Ilkley Special: What it takes to run a professional tennis tournament

Ilkley Special: What it takes to run a professional tennis tournament

In this special on-site episode of Tales from Tennis, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe head to the Lexus Ilkley Open to uncover what it really takes to run a professional tennis tournament. While fans see the matches, the atmosphere and the drama on court, there is a huge team working behind the scenes to make the event happen. Throughout the week, Sam and Jerome spoke to the people who help bring the tournament to life, including tournament director Rik Smith, broadcaster Abigail Johnson, British player Charlie Broom, the event's lead stringer, a groundsman responsible for maintaining the grass courts, hospitality staff and fans attending the tournament. Together, they provide a fascinating insight into the many moving parts that keep an ATP Challenger and WTA 125 event running smoothly, from preparing courts and stringing rackets to welcoming players, broadcasters and spectators through the gates. This episode offers a unique look at the unseen side of tennis and the people whose work often goes unnoticed but is essential to the success of every tournament. We also recorded a host of player interviews during our time in Ilkley, which will be released across the next two Wednesdays as the grass-court season builds towards Wimbledon. In the meantime, listeners can also find exclusive content from the event on our Instagram, including a fun Q&A with comedian Josh Berry, practice-court moments and quick-fire questions with ATP Next Gen star Darwin Blanch. There is plenty more from Ilkley still to come on Wednesday 17th & 24th June. 🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are live in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis. Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ [https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/] X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis [https://x.com/TalesFromTennis] The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.

Alex Hyman: Managing Andy Murray, playing Ben Shelton and working with Stan Wawrinka

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Alex Hyman to discuss his journey from competitive tennis player to working across some of the biggest events and stories in the sport. Hyman reflects on his early experiences in college tennis, including a memorable battle against Ben Shelton, before explaining how he broke into the tennis media industry and built a career spanning communications, content production, broadcasting and event operations. The conversation explores his work behind the scenes with players including Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka, the unique challenges of managing media at Challenger events and what life is really like working across tournaments throughout the season. Hyman also shares stories from his experiences at UTS, discusses spotting rising French talent Moise Kouame before his breakthrough and explains the unsung work that goes into delivering professional tennis events. From Challenger Tour life and media operations to player relations and building his own company, Aliko Sports, this episode offers a fascinating look at the many roles that help keep professional tennis moving behind the scenes. 🎙️ Our background episode is live in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis. 🚨 Stay tuned for another special guest from the tennis world on Wednesday 10 June. Subscribe now. 📲 Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ [https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/] X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis [https://x.com/TalesFromTennis] View Alex's company Aliko Sports: https://www.alikosports.com/ [https://www.alikosports.com/] The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.

Sam Jacot & Jerome Coombe: How we got into tennis media and our story so far

In this 20th episode of Tales from Tennis, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe turn the microphones on themselves to share the stories behind the podcast and how they ended up covering tennis full time. The pair reflects on their journeys into tennis media, from first tournaments and nerve-filled early interviews to surreal moments alongside some of the biggest names in the sport, including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Andy Murray. The conversation dives into the reality of life covering tennis behind the scenes, with chaotic travel days, fun interviews, quirky press conference moments and the unexpected experiences that come with working around the sport week after week. From funny tour stories to the journey to this point, this episode offers listeners a closer look at the people behind the microphones before the show returns to its regular format next week. 🚨 Stay tuned for another special guest from the tennis world on Wednesday 3 June. Subscribe now. 📲 Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ [https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/] X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis [https://x.com/TalesFromTennis] Watch highlights and analysis from across the tennis world at The Tennis Pass: https://www.youtube.com/@TheTennisPass [https://www.youtube.com/@TheTennisPass] The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.

Tom Corrie: What the data reveals about Sinner, Alcaraz and tennis analytics

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Tom Corrie from TennisViz to explore how analytics and data are changing the way tennis is understood at the highest level. Corrie, who is Head of Performance, Media and Broadcast at TennisViz, explains how platforms help coaches, players and the media analyse the modern game, before diving into what the numbers reveal about stars including Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The conversation explores the tactical trends shaping today’s ATP Tour, how the Tour is are embracing analytics and why data can sometimes reveal things the eye test misses completely. Corrie also shares insight into working behind the scenes in elite tennis, how analysis is used in match preparation and what fans often misunderstand about what actually wins matches at the top of the sport. 🎙️ Our introductory background episode is live in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis. 🚨 Stay tuned for another special guest from the tennis world on Wednesday 27 May. Subscribe now. 📲 Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ [https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/] X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis [https://x.com/TalesFromTennis] Watch highlights and analysis from across the tennis world at The Tennis Pass: https://www.youtube.com/@TheTennisPass [https://www.youtube.com/@TheTennisPass] The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.

Russell Fuller: Murray, Williams, Sinner and 13 years covering tennis for the BBC

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Russell Fuller to explore what it’s really like covering the biggest moments as the BBC’s tennis correspondent for the past 13 years. Fuller reflects on his experiences following some of the sport’s biggest stars, including Andy Murray, Serena Williams, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, and shares insight into the frantic nature of life at Grand Slams. The conversation dives into the pressure of live broadcasting, the challenge of delivering fair and balanced journalism in high-profile moments, and what it was like covering the dramatic in Australia. Fuller also discusses the unique atmosphere around British tennis during the Murray era, the joy of working alongside former players in commentary boxes and the moments that have stayed with him most throughout his career. 🎙️ Our introductory background episode is live in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis. 🚨 Stay tuned for another special guest from the tennis world on Wednesday 20 May. Subscribe now. 📲 Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ [https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/] X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis [https://x.com/TalesFromTennis] Watch highlights and analysis from across the tennis world at The Tennis Pass: https://www.youtube.com/@TheTennisPass [https://www.youtube.com/@TheTennisPass] The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.