Host Pedro Rodriguez sits down with author and tennis professional Gabriel Allen to discuss his groundbreaking new book, Tennis Tensions: Class, Race, and Gender in the Evolution of the Sport.

In this compelling conversation, Allen breaks down

 the hidden history of tennis — a sport long associated with privilege and exclusivity — and reveals how class barriers, racial bias, and misogyny have shaped its evolution from country club pastime to global phenomenon. With the insight of a scholar and the passion of a player, Allen examines the struggles and triumphs of those who challenged the sport’s traditions and helped redefine who belongs on the court.

Rodriguez asks the big questions about power, access, and identity in one of the world’s most elite games — and what it will take to make tennis truly inclusive.