Podcasts about open era

We're getting read and booked on the latest episode with the return of The Ball Boys Book Club!  Paul is joined by Edward Schmit, author of the new gay tennis romance, The Open Era.  We play New Balls Please and then dive deep into his debut novel, the steamy romance between Austin and Diego in a fresh take on rivals to lovers.  From the anxiety players face, to the important relationships between players and coaches, to the way the media handles or mishandles LGBTQ+ stories this book takes us on a ride.  Whet your whistle with us then pick up a copy of The Open Era wherever you buy your favorite books.  

Send us Fan MailEpisode 35: Roland Garros 2026 Recap & The Grass Court Swing BeginsWe're back with a Roland Garros week two recap that had us screaming, crying, and everything in between. Mirra Andreeva claimed her first Grand Slam title at 19, dropping only 17 games in the second week and accepting the trophy in a custom Nike jacket that read "I'd like to thank myself" — because she absolutely should. Meanwhile, qualifier Maja Chwalińska became only the second player in Open Era history to reach a Grand Slam final as a qualifier, jumping from ranked 114 to number 21 overnight, getting a hero's welcome at the Warsaw airport, and somehow almost running out of money for her hotel mid-tournament. Her story — which includes a very public battle with depression in 2021 and a decision to come back to tennis on her own terms — is one of the most moving in recent memory. We also send our love to Hailey Baptiste, who suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in her second round match and has been sharing her recovery journey with breathtaking honesty. On the brighter side, Karolína Siniaková and Taylor Townsend are one US Open title away from a career Grand Slam together, and their post-win press conference might be the most wholesome four minutes of the year.We then head to the grass court swing, where the palate cleanser we all desperately needed arrived in the form of Serena Williams making her competitive return after 1,375 days away. She and Vicky Mboko upset the third seeds at Queen's Club and reminded us all why tennis is worth watching. We break down Donna Vekic going from lucky loser to champion, the deeply pointed wildcard snub of defending Queen's Club champion Tatjana Maria, Alex Eala's win in Birmingham, and Robin Montgomery winning a WTA title in the Netherlands ranked 484th in the world. Resh also delivers an important journalism moment: a full breakdown of why Wimbledon grass and football grass are about as similar as clay and hard court, and why that actually matters for how the ball behaves.In our Five Minutes with the 5%, we talk about Flavio Cobolli — the charming, superstitious, emotionally open 24-year-old from Florence who nearly upset Zverev* in a five-set Roland Garros final and who we are officially rooting for. We also address the men's champion, Alexander Zverev*, with a content warning for domestic violence — including why L'Équipe made the deliberate editorial choice not to put him on their front page after his win. We close out with the ongoing prize money fight (Wimbledon just announced a 20% increase, but players say it's not enough), the rumored Serena/Venus mixed doubles pairing with Sinner and Alcaraz at the US Open, and Resh and Stef's ongoing appreciation for women coaching women across tennis, the WNBA, and the NWSL.Next episode: our Wimbledon preview and thoughts on the Rafa Nadal documentary. See you out there, queens.Support the showInstagram : Out_Wide_PodcastJingle : https://www.nelaruizcomposer.com/Logo: https://www.instagram.com/crayonspaghetti/

