Ready Play Tennis Podcast

Start Spreading the News! (Not Covid)

Hot off the press!  Start spreading the news!  The one, the only, Ms. Genie Bouchard is confirmed to be on a future show!  (Fans cheering wildly!)

Jay and Aldwin threw a line out on IG to the resurgent Canadian tennis star last week attempting to entice her on the show and she typed back: "100% Just Tell Me When."  GAGGED.  The two start this week's episode by talking about how jazzed they are to welcome Genie and prepare mentally for what's bound to be a fun, flirty, and fabulous interview!

Once settled from the Genie excitement, the boys get down and discuss the WTA results in Palermo, Prague, and Lexington (highlighting match XXXI of Venus v. Serena), share some personal sentiments about the return of competitive tennis, and take a bite out of the Big Apple with some funny observations as players document their arrival in New York for the Western & Southern and consequent US Open.  

Finally, the two wrap up with an homage to Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters, who are still killing the game in their late 30's and early 40's and are definitely looking damn competitive as they vie for this second Slam of the year!

 

E-mail: readyplaytennispodcast@gmail.com

Instagram: readyplaytennispodcast

There's Something About Monica

On the 25th anniversary of her triumphant return to 'our home and native land' at the Canadian Open in 1995, the guys recognize and honour the achievements of the great Monica Seles.

An incredible 'ground and pound' game and undeniable dominance led her to eight grand slams before turning 20, Monica's journey would take an unexpected and tragic turn, change the course of her career. Leaning into the issue of mental health in sport, Aldwin and Jason analyze what might have been if not for the stabbing incident that rocked tennis and the sports world.

Would Steffi have achieved 22 slam titles? Would Monica have ever conquered the grass at Wimbledon? Does she know she's an icon to countless tennis gays? And of course, lest we forget that legendary grunt... often replicated, never duplicated! The guys also discuss recent revelations shared by Robin Soderling about living with severe anxiety and the parallel ways in which both his and Monica's careers ended. 

But first, Aldwin and Jason get personal. Is it okay to cry after losing a club practice match? 

• Email - readyplaytennispodcast@gmail.com
• IG - @readyplaytennispodcast 

Dear Tennis: Let's Take a Breath Here

The guys pull a quote from 'King Kyrgios' to name their latest episode. As we all struggle to keep up, our tennis 'saviour' Kyrgios cuts a video to read a statement (and cast some shade on Djoko and Borna) on why he's bowing out of the U.S. Open (*eye-roll*)... martyr much?!

With Nadal out too and Bianca ready to defend, are Novak and Serena set to snatch the U.S. Open crown or will a new champion emerge? Are tournament winners in 2020 destined for an asterisk beside their name?

With no fans, limited media, and regular COVID testing, the USTA is establishing a strict bubble for players to ensure a safe running of its Western & Southern and U.S. Open double header. Will the players follow protocol? Be disciplined if they don't?

Aldwin and Jason review all that is breaking (it's broke y'all!) as the ATP and WTA Tours restart their 'provisional' calendar. First Washington, then Madrid, and of course, all of China... cancelled! Tennis in 2020 will be precious, because lord knows (we talking' to you 'King Kyrgios') the sport will continue to be precarious during this pandemic.

 

 

 

Revisiting the Drama - Serena vs. Osaka

This week the guys dissect the drama-filled, emotional encounter between  20 year old upstart Naomi Osaka and the queen (and legend) Serena Williams at the 2018 US Open Final. With the stage set for Serena, the overwhelming favourite, to tie Margaret Court's record of 24 grand slam titles, the match would devolve into something much more dramatic than anyone anticipated. Was Serena robbed, or simply outplayed? Were issues of sexism or race at play, or was it just a case of bad behaviour? 

Aldwin and Jason also fulfill their role as 'Branch COVIDian Czars', giving an update on all things COVID-19 in tennis. How will ATP and WTA tournament organizers keep players from breaking quarantine rules and keep everyone safe?

The Big 3 and Beyond

Fed, Rafa, Djoko, (and maybe Murray?), The Big 3 have dominated the game like an aggressive, hungry top for the past twenty years.  With little sign that these legends are slowing down and fuelled by their desire to cement themselves as the stand-alone GOAT, how much longer is the tennis world going to enjoy this trifecta of champions?  How have they gotten there?  How many more Rolex watches do they need?  Is Andy Murray part of this equation or is this only a three variable algebraic expression? (Andy, chime in and let us know what you think!).

And what about beyond the horizon, when the sun ultimately sets on the careers of these three tennis giants?  Who among the next gen of players is thirsty and driven enough to dare and emulate their success?  Zverev?  Thiem?  Tsitsipas?  And what about our Canadian contenders: Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime?  What place are they ready to carve out for themselves in the tennis history books?  Jason and Aldwin get up in all o' dat and more as they dive into some deep sea big three analysis.  

 

 

Wimbledon, Wimbledon, Wherefore Art Thou Wimbledon?

For the first time since World War II, tennis will not be played on the hallowed grounds of the sport's most prestigious tournament and Jason and Aldwin are seriously in their feelings about it.  Taking a trip down memory lane, the two reminisce over some of the Slam's iconic trademarks and traditions that captured their childhood imaginations: from the stringent all-white clothing policy to NBC's coverage of the Championship (not to mention that epic theme music!) and of course, those luscious and often-time chewed-up grass courts.  

Find a cozy nook and serve yourself some fresh-ass strawberries and cream as you listen to the duo's thoughtful analysis of their marquis Wimby matches and a few others that rub and tugged at their heart strings (We love and miss you Jana Novotná!).  

Jason and Aldwin, along with the rest of the tennis world are just not the same without the Wimby fortnight.  Here's looking to next year when Henman Hill (or Murray Mound) is once again packed and the All-England Club is ready to crown it's first Champions of the decade.  

Adria Tour Fallout

And you thought Dmitrov testing positive for COVID-19 was a bad omen for the Adria Tour?  Sweetie, that was only the tip...of the iceberg.  Jason and Aldwin delve right into the details, discussing the onslaught of new positive cases and official player statements as a result of Djoko's Balkan debacle.  The two also recount getting trolled by a few hardcore Zverev supporters on IG.  "Branch Covidian Czars?" We prefer "Czars of Social Distancing" thank you very much!  Finally, some Canadian tennis talk in honour of our beloved country's birthday leads to a surprise challenge being issued.  Genie, Vasek, slide into our DMs!

COVID, Djokovic and the Unfortunate 'Positive' Results

Shit hits the fan in the tennis world after Jason and Aldwin come back from staging their own UTS Showdown on Sunday.  Celebrated tennis star Grigor Dmitrov tests positive for COVID-19 (as does Borna Coric, Viktor Troicki and Nole himself as the public later finds out) and the boys dive head first into discussing the virus transmission fest that was the Adria Tour and all the "boneheads" (Nick Kyrgios' preferred term) that took part.  Was that you Goran Ivanisevic that slid into our IG DM's offering that half-apology?  Should Thiem have pulled out of his UTS match against Tsitsipas after only just flying in from the Balkan nation?  This episode might be as juicy as Domi's derriere!  

Your Ultimate Tennis Showdown Lowdown

The Greek God? The Hammer? The Wall? Is it WWE or professional tennis? 

Aldwin and Jason give the lowdown of the showdown and return of  tennis (somewhat) with Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS), organized by and hosted at Patrick Mouratoglou's tennis academy in Nice, France (must be Nice!).

The new fast-paced format brands each player participating in this round robin tournament format. The guys assess the 'moniker' assigned to each player, come up with some new ones, and share monikers for one another. Which UTS player is renamed 'Nadal's Shadow'? Let the shade commence.

Footwork, Followers and Friends in Motor Tennis City

"Correction, RPTP goes weekly!"  Aldwin and Jason smash into weekly programming with a look at the highly anticipated Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) and a potential Cincinnati-US Open double-header.  Are fans ready for this season's tennis switch-ups?  The guys also call out a few IG bots (Tom Hill, we see you boo), share support for the Black Lives Matter, and take a drive down memory lane to the Motor City Tennis Classic.  Who's path to the B final was peppered with lopsided scorelines?  Who got blown (in a bad way) off the court in his A semi? Plus memories of a GLTA player who recently passed away too soon.