The Tennis Podcast

The new tennis season kicks off with a buzz around the United Cup in Perth, featuring discussions on Team USA's concerns with Taylor Fritz and Coco Gauff. The hosts celebrate standout performances from Belinda Bencic and Maria Sakkari, while debating Stan Wawrinka's potential wildcard for the Australian Open. Highlights include Iga Świątek's tactical adjustments against Eva Lys and Hubert Hurkacz's impressive return from injury. Novak Djokovic's split from the PTPA brings major governance discussion, alongside exciting forecasts for the season ahead.

Charlie Eccleshare, a journalist for The Athletic, joins the conversation to dissect the recent Battle of the Sexes event. The discussion reveals how the reality fell short of expectations, highlighting its lack of stakes and cheap production. They analyze Juan Carlos Ferrero's split from Carlos Alcaraz, exploring the absence of dialogue and the potential for future reunions. Looking ahead, they preview the United Cup and discuss Jack Draper's injury, the implications for Team GB, and the excitement surrounding early-season tournaments.

The hosts dive into some spicy off-season news, including the split between Carlos Alcaraz and coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, stirring speculation about Alcaraz's new direction. Grigor Dimitrov also parts ways with his coach, raising questions about his fitness. Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka's departure from her own agency sparks intriguing discussions. The WTA signs a significant sponsorship deal with Mercedes-Benz, and the ATP introduces a new heat policy. Exciting players are highlighted for the Next Gen Finals, and Stan Wawrinka announces 2026 as his farewell year.

Hours after the bombshell news that Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero have split, Catherine, David and Matt were joined by The Athletic's Matt Futterman to try to make sense of it, and speculate about how it might affect Alcaraz's career. 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, 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.

As the tennis off-season kicks in, the hosts discuss their recent interview with Andy Murray and concerns about Jack Draper's injury. They express strong dislike for the controversial 'Battle of the Sexes' event featuring Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka, criticizing the BBC's decision to air it. The discussion shifts to Serena Williams' return to the anti-doping pool and Anastasia Potapova's rapid nationality switch, sparking debates on ethics and optics in tennis. They also pay tribute to Italian tennis legend Nicola Pietrangeli.

In this candid chat, Andy Murray, the former world No. 1 and three-time Grand Slam champion, opens up about his transition into coaching, particularly his experiences working with Novak Djokovic. He reflects on his career, revealing insights into his rivalries with Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. Andy also discusses life post-retirement, sharing family joys and new hobbies like skiing and golf. With a mix of nostalgia and humor, he addresses pressing issues in tennis and the emotional highs of coaching versus playing.

Flavio Cobolli delivered a stunning comeback to clinch the Davis Cup for Italy, showcasing his potential as a future star. The hosts discuss the thrilling atmosphere in Bologna and Cobolli's initial struggles against Jaume Munar. Praise pours in for Matteo Berrettini's role in Italy's unbeaten run, while conversations about the future of the Davis Cup stir debate. The panel also speculates on Cobolli's shot at breaking into the Top 10 and the intriguing dynamics of team selection and competition.

Italy and Spain clash in the thrilling Davis Cup final, igniting excitement despite the absences of stars like Sinner and Alcaraz. Flavio Cobolli delivers an unforgettable tiebreak win that embodies the tournament's high drama. The hosts celebrate Cobolli's bond with Berrettini, highlighting team dynamics that bring lesser-known players into the spotlight. They delve into key matchups and predict the outcome, underscoring the unpredictable nature of this year's competition. Will Italy reign supreme, or will Spain's doubles expertise tip the scales?

Dramatic moments unfolded at the Davis Cup Finals! Spain faced challenges as Carlos Alcaraz withdrew, shifting the team's dynamic. Germany pulled off a thrilling doubles victory against Argentina, while Belgium upset France with Zizou Bergs shining bright. A wild moment from Corentin Moutet added spice to the matches. Italy celebrated a strong showing against Austria, raising concerns about Berrettini's fitness. Predictions fly as the hosts weigh in on the upcoming semis—who will claim glory?