Mattek-Sands shares how Tennis United got its start

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. — Bethanie Mattek-Sands didn't slow down during quarantine, if anything, she sped up. In April, the American began co-hosting a weekly YouTube show alongside her ATP counterpart Vasek Pospisil called Tennis United.

"I was really going to start in Indian Wells doing behind the scenes for the WTA," Mattek-Sands says. "They wanted me to do that because no body else really does it and players are comfortable with me."

Even before then, she had started doing some interviews including a very memorable chat with 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in the locker room.

COVID-19 put her new show on hold, but not for long.

"Then this all happened so I said we should really continue to do this whether we catch up on FaceTime or whatever and just keep up with players," she says. "It morphed into this idea where we do it with the ATP."

The Friday episodes have featured a lot of popular names including Andy Murray, Dominic Thiem, Victoria Azarenka, Matteo Berrettini, Martina Navratilova, Monica Puig, John Isner, Eugenie Bouchard, Nick Kyrgios and many more.

They've even dipped into some non-tennis talent like Steve Nash, Wayne Gretski and "Despacito" singer Luis Fonsi.

Mattek-Sands and Pospisil have played games, discussed viral social media videos, and have also tackled some tough topics like women's equality, homosexuality and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Mattek-Sands is finally getting to compete again, having captained Team Peace in Charleston and playing for the new Chicago Smash in World TeamTennis this month. The filming won't stop as Tennis United doesn't plan on ending just because the tours are starting up again.

"We want to keep doing it," Mattek-Sands says. "It would be cool to do somethings in person with people. it would just be different. It won't just be like, hey we're all in our bedrooms right now."

Check out the latest episode of the TENNIS.com Podcast with comedian Elliot Loney:

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