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Tennis with an Accent

- 437 - Barstool Conversation - The mighty Lew Hoad
Lew Hoad is considered one of the all-time greats of tennis. Those who saw him play—including many of his peers—considered him the best they ever saw. In the latest episode of the pod, we try to recreate the mythical Aussie legend. To unpack an exercise like this, you need the right crowd—and we have exactly that. Tennis historian Richard Evans and Aussie great John Alexander join TWAA hosts Saqib Ali and Skip Schwarzman for an incredibly rich discussion about Hoad’s talent, fitness, playing style, and backstory. It’s packed with details, detours, and anecdotes that bring one of tennis’s most fascinating legends back to life.
Fri, 25 Sep 2026 - 1h 11min - 436 - US Open 2026 - Review
The recently concluded US Open takes center stage as host Matt Zemek is joined by TWAA analyst Andrew Burton and renowned tennis historian Steve Flink for an in-depth look at the tournament’s biggest storylines. The panel breaks down championship runs from Elena Rybakina and Alexander Zverev, both of whom leave New York with their second Grand Slam titles of the year. What made their victories possible, and what do these results mean for the evolving landscape of men’s and women’s tennis? The conversation also examines several of the tournament’s other key players, including Ben Shelton, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and Carlos Alcaraz. From breakthrough performances and championship pressure to the bigger picture of the 2026 tennis season, Matt, Andrew, and Steve offer expert analysis and historical perspective on an event packed with compelling storylines.
Tue, 15 Sep 2026 - 1h 22min - 435 - Steve Flink's new book - The Immortals of American Tennis
Hall of Fame tennis writer Steve Flink returns to the podcast to discuss his latest book, The Immortals of American Tennis. Across a career spanning more than five decades, Flink has witnessed multiple generations of tennis history from the closest vantage point. In his new book, he profiles many of the greatest figures in American tennis, including Arthur Ashe, Pete Sampras, Bill Tilden, Chris Evert, and Serena and Venus Williams, along with several other legendary champions. In this episode, Flink explains the criteria behind his selections, discusses some of the notable omissions, and reflects on what separates the truly immortal players from the rest. The conversation also explores the evolution of American tennis and the lasting impact these icons have had on the sport. Whether you’re a lifelong tennis enthusiast or simply interested in the game’s rich history, The Immortals of American Tennis offers a compelling look at the athletes who shaped the American legacy in tennis.If you’d like, I can also make these show notes more SEO-friendly or tailor them to a more conversational podcast style.
Wed, 05 Aug 2026 - 1h 21min - 434 - Marco Trungelliti Interview
This week, we’re joined by Marco Trungelliti, one of Argentina’s most resilient and inspiring tennis professionals, for an incredibly honest and candid conversation. Marco reflects on the highs and lows of life on the professional tour, sharing the challenges, sacrifices, and defining moments that have shaped his remarkable career. He talks about his Argentine roots, why the longer format of tennis has always suited his game, and the mindset required to compete at the highest level. His longtime association with coach Albert Portas is also a focus of this interview as Marco has transformed his career on Portas's watch. We also explore the turning point that led Marco to reset his goals, rediscover his love for the sport, and produce some of the best tennis of his career. Now, at 36 years old, he has broken back into the ATP Top 100, proving that perseverance, perspective, and passion can be just as important as talent.
Tue, 28 Jul 2026 - 1h 21min - 433 - Wimbledon Review Show
Linda Noskova and Jannik Sinner are Wimbledon champions. Noskova captured her first title at the All England Club after overcoming Karolina Muchova, while Sinner defeated Alexander Zverev to add another Grand Slam trophy to his growing collection. Both finals delivered high-quality tennis and showcased the resilience of four outstanding competitors. On this episode of The Tennis with an Accent Podcast (TWAA), host Matt Zemek is joined by Andrew Burton, Skip Schwarzman, and Mert Ertunga to break down Championship Weekend at Wimbledon. The panel analyzes both singles finals, discusses the defining moments of the tournament, and explores the biggest storylines shaping the ATP and WTA Tours heading into the North American hard-court swing.
Tue, 14 Jul 2026 - 1h 36min - 432 - Barstool Conversation - Wimbledon
We’re kicking off a brand-new series on the podcast: Barstool Conversations at TWAA. In our inaugural episode, we dive into The Championships, Wimbledon, with a panel that brings together perspectives from across the tennis world. Joining the conversation are Steve Flink (media), Gene Mayer (former player), and Skip Schwarzmann (fans), each offering a unique lens on one of the sport’s most iconic events. Together, they explore Wimbledon’s enduring prestige in tennis’s evolving landscape, discuss whether it’s time to move beyond historical traditions such as grass-court seedings, and examine how the tournament continues to balance heritage with the modern game. The result is a lively, thoughtful conversation that blends insight, experience, and passion, offering a well-rounded perspective on some of tennis’s most enduring and evergreen topics.
Mon, 06 Jul 2026 - 1h 20min - 431 - The Championships Wimbledon Draw Preview
TWAA regulars Coach Mert Ertunga and Andrew Burton join host Matt Zemek to preview The Championships, Wimbledon. The panel agrees that the women’s draw features a broader group of genuine title contenders, while the men’s event appears more concentrated at the top. Mert and Andrew take a deep dive into both draws, breaking down their favorites, dark horses, and dangerous floaters capable of making surprise runs as in Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Jessica Pegula and Aryna Sabalenka among others. The conversation also covers the return of Serena Williams, one of the tournament’s biggest storylines, and what her presence could mean for the fortnight. Rounding out the episode, the panel highlights the must-watch first-round popcorn matches, potential upsets, and the key storylines to follow as Wimbledon gets underway.
Sat, 27 Jun 2026 - 1h 24min - 430 - The Pat Cash Story
Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash is this week’s podcast guest. Cash returns to the show to relive some of his greatest victories and most painful defeats along with the overall arc of his career. A tennis career is about more than wins and losses—it also involves training methods, overcoming chronic injuries, and making significant lifestyle sacrifices. During the mid-1980s, Cash transformed himself into a physical powerhouse by changing his nutrition and becoming one of the first tennis players to embrace weight training. He also discusses his decision to hire a sports psychologist, a relatively uncommon move at the time. In an extremely candid conversation, Cash reflects on the expectations placed on Australian tennis players and explains how their careers are often judged by two measures: Wimbledon and the Davis Cup.
Thu, 18 Jun 2026 - 1h 22min - 429 - Andreeva and Zverev win Roland Garros
Mirra Andreeva and Alexander Zverev each captured their first major title over the past fortnight at Roland Garros, but the significance of those victories was very different. For Andreeva, it was a coming-of-age triumph that could mark the beginning of a long and successful reign among the sport’s elite. For Zverev, it was about finally seizing a golden opportunity, taking advantage of an open draw, and shedding the burden of years of near misses on the biggest stage. The fortnight delivered no shortage of drama across both draws. Flavio Cobolli, Maja Chwalińska, Matteo Arnaldi, and Diana Shnaider were among the players who made memorable runs and took important steps toward greater prominence in the tennis world. The tWAA crew is assembled in full force to break down one of the most compelling majors in recent memory, featuring unpredictable weather, stunning upsets, and thrilling tennis from start to finish. Host Matt Zemek is joined by Mert Ertunga, Skip Schwarzman, and Andrew Burton to reflect on all the action from Paris.
Wed, 10 Jun 2026 - 2h 15min - 428 - Hana Mandlikova Interview
This week's podcast guest is Hana Mandlíková — a four-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 3, widely regarded as one of the most talented players of her generation. With this edition of Roland Garros marking 45 years since her victory in Paris, Mandlíková joins host Saqib Ali for a candid and wide-ranging conversation covering the full arc of her storied career. She reflects on her fierce rivalries with the dominant duo of her era, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, while also discussing the influence of her coach Betty Stove. The episode further explores her successful transition into coaching, most notably her work alongside the late Jana Novotná. A winner of 27 tour-level titles and twice a finalist at Wimbledon, Mandlíková remains one of the most compelling figures of the Open Era.
Thu, 28 May 2026 - 55min - 427 - Roland Garros Draw Preview
We preview the Roland Garros draws- WTA and ATP in this episode of the podcast. Host Matt Zemek is joined by tennis historian Steve Flink and podcast resident guest Andrew Burton. The WTA draw is loaded with more balance of power and depth compared to the ATP and is the bigger draw card. The trio breaks down all the burning questions ahead of the draw. All the top favorites and contenders are covered - brew a cuppa coffee and get ready for the draw rundown!
Sat, 23 May 2026 - 1h 50min - 426 - Rome Review
Rome champions were crowned this weekend. TWAA crew of Matt Zemek, Andrew Burton and Skip Schwarzman return to talk about the finals and key takeaways from the eternal city. The crew tires to address the fact is Jannik Sinner being so good means his game is boring? What does the Elina Svitolina’s third triumph in Rome means for her status as Roland Garros favorite? We have detail and nuance filled observations from the two finals for your consumption.
Mon, 18 May 2026 - 1h 01min - 425 - Best ATP players who fell short at RG!
Roland Garros is a tournament where some of the most attacking players on the men’s side have come in short. In this episode we talk about those very players - the best of their generation who could not lift the French Open title. 1990 Roland Garros champion Andres Gomez and Hall of famer Steve Flink join host Saqib Ali to share their respective lists of tennis greats who did not win the title in Paris. The lists carry a lot of the usual suspects like McEnroe, Edberg and Connors but there are also some names that will make this exercise a fun listen for the listenership of the pod. Gomez also gives his views on some of the attacking players of his era and how the surface posed them challenges. The conversation gradually finds its way to current players of today’s ATP and how the clay court prowess has evolved over the years.
Wed, 13 May 2026 - 1h 07min - 424 - Kostyuk and Sinner win Madrid
Marta Kostyuk and Jannik Sinner won their maiden Madrid 1000 events over the weekend. TWAA panel of Andrew Burton, Skip Schwarzman and Matt Zemek break down some of the key talking points from Madrid and also look forward to Rome. The WTA event had three players - led by the eventual winner Kostyuk making their first semi final at a M1000 event. Madrid is an outlier on the road to Paris given that it's played in high altitude but we all know in sports there is no substitute for confidence and Kostyuk has not lost on clay this season. Sinner on the other hand is also unbeaten on clay this year on top of winning all four M1000 events on the men’s side. The trio also discussed other key players on both tours like Djokovic, Sabalenka, Zverev, Swiatek and Andreeva.
Tue, 05 May 2026 - 1h 20min - 423 - ATP Clay Power Rankings with Flink and Gross
Hall of famer Steve Flink and Tennis Channel commentator Gill Gross reunite with host Saqib Ali to breakdown the clay power rankings of the ATP. The episode was recorded few days before Carlos Alcaraz's withdrawal from Roland Garros was announced. The other names discussed by the panel makes this a compelling listen given we are still in the heart of the clay season. Brew your favorite cup of coffee and get ready to compare our tiers of rankings with yours. There are some usual suspects and some surprise picks.
Tue, 28 Apr 2026 - 1h 07min - 422 - Monte Carlo diary of a player - Mark Woodforde
Hall of famer Mark Woodforde returns to the pod to give insights on why players chose Monte Carlo as their home base during playing days. In a typical and candid Woodforde fashion this episode is full of rich details on his journey as a Monte Carlo resident and also playing money tournaments in South of France while he was tryig to establish himself on the pro circuit. Also sheds light on some of the best clay courters of his era - Thomas Muster, Mats Wilander and Sergi Bruguera.
Fri, 24 Apr 2026 - 1h 06min - 421 - Monte Carlo diary of a fan
Host Saqib Ali shares his experience on being at the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters this past week. Mert Ertunga plays host duties as the duo exchanges notes on watching Monte Carlo live on site. Mert also breaks down the patterns of the Jannik Sinner Carlos Alcaraz finals and gives his views on the rise of Valentin Vacherot and the conundrum of the situation for Alex Zverev.
Thu, 16 Apr 2026 - 1h 10min - 420 - Mayer and Mayotte on the depth of US men's game
Former top 10 players Gene Mayer and Tim Mayotte join host Saqib Ali to discuss the depth of the American men. Currently US has 17 players in the top 100 and this resurgence is led by Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton. Both guests break down their set of players using a tier system. Tune in and see if your tiers have the same players as Mayer and Mayotte.
Thu, 05 Mar 2026 - 50min - 419 - AO 26 Review - Rybakina and Alcaraz Reign Supreme!
Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina have created their own history in Melbourne at this year's Australian Open. Host Matt Zemek is joined by TWAA panelists - Mert Ertunga, Andrew Burton and Skip Schwarzman to break down the finals weekend! In depth analysis on men's semis and both sets of finals - starring Djokovic, Alcaraz, Sinner, Zverev, Sabalenka and Rybakina.
Mon, 02 Feb 2026 - 1h 21min - 418 - Greatest Men's Matches of the 21st Century
To kick off the 2026 podcasting season the TWAA crew came up with the list of “The greatest men’s matches of the century”. This was an incredibly fun exercise with a lot of minute details and the surrounding context of these great matches. The panelists are Steve Flink, Andrew Burton, Mert Ertunga and host Saqib Ali. Get ready for this detailed unpacking of some of the best men’s matches of last 25 years. Please tag us on twitter and share your list! Lists Mert Ertunga Nadal vs Federer Rome 2006 Nadal vs Federer Wimbledon 2008 Djokovic vs Nadal Wimbledon 2018 Alcaraz vs Sinner RG 2025 Safin vs Federer AO 2005 Sampras vs Agassi USO 2001 Nadal vs Djokovic RG 2013 Djokovic vs Federer Wimbledon 2014 Rafter vs Agassi Wimbledon 2001 Djokovic vs Wawrinka AO 2013 Steve Flink Nadal vs Federer Wimbledon 2008 Djokovic vs Nadal AO 2012 Alcaraz vs Sinner RG 2025 Djokovic vs Federer Wimbledon 2019 Sampras vs Agassi USO 2001 Djokovic vs Nadal Wimbledon 2018 Nadal vs Federer Rome 2006 Safin vs Federer AO 2005 Djokovic vs Murray Shanghai 2012 Nadal vs Medvedev AO 2022 Andrew Burton Nadal vs Federer Rome 2006 Mayer vs Souza Davis Cup 2015 Nadal vs Federer Wimbledon 2008 Alcaraz vs Sinner RG 2025 Wawrinka vs Djokovic RG 2015 Djokovic vs Federer Wimbledon 2019 Nadal vs Djokovic Rg 2013 Djokovic vs Nadal Miami 2011 Federer vs Del Potro Olympics 2012 Ivanisevic vs Rafter Wimbledon 2001 Saqib Ali Nadal vs Federer Wimbledon 2008 Djokovic vs Nadal AO 2012 Djokovic vs Nadal Wimbledon 2018 Safin vs Federer AO 2005 Nadal vs Federer Rome 2006 Alcaraz vs Sinner RG 2025 Rafter vs Agassi Wimbledon 2000 Djokovic vs Federer Wimbledon 2014 Djokovic vs Wawrinka AO 2013 Safin vs Agassi AO 2004
Wed, 14 Jan 2026 - 2h 06min - 417 - AO Retro Episode - Kooyong to Flinders Park with Woodforde, Mayotte and Curren
In an off season throw back episode we relive the Australian Open transition days of the 1980's - the move from Kooyong to Flinders Park now called RLA. Host Saqib Ali is joined by podcast repeat guests Mark Woodforde, Tim Mayotte and Kevin Curren. This is a classic conversation from the vault where the guests had so much shared experience and knowledge from their playing days to impart to the listeners. This is a special episode to recall and learn so much about the status of the AO back in the day - its place on the calendar and its prestige compared to the other three majors. Please tune in and enjoy the chat.
Wed, 10 Dec 2025 - 1h 30min - 416 - ATP Finals Review with Mert Ertunga
Mert Ertunga joins host Saqib Ali to review the Nitto ATP finals. The season finale was a fitting extension to the all year long dominance of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. This level of dominance is a first according to Mert where the two players have separated themselves from the field by quite a distance. This has been the repeat mode of conversation on who can possibly disrupt the party of Sinner and Alcaraz. It is the same conversation but with a lot of nuance and introspection from the coach himself. We cover this topic through the prism of current challengers and potential challengers. Tune in as Mert holds court at TWAA!
Wed, 19 Nov 2025 - 1h 08min - 415 - Big Three and New Two reflections with Steve Flink
Hall of Famer Steve Flink joins host Matt Zemek on the the TWAA pod this week to create a timeless episode where they tackle some of the biggest what if questions through the prism of a historian. Matt brings his A game to extract the wealth of knowledge only has to offer. The conversation focuses on the extended dominance of the big three to the latest stranglehold the “new two” have on the men’s tour. Besides the usual suspects the episode creates “what if” scenarios which feature Borg, Laver. Sampras, Rafter and many others! It is a great end of season podcast for the TWAA listeners!
Mon, 03 Nov 2025 - 1h 23min - 414 - US Open Men's Review with Woodforde and Schwarzman
Carlos Alcaraz has won the US Open for the second time and in the process has regained the number one ranking. It also means for the second straight year the dynamic duo of Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have cleaned up the four majors between them. We break down the final and speculate if this duopoly is good for the sport or do we need an intervention from a third player in 2026. To do the honors host Matt Zemek is joined by TWAA consultant Skip Schwarzman and Hall of Famer Mark Woodforde. It is a great deep dive of the US Open Men's edition. Brew a cuppa and get ready!
Wed, 10 Sep 2025 - 1h 43min - 413 - Sabalenka defends her US Open title
Aryna Sabalenka has successfully defended her US open title and in the process has salvaged her season which had her endure few heartbreaks in various big matches. Coach Mert Ertunga joins host Matt Zemek to review the WTA edition of the US open 2025. It was a tournament which lived up to the hype of the pre tourney draw and delivered many noteworthy matches and plot lines. One of those big stories was how Ananda Anisimova performed in New York after suffering a humiliating loss in the Wimbledon final. Return of one Naomi Osaka to the big stages of grand slam tennis also made this fortnight special. Tune in for more details and nuances as coach Mert holds court!
Mon, 08 Sep 2025 - 55min - 412 - US Open 2025 - Draw Preview
In the latest episode of the podcast we preview the WTA and ATP draws for the US Open. The panel includes podcast regulars Andrew Burton, Mert Ertunga and host Matt Zemek. We tee off with the ATP side of the house as it's the more predictable event compared to the more deeply balanced WTA. The menu consists of tricky pockets, seeds who are a lock to go deep and party spoilers. Its all here - please dive right in!
Sat, 23 Aug 2025 - 1h 31min - 411 - Best ATP Players who fell short at the USOpen
In this week’s episode host Saqib Ali is joined by hall of famer Steve Flink and coach Skip Schwarzman to discuss the best ATP player who fell short at the US Open. In Skip’s words the book of “If” is a never ending book and fittingly the conversation covered a lot of ground from Tony Roche to Marat Safin. It is a free flowing discussion where Bjorn Borg was the unanimous choice as the best player to not have won the US Open men’s singles. To find out about other names please tune in.
Tue, 19 Aug 2025 - 1h 10min - 410 - ATP in the 1980's - a roundtable with Pat Cash and Andres Gomez
In a special episode former major champions Pat Cash and Andres Gomez join TWAA podcast host Saqib Ali to relive the 1980’s ATP - especially the hard court tennis leading up to the Open. It’s a conversation super rich in anecdotal value and information on some of the big names of that generation. It is a great episode for fans of all generations given the guests are great story tellers and recall a fair bit of detailed experiences from the tennis circuit of the 80’s.
Wed, 13 Aug 2025 - 1h 24min - 409 - Kevin Curren Interview
Former Wimbledon finalist Kevin Curren joins the podcast this week to look back at his tennis career. The conversation covers a lot of ground from his early days in his native country of South Africa to his move to play collegiate tennis in Austin, TX and all the way to his famous centre court date with Boris Becker in the 1985 final of Wimbledon. Curren is very forthcoming about all the facets of this incredible journey. He provides great anecdotal value along the way as the conversation touches upon some of his famous rivals like John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl. It is a detailed account of a great tennis career - brew a cup of coffee and dive right in!
Tue, 22 Jul 2025 - 1h 46min - 408 - Swiatek and Sinner win Wimbledon
Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner are your new Wimbledon champions! While doing that they respectively became first player from their respective nations to win their respective titles at Wimbledon. Host Matt Zemek is joined by resident guests Andrew Burton and Skip Schwarman to review The Championships. Sinner reversed the heartbreak of that result from Paris and defeated arch rival Carlos Alcaraz for his maiden title while Swiatek ended her year long title drought at the tour level in spectacular fashion by defeating first time major finalist Amanda Anisimova. The trio takes a deep dive into the fortnight and dissects all the major players who met with triumph and disaster during Wimbledon.
Mon, 14 Jul 2025 - 1h 52min - 407 - The Championships - Draw Preview
Coach Mert Ertunga joins host Matt Zemek to preview The Championships. Aryna Sabalenka comes in as a title favorite and she may have to deal with Australian Open champ Madison Keys in the quarter finals - which can be the match of the fortnight according to Mert in terms of determining the champion. The conversation highlights some dangerous first round matches as well as some possible dynamite matches in the second week - especially a mouth watering potential duel between Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina. Mert also feels Coco Gauff may not have enough match reps on grass to make a deep run at Wimbledon. Tune in to listen to the full WTA preview. On the men’s side Mert believes the winner will come out of the trio of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic. Is Djokovic more equipped to prevent the Alcaraz Sinner final here on grass compared to Roland Garros? Can Jack Draper come out of his murderer’s row of a draw? Tune in to listen to the full ATP draw preview as a highly compelling fortnight awaits.
Sun, 29 Jun 2025 - 1h 08min - 406 - ATP Mid Season Check-in with Flink and Lester
In the latest episode of the podcast host Saqib Ali is joined by hall of fame tennis writer Steve Flink and noted tennis commentator Nick Lester to review the mid-point of the ATP season. The conversation is also geared towards the grass court swing which is in full flight - headed for Wimbledon. The episode covers the legitimacy of Jack Draper as a top Wimbledon favorite behind the esteemed trio of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic. Its a fun episode which covers lot of ground along with a peak at the Tennis viz insights data
Fri, 20 Jun 2025 - 1h 06min - 405 - Roland Garros 2025 - Review
It was the closing weekend at Roland Garros! Host Matt Zemek is joined by resident guests Andrew Burton and Skip Schwarzman to review RG 2025. It was the first time in more than four decades that it was number one vs number two at both the men's and women's final. And fair to say both finals delivered - which makes this episode a deeper dive in terms of our analysis! Brew your coffee and dive right in!
