Ready Play Tennis Podcast

Vika, Ostrava, and Boris Becker drama!

The women wrap up their second last tournament of the year at Ostrava!!! and though Aryna Sabalenka hoisted the trophy at the last premier event on the WTA calendar, Jason and Aldwin sing the praises of their comeback player of the year, Vika Azarenka.  

After the two provide some follow-up on the GLTA and Sam Querrey stories they covered last week, they send congrats and warm wishes to the recently retired Julia Goerges and discuss Boris Becker's alleged refusal to give up his precious Slam trophies in his ongoing bankruptcy proceedings.

Finally, as the start of a new TLGTA Winter Team Tennis Season fast approaches, Jason and Aldwin share their thoughts on playing in a new level, against new teams, and developing a new outlook and strategy on the court.  

Let's go, Team Yellow!

GLTA Gossip & Sam Querrey's Great Escape

The 'GLTA Players Lounge' group on Facebook erupted in the gayest of gossip this week when a group member revealed the GLTA (Gay Lesbian Tennis Alliance) Board's unilateral decision to not hold elections as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As you might expect, Aldwin and Jason are living for that juicy gossip and offer their analysis of the varying opinions posted on that decision, reflect on the GLTA Tour as a whole and where there is opportunity to improve coordination and communications.

Better than any film script, American player Sam Querrey thwarts ATP rules and Russian authorities, booking a private jet out of St. Petersburg after testing positive for COVID. Was it also your 'query' as to how Querrey secured a private jet? What was he thinking bringing his wife and 8-month old son along? What will be the ramifications of his poor judgement?And in other 'COVIDian Czar' news, Aldwin gives his 'impression' of the Fabio Fognini diagnosis.

Of course the tour continues post FO and the guys review results of St. Petersburg and Cologne, and preview what's 'poppin' on the women's side in Ostrava. UTS3 rears its 'racquet head' again and Aldwin and Jason are left wondering if anyone still cares.

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French Open 2020: The Wrap Up

That's it folks!  This abbreviated Grand Slam Season is ovah and we've got two French Open Champions to show for it!  Félicitations go to Polish phenom Iga Swiatek for trouncing the competition this past fortnight and Rafael Nadal for pummeling his way through the draw (Novak Djokovic, we feel for you girl) and winning his 7 billionth French Open title.  (That is obvi a clear exaggeration but come on, 13 Roland Garros titles on one of the most difficult surfaces to win a Slam on?  As John McEnroe put it: "That's out of this world!)

Jay and Aldwin give you the full post tourney analysis and dig a little into the controversy of players using medical timeouts to shift the momentum in matches (we see you Sofia Kenin!).  After the two conclude their analysis of the tournament by doling out a few honourable mentions (Jannik Sinner, we live for you!), the duo then look to the tail end of the tennis season.  While the men's tour is alive and kicking in France and Russia, the women's tour has one more stop as they head to a place that neither Jay nor Aldwin can find on a map (even though US Americans have maps and everything such as the Iraq...)

...please tell us you got that iconic Miss Teen USA reference.

And wait?  Did you hear?  Looks like the duo are welcoming an extremely special guest on the pod soon!  But you'll have to tune in, listen, like, share, and subscribe to see who that amazing person may be!  

French Open 2020: The Who's Who of, Who's That?!

It's midway through an unusual (and cold) French Open 2020, the third and final slam of the season (let that sink in). The guys struggle with the new crop of 'Who's that?' up and comers. Who's this Iga Swiatek getting off handling Halep-ae and our bestie Genie like that? More importantly, who's that snack with the Frenchiest of names (Hugo Gaston) handling his business and his nerve against Wawrinka and giving us the match of the tournament (thus far) against Dominic Thiem? Will these and other players breaking through continue their promise beyond the FO?

The guys assess all the fresh faces and the quarterfinal match-ups, making their picks for eventual champion. They also bring analysis of all the drama that is week one... Serena withdraws, Vika flounders, Bertens cramps and gets wheeled off court, and Sara Errani mocks her opponents injury. And lest we forget the assessment of chair umpire vision challenges, as calls for permanent use of 'Hawk Eye' on clay grow following Shapo's second round injustice. 

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French Open 2020 Preview (But Our Vision Betta Den Dat!)

Yo, yo, yo, hittin' balls on da clay

heavy top spin, b****, bettah make your play

Serve so wide, Johnny Mac think you cray

Ace, drop shot all day errday.  

FO 2020, but our vision bettah den dat.  We out.  

Thank you Denis Shapovalov for being our lyrical inspiration for this most exciting pod episode intro!  Here we are bitches!  French Open 2020, second Slam of the year and what?  In September?  We know it's cray but we gotta roll with the punches.  Before diving into the terre battue, Jason and Aldwin do a cute little review of their Winter Team Tennis final (thank you to Team Grey for carrying them throughout the whole damn season) and discuss the semi-important tune-ups that took place in Hamburg and Strasbourg the week prior.  

And now on to what is likely going to be a cold and heavy French Open.  The two take a look at some early 1st round results, a few juicy-ass match-ups, and pop off a new segment tentatively titled "The Whaaaa-ambulance" as they highlight the groans and moans of Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Fernando Verdasco (we think his case is actually justified), and Rafael Nadal.  Someone get these lil' babies some soothers!

When in Rome

The guys kick-off this week's episode talking about their own tests on court. Aldwin may have finally found his flawless forehand form, aided by a new grunt, while Jason struggles in his Aldwin-free return to Winter Team Tennis Redux (Fall Edition). 

When in Rome, the WTA and ATP tours turn to clay, and the guys share their standouts on both the ladies and mens side. Can anyone stop 'Halep-pae' or Djoko, the latter who is still undefeated-ish in 2020? (You know... cause he lost to a Line Judge.)

Shapo was a stand-out again When in Rome, making the semis. But two jobs 'Shapo' da Rappa also 'Drip'ped... sorry 'dropped' his latest single 'Drip', accompanied by that cutie with the booty Corentin Moutet. Can 'Shap' feel it like Jay Z and drive his 'Rari' (vroom vroom bitches) into the Top 10 of the Billboard charts like he's done with his ATP Tour ranking, or should he just stick to that jumping backhand? Prepare for a dramatic lyrical 'read' of both 'Drip' and Shapo's first single, 'Night Train'.

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A Slammin' Success: Your Complete US Open Review

Who could possibly believe that we would be here?  Six months following a complete shuttering of both the ATP and WTA tours and here we frickin' are, at the end of a shortened yet incredible North American hard court swing and with two marvellous Grand Slam Champions!

Naomi Osaka and Dominic Thiem are your bright and shiny 2020 US Open Champions y'all and Jason and Aldwin give you the full low down on their journey to hoisting those coveted trophies (no asterisk needed thank you very much).  The boys cover their path from their dramatic semifinals all the way through to their even more dramatic final wins.  

The other amazing storylines that the two examine include: Viktoria Azarenka's incredible career comeback, Alexander Zverev's statement-making run to his first major final, Naomi Osaka's poignant push for social change, and Dominic Thiem's booty energy (and also the fact that he is now, finally after three attempts, a Grand Slam Champion!).

The boys also take a quick peek into the draw at the already underway Rome tourney and give a big love shoutout to their bestest Genie Bouchard for reaching the final in Istanbul.

Gratitude is the attitude and there is tons of it with so much brilliant tennis played this past fortnight.  

 

The Djoko No-No

The tennis world is a buzz at the unraveling of Djoker's opportunity at his 18 grand slam title after inadvertently striking a ball into the throat of a lines woman. For the NoleFam, the 'safe bubble' that saw Nole as overwhelming favourite has suddenly burst, and the guys are living for all the juicy drama... and the drama they themselves (well Jason) created with 'King Kyrgios' on IG.

With Djoko's 'No-No', and no big three in the QF of a slam since 2003, a first time champion will emerge on the men's side and the guys make the picks. Could the 'Night Train' take Shapo, the loan Canadian left in the draw to the title?

For the woman, some wonderful fresh faces in Brady and Rogers join mommas Serena, Vika and Pironkova in the quarters. Could Aldwin be right that we are destined for a 2018 rematch of Osaka vs. Serena?

The guys close by sharing memories from 'Coupe de la Reine', named best large GLTA tournament in 2019. A Labour Day Weekend tradition each year in Montreal disrupted in 2020 by the pandemic, the guys share the best on and off court memories from the last few years. 

Wrapping Up the Western & Southern & US Open Preview

The return of professional tennis is in full swing and the boys are here to serve y'all the best successes and storylines coming out of the sensational Cincinatti tournament!  (How's that for alliteration?)

But first, a jaw-dropping headline: UTS participant, the "Rebel" otherwise known as French tennis bad boy Benoit Paire has become the first player to test positive for Covid-19 in "the bubble."  Jason and Aldwin squeeze the pulp on that juicy-ass story as they share some inside scoop on what one of them observed on a live IG story a few nights prior.  

After a lil' "gossip-girling," the boys return with a full run-down of the Western & Southern Open.  The two celebrate the victories of Djokovic and Azarenka, shout out a few fantastic performances (Milos Raonic, we're so proud of you!), and chat about Naomi Osaka's emotional week, one in which her actions catalyzed a collective pause in play in support of the BLM movement.  

All this and a review of the US Open draws to conclude their 15th episode?  No wonder the boys need a nap!

 

 

Girl Talk with Genie Bouchard

In their first player interview, the guys score some sassy and sparkly 'girl talk' with the incomparable tennis starlet and former Wimbledon finalist, Genie Bouchard. 

As Genie points out, this is indeed a tennis podcast.  Aldwin and Jason chat with her about her recent success in Prague (flicking that fierce braided pony all over the court!), her experience during World Team Tennis with her fabulous Girl Gang, building a relationship with her new coach and six time grand slam doubles champion Rennae Stubbs, and the positives (if any) for her during the pandemic.

Genie shares why she chose Vegas as her home base, and provides a 'RPTP Scoop' about an on court practice with a 'GOAT' earlier in the day. (We literally died).  

'Sassy and Loving Life', Genie gets cozy and cute with the boys for some BFF pillow talk to conclude the interview.  She reveals how she's missed family, home (Montreal), and Tim Horton's coffee during this pandemic, answers a few spicy listener questions, and answers some rapid fire questions for a game  the boys have created called 'The Changeover'. 

Genie's Army just got two new enthusiastic recruits and girl, you will always be our "Genie in a Bottle!" 

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