No Challenges Remaining

In Episode 52, Ben and Courtney broadcast from all over the tennis hotbed of Mason, Ohio. They begin in the parking lot of the tournament, opining on what it means for world class players to be here in this unlikeliest of host cities, as well as the Applebees that might as well be City Hall.  They then look back across the Great Lakes at Canada, where Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil met in an unthinkable all-Canadian semifinal. What do we make of those two? And what do we make of Raonic's non-admission of touching the net which swung his match against del Potro his way? You'll then get to hear Milos himself apologize for it, but what does the apology mean? We then touch on the big week in Toronto for Serena and Sorana, then take you back on location in Mason to the battleground that was Monica Niculescu vs. Caroline Woznaicki. You're our lady, and we are your man, dear listeners. Or something along those lines. That's the power of tennis. As always, thanks for leaving us reviews on iTunes, liking us on Facebook, and following us on Twitter!

Episode 51 is a very big show. First, Ben and Courtney look at the two former U.S. Open champions who lifted trophies last weekend, and what we make of their pasts and futures. How does Sam Stosur only have four career titles? How does Juan Martin del Potro fit into the conversation for the upcoming U.S. Open and beyond? And what are the legacies of the fading Carlsbad event and the successful but segregated Washington event? Also, what makes Washington finalist Andrea Petkovic so friggin' awesome? We share her with you to let you decide. We then discuss the exit of the American men for the top 20, what it means, and who (if anyone) is to blame. Courtney then casts a 10-year-old television show using tennis actors, and we end by discussing if we can ever actually cut ourselves off from tennis at this point in our lives.  We would never cut ourselves off from you, dear listeners, so as always thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and leaving us reviews on iTunes!

It's Episode 50! For reaching this milestone, Ben and Courtney treat themselves (and you) to a new theme song! And then there's lots more! After a brief detour to Stanford, we throw ourselves headfirst into the big news of the week, which is the anti-doping violations of Viktor Troicki and Marin Cilic. First on Troicki, is he cheaty or just bratty? Then, what do the circumstances of Cilic's violation tell us about how much trust we should put in the anti-doping authorities? Does tennis have a steroid problem, as some would suggest? We discuss that at length. Then we downshift and move to D.C., where Ben is with Sloane Stephens and Mardy Fish, both of whom are at interesting moments of their careers. We don't know where we're headed but we're willing and ready to go, and very happy you guys have been along for the ride. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and leaving us reviews on iTunes! But before you do, remember to kick and stretch and kick. We're 50.

In Episode 49, Ben and Courtney take lots of questions about all sorts of topics in tennis, like what we make of Federer being put out to pasture on post-Wimbledon clay, and if he should look that gift cow in the mouth? Also what livestock would be best for the rest of the Big 4? And what to make of the barnyard fun that is World TeamTennis? And who has had the better career, Samantha Stosur or Caroline Wozniacki? And how would Ben fair on a tennis court against Colin Kaepernick, Alex Morgan, and Michael Phelps? We also "take a number," because we were feeling pretty retro. (Note that we recorded this episode before news of the controversial Viktor Troicki suspension broke late Thursday, so we'll be sure to cover that in Episode 50). Thanks again for listening, and as always thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and leaving us reviews on iTunes! The only blurred lines we see when we look at you, dear listeners, are because our eyes are wet with tears of joy.

In a sweaty, summery Episode 48, Ben and Courtney beat the heat with the help of some surprising news and special guests. First, we discuss the recent spins of the coaching carousel, specifically how Maria Sharapova wound up working with Jimmy Connors, as well as what the solutions might be for struggling players ranging from Caroline Wozniacki to Ryan Harrison. We then discuss the unclear comeback of Martina Hingis, and then the certain comeback of Alisa Kleybanova, with the help of some words from Kleybanova herself as well as her World TeamTennis teammate Andy Roddick. We then spend the second half of the show chatting with Rennae Stubbs, a six-time Grand Slam champion in doubles who now seems to work for at least that many different TV channels, sharing her wit and tennis wisdom with the world. We discuss all sorts of topics, ranging from the current state of the game physically and socially, the prevalence and treatment of gays and lesbians on the tour, and the difficulty of making the ultimate decision to finally walk away from the sport. It is good times, and you will enjoy it. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and leaving us reviews on iTunes! You guys are hotter than July.

