Nothing Major

With Sam and Jack on the road, John and Stevie are holding down the fort in this week’s Monday edition of Nothing Major.Jannik Sinner is back and looking sharp. The boys break down his strong return in Rome, dive into the biggest storylines coming out of Italy, and look ahead to the French Open.Plus, a special announcement about the upcoming Aura Draw... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As veterans of the Rome Masters, the boys break down the highs and lows of the Italian clay 1000, from navigating narrow locker room doors to battling with the tiniest towels of the season.In true American fashion, John, Jack, Sam, and Steve decide to air their European pet peeves, from soupy eggs, twin beds pushed together, and 'Mr. Bean cars'.With the NCAA season reaching its climax, college tennis legend Steve Johnson leads the crew in drafting their all-time Men's NCAA tennis team. Will Stevie draft himself?Plus, as anticipation builds for Sam and Steve’s challenge match against two local amateurs, their opponents crash the pod to talk trash and preview the showdown. With every game starting at 0–40, can Sam and Stevie still pull off the win? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a wrap in Madrid and against all odds, someone from the Nothing Major crew actually made a correct prediction.Following last week’s revelation that John Isner watches everything with subtitles, he’s back to gloat after receiving overwhelming support in the YouTube comments.With Sinner’s return looming after his three-month suspension, Jack, John, Sam, and Steve discuss how the locker room might respond and which players are most in need of a big result before Roland Garros.The crew also looks ahead to Rome, sharing their favorite courts, reflecting on the changing vibe of the iconic Pietrangeli, and battling through some clay-court trivia… where Sam catches a massive stray.00:00 Introduction and Overview00:21 Madrid Open Recap01:09 Predictions and Subtitles Debate05:01 Upcoming Rome Masters and Aura Draw07:12 Men's Side Analysis: Casper Ruud and Jack Draper14:21 WTA Side Analysis: Sabalenka and Gauff21:23 Understanding Betting Odds22:28 Naomi Osaka's Confidence Boost25:15 Rome Tournament Preview: Men's Side35:14 Rome Tournament Preview: Women's Side37:46 Trivia Time: Most Matches in Rome History Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the Madrid finals approaching, Jack, John, Sam, and Stevie look back on their best and most forgettable performances on the Spanish clay.But first, the boys kick off this week's episode off with heated debates around watching Netflix with subtitles and the best tennis movies of all time. Spoiler alert, you might want to head to the video version on YouTube to watch the guys react to a movie clip of Sam's shocker of a pick.The guys then get their head back into the clay swing to discuss a few of Rafael Nadal's mind bending career clay court stats before jumping into a Madrid themed Major Mailbag. No shortage of banter from string tensions and co-ed tournaments to getting dirty in the clay. And last, but not least, Sam jumps into the hot seat to reflect on the 3 most painful clay court losses of his career.00:00 Introduction and Mailbag Day00:08 Discussing Madrid Results00:57 Debate on Subtitles04:33 Best Tennis Movies08:14 Memorable Matches in Madrid11:47 Rafael Nadal's Clay Court Dominance15:27 Proposing Changes to Tennis Tournaments16:26 Hot Coaches Bracket Tease16:44 Podcast Uncertainty and New Initiatives16:51 Introducing the Aura Draw Concept16:57 Details and Examples of the Aura Draw17:58 Fan Engagement and Suggestions18:33 Mailbag: Masters 1000 on Clay in America19:55 Mailbag: Comparing Clay Court Tournaments20:33 Mailbag: Clay Court Challenges and Equipment26:24 Mailbag: Blue Clay and Tournament Dynamics27:00 Mailbag: Player Interactions at Tournaments28:54 Mailbag: Opinions on Two-Week Masters Series30:30 Reflecting on Tough Clay Court Losses35:23 Roasting a Player: Sarah's Skills Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The power is back in Madrid, just in time for a new episode of Nothing Major!Sam, Stevie, John, and Jack break down the latest results from Madrid, and discuss the power outage that has put the tournament on hold.They dive into the sport’s biggest headlines: the growing pains of fully electronic officiating, Alexander Zverev’s phone incident, and Naomi Osaka’s surprising decision to enter a Challenger event.Plus, with the NFL Draft wrapped up, the boys hold their own draft, picking their ultimate under-20 tennis dream team.And after Sam’s amateur challenge idea sparked a buzz, the