Black Spin Global: The Podcast

This is another celebratory episode in response to Coco Gauff’s incredible run to the Wuhan title.“Big Coco, never the little one” won all of her matches in straight sets at the WTA 1000. It’s the American’s second crown of the year following her French Open triumph earlier this season. The 21-year-old world No 3 now has 11 singles titles to her name, including two majors and three WTA 1000s (and don’t forget the year-end Finals title last year).Jasmine Paolini also did herself proud in Wuhan with a 6-1, 6-2 statement-victory over Iga Swiatek – a player she had never beaten before – in the quarter-finals. Paolini was beaten by eventual champion Gauff in a competitive semi-final. The Italian is now in Ningbo looking to secure a WTA Finals singles spot.To close we share our thoughts on the family affair in Shanghai – shout out to champion Valentin Vacherot and his runner-up cousin Arthur Rinderknech. We also ask why it’s proving so difficult for guys to step up in the absence of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.”Don't forget to rate, review and share on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Audioboom. For daily tennis updates: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackspinglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/BlackSpinGlobalTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@blackspinglobalGET OUR MERCH HERE: https://blackspinglobal.com/collections

Naomi Osaka fell short to an impressive and in-form Amanda Anisimova in a very entertaining semi-final which followed a three-set thriller between defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula. Osaka made a bright start but was pipped by the eighth seed who was able to hold her nerve and maintain her level in the deciding set.Take nothing away from Osaka, who has had a superb fortnight and has a top-20 ranking to show for the brilliant work she has put in during this North American hard-court swing.In the women’s doubles final, Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova fell to third seeds Erin Routliffe and Gabriela Dabrowski in straight sets – 6-4, 6-4. The top seeds were three-love-down in the second set and fought their way back into proceedings before the New Zealand-Canadian duo eventually saw them off.Regardless, it has been an incredible, “life changing” tournament for Townsend who made a run to the fourth round in singles, taking out a Grand Slam champion and the world No 5 en route and was within a set of beating Barbora Krejcikova.In the second men’s semi-final, Felix Auger-Aliassime gave a good account of himself in a four-set defeat to defending champion Jannik Sinner. The 25-year-old Canadian looked a completely different player to the one that was outplayed by Sinnner in Cincinnati last month and was hanging with the world No 1 from the baseline.Auger-Aliassime, who returns to the top 20, can now focus on his wedding before returning to the ATP Tour where it feels like a another breakthrough is imminent.Don't forget to rate, review and share on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Audioboom. For daily tennis updates: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackspinglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/BlackSpinGlobalTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@blackspinglobalGET OUR MERCH HERE: https://blackspinglobal.com/collections

Taylor Townsend pushed two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejickova close in an epic three-set battle on Louis Armstrong. The American had eight match points but was unable to convert. The doubles world No 1 still has unfinished business in New York with doubles partner Katerina Siniakova.Felix Auger-Aliassime is looking more and more like the top 10 player he was back in 2022. The 25th seed took out 15th seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets on Arthur Ashe in the opening match on Labor Day. FAA, through to the last eight in New York for the first time since 2019, is playing with a swagger that can carry him a long way. In the day’s most anticipated match, Naomi Osaka was too hot to handle for third seed Coco Gauff. The two-time US Open champion saw off the American 6-3, 6-2 in 64 minutes to set up a quarter-final clash with 11th seed Karolina Muchova. We cannot wait for Osaka vs Gauff when both players are in peak form.Listen out for post-match press snippets from Auger-Aliassime and Gauff.Credits: US Open Tennis Championships.Don't forget to rate, review and share on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Audioboom. For daily tennis updates: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackspinglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/BlackSpinGlobalTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@blackspinglobalGET OUR MERCH HERE: https://blackspinglobal.com/collections

Taylor Townsend picked up from where she left off against Jelena Ostapenko, this time seeing off world No 5 Mirra Andreeva inside a busy Arthur Ashe stadium. Townsend was an example of staying in the moment, recovering from an early break down in the first set and seemingly going on to cruise in set two. The doubles world No 1’s stardom continues to rise.Now to the defeats, Jasmine Paolini fell to Marketa Vondrousova on Grandstand. The Italian seventh seed was the better player in the first set and had two looks at a break point but was unable to convert. The second set was a complete switchup, and to Paolini’s credit she admitted nerves got the better of her.Frances Tiafoe, the 17th seed, had no answer for qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff, who took the American down in three sets. The two-time US Open semi-finalist was unable to create any real openings and was not looking to make any excuses afterwards.And finally, Ben Shelton, the sixth seed, was forced to retire against crafty Frenchman Adrian Mannarino at two sets all. Shelton, who left the court in tears, appeared to have hurt his left shoulder. The 22-year-old was able to put things into perspective in his post-match presser.Credits: US Open Tennis Championships.Don't forget to rate, review and share on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Audioboom. For daily tennis updates: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackspinglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/BlackSpinGlobalTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@blackspinglobalGET OUR MERCH HERE: https://blackspinglobal.com/collections

Ahead of Hailey Baptiste vs. Naomi Osaka, the match of the day at the US Open, we sat down with Coach Franklin Tiafoe. He shares his story, how he got into coaching, his work with Eric Hechtman, what it’s like being a young Black coach, what makes Hailey such a great player, and more. Make sure to tune in for the match today, second on Louis Armstrong! Don't forget to rate, review and share on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Audioboom. For daily tennis updates: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackspinglobal Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlackSpinGlobal TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@blackspinglobal GET OUR MERCH HERE: https://blackspinglobal.com/collections

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard fell to 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti in four sets. GMP entered the US Open following a run to the semi-finals in Winston-Salem so the game is in a good place.Felix Auger-Aliassime saw off lucky loser Billy Harris in straight sets but the match had plenty of momentum swings. The 25th seed spoke about the tricky conditions and the role of the crowd.FAA will play Roman Safiullin next after the Russian beat fan favourite Gael Monfils in five epic sets on a packed Court 5.The night session was all about fashions and heart. Naomi Osaka, wearing an all red night fit, saw off Greet Minnen in straight sets, while Coco Gauff, who was also donning red, eventually got past Ajla Tomljanovic in a topsy turvy three-setter.Listen out for post-match press snippets from Auger-Aliassime and Baptiste. Don't forget to rate, review and share on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Audioboom. For daily tennis updates: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackspinglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/BlackSpinGlobalTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@blackspinglobalGET OUR MERCH HERE: https://blackspinglobal.com/collections

Lucy and Eugene recap Day 1 at the US Open, which fell on a Sunday for the first time. Ben Shelton opened proceedings on Arthur Ashe, seeing off Peruvian qualifier Ignacio Buse in straight sets – 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. The American sixth seed was untroubled and looked locked in from the first ball and handled business the way a top-10 seed should in the opening round of a Grand Slam. Afterwards, in a nod to the celebrations taking place to celebrate trailblazer Althea Gibson at this year’s US Open, Shelton was asked whether his father and coach, Bryan Shelton ever spoke about any racial issues he faced growing up as an aspiring professional. Buse spoke about how difficult it was to get a read on the American’s serve that was not only coming in with pace, but also different variations. In our second and final match of the day, Jasmine Paolini took care of business against Australian qualifier Destanee Aiava, winning 6-2, 7-6(4) on Louis Armstrong. The seventh-seeded Italian, steamrolled the first set, before going down an early break in the second. But in typical Paolini fashion, the Italian No 1 broke back immediately, firming up her game before closing out the match in the tiebreak. Afterwards, Aiava shared her surprise at the weight of the Italian’s groundstrokes. We asked Paolini about her thoughts on the Sunday start. To close, we talk about Serena Williams introducing Maria Sharapova for the Russian’s Tennis Hall of Fame induction and run through the matchups we are looking forward to on Day 2. Listen and watch out for post-match press snippets from Shelton, Buse, Aiava and Paolini. Credits: US Open Tennis Championships

In another celebratory pod, Lucy and Eugene bask in the glory that went down at the Canadian Open where there was success on both the singles and doubles courts. Victoria Mboko, the 18-year-old Canadian wildcard, completed a fairytale run at her home WTA 1000 going all the way to the final in Montreal and winning the title. The new world No 24 took out Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina before beating four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in the final. Osaka also played some good ball during her run to the final. The former world No 1, who returns to the top 30, saw off numerous seeds en route to the championship match that was somewhat overshadowed by events post-match. We share our thoughts. Staying in Montreal, Coco Gauff and McCartney Kessler won the doubles title. The American duo, who were linking up for the first time, beat Washington Open champions Taylor Townsend and Shuai Zhang in a thrilling final. Over in The Six (Toronto), Ben Shelton, the new world No 6, handled business. Shelton, a Masters 1000 champion for the first time, came back from a set down to beat 11th seed Karen Khachanov in the final. The 22-year-old American took out world No 4 Taylor Fritz and world No 8 Alex de Minaur en route. To close, we talk Cincinnati Open which began on Canadian Open finals day. “We love this game! Don't forget to rate, review and share on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Audioboom. For daily tennis updates: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackspinglobal Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlackSpinGlobal TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@blackspinglobal GET OUR MERCH HERE: https://blackspinglobal.com/collections Intro 00:00 Victoria Mboko 02:46 Mboko vs Gauff 05:55 Mboko vs Osaka 15:41 Osaka post-match 26:58 Gauff winning doubles 35:51 Shelton's run 39:20 Khachanov's speech 51:30 Cincinnati Open update 56:38