No Challenges Remaining

Episode 35: You've Got Questions

On this special all-questions Episode 35, Courtney and Ben try to answer all those tennis questions that have kept you up at night.  Like, for instance, what has propelled Roberta Vinci to the top? Is on-court coaching embarrassing to the WTA or is it simply a case of anti-women's tennis bias? What kind of tweeter has Maria Sharapova turned out to be? And what about golf, which there was a lot of this weekend? Ben and Courtney have a lot of thoughts about golf, and how it relates to tennis. A lot of thoughts. A lot. And then as if to apologize for all the golf, we give you book recommendations with which to fill your tennis shelf. Happy reading later, and happy listening now.

Episode 34: Charleston, Starring Jelena Jankovic

In Episode 34, Ben and Courtney wrap up their time in Charleston, which was more Jankovic-filled than they ever could have been prepared for.  We share with you some of the highlights of her press, and share what it is like to see her hold court off-court.  We also discuss the sister semifinalists Venus and Serena Williams, and give our thoughts on the documentary about the two which was released this week.  We also talk about the many up-and-comers who made their presences known in Charleston, from Madison Keys to Monica Puig, from Genie Bouchard to Mallory Burdette.  Lastly we chat a bit about Davis Cup, where the Americans fell in Potatoland, but the Brits pulled off the greatest sporting triumph in modern history (eyeroll).

Episode 33: Jessica Pegula

In Episode 33, Ben and Courtney are live in Charleston, where the pralines (and subsequently their waistlines) overfloweth.  We catch up on the Miami finals, including that last minor bit called a third set tiebreak that CBS decided not to show in lieu of college basketball.  We also discuss the happenings so far, including Courtney's on-court escapades with the one and only Venus Williams.  We also recount the dramatical WTA insta-classic that was Mattek-Sands d. Rodionova, and how it got the attention of so many other players.  Lastly, we bring you an interview with Jessica "Jessie" Pegula, the 19-year-old daughter of the Buffalo Sabres owner who notched her first two career WTA main draw wins in Charleston this week, beating tough opponents Garbine Muguruza and Mona Barthel. Pour yourself a glass of sweet tea and enjoy.

Episode 32: Freddie Nielsen

In Episode 32, Ben and Courtney look at Miami from afar, and are somewhat underwhelmed. Why has the tournament lacked spark thus far? We also discuss the state of Sloane Stephens, and what fair expectations for her are.  Then we take a couple listener questions, on the lack of early round television coverage at Indian Wells and Miami, as well as on the increasing Gimelstobification of tennis. Lastly, we bring you our final podcast interview from Indian Wells, this one with Freddie Nielsen, who won the Wimbledon 2012 men's doubles title in one of the most surprising tennis results in our lifetimes. Since you may not know Freddie, we had his longtime pal Caroline Wozniacki, a fellow Dane, give him a little introduction for you.  She suggests you enjoy this episode with a croissant in one hand and a hot chocolate in the other.

Episode 31: Mallory Burdette

In Episode 31, Ben and Courtney wrap the week that was in Indian Wells. How exactly did Rafael Nadal come back to the top so quickly, and what does it say about the rest of the tour? Are comparisons between Federer's willingness to play through back pain and the withdrawals of Azarenka and Stosur fair? Also, we discuss articles this week by Bruce Jenkins and Elizabeth Newman about the Williams Sisters' ongoing decision to skip Indian Wells, and how we feel about the decision ourselves. We then preview Miami, "take a number," and lastly wrap up with an interview with Mallory Burdette, the top-ranked former college player on the WTA Tour, who turned pro after making the third round of the 2012 U.S. Open and is closing in on the top 100 with a third round run in Indian Wells. We hope she (and we) will make a listener out of you.

Episode 30: Andrea Petkovic

In this very special 30th episode, Ben and Courtney talk Indian Wells for a bit. But more significantly, we finally unlock the door to the NCR studio and invite in an actual guest for the second half of the show.  Because we like our guests to be awesome, we decided to go with the one-and-only Andrea Petkovic, the three-time Slam quarterfinalist, YouTube star, and general all-around cool lady.  Among many other things, Petko talks tennis, injury layoffs, the differences between Germans and Serbians, and she raps.  Yes, Andrea Petkovic raps. Is there nothing the woman cannot do? Enjoy.

Episode 29

In this live, on-site, one-take episode recorded in beautiful Indian Wells, California, Ben and Courtney discuss the upcoming 2013 BNP Paribas Open, which sees the hard court return of Rafael Nadal.  Also, Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka are riding big win streaks, and it all seems very familiar.  Also, you'll get to find out which one of us wears a Nike Fuel Band. So there's that.

Episode 28

In Episode 28, Ben and Courtney discuss the week that was in what has been a surprisingly jam-packed February for tennis.  We also discuss the busy week for Rebecca Marino, and Ben's coverage of her story, and follow that with an acknowledgment that Jelena Jankovic hauled her cookies and her entourage to Colombia. We then take questions about why the Memphis field was so poor, if the Putintseva parade has lost its pizzazz, and who will be the next first time Slam winner.  Finally we take a number and rant about stuff.  Zero Dark Thirty may not have won Best Picture, but *you* win Best Listener, friend.

Episode 27

It was a very busy week in tennis considering it's February, so Ben and Courtney had lots to talk about.  We discuss the changing dynamic atop the WTA, with the interesting coinciding happenings of Serena Williams ascending to No. 1 but losing to Victoria Azarenka.  We also discuss Rafael Nadal's week in Brazil, and that he won, but also if he's been given a free pass for diva-like behavior when it comes to constantly complaining and being unsatisfied.  We then talk about Piotr Wozniacki berating a chair umpire and why that was bad.  Then we take questions about the use of social media by tournaments as well as the role of Asians in tennis (and sports in general), and then we take a number.  By the way, once you listen to the take a number segment, go on our Facebook page and vote for which one of us you agree with.  Are you Team Ben or Team Courtney? Either way, we are decidedly Team You. Thanks for listening.

Episode 26

On this episode, Ben and Courtney talk about Rafael Nadal's return to the tour in Chile, and what to make of his loss in the final to Horacio Zeballos.  We also discuss the even more surprising news out of La Famille Bartoli, with Marion and Walter parting ways.  We then tackle the ATP/Indian Wells prize money increase debacle, and offer to take any spare cash that may be lying around.  Then we take questions about hotels and languages and Serena, take a very good number, and then rant about stuff for a while.  A good time was had by us, and a good time will be had by you, too.