No Challenges Remaining

After the first week of tennis, Ben and Courtney look around to see how things have started in the 2016 season of tennis. As carnage accumulates, things sure look good for Brisbane champions Victoria Azarenka and Milos Raonic, don't they? You'll hear from both of them (and Azarenka's coach Wim Fissette), as well as runner-up Roger Federer. Elsewhere, gosh was Novak Djokovic able to do unspeakable things to Rafael Nadal in that Doha final. Has anyone ever been such a clear favorite heading into a Grand Slam? And has anything ever been as overblown as the reaction to Jack Sock conceding a first serve in a friendly farewell tour exhibition match? We discuss all that and more.
There is now less than a week to go in our Kickstarter campaign, so if you want to support us and get any of our neato rewards before it's too late, don't delay! Your support has been super amazing already, and we can't thank you all enough. If you haven't yet and still want to, you can find out more here.
As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

It's our Season 5 premiere! Ben and Courtney are back together in person for the first time since the U.S. Open, and they're ready to tackle the 2016 season. But are any of the top WTA players? With injuries to three of the top-five already, it sure doesn't seem like it. But one player who does seem ready is Victoria Azarenka (9min40sec), who you'll hear from at her first Brisbane press conference.

After a reflection on the demise of BerdycH&M (17min), we're delighted to be joined by one of our favorite Aussies, Linda Pearce of The Age in Melbourne (21 min), who shares some of her adventures in Australian tennis. We try to hide our jealousy over the incredibly colorful tapestry of characters she has to work with. We fail. 
With less than two weeks to go in our Kickstarter campaign, we're over 500% of our initial base goal, which is astoundingly awesome. We've rolled out a few new rewards, and a stretch goal for $17,000 (live Periscopes every day of the Australian Open!) so if you want to get in on it before it's too late you can do so here.

As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

In their 2015 season finale, Ben and Courtney look back at the year that was in tennis. After discussing the retirement and legacy of Robin Soderling this past week, we flip through back the calendar to piece together the year that was through a chronological game of #RememberWhen. From Serena ordering coffee on court to champagne nearly de-eyeing Novak Djokovic, it was a year whimsy and wild moments that quenched our thirst all year long. Tweet us your own #RememberWhen moments to @NCR_Tennis! In a combined, lengthy rant/rave, Ben and Courtney get spoilery on their latest obsession, the Netflix documentary series Making a Murderer. So, don't listen to that if you haven't finished (or started) the show yet.
With less than three weeks to go in our Kickstarter campaign, we're an incredible $10,000 over our initial base goal! You guys are awesome! There's still many cool rewards on offer (including our new #ImJustHereForThePostcards set of four) and lots of time for more of you to join the cause. Even though we've surpassed all our original expectations, the number of donors so far is still under 5% of NCR listener ship, and we'd love to widen the base of those onboard, so we're continually rolling out stretch goals and backers-only content! Join in here.
As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

As they deck the halls, Ben and Courtney fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la over Roger Federer's 2016 schedule, which throws out the mold and the clay. Should more players follow his lead and pick and choose more selectively from the all-you-can-eat buffet that is the tennis calendar? Then, we wrap and stick under the tree what you've all been asking NCR Santa for: Take a Number, and lots of it. After a few rounds of lucky numbers, we then soup it up and hold our second annual Secret Santa for the ATP and WTA top 10s (with a couple substitutions). Then Ben raves and Courtney raves and raves and rants and raves some more. Because it's Christmas, and we should all be cheery cashiers Robin Hood-ing when we can. 
With less than four weeks to go in our campaign, we thank you for continuing to make our Kickstarter campaign such a success so far! We're already blown away by the totals (over $11,000 as of publishing this episode!) but would love to see a higher percentage of our audience chip in, even if it's just a tiny amount. You guys are helping to make NCR bigger and better, and the tennis world is taking notice. You can support NCR and gain access to exclusive backers-only content here, which includes Ben diving deep into his rave for GeoGuessr. Also, we're offering a new #ImJustHereForThePostcards reward level! 

As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

Who better than 1996 gold medalist Lindsay Davenport to join Ben and Courtney to talk about the Olympics? Well, Lindsay is awesome on anything and everything, but for this Olympics-themed episode as we're on the eve of an Olympic year, Lindsay shares her memories from her various Olympic efforts, her thoughts on how the Olympics have grown in stature within tennis, and the show-and-tell duties that they never tell you about when you're on the podium. Ben and Courtney also discuss various other Olympic issues, including their disruptiveness in the calendar, qualifying rules, and which mixed doubles teams we #RioShip. 
And again, we thank you for continuing to make our Kickstarter campaign such a success so far! We're already blown away by the totals, but would love to see more of you become backers at any level, no matter how small. Support and gain access to exclusive backers-only content here. 
As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

In a rare emergency episode that is for an indisputably positive reason (neigh-sayers aside), Ben and Courtney discuss Serena Williams being honored by Sports Illustrated as their Sportsperson of the Year for 2015, becoming the first woman to win the award outright in over 30 years, and the first tennis player in over 20 years. To discuss how Serena clinched the honor, we're joined by Sports Illustrated's executive editor Jon Wertheim (host of SI's reinvigorated tennis podcast Beyond the Baseline), who dives into the process of picking the Sportsperson as well as what it's been like to have his entire career overlap so closely with Serena's. 
We finish by thanking you guys for the beyond amazing start to our Kickstarter campaign, with you guys more than doubling our base goal in less than a week. You guys are the best, and have opened lots of exciting possibilities for what the show can do next year. It's still going for another five weeks, so if you'd like to join in and get access to some exclusive backers-only content you can do so by chipping in here.

As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

As the off-season starts to get comfortable (and shorter, sadly), Ben and Courtney dive into the mailbag once again to discuss a whole bushel of topics. Is IPTL worth paying attention to for tennis fans? And is it a good proposition for the players who play it, including the lethargic Serena Williams? We also discuss our Hall of Fame ballots, and the legacies of nominees Justine Henin, Marat Safin, and Helena Sukova. Also in questions, we discuss what fair 2016 expectations are for Serena and Djokovic, LGBT issues in tennis, and Andrea Petkovic's doubts about her tennis motivations and what they can teach us all.
Also, in an effort to continue growing and improving, we officially launch our Kickstarter campaign to help support NCR in 2016! You can donate and learn more about our Kickstarter campaign here. Check it out, and thanks in advance for considering us! 
As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

As Ben and Courtney finally exhale upon the long-awaited arrival of the off-season, they're left breathless on the topic of Andy Murray, who won the Davis Cup for Great Britain in one of the most impressive solo efforts ever in the competition. Ben is joined by Scottish tennis writer Stuart Fraser of the Mail Online to discuss his land's native hero and his most recent heroics, as well as the surprising timing of the latest round of criticisms of British tennis that has followed in the wake of one of its biggest successes. Then, Courtney and Ben dive into the mailbag for all sorts of questions, ranging from our favorite press conference moments to the value of tennis maintaining its niche status to the most likely next first-time Slam winners to what "deuce side" means. Lastly, Courtney ties a cheesy string to her childhood while Ben is inspired to shovel. 
As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

With the ATP regular season at last coming to a close, Ben and Courtney step back and bask in the luminous 2015 campaign of Novak Djokovic. Just what made him so dominant, and how does his year measure up to (or surpass) previous great years of his and others? With no one else coming close right now, how do we assess Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in London, as well as beard and towel intrigues? And why does Stan Wawrinka always seem to get a free pass from critics? 
Then, we shift gears to talk about the xenophobic panic behind Aljaz Bedene's purgatory, and we hear from Genie Bouchard's lawyer, Benedict Morelli, who sounds off on the answer filed by the USTA in response to Bouchard's lawsuit. We then take a moment for seasonal gratitude, to remember things we're thankful for as Thanksgiving approaches. Lastly, Courtney recommends you watch another Netflix show, and Ben recommends you don't watch a movie.

