Almost 2 years ago to the day Dan Evans and I chatted via Zoom- I was in New York, he in Stockholm. He was ranked around 35 in the world, getting ready to play the Swedish Open. That summer he won Washington, got to a career high 21, and had dazzled the tennis community with his play against Carlitos Alcaraz at the US Open and then again in China.

Since that moment he has faced multiple injuries, incredibly difficult draws, and the mere reality of the pro tennis tour, where week in and week out every player, on any given day, is a threat. But he's also had incredible moments mixed into this challenging stretch including a remarkably fun ride in the Paris Olympics with Andy Murray, an epic win in the longest match in US Open history, and just this past grass court season, wins over Tiafoe and Tommy Paul in consecutive weeks. Dan and I had an earnest chat, and he pulled no punches.

By going back in time we hit many of the tour's water cooler topics; the quality of this generation, ball quality, surface speeds and the absolute lack of stylistic variety amongst his peers.

Recorded 10.14 Released 10.16

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We kick off the 12th Season at our nation's major with the prolific coach and broadcaster, the singular Brad Gilbert. We talked about the tournament in full effect, and there is nothing like it.

Recorded and released 9.4

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Nenad Zimonjic was summoned to the Djokovic camp before Monte Carlo in 2024, and was on his bag when he won his Olympic gold in Paris, but that's just a portion of Nenad's incredible story.

Born and raised in Belgrade, Nenad was saddled with a worthless passport because of war, that hindered his pro tennis career considerably. He persevered, and became the best doubles player in the world winning 8 majors and 54 tournaments, a Serbian Davis Cupper, a mentor to the younger Serbs Djokovic and Tipsarevic, and all in all lived an incredible life in tennis.

Nenad and I chatted shortly after Novak defeated Alex de Minaur at Wimbledon, and it was a tremendous chat.

Recorded 7.7 Released 7. 21

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Tatiana Golovin's pro tennis trajectory was similar to The Flight of Icarus, she flew to just outside of the top 10, in 2006 reached the quarters of The US Open, and then retired abruptly due to a debilitating back condition, but that was just the end of the story. Tatiana has lived an incredible life in tennis. Born in Russia, raised in France- she was a Bolletierri kid and came up there with Sharapova, and we talked about her time there with Nick. She turned pro super young, and she told incredible stories of being coached by Brad Gilbert back in his coaching heyday.

We discussed player burnout and social media, we talked about Sabalenka and Anisimova and Andreeva and Iga. We discussed how and why many Russians find their way to France.

We loved every second of our chat with Tatiana in the Media Lounge at the AELTC and we hope you enjoy it.

Recorded 7.7 Released 7.13

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Join our US Open kickoff events, ACADEMY DAY NYC and MONEY DINGLES and THE PLAYER PARTY

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Natalie Dechy was born in Guadalupe, grew up in France, got to 11 in then world in 2006 and was a top 20 player for the better part of the 2000s, and along with Amelie Mauresmo was a prominent cog in the French tennis machine. She won the US Open doubles twice and is now an executive with the French Tennis Federation, and she was fascinating to talk with, as Natalie joined me in the media lounge at Wimbledon just a couple days ago.

Recorded July 6 Released July 8

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Good Day My Friends and welcome to the Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast, todays show is brought to you by Golden Ticket Tennis, the experiential tennis events company. This past December The Golden Ticket hosted a fantasy camp featuring the opportunity to play on The Madison Square Garden Floor with Carlos Alcaraz, a holiday party at the singular Sheats Goldstein Residence in Beverly Hills, and just hosted 16 people in Rome for a series of dinners, exclusive practices, and courtside seats to The Italian Open. See them at goldentickettennis.com and our Instagram page @Goldentickettennis

 Today’s guest grew up in Pilsen Czecoslovakia, and over the course of his 15 year career he won 10 tournaments and got to 11 in the world posting wins over Mats Wilander, Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker to name a few.In doubles he won a staggering 54 tournaments and in 1980 with Ivan Lendl won the Davis Cup defeating Argentine in the semis and Italy in the finals. The great c player Tomas Smid is todays guest

Huge thank you to Tomas Smid and thank you to The Golden Ticket. Be on the lookout for their full slate of super cool tennis programming for the connoisseur.

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Patrick McEnroe took a break from packing for Wimbledon and joined me for 40 minutes and we discussed all of the hot button topics in tennis and how they pertain to Wimbledon. We talked Alcaraz Sinner top to bottom, Coco Gauff top to bottom and the brutal conditions during the women's final. We discussed this evolution of tennis and what it means for the field. Patrick discussed modern technique and how that pertains to the child development. We talked plainly about legalized coaching and it was an interesting chat. Patrick declared "The Saudis are Coming" and shared his perspectives on that controversial subject matter.

We dug deep and Patrick shared some interesting anecdotes, conversations and observations that we haven't heard before.

Recorded and Released 6.25

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When Sam Querrey chatted at The Hotel Molitor the day before Roland Garros was about to begin he was getting ready to begin a 2 week excursion into uncharted waters-TNT's inaugural broadcast of The French Open.

Two weeks later Rafa had been properly honored, Coco Gauff had won 7 matches, and Carlitos and Jannik had played arguably the greatest match in tennis history.

Sam and I discussed the French in length, previewed Wimbledon a little, and busted thru the 5 set format discussing all of the hot button topics of the day- and it was a great chat.

Recorded 6.19 Released 6.21

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Christopher Clarey and I sat down in the restaurant on the 2nd floor of Chatrier and discussed his book, The Warrior- a tour de force biography of Rafa Nadal. It was a fascinating chat about Rafa, Roland Garros, and the creative process. Class is in session!

Recorded 6.2 Released 6.4

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If you are a player have a look at our Money Dingles Tournament

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Ubaldo Scanagatta joined me in a room in the auxiliary press building at The Foro Italico just an hour before the women's final to discuss a wide array of topics all pertaining to this unbelievable moment in Italian tennis. It was an enlightening and fascinating chat, as we discussed Paolini and Sinner in length , as well as the entire roster of elite Tenistas.

Recorded 5.17 Released 5.18

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Camila Osorio blasted onto the tennis scene in 2019 when she became just the 3rd South American woman to win the junior US Open. She has been ranked as high as 33 in the world. We sat down in the media mixed zone at the Italian Open just a couple days ago and discussed a wide array of topics from her schedule to her tennis to her equipment- and it was quite interesting to hear her perspectives on tennis from a 23 year old in the early stages of a pro career and hopefully you get a feel for what it's like to be a young woman on tour.

Recorded 5.10 Released 5.12

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Welcome to the 11th season and 129th episode of The Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast, todays show is brought to you by

Ellesse, the Italian brand from Peruggia made legendary by Chris Evert, Guillermo Vilas and Boris Becker.

We are on the ground at The Italian Open and we have a special show for you. Francesco Passaro was born and raised in Peruggia, Italy, and in 2022 he went from 600 in the world to qualifying for the Nextgen finals, and this year cracked the top 100 for the first time. He is a wildcard here in Rome and we talked about his career and Italian tennis in length from the players lounge.

Recorded and Released on 5.5.25

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The Romanian Virginia Ruzici was one of the stars of tennis' Golden Age, becoming a global superstar in 1978 when she won the French Open. She rode a heavy forehand to 8 in the world in 1979, won 12 tournaments over the course of her career, and together with the bombastic Ilie Nastase and the svengali Ion Triac was ominpresent in tennis. She parlayed her playing career into a role at IMG, where she discovered Anna Kournikova. She managed Simona Halep for the majority of her career, and we talked in length about that.

She was synonymous with the legendary Italian brand Ellesse, when the players were seemed to have more fun galavanting around the globe, playing and partying and playing some more. We talked about her life in and around tennis, and what a tale it was.

Recorded 5.1 and Released 5.3

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I met Rex Kulman and his father Guy when he was 8 years old at the Oracle Challenger in 2020, just days before the world quarantined.

Five years later Rex is an elite 13 year old player, approaching a 10 UTR, is home schooled, and is coached full time by Diego Moyano, the former coach of Coco Gauff and Frances Tiafoe, respectively. Rex has trained at McEnroe Academy, Mouratoglou Academy, as well as the USTA's campus in Lake Nona and in Queens.

Most recently Rex played in ITF Junior tournaments in Havana and Jamaica, and we talked about it all.

His unique life in tennis is fascinating, and I hope every parent and child in tennis has a listen.

Recorded 4.28 Released 4.30

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In 2015 Anna Blinkova made the finals of Junior Wimbledon, and in 2016 began her life on the WTA Tour. She has been as high as 34 in the world and is now ranked 78. She has posted wins over Caro Garcia, Jess Pegula, Emma Navarro, and in Australia in 2024 she beat the defending champion Elena Rybakina 22-20 in the 3rd set Superbreaker, the longest tie breaker in WTA history.

Fluent in 5 languages, remarkably eloquent and thoughtful, Anna was extremely forthcoming and painted an interesting picture of what life is like on tour.

Recorded 4.4 released 4.6

The Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast is coming to Rome

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Dyan Castillejo and I met over 10 years ago covering the prizefighter Manny Pacquiao's career all around the globe, but it was in 2014 I saw her hitting some balls with her son in the parking lot of The Wild Card Gym in Hollywood- Manny's training camp in the US. It was then I realized that she had lived a special life in tennis. She is the first Filipino woman to have attained a WTA ranking. With the emergence of Alex Eala I thought there was no one better to learn about that unique and exciting situation, and Dyan didn't disappoint.

Recorded 4.1 Released 4.2

The Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast is Coming to Rome

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Mats Wilander had 4 majors before his 21st birthday, and finished an illustrious career with 33 tournament victories, 7 major titles, the year end #1 in 1988, 3 Davis Cups, and we had a world class chat from the VIP Patio at The Arizona Tennis Classic, the coolest tennis tournament in the Americas. Mats and I covered Fonseca, Alcaraz, Nishikori, the Sinner debacle, Colton Smith, and a whole lot more.

Recorded 3.15, released 3.16

The Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast is Going To Rome

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Dr Zach Thomas and I got back onto the mic to discuss all the things we need to know about our feet. Orthotic, ankle braces, and of course, the shoes. We played the hits as well as the more obscure one hit wonders, the sublime to the ridiculous.

He recently dissected a pair of Rafa's actual; shoes and we discussed it all.

Recorded 2.14 Released 2.17

The Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast is Going To Rome

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The comedian and former world #864 Michael Kosta and I met in Paris a couple years ago, and courtesy of Tennis Channel sat court side on Philippe Chatrier one evening. Two years after our chance meeting he is one of the hosts of The Daily Show and has a memoir entitled Lucky Loser rolling out next month. We ran thru the 5 set format and we talked in length about his significant and fascinating life in tennis and how he pivoted from grinding on the tour to becoming a comedian. We talked about his time at Illinois, turning pro, and then making the U-turn into comedy. Michael was extremely forthcoming with his experience and there are a lot of lessons imparted. I really enjoyed this Shapsterclass.

Recorded and Released 2.10.25

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He's been a player, a coach, a Davis Cup Captain and has the distinction of organizing arguably the biggest exhibition tennis event in history. John Laffnie De Jaeger cheated death when he was born and has gone on to have an incredible life in tennis. We discussed the Australian Open, in particular the behind the scenes happenings that have made the event elite. We talked about the level of the tennis we've seen, and we discussed his origin story. John explained the challenges of being a South African player, and really painted a picture of what South African tennis was like in it's heyday.

John explained what it was like to win The Huggy Bear, and told us a great story about sorting out the Match For Africa, when Roger played Rafa in a massive rugby stadium.

Recorded 1.20 Released 1.22

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