This week Erik and Aidan discuss the Next Gen Finals which took place this past week in Jeddah. In a lot of ways, this tournament was unique, featuring mainly unknown players outside the top 100, with Learner Tien being a massive favorite in the tournament. However, the tournament did still give us an interesting look at the next generation of talent that will be coming up on the ATP tour, as well as showing the level of this rising American talent. We hope you enjoy the episode and be sure to check back next week for another episode!
Contents
Immediate Reactions 0:00
Breaking down the Group Stage 1:53
Semifinals 4:38
The Final 6:12
Tien in 2026 11:20
What's New in Tennis? 17:31
Match of the Week 20:45
In this Bonus Episode of Painting Lines, Erik and Aidan join the pod to discuss the shocking split between Carlos Alcaraz and his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. Ferrero has been Carlos' coach for years, bringing him from his junior days to the height of professional tennis, winning grand slams and reaching the world number one ranking. However, in a surprising move, Alcaraz and Ferrero have parted ways, despite Alcaraz having won the most recent grand slam at the US Open, and ending the year in the top ranking position. It is the perhaps most out of the blue coaching change in the history of tennis, and has left the tennis world reeling.
This week Erik and Aidan discuss the biggest names in ATP Tennis that have retired from the tour in 2025. From Diego Schwartzman, the small Argentinian who proved that you can dominate no matter your size, to the frenchman Richard Gasquet, who battled with the big 4, these top players will be missed for their top level play and the moments they created on court over the course of their careers. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!Contents
Intro 0:00
Diego Schwarzman 3:29
Richard Gasquet 7:51
Fabio Fognini 13:09
Nicholas Mahut 18:06
What's New in Tennis 23:04#retirement #indoor #turín #vienna #paris #crazy #shanghai #beijing #tokyo #usopen #newyork #canada #london #paris #sunshine #dubai #rio #atp #nextgen #headlines #finals #masters #comment #response #murray #wilander #sinner #medvedev #indianwells #miami #analysis #tennis #podcast #tennispodcast #tennis #djokovic #nadal #federer #wimbledon #upsets #rivalry #debate #controversial #controversy #projection #betting #forecast #champion #news #mindset #bublik #rublev #ruud #rune #champion #news #alcaraz #usopen #wimbledon #frenchopen #australianopen #hurkacz #monfils #shelton #college #atp #paris #atpfinals #daviscup #nextgen #tsitsipas #cincinnati #shocking
This week Erik and Aidan discuss the future of tennis, giving a preview of the players who will be featured in the Next Gen ATP Finals later this month. The top players have already made a mark on tour, with Jakub Mensik winning the Masters 1000 title in Miami, while Learner Tien has begun to solidify himself as a threat to top players on tour. However, the majority of the players featured in this event have little to no name recognition, perhaps meaning this event could be a huge introduction of these players to the world stage. With the top young talent on display, it's sure to be an exciting tournament, so be sure to check it out and check back next week for another episode!
Contents
Fonseca Withdraws 0:00
Tournament Favorite 2:26
Tournament Format 3:48
Jakub Mensik 7:41
Learner Tien 9:30
Alexander Blockx 11:04
Dino Prizmic 12:38
Martin Landaluce 14:53
Nicolai Kjaer 16:26
Nishesh Basavarreddy 18:15
Rafael Jodar 20:05
What's New 24:17
This week Erik and Aidan reflect on the 2025 season in the annual Painting Lines ATP Award Show. From discussing players that have had a comeback year, to looking at the fastest rising players, to the best match overall, the guys go over some of the biggest moments of the 2025 season. Despite mainly being a season dominated by two players, there were still definitely some interesting moments, so be sure to check it out and check back next week for another episode!ContentsOverall Thoughts on 2025 Season 0:00Most Improved Player 3:25Comeback Player of the Year 6:23Best Server 9:03Most Entertaining Player 11:51Most Underrated Player 13:22Most Overrated Player 15:31Most Likely to Break into Top 10 18:52Most Likely to Drop out of Top 10 22:30Biggest Surprise of the Year 24:25Most Likely to Crash Out 26:10Favorite Moment of the Year 27:27Most fun to grab a beer with 29:56Best Rivalry 30:48Match of the Year 32:01Player of the Year 33:17What's New 35:31
This week Erik and Aidan recap the final ATP tournament of the year, the ATP Finals. Featuring the top 8 players in the world, this tournament gives high quality matchups between the best players in the world. This year not only featured standout performances from the world's top two, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, but also standout wins from underrated players. The only player to leave winless was Ben Shelton, who found himself in a tough group, while Alex De Minaur somehow survived to the semis after a great win over Taylor Fritz. Overall, it was an exciting way to close out the year, but we will continue to have fun episodes throughout the offseason, so be sure to check back next week for another episode!
ContentsWrapping up the season 0:00
Alcaraz Group 6:10
Sinner Group 11:58
Semifinals 15:58
Final Showdown 18:13
Upcoming Episodes 26:05
What's New 27:00
This week Erik and Aidan preview the ATP finals which will be taking place this week in Turin. Breaking down each player, from the top 2 of Alcaraz and Sinner, who split the season’s slams and separated themselves from the pack, to Lorenzo Musetti, who barely snuck in as an alternate. Each player had a unique season that gives than an interesting position entering Turin, some playing the best tennis of their careers while others seem to be trending down. In the end, it’s all to play for with the ATP finals trophy on the line and the world number one ranking up for grabs between the top 2. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!
Battle for the Final Spot 0:00
Alcaraz 1:35
Sinner 4:59
Zverev 10:10
Djokovic 14:27
Ben Shelton 16:23
Taylor Fritz 18:56
Alex De Minaur 23:30
FAA 26:08
Musetti 28:45
What’s New 33:43
Match of the Week 39:08
This week Erik and Aidan discuss the Paris Masters 1000 tournament that wrapped up this week. The final Masters event of the year proved to be an eventful one, with the world number one player Carlos Alcaraz falling early in the tournament to British tennis player Cam Norrie. This opened up a lot of the draw, but still, Jannik Sinner seemed unbeatable. He cruised through his matchups, with a standout performance coming in the semifinal where he obliterated Alexander Zverev. However, while Sinner ended up winning the tournament, Felix Auger Aliassime's runner up performance earned him enough points to leapfrog his way into the final spot in the year end finals depending on how Lorenzo Muesetti does this week in Athens.
Contents:
Intro 0:00
Sinner Domination 2:38
Early Upsets 5:40
Dimitrov's Return 15:34
Cousin Rematch 16:09
Bergs-Opelka Beef 16:48
Quarterfinals 18:21
Semifinals 21:37
Expected Outcome? 25:03
What's New in Tennis 26:31
Bet of the Week 30:25
Match of the Week 31:55
This week Erik and Aidan discuss the two ATP 500 tournaments that took place this past week in Vienna and Basel. The Swiss Indoors in Basel featured a wild draw, with the top seeds exiting early and opening the door for an underdog champion. The player that rose to the occasion was Joao Fonseca, the rising Brazilian star who seems poised to take his position at the next level of the game. In Vienna, the tournament proceeded much more according to plan, as the top 4 seeds all made the semis and the final featured Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev. In the end, the two champions seemed to be a model of what the future may look like with these two young players.
Contents:
Intro 0:00
Swiss Indoors 2:12
ATP Vienna 16:27
What's New in Tennis 23:31
Bet of the Week 29:25
Upset Alerts 30:16
Match of the Week 32:09
This week Erik and Aidan discuss a busy week of Tennis following the Asian Swing. With three ATP 250s, talent was spread out, giving some struggling players chances to succeed. Meanwhile, Top ATP players convened for the second Six Kings Slam. However, as an exhibition, the tournament garnered less interest from hard core tennis fans. Meanwhile, those still hoping to make a run to Turin at the end of the season each found success. Felix Auger Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev, and Casper Ruud each collected 250 points to inch closer to the top 8 ranking positions.Contents: The Six Kings Slam 0:00Medvedev Ends Title Drought 7:19The Indoor King 11:41Ruud’s Shocking Victory 16:05Rune Injury 21:06What's New 27:15Bet of the Week 35:55Match of the Week 38:45
This week Erik and Aidan discuss one of the wildest tournaments in the history of tennis. With the absence of Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner dropping early with a cramping issue, the tournament seemed wide open. Djokovic eventually fell apart late in the tournament, which opened the door for one of the craziest Masters tournament finals in history. Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech, cousins that entered the tournament as unranked players, made the runs of their lifetime, defeating top opponents en route to a Cinderella story in the final. In winning, Vacherot became the lowest ranked player ever to win a Masters 1000 level tournament.Contents: WHAT JUST HAPPENED!? 0:00Records Broken 8:16Tournament Quality 9:25Tournament Storylines 13:48Who failed to capitalize? 20:10What's New 26:28Bet of the Week 29:57Match of the Week 32:19
This week Erik and Aidan discuss the opening rounds of the Shanghai Masters 1000 event that is going on this week. With Carlos Alcaraz withdrawing from the tournament before it started, Jannik Sinner seemed to have an easy walk to the title. However, struggling with the conditions, the top seed was forced to retire, leaving a wide open draw. Other top players like Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz have also fallen, perhaps creating a chance for Novak Djokovic to pull off a cinderella run at 38 years old to take this Masters 1000 title. But other young talents are waiting in the wings, hoping for a chance to seize a masters 1000 title.Contents: Intro 0:00Sinner Injury Discussion 1:50Seeded Players Dropping 4:27Headline Results 5:45Zverev Comments/Backlash 10:35Upcoming Matches 15:37What's New 20:20Bet of the Week 26:37Match of the Week 29:50
This week Erik and Aidan discuss the two ATP 500s in the asian swing which happen in the buildup to the Masters 1000 event in Shanghai. These two events, one in Tokyo and one in Beijing, split up the top two players, meaning we would not be seeing a Sinner-Alcaraz matchup this week. However, this also meant in order to win one of these tournaments, you would likely have to beat one of these two players. That proved to be a tall order. While the tournaments did provide some excitement, with early upsets and shocking runs from players like Learner Tien, in the end Sinner and Alcaraz proved they are still a step above the competition.Contents: Intro 0:00Upsets 1:53Tokyo Recap 11:25Beijing Recap 15:10Alcaraz-Sinner H2H 18:57Race to Turin Update 22:09What's New 26:35Bet of the Week 29:55Match of the Week 31:51
This week Erik and Aidan discuss the Laver Cup this week, perhaps the strangest tournament in Tennis. It sits in an odd place, as essentially an exhibition, but with matches counting toward players head to head record. The selection process also feels quite strange and biased. This year, the tournament was held in San Francisco, and swung back and forth over the three days, with certain players stepping up and pulling out upsets to achieve victory this year. Let us know your thoughts on our choices and be sure to check back next week for another episode!Contents: Intro 0:00Tennis Background 1:30Tennis in Australia 4:03Turning Pro 5:00The Futures Grind 5:58Grand Slam Wildcards 8:00The Impact of the Crowd 13:35Today's Playing Style 14:50Learning to Adapt 17:38The Tennis Mentality 18:36Coaching in Matches 24:13Quick Hitting Questions 26:09Beating Joao Fonseca 38:54Traveling on Tour 42:15Doubles with Bernard Tomic 43:20
This week Erik and Aidan discuss the Laver Cup this week, perhaps the strangest tournament in Tennis. It sits in an odd place, as essentially an exhibition, but with matches counting toward players head to head record. The selection process also feels quite strange and biased. This year, the tournament was held in San Francisco, and swung back and forth over the three days, with certain players stepping up and pulling out upsets to achieve victory this year. Let us know your thoughts on our choices and be sure to check back next week for another episode!
Contents:
Intro 0:00
Laver Cup Background 2:30
Team Breakdowns 3:30
Match Results 6:27
Top 3 Performers 11:22
Worst Performance 12:22
What's New 14:06
Bet of the Week 17:30
Match of the Week 19:55
This week Erik and Aidan discuss the repercussions of the 2025 Slam season. Two players, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have completely separated themselves from the rest of the pack. However, the feeling is that like the previous era, another player may rise to compete with these top two guys. When examining the other top players, 5 stand out due to their youth and potential as possible future Slam winners and/or members of the next big 3. Let us know your thoughts on our choices and be sure to check back next week for another episode!
This week Erik and Aidan discuss the closing rounds and final of the 2025 US Open. The final Major event of 2025, this tournament wraps up what has been a very exciting Slam season. For the third straight time, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner found themselves matched up in the final, with the winner taking the number 1 ranking. It was a high level match, and while the score wasn't super close, it was still great to watch. Other highlights from the tournament include the shock run to the semifinals by Felix Auger-Aliassime, the consistency of 38-year old Djokovic, and the number of other crazy upsets that occurred in this tournament. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!
Contents:
The End of Slam Season 0:00
Thoughts on the Tournament 2:22
Analysis of the Final 3:54
FAA's SHOCKING Run 14:16
Djokovic comes full circle 18:13
The Americans' Performance 21:35
US Open News 27:15
What's New 31:00
Bet of the Week 36:00
Match of the Week 36:57
This week Erik and Aidan discuss the opening rounds of the 2025 US Open Championships. While the first round did not see to many shocking victories for the underdogs, the top seeds started falling by round 2, and as the tournament has continued on, players ranked within the top 10 have disappeared from the tournament, leaving only a few top players remaining. Meanwhile, the title contenders Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have continued to cruise through the first few rounds. Be sure to check back next week for a recap of the second week of the tournament!Contents: Intro 0:00GMP Overrated? 1:41Medvedev Fined 2:21Round 1 Highlights 2:48Round 2 Massacre 7:04Round 3 (In Progress) 12:29Alcaraz and Sinner Cruising 16:26What's New 20:39Bet of the Week 24:11Match of the Week 26:21
With the release of the US Open Draw, Erik and Aidan hop on the pod for a quick discussion covering what they are seeing from the matchups and what excites them looking forward into the tournament. Some players seem to have an easier draw than others, and certain top seeds may be ousted early. The guys discuss whether Sinner or Alcaraz will have an easier run to the final, and what top players could make an exit earlier than their projected quarterfinals. Zverev seems to have the easiest path, while Sinner has to go through the gauntlet. Be sure to check back later in the week for a full episode discussing these topics!
This week Erik and Aidan discuss the conclusion of the Cincinnati Masters, which promised a bang and ended with a fizzle. The tournament had overall delivered through the majority of the tournament. Most of the top players had performed and we even had a shocking underdog run. Unfortunately, as the days dragged on, more and more players began to struggle with the conditions. Shelton and Zverev both seemed completely drained when they eventually fell out of the tournament, and when we reached the final, Sinner was unable to perform against Alcaraz, playing only 5 games before he had to retire, giving Alcaraz his first Cincinnati Title.Contents: Intro 0:00Ball "Kids" 1:07Cincinnati Recap 2:27Atmane's Shock Run 11:27Tournament Renovation 13:47Race to Turin Update 16:35What's New 20:16Bet of the Week 25:25Match of the Week 27:20