Rafael Nadal won his 36th consecutive set of clay court tennis, dropping an average of two games per set, to claim his 11th Monte Carlo title. Afterwards, the Tennis Podcast team found themselves asking who can stop him on the surface, and how?
Presenter David Law was joined by Telegraph Sport tennis correspondent Simon Briggs to work their way through the potential candidates to ‘do a Robin Soderling’ - who beat Nadal at the French Open in 2009 - and how. Is it an in-form Juan Martin Del Potro? Could Novak Djokovic return to exert his former hold over the clay court master? Maybe big John Isner? Or is it simply impossible if Nadal is fit and at his best? They also wonder whether underarm serving might be a legitimate tactic to use against Nadal, given that he operates so far back behind his baseline.
The Fed Cup weekend results are discussed - Great Britain’s narrow, heartbreaking defeat to Japan, and the wins for Czech Republic and the United States to reach the final. Was there anything that the British team or captain could/should have done differently?
Briggs was in Miami when the controversy over Caroline Wozniacki’s treatment by the crowd erupted, and he gives his view about the reaction of the tournament, and also tells us the story of Rob Fahey and Camden Riviere, the ‘Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal of Real Tennis’, who will face off at The Queen’s Club this week.
The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly throughout the year and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments, in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport, and presented by Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport).
Roland Garros Day 1 - Ons ousted; Thiem's troubles; Alcaraz - one down, six to go?
Wimbledon stripped of ranking points & Inside Roland Garros Media Day
Roland Garros - The draws!
Rome: Swiatek and Djokovic dominate - who can stop them in Paris?
Rome - Stars find form, David rants and Wimbledon-Tours stand-off intensifies
Madrid - Alcaraz wins and sends a message; Jabeur blazes a trail
Madrid - Nadal vs. Alcaraz is on; Ons Jabeur steps up; Disappointing scheduling
Madrid - Big names fall but Raducanu, Andreescu & Halep impress; Boris Becker jailed
Our reaction to Pam Shriver’s story, Wimbledon’s ban, and a big week of tennis
WTA CEO Steve Simon - Pam Shriver’s story, Wimbledon’s ban on Russian & Belarusian players, Peng Shuai, 5 sets at slams
Pam Shriver’s Story: Me, my coach, and the dangers of crossing boundaries
Tsitsipas reigns in Monte Carlo again; Raducanu's first steps on clay; Bianca's back - an interview with Andreescu
CLAY! And recording a pod in person
Miami - Swiatek, Alcaraz and the start of their takeover?
Miami - Who can stop Swiatek and Alcaraz?
Miami - World No.1 Iga Swiatek; Murray-Lendl 3.0; Is Kyrgioptimism back?
Ash Barty Retires - She did it her way
Indian Wells - Fritz's fangs; Nadal’s streak ends but Swiatek’s goes on
Indian Wells - Who will be the champions? Final set tiebreaks at slams - our reaction
Indian Wells - Stories everywhere, Kyrgios vs. Ruud at last, Catherine’s on-site view
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