Tennis Unfiltered

Calvin Betton is back from Turkey, James Gray is now up in the mountains and George Bellshaw still doesn't really know what a pun is. They discussed... - Katie Boulter winning the title in Ostrava, claiming her fourth career WTA win - Emma Raducanu made the final in Cluj but was then battered by Sorana Cirstea... - ...is she fit enough? Does she need a coach? What now? - The PTPA's $1bn plans for tennis are scrutinised... - ...as are Craig Tiley's wild and wacky ideas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Australian Open 2026 is in the books. Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina are our two singles champions, and we have ANOTHER British doubles champion and everyone can take a deep breath (for a bit). ATP Tour coach Calvin Betton, The i Paper sports news editor James Gray and tennis broadcaster and writer George Bellshaw are here to look back at it all. They discussed... - Is Novak Djokovic a genuine contender in other slams this year or will this prove to be his last hurrah? - Which slams with Carlos Alcaraz win this year and is the calendar year grand slam achievable? - Has Aryna Sabalenka got a problem in finals? - Will Elena Rybakina wait another four years to go from two majors to three? - How will we remember the 2026 Australian Open? And SO much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Calvin Betton returns, albeit from Turkey, to join George Bellshaw and James Gray to look back at the Australian Open men's final - Was Novak Djokovic's gameplan the right one? - How did Carlos Alcaraz turn it around? - Was Djokovic injured? Will he ever come back as an active player? All that and more... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Molly McElwee subs in for George Bellshaw to review the women's singles final at the Australian Open with James Gray. - Elena Rybakina came from 3-0 down in the deciding set to win her second grand slam title - World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka has now lost three of her last four major finals, including two in a row in Melbourne - Rybakina's coach Stefano Vukov was presented with a trophy too, despite his chequered history working with Rybakina Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

- Carlos Alcaraz came through cramps, vomiting and an Alexander Zverev comeback to win his Australian Open semi-final and reach the final in Melbourne for the first time ever - Jannik Sinner could not join him, denied a three-peat by an inspired Novak Djokovic, who is now just one win away from the 25th grand slam title of his career Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Gray and George Bellshaw are back around the microphone after two MORE straight-sets wins - Aryna Sabalenka saved break points in the opening game against Elina Svitolina but never looked back after that.. - ...except when she was called for a hindrance in the fourth game of the match, a decision she says "p***ed her off" but also inspired her to win the match - Elena Rybakina came through the challenge of the religiously consistent Jessica Pegula to set up a repeat of the 2023 final Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Gray and George Bellshaw get down to it after a series of last eight matches in which... - Coco Gauff sparked a privacy row after she complained about her racket smash in a corridor being broadcast to millions - Novak Djokovic was "going home" after losing two sets to Lorenzo Musetti... and then the Italian pulled out injured - Iga Swiatek was knocked out by a familiar opponent Elena Rybakina - Michael Chang's kids turned up in Learner Tien's press conference Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Calvin Betton is back and anything BUT boring... however, is the Australian Open turning into a boring tournament? George Bellshaw and James Gray join him to discuss... - Ben Shelton knocking out Casper Ruud to add another top-eight seed to the men's quarter-finals, making it seven in total and 13 across the two singles draws - Lorenzo Musetti sets up a clash with Novak Djokovic by putting Taylor Fritz out of his misery - All four women's matches end in straightforward straight sets victories for the favourites AND, as a special treat, here is a free link to read James's column for The i Paper: https://inews.co.uk/sport/tennis/novak-djokovic-getting-lucky-4193977?utm_campaign=PNITUx1xSr1ai7e&ito=gifted_article&data-target=gifted_article&utm_source=XJPLeh5koSHChZEU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

- Novak Djokovic has been handed a free pass into a record 65th grand slam quarter-final after Jakub Mensik pulled out of their fourth-round clash - Are the stars aligning for Djokovic slam No 25? - Daniil Medvedev is out, beaten in straight sets by Michael Chang-coached Learner Tien - Elina Svitolina crushed Mirra Andreeva's AO dream with an efficient performance - Coco Gauff fought fire with fire to beat Karolina Muchova And much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Rothenberg of Bounces and James Gray look back (mostly) at the seventh day of action at the Australian Open. - Jannik Sinner lost the opening set to Elliot Spizziri in sweltering conditions, which triggered the heat rule, shut the roof and seemingly swung the match in the Italian's favour - Madison Keys's title defence goes on in fine style - And why Daniil Medvedev vs Le-arn-er Tien is the match of the day on Sunday And loads more! Go check out Ben's work on Bounces (https://www.benrothenberg.com/), it really is excellent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

George Bellshaw is back for his last podcast of the week with James Gray in tow. - Aryna Sabalenka admits she felt 'disconnected' from her body in a double tie-break win over Anastasia Potapova - Coco Gauff came from a set down to beat Hailey Baptiste after a tactical adjustment on her forehand side - Daniil Medvedev delivered on his annual AO five-setter - The British interest in the singles is over for another year, Cam Norrie beaten in four sets by an imperious Alexander Zverev - Yulia Putintseva did NOT disappoint! And so much more... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Gray and George Bellshaw look back at the fifth day of action at the 2026 Australian Open. - No 10 seed Belinda Bencic is shocked by qualifier Nikola Bartunkova, the teenage sensation who served a six-month ban for inadvertently ingesting banned substance TMZ - Stan Wawrinka kept rolling back the years to beat Arthur Gea in five sets and set up a third-round clash with Taylor Fritz - Naomi Osaka wound up Sorana Cirstea, knocked her out the tournament and then hung her out to dry. Just watch: https://x.com/tntsports/status/2014296632775336143 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Gray and George Bellshaw are back around the microphones for another review of a relatively drama-free day at the Australian Open, but... - Emma Raducanu is out after defeat to Anastasia Potapova and seems ready to ditch the tactical overhaul being overseen by Francis Roig - Cam Norrie is the last Brit standing after grinding out a win over Emilio Nava in rarefied, late-night air - Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Kamil Majchrzak both fell out with the crowd but for different reasons - Diana Shnaider saves three match points to roar into the third round back at the tournament where she broke through three years ago LINKS Check your fantasy progress here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/125MgiVs97Xnbi9OQ5UdXck-VM2liwwxbQMVxeevJIIY Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yes, the hat. Not Brooklyn Beckham, not the actual tennis. Naomi Osaka's incredible hat. George Bellshaw and James Gray are keen to focus on some other things... eventually. Because THAT. HAT. It was also a cracking first-round tennis match. But the hat. Where does she go from now?! LINKS The hat in question: https://x.com/tntsports/status/2013590606128263313https://x.com/tntsports/status/2013590606128263313 How are you faring in fantasy tennis? Check here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/125MgiVs97Xnbi9OQ5UdXck-VM2liwwxbQMVxeevJIIY/edit?resourcekey=&gid=1734778613#gid=1734778613 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Gray and George Bellshaw look back on the second day of first-round action in Melbourne including... - Felix Auger-Aliassime retires after cramping just two sets into his match against Nuno Borges - Iga Swiatek is made to work hard by Chinese qualifier Yuan Yue - Alexandra Eala fans overcrowd Court 6, but it's not a problem the Australian organisers will have to deal with again this year - Naomi Osaka lifts the lid on her leaving the Evolve agency - Why hasn't Carlos Alcaraz won the Australian Open yet? LINKS - The wild scenes of Parks vs Eala: https://x.com/christianscourt/status/2013099697431298256 - Naomi Osaka talks to Ben Rothenberg: https://www.benrothenberg.com/p/naomi-osaka-interview-australian-open-evolve-img-australian-open-day-2-schedule-preview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Day 1 of the Australian Open is in the books, a record day at Melbourne Park as more than 100,000 ticketholders streamed through the gates. The headlines were... - Qualifier Zeynep Sonmez pulled off the biggest win of her career by knocking out No 11 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova - Ukrainians Dayana Yastremksa and Marta Kostyuk both also suffered first-round defeats as three WTA seeds fell on Day 1 - Arthur Fery knocked out the only men's seed to lose on Sunday, although Flavio Cobolli called the doctor after one game because of illness and was clearly short of his best - Emma Raducanu looked like she was in trouble against Mananchaya Sawangkaew but saved break points at 1-3 down and lost two more games in the entire match. And so much more! LINKS Daria Kasatkina interview: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6978334/2026/01/16/tennis-daria-kasatkina-australia-russia/ Putintseva being Putintseva: https://x.com/TheTennisLetter/status/2012724674036183423 FTU League Table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/125MgiVs97Xnbi9OQ5UdXck-VM2liwwxbQMVxeevJIIY Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Gray and George Bellshaw are in St Pancras Station. Yes, really. Don't ask why. Anyway, they are going through the Australian Open draw line by line for your entertainment - and to help you pick your fantasy tennis team! Enter here: https://forms.gle/vMwznVdH4Yh5HgRx8 DEADLINE: SATURDAY 17 JANUARY 11PM BST The basic concept is simple: predict the quarter-finalists. Do that successfully, and play your captaincy chip right, and you'll win! Below, you must pick one player from each section of the draw, and hope that they go as far as possible - as well as nominating a men's captain and a women's captain. (To help you, the players are presented as they are in the draw, so you know who plays who!) SCORING Players are split into four categories: Top Seed (a top 8 seed), Minor Seeds (9-32 seeds), Unseeded (self-explanatory) and Bolter (a wildcard or a qualifier). Unlike previous years, you do not HAVE to pick any qualifier or wildcards - but they will score points more quickly if you do pick a successful one. Top Seed - 10 points per win Minor Seed - 15 points per win Unseeded - 20 points per win Bolter - 30 points per win The overall tournament winner also receives a bonus of 20 points. CAPTAINS You must select a captain in the men's and the women's draw. Captains will score double points. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before anything else, our thoughts this week are firmly with teh family of Damian Kust. Damian was a cherished and passionate member of the tennis community whom we lost at the age of just 26. His work covering the Challenger Tour set him apart, but his passion and knowledge was what really made him shine. RIP Damian. Details of his funeral and donations to the foundation his parents have chosen are here: https://x.com/damiankust/status/2009644081207709969 It always feels utterly empty to follow such profoundly sad news with the mundanity of the week's tennis news. Here is what else Calvin Betton, James Gray and George Bellshaw discussed this week... Novak Djokovic has pulled out of Adelaide, his only planned warm-up for the Australian Open, saying he is not physically ready for the challenge Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have not played an ATP event yet this year either, but were busy playing an indoor practice match in front of 15,000 people in Seoul, South Korea. Poland FINALLY won the United Cup, Hubert Hurkacz gaining redemption for spurning two championship points against Alexander Zverev in 2024, beating the German en route to leading his nation to victory... ...but Iga Swiatek's form was far from impressive, and it was Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski, Luke Johnson's new partner, who were instrumental in securing the title PLUS: No Australian Open wildcard for Nick Kyrgios; there is one for Stan Wawrinka; titles for Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Bublik, Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina; Emma Raducanu's return; and OF COURSE *that* wildcard in Nairobi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Calvin Betton is in Brisbane but that won't stop him getting on the podcast (even if it does stop him getting any sleep). He joins James Gray for the first half of this week's podcast before subbing out for George Bellshaw, who sleeps soundly in his childhood bedroom in the West Midlands. They discussed... - Emma Raducanu pulls out of her season debut (she eventually played Maria Sakkari)... ...and she's testing a new racket - Stefanos Tsitsipas reveals he considered retirement after battling a back injury last year - Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Calvin relaunch their defence of the 250 - Novak Djokovic pulls out of the PTPA - Venus Williams gets an Australian Open wildcard but Nick Kyrgios is made to wait for his - Katie Boulter links up with a new coach in Michael Joyce - Iga Swiatek questions why we needed another "Battle of the Sexes" And finally, could Lionel Messi really win 50 grand slams?! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Gray, George Bellshaw and Calvin Betton are back round the microphones to discuss not one but TWO weeks of tennis news - because the gossip train does not take Christmas off. They discussed... - Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero have ended their seven-year partnership - but no one quite knows why - Nick Kyrgios says “there's nothing but positives that can be taken away from this” after beating Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-3 in the so-called Battle of the Sexes in Dubai - British number one Jack Draper will not play in next month's Australian Open because of an ongoing arm injury PLUS - Jennifer Brady is making a comeback (maybe?) - Holger Rune is rushing his comeback (maybe?) - Learner Tien is ready for a serious impact (maybe?) And the sandwich shop Calvin was talking about? All'Antico Vinaio on Liberty Street in FiDi. And finally, if you want to read what James wrote about the Battle of the Sexes, you can do so for FREE here: https://inews.co.uk/sport/tennis/battle-of-the-sexes-pixelated-mess-awful-4136957?utm_campaign=PNITUx1xSr1ai7e&ito=gifted_article&data-target=gifted_article&utm_source=XJPLeh5koSHChZEU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices