1 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 1: Hey, okay, okay, what a time to be alive to Well, 2 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 1: you know, you could have just walked over to my house. 3 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 2: Well, I wanted to respect the bubble. You've been in 4 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 2: a bubble. I can't. I can't reintroduce you to society 5 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:24,759 Speaker 2: too shockingly, you'll freak out. 6 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: Yeah. Well, I've had five COGA tests in the last 7 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:28,320 Speaker 1: like three weeks, so I think I would have been 8 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: I know that I'm negative. You could have sat across 9 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 1: the other side of the room. But instead of choosing 10 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:34,920 Speaker 1: to zoom me to do our podcast. 11 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 2: You know what, I wanted to maintain a professional distance. 12 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:39,920 Speaker 2: I too, have been getting lots of coronavirus tests because 13 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 2: my son has now entered his bubble. We're potting for 14 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 2: his school, so everybody's real uptight about it. But my 15 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:50,560 Speaker 2: pod is pretty boring compared to your pod. First things first, 16 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:52,200 Speaker 2: you spent the last couple of weeks in a bubble. 17 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 2: What's that been like? What give us the inside details. 18 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 1: Inside details of the year sart of the bubble? 19 00:00:57,600 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 2: Is it like et where he like goes and gets 20 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 2: attacked by everybody in biohazards. That's kind of what I 21 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 2: was picturing. 22 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 1: Well, okay, I'm going to be really honest here because 23 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:10,959 Speaker 1: you know me, I wasn't in the player bubble. The 24 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 1: player bubble was different to what I was in. I 25 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 1: was in a different bubble with the ESPN crew and 26 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 1: the ESPN talent. We were at the La Guardia Marriott 27 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 1: Hotel and we were all there, so we were shuttling 28 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 1: back and forth in our own private cars to the 29 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:30,039 Speaker 1: courts so we could stay you know, COVID free as 30 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: much as possible. We were having tests. We were getting 31 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 1: tested every four days. Like the players. The players were 32 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 1: in a different bubble. They were in a really massive 33 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 1: hotel outside in Long Island. You literally got i mean 34 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 1: every player, every single one of them, was getting bussed 35 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: in and out. It was kind of like junior days, 36 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 1: you know, no private cars, no nice Mercedes bands picking 37 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 1: them up, and they were getting picked up in buses 38 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 1: and brought to the courts and shuttled through. You had 39 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: to have a certain like tag around your badge to 40 00:01:58,280 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 1: prove that you had done you COVID test, that you 41 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 1: were your temperature was okay, and we had to do 42 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 1: that as well, all the ESPN crew because we were 43 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 1: the only media that were around the players, so They 44 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:12,080 Speaker 1: really were tight on us, making sure that we were 45 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 1: absolutely you know, as COVID free as all the players. 46 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 1: So you know, we went through every protocol. I mean 47 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 1: you saw me anytime I got onto the TV courtside, 48 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: I always had a mask on. I mean, everything was 49 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 1: done as well and as appropriately as anyone could have 50 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: asked for. And you know, we were calling matches even 51 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: in our booths in separate booths. We were not in 52 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:36,839 Speaker 1: the same booths, so it was you know, the fact 53 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: that we were actually calling matches not being able to 54 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:42,119 Speaker 1: see one another was pretty remarkable. And when I was courtside, 55 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: so there's three of us in three different spots, so 56 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: the fact that it came across on television like we're 57 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 1: in the same booth was pretty pretty amazing. But for 58 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 1: the players, I think a lot of them were fine 59 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 1: with it. They provided a lot of you know, extra 60 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 1: extra fun events at the hotel and you know, golf 61 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: simulators and pool tables and you know, all the stuff 62 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:03,079 Speaker 1: that you can you want, and I mean for a 63 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 1: week or two, you can deal with it. And I 64 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:07,800 Speaker 1: think a lot some players even really liked it because 65 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:11,640 Speaker 1: they like sort of isolating and they don't necessarily don't 66 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 1: necessarily love the nightlife or anything of New York. They 67 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:15,920 Speaker 1: just want to go about their business. And a lot 68 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 1: of them did that, a lot of them did well, 69 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 1: or people kind of like that. Yeah, it was interesting 70 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:24,799 Speaker 1: to watch, first of all, the players watching each other. 71 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 1: It seemed like a big source of entertainment was sitting 72 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:31,360 Speaker 1: in those earth or ash suites and watching the other matches. 73 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 1: Sometimes you can see players watching each other, scouting each 74 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 1: other maybe, but it looked like they were actually just 75 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 1: watching for fun, right, Like it was maybe one of 76 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 1: the few things you could do when two were on 77 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 1: the grounds, and it was really nice, Like it felt 78 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 1: like they were spectators like we were. Yeah, I actually 79 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 1: said on the air, I think I said, I'm kind 80 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 1: of requesting that the USTA get a suite and make 81 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 1: it for players only. I think it'd be so cool 82 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: because so many times, you know, players love to just 83 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 1: like love to see and watch. And one thing we 84 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 1: do is when we're waiting for matches, we all sit 85 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: and watch the television in the locker room. So this time, 86 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:08,960 Speaker 1: rather than sitting and watching a locker room, you saw 87 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: the players out watching it live and in person in 88 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 1: their suites. Obviously, those suites won't be available next year, 89 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:17,680 Speaker 1: hopefully as long as the crowds are back. But I 90 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 1: think it'd be cool to have one suite available just 91 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:21,599 Speaker 1: to the players and see who kind of goes up 92 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 1: there and watches matches. Obviously it's a lot of money 93 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 1: for the USTA to lose out on, but I don't know, 94 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:28,720 Speaker 1: maybe we can get a sponsor out there. Maybe we 95 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: get a sponsor out there, the sponsors, the players, the 96 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:33,600 Speaker 1: players suite so you can see players go up there 97 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: and watch matches. Because it was super cool to see it. 98 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:40,160 Speaker 1: And obviously Alex, I mean zvereventein we're out all the time. 99 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 1: They're always watching the women and you know you saw 100 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:47,480 Speaker 1: you saw Sophie Kennon and as a Rank and Kim 101 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 1: Klysis and yeah, it was cool. It was great to see. 102 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 2: Look, when you're in ash and you're invited to go 103 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 2: to one of those suites, and sometimes those are you know, 104 00:04:55,240 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 2: the most luxurious experiences, get a ticket that also corresponds 105 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 2: with a seat, and for whatever reason, the extremely rich 106 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 2: people who are invited into the suites don't always use 107 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 2: up the seats in the stadium, So it would be 108 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 2: really cool if they were just to allow players to 109 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:15,039 Speaker 2: take those seats whenever possible, and then you can like 110 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 2: you know, scan the crowd and see them, see them 111 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 2: watching and cheering. For me, it was like a really 112 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:23,479 Speaker 2: really cool value add just because they like tennis as 113 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 2: much as we do, as it turns out, and they 114 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 2: like spectating as well. 115 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 1: One yeah, but I and the problem is the great 116 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:31,599 Speaker 1: thing for the players is that they didn't have to 117 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 1: and I don't want the fans to take this the 118 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 1: wrong way, but they didn't have to deal with the fans. 119 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 1: They didn't have to deal with the fans asking them 120 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:41,720 Speaker 1: for autographs and asking for pictures. And you know, most 121 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:44,160 Speaker 1: players don't get to go and watch tennis matches live 122 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: because they get kind of hassled for photos and tickets 123 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,479 Speaker 1: and autographs. So I mean, you know, for autographs and things. 