In this wondrous Wimbledon wrap episode, Ben and Courtney have lots of thoughts on the two new champions. First, Andy Murray: what does his win mean for Britain, and how does that reflect on Britain? And what did his match against Djokovic say about the state of the men's game? And how will he move forward as a favorite, no longer a lovable loser-type? Then, Marion Bartoli: how did that happen? And how will her win change her career, and even the tour as a whole? Because we are givers, and people who have spoken to Marion Bartoli on several occasions, we give you two interviews we have done with Marion, the first by Courtney this year in Eastbourne, the second by Ben last year in Perth. Please do practice your swings as you listen, dear listeners. And as always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and leaving us reviews on iTunes!

After Ben and Courtney last spoke to you on calamitous "Black Wednesday," not much had happened at Wimbledon, until midday Monday when the top of the women's draw went boom (boom). Sabine Lisicki's upset of Serena Williams was a huge surprise, but what does it mean for Serena? And what do Ben and Courtney make of Lisicki, as far as what lies behind that oft-cited smile? We also talk about the British media circus, especially as it surrounds Laura Robson, and what we make of the differences in the American and British press corps. Lastly we discuss the upcoming ESPN documentary "Venus Vs.," and what sort of ideas we have for other tennis documentaries. We'd certainly watch a movie about our listeners, obviously, because you guys are awesome. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and leaving us reviews on iTunes!

Things got way too real at Wimbledon on Wednesday, so Ben and Courtney needed to rush to the microphone to come to grips with perhaps the craziest day of results and withdrawals in tennis history. After Rafael Nadal exited in the first round Monday, Wednesday saw the exits of Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Caroline Wozniacki, Marin Cilic, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, John Isner and Lleyton Hewitt, all on one day. It was weird, surreal, and we have lots of thoughts about what happened, and what will happen in the future, in this draw that now will guarantee some thoroughly unexpected players in the late rounds of this tournament. We make picks, but really who knows. Make your quarterfinal picks on our Facebook page, and we'll see who's wronger! We may have lost lots of players, but we're glad not to lose you, dear listeners! As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and leaving us reviews on iTunes!

In this episode live from the Wimbledon Village, Ben and Courtney have a whooooole lot to talk about on the eve of Wimbledon.  First we discuss the controversial Serena Williams profile published this week by Rolling Stone, so we discuss the piece and her controversial comments on Steubenville. We then discuss Maria Sharapova's shocking takedown of Williams' personal life in her pre-tournament press conference, which was perhaps the most direct shot ever fired in this decade-long rivalry. We then pick our jaws up off the floor to look back at the week that just passed, including Courtney's time with Jamie Hampton in Eastbourne and Ben's time at Wimbledon qualifying, including a peek into the culture of the British National Training Centre. We then discuss the lack of a seeding bump for Rafael Nadal and preview the Wimbledon men's and women's draws. It's a whole lot of show, but we have a whole lot of love for you listeners, as always. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and leaving us reviews on iTunes! It's a good way to make sure we won't say something about your boyfriend.

The grass season has started off with a bang, and so does this episode! In their respective press rooms in Halle and Birmingham, which are full of fun sudden ambient noises, Ben and Courtney discuss the start of the grass season. Is Queen's as stuffy and bothersomely bougey as its made out to be? (Yes). Is Halle a delightful place full of beer, sausage, pretzels, and tuba music? (Yes). How do you solve a problem like Gael Monfils? And what about the French Open that just finished? Whose win was more impressive, Serena's or Rafa's? And lastly what is making Tomas Berdych such a phenomenal tweeter? All this and more in a short-but-sweet episode, because Mikhail Youzhny had to do a press conference, or something.

In this French Open Second Week special, Ben and Courtney catch up on all the happenings in the middle of the French Open, and look forward to the exciting last few matches of the tournament. We also find ourselves on the opposite sides of a few issues that arose. Should the tours do more to stop excessive grunting, after the chorus of shriek-denouncers again arose during the Sharapova-Azarenka semifinal, and are the complaints valid? Should a final set tiebreak be instituted to save the players from marathon fifth sets like the one between Haas and Isner? Then we largely agree on stuff some stuff as we talk about the status of the French Open in the Grand Slam landscape, as well as the culture of Twitter and betting. We also take a few questions, and explain why Ana Ivanovic is a terribly redesigned video game character, why Serena took so long to contend in Paris again, and what a fresh Slam winner could mean to the men's game. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter,and leaving us reviews on iTunes! Nous voulons te voir, dear listeners.

In this very special midway-through-the-French-Open episode, Ben and Courtney discuss the first week in Paris. The highs, and the lows. What was it like to watch Venus in orbit, even if she burned bright but not for long? What do we make of a section that featured Berdych, Gulbis, and Monfils but yielded Tommy Robredo? And are the Big 4 boring in press, like Gulbis said? We have lots of thoughts, especially about Nadal impassioned irritation over the schedule. We also take questions, such as "Who is the most impressive youngster in Paris?" and "Caroline Wozniacki." Please know that we made our "bold predictions" before play started on Saturday...so yeah. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter,and leaving us reviews on iTunes! You guys are seriously the meilleurest.

In our 40th(!) episode, Ben and Courtney are all about the French Open, wearing berets, eating croissants, and being generally disdainful for no particular reason. We have the same picks to win the title, but we explore how things could possibly go wrong for both him (Rafael Nadal) and her (Serena Williams). Then we do a more thorough breakdown of our entire draws, which is very detailed and features syllables not often uttered on this show, like "Ma-ka-ro-va." Then we debate which first round match we wouldn't take money to watch, because we take the bad with the good. Ola is in love, and we are in love with you, dear listeners. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and leaving us reviews on iTunes!

In this short-but-sweet episode, Ben checks in with Courtney, who is in Rome at the Italian Open this week. Does the tournament still have all its old charm? And what have we learned about the current young crop of players, especially on the men's side? What does this all mean, anyway, when it comes to Paris? And why does the Ukrainian Eurovision singer lady get carried onto the stage by a giant who then disappears? We may not have the answers to all the questions, but we try our best.  As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and leaving us reviews on iTunes!

In a very special Episode 38, Ben and Courtney discuss what was a huge weekend in tennis. Sloane went at Serena with her words in a revealing ESPN the Magazine interview that made us all afraid to ever unfollow anyone ever again. Then John Tomic (allegedly) went at his son's hitting partner with his head, in a bloodying Madrid throwdown.  Then we talk about the Madrid tournament itself, and if it deserves its status as equal or even above the more established Italian Open in Rome.  Last but very much not least, we chat with phenom Laura Robson about her improbable young career, life in the British spotlight, and her favorite sounds in tennis.  We trust her singing will blow you away, will blow you away-ay. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook and leaving us reviews on iTunes!

In this episode, Ben and Courtney wrap the second week on red clay, which saw Maria Sharapova drive off in a Porsche, and Rafael Nadal continue to drive a bulldozer over nearly any clay court opponent.  We then discuss the coming out of NBA veteran Jason Collins, and the state of gays and lesbians in the tennis world. Why haven't more tennis players come out? We have thoughts. We then answer a question about our best/worst interviews, take a couple numbers, and lastly rant about the relentless pursuit of greatness. Ben may not yet be in the Guiness Book of World Records, but you listeners all have the high mark for awesomeness. Thanks for listening, and tell your friends. And leave us reviews on iTunes and "like" us on Facebook. We like that.

In this episode of No Challenges Remaining, Ben and Courtney slide into the clay season with all the gracefulness you'd expect. We discuss Novak Djokovic's surprising win over Rafael Nadal that ended his Monte Carlo monopoly.  We also dissect the massive prize money increases that have been awarded to players this year, what impact they will have, and if they were really necessary.  Then we answer a question about awkward presser questions, and finally regale you with rants and raves about our forays into other sporting arenas, with Courtney's Portland soccer paradise and Ben's thoughts on the hockey media culture. And last but not least, we have way too much fun with Star Head Candle. We cheer for you too, dear listeners.

On this special all-questions Episode 35, Courtney and Ben try to answer all those tennis questions that have kept you up at night.  Like, for instance, what has propelled Roberta Vinci to the top? Is on-court coaching embarrassing to the WTA or is it simply a case of anti-women's tennis bias? What kind of tweeter has Maria Sharapova turned out to be? And what about golf, which there was a lot of this weekend? Ben and Courtney have a lot of thoughts about golf, and how it relates to tennis. A lot of thoughts. A lot. And then as if to apologize for all the golf, we give you book recommendations with which to fill your tennis shelf. Happy reading later, and happy listening now.

In Episode 34, Ben and Courtney wrap up their time in Charleston, which was more Jankovic-filled than they ever could have been prepared for.  We share with you some of the highlights of her press, and share what it is like to see her hold court off-court.  We also discuss the sister semifinalists Venus and Serena Williams, and give our thoughts on the documentary about the two which was released this week.  We also talk about the many up-and-comers who made their presences known in Charleston, from Madison Keys to Monica Puig, from Genie Bouchard to Mallory Burdette.  Lastly we chat a bit about Davis Cup, where the Americans fell in Potatoland, but the Brits pulled off the greatest sporting triumph in modern history (eyeroll).

In Episode 33, Ben and Courtney are live in Charleston, where the pralines (and subsequently their waistlines) overfloweth.  We catch up on the Miami finals, including that last minor bit called a third set tiebreak that CBS decided not to show in lieu of college basketball.  We also discuss the happenings so far, including Courtney's on-court escapades with the one and only Venus Williams.  We also recount the dramatical WTA insta-classic that was Mattek-Sands d. Rodionova, and how it got the attention of so many other players.  Lastly, we bring you an interview with Jessica "Jessie" Pegula, the 19-year-old daughter of the Buffalo Sabres owner who notched her first two career WTA main draw wins in Charleston this week, beating tough opponents Garbine Muguruza and Mona Barthel. Pour yourself a glass of sweet tea and enjoy.

In Episode 32, Ben and Courtney look at Miami from afar, and are somewhat underwhelmed. Why has the tournament lacked spark thus far? We also discuss the state of Sloane Stephens, and what fair expectations for her are.  Then we take a couple listener questions, on the lack of early round television coverage at Indian Wells and Miami, as well as on the increasing Gimelstobification of tennis. Lastly, we bring you our final podcast interview from Indian Wells, this one with Freddie Nielsen, who won the Wimbledon 2012 men's doubles title in one of the most surprising tennis results in our lifetimes. Since you may not know Freddie, we had his longtime pal Caroline Wozniacki, a fellow Dane, give him a little introduction for you.  She suggests you enjoy this episode with a croissant in one hand and a hot chocolate in the other.

In Episode 31, Ben and Courtney wrap the week that was in Indian Wells. How exactly did Rafael Nadal come back to the top so quickly, and what does it say about the rest of the tour? Are comparisons between Federer's willingness to play through back pain and the withdrawals of Azarenka and Stosur fair? Also, we discuss articles this week by Bruce Jenkins and Elizabeth Newman about the Williams Sisters' ongoing decision to skip Indian Wells, and how we feel about the decision ourselves. We then preview Miami, "take a number," and lastly wrap up with an interview with Mallory Burdette, the top-ranked former college player on the WTA Tour, who turned pro after making the third round of the 2012 U.S. Open and is closing in on the top 100 with a third round run in Indian Wells. We hope she (and we) will make a listener out of you.

In this very special 30th episode, Ben and Courtney talk Indian Wells for a bit. But more significantly, we finally unlock the door to the NCR studio and invite in an actual guest for the second half of the show.  Because we like our guests to be awesome, we decided to go with the one-and-only Andrea Petkovic, the three-time Slam quarterfinalist, YouTube star, and general all-around cool lady.  Among many other things, Petko talks tennis, injury layoffs, the differences between Germans and Serbians, and she raps.  Yes, Andrea Petkovic raps. Is there nothing the woman cannot do? Enjoy.

In this live, on-site, one-take episode recorded in beautiful Indian Wells, California, Ben and Courtney discuss the upcoming 2013 BNP Paribas Open, which sees the hard court return of Rafael Nadal.  Also, Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka are riding big win streaks, and it all seems very familiar.  Also, you'll get to find out which one of us wears a Nike Fuel Band. So there's that.

In Episode 28, Ben and Courtney discuss the week that was in what has been a surprisingly jam-packed February for tennis.  We also discuss the busy week for Rebecca Marino, and Ben's coverage of her story, and follow that with an acknowledgment that Jelena Jankovic hauled her cookies and her entourage to Colombia. We then take questions about why the Memphis field was so poor, if the Putintseva parade has lost its pizzazz, and who will be the next first time Slam winner.  Finally we take a number and rant about stuff.  Zero Dark Thirty may not have won Best Picture, but *you* win Best Listener, friend.

It was a very busy week in tennis considering it's February, so Ben and Courtney had lots to talk about.  We discuss the changing dynamic atop the WTA, with the interesting coinciding happenings of Serena Williams ascending to No. 1 but losing to Victoria Azarenka.  We also discuss Rafael Nadal's week in Brazil, and that he won, but also if he's been given a free pass for diva-like behavior when it comes to constantly complaining and being unsatisfied.  We then talk about Piotr Wozniacki berating a chair umpire and why that was bad.  Then we take questions about the use of social media by tournaments as well as the role of Asians in tennis (and sports in general), and then we take a number.  By the way, once you listen to the take a number segment, go on our Facebook page and vote for which one of us you agree with.  Are you Team Ben or Team Courtney? Either way, we are decidedly Team You. Thanks for listening.

On this episode, Ben and Courtney talk about Rafael Nadal's return to the tour in Chile, and what to make of his loss in the final to Horacio Zeballos.  We also discuss the even more surprising news out of La Famille Bartoli, with Marion and Walter parting ways.  We then tackle the ATP/Indian Wells prize money increase debacle, and offer to take any spare cash that may be lying around.  Then we take questions about hotels and languages and Serena, take a very good number, and then rant about stuff for a while.  A good time was had by us, and a good time will be had by you, too.

On this long-awaited Episode 25, delayed due to oceans between us and technical difficulties, Ben and Courtney finally wrap the 2013 Australian Open.  This, of course, means lots on Victoria Azarenka's injury timeout, and an evaluation of the backlash she received.  We also consider the current state of American men's tennis, particularly Ryan Harrison.  We then discuss Davis Cup, its flaws, and the flawed verbiage with which maple leaf mastery has been described.  And to close, Courtney reveals her biggest fear, and we mourn the exit of Liz Lemon from our lives.  You'll want to go to there.  Apologies for the volume difference between our voices in this recording--Ben just wanted to sound like The Voice of God.

