Jannik Sinner banned, Rybakina coach suspended and Fonseca makes his move
Quiet week in tennis? It will never happen.
ATP coach Calvin Betton, The i Paper journalist James Gray and former tennis reporter George Bellshaw sit down to discuss a couple of weighty issues in tennis this week.
Jannik Sinner has agreed a three-month ban with Wada after two positive test for clostebol last March. Wada re-stated their acceptance of his excuse, that a member of staff had used it, but would have claimed on appeal that he bore some responsibility for the actions of his team members.
Stefano Vukov, somehow still coach to Elena Rybakina, has been handed a one-year ban by the WTA for "mental abuse", calling Rybakina stupid and telling her she would "still be picking potatoes in Russia" if it wasn't for her, as well as pushing her physically to the point that she got ill. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6035283/2025/02/11/stefano-vukov-wta-ban-report-elena-rybakina-coach/
Joao Fonseca has won his first ATP tour title in Buenos Aires
Jelena Ostapenko didn't win the title in Doha but has cemented her place as Calvin's "absolutely rock star" of women's tennis
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1:46:20
A Raducanu losing streak, Murray-Djokovic latest and Simona Halep retires
Grand-slam winning tennis coach Calvin Betton, tennis writer George Bellshaw and The i Paper's sports news correspondent James Gray are all back for another episode of the award-winning Tennis Unfiltered podcast.
They discussed...
Emma Raducanu is on a four-match losing streak after another defeat in the first round, this time to Ekaterina Alexandrova in Abu Dhabi - but what next for her in the coaching corner?
Two-time grand slam champion and former world No 1 Simona Halep is retiring at the age of 33
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic remain in talks about their future together as coach and player
Lucas Pouille says he may have played his last match
Belinda Bencic won a title, her first after returning from maternity leave four months ago
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1:34:16
Davis Cup drama, 15-day tournaments and award-winning content
Thank you SO MUCH for voting for us in the Sports Podcast Awards. After two years of disappointment, we the WINNERS of the Best Tennis and Racket Podcast for 2024. We literally could not have done it without you, so thank you to each and every one of you who voted.
James, George and Calvin triumphantly returned to the microphones this week to discuss your questions in the mailbag and...
Jacob Fearnley made his debut for Great Britain in a Davis Cup tie against Japan, beating Kei Nishikori but ultimately unable to drag an injury-stricken team over the line
There was controversy in Hasselt after Zizou Bergs collided with Cristian Garin during a celebration. The Chilean refused to play on, losing final game of the match and the tie, because of an apparent eye injury. (Full footage here: https://x.com/TennisChannel/status/1886151198207549685)
The US Open has expanded to a 15-day tournament, leaving Wimbledon as the only remaining slam to run for "just" two weeks
Felix Auger-Aliassime continues his incredibe record indoors by winning Montpellier
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1:33:07
Australian Open review: Q+A, Djokovic injury latest, Keys's 'greatest ever' run and Discovery+ price hike
Calvin Betton, George Bellshaw and James Gray are reunited in the wake of a furiously busy grand slam. They discussed
Calvin helping Henry and Harri to their second grand slam title and refusing to fly economy class ever again
Jannik Sinner wins his third hard-court slam in 13 months and Alexander Zverev vows not to be the best player ever not to win a grand slam
Madison Keys denies Aryna Sabalenka an Australian Open hat-trick after beating Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, Danielle Collins and Elina Svitolina in one of the great grand slam runs
Novak Djokovic posts a picture of the muscle tear that forced him out of the Australian Open semi-final as a rogue pundit claims he is out for months
Emma Raducanu is on the hunt for a new coach after Nick Cavaday was forced to step down
The Australian broadcasters breath a sigh of relief after multiple rows with players over their coverage.
Daniil Medvedev gets a massive fine for his antics in early exit to Learner Tien
A winner is crowned in fantasy tennis
AND a fair bit more...
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1:25:48
Australian Open, Day 15: Sinner's unmatched brilliance
The pod is still coming down from the highs of Saturday night (and early Sunday morning) but there is the small matter of a men's final to discuss as Jannik Sinner dismantled Alexander Zverev to claim his third straight hard-court grad slam title. He becomes the most successful Italian player, male or female, of all time.
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Ireland