Tales from Tennis

Sam Jacot & Jerome Coombe

Hosted by reporters Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe, Tales from Tennis takes listeners behind the curtain of professional tennis. Each week, the show features players, coaches, broadcasters, journalists and other insiders, sharing their journeys, stories from the road, and a unique perspective on life inside the game. New episodes every Wednesday. The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by ATP.

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Wednesday · 30 min
Gustavo Marcaccio: Inside the Rafa Nadal Academy, Alex Eala and Rafael Nadal
In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Gustavo Marcaccio, Director of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, to go behind the scenes of one of the most renowned tennis academies in the world. Gustavo takes us inside his day-to-day role running the Academy, the continued influence of Rafael Nadal and the philosophy that underpins the development of young players. We discuss what it really takes to become a professional tennis player, from talent and technical development to mindset, education, discipline and creating the right environment for players growing up within the Academy. We also talk about the development of players including Martín Landaluce and Alex Eala, and the challenges of helping young talents make the transition towards professional tennis. Gustavo shares what he learned from working closely with Rafa during the final years of his career and how Nadal’s influence continues to shape the Academy. We also explore the Rafa Nadal Museum, its recent renovation and Roger Federer’s visit, as well as the Academy’s ATP Challenger event and the importance of bringing professional tennis into the environment. From children arriving at a young age to the importance of creating a settled environment around them, this is a fascinating look at what happens behind the scenes at the Rafa Nadal Academy. 🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis. Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome speak with a leading presenter and producer. Subscribe now. 📲 Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.
- Transcript
September 16 · 29 min
Conor Niland: The Racket, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Life on the Tennis Tour
In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with former Irish professional Conor Niland to discuss his award-winning book The Racket, which tells the story of life on the professional tennis circuit and the reality of competing outside the very top of the sport. Conor takes us inside some of the biggest moments of his career, from beating Roger Federer as a teenager to qualifying for Wimbledon in 2011 and coming agonisingly close to reaching the second round and setting a meeting with Federer. We also hear the story of facing Novak Djokovic at the US Open later that year, before illness forced Conor to retire from the match. We discuss the less glamorous side of life on Tour too, looking at the loneliness of constant travel, the relentless pace of winning one week and immediately getting on a flight to the next tournament, and the financial challenges of competing at ITF and Challenger level. Conor explains what life can really be like for players outside the spotlight and how difficult it can be to maintain momentum from week to week. We also talk about the influence of Conor's father, the support he received from Tennis Ireland and the experiences that shaped his view of professional tennis. Buy The Racket here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Racket-Tenniss-Golden-Generation-other/dp/1844886409 🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis. Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome speak with the Tennis Director of the Rafa Nadal Academy. Subscribe now. 📲 Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.
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September 9 · 31 min
Sebastián Varela: Winning the Tom Perrotta Prize, CLAY & Telling Tennis’ Untold Stories
In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Sebastián Varela, co-founder of CLAY and winner of the 2025 Tom Perrotta Prize for Tennis Journalism. Sebastián takes us inside the stories that earned him one of tennis journalism's leading young-writer awards, including his extraordinary feature on a man who escaped drug trafficking and went on to transform lives through tennis. We also discuss his approach to open, ambitious journalism and why some of the most interesting stories in tennis exist away from the scoreline. Sebastián shares his experiences speaking with players including Eva Lys, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Taylor Fritz, and explains why openness from players can completely change the conversations journalists are able to have. We also get into the story behind CLAY, the bilingual tennis publication Sebastián co-founded in 2020, and his mission to bring greater attention to South American and Spanish-speaking tennis. With South American tennis producing an exciting generation of players and growing in influence across the sport, Sebastián explains why he believes the region deserves greater coverage and a bigger voice. Read Sebastián's work discussed in the episode: https://www.claytenis.com/features/escaping-drug-trafficking-to-transform-lives-with-tennis/ https://www.claytenis.com/cov/director-netflix-nadal-documentary-in-the-us-there-arent-many-rafa-fans/ https://www.claytenis.com/home-en/ 🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis. Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome speak with the author of the award-winning book 'The Racket'. Subscribe now. 📲 Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.
