WTA Insider Podcast

On this episode we recap the stunning result Down Under, as new World No. 2 Angelique Kerber became the first German woman to win a major since Steffi Graff in 1999, stunning No. 1 Serena Williams 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to win the Australian Open.

Joining WTA Insider Senior Writer Courtney Nguyen to discuss Kerber's mind-bending run to he first major title as as well as the two weeks that were in Melbourne, is Reem Abuleil, tennis correspondent for Sport360.

Finally, you'll hear from the champion herself, Angelique Kerber, who spoke to me the day after winning the title for our Champions Corner.

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or any podcast app of your choice. Reviews are always helpful so if you like what you're hearing leave us a review. You can also get new episode alerts by following us on Twitter @WTA_Insider and we'll post the podcast on the WTA website at wtatennis.com.

On this quick-hit dropshot, WTA Insider Senior Writer Courtney Nguyen is joined by WTA Web Editor David Kane to preview the 2016 Australian Open women's final between No. 1 Serena Williams and No. 7 Angelique Kerber, which is set to take place on Saturday.

Serena came through on Thursday with a dominant 6-0, 6-4 win over No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska and Kerber followed with a business-like win, beating surprise semifinalist Johanna Konta 7-5, 6-2 to make her first Slam final.

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or any podcast app of your choice. Reviews are always helpful so if you like what you've heard so far, leave us a review. You can also get new episode alerts by following us on Twitter @WTA_Insider and the podcast will be posted on the WTA website at wtatennis.com.

The draw is out for the first Slam of the year.

Who lucked out with a good path to the final and who has the bumpiest road of them all? Is Serena in line to rebound from her crushing U.S. Open loss to win her record-tying 22nd major title? Can a resurgent Victoria Azarenka find the form that won her back-to-back titles in Melbourne in 2012 and 2013? Is there anyone else in the field who can play the spoiler?

WTA Insider Senior Writer Courtney Nguyen and WTA Web Editor David Kane break down the draw.

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or on any podcast app of your choice and reviews are always helpful, so if you like what you've heard so far, leave us one. You can also get new episode alerts by following us on Twitter @WTA_Insider.

Don't call it a comeback.

On this episode, hear from 2016 Brisbane International champion Victoria Azarenka, who ended her two-year title drought with a dominant run to start the season. Azarenka opens up about her maturation process, her off-season fitness work, and what it took for her to clear her mind to allow her tennis to flow.

You'll also hear from World No. 1 Sania Mirza and her thoughts on whether she and partner Martina Hingis can achieve the non-Calendar Grand Slam this year. They're already half-way there.

You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or on any podcast app of your choice and reviews are always helpful, so if you like what you've heard so far, leave us one. You can also get new episode alerts by following us on Twitter @WTA_Insider and we'll of course post the podcast on the WTA website at wtatennis.com.

On this episode Senior Writer Courtney Nguyen rings in the the 2016 season at the first Premier tournament of the season at the Brisbane International, and takes a quick look at what's on tap at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, and the Shenzhen Open.

NOTE: This episode was recorded before Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Simona Halep, and Petra Kvitova withdrew or retired from their matches.

Courtney also sits down for a catch up with a very relaxed Simona Halep before she begins her 2016 season with a new coach in Darren Cahill and new outlook on life. Finally, the last time Courtney spoke with Andrea Petkovic she was in tears in Zhuhai, genuinely questioning whether it was time to walk away from tennis. Now they sit down in Brisbane to get an update on how Petkovic rekindled her passion during the off-season.

On Episode 12, Senior Writer Courtney Nguyen is joined by WTA Web Editor David Kane for one final look back at the 2015 season. In the spirit of the holidays, they ponder one simple question: If you could give any player any gift, what would it be?

You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or on any podcast app of your choice and reviews are always helpful, so if you like what you've heard so far, leave us one. You can also get new episode alerts by following us on Twitter @WTA_Insider and we'll of course post the podcast on the WTA website at wtatennis.com.

On this episode we discuss the announcement from Sports Illustrated that 2015 WTA Player of the Year Serena Williams has been named their Sportsperson of the Year, becoming the first active tennis player to win the award since Chris Evert in 1976. Then we have a triple-slate of interviews for you with Maria Sharapova, Madison Keys, and Laura Robson. The three were in Los Angeles over the weekend for Sharapova's exhibition event, Maria Sharapova and Friends, and were kind enough to talk to me about their off-seasons and hopes for upcoming season.

Here's WTA Insider on Serena's impeccable season here: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/5201996/title/serena-always-trying-for-better

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or on any podcast app of your choice. Reviews are always helpful, so if you like what you've heard so far, do leave us one. You can also get new episode alerts by following us on Twitter @WTA_Insider and we'll of course post the podcast on the WTA website at wtatennis.com.

On this episode we go over the 2015 WTA Award winners, a most-deserving slate of impact players led by 2015 Player of the Year Serena Williams and Doubles Team of the Year Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza. You'll also hear from 2015's Most Improved Player, Switzerland's Timea Bacsinszky, who talks about her breakout season, why she's feels like she's playing in her "third career", and why the spotlight can be harsher for women compared to men.

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or on any podcast app of your choice. Reviews are always helpful, so if you like what you've heard so far, do leave us one. You can also get new episode alerts by following us on Twitter @WTA_Insider and we'll of course post the podcast on the WTA website at wtatennis.com.

Everyone loves a good rollercoaster, right?

On this off-season episode you'll hear from two young Americans who left their mark on the 2015 season. First you'll hear from 20-year-old Madison Keys, who started the year off with a bang, defeating Petra Kvitova and Venus Williams en route to her first major semifinal at the Australian Open. Keys also made the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and final at the Family Circle Cup, but as she looks to 2016 she's hoping to put her up-and-down season behind her. Then you'll hear from 23-year-old CoCo Vandeweghe, who also notched her best major result this year with a fantastic run to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and overcame a spate of injuries to finish inside the Top 40 for the second year in a row. CoCo joined me by telephone to discuss the financial burden on young female athletes and why she's doing her part to help raise training and travel funds for the Women's Sports Foundation.

To Vandeweghe's cause and donate to the Women's Sports Foundation Travel and Training Fund go here: https://www.crowdrise.com/cocovandeweghesfaceo

Is it really just nice to be nominated?

On this episode, Courtney Nguyen is joined by wtatennis.com web editor David Kane for a free-ranging discussion about the 2015 WTA Award nominees, but conversation is about more than that. The awards are a jumping off point to discuss the season as a whole and the big storylines that drove it home: Serena Williams' domination, the rise of Team Santina, the encouraging future of Russian tennis, and why it's so difficult to label the individual seasons of so many top players, like Simona Halep, Flavia Pennetta, Maria Sharapova, Karolina Pliskova, and Timea Bacsinszky. If you've been jonesing for a WTA deep dive, this is it.