WEBVTT - Saying ‘Naurrr’ with Rennae Stubbs 0:00:00.800 --> 0:00:03.400 Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're congratulating 0:00:03.400 --> 0:00:05.640 the neighbors down the street with the year round giant 0:00:05.680 --> 0:00:08.159 skeletons in their yard. It only took three hundred and 0:00:08.200 --> 0:00:11.160 forty four days, but your commitment to bones is finally 0:00:11.240 --> 0:00:14.280 seasonally appropriate again. On today show, we'll be talking with 0:00:14.360 --> 0:00:17.680 Renee Stubbs, former tennis great now a commentator and host 0:00:17.720 --> 0:00:19.320 of the Renee Stubs Tennis Podcast. 0:00:19.560 --> 0:00:21.079 We'll talk about the China Open. 0:00:20.920 --> 0:00:24.040 Golf versus Osaka, and the biggest talents on the WTA Tour, 0:00:24.560 --> 0:00:26.680 plus positive vibes and rat sex. 0:00:27.000 --> 0:00:40.320 It's all coming up right after this. Welcome back, my 0:00:40.360 --> 0:00:42.360 little slices. Here's what you need to know today. 0:00:44.159 --> 0:00:46.840 The WNBA Semi Finals rolled on with the New York 0:00:46.840 --> 0:00:49.200 Liberty Top in the Las Vegas Aces eighty eight eighty 0:00:49.240 --> 0:00:51.400 four Tuesday night at the Barclay Center to take a 0:00:51.400 --> 0:00:53.960 two zero lead in the best of five series. Sabrina 0:00:54.040 --> 0:00:56.640 Nescu dropped eleven of her twenty four points in the 0:00:56.640 --> 0:00:59.320 fourth quarter and finished with nine rebounds while shooting fifty 0:00:59.360 --> 0:01:02.360 percent from the fet Brianna Stewart flirted with the triple double, 0:01:02.360 --> 0:01:05.679 putting up fifteen points eight assists and seven rebounds. Asia 0:01:05.720 --> 0:01:08.319 Wilson attempted a season low four field goals in the 0:01:08.319 --> 0:01:10.399 first half, but ended up with twenty four points and 0:01:10.400 --> 0:01:12.920 seven rebounds to lead the Aces in their losing effort, 0:01:13.200 --> 0:01:16.840 while Jackie Young had seventeen so Liberty row at the 0:01:16.840 --> 0:01:19.360 Barclays was poppin' and Alesia Keys even paid a visit 0:01:19.440 --> 0:01:21.440 to the New York locker room after the game, Rocket 0:01:21.440 --> 0:01:23.160 a Liberty off white jacket to. 0:01:23.160 --> 0:01:26.399 Lead the team in a little sing along concrete jungle 0:01:26.560 --> 0:01:28.200 where dreams I'm made? 0:01:28.600 --> 0:01:28.720 Oh? 0:01:28.800 --> 0:01:31.480 Hold up? Do we have to pay someone if I sing? Anyway? 0:01:31.920 --> 0:01:33.840 The Liberty take a two oh lead to Vegas for 0:01:33.880 --> 0:01:36.559 Game three on Friday, needing just one win in three 0:01:36.600 --> 0:01:39.360 games to advance to the WNBA Finals. After the game, 0:01:39.440 --> 0:01:42.120 Becky Hammond was asked about calling Game two a must 0:01:42.160 --> 0:01:44.000 win and responded. 0:01:43.520 --> 0:01:46.440 Quote, did I say it was must win? I was lying. 0:01:46.560 --> 0:01:49.840 I was trying to bring the drama end quote. History 0:01:49.840 --> 0:01:52.200 doesn't bode well for Hammin and the Aces in this series. 0:01:52.320 --> 0:01:54.920 WNBA teams are eighteen to zero in the postseason when 0:01:55.000 --> 0:01:57.480 leading a series to nothing. The second game of the 0:01:57.560 --> 0:01:59.560 night was a low scoring defensive battle at the start 0:01:59.600 --> 0:02:01.520 but the minute, so the Links ultimately pulled away and 0:02:01.560 --> 0:02:04.760 held off multiple pushes from the Connecticut Sun, winning seventy 0:02:04.800 --> 0:02:07.360 seven to seventy to even the series at a game apiece. 