No Challenges Remaining
Episodes
Episode 165c: U.S. Open - Halfway Home
04 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
With pudding and beer in hand, Ben and Courtney wrap up their main thoughts from a first week of the U.S. Open that mostly went without major disrupt...
Episode 165b: U.S. Open Foot Soldiers
03 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The first few rounds of the U.S. Open are in the books, and most of the stars have advanced. But they've advanced past the tennis cavalry of the spor...
Episode 164: US Open Preview State of Mind
27 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The year's final grand slam event is upon us, and Ben and Courtney are ready with their draws to break down the who and how of this US Open. Th...
Episode 163: Golden Girl Monica Puig and More Rio Results
15 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Olympic tennis produced one of its most stunning results with Monica Puig winning gold, and so Ben nd Courtney are here to break that down, as ...
Episode 162a: Olympian Upset: Delpo Defeats Djokovic
08 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
After one round of action in Rio there are already some big tennis upsets in the books, so Ben and Courtney raced to their microphones to discuss. Fi...
Episode 162: Federer Out, Olderers In
29 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Roger Federer is out for the rest of the 2016 season, so Ben, Courtney, and Kickstarting guest producer/host Ashish Malhotra talk about what it mea...
Episode 161: Vika, Zika, Paprika
21 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The week after Wimbledon featured an unexpected bump of news--namely, pregnancy concerns both future and present. Firstly, Victoria Azarenka announce...
Episode 160d: Wimbledon Volley 4: Serena and Murray Slay
10 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
It was a Wimbledon with two worthy champions, Serena Williams and Andy Murray, and two worthy finalists in Angelique Kerber and Milos Raonic who deli...
Episode 160c: Wimbledon Volley 3: Super Semifinals Set!
06 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
After the Wimbledon quarterfinals have wrapped up for both the men and women at Wimbledon, Ben is joined by two lovely guests, tennis historian Stev...
Episode 160b: Wimbledon Volley 2: Querrey Stuns Djokovic
03 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
On his way to a calendar slam that many considered as likely as not, Novak Djokovic ran into the indomitable Sam Querrey. Yes, that happened. Ben an...
Episode 160a: Wimbledon Volley 1: Marcus Willis (Cartman)
30 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
It's been a rainy start to Wimbledon, but there isn't deja vu to the Paris misery just yet, in large part because of the delightful story of #772 Mar...
Episode 159: Wimbledon 2016 Draw Preview Super-Duperness!
26 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The grass is ready for Wimbledon, and so are Ben and Courtney for this draw preview show! First, the dudes. Who are the stumbling blocks for Novak Dj...
Episode 158: Walking Wimbledon, From Lands Of Grass and Ice
23 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
With Wimbledon just around the corner, Ben and Courtney stroll through the grass lead up so far. Who has raised his or her stock most? How much can w...
Episode 157: Nick Lester
16 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
As Ben soaks up the Halle Weltenschauung, he is joined this week by a voice any tennis fan should be very familiar with: Nick Lester, one of the anc...
Episode 156: Muguruza Wins a First; Djokovic Wins Everything
08 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Nearly dried out from a miserably soggy French Open, Ben and Courtney are up in much sunnier Scotland, drinking in the tournament and some ales in an...
Episode 155c: French Open Petit, Trois: Into the Second Week
29 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
As the first week of the French Open wraps up, Ben and Courtney bring in a legendary tennis Tweeter to guest on each side of the tournament. First, d...
Episode 155b: French Open Petit, Deux: Adios, Rafa (With Marta Mateo)
27 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Our first mini show from the French Open wrapped up an uneventful first five days. On Friday there was news, and it was bad news: Rafael Nadal withdr...
Episode 155a: French Open Petit, Un: Maria, Osaka, Gulbis
27 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
It hasn't been a very eventful French Open yet (not necessarily a bad thing), so here after the first two rounds have finished we bring you a few mor...
Episode 154: Draw Me Like One of Your French Opens, Part Deux
22 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Not much music this time, but Ben and Courtney try to hit all the right notes in this breakdown of the French Open draws (after a quick review of the...
Episode 153a: The NCRvision Song Contest!
