Love Tennis Podcast

Calvin Betton is back from Turkey, James Gray is now up in the mountains and George Bellshaw still doesn't really know what a pun is. They discussed... - Katie Boulter winning the title in Ostrava, claiming her fourth career WTA win - Emma Raducanu made the final in Cluj but was then battered by Sorana Cirstea... - ...is she fit enough? Does she need a coach? What now? - The PTPA's $1bn plans for tennis are scrutinised... - ...as are Craig Tiley's wild and wacky ideas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Australian Open 2026 is in the books. Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina are our two singles champions, and we have ANOTHER British doubles champion and everyone can take a deep breath (for a bit). ATP Tour coach Calvin Betton, The i Paper sports news editor James Gray and tennis broadcaster and writer George Bellshaw are here to look back at it all. They discussed... - Is Novak Djokovic a genuine contender in other slams this year or will this prove to be his last hurrah? - Which slams with Carlos Alcaraz win this year and is the calendar year grand slam achievable? - Has Aryna Sabalenka got a problem in finals? - Will Elena Rybakina wait another four years to go from two majors to three? - How will we remember the 2026 Australian Open? And SO much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Calvin Betton returns, albeit from Turkey, to join George Bellshaw and James Gray to look back at the Australian Open men's final - Was Novak Djokovic's gameplan the right one? - How did Carlos Alcaraz turn it around? - Was Djokovic injured? Will he ever come back as an active player? All that and more... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Molly McElwee subs in for George Bellshaw to review the women's singles final at the Australian Open with James Gray. - Elena Rybakina came from 3-0 down in the deciding set to win her second grand slam title - World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka has now lost three of her last four major finals, including two in a row in Melbourne - Rybakina's coach Stefano Vukov was presented with a trophy too, despite his chequered history working with Rybakina Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

- Carlos Alcaraz came through cramps, vomiting and an Alexander Zverev comeback to win his Australian Open semi-final and reach the final in Melbourne for the first time ever - Jannik Sinner could not join him, denied a three-peat by an inspired Novak Djokovic, who is now just one win away from the 25th grand slam title of his career Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Gray and George Bellshaw are back around the microphone after two MORE straight-sets wins - Aryna Sabalenka saved break points in the opening game against Elina Svitolina but never looked back after that.. - ...except when she was called for a hindrance in the fourth game of the match, a decision she says "p***ed her off" but also inspired her to win the match - Elena Rybakina came through the challenge of the religiously consistent Jessica Pegula to set up a repeat of the 2023 final Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Gray and George Bellshaw get down to it after a series of last eight matches in which... - Coco Gauff sparked a privacy row after she complained about her racket smash in a corridor being broadcast to millions - Novak Djokovic was "going home" after losing two sets to Lorenzo Musetti... and then the Italian pulled out injured - Iga Swiatek was knocked out by a familiar opponent Elena Rybakina - Michael Chang's kids turned up in Learner Tien's press conference Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Calvin Betton is back and anything BUT boring... however, is the Australian Open turning into a boring tournament? George Bellshaw and James Gray join him to discuss... - Ben Shelton knocking out Casper Ruud to add another top-eight seed to the men's quarter-finals, making it seven in total and 13 across the two singles draws - Lorenzo Musetti sets up a clash with Novak Djokovic by putting Taylor Fritz out of his misery - All four women's matches end in straightforward straight sets victories for the favourites AND, as a special treat, here is a free link to read James's column for The i Paper: https://inews.co.uk/sport/tennis/novak-djokovic-getting-lucky-4193977?utm_campaign=PNITUx1xSr1ai7e&ito=gifted_article&data-target=gifted_article&utm_source=XJPLeh5koSHChZEU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

- Novak Djokovic has been handed a free pass into a record 65th grand slam quarter-final after Jakub Mensik pulled out of their fourth-round clash - Are the stars aligning for Djokovic slam No 25? - Daniil Medvedev is out, beaten in straight sets by Michael Chang-coached Learner Tien - Elina Svitolina crushed Mirra Andreeva's AO dream with an efficient performance - Coco Gauff fought fire with fire to beat Karolina Muchova And much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Rothenberg of Bounces and James Gray look back (mostly) at the seventh day of action at the Australian Open. - Jannik Sinner lost the opening set to Elliot Spizziri in sweltering conditions, which triggered the heat rule, shut the roof and seemingly swung the match in the Italian's favour - Madison Keys's title defence goes on in fine style - And why Daniil Medvedev vs Le-arn-er Tien is the match of the day on Sunday And loads more! Go check out Ben's work on Bounces (https://www.benrothenberg.com/), it really is excellent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

George Bellshaw is back for his last podcast of the week with James Gray in tow. - Aryna Sabalenka admits she felt 'disconnected' from her body in a double tie-break win over Anastasia Potapova - Coco Gauff came from a set down to beat Hailey Baptiste after a tactical adjustment on her forehand side - Daniil Medvedev delivered on his annual AO five-setter - The British interest in the singles is over for another year, Cam Norrie beaten in four sets by an imperious Alexander Zverev - Yulia Putintseva did NOT disappoint! And so much more... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Gray and George Bellshaw look back at the fifth day of action at the 2026 Australian Open. - No 10 seed Belinda Bencic is shocked by qualifier Nikola Bartunkova, the teenage sensation who served a six-month ban for inadvertently ingesting banned substance TMZ - Stan Wawrinka kept rolling back the years to beat Arthur Gea in five sets and set up a third-round clash with Taylor Fritz - Naomi Osaka wound up Sorana Cirstea, knocked her out the tournament and then hung her out to dry. Just watch: https://x.com/tntsports/status/2014296632775336143 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Gray and George Bellshaw are back around the microphones for another review of a relatively drama-free day at the Australian Open, but... - Emma Raducanu is out after defeat to Anastasia Potapova and seems ready to ditch the tactical overhaul being overseen by Francis Roig - Cam Norrie is the last Brit standing after grinding out a win over Emilio Nava in rarefied, late-night air - Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Kamil Majchrzak both fell out with the crowd but for different reasons - Diana Shnaider saves three match points to roar into the third round back at the tournament where she broke through three years ago LINKS Check your fantasy progress here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/125MgiVs97Xnbi9OQ5UdXck-VM2liwwxbQMVxeevJIIY Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yes, the hat. Not Brooklyn Beckham, not the actual tennis. Naomi Osaka's incredible hat. George Bellshaw and James Gray are keen to focus on some other things... eventually. Because THAT. HAT. It was also a cracking first-round tennis match. But the hat. Where does she go from now?! LINKS The hat in question: https://x.com/tntsports/status/2013590606128263313https://x.com/tntsports/status/2013590606128263313 How are you faring in fantasy tennis? Check here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/125MgiVs97Xnbi9OQ5UdXck-VM2liwwxbQMVxeevJIIY/edit?resourcekey=&gid=1734778613#gid=1734778613 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Gray and George Bellshaw look back on the second day of first-round action in Melbourne including... - Felix Auger-Aliassime retires after cramping just two sets into his match against Nuno Borges - Iga Swiatek is made to work hard by Chinese qualifier Yuan Yue - Alexandra Eala fans overcrowd Court 6, but it's not a problem the Australian organisers will have to deal with again this year - Naomi Osaka lifts the lid on her leaving the Evolve agency - Why hasn't Carlos Alcaraz won the Australian Open yet? LINKS - The wild scenes of Parks vs Eala: https://x.com/christianscourt/status/2013099697431298256 - Naomi Osaka talks to Ben Rothenberg: https://www.benrothenberg.com/p/naomi-osaka-interview-australian-open-evolve-img-australian-open-day-2-schedule-preview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Day 1 of the Australian Open is in the books, a record day at Melbourne Park as more than 100,000 ticketholders streamed through the gates. The headlines were... - Qualifier Zeynep Sonmez pulled off the biggest win of her career by knocking out No 11 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova - Ukrainians Dayana Yastremksa and Marta Kostyuk both also suffered first-round defeats as three WTA seeds fell on Day 1 - Arthur Fery knocked out the only men's seed to lose on Sunday, although Flavio Cobolli called the doctor after one game because of illness and was clearly short of his best - Emma Raducanu looked like she was in trouble against Mananchaya Sawangkaew but saved break points at 1-3 down and lost two more games in the entire match. And so much more! LINKS Daria Kasatkina interview: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6978334/2026/01/16/tennis-daria-kasatkina-australia-russia/ Putintseva being Putintseva: https://x.com/TheTennisLetter/status/2012724674036183423 FTU League Table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/125MgiVs97Xnbi9OQ5UdXck-VM2liwwxbQMVxeevJIIY Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Gray and George Bellshaw are in St Pancras Station. Yes, really. Don't ask why. Anyway, they are going through the Australian Open draw line by line for your entertainment - and to help you pick your fantasy tennis team! Enter here: https://forms.gle/vMwznVdH4Yh5HgRx8 DEADLINE: SATURDAY 17 JANUARY 11PM BST The basic concept is simple: predict the quarter-finalists. Do that successfully, and play your captaincy chip right, and you'll win! Below, you must pick one player from each section of the draw, and hope that they go as far as possible - as well as nominating a men's captain and a women's captain. (To help you, the players are presented as they are in the draw, so you know who plays who!) SCORING Players are split into four categories: Top Seed (a top 8 seed), Minor Seeds (9-32 seeds), Unseeded (self-explanatory) and Bolter (a wildcard or a qualifier). Unlike previous years, you do not HAVE to pick any qualifier or wildcards - but they will score points more quickly if you do pick a successful one. Top Seed - 10 points per win Minor Seed - 15 points per win Unseeded - 20 points per win Bolter - 30 points per win The overall tournament winner also receives a bonus of 20 points. CAPTAINS You must select a captain in the men's and the women's draw. Captains will score double points. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before anything else, our thoughts this week are firmly with teh family of Damian Kust. Damian was a cherished and passionate member of the tennis community whom we lost at the age of just 26. His work covering the Challenger Tour set him apart, but his passion and knowledge was what really made him shine. RIP Damian. Details of his funeral and donations to the foundation his parents have chosen are here: https://x.com/damiankust/status/2009644081207709969 It always feels utterly empty to follow such profoundly sad news with the mundanity of the week's tennis news. Here is what else Calvin Betton, James Gray and George Bellshaw discussed this week... Novak Djokovic has pulled out of Adelaide, his only planned warm-up for the Australian Open, saying he is not physically ready for the challenge Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have not played an ATP event yet this year either, but were busy playing an indoor practice match in front of 15,000 people in Seoul, South Korea. Poland FINALLY won the United Cup, Hubert Hurkacz gaining redemption for spurning two championship points against Alexander Zverev in 2024, beating the German en route to leading his nation to victory... ...but Iga Swiatek's form was far from impressive, and it was Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski, Luke Johnson's new partner, who were instrumental in securing the title PLUS: No Australian Open wildcard for Nick Kyrgios; there is one for Stan Wawrinka; titles for Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Bublik, Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina; Emma Raducanu's return; and OF COURSE *that* wildcard in Nairobi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Calvin Betton is in Brisbane but that won't stop him getting on the podcast (even if it does stop him getting any sleep). He joins James Gray for the first half of this week's podcast before subbing out for George Bellshaw, who sleeps soundly in his childhood bedroom in the West Midlands. They discussed... - Emma Raducanu pulls out of her season debut (she eventually played Maria Sakkari)... ...and she's testing a new racket - Stefanos Tsitsipas reveals he considered retirement after battling a back injury last year - Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Calvin relaunch their defence of the 250 - Novak Djokovic pulls out of the PTPA - Venus Williams gets an Australian Open wildcard but Nick Kyrgios is made to wait for his - Katie Boulter links up with a new coach in Michael Joyce - Iga Swiatek questions why we needed another "Battle of the Sexes" And finally, could Lionel Messi really win 50 grand slams?! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Gray, George Bellshaw and Calvin Betton are back round the microphones to discuss not one but TWO weeks of tennis news - because the gossip train does not take Christmas off. They discussed... - Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero have ended their seven-year partnership - but no one quite knows why - Nick Kyrgios says “there's nothing but positives that can be taken away from this” after beating Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-3 in the so-called Battle of the Sexes in Dubai - British number one Jack Draper will not play in next month's Australian Open because of an ongoing arm injury PLUS - Jennifer Brady is making a comeback (maybe?) - Holger Rune is rushing his comeback (maybe?) - Learner Tien is ready for a serious impact (maybe?) And the sandwich shop Calvin was talking about? All'Antico Vinaio on Liberty Street in FiDi. And finally, if you want to read what James wrote about the Battle of the Sexes, you can do so for FREE here: https://inews.co.uk/sport/tennis/battle-of-the-sexes-pixelated-mess-awful-4136957?utm_campaign=PNITUx1xSr1ai7e&ito=gifted_article&data-target=gifted_article&utm_source=XJPLeh5koSHChZEU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the three lads taking Christmas week off, we have a special interview with... James Gray. Two years ago, he interviewed George and Calvin for special episodes around Christmas, and this time the microphone has been turned around and it is James who will have to try and talk about himself. Do go back and listen to the two previous interviews for the perspectives on their lives, and even if you don't, have a happy, safe and peaceful Christmas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Calvin Betton, George Bellshaw and James Gray get together for the last episode of the 2025 campaign proper. As well discussing the latest news about the Battle of the Sexes, the WTA's $500m (potentially) sponsorship deal and Piers Morgan (!), they picked out the highlights and lowlights of 2025. That includes: - Biggest letdown - Best improvement - Favourite moment - Least favourite moment And more! **** Oh and to watch Luke Johnson teach James a tennis lesson, watch here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DSUv0nhidls/?hl=en Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

George Bellshaw, James Gray and Calvin Betton are all in London - but still can't all get in the same room!

James Gray (The i Paper), Calvin Betton (grand slam-winning ATP coach) and George Bellshaw (tennis writer and broadcaster) answer your questions on all things tennis over the course of an hour. Topics include... - The Big 3/Big 4 era and was it good for tennis? - The Sincaraz dominance - Andy Roddick's scheduling ideas - What happens when doubles pairs break up - The Winter County Cup - Dream coaching jobs - Top 10 predictions for 2026 - Emma Raducanu's pre-season plans And much, much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

George Bellshaw for part 1, Calvin Betton for part 2, and the dulcet tones of James Gray back on the airwaves for the whole blooming thing. What more could anyone want? Here are the stories they discussed: - Roger Federer has been voted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, but Juan Martin de Potro and Svetlana Kuznetsova did not make it - The PTPA and Tennis Australia are engaged in "substantive and productive bilateral settlement discussions" to settle their lawsuit in New York, but cases against other tennis bodies including the other three grand slam organisers continue - Katie Boulter says she is choosing between her ranking and her body ahead of the Australian Open because she is in danger of missing out on direct entry - Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from a couple of pre-season exhibitions in January with some light bone bruise in her foot, and has also hired a new physio Emma Stewart, who has previously worked with the successful British Olympic Rowing team - Joe Salisbury is taking six months out of tennis to deal with anxiety-related stress - Italy have won a third consecutive Davis Cup, the first country to do so since the USA in the 1970s Plus so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

