Perfect Match? is a tennis podcast where we talk about tennis as it relates to the culture (and sometimes our relationship as it relates to tennis). Co-hosts, partnered couple and dare we say doubles partners, Bryan and Michele get into it exploring the big game, their own game and anything else that's making tennis fans talk from the sidelines. Episodes drop weekly. Stay in touch: Bluesky at @perfectmatchpodcast.com or @shellsteak , and Instagram at @perfectmatchpodcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jannik Sinner made headlines last week because he passed on a potentially unprecedented and historic opportunity: win all Masters 1000s tournaments in a single year. Nobody has ever done it. With all the talk about how maladapted, weird and lazy Gen Z is purported to be, we wondered if there's a generational theme here (spoiler: they said the exact same things about Gen X, but no one remembers anything about us). Also, The DC Mubadala tournament's noble origin story Player boycott of the US Open Mixed Doubles event: still happening? And more... Send us your hot takes at perfectmatchpodcast@gmail.com As always tell your friends, rate this podcast in your app , and send us feedback at https://www.perfectmatchpodcast.com/ You can also follow us on Bluesky at @perfectmatchpodcast.com or @shellsteak Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Women's Tennis Association, arguably the most progressive sports association in history, has decided to require every female professional tennis player to prove that they are a woman. What certification will be acceptable to pass this new test? Oh, it's something called an SRY test, which checks for the presence of Y chromosomes. Funny story, the man who discovered the SRY marker thinks that the test shouldn't be used this way. Good times! Special shout out to Ben Rothernberg for breaking this story. Read his piece here . Also: Alcaraz is coming back! Aussie Open to limit cheap tickets Thoughts on (partially read) new gay tennis romance novel "The Open Era" Send us your hot takes at perfectmatchpodcast@gmail.com As always tell your friends, rate this podcast in your app , and send us feedback at https://www.perfectmatchpodcast.com/ You can also follow us on Bluesky at @perfectmatchpodcast.com or @shellsteak Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Men's tennis is failing us, in our view. It's top priority should be preventing Zv*r*v and Djokovic from winning a Grand Slam, and with Carlos out, the only one up to the challenge is Jannik Sinner. This is unsustainable! This week, Michele puts on her HR hat and puts Men's Tennis on a Performance Improvement Plan, complete with milestones and actionable goals (sorry I just barfed a bit in my mouth typing that). Also: Alcaraz is on the mend 💪 Paige Lorenze is now Paige Paul 💍 Alex DeMinaur and Katie Boulter got married the day of the Wimbledon Men's Final 🤔 New tennis movies 🎬 And more! Send us your hot takes at perfectmatchpodcast@gmail.com As always tell your friends, rate this podcast in your app , and send us feedback at https://www.perfectmatchpodcast.com/ You can also follow us on Bluesky at @perfectmatchpodcast.com or @shellsteak Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Serena's comeback at Wimbledon was impressive, adequate, or perplexing, depending on who is commenting on it. This week, we take on Serena's choice, as well as the odd circumstances around her dropping out of doubles at the last minute. What is all this really about? Does Serena herself even know? Also, The danger on the men's side (a Djokovic or Zverev win 😱) We will have a new champion on the women's side Players fail to stage collective action around prize money No dogs allowed at Wimbledon And more! Send us your hot takes at perfectmatchpodcast@gmail.com As always tell your friends, rate this podcast in your app , and send us feedback at https://www.perfectmatchpodcast.com/ You can also follow us on Bluesky at @perfectmatchpodcast.com or @shellsteak Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As Michele predicted in the first episode of this season, Serena Williams will be playing singles this year at Wimbledon. But don't call it a comeback (as they say), for she is insisting she doesn't care if she wins: she's just wants her daughters to see her play. Hard to believe. Also: Tennis.com has stopped publishing content entirely (boo!) Paula Badosa calls her former relationship with Stefanos Tsitsipas "toxic" (we called that one too!) Corentin Moutet's $40,000 fine for dropping multiple f-bombs Danielle Collins is giving Valerie Cherish vibes on TC Live ("I don't