Former French Open champion Andres Gomez returns to the podcast to talk about the men's edition of the upcoming Roland Garros. Gomez feels Rafael Nadal can be challenged this year and he weighs in on the chances of Novak Djokovic, Dominic Thiem and Stefanos Tsitsipas. He also compares the sabbaticals of Mats Wilander and John McEnroe during his playing days to the current situation of Thiem. 
Gomez also explains how the use of slice has stayed relevant in modern clay court tennis. I also got Gomez to talk about his son Emilio, who is trying to make the transition from challenger tour to the main tour. Last but not the least he shares his list of 6 greatest clay court players. Tune in!

Andres Gomez looks ahead to Roland Garros

Former world number six Nico Lapentti of Ecuador is the podcast guest. Lapentti now covers tennis for ESPN and remains involved in the sport. The conversation was rich in nostalgia and dates back to the "New balls please" campaign of lat 90's in which Lapentti was part of the young players the ATP promoted along with the likes of Guga Kuerten and Roger Federer. Lapentti also weighed in on the range of clay court players he had played against during his time as a pro on the tour - ranging from Thomas Muster to the King of clay Rafael Nadal. 
Lapentti further evaluated Novak Djokovic's dominance and his ability to dial in mentally in key situations of the big matches. Last but not the least he spoke about his bid to represent the Americas on the ATP board - citing how South America is kind of overlooked in the big picture.

Nico Lapentti Podcast

Dr. Craig Cypher -- @DoctorCypher on Twitter -- is a clinical and sport psychologist. He is a certified mental performance consultant who works in the University of Rochester's fitness and science department. He joins Tennis With An Accent to provide layers of insights into sports psychology and the mental health of athletes. He discusses the psychology of athletes, the psychology of tennis players, and examines specific aspects of Naomi Osaka's story to explain how her journey is instructive within the field of sports psychology. 
Dr. Cypher explains how he works not only with athletes themselves, but with coaches and support teams to create more positive experiences for athletes and the people who work with them. Crucially, Dr. Cypher makes the point that the work he does with athletes is meant to create a broader positive foundation they can carry with them in all aspects of life.

Dr. Craig Cypher talks about mental health in sports

Doubles legend Mark Woodforde returns to TWAA to review the US Open championships. We look back at the tournament where Daniil Medvedev stopped the historic bid of world number one Novak Djokovic for the Grand slam and the unprecedented run of Emma Raducanu as the first qualifier to win a major.

US Open review with Mark Woodforde

In this episode Matt and Saqib preview the Indian Wells 2021 edition. A lot has happened in the tennis world since Indian wells was played last. This episode covers the big stories coming into the event on both sides of the draws. Will Muguruza and Casper Ruud ride the hot hand into the desert? Can Medvedev narrow the gap between him and Djokovic in the rankings? Can Zverev and Tsitsipas overcome the disappointments of New York? A lot of food for thought for all fans.

Tennis returns to Indian Wells after more than two years

Freelance tennis writer Damian Kust(@damiankust on Twitter)returns to the podcast to discuss the field of the NextGen ATP Finals in Milan. Kust is a tennis hipster who follows the ITF and the challenger tours throughout the year. He sheds some expert views on the rise of Carlos Alcaraz. He also describes why Alcaraz maybe the exception to the rule in a sport where it has become increasingly difficult to break though as a teenager.
The conversation also shifts to Korda, Musetti, Baez and Nakashima. Last but the not the least Kust weighs in on the difficulty of competition  on the Challenger tour.

Some of Damian's recent articles -
https://t.co/TuTs2L22S2?amp=1
https://t.co/XIohCEeToX?amp=1

Damian Kust on the participants of the Nextgen ATP Finals

In this episode Matt and Saqib review the respective wins of Muguruza and Zverev at the Year end championships in Mexico and Italy. We also make a relative deeper dive into the fact whether winning these YEC historically have been a pedestal for success for breakout winners. The conversation also touches upon how the success of the event in Guadalajara should pave way for newer markets to host the showcase events in future for both WTA and ATP.
Last but not the least TWAA team weighs in on the Peng Shuai situation.

YEC review and the Peng Shuai Situation

Blair Henley is the podcast guest this week at Tennis with an Accent. I call her the voice of the tennis stadiums. She has been involved in tennis all her life and we explored her journey in the sport. The conversation touched upon various elements like her debut as the MC on court 17 at the US Open to her most memorable post match interview. 
Henley also highlighted the preparation that goes into the art of on court interviews - the dos and the don'ts and what questions to chose from. Last but not the least we covered the most international aspect of tennis - the pronunciation of names. Tune in for this off season special episode.

Blair Henley and the art of the on court interview

Juan Martin Del Potro called time on his career. This episode is a look back at the career of Del Porto and we can't help but reminisce what could have been the case had he had a surgery free career. Few questions come to mind right off the bat - would he have won more majors than Murray and Wawrinka? For one time slam winners how does he measure up to an Andy roddick? Why did he not play the Argentina open through most of his career?
We explore two vantage points to capture these discussion points and more - a tennis writer's view from Matt Zemek and Carlos Barciela gives a view of an informed Argentine fan.

The Del Potro Episode

Andrew Burton and Mert Ertunga join the podcast this week to look ahead at Wimbledon.  The duo broke down both draws and flagged potential good matches and made predictions. 

Andrew on Twitter -https://twitter.com/burtonad
Mert on Twitter -https://twitter.com/MertovsTDesk
Saqib on Twitter -https://twitter.com/saqiba

The Championships Preview with Andrew Burton and Mert Ertunga

Jeff Sackmann the founder of the Tennis Abstract website is the podcast guest. Thanks to Jeff tennis conversations around the world are heavy on relative stats about the game. In this episode Jeff gets candid about his journey exploring the much needed stats for tennis.
The conversation covers the ELO ratings vs traditional tour rankings comparison and Jeff takes an elemental dive for all listeners to better understand the computation.
The second part of this episode explores Jeff's new project where he is ranking the top 128 players of all time. There is a lot of statistical nuance offered here by Jeff - tune in to find out more.
Jeff Sackmann on twitter - https://twitter.com/tennisabstract

https://www.tennisabstract.com/

https://www.tennisabstract.com/blog/2022/02/01/introducing-the-tennis-128/

Jeff Sackmann on Tennis Abstract and his 128 Project

Steffi Graf vs Monica Seles is arguably one of the greatest rivalries in all of tennis. We revisit this iconic rivalry on the latest edition of the podcast with senior tennis writer Richard Evans and coach Mert Ertunga joining the show with host Saqib Ali.

We touch upon the entry points of both players for the guests and relive two of their masterpieces at Roland Garros. The conversation also touches upon other key player of that era especially Gabriela Sabatini and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario.

Richard Evans on twitter - @Ringham7
Mert Ertunga on twitter - @mertovsTdesk
Saqib Ali on twitter - @saqiba

Graf vs Seles - Rivalry Revisited

In the season's final episode we take a deep dive into the memory lane and relive the ATP decade of the 90's. This decade had a star studded cast of proven players like Ivan Lendl, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg who were joined by the newcomers likes of Pete Sampras, Jim Courier and Andre Agassi. What transpired was a decade to remember with many great players and compelling rivalries. 
Episode covers lot of ground by touching upon great players like Goran Ivanisevic, Thomas Muster, Pat Rafter and many others.
Podcast regulars Steve Flink and Mert Ertunga join the show to exchanges mental notes from three decades ago. It is a fun exercise for all tennis fans as we relive the 90's.

Throwback Episode - ATP in the 90's

Dimitar Labudovic is the podcast guest this week. Labudovic is the Billie Jean King Cup captain for Macedonia. He is also the full time coach of Lina Gjorcheska - who is the best player to come out of Macedonia.

In this episode Labudovic gets candid about his tennis journey as a former player and now coach. He talks openly about the challenges faced by professional players on he ITF tour.

Macedonian Billie Jean King Cup Captain - Dimitar Labudovic

TWAA contributor Skip Schwarzman joins host Matt Zemek for the latest edition of the podcast. Matt and Skip engage in a broader conversation using some of the successful players as vehicles to understand the current trends and patterns across both tours.

Be it the Serena serve, the Federer serve plus one or the importance of pro coaches on the tour. In a fun and in depth conversation Skip breaks down lot of common terms as well like rushing an opponent rather than taking time away from her.

Skip on twitter - https://twitter.com/tennisskip1515
Matt on twitter - https://twitter.com/mzemek

Trends and Patterns of the Pro tours with Skip Schwarzman

Turkish tennis player Ayla Aksu is the podcast guest this week. This episode was recorded earlier in the year. Aksu was coached by the friend of the podcast - Coach Mert Ertunga till end of 2022. She is currently ranked 413 on the WTA rankings and has won 11 ITF level titles in singles. She is one of the better players to have come out of Turkey. In this episode she gets candid about her career and tennis journey in particular. A lot of ground is covered here. A must listen for a tennis fan!

https://www.wtatennis.com/players/319641/ayla-aksu#bio

WTA Player Ayla Aksu

All time great Ivan Lendl is the podcast guest this week. For a younger fan he is a former great who coaches Andy Murray. But for a generation of players and fans growing up in the 80's he is seen as a true game changer. Prior to the dominance of the big three it was Lendl who had been the pillar of consistency in the men's game. A true trailblazer whose methods and practices became a template for future generations and altered the game of tennis forever. In this episode host Saqib Ali reminisces about some of the Lendl playing days with the great man himself.

Ivan Lendl Interview

The AO2024 review episode is here - as Andrew Burton and coach Mert Ertunga join host Matt Zemek to recap the first major of the year. Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka are the focal points of this discussion given their dominant form over the fortnight - which saw them secure the first major of the season. Also discussed in length is the process of Sinner's evolution and the instability of the WTA draws. Tune in!

Andrew Burton on twitter - https://twitter.com/burtonad

Mert Ertunga on twitter -  https://twitter.com/MertovsTDesk

Matt Zemek on twitter -https://twitter.com/mzemek

Tennis with an Accent on twitter - https://twitter.com/accent_tennis

Sabalenka and Sinner dominate AO2024

Resident guest Andrew Burton joins host Matt Zemek to review the recently concluded Madrid Open - where Iga Swiatek and Andrey Rublev were victorious in the respective WTA and ATP draws. Burton highlights the women's final weekend as the top player stability talking point with the likes of Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina holding centre stage. It's exactly the kind of weekend which puts the quality of the WTA tour at the front.

The duo also looks at the Madrid result as an opportunity for other ATP players to make an impression on the upcoming Rome masters given the injured state of top men like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner and the lack of match play for the 6 time Rome champion Novak Djokovic. Intriguing plots await on both men and women tours as the big prize in Paris looms large. The episode touches upon all this and more!

Madrid Review

Andre Agassi had an incredible career and the 1999 Roland Garros win is one of his career defining moments. In three week's time it will be the 25th anniversary of his famous French Open triumph. In this week's episode hall of famer Steve Flink and TWAA analyst Skip Schwarzman join host Saqib Ali to look back at the career of Andre Agassi. It is hard to capture the Agassi journey in an episode spanning seventy five minutes. However the trio looks back at some of the impactful moments and memories of Agassi's storied career.

Agassi Tribute with Steve and Skip

Gil Reyes joins the podcast this week as the guest speaker. He was a cornerstone in Andre Agassi's camp for nearly two decades. Reyes was the strength and conditioning coach for the basketball program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas before meeting Agassi in 1989. Together the duo pushed the fitness needle in the men's game during the late 90's. Agassi who started as a flashy shot maker were to become one of the fittest men on the ATP tour and won 8 majors. Reyes talks about his partnership with Agassi with a lot pf affection and reflect on the times that changed both their lives. It's a must listen conversation for all tennis fans.

Gil Reyes Interview

Tennis reporters Ravi Ubha and Steve Flink join host Saqib Ali to preview the year end field in Turin. Topics covered include the group breakdown with intriguing matchups and predicting the eventual winner. The conversation also relives some of the interesting moments from the event's history dating back to the inaugural years at Madison Square Garden. Ubha also shares his insights on Jack Draper - who once practiced at the same club as him.

Turin Preview with Flink and Ubha

Host Matt Zemek is joined by resident guest speaker Skip Schwarzman to review the recently concluded WTA finals. The episode is rich in topics such as court speed, visibility for doubles at big events and the significance of the WTA finals itself. Skip also weighed in with his observations on Coco Gauff's phenomenal run at the Riyadh finals where she had to go through a murderer's row of opponents in Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Qinwen Zheng.
Last but not the least Skip expressed his displeasure about the number of ball tosses were being caught by the players! It is a great episode with Skip and Matt. Brew your favorite coffee and get settled - its a detailed view of a lot of relevant topics.

WTA Finals Review

We review the ATP finals in this episode. Andrew Burton returns to the podcast to join fellow resident guest Skip Schwarzman and host Matt Zemek. The discussions centers on the best matches of the week where Taylor Fritz vs Alex Zverev is discussed at length. Other parts of this episode focusses on similar playing styles from the eight man field with Carlos Alcaraz being the outlier. 
Another question addressed here is who will be the leading candidate to challenge the Jannik Sinner- Alcaraz dominance at the top. Last but not the least the group takes stock of players who either had a breakthrough year or a missed opportunity at the highest level - Fritz, Zverev and Daniil Medvedev figure in this discussion.

ATP Finals Review with Andrew and Skip

Former tennis player Mark Lewis is the podcast guest in this episode. Lewis is also widely remembered as Michael Stich's coach during the German's most successful tennis phase. In this episode Lewis sheds light on the tennis scene in his native country of New Zealand. He also touches upon his brother's magical run to the Wimbledon final in 1983 before losing to John McEnroe. 
The episode is an extremely candid and generous account of Lewis's tennis journey where he shares lot of details about Stich and life on tour as a coach.

Mark Lewis Interview

Rafael Nadal is a former tennis player. Here is a little belated tribute episode to look  back at the tennis career of Nadal. Host Matt Zemek is joined by the podcast regulars Andrew Burton, Skip Schwarzman and Mert Ertunga. The episode is a collection of how the group looks back at Nadal's impact, his legacy and his greatest hits among other memories.

Rafa Nadal Tribute

In the latest edition of the podcast we look back at the ATP decade of 2010s. Usual suspects Steve Flink and Mert Ertunga join host Saqib Ali to breakdown the decade which was dominated by Novak Djokovic - who was closely followed by Rafa Nadal. The group looks back with fondness and immense respect at the historic ten year span of the sport which saw the term "big three" come into prominence. This was also a decade where only six men won a major title. This type of top heavy decade may never come around again!
Tune in to relive the most glorious chapter of the men's game with emphasis on big matches, key moments and great careers.

Throwback Episode - ATP 2010s Review

Andrew Burton joins host Matt Zemek for a mid point check in for the Australian Open 2025. The discussion centers around some of the marquee matches that loom large in the second week - and none bigger than the Novak Djokovic- Carlos Alcaraz clash. Tune in for a complete QF and beyond preview.

Aus Open Mid Point Check In

The Australian Open review podcast is here with host Matt Zemek, Andrew Burton and Skip Schwarzman. The discussion is a rich one with focus on the breakthrough triumph of Madison Keys. As Andrew would say this was the perfect "Murderers row" of a draw for Keys. The discussion also covers the continued dominance of Jannik Sinner and another runners up result for Sascha Zverev. Tune in to get a detailed discussion from the TWAA crew!

Australian Open Review

Steve Flink and Gill Gross return to the annual clay power ranking get together and discuss the atp hierarchy with host Saqib Ali.
It is a fun conversation - get your own lists ready to compare and tune into the show.

ATP Clay Power Rankings with Flink and Gross

Resident Guests Mert Ertunga and Andrew Burton join host Matt Zemek to break down the recently concluded Madrid 1000 event for both WTA and ATP. Topics covered include the maiden win of Casper Ruud at the masters 1000 level, the bankability of Aryna Sabalenka's tennis and the loss of confidence of Iga Swiatek. Tune in to listen to the review and other relevant topics.

Madrid 1000 Review

Tennis with an Accent is a podcast on tennis. Where we bring weekly conversations on all things tennis

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