More than the Score

BBC World Service

Unexpected questions and beyond the scoresheet chat. More than the Score tells stories from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

  1. 3 days ago

    US tennis: Can Ben Shelton's generation claim men's Grand Slam glory?

    Ben Shelton's defeat by Alexander Zverev in the US Open final means it's now been 23 years since an American last won a men's Grand Slam singles title. That didn't seem likely when Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi ruled men's tennis - but what does it really say about America's place in the tennis world? More than the Score's Delyth Lloyd talks to former professional player Denis Kudla, who's now a coach at Maryland's Junior Tennis Champions Centre - the place where US Open men's semi-finalist Frances Tiafoe and women's doubles finalist Robin Montgomery learned the game. He tells Delyth about his journey through the US developmental system, and how he built a 16-year career that saw him play at all four Grand Slams. He also shares the lessons he's now instilling in young players, and the importance of role models in their development. Delyth's also joined by Ben Rothenberg, editor of tennis magazine Bounces, who talks about why US women have had much more recent success at Grand Slams than their male counterparts - and why he believes a breakthrough on the men's side could happen very soon. Unexpected questions and beyond the scoresheet chat. More than the Score tells stories from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

    US tennis: Can Ben Shelton's generation claim men's Grand Slam glory?
  2. 9 Sept

    Are tennis and influencers a good match?

    This year, the US Open gave accreditation to nearly 100 social media influencers and content creators. The tournament sees them as crucial to helping promote tennis to younger audiences - but they've also been accused of disrupting matches. Jessica Pegula and Naomi Osaka are among the players who have complained about crowd behaviour at Flushing Meadows, with umpires having to pause some matches due to excess noise and bright lights in the stands. But do influencers deserve this criticism - and what are content creators and tennis gaining from each other? Rachel Stuhlmann, one of the world's leading tennis influencers, tells More than the Score's Delyth Lloyd how she's built her career over the past decade, and the day-to-day realities of creating content at the world's biggest tournaments. Delyth's also joined by Sara Gordano from the sports business site Sportico, who explains tennis's relationship with the creator economy - and why the US Open's "party" atmosphere gives it a very different character from other Grand Slams. Unexpected questions and beyond the scoresheet chat. More than the Score tells stories from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

    Are tennis and influencers a good match?
  3. 2 Sept

    Are Schalke back for good?

    Schalke are one of the traditional giants of German football, with seven top-flight titles and the UEFA Cup among their list of honours. Their imposing stadium, the Arena AufSchalke, has hosted World Cup games and the Champions League final. But in recent years, the team from the former mining city of Gelsenkirchen have been in the doldrums. They spent four of the past five seasons in German football's second tier - but have now returned to the Bundesliga. Can fans start dreaming big once more? More than the Score's Mani Djazmi talks to former player Christian Fuchs and BBC Sport's Nathan Edwards about Schalke's past and present, their bitter rivalry with Borussia Dortmund, and what it will take for them to return to their former glories. We also hear from Schalke's head coach Miron Muslic, who told the BBC's Euro Leagues podcast about what legendary Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko has brought to the club. Unexpected questions and beyond the scoresheet chat. More than the Score tells stories from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

    Are Schalke back for good?
  4. 26 Aug

    Was an action-packed Wafcon a good sign for African women's football?

    The build-up to the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations was chaotic, with short-notice changes to qualification and even the dates of the tournament itself. But once the action got under way, it was packed with shocks and surprises. Cameroon scored upset wins over Nigeria and Morocco on their way to their first-ever Wafcon title, with star-making performances from the likes of Monique Ngock and Michaely Bihina. Malawi also had a fairytale run to the final, fuelled by goals from the Chawinga sisters. But does this changing of the guard mean a brighter future for African's women football? Sophia Hartley talks to journalists Busisiwe Mokwena and Biola Solace-Chukwu about the big takeaways from this year's Wafcon, and what's next for the players and teams that made their names at the tournament. Unexpected questions and beyond the scoresheet chat. More than the Score tells stories from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

    Was an action-packed Wafcon a good sign for African women's football?
  5. 12 Aug

    Can Jose Mourinho put Real Madrid back on top?

    Jose Mourinho has been appointed as manager of Real Madrid for a second time, 14 years after leading them to the La Liga title. The "Special One" has one of the most formidable reputations in world football - but it's been more than a decade since he last won a league title. His last two managerial roles, at Fenerbahce and Benfica, both ended without trophies. More than the Score's John Bennett is joined by BBC pundit Pat Nevin and Spanish football journalist Eduardo Alvarez to analyse Mourinho's return to Madrid, and whether he can still get the best out of superstars like Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior. Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon also gives his verdict on whether Mourinho is the right man for the job. Plus, Robert Huth and Chris Smalling give their insights into how Mourinho runs a dressing room, and we get perspectives from Portugal and Italy with journalists Duarte Monteiro and Daniele Verri. Unexpected questions and beyond the scoresheet chat. More than the Score tells stories from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

    Can Jose Mourinho put Real Madrid back on top?
  6. 5 Aug

    Is Tadej Pogacar unstoppable?

    Tadej Pogacar has dominated the Tour de France once again, and now has his sights set on this year's Vuelta a Espana - the only one of cycling's triple crown races he's yet to win. Few would bet against him taking that title too. But how has one man become the dominant force in one of the world's most notoriously gruelling sports - and does anyone have a hope of stopping him? Jonathan Vaughters is the general manager of the EF Education-EasyPost team, one of the rivals of Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates squad. He tells More than the Score's Mani Djazmi why taking on Pogacar is so difficult, and why he believes the 27-year-old may be his own biggest competition. Vaughters also shares his thoughts on drug testing in cycling, and argues its approach is far more rigorous than other sports. Mani's also joined by the BBC's Matt Warwick, who discusses what Pogacar's dominance means for the sport as a spectacle. Unexpected questions and beyond the scoresheet chat. More than the Score tells stories from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

    Is Tadej Pogacar unstoppable?

About

Unexpected questions and beyond the scoresheet chat. More than the Score tells stories from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore