Don Van Natta Jr., host and executive producer of the new ESPN show Backstory, joins Thirty Love host Carl Bialik to talk about the debut episode of his new show, on the 2018 US Open women's final. Won by Naomi Osaka over Serena Williams, the match was overshadowed by chair umpire Carlos Ramos's officiating and Williams's reaction. Van Natta and Bialik talk about the controversy's impact on tennis, why new footage adds to the case that Williams received the barred coaching instruction, and what happened when Williams and Ramos met privately immediately after the match's conclusion.  Listen to Don's 2017 appearance on Thirty Love. Music by Lee Rosevere: "Credit Roll" and "Glass Android."

ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr. On Serena Williams, Carlos Ramos, And The 2018 US Open Women's Final

Conversations about tennis, always under 30:00, with host Carl Bialik and guests.

Sports

Tennis

Returning guest Matt Marolf (@mattmarolf), who writes match previews for big tournaments year-round, joins Thirty Love host Carl Bialik after the 2023 U.S. Open to recap the tournament and Matt's prescient picks, predict the careers of the finalists, and air grievances about the sport we love and love to find ways to make better. Links: Matt on Twitter Have feedback, a suggestion for a Thirty Love guest, or anything else you want to say? Email Carl at bialik@pm.me Music by Lee Rosevere: "Credit Roll" and "Glass Android."  

Thirty Love at the 2023 U.S. Open: Matt Marolf Wraps the Tournament and Airs Grievances

Jeff Sackmann, proprietor of the stats and history site Tennis Abstract, joins Thirty Love host Carl Bialik to talk about Battles, Boycotts, and Breakouts: 1973 Redux, Jeff's project to revisit memorable moments from the pivotal tennis season of a half-century ago. Carl and Jeff discuss the 50th anniversary of equal prize money at the U.S. Open, what made 1973 special, and how 2023 might look 50 years from now.  Links: 1973 Redux Tennis Abstract Jeff on Twitter Thirty Love is back for a mini-season around the 2023 U.S. Open. Have feedback, a suggestion for a Thirty Love guest, or anything else you want to say? Email Carl at bialik@pm.me Music by Lee Rosevere: "Credit Roll" and "Glass Android."

Thirty Love at the 2023 U.S. Open: Jeff Sackmann on his project Battles, Boycotts, and Breakouts: 1973 Redux

Returning guest Tumaini Carayol, the Guardian's tennis correspondent, joins the show to talk about players who have caught his eye and had memorable matches at this tournament: Frances Tiafoe, Caroline Wozniacki, Daria Kasatkina, and Andy Murray. He also talks about the rise of hard-court sliding. Thirty Love is back for a mini-season around the 2023 U.S. Open. Have feedback, a suggestion for a Thirty Love guest, or anything else you want to say? Email Carl at bialik@pm.me Music by Lee Rosevere: "Credit Roll" and "Glass Android."

Thirty Love at the 2023 U.S. Open: Tumaini Carayol on Tiafoe, Wozniacki, Kasatkina, and Murray

Returning guest Jim Chairusmi, part of the Wall Street Journal's team covering the 2023 U.S. Open, joins Thirty Love host Carl Bialik to talk about tennis pros leaving the sport to play pickleball, and how the Average Joe, Jane, and Jim would do against pro tennis players. Thirty Love is back for a mini-season around the 2023 U.S. Open. Have feedback, a suggestion for a Thirty Love guest, or anything else you want to say? Email Carl at bialik@pm.me Music by Lee Rosevere: "Credit Roll" and "Glass Android."

Thirty Love at the 2023 U.S. Open: Jim Chairusmi on Pickleball and Playing the Pros

Returning guest Giri Nathan, who writes about tennis for Defector and Racquet, joins Thirty Love host Carl Bialik to talk about his experience covering the French Open and Wimbledon in person for the first time, how tennis speeding up might have slowed it down, and the joys of Wide Tennis and Greek Yogurt. Thirty Love is back for a mini-season around the 2023 U.S. Open. Have feedback, a suggestion for a Thirty Love guest, or anything else you want to say? Email Carl at bialik@pm.me Music by Lee Rosevere: "Credit Roll" and "Glass Android."

ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr. On Serena Williams, Carlos Ramos, And The 2018 US Open Women's Final

Download our free app to listen on your phone