124 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 1: So in this respect, they knew that they go and 125 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: sit and watch a match and not be kind of, 126 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 1: you know, harassed by the public. And I mean that 127 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:01,600 Speaker 1: in the nicest way, but you know that's part of it. 128 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:03,840 Speaker 1: I Mean even players talked about, hey, I'd never walked 129 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 1: out to the court the Court of Champions that you know, 130 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 1: the entrances, and they hadn't even seen their pictures up 131 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 1: or there, so it was nice to them to sort 132 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:14,839 Speaker 1: of walk around the actual grounds and because I didn't 133 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:17,040 Speaker 1: usually get to do that. 134 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:19,719 Speaker 2: That's actually really interesting and cool for everybody who doesn't 135 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 2: know the Court of Champions is that entrance. It's sort 136 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 2: of the south part of the stadium that you come in, 137 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:27,359 Speaker 2: sort of opposite Arthur Ash when you don't come in 138 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 2: on the seven train or the L double R and 139 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:31,160 Speaker 2: it's a part of the stadium. I don't think, yeah, 140 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 2: a lot of people see because a lot of people 141 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 2: just go to Ash and you know, I think my 142 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 2: favorite part of the US Open is just getting a 143 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 2: grounds pass and going and wandering around. So it's really 144 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:41,720 Speaker 2: cool to think the players could do that too. So, 145 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 2: while we're still on the subject of the bubble, most 146 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:50,280 Speaker 2: people seem to be able to handle the pressure protocols 147 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:54,920 Speaker 2: rule following that a bubble requires, but not all of them, 148 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 2: including my favorite Benoa Pere. 149 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:01,560 Speaker 1: Well, if there was ever a player that was going 150 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 1: to get in trouble, it was going to If we 151 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:08,039 Speaker 1: had to take a guess out of ten players, I 152 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 1: think that Ben Wi would be at the top of 153 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 1: the list, and as much as I know, Caitlin that 154 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: he is without question your favorite player on tour. He 155 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 1: is also a bit of a disaster, as you know. 156 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:24,119 Speaker 1: So the fact that he's the one that got the 157 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 1: first positive COVID test for a player and then subsequently 158 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 1: cost many many players an opportunity to play, that he's 159 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: open isn't a surprise now this word on the street 160 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:38,240 Speaker 1: of how we got it and why he got it 161 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 1: and etc. Etc. And why the test came back positive 162 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 1: and then apparently had another test positive, and any tested 163 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 1: negative eventually who knows, but of all the players, it's 164 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: not a surprise it was our little ben Hua pair. 165 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 2: Do you think it was fair for the USTA not 166 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 2: getting into the gossip that we've heard that maybe some 167 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 2: of his extracurricular activities were to blame. We don't know that, 168 00:07:59,880 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 2: but we do know that what you just alluded to, 169 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 2: which is a whole bunch of other players, some of 170 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 2: them French, some of them very prominent. Christina Bladenovitch and 171 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 2: as a sort of casualty, her partner to Mayo Babosh 172 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 2: and among others, were removed from the tournament because they 173 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 2: in the county that they were residing in the bubb 174 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 2: All the rules were that they could not be outside. 175 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 2: What do you make of that? If you're Kiki Moladenovitch, 176 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 2: are you pissed? 177 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: Well, you know, unfortunately it was kind of out of 178 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 1: the hands of the USTA, I mean once it was 179 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 1: in that county. Those were the Those are the sort 180 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: of the rules or the laws that if anyone was 181 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 1: exposed to someone with COVID within a fifteen minute window 182 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 1: that they had to quarantine as well. And you know, 183 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 1: I know because I spoke to Kirsten Flippins and she 184 00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 1: basically came downstairs and was standing around those guys while 185 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 1: they were playing cards for fifteen minutes and then went 186 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:56,319 Speaker 1: back up to her room, and so she was exposed 187 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 1: to them for you know, ten to fifteen minute time frame. 188 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:01,280 Speaker 1: She wasn't quite sure, but you know she got lumped 189 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 1: into that group as well. You know, it's it's I 190 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:07,439 Speaker 1: don't even know how to put it, Caitlin, Like, I 191 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 1: feel sorry for everyone that went through it. Everybody knew 192 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:13,840 Speaker 1: sort of like what the protocols were and what the 193 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 1: rules were, and and everybody knew if someone someone was 194 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:20,200 Speaker 1: exposed to somebody else that they were going to have 195 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 1: to deal with the ramifications of that, and sadly that's 196 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 1: what happened. You know, I don't think we're ever going 197 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:28,599 Speaker 1: to see this situation again. But unfortunately, those were the 198 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 1: laws and where they were in Nassau County, those were 199 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:37,319 Speaker 1: the rules. Now from what I heard, Manorino apparently had 200 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 1: left the bubble to go play his match before the 201 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 1: ladder or information had been sent to the USTA that 202 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 1: he was not supposed to leave the bubble, and once 203 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 1: he was on site, they kind of it was kind 204 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 1: of out of their hands as far as I'm concerned. 205 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 1: I think he had to have permission to play that day, 206 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:57,960 Speaker 1: but once once he was, I mean, if he had won, 207 00:09:58,000 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 1: that would have been a very different story. It would 208 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:04,040 Speaker 1: have been almost even more controversial. But he lost, and 209 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 1: so therefore he had to go into quarantine. And Miladanovich 210 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 1: had not left the courts and that left to the 211 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:12,200 Speaker 1: courts by the time they knew the rules, and so 212 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 1: therefore she could not leave the hotel. So that was 213 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 1: kind of what happened, and it was a little bit 214 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 1: out of the USTA hands. I feel sorry for Stacy. 215 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 1: I feel sorry for the USDA, because I mean, they 216 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 1: really did everything they could to keep everyone safe and 217 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:28,079 Speaker 1: abide by the rules, and unfortunately we had that incident. 218 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:30,320 Speaker 2: I mean, honestly, I'm not surprised, kind of to your 219 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 2: point that a something happened and that be my guy, Benoir, 220 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:36,440 Speaker 2: who is not my favorite player on tour. He's my 221 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:39,760 Speaker 2: favorite personality on tour, and that is a different distinction 222 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 2: that I just want to make sure our listeners appreciate. 223 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 2: There's a lot of things about ben I appreciate that 224 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 2: it has nothing to do with the way he swings 225 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:50,440 Speaker 2: a tennis racket. If anything, that is one of the 226 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 2: lesser the lesser appealing moments. But I think, truly, considering 227 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:58,840 Speaker 2: how high the degree of difficulty was for pulling this off, 228 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 2: the USCA did any phenomenal job. This was a high 229 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:05,560 Speaker 2: wire act. And the fact that only a few people 230 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:10,840 Speaker 2: got deefed for this reason anyway, is I think kind 231 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 2: of incredible. And I want to come back to what 232 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:16,480 Speaker 2: they pulled off, because now all our eyes are going 233 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:20,880 Speaker 2: to be shifting to Europe as Rome and others, notably 234 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:23,000 Speaker 2: Rolandgaros is going to try to do the same thing. 