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

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic started their campaigns at Roland Garros, but while both registered convincing looking straight set wins, not everyone was convinced by what they saw.On the Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker was joined by two Eurosport colleagues - former World No.5 Jo Durie and commentator Chris Bradnam - to dissect day 2 at the French Open.How did the Djokovic / Andrew Agassi partnership seem like it was working? Was Agassi the coach sitting stony-faced like Ivan Lendl, or fidgeting and pumping his fist at his charge like John McEnroe?How did Nadal look as he started his quest for a tenth title in Paris?What was going on with one of the pre-tournament favourites in the women’s draw - Kristina Mladenovic - who became entangled in a 3-hour epic with Jennifer Brady?Looking ahead to Tuesday, how do Durie and Bradnam rate the chances of British pair Andy Murray and Johanna Konta, who both start their campaigns?It’s all discussed on the latest Tennis... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

29 Maj 201710min

The Tennis Podcast - Kvitova ‘Wins French Open’ On Opening DayIt was only the first day, but it already felt as though Petra Kvitova had won the French Open.Six months after being subjected to a terrifying knife attack in her own home, Kvitova returned to the court and won her first match at Roland Garros. Simon Briggs, the Telegraph’s Tennis Correspondent, appears on the latest Tennis Podcast and says that she was unquestionably the story of the opening day of the tournament. That’s on a day when the World No.1 Angelique Kerber suffered a humbling defeat at the hands of Ekaterina Makarova. The German seemed a shadow of the woman that won two major titles a year ago. What did Briggs and Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) make of her defeat?Catherine Whitaker was courtside during the Dan Evans vs. Tommy Robredo match, and described the conditions as some of the most oppressive she had ever experienced, such was the heat. The pod team assess the performance of... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

28 Maj 201718min

A year ago, the weather was awful, Rafael Nadal pulled out just as he was about to get going, and Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray marched to a final meeting, while Garbine Muguruza ousted Serena Williams in the final. As the French Open prepares to get underway in 2017, things could not be more different. The weather is glorious, Nadal is the overwhelming favourite to land an extraordinary 10th title, and Djokovic and Murray are scratching around for form. Meanwhile, Muguruza is similarly short of her title-winning best from last year and Serena Williams is off the circuit for a while as she prepares to give birth to her first baby.The Tennis Podcast team are here to go through it all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

27 Maj 201753min

Andre Agassi will return to the sport as its latest ‘Super Coach’, Maria Sharapova will play in Wimbledon qualifying and Victoria Azarenka will return to the sport seven months after having her baby boy, Leo. Just another week in on the global tennis tour.It all gave the Tennis Podcast team plenty to get their teeth into in the latest edition of the show, which is available to listen to now.What do we expect to happen when Agassi and Djokovic get together in Paris? Will it be a success?What will it be like when Sharapova plays Wimbledon qualifying?And how will will Victoria Azarenka get on when she returns? According to presenters Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport), there is a lot more to Azarenka than meets the eye. The break-out victory in Rome of Alexander Zverev is discussed, as is the win for Elina Svitolina, and the team try to work out what happened to Simona Halep in... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

21 Maj 201758min

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 Maj 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 Maj 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 Maj 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 Maj 20171h 2min