1. Intro

Hello everybody and welcome to Talkn Tennis. The only tennis podcast you need to be listening to to get all your tennis headlines, results and well informed unbiased opinions. Don't forget to follow us on X @TalknTennis to get all of our unfiltered opinions. I'm your host, they call me Adam the Animal and I'm joined by my two partners in crime: firstly the man who has made history by becoming the first person to retire from tennis to take on a full-time job as a volleyball coach, its Chrisy P, how are you Chris. Secondly the man whose playing days were cut short prematurely leaving him with a tennis career made up of more knee surgeries than tennis trophies its Vargos, how are you Adrian.

1. Life Updates
2. Headlines

Vera Zvonareva Falls Short in Comeback Final: The 41-year-old Russian's fairytale run at the ITF W100 in Dubai ended in the final on Sunday losing to 20 -year-old Croatian rising star Petra Marčinko in straight sets (3-6, 3-6). Another comeback on the cards with reports last week that Serena Williams had re-entered the doping testing pool, which immediately sparked speculation about a potential 2026 return to tennis. However, the legend was quick to shut down those rumors, issuing a statement on X denying any plans to return to professional competition.

The ATP tennis awards were handed out this week Carlos Alcaraz & Andrey Rublev Win ATP Awards. Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award: Carlos Alcaraz (his second time winning). Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award: Andrey Rublev, honored for his foundation work. Doubles Players Request Denied Around 100 doubles players had a request to the ATP to self-fund and manage their own Instagram account was denied by the ATP. The players offered to self-fund the initiative.

• Vera Zvonareva Falls Short in Comeback Final: The 41-year-old Russian's fairytale run at the ITF W100 in Dubai ended in the final on Sunday. She lost to 20-year-old Croatian rising star Petra Marčinko in straight sets (3-6, 3-6). Despite the loss, it was Zvonareva's first singles final in five years

• Speaking of comebacks, Serena Williams "Comeback" Rumors Swirl and Fade. Last week, reports emerged that Serena Williams had re-entered the doping testing pool, which immediately sparked speculation about a potential 2026 return to tennis. However, the legend was quick to shut down those rumors, issuing a statement on X denying any plans to return to professional competition. Under tennis anti-doping rules, a retired player must make themselves available for testing for six months before they're allowed to compete in a professional tournament.

• Doubles Players Request Denied Around 100 doubles players had a request to the ATP to self-fund and manage their own Instagram account was denied by the ATP. The players offered to self-fund the initiative, with pledges of around $2,000 per player to hire professional social media managers and content creators to run the page, rather than asking the ATP for money. The story gained traction after Calvin Betton (coach of Wimbledon doubles champion Henry Patten) revealed the details during an appearance on the Chip & Charge tennis podcast. He expressed frustration that the ATP seemingly has "zero marketing for doubles" and is solely focused on the Sinner vs. Alcaraz rivalry, yet blocked the players' attempt to fill that gap themselves.

• Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship

Welcome back to another episode of Talkn Tennis, the only tennis podcast you need if you want the latest news, results and unfiltered opinions straight from three blokes who care way too much about this sport. Adam “The Animal” kicks off the show alongside his co-hosts: Chrissy P, the former childhood tennis prodigy whose rise and fall mirrored a Hollywood child star, and Mr. Vargos himself, Adrian, a man whose love for tennis has been corrupted by an even deeper love for Cevapi. As always, listeners are reminded to follow the chaos on X/Twitter at @TalknTennis.

The boys start with a quick life update, as Chris breaks down his Grand Final weekend and all its emotional highs and lows, while Adrian weighs in on the eternal question: when do teachers mentally check out in Term 4? Once the personal stories settle, it’s straight into the tennis, because while the year might be ending, the season certainly isn’t. The show dives into a full breakdown of the upcoming Next Gen Finals, returning to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from December 17th to 21st. Adam explains the unique nature of the event, how it doubles as the ATP’s testing ground for fast-paced rule changes, and how it has already produced champions like Alcaraz, Sinner, Tsitsipas and Medjedovic. The 2025 field is locked in, headlined by Masters 1000 winner Jakub Menšík, rising American Learner Tien, powerful Croatian Dino Prizmić and a strong supporting cast of Landaluce, Kjær and Basavareddy. The future of men’s tennis looks electric and the boys break it all down.

From there, attention shifts to James Duckworth, who continues to torment the youth by walking away with prize money that probably should have gone to Japanese and Australian teenagers just trying to make rent. That rolls naturally into the newly announced Australian Open wildcards, with Duckworth securing the men’s spot after climbing back inside the top 90, and 17-year-old Emerson Jones earning the women’s wildcard on the back of her strong local results. The team also acknowledges the wildcard playoff winners out of China—Bu Yunchaokete on the men’s side and Zarina Diyas for the women.

The episode then shifts into a spirited debate about the Best Player to Never Win a Slam, sparked by Greg Rusedski’s argument that Marcelo Ríos deserves the crown over Alexander Zverev. The boys unpack the contrasting cases: Ríos, the dazzling, injury-plagued genius who became the only man in the Open Era to reach No. 1 without a Slam, versus Zverev, the statistical powerhouse with Masters titles, ATP Finals victories and an Olympic gold but three heartbreaking Slam final losses. Other fan favourites like Berdych, Ferrer, Tsonga and Nalbandian are tossed in for comparison as the debate heats up, with the hosts making their own picks and predictions.

To finish, the episode descends into glorious chaos with the Battle of the Spuds Quiz, a Hall-of-Fame-style trivia showdown highlighting some of tennis’ most iconic wheels, grinders and nearly-men. The competition ramps up with “Who Am I?” rounds worth double, triple or even quadruple points depending on how badly someone is losing.

Another episode of lively debate, sharp analysis and questionable humour from the Talkn Tennis crew—served fresh and loud. If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to subscribe and follow along on X/Twitter @TalknTennis for more daily tennis takes.

1. 🎾 Are you ready to serve up some tennis knowledge?

In this week's episode of Talkin' Tennis, we dive into the thrilling climax of the Davis Cup finals! 🌟

Key takeaway: The passion and intensity of the matches remind us why we love the game.

What's your favorite moment from the finals? Comment below!

#TennisTalk #DavisCup #TennisLife #SportsPodcast #GameSetMatch #TennisLovers #PodcastRecommendations

2. 🤔 Did you know that even the best players have to deal with tough teammates?

This week, we share a story about a dramatic committee meeting that left one player sidelined! 😲

Insight: Team dynamics can make or break your game—what's your experience been?

Share your thoughts in the comments!

#TennisDrama #Teamwork #SportsStories #TennisPodcast #AthleteLife #TennisCommunity #ListenNow

3. 🎉 It's not just about the game; it's about the friendships we build along the way!

In our latest episode, we discuss the ups and downs of playing with friends and rivals alike.

Takeaway: Every match teaches us something valuable!

What life lesson has tennis taught you? Drop a comment!

#TennisFriends #SportsLife #Podcast #TennisFamily #LifeLessons #TennisJourney #Community

4. 🎤 Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes of a tennis club?

Join us as we unravel the drama that unfolded in our local league this week! 😅

Key insight: Understanding club politics can be as challenging as the game itself.

Have you faced any sports drama? We'd love to hear your stories!

#TennisClub #SportsPolitics #PodcastLife #TennisFam #DramaAlert #TennisAdventures #JoinTheConversation

5. 🌍 Tennis isn't just a sport; it's a community!

In this episode, we talk about the importance of support from teammates, even in tough times. ❤️

Key takeaway: A strong support system can elevate your game.

Who do you lean on in your sports journey? Tag them below!

#TennisCommunity #SupportSystem #SportsPodcast #TeamSpirit #TennisLife #AthleteSupport #Inspire