235 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 2: But we cannot get off the subject of being deefed 236 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 2: without talking a little bit about Novak Djokovic. Your commentary 237 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:34,600 Speaker 2: that day stood out to a lot of people for 238 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 2: its clarity, it's passion, but also the concise and comprehensive 239 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:45,080 Speaker 2: way that you explained for those of us following along 240 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 2: at home what had happened. So very briefly walk us 241 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 2: through what happened, and then let's get into the whys 242 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:54,319 Speaker 2: and the house and the back splash to the backlash 243 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 2: that's still going on about it that we're probably never 244 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:57,560 Speaker 2: going to get clear from. 245 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:01,440 Speaker 1: You know, Novak was obviously a little bit paved. It 246 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:03,920 Speaker 1: was either that game or the game before, and he 247 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:06,439 Speaker 1: belted a ball on the side of the side of 248 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 1: the court, and I remember James Blake saying he's going 249 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:11,000 Speaker 1: to be really careful to do that because if he 250 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 1: hit somebody, he'll get defaulted. Literally the game before, and 251 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:17,200 Speaker 1: so then he lost his serve and he probably felt 252 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:18,599 Speaker 1: like he could have won the set. It was a 253 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 1: very close game or two, and he probably felt like 254 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:23,959 Speaker 1: he should have already won the set. Anyway, he got 255 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 1: very annoyed, and when he lost his serve, you know, 256 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 1: he took the ball out of his pocket and he 257 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:30,840 Speaker 1: just he didn't really look and he just kind of 258 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 1: hit it to the back fence. Now, did he absolutely 259 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:35,960 Speaker 1: rip it. No, he didn't rip it like he did 260 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 1: the game before, but he still hit it backwards in 261 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:41,960 Speaker 1: he was angry. He lost the game, so there was 262 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 1: no doubt that he was frustrated and angry, and so 263 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:46,320 Speaker 1: he hit the ball back in the backstop, which to 264 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:49,080 Speaker 1: a tennis player is really dumb, okay, because you know 265 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 1: that the one place that you can hit someone is 266 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:53,040 Speaker 1: when you hit it backwards, because you know there's ball 267 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:55,960 Speaker 1: boys and linesmen back there. And so you know, he 268 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:58,240 Speaker 1: did that, and the lines lady was standing in right 269 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 1: in her position behind court, and you know obviously wasn't 270 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 1: paying attention to him because she may have been able 271 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 1: to put her hand up, but he hit a ball 272 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 1: and hit her in the neck. And I mean, you know, 273 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:13,120 Speaker 1: as a tennis player, when you do something like that, 274 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 1: you're done. And he knew immediately that he was going 275 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 1: to be done. I could you could tell from his reaction. 276 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:24,600 Speaker 1: You could see it on his face. Every single person. 277 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 1: I was watching it on the in our green room 278 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:29,560 Speaker 1: at ESPN because I was on the desk that day, 279 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 1: and I stood up and I go, guys, we've got 280 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 1: to go to the desk. He's done. There's no that's it. 281 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 1: He's done, you know, And everyone was kind of reacting differently, 282 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:39,960 Speaker 1: and I said, he is done. There is no chance 283 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:41,600 Speaker 1: he's not going to be defaulted. We've got to go 284 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 1: to the desk and you know, I mean, Brad was 285 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:48,680 Speaker 1: trying to make it just a comment on that he 286 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 1: would like to have the umpire have a television screen 287 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:52,599 Speaker 1: to be able to review something like that. And my 288 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 1: answer back to Brad and in the end was yeah, 289 00:13:57,360 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 1: we would all like to see a TV. I think 290 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:01,839 Speaker 1: the umpire should have more looks at something. I think 291 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 1: they should have. But the issue is, that's not the 292 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 1: issue today. The issue today was black and white. He 293 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 1: turned around, everybody knew it was him. He hit a ball, 294 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:11,440 Speaker 1: hit a line Slady very dangerously in the neck. She 295 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:13,600 Speaker 1: couldn't breathe for a second. It must have been very 296 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:16,719 Speaker 1: scary for her. And he was done, and there was 297 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 1: there was no choice from the umpire. I know from 298 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 1: the referee. He walked out there. He did not know 299 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 1: the referee what had happened because he was in a meeting. 300 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 1: So he took the word of the umpire and they 301 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 1: went through it blow by blow. Another referee, Andy Egglely, 302 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 1: was there and explained what he saw as well, and 303 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 1: there was no choices on him. He just said to 304 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 1: he to Novak, you know, he gave him his piece. 305 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:41,040 Speaker 1: Let him speak his speak his mind. But everybody knew 306 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 1: that there's no way around this. And it was sad 307 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 1: for the tournament. It was sad for Novak, it was 308 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 1: sad for Karano Buster who had just broken him. Who knows, 309 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 1: who's to know what would have happened in that match, 310 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 1: and he was sent packing. And you know, obviously a 311 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 1: lot of people thought he didn't do it in anger. 312 00:14:58,000 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 1: It's got nothing to do if he did it in anger, 313 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:02,120 Speaker 1: if he meant to hit the lady. Clearly he didn't 314 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:04,160 Speaker 1: mean to hit the lady. We all know that no 315 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:07,240 Speaker 1: one would ever try and hit anyone on a tennis court. 316 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 1: But the rules are in place for the rules to 317 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:13,080 Speaker 1: protect the linesmen, the ball kids and the fans if 318 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:15,560 Speaker 1: they're there. And we've seen stuff happen in the past 319 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:20,160 Speaker 1: where you know, Shapovolov hit and hit a ball that 320 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 1: didn't of course, didn't mean to hit the umpire, hit 321 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:24,480 Speaker 1: the umpire in the eye, a guy almost lost his eyeball, 322 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:26,960 Speaker 1: so you know, we have those rules for a reason, 323 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:30,360 Speaker 1: and whether someone has intent to hurt someone or not 324 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 1: is not the reason why they get defaulted. 325 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 2: Anybody who plays tennis knows the second you hit your racket, 326 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 2: a ball, anything that is in your control on an umpire, 327 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 2: there's not a need for a review. The rule is 328 00:15:45,280 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 2: black and white. As a matter of fact, I had 329 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 2: a coach who took my racket away anytime I slammed 330 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 2: it on the ground, which is why I hate when 331 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:55,080 Speaker 2: players abuse their rackets just because it seems so you know, 332 00:15:55,240 --> 00:16:00,200 Speaker 2: on Unsporting. I think your commentary on ESPN was so 333 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 2: amazing to me because it was in the moment and 334 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 2: you so clearly articulated that you knew what it was 335 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 2: like to be a hothead on the court, and you 336 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 2: knew every time you would take that gamble that if 337 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:12,560 Speaker 2: something God forbid would hit somebody, then you're out. Now, 338 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 2: what I want to sort of bring up with you 339 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:17,720 Speaker 2: is that there are a lot of players who snack 340 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 2: balls around and do it pretty carelessly. Novak is definitely 341 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:23,320 Speaker 2: one of them and has been for a long time. 342 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 2: I'm a little surprised this has never happened before. There 343 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:27,600 Speaker 2: was an incident where he threw a racket in Rome. 344 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:30,680 Speaker 2: The umpire would have been hit had he not been 345 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 2: looking and moved out of the way. You know other players, 346 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 2: players we know in love, but who have thrown rackets 347 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:39,040 Speaker 2: and if they get unlucky, they get unlucky. Do you 348 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:43,240 Speaker 2: think that there's any sort of contrite niss to Novak 349 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 2: based on what you saw from his reaction, Did he 350 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:47,440 Speaker 2: seem to grasp what had happened or does it not 351 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:49,800 Speaker 2: matter because he got the deef and losing in a 352 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 2: tournament where he very clearly was the favorite. Maybe his 353 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:56,080 Speaker 2: punishment enough. What do you think about that? 354 00:16:57,040 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 1: Yeah? I think the punishment was enough. I think it 355 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 1: was a massive lesson learned by him. He now didn't 356 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:05,119 Speaker 1: didn't add to his Grand Slam record, which you know 357 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:06,760 Speaker 1: may come back to buy it in one day. I 358 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:10,840 Speaker 1: don't know. Yes, he has been contrived before in press conferences. 359 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 1: We showed it. I believe we may have showed it 360 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 1: on ESPN when he was asked by a reporter at 361 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:18,919 Speaker 1: a tournament in Europe when he hit a ball that 362 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:21,880 Speaker 1: went very close to alignesmen in the past, and he said, 363 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 1: aren't you worried you may hit someone? One day and 364 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 1: he really blew it off and was like, come on, 365 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:29,000 Speaker 1: you guys, like you know, and I mean it's on 366 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 1: the internet. You can you can look it up. So 367 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:32,399 Speaker 1: I think this was a lesson for him. I mean 368 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:35,720 Speaker 1: it's a lesson for it's a lesson for everybody that 369 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: you have to control what you're doing with your racket 370 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 1: and with a ball in your hand. And he actually 371 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 1: threw his racket the week before in the Western Southern 372 00:17:44,840 --> 00:17:47,919 Speaker 1: and he almost he almost hit a security guard, so 373 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:51,159 Speaker 1: you know, they I don't know if you'll stop doing it, 374 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 1: and maybe just a reaction that he can't help himself 375 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:55,120 Speaker 1: because he does hit the ball back quite a lot 376 00:17:55,359 --> 00:17:59,200 Speaker 1: a lot in matches. But I hope it's a lesson 377 00:17:59,320 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 1: learned by him and for a lot of tests by 378 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:03,840 Speaker 1: is that you got to be careful or if it 379 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:05,560 Speaker 1: can happen to him, it can happen to anybody. 380 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, for sure. And I think, you know, obviously we'll 381 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:11,440 Speaker 2: see a few responds by going out and winning the 382 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 2: French Open with like a newly sort of invigorated sense 383 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:19,000 Speaker 2: of mission, or if he kind of goes on a 384 00:18:19,040 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 2: walk about. But there is something else we should briefly 385 00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:24,399 Speaker 2: talk about when we're talking about Novak Djokovic, which is 386 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 2: the and this our tweeters asked us to talk about 387 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:31,200 Speaker 2: a little bit, which is the creation of the PTPA, 388 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:37,680 Speaker 2: the Professional Tennis Players Association, along with Vashek Prospicil, which 389 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:43,880 Speaker 2: aims to do something. And I think I'm not trying 390 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 2: to be glib about what it's aiming to do. I 391 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:49,640 Speaker 2: think John Wortheim, in some of his famous fifty Takeaways 392 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 2: from the US Open column, kind of listed the efforts 393 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:55,400 Speaker 2: he had made to try to get an answer out 394 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:57,960 Speaker 2: of various folks who had signed up for this thing. 395 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 2: Is it a union, is it an association? Does it 396 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:04,720 Speaker 2: violate the Sherman Act by being a union of independent contractors? 397 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:07,879 Speaker 2: There's a lot of questions, but the biggest one is 398 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:11,639 Speaker 2: why didn't they include the women? If this really is 399 00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:16,199 Speaker 2: supposed to be about making sure players are treated fairly 400 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 2: as a as a group, and they don't currently feel 401 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:21,679 Speaker 2: very well represented, why not include the women. The picture 402 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:25,720 Speaker 2: that they had announcing their new organization, which was I 403 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:29,040 Speaker 2: think majority white guys and all men, was not terribly 404 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:32,800 Speaker 2: terribly inspiring, you know, And I think I reacted with 405 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:35,760 Speaker 2: a lot of skepticism. I'm open to hearing that maybe 406 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:38,040 Speaker 2: I'm not being fair, but given the history of the 407 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:41,520 Speaker 2: folks involved, I'm not really excited to give them the 408 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 2: benefit of the doubt. But I wonder, what, if anything, 409 00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 2: you kind of make of this. 410 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 1: Well, apparently Novak said on out a couple of women 411 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:52,720 Speaker 1: had been approached, but that's I have not heard that. 412 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 1: So even if a couple of women had been approached 413 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:00,920 Speaker 1: to discuss this matter, they should have been in that picture. 414 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:03,520 Speaker 1: They should have been a part of that conversation when 415 00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:06,919 Speaker 1: it happened, And the fact that they weren't proves to 416 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:09,560 Speaker 1: me that this was not the right timing. And some 417 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:11,680 Speaker 1: people might say, well, when's the right timing. The right 418 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 1: timing is when you do have women sitting at the 419 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 1: table representing the players only. I think the premise behind 420 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:23,240 Speaker 1: getting a union for players or having a players representative 421 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:26,240 Speaker 1: solely is a great idea. I think it definitely needs 422 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:29,200 Speaker 1: to be. If you talk to any pro they will 423 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:32,639 Speaker 1: all tell you it's a good idea, but there is 424 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:35,200 Speaker 1: a lot of work to be done with it. And 425 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:38,399 Speaker 1: I think what we saw with that picture and with 426 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:43,480 Speaker 1: the subsequent you know, sort of running around the questions, 427 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:46,080 Speaker 1: is that they didn't have women at the table, and 428 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:49,439 Speaker 1: they still haven't brought them to the table enough to 429 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:53,640 Speaker 1: be able to be out in the public. So that 430 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:56,400 Speaker 1: bothers me. And if anyone watched the US Open, they 431 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:59,840 Speaker 1: clearly know that the storylines with the women are starting 432 00:20:59,880 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 1: to become a lot more interesting than the men, and 433 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 1: without Rafa and Roger, it's a problem and they need 434 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:09,480 Speaker 1: to recognize that, and they need to understand that Tannis 435 00:21:09,520 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 1: is cyclical. You have stars in both sides when it's 436 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:15,199 Speaker 1: the WTA or the ATP. And clearly the men have 437 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:17,920 Speaker 1: reaped the benefit of having two of the greatest sports 438 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:22,680 Speaker 1: athletes and most loved universally loved athletes in Roger and Rafa, 439 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 1: you know, looking like, how long do they have left 440 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:31,280 Speaker 1: in this sport? Now? Novak is undoubtedly an international superstar 441 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 1: and could possibly go down as the greatest tennis player 442 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:39,920 Speaker 1: of all time when he's finished, but his university he's 443 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:42,720 Speaker 1: not universally as loved as Roger and Rafa, and that's 444 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:46,879 Speaker 1: just a fact. And when they go away from a sport, 445 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:51,440 Speaker 1: can Novak turn into that person? Absolutely? I think Steffie 446 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:53,159 Speaker 1: sort of took over that mantle because she was very 447 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:55,800 Speaker 1: quiet and shy, and didn't really wasn't seen in the 448 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 1: public very much. But then you know, as she got 449 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:01,240 Speaker 1: older and people started to really appreciate her and really 450 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:04,120 Speaker 1: love her so much, you know, And maybe that might 451 00:22:04,119 --> 00:22:06,639 Speaker 1: happen with Novak and Ruffa and Roger retire. I don't know, 452 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:08,680 Speaker 1: but they have to understand the men that the women 453 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:13,040 Speaker 1: as vital to them and the future of tennis as anything. 454 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:15,840 Speaker 1: So I mean, my little bit of it is the 455 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:18,240 Speaker 1: timing was not great. It should not have been during 456 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:20,400 Speaker 1: the USOP and when they were trying desperately be put 457 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:22,520 Speaker 1: on the biggest sporting event in the world during the 458 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:26,000 Speaker 1: coronavirus time and to give support when they needed support, 459 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:27,880 Speaker 1: and that was not the time to do it. And 460 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:30,240 Speaker 1: at the end of the year it should it should 461 00:22:30,280 --> 00:22:32,480 Speaker 1: have been at the end of the year when both 462 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 1: of these tours are struggling financially. The usopram was, you know, 463 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:38,960 Speaker 1: struggling to put this event on, and it just wasn't 464 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:39,840 Speaker 1: It wasn't good timing. 465 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:42,679 Speaker 2: I also thought, you know, look, it's it's coming up 466 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:45,560 Speaker 2: on the anniversary of a lot of notable moments for 467 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:49,840 Speaker 2: women's tennis, the WTA's creation, Billy Jean King, you know, 468 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:53,880 Speaker 2: what a missed opportunity to sort of say, to your point, 469 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:58,120 Speaker 2: we know tennis's cyclical. There's been some chatter. Roger and 470 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 2: Raffa both expressed some support about a joint tour. I 471 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:06,160 Speaker 2: think had Novak and Vas come out and said, yeah, 472 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:09,479 Speaker 2: and we have five women already excited and signed up 473 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:12,360 Speaker 2: for this from the WTA tour, what a different message 474 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 2: it would be. I have to imagine they don't care 475 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:17,920 Speaker 2: about the women, and that's sort of an unforced error. 476 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:20,480 Speaker 2: Maybe I'm reading into it, but these are not players 477 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:23,760 Speaker 2: who have expressed any interest in securing equal pay for 478 00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:27,479 Speaker 2: women or talking about the women's game very much. You know, 479 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:30,119 Speaker 2: I'm not particularly inclined to give them the benefit of 480 00:23:30,119 --> 00:23:31,919 Speaker 2: the doubt, but maybe that's unfair. I don't know, what 481 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:32,600 Speaker 2: do you think. 482 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:35,399 Speaker 1: Well, when you've got people on the record saying what 483 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:37,400 Speaker 1: they've said about women's tennis in the past, I think 484 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:38,800 Speaker 1: we've already answered that question. 485 00:23:39,320 --> 00:24:06,639 Speaker 2: There you go. Let's talk about the next generation of 486 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:10,439 Speaker 2: men stars. I was really pleased, truly, truly that we 487 00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:15,720 Speaker 2: had two men not in the Big three contending for 488 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:18,120 Speaker 2: the final. Truly. I have a lot of opinions about 489 00:24:18,119 --> 00:24:21,360 Speaker 2: the final itself, but This is not a podcast where 490 00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:24,520 Speaker 2: we want to necessarily break down somebody's service motion, although 491 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:28,280 Speaker 2: Zverev serve at times looked like my service motion, which 492 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:29,040 Speaker 2: is not a good thing. 493 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:30,800 Speaker 1: You know. 494 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:36,640 Speaker 2: Look a comeback, a very very very tightly contested, if 495 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:39,639 Speaker 2: not really well contested final on the men's side, and 496 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:41,320 Speaker 2: we have a new champion who I don't think anybody 497 00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:43,040 Speaker 2: would take it away from the dominic team. I mean, 498 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:46,000 Speaker 2: he deserves it. He's been in three Grand Slam finals 499 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:50,359 Speaker 2: prior to this, each time inching closer. You know, I 500 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:52,159 Speaker 2: think that that's a great result. I hope he can 501 00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:56,400 Speaker 2: win more, even when Rafa, Roger and Novak are still 502 00:24:56,440 --> 00:24:58,720 Speaker 2: in the draw at later stages. Do you have any 503 00:24:59,119 --> 00:24:59,960 Speaker 2: takeaways from the men? 504 00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:04,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, listen, I agree with you. Look that I think 505 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:06,480 Speaker 1: the standard of the final. Both of those players will 506 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:10,280 Speaker 1: agree that they did not play at their best. But 507 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:14,919 Speaker 1: interestingly enough, what we saw was two guys trying to 508 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:18,080 Speaker 1: win a Grand Slam for the first time, knowing if 509 00:25:18,080 --> 00:25:20,679 Speaker 1: they had been playing Roger or Rafa or Novak, they 510 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:22,639 Speaker 1: would have played better. In my opinion, they would have 511 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:24,760 Speaker 1: played better because they would have brought the standard up 512 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:26,800 Speaker 1: to such a level. Knowing I mean, we saw it 513 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 1: from Dominie. He was so close to being Novak could 514 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:30,679 Speaker 1: be straight open. I mean, that was such a great match. 515 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:35,240 Speaker 1: So I think, you know, they both sometimes you play 516 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:37,919 Speaker 1: to the standard of your opponent, and not saying that 517 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:40,480 Speaker 1: they're both not two great players, meaning that they know 518 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:42,880 Speaker 1: they probably if they played really well, they can win, 519 00:25:42,920 --> 00:25:45,360 Speaker 1: as opposed to against the other three, they probably feel 520 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:47,600 Speaker 1: like they have to play one of their best matches. 521 00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:50,359 Speaker 1: So I think down the end, I think what we 522 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:53,359 Speaker 1: saw was two players. I mean that will be the 523 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:56,560 Speaker 1: first to say that they were choking their balls off. Okay, 524 00:25:56,920 --> 00:26:00,640 Speaker 1: they were choking so bad. I mean the fact that Zverev, 525 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:03,120 Speaker 1: who six foot six, served what was it, sixty eight 526 00:26:03,119 --> 00:26:04,560 Speaker 1: mile an hour for seventy. 527 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:07,160 Speaker 2: Eight sixty eight sixty eight it was in the sixties. 528 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:10,199 Speaker 1: Was it really, Oh my god, it was, you know, 529 00:26:10,359 --> 00:26:12,760 Speaker 1: and it barely got over the net, and I thought, 530 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:16,120 Speaker 1: oh my god, Like I felt so badly for him 531 00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:19,320 Speaker 1: because and on the other side, you've got team who's 532 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:22,000 Speaker 1: choking in the fact that he's cramping. I mean, I 533 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:25,240 Speaker 1: don't think that was physical for him. That was emotional 534 00:26:25,480 --> 00:26:28,520 Speaker 1: that was causing him to cramp. You won't get a 535 00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:32,000 Speaker 1: fitter guy, you know, and he hadn't played super taxing matches, 536 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:34,720 Speaker 1: so I think he's choking. Came in the form of 537 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:39,160 Speaker 1: his body saying, oh, just just tightening up so bad, 538 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:43,439 Speaker 1: and he was cramping, and poor old Sasha was like, 539 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:46,639 Speaker 1: had more opportunities than anyone I've ever seen in history 540 00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:48,800 Speaker 1: to win a Grand Slam, and neither of them could 541 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:51,320 Speaker 1: close the door. And I thought Jerry's comment on Twitter 542 00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:53,760 Speaker 1: was classic when she said, you know, you can hit 543 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:57,200 Speaker 1: the winner to win a win this match, and it 544 00:26:57,280 --> 00:27:00,399 Speaker 1: was I mean, but having said that, Caitlin like, I 545 00:27:00,440 --> 00:27:01,960 Speaker 1: have not been there for a win, to win a 546 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 1: single semi final, but I have been there and felt 547 00:27:04,359 --> 00:27:07,399 Speaker 1: those emotions of feeling like my arm was like picking 548 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:09,960 Speaker 1: up sixty four bricks instead of just a tennis racket, 549 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:13,360 Speaker 1: and that your heart rate is racing and your whole 550 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:16,560 Speaker 1: body is shaking, and I'm sure that both of those 551 00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 1: guys were going through that, and it was just nice 552 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:23,960 Speaker 1: to see two really nice guys play to the bitter 553 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:27,000 Speaker 1: end and that handshake between the two of them. I 554 00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:29,359 Speaker 1: love that they hugged. I know it was in COVID appropriate, 555 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:32,560 Speaker 1: but I love that they hugged each other and gave 556 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:34,240 Speaker 1: each other the respect that they did, and I think 557 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:36,960 Speaker 1: Dominique deserves it because he's been so close for so 558 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:39,159 Speaker 1: long now, and there's no doubt that Sasha will win 559 00:27:39,200 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 1: another one. But I don't know the speech at the 560 00:27:41,680 --> 00:27:43,320 Speaker 1: end when he cried and he couldn't have his parents 561 00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:45,119 Speaker 1: there because of COVID and just everything. I mean, the 562 00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:47,080 Speaker 1: match was not at the highest equalities, but I'll tell 563 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:49,000 Speaker 1: you what the drama was, and that's what we loved tennis. 564 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:52,280 Speaker 2: Yes, the drama certainly was, and look, I only made 565 00:27:52,280 --> 00:27:54,560 Speaker 2: it to collegiate tennis. But actually, in a weird way, 566 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:56,800 Speaker 2: what I was watching yesterday reminded me a lot of 567 00:27:56,800 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 2: our collegiate matches where you're the last one on the teams. 568 00:27:59,800 --> 00:28:02,960 Speaker 2: Have you have leveled it, You're carrying your whole team 569 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:05,640 Speaker 2: on your court. Maybe the level isn't great, but you're 570 00:28:05,680 --> 00:28:07,879 Speaker 2: just trying your hardest to get something over where your 571 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:11,600 Speaker 2: body won't cooperate. I mean, it was relatable, if anything, 572 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:15,520 Speaker 2: which made it seem as hard as I'm sure it 573 00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:17,320 Speaker 2: is to win a Grand Slam, right Like winning a 574 00:28:17,359 --> 00:28:19,200 Speaker 2: Grand Slam is not easy, and the people we've had 575 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:20,879 Speaker 2: playing them have made it look like a walk. In 576 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:23,879 Speaker 2: the park. And what yesterday's match actually was kind of 577 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:28,520 Speaker 2: refreshingly illustrative of is that it's really, really, really fucking 578 00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:31,840 Speaker 2: hard to win a Grand Slam match, and it showed 579 00:28:31,840 --> 00:28:32,560 Speaker 2: in their faces. 580 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:35,199 Speaker 1: Well, I mean, just to finish it and put a 581 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:38,120 Speaker 1: button on it. The fact that you saw Roger Federer 582 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:41,360 Speaker 1: lose a Wembledon final with two match points serving proves 583 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:43,080 Speaker 1: to you how hard it is to win a Grand Slam. 584 00:28:43,480 --> 00:28:47,120 Speaker 1: So yeah, I mean, kudos to both of them. I 585 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:50,640 Speaker 1: like them both so much as people, and I hope 586 00:28:50,640 --> 00:28:52,880 Speaker 1: I see them play another Grand Slam final. It's just 587 00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:55,040 Speaker 1: a little bit better quality, but I hope that they 588 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:56,400 Speaker 1: bring just as much drama. 589 00:28:56,480 --> 00:28:58,239 Speaker 2: I think they probably will. And I want to make 590 00:28:58,240 --> 00:28:59,920 Speaker 2: a note just because I do want to talk about 591 00:28:59,920 --> 00:29:02,120 Speaker 2: the women a little bit before we talk about the 592 00:29:02,200 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 2: clay swing that is upon us it's happening, which is 593 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 2: you know, I mentioned college tennis a little bit ago. 594 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:13,800 Speaker 2: There was an NCAA champion into the Semis who played 595 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:16,840 Speaker 2: an amazingly good match, coming up a little bit short 596 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:19,360 Speaker 2: against Nami Asaka, who is Jennifer Brady, who's having a 597 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:22,840 Speaker 2: bit of a breakout moment after having a couple of 598 00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:27,720 Speaker 2: years on tour middling success, goes to Germany, gets a 599 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:30,560 Speaker 2: bunch of serious training under her belt for I guess 600 00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:33,480 Speaker 2: a year or so, and then comes back rejuvenated. Let's 601 00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:37,000 Speaker 2: talk a little bit about her run and whether college 602 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:39,600 Speaker 2: tennis might or might not have had anything. 603 00:29:39,280 --> 00:29:42,120 Speaker 1: To do with it. Well, listen, first of all, Jay 604 00:29:42,120 --> 00:29:44,880 Speaker 1: Bray is some of the one of the coolest chicks 605 00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:47,400 Speaker 1: onto her. She's so fun, she's so great to be around, 606 00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:50,240 Speaker 1: she's so humble, and you know, I remember a couple 607 00:29:50,240 --> 00:29:53,240 Speaker 1: of years ago when she played Carolina Pishkovin I think 608 00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:54,840 Speaker 1: it was the third round of the USO, and she 609 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:57,240 Speaker 1: was so it was so beyond her. She was so 610 00:29:57,400 --> 00:30:00,200 Speaker 1: overwhelmed by the moment. And then to see her couple 611 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:03,240 Speaker 1: of years later have gone to where she's gone emotionally. 612 00:30:04,120 --> 00:30:06,880 Speaker 1: Michael Guesser, her coach now, has done such a great 613 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:08,960 Speaker 1: job at sort of bringing all the ex's and o's 614 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:11,480 Speaker 1: into her game, making her train hard, making her work 615 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:14,719 Speaker 1: hard physically. She's got the fitness coach, she's got you know, 616 00:30:14,760 --> 00:30:16,960 Speaker 1: she's got all the right ingredients is around her now. 617 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:19,600 Speaker 1: And when once you once you have the game, which 618 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:22,080 Speaker 1: she always had, and then once you have the right 619 00:30:22,360 --> 00:30:24,920 Speaker 1: people around you, then you can reap the rewards. And 620 00:30:24,960 --> 00:30:27,800 Speaker 1: that's what she's done. And she has everything in her game. 621 00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:31,080 Speaker 1: She doesn't have a weakness. She has a huge serve, 622 00:30:31,160 --> 00:30:35,240 Speaker 1: she has great Grade fourhand, her back end has improved 623 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:40,480 Speaker 1: so much. Her movement around the court is exceptional. She bollyes, well, look, 624 00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:42,440 Speaker 1: this kid can win a Grand Slam. There's no doubt 625 00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:44,440 Speaker 1: about it. I just think when you think about how 626 00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:48,840 Speaker 1: close she took Naomio sack in that match, she didn't. 627 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:52,560 Speaker 1: In my opinion, I don't think she really, really, really 628 00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:55,040 Speaker 1: deep down inside believe she could win that match, and 629 00:30:55,080 --> 00:30:57,120 Speaker 1: I think that's the only thing that cost her, because 630 00:30:57,160 --> 00:30:58,960 Speaker 1: her game was good enough to win that match, and 631 00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:01,840 Speaker 1: then you saw what Naomi did my subsequently winning the tournament. 632 00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:05,200 Speaker 1: So I hope Jen takes a lot of positivity away 633 00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:07,200 Speaker 1: from this and knows that, you know what, next time, 634 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:08,840 Speaker 1: I'm not going to let that chance slip and I'm 635 00:31:08,840 --> 00:31:10,840 Speaker 1: going to really believe in myself, which is a reminded 636 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:13,000 Speaker 1: me of Sam Stoza first time she made the semi 637 00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:15,440 Speaker 1: finals of the French Open and then subsequently won the 638 00:31:15,560 --> 00:31:18,280 Speaker 1: US Open a few years later. But I think with 639 00:31:18,440 --> 00:31:21,560 Speaker 1: Jan she wasn't mature enough, wasn't good enough player, she 640 00:31:21,560 --> 00:31:23,640 Speaker 1: would say. Before she went to college, she was kind of, 641 00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:26,640 Speaker 1: you know, a very shy kid and wanted to leave 642 00:31:26,680 --> 00:31:28,560 Speaker 1: Florida and get as far away as she could from 643 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:30,600 Speaker 1: her family. I mean she says that, not her and 644 00:31:30,640 --> 00:31:32,440 Speaker 1: not not because she doesn't like her family, just because 645 00:31:32,480 --> 00:31:35,200 Speaker 1: she wanted to get away and you know, have that moment. 646 00:31:35,240 --> 00:31:36,960 Speaker 1: So she went to USA Land. She had great coach 647 00:31:36,960 --> 00:31:40,400 Speaker 1: there in Stella Sampress, of course, Pete Sampras's sister, and 648 00:31:40,640 --> 00:31:43,040 Speaker 1: Stella basically pushed her out and so Jenny, you're ready, like, 649 00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:45,480 Speaker 1: let's go after two years, similar to someone like e. 650 00:31:45,520 --> 00:31:47,719 Speaker 1: Lisa Raymond who dominated a college and was like, get 651 00:31:47,760 --> 00:31:51,120 Speaker 1: out there and start proving yourself to the professional world. 652 00:31:51,120 --> 00:31:53,240 Speaker 1: And then it took her at a little time to 653 00:31:53,240 --> 00:31:56,320 Speaker 1: get comfortable. But we now see how good she is 654 00:31:56,320 --> 00:31:58,600 Speaker 1: as a player, and there is no question in my 655 00:31:58,720 --> 00:32:01,440 Speaker 1: mind if she continues to do and play the way 656 00:32:01,480 --> 00:32:03,240 Speaker 1: she does and believe in herself that she can win 657 00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:04,960 Speaker 1: a grandson. There's no doubt in my mind. 658 00:32:05,640 --> 00:32:07,880 Speaker 2: Well, I do want to address the fact that, you know, 659 00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:12,320 Speaker 2: college tennis is sort of a little bit more prominently 660 00:32:12,360 --> 00:32:14,640 Speaker 2: discussed nowadays there are a lot of pros men and 661 00:32:14,680 --> 00:32:16,880 Speaker 2: women who have played at least a year or two, 662 00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:19,280 Speaker 2: which for a long long time wasn't the case. You know, 663 00:32:19,320 --> 00:32:20,880 Speaker 2: if you have to go back to the days of 664 00:32:21,560 --> 00:32:24,640 Speaker 2: McEnroe really and Jimmy Connors and a few others who 665 00:32:25,120 --> 00:32:27,440 Speaker 2: who played a couple of years of college tennis. Obviously 666 00:32:27,440 --> 00:32:30,840 Speaker 2: the Max played at Stanford UCLA had a really good team, 667 00:32:30,920 --> 00:32:33,479 Speaker 2: but for the most part players would would skip straight 668 00:32:33,520 --> 00:32:35,640 Speaker 2: to pros And I think that obviously works for a 669 00:32:35,680 --> 00:32:38,160 Speaker 2: lot of players, but I don't think, you know, it 670 00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:40,800 Speaker 2: should be counted out that some can get I mean 671 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:42,320 Speaker 2: not if you're a player like me who like you're 672 00:32:42,360 --> 00:32:44,240 Speaker 2: lucky to play college tennis and get a free education, 673 00:32:44,480 --> 00:32:46,960 Speaker 2: but if you're somebody who's really really good and maybe 674 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:50,400 Speaker 2: just needs a couple more you know, years in the barrel, 675 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:53,600 Speaker 2: as it were, to you take her strength to get 676 00:32:53,600 --> 00:32:55,080 Speaker 2: that variety. 677 00:32:55,200 --> 00:32:58,000 Speaker 1: You need refining and you need confidence, and you need 678 00:32:58,320 --> 00:33:01,600 Speaker 1: to have time away from your family and home to 679 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:04,520 Speaker 1: know if you can't make it in college, you can't 680 00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:08,120 Speaker 1: make it on the tour. That's just bottom line. So 681 00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:10,320 Speaker 1: if you can make it in college and realize that 682 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:13,920 Speaker 1: you have the fortitude to play in a team environment, 683 00:33:13,920 --> 00:33:17,080 Speaker 1: which is not easy to do, and have the responsibility 684 00:33:17,080 --> 00:33:20,680 Speaker 1: of winning all the time on your team. You can 685 00:33:20,720 --> 00:33:23,680 Speaker 1: then take those lessons learned on the tour. I stress 686 00:33:24,120 --> 00:33:25,960 Speaker 1: so much for people out there that have kids that 687 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:28,080 Speaker 1: they're not quite sure about. Send them to college for 688 00:33:28,120 --> 00:33:29,960 Speaker 1: a year. It can, It won't hurt them if they're 689 00:33:29,960 --> 00:33:31,920 Speaker 1: not ready, if they're not lighting the world on fire, 690 00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:35,480 Speaker 1: don't take that opportunity away from them. When they can 691 00:33:35,520 --> 00:33:38,080 Speaker 1: have that, they can turn pro. Daniel Collins is a 692 00:33:38,080 --> 00:33:41,200 Speaker 1: great example. Semi finals a franchise Austrain and Open. Now 693 00:33:41,280 --> 00:33:44,800 Speaker 1: Jenny Brady semi finals of the US Open. These girls 694 00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:49,400 Speaker 1: both went to college. Daniel Collins finished college, so there's 695 00:33:49,480 --> 00:33:52,440 Speaker 1: plenty of time. Women and men are now playing into 696 00:33:52,440 --> 00:33:55,160 Speaker 1: their mid to late thirties on the tour, there's plenty 697 00:33:55,160 --> 00:33:57,680 Speaker 1: of time. It's not a sprint anymore, it's a marathon. 698 00:33:57,720 --> 00:34:01,240 Speaker 1: And if your kid is an emotionally avail, isn't emotionally 699 00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:04,600 Speaker 1: ready to be a professional, college is a great option 700 00:34:04,760 --> 00:34:06,480 Speaker 1: to send them to a good college team with a 701 00:34:06,480 --> 00:34:07,520 Speaker 1: good college coach. 702 00:34:07,920 --> 00:34:10,360 Speaker 2: And it would be great to see more local kids 703 00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:12,480 Speaker 2: take advantage of it, just because there's a lot of 704 00:34:12,480 --> 00:34:15,440 Speaker 2: these teams are sort of under threat of being defunded. 705 00:34:15,960 --> 00:34:18,000 Speaker 2: And for me, you know, most of my college team 706 00:34:18,120 --> 00:34:21,200 Speaker 2: was Eastern European players who I loved and became really 707 00:34:21,200 --> 00:34:22,799 Speaker 2: good friends with. But it was interesting to sort of 708 00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:27,040 Speaker 2: see how few American kids seem to want to be 709 00:34:27,160 --> 00:34:29,640 Speaker 2: able to make that part of their experience, you know. 710 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:32,120 Speaker 2: So for me, college tennis was you know, obviously a 711 00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:34,960 Speaker 2: transformative experience. But I would also say some of my 712 00:34:35,040 --> 00:34:38,520 Speaker 2: contemporaries went on, you know, and had decently successful pro careers. 