Clay season is underway, and we’ve seen a Runeaissance, a re-Alcarization, a Penkopalypse even. Stuttgart -- always reliable -- brought a stunning quarterfinal lineup and a surprise winner, while Holger reminded the class that there’s still tons of time to fulfill his promise. There’s much tennis business to talk about, including the first hearing in the PTPA antitrust suit and Opelka’s testimony; Lesia Tsurenko’s lawsuit against the WTA and Steve Simon; and a somewhat voyeuristic ITIA press release. Plus, Dart’s out of left field comment, Shelly Ann clearing the field, and wondering what happened in that Met Gala bathroom meeting.
Theme music courtesy of Oleg Fedak from Pixabay
0:40 Housekeeping: catching a case, getting postcards out
4:50 Holger’s back; Alcaraz wins Monte Carlo, returns briefly to #2
15:45 Stuttgart moves like a 1000-level bitch
22:15 Another spectator calls out That Guy, this time in Germany
26:50 PTPA gets their first hearing, Opelka testifies
35:00 Harriet why?!
37:00 Serena on Jannik and … Maria?
42:20 I always feel like somebody’s watching me
45:35 Lesia Tsurenko sues the WTA
56:25 Our other sporting interests: Shelly Ann & Rory
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1:04:01
Futility
Yes, it’s been a minute, but we’re back to catch up on Monte Carlo, Charleston, and sadly yes, all the way back to Miami. The top men have utterly failed to capitalize on Sinner’s mandatory vacation, while on the women’s side, Sabalenka extends her rankings lead and Pegula snatches #3 with her strong start to the year. We’ve also got: Kasatkina’s move to Australia, the top WTA and ATP players sending a letter to the Slams a few weeks after the PTPA lawsuit, a few listener questions, and more.
1:10 Monte Carlo updates: why, Grigor, why?
9:10 Charleston results
14:20 Miami: Eala stuns Iga, Aryna extends her lead
25:30 Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
28:20 Dasha Kasatkina is now representing Australia
31:00 The players do love an epistle
37:20 Coaching and baby news
40:35 A listener question
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47:26
Vibes Cartel
This week, we’re diving into the antitrust lawsuit brought by the PTPA against the tennis ‘cartel.’ The wide-ranging complaint takes aim at prize money, scheduling, ranking points, anti-doping, and what they broadly view as anticompetitive and illegal activity by the tennis governing bodies. What does the PTPA hope to gain? Which parts make sense, and which leave us with some skepticism? Is unionization a goal, and if so, is it even possible? After spending most of the episode breaking down the major issues in the lawsuit, we hop over to Miami, where all 4 male Indian Wells semifinalists have crashed out, Rafa Nadal Academy grads are making waves, and Djokovic is hobnobbing with the Establishment.
0:55 PTPA files an antitrust lawsuit in three countries - first up, yes we know it doesn’t technically matter, but why these plaintiffs?
06:55 What are the allegations?
24:15 What is the desired outcome?
28:05 Is unionization possible (and is it even a goal)?
36:10 What works and what doesn’t
40:05 The parallels with LIV Golf
46:00 Crashing out in Miami
55:00 You are the company you keep
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1:07:20
Waste Management
Well, well, well, what do we have here? Have we entered the Mirra era? If you know us, you know we’re not saying that, we just wanted to say Mirra era. Andreeva fashioned a Keys-esque run to the title in the desert, beating the same four players Madison did to win the AO from the fourth round onward...in the same order! We talk about Iga, we talk about Jack, and we field some more listener questions on TBS 375
02:15 The Mirra Era
12:19 The Conchita Effect
17:01 What’s up with Iga?
26:28 Jack Draper arrives
37:34 Taking a question about Larry Ellison …
46:32 Finding joy in tennis when things outside of tennis are generally terrible
51:22 If tennis were played on only one surface, which would you keep?
53:38 RHOP and other Bravo musings
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1:06:08
Indian Hells
We’re back to a regular schedule, and up first it’s week one of Indian Wells: Nick and Novak struggling with injury and form, That Guy simply struggling to avoid the #1 ranking. We chat about the draw, the WTA’s new maternity leave benefits program, plus Danielle Collins’ clothing collab and the impetus behind it. Later on we get into some fun listener questions, with subjects as diverse as cricket, gospel music, the Knicks, and public transportation.
03:15 Question from @lisacrispin on Bluesky: how long does it take to produce each episode?
08:35 Nick’s wrist injury
12:50 Dutch tennis rolls over Novak and That Guy
17:25 Danielle Collins’ merch drop
24:55 IW draw recap
29:15 WTA announces maternity leave benefits program funded by PIF
33:55 How are we feeling about the Knicks? (question from @dabigjoker on Bluesky)
38:00 Jonathan picks his test cricket XI from tennis players (question from @edwardpolsen)
46:55 Public transit fun (@irascibly)
49:25 Since it's Oscars season, what actors could you see playing various players in imaginary biopics? (@lobjan)
54:45 And finally, what’s with our nickname for Kimberly Birrell? (@tomcharles2710)
Italia