Tennis Scandals

OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENT

Broken rackets litter the edges of every great tennis career, and this show starts with the pieces nobody photographs: the splintered frame in a garage, the taped-up grip that won a tennis title nobody remembers correctly. A backyard ball machine turns a restless boy into a weapon before he ever steps on a tennis court. A finger, bitten off by a horse, teaches a teenage tennis prodigy more about winning than any coach ever managed. These are not highlight reels. They are the messy, human beginnings that get erased once the trophies start piling up. Each episode of Broken Rackets reconstructs one true tennis story from start to finish, built from match reports, court-side testimony, old interviews, and the small details that never made the official record. There is no host walking you through talking points. Instead you get a narrated documentary that puts you inside a locker room before a semifinal, inside a family kitchen the night before a Grand Slam final, inside the exact moment a tennis career either bends or breaks. The pacing is patient. The facts are checked. The drama is real, because it already happened. The show lives at the intersection of tennis history and the quieter tennis scandals that rarely get their own chapter: the sabotaged rackets, the doping whispers dismissed too quickly, the seventeen-year-old who cracked Bjorn Borg's famous calm and then vanished from the record books. You will hear about Grand Slam history from the side nobody televises, about tennis rivalries that started as friendships and friendships that ended as lawsuits, about the physical toll the sport hides behind clean white uniforms. If you love tennis for the numbers, stay for the people behind them. New episodes drop every other week, each one a complete story you can finish in a single sitting, no prior tennis knowledge required. Subscribe to Broken Rackets and start with whichever story pulls you in first. The rackets are already broken.

  1. 8h ago

    The Contaminated Multivitamin That Collapsed a Career

    A tennis prodigy named after a legend faces a doping ban at 19, derailing a career poised for greatness. Can he reclaim his place at the top? The Contaminated Multivitamin That Collapsed a Career This episode explores the career of Guillermo Coria, a tennis player whose promising trajectory was interrupted by a doping scandal. It delves into the circumstances surrounding his positive test and the lasting impact it had on his career. Person: Guillermo Coria Date: January 13, 1982 (birth) Location: Argentina Event: 2004 Roland Garros Final Status: World No. 3 (career high) - Guillermo Coria was named after Argentine clay-court legend Guillermo Coria, setting high expectations from birth. - He trained alongside David Nalbandian, who became his closest rival and friend, pushing each other through junior levels. - At 15, Coria won the Orange Bowl 16-and-under, and later beat Nalbandian to win the 1999 French Open boys' singles title without dropping a set. - In April 2001, a doping test revealed nandrolone, leading to an initial two-year ban and a significant fine. - Coria's defense, supported by a private lab, showed a contaminated multivitamin, reducing his ban to seven months. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.

    The Contaminated Multivitamin That Collapsed a Career
  2. 1d ago

    The Roland Garros week that birthed two trophies-and began his unraveling

    A tennis prodigy achieves an unprecedented double Grand Slam victory, becoming the world's best. But his career soon reveals a pattern of inexplicable losses. The Roland Garros week that birthed two trophies-and began his unraveling This episode explores the career of tennis player Yevgeny Kafelnikov, from his historic Roland Garros win to his quiet departure from the sport. It delves into the contradictions of his record and the question of what, exactly, broke. Person: Yevgeny Kafelnikov Date: October 2003 Location: Saint Petersburg Event: Retirement from professional tennis - Yevgeny Kafelnikov walked off a tennis court at age twenty-nine, seven years after his historic Roland Garros win. - In 1996, at twenty-two, he became the first man in the Open Era to win both singles and doubles titles at Roland Garros. - Born in 1974 in the Soviet Union, Kafelnikov grew up in Sochi with limited tennis infrastructure but a supportive father and coach. - He turned professional in 1992, and by 1994, his ranking surged from 102 to 11, winning three titles and defeating six top-five players. - Despite winning two Grand Slam singles titles and an Olympic gold, Kafelnikov lost all five Masters Series finals he reached. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.

    The Roland Garros week that birthed two trophies-and began his unraveling
  3. 2d ago

    The academy IMG bought became a thing its inventor managed

    A man with no tennis background builds a prodigious coaching operation on Florida scrubland - is his certainty genius or recklessness? The academy IMG bought became a thing its inventor managed This episode explores the story of Nick Bollettieri, who built a revolutionary tennis academy from scratch. It delves into the unconventional methods and philosophy that shaped his approach to creating champions, and the complex relationship between the academy's success and its human cost. Person: Nick Bollettieri Date of birth: July 31, 1931 Location of academy: Bradenton, Florida Academy acquisition date: 1987 Acquirer: IMG - Nick Bollettieri, born to Italian immigrant parents, earned a philosophy degree and served in the US Army before dropping out of law school. - He began his tennis coaching career through informal arrangements and at various resorts, including the Dorado Beach Hotel in Puerto Rico. - Bollettieri's method emphasized total immersion, requiring full-time residence and practice at his academy. - Young players like nine-year-old Maria Sharapova and twelve-year-old Jelena Janković were sent to live at the academy. - Bollettieri coached Andre Agassi for seven years, from 1986 to 1993, building around Agassi's unique playing style. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.

    The academy IMG bought became a thing its inventor managed
  4. 3d ago

    The magazine cover that trapped a champion for three decades

    A nine-year-old tennis prodigy on a magazine cover is labeled "future champion"-for decades he lives under that promise. Can he escape it? The magazine cover that trapped a champion for three decades This episode explores the extraordinary career of Richard Gasquet, a tennis player whose talent was recognized at an incredibly young age. It delves into the pressures and expectations that shaped his journey from a child prodigy to a professional athlete. Person: Richard Gasquet Date: February 1996 Location: Béziers, France Topic: Tennis prodigy Magazine: French Tennis Magazine - Richard Gasquet appeared on the cover of French Tennis Magazine at age nine, with the headline "futuro campeón," before his first competitive junior match. - His parents, Francis and Maryse Gasquet, were biology teachers who also ran a small tennis club where Richard grew up playing. - Former world number nine Pierre Barthès noticed Gasquet's naturally refined backhand mechanics at a training camp, describing it as something not taught but simply present. - At twelve, Gasquet won three junior titles in one year, including a quarterfinal victory over Rafael Nadal at Les Petits As. - By sixteen, he was the world's number one junior, winning Junior Roland Garros and the Junior US Open, earning him the nickname "Le Mozart du tennis." To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.

    The magazine cover that trapped a champion for three decades
  5. 4d ago

    The one-handed backhand that stopped Sampras from winning the French Open

    In West Los Angeles, a public storage unit holding 14 Grand Slam titles is broken into. The greatest tennis career in history is left vulnerable. The one-handed backhand that stopped Sampras from winning the French Open This episode explores the early life and career of tennis legend Pete Sampras, from his family's origins in Sparta to his rise as a professional player. It delves into the strategic decisions that shaped his unique playing style and the unexpected consequences of those choices. Person: Pete Sampras Date: November 2010 Location: West Los Angeles Event: Storage unit broken into Items stolen: 14 Grand Slam titles' worth of hardware - Pete Sampras's trophies, including the Australian Open trophy and two Davis Cup trophies, were kept in a rented storage unit. - Born in Washington D.C. in 1971, Sampras's family moved to Palos Verdes, California, when he was six. - Coach Robert Lansdorp taught young Sampras a flat forehand, a drive shot that was difficult to read at pace. - Dr. Peter Fischer converted Sampras's two-handed backhand to a one-handed backhand specifically to win Wimbledon. - This one-handed backhand, while a weapon on most surfaces, was a structural disadvantage on clay, making the French Open elusive. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.

    The one-handed backhand that stopped Sampras from winning the French Open
  6. 5d ago

    The eight minutes that ruined Helen Jacobs's career

    A tennis legend steps onto Centre Court with a damaged ankle, refusing to quit a Grand Slam final. Her career, defined by one elusive rival, hangs in the balance. The eight minutes that ruined Helen Jacobs's career This episode explores the career of tennis player Helen Hull Jacobs, from her early days in Berkeley, California, to her defining rivalry and the pivotal 1938 Wimbledon final. It delves into the choices that shaped her legacy and the relentless pursuit of a single victory. Person: Helen Hull Jacobs Event: 1938 Wimbledon Final Location: Berkeley, California Sport: Tennis Period: 1914-1939 - Helen Jacobs's career was marked by five Grand Slam singles titles and a challenging record of one win in fifteen matches against her main rival. - The story begins at a tennis club in Berkeley, California, where Helen Jacobs and Helen Wills learned the game on the same courts. - Helen Wills Moody, known for her flat, punishing baseline game, went on to win eight Wimbledon singles titles. - Jacobs's game was built on consistency and athleticism, compensating for a weak forehand with placement and footwork. - By 1928, Jacobs was ranked in the world's top ten, a position she maintained for eleven years, even reaching number one in the world in 1936. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.

    The eight minutes that ruined Helen Jacobs's career
  7. 6d ago

    The nerve that won him six Slams auctioned his trophies

    A tennis prodigy's trophies are auctioned off, seized by bankruptcy trustees. The same nerve that brought him glory now threatens his legacy. The nerve that won him six Slams auctioned his trophies This episode explores the trajectory of a tennis legend, from his early days as a gifted child in Germany to the moment his Grand Slam trophies were sold at auction. It delves into the unique temperament that fueled his success and ultimately led to his downfall. Date of auction: July 11, 2019 Auction proceeds: 687,000 pounds Item auctioned: 1989 US Open trophy Birthplace: Leimen, Germany Birthdate: November 22, 1967 - Boris Becker's father, Karl-Heinz Becker, an architect, built the local tennis center where Boris grew up training. - At six years old, Boris began training at TC Blau-Weiß Leimen under coach Boris Breskvar, who noticed his unusual relationship with risk. - The German Tennis Federation invested 1.3 million Deutsche Marks in Becker's development in the early 1980s. - In 1982, at 14, Becker won the doubles at the Orange Bowl International in Miami, a competitive junior tournament. - In 1985, at 17, Becker became the youngest male Grand Slam champion and the first unseeded player to win Wimbledon. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.

    The nerve that won him six Slams auctioned his trophies
  8. Oct 17

    A single pill took a world number eight to zero ranking points

    A world number eight tennis player is stripped of everything by a single pill. He must rebuild his career from zero ranking points. A single pill took a world number eight to zero ranking points This episode explores the journey of Guillermo Cañas, a tennis player who faced a two-year suspension and lost all his ranking points due to a prescribed medication. It delves into what it means to rebuild a career from nothing and the unexpected path he forged. Person: Guillermo Cañas Date: September 2006 Event: Reintegration to tennis tour Status: Zero ranking points Substance: Hydrochlorothiazide - Guillermo Cañas was born in Buenos Aires in 1977, named after the legendary Argentine tennis champion Guillermo Vilas. - In 2001, Cañas jumped from world No, 227 to No. 15, winning Casablanca and reaching quarterfinals at the French Open and Wimbledon. - He won the Canada Open in 2002, defeating Marat Safin, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, and Roger Federer. - By June 2005, Cañas reached a career-high ranking of world No. 8. - On August 8, 2005, the ATP announced a two-year suspension due to a prohibited substance, hydrochlorothiazide, found in his sample. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.

    A single pill took a world number eight to zero ranking points

About

Broken rackets litter the edges of every great tennis career, and this show starts with the pieces nobody photographs: the splintered frame in a garage, the taped-up grip that won a tennis title nobody remembers correctly. A backyard ball machine turns a restless boy into a weapon before he ever steps on a tennis court. A finger, bitten off by a horse, teaches a teenage tennis prodigy more about winning than any coach ever managed. These are not highlight reels. They are the messy, human beginnings that get erased once the trophies start piling up. Each episode of Broken Rackets reconstructs one true tennis story from start to finish, built from match reports, court-side testimony, old interviews, and the small details that never made the official record. There is no host walking you through talking points. Instead you get a narrated documentary that puts you inside a locker room before a semifinal, inside a family kitchen the night before a Grand Slam final, inside the exact moment a tennis career either bends or breaks. The pacing is patient. The facts are checked. The drama is real, because it already happened. The show lives at the intersection of tennis history and the quieter tennis scandals that rarely get their own chapter: the sabotaged rackets, the doping whispers dismissed too quickly, the seventeen-year-old who cracked Bjorn Borg's famous calm and then vanished from the record books. You will hear about Grand Slam history from the side nobody televises, about tennis rivalries that started as friendships and friendships that ended as lawsuits, about the physical toll the sport hides behind clean white uniforms. If you love tennis for the numbers, stay for the people behind them. New episodes drop every other week, each one a complete story you can finish in a single sitting, no prior tennis knowledge required. Subscribe to Broken Rackets and start with whichever story pulls you in first. The rackets are already broken.