No Challenges Remaining

As they hurtle toward triple digits, Ben and Courtney stall on opposite sides of the equator this week, and discuss Courtney's adventures in Brazil. What is tennis in Rio like, and what do we make of Rafael Nadal's latest drama? Over in Dubai, how big a win was it for Simona Halep? We then award a Slay Badge and Dragged Condolence(?) to the players who had the best and worst weeks. Then we welcome in guests Victoria Chiesa and David Kane, founders of The Tennis Island, to discuss all sorts of tennisy thing. And, lastly, Courtney rants and Ben raves. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be! Related reading for this week: "Iskorazzi" on Forty Deuce, Original Flavor.

As they rapidly approach triple digits, Ben and Courtney discuss the week that was in Rotterdam, Antwerp, and beyond! What do we make of Stan Wawrinka's start to 2015, and is Tomas Berdych an underachiever? Over in Belgium, what is it that makes Alize Cornet and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova so glorious to behold? Then we introduce our new segment Slay/Drag, where we discuss the biggest winners and losers of the week. Our pal Reem Abulleil then joins the show to talk about the state of tennis in the Middle East as the tours move to Dubai and Doha. Lastly, we take a number, rant a bit, and discuss plans for the big 1-0-0. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be! 

As they rapidly approach triple digits, Ben and Courtney discuss the week that was in Rotterdam, Antwerp, and beyond! What do we make of Stan Wawrinka's start to 2015, and is Tomas Berdych an underachiever? Over in Belgium, what is it that makes Alize Cornet and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova so glorious to behold? Then we introduce our new segment Slay/Drag, where we discuss the biggest winners and losers of the week. Our pal Reem Abulleil then joins the show to talk about the state of tennis in the Middle East as the tours move to Dubai and Doha. Lastly, we take a number, rant a bit, and discuss plans for the big 1-0-0. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be! 

What was supposed to be a quiet week of post-Slam relaxation turned into anything but, and Ben and Courtney are here to break it all down for you. First and foremost, what do we make of Serena Williams' surprise decision to return to Indian Wells this year, ending a 14-year boycott of the event after an ugly, racially charged scene in 2001? How she will be received, and how has the boycott hung over the tournament in her absence? Next, we discuss the surprise coaching move of Genie Bouchard snatching up Victoria Azarenka's coach Sam Sumyk. We then get into some dubious results away from the spotlight, involving Malek Jaziri and Denys Molchanov. Then, as expected, Courtney rants about women's soccer and Ben complains about ineffective Eurovision staging. We have no complaints about you guys, though! Thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!  Recommended reading/viewing for Episode 98:  Serena Williams' essay on ending her boycott  in Time. Christopher Clarey's pre-season profile of Victoria Azarenkain The New York Times. Outlining the case against Denys Molchanov at DW on Sport. Courtney's US women's soccer rant on Forty Deuce. Eric Saade's 2010 and 2015 Melodifestivalen efforts, Manboy and Sting. 

What was supposed to be a quiet week of post-Slam relaxation turned into anything but, and Ben and Courtney are here to break it all down for you. First and foremost, what do we make of Serena Williams' surprise decision to return to Indian Wells this year, ending a 14-year boycott of the event after an ugly, racially charged scene in 2001? How she will be received, and how has the boycott hung over the tournament in her absence? Next, we discuss the surprise coaching move of Genie Bouchard snatching up Victoria Azarenka's coach Sam Sumyk. We then get into some dubious results away from the spotlight, involving Malek Jaziri and Denys Molchanov. Then, as expected, Courtney rants about women's soccer and Ben complains about ineffective Eurovision staging. We have no complaints about you guys, though! Thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be! Recommended reading/viewing for Episode 98: Serena Williams' essay on ending her boycott  in Time.Christopher Clarey's pre-season profile of Victoria Azarenka in The New York Times.Outlining the case against Denys Molchanov at DW on Sport.Courtney's US women's soccer rant on Forty Deuce.Eric Saade's 2010 and 2015 Melodifestivalen efforts, Manboy and Sting. 

Another Grand Slam is in the book, and Ben and Courtney think you probably could have guessed the ending. What do we make of Serena Williams' 19th Grand Slam? How does it change her place in history, and why is Serena-Sharapova actually the best rivalry in the WTA? (And yes, it IS a rivalry). And how about Novak Djokovic's fifth Australian Open title, and the bubbling bad blood that seems to be brewing in the ATP? We also discuss the breakout runs of Madison Keys and Nick Kyrgios, because those kids are pretty cool. Parental Advisory: Explicit Content, as always, just like the Andy Murray box. Thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be! 

Another Grand Slam is in the book, and Ben and Courtney think you probably could have guessed the ending. What do we make of Serena Williams' 19th Grand Slam? How does it change her place in history, and why is Serena-Sharapova actually the best rivalry in the WTA? (And yes, it IS a rivalry). And how about Novak Djokovic's fifth Australian Open title, and the bubbling bad blood that seems to be brewing in the ATP? We also discuss the breakout runs of Madison Keys and Nick Kyrgios, because those kids are pretty cool. Parental Advisory: Explicit Content, as always, just like the Andy Murray box. Thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be! 

Live from Down Under, Courtney and Ben are ready to kick off the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year! We break down the draws and the drama coming in: how do Rafa's question marks and his seemingly cake draw resolve themselves? Can Federer hold up physically? Is Serena still the safe pick these days? Why does Sharapova keep throwing shade at Ivanovic? Also, Ben explains his new fantasy tennis venture, Racket Rally, and Courtney rants about macaroons and missed opportunities. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be! 

Live from Down Under, Courtney and Ben are ready to kick off the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year! We break down the draws and the drama coming in: how do Rafa's question marks and his seemingly cake draw resolve themselves? Can Federer hold up physically? Is Serena still the safe pick these days? Why does Sharapova keep throwing shade at Ivanovic? Also, Ben explains his new fantasy tennis venture, Racket Rally, and Courtney rants about macaroons and missed opportunities. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be! 

It's the NCR Season 4 premiere! Ben and Courtney kick off 2015 with their early impressions of the season and how the stars are aligning. What to make of Serena's undercaffeination? And how much panic is justified for Rafael Nadal's justifiably mediocre results over the past seven months? Also, we ruminate on the injury return of Juan Martin del Potro and the departure of IPTLers Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Marin Cilic. Then, how about the mouths on those kids Borna Coric and Nick Kyrgios? We wrap with a look back at the history of our show and the revival of Forty Deuce, before the nighttime winter snake discusses frozen and the feminine archetypes that upset fictional pigs. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be?

It's the NCR Season 4 premiere! Ben and Courtney kick off 2015 with their early impressions of the season and how the stars are aligning. What to make of Serena's undercaffeination? And how much panic is justified for Rafael Nadal's justifiably mediocre results over the past seven months? Also, we ruminate on the injury return of Juan Martin del Potro and the departure of IPTLers Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Marin Cilic. Then, how about the mouths on those kids Borna Coric and Nick Kyrgios? We wrap with a look back at the history of our show and the revival of Forty Deuce, before the nighttime winter snake discusses frozen and the feminine archetypes that upset fictional pigs. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be?

On the NCR season finale (delayed by foreseen holidays and unforeseen technical difficulties), Ben and Courtney put a bow on the 2014 season. First, what to make of the rich-getting-richer prize money increases at the Masters level? Are those deserved by the top players over lower-tier players? How do hall of fame votes work, and what do we make of the very level nominee class of Kafelnikov, Bruguera, Mauresmo and Pierce? Then we remix Take a Number for the holidays, and imagine gifting among the game's best. Lastly, in a post-outro segment, we talk about the podcasting phenomenon that was Serial, in a spoilery way you'll want to avoid if you haven't finished listening to that show. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following on Twitter, and subscribing and reviewing on iTunes! Happy holidays, happy new year, and see you in 2015!

On the NCR season finale (delayed by foreseen holidays and unforeseen technical difficulties), Ben and Courtney put a bow on the 2014 season. First, what to make of the rich-getting-richer prize money increases at the Masters level? Are those deserved by the top players over lower-tier players? How do hall of fame votes work, and what do we make of the very level nominee class of Kafelnikov, Bruguera, Mauresmo and Pierce? Then we remix Take a Number for the holidays, and imagine gifting among the game's best. Lastly, in a post-outro segment, we talk about the podcasting phenomenon that was Serial, in a spoilery way you'll want to avoid if you haven't finished listening to that show. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following on Twitter, and subscribing and reviewing on iTunes! Happy holidays, happy new year, and see you in 2015!

In peak off-season form, Ben and Courtney deliver another overflowing platter of chat charcuterie. What to make of the big coaching moves of Madison Keys, and the late-breaking decision by Agnieszka Radwanska to hire Martina Navratilova? Which of the Madison-Genie-Laura trio has the best chance to break through? Why don't we talk more about doubles? We explain. And after very briefly circling back to Episode 82, we take a number that gets Courtney extremely excited. Warning: the glitter might not come out of your ears for weeks. Lastly, we talk about what to watch and what (not?) to listen to. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and reviewing and subscribing on iTunes! 

In peak off-season form, Ben and Courtney deliver another overflowing platter of chat charcuterie. What to make of the big coaching moves of Madison Keys, and the late-breaking decision by Agnieszka Radwanska to hire Martina Navratilova? Which of the Madison-Genie-Laura trio has the best chance to break through? Why don't we talk more about doubles? We explain. And after very briefly circling back to Episode 82, we take a number that gets Courtney extremely excited. Warning: the glitter might not come out of your ears for weeks. Lastly, we talk about what to watch and what (not?) to listen to. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and reviewing and subscribing on iTunes!