No Challenges Remaining
Episodes
Emergency Episode: Injured Carlos Alcaraz Out of Roland Garros & Rome
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Ben called in Tumaini (who found a quiet corridor in Madrid) to record an emergency episode on the news of Carlos Alcaraz missing Rome and Roland Garr...
Sinner Surges as Rivalry Resumes in Monte Carlo
14 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In an episode that came out on video overnight for our Patreon backers, Ben and Tumaini discuss April events in tennis so far, including the Monte ...
Sabalenka and Sinner Double the Sunshine; Adios, Miami
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini are back together in Miami, recording during the lengthy rain delay before the men's final--and then a bit afterward--about the happ...
Midway Through Miami
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini have reunited for the Miami Open, a tournament which Tumaini is covering for the first time. We start the show with his impression...
February: Schedule Woes, Alcaraz, Pegula, Serena, and More
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
 In an episode that is also available on video form on our Patreon, Ben and Tumaini are back together for the first time since their...
Australian Open: Alcaraz Clinches Career Slam With Win Over Djokovic
01 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
There was going to be history on Sunday no matter what, and Ben and Tumaini end their Australian Open coverage with discussion of Carlos Alcaraz's b...
Australian Open: Rybakina Beats Sabalenka to Win Her Second Major
31 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
After a very good women's final, Ben and Tumaini hop the microphone once more to discuss Elena Rybakina's impressive three-set win over Aryna Sabale...
Australian Open: Alcaraz, Djokovic Win Epics to Reach Final
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
After a dozen days that were mostly dull, the Australian Open kicked into high gear on Day 13, and so Ben and Tumaini stayed up late to discuss what...
Australian Open: Sabalenka, Rybakina Reach Final; Cameras Chafe; Serena's Comeback
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The women's Australian Open final is now known for this year, and Ben and Tumaini also talk about several other buzzy topics of the day. We start wi...
Australian Open: Quarterfinals into Semifinals
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This Australian Open still hasn't yet had the epics we've been hoping for, but Ben and Tumaini are here to review and preview as hope springs eterna...
Australian Open: Fourth Round into Quarterfinals
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The first four rounds of the Australian Open featured historically few upsets--the Top 6 seeds are all still in for both the men and women—and so Be...
Australian Open: Round 3 Recap and Second Week Preview
24 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A relatively drama-lite Australian Open third round sets up a blockbuster fourth round in both draws, and Ben and Tumaini were delighted to look bac...
Australian Open Round 2: Stan, Osaka-Cirstea, Bartunkova, and More
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It wasn't the newsiest Round 2 at this Australian Open until near the end, and once all the drama had died down Ben and Tumaini got together to disc...
Australian Open Round 1 - Eala, Osaka, Oliynykova, Tiafoe, and More
20 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
With the first round of the Australian Open main draw finally complete, Ben and Tumaini got together to discuss some of the biggest moments and stor...
The One Point Slam Delivers Again
14 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Back together in Melbourne for one of their favorite occasions in tennis, Ben and Tumaini jumped on the chance to record a show about the second edi...
New Tennis Year, New Tennis News
06 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In an episode that was already released as a video yesterday for our Patreon backers, Ben and Tumaini kick off Season 15(!) of No Challenges Remain...
Mary Carillo, a Hall of Fame Talker
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After coming out last week in video for on the NCR Patreon and Bounces, it's a delight to bring listeners Ben's chat with Mary Carillo on the occasion...
Riyadh and Rybakina, ATP Finish Line Drama, and Battle of the Sexes Concerns
09 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In another episode that was already released as a video overnight for our Patreon backers, Ben and Tumaini wrap up what was a very busy Saturday in ...
ATP Adds a New Saudi Masters 1000 as 2025 Season Wraps Up
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In an annual post-marathon tradition, Ben and Ricky Dimon catch up on the world of men's tennis, both recent news and the overall stories of this 20...
Cousins' Shanghai Surprise, US Women Shine, Hall of Fame Votes...and Peeing
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In an episode that was released as a video overnight for our Patreon backers, Ben and Tumaini catch up on the happenings of the tennis tours in Ch...
Giri Nathan on the "Changeover" to a Sinner-Alcaraz Duopoly
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben sits down with author Giri Nathan for this episode, to go deep into his new book, Changeover, and the Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry at its focus. This...
Alcaraz d. Sinner (Feat. Trump), Sabalenka d. Anisimova, and More 2025 US Open Endgame
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini, eventually joined by Giri Nathan, discuss the ending of this 2025 U.S. Open, which concluded with Carlos Alcaraz dominating Jannik ...
Naomi d. Coco and Other Stories at the 2025 U.S. Open Midpoint
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini check back in after the most-hyped match of this U.S. Open so far, in which Naomi Osaka soundly beat Coco Gauff to make it into her ...
Taylor Townsend and the Talk of the 2025 U.S. Open
30 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's a whistlestop episode for Ben and Tumaini, who had a train to catch late Friday night at the U.S. Open. We have a lot to catch up on, including...
US Open Day 1: Daniil Medvedev Crashes Out
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Scuttling previous plans, Ben and Tumaini are together once more for a bit of an emergency episode on the wild shitshow which Daniil Medvedev delive...
Courtney's Comeback
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Reuniting where they first met 15 years ago, Ben is delighted to have Courtney back on NCR once more for this episode, catching up on what's happened ...
Shining Stars—and Decay—in DC (With Ava Wallace)
27 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben is joined by Ava Wallace of The Washington Post to discuss their hometown tournament in DC, and how this place still manages to charm and shine a...
Wimbledon Finals: Swiatek Bakes Anew; Sinner-Alcaraz's Latest Chapter (With Giri Nathan)
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini are joined for their Wimbledon finals show by Giri Nathan, who literally wrote the book on the Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry that featured ...
Big Finals Setting Up at Wimbledon 2025
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini, on the mic once more together, recap the business end of Wimbledon, where one final is already set on the women's side and two bloc...
Dimitrov's Disaster (and Other Less Bleak Wimbledon Outlooks)
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben is joined for the final time during this Wimbledon by Ricky Dimon, to discuss the fourth round matches that were played and how the quarterfinals ...
Wimbledon at the Halfway Point
05 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben is back with Ricky Dimon to discuss a third round at Wimbledon that was much less tumultuous than the previous two rounds, and the second week out...
Draper, Paolini Out as Wimbledon Upsets Continue
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben is joined once more by Ricky Dimon to catch up on the further upsets in the second round of Wimbledon after the carnage in the opening round, and ...
Upsets Abound in 2025 Wimbledon First Round
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After an unexpectedly tumultuous two days at Wimbledon, Ben is joined by Ricky Dimon to discuss the record number of upsets from the first round of W...
A Sound Portrait of Wimbledon, A Half-Century Ago
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Something different and pretty cool this time: 50 years ago at Wimbledon, the two singles champions were two of the biggest pioneers in tennis history...
Alcaraz d. Sinner and Gauff d. Sabalenka in French Open Final Thrillers
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
[Reuploaded to fix what was an incomplete file on some podcast platforms the last time!] Ben and Tumaini, on the mic one last time from their house ...
Alcaraz d. Sinner and Gauff d. Sabalenka in French Open Final Thrillers
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini, on the mic one last time from their house in Paris, are fresh off two thrilling finals at Roland Garros. We start with the just-end...
Roland Garros 2025: Quarters Into Semis
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini, together again, are back to wrap up the quarterfinals and look ahead to the semifinals for both the men and women at Roland Garros....
Roland Garros 2025 Midway Round-Up
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini, fresh off their collaboration on Ben's Victor Barber interview, catch up on everything in the first four rounds of Roland Garros. W...
Episode 400! Draw Me Like One of Your French Opens, 2025
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini (whom Redditors agree has "quietly become the best tennis journalist on the planet") are delighted to have "Episode 400," which is act...
