The Body Serve

Sports and politics … it turns out they DO mix! A few dozen ATP players and staff are stuck in Dubai as a result of Trump’s attack on Iran, as the Mexican tournaments go forward without a hitch after last week’s unrest. On court, Medvedev wins a second Dubai title, Longhorn Stearns grabs Austin by the horns, Bucsa becomes the Spanish #1, and Darderi and Cobolli win Latin tournaments on two continents. For fun, James takes a tennis geography quiz and we do an extended diatribe (requiem?) on The Traitors.   

1:40 ATP players and personnel stuck in Dubai

6:45 This is not a drill!! 

9:00 The Ellison data-media-government-tennis empire  

15:35 Craig Tiley is coming to America 

19:50 Results: Dubai, Acapulco, Merida, Austin  

31:10 They didn’t tell Stefanos you’re not supposed to talk about appearance fees

34:35 James takes a tennis geography quiz!

44:55 A Traitors diatribe

A gatekeeper, a consistent threat, not-a-pusher, and the social and political glue behind the scenes: Jessica Pegula has gone from tennis’s rich girl to a key piece of the bloc of players who reliably fight for the biggest titles on the WTA Tour. This week, she’s just won her 4th 1000-level title and has been announced as the chair of the new tour working group: the Tour Architecture Council. Elsewhere, Carlos continues his dominant start, Fils notches a runner-up spot in his third tournament back, Korda impresses in Florida, and Etcheverry plays for six hours in one day to grab his first career title. Plus, Tara Moore is not taking her suspension lying down, as she sues the WTA for failing to warn players about contaminated meat.

0:35 A trip down figure skating memory lane

7:15 Carlos dominates Doha 

10:45 Korda’s comeback, Etcheverry’s endurance run through Rio 

17:15 Consistency Queen Jessica Pegula wins Dubai 

22:40 Qinwen’s Emmy-winning guest appearance on The Player's Box

28:00 Peggy to lead the Tour Architecture Council 

32:25 Tara Moore sues the WTA 

40:30 Monica and Brandy

Welcome back to regularly scheduled podcasting! The tours have gone to South America, Transylvania, the Netherlands, Texas, and the UAE -- regional tours ftw, btw -- over the past two weeks. Karolina Muchova finally gets a big title, Mboko notches an incredible run to the Doha final, Zheng announces herself, Felix becomes king of Canada, and most importantly we’re back from Mexico, caught up on sleep and armed with fresh takes. We decide to finally dip our toes in the apparently imminent Serena comeback, whatever it shall be, and how it interacts with her endorsement of GLP-1 drugs (and her family’s vested interest). We’ve also got random takes on Bad Bunny, Brad, Puerto Vallarta, and Destanee Aiava’s eye-opening retirement announcement.

0:30 Catching up with us

12:00 Shelton Does Dallas; Canada’s Indoor King; the ATP’s hottest final 

17:05 Muchova finally gets that elusive second title. A big one!

25:30 Zheng, Sakkari, Iga’s d****e b****e  

36:00 Red card!

39:50 I guess we should tackle the “comeback” 

50:15 Odds and ends: Jack’s gateway haircut, Naomi picks on a podcast (not us, confirmed)

55:20 Destanee Aiava drops a hell of a retirement announcement

The first Slam of the year is in the books, and we’ve got the youngest Career Slam winner in the history of maleness, Novak’s 38th major final, and Rybakina continuing her hot streak and bagging her second Slam. We talk you through the scintillating men’s semifinals that injected the tournament with a much-needed spark. You’ll also hear about the smoking gun pickle juice bottle, That Guy’s tantrum, Coco’s semi-covert racquet smash, and Djokovic religious iconography. We finish up with a few serious matters: Craig Tiley’s future, the investigation into coach Rafael Font de Mora, and the PTPA’s latest proposal for … something.

2:30 Youngest male player: Carlos makes history

6:15 I’m not chasing anyone, let’s start there 

13:15 Excuses, excuses 

21:30 The 5-set king 

26:10 Rybakina: don’t underestimate WTA Finals swagger!

37:30 Women’s semis, Cocosmash; Mertens is Australian Open queen 

47:50 WTA launches investigation into WTA coach

51:15 What is the PTPA actually going for?

58:00 Remembering Canadian icon and the world’s mom, Catherine O’Hara

It's not officially a Slam until Jelena Djokovic accuses Naomi Osaka of being so nasty and so rude while Jelena’s husband narrowly avoids a default for something completely of his own making (again). Anyway, how was your first week??? The Australian Open has given us some exciting breakouts (Jovic, Bartunkova, Tien again) and a marquee quarterfinal lineup, with the top 6 men and women through for the first time in the Open Era. Osaka reminded us who she is – and what tennis is missing – with her audacious walk-out jellyfish look. But to be serious for a minute, American players are being asked to speak during this unprecedented and dangerous period in our history, and most are failing miserably. It's time to be brave.

3:45 A historically great quarterfinal lineup

5:45 Highlights of the first week of the men’s draw

11:30 The extreme heat rule: Jannik gets lucky, but it’s not unfair 

18:35 Women’s first week: Mboko and Jovic break out; Sabalenka sails; Iga wants a day session, dammit

32:05 The Osaka-Cirstea dustup + a Dramatic Reading

45:25 American players, it’s time to be brave

57:25 It’s fashion! God forbid a girl wants to be a jellyfish! 

66:15 Lulu, K-Swiss, New Balance, and a shoulder blade