US Open Day 11 - Bad, Bizarre, Brilliant: Women’s semis reviewed; Men’s semis preview

On a largely frustrating, rain-sodden day in Paris, Jelena Ostapenko and Timea Bacsinszky were two of the only people at Roland Garros smiling at the end of the day.Unseeded teenager Ostapenko stunned former World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki in three sets, while Bacsinszky defeated home favourite Kristina Mladenovic. On the latest Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker is joined by her Eurosport colleague, commentator Chris Bradnam, to review where the quarterfinals were won and lost.With the two of the men's quarterfinals held over to Wednesday because of the rain, meaning that all four are played on the same day, Catherine was joined by Pat Cash on Eurosport to chat all things tennis.Cash revealed that Andy Murray's coach Ivan Lendl was 'by far the most annoying person I have ever met in a locker room in my life', that Andre Agassi revealed to him that Novak Djokovic was still very much a work-in-progress, and that Dominic Thiem could take advantage against the defending champion in the heavy, soggy... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6 Jun 201729min

‘Night and day’ said Andy Murray to Catherine Whitaker on Eurosport, when comparing his form before the French Open to the tennis he displayed in reaching the quarterfinals on Monday.That interview, reproduced here on The Tennis Podcast, gives an insight into his growing confidence, self belief, and relaxed state of mind. What does he expect to happen against Kei Nishikori in the next round? What do he and Ivan Lendl talk about in the locker room after matches? And is his daughter Sophia showing any signs of interest in tennis yet? He answers them all, with a twinkle in his eye that comes across even in audio form. On a busy day for Whitaker in Paris, she also tells us about a conversation she had with Goran Ivanisevic, on the day that he separated with Tomas Berdych. Ivanisevic told Whitaker the alliance between Novak Djokovic and Andre Agassi 'is not going to last'.The form of Stan Wawrinka is covered, as his that of his quarterfinal opponent Marin Cilic, and there’s a... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6 Jun 201743min

Garbine Muguruza departed the French Open wagging her finger in anger at the local crowd. They didn't care. Kristina Mladenovic, or Kiki as she is known, reached the quarterfinals in a tumultuous atmosphere at Roland Garros, and afterwards the Tennis Podcast team assembled to talk about it.Were the crowd out of order or do players just need to accept and take it? Could Mladenovic go on from here and win the title?Elsewhere, the only man that looked anything like as impressive as Rafael Nadal on day 8 was Dominic Thiem. Could the Austrian find enough inspiration to take out Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals?On Monday, Andy Murray takes on young Russian Karen Khachanov in the last 16. Who is Khachanov? Presenters Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live) reveal all they know.The rest of the results on Sunday are reviewed on the show, with previews of Monday's matches thrown in. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport and... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4 Jun 201732min

As the French Open enters week two, Andy Murray has started to look like the World No.1 for the first time this year, according to the Telegraph's Tennis Podcast team.Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and the Telegraph's Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs met up after Murray's straight sets defeat of Juan Martin del Potro to dissect his win, including a mind-boggling 85 minute first set.We hear from Murray, talking to Whitaker on Eurosport straight after the match, and Briggs proudly airs his down-the-line-drop-shot theory again, which was backed up throughout the contest.They discuss Kyle Edmund's narrow loss to Kevin Anderson, the progress of women's favourite Simona Halep, and the tension between French players Caroline Garcia and Alize Cornet, who face off in the last 16.We also hear from Mats Wilander, who joined Catherine Whitaker in the rain to fill some airtime on Eurosport, and ended up giving the most fascinating insight into the difference between Federer/Nadal and... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3 Jun 201736min

The French Open Day 6 edition of the Tennis Podcast started with Novak Djokovic two sets to one down. By the time it concluded, he had extricated himself from trouble.Presenter Catherine Whitaker was joined by Eurosport colleagues and commentary team Simon Reed and Frew McMillan as they stepped out of the commentary box following one of their shorter shifts - a 6-0, 6-1, 6-0 victory for Rafael Nadal over Nikoloz Basilashvili. ‘He looked unbeatable’ said McMillan, and Reed agreed.As well as reviewing that awesome performance, Whitaker, Reed and McMillan talked about Djokovic’s struggles against Diego Schwartzman and his alliance with Andre Agassi, as well as all the other week one storylines. Later in the show, we get the chance to hear the thoughts of the Great Britain Davis Cup captain Leon Smith, and his Argentine counterpart Daniel Orsanic ahead of Andy Murray vs. Juan Martin del Potro on Saturday.The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with Telegraph Sport and... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2 Jun 201728min

It was still short of Andy Murray's vintage, Grand Slam title-winning best form, but he is into round three of the French Open, and according to Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and the Telegraph's tennis correspondent Simon Briggs, he has the perfect platform to build on.In the latest Tennis Podcast, Whitaker and Briggs discuss the contrasting routes through to the third round of Murray and Juan Martin del Potro, and speculate as to what might happen when they meet on Saturday.Del Potro's heartbreaking, retirement win over Nicolas Almagro, who departed the court in agony and floods of tears after injuring his knee, reminded everyone what a sporting man Del Potro is. The Argentine rushed to Almagro's aid and comforted him throughout.Kyle Edmund joined Murray in round three, and will now face Kevin Anderson, a surprise winner over Nick Kyrgios. Can Edmund keep his run going?And there's debate over Margaret Court's controversial comments about same-sex marriage, and the response... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1 Jun 201717min

Day four of the French Open started with everyone expecting to talk about Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Garbine Muguruza. It ended with the latest Tennis Podcast leading on Steve Johnson, the World No.26. While Nadal and Djokovic cruised to victory, Johnson dragged himself through four ageing sets against Borna Coric. Not that big a deal on the face of it, until you saw him on match point, falling to his knees and sobbing uncontrollably. A few weeks earlier, his father and mentor, Steve senior, had died suddenly at the age of 58. Podcast presenter Catherine Whitaker admitted to welling up watching him, and she wasn’t the only one.The wins of Nadal and Djokovic are also discussed, as is the surprising loss of Jo Wilfried Tsonga to Renzo Olivo. Could that open a door for Britain’s Kyle Edmund, who now plays Olivo in round 2 today?Two of the favourites for the women’s title, Muguruza and Svetlana Kuznetsova squeezed through in three sets, and Caroline Wozniacki dished out a 6-0... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

31 Mai 201726min

Andy Murray arrived in Paris with little form to speak of, under the weather, and by all accounts, tetchy. After losing the second set 6-4 against Andrey Kuznetsov, things were not looking up. According to Tennis Podcast presenters David Law and Catherine Whitaker, sets 3 and 4 of his first round win could end up being the turning point of his French Open. Perhaps even his year. He found renewed purpose, positive body language and incisive play. He looked more like the World No.1.The news was less positive for Johanna Konta, who lost from a set up, and Alexander Zverev, who couldn’t reproduce the form that landed him the Rome title. The podcast team assess their defeats, while also covering the win of Nick Kyrgios and the return of his good friend, Thanasi Kokkinakis. They also react to the storm over the actions of French tennis player Maxime Hamou towards Eurosport reporter Maly Thomas during an interview, behaviour described by the French Tennis Federation as ‘reprehensible’. The... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

30 Mai 201729min