wanna see that!") And more! Send us your hot takes at perfectmatchpodcast@gmail.com As always tell your friends, rate this podcast in your app , and send us feedback at https://www.perfectmatchpodcast.com/ You can also follow us on Bluesky at @perfectmatchpodcast.com or @shellsteak Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The bonkers 2026 French Open has concluded with the most disappointing Men's Final since Wimbledon 2019 (if you know, you know). The "deeply polarizing" winner (as the NY Times put it) has become a symbol of society's inability to properly address domestic violence allegations, leading to the emergence of the #anyonebutzverev hashtag when he became the favorite to win the tournament. Michele refuses to speak his name in this episode, and Bryan chooses to only use commentator mispronunciations (McEnroe's "Zah-VER-ev" and Agassi's "Zah-REV"). Dark times. Also: Maja Chwalinska's fairy-tale run Townsend/Siniakova win the women's doubles (setting up Taylor Townsend for the Career Slam at the US Open) Rafa praises David Ellison (but we forgive him) Trump ruins another sporting event, but Go Knicks! And more! Send us your hot takes at perfectmatchpodcast@gmail.com As always tell your friends, rate this podcast in your app , and send us feedback at https://www.perfectmatchpodcast.com/ You can also follow us on Bluesky at @perfectmatchpodcast.com or @shellsteak Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week we marvel at the surprises the French Open has produced so far. Is it weird that we are enjoying the Sincaraz absence? And we get early exits on the Women's side to mix it up? This is shaping up to be one of the most interesting Frenches (?) in a very long time. Also: Bryan apologizes (sort of) to unhappy listeners The French Open's woman problem The electronic line call that didn't matter (quel triste, Casper!) Serena is BACK The Rafa documentary 👍😢 #fonsecafever And more! Send us your hot takes at perfectmatchpodcast@gmail.com As always tell your friends, rate this podcast in your app , and send us feedback at https://www.perfectmatchpodcast.com/ You can also follow us on Bluesky at @perfectmatchpodcast.com or @shellsteak Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week we're all over the place (or lieu , if you must), going back and forth about the French Open. Alcaraz not playing Wimbeldon 😢 No one is going to beat Sinner at the French Open 😕 Heat wave in Paris 🥵 An emergency "medical timeout" 💩 Naomi Osaka's outfit is 🔥 And...the TV Coverage, the "boycott" and ticket scalping. Okay! Send us your hot takes at perfectmatchpodcast@gmail.com As always tell your friends, rate this podcast in your app , and send us feedback at https://www.perfectmatchpodcast.com/ You can also follow us on Bluesky at @perfectmatchpodcast.com or @shellsteak Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Before we talk about the current issue of players threatening to boycott a slam, let’s go back in time to 1973 when an historic boycott of Wimbledon by the top men’s players completely changed the power dynamic between the grand slams and the players. Also: We got blocked by a Bluesky user. We have arrived. Joao Fonseca admits that his Brazilian fans annoy him too An 11-year-old kid flips off Tommy Paul at the Rome Open Support the pod. Keep the faith 🙏 Send us your hot takes at perfectmatchpodcast@gmail.com As always tell your friends, rate this podcast in your app , and send us feedback at https://www.perfectmatchpodcast.com/ You can also follow us on Bluesky at @perfectmatchpodcast.com or @shellsteak Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Relationships are delicate entities, and breakups should be handled with care, but it does not appear that the high profile uncoupling of Taylor Fritz and Morgan Riddle is unfolding as planned. This week, we go a bit gossipy and snarky, but get into questions around what people expect out of a Relationship as well. Also: Players are getting "food poisoning" in Madrid and dropping out, but is it the tacos? Or the cultural bias toward Latin food? Carlos OUT of the French Open ☹️ Ontario passed a law that you can't resell tickets for ANY profit at all. Can we move to Canada now? Send us your hot takes at perfectmatchpodcast@gmail.com As always tell your friends, rate this podcast in your app , and send us feedback at https://www.perfectmatchpodcast.com/ You can also follow us on Bluesky at @perfectmatchpodcast.com or @shellsteak Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After losing the Monte-Carlo Masters Final to Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz posted a fun