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The 5 Best Tennis Podcasts Right Now
by Hanlon Walsh (@HanlonWalsh)
Our top 5 favorite tennis podcasts plus a growing list of honorable mentions
As the media landscape continues to shift, so too has the way we interact with tennis. Along with “Tennis Twitter”, tennis podcasts are another platform that has quickly become a go-to resource to stay connected to the day-to-day tennis news and behind the scenes action on tour.
Why podcasts? For one, they offer a unique look inside tennis that no other medium has been able to successfully replicate.
Podcasts humanize tennis players beyond the generic, overly scripted pre and post-match interview points we hear all too often…
“I’m just going to focus on my game” or “I couldn’t have done it without the crowd today.” 😴
Instead, tennis podcasts show you a glimpse into their personality as a human being, not an overly media-trained robot.
Outside of player interviews, tennis podcasts can also help you gain a broader perspective into voices of tennis you don’t see or hear from on a regular basis – coaches, agents, hitting partners, tournament directors, chair umpires, sports psychologists, tennis writers, and tour employees, to name a few.
Plus, our favorite pods have been even more active during COVID-19 with everyone spending more time at home. If you’re tired of scrolling through Tennis Twitter every day and want to hop aboard the tennis podcast train, why not give it a shot?
We’ll help you figure out where to start with our top podcast picks. Below we’ve reviewed each podcast, giving you topics, favorite episodes, who should listen, episode length, and much more.
The official Sports Illustrated Tennis Podcast, Beyond the Baseline debuts weekly episodes (typically on Thursdays) with a mix of influential tennis personalities and sports figures to appeal to SI’s wide listener base.
Who: Jon Wertheim and producer Jamie Lisanti
What We Like: Jon is a seasoned media pro who makes his guests feel at ease and asks the right questions without being too pushy. Along with a strong cast of household tennis names, Jon and Jamie occasionally venture outside of the tennis spectrum with previous guests including NBA star Dirk Nowitzki, Daily Show comedian Michael Kosta, and former Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott.
Who Should Listen: Casual or diehard tennis fans
Episode Length: 30-45 minutes
Favorite Episodes:
Don’t Miss: Grand slam previews and recaps plus the always anticipated interviews with BTB guest favorite Lindsay Davenport (most recently in June 2019).
The “OG” of tennis podcasts, No Challenges Remaining (NCR) was the first to put tennis podcasts on the map with nearly 300 episodes dating back to 2012. NCR will keep you informed on a wide range of tennis perspectives and can also make you laugh, disagree, rant, and rave all in one episode.
Hosts: Ben Rothenberg and Courtney Nyugen
What We Like: Ben and Courtney are vocal WTA proponents and never shy away from going the extra mile to cover the offbeat or controversial stories that others won’t touch.
Who Should Listen: Avid fans, WTA advocates and “tennis hipsters”
Episode Length: 45 minutes – 2:00+ hours. NCR is known for its marathons but they are often broken up into multiple episodes and usually well worth the listen if you have the time.
Favorite Episodes:
Don’t Miss: Reem Abuleill, Egpytian sports journalist and NCR Middle East correspondent, is a frequent guest and always brings an insightful perspective.
Full of personality and casual banter, The Tennis Podcast was also one of the first to stake its claim in the tennis podcast landscape back in 2012.
Hosts: David Law, Catherine Whitaker and Matt Roberts
What We Like: There is never a dull moment with this trio of hosts. David, Catherine, and Matt are the type of people you’d want to grab a beer with at the pub… or listen to while they drink a beer and record a podcast episode at the pub. Along with regularly scheduled episodes, they go above and beyond to bring you daily action from the grand slams and other premier tournaments.
Who Should Listen: UK tennis fans or any other knowledgeable fans. If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll make it on “the boat” (just ask Catherine’s dad).
Episode Length: 45 minutes – 1 hour
Favorite Episodes:
Don’t Miss: Daily Grand slam episodes without fail, even in the late hours after a night session goes the distance.
In just its third season, The Racquet Podcast has made a splash in the podcast scene with its unapologetic and unfiltered look into the lives of tennis players both on and off the court.
Hosts: Rennae Stubbs and Racquet Magazine co-founder Caitlin Thompson
What We Like: In this podcast, no topic is off-limits. Rennae and Caitlin tell it like it is with frequent F-bombs and dirty laundry stories combined with thoughtful tennis takes and an impressive roster of player and coach interviews.
Who Should Listen: Tennis fans interested in a mix of shop talk, humor, and behind the scenes stories.
Episode Length: 45 minutes – 1 hour
Favorite Episodes:
Don’t Miss: Guest appearances from fan favorite Andrea Pankovic and bonus episode with Petko interviewing Barbora Strycova.
One of several podcasts housed under the Tennis Channel Podcast Network, the TENNIS.COM podcast brings you straight forward interviews from top players, coaches, and commentators plus lesser-known players climbing up the ranking ladder.
Hosts: Co-hosts Nina Pantic and current WTA player Irina Falconi
What We Like: Insight into the “blue-collar” tennis perspective of lower-ranked players grinding on tour, both from Irina’s perspective while on an injury comeback and frequent interviews from other mid-to-lower ranked players.
Who Should Listen: Tennis players and fans of all levels
Episode Length: 25-40 minutes
Favorite Episodes:
Don’t Miss: Check out the other podcasts under the Tennis Channel Podcast Network (some listed below) including Cracked Interviews, The Mini-Break, Tennis Files, and Tennish.
We’re still getting our feet wet in some of these tennis podcasts, but here’s what we like so far.
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Hanlon Walsh is a content writer and social media manager for The Tennis Tribe. Based in Birmingham, Ala., he also works full-time as public relations specialist for a communications firm. Hanlon has played tennis for over 20 years and was a former Division III collegiate standout at Birmingham-Southern College. A master of the moonball in his playing days, he recently attended his first (but not last) Australian Open in 2020 and can attest that it is the GOAT of all four grand slams. When not trolling Tennis Twitter or podcasts, he's usually doing some type of outdoor activity.
