The Tennis Podcast

Understanding the four-year ban of Marketa Vondrousova

2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova was banned from playing for four years this week for refusing to take an out-of-competition doping test. After Vondrousova’s own complaints and an outcry from other players on social media, Catherine Whitaker speaks to Karen Moorhouse - Chief Executive Officer of the International Tennis Integrity Agency - to understand why she was give such a ban, and how and why the system works as it does. For ad-free listening and bonus content, become a Friend of The Tennis Podcast [https://shows.acast.com/thetennispodcast/episodes/tennis.supportingcast.fm]. Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠new merch shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.thetennispodcast.net/shop]!  Talk tennis with Friends on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Barge! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://tennis.supportingcast.fm/] Sign up to receive our free ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX] (daily at Slams and weekly the rest of the year, featuring Matt’s Stat, mascot photos, Fantasy League updates, and more) Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast] (@thetennispodcast) ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Serena’s Wimbledon singles comeback is ON

Catherine, David and Matt were live on YouTube on Sunday night to react to the huge news that Serena Williams will be playing singles at Wimbledon after accepting the last wildcard.  Part one - Serena’s singles return at Wimbledon (00:00 - 32:12). We discuss how shocking it is, what to expect, and some fun possible round one matches.  Part two (32:13 - 1:15:21) - We cover the big results from this week, including titles for Frances Tiafoe in Halle, Francisco Cerundolo at Queen’s and Linda Noskova in Berlin, big wins and performances from Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula, and some more question marks over Aryna Sabalenka’s form.  Part three (1:15:22 - 1:37:49) - A look ahead to this week as the build up to Wimbledon intensifies, headlined by the return of Jack Draper alongside coach Andy Murray.  For ad-free listening and bonus content, become a Friend of The Tennis Podcast [https://shows.acast.com/thetennispodcast/episodes/tennis.supportingcast.fm]. Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠new merch shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.thetennispodcast.net/shop]!  Talk tennis with Friends on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Barge! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://tennis.supportingcast.fm/] Sign up to receive our free ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX] (daily at Slams and weekly the rest of the year, featuring Matt’s Stat, mascot photos, Fantasy League updates, and more) Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast] (@thetennispodcast) ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Will Serena play singles at Wimbledon?

Catherine and David are rejoined by Matt, who’s back from Chicago, to catch up on the week’s results so far and speculate about whether Serena Williams will play more than just doubles at Wimbledon.  Part one (00:00 - 25:45) - We start with Wimbledon’s wildcard decisions. Is a spot being saved for Serena to play singles? Do we think she will take it? Is that something we would like to see? And why does it feel wrong that Dan Evans has been snubbed?  Part two - WTA (25:46 - 53:00). We discuss Alexandra Eala’s brilliant win over Elena Rybakina, emotional scenes for Paula Badosa after she beat Coco Gauff in Berlin, and why this grass court season feels big for Aryna Sabalenka. Plus, are Madison Keys and Karolina Pliskova dormant volcanoes who are beginning to rumble?  Part three - ATP (53:01 - 1:22:03). On the men’s side, are Tommy Paul and Alex de Minaur on a collision course at Queen’s? Was Corentin Moutet being funny or rude with his f-bomb heavy interview? And who’s going to come through a competitive field in Halle?  For ad-free listening and bonus content, become a Friend of The Tennis Podcast [https://shows.acast.com/thetennispodcast/episodes/tennis.supportingcast.fm]. Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠new merch shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.thetennispodcast.net/shop]!  Talk tennis with Friends on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Barge! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://tennis.supportingcast.fm/] Sign up to receive our free ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX] (daily at Slams and weekly the rest of the year, featuring Matt’s Stat, mascot photos, Fantasy League updates, and more) Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast] (@thetennispodcast) ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Dan Evans - The party's (almost) over

Dan Evans has decided to call time on his career, with one more Wimbledon to play first. After making his decision just before the French Open, Evans sat down with David Law to talk about the many ups and downs of his 15-year career. 00.00 [00.00] - Intro 02.00 [02.00] - Why Dan is retiring now and how the decision was made 08.00 [08.00] - The early years 37.00 [37.00] - Breakthrough at the US Open 2013 40.00 [40.00 ]- Ups and downs 43.00 [43.00] - Match points against Wawrinka in New York 49.00 [49.00] - The failed doping test 63.00 [63.00] - The comeback 69.00 [69.00] - Playing the greats 75.00 [75.00] - The Olympics with Andy Murray 85.00 [85.00] - Views on doubles, run-in with Jamie Murray 92.00 [92.00] - Coaching views and plans for the future For ad-free listening and bonus content, become a Friend of The Tennis Podcast [tennis.supportingcast.fm]. Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠new merch shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.thetennispodcast.net/shop]!  Talk tennis with Friends on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Barge! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://tennis.supportingcast.fm/] Sign up to receive our free ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX] (daily at Slams and weekly the rest of the year, featuring Matt’s Stat, mascot photos, Fantasy League updates, and more) Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast] (@thetennispodcast) ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Grass! Donna Vekic, Emma Raducanu and Ben Shelton enter the chat

With Matt in CHICAGO! Catherine and David get together to look back on the first week of the grass court season in 2026. Part one - The WTA event in Queen’s, where Donna Vekic and Emma Raducanu provided timely reminders of just how dangerous they can be on grass, particularly with coaches they know and trust. Also chat about Amanda Anisimova, the returning Serena Williams, and a title for Robin Montgomery. Part two (40:32) - The ATP events in Stuttgart and S’Hertogenbosch where Ben Shelton and Kamil Majchrzak were triumphant. Could Shelton be about to make grass his surface? Part three (49:27) - Have Queen’s and the LTA got their wild card policy right? What did the players make of Wimbledon’s prize money increases? And a preview of next week. Become a Friend of The Tennis Podcast [tennis.supportingcast.fm] Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠new merch shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.thetennispodcast.net/shop]!  Talk tennis with Friends on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Barge! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://tennis.supportingcast.fm/] Sign up to receive our free ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://eepurl.com/gbmzRX] (daily at Slams and weekly the rest of the year, featuring Matt’s Stat, mascot photos, Fantasy League updates, and more) Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.instagram.com/thetennispodcast] (@thetennispodcast) ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.