No Challenges Remaining

Episode 82: Copy? Over.

It's been one of the more intense weeks in recent memory in the world of tennis media, but Ben and Courtney are here to try their best, as always, to shed some light on it all. The majority of this episode is devoted to this week's revelations about the extensive plagiarism by Neil Harman in his work for the Wimbledon yearbook, about which you should read Ben's report for Slate if you haven't yet. In a wide-ranging, lengthy segment, Ben and Courtney discuss how the story came together and the issues it raises. Then, because you probably want to hear us talk about players, too, we discuss Sloane Stephens and Bernard Tomic, two 21-year-olds who have had interesting times since our last show. As always, you can like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to and review our show on iTunes or whatever your podcast app/platform of choice may be! We hit Ctrl+C on our hearts and Ctrl+V them into your ears because we think you guys are super-duper. Thanks for listening, as always.

Episode 81b: Question–Tell Me What You Think About…That

Obviously there have been some extremely interesting developments in the 10 days since we recorded this all-questions episode, but your questions are still awesome and we hope our answers are, too! First, we talk about the status of gay issues on the tour. Is "open secret" a sustainable status? Next, Sloane? That's the question. And what's the significance of the WTA coaching moves of Li Na and Ana Ivanovic? Also we explain to you why it's problematic that Wimbledon won't let the press ask Andy Murray about poop. Then, for a complete change of pace, we discuss taxation ethics! Because obviously! Lastly, we turn our sights to the upcoming #MERICA swing: what are the best U.S. Open Series tournaments, and is there any American man other than John Isner who could do something halfway-decent? You, our listeners, are like triple-decent. As always, you can like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to and review our show on iTunes or whatever your podcast app/platform of choice may be!

Episode 81a: Question--Tell Me What You Think About...This

Without much urgent tennis to attend to, Ben and Courtney decided to dive into your pressing questions! We answered a ton, so this Episode 81 has been split into two parts. Lucky you! On this first part, we discuss who will be the next first time Slam champ on the women's side, what to expect soon from Caroline Wozniacki, Victoria Azarenka, and Agnieszka Radwanska, what Fabio Fognini's deal is, women's tennis' broadcast shortcomings, Serena's burnout and how it reflects on Chris Evert's open letter, our dream tennis-rap beefs, and more! As always, you can like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to and review our show on iTunes or whatever your podcast app/platform of choice may be!

Episode 80: We Are So Wimble-Done

After nine weeks at sea, Ben and Courtney are very grateful to be back on their home couches, soaking up Home Sweet America. But first, there's the matter of Wimbledon to wrap up! Petra Kvitova and Novak Djokovic won! Genie Bouchard and Roger Federer did not win! What does it all mean? And what on earth can we make of Serena's surreal doubles episode? We're not sure, but we try! As always, you can like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to and review our show on iTunes or whatever your podcast app/platform of choice may be!

Episode 79: A Wimbledon Intermission

It's the middle Sunday of Wimbledon, and so Ben and Courtney sat down for a brief recap of the first act as they recharged their batteries for the second week. What do we make of Serena flopping at a Slam again? Is Li Na only a hardcourt specialist? And how good was Venus-Kvitova? Also, can Roger Federer actually win this thing? And how do we know when a player has won his or her last Grand Slam? As always, you can like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to and review our show on iTunes or whatever your podcast app/platform of choice may be!

Episode 78: Hungry for Wimbledon

Ben and Courtney are ready to whet your appetite for Wimbledon! But when this episode was recorded, Courtney hadn't eaten much strawberries and cream (or much of anything), and her cravings left her crabby and ready to scoop up some heaping helpings of tough love for the tennis world. So you've been warned--this episode comes with a choking hazard. What is to be made of Serena's odd arrival to Wimbledon? And how does her quarter with Serena set up? Should Sabine Lisicki have been given the honor of taking the defending champion's spot on Centre Court? And how tough, really, are the draws that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal got? And lastly, we make our predictions for the finals and champions! As always, you can like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to and review our show on iTunes or whatever your podcast app/platform of choice may be!

Episode 77: Get Off My Lawn

The grass season is mowing along quite nicely, so Ben and Courtney are here to catch you up on how everyone is looking going into Wimbledon, albeit before the crucial draws are made. So many questions to be answered! What are reasonable expectations for Rafael Nadal given his grass woes? How much do Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams have to lose? How many more Wimbledons does Venus Williams have left in her? How's the chap doing with the lady? Did the window of opportunity close on J0-Wilfried Tsonga? And much more! Even Denis Istomin! As always, you can like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to and review our show on iTunes or whatever your podcast app/platform of choice may be!

Episode 76: Finishing the French Open

 SPOILER: Our French Open wrap episode is amazing. Ben and Courtney talk about everything that happened over those 15 magical days in Paris, from Maria Sharapova's impressive title run to the underwhelming men's final, from the enlightened semifinalist Andy Murray's views on women to the other semifinalist Ernests Gulbis' view on women. There's also the youth explosion of Simona Halep, Genie Bouchard, and Garbine Muguruza, and the ways in which the world couldn't get a grip on Taylor Townsend. It's a whole lot of stuff and we have thoughts, you guys. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing and reviewing on iTunes! The clay is always greener when you're our listeners.

Episode 75: French Open--Allez We Go!

Live from Paris, Ben and Courtney are super excited for the French Open! We break down the men's and women's draws, which left Maria Sharapova as a big loser and Roger Federer as the big winner. We ask important questions like "Is this finally the year where Novak Djokovic sneaks past Rafael Nadal?" "Who is more likely to win, Rafa or Serena?" "Does Ben help kill spiders?" Then we play another fun game of "Hey, Remember When?" which includes highlights from Rome press conferences including Maria Sharapova owning her iciness and Camila Giorgi's father owning his media beefs. Lastly, Courtney eulogizes the strange, beautiful rise and fall of Dinara Safina's tennis career. She may just be our immortal. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing and reviewing on iTunes! Allez!

Episode 74: Where the Finalists Rome

In this special Rome final preview episode taped Saturday afternoon, Ben and Courtney look ahead to the upcoming tilt between Serena Williams and Sara Errani, as well as the week that was on the women's side at the Foro Italico. What do we make of Errani's unexpected emergence on home soil? Does she have a shot against Serena after the brutal loss in Paris last year? Also, our thoughts on the increasingly legit Ana Ivanovic, as well as the rest of the field that came and went through the Foro Italico. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing and reviewing on iTunes! You, dear listeners, are the pasta twirled around the fork that is our hearts. Or something.