we damning Thiem with faint praise after registering his first ever win over the former World No.1? Either way, what should Djokovic do from here?

The Tennis Podcast team also talk about Andy Murray’s hard-fought win over Kei Nishikori, and the size of the task he will face against an in-form Stan Wawrinka in the semifinals. Who do presenters Catherine Whitaker and David Law think will win that one?

They also talk about Rafael Nadal’s serene progress, the wonder...

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

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

‘Night and day’ said Andy Murray to Catherine Whitaker on Eurosport, when comparing his form before the French Open to the tennis he displayed in reaching the quarterfinals on Monday.

That interview, reproduced here on The Tennis Podcast, gives an insight into his growing confidence, self belief, and relaxed state of mind. What does he expect to happen against Kei Nishikori in the next round? What do he and Ivan Lendl talk about in the locker room after matches? And is his daughter Sophia showing any signs of interest in tennis yet? He answers them all, with a twinkle in his eye that comes across even in audio form. 

On a busy day for Whitaker in Paris, she also tells us about a conversation she had with Goran Ivanisevic, on the day that he separated with Tomas Berdych. Ivanisevic told Whitaker the alliance between Novak Djokovic and Andre Agassi 'is not going to last'.

The form of Stan Wawrinka is covered, as his that of his quarterfinal opponent Marin Cilic, and there’s a...

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

Garbine Muguruza departed the French Open wagging her finger in anger at the local crowd. They didn't care. Kristina Mladenovic, or Kiki as she is known, reached the quarterfinals in a tumultuous atmosphere at Roland Garros, and afterwards the Tennis Podcast team assembled to talk about it.

Were the crowd out of order or do players just need to accept and take it? Could Mladenovic go on from here and win the title?

Elsewhere, the only man that looked anything like as impressive as Rafael Nadal on day 8 was Dominic Thiem. Could the Austrian find enough inspiration to take out Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals?

On Monday, Andy Murray takes on young Russian Karen Khachanov in the last 16. Who is Khachanov? Presenters Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live) reveal all they know.

The rest of the results on Sunday are reviewed on the show, with previews of Monday's matches thrown in.

The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport and...

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

As the French Open enters week two, Andy Murray has started to look like the World No.1 for the first time this year, according to the Telegraph's Tennis Podcast team.

Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and the Telegraph's Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs met up after Murray's straight sets defeat of Juan Martin del Potro to dissect his win, including a mind-boggling 85 minute first set.

We hear from Murray, talking to Whitaker on Eurosport straight after the match, and Briggs proudly airs his down-the-line-drop-shot theory again, which was backed up throughout the contest.

They discuss Kyle Edmund's narrow loss to Kevin Anderson, the progress of women's favourite Simona Halep, and the tension between French players Caroline Garcia and Alize Cornet, who face off in the last 16.

We also hear from Mats Wilander, who joined Catherine Whitaker in the rain to fill some airtime on Eurosport, and ended up giving the most fascinating insight into the difference between Federer/Nadal and...

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

The French Open Day 6 edition of the Tennis Podcast started with Novak Djokovic two sets to one down. By the time it concluded, he had extricated himself from trouble.

Presenter Catherine Whitaker was joined by Eurosport colleagues and commentary team Simon Reed and Frew McMillan as they stepped out of the commentary box following one of their shorter shifts - a 6-0, 6-1, 6-0 victory for Rafael Nadal over Nikoloz Basilashvili. ‘He looked unbeatable’ said McMillan, and Reed agreed.

As well as reviewing that awesome performance, Whitaker, Reed and McMillan talked about Djokovic’s struggles against Diego Schwartzman and his alliance with Andre Agassi, as well as all the other week one storylines. 

Later in the show, we get the chance to hear the thoughts of the Great Britain Davis Cup captain Leon Smith, and his Argentine counterpart Daniel Orsanic ahead of Andy Murray vs. Juan Martin del Potro on Saturday.

The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport and...

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

It was still short of Andy Murray's vintage, Grand Slam title-winning best form, but he is into round three of the French Open, and according to Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and the Telegraph's tennis correspondent Simon Briggs, he has the perfect platform to build on.

In the latest Tennis Podcast, Whitaker and Briggs discuss the contrasting routes through to the third round of Murray and Juan Martin del Potro, and speculate as to what might happen when they meet on Saturday.

Del Potro's heartbreaking, retirement win over Nicolas Almagro, who departed the court in agony and floods of tears after injuring his knee, reminded everyone what a sporting man Del Potro is. The Argentine rushed to Almagro's aid and comforted him throughout.

Kyle Edmund joined Murray in round three, and will now face Kevin Anderson, a surprise winner over Nick Kyrgios. Can Edmund keep his run going?

And there's debate over Margaret Court's controversial comments about same-sex marriage, and the response...

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

Day four of the French Open started with everyone expecting to talk about Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Garbine Muguruza. It ended with the latest Tennis Podcast leading on Steve Johnson, the World No.26. 

While Nadal and Djokovic cruised to victory, Johnson dragged himself through four ageing sets against Borna Coric. Not that big a deal on the face of it, until you saw him on match point, falling to his knees and sobbing uncontrollably. A few weeks earlier, his father and mentor, Steve senior, had died suddenly at the age of 58. Podcast presenter Catherine Whitaker admitted to welling up watching him, and she wasn’t the only one.

The wins of Nadal and Djokovic are also discussed, as is the surprising loss of Jo Wilfried Tsonga to Renzo Olivo. Could that open a door for Britain’s Kyle Edmund, who now plays Olivo in round 2 today?

Two of the favourites for the women’s title, Muguruza and Svetlana Kuznetsova squeezed through in three sets, and Caroline Wozniacki dished out a 6-0...

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

Andy Murray arrived in Paris with little form to speak of, under the weather, and by all accounts, tetchy. After losing the second set 6-4 against Andrey Kuznetsov, things were not looking up. According to Tennis Podcast presenters David Law and Catherine Whitaker, sets 3 and 4 of his first round win could end up being the turning point of his French Open. Perhaps even his year. He found renewed purpose, positive body language and incisive play. He looked more like the World No.1.

The news was less positive for Johanna Konta, who lost from a set up, and Alexander Zverev, who couldn’t reproduce the form that landed him the Rome title. The podcast team assess their defeats, while also covering the win of Nick Kyrgios and the return of his good friend, Thanasi Kokkinakis. 

They also react to the storm over the actions of French tennis player Maxime Hamou towards Eurosport reporter Maly Thomas during an interview, behaviour described by the French Tennis Federation as ‘reprehensible’. The...

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

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic started their campaigns at Roland Garros, but while both registered convincing looking straight set wins, not everyone was convinced by what they saw.

On the Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker was joined by two Eurosport colleagues - former World No.5 Jo Durie and commentator Chris Bradnam - to dissect day 2 at the French Open.

How did the Djokovic / Andrew Agassi partnership seem like it was working? Was Agassi the coach sitting stony-faced like Ivan Lendl, or fidgeting and pumping his fist at his charge like John McEnroe?

How did Nadal look as he started his quest for a tenth title in Paris?

What was going on with one of the pre-tournament favourites in the women’s draw - Kristina Mladenovic - who became entangled in a 3-hour epic with Jennifer Brady?

Looking ahead to Tuesday, how do Durie and Bradnam rate the chances of British pair Andy Murray and Johanna Konta, who both start their campaigns?

It’s all discussed on the latest Tennis...

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

The Tennis Podcast - Kvitova ‘Wins French Open’ On Opening Day

It was only the first day, but it already felt as though Petra Kvitova had won the French Open.

Six months after being subjected to a terrifying knife attack in her own home, Kvitova returned to the court and won her first match at Roland Garros. Simon Briggs, the Telegraph’s Tennis Correspondent, appears on the latest Tennis Podcast and says that she was unquestionably the story of the opening day of the tournament. 

That’s on a day when the World No.1 Angelique Kerber suffered a humbling defeat at the hands of Ekaterina Makarova. The German seemed a shadow of the woman that won two major titles a year ago. What did Briggs and Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) make of her defeat?

Catherine Whitaker was courtside during the Dan Evans vs. Tommy Robredo match, and described the conditions as some of the most oppressive she had ever experienced, such was the heat. The pod team assess the performance of...

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

A year ago, the weather was awful, Rafael Nadal pulled out just as he was about to get going, and Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray marched to a final meeting, while Garbine Muguruza ousted Serena Williams in the final. 

As the French Open prepares to get underway in 2017, things could not be more different. 

The weather is glorious, Nadal is the overwhelming favourite to land an extraordinary 10th title, and Djokovic and Murray are scratching around for form. Meanwhile, Muguruza is similarly short of her title-winning best from last year and Serena Williams is off the circuit for a while as she prepares to give birth to her first baby.

The Tennis Podcast team are here to go through it all.

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

Andre Agassi will return to the sport as its latest ‘Super Coach’, Maria Sharapova will play in Wimbledon qualifying and Victoria Azarenka will return to the sport seven months after having her baby boy, Leo. Just another week in on the global tennis tour.

It all gave the Tennis Podcast team plenty to get their teeth into in the latest edition of the show, which is available to listen to now.

What do we expect to happen when Agassi and Djokovic get together in Paris? Will it be a success?

What will it be like when Sharapova plays Wimbledon qualifying?

And how will will Victoria Azarenka get on when she returns? According to presenters Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport), there is a lot more to Azarenka than meets the eye. 

The break-out victory in Rome of Alexander Zverev is discussed, as is the win for Elina Svitolina, and the team try to work out what happened to Simona Halep in...

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

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

It was midway through recording of the latest Tennis Podcast that presenters Catherine Whitaker and David Law received a message from the Telegraph’s tennis correspondent Simon Briggs which detailed his story about Andre Agassi being a potential coach for Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic had cleared out virtually all of his support team in one go last week, and the podcast’s attentions immediately turned to who might replace him. Could it be Pete Sampras, the 14-time Grand Slam champion that Djokovic idolised as a boy? Maybe Mats Wilander? Or perhaps a non-playing established coach? Or maybe he would just play without a coach for a while.

Then, the Agassi story landed at Tennis Podcast HQ, and the debate intensified still further. 

The results of the past week are discussed, there’s a preview of Madrid, the appalling social media abuse of Gael Monfils is detailed, and the team give their impressions of Tie Break Tens, the new short format of the game that...

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

It’s been a rough few months with illness and injury, but Andy Murray believes that he has come in the clay court season in 2017 ‘in a better place’ than he did the 2016 in which he ended up reaching the French Open final. 

Murray joined Catherine Whitaker for Tennis Podcast Extra, and described his season so far, his hopes for the clay court season, and the challenge of staying at World No.1.

The interview took place at The Queen’s Club - home of the Aegon Championships which Murray has won a record five times. What is he expecting from the grass court season? Why does Queen’s work for him so well as preparation for Wimbledon? And does he have anything planned for his 30th birthday later this month? 

Murray also talks about the progress of fellow British players Johanna Konta, Kyle Edmund and Dan Evans, as well as how he hopes to play Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at some point this year. 

The Tennis Podcast is a...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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