Podcast appearances and mentions of Pam Shriver

Ben and Tumaini are back after the third and fourth rounds of what's turned into a wild and thrilling French Open, particularly on the men's side where the post-Sinner free-for-all has produced stunning full-length battles over and over and over again. We discuss Fonseca d. Djokovic, Jodar and the ball girl, Arnaldi d. Tiafoe, and Zverev's clear status as the favorite to win. We also discuss the women's side exits of Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek. And we're sorry that Ben's phone died mid-reading the Patrons list off of it! A reminder that is still a 15% discount on Bounces subscriptions during this French Open! Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

Ben and Tumaini come together after one of the most shocking matches of our tennis lifetimes, with prohibitive favorite Jannik Sinner taking a commanding 6-3, 6-2, 5-1 lead before promptly stopping winning points and games, ultimately listlessly falling in five sets to Juan Manuel Cerundolo. This episode has two big components: what happened to Sinner and why, and what's left of the field without him. Somebody else, stunningly, is going to win the 2026 French Open. But whom? A reminder that is still a 15% discount on Bounces subscriptions during this French Open! Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

Ben and Tumaini wrap up the first round at this 2026 French Open, where it's been very hot and a bunch of the top 10 seeds haven't looked so hot, particularly on the men's side. On the women's side, the car crashes have somehow been literal, but Naomi Osaka's fashion moment was a big hit in all the best ways. Also some Bounces items mentioned: there's a 15% discount on subscriptions during this French Open, and you can read the recent pieces on Oleksandra Oliynykova and Emma Navarro at the links. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

Ben and Tumaini keep everyone's favorite annual episode title going strong with a look at the draws for the 2026 French Open, where Jannik Sinner is a prohibitive favorite against an uninspiring men's field and the women's side seems far more up for grabs. Can anyone stop Sinner? If so, whom? And who could even make it out of the bottom half? On the women's side, we discuss Sabalenka, Swiatek, and a recent video involving Leylah Fernandez and her coach. We also discuss the media "protest" that players staged during media days, with varying degrees of successful stagecraft. Then to wrap up, we chat about our dear departed friend Howard Fendrich, the longtime AP tennis reporter who passed away this week. (You can read Ben's tribute to Howard here.) Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

Ben and Tumaini get back together at their kitchen table in Paris, discussing events of Rome, where the biggest story was Jannik Sinner making ATP history. We discuss the enormity of Jannik Sinner having won all nine Masters 1000 events, and how the ATP's term for it is deeply suboptimal. It's not the most suspenseful tour right now, but it's impressive. We also discuss the far more unpredictable women's field, including champion Elina Svitolina as well as Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Sorana Cirstea, and more. We also discuss boycott talk (we don't think it's plausible but it's still notable), and the Italian Federation's stated goal of making Rome into the official "Fifth Slam." Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

Catherine, David and Matt review an eventful few days of action in Rome and look ahead to finals weekend. Part one - WTA (00:00 - 44:40). We discuss how Elina Svitolina and Coco Gauff have both reached the final, including Svitolina's remarkable wins on back-to-back nights over Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek, as well as Gauff's battling victory over Mirra Andreeva and gradual improvement in form. Who has the edge in the final? Plus, we analyse Swiatek's tournament and wonder what it means for Roland Garros, and we hear Pam Shriver's observations from her time coaching in Rome. Part two - ATP (44:41 - 1:15:10). We start with Jannik Sinner's record-breaking run as he sweeps through the field while managing some fatigue. But there's plenty of chaos around Sinner to discuss, including a thrilling win for Daniil Medvedev against Martin Landaluce, a late-night, smoke-interrupted epic between Luciano Darderi and Rafael Jodar, and some very graceless quotes from Alexander Zverev. There's collective joy that Arthur Fils will be fit for Roland Garros and sadness that Lorenzo Musetti has withdrawn. Part three - News (1:15:11 - 1:37:03). We react to the news that Andy Murray will coach Jack Draper for the grass court season and give our thoughts on Carlos Alcaraz's Vanity Fair cover. Become a ⁠Friend of The Tennis Podcast⁠Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠new merch shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Talk tennis with Friends on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Barge! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to receive our free ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (daily at Slams and weekly the rest of the year, featuring Matt's Stat, mascot photos, Fantasy League updates, and more)Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (@thetennispodcast)Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ channel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pam Shriver joins the podcast for an in depth conversation about the state of the current game, and the latest chapter in her tennis life. The Hall of Famer reacts to the news that Carlos Alcaraz will not defend his Roland Garros title, and discusses the impact it will have on Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev. Shriver also breaks down several rising talents including Arthur Fils and Rafael Jodar, and explains why American Ben Shelton is built for the long-haul with his father Bryan guiding his career. Shriver also shares her thoughts on the WTA, and the ultra consistency of World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. The commentator discusses Elena Rybakina's all-time great serve, Iga Swiatek's attempt to reset her clay court game, and Naomi Osaka's resurgence. And Shriver explains why becoming a volunteer college coach has been extremely fulfilling, as has her work for Yonex in their new "Mindset Performance Program." Hosted by Mitch Michals. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ben called in Tumaini (who found a quiet corridor in Madrid) to record an emergency episode on the news of Carlos Alcaraz missing Rome and Roland Garros next month due to a concerning wrist injury. We usually wouldn't do an emergency episode about a withdrawal, but the competitive relevance of Alcaraz to men's tennis is hard to overstate--he's defending champion of both events--and so we dig into what it means for both for Alcaraz himself and his future, as well as the competitive landscape of the tour without him.  Also, we briefly discuss the abrupt and unforeseen exit of WTA CEO Portia Archer this week, after only about a year and a half in the job.  Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

In an episode that came out on video overnight for our Patreon backers, Ben and Tumaini discuss April events in tennis so far, including the Monte Carlo Masters from which Tumaini just returned. Has Jannik Sinner meaningfully pulled ahead of Carlos Alcaraz right now? And have they pulled even further from the pack? Plus, Valentin Vacherot's unlikely staying power. On the women's side, we cover the uncertainty around where the WTA Finals is going next (deja vu there) as well as Iga Swiatek's new coaching hire and her time on court with Rafa, and Coco Gauff showing vulnerability on social media. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

Ben and Tumaini are back together in Miami, recording during the lengthy rain delay before the men's final--and then a bit afterward--about the happenings on and off court at the Miami Open. Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner both continued their dominances, completing parallel Sunshine Double sweeps in style. On the women's side, we also discuss Iga Swiatek's decision to part with coach Wim Fissette, and awkward moments in one of Coco Gauff's press conferences. On the men's side, we discuss Arthur Fils' remarkably robust comeback from injury. We also discuss the effort--in the name of the top 10 players--for more monetary support from the majors, as well as parting thoughts on the very unusual Miami Open venue. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

Ben and Tumaini have reunited for the Miami Open, a tournament which Tumaini  is covering for the first time. We start the show with his impressions of the city and the event itself, including its passionate crowds and very strange center court. We then shift to a few of the intriguing results and players here, including the stunning Arthur Fils rout of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Sebastian Korda beating Carlos Alcaraz. We also discuss Iga Swiatek's concerns and possible crossroads with her team, as well as Naomi Osaka's state of mind.  Plus, we gush a bit about Aryna Sabalenka, as she increasingly deserves. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

  In an episode that is also available on video form on our Patreon, Ben and Tumaini  are back together for the first time since their late nights in Melbourne, catching up on a busy week of February tennis. The WTA calendar seemed to reach an abrupt breaking point, Carlos Alcaraz kept winning, Jessica Pegula showed just how underrated she is, and Arthur Fils and Jack Draper made comebacks. We also discuss another comeback about which not much is yet known...that of Serena Williams. Plus a look at the future of the South American swing and what's causing its struggles, as well as the looming shadow of the soon-arriving Saudi ATP 1000 event. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian!   

There was going to be history on Sunday no matter what, and Ben and Tumaini end their Australian Open coverage with discussion of Carlos Alcaraz's big win over Novak Djokovic, coming back from a slow start to clinch his career slam by winning the Australian Open, his seventh major title overall. We discuss Alcaraz's present and his ambitions for all-time greatness, where this event leaves his rivalry with Sinner, the future for Djokovic, the significance of a post-Ferrero win. We also, as we planned, use our last show of the tournament to look back at one of the early storylines: American players getting questions about U.S. politics in press conferences, and why we think this is a completely fair and rational thing to have happen. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

After a very good women's final, Ben and Tumaini hop the microphone once more to discuss Elena Rybakina's impressive three-set win over Aryna Sabalenka, avenging her loss in the final here three years ago. We discuss Rybakina's strong form, her potential to challenge for the top spot in the rankings, as well as Sabalenka's struggles in some of these big matches while still being the clear top player in women's tennis overall. We also discuss the remarkable arc of Stefano Vukov, Rybakina's coach, who was banned from the premises of the Australian Open a year ago, but this year collected a coach's trophy. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

After a dozen days that were mostly dull, the Australian Open kicked into high gear on Day 13, and so Ben and Tumaini stayed up late to discuss what made it so great. Carlos Alcaraz was up big, then was in trouble, then was up against the wall, but finally eked out a rousing win over Alexander Zverev to book his spot in his first Australian Open final.  But instead of being joined by his customary opponent Jannik Sinner for the fourth time in a row in a major final, Alcaraz will face 38-year-old Novak Djokovic, who used his restedness to deliver a redline beauty of a match. We look ahead to the final and how Djokovic might be able to win it, where these losses leave both Zverev and Sinner, and more. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

The women's Australian Open final is now known for this year, and Ben and Tumaini also talk about several other buzzy topics of the day. We start with Aryna Sabalenka and the great win she had, as well as the strange hindrance call, which leads to a grunting rehash. We also discuss Elena Rybakina, and the high-quality second set she had against Pegula. We then take on two other topics of the day: the player backlash against cameras prying into their backstage lives, as well as the increasingly apparent (and rapidly approaching) Serena Williams comeback. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

This Australian Open still hasn't yet had the epics we've been hoping for, but Ben and Tumaini are here to review and preview as hope springs eternal, and as the star-studded quarterfinals make way for the star-studded semifinals. There were a lot of duds in the quarterfinals, it must be said, none duddier than Lorenzo Musetti's brutal injury while commandingly leading Novak Djokovic. We also discuss the greatness of Aryna Sabalenka, and the great play of soon-to-be semifinal opponents Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

The first four rounds of the Australian Open featured historically few upsets--the Top 6 seeds are all still in for both the men and women—and so Ben and Tumaini had lots of big stars to talk about heading into the business end of this tournament. We start with the women: Sabalenka-Jovic, Gauff-Svitolina, Pegula-Anisimova, and Rybakina-Swiatek. And then on the men's side, there's Alcaraz-de Minaur, Zverev-Tien (after Tien demolished Medvedev), Musetti-Djokovic, and Shelton-Sinner. Lastly, Tumaini talks about his cousin being very famous now.  Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

A relatively drama-lite Australian Open third round sets up a blockbuster fourth round in both draws, and Ben and Tumaini were delighted to look back and look ahead as the year's first major rounds into the second week. We look ahead to the intrigues of matches like Alcaraz-Paul, Bublik-de Minaur, Medvedev-Tien(!!!), Musetti-Fritz, Mensik-Djokovic, Sabalenka-Mboko, Gauff-Muchova, and Pegula-Keys, as well as how all of our second week participants got there. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

It wasn't the newsiest Round 2 at this Australian Open until near the end, and once all the drama had died down Ben and Tumaini got together to discuss the sudden moments at the finish line. While Belinda Bencic exited to talented Czech teen Nikola Bartunkova, Naomi Osaka stayed in the talk with a testy finish against Sorana Cirstea. On the men's side, Stan Wawrinka showed his staying power, winning yet another long match in his long career. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

With the first round of the Australian Open main draw finally complete, Ben and Tumaini got together to discuss some of the biggest moments and stories. We discussed the women first, starting with Naomi Osaka's big fashion moment (and her interview with Ben), the tournament's failure to supply seats to meet the massive crowd demand for Alexandra Eala, the impressions Oleksandra Oliynykova made on court and in the press room, plus the veterans Venus Williams and Karolina Pliskova. On the men's side, we discussed Frances Tiafoe's turnaround, as well as a bit on Taylor Fritz, Novak Djokovic, Michael Zheng, and Italian incontinence. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

The one and only Pam Shriver joins Catherine, David and Matt to get hyped for the start of the Australian Open.Part one - Tales from the press conference room as Novak Djokovic enters this Australian Open strangely under the radar, Emma Raducanu reveals a technique change on the forehand, and Daria Kasatkina opens up about the joy of becoming an Australian citizen.Part two (29:42) - Titles for Mirra Andreeva and Tomas Machac in Adelaide. Can they bring that form with them to Melbourne?Part three (42:18) - A look through the order of play on Sunday. Do we foresee any upsets?The Tennis Podcast throughout the Australian Open is sponsored by Steve Furgal's International Tennis Tours - the Premium Hospitality and Experience Provider! For 10% off the best official ticket packages for Roland Garros, go to Tours4Tennis.com/Podcast, select your tickets and use the discount code Tennis10 at checkout.Official ticket and travel packages are offered and fulfilled by Steve Furgal's International Tennis Tours.Specifically for our promotions, Steve Furgal's Tennis Tours is the Official Travel Provider of the USTA and the USOpen, and an Official Provider of Roland-Garros packages. Exclusive Tennis Podcast listener offers expireFebruary 28, 2026. Terms, pricing, availability, and restrictions apply. See website for details(www.Tours4Tennis.com)Become a ⁠Friend of The Tennis Podcast⁠Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠new merch shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Talk tennis with Friends on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Barge! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to receive our free ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (daily at Slams and weekly the rest of the year, featuring Matt's Stat, mascot photos, Fantasy League updates, and more)Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (@thetennispodcast)Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ channel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back together in Melbourne for one of their favorite occasions in tennis, Ben and Tumaini jumped on the chance to record a show about the second edition of their beloved "1 Point Slam," the pre-Australian Open event which they fell in love with a year ago. We discuss this year's bigger and--often--better event, the strong play by the WTA players in particular, and the surprise finalists. What makes this event so good? And what could be even better? Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

In an episode that was already released as a video yesterday for our Patreon backers, Ben and Tumaini kick off Season 15(!) of No Challenges Remaining from opposite sides of the globe. Tumaini talks about the start to the season so far in far-flung Perth, which includes injury issues plaguing Brits at the United Cup.  We then discuss some of the biggest headlines from recent weeks: the Battle of the Sexes debacle, the Alcaraz-Ferrero split, and the news that Serena Williams has reentered the tennis testing pool. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

Catherine, David and Matt, with the help of voice notes from an esteemed list of colleagues and Friends, look back on the 2025 tennis season. Part one (00:00 - 40:24) - A very special discussion between Pam Shriver and Mary Carillo on Amanda Anisimova's resilience, a year of two halves for Coco Gauff, and the way Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz separated themselves from the field. Part two (40:25 - 1:03:53)- Charlie Eccleshare talks about the Roland Garros men's final, while Simon Briggs discusses men's tennis' hunt for its third man. Part three (1:03:54 - 1:44:33) - Hannah Wilks shares her perspective on how the sport's politics got in the way of the actual tennis in 2025 and Matt Futterman helps to close the show with reflections on how a player's narrative can change over the course of a long season. FRIENDS OF THE TENNIS PODCAST: Our premium categories for Friends of The Tennis Podcast are now open! New pet mascot, guest editor, Grand Slam predictions and Fantasy League slots are all available. You can also get yourself a shout out, intro or personal greeting, all while helping to support what we do, and gaining access to our bonus content. Friends get 12 Live Shows on YouTube, 8 editions of Tennis Re-Lived, 4 Grand Slam Review shows, episodes of Tennis Podcast Meets, access to The Barge, Hannah's Column, and significantly fewer ads. Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠new merch shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Talk tennis with Friends on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Barge! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to receive our free ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (daily at Slams and weekly the rest of the year, featuring Matt's Stat, mascot photos, Fantasy League updates, and more)Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (@thetennispodcast)Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ channel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After coming out last week in video for on the NCR Patreon and Bounces, it's a delight to bring listeners Ben's chat with Mary Carillo on the occasion of her getting voted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Ben and Mary discuss Mary's trademark honesty, her committed avoidance of social media, and much more.  Mary's a longtime NCR favorite, and we are very happy for her and delighted to have her Newport-bound. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! 

