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Send us Fan Mail Melissa Byrne joins us for our first exploration into the winter leagues of East Hants, taking the show into its third district within Hampshire. Tennis in East Hants is anchored on clubs that lie within 15 miles of Liss. Melissa looks at the early leaders in mens, womens and mixed doubles, and how that contrasts with the summer winners.  We take a look at how some of Hampshire’s biggest players are doing in US college tennis, pro doubles and pro singles.  Also in this show: as another tennis facility is converted to padel, is padel really growing at the expense of tennis? Totton & Eling are looking for a new coach as the winter merry-go-round continues to spin, and we take a closer look at Her Contact Point, a new initiative from Hampshire & Isle of Wight tennis for women coaches, volunteers and players.  Send us your thoughts for (or about!) the show: [email protected] Speakpipe.com/THPOD WhatsApp: +44 (0) 74 7039 5289 Follow us at: Instagram @thampshirepod TikTok: hampshiretennispod Facebook: The Tennis Hampshire Podcast Youtube: @tennishampshirepodcast

Send us Fan Mail There’s a County Cup-sized hole in the winter calendar this year, after the LTA quietly snuffed out one of the most popular and longest-running county-level competitions in the county. If there is a silver lining to such a thing, our investigations have unearthed an entire movement dedicated towards bringing back the event, and ANOTHER podcaster covering county-level tennis in the UK? And to think we thought we had the UK tennis scene all to ourselves here in podcast land.  Hampshire's County singles boxes are bigger than ever, and the deadlines are more generous than ever. We welcome the chance to meet more players, but will this spur the renaissance we’re all looking for? It’s a nice try from the league, and we debate its chances of success.  Southampton’s winter leagues are a fifth of the way through the winter schedule, so we check in with the most active mens and ladies divisions so far, and compare notes on how our own seasons are going so far.  Send us your thoughts for (or about!) the show: [email protected] Speakpipe.com/THPOD WhatsApp: +44 (0) 74 7039 5289 Follow us at: Instagram @thampshirepod TikTok: hampshiretennispod Facebook: The Tennis Hampshire Podcast Youtube: @tennishampshirepodcast

Send us Fan Mail The winter storms hit this weekend, so instead of playing a long-planned tennis friendly at CourtX, Dave and Robin recorded this episode together.  We explore how Portsmouth & District’s Winter Leagues have started, now that we are into Week 5, and Robin shares his expected winners and who might find it tough across the area’s top divisions. Portsmouth have a strong turnout for winter this year, with 90 teams registered, representing 20 clubs. And things will be competitive at the very highest levels.  Robin shares who he expects Portsmouth to send into battle at the Solent Cup, which will be played at CourtX in April, since it is Portsmouth’s turn to host.  Elsewhere, a Starbucks millionaire builds the first new tennis court in Hampshire in ages, but he’s going to have to tear it down after the Coucil came down hard on the misadventure.  And.a local school has upgraded four courts to move them inside, with the very best of playing surfaces. They’ve committed to making the courts available to others outside of school use. Do we have the birth of a new Thornden on our hands? Send us your thoughts for (or about!) the show: [email protected] Speakpipe.com/THPOD WhatsApp: +44 (0) 74 7039 5289 Follow us at: Instagram @thampshirepod TikTok: hampshiretennispod Facebook: The Tennis Hampshire Podcast Youtube: @tennishampshirepodcast

Send us Fan Mail Three years ago he picked up a racquet for the first time, this summer he became David Lloyd Southampton’s most successful summer captain in the Apsley League. Aaron Williams joins the show to share his developing philosophy on tennis captaining, reflections on his surprises about captaining during his first year in the gig, and aspirations for next summer.  We look together at the start of the Winter Season in Hampshire & Isle of Wight’s mixed, mens and ladies leagues, including a closer look at the new rules for this winter. Think you know your Rule 11 and Rule 15? This again… weather rules have changed, and Rule 15 was broken no fewer than five times last winter, costing teams points and prestige.  Being that kind of podcast, we go through the rule-breakers, and chat about why players and captains keep tripping over all the red tape. One club tripped Rule 15 not once, but TWICE! Looking ahead, we make our predictions for who will represent Southampton at the Solent Cup by winning the HIOW Mens Doubles and Ladies Doubles.  It turns out Aaron has a lot in common with Tom Mitchell, including quite the crush on a certain club riding high in the charts. Meanwhile Dave offers some shock predictions for the Southampton side of the Solent Cup.  Send us your thoughts for (or about!) the show: [email protected] Speakpipe.com/THPOD WhatsApp: +44 (0) 74 7039 5289 Follow us at: Instagram @thampshirepod TikTok: hampshiretennispod Facebook: The Tennis Hampshire Podcast Youtube: @tennishampshirepodcast

Send us Fan Mail OK, someone has to call time on summer, and that time is NOW! We. celebrate the end of a great summer of tennis by looking through who won top spots and promotions across the Apsley, the Hampshire men's and ladies leagues, and the parallel leagues in Portsmouth & District. We delayed the episode by a day to be able to incorporate the last results that will make a difference to promotions and relegations in the Apsley League, and I'm glad we did! Last ditch relegation battles for Littleton, Waterside, Portswood and Romsey & Abbey brought some classic matches to end the season.  Send us your thoughts for (or about!) the show: [email protected] Speakpipe.com/THPOD WhatsApp: +44 (0) 74 7039 5289 Follow us at: Instagram @thampshirepod TikTok: hampshiretennispod Facebook: The Tennis Hampshire Podcast Youtube: @tennishampshirepodcast

Send us Fan Mail Upstarts Ventnor and perennial champions Warsash are chasing top spot in Portsmouth's Summer Mixed Doubles league as the summer closes. Robin Ellison joins us from the blue side of the county to share with us how that's playing out, and delivers a full run down of how the mixed summer league is playing out. The LTA has opened nominations for its annual awards recognising players, coaches, volunteers, clubs and much more. Why not nominate someone you this deserves a pat on the back for all their hard work? Link below.  Over in the Apsley, Thornden A won the Premier, Thornden B took second spot in the first division, and Lee on Solent got a win at last, but will it be enough to stay up? Send your LTA Awards nominations here: https://www.lta.org.uk/what-we-do/lta-awards/ Send us your thoughts for (or about!) the show: [email protected] Speakpipe.com/THPOD WhatsApp: +44 (0) 74 7039 5289 Follow us at: Instagram @thampshirepod TikTok: hampshiretennispod Facebook: The Tennis Hampshire Podcast Youtube: @tennishampshirepodcast

Send us Fan Mail The never-ending summer feels like it’s now quite close to ending, which makes this a perfect time to look at who’s celebrating the most as another Apsley comes to a close.  Thornden look odds-on for a pretty magnificent double this weekend, but we talk abut how Twyford - and all in their ilk - can only focus on what’s reasonably within their control as the season hits its finale. Speaking of controlling the controllables, Totton & Eling seem to have quietly but clearly turned things around. We reflect on their very successful summer.  Elsewhere, the gunshots have been silenced in Winchester and padel is out of the dog house. With a two-year battle now in the rear view mirror, are we about to see a burst of investment into Winchester padel? Send us your thoughts for (or about!) the show: [email protected] Speakpipe.com/THPOD WhatsApp: +44 (0) 74 7039 5289 Follow us at: Instagram @thampshirepod TikTok: hampshiretennispod Facebook: The Tennis Hampshire Podcast Youtube: @tennishampshirepodcast

Send us Fan Mail We’ve only got four weeks to go and there’s everything to play for in just about every Apsley division. It’s been a competitive summer to say the least.  Things will start to get settled from this weekend though, especially in Divisions Three and Four, which started that bit earlier.  The MAIN EVENT is definitely Thorden A taking on Riverside A for the right to try and hunt down Warsash A for the Premier Division title. We examine the squads that have made both teams strong again this year.  The Singles Groups have also sprung back into life, although Rob offers Dave a walkover live on air. Shenanigans? Listen to the end of the episode to find out.  Plus there’s good news for West Hants, Waterside and Romsey & Abbey in this week’s local tennis news. Send us your thoughts for (or about!) the show: [email protected] Speakpipe.com/THPOD WhatsApp: +44 (0) 74 7039 5289 Follow us at: Instagram @thampshirepod TikTok: hampshiretennispod Facebook: The Tennis Hampshire Podcast Youtube: @tennishampshirepodcast

Send us Fan Mail Dave’s back from the US Open, where the ratio of influencers to fans was getting a little out of control. Rob held the fort at the Winter League meeting for Twyford Men, getting the job done on the fixtures that will take us through the rest of the 2026-2027 season.  But first: Winchester-born Toby Samuel rakes in the cash with a career-high performance in Flushing Meadows, and Wellow take a punt on high profile Hampshire coach Taz Keens. Will it work?  We also take a look at last week’s Apsley results and the weekend ahead.  Send us your thoughts for the show: [email protected] Speakpipe.com/THPOD Follow us at: Instagram @thampshirepod TikTok: hampshiretennispod Facebook: The Tennis Hampshire Podcast

Send us Fan Mail With just two fixtures left across all five of Hampshire’s Ladies Doubles leagues, we’re ready to call the results for the summer - the champions are in! Tom’s had an email from the leagues about promotions and relegations in the men’s doubles, and he’s not particularly thrilled with the logic.  Meanwhile Mixed and Mens Doubles exploded into life at the Hampshire & IOW County Championships, while we get ready for singles finals day on Saturday, August 29th. Plus Dave won in his Twyford A team debut, and we have six Apsley fixtures to preview for this weekend.  Send us your thoughts for (or about!) the show: [email protected] Speakpipe.com/THPOD WhatsApp: +44 (0) 74 7039 5289 Follow us at: Instagram @thampshirepod TikTok: hampshiretennispod Facebook: The Tennis Hampshire Podcast Youtube: @tennishampshirepodcast

Send us Fan Mail The Hampshire & IOW County Championships get started on Sunday, August 23rd and they’ll be running all week. Dave and Tom call their favourites for Mens, Ladies, and the doubles events that are going on.  Most categories are wide open. Will we see some batons being passed, or will some of the current big names keep their prime spots?  Elsewhere, Paul Scullard puts Hampshire’s singles league players on the naughty step, and we support his message to the players. And that includes both Tom and Dave, who are among the players who are yet to get off the mark seven weeks into the summer. Hey… Spain, Wales, stuff… you know….  Well, the league has had enough! We reflect on our crimes against tennis, and think of ways singles could generate more momentum in what is already a pretty good event.  And there are 14 Apsley fixtures this weekend including a few very exciting ones. As I write the show notes here on Saturday, I already know of at least one upset in the higher divisions. Speaking of batons being passed.  But we recorded this on Friday, when all the matchers were still to be played, so no spoilers here.  Send us your thoughts for (or about!) the show: [email protected] Speakpipe.com/THPOD WhatsApp: +44 (0) 74 7039 5289 Follow us at: Instagram @thampshirepod TikTok: hampshiretennispod Facebook: The Tennis Hampshire Podcast Youtube: @tennishampshirepodcast

Send us Fan Mail Born in Bracknell, raised in Basingstoke, trained in Totton… Esther Adeshina eventually left Hampshire for the University of Tennessee and, a couple of years ago, joined the pro circuit.  Unlike so many local juniors, Esther made the jump and pushed up the world rankings. In June she started to attract national attention with a big win at the Wimbledon qualifiers.  Esther joins us to talk about managing life as a pro, staying away from injury, mental health and more.  This one’s a must listen, especially if you dream of being a pro one day, or indeed, if you ever did.  Check out Esther on Instagram here:   https://www.instagram.com/esther.adeshina?igsh=OGRlY3B3bnc2OXVk   Send us your thoughts for (or about!) the show: [email protected] Speakpipe.com/THPOD WhatsApp: +44 (0) 74 7039 5289   Follow us at: Instagram @thampshirepod TikTok: hampshiretennispod Facebook: The Tennis Hampshire Podcast Youtube: @tennishampshirepodcast

Send us Fan Mail Mind games are part of the core test that tennis offers, whatever level you’re playing at. Bluff, counter-bluff, these are table stakes. But what about the Cheeky Changeover, the Hooker and the Revenge Caller?  Do you ever do the Slow Roll or the Switch-Up? If you listen to this podcast, you’ve definitely been Al Pacino’d and dealt a Michael Chang or two, whether you know it or not.  This week we’re joined by Sam Tapsell, founder and host of the Absolute Football Podcast. He's also a father of two little ones and a top 10 player from Division Two in the Apsley League. Where does he find the time?.  Who better than a tennis/football crossover to help us examine the Dark Arts of tennis. In this show we compare our top five mind games, including the acceptable stuff with a little bit of Beast Mode thrown in for when things start to get off the rails.  There are also 14 Apsley fixtures to look back on from August 1-2, and eight more to come this weekend, as long as the Amber Heat Health Alert ends at 10am on Saturday like it’s supposed to.  Meanwhile all hell breaks loose with the government’s new emergency alerts on our phones. Who’s setting off fireworks while we’re all sitting on a giant island full of dry grass? Sheesh. The barbecuing I get... don't they do that in Manchester too? Check out Sam Tapsell’s Absolute Football Podcast on YouTube at @absolutefootballpodcast You can find Sam himself on Instagram at @samabsolutefbl Michael Chang talking about his underarm serve against Ivan Lendl at the French Open: https://youtu.be/u0NkCiZsAJ4?is=Hgy0zm9PyiDzNvMz.  (to think all these kids think it was invented by Kyrgios!) The conversation about Cam Norrie on The Tennis Podcast taken from “Does Sinner’s injury open US Open door?” Published on August 10, 2026. Thornden’s coverage of the solar eclipse from their tennis courts is worth a watch: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Db9CitoN6um/?igsh=bDYwbGhwbmk3dDc0 Send us your thoughts for (or about!) the show: [email protected] Speakpipe.com/THPOD WhatsApp: +44 (0) 74 7039 5289 Follow us at: Instagram @thampshirepod TikTok: hampshiretennispod Facebook: The Tennis Hampshire Podcast Youtube: @tennishampshirepodcast

Send us Fan Mail We take a break from all the league action to check in with Freddie Bott, young entrepreneur and founder of Preserva, makers of re-pressurizing tubes for tennis and padel balls.  Have you noticed a proliferation of these devices on courts near you? Balls certainly aren’t getting any cheaper in what is already quite an expensive sport to play. Plus, it’s pretty wasteful to move through balls too quickly. But are these balls really any good?  We put these questions and more to Freddie, who joins from Crondall, northeast Hampshire.  Find out more about Preserva here: https://www.preserva.co.uk Send us your thoughts for (or about!) the show: [email protected] Speakpipe.com/THPOD WhatsApp: +44 (0) 74 7039 5289 Follow us at: Instagram @thampshirepod TikTok: hampshiretennispod Facebook: The Tennis Hampshire Podcast Youtube: @tennishampshirepodcast

Send us Fan Mail It’s a seminal weekend ahead for Portsmouth & District summer tennis, and the top tables could be more or less settled across the Mixed, Mens and Ladies doubles leagues by Monday morning. Robin Ellison joins us this week to take a look at the fixtures that will play a big role in deciding things in east Hampshire.  Meanwhile on the west side of the county, Riverside A claimed top spot in the Apsley league last weekend as Thornden sat things out. This weekend Riverside take a break while Thornden are back in action. Can Lee on Solent stop Thornden from reclaiming pole position? Their Premier Division survival could depend on it. Rob Ernsberger's Twyford B team make the road trip to Riverside to meet their B team. Both teams have perfect records and the pennant is on the line. Who will win? Hard to say, but it's our first five chilli match of the summer.  Meanwhile Dave discusses grumpy coaches in Spain, Robin has been to Wickham Festival, Milton on Sea host a Grade Four tournament and Colden Common Tennis Club turns ten years old.  Find out more about the Milford Open: https://competitions.lta.org.uk/tournament/F7702E51-C6F6-4894-8553-80569225607A Songs used in this weeks show:  Opening “Classical Gas [Mason Williams]” performed by Tommy Emmanuel Accompanying Mark Jackson's sting is “Deep River Blues” performed by Tommy Emmanuel with Jason Ispell Find out more about Tommy Emmanuel here: https://tommyemmanuel.com and on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL-0gAth4u6Wp-9_98XU3nA Send us your thoughts for (or about!) the show: [email protected] Speakpipe.com/THPOD WhatsApp: +44 (0) 74 7039 5289 Follow us at: Instagram @thampshirepod TikTok: hampshiretennispod Facebook: The Tennis Hampshire Podcast Youtube: @tennishampshirepodcast