Episode 399a: Jannik Sinner, Superstar of Rome
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Forestalling NCR's imminent quatercentenary ever so slightly, Ben and Tumaini turn on the microphone together for the first time in their shared Pa...
Episode 399: Christopher Clarey on "The Warrior: Rafael Nadal and His Kingdom of Clay"
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben is joined by his longtime NYT teammate Christopher Clarey to discuss the release today of his new book, The Warrior: Rafael Nadal and His Kingdom...
Episode 398: When the Lights Went Out in Madrid
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini (who can also be watched in a video version of this episode on NCR's Patreon) found a moment to meet up between the end of a wild Ma...
Episode 397: What Breaks Through In Tennis
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini (who can also be looked at as they talk in a video version of this episode on NCR's Patreon, if you're into that sort of thing) catc...
Episode 396: The PTPA's Big Swing in Court
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini reconvene to try to make sense of the big lawsuit filed by the PTPA and a group of lesser-known players against the powers-that-be i...
Episode 395: Andreeva, Draper, and a Rebrand
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini are back together again after tennis traveled through the desert of Indian Wells, discussing crowning a new queen teen, a steady Bri...
Episode 394: Mixed Feelings
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini reconvene for the first time back in their cold home hemisphere to discuss tennis happenings in February, which involve several comp...
Episode 393e: Australian Open Finals: Keys to Victory; Sinner Winner
26 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini recorded one last show from this lovely trip to Melbourne, discussing the two singles finals. We start with the triumphant, tour-de-...
Episode 393d: Australian Open Semifinals Into Finals
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini are together after four singles semifinals are in the books, one of which was an epic and one of which was a short story. We start w...
Episode 393c: Australian Open QFs Into SFs
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini are back after another round is in the books at this Australian Open, looking back at the quarterfinals and setting up the semifinal...
Episode 393b: Australian Open Midway
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini are checking back in midway through this Australian Open, just as the quarterfinals are about to begin. We break down the women's st...
Episode 393a: Australian Open Early Impressions
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini come to you from the rollicking first week of the Australian Open for a quick catch up on the major stories so far through two round...
Episode 392: 2025 Australian Open Draws Show
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini have been working away at the Australian Open in the build-up to the main draw, taking a break to enjoy the sublime "One Point Slam,...
Episode 391: Season Underway Early; Gauff and Swiatek Deliver a Banger
05 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini are back together again in Melbourne, teeing up a season that started earlier than ever before, and a first week that ended with a c...
Episode 390: Swiatek's Positive, Djokovic-Murray Tandem, Nadal's Exit
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini can't take a break with all the news breaking already in this short tennis offseason, led (so far) by the revelations around Iga Swiat...
Episode 389: Mailbag Musings
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini got a bunch more questions than fit into our previous episode, so, after an amazing musical prelude by Dan Bern, we answer the remai...
Episode 388: Sinner Dazzles Through Cloud; Nadal's Sunset
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini join up once again to discuss the tennis season that is *still* going in mid-November, somehow. We start with Jannik Sinner's domina...
Episode 387: Gauff Triumphs in Complicated Saudi Scene; Men Reach Last Lap
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini reunite for the first time in nearly a month to discuss the inaugural WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, at which Coco Gauff won the ...
Episode 386: Dominic Thiem's New Way of Being (With Simon Mundie)
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes, as we've been reminded, life doesn't always turn out how you think it should. In this episode of NCR you'll hear from the recently retire...
Episode 385: The Year in Men's Tennis
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In an annual tradition, Ben and Ricky Dimon convene the day after the Marine Corps Marathon to discuss the year in men's tennis. This year the top lin...
Episode 384: Adiós, Rafa
10 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rafael Nadal, one of the all-time greats who we have been lucky to watch and cover over the past two decades, made his retirement official today. Afte...
Episode 383: Gauff Bounces Back in Beijing; Alcaraz, Sinner Battle Again
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben (who formally announces and thanks folks for following along at his new writing home, Bounces!) and Tumaini catch up on the happenings in the Asia...
Episode 382: Cups and Coaching Changes
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben catches up with Tumaini, who is freshly back from Berlin, about the state of the Laver Cup, which might as well be called the Federer Cup for how ...
Episode 381: Top 5 Post-US Open Women's Tennis Storylines
21 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben is joined by Alex Gruskin of Cracked Racquets for the second half of another home-and-home pair of podcasts looking ahead to the rest of the remai...
Episode 380d: 2024 U.S. Open - Sabalenka, Sinner Sweep Hard Court Slams
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini wrap their U.S. Open coverage with a look at the women's and men's singles finals, in which Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner both com...
Episode 380c: 2024 U.S. Open - Fritz, Sinner Set for Final
07 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini are back again 24 hours later for a look at the men's side of the second week of this US Open, which has culminated with Jannik Sinner...
Episode 380b: 2024 US Open - Sabalenka, Pegula Reach Final
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini cover the second week of the US Open on the women's side, which is now set to reach its dramatic conclusion in a final between Aryna S...
Episode 380a: 2024 U.S. Open Week 1 - Djokovic, Alcaraz Crash Out
01 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini chat through all the big stories of the first week of the U.S. Open, which kicked into gear with the upsets of two big men's stars. Ca...
Episode 379b: 2024 US Open Preview - Women
25 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini wrap up their U.S. Open preview double header with a discussion of the women's field at the 2024 U.S. Open. We discuss topics such a...
Episode 379a: 2024 US Open Preview - Men
24 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini discuss the men's field at the fast approaching U.S. Open, leading off with Jannik Sinner, the man who was the focus of our emergency ...
Episode 378: Judging the Sinner
21 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini jumped on today for an emergency episode about the stunning news today that ATP #1 Jannik Sinner had tested positive twice earlier thi...
Episode 377: Karolina Pliskova
14 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Former WTA No. 1 Karolina Pliskova, still top of the ladder of most honest and direct players in tennis, talks with Ben in this interview episode abou...
Episode 376: Djokovic Finally Golden at Olympics
06 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini reunite to discuss all that happened in the Olympic tennis events, and a bit in the wider Olympics as well. We start with the biggest ...
Episode 375: Ringing in the Olympic Tennis
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben is joined by Alex Gruskin of Cracked Racquets to preview the 2024 Olympic tennis event starting this weekend in Paris at Roland Garros, a quirky q...
New Mailbag Episode Up on Patreon!
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is an update on our main feed to let listeners know that we have a new mailbag episode (with a beloved and deeply missed NCR person) just up on o...
Episode 374: Krejcikova, Alcaraz Win Wimbledon
16 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini reunite the morning after the Wimbledon Ball to discuss the champions who danced together after dancing alone atop their respective dr...
Episode 373e: Wimbledon Finals Preview
13 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini reunite now that the Wimbledon finals are set, to discuss the unexpected women's final between Barbora Krejcikova and Jasmine Paolini,...
Episode 373d: Wimbledon Quarterfinals Preview
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini start this mid-tournament show with a catch up on the fourth round action, which included some crowd combativeness in victory from Nov...
Episode 373c: Wimbledon - Astonishing, Vanishing Doubles
06 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben is joined by James Gray of The i newspaper, inews.co.uk, and Tennis Unfiltered to discuss Saturday's big upset and some doubles drama causing buzz...
Episode 373b: Wimbledon Early Rounds - Favorites, Farewells, and Clowns
06 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben is joined by Ricky Dimon to discuss the first week of Wimbledon so far, which has been mostly pretty straightforward on the men's and women's side...
Episode 373a: Wimbledon Round 1 - A Winter of Discontent
03 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben is joined by L'Equipe's Quentin Moynet to discuss one of the most striking players at this year's Wimbledon, Maxime Janvier, who has stood out for...
Episode 372b: Wimbledon 2024 Draw Preview - Men
30 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini continue their conversation into the men's draw, where Jannik Sinner is the top seed for the first time at a Slam, defending champion ...
Episode 372a: Wimbledon 2024 Draw Preview - Women
30 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini spent a long time discussing the Wimbledon draws just hours after they came out, and are splitting the preview episode into two parts ...
Episode 371: The Grass Specialty, With Barbora Strycova
23 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben is joined on this episode by Barbora Strycova, a titan on grass courts over the last decade before her retirement, to talk about the secrets to su...
Episode 370: Inside Zverev's Trial - "The Truth Remains Open"
11 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben is joined by Jonathan Crane, who covered the recent criminal trial of Alexander Zverev in Berlin for DW, to discuss the proceedings he covered bef...
Episode 369e: Swiatek, Alcaraz Lead Their Generations - 2024 French Open Finals
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini wrap up their coverage of this French Open with a look at the generation-leading champions who won it, Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz....
Episode 369d: French Open Lurches Toward Rocky Finish
08 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben checks in with Tumaini in Paris to discuss all the happenings of the business end of a sometimes fun, often frustrating French Open. We start with...
Episode 369c: Is Women's Tennis Missing the Moment? (French Open Day 6)
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Lindsay Gibbs of Power Plays are celebrating together in Tennessee and also discussing what they see in tennis, when it comes to how the women...
Episode 369b: Osaka Nearly Stuns Swiatek - 2024 French Open Day 4
30 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben checks in with Tumaini at Roland Garros to discuss the match of the tournament so far, in which Naomi Osaka was just one point away from stunning ...
Episode 369a: Nadal Says Goodbye (...Probably) - 2024 French Open Day 2
28 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Ricky Dimon debrief on what very much looked like Rafael Nadal's last match at the French Open, in which the 14-time champion played decently ...
Episode 368: Draw Me Like One of Your French Opens, 2024
25 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini reconvene for a quick-paced look through the French Open draws, looking at the top lines stories from the wide-open men's draw and the...
Episode 367: Iga Does Double; Men Are Rubble
22 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini catch up on the Dinara Double, in which Iga Swiatek "won Rome and Madrid" while on the men's side a whole bunch of draws fell apart an...
Episode 366: "Challengers" Screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
To dive further into "Challengers," the much-buzzed-about tennis movie coming out this Friday, Ben chats with the movie's screenwriter Justin Kuritzke...
Episode 365: "Challengers" Changes the Tennis Movie Genre
20 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and AJ Eccles attended screenings of the new movie CHALLENGERS this week, and are here to discuss this bold new entry into the growing tennis movi...
Episode 364: WTA Goes Saudi; Huge Premier Tour Changes on the Table
13 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini reconvened this week to react to the news that the WTA Finals are going to Saudi Arabia, a move that felt unfathomable five years ago ...
Episode 363: Sun Shines on Sinner, Collins, Swiatek and Alcaraz
05 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini answer listener questions and recap the month that was in March, where Indian Wells and Miami formed the Sunshine Double and changed s...
Episode 362b: The State of the Union in Women's Tennis, Golden, Oldies
13 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Picking up where we left off on the last episode, Ben and Tumaini cover several other big stories from the first part of this season. We talk about th...
Episode 362a:A Halep Reversal and a Rublev Removal
08 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini had a lot to catch up on this week, so we are splitting this episode into two parts. The first part, here, begins with the Court of Ar...
Episode 361b: Sabalenka Smashes Australian Open Women's Field
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Tumaini turn to the women (and the miscellany) in this second Australian Open wrap show. This one was more straightforward, resultswise: Aryna...
Episode 361a: Sinner the Winner of Men's Australian Open
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jannik Sinner is the winner of the Australian Open, dethroning the Djokovic dynasty and prevailing in a thrilling comeback final to claim his first Sl...
Episode 360: 2024 Australian Open Draw Show
13 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Coming full circle, NCR begins its 13th(!) season with our look at the Australian Open draws. Ben and Tumaini start with the men. Who can meaningfully...