Back from our first trip to Roland-Garros, here is part 2 of our RG mid-tournament wrap, this one focusing on the tennis we saw, the happenings on-site, and how the chaotic first week played out more broadly. What’s it like to watch a tournament unfold in person while it’s already being branded online as chaotic and/or horrible? Well, sometimes your priority is just your next water refill. We’ll tell you about players we sought out (Swiatek, Rybakina, Medvedev, Vacherot, Jodar, Tiafoe, and more). We’ll take you through the experience of watching Naomi Osaka’s walkout and the surreal collapse of Jannik Sinner as it unfolded on Chatrier. As we always do, we’ll dip into the messier moments, like the Korpatsch-Wang dust-up, the monumental PR stumbles of Rafa Jodar, and Vallejo’s misogynistic bag-fumbling. What a week in Paris; it promises to get weirder before the fortnight is out.      1:00 Nothing new under the sun: Wang pulls a Hingis ’99 7:10 She’s taking it! Oh – actually, no, sorry 15:25 Iga Swiatek out to Kostyuk 23:10 Telling stories about players and matches we saw: Vacherot, Rybakina, Keys, and more  38:35 Rafa Jodar exonerated, sort of 46:50 Naomi’s debut on Lenglen 50:40 James, are you happy to be in Paris?  62:35 Being in Chatrier for the Sinner upset  73:10 Are we all amateur geneticists now?  80:45 These f—ing tarpaulins and Lacoste bollards! 85:25 Wrapping up the draw as it stands

We’ve just returned home from our first trip to Roland-Garros! We’re bringing you two mid-tournament episodes, this one to cover our experience at the tournament and in Paris overall, while the next will focus on the tennis itself. Hear about the RG dining and beverage experience (hello, galette-sausicce and the falafel hummus flatbread), our pilgrimage to the Rafa statue, the idyllic setting of Court Simonne-Mathieu, how to get on the side courts, the unique personality of the Roland Garros grounds, and much more! 1:35 Setting the scene: getting to Paris 7:50 To be in Paris: cafes with tiny tables, boeuf bourguignon, rolling up on Jannik 15:50 Getting to the site 23:10 On the Roland Garros grounds: the stadiums, getting on the smaller courts, the availability of water (!)    43:30 The food: impressive  47:00 The low-key chill-out areas near Simonne-Mathieu 51:35 Overall impression of what it’s like to be a fan at Roland Garros

As The Body Serve heads to Paris for the first time, here’s our preview of the 2026 edition of Roland Garros, where Jannik Sinner seeks to make more history and a number of top women find themselves in position to snatch. As usual, we take you through both draws: a surprisingly balanced women’s draw (except for Iga -- sorry, girl) and a men’s draw with not much intrigue, at least on the surface. The players associated with Project Red Eye have staged a work-to-rule labour action, refusing rightsholder interviews and committing only 15 minutes to pre-tournament media activities. Also, the federal judge in the PTPA case couldn’t order Wimbledon and the French to give up those coveted press credentials. I guess they’re stuck buying tickets like everybody else!   1:05 Qualifiers: Sloane through; Plishy & Greg are not :(  4:45 This week: Casper, rest! 7:20 Women’s draw  20:20 Men’s draw  39:55 PTPA credentials drama: judge says it’s petty but what can I do, babes 42:50 Players stage a labour action! 49:05 Stevie Wonder, randomly

Elina Svitolina wins her third Rome title with her most impressive run yet, while Jannik Sinner completes his box set of Masters titles and sets all sorts of records at the tiny age of 24. Daniil Medvedev tried his best to derail Sinner, and Casper went with a similar playbook – we shall see if prevailing through that rough semifinal will fuel Jannik further or give the other guys some hope (or both!). Darderi made a huge breakthrough on home soil, while That Guy crashed out in Tennis Channel’s IG replies (sad). Meanwhile, Carlos is on injury break and they’re still slutting him out in Vanity Fair. See you in Paris! 1:55 Mommy. Mamacita? 13:00 Jannik wins the Career Masters thing  19:25 Daniil, one of the few to shift a wig or two 28:05 Darderi breaks out, That Guy crashes out 34:50 Extras: Big Mama didn’t pay for Coco’s gelato; PTPA begs for a credential  38:35 Clay baby  42:50 We love delusion (respectful) 46:30 Random: trying Malta India from Puerto Rico (gracias, Francisco!)

Jannik Sinner extends his Masters series win streak and his utter dominance over That Guy, while Marta Kostyuk back handsprings through her unbeaten clay season, grabbing her biggest career title over a bereft Mirra Andreeva. Now in Rome, the top players are demanding a fairer prize money split and genuine player consultation with Slams; several top players even endorsed a boycott if they can’t make progress, an utterance that would have been unheard of even a few years ago. We take some forays outside of the week’s news, as usual, chatting about tennis history, Whitney Houston, and the provenance of one of our social media handles.  1:50 Jannik wins 5 Masters in a row 5:10 The Gap™  13:20 Absolute cinema: the Madrid trophy presentation 26:05 Et ceteras: Prakash and Arthur, the Bezos Gala, Flavio says NO 31:05 Players take aim at RG: prize money/revenue split, player welfare, and consultation are the big issues 41:00 Italian Federation president said “Yes, and”  49:50 Whitney Houston dedicates Arthur Ashe Stadium 57:25 10 years ago: one of tennis’ great unhinged moments