As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

Both back in America, Ben and Courtney tee up the homestretch of this 2015 season, in which Maria Sharapova fell short through no fault of her own in the Fed Cup final, Novak Djokovic continues to cruise, and things are tasting stale in London. Why is it that this time of Djokovic's dominance has been received less warmly than Federer's dominance? Does the ATP need to move the World Tour Finals out of London to get out of a rut? Does Novak Djokovic's great fall make us reconsider if he had a better year than Serena? And what does Ronda Rousey's loss say about premature legacy making?
As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

After her long sojourn up and down Asia, Courtney gets a much deserved week off, leaving Ben to drive 100-something miles to find someone to talk to, and winds up in an adventure in Challengerland.  At the $50,000 challenger in Charlottesville, Virginia, Ben talks to four(!) guests to give y'all a panoramic view of this world and the people who make it up. First is Mike Cation, the voice of the USTA Pro Circuit, who is more embedded than commentator in tennis. Next is Challenger circuit veteran Alex Kuznetsov,  coach Billy Heiser (working now with Tim Smyczek and Denis Kudla), and lastly the ever-ambitious Ryan Harrison.

As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

As they continue travel schedules that are normally only maintained by Carmen Sandiego characters, Ben and Courtney reconvene from Charlottesville and Zhuhai, respectively, to discuss the happenings of the week in tennis. And what it week it was! Losers got lucky in Singapore, then got good, as Agnieszka Radwanska claimed her biggest career title in unlikely fashion. What does her win say about her, and about the round-robin redemption format? Then, in Switzerland, Roger Federer improved to 5-1 indoors against Rafael Nadal...and still remains his pigeon? We discuss, and then we end by pouring one out for our homies at Grantland. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

With the WTA Finals underway, Ben chats up our Singapore correspondant, Courtney, to talk about how the tournament is shaping up. How very impressive is Sharapova's ability to make successful comebacks time and time again? Is this a glimpse at a post-Serena world? And what of the bigger emphasis on doubles, including the new fan favorite Chan sisters? Speaking of doubles siblings, what does it mean for the Bryans to lose the top ranking? And in men's singles, why was Nadal-Rosol's resumption of unniceties the perfect reminder of why we care about tennis? Lastly, we introduce you to Courtney's new WTA Insider podcast, Ben talks about architectural karma, and these pretzels are making Courtney homesick. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

Again a world apart, Ben and Courtney bridge a 12-hour time difference to come together for this episode, in which they discuss the yawniness of Shanghai and Novak Djokovic's invincibility, but then rally to Djokovic's defense when it comes to his snub from the ATP Sportsmanship Award Ballot. Just who do Ben and Courtney think should be considered for that award, as well as the other ATP votes? Then, more excitingly, Ben chats with Jiří Fencl, the coach of Lucie Hradecka, who discusses the life and challenges of being a coach, Czech tennis, as well as his awesome tennis app Resultina and the challenges and opportunities of tennis data. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

Despite the ocean between them, Ben and Courtney finally reunite (from Boston and Tokyo, respectively) for this episode, and catch up on the doings in WTAsia as well as dude tennis. What can be gleaned from this free-for-all stretch, which included unlikely surges from players like Garbine Muguruza, Venus Williams, and Jo Konta? And as the Singapore race looks ever more chaotic, did Serena do the "right" thing by withdrawing? On the men's side, where does Rafael Nadal's lopsided loss to Novak Djokovic in the Beijing final leave him? And is Stan Wawrinka having the best year of any Swiss player, or does that honor go to Federer, Bencic, Bacsinszky, or Hingis? Then, Courtney loves Beijing and Ben is giddy about The Future being within reach. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

Live from Beijing, China, this episode is Courtney's Speakerboxx to Ben's The Love Below last week. Courtney chats to two guests: first, her wonder-climbing buddy Carole Bouchard, a return NCR guest who is in China for the first time and discusses her impressions of tennis in the country, and the two discuss the schedule issues so often discussed at this time of year. Then, Courtney welcomes Peter Chorba, who is the senior business development manager for the China Open, to discuss sponsor liaising and also just life in China as an American ex-pat. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

With Ben and Courtney an ocean apart, this week we bring you a special interview from earlier this year, in which Ben sat down with tennis investigative journalist and author Michael Mewshaw to talk about the unsavory sides of tennis which he uncovered in working on his explosive books Short Circuit and Ladies of the Court. Decades after the books came out, many of the same issues still linger. From conflicts of interests to match fixing to drugs, Michael pulls lots of pins out of grenades here as well, so be sure to duck and cover as needed! As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

As the dust settles from the U.S. Open, Ben and Courtney sift through current developments in tennis to find what really matters. How does the devaluation of Davis Cup reflect on the dwindling importance of nationalism in tennis? Should Andy Murray skip the World Tour Finals in order to play the final in Belgium? What should Stacey Allaster's WTA reign be remembered for? And how should Serena Williams and the rest of the women approach the remainder of the season, including the new Zhuhai event? Should Novak Djokovic change something in order to be loved? Should we aspire to be unpopular quarterbacks? As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

After the last Grand Slam event of 2015 has come to a close, and so did Serena Williams' bid for a historic sweep, losing in the semifinals to Roberta Vinci. And so, Ben and Courtney discuss the stunning defeat, where Serena stands now, and why her humanity has always made her so compelling. Also, Flavia Pennetta won the U.S. Open! Weird! On the men's side, Roger Federer's bid popular support couldn't get him across the finish line against Novak Djokovic, much to the dismay of 23,000+. Also, Genie Bouchard's slip-and-fall, ESPN's on-court interview gambit, and much, much more! As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

Live from under the new partially finished roof of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Ben and Courtney are here to break down the 2015 U.S. Open draws. And, of course, this tournament begins and ends with Serena. How does her road look? Who poses the biggest threats? And is it fair to keep making her into something that transcends tennis and bears a larger societal responsibility? By the way, who *can't* come out of that bottom half? Also, who will come out of this strangely second-fiddle men's event? Djokovic? Federer? Murray? Also, Courtney likes pants and Ben's bus driver avoids an accident. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

In an annual tradition, Ben and Courtney come to you live from the asphalt for the post-Cincinnati show! But instead of an Interstate in Maryland, this time they're broadcasting from a strip mall parking lot in Mason, Ohio. Same difference? Anyhow, you know what's different? Roger Federer's returning! That was cool. Also, who the heck can beat Serena? And does it mean it's a weak era if no one can? As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

In Episode 119, Ben and Courtney bring NCR to the people!
With the help of the good folks at the Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio, Ben and Courtney fire up the recorder to do a live show in front of an actual audience of people! We answer questions ranging from all things Nick Kyrgios to various tennis hypotheticals.
And the super duper bonus? The one and only Victoria Azarenka joins us amongst the people for a fun chat about the current state of her career, how the fans have helped her in the midst of her comeback, and...hold up... Vika didn't know what bae meant? We learn new things every day!  
As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

*This is a repost following some technical issues earlier causing a silent start...all good now!*

In their first "emergency episode" of the year, Ben and Courtney jump back into the booth to discuss the controversy caused by Nick Kyrgios in his win over Stan Wawrinka, with, um, unexpected and indelicate comments about …Thanasi Kokkinakis' sex life? It was strange, and not good, and we're here to talk about the origins of it and what the repercussions should be. Does the ATP need to set a tone and make an example of Kyrgios? And how does it all reflect on Wawrinka? Also, there's an outro medley for you to try to decipher at the end of this short episode, so enjoy that!  

As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

In Episode 118, Ben and Courtney recap the weeks that were in their local tournaments in Washington D.C. and Stanford, argue about on-court coaching, and assess the successful weeks from Angelique Kerber and Sloane Stephens. Aren't they both playing some of the best tennis of their careers? We think so! Does it matter? We're not entirely sure?

Episode 118 wraps up with a lengthy chat with Anne Worcester, tournament director of the Connecticut Open. Have you ever wondered why being a tournament director for a one week tournament is a 365 day gig? Let Anne explain. She's a seasoned pro.

As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

In this very special episode, Ben and Courtney talk about the small news of the summer (Rafa winning on clay, Serena choosing caution yet again) and then launch into a deep segment with our gal Colette Lewis of Zoo Tennis to discuss all things junior tennis as Kalamazoo hosts the most anticipated US Boys Nationals in generations. With junior tennis, you take the good, you take the bad...and you decide how much credit the federation deserves. Also, Courtney really likes a movie and Ben worries if our children are learning. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

On the cusp of another long plunge into the blue and green waters of the summer hard court season, Ben and Courtney answer more listener questions! How much should tours be trying to promote players who aren't the stars? What do we make of Tennis Forum? Which player's past success is the most #huh? #thathappened? Also, lots more! Then, by popular demand, we take a number! And then Courtney rants about throwing bones at skulls and Ben goes off the grid ever so briefly. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

With a bit of a post-Wimbledon lull on their hands, Ben and Courtney dive into their mailbag to answer some listener questions. Firstly, what do they think about Davis Cup, where Andy Murray looks likely to lead Britain to glory through a shrubby field? And what advice do we have for Bernard Tomic? And with Caitlyn Jenner in the spotlight, how should a trans player be handled in the pro game today? Also lots of stuff about Serena and the Slam and more! As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be! 

Additional listening:

• The AV Club guide to getting into comic books
• Blankets by Craig Thompson on Amazon.

As the year grows ever "grander" with Serena winning Wimbledon, Ben and Courtney come together after Wimbledon ends to discuss her incredible year, and what it means for both tennis and her legacy, which is finally getting the reverence it is due, as well as her tough road to the women's final. We also talk about breakout Wimbledon finalist Garbine Muguruza, and the rest of women's second week action. On the men's side, we re-drop our jaws at Roger Federer's incredible semifinal against Andy Murray, and look at why it should have been unsurprising that Novak Djokovic summarily dusted him in the final to put himself ever larger in the marble pantheon of men's tennis greats. Also, we talk about the non-story of Nick Kyrgios tanking. Then we turn to some more personal business, with Ben discussing the backlash to his article about women's body image issues (starting 36 minutes in), and Courtney discussing her move from Sports Illustrated to the WTA. Don't look back in anger, Courtney. As always,  thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

Ben and Courtney are together on Wimbledon's Middle Sunday to break down the first week of the tournament, which was a solid balance of upsets and setting up interesting second week matchups. We start with the women, including Serena Williams' escape against Heather Watson, Petra Kvitova's loss to Jelena Jankovic, and the opportunity-laden bottom half as well as the Serena-Venus fourth rounder. Then the men, including Nadal-Brown, what we think of think-piece inspirer Nick Kyrgios, and more! Lastly Ben rants about cake (shocking this hasn't happened before) and Courtney rants about women's soccer (this happens all the time). As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

Live from Court 14, it's the Wimbledon draw analysis show! Ben and Courtney are outside because it's cold inside, and a little water won't scare us, right? We talk about the women's draw first, which has Serena and Sharapova and all the other usual suspects. Will there be a Sister Battle? We disagree. Next up are the men, and those three guys (Djokovic, Federer, Murray) with great chances to win it. We also discuss Aussie drama and all sorts of other little tidbits heading into the biggest tournament of the year. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

Just before they reunite again in SW19, Ben and Courtney bring you this treat of an episode from opposite sides of the world. After cameos by Rene Denfeld (of @WTAReactions) and Ernests Gulbis (of top-10 reambitions), we are taken on a tour of the Wimbledon grounds by Alex Willis, who is director of digital and content for the Championships (and Wimbledon.com). From Court 18 to Henman Hill to Centre Court to the Clubhouse, you'll "see" it all! Or, at least, a fair amount of it! Anyhow, the scenery is more interesting than what Courtney experienced in the Dakotas and Saskatchewan, as she'll tell you as we end the show. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

With Courtney cavorting across North America in pursuit of soccer, Ben found a few exciting folks to keep him company in Halle this week. We start with Nick McCarvel, a tennis chameleon who has established himself with USA Today this year, and shares the stories of wearing so many hats. So, so many hats, you guys. Next up we turn to the newly launched ATP website, and talk to ATP senior vice president George Ciz and then ATP chief executive Chris Kermode about the launch and other issues facing the ATP now, ranging from GIFs to calendar changes to doping. Never forgotten, Courtney ends the show with a hit from Canada with her thoughts on women's sports and women in women's sports. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be! Holla, Halle!

Just as Ben and Courtney were ready to kick off the grandest year in tennis, Stan Wawrinka interrupted and shocked Novak Djokovic and the world by winning the French Open. What was that all about, and what does it say about both Stan and Novak? On the women's sides, how do we like Serena Williams' chances of winning a true Grand Slam this year, and how will this roller coaster run to her 20th major title be remembered? Also we look ahead to grass, like soccer, and don't so much like horses. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be! 
Additional listening:

• The Men in Blazers podcast.

With the hotly anticipated Djokovic-Nadal quarterfinal now complete, Ben and Courtney put down the panic buttons and hit the record button to share their feelings. What does the unshocking yet lopsided loss say about Rafael Nadal, and his future as a dominant force in tennis? What can he do to regain former glories? Also, just how much better is Novak Djokovic than everybody else? We also discuss other issues of the French Open second week, including debris falling on spectators, surprise semifinal runs by Ana Ivanovic, Lucie Safarova, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Stan Wawrinka, and more! We then dive into the issues about transcript availability to fans, and how this affects journalists like ourselves. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

Midway through the French Open, Ben and Courtney get together to discuss the French Open so far, including Roger Federer's selfie scare, Stan Wawrinka's official website outrage, Rafael Nadal's umpire requests, Venus Williams' press conference no-show, Serena-Azarenka, Halep loss, and more! We slay, we drag, we rant, we rave, and we think you'll enjoy! As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

Live from the dirt of Paris and the glitter of Vienna, respectively, Courtney and Ben break down the momentous draw of the 2015 French Open, and give our predictions in pathetically crapshoot fashion. Firstly: the Djokovic-Nadal quarter, ever anticipated, actually happened! Now what happens? As you can guess if you've been listening, we disagree. We also have different players coming out of the men's bottom half, so it should make for a fun men's tournament. On the women's top half, we have even less clue. Serena against the field, but who exactly is capable in the field? Augh, it's tough. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

As the B-52's once said, "Rome if you want to." Or maybe it was "roam". Whatever. 
On Episode 105, Ben makes Courtney jealous by talking about his mozzarella adventures in Italy, while Courtney makes Ben jealous by talking about how she spent her week in a non-third world country. We break down the results from Rome, which include Novak Djokovic's near assassination at the hands of a rogue Moet cork, and Maria Sharapova's triumphant week, which saw the return of the Black Swa-- er, we mean "Claypova". We also check in on Courtney's "Rafael Nadal Panic Button (TM pending)" and weigh in on two WTA hot topics: grunting and on-court coaching. 
There is dragging, there is slaying, and there is talk about venture capital funds and history of Netscape Navigator. We do it all, folks. And make sure you sit through Ben's terrible pick as an outro song -- spoiler alert: Eurovision -- to hear what Ben and Courtney talk about before the mics go hot. 
As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be! 
Related viewing/reading for this week:

• Courtney's incredibly geeky rave for The New Yorker's fantastic profile of Marc Andreessen. 
• No, Ben and Courtney aren't accidentally mispronouncing "Moet & Chandon". They're playing off one of their favorite SNL sketches, which you can see here. 

Ben and Courtney reconvene to discuss the madness in Madrid, where Andy Murray rolled to his first ATP Masters title on clay, while Petra Kvitova did what Petra Kvitova does and wins things when you don't expect her to win things even though we all know she should win all the things. Oh, you fickle grassophiles. We wish we knew how to quit you!
Then we get in the mood for this week's Italian Open in Rome, as Ben sits down with the man, the myth, the legend, long-time Italian journalist Ubaldo Scanagatta of UbiTennis.com. Ubaldo talks about his pro playing days, how he built one of the most successful tennis blogs in the world, and the current crop of Italian talent. 
Ben and Courtney wrap things up with two rather emotional confessions: Ben's a big ol' softie who cries on airplanes, and Courtney is a big ol' jerk but is trying her best to be less so. SO MANY EMOTIONS! ALIZE WHERE ARE YOU???
As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be! 
And here's a final note from Ubaldo: Ubitennis.com, a tri-lingual tennis website, is recruiting. If you can write in English or Spanish and are interested in what the opportunity may entail, you can email direttaubitennis@gmail.com.

With Madrid in swing, Ben and Courtney reflect on what was a quiet week in tennis, except for the snug pants which Andy Murray had to don on court. Did his title, or Federer's, mean anything? And what IS a WTA rising star, anyway? Who is likeliest to break out with a surprise run? Then we discuss if the hype explosion of Mayweather-Pacquiao has any possible applications to tennis, as well as what the role of illegal streaming is in tennis. Then we talk about streaming and all sorts of other things with ATP Player Council Eric Butorac, who rose from playing lower-tier college tennis to sitting next to the likes of Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal as the sport gets governed, about all sorts of issues in tennis today. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

As their socks get dirtier and dirtier from all the clay, Ben and Courtney dust off their microphones to talk about all the happenings of Stuttgart and Barcelona. Where did this magnificent Angelique Kerber come from? And Caroline Wozniacki can play on clay too, now? Also, were we surprised by Radwanska/Navratilova calling it quits so soon? And on the men's side, how about that Kei Nishikori continuing to win things? And Rafael Nadal continuing to not win things? Lastly, by listener request, we cast a Real Housewives of the ATP series, and decide which of the women in the player boxes would make for the best TV. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be! 

Related polling/reading/viewing/buying for this week: 

• The channel "Every Frame a Painting" on YouTube.
• Our awesome new "Just Here for the Handshake" t-shirt on Spreadshirt.

After the glories of Episode 100, Ben and Courtney continued to ride this triple-digit high into a surprisingly eventful next week, where Novak Djokovic again clubbed them all, and Genie Bouchard again snubbed an extended hand. Just how good is Novak, and what needs to happen for him to be a star that transcends beyond tennis? And in Fed Cup, why did Germany set itself up to fail, and what should be made of refusing a handshake? We also discuss the ATP crackdown on GIFs, and you can probably guess where we fall on that one. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

At long last, here it is! Because they're not super great at counting, Ben and Courtney have finally reached Episode 100 in their 115th episode, and they hope it was worth the wait! Wanting to make it jampacked but also true to what the show has been about, we assembled an all-star lineup of guests for the show. We start with the dulcet tones of Jelena Jankovic, and the glittery block from which she is still from. After a disastrous segment attempt, we then talk to Ernests Gulbis about his thoughts on the tour, and the mental battles fought on and off court. Lastly, because we give the people what they want, we bring you our third guest spot by the one and only Andrea Petkovic. It's a whole century worth of show, we think. For the 100+th time, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!

Surprise! Yes indeed, we are bringing you Episode 99h on the same day we're dropping our much anticipated (by us, anyway) Episode 100. We wanted to make sure all the happenings in Charleston and Houston didn't get overlooked by the momentous occasion of our centennial. Let's face it, we are casting a very large, virtually inescapable shadow today.

On this episode we wrap up the happenings at the American clay court tournaments. How surprising was Angelique Kerber's run to the Charleston title? Is it time to buy Jack Sock stock? Is Sania Mirza the most badass bitch in town? These are not rhetorical questions! We actually try to answer them!

Plus, you'll hear from Madison Keys, Genie Bouchard, and Sania as we take you into the press room so you can hear them address their highs and lows without any interference. We think you'll be impressed!

As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be! 

PS: Episode 100 will be dropping in a few hours. Don't you worry.

Courtney and Ben are in Charleston for the Family Circle Cup. In between meals and food comas they convene to break down the Miami Open finals. Is Novak Djokovic the Serena Williams of the ATP? Is Serena Williams the Novak Djokovic of the WTA? Do these comparisons even make sense? We don't know! We are so high on shrimp and grits we don't even know what we're saying! Ben is so out of it he saw flying fish! It's been quite a week so far. 
Ben and Courtney then turn the mic over to a few people you would much rather listen to: The Players. Why is Andrea Petkovic slapping herself? Who knew Sara Errani loved math! Doesn't Caroline Garcia sound like WTA Stan Wawrinka? And Eugenie Bouchard investigates an X-File while Madison Keys bids a sad adieu to hard courts. No claiming we misquoted you here, ladies! This is WTA unplugged. 
The episode closes with a few clips from Ben and Courtney's talk at the College of Charleston about the current media landscape, tennis media specifically, and that one time Courtney totally screwed up on Twitter. We are all about teachable moments, you guys!
As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be! 

PS: Episode 100 drops next week. Get excited. So excited.

