The Tennis Podcast

Matt Futterman, a journalist for The Athletic, shares insights from the WTA Finals in Riyadh, where Elena Rybakina claimed victory over Aryna Sabalenka. They analyze Rybakina's impressive performance and what her win could mean for her future in tennis. The discussion also covers Sabalenka's semifinal triumph and the impact of off-court controversies. Transitioning to the ATP Finals, the panel reflects on Novak Djokovic's unexpected withdrawal and its implications for the tournament. Predictions for the finals lineup spark lively debate.

Catherine, David and Matt are joined by the current British No.1 and Indian Wells champion Jack Draper for an exclusive, wide-ranging interview. Having been forced to shut down his season early due to an arm injury, Draper talks through some of the highs and lows of the year, updates us on his preparation for next season, and delves deep into the current scheduling issues on the ATP Tour.Part one (00:00 - 29:59) - Jack tells us about the arm pain that blighted the second half of his 2025 season, and takes a deeper look at the way that injuries and his relationship with his body in general have shaped his career so far. There's also chat about what it's like to be part of the Alcaraz-Sinner generation, the way the word "pressure" is thrown around when it comes to Wimbledon, and how he is preparing for 2026.Part two (30:00 - 1:09:40) - Having opened up a bit on social media recently about scheduling issues, Jack speaks to us in depth about the calendar, detailing the toll that the 12-day Masters are taking on the players. There's debate about revenue-sharing, exhibitions, the off-season, and what needs to change for tennis to protect its players better.Part three (1:09:41 -1:43:50) - We get into the more light-hearted stuff with Jack including the experience of the US Open mixed doubles, his idolisation of Rafael Nadal, his relationship with Andy Murray, and The Traitors. 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.

Part One - Serena Williams Group. With Anisimova beating Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek to qualify, we’re officially at the ‘silencing the doubters’ stage of our prediction. We analyse Anisimova’s improving performances through the week, offer some reflections on Swiatek’s curious season, and discuss the remarkable form of Rybakina at this tournament so far. Can she keep it up? Part Two - Steffi Graf Group (23:00). We cover Aryna Sabalenka’s flawless record, including an impressive victory in a Roland Garros final rematch against Coco Gauff, and we make sure to pay some much needed respect to Jessica Pegula’s record. Part Three - Semi-final predictions, doubles results, and a very exciting podcast announcement! (36:22) 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.

Catherine, David and Matt react to Jannik Sinner’s title in Paris and the first couple of days of action at the WTA Finals. Part one - ATP. Sinner is the Paris champion and the World No.1 again, but he will finish the season on top or will it be Carlos Alcaraz? We chat about that race, Sinner’s astonishing performances all week in Paris, and how the final spot in Turin all comes down to the last week of the season as Felix Auger-Aliassime and Lorenzo Musetti’s fates could be decided by Novak Djokovic. Part two - WTA (30:17). We all predicted Amanda Anisimova to win the title at the WTA Finals, but she lost her opening match 6-3 6-1 to Elena Rybakina. So what happened? And can she bounce back? We chat about the disappointing matches so far, Jasmine Paolini being under the weather, and the return of Coco Gauff’s double fault issues against Jessica Pegula. Plus, Victoria Mboko has ended the year on a high with another title. Part three - News (50:31). We pay tribute to the retiring Rohan Bopanna and we say goodbye to our beloved Rosie. 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.

The groups have been drawn for the WTA Finals in Riyadh and Catherine, David and Matt are here to preview the tournament and reflect on the opening stages of the ATP 1000 event in Paris. Part one - WTA Finals singles preview. We break down the groups and make predictions for the week ahead. How will Iga Swiatek fare against the big hitters? What will happen when Coco Gauff faces Aryna Sabalenka for the first time since Roland Garros? And can Amanda Anisimova keep up her superb form? Part two - WTA Finals doubles preview and Paris results so far (32:26). We cover Carlos Alcaraz’s loss to Cameron Norrie, the latest instalment of the cousin clash between Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech, and how Lorenzo Musetti’s defeat leaves the Race to Turin. Part three - Jannik Sinner calls out the Grand Slams for delaying player welfare and prize money talks (51:58). 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.

Catherine, David and Matt round up the latest tour results before Charlie Eccleshare of The Athletic joins to discuss the news that Saudi Arabia will be hosting an ATP Masters 1000 tournament from 2028. Part one - Results. We cover lots of Jannik Sinner talking points, including his victory over Alexander Zverev in an excellent Vienna final, his repeated cramping issues, and his decision not to play the Davis Cup Finals. There’s also chat about Joao Fonseca’s win in Basel, the ongoing heartbreak for Alejandro Davidovich Fokina as he tries to win his first title, Belinda Bencic’s victory in Tokyo and her remarkable season coming back from giving birth, and Elena Rybakina booking her place at the WTA Finals. Part two - Charlie Eccleshare reports on the ATP’s announcement that a 10th Masters 1000 event will be added to the schedule in 2028 and that it will be held in Saudi Arabia (41:50). We don’t yet know all the details, but Charlie explains how this might affect the rest of the tennis calendar, the growing power that Saudi Arabia will hold in the sport, and why we mustn’t ignore the human rights abuses. Part three - News and a look ahead (1:08:50). We pay tribute to John Beddington and chat about the Paris Masters. We’ll be back on Friday with a full preview of the WTA Finals. 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.

The hosts dive into Elena Rybakina's impressive title win in Ningbo and what it means for the WTA finals. They discuss Mirra Andreeva's absence and the importance of player wellbeing. Highlights include Daniil Medvedev breaking his title drought after 29 months, while concern grows over Holger Rune's serious injury. The conversation shifts to Casper Ruud's stellar performance and the absurdity of the Six Kings Slam exhibition. Previewing upcoming tournaments, they emphasize the need for better player safety in the demanding tour schedule.

Catherine, David and Matt recap a week headlined by a family fairytale in Shanghai and Coco Gauff’s title run in Wuhan. Part one - ATP Shanghai. Valentin Vacherot became the lowest-ranked player ever to win a Masters 1000 title, doing so by beating his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, in the final. We cover all the elements that made this story so special and wonder what might be next for both players. There’s also chat about the notable weeks that Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev both had. Part two - WTA Wuhan (41:06). We discuss Gauff’s remarkable ability to bounce back from adversity and the smart, tactical tennis that helped her to lift the trophy. There’s also appreciation for Jessica Pegula breaking Aryna Sabalenka’s tiebreak streak and for Jasmine Paolini earning her first ever victory over Iga Swiatek. Plus, an update on the WTA Finals Race. Part three - News (57:22). We react to Jack Draper’s decision to hire Jamie Delgado as his new head coach, the ITIA’s support programme for players facing integrity investigations, and the revamping of the One Point Slam. Have they taken away the spirit of the event? Tickets are now on General Sale for The Tennis Podcast - Live in Wrexham on Wednesday October 22nd! Buy ⁠here⁠.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.

Amanda Anisimova's title win in Beijing sparks debates about her potential rise in women's tennis. The hosts dissect her improved game and mental toughness in finals, while also addressing Coco Gauff's recent struggles and Linda Noskova's standout performance. The extreme heat in Shanghai leads to numerous retirements, raising questions about player durability and Novak Djokovic's chances in a weakened field. The discussion shifts to upcoming highlights in Wuhan and important player statements regarding mental health in the sport.

The discussion kicks off with Alcaraz's remarkable Tokyo title win, sparking debates on whether it's his best tennis yet. The impact of tour scheduling on player injuries also takes center stage. Sinner's aggressive play shines in his Beijing victory, while Musetti's controversial comments about fans lead to an unexpected apology. Dramas unfold with Anisimova's stunning comeback and Coco Gauff's tense match against Bencic. The hosts also reflect on Gael Monfils' upcoming farewell tour and highlight a player-led call for reform in tennis.