No Challenges Remaining

A Sound Portrait of Wimbledon, A Half-Century Ago

Something different and pretty cool this time:

50 years ago at Wimbledon, the two singles champions were two of the biggest pioneers in tennis history: Billie Jean King and Arthur Ashe.

It was also the first of many Wimbledons covered by then-young Canadian tennis journalist Tom Tebbutt, and he made a radio documentary for the CBC of a remarkable breadth of voices from around the tournament, from the stars to the various margins. 

Tom revisited and revamped the documentary this year for the 50th anniversary, and he generously shared it with us here at NCR to build up the hype and heritage around Wimbledon a half century later. It's a time capsule of tennis history, dusted off and showing some things you just wouldn't see (or hear) in the sport anymore, for better and worse.

Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

Alcaraz d. Sinner and Gauff d. Sabalenka in French Open Final Thrillers

[Reuploaded to fix what was an incomplete file on some podcast platforms the last time!]

Ben and Tumaini, on the mic one last time from their house in Paris, are fresh off two thrilling finals at Roland Garros.

We start with the just-ended men's final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, which produced some of the best tennis ever seen after a five-hour mark. What made this match so good? And was it too long or just right? 

We then get to the women's final, in which Coco Gauff won with her immense mentality and physicality, and in which Aryna Sabalenka turned into a human salt shaker in defeat.

Lastly, we discuss what Iga Swiatek and Novak Djokovic should do with themselves at crossroads in their near futures.

Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

Alcaraz d. Sinner and Gauff d. Sabalenka in French Open Final Thrillers

Ben and Tumaini, on the mic one last time from their house in Paris, are fresh off two thrilling finals at Roland Garros.

We start with the just-ended men's final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, which produced some of the best tennis ever seen after a five-hour mark. What made this match so good? And was it too long or just right? 

We then get to the women's final, in which Coco Gauff won with her immense mentality and physicality, and in which Aryna Sabalenka turned into a human salt shaker in defeat.

Lastly, we discuss what Iga Swiatek and Novak Djokovic should do with themselves at crossroads in their near futures.

Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

Roland Garros 2025: Quarters Into Semis

Ben and Tumaini, together again, are back to wrap up the quarterfinals and look ahead to the semifinals for both the men and women at Roland Garros.

We start with the women, where a too-close-to-call Sabalenka-Swiatek semifinal is set, and super-surprise Lois Boisson might just be playing well enough to keep her strong form going against Coco Gauff?

We then shift to the men, where a Sinner-Alcaraz collision course seems likely, and in which Novak Djokovic defeated another similar effort from Alexander Zverev.

Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

Roland Garros 2025 Midway Round-Up

Ben and Tumaini, fresh off their collaboration on Ben's Victor Barber interview, catch up on everything in the first four rounds of Roland Garros.

We start with the big results of the day--Bublik d. Draper and Boisson d. Pegula--and then discuss the scheduling and the morass of night sessions.

We then check in on the various shortlist contenders--Alcaraz, Sinner, Swiatek, Sabalenka, Gauff--and end with some chat on Nadal's retirement ceremony and PSG's big celebrations here.

Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

Episode 400! Draw Me Like One of Your French Opens, 2025

Ben and Tumaini (whom Redditors agree has "quietly become the best tennis journalist on the planet") are delighted to have "Episode 400," which is actually the 566th episode of NCR with real counting, coincide with an annual favorite episode title.

After a long media day in Paris, we break down the men and then the women. Is anyone there to disrupt a Sinner-Alcaraz final, which would be their first at a Grand Slam event? 

On the men's side, is Aryna Sabalenka ready to hurdle through a tough draw? And can Iga Swiatek get back on track in time to make major history?

Plus pretty much everyone else among the 256 players in these draws. 

Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

Episode 399a: Jannik Sinner, Superstar of Rome

Forestalling NCR's imminent quatercentenary ever so slightly, Ben and Tumaini turn on the microphone together for the first time in their shared Paris abode, just to wrap up some loose ends from Rome before our big French Open draw show later this week.

Tumaini discusses the incredible superstar status of Jannik Sinner, who enraptured the public and put on some dominant performances en route to the final, where he was eventually stopped by Carlos Alcaraz.

We also discuss Jasmine Paolini, as well as her mentor Sara Errani, whom we spoke with today at French Open qualifying as she wraps up a memorable singles career.

Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

Episode 399: Christopher Clarey on "The Warrior: Rafael Nadal and His Kingdom of Clay"

Ben is joined by his longtime NYT teammate Christopher Clarey to discuss the release today of his new book, The Warrior: Rafael Nadal and His Kingdom of Clay, exploring both the prolific 14-time champion at Roland Garros and the dusty red landscape of his triumphs.

Topics include: how Nadal's frenetic, obsessive energy shaped Chris's own writing process, Nadal's language proficiencies (or lack thereof), how the media access landscape has changed over the course of his career reporting on Nadal, Nadal's complex relationships with his top rivals, the specter of doping allegations over Nadal's era, how top athletes like Nadal decide when to stop, the archetype of Spanish masculinity Nadal presents and lack of women in his tennis orbit, and more.

The book is out today, so do check it out!

Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces!

Episode 398: When the Lights Went Out in Madrid

Ben and Tumaini (who can also be watched in a video version of this episode on NCR's Patreon) found a moment to meet up between the end of a wild Madrid and Jannik Sinner's big comeback in Rome.

We discuss the post-apocalyptic vibes of Madrid, including a detailed rundown from Tumaini on how he navigated the power outage early in the event.

Along with discussing the big runs by Casper Ruud, Jack Draper, and Aryna Sabalenka, we discuss what's up with Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek.

Then we shift our attention to Rome, where there've been some unideal renovations to some nice Mussolini legacy work, and where Jannik Sinner could pick up right where he left off.

Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

Episode 397: What Breaks Through In Tennis

Ben and Tumaini (who can also be looked at as they talk in a video version of this episode on NCR's Patreon, if you're into that sort of thing) catch up after a few weeks apart at various stops on the tour.

We first, though, discuss why odd stories like Harriet Dart complaining about how her opponent smells wind up being the tennis stories that really break through to the mainstream. What can get people talking about tennis? And is it something that the tours with all their millions spent on promotion could capitalize on?

We then catch up a bit on our respective recent tournament travels and big happenings in the world of tennis since our last episode, including Jakub Mensik winning Miami (and why he's less hyped than other prospects), Carlos Alcaraz getting back on the board in Monte Carlo, Iga Swiatek's prospects of returning to championly ways on clay, and much more. 

Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian!