Episode One: The Magic of Centre Court

As Centre Court celebrates its centenary in 2022, three of the UK’s most well-known tennis stars, Laura Robson, Jack Draper and Alfie Hewett, come together for an exciting new podcast series, in association with Vodafone, official partner of Wimbledon.  

Laura first played on Centre as a 16 year-old; Roger Federer wishing her luck down the staircase.  Wild-card Jack opened the tournament last year against defending champion Novak Djokovic.  But the only experience for Paralympic medallist and 19-times Grand Slam champion Alfie Hewett has been from the Royal Box (albeit alongside Rod Laver and Billie Jean King); perhaps one day that will change...

Episode One is all about finding out what makes Centre Court such a special place to watch and play. "The magic of Centre Court", that's what it is...

Full time codes:

00:00  Introduction from Laura.  (improvised commentary performed by Alastair Eykyn).

00:50  Jack gives his thoughts on playing Surbiton challenger alongside Andy Murray.

01:40  Alfie reflects on a title-winning week at the Barcelona Open ahead of defending his Roland Garros titles.

02:10  Laura tells the guys what life's been like since announcing her retirement. 

03:15  Laura tells Jack how she got emotional at Wimbledon when breaking the news to the BBC's Russell Fuller.

03:45  Alfie finds some common ground; last year he thought his career was ending when he went through Paralympic re-classification.  

04:40  Jack recalls watching Andy Murray beat Novak Djokovic as an 11-year old from close to the court.

05:45  Alfie reveals he didn't watch too much able-bodied tennis growing up.  But he did get immersed in London 2012.

07:10  Alfie has yet to play on Centre Court but talks about how wheelchair tennis is gradually being "upgraded".

07:30  Laura takes us back to U-10 days when a promise to play on a show court didn't turn out as planned...

08:50  Laura talks about the walk from the locker room and bumping into a superstar just before her debut at 16...

10:10  Jack only had to play the best player in the world on the opening day... no pressure!

11:00  There's a different walk-on for the players this year on Centre Court.  Laura explains the change... sounds exciting!

11:40  Alfie agrees that it's the atmosphere which makes Wimbledon. "Sometimes I just wish I was a fan!"  

12:10  The difference between watching in Centre Court and watching on TV is vast.  Laura gets evocative.  

13:20  Jack talks about playing on outside courts when the noise from Centre erupts.  

14:00  Behind the scenes secrets from Laura; passageways and secret tunnels.  "Nowhere else has the same vibe".

15:25  Hello to Tim Henman!

16:30  More memories: Laura goes back to 2008.  Was Jack born?!   He can recount the match like yesterday.

17:15   Alfie goes off on a tangent; to Court 18 to be precise.

18:05  Jack talks about the global appeal of the big matches and Laura reminisces about classic celebrations.

18:40  Jack was chatting to Andy Murray about his 2013 celebration.  Would he go up to the box if he ever won?!

19:30   They're addicts these guys; they can remember winning shots from historic matches. "I'm a tennis nut!" says Jack.  

20:55   Alfie grills Jack on making his Centre Court debut against Djokovic.  Much more on this on Episode Two!

22:30   Alfie's had an "insane experience" but rather than on the court, in the Royal Box!

24:00   We're back to the sound of Centre Court.  The silence,

25:00   How did everyone do?!