Share

cover art for BIG SASCHA TALKS TENNIS WITH CRAIG SHAPIRO

The Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast

BIG SASCHA TALKS TENNIS WITH CRAIG SHAPIRO

Season 4, Ep. 11

Sascha Bajin grew up in Munich, Germany and for 8 years, beginning in 2008, was ever present on tour as a member of the Serena Williams team, and he was with Serena as her hitting partner while she won 11 major titles. He was the hitting partner for Vika Azarenka, Caroline Wozniaki, and Sloane Stephens. He rose to coaching prominence prominence as the coach of Naomi Osaka when she blasted on the scene, defeating Serena at the 2018 US Open. He was dismissed immediately after Naomi won the 2019 Australian Open. Since Naomi he has coached Kiki Mladenovic, Dayana Yastremska, and was just dismissed by Karolina Pliskova. We discussed it all.


Recorded 7.20 and Released 7.22


The Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast is Powered by Sergio Tacchini



More episodes

View all episodes

  • 3. The Colombian Star Camila Osorio Talks Tennis with Craig Shapiro

    30:55||Season 11, Ep. 3
    Camila Osorio blasted onto the tennis scene in 2019 when she became just the 3rd South American woman to win the junior US Open. She has been ranked as high as 33 in the world. We sat down in the media mixed zone at the Italian Open just a couple days ago and discussed a wide array of topics from her schedule to her tennis to her equipment- and it was quite interesting to hear her perspectives on tennis from a 23 year old in the early stages of a pro career and hopefully you get a feel for what it's like to be a young woman on tour.Recorded 5.10 Released 5.12 This Episode of The Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast is brought to you by Ellesse
  • 2. The Italian Francesco Passaro Talks Tennis with Craig Shapiro

    37:40||Season 11, Ep. 2
    Welcome to the 11th season and 129th episode of The Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast, todays show is brought to you byEllesse, the Italian brand from Peruggia made legendary by Chris Evert, Guillermo Vilas and Boris Becker.  We are on the ground at The Italian Open and we have a special show for you. Francesco Passaro was born and raised in Peruggia, Italy, and in 2022 he went from 600 in the world to qualifying for the Nextgen finals, and this year cracked the top 100 for the first time. He is a wildcard here in Rome and we talked about his career and Italian tennis in length from the players lounge.Recorded and Released on 5.5.25
  • 1. The Great Romanian Champion Virginia Ruzici Talks Tennis with Craig Shapiro

    54:58||Season 11, Ep. 1
    The Romanian Virginia Ruzici was one of the stars of tennis' Golden Age, becoming a global superstar in 1978 when she won the French Open. She rode a heavy forehand to 8 in the world in 1979, won 12 tournaments over the course of her career, and together with the bombastic Ilie Nastase and the svengali Ion Triac was ominpresent in tennis. She parlayed her playing career into a role at IMG, where she discovered Anna Kournikova. She managed Simona Halep for the majority of her career, and we talked in length about that. She was synonymous with the legendary Italian brand Ellesse, when the players were seemed to have more fun galavanting around the globe, playing and partying and playing some more. We talked about her life in and around tennis, and what a tale it was. Recorded 5.1 and Released 5.3 This episode of The Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast is brought to you by Ellesse
  • 12. Elite American Junior Rex Kulman Talks Tennis with Craig Shapiro

    46:00||Season 10, Ep. 12
    I met Rex Kulman and his father Guy when he was 8 years old at the Oracle Challenger in 2020, just days before the world quarantined. Five years later Rex is an elite 13 year old player, approaching a 10 UTR, is home schooled, and is coached full time by Diego Moyano, the former coach of Coco Gauff and Frances Tiafoe, respectively. Rex has trained at McEnroe Academy, Mouratoglou Academy, as well as the USTA's campus in Lake Nona and in Queens. Most recently Rex played in ITF Junior tournaments in Havana and Jamaica, and we talked about it all. His unique life in tennis is fascinating, and I hope every parent and child in tennis has a listen. Recorded 4.28 Released 4.30
  • 11. The Russian Anna Blinkova Talks Tennis with Craig Shapiro

    34:13||Season 10, Ep. 11
    In 2015 Anna Blinkova made the finals of Junior Wimbledon, and in 2016 began her life on the WTA Tour. She has been as high as 34 in the world and is now ranked 78. She has posted wins over Caro Garcia, Jess Pegula, Emma Navarro, and in Australia in 2024 she beat the defending champion Elena Rybakina 22-20 in the 3rd set Superbreaker, the longest tie breaker in WTA history. Fluent in 5 languages, remarkably eloquent and thoughtful, Anna was extremely forthcoming and painted an interesting picture of what life is like on tour.Recorded 4.4 released 4.6The Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast is coming to Rome
  • 10. Filipino Broadcaster Dyan Castillejo Discusses Phenom Alex Eala with Craig Shapiro

    21:44||Season 10, Ep. 10
    Dyan Castillejo and I met over 10 years ago covering the prizefighter Manny Pacquiao's career all around the globe, but it was in 2014 I saw her hitting some balls with her son in the parking lot of The Wild Card Gym in Hollywood- Manny's training camp in the US. It was then I realized that she had lived a special life in tennis. She is the first Filipino woman to have attained a WTA ranking. With the emergence of Alex Eala I thought there was no one better to learn about that unique and exciting situation, and Dyan didn't disappoint. Recorded 4.1 Released 4.2 The Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast is Coming to Rome
  • 9. Hall of Famer Mats Wilander Talks Joao Fonseca and Carlos Alcaraz with Craig Shapiro

    22:13||Season 10, Ep. 9
    Mats Wilander had 4 majors before his 21st birthday, and finished an illustrious career with 33 tournament victories, 7 major titles, the year end #1 in 1988, 3 Davis Cups, and we had a world class chat from the VIP Patio at The Arizona Tennis Classic, the coolest tennis tournament in the Americas. Mats and I covered Fonseca, Alcaraz, Nishikori, the Sinner debacle, Colton Smith, and a whole lot more. Recorded 3.15, released 3.16The Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast is Going To Rome
  • 8. Foot Doctor Zach Talks Tennis Shoes with Craig Shapiro

    37:23||Season 10, Ep. 8
    Dr Zach Thomas and I got back onto the mic to discuss all the things we need to know about our feet. Orthotic, ankle braces, and of course, the shoes. We played the hits as well as the more obscure one hit wonders, the sublime to the ridiculous. He recently dissected a pair of Rafa's actual; shoes and we discussed it all. Recorded 2.14 Released 2.17The Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast is Going To RomeDiadora Powers The Podcast
  • 7. Michael Kosta of The Daily Show Talks Tennis and Comedy with Craig Shapiro

    38:46||Season 10, Ep. 7
    The comedian and former world #864 Michael Kosta and I met in Paris a couple years ago, and courtesy of Tennis Channel sat court side on Philippe Chatrier one evening. Two years after our chance meeting he is one of the hosts of The Daily Show and has a memoir entitled Lucky Loser rolling out next month. We ran thru the 5 set format and we talked in length about his significant and fascinating life in tennis and how he pivoted from grinding on the tour to becoming a comedian. We talked about his time at Illinois, turning pro, and then making the U-turn into comedy. Michael was extremely forthcoming with his experience and there are a lot of lessons imparted. I really enjoyed this Shapsterclass. Recorded and Released 2.10.25Diadora powers the show. Learn more about Michael Kosta hereThe Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast is Going To Rome