No Challenges Remaining

Ben and Tumaini, together again, are back to wrap up the quarterfinals and look ahead to the semifinals for both the men and women at Roland Garros.

We start with the women, where a too-close-to-call Sabalenka-Swiatek semifinal is set, and super-surprise Lois Boisson might just be playing well enough to keep her strong form going against Coco Gauff?

We then shift to the men, where a Sinner-Alcaraz collision course seems likely, and in which Novak Djokovic defeated another similar effort from Alexander Zverev.

Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

Ben and Tumaini, fresh off their collaboration on Ben's Victor Barber interview, catch up on everything in the first four rounds of Roland Garros.

We start with the big results of the day--Bublik d. Draper and Boisson d. Pegula--and then discuss the scheduling and the morass of night sessions.

We then check in on the various shortlist contenders--Alcaraz, Sinner, Swiatek, Sabalenka, Gauff--and end with some chat on Nadal's retirement ceremony and PSG's big celebrations here.

Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

Ben and Tumaini (whom Redditors agree has "quietly become the best tennis journalist on the planet") are delighted to have "Episode 400," which is actually the 566th episode of NCR with real counting, coincide with an annual favorite episode title.

After a long media day in Paris, we break down the men and then the women. Is anyone there to disrupt a Sinner-Alcaraz final, which would be their first at a Grand Slam event? 

On the men's side, is Aryna Sabalenka ready to hurdle through a tough draw? And can Iga Swiatek get back on track in time to make major history?

Plus pretty much everyone else among the 256 players in these draws. 

Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

Forestalling NCR's imminent quatercentenary ever so slightly, Ben and Tumaini turn on the microphone together for the first time in their shared Paris abode, just to wrap up some loose ends from Rome before our big French Open draw show later this week.

Tumaini discusses the incredible superstar status of Jannik Sinner, who enraptured the public and put on some dominant performances en route to the final, where he was eventually stopped by Carlos Alcaraz.

We also discuss Jasmine Paolini, as well as her mentor Sara Errani, whom we spoke with today at French Open qualifying as she wraps up a memorable singles career.

Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces! And Tumaini's work at The Guardian! 

Ben is joined by his longtime NYT teammate Christopher Clarey to discuss the release today of his new book, The Warrior: Rafael Nadal and His Kingdom of Clay, exploring both the prolific 14-time champion at Roland Garros and the dusty red landscape of his triumphs.

Topics include: how Nadal's frenetic, obsessive energy shaped Chris's own writing process, Nadal's language proficiencies (or lack thereof), how the media access landscape has changed over the course of his career reporting on Nadal, Nadal's complex relationships with his top rivals, the specter of doping allegations over Nadal's era, how top athletes like Nadal decide when to stop, the archetype of Spanish masculinity Nadal presents and lack of women in his tennis orbit, and more.

The book is out today, so do check it out!

Thank you for listening! Our Patreon is back up and running to ensure NCR keeps going and stays ad-free, and we hope you can join in supporting NCR! And we especially thank our GOAT backers: Pam Shriver and J. O'D.

And please check out Ben's new writing home, Bounces!