Painting Lines - A Tennis Podcast

This week Erik and Aidan have a bunch of topics to cover as Roland Garros kicks off. In a historic achievement last week, Novak Djokovic became only the third man to win 100 or more titles in his career, collecting his first championship of the season at the Geneva Open. Meanwhile, Richard Gasquet brings his illustrious career to a close this week at Roland Garros, marking the end for another player who was overshadowed by the big 3. Finally, a new challenger emerged in Hamburg as an underdog Italian proved his mettle.

With the release of the Roland Garros Draw, Erik and Aidan hop on the pod for a quick discussion covering what they are seeing from the matchups and what excites them looking forward into the tournament. Some players seem to have an easier draw than others, and certain top seeds may be ousted early. The guys discuss whether Sinner or Alcaraz will have an easier run to the final, and what top players could make an exit earlier than their projected quarterfinals. Be sure to check back later in the week for a full episode discussing these topics!

This week Erik and Aidan recap the second week in Rome at this Italian Masters. The first week of the tournament set up some exciting matchups down the stretch, as most of the top seeds made it to the later rounds. Some standout performances included Sinner's who returned from his 3 month hiatus as though he had never left, storming to the final with some impressive performances on the way. Meanwhile, other top seeds began to fall, with players like Zverev having complaints about the players and the Italian Open equipment. It may have been the best tournament of the year so far, so enjoy the recap and be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Erik and Aidan discuss the first week of the Italian Open taking place in Rome. Coming into this tournament, the major headline was the return of Jannik Sinner, and he has not disappointed thus far. In terms of upsets, the biggest disappointment has likely been the Americans, with every seeded player outside of Tommy Paul finding an early exit. On the other hand, most top players have survived to the round of 16, leading to some premier matchups for us to look forward to in the second week. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Erik and Aidan discuss last week's Madrid Open, a tournament full of excitement despite the fact that both Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz were absent from the event. Novak Djokovic and last year's finalist Felix Auger Aliassime went out early, while another canadian Gabriel Diallo made a shock deep run. In the end, we saw Draper make a surprising final, while Casper Ruud captured his first Masters 1000 title. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Erik and Aidan welcome on Cole Shoults. Cole has gained popularity on his social media accounts recently where he documents his journey of striving to play pro tennis at 24 years old. He travels all over the country training with ATP coaches and shares what he learns with his followers. Cole played division one tennis at Toledo University, and is also the co owner of launchpad tennis. The discussion today covers the mindset of professional players, and what it is like to be on the grind toward a pro tennis career. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!Cole's SocialsInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/coleshoults_tennis/Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@ColeShoultsTennisTiktokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@coleshoults

This week Erik and Aidan discuss an interesting week of tennis during which the top players were split between the ATP 500 tournaments in Barcelona and Munich. This was not an even split however, as Zverev was the only top 10 player to show up in Germany, giving some other players a better chance to find success there. In Barcelona, the tournament featured nearly all of the top seeds in the later rounds, but while the matchups were high level, most of the matches were disappointing in terms of the scoreline. Only a few matches delivered nailbiting and stressful moments, but an upset in the final added some excitement to the end of the tournament. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Erik and Aidan are back with a classic recap episode discussing the Monte Carlo Masters which took place this past week in Monaco. It was an interesting tournament, with a unique mix of early exits and strong late round matchups. The tournament kicked off with top seeds like Djokovic and Zverev being eliminated, with others like Medvedev barely surviving through a round or two. Other players like Alex De Minaur vastly outperformed expectations, throwing in performances like his matchup with Grigor Dimitrov, one of the most one sided matches in recent memory. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!ContentsIntro 0:00Trivia 0:25Draper's Performance 2:13Early Upsets 5:32Tsitsipas Disappointment? 10:50Surprise Runs 11:35Letdown for Americans 20:51Alcaraz Wins the Title 22:26What's New in Tennis 29:03Bet of the Week 33:45Match of the Week 36:01

This week Erik interviews Luis Flores, a former NCAA Division 1 Champion at the University of Georgia and ATP Pro. Luis shares his stories from college and the pros, from playing for the national title to competing at the prestigious grass of Wimbledon at the All England Club. He also discusses his current business in Mexico focused on combining sport with a relaxing vacation. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!Luis' LinksInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/luisflowers11/https://www.instagram.com/sportstulumretreats/

This week Aidan and Erik discuss the second half of the Miami Open. There were some great matches despite the tournament being a bit thrown off by the rain, with a mix of older players and new young talent finding success. The standout part of the last few rounds was the final, where GOAT Novak Djokovic took on 19-year old Jakub Mensik. It was a symbolic battle of old vs young with Djokovic seeking his 100th title and Mensik looking to achieve his first. In the end Mensik was able to get it done and show that the big 3 era may truly be over. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!Contents:Intro 0:00Tournament Headlines 7:10Round of 16 10:59Quarterfinals 18:42Semifinals 21:22Finals 25:13Will Djokovic win his 100th title? 31:58What's New/Bets/Match of the week 33:45

This week Aidan and Erik discuss the first week of a wild Miami Open. With last year's winner Jannik Sinner still out of the picture due to his ban, this seemed to be a perfect opportunity for top players to step up with a huge title on the line. However, it turns out the Indian Wells Masters last week was nothing to go on, as all of the top players that reached the final rounds in California last week were eliminated in their first round matchups. Other top players also found themselves ousted early, leaving the tournament truly up in the air going into the later rounds of week number 2. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!Contents:Intro 0:00Tournament Headlines 3:38Early Upsets 15:00What's New in Tennis 23:59Bet of the Week 34:20Match of the Week 36:02

This week Aidan and Erik discuss the second week of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Wrapping up the first Masters 1000 tournament of the year we had an exciting week of tennis. After some crazy early eliminations, there were a few surprising names through to the later rounds. However, by the time we reached the semifinals it seemed as though the tournament was settling back into old patterns. This was then thrown on its head after two upsets in the semis setup a surprise final with both players hoping to achieve their first Indian Wells title. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik discuss the opening rounds from the BNP Paribas Open which kicked off this week in sunny Indian Wells. Often called the "fifth slam" this tournament is the first ATP Masters 1000 event of the year and is also the first part of the "Sunshine Double." So far, this tournament has had no shortage of surprises. From top-seeded Zverev losing in the opening round, to former champion and GOAT Djokovic being ousted early for the second year in a row. Meanwhile, some storylines running through the first few rounds have been quite shocking. With some in person experience, the discussion covers what has happened and what to expect in the coming rounds. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik discuss the the final tournaments leading up to the start of the Masters 1000 season with the Sunshine Double kicking off this week in Indian Wells. Some results of these tournaments were pretty shocking, with Tsitsipas emerging victorious in Dubai while Zverev came up empty in the South American swing and in Mexico. Heading into Indian Wells it feels as though anyone has a chance to succeed given the fact that very few players have show consistency this year. Carlos Alcaraz, 2-time defending champion, looks to become only the third player to achieve a threepeat here.

This week Aidan and Erik discuss the two big tournaments that happened that week. The first took place in the middle east, with top players meeting in Doha for the Qatar Open. In a stacked tournament, Carlos Alcaraz shockingly did not emerge victorious, while other top seeds exited very early. Meanwhile in Rio, Zverev's early exit meant an open draw for many other players. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik discuss the biggest headlines from the past week in tennis. With threee tournaments going on, there were many matches to discuss, along with unrelated but massive news regarding Jannik Sinner's doping case. Sinner will face a three month ban from the tour, but may still remain the world number one through this period. In other news, a start arose in Buenos Aires, with Joao Fonseca pulling of a massive victory at a super young age. In Marseille, there was another disappointing result for Medvedev, and in Del Ray beach the Americans fell early leading to a shocking final. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik discuss the last week in tennis which featured two ATP 500 tournaments. Starting off with Dallas, there were some surprising runs, like Denis Shapovalov making it to the final, while Casper Ruud was able to impressively back up his ranking in a tournament many expected him to go out early. In Europe, Medvedev continued his dismal season while shocker Belucci made a run. But in the end, it seemed inevitable that Alcaraz would come out on top. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik discuss what has happened following the Australian Open, with the biggest topic being the ATP 250 which happened in Marseille. After one of the biggest tournaments of the year, this small indoor tournament was an interesting one as it gave some players eliminated early from last weeks slam to regain some confidence before the season gets in full swing. In an impressive run, Felix Auger Aliassime won his second tournament of the year, perhaps signaling he is back to his top 10 levels of previous years. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik discuss recap the second week of the Australian Open, wrapping up what was definitely an interesting tournament. With some parts of the bracket turning out exactly as expected, and others being complete shockers, there was a lot to talk about in this episode. With the final going how it did, there was also a lot to discuss about the impact on the future of tennis. Will Zverev ever win a Slam? Will Sinner continue to dominate? Whatever happens, be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik discuss the first week of the Australian Open which was a wild one to be sure. One of the biggest standouts was the success of the young next gen players, most of which made it through a round or two. This combined with the upset of some top seeds made for some unique matchups going into the later rounds of the tournament. There was also drama off the court which fueled conversation as well. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik are excited to welcome on fellow tennis content creator Eliza Westcoat AKA Liza West! Liza is a former Wimbledon Ball Kid that has gone on to become a tennis social media content creator focused especially on tennis fashion. The episode covers some of Liza's opinions on top tennis brands, the outfits of tennis icons, then moves into the contemporary side as the discussion moves into todays game and the Australian Open. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik discuss the first two tournaments of 2025 which took place last week in Brisbane and Hong Kong. These tournaments often serve as a sort of warm up for top players before we dive into the Australian Open later this month. With top names like Djokovic and Rublev participating, it was sure to be an exciting week of play, and from upsets to shocking runs, we definitely got our fair share of surprises. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik discuss the top players from 2024 and what they expect from each of these players going into the new year. This video is a must watch if you are confused about who the top players will be this upcoming season. From players at the top of the game that are perhaps holding a deadlock on the top rankings, to guys that are trending downward. They also discuss some young new players to watch and some anomalous players that could have shocking results this year. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik discuss the recent Next Gen Finals. This tournament was exciting all the way through from day one until the finals, with shocking upsets and great matches. Additionally, this tournament is formatted slightly different which is another topic of conversation. This tournament wraps up 2024, and sets us up for the Brisbane international starting off 2025. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik interview Daniel Cline, the CEO of Serve Club, a new way to find playing partners for Tennis, Pickleball, and Padel. This helps deal with an age old problem for racket sports which is finding a person to hit with. Serve Club is unique as it not only offers an easy way to connect with other players, but also with coaches and events. The guys break down what the app contains as well as how it came to be in an interesting episode. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik discuss the upcoming Next Gen Finals in Jeddah later this month. They focus on each of the players and break down how they were able to qualify for this tournament. From top 20 players to others dominating the Challenger Circuit, this episode gives a breakdown of some players that could be the future of tennis. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik give their thoughts on a few of the big headlines from the past week. First they cover the return of Nick Kyrgios later this month at the Brisbane International and consider the level that he may play at. Then they move on to the discussion of exhibition tournaments, particularly the recent matchups between Djokovic and Del Potro in Argentina, as well as the Nordic Battle between Ruud and Rune. The conversation covers the positives and negatives of these types of matches and who benefits from them. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik give their year end awards for the 2024 ATP Season. From some as simple as player of the year, to who would be the best hang, it's a fun episode that recaps a great 2024 season and looks forward to what will come up in 2025. Drop a comment with who your picks would be in these categories, and be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik give a recap of this year's ATP Finals in Turin. This tournament which features the top 8 players in the world was the final chance for the highest ranked players to prove why they belonged at the top this year. For some they truly showed out, such as Taylor Fritz making a run to the championship and boosting his ranking to a career high number four. For others they struggled, with players like Carlos Alcaraz and Danil Medvedev shockingly not making it out of the group stage. The discussion covers all this and more in a very fun conversation. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik are excited to welcome Ivan Yatsuk to the podcast. Ivan is a former high level division 1 college Tennis player, playing at both the University of South Florida and Northwestern. After graduating, Ivan and his colleagues started a tennis recruiting website called recruited.pro, which is changing the game for college tennis recruiting. The conversation first delves into Ivan's tennis background, before jumping into the business side of recruited.pro and the unique service it offers up and coming tennis athletes. It's a fun one, and be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik give a recap of this year's Paris Masters which took place this last week. With some top players like Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner out, this was an opportunity for a new champion to emerge, and this became even more open after the early elimination of players like Danil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz. As the final Masters 1000 of the season, this tournament was the last chance for top players to show out and collect a big title before the season was finished, and while some players floundered, others seized their chance. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik discuss the Vienna Open and Swiss Indoors tournaments which occurred over this past week. While neither tournament featured huge names like Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, or Novak Djokovic, they still were high caliber tournaments and chances for players to show their level as this season comes to a close. Shockingly, we saw very few super high seeds end up in the final rounds of these tournaments, with favorites like Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev missing out to younger talent. With tons of new names to discuss, it was definitely exciting. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik discuss the three tournaments that occurred just after the Asian Swing's conclusion at the Shanghai Masters. The top talent was split, with most of the top 5 taking a break and not playing, while other players in the top 20 attempted to secure a 250 victory either in Kazakhstan, Belgium, or Sweden. With players like Tommy Paul and Grigor Dimitrov going at it in Stockholm, other tournaments found much more shocking players in later rounds, such as Roberto Bautsita Agut winning in Antwerp. The discussion covers each of these tournaments and considers the implications of a much older player winning a tournament at this point in his career.

This week Aidan and Erik give a recap of the 2024 Shanghai Rolex Masters. From some shock upsets through the first few rounds, to the elimination of Carlos Alcaraz, to another matchup between Danil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner, this tournament gave a lot to talk about. While the final couple of rounds went about as expected, this tournament leaves a lot to look forward to in the final couple of months of the 2024 tennis season. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik delve into the history of the Shanghai Rolex Masters, the newest Masters 1000 event on the ATP schedule. From its origin on the calendar in 2009, to past winners such as Djokovic, Murray, and Federer, this episode explains why this event is a significant part of the ATP calendar. They also give a recap on the winners of last week's tournaments in Beijing and Tokyo, and look at how those players may build into this week in Shanghai. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik discuss the first week and a half of the Asian swing, with some exciting tournaments happening last week in Hangzhou and Chengdu, while we are currently in the midst of the Tokyo and Beijing Opens. The discussion covers the shock win by Marin Cilic, the success of Chinese players so far in these events, and the players in both Japan and China this week, with far more of the high ranked players appearing in Beijing compared to Tokyo, with surprising results as well. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik discuss the Laver Cup, an annual event featuring top ATP players in a team tennis exhibition that pits the European players against players from the rest of the world. Led by captains John Mcenroe and Bjorn Borg in their final year as the laver cup captatins, we saw some of the world's best duke it out and the tournament came down to the wire. The discussion covers both the basics of what the laver cup is, who participated, and the end result, as well as going over some of the specific matches that stood out from the tournament. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik take the off week to give their responses to some of the comments they have received on social media posts. From discussing fun nicknames to considering the place of Tennis in the Olympics, these comments give a fun perspective on what other tennis fans think about some of the painting lines posts. A fun discussion about comparing different tennis eras also ensues. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik discuss the final few rounds and eventual winner of the 2024 US Open Championships. After a wild first week with two massive upsets that shocked the tennis world, week two picked up from the wreckage, with top seeds dealing with unexpected opponents in later rounds, while shock runs from low seeds made for an exciting buildup to the championship, where we nearly saw the first American Slam Champion in over 20 years. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik discuss the first week at the US Open, recapping one of the most shocking tournaments in recent memory, with top seeds and favorites Alcaraz and Djokovic both making early exits, leading to an unexpected draw in which unseeded players and low seeds have made deep runs, along with a few different americans showing out at their home grand slam. They go through round by round giving their thoughts on the biggest matches from each round, before previewing the last few rounds and matchups they are excited to see. Be sure to check back next week for an update on how the tournament ended up!

This week Aidan and Erik give their thoughts on the Sinner doping scandal that shocked the tennis world this past week. Should he be banned? Is it fair to other players? Was it covered up? The guys give their thoughts as well as giving an update on the return of Nick Kyrgios and more in this fun episode. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik recap the 2024 Cincinnati Masters, one of the most wild tournaments of the year. What stood out the most were the number of issues that occurred between players and the chair umpires, as well as shocking upsets and runs from players like Frances Tiafoe who were not expected to do well in this tournament. So as we build toward the last Grand Slam of the year, how will this momentum go in NYC?. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik recap the 2024 Canadian Masters which took place this past week in Montreal. From top seeds like Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas being eliminated in their first matches, to the crazy runs from players like Matteo Arnaldi and Sebastian Korda, this tournament had its fair share of unexpected outcomes which makes this an episode you do not want to miss. What happened in this tourney could give us an idea of what to expect from this summer hardcourt season overall in the buildup to the US Open and in the Asian swing later in the autumn. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik recap Men's Tennis at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Novak Djokovic defeated Carlos Alcaraz to win the gold medal. This was a tournament that Djokovic said he had his eye on for the full year but after going titleless to this point it seemed he may not be able to pull it off, especially after undergoing surgery prior to Wimbledon. They discuss upsets from the tournament, some players that are trending up and down, and close it out with some comments on the Washington DC tournament and the Olympics overall. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik discuss a few different topics, from the tournaments that finished up last week, to the start of the olympics, to other rarely covered topics on this pod like doubles. With so much going on it can be tough to follow, so check in here to stay up to date with all the wild stuff going on in the ATP Tour. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik discuss a busy week on the tour, giving updates from four different tournaments on both grass and hard courts. From Nadal making a great run in Bastad, to upsets of Ruud and Rublev, to young players like Fils and Michelsen showing that the next generation of tennis has arrived, it was a great week of tennis. As we build into the olympic games, Djokovic searches for his final accomplishment while we will be saying goodbye to Andy Murray. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik give a recap of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships final few rounds from the quarterfinals to the final and also talk about some notable things that happened during the tournament. While in the end it felt as though the tournament went very much how it was expected to, there were some interesting matches in these last few rounds that kept the tournament exciting. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Aidan and Erik give an update on the first week of Wimbledon, which went generally as expected. The so called "early upsets" were generally against players who were not truly title contenders and often struggle on grass. Conversely, the majority of the title favorites survived through to the quarterfinals or at least through a few rounds, so despite the tournament having many exciting matches, the results were generally unsurprising.

This week Aidan and Erik are back with a classic solo episode where they break down the state of the tour entering the Wimbledon Championships. They give their opinions on who they expect to do well, giving commentary on some top contenders, some dark horses, and some complete question marks going through the first few rounds of the tournament. Be sure to check back next week for an update after the first week of the Slam!

This week Sam Querrey joins the podcast! The Former American No.1 and World No.11 player hops on to discuss his career in tennis and his transition to pickleball, one of the fastest growing sports in America. From playing in the Olympics, to beating Djokovic at Wimbledon, to his current life of Pickleball and content creation, Sam gives great insight into life as a top professional athlete and expresses interesting opinions about the tour today. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!

This week Parth and Quinn join our hosts for a fantasy draft of the best seasons of all time. From obvious picks like Djokovic 2011 and Federer 2006 to some more unorthodox choices like Sampras 1994 and Murray 2016, this episode is sure to keep you engaged and on your toes. Be sure to let us know your pick for the best team and check back next week for another episode!