The Body Serve

How Can We Be Rivals If We Can't Be Friends?

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 21:26:11 -0400

In Monte Carlo, Sinner’s 4th consecutive Master’s title and reclaiming of the #1 ranking adds another wrinkle to the Sincaraz rivalry. We talk about our desire for a little less golden retriever energy from Carlos – or, at least one of us does – but ultimately an unfriendly rivalry is no longer advantageous for today’s player brands. Last week, Pegula defended her Charleston title, 3 Argentines made 3 different finals, and Iga appeared at the Rafa Nadal Academy with her new coach Francisco Roig. We also talk about golf, double bagels, Coco having to defend herself online (again), and an intriguing FMK about three celebrated tennis careers.

1:05 Bestie rivals, a hallmark of this era

13:35 A double bagel to Berrettini, come on man

16:35 I thank myself

20:40 Coco defends her Miu Miu look and her hair from online waste yutes and losers

24:05 Pegula wins the first equalized 500 prize money in Charleston

29:10 Men’s results last week: Tommy Paul, first career titles for Jodar and Navone

33:00 Coaching carousel

36:20 Rory McIlroy defends his Masters title; Caroline still has shooters

39:45 FMK Tennis careers: Sharapova, Hingis, Davenport

Whack Him Again

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:56:16 -0400

Jannik Sinner wins the Sunshine Double without losing a set – a first! – and upends the mini-narrative that said Carlos was running away with the season. Aryna Sabalenka, for her part, snatches back momentum in the Rybakina rivalry and bests bugaboo Coco Gauff in the Miami final. The actual star of Miami turned out to be thirst magnet Arthur Fils, who reached the semis, stunned four-match-point-haver Tommy Paul, and broke containment. We’ve also got: close reading a tweet about the IOC’s new gender policy; the Charleston draw and prize money increase; and the WTA Finals’ departure from Saudi Arabia.

2:30 Sinner’s win reminds the tennis world to chill with the proclamations

9:55 Sabalenka keeps her head on straight for the final

18:35 Coco’s hat: saying nothing was always an option!

26:35 Arthur Fils breaks out in a big way; a thick way, even

33:30 Charleston increases prize money to match the ATP 500 level

37:50 IOC’s announcement on trans athletes and what it has to do with Wertheim and Navratilova

46:00 What is holding you back from buying a yacht?

47:45 Listener question: which tennis player would you go on vacation with?

A Dark Hole

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:32:44 -0400

Sebastian Korda is making like Gloria Estefan and coming out of the dark: in a career interrupted by injuries, Seb follows up his Delray Beach title by sending #1 Carlos Alcaraz out of Miami. Iga Swiatek’s frustration continues as her countrywoman Magda Linette packs her up; shortly after, Iga does the same to coach Wim Fissette. On the docket we’ve also got the Matosevic doping story, Danielle and Corentin (we’re way too old for this), a painful and hopefully temporary Body Serve ban, and an ASMR taste test of Vegemite - sure, a few months late in tennis terms, but whatever, we didn’t have Vegemite then.

2:00 Carlos out of Sunshine swing

5:40 Iga loses her incredible streak of 73 straight opening-round wins

9:40 Let them eat bagels: Arthur Fils is back!

14:30 Sorry, Leylah

18:45 Danielle et Corentin, you’re both doing A LOT right now

23:05 Marinko Matosevic’s brazen doping scandal

31:40 ATP schedule changes, in concert with the Saudi sports fund

35:15 Betting is a scourge and the players suffer

42:15 Our first (and last) ASMR segment

Mar-a-Lago West

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 21:36:20 -0400

Indian Wells saw two new champs settling old scores – Sabalenka winning her first and upending a worrying finals trend vs. Rybakina, and Sinner flying under the radar to grab the title over the more headline-grabbing Medvedev. Daniil has managed to refashion his game without losing the old antics, including asking for (and getting) a confounding hindrance call – and no, I don’t feel bad for Jack. We talk about Mirra’s crashout, IW misplacing the Venus-Leylah wild card, my certified hater status, and Iga’s trajectory. Plus, James takes another quiz and we give our Letterboxd 4, just like the players did this week.

03:45 Aryna hit the I Will Always Love You drum kick and the rest was gravy

15:20 Jannik overcomes Medvedev in two tiebreaks

21:00 Medvedev had an interesting week, to say the least

26:35 Let’s not make “F*** you all” your new tagline

33:30 They lost Venus and Leylah’s wild card

38:55 Letterboxd 4

46:25 The Oscars

56:20 Not another quiz!

20/20

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 20:59:29 -0500

Sports and politics … it turns out they DO mix! A few dozen ATP players and staff are stuck in Dubai as a result of Trump’s attack on Iran, as the Mexican tournaments go forward without a hitch after last week’s unrest. On court, Medvedev wins a second Dubai title, Longhorn Stearns grabs Austin by the horns, Bucsa becomes the Spanish #1, and Darderi and Cobolli win Latin tournaments on two continents. For fun, James takes a tennis geography quiz and we do an extended diatribe (requiem?) on The Traitors.

1:40 ATP players and personnel stuck in Dubai

6:45 This is not a drill!!

9:00 The Ellison data-media-government-tennis empire

15:35 Craig Tiley is coming to America

19:50 Results: Dubai, Acapulco, Merida, Austin

31:10 They didn’t tell Stefanos you’re not supposed to talk about appearance fees

34:35 James takes a tennis geography quiz!

44:55 A Traitors diatribe

The Glue

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:19:32 -0500

A gatekeeper, a consistent threat, not-a-pusher, and the social and political glue behind the scenes: Jessica Pegula has gone from tennis’s rich girl to a key piece of the bloc of players who reliably fight for the biggest titles on the WTA Tour. This week, she’s just won her 4th 1000-level title and has been announced as the chair of the new tour working group: the Tour Architecture Council. Elsewhere, Carlos continues his dominant start, Fils notches a runner-up spot in his third tournament back, Korda impresses in Florida, and Etcheverry plays for six hours in one day to grab his first career title. Plus, Tara Moore is not taking her suspension lying down, as she sues the WTA for failing to warn players about contaminated meat.

0:35 A trip down figure skating memory lane

7:15 Carlos dominates Doha

10:45 Korda’s comeback, Etcheverry’s endurance run through Rio

17:15 Consistency Queen Jessica Pegula wins Dubai

22:40 Qinwen’s Emmy-winning guest appearance on The Player's Box

28:00 Peggy to lead the Tour Architecture Council

32:25 Tara Moore sues the WTA

40:30 Monica and Brandy

What's the 411?

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 21:38:19 -0500

Welcome back to regularly scheduled podcasting! The tours have gone to South America, Transylvania, the Netherlands, Texas, and the UAE -- regional tours ftw, btw -- over the past two weeks. Karolina Muchova finally gets a big title, Mboko notches an incredible run to the Doha final, Zheng announces herself, Felix becomes king of Canada, and most importantly we’re back from Mexico, caught up on sleep and armed with fresh takes. We decide to finally dip our toes in the apparently imminent Serena comeback, whatever it shall be, and how it interacts with her endorsement of GLP-1 drugs (and her family’s vested interest). We’ve also got random takes on Bad Bunny, Brad, Puerto Vallarta, and Destanee Aiava’s eye-opening retirement announcement.

0:30 Catching up with us

12:00 Shelton Does Dallas; Canada’s Indoor King; the ATP’s hottest final

17:05 Muchova finally gets that elusive second title. A big one!

25:30 Zheng, Sakkari, Iga’s d****e b****e

36:00 Red card!

39:50 I guess we should tackle the “comeback”

50:15 Odds and ends: Jack’s gateway haircut, Naomi picks on a podcast (not us, confirmed)

55:20 Destanee Aiava drops a hell of a retirement announcement

Charles in Charge

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 22:25:34 -0500

The first Slam of the year is in the books, and we’ve got the youngest Career Slam winner in the history of maleness, Novak’s 38th major final, and Rybakina continuing her hot streak and bagging her second Slam. We talk you through the scintillating men’s semifinals that injected the tournament with a much-needed spark. You’ll also hear about the smoking gun pickle juice bottle, That Guy’s tantrum, Coco’s semi-covert racquet smash, and Djokovic religious iconography. We finish up with a few serious matters: Craig Tiley’s future, the investigation into coach Rafael Font de Mora, and the PTPA’s latest proposal for … something.

2:30 Youngest male player: Carlos makes history

6:15 I’m not chasing anyone, let’s start there

13:15 Excuses, excuses

21:30 The 5-set king

26:10 Rybakina: don’t underestimate WTA Finals swagger!

37:30 Women’s semis, Cocosmash; Mertens is Australian Open queen

47:50 WTA launches investigation into WTA coach

51:15 What is the PTPA actually going for?

58:00 Remembering Canadian icon and the world’s mom, Catherine O’Hara

Be Brave

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 22:50:54 -0500

It's not officially a Slam until Jelena Djokovic accuses Naomi Osaka of being so nasty and so rude while Jelena’s husband narrowly avoids a default for something completely of his own making (again). Anyway, how was your first week??? The Australian Open has given us some exciting breakouts (Jovic, Bartunkova, Tien again) and a marquee quarterfinal lineup, with the top 6 men and women through for the first time in the Open Era. Osaka reminded us who she is – and what tennis is missing – with her audacious walk-out jellyfish look. But to be serious for a minute, American players are being asked to speak during this unprecedented and dangerous period in our history, and most are failing miserably. It's time to be brave.

3:45 A historically great quarterfinal lineup

5:45 Highlights of the first week of the men’s draw

11:30 The extreme heat rule: Jannik gets lucky, but it’s not unfair

18:35 Women’s first week: Mboko and Jovic break out; Sabalenka sails; Iga wants a day session, dammit

32:05 The Osaka-Cirstea dustup + a Dramatic Reading

45:25 American players, it’s time to be brave

57:25 It’s fashion! God forbid a girl wants to be a jellyfish!

66:15 Lulu, K-Swiss, New Balance, and a shoulder blade

In Your Feelings

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 22:14:16 -0500

We had a little time and a lot to cover, so why not jump in for a mid-first round Australian Open episode? First, we cover the upsets, injuries, and highlights of the first few days. It wasn’t a great day two for Canada. Jonathan brings you the in-depth coverage about Venus Williams you’ve come to expect. We also pick up stories on Frances’ gallon-a-day habit and nonfiction reading schedule, Naomi’s break with Evolve, Novak’s split with the PTPA, and the PR moment That Guy couldn’t have scripted better himself.

2:10 Upsets and injuries: Knowing too much about Flavio

8:20 Other highlights from the first few days

15:50 Venus Williams is always learning

27:40 But why nonfiction?

33:15 My people are not sending their strongest soldiers

43:25 Australian Open our favorite TV viewing Slam?

49:40 Tennis Australian settles with the PTPA

He Knows His Angles: Australian Open Preview

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 21:42:17 -0500

Who, if anyone, will challenge Aryna? Will the Alcaraz-Sinner machine make it nine in a row? What's Craig Tiley up to this year? We're dusting off the cobwebs to bring you our Australian Open preview, complete with draw analysis (if you want to call it that), major storylines, and a quick review of the “Opening Week” and the successful 1 Point Slam. Tune in to find out the new hottest man in the ATP and who Jonathan thinks might have a career resurgence this year (there's two).

2:30 Catching up with this week’s results

8:45 The 1 Point Slam: success!

16:50 This year’s (and last year’s) major questions

27:25 Women’s draw: “… or Mboko!”

38:15 Men’s draw: will Novak slice through his section?

54:15 Qualifying intrigue: Nishesh and the choking gesture

I Don't Watch Stuff Like That

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 22:21:49 -0500

We’re back from break with season 12 of The Body Serve! The off-season didn’t let up for a second, with its fair share of surprising breakups: Carlos and Juan Carlos, Naomi and Evolve, and Novak splitting from the players’ organization he co-founded. We also cover Potapova’s copypasta, Venus’ wedding, the ESPN commentary reshuffle, Iga’s viewing habits, and more off-season stuff. We look ahead to the coming season with our usual breakout picks – no ADF this time – plus we recap the opening week Down Under, as Bencic leads her team to the final while Poland snatches their first United Cup.

3:25 Alcaraz and Ferrero split

10:35 Naomi Evolves away from the agency she co-founded

15:10 Djokovic quits the PTPA

22:10 Other off-season stuff: Iga didn’t watch, ATP rolls out safeguarding program, Next Gen Finals, Venus at the altar!

35:30 Looking ahead: our breakout picks for 2026

45:30 Changes to the ESPN commentary lineup

51:50 United Cup highlights: Hubie, Belinda, Zizou

60:00 Titles for Sabalenka, Svitolina, Medvedev, Bublik

65:35 The podcast landscape

I Said No

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 10:55:04 -0500

For our last episode of 2025, we each wrote our own separate agendas with the plan to just chat and see what happens. There’s some tennis, mostly not -- but we do cover that crass spectacle Evolve has been stumping over on right-wing media. We’ve got quick-fire complaints (It is that deep! Bring back gatekeeping in restaurant criticism!), favorite TV series of 2025, server rants, movie etiquette, and Mariah. Timestamps seemed against the more chaotic spirit of this episode, so just jump in and enjoy. Thanks for a great season - see you in 2026!

ATP Thirst: Full Release

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 11:14:18 -0500

At long last, our ATP “hot list,” in our signature TBS style. Our mission: have fun, be sex-positive, not put anyone down, and marvel at how subjective and silly all this is. We talk about the ethics of objectifying men, the male gaze and male gays, and the “structures of looking” from Laura Mulvey on into the 21st century. After that bit of (hopefully interesting) table-setting, we get right into our categories of hotness (brains, aura, and ass are a few key examples). Finally, each of us share our hot lists of both active and retired players. Stay tuned for a few embarrassing crushes and lots of Rafa/Bjorn/Grigor mentions; and remember, with men the ick is always just around the corner.

4:05 Is objectifying men ok?

14:00 The straight male gaze, the straight woman gaze, and the gay gaze

19:20 “The male figure cannot bear the burden of sexual objectification” (Mulvey, 1975)

27:25 So why are we doing this? Well, first of all, it’s fun

32:55 Categories that make up hotness, starting with Aura

38:05 A key category: slutty shorts

56:00 The daddy archetype and faces that belong on a coin

60:15 Our lists

68:40 Embarrassing or disavowed crushes: we all have them

73:30 The retired players who would have made the list

Heated Rivalry: 2025 ATP Wrap

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 11:51:10 -0500

For many, the 2025 ATP season has been about one heated rivalry and, well … not much else. We’re not necessarily here to contradict that narrative. But, there were five first-time Masters 1000 winners, and that’s not nothing! We’ll take you through the year’s highlights, month by month; question some tennis conventional wisdom; and go through your most memorable and funniest moments (math is hard!). Also, find out how our breakout picks fared and which ATP Awards need a rethink.

4:30 How we finished 2024

10:00 Themes of this season: duopoly, futility

15:00 The season’s notable moments in chronological order

35:35 Italy’s Davis Cup threepeat / RIP Nicola Pietrangeli

39:30 How did we do with our 2025 breakout picks?

43:40 ATP Awards: wheel and come again

48:05 Your most memorable moments of the ATP season

60:30 Your funniest moments: leave Jack alone!

65:50 Retirements, comebacks, and first-time titlists

Chat To Mi Back: 2025 WTA Wrap

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 12:32:10 -0500

It’s time to wrap the 2025 WTA season! We saw 5 different players split the Slams and the WTA Finals to form a season with a clear top tier but no outright dominance, allowing for surprises (Mboko, Andreeva, Swiatek at Wimbledon) and steady reliables (Sabalenka). As always, we’ll take you through the season chronologically while highlighting some key themes of the year both on- and off-court. We’ll survey the WTA Awards candidates, discuss our listeners’ most memorable and funniest moments of the season, and hold our own feet to the fire by seeing how our 2025 breakout picks performed. Thanks for joining us for an amazing season of women’s tennis!

We’ve just launched our 2025 GoFundMe -- thanks for all the support through the years. If you’d like to contribute, you can find it here.

0:35 Launching our 2026 GoFundMe

06:00 Major stories of 2025: parity but also not

11:40 Off-court stories: Mat leave, PTPA, plus Rybakina-Vukov test the WTA’s new safeguarding policy

24:25 Chronological recap, kind of

44:25 Awards season!

49:05 How did we do with our breakout picks?

52:50 What you’ll remember from the season

59:55 Your funniest moments of the season

68:35 Retirements, comebacks, maternity leaves

Big Simping

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 21:52:56 -0500

Jannik Sinner defends at the ATP Finals, again without losing a set, beating his chief rival #1 Carlos Alcaraz. The final was fine, even quite good at times, albeit a bit momentum-less; but hey, they can’t all be classics. Novak makes some valid points about Sinner’s doping case – yes, well-tread territory to be fair – and gets subtweeted by Darren Cahill for his troubles. Plus, Aryna is displeased with Nike (which itself seems indifferent to tennis), and we take a quick tangent into health care and politics.

1:55 Jannik repeats at the ATP Finals

7:05 The Big 3 broke tennis analysis

11:50 Semis and group stage: every era needs a de Minaur

17:45 The ATP fits and haircuts + the Nike snowsuit

21:50 Novak on Sinner’s doping case and Darren’s subtweet

32:05 Aryna is unhappy with Nike, and Nike doesn’t seem to care

38:30 Not a great week for churches! Plus a tangent on Canadian health care

Photo Opps

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 21:32:26 -0500

It’s our 400th episode! Elena Rybakina makes a stunning run through the WTA Finals field, but the ending is overshadowed by an awkward non-photo with the WTA CEO. Novak Djokovic is a stunt queen til the end, winning Athens and then telling Musetti at the net that he won’t be playing Turin anyway, so thanks for playing! Meanwhile, newcomers Learner Tien and Victoria Mboko cap their breakout seasons with titles, Ons Jabeur is having a baby, and we reflect on our Toronto Blue Jays and our 400th.

2:15 Rybakina dominates the WTA Finals field

6:35 The photo snub and the tough Rybakina-Vukov situation

12:40 Sabalenka’s hot mic moment

19:00 Djokovic wins Athens, everyone plays in Lorenzo’s face

24:00 The Djokovic exodus from Serbia to Greece

32:20 Youngsters Tien and Mboko win late-season titles

40:00 The Body Serve Baseball Podcast

50:45 What does 400 mean to us?

The Cusp Boys

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 21:29:53 -0400

Almost there … Elena Rybakina booked her spot in the WTA Finals and dipped immediately (extremely injured). Basel saw three of its four quarterfinals end with a retirement. Naturally, the ATP decided this was the perfect time to announce an imminent 10th Masters 1000 tournament, in Saudi Arabia, which will require the shuttering of five current ATP tournaments. Elsewhere, Marta Kostyuk decides it’s not sour grapes, it’s testosterone; and Jannik Sinner gets torched by the Italian consumer protection agency for taking un pisolino after leading his country to two straight Davis Cup titles.

2:50 À propos of nothing, Kostyuk dabbles in transvestigation

15:00 Jannik might lose his honorary citizenship to the city of Turin, guys

17:00 The ATP cusp boys + Fonseca

22:55 Ale-ale-jandro

24:00 Are people born with cramps or are cramps thrust upon them?

26:40 Rybakina, Bencic, Li

32:10 Saudi Arabia gets a Masters tournament

36:00 Next up in tennis and on TBS

So Sorry, Bestie

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 23:00:54 -0400

It’s late in the season but great stories are still being written: the world #204 Valentin Vacherot slips into the Shanghai qualifying draw and then wins it all, Coco Gauff rights the ship in Asia for the second year in a row, and two Canadians win titles in the same week. We also talk about Holger Rune’s Achilles injury, Finals qualification storylines, and the ongoing debates on scheduling and exhibitions in Timbuktu. Plus, a foray into pop culture featuring David Archuleta and the late great Diane Keaton.

01:30 The cousin final

07:35 Coco doing what she does best in Wuhan

12:10 The Felix anti-jinx

15:25 Other winners: Fernandez, Ruud, Rybakina, Medvedev (882 days, they’ve said many times)

20:30 Rune’s catastrophic Achilles rupture

24:00 Who can still qualify for the ATP/WTA Finals?

28:40 The still-raging scheduling and exo debates + answering a listener question on Laver Cup

37:15 Pop culture break: Archuleta grows up, RIP Diane Keaton

Dry Sockets

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 00:09:39 -0400

Late in the season, the tennis tour is winding itself through the great cities of China. Anisimova wins Beijing, the women put together a banner lineup in Wuhan, while the men in Shanghai limp (literally) toward the season's end. We've still got so many great listener questions to answer, which cover topical stuff like the length of the tennis season and the Hall of Fame nominees; and less relevant but no less fun subjects like our work nemeses and the retirement of sprint queen and TBS all-time fave, Kingston native Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

02:45 Marquee matchups in Wuhan

10:10 Court speed wars; or, you sound like a loser

16:05 Taylor Daynes of tennis

24:05 Work enemies

35:25 Tennis Hall of Fame nominees

43:10 Any update on Peng Shuai?

47:20 The schedule … six 500s?! Ten 1000s?!

52:50 The GOAT Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce retires

Here For Some Of It

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 11:46:36 -0400

The men’s season ticks on, same as it ever was, as Alcaraz and Sinner snag twin 500s in different countries. We talk a little (very little) about recent results and people being consistently weird in and about Asia. Then, we move into our listener mailbag segment, where we cover everything from how to address the late-season malaise to dealing with workplace narcissists. We finish with an extended review of Mariah’s new album Here For It All, her first studio album since 2018. By the way, the episode title does not refer to our feelings on the album!

2:50 Carlos and Jannik add titles, Learner is your newcomer of the year

9:00 No one’s talking to you

13:00 Why can’t players just be normal in Asia?

18:05 Does the tennis season end with a whimper? How to change it up?

32:00 Balancing cultural issues with tennis on the show

37:20 How much stock do put into year-end no. 1 rankings vs. the rolling ranking system?

40:55 Off-topic: do you have advice for how to deal with workplace narcissists and bullies?

50:10 Mariah album review!

Oops I Did It Again

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 23:18:09 -0400

The post-US Open stretch is always a little strange. Case in point, Lleyton Hewitt was suspended for two weeks because he pushed an anti-doping official last year(?!). Taylor Townsend squandered a lot of good will after she mocked Chinese cuisine (though she swiftly apologized). The Italian dynasty captures their 6th BJK Cup title via Paolini, Cocciaretto, and Errani heroics. Plus, we issue a … clarification(?) of our comments on the USTA last episode, discuss the Canada-Israel tie, and tackle the allegedly imminent Kyrgios-Sabalenka “battle of the sexes.”

1:50 A retraction/clarification on our USTA crashout

6:20 We read the Lleyton Hewitt v. ITIA reports so you don’t have to

17:15 Results: Iga wins #25; WTA hatching and snatching continues

24:45 Team Italia continues to dominate BJK Cup

29:05 Taylor Townsend’s self-own

37:45 USA crashes out of Davis Cup / Canada’s decision on Israel DC tie

48:35 Kyrgios vs. Sabalenka will ultimately be a zero-sum game

Theme music courtesy of Oleg Fedak from Pixabay

The Corporate Sleaze

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 03:19:10 -0400

Thanks for your patience as we finished up our US Open wrap! One of our birthdays coincided with Rolex inviting a certain president to the tournament, and we conscientiously objected. Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz are your winners (for the first time together). The tournament was a barnburner on the women’s side, a fantastic cap to a year which saw four different Slam winners and a few players rewriting their own stories. On the men’s side, Alcaraz faced only 10 break points (a record) and pushed a dominant Sinner into rethinking his own game. As is our wont, we talk extensively about other things … including using Mary Carillo’s commentary as an example of the necessary risk of expanding sports commentary into something more worldly and immediate.

01:46 Aryna Sabalenka wins with smarts and steadiness

08:56 Animisova-Osaka, now that was a moment

18:27 The Townsend-Krejcikova match was a stunner

21:31 Mary Carillo and the risk of telling the truth

35:47 Carlos figures out Jannik (7 of the last 8 times)

42:19 Thanks, Rolex! The USTA makes a problem worse

50:34 Breaking down the prize money increase

55:45 Allez Félix!

64:50 Novak and everyone else

71:11 Duchess of Kent, Wimbledon icon, dies at 92

Packed Up and Gone

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 01:26:35 -0400

We've just returned from the US Open, excited to share some stories from the site. We cover our night session with Venus, the debut of Carlos' buzz cut, Felix vs some fake fans, and the luck of seeing Barbie K's opening match at two consecutive Slams. This has been something of a whiny US Open, though -- kicked off by Medvedev’s calculated tantrum, then followed by Ostapenko’s shameful display against Townsend (which Jonathan witnessed in person!). Later, we chat about the experience of a stretched out schedule, Serena inducting Maria into the Hall of Fame, the draws as they stand now.

1:30 Daniil Medvedev’s desperation

11:10 Stefanos, another pissy baby

15:50 Your primary source for Townsend-Ostapenko

32:00 Victor Barber we are so sorry (this time)

36:20 Night session with Venus Williams!

43:10 An overwhelming sense of ickiness

53:05 Félix and the fake fans

62:50 How the Sunday start impacted the on-site experience

70:20 Inductrination

77:35 The draws at the cusp of week two

Why Is It a Crime To Be Locked In? US Open Preview

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 00:08:01 -0400

We're kind of winging it for this US Open preview. It's a bit too late for a Cincy recap, so we're talking about major themes -- like Coco’s coaching overhaul, Iga’s mid-season surge, the guys not named Carlos or Jannik -- and sprinkling in some results. We talk about what worked and what didn't in the mixed doubles exhib-- I mean the prestigious and successful mixed doubles tournament featuring the world's best players. Plus we settle some scores and probably create a few new beefs, but what the hell, this is the last major of 2025 and literally our 43rd Slam preview.

1:00 The major storylines in the women’s draw: I warned you Iga was coming! + Coco drops the GripMD

15:00 Men’s storylines: Djokovic LoseWatch, the also-rans

21:05 The mixed doubles experiment

31:30 Mardy Fish comes for Rajeev Ram out of nowhere

35:50 Not Parks and Vavassori liking fake news homophobic posts on IG

38:45 Women's draw preview

51:25 Men's draw preview

67:10 US Open artwork: Honoring Althea Gibson in death but not in life

I Think I've Done Enough

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 23:03:35 -0400

The Canadian Open (finally) ends, and with a shocker: Burlington, Ontario’s Victoria Mboko snatches her first WTA title after starting the year outside the top 300, and Ben Shelton wins his first Masters event. Honestly, the longer format, the withdrawals of the top men, and the Cincinnati overlap all really hurt this tournament (the second-longest running in tennis history, btw!). We didn’t want to contribute to this Naomi speech discourse, but I guess we do in a small way. Plus: Stefano Vukov’s suspension has been overturned, That Guy is delulu (but in a very intentional PR type of way), and we take a question or two from the mailbag.

0:40 Burlington’s Very Own

13:50 The Naomi Discourse - not doing it again! (well, a little)

25:00 Performance, Bye

29:20 The longer format is sucking the life out of the Canadian Open

39:45 Shelton wins his first Masters 1000, electronic line calling loses (again)

48:00 Stefano Vukov’s ban by the WTA has been overturned in arbitration

59:50 A few questions from the mailbag

The Mubadala Citi Destiny's Child Open

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:37:21 -0400

Starting off hot with two updates in doping cases: first, Jannik Sinner has rehired one of the men responsible for the clostebol contamination. In Tara Moore’s case, CAS ruled that the actual beef was legitimate, but the figurative beef with the ITIA, sadly, was not. The DC tournament had outsized buzz this year, thanks to Venus Williams’ wild card and surprising performance, owner Mark Ein’s boosterism for DC-area tennis, Fernandez’s impressive run, and de Minaur’s late-stage heroics. Later, we touch on the Canadian Open, coaching drama, some big local retirements, and answer a few fun listener questions.

01:30 Sinner rehires fitness coach Ferrara after a year in timeout

10:35 Tara Moore’s case concludes with a 4-year ban

14:20 She’s still The Venus Williams

30:25 de Minaur wins a heartbreaker against ADF

33:55 Leylah Fernandez wins biggest career title (+ scheduling complaint in Montreal)

39:50 Canadians in the Canadian Open: retirements, withdrawals, but at least Mboko remains standing!

46:30 Coaching changes: two “supercoaches” constantly putting themselves in the talk

51:30 Listener questions: Toronto recs

57:50 Tournament essentials

62:25 An FMK like no other

TBS x Courtney Part II

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 22:01:12 -0400

Presenting part two of our interview with Courtney Nguyen, tennis podcaster, blogger, and former Senior Writer, WTA Insider! This time around, we chat about tennis commentary, the various ways the ATP encroaches upon the WTA, and Courtney's evolving approach to podcasting while also working for the tour. We had to ask about Courtney's favorite players to cover while at the WTA (and the most challenging), her favorite commentators, and the inevitable(?) day when opinion-havers like the three of us simply run out of opinions.

Luck Be a Sinner This Fortnight

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 23:48:02 -0400

Wimbledon ends with maybe not the champions we chose but the ones we were given. Iga Swiatek honed her grass game and unleashed an almighty tempest to beat Amanda Anisimova with the loss of zero games. Jannik Sinner snapped his 5-match skid against chief rival Carlos Alcaraz by pounding his way to the title. We cover the very human and predictable limitations of electronic line calling, Sally Jenkins’ (warranted) hit piece on John McEnroe, and our lasting impressions of London. You can also expect us to discuss the embarrassing display of billionaire worship that occurred when “activist investor” Bill Ackman got an undeserved wild card to the Hall of Fame Open.

2:10 Dorothea Lambert Chambers thought her record was safe; Iga thought otherwise

16:10 Amanda’s journey to the Wimbledon final

21:05 Dimitrov and Djokovic injuries ease Sinner’s path

26:15 What happened, Carlitos?

35:15 Jonathan’s addendum on Swiatek’s season so far

38:50 Electronic line calling is fallible after all!

45:15 Ackman at the Newport Casino as we enter a new and dark Gilded Age

52:20 Sally Jenkins says what fans have been saying for years: fire McEnroe

58:20 Last notes from London

Strawberries and WHAT?!

Sat, 05 Jul 2025 20:12:35 -0400

We’re back from our first ever trip to Wimbledon with lots of stories from the grounds and our impressions of the whole British Empire of it all (it's intoxicating at the same time). We were there for the hottest opening day in Wimbledon’s history, and the heat seemed to wreak havoc on the draw, with 36 seeds out by the end of round two. We’ll take you through the draws and some notable matches we saw -- Fritz-Mpetshi Perricard, Krejcikova-Eala, Sabelanka-Branstine, plus Mboko, Baptiste, and ‘Cos’ Giron. Plus, if you’re curious about the various ways to get Wimbledon tickets, we’ve got you (even though it’s still not easy).

2:00 What it was like being at Wimbledon: Let’s start with the food

10:05 Around the grounds: ivy, flowers, Henman Hill, Hailey the Baptist

30:30 How does one get tickets to Wimbledon?

39:30 It was really hot and a bunch of seeds fell

47:00 Women’s draw: #2-6 are out but Andreeva and Swiatek remain in the bottom half …

57:30 Men’s draw: Fritz hanging on, Alcaraz playing entirely too many sets

Theme music courtesy of Oleg Fedak from Pixabay

TBS x Courtney Part I

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 08:01:49 -0400

Presenting the first part of our interview with Courtney Nguyen, tennis blogger, podcaster, and journalist, and until recently the Senior Writer at WTA Insider. First, we chat about Courtney's exit from the WTA and what's next. You'll hear about the first time we met back in 2015 at the dearly missed Mason Applebee's. We also asked Courtney for her thoughts on the state of AI and tech in tennis, some misconceptions about the WTA, and our mutual love of mess -- not just drama, which is fun, but the deeply human imperfection of this sport, how it's played, and how it's governed.

Rawdogging to Wimbledon

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 10:59:00 -0400

The Body Serve lands in London for the very first time! For our Wimbledon preview, we'll take you through some news from qualifying, discuss the players who rallied in the last week before Wimbledon, and outline the top stories of the draw. How long will the Alcaraz-Sinner duopoly last? Is Aryna the favorite or will a grass court demon snatch the title? Will Marketa send the draws crashing down? Will Fritz beat that guy for the 6th consecutive time?

2:55 Qualifying news: Canadian Branstine stuck playing #1s everywhere she goes

5:55 Major stories: the Sinner-Alcaraz chokehold and at least a dozen contenders for the women’s title

10:30 This week’s results: Peggy, Iga, Eala, Fritz and more

14:45 Men’s draw offers Djokovic a chance, throws Draper a curve ball

25:50 Women’s draw preview: Sabalenka’s rough go

Fan Fics and Side Chicks

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 13:14:19 -0400

The tours have begun their brief stop on grass, and here’s what we know: Marketa has risen, Bublik is dangerous, Carlos won’t stop winning, and the WTA hasn’t yet figured out Tatjana Maria’s spins. Outside of the results, we cover the end of Kyrgios’ stint with the BBC and its possible causes. Plus: Sinner and Bocelli’s camp collaboration and the US Open’s mixed doubles pairings, which appear to have been drafted by agents and some very online fans.

03:50 Grass results: Tatjana Maria stuns the big hitters at Queen’s

11:05 Marketa has awoken, Bublik wins second Halle title

18:50 Kyrgios won’t be broadcasting this year (now why is Chris Eubanks in it?)

26:30 Too late to Kei-pologize?

29:15 Sinner & Bocelli Grammy when?

32:10 A Slam title for fan-fic?!

38:00 A listener question

42:35 Et ceteras: coaching changes, Petra’s imminent retirement, Mariah’s new single

I Love This Song

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 19:58:17 -0400

Roland Garros closes with Coco Gauff’s second major title and a true classic of a men’s final, with Carlos Alcaraz defending his title after weathering three championship points and over five hours of punishing tennis from Jannik Sinner. Of course you’ll get our thoughts on Aryna Sabalenka’s less than pleasant commentary after the match, plus notes on Iga, Novak, and Musetti’s ill-conceived kick. Stay tuned for our fashion segment (Lululemon FTW this time), our impression of TNT’s coverage, and the scheduling nightmare that got even worse.

3:30 Coco Gauff is a two-time major champ!

12:10 Aryna talks shit, gets whacked by fans and locals alike

20:15 Other notes about the women’s draw

29:30 Men’s final: a true classique

39:00 Semi and quarter notes: Musetti’s kick and That Guy’s futility

48:50 Reviewing the kits: Nike, go home; Wilson and Lulu, you can stay

58:00 TNT’s coverage created some real energy

A Fight Worth Fighting

Sat, 31 May 2025 22:28:25 -0400

All Round of 16 matches are set at the 2025 Roland Garros, after a number of top men crashed out early (though none of the true favorites) and most of the women’s contenders remain on a crash course toward some fiery week two matchups. We look at what’s to come and discuss our week one highlights – including Svitolina-Pera, Keys-Kenin, Draper-Monfils, and Mboko’s run. The episode’s title comes from the tournament’s refusal to schedule women during its flawed night session concept and the ensuing controversy, with a fight led by Ons Jabeur and much of the tennis press. Plus, a review of the Rafa Nadal tribute (a job well done!).

1:25 RG does the Rafa tribute right

8:05 Upsets galore on the men’s side

13:45 The men’s draw as it stands

24:25 Our women’s draw highlights

38:45 RG night session scheduling is a fight worth fighting

52:50 Et ceteras: Jasmine “Solomon” Paolini, Ivanisevic joins Team Tsitsipas

Theme music courtesy of Oleg Fedak from Pixabay

Watch This Space: Roland Garros Preview

Fri, 23 May 2025 23:46:39 -0400

Roland Garros is here, and it’s the first edition since Rafael Nadal’s retirement. We start with a few recollections of our favorite Nadal RG moments, then head straight into draw previews. Is Aryna the favorite? What to make of Iga’s tough draw? Will Novak take advantage and make one more stand in Paris? Is Carlos King? After talking through the draws, we recap some investigative reporting into Muller’s OnlyFans, plus we update you on some imminent retirements, the latest very typical happenings in Camila Giorgi’s life, and That Guy’s 37 trips to -- well, you can just listen.

0:45 Our favorite Rafa Roland Garros moments

3:25 Women’s draw preview

17:45 Mboko makes it in, Bianca doesn’t qualify, Errani retires from singles

24:45 Men’s draw preview

39:00 Prayers up for that guy’s esophagus

40:15 Assorted mess: An OnlyFans scammer, Giorgi does reality TV

Habemus Papi

Mon, 19 May 2025 19:42:39 -0400

At the Italian Open, Jasmine Paolini wins in singles and doubles while Carlos Alcaraz puts on his thinking cap to stop Jannik Sinner at the finish line. We take a beat to compare Sinner’s triumphal return from a doping suspension to that of Sharapova in 2017 (for one thing, she didn’t get to meet the pope). Plus, Djokovic breaks with Murray, Barbie is back, the US Open announces a construction project, and the surprising fallibility of something called Gorillalpha Yeti Juice.

01:45 Welcoming Jannik back from a unexplained absence

12:30 When a delusional era lasts forever

15:45 A note about Lorenzo

20:00 Paolini brings the title back to Italy

31:15 Barbie K is back

33:30 Kicking off Roland Garros qualifying

35:50 Contamination cases have a Gorilla grip on tennis

39:50 US Open announces updates to its site – whether it’s an upgrade remains to be seen

This Sport Is Brutal

Tue, 06 May 2025 10:18:42 -0400

Madrid ends with Aryna Sabalenka further extending her lead as number one, Casper Ruud grabbing his first Masters, and a lot of discourse around Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Naomi Osaka. We’ve got updates on: Jannik Sinner’s hero's welcome in Rome, Bianca Andreescu, Anastasija Sevastova, Tyra Grant, and more. We do a quick review of the strange but sometimes interesting Alcaraz Netflix documentary before wrapping the episode with a dive into the Max Purcell doping suspension, which is way more fascinating than he first let on.

Theme music courtesy of Oleg Fedak from Pixabay

01:45 Penko being Penko

5:05 Madrid: the Iga discourse

9:45 Sabalenka d. Gauff to win Madrid, joins the 11,000 points club

13:40 Casper wins his first Masters 1000

20:20 Osaka drops a level and wins!

23:15 Jannik, the ironic vir triumphalis, returns to Rome

26:15 Updates on Andreescu, Sevastova

30:20 The perplexing Alcaraz Netflix doc

40:00 Is Venus quiet quitting (or did she already)?

43:05 The Max Purcell doping case gets a lot more interesting

Hateration, Holgeration In This Dove Soiree

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 12:09:21 -0400

Clay season is underway, and we’ve seen a Runeaissance, a re-Alcarization, a Penkopalypse even. Stuttgart -- always reliable -- brought a stunning quarterfinal lineup and a surprise winner, while Holger reminded the class that there’s still tons of time to fulfill his promise. There’s much tennis business to talk about, including the first hearing in the PTPA antitrust suit and Opelka’s testimony; Lesia Tsurenko’s lawsuit against the WTA and Steve Simon; and a somewhat voyeuristic ITIA press release. Plus, Dart’s out of left field comment, Shelly Ann clearing the field, and wondering what happened in that Met Gala bathroom meeting.

Theme music courtesy of Oleg Fedak from Pixabay

0:40 Housekeeping: catching a case, getting postcards out

4:50 Holger’s back; Alcaraz wins Monte Carlo, returns briefly to #2

15:45 Stuttgart moves like a 1000-level bitch

22:15 Another spectator calls out That Guy, this time in Germany

26:50 PTPA gets their first hearing, Opelka testifies

35:00 Harriet why?!

37:00 Serena on Jannik and … Maria?

42:20 I always feel like somebody’s watching me

45:35 Lesia Tsurenko sues the WTA

56:25 Our other sporting interests: Shelly Ann & Rory

Futility

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 13:00:52 -0400

Yes, it’s been a minute, but we’re back to catch up on Monte Carlo, Charleston, and sadly yes, all the way back to Miami. The top men have utterly failed to capitalize on Sinner’s mandatory vacation, while on the women’s side, Sabalenka extends her rankings lead and Pegula snatches #3 with her strong start to the year. We’ve also got: Kasatkina’s move to Australia, the top WTA and ATP players sending a letter to the Slams a few weeks after the PTPA lawsuit, a few listener questions, and more.

1:10 Monte Carlo updates: why, Grigor, why?

9:10 Charleston results

14:20 Miami: Eala stuns Iga, Aryna extends her lead

25:30 Don’t count your chickens before they hatch

28:20 Dasha Kasatkina is now representing Australia

31:00 The players do love an epistle

37:20 Coaching and baby news

40:35 A listener question

Vibes Cartel

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 11:28:52 -0400

This week, we’re diving into the antitrust lawsuit brought by the PTPA against the tennis ‘cartel.’ The wide-ranging complaint takes aim at prize money, scheduling, ranking points, anti-doping, and what they broadly view as anticompetitive and illegal activity by the tennis governing bodies. What does the PTPA hope to gain? Which parts make sense, and which leave us with some skepticism? Is unionization a goal, and if so, is it even possible? After spending most of the episode breaking down the major issues in the lawsuit, we hop over to Miami, where all 4 male Indian Wells semifinalists have crashed out, Rafa Nadal Academy grads are making waves, and Djokovic is hobnobbing with the Establishment.

0:55 PTPA files an antitrust lawsuit in three countries - first up, yes we know it doesn’t technically matter, but why these plaintiffs?

06:55 What are the allegations?

24:15 What is the desired outcome?

28:05 Is unionization possible (and is it even a goal)?

36:10 What works and what doesn’t

40:05 The parallels with LIV Golf

46:00 Crashing out in Miami

55:00 You are the company you keep

Waste Management

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 03:10:08 -0400

Well, well, well, what do we have here? Have we entered the Mirra era? If you know us, you know we’re not saying that, we just wanted to say Mirra era. Andreeva fashioned a Keys-esque run to the title in the desert, beating the same four players Madison did to win the AO from the fourth round onward...in the same order! We talk about Iga, we talk about Jack, and we field some more listener questions on TBS 375

02:15 The Mirra Era

12:19 The Conchita Effect

17:01 What’s up with Iga?

26:28 Jack Draper arrives

37:34 Taking a question about Larry Ellison …

46:32 Finding joy in tennis when things outside of tennis are generally terrible

51:22 If tennis were played on only one surface, which would you keep?

53:38 RHOP and other Bravo musings

Indian Hells

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 11:10:24 -0400

We’re back to a regular schedule, and up first it’s week one of Indian Wells: Nick and Novak struggling with injury and form, That Guy simply struggling to avoid the #1 ranking. We chat about the draw, the WTA’s new maternity leave benefits program, plus Danielle Collins’ clothing collab and the impetus behind it. Later on we get into some fun listener questions, with subjects as diverse as cricket, gospel music, the Knicks, and public transportation.

03:15 Question from @lisacrispin on Bluesky: how long does it take to produce each episode?

08:35 Nick’s wrist injury

12:50 Dutch tennis rolls over Novak and That Guy

17:25 Danielle Collins’ merch drop

24:55 IW draw recap

29:15 WTA announces maternity leave benefits program funded by PIF

33:55 How are we feeling about the Knicks? (question from @dabigjoker on Bluesky)

38:00 Jonathan picks his test cricket XI from tennis players (question from @edwardpolsen)

46:55 Public transit fun (@irascibly)

49:25 Since it's Oscars season, what actors could you see playing various players in imaginary biopics? (@lobjan)

54:45 And finally, what’s with our nickname for Kimberly Birrell? (@tomcharles2710)

Sh*t's Creek

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:18:17 -0500

February ends with Andreeva’s arrival, players getting flewed out by Jessie Pegula, Stef’s mystery racquet saving his career, and Andrey live laugh loving in Doha (but in all seriousness, happy for him!). We’re also covering the WTA’s anti-purple rebrand alongside Billie Jean King’s “tear it all down” approach, Venus Williams’ momentary wild card to Indian Wells, and Serena coming to our town with the WNBA!

1:20 My favorite season: awards

5:25 Stef’s boat

8:35 Something rotten in the state of Guerrero

15:35 Other results: Navarro, Djere, and Peggy’s private plane

20:30 Rublev wins Doha, opens up about learning to be kind to himself

23:40 Andreeva arrives as a genuine teen prodigy

28:00 Who jumped out the gate in 2025?

32:20 Venus is back! Oh wait, no, she’s giving a talk in Denmark!

36:25 Indian Wells surface change - let’s wait and see, ok?

38:40 The WTA rebrand: no more charity language and no. more. purple.

54:45 The WNBA (and Serena!) are coming to Toronto

Stay In Your Lane

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 22:04:57 -0500

Tennis, stop. Give us a minute, my God. The chaotic February schedule gives us a first-time 1000 title winner (Anisimova), a first-time ATP titlist (Fonseca), Ostapenko’s fifth unanswered defeat of Swiatek, and Bencic winning a big title soon after her return from maternity leave. While trying to keep track of tennis results, we also saw the resolution of the Sinner’s WADA appeal, the conclusion of the WTA’s investigation into Stefano Vukov, and Simona Halep's retirement.

01:40 Anisimova wins Doha, Penko turns her year around

5:35 Fonseca’s first title, Schwartzman’s swan song, and will the South American swing go hardcourt?

11:40 Alejandro, por qué???

15:10 Last week: Bencic, Alcaraz, Shapo

19:40 The Sinner Agreement

31:05 US Open makes mixed doubles a glorified exhibition

40:55 Compton’s most famous daughter

47:05 Rybakina’s coach Vukov suspended for a year

53:30 Simona Halep retires

62:20 We don’t need straight men’s takes on which men are hot

Intent Intent Intent Doesn't Exist

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 15:36:35 -0500

Madison Keys has been a major champion for over a week now! This episode isn’t really about that, but it bears repeating. Checking in on tennis in February, we’ve got Felix winning yet another indoor title, Mertens and Alexandrova making up for somewhat disappointing Australian Opens, and a whole heap of man drama at Davis Cup, featuring one of the only head-on collisions you’ll see in tennis and the current state of ATP umpiring. This episode covers lots of odds and ends including Petra’s imminent return(!), more from the AO men’s final protestor, Ymer’s unretirement, and the US Open’s expansion.

0:35 WTA titlists Mertens and Alexandrova; Felix wins his second title of the year

6:55 Davis Cup: Garin gets literally run over by Bergs

17:40 Certainly not while wearing that moustache

20:00 Mikael Ymer did the opposite of “break up with your [tennis], I’m bored”

20:55 Petra Kvitova is coming back, maple syrup magnate Vasek Pospisil is leaving

28:05 One more thing about Madi

34:20 Craig Tiley’s comments on the AusOpen protestor are … lacking

39:35 The US Open’s manspread

Truly Madi Deeply

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 21:29:24 -0500

This was one of those rare finals weekends where pretty much everything we hoped for came true. A perennial fave of fans and her own coworkers, the one-time prodigy Madison Keys showed remarkable maturity and grit to win her first major title. She let go of the “need” to win a Slam, and then managed to defeat #2 Iga Swiatek and the 2-time defending champ #1 Aryna Sabalenka back-to-back. Jannik Sinner defended his title without facing a break point in the final. Tennis keeps trying to make his opponent happen, alas to no avail. Plus, we got cracker women's doubles matchups, Novak HIPAA-violating himself, and Sakkari attending the inauguration instead of winning tennis matches.

1:25 GoFundMe update: Thank you!!!

6:05 Once a tween prodigy, then a best-never-to-win, now a Slam winner

12:05 Madison said therapy works … can’t argue with that

27:50 After a diversion, a few more notes on the women’s draw

33:40 The ceaseless pushing, literal and figurative

38:00 “Australia believes Olya and Brenda”

46:45 Ben Shelton v. the media

53:05 Women’s doubles: SMASH on the girls

62:25 Call me OptaAce because I’ve got stats

I Learned From The Best

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 20:56:16 -0500

Just past the midway point of the 2025 Australian Open, the big favorites are mostly still here; a few NextGenners made a big splash in week one, including Joao Fonseca and the episode namesake Learner Tien. We'll take you through the draw, the first week highlights, the upsets, and the reverse hex I put on Alejandro ;) As always, we spend a lot of time with all the extra stuff happening on top of the tennis: coaching pods, the Danielle Collins mini-controversy, Djokovic’s ‘boycott,’ Nick’s non-event, and a few notes on commentary.

1:55 The first week upsets (aka James was wrong about pretty much everything)

12:00 How the faves are doing? Monfils, Coco, Alejandro (you’re welcome)

24:15 The quarters and how we got here

30:15 He came for the nepo baby and that was the last straw

33:30 Coaching pods! (At least they’re not mic’d)

38:50 The Danielle Collins (and Colleen?!) Fund

46:05 WADA will not appeal Swiatek’s case

50:30 Tony Jones gave Novak a grievance. Thanks a lot, Tony

55:05 Erin Routliffe with the quote of the tournament

57:25 The kits: Coco’s is a hit, but the Nike spaghetti straps … please

Mercury Rising: Australian Open Preview

Sat, 11 Jan 2025 12:51:34 -0500

And just like that, the 2025 Australian Open is nearly underway. It’s the 40th major we’ve covered as a podcast, and our draw previews are still as prediction-free as always. We touch on a few of the themes to watch out for in Melbourne – Sinner’s emotional state, Rybakina’s coaching situation, Novak as #7 seed and poisonee – but mostly this is a lighthearted preview with draw breakdowns and our most intriguing first rounds.

GoFundMe: help fund our 2025 season!

3:15 Stories to follow: heavy metals, jumping ants

13:50 Comebacks and withdrawals

18:50 Women’s draw analysis: a tough one for Coco

27:40 Women’s bottom half: will Iga reverse her luck in Australia?

38:05 Men’s draw analysis: the top tier and the middlemen

54:50 Men’s bottom half: Djokovic as a #7 seed sounds wrong

Obsessed

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 10:24:47 -0500

Welcome to season 11 of The Body Serve! We're catching you up on the barely existent off-season, including the most important Joaos, Max Purcell turning himself in, and Jenson Broosky’s brave statement about autism. Even though one of us rejects any “2025” tennis that occurs before January 1, 2025, we talk through the season’s early results, including the United Cup fracas, the Opelka and Nishikori comebacks, and the shifting Big 4 allegiances due to the Murravic pairing. We also take on the decidedly more serious situation with Elena Rybakina’s former and would-be current coach, Stefano Vukov, who is currently under investigation by the WTA. Finally, we end with our 2025 breakout picks and a game that James was entirely unprepared for. Happy 2025!

1:05 GoFundMe update

4:05 First week results: Reilly, Kei, the pairing from hell, plus the top tier of the WTA smashes their first week

14:00 United Cup: the “drama” is honestly not that serious

23:30 Rybakina, Vukov, WTA safeguarding, and the childishness of “I told you so”

31:25 Max Purcell turns himself in for an anti-doping oopsie

35:55 Kyrgios’ obsession + Osaka’s allegiance to him (aka: I knew things would get rocky when he came for the nepo baby)

40:45 Jenson Brooksby tells the world that he has autism spectrum disorder

44:50 The Year of the Joao: Reis da Silva comes out as gay + Fonseca wins Next Gen Finals

50:15 Our breakout picks for 2025

54:50 James plays a game! Play along at home

Adiós a Todos

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:08:51 -0500

We never knew how much we’d miss “hola a todos” until it turned into an adiós. Rafael Nadal Parera ended his tennis career at this year’s Davis Cup, leaving with with 22 major singles titles, a Career Golden Slam, every clay record you can think of, and a litany of quotable moments. We’ve been Rafa fans since the early days, when they said he was a dirtballer whose body would force him into retirement in his 30s. But it turned out Rafa was nothing if not adaptable -- a rational thinker whose love for the game made him a global superstar and helped build two of the sport’s most enduring rivalries. In this episode, we’re less interested in a chronological retelling of his career than complicating some of the cliches about him and talking about our favorite moments, Rafa’s inimitable Rafa-isms, and what made Nadal an athlete like no other.

1:55 How we became fans

4:45 It’s not about stats, but here are some stats

10:00 Adaptability: the key to understanding Rafa as an athlete?

12:55 A quick career recap - the notable eras

32:35 Rafa as sufferer

37:30 Fedal & Rafole: the cliches eventually fell away

43:45 Rafa as sex symbol

52:05 (Not) talking about the GOAT conversation

62:25 Our favorite Rafa moments: the 2022 Australian Open was a gift

65:40 Rafa-isms : if if if …

Sinners and Ain'ts: 2024 ATP Wrap

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 11:35:48 -0500

Finally our 2024 season is coming to a close! Although bonus December content is coming soon, we finish regular coverage by wrapping the ATP season: it was basically the proof that Jannik Sinner’s late-2023 rise was for real, and that he and Carlos have taken the reins of the (mostly) post-Big 4 ATP. Just like the women’s wrap, we’ll take you through the events of the 2024 season, evaluate our picks for 2024 breakout players, and choose our ATP Award winners. We finish up with your memorable/funny/enraging moments (“do you want to change the lady?,” Indian Wells bee attack) and the many players saying goodbye to the sport.

GoFundMe

3:10 Where were we at the beginning of 2024?

10:30 Starting in Australia: Sinner risen

16:30 Clay: Rafa’s brief return, Watergate, and Carlos’ apology-fist pump-championship pipeline

22:20 Channel Slam and Novak’s white whale

29:20 Rafa’s retirement at Davis Cup

37:55 Off-court “drama”

41:55 Our 2024 breakout players + thoughts on the ATP Awards

50:00 What will you remember? Bees.

53:25 Moments that pissed you off / made you laugh (sometimes both)

57:55 A ton of retirements this year, even beyond the big names

Receipts! Proof! Timeline! Screenshots!

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 12:15:35 -0500

We were soooo close to wrapping this season, but we’ll always change the schedule for a doping story. The news of Iga Swiatek testing positive for a banned substance provoked shock, confusion, and even resignation among tennis watchers who are, by the day, becoming more versed on the fine details of doping cases. Our immediate questions were: Is the story plausible? Why is the suspension broken into pieces? When should news like this be made public? As always, we like to dive into the report itself, making sure we’ve got the facts straight before offering any hot takes. Later, we try to answer a few of our own questions, touching on player reactions and the danger of comparing one case to another.

1:35 GoFundMe Update

3:25 Iga Swiatek tests positive for trimetazidine in Cincinnati, gets a 1-month non-consecutive suspension

9:05 A timeline to make sense of things

13:10 Iga’s team sends a boatload of evidence to the ITIA

17:30 What’s the difference between No Fault or Negligence and No Significant Fault of Negligence?

31:30 Public disclosure: balancing a player’s privacy with building transparency and trust

36:05 Tara Moore has a more legitimate beef than most

42:30 Simona said this case is identical to hers (it is not)

Bookends: 2024 WTA Wrap

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 17:06:38 -0500

This year in women’s tennis, the top tier took further steps to entrench themselves but the WTA retained its signature depth. Sabalenka, Swiatek, and surprise – Krejcikova – added majors to their hauls; Paolini and Zheng broke out in a big way; and Gauff managed to rewrite her season in the fall. We’ll take you through the highlights, the comebacks, the ‘remember whens,’ and moments both infuriating and hilarious. As usual, we also choose our WTA Award winners and do a self-assessment on our 2024 WTA breakout picks. Thanks for a great WTA season!

0:55 Launching our crowdfunding campaign!

3:00 The season’s major themes: Steadiness at the top (+ Babs!), the Zheng and Paolini breakthroughs, Coco’s two seasons, and many comebacks of varying success

12:20 Picture it: Australia, January 2024

17:20 Danielle makes a career-best run, Iga dominates clay

26:25 Babs snatches Wimbledon, Zheng ascendant

33:20 Aryna bookends her year at the US Open

38:30 Our choices for the 2024 WTA Awards

44:10 How did our 2024 breakout picks do?

47:55 Your most memorable moments: our listeners love Jasmine

50:55 Moments that pissed you off and moments that made you laugh: Babs and Qinwen keeping the girlies entertained

64:35 Farewells and farewells for now

Get a Grip(MD)

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 20:43:29 -0500

Coco writes a new story to end her year -- beating the bad season allegations, as she said -- by taking out Swiatek, Sabalenka, and finally Zheng Qinwen to win the WTA Finals. (Barbie K tried to shake the table, as usual.) In Turin, Jannik Sinner showed that anything you can do, he can do better. He won his first year-end title and notched a 70-win season, the first since 2016. After that, we talk about the retirement of legendary umpire Carlos Bernardes, Frances Tiafoe’s big fine, Jon Wertheim’s hot mic incident, and more.

0:30 Housekeeping: a transition to BlueSky?

6:40 Coco beats the bad season allegations!

19:55 Barbora Krejcikova will f*** it up if you invite her (respectfully)

24:45 ATP Finals: starting with the group photo

29:55 Nice job, Taylor! But Sinner does it better

41:35 #NameTheTennisPlayer is back!

45:15 Umpire Carlos Bernardes retires from tennis

48:00 Wertheim’s hot mic moment

53:15 Tiafoe fined $120,000 for tirade

And Another Thing

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 21:35:11 -0500

The top women descend upon Riyadh, the photoshoot is a smash, and #1 Sabalenka sails into the semis. There are still questions around this business decision, and players have varying success in answering them. Paris, as always, suffers from late-season malaise, and the ATP Finals qualifiers start to firm up (almost), but we wonder about the value of grinding it out this late in the season. Plus, lot of et ceteras, including: Dev Patel is the next Zendaya(!), and off-court coaching is no longer a trial but still a tribulation (heh).

0:30 And another thing about Sinner

2:55 Some meta-commentary on the show and getting older and less stan-oriented

8:15 The WTA Finals looks: great job everybody!

16:10 Players answer inevitable questions on Saudi Arabia, some better than others

26:35 If a tree falls in Paris

38:10 ATP Finals qualifications: not many scenarios are left

44:55 WTA results: Shnaider wins #4 of the year and Somnez enters the top 100

47:05 Sloane on protecting your peace

52:20 Et ceteras: Diego Forlan to play pro tennis, the incomparable Dev Patel to make a tennis movie

57:20 Off-court coaching is now the law

Washed

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 20:47:55 -0400

These October episodes are always all over the place. The tours are sputtering toward a finish as players are vying for the final spots in the year-end tournaments or securing their ranking for next season. We talk about the Six Kings Slam, its strange and corny happenings, and the Saudi efforts to diversify their economy with sports and entertainment. We go through some recent results -- Dasha back in the top 10! -- plus we discuss the Hall of Fame vote that inducted Sharapova, peruse the slightly confusing WTA ranking rules, and honor Dominic Thiem’s great career.

1:00 Does Saudi Arabia even need to sportswash at this point?

12:20 Results: Stan isn't going, Dasha back at #9, second titles for Draper and Mpetshi

18:35 What’s left this season, and who’s in the running for an ATP Finals spot?

25:15 Danielle Collins is in fact not retiring this year

31:20 Sharapova inducted into the Hall of Fame: a test for voters

42:45 Dominic Thiem retires

48:10 Aryna back at #1: arguments over ranking math

Million Dollar Babies

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 13:05:59 -0400

Autumn is supposed to be relatively quiet in tennis, no? Well, in the past week or so, Rafa announced his retirement, CAS released the full decision on Simona Halep's doping case, WADA appealed Jannik Sinner’s No Fault or Negligence ruling to CAS, and one of the most successful coaching pairings of the decade ended. We’ll take you through some key points of the Halep case, including how and why her suspension was so drastically reduced, and some learnings that might help us better understand the Sinner case. We cover the wave of cranky baby behavior in Shanghai, including Frances’ outburst and how it reads in comparison to similar behavior from his colleagues. Plus, Sabalenka nears no. 1 again, Coco resets, and why the continued whispers about Zheng’s personality aren’t sitting right with us.

2:05 Rafa says ‘Adiós a todos’

8:20 CAS finally releases the full decision on the Halep case

23:05 WADA appeals the Sinner decision - what have we learned from the Halep case and others?

32:15 It’s pissy cranky season

40:50 A few WTA players play stupid games, win stupid prizes

43:55 Why is Qinwen becoming public enemy no. 1?

52:30 Coco said “what crisis?”

55:25 Iga splits with Wiktorowski

In the Arena

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 06:29:15 -0400

Welcome to part two of our mailbag! We’re kicking things off with our review of Serena in the Arena (at long last). We can’t help but compare some of the things we’ve said about Serena’s career over the years with how Serena described those events in her own words. Like you all, we noticed a few notable omissions from the series, and a few things that were conveniently glossed over. Spoiler: we enjoyed it. We spend the rest of the episodes sifting through the remainder of your submissions. Hope y’all enjoy!

00:52 Serena in the Arena, at last

22:54 How would we schedule the tennis calendar?

35:02 James grinds his Madrid axe, goes to bat for USO Series

40:25 Giving some grace to non-English speakers in pressers

45:47 The tennis opinion we disagree on most

52:51 Ramblings on the where we see the sport in the next few years

59:30 The prerequisite update on our Bravo TV watching habits

Gatekeeping Tennis

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 08:13:46 -0400

Tennis is a famously exclusive sport. So which forces and institutions determine who gets access? Who’s guarding the gates, and what’s the criteria for entry? In this episode, which is co-produced by Sheriece Matias Dick, we start to explore the barriers to entering tennis, the various paths into the sport, and how the gatekeeping institutions of tennis have jockeyed for power through the profound economic and cultural changes of the past 140 years. After exploring a few players’ journeys into pro tennis, we look into the founding ethos of the sport -- “gentlemanly amateurism” -- and how that obsession with status permeated the sport even as it became more accessible to working class people. Finally, we land in the present day, where the seat of power has shifted from aristocratic patrons to the corporate sponsor, with their own standards of conduct, inclusion, and ‘class.’

0:30 What is gatekeeping and how does it relate to tennis?

9:40 Various routes to becoming a pro tennis player

12:25 Comparing Tiafoe and Fritz

23:05 Tennis’ “working class champions”: various paths to the pro level

30:20 The financial barriers for kids entering tennis

36:50 Tennis as an activity for the leisure class

41:45 Code of etiquette: a surprisingly durable way to police the gate and perform class status

48:30 The Open Era democratizes tennis, sort of

51:45 The new tennis economy: broadcasting rights, sponsorships, and the invention of the branded tennis celebrity

57:35 Connors, McEnroe, and their very American “class struggle”

65:00 From patron to sponsor

It's Not Right But It's OK

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 17:55:23 -0400

It’s the first day of fall, the players are burnt out, and instead of following Laver Cup we’re doing a mailbag. Your questions gave us enough to yap about over two separate episodes, which we’ll release over the next few weeks in addition to something else we’ve been cooking. We talk about Naomi’s surprising coaching changeup; trying to find joy in a sport after it’s presented you a tough ethical dilemma; Coco and Brad’s split; our favorite players who never really jumped off; and a lot more.

01:55 Naomi's coaching change

08:40 ‘Coco crisis’ or out of control expectations?

14:30 How would you conduct your social media profiles if you were a famous tennis player?

20:30 Facing an ethical dilemma in following men’s tennis

35:05 Vee as coach?

41:45 Our walk-out music

44:50 Who are some players late in their careers who you thought would break into the top but never really did? Who were you excited to follow but they didn’t reach their full potential?

The Sins of Our Fathers

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 11:26:17 -0400

The final major of the year is over and the champions are the same as in January: Aryna Sabalenka stakes her claim as hardcourt queen while Jannik Sinner dominates mere days after being cleared in an anti-doping case. We recap some of our highlights from week two, which had a ton of potential but didn’t deliver many (any?) classics. We dig into why disliking billionaires is actually totally fine; conflicts of interest and their sometimes humorous results; online mean girl/mean boy behavior from some famous commentators; and more observations from the site. We finish up with a look at commentator Nick Kyrgios and the complacency that led broadcasters, journalists, and commentators to excuse his misogyny; plus the ongoing lawsuit over Ben Rothenberg’s reporting on the Zverev abuse allegations.

0:35 Not the most brilliant three weeks of tennis in history but OK!

3:00 The women’s final was fun! Aryna Sabalenka bookends her year with hardcourt Slams

7:35 Billionaires, they’re just like us!

14:45 Notable week two matches: Navarro d. Badosa; Zheng d. Vekic; Aryna evolving into the most consistent Slam player on tour

19:00 Rennae cooks coach/commentator Brad Gilbert on air, and why that’s totally fine

26:55 An unseasoned final

30:50 The American narrative + Frances Tiafoe getting so close again

44:50 Penko a first-time Slam doubles winner; Taylor/Katka, Mladenovic/Zhang, D. Young

52:10 “Little grim reapers” and a few more observations from the grounds

63:40 ESPN commentators discover player name pronunciations and immediately get mean about it

71:10 Nick Kyrgios, misogyny, and the insider hypocrisy that protects him

79:45 Ben Rothenberg appeals a lawsuit from Alexander Zverev + its broader implications for journalism

Cornrow USO

Sat, 31 Aug 2024 23:26:11 -0400

Jonathan is back from New York after attending the first three days of the US Open. James quizzes him on the record crowds, the heat, where to find the frozen Honey Deuce, the tennis, and his advice for navigating the grounds. We chat about Naomi’s divisive kit, Adidas’ misstep, and of course the cornrow epidemic. Right, and there was tennis being played, too – Novak & Carlos crash out, the men’s draw could see a real breakthrough (or not), and Paolini and Gauff win for Slam consistency this year.

1:50 The crowds: eased by free movement during matches

11:10 Experiences from the grounds: the heat, Taylor Townsend, Ngounoue/Tien

19:55 Searching for the frozen Honey Deuce

28:55 A Manhattan girlie now

30:55 It’s called fashion: Ruffles and bows

39:50 The screaming follicles

42:50 First week highlights: Tiafoe d. Shelton, Muchova reminds everyone what she can do

54:30 Alcaraz and Djokovic both out before the second week

60:20 Women’s draw chugs along as top seeds remain

72:37 Men’s draw: even with the upheaval, the title could still go to the world #1

Multiple Things: US Open Preview

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 00:19:09 -0400

The US Open is around the corner, but you know what we really want to talk about: the news of Jannik Sinner’s positive doping tests, the lifted suspensions, and the hearing that cleared his name five months later, all before we heard a single peep on the subject. We take you through the facts of the case, the questions around transparency and the perception of fairness, and the privilege of having the means to mount a case and a spokesperson like Darren Cahill on your side. We end with our US Open draw previews: Sabalenka in great position, OsakaPenko, a soft landing for Novak, a tricky quarter for Carlos and a test for Iga.

2:25 But first, the Cincy results

4:10 Yevgeny, calm down

7:05 Frances’ middle finger

11:05 Sinner v. ITIA: the facts

23:10 What does No Fault or Negligence mean?

33:30 “One-billionth of a gram” + the privilege of great PR

47:50 Women’s draw preview: a quartet of cursed women’s 1st rounds

59:25 Men’s draw preview: Jannik, Carlos, and Daniil will have to battle it out on the top half

Pon De Replay

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 11:41:48 -0400

We asked for questions and you sent us so many great ones, many of which cover some of the major topics o’ the day, including the recent rule enforcement controversies and the groundswell of support for video replay. (Basically, video replay needs to happen and it will happen, but it won’t fix everything!) Beyond just the topical, we've got Olympics memories, favorite cake, a few great Coco questions, and the contradiction of having fewer and fewer opinions in a hot take-driven medium. Let’s have some fun before the US Open gets underway next week!

01:30 Which non-Slam event would you have liked to attend?

06:30 Jamaican sprinting and our all-time dream 4x100 relay team

12:20 “What is the most objectively polarizing tennis topic that you have zero opinion on?”

20:25 Video replay: yes, we need it but it won’t fix everything

28:20 The FAA-Draper incident that launched a thousand opinions

38:40 Cleansing the palate from the above question … Favorite cake and favorite episodes (of our own)

42:00 The WTA matching ATP’s prize money: a moving target?

48:00 Toronto vs Cincinnati

52:00 “Coco crisis” or just alarmism?

62:05 WAGs and HABs

67:00 Favorite Olympics moments

Daddy Lessons

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 13:57:47 -0400

Since we last spoke, the entire Olympic tennis tournament and the Canadian Open came and went. Our coverage isn’t comprehensive but more of a riff on the most interesting bits to us. We devote a good chunk of time to the tennis world’s incursions into the “gender controversy” involving Olympic gold medalist Imane Khelif, including ugly, often defamatory statements by tennis legends and one current player (the latter being the only one to retract). We bounce over to Canada for some disjointed thoughts on the National Bank Open and finally touch on the end of an era, the dissolution of the stormy Stefanos-Apostolos working relationship.

01:15 The Jamaican Olympic tragedy

11:00 Tennis at the Olympics: Novak, Zheng, Nadalcaraz

23:00 The myth of the badly behaved American trio (it's not a trio)

33:25 Andy Murray’s last dance

34:54 Tennis covers itself in shame during the Imane Khelif “gender controversy”

51:35 Policing women’s bodies is not liberation, it’s more of the same

56:25 Random Canadian Open thoughts

67:30 Shapovalov defaulted

70:35 Stef and Dad break up

GOATs on a Boat (Cheek to Cheek)

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 12:11:52 -0400

We’re celebrating our 350th episode - thanks to all of you for sticking around and pushing us forward for all these years! On this episode, we’re sharing thoughts on the Olympics opening ceremony and the spotlight on tennis royalty; the Olympics tennis draws, rocked by withdrawals and the unique Olympic qualification rules; and the post-Wimbledon clay/grass season. Rafa reached the Bastad final plus, in Hamburg, Arthur Fils matched That Guy’s energy, saved 21/22 break points, and snatched the title in front of a hostile crowd (and opponent).

0:30 A milestone!

3:15 Back on clay: Shnaider’s very good year, Rafa plays a few epics in Bastad

9:40 Newport and the ATP’s hygiene problem

19:10 Hamburg: underarm serves and the tears of a clown

26:50 Tennis Channel debuts a Zverev brother podcast … because why wouldn’t they

28:55 Update from Halep, but where is the CAS report?

31:30 Olympics opening ceremony: Booty siblings together again!

45:00 Olympic tennis: retirement fatigue + late withdrawals are wreaking havoc on the already weird draws

I Love Good News! Wimbledon Wrap

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 12:04:38 -0400

So rarely does a championship weekend feel this great. The widely adored Babs Krejcikova has done it again, this time winning the Wimbledon title amidst an injury-plagued year. It’s her 12th major title across all disciplines. Carlos Alcaraz is now the youngest male Channel Slam winner, sweeping past 7-time champion Djokovic in a rematch of last year’s final. In more good news, Taylor Townsend claims her first major title and Sinikova and Hsieh add to their impressive resumes. Plus, we chat about some extraneous stuff, as usual, like Medvedev’s near-default, Djokovic’s lecture to the crowd, and the “4 the girls” controversy.

2:55 This time, the tougher roads resulted in titles

7:40 Babs is a big match player

24:00 The men’s tournament: where’s the rest of the field?

26:50 Men’s final: all Carlos

37:25 Fritz, Riddle, and That Guy: 4 the girls?

44:55 I know all the tricks

53:15 Medvedev narrowly avoids a default in the semis

56:50 Doubles: Townsend is now a Slam winner! Siniakova & Hsieh add to their historic hauls

Eternal Sunshine of the Astonished Mind

Sun, 07 Jul 2024 20:23:14 -0400

We made it to Middle Sunday at Wimbledon! (Well, not all of us.) The bottom half of the women’s draw is guaranteed to see a surprising finalist; in the top half, slightly more order prevails, even after the dismissals of Swiatek and Jabeur. The men’s draw is proceeding mostly as expected on the top half, while the bottom has seen the rapid rise of Perricard, the precarious state of Djokovic's repaired knee, and a slightly spicy beef between Taylor Fritz and Arthur Rinderknech. We also witnessed the last of Andy Murray at Wimbledon, featuring a moving tribute, a singles withdrawal, and mother Judy getting into a self-inflicted internet scrape.

1:00 Early upsets set up a very interesting and unexpected women’s bottom half

10:10 Navarro knocks out Gauff

18:55 Iga and Ons out within 20 minutes of each other

29:50 The return of Caroline Wozniacki, Esq.

35:50 Andy Murray’s last dance at Wimbledon

41:10 AstonishGate

47:25 Stefanos was just here for the *filmmaking*, not the tradwife content

50:40 Have a nice flight home

53:25 Men’s results: top half going to form, bottom's a little messy

Wimbledon Sister

Sat, 29 Jun 2024 19:21:18 -0400

The year's third major is upon us as we face the first Williams-less Wimbledon in 28 years . Novak is back from knee surgery and sheltered from world #1 Sinner and defending champion Alcaraz, who share a balanced but tricky top half. Iga’s draw has done her no favors, but some of the grass stalwarts are questionable, including Rybakina, Vondrousova, and the injured Sabalenka. And buckle up, because early on we’ll be treated to the Your Behavior Is Terrible classic, featuring Steve Carell and Lil’ Wayne’s favorite tennis player.

0:35 The end of the Williams Wimbledon Era

3:20 This week’s results: Dasha, Shnaider, Tabilo, T. Fritz

9:20 Injury updates: Andy Murray intent on playing, Sabalenka dealing with shoulder problem

20:00 Men’s draw: Sinner’s tough draw, a potential Paul Rudd matchup

32:15 Men’s bottom half: Djokovic, Hubert, de Minaur + a messy third quarter

39:35 Women's draw: Iga in peril or does the draw not matter?

50:15 Women’s bottom half hinges on Sabalenka’s health

This Is Going to Ruin the Tour

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 11:33:00 -0400

Grass season is well underway -- almost over, actually -- and we’ve got British players coming out of hibernation, a tennis power couple winning again, the new ATP #1 switching surfaces with ease, and basically all the top WTA grass contenders out with injury or illness in Berlin. Elsewhere, Carlos is unhappy with the ATP’s latest rule experiment and a commentator is unhappy with a problem he just made up. We also cover Tsitsipas’ bizarre tradwife posting and the Olympic qualifications; and finally, it wouldn’t be a Slam without wild card drama.

1:55 Grass titlists: Draper, tennis’ actual power couple, and another birthday humiliation

7:10 FOMO in Berlin until all those retirements …

12:30 Castle’s totally unprovoked rant on pronunciation

14:10 Why are you messing with the shot clock rules during an actual tournament?

17:40 Unfortunately yes, we’re still talking about wild cards

22:20 A bunch of Americans say thank you, next to Olympics

29:25 Andy Murray not out yet

34:00 Tsitsipas shares weird tradwife fantasy

41:45 Thoughts on the Federer documentary

Waiting to Exhale

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 11:42:56 -0400

Iga Swiatek further cements her position as the highly feared queen of Roland Garros and Carlos Alcaraz completes a “Surface Slam” amid injury problems and less than ideal preparation. The years-long ordeal surrounding domestic violence allegations and criminal charges against Zverev has been resolved, at least legally, but the tennis community will continue to reckon with its comprehensive failure in their handling of it. We’ve also got doubles news, WTA CEO announcement, and more takeaways from the tournament like umpire headcams (did they get headcam premium pay?).

2:50 Alcaraz wins his first French title, that other guy loses another Slam final up 2 sets to 1

8:05 Zverev assault case has been settled

13:40 The sport has utterly failed in its handling of domestic violence

22:15 Carlos & Jannik in ascendance, Novak out with meniscus tear

32:55 Iga thoroughly dominates the field post-Naomi

41:20 Coco Gauff wins her first Slam doubles title - and Siniakova her 8th!

45:45 WTA announces a new CEO

47:00 Tournament et ceteras: first up, the umpire head cams

49:05 The Djokovic/Jockovic vowel shift

53:30 Danielle Collins addresses the incredulity about her impending retirement

61:10 PTPA announces additional funds raised for its commercial arm, Winners Alliance

Teetotaled at Roland Garros

Sun, 02 Jun 2024 21:02:58 -0400

It’s been a rainy slog through the first week of Roland Garros. The weather has wreaked chaos on scheduling, the tournament banned alcohol on Philippe Chatrier because the fans didn’t know how to act, and the night session has no women (but who would want it anyway?). We analyze the draw as it stands and take you through the highlights and lowlights: Rafa may or may not have played his last match here, Swiatek-Osaka put on a clinic, Djokovic’s fire got lit at 2am on a Sunday, and Dimitrov completed his collection of Slam quarterfinals.

1:55 Did Rafa play his last match at Roland Garros? Not 100%

7:05 Zverev goes to court for intimate partner violence, his colleagues remain (at best) indifferent

12:35 Musetti awakens the Djokovic beast

21:15 Rublev is upset as his on-court behavior gets worse

27:00 Looking ahead to the men’s quarters

32:20 Iga & Naomi throw in a classic, Naomi’s performance inspires optimism

42:35 Upsets: Sakkari, Collins, Ostapenko

46:50 Looking ahead to the women’s quarters

60:25 Rybakina vs the press: the brief journey from drama to indifference

68:00 Nonstop rain + weird scheduling = misery

72:50 Roland Garros enters its Prohibition era

We Are In Paris

Fri, 24 May 2024 22:46:18 -0400

Roland Garros approaches, and the women's draw has a heavy favorite in Iga Swiatek plus a few major contenders. In contrast, the men's tour seems in a temporary state of disarray, as Djokovic enters without momentum and Sinner and Alcaraz are dealing with injuries. What's worse, the 14-time champion, the (possibly) retiring Rafa Nadal, draws a man who starts his domestic violence trial days after their match. As usual, no predictions here but lots of chatter about this clay season and who's primed to show out. And what's a major without a little wild card drama?

0:50 Wild card drama is constant but a good chance to talk about maternity leave policy

9:00 Rafa draws That Guy

13:15 Men’s draw analysis: what to expect from Djokovic and the walking wounded?

21:20 Men’s draw: the tricky third quarter

28:05 Women's draw: it's Iga's world

35:40 Women’s draw bottom half: opportunity knocks

47:00 Fedal goes mountaineering

Watergate

Mon, 13 May 2024 22:01:07 -0400

Halfway through Rome and it’s all peritonsillar abscesses and water bottles knocking down GOATs and Italian stars retiring and fleeing their home country amidst myriad legal problems. You know, the usual.

0:35 Andrey does not have angina

3:25 Djokovic gets hit in the head by a falling water bottle

9:45 Camila Giorgi retired and lamming it

18:55 Rafa says there’s a tiny, tiny chance this isn’t the end

23:35 Qinwen says no to drama

25:30 More retirement talk: Dominic and Diego

31:45 So how does one qualify for the Olympics?

38:35 How will we know if the extended Masters tournaments are successful?

Doing The Best I Can With What I GOT

Sun, 05 May 2024 21:27:57 -0400

Madrid stretched nearly two weeks and few of the top men survived without injury. Felix Auger-Aliassime landed in the final after three walkovers/retirements but it was a very ill Andrey Rublev who snatched the title. Iga Swiatek won Madrid for the first time (be scared). Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur provided lots of food for thought -- in very different ways -- on women’s sports and continuing inequities. Plus, we’re bringing you our thoughts on Luca Guadagnino’s long awaited queer tennis drama Challengers (aka the crowning of Zendaya as a true movie star), and we answer some listener questions!

1:40 Women save the day (after Aryna steps in it)

14:30 More of Madrid women’s draw shining bright

18:25 Ons Jabeur makes a statement about women’s sports + Feliciano Lopez’s change of tone

25:30 Never stay for your farewell ceremony

30:00 Shirtgate: the height of idgaf-ness

36:35 Men’s draw ravaged by injuries but Andrey overcomes

45:55 Cornet is retiring, Tsitsidosa is breaking up

47:50 Our thoughts on Challengers

65:15 What’s the first thing you’d change if you were in charge of the WTA/ATP merger?

73:45 Players who’ve taken us on journeys of like and dislike (or apathy or indifference or standom, etc.) …

Whatever Happens

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 10:50:23 -0400

It’s time to play catch-up with the early results of the European clay swing: Tsitsipas wins his 3rd Monte Carlo title, Casper takes revenge the following week in Barcelona, and Elena Rybakina slays Iga in Stuttgart for her third title of the year. We also talk about Rafa’s return to tennis in Barcelona and Holger Rune’s commitment to remaining messy on social media even after signing with IMG. In off-court stuff: Muguruza retires, the WTA announces their year-end championships in Saudi Arabia, Keith Lee comes to Toronto (yes, there are one or two sneaks). We finish the episode with our thoughts on Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter, the “country” record that smashes genre and takes us to school.

2:50 Stef takes his 3rd MC title + a Holger Rune dramatic reading

9:05 What happen-ed in Barcelona happen-ed: Rafa’s return, Casper’s triumph

18:55 Rybakina drives off with Stuttgart title (or will once she gets her license)

22:25 Sloane back in the winner’s circle

27:30 Live your life: Garbiñe Muguruza ends her HoF career

32:55 Saudi Arabia announcement + becoming an LGBTQ poster child

39:45 Pop culture et ceteras: Challengers, Keith Lee in Toronto, Mariah in Vegas

54:20 Cowboy Carter!

Charleston Renaiissance

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 02:24:48 -0400

We've just returned from an amazing experience at the Credit One Charleston Open, a tournament that's been hugely important to women's tennis and continues to be a favorite among players and fans. We do our best to place Charleston in the context of its host city's complex history and explore the tournament’s role in helping to develop women's tennis. Danielle Collins was unquestionably the main attraction of the tournament -- winning her second straight title with the loss of one set. We also chat about watching TBS faves Dasha Kasatkina and Taylor Townsend, Vika Azarenka, Jessie Pegula, and Sloane Stephens on the unique Har-Tru green clay. Plus, some tips on attending and our review of the signature cocktail.

00:52 We <3 the Charleston Open (and this is not spon con!)

06:09 A little history of the Family Circle Cup, a hugely important women’s tournament

11:44 Reckoning with the history of Charleston, South Carolina

19:06 Our impressions of green clay and other tournament etcs

28:28 Players and moments that stood out for us

42:34 Just like Miami, Danielle was the standard

49:46 James is never beating the stalker allegations

52:15 First Serve vs Honey Deuce

57:18 What does tennis IQ mean and who has it?

62:03 Other results while we were in the Lowcountry

Miami Requiiem

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 16:19:40 -0400

Danielle Collins, you will always be famous. The 30-year-old charisma machine – she of 2 NCAA titles and an unorthodox journey through tennis – wins her biggest title in the final year of her career. On the men’s side, everybody’s fave Grigor Dimitrov beat three top 10 players but fell against the final one, the near-unbeatable Jannik Sinner. Plus, we have more tales from our time at the Miami Open, including one particularly impassioned rant and the key to why Casper Ruud is not beating the Karen allegations.

03:30 Danielle Collins, the woman you are

09:48 She’s still retiring, so stop asking

15:24 Jannik Sinner is the best (*right now)

18:25 Brother Grigor

24:53 Watching Andy Murray + his devastating injury

29:30 Not an impromptu quiz!

31:17 A nightmare on site …

42:40 What’s the tournament director there for if not to field complaints?

47:43 Extras: Thiem injury, Leylah, Novak-Goran split

53:21 The USTA sexual abuse case will go to jury trial + the failed attempt to bar Pam Shriver from testifying

The Bees Are Back In Town

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 19:28:35 -0400

For the first time, we’re coming to you from Miami Gardens, Florida! Before recapping Indian Wells, we share our first impressions of the Miami Open site and some of the tennis we got to see early on: Halep’s first match back from her suspension, Azarenka-Stearns (with an appearance by early Berry Gordy’s son RedFoo), Ostapenko lighting up Court 1, and more. Alcaraz defends his Indian Wells title -- snapping a title-less stretch going back to Wimbledon -- and Iga regains her title while losing a mere handful of games. Later on, we talk about the competing proposals that aim to overhaul mostly everything about tennis (Premier vs. PIF).

0:35 Miami Open: Penko-Siegemund, Vika-Peyton (and why RedFoo is here)

9:35 Simona’s return and Woz’s take heard round the world: “It wasn’t a clearance”

18:48 Minding Our Own Business

22:20 Belatedly wrapping Indian Wells

27:07 Non-problematic beef

29:41 Unnecessary beef

32:28 Miss Beswick strikes again

35:28:Tennis headed for fundamental change: Premier Tour vs. Saudi PIF bid

Contaminated With Questions

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 15:36:20 -0400

On March 5, the Court of Arbitration for Sport rendered its decision on the Simona Halep appeal: the doping was not intentional and the suspension was reduced to 9 months, time long since served. It’s the welcome end to a saga that has dragged on and shaken trust in the sport’s anti-doping institutions. But, we’re left with ever more questions: Why were the conclusions of the ITIA and CAS so starkly different? What of the biological passport results? What took so long? Why are tennis players often so successful at CAS? Aside from the Halep news, we talk about the early happenings at Indian Wells, the cancellation of Netflix’s Break Point, the ATP's annual awkward International Women’s Day video, and more.

01:40 CAS accepts Simona’s contamination defense and throws out biological passport charge

07:50 Why are the conclusions of ITIA and CAS so vastly different?

15:00 Comparisons to Sharapova, the question of “innocence”

25:00 So where are the “real” dopers?

35:30 Indian Wells: withdrawals, Sinner’s win streak, Kerber-Woz revival

45:15 Break Point is over: what went wrong?

50:40 Ruby amends his apology, thanks to Sofya Tartakova

51:50 A (very) slight improvement in the ATP’s Women’s Day video!

You Cannot Be Serious

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 22:39:58 -0500

Rublev’s default from Dubai generated tons of discourse this week, and we devote quite a bit of time to it: the facts, the question of proportionality (of both Rublev’s actions and the umpire’s decision), and why player reactions aren’t the final word. We also recap the end of the lead-up to Indian Wells, with several players showing off the best tennis of their lives. Plus, Murray’s retirement talk; the ATP’s partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund; and the suspension of a low-ranked player for cannabis and how WADA decides to ban a substance.

2:15 Quick results recap: de Minaur, Boulter, Yuan, Humbert, Baez

8:30 The Rublev Default

13:10 The Act of (non)Contrition

25:35 Proportionality, in a few senses

34:45 Andy Murray talks about the end

38:40 #TheNetflixSlam: it was a bit tacky and very American, but overall a huge win for the sport

46:00 ATP partners with PIF

50:55 A 2-year suspension for weed? Also an opportunity for some nerdy anti-doping discussion

Pills and Potions

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 20:33:14 -0500

February concludes with another first-time winner at the WTA 1000 level, Jordan Thompson winning 3 matches in one night to double in Los Cabos, and a bunch of hatchers and snatchers in Doha and Rio. We're also talking about the Coco-umpire incident in Dubai, Holger Rune rehiring Patrick Mouratoglou but retaining his reckless social media brand, and the quagmire of ethics breaches with the influx of betting companies into tennis institutions.

1:40 Jasmine Paolini wins Dubai + Kalinskaya’s fantastic run

7:40 Thompson wins Los Cabos singles and doubles

12:05 Hatching and snatching in South America

17:50 Andy Murray wins his 500th hard court match

21:15 Coco vs. an obstinate (and wrong) umpire

27:25 Holger is back with Patrick: how to fail up in tennis

37:50 James Blake sanctioned under the sport’s betting sponsorship rules; but why can tournaments and other institutions have betting sponsors?

RIP OHB

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 20:46:59 -0500

We're catching up with the tennis tours as they wind through Transylvania, South America, the US, and the Middle East. Iga Swiatek threepeats in Doha, Rybakina racks up more wins, Pliskova surges, and Sinner wins his first tournament off becoming a Slam winner. Meanwhile, Ostapenko still hasn't lost a match to anyone but Azarenka. We've got updates on the high profile doping suspensions: Brooksby gets some clemency from the ITIA, and Halep pleads her case to the CAS and sues the supplement company (hey, Scarborough!). Plus: the last one-hander in the top 10 goes out, and major coaching shakeups at a strange time of the season.

3:20 Iga threepeats in Doha

8:00 The state of Naomi’s return from mat leave

16:45 Rybakina wins Abu Dhabi, Kasatkina slams the scheduling

19:30 Penko and the aborted racquet shake

24:30 Sinner keeps winning, other men’s results

31:40 The death of the one-handed backhand

36:30 Doping updates: Brooksby’s suspension reduced, Simona Halep makes her case at CAS and sues the supplement company

41:20 Coaching breakups: Sakkari and Tom Hill; Holger and everybody

Fuming: February Mailbag

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 17:30:57 -0500

The Body Serve is back with what’s become a February tradition, an off-topic mailbag/pop culture episode. Fair warning to Sw*fties to proceed with caution through a few of the early segments (timestamps below). As we all switch modes from Australian Open to the global February tennis schedule, we offer our highlights and the broader themes raised by the Grammys with a massive dose of deja vu; we answer your questions, both tennis-related and not; we take on the idea of “tarnishing” a legacy by continuing to play past your prime; and chat randomly about the Naomi memoir, We Are the World, and The Traitors (spoilers abound).