713 00:34:38,840 --> 00:34:41,880 Speaker 2: But let's talk about the final. Let's talk about Vika 714 00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:49,760 Speaker 2: Osaka deserves attention. Naomi has had such an amazingly poignant moment. 715 00:34:49,840 --> 00:34:52,160 Speaker 2: I don't think I can add to a lot of 716 00:34:52,200 --> 00:34:54,920 Speaker 2: what's been said. You interviewed her on court a lot 717 00:34:54,920 --> 00:34:57,600 Speaker 2: of this tournament. Naomi deserved it. I'm so thrilled this 718 00:34:57,640 --> 00:35:01,759 Speaker 2: is her moment, you know. But Vika, for me, what 719 00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:05,240 Speaker 2: a fantastic, fantastic turn of events that we have her back. 720 00:35:05,640 --> 00:35:07,080 Speaker 2: She's back. Do you think she's back? 721 00:35:08,200 --> 00:35:10,520 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, she's fully back, you know. I mean, obviously 722 00:35:10,600 --> 00:35:12,600 Speaker 1: we had her on the podcast, and you know, we 723 00:35:12,640 --> 00:35:14,799 Speaker 1: heard how tough the last year or two has been 724 00:35:14,880 --> 00:35:19,719 Speaker 1: for her emotionally career wise, you know, just all the 725 00:35:19,800 --> 00:35:21,719 Speaker 1: ups and downs that emotionally she's had to go through. 726 00:35:21,760 --> 00:35:23,439 Speaker 1: So yeah, for us, it was so great to see 727 00:35:23,480 --> 00:35:25,759 Speaker 1: her do so well at the Western and Southern and 728 00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:27,920 Speaker 1: end up, you know, winning the tournament. Obviously she got 729 00:35:27,960 --> 00:35:30,040 Speaker 1: the default in the final, but still so such a 730 00:35:30,080 --> 00:35:35,040 Speaker 1: deserved tournament there and then and then to back it up, 731 00:35:35,320 --> 00:35:38,000 Speaker 1: back it up to get to the finals of the 732 00:35:38,120 --> 00:35:41,080 Speaker 1: US Open, and honest to god, the two women's semi finals. Wow, 733 00:35:41,160 --> 00:35:43,520 Speaker 1: I mean the standard of tennis between Serena and as 734 00:35:43,560 --> 00:35:48,800 Speaker 1: a ranker was out rageously good. And I was courtsied, 735 00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:53,720 Speaker 1: and I mean they were they were just giving everything. 736 00:35:53,800 --> 00:35:56,080 Speaker 1: It was so nice to just sit and watch two 737 00:35:56,520 --> 00:35:59,960 Speaker 1: amazing champions just go at it and then you know, 738 00:36:00,120 --> 00:36:02,160 Speaker 1: shake hands at the end of her tap rackets or whatever, 739 00:36:02,239 --> 00:36:06,800 Speaker 1: and then that proceeded. That was after that Jenny Brady 740 00:36:07,120 --> 00:36:11,480 Speaker 1: and Osaka semi final. That was unbelievable. So, you know, 741 00:36:11,560 --> 00:36:14,440 Speaker 1: the women's standard and the fact that Vicker could get 742 00:36:14,480 --> 00:36:18,040 Speaker 1: through all of those matches again back to back, I 743 00:36:18,040 --> 00:36:19,879 Speaker 1: mean she won you know, as I said, she played 744 00:36:19,880 --> 00:36:21,719 Speaker 1: all those matches at West and Southern and back it 745 00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:24,400 Speaker 1: up and have the run that she had in singles 746 00:36:24,480 --> 00:36:26,640 Speaker 1: and make the final. And I tell you she was 747 00:36:27,840 --> 00:36:30,720 Speaker 1: in my opinion, if she makes a better backhand shot 748 00:36:30,840 --> 00:36:33,439 Speaker 1: at too Love in the second forty thirty and wins 749 00:36:33,480 --> 00:36:36,279 Speaker 1: her service game, I don't think she loses that match. 750 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:39,160 Speaker 1: It was the first shot of the day that I 751 00:36:39,200 --> 00:36:41,400 Speaker 1: saw her get nervous, was the backhand that she should 752 00:36:41,400 --> 00:36:43,480 Speaker 1: have in my opinion, put hit down the line and 753 00:36:43,520 --> 00:36:46,080 Speaker 1: won the game. And she got a little tight and 754 00:36:46,120 --> 00:36:48,160 Speaker 1: I noticed it right away and I went, oh god, 755 00:36:48,160 --> 00:36:50,440 Speaker 1: that was the first tight shot she's hit. And Naomi 756 00:36:50,520 --> 00:36:52,719 Speaker 1: sensed it and it was the same as what she 757 00:36:52,760 --> 00:36:55,360 Speaker 1: did against Serena the night before when Serena mister backhand 758 00:36:55,360 --> 00:36:59,160 Speaker 1: returned and got too Love. I saw tightness in Serena, 759 00:36:59,280 --> 00:37:01,600 Speaker 1: and a great champion like Veka picked up on that 760 00:37:01,680 --> 00:37:04,160 Speaker 1: and said, Okay, I'm still in this match's going She's 761 00:37:04,200 --> 00:37:06,080 Speaker 1: not going to blow me off the court today. I'm 762 00:37:06,120 --> 00:37:08,560 Speaker 1: hanging in there. And there's exactly what Naomi did in 763 00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:11,719 Speaker 1: the final. So you know, everybody out there, just because 764 00:37:11,719 --> 00:37:13,400 Speaker 1: you're getting blown off the court doesn't mean that you 765 00:37:13,480 --> 00:37:15,240 Speaker 1: can't win that match. I mean, look at the Semis 766 00:37:15,280 --> 00:37:17,360 Speaker 1: the finals and look at the men's final. You just 767 00:37:17,400 --> 00:37:20,360 Speaker 1: got to sometimes hang in there because it's really really 768 00:37:20,400 --> 00:37:21,640 Speaker 1: hard to play a perfect match. 769 00:37:22,080 --> 00:37:25,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, it is. And I think that that evening of 770 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:31,080 Speaker 2: tennis following the Osaka Brady match that you just mentioned 771 00:37:31,160 --> 00:37:33,120 Speaker 2: is the that was the night of the tournament. Those 772 00:37:33,160 --> 00:37:35,000 Speaker 2: are the two best matches of the tournament by a 773 00:37:35,200 --> 00:37:38,319 Speaker 2: large margin. I mean, it was so thrilling to watch 774 00:37:38,360 --> 00:37:40,000 Speaker 2: because I truly didn't know who was going to win 775 00:37:40,040 --> 00:37:42,640 Speaker 2: any of those matches, and I kind of decided going 776 00:37:42,680 --> 00:37:44,920 Speaker 2: in I was going to be so happy for whoever 777 00:37:45,320 --> 00:37:48,720 Speaker 2: emerged only from that night, but also holding the trophy 778 00:37:48,719 --> 00:37:51,799 Speaker 2: over their head. And I'm really pleased with how it 779 00:37:51,960 --> 00:37:54,680 Speaker 2: played out because I think Naomi this is her moment. 780 00:37:54,719 --> 00:37:59,200 Speaker 2: It's a really really profound and mature and amazingly stoic 781 00:37:59,239 --> 00:38:01,120 Speaker 2: thing she was able to do, and she did it, 782 00:38:01,160 --> 00:38:04,399 Speaker 2: which was not only play lights out tennis to lift 783 00:38:04,400 --> 00:38:06,960 Speaker 2: her third Grand Slam trophy over her head, but also 784 00:38:08,080 --> 00:38:13,319 Speaker 2: have a narrative about police killing black people unjustly in 785 00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:18,239 Speaker 2: our streets in a way that was so impactful that 786 00:38:18,400 --> 00:38:24,160 Speaker 2: she turned questions around on interviewers and Japanese media is 787 00:38:24,200 --> 00:38:30,680 Speaker 2: now doing profiles of young, middle aged women, men, people 788 00:38:30,920 --> 00:38:34,400 Speaker 2: whose names have been on banners and on masks and 789 00:38:34,440 --> 00:38:37,600 Speaker 2: are now coming to life and the imaginations of you know, 790 00:38:37,840 --> 00:38:39,640 Speaker 2: people across the world who are trying to get an 791 00:38:39,719 --> 00:38:41,879 Speaker 2: understanding of what's going on in our country. And it's 792 00:38:41,880 --> 00:38:44,560 Speaker 2: because this girl was playing not only for herself but 793 00:38:44,600 --> 00:38:46,960 Speaker 2: for an idea. And it's really really inspiring and it 794 00:38:47,000 --> 00:38:51,160 Speaker 2: makes me feel really good about where tennis is, especially 795 00:38:51,160 --> 00:38:52,960 Speaker 2: on the women's side, just as a way to sort 796 00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:56,920 Speaker 2: of speak to the culture and using a platform to lead. 797 00:38:56,920 --> 00:38:58,680 Speaker 2: I thought the tournament did a great job. I thought 798 00:38:59,200 --> 00:39:02,319 Speaker 2: ESPN did a great job, and most notably, nami Osoka just 799 00:39:02,360 --> 00:39:05,640 Speaker 2: all the credit in the world for not only making 800 00:39:05,680 --> 00:39:08,319 Speaker 2: that her moment, but backing it up with a win. Because, 801 00:39:08,360 --> 00:39:10,920 Speaker 2: as Billy Jean King says, you know they're not going 802 00:39:11,000 --> 00:39:12,880 Speaker 2: to listen to you unless you win. She knew that 803 00:39:13,040 --> 00:39:14,799 Speaker 2: she wanted to put her money where her mouth was, 804 00:39:15,480 --> 00:39:19,160 Speaker 2: and she achieved greatness for gender equality. Nami Osaka is 805 00:39:19,200 --> 00:39:20,719 Speaker 2: in the middle of fighting for the same thing, and 806 00:39:21,120 --> 00:39:23,680 Speaker 2: I think we're all we're all behind her. So with 807 00:39:23,760 --> 00:39:28,360 Speaker 2: that said, going into Clay, I was so happy this morning, Renee, 808 00:39:28,400 --> 00:39:30,359 Speaker 2: when I woke up very early. As you know I do, 809 00:39:31,040 --> 00:39:32,680 Speaker 2: and I turned on the TV and it was already 810 00:39:32,680 --> 00:39:35,400 Speaker 2: like middle of the match from Rome today. It was 811 00:39:35,440 --> 00:39:37,799 Speaker 2: so nice to see Clay Courts on my screen. It 812 00:39:37,840 --> 00:39:40,120 Speaker 2: was so nice to have the European timing, so matches 813 00:39:40,160 --> 00:39:43,359 Speaker 2: were already happening in the morning. I'm thrilled. What can 814 00:39:43,400 --> 00:39:45,760 Speaker 2: we expect in the next couple of weeks as the tournament, 815 00:39:46,960 --> 00:39:49,120 Speaker 2: as is, the center of gravity in the tennis world, 816 00:39:49,400 --> 00:39:53,120 Speaker 2: goes to Europe and then culminates. I guess with the 817 00:39:53,239 --> 00:39:56,760 Speaker 2: with Rolangaros, a French Open that's going to be held 818 00:39:56,840 --> 00:39:59,200 Speaker 2: under some kind of normal circumstances, what. 819 00:39:59,640 --> 00:40:02,640 Speaker 1: Were we well. I think the French Federation has to 820 00:40:02,680 --> 00:40:06,719 Speaker 1: do a bit of tweaking to their protocols, is what 821 00:40:06,760 --> 00:40:10,040 Speaker 1: I'm hearing. So we'll see what happens. They know what 822 00:40:10,080 --> 00:40:12,439 Speaker 1: the USCA went through, they know what the US Open 823 00:40:12,520 --> 00:40:15,800 Speaker 1: went through. They also know, other than a one or 824 00:40:15,840 --> 00:40:20,120 Speaker 1: two situations with Benoir and those players, how successful it 825 00:40:20,280 --> 00:40:23,640 Speaker 1: was for them. So I think they start to get 826 00:40:23,680 --> 00:40:27,440 Speaker 1: a little bit panicky when they're you know, COVID cases 827 00:40:27,480 --> 00:40:31,359 Speaker 1: in Europe are definitely not flat. They are definitely going 828 00:40:31,440 --> 00:40:36,840 Speaker 1: up in various places, including Paris, including France, so I 829 00:40:36,880 --> 00:40:38,560 Speaker 1: think they're going to have to tweak a little bit 830 00:40:38,560 --> 00:40:43,000 Speaker 1: of the protocols about how players house, what hotels, what 831 00:40:43,040 --> 00:40:45,799 Speaker 1: they're doing, how they're getting around the site, how they're 832 00:40:45,800 --> 00:40:48,480 Speaker 1: getting around the city, because it's very different to how 833 00:40:48,560 --> 00:40:51,440 Speaker 1: the US Open was put on. So I think they 834 00:40:51,480 --> 00:40:55,640 Speaker 1: have to be very very careful. If they managed to 835 00:40:56,680 --> 00:41:00,200 Speaker 1: get the tournament going, they're reevaluating how many fans they're 836 00:41:00,200 --> 00:41:03,120 Speaker 1: going to be letting in, which it's pretty incredible that 837 00:41:03,120 --> 00:41:06,360 Speaker 1: they're even thinking about doing that. It's going to be 838 00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:09,680 Speaker 1: interesting to see when the first ball is hit at 839 00:41:09,760 --> 00:41:12,080 Speaker 1: Roland Garris what the protocols are going to be, because 840 00:41:12,080 --> 00:41:13,680 Speaker 1: I have a feeling they're going to change a lot 841 00:41:13,680 --> 00:41:15,400 Speaker 1: in the next couple of weeks. Now. Having said that, 842 00:41:15,400 --> 00:41:18,279 Speaker 1: players are also in Rome, they are supposed to stay 843 00:41:18,280 --> 00:41:20,239 Speaker 1: in the hotel, supposed to stay in the bubble, but 844 00:41:20,360 --> 00:41:22,840 Speaker 1: again I don't think it's as tightly monitored as it 845 00:41:23,000 --> 00:41:26,600 Speaker 1: was at the US Open. So on that note, players 846 00:41:26,600 --> 00:41:28,160 Speaker 1: are going to have to really behave themselves to get 847 00:41:28,160 --> 00:41:30,400 Speaker 1: through this time without having a positive test, because if 848 00:41:30,440 --> 00:41:32,400 Speaker 1: you have one or two positive tests, that really can 849 00:41:32,680 --> 00:41:38,439 Speaker 1: turn the whole tournament into a shit show. So we'll 850 00:41:38,440 --> 00:41:40,160 Speaker 1: see Caitlin. I mean, I know that you love the 851 00:41:40,200 --> 00:41:42,879 Speaker 1: red clay, and I'm hoping that Roland Garris goes off 852 00:41:42,920 --> 00:41:48,400 Speaker 1: with no glitches. That's up to the players to behave themselves. 