Talkn Tennis

The US Open is down to its final four. Ben Shelton pulls off the biggest win of his career against Carlos Alcaraz, Frances Tiafoe survives an epic five-set comeback, and Alexander Zverev suddenly looks like the man to beat. We break down the men’s semi-finals, with Shelton facing Tiafoe and Zverev taking on the resurgent Karen Khachanov. On the women’s side, the top four seeds remain. Sabalenka meets Pegula, while new world No.1 Rybakina faces an in-form Gauff. Plus, we discuss what Alcaraz’s US Open return reminded us about his importance to tennis, Tommy Paul’s fascinating tactical comments about Carlos’ evolving game, and make our picks for all four semi-finals.

The US Open is into the business end, and the American men are making serious noise in New York. Chris and Adam break down the runs of Tiafoe, Michelsen, Shelton and Tien, including whether Shelton can finally get past Carlos Alcaraz in what shapes as a blockbuster quarter-final. Alcaraz has dropped just one set and barely been tested, but does that make him the man to beat, or is Shelton about to expose where his level really sits after four months away? We also look at Zverev’s path through the top half, Tien’s chances of making a deep run, and whether the early five-set battles could eventually catch up with the German. On the women’s side, the top seeds continue to hold firm. We preview Rybakina v Osaka, Swiatek v Zheng, Gauff v Jovic and Sabalenka v Noskova before giving our updated men’s and women’s title picks. Plus, the usual chance for our predictions to age horribly over the next 48 hours. You gotta earn your serves.

Rafael Jodar is OUT of the US Open after one of the biggest shocks of the tournament, demolished 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 by lucky loser Yunchaokete Bu. Chris goes solo to unpack how a player who has spent the past four months pushing some of the best in the world could suddenly produce such a dramatic drop in level, and whether fatigue from Jodar’s relentless 2026 schedule finally caught up with him. Elsewhere, Alexander Zverev survives an almost five-hour battle with Lorenzo Sonego after coming within two points of defeat, Daniel Mérida backs up the hype by knocking out Andrey Rublev, and Alex Michelsen sends the in-form Brandon Nakashima packing in straight sets. Ben Shelton survives a gruelling four-set battle with Hubert Hurkacz, Alex de Minaur finally gets his US Open underway after the rain delays, and Gael Monfils celebrates his 40th birthday with one of the feel-good wins of the tournament. On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka continues to look ominous, Maya Joint pushes Elina Svitolina to three sets, Rybakina and Andreeva cruise through, while Maria Sakkari produces a huge comeback after Robin Montgomery led 6-2, 4-0. Plus, Draw Watch looks ahead to Mérida v Michelsen, Monfils v Tien, Zverev v Halys, Auger-Aliassime v Khachanov, Gauff v Badosa and more. You gotta earn your serves.

Novak Djokovic is OUT of the US Open in the first round after a five-set loss to Mariano Navone. But is this the end for Novak, or simply the beginning of a very different final chapter? Chris goes solo to unpack what Djokovic’s shock exit means for the 39-year-old, why retirement might still be a long way off, and whether his focus now shifts away from Grand Slams towards selected tournaments, records and a potential final run at the 2028 Olympics. Also on the episode: Stefanos Tsitsipas finally breaks his 0-5 record against Arthur Fils, coming from a set down and denying Fils the chance to go two sets to love up. After all the hype around Fils entering New York, was Tsitsipas’ recent improvement overlooked? Elsewhere, Carlos Alcaraz cruises through his opener, Andrey Rublev and Frances Tiafoe survive five-set scares, while Alexei Popyrin and James Duckworth lead the Australian charge. Plus, Draw Watch looks ahead to Ben Shelton v Hubert Hurkacz and Daniel Mérida v Andrey Rublev. On the women’s side, Sabalenka, Swiatek, Pegula and Anisimova all make comfortable starts, while Maya Joint leads a promising group of Australians into the next round. Talkn Tennis Podcast covering all the biggest stories from the 2026 US Open. You gotta earn your serves.

The 2026 US Open women’s draw is wide open, with Aryna Sabalenka chasing a third straight title in New York and a deep group of contenders looking ready to stop her. In this episode, Chris and Adam break down all four quarters of the women’s draw and look at the biggest storylines heading into the final Grand Slam of the year. We discuss: Sabalenka’s chances of winning a third consecutive US Open Whether her recent form is good enough to survive a tricky top quarter Linda Noskova’s chances of continuing her rise Jessica Pegula’s pathway through a very manageable section Coco Gauff’s momentum after Cincinnati Mirra Andreeva, Amanda Anisimova, Sara Bejlek and Alexandra Eala as dangerous names in quarter three Iga Swiatek’s return to form Elena Rybakina’s injury question The loaded final quarter featuring Swiatek, Rybakina, Osaka, Keys and Bencic Which player we trust most to come through each quarter Sabalenka versus the field With Gauff, Swiatek, Pegula and Rybakina all bringing different strengths into New York, and a younger generation continuing to push through, the women’s tournament looks extremely difficult to predict. Follow the Talkn Tennis Podcast on Spotify and X for US Open reactions, previews and coverage throughout the tournament. You gotta earn your serves.

The 2026 US Open is here, and the men’s draw suddenly feels wide open. With Jannik Sinner out, Carlos Alcaraz returning after more than four months away, Alexander Zverev installed as the No. 1 seed, and Novak Djokovic still chasing Grand Slam No. 25, there are major questions hanging over almost every favourite. In this episode, we break down: Why Alcaraz’s lack of match play could make him vulnerable early Whether Zverev should actually be considered the tournament favourite Djokovic’s chances of surviving seven best-of-five matches at 39 The most dangerous sections of the draw Early upset candidates including Alcaraz, Tien, Rublev and Shelton Dark horses including Arthur Fils, Brandon Nakashima and Rafael Jodar Whether this could finally be the year an American man wins the US Open The chances of Shelton, Fritz, Tiafoe and Nakashima Our picks for who goes deep and who could crash out early With Sinner missing and several players arriving in strong North American hard-court form, this could be one of the most unpredictable men’s US Opens in years. Follow the Talkn Tennis Podcast on Spotify and X for match reactions, previews and plenty more throughout the tournament. You gotta earn your serves.

The US Open picture has shifted dramatically. Jannik Sinner is officially out of New York, while Carlos Alcaraz has confirmed his return after months away from the tour. We break down what that means for the men’s draw and whether Alcaraz can realistically contend straight away at a Grand Slam. Then we head to Cincinnati, where the ATP and WTA fields are down to the final four. On the men’s side, we look at the runs of Frances Tiafoe, Brandon Nakashima, Arthur Fils and Flavio Cobolli , and how each has navigated the last few rounds. On the women’s side, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula and Sara Bejlek are still standing, with Bejlek continuing one of the surprise runs of the tournament. Plenty of Cincinnati talk, US Open implications and the usual debate from the three of us. Follow, subscribe and join us as the North American hard-court swing heads towards its biggest stage. You gotta earn your serves.

Chris goes solo to break down a chaotic day at the Cincinnati Open, where Montreal champion Ben Shelton was dumped out in straight sets by qualifier Jaime Faria and seven seeds disappeared from the bottom half of the men’s draw. There’s plenty to like from an Australian perspective, with Adam Walton, Christopher O’Connell, Alex de Minaur and Rinky Hijikata all into the round of 32. We also look at Rafael Jodar’s heavy 2026 workload, Frances Tiafoe’s impressive return after hand surgery, and where the men’s draw now stands after another wave of upsets. On the women’s side, Elina Svitolina somehow survives seven match points against Tereza Valentova, Coco Gauff fights back from a set down, Aryna Sabalenka is pushed hard by Talia Gibson, while Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina and Mirra Andreeva move through. Plus, a look ahead to the next round with de Minaur, Hijikata, Walton, Zverev, Jodar, Eala and Anisimova all in action.

The Canadian swing is wrapped up and attention turns to Cincinnati. We review Shelton’s dominant Montreal title defence over Nakashima and Swiatek’s return to the winner’s circle after beating Rybakina in Toronto , before breaking down the ATP and WTA Cincinnati draws quarter by quarter. Sabalenka looks to bounce back, Gauff and Andreeva headline a loaded section, while Zverev, Fritz, De Minaur and Shelton lead an open men’s field. Plus, with Sinner and Alcaraz absent , does Djokovic have a genuine opportunity to chase another Masters 1000 title, or is Cincinnati simply preparation for his pursuit of Grand Slam No. 25 at the US Open?

The Canadian Masters have reached the quarter-finals and both draws are wide open. On the ATP side in Montreal, Chris, Adrian and Adam recap the Round of 16 as Shelton ends Fonseca’s run, Mensik continues to fly under the radar, Jodar cruises past Lehecka and Fils survives a late push from Norrie. We break down all four quarter-final match-ups and make our picks for who reaches the final. Then it’s over to Toronto, where Gauff and Osaka remain unbeaten in sets, Rybakina continues to survive the hard way and Swiatek looks to be finding form at exactly the right time. We look ahead to Osaka v Rybakina, Gauff v Bencic, Swiatek v Shnaider and Alexandrova v Svitolina before predicting the eventual champion.

