Expected Points, Feb. 9: A Perfect Opener for Ashleigh Barty

Expected Points, my new short, daily podcast, highlights three numbers to illustrate stats, trends, and interesting trivia around the sport.

The women’s top seed records a flawless start to the tournament, the experienced Feliciano Lopez withstands belated newcomer Li Tu, and Sloane Stephens finds a new way to lose.

You can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and elsewhere in the podcast universe.

The Expected Points podcast is still finding its feet, so please let me know what you think.

Expected Points, Feb. 8: Andreescu and Kyrgios Post Strong Day 1 Results

Expected Points, my new short, daily podcast, highlights three numbers to illustrate stats, trends, and interesting trivia around the sport.

Bianca Andreescu has a winning return after a 15-month layoff, Nick Kyrgios defies the odds with success on both sides of the ball, and almost everybody—even Bernard Tomic—gets through day one injury-free.

You can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and elsewhere in the podcast universe.

This is very much still an experiment, so please let me know what you think.

Expected Points, Feb. 7: Time to Embrace the Russian Future

Expected Points, my new short, daily podcast, highlights three numbers to illustrate stats, trends, and interesting trivia around the sport.

Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev place Team Russia at the top of the international heap, Felix Auger Aliassime’s final-round struggles continue, and Serena Williams chases a record that, adjusted for common sense, she has already passed.

You can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and elsewhere in the podcast universe.

This is very much still an experiment, so please let me know what you think.

Expected Points, Feb. 6: Garbine Muguruza Destroys the Field

Expected Points, my new short, daily podcast, highlights three numbers to illustrate stats, trends, and interesting trivia around the sport.

Garbine Muguruza posts her fourth consecutive easy victory, Felix Auger Aliassime is hitting untouchable first serves, and Sofia Kenin will have to beat the odds to defend her Australian Open title.

You can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and elsewhere in the podcast universe.

This is very much still an experiment, so please let me know what you think.

Expected Points, Feb. 5: A Two-Match Day Leaves Karen Khachanov the Top Man Standing

Expected Points, my new short, daily podcast, highlights three numbers to illustrate stats, trends, and interesting trivia around the sport.

Some of the biggest names on the women’s tour advance via the just-instituted third-set match tiebreak, Khachanov will play Jannik Sinner in the only meeting between seeds in Saturday’s men’s semi-finals, and Tony Trabert leaves a legacy of excellent play and longtime service to the game.

You can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher (click the “subscribe” button in the player), and elsewhere in the podcast universe.

This is very much still an experiment, so please let me know what you think.

Expected Points, Feb. 4: A Bad Day For Positive Tests

Expected Points, my new short, daily podcast, highlights three numbers to illustrate stats, trends, and interesting trivia around the sport.

On today’s episode: Thursday’s action in Melbourne was canceled due to a positive coronavirus test, Dayana Yastremska won’t be returning to action anytime soon, and Benoit Paire gets back in the swing of things with an ignominious service game.

You can subscribe on Spotify or Stitcher (click the “subscribe” button in the player), and iTunes is coming soon.

This is very much still an experiment, so please let me know what you think.

New Mini-Podcast! Expected Points, Feb. 3

I’m trying something new: A short, daily(!?) podcast to keep you up to date with the tennis world. Patterned after the Numbers by Barron’s finance podcast, Expected Points highlights three numbers to illustrate stats, trends, and interesting trivia around the sport. Today’s pilot episode is under four minutes long, and I’ll aim to keep each installment around this length.

Joining me for the inaugural episode is Carl Bialik of the Thirty Love podcast. Given the short duration, this will probably be a solo podcast most of the time, but I look forward to including other voices as time and logistics permit.

Today’s episode features Carlos Alcaraz, superstars falling early in the women’s tournaments, and the imminent return of Roger Federer.

Expected Points isn’t yet on iTunes … or anywhere else, for that matter. It will be soon. In the meantime, you can listen right here using the player below:

Please let me know what you think–format, content, whatever. I’ve opened up comments on this post so you can respond, and you may also send comments my way on Twitter.

(Don’t worry, the long-form Tennis Abstract Podcast isn’t going anywhere–we’ll continue with our sporadic schedule throughout the year.)