Episode 301 takes us crashing back to Earth in the wake of genuine concerns over the Madrid Open’s treatment of women players. The overlong, overcooked tournament ended in a flurry of bad press, which started with some symbolically loaded cakes and ended with a tournament terrified of letting women speak at all. Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz continue fine seasons, each winning their second titles here. To wrap up, we cover some depressing injury news, Murray-Stephens Challenger wins, and an addendum to “SERENA” which features *your* favorite Serena moments. 

3:35 Madrid experiments with a longer format, and honestly let’s leave it in 2023

7:50 The model ball women: the culottes are worse than the crime?

9:45 Ceci n’est pas un cake 

19:45 The women’s doubles finalists are literally silenced

28:15 Imagine, the original controversy of Madrid was Genie Bouchard’s possibly defamatory tweet about dopers

30:15 Onto actual tennis! Sabalenka d. Swiatek as this rivalry really heats up

33:15 Alcaraz title #10, Struff’s clay serve and volley, Zhang’s breakthrough

37:40 “Hola a todos” should come with a warning

41:00 Anisimova to take a break from tennis to take care of her mental health

44:40 Your favorite Serena moments: oh, he’s still … ?