This week, Danika talks about new queer books out this Pride month. Subscribe to All the Books! using RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify and never miss a book. Sign up for the weekly New Books! newsletter for even more new book news. Keep track of new releases with Book Riot's New Release Index, now included with an All Access membership. Click here to get started today! This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed On the Show: There's Only One Sin in Hollywood by Rasheed Newson (June 2) The Jellyfish Problem by Tessa Yang (June 2) Puck by Samantha Allen (June 2) Father Material by Alexis Hall (June 2) The Open Era by Edward Schmit (June 2) The Disaster Gay Detective Agency by Lev A.C. Rosen (June 2) Nemesis Mine by Amy Archer (June 23) The Feywild Job (Dungeons & Dragons) by C. L. Polk (June 2) Muñeca by Cynthia Gomez (June 2) Slasher Summer by E.L. Chen (June 23) Charity and Sylvia by Tillie Walden (June 16) Encore! by Miles Toriko Burks (June 2) Bad Queer by Gayathiri Kamalakanthan (June 2) The Secret World of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham (June 2) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andy Roddick breaks down results from Day 12 of 2026 Roland Garros. Roddick talks through Maja Chwalińska's shocking run to the Roland Garros final — only the second women's qualifier in Open Era history to reach a Grand Slam final — breaking down her elite anticipation, subtle court positioning, and how she dismantled Diana Shnaider without overpowering her. Plus, why Mirra Andreeva has been the best player at the tournament from start to finish, how her serve and ability to play through wind gives her the edge in Saturday's final, and a preview of the men's semifinals. COMMENT BELOW:  Who do you have winning the women's final? Sign up for the Newsletter & Live Chat w/ us during matches! https://servedmedia.substack.com/ Follow Served with Andy Roddick: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/servedpodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@served_podcast Learn more about ServiceNow here: https://www.servicenow.com/?campid=271869&cid=pc:brd:brnd:served:26q1:paitwfp_audioredirect_PAITW2_GAI_PAITWFP_HostRead_:none:br_ams:awa&utm_medium=podcasts&utm_source=served  --- --- --- Served with Andy Roddick is your home for all the ATP and WTA Tours Tennis Breaking News, Draw Previews, Match Recaps, Player Interviews, Match Previews and more. We cover the largest tournaments throughout the season including the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, US Open, Shanghai and talk about the best players including Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Rafael Nadal, Coco Gauff, Iga Świątek, Naomi Osaka, Aryna Sabalenka, Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Emma Raducanu, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Roger Federer, Jack Draper. --- --- --- #RolandGarros #RolandGarros2026 #Chwalinska #Andreeva #FrenchOpen #FrenchOpen2026 #Tennis #GrandSlam #WTA #WTATennis #QuickServed Thank you to our sponsors: ServiceNow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The most extraordinary Roland Garros final in years. Mirra Andreeva vs Maja Chwalinska at the French Open 2026 is a Grand Slam final that nobody predicted — and we have the full Andreeva vs Chwalinska prediction, preview, and tactical breakdown right here.Andreeva is 19 years old, the No. 8 seed, and is playing the first Grand Slam final of her career after a dominant campaign that included a stunning semi-final demolition of Marta Kostyuk. Chwalinska is ranked world number 114, came through qualifying, and is only the second qualifier in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam final — the first since Emma Raducanu won the 2021 US Open. Along the way she beat Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, Maria Sakkari, Anna Kalinskaya and Diana Shnaider. The Andreeva vs Chwalinska Roland Garros 2026 final is the most unpredictable Grand Slam final in years, and a new champion will be crowned on Saturday.Can Andreeva claim her first ever Grand Slam title on the Paris clay she has made her home? Or does Chwalinska complete the most stunning Cinderella story in modern tennis history?

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.If you've been sleeping on sports romance, this episode is your wake-up call. Tennis romance is officially having its moment in publishing — and the author who was writing it a decade before anyone else is finally getting her flowers.In this episode, Laura chats with Jennifer Iacopelli, author of Game Set Match and its sequel Wild Card — new adult tennis romances newly re-released through Little Brown's Requited imprint after Jennifer's YA novel Finding Her Edge was adapted into a Netflix series. They dig into Jennifer's 15-year publishing journey, the ensemble cast storytelling structure of the Game Set Match series, the road from canceled Olympics to Netflix, and why tennis provides the perfect natural force-proximity setup for romance. Plus, Jennifer shares her top sports romance recs (including a few you can grab right now) and a YA F1 romance that's coming in 2027 that you'll want to add to your TBR immediately.Perfect for fans of Challengers, sports romance, and anyone who loves a resilience arc — in fiction and in real life.

Tennis is a sport that comes with ups and downs, but for Edward Schmit, it also came with a fresh level of obsession. After a hurricane took over his US Open experience, Eddie found himself falling in love with a sport he'd always been aware of, but never fully paying attention to. As he watched players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner start their meteoric rise to the top of the tennis world, Eddie also started playing the sport himself, as an outlet for his mental health. We discussed how the sport helped him find balance, why he connected with tennis as a theatre kid, and how he channeled his love for tennis into his debut novel, The Open Era. Get The Open Era Here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/797750/the-open-era-by-edward-schmit/ Next week, Amy S. Yen joins to talk all things Interview With The Vampire, in honor of the return of The Vampire Lestat. For more podcasts like this, check out all that Tandon Productions has to offer. With shows ranging from immersive fiction adventures to talk shows that explore our connection to media and sports, there’s a podcast for everyone. Visit TandonProductions.com or search "Tandon Productions" in your podcast app to find your next perfect show.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when the first openly gay man competes in a Grand Slam — and falls for his opponent across the net? Debut author Eddie Schmit joins the show to talk about The Open Era, his queer tennis romance that's equal parts heart-racing competition and sweet slow-burn love story.Eddie shares how a mental health journey led him to tennis, how tennis led him to a book deal with Penguin Random House, and why the US Open — right in his Queens backyard — became the perfect backdrop for a story about identity, anxiety, and falling in love at exactly the wrong time. We also dig into his reading list: the Andre Agassi memoir that gripped him from page one, a practical mental health survival guide, a quirky queer literary novel about a mountain lion in the LA hills, and a cozy paranormal romance that reads like a warm hug.

Tennis fan and author of The Open Era, Edward Schmit, joins to Tony to talk about his new gay tennis book, pro tennis and more. We chat about: The pressures (and joys) of being an out gay pro player How therapy and tennis intersectEdward's amazing new book, The Open Era, and why it put Tony though it Tony's issues with left-handed people The Open Era vs Heated Rivalry Why Tony loves a fist bump For more from us, follow along on Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. And don't forget to check out our pod store. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome Back to Escaping Reality! We made it to the finale of Season 50 and what a finale it was. Between the "live finale", the Jeff Vibe Check heard around the World, and the crowning of a new Sole Survivor, we have a lot of thoughts! Thanks for joining us through another journey through a survivor season. See you in the "Open Era", whatever the heck that means.

Hockey has a long and storied history, and the Toronto Maple Leafs have been there since the beginning of the NHL. Lexi LaFleur Brown's family have been there for even longer. The sport is in Lexi's blood -- from her indigenous ancestors on the ice to her family's long standing love (and suffering) of the Leafs, there was never a moment where Lexi's life didn't include hockey. Lexi and I discuss the three eras her life and hockey have had -- playing the sport growing up, and loving it even when she was told she didn't belong on the ice, falling in love with her husband and building a life together around his NHL career, and now, writing her own hockey romance novels in Shoot Your Shot and Evening The Score. We talk about how her life simply wouldn't be the same without the sport, how she fell in love, out of love, and back in love again with it, and how she's helping carve out a more welcoming space for new fans, too. Get Evening The Score here: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/evening-the-score-lexi-lafleur-brown?variant=44009786671138 Next week, Edward Schmit joins to discuss Tennis, and his new romance novel The Open Era! For more podcasts like this, check out all that Tandon Productions has to offer. With shows ranging from immersive fiction adventures to talk shows that explore our connection to media and sports, there’s a podcast for everyone. Visit TandonProductions.com or search "Tandon Productions" in your podcast app to find your next perfect show.

Patrick and Chris discuss the finale of Season 50! And their thoughts on the tiny bit of info we got for season 51.

Survivor Season 50 is officially in the books, and Aubrey walked away with a well-earned $2 million after one of the most entertaining finales the show has produced in years. Frick and Shirley go deep on every major moment: the Final Five dynamics, Aubrey's immunity run, the fire making challenge between Jonathan and Rizzo, a chaotic live show that accidentally spoiled its own results, and a jury that had already made up its minds before anyone said a word.Beyond the result itself, the conversation covers Cirie's Spirit of Survivor tribute, the return of the live finale format, Aubrey's secret weapon for the immunity challenge, what the "Open Era" means for the future of the show, and what Survivor 52 might look like. It's a full send on a landmark season.0:00 Aubrey Wins: Immediate Reactions and the Season in Review5:13 Final Five Camp Drama and Challenge Breakdown9:39 The New Era Becomes the Open Era: Survivor's Future17:30 Cirie's Standing Ovation and Spirit of Survivor Award19:24 The "Same Ocean" Immunity Challenge22:37 Fire Making, Jonathan vs. Rizzo, and Reversing the Curse29:30 Final Tribal Council: Jury Questions, Joe's Moment, and the Vote41:17 The Winner Is Crowned, Car Curse Broken, Sia Fan Vote44:16 Community Reactions, Season 51 Preview, and Closing ThoughtsAubrey's win was built on keeping her threat level intentionally low through the first half of the game, then making decisive moves when it counted. The jury's lines were essentially locked in before anyone made their case.Jonathan had the stronger physical resume but struggled to articulate his strategic game during Final Tribal. Repeating the same talking point cost him.Aubrey actually practiced the "Same Ocean" challenge using a version she bought on Etsy after anticipating the fan vote. That level of preparation was a major factor.The live finale format was a genuine hit, especially because the reunion elements were woven into the show rather than crammed into a rushed final hour. The accidental fire challenge spoiler made for one of the most memorable Jeff Probst moments in years.Cirie receiving the Spirit of Survivor award was a crowd favorite, even if the consensus was that a check would have been more appropriate for 20 years of moving the game.Season 50 brought in a wave of new fans, driven in part by the Mr. Beast crossover and wider cultural visibility. The show going into the "Open Era" for Season 51 and beyond opens the door for returning players, classic twists, and bigger production investment from CBS."She wanted to keep her threat level low, build these half alliances with a lot of players, play the middle, and then burst toward the end to make that resume move. And that absolutely worked.""There's something that happens in Final Tribal where that third person realizes: oh, I get it. You guys didn't actually want my answer. You're just having me solidify one of theirs.""Aubrey said she had panic attacks on day two, got to the final three, came back for a final five, played 137 days, took time off to work on herself, then came back for 50 and did everything to get to the end. That was the resume liner. She's been practicing that in the mirror for a long time.""She moves the game to where she wants it without anyone seeing it. The producers in the moment are seeing what we see at home all the time.""That was our final Survivor twist. That was such quick thinking. He came back from the break and just patched it right up."If you are watching Survivor 51 with us, make sure you subscribe so you never miss a recap episode. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, it genuinely helps the show grow. And if you loved this finale as much as we did, share the episode and let people know you are out here with the #GeekFreaksPodcast community.All news and episode discussion referenced in this episode can be found at GeekFreaksPodcast.com, your source for everything covered on the show.Twitter: @OutlastPodcast1

