Tennis, stop. Give us a minute, my God. The chaotic February schedule gives us a first-time 1000 title winner (Anisimova), a first-time ATP titlist (Fonseca), Ostapenko’s fifth unanswered defeat of Swiatek, and Bencic winning a big title soon after her return from maternity leave. While trying to keep track of tennis results, we also saw the resolution of the Sinner’s WADA appeal, the conclusion of the WTA’s investigation into Stefano Vukov, and Simona Halep's retirement.
01:40 Anisimova wins Doha, Penko turns her year around
5:35 Fonseca’s first title, Schwartzman’s swan song, and will the South American swing go hardcourt?
11:40 Alejandro, por qué???
15:10 Last week: Bencic, Alcaraz, Shapo
19:40 The Sinner Agreement
31:05 US Open makes mixed doubles a glorified exhibition
40:55 Compton’s most famous daughter
47:05 Rybakina’s coach Vukov suspended for a year
53:30 Simona Halep retires
62:20 We don’t need straight men’s takes on which men are hot
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1:07:01
Intent Intent Intent Doesn't Exist
Madison Keys has been a major champion for over a week now! This episode isn’t really about that, but it bears repeating. Checking in on tennis in February, we’ve got Felix winning yet another indoor title, Mertens and Alexandrova making up for somewhat disappointing Australian Opens, and a whole heap of man drama at Davis Cup, featuring one of the only head-on collisions you’ll see in tennis and the current state of ATP umpiring. This episode covers lots of odds and ends including Petra’s imminent return(!), more from the AO men’s final protestor, Ymer’s unretirement, and the US Open’s expansion.
0:35 WTA titlists Mertens and Alexandrova; Felix wins his second title of the year
6:55 Davis Cup: Garin gets literally run over by Bergs
17:40 Certainly not while wearing that moustache
20:00 Mikael Ymer did the opposite of “break up with your [tennis], I’m bored”
20:55 Petra Kvitova is coming back, maple syrup magnate Vasek Pospisil is leaving
28:05 One more thing about Madi
34:20 Craig Tiley’s comments on the AusOpen protestor are … lacking
39:35 The US Open’s manspread
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44:41
Truly Madi Deeply
This was one of those rare finals weekends where pretty much everything we hoped for came true. A perennial fave of fans and her own coworkers, the one-time prodigy Madison Keys showed remarkable maturity and grit to win her first major title. She let go of the “need” to win a Slam, and then managed to defeat #2 Iga Swiatek and the 2-time defending champ #1 Aryna Sabalenka back-to-back. Jannik Sinner defended his title without facing a break point in the final. Tennis keeps trying to make his opponent happen, alas to no avail. Plus, we got cracker women's doubles matchups, Novak HIPAA-violating himself, and Sakkari attending the inauguration instead of winning tennis matches.
1:25 GoFundMe update: Thank you!!!
6:05 Once a tween prodigy, then a best-never-to-win, now a Slam winner
12:05 Madison said therapy works … can’t argue with that
27:50 After a diversion, a few more notes on the women’s draw
33:40 The ceaseless pushing, literal and figurative
38:00 “Australia believes Olya and Brenda”
46:45 Ben Shelton v. the media
53:05 Women’s doubles: SMASH on the girls
62:25 Call me OptaAce because I’ve got stats
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1:06:31
I Learned From The Best
Just past the midway point of the 2025 Australian Open, the big favorites are mostly still here; a few NextGenners made a big splash in week one, including Joao Fonseca and the episode namesake Learner Tien. We'll take you through the draw, the first week highlights, the upsets, and the reverse hex I put on Alejandro ;) As always, we spend a lot of time with all the extra stuff happening on top of the tennis: coaching pods, the Danielle Collins mini-controversy, Djokovic’s ‘boycott,’ Nick’s non-event, and a few notes on commentary.
1:55 The first week upsets (aka James was wrong about pretty much everything)
12:00 How the faves are doing? Monfils, Coco, Alejandro (you’re welcome)
24:15 The quarters and how we got here
30:15 He came for the nepo baby and that was the last straw
33:30 Coaching pods! (At least they’re not mic’d)
38:50 The Danielle Collins (and Colleen?!) Fund
46:05 WADA will not appeal Swiatek’s case
50:30 Tony Jones gave Novak a grievance. Thanks a lot, Tony
55:05 Erin Routliffe with the quote of the tournament
57:25 The kits: Coco’s is a hit, but the Nike spaghetti straps … please
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1:04:47
Mercury Rising: Australian Open Preview
And just like that, the 2025 Australian Open is nearly underway. It’s the 40th major we’ve covered as a podcast, and our draw previews are still as prediction-free as always. We touch on a few of the themes to watch out for in Melbourne – Sinner’s emotional state, Rybakina’s coaching situation, Novak as #7 seed and poisonee – but mostly this is a lighthearted preview with draw breakdowns and our most intriguing first rounds.
GoFundMe: help fund our 2025 season!
3:15 Stories to follow: heavy metals, jumping ants
13:50 Comebacks and withdrawals
18:50 Women’s draw analysis: a tough one for Coco
27:40 Women’s bottom half: will Iga reverse her luck in Australia?
38:05 Men’s draw analysis: the top tier and the middlemen
54:50 Men’s bottom half: Djokovic as a #7 seed sounds wrong
España