lystn

Angelique Kerber and Stan Wawrinka are your 2016 U.S. Open singles champions. Episode 55 takes a look back at the last fortnight of Grand Slam tennis for the year. We've got lots to say about the ESPN commentary (specifically John McEnroe), as well as the insipid narratives whenever Serena loses. Each of the top players gets some play in this episode; we finish things with an "Odds and Ends" segment where we cover "biggest upsets," CoCo Vandeweghe not knowing who Naomi Osaka is, and the horrendous night session scheduling.  02:44 - The inspiration and heartbreak of Venus' later career 04:36 - Your singles champions: Angelique Kerber & Stan Wawrinka 07:00 - Kerber "Player of the Year" and earning world #1 10:33 - Karolina Pliskova breaks out big time 13:58 - Wawrinka's "crazy" run in big matches 17:57 - Novak's bloody toe, Novak truthers & James being shady 22:05 - Objectivity while talking tennis & Body Serve life lesson tangents 27:30 - The Novak-Monfils bizarre semifinal; Gael's lack of belief, and McEnroe's moralizing 36:50 - The ESPN tennis commentary team 39:50 - Murray's missed opportunity 41:40 - del Potro's stellar showing and his overstated backhand woes 44:50 - Serena loses in the semis, again: good, OK, or disappointing year? 50:52 - Rafa looking good physically but dodgy mentally?  53:53 - "Suddenly a fascinating period for women's tennis" - get outta here with that mess 59:03 - Odds & Ends (rubbish night match scheduling, CoCo messy again & Brengle's bizarre injury)