Roland Garros Preview - 100 titles for Djokovic, can he still win a Slam?

With nine days having passed since the last podcast was recorded, an awful lot has happened in the fast-moving tennis world, including the announcement that the FFT have denied Maria Sharapova a wildcard into either the main draw or the qualifying event at Roland Garros. Catherine & David pick apart the decision, the way it was announced and the way the tennis world has reacted to it, as well as discussing the 4000 other things that have happened in tennis this week including yet another clay court title for Rafael Nadal, and the decision by Roger Federer to skip the French Open and focus on Wimbledon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17 Touko 20171h 5min

It was midway through recording of the latest Tennis Podcast that presenters Catherine Whitaker and David Law received a message from the Telegraph’s tennis correspondent Simon Briggs which detailed his story about Andre Agassi being a potential coach for Novak Djokovic.Djokovic had cleared out virtually all of his support team in one go last week, and the podcast’s attentions immediately turned to who might replace him. Could it be Pete Sampras, the 14-time Grand Slam champion that Djokovic idolised as a boy? Maybe Mats Wilander? Or perhaps a non-playing established coach? Or maybe he would just play without a coach for a while.Then, the Agassi story landed at Tennis Podcast HQ, and the debate intensified still further. The results of the past week are discussed, there’s a preview of Madrid, the appalling social media abuse of Gael Monfils is detailed, and the team give their impressions of Tie Break Tens, the new short format of the game that... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

8 Touko 201753min

It’s been a rough few months with illness and injury, but Andy Murray believes that he has come in the clay court season in 2017 ‘in a better place’ than he did the 2016 in which he ended up reaching the French Open final. Murray joined Catherine Whitaker for Tennis Podcast Extra, and described his season so far, his hopes for the clay court season, and the challenge of staying at World No.1.The interview took place at The Queen’s Club - home of the Aegon Championships which Murray has won a record five times. What is he expecting from the grass court season? Why does Queen’s work for him so well as preparation for Wimbledon? And does he have anything planned for his 30th birthday later this month? Murray also talks about the progress of fellow British players Johanna Konta, Kyle Edmund and Dan Evans, as well as how he hopes to play Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at some point this year. The Tennis Podcast is a... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3 Touko 201712min

Maria Sharapova is back. Many are happy to see her, many less so, but her return can not be ignored, and it’s the central theme on this week’s Tennis Podcast. How will she reflect on her run to the semifinals? Did she strike the notes in her post-match press conference? And is she a French Open contender?The team also look at the continuing form of Rafael Nadal, who followed up his 10th title in Monte Carlo with a second La Decima in Barcelona. Can anyone stop him from making it three in Roland Garros next month? A certain Roger Federer, perhaps? As the tennis world awaits the return of Victoria Azarenka, and eventually, perhaps, Serena Williams after pregnancy, we hear from Kim Clijsters on what it was like for her to come back to win Grand Slam titles after becoming a mother.The wins of Laura Siegemund in Stuttgart, and Lucas Pouille in Budapest are also covered, the team preview a star-studded line-up for the third Tie Break Tens tournament which takes place in Madrid on Thursday, and we hear... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1 Touko 20171h 2min

In the first Tennis Podcast Extra, we focus on Nick Kyrgios, hearing from the man himself about what makes him tick, the ‘dark place’ he found himself in after the Australian Open, and how he got himself out of it to beat everyone except Roger Federer.We also hear from his Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt, who gives an insight into how to get the best out of Kyrgios, his potential, and the man that he knows behind the scenes. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

28 Huhti 201729min

Results of tennis matches take a back-seat on this week’s Tennis Podcast after the behaviour of Ilie Nastase over the weekend and the return of Maria Sharapova imminent following a 15-month suspension for a failed drugs test. The former French Open champion and BBC presenter Sue Barker joins Tennis Podcast hosts Catherine Whitaker and David Law to expresses her shock and disappointment at Nastase’s ‘unforgivable’ behaviour.The Telegraph’s Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs is a guest from Bucharest en route to Stuttgart in Germany, where Sharapova’s comeback will commence. Briggs details the ‘edginess’ felt by himself and the rest of the British media when the Nastase Fed Cup furore began to bubble over, and what to expect around the Sharapova story over the coming week.Pod presenters Whitaker and Law have their say about a deeply uncomfortable few days which culminated in Nastase being banned from ITF events pending an investigation, and the bizarre comments of Sharapova’s agent Max Eisenbud.... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24 Huhti 20171h 1min

The year's first big clay court event is upon us and there are more unknowns than perhaps any edition of the Monte Carlo Masters over the last decade. The Tennis Podcast team are here to pick through it all. Is Andy Murray's elbow in a sufficient state for a proper clay court campaign?Is Novak Djokovic ready to rediscover his true form, or will he come unstuck again like he did against Jiri Vesely a year ago?And what of Rafael Nadal? After a strong start to the year, albeit in the slipstream of Roger Federer (who plans to put his feet up for the next six weeks), is the Spaniard in the right frame of mind to win a 10th Monte Carlo crown?Presenters Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport) discuss the possibilities over a pint in the pub.There's also a preview of Britain's attempt to beat Romania, in Romania, in the Fed Cup World Group 2 Play-offs. Can Jo Konta, Heather Watson and co pull off a big upset?We also review last week's tournaments, celebrating a new... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

18 Huhti 201758min

After a Davis Cup weekend in which Lleyton Hewitt got the very best out of Australia, France’s strength in depth quelled Great Britain and Novak Djokovic played his first tie in more than a year, the Tennis Podcast team assembled to discuss the results. Is Nick Kyrgios’ recent excellence now just ‘a thing’? Could Britain have done any more? And will Djokovic returning to the Davis Cup fold be the catalyst for renewed form on the singles circuit?The podcast team also discuss the first title won by 19-year-old Russian Daria Kasatkina, the somewhat less-than-gracious runners-up speech of her opponent Jelena Ostapenko, and the subsequent tweet of Elena Vesnina, who wasn’t impressed. On-court coaching again comes up, as does player ‘grunting’ in a review of Mary Carillo’s interview with WTA CEO Steve Simon on the Tennis Channel. The Tennis Podcast is a weekly, downloadable tennis audio show presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport), with daily editions during the... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10 Huhti 201756min