- Transcript
September 2 · 30 min
Mitch Michals: Tennis Channel, Brad Gilbert, Ethan Quinn and Inside the US Open
In this episode of Tales from Tennis, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Mitch Michals, podcast host, producer and editor at Tennis Channel and host of The Inside-In Tennis Podcast. Mitch takes us behind the scenes of his work in tennis media, from producing and editing at Tennis Channel to hosting Inside-In and interviewing some of the biggest names across the sport. We hear stories from conversations with Andrea Petkovic, Brad Stine, Paul Annacone, Mark Petchey and Brad Gilbert, as well as Mitch's experiences speaking with players including Lorenzo Musetti and Ethan Quinn. We also get into what it's really like working in a sport that never stops, the relentless nature of the tennis calendar and how Mitch manages to keep up with the ATP and WTA Tours. With the US Open here, Mitch gives his thoughts on the state of tennis heading into the final major of the year, looking at the biggest storylines on both the men's and women's tours and the players to watch in New York. 🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis. Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome will be joined by a leading journalist. Subscribe now. 📲 Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.
- Transcript
August 26 · 38 min
Alex Gruskin: Inside College Tennis, Ben Shelton, Rafael Jodar and the Challenger Tour
In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Alex Gruskin, host of Cracked Racquets and one of the leading voices covering college tennis and the ATP Challenger Tour. Alex takes us inside the growing world of college tennis, exploring why more young players are choosing the American college route, the unique atmosphere around the sport and how the system is producing a new generation of stars. We discuss the journeys of players including Ben Shelton, Rafael Jodar and Learner Tien, and why college tennis has become such a successful pathway into the professional game. Alex also shares stories from life on the road with Cracked Racquets, travelling to Challenger and WTA events, conducting on-court interviews and getting to know players away from the spotlight. We hear what it's like spending week after week around the Challenger Tour, the buzz of discovering emerging talent and the people and stories that make travelling so rewarding. Cracked Racquets: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/cracked-racquets/id6445044099 https://www.youtube.com/c/crackedracquets 🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis. Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome will be joined by a podcast host. Subscribe now. 📲 Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.
- Transcript
August 19 · 38 min
Marcus Buckland: Jannik Sinner, Andy Murray and 12 years leading Sky Sports Tennis
In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe are joined by broadcaster Marcus Buckland, who spent 12 years as the lead tennis presenter at Sky Sports, covering the sport's biggest tournaments throughout the unforgettable Big Four era. Marcus reflects on some of the defining moments of his career, including being in New York to witness Andy Murray win his first Grand Slam title, presenting coverage from the ATP Finals at The O2 and following tennis around the world during one of the sport's greatest periods. He also shares recent experiences hosting Wimbledon champions' dinners with Jannik Sinner and Linda Noskova, along with behind-the-scenes stories from life in broadcasting. The conversation explores what it takes to present live television at the highest level, the controlled chaos behind major broadcasts, working alongside some of the sport's biggest names and why, after nearly four decades in broadcasting, tennis continues to produce stories that keep him coming back for more. Marcus also discusses writing The Man Who Saved Wimbledon: Roger Taylor's Official Biography, offering an insight into one of British tennis' most influential figures and the process of bringing his remarkable story to life. You can buy the book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Man-Who-Saved-Wimbledon-Biography/dp/1836801467 🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis. Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome will be joined by an insider on the ATP Challenger Tour Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.
- Transcript
August 12 · 35 min
Adam Docker: Behind the camera with Novak Djokovic, Diego Maradona and Carlos Alcaraz
In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe are joined by award-winning filmmaker and photographer Adam Docker, whose work has taken him to more than 100 countries, capturing some of the biggest names and most remarkable stories in sport. Adam shares behind-the-scenes experiences filming Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, explains how he worked alongside Martin Landaluce to tell the story of the Spaniard's breathing techniques and mindfulness, and reflects on the challenge of finding authentic moments with elite athletes. He also recounts an unforgettable encounter filming Diego Maradona at a rehabilitation centre in Cuba, as well as extraordinary assignments in Tibet, remote parts of Africa and the mountains of Kazakhstan with Corentin Moutet. The conversation explores what it takes to tell compelling stories through film, the importance of earning trust with athletes, working in some of the world's most demanding environments and why the best sporting documentaries are about far more than what happens in competition. Check out more of Adam's brilliant work here: https://www.adamdocker.art/ https://www.adamdocker.com/ 🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis. Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome will be joined by one of the best tennis & sports presenters in Europe. Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.
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August 5 · 42 min
Abigail Johnson: Behind the scenes with Joao Fonseca, Aryna Sabalenka & life on the microphone
In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe are joined by broadcaster and commentator Abigail Johnson, who has covered everything from ATP Challenger events to Grand Slams. Abigail reflects on witnessing the rise of some of the game's biggest stars, including Joao Fonseca, Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper, sharing the early signs that suggested they were destined for the top. She also discusses Aryna Sabalenka's importance to the women's game, why Daniil Medvedev remains one of her favourite players to interview, and the stories that make life on the professional tour so unique. The conversation also explores Abigail's route into commentary, what it's really like working courtside at Wimbledon and the Grand Slams for the BBC, the differences between covering Challenger events and the biggest tournaments in tennis, and why she loves telling the stories behind the sport. 🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis. Episodes every Wednesday. Next time we will be joined by a leading film producer. Subscribe now. 📲 Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.
- Transcript
July 15 · 27 min
Abdullah Shelbayh: Rafael Nadal's influence, from Jordan to the ATP Tour
In this episode, Sam Jacot sits down with Jordanian tennis player Abdullah Shelbayh, one of the most exciting young players on the ATP Challenger Tour, who has trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy since the age of 14. Shelbayh reflects on his journey from Jordan to Spain, explaining how Rafael Nadal and Toni Nadal helped shape his development, the advice he has received from Nadal over the years and what it has been like training alongside Carlos Alcaraz. He also discusses his experiences competing at ATP Tour events, winning Challenger titles and playing at the 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals. The conversation also explores Shelbayh's path through college tennis, life at the Rafa Nadal Academy and the realities of building a career on the professional Tour. 🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis. Episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe now. 📲 Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.
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July 1 · 23 min
Taylor Fritz on Wimbledon chances, Daniel Altmaier's message to Alexander Zverev & more
In this on-site special episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Taylor Fritz, Jenson Brooksby, Daniel Altmaier and Rajeev Ram in Eastbourne to hear their stories in the game. The guests reflect on defining moments from their careers, from chasing Wimbledon success to breakthrough runs at majors, while also offering rare behind-the-scenes insight into life on Tour. They discuss training with rising star Joao Fonseca, supporting Alexander Zverev after his Roland Garros title, and facing icons like Novak Djokovic at the US Open. Rajeev Ram also shares insight into reuniting with long-time partner Joe Salisbury, lifting major titles, and the responsibility of mentoring the next generation. The players also open up on the realities of life in the sport, breaking down how practice sessions are scheduled at events, how players and teams operate in the player areas, and what a typical matchday actually looks like from arrival to departure. 🚨 Stay tuned for another special guest from the tennis world on Wednesday 8 July. Subscribe now. 📲 🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are live in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis. Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.
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June 24 · 40 min
Player Special: Beating Serena Williams, training with Carlos Alcaraz and Wimbledon runs
In this third on-site episode from the Lexus Ilkley Open, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with a range of Top 150 players competing during the grass-court season, bringing together stories from behind the scenes of the tennis world as the road to Wimbledon continues. Featuring Darwin Blanch, Lulu Sun, Viktorija Golubic, Arthur Gea, Dane Sweeny, Harmony Tan and August Holmgren, the episode explores the journeys, experiences and moments that shape life on Tour. The guests reflect on memorable Wimbledon runs, breakthrough moments at Grand Slams and what it is like competing on some of the biggest stages in tennis. Along the way, they share stories involving some of the sport’s biggest names, including Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz, while also discussing career-defining matches, favourite practice partners and the unseen realities of life on Tour that fans rarely get to hear about. In the first Ilkley special, Sam and Jerome spoke to the people who help bring the tournament to life in Ilkley, including tournament director Rik Smith and broadcaster Abigail Johnson. In the second Ilkley special, they chatted with the British players ahead of Wimbledon. Both episodes are live in the feed. 🚨 Stay tuned for a special episode from Eastbourne on Wednesday 1 July, featuring Taylor Fritz. Subscribe now. 📲 🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are live in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis. Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.
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June 17 · 38 min
The road to Wimbledon: British players on Jack Draper, Stan Wawrinka and Challenger life
In this second on-site episode from the Lexus Ilkley Open, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with a range of British players competing during the grass-court season as the countdown to Wimbledon continues. Featuring conversations with Jack Pinnington Jones, Charlie Broom, Paul Jubb, Toby Samuel, Oliver Crawford and physio Sam Carter, the episode explores the realities of life at ATP Challenger level, the importance of the college tennis pathway and what it takes to build a career in professional tennis. The guests reflect on memorable Wimbledon experiences, breakthrough moments on the ATP Tour and the challenges of climbing the rankings. Along the way, they share stories involving some of the biggest names in the sport, including Stan Wawrinka, Jack Draper, Nick Kyrgios and Taylor Fritz, while also discussing their love of the grass-court season and the unique opportunities it presents. In the previous episode, Sam and Jerome spoke to the people who help bring the tournament to life in Ilkley, including tournament director Rik Smith and broadcaster Abigail Johnson. Part two of the Ilkley player special will go live on Wednesday 24 June, featuring interviews with Harmony Tan, Lulu Sun, Darwin Blanch and many more. 🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are live in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis. Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.
- Transcript
June 10 · 25 min
Ilkley Special: What it takes to run a professional tennis tournament
In this special on-site episode of Tales from Tennis, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe head to the Lexus Ilkley Open to uncover what it really takes to run a professional tennis tournament. While fans see the matches, the atmosphere and the drama on court, there is a huge team working behind the scenes to make the event happen. Throughout the week, Sam and Jerome spoke to the people who help bring the tournament to life, including tournament director Rik Smith, broadcaster Abigail Johnson, British player Charlie Broom, the event's lead stringer, a groundsman responsible for maintaining the grass courts, hospitality staff and fans attending the tournament. Together, they provide a fascinating insight into the many moving parts that keep an ATP Challenger and WTA 125 event running smoothly, from preparing courts and stringing rackets to welcoming players, broadcasters and spectators through the gates. This episode offers a unique look at the unseen side of tennis and the people whose work often goes unnoticed but is essential to the success of every tournament. We also recorded a host of player interviews during our time in Ilkley, which will be released across the next two Wednesdays as the grass-court season builds towards Wimbledon. In the meantime, listeners can also find exclusive content from the event on our Instagram, including a fun Q&A with comedian Josh Berry, practice-court moments and quick-fire questions with ATP Next Gen star Darwin Blanch. There is plenty more from Ilkley still to come on Wednesday 17th & 24th June. 🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are live in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis. Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.
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June 3 · 39 min
Alex Hyman: Managing Andy Murray, playing Ben Shelton and working with Stan Wawrinka
In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Alex Hyman to discuss his journey from competitive tennis player to working across some of the biggest events and stories in the sport. Hyman reflects on his early experiences in college tennis, including a memorable battle against Ben Shelton, before explaining how he broke into the tennis media industry and built a career spanning communications, content production, broadcasting and event operations. The conversation explores his work behind the scenes with players including Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka, the unique challenges of managing media at Challenger events and what life is really like working across tournaments throughout the season. Hyman also shares stories from his experiences at UTS, discusses spotting rising French talent Moise Kouame before his breakthrough and explains the unsung work that goes into delivering professional tennis events. From Challenger Tour life and media operations to player relations and building his own company, Aliko Sports, this episode offers a fascinating look at the many roles that help keep professional tennis moving behind the scenes. 🎙️ Our background episode is live in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis. 🚨 Stay tuned for another special guest from the tennis world on Wednesday 10 June. Subscribe now. 📲 Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis View Alex's company Aliko Sports: https://www.alikosports.com/ The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.
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May 27 · 35 min
Sam Jacot & Jerome Coombe: How we got into tennis media and our story so far
In this 20th episode of Tales from Tennis, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe turn the microphones on themselves to share the stories behind the podcast and how they ended up covering tennis full time. The pair reflects on their journeys into tennis media, from first tournaments and nerve-filled early interviews to surreal moments alongside some of the biggest names in the sport, including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Andy Murray. The conversation dives into the reality of life covering tennis behind the scenes, with chaotic travel days, fun interviews, quirky press conference moments and the unexpected experiences that come with working around the sport week after week. From funny tour stories to the journey to this point, this episode offers listeners a closer look at the people behind the microphones before the show returns to its regular format next week. 🚨 Stay tuned for another special guest from the tennis world on Wednesday 3 June. Subscribe now. 📲 Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis Watch highlights and analysis from across the tennis world at The Tennis Pass: https://www.youtube.com/@TheTennisPass The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.
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May 20 · 41 min
Tom Corrie: What the data reveals about Sinner, Alcaraz and tennis analytics
In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Tom Corrie from TennisViz to explore how analytics and data are changing the way tennis is understood at the highest level. Corrie, who is Head of Performance, Media and Broadcast at TennisViz, explains how platforms help coaches, players and the media analyse the modern game, before diving into what the numbers reveal about stars including Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The conversation explores the tactical trends shaping today’s ATP Tour, how the Tour is are embracing analytics and why data can sometimes reveal things the eye test misses completely. Corrie also shares insight into working behind the scenes in elite tennis, how analysis is used in match preparation and what fans often misunderstand about what actually wins matches at the top of the sport. 🎙️ Our introductory background episode is live in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis. 🚨 Stay tuned for another special guest from the tennis world on Wednesday 27 May. Subscribe now. 📲 Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis Watch highlights and analysis from across the tennis world at The Tennis Pass: https://www.youtube.com/@TheTennisPass The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.
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May 13 · 34 min
Russell Fuller: Murray, Williams, Sinner and 13 years covering tennis for the BBC
In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Russell Fuller to explore what it’s really like covering the biggest moments as the BBC’s tennis correspondent for the past 13 years. Fuller reflects on his experiences following some of the sport’s biggest stars, including Andy Murray, Serena Williams, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, and shares insight into the frantic nature of life at Grand Slams. The conversation dives into the pressure of live broadcasting, the challenge of delivering fair and balanced journalism in high-profile moments, and what it was like covering the dramatic in Australia. Fuller also discusses the unique atmosphere around British tennis during the Murray era, the joy of working alongside former players in commentary boxes and the moments that have stayed with him most throughout his career. 🎙️ Our introductory background episode is live in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis. 🚨 Stay tuned for another special guest from the tennis world on Wednesday 20 May. Subscribe now. 📲 Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis Watch highlights and analysis from across the tennis world at The Tennis Pass: https://www.youtube.com/@TheTennisPass The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.
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May 6 · 37 min
Richard Connelly: Sinner, Djokovic, Nadal and what players are really like after matches
In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with broadcaster Richard Connelly to explore what it’s really like being courtside for some of the biggest moments in tennis. Connelly shares behind-the-scenes stories from his time interviewing the game’s top stars, including Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Roger Federer, offering insight into what players are truly like in those high-pressure, post-match moments. He also reflects on a memorable on-court interview with Rafael Nadal following his clash with Novak Djokovic in Rome in 2021, and discusses the respect and presence carried by players like Grigor Dimitrov and Andy Murray both on and off the court. The conversation dives into the balance of asking the right questions in the moment, holding players to account when needed, and navigating the tension and adrenaline of live broadcasting. It’s a fascinating look at the role of an on-court interviewer and the unique position they hold between the players, the crowd and the global audience. 🎙️ Our introductory background episode is live in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis. 🚨 Stay tuned for another special guest from the tennis world on Wednesday 13 May. Subscribe now. 📲 Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis Watch highlights and analysis from across the tennis world at The Tennis Pass: https://www.youtube.com/@TheTennisPass The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.
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April 29 · 32 min
Ivan Cinkus: Arthur Fils’ coach on his comeback, Barcelona title and rapid rise
In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Arthur Fils' coach Ivan Cinkus to go inside the rise of the Frenchman and what it takes to build one of the most exciting young players in the game. Cinkus reflects on Fils’ impressive return from injury, detailing the work behind the scenes that has fuelled his recent surge, including a title in Barcelona and deep runs in Miami and Indian Wells. He shares insight into the mentality required to come back from setbacks, the discipline Fils brings to his training, and even reveals the light-hearted incentive that could earn him a well-deserved holiday if he reaches the latter stages at Roland Garros. The conversation also takes listeners courtside, with Cinkus describing what it’s really like coaching in high-pressure moments, including saving match points in Miami, and the communication between player and coach during matches. Cinkus also discusses the impact of Goran Ivanisevic joining the team and how their collaboration is helping shape Fils’ development at the top level. 🎙️ Our introductory background episode is live in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis. 🚨 Stay tuned for another special guest from the tennis world on Wednesday 6 May. Subscribe now. 📲 Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis Watch highlights and analysis from across the tennis world at The Tennis Pass: https://www.youtube.com/@TheTennisPass The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.
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April 22 · 42 min
Molly McElwee: Inside tennis journalism, Nadal, Krejcikova and behind the scenes on Tour
In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with award-winning tennis journalist Molly McElwee, winner of the 2024 Tom Perrotta Prize for Tennis Journalism and author of Building Champions: Paths to Success in Women’s Tennis. Molly shares her journey into the sport and what it’s really like covering tennis at the highest level, from long days at Grand Slams to the challenge of building trust with players while telling honest stories. She also discusses her Substack But Do You Actually Like Sport? and why she’s passionate about exploring the human side of athletes beyond results. The conversation dives into her experiences around some of the biggest names in the game, including Rafael Nadal and Barbora Krejčíková, offering a behind-the-scenes look at what players are really like in press rooms, interviews and off-court moments that fans rarely see. 🎙️ Our introductory background episode is live in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis. 🚨 Stay tuned for another special guest from the tennis world on Wednesday 29 April. Subscribe now. 📲 Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis View Molly's Substack 'But Do You Actually Like Sport?': https://mollymcelwee.substack.com/ View Molly's Book 'Building Champions: Paths to Success in Women’s Tennis': https://www.amazon.co.uk/Building-Champions-Success-Womens-Tennis/dp/1913759237 Watch highlights and analysis from across the tennis world at The Tennis Pass: https://www.youtube.com/@TheTennisPass The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.
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