Madrid - Sabalenka, Alcaraz win again; Women's doubles finalists censored!?

Madrid - Sabalenka, Alcaraz win again; Women's doubles finalists censored!?

It was a thrilling finals weekend in Madrid with Aryna Sabalenka getting revenge on Iga Swiatek before Carlos Alcaraz survived a great performance by Jan-Lennard Struff to defend his title. Catherine is back home and she joins David and Matt to review it all. Is Sabalenka-Swiatek now a legitimate rivalry? Will Sabalenka be able to take this form to Rome and Roland Garros? And did Struff provide a blueprint for facing Alcaraz?

Sadly, the great tennis was somewhat overshadowed by the fact that the women's doubles finalists - Victoria Azarenka, Beatriz Haddad Maia, Jessica Pegula & Coco Gauff - were not allowed to give speeches on court. What happened? Why did it happen? What might it have to do with #cakegate? Why have the tournament not put out an official explanation? And in what way did this incident feed into the idea that the WTA players don't receive equal treatment in Madrid?

Elsewhere, we cover Andy Murray winning a Challenger title in Aix-en-Provence, Rafael Nadal withdrawing from Rome, and Veronika Kudermetova's sponsorship with one of Russia's gas and oil giants.


ON LOCATION:

This edition of The Tennis Podcast is brought to you in association with On Location, the premium hospitality and experience provider. On Location took us to Indian Wells last month so we can vouch for the brilliant experiences they provide at tennis tournaments. They provide packages via Steve Furgal’s International Tennis Tours to all of the four Grand Slam tournaments, including the US Open, which is on sale now, with fantastic seats, hospitality and hotel packages available for the year’s final major event at Flushing Meadows in New York. Go to OnLocationEXP.com/TTP to see what they have to offer.


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Episoder(1485)

Aus Open Draws - Winners, losers, picks and shocks

Aus Open Draws - Winners, losers, picks and shocks

It was draw day at the Australian Open on Thursday and Catherine, David and Matt are here to dissect them, make predictions, and pick out the must-watch round one matches. Part one - Women’s Draw. Wil...

15 Jan 1h 29min

Aus Open - Inside The One Point Slam

Aus Open - Inside The One Point Slam

Catherine, David and Matt are together in Melbourne for the Australian Open and we start our coverage Down Under by reacting to the One Point Slam which we all attended on the Rod Laver Arena on Wedne...

14 Jan 50min

Poland win United Cup, but is Swiatek’s form a worry?

Poland win United Cup, but is Swiatek’s form a worry?

Catherine is in Melbourne and David and Matt are heading there soon, but first we catch up on all the results from the first week of the 2026 tennis season. Part one (00:00 - 39:14) We discuss how Pol...

11 Jan 1h 29min

2026 - Who’s started well, and who hasn’t?

2026 - Who’s started well, and who hasn’t?

The new tennis season is underway! David, Matt and Catherine in Perth discuss everything that’s happened so far. Part one (00:00 - 42:43) All the talking points from the United Cup in Perth, including...

5 Jan 1h 33min

Cheap, flat and shallow. Did anyone really win the Battle of the Sexes?

Cheap, flat and shallow. Did anyone really win the Battle of the Sexes?

Catherine and Matt are joined by The Athletic’s Charlie Eccleshare to review The Battle of the Sexes and look ahead to the new tennis season. Part one (00:00 - 27:12) How did the reality of the Battle...

29 Des 20251h 20min

Off season intrigue grows

Off season intrigue grows

Catherine, David and Matt catch up on bits and bobs of news as the off season begins to draw to a close. Part one (00:00 - 26:20) We start with some more reaction to Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Fer...

21 Des 20251h 11min

Alcaraz-Ferrero split!

Alcaraz-Ferrero split!

Hours after the bombshell news that Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero have split, Catherine, David and Matt were joined by The Athletic's Matt Futterman to try to make sense of it, and speculate ...

17 Des 202557min

2025 Season Review

2025 Season Review

Catherine, David and Matt, with the help of voice notes from an esteemed list of colleagues and Friends, look back on the 2025 tennis season. Part one (00:00 - 40:24) - A very special discussion betwe...

15 Des 20251h 44min

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