George Bellshaw grasps the reins as James Gray takes a week off. He is joined by Calvin Betton, fresh from ATP World Tour Finals victory with Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara. Here are six bullet points summarizing this podcast episode: Henry Patten and Harry Heliövaara's ATP Finals triumph: Calvin reflects on their dominant week in Turin, where they became the only pair not to lose serve all tournament and capped off a phenomenal end to the season with victories in Beijing, Paris, and the year-end finals in Turin, all after winning the Australian Open in January. Sinner's indoor dominance continues: Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz 7-6, 7-5 in the ATP Finals, extending his remarkable indoor winning streak to 31 matches (fourth-longest in history) and demonstrating his superiority in fast court conditions. Felix Auger-Aliassime poised for breakthrough: Calvin's bold prediction: FAA will establish himself as the world's third-best player in 2026, citing his newfound confidence, consistent results, injury-free status, and superior talent compared to players like Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz. Zverev's coaching concerns: Despite being world number two, Calvin criticises Zverev's practice sessions as lacking proper structure and technical coaching, suggesting he needs to hire a proven coach rather than relying solely on family members if he wants to win majors. ATP calendar controversy intensifies: Calvin and George discuss Andrea Gaudenzi's plans to expand Masters events and focus on "premium products," with Calvin arguing passionately against taking tennis away from passionate fanbases in places like South America and Italy in favour of lucrative but atmosphere-lacking Middle Eastern venues. Djokovic's reality check: George and Calvin reflect on Novak Djokovic's interview with Piers Morgan, in which he admits the rise of Sinner and Alcaraz has forced him to re-evaluate his goals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

George Bellshaw, Calvin Betton and James Gray unpick another "complicated" week of tennis news - because nothing is ever straightforward in this sport! They discussed... - A date has been confirmed for a new "Battle of the Sexes” with Aryna Sabalenka vs Nick Kyrgios set for 28 December in Dubai - Elena Rybakina wins the WTA Finals and is then determined to embarrass WTA boss Portia Archer over her role in banning coach Stefano Vukov - Aryna Sabalenka loses another big final and ends up in tears - Jack Draper says players need to stop talking and start doing over complaints on the gruelling tennis schedule - Novak Djokovic wins title No 101 in Athens, ripping off his shirt in celebration and becoming the oldest man to win a title in 48 years. It took him all of three gruelling hours against Lorenzo Musetti - whom he then told at the net that his defeat was meaningless and the Italian would still qualify for ATP World Tour Finals because Djokovic was pulling out - Learner Tien beat Cam Norrie in a fine Metz final to claim his first career title and confirm a top 30 debut. Breakthrough player of the year? - And finally, many congratulations to Ons Jabeur, who has announced that she is expecting a baby boy in April Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to Tennis Unfiltered, the weekly podcast about tennis that does not hold back. Host James Gray risked his marriage this week by taking two hours out of his holiday to do the podcast, logging on from Athens to discuss the last seven days of tennis with Calvin Betton, Paris Masters-winning coach, and tennis writer and broadcaster George Bellshaw. Here are the stories they discussed: Jannik Sinner won his fifth Masters title and returned to world No 1, for a week at least with Carlos Alcaraz set to overtake him again next week. It also took Sinner to exactly 10,000 points for the 2025 season despite having served at three-month ban in the middle of it. Sinner beat Felix Auger-Aliassime (the indoor GOAT) in the final, having battered Alexander Zverev in the semi-final for the loss of just one game. Carlos Alcaraz meanwhile was knocked out by Cam Norrie, who maintains an impressive record against the Spaniard. But Norrie was beaten by Valentin Vacherot, who followed up his Shanghai title with proof that he is no flash in the pan, and moves into the top 30 in the world for the first time. In the best social media beef of the week, Zizou Bergs managed to catch both Reilly Opelka and Nick Kyrgios in a web of their own egos. The WTA Finals kicked off over the weekend in Riyadh, albeit not in particularly grand style. Coco Gauff was beaten by Jessica Pegula and served 17 double-faults, which meant missing more than a quarter of her second serves, and was broken nine times in all. It begs the question, do year-end finals ever really produce the best tennis? Plus Gauff claimed the WTA is “more interesting” because it has more grand slam champions, while Alcaraz and Sinner clean up on the men's side Three breakout stars won titles on the WTA Tour in the meantime: Janice Tjen of Indonesia; Canada's Victoria Mboko; and a 17-year-old from Austria named Lilli Tagger with a one-handed backhand and a grand slam winner in her box Rohan Bopanna has announced his retirement after 20 years on tour at the age of 45. He won 26 tour-level doubles titles, including the 2024 Australian Open doubles. That also took him to world No 1 at the age of 43, the oldest man ever to do so. He won 539 tour-level matches, won titles with 15 different partners and also picked up a mixed doubles grand slam title at Roland Garros in 2017. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Calvin Betton joins from Paris to talk to James Gray about most things (not everything) that has been going on in tennis this week. George Bellshaw is off sick and we send him our best! In his absence, they talked about… - Saudi Arabia's ATP Masters 1000 tournament, now finally confirmed, with a start date expected in 2028 and a one-week, non-mandatory format.  - Analysis of Jannik Sinner's win in Vienna, beating Alexander Zverev in the final. - Sinner also pulled out of the Davis Cup Finals this week, citing prep time for Australia, which went down badly in Italy. There were controversies surrounding player selections for the Spanish and Austrian team too - The Paris Masters has moved to La Defense Arena in Nanterre in western Paris, a spectacular new 16,500-seater venue - Joao Fonseca won the biggest title of his career in Basel And much, much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Calvin Betton in Vienna joins James Gray and George Bellshaw in London to look back at a week of 250s and exhibitions, plus another one falls off the coaching roundabout. They discussed... - Daniil Medvedev ended an 882-day title drought and triumphed for the first time since Rome 2023 by winning the Almaty Open. He now has 21 career titles in 21 different cities. - Felix Auger-Aliassime beats Jiri Lehecka to win Brussels - FAA landed 83 per cent of his first serves in the final, and registering a 9.4 serve rating on Tennis Insights - and Casper Ruud wins Stockholm with a smaller racket by beating Ugo Humbert. - Jannik Sinner won the Six Kings Slam and $6m, but did not seem that bothered about it all - Novak Djokovic talked about his future saying: “Longevity is one of my biggest motivations. If you see across all the global sports, LeBron James he is still going strong, he is 40, Cristiano Ronaldo, Tom Brady played until he was 40-something years old, it is unbelievable." - Holger Rune suffered a serious injury on court in Stockholm this week, rupturing his Achilles tendon and faces months on the sideline - Jack Draper started a storm on Twitter by talking about fatigue and injuries, with Taylor Fritz getting involved too - James Trotman has left Team Draper, saying he can't square the circle of family life and weeks on tour, leaving new addition Jamie Delgado as sole coach - Leylah Fernandez wins Japan Open, beating in the final 18-year-old Tereza Valentova - Elena Rybakina won the Ningbo Open and is in a very intense battle for the last spot at WTA Finals with Mirra Andreeva… - Emma Raducanu has ended her season early after battling illness in China, and will miss tournaments in Tokyo and Hong Kong as a result. In more positive news, she has signed a new contract with Francisco Roig, the Spanish coach formerly of the Nadal camp whom she has had on trial since July. (James wrote about this for The i Paper, read it for FREE here: https://inews.co.uk/sport/tennis/emma-raducanu-rocky-year-reasons-for-optimism-3982254?utm_campaign=PNITUx1xSr1ai7e&ito=gifted_article&data-target=gifted_article&utm_source=XJPLeh5koSHChZEU) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the Beatles almost sang, we're BACK… in the UK! Remember, if you want a question answered, you can DM us @tennisunfilteredpod on Instagram or email us on tennisunfiltered at gmail dot com **** This week, he's jet-lagged and jaded, but Calvin Betton is back from his sojourn in the Far East, George Bellshaw is bang up for his head to head and James Gray is just trying to keep everyone calm. Here are the stories they discussed… 00:00 Welcome back to Tennis Unfiltered 01:27 Your questions answered 23:43 Valentin Vacherot made history as the lowest ranked Masters champion ever, beating his own cousin Arthur Rinderknech in the Shanghai final having knocked out Novak Djokovic in the semi-final - and Rinderknech revealed afterwards that he had thought about quitting tennis only a few months before, but was helped through his rough patch by coach Lucas Pouille 40:28 For his own part, Djokovic was a surprise entrant in Shanghai and was pushed to his limit by Yannick Hanfmann, Jaume Munar and Zizou Bergs before Vacherot finished the job in the last four 51:15 Coco Gauff triumphed in Wuhan, a rare one-week Masters, but her run to the title hardly felt impressive given the players she beat, including 11 breaks of serve in two sets against Jasmine Paolini and then a more credible win against former doubles partner Jessica Pegula 58:51 Aryna Sabalenka had been unbeaten at the event since 2018 but she was downed by Pegula in the semi-finals, but not before the Belarusian had sewn up year-end world No 1 for the second time in a row 01:03:07 Jack Draper has appointed Jamie Delgado, a former coach of Andy Murray, to work with him ahead of the 2026 season - but long-time coach James Trotman is very much still involved, and simply wants to travel less on the main tour 01:04:46 Goncalo Oliveira, a Portuguese-born player who represents Venezuela, has been banned for four years after testing positive for methamphetamine last year. He claimed that a girl he met in a bar in Mexico, who did testify at the tribunal, had taken drugs that evening and contaminated him through kissing - but the director of the lab that tested the samples said that there was between “four and 36” times too much methamphetamine in his system to have been transferred by kissing 01:07:27 Under a trial scheme, the ITIA are offering up to $5k in costs to players who want to test supplements or medication at a Wada lab, or to investigate meds contamination. The package also includes a degree of free legal support and confidential third-party counselling. And the PTPA already offers free support from two law firms. The trial is going to run until the end of next season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Calvin Betton, George Bellshaw and James Gray are all back to discuss the last week of action in tennis, as the Far East swing continues apace and the weather really starts to bite... Jannik Sinner wins the title in Beijing, incredibly his first non-slam title of the year, but then limps out of the Shanghai Masters with severe cramps At least he didn't get coded for lack of effort, like Daniil Medvedev did in Beijing the week before... Gael Monfils is to retire at the end of next season, bringing to an end the golden generation of French players that included Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Alexander Zverev calls out tournament directors for making all surfaces the same to benefit Alcaraz and Sinner Amanda Anisimova wins in Beijing to continue her sensational 2025 Sonay Kartal shocks Mirra Andreeva to secure her first ever top-10 win Coco Gauff and Belinda Bencic get into it during a bad-tempered last-16 match Heather Watson is taking a forced break from tennis until February 2026 And more! You can also watch a version of the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpO0ako_jKQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

George Bellshaw (from London) and Calvin Betton (from Shanghai) call in to have their say on all things tennis from the last seven days, with James Gray trying to marshal the troops. They discussed... Carlos Alcaraz wins the title in Tokyo, himself taped up from an earlier injury, against Taylor Fritz who was also carrying a leg problem. They both join Daniil Medvedev, Lorenzo Musetti and Jakub Mensik in the physio room, as the last stretch of the season starts to bite. Novak Djokovic is fit though, and has signed up to play Emma Raducanu blows match points against Jessica Pegula in Beijing Roger Federer talks court speeds Boris Becker on winning Wimbledon at 17 PLUS your questions answered on the BATS, the Californian takeover, coaching individual sports and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Calvin Betton, George Bellshaw, Molly McElwee and James Gray all have their say on the last week of tennis including... Italy win the Billie Jean King Cup for the second year in a row, led by Jasmine Paolini and powered by "good vibes" Great Britain reach another semi-final without No 1 Emma Raducanu and, despite winning the first set of both singles matches, are beaten 2-0 by the United States Taylor Townsend gets in trouble over her criticism of Chinese cuisine in Shenzhen https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2025/09/17/tennis-player-involved-in-us-open-racism-row-mocks-chinese/ The other American Taylor - Fritz - and Alex de Minaur starred for Team World as they beat Team Europe in San Francisco to claim the Laver Cup 15-9, but did anyone notice or care? Bjorn Borg has been diagnosed with an "extremely aggressive" form of prostate cancer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

George Bellshaw and James Gray answer your questions from the Instagram mailbag, before being joined by Calvin Betton from Chengdu to look back at a dramatic week of Davis Cup play-offs in Poland, Spain and beyond. Great Britain are back in the elite of the Davis Cup for next year, but can they actually win it? How many "hairs" does Holger Rune REALLY have on his chest? The USA are out, but was that much of a shock? Belgium have been doing a madness in Australia... ...while Australia captain Lleyton Hewitt has been doing a madness in Malaga And loads more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The US Open 2025 is in the history books and all we can do now is talk about it. George Bellshaw and Calvin Betton join James Gray to do exactly that, focusing on finals weekend after Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka both won their second titles at Flushing Meadows. Was Sinner vs Alcaraz inevitable? And what does that say about men's tennis right now if it was? (James also wrote about this for The i Paper, read it for FREE at the bottom of these notes.) Did George approve of Aryna Sabalenka's celebration? And how did the USTA get the trophy ceremony quite so wrong? How did Skupski-Salisbury NOT beat Granollers-Zeballos in the men's doubles final? And much more! Alcaraz vs Sinner is getting boring - tennis needs a third wheel: https://inews.co.uk/sport/tennis/alcaraz-vs-sinner-getting-boring-tennis-third-wheel-3904393?utm_campaign=PNITUx1xSr1ai7e&ito=gifted_article&data-target=gifted_article&utm_source=XJPLeh5koSHChZEU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Calvin Betton is back in the UK and joins George Bellshaw and James Gray to review the US Open semi-finals and look ahead to a weekend of finals. They discussed... Novak Djokovic says he can't beat Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner at a grand slam any more Jannik Sinner beats Felix Auger-Aliassime, but are we going to see the Canadian follow up on his strong run? Can Amanda Anisimova get under Aryna Sabalenka's skin again? Should Naomi Osaka have made it back to the final? And who will win the men's doubles? And so much more! Check out our men's final Twitter spaces: https://x.com/UnfilterTennis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The usual suspects look back at the US Open quarter-finals... Novak Djokovic takes down Taylor Fritz for the 11th time in a row, becoming the oldest man ever (Open era) to reach the semi-finals of all four grand slams in a single year. He says he was ‘lucky' to win and did at one point complain to the umpire about spectator noise, but nevertheless set up a blockbuster semi-final against Carlos Alcaraz, after the Spaniard eased past Jiri Lehecka. Can he beat Alcaraz 3 times in a row and extend his 5-3 head-to-head? In the top half, Jannk Sinner battered fellow countryman Lorenzo Musetti, losing just five points in first five games, and will now face the tournament's surprise package Felix Auger-Aliasime. Aryna Sabalenka got a walkover into the semi-finals after Marketa Vondrousova was forced to withdraw, and will face a 2024 US Open rematch against Jessica Pegula who breezed past Barbora Krejcikova, who struggled badly on serve And finally, Amanda Anisimova avenged her Wimbledon final humiliation at the hands of Iga Swiatek, calling it ‘the most meaningful victory of my life'. She will face Naomi Osaka, who beat Karolina Muchova, played brilliantly and looks utterly relaxed. Dare we say it: Naomi Osaka is back? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Gray and George Bellshaw are back as the US Open locks in its quarter-finalists. Naomi Osaka hammers Coco Gauff but was it closer than the scoreline suggested? Taylor Townsend's run is over - in the singles at least - after failing to convert eight match points in the second-set tie-break against Barbora Krejcikova Felix Auger-Aliassime is back in the US Open last eight for the first time since 2021 Sinner vs Alcaraz is still on and looks inevitable Follow your fantasy team here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZeTX3XeWLVICU_sSsf9Z-KOkNsE6ne6BGInPGmfbm1g And remember to send your questions to tennisunfiltered at gmail dot com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

'Chunky' George Bellshaw and James Gray go through the last 32 of the US Open with only 22 of 64 seeds now remaining. Emma Raducanu was thrashed by Elena Rybakina, her third such chastening grand slam exit of the year. Where does she go from here? Ben Shelton retired in tears after injuring his left shoulder in a fall against Adrian Mannarino Taylor Townsend 'has a job to do' and keeps on doing it, while Jelena Ostapenko scrambles to save her reputation PLUS: Djokovic injury concern; Shapovalov draws quality out of Sinner; Gauff vs Osaka is locked Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

George Bellshaw is back off his cruise and relishing dry land - and US Open drama! He joins James Gray to look back at a controversial second round of action. Jelena Ostapenko is forced to deny allegations of racism after calling Taylor Townsend "not educated" and "no class" after a fractious second-round match Jack Draper pulls out of the second round with an arm injury (just a week after playing in the mixed doubles exhibition) Coco Gauff beats Donna Vekic having been sobbing into her towel during the first set - and says it was a vulnerable moment that she was able to "reset" from Stefanos Tsitsipas warns Daniel Altmaier for hitting a string of underarm serves against him that he will keep trying to hit him - but nevertheless the Greek is out PLUS How are you faring in Fantasy Tennis Unfiltered? Check out the league table here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZeTX3XeWLVICU_sSsf9Z-KOkNsE6ne6BGInPGmfbm1g Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

George Bellshaw is all at sea - literally - while Calvin Betton is in NYC (that rhymes!) and James Gray is trying to wrangle them together from London. In a unique "voicenote" format, the Tennis Unfiltered crew unpick... Daniil Medvedev's Bonzi-infused meltdown earned him a massive fine, a first-round defeat and a fair bit of flak - but did he deserve it? Carlos Alcaraz has got a buzz cut and a new vibe, but he still had hair when he was trying to win the mixed doubles (and failing) Venus Williams is a 45-year-old wildcard, but she was beaten by Karolina Muchova. Was it really worth it? More "as live" podcasts will return later in the tournament! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Calvin Betton calls in from North Carolina before Molly McElwee joins from Barcelona as James Gray holds the good ship Tennis Unfiltered together from home in London. They discuss... Carlos Alcaraz wins all five games of the Cincinnati Masters final before Jannik Sinner is forced to retire due to illness. Sinner was in tears afterwards and was clearly hampered before shaking hands with Alcaraz. He said: “I tried to come out and make it at least a small match but I couldn't handle more.” The Alejandro Davidovich Fokina verdict we've all been waiting for? “A Monday final at 3pm in August in Cincinnati, after the whole Toronto–Cincinnati swing, with so many retirements and players dead tired… something needs to change.” Earlier, 23-year-old qualifier Terence Atmane - without any clothes or shoe sponsor, or an agent -  reached the semi-finals with wins over Flavio Cobolli, Joao Fonseca, Taylor Fritz and Holger Rune. The man with an IQ of 158 is the 7th lowest ranked player to reach masters 1000 semi, and apparently also has one of the biggest Pokémon card collections in France The US Open Mixed Doubles kicks off... (!) Kyle Edmund has retired Iga Swiatek hammers Jasmine Paolini, her sixth consecutive win over the Italian Emma Raducanu loses narrowly to Aryna Sabalenka and talks to Tumaini Carayol about dating, therapy, the US Open legacy and how her stalking ordeal changed her life: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/aug/15/i-am-tough-emma-raducanu-on-legacy-of-her-us-open-win-stalking-ordeal-and-why-therapy-wont-help-her Monica Seles speaks out about neuromuscular disease: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/articles/c99mg51032ko Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Gray joins George Bellshaw and Calvin Betton for another episode of Tennis Unfiltered, picking their way through the big topics and issues from the last week of tennis Cincinnati Reflections: Calvin shares his experiences and observations from the Cincinnati tournament, discussing the revamped site and player feedback. Another new star is born: Is Vicky Mboko, the 18-year-old Montreal champion, about to "do an Andreescu"? Vukov is back: A candid discussion on the WTA's handling of Stefano Vukov's ban and subsequent return to the sport. (More here: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6542878/2025/08/08/elena-rybakina-coach-suspension-lifted-stefano-vukov-wta/) US Open Prize Money confirmed: Calvin and George debate the implications of the latest prize money announcements and the ongoing arms race among grand slams. And finally... Here is that piece from Matt Lambwell on the weird and wacky US Open... https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-14986287/Tennis-richest-prize-fund-listers-influencers-galore-reality-dating-YouTube-years-US-Open-promises-wildest-wackiest-yet.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Tennis Unfiltered, James Gray, Calvin Betton, and George Bellshaw answer your questions on court speeds, the current state of tennis, the Masters events, player celebrations, and the ethics of interviewing controversial figures. The conversation also touches on... - Emma Raducanu's new coaching decision, bringing on board Francisco Roig - Alexander Zverev begs Toni Nadal to come and coach him after a productive week at his academy, even on court with Rafa - Dan Evans starts a fight with Alejandro Davidovich Fokina while Ben Shelton starts a fight with Flavio Cobolli - Eugenie Bouchard retires - Novak Djokovic the minimalist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the podcast by subscribing to NordVPN. Make sure you use this link to get our special offer and so they know you came from here! Four months extra, discounted rate and a 30-day moneyback guarantee: https://nordvpn.com/tennisunfiltered In this episode of Tennis Unfiltered, host James Gray and guests George Bellshaw and Calvin Betton discuss the latest happenings in the tennis world. They delve into Jannik Sinner's controversial decision to rehire his fitness coach Umberto Ferrara, Cam Norrie's impressive comeback, and Stefanos Tsitsipas' return to working with his father after parting ways with Goran Ivanisevic. The trio also covers Emma Raducanu's recent performances and win over a slightly spiky Naomi Osaka, Daniil Medvedev's dramatic match point against Corentin Moutet, and Venus Williams' enduring (!) talent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join James Gray, Calvin Betton and George Bellshaw as they welcome Wimbledon doubles champion Lloyd Glasspool to Tennis Unfiltered. As well as a lengthy question and answer session, Lloyd shares insights into his recent Wimbledon triumph (and 3am celebrations), the unique dynamics of playing against former partners Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten, and the challenges faced by doubles players in gaining recognition. The conversation also touches on the broader issues within the tennis world, including the marketing of doubles and the ongoing debate about its value. Guest: Lloyd Glasspool, Wimbledon doubles champion; Ben Rothenberg, Bounces Hosts: James Gray, Calvin Betton, George Bellshaw CHAPTERS 00:00: Introduction and Overview of the Episode 05:03: Reflections on Wimbledon 2025 14:05: Commentary and Broadcasting in Tennis 18:05: Potential Pundits: Ex-Players as Commentators 28:40: The Impact of Player Withdrawals on Masters Events 33:44: The Challenges of Tennis Scheduling 43:31: The Future of Tennis: Addressing Climate Change 53:26: Wildcards in Washington: Fairness vs. Star Power 01:03:58: Dream Guests for the Podcast: Who Would You Choose? 01:08:10: Analysing Tennis Matches: A Coach's Perspective 01:13:09: Training Young Tennis Players: Balancing Fun and Discipline 01:21:07: HEAD TO HEAD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Calvin Betton is back! He dials in from Barnsley to join James Gray and George Bellshaw at Wimbledon for one last daily podcast. - Jannik Sinner avenges French Open final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz with a four-set victory on Centre Court - Alcaraz said he was "just better than me" from the baseline and looked short of answers as his serving fell apart - Sinner said it had been emotionally challenging to turn around the Roland Garros result but that he had been pushing every day in practice, even when he didn't feel like he could - Veronika Kudermetova & Elise Mertens win the women's doubles the day after Lloyd Glasspool & Julian Cash secure the men's title Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

George Bellshaw and James Gray spend almost as long talking about the women's final as Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova spent playing it... - Swiatek becomes only the eighth woman ever to win the career "Surface Slam" - Anisimova is the first woman since 1911 to be handed a 6-0, 6-0 defeat in a Wimbledon, and first in any slam since 1988 - Swiatek moves clear of Martina Hingis and Maria Sharapova with her sixth grand slam title and back up to No 3 in the world - Nick Kyrgios predicts Carlos Alcaraz will overcome Jannik Sinner in the men's final - Ben Rothenberg (cameo, brief) says the opposite, and explains his shoes! James's Nick Kygrios interview here: https://inews.co.uk/sport/tennis/nick-kyrgios-tennis-boring-right-now-ill-be-back-soon-3802975 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

George Bellshaw and James Gray look back at men's semi-final day at Wimbledon, in which Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner booked a rerun of the French Open final. Novak Djokovic admitted afterwards that age has caught up with him and that he keeps turning up to matches against Sinner and Alcaraz with the tank half-empty... ...but the Serb says it is not his last Wimbledon Meanwhile Jannik Sinner is a fourth-round lucky loser into the SW19 final for the first time... ...but what would have happened if Grigor Dimitrov HAD beaten him in the last 16? Carlos Alcaraz produces a near-perfect performance, barring one brain-fart service game, to down Taylor Fritz The American still has an unimpressive record against top 10 players at grand slams and must be wondering when these two will stop winning And Andre Agassi was a welcome surprise commentator on the first semi-final, outshining Andrew Castle and Tim Henman with his pithy and analytical breakdowns: https://inews.co.uk/sport/tennis/andre-agassi-bbc-coverage-tennis-watchable-3801983 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Molly McElwee subs in for George Bellshaw and joins James Gray to talk about the aftermath of women's semi-final day at Wimbledon. - Amanda Anisimova booked her place in a first ever grand slam final in front of her family and friends, coming full circle from her eight-month break from tennis in 2023 (Read James's piece here: https://inews.co.uk/sport/tennis/artist-psychologist-wimbledon-final-amanda-anisimova-3799855) - Aryna Sabalenka once again lost at Wimbledon at the semi-final stage and insisted she was not going to "do a Roland Garros" again (but sort of did) - Belinda Bencic's remarkable run, 15 months on from starting a family, comes to an end in a one-sided semi-final - Iga Swiatek is within one victory of the career Surface Slam, winning a grand slam on hard, clay and grass (Read Molly's piece here: https://inews.co.uk/sport/tennis/iga-swiatek-time-become-superstar-3799968) Mollie McElwee is a freelance journalist and the author of "Building Champions": https://www.amazon.co.uk/Building-Champions-Success-Womens-Tennis/dp/1913759237 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices