Monte Carlo - Was Sinner’s statement win a game-changer?
4/13/20261 hr 21 min
Catherine, David and Matt are here to look back on the first Sinner-Alcaraz match of the 2026 season.
Part one - Monte Carlo (00:00 - 30:59). We discuss Jannik Sinner’s victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the final and how it sets up their rivalry and the clay court season ahead. In what way did Sinner cope best with the windy conditions? How much confidence will he take from his? And how might Alcaraz respond? There’s also chat about the gap between them and the rest of the field after Sinner’s comprehensive win over Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals as well as a final word on Valentin Vacherot’s incredible run.
Part two - Linz and BJK Cup (31:00 - 59:29). Lilli Tagger’s run may have stopped in the quarter-finals, but the fun continued in Linz as Anastasia Potapova made it all the way to the final, only to lose to Mirra Andreeva. Just how impressive was that win for Andreeva? What’s the significance of her doing it without Conchita Martinez in her box? And how do we look back on the first edition of Linz on indoor clay? In the BJK Cup, we cover Great Britain’s shock win in Australia, USA’s defeat to Belgium, a compelling comeback from the Czechs to beat Switzerland, and a devastating day for Bianca Andreescu and Canada.
Part three (59:30 - 1:21:01) - Preview and predictions for the week ahead which sees Alcaraz go to Barcelona and Iga Swiatek return in Stuttgart.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsCatherine Whitaker· Host0:00
[upbeat music] Well, hello, and welcome to the Tennis Podcast, where it is Monday the 13th of April as we come to you bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, pre 9:00 a.m., but crucially post caffeine. Uh, David doesn't need caffeine, unlike for me. This is his optimum time of day. How are you doing, David?
David Law· Host0:30
Fine. I've been up hours. [laughs] Yeah, the kids' were- alarm clock after Easter holidays went off at 6:30, which I have to say after the Masters golf last night was a bit of a challenge. Uh, but, uh, I've regrouped. I've bounced back, Catherine.
Catherine Whitaker· Host0:46
Yeah. We are in a constant state of, uh, of bouncing back. Matt, good morning. How are you doing?
Matt Roberts· Host0:53
Good morning. Very well, thank you. Wearing my green for Rory McIlroy's second green jacket in a row. Uh, yeah, good stuff last night at the golf and good stuff with the tennis this weekend. So very well, thank you.
Catherine Whitaker· Host1:06
Absolutely, yeah. Rory McIlroy inspired by, uh, watching the tennis in Monte Carlo before his- Well- ... before his final two rounds.
Matt Roberts· Host1:18
It, it was his worst round of the tournament- [laughs] ... when he mentions that he'd been watching the tennis in the buildup.
Catherine Whitaker· Host1:25
Well, I'm gonna- It's all Vasek's fault. [laughs] I'm gonna assume he watched the final as well, right,