Pod Laver Arena

Hey we're back! And where did everybody go? Seriously... it's like a ghost town around here. No one. Nothing. Not even one Shake Shack. Anyway, Mike (@comedymikegoldstein) and Lizzy (@lizzyhoo) were clearly up all night partying with Kyrgios because they are dusty and barely making sense. There's tennis-adjacent chat, new (and very cheap) graphics, and some wild speculation about what AO champion, Carlos Alcaraz, will get for a tattoo. And all this happens while Ace vapes in the corner, giving off a menacing vibe. Oh, and we finish with a very special visit from the uber-sensual tennis legend, Marat Safin. Gee he's cool. And smells nice. I mean like, really nice. I would best describe it as an intoxicating mix of moisturising cream and sandalwood. AusOpen.com iHeart Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

And just like that, it’s over. We’re not crying, you are. But fear not, because we’re here to unpack absolutely everything from the Men’s Final, from the match itself right through to an unexpected but forensic audit of Rafa’s hair. In a welcome surprise to us, it looks like Novak Djokovic is bringing Borat “not” jokes back into the cultural conversation and frankly we’re here for it. We also relive that moment during the Kia guy’s speech, plus the epic tale of Mike and Sam getting kicked out of a media function, only to still somehow have the last laugh. Suck on that, Belinda. Mike and Sam dust off the vocal cords and deliver what can only be described as one of the songs of the summer, despite a deeply questionable attempt to rhyme the word Wimbledon. And finally, things completely derail as we unleash one of the most unhinged press conferences you’ve ever heard from our very own Ace-Man. If you’re not laughing by the end of the pod, Mike will eat a tennis ball. No follow up questions. AusOpen.com iHeart Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Stay up to date with the latest results each day of the main draw: https://lnk.to/TheAOWrap See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You turn your back for one second, and M&Ms mascots come into the studio and mess up the place. But the boys recover to talk smack about Elena Rybakina's victory over Aryna Sabalenka in the women's final. Great match, good times, subdued celebration. Not that Sam would know much about it - he was eating a charcuterie board with his girlfriend during the match. And will our brazen hosts sneak their way into the men's final tonight? Almost certainly not. I mean, the M&Ms mascots have a better chance, let's be honest. If that wasn't enough (which it isn't), Aussie tennis legend Pat Rafter drops in and hammers a ping pong ball into Sam Taunton's back fat. Wham! Footnote: In a breathtaking power move, Mike wears stolen sunglasses for this entire ep. It's stirring stuff. Alternatively, you can stay up to date with the latest results each day of the main draw: https://lnk.to/TheAOWrap AusOpen.com iHeart Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine Rod Laver dripping beads in a sauna, because we talk about that AND MORE. Yes, Mike (@comedymikegoldstein) and co-host Sam (@samtaunton) snuck into the Alcaraz v Zverev match yesterday and are still giddy as schoolgirls about it! And Mike stayed up until 3am watching the Novak beat Jannik Sinner, and it absolutely shows - the guy is fried. Anyway, marvel as we dissect the Alcaraz inner thigh massage controversy: did he abuse the rules? Or was it a Chubb close call? Also, we interview none other than Coco Gauff (and show her a piece of artwork that she DOES NOT LIKE and Lizzy almost smacks her in the head with a ping pong ball). Drink us in and dance around. Love you. #blessed Alternatively, stay up to date with the latest results each day of the main draw: https://lnk.to/TheAOWrapAusOpen.com iHeart Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Podcasting from deep within the bowels of Tennis HQ, Mike (@comedymikegoldstein) and Sam (@samtaunton) - resplendent in their finery - talk absolute garbage about the epic event that is, the Australian Open. It's funny garbage, though. The lads analyse Sabalenka and Svitolina's non-handshake, the GruntGate controversy, and make a bold prediction about the amount of foot blisters Novak Djokovic will end up with. Oh, and Sam delivers a rousing message to the remaining Aussies in the draw that will bring a tear to your beady little eyes. I cried. I'm not too proud to admit it. Also, I guess I'm emotional because I miss my family. They have us working crazy hours here and, TBH, I'm reaching my upper limit. I mean, I'm resilient, normally... but this tournament requires a gargantuan effort and... ah look, this is probably not the forum. Anyway, come get an insight into Aryna Sabalenka's inner sanctum as we talk to her strength and conditioning coach, Jason Stacy! Stay up to date with the latest results each day of the main draw: https://lnk.to/TheAOWrap AusOpen.com iHeart Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every day we turn up and, to our amazement, our passes still work. It's only a matter of time before we're turned away, possibly by Wally Masur himself. In this scintillating and erotic new episode, Mike (@comedymikegoldstein) and blow-in host Sam Taunton (@samtaunton) trade barbs and Australian Open observations. You'll hear them say things like - but not limited to - 'Golly gosh, Lorenzo Musetti had his heart ripped out'. They'll also ask probing questions like 'Gee whiz, what's with all the straight sets matches?' They also massacre a Neil Diamond song, which is just horrendous for all involved. Oh, and we talk to USA turbo-hunk tennis-dude, Ben Shelton. Are you not TENTERTAINED (tennis-entertained)?! Don't answer that. Anyway, as our sponsor would say: 'Get some bubbles up ya!' AusOpen.com iHeart Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Off the back of Alex De Minaur’s loss to Carlos Alcaraz, it is officially a dark day for Australian tennis and yes, the vibes inside the studio are appropriately grim. But fear not. Sam (@samtaunton) arrives armed with a bold, possibly unhinged new plan guaranteed to turn the fortunes of Australian tennis around forever. Probably. On top of his world-class tennis analysis, Mike (@comedymikegoldstein) crunches the numbers on the stats that actually matter, like how many Shake Shack burgers have been consumed across the entirety of the Australian Open. If this wasn’t enough, our resident audio visual expert "Ace Man" launches a full scale investigation into Carlos Alcaraz that somehow raises more questions than it answers. And finally, it only felt right to give Alex De Minaur the send off he deserves, so we’ve lined up one of our all time interviews with him on today’s pod. It’s a cracking chat that will absolutely lift your spirits. Lifted spirits guaranteed or your money back. AusOpen.com iHeart Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Stay up to date with the latest results each day of the main draw: https://lnk.to/TheAOWrap See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After Madison Keys lost the bet to Jessica Pegula, the tennis world has been left asking one question, is apple pie and cheese actually as cursed as it sounds? In a bold act of podcast-on-podcast solidarity, fearless hosts Mike and Sam step up to answer it once and for all. The results will shock you. Possibly emotionally, definitely spiritually. Maddy Inglis reveals what she plans to spend her big payday on, spoiler, it’s a toaster. We debut the hottest new segment on the block, Celeb Watch (everyone's talking about it), and unpack Lorenzo Musetti’s very interesting comments ahead of his upcoming clash with Novak Djokovic. And for our mic-drop moment, we welcome the Swiss Army Knife of tennis herself, Belinda Bencic. Turns out she has a secret talent and it is hands down one of the most impressive things we’ve seen on this pod. AusOpen.com iHeart Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Stay up to date with the latest results each day of the main draw: https://lnk.to/TheAOWrap See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you get a message saying Craig Tiley is coming into the studio, it usually means one of two things, you’ve either been absolutely flying or you’ve messed up badly. There is no middle ground. If he’s here to fire us, at least Lizzy (@lizzyhoo) won’t mind because yes, this is her final day on the pod. A devastating day for Pod Laver Arena. But with tragedy comes opportunity. A seat has opened up and after an extensive global search (and many rejections from our top choices) we officially welcome Sam Taunton (@samtaunton) to the team. We’re told he’s funny. We’ll let you decide. And before anyone panics, Mike (@comedymikegoldstein) isn’t going anywhere, the show rolls on (somehow). Beyond all that, we get stuck into the biggest stories in the tennis world and do a deep dive into Carlos Alcaraz’s attention grabbing outfit that has the tennis world in an absolute spin. Strap in for another bumper episode of PLA. Watch it or we’re telling Craig Tiley. AusOpen.com iHeart Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Stay up to date with the latest results each day of the main draw: https://lnk.to/TheAOWrap See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a sad day, everyone. Stan Wawrinka’s glorious run has come to an end and no, we’re not crying, you are. To honour the great man, we crack a few cold (lukewarm) ones and reminisce about the good old days. We dive headfirst into all the drama from the last 24 hours, including Jannik Sinner’s case of the cramps, Novak Djokovic’s very close call, and Naomi Osaka’s big announcement. Not to be outdone, Lizzy (@lizzyhoo) makes an announcement of her own and nearly brings Mike (@comedymikegoldstein) to tears. And finally, for anyone getting sick of the ridiculous run of guests we’ve been on, bad luck. We’ve got another one. The one and only Naomi Osaka. AusOpen.com iHeart Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Stay up to date with the latest results each day of the main draw: https://lnk.to/TheAOWrap See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Love is officially in the air at the Australian Open and shockingly it is not just Lizzy’s (@lizzyhoo) Raya account. Speaking of Lizzy, we drop a massive announcement about her future with the show. Brace yourselves, hearts will be broken. Despite being a little under the weather, Mike (@comedymikegoldstein) soldiers on and delivers the kind of totally hard hitting, deeply serious, stats-heavy analysis you have come to expect from him. Prepare to be blown away. Lizzy once again refers to it as a “tennis game” and finally addresses the growing speculation around her crumping ability. Bad day to be a hater. And because we like to keep things spicy around here and we do love a bad boy, today’s guest was an absolute no brainer, Thanasi Kokkinakis. We dive into his antics on and off the court and let’s just say, we have questions. AusOpen.com iHeart Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Stay up to date with the latest results each day of the main draw: https://lnk.to/TheAOWrap See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tennis beef is very much in vogue and frankly we want a slice. Our first target, Andy Roddick, we’re coming for you and your podcast. On today’s episode, our fearless hosts Mike (@comedymikegoldstein) and Lizzy (@lizzyhoo) dive into all the chaos from Day 5 of the AO, Stan the Man’s epic five set win and we expose the biggest liar on the tour. As a little cherry on top of the cake that is this podcast, we’ve got a player in by the name of Nick Kyrgios. You might have heard of him, no big deal. And to all the doubters out there we’ve done the impossible … we received some positive fan mail, take that Janice! POD LAVER ARENA RULES! AusOpen.com iHeart Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Stay up to date with the latest results each day of the main draw: https://lnk.to/TheAOWrap See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finally, the debate that’s been tearing the tennis world apart is settled. What actually dries a wet court faster, 10 ball kids armed with towels or one futuristic drying machine? The answer will shock you. Mike (@comedymikegoldstein) has gone far too deep on Google and uncovered a truly explosive revelation about Andrey Rublev, Lizzy (@lizzyhoo) bravely fronts the nation to address the ongoing tracksuit speculation, and we somehow land an all-star guest in the one and only Sloane Stephens. Name one other podcast in the top 50 of Sport (we’re 51st, thank you very much) doing this kind of work. Exactly. You can’t. Tune in now or Mike wears the Naomi Osaka outfit again and that’s on you. AusOpen.com iHeart Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Stay up to date with the latest results each day of the main draw: https://lnk.to/TheAOWrap See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Osaka dress broke the internet. Naturally, we responded the only way that made sense and brought in our very own fashion correspondent, Liza West, to unpack what it means to be Naomi Osaka. Mike (@comedymikegoldstein) may have taken this a little too seriously … we’ll let you decide. Lizzy (@lizzyhoo) lifts the lid on the shadowy “Special K” opponent strategy ahead of their next match. As if that wasn’t enough, we’re joined by certified heartthrob Grigor Dimitrov. We talk dogs, including his very good boy