In another episode that was already released as a video overnight for our Patreon backers, Ben and Tumaini wrap up what was a very busy Saturday in the world of tennis, including three simultaneous finals. We start with the WTA Finals in Riyadh, where Elena Rybakina won a very high-quality, high-level tournament that still looked small. How is the WTA going in Saudi Arabia after two years? Should they extend their stay there? Read Tumaini's column on the state of the WTA for more. We then discuss the down-to-the-wire (down-to-the-netcord?) drama around the race to Turin, where Novak Djokovic made Lorenzo Musetti and Felix Auger-Aliassime sweat it out until the last possible moment before withdrawing from Turin. Was that fair or foul? We also discuss the newly announced "Battle of the Sexes" between Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios, which we both think is a bad idea (but for a different perspective, read Ben's interview with the organizer, Stuart Duguid).  And then for a fun finish, Tumaini waxes lyrical about his love for 1 Point Slam, which is returning in Melbourne next year in a much bigger form. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

In an annual post-marathon tradition, Ben and Ricky Dimon catch up on the world of men's tennis, both recent news and the overall stories of this 2025 season that is nearing its conclusion.  We start with the big news from the ATP, who have announced that a new, 10th Masters 1000 event will be added to the calendar win a few years. With complaints about the schedule rampant, what do we make of the addition of a big tournament that no one was really asking for? And what will the ripple effects on the rest of the calendar and the sport be? We also discuss the field of the WTA Finals, the new location of the Paris Indoors Masters, and hand out some of our own year-end awards: what ATP player had the Most Surprising 2025 (Good) and the Most Surprising 2025 (Bad)? Also, who and when will be the next non-Sinner-nor-Alcaraz Slam winner? Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Ricky's writing at TennGrand! 

In an episode that was released as a video overnight for our Patreon backers,  Ben and Tumaini catch up on the happenings of the tennis tours in China, including 204th-ranked Valentin Vacherot somehow winning ATP 1000 Shanghai, beating his first cousin Arthur Rinderknech in the title. Is it the most shocking title we can recall? We also discuss Zverev's much-mocked complaints about surfaces being rigged for Sinner and Alcaraz, the stellar seasons US women are having--but which has been best?--the Hall of Fame candidacies of Roger Federer, Juan Martin del Potro and Svetlana Kuznetsova, and an ode to Gael Monfils on the occasion of his retirement announcement. And then for something different, we discussed Tumaini's deep dive into how tennis players feel about their requirement to be woken up to pee in front of strangers. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

The Hall of Famer Pam Shriver joins the podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about the pro tennis world, and why the women's game in particular is in such great shape going forward. Shriver assesses how Amanda Anisimova stormed to another Masters Title in Beijing, and explains why she's such a great representative for the game and mental health. The broadcaster dives into the brutal conditions in Shanghai, and compares Novak Djokovic finally getting the adulation from the crowd to that of Martina Navratilova as he fights on in Asia. Shriver goes in depth about several topics including Carlos Alcaraz showing wisdom in his schedule, Coco Gauff's working plan for her serve, and the race for the WTA's No. 1 ranking between Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. The commentator also gives her opinions on the court speed debate and Gael Monfils' decision to retire at the end of next season, along with the announcement of the 2026 International Tennis Hall of Fame nominees, headlined by Roger Federer. Hosted by Mitch Michals. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ben sits down with author Giri Nathan for this episode, to go deep into his new book, Changeover, and the Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry at its focus.  This episode was recorded during the U.S. Open, but these two players remain the overwhelmingly obvious story in men's tennis, including this week as Sinner won Beijing while Alcaraz won Tokyo.  We discuss the process of writing this book--which hopefully is particularly interesting to media folks--and also the ways in which Sinner and Alcaraz's dominance might be taking suspense out of the sport right now. Slightly condensed versions of this interview are also up on Bounces. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And buy Giri's book!!

Ben and Tumaini, eventually joined by Giri Nathan, discuss the ending of this 2025 U.S. Open, which concluded with Carlos Alcaraz dominating Jannik Sinner in a four-set victory to complete their third major final of the year. How much better is Alcaraz right now in this match-up? And what did Sinner reveal in his press conference during our intermission. We also discuss the elephant in the room for this final: the US Open return of Donald Trump, and the disruption his presence caused on site. We also talk about the women's tournament, which ended with most-improved Aryna Sabalenka defeating an impressive Amanda Anisimova, and also featured a resurgent Naomi Osaka reaching the semifinals.  Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! And buy Giri's book!!

Ben and Tumaini check back in after the most-hyped match of this U.S. Open so far, in which Naomi Osaka soundly beat Coco Gauff to make it into her first major quarterfinal in more than four years. We discuss that match as well as the rest of the women's draw, including the Krejcikova-Townsend epic, and then turn to the men, in which Djokovic-Fritz is an intriguing match before what looks like (we think?) a pre-destined Sinner-Alcaraz final. Plus, Tumaini met JoJo!  Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

It's a whistlestop episode for Ben and Tumaini, who had a train to catch late Friday night at the U.S. Open. We have a lot to catch up on, including the firestorm created by the Townsend-Ostapenko match and why that hit such a cultural nerve, the bizarre mess of a scene at Iga Swiatek's press conference (which the USTA deleted from the record), Altmaier's avoidance of Tsitsipas' drama, chatter around Carlos Alcaraz's hair, Coco Gauff's struggles, Naomi Osaka sparkling, Ben Shelton and Jack Draper's injuries, the visibility of gambling on site, and a bit more. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

Scuttling previous plans, Ben and Tumaini are together once more for a bit of an emergency episode on the wild shitshow which Daniil Medvedev delivered on Sunday at the US Open, exacerbating a long delay when down match point to Benjamin Bonzi which dramatically turned the match, only for Bonzi to win in five. We discuss the surreal scenes, the mistakes made by pretty much every party involved, how single-official matches just aren't working in tennis, and more of the fallout, including Medvedev's press conference (we recorded this episode before Bonzi came in).  Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

Michelle Laflamme, the International Paralympic Committee’s Senior Manager for World Para Ice Hockey, joins Sarah to discuss the inaugural Women's World Championship (starting this week!), unpack why the “open gender” label hasn’t helped with the development of women’s players, and examine some of the challenges the sport has faced in its history. Plus, Ludmilla pulls a trick out of her hat, Alyssa Thomas is on fire for the Phoenix Mercury, and US Open singles competition is underway. Read Jack Maloney’s breakdown of Jessica Shepard’s historically fast triple-double here See the full Rugby World Cup schedule here See the full US Open schedule here Listen to Sarah’s interview with tennis legend Pam Shriver here See the full schedule for the Women’s Para Ice Hockey World Championship here And catch games streaming on the Paralympic YouTube page here Watch Chelsea FC herd sheep here Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Live from the US Open Fan Fest, tennis great and longtime broadcaster Pam Shriver sits down with Sarah to discuss her favorites heading into the US Open women's singles draw, the success of the new-look mixed doubles format at the Open, and why it's important to store your trophies in multiple cars. Plus, being a Bond Girl, shipping Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alvarez, and a little US Open history and lore to get you ready for this year's tournament. Donate to The Village Rising Foundation here Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reuniting where they first met 15 years ago, Ben is delighted to have Courtney back on NCR once more for this episode, catching up on what's happened for her this year and what she currently has in the works as she rejoined the tour this month. We discuss the end of Courtney's time at the WTA, what she's been doing in the months since, and how she got started with the new project she's been working on: a revival or reinvention of Forty Deuce. Related to what used to be and what is, we also talk a lot about how the media landscapes in which we operate have shifted since we first met, what's been lost over time, and what we hope can be rebuilt. And speaking of rebuilding, we also marvel at the radically renovated Cincinnati Open, which pulled off a stunning transformation since last year. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Courtney's work at Forty Deuce!

Ben is joined by Ava Wallace of The Washington Post to discuss their hometown tournament in DC, and how this place still manages to charm and shine as a uniquely accessible and diverse place on tour despite the challenges of a rusting stadium. We discuss the big players this week as well, including the impressive comeback of Venus Williams, local hope Hailey Baptiste, and top American men Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, and Taylor Fritz. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Ava's work at The Washington Post!

Ben and Tumaini are joined for their Wimbledon finals show by Giri Nathan, who literally wrote the book on the Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry that featured its latest chapter in the Wimbledon final.  Before discussing Sinner and Alcaraz and their continuing takeover—and Sinner finally getting another win in his column—we start with the women's final, in which Iga Swiatek blanked Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0. What do we make of Swiatek's dominance? Also, which of Swiatek, Alcaraz, and Sinner will complete their Career Slam first? We also chat about the widely-discussed wildcard misadventure of Bill Ackman in Newport, which Giri wrote about at Defector.  Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! And buy Giri's book!!  

Catherine Matt and David were joined by special guest Pam Shriver to analyse two completely different women's semi-finals and look ahead to tomorrow's men's semis.In Part 1 we discuss the gripping match between Amanda Anisimova and Aryna Sabalenka, a tight, three-set tussle that felt on the edge until the very last point. We talk about where the match was won and lost, whether Sabalenka got her tactics right, and what Anisimova did to carry herself over the line.Part 2 (40m44s) - Anisimova will meet Iga Swiatek in the final, who was utterly dominant against a seemingly compromised Belinda Bencic. We discuss Swiatek's progress on grass and how her own success has surprised her at this tournament. Plus, a brief detour to sample some strawberry pasta.In Part 3 (55m56s) we review the Wimbledon mixed doubles final and Pam and David disagree on the status of the US Open mixed doubles to come. Then we look ahead to the men's semi-finals, do some more punchy percentage predictions, and Pam gives us her scoop on what happened to Djokovic's scheduled practice.Become a Friend of The Tennis PodcastCheck out our ⁠⁠new merch shop⁠⁠! Talk tennis with Friends on ⁠⁠The Barge! ⁠⁠Sign up to receive our free ⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠ (daily at Slams and weekly the rest of the year, featuring Matt's Stat, mascot photos, Fantasy League updates, and more)Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ (@thetennispodcast)Subscribe to our ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ channel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben and Tumaini, on the mic once more together, recap the business end of Wimbledon, where one final is already set on the women's side and two blockbuster semifinals are set for the men.  We start with the women's side, on which Amanda Anisimova is making her first major final after beating Aryna Sabalenka (who had herself a much more composed press conference this time). We then discuss, to Tumaini's delight, how he was right and Ben was wrong about Swiatek's grass possibilities this season.  We then turn to the men, where Taylor (Harry) Fritz is going to face Carlos Alcaraz (Garfia) and where there will be a Sinner-Djokovic rematch. Who should be the favorite in that second semifinal, and are injuries a concern? Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

Ben is joined for the final time during this Wimbledon by Ricky Dimon, to discuss the fourth round matches that were played and how the quarterfinals and beyond are shaping up. We start with the bleakest moment in recent tennis memory, when Grigor Dimitrov was up two sets to none on an injured Jannik Sinner, only to suffer his own sudden acute pectoral injury and be forced to retire mid-match for the fifth major tournament in a row. We then discuss Sinner's not-great health outlook as well, and then shift to the rest of the happenings in the middle round of Wimbledon, including the wildness of the utter failure of automated electronic line calling on Centre Court during Pavlyuchenkova-Kartal.  Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Ricky's writing at TennGrand! 

Ben is back with Ricky Dimon to discuss a third round at Wimbledon that was much less tumultuous than the previous two rounds, and the second week outlook for the tournament that it set up. On the women's side, is it Sabalenka or the field? And is the men's side still looking like likely chalk of Sinner-Djokovic and Fritz-Alcaraz semifinals? Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Ricky's writing at TennGrand! 

Ben is joined once more by Ricky Dimon to catch up on the further upsets in the second round of Wimbledon after the carnage in the opening round, and to set up third round clashes. We start with Jack Draper, the local hope who was bundled out by 2017 runner-up Marin Cilic. We then wrap up the rest of the men, including exits for Americans Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul, and look for what could be in store the rest of the way if upsets subside. We then turn to the women, who lost last year's finalist Jasmine Paolini, but who have a few real tasty third rounds now on the cards, including Sabalenka-Raducanu, Andreeva-Baptiste, and Krejcikova-Navarro. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Ricky's writing at TennGrand! 

After an unexpectedly tumultuous two days at Wimbledon, Ben is joined by Ricky Dimon to discuss the record number of upsets from the first round of Wimbledon, in which 23 seeds lost their first match, including some big names. Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev and more were all sent packing in various ways, and we discuss the short and long term fallouts.  Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Ricky's writing at TennGrand! 

Something different and pretty cool this time: 50 years ago at Wimbledon, the two singles champions were two of the biggest pioneers in tennis history: Billie Jean King and Arthur Ashe. It was also the first of many Wimbledons covered by then-young Canadian tennis journalist Tom Tebbutt, and he made a radio documentary for the CBC of a remarkable breadth of voices from around the tournament, from the stars to the various margins.  Tom revisited and revamped the documentary this year for the 50th anniversary, and he generously shared it with us here at NCR to build up the hype and heritage around Wimbledon a half century later. It's a time capsule of tennis history, dusted off and showing some things you just wouldn't see (or hear) in the sport anymore, for better and worse. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

[Reuploaded to fix what was an incomplete file on some podcast platforms the last time!] Ben and Tumaini, on the mic one last time from their house in Paris, are fresh off two thrilling finals at Roland Garros. We start with the just-ended men's final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, which produced some of the best tennis ever seen after a five-hour mark. What made this match so good? And was it too long or just right?  We then get to the women's final, in which Coco Gauff won with her immense mentality and physicality, and in which Aryna Sabalenka turned into a human salt shaker in defeat. Lastly, we discuss what Iga Swiatek and Novak Djokovic should do with themselves at crossroads in their near futures. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

Ben and Tumaini, on the mic one last time from their house in Paris, are fresh off two thrilling finals at Roland Garros. We start with the just-ended men's final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, which produced some of the best tennis ever seen after a five-hour mark. What made this match so good? And was it too long or just right?  We then get to the women's final, in which Coco Gauff won with her immense mentality and physicality, and in which Aryna Sabalenka turned into a human salt shaker in defeat. Lastly, we discuss what Iga Swiatek and Novak Djokovic should do with themselves at crossroads in their near futures. Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D. And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

Part one - Sadly, Iga Swiatek will not be facing Jelena Ostapenko in the Last 16. We analyse Swiatek's impressive win over Jaqueline Cristian, discuss Elena Rybakina's demolition of Ostapenko, and find reasons to be excited for Swiatek vs Rybakina instead. Elsewhere, our pod correspondent for the day, Pam Shriver, updates us on wins for Aryna Sabalenka and Zheng Qinwen, while Matt discusses Amanda Anisimova's victory over Clara Tauson. Finally, we hear Amelie Mauresmo's latest press conference about night scheduling, and Pam delivers a moving and powerful response. Part two (48m41s) - On the men's side, we cover Lorenzo Musetti setting up a tantalising fourth round clash with Holger Rune, as well as lots of American success with Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe all reaching the Last 16. Part three (1h03m17s) - At the end of the night session, we wrap up Carlos Alcaraz's eventful victory over Damir Dzumhur, discuss the sad news that Arthur Fils has withdrawn, and look ahead to Day 7.Buy tickets for Tennis Podcast Live in London on Thursday 26th June at Shoreditch Town Hall. Check out our new merch shop! Become a Friend of the Tennis Podcast to receive exclusive access to bonus podcasts, including Tennis Re-Lived episodes, Grand Slam Review Shows, and monthly Live Shows on YouTube. Friends also get access to The Barge, Hannah's Column, and an ad-free listening experience to all episodes of The Tennis Podcast. Talk tennis with Friends on The Barge! Sign up to receive our free Newsletter (daily at Slams and weekly the rest of the year, featuring Matt's Stat, mascot photos, Fantasy League updates, and more)Follow us on Instagram (@thetennispodcast)Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.