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Rafael Jodar is OUT of the US Open after one of the biggest shocks of the tournament, demolished 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 by lucky loser Yunchaokete Bu.

Chris goes solo to unpack how a player who has spent the past four months pushing some of the best in the world could suddenly produce such a dramatic drop in level, and whether fatigue from Jodar’s relentless 2026 schedule finally caught up with him.

Elsewhere, Alexander Zverev survives an almost five-hour battle with Lorenzo Sonego after coming within two points of defeat, Daniel Mérida backs up the hype by knocking out Andrey Rublev, and Alex Michelsen sends the in-form Brandon Nakashima packing in straight sets.

Ben Shelton survives a gruelling four-set battle with Hubert Hurkacz, Alex de Minaur finally gets his US Open underway after the rain delays, and Gael Monfils celebrates his 40th birthday with one of the feel-good wins of the tournament.

On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka continues to look ominous, Maya Joint pushes Elina Svitolina to three sets, Rybakina and Andreeva cruise through, while Maria Sakkari produces a huge comeback after Robin Montgomery led 6-2, 4-0.

Plus, Draw Watch looks ahead to Mérida v Michelsen, Monfils v Tien, Zverev v Halys, Auger-Aliassime v Khachanov, Gauff v Badosa and more.

You gotta earn your serves.

Novak Djokovic is OUT of the US Open in the first round after a five-set loss to Mariano Navone.

But is this the end for Novak, or simply the beginning of a very different final chapter?

Chris goes solo to unpack what Djokovic’s shock exit means for the 39-year-old, why retirement might still be a long way off, and whether his focus now shifts away from Grand Slams towards selected tournaments, records and a potential final run at the 2028 Olympics.

Also on the episode:

Stefanos Tsitsipas finally breaks his 0-5 record against Arthur Fils, coming from a set down and denying Fils the chance to go two sets to love up. After all the hype around Fils entering New York, was Tsitsipas’ recent improvement overlooked?

Elsewhere, Carlos Alcaraz cruises through his opener, Andrey Rublev and Frances Tiafoe survive five-set scares, while Alexei Popyrin and James Duckworth lead the Australian charge.

Plus, Draw Watch looks ahead to Ben Shelton v Hubert Hurkacz and Daniel Mérida v Andrey Rublev.

On the women’s side, Sabalenka, Swiatek, Pegula and Anisimova all make comfortable starts, while Maya Joint leads a promising group of Australians into the next round.

Talkn Tennis Podcast covering all the biggest stories from the 2026 US Open.

You gotta earn your serves.

The 2026 US Open women’s draw is wide open, with Aryna Sabalenka chasing a third straight title in New York and a deep group of contenders looking ready to stop her.

In this episode, Chris and Adam break down all four quarters of the women’s draw and look at the biggest storylines heading into the final Grand Slam of the year.

We discuss:

• Sabalenka’s chances of winning a third consecutive US Open
• Whether her recent form is good enough to survive a tricky top quarter
• Linda Noskova’s chances of continuing her rise
• Jessica Pegula’s pathway through a very manageable section
• Coco Gauff’s momentum after Cincinnati
• Mirra Andreeva, Amanda Anisimova, Sara Bejlek and Alexandra Eala as dangerous names in quarter three
• Iga Swiatek’s return to form
• Elena Rybakina’s injury question
• The loaded final quarter featuring Swiatek, Rybakina, Osaka, Keys and Bencic
• Which player we trust most to come through each quarter
• Sabalenka versus the field

With Gauff, Swiatek, Pegula and Rybakina all bringing different strengths into New York, and a younger generation continuing to push through, the women’s tournament looks extremely difficult to predict.

Follow the Talkn Tennis Podcast on Spotify and X for US Open reactions, previews and coverage throughout the tournament.

You gotta earn your serves.

The 2026 US Open is here, and the men’s draw suddenly feels wide open.

With Jannik Sinner out, Carlos Alcaraz returning after more than four months away, Alexander Zverev installed as the No. 1 seed, and Novak Djokovic still chasing Grand Slam No. 25, there are major questions hanging over almost every favourite.

In this episode, we break down:

• Why Alcaraz’s lack of match play could make him vulnerable early
• Whether Zverev should actually be considered the tournament favourite
• Djokovic’s chances of surviving seven best-of-five matches at 39
• The most dangerous sections of the draw
• Early upset candidates including Alcaraz, Tien, Rublev and Shelton
• Dark horses including Arthur Fils, Brandon Nakashima and Rafael Jodar
• Whether this could finally be the year an American man wins the US Open
• The chances of Shelton, Fritz, Tiafoe and Nakashima
• Our picks for who goes deep and who could crash out early

With Sinner missing and several players arriving in strong North American hard-court form, this could be one of the most unpredictable men’s US Opens in years.

Follow the Talkn Tennis Podcast on Spotify and X for match reactions, previews and plenty more throughout the tournament.

You gotta earn your serves.

The US Open picture has shifted dramatically.

Jannik Sinner is officially out of New York, while Carlos Alcaraz has confirmed his return after months away from the tour. We break down what that means for the men’s draw and whether Alcaraz can realistically contend straight away at a Grand Slam.

Then we head to Cincinnati, where the ATP and WTA fields are down to the final four.

On the men’s side, we look at the runs of Frances Tiafoe, Brandon Nakashima, Arthur Fils and Flavio Cobolli, and how each has navigated the last few rounds.

On the women’s side, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula and Sara Bejlek are still standing, with Bejlek continuing one of the surprise runs of the tournament.

Plenty of Cincinnati talk, US Open implications and the usual debate from the three of us.

Follow, subscribe and join us as the North American hard-court swing heads towards its biggest stage.

You gotta earn your serves.

Chris goes solo to break down a chaotic day at the Cincinnati Open, where Montreal champion Ben Shelton was dumped out in straight sets by qualifier Jaime Faria and seven seeds disappeared from the bottom half of the men’s draw.

There’s plenty to like from an Australian perspective, with Adam Walton, Christopher O’Connell, Alex de Minaur and Rinky Hijikata all into the round of 32. We also look at Rafael Jodar’s heavy 2026 workload, Frances Tiafoe’s impressive return after hand surgery, and where the men’s draw now stands after another wave of upsets.

On the women’s side, Elina Svitolina somehow survives seven match points against Tereza Valentova, Coco Gauff fights back from a set down, Aryna Sabalenka is pushed hard by Talia Gibson, while Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina and Mirra Andreeva move through.

Plus, a look ahead to the next round with de Minaur, Hijikata, Walton, Zverev, Jodar, Eala and Anisimova all in action.

The Canadian swing is wrapped up and attention turns to Cincinnati.

We review Shelton’s dominant Montreal title defence over Nakashima and Swiatek’s return to the winner’s circle after beating Rybakina in Toronto, before breaking down the ATP and WTA Cincinnati draws quarter by quarter.

Sabalenka looks to bounce back, Gauff and Andreeva headline a loaded section, while Zverev, Fritz, De Minaur and Shelton lead an open men’s field.

Plus, with Sinner and Alcaraz absent, does Djokovic have a genuine opportunity to chase another Masters 1000 title, or is Cincinnati simply preparation for his pursuit of Grand Slam No. 25 at the US Open?

The Canadian Masters have reached the quarter-finals and both draws are wide open.

On the ATP side in Montreal, Chris, Adrian and Adam recap the Round of 16 as Shelton ends Fonseca’s run, Mensik continues to fly under the radar, Jodar cruises past Lehecka and Fils survives a late push from Norrie. We break down all four quarter-final match-ups and make our picks for who reaches the final.

Then it’s over to Toronto, where Gauff and Osaka remain unbeaten in sets, Rybakina continues to survive the hard way and Swiatek looks to be finding form at exactly the right time. We look ahead to Osaka v Rybakina, Gauff v Bencic, Swiatek v Shnaider and Alexandrova v Svitolina before predicting the eventual champion.

The Montreal and Toronto Masters 1000 events are reaching the business end, with the Round of 16 set and the quarter-final picture beginning to take shape.

In Montreal, Griekspoor continues his impressive run after taking out the top seed, while Shelton and Fonseca prepare for one of the matches of the round. Jodar keeps building momentum, Lehecka looks dangerous, and Mensik has a huge opportunity in a wide-open section of the draw.

Over in Toronto, Sabalenka and Rybakina are quietly going about their business while Swiatek, Gauff and Osaka continue to impress. Eala remains one of the biggest stories of the tournament, with Bencic now standing in her way.

I break down the key results, the players I’m buying and selling, who looks ready to make a serious run, and preview the biggest Round of 16 matches from both draws.

The National Bank Open has been turned upside down, with Zverev, Fritz, Medvedev and Rublev all making early exits from the men’s draw in Montreal.

Chris goes solo to unpack the biggest upsets, Fonseca and Jodar’s continued rise, and the growing title opportunity for de Minaur and Popyrin.

Over in Toronto, Eala carries her Washington momentum into another victory, while Rybakina survives a chaotic performance, Andreeva dominates and Maya Joint produces another impressive result.

Plus, the Australians to watch and the biggest matches coming over the next 48 hours.

Rain has washed out the Washington finals and we are not waiting around to break it all down. We recap the semi-final performances that got us here, discuss whether the unfinished business in Washington can still produce a surprise, and turn our attention to the biggest hard-court fortnight before the US Open with both the Montreal and Toronto Masters draws now in hand.

In Washington, the women's final between Jessica Pegula and Alexandra Eala is suspended mid-match, while the men's decider between Taylor Fritz and teenage Spanish sensation Rafael Jodar is yet to be played. We look at how each player got there: Fritz grinding past Brandon Nakashima in three sets, Jodar coming from a set down to ove rcome Alejandro Tabilo, Eala delivering a composed and tactically impressive win over Naomi Osaka, and Pegula turning around a 5-2 deficit in the opening set against Diana Shnaider to win in straight sets. The question now is whether Eala can reset and stage a comeback, and whether Jodar has enough to trouble a Fritz who has been one of the form players of the grass and hard-court swing.

In Montreal, Alexander Zverev arrives as the top seed and the bookmakers' favourite with Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz all absent. It is a significant opportunity for the Roland Garros champion, but his hard-court record has been quietly modest of late and Taylor Fritz looms as a genuine danger in the same quarter, with the American holding a remarkable seven wins from nine meetings against Zverev on hard courts. Felix Auger-Aliassime takes the second seed on home soil, while Daniil Medvedev, Ben Shelton, Jakub Mensik and Joao Fonseca make the second quarter one of the most unpredictable sections of the draw.

In Toronto, world number one Aryna Sabalenka headlines a near full-strength women's field, but Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula are ready to push her every step of the way. The bottom quarter draws the eye immediately, with Rybakina projected to meet a resurgent Mirra Andreeva in the last eight, while Naomi Osaka, Leylah Fernandez, Elise Mertens and Barbora Krejcikova make it the most loaded section in the draw. Defending champion Victoria Mboko is absent with a knee injury, leaving the title wide open.

Rain delays, loaded draws and unfinished finals. The hard-court season is heating up.

The business end of the Mubadala Citi DC Open has arrived.

In this episode, we unpack the biggest results and talking points from the men’s and women’s draws before previewing the semifinal matchups that will decide who reaches the Washington finals.

On the women’s side, Jessica Pegula and Naomi Osaka remain in contention, but Diana Shnaider and breakout star Alexandra Eala are determined to spoil the party. In the men’s draw, Taylor Fritz is the last seed standing as Brandon Nakashima, Rafael Jodar and Alejandro Tabilo look to continue a tournament filled with surprises.

We also give an honourable mention to Australian teenager Cruz Hewitt following his breakthrough week in Washington.

The North American hard-court swing is underway, and Washington has delivered a blockbuster opening week.

We preview both the ATP and WTA 500 draws, headlined by defending champions Alex de Minaur and Leylah Fernandez. De Minaur faces a dangerous early test against Stefanos Tsitsipas, while Jack Draper, Arthur Fils and rising star Rafael Jodar feature in some of the tournament’s most intriguing matchups.

On the women’s side, Jessica Pegula enters as the favourite, but Naomi Osaka, Fernandez and wildcard Venus Williams will all be looking to make an early statement before the US Open.

We also discuss Australian teenager Cruz Hewitt’s unusual journey into his first ATP main draw and ask which players most need a big week in Washington.

Stefanos Tsitsipas ends his 17-month title drought with a hard-fought triumph in Gstaad, while Andrey Rublev reclaims the Nordea Open crown and Mayar Sherif defeats an injured Paula Badosa to capture her first WTA Tour singles title.

The team also celebrates Bernard “Lord” Tomic’s first trophy in eight years, discusses whether Tsitsipas and Badosa are genuinely returning to form, and looks ahead to the ATP 250 events in Estoril and Kitzbühel.

Plus, Chris takes over hosting duties, we revisit the Wimbledon final and assess the leading contenders for another week of European clay-court tennis.

Wimbledon 2026 has delivered one of its great semi-final days and we are here to break down every moment and preview the biggest matches of the fortnight still to come.

Karolina Muchova is into her second Grand Slam final after one of the matches of Wimbledon 2026, surviving a rollercoaster against Coco Gauff on Centre Court. The tiebreak alone was worth the price of admission: Muchova led 6-3, Gauff battled back to reach match point and then handed it away with a drop shot that barely cleared the net before Muchova held her nerve to close it out 12-10. Gauff had the match in her hands and could not pull the trigger, and we dig into what that moment says about a player who keeps finding herself on the wrong side of the big occasions.

Linda Noskova joins her fellow Czech in Saturday's final, beating Marta Kostyuk in straight sets on Centre Court. At 21, Noskova becomes the youngest women's finalist at Wimbledon since Eugenie Bouchard in 2014, and a win on Saturday would make her the youngest Wimbledon champion since her idol Petra Kvitova in 2011. It is the first all-Czech Wimbledon women's final in history and the first final between two players of the same nationality since Venus and Serena Williams in 2009. We preview what promises to be a fascinating contest between two players who have never been in better form.

On the men's side, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic meet in the Wimbledon semi-finals for the third time in four years. Sinner arrives as the dominant world number one having won all five Masters 1000 events of 2026, while Djokovic at 39 chases a record-extending 25th Grand Slam and a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon crown. Djokovic beat Sinner in five sets at the Australian Open semi-finals in January and holds two wins from three Wimbledon meetings between them. We break down who has the edge and whether Wimbledon 2026 is where Sinner finally gets over the line or where Djokovic writes another chapter of the most remarkable career in tennis history.

And the fairy tale of the 2026 Championships rolls on. British wildcard Arthur Fery, ranked 114 coming into the tournament, has become only the second wildcard to reach a Wimbledon semi-final after Goran Ivanisevic in 2001. Fery upset top-ten star Flavio Cobolli in the quarter-finals and now faces Roland Garros champion Alexander Zverev for a place in the Wimbledon final. We debate whether the wildcard can pull off one more miracle.

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Wimbledon 2026 has already delivered drama, upsets and one of the most emotional matches in recent memory, and Adam and Adrian are here to break down every moment of a breathless opening few days at the All England Club.

Jannik Sinner is through, but the defending Wimbledon champion has not had things his own way. The world number one was taken to five sets by Miomir Kecmanovic in round one, dropping the first set, losing a brilliant third-set tiebreak and losing a shoe along the way before eventually steadying to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-3. Round two against Nuno Borges was cleaner on the scoreline but tighter than the numbers suggest, with both sets going to tiebreaks before Sinner lifted at the crucial moments to win 7-6, 7-6, 6-4, taking his Grand Slam wins to 95 and the record as the most by any Italian in history. The takeaway from both matches though is that Sinner looks mortal. Someone with the nerve to hold their nerve in the big moments might just be able to beat him, and the boys discuss whether Wimbledon 2026 could be another upset Grand Slam.

The story that had the whole tennis world talking was Serena Williams against Maya Joint on Centre Court. The 23-time Grand Slam champion, 44 years old and playing her first competitive singles match in nearly four years, was beaten 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3 by the 20-year-old Australian in a match that lasted more than two hours. Williams showed the power and the fight, stealing the second set in a tiebreak and refusing to go quietly, but the movement and match sharpness were not there against an opponent less than half her age, and Joint held her nerve brilliantly to take it in three. The boys debate whether Centre Court was the right call, whether Joint deserves more credit than she is getting, and what comes next for Serena, who skipped her post-match press conference amid reports of a right knee injury.

Fourth seed Ben Shelton is out in one of the genuine shocks of the Wimbledon 2026 draw, blowing a fifth-set super tiebreak he had by the throat at 8-5 and match point at 9-8 before Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen closed it out 11-9. It is a brutal exit for a player who arrived as one of the most dangerous servers in the draw and caps a year where Shelton has repeatedly failed to convert his ranking and firepower into deep runs at the events that matter most.

And in the biggest upset on the women's side, reigning Roland Garros champion Mirra Andreeva is out, beaten 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 by former Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in a two-hour 46-minute epic. Andreeva saved six match points in one extraordinary game in the third set and looked like she had shifted the momentum, only for Krejcikova to break straight back and close it out. Andreeva was in tears at her press conference and the boys discuss whether the weight of expectation that comes with a first Grand Slam title is already starting to show.

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Wimbledon 2026 is days away and the draw has landed. Adam and Adrian break down every quarter of the Wimbledon men's and women's draws, flag the match-ups they cannot wait to see, and make their picks for who lifts the trophies at the All England Club.

On the men's side of the Wimbledon 2026 draw, defending champion Jannik Sinner headlines as the top seed and clear favourite despite his shock exit at Roland Garros. Sinner opens against Miomir Kecmanovic and is projected to navigate a quarter that also includes Casper Ruud, Hubert Hurkacz, Daniil Medvedev and teenage sensation Rafael Jodar in his first Wimbledon. Seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic sits in the second quarter chasing a record 25th Grand Slam and an eighth Wimbledon title to equal Roger Federer, with a mouth-watering potential fourth-round rematch against Roland Garros giant-killer Joao Fonseca on the cards. Felix Auger-Aliassime is the nominal top seed in Djokovic's quarter and is projected to meet him in the last eight. Ben Shelton anchors the third quarter as a genuine grass court threat after winning Stuttgart earlier this month, with Alex de Minaur carrying Australian hopes alongside him and Roland Garros finalist Flavio Cobolli lurking as the danger seed. The fourth quarter is the one everyone is talking about. Freshly crowned Roland Garros champion Alexander Zverev, who has never been past the fourth round at Wimbledon, opens against Alexander Blockx and is projected to meet Taylor Fritz in the quarters. Fritz, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year and back-to-back finalist on grass this month, opens against home favourite Jack Draper in one of the most brutal first-round draws of the tournament. Halle champion Frances Tiafoe and Queen's Club winner Francisco Cerundolo also land in this quarter, making it the most loaded section of the Wimbledon 2026 men's draw.

On the women's side of Wimbledon 2026, world number one Aryna Sabalenka headlines the first quarter alongside Barbora Krejcikova, Naomi Osaka, Karolina Muchova, Emma Raducanu and Roland Garros champion Mirra Andreeva, who is projected as Sabalenka's last-eight opponent in what is already the toughest quarter on paper. Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff are set to collide in the second quarter, with Gauff arriving cold on a four-match grass losing streak and Dayana Yastremska, the player who dumped her out at Wimbledon last year, lurking in the same section again. Iga Swiatek defends her Wimbledon title in the third quarter and could face the tournament's biggest storyline as early as the third round. Serena Williams returns to Wimbledon on a singles wildcard, nearly four years after her last competitive match, and the seven-time Wimbledon champion opens against Australian Maya Joint with Swiatek a possible third-round opponent. Alexandra Eala, fresh off a run to the Berlin semi-finals, is the likely second-round test for Serena and is no easy draw. Elena Rybakina anchors the fourth quarter as the 2022 Wimbledon champion, with defending runner-up Amanda Anisimova, Berlin champion Linda Noskova and 2025 Australian Open winner Madison Keys all in the same section, making it arguably the deepest quarter in the women's draw.

Adam and Adrian make their picks for Wimbledon 2026, with Sinner the consensus men's favourite and Andreeva the pick to go deep on the women's side.

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The boys recap a packed week on the grass as Frances Tiafoe wins the biggest title of his career in Halle, while Francisco Cerundolo battles through Queen’s to claim a historic title. We also cover the WTA results from Berlin and Nottingham before diving into quick-fire topics, including Dan Evans missing a Wimbledon wildcard, Moutet’s chaotic post-match interview, American chances at Wimbledon, and Serena’s possible return. Plus, Battle of the Spuds continues as Chris tries to claw back the scoreboard.

In this special edition of the Talkin' Tennis Podcast, hosts Chris and Adrian dive into a fun challenge: naming all 29 male tennis players who have held the title of world number one since the rankings began in August 1973. This engaging battle, dubbed the "Battle of the Spuds," is not only entertaining but also a great way for tennis fans to test their knowledge of the sport's history.

To kick off, each contestant has three strikes, and the first one to hit three strikes loses the game. The pressure is on as Adrian leads the current season of the Battle of the Spuds with a score of 11 to 8 against Chris, creating a competitive atmosphere. This format adds a layer of excitement as they must recall names under pressure.

Adam discusses their strategies for the game, with Adrian feeling quietly confident despite limited preparation, while Chris hopes for a chance to catch up. As they begin to name players, they highlight the historical significance of each player mentioned, discussing their achievements and contributions to tennis. For example, they mention Roger Federer, who has been world number one for a remarkable 310 weeks, and Rafael Nadal, who held the title for 209 weeks.

Two first-time Grand Slam champions, a German ending a 30-year drought and a teenager announcing herself as the next force in women's tennis. Adam, Chris and Adrian wrap up Roland Garros 2026 and turn their attention to a grass court season that has already delivered some headline moments of its own.

Alexander Zverev is finally a Grand Slam champion. The German ended his wait at the fourth time of asking, beating first-time finalist Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-1 in a four-hour and 16-minute French Open final. After heartbreaking losses to Thiem at the 2020 US Open, Alcaraz at Roland Garros 2024 and Sinner at the Australian Open last year, Zverev has his major. He is the first German man to win Roland Garros since Henner Henkel in 1937 and the first German to win any Grand Slam since Boris Becker in 1996. Cobolli leaves Paris as the new World No. 10 and was class in defeat. The boys debate whether this is the first of more to come for Zverev.

On the women's side of the French Open 2026, Mirra Andreeva is a Grand Slam champion at just 19 years of age. The Russian handled the wind, the nerves and a partisan Paris crowd roaring for qualifier Maja Chwalinska, winning 6-3, 6-2 to become the youngest woman to win Roland Garros since Monica Seles in 1992. Chris predicted Andreeva to win this tournament from the start and is now apparently considering a career in professional tennis gambling. Spare a thought for Chwalinska, who leaves Paris with her ranking rocketing nearly 100 spots to 21 and her career prize money tripled in three weeks. The boys discuss whether Andreeva is the next great force in the women's game.

The grass court season is already delivering. Nick Kyrgios is back at Stuttgart, dispatching Corentin Moutet in round one in just his seventh match since the end of 2022. Taylor Fritz returns to defend his title. Over at the Libema Open in 's-Hertogenbosch, Felix Auger-Aliassime leads the field while Alex de Minaur headlines the Australian contingent. And at Queen's, Serena Williams steps on court for her first competitive match in almost four years, teaming up with teenager Victoria Mboko to knock off the third seeds in the doubles. There is some unfortunate news on that front overnight though.

Plus the boys go head to head on the great debate: Zverev versus Kyrgios at their absolute best. ATP Fantasy grass season picks, and the Battle of the Spuds returns.

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The French Open 2026 has been turned on its head and the boys are back to make sense of it all. Adam, Chris and Adrian break down the biggest talking point of Roland Garros so far, preview the quarter finals on both sides of the draw, and find time to welcome back one of the greatest tennis players who ever lived.

The talk of the tournament at Roland Garros 2026 has been Jannik Sinner, who led Juan Manuel Cerundolo by two sets and 5-1 in the third before full body cramps brought the world number one to a standstill. What followed was one of the most extraordinary collapses in recent French Open memory, with Sinner losing the third set 7-5 and then 6-1, 6-1 in scenes the boys watched live after recording last week's episode. The cramp debate has taken over tennis, with talk online pointing to genetics. Chris, armed with his minor degree in human studies and biology, weighs in.

On the men's side of the French Open, Jakub Mensik is into his first Grand Slam semi-final after defeating 19-year-old Joao Fonseca in a battle of the young guns, capping a remarkable run that included a five-set war with Navone, coming back from a bagel against De Minaur and outlasting Rublev across five brutal sets. Fonseca exits Roland Garros with his reputation significantly enhanced after stunning Djokovic from two sets down in the third round. Alexander Zverev comfortably accounts for Spanish teenager Rafa Jodar to firm as tournament favourite, setting up a blockbuster semi-final against Mensik. The boys also preview an intriguing quarter final between Felix Auger-Aliassime and Flavio Cobolli, and an all-Italian clash between the two Matteos, Berrettini and Arnaldi, who has logged close to 18 hours on court and played eight tiebreaks getting to this stage.

On the women's side of the French Open 2026, Mirra Andreeva dismantles Sorana Cirstea in 56 minutes to reach her second Roland Garros semi-final, while Marta Kostyuk continues her extraordinary clay season, now 17-0 on the surface in 2026, after defeating compatriot Elina Svitolina in an all-Ukrainian quarter final. The women's quarter final previews pit qualifier and fairy-tale story Maja Chwalinska against Anna Kalinskaya, while world number one Aryna Sabalenka, chasing her first Grand Slam title off hard court and in the middle of a run of 14 consecutive Slam quarter finals, takes on aggressive left-hander Diana Shnaider.

And in news that has nothing to do with the French Open 2026 but everything to do with tennis, Serena Williams is returning to professional tennis at Queen's Club in London, nearly four years after her last competitive match at the 2022 US Open. The 23-time Grand Slam champion, now 44, has accepted a wildcard to play women's doubles alongside young Canadian Victoria Mboko. The boys react.

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Roland Garros 2026 is already delivering everything we could have asked for: upsets, drama, grinding favourites and a teenage sensation taking Paris by storm. Adam, Chris and Adrian break down every twist and turn from the opening rounds of the French Open and look ahead to what promises to be a blockbuster second week of tennis.

On the men's side of the French Open, Taylor Fritz became the first big seed to fall, beaten in four sets on Day 1, while tennis legend Stan Wawrinka received an emotional farewell from the Paris crowd in what was his final Roland Garros. The second round brought more carnage, with 10th seed Alexander Bublik bundled out by Jan-Lennard Struff and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina falling to Thiago Tirante. Meanwhile Novak Djokovic has been made to work for every point, surviving a gruelling four-hour, four-set battle against Frenchman Valentin Royer in oppressive Paris heat, setting up a mouth-watering third-round clash against Brazilian tennis sensation Joao Fonseca. The top seeds have otherwise held firm, with Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud, Tommy Paul, Andrey Rublev and Felix Auger-Aliassime all safely through at the Roland Garros 2026 Tennis Grand Slam.

All eyes at Roland Garros though continue to fall on Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar, who has captured the imagination of the Paris crowds with two impressive victories and looks every bit the future of men's tennis.

On the women's side of the French Open 2026, the draw has been the most unpredictable in years. Day 1 alone claimed four Grand Slam champions in Barbora Krejcikova, Emma Raducanu, Sofia Kenin and Sloane Stephens. The second round brought the biggest shock yet, with 2nd seed Elena Rybakina stunned by Yuliia Starodubtseva in a third-set tiebreak, while defending Rome champion Jasmine Paolini was sent packing by Argentina's Solana Sierra. Iga Swiatek, Mirra Andreeva, Marta Kostyuk, Elina Svitolina and Sorana Cirstea have all advanced, but with Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Madison Keys and Naomi Osaka, whose Eiffel Tower-inspired outfit stole the headlines before she'd hit a ball, all still to play their second-round matches at the 2026 French Open, the chaos shows no sign of slowing down.

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The Rome Masters has been turned on its head and the boys are here to make sense of the carnage. We break down a wild week at the Foro Italico where seeds have been falling like dominoes and the next generation is making its loudest statement yet.

On the men's side, the draw has been blown wide open. Novak Djokovic — back from two months out with a shoulder injury — falls to qualifier Dino Prizmic in his first clay match back, confirming he'll head straight to Paris with zero clay wins in 2026. FAA, Mensik, Fonseca, Shelton and Fils are also all gone, with the latter retiring injured. The boys discuss what's left standing and whether Sinner — yet to drop a set — is just going to stroll to another title.

The story of the tournament though is 19-year-old Rafa Jodar, who has become the first teenager to reach the Rome quarter-finals since Djokovic in 2007. The boys debate whether the hype is now impossible to ignore after a run that includes wins in Marrakech, a semi-final in Barcelona and back-to-back Masters quarter-finals.

On the women's side, world No. 1 Sabalenka dramatically collapses from a set and 2-0 up to lose to 36-year-old Sorana Cirstea — in what is her final season on tour and her first ever win over a world No. 1 in 20 years of trying. Defending champion Paolini also falls on home soil, while Swiatek quietly looks like her old self and Pegula has been a model of consistency all week.

Plus a special edition of Battle of the Spuds — Scattergories - Can you name every Mens Grand Slam Player in the Open Era? Vargos and Chrissy P give it a try

Talkn Tennis — the only tennis podcast you need.

Sinner did it again. The boys are back to wrap up a dominant Madrid Masters and ask the question nobody seems to have an answer to can anyone actually stop Jannik Sinner?

Sinner dismantled Zverev 6-1, 6-2 in under an hour to claim his fifth straight Masters 1000 title and fourth of 2026, with the German now on a nine-match losing streak against the world number one. The Guys break down just how complete Sinner's tennis is right now and whether Rome is already a foregone conclusion.

On the women's side, Marta Kostyuk claims her first ever Masters 1000 title, defeating Mirra Andreeva in straight sets — her second tournament win in as many weeks. The boys debate whether Kostyuk has quietly emerged as a genuine Roland Garros threat alongside the Big 2. And a shoutout to Anastasia Potapova, whose fairytale run ends at the semis — only to find out she still needs to qualify for Rome.

Then it's eyes on the Eternal City. Sinner arrives in Rome chasing history — the final piece of a Career Golden Masters — with only Novak Djokovic standing in his way. The boys break down the draw, flag the mouth-watering first-round clashes, and make their outside picks for the title.

Plus ATP Fantasy Buy & Sell updates, the Rome Masters Quiz, and the usual chaos.

Talkn Tennis — the only tennis podcast you need.

The Madrid Masters is heating up and the boys are back to break it all down. Adam, Chris and Adrian (recovering from a very unfortunate shrimp taco incident) dive deep into the chaos unfolding at the Mutua Madrid Open.

On the men's side, Jannik Sinner marches into the semis after dispatching 19-year-old Spanish sensation Rafa Jodar, who has been the undeniable story of the tournament — taking out Joao Fonseca and reaching the quarter-finals of his hometown Masters event. Is the hype real? The boys weigh in. Plus, Alex de Minaur exits in straight sets and Adrian has some thoughts.

On the women's side, it's been an upset-fest unlike anything seen on the WTA tour in 2026. Anastasia Potapova has pulled off one of the great underdog runs in recent memory — entering as a lucky loser after losing in qualifying, then knocking off World No. 2 Elena Rybakina to become the first lucky loser in WTA-1000 history to reach a semi-final. Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka is out after an epic three-set battle, and Iga Swiatek's tournament ended in tears — courtesy of those infamous bad tacos that have wreaked havoc across the draw.

The guys also revisit their predictions, check in on the ATP Fantasy standings, and wrap up with the usual chaos in Question Time and Battle of the Spuds.

Talkn Tennis — the only tennis podcast you need.

The clay swing is heating up 🔥 and we’re diving straight into the Madrid Masters!

In Episode 22 of the Talkn Tennis Podcast, we break down a huge week across the tours. Rising stars continue to make waves with Arthur Fils claiming the Barcelona title and Ben Shelton storming to victory in Munich, while Elena Rybakina returns to winning ways in Stuttgart.

We then shift our focus to Madrid, where the draw has been shaken up with major withdrawals including Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Jack Draper. With Jannik Sinner chasing a fourth straight Masters 1000 title, the question is simple — can anyone stop him?

On the WTA side, Aryna Sabalenka headlines a stacked field as she looks to defend her crown, with plenty of contenders ready to challenge.

Plus, we run through ATP Fantasy updates, fan questions, and the return of your favourite segments: Battle of the Spuds and Who Am I?

🎾 Big results

🔥 Bold predictions

😂 Usual chaos

Don’t forget to follow, rate, and get involved with the show!

In Episode 21 of Talkn Tennis, we break down a massive week on the ATP Tour as Jannik Sinner takes down Carlos Alcaraz in a blockbuster Monte Carlo final to reclaim World No.1.

We dive into the biggest storylines from Monaco, preview a stacked week ahead on clay, and bring back fan-favourite segments including ATP Fantasy, Question Time, and Battle of the Spuds.

• Sinner’s statement win over Alcaraz in the final
• The World No.1 ranking changes hands
• Sinner joins elite company with the Sunshine Double + Monte Carlo run
• Alcaraz hits 300 career wins
• Alexander Zverev still can’t solve Sinner
• Breakout run from wildcard Valentin Vacherot
• Alex de Minaur shows strong clay form

Barcelona ATP 500

• Alcaraz headlines the field
• Opportunity opens with key withdrawals

Munich ATP 500

• Zverev leads a stacked draw
• Big names missing through injury/illness

Stuttgart WTA 500

• Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and a loaded field

• Talkn Tennis League check-in (58 teams strong!)
• Our picks for the clay swing

• Can anyone stop Sinner & Alcaraz on clay?
• “Ghosting” in tennis… fair play or out of line?

• Scores locked at 5–5 as the rivalry heats up

Welcome back to Talkn Tennis — your weekly tennis fix as we wrap up an unforgettable Miami Open and gear up for the start of the clay-court season 🌴➡️🧱

In this Birthday Edition, the boys break down a historic fortnight where both Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka completed the rare Sunshine Double, dominating Indian Wells and Miami in style.

We also dive into the launch of ATP Fantasy, explaining how it works, our early picks, and how you can join our listener league.

• Sabalenka vs Gauff Final – Sabalenka claims back-to-back Miami titles
• Sunshine Double history & where Sabalenka now ranks among legends
• Sinner’s dominance continues with a flawless Miami run
• First-ever men’s Sunshine Double without dropping a set
• Lehecka’s breakthrough & semi-final storylines

• Who’s winning the 2026 Buy/Sell battle so far
• Biggest movers: Fils, Fonseca, Báez & more
• Early-season surprises & disappointments

• How the new ATP Fantasy format works
• Scoring system explained
• Our first draft picks for the clay season
• Join the Talkn Tennis listener league

• Clay season officially begins in Monte Carlo 🇲🇨
• Djokovic withdraws + key absences (Fritz, Rune, Shelton, Paul)
• Can Alcaraz defend his title?
• Sinner closing in on World No.1 👀
• Wildcards including Monfils, Wawrinka & Berrettini

• Casper Ruud
• Francisco Cerúndolo
• Lorenzo Musetti
• Sebastián Báez
• Jasmine Paolini

• Houston
• Marrakech
• Bucharest
• Charleston & Bogotá (WTA)

• Battle of the Spuds 🥔
• Who Am I? – Monte Carlo Edition

• Listener shoutouts & rivalries heating up
• Classic Talkn Tennis chaos
• Plenty of questionable takes

🎧 If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share it with your fellow tennis fans!

Disclaimer: Chris’ bold claim that he’d pay $100 to anyone who beats him in ATP Fantasy was, in fact, an April Fool’s joke… and unfortunately (or fortunately for Chris), it will not be honoured.

Welcome back to Talkn Tennis as we hit crunch time at the Miami Open 2026. This week, the draw has been blown wide open with shock exits, breakout performances, and huge questions over some of the game’s biggest names.

Adam, Chrissy P, and Vargos break it all down — from Carlos Alcaraz’s stunning loss to Sebastian Korda, to Alex de Minaur’s worrying dip in form, plus full previews of the ATP & WTA semi-finals.

• Sebastian Korda stuns Carlos Alcaraz in a 3-set thriller
• Elite composure after losing control in the second set
• Tactical masterclass: controlled aggression & net play
• What’s going wrong for Alcaraz in Miami?

• Straight-sets loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas (now 12–1 H2H)
• Tsitsipas dominates behind serve (98% first serve points won 😳)
• Early-season high → major drop-off in form
• Is consistency becoming a serious issue?

• Saves 4 match points vs Tommy Paul in an all-time thriller
• Wins 6 straight points in the deciding tiebreak
• First Masters 1000 semi-final
• France’s next superstar?

• Jiri Lehecka stops Martin Landaluce’s dream run
• Second Masters semi-final appearance
• Landaluce emerges as a serious future threat

• From outside Top 100 → inside Top 60 in weeks
• Multiple Top-20 wins across Indian Wells & Miami
• Aussie breakout star of the 2026 season

• Tiafoe vs Sinner
• Cerundolo vs Zverev
• Lehecka vs Fils

• Gauff vs Muchova
• Sabalenka vs Rybakina — potential rivalry of 2026

• Battle of the Spuds 🌍
• Who Am I – Miami Edition
• Listener shoutouts (Greg from Virginia 👀)

If you’re loving the pod, don’t forget to follow, rate & share on Spotify or your favourite platform.

We’ll catch you next week 🎾

This week on Talkn Tennis, the boys wrap up all the action from Indian Wells 2026 and look ahead to the next big stop on tour — Miami.

We break down Jannik Sinner’s historic first Indian Wells title, capped off by a stunning straight-sets win over Daniil Medvedev, and discuss how he’s now joined Federer and Djokovic in an elite ATP Masters club. On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka finally conquered Tennis Paradise with a gutsy comeback win over Elena Rybakina in one of the matches of the tournament.

The team also dives into the doubles results, the biggest headlines heading into Miami, including Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal, wildcard news for Venus Williams, and a few early predictions for who could make noise in Florida.

Plus, the usual chaos, questionable takes, and a fresh round of Battle of the Spuds and Who Am I.

1. Indian Wells men’s final recap
2. Jannik Sinner defeats Daniil Medvedev in two tight tiebreak sets to claim his first Indian Wells title.
3. Sinner’s historic achievement
4. Sinner wins the title without dropping a set and joins an exclusive club of players to win all six ATP Masters 1000 hard-court titles.
5. Medvedev’s huge run
6. A look at Medvedev’s shock semi-final win over Carlos Alcaraz and his impressive week in the desert.
7. Indian Wells women’s final recap
8. Aryna Sabalenka fights back from a set down to beat Elena Rybakina in a dramatic three-set thriller.
9. Sabalenka breaks through
10. Sabalenka wins her first Indian Wells title and ends her recent losing streak in finals against Rybakina.
11. Doubles roundup
12. The boys cover the standout results from the men’s, women’s and mixed doubles draws.
13. Miami Open preview
14. Early thoughts on the 2026 Miami tournament, defending champions, wildcard entries and players to watch.
15. Big news heading into Miami
16. Novak Djokovic withdraws with injury, Lorenzo Musetti is out, and Venus Williams returns with a wildcard 25 years after her Miami title.
17. Dark horse picks
18. The team each names one man and one woman they like heading into Miami.
19. Battle of the Spuds / Who Am I
20. Another round of the podcast’s favourite chaos.

Sinner edged Medvedev 7-6(6), 7-6(4) in a serve-dominated final where neither player dropped serve. He didn’t face a single break point and produced an incredible comeback from 0-4 down in the second-set tiebreak, winning seven straight points to seal the title.

With the win, Sinner claimed his first Indian Wells crown, did it without dropping a set, and joined Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only men to win all six ATP Masters 1000 hard-court events.

Aryna Sabalenka battled back from a set down to defeat Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) in a gripping final. After falling behind early, Sabalenka found another gear and survived a dramatic deciding-set tiebreak to finally lift the trophy in the desert.

Despite the loss, Rybakina’s run was huge, and her result is set to push her back up to World No. 2, while Sabalenka strengthens her grip on the World No. 1 ranking.

The boys look ahead to Miami, where Jakub Menšík returns as defending men’s champion and Sabalenka as defending women’s champion. They also discuss Djokovic’s withdrawal, Musetti’s absence, Venus Williams’ wildcard, and Nick Kyrgios’ planned return in Stuttgart in June.

1. Men: Ben Shelton
2. Women: Marta Kostyuk

1. Men: Botic van de Zandschulp
2. Women: Amanda Anisimova

1. Men: Tomás Martín Etcheverry
2. Women: Victoria Mboko

For all the latest tennis headlines, tournament recaps, bold predictions and unfiltered banter, make sure you’re following Talkn Tennis on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.

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It’s quarter-final time at Indian Wells 2026 and the boys are here to break down all the biggest matchups from Tennis Paradise.

Adam The Animal is joined by Chrissy P and Vargos to preview every blockbuster clash on the men’s and women’s side, including Carlos Alcaraz vs Cameron Norrie, Daniil Medvedev vs Jack Draper, Jannik Sinner vs Learner Tien, and Aussie hopeful Talia Gibson’s dream run into the final eight.

The boys also dive into the biggest headlines of the week, including Mirra Andreeva’s on-court meltdown, Taylor Fritz’s early exit, and Alex de Minaur’s disappointing Indian Wells campaign. Plus, they revisit their tournament predictions, fire up another edition of Battle of the Spuds, and finish with some Indian Wells-themed Who Am I? trivia.

If you love ATP tennis, WTA tennis, Indian Wells, Grand Slam storylines, tennis predictions, and unfiltered tennis chat, this is the episode for you.

1. Indian Wells 2026 quarter-final preview
2. Carlos Alcaraz vs Cameron Norrie
3. Daniil Medvedev vs Jack Draper
4. Alexander Zverev vs Arthur Fils
5. Jannik Sinner vs Learner Tien
6. Aryna Sabalenka vs Victoria Mboko
7. Linda Noskova vs Talia Gibson
8. Iga Świątek vs Elina Svitolina
9. Jessica Pegula vs Elena Rybakina
10. Mirra Andreeva’s meltdown
11. Taylor Fritz’s shock exit
12. Alex de Minaur’s disappointing week
13. Tournament predictions review
14. Battle of the Spuds
15. Indian Wells trivia

The boys preview all four men’s quarter-finals, led by the huge showdown between Daniil Medvedev and Jack Draper, fresh off Draper’s massive upset win over Novak Djokovic. They also break down whether Cameron Norrie can trouble Carlos Alcaraz, if Arthur Fils can keep rising against Alexander Zverev, and whether Learner Tien has any answers for the relentless Jannik Sinner.

On the women’s side, the spotlight falls on Talia Gibson, with the 21-year-old Aussie continuing a stunning breakout run from qualifying into the quarter-finals. The crew also discuss Sabalenka vs Mboko, Świątek vs Svitolina, and a heavyweight clash between Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina.

The episode also covers the week’s biggest storylines, including Mirra Andreeva’s fiery exit, Taylor Fritz’s desert heartbreak, and Alex de Minaur’s disappointing singles and doubles results.

To close the show, the boys look back on their pre-tournament picks, deliver another chaotic Battle of the Spuds, and test each other with Indian Wells history trivia.

Big couple of weeks in tennis and we’re back with the headlines, results, and the unfiltered takes. Medvedev “wins” Dubai in walkover madness before travel chaos leaves players stranded. Cobolli grabs a huge Acapulco title (and his first on hard courts), while Cristina Bucsa breaks through in Merida with a singles + doubles sweep. Then we preview Indian Wells on both tours, run Buy/Sell, and finish with Battle of the Spuds + a WTA-special Who Am I?

Dubai 500 (ATP)

1. Daniil Medvedev claims a second Dubai title via walkover
2. Tallon Griekspoor withdraws pre-final with a left hamstring injury (suffered in the semi vs Rublev)
3. Medvedev didn’t drop a set all week, including a semi win over top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime
4. Post-trophy chaos: airspace closures leave players stranded in Dubai, throwing Indian Wells prep into doubt

Acapulco 500 (ATP)

1. Flavio Cobolli def. Frances Tiafoe 7-6(4), 6-4
2. Cobolli’s first hard-court title and third ATP crown
3. 10 aces, clutch tiebreak comeback, and a late break to seal it
4. Big ranking move: projected Top 15 debut

Merida Open (WTA 250)

1. Cristina Bucsa wins her first WTA singles title: def. Magdalena Frech 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
2. First career Top 10 win (upset Jasmine Paolini in the semis)
3. Doubles sweep as well with Jiang Xinyu
4. Projected career-high ranking around No. 31

ATP

1. Top half collision course: Alcaraz, Djokovic, and defending champ Jack Draper
2. Bottom half anchor: Jannik Sinner chasing his first IW title (travelling with only Darren Cahill)
3. If seeds hold: Sinner projected QF vs Ben Shelton
4. Travel chaos from Dubai could blow open sections of the draw

WTA

1. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka headlines the top half
2. Possible Sabalenka vs Naomi Osaka (2018 champ) storyline
3. Swiatek projected path includes a potential QF vs defending champ Mirra Andreeva
4. Venus Williams returns with a main-draw wildcard

1. Who are we buying? Who are we selling?
2. Adrian’s picks + Chris’ picks
3. Updated leaderboard check (22 Feb 2026 snapshot)

1. Battle of the Spuds
2. Who Am I? (WTA Special)

Alex de Minaur is officially the King of Rotterdam! After falling in the finals in 2024 and 2025, "The Demon" finally lifted the trophy at the ATP 500 Rotterdam Open, putting on a clinic against Felix Auger-Aliassime (6-3, 6-2).

1. The Blueprint: How De Minaur used aggressive baseline play and a flawless serving performance (zero break points faced) to dismantle the indoor specialist.
2. Ranking Rise: With his 12th career title, De Minaur continues his push into the upper echelon of the Top 10. Is he now a legitimate dark horse for the sunshine double?
3. The "Power Couple" Trend: We look at the "Katie and Alex" winning streak—Alex’s win comes just one week after partner Katie Boulter claimed her own title in Ostrava.

Reports are swirling that Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley is finalized as the new chief of the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

1. End of an Era: After two decades transforming the Australian Open into the "Happy Slam," what does Tiley's departure mean for the future of Melbourne Park?
2. The US Open Vision: From removing the umpire's chair to "mini performance centers" for players, we discuss the radical innovations Tiley might bring to New York.
3. The Succession Plan: Who is in the running to replace the most influential man in Australian tennis? We look at names like Gillon McLachlan and the potential for a split CEO/Tournament Director role.

1. Alex de Minaur joins Lleyton Hewitt as the only Australians to win the Rotterdam title.
2. Craig Tiley’s move to the USTA is expected to be officially announced next week.
3. Innovation Watch: Tiley’s vision includes translucent roofs and AI-driven officiating—is the US Open ready for a total tech overhaul?

1. Rotterdam Final: De Minaur def. Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-2 (77 minutes).
2. Career Titles: De Minaur moves into a tie for 6th on the all-time Aussie list with Mark Philippoussis and Pat Rafter.

1. Intro

Hello everybody and welcome back to Talkn Tennis, the only tennis podcast you need to be listening to to get all your headlines, results and well informed unfiltered opinions. Thanks to all the new followers and listeners in this past few week, we appreciate your support, if you haven’t done so already, gives us a follow on whatever podcast platform you listen to us on

I'm your host, they call me Adam the Animal, and I'm joined by my two partners in crime.

Firstly the man who has had to take a break from tennis as he has been spending the week researching cheap tattoo parlours in Bali, its Chrissy P, how are you Chris?

Secondly the man, responsible for deigning said tattoo for Chris but he first needs to learn how to spell Kazakhstan its Vargos, how are you Adrian

1. Life Updates
2. Chris: Tattoo?
3. Age: Back to School to prove to dada im not a fool
4. AO Recap

Men’s Singles

1. Winner: Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)
2. Runner-Up: Novak Djokovic (SRB)
3. Score: 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5
4. The Story: History was made. At just 22 years old, Alcaraz became the youngest man to complete the Career Grand Slam, defeating the 10-time champion Djokovic.

Women’s Singles

1. Winner: Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
2. Runner-Up: Aryna Sabalenka (BLR)
3. Score: 6-4, 4-6, 6-4

Men’s Doubles

1. Winners: Neal Skupski & Christian Harrison (GBR/USA)
2. Runners-Up: Jason Kubler & Marc Polmans (AUS)
3. Score: 7-6(4), 6-4

Women’s Doubles

1. Winners: Elise Mertens & Zhang Shuai (BEL/CHN)
2. Runners-Up: Anna Danilina & Aleksandra Krunic (KAZ/SRB)
3. Score: 7-6(4), 6-4

Mixed Doubles

1. Winners: Olivia Gadecki & John Peers (AUS)
2. Runners-Up: Kristina Mladenovic & Manuel Guinard (FRA)
3. Score: 4-6, 6-3, [10-8]
4. The Story: A historic defense! Gadecki and Peers became the first team in 37 years (since 1989) to successfully defend the Australian Open Mixed Doubles title. They saved their best for the Match Tiebreak to keep the trophy in Australia.

Discussion Topics

1. Thoughts about the men and women's Final
2. Where will Chris get his tattoo?

1. Our AO Predictions

Reflections on our predictions, what did we get right and wrong

Chris

Mens Winner: Jannik Sinner

Womens Winner: Elena Rybanika

1. Alex De Minaur will make at least a semi-final - he will beat Alcaraz when they meet
2. Zverev will be gone by Round 2 in 5 sets
3. Medvedev will go far, maybe a semi-final

Adrian

Mens Winner: Jannik Sinner

Womens Winner: Aryna Sabalanka

Alexander Zverev will be gone by Round 3

1. Novak Djokovic wont make it past Qtr. Finals
2. Alex De Minaur will make at least a semi-final
3. Riding Bublik High
4. Swiantek wont make the quarter finals
5. Andreeva going deep - maybe a final

Adam

Mens Winner: Jannik Sinner

Womens Winner: Belinda Bencic

1. Tournaments for This Week
2. Montpellier ATP 250

The indoor season has kicked off in Montpellier with defending champion Félix Auger-Aliassime heads a stacked field looking to shake off the Melbourne heat, but the early headlines were stolen by 16-year-old French sensation Moïse Kouame. The local teenager electrified the crowd by becoming the youngest qualifier on tour since 2008, and he nearly caused a massive upset in Round 1. He took the opening set against 8th seed Aleksandar Kovacevic before eventually falling in a tight three-setter (6-7, 6-2, 6-2). Elsewhere, the "old guard" delivered as Stan Wawrinka rolled back the years to win his opening match but runs into FAA in the next round

1. Davis Cup

Davis Cup Qualifiers start this weekend (Feb 6-8).

Australia travels to Ecuador to play on the high-altitude clay courts, with Lleyton Hewitt has selected a semi strong squad however will be missing ADM (Thompson, Kokkinakis, Vukic), but the combination of clay and extreme altitude makes this a potential "banana skin" tie. Elsewhere, the tie of the round is undoubtedly Great Britain vs. Norway in Oslo, featuring a massive showdown between Jack Draper and Casper Ruud. Meanwhile, Team USA faces a tricky test on indoor clay against Hungary, and Spain and Italy get a bye into the next round.

The Humbert "Phone-Gate" Investigation

There was a bizarre incident today in Montpellier involving local star Ugo Humbert. During his second-round clash against fellow Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, Humbert was leading 4-3 in the deciding third-set tiebreak—just three points away from victory

While checking a device isn't strictly illegal during changeovers, the timing was highly suspicious; immediately after putting the phone down, Humbert proceeded to lose the next four points in a row without winning another rally, handing Mannarino the match 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-7(4). The sudden collapse, combined with the unauthorized communication, has triggered an investigation by integrity officials into potential match-fixing, with fans speculating whether he received an instruction to throw the final moments of the match.

5.2 Tournaments Next Week

And if thats not enough for you, there are three tournaments on the Mens side next week, with two ATP-500 tournaments taking place, one in Dallas and the other Rotterdam. Rotterdam looks more stacked with Zverev, FAA, ADM and Medvedev and Jack Draper set to make its return all set to be playing. Alcaraz was also set to play but has since pulled out since his Aussie Open win.

Meanwhile in Dallas, Ben Shleton, Taylor Fritz and Casper Ruud are all scheduled t play. Put a watch on Fritz there to see if he is fully fit, he has been seemingly carrying an injury since early Janaury.

No sight of JAnnik Sinner for next week but he is set to play int he ATP-500 in Doha which starts on the 16th of Feb.

Bug tournament on the women's side, with DOHA hosting the first wTA-1000 event of the year, crazy its so soon. Sabalenka and Pegula and Keys have pulled out of the tournament otherwise its a pretty stacked event as you would expect.

1. Battle of the Spuds - Davis Cup History & Who Am I

1. Conclusion

Adrian, any parting...

The 2026 Australian Open has descended into absolute madness, and the Talkn Tennis team is here to sift through the wreckage. From "Heat Gate" controversies to the shocking collapse of top seeds, we break down a week in Melbourne that no one saw coming. Is the Alcaraz/Sinner era officially untouchable, or is a certain American teenager about to flip the script?

1. [00:00] Intro: The Animal & The Instigators Adam welcomes the crew. Chrissy P explains his recent X (Twitter) war regarding the Osaka/Cirstea drama, and Vargos weighs in on playing in the Melbourne furnace with a history of "knees made of glass."
2. [12:45] Quarter-Final Carnage * Rybakina vs. Swiatek: Elena finds the lines while Iga finds the exit.
3. The American Civil War: Pegula vs. Anisimova—who held their nerve?
4. The Sinner Survival: Breaking down "Heat Gate" and how Jannik escaped a scare under the roof.
5. [28:30] The Osaka Controversy Recapping Naomi’s shock withdrawal and the social media firestorm that followed. Was it handled right, or are we looking at a permanent rift?
6. [42:15] The Changing of the Guard? Daniil Medvedev gets "creamed" by Learner Tien. We discuss if Tien is officially the new face of American tennis and what went wrong for the Octopus.
7. [55:00] Semi-Final Predictions Can anyone—literally anyone—stop the Sinner vs. Alcaraz collision course? We look at the remaining draw and place our bets.
8. [01:10:20] Battle of the Spuds: AO History Edition A brutal "Level: Impossible" trivia round. Who actually knows their 90s qualifiers, and who is the ultimate tennis "Spud"?

1. Subscribe: Hit that button on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your fix to help us win over the algorithm gods!
2. Follow the Drama: Check out Chrissy P’s latest arguments on X (if he hasn't been blocked yet).
3. Support: Leave us a 5-star review if you want Vargos’ ACLs to finally heal.

ound 1 at the Australian Open has delivered absolute chaos — and we’re here to unpack all of it.

In this episode, Adam the Antimal is joined by Chrissy P and Vargos as the crew recaps Day 1 and Day 2 of the Australian Open, breaking down the biggest results, wild upsets, and unforgettable moments from the opening rounds.

Welcome back to Talkn Tennis, the only tennis podcast you need for headlines, results, and well-informed, unfiltered opinions. Whether you’re a returning listener or new to the pod, don’t forget to subscribe and help us win over the algorithm gods.

Adam the Antimal is joined by:

1. Chrissy P – AO record holder for women’s matches and deli sandwiches in a single day session
2. Vargos (Adrian) – fresh off breaking his own AO record for alcohol smuggled into Melbourne Park

1. Shake Shack vs Hector’s Deli: the real Melbourne Park rivalry
2. Evading security while sneaking drinks into the grounds
3. The epic queues that test every tennis fan’s resolve
4. Naomi Osaka stealing the spotlight with a ridiculous on-court intro and outfit

We kick things off with a brutal casualty report — Round 1 has been ruthless for seeded players.

1. Flavio Cobolli (20) crashes out in straight sets to British qualifier Arthur Fery, while battling severe illness in one of the strangest Grand Slam exits you’ll ever see.
2. Felix Auger-Aliassime (7) retires due to cramping against Nuno Borges after a grueling four-set battle.
3. Alexander Zverev survives an early scare, dropping the first set to big-serving Canadian Gabriel Diallo before recovering in four.

Women’s draw shockers:

1. Ekaterina Alexandrova (11) stunned by Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sönmez in three tight sets.
2. A heartbreaking 3.5-hour marathon sees Marta Kostyuk (20) fall to Elsa Jacquemot in a triple-tiebreak epic, ending 10–7 in the final set.

1. Daniil Medvedev grinds past Quentin Halys in four sets.
2. Andrey Rublev (13) survives a scare against qualifier Jaime Faria.
3. Nuno Borges continues his strong run, knocking out Aussie hope Jordan Thompson in four.

1. Coco Gauff opens her campaign with an impressive first-round win.
2. Carlos Alcaraz delivers one of the most dominant performances of the tournament so far.
3. Venus Williams rolls back the years in an epic three-set battle against Olga Danilović.

1. Tomas Machac vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
2. Giulio Zeppieri (Q) vs Stan Wawrinka (WC)
3. Jakub Menšík (16) vs Martin Landaluce (Q)
4. Denis Shapovalov vs Marin Čilić
5. Jaume Munar vs Casper Ruud

Introduction: Welcome back to the exhilarating world of tennis with the latest edition of Talkin' Tennis. As we dive into the highlights of the podcast’s recent discussions, we bring to light the excitement surrounding the upcoming Australian Open and the intriguing One Point Challenge that has captured the imaginations of players and fans alike.

Main Content:

1. **The One Point Challenge Explained**

The podcast opens with a humorous take on the One Point Challenge, a unique event where players, including amateurs and celebrities, compete to win a million dollars by winning just one point against a professional player. Adam the Animal introduces his co-hosts, Chris and Adrian, who share their thoughts on whether they would serve or return in such a high-pressure situation. Chris suggests that returning might be the best strategy, as professionals are likely to feel the pressure and serve weaker shots, making it easier for him to score a point.

2. **Milos Raonic's Retirement**

In another segment, the hosts reflect on Milos Raonic's recent retirement announcement after a commendable 15-year career. They discuss his achievements, including reaching a Grand Slam final and maintaining a high win percentage, despite injuries that plagued him towards the end of his career. Adam notes that Raonic was one of the best players of his era who never clinched a Grand Slam title, sparking a deeper conversation about the challenges faced by athletes in their twilight years.

3. **Anticipation for the Australian Open**

As the Australian Open approaches, the hosts discuss the tournament's seedings, highlighting players like Alcaraz and Sinner on the men's side, and emerging stars like Bencic on the women's side. Adrian expresses his excitement for the return of tennis, while Chris shares his concerns about Zverev's mental state heading into the tournament, hinting at potential vulnerabilities.

4. **Tennis Insights and Fan Engagement**

Throughout the podcast, the camaraderie among the hosts is palpable as they share laughs and engage with listeners. They discuss the importance of fan interaction and how the tennis community thrives on these connections. The hosts also express their eagerness to provide insights and predictions as the tournament unfolds, encouraging listeners to stay tuned for more updates.

In conclusion, the latest edition of Talkin' Tennis captures the lively spirit of the tennis community as it gears up for the Australian Open. The introduction of the One Point Challenge adds an exciting twist to the season, while the discussions around Milos Raonic's retirement remind us of the fleeting nature of athletic careers. With a mix of humor, insights, and genuine passion for the sport, the hosts create an engaging experience for their audience, leaving fans eager for the matches ahead.

In this episode, we break down a chaotic and thrilling 24 hours of tennis from Australia. From the United Cup in Perth to the Brisbane International, we cover the epic battles, the unexpected upsets, and one of the weirdest rule enforcements we've seen in years. Plus, we preview tomorrow’s must-watch clashes.

Episode Highlights:

United Cup: Switzerland vs. Italy

1. Belinda Bencic puts on a clinic against Jasmine Paolini (6-4, 6-3).
2. Stan Wawrinka vs. Flavio Cobolli: An instant classic (6-4, 6-7, 7-6) defined by a bizarre "hindrance" moment where Cobolli lost a point for a ball falling out of his pocket. We explain the rule!
3. Mixed Doubles Decider: Switzerland holds their nerve to snatch the tie (7-5, 4-6, 10-7).

United Cup: Great Britain vs. Japan

1. Billy Harris anchors the team with a solid win over Mochizuki (7-6, 6-3).
2. Naomi Osaka tested early but powers past late replacement Katie Swan (7-6, 6-1).
3. Decider: GBR clinches the tie in a tight mixed doubles finish (7-5, 4-6, 10-7).

United Cup: Czech Republic vs. Norway

1. Jakub Mensik delivers the upset of the day, stunning Casper Ruud in straight sets (7-5, 7-6).
2. Barbora Krejcikova keeps it professional against Malene Helgo, handling business (6-4, 6-3).

Brisbane International Action

1. The Special Ks are Back: Kyrgios and Kokkinakis blow the roof off Pat Rafter Arena, taking down the top seeds Ebden & Ram in a match tie-break (7-5, 4-6, 10-8).
2. Aussie Fortunes: Ajla Tomljanovic shines (6-1, 6-3) while Daria Kasatkina falls in a heartbreaker to Potapova.
3. Frances Tiafoe cruises past Vukic (6-2, 6-2).

Match Previews & Predictions

1. Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Zizou Bergs: Can Felix hold his nerve?
2. Alex de Minaur vs. Jakub Mensik: The Demon needs to bounce back against the giant-killing Czech.
3. France’s Last Stand: Rinderknech vs. Cobolli and Paolini vs. Jeanjean.
4. Mertens vs. Mboko & Krejcikova vs. Joint: Experience meets youth.

We are waking up to a different landscape in Perth! After Sebastian Baez stuns Taylor Fritz in the "Upset of the Year," we unpack whether Team USA is showing cracks or just had a bad day. plus, we break down Alexander Zverev’s wild "game of two halves" against Griekspoor.

Then, we look ahead to a massive Day 4. Is a rotated Team USA walking into a trap against Spain? And in the late match, we explain why the rankings in Greece vs. Great Britain are lying to you—and why Emma Raducanu might just be the favorite against Maria Sakkari.

Finally, we head east to preview the Brisbane International with our flags firmly planted for Daniil Medvedev and Elena Rybakina.

Run of Show:

1. The "Perth Surprise": dissecting Baez’s takedown of Taylor Fritz.
2. Germany vs. Netherlands: Zverev survives a scare to deliver a bagel.
3. USA vs. Spain Preview: The "B-Team" Trap. Why a Fritz-to-McDonald swap could flip this tie on its head.
4. Greece vs. Great Britain: The "Billy Harris" factor and why Raducanu owns the psychological edge over Sakkari (4-0 H2H!).
5. Brisbane International: Why we are banking on a Medvedev resurgence and why Rybakina is our pick to go all the way.
6. Fan Question: Is the "Spain Upset" a real danger, or are we overthinking it?

Mentioned in this Episode:

1. United Cup Group A & E Scenarios
2. Sebastian Baez vs. Taylor Fritz
3. Alexander Zverev vs. Tallon Griekspoor
4. Emma Raducanu vs. Maria Sakkari H2H
5. Elena Rybakina’s form

jAYUJJqMVVLpzSQACitQ

Episode Title: United Cup Day 3: The "Savage" Truth About Osaka, ZZZ’s Masterclass & Raducanu vs. Naomi Preview

Episode Description: Welcome back to Talkn Tennis! On today’s episode, Chris unpacks the absolute chaos from Day 2 of the United Cup and looks ahead to a stacked Day 3 lineup. We eat humble pie on the Zizou Bergs prediction, break down the "dark arts" in the China vs. Belgium doubles thriller, and give Stan Wawrinka his flowers after a vintage performance in the Perth heat.

Plus, we don't hold back on Team Japan’s disastrous start and Naomi Osaka’s concerning body language. Then, we dive into the crystal ball for Day 3, including the "Battle of the Brands" between Raducanu and Osaka, and why we’re doubling down on Zhang Zhizhen to upset Captain Canada.

In this episode:

1. The Mea Culpa: Owning the failed Zizou Bergs tip & why he choked.
2. China vs. Belgium: 187km/h forehands, toilet break tactics, and the Sydney crowd.
3. Stan the Man: How Wawrinka stole one from France (and saved my prediction record).
4. The Osaka Problem: A raw look at Japan’s collapse and Naomi’s attitude.
5. Day 3 Previews:
6. The Heavyweights: Zverev vs. Griekspoor.
7. The "Furniture": Why Victoria "Moko" Mboko is the real deal.
8. The Upset Alert: Can "Red-Hot" Zhang take down Felix Auger-Aliassime?
9. Van Life: The Billy Harris story & GB’s chaotic lineup changes.
10. Main Event: Raducanu vs. Osaka — The "I hope they both lose" match?
11. Italy vs. Swiss: Can a tired Stan survive Cobolli’s youth?

Connect with us: Follow the show on X for live reactions and more predictions: @TalknTennis

2nd January

Hello everybody and welcome back to Talkn Tennis —I’m your host Chris who will be bringing you Day 2’s preview of the United cup. If this is your first time here, congratulations, you’ve already made a better decision than most tennis media this time of year.

For the regulars, you know the drill: proper tennis chat, informed opinions, and zero interest in playing it safe. For the newcomers, this is where we break things down without the bullshit — we look at who’s actually in form, where the pressure sits, and what to watch before the matches even start.

Today’s episode continues our United Cup daily coverage, focusing on Day Two — team construction, strengths and weak links, and the context that actually matters. Before we dig in we will look at some of the matches that have been completed.

Host (Chris): "Alright, let's talk about the opening session in Perth, and man, it was a literal furnace out there. 36 degrees on the court, the ball was flying like a projectile, and we had a classic baseline war between Sebastian Baez and Jaume Munar.

Now, I'll be the first to admit—I had confidence in the Argentine to maybe snag a set, but I didn't think he’d take Munar out in straight sets on a hard court. But the 170cm powerhouse proved me wrong. He played absolutely fabulous tennis.

If you look at the stat sheet, there wasn't much daylight between them, but this was a match decided by the 'big points.' We saw so many games go to Deuce, and that’s where Baez really showed his teeth. His composure was rock solid.

Tactically, he was solid out there. He stayed patient in the long rallies, but he was intentionally pulling Munar out of his comfort zone. He kept directing these short, wide groundstrokes to Munar’s forehand, opening up the court and then—this was the clincher—he actually came to the net to finish. You don't always see that kind of transition from Baez, but he showed incredible hands at the net to close out those points.

Munar fought, but Baez just had that extra gear of confidence today. Argentina takes a 1-0 lead, and Baez looks like he’s ready for a big summer."

Score: 6-4, 5-7, 6-0

Host (Chris): "If you want to talk about mental toughness and the absolute chaos of tennis momentum, look no further than the clash between Solana Sierra and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

Sierra walked away with the win, but man, did she take the scenic route to get there. The first two sets were a total dogfight. We saw massive momentum shifts where neither player seemed to want to keep a lead. Sierra actually looked like she had this wrapped up in straight sets—she was up 5-2 in the second and cruising.

But then, the wheels hit a bit of a wobble. Bouzas Maneiro showed that Spanish grit we always talk about; she clawed her way back from the brink, rattled off five straight games, and snatched that second set 7-5. At that point, you’re thinking Sierra is mentally cooked. She had the match in her hands and let it slip.

But then... the third set happened. And it wasn't just a win; it was a demolition.

Whatever happened in that break between sets, Sierra wiped the slate clean. She came out and handed Bouzas Maneiro a 'hidden bagel'—6-0 in the third. Sierra’s power from the baseline just became too much. She stopped the unforced errors that let the Spaniard back in during the second, and she absolutely bullied her way to the finish line.

The stats show a story of two halves: a messy, nervous battle for the first two hours, followed by a total clinical takeover by the Argentine in the third. It’s a massive result for Sierra to keep her composure after that second-set collapse. Argentina wins a thriller, and Sierra proves she’s got the 'reset' button that only the top players really have."

And that makes Chris 0 from 2 from my predictions.

Preview - Perth

Now we will be Previewing Day 2 matches and Day 2 sees 4 nations go at it.

We’re starting with Belgium and China.' You’ve got Elise Mertens, who plays like she’s allergic to hitting a winner, and Zhu Lin, who plays like she left the stove on at home and needs the match over in forty minutes. Then you’ve got Zizou Bergs—taking on Zhang Zhizhen, who is currently the only reason Chinese men’s tennis isn't a total footnote.

Then we’re moving to Australia and Norway. This is where it gets ugly. We’re looking at Maya Joint, who’s basically been fast-tracked into the spotlight because the Aussie women’s game has been looking a bit thin lately. She’s taking on Malene Helgø, a player who, let’s be real, wouldn't be on this court if she didn't have Casper Ruud’s phone number.

"Next we go to Perth, we’ve got Switzerland against France. It’s basically the 'Belinda and Stan' show. Switzerland is leaning heavily on Belinda Bencic, who spent 2025 proving she’s still a top-tier threat after maternity leave, and Stan Wawrinka, who is currently on a farewell tour

They’re taking on a French team that is the definition of 'unpredictable.' You’ve got Leolia Jeanjean, a player who can go from a tactical genius to hitting the back fence in three minutes flat, and Arthur Rinderknech—a 6'5" tower of power who plays like he’s trying to serve the ball through the court. It’s Swiss precision against French chaos.

"Lastly for Day 2 we have the USA and Argentina. This is a total mismatch in styles. Team USA is coming in with Taylor Fritz, who has beaten Sebastian Baez five times out of five. Fritz plays 'big man' tennis—flat, fast, and aggressive. Baez, on the other hand, is 170cm of pure stubbornness.

And then you’ve got Coco Gauff against Solana Sierra. Coco is the 'Endgame' of tennis right now—she’s too fast, too fit, and too experienced. She’s taking on Sierra, a 21-year-old who just pulled off a miracle comeback against Bouzas Maneiro, but going from a Spanish grinder to the World No. 3 is like jumping from a kiddy pool into the middle of the Pacific. Argentina is going to fight, but the USA is coming with heavy artillery."

Group B – Team Balance vs Star Reliance

Belgium are one of those teams that don’t scream star power, but when you look closer, they’re actually very well constructed for this format.

At the top, you’ve got Zizou Bergs — solid on hard courts, physically reliable, and not the kind of player who gets overwhelmed by the moment. He’s not flashy, but he gives you a chance in almost every singles match.

Behind him, Kimmer Coppejans adds depth — again, not elite, but dependable.

Where Belgium really separate themselves is on the women’s side.

Elise Mertens is a massive asset in this format. She’s experienced, composed, and crucially — elite in doubles, which matters more here than people think.

Add Greet Minnen and Lara Salden, and Belgium suddenly look like a team with options, not just names.

China’s setup is much simpler — and riskier.

Everything revolves around Zhang Zhizhen. If he wins, China are alive. If he doesn’t, things unravel very quickly.

Behind him, Te Rigele and Wang Aoran don’t offer the same reliability, especially in pressure situations.

On the women’s side, Zhu Lin is solid but inconsistent, and You Xiaodi lacks experience at this level.

The big concern? Mixed doubles. There’s no natural pairing here, and that’s where ties often swing.

With that being said lets get into the match ups for Belgium v China

[Host Intro] "First match on the board for Belgium and China is Elise Mertens versus Zhu Lin. If you like watching two people with completely different relationship statuses with 'the baseline,' this is the match for you. It’s a classic case of tactical discipline versus total psychological volatility."

"Let’s look at the tape. Elise Mertens is the definition of an 'all-court' player, but let’s be real: she’s the human equivalent of a tax return. She’s predictable, she’s a bit boring to watch, but she is incredibly efficient.

Because she was the World No. 1 in doubles, she understands court geometry better than almost anyone else out there. She doesn’t have a 'knockout' punch, but she doesn’t have a weakness either. She’s a counter-puncher who just waits for you to get bored and paint the lines.

Then you have Zhu Lin. Fans call it 'Zhu-Lin-sanity' for a reason. When she’s on, she’s an aggressive baseliner who hits the ball flatter than a pancake. She wants to take your time away, hit the lines, and get off the court in 45 minutes. But that high-risk style is a double-edged...

Hello everybody and welcome back to Talkn Tennis — the only tennis podcast you need to be listening to if you want informed and unbiased opinions.

My name’s Chris, I’ll be your host for this special run of episodes covering tennis down under, and I’m kicking things off by unpacking Day 1 of the United Cup — who’s playing, who should win, and who might already be regretting their off-season.

We’re officially back in Australian summer mode — heat, crowds, national pride, and players stepping straight into meaningful matches before the Australian Open even begins.

Today’s episode is all about the United Cup — and despite the name, this isn’t some brand-new gimmick. Mixed-team international tennis has been around for decades.

Before the United Cup, we had the Hopman Cup — a tournament Australians know well. The idea was the same: men and women competing together, countries represented, and bragging rights on the line. The difference now? The United Cup runs on a much bigger scale, features deeper teams, and — crucially — offers ATP and WTA ranking points, which means players actually show up and actually care. A maximum of 500 points is offered. For example, a group-stage match win is worth 55 points if you beat a top-10 opponent, but is worth 45 points for beating an 11-20 ranked player, and decreases per ranking bracket.

So while the branding’s new, the concept isn’t. This is team tennis with consequences — and in my opinion, it’s one of the better ways to launch the season before Melbourne Park opens its doors.

So let’s get into it — the matchups, the pressure points, and the predictions that will absolutely be used against me tomorrow if they don’t land.

If you’re new to it — or you’ve watched it but never fully understood how it works — here’s the simple version.

The United Cup is an international mixed-team tournament, played right here in Australia, where countries compete using both their male and female players.

Think Davis Cup meets Billie Jean King Cup… but combined, faster, louder, and way more entertaining for fans.

It’s not just an exhibition either — this thing counts for ATP and WTA ranking points, which means players are taking it seriously. You’re seeing top-level tennis before the Australian Open even begins.

Here’s how it breaks down:

1. Each tie is played nation vs nation
2. A tie consists of:
3. 
   
4. One men’s singles match
5. One women’s singles match
6. One mixed doubles match
7. 
   
8. First team to win two matches takes the tie

The mixed doubles is often the decider — and honestly, that’s where the chaos and entertainment really kick in.

Different styles, big personalities, pressure moments… it’s unreal viewing.

Teams progress through a group stage, then into knockout rounds, all building towards the final — usually with the Australian Open buzz already humming in the background.

Countries and players participating

who is competing in united cup

Jan 2 matches preview:

Group A

Spain v Argentina

1. (0) Munar v Baez (1) - https://www.atptour.com/en/players/atp-head-2-head/jaume-munar-vs-sebastian-baez/mu94/b0bi

Alright, let’s start with what I think is one of the more fascinating matchups of the tie — Munar versus Báez.

On paper, Báez comes in as the higher-ranked player, and he’s been the more consistent name over the past couple of seasons. But context matters here — because this is hard court tennis in Australia, not a slow clay court in South America or Europe.

Munar is a proper grinder. He’s physical, he’s patient, and he’s comfortable extending rallies until things get uncomfortable for his opponent. And in a team environment like this — with crowd energy and national pride — Munar tends to lift.

Báez, on the other hand, is all about rhythm. Heavy topspin forehand, baseline dominance, and dictating when he gets time. The big question here is whether he can impose that style on a quicker surface, especially if Munar starts dragging him into long, physical exchanges.

Another thing I like in Munar’s favour is the United Cup format. This isn’t just about winning a singles match — it’s about setting the tone for the tie. Munar feels like the kind of player who embraces that responsibility.

My take:

I think this is closer than rankings suggest. If Munar can extend rallies and make this physical, I lean Munar in three tight sets. If Báez starts hot and controls tempo early, Spain could be under pressure fast.

1. (1) ESP Jessica Bouzas Maneiro v (0) ARG Solana Sierra

https://www.wtatennis.com/head-to-head/328139/329081

This one is a really interesting contrast.

Bouzas Maneiro is a bit more established — she’s been building steadily, understands tour-level pressure, and tends to play pretty clean, structured tennis. Nothing flashy, but solid across the board.

Sierra is more of a wildcard. Still early in her career, less predictable, and sometimes that can actually work in her favour — especially in a team event where expectations are lower.

The key here is composure. Bouzas has been in these moments more often, and I think that experience matters.

My pick:

Bouzas Maneiro in straight sets, but I wouldn’t be shocked if this is tighter than expected early.

Group E

Greece v Japan

1. (2) Sakari v (3) Osaka - https://www.wtatennis.com/head-to-head/319998/318312

This is a blockbuster. Proper headline match.

You’ve got Sakkari — one of the fittest players on tour, thrives in team environments, and always brings intensity. She loves representing Greece, and you can feel it when she plays.

Then you’ve got Osaka. Multiple-time Grand Slam champion. Massive serve. Massive forehand. And when she’s confident, she can blow matches open faster than almost anyone in women’s tennis.

The matchup is fascinating because it’s power versus pressure.

Sakkari will want this to be physical — long rallies, lots of movement, testing Osaka’s consistency and fitness. Osaka will want short points, first-serve dominance, and to keep Sakkari on the back foot.

What tips this into must-watch territory is the mental side. Sakkari is relentless but sometimes tight in big moments. Osaka, when she’s on, is ice cold — but if things go wrong early, confidence can wobble.

My take:

If Osaka’s serving well, I think she wins this. If rallies extend and Sakkari drags her into a physical battle, it swings the other way.

Gun to my head — Osaka in three, but this is absolutely a match-of-the-day candidate.

1. Stefanos Tsitsipas v Shintaro Mochizuki

Tsitsipas is clearly the favourite here — higher ranked, more experienced, and generally very solid on hard courts. But what’s interesting is where he’s at mentally coming into the season.

The United Cup is actually a great barometer for Tsitsipas. When he’s engaged and switched on, he dominates matches like this. When he’s flat, he can let opponents hang around longer than they should.

Mochizuki is dangerous in spurts, but over the course of a full match, this should be Tsitsipas’ point for Greece.

Expectation:

Tsitsipas in straight sets — but Greece will want him to be efficient and set the tone.

Sign Off

And that’s going to do it for today’s United Cup preview.

I’ve given you my

1. Intro

Hello everybody and welcome to Talkn Tennis. The only tennis podcast you need to be listening to to get all your tennis headlines, results and well informed unbiased opinions. Don't forget to follow us on X @TalknTennis to get all of our unfiltered opinions. I'm your host, they call me Adam the Animal and I'm joined by my two partners in crime: firstly the man who has made history by becoming the first person to retire from tennis to take on a full-time job as a volleyball coach, its Chrisy P, how are you Chris. Secondly the man whose playing days were cut short prematurely leaving him with a tennis career made up of more knee surgeries than tennis trophies its Vargos, how are you Adrian. 

1. Life Updates
2. Headlines

Vera Zvonareva Falls Short in Comeback Final: The 41-year-old Russian's fairytale run at the ITF W100 in Dubai ended in the final on Sunday losing to 20 -year-old Croatian rising star Petra Marčinko in straight sets (3-6, 3-6). Another comeback on the cards with reports last week that Serena Williams had re-entered the doping testing pool, which immediately sparked speculation about a potential 2026 return to tennis. However, the legend was quick to shut down those rumors, issuing a statement on X denying any plans to return to professional competition. 

The ATP tennis awards were handed out this week Carlos Alcaraz & Andrey Rublev Win ATP Awards. Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award: Carlos Alcaraz (his second time winning). Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award: Andrey Rublev, honored for his foundation work. Doubles Players Request Denied Around 100 doubles players had a request to the ATP to self-fund and manage their own Instagram account was denied by the ATP. The players offered to self-fund the initiative. 

• Vera Zvonareva Falls Short in Comeback Final: The 41-year-old Russian's fairytale run at the ITF W100 in Dubai ended in the final on Sunday. She lost to 20-year-old Croatian rising star Petra Marčinko in straight sets (3-6, 3-6). Despite the loss, it was Zvonareva's first singles final in five years

• Speaking of comebacks, Serena Williams "Comeback" Rumors Swirl and Fade. Last week, reports emerged that Serena Williams had re-entered the doping testing pool, which immediately sparked speculation about a potential 2026 return to tennis. However, the legend was quick to shut down those rumors, issuing a statement on X denying any plans to return to professional competition. Under tennis anti-doping rules, a retired player must make themselves available for testing for six months before they're allowed to compete in a professional tournament.

• Doubles Players Request Denied Around 100 doubles players had a request to the ATP to self-fund and manage their own Instagram account was denied by the ATP. The players offered to self-fund the initiative, with pledges of around $2,000 per player to hire professional social media managers and content creators to run the page, rather than asking the ATP for money. The story gained traction after Calvin Betton (coach of Wimbledon doubles champion Henry Patten) revealed the details during an appearance on the Chip & Charge tennis podcast. He expressed frustration that the ATP seemingly has "zero marketing for doubles" and is solely focused on the Sinner vs. Alcaraz rivalry, yet blocked the players' attempt to fill that gap themselves.  

• Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award: Carlos Alcaraz (his second time winning).
• Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award: Andrey Rublev, honored for his foundation work.
• Fans' Favourite: Jannik Sinner (Singles) and Bolelli/Vavassori (Doubles).

3.2 Chris venting because people older than 40 want to play on the tour why can't people just retire in peace. The comebacks make me sick

1. End of Year Awards

4.1 Flop of the Year

C: Stefanos Tsitsipas – Early Slam exits + coaching carousel + injuries = disappointing season.

A: Casper Ruud: losing in <?> tournamenent, Medvedv, Francis Tiofe: Arrogant cant stand him, number 30. Big Flog

4.2 Breakout Surprise Packet Award

C: Arthur Fills

A: Vacherot …. J.Mensik - 19th in World

Arthur Fils – Consolidated his hype with big top-10 wins and improvements indoors.

4.3 Match of the Year

Medvedev defeated Zverev in 2024 Australian Open semifinals, 5–7, 3–6, 7–6, 7–6, 6–3

Adrian: Bublik v De Minaur Roland Garros Rd 2.

• Bublik came back from 2 sets down.
• It has Bublik in it.
• Tweeners and crowd arousal.
• Enough said.

4.4 Social Media Merchant of the YEar Idea

Gaël Monfils – Hilarious clips, wholesome content, trick shots, vlogs.

4.1 Who was Your Tantrum of the Year

• Holger Rune’s racquet blow-up during the European indoor swing where he smashed a frame after a missed forehand and instantly regretted it (and paid for it).
• Alexander Bublik’s sarcastic “I love this sport” meltdown during Monte-Carlo after three double faults in one game. 

4.2 Flop of the Year Award

• Casper Ruud slumping through the clay season after being tipped as a favourite again.
• Stefanos Tsitsipas falling early at the Aussie Open after a hyped pre-season.

4.3 Biggest WTF Moment Award

• Nick Kyrgios announcing an exhibition tour mid-rehab, making everyone question whether he was retiring, returning, or starting a stand-up comedy career.
• A chair umpire forgetting the score in an ATP 250 match, leading to a multi-minute debate with both players and coaches.

4.4 Breakout Surprise Packet Award

• Jakub Mensik storming into the Top 25 after a monster run in the Middle East swing
• Flavio Cobolli reaching his first ATP 500 final.
• Valentin Vacherot winning a ATP Masters 1000 ranked 200 in the worlds

4.5 Social Media Merchant of the Year Award

• Kyrgios arguing with fans and journalists during AO season… again.
• Tsitsipas’ philosophical quotes that confused everyone, especially Stef.

5. Battle of the Spuds

Welcome back to another episode of Talkn Tennis, the only tennis podcast you need if you want the latest news, results and unfiltered opinions straight from three blokes who care way too much about this sport. Adam “The Animal” kicks off the show alongside his co-hosts: Chrissy P, the former childhood tennis prodigy whose rise and fall mirrored a Hollywood child star, and Mr. Vargos himself, Adrian, a man whose love for tennis has been corrupted by an even deeper love for Cevapi. As always, listeners are reminded to follow the chaos on X/Twitter at @TalknTennis.

The boys start with a quick life update, as Chris breaks down his Grand Final weekend and all its emotional highs and lows, while Adrian weighs in on the eternal question: when do teachers mentally check out in Term 4? Once the personal stories settle, it’s straight into the tennis, because while the year might be ending, the season certainly isn’t. The show dives into a full breakdown of the upcoming Next Gen Finals, returning to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from December 17th to 21st. Adam explains the unique nature of the event, how it doubles as the ATP’s testing ground for fast-paced rule changes, and how it has already produced champions like Alcaraz, Sinner, Tsitsipas and Medjedovic. The 2025 field is locked in, headlined by Masters 1000 winner Jakub Menšík, rising American Learner Tien, powerful Croatian Dino Prizmić and a strong supporting cast of Landaluce, Kjær and Basavareddy. The future of men’s tennis looks electric and the boys break it all down.

From there, attention shifts to James Duckworth, who continues to torment the youth by walking away with prize money that probably should have gone to Japanese and Australian teenagers just trying to make rent. That rolls naturally into the newly announced Australian Open wildcards, with Duckworth securing the men’s spot after climbing back inside the top 90, and 17-year-old Emerson Jones earning the women’s wildcard on the back of her strong local results. The team also acknowledges the wildcard playoff winners out of China—Bu Yunchaokete on the men’s side and Zarina Diyas for the women.

The episode then shifts into a spirited debate about the Best Player to Never Win a Slam, sparked by Greg Rusedski’s argument that Marcelo Ríos deserves the crown over Alexander Zverev. The boys unpack the contrasting cases: Ríos, the dazzling, injury-plagued genius who became the only man in the Open Era to reach No. 1 without a Slam, versus Zverev, the statistical powerhouse with Masters titles, ATP Finals victories and an Olympic gold but three heartbreaking Slam final losses. Other fan favourites like Berdych, Ferrer, Tsonga and Nalbandian are tossed in for comparison as the debate heats up, with the hosts making their own picks and predictions.

To finish, the episode descends into glorious chaos with the Battle of the Spuds Quiz, a Hall-of-Fame-style trivia showdown highlighting some of tennis’ most iconic wheels, grinders and nearly-men. The competition ramps up with “Who Am I?” rounds worth double, triple or even quadruple points depending on how badly someone is losing.

Another episode of lively debate, sharp analysis and questionable humour from the Talkn Tennis crew—served fresh and loud. If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to subscribe and follow along on X/Twitter @TalknTennis for more daily tennis takes.

1. 🎾 Are you ready to serve up some tennis knowledge?

In this week's episode of Talkin' Tennis, we dive into the thrilling climax of the Davis Cup finals! 🌟

Key takeaway: The passion and intensity of the matches remind us why we love the game.

What's your favorite moment from the finals? Comment below!

#TennisTalk #DavisCup #TennisLife #SportsPodcast #GameSetMatch #TennisLovers #PodcastRecommendations

2. 🤔 Did you know that even the best players have to deal with tough teammates?

This week, we share a story about a dramatic committee meeting that left one player sidelined! 😲

Insight: Team dynamics can make or break your game—what's your experience been?

Share your thoughts in the comments!

#TennisDrama #Teamwork #SportsStories #TennisPodcast #AthleteLife #TennisCommunity #ListenNow

3. 🎉 It's not just about the game; it's about the friendships we build along the way!

In our latest episode, we discuss the ups and downs of playing with friends and rivals alike.

Takeaway: Every match teaches us something valuable!

What life lesson has tennis taught you? Drop a comment!

#TennisFriends #SportsLife #Podcast #TennisFamily #LifeLessons #TennisJourney #Community

4. 🎤 Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes of a tennis club?

Join us as we unravel the drama that unfolded in our local league this week! 😅

Key insight: Understanding club politics can be as challenging as the game itself.

Have you faced any sports drama? We'd love to hear your stories!

#TennisClub #SportsPolitics #PodcastLife #TennisFam #DramaAlert #TennisAdventures #JoinTheConversation

5. 🌍 Tennis isn't just a sport; it's a community!

In this episode, we talk about the importance of support from teammates, even in tough times. ❤️

Key takeaway: A strong support system can elevate your game.

Who do you lean on in your sports journey? Tag them below!

#TennisCommunity #SupportSystem #SportsPodcast #TeamSpirit #TennisLife #AthleteSupport #Inspire

Introduction: Welcome back to Talkin' Tennis, the podcast that serves up all the latest tennis news alongside engaging discussions. In our latest episode, we delved into the ATP Finals, the Davis Cup, and the complex dynamics of player relationships. This week, we also touched on personal experiences that resonate with every sports enthusiast, making it a must-listen for tennis fans and beyond.

Main Content:

1. **The ATP Finals Recap**

Last week, the ATP Finals concluded with electrifying matches that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Adam, Chris, and Adrian discussed the standout performances and unexpected outcomes. The tension of the matches underscored the high stakes of professional tennis, as players fought not just for victory, but for their legacies.

2. **Davis Cup Finals and Player Burnout**

The ongoing Davis Cup finals sparked conversations about player burnout, a pressing issue in today's fast-paced sports environment. Chris shared his insights on how the relentless schedule impacts players, leading to mental and physical exhaustion. This is particularly relevant as we witness top players struggling to maintain their peak performance throughout the season.

3. **Personal Reflections: Chris's Decision to Step Back**

A particularly poignant moment came when Chris revealed his decision to hang up his racket after years of playing. His candid reflection on falling out of love with the game struck a chord. "When you start to fall out of love with the game, it's time to walk away," he stated. This honesty about the emotional toll of competitive sports is something many athletes face, making his story relatable to listeners.

4. **The Ethical Dilemma on the Court**

Chris also opened up about the challenges of dealing with a difficult teammate during matches. His struggle to balance loyalty to his team with ethical play highlighted the complexities of sportsmanship. "It's a difficult ethical position for you because you want to do what's right for your team," he explained. This scenario reflects the broader challenges athletes face, emphasizing the importance of integrity in sports.

5. **Life Beyond the Court: Adrian's Gluten-Free Journey**

Adrian provided an update on his health journey, navigating life with celiac disease. His experience at a family holiday in Queensland, where he had to manage dietary restrictions, added a personal touch to the episode. "Shopping takes longer now, and I don’t want to be that guy at a restaurant ordering gluten-free meals," he joked, showcasing the everyday challenges that come with health issues.

Conclusion: In this episode of Talkin' Tennis, we explored not only the latest in tennis but also the deeper, personal stories that connect us all. From the highs of competition to the lows of player burnout and the complexities of teamwork, our hosts brought authentic experiences to the forefront. Key takeaways include the importance of self-reflection in sports, the ethical dilemmas athletes face, and the challenges of managing one’s health in a demanding environment. Tune in next week for more engaging discussions that serve up both tennis insights and life lessons.

Tags: Talkin Tennis, ATP Finals, Davis Cup, Player Burnout, Sportsmanship, Celiac Disease, Health Journey, Tennis Podcast

Wrapping up the episode, the hosts shift gears to discuss the latest tournament happenings, including a recap of the Vander Pharmaceuticals Hellenic Championship won by Novak Djokovic, who faced injury woes yet again. The chat meanders through the current ATP rankings, the performance of promising young players like Alcaraz and Sinner, and the ever-present question of who will rise to challenge the established top players. With engaging quizzes that test their knowledge and plenty of hilarious anecdotes, the episode maintains a fun atmosphere while still highlighting the intricacies of the tennis world. The hosts tease upcoming episodes and promise to keep the audience engaged with more tennis-centric discussions, making it clear that Talking Tennis is not just another sports podcast but a lively, humorous take on the sport we all love.

Takeaways:

• Welcome to the podcast where we dive into tennis with a twist of fun and laughter!
• Meet the crew: Adam, Chrissy P, and Adrian – your laid-back tennis trio ready to serve up some banter!
• Did you know the world's number 1000 player is closer in points to the number 3 than he is to the number 2?
• We tackle the juicy about Kyrgios and Sabalenka facing off in the upcoming exhibition match.
• Adrian reveals his recent celiac diagnosis, turning his love for food into gluten-free agony - but he’s keeping it light!
• We reminisce about the days of top tennis legends and debate if today's top 10 is as strong as yesteryear's champions.