Pepperoni, and uncover the most scandalous thing he’s ever discovered lurking in his tennis bag… trust me it’s worse than you think. Fashion. Tennis. Food poisoning. Pepperoni. Strap in, the pod is coming in hot! AusOpen.com iHeart Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Stay up to date with the latest results each day of the main draw: https://lnk.to/TheAOWrap See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When will Lizzy learn that it's a tennis 'match', not a 'game'? I hate when she does that. Anyway, this episode will blow your ears clean off. We speak to the uber cool Canadian turbo-hunk, Felix Auger Aliassime, Mike drops the stunning revelation that he was once in a marching band, and the 'Lizzy Checks her Raya Account' segment will prove to be one of the saddest moments in podcasting history. Also, we analyse the merits of buying a $410 dollar towel. SPOILER ALERT: there are no goddamn merits. Oh and we storm the pickleball court like a couple of Roger Federers, if Roger Federer played pickleball. Which he doesn't. To stay up to date with the latest results each day of the main draw: https://lnk.to/TheAOWrap AusOpen.com iHeart Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's all fireworks here! Lizzy and Mike come to terms with some scathing feedback from Janice as they dissect the best and brightest and downright funniest stuff from Day 1's play. We interview the recently eliminated Marta Kostyuk (and make her sing, which is weird), and Lizzy drops the bombshell claim she could easily defeat a 63-year-old in a Brazilian ju-jitsu bout. Also, there's an absolute belter edition of Watch Watch. You simply cannot afford to miss this episode. And for search engine optimisation reasons, here are the words Jannick Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Australian Open. Cop that! To stay up to date with the latest results each day of the main draw: https://lnk.to/TheAOWrap AusOpen.com iHeart Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Top seeds Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka have overcome first round jitters to launch their 2026 Australian Open campaigns, while veteran wildcard Venus Williams wound back the clock to summon some of her best tennis. Brett Thomas and Alexia Mitchell unpack the night session, while AO Radio's Nat Edwards talks the rise of Chinese tennis on The Evening Serve. And the draw opens up as stars Marta Kostyuk, Ekaterina Alexandrova and Flavio Cobolli are sent packing, while Alexander Zverev passes a tough test. Plus, a preview of the matches to watch on Day 2. AusOpen.com iHeart Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Pod gets a visit from the funny-as-hell Daria Kasatkina; a terrific tennis player who is now Aussie as! Staying with the theme of stealing the best international players, Lizzy (@lizzyhoo) ponders what the world would have been like if Roger Federer had been Australian (HINT: it would have been awesome). And Mike (@comedymikegoldstein) reveals a game you can play at the Australian Open that is frankly genius. Yes, it involves drinking! Glug glug glug! Plus, we spill the beans on how Nick Kyrgios snapped one of our table tennis bats over his knee in a moment of white-hot rage. Come for tennis, stay for the laughs. AusOpen.com iHeart Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fridgey and The Bear are back as they tackle big topics like Frances Tiafoe's oversized drink bottle, and the correct pronunciation of Andre Agassi's name, all while recovering from a serious case of 'bench itch' (with no soothing cream in sight). We also learn you can't be racist towards Italians, which is a relief. Plus Mike and Lizzy get busy with special guest, Aryna Sabalenka! WE ALL HAD GREAT FUN. AusOpen.com iHeart Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when our hosts Mike (@comedymikegoldstein) and Lizzy (@lizzyhoo) spend the entire day interviewing just about every single tennis player in the world? We get tired, sloppy and frankly a little bit narky. Step into the swanky padded cube that is Pod Laver Arena to find out our red-hot thoughts on the Aus Open draw, tennis players' watches and witness the birth of a new poorly-thought segment, 'Would You Rafter?' Also, we learn some revealing and disgusting things about our tech guy, Aceman. Oh, the SEO guys here say these pods do better if we mention a big-name tennis player in this blurb. So... Jannick Sinner. AusOpen.com iHeart Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.