The Body Serve

We take a more moderate view (by our standards) of this week's big news: an ITF proposal that would revolutionize Davis Cup, and Genie Bouchard's victory over the USTA in federal court. Along the way, we make time for first-time titlist Frances Tiafoe, a young American cut from an altogether different cloth than his compatriots; Svitolina, who defended her title in Dubai; and Diego Schwartzman, the loveable Argentine who's just broken into the top 20.

1:00 An exercise in moderation

We take a more moderate view (by our standards) of this week's big news: an ITF proposal that would revolutionize Davis Cup, and Genie Bouchard's victory over the USTA in federal court. Along the way, we make time for first-time titlist Frances Tiafoe, a young American cut from an altogether different cloth than his compatriots; Svitolina, who defended her title in Dubai; and Diego Schwartzman, the loveable Argentine who's just broken into the top 20.

1:00 An exercise in moderation

In our peaches and cream episode (112), we've got a (still) blazing Petra, Federer becoming the oldest ever ATP #1, some Wozniacki messiness, and a discussion of the latest Harrison saga. Wow, that might have been the most succinct description of an episode we've ever done. Steep your tea, browse through the timestamps below, and enjoy our latest!

01:30 Petra with a 3! Kvitova wills her way back to the top 10

08:42 Gramps is back at #1; what's standing in his way?

16:22 New York Open: not a stone groove smash hit wonder

21:08 Caroline likes to get her lawyering on, but she hasn't studied for the bar

31:16 Any number of women can do what's not being done on the ATP right now

36:25 Tempering expectations for Serena's return

43:25 Harrison's latest: a whole lot we STILL don't know...no matter what they tell us

50:40 The Harrison interview on "Beyond The Baseline"

63:41 Darko is back, is very long-winded, and it's an almighty mess

In our peaches and cream episode (112), we've got a (still) blazing Petra, Federer becoming the oldest ever ATP #1, some Wozniacki messiness, and a discussion of the latest Harrison saga. Wow, that might have been the most succinct description of an episode we've ever done. Steep your tea, browse through the timestamps below, and enjoy our latest!

01:30 Petra with a 3! Kvitova wills her way back to the top 10

08:42 Gramps is back at #1; what's standing in his way?

16:22 New York Open: not a stone groove smash hit wonder

21:08 Caroline likes to get her lawyering on, but she hasn't studied for the bar

31:16 Any number of women can do what's not being done on the ATP right now

36:25 Tempering expectations for Serena's return

43:25 Harrison's latest: a whole lot we STILL don't know...no matter what they tell us

50:40 The Harrison interview on "Beyond The Baseline"

63:41 Darko is back, is very long-winded, and it's an almighty mess

We're back after a two-week hiatus! In this episode, we've enlisted Chad (@CCSMOOTH13) to help us with Serena's return at Fed Cup and Venus' two wins to clinch the tie. We run down some of the tennis action we missed on both tours before Mr. Smooth gives us his birds-eye view of the happenings in Asheville. We finish with a discussion of the wild Darko Grncarov story and what it says about the state of the ATP, its negligence, and male tennis players in general. Be sure to check out Chad's Instagram for his fabulous Fed Cup pics!

04:23 A blazing two week stretch for Petra, and Kiki's back!

06:36 Barty's going to be partnering WHO?

08:55 A brief recap of some of the ATP results

10:53 Davis Cup etcs: Zverev, Cam Norrie, and French depth

15:15 Chad joins us to chit chat about Fed Cup & Darko

24:26 Chad talks to Isha, Alexis, and Jill

34:30 Assessing Venus' game and the BIG doubles surprise

40:53 Chad the Darko Truther, and Aunt Jill goes awf

54:10 Why the idea of Darko took hold, filling an empathy gap on the ATP Tour

We are, at long last, at the end of the 2018 Australian Open. We're here to cover Caro's glow up and Tenny Sandgren's blow up. Wozniacki finally shed the label of "best to have never won a Slam," and returns to world #1 after winning the tournament. As for Sandgren, we try to address some of the issues that have lingered with us after the American's alt-right Twitter feed upended the majority of the tournament. In between, we salute Simona Halep and Angelique Kerber for their heroics, and tip our hats to Roger Federer on his 20th career Slam title.  

03:23 Caroline Wozniacki gets to the end of her rainbow

12:30 HOW did Simona do what she did?

23:25 The match of the tournament: Halep vs Kerber

28:11 James' progress report on finding a new player to stan for

30:04 There was a men's tournament as well? Hat tip to Rog

38:02 What does this event say about the state of the ATP?

43:16 Shoutouts to Hyeon Chung and Kyle Edmund, plus the doubles winners!

53:44 A discussion on the Tennys Sandgren saga

72:41 Serena and Martina step in and steer the ship back on course

85:00 Say what? John McEnroe did something useful? Plus, sport IS political

We are, at long last, at the end of the 2018 Australian Open. We're here to cover Caro's glow up and Tenny Sandgren's blow up. Wozniacki finally shed the label of "best to have never won a Slam," and returns to world #1 after winning the tournament. As for Sandgren, we try to address some of the issues that have lingered with us after the American's alt-right Twitter feed upended the majority of the tournament. In between, we salute Simona Halep and Angelique Kerber for their heroics, and tip our hats to Roger Federer on his 20th career Slam title.  

03:23 Caroline Wozniacki gets to the end of her rainbow

12:30 HOW did Simona do what she did?

23:25 The match of the tournament: Halep vs Kerber

28:11 James' progress report on finding a new player to stan for

30:04 There was a men's tournament as well? Hat tip to Rog

38:02 What does this event say about the state of the ATP?

43:16 Shoutouts to Hyeon Chung and Kyle Edmund, plus the doubles winners!

53:44 A discussion on the Tennys Sandgren saga

72:41 Serena and Martina step in and steer the ship back on course

85:00 Say what? John McEnroe did something useful? Plus, sport IS political

We're checking in at the midpoint of the 2018 Australian Open, an altogether different experience than last year. The topic of most interest to us is Novak Djokovic's alleged call for a players' union at the recent ATP all-player meeting, and the questions this raises for the sport. We grapple with the coverage that openly ridiculed Djokovic's actions, the potential ways that a union can change tennis for the better, and the inevitable gender politics embedded in the discussion. But first, we recap some of the biggest moments of the first week, including Naomi Osaka's big night, the Halep-Davis marathon, Tsonga's thrilling 5-setter against Shapovalov, and Kerber's convincing beatdown of Maria Sharapova.

1:00 Did anyone else feel that dark cloud above?

We're doing a close look at both draws, but first: the Australian Open draw ceremony and the accompanying commentary has given us much to talk about, a mere four days after our last episode. We wonder if Billie Jean King's fierce dedication to the survival of women's tennis sometimes clouds her vision, with her recent disavowal of Margaret Court Arena after lobbying for its naming only 15 years ago. We probe the questions of representation, boycotts, and the utility of demanding that players -- rather than institutions -- be held accountable for implicitly supporting Margaret Court's destructive behavior.

01:45  The draw ceremony, or "draw reveal party" - What the hell?

TBS is back, back again to discuss the SEVEN titlists from week one of the 2018 season. Among the topics discussed: the myriad winners, Kerber's presumed resurgence, the state of Venus' game, Bartoli's revealing interview, Bellucci's "silent ban," Pat Cash acting like trash, and the Australian Open's decision to have Sharapova fill in for Serena at the draw ceremony. Afterwards, James takes a quiz on some WTA records, before we finish with a discussion of #TimesUp and the Golden Globes.

03:17 The first batch of winners in 2018: Simona, sans sponsor, wins Shenzhen to stay #1

16:55 Kyrgios' impressive title run in Brisbane and Alt-Ryan's true colours

22:50 The first runaway narrative of the young season: Kerber is back

28:28 Vickery and de Minaur break through Auckland and Brisbane

32:07 Bartoli gives us insight into her comeback

36:41 Bespoke vitamins y'all. BESPOKE VITAMINS!!!

49:13 #SeeWhatHadHappenedWas -> Pat Cash Trash

50:50 Sharapova appointed to fill in for Serena -> how many fucks do we have to give?

54:58 A RafAndy update: hips and arms

63:13 Quiz time -> how do you measure up to James' knowledge of WTA records?

73:03 #TimesUp and a discussion of the activism at the Golden Globes

This episode of The Body Serve was brought to you by Health IQ. Visit their website to get a special quote on affordable life insurance for folks (you) who lead active and healthy lifestyles.

WATCH: Harrison's obscene outburst in Brisbane against Yannick Hanfmann (0:14)

READ: Bartoli's interview with L'Equipe in French or translated into English by Tennis Translations