1:00 Grammys: the Swift of it all

10:00 The broader problem: the Grammys’ failure to recognize Black women

21:20 Sone actual highlights from the Grammys

30:15 Memoirs

41:25 Will tennis ever change its schedule due to climate change?

43:50 Who will be the next first-time Slam winners?

46:05 Why do they keep protecting that guy? The sunk cost fallacy

48:45 Traitors: spoilers ahead for all versions

55:45 Best-of-5 for women + court speeds

61:00 Ideal tennis dinner guests, the evolution of tennis kits

65:05 Andy Murray and the idea of “tarnishing” one’s legacy

Dreaming More Than Ever: AusOpen Wrap

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 20:18:19 -0500

The 2024 Australian Open wrapped with Aryna Sabalenka defending her title and Jannik Sinner snapping both Djokovic’s dominance and Medvedev’s almost inexhaustible energy to win his first major title. Amidst increasing coverage of the abuse charges against him, Zverev comes dangerously close to reaching a Djokovic-less final but Daniil says ‘calma.’ In good news, Zheng Qinwen breaks out even earlier than expected, Hsieh Su-Wei wins the third and fourth Slam titles of her return to tennis, and Rohan Bopanna reaches #1 at age 43.

01:25 Sabalenka defends her Australian title without much trouble

13:50 Shakey shake! Coco’s run

19:05 Jannik Sinner’s patience and smarts help him win his first major title

27:00 Daniil Medvedev finds the poetry in losing

30:40 The strangest Djokovic semifinal

35:10 Calma: Medvedev stops the Zverev momentum

42:00 The coverage of the abuse allegations against Zverev reach a peak

49:15 Doubles! Bopanna at #1, Hsieh’s continued doubles dominance

56:20 Et ceteras: record attendance doesn’t always make a pleasant experience; a few more fashion notes

Swallowed Whole: Australian Open Week One

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 20:13:03 -0500

We’ve reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, where the women’s draw has swallowed up all but 4 seeded players. Amidst the chaos, we’ve still got the defending champion, the US Open champion, and a number of players who’ve been expected to break out for a while. On the men's side, only seeded players have made the quarters. We chat a bit about the surprises (Borges, Cazaux) and whether anyone will stop Novak from getting his 11th title. We also talk about the kits we liked (Coco and Grigor ftw); the Sports Illustrated layoffs; and, in light of so many mothers playing this Australian Open, we answer a listener question about maternity and paternity leave.

4:05 Men’s quarters - Djokovic rounding into form

16:25 Women’s draw: some would say carnage, we would say chill

28:40 Noskova d. #1 Swiatek

33:10 The fashions: are the fashions in the room with us?

37:45 Eight mothers in the AO draw: what are the tours doing on mat/pat leave?

50:45 Sports Illustrated lays off all editorial staff

57:00 Andre and Steffi present … Simona?

In The Blinkova(n) Eye

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 05:12:39 -0500

Six days into the Australian Open and most of the comeback kids are gone (except for Anisimova). On day five, chaos reigned down in Melbourne: Rybakina is gone after losing the longest tiebreak in Slam history, Medvedev scrapes through at 3:30 am, Swiatek survives a tussle with Danielle Collins, and seeds Pegula, Rune, and Kasatkina exit. The news of Zverev’s trial date and his election to the Players Council converge to dominate coverage during week one; players flail in press conferences and the ATP appears inert. Finally, we take a look at Nadal's surprising(?) new role as ambassador to Saudi tennis.

02:39 Anisimova leads the way & other comebacks

14:52 Iga v Danielle

20:36 Danielle announces her final year on tour

23:40 Rybakina, further upsets, and other notable moments

34:12 Players get wrapped up in the Zverev case

44:40 What does a good answer to Zverev questions look like for players?

52:18 Speaking of rotting, Gimelstob is back

54:02 Rafael Nadal: Ambassador or Sportswasher?

65:06 Some sad tennis news to end the episode

Payola: 2024 Australian Open Preview

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 23:03:20 -0500

The 2024 Australian Open is coming whether you're ready or not, this time a day early. The top 4 women are in fine form; Iga’s quarter is cracking, Sabalenka's is less tricky, but the women's draw promises a wild fortnight. We ask whether there's a man who can stop Djokovic's 11th title run (can vs. will is a big distinction). Time is spent on the prevailing sleaziness of the following: the ATP electing Zverev to Players Council, the clueless promotion of Break Point, and Kyrgios' new Osaka-produced podcast and rebrand. We've got a full draw analysis, plus we submit our 2024 breakout picks (James has picked the same person for around 4 years straight).

2:40 Zverev elected to ATP Player Council: they’re trying hard to find rock bottom

8:25 ATP and Break Point get cooked, flayed, sautéed on Twitter

12:20 Nick Kyrgios’ new podcast and rebrand as a righteous ‘disrupter’

25:40 Qualifying results: Hsieh retires from singles, Rodionova out

30:10 This week: Osta-kina, with their powers combined; Draper-Lehecka final

35:50 Breakout picks for 2024

39:05 Women’s draw analysis

55:05 Men’s draw analysis

Join our Australian Open bracket league on the TNNS Live app!

Comeback Kids

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 11:03:59 -0500

Happy new year and welcome to The Body Serve’s 10th season! The first week of the 2024 tennis season – which actually began in 2023 – started with high-profile comebacks and ended with the WTA’s top 4 setting the standard early. It was a great weekend for TBS faves Gauff, Rybakina, Rublev, and Dimitrov, but the good news was quickly followed by Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal from the Australian Open and that team winning the United Cup. Eh, you win some, you lose some. Overall, the comeback kids performed well enough to inspire a lot of optimism, the United Cup presented a much better product compared to its 2023 debut, and we’re off to the races.

0:35 GoFundMe Update and what we’re looking forward to in 2024!

7:10 Week one was about comebacks: Rafa says hola and adiós a todos

16:50 Naomi back from maternity leave and having fun

20:05 Kerber gets the optimal preparation at United Cup: a bunch of match play even if you lose

25:45 United Cup is much improved

32:55 Rybakina stuns Sabalenka in AO ‘23 rematch

39:30 The Grishaissance continues as Dimitrov earns that Lacoste money

46:20 Cocofina defends a title for the first time

What Off-Season? Tennis and Pop Culture Mailbag

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 15:47:41 -0500

To round out our 9th season, we’re leaving you with one more bonus episode for the holidays. You sent us thoughtful questions and we answer them with probably more light-heartedness than usual. You challenged us to identify our guilty tennis pleasures, our take on the Simona-Patrick blame game, Steve Simon’s shift away from CEO, our favorite tennis era and would-be rivalries, and much more. Happy holidays and see you in 2024!

4:15 Are you excited for next season?

8:30 Simona’s doping case: the shift toward blaming Patrick

15:10 Why do men … (I swear this isn’t going where you think)

19:40 FMK Reader submissions: this is the mildly problematic part

26:50 Back to tennis: what happens first …?

29:40 How have you kept your interest in tennis alive? Favorite era?

41:40 TV shows that have disappointed / Favorite movies of the year

51:25 What does the WTA’s leadership shakeup mean?

55:45 Best player to win only one Slam + a rivalry that could/should have been

66:35 The Riverdale to Academy Award pipeline

71:35 Guilty pleasure player?

78:20 Favorite concerts and who we’d love to see next year

The Streak Breaker: Hana Mandlíková

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 20:13:24 -0500

Hana Mandlíková was, according to Bud Collins, “the least understood player of her generation.” A 4-time major champion, Hana was “some whimsical genius,” the presumed successor to the Evert-Navratilova reign, and at times she sure did make their lives difficult. But let’s dispense with the “next” whoever and the what ifs – Hana on her own is a fascinating figure, an explosive talent with a creative, athletic, and captivating serve-and-volley game. With the help of Hana’s memoir and contemporary accounts, we learn what it was like to be an internationally recognized athlete playing for a strict Communist government shaken by the defection of Martina Navratilova and other major athletes. We interrogate a bit about why Czech(oslovakia) has produced such a deep bench of tennis talent since the early 20th century. Hana Mandlíková is one of its greatest exports: a gifted, straight-talking tennis wunderkind who we hope is becoming both more understood and more appreciated.

4:40 You can’t argue with the résumé

11:00 A very quick history of Czechoslovakian tennis

21:00 Hana’s origins and the Prague Spring

27:45 Life as an Eastern Bloc athlete abroad; and Martina’s defection

35:40 1980: the jump off

39:00 Excitement builds around Mandlíková: those pesky “next Navratilova” proclamations

49:15 Big chat: Hana’s mouth gets her in trouble

55:20 1985 US Open: The crowning achievement

60:55 No what ifs

68:15 Hana & Jana

71:50 Learnings

Misery Business: 2023 ATP Wrap

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 11:02:18 -0500

The ATP season: it wasn’t always fun, but it’s over and that’s what matters! 2023 saw Novak Djokovic manage his schedule wisely and dominate players 15 years younger than him, even as Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Daniil Medvedev attempted to wrest men’s tennis away from him. On this episode, we’ll take you through the season’s highlights and big winners, discuss off-court stuff, and evaluate our breakout picks and your own hopes and dreams for the season that was. All that plus a pop quiz!

03:45 Where were we at the start of 2023?

09:25 Novak returns to Australia and Craig outlaws booing (unrelated)

16:15 Medvedev threatens the Djokovic-Alcaraz domination

20:00 Clay: Rafa’s absence looms large but Novak wins his third

25:20 Carlos spoils the potential Grand Slam at Wimbledon

29:30 Summer hardcourts and the US Open: Sinner starts percolating, Ben emerges

36:25 Italy wins Davis Cup! Exploring the Pietrangeli-Sinner beef

41:55 Season stats + a quiz!

49:50 Off-court: Players’s criminal cases; Kosmos & ITF suing each other; ATP business

56:35 Our breakout picks for 2023: how’d we do?

59:30 Our picks for the ATP Awards

66:45 What you’ll remember, what made you mad, and what you found funny this season: not much, it turns out

70:50 Looking back at your hopes for the 2023 season

Let Them Eat Cake: 2023 WTA Wrap

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 12:01:28 -0500

The 2023 season started and ended with Iga Swiatek as the player to beat, but it wasn’t a repeat of her utterly dominant 2022. A new elite separated itself from the field, as Sabalenka won her first Slam and achieved the #1 ranking, Coco Gauff won the US Open, Marketa Vondrousova shocked Wimbledon, and Rybakina scored three wins over Iga. Off the court, it was an unusually busy year in terms of WTA business news and rising player discontent over scheduling, finances, and plain respect. We’ll do a chronological recap of the season and talk about the overarching trends and biggest winners, followed by your contributions for the things that made you angry in 2023, the funniest moments, and what you’ll remember about the season.

01:20 Launching our 2024 Go Fund Me

09:35 The big winners of the 2023 season

16:10 Where was the WTA Tour at the start of 2023?

19:10 Recapping the season: Sabalenka’s Australian Open and the winter season

27:50 Clay was all about the “big 3,” but Muchova almost snatched

35:10 Vondrousova, the unexpected

43:15 The hardcourt summer made Coco Gauff a superstar

57:25 Superlatives, statistics, and picking the winners of the WTA Awards

01:09:35 Our 2023 breakout players: how’d we do?

01:12:10 WTA Business: CVC investment, safeguarding, WTA Finals bids, and testing the waters on Saudi investment

01:17:10 The moments you’ll remember from the 2023 season

01:21:50 The moments that made you mad: the Madrid disaster takes the cake

01:28:00 Your funniest moments of 2023: poor Kerrilyn

01:34:10 Retirements and comebacks

Novak and the Seven Jokers

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 11:33:55 -0500

The 2023 tennis season is barreling toward the finish line. First up: the Canadian women win their first ever BJK/Fed Cup behind huge performances by Leylah Fernandez, Marina Stakusic, and Gaby Dabrowski. Novak Djokovic distances himself even farther from the field by dominating Alcaraz and Sinner to win the ATP Finals. There was a ton of discussion about throwing a round robin match to remove the #1 player – and plenty of good reasons for and against – but in the end it was moot, as Jannik Sinner went undefeated in round robin only to be overpowered by Djokovic in the final. Elsewhere, it’s the end of Newport, Atlanta, Krejcikova-Siniakova, and Murray-Lendl (for the third time). Plus, that Defector story about Racquet and some self-reflection about where we’ve been and where we’d like the podcast to go.

01:30 Canada wins its first BJK Cup!

06:30 Novak is not bothered by the field. At all.

09:00 To tank or not to tank (Well, it’s actually a problem of design, not ethics)

17:50 The final: Novak outhits and outserves Sinner

28:00 Newport and Atlanta out

30:10 Rafa returning? Plus the era’s best doubles pairing is over

34:15 Defector story about the upheaval at Racquet

41:30 Some meta-reflection on where we are with the podcast

Shambles

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 20:39:44 -0500

It’s hard to know where to start with the WTA Finals in Cancun, where the poor conditions and seemingly shoddy preparation overshadowed much of the actual play. The WTA is suffering a reputational crisis and a player rebellion, with players complaining publicly and demanding better conditions, scheduling, income, and leave policies. Amidst all this noise, Iga Swiatek stomps through the field and regains the #1 ranking. Elsewhere, Alexander Zverev was issued a penalty order in the domestic abuse case brought by his ex-partner Brenda Patea. Of special interest to us is the ATP’s continued mishandling of the Zverev problem and abuse allegations in general. In et ceteras, Patrick Mouratoglou “feels” responsible for Simona’s ban but stops short of saying he is responsible.

01:30 Novak wins Paris Masters and the gulf has hardly ever felt bigger

08:10 Iga Swiatek’s deeply impressive run in Cancun + the hellish conditions, natural and otherwise

17:10 The backdrop of the player frustrations: a letter of player demands and the WTA’s late response

28:20 The PTPA’s media blitz

30:00 Wrapping the WTA Finals chat with doubles

33:05 Zverev issued a penalty order for bodily harm against former partner and mother of his child

39:40 The ATP’s inaction: a timeline

50:15 Patrick, do you feel responsible or are you responsible?

Catching A Case

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 01:31:06 -0400

TBS 320 arrives as the tours (mercifully) make their final few stops of the season. We recap the results of the past week: Sinner, Auger-Aliassime, and Haddad Maia all score big wins for their respective careers. As you know, James is the resident tennis-player-catches-a-doping-case enthusiast (?) and he’s back to provide updates about Brooksby and Halep. There’s WTA Finals talk as well as a few things we’ve HAD IT with.

02:49 Jannik’s red wig isn’t budging

06:20 Felix says he’s back!

07:15 Haddad Maia doubles up in Zhuhai

12:47 In-depth look at Jenson Brooksby’s case of negligence

33:04 Serena catches a photo-cropping case

36:35 WTA Finals arrives in Cancun – we did it (barely)

43:49 We’ve HAD IT

Smooth Criminal

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 22:49:30 -0400

Admittedly, this hasn’t been our most productive October ever, but we’re here! First, we’re recapping two weeks of results, including a 12th title for Monfils, a first for Shelton, Mertens remaining the only ever winner of Monastir, and Zheng Qinwen triumphing shortly after coach Fissette dipped. Also: Holger Rune hires Boris Becker, recently released from prison and deported from the UK; the Cincinnati Masters will stay put; Craig Tiley promises something he can’t promise; and Naomi sells her likeness to Mark Zuckerberg. And what’s the deal with the lack of women on Tennis Channel and the WTA Board and Tournament Council?

0:30 Autumn fatigue, for players and podcasters alike

4:00 Monfils, Shelton, Fils, and Townsend make it a fantastic weekend for Black players

11:15 WTA results: Mertens, Siniakova, Korpatsch; Zheng wins Zhengzhou, Peggy wins one for mom

20:10 WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai gets underway with a stellar field

23:55 Holger Rune hires Boris Becker

26:55 Zumba instructor Garbiñe Muguruza isn’t thinking about tennis

31:15 Cincinnati will stay in Cincinnati after getting Ohio to put up enough taxpayer money

35:25 Craig Tiley announces Rafa Nadal’s appearance at the Aus Open and no one is more surprised than Rafa

44:10 Naomi Osaka and Candle Gender sell their likenesses to Meta

47:20 Diana Nyad changes her mind on trans inclusion (it relates to tennis, I swear)

55:35 Where are all the women on the WTA Board and the Tournament Council?

Bloviation Station

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 21:56:49 -0400

Tennis returns to China after four years away, as Iga Swiatek reminds us who's boss and Jannik Sinner takes a huge step forward by beating Alcaraz and Medvedev for the Beijing title. Meanwhile, the Cancun organizers are building their Field of Dreams in less than a month and several top players are already bowing out of BJK Cup. We also cover the growing chorus of abuse survivors who are taking aim at the USTA, and why this is far from the last time we'll hear about it. Plus, a few diversions about Zheng, "athleticism," Safarova's extremely brief non-return, and how tennis babies its players when it comes to endangering the people who work on court.

1:05 WTA returns to China with none of what it demanded

7:00 Iga sets things straight with Beijing title

12:25 Jannik Sinner gets his first Meddy win by using a tactic that’s becoming more common …

18:35 WTA Finals in Cancun: stadium is loading ... (currently at 1%)

27:15 Can you ever forgive me? Qinwen says definitely not

33:30 It’s not only about trans people’s participation in sports and it never was

38:30 Tennis is very unserious about hitting staff with flying objects

42:40 USTA legal team under fire for how they’ve handled sex abuse cases

54:30 Lucie Safarova’s very brief return to tennis

56:25 We saw Stevie Nicks!

Performance, BYE!

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 03:29:51 -0400

Hiiiiiii, we’re back to discuss the fallout from the Simona Halep verdict and the tennis results since the U.S. Open. Now that Simona has been officially handed a four year suspension, we have a bit more clarity as to what’s been going on in actuality, not just on social media. Spoiler: it doesn’t look good for the former world #1 and two-time Slam champ. Maria Sakkari did what needed to be done (at long last) in Guadalajara, it’s just too little too late for Félix at Laver Cup, and we weigh in on Elena’s performance bye disgust in Tokyo

01:10 Patrick goes on CNN to claim Coco’s success and divert attention

04:00 The Simona verdict is handed down: the fallout

15:01 Darren is still going to bat for Simona

19:33 Why are players and journalists undermining the anti-doping process?

27:47 Now, why did Serena wade into this mess?

29:52 Sakkari headlines the post-USO results. Good on ya, mate

37:38 Barbie K is back and Kenin is on the come up

38:55 The men: All of a sudden Félix has something to say

43:29 Rafa news and it doesn’t sound good (to us)

45:16 Ryabkina and coach let it rip at the WTA and on social media

51:11 Some concerning news about Holger Rune’s health

Not Gon’ Cry

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 09:19:40 -0400

Welcome to Part II of our US Open wrap, this time focusing on the men’s draw. Djokovic wins #24 and the challengers (aside from Alcaraz) have gotten no closer to cracking him mentally or physically … they’ve perhaps gotten even farther away. We talk about the semis, including the straight boy shade fest over PhoneGate and Medvedev’s 12 out of 10 performance against Alcaraz. The other major story of the week is Simona Halep’s 4-year ban for doping, handed down by an independent tribunal. It doesn’t look good, folks. We finish up with the Williams-Ohanian tweets, some trophy size comparison, the WaPo match fixing story, and a few more odds and ends.

0:30 ND24: sharing a throne with Margaret Court (and if you don’t like it you’ll be told to “cry more”)

6:00 Stubborn Medvedev against serve and volleying Djokovic

16:45 My country, my tax shelter + more semiotics!

30:30 Djokovic-Shelton: the phone thing and banking on Shelton’s overall appeal to the youths

45:30 Doubles: Ram/Salisbury threepeat, Bopanna runner-up at 43

51:45 The Spectrum-Disney stalemate blacks out US Open tennis for millions

55:20 Simona Halep’s 4-year ban: first, the news

62:15 The Halep fallout: Patrick, Serena, Genie

77:35 US Open trophies: if size doesn’t matter then why … nevermind

83:40 Reporting from the Washington Post on the largest match fixing ring in tennis history

Miss Gauff

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 19:36:49 -0400

Coco Gauff -- a child prodigy who built her career step by step -- grabs her first major title at 19 to cap a stunning turnaround this summer. She slays every question, embraces gratitude, thanks her haters, and will leave New York a superstar. Aryna Sabalenka ascends to world no. 1 for the first time, reaching the semifinals in every Slam this year, but couldn't stop Gauff in the final. The US Open leaves women's tennis in a truly exciting place, with a clear top tier and a number of women with diverse playing styles always a threat to win. We're also talking about the WTA Finals announcement, the second annual ball controversy, doubles, and Pegula's rich girl confidence.

0:30 Cori Dionne Gauff is the US Open champion!

7:15 The final: fighting back from a first set blowout

25:45 How we talk about male coaches in women’s tennis

31:15 Aryna’s disarming honesty

40:05 Madison zones for 70 minutes but comes up short against Sabalenka

48: Other notes from the second week: Ostapenko’s fitness should not be in doubt

53:20 Doubles: Dabrowski/Routliffe win the title and Townsend lit up the courts all week

59:35 The WTA Finals are where?

63:35 What is up with the US Open balls?

71:30 Speaking of haters

Lollygagging at the US Open: Week One

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 22:22:56 -0400

We're fresh off our second visit to the US Open (and James' first!) and sharing our observations of the grounds, the big stadiums, the Honey Deuces, and the record crowds. James tells the story of night one on Ashe, something he's wanted to experience for a long time. Coco Gauff wrested control of the match but Laura Siegemund and her antics spurred *discourse* that crossed into the mainstream. We discuss the matches we saw, the big breakthroughs, and where we are in the draw. We're also covering the mysterious "respiratory [and apparently gastro] illness" ripping its way through the site, the competing bids for the WTA Finals, some big American retirements we're not torn up about, and finally, celebrating Black excellence at the US Open.

5:10 Night 1: Siegemund's scams and her failure to own them

13:40 Michelle Obama?!

17:30 The overcrowding is no joke but finding respite with Dasha on Court 6 made my Tuesday

28:30 There’s marijuana in the park?! Plus observations of the stadiums

31:55 Everybody is sick - what have we *not* learned a few years into a pandemic?

38:10 Round of 16 lineup: 4 Americans each in the men's and women's draws, very few major upsets

53:00 Court 5 and Holgerian hubris

55:55 Another delay with Simona Halep’s doping case

61:20 Isner and Sock retire and do we care?

66:55 The bad publicity surrounding a potential WTA Finals move to Saudi Arabia

73:15 A few thoughts before signing off

Flush(ing) With Possibility: 2023 US Open Preview

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 14:50:32 -0400

It’s The Body Serve’s second visit to the US Open (James’ first!). We recorded part of this episode in Toronto, minutes before leaving for the airport, and then broke down the draws after arriving in Queens. There was a lot of news to get through, namely the ATP’s financial security pilot program and the rumors of the WTA Finals taking place in Saudi Arabia. Our draw analysis focuses on first round matches to watch, the Americans’ chances, the fourth consecutive Iga-Coco quarter, and the contenders hoping to spoil another coronation.

1:05 Where are the WTA Finals going to be played? Riyadh, Prague, Washington, DC are options

7:35 The ATP’s Baseline program: guaranteed income, injury protection, and money for up and comers

14:20 State of the tours ahead of the US Open, compared to last year

21:45 Mother is a mother again!

24:40 Previewing the draws from NY!

26:15 Men’s draw: another Alcaraz-Sinner quarter? Anyone stopping Novak?

40:15 Women’s draw: Iga is the favorite but the hype is high for Gauff, Pegula + Muchova, Sabalenka, and Rybakina are top challengers

Bee For Real

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 21:35:53 -0400

Cincinnati was starting to feel like a hangover from the Canadian tournaments but finals Sunday turned that all around. Coco Gauff grabbed her first 1000 title -- going 11-1 since her loss at Wimbledon -- and Djokovic beat Alcaraz over 4 hours in one of the more dramatic three-set matches you'll see. Are we seeing a May-December rivalry in the vein of Martina-Steffi? We've also got the bee story and the return of The Rant, with each of us giving it a go.

1:05 The blazing women’s 100m final because this is a Jamaican track and field stan podcast

5:35 Coco Gauff wins her first 1000 title (and the defunct US Open Series)

15:55 Townsend & Parks win the women’s doubles title

18:55 The rivalry that men’s tennis desperately needs

24:35 Give me the juice

34:10 Bees in the trap: Tsitsipas vs Bee Lady

38:40 Was that too harsh? (a common refrain in our household)

42:00 Vaya con Dios, Robert y Juan Sebastian

44:35 The Rant is back (Parental Advisory)

Is She A Karen, Or Is She Iconic?

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 03:12:23 -0400

Tennis returned to Canada as weather wreaked bedlam on the women's draw in Montréal. Jessie Pegula won her second 1000 title and scored a great win over #1 Iga Swiatek, but we need to talk about some horrendous scheduling decisions that impacted Rybakina and runner-up Samsonova. Jannik Sinner wins his first Masters title on the men's side, while de Minaur and Paul record massive wins of their own. We've also got Casper Ruud's tour of Canadian Content, the weird rules revelation in the Raonic-Tiafoe match, and the strange persistence of American high school line dance standard "Cotton Eye Joe." Most importantly, we ask you all to decide once and for all: is Danielle Collins a Karen or an icon?

01:04 : Cincy FOMO and our initial forays into Toronto tennis this year

07:20 Recapping the men's action in TO amidst intermittent weather

13:41 Casper Ruud's many many looks off the court

19:51 The women's tournament is rocked and wrecked by rain

27:38 The Notebook: an Iga hate story

31:52 Where did you come from, where did you go?

33:59 Is she a Karen or is she iconic?

38:23 Caro's back and the reviews are mixed

41:46 A net is not a net, when there's no doubles players there

45:49 Coco's revival and Brad's involvement

51:38 Now, why is Dasha in it? Kyrgios is unthinking, unserious, and unsavory

Mikael Me Maybe

Sat, 29 Jul 2023 22:32:38 -0400

Welcome to the brief, post-Wimbledon grass-clay-hardcourt-Euro-American-Hopman Cup season, with players fighting for money and points across various countries on all surfaces. We start with the news of Mikael Ymer’s 18-month suspension for missing doping tests (the ITF didn’t like the first ruling so they went back to the well). Then we move on to the news that Alexander Zverev’s ex-partner has pressed criminal charges for bodily harm, which are currently winding their way through German courts. We talk newcomers Akugue and Michelsen, Ruud’s bagels, and what’s next for the summer hard court swing.

1:00 Mikael Ymer banned for missing doping tests after the ITF appealed his innocent verdict

8:35 New criminal charges filed against Zverev for intimate partner violence, Berlin prosecutor applies for penalty order

17:10 The Zhang/Toth incident in Budapest - Toth was wrong but the reaction swung wildly out of proportion

25:50 Kei Nishikori is back!

28:05 Breakthroughs for Noma Noha Akugue, Clervie Ngounoue and Queenwen!

34:20 ATP updates: Mannarino at home on grass, plus Alex Michelsen, Fils, Ruud, and Stanley

43:05 Canadian Open ticket prices, my word!

47:20 RIP Sinéad

The Audacity Of It All: Wimbledon Wrap

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 03:20:53 -0400

Well well well, what has Wimbledon wrought?! Carlos Alcaraz and Marketa Vondrousova are your singles champions, defeating Novak Djokovic and Ons Jabeur respectively. We try to get to the bottom of how both results happened, while touching on some of the other happenings from the final stretch of the tournament. Many congratulations to Naomi Osaka and Ash Barty on the births of their babies, and a closing rant by James on Novak hagiography

01:12 Carlos Alcaraz did WHAT?

14:00 Does this shift the best men's player narrative?

17:00 Will Alcaraz’s win signal that the field has a chance? No

25:16 Put some respect on Vondrousova's name

35:10 Jabeur disappointment and moving forward

40:48 WTA consistency: Svitolina, Swiatek & Pegula

44:24 Rounding out the Wimbledon champions

47:48 Babies Osaka and Barty have arrived!

49:25 Jennifer Brady is back & one final rant from James on Novak hagiography

Policing the Panties: Wimbledon Week One

Sat, 08 Jul 2023 23:10:37 -0400

Wimbledon’s first week is in the books (almost), dominated by talk of rain, curfews, scheduling, and the queue. We highlight the big stories and top performers of the week – Svitolina, Eubanks, Berrettini, Vondrousova, etc. – and a few of the stumbles, including ADF’s shocking mental wobble against Rune and an unnamed reporter’s gaffe toward an unflappable Paula Badosa. We spend a good chunk of time on Wimbledon’s stubborn peculiarities and finish with a quick rant on Cirstea’s odious presence on social media.

0:35 Big stories in the first few days: Venus, Elina, Eubanks, Berrettini

14:35 “Congratulations on your win” … “I lost”

21:10 The round of 16 lineup and how we got there

33:20 Tradition! Queues, debentures, and pineapples

45:15 It’s not the curfew, it’s the scheduling

52:10 Kontaveit and Chardy retire, Brooksby catches a case for missing three doping tests

58:00 Tsitsidosa s*x dreams?!

63:10 Cirstea clarifies who she is - thanks for saving us the time!

The Rothesay Wimbledon Classic: SW19 Preview

Sat, 01 Jul 2023 13:04:42 -0400

We’re back from Europe just in time to recap the brief grass season, share our experiences at the bett1open in Berlin, preview the Wimbledon draw, give our takes on Break Point part two, chat about the ATP/WTA overtures to Saudi Arabia … anything else?! Buckle up because we’re covering a lot of ground – get it? 'Cuz it’s on grass – on this episode. Feel free to join our Wimbledon bracket challenge on the TNNS app using the code laver-ace-9494.

0:30 Our experience at the German Open in Berlin!

18:20 The other grass results: Frances & Carlos, Penko, Babs K, and Venus’ return

27:35 Break Point actually gets better: Ajla’s story pays off

41:00 Trying to avoid a LIV-style disaster, tennis goes straight to the source: the Saudi Public Investment Fund

44:45 WTA announces new calendar and a “pathway to equal prize money”

48:10 A few retirements and one huge unretirement: Wozniacki to return, gets US Open wild card

54:45 Men’s draw: who is stopping Novak? (no one)

68:20 Women’s draw: Yes, it is lopsided

TBS Mailbag: Tethered to Nothingness

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 16:26:11 -0400

We’re on the road, so we have a mailbag episode to tide you over until we get back on our thrones up North. So much tennis stuff has happened already since we’ve been away, and we’ll be back next time to recap all of that alongside our Wimbledon preview. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy our yappa yappa yappa on a whole host of subjects as we dive into as many of your questions as possible.

Here are some of the major questions and themes:

1:30 Does the LIV-PGA merger have an impact on tennis? (Is that thing still happening?)

15:45 Which tennis player would be the best travel companion?

26:30 Which player is most likely to have a burner social media account? And who could you convincingly imitate on social media?

33:55 Create your own tournament: surface, location, dress, mascot …

38:35 Lots of questions about the likeliest next first-time Slam winner

48:38 If women played best of 5, who would gain/lose the most?

55:05 WTA girl group!

68:20 Are certain players just better at tiebreaks? How much stock do you put into the tiebreak records vs match-ups and other factors?

79:20 Plan a dinner party with 6-8 tennis people, alive or dead

The Next (De)Generation: Roland Garros Wrap

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 21:32:57 -0400

Roland Garros 2023 is in the books, as Iga Swiatek extends her dominance and Novak Djokovic beats a field that offered very little resistance to the new major singles title leader. All respect and admiration goes to Karolina Muchová, so far the toughest challenger to Iga in a Slam final. We talk the science of cramping and answer listener questions about Sabalenka's approach to press and what we expect of athletes speaking on politics. Finally we tackle the doubles default controversy -- a strict rule that should be strict -- and praise the wheelchair winners and everyone's favorite doubles pairing (or ours, at least): Taylor Townsend and Leylah Fernandez.

0:35 Men’s draw: Dedicated hateration

13:25 Cramping: what’s the science? Well, it’s not entirely clear …

24:50 Women’s final: Karolina Muchová gives Iga a scare

33:55 The Sabalenka handshake controversy leads into a few questions from listeners about what we expect from athletes

54:40 The default of Miyu Kato

60:50 Doubles results: Hsieh is back + Fernandez-Townsend, Ivan Dodig schools the French Federation in public

65:00 Wheelchair singles: de Groot wins her 10th straight major(!!!) + Oda becomes the youngest male Slam champ in history

The Placebo Effect

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 23:23:19 -0400

We're halfway through Roland Garros -- most of the favorites are still around plus a few clay sensations on the bottom halves of both the men's and women's draws. We're talking Sloane, Svitolina, Muchova, Iga, Carlos, Jannik, Meddy and more. We were reminded that politics and sport are, in fact, intertwined and inextricable with Djokovic's commentary on Kosovo and Sabalenka's response to questions about Lukashenko. Last week we asked for updates on Seyboth Wild's case and we got more than we bargained for. Plus, the RG crowd, our favorite looks, and a Rafa update.

2:30 Starting with the men … Frances, why???

15:00 Where we are in the draw: the bottom half lacks a few seeds but shouldn't be a surprise

18:00 Iga’s bakery: Iga says don’t be disrespectful

21:00 Plenty of upsets but were they actually surprising?

27:45 Sloane Stephens is tailor made for this tournament

37:35 Aryna Sabalenka vs. the press

47:50 Novak’s politics

55:10 Nanotechnology to the rescue

58:15 The elusive Thiago Seyboth Wild: abuse allegations, journalist intimidation, and … N*zis? Wtf?

66:05 Et ceteras: Taylor Fritz shushes the obnoxious crowd; Gasquet crypto captain?

70:45 The looks: Grigor is Lacoste

Come Hell or High Pasta: Roland Garros Preview

Sat, 27 May 2023 13:01:46 -0400

Roland Garros will begin without Rafael Nadal in the draw, for the first time since 2004. In his stead, Alcaraz and Djokovic are favorites, but Medvedev’s Rome win and Rune’s consistency might complicate things. On the women’s side, the fabled “new big 3” have kept up their sides of the bargain through the clay season and it’s made for a fairly balanced draw. Iga remains the favorite but Rybakina, Sabalenka, Jabeur, Krejcikova, or Ostapenko could snatch (among others). Join us for our draw analysis and recap of the clay season so far!

2:20 Who are the WTA contenders apart from Iga? WTA clay so far: the “new Big 3” is still winning

13:00 WTA draw analysis

20:20 Come hell or high pasta: some outrageous early match-ups in the women’s bottom half

32:55 Rafa’s absence looms large + the men’s clay winners this year

41:20 Men’s draw analysis: ultimate troll Medvedev engineers a potential Djokovic-Alcaraz semi

48:00 Bottom half: the Rune-Ruud rematch we deserve?

57:00 Join our league on TNNS Live and fill out your bracket

58:35 Et ceteras: more from Simona + Break Point part two announcement

Rome in Ruins

Mon, 22 May 2023 17:40:16 -0400

Another clay Masters, another disastrous finale. They couldn’t help the rain, but between the weird scheduling and the fumbled women’s singles trophy presentation, Rome left a bad taste in our mouths after this expanded clay experiment. Rybakina and Medvedev prevailed: Rybakina recording her third straight win over Iga Swiatek and Medvedev shakes up Roland Garros predictions with his first clay title. We dive into the proposal to move the Western & Southern Open to Charlotte, NC, plus a segment on the latest Simona Halep anti-doping news and Hugo Gaston’s shocking behavior and fine.

1:00 Rafa pulls out of RG, gives career update

3:05 Another fortnight, another Master disaster

9:55 Rybakina emerges from the Rome ruins

13:20 Daniil Medvedev did WHAT?!

18:10 Djoko smashed, new Iga allegations & Aryna’s deft touch

26:05 Cincinnati moving to Charlotte? More public money for what …

31:55 RG withdrawals: Thiem didn’t get a wild card but it didn’t matter

35:00 Gaston unsportsmanlike conducts his way to one of the largest fines in history

36:45 More bad anti-doping news for Simona Halep: what is an athlete biological passport?

39:40 Simona & Patrick accuse the ITIA of “harassment”

The Gender Cake Gap

Mon, 08 May 2023 21:20:21 -0400

Episode 301 takes us crashing back to Earth in the wake of genuine concerns over the Madrid Open’s treatment of women players. The overlong, overcooked tournament ended in a flurry of bad press, which started with some symbolically loaded cakes and ended with a tournament terrified of letting women speak at all. Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz continue fine seasons, each winning their second titles here. To wrap up, we cover some depressing injury news, Murray-Stephens Challenger wins, and an addendum to “SERENA” which features *your* favorite Serena moments.

3:35 Madrid experiments with a longer format, and honestly let’s leave it in 2023

7:50 The model ball women: the culottes are worse than the crime?

9:45 Ceci n’est pas un cake

19:45 The women’s doubles finalists are literally silenced

28:15 Imagine, the original controversy of Madrid was Genie Bouchard’s possibly defamatory tweet about dopers

30:15 Onto actual tennis! Sabalenka d. Swiatek as this rivalry really heats up

33:15 Alcaraz title #10, Struff’s clay serve and volley, Zhang’s breakthrough

37:40 “Hola a todos” should come with a warning

41:00 Anisimova to take a break from tennis to take care of her mental health

44:40 Your favorite Serena moments: oh, he’s still … ?

SERENA

Tue, 02 May 2023 13:52:14 -0400

Episode 300 of The Body Serve is our meditation on the career of Serena Williams - an episode we’d put off, partly out of denial and partly because we wanted so badly to do it justice. In 1999, just before beating Steffi Graf at Indian Wells, Serena said: “I’m tired of losing to people I should beat. Whatever my potential is, I want to reach it. Now.” She did just that for over two decades, amassing 23 major singles titles, 14 major doubles titles with Venus, international fame and cultural influence, and hundreds of Open Era tennis records. The hardest thing about covering Serena is to take her out of the realm of metaphor: she is (rightfully) an icon, someone who means even more than what she did on court, but how do you take a measure of the woman herself? What follows is not a full biography. We look at distinct eras in Serena’s career and weave in themes of misogynoir, body shaming, integrity, sisterhood, shade, and finally, a celebration of Serena’s legendary kits and press conference moments.

3:00 Let’s look at the receipts: the resume and the records

7:25 The early years: a “perfect bond of union” and Serena’s first WTA match

20:45 You can’t tell the story of Serena without Venus

27:20 Domination Part One (2002-2003): Serena Slam and prophecy fulfilled

32:00 The desert (2004-2006): acceptance is conditional; the Great White Hope

40:40 The Chris Evert letter

50:50 Getting back to #1 (2007-2010)

57:00 The myths of 2012 lead to one of the greatest stretches in tennis history (2012-2017)

1:02:25 Returning to Indian Wells, 2015

1:10:45 Twilight (2018- )

1:14:50 Misogynoir

1:23:10 Controversy: why is it always the US Open?

1:36:10 Serena in press: there is truly nothing like it

1:45:25 Serena dropped a massive bombshell while we were recording, and it gave us closure

1:49:10 Legacy

1:58:20 The legendary fits: Cameroon, catsuits, and Puma supremacy

Man in the Mirror

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 20:08:19 -0400

Episode 299 (almost there!) brings us to Andrey Rublev's first Masters title with his win over young menace Holger Rune. Medvedev & Zverev fire a few shots at each other, culminating in Daniil's clear 'we are not friends and keep my wife's name out of your mouth' moment. We talk about the WTA's decision to suspend their boycott and return to China, despite the Chinese government failing to meet the WTA's demands. Plus, a very depressing injury update, a few more thoughts on 'fairness' and what trans exclusion means for cis women, and celebrating the trans excellence of Sasha Colby, winner of RuPaul's Drag Race season 15.

1:15 Ruby wins his first Masters title!

10:20 The testy exchanges between that guy and Medvedev: “Look at yourself in the mirror”

17:45 Grigor and Andrey besties ❤️

22:45 Stuttgart so far: the fourth straight Krejcikova-Sabalenka match, Badosa rising, and an impromptu QUIZ!

33:00 WTA decides to return to China: they took a big swing on the boycott but didn’t get much solidarity

42:55 Blue Check Novak Djokovic playing in the Djokovic-owned Srpska Open but he is not enjoying the conditions

45:15 Quick bites: Conchita-Garbiñe split, horrible injury news followed by encouraging injury news

51:00 The Zendaya-Guadagnino tennis film is guaranteed to be wild

52:30 An addendum to last episode’s segment on trans inclusion: the trap of ‘fairness’

59:40 Sasha Colby wins Drag Race, rightfully!

Betwixt, Betrayed, and Betweener-ed

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 10:36:56 -0400

Rain across the Southern US nearly derailed a few tennis tournaments this weekend, but Ons Jabeur and Frances Tiafoe held on to win Charleston and Houston, respectively. We chat about the early clay season, Naomi's post-baby goals, and some updates on Wimbledon, Carlos, and Iga. For a good chunk of the episode, we take on Martina Navratilova's escalating takes on trans athletes, and more broadly, trans women. How did this expand past trans women's participation in sport to a more generally exclusionary worldview? What will it take for the tennis establishment to say something?

0:35 Don’t count out Ons Jabeur just yet!

7:55 Frances Tiafoe makes it through the rain, wins career title #2

12:25 Other first-week clay events: Casper, Tatjana Maria, Dominic Thiem

16:20 Naomi Osaka’s recent interview on Japanese TV had everything; injury updates

21:10 Plus: updates from Wimbledon on their policy change on Russian and Belarusian players; a few huhs(?) and a surprise from Del Potro

Trigger warning: this is tough subject matter and there is some coarse language to follow

28:10 Martina’s history and evolution on the subject of trans women: the infamous 2019 op-ed, the apology, the Women’s Sports Policy Working Group, and their misleading “facts vs feelings” rhetoric

37:05 It’s become about much more than “protecting women’s sport” - what type of womanhood is authentic?

45:50 “LGB” is a lie

49:20 It’s been time for tennis to say something

Petrafied

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 21:17:10 -0400

Our Miami champs – Kvitova and Medvedev – underscore how tough it is to win the Sunshine Double. Petra Kvitova completes one of her most unexpected tournament runs by winning her 30th WTA title and ninth at the 1000 level. On the men’s side, Daniil Medvedev caps an astonishing run of tournaments with title #4, and Alcaraz and Sinner’s electrifying semifinal gets widespread attention. We've also got Eubanks, Gauff/Pegula, a decision from Wimbledon, and Pouille's openness about mental health.

01:35 So much rain, so much discourse

05:25 Petra wins title #30!

16:15 Barbie K says WTA Big 3 is fake news!

18:55 Yes, Sinner vs. Alcaraz is becoming a really good rivalry

27:35 Medvedev turns his whole trajectory around these past few months: 4 titles in 5 tries

30:50 Chris Eubanks makes his career-best run and enters the top 100

34:45 Between Gauff, Pegula, and Townsend (and more!), American women’s doubles is lit

38:20 Wimbledon will allow Russian & Belarusian players who sign neutrality declarations

42:20 When is Rafa returning?

44:20 Lucas Pouille opens up about depression, substance use, and learning humility

Pocketful of Sunshine (Double)

Sat, 25 Mar 2023 19:32:26 -0400

We’re coming to you mid-Sunshine Double, which at this point is more like Sunshine Month? Sunshine Quarter? Anyway, pack your SPF. We’re seeing storylines emerge for the year: is there a WTA Big 3 emerging? Who else will join that top tier? Is Carlos poised to dominate? Will the racquet talk? Beyond the tennis being played, we’re covering two continuing stories: the attempts by the WTA to protect players from abuse and exploitation, and the CVC/WTA deal and what that means for revenue. We also have a discussion on one of our favorite topics: the state of tennis journalism and its many challenges.

0:35 Hashtag tyranny

4:55 Rybakina beats Iga & Aryna to win Indian Wells - a new “big 3?”

14:20 Carlos comprehensively picks apart the draw in IW

19:00 Miami so far: is Bianca “back?” Taro Daniel bagels AZ, the world cheers

24:30 Iga debuts a new clothing sponsor

29:40 Continuing story: new developments with the WTA’s efforts to combat abuse

37:45 More on the CVC deal: finding new revenue opportunities based on the social (and real) value of equal prize money

43:50 The conundrum of tennis, or any sport, having a diligent, critical, and *paid* press corps

55:10 Listener questions: Scream 6 and Daddy Pedro Pascal

Say Something

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 10:49:29 -0400

It’s a little bit of everything this week -- first, some thoughts on the first week of Indian Wells, whose courts are slower than Daniil Medvedev’s bathroom breaks (his words). We chat about Murray, Medvedev, Raducanu, Muchová, and the undeniable Ben Shelton. In business news, we talk about the WTA’s official partnership with CVC Capital Partners, a private equity firm that has just promised a $150m in new and better revenue streams for women’s tennis. Plus, Denis Shapovalov goes all in on gender pay equity, Netflix’s Break Point announces a season two, and Rafa’s all-time top 10 record is lost.

0:30 Some housekeeping and a thank you

3:10 Indian Wells week one: Daniil says it’s not a hardcourt (and is he really wrong?) plus some chatter about the women’s draw

10:00 Jonathan’s new fave Ben Shelton

12:50 Private equity firm CVC invests $150m in WTA Ventures, a new commercial subsidiary

17:50 The Tsurenko-Steve Simon story - where is the reporting?

23:00 You got nothing to say now? Holger Rune gives himself the rare Double L

26:40 Denis Shapovalov honors his mom and says equal pay for equal work NOW!

38:25 Big up Sloane Stephens Foundation!

39:40 We’re getting a Break Point season two whether we like it or not

45:10 Rafa’s record for consecutive weeks in the top 10 will end at 912

46:25 Injury updates: Kontaveit plus where is Jen Brady?

Fly Like A Bird

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 21:19:34 -0500

It’s been a rough week in the Body Serve household, as we said goodbye to our beautiful 16-year-old beagle Vince. He’s felt like a third co-host over the years, a presence who was always just off-mic (and sometimes on it when he snored).

In tennis, Barbora Krejcikova did the thing – taking out #1-2-3, saving match points, serving and getting served bagels, and pummeling Iga’s second serve to win Dubai. On the men’s side, Medvedev won three titles in three weeks, getting back into the top 10 and stopping Novak’s dominance of their head-to-head. Andy and Ruby have great weeks, plus Chaka comes for Mariah and Joe Biden catches strays over the literally endless Novak vaccine drama.

0:30 Vince

We Need a Preposition

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 21:34:00 -0500

February in tennis: four continents, three Iga bagels, two male US Open champs winning titles, and one white woman wearing racially inappropriate hairstyles. This month is nothing if not eclectic. We also chat about Hsieh dropping in then dropping out of Dubai, what the hell is going with Schwartzman and Muguruza, and the breakout star who will change tennis in his country forever.

0:45 Iga generously doles out bagels; Sakkari Semifinal Segment

13:45 Wu Yibing becomes first Chinese man to win a title, also gets people to watch an Isner match

20:10 Carlos is back; plus a rankings factoid

22:50 Finance pro Matija Pecotić leaves work early to beat wild card king Jack Sock

25:45 What’s going on with Diego Schwartzman and Garbiñe Muguruza?

28:45 The disingenuous comparison of men’s records to women’s

31:50 Counting inches: Novak, the Sunshine Double, and the “proof” that nobody needs

36:15 Hsieh resurfaces, Ostapenko’s appropriation, and Eubanks’ near miss

44:40 Things we like/dislike: withholding stars, oats, and beans

Same As It Ever Was

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 10:08:44 -0500

Post-Australian Open tennis continues around the world, but this week we’re mostly talking about the seeming conclusions of the ATP’s two highest profile domestic violence cases (but not their only cases, btw). The ATP quietly dropped a new release shortly after the AO that the Zverev investigation had concluded and that the results were, well, inconclusive. Days later, Nick Kyrgios pled guilty to common assault against his ex-girlfriend but the charges were dismissed. A lot of tennis talkers and front-office folks will likely be relieved, but where does this leave us? Are we any closer to tennis organizations handling DV with care and responsibility? Also, more about the business side of tennis: the spectacular collapse of the Davis Cup-Kosmos deal, billionaire “disruptors,” and looking at PTPA financing and its latest presentation.

01:55 Results: Parks, Zhu, Stanley!

05:40 ATP quietly drops the news of the Zverev investigation

17:40 Nick Kyrgios pleads guilty to common assault, court drops the charges

23:50 Lots of concern about the consequences to the perpetrator

26:00 What will the ATP do? …. Bueller? Bueller?

30:10 US says COVID is over, we’re not paying for your shit anymore (and also Novak is coming)

32:40 ITF ends its Davis Cup contract with Kosmos a mere TWENTY years early

37:05 Money in tennis: the “disruptors”

40:30 What are the PTPA’s goals? Looking at their recent presentation

51:20 Lepchenko ban reduced … these supplements get ‘em every time

53:45 The Grammys do it again!

Gaslight, Gatekeep, Girlboss: Aus Open Wrap

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 22:11:59 -0500

On the 14th day since the Australian Open started, we rested while Novak wept. The victimhood tour is complete, Jonathan is annoyed, and we pay it as much (or as little) attention as we can muster. Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka did THAT. Wow, what a moment. From her grit, skill, and determination on court, to her goofy glamour the following day, we put some respect on that incredible women's final! Other matters of business: lots of geopolitical tensions boil over, the Djokovic pater creates yet more headache for his son, Tursunov comes for Pam, the ballkids work for free, and Babs and Kat simply don’t lose Slam matches anymore.

3:00 Sabalenka & Rybakina give us an insta-classic

16:15 The men: so …… anyway

23:45 The bweh tragedy; and Shelton’s upside and areas for improvement

31:15 Doubles: Krejcikova/Siniakova haven’t lost a Slam match since 2021; Sania plays her final Slam

35:10 Et ceteras: so, nationalism eh?

43:05 Papa Djokovic ignites a flag scandal

52:05 Pam’s tweet brings Tursunov out of the woodwork, why?

63:55 Is it work? Pay the ballkids

67:45 Tiafoe wins best dressed by a mile

72:00 ESPN keeps its team Stateside

74:30 Punting the Kosmos mess but staying for the strawberry jam

77:15 Extras: rankings movers, TBS fantasy, and a disclaimer

That’s Not The Rule, Kerrilyn

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 22:39:44 -0500

Welcome to the third installment of our Australian Open series! We're at the quarterfinals, and the men's draw is giving chaos while the women's seems kind of … correct? We talk about Djokovic's mini-battle with the press and overall less than sunny mood, the state of safeguarding against abuse on the WTA, and another induction into our Hall of Fame. Finally, we offer our review of episodes 4 & 5 of Break Point (much improved!) and our favorite segment, Alison Riske-Amritraj's vociferous defense of the rules.

0:00 Don’t skip the intro this time

3:50 The women’s quarters - being able to appreciate tennis as more non-partisan than ever

15:00 Azarenka captures magic again, Sabalenka fixes her f***ing serve

20:55 The men’s draw has been a touch chaotic, no?

24:25 Novak Djokovic’s resentment tour

32:40 Korda, Shelton, Ruby, Rune

42:20 The PTPA’s nothing salads

45:40 That's Not The Rule, Kerrilyn

54:15 Sabalenka gets inducted into the TBS HOF

55:00 Recapping Break Point 4 and 5 - some depth and more real insights than the previous installments

63:50 Continuing to look at the effort to curb abuse and exploitation of women on the WTA Tour

70:35 The charges against Tsitsipas and why they don’t stick

The Bushbirds Are Sh*tting

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 21:09:14 -0500

Hey there, just popping in to offer some thoughts on the first few days of the 2023 Australian Open and the first three episodes of Netflix’s tennis docuseries Break Point! We talk about a few standouts from a pretty rocky and wet week one (don’t be offended if we missed your fave, it’s not comprehensive); we discuss the Netflix Curse chatter that seems to be dooming 8 of the 10 featured players; and we think about some fascinating press conference moments from Taylor Townsend, Rafael Nadal and, in a rather different way, Camila Giorgi.

2:50 The Netflix Curse or the Netflix picking the wrong players syndrome?

5:10 Standouts in the first few days: Parrizas Diaz, Volynets, Brooksby, Shelton

11:00 Let me complain for a minute: the AO app is not good; and the rain highlights tennis’ built-in inequities

14:20 Andrew Murray plays for 10.5 hours over two matches

17:10 TBS Hall of Fame gets two new inductees!

21:35 Rafa leaves Australia with a new injury, smashes a cliche about athlete ‘sacrifice’

32:05 Taylor Townsend shines in doubles, gets real about tennis finances

34:25 Camila Giorgi faces the music about alleged vaccine fraud and blissfully exists on her own planet

40:25 Novak: hamstring, hamstrung

42:25 Recommendation for tennis from James’ parents, only one of whom watches tennis

47:00 Discussing Break Point - who is it for, what’s it meant to accomplish, and does it do that?

51:20 The tennis brat / bad boy trying to reform -- it’s not giving us anything new

55:35 Go to the business center

Pregnant With Possibilities: Australian Open Preview

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 22:54:02 -0500

The first Slam of the year doesn't give us many weeks of tennis to form opinions, but it's delivered on story lines, with one taking the cake: Naomi Osaka -- having already withdrawn from the Australian Open -- announced she's pregnant and will miss the 2023 season. This barely a week after defending champ Ash Barty announced her own pregnancy. Tournament director Craig Tiley is up to his usual hijinks, this year banning booing, rolling out NFTs in an inhospitable market, and extracting surplus labour from what used to be free (player practices). All that plus draw analysis, January standouts, PTPA news, a complete diversion on our take on Rolling Stone's greatest singers list. Ready?

2:30 Naomi Osaka is missing the Australian Open, yes … but why, pray?

10:50 What kind of mess will Craig get into this year? Well, funny you should ask

16:00 Booing Novak Djokovic is illegal. Is this a real thing?

19:50 Scamming scammers: extracting surplus value from player practices plus the AO NFT gallery

29:10 The PTPA announces an executive committee

33:50 Who’s standing out in the first two weeks of 2023? Peggy, Sabs, Linda, Novak, Taylor, Cam

44:50 Carlos Alcaraz misses the Australian Open but gets an international Calvin Klein underwear spread

49:50 Women’s draw analysis

60:55 Men’s draw analysis

71:35 Our greatest singers - fie, Rolling Stone!

A Positive Start

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 02:30:10 -0500

Welcome to The Body Serve 9! We're recovering from our first-ever bout with COVID but tennis never stops and the show must go on. We offer some things to look out for in 2023 -- a true rival to Iga? A few more Big 4 retirements? -- and share some of our (and your) hopes and dreams for the upcoming season. We also catch up with the tennis news cycle, including the latest Camila Giorgi controversy, Simona's doping suspension, Venus' return, and the debut of United Cup.

00:28 Season NINE: Housekeeping & #NameTheTennisPlayer

07:25 Things to look out for this season (The Giorgi Syndicate)

18:53 Nepo babies & the sprawling United Cup

29:53 Queen Vee is BACK and looking evergreen

35:07 Wading into the homosexual waters

45:47 James is definitely going to reach his breaking point this season

51:52 Boris is back and updates on the Simona sitch

54:59 Breakout candidates for the 2023 season

60:35 Our hopes and wishes for the 2023 season

How Did We Get Here? TBS Culture Edition

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 14:34:25 -0500

To cap off our 8th season and tide you over until 2023, we’re bringing you the rare TBS culture episode. No tennis talk whatsoever -- we even had a few tennis-related items on the agenda which we deleted. We’ve got: an hour of TV talk including spoilers for The White Lotus and a few lightning-round rants; thoughts on “queerbaiting” and Kit Connor’s forced coming-out; Mariah Christmas concert review; and takes on blackfishing, digital minstrelsy, T Swift, and more!

5:55 Spoilers ahead for The White Lotus, one of the few remaining watercooler shows

15:45 MVPs Aubrey Plaza & Meghann Fahy

20:50 Siamo tutti gay!

27:30 Is the Golden Age of Television over? It’s ok if it is, all things must pass

31:50 Some shows we enjoyed: Mo, Industry, Better Things, Heartstopper, Somebody Somewhere, The Bear, P-Valley, and more

53:25 Each of us do a mini-rant about TV

01:02:00 Heartstopper and the extratextual: Kit Connor comes out after the fandom accuses him of queerbaiting

01:10:20 David Archuleta from American Idol comes out

01:15:15 So what happened with Bros?

01:20:55 Recapping Mariah’s Christmas concerts in Toronto!

01:30:30 We need to talk about Taylor Swift (without losing half of our listeners)

01:40:00 Miss Patti has still got it at 78

01:44:30 Terrible news about Celine Dion’s health

01:47:00 Kardashian-Jenner hegemony: when will it end?

01:57:30 Asking each other a tough and a not-so-tough question

The Merchants of Menace: 2022 ATP Wrap

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 09:55:38 -0500

It’s time to wrap up the 2022 ATP season, and we’re treating the guys with a healthy (and earned!) dose of suspicion, starting with a rundown of the most badly behaved children of the year. But it’s not all bad - we also cover Rafa’s personal-best start to the season, Carlos’ rise, Novak’s disappearing and reappearing acts, Felix fixing his finals bugaboo, Holger’s Paris breakdown and later his Paris Masters title, and Roger’s retirement. And since tennis news will stop for no one, we had to recap Canada’s historic win at Davis Cup and the implosion of Team USA.

0:00 Cold Open

Men behaving badly

4:25 Starting with the worst: That Guy

9:20 The Nick Kyrgios redemption nightmare

13:50 Craig! What the hell, dude?!

18:00 Jaaa-gate, Moutet, poop shorts, and Shapo gets scolded by Daddy

25:55 Davis Cup: USA cancels themselves, does the work for us

31:20 The Verdasco ban and Reilly’s basement tweeting

Notable Moments

40:30 Djokovic removed from Australia + Rafa wins a very memorable Australian final

48:35 Carlos Alcaraz breaks out in March; Rafa’s injuries start and never end; weird Wimbledon

57:20 US Open was our first major (and Carlos’ too)!

61:30 Laver Cup, frat behavior, G***k y*g*rt, Federer retirement

65:30 Other retirements: Del Potro, Tsonga, Anderson, and many more

68:55 Three other players we need to mention: Feliz, Casper, Holger

79:25 How’d we do on our choices for breakout players of 2022?

The Inroads (and Outroads?) of the 2022 WTA Season

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 11:48:20 -0500

The 2022 WTA season had everything: a 37-match win streak, the retirements of the current #1 (abrupt) and the GOAT (expected), a Wimbledon with no ranking points, and a major drug suspension. Iga Swiatek’s dominance didn’t leave much room for her competitors, but other highlights included Ons Jabeur’s steady rise to world #2 and two Slam runner-up finishes, Caroline Garcia’s singles renaissance and WTA Finals title, and utter doubles dominance from Krejcikova/Siniakova. We’ve also got some juicy listener-generated “things you loved/hated” content and the kind of typically bizarre moments that keep us coming back every year.

Plus, we’ve just launched our GoFundMe - please read a bit about we do and donate if you can!

0:30 Announcing our GoFundMe 2022 and reiterating our mission

6:05 Three key moments: Ash’s Australian win + retirement, Iga’s win streak, and Serena’s evolution

11:00 The other major stories: the instability at the top for everyone but Iga, Simona Halep’s remarkably odd year, and the total breakdown of COVID protocols

18:40 Starting the year with Barty as the undisputed #1

25:20 Ash’s retirement coincides with the start of Iga’s 37-match win streak

34:45 Grass season: Serena dominates the conversation from Eastbourne to the US Open; Rybakina wins the points-less Wimbledon

42:00 Summer hardcourt stretch: our own return to live tennis; Halep & Garcia grab titles but Swiatek restores order in New York

54:55 Discussing the WTA year-end award nominees

60:45 Our own picks for 2022 breakout players - how’d we do?

63:25 Remember when? A broken necklace, a broken doubles team, and Ostapenko's ... everything

72:45 Things you loved about WTA tennis in 2022

81:50 Things you loathed in 2022: no points at Wimbledon, no more business buns

85:55 The WTA’s finances: Hologic sponsorship and a potential deal with private equity

Muchas Garcías

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 16:51:37 -0500

The WTA regular season comes to a close with comeback kid Caroline Garcia grabbing her biggest career title, dispatching Iga-vanquisher Aryna Sabalenka in a boom-boom final. We discuss the last-minute nature of the event and the tough financial and ethical positions the WTA continues to occupy in light of the China situation. On the men’s side, Holger Rune caps a momentous autumn swing that brings him from #33 to the brink of the ATP Finals, but not without a lecture from daddy. Elsewhere in bad behavior, the FFT disowns Moutet, Reilly earns lifelong haters, and Kyrgios settles a silly (disclaimer: this is James’ opinion; please don’t sue) defamation suit.

0:45 Garcia’s Finals title and Sabalenka’s upset of #1 Swiatek add unexpected layers to this WTA season

8:35 Some props for Sakkari, Kasatkina, and doubles champ and singles-almost-made-it Kudermetova

17:30 Lots of commentary about attendance and the choice of venue – what the WTA has been up against vs. what is of their own making

28:55 Holger beats Djokovic, ends Felix’s win streak, and becomes first alternate for Torino

33:30 Magic potions and goofy huddles; it’s not actually a ‘thing’ but it’s no surprise that people think it’s a thing!

39:00 WTA CEO Steve Simon’s strange and conflict-heavy statements on the ongoing Halep doping situation

41:10 James’ tormentor Gilles Simon finally retires

47:45 Et ceteras: Moutet loses the bag; WTA institutes coaching program to attract and develop female coaches; safeguarding against abuse in tennis

57:00 Reilly thinks telling people to vote is cringe and that tennis used to be free of politics … ok hun

63:50 The biggest merch sale of the year: The Body Serve’s RedBubble Store

Félix Aviation Administration

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 21:36:58 -0400

Canadian King Félix Auger-Aliassime. As Rihanna said, let’s start there. Félix has turned around his final-round performances to the tune of three straight titles, beating world #1 Alcaraz twice in the past few weeks. Elsewhere, in Texaaaas, the world’s best women have a blast dressing up but will soon look to take on the dominant force of Iga Swiatek at the WTA Finals. We’re also covering Rune’s on-court and online hissy fits, previewing Paris and the ATP Final scenarios, and getting the Iga starfish case off the docket to make room for worse offenders.

01:45 Félix with 13 straight wins! Momentum is a hell of a drug

06:15 Holger’s temper tantrum(s)

14:00 Medvedev steadies the ship in Vienna, Shapo on a consistent run

16:00 ATP Finals qualifications: Wimbledon is the tournament that is and isn’t

23:30 The WTA women dress up and have a blast … stop with the amateur fashion critiques unless you’re being nice!

29:25 James takes a shot at WTA social media marketing and Jonathan is way more fair

35:50 Is anyone beating Iga?

41:00 United Cup, what’s it all about?

47:00 Case dismissed: Iga addressed the handwaving and yes, we must move on

49:00 Coaching carousel: Garcia’s coach splits with literary flair and Stan & Magnus are back together

52:20 What’s next for TBS

The October Surprise

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 03:09:38 -0400

Just when we thought we could go away for a spell without anything crazy happening, the ghost of an ugly hotel carpet threw things into disarray with Simona Halep testing positive for a banned substance. We begin the episode by wading through these doping waters, before catching up on the 7,000 tournaments since we last dropped an episode. Just take a look at the timestamps for the remainder of the docket: a lot of MESS before we finish with a salute to two all-timers who left an indelible mark on this fraught world we live in

01:55 Simona Halep tests positive for a banned substance

17:44 Catching up on the results

23:36 When are the authorities going to arrest Belinda Bencic?

28:45 WTA Finals qualifiers and James’ obsession with the Napoli mess

36:40 An update on one of the handful of ATP players accused of domestic violence

38:16 Coaching carousel: Tursunov’s self-serving MESS

44:10 Does pickleball want the sloppy seconds of tennis?

52:12 TENNIS BABIES!!!

55:00 Our top three Mariah studio albums

58:24 In memoriam: Queer icons Dame Angela Lansbury & Leslie Jordan

25 Languages But Is Arabic One?

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 14:20:20 -0400

This is a hodgepodge episode, catching up with the recent tournament results across four continents, including Tunisia’s first WTA event, Djokovic’s clearing of the Next and CurrentGen, and Tiafoe’s continuing run of good form. We spend a good amount of time on Ostrava - the destined-to-be-a-classic final, Iga’s status as an activist #1, and Krejcikova’s return as a top singles player. All that plus some news about the Kyrgios case, WTA Final qualification scenarios, and a WTA coming-out (Happy National Coming Out Day!).

1:00 So who’s been winning all these tournaments around the world?

5:45 Novak clobbers an incredibly stacked ATP 500 draw

10:35 Fritz wins Tokyo, he and Tiafoe reach career high rankings

15:45 Thanks to Ons Jabeur and IMG, WTA tennis comes to Tunisia!

19:35 Ostrava has become a real autumn highlight - Krejcikova and Swiatek deliver a classic

25:40 Why do some see Iga as the complainer-in-chief?

33:30 Kiki Mladenovic knows her brand!

35:25 Kyrgios’ lawyers will ask his case to be dismissed on mental health grounds

40:35 Et ceteras: RaducanuOUT, Podoroska *out*, tour finals qualification

Question: Tell Me What You Think About ...

Sun, 02 Oct 2022 14:20:43 -0400

Thanks to you, our listeners, we’re back with a special mailbag episode, answering your questions about any and everything. You asked about tennis, of course – lots of questions lingering from Laver Cup and Roger’s retirement, and about the states of various players’ games on the women’s tour – but you also allowed us to be self-indulgent and talk about what we’re watching and listening to, our favorite breads and cheeses (a new one!), and our nerdiest qualities.

1:40 Rapid-fire from @SamsBiceps: Federer matches, Beyonce, desserts, and Oscar best actress predix

13:50 Daria Saville’s IG post after her injury: interesting insight or just too much honesty?

18:15 What’s up with Naomi? Will she be back in form next year?

24:00 Dream WTA Team World - Team Europe lineups (and we added thoughts about what a dream Laver Cup should set out to accomplish

32:15 What are we watching/listening to/reading lately? It’s been a great year for horror fans

41:35 Pair any five tennis players with a Mariah track, which would then be their theme song (hey, Grigor)

46:25 Us as commentators: what’s our green room rider? How will you diplomatically call out your colleagues for bad takes?

53:15 What is the nerdiest non-tennis thing about each of us? Well, there’s a lot

59:10 If one of the Big 3 never played tennis, how many majors would the other two have won?

65:00 Our favorite breads and cheeses! Amazing question!

69:20 An FMK from our most reliable contributor

71:40 What is happening with Garbine? And some thoughts on a coach’s role

78:45 Our own tennis playing styles

It Doesn’t Even Matter

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 22:26:09 -0400

And just like that, another GOAT says goodbye. This time, it’s Roger Federer at Laver Cup, giving tennis and his fans one last glimpse at his greatness. Confession: we haven’t always been the biggest FedFans, but we’re still paying respect to the man and his genius, offering some of our most enduring Federer memories. Along the way, we chime in on Laver Cup itself, the tender Fedal moments, where the event worked, and where it falls short for us. ‘Til next time, Roger!

0:30 Federer retires: regret over letting stan wars cloud our appreciation

14:35 Federer’s imperial period: if you know, you know

17:05 Our favorite Roger memories

21:10 A non-recap of Laver Cup

29:40 The racist abuse leveled at Frances Tiafoe; fans now trying to find their next prop to prove they’re not racist

37:40 The touching retirement punctuated by truly absurdist theatre

41:20 Rafa & Roger’s unique and genuine bond - men showing affection!

52:20 Big Three or Big Four? Yes, we want to go there, just for a minute

55:10 What exactly is Federer’s legacy? What did he bring to tennis that no one had before? (thanks @seasaltandrum for the question!)

Barely Bleating: US Open Wrap

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 23:04:11 -0400

The final Slam of the season sees Iga Swiatek troubleshoot and learn now to extend her dominance, and the coronation of the (not very) long awaited Carlos Alcaraz as a major winner and youngest male #1 in history. As always, we try to be skeptical of hype and take a fresh look at the results and what they might mean for the near future. Also at this US Open: the shambolic choice to have Supreme Court Justice Patrick McEnroe helm the women's doubles presentation, profiteering off Serena's name, and more awful revelations about sexual abuse in women’s tennis.

2:30 Iga Swiatek doesn’t always play her best but proves why she’s the dominant #1

14:40 The women’s draw gets a wonderful crop of quarterfinalists, representative of many of the year’s best

21:45 Are we in the Iga Era? How do we define a deserving number one? What do we want from women's tennis? Who cares! Sit back and watch

24:35 Men’s champ: from barely bleating to curry-ready

35:10 Frances Tiafoe! Not to say I told you so but …

42:50 Listen to Jonathan stretch a subordinate clause far past its breaking point

44:55 Women’s doubles: Krejcikova/Siniakova win the Career Slam; plus, the massive insult of Patrick McEnroe presiding over this trophy ceremony

56:10 TW: SA - Fiona Ferro’s case against her former coach puts another spotlight on abuse and exploitation in women’s tennis

60:55 Et ceteras: bootleg Serena merch, the too-late night matches, and the partisan but only partially engaged US Open crowd

69:25 WTA Finals is moving to … Texas?

73:11 Randomly, our favorite and least favorite types of pasta

Very Good, Serena Williams: US Open Week One

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 00:17:04 -0400

Well folks, that was quite the first week of the US Open, wasn't it? Jonathan is back from his trip to Flushing Meadows, and we are back to talk about Serena's last dance (or at least our first stab at it). There's a lot to unpack from the first week of the season's last major, so grab a honey deuce and join us for the ride.

2:35 Serena d. Kontaveit

12:00 The Farewell: Serena bows out to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round

26:10 Jonathan’s observations from the US Open: Venus, Danielle, The Penko Experience

43:00 Thoughts on Arthur Ashe Stadium

54:40 Indulge me for a moment: the sound mix and off-court coaching

64:45 Commentary, a lifetime appointment?

69:20 Quickly running through where we’re at in the draw: women’s round of 16 is stacked

81:35 Rafa’s first week: nerves and a shocking smack in the nose

Looks Like We Made It: US Open Preview

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 10:07:35 -0400

We're piecing together a preview for the US Open on precarious hotel wifi, but the show must go on! After all, this is Serena's final Slam. Jonathan is in NY taking in the action, while James holds down the TBS fort (i.e. Vince) in Toronto. Hear Jonathan's initial thoughts on TBS’s first trip to a Slam, plus we're talking about Novak’s eleventh hour withdrawal, this year’s version of the bathroom break distraction, and of course the just released US Open draws, seemingly some of the most balanced draws in recent memory.

01:05 Jonathan's initial thoughts on Flushing Meadows and the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

12:25 To no one’s surprise the entry requirements did not change and Novak Djokovic pulls out of the US Open at the last minute

20:00 Kyrgios legal update plus a perfect distraction, a ridiculous defamation suit

27:30 WTA draw: hey, it could have been a lot worse

30:30 Women’s top half: cracking first rounds, including Queenwen vs. Ostapenko and Raducanu vs. Consecutive Slam Queen Cornet

42:00 Women’s bottom half: Madison gets a tough road early on; Serena’s fourth quarter … what to make of it

48:30 Men’s draw: a historic #1 seed leads a wide open draw

No Qualifier Needed

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 21:08:52 -0400

Cincinnati lost its stars early but still brought us a wickedly good weekend, with comeback kids Borna Coric and Caroline Garcia taking the titles. We talk new shoulder (Borna), new confidence (Caro), new professionalism (Stef?), and the resurgent Petra and Madison. We take a stab at the ball controversy and how it speaks to a larger battle in tennis governance. The second part of this episode features an interview with author and illustrator Tom Humberstone, whose gorgeous graphic novel Suzanne hits bookstores in September. Suzanne Lenglen was one of the very first sporting superstars; Tom tells Suzanne’s story with specificity, avoiding comparisons with today’s greats, exploring what made her so compelling and how the well worn cliches about her fail to do justice to her life and accomplishments.

3:30 OG NextGen kid Borna Coric is back in the conversation, wins Cincinnati with his new serve (and new shoulder)

14:30 Iga, Ons, Serena out early? No problem - Petra, Caro, and Madison are getting butts in seats

21:20 Tennis ball controversy: Iga Swiatek vs. Wilson Regular Duty

27:00 Whom does it serve to tweet about someone skipping a press conference? (Check the replies, that’s who)

30:05 Jonathan’s preferred Serena match-up and Vika’s slightly anticlimactic announcement

35:10 Interview with Tom Humberstone, author of Suzanne and Body Serve illustrator!

47:45 Translating the unique visual spectacle of Lenglen to the page

55:15 How to balance “legacy” while honoring a person’s specific life experiences

59:20 Lenglen forced the skeptical press to respect women’s sport

In The 6ix

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 03:39:38 -0400

We’re back after attending our first live tennis in THREE YEARS! Wow, what a moment. A moment most pleasing to us in our podcasting careers. The happy feelings didn’t last long as we had to grapple with the end of Serena’s career when she announced her imminent retirement at the US Open. We also chat about Simona and PCB’s wins in Canada before sharing a few of our observations from seeing the women in person last week. Buckle up folks, it’s going to be a hell of a ride the next few weeks

01:53 Serena rocks our world with news of her impending retirement

10:52 The relief, the joy, and the pain of grappling with this announcement

15:16 Simona Halep fightergirls herself to the Toronto title

17:33 The pusher discourse has gotten way out of control

20:32 Putting some respect on Haddad Maia and Zheng Qinwen’s names

23:45 PCB wins his biggest career title in Montreal

32:53 Observations: Watching Serena live in Toronto

36:36 Sloane’s defence, Kenin’s comeback, and endless deuces

44:32 Loving Bianca off the court and struggling with the mess on it

49:44 Why is it always MEN who are super loud and clueless at tennis?

58:19 Let serves and Giorgi/Ostapenko live lasers

Summer Renaissance: Hardcourt Preview

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 17:34:17 -0400

The unbearable August heat and humidity means it’s time for the North American hardcourt swing, for a brief magical period known as the US Open Series. Instead of a typical recap, we decided to present a summer hardcourt preview to mark this distinct segment of the season. Who are the old reliables on this surface? Will Medvedev extend his mastery over these courts? Will Iga add some more titles to that expanding hardcourt resume? What will Venus and Serena’s matches look like? Will Djokovic become a wedge issue in the midterms? (No.) Plus a snapshot of our favorite moments from Beyonce’s stunner, Renaissance.

2:55 What are the main storylines going into the greatest rrrrroad trip in esport?

11:20 DC: Serena descends upon the capital, creates confusion

16:55 Venus’ first match since last August - what’s the takeaway?

25:35 Hardcourt preview: the comebacks, reboots, redos, and those with something to prove

35:25 The hardcourt stalwarts of the past few years, women first: Naomi, Iga, Vika, Aryna, and more

41:20 The hardcourt “kings” and we use the term loosely

45:20 Novak Djokovic and US Republican members of Congress: with their powers combined …

52:35 Medvedev and the race for the men’s #1

54:05 Raducanu’s choice of coach riles the British press

58:35 Our upcoming tennis plans

62:35 Beyonce’s Renaissance - a postmodern tour of Black dance music and reveling in the face of a plague

In Our (Mail) Bag

Mon, 25 Jul 2022 14:30:26 -0400

It’s the hottest part of the summer and the post-Wimbledon haze is the perfect time to outsource our agenda planning by asking our readers for questions. Fortunately, your questions were well in sync with important topics of the day and what we wanted to cover. We discuss the documentary/vlog featuring Dasha Kasatkina and Andrey Rublev; the intimacy of the format; and the considerable fallout caused by Dasha’s coming out and their tough words on their home country. We spend a little time chatting about recent tennis news but that’s really not the focus – look out for questions on the world track and field championships, climate change, R&B covers of songs from other genres, and our current favorite snacks and TV shows.

2:00 Etceteras: Coaching splits, Matteo’s racist IG story, and TBS pet merch!

Mailbag

7:35 The Kasatkina-Rublev doc and the immediate fallout

19:35 What to make of the ATP’s partnership with You Can Play to improve LGBTQ inclusion?

23:25 The Jamaican women continue to dominate sprinting; Shelly-Ann is the GOAT

33:45 Climate change as an existential threat to tennis

39:45 We’re not here for the scamming

42:25 Quick diversion about snacks

45:20 What are our favorite R&B covers of songs from another genre?

48:30 Why pundits are critical about Serena’s comeback(s) and fitness level

55:00 New TV we’ve been watching

61:50 To live and *let* live? To asterisk or not to asterisk?

The S#&% Show Must Go On: Wimbledon Wrap

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 22:42:21 -0400

Let's start with the good news: Elena Rybakina powered her way to a major title, and Ons Jabeur reached another career milestone while winning hearts and eyeballs around the world. The men's side was, uh, less appealing. Nick Kyrgios reached his first major final on the heels of an assault accusation (that's 4 ATP players currently accused of domestic violence if you're keeping count); a cursed bromance emerges; Rafa pulls out with an abdominal tear; and the younger generations fail again to capitalize on legends who weren't even close to their best tennis.

3:05 Elena Rybakina, another surprising but not surprising Slam winner on the WTA

14:45 Ons Jabeur, self-proclaimed Minister of Happiness – and this government ain’t falling

26:25 Tatjana Maria and reconsidering the narrative surrounding mothers in tennis

31:45 An unconventional recap of the men’s final

33:05 Nick Kyrgios is accused of assault by his ex-girlfriend, will face charges in court

38:35 Bromance from hell

49:30 The greatest fighter narrative works for Rafa but should we be celebrating the suffering?

58:50 Doubles: Krejcikova/Siniakova earn legend status

63:05 The ranking jumps are a little more dramatic than usual

65:40 The Telegraph spun the Serena Williams controversy wheel and came up with “five cars”

In Perfect DisHarmony: Wimbledon Week One

Sat, 02 Jul 2022 23:12:51 -0400

Wimbledon week one saw a GOAT come and go, her sister light up the doubles court, the two male legends anchor their sides of the draw, and the loquacious Cornet end Swiatek's 37-match win streak. Saturday lit up the tournament for reasons good and bad; after Anisimova notched an impressive win over Gauff, Kyrgios and Tsitsipas gave an absolute shit show of code violations, toxic behavior, and occasionally compelling tennis. All the while, COVID reared its ugly head despite the tournament's determination to ignore it.

2:05 Serena, queen of net rushing and accepting her tennis mortality

14:30 Tami Korpatsch: a social media star is born

18:35 Venus & Jamie: you bring me joy

25:15 The upsets: the surprising (Hubi) and the less so (Muguruza & Kontaveit)

34:10 Round of 16 match-ups: Cornet ends Iga’s streak

41:40 Men’s draw: Covid wreaks havoc on the bottom half

48: 50 Covid is still here, surprise! On tennis’ players’ “civic spirit”

54:05 The All England Club as an extension of the British government

56:20 Novak’s new tennys text buddy

58:55 The men get messy: ADF, Rafa, Nick & Stefanos

You Just Gotta Be Ready: Wimbledon Preview

Sat, 25 Jun 2022 16:15:24 -0400

2022 Wimbledon prep had been dominated by the ban of Russian and Belarusian players, and then Serena Williams stopped the world by announcing her return to competitive tennis, first in Eastbourne doubles (OnsRena 4ever) and ultimately the Wimbledon singles draw. She joins a crowded field with no clear favorite, with Iga, Ons, Angie, Coco, a few Karolinas, and Petra all in with a shot. The men’s side sees Rafa and Djokovic on opposite sides, with Rafa attempting to continue his 14-match Slam win streak and Djokovic trying to upend the year’s narrative and further complicate the best-ever conversation.

1:10 Stop the world; world, stop: the birth of OnsRena and Rena’s surprising return to Wimbledon

11:55 Another unlikely return to Wimbledon: Rafa’s foot procedure allows him to play SW19

14:40 Tara Moore popped for alleged doping

19:50 Women’s draw: RG was a sure thing for Iga, but not so at Wimbledon

27:05 The Serena quarter (well, technically the Badosa quarter): LOADED

36:50 The women’s bottom half offers huge opportunity (*whispers* but it should be Ons)

46:40 Men’s draw top half: Djokovic, Alcaraz, and a few seeds who’ve never won a match here

52:05 Bottom half: Berrettini, Fritz, and Tsitsipas rounding into form at the right time

Ted Tinling: Tennis’ Needle and Thread

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 23:00:52 -0400

Cuthbert Collingwood "Ted" Tinling was a man whose unlikely story threads throughout the eras of twentieth century tennis like no one else's. A product of a patrician English family who moved to the French Riviera, Ted found himself umpiring for Suzanne Lenglen at 13 years old. He would grow to become a successful London couturier in the interwar period, and in the late 1940s found tennis pulling him back, this time as a designer of tennis fashion. Tinling wed ultra-feminine design with functionality, creating outfits unique to each wearer and which emphasized the need for sportswear to work and move like a tennis player. Much has been written about his rebellious nature and his banishment from Wimbledon -- and we certainly cover that -- but we're also interested in the contradictions of a man with great respect for the codes of tennis tradition but who repeatedly strained against it.

0:45 Ted Tinling: tennis’ great multihyphenate

7:20 The Tinlings move from Eastbourne to the Riviera, the hotbed of Jazz Age tennis

11:55 Suzanne Lenglen, France’s homegrown superstar

16:45 The end of his Riviera boyhood – from child umpire to Mayfair couturier

20:40 Post-war: a revolution in colour

23:45 Tinling and Dior’s New Look - a regression or a rebellion? (Or both?)

27:35 The panties that altered history

36:45 The 1960s: Tinling as the premier designer of women’s tennis

42:50 You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby

48:25 The Tinling Slam: all four plus the Battle of the Sexes

53:20 Wimbledon Act II: Back in the Club

56:20 Infinite sites of rebellion - chipping away at tennis’ strictures

63:10 A few more stories we want to tell: Elizabeth Ryan and Bill Tilden

Je Ne Comprends Pas

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 22:45:36 -0400

Iga Swiatek and Rafael Nadal are joint winners at Roland Garros for the second time, with Iga extending her dominance over women’s tennis and Rafa entering truly uncharted territory as a 14-time RG winner and extending his lead in the all-time Grand Slam count. In keeping with the episode title, we’re trying to understand how Nadal did that in the face of a tough draw, poor preparation, and a career-threatening foot condition. Twenty-one-year-old Iga, on the other hand, is making it look easy. We take you through the major moments of week two, making plenty of time for the Battle of Scandinavia, Mauresmo's unfortunate comments, doubles results, and Rafole #59.

1:15 Racquet Bracket results: sometimes mediocre is all we can hope for

5:20 Unbeatable Iga

11:50 The streak: let’s let the active players live without comparing them to GOATs

20:25 The makeup question … che schifo!

27:00 The men’s quarters on: the endless Ruud-Rune dust-up, an at times imperious Cilic

37:05 Nadalovic didn’t quite live up to expectations

42:20 Nadal-Zverev, that injury, and that weird discourse that resulted

50:50 The final is what we needed – a low-stress denouement to a very tough tournament

62:30 Retirement watch was on but we fight on - more info on the foot

69:25 Men’s double makes history and the reunion of Garcia/Mladenovic

72:55 Rankings watch: lose in the first round, earn a career high ranking!

76:45 Amelie Mauresmo’s turbulent fortnight

If Is a Dangerous Word

Mon, 30 May 2022 22:05:34 -0400

The Roland Garros quarterfinals are set, and despite a brief scare, Iga Swiatek continues her stunning win streak as the lone remaining top 10 seed in the women’s draw. But fear not, the quarterfinal match-ups are cracker (RIP Derry Girls). On the men’s side, we still have the promised Djokovic-Nadal quarterfinal, Alcaraz is still winning, and the once-presumptive finalist Tsitsipas has crashed out. We get serious about an issu important to us: Martina’s appearance on Piers Morgan’s show, the ongoing fight against trans women in women's sport, and what we're not talking about when we talk about this issue.

01:15 Women’s quarterfinals: they may not be what you asked for, but they’re still pretty good

10:25 Simona Halep opens up about panic attacks and emotional setbacks (PMo centers himself)

13:30 Women’s first week roundup: Queenwen, Kasatkina, Kerber, Coco, Sloane, Leylah

25:25 Men’s quarters: some of the top guys were tested but they (mostly) came through

30:30 Felix takes Nadal to five sets (allez!) amidst the Toni drama (it’s not that big a deal)

37:35 What’s the deal with this night session? One match?

48:20 Et ceteras: a mini Covid scare and Begu & Rublev’s near-misses

51:15 Talking about the movement against trans women in women's sport and why they're missing the forest for the trees

68:25 Quick follow-up on the language of discrimination + the damned subjunctive tense

Thoughts and Prayers: Roland Garros Preview

Sat, 21 May 2022 23:01:03 -0400

Not more than four short months ago, we were reveling in Rafa and Ash’s Australian Open glory. Now that we’ve been abandoned by Ash, and Rafa’s foot has set alarm bells ringing, we enter the year’s second Slam with that familiar feeling of dread. Iga has taken the baton from Ash and sped through the Spring season; who can catch her? On the men’s side, things are a bit more focused…on one very concentrated half of the draw. Join us for our 2022 Roland Garros preview where we parse through the draws, give updates on the latest Wimbledon mess, and finish with the glowing debut of Drag Race All-Stars 7!

3:20 Women’s draw: name one player who can beat Iga (well, the few who might be able to are in her section LOL)

14:25 Women’s bottom half: Is Ons the favorite to reach the final?

20:10 Babs is back but the fourth quarter is the land of opportunity

26:50 Men’s draw, first quarter: I would like a recount

41:45 Men’s bottom half: Stefanos, it’s yours, take it

48:50 Et ceteras: RG makes changes to post-match media process, GEMS Baby is dropping in October, Naomi Osaka forms her own agency

55:00 ATP, WTA, ITF will not award ranking points at Wimbledon due to the Russian/Belarusian ban

68:10 Appreciating the Drag Race All Stars All Winners season

Out Here Ons Her Own

Mon, 09 May 2022 22:04:04 -0400

Two drop shots to rule them all: Ons Jabeur wins her first WTA 1000 title and Carlos Alcaraz slices through two GOATs and a [redacted] to win his fourth title of the year. In a shorter episode than usual, we chat about Madrid, the ongoing comebacks and retirements, Shapo Music’s spectacular unraveling in Rome, and more.

3:50 Ons Jabeur wins Madrid!

10:00 What were we saying about the WTA top 10 a few months ago? Well …

17:10 The final weekend scheduling in Madrid makes the women an afterthought, again

22:30 Carlos’ achievements are undeniable – but some context, please!

31:00 Et ceteras: Murray, Wawrinka, Thiem; Andreescu’s break and return

35:05 Kevin Anderson & Gilles Simon retire

40:05 Denis Shapovalov’s absolute shit fit in Rome

43:45 WTA is getting a 1000 tournament in Mexico!

I Don’t Know (and Other Insights)

Sun, 01 May 2022 13:33:58 -0400

As we get older, we get more comfortable existing in the “I don’t know” space, which might be a strange thing to say while also producing a podcast where we share our opinions. But as the debate about Wimbledon rages on, as Boris Becker is sentenced to prison, and in light of your great but tough questions, we’re comfortable remaining equivocal on some things lately. We catch up with the tennis in Europe, check in on some woeful but on-brand missteps, and discuss the Ukrainian players’ response to the Wimbledon decision (something we missed last week). Finally, we end by answering some excellent listener questions – fun, challenging, or both.

1:00 Simona slaying in Madrid, Rafa is back with a tough draw, and catching up w/ Estoril & Munich

8:25 More on Wimbledon’s decision to ban Russian & Belarusian players

10:50 What have the Ukrainian players been saying?