Ben and Courtney are not in Miami, and they have lots of thoughts and concerns about various others that have already made untimely exits from that tournament? What's going on with Maria Sharapova? And is it time to sell stock in Rafael Nadal, or will he turn it around and perform at his best again like always? And what about the bevvy of top 10 players from the WTA in 2014 who are slipping now, like Kerber, Radwanska, Wozniacki, Bouchard, and Ivanovic? Also, why aren't Ben and Courtney in Miami, and why do so few American beat writers make that trip? And why should nobody be complaining about who is there? You can freeload on us all you want, dear listeners, no matter what hobbies you have. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be! 

Related polling/reading/viewing for this week: 

• We'd love it if you filled out our listener feedback survey! 

After a 12-hour ride from Misaki Doi, Ben and Courtney are in the Bay Area, ready to look back on the desert. What to make of the surreally familiar withdrawal of Serena Williams? How was it handled, and how was it a fitting conclusion to her appearance? What does the mean win for Simona Halep? On the men's side, is Djokovic-Federer the sport's greatest rivalry? We also talk about a guy who is only the greatest at doping offenses, Wayne Odesnik. Then we look ahead to Miami, and Courtney gets all excited about X-Files. Again. Deja vu, you guys. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be! 
Related polling/reading/viewing for this week: 

• We'd love it if you filled out our listener feedback survey! 

It's all about Serena. It always has been. On this week's episode, Ben and Courtney dissect Serena Williams' return to Indian Wells after 13 years. How was she received (pretty well!)? How did she handle the scrutiny (pretty darn well!)? How did she handle questions about her split with Sascha Bajin (well....)? We also talk about Sloane Stephens (Queen of the Block), Rafael Nadal (King of the Rant), and the kids from Australia, (Kings of...Australia, I guess).We finish it off by praying to heaven that we don't die in our tiny car. But if the last song we hear on earth is "Your Love", we would be a-ok with that!
As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be! 
Episode 100 is coming soon, we promise. Tennis is all about being able to adapt to changing circumstances at a moment's notice. Your patience will be rewarded!

In a quicker, one-take episode, Ben and Courtney blow through the Davis Cup results from the past weekend. How do we, as Americans, digest a second straight humbling at the unheralded hands of James Ward? And what do we make of the rest of the results this weekend from around the world? Then we turn our sights toward our current desert locale, and break down the men's and women's draws at Indian Wells. Love may hurt, but you guys always make us feel just super. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be! 

Related polling/reading/viewing for this week: 

• We'd love it if you filled out our listener feedback survey! 

As they inch toward triple digits, Ben and Courtney reflect on the week that was, and the sudden, undeniable relevance of Dav id Ferrer, who has won back-to-back 500 titles, and Courtney shares some of her conversation with Ferrer from Rio. We then discuss the importance of Roger Federer's winning record over Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal's run through the soft Buenos Aires field, and Victoria Azarenka's reemergence as she lost to Lucie Safarova in Doha. Then, most excitingly, they welcome hall of famer Pam Shriver onto the show for a great, wide-ranging conversation about tennis past, present, and future, and the many different roles she's had in the sport as a player, leader, and broadcaster. It's awesome stuff, and you'll love it. And as they close out the show, Ben rants snappily and Courtney sets a raving record. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be! 

Related polling/reading/viewing for this week: 

• We'd love it if you filled out our listener feedback survey! 
• Ryan Harrison (and others) on Denys Molchanov and match fixing in Ben's piece for Slate.
• The ladies of Broad City sit down with the gals of Sleater-Kinney for NPR (video). 

As they hurtle toward triple digits, Ben and Courtney stall on opposite sides of the equator this week, and discuss Courtney's adventures in Brazil. What is tennis in Rio like, and what do we make of Rafael Nadal's latest drama? Over in Dubai, how big a win was it for Simona Halep? We then award a Slay Badge and Dragged Condolence(?) to the players who had the best and worst weeks. Then we welcome in guests Victoria Chiesa and David Kane, founders of The Tennis Island, to discuss all sorts of tennisy thing. And, lastly, Courtney rants and Ben raves. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be! 
Related reading for this week: "Iskorazzi" on Forty Deuce, Original Flavor.