video of his bestie Jannik diving into the club's pool. Cute! Good for engagement! Bad for winning. This week we talk tennis rivalries and question whether Carlos needs to go darker if he wants to beat Sinner. We also dig up clips of Chrissie and Martina talking about how they had to lose the friendship bracelets to truly compete. Also: The Onion's dumb tennis satire piece Rybakina's weird used tennis gear/crypto scam online shop Nadal Netflix final year documentary incoming (are these actually good television?) Alcaraz wrist injury. Oh God 😱 Send us your hot takes at perfectmatchpodcast@gmail.com As always tell your friends, rate this podcast in your app , and send us feedback at https://www.perfectmatchpodcast.com/ You can also follow us on Bluesky at @perfectmatchpodcast.com or @shellsteak Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Clay Season is officially in session now with the symbolic opener, the Monte-Carlo Masters, taking place. Why don't we all live in Monte Carlo, with it's zero percent personal income tax, European adjacency and $6300/sq. ft. real estate? Perhaps because we don't have $6.3 million dollars for a 1000 square foot flat. One day... Today on the pod, we talk about the Joy of Clay, Monte Carlo, why Americans can't seem to win on slow surfaces, and how it relates to Bryan's general lack of patience and attention to detail. Also, Jessie Pegula's win in Charleston over a Ukranian player who hasn't been home in four years and had to do GoFundMe to stay on tour (did Jessie donate anything?) Iga is now being coached by Rafa's former coach (with Rafa giving pointers) Enjoy! Send us your hot takes at perfectmatchpodcast@gmail.com As always tell your friends, rate this podcast in your app , and send us feedback at https://www.perfectmatchpodcast.com/ You can also follow us on Bluesky at @perfectmatchpodcast.com or @shellsteak Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A lively, bad faith debate in which Michele defends what Bryan calls "Woke 1.0" while he posits that so-called "Dark Woke" can be better for one's tennis fandom. Do we need to broaden our tolerance for players' questionable posts and comments in order to enjoy the sport more? It's a weird one! But relevant (maybe)! Also: The WTA Finals is out of Saudi Arabia, mercifully Meh about the two Sunshine Doubles. What a weird feeling Send us your hot takes at perfectmatchpodcast@gmail.com As always tell your friends, rate this podcast in your app , and send us feedback at https://www.perfectmatchpodcast.com/ You can also follow us on Bluesky at @perfectmatchpodcast.com or @shellsteak Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week due to shifting forces in our lives, we home in on the perennial vignette in which one person lashes out at a crowd that stares on in horror. But who among us hasn't wanted to just flip off everyone around them and storm out forever(ish)? Also, Carlos Alcaraz announces on court in Spanish "I'm can't anymore!" to his team. What's going on with him? LIveNation antitrust suit is dropped by the Feds (presumably corruption), but is kept alive by the states Wimbledon expansion appears to be a go, angering local activists (who are perhaps disingenuous?) Send us your hot takes at perfectmatchpodcast@gmail.com As always tell your friends, rate this podcast in your app , and send us feedback at https://www.perfectmatchpodcast.com/ You can also follow us on Bluesky at @perfectmatchpodcast.com or @shellsteak Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Indian Wells tournament is upon us, as is the tenth anniversary of your hosts bumping into one another at the tourament, encountering an implausible series of rom-com meet-cutes, and somehow staying together for all these years. To commemorate, we dive into the ennui surrounding MAGA enthusiast Larry Ellison owning the Tournament and his looming presence over the media landscape in America (but it's also kind of funny!) Also: The Iran war traps players in the U.A.E. Sabalenka's big engagement brouhaha Ticketmaster could be broken up? Please please pretty please? Send us your hot takes at perfectmatchpodcast@gmail.com As always tell your friends, rate this podcast in your app , and send us feedback at https://www.perfectmatchpodcast.com/ You can also follow us on Bluesky at @perfectmatchpodcast.com or @shellsteak Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Professional tennis players are some of the least represented athletes in professional sports. From the grueling schedule to the relatively low share of revenue, even down to the type of balls used in tournaments, the players have little to no say in decisions that affect their lives and health immensely. This week, we break down the issue and ponder if there is any reason to hope that things will get better for them. Also: PICKLEBRAWL at a Florida country club Coco Gauff speaks truth to power once again No Carne Asada (or any other meat) at the Mexican Open Send us your hot takes at perfectmatchpodcast@gmail.com As always tell your friends, rate this podcast in your app , and send us feedback at https://www.perfectmatchpodcast.com/ You can also follow us on Bluesky at @perfectmatchpodcast.com or @shellsteak Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
