The Tennis Podcast

The tennis off season is here and so are Catherine, David and Matt for their first catch up since the Davis Cup. Part one (00:00 - 26:12) - Reaction to our interview with Andy Murray and concerns as Jack Draper pulls out of playing UTS. Part two (26:13 - 51:49) - Everything we dislike about the upcoming ‘Battle of the Sexes’ including the platforming of Nick Kyrgios, Aryna Sabalenka’s involvement, and the broadcasting of it on BBC One in the UK. Part three (51:50 - 1:21:10) - We discuss lots of news such as Serena Williams shutting down comeback rumours despite reentering the anti-doping testing pool, Anastasia Potapova’s nationality switch just days after taking part in a Gazprom-funded exhibition in Russia, and the death of Italian tennis great Nicola Pietrangeli. FRIENDS OF THE TENNIS PODCAST: Today is the day we re-launch the premium categories for Friends of The Tennis Podcast.New pet mascot, guest editor, Grand Slam predictions and Fantasy League slots will be opening up at 3pm UK time. You can also get yourself a shout out, intro or personal greeting, all while helping to support what we do, and gaining access to our bonus content. Friends get 12 Live Shows on YouTube, 8 editions of Tennis Re-Lived, 4 Grand Slam Review shows, episodes of Tennis Podcast Meets, access to The Barge, Hannah’s Column, and significantly fewer ads. 

In this very special episode, Catherine, David and Matt sit down for an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with former World No.1 and three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray, just over a year since his retirement from tennis. Murray talks about what coaching Novak Djokovic was really like, how he reflects on his career, his place in the ‘Big Four’ and his rivalries with them, some of the biggest issues facing tennis today, and the joys of life at home with his family. Become a ⁠Friend of The Tennis Podcast⁠Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠new merch shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Talk tennis with Friends on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Barge! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to receive our free ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (daily at Slams and weekly the rest of the year, featuring Matt’s Stat, mascot photos, Fantasy League updates, and more)Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (@thetennispodcast)Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ channel.

Flavio Cobolli clinched a third successive Davis Cup for hosts Italy, and Catherine, David and Matt were in awe at his comeback win. The young Italian came back from losing a first set 1-6 against Jaume Munar of Spain to win a thrilling three-setter in front of stadium-shaking crowd. He was given the perfect platform by veteran Matteo Berrettini, who joined Cobolli in going unbeaten, meaning Italy’s doubles team were not even called into action once. In the show, we ask what the future might hold for Cobolli - will he break the Top 10 in 2026? Plus, there’s chat about where the Davis Cup should go in the future, whether it should be played every other year instead of annually, and how this year’s event went overall. Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠new merch shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Talk tennis with Friends on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Barge! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to receive our free ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (daily at Slams and weekly the rest of the year, featuring Matt’s Stat, mascot photos, Fantasy League updates, and more)Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (@thetennispodcast)Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ channel.

The Davis Cup Final for 2025 is set, and even though Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are not there, it still features Italy and Spain!Part One00.00 General euphoria from Catherine, David and Matt after a brilliant couple of semifinals ensured that Italy and Spain would meet in the Davis Cup title. There’s a blow-by-blow account of how and why we’re now all ‘Cobolli guys’, his incredible tie-break against Zizou Bergs, and the beautiful friendship between the younger Italian and his team partner Matteo Berrettini. Part Two31.00 Spain vs. Germany went down to the doubles and what a battle that was. The trio talk about how the absence of Alcaraz and Sinner (and Lorenzo Musetti) has enabled Pedro Martinez, Pablo Carreno Busta, Matteo Berrettini and Flavio Cobolli to shine.Part Three41.17 Punchy predictions are called for a delivered ahead of the Davis Cup final. Who are we all going for?Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠new merch shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Talk tennis with Friends on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Barge! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to receive our free ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (daily at Slams and weekly the rest of the year, featuring Matt’s Stat, mascot photos, Fantasy League updates, and more)Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (@thetennispodcast)Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ channel.

Catherine, David and Matt discuss a dramatic few days at the Davis Cup Finals. There’s chat about Spain coping with Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal, a doubles classic won by Germany against Argentina, a moment of madness from Corentin Moutet, and Italy’s homecoming as champions. Plus, predictions for Italy vs Belgium and Spain vs Germany in the semis.You can keep up to date with the Davis Cup Finals on the Davis Cup Instagram, TikTok and X, you can sign up to the free official Davis Cup newsletter at Daviscup.com and you can follow all the action on the newly updated World Cup of Tennis app, which brings together the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge. Search 'World Cup of Tennis' on App Store or Play Store to download for freeBecome a ⁠Friend of The Tennis Podcast⁠Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠new merch shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Talk tennis with Friends on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Barge! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to receive our free ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (daily at Slams and weekly the rest of the year, featuring Matt’s Stat, mascot photos, Fantasy League updates, and more)Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (@thetennispodcast)Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ channel.

Catherine, David & Matt preview the 2025 tennis season’s denouement - the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna, Italy. Part One (00:00) - With Matt reporting from the ground in Bologna, the team look ahead to the first two quarter finals; France vs Belgium, and defending Champions Italy vs Austria. How will Italy cope with the absence of their two best singles players Sinner & Musetti? And can Paul Henri Mathieu complete a redemptive arc from devastating defeat as a player in the 2002 final, to captaining a winning French side in 2025?Part Two (33:22) - A preview of the second two quarter finals; Spain vs Czechia - a tie that many think will determine the outcome of the whole competition - and Germany vs Argentina. Does David Ferrer have questions to answer and a point to prove as Spain captain? And after of years of saying he’d never play the Davis Cup in its new format, why is Alexander Zverev lining up for Germany?Part Three (53:47) - Punchy predictions for how the week will unfold and who will be holding the trophy come Sunday. You can keep up to date with the Davis Cup Finals on the Davis Cup Instagram, TikTok and X, you can sign up to the free official Davis Cup newsletter at Daviscup.com and you can follow all the action on the newly updated World Cup of Tennis app, which brings together the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge. Search 'World Cup of Tennis' on App Store or Play Store to download for freeBecome a ⁠Friend of The Tennis Podcast⁠Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠new merch shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Talk tennis with Friends on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Barge! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to receive our free ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (daily at Slams and weekly the rest of the year, featuring Matt’s Stat, mascot photos, Fantasy League updates, and more)Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (@thetennispodcast)Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ channel.

After the final match of the ATP Tour season, Catherine David & Matt are joined by Charlie Eccleshare in Turin to discuss the latest edition of the Sinneraz rivalry, and another astonishing ATP Finals title for Jannik Sinner, who is now undefeated on indoor hard courts for two full seasons. Part One 00:00 - In depth analysis of Sinner's straight sets win over Alcaraz in front of a giddy Italian crowd. What makes Sinner so good on an indoor court, how big an impact has his new-found variety had on his match up with Alcaraz? And how worried should we be about Alcaraz's hamstring injury that seemed to plague him in the second half of the match?There's also discussion of the rivalry in general, where it goes from here and whether men's tennis is precariously reliant on its two biggest superstars. Part Two 54:33 - The team discuss a doubles title for Harri Heliövaara and Henry Patten, beating Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury in the final, as well as a dominant showing generally for British doubles players at the year-end finals. There's also a deep dive on the comments from ATP CEO Andrea Gaudenzi in Turin this week, defending his controversial move to extend 1000 events to 12 days in length. Plus there's a look ahead to the week ahead at the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna, where Matt will be reporting from on-site.Become a ⁠Friend of The Tennis Podcast⁠Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠new merch shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Talk tennis with Friends on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Barge! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to receive our free ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (daily at Slams and weekly the rest of the year, featuring Matt’s Stat, mascot photos, Fantasy League updates, and more)Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (@thetennispodcast)Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ channel.

David and Matt discuss the Group Stages of the ATP Finals with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner seemingly on yet another collision course in Turin. Part one - Bjorn Borg Group (00:00 - 20:55). We react to Felix Auger-Aliassime’s nervy victory in the decisive match against Alexander Zverev, take stock of the German’s season, and cover how Sinner has cruised to a 3-0 record. Part two - Jimmy Connors Group (20:56 - 42:28). There’s chat about Carlos Alcaraz securing the year-end number one spot, a brilliant performance but ultimately elimination for Taylor Fritz, a dramatic reversal of fortunes for Alex de Minaur, and some magical Lorenzo Musetti scenes. Part three - Doubles and SFs Predictions (42:29 - 58:14). Do De Minaur and Auger-Aliassime stand a chance against Sinner and Alcaraz? Become a ⁠Friend of The Tennis Podcast⁠Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠new merch shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Talk tennis with Friends on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Barge! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to receive our free ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (daily at Slams and weekly the rest of the year, featuring Matt’s Stat, mascot photos, Fantasy League updates, and more)Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (@thetennispodcast)Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ channel.

Catherine, David and Matt discuss Elena Rybakina’s title victory in Riyadh and preview the ATP Finals in Turin as the field is finally set. Part one - WTA Finals (00:00 - 49:38). We cover Rybakina’s incredible performance to beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-3 7-6(0) in the final and ponder what it might mean for the future. There’s also chat about Sabalenka’s brilliant victory over Amanda Anisimova in the semi-finals, the triumph of Elise Mertens and Veronika Kudermetova in the doubles, and The Athletic’s Matt Futterman delivers some powerful final reflections on his experience of the event. Part two - ATP Finals Preview (49:39 - 1:10:45). We react to the absurd situation in Athens as Novak Djokovic won a remarkable 101st title, breaking Lorenzo Musetti’s heart, but then withdrew from the ATP Finals allowing Musetti to participate in his place. After all that, what might happen in Turin? Part three - Reaction to our Jack Draper interview (1:10:46 - 1:24:06) Become a ⁠Friend of The Tennis Podcast⁠Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠new merch shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Talk tennis with Friends on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Barge! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to receive our free ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (daily at Slams and weekly the rest of the year, featuring Matt’s Stat, mascot photos, Fantasy League updates, and more)Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (@thetennispodcast)Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ channel.