Tennis Unfiltered

Calvin Betton calls in from Rome (and a rather echo-y Airbnb) to join George Bellshaw and James Gray for another look back at a week of news leading up to the French Open - and to break some exciting podcast news!

We are launching Patreon channel because we want to bring you even more unfiltered content throughout the year - that means daily podcasts from every grand slam, bonus premium content every other week, group chats with all three of us, the chance to help shape the podcast, and loads more. But that’s not easy - by launching a Patreon, it will give us more time to spend putting together great podcasts, making sure we have a presence at every slam, and going deeper on the sport we all love than we ever have before.

Sign up for just £3 for the first month at https://www.patreon.com/tennisunfiltered and join The Tennis Unfiltered Supporters Club.

In the meantime, here is this week's free podcast:

- Novak Djokovic returns to Rome but it is in vain as he is beaten in three sets by Dino Prizmic...

- ...and the 24-time grand slam champion admits battling physical issues is "a new reality" for him at the age of 38

- Jannik Sinner is on the verge of breaking one of Djokovic's records as his Masters 1000 winning streak extends into the 30s - can anyone stop him?

- Aryna Sabalenka's Roland Garros favourite tag is under threat after another shock defeat, this time to the retiring Sorana Cirstea

- ...so who is in line to take favouritism to Paris?

- And there's a dispute brewing between the top players and the tennis authorities with Sabalenka, Sinner and Gauff all among those threatening a boycott of a grand slam
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Gray, Calvin Betton and George Bellshaw are all back around the microphones to discuss another week of tennis news - and as we always say, what a week!

Here's what they talked about

- Jannik Sinner crushed his pigeon Alexander Zverev in the men's final to claim a fifth straight Masters title

- Eight years after breaking through as a 15-year-old, Marta Kostyuk finally won the biggest title of her career and then of course failed to shake hands with her Russian opponent Mirra Andreeva

- Calvin had to coach both sides of semi-final but the match was marred by a horrific warm-up injury...

- ...but Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara did at least win the title a day later to sweeten the pill a little

- Kei Nishikori announces his retirement (and it's not fake news this time)

- Jack Draper is out of the French Open with a new injury

- Novak Djokovic is back in Rome

And so much more!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Calvin Betton is in Madrid, George Bellshaw is in recovery again and James Gray is in a dark, lonely Pembrokeshire car park.

They discussed...

- Carlos Alcaraz has pulled out of the French Open, and perhaps beyond, with an ongoing wrist injury

- Jannik Sinner is now a 70 per cent favourite to win Roland Garros, but who is his closest challenger? Alexander Zverev can't beat him, Novak Djokovic isn't fit... the lads assess the challengers

- Rafa Jodar is on a breakout run and beat fellow young gun Joao Fonseca - might he join the Possibles in Paris?

- Has a sickness bug ruined our chances of understanding the WTA power rankings at Madrid?

- Venus Williams has lost 10 (TEN) singles matches in a row but is still getting wildcards

- The players are torn over electronic line-calling after a number of marks appeared to differ from the call made by Hawk-Eye
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Calvin Betton, George Bellshaw and James Gray are all back around a microphone - in different parts of London but nevertheless all in London, yet nowhere near organised enough to get in the same room together.

This week, they are talking about...

Arthur Fils's comeback arc

Ben Shelton's ability to power through slow care

The apparent invincibility of Elena Rybakina

Jamie Murray's retirement

Marketa Vondrousova's fight to clear her name

An injury epidemic in Madrid

And underarm serves!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Every Tuesday at 6pm, another hour of tennis news, reviews and opinions drops from James Gray, Calvin Betton and George Bellshaw.

This week they discussed...

Jannik Sinner wins his first major clay-court title by beating Carlos Alcaraz in a wind-swept Monte Carlo final

Has Sinner finally cracked the last surface on which he has not won a slam?

What does Alcaraz have to do to arrest his slump in their head-to-head battle?

Daniil Medvedev produced one of the all-time meltdowns in Monaco, beaten 6-0, 6-0 by Matteo Berrettini and marmalising a racket on court

Valentin Vacherot reached the semi-final of his home tournament and said he would rather win that than a grand slam!

Mika Stojsavljevic and Harriet Dart led Great Britain to an unlikely Billie Jean King Cup victory over Australia

And more!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices