Tales from Tennis

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Noah Burton, a 24-year-old tennis player who has experienced the professional game from two different perspectives: competing on the ITF World Tennis Tour and working as a hitting partner at ATP and WTA events.Noah takes us behind the scenes of his work at Eastbourne, where he has spent the past two years hitting with some of the sport's biggest names, including Zizou Bergs, Emma Raducanu and Ugo Humbert. We hear about Noah's experience working with Bergs throughout this year's tournament as the Belgian went on to lift the title, the celebrations that followed and a memorable compliment he received from Humbert.We discuss the demands of being a tour-level hitting partner, from long days and managing nerves to adapting to the different personalities, routines and practice requirements of professional players. Noah explains what it is like sharing a court with some of the world's best and the responsibility that comes with helping them prepare.We also explore his own tennis journey, including playing college tennis in America, competing on the Men's ITF World Tennis Tour and the highs and lows of chasing a professional career. From the financial challenges and prize money on offer to the incredible depth of competition in the game today, Noah gives us an insight into life outside the spotlight. We also discuss his coaching ambitions and the experience he has already gained working within the WTA Tour.🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis.Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome will be joined by a Sky Sports presenter.Follow us on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennisThe podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Jose Morgado, one of tennis’ most prominent reporters on X, with nearly 300,000 followers, as well as an experienced tennis commentator.Jose takes us behind the scenes of covering professional tennis, discussing how he balances his commentary work with his constant presence on X and what it takes to keep fans up to date with the latest news, results and stories from across the sport. We hear about some of his funniest interactions with players, both online and in person, including a memorable moment involving Nick Kyrgios, and his experiences interviewing some of the biggest names in tennis.We also discuss the state of the men’s and women’s games, including Jose’s long-standing connection with Alex Eala, whom he has known since she was around 11, and his first impressions of Carlos Alcaraz when he watched the Spaniard play at just 17.Jose shares his perspective on the growth of tennis in Portugal, the increasing number of events taking place in the country and what that means for the sport’s future. Follow Jose's X account here: https://x.com/josemorgado🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis.Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome will be joined by a hitting partner.Follow us on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennisThe podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.

In this episode, Sam Jacot sits down with Ravi Ubha, an experienced tennis commentator, broadcaster and journalist who has covered the sport’s biggest events for nearly two decades.Ravi takes us inside the commentary box during the era of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, sharing stories from covering three of the greatest players in tennis history and conducting one-to-one interviews with all three. We discuss what it is like to commentate on the sport’s biggest stars, the preparation that goes into every match and what a typical day on the job looks like at a Grand Slam.We also explore Ravi’s experiences commentating on Olympic tennis, including multiple gold-medal matches, and the most memorable atmospheres he has encountered throughout his career. From the pressure of calling some of the biggest moments in sport to knowing when to let the action speak for itself, Ravi explains what makes great commentary.Ravi reflects on his time reporting for CNN International, his background in sports journalism and how his experience as a writer and interviewer shapes the way he tells stories on air.🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis.Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome will be joined by the biggest tennis reporter on X. Follow us on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennisThe podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.

In this episode, Jerome Coombe sits down with Matt Futterman, senior tennis writer at The Athletic, to discuss his new book, The Cruelest Game: Chasing Greatness in Professional Tennis.Matt takes us inside the stories behind the book, exploring the mental and physical demands of professional tennis and what separates the very best players from the rest. We discuss Carlos Alcaraz, including Matt’s memorable walk around Melbourne Park with the Spaniard when he was just 17, and how watching Naomi Osaka navigate the challenges of the sport helped spark the idea for the book.We also explore Novak Djokovic’s place in the modern game and the relentless pursuit of greatness, before turning to Ben Shelton, one of tennis’s most exceptional athletes, and his later route into the sport, his relationship with his father and what his journey tells us about developing a professional player.Matt also reflects on his career as a journalist, the hardest interview he has ever conducted, his favourite moments covering tennis and what continues to motivate him to find new stories after years spent around the sport.You can buy The Cruelest Game: Chasing Greatness in Professional Tennis here: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/243596813-the-cruelest-game🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis.Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome will be joined by a commentator & broadcaster. Follow us on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennisThe podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with presenter, producer and writer Nick McCarvel, who has covered all four Grand Slams, hundreds of tour-level events, multiple Olympic Games and some of the biggest moments in tennis.Nick takes us behind the scenes of life at the majors and the many different roles he has played across tennis media, from presenting and producing live shows to interviewing some of the greatest players in the sport, including Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Rafae Nadal and John McEnroe.We hear about Nick's experiences with Roger Federer, including hosting the pre-show around Federer's return to Arthur Ashe at this year's US Open and being a key part of the former World No. 1's International Tennis Hall of Fame induction in Newport. Nick shares what those huge live occasions are really like behind the scenes, as well as his approach to interviewing some of the most recognisable personalities in tennis.We also discuss Nick's experiences covering multiple Olympic Games, including interviewing Andy Murray following the final match of his career.Nick explains his philosophy of breaking down the fourth wall and bringing fans into the story, what goes into producing hours of behind-the-scenes coverage at Wimbledon and Roland Garros, and some of the moments viewers never get to see.🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis.Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome speak with another guest from the tennis world. Subscribe now. 📲Follow us on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennisThe podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Gustavo Marcaccio, Director of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, to go behind the scenes of one of the most renowned tennis academies in the world.Gustavo takes us inside his day-to-day role running the Academy, the continued influence of Rafael Nadal and the philosophy that underpins the development of young players. We discuss what it really takes to become a professional tennis player, from talent and technical development to mindset, education, discipline and creating the right environment for players growing up within the Academy.We also talk about the development of players including Martín Landaluce and Alex Eala, and the challenges of helping young talents make the transition towards professional tennis. Gustavo shares what he learned from working closely with Rafa during the final years of his career and how Nadal’s influence continues to shape the Academy.We also explore the Rafa Nadal Museum, its recent renovation and Roger Federer’s visit, as well as the Academy’s ATP Challenger event and the importance of bringing professional tennis into the environment. From children arriving at a young age to the importance of creating a settled environment around them, this is a fascinating look at what happens behind the scenes at the Rafa Nadal Academy.🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis.Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome speak with a leading presenter and producer. Subscribe now. 📲Follow us on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennisThe podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with former Irish professional Conor Niland to discuss his award-winning book The Racket, which tells the story of life on the professional tennis circuit and the reality of competing outside the very top of the sport.Conor takes us inside some of the biggest moments of his career, from beating Roger Federer as a teenager to qualifying for Wimbledon in 2011 and coming agonisingly close to reaching the second round and setting a meeting with Federer. We also hear the story of facing Novak Djokovic at the US Open later that year, before illness forced Conor to retire from the match.We discuss the less glamorous side of life on Tour too, looking at the loneliness of constant travel, the relentless pace of winning one week and immediately getting on a flight to the next tournament, and the financial challenges of competing at ITF and Challenger level. Conor explains what life can really be like for players outside the spotlight and how difficult it can be to maintain momentum from week to week.We also talk about the influence of Conor's father, the support he received from Tennis Ireland and the experiences that shaped his view of professional tennis.Buy The Racket here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Racket-Tenniss-Golden-Generation-other/dp/1844886409🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis.Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome speak with the Tennis Director of the Rafa Nadal Academy. Subscribe now. 📲Follow us on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennisThe podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Sebastián Varela, co-founder of CLAY and winner of the 2025 Tom Perrotta Prize for Tennis Journalism.Sebastián takes us inside the stories that earned him one of tennis journalism's leading young-writer awards, including his extraordinary feature on a man who escaped drug trafficking and went on to transform lives through tennis. We also discuss his approach to open, ambitious journalism and why some of the most interesting stories in tennis exist away from the scoreline.Sebastián shares his experiences speaking with players including Eva Lys, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Taylor Fritz, and explains why openness from players can completely change the conversations journalists are able to have.We also get into the story behind CLAY, the bilingual tennis publication Sebastián co-founded in 2020, and his mission to bring greater attention to South American and Spanish-speaking tennis. With South American tennis producing an exciting generation of players and growing in influence across the sport, Sebastián explains why he believes the region deserves greater coverage and a bigger voice.Read Sebastián's work discussed in the episode:https://www.claytenis.com/features/escaping-drug-trafficking-to-transform-lives-with-tennis/https://www.claytenis.com/cov/director-netflix-nadal-documentary-in-the-us-there-arent-many-rafa-fans/https://www.claytenis.com/home-en/🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis.Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome speak with the author of the award-winning book 'The Racket'. Subscribe now. 📲Follow us on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennisThe podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.

In this episode of Tales from Tennis, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Mitch Michals, podcast host, producer and editor at Tennis Channel and host of The Inside-In Tennis Podcast.Mitch takes us behind the scenes of his work in tennis media, from producing and editing at Tennis Channel to hosting Inside-In and interviewing some of the biggest names across the sport. We hear stories from conversations with Andrea Petkovic, Brad Stine, Paul Annacone, Mark Petchey and Brad Gilbert, as well as Mitch's experiences speaking with players including Lorenzo Musetti and Ethan Quinn.We also get into what it's really like working in a sport that never stops, the relentless nature of the tennis calendar and how Mitch manages to keep up with the ATP and WTA Tours.With the US Open here, Mitch gives his thoughts on the state of tennis heading into the final major of the year, looking at the biggest storylines on both the men's and women's tours and the players to watch in New York.🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis.Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome will be joined by a leading journalist. Subscribe now. 📲Follow us on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennisThe podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.

In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Alex Gruskin, host of Cracked Racquets and one of the leading voices covering college tennis and the ATP Challenger Tour.Alex takes us inside the growing world of college tennis, exploring why more young players are choosing the American college route, the unique atmosphere around the sport and how the system is producing a new generation of stars. We discuss the journeys of players including Ben Shelton, Rafael Jodar and Learner Tien, and why college tennis has become such a successful pathway into the professional game.Alex also shares stories from life on the road with Cracked Racquets, travelling to Challenger and WTA events, conducting on-court interviews and getting to know players away from the spotlight. We hear what it's like spending week after week around the Challenger Tour, the buzz of discovering emerging talent and the people and stories that make travelling so rewarding.Cracked Racquets: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/cracked-racquets/id6445044099https://www.youtube.com/c/crackedracquets🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis.Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome will be joined by a podcast host. Subscribe now. 📲Follow us on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennisThe podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.