Nothing Major

As veterans of the Rome Masters, the boys break down the highs and lows of the Italian clay 1000, from navigating narrow locker room doors to battling with the tiniest towels of the season.In true American fashion, John, Jack, Sam, and Steve decide to air their European pet peeves, from soupy eggs, twin beds pushed together, and 'Mr. Bean cars'.With the NCAA season reaching its climax, college tennis legend Steve Johnson leads the crew in drafting their all-time Men's NCAA tennis team. Will Stevie draft himself?Plus, as anticipation builds for Sam and Steve’s challenge match against two local amateurs, their opponents crash the pod to talk trash and preview the showdown. With every game starting at 0–40, can Sam and Stevie still pull off the win? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a wrap in Madrid and against all odds, someone from the Nothing Major crew actually made a correct prediction.Following last week’s revelation that John Isner watches everything with subtitles, he’s back to gloat after receiving overwhelming support in the YouTube comments.With Sinner’s return looming after his three-month suspension, Jack, John, Sam, and Steve discuss how the locker room might respond and which players are most in need of a big result before Roland Garros.The crew also looks ahead to Rome, sharing their favorite courts, reflecting on the changing vibe of the iconic Pietrangeli, and battling through some clay-court trivia… where Sam catches a massive stray.00:00 Introduction and Overview00:21 Madrid Open Recap01:09 Predictions and Subtitles Debate05:01 Upcoming Rome Masters and Aura Draw07:12 Men's Side Analysis: Casper Ruud and Jack Draper14:21 WTA Side Analysis: Sabalenka and Gauff21:23 Understanding Betting Odds22:28 Naomi Osaka's Confidence Boost25:15 Rome Tournament Preview: Men's Side35:14 Rome Tournament Preview: Women's Side37:46 Trivia Time: Most Matches in Rome History Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the Madrid finals approaching, Jack, John, Sam, and Stevie look back on their best and most forgettable performances on the Spanish clay.But first, the boys kick off this week's episode off with heated debates around watching Netflix with subtitles and the best tennis movies of all time. Spoiler alert, you might want to head to the video version on YouTube to watch the guys react to a movie clip of Sam's shocker of a pick.The guys then get their head back into the clay swing to discuss a few of Rafael Nadal's mind bending career clay court stats before jumping into a Madrid themed Major Mailbag. No shortage of banter from string tensions and co-ed tournaments to getting dirty in the clay. And last, but not least, Sam jumps into the hot seat to reflect on the 3 most painful clay court losses of his career.00:00 Introduction and Mailbag Day00:08 Discussing Madrid Results00:57 Debate on Subtitles04:33 Best Tennis Movies08:14 Memorable Matches in Madrid11:47 Rafael Nadal's Clay Court Dominance15:27 Proposing Changes to Tennis Tournaments16:26 Hot Coaches Bracket Tease16:44 Podcast Uncertainty and New Initiatives16:51 Introducing the Aura Draw Concept16:57 Details and Examples of the Aura Draw17:58 Fan Engagement and Suggestions18:33 Mailbag: Masters 1000 on Clay in America19:55 Mailbag: Comparing Clay Court Tournaments20:33 Mailbag: Clay Court Challenges and Equipment26:24 Mailbag: Blue Clay and Tournament Dynamics27:00 Mailbag: Player Interactions at Tournaments28:54 Mailbag: Opinions on Two-Week Masters Series30:30 Reflecting on Tough Clay Court Losses35:23 Roasting a Player: Sarah's Skills Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The power is back in Madrid, just in time for a new episode of Nothing Major!Sam, Stevie, John, and Jack break down the latest results from Madrid, and discuss the power outage that has put the tournament on hold.They dive into the sport’s biggest headlines: the growing pains of fully electronic officiating, Alexander Zverev’s phone incident, and Naomi Osaka’s surprising decision to enter a Challenger event.Plus, with the NFL Draft wrapped up, the boys hold their own draft, picking their ultimate under-20 tennis dream team.And after Sam’s amateur challenge idea sparked a buzz, the debate continues: who would actually come out on top?00:00 Introduction and Overview of Madrid Tournament00:37 Power Outage and Electronic Line Calling Issues01:57 Player Reactions to Line Calling Controversies03:13 Discussion on ATP Umpires and Their Roles05:45 Unexpected Delays and Player Experiences06:26 NFL Draft and Tennis Player Draft Picks08:05 Novak Djokovic's Recent Struggles18:00 Women's Tournament Highlights and Predictions19:19 Big Name Players in Challengers21:16 Navigating Tournament Pressure22:34 Madrid Predictions: Men's and Women's Winners24:53 Debating Tennis Mustaches25:53 Doubles Challenge: Pros vs. Amateurs31:02 Top Challenger Tournaments32:45 Trivia Time: Masters Series Semifinals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the Madrid Open underway, John, Jack, Sam, and Stevie are back to share their favorite memories, and some honest takes on the Spanish 1000 tournament. From the not-so-fancy venue, to the lost magic of the blue clay, to the challenges of finding dinner in a city that eats at midnight.Tennis' favorite host and reporter Blair Henley, crashes the pod with a surprise segment featuring some unbelievable photos from the gang's high school days.Sam attempts to pitch a new pod segment, the boys discuss the best clay court traits and is launching a Hot Coach Bracket a good idea?00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview00:41 John's Birthday03:17 Special Guest: Blair Henley08:13 Prom Stories19:29 Madrid Tournament Experiences24:26 Discussing the Blue Clay Experiment25:11 Funny and Memorable Moments in Madrid31:24 Overrated, Underrated, and Properly Rated Tourist Attractions in Europe40:36 Fan Questions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The guys kick off the show recapping the most significant results from last week. Is Zverev back after winning on home soil? Could Rune’s victory over Alcaraz make him a week-in, week-out threat moving forward? And does Ostapenko’s dominant week in Stuttgart make her a Roland Garros contender?They then delve into the ITIA’s odd clarification on the tennis doping control policy and reminisce about their not-so-enjoyable experiences of being watched in the locker room by drug testers during their post-loss showers. Finally, they conclude with their predictions for this week’s Madrid tournament. Can the guys maintain their impressive streak of incorrect picks?00:00 – Intro and Episode Setup01:22 – Jack’s Vietnam Pickleball Tour Recap03:23 – Jack’s Travel Horror Story and WrestleMania Banter05:05 – Barcelona Recap: Rune Beats Alcaraz09:45 – Is Zverev Back? Munich Title Discussion13:47 – Ben Shelton’s Clay Court Run17:05 – American Players and Clay Court Reputation20:10 – Stuttgart WTA Recap: Ostapenko’s Win Over Swiatek25:50 – Can Ostapenko Win the French Open?30:28 – ITIA Shower Rule Controversy and Doping Stories37:23 – Madrid Masters Predictions and Draw Talk43:00 – Website Plug + Trivia Intro44:21 – Trivia: Who Beat Fed, Rafa, and Novak at Madrid? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the guys go full clay-mode with some hard truths about life on the dirt. They draft their current top clay-court players, revisit the narrative that Americans can’t hang on the surface, and share some painfully honest personal stories - including Steve Johnson’s worst-ever loss on clay winning two games in a five set match.The boys then turn to the Nothing Major mailbag and give insight into life on the ATP Tour, including how coaches are compensated and laundry disasters on the road.00:00 - Intro: Mailbag, Clay Draft, and Clay Court Losses00:30 - Jack Sock Still in Vietnam01:00 - Tennis and Clinics with Sam, John, and Steve03:00 - Clay Court Snake Draft Begins06:00 - Draft Recap and Bad Clay Court Team for Jack Sock09:00 - Steve Johnson’s Worst Clay Court Losses13:00 - French Open Horror Stories16:00 - Fan Mailbag: How Are Coaches Paid?20:00 - Tennis Laundry Stories and Roger Federer Mystique23:30 - Does Djokovic Have a Slam Chance in 2024?25:50 - Tournament Hotel and Coach Expense Stories30:00 - Tips for Submitting Mailbag Questions30:40 - Fan Roast: German Indoor Tennis Court Vibes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carlos Alcaraz shines with an impressive win in Monte Carlo, raising questions about his favorite status for the French Open. Novak Djokovic and Alex Zverev's surprising early exits spark panic among fans. The intense pressure on athletes like Rory McIlroy at the Masters is mirrored in tennis, highlighting the emotional stakes. There's exciting speculation about Roger Federer's potential return and Ben Shelton's viral doubles moment adds drama. The dynamics of clay season promise thrilling stories ahead!

Reilly Opelka, known as the NextGen Servebot, joins to share insights on injury recovery and the fashionable side of court play. He offers a controversial opinion on doubles and engages in a rapid-fire Hot Seat round. The crew reminisces about the Monte Carlo tournament’s blend of luxury and unpredictability, spices it up with a trivia challenge, and reflects on the challenges American players face on clay. Hilarity ensues as they confess to their lack of knowledge on tennis history while navigating supercars and memorable moments.

The discussion kicks off with Jenson Brooksby's surprising victory in Houston, exploring his unique approach and challenges. The hosts celebrate Jessie Pegula's first clay title while debating the role of nutritionists in sports. A lively quiz on Gen Z slang lightens the mood and adds humor. Candid insights from top players reveal the pressures of the game as they predict outcomes for the upcoming European clay swing. The conversation reflects on the evolution of tennis, with a focus on both men's and women's achievements.