debate continues: who would actually come out on top?00:00 Introduction and Overview of Madrid Tournament00:37 Power Outage and Electronic Line Calling Issues01:57 Player Reactions to Line Calling Controversies03:13 Discussion on ATP Umpires and Their Roles05:45 Unexpected Delays and Player Experiences06:26 NFL Draft and Tennis Player Draft Picks08:05 Novak Djokovic's Recent Struggles18:00 Women's Tournament Highlights and Predictions19:19 Big Name Players in Challengers21:16 Navigating Tournament Pressure22:34 Madrid Predictions: Men's and Women's Winners24:53 Debating Tennis Mustaches25:53 Doubles Challenge: Pros vs. Amateurs31:02 Top Challenger Tournaments32:45 Trivia Time: Masters Series Semifinals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the Madrid Open underway, John, Jack, Sam, and Stevie are back to share their favorite memories, and some honest takes on the Spanish 1000 tournament. From the not-so-fancy venue, to the lost magic of the blue clay, to the challenges of finding dinner in a city that eats at midnight.Tennis' favorite host and reporter Blair Henley, crashes the pod with a surprise segment featuring some unbelievable photos from the gang's high school days.Sam attempts to pitch a new pod segment, the boys discuss the best clay court traits and is launching a Hot Coach Bracket a good idea?00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview00:41 John's Birthday03:17 Special Guest: Blair Henley08:13 Prom Stories19:29 Madrid Tournament Experiences24:26 Discussing the Blue Clay Experiment25:11 Funny and Memorable Moments in Madrid31:24 Overrated, Underrated, and Properly Rated Tourist Attractions in Europe40:36 Fan Questions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The guys kick off the show recapping the most significant results from last week. Is Zverev back after winning on home soil? Could Rune’s victory over Alcaraz make him a week-in, week-out threat moving forward? And does Ostapenko’s dominant week in Stuttgart make her a Roland Garros contender?They then delve into the ITIA’s odd clarification on the tennis doping control policy and reminisce about their not-so-enjoyable experiences of being watched in the locker room by drug testers during their post-loss showers. Finally, they conclude with their predictions for this week’s Madrid tournament. Can the guys maintain their impressive streak of incorrect picks?00:00 – Intro and Episode Setup01:22 – Jack’s Vietnam Pickleball Tour Recap03:23 – Jack’s Travel Horror Story and WrestleMania Banter05:05 – Barcelona Recap: Rune Beats Alcaraz09:45 – Is Zverev Back? Munich Title Discussion13:47 – Ben Shelton’s Clay Court Run17:05 – American Players and Clay Court Reputation20:10 – Stuttgart WTA Recap: Ostapenko’s Win Over Swiatek25:50 – Can Ostapenko Win the French Open?30:28 – ITIA Shower Rule Controversy and Doping Stories37:23 – Madrid Masters Predictions and Draw Talk43:00 – Website Plug + Trivia Intro44:21 – Trivia: Who Beat Fed, Rafa, and Novak at Madrid? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the guys go full clay-mode with some hard truths about life on the dirt. They draft their current top clay-court players, revisit the narrative that Americans can’t hang on the surface, and share some painfully honest personal stories - including Steve Johnson’s worst-ever loss on clay winning two games in a five set match.The boys then turn to the Nothing Major mailbag and give insight into life on the ATP Tour, including how coaches are compensated and laundry disasters on the road.00:00 - Intro: Mailbag, Clay Draft, and Clay Court Losses00:30 - Jack Sock Still in Vietnam01:00 - Tennis and Clinics with Sam, John, and Steve03:00 - Clay Court Snake Draft Begins06:00 - Draft Recap and Bad Clay Court Team for Jack Sock09:00 - Steve Johnson’s Worst Clay Court Losses13:00 - French Open Horror Stories16:00 - Fan Mailbag: How Are Coaches Paid?20:00 - Tennis Laundry Stories and Roger Federer Mystique23:30 - Does Djokovic Have a Slam Chance in 2024?25:50 - Tournament Hotel and Coach Expense Stories30:00 - Tips for Submitting Mailbag Questions30:40 - Fan Roast: German Indoor Tennis Court Vibes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Clay season is well underway and it’s Carlos Alcaraz who dominated in Monte Carlo. With Jack away spreading the good word of pickleball in Vietnam, John, Sam and Stevie break down Carlos’ play style, mental toughness, and debate whether or not he's the clear favorite for the French Open.Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic and Alex Zverev’s early crash out on the monegasque clay, is it time to hit the panic button?Less than a day since Rory Mcilroy completed golf’s Grand Slam at Augusta, the boys debate the pressures of the Masters vs. Wimbledon.Is Federer really teasing a return to the court? Who are the sleepers of clay court season? Plus what happened in Ben Shelton’s viral doubles moment?00:00 - Intro and Episode Overview00:25 - Masters Recap and Rory's Pressure Moment03:30 - Comparing Federer and Rory’s Grand Slam Pressure06:30 - Federer at The Masters – Wimbledon Comparison08:00 - Alcaraz’s Monte Carlo Domination10:00 - Alcaraz's Resilience and Mental Strength13:00 - Alcaraz as Tennis' Must-Watch Star14:10 - Musetti’s Monte Carlo Run15:45 - Ben Shelton vs Vavassori Doubles Drama17:30 - Who Will Have the Best Clay Run?19:55 - Djokovic and Zverev: Time to Panic?24:09 - Federer Exhibition Buzz and Netflix Slam27:50 - Road Biker Rant Recap and March Madness Winners29:05 - Barcelona & Munich Tournament Preview34:18 - Stuttgart WTA Preview and Prize Car Memories37:45 - Trivia: Who Beat De Minaur 0 & 0? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The crew heads to the iconic clay courts of Monte Carlo, swapping stories of fast cars and what makes the tournament feel like a blend between a Grand Slam and a luxury getaway. From Sam’s quarterfinal run to unexpected off-court adventures, they unpack the beauty, chaos, and quirks of one of tennis’s most picturesque—and unpredictable—events.Things heat up with a Monte Carlo Trivia, as the guys team up in a desperate attempt to cover up just how little they actually know about the tournament’s history. From wild guesses to accidental brilliance, it’s a hilarious ride through Rafa stats, surprise American finalists, and a few facts that might have been made up on the spot.The episode wraps with the Part 2 of Reilly Opelka interview. The NextGen Servebot reflects on injury recovery, court fashion, and shares his controversial take on doubles—before stepping into the Hot Seat for a round of rapid-fire questions.(00:00) Welcome to the show!(01:03) Sam’s Friday rant: Road bikers are the worst(05:32) Monte Carlo memories: One-time wonders & quarterfinal magic(10:57) Why Americans skip Monte Carlo (and love Houston)(12:11) Supercars, casinos & Davis Cup in Monaco(14:57) Jack's regret: Never playing Monte Carlo(18:00) Monte Carlo trivia time: Rafa, history & some wild guesses(23:18) Mailbag: Which U.S. city deserves a pro tournament?(26:09) Do we overrate American tennis players?(27:02) Opelka interview Part 2: Injury, MRIs & the Yes Man World Tour(31:28) Tennis is cooler now?(35:04) Fashion icons on tour(38:03) What tennis needs(39:43) The doubles debate: “Get rid of it?”(44:53) Met Gala picks: Opelka’s dream invite list(47:08) Wrap-up + fan shoutouts(48:03) Fan roast time + goodbye! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The guys dive into Jenson Brooksby’s unexpected run in Houston and Pegula’s long-awaited clay court breakthrough in Charleston. They break down whether recent upgrades have cemented Charleston as a top-tier WTA event.Then it’s off the rails as Sam hits John with a Gen Z slang “Quizner” before the crew gets back on track to unpack Alcaraz’s candid presser and lock in their predictions for the European clay swing.00:00 - Previewing Monte Carlo & Clay Swing Begins00:20 - Recapping 250 Events & Pegula's Win in Charleston00:41 - Full Crew Back for Clay Season01:08 - Sam's Rant: Nutritionists Are Useless?05:08 - ATP Recap: Brooksby's Shocking Houston Run07:59 - Can Brooksby Get Back to the Top 100?12:13 - Bucharest Breakthrough: Flavio Cobolli's Title14:13 - UTS in Nimes Recap & Ruud's Big Payday17:14 - Charleston Vibes & Pegula's Clay Court Form20:02 - Is the Hard-to-Clay Transition Overrated?22:30 - Pegula's Momentum & WTA Rankings Shift23:21 - Sam Quizzes John on Gen Z Slang25:54 - Alcaraz Opens Up About Pressure29:04 - Clay Swing Predictions: Monte Carlo to RG34:27 - Roland Garros Winner Picks35:25 - Wrap-Up & Look Ahead to Friday Show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For our 50th episode, we’re kicking things off with Reilly Opelka, who delivers a masterclass in Servebot 101. What does it really mean to be a Servebot? Opelka dives into the struggles of being too tall for European travel, shares stories from his junior days, and plays John’s new favorite game, “Bot or Not”—where no player is safe.The guys debate armpit hair (yes, really), and open up about the mental toll of life on tour, from appearance fees to the pressure of not letting tournaments down.Plus, we also dig into the Houston tournament, breaking down everything that makes it special—housing families, top-tier hospitality, and that unbeatable March Madness atmosphere. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the guys dives into 19-year-old Jakub Mensik’s breakthrough in Miami—did he just prove he’s the next big thing in tennis?We’re also talking about Aryna Sabalenka’s reign—how her confidence is reaching new heights and why she’s becoming a serious force on tour.Plus, it’s time for our Houston preview, with the clay-court action about to kick off in full swing!00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview00:51 Miami Men's Final Recap03:59 Debating Experience in Tennis09:29 Women's Tournament Highlights13:31 American Tennis Performance16:00 Clay Court Season Preview18:33 Travel Woes and European Adventures18:57 Tennis Titles and Graphics19:16 Gossip Corner: New Coaches and Player Changes21:51 Celebrities at the Miami Event22:31 Upcoming Tournaments: Houston and Charleston26:05 Blair Henley's Questions from Houston27:46 Houston Tournament Highlights and Player Experiences30:32 Final Thoughts and Trivia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Miami Open-themed mailbag episode of Nothing Major, the guys dive into your burning questions about the fifth Slam... according to John!Plus, a special surprise as Sam’s wife, Abby, joins the crew to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Sam’s legendary, smooth DM that kicked it all off.Tune in for the inside scoop on Miami Open madness, the success of a fishy DM, and behind-the-scenes stories of the gang in the tournament.00:00 Introduction and Special Guest Surprise01:29 Sam's Anniversary Surprise04:28 Miami Open Experiences10:33 Memorable Matches and Venues14:27 Funny Anecdotes16:28 Mailbag Kickoff16:39 Big Foe's Rough Patch17:43 Miami Open Buzz19:15 Remembering Thomas Berdych23:20 Master Series Debate24:37 Cringey Player Walkouts26:18 Rafa's Miami Mystery27:27 Sunshine Double Predictions28:00 Miami Open Drama30:39 Fan Roasting Finale Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The boys finally get comedian, former ATP player, and professional roast master Michael Kosta on the pod—and it’s everything you’d hope for. Kosta spills on his days grinding the Challenger circuit, the exact moment he knew pro tennis wasn’t for him, and how he pivoted to roasting players instead of playing them.He dishes on the real differences between tennis and stand-up, why tennis players are the worst at taking jokes, and the time he absolutely bombed on stage. Plus, Kosta gives the inside scoop on his new book, Lucky Loser, where he breaks down the absurdity of life on tour, from wild travel mishaps to the worst hotel rooms he’s ever stayed in.00:00 Introduction to Michael Costa00:52 Michael's Tennis Journey01:36 The Transition to Comedy02:56 Insights from the Book03:53 Comparing Tennis and Comedy06:38 College Tennis Experience09:57 Funding a Tennis Career13:31 Comedy Beginnings and Challenges17:40 The Tough Choices in Comedy and Tennis17:53 The Delusional Self-Belief18:26 The Grind of Professional Tennis19:07 Never Giving Up on Comedy19:34 Comparing Comedy to Tennis20:00 The Grand Slam of Comedy21:00 The Challenges of Stand-Up Comedy23:45 Learning from the Best25:16 Pre-Show Routines26:25 Trading Careers and Hollywood Tennis29:54 The Emmy Dilemma30:55 Wrapping Up and What's Next Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jack, John, Sam and Steve dive into the chaos of the Miami Open, huge upsets, unexpected breakout stars, and whether the conditions are breaking the top players. Fonseca Mania is real, is he already the biggest draw in Miami?Plus, Djokovic and Zverev are on the move, Monfils is once again defying his age, and a heated debate is sparked on whether experience is overrated in tennis... The boys venture back into their new favorite segment, Gossip Corner, roasting some fan-submitted clips, and exploring Sam Querrey’s shocking fashion sense.(00:00) Welcome to the Show! (01:16) Steve’s Epic Hole-in-One (05:23) New Website + Kosta Episode (06:24) Sam on Brazilian Crowds (09:41) Indian Wells vs. Miami Challenge (11:40) Biggest Early Round Upsets (14:11) Madison Keys vs. Eala (16:27) Shoutout to Rafa Nadal Academy (18:46) Fonsecamania Is Here (23:13) Is Experience Overrated? (26:53) Djokovic & Zverev Under the Radar? (28:34) Monfils’ Run & Korda’s Move (31:01) Americans in Miami (31:53) Predictions Recap + New Picks (33:31) Gossip Corner (36:49) The Nothing Major Roast (38:01) Send Fan Questions! (38:20) Goodbye! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The boys are joined by comedian and former pro Michael Kosta, to chat junior tennis cheating, locker room madness, and why Nothing Major is the only tennis podcast that matters (he's right).Jack, Sam and Stevie break down the biggest headlines heading into Miami, who’s primed for a deep run? Who will struggle in the Florida humidity? Plus, the boys debate which venue truly delivered the best Miami Open experience, the Hard Rock Stadium or Crandon Park?00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview01:06 Debating Miami Open Venues: Hard Rock Stadium vs. Cranden Park02:45 Player Experiences and Preferences09:10 Novak Djokovic's Return to Miami12:07 Carlos Alcaraz and Tournament Predictions14:05 Women's Tournament Contenders16:02 Players with Something to Prove17:58 American Men's Tennis: Who Will Step Up?18:43 Bold Predictions and Dark Horses19:40 Fan Support Showdown: Fonseca vs. Alcaraz20:56 American Players to Watch in Miami Open22:16 Predictions for Miami Open Winners23:56 Interview with Michael Costa24:30 Cheating Stories and College Tennis29:10 Improving Tennis: Ideas and Innovations31:30 The Community Aspect of Pickleball vs. Tennis33:38 Conclusion and Future Plans Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam, Steve, Jack and John are back to break down all the action from the desert, where Jack Draper claimed the biggest title of his career and 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva dismantled the world’s best. What does Draper’s run mean for the ATP rankings? Is Andreeva already the most dangerous player on tour? And how did the Americans perform in the desert?Plus, Gossip Corner is back with some fresh drama, Bublik and Moutet nearly throwing hands in Phoenix, Djokovic making surprise appearances at Miami’s most exclusive parties, and the week’s most pressing debate: who actually owns the middle seat armrests on a flight?(00:00) Welcome to the Show! (00:51) The Great Middle Seat Debate (03:00) Draper’s Magical Win (07:52) Andreeva Is Here to Stay! (09:29) Disappointing Run for the Americans (12:19) Key Takeaways from Indian Wells (13:39) Revisiting Our Predictions (15:28) A Juicy Gossip Corner Moment (19:21) Fonseca’s Phoenix Triumph (21:35) Kovacevic Shines in Punta Cana (23:53) March Madness Brackets & Farewell! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jack, John, Sam, and Stevie are back for another Nothing Major mailbag episode, answering all of your Indian Wells questions. The boys discuss the best and worst parts of Indian Wells, from top hotels for celeb sightings, to how players actually pick their doubles partners.John breaks down his impressive run to the final, including a massive upset over Novak Djokovic. Jack shares how he once asked Roger Federer to team up (spoiler: it didn’t happen), while Rafael Nadal actually invited him to play!Plus, the guys swap horror stories from their worst doubles experiences and reveal which A-listers actually show up to watch the tennis.--(00:00) Welcome to the show (01:40) Coachella tennis edition (04:03) Best Indian Wells memories (05:08) Facing Federer and Nadal in finals (07:52) Playing doubles at Indian Wells (09:50) Why is only one Top 10 player in doubles? (11:55) Inviting Roger and Rafa to play doubles (13:21) Worst doubles partnerships? (15:44) Indian Wells fan questions (17:10) Sharing a golf cart with your opponent (18:35) How do players choose practice partners? (21:39) Rafa’s practice tactics (24:13) Celebrities at Indian Wells (26:32) Shirtless practice: Heat or just for the looks? (27:02) Olympics in Indian Wells? (28:01) Autographs and selfie stories (29:52) Day vs. night matches at Indian Wells (31:58) Trolling Sam (32:37) Goodbye! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Indian Wells is delivering pure chaos, and Jack, John, Sam and Steve are here to break it all down! With Zverev and Djokovic both crashing out early, what does this mean for the rest of the draw? The boys debate whether Novak’s slump is just a blip or something bigger….The crew take a hard look at their own terrible predictions (spoiler: they were WAY off) before debuting a brand new segment, ‘Gossip Corner’, diving into the juiciest off-court drama, from Ben Shelton’s online flirting to the biggest celebrity sightings at the tournament.(00:00) Welcome to the Show!(01:25) Upsets Galore: Zverev’s Early Exit(03:40) Bouncing Back: How to Overcome a Rough Patch(07:43) What’s Up with Novak?(13:38) Watanuki Stuns Tiafoe(16:16) Notable Results from the Day(17:25) Revisiting Our Predictions(22:22) New Segment: Gossip Corner(27:37) The Hottie Trophy Hunt: Tracking Down Berrettini(28:33) Who Takes the Title? Final Predictions(29:32) Wrapping Up – See You Next Time! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.