Hosted by reporters Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe, Tales from Tennis takes listeners behind the curtain of professional tennis. Each week, the show features players, coaches, broadcasters, journalists and other insiders, sharing their journeys, stories from the road, and a unique perspective on life inside the game. New episodes every Wednesday. The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by ATP.
Nick McCarvel: Interviewing Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams and life on Tour
In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with presenter, producer and writer Nick McCarvel, who has covered all four Grand Slams, hundreds of tour-level events, multiple Olympic Games and some of the biggest moments in tennis.
Nick takes us behind the scenes of life at the majors and the many different roles he has played across tennis media, from presenting and producing live shows to interviewing some of the greatest players in the sport, including Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Rafae Nadal and John McEnroe.
We hear about Nick's experiences with Roger Federer, including hosting the pre-show around Federer's return to Arthur Ashe at this year's US Open and being a key part of the former World No. 1's International Tennis Hall of Fame induction in Newport. Nick shares what those huge live occasions are really like behind the scenes, as well as his approach to interviewing some of the most recognisable personalities in tennis.
We also discuss Nick's experiences covering multiple Olympic Games, including interviewing Andy Murray following the final match of his career.
Nick explains his philosophy of breaking down the fourth wall and bringing fans into the story, what goes into producing hours of behind-the-scenes coverage at Wimbledon and Roland Garros, and some of the moments viewers never get to see.
🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis.
Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome speak with another guest from the tennis world. Subscribe now. 📲
Follow us on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ (https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/)
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The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.
23 Sept 2026
Gustavo Marcaccio: Inside the Rafa Nadal Academy, Alex Eala and Rafael Nadal
In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with Gustavo Marcaccio, Director of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, to go behind the scenes of one of the most renowned tennis academies in the world.
Gustavo takes us inside his day-to-day role running the Academy, the continued influence of Rafael Nadal and the philosophy that underpins the development of young players. We discuss what it really takes to become a professional tennis player, from talent and technical development to mindset, education, discipline and creating the right environment for players growing up within the Academy.
We also talk about the development of players including Martín Landaluce and Alex Eala, and the challenges of helping young talents make the transition towards professional tennis. Gustavo shares what he learned from working closely with Rafa during the final years of his career and how Nadal’s influence continues to shape the Academy.
We also explore the Rafa Nadal Museum, its recent renovation and Roger Federer’s visit, as well as the Academy’s ATP Challenger event and the importance of bringing professional tennis into the environment. From children arriving at a young age to the importance of creating a settled environment around them, this is a fascinating look at what happens behind the scenes at the Rafa Nadal Academy.
🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis.
Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome speak with a leading presenter and producer. Subscribe now. 📲
Follow us on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ (https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/)
X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis (https://x.com/TalesFromTennis)
The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.
16 Sept 2026
Conor Niland: The Racket, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Life on the Tennis Tour
In this episode, Sam Jacot and Jerome Coombe sit down with former Irish professional Conor Niland to discuss his award-winning book The Racket, which tells the story of life on the professional tennis circuit and the reality of competing outside the very top of the sport.
Conor takes us inside some of the biggest moments of his career, from beating Roger Federer as a teenager to qualifying for Wimbledon in 2011 and coming agonisingly close to reaching the second round and setting a meeting with Federer. We also hear the story of facing Novak Djokovic at the US Open later that year, before illness forced Conor to retire from the match.
We discuss the less glamorous side of life on Tour too, looking at the loneliness of constant travel, the relentless pace of winning one week and immediately getting on a flight to the next tournament, and the financial challenges of competing at ITF and Challenger level. Conor explains what life can really be like for players outside the spotlight and how difficult it can be to maintain momentum from week to week.
We also talk about the influence of Conor's father, the support he received from Tennis Ireland and the experiences that shaped his view of professional tennis.
Buy The Racket here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Racket-Tenniss-Golden-Generation-other/dp/1844886409 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Racket-Tenniss-Golden-Generation-other/dp/1844886409)
🎙️ Our background episode & our special in-focus 20th episode are in this feed if you’d like to learn more about who we are and why we created Tales from Tennis.
Episodes every Wednesday. 🚨 Coming up next time, Sam and Jerome speak with the Tennis Director of the Rafa Nadal Academy. Subscribe now. 📲
Follow us on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/ (https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtennis/)
X: https://x.com/TalesFromTennis (https://x.com/TalesFromTennis)
The podcast is independently produced and not affiliated with or endorsed by the ATP.
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