Tennis Re-Lived

What does a Tennis Podcast do when there is no live tennis, now or in the foreseeable future?

After much virtual brainstorming, we have found the answer. It goes back into its glorious past. 

We are launching Tennis Re-Lived. Over the next few months, and longer if necessary, the three of us (Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts) will be going back in time to watch special tennis matches from the past together, and then recording podcasts immediately afterwards to react to them, share our impressions, opinions and memories. Matt will be going deep with research, David will be delving into his old-man anecdotes, and Catherine will be putting off unpacking her Indian Wells suitcase until further notice. We are that serious. 

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Rome Final, 2006

All of the big, cancelled tournaments will have matches covered in our weekly shows - Miami, Monte Carlo/Fed Cup, Madrid, Rome. Included on the list so far: the Nadal - Federer Rome final in 2006, Halep vs. Sharapova in Madrid 2014, and the first big final between Serena and Venus Williams in Miami. 

Venus Williams and Serena Williams, Miami Final, 1999

Our listeners crowdfunded us to deliver daily editions of The Tennis Podcast during the four Grand Slam tournaments, and that’s exactly what we will continue to do, starting with the original Roland Garros dates, between Sunday 24th May and Sunday 7th June. 

Each day, the three of us will re-live a classic French Open match or storyline together. John McEnroe vs. Ivan Lendl 1984 - the match that still haunts McEnroe. The Chris Evert vs. Martina Navratilova finals. Rafael Nadal losing his unbeaten record to Robin Soderling, thus opening the door for Federer in 2009. And many more.

Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe, French Open Final, 1984

We will let you know ahead of time which matches we are going to watch, and when, so that you can watch them with us. 

What happens if the coronavirus impacts sport further, resulting in more tennis schedule disruption, postponements and cancellations? If so, we will run Tennis Re-Lived podcasts weekly during other big tour events, and daily at the remaining two Grand Slam tournaments, Wimbledon and the US Open, if those events do not happen.

What if the French Open runs, as currently scheduled, during the revised dates of September 20th to October 4th, or later in 2020? We will publish even more podcasts, running daily editions during the event as it happens, in addition to our Roland Garros Re-Lived schedule in May and June.

In short, we will do all we can to keep our listeners entertained, and repay the faith they showed in us by backing our crowdfunding Kickstarter ahead of the 2020 tennis season. We want to re-live and celebrate the past while we await our future. We will also update our listeners on the latest tennis news, have insight from players, try to do big interviews and special edition pods. 

While we are determined to deliver the promised number of podcasts and do everything within our power to give our listeners the best Tennis Podcast experience possible, we will not be able to do exactly what we set out to do before the coronavirus hit and live tennis existed. So, we have written to our backers to let them know that we will refund them, should they feel it appropriate. The Tennis Podcast was built on goodwill, a love for the sport and a passion for the medium of podcasts, and that will continue. 

To everyone that has listened to and supported us, and particularly to those that have sent lovely messages over e-mail and social media in recent weeks, thank you. It means a lot. 

Catherine, David and Matt