Rome is done and Roland Garros starts tomorrow. Anastasia is joined by Lucy Deuce for a tennis-friends-on-the-couch breakdown of one of the loudest weeks of the clay swing: Jannik Sinner completing the Career Golden Masters at 24, Elina Svitolina lifting a third Rome title and locking herself back into the top 10, and Coco Gauff fighting her way to a final the discourse swore she wouldn't reach. They also stop for a voice memo from journalist Hanlon Walsh on the ground in Rome, get into Gucci and the luxury-fashion-meets-tennis moment, and preview a Roland Garros draw that genuinely no one has figured out yet.In part two, Anastasia sits down with Edward Schmidt, author of The Open Era — a queer, mental-health-forward tennis novel out June 2 (June 4 in the UK). This conversation also kicks off something Anastasia has been sitting on for nearly a year: the very first Ground Pass Book Club. Links to pre-order and to the book launch at The Strand in NYC are in the show notes.Settle in, pour the coffee, this one is a long, juicy ride.Chapters:00:00 Intro00:26 Highlights from the Rome Masters08:31 Locking In for Roland Garros with Lucy Deuce12:28 Fashion Meets Tennis: The Gucci Influence18:30 Rome Tournament Highlights and Results20:32 Jannik Sinner's Triumph in Rome29:57 Elina Svitolina's Comeback and Impact on Women's Tennis35:44 Coco Gauff's Journey and Resilience43:55 Looking Ahead to Roland Garros48:52 Interview with Edward Schmidt51:53 Eddie's Journey into Tennis54:12 The Open Era: Book Overview57:36 Mental Health in Tennis01:02:14 Cultural Moments in Tennis01:03:22 The Impact of Social Media on Sports01:06:48 Representation in Tennis01:10:41 Coming Out in Sports01:13:46 The Impact of Representation01:15:36 Mental Health and Authenticity01:26:24 OutroLinks: Vanity Fair funny clip: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYSWSIzJap7/?igsh=bGxzbW5udmJ3bjRz Merch: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop

pWotD Episode 3197: Carlos Alcaraz Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 692,939 views on Sunday, 1 February 2026 our article of the day is Carlos Alcaraz.Carlos Alcaraz Garfia (Spanish: [ˈkaɾlos alkaˈɾaθ ˈɣaɾfja]; born 5 May 2003) is a Spanish professional tennis player. He is currently ranked world No. 1 in men's singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), and finished as the year-end No. 1 in 2022 and 2025. Alcaraz has won 25 ATP Tour–level singles titles, including seven majors. He is one of nine men (and the youngest) to complete the career Grand Slam in singles.Alcaraz began his tennis career in 2018 at age 14. He broke into the top 100 of the rankings in May 2021, and ended that year ranked No. 32 after reaching the US Open quarterfinals. In 2022, Alcaraz won his first major title at the US Open, becoming the youngest man and the first male teenager in the Open Era to reach the world No. 1 singles ranking, at 19 years, 4 months and 7 days old. After finishing the year as the youngest year-end No. 1 in ATP rankings history, he was named the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year for his performance that season.In 2023, Alcaraz claimed his second major title at Wimbledon, defeating seven-time champion Novak Djokovic in the final. In 2024, he won the French Open and Wimbledon, followed by a silver medal at the Paris Olympics. He claimed his fifth and sixth major titles in 2025, defeating Jannik Sinner in the final of the French Open as well as the US Open. In 2026, Alcaraz won the Australian Open, becoming the youngest man in history to complete the career Grand Slam, at 22 years, 8 months and 27 days old.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:47 UTC on Monday, 2 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Carlos Alcaraz on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Gregory.

It's not officially a Slam until Jelena Djokovic accuses Naomi Osaka of being so nasty and so rude while Jelena's husband narrowly avoids a default for something completely of his own making (again). Anyway, how was your first week??? The Australian Open has given us some exciting breakouts (Jovic, Bartunkova, Tien again) and a marquee quarterfinal lineup, with the top 6 men and women through for the first time in the Open Era. Osaka reminded us who she is – and what tennis is missing – with her audacious walk-out jellyfish look. But to be serious for a minute, American players are being asked to speak during this unprecedented and dangerous period in our history, and most are failing miserably. It's time to be brave. 3:45 A historically great quarterfinal lineup 5:45 Highlights of the first week of the men's draw 11:30 The extreme heat rule: Jannik gets lucky, but it's not unfair  18:35 Women's first week: Mboko and Jovic break out; Sabalenka sails; Iga wants a day session, dammit 32:05 The Osaka-Cirstea dustup + a Dramatic Reading 45:25 American players, it's time to be brave 57:25 It's fashion! God forbid a girl wants to be a jellyfish!  66:15 Lulu, K-Swiss, New Balance, and a shoulder blade

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are set for a blockbuster US Open final, and Joel and Kim are here to break it all down at Tennis Weekly HQ.Alcaraz delivered a statement performance against Novak Djokovic, gaining revenge for his Australian Open defeat earlier this year and scoring his first hard-court victory over the 38-year-old Serbian legend. The Spaniard cruised through in straight sets, not dropping a set all tournament, still finding the time to play golf with Sergio Garcia, and secured his spot in a second US Open final as he eyes both the trophy and a return to World No. 1.Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner battled through the night session, overcoming an inspired at times Felix Auger-Aliassime in four hard-fought sets to notch his 300th career win. Despite a mid-match medical timeout, the Italian found his best tennis in the clutch moments to set up yet another Grand Slam showdown with Alcaraz. For the first time in the Open Era, two players will contest three major finals in the same season — Roland Garros, Wimbledon and now New York. Who will claim the US Open crown and the year-end No. 1 ranking? Join us as we lay down our predictions and get Kim's view on the women's final between Aryna Sabalenka and Amanda Anisimova!SOCIALSFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus email the show tennisweeklypod@gmail.com.MERCHPurchase Tennis Weekly Merch through our Etsy store including limited edition designs by Krippa Design where all proceeds go towards the podcast so we can keep doing what we do!REVIEWS***Please take a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It really means a lot to us at HQ and helps make it easier for new listeners to discover us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

pWotD Episode 2994: Carlos Alcaraz Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 865,228 views on Sunday, 13 July 2025 our article of the day is Carlos Alcaraz.Carlos Alcaraz Garfia (Spanish: [ˈkaɾlos alkaˈɾaθ ˈɣaɾfja]; born 5 May 2003) is a Spanish professional tennis player. He has been ranked as the world No. 1 in men's singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), including as the year-end No. 1 in 2022. Alcaraz has won 21 ATP Tour-level singles titles, including five major titles and seven ATP 1000 titles.Alcaraz began his professional career in 2018 at age 15. He broke into the top 100 of the rankings in May 2021, and ended that year in the top 35 after reaching the US Open quarterfinals. In March 2022, he won his first ATP 1000 title at the Miami Open at the age of 18. Alcaraz won his first major title at the 2022 US Open, becoming the youngest man and the first male teenager in the Open Era to top the singles rankings, at 19 years, 4 months, and 6 days old. Finishing the year as the youngest year-end No. 1 in ATP rankings history, he was named the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year for his performance that season.In 2023, Alcaraz claimed his second major title at Wimbledon, defeating seven-time champion Novak Djokovic in an epic final. In 2024, he won his third and fourth major titles at the French Open and Wimbledon, followed by a silver medal at the Paris Olympics. He claimed a fifth major title at the French Open in 2025 in another classic final, overturning a two-set deficit to top seed Jannik Sinner.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 10:07 UTC on Monday, 14 July 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Carlos Alcaraz on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Raveena.

Time to grab your strawberries and cream! Wimbledon is underway, but more than a handful of top seeds have already fallen, including Coco Gauff, Jess Pegula, Zheng Qinwen, Alexander Zverev and Holger Rune. WTA coach Luke Saville and player Jaimee Fourlis join Brie and Matt to break down the latest news from The Championships. The panel also reacts to Pegula's comments about the perils of best-of-three-set tennis, discuss their experiences facing burnout on tour, and unpack Stefanos Tsitispas’ lacklustre 2025 season. Plus, we check in on our Fantasy Draft standings and Brie steals the spotlight with her sneaky Wimbledon-themed Top 5. AusOpen.comiHeartApple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textRewind to 3 July 2005 to 9 July 2005 and buckle in, because the chaos this week is coming at you from space, underground, and straight out of the Hot 97 parking lot.

