Black Spin Global: The Podcast

Friend of the pod Christopher Eubanks joins to talk about week one of grass-court season – Robin Montgomery enters the winner’s circle for the first time, Ben Shelton secures a third crown of the year and Serena Williams aka The GOAT fittingly makes a winning return on the doubles court at Queen’s (episode was recorded before Wimbledon wildcards were announced). We also look back at this year’s French Open including Moïse Kouame’s arrival, the last ride for Gaël Monfils and Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova winning another major.Subscribe, like, rate and review the podcast on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.Follow on Instagram, Twitter and Threads (all @BlackSpinGlobal) for daily updates.You can also visit blackspinglobal.com for articles, past podcast episodes and official merch.

We are back after a post US Open break! Italy go back-to-back at Billie Jean King Cup with Jasmine Paolini leading the charge. Félix Auger-Aliassime ties the knot in Morocco, Gaël Monfils shares his retirement plans, Team World win Laver Cup. Plus, Beijing chat and the latest from Shanghai.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 and Katerina Siniakova are through to the women’s doubles final after dominant performances in the last eight against Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez and then another straight-sets victory against Elise Mertens and Veronika Kudermetova in the semi-finals. They will play third seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe in the final after the Canadian-New Zealand duo took out second seeds Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani.In singles, Felix Auger-Aliassime came through a four-set scrap against eighth seed Alex de Minaur to book his place in his second US Open semi-final. The 25-year-old Canadian had to be patient against the world No 8 but managed the match brilliantly. FAA has his swagger back and we are very excited to see what the Canadian does in the semi-final.In the second women’s quarter-final of the day, Naomi Osaka beat 11th seed Karolina Muchova in straight sets in another smooth performance on Arthur Ashe. Osaka was brilliant in the first set and stayed solid in the second after Muchova was showing signs of a fightback. The four-time Grand Slam champion, in the middle of another deep run in just her second tournament with new coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, will play eighth seed Amanda Anisimova in the semi-final.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

Coco Gauff beat Magdelena Frech 6-2, 6-3 in the first match on Arthur Ashe. The third seed, who said she “felt a lot lighter going on court”, put up some good numbers against Frech. Stat sheet made for nice reading for the 2023 champion, too. Was nearly perfect at the net 10/11, won 71% of points on first serve and only hit four double faults (one in the first and three in the second).Naomi Osaka handled (15)Daria Kasatkina in three sets – 6-0, 4-6, 6-2 on Louis Armstrong. The two-time champ was near flawless in the first set, had a wobble in the second after Kasatkina raised her level, but locked back in during the third set to close out the match and book her place in the second week. The Japanese shared her thoughts on facing Gauff.Felix Auger-Aliassime took down third seed Alexander Zverev in four sets – 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 – in a performance that took us back to the days when FAA was a top 10 player. The Canadian was teeing off from the forehand wing and was evidently loving the conditions in New York, which he alluded to during his post-match presser.Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez are going strong in doubles, they beat Ulrikke Eikeri and Eri Hozumi 7-6(1), 6-1. So are top seeds Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova, who beat Alycia Parks and Dayana Yastremska 6-3, 6-3 on a packed Court 12.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

In a match that had three sets written all over it coming in, Naomi Osaka beat Hailey Baptiste in straights – 6-3, 6-1. The American made a nervy start and was unable to force her way into the match as a result of Osaka’s level which was ultimately too good. We asked about her tactics.Gabriel Diallo lost out in three close sets to Jaume Munar. The Canadian 31st seed was unable to take control like he has done in previous meetings against the Spaniard.Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Roman Safiullin 6-1, 7-6, 7-6. FAA seems to be finding his confidence in New York. His next opponent is third seed Alexander Zverev. The head-to-head is one-sided in Zverev’s favour, but the Canadian has beaten the German in their only meeting at a Grand Slam.Our last match of the day was Coco Gauff versus Donna Vekic on Arthur Ashe. Many expected a three-setter but the American third seed got things done in straights. She was emotional both during the match and during the on-court interview, but was incredible in her post-match presser.To finish, we talk doubles where Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez got their campaign off to a winning start, as did top seeds Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova. Meanwhile…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

Only one place to start, Court 11 that was packed for Taylor Townsend’s upset-victory over (25)Jelena Ostapenko. The Latvian took the L badly and resorted to some pretty derogatory insults, accusing Townsend of having “no class” and “no education”. Townsend handled the situation superbly, both on court and in press afterwards.To think all that happened on HBCU Live Day, that was brilliantly acknowledged with a great discussion in the morning on the legacy of Althea Gibson. Leslie Allen, Sloane Stephens, Kamau Murray and Boris Kodjoe were on the panel that was excellently moderated by Monica McNutt.Frances Tiafoe saw off big-serving qualifier Martin Damm in four sets. Big Foe had to stay patient, but took care of business on his side, served great and played smart against the lefty who he spoke highly of in press.Jasmine Paolini, playing her second night match in a row in New York, convincingly beat Iva Jovic in straight sets. The Italian seventh seed confirmed the dress was a night-session fit and spoke about her next opponent Marketa Vondrousova.Ben Shelton beat Pablo Carreno Busta in straights. The American looked very comfortable on Louis Armstrong and managed the match well which is something we put to him in his post-match presser.Listen out for interview snippets from Townsend, Mirra Andreeva, Tiafoe, Paolini and Shelton.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

In the biggest upset of the tournament so far, sixth seed Madison Keys lost to Mexican Renata Zarazua in three sets. Regardless of this result, however, 2025 will go down as a career-season for the 30-year-old American. Taylor Townsend beat Antonia Ruzic in straight sets on a busy Court 11, in a display packed variety and court craft. Townsend will face fellow doubles specialist Jelena Ostapenko in round two. Clervie Ngounoue showed incredible heart to recover from a bagel first set before falling in three to 29th seed Anna Kalinskaya. The 19-year-old American has an exciting future ahead. Frances Tiafoe did his thing against Yoshihito Nishioka on Arthur Ashe, beating the Japanese in straight sets. Big Foe threw down 19 aces and ended the match in style with two unreturnables in a row. Venus Williams, “the inventor of tennis”, gave the Arthur Ashe crowd a show in a thrilling three-set defeat to 11th seed Karolina Muchova. Lucy was in awe. In a late one on Court 12, Gabriel Diallo handled business against Damir Dzumhur in four sets. The Canadian 31st seed managed the match superbly after a lapse in concentration cost him in the second set. Finally, Alycia Parks was ruthlessly dispatched by fifth seed Mirra Andreeva in a match the American struggled to get in to. Listen out for post-match press snippets from Keys, Townsend and Tiafoe. 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

Lucy and Eugene, from the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre, bring you the 2025 US Open draw show.The likes of (3)Coco Gauff, (6)Madison Keys and (7)Jasmine Paolini are among the top 10 seeds in the women’s draw. While 18-year-old US Open debutant Victoria Mboko is seeded 22nd in just her third ever Grand Slam. Two-time champ Naomi Osaka, who looked back to her best in Montreal, is the 23rd seed.Gauff starts against Ajla Tomljanovic, Keys faces Renata Zarazua, Paolini takes on Destanee Aiava, Mboko faces two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova and Osaka starts against Greet Minnen.Venus Williams, still going strong at 45, has been awarded a wildcard as has 19-year-old Clervie Ngounoue and both have drawn seeds in the first round. Venus has (11)Karolina Muchova, while Ngounoue has (29)Anna Kalinskaya.Doubles world No 1 Taylor Townsend has drawn Antonia Ruzic, Hailey Baptiste will face doubles world No 2 Katerina Siniakova and Alycia Parks, who went deep in Monterrey, has an exciting first-round match against (5)Mirra Andreeva to look forward to.On the men’s side, (6)Ben Shelton, (17)Frances Tiafoe, (25)Felix Auger-Aliassime and (31)Gabriel Diallo are among the 32 seeds. Shelton faces Peruvian qualifier Ignacio Buse, Tiafoe takes on Yoshihito Nishioka, Auger-Aliassime starts against British qualifier Billy Harris and Diallo plays Damir Dzumhur.Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who was in the middle of his semi-final in Winston-Salem at the time of recording, has (10)Lorenzo Musetti in round one, while Gael Monfils faces Russian Roman Safiullin – La Monf and FAA could play each other in the second round.Listen and watch out for pre-tournament press snippets from Gauff, Paolini, Shelton and Tiafoe.