WTA Insider Podcast

The doubles field for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore is nearly set, as two more teams booked their spots at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open. Hear from both teams on this episode. 

First up are the Czech duo from Plzen, Andrea Sestini Hlavackova and Barbora Strycova, who became the third team to qualify by making the final in Wuhan. Hear from #TeamAngryBirds (Andi = Angry, Bara = Birds) on what makes their team click and why they don't want to be painting coffee cups in Singapore. It all makes sense after you listen.

Second, you'll hear from Elise Mertens and Demi Schuurs, who won their fourth title this year in Wuhan to book their Singapore debut. Demi discusses her unbelievable season, how you pronounce her name, and why they've tried and failed to come up with a good team name. Maybe you can help!

Karolina Pliskova boosted her chances for Singapore with the best serving performance of her career to win her second title of 2018 at the Toray Pan Pacific Open. En route to the title, Pliskova saved match points in her third round against Alison Riske before dominating US Open champion Naomi Osaka in Saturday's final.

Pliskova joins the podcast from the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open to reflect on what sparked her mid-season resurgence and why there's nothing like having your dad in your corner. 

Naomi Osaka became the 1st Japanese player, man or woman, to win a major title at the US Open, by defeating her self-professed idol Serena Williams 6-2, 6-4 in Saturday's final. 

Hear from the 20-year-old in her own words, as she reflects on her triumphant fortnight and how the win positions her for the rest of the season.

Courtney Nguyen is joined by Ava Wallace (Washington Post) and Akatsuki Uchida (Smash Magazine) to preview the 2018 US Open final between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka. 

Simona, Sloane, and Serena. Those are the three names on everyone's lips as the 2018 US Open is set to begin. 

And they're all in the same half of the draw.

Reem Abulleil joins the podcast to break down the draw and look ahead at what we can expect at the final Slam of the season. 

Kiki Bertens put an exclamation mark on her stellar summer hardcourt season, saving match point to defeat No.1 Simona Halep in three sets to win the biggest title of her career at the Western & Southern Open.

The win Berten's 6th straight over a Top 10 player during the US Open Series, and the Dutchwoman became the 1st player to defeat the World No.1 and World No.2 to lift a title since Garbiñe Muguruza here in Cincinnati last year. 

The 26-year-old from the Netherlands joins the podcast to reflect on her incredible 10 months, which saw her go from contemplating retirement to putting together the best season of her career. 

World No.1 Simona Halep put in a "brutal effort" to win her third title of the season and second in Montreal at the Coupe Rogers. Coming off a lengthy break after Wimbledon, the Romanian defeated four Top 20 players and came through a grueling top-quality final against Sloane Stephens, winning 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-4 in a rematch of the French Open final. 

Halep's effort was rewarded with not just the Montreal trophy, but the 26-year-old became the first player to qualify for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. Halep is the only player to qualify for all five editions of the WTA Finals in Singapore.

Simona joins the podcast to reflect on her barrier-breaking week in Canada and breaks down how she's been able to bring a consistent high-level week in and week out on the WTA Tour. 

Mihaela Buzarnescu secured her 1st WTA title and Top 20 debut with a dominant win over Maria Sakkari to capture the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic in San Jose.

It's easy to forget just how far this result seemed 12 months ago, when the Romanian was ranked No.147 and just at the beginning of her comeback to the sport after years of injuries and surgeries. In fact, this time last summer, the 30-year-old had yet to make her WTA main draw debut, let alone win a match. Now she's tied for fourth in most wins this year. 

If it's hard to get your head around Buzarnescu's 2018 success, don't worry: it blows her mind, too. 

Former No.1 and four-time major champion Kim Clijsters joins the podcast from Wimbledon to discuss her returning role as a WTA Finals Legends Ambassador and how she's found herself in a mentoring role for the game's young stars. 

In what is quickly becoming a Wimbledon tradition, Connecticut Open Tournament Director Anne Worcester joins the podcast once again from the All England Club to reflect on the progress she's seen over the years in women's tennis and looks ahead to see where the tour, tournaments, players, and fans can take things forward.