Roland Garros Day 12 - Semis reviewed, Alcaraz-Djokovic previewed with Mary Carillo

Three hundred and forty one day days had passed since Andy Murray last took to a competitive match court, and few people would have expected him to play as well as he did at the Fever-Tree Championships on Tuesday. The five-time champion fought, scrapped and dragged himself to within each of the finish-line, but Kyrgios found a way through in the end. Afterwards, Catherine Whitaker and Gigi Salmon convened next to a covered Centre Court to assess how Murray looked, and whether Kyrgios should be doing more at this stage of his career.They also looked at the contrasting fortunes of Kyle Edmund and Dan Evans, spoke to Feliciano Lopez, and played the cocktail sticks game with Stan Wawrinka. ‘What would surprise you about Stan Wawrinka?’ was one of the questions.His answer was surprising. The Fever-Tree Championships at The Queen’s Club is broadcast on Amazon Prime Video in the UK from 11.30am every day. Their coverage is presented by our very own Catherine Whitaker, alongside Ross Dyer, Daniela Hantuchova and Greg Rusedski. The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments and The Fever-Tree Championships, in association with Telegraph Sport. It is presented by Catherine Whitaker (Prime Video) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

19 Juni 201832min

Day one of the Fever-Tree Championships at The Queen’s Club saw some cracking tennis, no big shocks, and the arrival of Nick Kyrgios.Ahead of Kyrgios vs. Andy Murray, Catherine Whitaker spoke to the Australian to find out how he’s feeling, where his game and health are at, and how he planned to get a first win over a man he freely admits is ‘a mate’.We also hear from Dan Evans on his return to the game after suspension, and Grigor Dimitrov tells Gigi Salmon about his visit to see the Duke of Cambridge. There’s a day one review, and a day two preview.The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments and The Fever-Tree Championships, in association with Telegraph Sport and Prime Video. It is presented by Catherine Whitaker (Prime Video) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

18 Juni 201832min

Andy Murray is back! After almost a year side-lined by injury, he will make his competitive return at The Queen’s Club against Nick Kyrgios on Tuesday.In the first of daily podcasts from the Fever-Tree Championships, Murray’s last-minute decision to play dominates discussion.In an incredibly honest interview, Murray opens up to Catherine about his difficult year and his prospects for the future. How has his relationships with the sport changed? How low did he feel during the long months of rehab? What unfinished business does he have left in the sport?Hear the full-length interview on The Tennis Podcast.The other big news is that Novak Djokovic is back at The Queen’s Club for the first time since 2010. Speaking to Gigi Salmon, Djokovic recounts in detail his own struggles over the last twelve months. What lessons has he learned? Have his problems been more physical or mental?Finally, Cameron Norrie will face Stan Wawrinka on Monday. But what is the Brit’s party trick?The Fever-Tree Championships at The Queen’s Club will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video in the UK from 11.30am every day. Their coverage is presented by our very own Catherine Whitaker, alongside Ross Dyer, Daniela Hantuchova and Greg Rusedski. The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments and The Fever-Tree Championships, in association with Telegraph Sport. It is presented by Catherine Whitaker (Prime Video) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17 Juni 201831min

Ahead of his return to The Queen's Club for doubles in the Fever-Tree Championships, Lleyton Hewitt sat down with David Law and Charlie Eccleshare of the Telegraph for half an hour to talk about why he can't and doesn't want to give the sport up, what it was like facing a man arguably even more intense than him - Rafael Nadal on Clay, and why he thinks the plans to try to change the Davis Cup must be stopped. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17 Juni 201828min

Rafael Nadal is the French Open champion. Sound familiar?On the Tennis Podcast, Catherine and David look back on the way Nadal overcame Dominic Thiem and a bout of cramp to win at Roland Garros for the eleventh time.The scoreline shows that Nadal won 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. Does that reflect harshly on Thiem? Could he have done anything differently? And has his run to the final justified his decision to play such a packed schedule?As for Nadal, he came through a closely-fought first set and then took control. Is his game more complete than ever? How does he continue to dominate at Roland Garros after all these years?There was a moment of concern for Nadal in the third set when he had to call the trainer for cramp in his finger. What was going on? Should he have been allowed the treatment he received?Elsewhere, David and Catherine react to the positive reports about Andy Murray’s recovery, and respond to the rumours that Roger Federer might be switching clothing sponsor.There’s also a tribute to Brazilian great Maria Bueno who has died at the age of 78.The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments, in association with Telegraph Sport. It is presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10 Juni 201831min

Simona Halep is a Grand Slam champion at last.Having lost her previous three finals, Halep finally ended her drought by battling past Sloane Stephens in a captivating contest at Roland Garros. On the Tennis Podcast, Catherine and David pay tribute to her resilience.Trailing by a set and a break to Stephens, who was looking close to unbeatable, it felt like Halep would fall short once again. So how did she turn it around? Did the quality of Stephens' tennis actually help Halep to play more aggressively? Catherine says that Halep had to become "not afraid to lose".Halep’s win has been greeted by an outpouring of goodwill from fellow players. What makes her such a popular champion? How might she celebrate? And can she now become a multiple Grand Slam champion?Elsewhere, David and Catherine look ahead to tomorrow’s men’s final. Thiem is the only man to have beaten Nadal on clay in the past two seasons. But can he possibly do it over five sets in his first Grand Slam final? And is the challenge more physical or mental for Thiem? David and Catherine talk up his chances. But do they think he’s going to win?There will be daily editions of The Tennis Podcast throughout the French Open, in association with Telegraph Sport. It is presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9 Juni 201828min

The one and only Mary Carillo is back! After debuting on The Tennis Podcast at last year’s US Open, Carillo is at her storytelling best as she joins Catherine from Roland Garros to preview Satuday’s women’s final between Simona Halep and Sloane Stephens. Carillo is the first to admit that this year’s French Open hasn’t caught fire. But that doesn’t dampen her enthusiasm for the women’s final. Will it live up to expectations? Find out why Carillo’s nerves are jangling for Halep, how she’s got to know and love the real Sloane Stephens, who she sees as the slight favourite and who she thinks the crowd will be supporting. As well as all that, there’s time to get Carillo’s thoughts on a range of other topics, including whether she thinks Sharapova is playing to prove that she can win without meldonium. Carillo also talks about her “jam”, coins a new word, explains her love for Judy Murray, and gives Catherine some advice on how to get more dog-related work gigs. All in the space of 25 minutes. As ever, she’s hilarious and insightful.Elsewhere, Catherine chats to Simon Briggs about the men’s draw on a day when Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem booked their spots in the final. In truth, the semi-finals were underwhelming. Will the final be better? There will be daily editions of The Tennis Podcast throughout the French Open, in association with Telegraph Sport. It is presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

8 Juni 201838min

Simona Halep has lost all three of her Grand Slam finals. Will she make it fourth time lucky on Saturday at Roland Garros when she faces Sloane Stephens?On the Tennis Podcast, Catherine and David discuss how both players got there, marvelling at the way in which they handled their big-hitting opponents with relative ease in Thursday’s semi-finals. Halep put up an impenetrable wall to defeat Garbiñe Muguruza in surprisingly straightforward fashion. Why was it not the blockbuster we were expecting? Stephens, meanwhile, continued her serene dominance over Madison Keys. Halep vs. Stephens will be an intriguing clash between two players with similar game-styles, but very different personalities. Who will the crowd be supporting? As the preview for that match develops, there’s plenty of praise for the way Halep exhibits her human side, while Catherine brings Stephens’ developing relationship with the media into focus. Who will win? David believes Halep will break her Grand Slam duck eventually. But Catherine wonders how Stephens can possibly be beaten in this form. On the men’s side, Rafael Nadal was firing on all cylinders on Thursday to quash any remaining threat posed by Diego Schwartzman. But is the pressure of having everything to lose affecting him? Can Del Potro challenge Nadal in the semi-finals? He certainly has the weapons, but how much does he have left in the tank after a physical 4-setter against Cilic? David says fatigue shouldn’t be a problem. Instead, the biggest factor could be the weather. The other men’s semi-final features Dominic Thiem and Marco Cecchinato. Above all else, there’s hope that it will display the single-handed backhand in all its glory. There will be daily editions of The Tennis Podcast throughout the French Open, in association with Telegraph Sport. It is presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7 Juni 201831min