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Now that all four of the Grand Slams are done and dusted. What is there to do? Is something I would never say. This week, we saw Iva Jovic claim a WTA 500 title in Guadalajara in an all-American final. However, I figured that since all the majors are completed, I want to take this week’s episode as an opportunity to summarize the best matches on both the men’s singles and the women’s singles side from each major. So please enjoy me yapping for twenty minutes straight about some of the best tennis matches we witnessed this year!

Links mentioned:

FULL Novak Djokovic vs. Jannik Sinner:

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Highlights Novak Djokovic vs. Jannik Sinner:

FULL Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elena Rybakina:

Highlights Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elena Rybakina:

Highlights Matteo Arnaldi vs. Frances Tiafoe:

Highlights Marta Kostyuk vs. Elina Svitolina:

FULL Novak Djokovic vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime:

Highlights Novak Djokovic vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime:

Novak Djokovic on Jay Shetty:

FULL Linda Noskova vs. Karolina Muchova:

Highlights Linda Noskova vs. Karolina Muchova:

FULL Naomi Osaka vs. Elise Mertens:

Highlights Naomi Osaka vs Elise Mertens:

FULL Alexander Zverev vs. Ben Shelton:

Highlights Alexander Zverev vs. Ben Shelton:

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favourite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

Subscribe wherever you’re listening, rate the show, and send in your ideas for Second Serve.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Produced with assistance from Radio CKUT

CKUT Radio:

https://ckut.ca/

“Pressure is privilege.” This is the quote imprinted on the tunnel of the Arthur Ashe Stadium, the biggest tennis court in the world, when tennis players are about to play some of the most important matches of their careers. As the sports editor at The Tribune at McGill, I had the privilege of interviewing our first freshman starting quarterback in ten years. When I asked if he felt the pressure, he quoted Arthur Ashe. Although it is impossible to compare the pressure of too much schoolwork to the pressure Aryna Sabalenka, the former world number one, and Elena Rybakina, the current world number one, face when they walk out into the biggest stadium in the world, I think it is important to remember how privileged we are to witness and experience such meaningful moments.

Here is what happened in the last week of the last major of the year:

So much good tennis. Although we had some of the latest finishes the tournament has ever seen, and some of the best tennis is played at 3 a.m., I still must pause to acknowledge how high the quality has been this year. We saw a player ranked outside of the world’s top 300, Zheng Qinwen, come back twice from 0-5 down to beat Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek consecutively. We witnessed Rybakina show the world why she should be the world number one by beating Coco Gauff, the home favourite, and Sabalenka, the former world number one, in two incredible matches. And to think she couldn’t walk two weeks ago when she last stepped on the court… Athletes are incredible.

We also experienced the heartbreak of Learner Tien, who lost his first five-set match to Karen Khachanov, a semifinal battle of two Americans: Frances Tiafoe and Alex Michelson. This match defined friendship in competitive sports. After the match, Tiafoe paused his celebration and lent his shoulder to Michelsen, as Michelsen collapsed into his arms. Man, Alcaraz is wonderful. Despite losing in a five-set epic against Shelton and puking on court, he walked off with the biggest smile on his face, reminding us he is so back. As I am writing this, the men’s final has yet to begin, but I just have one ask:

Dear Zverev,

Please stop bouncing the ball.

Love,

The Service Game

(Note: Hi. This is me after the men’s final. So… my prediction did NOT age well… feel free to skip the last three minutes of this show.)

Links mentioned:

Qinwen Zheng vs. Iga Swiatek:

Elena Rybakina vs. Coco Gauff:

Elena Rybakina vs. Aryna Sabalenka:

Karen Khachanov vs. Learner Tien:

Frances Tiafoe vs. Alex Michelsen:

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Ben Shelton:

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favourite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

Subscribe wherever you’re listening, rate the show, and send in your ideas for Second Serve.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Produced with assistance from Radio CKUT

CKUT Radio:

https://ckut.ca/

There is no better feeling than multitasking. And for me, that entails doing the first week of school reading while watching the U.S. Open tennis matches. Sometimes this means watching Iva Jovic defeat her friend Alex Eala in one of the best matches of this season; other times, it means watching Novak Djokovic lose in the first round and questioning the longevity of his career. Regardless, I enjoy the first-week slams because it means more tennis and more storylines.

Here is what happened in the Big Apple:

The week in New York featured a somewhat reversed situation on the men’s and women’s courts. Instead of having numerous upsets in the early rounds on the women’s side, like what we usually have, this time, it’s on the men’s side. Surprisingly, all the top seeds on the women’s side are making progress into the second round, even those with doubts going in, such as Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka.

The doubles match featuring the Williams sisters brought the Arthur Ashe Stadium back to life. After a renovation that expanded seating to include more “influencers” who don’t know the rules of tennis, the Williams sisters served as an anchor that grounded Arthur Ashe. Despite losing a 5-0 lead in the deciding set tie-break, I would have never imagined seeing Serena and Venus play under the New York sunset. And who knows, it might not even be the last time. Two of the hottest talents on the tour, Jovic and Eala, who happen to be close friends, also played under the lights, delivering one of the best matches of the tournament yet. Jovic’s next round opponent? Coco Gauff. Coco is four years older than Jovic. Where has the time gone? “Tennis just feels really hard right now,” Madison Keys said. She was up 5-0 in the deciding set against Qinwen, a former finalist, who had to come through qualifying after undergoing elbow surgery. A crucial surge in momentum for the Chinese; a heartbreak for the American.

Another American who lost was Taylor Fritz. Arguably, this year was Fritz’s best chance to win the title, with Jannik Sinner’s absence, Djokovic’s early loss, and Carlos Alcaraz’s comeback. However, despite leading 2-0 against Francisco Cerundolo, Fritz threw the match away by losing five points in a row in the third. The Americans needed someone to save the situation, and Learner Tien stepped up. Tien beat Jakub Mensik in a nail-biting five-set match. Tien kept his streak of going undefeated in five-setters and, despite having the weaker serve, covered less court than Mensik and won the match by taking fewer points. Finally, we must talk about Alcaraz. Two words come to mind: Comeback and nipple. The kit speaks for itself, and I will not be elaborating. However, his slower serves could be a potential problem against stronger opponents, but I am not worried. After all, he is Carlos Alcaraz.

Links mentioned:

Serena Williams/Venus Williams vs. Maya Joint/Hao-ching Chan:

Iva Jovic vs. Alex Eala:

Madison Keys vs. Qinwen Zheng:

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Jaime Faria:

Taylor Fritz vs. Francisco Cerundolo:

Learner Tien vs. Jakub Mensik:

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

Subscribe wherever you’re listening, rate the show, and send in your ideas for Second Serve.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Produced with assistance from Radio CKUT

CKUT Radio:

https://ckut.ca/

The week before a Grand Slam tournament is paradoxically the calmest yet most chaotic. On the court, there are grueling matches; however, off the court, a handful of battles take place between the players, the media and the players, and undoubtedly between the players and their teams. And that’s why I love tennis. Read my Service Note on my thoughts about the mixed doubles event that took place over the last week. Now, as some might say, the “real” tennis is back.

Here is what is going to happen in New York this week:

Just last year, she was practicing her serves in the rain with her biomechanist Gavin MacMillan, hoping to lower her double fault counts into the single digits. This year, Coco Gauff is going into the U.S. Open the best she has ever looked. One of her rivals, however, is entering the U.S. Open with questionable form. As the two-time defending champion, Sabalenka hopes to complete a three-peat, but just last week, she lost to Sara Bejlek at Cincinnati in two straight sets. Other players to watch include Naomi Osaka, Iga Swiatek, and Alex Eala.

We are going to see Rafael Jodar face the New York crowd for the first time. Last year, he was playing a Challenger event in Ohio. Arthur Fils and Ben Shelton are entering the event as title contenders; we have seen both crumble under the pressure. Shelton, an overwhelming crowd favorite, will face Talion Griekspoor in his round one match. Fils’s hype has often been overshadowed by his injuries. Riding the high from his Cincinnati win, his round one opponent will be Stefanos Tsitsipas, a former world number three. Undoubtedly, the spotlight is on Carlos Alcaraz, who is coming back from his five-month break. There are so many unknown quantities , and I cannot wait to see how it all unfolds in New York!

Links mentioned:

Patten/Siniakova vs. Monfils/Svitolina:

Muchova/Mensik vs. Andreeva/Rublev:

Svitolina/Monfils vs. Bencic/Cobolli:

Cobolli/Bencic vs. Muchova/Mensik:

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

Subscribe wherever you’re listening, rate the show, and send in your ideas for Second Serve.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Produced with assistance from Radio CKUT

CKUT Radio:

https://ckut.ca/

Tennis legend Arthur Ashe once said, “The doing is often more important than the outcome.” I often think of different aspects of my identity as relationships that I need to nurture. For example, I like to think of my hobby of journaling as a relationship that I need to nurture: the more I put in, the more I get to learn about myself; the same applies to my identity as a podcaster. After not recording for a few weeks, I am feeling the bumps of this relationship. So I try to use these quotes to remind myself that it is okay to feel rusty after a few weeks of not talking to myself for 20 minutes. As a certified yapper, I love to yap (especially about tennis), but putting my voice out into the world requires confidence in both my voice and my love for tennis.

Here is what happened on the tour this week:

Unlike me, Fils’s comeback journey from his back injury seems to have both the “doing” and the “outcome”. The final match was meaningful in itself– the first ATP Masters Final between two black players. Despite the match being somewhat of a snooze fest, a 90-minute three-set finale, Fils captured his first ATP Masters title, putting himself 5th in the race and achieving a career-high ranking of 11th in the world. In terms of the interesting matches, we witnessed Cobolli’s mental fortitude against a surprisingly energetic Jodar (he did eventually run out of gas), Nakashima and Fritz’s impressive long rallies, and Zverev’s lack of confidence that cost him the match against Paul despite having two match points.

The women’s side featured the players from two matches with four players from opposite sides of the spectrum: Pegula and Bejlek utilized their incredible defensive skills and mental fortitude to defeat power hitters Anisimova and Keys, respectively. Credit to Bejlek for following up her win against Sabalenka by beating Keys. At this point, are we really surprised that another Czech player is making waves on tour? The race for the world number one between Rybakina and Sabalenka was cut short by an unfortunate leg injury to Rybakina, which also puts her U.S. Open participation into question; however, Pegula, Swiatek, Gauff, and Anisimova all had impressive runs that are keeping my hopes up for the U.S. Open.

Flavio Cobolli vs. Rafael Jodar:

Taylor Fritz vs. Brandon Nakashima:

Tommy Paul vs. Alexander Zverev:

Arthur Fils vs. Frances Tiafoe:

Jessica Pegula vs. Amanda Anisimova:

Sarah Bejlek vs. Madison Keys:

Jessica Pegula vs. Iga Swiatek:

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

Subscribe wherever you’re listening, rate the show, and send in your ideas for Second Serve.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Welcome to The Service Game, where serves start the story.

The third grand slam of the year ended yesterday, and despite me missing last week’s episode, I hope that you guys have caught up on this year’s tennis because it’s worth watching for sure! On the women’s side, we have seen a new grand slam champion yet again—Linda Noskova. After an all-Czech final and two epic semifinals, 21-year-old Noskova beat her fellow countrywomen in the final to claim her debut grand slam title!

On the men’s side, we saw a familiar matchup with a predictable result. Jannik Sinner beat Alexander Zverev in four sets to claim his Wimbledon title. Although the results may be predictable, I want to give credit to Zverev for putting up a fight and putting on a performance that some may argue to be his best!

That’s it, and I’ll come back with a recap for you guys next week!

Listen to find out more!

Links mentioned:

Naomi Osaka vs. Aryna Sabalenka:

Karolina Muchova vs. Naomi Osaka:

Marta Kostyuk vs. Linda Noskova:

Coco Gauff vs. Karolina Muchova:

Karolina Muchova vs. Linda Noskova:

Jannik Sinner vs Novak Djokovic:

Arthur Fery vs. Alexander Zverev:

Alexander Zverev vs. Jannik Sinner:

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

Subscribe wherever you’re listening, rate the show, and send in your ideas for Second Serve.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Produced with assistance from Radio CKUT

CKUT Radio:

https://ckut.ca/

Welcome to The Service Game, where serves start the story.

I can’t believe we are entering our third Grand Slam of the year. Wimbledon is here! However, before we get into the draw, I recapped the news surrounding the tennis court this week. Emma Raducanu announced that she will be withdrawing from the tournament after reaching the Queen’s Club Championships a few weeks ago and suffering a stress fracture in her lower leg. Marketa Vondrousouva also posted a heartbreaking statement after receiving a four-year ban for refusing a doping test. On a more positive note, Karolina Muchova won the Bad Homburg tournament after her opponent, Naomi Osaka, withdrew after reaching her first-ever career grass court final!

Listen to the episode to find out more star matchups in the first round of Wimbledon, such as who Serena Williams is playing in her singles comeback. I also talked about players who I anticipate making a splash at this year’s event. For example, despite Pegula’s unexpected loss at last year’s tournament, I think this will be her opportunity to shine. I also evaluated Djokovic’s chances and players like Arthur Fils and Jack Draper, who are hoping to make a successful comeback.

Listen to find out more!

Links mentioned:

The Athletic Player’s Boycott Article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7254991/2026/05/05/tennis-grand-slam-boycott-prize-money-sabalenka/

Marketa Vondrousova Statement:

Wimbledon Draw: https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/draws/ladies-singles/1

Wimbledon Website:

https://www.wimbledon.com/

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

Subscribe wherever you’re listening, rate the show, and send in your ideas for Second Serve.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Produced with assistance from Radio CKUT

CKUT Radio:

https://ckut.ca/

Welcome to The Service Game, where serves start the story.

Let’s recap one of the fastest turnarounds on the tennis tour. It feels like the chaotic Roland Garros has just ended, but we are merely a week away from Wimbledon. Despite being undoubtedly disappointed in the absence of Carlos Alcaraz and the recent withdrawals of Lorenzo Musetti and Victoria Mboko, I believe we have to look for the positives—and there are a lot! Serena Williams is coming back! Listen to find out more about the news leading up to the first serve at Wimbledon!

On the women’s side, we have seen lucky loser Donna Vekic claim the title at Queens. Vekic and finalist Emma Raducanu both reunited with their respective former coaches, hoping to climb to the heights they once reached. This week, we have seen Jessica Pegula beat an increasingly fragile Sabalenka, as well as welcomed the top 10 debut of the talented Czech Linda Noskova. Listen to more of my thoughts on both ends.

On the men’s side, we saw Fritz’s continuous domination against Alexander Zverev. However, not all things on the tour are so consistent. Francisco Cerundolo has failed to win a single grass court match in two years since his title at Eastbourne in 2023. This week, however, he won a title at Queens, beating Tommy Paul in a thrilling three-hour final.

With Wimbledon less than a week away, I can’t wait to share my thoughts with you guys!

Links mentioned:

Francisco Cerundolo vs. Tommy Paul: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9trp1QUlXW8

Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Frances Tiafoe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS_WGN4v30E

Taylor Fritz vs. Alexander Zverev: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kgnoDNlk0c

Jessica Pegula vs. Aryna Sabalenka: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il6cKvP4qAw

Jessica Pegula vs. Linda Noskova: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKfC75_5ZCI

John Isner vs. Nicolas Mahut: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9M-XwUhYH4

John Isner vs. Nicolas Mahut FULL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyGO0RU7aVk

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

Subscribe wherever you’re listening, rate the show, and send in your ideas for Second Serve.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Produced with assistance from Radio CKUT

CKUT Radio: https://ckut.ca/

Welcome to The Service Game, where serves start the story.

Let’s recap one of the most chaotic Grand Slams I have ever witnessed. After the surprising exits of the top seeds on both the women’s and men’s sides, we welcomed new Grand Slam winners for both tours, as well as refreshing finalists that I will be looking out for in the future.

Off the court, we saw Serena Williams’s return to the tour. The 23-time Grand Slam champion will make her comeback in the doubles draw, with 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko at the Queen’s Club Championship tournament this week. Listen more to find out my thoughts on this!

On the court, I talked about what it means for Zverev to accomplish his dream of winning his first-ever Grand Slam, as well as her journey to get there. His finals opponent, Fabio Cobolli, also had an interesting and unique run leading up to his performance in the final. Listen to my breakdowns of both semifinals in this episode. On the women’s side, we saw 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva capture her first Grand Slam title after her meltdown here last year. Listen to find out how she has grown in just a few years, and also what this means for her finals opponent, qualifier Maja Chwalinska.

Links mentioned:

Serena Williams Return Article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7339399/2026/06/07/serena-williams-tennis-comeback-queens-grass-wimbledon/

Alexander Zverev vs. Jakub Mensik:

Alexander Zverev vs. Flavio Cobolli:

Diana Shnaider vs. Maja Chwalinska:

Diana Shnaider vs. Aryna Sabalenka:

Mirra Andreeva vs. Marta Kostyuk:

Marta Kostyuk vs. Elina Svitolina:

Marta Kosyuk vs. Iga Swiatek:

Mirra Andreeva vs. Maja Chwalinska:

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

Subscribe wherever you’re listening, rate the show, and send in your ideas for Second Serve.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Produced with assistance from Radio CKUT

CKUT Radio:

https://ckut.ca/

Welcome to The Service Game, where serves start the story.

The first week of Roland Garros has definitely delivered in its own way. It is the hottest I have ever seen Paris so far at this time of the year, and clearly, all the players agree.

On the men’s side, we saw the world’s most predictable draw play out most unpredictably. Jannik Sinner, the world number one, is out, after leading two sets to love and five-one in the third. Novak Djokovic is out, after leading two sets to love against Brazilian youngster Joao Fonseca. Listen to learn more.

On the women’s side, things are equally interesting. Iga Swiatek has always made it past the fourth round here in Paris. However, this year, Swiatek, Rybakina, and Gauff are all out. Gauff faced her defeat today after only serving three double faults against Anastasia Potapova. Who is gonna shine now? Listen to find out!

Links mentioned:

The Athletic Heat Article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7315282/2026/05/28/jannik-sinner-tennis-heat-impact/

Jannik Sinner vs Juan Manuel Cerundolo:

Novak Djokovic vs. Joao Fonseca:

Yuliia Starodubtseva vs Elena Rybakina:

Marta Kostyuk vs. Iga Swiatek:

Coco Gauff vs. Anastasia Potapova:

Naomi Osaka vs Iva Jovic:

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

Subscribe wherever you’re listening, rate the show, and send in your ideas for Second Serve.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Produced with assistance from Radio CKUT

CKUT Radio:

https://ckut.ca/

Welcome to The Service Game, where serves start the story.

It is finally time for the second Grand Slam of the year! As I begin my French Immersion Program in Quebec City, this year’s French Open carries a special meaning for me. It always feels like a ridiculously long time from Melbourne to Paris, but I know the wait is always worth it.

Off the court, we saw the players’ collective action to “boycott” the tournament. Walking out of the Roland Garros press day after 15 minutes, it represents the amount of revenue allocated to them, on average, by the four Grand Slams. Compared to other U.S. Major leagues like the MLB, NBA, and the NHL, whose revenue allocation hovers around 50%, the players have a right to speak out. However, did it achieve the effect it wanted? Listen to the episode to find out.

On the court, I talked about the competitiveness of the women’s draw this year. With numerous players coming to Paris in top form, the field is extra competitive. Despite being the first day of the tournament, the match between Hailey Baptiste and Barbora Krejčíková already stood out to me. I also predicted who would ultimately take the trophy home this year. On the men’s side, the field is significantly less competitive with the withdrawals of players like Alcaraz, Rune, Musetti, Draper, and, most recently, Fils; however, I am interested to see how Djokovic and Zverev will seize this opportunity.

Links mentioned:

The Athletic Tennis Prize Money Article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6043299/2026/01/06/tennis-prize-money-grand-slams-revenue/

Hailey Baptiste vs. Barbora Krejcikova: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvfADCKQTUs

The Athletic RG Guide: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7301879/2026/05/23/french-open-2026-preview-favorites-upsets-players-to-watch/

Roland Garros Official Site: https://www.rolandgarros.com/en-us/

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

Subscribe wherever you’re listening, rate the show, and send in your ideas for Second Serve.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Produced with assistance from Radio CKUT

CKUT Radio: https://ckut.ca/

Welcome to The Service Game, where serves start the story.

I want to start by apologizing for missing last week’s episode. I just finished my first-year at McGill, and life has been quite busy. I recently went to Toronto for an interview at the National Bank Open this year. Currently, I am in a French immersion program at Quebec City. Okay… Enough about me—Let’s talk tennis.

Off the court, multiple ATP players have announced their withdrawal from this year’s French Open. Most notably, Carlos Alcaraz. Recently, Lorenzo Musetti has also announced that he will be pulling out as well. Jack Draper posted on social media that he will be working with Andy Murray in preparation for Wimbledon. Raducanu has also reunited with her coach, Andrew Richardson, who helped her win the US Open title in 2021. Listen to The Toss to find out my thoughts on all things off the court!

On the court, tennis has been delivering! On the women’s side, Elina Svitolina is on fire. She defeated the world number two, three, and four to capture her fifth WTA 1000 title in her career. Listen to find out how her playing style transformed and elevated her playing style after giving birth. Her title, accompanied by Sabalenka’s lack of preparation for Paris, sets the stage for a fantastic Roland Garros.

On the men’s side, Sinner is in unreal form. He became the first Italian to win Rome in 50 years and achieved the feat of winning all nine Masters 1000 events. Compared to the women’s field, the men’s title contender? at this year’s Roland Garros is definitely categorized as mainly Sinner, and other players like Djokovic and Zverev who hope to reap the benefit of Alcaraz’s absence.

Listen to find out what other sports Sinner played as a child!

Remember to comment down below what you are looking forward to in Paris this year!

Links mentioned:

Elina Svitolina vs. Coco Gauff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXNZTi6qd1Y

Sorana Cristea vs. Aryna Sabalenka: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6TwqVMycLQ

Jannik Sinner vs. Casper Ruud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjCU6WbXekk

Daniil Medvedev vs. Martin Landaluce: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpLfHkMp3mE

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

Subscribe wherever you’re listening, rate the show, and send in your ideas for Second Serve.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Produced with assistance from Radio CKUT

CKUT Radio: https://ckut.ca/

Welcome to The Service Game, where serves start the story.

Although this Madrid Open lacked the presence of Carlos Alcaraz and featured players getting food poisoning, it was one of the most entertaining tournaments this season. How much of it can we take away for Roland Garros? Listen to find out!

Off the court, Kei Nishikori announced his retirement at the end of the season. Keeping with the theme of taking time away from tennis, Jack Draper, alongside Carlos Alcaraz, will not be participating in the French Open this year. Draper cited a right knee tendon injury. His withdrawal from the rest of the clay season means that his ranking will likely drop out of the world’s top 100.

On the court, tennis has been delivering! On the women’s side, we saw one of the best matches this season featuring Hailey Baptiste and Aryna Sabalenka. Baptiste saved SIX match points and beat Sabalenka in a nail-biter deciding set tiebreak! Marta Kostyuk also earned her first 1000-level trophy and did a fantastic celebration. Listen to find out what she did! On the men’s side, we saw a matchup of two future stars: João Fonseca and Rafael Jodar. Alongside the two breakout stars, players like Alexander Blockx also cannot be overlooked. Blockx beat four seeded players in a row to reach his first masters semifinal before falling short to Alexander Zverev.

Remember to vote in the poll down below!

Links mentioned:

Kei Nishikori Article: https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/kei-nishikori-to-retire-at-end-of-2026-season-i-still-wish-i-could-continue

Jack Draper Article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7240435/2026/04/29/tennis-jack-draper-injury-french-open-italian-open-out/

Hailey Baptiste vs. Aryna Sabalenka:

Marta Kostyuk vs. Mirra Andreeva:

Rafael Jodar vs. João Fonseca:

Alexander Blockx vs. Casper Ruud:

Old tennis court: https://www.reddit.com/r/tennis/comments/1rnr6g/1875_tennis_court_photo_original_hourglass_layout/

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

Subscribe wherever you’re listening, rate the show, and send in your ideas for Second Serve.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Produced with assistance from Radio CKUT

CKUT Radio:

https://ckut.ca/

Welcome to The Service Game, where serves start the story.

There has been big news both on and off the court and on both the WTA and the ATP tour this week. Most notably, Carlos Alcaraz announced on Instagram that he will be withdrawing from the French Open.

In the toss, we talked about Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal. To find out who will benefit from his absence and who might be affected negatively, listen to the toss! I also talked about the news of the WTA CEO Portia Archer’s decision to step down.

On the court, I recapped Arthur Fils’ fantastic performance in Madrid. Interestingly, his physio telling him to “shut the f— up” has shown his improved maturity after coming back from his injury leave. How did Medvedev perform after getting double-bageled in Monte Carlo? Listen to find out!

On the women’s side, I discussed players who are playing some of the best tennis of their lives right now, including matches from Naomi Osaka and Jacqueline Cristian.

Want to know how much a tennis player runs on average while playing a match? Listen to the end to find out!

Remember to vote in the poll down below!

Links mentioned:

Arthur Fils vs. Ignacio Buse:

Daniil Medvedev vs. Fabian Marozsán:

Naomi Osaka vs. Anhelina Kalinina:

Naomi Osaka vs. Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros:

Jaqueline Cristian vs. Yulia Starodubtseva: https://www.wtatennis.com/videos/4491980/cristian-saves-three-match-points-denies-starodubtseva-in-madrid

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

Subscribe wherever you’re listening, rate the show, and send in your ideas for Second Serve.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Produced with assistance from Radio CKUT

CKUT Radio:

https://ckut.ca/

Thanks for reading The Service Game! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Welcome to The Service Game, where serves start the story.

Although there has not been huge tournaments on the tennis tour this week, the matches on the 500 level has delivered once again! In this week’s episode, I talked about two matches on both the men’s and the women’s side that caught my attention.

In the toss, we talked about Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal from Barcelona, what it means, and how it will affect his performance this year on clay. We also talked about the WTA Tour Finals’ decision to leave their host country, Saudi Arabia, and what it means for women’s tennis.

On the court, I recapped Iga Swiatek’s performance with her new coach Francisco Roig against Mirra Andreeva at Stuttgart. I talked about her mental struggles with her service form and how it has evolved to impact her actual serve on the court. I also discussed the match between Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova.

On the men’s side, I talked about the Barcelona Open. With Alcaraz withdrawing from the event, it leaves the opportunity for players like Arthur Fils and Andrey Rublev to shine. Listen more to find out a new prospect I discovered while watching the tournament this week!

Links mentioned:

Athletic Article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7183319/2026/04/15/tennis-wta-tour-finals-host-saudi-arabia/

Mirra Andreeva vs. Iga Swiatek:

Karolina Muchova vs. Coco Gauff:

Elena Rybakina vs. Karolina Muchova:

Arthur Fils vs. Rafael Jodar**: **

Andrey Rublev vs. Hamad Medjedovic:

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

Subscribe wherever you’re listening, rate the show, and send in your ideas for Second Serve.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Produced with assistance from Radio CKUT

CKUT Radio:

https://ckut.ca/

Welcome to The Service Game, where serves start the story.

As we approach the clay swing of this tennis season, a lot of people (including me!) are surprised about how we have not gotten a Sincaraz final yet. Fear not! It finally delivered at Monte-Carlo! This week’s tennis action is not only filled with big names like Sinner and Alcaraz but also hidden treasures like Valetin Vacherot and Lilli Tagger.

In the toss, we talked about Holger Rune’s return to the tour his achilles rupture in just seven months. Listen to find out my thoughts on his quick return. Matteo Berretini double-bagelling Daniil Medvedev also added humour to the stories in Monte-Carlo.

On the court, I recapped two matches on both the men’s and the women’s side that are worth watching the highlights for (NOT the Medevedev one…). The story of Vacherot never fail to inspire me, and I discussed his prospects of making it to the top 10 before the end of this season. I also talked about the hype surrounding Fonseca and the progress he has made since the start of the season.

On the women’s side, the Linz Open had a relatively strong field with Andreeva claiming a much-needed title. However, the focus this week was on the Austrian Lilli Tagger who has a rare one-handed backhand! Listen more to find out my analysis on the strength and weaknesses of her game.

Listen to the end to learn how long the longest tennis rally is (You will NOT believe it).

Links mentioned:

Bounces Article:

Valetin Vacherot vs. Alex de Minaur:

Alexander Zverev vs. Joao Fonseca:

Lilli Tagger vs. Paula Badosa:

Mirra Andreeva vs. Sorana Cîrstea**:**

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

Subscribe wherever you’re listening, rate the show, and send in your ideas for Second Serve.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Produced with assistance from Radio CKUT

CKUT Radio:

https://ckut.ca/

Welcome to The Service Game, where serves start the story.

After the Miami Open, there has not been that much tennis action on the tour. Hence the name Calm before Clay; however, there is still tennis to talk about!

Off the court, the biggest news of the week was Iga Swiatek announcing her new coach: Francisco Roig. Roig is part of the Rafael Nadal Academy and most recently worked with Emma Raducanu. Listen to the episode to find out what my thoughts are about this partnership.

On the court, I recapped what it means for Jannik Sinner to win the sunshine double. With the clay court season starting next week, I discussed how exciting it is to have Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner neck-to-neck, fighting for the World Number One spot leading up to the French Open.

On the women’s side, the Charleston Open was a satisfying clay season swing opening tournament. Mexico’s Zarazua and local Hailey Baptiste played an ENTERTAINING 20 MIN final game with Zarazua winning on the 7th match point. Jessica Pegula has been continuing her fantastic form despite not winning a single two-straight set match this tournament! Listen to my analysis in the episode.

Listen to the end to learn what “jeu de paume” means!

Links mentioned:

Jannik Sinner vs. Jiri Lehecka:

Renata Zarazúa vs. Hailey Baptiste:

Jessica Pegula vs. Iva Jovic:

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

Subscribe wherever you’re listening, rate the show, and send in your ideas for Second Serve.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Produced with assistance from Radio CKUT

CKUT Radio:

https://ckut.ca/

Welcome to The Service Game, where serves start the story.

The second week of Miami rocked hard (Hard Rock Stadium reference I’m sorry). Despite the humidity and the questionable setup of the main court, the tennis delivered. Thanks to the lack of rain delays!

Off the court, there were multiple changes to the WTA players’ coaching team. Amanda Anisimova parted ways with her coach of two years, and Iga Swiatek finally separated from Wim Fisette after an unexpected loss in Miami. Listen to the episode to hear my thoughts about the effectiveness of the coaching split.

On the other hand, world number one Aryna Sabalenka is on her revenge tour. Beating Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, and winning Indian Wells AND Miami, the engaged Aryna is undefeated! Muchova also had an impressive run until falling short to Coco Gauff.

On the men’s side, the unexpectedness continues on the court. Carlos Alcaraz suffered a surprising early round loss to the talented (or previously talented?) American Sebastian Korda. Fils continued his comeback journey by saving four match points to beat Tommy Paul (Match of the year contender!)

Listen to the end to learn a fun fact about the tennis bracelet!

Links mentioned:

Sebastian Korda vs. Carlos Alcaraz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55uq4_xI0fQ&t=18s

Arthur Fils vs. Tommy Paul: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8I670Z9FJM

Arthur Fils The Athletic Article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7110180/2026/03/26/tennis-arthur-fils-injury-comeback/

Aryna Sabalenka vs. Coco Gauff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj76Dn9Vu5E&t=35s

Karolina Muchova vs. Victoria Mboko: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMpp-l1vBaA

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

Subscribe wherever you’re listening, rate the show, and send in your ideas for Second Serve.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Produced with assistance from Radio CKUT

CKUT Radio: https://ckut.ca/

Welcome to The Service Game, where serves start the story.

In Miami, the energy shifts but the stakes stay just as high. On these fast courts, experience and hunger are colliding—veterans like Venus Williams continue to command attention, reminding everyone why they’ve lasted this long, while a new wave of players is pushing to take control of the moment.

Other storylines are also taking shape. Iga Świątek’s surprising loss has opened the draw and shifted expectations, creating space for rising contenders to make a statement. But the tournament hasn’t just been shaped by results—rain delays have disrupted the schedule, making the event more compact and giving players less time to rest and recover between matches.

Matches/Links mentioned:

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Sebastian Korda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55uq4_xI0fQ

Carlos Alcaraz vs. João Fonseca: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgrC5cNMRuc

Ben Shelton vs. Alexander Shevchenko: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G3iurjB5mM

Daniil Medvedev vs. Jannik Sinner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWYku2zpgKQ

Elena Rybakina vs. Aryna Sabalenka: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qBMhp-2sYk

Iga Swiatek vs. Magda Linette: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXfHQNqILsg

Franseca Jones vs. Venus Williams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-F9HmIP5W0

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

Subscribe wherever you’re listening, rate the show, and send in your ideas for Second Serve.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Produced with assistance from Radio CKUT

CKUT Radio: https://ckut.ca/

Welcome to The Service Game, where serves start the story.

At Indian Wells, the desert is once again delivering drama. Veteran champions are reminding everyone of their greatness while the next generation keeps pushing the pace.

Off the court, tennis may be heading for a major shift. Saudi Arabia’s sports arm, SURJ, is reportedly planning a new Masters 1000 event starting in 2028, a move that could reshape the February calendar and put pressure on tournaments like Buenos Aires and Acapulco. While a shorter swing could help the schedule, it also raises concerns about the future of South American tennis.

And on the court, the matches are delivering: Arthur Fils’ growth was on display against Felix Auger-Aliassime, Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper produced a match-of-the-year contender, and Mirra Andreeva’s tense battle with Ekaterina Siniakova showed both her brilliance and the pressure from other talented players.

Matches/Links mentioned:

The Athletic Article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7106736/2026/03/12/tennis-atp-calendar-tournaments-saudi-arabia-buybacks/

Arthur Fils vs Felix Auger-Aliassime: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFxNvPAGRnM

Novak Djokovic vs Jack Draper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDHq5pQBt84

Jannik Sinner vs. Alexander Zverev: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC5-bqnF2lc

Daniil Medvedev vs. Carlos Alcaraz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY0j26BQiU8

Mirra Andreeva vs. Ekaterina Siniakova: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjJU_asNptQ

Victoria Mboko vs. Aryna Sabalenka: http://youtube.com/watch?v=-IorEOm0rko

Elena Svitolina vs. Iga Swiatek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKNq9NvmCi0

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

Subscribe wherever you’re listening, rate the show, and send in your ideas for Second Serve.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Produced with assistance from Radio CKUT

CKUT Radio: https://ckut.ca/

Welcome to The Service Game, where serves start the story.

In this week’s First Serve, off-court headlines and early tournament drama set the tone. Craig Tiley is reportedly set to leave his role as Australian Open director to become USTA CEO, raising questions about the future of his initiatives in Melbourne—including the conversation around women’s best-of-five—and what ideas he could bring to the US Open. Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka celebrates her engagement with a stunning 12-carat ring, and Naomi Osaka turns heads with a bold new leopard-inspired kit whose fabric shifts color in the light.

On court, the matches bring the chaos: Denis Shapovalov edges Stefanos Tsitsipas in a one-handed backhand battle that highlights Tsitsipas’ continued slide in the rankings, Felix Auger-Aliassime survives an electric performance from Gaël Monfils, and João Fonseca saves two match points to outlast Karen Khachanov. The WTA side delivers its own drama with Camila Osorio mounting a fearless comeback after saving match points, Jasmine Paolini producing some of her best tennis of the season to rally past Anastasia Potapova, and Alex Eala grinding through a tense three-setter against Dayana Yastremska to earn a highly anticipated clash with Coco Gauff—setting the stage as the biggest names prepare to enter the draw.

Matches/Links mentioned:

Denis Shapovalov vs Stefanos Tsitsipas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMGAjZuFtgQ

Gael Monfils vs Felix Auger-Aliassime: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8HUq7nSBUw

Joao Fonseca vs Karen Khachanov: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAho4m90fXU

Jaqueline Cristian vs. Janice Tjen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEidjOBEckA

Iva Jovic vs. Camila Osorio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KghlN97zg70

Anastasia Potapova vs. Jasmine Paolini: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4N8c56vfMA

Dayana Yastremska vs. Alexandra Eala: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nenTInESDA&t=22s

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

Subscribe wherever you’re listening, rate the show, and send in your ideas for Second Serve.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Produced with assistance from Radio CKUT

CKUT Radio: https://ckut.ca/

Welcome to The Service Game, where serves start the story.

In this week’s First Serve, the Middle East Swing delivers chaos and drama, with The Hit taking center stage: Daniil Medvedev captures a milestone title in Dubai amid flight cancellations and geopolitical tension that could disrupt the road to Indian Wells, Felix Auger-Aliassime continues his surge, and Acapulco brings its own intensity as Alexander Zverev falls to Miomir Kecmanovic in a result that raises real questions ahead of the slow hard courts, alongside injury defaults, net-cord swings, and matches where the scoreline didn’t tell the full story. We also touch on Emma Raducanu’s reported $3.5M move from Nike to Uniqlo and what it means for tennis fashion, all building toward Indian Wells on March 4

Matches/Links mentioned:

Emma Raducanu Deal: https://justwomenssports.com/reads/nike-emma-raducanu-uniqlo-tennis-sponsorship-2026/

Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Jiri Lehecka: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mImpl1Vxzs

Dubai Open Semifinal Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk-2c6GigwA

Alexander Zverev vs. Miomir Kecmanovic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XWFsEMHi8M&t=65s

Mexican Open Semifinal Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G84WUUqsSNs

Mexican Open Final Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EEZ8hRlZVg

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Produced with assistance from Radio CKUT

CKUT Radio: https://ckut.ca/

Welcome to The Service Game, where serves start the story.

In this week’s First Serve, the tour is fully in its Middle East Swing with plenty of drama from both sides: Arthur Fils and Jakub Mensik’s thrilling prospects, another tournament without a Sincaraz final, and Jessica Pegula getting her 10th title! From exciting comebacks to dramatic statements from tournament directors, the Middle East swing has delivered in a way that the Australian Open has failed to do!— listen for the full breakdown and what it all means moving forward.

Matches/Links mentioned:

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Karen Khachanov: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Puszgo5ytDs

Jannik Sinner vs. Jakub Mensik: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1KK607fkJE

Arthur Fils vs. Jakub Mensik: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKojS6wA-Xg&t=361s

Arthur Fils vs. Carlos Alcaraz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS9j7djGFMs

Alex Eala vs. Jasmine Paolini: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUCpH8JRkg4

Elina Svitolina vs. Coco Gauff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Od6QcyTfpt8

Jessica Pegula vs. Amanda Anisimova: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7tpXYiUH9c

Elina Svitolina vs. Jessica Pegula: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8N7tGMhsQA

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Produced with assistance from Radio CKUT

CKUT Radio: https://ckut.ca/

Welcome to The Service Game, where serves start the story.

In this week’s First Serve, the tour arrives in the Middle East with momentum building across both tours: Karolína Muchova ends a six-year title drought with a long-awaited triumph, Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko surges into her second WTA 1000 final at just 19, and Félix Auger-Aliassime continues his strong run with back-to-back ATP finals. From breakthrough performances to renewed confidence, the Middle East swing is already shaping the season’s early narrative — listen for the full breakdown and what it all means moving forward.

Matches/Links mentioned:

Qinwen Zheng vs. Elena Rybakina:

Mirra Andreeva vs. Victoria Mboko:

Victoria Mboko vs. Elena Rybakina:

Jelena Ostapenko vs. Victoria Mboko:

Iga Swiatek vs. Maria Sakkari:

Karolina Muchova vs. Maria Sakkari:

Karolina Muchova vs. Victoria Mboko:

ATP Rotterdam Semifinals:

Ben Shelton vs. Denis Shapovalov:

Athletics Article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7044598/2026/02/13/aryna-sabalenka-iga-swiatek-dubai-tennis-championships-withdraw-out/

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Produced with assistance from Radio CKUT

CKUT Radio: https://ckut.ca/

Thanks for reading The Service Game! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Welcome to The Service Game, where serves start the story.

In this week’s First Serve episode, I discussed some of the news following the Australian Open. I gave my opinion on the Australian Open’s tournament director, Craig Tiley’s statement on women playing five-set matches. Following the Grand Slam tournament, the WTA tour had a 500 level in Abu Dhabi, and the men’s tour featured matches in the first round of David Cup qualifying. From Sara Bejlek's impressive run to the Abu Dhabi title from qualifying to nail-biting matches in the David Cup, I covered a lot that happened this week on the tour! Listen more to find out!

Matches/Links mentioned:

Women playing Five-Setters: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7012975/2026/01/31/australian-open-tennis-format-women-best-five-craig-tiley/

FULL MATCH Novak Djokovic vs. Jannik Sinner:

FULL MATCH Carlos Alcaraz vs. Alexander Zverev:

FULL MATCH Elena Rybakina vs. Aryna Sabalenka:

Davis Cup Format Explained: https://www.daviscup.com/en/about/format

Fabian Marozsan vs. Ethan Quinn:

Jack Draper vs. Viktor Durasovic:

Sara Bejlek vs. Clara Tauson:

Hailey Baptiste vs. Ekaterina Alexandrova:

Sara Bejlek vs. Ekaterina Alexandrova:

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Welcome to The Service Game, where serves start the story.

In this week’s First Serve episode, I discussed the stories that dominated this year’s Australian Open. Although many people online have deemed this year’s tournament to be lackluster, I found there to be quite a few interesting storylines. From Novak Djokovic’s jaw-dropping performance to Aryna Sabalenka’s struggles in Grand Slam finals, the Service Game got you covered! I also highlighted matches worth looking back on if you missed them! Finally, I introduced the three segments of my weekly podcast—the toss, the hit, and the follow through—listen more to find out!

Matches/Links mentioned:

Venus Williams vs. Olga Danilovic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK_ppI7H92c

Victoria Mboko vs. Clara Tauson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8SCY8gcTME

Tomas Machac vs. Lorenzo Musetti: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U82bgeYFQ5M

Lorenzo Musetti vs. Novak Djokovic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR_gkDhc9BM

Gael Monfils vs. Dane Sweeny: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sa15eG5srQ

Stan Wawrinka vs. Arthur Gea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m_ZDcGigjI

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Alex Deminaur: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUpaa3HNwFQ

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Alexander Zverev: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYlFxO1HA_A

Jannik Sinner vs. Novak Djokovic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDn5WfnV5g0

Novak Djokovic vs. Carlos Alcaraz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z99RntcbEtY

Elena Rybakina vs. Aryna Sabalenka: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69CCqjPNc6o

Aus Open 2023 Elena Rybakina vs. Aryna Sabalenka: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWPzUDJhP6Y

Subscribe to ⁠The Service Game⁠ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s ⁠Substack⁠.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!

Welcome to The Service Game, where serves start the story.

First Serve: Fast, weekly rundowns of the biggest ATP and WTA headlines, results, and momentum shifts

Second Serve: Longer, investigative deep dives into player storylines, tactics, controversies, and the forces shaping professional tennis

Whether you’re short on time or ready to dive deeper, The Service Game keeps you informed on what’s happening across the tennis world—and why it matters.

Subscribe to The Service Game on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. For extended analysis and written Second Serve content, check out Ivy’s Substack.

🎾 Thanks for listening—and let the serves begin!