There's long been an argument in tennis against women receiving equal pay that it's because they don't play full Best of Five matches in the Grand Slams. It's a weak and weird argument because outside of the Slams, everyone plays Best of Three, and some of those tournaments *still* don't have equal pay. Regardless, Australian Open CEO Craig Tiley wants to change all this. He's pushing for the women to play those long matches at the AO and beyond. Is it a good idea? Will it happen? Does Bryan have a wholly unworkable alternative? Listen and find out! Also, Brad Gilbert didn't like Bad Bunny's Halftime performance and thought they should have had some "Bay area rock instead" Two new "Heated Rivalry"-style gay tennis romance novels are coming out soon Is Serena coming back to professional tennis for real? (She's coming back for real) Send us your hot takes at perfectmatchpodcast@gmail.com As always tell your friends, rate this podcast in your app , and send us feedback at https://www.perfectmatchpodcast.com/ You can also follow us on Bluesky at @perfectmatchpodcast.com or @shellsteak Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In which we draw the line between a "lie" and a "lie-lie". We all lie! Whether it's your "colonoscopy appointment" on the day of your sister's "baby shower", or "does a hangover qualify as a 'sick day'?", we all lie at least once in our life. What kinds of lies are okay? Who gets to decide? What does it matter? Also: There were too many cameras at the Australian Open! Enough with all the cameras! Slam trophies for coaches is new and a bit weird and cringe? Send us your hot takes at perfectmatchpodcast@gmail.com As always tell your friends, rate this podcast in your app , and send us feedback at https://www.perfectmatchpodcast.com/ You can also follow us on Bluesky at @perfectmatchpodcast.com or @shellsteak Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Aussie Open closes the roof when their bespoke heat index level reaches 5. The AO knows beforehand exactly when this index will reach 5 because we all know this, because we all have a weather app on our phones. Is it antithetical to their "Safety Culture" that they don't close the roof when they know it's going to be too hot? And what is this "Safety Culture" anyway? It's probably not what you think! Also: Juan Carlos Ferrero doesn't need to coach Alcaraz anymore, because he's coaching...a golfer? Defector's Owen Lewis asks American players how they feel about their country right now, and some players start singing "Mary Had a LIttle Lamb" with their fingers in their ears. Send us your hot takes at perfectmatchpodcast@gmail.com As always tell your friends, rate this podcast in your app , and send us feedback at https://www.perfectmatchpodcast.com/ You can also follow us on Bluesky at @perfectmatchpodcast.com or @shellsteak Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Carlos Alcaraz is playing his first matches on tour without the help of his only coach since childhood, Juan Carlos Ferrero, and we are all wondering how this will go. What we aren't wondering anymore is if Juan Carlos will be coming back. We don't usually talk about who is coaching which player (because it's insider-y and kind of boring), but this coaching relationship is unlike anything we've ever seen in tennis, and we have thoughts. Also: The new "ESPN Unlimited" option/paywall is confusing and more expensive for many of us (but also good for some people?) The Australian Open is getting as crowded as the U.S. Open ☹️ Naomi Osaka's crazy umbrella/veil/wedding dress outfit Ukrainian player Oleksandra Oliynykova calls out pro-Putin players as "dangerous" It's Grand Slam time! Enjoy the AO! Send us your hot takes at perfectmatchpodcast@gmail.com As always tell your friends, rate this podcast in your app , and send us feedback at https://www.perfectmatchpodcast.com/ You can also follow us on Bluesky at @perfectmatchpodcast.com or @shellsteak Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