13 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
We are beyond excited to bring you the NCRvision Song Contest, a celebration of and competition for the best songs inspired by tennis in the world! B...
Episode 153: Madrid, Murresmo, Mozzarella
10 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
On the eve of glorious NCRvision, Ben and Courtney debrief briefly on the week that was in Madrid, where Simona Halep put herself back in the convers...
Episode 152: In Madrid with Timea Bacsinszky
04 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Courtney are covering the Mutua Madrid Open for the first time, and are surprised by some things and not by others. We also discuss the sched...
Episode 151: You Can't Do That on Television
27 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
In their last pre-Europe show, Ben and Courtney discuss the things you probably shouldn't do on television, like Roselyne Bachelot's accusations abou...
Episode 150: Southern Fried Tennis
21 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
It's our sesquicentennial! As Ben and Courtney commemorate 150 episodes (well, actually this is our 181st, but you know we're not much for counting co...
Episode 149b: Tax Day! With Kelsey Anderson
18 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Today is Tax Day in the United States, and so we thought we'd take a dive into the fun and splashy topic of taxes! Joining Ben to talk about finances ...
Episode 149a: 69-year-old Gail Falkenberg, "The Legend"
13 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
After the tennis world was glued to the unlikely location of a 6-0, 6-0 qualifying match at a $25k in Pelham, Alabama, Ben chats in this mini-episod...
Episode 149: Doubly Dominant Dominos
06 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
With one-quarter of this year behind us, Ben and Courtney assess the 2016 season so far, where surprises on the women's side are met with complete pre...
Episode 148: Forehands and Backhands (sorta)
31 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
After an Indian Wells that wasn't much about tennis, Ben and Courtney hope to be able to move on in Miami...but not before trying to make sense of No...
Episode 147: "Ladies Know What I'm Talking About"
23 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Back together at last, Ben and Courtney wrap up all the doings of Indian Wells for you, obviously first and foremost dealing with the controversial re...
Episode 146: Rounding up Maria Sharapova
14 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
As the dust settles on a week that saw Maria Sharapova (and several busloads of other athletes) test positive for the newly-prohibited substance meldo...
Episode 145A: Maria Sharapova Tests Positive for Banned Substance
08 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Talk about your emergency episodes. After Maria Sharapova dropped the bombshell that she had tested positive for a (recently) banned substance at the ...
Episode 145: Tennis Goes Hollywood
02 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
As February and its unexpected results take a flying leap, Ben and Courtney discuss the month that was, and who emerges strong (looking at you, Sloan...
Episode 144: Overpromised, Underdelivered
24 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Courtney come to realize that things just aren't what they used to be. Like Rafael Nadal's tennis, which Courtney bore witness to t...
Episode 143: Twitchy on the Trigger
17 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
February is a choose your own adventure sort of month in tennis, and Ben and Courtney have all sorts of fun on a windy path through results of debatab...
Episode 142: Gaming the System
10 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Courtney are delighted to be back stateside, and delighted that Andy Murray's child (it's a girl!) arrived at a convenient time. Less delightf...
Episode 141m: Australian Open Day 14/Wrap: Novak Sends Us Home
03 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Another Australian Open, another Novak Djokovic title. Ben and Courtney know the unsurprisingness of it all is unsurprising, because it's becoming cle...
Episode 141l: Australian Open Day 13: Kerber Stuns Serena for Title
30 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Angelique Kerber stunned Serena Williams in three sets to become the 2016 Australian Open champion, and Ben and Courtney are here to take you through ...
Episode 141k: Australian Open Day 12: Djokovic-Murray Will Go Again
29 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The Australian Open final is set and it's the fourth time Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are going to be squaring off on a Sunday night in Melbourne. ...
Episode 141j: Australian Open Day 11: Serena and Kerber Into the Final
28 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
We're wrapping up just the women's semifinals from Melbourne today (chat on both men's semifinals coming to you tomorrow), and Ben and Courtney are pr...
Episode 141i: Australian Open Day 10: Kerber Switches On
27 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
One of the biggest ever upsets that involved a win by the higher-ranked player! Angelique Kerber beat hot pick Victoria Azarenka today in Melbourne, a...
Episode 141h: Australian Open Day 9: Eating at Us
26 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Courtney found Day 9's action entirely underwhelming, with every favorite winning in straight sets with relative ease. So after a brief chat o...
