Nothing Major

In this week's episode, Jack, John, Sam and Steve weigh in on tennis' biggest headlines! With Jannik Sinner’s three-month suspension sparking debate throughout the sport, the U.S. Open is shaking up mixed doubles, ditching the traditional format for a high-stakes, 16-team showdown with a million-dollar prize. The boys chat about tennis’ newest rising star, João Fonseca, who just became the youngest South American ATP champ since 2001. They also give a shoutout to John’s favorite doubles partner, Diego Schwartzman, who got a well-deserved farewell in Buenos Aires. And finally, Tommy Paul steps into the Hot Seat in the Part 2 of his guest appearance. From his biggest wins to the matches he’d take back, Tommy breaks it all down, including the one shot he’d steal from the Nothing Major crew (spoiler: it’s not John’s return game). 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 01:47 Pickleball Slam and Event Recap 05:03 Diego Schwartzman's Retirement 09:16 Al Fonseca's First ATP Title 15:41 Yannick Sinner's Suspension Controversy 23:04 US Open Mixed Doubles Initiative 29:08 Controversy in Doubles Tennis 29:29 Mixed Doubles: Exhibition or Competition? 30:13 US Open Fan Week and Ticketing 30:37 Eric Bak's Influence on Doubles 31:45 Tommy Paul Interview: Part Two 32:01 Tennis Confessions and Fun Questions 33:04 Ranking Tennis Players and Matches 40:25 Hot Guy Tournament and Player Reactions 44:02 Stevie's Punishment and Celebrity DMs 48:09 Merch Announcement and Trivia

After months of being ghost, World No. 9 Tommy Paul joins the podcast! And boy was it worth the wait! Tommy opens up about his wild days as a junior, why he almost went to college, and how partying nearly derailed his tennis career. He shares stories of growing up in the same generation as fellow Americans, Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, and Reilly Opelka, and revealing who was the best at 14 (spoiler: not Fritz), and why Taylor was by far the worst athlete in the group. Tommy also reveals his actual rock-bottom moment, the insane reason he almost had John Isner as his coach for a tournament, and why he thought he could win Wimbledon last year. Later, Sam, Jack, John and Steve break down the viral prize money debate and compare ATP's revenue share to other major sports. Plus, an update on the ATP Hottie Contest bracket (who’s the early favorite?) and the fallout from the legendary Steve vs. Sam Pickleball showdown. 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:51 Super Bowl Recap and Reactions 02:43 Dallas and Rotterdam Tournaments 13:09 Delray Beach and Legends Matches 19:39 Tommy Paul Interview 29:22 Reflecting on Partying Days 30:17 Turning Point and Consequences 32:11 Career Challenges and Breakthroughs 34:10 Climbing the Rankings 35:12 Coaching and Mentorship 42:57 Tennis as a Passion vs. Job 43:34 Tennis Popularity and Celebrity Status 46:10 Revenue Share in Tennis 56:37 Trivia and Wrap-Up

Post-Aussie Open blues? We’ve got you covered. The guys break down the indoor season in the US and Europe, covering why some players skip the brutal Rotterdam field and how the new ATP 500 in Dallas is making waves. Meanwhile, John looks back on his brutal decision to ditch Memphis for the Rio Golden Swing with Jack—cramps, regrets, and a missed Super Bowl included. Then, it’s time for the Davis Cup snake draft—who builds the ultimate US squad? And, of course, we settle the age-old debate: Who’s the hottest guy on tour? Tommy Paul? Berrettini (but only in pants)? We’re making it official with an 8-man knockout draw to let the people decide! Also, Steve and Sam finally face off in the most anticipated pickleball showdown of the year. Spoiler: One of them nearly dies. Oh, and speaking of near-death experiences—turns out Sam is not the guy you want dog-sitting. Just ask John’s (miraculously still alive) pup. 00:00 Welcome to Nothing Major! 01:33 Hard pass on European indoor tournaments 02:44 Carlitos’ strategy for Rotterdam 05:22 Steve’s guide to picking the right tournaments 07:12 John’s Golden Swing horror story 11:25 Home Sweet Home: Playing in the U.S. 15:55 How Sam almost killed John’s dog 18:47 Ranking the hottest guys on Tour 21:41 Davis Cup’s unexpected MMA moments 25:14 Tension, trash talk, and (almost) punches 29:51 US Davis Cup Snake Draft showdown 34:08 The Ultimate Pickleball Challenge—Final results 41:38 Wrapping up with Nothing Major Trivia!

WTA former World No. 2 and three-time major finalist Ons Jabeur joins this week's episode! Ons opens up about the unique challenges of growing up playing tennis in Tunisia, balancing her career with her personal life and the pressure of chasing that elusive major. Ons is quizzed on the working dynamic of having her spouse in her team, the mental battle of playing in Slam finals, and whether she thinks she has the best dropshot in tennis... Plus Jack, John, Sam and Steve get into a heated debate about the best and worst airports in the world, the weird February stretch of the tennis calendar, and the top journeymen in ATP history. (00:00) Intro (00:24) Nothing Major is back! (01:08) What is the best airport in America? (03:32) The worst airport in the world: Atlanta (05:30) Did John like Davis Cup Week after the Australian Open? (07:08) Playing tournaments in the US after the AO (11:48) Welcome, Ons Jabeur! (12:21) How is it to grow up in Tunisia aiming to be a tennis player? (14:50) Jabeur’s tennis style. Has she a better drop shot than Alcaraz? (16:30) Karim Kamoun, her husband and coach (19:00) Motherhood and tennis (21:40) Which Grand Slam final was she closer to win? (22:50) The pressure difference between a Major final and other events (26:00) What is her favourite part of the WTA Tour? (26:35) Ons’ favourite tournaments (27:32) Best friends on tour (28:07) Get in the Top 5 or stay in the Top 5: what is tougher? (28:40) Takes on Sabalenka, Swiatek, Gauff and Andreeva (31:55) Random questions for Ons (34:00) Jabeur’s platform as a Tennis Commissioner (36:40) Build a perfect player with NMP games (38:38) Dealing with the betting system (40:37) Fan questions: Who is your daddy in tennis? (45:52) Pre-game rituals from players (51:00) Final trivia question

The 2025 Australian Open has wrapped, and we’re putting a bow on two week of Something Major with our Finals reaction. The boys discuss Madison Keys finally claiming her first Grand Slam title in an unforgettable final, ending a decade-long wait in spectacular fashion, and personal stories about the AO women's champ. On the men’s side, we reflect on Jannik Sinner's continued reign of dominance, clinching back-to-back Aussie Open titles, and debate what's next for Alexander Zverev. But it’s not all about the Finals. The Snake Draft chaos comes to a head, Sam and Stevie gear up for a hilarious pickleball showdown, and fan-submitted questions take us on a few entertaining detours. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:22 Welcoming the Audience 01:07 Madison Keys' Grand Slam Victory 01:54 Personal Reflections on Madison Keys 03:02 Madison Keys' Journey and Challenges 08:37 Equipment Changes and Their Impact 12:28 Men's Final: Yannick Sinner vs. Sasha Veev 13:03 Sasha Veev's Struggles and Reflections 14:57 Sinner's Dominance and Future Prospects 20:31 Sasha Veev's Future and Potential 26:47 Pickleball Challenge Announcement 27:45 Keeping the Results Secret 28:17 Debating the Game Format 29:34 Predicting the Match Outcome 30:44 Keys to Victory 33:04 Fan Questions and Trivia 43:06 Concluding Remarks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Saturday special of Nothing Major, the boys sit down with their first Major champion—none other than Stan “The Man” Wawrinka. The 3-time Grand Slam champ doesn’t hold back as he dishes on the match against Djokovic that made him believe he could hang with the big dogs, the wild ride to his 2014 Aussie Open win, and why celebrating a Slam with a proper party is absolutely mandatory. Stan also breaks down the fine art of snapping a racquet over his knee (it’s all in the technique), explains why he’d rather face Rafa than Roger in a Slam final, and spills on why the US Open was the toughest one to conquer. (00:00) Intro (00:32) Stan Wawrinka joins the podcast (01:13) How a reel convinced Stan to come on (02:18) Stan’s routine at the Australian Open (03:23) Tough 2013 loss to Djokovic (06:15) Did Stan believe he could win the 2014 AO? (08:49) Federer or Nadal in the final—who did he prefer? (10:49) The epic party after winning the 2014 AO (11:47) Life after becoming a Grand Slam champion (16:45) Playing his best tennis to win Roland-Garros 2015 (21:07) What does it take to win a Grand Slam? (22:10) Is Stan part of the “Big Four”? (23:26) Facing Rafa in the 2017 Roland-Garros final (24:10) Why Stan enjoys playing Novak (26:55) The love of competition (27:27) Stan flips the script: Do the guys miss tennis? (29:10) Stan’s relationship with the younger generation (30:28) Major Q&A with Stan (31:41) Stan’s Vegas Draft (33:48) How to break a racket over your knee (35:03) Outro

The stage is set for blockbuster finale down under. In our Australian Open semifinal recap, Sam and Steve discuss Novak Djokovic’s unexpected withdrawal against Alexander Zverev, the bizarre boos from the home crowd during his exit and Jannik Sinner’s commanding win over Ben Shelton. The boys dive into Aryna Sabalenka's comfortable win over Paula Badosa, and Madison Keys' impressive upset over World No. 2 Iga Swiatek. Can Keys capture her first major title, despite the haunting experience of an accidental midnight Facetime from Sam right after her semifinal win? Plus, the team dives into the stakes of the ultimate pickleball showdown, answer some fan questions and offer their bold predictions for Sunday’s finals! -- (00:00) Intro (01:30) Australian Open Men’s Semi-finals Breakdown (01:40) Zverev vs. Djokovic: Novak Retires After One Set (04:59) Why Did the Aussie Crowd Boo Djokovic? (07:05) Sinner vs. Shelton: Jannik Advances to the Final (12:17) The Australian Open Men’s Final: Sinner vs. Zverev (13:16) Can Zverev Win His First Grand Slam? (15:16) Predictions: Jannik or Sascha? (16:18) Women’s Semi-finals: Sabalenka vs. Badosa (17:18) Paula Badosa’s Remarkable Comeback (18:24) Aryna Sabalenka’s Mentality Shift (19:52) Keys vs. Swiatek: The Match of the Tournament (20:16) Sam Accidentally FaceTimes Madison Keys (22:14) Steve’s Take on Madison Keys (25:42) Sabalenka vs. Keys: Women’s Final Preview (29:12) Snake Draft Update: The Pickleball Showdown (32:13) Fan Questions: Playing Day vs. Night Sessions in Australia (33:45) How Do Players Receive Their Prize Money? (35:05) Final Trivia Question Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Australian Open hits the business end of the tournament, Something Major is here to break down all the quarterfinal action from both the men’s and women’s draws. On the men’s side, we kick off with Djokovic’s gritty win over Alcaraz before moving onto Shelton’s big-match energy, Zverev’s chances for a title and Jannik Sinner’s dominant performance over De Minaur. Is Sinner the favorite to win it all now? And can Zverev get his first Grand Slam win over Djokovic? On the women’s side, we spotlight Sabalenka’s hard court dominance, Badosa’s surprising win over Coco, and Swiatek’s machine-like approach as she marches through the draw. Who is the current favorite? And can Madison Keys pull off the upset of the tournament with a semifinal showdown against Iga? Last but not least, we close the show with a Snake Draft update (pickleball showdown pending!) and Aussie Open trivia. (00:00) On today’s episode… (00:47) The wet handshake reaction & what’s ahead (02:06) Djokovic’s gritty win over Alcaraz (07:12) Did Paul let his match vs. Zverev slip away? (11:12) Can Zverev actually win? (12:52) Shoutout: Moutet is Sam’s new favorite artist (13:35) Shelton’s Slam-winning it-factor (15:56) Sinner’s surreal moment (18:18) Why Shelton isn’t afraid of Sinner (20:32) Badosa’s big upset over Gauff (23:02) Sabalenka’s rise: Australia’s new Queen? (24:20) The friendship factor in high-stakes matches (25:17) “Iga is a machine!” (27:32) Tech controversies: Old-school vs. VAR (30:34) Can Keys give Swiatek trouble? (33:31) Semifinals predictions (36:30) Snakedraft update & punishments! (38:10) Fan shoutouts (38:58) Goodbye & AusOpen trivia! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Week 2 of the Australian Open heats up, the boys break down the biggest storylines from the Round of 16 and preview each quarterfinal matchup. From the highly anticipated Djokovic vs. Alcaraz showdown to De Minaur’s game plan to upset Sinner, and the odds of an American man making the semifinals—there’s no shortage of storylines to unpack. Can Novak Djokovic channel off court controversy into a competitive edge? And should Jannik Sinner fans be worried about his fitness heading into the business end of the tournament? Plus, the Snake Draft drama intensifies as Sam and Steve brace for a potential last-place tie. 00:00 Introduction and Round Four Results 00:47 Pet Peeves in Tennis: The Hair Fixation 04:09 Upcoming Episodes and Special Guests 05:32 Novak Djokovic's Performance and Controversy 10:15 Quarterfinals Preview: Djokovic vs. Alcaraz 13:33 Quarterfinals Preview: Paul vs. Zverev 18:02 Quarterfinals Preview: Sinner vs. De Minaur 22:12 Analyzing Player Fitness and Matchups 23:33 Alex's Impressive Australian Open Record 24:46 Shelton vs. Sango: Quarterfinal Predictions 25:59 Shelton's Competitive Edge 28:01 The Music Side of Lorenzo Sango 29:31 American Players in the Final Eight 30:17 The High Stakes of the Snake Draft 33:28 Tennis Trivia: Yannick Sinner's RecordEpisode 4: Australian Open Quarterfinals Preview and Analysis Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While the tournament favorites continue to march through the draw, it’s the Americans who have been making noise down under. The boys discuss the impressive performances from Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, Alex Michelsen and Learner Tien, while debating their chances to make even deeper runs in Melbourne. We also get into Gael Monfils, stunning No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz with an inspired performance. Can the 38 year-old Frenchman keep the magic alive? Last but not least, we wrap the episode with our Round 4 predictions and revisit the heated Australian Open Snake Draft standings. 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Updates 01:06 Pickleball and Friendly Banter 01:46 Top Tennis Players Analysis 04:20 Gael Monfils' Impressive Run 10:11 Young Tennis Talents on the Rise 15:51 Next Gen Stars and Future Predictions 17:12 Tennis Season Timing and Rankings Update 17:37 Snake Draft Standings and Predictions 18:53 Loser Punishments Discussion 21:07 Round Four Match Predictions 26:12 Aussie Open Trivia and Gossip Corner Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.