Nothing Major

Sift Creative

Join former American tennis stars Sam Querrey, John Isner & Steve Johnson as they hope to serve up more laughs than Grand Slam titles on the podcast Nothing Major.

Expect untold tales, a behind the scenes look at life on tour, and relentless banter that only comes from guys who've seen it all (except that elusive major win).

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201 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes201

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Mar 7, 2025 · 47 min
41: Indian Wells Chronicles, Fifth Slam Debate & Breaking Down the Draw | EP 41
The boys are back to break down all things Indian Wells—the tournament that might just be the "Fifth Slam" (or not, depending on who you ask). Steve Johnson shares his struggles as a civilian trying to navigate the grounds, while Sam Querrey reveals his high school squad’s sneaky ticketing tactics and Jack Sock reminisces about wild doubles rides with John Isner. Who’s the man to beat this year? Alcaraz? Djokovic? Maybe Berrettini with his Hottie Bracket trophy and an Olive Garden gift card? The crew makes their predictions, picks their dark horses, and debate if winning Miami is actually better than winning Indian Wells. Plus, Sam and Steve are on the ground hunting for locker room gossip—so stay tuned! 00:00 Introduction to Indian Wells Discussion 00:38 Player Experiences and Qualifying Rounds 01:25 Navigating the Tournament as a Retired Player 05:26 Fan Experience and Tournament Atmosphere 07:57 Memorable Matches and Personal Highlights 08:42 Debate: Indian Wells vs. Other Tournaments 11:35 Favorite Courts and Facilities 12:33 Doubles Matches and Unique Experiences 13:17 Personal Memories and Reflections 22:05 Worst Memories at Indian Wells 23:38 Memories from Indian Wells 25:00 2025 Indian Wells Field Overview 26:49 Carlos Alcaraz: The Man to Beat? 27:31 Court Surface Changes at Indian Wells 30:51 Novak Djokovic's Return 34:41 Top Players Outside the Top 8 Seeds 40:08 American Players to Watch 42:11 Predicting the Champions 44:36 Indian Wells Trivia and Fun 47:01 Wrapping Up and Announcements
Mar 3, 2025 · 31 min
40: Carnage in Acapulco, Tsitsipas Racquet Switch and the Hottie Bracket Trophy | EP 40
This week, we dive into Tomas Machac's unexpected rise as he claims his first career title in Acapulco, all amidst a week of food poisoning drama and top seeds dropping like flies. We also break down Stefanos Tsitsipas’ dominant win in Dubai, explore the racquet switch that might be working wonders, and debate if this new version of Tsitsipas is here to stay. Plus, we crown Matteo Berrettini the winner of the inaugural Nothing Major Hottie Bracket—and give you the inside scoop on the upcoming trophy ceremony in Indian Wells. 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:25 Weekly Episode Structure and Naming Discussion 02:33 Dubai and Acapulco Event Recap 03:05 Acapulco: Food Poisoning Chaos 03:37 Player Experiences and Challenges in Acapulco 08:55 Tomas Maha's Victory and Player Insights 14:26 Dubai Event Highlights and Predictions 16:16 Wilson's New Racket: A Game Changer? 17:06 Sitsipas' Performance in Dubai 17:38 Felix's Fortunate Wins 19:37 Zverev's Struggles and Comeback 22:39 American Women Shine in Tennis 24:03 Fritz's Health Concerns 26:58 ATP Hotty Bracket Results 30:49 Upcoming Guest: Riley Opelka
Feb 28, 2025 · 36 min
39: Major Mailbag: Player Pensions, Sponsorships, and Sam's Acapulco Title | EP 39
Jack, John, Sam and Stevie are back with a jam packed loaded Major Mailbag! We’re answering your biggest questions, from how player pensions actually work to the wild world of tennis sponsorships, who gets paid, how much, and why some players switch gear for cash. Plus, deep dives into Acapulco’s late-night chaos, legendary player parties, and whether tournaments should have a match curfew. Oh, and we settle the ultimate debate—should you be allowed to wear shorts on a plane? Also, Sam takes a trip down memory lane, reliving his unforgettable 2017 Acapulco title run, where he took down Rafael Nadal in the final. From perfect conditions to post-match chocolate milk, we get all the details on the best week of his career. 00:00 Introduction and Mailbag Day 00:22 Debate: Shorts on Airplanes 05:00 Acapulco Tournament Insights 08:25 Memorable Matches and Player Parties 15:05 Mailbag: Tournament Selection and Tennis Memories 18:50 Watch Sponsorships in Tennis 20:07 Brand Deals and Sponsorships 22:45 Understanding Tennis Pensions 25:49 Airline Miles and Travel Perks 30:01 Creating the Ultimate Tennis Player 32:50 Hottest Guys in Tennis 34:42 Trivia and Wrap-Up
Feb 24, 2025 · 24 min
38: Rublev’s 500 Dynasty, Rio’s Cakewalk, and Hottie Bracket Chaos | EP 38
Big news—Nothing Major is coming to you twice a week! Every Monday, Jack, John, Sam, and Stevie will discuss the latest tennis results and the biggest headlines to kick off the week. This week, the boys break down Rublev’s dominance as the undisputed 500 king, Rio’s laughably weak draw, and the latest drama from the Hottie Bracket. Plus, should South America finally get a Masters 1000? And why does Rio feel like the sweatiest tournament on tour? 00:00 Introduction and Show Format Update 01:18 Doha and Rio Highlights 01:55 Rublev's Performance and Future Prospects 03:08 Felix and Draper's Journey 05:51 Novak Djokovic and Alcaraz Analysis 12:07 Rio Tournament and South American Swing 19:34 WTA Highlights: Andre Eva's Breakthrough 21:32 Housekeeping and Upcoming Events 23:25 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser
Feb 21, 2025 · 50 min
37: Sinner’s Suspension, $1M Mixed Doubles & Tommy Paul in the Hot Seat | EP 37
In this week's episode, Jack, John, Sam and Steve weigh in on tennis' biggest headlines! With Jannik Sinner’s three-month suspension sparking debate throughout the sport, the U.S. Open is shaking up mixed doubles, ditching the traditional format for a high-stakes, 16-team showdown with a million-dollar prize. The boys chat about tennis’ newest rising star, João Fonseca, who just became the youngest South American ATP champ since 2001. They also give a shoutout to John’s favorite doubles partner, Diego Schwartzman, who got a well-deserved farewell in Buenos Aires. And finally, Tommy Paul steps into the Hot Seat in the Part 2 of his guest appearance. From his biggest wins to the matches he’d take back, Tommy breaks it all down, including the one shot he’d steal from the Nothing Major crew (spoiler: it’s not John’s return game). 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 01:47 Pickleball Slam and Event Recap 05:03 Diego Schwartzman's Retirement 09:16 Al Fonseca's First ATP Title 15:41 Yannick Sinner's Suspension Controversy 23:04 US Open Mixed Doubles Initiative 29:08 Controversy in Doubles Tennis 29:29 Mixed Doubles: Exhibition or Competition? 30:13 US Open Fan Week and Ticketing 30:37 Eric Bak's Influence on Doubles 31:45 Tommy Paul Interview: Part Two 32:01 Tennis Confessions and Fun Questions 33:04 Ranking Tennis Players and Matches 40:25 Hot Guy Tournament and Player Reactions 44:02 Stevie's Punishment and Celebrity DMs 48:09 Merch Announcement and Trivia
Feb 14, 2025 · 58 min
36: Tommy Paul Joins the Pod, Partying Too Hard and Making the Top 10 | EP 36
