Nothing Major

Kickstart your week with John, Sam, Steve and Jack catching up on all the latest action from Asia.  The gang is joined once again by Blair Henley to chat through the latest updates from Shanghai, USTA league rules, and Federer’s nomination to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. With plenty of talk amongst the tour around court design, the boys discuss the impact of court speeds on player performance. The gang also weighs in on Amanda Anisimova's backhand dominance and Gael Monfils' recently announced retirement. 00:00 Intro & Weekly News Rundown 00:41 Sam’s Rant: Banned from the Club Team?! 02:37 The Great USTA Rule Debate 05:51 Blair Takes Over: No Man’s Land 06:13 The Court Speed Controversy 11:10 Surviving the Shanghai Sauna 16:03 Amanda Anisimova’s Beijing Comeback 19:41 Gael Monfils Says Goodbye 21:19 Farewell Season: Tournament Send-Offs 24:25 The Mascot Hand-Holding Controversy 27:35 Tokyo & Beijing: The Best of the Week 33:00 Federer’s Hall of Fame Nomination 37:23 Wrap-Up 🎧

World No. 34 and rising American star Alex Michelsen joins the pod! Fresh off making his Laver Cup debut, Alex joins John, Jack, Sam and Steve to share his journey in tennis and reflect on his year so far. He talks about representing Team World, going up against top players like Carlos Alcaraz, and shares some fun off-court stories from his life on tour. Plus, the boys cover some of the biggest headlines from Shanghai and debate what it means to 'make it' as a pro athlete. 00:00 Sponsor Message 01:33 Debate: What Defines a Professional Athlete? 09:36 Shanghai Masters Preview 13:10 Nalbandian and his Magic Run 22:42 Interview with Alex Michelsen 30:11 Post-Event Reflections and Travel Stories 31:16 Tennis Idols and Early Inspirations 32:21 Realizing Tennis Potential 33:20 Breakthrough Moments and Career Milestones 34:49 Facing Top Players and Building Confidence 36:38 Going Pro and Personal Insights 41:43 Sinner-Alcaraz Dominance 48:55 Time for the Hot Seat! 54:00 How Steve Benched Michelsen for Channelling Novak 56:59 Wrapping Up!

Sam, Stevie, Jack, and John are joined once again by everyone’s favorite tennis personality and reporter, Blair Henley! With the Asian Swing in full flow, the crew dives into the buzz from Beijing and Tokyo, including the much-anticipated final between Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz set for tomorrow in the early hours. Blair dishes on the latest gossip inside the tennis world, from Fabio Fognini’s surprise turn on Dancing with the Stars to Felix Auger-Aliassime’s extravagant wedding before the gang swaps stories about quirky fan gifts and unforgettable player parties in Asia. 00:00 Sponsor Message 01:31 We’re Back! 08:52 Taylor Fritz's Travel Adventures 11:05 Beijing Tournament Insights 15:54 Medvedev's Performance and Predictions 18:37 Upcoming Alcaraz vs. Fonseca Exhibition Match 21:48 Tennis Headlines with Blair Henley 22:13 Fabio Fognini on Dancing with the Stars 24:24 Music Complaints and Fan Gifts 28:04 Player Parties and Weddings 31:33 Carlos Alcaraz's Injury and Hair Dye Trends 35:43 Wrapping Up The Episode! Today, get Huel for FIFTEEN PERCENT OFF with this exclusive offer for New Customers only with code nothingmajor at https://huel.com/nothingmajor (Minimum $75 purchase).

The gangs back together following tennis' 'International Break'. Sam and John share their experiences at the Laver Cup in San Francisco and look ahead to the Asian Swing. With Beijing and Tokyo underway, the boys share some of their favorite stories from their time in Asia and dive into the Major Mailbag to answer some listener questions. With just a few months left of the 2025 season, it's time to analyze the season performance of some of the top ATP players, leading into a 'Buy and Sell' segment. Which players will rise or fall by the year-end? 00:00 Guess Who’s Back? 00:45 Recap of the Laver Cup 03:43 Fan Questions and Personal Stories 05:12 Asian Swing: Food and Culture 10:26 Challenges of Traveling to Asia 13:13 Experiences in Beijing and Tokyo 18:17 Comparing Tournaments: Tokyo vs. Beijing 20:37 High Stakes in Beijing 20:56 Doubles Strategy and Injuries 22:08 Fan Questions: 25 Slams Contenders 23:48 Media Training for Tennis Players 27:34 Drafting the Worst ATP Player 32:05 Buy and Sell: Player Stocks 37:22 That’s a Wrap, See Ya!

With Sam still stuck in California traffic, John, Steve, and Jack break down the 2025 Laver Cup weekend, where Team World pulled off a surprising win over Team Europe. The boys dive into Fritz’s insane level, hands out MVP honors, and review Andre Agassi’s debut as Team World captain. Whilst Italy swept USA at the Billie Jean King Cup, the gang debate whether it's current format is falling short. And since Sam couldn’t make this week's episode, the boys take the chance to roast his Laver Cup antics and relive the most meme-worthy moments of the weekend. 01:03 Kicking Things Off 01:22 Laver Cup Recap: Highlights and Stories 07:09 Breaking Down Player Performances 18:34 MVP Debate and Weekend Takeaways 22:03 Fonseca’s Win and Reilly’s Tough Losses 22:49 Taylor Fritz’s Wild Determination 27:31 Billie Jean King Cup Breakdown 30:46 The Future of Laver Cup Locations 32:51 Sam Meme-Worthy Moment 35:44 Closing Thoughts and Sign-Off

The gang's all here and we're diving headfirst into all things Laver Cup. Jack, John, Sam, and Stevie look back at the very first edition, from Jack and John’s doubles wins to some of the wildest on-court moments. They debate whether the event can keep its spark without the Big 3, and why Carlos Alcaraz already feels essential for Team Europe. The crew breaks down the format, payouts, and shares a classic Fabio Fognini story. An episode of Nothing Major wouldn’t be complete without a little self-roasting, this time revisiting some of their worst predictions of the season... Plus, get a peek behind the curtain at how the wonderfully chaotic Nothing Major group chat becomes the podcast you listen to, watch and (hopefully) enjoy. 00:00 Kicking Things Off 00:24 Back to the 2017 Laver Cup Chaos 01:00 Jack Showing Off in Doubles 06:13 Laver Cup: Challenges and Changes 09:32 Format, Future, and What Could Be Better 12:21 Player Stories and Inside Dirt 14:29 Laver Cup vs Davis Cup: Who Wins? 16:47 Jack’s Wild Ride with John McEnroe 18:05 Favorite Captains and Hypothetical Showdowns 20:40 Roasting Our Past Predictions and Tennis Takeaways 23:12 Behind the Scenes: How This Madness Gets Made 28:44 Signing Off and Looking Ahead

The boys are back to kick off your week in style! Following a packed weekend in Dallas, John and Steve break down Nothing Major’s inaugural Red Bull Flugtag flight. Did the Unforced Errors fly? With the Davis Cup underway the dive into the results and chat through the biggest results so far. Plus the gang are joined by the winner of our US Open bracket challenge, Victor! Life Advice returns and the boys are tracked with tackling some tricky situations including an overbearing house guest… Be sure to stick to the end to watch Nothing Major’s Flugtag entry take flight! 00:00 Intro 00:43 Red Bull Flugtag 04:24 Random Flight Observations 05:17 Tennis News 10:44 Bracket Challenge Winner 19:07 Carlos Tracker and Blonde Hair Debate 21:50 Davis Cup Recap 24:25 Davis Cup Format 27:25 Brazil vs Greece 28:32 Iva Jovic's First Title 29:37 Life Advice 34:33 Red Bull Flugtag

It’s Red Bull Flugtag week, and the boys are checking in ahead of the inaugural Nothing Major flight! Sam, Steve, and John are joined by special guest Blair Henley to recap this year’s US Open and share what it’s really like reporting from a Grand Slam. Sam’s been working hard on a brand-new segment... and he’s excited to debut it  Plus, the Major Mailbag is back as the gang answers a fresh batch of listener questions from the final Slam of the season! 00:00 Intro 01:24 Red Bull Flugtag 03:41 Special Guest: Blair Henley 05:56 Broadcasting Insights and Tips 11:14 ATP Tinder 15:45 Major Mailbag 22:19 Red Bull Flugtag 25:03 Outro

The US Open is over, and the guys are here to break it all down. Sam, Jack, John, and Steve dive into the men’s and women’s finals and what really decided them. Carlos Alcaraz overpowered Jannik Sinner with a relentlessness performance that capped off a dominant campaign. Did Sinner ever really have a shot, or was it always Alcaraz’s title to lose? The guys don’t exactly see eye to eye! In the women’s final, Aryna Sabalenka extended her wild tiebreak streak to 19 straight while taking out Amanda Anisimova. With her first Major of the season, she leaves New York looking every bit the rightful World No. 1. Off the court, we’ve got Bracket Challenge chaos (guess who’s on the hook for the jingle?) and even some unsolicited advice for the secret service agents spotted at the Open. We wrap it up with big news about next week’s Red Bull Flugtag! 00:00 Kicking things off! 00:22 Men’s Final Recap: Alcaraz vs. Sinner 03:21 "The entire match was on Alcaraz's racquet" 11:00 Secret service & celebrity sightings in NYC 14:41 Women’s Final Recap: Sabalenka vs. Anisimova 16:41 Sabalenka’s UNREAL tiebreak streak 21:12 Bracket Challenge result & the jingle bet 23:15 Next stop: Red Bull Flugtag madness 24:52 Wrapping it up & what’s next

The US Open semis were electric, and we’re here to break it all down before the finals. John, Stevie, and Jack dive into the women’s battles, highlighting Anisimova’s redemption as she took down Osaka in an amazing match and now faces Sabalenka. How far can Amanda go if she wins?  On the men’s side, we discuss whether this could be Djokovic’s last shot, the Alcaraz-Sinner dominance, and our thoughts on the men’s final. Is Sinner a slight favorite with the No. 1 ranking and Slam race on the line? Things got even spicier with our Dave’s Hot Chicken trivia challenge. Who can handle the Reaper without breaking a sweat? Between group chat meltdowns and ridiculous hot takes, this episode got out of hand fast.  We wrap things up with Steve calling a recall on our bracket challenge... let’s just say some egos are hurting as a the loser will need to come up with a Nothing Major jingle! 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 01:01 We're Back!  01:29 Where’s Sam Querrey? Mystery Explained 04:08 Women’s Semifinals Breakdown 07:51 Women’s Final Preview: Amanda vs. Sabalenka 15:12 Men’s Semis Recap: Alcaraz vs. Djokovic 21:54 Men’s Semis Recap: Sinner vs. Auger-Aliassime 26:35 Men’s Final Preview: Sinner vs. Alcaraz 30:41 Dave’s Hot Chicken Trivia Challenge 31:38 Spicy Trivia Questions & Showdowns 39:46 Final Thoughts & Bracket Challenge Drama

The quarterfinals in New York brought plenty of fireworks, and we’re breaking it all down before looking ahead to the semifinals. Novak Djokovic was clinical against Taylor Fritz and now sets up a blockbuster clash with Carlos Alcaraz. Is Novak the greatest athlete of all time? We debate it. Jannik Sinner’s dominance rolls on as he heads into a big showdown with Felix Auger-Aliassime, but does Felix really have a chance? On the women’s side, Jessica Pegula’s steady run keeps her in the spotlight, while Amanda Anisimova pulled off sweet redemption against Iga Swiatek. Could we be on track for an all-American final? We dive into the possibilities and what it would mean for the tournament. Off the court, there’s bracket drama, group chat chaos, and some questionable takes, from whether Fritz’s headband was a mistake to the rising La Bubbus trend. 00:00 We're back! 01:08 Semi-Finals Preview and Quarterfinals Recap 02:21 Group Chat Confusion 05:00 Novak Djokovic's Performance So Far 12:22 Alcaraz vs. Djokovic Preview 16:23 Sinner's Dominance and Upcoming Match 19:59 Felix vs. Sinner 20:07 Men's Semifinals Preview 21:24 Women's Semifinals: American Hopes 22:09 Pegula's Path to Victory 25:15 Amanda Anisimova's Redemption 27:49 Osaka's Comeback 32:43 Bracket Challenge Drama and Goodbye! Try Huel with 15% OFF for New Customers today using our code nothingmajor15 at https://huel.com/nothingmajor15. Fuel your best performance with Huel today!

The pod hits triple digits, and Sam immediately blows the budget - dropping $663 on hotel laundry in New York. That fiasco sets the tone for an episode packed with shaky quarterfinal predictions, a surprisingly deep dive into life choices, and a full Round 4 recap. From Anna Wintour lurking courtside to Jason Biggs randomly popping up, the celebrity sightings nearly stole the show… nearly. The guys break down Felix’s revival, Alcaraz’s shot-of-the-year candidate, Novak’s effortless cruise, and Fritz’s eternal struggle against him. On the women’s side, Iga keeps steamrolling, Osaka looks dangerous again after taking out Coco, Pegula is gliding quietly under the radar, and Krejcikova delivered what might be the match of the tournament. Things wrap up with one of the wildest Life Advice questions yet. The guys dish out surprisingly heartfelt guidance—sandwiched between trash talk about their bracket challenge and scheming over who’s doomed to write and sing a jingle. Chaotic, sharp, and accidentally sincere… basically the perfect 100th episode. 00:00 Intro to Our 100th Show! 00:37 Dry Cleaning in New York 02:22 Celebrity Sightings 03:27 Recap of Round of 16 Matches 05:27 Felix / Musetti Surprising Performances 09:57 Novak's Dominant Form 11:52 Alcaraz's Shot of the Year 12:54 Quarterfinals Preview / Predictions 15:17 Women's Quarterfinal Highlights 17:35 Match of the Tournament: Krejcikova vs. Townsend 19:21 Osaka vs. Coco Gauff Analysis 23:27 Life Advice Segment 25:56 Bracket Challenge Update and Goodbye!

Round 3 of the US Open had everything: injuries, drama, and plenty of star power in the stands. We dig into Ben Shelton’s tough setback, Sinner’s tricky test against Shapo, Alcaraz’s dominant run, and Taylor Fritz quietly holding strong. And yes, we even get into the celeb scene, from Russell Wilson and LL Cool J courtside to who didn’t quite make the “celebrity cut.” On the women’s side, Coco Gauff bounced back after a shaky start, while Taylor Townsend kept the drama rolling. Now all eyes are on the blockbuster clash between Gauff and Naomi Osaka, a matchup that could help define the tournament. We wrap with some chatter on tennis’s unwritten rules (do you really have to apologize for a let cord?), a few fan habits that drive us crazy, and an update on our bracket standings… let’s just say not everyone’s thrilled. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:34 Celebrity Sightings at the US Open 01:56 Ben Shelton's Injury and Perspective 03:37 Jannik Sinner's Performance 05:21 Carlos Alcaraz and His Impressive Run 06:13 Taylor Fritz's Match Recap 07:02 Novak Djokovic's So Far 11:06 Round of 16 Popcorn Matches 13:06 Women's Draw Highlights 13:49 Coco Gauff's Performance So Far 14:34 Taylor Townsend's Impressive Run 19:28 Unwritten Rules of Tennis and Fan Annoyances 20:54 Bracket Updates and Episode Wrap-Up

We’ve got a special guest… John McEnroe crashes the pod — and yes, we’re serious! Steve, Sam, John, and Johnny Mac break down the latest results and hottest storylines, from which American he sees with the most potential, to Medvedev’s fine, and the tense Townsend–Ostapenko exchange. We also dig into Jack Draper’s unexpected withdrawal, highlight the standout performances of Alcaraz and Sinner, and wrap it all up with bold predictions for Round 3. 00:00 Intro and Sponsor Message 01:15 US Open Round 2 Overview 02:35 Men's Singles Highlights 03:09 Jack Draper's Withdrawal 06:25 Contenders? 08:45 Mary Carillo Unexpected Appearance 11:45 John McEnroe Joins the Pod! 12:53 American Players' Performance 14:10 Medvedev's Meltdown 17:57 Djokovic’s age showing? 20:40 Young Players Physical Challenges 22:58 Round 3 Predictions 27:36 Women's Draw and Predictions 33:00 Bracket Challenge and Goodbye Try Huel with 15% OFF for New Customers today using our code nothingmajor15 at https://huel.com/nothingmajor15. Fuel your best performance with Huel today!

Round 1 of the US Open had it all: celebrity gossip, bad haircuts, and Daniil Medvedev screaming at photographers.  We start with the essential Taylor Swift–Travis Kelce update (because, priorities), then break down Carlos Alcaraz’s brother-approved buzzcut.  Medvedev’s meltdown gets the full debate treatment, with zero agreement on who was right. Venus Williams throws it back with flashes of vintage Venus, Madison Keys crashes out way too soon, and the American women keep things spicy.  Then, we wrap the episode with the best Round 2 popcorn matches and a very questionable look at the US Open’s celebrity guest list. — 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:46 Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey Engagement 01:50 Celebrity Lists at the US Open 04:34 Men's Round One Highlights 04:52 Carlos Alcaraz's New Haircut 05:54 Novak Djokovic's Performance 07:41 American Players 08:21 Medvedev's Controversy 12:35 Alex Michelsen Tough Loss 13:40 Fashion Statements at the US Open 14:33 Popcorn Matches and Predictions 17:45 Women's Tournament Highlights 21:50 American Women in the Spotlight 24:37 Bracket Challenge and Goodbye!

We dive into the main draws of the US Open, breaking down the most exciting first-round matchups and sharing our picks to win it all. Expect some surprise calls on the women’s side, while on the men’s side, most of us agree there’s one clear favorite. We also get into the mixed doubles action, including the impressive run of Vavassori and Errani against top singles stars... including how we officially became Vavassori fans! And don’t miss your chance to join our Bracket Challenge, where the winner takes home a $2,000 prize! 00:00 We're back! 00:44 Bracket Challenge Announcement 01:16 Congrats to HoFamers Sharapova and Bryans 02:54 Mixed Doubles Recap 08:19 Men's Draw Analysis 13:17 Can Tien Upset Novak? 13:55 Players Who Listen to the Podcast 16:39 Women's Draw Analysis 19:42 Predictions for Women's Champion 22:37 Our Take on Padel  23:49 Live Show Recap and Goodbye!

The Nothing Major podcast goes LIVE for the very first time, straight from the heart of US Open Fan Week, the Fountain Plaza Stage. Sam, John, and Jack host their first live pod in front of a rowdy crowd, hungry for free hats, laughs, and unfiltered takes! Sam announces the launch of tennis’ original Bracket Challenge for the US Open and reveals our biggest prize yet! The boys share memories of iconic night matches, New York nostalgia, and some very bold predictions for this year’s Open. The crowd joins in on the fun with our Buy or Sell: New York Edition” and some surprising picks are made for a hypothetical dream dinner companion among today’s draw Finally, the guys take on the best questions from the live audience, bigger, louder, and every bit as unpredictable as the pod itself. 00:00 Introduction to the Live Show at the US Open 00:52 Showing some love to the fans 03:33 Memorable Matches and Experiences 06:02 Fun Games  14:42 Predictions and Analysis 17:51 Trivia and Hat Giveaway 18:13 Discussion on Mixed Doubles Format 19:43 Fan Questions Begin 21:18 Favorite Pregame Songs 22:14 Laver Cup Participation 23:18 Memories of Playing at the US Open 24:42 Getting into Tournaments for Free 25:58 Favorite Things to Do in New York City 26:57 Dream Mixed Doubles Partners 28:32 Advice for Young Tennis Players 29:18 Wishlist to Coach 30:33 Pickleball Potential 33:17 Extended Game Clock Debate 34:35 Goodbye!

With the US Open upon us, Sam, Steve, and Jack break down the brand-new mixed doubles format with special guest Eric Butorac. The US Open’s Senior Director of Player Relations gives us the inside scoop on the event including the moment Jannik Sinner asked if he could team up with Serena Williams! From Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s secret visit last year to the fresh upgrades around the US Open grounds, Eric offers some great behind-the-scenes updates. The US Open Bracket Challenge is coming and the boys reveal the details on a special live Nothing Major show at the Open this week! 00:00 Sponsor Message 01:26 On Today's Episode... 02:21 Cincinnati Finals Recap 03:53 Sinner and Alcaraz Rivalry 08:48 Terence Atmane proves Sam wrong 13:23 The guys complain about the schedule again 15:05 Iga vs. Paolini 17:38 Eric Butorac joing the pod 17:38 Mixed Doubles Event at the US Open 21:16 Navigating Grand Slam Approvals 21:41 Anticipation for Other Slams to Follow 22:12 Official Announcement and Player Reactions 23:57 Facilitating Player Pairings 25:42 Challenges of Tournament Directing 28:24 Celebrity Appearances at the US Open 31:38 Exciting Renovations and Future Plans 34:31 Mixed Doubles Tournament Predictions 37:31 Housekeeping and Live Show 40:43 Goodbye!

In this week's Friday episode, John, Sam and Steve take a nostalgic trip down memory lane, reminiscing about the legendary Kalamazoo boys' tennis tournament and its significance in the junior tennis world.  The boys share stories about their enjoyable (and sometimes chaotic) times at the Cincinnati Open and dive into the Major Mailbag to answer your questions, including revealing who are the worst practice partners on Tour... And finally after months of embarrassing himself with the worst attempts at pronouncing professional tennis player names, Sam is put in the hot seat, with a list of names chosen by our listeners. 00:00 Sponsor Message 01:25 Intro 03:56 Cincinnati Memories 10:14 Kalamazoo Tournament Recap 17:11 Fan Questions: Analytics in Tennis 20:19 Cincy Ball Kids and Personal Experiences 22:13 Practice Partners and Arrangements 23:24 Challenges with Practice Partners 25:47 American Players in Masters 1000 26:21 Hypothetical Matchup: College Steve Johnson vs. Ben Shelton 27:17 Life Advice: Parenthood, yes or no? 29:41 The Ultimate Pronunciation Challenge 34:31 Goodbye!

John, Sam, and Steve kick off your week “live” from Cincinnati, running down the biggest headlines in tennis, including Ben Shelton’s maiden Masters 1000 title in Toronto and teenage Canadian sensation Victoria Mboko capturing her first title and rising to Canadian No. 1. The crew breaks down Shelton’s explosive athleticism, undeniable clutch gene, and the tactical brilliance of his father, while also celebrating Mboko’s stunning run in Canada and discussing her ceiling and career potential. And of course, there’s never a wrong time to talk about the Big 4, the squad debates who truly got robbed of Masters 1000 titles in the shadow of their dominance. 00:00 Intro 01:25 Episode Overview 03:05 Cincinnati Tournament Insights 05:09 Toronto Tournament Highlights 05:26 Ben Shelton's Rise in Tennis 12:59 Women's Tennis Highlights 19:20 Upcoming US Open Predictions 21:35 Tennis Player Performance Analysis 22:17 Carlos Alcaraz's Travel Schedule 24:12 Masters Series Discussion 28:10 Life Advice Segment Debut 31:42 Outro and Cincy Predictions 31:56 A Wild John Isner Appears