The Tennis Podcast - Podcast Rankings and reviews

While I always enjoy the weekly episodes, the daily episodes during the Majors is where they truly shine! As soon as coverage ends for the day, I switch over to Youtube for their thoughtful commentary to wrap up my tennis day. It’s made getting into the big Tourneys so much fun and a more complete experience. 10/10 recommend!

I am a longtime listener and friend of TTP, believing it to be the single best sports podcast in the world. I’m also an attorney, and so it was with quite a bit of intrigue that I began listening to the most recent episode regarding Iga Swiatek’s suspension for TMZ. As an avid tennis fan and follower, I had read the ITIA’s 11/27/2024 report, and I came away utterly convinced of Swiatek’s innocence; no reasonable juror could conclude that Swiatek was anything other than a genuine victim of contamination of a drug she was (more than) reasonable to believe was *not* contaminated. Imagine my surprise, then, when TTP glossed over every single fact in the report save for one—highlighted by Matt—which was that Iga had failed to list melatonin on her list of (14) supplements. There was no mention of the fact that Swiatek produced both the unsealed bottle from which the contaminated melatonin came, *and a sealed bottle from the same batch*, with receipts, which tests proved were contaminated at levels consistent with that which was found in Swiatek’s sample. There was no mention of the fact that LEK-AM, the melatonin manufacturer, produces a TMZ drug, plausibly accounting for the contamination. There was no mention of the fact that in LEK-AM’s subsequent press release, they conspicuously *didn’t* refute the claims of contamination. And there was not even the obvious qualification of Matt’s one’s fact: that, had Swiatek listed melatonin on her list of supplements, it would have *helped* her case and expedited her appeal (in other words, there doesn’t seem to have been any personally beneficial, untoward motive for the omission). TTP was right in the pod to address many issues related to lack of access to justice for lower ranked players, but the failure to address the actual evidence in this case was not fair to Iga and ultimately not good for the sport. And the ultimate irony here is that Catherine criticized Iga’s PR team for preemptively warning of the kind of incomplete reporting TTP itself then engaged in. Still a listener and (huge) fan, but this should have been handled better.

Hi—I am indeed a tennis nerd and have always loved the commentary and insights coming from David, Catherine, and Matthew.

I do have to say it is disappointing to hear their take on Sinner’s drug violation—yes, they believe Sinner when he says he did not have any knowledge of the events that led to his twice-failed doping tests (as do I). But this objectively does not make him any less guilty. I am a big Sinner fan, but I cannot accept that he has been let off the hook in a way that Halep, Sharapova and others were not.

While the TP trio may secretly share this opinion, that they do not express this openly while openly supporting Sinner’s explanation is an abdication of their journalistic responsibility. Otherwise, they should just question the entire testing protocol and advocate for the justice of all previous known violators. Another option would be to comment *only* on the play itself.

It’s a very sad state of affairs when Nick Kyrios, of all people, has the fortitude to call out the absolute hypocrisy of the system.

I will still listen to TPP, but have lost a measure of respect for these three when it comes to their opinions on the politics and governance of this amazing sport.

Listening to your podcast is the highlight of my day! I have been listening for quite a while, but wanted to just say thanks for the wonderful insight you bring. It feels like us listeners are there with you! You’re full of truth, positivity, and humor. Something the world needs more of. Can’t wait for the next listen 😊