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Best Of Three
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In this episode, Alvin Owusu and Torrey Hawkins engage with Peter Lebedevs, the tournament director for the ATP 500 Dallas event, discussing the intricacies of running tennis tournaments, enhancing fan experiences, and the evolving landscape of the sport. They explore the transition from 250 to 500 events, the impact of betting, and the importance of maintaining the integrity of the game. Peter shares insights on the future of tennis attendance, broadcasting strategies, and the significance o...
In this episode of the Best Three Podcast, hosts Torrey Hawkins and Alvin Owusu discuss the recent performances of Madison Keys in women's tennis, reflecting on her resurgence and the importance of competition in the sport. They analyze her tactical adjustments during matches, the role of doubles in player development, and the evolution of her game. The conversation highlights the dynamics of women's tennis and the future of the sport, emphasizing the need for players to adapt and grow. In th...
In this episode of the Best of Three podcast, hosts Alvin Owusu and Torrey Hawkins discuss the ongoing Australian Open, analyzing key matches, player performances, and the overall tournament atmosphere. They delve into the match between Aryna Sabalenka and Mirra Andreeva, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of both players. The conversation bounces around the draw, discussing the implications of player consistency and the impact of injuries on performance. The hosts also reflect on stan...
In this episode, Alvin and Torrey are joined by Bobby Reynolds, head coach of the Auburn University men's tennis team. The trio discusses the evolving landscape of men's tennis, particularly in light of the recent Australian Open. The conversation covers the emergence of young talent, the impact of technology on player development, and the changing strategies in the game. The hosts reflect on how the current generation of players is redefining the sport with their aggressive playing sty...
Alvin Owusu and Torrey Hawkins preview the mens side of the Australian Open draw. Send a text
Alvin Owusu and Torrey Hawkins break down the Australian Open draw on the womens side. Send a text
In this episode, Alvin and Torrey discuss the ATP Next Gen competition and its implications for player development, particularly focusing on the lack of a women's equivalent. Next, they analyze the current state of American women's tennis, highlighting Coco Gauff's potential and the challenges she faces, especially regarding her serve. The conversation emphasizes the importance of challenger tournaments and the need for a structured pathway for young players to transition into professi...
In this conversation, Alvin Owusu and Torrey Hawkins discuss the current state of American men's tennis, focusing on players like Taylor Fritz, Francis Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul, and Sebastian Korda. They analyze each player's strengths, weaknesses, and potential for the upcoming seasons, while also reflecting on the cultural expectations surrounding American tennis. The discussion highlights the challenges these players face in a competitive landscape dominated by established champions...
In this conversation, Alvin Owusu and Torrey Hawkins discuss the challenges young players face in maintaining consistency and the emerging rivalries in women's tennis. They also discuss the importance of winning skills, and the impact of college tennis on player development. They analyze emerging talents and the role of coaching in shaping successful players, while also addressing the future of American women's tennis and the opportunities for growth in the sport. Lastly, they also expl...
In this episode of Best of Three, Alvin and Torrey delve into the factors shaping the modern tennis landscape, from the critical role of continuous learning for players and coaches to the immense challenges of winning that elusive first Grand Slam title. We talk about the career of Dominic Thiem, and then discuss sponsors “five-year rule” that can predict many players’ peak performances. With stars Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz taking a stranglehold upon the top of ATP rankings, and...
In this episode, Alvin and Torrey delve into the year-end championship format, the need for a tennis commissioner, and the impact of injuries on player rankings. They reflect on the legacies of tennis legends like Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray, emphasizing the importance of rivalries in the sport. The conversation also touches on the dynamics of spectatorship, discussing the balance between viewership and attendance at events. Finally, they conclude with a segment in Coach's Co...
In this engaging conversation, Alvin and Torrey reflect on the evolution of tennis, particularly focusing on the end of an era marked by the dominance of players like Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. They discuss the impact of Serena's legacy on women's tennis, the current state of the sport, and the transition to a new generation of players. They explore the importance of appreciating greatness while it's present and the challenges of sustaining excellen...
Alvin and Matt discuss the current state of tennis, reflecting on the recent Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup, as well as the WTA and ATP Finals. They analyze Coco Gauff's impressive victory and the implications for the women's tour, while also highlighting Jannik Sinner's rise in the men's game. The conversation takes a turn to address John Wertheim's controversial comments about Barbora Krejcikova and the consequences he faced. Finally, they delve into the sponsorship dynamics of Rolex wi...
The crew discusses the ATP Paris Masters 1000 and WTA Finals. Send a text
Recorded during the middle of the Indian Wells tournament, this episode explores one of the most overlooked tactical questions in modern tennis: where should players actually stand on the court relative to their skill sets? Alvin Owusu and Torrey Hawkins begin with a coaching-level discussion of court positioning and time management. The ability to take the ball on the rise is often described as aggressive tennis, but the hosts explain that it is more accurately a product of swing efficiency,...
In this episode of the Best of Three podcast, Alvin Owusu and Torrey Hawkins sit down with Jean-Yves Aubone, Director of Player & Coach Relations for the Intense Tennis League. The conversation explores why a new format has emerged in response to longstanding structural challenges within professional tennis—from declining viewership to fragmented governance and unpredictable match scheduling. Aubone explains how Intense Tennis is designed to create a more accessible and entertainment-focu...
With Miami approaching, we assess three players at very different stages of leverage. Jack Draper, now 24, already owns a Masters 1000 title and deep Slam credentials. The gap between him and sustained Top 5 status is narrower than it appears. This episode breaks down the marginal gains conversation — specifically how one additional free point per service game alters ranking math, physical load, and match control. Talent is not the question. Durability and serve efficiency are. Francis Tiafoe...
Carlos Alcaraz’s Doha title signals more than form — it signals evolution. We analyze how his depth control, tempo manipulation, and backhand assertion are redefining his dominance. His ability to gain time without sacrificing position may be the clearest modern separator at the top of the men’s game. Jessica Pegula’s Dubai win presents a different model of excellence. Her “net-neutral” construction — no wasted movement, no volatility, no structural weaknesses — allows her game to travel week...
The WTA Doha 1000 wrapped up with one of the most satisfying storylines of the season. Karolína Muchová wins her first WTA title in six years, Vicky Mboko announces herself as a top-10 player, and the next generation keeps forcing its way into the conversation. Alvin Owusu and Torrey Hawkins break down what we learned from Doha, why Muchová’s all-court game still causes matchup problems at the top of the game, and what makes Mboko so difficult to deal with already. We also zoom out to talk ab...
The Australian Open is in the books, and we’re joined by Patrick Parr for a wide-ranging post-AO conversation that goes well beyond the scoreboard. We unpack Alexander Zverev’s durability and why the French Open may represent his clearest Grand Slam opportunity, examine Carlos Alcaraz’s unmatched in-match adaptability, and break down why Jannik Sinner’s loss doesn’t change his long-term trajectory. We also dive into the next generation of American men — including Lerner Tien and Ben Shelton —...