21:30 Raducanu splits with coach Torben Beltz

26:35 A few of the week’s worst: the PMo self-promo machine, Cirstea, and homophobia from “allies”

35:55 Boris Becker sentenced to prison for hiding assets - another chapter in a sad post-tennis saga

48:05 Madrid asks, how do we employ a creepy private security and surveillance regime while also making it *adorable*?

Mail

50:35 What’s going on with the WTA/ATP collaboration?

59:25 Which tennis players would you recruit during a zombie apocalypse?

66:00 Our cringiest tennis moments

71:30 FMK Bridgerton Brothers

75:20 Ending on some Williams sisters questions

Making The Ban

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 22:28:48 -0400

Thank you all for your patience while we’ve been away! We’re back to recap all the tournaments we’ve missed – almost three weeks of them. Iga Swiatek wins her 23rd straight match by beating repeat runner-up Sabalenka in Stuttgart, while Carlos Alcaraz wins his 23rd match of the year, taking the Barcelona title from PCB. The biggest off-court story has been Wimbledon’s decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players, and the fallout from players, the WTA and ATP, and the larger political stakeholders.

2:55 Wimbledon acts unilaterally (shocking, I know!) and bans players from Russia and Belarus

22:20 Pam Shriver opens up about problematic and abusive relationships on tour

25:50 Not another wild card drama. I don't have it in me

33:00 Alcaraz falls into the lap of the ATP

40:30 Putting the comparisons between Carlos & Iga into context

46:55 All she does is win: 1ga still soaring

57:10 The core of Stefanos’ problem

61:25 Results carousel: Marrakech, Houston, Charleston, Bogota

65:30 Etceteras: WTA Finals, Gail Falkenberg; Kim & Tommy retire

68:40 Serena unfollows Patrick on IG & a word on Willow Pill

Doing The Most

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 20:54:30 -0400

It's been barely two weeks since Ash Barty's retirement and already Iga Swiatek is answering our questions about what's next for the WTA. Riding a 17-match win streak, she knocks out fellow heiress apparent Naomi Osaka to win her third straight WTA 1000 title. Carlos Alcaraz generated a truly astonishing level of buzz on the men's side with his Miami title -- and while we always caution against too much hype, tennis is truly in a fascinating spot right now.

1:15 Iga fills in the blanks after Ash’s retirement

8:35 Let’s enjoy the present: on the WTA especially, it’s not Next Gen, it’s Now Gen

20:25 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga announces his imminent retirement from tennis

23:35 Carlos Alcaraz wins Miami, generates well-earned excitement; but let’s cool it with the hype, ok?

33:40 Injuries, absences, instability among the ATP top guys have created a perfect void for a young gun to swoop in

37:00 A few more racquet throws in Miami and the ATP finally says enough! (well, we think)

41:40 Et ceteras: Clay baes Thiem & Wawrinka make their return in Andalucia; rumors swirl about a Russian ‘ban’ from Wimbledon but what’s actually going on?

45:00 IMG snags Frances Tiafoe and purchases the Mutua Madrid Open

52:10 The Oscars - and no, we’re not talking about that

Bye Bye Barty

Sat, 26 Mar 2022 12:33:47 -0400

Ash Barty shocked the tennis world this week by announcing her departure from the game as a 25-year-old dominant #1. After the shock wore off, though, it started to make sense based on what we know about Ash, as a player who’s planned her career intentionally and who was upfront about how she approached the sport. What were her greatest moments? What does Ash’s retirement teach us? What is her legacy?

0:40 Getting over the initial shock

8:30 Ash’s early career and first break from tennis

14:00 Ash returns to tennis in 2016 and steadily builds a world-beating resume; post-COVID dominance

27:00 Career achievements: those weeks at #1 and talking about her successor

31:20 The retirement announcement

36:25 What did we learn from Ash’s retirement? What's the precedent for this?

39:00 Rethinking work and setting boundaries after a pandemic and the myriad disruptions of millennial and Gen Z life

48:30 Reframing authenticity

54:40 Our favorite Ash Barty memories

Indian Wells (Taylor’s Version)

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 13:22:21 -0400

The finals may not have lived up to their billing, but Indian Wells advanced a number of the season's major storylines: the continued growth of Iga Swiatek, the battle to stick out from the WTA pack, Rafa's hardcourt win streak, Alcaraz's series of firsts, and the Netflix effect. We cover the tennis, plus a discussion on the Nick rinse-and-repeat, the tennis world's response to Naomi Osaka's response (again, rinse, repeat), and the parallels to Jane Campion's flippant 'joke.'

0:40 Welcome to Tennis Para- well, purgatory

3:20 Swiatek wins 5th title and cements her new #2 status

17:40 Taylor Fritz d. Rafael Nadal in the battle of the walking wounded

31:15 Carlos Alcaraz tries his best to snatch that torch from Rafa

40:10 No, we are not entertained, thanks tho

53:20 Anisimova swiftly exeunts her match, leaving confusion in her wake; partnership with Darren Cahill ends abruptly as well

56:00 Heckling at Indian Wells and why it’s not the same as heckling at other places …

69:15 Jane Campion - ma’am, what?

FFS, When Will It End?

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 22:25:24 -0500

Starting off on a difficult subject - the invasion of Ukraine and the response from tennis authorities and the players affected by it. As always, it’s fair to ask who sets the moral standards and what’s the right thing to do, even if we don't have easy answers. On to more positive news, the WTA gets a new title sponsor at a critical time, going from cigarettes to a women’s health company in 50 years. The ATP has some rhetorical fun with the Zverev non-decision and leaves umpires out to dry. Plus, did Novak attempt another stunt in this never ending saga?

1:10 Tennis’ response to the war in Ukraine - what should a sport’s leadership do in wartime?

11:40 Is there any precedent? Banning South Africa and the trouble of who sets moral standards

20:00 WTA gets a new title sponsor and … a Mary J. Blige crossover?

31:40 The Zverev decision -- a suspension and fine, just kidding lol

43:30 Novak Djokovic will sacrifice titles for his principles but would, like, prefer not to

52:10 Ash & Babs pull out of Indian Wells

59:55 Leylah Fernandez defends Monterrey amidst a lighting crisis! It’s always something

64:55 Federer return, Lepchenko’s 4-year ban, and Kristie Ahn’s retirement

Take Flight

Sun, 27 Feb 2022 12:50:56 -0500

It’s not exactly your average February on the ATP: we’ve got a new #1; a recent #1 and GOAT doing (dubious) damage control as he struggles to find tournaments that will have him; a different 35-year-old GOAT starting the year on a 15-match win streak; and a top player defaulted for a gross display of rage at an umpire. Acapulco said don’t let la puerta hit you on the way out, and further penalties from the ATP could be looming for Zverev. Meanwhile on the women’s side, it’s Jelena Ostapenko’s world and we’re just living in it.

2:15 Medvedev takes #1

7:45 Rafa’s blazing start to the season continues in Acapulco

19:05 Acapulco was fun. You know what’s not fun? AZ and the escalating abuse of umpires

34:00 Djokovic’s BBC interview: yes, I guess we’re still talking about this

45:10 Felix wins his first ATP title!

51:05 Sport is never safe from politics and world crises … let’s have some understanding for players dealing with the invasion of Ukraine

57:30 Ostapenko beats -- in some cases, destroys -- six Grand Slam champions over the past two weeks

62:30 Are the Doha quarterfinals a sign of *some* stability near the top of the women’s game?

My Funny Mail-entine: TBS Mailbag Part II

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 16:03:20 -0500

Welcome back for the second part of our mailbag episode, made possible by February boredom and listeners like you. This time around we’re talking about the changes to tennis during pandemic times and whether we’d like to see them stay; our thoughts on Bravo, Drag Race, and TV in general; our Tennis Housewives dream cast; and a bunch of other thought provoking tennis questions.

02:00 Our thoughts on the changes to tennis (Covid-related or not) - electronic line calling, towels, no-ad, etc.

13:35 FMK: Tennis HABs

16:00 Has your bandwidth increased for the ATP after the Australian Open?

22:40 Thoughts on Drag Race season 14

27:40 Favorite TV of the year so far + Bravo updates

38:25 Which tennis pro’s shot would you want for yourself?

42:35 How to assess a player’s success outside of the Slams? What are the other metrics even if you’re not a Slam winner?

52:00 Real Housewives of Tennis dream cast

56:50 Janet Jackson finally gets her flowers – she is the blueprint, kids!

65:05 Reiterating The Body Serve’s mission statement, if you will

Winter Break: TBS Mailbag Part I

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 11:03:56 -0500

We asked for your questions, and wow, did you deliver. So much so that we’ve decided to stretch this mailbag into a two-part super episode. The post-Australian Open hangover is real, so we’ve got some light-hearted and non-tennis subject matter here, but we also tackle your tennis questions on commentators, our Grand Slam wish list, Delpo, and dream tennis apparel designers.

3:30 Which designer or brand do you want to see try tennis apparel?

5:50 If the Slams did anthems, which artist would you want to do the anthem for each Slam?

14:00 A perennial topic: What makes for a good tennis commentator?

20:50 Now let’s talk about us: how has our approach to fandom evolved over the years? Did we learn anything new with Nadal’s win in Australia?

26:45 A question on our process, how we record, the magic of editing, etc.

31:50 Favorite tennis player forays into music

34:10 Favorite comfort foods … how long do you have?

39:00 What tennis stories would we like to see as movies?

44:20 Tennis and NFTs: et tu, Stanley?

50:20 Now here’s an original one: ranking the types of tennis headwear

54:25 Honoring Juan Martin del Potro with our fave Delpo moments

Dare To Dream

Sun, 30 Jan 2022 22:55:18 -0500

Ash Barty and Rafa Nadal are your 2022 Australian Open champions -- Barty winning her third Slam and further cementing her #1 status, and Nadal notching an unlikely victory from a two-sets-to-love hole against a much younger opponent, leading the Grand Slam tally for the first time. Danielle Collins leaves Melbourne with many new fans while Daniil Medvedev leaves a bit shattered. We'll take you through the final rounds of the tournament and what it means for the players and the state of the tours, plus we chat about doubles, unruly crowds, corporate Pride celebrations, dreams deferred, and the fashions.

2:55 How did that happen? A men's final of disbelief

18:20 Medvedev's stunts catch up to him? But the crowd was bad, really bad

22:45 Tennis looks amateurish again: make a decision on coaching

32:20 The other notable men’s matches and wrapping up this men’s tournament

44:10 Women’s final: Ash Barty wins her 3rd Slam on as many surfaces

55:55 DanYell’s fanbase is growing despite some initial skepticism

63:30 Doubles: Azealia - err, Nick & Thanasi

67:10 Dylan Alcott retires as the only Golden Slam winner in his discipline

69:05 So who will become the ‘hero’ of this next generation?

75:00 AO Pride Day: great idea, so-so execution

78:00 Fave fashions and fave tweets of the tournament

84:15 Ranking updates: there’s a lot of movement and it’s not pretty

So Siuuu Me

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 20:47:10 -0500

Week one of the Australian Open is in the books, with Barty carving her way through the draw, Sam Stosur retiring from singles, and most of the men's contenders surviving. Although many feared the tournament would be overshadowed by the Djokovic visa saga, once play started the tennis began to speak for itself. We've gotten blockbuster match-ups that live up to the hype (Osaka-Anisimova), veterans rediscovering their magic (Monfils, Keys), and recent Slam champs Krejcikova & Medvedev reminding us why they're great at tennis and very meme-able.

0:44 The Nole decision: Get yourself a friend like Vasek & a frenemy like Kyrgios

07:40 Adelaide 2 & Sydney winners, plus week one upsets

13:15 Notable week one matches

15:35 The Kyrgios sideshow makes another appearance

20:35 Did you get the attention you ordered, Nick?

25:40 Krejcikova’s problematic necklace plus Naomi-Amanda

31:35 Madison, Felix, Rafa

38:45 Where we’re at the in the draw

47:50 Farewell to Sam Stosur and oh hey, Craig

55:45 Et ceteras: Ash’s serve, Naomi’s IG declaration, Liam represents

61:00 Netflix said to That Guy thanks, luv, we’re good; but also, ATP - where’s the investigation, boo?

The Leaning Tower of Visa: Aus Open Preview

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 23:03:49 -0500

The 2022 Australian Open is around the corner and guess what is still dominating headlines: visa cancellation 2.0, appeal 2.0, and the various foibles and f- er, muck-ups of Djokovic and co. After discussing that for a moment, we focus on some of the excellent stories coming out of the Australian lead-up tourneys: Ash’s domination, Kokkinakis’ brilliant stretch, and statement wins from Andy, Madison, Amanda, Simona, and Elena R. We finish up with perhaps our most equivocal draw analysis ever, as Djokovic’s shadow looms large.

02:00 Hawke strikes upon the hour: Immigration Minister cancels Djokovic’s visa, citing the “public interest”

09:04 Djokovic’s various fumbles have made grace an impossibility here

14:56 Week 1 Winners: Vets Rafa, Simona, Gael; plus Anisimova is back and Barty steamrolls

26:17 Week 2 gives us a day to remember: Keys-Gauff, Murray lobs Opelka, and BathroomGate is decidedly not behind us

33:23 Odds and ends: Bernie wins a bet by getting Covid; Rafa & Vee step in it; Reilly, dude … let it go

43:40 Our breakout picks for 2022: no, I will not be explaining myself

46:42 Women’s draw: that first quarter is rude and it ruined James’ dream final

58:13 Men’s draw: an Australian judge will decide who fills the no. 1 slot. Could the men’s bottom half see a major breakout?

Playing In Our Faces

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 21:47:47 -0500

The Australia v. Djokovic saga has dominated new cycles for the past week in and outside of the tennis world; it highlighted many of the anxieties and political squabbles of the COVID-19 pandemic, spurred infighting between various levels of Australian government, and most importantly, was completely avoidable. There is plenty of blame to go around here: to Djokovic, to his family’s increasingly bizarre statements, to the Prime Minister's cynical political maneuvers, and to the head of Tennis Australia, who committed an astonishing number of unforced errors. We give you a timeline and the cast of characters as we attempt to contextualize this debacle as best we can.

00:30 Setting the scene, and why we don’t do emergency episodes

12:40 Jan 4-6: Today I’m heading Down Under with an exemption per-.... oop

22:30 Jan 8: The zero-sum game resulting from the positive PCR test

29:30 Jan 10: The hearing none of us understood

37:05 The dramatis personae: starting with Craig Tiley and Tennis Australia

40:20 The Victoria Government (and why state governments shouldn’t get immigration advice from a sporting organization)

45:00 Prime Minister Scott Morrison scoring political points, or; “rules are rules”

49:25 Learning about Australia’s refugee crisis and draconian immigration policies

58:00 Hubris, extremism, and strange bedfellows

Party Like It’s 1999

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 16:59:28 -0500

Many of us look back at 1999 as the dawning of the modern golden age of women’s tennis, a season that saw four different Slam champs, the abrupt exit of one GOAT, and the breakthrough of a new one. Lindsay, Martina, Venus, Serena, and Steffi battled for the biggest titles and crafted historic, enduring storylines at every major event of the year. There was a changing of the guard, sure, but the shift from one era to the next is never quite as cut-and-dry as it seems. Plus, of course, the memes -- or, in this era before memes -- the off-court controversies and clownery that we still talk about: BeadGate, the formal education argument; and more darkly, the homophobic insults thrown at Amelie Mauresmo and the persistent, racialized "muscles vs. brains" narrative. Let’s take a walk down memory lane and discuss a season of women’s tennis that quite literally changed the sport forever.

03:10 Setting the scene: What is happening in women’s tennis and the culture at the fin de siècle? What does the teen pop explosion and Y2K have to do with tennis?

08:10 The WTA’s struggles with investors and why anonymous “analysts” doubted the marketability of women’s tennis

19:30 So what makes the ‘99 season so special?

22:55 Themes of the season: the Williams sisters are coming, and not everybody’s happy about it

29:55 Martina is #1, but the dominance is slipping

37:40 Australian Open: Hingis three-peats, Mauresmo comes out, and we endure BeadGate

55:25 Roland Garros: Graf wins final major in an almighty mess of a final

62:50 Wimbledon: Lindsay ain’t just a hardcourt wonder

69:45 Steffi calls time on one of the greatest careers in tennis history

72:25 US Open: Serena bags the first Williams singles Slam, beating a befuddled Hingis in the final; plus, why the ‘formal education’ dust-up is even more instructive than we remembered

83:50 The year-end rankings, some fun facts about the Slam season, and the signs of what’s to come

Dire Strai(gh)ts: ATP Wrap

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 20:20:33 -0500

In our season seven finale, we’re recapping this odd and transitional year on the ATP Tour, a year in which Novak Djokovic came very close to winning the first Grand Slam since 1969 and a bunch of youngsters shook the table of Big 3 hegemony. We take an honest look at our breakout predictions – not great, Bob – and reminisce about some truly wild (and some depressing) Remember When moments. Although there’s much levity, you know us – we’re not going to recap the ATP season without talking about the dark shadow cast by the ATP’s repeated fumbling of the Zverev & Basilashvili abuse allegations.

Thanks for your support this year and every year – see you in 2022!

04:00 In Australia, Russians make history and Djokovic wins his 9th

14:00 The spring gives us a sign of what’s to come (Rublev, Karatsev, Hurkacz, Sinner) plus a quick chat on PTPA progress this year

20:55 Clay season: Tsitsipas announces himself as a favorite for Roland Garros alongside Nadal & Djokovic

22:35 Novak screams and hollers his way to the Roland Garros title, beats Tsitsipas from 2 sets down

27:20 Grass season: Djokovic’s Wimbledon win seemed kinda … easy? Golden Slam Watch is on

41:40 US Open: BathroomGate went on way too long; breakouts galore; Medvedev kills the dream

46:15 Fall season: Norrie wins IW, Frances captures our attention, Russia bookends its year with a dominant Davis Cup win

49:00 Let’s look at the receipts: titles and rankings

52:50 How’d we do on our breakout picks?

55:15 Remember When? Hecklers, innocent bathroom breaks, the code-cracking racquet launch, YawnGate, and the unfortunate trend of ATP players using homophobic slurs

65:05 The ATP’s Integrity Problem

Holy Spirit Activate: WTA Wrap

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 15:17:42 -0500

Friends, we’re finally at the end of our WTA season. So much of what we recapped didn’t even feel like it happened in 2021. Kenin signing with Motorola but tweeting about it from her iPhone? 2021, really? Badosa and Kostyuk broadcasting from their Fox News bunker in Australia? Feels like forever ago. Nonetheless, we try to make sense of a truly unique year in tennis, in which the sport learned to live with the pandemic to varying degrees of success. We asked for help with our “Remember When” segment and boy, did y’all deliver. We finish with our mini-review of “King Richard” and then a taste test of Mariah Carey’s venture into Irish creams: her latest stone cold smash hit wonder!

Above all, we are so incredibly grateful for all your support and sticking with us through seven seasons. To the OG listeners, we can’t even know what to say. To those who just joined us, it’s a privilege we don’t take lightly.

02:10 An update on our GoFundMe: We can’t even know what to say

08:10 The princesses and the paupers: a super quarantine and one persistent mouse almost derail the Australian Open

17:20 Mugs, Sabalenka, Jabeur, Gauff, and Badosa steadily build their impressive seasons in the spring

25:55 Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal from Roland Garros, plus … you thought Barbora Krejcikova was just a great doubles player?

35:15 Grass season: vets find success but Barty cements her #1 status

46:30 Still reeling from that wild US Open

56:00 Stats in review: A not-so-clear-cut POTY and year-end rankings

66:40 Remember when: tennis players can’t control God, talk to Him

77:00 How’d we do on our breakout picks?

81:10 A dispiriting Peng Shuai update

87:55 It’s time to finally make good on the calls for #TennisUnited

89:20 Our King Richard review: It OUTSOLD!

97:35 A nutty taste test: Black Irish Mimi edition

We’ll See

Sun, 21 Nov 2021 16:59:44 -0500

First things first: we are officially announcing the launch of our GoFundMe campaign! Thank you to our listeners for the past 7 amazing years, and we’re looking forward to great stuff to come. Since our last episode, the Peng Shuai story has received widespread coverage in US media, with Chinese state media offering some video clips as “proof” of Peng’s well-being. The WTA has done a great job pushing the issue, but we wonder what's next if the WTA's demands are not met. We also celebrate the successful Guadalajara WTA Finals, spend a good 10 seconds on the ATP Finals, chat about WTA historiography and why they’re so good at, and cover a few odds and ends about Australia and Federer.

01:50 GoFundMe - it’s awkward to ask for money but here we go!

04:20 Peng Shuai situation -- Story blows up in US media; Chinese state media offers some seemingly orchestrated appearances. What’s next? What can we do from here?

16:35 Muguruza’s win caps off a fun and diverting WTA Finals in Guadalajara; much praise to her opponent, new #7 Anett Kontaveit

23:00 Ever notice that the legends of women’s tennis are always around to promote the sport? Here’s why (at least in our view)

32:50 ATP Finals: If a tree falls in a forest . . . anyway

38:50 Australian Open confirms vax stance and Novak demurs

42:15 Roger Federer updates his fans, and it’s tough to hear

A Sensible Flat

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 21:50:35 -0500

Episode 245 features a potpourri of tennis happenings. We begin with a discussion of the harrowing Peng Shuai news and the response from tennis' governing bodies. After getting caught up on ALL the tennis since our last episode, we end with a bit of levity -- thanks to our generous listener, Kaitlyn -- our first ever live taste test on The Body Serve!

Oh, and we've also got the soft launch for our second ever GoFundMe for the podcast. Thanks to all of you for supporting us as we finish up season seven!

01:05 Launching our 2021 fundraising drive: help us fund the podcast

07:45 Peng Shuai makes a brave allegation, disappears from public view. What can (and should) tennis orgs do?

17:25 Novak shakes off his US Open vanquisher and secures year #7 as the best

21:30 BJK Cup: the perpetually aggrieved is re-aggrieved

29:50 WTA Finals - lay off the fashions, eh?

36:15 Our dream final spoiled in Stockholm

39:35 NextGen Finals - innovation for innovation's sake does actually work sometimes

52:40 We asked: What's one player tic or habit that annoys you (irrationally)? Boy, did you deliver

61:35 Taste test / ASMR session -- trying a holiday specialty from New Brunswick!

Forgive Me Jannik For I Have Sinned

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 22:38:40 -0400

We are well and truly in the final stretch of the 2021 season, rounding third and heading for home. The field for the WTA Finals in Guadalajara is set after Anett Kontaveit blitzed through Moscow and Transylvania. We chat extensively about Frances Tiafoe's great run in Vienna, but must wade into unholy waters filled with Jannik Sinner salt. Later, we've got updates but not really on the vaccine saga for the Australian Open, before finishing with a few detours into our own personal interests.

0:55 Anett Kontaveit decides not to lose anymore, snags final qualifying spot for WTA Finals

07:30 Frances Tiafoe’s fantastic run to the Vienna final

10:00 Jannik says the show must NOT go on

24:20 Tiafoe has the x-factor and that's that on that

33:15 Andy keeps on truckin, Emma gets a few wins and more fans in Romania

37:10 It's all governmental infighting and leaked memos in Australia! And Benoit Paire says he doesn't care who misses out, it's Benoit Time

44:55 Where is Sofia Kenin?

51:15 Updates: Jared Donaldson; will Martina be on Real Housewives of Miami?!

56:35 Niche cricket and baseball content for the brave and curious

The Straight Talk Express

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 22:15:23 -0400

October’s Very Own Indian Wells has concluded and we’ve got a surprising men’s winner in Cam Norrie and a surprising-but-not-really-surprising women’s champ in Paula Badosa. We take a ride on Reilly and Novak’s Straight Talk Express, where truth (or some version of it) reigns. Some quick thoughts on the current role of the press, one holdover question from our mailbag, thoughts on TT’s annual Hall of Fame nominations news cycle, and finally, the brief return of our Dramatic Reading segment.

2:25 Indian Wells a kingmaker / queenmaker? Let’s look at the receipts

6:20 The men’s side finally gets a taste of WTA-style unpredictability

13:30 Vika tries for IW #3, but Badosa takes the next step in her rapidly blossoming career

27:00 More Aussie vaccine news and what it means for Novak. An “inappropriate inquiry?” Be that as it may ...

35:20 Reilly Opelka has opinions. Not sure if you heard

42:20 British journalists pen an open letter on ending the “Zoom era” of pressers -- so what should the player-press relationship look like post-pandemic?

51:40 Mailbag question about player scheduling and the decisions that go into it

57:55 Dramatic Reading: Serena Williams on her bestie-frenemy

61:45 Tennis Hall of Fame nominees: reliably making tennis fans mad year after year

Taking Steps

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 22:24:58 -0400

Indian Wells is underway, in autumn, after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus, but the big story this week is the ATP’s revelation that they’ve begun an investigation into the abuse allegations against Alexander Zverev. It’s a year or so too late, but it’s a big step nonetheless. That’s the theme of this episode -- steps, mostly in the right direction, as small and plodding as they might be. We also talk about some recent results, persistent vaccine hesitancy among tennis players, the WTA’s race to its new Finals site in Guadalajara, and the ATP’s survey of players on their attitudes toward LGBTQ issues.

1:30 Cute results: Muguruza wins Chicago; both she and Jabeur get closer to the WTA Finals

9:25 Kim Clijsters’ comeback continues

13:10 Ruud works on his hardcourt bona fides; Sinner wins title #4 in his young career

19:30 Previewing Indian Wells: where have all the top boys gone

26:50 The ATP announces that it has begun an investigation into the Olya Sharypova accusations -- why was Laver Cup not mentioned in the press release? Oh, and that injunction doesn’t mean what AZ thinks it means

37:00 Mary Carillo’s decision to quit her Laver Cup broadcasting gig -- why we need prominent people to take a stand

44:30 Aryna Sabalenka - positive for COVID, out of Indian Wells

47:10 Will the Australian Open be off-limits for the unvaccinated?

58:30 Remember that gay survey players mentioned at the US Open? Well, it happened!

TBS Mailbag: We Were JUST Talking About You

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 18:38:31 -0400

This week we outsourced the agenda-building to you, our listeners, and you provided a set of fascinating and tough questions. Come take a break from the weekly grind of current tennis events. We’ve got a modest proposal for how to choose new tennis TV commentators, plus we talk about areas of the game we might consider changing and why the age eligibility rule is important. By popular demand, we open with the momentous Williams-Sharapova reunion at the Met Gala and the photos that broke the tennis internet for a day or two.

01:35 Vee, Ree, and Masha at the Met Gala: WHAT?!

08:05 Laver Cup’s blocking spree as social media strategy

13:20 Is the game missing something without challenges? Did automated line calling sap some drama from matches?

20:30 Between Serena and Novak, whose legacy is most affected by missing out on the Grand Slam?

26:50 A question on the teen breakthroughs at the US Open and the WTA’s age eligibility rule

34:15 A memorable FMK - Met Gala Baes

44:10 You all had a lot of thoughts and questions about tennis commentators, as usual!

62:55 A perennial question: where are all the gays in men’s tennis? Do they just not exist?

69:10 A question that threatened the peace in our household: the Whitney-Mariah duet

75:00 Happy 24th anniversary to an album that sounds even better with age: Butterfly

Hatched and Snatched: US Open Wrap

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 23:17:40 -0400

Will history see this US Open as a watershed moment? On the women's side, is this just the most extreme example of a years-long trend of youngsters managing the moment and storming to victory? On the men's side, many felt Novak Djokovic was inevitably marching to a Calendar Year Grand Slam. But, whether it was due to fatigue from his long matches, the unfathomable weight of the moment, or Daniil Medvedev's mental and physical fortitude, the Grand Slam remains unfulfilled since 1988 (or 1969). Regardless of its place in history, this year's Open gave us storylines for the ages: the coronation of a longtime hardcourt menace and two young superstars to add to the WTA's already formidable roster.

02:15 Emma Raducanu & Leylah Fernandez stun the world

09:10 Raducanu’s win -- while unprecedented due to ranking and number of matches won -- is actually the rule rather than the exception on the WTA these past few years. Are the kids just built differently these days?

28:35 It turns out it’s really, really hard to win the Grand Slam

33:45 Daniil Medvedev has been the solid #2 hard court player for a few years, and today he came with a game plan and incredible poise

49:00 Doubles: Stosur wins 8th Slam title; Krawczyk won ¾ of a Grand Slam this year; Salisbury doubles in men’s and mixed

52:05 Other stories: Zverev story gets more mainstream media attention

58:00 Coaching during matches - it happens, so what should they do about it?

62:50 The Players Lounge: the Racquet magazine-produced roundtable on mental health

Oh Yeah, They‘re All Scammers

Mon, 06 Sep 2021 22:27:26 -0400

It was a first week for the US Open history books, full of entertaining matches and high-profile breakthroughs. Youngsters Fernandez, Raducanu, and Alcaraz notch huge wins, qualifier van de Zandschulp reaches the quarterfinals, and the undeniable stars Tiafoe & Auger-Aliassime face off in a blockbuster fourth round. BathroomGate threatened to overshadow the entire week, as fans and mainstream reporters became gamesmanship detectives and amateur clock-watchers. Oh yeah, and Djokovic is still on the hunt for the Grand Slam.

0:35 Week one -- well, day one even -- exceeded all expectations

9:20 #HatchingandSnatching update: Fernandez, Alcaraz, Raducanu

17:40 Women’s fourth rounds - plus a tangent on the Krejcikova-Muguruza controversy

26:40 Men’s fourth rounds: the Tiafoe-Auger-Aliassime match was a blast

32:35 Zverev finally has to answer to the Sharypova abuse allegations, he deflects to BathroomGate, and the broadcasters comply

39:30 Accusations of scammery follow Tsitsipas all week, and to be honest they have merit; or, “you can be mad about two things at the same time”

54:05 US Open Pride Day sees various players wear rainbow gear and otherwise show support

58:05 Sloane Stephens was one of the best stories of the first week

Withdrawal Symptoms: US Open Preview

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 22:45:06 -0400

The year's final Grand Slam is upon us, and for the first time since the 90s, we won't see a Williams sister, Nadal, or Federer at the US Open. In two weeks, we'll know if Djokovic has completed the historic Calendar Year Grand Slam against a group of young challengers (Novak and the Seven Trees?). We also discuss the recent publication of part two of the Olya Sharypova story and why the ATP and tennis broadcasters will have a harder time ignoring it this time around. Plus: Barty surging in time for NY, Stef's laughably bad vaccine stance, and some lucky loser drama in Winston-Salem.

1:15 Reflections on Cincinnati FOMO

7:00 Wrapping up the Canada results: Giorgi stuns the field and Medvedev beats Opelka

10:50 Cincinnati: Barty allows no doubt about who’s #1

21:30 Also happening last week: *that* Naomi presser, Yastremska gets called something mean, Lepchenko popped for a doping violation

33:00 Cincinnati men’s draw: the less said the better

38:20 The Tsitsipas Family’s wild and reckless vaccine takes

44:35 A lucky loser fracas at Winston-Salem

47:15 Draw analysis: starting with the women. So … how about that third quarter?

70:55 Men’s draw: is there anyone here who will beat Novak in best-of-five?

85:10 Part two of Ben Rothenberg’s story on the Zverev allegations -- why he said/she said is a dog whistle and why tennis might finally be forced to reckon with this

98:30 Another historic week in women’s sprinting! From your faithful tennis / Jamaican track correspondents

Bot On A Hot Tin Roof

Sun, 15 Aug 2021 11:17:09 -0400

Tennis’ second pandemic summer gets us a bit closer to “normal,” but the absence of many of the biggest stars leaves room for other players to create compelling narratives. Danielle Collins runs off 12 matches in a row, Reilly Opelka transcends servebotism and outfoxes Tsitsipas in Toronto, and Karolina Pliskova resuscitates a career that many (us?) were calling over the hill. We also talk about some egregious stunts (ciao, Fabio & Mo), the WTA Race to [somewhere?], and the post-Big 3 landscape.

0:35 Rafa and the glaring absence of the Old Guard this summer - what’s next? Does the Next Gen *have to* snatch the tour from the Big 3 or no?

9:10 Results in Cluj-Napoca & DC: Petkovic back in top 70, Sherif becomes first Egyptian woman in WTA final, Sinner & a few lesser known American men show out in DC

12:15 Danielle Collins wins a second title and more fans - why does Collins inspire such charged cultural conversations?

22:20 Montreal: Pliskova, Giorgi, Collins-Pegula, Jabeur

30:00 Reilly Opelka makes the case for himself

36:25 Pure stunts from the ATP’s king of stunts. Lasciami in pace, Fabio!

41:15 A brief retrospective on a Whitney & Mariah moment

45:15 Final thoughts on the blazingly fast women’s 200m and then we’ll leave you alone

Set Fire To Their Tears

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 21:38:32 -0400

Just to get it out of the way: we're not the biggest fans of Olympic tennis. Nevertheless, the Games brought up some interesting stories, old and new -- the fairy-tale endings that failed to happen for Novak and Naomi, the "mental health" conversation (or the seeing-athletes-as-human-beings conversation) that is changing sports discourse around the world, and the men's gold medal that wasn't. We've also got some thoughts on Naomi's Netflix docuseries, the extremely busy post-Wimbledon non-Olympics tennis calendar, and the blazingly fast women's 100m final.

2:15 Naomi lights the torch! There's a metaphor in there somewhere

7:10 Bencic is finally in "the talk," in her words

10:00 So, about the men's gold medalist and the allegations that are finally gaining traction outside of Tennis Twitter

17:45 Djokovic's Golden hopes end as a racquet is javelined into the stands

27:30 Final thoughts on Olympic tennis and 'prestige'

32:00 Simone Biles kicks off a conversation/uproar similar to Naomi -- the ground is shifting on how we talk about athletes, mental/physical health, and self-sacrifice

42:00 Post-Wimbledon events: Collins wins first title, Ruud vultures the entire summer clay season

47:05 Bertens & Bacsinszky bid farewell

50:00 Meet me at the altar in your Off White dress - GEMS Life is married!

54:10 Thoughts on Naomi's Netflix special

61:54 Our resident Jamaican track and field fan recaps the women's 100m race, which lived up to very high expectations

Hateration, Holleration In This Wimblery

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 22:25:58 -0400

The first Wimbledon since 2019 ends with Ash Barty and Novak Djokovic leaving London victorious, both clear #1s at very different stages of their careers. Pliskova should be mighty proud of her tournament, and Berrettini reaches a new height in a very promising career. So how long will Djokovic dominate? What will the next generation have to say about it? All that plus doubles, PTPA stuff, Olympics conjecture, and how the ATP can hold onto those eyeballs Berrettini brought in.

1:25 Introducing our newest line of merch, the Bandwidth Collection

3:00 Ash Barty wins Wimbledon 50 years after her mentor, Evonne Goolagong; cements no. 1 status whether you like it or not

11:50 A great semifinal lineup: former winner Kerber, perennial top 10-er (until recently) Pliskova, and Sabalenka's big breakthrough

16:20 Djokovic has 3/4 of the Calendar Year Slam, Berrettini acquits himself well in final

28:10 Berrettini and Hurkacz bring new eyes to the sport, but the youngsters still have work to do

34:05 Doubles: Mektic/Pavic are back from Covid; Krawcyzk gets the Channel Slam; Hsieh/Mertens save match points to win

38:15 Et ceteras: Roger, Felix, Raducanu, PTPA update

47:00 So who exactly is going to the Olympics?

55:05 We finally get the trailer for Naomi Osaka's Netflix documentary

Slippy Cup

Sun, 04 Jul 2021 11:37:20 -0400

It was a wet, wild, and slipp(er)y first week at Wimbledon, which felled a 7-time champion within minutes and saw some electrifying home country heroes show out for their local fans. The faves in the men's draw have sauntered into week two, while a few top clay performers have continued their good form on the women's side. Special shout-outs to Ons Jabeur's stannable barfing moment, the more-fun-than-is-reasonable Venus Williams-Nick Kyrgios mixed doubles pairing, and great stuff from Shapo, Gauff, Samsonova, and more.

1:20 Upsets of Petra, Kenin, Andreescu, Tsitsipas (hey Frances!) -- were they *surprises* or just upsets?

9:10 Surprises: who is quietly sliding into the second week? Garin, Ivashka, Hurkacz, Khachanov

13:40 The women's round of 16 matches and how we got there; Jabeur vs Swiatek is the one we're looking forward to

25:00 Men's round of 16: the three faves -- Djokovic, Fed, and Berrettini -- are still here

33:35 So about the grass ... Mannarino and Serena slip on Centre Court and pull out within an hour of each other. How many slips are too many?

42:55 Andy Murray's electrifying Centre Court matches - it's great theatre

47:15 The critique of Coco Gauff's court assignments

52:40 Favorite moment of week one: Venus-Nick mixed doubles, it was great while it lasted

58:55 Ostapenko's very eventful second and third rounds

66:35 Et ceteras: good on Fowler & Gilbert for talking honestly about Zverev & Basilashvili; Alexandra, what are you doing?

74:45 Thanks to everyone who bought Body Serve merch!

It's A Bop, It's A Jam, It's A Banger

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 22:43:12 -0400

Before we get to the Wimbledon preview, we're proud to debut our first line of Body Serve merch: t-shirts, magnets, stickers, mugs, hoodies and more, all adorned with Tom Humberstone's exclusive Body Serve artwork. Back to tennis -- Wimbledon is upon us, as we move back to the traditional two-week gap between Roland Garros and the grass major. We'll walk you through the draws and the grass results, highlighting top recent performances from Jabeur, Berrettini, and Kerber, plus Sonego's musical and athletic prowess. And to wrap, a few queer et ceteras for #PrideMonth.

0:35 Introducing The Body Serve's online store!

5:30 Grass results from this week: resurgent Ostapenko, Kerber, Giorgi, and Querrey; plus Dasha, Petra, and Daniil

18:20 Halle, Birmingham, Queen's, Berlin -- Jabeur wins first title, is the first Arab woman to do a lot of things in tennis

26:55 Men's draw: it's Novak and then a big drop-off -- who else is a contender?

41:00 Women's draw - a lot more early-round intrigue, lots of question marks in the first quarter

46:50 Women's third quarter presents a huge opportunity for somebody

51:20 Yastremska's sexcuse worked! The suspension is over

54:30 PTPA has resurfaced with an executive director, new branding, and an advisory board

65:20 #Pride et ceteras: Carl Nassib; Love, Victor; women's 100m; and a story!

Are Your Clay Sensations Nourished?

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 21:29:09 -0400

Are your clay sensations nourished? Ours certainly are NOT, but we hope to summon the requisite energies to bring you this French Open recap. Barbora Krejčíková and Novak Djokovic are your 2021 Roland Garros singles champions, both surprise winners in their own rights, but also two champions that make varying degrees of sense. Krejčíková became the fourth active WTA player to win Slams in all three disciplines (Venus, Serena, and Stosur), while Djokovic captured his 19th Slam title, a stone’s throw from Nadal and Federer’s record of 20.

01:20 Krejčíková beats Pavlyuchenkova for her first Slam singles title

05:45 Questionable (line) decisions, sportsmanship, and giving the benefit of the doubt

15:00 How did we get to this women’s final?

21:15 Rafole, hyperbole, and the context of that semifinal

33:35 Novak’s gonna Novak, and that Novak is on a higher plain

42:30 The grass season started *during* Roland Garros this year

44:30 Is coaching allowed during matches? If you’re a commentator who is also related to the player, yes

49:15 Taylor Townsend writes an illuminating piece for The Players’ Tribune

Right In Front Of My Salad?

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 20:55:03 -0400

Has the 2021 French Open felt a bit . . . strange? Clouded? Cursed, even? (Yes) But aside from the weirdness floating above the tennis, we've actually got a fascinating lineup of quarterfinals in both the men's and women's draws. The men have more familiar faces, but the women's side sees the success of a bunch of great performers during this clay season, including several first-time Slam quarterfinalists and the defending champion. In the interest of efficiency, in this episode we wrap week one, talk about the prevalence of betting culture on Tennis Channel, the virtue of a good apology, and how The Good Place and Roland Garros intersected in a most humorous way.

03:15 Quarters are set on both draws: how did we get here?

06:10 Men's draw: a historic Slam for Italian men, Medvedev king of trolls, plus the usual suspects

13:55 Federer's withdrawal and Musetti's retirement -- honest to a fault

25:30 Women's draw: huge upsets; great stuff from Pavlyuchenkova, Gauff, Zidansek, Sakkari, and more

39:10 Et ceteras - betting is even more entrenched at Tennis Channel, Sizikova arrested for match fixing ... any irony there or nah

46:05 Rune proves that the cover-up -- err, non-apology -- is often worse than the crime. All this during Pride Month?!

54:20 Danielle Collins' great narrative arc and Jameela's valued tennis opinions

Does This Apply To Me?

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 21:31:07 -0400

Since our last episode, the conversation around Naomi Osaka's withdrawal from press conferences grew so loud that it led to an actual withdrawal: her decision to pull out of Roland Garros completely to preserve her mental well being. The past few days have presented so many important questions -- especially around mental health, mental strength and the "bootstraps" mentality, race, gender, and the role of the press in tennis -- that we felt it warranted another stand-alone episode. Let's leave the mess in WhatsApp and instead have a real conversation about what we can do better and why tennis' first reaction was punitive rather than empathetic.

0:30 Catching up on the events of the past few days: a media frenzy that culminated in Naomi's withdrawal from Roland Garros

12:05 Naomi's statement and the French Federation's response - how did we get here, and how can we do better?

17:30 "Press conferences are part of the job description" - well, since you mentioned tennis being a workplace ...

24:30 Should the Player's Councils and the PTPA be vocal about this?

28:45 Many reporters took Naomi's initial statement as a personal or professional attack -- where is the reflexivity?

38:40 The demand for a disclosure from Naomi - the act of "confession"

42:30 What has this situation taught us about how society and sport view mental health awareness?

50:30 The unavoidable question of race and gender, and how Black athletes are expected to entertain without complaint

Pressed: Roland Garros Preview

Fri, 28 May 2021 22:23:48 -0400

Naomi Osaka is a paradigm shifter, regardless of whether you agree with her decisions. We spend a good chunk of our Roland Garros preview thinking through Naomi's decision to skip press and how it affords the sport an opportunity to rethink how it conducts journalism and creates news. Why did it inflame such impassioned responses? What does the press conference accomplish? What are the alternatives? Amidst all this, we have the year's second Grand Slam to preview, which will happen among the most "normal" conditions we've seen since the pandemic began. Rafa, Ash, and Iga are faves, but they're not the only ones with a fighting chance.

0:45 Naomi Osaka's bombshell: she won't be doing press conferences at Roland Garros

8:30 "It's part of the job" - but why? Is this an opportunity to rethink how tennis does journalism?

20:25 What we don't want to see: personal axe-grinding against "the press" in general

35:10 Some ideas on how to rethink tennis journalism

39:50 Roland Garros men's draw preview!

55:25 Women's draw: two clear favorites and a lot of great performers right behind them

64:15 Women's bottom half -- especially the fourth quarter -- is ripe for a dark horse breakthrough

And What!!!

Tue, 18 May 2021 22:04:07 -0400

Nadal logged another decima, at Rome this time, which turned out to be one of the most exciting Masters tournaments in recent memory. While Nadal-Djokovic went the distance, Iga Swiatek dropped not even a game against Karolina Pliskova, The Unbothered. We chat about questions surrounding Sabalenka's views; Roger Federer's comments on the Zverev case and why it's emblematic of a much larger problem, or the system working as intended; and the latest intrigue from the ongoing Yastremska doping circus.

0:00 I can't control God. Talk to him.

2:10 Swiatek blanks 2019 winner Pliskova; Karolina gives a master class on being unbothered

9:35 Rain and retirements; plus Coco, Martic, Simona, and Ash

20:40 "Il Next Gen siamo noi" - Nadal/Djokovic #57

32:30 Sonego; Reilly's Venus Effect; these dangerous Rome courts -- this is what labour unions are for

41:40 Williamses in Parma, Federer in Geneva, and packed draws everywhere

48:45 Addressing the murmurs about Sabalenka's political allegiances

55:20 The Yastremska story gets even weirder .. and "riskier"

60:40 About those Federer comments on Z*erev ... we can and should expect more

73:05 Shapo drops 3 new songs!

76:30 Things we like/dislike - why is Jonathan coming for me?

The Unattractive Inside Open

Tue, 11 May 2021 21:07:22 -0400

We're haters, fine, but Madrid is just not the tournament for us. We get an unappealing winner on the men's side but a first-time clay titlist in Aryna Sabalenka, peaking just in time for Roland Garros. Elsewhere, the ATP loosens -- nay, practically obliterates -- its bubble restrictions ahead of RG. In major coaching news, Sofia Kenin parts ways with her dad. And finally, James takes another quiz. Does he redeem his putrid performance from last week? You be the judge.

1:55 Madrid. It happens every year but we don't have to like it

4:40 The repeated failure of the ATP to say or do anything of substance on domestic violence (great at deleting Instagram comments though)

15:45 Aryna Sabalenka wins first clay title in Stuttgart rematch

21:55 And now we are in Rome: Djokovic and Serena return

32:50 The ATP bursts its bubble, vaccine or not!

38:25 American men's tennis declares its independence from the top 30; Pavs gives a revealing interview; short shorts are the moment

49:25 Kenin & Garcia split from their coach-dads

53:55 James takes another quiz!

Nicely Plump

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 23:10:05 -0400

Struggling to keep up with all the tennis? So are we. Join us on this struggle bus episode where we go over the results since our last episode, leading up to Ash Barty and Rafa Nadal's wins this past week. If you haven't seen the Kasatkina interview/doc with sports.ru, it's truly a must-see tennis event. After we flog Fabio and Benoit, James takes a quiz where we end up flogging the U.S. men too. Hurrah.

2:30 Nadal wins 12th Barcelona crown, but it was far from guaranteed

5:30 Is Tsitsipas the ‘second favorite’ after Nadal? Don’t count out Djokovic

11:25 The Djokovic -- er, Serbia Open

19:55 Ash Barty makes it hard on her detractors

24:50 Monte Carlo: Rublev slays the giant and Tsitsipas breaks through

33:10 Madrid women’s draw

36:40 Kasatkina interview: Russian TV does not play!

42:10 Fabio, the boy who cried lupo; and French Federation to Benoit: we do not require your services, thank you

46:15 Other odds and ends: Yastremska update, Rena+Zina

50:50 James takes a rankings quiz! (This is much more fun than it sounds)

It Stays Between Us, But ...

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 23:54:26 -0400

This episode is really two separate shows put together, but we trust there is something in it for everyone. In the first part, we recap the results of last week, again imploring more kindness towards tennis players who are going through it, while in the next breath calling for the heads of those who act a fool. We also touch on the news coming out of Monte Carlo and again question the Covid protocols under which tennis is currently being played, and what can be done about it. The second part of the episode deals with the continued push to litigate the participation of trans women and girls in sport and the undoubted harm it will cause to trans youth if enacted. We dive deep into the legal argument, how this relates to professional sports, and why we hope this particularly awful moment for trans kids forces a reckoning for our community.

4:35 Kudermetova wins her first career title in Charleston

7:00 Sloane lets us know the full 100 of what's been going on

13:10 Cagliari, Marbella, and Bógota

16:20 Medvedev tests positive for Covid in Monte Carlo and the fallout

22:05 Is a vaccine passport feasible for tennis right now?

28:15 Cornet's hilarity ahead of French Open news

31:30 The influx of anti-trans legislation and how it relates to tennis

41:15 Let’s talk about the Civil Rights Act Title VII & IX to be specific), Bostock v. Clayton County, and how the Women’s Sport Working Group seeks to influence legislation

54:30 The hypothetical ‘menace’ of trans women participating in sports

The Messiest Person You Know Is A Man

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 21:23:22 -0400

On court, tennis welcomed its first Polish Masters 1000 champ, Hubi Hurkacz; and the reigning #1 Ash Barty knocked down a slew of hardcourt contenders to defend her Miami crown. Off court (or on court if you're Pospisil), the contentious debate on player representation and tennis governance reared its head. What does the PTPA want? How is tennis' current governance structure an impediment to real change? Plus, we were treated to something we've all been waiting for, tennis players' misinformed opinions on vaccines!

1:20 Miami Nice: Barty defends Miami title. Now why is everyone still so pressed about the #1 ranking?

14:05 Andreescu is back and all eyes are on her

20:00 Hurkacz def. Sinner, becomes first Pole to win a Masters 1000

26:05 Vasek Pospisil melts down completely on court, threatens to sue ... so what the hell happened at this infamous ATP meeting?

30:30 Players demand a #playersvoice but they have one ... what are they going to do with it; the impasse caused by tennis' governing structure

43:55 Not another vaccine debate ...

53:20 The stopped clock principle and why sometimes you can cooperate with people you don't like

55:45 Odds and ends: most importantly, GEMS Life is back and they're getting MARRIED

A Journey Which I Didn't Enjoy Ultimately

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 21:38:00 -0400

Mari Osaka gives us our title this week, with her wonderfully straightforward retirement post that reminds us that we're allowed to stop doing things we don't enjoy. We're covering the tennis results strewn across four continents: Muguruza capitalizing on her huge momentum in 2021, Medvedev rising to #2, Fed's return, and some great runs by players considered to be doubles specialists. The odds and ends segment lets James go on about some of his favorite topics: tennis governance, the ATP's arcane and mysteriously enforced rules, collaboration between tennis orgs, and disqualifications. We finish up with a things we like/dislike segment with no dislikes! (Some love for Below Deck, Borgen, and Grammy performances)

0:30 An exercise in making a clean break

3:00 Persona non grata wins Doha, plus a refresher on how the ATP has refused to handle domestic violence; but in better news, Fed is back!

9:40 Bubble Life is just not for everybody

16:20 Garbi's imminent breakthrough is no longer imminent as she wins the Dubai 1000

25:30 The traveling Ryan Murphy acting troupe of women's tennis

27:20 Daniil wins Marseille; Tsonga is back; Stefanos somehow makes the Petros wild card debate even worse

31:25 Guadalajara (Sorribes Tormo!) and the Santiago Dove Men+Care Ivory Palmolive Dawn Dish Soap Open (dale, Cris!)

36:35 T7 Working Group - you know we love tennis governance news

40:55 Damir Dzumhur defaulted in Acapulco and it wasn't pretty

45:25 Odds and ends: AZ kvetches about rankings, Kim delays return again, the Murray family & Tay Townsend have babies!

52:40 Things we like! (No dislikes this week)

Can't Stop Won't Stop Don't Spit

Sun, 07 Mar 2021 20:29:21 -0500

Covid be damned, tennis has been around the world in February and March. We saw youngsters Clara Tauson and Juan Manuel Cerúndolo make unlikely title runs, Petra win her 28th, and Andrey Rublev snatch every ATP500 in sight. Come for the tennis, stay for our thoughts on rankings math, wild cards, the Kodak kit, and spitting during a pandemic.

1:45 Petra wins 28th(!) title, beating Garbiñe at Doha

7:55 Rotterdam: Ruby d. Fucsovics to win 4th consecutive 500 title; Kei (Sir Penguin) on the come-up; Meddy oh so close to #2 ranking

14:00 Andy Murray on retirement chatter: “Why would I stop?”

16:00 18-year-old Dane Clara Tauson announces herself at Lyon

21:20 Los hermanos Cerúndolo; Benoit Paire leaves his droplets and tanks

30:55 Odds and ends - starting with Djokovic’s rankings record

33:40 James tries to explain the AP Calculus-level rankings changes (ok, not really that complicated); what effects do these rankings adjustments have on players?

42:05 Wading into the wild card debate again

47:00 Kokkinakis opens up on mental health; Bernardes & Federer are back, Willis is out; Sorana Cirstea says remember the Alamo and forget your mask

The Time Is Nao

Sun, 21 Feb 2021 21:54:08 -0500

The 2021 Australian Open is in the books! After months of speculation over whether the tournament would even happen, Naomi Osaka and Novak Djokovic are the last two players standing, holding old friends Daphne and Norman. We take you through the latter rounds of both singles draws before tackling a couple of the bigger issues for us this tournament: gambling taking over the tennis coverage and Hawkeye Live being force fed to us. If you’re still with us by this point, we run through a few odds and ends, from G.E.M.S. Life’s break to some of our fashion hits and misses!

2:00 Women’s final: Naomi d. Jenny(fer) Brady for Slam #4

15:00 Women’s quarters and semis: it’s a lot of commentator emotion for a perfectly legitimate medical timeout; Naomi d. Serena

27:30 Men’s final: Djokovic wins #18, beating Medvedev in a not-great final (well, great for Novak)

30:55 Men’s quarters and semis: Grigor, why??? Plus Tsitsipas gets another breakthrough, qualifier Karatsev makes the semis

36:00 The injury, the bizarre trophy presentation, the endless drama

42:45 Doubles! Mertens/Sabalenka win & take the #1 ranking; Krejcikova and Ram each make 2 finals

45:35 I got issues: Gambling and tennis media; Hawkeye Live - why are commentators 100% in the bag for it?

59:00 Odds and ends - Sofia’s appendectomy won’t get in her way

65:25 Alexis, T*riac, locals, and the S*ndgren show

74:45 Fashions: Nike finally does it! Beautiful gowns!

I Love This S#@! I Love It

Sat, 13 Feb 2021 20:32:31 -0500

It's the midpoint of the 2021 Australian Open, and we're cooking with gas now. The early rounds were rough on the hard quarantiners, with Azarenka, Andreescu, Kerber, Stephens, and Sakkari all going out. Defending champ Sonia Kenin followed. But we've gotten some electrifying tennis along the way. We'll take you through the Thiem-Kyrgios classic and the nonstop Kyrgios discourse, Félix winning the battle of Canadians, Novak and Rafa's injury issues, and the boatload of riveting matchups on the women's side. No predictions here, just appreciation.

3:50 Women's top half - what the hell happened to Karolina Pliskova?

13:40 Kaia Kanepi wreaks her usual havoc, taking out defending champion Sofia Kenin

21:25 The hard quarantiners have a tough go if it

22:45 If you see Hsieh Su-Wei on the other side of the court, be afraid

31:30 The rest of the women's bottom half is on another level - fit and fighting Serena & Sabalenka, Mugu-Osaka match-up, Swiatek-Halep rematch

41:55 Djokovic d. Fritz - Taylor's carriage turns into a pumpkin, Novak's health a question

51:15 Dominic and Nick give us a classic - and the Kyrgios commentariat is back

60:40 Felix's fleet feet; welcome back, Thanasi

69:20 One bossy fan tries to give Rafa the hook

Ogre-Alla-Ass-sim-Oh Forget It: AO Preview

Sat, 06 Feb 2021 01:46:35 -0500

Alright, y’all ready? After so much drama leading into the 2021 Australian Open -- from questions surrounding whether it should happen in the first place to the complaints from players about the conditions under which it was happening -- we’ve finally made it to St. Melbourne’s gate, ready for play to begin on Monday. This past week saw SIX tournaments strewn across Melbourne Park as players sought to get as much preparation as possible after breaking out of quarantine. We cover what’s happened in those events as of this recording, the reactions to play being halted on Friday as the players went back into quarantine for a day, and then finish with a look at how the draws unfolded. Wow, we didn’t even get to just how much of a MESS the draw ceremony was. Whew. Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines.

02:01 Recapping this weird week in warm-up tourneys

09:17 Assessing Venus’ game and what it’s like to be a Vee-liever

17:09 Is there a player you hate when they’re playing your fav?

19:13 Rena getting in formation?

23:35 We almost got a lockdown part 2; why you mad about a super tiebreak?

32:44 Encroaching upon a stadium near you: ATP Cup

36:28 Dayanavision part 37

41:41 A bit delayed but we offer our breakout picks for 2021!

46:10 Sifting through the ATP draws

58:50 The women’s draw is locked and LOADED

Proceed With Caution

Sat, 30 Jan 2021 21:21:14 -0500

The 14-day quarantine has lifted . . . tennis players in Melbourne and Adelaide are leaving their rooms and playing in maskless stadiums, thanks to months of sacrifice by Australians and much politicking by Tennis Australia. Throughout the 2-week quarantine, the tone and level of complaining softened (for the most part), but it was not without intrigue. We chat about Novak Djokovic's list of requests to TA on behalf of quarantined players and why the universal roasting he received was, well -- maybe a little much? We're also talking about Nadal's comments on quarantine; the Adelaide exhibition; (grudgingly) the Margaret Court carousel; and what's next.

1:20 Checking back in on the quarantiners: fact-checker Artem Sitak; plus Badosa, Tomic & Vanessa, RBA

13:45 So . . . about Adelaide

18:10 Craig Tiley says the quiet part out loud & Rafa offers an imperfect but impassioned forest-for-the-trees perspective

24:00 Peter Bodo blasts Tiley for his "imperial ambitions" and the clear inequalities between the top players and the Melbourne quarantiners

29:05 Looking at Novak Djokovic's requests (suggestions? asks?) on behalf of the Melbourne players

36:35 Margaret Court's honor from the Australian government is met with vocal criticism -- is the tide turning?

40:45 Yastremska's appeal to ITF is denied - but the Court of Arbitration for Sport will hear her doping appeal right away!

44:00 Team8 and Zverev part ways; AZ gets softball interview with BILD; AZ's crisis PR manager (and former employee of BILD) acts out on Twitter again

47:05 Et ceteras: Twitter MVP Chanda Rubin clears a troll

52:35 Adelaide exhibition: Novak disappears and reappears, the Serena-Naomi kiki, and Thiem & Nadal hitting but not giggling

54:40 Actual tennis is starting, like now!

Is It Worth It?

Sat, 16 Jan 2021 22:40:18 -0500

It remains to be seen if Tennis Australia's logistical balancing act to host the Australian Open will be worth it, but here we are. Amidst the tightest safety protocols yet, a nation grudgingly welcomes hundreds of tennis personnel into its borders, who promptly kvetch about the (free) food, the (free) accommodations, and the quarantine rules. Not all has changed, though: top players get special treatment and American men continue to embarrass us at home and across the globe. Buckle up: pandemic tennis enters year two, with (some) lessons learned.

4:00 Tennis Australia launches vast logistical plan in action - Tennys Sandgren tries to undermine it in about five minutes

11:15 Players begin to arrive in Melbourne on chartered flights, two flights must isolate for 14 days, complaints ensue

25:35 Here is a picture of my terrible food, in my free hotel, during my free trip, during a pandemic, in which I will earn a minimum of $100,000 even if I lose

29:05 The actual legitimate complaint: the potential inequity between the elite players in Adelaide and the rest in Melbourne

34:50 Notable qualifiers

42:35 Tennis results already: Sabalenka is on 15-match win streak; Hurkacz wins Delray Beach but is overshadowed by anti-mask grandstanding

53:30 Dayana Yastremska provisionally banned for an anabolic steroid. Ma'am, give us a week off from the drama?

61:20 Sam Querrey has resurfaced!

67:15 Another person who craves attention - Ion Tiriac (and tennis' continued failure to stand up to misogyny and racism)

Finding Stefanie

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 12:14:45 -0500

To open our 7th season, we dive into the career of Stefanie Maria Graf, one of the game's most decorated champions and still, somehow, one of its most elusive. Graf's staggering achievements -- beyond the iconic Golden Slam -- are in some ways poorly understood and lost to recent history, likely because she has so determinedly removed herself from the tennis world. Instead of seeing her just as Monica's rival or the goalpost to pass for Grand Slam glory, we look to understand Graf's career as it was, in its own time. What didn't we get about Steffi Graf? What about her game made her the best? Who were her important rivals outside of Monica? What was the state of women's tennis when she arrived, and how did she leave it? What's clear: Steffi was a whole lot more than just "German precision."

0:25 Intro and taking aim at the myths and misunderstandings

10:30 So, about those career stats . . .

13:00 Graf as child prodigy - staggering early seasons in 1985-87

18:15 What was the WTA like when Steffi arrived? The Chrissie-Martina duopoly, burnt out child stars, the next Czech generation

23:20 Gaby and Steffi: "glamour" vs "automation"

29:35 Steffi's peerless game: how was her dominance perceived in its day? (1988-89)

36:50 Becker, Graf, German identity, and the question of patriotism: let's talk about history for a minute

48:00 Peter Graf, a dominating and difficult father, but at times a "shield"

53:05 Monica Seles asks the question again and again, and Monica's removal from the game asks even more

65:00 The rest of the 1990s: more Slams, myriad injuries, and the humiliation of a private life becoming tabloid fodder

73:05 What is Steffi's legacy as a player, and as a member of the once highly political WTA?

79:55 Rivalries: Gaby is the dark horse

82:52 Steffi's iconic matches -- too many to mention, but here are a few

The Ending of That Was Iffy: 2020 ATP Wrap

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 03:27:20 -0500

Episode 215 is our season 6 finale and the ATP companion piece to our WTA Wrap. In this episode, we spend some time discussing the on-court highlights, like Djokovic's stellar start, Nadal's 20th Slam, and Thiem's US Open crowning. But, the pandemic threw tennis for a loop; while women players went mostly quiet, several men engaged in bizarre and selfish behavior, peddling conspiracy theories, spreading pseudoscience, and flouting safety protocols and plain common sense. This year, the off-court noise demands as complete a retelling as the tennis itself. All that and James takes a quiz on the ATP season! Thanks for joining us for a sixth season of The Body Serve, and take care of yourselves.

01:30 James takes a quiz on the ATP 2020 season

12:19 The ATP Cup? Remember that? James is still not a fan

18:27 Revisiting the Djokovic default at the USO

24:47 That USO final and comparing it to Novotna’s ‘98 Wimbledon

27:41 Nadal achieves yet more history at Roland Garros

32:00 What else stood out to us inside the lines this year?

35:35 The Zverev family has A LOT of curious things to say

43:32 Djokovic kicks off the 2020 covidiocy

47:32 Thiem dodges Covid-19 while traipsing all over the globe

56:35 We’ve got to stop treating grown men as stuffed animals

65:08 An update on Bernard Tomic’s fingers

67:15 Keeping ourselves honest: revisiting our breakout picks for 2020

70:19 A reflection on what we did this year and crowdfunding the show

Smile Because It's Over: 2020 WTA Wrap

Sun, 06 Dec 2020 12:35:48 -0500

It's now a cliché to say that the events of 2020 are unprecedented, and that we feel unstuck from time itself, but early 2020 does seem of a different era. After a packed January and February, which saw a new Slam winner and two high-profile retirements, the COVID-19 pandemic threw our lives (and the tennis season) into disarray. How tennis responded tells us a lot about the sport: at times remarkably agile and resilient, and at other times inequitable, clunky, and slow. Some players shone on the court, others took the year off, and at the end of the year, there's merit in simply getting through.

4:30 January: Tennis' reaction to the Australian wildfires offers a glimpse at the sport's inequities and its inconsistent reactions to a crisis -- who suffers?

11:30 Also in January: Pliskova wins Brisbane, Asia Muhammad kicks off one of the few feel-good stories of 2020, Sofia Kenin stuns the Australian field

18:55 A scattered February, as usual: Kim's comeback, Rybakina's great start, Sharapova retirement

27:15 March changes everything - Indian Wells the first domino to fall

31:30 What was the WTA up to during the pandemic break?

42:40 Women's tennis returns in August: Brady and Azarenka break out

46:50 US Open goes forward in a sort-of-bubble: Osaka's win seemed fated

51:20 Roland Garros follows 3 weeks later and gets a shocking winner

57:25 October & November . . . not much happening

60:40 WTA unveils a huge rebrand, reclassifies tournaments and debuts new logo

69:10 Keeping ourselves honest: how were our predictions for 2020?

sTaY sTrOnG, guys

Fri, 27 Nov 2020 02:01:42 -0500

Since we last came to you, Daniil Medvedev continued his impressive end-of-season run to capture the ATP Finals in London. We take you through the paces of the final hosting of that event at the O2 Arena. After recapping the actual tennis on court, we pick up where we left off last episode with Alexander Zverev and the domestic assault allegations made against him. This time we’ve got an actual response (or lack thereof) from the ATP, a further statement from Zverev himself, and another misstep from Novak Djokovic. Have you been wondering what Bernard Tomic has been up to? Well, we’ve got answers!

01:29 Medvedev bookends Davydenko’s opening win at the O2 Arena

07:03 Dominic Thiem falls short in London, but he is all the way THERE

14:31 James’ optimism that this would have been Rafa’s year

19:05 Sabalenka, like Medvedev, doubles up to end the WTA season

21:31 The latest, ever changing developments with the 2021 Australian Open

29:44 Vasek Pospisil and Novak Djokovic resurface with the PTPA

40:00 Wading back into the Zverev waters

54:54 sTaY sTrOnG, guys

58:29 Gimelstob resurfaces with a little help from his friends

64:19 Bernard Tomic is up to what? A SCAM!

The Sound of the ATP's Silence

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 22:53:15 -0500

We're delving into the serious allegations of domestic abuse against Alexander Zverev. Many in tennis -- including Sascha himself -- are invested in painting this as Zverev "overcoming adversity" on his way to growing up, diminishing and erasing Olya Sharypova's story. The ATP has failed to send a clear message; indeed, they have not sent any message at all. We ask: why is tennis so inept at handling situations like this? Why hasn't the ATP followed the NFL and developed a robust domestic violence policy? What happens when we as a community treat intimate partner violence as a private matter?

01:12 Where this story begins

09:32 Why do we believe women?

16:08 Zverev's glib, narcissistic response to the allegations

21:59 The appalling social media fails from big tennis orgs

29:10 The ATP's deliberate failure to meet the moment

42:40 For example: where is your internal investigation?!

46:06 Zverev's management, Team 8, asleep at the wheel

Yes or Mess: A Pop Culture Experience

Sat, 07 Nov 2020 16:50:41 -0500

Grab a cocktail and dive into the pop culture garbage our tattered brains have been thinking about these past few weeks. 2020 has demanded we seek out diversions when possible, and we've got you on that front: 90 Day Fiance, Mariah's memoir and her lost tracks album The Rarities, TV we've been loving, and the week-long election coverage that birthed a million crushes on the #chartthrob Steve Kornacki. Every topic is either a yes or mess - some are both!

1:30 The US election! Are you tired yet?

14:55 Thirsting for the cable news map guys -- we've got a big batch for ya

19:10 Nene Leakes' new venture

25:25 The Hocus Pocus reunion - this movie is perfectly crafted for millennial gays

28:55 2020 has been Mariah Season all year -- highlights of the memoir

42:00 The Rarities, an album of Mariah's b-sides and unreleased tracks

51:50 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way -- still exploitative but, like, exploitative lite

59:00 TikTok: minstrelsy, WAPs, and a welcome Fleetwood revival

1:09:40 There is a lot of injustice in the world, but nothing worse than Chris Pratt being selected as the least of the four Chrises

1:14:30 TV report: watch The Queen's Gambit, Grand Army, and the Dolly Parton Netflix doc!

Das ist mein Haus

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 21:15:12 -0400

Alexander Zverev will be building his latest house in Cologne, Germany after nabbing back-to-back titles at the same event. The German's twin triumphs headline this abridged episode recapping the tennis events of the last two weeks. Aryna Sabalenka joined the fun with double titles of her own in Ostrava. After rolling through the results, we say "YES" or "MESS" to other tennis happenings off the court.

5:10 Zverev wins Cologne eins und zwei - why are there two? (we'll tell you)

16:30 Sabalenka tears through the Ostrava singles and doubles draws

19:50 Humbert wins Antwerp, Khachanov gives Lumberjack 2.0

24:40 Ruby joins the top 10 - the Harry Styles of tennis (or at least the Niall Horan)

28:55 What's the deal with the Race to London? Do the rankings make sense?

34:20 From Russia With Haste: Sam Querrey flees the Four Seasons under cover of night

38:55 Other yeses and messes: Basilashvili's domestic abuse case becomes a cultural touchstone in Georgia; auf wiedersehen, Julia; auf wiedersehen, Boris (for a different reason)

I Want Your Sets

Sun, 11 Oct 2020 21:43:03 -0400

The 2020 Fall French Open is in the history books! Iga Swiatek and Rafael Nadal swept through their respective fields on their ways to historic title runs in Paris. For Nadal, it was his 13th time lifting the Coupe des Mousquetaires, while Swiatek blitzed her way to a first Slam title, both efforts coming without the loss of a set. We go through most of the matches from week two that led to the weekend’s coronations, push back against the idea that the younger men are just “happy to be there,” and try to get to the bottom of why so many folks do not like Sofia Kenin. We finish the 2020 Grand Slam season with a dramatic reading of a captivating Danielle Collins moment.

4:00 Rafa wins his 13th at Roland Garros without losing a set

19:15 Fedal and the record books

26:00 Next Gen isn't breaking through quite yet, but not for lack of trying

37:25 Fly Like an Iga: the 19-year-old Swiatek stuns the women's draw

46:10 Flourishing without the benefit of wild cards

52:20 Why is Sonya Kenin so polarizing?

68:05 Mladenovic/Babos overcome coronadversity to win doubles; Jelena Djokovic and Neil Harman, partners in grievance; will FoxTenn Real Bounce be the solution?

81:50 Dramatic Reading: in which no grace was given

Kick Rocks, Eat Dirt

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 22:50:00 -0400

Welcome to our mid-Roland Garros 2020 dispatch. Those sounds you may have heard over the last few days were those of players often being loud and wrong. We’ve got a fairly predictable final eight on the men’s side, while the women’s draw has turned out some truly shocking yet inspiring results. We dive into the latest Zverev mess, Novak’s quip, Hawkeye misinformation, Sara’s cursing, retiring players before they’re ready, and finish with a rant on calling Naomi’s man her “rapper boyfriend.” Who’s deserving of being told to kick rocks and eat dirt?

5:00 A lot of surprises in the men's draw, but the quarterfinals are still pretty standard

10:30 Sooo many first-time third rounders on the men's side

14:40 Zverev has a fever. Oh?

27:50 Women's draw: Swiatek destroys the clear tournament favorite, among many surprises

32:30 Errani loses the match and her mind as Bertens cramps

44:00 Damn, it's tough to be an umpire these days: the HawkEye saga

56:20 Keep your saliva in your mouth; keep your dad in his seat

59:40 Et ceteras: don't retire players before they're ready

65:20 Why are we still telling players how to schedule and whom to date, during a pandemic?

Drip It Like It's Hot

Sat, 26 Sep 2020 11:17:42 -0400

Roland Garros 2020 is upon us, en automne, barely two weeks after the US Open and perhaps against better judgment. But what happen-ed happen-ed and here we are in Paris. The cool, damp conditions will likely produce grinding and unpredictable tennis, which has made predictions futile. The best predictor is how players have fared so far during the restarted season. In addition to the draw preview, we've got a few Covid updates, several messes to check in on, and a Dramatic Reading full of Canadian Content.

0:30 Against all odds, Roland Garros is happening

4:50 Men's draw preview: who will benefit from these tough conditions? Rafa gets Thiem, Djoko gets Tsitsipas/Meddy/Berrettini

19:00 We both failed probability but no, Virginia, the draw's not rigged

28:20 Women's draw preview: for the first time in a while, there's a clear favorite (but her road's not easy)

37:20 Women's bottom half - what to expect of Pliskova's health? Will someone other than Simona win her third Slam here?

42:15 Covid updates: spectator limit reduced to 1000 per day; Paire is in, but Verdasco is out

47:10 Buckle up for lots of commentator talk about weather and new balls

52:50 An enduring, recurring mess by Boris Becker

55:35 Dramatic Reading, a tribute to the trap king of Vaughan, Ontario, Canada

Bubble Wrap: Women Save The Day

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 01:21:00 -0400

It wasn’t that long ago that we didn’t think we would -- or should -- have any tennis for the rest of 2020. Now, here we are recapping the final week of a fanless U.S. Open. Naomi Osaka and Dominic Thiem are your champions, a third Slam triumph for Naomi and a first at last for someone not named Federer, Djokovic, or Nadal. We cover the matches of week two leading up to the finals, as well as so much of the commentary and discourse surrounding the tournament. Sadly, and maddeningly, the commentariat simply did not meet the moment. All this and more on our Bubble Wrap!

02:02 Mariah saves the day: Jonathan has a word for the haters

10:20 The road to the women's final

20:38 Naomi Osaka wins her 3rd Slam title, against a reborn Vika

30:27 Naomi starts a conversation, the commentators have no clue how to talk about it

46:08 The sloppy path to the men's final?

52:07 The "low quality" of the men's matches doesn't exist in a vacuum

59:54 What to make of the men's final

65:18 Moments that made us cringe

78:14 Moments of levity: things we enjoyed from the fortnight

81:59 Dramatic Reading: Serena (out of nowhere) shades tf out of ______.

Double Bubble, Toil, and Trouble

Sun, 06 Sep 2020 23:25:42 -0400

We knew it would be an unusual first week of the US Open. It started with Benoit Paire's positive test, and continued with the double bubble regulations and warring health departments. We got non-stop drama surrounding Kiki Mladenovic's singles loss and last-minute ejection from the doubles draw. But no one was prepared for the default of the undefeated #1 seed Novak Djokovic after hitting a line judge with a ball. Nostalgic for five-set collapses and parent-coach-player psychodramas? Oh, we still have those too.

0:30 Djokovic defaulted in the 4th round

9:15 Highlights of the men's first week: Felix grows up, Tsitsipas melts down

18:00 Three Canadian men in the second week of a Slam, a first!

26:00 Women's side: Rogers and Brady stun, Pironkova parachutes in to torture your faves, and Vika gets that Vika mojo back

41:20 Some thoughts on Sloane-Serena

49:45 Benoit and the original 10 - a double bubble and a not-quite-double bubble

53:40 Kiki does not love the US Open

59:10 Inconsistency, jurisdiction issues, and a lack of transparency

70:10 Thoughts on Djokovic's statement

Be Careful Who You Association With

Sun, 30 Aug 2020 02:00:34 -0400

This week saw many major stories come and go until one stuck: the breaking away of Novak Djokovic and others from the ATP Player Council to start a separate player association (not a union btw). Before that, we saw Naomi Osaka's solitary act of resistance stop the tennis world in its tracks; a strange and troubling end to Sakkari-Serena; the rebirth of Victoria Azarenka; and the rebranding of Milos Raonic as widely beloved. Oh yeah, and the US Open preview.

2:30 American sports react to the shooting of Jacob Blake

9:15 Naomi Osaka announces that she won't play her Cincinnati semifinal to draw attention to BLM

16:30 "Shut up and dribble" doesn't work in tennis, especially women's tennis

20:50 Meanwhile, the Western & Southern Open is happening under strange circumstances - Vika's resurgence

24:45 Milos Raonic: new hair, new thighs, new me

28:20 The bizarre end to Serena Williams-Maria Sakkari

33:50 The girl who cried wolf

39:15 Friday night news dump: Djokovic and others break away from the ATP Player Council to form the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA)

53:30 Federer, Nadal, et al send a letter with some ... concerns (and some very good questions)

63:20 So what about women tennis players? #TennisUnited am I right

71:00 Oh, the US Open is happening in like two days?

The Long Island Project

Sat, 22 Aug 2020 11:59:25 -0400

Tennis has resumed in the US and Europe as the pandemic rages on. We catch up on a few weeks' worth of news, including: recent title winners Brady, Ferro, and Halep; early life in the Cincy/NY "bubble"; the non-sensical ramblings of vaccine skeptics and conspiracy theorists; and that Novak interview. We close with a tribute to two titans of 20th century tennis, who contributed even more off-court than they did on: Bob Ryland and Angela Buxton.

1:40 WTA site adds pronunciation guide - let’s try again,fail again, fail better

3:40 Tennis returns in Palermo, then Prague - Ferro is your first title winner of the resumed 2020 season

7:45 Lexington’s Top Seed Open gets a field they didn’t expect; thoughts on Venus’ new game, plus Coco, Serena, Vika, Jil, Ons, and Jenn

22:30 First-time titlist Jennifer Brady sweeps her side of the draw

25:00 Welcome to the bubble

37:55 The NYT interview with Djokovic - ehrm, um, how do we put this

46:15 Virologists and physicians are great and all - but let’s listen to vaccine-skeptic conspiracy theorists instead; also known as Occam’s Checkered Head Band

56:45 US Open:who’s in, who’s out

60:45 How are the rankings going to work this year?

63:15 Tributes to the late, great Bob Ryland and Angela Buxton

What's The Point Of The WTA If We Don't Stick Together?

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 03:08:38 -0400

We are back from hiatus to bring you an episode that we have been working on for months, one that serves as a continuation of our previous dive into Pre-Open Era tennis. With tennis players now able to earn a living while also competing against the best at all the tournaments, we follow the development of the WTA Tour after its inception, the persistent struggles for equality over the decades, and the players who played major roles in making it happen.

04:02 Why do this episode now?

07:21 Cultural context for equal prize money and conditions under which movement arose

20:25 Tennis at the onset of the Open Era & the emergence of the women’s tour

37:51 Chris Evert emerges at the exact right time for women’s tennis

43:43 The WTA takes off; the women take Wimbledon to task

57:42 What were the arguments back then surrounding equal pay?

71:08 Ebbs and flows in the 80s and 90s, but the fight continues

83:00 Wimbledon’s decades-long petty misogyny against EPM

97:20 Our cautions and takeaways from this episode

When Zina Speaks, You Listen

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 00:04:11 -0400

We've just had the pleasure of chatting with the legendary Zina Garrison, gold medalist in Seoul, 3-time major mixed doubles champ, and the 1990 Wimbledon runner-up. Zina chats about her origins in tennis, shares her experience as a black woman in a very white sport, and takes us through some of the highlights of a great career. As Zina herself says, "Zina doesn't say much but when she does . . . " -- well, you listen.

4:10 Our chat with Lady Z

8:50 Zina takes us through her introduction to tennis, the first all-black WTA final (with Lori McNeil), and getting a kick out of her own record against Martina Navratilova

18:00 That Monica Seles flowers incident (lol) and beating Chris Evert in her final match

22:00 Zina's 1990 Wimbledon run, 30 years later

26:00 "Now people can't say those things didn't happen" - how Black Lives Matter has shone a light on inequality in tennis

34:10 Althea Gibson as more than just an icon

38:00 So ... about the wiggle

41:00 The game since Zina retired - who's she watching now?

The Doughnut Chronicles

Thu, 02 Jul 2020 10:17:08 -0400

Well folks, this is not how we envisioned bringing up our double century, but here we are! Truly, we never imagined still being here, and we owe you everything for your support in making it happen. Now, the ATP men remain a hot mess, and it’s the latest round of shenanigans that bring us to your ears today. We're bringing you our thoughts on the Adria Tour Covid collapse (crazy that it feels like old news now), plus Zverev’s very public dumbassery and the doughnut chronicles between an out-of-pocket Boris Becker and his target, Nick Kyrgios.

4:00 A brief diversion to celebrate our double century, on cricket legend Brian Lara

7:00 Adria Tour results in several players testing positive for COVID-19

19:40 Fandom has made this conversation all but impossible

30:15 Blame game between players, coaches, Djokovic's dad, heads of state

32:30 Dominic Thiem, king of obliviousness

34:45 Alexander Zverev spotted acting the fool, stans jump ship

42:25 We're in trouble because managing this pandemic requires people caring about others

48:15 A dramatic reading of The Doughnut Chronicles, starring Boris Becker and Nick Kyrgios

A Pandemic Dahhhling, Do You Know What That Means?!

Sat, 20 Jun 2020 12:27:04 -0400

So ... anything interesting happen lately? This week, tennis has swiftly put itself back together again, introducing an ambitious summer/fall schedule that includes the US Open, Roland Garros, and smaller tournaments on three continents, with nary a week of rest in between. We discuss the risks, the stakeholder concerns, and the simple WTF of the US Open's bombastic announcement. Because it's Pride month, we also address the sorry state of content coming from the tennis institutions and how it can be done better.

2:30 US Open is going full steam ahead

11:50 USTA trusts players to be "judicious" and careful about public safety ... where is the evidence tho

22:30 Novak Djokovic continues to take L after L after L

30:00 Revised WTA and ATP schedules: Quarantine? Never heard of her

40:30 Revisiting the 2018 US Open trophy ceremony- does it read differently now?

57:10 Venus Williams turns 40! Also, what is Tennis Majors?

60:35 Tennis United and the general failure of tennis orgs to confront LGBTQ issues and racism

I Hope That Fish Eats You

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 12:38:18 -0400

The past few weeks have felt like a watershed moment in confronting anti-black racism across the US & the world. Tennis is not impervious to this. Players like Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff, and Sloane Stephens have stepped forward as key leaders and activists in a moment when this sport truly needs them. Beyond tennis, we talk about the larger movement for transformative justice and the destruction of systemic racism in the U.S. The non-tennis stuff begins around the 1-hour mark.

2:40 A timeline: how did we get to the present moment?

6:45 How has tennis responded? Naomi & Coco assert themselves

15:50 Venus, Serena, and faith; Frances Tiafoe, Sloane Stephens, Sachia Vickery, Taylor Townsend

27:00 We expect a lot of black players - but what about non-black players? What say the Big 4?

36:45 Look over there! The Art of Distraction by Lisa Raymond and her side Kiick; Chanda Rubin sets her Twitter fingers to stun

44:30 An example of how to move toward allyship: is Chris Evert becoming the Jane Fonda of tennis?

48:55 What to make of Alexis Ohanian relinquishing his seat on the Reddit Board?

54:45 Our comment on Courtney Nguyen's apology for past use of transphobic language

63:50 The non-tennis section of the episode - how the current anti-racist movement is a reaction to centuries of structural & state-enforced racism in the US

70:35 What does "defund the police" mean? Well, a few different things

TBS Live: The Remix

Mon, 25 May 2020 14:22:25 -0400

Welcome to our second ever Zoom session - The Remix, where we take listener questions, talk about Dominic Thiem's unfortunate comments and clarifications on those comments, and the larger inequities built into professional tennis. There's not much actual tennis news to talk about, so kick back and enjoy a much more relaxed Body Serve chat.

2:15 Catching up with player social media exploits: Venus, Naomi & Stef, Nick & Andy

7:25 The Dominic Thiem controversy - how to support lower-ranked players and how to answer this question better

11:15 The Ines Ibbou video response sheds light on the inequalities built into international tennis

18:30 This is bigger than Dominic! Bootstraps individualism and tennis' flawed governance

29:15 The WTA/ATP have announced how they will distribute player relief money

33:55 Merger updates

46:40 Please indulge us while we play a "newlywed game," guessing each other's favorite stuff & more

64:00 Live questions - which results would you reverse? Will tennis resume before a vaccine is available?

For the Quarantainment

Sun, 17 May 2020 13:10:37 -0400

The Body Serve is back with a tennis-free episode meant to entertain you during these trying times. We've broken this rather long episode into three parts: 1) trending topics, in which we take up a few non-COVID-related topics that have grabbed our interest recently; 2) TV talk, which is just us having fun talking about the long list of TV series we've been watching; and finally, 3) Body Serve and Soul, our first crack at an audio advice column, answering five questions submitted by listeners. Sending everyone our best wishes and strength while we all do our best to make it through this mess.

Part One: Trending Topics

2:45 Do you remember how messed up Tyra's shows were? Twitter does

10:20 A conversation about "cancel culture," how powerful it is, and who actually deserves it

22:30 Verzuz battles: who would we pick?

29:15 What is going on with Karens and Chads across America?!

Part Two: TV Talk - *Warning: spoilers ahead for Hollywood and How to Get Away With Murder (the other series are mostly safe from spoilers)

35:00 Hollywood on Netflix

40:00 Shows we enjoy: We're Here, Normal People, Little Fires Everywhere

51:20 Real Housewives of Atlanta does its first online reunion

55:40 Insecure looks at a friendship in decline

61:40 RuPaul's Drag Race

67:00 The Good Fight, Upload, Never Have I Ever, and the finale of How To Get Away With Murder

Part Three: Body Serve and Soul, our advice column

79:40 We answer listener questions on relationships, love, social media, and quarantine issues

TBS Live!

Sun, 26 Apr 2020 11:07:05 -0400

This week, we attempted our very first live show on Zoom. We recorded a live TBS episode covering the bizarre news of the past week or so (think vaccines, mergers, missteps), and followed that up with some games and live Q&A. Thanks to the folks who joined in, contributed to the live chat, and submitted questions. If you weren't able to make it, here's the entire session along with a quick intro.

0:30 Intro - the fandoms had quite a week, huh?

8:30 TBS Live: starting with Roger Federer's bombshell tweet on ATP/WTA merger

18:30 Billie Jean weighs in: "The WTA on its own was always Plan B"

26:05 Novak's no good very bad week

37:00 ND clarified: I said what I said

40:00 Tennis powers announce a $6 million player support fund

49:15 A live F-Marry-Kill from @SholzTalks10s

53:00 Name the Tennis Player

55:20 A live mailbag from the Zoom live chat - starting with best player social media accounts

59:30 Who benefits the most and least from the suspension of tennis?

75:30 Flukiest Slam champ of the century?

Hidden Figures in Tennis

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 12:24:21 -0400

While tennis remains on hiatus, we're diving back into the history of tennis by highlighting some fascinating players you may not be familiar with. We look at: Ora Washington, one of the premier women athletes of the 20th century, ignored and overlooked even in her own sport; Richard Russell, Jamaican tennis icon; Ruia Morrison, the Maori trailblazer finally getting her due in her 80s; and the Amritraj tennis family, major stars in India, but who we wanted to learn more about.

0:30 Another Body Serve special presentation - what choice do we have?

3:00 Ora Washington, of whom Arthur Ashe said in 1988, "she may have been the best female athlete ever"

13:20 While dominating tennis, Washington decides to dominate basketball as well

19:30 Richard Russell puts Jamaican tennis on the map

37:50 Ruia Morrison, pioneering Maori tennis star

46:30 The Amritraj family, Indian sporting dynasty

Wiggle It Like Zina

Mon, 13 Apr 2020 14:09:08 -0400

What do you know about Zina Garrison? We undertook this episode because we knew we didn’t know enough. Zina Garrison is often seen as a bridge between Althea Gibson and the Williams sisters, a trailblazer along with Lori McNeil; but, we want to spend some time highlighting her own accomplished career and electrifying game. We look at Garrison’s unique story and ask what it tells us about tennis history and where we are now. With the benefit of hindsight, how do we view Zina differently in 2020 than journalists did in 1985? How do we situate her achievements? And why doesn’t the tennis world -- including us, up until a few days ago -- know more about Zina Garrison?

0:30 What we hope to accomplish with this episode and what our reservations are

6:10 Zina’s resume - gold medal, 14 titles, Wimbledon runner-up

10:10 Zina’s origins - Houston, Texas baby

14:00 What did her game look like? The speed, volleys, slice, overhead, and the wiggle

22:15 Wimbledon 1990, a run for the ages: Zina beats Sukova, Seles, Graf and garners a million in endorsements

35:15 You can’t tell Zina Garrison’s story without Ora Washington, Althea Gibson, and of course, Lori McNeil

43:00 How Zina was covered by the 1980s/90s sports media: poverty, insularity, and underachievement

53:40 What was it like to be a black woman in the 1980s WTA?

60:45 Zina’s post-career philanthropy and activism: the Zina Garrison Academy welcomes tens of thousands of kids, free of charge

72:00 Reflecting on what we learned, and Garrison’s place in the game

Stay the F#@* at Home

Sat, 04 Apr 2020 13:23:16 -0400

These are strange times for the world and for tennis. We look at the rolling cancellations, the narrowing possibility that tennis will be played at all this year, and the consequences for players, tournaments, and fans. James takes you through the complicated governing bodies of tennis - hopefully he's not the only one who enjoys it. Does anyone have a responsibility to support out-of-work players? We say yes, but who is in the position to help? We finish up with some fun: bored players getting creative on social media, things we like, and what's in the pipeline for us.

1:55 USTA says get off the tennis court

4:30 Wimbledon is officially cancelled in 2020, players see an opportunity for self-promotion

17:25 What are the chances we see any more tennis in 2020? What could be the impact of cancelling the 2020 season?

29:00 How can players support themselves during the shutdown? Sofia Shapatava’s petition

34:30 Let’s learn! The complicated organization structure of tennis

41:00 The national federations, governing bodies, media partners, sponsors, tournament owners. Who, if anyone, is responsible -- and who is able -- to support tennis players during this crisis?

53:20 Lightening the mood: players cut up on social media

67:00 The Thiem/Bresnik feud, Tatishvili retires

70:40 Thing we like & what’s next for The Body Serve

For Once We Do Have The Bandwidth

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 03:15:41 -0400

As promised, we’re back with part two of TBS Rewind. In this iteration, we take a look at some of the more serious topics and themes we’ve covered over the years, and reflect on what we think of what we said then...now. For the most part, we’re pretty proud of the work we’ve done, but James gets something off his chest that doesn’t sit well with him. We finish up by telling y’all about a couple things that we really really like at the moment.

02:25 Our mission statement/theme for the podcast

06:43 Why Andy Murray’s feminism still matters

22:24 USO 2018: What does it take for people to see blackness at play?

34:24 Revisiting Kevin Anderson’s comments to us about gays in tennis

39:56 One of our all-time fav bits: Helen Jacobs’ love letter

48:21 James corrects his record on our Colleen segment from 3 years ago

59:16 Riffing on equal prize money in tennis

71:49 Fandom as a fetish

78:44 Ending on a moment of levity: Things We Like!

TBS Rewind: Just For Laughs

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 03:27:45 -0400

Things are rough right now: there is no tennis, and the world is in panic mode over the COVID-19 pandemic, so we thought we’d bring a bit of levity to the proceedings. We dived into The Body Serve archives to find some of the more light-hearted moments we’ve had over our five year run. Some of the segments may be familiar, while you might be hearing of others for the first time (#NameTheTennisPlayer). Either way, we hope to brighten your day a bit. Be safe and take care of yourselves.

00:32 Tennis is a whole ass mess right now, Rolly G leading the way

12:02 Things that stick out to us as we go back and listen to old episodes

16:49 Stakhovsky’s bonermeter and wayward gaydar

27:20 Tennis Divas revisited: Diana Ross and Ariana Grande

36:40 A throwback dramatic reading by popular demand (Letter To Santa)

42:17 Thirst Trap Olympics: The devil works hard, but Stan Wawrinka works harder

53:10 #NameTheTennisPlayer is back! Five one-word clues, you guess the player

54:53 Bloopers (FINALLY): Spoiler, James cusses a lot

Much Ado About Something

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 03:55:02 -0400

We come to you on the heels of the huge tennis news that the Indian Wells event “will not be held,” has been cancelled, postponed, whatever. We are well and truly in the dark about what the tennis schedule will look like in the coming months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In short, we have no answers. But, we’re back to get you up to date as to what has been happening. After talking about ALL THAT, we get into the tennis results last week, the heinous International Women’s Day ATP video spot, before finishing with another TBS Mailbag.

01:58 The BNP Paribas event in Indian Wells has been cancelled

30:44 Results: Svitolina, Zvonareva, Leylah, Jack Sock and more

36:01 Do ATP players know any women other than their mothers?

42:02 Are we still going to Miami if the tournament is still on?

45:35 Taking a 'bathroom break' to compose oneself mentally after losing a set

49:05 The Body Serve goes country! Who do we like?

56:30 FMK 90s edition: Sampras, Agassi, Rafter

60:53 A pop culture diversion: our thoughts on handling the Sherry Pie RPDR mess

69:09 What the ATP can do to ensure its players treat WTA players as equals

74:14 Are we hopeful we’ll see an active, openly gay ATP player in the near future?

It's Sharapover: A Complicated Affair

Sun, 01 Mar 2020 11:52:22 -0500

Maria Sharapova became the richest woman in sport, a 5-time Slam champ, and one of the most polarizing figures in tennis. We have not always been Masha proponents, but it's important for us to contextualize her excellent career, her clever self-branding, and the many contradictions and mysteries at the heart of Maria Sharapova, superstar. We'd be remiss if we didn't interrogate the textured relationship between Maria and Serena, and the complex racial and sexual dynamics that colored and drove their money, images, and matches. After that, we chat about the Persian Gulf swing (is that a thing?): Rybakina's 21 wins, Djokovic's 21-match win streak and Monfils' heartache, Sabalenka's huge performance in Doha, and Ons Jabeur's ever increasing confidence. We end with some mess, as is our wont.

:45 Maria Sharapova announces her retirement from tennis in an essay for Vogue & Vanity Fair - let's look at her vast influence and great career

10:15 It's complicated! Talking about the Great White Hope myth; the contradictions at the heart of Maria's sparkling image and her gritty, pugilistic game

18:15 Constructing a sex symbol out of an underage girl

25:25 Meldonium - how has it changed the way we talk about her career?

37:00 Results! Rybakina & Halep in Dubai, Garin in Rio, Felix in another final

41:30 Acapulco: Watson & 17-year-old Canadian Fernandez in final; Mexican Renata Zarazua stuns; Venus & Sloane do not

45:00 Doha (Sabalenka! Jabeur!) and Dubai (Djokovic at 21 straight wins!)

52:50 HEALTH: Roger gets surgery, Andy clarifies his injury problems

56:30 MESS: Nick takes his road most travelled (the low one), Naomi claps back, Youzhny writes a sonnet

67:30 RIP Jeanne Evert Dubin (1957-2020)

A Body Serve Over Troubled Water

Sat, 22 Feb 2020 19:49:34 -0500

It's been a while since we last brought you a mailbag episode. They're fun to do, and we get to rely on our listeners to drive the conversation. Thanks to your thoughtful questions, we cover everything topics like the role of Tennis Twitter in the sport, things we'd change about the Slams, to opinions we've changed and our favorite Mariah songs. The questions mentioned below are only a sampling of the whole thing:

1:30 Which cities would you like to see host a tournament? (@ShaneBullen)

4:30 Why are tennis players politically silent compared to athletes in other sports? (@bloodbaymare); AND, how do we reckon with the "platitudinous non-voice voices" of the Big 3 with regard to the Margaret Court controversy (@perspicaciousam)

17:25 What thing, person, incident have we changed our opinions on? (@AnnaClxxmxnn and @DamianTerbiler)

27:30 Tennis journalists we like, plus a tangent

32:40 FMK: Drama Kings (@SholzTalks10s)

35:28 An anonymously submitted question for Jonathan

37:15 What do we expect from Clijsters' return? (@fabianigiraneza)

46:35 What behind-the-scenes stuff in tennis would people be surprised by? (@AfrikaMsanifu)

55:00 How important is Tennis Twitter to the success of the sport? (@theswingvolley)

65:50 An extended meditation on our favorite Mariah songs; and picking just ONE from MC, Whitney, and Aretha (@hextreat)

Where's the Beef?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 12:08:07 -0500

February is always a frantic time on the tennis calendar. We've just gotten back from a quick vacation in Mexico, and are readjusting to the Toronto winter and the podcast grind. This episode has recaps of Fed Cup and two weeks of tournaments; a segment on the recent anti-doping developments with Farah and Spears; the WTA's new permissive policy toward coaching, and many more odds and ends.

3:00 Fed Cup qualifiers: USA d. Latvia amid concerning play from Serena, Swiss d. Canada, Russia d. Romania, and other notables

10:15 A quick note on the Clijsters comeback

14:50 Catching up on results: Monfils wins Montpellier and Rotterdam back-to-back, Felix reaches 4th ATP final, Pospisil's great runs, Bertens d. Rybakina to win St Petersburg

23:30 New York Open, that was a thing that happened

27:45 WTA implements coaching from the stands

33:00 Las drogas, la carne, las vitaminas malditas; and, the economic context that makes lower-ranked tennis players vulnerable to bettors and PEDs

44:00 Harrison and Sock, and the Benjamin of wild cards between them

48:30 Larry Ellison, owner of Indian Wells, to host a Trump fundraiser! Ok!

50:25 Naomi Osaka announces Netflix documentary about her life

She's Got Spunk

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 13:26:04 -0500

The 2020 Australian Open has mercifully come to a close and we’re back to complete our coverage of the decade’s first Grand Slam tournament. Your winners: Novak Djokovic, for an 8th time in Melbourne; and Sonya Kenin, who shocked the tennis world for her first Slam, beating #1 Barty and the resurgent Muguruza for the title. We’ve also got old-timers taking on Tennis Australia’s dithering on Margaret Court, while Novak and Roger played from the crease and were trapped in front lbw. What else? The Big 3 would like to speak to your manager, the Muguruza and Zverev comeback stories, and what men’s tennis might look like over the next few months.

02:18 Djokovic conquers an ever improving Thiem to win his 8th AO

10:44 The ATP through March, Zverev’s turnaround & other week 2 results

18:53 The Big 3 would like to speak to the manager....of the umpires

32:55 James is feeling a bit hamstrung by a tenet of our show

40:08 Sonya Kenin has got spunk!

54:07 Ash Barty, and her niece, cause all that conversation

60:26 Thomas Muster and Sam Sumyk have incredibly bad, forgettable fortnights

65:27 Martina and McEnroe protest Margaret Court, Novak and Roger remain feckless

74:47 Makarova retires, Delpo has knee surgery (again), and HoF inductees

I Am Not A Tennis Expert

Sun, 26 Jan 2020 12:55:56 -0500

The first week of this Australian Open has been something. Serena and Naomi lost on the same night Caroline Wozniacki retired from the sport, Milos Raonic is blasting his way through the men's draw, Rublev extends his win streak, and Novak Djokovic's dominance here shows no signs of slowing. We also take a few moments to ponder a certain 8th-seeded Italian, who allowed Sandgren to flourish. But mostly, we're looking at the many -- often delightful -- surprises of the first week. It's been a ride.

01:20 Camila Giorgi, minimalist tennis philosopher 3:20 Coco Gauff's run 12:15 Team Canada disappoints, except for Milos Raonic & Gaby Dabrowski 17:00 Honoring Caroline Wozniacki's great career: 71 weeks at #1, a heroic Australian Open title, a fighting spirit, and a juris doctor 25:30 Serena Williams loses to Wang Qiang 38:10 M----- B----tt--i enters tennis prison for allowing Tennys to prosper 42:55 Other surprises: Pliskova's Grand Slam problems; Federer snatches victory from Millman; Raonic, Muguruza, Kontaveit, Fucsovics, Ernie 55:25 Zverev slides through the first week by figuring out his serve issues 57:15 Previewing the men's and women's second week 64:20 Swiatek: the pronunciation politics 67:30 What is happening in the press room? Fidanzata & fake feuds 71:15 Dramatic Reading: Serena explains her post-US Open schedule in the past 5 years

A Bespoke Approach to Natural Phenomena

Sat, 18 Jan 2020 13:04:56 -0500

The Body Serve is back with our 6th annual (!) Australian Open preview. We break down the soon-to-be-broken draws, key first round match-ups, the dozens of floaters in the women's bracket, and whether the Big 3 stranglehold shows any signs of ending (it doesn't). We also cover the Australian Open's reliably unique approach to internationally accepted science, with their roll-out of a new air quality policy.

2:30 The Australian Open draw ceremony ... err, Power Point presentation?

8:40 Breaking down the women's draw, starting with the Serena-Venus-Naomi-Dayana-Coco-etc quarter

21:55 Women's bottom half - a tough out for #2 Pliskova in a fascinating fourth quarter

31:00 A few probably wrong predictions

32:00 Men's draw: Nadal and Medvedev's paths; Kyrgios, Zverev, Ruby, Dominic, and so much speculation

39:20 Men's bottom half: Djokovic and Federer stuck with each other

46:55 James takes you through the Australian Open's new bespoke air quality policy, "inspired" by science

54:10 Et ceteras: union talks rear their head again, Sir Andy injury, GoFundMe update

ATP Sippy Cup

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 02:16:02 -0500

Thank you to everybody for listening to our Monica Seles episode! We’re back to officially launch Season SIX of The Body Serve. If you’ve donated to our GoFundMe, please listen to the segment at the top of the show to find out what we’ve done, what we’re planning to do, and the prizes that we’ll be distributing at the end of the campaign. We start the tennis proceedings with a recap of a dizzyingly strange and moody ATP Cup before segueing into Serena Williams’ reassuring week in Auckland. Other topics on the docket: a note on climate change as it relates to tennis, the failures (thus far) of the Australian Open in dealing with the poor air quality in Melbourne, the need for unions in tennis, and a few predictions/wishes for the 2020 season.

01:45 An update on our GoFundMe

09:35 ATP Sippy Cup: an exercise in largesse and insolence

20:18 You get all these men together and they act a fool and a mess

31:44 Pliskova repeats in Brisbane

35:51 Serena has herself a tournament in Auckland, wins title #73

41:24 What this win could mean for Serena in 2020

48:05 A note from us on climate change in tennis and our coverage

51:25 Australian Open puts players’ health at risk & the need for unions

63:02 Jarry and Farrah catch a pair of cases

68:25 Breakout/comeback candidates and our tennis wishlists for 2020

How Do We Talk About Monica Seles?

Sat, 04 Jan 2020 12:37:08 -0500

It's clear that from the moment Monica Seles arrived on the tennis stage as a precocious teenager, the tennis world didn't quite know what to do or say about her. She's been constructed as, at varying times: the grunting and giggling wunderkind, an enigmatic superstar, a tragic victim of violence, a worldwide symbol of resilience, and the tour's elder stateswoman. In this episode, we try to make sense of the creation of Monica Seles as a public figure, by combing through the journalism written about her and several books written by her. How did we arrive at the Monica we 'know' today? How do we make sense of her incomprehensible stabbing? Does tennis know how to reckon with this superstar and her place in history? What this isn't: it's not a comprehensive biography, not a litigation of who's The Greatest, nor is it a deep dive into the Seles-Graf rivalry and relationship. This is instead about trying to understand how sports media creates celebrity, how patterns are repeated through generations, and a reminder that your heroes are complicated.

:30 Why are we doing this episode?

6:45 The first stage of Monica discourse: prodigy and peculiarity (1988-90)

15:45 Grand Slam debut at 1989 Roland Garros

20:45 Seles' run of firsts in 1989/1990 and the Bolletieri falling out

30:25 The second phase: dominance and drama (1991-93)

33:20 The '91 Wimbledon withdrawal and reappearance at Mahwah

46:30 Let's talk about the endless grunting conversation, which blew up at 1992 Wimbledon

57:00 The stabbing and the subsequent 27-month hiatus (1993-95)

75:20 Monica's return to the WTA Tour, entering another phase of Monica discourse: embraced and beloved (but often underestimated) champion (1995-present)

83:00 Assessing Monica's post-comeback career: full of contradictions and lots of greatness

OK, We Move to 2020, Cause That's Bull$#!t

Tue, 03 Dec 2019 02:35:57 -0500

Y'all, we made it to the end of Season FIVE! First, we MUST thank you for all your generous contributions to the GoFundMe we launched last week. Truly, we are bowled over and so grateful. As for this finale, we're back to recap the year on the men's tour, replete with your responses to our questions we threw at you on Twitter. The season closes with James taking a quiz on the men's season, and be sure to let him know if you fared any better! Thanks again for all your support this season and over the years; we are here only because of y'all!

02:36 Our general thoughts and a rundown of the titlists

12:56 Bautista Agut the Forrest Gumpian bookend to the season?

16:45 Thinking out loud about Nadal and Djokovic's seasons

20:30 Andy Murray's wild ride this year

25:23 Davis Cup. That's it. That's the timestamp

37:45 Y'alls most memorable moments

40:39 Thirst trappers of 2019

44:09 "Federer one good swing from the greatest moment of his career?"

48:06 Your most surprising & funny moments

53:39 Vote for the pettiest moment of the year

57:17 Comeback player and Player of the Year

59:07 Farewell to these men and goodBYE to Tipsarevic

62:44 James takes a quiz

WTA Wrap 2019: But Wow, What A Moment

Sun, 24 Nov 2019 12:47:21 -0500

Our penultimate episode of 2019 is exciting for 2 reasons: we get to wrap this hugely entertaining WTA season and launch our first ever crowdfunding campaign. We're asking our loyal listeners to consider throwing a few coins our way to help us expand on our already 5(!) seasons of podcasting. But back to tennis -- we daresay that top tier of the WTA is shaping up a bit more clearly this year. Between stone-cold killers like Andreescu, a consistent no. 1 in Barty, up-and-comers like Gauff and Anisimova, and multi-Slam winners in Halep and Osaka, the WTA is in a great place. With help from our listeners, we chat about the most surprising, funniest, feel-good, and favorite moments of the WTA season. After that, cap off your WTA season by taking our quiz alongside Jonathan (and tell us how you did). 0:30 Announcing our first ever crowdfunding campaign - #GoFundTBS - here's why we're asking and how we'll invest in the podcast 6:00 Assessing the themes of the WTA season: parity but the hierarchies are becoming clearer 10:00 The winners of the WTA's 14 big titles - Barty & Andreescu with 3 each 21:10 Our listeners' favorite moments of the WTA season: Murrena, Townsend, Su-Wei everything, Bianca-Angelique Drama Queen-Gate, Strycova's Wimbledon, and more 31:30 You Did That: Coco Gauff 34:00 Feel Good Moments: Bianca comforts Serena in Toronto, Barty's entire season, Kristie Ahn's US Open 39:15 Most surprising moments: Konta's clay run, Barty/Halep/Andreescu's Slam wins, Serena-Pliskova at AO, Clijsters' comeback announcement 48:10 Funniest Moments: "If it's not one scam" ... you know the rest 55:00 Keeping ourselves honest - how did we do on our January predictions for the year-end top 10 and breakout players? 60:30 Checking in on the #HatchingandSnatching crowd 62:20 Comebacks, retirements, breakups, makeups 65:30 WTA Year-end Quiz - She said WHAT? Our GoFundMe - #GoFundTBS

Back On That Bull$#!t

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 02:42:33 -0500

After this episode, we've only got two more to go before we wrap season FIVE of The Body Serve. We try and keep things on topic, but the TBS train gets a bit derailed on occasion in this one. First, we recap the ATP Finals, Tsitsipas' superb title run, and the ramifications from the week's play in London. We then segue into retirements, comebacks, and yet ANOTHER dramatic reading.

01:48 Stefanos soars to London ATP Finals title

17:29 Nadal finishes YE #1 for a 5th time

20:30 Bellis is back, so is Colleen, and Sinner wins again

22:58 An update on the India/Pakistan Davis Cup tie

26:40 Retirement wave begins: Cibulkova, Berdych & Blah Brothers

35:33 Kiki & Dominic call it quits

38:36 Dramatic reading: That's Bullshit!

42:18 An NFL diversion on the latest Kaepernick developments

58:37 James talks his basketball husband & Lizzo

Letter To Santa

Tue, 12 Nov 2019 02:33:23 -0500

The ATP has a new fella on the rise after Jannik Sinner's bold win in Milan. Team France overcame Ash Barty and Australia in a thrilling Fed Cup final to put a bow on the WTA season. We wade into the latest Margaret Court shitstorm before delivering our latest book reports on John Millman and Ons Jabeur. Also, many many thanks to Sara Errani for providing the material for our latest dramatic reading!

02:20 Sinner blazes through Milan Next Gen field

07:20 A bit of background on Jannik Sinner

10:02 What to make of all this innovation?

15:48 Fed Cup delivers stellar WTA finale

26:24 A follow-up on last week's WTA prize money segment

29:05 Abigail Spears caught up in doping scandal

32:49 Brace yourselves for Hurricane Margaret's shitstorm

40:13 An update on the India/Pakistan Davis Cup tie

42:34 Book Report: Ons Jabeur & John Millman

53:02 An hors d'oeuvre before our dramatic entrée

56:51 Dramatic Reading: Go tell it to Santa

She Don't Bat Now, She Make Money Moves

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 23:42:17 -0500

Ash Barty finesses the year-end number one ranking with a tidy and patient display in Shenzhen, with it snatching the largest ever payout in tennis history. Djokovic edges closer to both the year-end number one and the Masters 1000 record with a fifth victory in Paris. Plus, we chat about Shapovalov, Svitolina, and the surface problems that caused a slew of retirements in Shenzhen. Oh, and we've got a dramatic reading for you, too!

04:20 Djokovic dominates in Paris, closes in on year-end #1

14:42 Barty caps breakout year, makes money moves in Shenzhen

18:05 How Ash did it, and why people like/don't like her

23:09 The professionalism of Elina Svitolina

28:43 What's the deal with these retirements and slow ass courts?

33:45 WTA Legacy Fund & taking care of the Tour's elders

39:31 Evolution of WTA Prize Money: It takes more than $4.42 million

44:13 Mariana Alves retires after game-changing start to her umpiring career

46:36 Dramatic reading: Setting the record straight about Chicago's Kamau Murray

Say It To My Face

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 02:02:07 -0400

Wow, what a moment: Episode 175. The 2019 season (our fifth doing The Body Serve) is coming to a close, and we're back to recap the last two weeks of play. The list of winners is all sorts of impressive: Roger Federer, Aryna Sabalenka, Dominic Thiem, Andy Murray, Andrey Rublev, and Jelena Ostapenko. We give these folks their due before laughing at Nick Kyrgios' absurd tough guy act, coaching changes, ATP leadership appointments, and the ongoing tournaments in Paris and Shenzhen. We close the episode with things we like and dislike, before teasing something exciting? on the horizon for us.

03:28 Catching up on the tennis results, Zhuhai first

07:23 Hats off to Federer on a 10th Basel crown & 103rd singles title

14:34 Dominic Thiem (home)coming of age in Vienna

18:38 Other winners: Andy Murray, Shapovalov, and Ruby

25:06 Wow, what a pairing: Ostapenko & Bartoli arrive

28:30 Current tennis talk: Paris & Shenzhen

35:10 We're not doing this again: Kyrgios flailing in the wind

40:57 The ATP gets new leadership: Andrea Gaudenzi & Mark Knowles

44:18 Spicy B, Sascha splits with Kiki, and Next Genning

52:34 Things we like, things we disklike

62:03 Our hand dem long out ah beg fi tings

The Kids Are All Fight

Mon, 14 Oct 2019 11:42:12 -0400

It's been a minute since we've covered tennis week-to-week. We're making up for lost time by speeding through the Asian/European fall swing, highlighting the huge steps taken by the ATP's younger generation, Coco Gauff's first title, and Naomi Osaka's dominance in Asia. That's followed by a rapid-fire segment, in which we discuss everything from Kim Clijsters' shocking comeback announcement to the Pospisil-led player movement toward better prize money.

1:45 Coco Gauff, age 15, wins her first WTA title at Linz

5:00 Next Gen steps forward at Shanghai, Medvedev cements his status as the next big thing

9:10 Grumpy Gramps makes an appearance in Shanghai

17:10 Catching up with the rest of the fall swing results - Djokovic recovers from shoulder injury, Thiem bounces back to win Beijing, and Grouchy Andy is back!

27:30 Naomi Osaka wins Osaka & Beijing, beats Andreescu; is this the launch of a new rivalry? Does the WTA "need" it?

39:15 Rapid-fire topics: the Clijsters & Golovin comebacks (?!); revisiting a bad take on Nadal's Hilfiger campaign; Gold badge umpire Moscarella suspended for a whole mess of things

55:30 Players, led by Vasek Pospisil, demand bigger piece of the pie from Grand Slams

64:45 Race to Shenzhen; Shout-outs to all-time greats Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Simone Biles!

Toward A Better Understanding Of Pre-Open Era Tennis

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 02:18:15 -0400

TBS Special: In the vein of our Pride episode from last year, we've gone and done a bit of research into the history of tennis and are coming to you with our findings on what tennis was like before and leading into the Open Era.

04:28 What was amateurism and why did it exist?

18:36 So, what did tennis look like in the first 90 years or so?

21:48 What happened when a player turned professional in the pre-Open Era?

29:34 Jack Kramer, professional kingpin & thorn in side of amateur tennis

34:48 The relative quality of amateur vs pro tennis

43:43 The rumblings of professionalization/Open Tennis

51:59 What about the women, you might be asking?

57:50 Margaret Court's record gets a bad rap? It's complicated

64:40 Richard Pancho Gonzalez and his undervalued place in history

71:37 A trio that stood out to us and a story about BJK

Partial Reading List:

“Open the Door, Stockholm!” - Martin Kane, Sports Illustrated, July 10, 1961

"Goodbye Billie Jean, With Love From Nancy" - Kim Chapin, Sports Illustrated, April 8, 1968

“Open Season For a Test of Time” - Kim Chapin, Sports Illustrated, August 26, 1968

“The Lone Wolf” - S.L. Price, Sports Illustrated, June 24, 2002

“For Love or For Money: A History of Amateurism in the Olympic Games” - L.A. Jennings, Vice, June 7, 2016

The Right Set: A Tennis Anthology, Caryl Phillips.

Racing With Destiny

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 02:17:33 -0400

Bianca Andreescu busted out in a big way at the U.S. Open, beating Serena Williams in straight sets to win her first Slam title. For Serena, it was a 4th finals loss since coming back from having baby Olympia. And for Rafael Nadal, it was an emotional 19th career Slam title, leaving him just one behind Roger Federer for the all-time lead. All this is to say, Championship weekend at the U.S. Open was A LOT! Join us as we recap the action and fill you in on some of the etceteras from week two of 2019's final Grand Slam action.

01:28 Just a bunch of tangential gibberish about the women's final

06:25 The women who were complicit in Bianca's rise

24:21 James makes a case for the similarities between Bianca & Daniil

33:54 Is Nadal playing better than ever or differently than ever?

38:55 Berrettini & Dimitrov get their due

48:41 Crowd control, trashy crowd behaviour, and umpiring discretion

55:11 James gets a better understanding of the Serena/Patrick relationship

58:35 Doubles results and a dramatic reading!

67:57 Jonathan gets DUPED by Naomi Osaka

D.A.R.E. to Dream

Mon, 02 Sep 2019 10:28:09 -0400

We come to you midway through the US Open after a first week stuffed with feel-good stories and breakout stars on the women's side, and lots of miserable, crabby men (with the exception of Gael Monfils). We chat extensively about Coco Gauff, the powerful people pushing to relax the age eligibility rule, and that complex and emotionally loaded post-match interview with Naomi. You can also hear about the 22nd meeting of Serena-Maria, the breakouts of Townsend and Ahn, that wild men's third quarter, and Medvedev fully embodying the villain archetype.

4:30 Some thoughts on the Serena-Maria match and why everyone is always mad

11:30 Alexis is everyone's petty spouse

14:00 "I don't know who that is"

20:30 Jonathan institutes the Hall of Shame, major disagreements follow

23:50 Two great American stories: Taylor Townsend and Kristie Ahn

30:00 Coco Gauff dominates headlines again, but Naomi Osaka shows why she is #1

35:45 Why is there a "debate" about waiving the age eligibility rule, when it's been shown to work?

42:40 The unprecedented, emotionally charged post-match interview with Coco and Naomi

49:30 Carla Suarez Navarro is the latest victim of the First Round Performance penalty

50:35 Men's draw stuff: Grigor, Shapo-Monfils, Nick says j'accuse

59:20 Daniil Medvedev becomes cartoon villain, actual villain

67:30 WTA Player Council shakeup, more info on Puig-Murray-Stephens triangle, quick women's draw assessment

Brace Yourselves

Sat, 24 Aug 2019 13:02:25 -0400

We're back to preview the US Open, the final major of the year. Can Naomi defend? Will last year's umpire drama dominate the fortnight? Did the summer tell us anything about who's a real contender on the men's side? Plus, we have a bit of fun with the Sachia Vickery tweetstorm and the clout-chasers who decided to stick their noses in (only for them to be chopped off). Finally, check out our essential R&B Spotify playlist!

:30 Buckle up, it's gonna be a bumpy 2 weeks

5:05 Women's draw: Naomi Osaka attempts to defend her first major title

10:15 Women's bottom half: Serena-Maria to play at US Open for the first time

22:10 Men's draw: Djokovic and Federer on the same side

28:15 Men's third quarter is the most exciting quarter of both draws

36:45 Kamau Murray leaves Monica Puig on the eve of US Open, reunited with Sloane Stephens

41:20 #SeeWhatHadHappenedWas: Sachia Vickery is wondering why would you try her, why would you bother

48:55 The Body Serve's first Spotify playlist!

From Cincy To Cow Corner

Tue, 20 Aug 2019 02:35:20 -0400

We're back safe and sound in Toronto after covering the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. On episode 169, we put a bow on the event chatting everything from the quarter-finals onward, culminating in Madison Keys and Daniil Medvedev as your champions. On deck: the actual matches, stray observations around the grounds, thanking listeners we met along the way, and finally...DRAMATIC READINGS, back by popular demand.

02:40 Madison Keys wows to win the biggest title of her career

09:26 What more to say about Sveta & QF matches

17:10 Medvedev vs Goffin making us look like fools

19:25 Getting to the bottom of the Cincy crowd & Nole

23:11 Can we stan Medvedev? Should we stan Medvedev?

27:38 Thoughts on players we saw for the first time

35:20 Stray observations around the grounds

40:14 Sloane dumps Sven? Stray observations, and shout outs

44:35 Cow Corner: DRAMATIC READINGS from Cincy

If It's Not One Scam, It's Another

Fri, 16 Aug 2019 12:58:20 -0400

We're pleased to bring you a chat with 2-time major champ Svetlana Kuznetsova, who was one of our first player interviews back in 2016. She chats with us about the problems with her visa, her beautiful dog Dolce, and her outlook on tennis as a 34-year-old veteran. Also on the docket: stories from Cincinnati, how the draws have shaken out, the surprising runs of Rublev and Kuznetsova, and more.

:30 Happenings in Cincinnati - some big upsets but a great women's quarterfinal roster

8:00 Sloane goes in

11:10 Court 10 was lit: Sabalenka-Sakkari, Osaka-Hsieh

18:40 The men's draw kind of fell apart ... but there's still defending champ Djokovic, Medvedev, RBA

24:30 Some very quick thoughts on the latest Kyrgios time-waster

31:15 Kamau Murray talks about the Sloane split and how he started working with Monica Puig

37:30 Our interview with the resurgent Svetlana Kuznetsova, returning to our show after 3 years

Looks Like We Made It

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 14:20:10 -0400

This weekend we took the deeply boring journey from Toronto to Cincinnati. First, we recap what we saw on the ground at the Rogers Cup, what had happened in the finals, and what we expect to see at the Cincinnati Masters. Then, we've got exclusive audio from Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic regarding ATP politics. Federer and Nadal have recently been elected to the Player Council, while Djokovic remains its president during a particularly tempestuous year.

2:20 Rogers Cup Toronto, as we saw it

6:40 Serena retires to Andreescu in horrible scene

9:00 Bianca Andreescu's run to her hometown title coming back from injury ... damn, what would she be like at 100 percent?

14:20 Coupe Rogers in Montreal: Nadal def. Medvedev

20:00 Nick Kyrgios' magical week in Washington, DC

25:45 The state of the Williams sisters

31:00 To look forward to in Cincinnati: Andy Murray returns to singles!

35:30 Roger Federer speaks to us about his return to the ATP Player Council

41:45 Novak Djokovic, Player Council president, answers a few of our questions about this wild year on Player Council

Hall of Fame Pettiness

Wed, 31 Jul 2019 03:13:22 -0400

We're back from the Wimbledon wilderness to tackle the results and major tennis stories of the past few weeks. On the docket for this episode: a doping suspension, Hall of Fame inductees, and Sveta's visa woes. We also debut a new segment, "Book Report," before bringing back last episode's smash, "Dramatic Reading," to finish the show.

00:50 We're heading back to Cincy & Love Island

05:15 Catching up on ALL the winners

11:11 Haddad Maia's doping scandal

17:38 Andy Murray, Kyrgipas, and Lendl leaves Zverev

22:43 Where in the world is Svetlana Sandiego?!

29:50 Williams social blitz & Franckie/Leylah beef

34:25 Comebacks & remembering Peter McNamara

37:36 HOF Inductees: Li Na, Mary Pierce, and Kafelnikov

43:05 Book Reports: Prajnesh Gunneswaran & Jil Teichmann

49:15 Dramatic Reading: the pettiest of letters

The Chill Is Gone

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 01:43:11 -0400

Novak Djokovic is your repeat, and now five-time champion at Wimbledon. He was joined by Simona Halep at the Champion's Ball, after the Romanian swept aside Serena Williams in the women's final. We sort through both finals, and the notable matches of Wimbledon's second week, before wading into some of the notable off-court happenings since our last episode. Chief among these: the Konta press conference and Serena addressing the 2018 U.S. Open.

01:00 The much talked about Djokovic-Federer final

16:20 How we got to the men's final

19:40 What in the HELL happened to the younger guys?

23:12 How Simona did THAT

26:54 Where it went wrong for Serena

34:43 The Simona-Tiriac-Nastase nexus as strong & troubling as ever

41:46 How we got to the women's final

45:38 Don't patronize me: the Jo Konta press conference

52:00 Doubles results, Tomic docked, and Muguruza dumps Sumyk

60:01 Serena writes about U.S. Open final, we discuss

Nowhere To Hide

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 03:05:35 -0400

Week one of Wimbledon is in the books and we're back to recap the carnage, the drama, and the surprises. Without question, Coco Gauff was the biggest story through the first three rounds; her win over Venus Williams was part of an onslaught of suffering for some of the biggest names. We talk her magical run, the Nadal-Kyrgios match, the latest ATP Council drama, before taking a look at the remaining 32 players in the men's and women's draws.

02:05 Seeds and such: oh, the carnage

08:34 Segueing into Coco Gauff's dream run

22:42 Nadal-Kyrgios delivered on the court

30:12 Parmentier dances on Maria's grave & Fabio's latest

36:31 Stan's doing the MOST. Why?

37:46 Novak, Gimelstob, and more ATP Council DRAMA

47:55 What we're not being told: reading between the lines

53:41 Andy and Serena headline Mixed Doubles

58:04 Serena caught up in manufactured drama

61:44 Perusing the remaining singles matches

On the Road to Wimbledon

Sat, 29 Jun 2019 10:57:54 -0400

It's a short turnaround and a holiday weekend in Canada, so we're bringing you our Wimbledon preview from the car, driving down I-90 in Upstate New York. We touch on a few of the off-court rumblings from the past few weeks, including the history-repeats-itself row over Wimbledon seeding, Coco Gauff's historic achievement, and Serena's Wheaties debut. We finish with an analysis of the men's and women's draws, armed with the knowledge that our predictions could be moot in a matter of days.

1:50 Let's get the seeding drama out of the way

6:30 Fed Cup gets the Davis Cup treatment - 12-team final in Budapest in April 9:15 Herbert pauses the Mahut bromance to play doubles with Sir Andrew Murray 12:05 Serena on the Wheaties box! 14:35 Coco Gauff becomes youngest Wimbledon qualifier in Open Era, gets Venus Williams in Round 1 19:30 What's on the agenda for ATP Players Council? 23:00 37-year-old Feliciano Lopez wins Queens Club singles and doubles, stays on court for roughly 95 hours over the weekend 26:00 Getting to the draws - who has a shot here? 34:30 Women's draw analysis: I know we've said this before, but the women's top quarter is absolutely, historically stacked 44:20 Men's draw analysis: Rafa and Roger land on same side, Anderson's grass performance does him a huge favor in the seedings

On That Gay Flex Again

Sat, 22 Jun 2019 12:33:17 -0400

As tennis transitions to grass, we're scrambling to catch up on the post-Roland Garros results, beefs, surprises, and clunky, poorly conceived solutions to ongoing problems. Barty is steps away from the no. 1 ranking, Berrettini eases onto the turf, Felix's rise continues unabated. Since it's Pride Month, we're giving a mini-reprise of last year's Pride episode: looking at the difference between genuine allyship and tokenism, how capital subsumes real LGBTQ issues, and what Taylor Swift has to do with it.

2:00 ATP retroactively counting Laver Cup matches in head-to-heads ... huh? 5:50 A thought experiment on alternative ranking systems 16:00 A propos of nothing, the US Open says they want to allow coaching during matches, delighting Patrick Mouratoglous everywhere 24:45 Grass results: Garcia wins, Vekic gets frustrated, Berrettini & Felix take to the grass 31:30 More grass: Venus charms in Birmingham, Barty eases into the grass season, Sir Andrew Murray returns! 36:35 WTA finally acknowledges its LGBTQ fans 42:30 Marco Trungelliti blows the whistle on match fixing, gets trashed by fellw players 46:00 What Jonathan is mad about: Sania Mirza getting blamed for the Pakistani cricket team's loss 51:20 Discussion: how to feel about the proliferation of corporate Pride branding? What is for-profit queerness? Do we risk straight people co-opting and blunting the force of queer politics? You know, really laidback stuff like that.

A Duo Décimation in Paris

Tue, 11 Jun 2019 03:05:24 -0400

What happen-ed at Roland Garros: Rafa Nadal leaves Paris with a TWELFTH title and Ash Barty with her unexpected first. Dominic Thiem made further strides up the ATP mountain, but fell just short to a ruthless Nadal, again. The women's draw saw a stampede of dark horses make the second week, cementing the WTA as a tour ripe with would-be winners. All that plus wind, rain, scheduling mishaps, and Madison Keys hunting down a towel snatcher on this recap episode of the 2019 French Open.

01:59 Ash Barty surprises and delights in her maiden Slam singles run

16:45 The weather causes poor scheduling, yet again

21:39 Konta's resurgence, fatigue in defending the WTA, and defending Jo

32:43 The other decimation that happened in Paris: Nadal's duodécimo

46:41 Fed's ball launch: subjectivity falls in favour of some while it doesn't for others

49:23 In defence of Nole, despite his "I'd like to speak to your supervisor" disposition

53:51 Holding organizers responsible for their shit decisions rather than blaming players

61:49 Double take: Kiki's TIME at world #1 and Thiem's #1 supporter

69:40 Rankings watch: Naomi & Ash top the WTA & a pair of new ATP top 10 entrants

73:29 Madison rectifies, James judges Simona, and G.E.M.S. Life vanishes

Circling the Wagons & Ballmarks

Mon, 03 Jun 2019 02:47:29 -0400

We've made it through the first week of the 2019 French Open, and as you might imagine, there is LOTS to talk about. Before the tournament even began, we were dealt a few high-profile withdrawals that affected the shape of the draws. We discuss those as well as the big upsets in the opening rounds. Nonetheless, both the men's and women's fields are nicely poised heading into Championship Weekend, with breakthrough runs mixed in with some of the usual suspects doing what they do best. As usual, some of the biggest news was made off the court; we cover the latest Serena Williams drama after her third round loss.

02:05 Kicking things off with some notable WTA performances

14:53 Let's talk about Sloane Stephens

21:00 Assessing Serena's three matches & where she's at

28:15 Virgil A-blah & our lukewarm reaction to Serena's kit

33:15 Unnecessary sets, and the top men progressing nicely

36:34 Zverev is still alive and kicking, and condescending

39:37 Tsitsipas' pedigree on full display, so too his gamesmanship

51:21 A not-so-good, pretty bad tournament for the Canadians

59:35 Fandom as a fetish: tennis twitter going off the rails

63:24 The Serena-Thiem affair: the misinformation campaign

78:54 Lucie Safarova, one of the good ones, hangs up her racquet

What Do We Say to the Gods of Clay? Roland Garros Preview 2019

Sat, 25 May 2019 11:56:20 -0400

Roland Garros starts with a cracking schedule on Sunday ... settle in for our draw analysis and wide-ranging conversation about the clay season, the democratization of the men's clay events, and some odds and ends. How will Naomi fare as a first-time no. 1 seed? Will Novak complete Novak Slam 2.0? Will we get another first-time women's Slam winner?

3:00 A Redistribution of wealth in the clay season

6:15 Men's draw: Djokovic gets Thiem, Rafa gets Fed/Tsitsipas 12:00 The unpredictable men's 3rd quarter and Rafa's soft draw 20:30 What it means that Roger is back; and resisting "grace" 24:50 Women's draw: first time no. 1 Osaka gets a wild draw 30:20 What to make of Serena, troll extraordinaire 36:30 3rd quarter: Sloane the star, Venus/Elina, Muguruza, Bertens, Bencic 49:40 4th quarter: will dark horses Vondrousova or Mladenovic take out the consistent Pliskova? 53:35 Nick Kyrgios spends a week "managing expectations," then withdraws 55:30 Sir Andrew Murray expects to play doubles at Wimbledon 58:00 We asked y'all what you were looking forward to 1:05:50 Katie Boulter didn't do anything wrong, for the record ... 1:09:00 Bigging up #KinderGirlWorld Day, props to Madison Keys

(Sh)it Happen-ed In Rome

Mon, 20 May 2019 23:33:02 -0400

We're back from our big trip with a big (way too long) episode. It's not entirely our fault, there were two massive tournaments the past two weeks, and some major off court happenings to cover as well. We begin with a recap of Madrid and the questionable dealings of Ion Tiriac before getting into the action in Rome. While it was a pretty tragic time for us at the Foro Italico, it was the site of a return to glory for Rafael Nadal. We segue into the Nick Kyrgios drama that dominated the tennis news cycle as well as the latest updates from the ATP Board election saga. We couldn't end the episode without a few (disappointed) words about the Game Of Thrones final season and even worse finale.

01:20 Thanks for the well wishes, a few words on our trip

06:04 Ion Tiriac, Madrid, and his war against the WTA

11:37 Where the Madrid women's trophy at?!

14:26 Our dire thoughts on the Rome tournament

25:19 What happen-ed in Rome happen-ed

35:50 A resurgent turn for many of the women in Rome

41:06 A tale of two gay stories: Janowicz and Ferrer

48:41 Nick Kyrgios had a WEEK

59:13 Djokovic and the latest ATP Board developments

76:41 Game of Thrones finale: yes or mess?

Spring Mailbag: You Asked, We Attempt to Answer

Tue, 07 May 2019 13:15:00 -0400

The Body Serve is back, answering your thoughtful and tough questions with -- we hope -- a bit of knowledge and a lot of honesty. Although we recorded this previously, we believe the questions are still topical, relevant, and fascinating. Thanks to all who submitted questions; the below list doesn’t even cover all of them!

2:20 Jonathan asks James a gotcha question!

6:45 What are our 3 favorite pop duets? (or in Jonathan’s case, like 10 (Thuan, @delsarto13)

13:00 Who is the player you most disagree on? Any players one of us is a big fan of, and the other is not? (Stuart Masheter, @topsmmash)

22:15 What is the deal with appearance fees? (Julian, @holdmyracquet)

29:00 Tackling the many questions on the Gimelstob situation

37:45 Which women should the ATP be recruiting to run for its board? (Tyler Green, @TylerGreenBooks)

41:00 Which tournaments would you add, remove, upgrade, or relocate? (Arun, @arknight12)

47:00 Game of Thrones characters as tennis players (Peter, @thaiguy84)

50:55 Do you think any young WTA player (

Get Them Bodied

Wed, 01 May 2019 01:42:03 -0400

Dominic Thiem absolutely bodied the Barcelona field to join Federer as the only two-time titlists on the ATP Tour this season. Petra Kvitova's turn as renaissance woman and most consistent player of the WTA continued in Stuttgart, leaving her oh-so-close to finally ascending to world #1. Of course, we revisit the ongoing Justin Gimelstob saga and get you updated on the latest shenanigans. Oh, and have you heard, Sloane Stephens got engaged!

01:21 Dominic BODIES his way to the Barcelona title

08:53 Petra Kvitova the WTA renaissance woman

12:18 Vika's back? A chat about her comeback

22:30 Rafa makes it CLEAR where he stands on equal pay yet again

31:37 From queer excellence to straight fuckery

33:08 Gimelstob can't stop, won't stop

38:48 Gimelstob's narcissism stays jumping out

48:04 Fiiiiiiinally, folks in tennis are starting to speak up

51:59 Why are we still here? For what? And at what cost?

57:10 #RoadToRome candidates and some juicy petty tidbits

61:40 Andreescu injury, Genie coaching split, and Sloane's big news!

No Contest

Tue, 23 Apr 2019 23:33:31 -0400

This week on The Body Serve, we've got a surprising week in Monte Carlo to recap, an exciting weekend strewn across the globe in Fed Cup, and a resolution to the Justin Gimelstob court case. Fabio Fognini beat Rafael Nadal in the Monte Carlo semis on his way to a maiden Masters 1000 title. Meanwhile, Ash Barty and Sam Stosur headlined the Fed Cup action, leading Australia to its first final in over 25 years! We finish the episode with an expanded discussion on the developments in the Justin Gimelstob case, and what it means for his place in tennis going forward, among other things...

01:01 A surprising loss for Rafa in Monte Carlo?

04:59 The Princes of Clay not up to the task in week one

09:00 Fognini's past and how it frames his present

15:32 Team Australia headlines Fed Cup semifinal weekend

20:46 The reunited Garcia/Mladenovic tandem take out Romania

23:15 Great Britain, despite the drama, advances to World Group II

32:02 Gimelstob pleads no contest to felony assault

35:52 The weak responses from Tennis Channel and the ATP

43:25 Gimelstob begins the process of re-integrating himself into tennis

48:00 What is it about this situation that renders so many mute?

I'm Tired Of F#@*ng Losing!

Tue, 16 Apr 2019 03:08:26 -0400

The clay season is upon us and Sloane Stephens is tired of f#@*ing losing! We recap the last two weeks since we've been away, starting with the action in Charleston where Madison Keys scored an impressive title win on the green clay. Other tidbits: Sveta is back! Muguruza bosses Monterrey, and Anisimova wins her maiden WTA title. We offer an ATP clay season preview, before segueing into a spirited discussion on Patrick Mouratoglou's latest bout of opinions. Also, look out for the return of The Rant at the end of the episode!

01:50 Madison matures on the green clay of Charleston

07:40 WTA roll call: Muguruza, Azarenka, Anisimova, Sveta, Swiatek

12:28 ATP roll call: Paire, Andujar, Garín, and Sandgren's big streak (of losing)

19:54 ATP clay court preview: much of the same but a bit more

23:58 Alexander Zverev in a precarious position

32:32 Mouratoglou has opinions on how to save tennis, and so do we

53:43 The Tsitsipas/Medvedev feud LIVES!

55:24 A golf diversion: Tiger Woods wins The Masters

63:42 The Rant: you'll have to tune in to find out

Barty In The U.S.A.

Tue, 02 Apr 2019 01:39:55 -0400

Ash Barty and Roger Federer closed out the Sunshine Swing with titles at the Miami Open. For Barty, it was the biggest win of her career, and one that catapulted her into the WTA top 10 for the first time. Federer, fresh off a finals loss the week before at Indian Wells, went one further to add trophy #101 to his collection. The Canadian takeover of tennis continued to take hold as Auger-Aliassime made the semifinals before losing to repeat finalist, John Isner. We cap the episode with a discussion on the difficulties of making a living from covering tennis, and why it's vitally important to welcome as many diverse voices to the table as possible.

02:51 Vegemite Queen dripping in power and finesse

08:31 In celebration of the superb, underestimated Hsieh

12:56 The weekly battle for WTA #1 continues

15:35 A whole, grown ass, salty loser: Kerber v Andreescu

24:25 The potpourri of f*^kery surrounding Isner and his "niceness"

28:22 Federer wins #101 in tip top form

33:33 Felix just can't wait to be king

41:29 HOW DARE YOU?! say anything bad about the Miami Open

46:27 A discussion on covering tennis for a living...or not

She The North

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 02:36:04 -0400

Bianca Andreescu's coming out party continued in a big way by winning the Indian Wells title. The breakthrough theme in the "tennis paradise" also featured a first Masters 1000 title for Dominic Thiem, rendering Roger Federer beaten finalist for a second successive year. We recap some of the other notable performances on both sides of the draw before getting into a discussion of how the ATP is failing in its efforts to police the dissemination of its product on social media. Lastly, James takes a quiz about his favourite tournament on the tennis calendar.

03:05 She the north, but where can we watch her?

17:33 Other notable performances from the women at Indian Wells

19:30 Venus vs Petra: to squawk or not to squawk or when to squawk

27:50 Serena's illness & her terrible volleys?

32:08 The harnessing of Dominic Thiem

37:50 Nadal's knee, Nole's loss, and Denis' rapping

46:31 The ATP policing dissemination of its product on social media

50:57 James takes a quiz on his beloved Indian Wells

Indian Well Actually

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 13:11:02 -0400

The calendar is ratcheting up - March brings the Sunshine Double, with all its excesses, star power, and crackling match-ups. Our IW ambivalence aside, this week has already given us the Vika-Serena reunion, Petra & Venus, and Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime achieving yet another first. We also cover the ATP governance drama, Martina's wheel-and-come-again on the trans athlete argument, and Osaka's strikingly perceptive words in The Undefeated.

2:30 The star power of Nick Kyrgios, when he wants it

14:20 Roger Federer joins the 100 club! Jimmy Connors is shaking

18:00 Naomi Osaka names Jermaine Jenkins head coach

21:30 Serena & Vika reignite their rivalry, and it doesn't disappoint

31:15 Felix Auger-Aliassime quietly, methodically gets his first top 10 win

37:30 An update on the ATP governance shake-up: Kermode is out, but who is in?

50:45 Martina Navratilova is back with another essay on trans women in sport ... but is it better? Taking on the straw man argument.

60:10 Genie Bouchard moves into film production - a rom-com classic is coming

64:10 Will Smith to play Richard Williams on screen

67:00 The fascinating, thoughtful Osaka interview from The Undefeated - her place in things

TBS 150: Bend It Like Bencic

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 03:58:01 -0500

On the occasion of our Sesquicentennial, we thank all our listeners, both old and now, who have been along for the ride. We recap all the tennis news from the past two weeks and the winners on both tours: Bencic, Monfils, Opelka, Mertens, Cecchinato, Albot, Djere, Tstitsipas, and Van Uytvanck. We chat about the Osaka-Tsitsipas social media mess, as well as Naomi's words on her split with Sascha Bajin. Finally, we try to grapple with the mess that Martina Navratilova has gotten herself into.

03:26 Recapping a long list of winners the last fortnight

06:25 The dire Long Island Open gets a lift

13:52 Bend it like Bencic in Dubai, if you can!

20:14 Our Québécois fav busts out in Rio

27:44 Tsonga to miss Indian Wells due to Sickle Cell Trait

31:29 What in the hell was Stefanos thinking?!

36:47 Osaka talks Bajin breakup

45:18 Martina Navratilova and her controversial op-ed

68:55 Sometimes you need to call something by its name

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 21:50:48 -0500

February can be a moment for tennis to catch its breath. But Fed Cup brought us some cracking match-ups, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga re-entered the top 200, and everyone's favorite maybe-catfish started and suspended a GoFundMe. Naomi Osaka stopped the world (momentarily) when she announced that her winning partnership with Sascha Bajin has ended. Plus, we finally catch up with the shakeups and infighting in the ATP Players' Council and Board of Directors.

1:20 Tsonga is back and he's spectacular (or; I will be your father figure)

5:45 Fed Cup blockbusters: Czech team loses at home, Ash-stralia takes out USA

13:30 The Darko saga continues - stop snitching and enjoy the drama, folks

21:45 Serena re-enters the top 10

23:35 Naomi Osaka shocks the tennis world by announcing split with Sascha Bajin

27:00 Maybe there's not actually any "there" there

40:00 Catching up with the ATP governance shakeup

54:45 Questions to consider moving forward: does the anti-Kermode wing reflect the views of most players? Is there a push for unionization among the rank and file?

57:00 Things we dislike (we disagree on that) and things we like (Netflix's One Day at a Time)

Australian Open Finale: The Blessing, The Curse, The Manspreading

Mon, 28 Jan 2019 21:24:19 -0500

We're here to wrap the 2019 Australian Open: crowning a new WTA number 1 and watching Novak make history with his 15th major. Petra Kvitova came close to her first major off grass, Rafa Nadal stunned until he didn't, and the ATP Next Gen inched forward; while one member of the WTA Next Gen won 2 straight majors and took over the sport entirely. Stick around for a critique of "race science," the minefield of Naomi's racial identity, and why the locker room needs to remain private (oh hi, John McEnroe).

02:30 Naomi Osaka becoming the woman to beat

10:30 Petra! Don't call it a comeback!

17:00 The other women's late-stage women's matches: Pliskova's improved movement, Serena's loss

22:45 Why do y'all want us to drag Danielle Collins?

30:00 Men's final: Novak raises his level to neutralize Nadal's strengths

41:45 Other happenings on the men's side: Tsitsipas stared into the abyss and doesn't like what he sees

44:00 Stosur & Zhang win doubles title - Zhang's first major and Stosur's first Aussie

46:20 When what happens in the locker room doesn't stay in the locker room

49:00 Talking about black athletes with race pseudoscience

57:30 John McEnroe's naked obsession with Rafa's naked body ... wtf?

63:00 Men's tennis manspreading into women's tennis -- how microaggressions become a 50-year pattern

71:05 Naomi Osaka's fraught and contested racial identity

Mid-Australian Open Check-In: It's Like BBQ Chicken

Sun, 20 Jan 2019 20:58:58 -0500

We're checking in midway through this Australian Open, marked by a few welcome breakouts but high quality match-ups on the horizon. This episode's title borrows from Frances Tiafoe's impromptu description of Amanda Anisimova's decimation of Aryna Sabalenka. We recap the matches, the controversies, the fashion, and the issue that won't die: mid-match coaching.

1:00 Andy Murray says goodbye ... for now ... maybe

5:30 Tsitsipas takes down 2-time defending champ Federer 8:40 Frances Tiafoe, an American many forgot 15:00 5 US women in the 4th round, and not who we thought 20:25 #HatchingandSnatching: Anisimova snatches the wig snatcher 25:45 Danielle Collins, a curious but certainly not boring figure 31:10 Serena storms through first few rounds 35:45 What's left in this draw: who is going to be the women's number one? Is RBA the real deal? 48:45 Walk walk fashion baby: Serena's romper; Rafa's sleeveless; and Nike rocks the classic black & white but misses with bunchy, ill-fitting skirts and shorts 54:00 Vika's revealing press conference 55:45 The "rules are rules" brigade created a monster: the double standard detectives 1:04:50 Get your G.E.M.S. life

Australian Open Preview: Say It Ain't So, Andeh

Sat, 12 Jan 2019 12:05:43 -0500

It's not easy to say goodbye to Andrew Murray -- and we're not saying goodbye yet. But, we begin our Australian Open preview with a tribute to the authentic, generous, straight-to-the-point Scot who has changed our sport forever. It's not all doom and gloom: we also talk through this week's results and the Australian Open Heat Stress Scale, followed by an analysis of both the men's and women's draws. We conclude with an update on the ever-tempestuous ATP leadership battles; this time, the Board will vote on Kermode's future, and what a Board it is.

1:00 Appreciating Andy Murray: present tense only

18:00 Results from this week: Kvitova and Barty beat a boatload of AO contenders between them

21:45 The new Australian Open heat protocol: you down with AOHSS?

26:40 Women's draw - "dangerous floaters" and the Simona-Serena-Venus quarter of death

38:15 Women's bottom half - we disagree on whether the women's draw is lopsided

43:40 A diversion on Sloane Stephens and star power - the mainstream press isn't sure what to do with her

52:15 Men's draw: who could possibly stop Novak from getting to the final?

1:01:00 Men's bottom half is crowded af

1:03:30 ATP Board set to vote on Kermode's contract ... digging into the almighty mess that is men's tennis governance

Season Five Premiere: Still Here

Mon, 07 Jan 2019 03:41:57 -0500

Welcome to our Season FIVE opener. Our brief offseason is over and week one of the 2019 season caught us off guard with SO MUCH action right off the bat. We recap the seven titlists who emerged from the first week of play before tackling some of the offseason happenings while we were away. We have a message for the fandoms, a few things we're keeping our eyes on for the season, as well as a few predictions. The episode wraps with a dip into our listener mailbag as we attempt to tackle your questions with a bit of (hopefully) levity.

02:59 Week one results: 7 champions crowned

22:45: #SaveHopmanCup and its unique place in the tennis landscape

29:40: Injury updates & Sveta's Insta prowess

32:37 AO super tiebreak rule change

36:50 To the left, to the left: Venus cleans house

39:23 This is who they are: ATP elects Stakhovsky AGAIN

41:08 Calling all fandoms: let Naomi be, sit there & eat your food

47:45 A few things we'll be keeping our eyes on in 2019

53:23 Our 2019 year-end top 10 picks & breakout/comeback candidates

60:46 Listener mailbag: thanks for all your submissions!

Season 4 Finale: What the Boys Got up to in 2018

Mon, 10 Dec 2018 18:10:56 -0500

As our fourth cycle comes to a close, we recap the men's tour with its continued Big 3 dominance, Djokovic's herculean comeback, and NextGen banging on the door (well, more like politely ringing the doorbell). We look at the latest Gimelstob debacle as a mess that tennis governing bodies made for themselves, one that echoes MeToo stories across every industry, and which the sport continued to ignore and pave over until things blew up spectacularly. Finally, we finish with some levity: our TBSMoments awards, including feel-good moments, WTF moments, and most bizarre off-season story.

01:00 Who won the big titles this year? Is the Big 3 still a thing? Yep.

13:00 Rankings leaps and tumbles: NextGen isn't quite here yet, but they're really close 22:40 The Gimelstob Debacle: Tennis has a whole mess on its hands, much of its own making 33:30 Tennis governance and how conflicts of interest can rot an organization from the inside out 38:50 Why the resounding silence from the tennis world? 48:35 Other controversies: Novak sparks unionization rumors, Sandgren comes out as an Alt-Right dabbler, Darko gets exposed(?) 55:40 Retirements and comebacks 57:45 Our favorite and most impactful matches of the year 61:00 Jonathan takes a quiz on the ATP season - play along at home! 68:15 The #TBSMoments awards, starting with Denis Shapovavovavorlov, WTF moments, and wildest off-court story 72:00 Men being d---s ... as always, fertile ground on the ATP Tour 75:55 Finishing this season with Feel-Good Moment and the You Did THAT Moment

WTA Moments of 2018

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 17:27:06 -0500

We consider a WTA season that was by turns tumultuous and gratifying, full of tedious controversies and long-awaited breakouts. This episode takes on the major themes of 2018, the title winners, the comebacks and retirements, a few surprising events that almost faded from memory, and our #TBSMoments. Oh, and as if 2018 wasn't annoying enough, take our WTA Quiz alongside James.

02:00 Who won what? Parity was the name of the game

13:10 How'd we do on predictions? Well, there's a reason we don't usually make them

17:00 Moving on up (and down)

23:45 Matches that stood out ... most of them feature Simona

27:40 #RememberTheTime

35:55 Moments that had people mad this year: Miami crowd, Pliskova lumberjack, the endless Serena controversies, Peng gets snitched upon

51:15 Your favorite comebacks of the year, and a few farewells

56:30 Quick update on WTA streaming and Tennis Channel

58:05 James takes a quiz on the WTA season!

68:00 Our #TBSMoments: first up, funniest moment of the year

72:00 WTF Moment: the Plisko-chop

75:10 The You DID THAT Moment and Feel-Good Moment

Look At Us, We're Going The Distance

Wed, 21 Nov 2018 03:55:08 -0500

Y'all know by now we're a pair of Mariah stans, and we are HERE for her new album. We chat briefly about her tightly spun new effort at the top of the show, before segueing into the tennis action. Zverev and Tsitsipas won the ATP & Next Gen Finals respectively, two banner results for the future of the ATP. The meat and potatoes of this episode is a convo about conflicts of interests in tennis, precipitated by an interview given by Julien Benneteau. We finish with a new segment called, "Yes or MESS," before bidding adieu to Aga Radwanska and Lucie Safarova.

03:15 Going the distance: Zverev wins ATP Finals

13:47 Proceed with caution: On-court advertising boards

16:14 Thank you, next (gen): Tsitsipas runs the board in Milan

18:26 A No No: Federer & conflicts of interest

29:05 GTFO: We ain't buying it, Craig Tiley

40:00 Giving Me Life: Yes or MESS (New Segment!)

50:50 (No longer) With You: Coaching carousel continues

53:46 Portrait of a career: Farewell, Aga & Lucie

Khachanov Hatches In Paris

Tue, 06 Nov 2018 01:20:35 -0500

It seems like we've been talking about the next generation of ATP players a lot recently, and Karen Khachanov keeps that trend going with a massive first Masters 1000 title in Paris. Elsewhere, the WTA officially ends its season with Ash Barty hoisting the trophy in Zhuhai. Although he was unable to keep his win streak going, Djokovic leaves Paris with the #1 ranking secured into 2019. We talk a bit about the upcoming ATP & #NextGen Finals, before finishing the episode with more news in the ongoing tennis culture crisis of ballkid abuse.

00:32 Khachanov rides momentum to dream week in Paris

04:09 Federer shows up and shows out vs Nole

08:01 Hats off to Ash Barty and her beautiful game

20:33 Luksika Kumkhum winning out loud

24:57 Rafa shuts it down, has ankle surgery?

27:42 Nole secures year-end #1 for a 5th time

31:55 What next for the Saudi exhibition?

34:28 James goes to bat for Isner at ATP finals

37:48 The #NextGenFinals sowing some good seeds

50:04 Yet again: THESE ARE CHILDREN!

Undefeated, Undeniable, and Under Scrutiny

Tue, 30 Oct 2018 02:29:50 -0400

Elina Svitolina ran the table in Singapore to secure the biggest title of her career. Meanwhile, Sloane Stephens has shown -- to us and herself -- that her standing in the game cannot be denied. Other topics on offer this episode: Wozniacki reveals her arthritis diagnosis, Grigor's alarming hairline, the absurd Sampras "boring" debate, and the growing calls for Rafole to abandon their Saudi exhibition. Thanks as always for listening!

03:10 Svitolina reverses course, goes undefeated to win Singapore

09:55 Sloane makes herself undeniable

13:12 What next for Svitolina & the Year End Championships

20:05 9s across the board for Federer & other ATP results

29:01 Wozniacki's big, worrying news in Singapore

31:50 Long story very short: Grisha, where your follicles at?!

35:44 To play or not to play: A Saudi saga

47:41 The boring Sampras debate and considering him as tragic figure

53:08 Tennis Jesus shows Verdasco how to apologize

58:42 How NOT to do a Naomi Osaka costume: NO BLACKFACE

Just Djoking: Novak's Purple Patch Continues

Wed, 17 Oct 2018 01:39:46 -0400

The 2018 tennis season is getting ready to pull into its final station, and we've got tales from a few of its last few stops. Nole's purple patch and Borna's full package headline the action in Shanghai. We also assess the state of the ATP's burgeoning #NextGen stars and posit who is poised to emerge as the real deals. It was a very successful Asian swing for some of the game's top Asian players; perhaps we are seeing tennis' heavy investment in Asia pay some dividends? Finally, enjoy a few TV recommendations and brace yourself for Jonathan's almighty rant on something he reaaaally dislikes.

00:32 Nole extends his purple patch in Shanghai

07:20 A circular, probably not-so-fair take on Zverev

14:55 Who of the #NextGen is MOST ready?

23:16 But, back to Borna Coric....he's got all of the packages

24:46 So, who's been doing the winning the last two weeks?

34:54 Where were you when I needed you?

37:37 The Asian players came to play during the Asian Swing

40:34 Etcs: Fighter girl Simona, Aga's apartments & poor Delpo

48:38 Things we like & one thing Jonathan REALLY dislikes

So Disrespectful: Please Remember My Name

Tue, 02 Oct 2018 03:04:53 -0400

We've recharged our batteries after the draining U.S. Open just in time to catch up with the tennis happenings on the Asian Swing. Aryna Sabalenka continues her march to the top of women's tennis with her big win in Wuhan. We ruminate on what people mean when talking about being "the next Serena," before finally wading into the Davis Cup changes. Hopefully you'll find a bit of levity towards the end of the episode as we stick up for Sloane, torch Verdasco, and speculate on what makes Indian Wells such a fertile WTA stomping ground.

01:52 The Sabalenka train picks up serious steam

05:05 Tursunov provides great insights as Aryna's coach

13:28 What does it mean to be "the next Serena?"

19:31 Catching up on the winners since we've been gone

28:26 Davis Cup semis & new format

34:15 A healthy dose of skepticism at the Davis Cup changes

45:31 A big big tangent on policing black women in America

60:24 "F@#*ing bitch tried to hit me!"

66:49 Dear Fernando, they are LITERALLY children

68:58 A quick word on Naomi Osaka

US Open Wrap: Multiple Things Are True Oprah Shrug Gif

Mon, 10 Sep 2018 04:34:57 -0400

There are so many things to talk about from the U.S. Open women's final, but chief among these is that Naomi Osaka bossed her way to a maiden Grand Slam title. We talk about just how awesome Naomi and her game were this past fortnight, before wading into the mess that was the drama in the championship match. We implore listeners to consider multiple things we think are true of this situation, instead of painting this as a black and white issue. We belatedly finish with Novak's 14th - and oh so impressive - Slam title, before revisiting the Pliskova saga and how it could have been avoided.

02:53 Naomi Osaka's star is born

10:33 So, we get to the final...

14:57 Looking at what happened with empathy

23:30 To coach or not to coach

29:42 Why questioning Serena's integrity cuts so deep

35:15 Rules are rules except when they're not

42:34 Serena claims unequal treatment, was it the right time?

46:14 What does it take for people to see blackness at play?

54:28 Where Serena and her team went wrong

66:32 Multiple things are true: to recap

70:40 Novak wins #14 and ATP etceteras

79:28 The Pliskova mess and how we could have avoided it

(You Make Me Feel Like) The US Open Is Burning, Literally

Sat, 01 Sep 2018 12:17:57 -0400

The late, great Aretha Franklin -- a huge tennis fan -- provides the theme for our episode today, as we tackle the unusually wild first week of the US Open. First, we talk about the actual tennis, the upsets, and the 30th Williams-Williams showdown. Then, we tackle the mountain of extracurricular storylines: Alize Cornet's accidental (pending?) revolution, the fashions, Serena's tutu; and an extended meditation on Kyrgios, our expectations of athletes, and how Nick's personality seems to compel people to overstep their professional bounds. We finish with a very personal tribute to the Queen of Soul.

2:00 Something they can feel: New York brings the heat!

14:45 Ever changing times: early round upsets

20:10 Sisters are doing it for themselves: Williams Bowl XXX

25:40 Respect: the appalling Cornet code violation

32:15 Don't play that song: Catsuit correlation and causation

35:55 Great gowns, beautiful gowns: US Open fashions

42:35 Chain of fools: the men are at it again (Lahyani, Murray-Verdasco drama)

52:10 You better think: Chris Fowler needs some help

1:01:15 We say a little prayer that these boys leave Tsitsipas alone

1:07:50 Sail on silver girl: Our Aretha Franklin tribute

The Good, the Bad, and the Tragic: US Open Preview f/ David Taylor and Kamau Murray

Sat, 25 Aug 2018 13:28:39 -0400

We sat down with the coaches of last year's US Open finalists, David Taylor (Keys) and Kamau Murray (Stephens). These very different coaches share their thoughts on navigating player personalities and what they see as the most important roles of a tennis coach. But first, we analyze the US Open draws: the stacked women's first quarter, which could see a Venus-Serena third round and a Simona-Serena fourth, but with much uncertainty for all. On the men's side, Nadal gets an easy-ish one, while Djokovic looms for Federer (or vice versa) in the quarters. We also take on FFT President Giudicelli's comments on Serena's catsuit, and why boycotting is not top of mind for us.

2:10 The tragic: the women's first quarter, which features 5 current or former no. 1s plus Kuznetsova

12:45 The good: Madison Keys' draw 21:15 Also good: defending champ Nadal gets a soft draw to the semis 32:50 The bad (depending on your position): Djokovic and Federer drawn to play in the quarters 38:10 Peng Shuai gets dinged by the Tennis Integrity Unit, Lendl joins the Zverev camp 42:50 French Federation president Giudicelli bans Serena's catsuit: the cultural battleground that is the black female body 51:30 Is this the least wide-open women's draw in a while? 56:20 Our interviews with David Taylor and Kamau Murray, coaches of last year's US Open finalists Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens 1:04:40 Kamau Murray's radical honesty

Kiki-ing Down The Door In Cincy

Mon, 20 Aug 2018 02:51:18 -0400

The bad news: our time in Cincinnati has come to an end. The good news: we're back with another episode to recap an event that produced a stellar title run by Kiki Bertens and a full-circle performance from Novak Djokovic. After recapping the finals, we rehash some of the notable matches we saw over the past week and regale you with some stories/observations from around the grounds. We also pondered a few questions: is Stan back? Is Milos being usurped and replaced in Canadian media? Do fans really care about Nick Kyrgios' "antics?"

2:30 Kiki Bertens takes out four top 10 players to win Cincinnati

11:30 Simona Halep and Darren Cahill audio: looking at Simona's evolution as a player and Darren's as a coach

17:00 Serena-Petra in Round 2 ... the tantalizing rivalry that never really was

24:00 Djokovic beats Federer to complete his Masters set: MasterBlaster

31:35 Other men's matches: Stanley vs. Roger, battle of Canadian no. 1s, Milos Raonic and Denis Shapovalov

36:45 The undeniable star power of Nick Kyrgios

41:55 Thanks to USTA Midwest for the USTA Pride Event at the Western & Southern Open

44:00 Stories from around the grounds: ball thievery, Alexis Ohanian flying under the radar, watching Coric & Fuscovics

52:35 Marin Cilic provides your moment of zen

Getting the Conversation Started: Creating a Safe Space to Come Out in Men's Tennis

Wed, 15 Aug 2018 20:27:53 -0400

You might have read what Roger Federer had to say about why there hasn't been an openly gay male tennis player in on the ATP Tour. Now, hear his words, along with those of Kevin Anderson, as both speak on what can be a tricky and challenging issue. Plus, our chat with Nick McCarvel about the upcoming event he's hosting (in partnership with No Challenges Remaining) to kick-start the conversation of "being queer and out in pro tennis," featuring the out retired player Brian Vahaly.

1:00 Talking about LGBTQ issues in tennis - why now?

6:25 Roger Federer speaks on the possibility of a male player coming out on the ATP Tour

14:20 Kevin Anderson expands on his previously stated support for LGBT athletes, and why he was compelled to speak in the first place

18:00 What are some of the barriers for an ATP player coming out?

24:50 Our chat with Nick McCarvel, host of the upcoming Open Playbook event with Brian Vahaly in NYC

Open Playbook: Being Queer and Out in Pro Tennis - at Housing Works Bookstore, Soho, NY on August 23

Event benefits Housing Works and New York Junior Tennis & Learning

Rogers Cup Wrap, Sascha Bajin Chat

Sun, 12 Aug 2018 23:01:32 -0400

Here in Cincinnati, we had the chance to sit down with Sascha Bajin, Naomi Osaka's coach and the former long-time hitting partner of Serena Williams. Sascha talks about his playful relationship with Naomi, his approach to coaching, and his recent social media tribulations. We're also recapping the Rogers Cup, which was highlighted by an incredible giant-killing run by Stefanos Tsitsipas and a superb women's final between Simona Halep and Sloane Stephens.

2:00 Catching up with Rogers Cup results: all about Stefanos

7:30 Denis & Sascha Z ruffle a few feathers - we attempt to move past the knee-jerk reaction 17:00 Rafa's run to the Rogers Cup title 19:30 Simona and Sloane put on a great show in Montreal women's final 26:00 Anything to say about the shot clock? Not really 29:00 Our conversation with Sascha Bajin, coach of Naomi Osaka 37:00 Sascha's trials and tribulations on social media: "I've been getting in so much trouble on Twitter"

Midsummer Mailbag

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 12:05:44 -0400

We are tackling listener questions little by little; you've given us so many great ones that we will have to space them out. But first, we try to provide some context into Serena Williams' repeated statements about doping tests: we look at the structure of the anti-doping system in tennis, Therapeutic Use Exemptions, and the uphill battle to arm everyone with comprehensive knowledge on the system. We also talk Andy Murray's emotional return, Kuznetsova and Vekic's accidental profundity, and Serena's no good very bad day at the office.

0:30 Like Alyssa Edwards and Andy Murray we're back back back again

1:55 Murray battles, cries, gives it all, but DC tournament director wants more 9:25 Serena has a very bad day against Jo Konta - what's next? 14:10 What's happened since Wimbledon? Fognini wins 2 titles, Thiem stays losing, Zverev defends DC title 17:10 Kuznetsova and Vekic remind us that playing tennis is about survival and sticking around for the good moments 21:00 Tackling Serena's comments on anti-doping in tennis - trying to get the whole story on USADA, ITF, WADA 29:00 Therapeutic Use Exemptions and the story that riled up Tennis Twitter - what are the ethical considerations in writing about stolen medical data? 36:45 Question from Sam (@top_tennis): how would you do doping tests if you had the power to shape the anti-doping system in tennis? 41:20 Who will complete the Career Slam first - Kerber, Muguruza, Kvitova, or Azarenka? (from Arun, @arknight12) 44:05 What are the top 5 places you'd recommend around the Rogers Cup venue or Toronto in general? (from Angie, @angs2014) 48:15 If y'all were single, would you go on Love Island? Which tennis players would you bring? (from Peter, @thaiguy84) 52:40 A truly scandalous FMK from Dr. Sholz (@SholzTalks10s)

Postcards From Wimbledon: Pleading The Fifth

Tue, 17 Jul 2018 01:54:05 -0400

Wimbledon is (mercifully) over, and we've got two players making their returns to the winner's circle after rather tumultuous 2017 campaigns. Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal in a much-talked-about semifinal before taking out Kevin Anderson in the final. Meanwhile, Angelique Kerber became the second ever player (Venus) to beat Serena Williams twice in a Grand Slam final. We then parse through the major stories of week two at the All England Club, including Dominika Cibulkova's appearance in this episode's #SeeWhatHadHappenedWas.

01:52 Kerber reasserts her class with third Grand Slam title

06:46 Serena has a ways to go yet, but what a ride!

14:26 Nadalovic, Rafole, Djokodal? Whichever you prefer, it was a hell of a match

32:17 AELTC relying on tradition, honour and empire to explain away bad organization

38:23 Women's final (non)scheduling: the issue is about R-E-S-P-E-C-T

45:06 Dedicated to Jana: doubles rundown

48:07 #SeeWhatHadHappenedWas: Cibulkova gives ALL the bad looks

54:08 Rankings Watch: who's up and who's down after Wimbledon?

56:53 Chrissie Evert has had IT: she will name and shame

61:44 What will it take for the WTA to acknowledge its rich gay history and present?

64:44 #SaveHopmanCup

Wimbledon Week 1: Opportunities Earned

Sun, 08 Jul 2018 12:56:24 -0400

Maybe you've heard that Wimbledon 2018 has been full of shocking upsets, but just how shocking are they? Most of the early-round vanquishers have backed up their results with trips to the second week. In the words of tennis' poet laureate, Venus Williams, their places in the draw are not accidental, but "an opportunity earned." We comb through the draw, look at Federer's decision to leave Nike for Uniqlo, and take a look at Marion Bartoli and Nick Kyrgios' tiff.

0:30 Week 1 summary: Everybody lost

5:10 Wozniacki's unkind words for Makarova are belied by Makarova's actual results 10:25 Many of the early-round giant-killers are still slaying! 16:00 Other women's draw stuff - Serena, Venus, Kerber, Simona, Hsieh 24:20 Our women's draw predictions 25:55 Men's draw: Mackenzie McDonald is giving US fans a different look 31:45 Gulbis is rebuilding his career the hard way, knocks out #4 Sascha Zverev in round 3 37:00 Other men's draw stuff and predictions 41:30 Federer with Uniqlo in massive 10-year contract 47:30 Marion Bartoli goes all the way in on Kyrgios & Monfils

Previewing the Nature Valley WimbleBowl

Sat, 30 Jun 2018 02:56:22 -0400

We're back to regularly scheduled programming with our Wimbledon preview. First, we go over the grass court news: the seeding question that dominated the news cycle, Kyrgios' water bottle explosion, Petra's excellence, and Boris Becker's heretofore unknown career in diplomacy. Then we break down the gentlemen's and ladies' draws.

3:15 Nick Kyrgios pleasures a water bottle, owes 15,000 Euro; or: why we should stop criminalizing Nick

10:20 Odds and ends - Andy is back, Fed and Rafa trade no. 1, Petra Kvitova wins title no. 5 17:00 The Serena Williams seeding drama: here's how the Wimbledon seeding policy works 25:45 Draw preview - does Federer have any obstacles? 29:15 Nadal's fortunate draw avoids many of his bugaboos 36:50 Women's draw - Simona Halep's very tough quarter w/ Petra, Penko, Pova 45:55 Sloane is #4! A year after being #957 48:45 For some reason we really care about the #25 seed's draw

Pride Is Political: A Partial History of LGBTQ People in Tennis

Sat, 23 Jun 2018 14:36:33 -0400

We are proud to bring you our Pride Special, a partial and selective history of the LGBTQ people across tennis history who changed our sport forever. Some of the stories you'll know, others were news to us, but all of them challenged our view of history and opened our eyes to so many forms of resistance. Listen for stories about Baron Gottfried von Cramm, Helen Jacobs, Billie and Martina, Renee Richards, and many more. Happy Pride!

03:45 The early modern era: Big Bill Tilden 8:00 Helen Jacobs, shorts pioneer and one-half of a fascinating gay relationship in the 1930s 14:20 When queer love is criminal: Baron Gottfried von Cramm 22:00 Ted Tinling, the designer of women's tennis 27:00 Renee Richards changes everything 40:00 The summer of 1981: Billie Jean King & Martina's outings pose an existential threat to women's tennis 45:55 "In Defense of Billie Jean," by ally Chrissie Evert Lloyd 51:00 Martina: a perfect storm of Cold War hysteria, citizenship fears, and the "butch" female body 54:55 Amelie Mauresmo, who was never "in" 1:03:45 Gender trouble: the confounding clash of sex, sexuality, gender, and gender expression 1:11:30 Things we learned and closing thoughts Reading List: Big Bill Tilden - Frank Deford Second Serve - Renee Richards The Rivals - Johnette Howard "Amelie Mauresmo's Muscles: The Lesbian Heroic in Women's Professional Tennis" - Pamela J. Forman and Darcy C. Plymire "Renee Richards Wants to be Left Alone," Michael Weinreb (Grantland) "Renee Richards' 'Second Serve' is a Book About Two Remarkable People," Jeremiah Tax (Sports Illustrated) "Life, Death, Tennis and the Nazis: Gottfried von Cramm, The Man That Wimbledon Forgot," Will Mage (Vice Sports UK)

La Primera y La Undécima: 1s Across the Board at French Open

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 02:55:15 -0400

Simona Halep and Rafael Nadal are your French Open champions. For Simona, it was her first time as last woman standing at a Slam, while Nadal hoisted the Coupe des Mousquetaires for an 11th time. After recapping both finals and notable matches since the quarterfinals, we tackle some of the outside-the-lines etceteras that popped up since our last episode. On tap: Nadal's alleged equal pay remarks, the ubiquity of flossing, the laughable punishment meted out in the James Blake case, and using Margaret Court to raise the stakes for our current greats.

01:41 Simona turns the Titanic back around

11:05 Putting the many facets of Simona into context

15:55 Muguruza defollicles Maria & Madison has no answers for Sloane

20:02 Complicating Sloane's relationship with the media

24:46 Sloane gives a pitch perfect performance as runner-up

27:00 Nadal's third "La Undécima" & the anxiety of greatness

34:54 How did Dominic acquit himself in his first Slam final?

39:48 The massive elephant in the room: Nadal & equal pay in tennis

53:28 Assessing Novak's performance and loss to Cecchinato

58:11 Speaking of Cecchinato...thinking out loud about sports reporting

63:50 Doubles, juniors & flossing?!?! How do the kids all know how to do it?

70:53 ENOUGH of using Margaret Court to move the goalpost.

Much Ado About Mother: The Catsuit's Out of the Bag

Tue, 05 Jun 2018 01:01:46 -0400

The quarterfinals of the 2018 French Open are set, and we are back with episode 125 to recap how we got here. Serena Williams dominated week one discussion with her catsuit, and her play, before having to withdraw ahead of a fourth round meeting with Maria Sharapova. Some folks had stuff to say about her attire, and we've got something to say about that. We cover the usual mid-slam topics: upsets, genuine surprises, feel-good stories, amusements, and various atrocities.

02:02 Mother is back, causing ALL the conversation

05:30 The catsuit's out of the bag

15:34 Serena has to withdraw ahead of the Sharapova match

21:15 Girl, BYE: Bill Simons and Karolina Pliskova edition

29:08 WTA upsets, surprises, and upcoming quarterfinals

39:56 So, let's talk about Sloane

46:55 Marco Trungelliti's road race with destiny

48:12 Cecchinato's surprise and Jack Sock's abominable display

51:08 ATP upsets, disappointments, and other etceteras

53:54 The folly of John Isner

55:34 Grigor and Goffin disappoint, Nole holds court, and QF previews

64:55 Serena's moment of levity/immense pettiness

Songs In C-lay Major: Roland Garros Preview

Fri, 25 May 2018 02:39:59 -0400

The denouement of the clay season is upon us with the dawning of the French Open. We're back to preview the year's second major with the help of some of our listeners. We solicited questions specific to Roland Garros, and you all came through big time; we structure our draw analysis through your thoughtful offerings. After parsing through the draws, we finish with a few thoughts on the protected seeding drama that erupted again this week.

02:26 Women's draw dark horses

09:34 Muguruza or Ostapenko: who will fare better?

13:57 Players who'll benefit/suffer most from lack of on-court coaching

16:40 Is this the beginning of the end for Aga?

20:00 Other women's draw observations

30:18 Men's dark horses

34:45 Who will be Nadal's fiercest competition?

37:10 The Big 4 as super coaches

42:18 FMK Frenchies edition: Pouille, Chardy, and PHH

44:26 Other men's draw observations

52:06 Wading into the protected seeding WTA issue again

Recommended reading: A Maternity Leave Policy for the WTA by @BadToss

Royal Weekend in Rome

Mon, 21 May 2018 12:57:36 -0400

Rafa Nadal rights the ship on clay with a gritty win over Sascha Zverev, and Svitolina defends her Rome title with far less drama. We also cover Francoise Abanda's charges of racial discrimination, Sascha Zverev's stunning hot streak, Djokovic's resurgence, and we spend a good while on our See What Had Happened Was: Karolina Pliskova's shocking tantrum in Rome.

1:40 Il Re della terra battuta: Rafa wins 8th Rome title

4:45 Sascha Zverev's game is steadily improving (except the volley) - expect him to change his fortunes at majors 10:00 Djokodal 51 - great signs for a resurgent Novak 15:20 Elina Svitolina defends Rome title, winning 8 straight finals 19:30 The Sharapova-Halep semifinal was - well, it was something 26:50 Canadian no. 1 Francoise Abanda addresses racism in tennis 34:00 #SeeWhatHadHappenedWas: Karolina Pliskova melts down, smashes umpire's chair 40:55 What would be the reaction had someone else done this? (Take your pick) 45:00 The umpire was wrong, Karolina was wrong, but only one of them acted with aggression and malice

One Clay At A Time

Wed, 16 May 2018 02:08:56 -0400

The show is back from a two-week hiatus to discuss more clay court tennis! Rafa Nadal got to a record 50 consecutive sets won before bowing out to Dominic Thiem, who in turn bowed out to Zverev two matches later in the Madrid final. Petra Kvitova continued her awe-inspiring run with a third title in Madrid, this after taking the title in Prague the week before. We rag on Shapovalov and Patrick Mouratoglou, take a deep dive into Cornet's ITF ruling, then finish up with a few tennis etceteras.

01:28 #Thirev is a thing? The Bel-Ami Madrid final

07:11 A few clay tangents and musings

10:40 Phallic with a real sense of danger

14:49 The most positive Sharapova segment we've ever done

17:21 Petra won't stop winning, and other WTA standouts

25:00 Taking the piss out of Shapovalov and his "haters"

32:00 Serena is playing Roland Garros? Lord God Patrick says so

35:39 The Cornet case: did they make every reasonable effort?

49:40 Results we missed, injury updates, and Vinci's farewell

46 Problems But A Set Ain't One

Tue, 01 May 2018 02:30:27 -0400

Rafael Nadal continued his clay dominance with a second El Undécimo, this time in Barelona. We begin episode 121 with a look at some of the stats within his streak of 46 consecutive sets won on clay. Our #SeeWhatHadHappenedWas features Grigor Dimitrov's "as a man" moment in Barcelona, and we highlight (if you can call it that) some of the coaches who chimed in on social media last week. The episode wraps with a look at Serena's profile in the New York Times, and a Riverdale Daddy FMK.

00:35 46 problems but a set ain't one

04:39 Tsitsipas on the come up and disappointing Domi

10:27 Pliskova halts Vandeclay's Stuttgart surge

18:00 #SeeWhatHadHappenedWas: Grigor as a power top?

25:42 Coaches chiming in all over the place

29:02 Simona, THOSE Romanian men, and the responsibility of #1

35:02 Townsend and Eubanks doing big things

37:15 Taking stock of Maria, 12 months back from suspension

47:04 Serena's profile in the NYT

56:02 FMK: Riverdale Daddy Edition

Seeing Red: A Step Too Far

Tue, 24 Apr 2018 02:29:47 -0400

After an injury-riddled start to 2018, Rafael Nadal returned to his best in Monte Carlo. The King Of Clay won the tournament for the 11th time, while Novak Djokovic made signs of progress in an encouraging three match stretch. Some tennis folks have gone "a step too far" and we give our takes on Jared Donaldson, the continued disregard for player safety, and Caroline Wozniacki's foot-in-mouth syndrome. We finish the episode with a typical pop culture diversion via a Grown-ish/Riverdale FMK.

03:53 Rafa masters Monte Carlo for the 11th time

10:56 Clay Kei is back and we're here for it

12:02 Other Monte Carlo assessments

17:24 The "inevitability" of Rafa on clay & not getting his due

23:06 A step too far: Jared Donaldson loses control

30:39 When tournaments give zero fucks about player safety

37:28 Fed Cup: Sloane secures the bag...and the tie

44:34 Many steps too far: Who are you, Darko Grncarov?!

48:08 Wozniacki still (rightfully) mad about Miami, steps in it

60:44 FMK - Grown-ish and Riverdale edition

@Hypotemuse wrote a piece on John Isner and why it's OK to push back on his politics. Give it a read!

Spring Mash-Up: Divas, Davis Cup, Dellacqua

Sun, 15 Apr 2018 15:06:04 -0400

Before the clay season kicks into gear, we're bringing you a mixed bag of topics: Madison Brengle alleging mistreatment at the hands of the WTA and anti-doping authorities; the controversy over the Davis Cup proposal seems to be heating up; Aussie favorite Casey Dellacqua retires from tennis; and we discuss the ways players create branded images and connect with fans outside of the traditional press. Stay tuned for our new segment on divas, the first of which celebrates our fave Mariah Carey.

4:15 Players' self-presentation through social media - how the relationship with traditional media has changed

13:20 Madison Brengle files suit against the WTA and ITF over anti-doping practices 24:05 ITF chief hits back over Davis Cup proposal amidst rumors of player discontent (h/t @markalannixon) 28:30 Does the Davis Cup overhaul pass the eye test? Just who will benefit? 33:00 Farewell to Casey Dellacqua, who retired from tennis this week 36:30 Jonathan takes a quiz on clay court tennis - take the quiz at home! 48:45 Our new segment Diva: our foundational diva, Mariah Carey, and her brave statement this week on her bipolar disorder

Charleston Wrap: Reunited, And It Feels So Good

Mon, 09 Apr 2018 03:02:43 -0400

Jonathan is back in Toronto after his trip to Charleston for the Volvo Car Open, and reunites with James to bring you #118. On deck for this episode: the WTA's uphill battle for equal footing with the ATP, a reflection on Naomi Osaka and her openness, Cornet's conundrum, the Davis Cup echo chamber, and #ThingsWeLike.

01:26 Tying up some Charleston odds and ends

05:37 The WTA's constant struggle for a piece of the pie

11:05 Naomi's sense of wonder and vulnerability

24:30 Bertens wins in Charleston, Muguruza secures her bag

28:01 Strike three: Cornet's whereabouts

34:36 Davis Cup weekend and James' misstep

39:52 The entrenched opinions surrounding proposed DC changes

48:01 Capital Tennis' out-of-nowhere statement on Tennys Sandgren

54:13 Shoutout to Carol, TBS listener Jonathan met in Charleston!

56:30 Things we like: Jesus Christ Superstar and Love, Simon