THE BODY SERVE FRENCH OPEN TRILOGY

Episodes 81, 82 & 83 of The Body Serve Tennis Podcast

Relive the 2017 French Open from start to finish with The Body Serve Tennis Podcast. James and Jonathan take you through all the action, starting with a preview of the event, and finishing up with Rafael Nadal's 10th title in Paris and Jelena Ostapenko's big breakthrough. 

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​​​PART ONE: Are You There, Margaret? It’s Me, God: Roland Garros Preview

We're breaking down the draws for Roland Garros 2017, perhaps the most unpredictable women's major in memory. We talk about the overarching themes (La Decima, Novak-Andre, notable absences, and the 10+ female contenders) but we also go in-depth with the draws. After that, we devote a long time to addressing Margaret Court's continued and unprovoked attacks on the lgbt community. We consider what exactly free speech means, the responsibility that comes with it, and the necessity to push back when our queer personhoods and families are under attack.

1:30 The themes of the Roland Garros draw: the wiiiide open women's draw
4:45 Some surprising favorites: Svitolina, Mladenovic, Stosur?
14:00 Going through the draw - which quarterfinals are most likely to happen?
24:00 Our bold and probably wrong predictions for the women's draw
27:15 Men's draw storylines: La Decima, Djokovic-Agassi, Thiem hopes to put a bow on his clay season
37:00 Men's draw analysis: follow along at home!
47:30 Men's bottom half: Nadal, Djokovic, Thiem, and?
50:45 The Rant: Margaret Court gets personal with her bigotry
57:50 The meaning of free speech: why "Everyone is entitled to an opinion" falls short
1:01:00 Why we need to fight back
1:09:00 Finishing on a happier note: WTA players Tara Moore and Conny Perrin are engaged!
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PART TWO: ​Mid-Roland Garros Report: All Tea and No Comment

Welcome to our week one recap of the 2017 French Open. We kick things off with a look back at some of the big (albeit few) upsets, as well as the biggest surprises left in both singles draws. Rafa and Novak remain on course for a crackerjack semifinal, while Andy and Stan motor along under the radar on the other half of the men's draw. As for the women, your guess is still as good as ours. We talk about Kiki Mladenovic's possible role as villain on the WTA, before following up on our discussion from last time on the real villain at the moment, Margaret Court.
 
02:12 Kicking things off with the upsets: throwing Zverev in James' face
06:20 Can we talk about the tarp thing? James goes off
07:51 Petko goes to bat for Angie
10:20 Any bigger surprise than Caroline Wozniacki?
17:02 Women's Draw: your guess is still as good as ours
20:32 Talking the Venus-Timea matchup
28:22 Kiki refuses to lose but how much can she have left?
32:26 Men's Draw: marching right along to another Rafole humdinger?
42:42 Good sportsmanship/humanity the big motif of week one?
47:15 Is Kiki a villain? Is she the villain tennis needs? Does tennis need one?
50:15 Forza, Muguruza!
53:45 Margaret Court is definitely a villain
​59:55 Why you say "no comment?"
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PART THREE: La Décima: 10 Reflections From Rolly G

Rafael Nadal motored through the French Open field to claim his 10th title at Roland Garros, or La Décima. While his latest French triumph was expected, the same cannot be said for Jelena Ostapenko, who rifled winners past her opponents at will to grab the Suzanne Lenglen trophy. Join us as we relive the most memorable and newsworthy moments from championship weekend at the year's second Slam. 

​02:20 La Décima, the men's final, and Rafa's annihilation of the field
19:22 Fearless Ostapenko did THAT!
28:20 Halep's missed opportunities on court and off
37:00 Nole lost at sea? We don't have any answers
40:50 Concerned about Dominic Thiem or nah?
43:48 WTA etceteras: Cash aboard the CoCo train, French drama, & Maria is out
51:04 ATP etceteras: Murray's "shock and awe" performance, Stan readies for Wimbledon
54:16 Our most expansive segment on doubles ever? We take some Canadian pride in Dabrowski
60:59 Watching the rankings, the various roads and races
66:38 Test your Nadal knowledge alongside James!
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