Ben called in Tumaini (who found a quiet corridor in Madrid) to record an emergency episode on the news of Carlos Alcaraz missing Rome and Roland Garros next month due to a concerning wrist injury.

We usually wouldn't do an emergency episode about a withdrawal, but the competitive relevance of Alcaraz to men's tennis is hard to overstate--he's defending champion of both events--and so we dig into what it means for both for Alcaraz himself and his future, as well as the competitive landscape of the tour without him.

Also, we briefly discuss the abrupt and unforeseen exit of WTA CEO Portia Archer this week, after only about a year and a half in the job.

Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

In an episode that came out on video overnight for our Patreon backers, Ben and Tumaini discuss April events in tennis so far, including the Monte Carlo Masters from which Tumaini just returned.

Has Jannik Sinner meaningfully pulled ahead of Carlos Alcaraz right now? And have they pulled even further from the pack? Plus, Valentin Vacherot's unlikely staying power.

On the women's side, we cover the uncertainty around where the WTA Finals is going next (deja vu there) as well as Iga Swiatek's new coaching hire and her time on court with Rafa, and Coco Gauff showing vulnerability on social media.

Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

Ben and Tumaini are back together in Miami, recording during the lengthy rain delay before the men's final--and then a bit afterward--about the happenings on and off court at the Miami Open.

Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner both continued their dominances, completing parallel Sunshine Double sweeps in style.

On the women's side, we also discuss Iga Swiatek's decision to part with coach Wim Fissette, and awkward moments in one of Coco Gauff's press conferences.

On the men's side, we discuss Arthur Fils' remarkably robust comeback from injury.

We also discuss the effort--in the name of the top 10 players--for more monetary support from the majors, as well as parting thoughts on the very unusual Miami Open venue.

Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

Ben and Tumaini have reunited for the Miami Open, a tournament which Tumaini is covering for the first time. We start the show with his impressions of the city and the event itself, including its passionate crowds and very strange center court.

We then shift to a few of the intriguing results and players here, including the stunning Arthur Fils rout of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Sebastian Korda beating Carlos Alcaraz.

We also discuss Iga Swiatek's concerns and possible crossroads with her team, as well as Naomi Osaka's state of mind.

Plus, we gush a bit about Aryna Sabalenka, as she increasingly deserves.

Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

In an episode that is also available on video form on our Patreon, Ben and Tumaini are back together for the first time since their late nights in Melbourne, catching up on a busy week of February tennis.

The WTA calendar seemed to reach an abrupt breaking point, Carlos Alcaraz kept winning, Jessica Pegula showed just how underrated she is, and Arthur Fils and Jack Draper made comebacks.

We also discuss another comeback about which not much is yet known...that of Serena Williams.

Plus a look at the future of the South American swing and what's causing its struggles, as well as the looming shadow of the soon-arriving Saudi ATP 1000 event.

Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian!

There was going to be history on Sunday no matter what, and Ben and Tumaini end their Australian Open coverage with discussion of Carlos Alcaraz's big win over Novak Djokovic, coming back from a slow start to clinch his career slam by winning the Australian Open, his seventh major title overall.

We discuss Alcaraz's present and his ambitions for all-time greatness, where this event leaves his rivalry with Sinner, the future for Djokovic, the significance of a post-Ferrero win.

We also, as we planned, use our last show of the tournament to look back at one of the early storylines: American players getting questions about U.S. politics in press conferences, and why we think this is a completely fair and rational thing to have happen.

Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian!

After a very good women's final, Ben and Tumaini hop the microphone once more to discuss Elena Rybakina's impressive three-set win over Aryna Sabalenka, avenging her loss in the final here three years ago.

We discuss Rybakina's strong form, her potential to challenge for the top spot in the rankings, as well as Sabalenka's struggles in some of these big matches while still being the clear top player in women's tennis overall.

We also discuss the remarkable arc of Stefano Vukov, Rybakina's coach, who was banned from the premises of the Australian Open a year ago, but this year collected a coach's trophy.

Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian!

After a dozen days that were mostly dull, the Australian Open kicked into high gear on Day 13, and so Ben and Tumaini stayed up late to discuss what made it so great.

Carlos Alcaraz was up big, then was in trouble, then was up against the wall, but finally eked out a rousing win over Alexander Zverev to book his spot in his first Australian Open final.

But instead of being joined by his customary opponent Jannik Sinner for the fourth time in a row in a major final, Alcaraz will face 38-year-old Novak Djokovic, who used his restedness to deliver a redline beauty of a match.

We look ahead to the final and how Djokovic might be able to win it, where these losses leave both Zverev and Sinner, and more.

Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian!