Talking Tennis

John Silk

Interviews, news and anaylsis of all things tennis with host John Silk and a team of experts, coaches, players and former players

  1. hace 5 días

    ATP Weekly: Shelton wins third title of 2026 in Stuttgart | Majchrzak wins Libéma Open | Halle & Queen's Previews

    Ben Shelton continued his breakout 2026 season by winning the Stuttgart grass-court title, defeating fellow American Taylor Fritz 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in the final. It was Shelton's first ATP title on grass and his third trophy of the season after earlier successes on hard courts and clay. The title run was anything but straightforward. Shelton survived multiple three-set battles during the week, including a dramatic semifinal victory over Jiří Lehečka in which he saved two match points before prevailing in a final-set tiebreak. With Wimbledon approaching, Shelton's ability to win on all three major surfaces has elevated him into the group of genuine contenders for a deep run in London. Kamil Majchrzak completed a dream week in 's-Hertogenbosch by claiming the first ATP Tour title of his career. The Pole's run included victories over top players, highlighted by wins against Felix Auger-Aliassime and Daniil Medvedev. Majchrzak reached the final after upsetting Medvedev in straight sets and then completed his remarkable tournament by lifting the trophy, a breakthrough achievement for the 30-year-old. His grass-court form makes him one of the more dangerous unseeded players heading into Wimbledon qualifying and draw discussions. The first week of ATP grass-court action produced two major storylines: Shelton has shown he can transfer his explosive serve and aggressive baseline game to grass, making him a legitimate threat at Wimbledon. Majchrzak's confidence is at a career high after securing his first ATP title and multiple top-level victories. This week's ATP 500 event in Halle serves as one of the strongest Wimbledon tune-ups. Historically, the tournament has favored elite servers and aggressive all-court players. The field is expected to feature many of the tour's leading grass-court performers as they continue preparations for the Championships. Players to watch include: Jannik Sinner, who has been one of the dominant forces of 2026. Ben Shelton, arriving with momentum from Stuttgart. Other Wimbledon contenders looking to fine-tune their grass-court games. The ATP 500 event at Queen's Club traditionally offers one of the clearest indicators of Wimbledon form. The fast conditions reward big serving, aggressive returning, and efficient net play. Key questions entering the week: Can the top contenders quickly adapt from clay to grass? Will a player such as Shelton continue his surge? Which established grass-court specialists will emerge as serious Wimbledon threats? Bottom line: Shelton leaves Stuttgart looking like one of the hottest players on tour, while Majchrzak's maiden ATP title is one of the feel-good stories of the grass season. The spotlight now shifts to Halle and Queen's, where the final pecking order for Wimbledon will begin to take shape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    46 min
  2. hace 5 días

    WTA Weekly: Lucky loser Donna Vekic denies home favourite Raducanu to win Queen's | Berlin & Nottingham previews

    WTA Weekly – Queen's Club Review & Berlin/Nottingham Preview Welcome to WTA Weekly. This week, the grass-court season delivered one of its best stories as Donna Vekic completed a remarkable run to win the Queen's Club title in London. Entering the tournament as a lucky loser after falling in qualifying, Vekic took full advantage of her second chance and capped the week with a 6-0, 7-6(6) victory over home favourite Emma Raducanu in the final. Vekic dominated the opening set before Raducanu fought back impressively in the second. The Brit recovered from a difficult start, built a lead, and even held set points, but Vekic's experience on grass proved decisive in a tense tiebreak. The Croatian eventually converted her fifth championship point to secure her first title in several years. Despite the loss, Raducanu leaves Queen's with plenty of positives. After an injury- and illness-disrupted season, she reached the final without dropping a set before Sunday and recorded victories over multiple top players. Her form suggests she could be a dangerous contender during the remainder of the grass swing and at Wimbledon. As for Vekic, the title continues a remarkable turnaround. She only entered the main draw after a late withdrawal created a lucky-loser spot, yet she navigated the field brilliantly and now heads into Wimbledon full of confidence. Looking ahead, attention shifts to the WTA 500 event in Berlin, one of the strongest grass-court tournaments outside Wimbledon. The field is expected to feature many of the tour's top players, making it a crucial test before the Championships. Meanwhile, the WTA event in Nottingham offers another opportunity for players to gain valuable grass-court matches and ranking points. With Wimbledon just around the corner, every match becomes increasingly important as players fine-tune their games for the year's biggest grass-court event. That's all for this week's WTA Weekly. The road to Wimbledon is heating up, and after Vekic's incredible lucky-loser triumph at Queen's, the grass season has already shown that anything can happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1 h 30 min
  3. 5 jun

    Alexander Zverev vs Flavio Cobolli | French Open Final PREVIEW & PREDICTION

    The 2026 French Open men’s final is set, and it’s a matchup few predicted at the start of the fortnight. Alexander Zverev is one win away from finally capturing his first Grand Slam title, while Flavio Cobolli has stormed into his maiden major final after a breakthrough season. With both men chasing their first Slam trophy, the pressure in Paris couldn't be higher. In this episode, we break down the key tactical battles, examine each player's route to the final, discuss Cobolli's path after Matteo Arnaldi's withdrawal, and analyse whether Zverev can overcome the mental hurdle that has denied him Grand Slam glory in previous finals. We'll also look at their recent clay-court history, the significance of Cobolli's upset win over Zverev in Munich earlier this season, and the factors that could decide the championship on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Can Zverev finally lift a major trophy after years of near misses, or will Cobolli complete a stunning Cinderella run and become a surprise Roland-Garros champion? We give our full match preview, keys to victory, and official prediction for the French Open final. 🎾🔥 Prediction: Zverev in 4 sets. His experience in deep Grand Slam runs, superior consistency over five sets, and proven clay-court pedigree make him the favourite, but Cobolli's confidence and fearless shot-making give him a genuine chance to spring the upset. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    38 min

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Interviews, news and anaylsis of all things tennis with host John Silk and a team of experts, coaches, players and former players

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