Whether it was bad shrimp or a virus, the outcome – or the output, rather – was the same. Week one of Madrid was rocked by player illness and withdrawals, with Iga retiring for only the second time in her career and Coco getting sick on court before pulling through against Cirstea. We take a scattershot approach to Madrid, highlighting Pliskova, Jodar, and Grant (and a few lowlights). Plus, we take an extended look at electronic line calling on clay, the untrustworthiness of ball marks, and the imperfections and idiosyncrasies of tennis that make the sport sing. We finish up with some offcourt news – including the surprising departure of the WTA’s CEO – plus rapid-fire listener questions.  1:40 Carlos is out of Rome and Roland Garros <sob> 4:35 Virus or food poisoning … either way, the players were sick as dogs  11:40 Plisko, Naomi, Tyra Grant, Rafa J 21:05 Alex and Grigor down bad, Stefanos crashing out but actually winning 26:20 Electronic line calling on clay: the ball mark isn’t as clear-cut as you’d think 35:15 Maria Sharapova is in the podcast business 38:15 WTA CEO Portia Archer has resigned 40:35 The Fritz-Riddle breakup 43:55 A few listener questions

Arthur Fils caps his successful comeback to the tour with the Barcelona crown, while official tennis outlets act h-word on main while they trade on his good looks. Ben Shelton wins his first clay title outside of Texas and marks a surprising milestone for US men. Clay queens Coco and Iga are down bad while Elena, Karolina, and Marta soar; and Carlos’ status is questionable for who knows how long. Finally, we talk about the news that interests me most: Marketa Vondrousova has been charged with refusing to give a sample to a doping control officer. Her social media posts about the incident provide interesting context but – as we’ve seen before – could come back to bite.  2:15 Arthur Fils is the truth! 8:55 Rybakina wins Stuttgart again, Muchova exorcises some demons 14:00 Join Elena’s crypto community …  18:35 Ben Shelton, American king of clay? 26:35 Vondrousova’s case 37:40 James talks about books and takes another quiz!

In Monte Carlo, Sinner’s 4th consecutive Master’s title and reclaiming of the #1 ranking adds another wrinkle to the Sincaraz rivalry. We talk about our desire for a little less golden retriever energy from Carlos – or, at least one of us does – but ultimately an unfriendly rivalry is no longer advantageous for today’s player brands. Last week, Pegula defended her Charleston title, 3 Argentines made 3 different finals, and Iga appeared at the Rafa Nadal Academy with her new coach Francisco Roig. We also talk about golf, double bagels, Coco having to defend herself online (again), and an intriguing FMK about three celebrated tennis careers. 1:05 Bestie rivals, a hallmark of this era 13:35 A double bagel to Berrettini, come on man  16:35 I thank myself  20:40 Coco defends her Miu Miu look and her hair from online waste yutes and losers 24:05 Pegula wins the first equalized 500 prize money in Charleston 29:10 Men’s results last week: Tommy Paul, first career titles for Jodar and Navone 33:00 Coaching carousel  36:20 Rory McIlroy defends his Masters title; Caroline still has shooters 39:45 FMK Tennis careers: Sharapova, Hingis, Davenport

Jannik Sinner wins the Sunshine Double without losing a set – a first! – and upends the mini-narrative that said Carlos was running away with the season. Aryna Sabalenka, for her part, snatches back momentum in the Rybakina rivalry and bests bugaboo Coco Gauff in the Miami final. The actual star of Miami turned out to be thirst magnet Arthur Fils, who reached the semis, stunned four-match-point-haver Tommy Paul, and broke containment. We’ve also got: close reading a tweet about the IOC’s new gender policy; the Charleston draw and prize money increase; and the WTA Finals’ departure from Saudi Arabia. 2:30 Sinner’s win reminds the tennis world to chill with the proclamations 9:55 Sabalenka keeps her head on straight for the final 18:35 Coco’s hat: saying nothing was always an option!   26:35 Arthur Fils breaks out in a big way; a thick way, even 33:30 Charleston increases prize money to match the ATP 500 level 37:50 IOC’s announcement on trans athletes and what it has to do with Wertheim and Navratilova 46:00 What is holding you back from buying a yacht?  47:45 Listener question: which tennis player would you go on vacation with?

Sebastian Korda is making like Gloria Estefan and coming out of the dark: in a career interrupted by injuries, Seb follows up his Delray Beach title by sending #1 Carlos Alcaraz out of Miami. Iga Swiatek’s frustration continues as her countrywoman Magda Linette packs her up; shortly after, Iga does the same to coach Wim Fissette. On the docket we’ve also got the Matosevic doping story, Danielle and Corentin (we’re way too old for this), a painful and hopefully temporary Body Serve ban, and an ASMR taste test of Vegemite - sure, a few months late in tennis terms, but whatever, we didn’t have Vegemite then.  2:00 Carlos out of Sunshine swing 5:40 Iga loses her incredible streak of 73 straight opening-round wins 9:40 Let them eat bagels: Arthur Fils is back!  14:30 Sorry, Leylah 18:45 Danielle et Corentin, you’re both doing A LOT right now 23:05 Marinko Matosevic’s brazen doping scandal 31:40 ATP schedule changes, in concert with the Saudi sports fund 35:15 Betting is a scourge and the players suffer 42:15 Our first (and last) ASMR segment