Beyond The Baseline: SI's Tennis Podcast with Jon Wertheim

This is a great podcast! My only critique is that the ads are thrown in there and not set up by Jon. he should build in the breaks to his discussions so we’re not bombarded by loud advertisements.

I would assume Jon doesn’t intend to do it. But it is too glaring to ignore. Two examples: the interview with the UMass student who had her matches “erased” (not the technical term) for trivial infraction of NCAA rules. Jon offered cringe worthy left hand compliments after the student set out the whole history quite succinctly. Something like [wow, I didn’t even have to ask you questions to extract the story. I am amazed you have such a big brain. But it gives me less time to talk- even though you are on my podcast to tell your story]. Another example: the interview with Chanda Rubin. I heard and felt subtle condescension and unwillingness on Jon’s part to just be the interviewer and stop showing his own insecurities. Jon, it all hurts your own cause. Seek some help. I like the fact that you have a lot of experience following tennis, but you are now with the old folks who have their bastions of privilege. Get a clue if you want to move past the outlets that are misogynistic, racist, and classist. But I don’t think you can. I will not be listening in the future, though this makes me sad. Because I really want to hear what some of your guests want to say, but not at the cost of hearing them speak through a toxic fog of ESPN’ish white maleness. However much there are some attempts at saying “ it ain’t so”. Yes it is so.

Weller Adams was a bore. He had MAYBE one so- so story about bailing out a player from jail. The rest was very dated. His comments about the male locker room and Andy Murray being the lone player who’s interested in combining women’s and men’s events sounded boorish and chauvinistic. It hit a nerve. And his comparison of playing professional tennis to commuting to a desk job was condescending and very small minded. Sorry ... the truth hurts.

Hello Jamie and John, Thank you so much for your wonderful podcasts and enthusiasm towards the wonderful sport of tennis! Although I am 47 years of age, I am fairly new to the world of podcasts thanks to my wife. She put this app on my phone for me! I am from Ireland, but live in Wisconsin for the past 18 years, and proud to be a US citizen. I have been an avid tennis fan my whole life thanks to my Dad. My Dad’s doubles partner at his local club in Ireland is actually umpire Fergus Murphy’s Dad! My hero’s is Rafa, and prior to Rafa, Agassi, Becker and McEnroe. I would love to hear Petr Korda on your show as I was so impressed with Sebastian at RG. He has a great personality and just looks the part. I have fond memories of his dad bouncing across Rod Laver arena with a teddy kangaroo handed to him at the trophy ceremony after his victory over Rios. He was a beautiful player, and gave Sampras a tough match at Wimbledon if I remember correctly. I would also love to hear some of the umpires interviewed who oversaw some of the more recent tennis finals such as Rafa v Djoker at the infamous Aussie Open Final. Would love to hear their thoughts looking over these wonderful matches from their high chair. Thanks again for all you do guys. Keep up the great work!!!!!