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The Australian Open is in the books, and we zoom out on what actually mattered. In this episode of Best of Three, we break down what the 2026 Australian Open told us about the state of both tours — from Aryna Sabalenka’s continued dominance and the growing depth of the WTA, to Carlos Alcaraz’s separation at the top of the men’s game and what this tournament revealed about Alexander Zverev, Jannik Sinner, and the next generation. We also dig into: Whether the women’s tour is more open than everHow close Zverev really is to a Grand SlamCarlos Alcaraz vs the field — how big is the gap?ESPN’s Australian Open coverage and broadcast evolutionBest-of-five debates, surface homogenization, and what (if anything) tennis should change Smart tennis conversation, no rankings obsession — just the storylines that actually matter. Send us a text

Carlos Alcaraz defeats Novak Djokovic in four sets to win the Australian Open and complete the career Grand Slam before age 23. In this episode of Best of Three, we break down: Why this wasn’t a simple passing of the torchHow Alcaraz adjusted tactically after a brutal first setThe height, depth, and footwork changes that flipped the matchWhy Djokovic still forced Alcaraz to play his absolute bestThis wasn’t about flash — it was about discipline, legs, and playing the long game. Send us a text

Elena Rybakina is your 2026 Australian Open Champion, defeating Aryna Sabalenka in a razor-thin three-set final (6-4, 4-6, 6-4). Alvin and Torrey break down one of the highest-level women’s finals in recent memory: • why this match truly was a coin flip (92 points apiece) • first-strike tennis vs high-tempo rally dominance • the tactical adjustments that swung the third set • what this result means for the WTA hierarchy heading into the hard-court sprint • Rybakina’s resurgence, Sabalenka’s consistency, and where the rivalry goes next This was elite tennis decided by margins, movement, and mindset. Send us a text

Novak Djokovic delivers another reminder at the Australian Open, surviving an all-time semifinal battle with Jannik Sinner, while Carlos Alcaraz ALSO outlasts Alexander Zverev in a five-set war. Alvin Owusu and Torrey Hawkins break down belief, execution under pressure, break-point math, serving patterns, and legacy implications—plus what this all means heading into the men’s final. This wasn’t just tennis. This was history knocking. Send us a text

The women’s side of the Australian Open is delivering heavyweight tennis. We break down: • Sabalenka’s dominance and why she’s in a class of her own • Elena Rybakina surviving Pegula and setting up the final we’ve been waiting for • Coco Gauff’s loss to Svitolina – what’s real, what’s fixable, what matters long-term • Why 18-year-old Eva Jovic is very different from the usual “next American” hype • What Jessica Pegula’s consistency really means in today’s power era Power vs power. Control vs chaos. Experience vs momentum. This is the full women’s QF + SF review heading into the final. 🎾 Best of Three is tennis talk for people who actually watch the points. Send us a text

We break down the men’s quarterfinals at the 2026 Australian Open and preview the semifinals. Topics include: Djokovic vs Musetti (and what it says about Novak in 2026)Sinner vs Shelton and the “wrong generation” problemAlcaraz vs de Minaur breakdownZverev vs TienWhy Alcaraz and Sinner are separating from the fieldWhat kind of player can actually disrupt them🎾 Hosted by Alvin Owusu & Torrey Hawkins — former players, longtime coaches, and tennis lifers. Send us a text

The Round of 16 is in the books at the 2026 Australian Open, and now the real fun begins. Alvin and Torrey break down the women’s and men’s quarterfinal matchups, starting with Aryna Sabalenka’s form and the rapid rise of Eva Jovic, then moving through Coco Gauff vs Elina Svitolina and the evolving ceiling of Mirra Andreeva. On the men’s side, we dig deep into Carlos Alcaraz vs Alex de Minaur, what “changing gears” actually means at the elite level, why Tommy Paul struggled to hurt Carlos, and how players like De Minaur, Bublik, and others match up stylistically as the tournament tightens. This is the business end of the tournament — tactics, patterns, ceilings, and pressure. If you enjoy thoughtful, practitioner-level tennis analysis, you’re in the right place. Send us a text

We break down the first two rounds of the 2026 Australian Open on both the ATP and WTA tours. From why the top seeds largely survived, to what the early exits of several Next Gen players really mean, to the subtle differences between tour professionals and rising talent — this episode goes deep on what actually matters after Week 1 in Melbourne. Topics include: • Why Grand Slams expose young players differently than regular tour events   • Fonseca & Alex Eala’s early exits and what to make of them   • Serve development as the real separator on tour   • Madison Keys, Pegula, and the American litmus test   • Crowd dynamics at the Happy Slam   • Men’s draw chalk and what it sets up for the Round of 32   • Early thoughts on Tiafoe vs De Minaur, Zverev vs Norrie, Shelton’s form, and more   🎾 Hosted by Alvin Owusu & Torrey Hawkins   Send us a text

The 2026 tennis season is officially underway, and we’re kicking it off with our full Australian Open Draw Show. In this episode of Best of Three, we break down: • The women’s draw first – contenders, dangerous floaters, and early-round landmines • The men’s draw second – blockbuster first rounds, brutal sections, and who really got tested • Which seeds are vulnerable • Which unseeded players could blow things up • And what the draw tells us about how this tournament might actually unfold If you’re filling out a bracket, losing sleep over first-round matchups, or just love tournament strategy, this one’s for you. 🎾 Hosted by Alvin Owusu & Torrey Hawkins Subscribe for weekly tennis conversations, tournament previews, and deep dives from players and coaches who live the sport. Send us a text

American women’s tennis is quietly stacked—and complicated. In this special State of the Union episode of Best of Three, Alvin Owusu and Torrey Hawkins break down where US women’s tennis really stands heading into the new season. They dig into: Coco Gauff’s evolution into a consistent Grand Slam force (and what still limits her ceiling)Amanda Anisimova’s comeback year, mental toughness, and why her pedigree mattersJessica Pegula’s consistency, her realistic Grand Slam window, and what her next phase looks likeWhy development curves matter more than rankings aloneWhich young Americans are trending toward the top 10—and which might be leveling outThe importance of early winning, time on tour, and making real adjustments to your gameWhy players like Eva Jovovich and Ashlyn Krueger could change the conversationWhat separates “top-50 good” from true championship contendersThis isn’t hot-take tennis talk. It’s a coach-level, long-arc conversation about development, pressure, injuries, money, confidence, and what it actually takes to win at the highest level. If you care about the future of American tennis—or just love understanding how elite players are built—this one goes deep. Send us a text

American men’s tennis looks stable at the top — but stability isn’t the same as momentum. In this State of the Union episode, Alvin and Torrey take a wide-angle look at where U.S. men’s tennis stands heading into the next season. They break down the established core (Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe), assess Ben Shelton’s rapid ascent, and ask the harder question: what happens after this generation? The conversation spans ceiling vs. longevity, talent vs. professionalism, and why depth alone doesn’t solve the problem. They also dig into emerging names like Learner Tien and Ethan Quinn, debate wild cards like Jensen Brooksby, and define the “worry line” that quietly separates contenders from placeholders. This isn’t rankings talk. It’s about trajectory, pressure, and who actually has the tools — mentally and physically — to push American tennis forward. Send us a text

Why does Jannik Sinner feel inevitable—especially indoors? In this episode of Best of Three, Alvin Owusu is joined by Patrick Parr for a deep dive into what actually separates Sinner from the rest of the ATP field. This isn’t about forehands or backhands. It’s about skiing, pressure, stillness, and why tennis feels slow to him. We unpack: How Sinner’s elite skiing background shaped his movement, balance, and mental calmWhy indoor tennis removes chaos—and why that heavily favors SinnerThe difference between Sinner’s inward focus and Alcaraz’s crowd-fed chaosWhy long rallies don’t drain Sinner—they settle himHow other sports (soccer, basketball, squash, boxing) quietly shape elite tennis playersWhat it might take for the next generation to disrupt Sinner’s dominanceThis conversation goes beyond rankings and trophies. It’s about how athletes are built, not just trained—and why some players feel unshakeable once they lock in. 🎧 Best of Three is a tennis podcast for fans who want to understand the game more deeply—from tactics to psychology to the weird paths that create greatness. Send us a text

In Part 4 of our ATP 2025 Year-End Review, we look at the players aged 27–29 — the most complicated group in men’s tennis. They were supposed to take over from Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer. Then came The New Two. We dive into: • Zverev’s stagnant ceiling and why the next dip could get ugly • Fritz maximizing every ounce but needing just one more gear • Medvedev’s “one more run” and what actual change looks like • Tsitsipas falling fast — is a comeback even realistic? • Rublev as the gatekeeper fighting off the kids behind him This isn’t the future. This is now, and this era might define whether the ATP becomes a true three-tier fight — contenders, chasers, and casualties. Send us a text

What is a tennis player’s prime anymore? This week, we dig into the emerging “middle class” on the ATP Tour — the 25–26 year olds who are stepping into the best years of their tennis lives. Alex de Minaur, Félix Auger-Aliassime, Casper Ruud, Denis Shapovalov, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina — where are they headed in 2026 and beyond? We break down: • The science and mythology of peak vs prime in tennis • Why longevity has shifted the curve into weird territory • Who among this group has another level to unlock • Who is at risk of getting passed by the next wave • Why this cohort may set the tone for the ATP’s future depth Prime isn’t guaranteed… it must be defended. Send us a text

What if you were good enough to be a Grand Slam contender… in any other era? Part 2 of our ATP Year-End Review looks at the players aged 22–24 — the cohort stuck directly behind Alcaraz and Sinner. This is the group that knows the assignment: solve the best duo men’s tennis has seen in 20 years… or sit in the waiting room forever. We dive into: • Ben Shelton — the competitive mutant who has climbed faster than his skill set was “supposed” to   • Flavio Cobolli — burning competitive fire plus a late-season breakout that changes everything   • Jack Draper — elite results, still searching for the identity that unlocks it all   • Holger Rune — consistency is nice… but where are the big Slam runs?   Plus the truth they all face: there’s no “waiting out” the top anymore. The future is happening in real time. Send us a text