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).
Live from Wimbledon Day 2 - Rybakina, Roger and rain return
Live from Wimbledon Day 1 - Kenin vs. Gauff ignites strange first day
Live from Wimbledon - Media Day
Live from Wimbledon - The Draws!
Grass court Carlos, Peaking Petra and The Tennis Podcast - Live at Wimbledon
GRASS!
Roland Garros Day 15 - Djokovic overtakes Nadal at last; Mauresmo talks
Roland Garros Day 14 - Iga in a classic; Djokovic-Ruud preview
Roland Garros Day 13 - In the end, it was just … cramp
Roland Garros Day 12 - Semis reviewed, Alcaraz-Djokovic previewed with Mary Carillo
Roland Garros Day 11 - Semifinals set!
Roland Garros Day 10 - Alcaraz vs. Djokovic is ON; The sadness of Sabalenka vs. Svitolina
Roland Garros Day 9 - Rune arrives in 5; Swiatek-Gauff is on; We ❤️ Tim Puetz
Roland Garros Day 8 - Sabalenka, Stephens star at night; Djokovic vs. Alcaraz - it’s getting closer
Roland Garros Day 7 - Rybakina run ruined by illness; A week of opportunity awaits
Roland Garros Day 6 - Sabalenka swerves media, sets up Stephens blockbuster
Roland Garros Day 5 - Sinner shocked, Swiatek & Rybakina roll, Fritz finds inner Medvedev
Roland Garros Day 4 - Rough day for France as Alcaraz-Djokovic draws closer
Roland Garros Day 3 - Thrillers on court, discomfort off it
Roland Garros Day 2 - Geopolitics, throwbacks and sadness
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