Off The Frame

It's the last episode of Season One and what better way to cap off the year than with the best of the great Teddy Shingles. Here for the first time in one podcast is a collection of Teddy's stories from tennis history that you simply can't find anywhere else. The strange seating arrangements for Rafa's wife Xisca. On the set of the Little Mo telemovie. Bill Tilden and his famous cannon. The day Teddy accidentally crossed a furious Bjorn Borg. The thespian aspirations of Ken Rosewall. Charlton Heston hosts Rod Laver. And so much more.

After losing the 1981 US Open Final to John McEnroe, the legendary Bjorn Borg controversially failed to appear at the presentation ceremony. Within the year he had retired from tennis at the age of 26. What was the story behind the great Swede's implosion? Buzz and Remo look at his career while Teddy Shingles, a close confidante of Borg in his prime, reveals surprising stories that have never before seen the light of day.  

In this episode Buzz and Remo delve into tennis history to discuss the factors that go into making a simple tennis match glisten in in memory. Joining them is Teddy Shingles who has seen all there is to see in tennis – he recounts his surprising experiences at one match in the kind of detail that only he can get away with. 

In this excerpt from their upcoming Match Greatness podcast, Buzz and Remo examine the longest match ever played – the epic round 1 Wimbledon clash between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut that ended at 70-68 in the fifth set. Was it a really a great match or just a couple of guys who couldn’t take a hint.

No, not the yellow sphere but the most prestigious night in tennis! In this episode Buzz and Remo investigate the little known history of the Wimbledon Ball, held each year on the night of the mens final. They are joined by the inimitable Teddy Shingles whose stories are as astounding as the dresses he has designed for the likes of Maria Bueno and Serena Williams.

Has a tennis match ever prompted so much discussion and angst? In this podcast episode Buzz and Remo explore the classic 2019 Wimbledon Final between two titans of the mens game, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, asking all the uncomfortable questions. Did Federer choke? Did Djokovic tank? Did the better player lose? Is Djokovic underrated? Has Djokovic gamed the tennis scoring system? Teddy Shingles gives his experience in the crowd and provides a fitting end to what proves to be an emotional subject.

Buzz and Remo explore the most contentious shot in tennis — players' attitudes, the modern practitioners and several key moments in tennis history when the underarm serve almost caused an international incident. The evergreen Teddy Shingles joins Remo to discuss the underarm serve in context to the tennis rulebook.

In this golden age of records, the winners of a solitary Slam are often overlooked. In this episode, Buzz and Remo look at just what it takes to win a Slam, some of the well known (and not so well known) players who won only one, and why it is that they didn't win more. The moment in the sun for Andy Roddick, Gabriela Sabatini, Gaston Gaudio and Brian Teacher are discussed. (That's the great Brian Teacher to you!)

It's the moment all tennis players dread. The match is all but sealed but the mind suddenly has other ideas. In this podcast Buzz and Remo explore the phenomenon of the choke. What exactly is it and how does it manifest? They present the award for the greatest choke of all time. Teddy Shingles recounts a pivotal moment in the 1960s when an Australian great got the monkey off his back… but at what cost?

In this podcast, Buzz and Remo cover the sensitive topic of throwing points, games, sets and even matches. Who are the main offenders? Can we really tell is someone is throwing a match? Is there strategy involved? What are the deeper implications? Teddy Shingles tells of the days when tennis was officially amateur and how tanking became a necessary promotional tool of the outcast professional circuit. 

Tennis is not a contact sport so what happens when tempers flare? In this podcast, Buzz and Remo look at famous instances through tennis history when danger was decidedly in the air. Teddy Shingles recounts the story of the infamous 1981 US Open mens doubles semi final when an irate John Newcombe crossed the net to confront an unapologetic John McEnroe.

It's possibly the greatest tragedy that the world of tennis has seen. Maureen Connolly swept the tennis world, winning nine majors in less than three years... and then, at age 20, was never to play again. In this podcast, Buzz and Remo look at the brief, brilliant career of Little Mo, winner of the first womens Grand Slam. The inimitable Teddy Shingles recalls the curious strategies of her coach, provides insights from his time on the set of the 1970s telemovie of her life, and has something to say about John Newcombe's moustache.

In their epic two-part Grand Slam history, Buzz and Remo covered all the winners of the calendar Grand Slam as well as those that fell at the final hurdle. Or so they thought. In this short podcast, they apologise to Martina, one of the game's greatest ever players, for leaving out her incredible run in 1983-1984.

When the watchers are watched... Yes, it's the Players Box, where coaches, family and friends pen themselves in to show support for their player. Buzz and Remo look at its evolution and the famous and controversial moments that this small piece of real estate has provided. Teddy Shingles reveals Rafa Nadal's obsessive demands on his partner and how she finally put her foot down.

The evolution of the Grand Slam continues. In Part 2, Buzz and Remo begin with Margaret Court and the bravest of all the Grand Slams. The roller coaster of lean years that follow ends in redemption with Steffi Graf and perhaps the greatest Grand Slam of them all. Teddy Shingles remembers his trophy design and its less than stellar fate. 

(Original release date: 14 January 2020)

It's the greatest achievement in tennis but the Grand Slam is rarely discussed or analysed. In Part 1, Buzz and Remo delve into its origins, the first Grand Slam heroes and those who came tantalisingly close only to fall at the last hurdle. The first four calendar Grand Slams are covered with Don Budge, Maureen Connolly and or course Rod Laver and his famous double. And for the first time Teddy Shingles shares his unique and somewhat controversial memories.

(Original release date: 14 January 2020)