0:02:07.600 --> 0:02:10.480 Nafisa Collier was quiet again, shooting just three or fourteen 0:02:10.520 --> 0:02:13.040 from the field for nine points, and was even held 0:02:13.040 --> 0:02:15.760 without a single shot in the second quarter, but Courtney 0:02:15.800 --> 0:02:18.280 Williams picked up the slack, putting up seventeen points for 0:02:18.360 --> 0:02:21.239 Minnesota in the win. You remember, Link's coach Eryl Reeve 0:02:21.360 --> 0:02:23.320 was on this show right here telling us that this 0:02:23.400 --> 0:02:25.160 team needed a dog, so they went out and got 0:02:25.160 --> 0:02:26.000 Courtney Williams. 0:02:26.160 --> 0:02:28.000 Well, Williams did her job. Tuesday night. 0:02:28.320 --> 0:02:32.040 Elena Smith and Kaylea McBride added fifteen and eleven points respectively, 0:02:32.360 --> 0:02:35.000 and the Links Electric slided right on out of there 0:02:35.040 --> 0:02:37.720 with a dub the Wind snapped a seven game losing 0:02:37.720 --> 0:02:39.760 skid for the Links against the Sun on their home 0:02:39.800 --> 0:02:42.639 court in Minnesota, given the credits first chance in quite 0:02:42.680 --> 0:02:45.960 a while to chant our house, our house as the 0:02:46.000 --> 0:02:49.400 clock wound down. Alissa Thomas led four Sun starters and 0:02:49.440 --> 0:02:52.360 double figures with eighteen points, ten boards, and seven assists, 0:02:52.440 --> 0:02:55.560 while Dewana Bonner had seventeen points in the loss, she 0:02:55.639 --> 0:02:57.440 passed to make a catchings for a third place on 0:02:57.480 --> 0:03:00.640 the all time playoffs points list in the process. That 0:03:00.760 --> 0:03:04.320 series heads to Uncasville, Connecticut, for Game three on Friday 0:03:04.919 --> 0:03:07.800 in the NWSL. The Houston Dash announced in a statement 0:03:07.800 --> 0:03:09.919 on Tuesday that the team has parted ways with head 0:03:09.919 --> 0:03:13.639 coach fran Alonso, three months after he disappeared from the sidelines. 0:03:13.800 --> 0:03:16.040 Alonso hasn't coached a match for the club since June 0:03:16.040 --> 0:03:19.040 twenty second. The Dash initially said his hiatus was due 0:03:19.040 --> 0:03:21.399 to illness, and has more recently called it a leave 0:03:21.440 --> 0:03:24.320 of absence. Team reps still haven't elaborated further on the 0:03:24.320 --> 0:03:27.080 reason behind it. Ricky Clark will continue serving as the 0:03:27.080 --> 0:03:29.400 interim coach for the rest of the season, a role 0:03:29.440 --> 0:03:31.760 he's held since the team's June twenty eighth match against 0:03:31.760 --> 0:03:34.640 the Kansas City Current Clark is the sixth person to 0:03:34.680 --> 0:03:36.839 coach the Dash since the start of twenty twenty two. 0:03:37.000 --> 0:03:38.080 That's a lot of turnover. 0:03:38.480 --> 0:03:40.560 Houston also said that the team will hire a general 0:03:40.560 --> 0:03:43.480 manager soon and that person will be responsible for hiring 0:03:43.520 --> 0:03:45.720 the next head coach. The Dash has been without a 0:03:45.720 --> 0:03:48.880 GM since Alex Singer was fired in late July. Houston's 0:03:48.880 --> 0:03:51.760 currently last in the NWSL standings with four games left 0:03:51.760 --> 0:03:55.240 to play. Also, an NWSL News voting for the Lauren 0:03:55.280 --> 0:03:58.760 Holiday Impact Award is now open. The award honors the work, 0:03:58.800 --> 0:04:01.200 community involvement and ex sample set by the two time 0:04:01.200 --> 0:04:04.200 Olympic gold medalist, FIFA Women's World Cup champion, and recipient 0:04:04.200 --> 0:04:07.360 of the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian SB Award. Teams are 0:04:07.440 --> 0:04:09.880 already lobbying for their players, so if you want to vote, 0:04:09.880 --> 0:04:10.880 go ahead and get to it. 0:04:11.120 --> 0:04:11.800 Oh and you can. 0:04:11.760 --> 0:04:15.120 Vote daily, So if you really feel strongly about someone, 0:04:15.320 --> 0:04:17.400 set your alarm, vote for them every day while you 0:04:17.440 --> 0:04:20.160 make your coffee. The voting closes on Halloween and we'll 0:04:20.160 --> 0:04:21.960 link to where you can make your selection in our 0:04:22.000 --> 0:04:24.720 show notes. Also, our thoughts are going out to all 0:04:24.760 --> 0:04:28.320 of those impacted by Hurricane Helen. The NWSL's North Carolina 0:04:28.360 --> 0:04:31.559 Courage announced that significant proceeds from this Saturday's home match 0:04:31.720 --> 0:04:34.560 against the San Diego Wave will be donated to United 0:04:34.600 --> 0:04:37.359 Way relief Funds to help those impact it in western 0:04:37.400 --> 0:04:41.760 North Carolina. NWSL Players Association Executive Director Megan Burke, who's 0:04:41.800 --> 0:04:44.600 based in Asheville, has also been letting people know how 0:04:44.600 --> 0:04:46.960 to help. She wrote that her community is especially in 0:04:47.000 --> 0:04:48.280 need of baby supplies. 0:04:48.520 --> 0:04:50.320 Will link to places where you can donate in the 0:04:50.320 --> 0:04:50.880 show notes. 0:04:51.480 --> 0:04:53.920 In tennis, Coco Goff advanced to the quarterfinals with the 0:04:54.000 --> 0:04:57.000 China Open on Tuesday after Naomi Osaka retired with a 0:04:57.040 --> 0:05:00.240 back injury. The pair split the first two sets before four. 0:05:00.320 --> 0:05:03.280 Osaka bout out were guarded four. We wanted to see 0:05:03.360 --> 0:05:05.320 that one go the distance. We'll talk a little bit 0:05:05.360 --> 0:05:07.560 more about that match and the China Open with Renee 0:05:07.600 --> 0:05:10.479 Stubbs in a little bit. In college volleyball, there are 0:05:10.560 --> 0:05:12.960 quite a few top twenty five teams in action tonight, 0:05:13.120 --> 0:05:16.840 including number seven Texas hosting South Carolina in an SEC showdown, 0:05:17.120 --> 0:05:20.120 and number nine Wisconsin panavisit to Rutgers, both at seven 0:05:20.240 --> 0:05:23.960 thirty Eastern. Over in the acc it's rivalry Time, UNC 0:05:24.080 --> 0:05:26.600 takes their talents to Cameron Indoor Stadium to face Duke 0:05:26.640 --> 0:05:28.840 at six thirty pm Eastern. We'll link to the full 0:05:28.920 --> 0:05:32.440 volleyball schedule for the night in our show notes. Finally, 0:05:32.520 --> 0:05:35.839 shout out to Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink. On Monday, 0:05:35.880 --> 0:05:39.159 she revealed her engagement via some gorgeous picks on social 0:05:39.560 --> 0:05:42.279 and good job to her fiance Ben Felter, a former 0:05:42.320 --> 0:05:45.159 Stanford rower, who popped the question on the rooftop at 0:05:45.160 --> 0:05:48.679 the Shango La Hotel in Paris Ooh La La Trei chic. 0:05:49.120 --> 0:05:52.359 According to People magazine, Brink was attending a Balenciaga show 0:05:52.400 --> 0:05:55.719 and Felter flew out the surpriser after fibbing and saying 0:05:55.720 --> 0:05:57.440 he had to stay back in the States for work. 0:05:57.720 --> 0:06:02.680 Also her caption, yes in every lifetime, so cute. Speaking 0:06:02.720 --> 0:06:05.960 of cute, those two are like super athlete, super tall, 0:06:05.960 --> 0:06:07.080 Barbie and Ken go. 0:06:07.120 --> 0:06:10.880 Look at the posts. We got to take a quick break. 0:06:10.880 --> 0:06:13.360 When we come back, we say gooday and talk tennis 0:06:13.400 --> 0:06:16.200 with my friend from down on da Renee Stubs. We'll 0:06:16.200 --> 0:06:27.400 be back in a jiff. Welcome back Slices. 0:06:27.560 --> 0:06:29.280 Just want to let you know that this segment includes 0:06:29.320 --> 0:06:32.120 a brief mention of allegations of sexual assault. All right, 0:06:32.200 --> 0:06:36.839 let's talk a little tennis and the China Open. She's 0:06:36.880 --> 0:06:39.120 the host of the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast right here 0:06:39.160 --> 0:06:43.080 on Iheartwomen's Sports. A tennis commentator for multiple outlets including ESPN, 0:06:43.240 --> 0:06:46.040 A four time Olympian, a former number one doubles player 0:06:46.040 --> 0:06:49.440 in the world, with sixty tournament wins, including six Grand Slams, 0:06:49.480 --> 0:06:51.799 to her name. She's a New York Liberty season ticket holder. 0:06:51.800 --> 0:06:53.920 We went wild in the South of France's summer popp 0:06:53.920 --> 0:06:56.520 and bottles and pretending we were Flage's tech crew. And 0:06:56.680 --> 0:06:58.520 I can't wait to ask her a question that sets 0:06:58.520 --> 0:07:02.279 her up to say, nar it's our favorite Aussie Renee Stubbs. 0:07:02.279 --> 0:07:02.960 What's up or day? 0:07:03.560 --> 0:07:06.200 Well, it's uh, Sarah, nice to see you, my friend. 0:07:06.360 --> 0:07:06.840 You too. 0:07:07.160 --> 0:07:09.920 I'm wondering right now what the percentage of tennis watching 0:07:10.000 --> 0:07:11.920 versus WNBA playoffs watching is. 0:07:13.360 --> 0:07:14.840 It's a bit fifty to fifty right now. 0:07:14.840 --> 0:07:17.520 I got to say my intensity for the WNBA is 0:07:17.560 --> 0:07:19.600 a little bit higher than the than the tennis. Believe 0:07:19.640 --> 0:07:22.680 it or not, because you know, as you can see, let's. 0:07:22.800 --> 0:07:23.400 Go in New York. 0:07:24.160 --> 0:07:25.000 You know I am. 0:07:25.280 --> 0:07:27.880 I am fully into the Liberty they're playing against tonight. 0:07:28.040 --> 0:07:30.600 It's been a great series already because we are up 0:07:30.600 --> 0:07:33.280 one zero. But I of course am watching the tennis. 0:07:34.080 --> 0:07:37.120 Yes, tennis and WNBA. We got a double screen thing happen. 0:07:37.160 --> 0:07:39.880 And the good news is the tennis was a is 0:07:39.920 --> 0:07:42.280 early and is in a completely different country, so fewer 0:07:42.320 --> 0:07:45.200 conflicts you have to start with the question that we 0:07:45.240 --> 0:07:47.560 are going to ask every tennis guest on this podcast. 0:07:47.600 --> 0:07:49.120 What color is a tennis ball? 0:07:50.120 --> 0:07:55.640 A tennis ball is a very highlighted green. Yet I 0:07:55.640 --> 0:07:56.000 don't know. 0:07:56.080 --> 0:07:59.440 Actually, it's like a lime like it's like a it's 0:07:59.480 --> 0:08:02.440 like a it's like a highlighted it's like a wham color. 0:08:02.840 --> 0:08:05.000 Yeah, nobody knows if it's green or yellow. It's kind 0:08:05.000 --> 0:08:05.320 of brat. 0:08:05.400 --> 0:08:06.280 Yeah, it's more yellow. 0:08:06.360 --> 0:08:07.160 It's more yellow. 0:08:07.280 --> 0:08:08.120 It's yellow. 0:08:09.480 --> 0:08:10.520 Let's talk China Open. 0:08:10.560 --> 0:08:12.520 I want to zoom out and ask about the reaction 0:08:12.640 --> 0:08:14.600 to the tournament because I saw a handful of tweets 0:08:15.040 --> 0:08:17.760 about poorly attended matches in the early rounds. 0:08:18.120 --> 0:08:19.760 Is that often an issue for this tournament? 0:08:19.760 --> 0:08:22.040 Because I've also seen some of the Chinese players draw 0:08:22.160 --> 0:08:23.720 some big crowds in these later rounds. 0:08:24.240 --> 0:08:25.760 What's the vibe around this tournament? 0:08:26.120 --> 0:08:29.640 Yeah, listen, I mean, it's it's usual in China because 0:08:30.000 --> 0:08:33.240 people work, you know, and they don't tend to go 0:08:33.320 --> 0:08:34.320 to the tennis in the day. 0:08:34.440 --> 0:08:35.360 It's just a thing. 0:08:35.559 --> 0:08:38.840 And you know, because they are they're working class people 0:08:38.920 --> 0:08:40.640 and they don't have a lot of money, and the 0:08:40.640 --> 0:08:42.680 people that do have money tend to go at night, 0:08:43.160 --> 0:08:46.680 and so you know, that's not a surprise. Honestly, that's 0:08:46.720 --> 0:08:48.760 the way it is in Mexico as well. Mexico gets 0:08:48.840 --> 0:08:51.240 unbelievable fans at night and barely anyone in the day. 0:08:52.080 --> 0:08:56.800 You know, Sarah, people have jobs and so particularly right now, 0:08:57.600 --> 0:08:59.920 trust me, in China, they're looking if you're doing your 0:09:00.280 --> 0:09:01.760 as well, so you better be at work and not 0:09:01.840 --> 0:09:02.360 in the stand. 0:09:02.440 --> 0:09:03.600 So that's a bit of a problem. 0:09:03.640 --> 0:09:05.520 I mean, Yanick Sinner was playing the other day at 0:09:05.600 --> 0:09:07.439 first match and there was nobody in the crowd as well, 0:09:07.480 --> 0:09:09.720 and then at night it's packed, So that's a little 0:09:09.720 --> 0:09:10.720 bit of the issue. 0:09:10.960 --> 0:09:11.160 You know. 0:09:11.559 --> 0:09:14.440 When I heard about the China Open, I was thinking, 0:09:14.480 --> 0:09:16.080 I don't know a lot about that tournament, and I 0:09:16.120 --> 0:09:18.480 remember hearing so I went back to look and I 0:09:18.480 --> 0:09:22.000 remember that at one point the WTA actually suspended events 0:09:22.040 --> 0:09:24.480 in China. There was an issue with a player named 0:09:24.480 --> 0:09:29.960 Peng Shui who publicly posted accusing a retired Chinese vice 0:09:30.000 --> 0:09:30.920 premiere of raping her. 0:09:31.160 --> 0:09:32.640 The news got censored in China. 0:09:32.760 --> 0:09:35.720 She disappeared and there was a lot of concern about 0:09:35.760 --> 0:09:39.760 her well being. The WTA actually suspended events when there 0:09:39.800 --> 0:09:43.520 wasn't any proof that she wasn't being mistreated or made 0:09:43.520 --> 0:09:47.120 to disappear, quote unquote. She's made limited public appearances since then. 0:09:47.160 --> 0:09:50.880 She announced her retirement. The WTA kind of wasn't satisfied 0:09:50.880 --> 0:09:52.840 with how things went, but still announced that they would 0:09:52.880 --> 0:09:55.040 return to play in China last year. Do you ever 0:09:55.080 --> 0:09:59.360 hear anything from players about concerns going there or lingering 0:09:59.400 --> 0:10:01.520 effects of that, or is it just a simple matter 0:10:01.559 --> 0:10:03.240 of I guess time has passed and we want that 0:10:03.280 --> 0:10:03.760 money back. 0:10:04.400 --> 0:10:06.520 Yeah. Unfortunately, it's all about the money. 0:10:06.559 --> 0:10:08.880 That's why the WTA are also going to Saudi Arabia 0:10:09.160 --> 0:10:11.520 to play the WTA Finals. I mean, you can't have 0:10:11.600 --> 0:10:15.320 two worse countries really for human rights than the UAE, 0:10:15.440 --> 0:10:18.720 the you know, Saudi's and of course China, so on 0:10:18.760 --> 0:10:19.199 that front. 0:10:19.280 --> 0:10:20.960 Unfortunately, they also offer a lot. 0:10:20.800 --> 0:10:24.600 Of money because as we know, people like to wash 0:10:24.640 --> 0:10:27.200 the money, as they say, when it comes to sports, 0:10:27.280 --> 0:10:30.679 and that's why we're seeing the WTA go back into China. Clearly, 0:10:30.720 --> 0:10:33.240 we don't still know where pun Shui is or how 0:10:33.280 --> 0:10:36.800 she's doing, and that's you know, a concern for every 0:10:36.840 --> 0:10:37.400 single player. 0:10:37.440 --> 0:10:39.080 Of course, it comes up from time to time. But 0:10:39.120 --> 0:10:41.120 at the same time, unfortunately. 0:10:41.040 --> 0:10:43.319 You know, these these women have to work, These women 0:10:43.360 --> 0:10:45.520 have to make money, and the WTA is to make money, 0:10:45.559 --> 0:10:48.760 and so we fall into these issues, which has been 0:10:48.800 --> 0:10:51.720 my sort of gripe for a number of years, really 0:10:51.880 --> 0:10:53.800 is where are the WTA and where are they not 0:10:53.840 --> 0:10:54.880 getting sponsorship from? 0:10:54.920 --> 0:10:56.720 And you think about the great companies. 0:10:56.320 --> 0:10:59.640 Like Ally for example, and you know, Deloitte and all 0:10:59.640 --> 0:11:01.920 these thanies are putting a lot of money into women's sports. 0:11:02.400 --> 0:11:04.120 Why aren't they putting it into tennis. Why aren't we 0:11:04.160 --> 0:11:06.480 going after the allies? Why don't we going after the Deloittes. 0:11:06.520 --> 0:11:08.040 I don't know if we are or we're not, but 0:11:08.200 --> 0:11:10.480 certainly I could think of a few American companies that 0:11:10.559 --> 0:11:13.520 have a few billion dollars that could offer a sponsorship 0:11:13.559 --> 0:11:16.720 to you know, WTA finals for example, and certainly end 0:11:16.720 --> 0:11:19.520 of year schedule when I played, certainly for the first 0:11:19.880 --> 0:11:23.320 let's say twelve fifteen, twelve thirteen, fifteen years of my life, 0:11:23.559 --> 0:11:25.560 the last last couple of tournaments of the year. We're 0:11:25.559 --> 0:11:28.160 always in the United States indoors. So if we can 0:11:28.200 --> 0:11:30.080 find a way get tournaments back here. We have the 0:11:30.200 --> 0:11:32.559 likes of Cocoa GoF, we have the likes of you know, 0:11:32.679 --> 0:11:35.200 Jessica Bogoula. There's so many women in the top twenty 0:11:35.240 --> 0:11:37.360 in the world, why don't we have more tournaments here 0:11:37.400 --> 0:11:39.480 in the US So I would like us to find 0:11:39.520 --> 0:11:42.440 some money coming from US companies rather than China and 0:11:42.480 --> 0:11:43.960 from Saudi Arabia in the future. 0:11:44.400 --> 0:11:46.680 Yeah, the US Opens the last major of the year. 0:11:46.880 --> 0:11:48.680 I don't know if it's changed since when you played, 0:11:48.720 --> 0:11:50.840 but right now, do you feel like a majority of 0:11:50.840 --> 0:11:53.120 players feel like the handful of tournaments in the later 0:11:53.200 --> 0:11:54.800 months at the end of the season are sort of 0:11:54.800 --> 0:11:57.760 a letdown. It feels like a strange thing to ramp 0:11:57.840 --> 0:11:59.680 up to the Open and then over the last few 0:11:59.720 --> 0:12:02.680 months be predominantly in Asia and also not have any 0:12:02.840 --> 0:12:04.040 majors or bigger tournaments. 0:12:04.160 --> 0:12:06.320 Yeah, I've talked about this on my podcast A couple 0:12:06.400 --> 0:12:08.880 of the last couple of weeks is just not playing 0:12:08.920 --> 0:12:12.040 tournaments after the US Open. Maybe finding one or two 0:12:12.120 --> 0:12:15.240 here and there, But bottom lineers, why don't we play 0:12:15.280 --> 0:12:18.480 some exhibitions, play the Billy Jean King Cup, the Davis Cup, 0:12:18.840 --> 0:12:21.080 and really make a World Cup kind of thing after 0:12:21.120 --> 0:12:24.079 the US Open, because it feels like mentally everyone shuts down. Look, 0:12:24.120 --> 0:12:26.160 Serena never played for the last like seven years of 0:12:26.200 --> 0:12:28.080 her career, she barely played after the US Open, and 0:12:28.120 --> 0:12:29.800 I thought that was a good move from her, to 0:12:29.840 --> 0:12:32.000 be quite honest. But you know, the lower ranked players, 0:12:32.080 --> 0:12:34.440 or the players ranked from say ten to one hundred 0:12:34.520 --> 0:12:36.679 or certainly ten to two hundred and fifty, they need 0:12:36.720 --> 0:12:38.760 to play. They need to make money. So if you 0:12:38.800 --> 0:12:41.080 put tournaments on, they're going to go. So, you know, 0:12:41.120 --> 0:12:43.480 we have to find a better way. After the US Open, 0:12:43.480 --> 0:12:45.960 I feel certainly for the top players to see what 0:12:46.000 --> 0:12:48.000 we can do for them that's not as taxing and 0:12:48.080 --> 0:12:50.760 not as stressful, and give them a real season where 0:12:50.800 --> 0:12:52.000 they have a time off. 0:12:52.960 --> 0:12:55.840 Speaking of top players, Coco GoF versus Naomi Osaka, we 0:12:55.840 --> 0:12:58.480 were so excited for this round of sixteen match up, 0:12:58.520 --> 0:13:00.800 their first meetings since Golf one six four, six four 0:13:00.800 --> 0:13:03.960 and twenty twenty two. They alternated wins over their four 0:13:03.960 --> 0:13:07.120 prior meetings, both coming in with new coaching teams and 0:13:07.160 --> 0:13:09.599 an unfortunate finish to this when Osaka broke Golf to 0:13:09.679 --> 0:13:11.920 lead six three, four to three. Golf then won the 0:13:11.920 --> 0:13:13.880 next three games to level the match where it's sixty 0:13:13.920 --> 0:13:16.079 three sixty three heading into a third set. It's exciting 0:13:16.360 --> 0:13:19.080 Osaka retires due to a back injury. What are the 0:13:19.080 --> 0:13:21.280 two sets that we saw teach you about these two 0:13:21.320 --> 0:13:22.680 players and how they're playing right now? 0:13:22.960 --> 0:13:25.680 Well, both playing better, there's no questions. 0:13:25.920 --> 0:13:27.839 You know, a coaching change was important for the both 0:13:27.880 --> 0:13:30.600 of them, just to get fresh eyes, fresh ideas. And 0:13:30.880 --> 0:13:33.199 you know, any player will tell you that a new 0:13:33.240 --> 0:13:35.040 coach will give you some fresh ideas and just give 0:13:35.080 --> 0:13:38.160 you a different perspective. And sometimes that different perspective makes 0:13:38.160 --> 0:13:40.600 you play better just because you're not happier, but it's 0:13:40.600 --> 0:13:44.040 just fresh and so certainly that both of them that 0:13:44.080 --> 0:13:46.200 has helped them. I think Naomi's had a better draw 0:13:46.240 --> 0:13:47.680 than she's had over the last couple of months. 0:13:47.720 --> 0:13:49.200 She's had some shocking draws at. 0:13:49.400 --> 0:13:53.280 The Grand Slams and lost early in those events, losing 0:13:53.360 --> 0:13:55.319 to Makova at the US Open, for example, where I 0:13:55.320 --> 0:13:59.000 thought she would do really well. And Coco, you know, 0:13:59.040 --> 0:14:01.240 Coco has been really consist but she's lacked that, you know, 0:14:01.520 --> 0:14:03.840 big win over the last few months, and so it 0:14:03.880 --> 0:14:05.360 was interesting to see who was going to win it 0:14:05.400 --> 0:14:06.640 when it went to a third, but I could tell 0:14:06.640 --> 0:14:08.320 that Naomi were struggling in the second set. 0:14:08.320 --> 0:14:09.920 Was something you could just tell on her. 0:14:09.800 --> 0:14:13.200 Face and she started serving, like I could see that 0:14:13.200 --> 0:14:14.880 she wasn't getting the bend in her back. I wasn't 0:14:14.920 --> 0:14:17.680 sure if it was her back or stomach muscle strain, 0:14:18.120 --> 0:14:20.920 and so when she pulled the plug after the second set, 0:14:20.960 --> 0:14:22.280 you could tell that there was something wrong. 0:14:22.280 --> 0:14:23.880 It was a shame that we didn't get to. 0:14:23.840 --> 0:14:25.600 See the third set because it would have been interesting 0:14:26.000 --> 0:14:28.480 because when they've played each other, they've played really quick matches, 0:14:29.160 --> 0:14:30.880 and so it would have been nice to see them 0:14:30.920 --> 0:14:33.560 go the distance. But certainly good news for Cocoa, not 0:14:33.600 --> 0:14:34.720 great news for Naomi. 0:14:34.920 --> 0:14:37.520 Yeah, Naomi looked to be in better form before the 0:14:37.560 --> 0:14:41.400 injury picked up. What have you seen from Naomi and 0:14:41.440 --> 0:14:43.200 her return to the court since she took time after 0:14:43.280 --> 0:14:46.000 injuries for the birth of her first child, Like, does 0:14:46.120 --> 0:14:48.200 she seem like the player from before or how has 0:14:48.200 --> 0:14:48.880 her game changed? 0:14:49.160 --> 0:14:51.040 Certainly hitting the ball as well as she ever has, 0:14:51.680 --> 0:14:54.160 you know, but the consistency is still not there. I 0:14:54.200 --> 0:14:55.920 just feel like when it gets to five, six, seven 0:14:55.920 --> 0:14:58.640 balls into the point, and we saw that today in 0:14:58.680 --> 0:15:01.040 the latter part. Now, it was also an issue with 0:15:01.080 --> 0:15:02.640 the back, because she was missing quite a few back 0:15:02.720 --> 0:15:03.520 ends towards the end. 0:15:03.560 --> 0:15:03.960 As well. 0:15:04.640 --> 0:15:06.560 So the bottom line is she just has to get 0:15:06.560 --> 0:15:09.280 the consistency back. Once she gets the ability to make 0:15:09.440 --> 0:15:12.120 a seven eight ten ball rally, then she's going to 0:15:12.120 --> 0:15:14.360 be as good as we've seen her. Is it going 0:15:14.360 --> 0:15:17.080 to be physical, yes? Is it going to be a 0:15:17.120 --> 0:15:19.480 physical issue for her going forward? Possibly? 0:15:19.560 --> 0:15:21.120 You know, I've not had a baby, but I'm sure 0:15:21.160 --> 0:15:21.880 it changes. 0:15:21.640 --> 0:15:24.080 A lot of things down in that area of the back, 0:15:24.160 --> 0:15:25.080 the pell many. 0:15:24.880 --> 0:15:25.600 Are kinds of things. 0:15:25.880 --> 0:15:29.000 Sure, yeah, yeah, So we'll see how she can recover. 0:15:29.520 --> 0:15:31.960 But certainly having her back, you know, she's in the 0:15:31.960 --> 0:15:34.120 top sixty now, so but having her back inside the 0:15:34.160 --> 0:15:36.960 top sort of twenty or ten would be ideal for 0:15:37.000 --> 0:15:39.480 the Women's Tennis Association and certainly for every top player. 0:15:39.480 --> 0:15:41.080 I don't want to play her earlier in the tournament. 0:15:41.320 --> 0:15:42.200 Well, that's why I want to wrap. 0:15:42.240 --> 0:15:44.240 When you're in the end of this twenty twenty four season, 0:15:44.240 --> 0:15:45.720 when you look back at this year's action and you 0:15:45.760 --> 0:15:47.600 look ahead to twenty twenty five, what is the stat 0:15:47.680 --> 0:15:50.600 of American women's tennis? To me, it feels better than 0:15:50.600 --> 0:15:52.680 it's been in years in terms of number of players 0:15:52.720 --> 0:15:53.600 that are making a run. 0:15:54.000 --> 0:15:56.440 Well, hold, they calm the farm on that, Sarah, because 0:15:56.480 --> 0:16:01.720 the women the United States, no Astro no is better. No, 0:16:01.840 --> 0:16:03.280 I disagree, nonis. 0:16:03.560 --> 0:16:06.480 Australia tennis is definitely not better since Ash Party, the 0:16:06.520 --> 0:16:09.400 world number one, decided to go into retirement at like twelve. 0:16:09.680 --> 0:16:12.600 But look, the bottom line is American tennis women's tennis 0:16:12.640 --> 0:16:15.800 has been amazing for a long time. We've had Venus, Serena, 0:16:15.840 --> 0:16:18.080 Sloane Stevens, Madison Keys. I mean the list is long 0:16:18.160 --> 0:16:20.680 for Sophia Kennon, who won a Grand slams you know, 0:16:20.760 --> 0:16:23.160 Sloan won a Grand Slam. Of course, what Serena and 0:16:23.200 --> 0:16:25.560 Venus have done in their career. Danielle Collins has had 0:16:25.600 --> 0:16:27.240 a great year. She's been in the finals of a 0:16:27.280 --> 0:16:28.840 Grand Slam in the last couple of years. The women 0:16:28.880 --> 0:16:31.440 have been great for a long long time, and I 0:16:31.480 --> 0:16:34.680 don't see that going anywhere at any time soon. Jessica 0:16:34.720 --> 0:16:37.560 Bogola just made the US Open finals, so and Coco 0:16:37.600 --> 0:16:38.280 won it last year. 0:16:38.320 --> 0:16:39.520 So the women are doing great. 0:16:39.680 --> 0:16:41.760 The great news is the men are doing better, and 0:16:41.800 --> 0:16:45.000 so they finally kind of got themselves into gear as well, 0:16:45.000 --> 0:16:46.760 with Taylor getting to the. 0:16:46.680 --> 0:16:48.600 Final, Taylor Fitz getting to violent the US Open. 0:16:48.600 --> 0:16:50.280 So I'm not worried about the women. Don't worry, Sarah. 0:16:50.280 --> 0:16:51.600 They're going to be around for a long time. 0:16:51.960 --> 0:16:52.640 It feels like it. 0:16:52.720 --> 0:16:55.000