The Tennis Podcast

The tennis circuit moves from hard court to clay this week and we find ourselves asking a number of questions. Why is 6'9" John Isner better on clay than grass? What is the greatest clay court match you ever saw? Whose achievements are better - Tiger Woods or Roger Federer? And we interview Roger Rasheed about his new charge, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, who he says can 'grab a Grand Slam'

After Great Britain won a Davis Cup match from two rubbers down for the first time in 83 years, David and Catherine spend the first 13 minutes of Episode 36 trying to make sense of it all. The rest of the Davis Cup matches are covered, Serena wins another title and we interview Bethanie Mattek-Sands about clothes, career plans and the fact that David didn't think he would like her. Meanwhile, Catherine struggles to muster an enthusiasm for the talking point of the week - 'Which tennis clothes did yo...

The morning after the cramp-inducing classic between Andy Murray and David Ferrer in the Sony Open, David and Catherine talk over the Miami Masters tennis tournament. We also have an in-depth interview with the incredible Tommy Haas, who turns 35 this week, and to Team Robmond - Laura Robson and Lisa Raymond - who reveal that they plan to team up at Wimbledon.

If there were any doubts that Rafael Nadal is back, they were banished in Indian Wells and we review his exploits in Episode 34. Miami is previewed, we speak to Sloane Stephens, and play Time Machine Tennis! 

Who is the greatest female player of all time? Sue Barker has a strong opinion in part two of our interview with her, and it isn't Martina Navratilova. We also ask her about what it was like to interview a tearful Andy Murray on court at Wimbledon, and then ask you, our listeners, when tennis made you cry?

In December, British Davis Cup player Ross Hutchins was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. Last week, he announced that he is putting on 'Rally Against Cancer' - a doubles exhibition featuring Andy Murray and Tim Henman on finals day at the Aegon Championships (Queen's Club) to raise money for the hospital treating him. In this edition, we talk to Ross about the plans for Rally Against Cancer, how he is now, and the support that he has had from fans, fellow players, and in many cases, total stranger...

John McEnroe turned 54 this week, he will start his 2013 ATP Champions Tour campaign in Delray Beach this week, and he is probably the most talked-about tennis player in history. In Episode 31, we talk exclusively to the man who divided opinion wherever he went, try to understand what makes him tick, and speak to Richard Evans - who wrote two books about McEnroe.

In 1977, Britain's Sue Barker stood on the brink of reaching the Wimbledon final for the first time. She had won the French Open the previous year, beaten her semifinal opponent on each of their meetings that year, and was already thinking about a potential final against Chris Evert or Virginia Wade. And then she lost. Now the presenter of BBC Television's Wimbledon coverage, Sue talks to the Tennis Podcast about an experience from which she says she never recovered.  In Episode 30, we a...

As Rafael Nadal takes to the court for the first time in seven months, Catherine and David discuss their first ever memories of the great man, and go through those of our listeners. And, in our big interview, Andy Murray ponders his start to 2013, looks forward to the grass court season, and welcomes back Nadal himself.

BBC broadcaster John Inverdale joins Catherine and David to discuss the mens' singles final and assess where it was won and lost. And, as a man who worked alongside the great Fred Perry on BBC Radio, John gives a unique insight into the last British man before Murray to win a Grand Slam singles title.