George Bellshaw has survived his bike ride and James Gray has survived the first round, so they've got their microphones together to discuss it all. Shock Exit for Coco Gauff: The biggest upset of the tournament saw French Open champion and No 2 seed Coco Gauff knocked out in the first round by Dayana Yastremska. Gauff struggled with her serve, recording nine double faults in a straight-sets defeat, making her only the third woman in the Open Era to lose in the first round of Wimbledon after winning Roland Garros. Top Seeds Continue to Tumble in Women's Draw: Beyond Gauff, the women's draw saw two more high-profile exits. No 5 seed Zheng Qinwen lost in the first round for the third consecutive Wimbledon, falling to Katerina Siniakova, while No 3 seed Jessica Pegula was also upset in straight sets by Elisabetta Cocciaretto, marking her earliest Grand Slam exit in five years. Zverev's Unexpected First-Round Loss: On the men's side, third seed Alexander Zverev suffered a surprising five-set defeat to Arthur Rinderknech. Zverev expressed feeling "empty" and "struggling mentally" after the match, which was suspended overnight due to Wimbledon's 11pm curfew. Fritz Survives Marathon including Record Serve: Taylor Fritz emerged victorious in a gruelling five-set match against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, which spanned two days due to the curfew. Notably, Mpetshi Perricard hit the fastest serve in Wimbledon history at 153mph during the match, though Fritz managed to win that point. British Hopes Progress to make it 10 in R2: There was mixed news for British players. Jack Draper advanced to the second round after his opponent retired injured, and young Jack Pinnington Jones secured a maiden Grand Slam win. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

George Bellshaw has survived his bike ride and James Gray has survived the first round, so they've got their microphones together to discuss it all. Shock Exit for Coco Gauff: The biggest upset of the tournament saw French Open champion and No 2 seed Coco Gauff knocked out in the first round by Dayana Yastremska. Gauff struggled with her serve, recording nine double faults in a straight-sets defeat, making her only the third woman in the Open Era to lose in the first round of Wimbledon after winning Roland Garros. Top Seeds Continue to Tumble in Women's Draw: Beyond Gauff, the women's draw saw two more high-profile exits. No 5 seed Zheng Qinwen lost in the first round for the third consecutive Wimbledon, falling to Katerina Siniakova, while No 3 seed Jessica Pegula was also upset in straight sets by Elisabetta Cocciaretto, marking her earliest Grand Slam exit in five years. Zverev's Unexpected First-Round Loss: On the men's side, third seed Alexander Zverev suffered a surprising five-set defeat to Arthur Rinderknech. Zverev expressed feeling "empty" and "struggling mentally" after the match, which was suspended overnight due to Wimbledon's 11pm curfew. Fritz Survives Marathon including Record Serve: Taylor Fritz emerged victorious in a gruelling five-set match against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, which spanned two days due to the curfew. Notably, Mpetshi Perricard hit the fastest serve in Wimbledon history at 153mph during the match, though Fritz managed to win that point. British Hopes Progress to make it 10 in R2: There was mixed news for British players. Jack Draper advanced to the second round after his opponent retired injured, and young Jack Pinnington Jones secured a maiden Grand Slam win. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1991, Michael Stich was a relative unknown, seeded sixth at Wimbledon where he powered through to meet three-time champion Boris Becker. The match was the first all-German major final in the Open Era. This episode is part of the International Tennis Hall of Fame's TennisWorthy short-form series. View more TennisWorthy stories at tennisfame.com/tennisworthy

And that's a wrap!On the final episode of Open Era, Simon and Devang sit down for their 2024 Fireside Chat. Dev and Simon discuss the state of Tennis heading into 2025, share why they're concerned but also (slightly) optimistic, and examine how the podcast landscape has changed since 2019 when they started. To close out, they share their predictions for the future of sport and of course, thank our wonderful listeners.Thank you for listening to Open Era! Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.

It's awards time! Put on your best dinner jacket and pick up a Golden Racket…Or something like that. Dev and Simon pick their award winners for 2024 in what is Open Era's penultimate show. Just one more fireside chat and that's all she wrote. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.

What's worse than one World Number 1 testing positive for banned substances? What about two World Number 1's! Boy oh boy what a time to be at the head of the ATP and WTA with Iga Swiatek joining Jannik Sinner on the naughty stool. Dev and Simon are also joined by Priyanka Dobson to talk about the career of the recently retired Rafael Nadal. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.

As Open Era gets close to closing the circle, Rafael Nadal got there before us. Devang and Simon celebrate the life of the great Spaniard before turning their attention towards the ATP Finals and the BJK Cup. They also give their thoughts on Taylor Fritz's hair and Carlos Alcaraz's nose strips. Riveting podcasting. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.

We are finally at the end of the 2024 season and Donald Trump is once again going to be President of the United States. Cursed. The WTA Finals took place in Saudi Arabia. Truly cursed. Paris Bercy took place and was won by Alexander Zverev. Truly truly cursed. Devang and Simon do their best to unpack a moment in time which only mothers could love.  Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.

The tennis world is returning to Canada, bar a few notable exceptions, and Simon and Devang are quite excited. On this week's Open Era, the guys preview the National Bank Open in Toronto and Montreal, and preview the chances of the various Canadians including FAA, Milos, Bianca and Leylah. Then they dig into parting shots, where the takes remain scalding and smart. We're a humble podcast.Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.

Finally, there is a new grand slam champion in men's tennis. Defector staff writer Giri Nathan joins the show this week to recap a wild US Open. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.

It happened people. It finally happened. Aryna Sabalenka is slam champion. On a day that many thought might never happen we have a brand new slam champion on the WTA. Devang and Simon unpack the significance of her victory before turning their attention to some of the other winners from the past two weeks in Melbourne Park. We end with Parting Shots and have some choice words over the Australian Open Ball Kids policy. I wonder if Craig Tiley would accept his salary as a gift bag? Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.

Another legend is walking away from Tennis. On this week's Open Era, Devang and Simon react to the news of Rafael Nadal's impending retirement, which will be official at the conclusion of the Davis Cup in Malaga. The guys share their favourite memories of the Spaniard, wonder what he'll be remembered most for and mark the other news and notes in the tennis world, including Richard Gasquet's bombshell, the return of the Wuhan Open and much more. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.

After shunning September, Simon and Devang are back for October! On today's podcast, the guys discuss Sincaraz in Beijing, WADA's big case and Carlos post-US Open. Staying in Beijing, Gauff vs. Osaka and a loaded Women's field is also covered. In Parting Shots, we tackle recent schedule complaints, Caroline Garcia, Zhang Shuai, Marin Cilic and plenty more!  Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.

As we continue our look back at 2022 we arrive at some our of favourite matches. For once, Simon has not included a Musetti match (or has he??) but has turned his attention to a different teenage phenom. Devang and Simon also give the eyes emoji to the Ostrava!!! Final between Iga Swiatek and Barbora Krejcikova. Come on you know an Ostrava!!! Match had to be in here somewhere… Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.

Tennis is a famously exclusive sport. So which forces and institutions determine who gets access? Who's guarding the gates, and what's the criteria for entry? In this episode, which is co-produced by Sheriece Matias Dick, we start to explore the barriers to entering tennis, the various paths into the sport, and how the gatekeeping institutions of tennis have jockeyed for power through the profound economic and cultural changes of the past 140 years. After exploring a few players' journeys into pro tennis, we look into the founding ethos of the sport -- “gentlemanly amateurism” -- and how that obsession with status permeated the sport even as it became more accessible to working class people. Finally, we land in the present day, where the seat of power has shifted from aristocratic patrons to the corporate sponsor, with their own standards of conduct, inclusion, and ‘class.' 0:30 What is gatekeeping and how does it relate to tennis? 9:40 Various routes to becoming a pro tennis player 12:25 Comparing Tiafoe and Fritz 23:05 Tennis' “working class champions”: various paths to the pro level 30:20 The financial barriers for kids entering tennis 36:50 Tennis as an activity for the leisure class 41:45 Code of etiquette: a surprisingly durable way to police the gate and perform class status  48:30 The Open Era democratizes tennis, sort of 51:45 The new tennis economy: broadcasting rights, sponsorships, and the invention of the branded tennis celebrity 57:35 Connors, McEnroe, and their very American “class struggle” 65:00 From patron to sponsor

Episode 200! Simon and Devang return for their monumental 200th episode of Open Era. On this week's show: Davis Cup reaction, Novak Djokovic yells at some Brits, Jannik Sinner makes some history, a new Saudi Super League in Tennis beckons as the WTA and ATP may change forever and we get into plenty more on Parting Shots. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.

In a tale of two finals, Aryna Sabalenka made back to back Australian Opens look smooth sailing. Jannik Sinner definitely did not make easy work of it to win his first Grand Slam. All that being said, it was a jam packed second week at the first major of the year. Sin, Sabs, Bops and Hshieh headline both very much a changing of the guard and very much not a changing of the guard. Plus Parting Shots as Devang and Simon ask the age of question of whether this was actually a good tournament. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.

What's old is new again, with a bit of a twist..On this week's Open Era, Simon and Devang unpack the ending of the 2024 US Open. Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner ended this grand slam season the way they started it: on top.The guys discuss both champions, Sinner's run in with the doping authorities, the American wave that fell just short plus plenty more on a Championship edition of Open Era!Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.

We feel old.On this week's Open Era Simon and Devang unpack a stunning opening week at the US Open that saw both Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic eliminated early. They discuss the implications of those upsets on the men's side.Elsewhere, the women's half is loaded headed into the business end of the tournament. The guys assess the favourites before heading into Parting Shots!Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.

Ouch, I've cut my finger in typing up this episode description. Luckily enough nothing could possibly go wrong from this incredibly normal situation. In other news, World number one Jannik Sinner has been cleared of any wrongdoing after twice testing positive for a banned substance in March. Devang and Simon unpack a wild week in the sport before turning our attention to a live US Open draw preview. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.

Ladies, Gentlemen and our Non Binary friends. The Olympics are over. What on earth are we supposed to do with our lives now? On this week's Open Era, Simon and Devang give their top 5 moments and stories each before covering the events in Toronto and Montreal. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.

The Olympics are over. What on earth are Devang and Simon going to do with their time now? How about we just go head first into the American Hard Court season instead. The tennis season never stops. Open Era never stops. Sport never stops. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.

The Paris Olympics roll on and so does Open Era as Simon and Devang bring you the latest and greatest from the Tennis at Roland-Garros. Plus, the guys discuss their favourite Olympic events so far, Dronegate and the Canadian Women's soccer team and plenty more. As always, they conclude with Parting Shots and 2 Challenges Remaining! Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.

Lulu Sun is on the rise. The Texas alum shares her story becoming the first woman from New Zealand to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals in the Open Era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Olympics are here! On this week's Open Era, Simon and Devang preview the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad and the tennis we'll see. Andy Murray's farewell will take center stage, but there's plenty of other intrigue. Elsewhere, are the Olympics good? Mostly no. The guys dive into that plus Swiatek ,Fils, Zverev, Alcaraz, Nadal and plenty more! Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.

Tears. Lots of tears. It was an emotional week in tennis. The Laver Cup brought to an end the career of Roger Federer. It's all Jack Sock's fault really! Devang and Simon unpack the week before turning our attention to the Real Tennis ™ of the past 7 days. Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.

On this week's Open Era, Simon and Devang revisit an exciting conclusion to this year's Wimbledon. It included a real changing of the guard (probably) and feel good stories. We go deep on Paolini and Djokovic as well, plus in Parting Shots we discuss Morgan Riddle's Instagram, Roger Federer's concerts and Serena Williams' ESPYs.. Join us!Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.

Patrick Michael Rafter (born 28 December 1972) is an Australian former world No. 1 tennis player. He reached the top Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) singles ranking on 26 July 1999. His career highlights include consecutive US Open titles in 1997 and 1998, consecutive runner-up appearances at Wimbledon in 200 and 2001, winning the 1999 Australian Open men's doubles tournament alongside Jonas Bjorkman, and winning two singles and two doubles ATP Masters titles. He became the first man in the Open Era to win Canada Masters, Cincinnati Masters and the US Open in the same year, which he achieved in 1998; this achievement has been dubbed the American Summer Slam. To date, only two players have followed this feat: Andy Roddick in 2003, and Rafael Nadal in 2013. Rafter is the third man in the Open Era to reach semifinals or better of every Grand Slam tournament in both singles and doubles, after Rod Laver and Stefan Edberg, and remains the last man to date to accomplish this. Rafter is also the only player to remain undefeated against Roger Federer with at least three meetings, though the meetings took place early in Federer's career. He is also the only player with a winning record over the Swiss on all the three main surfaces: hard clay and grass.

Simon and Devang return with a mid-Wimbledon check-in!On Today's show the guys discuss Andy Murray's farewell, upsets and injuries on the Women's bracket and the Sinner-Alcaraz collision course.In Parting Shots, they unpack Novak Djokovic's lengthy answer on the state of tennis today, Emma Raducanu, Judy Murray and the art of sarcasm, SW19 fashion plus plenty more!Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.

Who will win Wimbledon? Devang and Simon clearly don't know. But do you?The boys unpack a busy few weeks on the grass courts with some surprise and not so surprising winners.Plus Parting Shots where we examine the Stefanos TradWife content. It's a weird world out there….Also go and vote if you like in Britain.Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them! Come join the Patreon family for bonus content, access to the exclusive discord server and ad free episodes. Follow @OpenEraPod on Twitter! While you're there say hello to @DesaiDevang or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@openera.ca If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store. If you enjoyed today's show, please rate Open Era 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.