Episode 17 of The Big T focuses on two clear threads: the debate over Arthur Fils’ forehand and a reflective interview with Marcos Baghdatis. The show opened a conversation that began with a simple question posed on social media: “Is @ArthurFils FH the best in the men’s tennis game right now? @_markpetchey” Brad Gilbert replied that Fils’ “fearhand” is massive, while still favoring Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. That exchange led to a co-host debate with Coco Vandeweghe (48:00) about the top forehands on tour. “I think it’s definitely top three,” said Vandeweghe. Gilbert placed Joao Fonseca in his top three and slotted Fils fourth. Both offered honorable mentions: Coco went with Jakub Mensik; BG with Jiri Lehecka. As Vandeweghe noted, “The players from Czechia have such weight of shot, because they play on fast courts and need to get that depth really quickly,” says Vandeweghe, “and it’s a flatter ball that pushes you further and further back.”

The episode also revisited Marcos Baghdatis’ peak years and his transition to developing young players. Twenty years ago at the Australian Open Baghdatis reached the final during an era dominated by Roger Federer. The show reminded listeners that “Federer won all his Slam finals in four sets, over Rafael Nadal (Wimbledon), Andy Roddick (US Open) and…Marcos Baghdatis (Australian Open).” Baghdatis reflected on his own ambitions: “I wanted to be No. 1 in the world. I wanted to push myself more … I was not patient enough. Marcos Baghdatis” (15:30). His career-high reached No. 8; he finished 2006 ranked 12th. The interview covered career records against the era’s top players (1-7 vs Federer, 1-9 vs Nadal, 0-8 vs Novak Djokovic) and his current role as tournament director of the IMG Future Stars Tournament, helping prepare the next generation.

Looking ahead to Roland Garros, the hosts discussed the vacancy created by Alcaraz being sidelined through Madrid and potentially Roland Garros. Gilbert placed Djokovic first despite limited clay this season: “First, at 39 years young, I would still go—with no playing in him [on clay this season]—Djoker,” says Gilbert. He listed Alexander Zverev second and Fils third, while Coco offered Ben Shelton as an honorable mention following his Munich win. To share your top three forehands for men’s and women’s tennis, email thebigt@tennischannel.com [thebigt@tennischannel.com], or call 844-678-BIGT. New episodes drop every Wednesday.

Elena Rybakina captured her second Porsche Tennis Grand Prix trophy, defeating Karolina Muchova 7-5, 6-1 in a one hour and 18 minute final on Center Court. The top seed overcame a spirited comeback in the first set from the No. 7 seed before asserting control in the second.

Rybakina, the reigning 2026 Australian Open champion, is set to return to No. 1 in the Race to the WTA Finals standings after the victory. Since her major triumph in Melbourne, the 26-year-old produced steady results but had not claimed another title, finishing runner-up to the world No. 1 at the BNP Paribas Open and falling in the Miami Open semifinals.

With Aryna Sabalenka absent from the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix because of injury, Rybakina targeted a strong start to her clay-court season and lost just one set across four matches to complete that mission. She advanced through a third-set tiebreaker against Leylah Fernandez in the quarterfinals, handled No. 6 seed Mirra Andreeva after Andreeva had stunned No. 3 seed Iga Swiatek, and then carried momentum into the final.

Against Muchova, Rybakina raced to a 5-2 lead early in the opening set before Muchova fought back to level at 5-5 and saved two set points as she tried to force a tiebreak. Rybakina converted her third set point to close out the first set and then dominated the second, building a 5-0 advantage. Muchova avoided a bagel with a game for 5-1, but Rybakina served out the match to love.

Muchova arrived in Stuttgart off a breakthrough season that included her first WTA 1000 title at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open. She had also snapped losing streaks against Coco Gauff and Elina Svitolina en route to the final, and she was the last woman to beat Rybakina before Rybakina went on to win the Australian Open. On Sunday, however, Rybakina’s form proved decisive as she lifted her second Porsche in three years.

Iga Swiatek has begun a clay-court preparation block that includes a new coach and on-court sessions with Rafael Nadal. The four-time Roland Garros champion hired Francisco Roig, Nadal’s longtime second coach, ahead of the clay season. Roig has also worked recently with Emma Raducanu and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

The world No. 4 has been posting glimpses of training in Mallorca at the Rafa Nadal Academy, a base used by players such as Alexandra Eala and Casper Ruud. In several clips, Swiatek is seen working with Roig and hitting alongside Nadal, who appears to demonstrate elements of his forehand in one moment.

Reaction among peers was immediate. On The Players Box podcast, Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, Jennifer Brady and Desirae Krawczyk summed up the locker-room response with one-word disbelief: “Scary!” Pegula called the pairing “perfect” for the Pole, who grew up idolizing Nadal and has trained at his academy before.

Pegula elaborated with a mix of humor and concern: “I saw that clip of (Iga and Rafa) on the clay, and I was like, Uhhhh… this is bad for everybody,” Pegula joked. “This should be illegal. This should not be allowed!” Keys added, “I was like, Oh god,” Keys said. “The last thing we needed Iga to have on the clay was Rafa… Scary.” Krawczyk offered a player’s perspective on performing in front of a legend: “I would be so nervous hitting in front of him,” Krawczyk added. “I mean, I would be so excited, but I’d be like, ‘Oh my god, I can’t miss in front of Rafa!”

Swiatek’s move comes as she seeks a response to a start to the season that has fallen short of expectations. She reached the last eight at the Australian Open, Doha and Indian Wells but has not progressed beyond quarterfinals at any event. In Miami she was upset in her opening match by 34-year-old Magda Linette after leading by a set, her first opening-round loss since 2021. She announced her split with Wim Fissette a week later.