Andy Roddick transitioned his focus from tennis to podcasting, using his voice instead of a racquet to record a successful podcast series.
Andy Roddick's tennis podcast, "Served", has become the No. 1 tennis podcast in the United States, offering comprehensive coverage, engaging storytelling, and insightful discussions on the sport. Launched in January 2024, the weekly podcast, co-hosted by journalist Jon Wertheim and Served Media co-founder Mike Hayden, has gained popularity by filling a gap in the tennis media space.
With a focus on breaking down the biggest tennis stories, interviewing top players, and exploring wider issues shaping the sport, "Served" has tapped into the broader tennis community’s interests beyond just live matches. The podcast's growth is attributed to its deep insights and talks on tennis culture and personalities, resonating well with listeners' increasing appetite for content about the sport’s community and narratives.
Despite skepticism about entering a saturated sports podcast market, "Served" reached the top spot on the Apple charts in the U.S. within a year and a half, helped by Roddick’s established tennis fame and the show's active presence on platforms like YouTube (150,000 subscribers) and Instagram (150,000 followers).
High-profile guests such as Rafael Nadal and Andre Agassi have enhanced the show's appeal, with discussions ranging from their strategies against Djokovic, Federer, and Agassi's unique ability to hit seven different serves off the same ball toss, to Agassi's revelation that he never chose tennis and had conflicted feelings about the sport, driven by fear rather than love.
Roddick's ongoing ambitions to interview legends like Roger Federer and Serena Williams highlight the podcast's promise and credibility in tennis circles. In a recent episode, Roddick interviewed the freshly-crowned Wimbledon champion Swiatek about her contamination case and its emotional impact.
Roddick, known for delivering strong opinions with context, rarely shies away from speaking his mind on the podcast. He admits there isn't a concrete plan for the podcast moving forward, but he is looking to have fun with it initially. Last December, "Served" podcast partnered with Vox Media for sales, marketing, and distribution duties.
Wertheim believes podcasts are perfectly suited for tennis due to their ability to cut through the complexities of following the sport. Roddick, who is not active on social media, only knows if a clip from the podcast has gone viral if a friend or his producer sends it to him.
With its blend of expert analysis, star power, and addressing pressing topics, "Served" has broken through the competition to top the U.S. tennis podcast rankings, offering tennis fans an engaging and informative listening experience.
[1] Served Podcast [2] The New York Times [3] SportsPro [4] Forbes
- The "Served" tennis podcast, co-hosted by Andy Roddick and Jon Wertheim, has become the No. 1 tennis podcast in the United States, providing extensive coverage, captivating storytelling, and insightful discussions about the sport.
- Discussions on "Served" range from top players' strategies against contemporaries like Djokovic and Federer, to personal revelations about conflicting feelings towards the sport, as heard in the Agassi interview.
- In a recent collaborative effort, "Served" podcast partnered with Vox Media for sales, marketing, and distribution tasks.
- Several publications, including The New York Times, SportsPro, and Forbes, have recognized the "Served" podcast as a leading source for engaging and informative tennis content, breaking through the competition in U.S. rankings.