Episode 141g: Australian Open Day 8: Serena-Maria Nostalgia
25 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
With their 21st meeting tomorrow, Ben and Courtney take a stroll down the very noisy memory lane that is the Serena Williams-Maria Sharapova rivalry (...
Episode 141f: Australian Open Day 7: The Unexpecteds
24 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
It's the second week, and Ben and Courtney can now talk about lots of important matches as the tournament reaches its pointy end. Gosh, Serena's good,...
Episode 141e: Australian Open Day 5-6: Donna Kelso
22 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
As Ben and Courtney wrap the third round, we're joined by a first-rate guest: Donna Kelso, a walkie-talkie-rockin' supervisor for the WTA and Grand Sl...
Episode 141d: Australian Open Day 4: Hooroo, Hewitt! Yokoso, Osaka!
21 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
On Day 4, Ben and Courtney send off Lleyton Hewitt at long last with the help of Australian tennis writer Will Swanton. Is his legacy being overgloss...
Episode 141c: Australian Open Day 3: Stanky or Tanky?
20 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
A quick hit from a largely quiet Day 3 of the Australian Open sees Ben and Courtney discussing the moments in a late press conference of Novak Djokovi...
Episode 141b: Australian Open Day 2: Feel-Good Upset
19 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
In our Australian Open Day 2 episode, Ben and Courtney talk about three upset losses that cropped up on the day: Venus Williams (who you won't hear fr...
Episode 141a: Australian Open Day 1: Fixin' for a Fixin'
18 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Through your Kickstarter support, we know you wanted more NCR in 2016, so Ben and Courtney are giving you more NCR in 2016! We'll be doing daily(ish) ...
Episode 140: Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Draw, Draw, Draw!
15 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The draws for the 2016 Australian Open are out, and Ben and Courtney are here to be as sage as possible through what are generally two pretty inspirin...
Episode 139: Starting on the Right Foot
12 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
After the first week of tennis, Ben and Courtney look around to see how things have started in the 2016 season of tennis. As carnage accumulates, thin...
Episode 138: Wobbly Stars and Fierce Pearce
05 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
It's our Season 5 premiere! Ben and Courtney are back together in person for the first time since the U.S. Open, and they're ready to tackle the 2016 ...
Episode 137: Hey, Remember When 2015 Happened?
30 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
In their 2015 season finale, Ben and Courtney look back at the year that was in tennis. After discussing the retirement and legacy of Robin Soderling ...
Episode 136: O Come, All Ye Random Numbers
23 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
As they deck the halls, Ben and Courtney fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la over Roger Federer's 2016 schedule, which throws out the mold and the clay. Should...
Episode 135: Lindsay Davenport (and Olympic Chat)
16 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Who better than 1996 gold medalist Lindsay Davenport to join Ben and Courtney to talk about the Olympics? Well, Lindsay is awesome on anything and eve...
Episode 134a: Serena Williams is Sportsperson of the Year
14 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
In a rare emergency episode that is for an indisputably positive reason (neigh-sayers aside), Ben and Courtney discuss Serena Williams being honored ...
Episode 134: Kickin' Back in the Off-Season.
09 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
As the off-season starts to get comfortable (and shorter, sadly), Ben and Courtney dive into the mailbag once again to discuss a whole bushel of topic...
Episode 133: Murray Family Values
02 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
As Ben and Courtney finally exhale upon the long-awaited arrival of the off-season, they're left breathless on the topic of Andy Murray, who won the D...
Episode 132: Novak's Greatness and Our Gratefulness
25 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
With the ATP regular season at last coming to a close, Ben and Courtney step back and bask in the luminous 2015 campaign of Novak Djokovic. Just what ...
Episode 131: Boot and Rally
18 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Both back in America, Ben and Courtney tee up the homestretch of this 2015 season, in which Maria Sharapova fell short through no fault of her own in ...
Episode 130: Now, Challenger Remnants
11 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
After her long sojourn up and down Asia, Courtney gets a much deserved week off, leaving Ben to drive 100-something miles to find someone to talk to, ...
Episode 129: Round-Robin, Radwanska, Roger-Rafa
04 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
As they continue travel schedules that are normally only maintained by Carmen Sandiego characters, Ben and Courtney reconvene from Charlottesville and...
Episode 128: Tennis Makes Us Feel Things
28 Oct 2015
Contributed by Lukas
With the WTA Finals underway, Ben chats up our Singapore correspondant, Courtney, to talk about how the tournament is shaping up. How very impressiv...
Episode 127: Jiří Fencl
21 Oct 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Again a world apart, Ben and Courtney bridge a 12-hour time difference to come together for this episode, in which they discuss the yawniness of Shang...
Episode 126: Back to the Featured Two
14 Oct 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Despite the ocean between them, Ben and Courtney finally reunite (from Boston and Tokyo, respectively) for this episode, and catch up on the doings i...
Episode 125: China, Ascending
07 Oct 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Live from Beijing, China, this episode is Courtney's Speakerboxx to Ben's The Love Below last week. Courtney chats to two guests: first, her wonder-cl...
Episode 124: The Ugly Side of Tennis, with Michael Mewshaw
30 Sep 2015
Contributed by Lukas
With Ben and Courtney an ocean apart, this week we bring you a special interview from earlier this year, in which Ben sat down with tennis investigati...
Episode 123: Priorities (If You Can't Love Yourself...)
23 Sep 2015
Contributed by Lukas
As the dust settles from the U.S. Open, Ben and Courtney sift through current developments in tennis to find what really matters. How does the devalua...
Episode 122: Serena's U.S. Open Wounds
15 Sep 2015
Contributed by Lukas
After the last Grand Slam event of 2015 has come to a close, and so did Serena Williams' bid for a historic sweep, losing in the semifinals to Roberta...
Episode 121: Opening the U.S. Open
29 Aug 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Live from under the new partially finished roof of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Ben and Courtney are here to break down the 2015 U.S. Open draws. And, of cour...
Episode 120: Parked [Like Roger Federer at the Service Line] in Cincy
25 Aug 2015
Contributed by Lukas
In an annual tradition, Ben and Courtney come to you live from the asphalt for the post-Cincinnati show! But instead of an Interstate in Maryland, thi...
Episode 119: NCR Live from Mason, Ohio
19 Aug 2015
Contributed by Lukas
In Episode 119, Ben and Courtney bring NCR to the people! With the help of the good folks at the Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio, Ben and Cour...
Episode 118a: Loose Lips Sink Kyrgios
14 Aug 2015
Contributed by Lukas
*This is a repost following some technical issues earlier causing a silent start...all good now!* In their first "emergency episode" of the year, Ben...
Episode 118: Anne Worcester
12 Aug 2015
Contributed by Lukas
In Episode 118, Ben and Courtney recap the weeks that were in their local tournaments in Washington D.C. and Stanford, argue about on-court coaching, ...
Episode 117: Our Gal in Kalamazoo
04 Aug 2015
Contributed by Lukas
In this very special episode, Ben and Courtney talk about the small news of the summer (Rafa winning on clay, Serena choosing caution yet again) and t...
Episode 116: Ask Away!
29 Jul 2015
Contributed by Lukas
On the cusp of another long plunge into the blue and green waters of the summer hard court season, Ben and Courtney answer more listener questions! Ho...
Episode 115: You & I, Q & A
22 Jul 2015
Contributed by Lukas
With a bit of a post-Wimbledon lull on their hands, Ben and Courtney dive into their mailbag to answer some listener questions. Firstly, what do they ...
Episode 114: Wimbledon and the Coronation of Serena
14 Jul 2015
Contributed by Lukas
As the year grows ever "grander" with Serena winning Wimbledon, Ben and Courtney come together after Wimbledon ends to discuss her incredible year, an...
Episode 113: Stuck in the Wimbledon Middle Sunday With You
05 Jul 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Courtney are together on Wimbledon's Middle Sunday to break down the first week of the tournament, which was a solid balance of upsets and set...
Episode 112: Wimbledrawn
26 Jun 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Live from Court 14, it's the Wimbledon draw analysis show! Ben and Courtney are outside because it's cold inside, and a little water won't scare us, r...
Episode 111: Inside Wimbledon
24 Jun 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Just before they reunite again in SW19, Ben and Courtney bring you this treat of an episode from opposite sides of the world. After cameos by Rene Den...
Episode 110: Halle Back, ATP!
17 Jun 2015
Contributed by Lukas
With Courtney cavorting across North America in pursuit of soccer, Ben found a few exciting folks to keep him company in Halle this week. We start wit...
Episode 109: On Grand Slams and Grand Stan
09 Jun 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Just as Ben and Courtney were ready to kick off the grandest year in tennis, Stan Wawrinka interrupted and shocked Novak Djokovic and the world by win...
Episode 108: The End of Nadal as We Know It?
04 Jun 2015
Contributed by Lukas
With the hotly anticipated Djokovic-Nadal quarterfinal now complete, Ben and Courtney put down the panic buttons and hit the record button to share th...
Episode 107: French Open Midi-Tations
01 Jun 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Midway through the French Open, Ben and Courtney get together to discuss the French Open so far, including Roger Federer's selfie scare, Stan Wawrinka...
Episode 106: Draw Me Like One of Your French Opens
22 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Live from the dirt of Paris and the glitter of Vienna, respectively, Courtney and Ben break down the momentous draw of the 2015 French Open, and give ...
Episode 105: Rome Uncorked!
19 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
As the B-52's once said, "Rome if you want to." Or maybe it was "roam". Whatever. On Episode 105, Ben makes Courtney jealous by talking about his m...
Episode 104: Ubaldo Scanagatta
12 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Courtney reconvene to discuss the madness in Madrid, where Andy Murray rolled to his first ATP Masters title on clay, while Petra Kvitova did ...
Episode 103: Eric Butorac
06 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
With Madrid in swing, Ben and Courtney reflect on what was a quiet week in tennis, except for the snug pants which Andy Murray had to don on court. Di...
Episode 102: Kerber Enthusiasm
29 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
As their socks get dirtier and dirtier from all the clay, Ben and Courtney dust off their microphones to talk about all the happenings of Stuttgart an...
Episode 101: Novak Leads Pack; No-Shake Payback
21 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
After the glories of Episode 100, Ben and Courtney continued to ride this triple-digit high into a surprisingly eventful next week, where Novak Djokov...
Episode 100: Keeping It One Hundred
14 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
At long last, here it is! Because they're not super great at counting, Ben and Courtney have finally reached Episode 100 in their 115th episode, and t...
Episode 99h: The Young, the Brave, and the Grown
14 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Surprise! Yes indeed, we are bringing you Episode 99h on the same day we're dropping our much anticipated (by us, anyway) Episode 100. We wanted to ma...
Episode 99g: Charleston Chats
08 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Courtney and Ben are in Charleston for the Family Circle Cup. In between meals and food comas they convene to break down the Miami Open finals. Is Nov...
Episode 99f: Slumpers and Freeloaders
31 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Courtney are not in Miami, and they have lots of thoughts and concerns about various others that have already made untimely exits from that to...
Episode 99e: Déjà Vu All Over Again
25 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
After a 12-hour ride from Misaki Doi, Ben and Courtney are in the Bay Area, ready to look back on the desert. What to make of the surreally familiar w...
Episode 99d: Serena, Queen of the Desert
18 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
It's all about Serena. It always has been. On this week's episode, Ben and Courtney dissect Serena Williams' return to Indian Wells after 13 years. Ho...
Episode 99c: Indian Well Here Goes Nothing
11 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
In a quicker, one-take episode, Ben and Courtney blow through the Davis Cup results from the past weekend. How do we, as Americans, digest a second st...
Episode 99b: Pam Shriver
03 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
As they inch toward triple digits, Ben and Courtney reflect on the week that was, and the sudden, undeniable relevance of Dav id Ferrer, who has won b...
Episode 99a: A Rio 'Round the Island
24 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
As they hurtle toward triple digits, Ben and Courtney stall on opposite sides of the equator this week, and discuss Courtney's adventures in Brazil. W...
Episode 99: Rot/Twerp; Slay/Drag
17 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
As they rapidly approach triple digits, Ben and Courtney discuss the week that was in Rotterdam, Antwerp, and beyond! What do we make of Stan Wawrinka...