エピソード

  • The sample that sent a top-40 player to one-hundred sixty-two

    The sample that sent a top-40 player to one-hundred sixty-two
    2026/10/29
    A top-40 tennis player with a legendary family name faces a legal freeze and ranking freefall-can his career survive?

    The sample that sent a top-40 player to one-hundred sixty-two

    This episode explores the journey of Nicolas Jarry, a tennis player from a prominent Chilean tennis family, whose career was dramatically impacted by a doping violation. It delves into the circumstances surrounding the incident and the challenges he faced in his return to the sport.

    Person: Nicolas Jarry
    Event: 2019 Davis Cup Finals
    Location: Madrid
    Status: Prohibited substances found
    Substances: Ligandrol, Stanozolol

    - Nicolas Jarry, ranked 38th in the world, was the anchor for Chile at the inaugural Davis Cup Finals in Madrid.
    - A sample collected during the competition tested positive for two prohibited substances: Ligandrol and Stanozolol.
    - Jarry's family, the Fillols, are a tennis dynasty in Chile, with his grandfather winning seven ATP titles and other relatives involved in professional tennis.
    - Jarry has a deviated septum, inflamed turbinates, and respiratory allergies, leading him to wear a nasal strip for respiratory management since his junior career.
    - Before the incident, Jarry had won his first ATP singles title at the Swedish Open without dropping a set, reaching a career-high ranking of 38th.

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    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    22 分
  • The aunt's empty house kept him tethered - and hollowed his fame

    The aunt's empty house kept him tethered - and hollowed his fame
    2026/10/28
    A decorated tennis legend returns each night to his aunt’s empty Philadelphia house, tethered to a childhood loss - how do you fall from that high?

    The aunt's empty house kept him tethered - and hollowed his fame

    In this episode, we follow William Tatem Tilden II’s life between two poles: staggering athletic dominance and a private life shaped by early family deaths and an enduring attachment to his aunt’s home. What did that house hold for him, and how did it shape the choices that accompanied his rise?

    Person: William Tatem Tilden II
    Date of birth: February 10, 1893
    Location: Germantown, Philadelphia
    Career highlights: Fourteen major singles titles; first American man to win Wimbledon; six consecutive US championships
    Biographer quoted: Frank Deford

    - Childhood losses included three older siblings who died before his birth and a chronically unwell mother who died when he was eighteen.
    - After his parents and older brother died, Tilden moved a few houses away to live with a maiden aunt and stayed there until age forty-eight.
    - At the height of fame he kept a suite at the Algonquin Hotel, financed Broadway productions, and spent lavishly while returning each night to the aunt’s house.
    - In winter 1919-1920 he rebuilt his backhand in isolation on an indoor Rhode Island court, using repetition and solitude to transform his game.
    - His public status in the 1920s placed him among the era’s elite athletes, yet personal patterns organized grief into mentorships with young protégés, raising fraught questions about boundaries.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    21 分
  • The eight dollars that bought a racket, then cost two million

    The eight dollars that bought a racket, then cost two million
    2026/10/27
    An eleven-year-old girl's eight-dollar tennis racket sparks a legendary career-but what secret from her ascent could destroy everything?

    The eight dollars that bought a racket, then cost two million

    This episode explores the life of Billie Jean King, a tennis legend who achieved immense success while navigating profound personal challenges. It delves into the hidden costs of living with a secret and the impact it had on her career and personal life.

    Person: Billie Jean King
    Date of birth: November 22, 1943
    Location: Long Beach, California
    Sport: Tennis
    Prize money: $100,000 in a single year

    - Billie Jean Moffitt saved eight dollars at age eleven to buy her first tennis racket, demonstrating her early determination.
    - At an early tournament, she was excluded from a group photo because her mother-sewn shorts did not meet the club's "white dress only" rule.
    - At seventeen, she and Karen Hantze became the youngest pair to win the women's doubles title at Wimbledon in 1961.
    - In 1962, eighteen-year-old Billie Jean King defeated the number-one seed Margaret Court in the second round at Wimbledon, ending an unbroken streak.
    - In 1970, she and eight other players famously walked away from the established tour to form the Virginia Slims promotional circuit, protesting unequal prize money.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    20 分
  • One uploaded episode erased four decades of a tennis legend

    One uploaded episode erased four decades of a tennis legend
    2026/10/26
    A tennis legend vanished for decades until an anonymous upload resurfaced a fragment. How did someone so central to American sports nearly disappear?

    One uploaded episode erased four decades of a tennis legend

    This episode explores the life and career of Victor Kenneth Braden Jr., a pivotal figure in making tennis accessible to the public, whose extensive contributions almost disappeared from public record. It raises the question of how such a prominent individual could come so close to being forgotten.

    Person: Victor Kenneth Braden Jr.
    Event: Upload of one episode to the Internet Archive
    Date: January 3, 2022
    Topic: Tennis history and preservation
    Status: International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee

    - Victor Braden wrote six books on tennis, ran a tennis college, and coached a future tennis great.
    - At age twelve, Braden's obsession with tennis began, leading him to win three Michigan state championships by high school graduation.
    - As a young man, Braden hitchhiked to Detroit specifically to study Don Budge's backhand, seeking to understand its mechanics rather than just witness greatness.
    - Braden pursued a master's degree and a PhD in psychology, becoming a licensed psychologist, driven by an impulse to understand the body and mind under pressure.
    - In 1961, he co-founded the Jack Kramer Tennis Club, where he spent eleven years observing and analyzing players, including starting Tracy Austin in tennis.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    21 分
  • The Second Serve That Collapsed a Career

    The Second Serve That Collapsed a Career
    2026/10/25
    A world No. 237 tennis player faces the No. 2 seed at Wimbledon. What happens when a career-defining moment is threatened by a pill for jet lag?

    The Second Serve That Collapsed a Career

    This episode explores the career of Robert Kendrick, a tennis player who defied expectations by reaching an impossible height in his sport. It delves into the unique challenges he faced and the pivotal moment that brought his career into question.

    Person: Robert Kendrick
    Date: June 2006
    Event: Wimbledon Centre Court match against Rafael Nadal
    Ranking: 237th in the world

    - Robert Kendrick, the youngest of four competitive siblings, developed an instinct to win through tennis, excelling in high school and earning an NCAA scholarship.
    - He turned professional in 2000, spending years on the ATP Challenger circuit and ITF Futures, building his career with a powerful serve and forehand.
    - Kendrick maintained a serve-and-volley style, even as the sport shifted towards baseline power and extended rallies, refining his existing strengths rather than fully adapting.
    - His serve-and-volley game, while effective in bursts, had a structural weakness in his second serve, which consistently showed low win percentages across major tournaments.
    - This paradox meant his powerful serve could lead to significant victories, but his vulnerable second serve could also result in losses to lower-ranked players.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    18 分
  • The Contaminated Multivitamin That Collapsed a Career

    The Contaminated Multivitamin That Collapsed a Career
    2026/10/24
    A tennis prodigy named after a legend faces a doping ban at 19, derailing a career poised for greatness. Can he reclaim his place at the top?

    The Contaminated Multivitamin That Collapsed a Career

    This episode explores the career of Guillermo Coria, a tennis player whose promising trajectory was interrupted by a doping scandal. It delves into the circumstances surrounding his positive test and the lasting impact it had on his career.

    Person: Guillermo Coria
    Date: January 13, 1982 (birth)
    Location: Argentina
    Event: 2004 Roland Garros Final
    Status: World No. 3 (career high)

    - Guillermo Coria was named after Argentine clay-court legend Guillermo Coria, setting high expectations from birth.
    - He trained alongside David Nalbandian, who became his closest rival and friend, pushing each other through junior levels.
    - At 15, Coria won the Orange Bowl 16-and-under, and later beat Nalbandian to win the 1999 French Open boys' singles title without dropping a set.
    - In April 2001, a doping test revealed nandrolone, leading to an initial two-year ban and a significant fine.
    - Coria's defense, supported by a private lab, showed a contaminated multivitamin, reducing his ban to seven months.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    20 分
  • The Roland Garros week that birthed two trophies-and began his unraveling

    The Roland Garros week that birthed two trophies-and began his unraveling
    2026/10/23
    A tennis prodigy achieves an unprecedented double Grand Slam victory, becoming the world's best. But his career soon reveals a pattern of inexplicable losses.

    The Roland Garros week that birthed two trophies-and began his unraveling

    This episode explores the career of tennis player Yevgeny Kafelnikov, from his historic Roland Garros win to his quiet departure from the sport. It delves into the contradictions of his record and the question of what, exactly, broke.

    Person: Yevgeny Kafelnikov
    Date: October 2003
    Location: Saint Petersburg
    Event: Retirement from professional tennis

    - Yevgeny Kafelnikov walked off a tennis court at age twenty-nine, seven years after his historic Roland Garros win.
    - In 1996, at twenty-two, he became the first man in the Open Era to win both singles and doubles titles at Roland Garros.
    - Born in 1974 in the Soviet Union, Kafelnikov grew up in Sochi with limited tennis infrastructure but a supportive father and coach.
    - He turned professional in 1992, and by 1994, his ranking surged from 102 to 11, winning three titles and defeating six top-five players.
    - Despite winning two Grand Slam singles titles and an Olympic gold, Kafelnikov lost all five Masters Series finals he reached.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    23 分
  • The academy IMG bought became a thing its inventor managed

    The academy IMG bought became a thing its inventor managed
    2026/10/22
    A man with no tennis background builds a prodigious coaching operation on Florida scrubland - is his certainty genius or recklessness?

    The academy IMG bought became a thing its inventor managed

    This episode explores the story of Nick Bollettieri, who built a revolutionary tennis academy from scratch. It delves into the unconventional methods and philosophy that shaped his approach to creating champions, and the complex relationship between the academy's success and its human cost.

    Person: Nick Bollettieri
    Date of birth: July 31, 1931
    Location of academy: Bradenton, Florida
    Academy acquisition date: 1987
    Acquirer: IMG

    - Nick Bollettieri, born to Italian immigrant parents, earned a philosophy degree and served in the US Army before dropping out of law school.
    - He began his tennis coaching career through informal arrangements and at various resorts, including the Dorado Beach Hotel in Puerto Rico.
    - Bollettieri's method emphasized total immersion, requiring full-time residence and practice at his academy.
    - Young players like nine-year-old Maria Sharapova and twelve-year-old Jelena Janković were sent to live at the academy.
    - Bollettieri coached Andre Agassi for seven years, from 1986 to 1993, building around Agassi's unique playing style.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    28 分