Nothing Major

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Nothing Major episodes

March 07, 2025 Indian Wells Chronicles, Fifth Slam Debate & Breaking Down the Draw | EP 41
The boys are back to break down all things Indian Wells—the tournament that might just be the "Fifth Slam" (or not, depending on who you ask). Steve Johnson shares his struggles as a civilian trying to navigate the grounds, while Sam Querrey reveals his high school squad’s sneaky ticketing tactics and Jack Sock reminisces about wild doubles rides with John Isner.

Who’s the man to beat this year? Alcaraz? Djokovic? Maybe Berrettini with his Hottie Bracket trophy and an Olive Garden gift card? The crew makes their predictions, picks their dark horses, and debate if winning Miami is actually better than winning Indian Wells.

Plus, Sam and Steve are on the ground hunting for locker room gossip—so stay tuned!

00:00 Introduction to Indian Wells Discussion

00:38 Player Experiences and Qualifying Rounds

01:25 Navigating the Tournament as a Retired Player

05:26 Fan Experience and Tournament Atmosphere

07:57 Memorable Matches and Personal Highlights

08:42 Debate: Indian Wells vs. Other Tournaments

11:35 Favorite Courts and Facilities

12:33 Doubles Matches and Unique Experiences

13:17 Personal Memories and Reflections

22:05 Worst Memories at Indian Wells

23:38 Memories from Indian Wells

25:00 2025 Indian Wells Field Overview

26:49 Carlos Alcaraz: The Man to Beat?

27:31 Court Surface Changes at Indian Wells

30:51 Novak Djokovic's Return

34:41 Top Players Outside the Top 8 Seeds

40:08 American Players to Watch

42:11 Predicting the Champions

44:36 Indian Wells Trivia and Fun

47:01 Wrapping Up and Announcements

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48 min
March 03, 2025 Carnage in Acapulco, Tsitsipas Racquet Switch and the Hottie Bracket Trophy | EP 40
This week, we dive into Tomas Machac's unexpected rise as he claims his first career title in Acapulco, all amidst a week of food poisoning drama and top seeds dropping like flies. We also break down Stefanos Tsitsipas’ dominant win in Dubai, explore the racquet switch that might be working wonders, and debate if this new version of Tsitsipas is here to stay.

Plus, we crown Matteo Berrettini the winner of the inaugural Nothing Major Hottie Bracket—and give you the inside scoop on the upcoming trophy ceremony in Indian Wells.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:25 Weekly Episode Structure and Naming Discussion

02:33 Dubai and Acapulco Event Recap

03:05 Acapulco: Food Poisoning Chaos

03:37 Player Experiences and Challenges in Acapulco

08:55 Tomas Maha's Victory and Player Insights

14:26 Dubai Event Highlights and Predictions

16:16 Wilson's New Racket: A Game Changer?

17:06 Sitsipas' Performance in Dubai

17:38 Felix's Fortunate Wins

19:37 Zverev's Struggles and Comeback

22:39 American Women Shine in Tennis

24:03 Fritz's Health Concerns

26:58 ATP Hotty Bracket Results

30:49 Upcoming Guest: Riley Opelka
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32 min
February 28, 2025 Major Mailbag: Player Pensions, Sponsorships, and Sam's Acapulco Title | EP 39
Jack, John, Sam and Stevie are back with a jam packed loaded Major Mailbag! We’re answering your biggest questions, from how player pensions actually work to the wild world of tennis sponsorships, who gets paid, how much, and why some players switch gear for cash.

Plus, deep dives into Acapulco’s late-night chaos, legendary player parties, and whether tournaments should have a match curfew. Oh, and we settle the ultimate debate—should you be allowed to wear shorts on a plane?

Also, Sam takes a trip down memory lane, reliving his unforgettable 2017 Acapulco title run, where he took down Rafael Nadal in the final. From perfect conditions to post-match chocolate milk, we get all the details on the best week of his career.

00:00 Introduction and Mailbag Day

00:22 Debate: Shorts on Airplanes

05:00 Acapulco Tournament Insights

08:25 Memorable Matches and Player Parties

15:05 Mailbag: Tournament Selection and Tennis Memories

18:50 Watch Sponsorships in Tennis

20:07 Brand Deals and Sponsorships

22:45 Understanding Tennis Pensions

25:49 Airline Miles and Travel Perks

30:01 Creating the Ultimate Tennis Player

32:50 Hottest Guys in Tennis

34:42 Trivia and Wrap-Up
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37 min
February 24, 2025 Rublev’s 500 Dynasty, Rio’s Cakewalk, and Hottie Bracket Chaos | EP 38
Big news—Nothing Major is coming to you twice a week!

Every Monday, Jack, John, Sam, and Stevie will discuss the latest tennis results and the biggest headlines to kick off the week.

This week, the boys break down Rublev’s dominance as the undisputed 500 king, Rio’s laughably weak draw, and the latest drama from the Hottie Bracket.

Plus, should South America finally get a Masters 1000? And why does Rio feel like the sweatiest tournament on tour?

00:00 Introduction and Show Format Update

01:18 Doha and Rio Highlights

01:55 Rublev's Performance and Future Prospects

03:08 Felix and Draper's Journey

05:51 Novak Djokovic and Alcaraz Analysis

12:07 Rio Tournament and South American Swing

19:34 WTA Highlights: Andre Eva's Breakthrough

21:32 Housekeeping and Upcoming Events

23:25 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser
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25 min
February 21, 2025 Sinner’s Suspension, $1M Mixed Doubles & Tommy Paul in the Hot Seat | EP 37
In this week's episode, Jack, John, Sam and Steve weigh in on tennis' biggest headlines! With Jannik Sinner’s three-month suspension sparking debate throughout the sport, the U.S. Open is shaking up mixed doubles, ditching the traditional format for a high-stakes, 16-team showdown with a million-dollar prize.

The boys chat about tennis’ newest rising star, João Fonseca, who just became the youngest South American ATP champ since 2001. They also give a shoutout to John’s favorite doubles partner, Diego Schwartzman, who got a well-deserved farewell in Buenos Aires.

And finally, Tommy Paul steps into the Hot Seat in the Part 2 of his guest appearance. From his biggest wins to the matches he’d take back, Tommy breaks it all down, including the one shot he’d steal from the Nothing Major crew (spoiler: it’s not John’s return game).

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

01:47 Pickleball Slam and Event Recap

05:03 Diego Schwartzman's Retirement

09:16 Al Fonseca's First ATP Title

15:41 Yannick Sinner's Suspension Controversy

23:04 US Open Mixed Doubles Initiative

29:08 Controversy in Doubles Tennis

29:29 Mixed Doubles: Exhibition or Competition?

30:13 US Open Fan Week and Ticketing

30:37 Eric Bak's Influence on Doubles

31:45 Tommy Paul Interview: Part Two

32:01 Tennis Confessions and Fun Questions

33:04 Ranking Tennis Players and Matches

40:25 Hot Guy Tournament and Player Reactions

44:02 Stevie's Punishment and Celebrity DMs

48:09 Merch Announcement and Trivia
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51 min
February 14, 2025 Tommy Paul Joins the Pod, Partying Too Hard and Making the Top 10 | EP 36
After months of being ghost, World No. 9 Tommy Paul joins the podcast! And boy was it worth the wait! Tommy opens up about his wild days as a junior, why he almost went to college, and how partying nearly derailed his tennis career.

He shares stories of growing up in the same generation as fellow Americans, Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, and Reilly Opelka, and revealing who was the best at 14 (spoiler: not Fritz), and why Taylor was by far the worst athlete in the group. Tommy also reveals his actual rock-bottom moment, the insane reason he almost had John Isner as his coach for a tournament, and why he thought he could win Wimbledon last year.

Later, Sam, Jack, John and Steve break down the viral prize money debate and compare ATP's revenue share to other major sports. Plus, an update on the ATP Hottie Contest bracket (who’s the early favorite?) and the fallout from the legendary Steve vs. Sam Pickleball showdown.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:51 Super Bowl Recap and Reactions

02:43 Dallas and Rotterdam Tournaments

13:09 Delray Beach and Legends Matches

19:39 Tommy Paul Interview

29:22 Reflecting on Partying Days

30:17 Turning Point and Consequences

32:11 Career Challenges and Breakthroughs

34:10 Climbing the Rankings

35:12 Coaching and Mentorship

42:57 Tennis as a Passion vs. Job

43:34 Tennis Popularity and Celebrity Status

46:10 Revenue Share in Tennis

56:37 Trivia and Wrap-Up
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59 min
February 07, 2025 Davis Cup Draft, Hottest ATP Players & the Ultimate Pickleball Showdown | EP 35
Post-Aussie Open blues? We’ve got you covered. The guys break down the indoor season in the US and Europe, covering why some players skip the brutal Rotterdam field and how the new ATP 500 in Dallas is making waves. Meanwhile, John looks back on his brutal decision to ditch Memphis for the Rio Golden Swing with Jack—cramps, regrets, and a missed Super Bowl included.

Then, it’s time for the Davis Cup snake draft—who builds the ultimate US squad? And, of course, we settle the age-old debate: Who’s the hottest guy on tour? Tommy Paul? Berrettini (but only in pants)? We’re making it official with an 8-man knockout draw to let the people decide!

Also, Steve and Sam finally face off in the most anticipated pickleball showdown of the year. Spoiler: One of them nearly dies. Oh, and speaking of near-death experiences—turns out Sam is not the guy you want dog-sitting. Just ask John’s (miraculously still alive) pup.

00:00 Welcome to Nothing Major!

01:33 Hard pass on European indoor tournaments

02:44 Carlitos’ strategy for Rotterdam

05:22 Steve’s guide to picking the right tournaments

07:12 John’s Golden Swing horror story

11:25 Home Sweet Home: Playing in the U.S.

15:55 How Sam almost killed John’s dog

18:47 Ranking the hottest guys on Tour

21:41 Davis Cup’s unexpected MMA moments

25:14 Tension, trash talk, and (almost) punches

29:51 US Davis Cup Snake Draft showdown

34:08 The Ultimate Pickleball Challenge—Final results

41:38 Wrapping up with Nothing Major Trivia!
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44 min
January 31, 2025 Ons Jabeur Joins the Pod, Bringing Creativity to Tennis & Grand Slam Pressure | EP 34
WTA former World No. 2 and three-time major finalist Ons Jabeur joins this week's episode! Ons opens up about the unique challenges of growing up playing tennis in Tunisia, balancing her career with her personal life and the pressure of chasing that elusive major.

Ons is quizzed on the working dynamic of having her spouse in her team, the mental battle of playing in Slam finals, and whether she thinks she has the best dropshot in tennis...

Plus Jack, John, Sam and Steve get into a heated debate about the best and worst airports in the world, the weird February stretch of the tennis calendar, and the top journeymen in ATP history.

(00:00) Intro

(00:24) Nothing Major is back!

(01:08) What is the best airport in America?

(03:32) The worst airport in the world: Atlanta

(05:30) Did John like Davis Cup Week after the Australian Open?

(07:08) Playing tournaments in the US after the AO

(11:48) Welcome, Ons Jabeur!

(12:21) How is it to grow up in Tunisia aiming to be a tennis player?

(14:50) Jabeur’s tennis style. Has she a better drop shot than Alcaraz?

(16:30) Karim Kamoun, her husband and coach

(19:00) Motherhood and tennis

(21:40) Which Grand Slam final was she closer to win?

(22:50) The pressure difference between a Major final and other events

(26:00) What is her favourite part of the WTA Tour?

(26:35) Ons’ favourite tournaments

(27:32) Best friends on tour

(28:07) Get in the Top 5 or stay in the Top 5: what is tougher?

(28:40) Takes on Sabalenka, Swiatek, Gauff and Andreeva

(31:55) Random questions for Ons

(34:00) Jabeur’s platform as a Tennis Commissioner

(36:40) Build a perfect player with NMP games

(38:38) Dealing with the betting system

(40:37) Fan questions: Who is your daddy in tennis?

(45:52) Pre-game rituals from players

(51:00) Final trivia question
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54 min
January 26, 2025 2025 Australian Open: Madison Keys & Jannik Sinner Finals Reaction | Something Major | EP 33
The 2025 Australian Open has wrapped, and we’re putting a bow on two week of Something Major with our Finals reaction. The boys discuss Madison Keys finally claiming her first Grand Slam title in an unforgettable final, ending a decade-long wait in spectacular fashion, and personal stories about the AO women's champ. On the men’s side, we reflect on Jannik Sinner's continued reign of dominance, clinching back-to-back Aussie Open titles, and debate what's next for Alexander Zverev.

But it’s not all about the Finals. The Snake Draft chaos comes to a head, Sam and Stevie gear up for a hilarious pickleball showdown, and fan-submitted questions take us on a few entertaining detours.

00:00 Introduction and Overview
00:22 Welcoming the Audience
01:07 Madison Keys' Grand Slam Victory
01:54 Personal Reflections on Madison Keys
03:02 Madison Keys' Journey and Challenges
08:37 Equipment Changes and Their Impact
12:28 Men's Final: Yannick Sinner vs. Sasha Veev
13:03 Sasha Veev's Struggles and Reflections
14:57 Sinner's Dominance and Future Prospects
20:31 Sasha Veev's Future and Potential
26:47 Pickleball Challenge Announcement
27:45 Keeping the Results Secret
28:17 Debating the Game Format
29:34 Predicting the Match Outcome
30:44 Keys to Victory
33:04 Fan Questions and Trivia
43:06 Concluding Remarks
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44 min
January 25, 2025 Stan Wawrinka Joins the Pod, From Aussie Glory to Partying Like a Grand Slam Champion | EP 32
In this Saturday special of Nothing Major, the boys sit down with their first Major champion—none other than Stan “The Man” Wawrinka.

The 3-time Grand Slam champ doesn’t hold back as he dishes on the match against Djokovic that made him believe he could hang with the big dogs, the wild ride to his 2014 Aussie Open win, and why celebrating a Slam with a proper party is absolutely mandatory.

Stan also breaks down the fine art of snapping a racquet over his knee (it’s all in the technique), explains why he’d rather face Rafa than Roger in a Slam final, and spills on why the US Open was the toughest one to conquer.

(00:00) Intro

(00:32) Stan Wawrinka joins the podcast

(01:13) How a reel convinced Stan to come on

(02:18) Stan’s routine at the Australian Open

(03:23) Tough 2013 loss to Djokovic

(06:15) Did Stan believe he could win the 2014 AO?

(08:49) Federer or Nadal in the final—who did he prefer?

(10:49) The epic party after winning the 2014 AO

(11:47) Life after becoming a Grand Slam champion

(16:45) Playing his best tennis to win Roland-Garros 2015

(21:07) What does it take to win a Grand Slam?

(22:10) Is Stan part of the “Big Four”?

(23:26) Facing Rafa in the 2017 Roland-Garros final

(24:10) Why Stan enjoys playing Novak

(26:55) The love of competition

(27:27) Stan flips the script: Do the guys miss tennis?

(29:10) Stan’s relationship with the younger generation

(30:28) Major Q&A with Stan

(31:41) Stan’s Vegas Draft

(33:48) How to break a racket over your knee

(35:03) Outro
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36 min

About Nothing Major

From the publisher's feed

Join former American tennis stars Sam Querrey, John Isner & Steve Johnson as they hope to serve up more laughs than Grand Slam titles on the podcast Nothing Major.