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Naomi Osaka reached the quarterfinals at the Qatar WTA 1000 event, winning her first match over a top 30 opponent in Caroline Garcia, also avenging the Australian Open loss. She also won back-to-back matches for the first time since Miami 2022. While her tennis truly has seen great improvement from Brisbane, and the rust is starting to fall off, what really is great to see in Osaka right now is that she seems to be enjoying the game - a great contrast from when she was suffering with depression back in 2021 and 2022. Then, she wanted to be anywhere but in front of a crowd and on a court. Now, she seems to truly be enjoying it. But can Naomi Osaka win a big title in 2024? Can she break into the Top 30? Who knows. What truly matters, though, is that she continues to enjoy her time on court. Then, the sky is the limit. Talk to us on social media :) Follow Tennis and Bagels: Twitter @TennisAndBAGELS Andre Rolemberg @RolembergAndre Vansh Vermani @vanshv2k Owen Lewis @tennisnation Owen's The Golden Rivalry: follow all chapters as they are released on substack! Check out Popcorn Tennis! Twitter: @Popcorn_Tennis1 Website: popcorntennis.com Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tennis-and-bagels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Netflix's Break Point cost millions, took months to be completed, several of the most talented people in the industry, and still can't hold a candle to the ATP Season, a comedic 5-minute parody of what the tennis season is like. Players pretending that everything we see is fake, and some of the best acting from your favourite players like Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and Gael Monfils. What is missing to the multi-million dollar production by the entertainment giant? What did Netflix miss? For starters, we think that they should get rid of the F1: Drive to Survive thinking and find their own mission statement. We also talk about the most controversial coach in modern tennis, Patrick Mouratoglou. Who is he really? A great coach? A PR genius with a way to make people talk about himself? A... clown? We don't quite believe in this last option, but the true merits of Mouratoglou as an elite tennis coach are a good topic to be explored - one that might bring about an entire episode of its own. Touching briefly on some of the WTA matches this week, Andre recommended the Abu Dhabi semifinals, but obviously these are over by now. So if you can, go watch a replay of Rybakina vs Samsonova and Haddad Maia vs Kasatkina! Both of these were amazing. And don't forget to catch the final on Sunday! Finally, we ended up having to chat about Saudi Arabia's involvement in tennis. What to expect? What to do as fans? How can we still enjoy good tennis, and at the same time keep in mind that Saudi Arabia is far from being a role-model of a country, being a quite brutal dictatorship with many shortcomings when it comes to human rights? Ultimately, though, money talks for the big players. Talk to us on social media :) Follow Tennis and Bagels: Twitter @TennisAndBAGELS Andre Rolemberg @RolembergAndre Vansh Vermani @vanshv2k Owen Lewis @tennisnation Owen's The Golden Rivalry: follow all chapters as they are released on substack! Check out Popcorn Tennis! Twitter: @Popcorn_Tennis1 Website: popcorntennis.com Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tennis-and-bagels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us in this captivating episode as tennis historian, writer, and hall-of-famer Steve Flink returns to dissect the thrilling moments of the Australian Open men's tournament. In an insightful conversation with our host Vansh, they delve into the triumphs and tribulations of the players who left their mark on the iconic tournament. The spotlight is on the phenomenal ascent of Italian sensation Jannik Sinner, who emerged victorious in a historic showdown against the formidable Novak Djokovic. The 10-time Australian Open champion faced his first-ever defeat in the semi-finals, leaving fans in awe of Sinner's prowess and determination as he valiantly came back from a two-sets-to-love deficit against Daniil Medvedev to win his maiden Grand Slam title. Djokovic's shocking performance also left Flink and Vansh intrigued, wondering if this will affect the rest of the season for the Serbian. Flink and Vansh navigate the twists and turns of Daniil Medvedev's journey, exploring his resurgence and reaching the final for the third time in Australia. The duo revisits Medvedev's past challenges, including a heartbreaking loss to Rafael Nadal at this same stage in 2022, and examines the improvements that have transformed him into a more promising and formidable player. From adjustments in his net game to strategic shifts in his return position, could Medvedev's evolution bring him back to being one of the most dangerous players on tour? As the episode unfolds, the hosts speculate on the future prospects of Sinner and Medvedev, pondering whether they will secure victories in the remaining Grand Slam events of 2024. The burning question lingers: Can either of them rise to the pinnacle and claim the coveted World No. 1 ranking? Tune in for a riveting discussion filled with expert analysis, tennis insights, and a glimpse into the potential future of these tennis titans. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a casual observer, this episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about the world of tennis. 🎙️🎾 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tennis-and-bagels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A deeper dive into the happenings of the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open, as it came to an end this Sunday, January 28! Owen makes a case for Aryna Sabalenka to be the true best player in the world. What are her weaknesses? If not for her own on-court frustrations and nerves kicking in, there are no real vulnerabilities to exploit in her game, no matter on which surface. The WTA's current Top 3 plus Elena Rybakina also seems consolidated and increasingly distancing themselves from the rest of the pack. Is a new domination era starting? How many Grand Slam titles will Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina win in the next 5-10 years? Exciting battles look very possible on the horizon. And we did not forget Qinwen Zheng, who finished runner-up at the Australian Open. How far does her potential go? Which areas can she improve on her game? After a hard fought final, though ending in a straight forward loss, Zheng now enters the Top 10, and has much material to look into as she seeks to follow on the footsteps of fellow Chinese player Li Na, the 2014 Australian Open champion. On the ATP side, more questions than answers. How high is Janni Sinner's ceiling? Is the World No.1 ranking in the cards for this year? Another major title? And what about Medvedev - now that he is happy and motivated, can he finally add another Grand Slam title to his trophy room? It will depend on how well he can implement the changes he needs in his game, and how long he can sustain his best level, though another 2-0 lead is blown at the Australian Open. Looking into Novak Djokovic, we were left puzzled by his performance. Although, while we do not consider his decline to be so sudden as to cause his level to drop so much in just two days, it seems something was not quite right. And he sure needed a much higher level to beat Sinner. Talk to us on social media :) Follow Tennis and Bagels: Twitter @TennisAndBAGELS Andre Rolemberg @RolembergAndre Vansh Vermani @vanshv2k Owen Lewis @tennisnation Owen's The Golden Rivalry: follow all chapters as they are released on substack! Check out Popcorn Tennis! Twitter: @Popcorn_Tennis1 Website: popcorntennis.com Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tennis-and-bagels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andre takes a quick look into Aryna Sabalenka's dominant performance in the Australian Open final, defeating China's Qinwen Zheng 6-3 6-2. Though Zheng showed flashes of brilliance, it wasn't to be for the Chinese rising star's first Grand Slam final, as she went up against a decisive, confident, and powerful Sabalenka, who looks well and truly like a player who wants to be the World No.1 again. Plus: Rohan Boppana's inspiring ascent to the World No. 1 ranking for the first time in his career at 43 years old, also winning his first men's doubles major title, teaming up with Australia's Matthew Ebden! And a major run by Netherlands para-athlete Diede de Groot, who is now on a 14-title winning streak in Grand Slams, with three calendar Grand Slams won during the run - and a strong possibility of a fourth one on the way! Talk to us on social media :) Follow Tennis and Bagels: Twitter @TennisAndBAGELS Andre Rolemberg @RolembergAndre Vansh Vermani @vanshv2k Owen Lewis @tennisnation Owen's The Golden Rivalry: follow all chapters as they are released on substack! Listen to our predictions at the Murray Musings Podcast! Check out Popcorn Tennis! Twitter: @Popcorn_Tennis1 Website: popcorntennis.com Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tennis-and-bagels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎾🥯 Game, Set, Podcast! 🥯🎾 We're back in 2024 for more great tennis adventures, starting at the place Andre and Owen long to go back to: Australia! 🌟 Iga Swiatek's Epic Showdown: The illustrious World No.1, Iga Swiatek, encountered a formidable challenge in the form of Danielle Collins. Seemingly down and out, Swiatek pulled off a huge comeback in the third, though possibly with some help from the American. We look back at this match, and weigh in on Swiatek's still arduous journey to the title. 🎾 Rybakina's Rollercoaster Exit: Last year's finalist, Elena Rybakina, bid adieu in a second-round spectacle against Anna Blinkova. While still tough to say whether Rybakina is still learning how to navigate extremely tough matches, this one was special: several match points on both sides, the longest tie-break ever at Grand Slam level. A disappointing end for Rybakina, but a phenomenal showdown and a properly earned upset by Blinkova. 🔥 Sabalenka's Unstoppable Run: Aryna Sabalenka, the indomitable force, continues her ruthless march through the draw. Now with Anisimova up next, we shall see where her level is truly at - but no one can say she is not consistently putting herself in position to win the biggest titles. 🌈 Coco's Winning Streak: The prodigious Coco Gauff is now surfing on a long 10-match winning streak at Grand Slams. As the second week approaches, her challenges will only grow more difficult. We're particularly excited about the prospect of a teenager battle between Gauff and 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva! 🤔 Medvedev's Moment of Reflection: Doubt surrounds the prowess of Daniil Medvedev. Can he dispel the shadows of uncertainty and assert his dominance over the elite and find the extremely high level he displayed back in 2021 and at the Australian Open in 2022? 🎾 Sinner's Five-Set Odyssey: Jannik Sinner, a virtuoso in his own right, grapples with the challenge of the best-of-five sets format. Can he ascend to the summit and silence the skeptics, or will he face a symphony of setbacks? 👑 Djokovic's Australian Reign: Novak Djokovic, the perennial monarch of the Australian Open, faces a potential usurper in the form of Carlos Alcaraz. Is Djokovic's reign unassailable, or will Alcaraz be the architect of an epoch-defining upset? Coming closer to an 11th title in Australia, Djokovic still owns Rod Laver arena, but Alcaraz has already took over the throne at Wimbledon. Could he do it also down under? Talk to us on social media :) Follow Tennis and Bagels: Twitter @TennisAndBAGELS Andre Rolemberg @RolembergAndre Vansh Vermani @vanshv2k Owen Lewis @tennisnation Owen's The Golden Rivalry: follow all chapters as they are released on substack! Listen to our predictions at the Murray Musings Podcast! Check out Popcorn Tennis! Twitter: @Popcorn_Tennis1 Website: popcorntennis.com Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tennis-and-bagels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The greatest men's rivalry in the history of tennis? The most physical in the sport overall? Andre interviews co-host Owen about his recent project, a book about the Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic Rivalry, appropriately called "The Golden Rivalry." They discuss motivation for writing the book, the challenges of putting it together, and several tangents about the great Novak Djokovic H2H Rafael Nadal matchup: what was their best match? Why is it so great? Is it really superior to the Federer vs Nadal rivalry? Contrary to popular belief, not all their matches are all that impressive. But which was the worst? And maybe the most important question of the rivalry: which match was most significant for their careers and the history of tennis overall? Follow along as they praise the two giants of the game and chat about Owen's exciting project, and follow all chapters as they are released on substack! Talk to us on social media :) Follow Tennis and Bagels: Twitter @TennisAndBAGELS Andre Rolemberg @RolembergAndre Vansh Vermani @vanshv2k Owen Lewis @tennisnation Check out Popcorn Tennis! Twitter: @Popcorn_Tennis1 Website: popcorntennis.com Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tennis-and-bagels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vansh brings on returning guest and Hall of Famer Steve Flink to dissect the overall ATP Tour landscape as the 2023 comes to an end. We talk a lot about the ATP Finals & what we learned. Where does this season rank for Novak Djokovic in his career? Can Jannik Sinner take his strong 2nd half of the year, with the Davis Cup triumph, into 2024 and win a major? What do we make of Carlos Alcaraz since Wimbledon & Daniil Medvedev vs his best rivals? What about the rest of the players outside the top 4? So much covered in great detail! Talk to us on social media :) Follow Tennis and Bagels: Twitter @TennisAndBAGELS Andre Rolemberg @RolembergAndre Vansh Vermani @vanshv2k Owen Lewis @tennisnation Check out Popcorn Tennis! Twitter: @Popcorn_Tennis1 Website: popcorntennis.com Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tennis-and-bagels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jannik Sinner went from triple match point down to beating Novak Djokovic twice in the same day and leading Italy to it's first Davis Cup title since 1976. Not things you achieve everyday! After a supreme change in dynamics after reaching his first Grand Slam Semi-final at Wimbledon, Sinner went on to win his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Canada, and backed it up with a tremendous fall season, winning titles in Beijing and Vienna and reaching the final at the ATP Finals in Turin, in front of his home fans. Now ranked World No. 4, Jannik Sinner got two wins in three matches against the legendary Novak Djokovic, who finished the year as the World No. 1 for a record-breaking 8th year, and won three of the four Grand Slam titles of 2023. While glory at the ATP Finals was denied by the Serb, Sinner did not throw away his opportunity to make his country proud, lifting the Davis Cup trophy with his teammates, playing alongside Matteo Arnaldi, Lorenzo Sonego, Lorenzo Musetti, and cheered on by former Top 10 Matteo Berrettini on the team bench. What a year for Italy! Ben Lewis joins Andre in this week's podcast to talk about Canada's unlucky week at the Davis Cup, point out the silver lining of Milos Raonic's return to the team. With a tough loss in the quarter-finals to Finland, Team Canada goes back to the qualifying stage of the Davis Cup. Ben and Andre chat about this year's shortcomings, pointing that Gabriel Diallo's match was the coin toss, but he could not produce the tennis he managed during the group stage and that allowed him to win his second title on the challenger tour in the fall. To top the less than ideal week, Vasek Pospisil's woes were back, as he could not shake off what appeared to be a shoulder injury, and Canada bowed out 2-1 to Finland, as Felix Auger-Aliassime was unfit to play, with a lower-body injury. What will then be of the Canadians in 2024? Can Felix Auger-Aliassime get back into the Top 10? How far will Milos Raonic go before he calls it a career? Can the big-serving Canadian win another title (maybe the last edition of the Hall of Fame Open in Newport on grass?) And what awaits Denis Shapovalov, who decided to call it a season after a tough Round of 16 loss to Roman Safiullin at Wimbledon? Let us know what you think! Follow Ben Lewis! Twitter: @BenLewisMPC Substack Match Point Canada: @MatchPointCan SUBSCRIBE TO TENNIS AND BAGELS ON YOUTUBE! Follow Tennis and Bagels: Twitter @TennisAndBAGELS Andre Rolemberg @RolembergAndre Vansh Vermani @vanshv2k Owen Lewis @tennisnation Check out Popcorn Tennis! Twitter: @Popcorn_Tennis1 Website: popcorntennis.com Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tennis-and-bagels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crina Mustafa, basketball and tennis content creator, comes over to Tennis and Bagels Podcast to chat (and cheer) with Andre about Canada's history-making moment with the Billie Jean King Cup title in Seville. Leylah Annie Fernandez, the 21-year-old dynamo who's been making waves since her epic run to the 2021 US Open final, took on the role of leader of the Canadian team despite her young age, and did not disappoint. She went undefeated in 2023 in Billie Jean King Cup competition in both singles and double combined, making it a total of 8-0 for the year. After tough matches and near-misses, Fernandez fended off Ysaline Bonaventure in the Vancouver qualifiers in April after being a set and a break down to send Canada to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals stage. There, her way was no simpler, having to go down the trenches against Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain in a three-hour, two-tiebreak battle, then getting her first top 10 win against Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova of Czechia in three sets in the semi-finals. Against Italy, the title was sealed with a straight-forward win over Jasmine Paolini. Another young star seems to be being born in Canadian tennis, as Marina Stakusic left her mark in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. The 18-year-old, who has done incredibly well in the ITF World Tennis Tour, coming off of a win at the Tevlin Challenger in Toronto, lost only one match the whole week, going down against former Roland Garros champion and former World No. 2 in two sets, but winning every other match against players much higher ranked than her. Her incredible performance gave Canada the courage and belief necessary to go all the way, as Stakusic also went relatively untroubled against former Roland Garros semifinalist Martina Trevisan in the first singles against Italy. Rounding up the team, US Open women's doubles champion Gaby Dabrowski partnered up with Fernandez in the critical match against Czechia to defeat multiple Grand Slam champions Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova to send Canada to the final. Rebecca Marino and Genie Bouchard also left their hearts on the court, with Bouchard taking on to the court in doubles. At the end of it all, Heidi El Tabakh also got her much awaited and deserved triumph with Team Canada as the team captain. The cheerful, but calm and focused captain's actions and critical decision making led Canada to be at its optimal state to finally lift the coveted trophy for the first time in the competition's history. Talk to us on social media :) Follow Crina Mustafa! Twitter: @crinamm Follow Tennis and Bagels: Twitter @TennisAndBAGELS Andre Rolemberg @RolembergAndre Vansh Vermani @vanshv2k Owen Lewis @tennisnation Check out Popcorn Tennis! Twitter: @Popcorn_Tennis1 Website: popcorntennis.com Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tennis-and-bagels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A lot was on the line for Iga Swiatek at the WTA Finals in Cancun. A win would bring her her second-biggest title of the year (behind all four majors), and her first at the year-end WTA tournament featuring the Top 8 performing players in the world in 2023. And last but not least: if all things aligned, she would also become the World No.1, overtaking Aryna Sabalenka and making sure she would finish her second consecutive year as the World No.1 And Iga Siwatek did all that - in style. Under the hurricane-like conditions in Cancun, Swiatek took down every opponent in straight sets, and left the best for last: losing a total of six games in the semi-finals and final combined, she put her destiny in her hands when she beat Aryna Sabalenka in the semis, and completely dominated Jessica Pegula in windy conditions in the final for a final bakery shop demonstration of the year, winning 6-1, 6-0. What will 2024 be like for the generational talent from Poland? Andre and Vansh also chat about the incredible week in Paris on the ATP side, which saw Novak Djokovic lift and ATP Masters 1000 for the 40th time. Needless to say, a record, which he has been competing against himself in for a number of months now. Overcoming physical difficulties which prevented the legendary Serb from playing his best tennis, Djokovic still did what he does better than anyone in history: winning from any position. Clutch in decisive moments, patient in neutral ones. making sure no match ever went fully out of his control. Taking on inspiring performances from Tallon Griekspoor and Andrey Rublev, and closing the door on an impressive and uplifting week from Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, the World No. 1 extended his records in Paris, in ATP wins, number of big titles, and is now only one win away from securing a hardly-comprehensible 400th week as the World No. 1. As a 36-year-old. We are running out of superlatives, or any descriptive words for that matter. for Novak Djokovic. Talk to us on social media :) Follow Tennis and Bagels: Twitter @TennisAndBAGELS Andre Rolemberg @RolembergAndre Vansh Vermani @vanshv2k Owen Lewis @tennisnation Check out Popcorn Tennis! Twitter: @Popcorn_Tennis1 Website: popcorntennis.com Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tennis-and-bagels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andre and Owen talk WTA match-ups and how the many permutations can greatly affect results at the WTA Finals in Cancun. Will Aryna Sabalenka continue to establish herself as No.1? Can Elena Rybakina prove herself as a fighter on top of being one of the best servers in today's women's tennis? Will Iga Swiatek be able to re-establish herself with her first WTA Finals title? Plus all the other great players who are looking to end the season on top after extremely tight competition all year. Coco Gauff will look to keep the momentum going after her US Open victory and prove it was not just a dream run; Ons Jabeur and Marketa Vondrousova, the Wimbledon finalist and champion, will look to find good form again and keep themselves close to the top 4. Jessica Pegula will try to lift her game and show that she's more than just a consistent player. And closing the field, Maria Sakkari will try her best to show she belongs among the WTA tennis elite with a strong performance, after coming in as an alternate with the withdrawal of Karolina Muchova due to injury. On the ATP Tour side, a couple more weeks are still left until all is said and done for 2023. But one of the most improved players of the year, Jannik Sinner, is looking very sharp and ever-so dangerous after his second consecutive win over Daniil Medvedev in the Vienna final. An extremely physical battle, where Sinner showed his improved physical endurance as well as patience to outplay one of the fittest players on tour, and one of the best defenders to step on a hard court in Daniil Medvedev. One thing is still left for Jannik: to prove himself in the Grand Slams and maybe even get a win over all-time great Novak Djokovic. Lastly, Andre gives a shoutout to compatriot Félix Auger-Aliassime for his inspiring run to his title defense in Basel (with some unbelievable serve stats on his side.) Let Paris-Bercy give us its best! Talk to us on social media :) Follow Tennis and Bagels: Twitter @TennisAndBAGELS Andre Rolemberg @RolembergAndre Vansh Vermani @vanshv2k Owen Lewis @tennisnation Check out Popcorn Tennis! Twitter: @Popcorn_Tennis1 Website: popcorntennis.com Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tennis-and-bagels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.