Tue, 10 Jun 2025 - 2h 11min - 404 - Mert and Andrew Preview Rolly G!
Mert Ertunga and Andrew Burton join host Matt Zemek to preview both draws - ATP and WTA ahead of this year's Roland Garros. Four time champion Iga Swiatek was handed a difficult draw compared to her arch rivals Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff. On the men’s side the top two seeds - Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz start as big favorites. Our experts looks at some of the potential upsets and tricky matchups while dissecting the draws. Tune in!
Fri, 23 May 2025 - 1h 04min - 403 - Rome 1000 Review with Mayotte and Schwarzman
Former Wimbledon semi finalist Tim Mayotte and our in house analyst Skip Schwarzman join host Matt Zemek to review the Rome 1000 event for both ATP and WTA.The conversation includes a wide variety of topics from the recently concluded Rome event with the central focus on the Winners, finalists and the usual suspects. Tune in!
Mon, 19 May 2025 - 1h 19min - 402 - Madrid 1000 Review
Resident Guests Mert Ertunga and Andrew Burton join host Matt Zemek to break down the recently concluded Madrid 1000 event for both WTA and ATP. Topics covered include the maiden win of Casper Ruud at the masters 1000 level, the bankability of Aryna Sabalenka's tennis and the loss of confidence of Iga Swiatek. Tune in to listen to the review and other relevant topics.
Mon, 05 May 2025 - 51min - 401 - ATP Clay Power Rankings with Flink and Gross
Steve Flink and Gill Gross return to the annual clay power ranking get together and discuss the atp hierarchy with host Saqib Ali. It is a fun conversation - get your own lists ready to compare and tune into the show.
Tue, 22 Apr 2025 - 1h 13min - 400 - Australian Open Review
The Australian Open review podcast is here with host Matt Zemek, Andrew Burton and Skip Schwarzman. The discussion is a rich one with focus on the breakthrough triumph of Madison Keys. As Andrew would say this was the perfect "Murderers row" of a draw for Keys. The discussion also covers the continued dominance of Jannik Sinner and another runners up result for Sascha Zverev. Tune in to get a detailed discussion from the TWAA crew!
Fri, 31 Jan 2025 - 1h 44min - 399 - Aus Open Mid Point Check In
Andrew Burton joins host Matt Zemek for a mid point check in for the Australian Open 2025. The discussion centers around some of the marquee matches that loom large in the second week - and none bigger than the Novak Djokovic- Carlos Alcaraz clash. Tune in for a complete QF and beyond preview.
Mon, 20 Jan 2025 - 30min - 398 - Throwback Episode - ATP 2010s Review
In the latest edition of the podcast we look back at the ATP decade of 2010s. Usual suspects Steve Flink and Mert Ertunga join host Saqib Ali to breakdown the decade which was dominated by Novak Djokovic - who was closely followed by Rafa Nadal. The group looks back with fondness and immense respect at the historic ten year span of the sport which saw the term "big three" come into prominence. This was also a decade where only six men won a major title. This type of top heavy decade may never come around again! Tune in to relive the most glorious chapter of the men's game with emphasis on big matches, key moments and great careers.
Mon, 06 Jan 2025 - 1h 53min - 397 - Rafa Nadal Tribute
Rafael Nadal is a former tennis player. Here is a little belated tribute episode to look back at the tennis career of Nadal. Host Matt Zemek is joined by the podcast regulars Andrew Burton, Skip Schwarzman and Mert Ertunga. The episode is a collection of how the group looks back at Nadal's impact, his legacy and his greatest hits among other memories.
Wed, 25 Dec 2024 - 1h 24min - 396 - Mark Lewis Interview
Former tennis player Mark Lewis is the podcast guest in this episode. Lewis is also widely remembered as Michael Stich's coach during the German's most successful tennis phase. In this episode Lewis sheds light on the tennis scene in his native country of New Zealand. He also touches upon his brother's magical run to the Wimbledon final in 1983 before losing to John McEnroe. The episode is an extremely candid and generous account of Lewis's tennis journey where he shares lot of details about Stich and life on tour as a coach.
Sun, 08 Dec 2024 - 1h 06min - 395 - ATP Finals Review with Andrew and Skip
We review the ATP finals in this episode. Andrew Burton returns to the podcast to join fellow resident guest Skip Schwarzman and host Matt Zemek. The discussions centers on the best matches of the week where Taylor Fritz vs Alex Zverev is discussed at length. Other parts of this episode focusses on similar playing styles from the eight man field with Carlos Alcaraz being the outlier. Another question addressed here is who will be the leading candidate to challenge the Jannik Sinner- Alcaraz dominance at the top. Last but not the least the group takes stock of players who either had a breakthrough year or a missed opportunity at the highest level - Fritz, Zverev and Daniil Medvedev figure in this discussion.
Tue, 19 Nov 2024 - 1h 18min - 394 - WTA Finals Review
Host Matt Zemek is joined by resident guest speaker Skip Schwarzman to review the recently concluded WTA finals. The episode is rich in topics such as court speed, visibility for doubles at big events and the significance of the WTA finals itself. Skip also weighed in with his observations on Coco Gauff's phenomenal run at the Riyadh finals where she had to go through a murderer's row of opponents in Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Qinwen Zheng. Last but not the least Skip expressed his displeasure about the number of ball tosses were being caught by the players! It is a great episode with Skip and Matt. Brew your favorite coffee and get settled - its a detailed view of a lot of relevant topics.
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 - 1h 23min - 393 - Turin Preview with Flink and Ubha
Tennis reporters Ravi Ubha and Steve Flink join host Saqib Ali to preview the year end field in Turin. Topics covered include the group breakdown with intriguing matchups and predicting the eventual winner. The conversation also relives some of the interesting moments from the event's history dating back to the inaugural years at Madison Square Garden. Ubha also shares his insights on Jack Draper - who once practiced at the same club as him.
Fri, 08 Nov 2024 - 1h 24min - 392 - Lori McNeil Interview
Former top 10 player Lori McNeil joins host Saqib Ali on the podcast this week. McNeil was an accomplished singles player who also enjoyed a great doubles career. She is best remembered for reaching the semi finals of Wimbledon(1994) and US Open(1987) where she defeated Steffi Graf and Chris Evert respectively. In this episode McNeil relives some of those moments and also gives insights into her early days as a junior and how her journey was shaped as the WTA professional. Must listen for all tennis fans.
Tue, 08 Oct 2024 - 45min - 391 - US Open Review
Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner have won their first US Open titles respectively. In the process they also swept the hard court majors for the year. Mert Ertunga and Andrew Burton join host Matt Zemek for the US Open review episode. The event also had two American finalists - Jessica Pegula on the WTA side and Taylor Fritz who became the first native man to reach the finals in New York since Andy Roddick's run in 2006. Dive in for a very rich conversation that looks back at the last major of the year and also tackles the big takeaways from the 2024 season.
Wed, 11 Sep 2024 - 1h 09min - 390 - Djokovic Completes Golden Slam
Hall of famer and tennis historian Steve Flink joins host Matt Zemek in the latest episode of the podcast to talk about Novak Djokovic's golden slam. It is a monumental achievement even by Djokovic's illustrious standards and the duo discusses his revival in length. Also discussed in this episode are other Olympic tennis related topics and a look ahead to the already ongoing US summer hard court swing. https://www.amazon.com/Pete-Sampras-Greatness-Steve-Flink/dp/1937559947/ref=asc_df_1937559947/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693033695508&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3197514886592869182&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9193783&hvtargid=pla-925947799590&psc=1&mcid=ca7edb41a99d36718e96d52c8c0b4961&gad_source=1
Wed, 07 Aug 2024 - 45min - 389 - Krejcikova and Alcaraz win Wimbledon 2024
It's a full house at the podcast this week as host Matt Zemek is joined by Andrew Burton, Skip Schwarzman and Mert Ertunga to talk about the championship weekend. Barbora Krejcikova won her second major title as she defeated Jasmine Paolini. Carlos Alcaraz defended his Wimbledon crown by defeating seven time champion Novak Djokovic. It's a packed episode which covers other players as well especially Lorenzo Musetti and Daniil Medvedev.
Mon, 15 Jul 2024 - 1h 17min - 388 - Wimbledon Midpoint Checkin
It is the middle Sunday episode of the Championships. We look back at the first week of Wimbledon 2024 with Andrew Burton and Matt Zemek. The episode also takes stock of the big stories from the first week and eventually transitions to what lies ahead as we approach the business end of the tournament. The WTA event as predicted in the preview show is living up to the chaotic billing while all the the top favorites from the ATP side are still in the draw. Tune in!
Mon, 08 Jul 2024 - 45min - 387 - Wimbledon 2024 - Draw Preview
Andrew Burton and Sharada Iyer join host Matt Zemek to preview the draw for Wimbledon 2024. The trio dissects the favorites and larger stories going into the 137th edition of The Championships.
Sat, 29 Jun 2024 - 1h 12min - 386 - Mayotte and Flink - Reminisce Shared Decade at Wimbledon
Former Wimbledon semi finalist Tim Mayotte and Hall of fame writer Steve Flink join host Saqib Ali as guest speakers to reminisce a shared decade at Wimbledon. In a conversation filled 80's nostalgia we unpack lot of popular players from Johnny Mac to Ivan Lendl through the memory prism of Mayotte and Flink. Its a fun filled episode with great recall and personal details from both men.
Fri, 28 Jun 2024 - 58min - 385 - RG 2024 - Larger Observations
We put a wrap to our coverage of Roland Garros 2024 with an episode that covers the business end of the major and also some large themed takeaway into the season ahead. This episode has two segments - in the first segment Andrew Burton joins host Matt Zemek to look back at Iga Swiatek's continued dominance at the clay major. The duo also explores the possibilities for other top players like Gauff, Rybakina and Osaka as we approach the grass season. In the second segment of the episode Skip Schwarzman joins Matt to reflect on the Alcaraz Zverev final. A lot of analysis unpacked here - dive in folks!
Wed, 12 Jun 2024 - 1h 49min - 384 - RG 2024 Midpoint Episode
Sharada Iyer and Andrew Burton join host Matt Zemek to talk about Swiatek-Osaka among other first week action from the clay major. The trio also look forward to the conclusion of the 2024 edition of Roland Garros in this middle sunday episode.
Sun, 02 Jun 2024 - 1h 15min - 383 - Roland Garros 2024 - Draw Preview
Andrew Burton joins host Matt Zemek to preview the WTA and ATP draws of the 2024 Roland Garros. The tide has clearly changed on both tours - WTA draws have displayed more top level stability while the ATP clay season has seen different winners at all key stops. Andrew and Matt also handpick their popcorn matches along with players expected to go deep on both draws. Its Iga and Aryna vs the field on the WTA. On the contrast the three ATP top favorites - Djokovic, Alcaraz and Sinner are all coming in with serious question marks and that makes this edition of RG the most wide open since year 2004. Tune in and please share your feedback on the draw with us on Twitter!
Fri, 24 May 2024 - 1h 10min - 382 - Gil Reyes Interview
Gil Reyes joins the podcast this week as the guest speaker. He was a cornerstone in Andre Agassi's camp for nearly two decades. Reyes was the strength and conditioning coach for the basketball program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas before meeting Agassi in 1989. Together the duo pushed the fitness needle in the men's game during the late 90's. Agassi who started as a flashy shot maker were to become one of the fittest men on the ATP tour and won 8 majors. Reyes talks about his partnership with Agassi with a lot pf affection and reflect on the times that changed both their lives. It's a must listen conversation for all tennis fans.
Mon, 20 May 2024 - 1h 20min - 381 - Agassi Tribute with Steve and Skip
Andre Agassi had an incredible career and the 1999 Roland Garros win is one of his career defining moments. In three week's time it will be the 25th anniversary of his famous French Open triumph. In this week's episode hall of famer Steve Flink and TWAA analyst Skip Schwarzman join host Saqib Ali to look back at the career of Andre Agassi. It is hard to capture the Agassi journey in an episode spanning seventy five minutes. However the trio looks back at some of the impactful moments and memories of Agassi's storied career.
Mon, 13 May 2024 - 1h 18min - 380 - Madrid Review
Resident guest Andrew Burton joins host Matt Zemek to review the recently concluded Madrid Open - where Iga Swiatek and Andrey Rublev were victorious in the respective WTA and ATP draws. Burton highlights the women's final weekend as the top player stability talking point with the likes of Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina holding centre stage. It's exactly the kind of weekend which puts the quality of the WTA tour at the front. The duo also looks at the Madrid result as an opportunity for other ATP players to make an impression on the upcoming Rome masters given the injured state of top men like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner and the lack of match play for the 6 time Rome champion Novak Djokovic. Intriguing plots await on both men and women tours as the big prize in Paris looms large. The episode touches upon all this and more!
Mon, 06 May 2024 - 57min - 379 - WTA Clay Season Overview with Bri and Sharada
Briana Foust and Sharada Iyer join host Matt Zemek to discuss the ongoing clay swing for the women of the WTA. In a conversation consisting of rich topics from Iga Swiatek's dominance to the form of Danielle Collins - the duo covers a lot of ground. Also covered are topics like the stability of the WTA tour and power ranks for this part of the season. Tune in!
Sat, 20 Apr 2024 - 51min - 378 - Flink and Gross: ATP Clay Season Preview
Steve Flink and Gill Gross return to the podcast to discuss the ATP power rankings with the season in full swing. We take a look at the usual suspects of favorites and challengers for this part of the ATP swing. Tune in to find out how your list compares with Steve and Gill's choices.
Thu, 11 Apr 2024 - 1h 05min - 377 - Single Handed Backhand : Gradual Decline or Cyclical Haitus
Podcast regulars Mert Ertunga and Skip Schwarzman join host Saqib Ali to talk about the state of the single hand backhand. The stroke has witnessed a gradual decline over the years and it became a louder conversation after Stefanos Tsitsipas departed the top 10 of the ATP rankings a month ago. Being the true students of the game - both Skip and Mert chimed in with their choices and reasons on how the game has reached this point. Tune in for a very rich conversation. Tennis with an accent on twitter - https://twitter.com/accent_tennis Mert on twitter -https://twitter.com/MertovsTDesk Skip on twitter -https://twitter.com/TennisSkip1515
Mon, 01 Apr 2024 - 1h 03min - 376 - Former ATP Player Steve Darcis
Former world number 38 Steve Darcis is the podcast guest this week. Darcis lets us in his world where he talks about his tennis career beginning and all the way to an injury forced retirement. Currently he does not miss the life on tour as he is happily married with kids and is incharge of the Davis cup team among other responsibilities with the Belgian tennis federation. He also talks about his wins over Nadal, Roddick, Berdych and other top pros. Last but not the least he gives us an insight on how public perception is for a top player like his compatriot David Goffin.
Fri, 01 Mar 2024 - 41min - 375 - Sabalenka and Sinner dominate AO2024
The AO2024 review episode is here - as Andrew Burton and coach Mert Ertunga join host Matt Zemek to recap the first major of the year. Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka are the focal points of this discussion given their dominant form over the fortnight - which saw them secure the first major of the season. Also discussed in length is the process of Sinner's evolution and the instability of the WTA draws. Tune in! Andrew Burton on twitter - https://twitter.com/burtonad Mert Ertunga on twitter - https://twitter.com/MertovsTDesk Matt Zemek on twitter -https://twitter.com/mzemek Tennis with an Accent on twitter - https://twitter.com/accent_tennis
Mon, 29 Jan 2024 - 1h 34min - 374 - Australian Open 2024 Preview
Happy new year to all the listeners. Andrew Burton joins Matt Zemek to preview the first major of the year. Andrew breaks down the paths of the top 8 seeds on both ATP and WTA - analyzing which player is likely to falter among the top seeds and who are the safe bets to honor their respective seeding. Its that time of the year - tennis is back already! Start listening folks.
Sat, 13 Jan 2024 - 59min - 373 - Gabriela Knutson Interview
Rising WTA player Gabriela Knutson is the podcast guest this week. Knutson has had a meteoric rise in the WTA ranks - jumping 307 spots during the recently completed 2023 season. He played 77 matches this season which was her second on tour. Knutson took the collegiate route to pro tennis while securing a masters degree in Digital Marketing and Renewable energy along the way. In a very candid interview she talks about various elements of her tennis journey with host Saqib Ali - which includes her tennis education in Czech republic to his NCAA tennis in Syracuse. Great listen for any tennis fan! You can subscribe to her youtube channel here -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8G6KFx3GtXiuW63jd8j21A
Tue, 26 Dec 2023 - 56min - 372 - ATP in the 2000s with Steve and Mert
We recap the year with a podcast on the ATP decade of the 2000s with historian Steve Flink and coach Mert Ertunga. Beginning of the 2000s was set for a clash of generations with Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and co ready to take on the new balls please campaign stars in Nicolas Kiefer, Magnus Norman, Andy Roddick, Marat Safin and Lleyton Hewitt among others. The decade belonged to Roger Federer and we look back at his rise to prominence and his storied rivalry with Rafael Nadal - who himself became a very formidable name in the game by then. Last but not the least we also cover the rise of Novak Djokovic in the late 2000s - a perfect scene setter for the next podcast in the decade series which will belong to the Serbian.
Thu, 07 Dec 2023 - 2h 04min - 371 - ATP Finals Review
Andrew Burton joins host Matt Zemek to recap the year end ATP finals. Novak Djokovic reigned supreme for a record 7th time at the year end finals and is one of the focal points of discussion. The duo weighs in on the four semi finalists from this event who also happen to be the four best players of this calendar year. The rise of Jannik Sinner in particular is another focal point of this episode along with notable mentions for Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune. Rafael Nadal's potential return to active tennis next year is the perfect segue to end this episode as Andrew feels ATP has more plot points for the coming season than it had at the same junction last year.
Thu, 23 Nov 2023 - 1h 05min - 370 - WTA Finals and Bercy Review
Host Matt Zemek is joined by podcast friend and regular contributor Skip Schwarzman in the new episode to talk about the WTA finals and Bercy Indoors. Skip and Matt kickoff the conversation by talking about Iga Swiatek and her dominant form to close out the season. The episode seques into the organizational mess of the chosen venue or venues for the year end WTA finals for last two years. Skip also weighs in on how to market the sport better by potentially having more combined events across both tours. Last but not the least the duo discusses the resurgence of Grigor Dimitrov and the continued dominance of Novak Djokovic.
Fri, 10 Nov 2023 - 50min - 369 - Ivan Lendl Interview
All time great Ivan Lendl is the podcast guest this week. For a younger fan he is a former great who coaches Andy Murray. But for a generation of players and fans growing up in the 80's he is seen as a true game changer. Prior to the dominance of the big three it was Lendl who had been the pillar of consistency in the men's game. A true trailblazer whose methods and practices became a template for future generations and altered the game of tennis forever. In this episode host Saqib Ali reminisces about some of the Lendl playing days with the great man himself.
Thu, 19 Oct 2023 - 34min - 368 - Gauff opens account; Djokovic continues to be Djokovic
Cori Gauff and Novak Djokovic are your 2023 US Open winners. We recap the final weekend with in house analyst Andrew Burton who joins host Matt Zemek to do the honors. Andrew compares his pre tournament notes to how the Open played out eventually. The show also looks forward to the next season by taking the latest developments in NY as the scene setter for both WTA and ATP power rankings. Andrew Burton on twitter - https://twitter.com/burtonad Matt Zemek on twitter -https://twitter.com/mzemek Tennis with an Accent on twitter - https://twitter.com/accent_tennis
Tue, 12 Sep 2023 - 1h 11min - 367 - US Open Preview
In the latest episode of the podcast we preview the 2023 US Open. Host Matt Zemek is joined by in house analysts Mert Ertunga and Andrew Burton. We look at both ATP and WTA draws and address the big questions ahead of the last major of the year.
Sun, 27 Aug 2023 - 1h 24min - 366 - US Open Throwback - Stefan Edberg
In the new episode we take a look back at Stefan Edberg's twin titles in New York. Hall of famer Steve Flink and noted tennis historian Richard Evans join host Saqib Ali to remember the Edberg years in Flushing Meadows. It was not exactly love at first sight between Edberg and New York. Like many european players Edberg struggled to find his rhythm in the last major of the year. This episode focuses on his ups and downs at the US Open under the watchful tutelage of Toni Pickard. Flink and Evans have covered professional tennis for over five decades and this collaboration on Edberg's 1992 title run is a great exercise to revisit one of the most glorious runs at a major by any man or woman. https://www.amazon.com/Roving-Eye-Reporters-Affair-Politics/dp/1911525476 https://www.amazon.com/Pete-Sampras-Greatness-Steve-Flink/dp/1937559947/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=459596990810&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9001898&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=1056640162825321807&hvtargid=kwd-943651217959&hydadcr=5344_9615667&keywords=pete+sampras+greatness+revisited&qid=1692715857&sr=8-1
Tue, 22 Aug 2023 - 46min - 365 - Devang Desai Recaps the Canadian Open
Devang Desai of Sportsnet and Open Era podcast fame is the guest this week as he speaks with host Matt Zemek. Desai was on site in Toronto for the men's edition of the Canadian Open and witnessed the comeback runs of Milos Raonic and Gael Monfils. He also had an opportunity to interview Frederic Fontang - coach of FAA among other interviews. He provides insights on FAA's injury prone season and weighs in on the title runs of Pegula and Sinner. Last but not the least we discuss the incredibly difficult season of the Canadian tennis players. Devang on twitter - twitter.com/DesaiDevang Matt on twitter - twitter.com/mzemek Open era pod - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/open-era/id1456802821
Wed, 16 Aug 2023 - 43min - 364 - Natalija Stevanović Episode
Natalija Stevanović is the podcast guest this week. In a career spanning little over a decade - Stevanović made her biggest breakthrough at Wimbledon this year when she beat former finalist Karolina Pliskova. In a candid chat with host Saqib Ali she opens up about her big week at Wimbledon, her newly gained fame, her recovery from a serious surgery and the Serbian tennis federation. https://www.wtatennis.com/players/317349/natalija-stevanovic
Thu, 03 Aug 2023 - 37min - 363 - WTA Player Ayla Aksu
Turkish tennis player Ayla Aksu is the podcast guest this week. This episode was recorded earlier in the year. Aksu was coached by the friend of the podcast - Coach Mert Ertunga till end of 2022. She is currently ranked 413 on the WTA rankings and has won 11 ITF level titles in singles. She is one of the better players to have come out of Turkey. In this episode she gets candid about her career and tennis journey in particular. A lot of ground is covered here. A must listen for a tennis fan! https://www.wtatennis.com/players/319641/ayla-aksu#bio
Wed, 26 Jul 2023 - 51min - 362 - Carlitos Way
Carlos Alcaraz is the 2023 Wimbledon men's singles champion. He is the first non big 4 player to win the championships since Lleyton Hewitt won the 2002 edition. Andrew Burton joins Matt Zemek and Saqib Ali to talk about the generational Djokovic Alcaraz final.
Tue, 18 Jul 2023 - 1h 10min - 361 - Throwback Wimbledon Episode - Ivanisevic the Ultimate Wild Card
On the eve of the 136th edition of The Championships we look back at the ultimate wild card in the glorious history of Wimbledon - Goran Ivanisevic. Historian and hall of famer Steve Flink joins Saqib Ali to revisit the 2001 title run by the southpaw from Croatia. https://www.amazon.com/Pete-Sampras-Greatness-Steve-Flink/dp/1937559947
Sun, 02 Jul 2023 - 37min - 360 - The Christopher Clarey Files
Christopher Clarey is one of the most prominent tennis voices of the last three decades in the printed world. In the latest edition of the podcast he joins hosts Saqib Ali and Andrew Burton in a conversation which is full of candid reflections about his journey as a tennis reporter for NY times. After thirty two years with the NYT Clarey is now transitioning into the role of a full time author - on the back of his successful biography on Roger Federer that came out two years ago. In this episode he gives in depth views on his coverage of the game on some popular tennis themes as well as the changing face of the print journalism in tennis. It is a fun conversation for all tennis and Clarey fans out there. https://substack.com/@christopherclarey https://www.amazon.com/Master-Brilliant-Career-Roger-Federer/dp/1538719266/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1LUKZG9SWCQBQ&keywords=Federer+the+master&qid=1687640123&s=books&sprefix=federer+the+master%2Cstripbooks%2C95&sr=1-1
Sat, 24 Jun 2023 - 57min - 359 - Djokovic Wins #23!
In this episode Matt and Saqib talk about the monumental achievement of Novak Djokovic as he completed a record third career grand slam and also took the lead for the most majors won on the men's side. Djokovic keeps making new standards of being the clutchest athlete in all of sports. We also revisit the final before the final on the men's side as Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz faced off in one of the most anticipated matches of the recent tennis memory. The conversation also tips its hat to one Casper Ruud who has built an impressive resume at majors by reaching three finals in a span of twelve months. Iga Swiatek on the women's side is slowly building a career for the ages. She now holds three RG titles at age 22 and we marvel at what the future prospects are for her in Paris. We rounded off the chat by assessing the fortnights of Aryna Sabalenka and Karolina Muchova.
Thu, 15 Jun 2023 - 1h 03min - 358 - Rafael Nadal's 2024 Horizon
In this week's episode of the podcast host Matt Zemek is joined by in house analysts Andrew Burton and Mert Ertunga to speak about the situation of Rafael Nadal. In a deep winded conversation the group reflects the graph of Nadal's career and also speculates on what may lie ahead for the great champion. Its fitting to release this episode on the birthday of Rafa Nadal. Mert Ertunga on twitter - https://twitter.com/MertovsTDesk Andrew Burton on twitter - https://twitter.com/burtonad Matt Zemek on twitter - https://twitter.com/Mzemek
Sat, 03 Jun 2023 - 52min - 357 - Medvedev and Rybakina Conquer the Clay
Daniil Medvedev and Elena Rybakina have conquered the clay at the Foro italico complex with a convincing display of patience and shot selection. To break down their respective wins and the leading takeaways from Rome we have Andrew Burton joining Matt Zemek on the podcast this week. Other players discussed are Holger Rune, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Jelena Ostapenko and Iga Swiatek. Andrew takes a closer look at these players as we approach the 2023 edition of Roland Garros. Matt Zemek on twitter - https://twitter.com/mzemek Andrew Burton on twitter - https://twitter.com/burtonad
Wed, 24 May 2023 - 54min - 356 - Daniel Fienberg Reviews the Boom Boom Documentary
Hollywood Reporter's Chief TV critic Daniel Fienberg is the podcast guest this week. Fienberg joins host Saqib Ali to talk about Alex Gibney's documentary on former wimbledon champion Boris Becker. Becker's a compelling sports figure whose rise and fall has taken place in the public spotlight. Fienberg weighs on many aspects of the documentary along with Gibney's style of filmmaking. Conversation also explores blatant comparisons with another fallen hero - Lance Armstrong. If you are a tennis fan from the 90's this episode covers one of the biggest names of that era and Feinberg does a thorough job of separating Becker's lies from his irresponsible financial actions. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/boom-boom-the-world-vs-boris-becker-review-alex-gibney-1235330280/ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/last-dance-review-1290260/ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/break-point-netflix-tennis-1235297281/
Wed, 17 May 2023 - 53min - 355 - Madrid Review
Matt Zemek joins Saqib Ali to talk about the Madrid results. It's been a while since both Matt and Saqib appeared on the show together! which means there is a lot of catching up to do in the middle of the clay season. Matt breaks down the WTA favorites with a spotlight on two time Madrid winner Aryna Sabalenka. He also shares his WTA power rankings with the listeners. Second half of the conversation focuses on Carlos Alcaraz and Jan Lennard Struff along with other top ATP names and their respective form heading into Rome. Matt on twitter - https://twitter.com/mzemek Saqib on twitter - https://twitter.com/saqiba
Mon, 08 May 2023 - 1h 11min - 354 - Clay Season Preview with Flink and Gross
In the latest episode of the podcast host Saqib Ali is joined by historian and hall of famer Steve Flink and tennis channel broadcaster Gill Gross to look ahead at the leading candidates for the clay season on the men's side. Steve and Gill categorize their contenders using a tier 1 and tier 2 system of allocation. The usual star cast of Djokovic, Alcaraz, Nadal, Sinner, Tsitsipas and Medvedev get mentioned and analyzed by the two guests. The conversation also covers other players like Zverev, Musetti, Rune, Fritz, Tiafoe and Paul. The show covers lot of ground on these players and sets up a great starting point for the ongoing clay season. Steve Flink on twitter - https://twitter.com/sflinko Gill Gross on twitter -https://twitter.com/gill_gross https://www.amazon.com/Pete-Sampras-Greatness-Steve-Flink/dp/1937559947 https://www.youtube.com/@GillGross
Thu, 13 Apr 2023 - 1h 15min - 353 - Estoril Recap with Skip
Skip Schwarzman joins host Saqib to talk about the live tennis they both watched this week in Estoril. Players discussed are Dominic Thiem, Casper Ruud, Marco Cecchinato, Quentin Halys and Miomir Kecmanovic.
Sat, 08 Apr 2023 - 31min - 352 - Nicolas Massu InterviewFri, 07 Apr 2023 - 09min
- 351 - Trends and Patterns of the Pro tours with Skip Schwarzman
TWAA contributor Skip Schwarzman joins host Matt Zemek for the latest edition of the podcast. Matt and Skip engage in a broader conversation using some of the successful players as vehicles to understand the current trends and patterns across both tours. Be it the Serena serve, the Federer serve plus one or the importance of pro coaches on the tour. In a fun and in depth conversation Skip breaks down lot of common terms as well like rushing an opponent rather than taking time away from her. Skip on twitter - https://twitter.com/tennisskip1515 Matt on twitter - https://twitter.com/mzemek
Fri, 31 Mar 2023 - 1h 07min - 350 - Coaching Diary of Brad Stine
Coach Brad Stine is the podcast guest this week. Saqib caught up with Brad while the later was driving home from the Indian Wells tournament. Stine is the current coach of Tommy Paul. He has been coaching top level professionals on the ATP tour since the early 90's. Some of his past charges include the likes of Jim Courier, Mardy Fish, Sebastien Grosjean and Andrei Medvedev. In this conversation we cover Stine's time with Jim Courier and how he looks back at the success they achieved. Stine also helps us understand how atp pros train now and compare it to the Courier-Lendl days. The conversation covers some tour level questions as well - pressure in big moments, on court coaching, slow surfaces and heavy balls. It's a great listen for any tennis fan. Brew a cup of coffee and settle down as coach Stine holds court.
Thu, 16 Mar 2023 - 1h 29min - 349 - Nick Lester on Sinner, FAA and Tier 2 of the ATP Players
Tennis TV commentator Nick Lester returns as the podcast guest this week to talk about the talent pool of the ATP. This conversation is aimed at some of the prime talents of the men's game that are looking to join the top tier of the sport - namely Jannik Sinner, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov. Lester shares his progress report on these payers and how their respective trajectories are shaping the conversation. The episode also covers the rise of the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor who according to Lester is top 25 material. Enjoy the quick fast paced 25 minutes on a section of the ATP talent pool. Nick Lester on twitter -https://twitter.com/nicklester Saqib Ali on twitter -https://twitter.com/saqiba
Thu, 23 Feb 2023 - 26min - 348 - Tim Mayotte on the Resurgence of American Men's Tennis
Former top ten player Tim Mayotte returns to the podcast to discuss the resurgence of the men's game in America. Currently there are 15 American men in the top 100 of the ATP rankings. This depth of the talent pool of USTA is one of the breakout stories of the recently concluded Australian Open. Andy Roddick was the last American male champion at a major. Are we approaching a time when an American male can actually win a major? Mayotte weighs in on the prospects of Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul and Sebastian Korda. Mayotte also emphasizes the importance of clay court prowess in modern tennis - which according to him is the gateway of success for a major win. Conversation also takes stock of the some of the best young players of the world in Alcaraz, Tsitsipas and Rune among others.
Tue, 14 Feb 2023 - 45min - 347 - Macedonian Billie Jean King Cup Captain - Dimitar Labudovic
Dimitar Labudovic is the podcast guest this week. Labudovic is the Billie Jean King Cup captain for Macedonia. He is also the full time coach of Lina Gjorcheska - who is the best player to come out of Macedonia. In this episode Labudovic gets candid about his tennis journey as a former player and now coach. He talks openly about the challenges faced by professional players on he ITF tour.
Tue, 07 Feb 2023 - 55min - 346 - Aus Open Recap With Mert
Mert Ertunga joins host Matt Zemek to break down the championship weekend of Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic. Mert took time off from his coaching duties to talk about the breakout performance of Sabalenka and the potential grand slam season for Djokovic. Mert on twitter - @MertovsTDesk Matt on twitter - @mzemek Saqib on twitter - @saqiba
Mon, 30 Jan 2023 - 41min - 345 - Australian Open Talking Points
Matt Zemek is back on the podcast and joins Saqib Ali to kick off the 2023 season as we look ahead to the years first major. The episode takes a closer look at some of the leading names in both ATP and WTA sides of the draw. The first 45 minutes of the show focuses on the men's side especially with Djokovic returning to his most successful major after the vaccine and visa crisis last year. The second half of the podcast looks at the women's draw with Swiatek as the tour defining standout player.
Sat, 14 Jan 2023 - 1h 30min - 344 - Throwback Episode - ATP in the 90's
In the season's final episode we take a deep dive into the memory lane and relive the ATP decade of the 90's. This decade had a star studded cast of proven players like Ivan Lendl, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg who were joined by the newcomers likes of Pete Sampras, Jim Courier and Andre Agassi. What transpired was a decade to remember with many great players and compelling rivalries. Episode covers lot of ground by touching upon great players like Goran Ivanisevic, Thomas Muster, Pat Rafter and many others. Podcast regulars Steve Flink and Mert Ertunga join the show to exchanges mental notes from three decades ago. It is a fun exercise for all tennis fans as we relive the 90's.
Fri, 30 Dec 2022 - 2h 16min - 343 - Graf vs Seles - Rivalry Revisited
Steffi Graf vs Monica Seles is arguably one of the greatest rivalries in all of tennis. We revisit this iconic rivalry on the latest edition of the podcast with senior tennis writer Richard Evans and coach Mert Ertunga joining the show with host Saqib Ali. We touch upon the entry points of both players for the guests and relive two of their masterpieces at Roland Garros. The conversation also touches upon other key player of that era especially Gabriela Sabatini and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario. Richard Evans on twitter - @Ringham7 Mert Ertunga on twitter - @mertovsTdesk Saqib Ali on twitter - @saqiba
Sat, 17 Dec 2022 - 1h 16min - 342 - Coaching Universe of Roger Rasheed
In this episode of the podcast host Saqib Ali gets a chance to speak with Aussie Roger Rasheed - arguably one of the most sort after names in the coaching business. Rasheed gets candid in this chat as he looks back at his time as the tour mentor for Lleyton Hewitt, Grigor Dimitrov and Gael Monfils. What was it like coaching against the likes of Roger Federer, Andy Roddick and Marat Safin. Rasheed also weighs in on the current crop of talent in the ATP zeroing on Carlos Alcaraz and Nick Kyrgios among others. Brew a cup of coffee as Rasheed holds court! Rasheed on twitter -https://twitter.com/roger_rasheed Saqib on twitter - https://twitter.com/saqiba
Wed, 07 Dec 2022 - 1h 27min - 341 - Coach Goldfine on Roddick, Korda, Shelton and more.
USTA development coach Dean Goldfine is the podcast guest this week. Goldfine is a well established coach whose former charges include the likes of Mary Joe Fernandez, Andy Roddick and Todd Martin. As part of the USTA player development program Goldfine is currently working with the fast rising American Ben Shelton and Aleksandar Kovacevic. Prior to this association Goldfine had worked with the talented Sebi Korda. In this conversation host Saqib Ali explores the various components of tennis coaching at the pro level with coach Goldfine. It's one of the best possible downloads for tennis fans during the off season.
Tue, 29 Nov 2022 - 1h 14min - 340 - Manic Monday Preview with Briana FoustSun, 08 Jul 2018 - 42min
- 339 - Wimbledon Day 5 With Mert Ertunga
Mert Ertunga discusses Wimbledon and some of the key performers like Federer, Serena, Halep, Nadal, Djokovic and Kyrgios. We also talk about the 2016 junior champ - Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Sat, 07 Jul 2018 - 40min - 338 - Wimbledon Day 1 - Matt Zemek
Matt Zemek talks about the big upset of Sloane Stephens. We also look forward to some of the clashes on day 2 involving Nick Kyrgios, Kerber and Shapovalov
Tue, 03 Jul 2018 - 23min
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