As the red dust of Rome settles and the tennis world turns its gaze to Paris, The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast delivers a courtside pass to the heart and humor of the pro tour, pulling back the curtain on everything from broadcast booth politics to the real stories behind this clay season’s breakout stars.
Hosts Rennae Stubbs and Caitlin Thompson open the show with a debate that’s lighting up both locker rooms and living rooms: is it the French Open or Roland Garros, and does anyone outside of France care? Even NBA legends like Charles Barkley have their two cents, but for Renea, it’s simple: “I’d love to do the French Open for them,” she jokes, half pitching herself to the new broadcast overlords at TNT.
It’s not all banter. When it comes to tennis commentary, Stubbs is as honest as they come. She salutes the likes of Lindsay Davenport for letting the tennis speak, but critiques others, like Jimmy Arias, for talking over the points: “You gotta have more discipline than that,” she insists. “You can't talk over the point. It really bothered me this time.” Authenticity, insight, and respect for the game—it’s clear she believes every great broadcast hangs on those.
But it’s on-court stars, not just broadcast voices, at the center of this episode. No player encapsulates the spirit of the clay swing quite like Jasmine Paolini. Stubbs, an early believer, raves about Paolini’s tenacity: “I have loved this kid forever... There’s not a weakness.” In Rome, Paolini’s joy was contagious—a trait Rennae admires and maybe wishes she’d possessed more of in her own career. Thompson marvels at Jasmine’s anticipation and smile-through-the-slips resilience. For every technical dissection, it’s ultimately Paolini’s lightness and love of the fight that make her a fan favorite.
The episode doesn’t shy away from technical talk, either, especially when it comes to the game’s underachievers and overachievers. Coco Gauff’s service motion gets an entire coaching clinic from Stubbs, who breaks down with palpable frustration, “Please get her to not go forward on her serve before she’s throwing the ball, toss up... There’s nowhere to go there, right?” Yet, it’s clear both hosts stand in awe of Coco’s tenacity, even as they see the fixable problems holding her back.
On the men’s side, the evolving Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry is dissected with both admiration and scrutiny. “Alcaraz is a better natural athlete,” Stubbs notes, picking apart not just biomechanics but the psychological warfare and creative shot-making that make the matchup as compelling as any Nadal-Federer clash of old. Meanwhile, the episode finds time for playful jabs—Taylor Fritz’s “you almost had him” to Casper Ruud, handed a bagel by Sinner, becomes the stuff of podcast legend.
And then there are the doubles—a nod to the discipline’s oft-overlooked brilliance and a hilarious roast of some of the worst serves in tennis history. Sarah Errani may have a serve Stubbs deems “one of the most atrocious serves that’s ever existed in professional sports,” but her court smarts and volleying totally belong. “The team that are best at the net will always win,” Rennae decrees, with the conviction of someone who’s been there.
If one theme ties this episode together, it’s the value of hard work, humility, and reinvention. From Paolini’s coaching changes to the grind of returning finalists like Sinner and Coco, and the cast of characters forging new stories on Europe’s clay, this is a moment in tennis—on court and in the commentary booth—where new ideas and fresh voices are in demand.
As Paris beckons, Thompson and Stubbs lay out their picks and predictions with the same blend of hope, humor, and candor that’s their signature. “You know, we had four incredible human beings playing in the finals of Rome,” Stubbs says, summing up a tournament—and perhaps an era—where spirit counts as much as skill.
In a tennis landscape brimming with variety, unpredictability, and personalities both on the court and off, The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast reminds listeners why they fell in love with the sport—and why, as the next major looms, they won’t want to miss a minute of the drama.
