Tales from Tennis

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Jose Morgado, one of tennis’ most prominent reporters on X, with nearly 300,000 followers, as well as an experienced tennis commentator.Jose takes us behind the scenes of covering professional tennis, discussing how he balances his commentary work with his constant presence on X and what it takes to keep fans up to date with the latest news, results and stories from across the sport. We hear about some of his funniest interactions with players, both online and in person, including a memorable moment involving Nick Kyrgios, and his experiences interviewing some of the biggest names in tennis.We also discuss the state of the men’s and women’s games, including Jose’s long-standing connection with Alex Eala, whom he has known since she was around 11, and his first impressions of Carlos Alcaraz when he watched the Spaniard play at just 17.Jose shares his perspective on the growth of tennis in Portugal, the increasing number of events taking place in the country and what that means for the sport’s future. Follow Jose's X account here: https://x.com/josemorgado🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis.Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome will be joined by a hitting partner.Follow us on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennisThe podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.

In this episode, Sam Jacot sits down with Ravi Ubha, an experienced tennis commentator, broadcaster and journalist who has covered the sport’s biggest events for nearly two decades.Ravi takes us inside the commentary box during the era of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, sharing stories from covering three of the greatest players in tennis history and conducting one-to-one interviews with all three. We discuss what it is like to commentate on the sport’s biggest stars, the preparation that goes into every match and what a typical day on the job looks like at a Grand Slam.We also explore Ravi’s experiences commentating on Olympic tennis, including multiple gold-medal matches, and the most memorable atmospheres he has encountered throughout his career. From the pressure of calling some of the biggest moments in sport to knowing when to let the action speak for itself, Ravi explains what makes great commentary.Ravi reflects on his time reporting for CNN International, his background in sports journalism and how his experience as a writer and interviewer shapes the way he tells stories on air.🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis.Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome will be joined by the biggest tennis reporter on X. Follow us on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennisThe podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.

In this episode, Jerome Coombe sits down with Matt Futterman, senior tennis writer at The Athletic, to discuss his new book, The Cruelest Game: Chasing Greatness in Professional Tennis.Matt takes us inside the stories behind the book, exploring the mental and physical demands of professional tennis and what separates the very best players from the rest. We discuss Carlos Alcaraz, including Matt’s memorable walk around Melbourne Park with the Spaniard when he was just 17, and how watching Naomi Osaka navigate the challenges of the sport helped spark the idea for the book.We also explore Novak Djokovic’s place in the modern game and the relentless pursuit of greatness, before turning to Ben Shelton, one of tennis’s most exceptional athletes, and his later route into the sport, his relationship with his father and what his journey tells us about developing a professional player.Matt also reflects on his career as a journalist, the hardest interview he has ever conducted, his favourite moments covering tennis and what continues to motivate him to find new stories after years spent around the sport.You can buy The Cruelest Game: Chasing Greatness in Professional Tennis here: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/243596813-the-cruelest-game🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis.Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome will be joined by a commentator & broadcaster. Follow us on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennisThe podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with presenter, producer and writer Nick McCarvel, who has covered all four Grand Slams, hundreds of tour-level events, multiple Olympic Games and some of the biggest moments in tennis.Nick takes us behind the scenes of life at the majors and the many different roles he has played across tennis media, from presenting and producing live shows to interviewing some of the greatest players in the sport, including Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Rafae Nadal and John McEnroe.We hear about Nick's experiences with Roger Federer, including hosting the pre-show around Federer's return to Arthur Ashe at this year's US Open and being a key part of the former World No. 1's International Tennis Hall of Fame induction in Newport. Nick shares what those huge live occasions are really like behind the scenes, as well as his approach to interviewing some of the most recognisable personalities in tennis.We also discuss Nick's experiences covering multiple Olympic Games, including interviewing Andy Murray following the final match of his career.Nick explains his philosophy of breaking down the fourth wall and bringing fans into the story, what goes into producing hours of behind-the-scenes coverage at Wimbledon and Roland Garros, and some of the moments viewers never get to see.🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis.Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome speak with another guest from the tennis world. Subscribe now. 📲Follow us on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennisThe podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Gustavo Marcaccio, Director of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, to go behind the scenes of one of the most renowned tennis academies in the world.Gustavo takes us inside his day-to-day role running the Academy, the continued influence of Rafael Nadal and the philosophy that underpins the development of young players. We discuss what it really takes to become a professional tennis player, from talent and technical development to mindset, education, discipline and creating the right environment for players growing up within the Academy.We also talk about the development of players including Martín Landaluce and Alex Eala, and the challenges of helping young talents make the transition towards professional tennis. Gustavo shares what he learned from working closely with Rafa during the final years of his career and how Nadal’s influence continues to shape the Academy.We also explore the Rafa Nadal Museum, its recent renovation and Roger Federer’s visit, as well as the Academy’s ATP Challenger event and the importance of bringing professional tennis into the environment. From children arriving at a young age to the importance of creating a settled environment around them, this is a fascinating look at what happens behind the scenes at the Rafa Nadal Academy.🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis.Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome speak with a leading presenter and producer. Subscribe now. 📲Follow us on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennisThe podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.