This week on Out Wide, Stef and Resh sprint (and occasionally rage-walk) through the 2026 Australian Open, an event that somehow managed to be thrilling, exhausting, political, inspiring, and completely sabotaged by ESPN at the same time.

We start with the real final boss of the tournament: sports streaming capitalism. ESPN Plus? ESPN Unlimited? ESPN Select? Cable? VPNs? Mexico?? Watching tennis in 2026 apparently requires a CPA, an IT degree, and a teenage LimeWire mindset. ESPN, respectfully: jail.

Before we get into forehands and finals, the hosts pause to acknowledge the world being… on fire. From ICE terrorizing communities to athletes being asked political questions they’d rather moonwalk away from, this episode grounds itself in the belief that tennis does not exist in a bubble, no matter how badly some press rooms want it to. Coco Gauff emerges as the moral North Star of the tournament—21 years old, emotionally fluent, politically aware, and still somehow finding time to hype a gay hockey romance show.

On court, Elena Rybakina wins the Australian Open in stoic legend fashion, celebrates with a whisper of a fist pump, and gets criticized for not doing enough cartwheels. Meanwhile, Stef and Resh firmly defend the right to win a Grand Slam quietly and go home. Let introverts live.

Then came Naomi Osaka’s jellyfish fit, the moment tennis fashion officially entered its couture era. Inspired by marine biology and designed with Beyoncé’s designer (casual!), Naomi floated onto Rod Laver Arena like an aquatic deity and said, “Even if I lose, I’ll trend.” She was right. The outfit ate. The internet screamed. Traditionalists clutched pearls. Naomi posted six photos and logged off. Icon behavior.

We also get:

• ESPN booth shakeups (women rising, Mac bros still yapping)
• Venus Williams returning at 45 and reminding everyone she is eternal
• Serena Williams definitely maybe returning (she’s in the drug testing pool, babes)
• Jelena Djokovic inserting herself where nobody asked
• Carlos Alcaraz winning everything, breaking records, cramping, thriving
• Queer history made on the ATP
• Rising stars, comeback queens, GI distress, political statements via T-shirts, and one extremely icy handshake

And just when you think it’s over, we pivot to the Grammys, Bad Bunny, dip-based Super Bowl planning, and a light call to mass-stream Michelle Obama’s Becoming out of pure spite.

Final verdict:
The Australian Open 2026 was messy, moving, glamorous, infuriating, and extremely Out Wide. Tennis was played. Statements were made. Jellyfish were served. And ESPN still owes us emotional damages. 🎾🪼💅

Instagram : Out_Wide_Podcast

Jingle : https://www.nelaruizcomposer.com/

Logo: https://www.instagram.com/crayonspaghetti/

Resh and Stef kick off the Australian Open 2026 with a gloriously unhinged, deeply gay return to tennis nonsense, politics, and pure fandom. Putting the Tea firmly in WTA, they break down the draws, obsess over Coco Gauff’s glow-up era, dream big for Naomi Osaka, worship at the altar of Venus Williams, and ride hard for pod faves, rising stars, and queer icons across the tour. Along the way, they unpack wildcard drama, Melbourne memories, experimental slam chaos, and why the Australian Open remains the most innovative major.

This episode also makes space for the real stuff: calling out transphobia in tennis, talking queerness in sport, and refusing to let bigots, billionaires, or bad vibes steal the joy. Expect righteous side-eye, laugh-out-loud moments, and exactly five minutes (no more!) on the ATP before returning to what actually matters. It’s smart, funny, political, and unapologetically queer — a reminder that when we keep showing up, they don’t win. The girls, the gays, the theys and the days are BACK. 🏳️‍🌈🎾✨

Instagram : Out_Wide_Podcast

Jingle : https://www.nelaruizcomposer.com/

Logo: https://www.instagram.com/crayonspaghetti/

🎾 The WTA stole the spotlight at the 2025 US Open! From Coco Gauff’s evolving game to Taylor Townsend’s standout run, and the always-iconic Venus Williams making her comeback, women’s tennis delivered unforgettable moments. Off the court, controversies kept buzzing—USTA censorship, Trump’s courtside appearance, and commentary missteps that prove the need for more diverse voices in tennis media. We dive into LGBTQ+ representation, player performances, tennis etiquette drama, and everything that made this year’s tournament unmissable. All the shade, all the sparkle—served exclusively Out Wide.

Chapters

00:00
Check-in after Big Bud Lil Bud reunion at Resh's Wedding

06:25
Women's Singles Final Breakdown

10:00
Analyzing Anisimova's Game

19:28
Taylor Townsend's Brilliant US Open run and Ostastenko's racism

26:58
Coco Gauff's Evolution: Service Changes

28:34
Venus Williams: A Return to Form and Mixed Doubles Dynamics

36:45
The Wholesome Duo: Venus and Leylah

45:02
5 minutes with the 5%

50:09
Off-Court Controversies: McEnroe's Comments and Trump at the Finals

58:30
Off court Mess: Censorship at the US Open

01:01:25
Celebrity Culture and Tennis

01:04:18
OW-outro .wav

Instagram : Out_Wide_Podcast

Jingle : https://www.nelaruizcomposer.com/

Logo: https://www.instagram.com/crayonspaghetti/