853 00:41:48,560 --> 00:41:51,600 Speaker 2: Let me just ask you a question. Look, we're sitting 854 00:41:51,640 --> 00:41:54,279 Speaker 2: in a country where half of this nation, or at 855 00:41:54,360 --> 00:41:57,840 Speaker 2: least the vocal minority, can't handle wearing a mask to 856 00:41:58,040 --> 00:42:00,840 Speaker 2: safeguard the well being of others. And they can go 857 00:42:00,920 --> 00:42:02,600 Speaker 2: fuck themselves because my kids not allowed back. 858 00:42:02,600 --> 00:42:04,480 Speaker 1: And that's what that's what I was about to say. 859 00:42:04,520 --> 00:42:05,840 Speaker 1: And they can go fuck themselves. 860 00:42:06,000 --> 00:42:08,840 Speaker 2: They truly can. What is it about these tennis players 861 00:42:08,840 --> 00:42:10,640 Speaker 2: that's hard about staying in a bubble? It's it's just 862 00:42:10,719 --> 00:42:14,480 Speaker 2: kind of human fallacies. There's something specific about the individual 863 00:42:14,560 --> 00:42:17,520 Speaker 2: nature of tennis that makes you really, really really have 864 00:42:17,600 --> 00:42:18,520 Speaker 2: a hard time far. 865 00:42:19,360 --> 00:42:20,920 Speaker 1: I don't think it's got any to do with tennis, 866 00:42:20,960 --> 00:42:22,400 Speaker 1: to be honest with you, Ka, I think it just 867 00:42:22,680 --> 00:42:25,640 Speaker 1: it's just a human It's just a human nature to 868 00:42:26,200 --> 00:42:30,120 Speaker 1: hug and to you know, high five, and to want 869 00:42:30,120 --> 00:42:32,320 Speaker 1: to go to dinner out and not have room service 870 00:42:32,360 --> 00:42:34,399 Speaker 1: in your room every night, and like want to walk 871 00:42:34,440 --> 00:42:36,920 Speaker 1: the streets of Paris or Rome or New York or 872 00:42:37,480 --> 00:42:40,239 Speaker 1: you know, Istanbul or Praug. You want to go out, 873 00:42:40,280 --> 00:42:42,640 Speaker 1: you want to see people, you des I'm fine, I'm 874 00:42:42,680 --> 00:42:44,799 Speaker 1: not sick, like maybe I can just go for a 875 00:42:44,920 --> 00:42:49,280 Speaker 1: quick dinner, you know. So it's just it's it's human nature. 876 00:42:49,320 --> 00:42:52,960 Speaker 1: It's really not tennis players. It's I think it's human nature. 877 00:42:53,239 --> 00:42:55,400 Speaker 1: And I think that there are some people that really 878 00:42:55,480 --> 00:43:00,239 Speaker 1: are very you know, adverse to causing any problems or 879 00:43:00,280 --> 00:43:03,960 Speaker 1: being troubled, you know, being the one that's going to 880 00:43:04,000 --> 00:43:06,560 Speaker 1: be the problem child. And then you've got the ones 881 00:43:06,680 --> 00:43:11,200 Speaker 1: like the you know, Benoipers who are like, I'm just 882 00:43:11,880 --> 00:43:15,520 Speaker 1: skirt around the rules a little bit and I'll be fine, 883 00:43:15,960 --> 00:43:18,279 Speaker 1: you know. So it's up to the individual players and 884 00:43:18,840 --> 00:43:22,800 Speaker 1: to protect all the players, you have to protect yourself. 885 00:43:23,239 --> 00:43:25,719 Speaker 1: And you know those ten or eleven players that were 886 00:43:25,719 --> 00:43:29,840 Speaker 1: around Benois playing cards, I'm sure they're not too happy 887 00:43:29,880 --> 00:43:32,920 Speaker 1: with him either. So it's a double combination. You want 888 00:43:32,920 --> 00:43:35,240 Speaker 1: to be the one go ahead, go out, go have dinner, 889 00:43:35,360 --> 00:43:37,120 Speaker 1: go to a bar, whatever. 890 00:43:37,920 --> 00:43:40,920 Speaker 2: Who On a more positive note, and we can leave 891 00:43:40,960 --> 00:43:42,880 Speaker 2: it here because I'm sure we'll be checking in at 892 00:43:42,960 --> 00:43:47,839 Speaker 2: least at some point in the tournament. Favorites, who's well 893 00:43:47,880 --> 00:43:49,960 Speaker 2: poised for this. You have to imagine Rafa on the 894 00:43:50,000 --> 00:43:54,120 Speaker 2: men's side, is I mean, in any situation, he's the 895 00:43:54,160 --> 00:43:56,800 Speaker 2: presumptive favorite, but especially because he's been training unclear the 896 00:43:56,840 --> 00:43:59,760 Speaker 2: whole time, like you didn't even bother with the hardcourt season. 897 00:44:00,040 --> 00:44:03,080 Speaker 2: He's just in there getting his mind perfectly aligned to 898 00:44:03,160 --> 00:44:07,480 Speaker 2: win yet another Rollongaro's title. Can anybody come close to 899 00:44:07,480 --> 00:44:08,360 Speaker 2: stopping him? 900 00:44:08,840 --> 00:44:11,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think Dominique team and I think Novak will 901 00:44:11,040 --> 00:44:12,800 Speaker 1: be there. I think that they are good enough on 902 00:44:12,920 --> 00:44:16,480 Speaker 1: clay to beat him. But he definitely goes in as 903 00:44:16,520 --> 00:44:20,640 Speaker 1: the favorite again. Shocker, what is this twenty team he's 904 00:44:20,640 --> 00:44:23,520 Speaker 1: gonna win? I mean, it's just seven. 905 00:44:23,560 --> 00:44:24,560 Speaker 2: I don't even know. I lost camp. 906 00:44:24,719 --> 00:44:27,040 Speaker 1: I mean, it's just insane. So he definitely is going 907 00:44:27,040 --> 00:44:28,600 Speaker 1: in the favorite. But I think Dominiq team's got to 908 00:44:28,600 --> 00:44:31,360 Speaker 1: feel really good about That's a huge amount of confidence 909 00:44:31,360 --> 00:44:33,160 Speaker 1: to win a Grand Slam. You know, even if you 910 00:44:33,160 --> 00:44:35,279 Speaker 1: haven't beaten top the top three, you still believe that 911 00:44:35,280 --> 00:44:35,759 Speaker 1: you can do it. 912 00:44:35,800 --> 00:44:38,560 Speaker 2: Any think the finals for the past two years, slowly 913 00:44:38,600 --> 00:44:40,560 Speaker 2: creping up on Rapha last year he got a set, 914 00:44:40,800 --> 00:44:43,239 Speaker 2: two years ago had a single set, and maybe he 915 00:44:43,280 --> 00:44:46,800 Speaker 2: finds himself there again. You know, only needs his three sets. 916 00:44:46,800 --> 00:44:50,759 Speaker 1: Well, and when you have beaten someone and when you've 917 00:44:50,760 --> 00:44:52,160 Speaker 1: done it and you know how to win a slam 918 00:44:52,200 --> 00:44:54,000 Speaker 1: and you know what emotions it's going to be, and 919 00:44:54,040 --> 00:44:55,960 Speaker 1: you believe in yourself, I think you believe in himself. 920 00:44:56,000 --> 00:44:58,520 Speaker 1: So yeah, I think Dominique and Novak would the only 921 00:44:58,560 --> 00:45:01,600 Speaker 1: two that can even remotely be close to Rafa. And 922 00:45:01,640 --> 00:45:03,759 Speaker 1: on the women's side, I mean, you know, I'll give 923 00:45:03,760 --> 00:45:05,160 Speaker 1: it a I'll give it a beat or two just 924 00:45:05,200 --> 00:45:07,160 Speaker 1: to see how Rome goes. Rome has always got such 925 00:45:07,160 --> 00:45:09,560 Speaker 1: a great indicator for me. But Simona hall Up is 926 00:45:09,560 --> 00:45:11,680 Speaker 1: going to be there, obviously, because again she's been playing 927 00:45:12,000 --> 00:45:15,640 Speaker 1: only on clay this whole time, so I think she'll 928 00:45:15,680 --> 00:45:21,759 Speaker 1: definitely be She's the definite, definite favorite. Naomi, I'd be 929 00:45:21,800 --> 00:45:23,759 Speaker 1: surprised if he not only plays. To be honest, the 930 00:45:23,760 --> 00:45:25,319 Speaker 1: French open on. 931 00:45:25,320 --> 00:45:27,880 Speaker 2: The surface under the best of circumstances, and I was 932 00:45:27,920 --> 00:45:30,319 Speaker 2: a little bit of an injury with that hammy, which 933 00:45:30,360 --> 00:45:30,680 Speaker 2: is notice. 934 00:45:31,160 --> 00:45:34,360 Speaker 1: I just I don't think clay's her best surface. And 935 00:45:35,080 --> 00:45:38,480 Speaker 1: you never know, we'll see, but Soa goes in and 936 00:45:38,560 --> 00:45:42,120 Speaker 1: his favorite and then you know the usual suspects that 937 00:45:42,160 --> 00:45:45,680 Speaker 1: are hanging around from time to time, but you know, 938 00:45:45,719 --> 00:45:48,200 Speaker 1: with the way women's tenus is going, who the hell 939 00:45:48,239 --> 00:45:49,000 Speaker 1: knows is going to work. 940 00:45:49,040 --> 00:45:53,480 Speaker 2: French one dark horse who you have gotten to know 941 00:45:53,600 --> 00:45:54,719 Speaker 2: very well in the last couple of months, and we 942 00:45:54,760 --> 00:45:59,960 Speaker 2: should leave it here. You know, you're you're your friend. 943 00:45:59,840 --> 00:46:04,360 Speaker 2: The Montrealer Eugenie Bouchard was announced to have a wildcard 944 00:46:04,360 --> 00:46:09,439 Speaker 2: and the main draw. Such great news just because she's 945 00:46:09,480 --> 00:46:12,440 Speaker 2: had such a like great couple of weeks getting the final, 946 00:46:12,480 --> 00:46:16,959 Speaker 2: from making qualities into Istanbul just a couple of days ago, 947 00:46:17,280 --> 00:46:19,560 Speaker 2: had a good crack at maybe winning that championship, coming 948 00:46:19,640 --> 00:46:21,880 Speaker 2: up short, but like you know, into a third set breaker, 949 00:46:22,040 --> 00:46:24,879 Speaker 2: like she's she's playing well, she's on the app. I'm 950 00:46:24,880 --> 00:46:26,960 Speaker 2: sure you've you've connected with her. She thrilled to be 951 00:46:27,239 --> 00:46:28,239 Speaker 2: getting into the main draw. 952 00:46:28,800 --> 00:46:31,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm really proud of her obviously, you know, going 953 00:46:31,520 --> 00:46:32,920 Speaker 1: through a bit of a tough year or two with 954 00:46:33,040 --> 00:46:35,680 Speaker 1: the ranking dropping down and I think it was three 955 00:46:35,800 --> 00:46:38,440 Speaker 1: forty when I started working with her, So so the 956 00:46:38,480 --> 00:46:41,520 Speaker 1: fact that she's you know, wants to be willing enough 957 00:46:41,719 --> 00:46:45,520 Speaker 1: to grind it out. She went and played Prague, you know, 958 00:46:45,520 --> 00:46:48,279 Speaker 1: a tournament in Prague about what we went about five 959 00:46:48,320 --> 00:46:50,799 Speaker 1: weeks ago. She made the couters there and had some 960 00:46:50,840 --> 00:46:53,080 Speaker 1: really good wins over Koota Matoga, who beat pushed over 961 00:46:53,080 --> 00:46:55,720 Speaker 1: at the US Open, and she lost a really tight 962 00:46:55,760 --> 00:46:58,200 Speaker 1: match against Mertons, who we know had a great US 963 00:46:58,280 --> 00:47:01,520 Speaker 1: Open as well. And then you know, she just made 964 00:47:01,560 --> 00:47:04,799 Speaker 1: the finals in istanbul Be Kuznetso, a former French Open 965 00:47:04,880 --> 00:47:08,280 Speaker 1: champion en route to that, winning seven matches there getting 966 00:47:08,280 --> 00:47:10,520 Speaker 1: through Coullie. So yeah, I think it was a really 967 00:47:10,520 --> 00:47:12,960 Speaker 1: deserved wild card. She's made the semis of the French 968 00:47:13,000 --> 00:47:16,400 Speaker 1: Open before, you know, she's obviously top five former player. 969 00:47:16,560 --> 00:47:19,160 Speaker 1: She's really grinding and working her way back. She's working 970 00:47:19,160 --> 00:47:20,960 Speaker 1: with Gil Rayes and he's done a great job with 971 00:47:21,000 --> 00:47:24,200 Speaker 1: her physically. So yeah, I think it was really very 972 00:47:24,239 --> 00:47:26,480 Speaker 1: thankful to the French Federation for giving it to her. 973 00:47:26,560 --> 00:47:29,359 Speaker 1: But you know, sometimes when someone has deserved it, and 974 00:47:29,400 --> 00:47:30,920 Speaker 1: she I feel like ha Is deserved it over the 975 00:47:31,000 --> 00:47:34,520 Speaker 1: last six weeks with her wins and from her past 976 00:47:34,680 --> 00:47:36,879 Speaker 1: and what she's done there in the past, I think it's. Yeah, 977 00:47:36,880 --> 00:47:38,719 Speaker 1: we'll see how she goes if she gets through a 978 00:47:38,760 --> 00:47:40,279 Speaker 1: round to two. She's definitely one of those players that 979 00:47:40,320 --> 00:47:41,520 Speaker 1: believes in herself, so we'll see. 980 00:47:41,840 --> 00:47:45,200 Speaker 2: Well, there's lots to watch her, so obviously we'll have 981 00:47:45,239 --> 00:47:47,600 Speaker 2: to check back in, and we'll do it in prison, 982 00:47:47,640 --> 00:47:49,520 Speaker 2: because I'll make the effort to walk over to you 983 00:47:49,600 --> 00:47:50,040 Speaker 2: after an hour. 984 00:47:50,120 --> 00:47:52,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, can you walk like three friggin' blocks. It's not 985 00:47:52,680 --> 00:47:56,040 Speaker 1: that far to me. You know. Maybe I've had enough 986 00:47:56,080 --> 00:47:58,560 Speaker 1: of zoom. Okay, I've just called the US open talking 987 00:47:58,560 --> 00:48:01,400 Speaker 1: to commentators that are in different I'd like to at 988 00:48:01,480 --> 00:48:03,200 Speaker 1: least get into a room. 989 00:48:04,040 --> 00:48:05,560 Speaker 2: I know, I want to see me in person. I 990 00:48:05,560 --> 00:48:08,200 Speaker 2: get it. Everybody does skin in line. All right, until soon, 991 00:48:08,280 --> 00:48:09,800 Speaker 2: my friend, you will. 992 00:48:10,400 --> 00:48:16,720 Speaker 1: All right, are Reva. 993 00:48:14,960 --> 00:48:17,719 Speaker 2: And that's it for this episode of the Racket Magazine podcast. 994 00:48:17,719 --> 00:48:21,080 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening. Our host is Renee Stubbs. Our co 995 00:48:21,160 --> 00:48:24,760 Speaker 2: host and producer is me Caitlin Thompson. Music by international 996 00:48:24,840 --> 00:48:28,160 Speaker 2: renowned DJ Stretch Armstrong. Thanks to Tim or Jerry and 997 00:48:28,160 --> 00:48:31,160 Speaker 2: then the team at ACAST. Find us at racketmag dot com, 998 00:48:31,200 --> 00:48:34,239 Speaker 2: slash podcast, and subscribe to us at any of your 999 00:48:34,280 --> 00:48:35,399 Speaker 2: favorite podcatchers