Courtside conversations: the Roland-Garros tennis podcast

Before and after the season’s major events, "Courtside Conversations: the Roland-Garros tennis podcast" will let you follow the fascinating and informative discussions between journalist Gigi Salmon and her distinguished guests. The performances of the sport’s top names, the exploits of its new faces, surprises, tips and anecdotes related to the Roland-Garros tournament will all be on the menu, as the podcast host and guests dissect the latest news and look ahead to upcoming events.

"Courtside conversations" - Episode 7

A journalist and New York Times columnist for more than 30 years, author of the famous Roger Federer biography called "The Master" and just finishing a hotly-awaited new book about Rafael Nadal ("The Warrior", which is due for release in 2025), Christopher Clarey is one of the closest observers of world tennis.

Very well placed to talk about the recent retirement of the man with 22 Grand Slam titles to his name, with whom he has rubbed shoulders throughout his career, the expert who addresses all things tennis in his blog Tennis & Beyond also gives his take on the highlights of this eventful 2024 season.

Make yourself comfortable and click on the player below to listen to Gigi and Christopher talk tennis:

"Courtside conversations" - Episode 6

A two-time Grand Slam finalist (at the 1993 US Open and Wimbledon in 1997) and former world No. 5, Cédric Pioline has stayed in tennis since retiring. The tournament director of the Rolex Paris Masters for the last two years, he has been keeping a close eye on the tennis scene all season long.

So what did he make of the last Grand Slam of the year, when Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner stormed to the women’s and men’s singles titles respectively?

Now comes an enticing end to the season, with the WTA and ATP Tour finals topping the bill. The final spots at the prestigious men’s event will be claimed, as ever, at the Rolex Paris Masters, which the tournament director himself previews.

Make yourself comfortable and click on the player below to listen to Gigi and Cédric talk tennis:

"Courtside conversations" - Episode 5

For many years now, Mats Wilander has been a familiar face at tournaments around the world, interviewing the leading protagonists of the WTA and ATP tours and commenting on developments and news in the sport. Known for the quality of his analysis and insightful courtside questions, the former world No.1 – winner of seven grand slam singles titles and three Davis Cups – was the perfect guest to capture all the excitement of SW19 and dissect a string of surprising performances at the Championships.

What does he think of Carlos Alcaraz’s incredible precocity, Barbora Krejcikova's moving and deserved coronation, the rise of Jasmine Paolini, Novak Djokovic's state of mind and Andy Murray's farewell? And what are his predictions for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the hard-court season, particularly the US Open in New York?

Click on the player icon below to listen to Gigi and Mats:

"Courtside conversations" - Episode 4

A seventeen-time Grand Slam winner in doubles and mixed, former world No. 1 in doubles, two-time Olympic medalist (gold in Atlanta 1996 and silver in Sydney 2000), Mark Woodforde looks back on his sweetest memories in Roland-Garros. He and Gigi also talk about the highlights of 2024 Roland-Garros edition with Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz’s victories, the return of Rafael Nadal in his kingdom and Jannik Sinner, the new world number one !  

So, make yourself comfortable and click on the player icon below to listen to Gigi and Mark talk tennis:

"Courtside conversations" - Episode 3

Currently doing battle on the red clay of Madrid, the stars of the WTA and ATP Tours will have the Porte d’Auteuil in the back of their minds. With less than a month to go before Roland-Garros 2024 (20 May to 9 June), what can we expect when they assemble in the French capital? The answer to that question will provide the theme of this latest instalment of the podcast.

A two-time Grand Slam winner (Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2006), former world no. 1 Amélie Mauresmo looks back on her glittering career, talks about her experiences at the highest level and assesses the current state of world tennis. Appointed in December 2021, she also reveals the ins and outs of her job as tournament director, her determination to move the lines, and explains what’s new about Roland-Garros 2024.

Click on the player icon below to listen to Gigi and Amélie talk tennis:

"Courtside conversations" - Episode 2

From the exploits of the game’s rising young stars to Jannik Sinner’s outstanding men’s singles win and Aryna Sabalenka’s imperious defence of her women’s singles title, the Happy Slam lived up to its name in 2024 and fulfilled all expectations. That was a feeling shared by 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli, who now coaches the young Indian player Pallavi Patel and his cousin Hursch Patel, and is also commentator and interviewer at Roland-Garros.

Special guest of Episode 2 of "Courtside Conversations", she spoke with passion about the season’s first major and the huge expectations surrounding the players who shone to varying degrees in Melbourne. The former world No.7 also recalled her first memories of the Parisian Grand Slam event and discussed the excellent form of French tennis!

To hear Gigi and Marion’s chat in full, find yourself a comfortable seat and click on the player below:

"Courtside conversations" - Episode 1

In this first episode, Gigi welcomes two-time Roland-Garros finalist (1998 and 2001) and former world No. 2, Alex Corretja. Now a consultant for several media outlets, the Spaniard talks about his love for Roland-Garros and the huge expectations surrounding the 2024 season and this year’s Olympic Games. From Rafael Nadal's much-talked-about return and the ambitions of the WTA’s leading players to Novak Djokovic's incredible quest for major titles, Gigi and Alex discuss the topics and questions on everyone's lips ahead of the first Grand Slam of the season.

So get comfortable and click on the link below to listen to the first episode of "Courtside Conversations: the Roland-Garros tennis podcast"!