In Episode 24, Ben and Courtney discuss the first week of the 2013 season, in which the youngin's did good and lots of people threw in the towel.  We looked toward to the Australian Open, and sympathetically at Sam Stosur, who seems to find the entire continent to be made of kryptonite.  And does love mean nothing to tennis media, or should we be deciphering every glance that Grigor Dimitrov throws in the direction of the WTA Tour? Also, we take a number and Ben recites One Direction b-side lyrics from memory with no trace of shame.  You might want to imagine this whole episode being read aloud by Ashley Harkleroad, just for fun.

In Episode 23, Ben and Courtney had to jump back in the booth to address Rafael Nadal's early withdrawal from the Australian Open, and whether or not it was the right decision.  It's a new year, so we discuss what we want to see in this year,  and what we don't want to see.We also discuss the age rule at length, as well as Andy Murray and which Grand Slam will have the best final in 2013.  Also, we "take a number" in the 90s once again, which I know you people all get some sick pleasure out of.  Then we end with some rants about media ethics stuff, which hopefully someone besides us will find at least mildly interesting.

In Episode 22b, Ben and Courtney continue to power through your winter questions like a snow plow through a blizzard--except with way more sarcasm and debates over Ke$ha.  Topics include tournament travel recommendations, federation funding of less achieving players, and what sport we'd like to write about besides tennis. Also, we recognize the wonder that is Tsvetana Pironkova against Venus Williams, as well as some thoughts on the world of online tennis writing. And because we didn't get to say it on the air--Merry Christmas, y'all.

In Episode 22a, your questions keep Courtney and Ben from starving in the harsh tennis winter, for which they are very appreciative.  Topics include Australian things like Bernard Tomic, Sam Stosur, and Hopman Cup, as well as guilty pleasures like Jelena Jankovic and Serena Williams appearing on the Home Shopping Network.  This episode is ruched and very slimming--you should totally download one in each color.

In another post-season episode, Ben and Courtney answer lots of listener questions. You people help get us through this long, cold winter, and for that we are grateful. Topics include Kim Clijsters and Yulia Putintseva, who have faiiirly different personalities.  We also resurrect Take a Number and introduce the world (and ourselves) to Tita Torro. And then we discuss doping for a while because we haven't before and it seemed relevant even if it is a massive bummer.  But we end on a high (boy soprano?) note of Junior Eurovision which is sure to leave you feeling all warm inside.

In Episode 20, Courtney and Ben are back stateside and back on the mic(s).  We talk or ways through the WTFs in London, our ballots for Player of the Year, Most Improved, Best Newcomer, and more. Then we audibly shake our heads when discussing what Bernard Tomic does atop buildings. Also, we end the episode by discussing whether or not Rafael Nadal will congratulate us for getting back in the recording studio (or something), and what sort of suitcase he should put his Armani in when he returns to tour.

In Episode 19, Ben and Courtney stick with the Asian swing to discuss Victoria Azarenka's domination over Maria Sharapova on hardcourts, Kei Nishikori's history-making in Tokyo, and the merits of tennis in China when all we see are empty seats and stadiums. We also discuss the upcoming TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships in Istanbul, the freshly revealed lineup for next year's Hopman Cup, and per our listeners' request, we talk about our pre-NCR lives. Oh and Courtney finally found her microphone. It was about damn time.

Asia is still going, but if a seed falls in the middle of the night and almost no one is watching, does it make a sound? Ben and Courtney therefore make plenty of other sounds about other things, ranging from the Party Rock Open to Ryan Harrison, and from Andy Murray's rank in the pantheon to hands in pants.  It all makes sense in context, sort of.

When we last left our heroes Ben and Courtney's cup overfloweth with the U.S. Open.  The chalice has been considerably drier in Asia thus far, but our dear listeners quenched our thirst with a deluge of questions which we answered for the majority of the show.  We also resurrected our "Take a Number" segment, and when we didn't like the first number we did it again because we are grown-ups and we make the rules.

On Episode 16b, Ben and Courtney continue their recap of the U.S. Open and answer a flurry of questions from email and Twitter. They talk about the USTA's bungling of Taylor Townsend, whether Ana Ivanovic has topped out, the merits of best of five matches at the Slams, Vivica A. Fox: Superfan, the best current ATPer not to win a Slam, and all this prize money mumbo-jumbo.

Ben and Courtney were so excited to talk about the U.S. Open that their rambles ended up as two different episodes. Here’s Episode 16a, wherein Ben recaps his experience covering the Open and we talk about Serena WIlliams and Andy Murray’s championship runs, our favorite matches, best performances, Andy Roddick and Kim Clijsters’ farewells, Laura Robson’s breakthrough run, and Victoria Azarenka’s winning via losing. Somehow Courtney tries to justify her reading 50 Shades of Grey. She fails, but it was a valiant effort.

“I have never cuddled with Rory McIlroy.” Guess which NCR’er said that. Ben and Courtney meet up in Mason, Ohio for the Western & Southern Open. Pardon us if we’re a little punchy. We weren’t exaggerating about the Applebees action. (Courtney’s note — Is it just me or is Ben WAY BETTER live rather than on Skype?) Talking Roger Federer dominance, the continued solidness of Angelique Kerber, Jelena Jankovic’s struggles, the charm of Petra Kvitova, we confess our love for Carlos Rodriguez (maybe. we don’t know. it’s complicated), and we talk about the faves and not-so-faves going into the U.S Open. We also take some questions. Keep them coming, y’all. And Ben finally gets an opportunity to let loose on track cycling. Spoiler alert: He is not a fan.

On Episode 14, Ben and Courtney breakdown what happened during the tennis event at the Olympics where Andy Murray and Serena Williams did some pretty good things. We discuss the best-of-three format at the Olympics, tiebreaks, and seriously, why the heck was Ryan Harrison apologizing?

We have neglected you. For that, we apologize. But to quote the Olympic motto: “Better late than never!”* Ben and Courtney were Stateside for the London Olympics and they were really excited. Mainly for the break from live tennis. Courtney talks about her Cali Swag at Stanford and San Diego, and Ben gets a chance to talk about one of his favorite things in the world, World Team Tennis. They also discuss the effect of the Olympics on the U.S. hardcourt schedule, curious Kim Clijsters, and the effect of Rafael Nadal’s knee injury. And somehow, Courtney finds a way to talk about The Hills. It’s a talent, people. *Very much not the Olympic motto but it totally should be.

After a long hiatus (we would apologize but it’s starting to sound like a broken record), Ben and Courtney return to discuss the happenings at Wimbledon. It’s a post-Rosol world now, where anything is possible, everyone believes, and the upsets keep raining down like…well…London rain. We talk about everything from the (unnecessary) equal prize money debate, the earthquake that was Lukas Rosol, British sporting culture, and much, much, more. Links discussed:

• S.L. Price’s piece on equal prize money. [SI.com]
• Courtney’s thoughts on equal prize money. [SI.com]
• The Daily Mail calls Laura Robson “The Incredible Bulk”.

Ok, let’s get this out of the way: the audio quality on Episode 10 is not great. But what it lacks in aural clarity it more than makes up for in content quality. Ben and Courtney touch base after Week 1 of the French Open to talk about the first week happenings, the second week’s predictions, and a bunch of ancillary topics including the television commentary so far, Hawk-Eye on clay, the State of Serena, Vexing Vika, how far the ATP Top 4 have pulled  away from the rest of the field, and we rank the Slams.

Are you ready for the French Open? I assure you we are not. Ben and Courtney reconvene for a quick chat in advance of the French Open, and recap what’s happened in Stuttgart, Madrid, and Rome as the ladies and gentlemen of tennis slid, whined, won, and threw barbs throughout the clay season. We talk about our favorites and not-so-favorites going into Roland Garros, the ever-entertaining war both on the court and off between Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova, and do listen closely as we do our best to convince you to stay in on Saturday night to watch the Eurovision finals from Azerbaijan. Links mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Courtney’s summary of Sharapova’s comments on Azarenka’s withdrawal from Rome [SI.com]
• Ben’s amazing Eurovision preview and summary of great moments in Eurovisions past: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. [Broadstreet Hockey]

When it rains, it pours. Here’s another bite-sized lost episode that Ben and Courtney recorded while they pretended that the NHL hockey playoffs were just as important — if not more so — than tennis. R&R the No Challenges Remaining way, folks. In Episode 8b, we Ben and Courtney discuss the loss of American tournaments to South America, tennis humblebraggers, the difficulty of writing about anyone outside of the ATP Top 4, and we Take a Number.

We’re baaaaaaaaack. Much like the American men, Illness, injury, and fatigue kept Ben and Courtney silent for much of the European clay court season. But that doesn’t mean we didn’t take the time out to chat. Ben has done a masterful job piecing together the still-relevant bits of the two podcasts we recorded that, unfortunately, never got posted. In Episode 8a, we Take a Number and answer questions from our listeners regarding the appeal (or not) of doubles and the marketability of various players in light of their geographical origin and achievements.

Ben and Courtney are enjoying the southern comforts of Charleston, South Carolina this week, at the 40th rendition of the Family Circle Cup. But before play gets out of control, we found a quiet spot under Stadium Court to talk about what we learned from Miami, how the first quarter of the season has met (or hasn’t met) expectations, and some of the storylines developing as we head into the Season of Dirt. We also take some time to give fans a “backstage pass” into the media center to explain the enigmatic process of…”the press conference.” Hopefully you’ll walk away understanding that we’re not incompetent. It just that, as Tracy Morgan would say, “WE GOT A LOT ON OUR PLATE.”

Ben and Courtney recap the action in Miami, where up until an hour ago, the women of the WTA offered the more compelling storyline (Rafael Nadal has since withdrawn from the tournament due to a left knee injury). We talk about Venus Williams’ incredible comeback to competitive tennis, why Marion Bartoli was the perfect woman to end Victoria Azarenka’s 26-0 streak, and the complete Fish flop that left the ESPN commentators audibly shaking their heads. We also take you behind the scenes into the dark and smarmy world of the conflict-of-interest-laden tennis media (it’s not dark, and it’s not smarmy) and — WHOA, did you guys see this Odesnik commercial? Go! Go! Go! and give it a listen before everything we discussed is no longer timely. Links mentioned on this week’s episode:

• Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim discusses the conflicts of interests inherent in the tennis industry. [SI.com]
• Serena Williams on Home Shopping Network, introducing the word “comfortability” to fashion. [YouTube]
• Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch listed Eleni Danilidou’s win over Magdalena Maleeva in Athens as one of his best 2004 Olympic memories. [SI.com]
• Wayne Odesnik’s Genesis commercial. [YouTube]
• Wayne Odesnik’s Facebook page. [Facebook]

Ben and Courtney go bi-coastal for Episode 5, as Ben headed to Miami for the Sony Ericsson Open and Courtney returned home to stare at a livescore window. We lay down our final observations from the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, share some press room stories, shoot a side-glare at Michael Llodra, rationalize the lack of early round television coverage, and preview the upcoming tournament in Miami, where Ben got to witness the welcome return of Alisa Kleybanova, Venus Williams, Kim Clijsters, and Serena Williams. If you can’t laugh at how haphazardly Ben makes his ATP predictions, get thee to an infirmary, stat. Thy funny bone is broken. Links mentioned on this week’s episode:

• Don’t know what it means to “Go Tyra” on someone? Here you go. [YouTube]
• Ben’s piece for the New York Times on the Michael Llodra incident. [New York Times]
• Courtney’s piece for SI.com on the Michael Llodra incident, and some follow-up thoughts on how it was handled. [SI.com]
• Sofia Arvidsson’s Twitter.
• Victoria Azarenka’s empty press conference after her semifinal win over Angelique Kerber in Indian Wells.