The Montreal and Toronto Masters 1000 events are reaching the business end, with the Round of 16 set and the quarter-final picture beginning to take shape. In Montreal, Griekspoor continues his impressive run after taking out the top seed, while Shelton and Fonseca prepare for one of the matches of the round. Jodar keeps building momentum, Lehecka looks dangerous, and Mensik has a huge opportunity in a wide-open section of the draw. Over in Toronto, Sabalenka and Rybakina are quietly going about their business while Swiatek, Gauff and Osaka continue to impress. Eala remains one of the biggest stories of the tournament, with Bencic now standing in her way. I break down the key results, the players I’m buying and selling, who looks ready to make a serious run, and preview the biggest Round of 16 matches from both draws.

The National Bank Open has been turned upside down, with Zverev, Fritz, Medvedev and Rublev all making early exits from the men’s draw in Montreal. Chris goes solo to unpack the biggest upsets, Fonseca and Jodar’s continued rise, and the growing title opportunity for de Minaur and Popyrin. Over in Toronto, Eala carries her Washington momentum into another victory, while Rybakina survives a chaotic performance, Andreeva dominates and Maya Joint produces another impressive result. Plus, the Australians to watch and the biggest matches coming over the next 48 hours.

Rain has washed out the Washington finals and we are not waiting around to break it all down. We recap the semi-final performances that got us here, discuss whether the unfinished business in Washington can still produce a surprise, and turn our attention to the biggest hard-court fortnight before the US Open with both the Montreal and Toronto Masters draws now in hand. In Washington, the women's final between Jessica Pegula and Alexandra Eala is suspended mid-match, while the men's decider between Taylor Fritz and teenage Spanish sensation Rafael Jodar is yet to be played. We look at how each player got there: Fritz grinding past Brandon Nakashima in three sets, Jodar coming from a set down to ove rcome Alejandro Tabilo, Eala delivering a composed and tactically impressive win over Naomi Osaka, and Pegula turning around a 5-2 deficit in the opening set against Diana Shnaider to win in straight sets. The question now is whether Eala can reset and stage a comeback, and whether Jodar has enough to trouble a Fritz who has been one of the form players of the grass and hard-court swing. In Montreal, Alexander Zverev arrives as the top seed and the bookmakers' favourite with Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz all absent. It is a significant opportunity for the Roland Garros champion, but his hard-court record has been quietly modest of late and Taylor Fritz looms as a genuine danger in the same quarter, with the American holding a remarkable seven wins from nine meetings against Zverev on hard courts. Felix Auger-Aliassime takes the second seed on home soil, while Daniil Medvedev, Ben Shelton, Jakub Mensik and Joao Fonseca make the second quarter one of the most unpredictable sections of the draw. In Toronto, world number one Aryna Sabalenka headlines a near full-strength women's field, but Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula are ready to push her every step of the way. The bottom quarter draws the eye immediately, with Rybakina projected to meet a resurgent Mirra Andreeva in the last eight, while Naomi Osaka, Leylah Fernandez, Elise Mertens and Barbora Krejcikova make it the most loaded section in the draw. Defending champion Victoria Mboko is absent with a knee injury, leaving the title wide open. Rain delays, loaded draws and unfinished finals. The hard-court season is heating up.

The business end of the Mubadala Citi DC Open has arrived. In this episode, we unpack the biggest results and talking points from the men’s and women’s draws before previewing the semifinal matchups that will decide who reaches the Washington finals. On the women’s side, Jessica Pegula and Naomi Osaka remain in contention, but Diana Shnaider and breakout star Alexandra Eala are determined to spoil the party. In the men’s draw, Taylor Fritz is the last seed standing as Brandon Nakashima, Rafael Jodar and Alejandro Tabilo look to continue a tournament filled with surprises. We also give an honourable mention to Australian teenager Cruz Hewitt following his breakthrough week in Washington.

The North American hard-court swing is underway, and Washington has delivered a blockbuster opening week. We preview both the ATP and WTA 500 draws, headlined by defending champions Alex de Minaur and Leylah Fernandez. De Minaur faces a dangerous early test against Stefanos Tsitsipas, while Jack Draper, Arthur Fils and rising star Rafael Jodar feature in some of the tournament’s most intriguing matchups. On the women’s side, Jessica Pegula enters as the favourite, but Naomi Osaka, Fernandez and wildcard Venus Williams will all be looking to make an early statement before the US Open. We also discuss Australian teenager Cruz Hewitt’s unusual journey into his first ATP main draw and ask which players most need a big week in Washington.

Stefanos Tsitsipas ends his 17-month title drought with a hard-fought triumph in Gstaad, while Andrey Rublev reclaims the Nordea Open crown and Mayar Sherif defeats an injured Paula Badosa to capture her first WTA Tour singles title. The team also celebrates Bernard “Lord” Tomic’s first trophy in eight years, discusses whether Tsitsipas and Badosa are genuinely returning to form, and looks ahead to the ATP 250 events in Estoril and Kitzbühel. Plus, Chris takes over hosting duties, we revisit the Wimbledon final and assess the leading contenders for another week of European clay-court tennis.

Wimbledon 2026 has delivered one of its great semi-final days and we are here to break down every moment and preview the biggest matches of the fortnight still to come. Karolina Muchova is into her second Grand Slam final after one of the matches of Wimbledon 2026, surviving a rollercoaster against Coco Gauff on Centre Court. The tiebreak alone was worth the price of admission: Muchova led 6-3, Gauff battled back to reach match point and then handed it away with a drop shot that barely cleared the net before Muchova held her nerve to close it out 12-10. Gauff had the match in her hands and could not pull the trigger, and we dig into what that moment says about a player who keeps finding herself on the wrong side of the big occasions. Linda Noskova joins her fellow Czech in Saturday's final, beating Marta Kostyuk in straight sets on Centre Court. At 21, Noskova becomes the youngest women's finalist at Wimbledon since Eugenie Bouchard in 2014, and a win on Saturday would make her the youngest Wimbledon champion since her idol Petra Kvitova in 2011. It is the first all-Czech Wimbledon women's final in history and the first final between two players of the same nationality since Venus and Serena Williams in 2009. We preview what promises to be a fascinating contest between two players who have never been in better form. On the men's side, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic meet in the Wimbledon semi-finals for the third time in four years. Sinner arrives as the dominant world number one having won all five Masters 1000 events of 2026, while Djokovic at 39 chases a record-extending 25th Grand Slam and a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon crown. Djokovic beat Sinner in five sets at the Australian Open semi-finals in January and holds two wins from three Wimbledon meetings between them. We break down who has the edge and whether Wimbledon 2026 is where Sinner finally gets over the line or where Djokovic writes another chapter of the most remarkable career in tennis history. And the fairy tale of the 2026 Championships rolls on. British wildcard Arthur Fery, ranked 114 coming into the tournament, has become only the second wildcard to reach a Wimbledon semi-final after Goran Ivanisevic in 2001. Fery upset top-ten star Flavio Cobolli in the quarter-finals and now faces Roland Garros champion Alexander Zverev for a place in the Wimbledon final. We debate whether the wildcard can pull off one more miracle. Talkn Tennis — the only tennis podcast you need.

Wimbledon 2026 has already delivered drama, upsets and one of the most emotional matches in recent memory, and Adam and Adrian are here to break down every moment of a breathless opening few days at the All England Club. Jannik Sinner is through, but the defending Wimbledon champion has not had things his own way. The world number one was taken to five sets by Miomir Kecmanovic in round one, dropping the first set, losing a brilliant third-set tiebreak and losing a shoe along the way before eventually steadying to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-3. Round two against Nuno Borges was cleaner on the scoreline but tighter than the numbers suggest, with both sets going to tiebreaks before Sinner lifted at the crucial moments to win 7-6, 7-6, 6-4, taking his Grand Slam wins to 95 and the record as the most by any Italian in history. The takeaway from both matches though is that Sinner looks mortal. Someone with the nerve to hold their nerve in the big moments might just be able to beat him, and the boys discuss whether Wimbledon 2026 could be another upset Grand Slam. The story that had the whole tennis world talking was Serena Williams against Maya Joint on Centre Court. The 23-time Grand Slam champion, 44 years old and playing her first competitive singles match in nearly four years, was beaten 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3 by the 20-year-old Australian in a match that lasted more than two hours. Williams showed the power and the fight, stealing the second set in a tiebreak and refusing to go quietly, but the movement and match sharpness were not there against an opponent less than half her age, and Joint held her nerve brilliantly to take it in three. The boys debate whether Centre Court was the right call, whether Joint deserves more credit than she is getting, and what comes next for Serena, who skipped her post-match press conference amid reports of a right knee injury. Fourth seed Ben Shelton is out in one of the genuine shocks of the Wimbledon 2026 draw, blowing a fifth-set super tiebreak he had by the throat at 8-5 and match point at 9-8 before Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen closed it out 11-9. It is a brutal exit for a player who arrived as one of the most dangerous servers in the draw and caps a year where Shelton has repeatedly failed to convert his ranking and firepower into deep runs at the events that matter most. And in the biggest upset on the women's side, reigning Roland Garros champion Mirra Andreeva is out, beaten 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 by former Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in a two-hour 46-minute epic. Andreeva saved six match points in one extraordinary game in the third set and looked like she had shifted the momentum, only for Krejcikova to break straight back and close it out. Andreeva was in tears at her press conference and the boys discuss whether the weight of expectation that comes with a first Grand Slam title is already starting to show. Talkn Tennis — the only tennis podcast you need.

