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

Great Britain is into a Davis Cup final for the first time since 1978, and the Tennis Podcast reviews a week in which Andy Murray shouldered his nation’s fortunes successfully, yet again. Telegraph Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs joins Tennis Podcast presenters David Law (BBC Radio 5 Live) and Catherine Whitaker to talk about Murray’s exploits, carried out, as we discover on the show, with a bad back. Lleyton Hewitt’s glorious Davis Cup playing career also came to an end in Glasgow, and he reflects on 17 years at the top of the sport, while also paying tribute to Murray. Finally, Leon Smith talks exclusively to The Tennis Podcast and says that Dan Evans, Kyle Edmund and James Ward now have to ‘prove why I should pick you’ for the final against Belgium, in Belgium, 27-29 November.   Belgium are into their first final since 1904. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with The Telegraph, and supported by BNP Paribas, the bank for a changing world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

20 Sep 201518min

The Murray brothers’ five-set win over Sam Groth and Lleyton Hewitt was ‘one of the most memorable days in British tennis history’, according to British Eurosport pundit Annabel Croft. With Great Britain standing one Andy Murray match win away from a Davis Cup by BNP Paribas final for the first time since 1978, Croft joined David Law (BBC 5 Live) and Catherine Whitaker on the Tennis Podcast to talk about an epic doubles encounter.  "I've never experienced an atmosphere in my life like the one in this arena today,” said Croft. “It’s one of the most memorable days in British tennis history and Judy Murray said to me in New York that winning the Davis Cup is one of Andy’s major ambitions." Sitting courtside in Glasgow as Bernard Tomic was put through his paces on Saturday evening, the Tennis Podcast team speculated about whether any changes to the team are likely.  ‘‘It is just such a conundrum for the Aussies over who to pick,” said Croft. "From what I’m seeing I think it might well be... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

19 Sep 201520min

Former British Davis Cup player Greg Rusedski has backed Britain to go on from their 1-1 overnight scoreline to reach the final of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas for the first time in 37 years. In a guest appearance on Tennis Podcast, Rusedski told presenters David Law and Catherine Whitaker that Andy Murray is looking better than ever, and believes he will play in Saturday’s doubles and carry Britain to victory on Sunday,  Captains Leon Smith and Wally Masur give their verdicts on day one, with Masur confirming the identity of his doubles pairing. The Tennis Podcast is produced in association with The Telegraph and supported by BNP Paribas, the bank for a changing world. Greg Rusedski is a pundit for British Eurosport.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

18 Sep 201520min

Great Britain are about to play Australia in the host nation’s first Davis Cup by BNP Paribas semifinal for 34 years, and as well as previewing the tie in Glasgow, The Tennis Podcast has spoken exclusively to both teams to find out more about them.  For instance, which of them would get on best at Strictly Come Dancing? Who knows their capital cities? And who spends the most time in front of the mirror? As you will hear, the team members on the respective teams do not always agree… Fun and games aside, the talk of the town, and the podcast, was that of Captain Leon Smith’s decision to choose Dan Evans as the No.2 singles player in place of James Ward and Kyle Edmund, who are both higher ranked. How big of a risk is it? Will it be a mistake or a masterstroke? The Telegraph’s Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs talks it through with presenters David Law and Catherine Whitaker, and we hear the reasons given by Leon Smith, and the verdict of Andy Murray.  Predictions for the tie as a whole are... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17 Sep 201527min

The newly crown US Open champion Novak Djokovic is capable of winning more Grand Slam titles than Roger Federer, according to the Telegraph’s Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs. In a Tennis Podcast recorded just moments after Djokovic’s victory in the final of the US Open - his tenth major title - Briggs told presenter David Law (who commentated on the match for BBC Radio 5 Live) that ‘it is not impossible’ for Djokovic to reach and surpass Federer’s current total of 17. In the podcast, Briggs, Law and Catherine Whitaker of Eurosport also discuss the women’s final - the victory and subsequent retirement announcement of Flavia Pennetta. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

14 Sep 201517min

Serena Williams’ dream of becoming the first tennis player to win a calendar-year Grand Slam in 27 years was dashed by Roberta Vinci, who had never previously taken a set from her, never gone beyond a major quarterfinal, and lost more tennis matches than she had won in 2015 prior to the US Open. Afterwards, the Telegraph’s Tennis Correspondent Simon Briggs joined BBC Radio 5 Live commentator David Law on the Tennis Podcast to try to make sense of it all, and answer the question ‘was this the biggest tennis upset ever?’.  Earlier, Flavia Pennetta set up an all-Italian final, and so the Tennis Podcast spoke to Vincenzo Martucci, veteran tennis writer of 37 years for Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. In his final year in the job, he suddenly found himself covering the biggest story of his career. There’s a preview of a mouth-watering men’s singles final on Sunday - the 42nd edition of Roger Federer vs. Novak Djokovic (the head-to-head is 21-20), and Jamie Murray’s quest for a first Grand... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

12 Sep 201511min

After a frustrating day of rain at the US Open on Thursday, the silver lining is Fantastic Friday, with all four of the men’s and women’s semifinals played on the same day. The Tennis Podcast’s David Law (BBC Radio 5 Live) and Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) get together to look forward to the action, with special guests Mark Philippoussis - the 1998 US Open runner-up, and Goran Ivanisevic - coach of defending champion Marin Cilic.  Philippoussis looks back on when he was the first ever opponent of Roger Federer in a Grand Slam tournament 12 years ago, assessing his incredible longevity, while Ivanisevic talks about the chances of his man Cilic against Novak Djokovic.  And back by popular demand (or, if we’re honest, in spite of no demand whatsover), Catherine and David give their predictions for the four semifinals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10 Sep 201525min

A run of 18 straight Grand Slam quarterfinals came to an end for Andy Murray as Kevin Anderson reached the last 8 of a major tournament for the first time in his career. What did the Telegraph’s tennis correspondent Simon Briggs make of it? He joined the Tennis Podcast’s David Law (a BBC 5 Live commentator) and Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) to reflect on Murray’s exit, discuss the main reasons for it, and whether it will prove a silver lining for Britain’s hopes in next week’s Davis Cup by BNP Paribas semifinal against Australia in Glasgow. In a strange turn of events, Britain’s Johanna Konta went out just 20 minutes earlier, but her run was reason for celebration according to our Tennis Podcast team. And what of Venus against Serena Williams in the quarterfinals. Can Venus cause a sensational upset by ending her sister’s calendar Grand Slam dream? Who will the crowd pull for? Catherine, David and Simon preview that and reflect on the rest of a tournament which has been as exhilarating as it... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

8 Sep 201523min