After months of being ghost, World No. 9 Tommy Paul joins the podcast! And boy was it worth the wait! Tommy opens up about his wild days as a junior, why he almost went to college, and how partying nearly derailed his tennis career. He shares stories of growing up in the same generation as fellow Americans, Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, and Reilly Opelka, and revealing who was the best at 14 (spoiler: not Fritz), and why Taylor was by far the worst athlete in the group. Tommy also reveals his actual rock-bottom moment, the insane reason he almost had John Isner as his coach for a tournament, and why he thought he could win Wimbledon last year. Later, Sam, Jack, John and Steve break down the viral prize money debate and compare ATP's revenue share to other major sports. Plus, an update on the ATP Hottie Contest bracket (who’s the early favorite?) and the fallout from the legendary Steve vs. Sam Pickleball showdown. 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:51 Super Bowl Recap and Reactions 02:43 Dallas and Rotterdam Tournaments 13:09 Delray Beach and Legends Matches 19:39 Tommy Paul Interview 29:22 Reflecting on Partying Days 30:17 Turning Point and Consequences 32:11 Career Challenges and Breakthroughs 34:10 Climbing the Rankings 35:12 Coaching and Mentorship 42:57 Tennis as a Passion vs. Job 43:34 Tennis Popularity and Celebrity Status 46:10 Revenue Share in Tennis 56:37 Trivia and Wrap-Up
Feb 7, 2025 · 43 min
35: Davis Cup Draft, Hottest ATP Players & the Ultimate Pickleball Showdown | EP 35
Post-Aussie Open blues? We’ve got you covered. The guys break down the indoor season in the US and Europe, covering why some players skip the brutal Rotterdam field and how the new ATP 500 in Dallas is making waves. Meanwhile, John looks back on his brutal decision to ditch Memphis for the Rio Golden Swing with Jack—cramps, regrets, and a missed Super Bowl included. Then, it’s time for the Davis Cup snake draft—who builds the ultimate US squad? And, of course, we settle the age-old debate: Who’s the hottest guy on tour? Tommy Paul? Berrettini (but only in pants)? We’re making it official with an 8-man knockout draw to let the people decide! Also, Steve and Sam finally face off in the most anticipated pickleball showdown of the year. Spoiler: One of them nearly dies. Oh, and speaking of near-death experiences—turns out Sam is not the guy you want dog-sitting. Just ask John’s (miraculously still alive) pup. 00:00 Welcome to Nothing Major! 01:33 Hard pass on European indoor tournaments 02:44 Carlitos’ strategy for Rotterdam 05:22 Steve’s guide to picking the right tournaments 07:12 John’s Golden Swing horror story 11:25 Home Sweet Home: Playing in the U.S. 15:55 How Sam almost killed John’s dog 18:47 Ranking the hottest guys on Tour 21:41 Davis Cup’s unexpected MMA moments 25:14 Tension, trash talk, and (almost) punches 29:51 US Davis Cup Snake Draft showdown 34:08 The Ultimate Pickleball Challenge—Final results 41:38 Wrapping up with Nothing Major Trivia!
Jan 31, 2025 · 53 min
34: Ons Jabeur Joins the Pod, Bringing Creativity to Tennis & Grand Slam Pressure | EP 34
WTA former World No. 2 and three-time major finalist Ons Jabeur joins this week's episode! Ons opens up about the unique challenges of growing up playing tennis in Tunisia, balancing her career with her personal life and the pressure of chasing that elusive major. Ons is quizzed on the working dynamic of having her spouse in her team, the mental battle of playing in Slam finals, and whether she thinks she has the best dropshot in tennis... Plus Jack, John, Sam and Steve get into a heated debate about the best and worst airports in the world, the weird February stretch of the tennis calendar, and the top journeymen in ATP history. (00:00) Intro (00:24) Nothing Major is back! (01:08) What is the best airport in America? (03:32) The worst airport in the world: Atlanta (05:30) Did John like Davis Cup Week after the Australian Open? (07:08) Playing tournaments in the US after the AO (11:48) Welcome, Ons Jabeur! (12:21) How is it to grow up in Tunisia aiming to be a tennis player? (14:50) Jabeur’s tennis style. Has she a better drop shot than Alcaraz? (16:30) Karim Kamoun, her husband and coach (19:00) Motherhood and tennis (21:40) Which Grand Slam final was she closer to win? (22:50) The pressure difference between a Major final and other events (26:00) What is her favourite part of the WTA Tour? (26:35) Ons’ favourite tournaments (27:32) Best friends on tour (28:07) Get in the Top 5 or stay in the Top 5: what is tougher? (28:40) Takes on Sabalenka, Swiatek, Gauff and Andreeva (31:55) Random questions for Ons (34:00) Jabeur’s platform as a Tennis Commissioner (36:40) Build a perfect player with NMP games (38:38) Dealing with the betting system (40:37) Fan questions: Who is your daddy in tennis? (45:52) Pre-game rituals from players (51:00) Final trivia question
Jan 26, 2025 · 43 min
33: 2025 Australian Open: Madison Keys & Jannik Sinner Finals Reaction | Something Major | EP 33
The 2025 Australian Open has wrapped, and we’re putting a bow on two week of Something Major with our Finals reaction. The boys discuss Madison Keys finally claiming her first Grand Slam title in an unforgettable final, ending a decade-long wait in spectacular fashion, and personal stories about the AO women's champ. On the men’s side, we reflect on Jannik Sinner's continued reign of dominance, clinching back-to-back Aussie Open titles, and debate what's next for Alexander Zverev. But it’s not all about the Finals. The Snake Draft chaos comes to a head, Sam and Stevie gear up for a hilarious pickleball showdown, and fan-submitted questions take us on a few entertaining detours. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:22 Welcoming the Audience 01:07 Madison Keys' Grand Slam Victory 01:54 Personal Reflections on Madison Keys 03:02 Madison Keys' Journey and Challenges 08:37 Equipment Changes and Their Impact 12:28 Men's Final: Yannick Sinner vs. Sasha Veev 13:03 Sasha Veev's Struggles and Reflections 14:57 Sinner's Dominance and Future Prospects 20:31 Sasha Veev's Future and Potential 26:47 Pickleball Challenge Announcement 27:45 Keeping the Results Secret 28:17 Debating the Game Format 29:34 Predicting the Match Outcome 30:44 Keys to Victory 33:04 Fan Questions and Trivia 43:06 Concluding Remarks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 25, 2025 · 35 min
32: Stan Wawrinka Joins the Pod, From Aussie Glory to Partying Like a Grand Slam Champion | EP 32
In this Saturday special of Nothing Major, the boys sit down with their first Major champion—none other than Stan “The Man” Wawrinka. The 3-time Grand Slam champ doesn’t hold back as he dishes on the match against Djokovic that made him believe he could hang with the big dogs, the wild ride to his 2014 Aussie Open win, and why celebrating a Slam with a proper party is absolutely mandatory. Stan also breaks down the fine art of snapping a racquet over his knee (it’s all in the technique), explains why he’d rather face Rafa than Roger in a Slam final, and spills on why the US Open was the toughest one to conquer. (00:00) Intro (00:32) Stan Wawrinka joins the podcast (01:13) How a reel convinced Stan to come on (02:18) Stan’s routine at the Australian Open (03:23) Tough 2013 loss to Djokovic (06:15) Did Stan believe he could win the 2014 AO? (08:49) Federer or Nadal in the final—who did he prefer? (10:49) The epic party after winning the 2014 AO (11:47) Life after becoming a Grand Slam champion (16:45) Playing his best tennis to win Roland-Garros 2015 (21:07) What does it take to win a Grand Slam? (22:10) Is Stan part of the “Big Four”? (23:26) Facing Rafa in the 2017 Roland-Garros final (24:10) Why Stan enjoys playing Novak (26:55) The love of competition (27:27) Stan flips the script: Do the guys miss tennis? (29:10) Stan’s relationship with the younger generation (30:28) Major Q&A with Stan (31:41) Stan’s Vegas Draft (33:48) How to break a racket over your knee (35:03) Outro
Jan 24, 2025 · 36 min
31: 2025 Australian Open: Semifinals Recap & Final Predictions | Something Major | EP 31
The stage is set for blockbuster finale down under. In our Australian Open semifinal recap, Sam and Steve discuss Novak Djokovic’s unexpected withdrawal against Alexander Zverev, the bizarre boos from the home crowd during his exit and Jannik Sinner’s commanding win over Ben Shelton. The boys dive into Aryna Sabalenka's comfortable win over Paula Badosa, and Madison Keys' impressive upset over World No. 2 Iga Swiatek. Can Keys capture her first major title, despite the haunting experience of an accidental midnight Facetime from Sam right after her semifinal win? Plus, the team dives into the stakes of the ultimate pickleball showdown, answer some fan questions and offer their bold predictions for Sunday’s finals! -- (00:00) Intro (01:30) Australian Open Men’s Semi-finals Breakdown (01:40) Zverev vs. Djokovic: Novak Retires After One Set (04:59) Why Did the Aussie Crowd Boo Djokovic? (07:05) Sinner vs. Shelton: Jannik Advances to the Final (12:17) The Australian Open Men’s Final: Sinner vs. Zverev (13:16) Can Zverev Win His First Grand Slam? (15:16) Predictions: Jannik or Sascha? (16:18) Women’s Semi-finals: Sabalenka vs. Badosa (17:18) Paula Badosa’s Remarkable Comeback (18:24) Aryna Sabalenka’s Mentality Shift (19:52) Keys vs. Swiatek: The Match of the Tournament (20:16) Sam Accidentally FaceTimes Madison Keys (22:14) Steve’s Take on Madison Keys (25:42) Sabalenka vs. Keys: Women’s Final Preview (29:12) Snake Draft Update: The Pickleball Showdown (32:13) Fan Questions: Playing Day vs. Night Sessions in Australia (33:45) How Do Players Receive Their Prize Money? (35:05) Final Trivia Question Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 22, 2025 · 40 min
30: 2025 Australian Open: QF Recap & SF Predictions | Something Major | EP 30
As the Australian Open hits the business end of the tournament, Something Major is here to break down all the quarterfinal action from both the men’s and women’s draws. On the men’s side, we kick off with Djokovic’s gritty win over Alcaraz before moving onto Shelton’s big-match energy, Zverev’s chances for a title and Jannik Sinner’s dominant performance over De Minaur. Is Sinner the favorite to win it all now? And can Zverev get his first Grand Slam win over Djokovic? On the women’s side, we spotlight Sabalenka’s hard court dominance, Badosa’s surprising win over Coco, and Swiatek’s machine-like approach as she marches through the draw. Who is the current favorite? And can Madison Keys pull off the upset of the tournament with a semifinal showdown against Iga? Last but not least, we close the show with a Snake Draft update (pickleball showdown pending!) and Aussie Open trivia. (00:00) On today’s episode… (00:47) The wet handshake reaction & what’s ahead (02:06) Djokovic’s gritty win over Alcaraz (07:12) Did Paul let his match vs. Zverev slip away? (11:12) Can Zverev actually win? (12:52) Shoutout: Moutet is Sam’s new favorite artist (13:35) Shelton’s Slam-winning it-factor (15:56) Sinner’s surreal moment (18:18) Why Shelton isn’t afraid of Sinner (20:32) Badosa’s big upset over Gauff (23:02) Sabalenka’s rise: Australia’s new Queen? (24:20) The friendship factor in high-stakes matches (25:17) “Iga is a machine!” (27:32) Tech controversies: Old-school vs. VAR (30:34) Can Keys give Swiatek trouble? (33:31) Semifinals predictions (36:30) Snakedraft update & punishments! (38:10) Fan shoutouts (38:58) Goodbye & AusOpen trivia! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 20, 2025 · 36 min
29: 2025 Australian Open: Rd 16 Recap & Quarterfinals Preview | Something Major | EP 29
As Week 2 of the Australian Open heats up, the boys break down the biggest storylines from the Round of 16 and preview each quarterfinal matchup. From the highly anticipated Djokovic vs. Alcaraz showdown to De Minaur’s game plan to upset Sinner, and the odds of an American man making the semifinals—there’s no shortage of storylines to unpack. Can Novak Djokovic channel off court controversy into a competitive edge? And should Jannik Sinner fans be worried about his fitness heading into the business end of the tournament? Plus, the Snake Draft drama intensifies as Sam and Steve brace for a potential last-place tie. 00:00 Introduction and Round Four Results 00:47 Pet Peeves in Tennis: The Hair Fixation 04:09 Upcoming Episodes and Special Guests 05:32 Novak Djokovic's Performance and Controversy 10:15 Quarterfinals Preview: Djokovic vs. Alcaraz 13:33 Quarterfinals Preview: Paul vs. Zverev 18:02 Quarterfinals Preview: Sinner vs. De Minaur 22:12 Analyzing Player Fitness and Matchups 23:33 Alex's Impressive Australian Open Record 24:46 Shelton vs. Sango: Quarterfinal Predictions 25:59 Shelton's Competitive Edge 28:01 The Music Side of Lorenzo Sango 29:31 American Players in the Final Eight 30:17 The High Stakes of the Snake Draft 33:28 Tennis Trivia: Yannick Sinner's RecordEpisode 4: Australian Open Quarterfinals Preview and Analysis Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 18, 2025 · 29 min
28: 2025 Australian Open: Round 3 Recap & Round 4 Preview | Something Major | EP 28
While the tournament favorites continue to march through the draw, it’s the Americans who have been making noise down under. The boys discuss the impressive performances from Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, Alex Michelsen and Learner Tien, while debating their chances to make even deeper runs in Melbourne. We also get into Gael Monfils, stunning No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz with an inspired performance. Can the 38 year-old Frenchman keep the magic alive? Last but not least, we wrap the episode with our Round 4 predictions and revisit the heated Australian Open Snake Draft standings. 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Updates 01:06 Pickleball and Friendly Banter 01:46 Top Tennis Players Analysis 04:20 Gael Monfils' Impressive Run 10:11 Young Tennis Talents on the Rise 15:51 Next Gen Stars and Future Predictions 17:12 Tennis Season Timing and Rankings Update 17:37 Snake Draft Standings and Predictions 18:53 Loser Punishments Discussion 21:07 Round Four Match Predictions 26:12 Aussie Open Trivia and Gossip Corner Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 16, 2025 · 24 min
27: 2025 Australian Open: Round 2 Recap & Round 3 Preview | Something Major | EP 27
The Aussie Open is heating up, and so is Something Major! We keep our attention on the men's side of the draw where we break down the stand out performances and surprises in Round 2 as well as preview the biggest stories heading into Round 3. The boys also touch on the American men having success down under from Taylor Fritz’s dominant start to Learner Tien’s breakout performance against Medvedev. Finally, a new leader emerges in our Nothing Major Snake Draft and the guys discuss a fan submitted penalty. Could we see one of our hosts lace them up again for a $25k Future Tournament? (00:00) Welcome to Something Major! (00:47) Shoutout to Learner Tien (03:03) Struggling to Say “João” (03:48) Steve Nails His Prediction (04:05) Top Seeds Performance So Far (06:26) Fritz’s Pre-Season Gains and Evolution (09:48) Our Predictions… That Flopped (10:36) Sam Gets Sad with João’s Loss (10:54) Frances Early Exit (11:15) Machac, Paul, and the Tiny Shorts Trend (11:55) Spotting Potential Dark Horses (12:59) Michelsen’s Chances vs. Khachanov (14:19) Marcos Giron and Tennis’ High School Hall of Fame (15:04) Snakedraft Recap (17:13) YOUR Punishments Suggestions! (18:33) Round 3 Predictions (20:52) Tien Upsets Medvedev—What a Moment! (21:48) Signing Off with AusOpen Trivia Fun Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 14, 2025 · 26 min
26: 2025 Australian Open: Round 1 Recap & Round 2 Preview | Something Major | EP 26
The Australian Open is underway, and we’re doing Something Major—round by round recaps and previews from the men's side of the draw. For the next two weeks, we’re dropping episodes every other day, keeping you up to date with all the action Down Under. In this episode, we spotlight the seeds that delivered, the unexpected exits, and the dark horses turning heads at Melbourne Park. From Joao Fonseca’s stunning upset over No. 9 seed Andrey Rublev to the stellar performances from the American contingent it's a first round recap in true Nothing Major style. Plus, the guys revisit their Australian Open Snake Draft, which is already full of drama. Who’s leading the pack, and who’s regretting their picks? Will Nishikori’s clutch 5-setter save Stevie's team? 00:00 - Something Major is Here! 01:25 - Biggest Winner of Round 1 02:09 - Djokovic, Sinner, and Fritz Wins 03:47 - Tougher vs. Easier Round 1: What’s Better? 04:53 - Snakedraft Update 05:59 - Joao Fonseca’s Impressive Slam Debut 07:10 - What to Expect from Fonseca 10:05 - Michelsen Upsets Tsitsipas and Looks Ahead 12:44 - American Players in Round 1 15:10 - Playing Through Sickness 15:55 - Monfils Triumphs Over Perricard 17:25 - Medvedev’s Bizarre Match 19:23 - Paul vs. Nishikori: Predictions 21:14 - Assessing Opelka’s Chances 22:10 - Tiafoe vs. Fonseca: Round 3 Predictions 22:51 - American Players Who Could Go Far 23:35 - Farewell and AusOpen Trivia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 10, 2025 · 52 min
25: 2025 Australian Open Preview, Meeting Federer and Sam’s Nip Slip | EP 25
The 2025 Australian Open is officially here and the boys have plenty to talk about in this week's episode! The guys kick off with insights on player perks and experience in Melbourne before diving into the main storylines heading into this year’s tournament. They then move onto a Nothing Major staple - the snake draft. Each guy drafts their own team for the 2025 Australian Open before wrapping with personal memories from the AO. From going 5 sets with a furious Nalbandian, to blowing their stipends in the local casino, John, Sam and Steve share some of their best and worst times down under. 00:00) Intro: Let’s Dive In (00:46) Kokkinakis Apologies (Our Bad!) (01:54) Happy Slam? Australian Open Debate (05:12) Toughest Slam to Play (06:24) Best Slam to Win (07:09) Late-Night AO Madness (10:12) American Contenders (12:44) Nishikori & Opelka Shoutouts (15:42) First-Round Players to Avoid (18:02) Beyond Alcaraz and Sinner (20:44) Is Djokovic Flying Under Radar? (22:38) Most Vulnerable Top 8? (23:59) AO Snake Draft Teams (32:18) Final Draft Recap (33:56) AO Memories: The Good Ones (34:18) Meeting Federer: Awkward Dream Moment (35:56) Steve’s Federer Post-Match Story (38:23) Federer’s 90-Minute Match Record (38:50) Nalbandian’s AO Collapse (40:14) Sam’s POV (41:19) Melbourne’s Worst Memories (42:07) Outside Courts Experience (43:34) Where to Stay in Melbourne? (45:15) Best Melbourne Memory… wasn’t during AO! (47:17) Sam’s Nip Slip (49:49) Goodbye: Wrapping It Up (50:25) Trivia Challenge: Australian Open edition
Jan 3, 2025 · 48 min
24: New Year New Season, Djokovic-Murray and YOUR Bold Predictions | EP 24
John, Jack, Sam, and Stevie are back with a brand-new episode to kick off 2025! From the buzz surrounding the Djokovic-Murray partnership to the resurgence of super coaches like Ivan Lendl, the boys dive into the biggest storylines set to shape the year. The four share their thoughts on the current state of tennis as a global sport and answer the question, is tennis growing in popularity? Finally, it's time to review YOUR bold predictions for the new season—including the end of Rublev’s curse, Jack’s potential comeback, and speculation around Djokovic’s retirement—before making their own predictions for the year ahead. (00:00) Introduction (00:32) Welcome to the Show (00:49) New Year's Eve Reflections (04:04) Favorite Pre-Australian Open Tournament (06:59) Best of Auckland: A Walk Down Memory Lane (10:58) Sam’s Unforgettable Chennai Fiasco (11:45) 2025 Season Preview (13:18) Tennis Today vs. the Big 3 Era: A Comparison (16:30) Djokovic + Murray: Strategy or Pure Vibes? (22:20) Will Hurkacz’s Lendl & Massu Dream Team Deliver? (28:39) Bold Fan Predictions (29:53) Djokovic’s 2025 Retirement: Is It Real? (30:44) Will Jack Team Up for Doubles at Wimbledon? (31:36) Can Rublev Break Through to a Major Semifinal? (33:04) 2025 Slam Champions: Our Predictions (34:33) Zverev, Djokovic, or an American to win a Major? (35:50) Rising Stars: Who Will Break Through? (39:50) Sam in Pickleball vs. Jack in Tennis? (41:53) Subscribe and Follow Us! (43:12) Sam’s Challenging Trivia: Federer Edition
Dec 27, 2024 · 44 min
23: Golden Djokovic, Unstoppable Sinner, & 2024 Reflections | Ep 23
As the year winds down, Jack, John, Stevie, and Sam take a look back at the 2024 tennis season. The gang kicks off the show reflecting on the year's biggest storylines, from Jannik Sinner’s historic 73-6 season and Djokovic’s Golden Slam-less year to Zverev’s climb to No. 2. How does Sinner's dominance compare to the all-time greats? Is Djokovic content with Olympic Gold but no majors? And how will Carlos Alcaraz rate his two-Slam season? The boys then dive into the season's most memorable moments submitted by the audience before wrapping up by discussing the players who said goodbye to tennis in 2024 including Rafa Nadal, Andy Murray, and Dominic Thiem. But not before things get heated in true Nothing Major style when the gang notices an embarrassing omission from the retirement list ... (00:00) Welcome to Nothing Major (00:58) Sinner’s 2024: A Season to Repeat or a One-Off? (06:30) The Feeling of Confidence (07:31) Sam’s 2017 Acapulco Run (08:48) Steve’s Grind and Tough Matches (09:46) Jack’s Quiet Confidence (11:21) John’s Confidence POV (12:20) Jack’s 2017 Highlights (13:53) Bautista Agut: The Match That Hurt (15:47) Alcaraz: Satisfied or Not? (19:45) Zverev’s Final Missing Piece (21:36) Djokovic’s Endgame Mastery (22:45) Fans’ Top 2024 Moments (25:33) Novak’s Emotional Victory (26:37) Fritz vs. Tiafoe Thriller (27:51) The Nothing Major Effect (29:23) HiMyNameIsLP Blooper Recap (30:58) 2024 Retirements Breakdown… and an inexcusable miss! (36:18) Murray vs. Thiem retirement (39:13) Why Jack Didn’t Keep on Playing Doubles? (40:42) Cuevas: Bahrami 2.0 (42:05) Outro + Backhand Trivia
Dec 20, 2024 · 54 min
22: The Naughty List, Offseason Drug Testing, & Answering Audience Questions | EP 22
Sam, Jack, John, and Stevie get into the spirit in this week’s holiday special! The boys are feeling festive as they exchange and unwrap their Secret Santa gifts from one another. Can they figure out who gave what? With Santa's big day just around the corner, it's time for a debate on who belongs on tennis' Naughty and Nice lists, including a famously “nice guy” who ends up on the receiving end of some metaphorical coal after a meltdown that had Stevie grinning. With the festivities behind them, the gang then dives into an offseason themed Mailbag answering audience questions on how they prepared during their own winter breaks, dealing with out of competition drug testing and the keys to a successful offseason. Finally, Sam puts Stevie, Jack, and John’s tennis knowledge to the test with a new segment to finish the show. (00:00) Intro (00:30) Welcome to Nothing Major Podcast (00:48) Secret Santa (01:30) John’s useful gift (03:00) Sam’s delicious gift (04:50) Steve’s prank gift (06:30) Jack’s warm gift (07:37) Guessing Secret Santa (12:26) Naughty and Nice List: ATP edition (18:35) Fan Questions: Off-season (18:50) Takes on Off-Season (21:12) Steve’s November routine (22:40) Sam as a track athlete (24:14) Off-season practice matches (26:21) Do players want a longer off-season? (29:38) Off-Season Doping tests (34:29) Coffee Day with the Big 3 (35:32) Technical changes during the off-season (38:05) What things do tennis players experiment with? (41:23) Why did Isner never try a new racket? (42:20) ATP Awards Recap (48:00) Vegas Draft's Result (49:15) Tennis Commissioner’s Recap (50:38) New Segment: Tennis Trivia