Wimbledon 2026 is days away and the draw has landed. Adam and Adrian break down every quarter of the Wimbledon men's and women's draws, flag the match-ups they cannot wait to see, and make their picks for who lifts the trophies at the All England Club. On the men's side of the Wimbledon 2026 draw, defending champion Jannik Sinner headlines as the top seed and clear favourite despite his shock exit at Roland Garros. Sinner opens against Miomir Kecmanovic and is projected to navigate a quarter that also includes Casper Ruud, Hubert Hurkacz, Daniil Medvedev and teenage sensation Rafael Jodar in his first Wimbledon. Seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic sits in the second quarter chasing a record 25th Grand Slam and an eighth Wimbledon title to equal Roger Federer, with a mouth-watering potential fourth-round rematch against Roland Garros giant-killer Joao Fonseca on the cards. Felix Auger-Aliassime is the nominal top seed in Djokovic's quarter and is projected to meet him in the last eight. Ben Shelton anchors the third quarter as a genuine grass court threat after winning Stuttgart earlier this month, with Alex de Minaur carrying Australian hopes alongside him and Roland Garros finalist Flavio Cobolli lurking as the danger seed. The fourth quarter is the one everyone is talking about. Freshly crowned Roland Garros champion Alexander Zverev, who has never been past the fourth round at Wimbledon, opens against Alexander Blockx and is projected to meet Taylor Fritz in the quarters. Fritz, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year and back-to-back finalist on grass this month, opens against home favourite Jack Draper in one of the most brutal first-round draws of the tournament. Halle champion Frances Tiafoe and Queen's Club winner Francisco Cerundolo also land in this quarter, making it the most loaded section of the Wimbledon 2026 men's draw. On the women's side of Wimbledon 2026, world number one Aryna Sabalenka headlines the first quarter alongside Barbora Krejcikova, Naomi Osaka, Karolina Muchova, Emma Raducanu and Roland Garros champion Mirra Andreeva, who is projected as Sabalenka's last-eight opponent in what is already the toughest quarter on paper. Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff are set to collide in the second quarter, with Gauff arriving cold on a four-match grass losing streak and Dayana Yastremska, the player who dumped her out at Wimbledon last year, lurking in the same section again. Iga Swiatek defends her Wimbledon title in the third quarter and could face the tournament's biggest storyline as early as the third round. Serena Williams returns to Wimbledon on a singles wildcard, nearly four years after her last competitive match, and the seven-time Wimbledon champion opens against Australian Maya Joint with Swiatek a possible third-round opponent. Alexandra Eala, fresh off a run to the Berlin semi-finals, is the likely second-round test for Serena and is no easy draw. Elena Rybakina anchors the fourth quarter as the 2022 Wimbledon champion, with defending runner-up Amanda Anisimova, Berlin champion Linda Noskova and 2025 Australian Open winner Madison Keys all in the same section, making it arguably the deepest quarter in the women's draw. Adam and Adrian make their picks for Wimbledon 2026, with Sinner the consensus men's favourite and Andreeva the pick to go deep on the women's side. Talkn Tennis — the only tennis podcast you need.

The boys recap a packed week on the grass as Frances Tiafoe wins the biggest title of his career in Halle, while Francisco Cerundolo battles through Queen’s to claim a historic title. We also cover the WTA results from Berlin and Nottingham before diving into quick-fire topics, including Dan Evans missing a Wimbledon wildcard, Moutet’s chaotic post-match interview, American chances at Wimbledon, and Serena’s possible return. Plus, Battle of the Spuds continues as Chris tries to claw back the scoreboard.