WEBVTT - The French Connection: Lindsey Vonn 0:00:00.200 --> 0:00:03.680 My doctor didn't really approve it. So let's just let's 0:00:03.720 --> 0:00:04.360 no one tell them. 0:00:04.400 --> 0:00:08.399 Okay, let's have a look at this. This is good, 0:00:09.000 --> 0:00:11.840 this is good form with an above knee. 0:00:12.160 --> 0:00:14.480 As we say, good, a couple more years of practice, 0:00:14.480 --> 0:00:17.760 you might make the Olympic team in LA twenty twenty eight. 0:00:18.079 --> 0:00:20.919 Well, you know, Renee gave me like a like some tips, 0:00:21.360 --> 0:00:23.639 but I don't know, Renee, you promised me you're gonna 0:00:23.680 --> 0:00:24.079 be a lesson. 0:00:24.120 --> 0:00:25.200 I'm still waiting on that. 0:00:25.720 --> 0:00:29.200 Hey, I'll come down to Miami anytime, my friend. All right, everyone, 0:00:29.280 --> 0:00:31.480 welcome to the French Connection, once again, brought to you 0:00:31.560 --> 0:00:34.400 by NBC Sports and Racket. We are here to cover 0:00:34.520 --> 0:00:37.800 the tennis, not only from the French Open right through 0:00:37.920 --> 0:00:41.199 of course back to Paris for the Olympic Games at 0:00:41.320 --> 0:00:43.080 Roland Garros. We are so excited to bring it to 0:00:43.159 --> 0:00:45.120 you and all the tennis in between. But before we 0:00:45.200 --> 0:00:47.080 get to that, of course, it is me, Renee Stubbs, 0:00:47.080 --> 0:00:50.440 alongside that guy where is he? That side Sam Query, 0:00:50.880 --> 0:00:53.199 and we have the one and only one of the 0:00:53.440 --> 0:00:57.320 greatest skiers that has ever skied down a hill, and 0:00:57.400 --> 0:00:59.920 of course I'm going to say it the greatest downhill 0:01:00.360 --> 0:01:03.560 of all time, Lindsay Vaughn, thanks for Johnny us today, Linz. 0:01:03.800 --> 0:01:06.680 Thanks today, Thanks for having me. Hey Sam, how they're. 0:01:06.520 --> 0:01:08.920 Going all right? 0:01:09.000 --> 0:01:10.680 Lind's We're going to get into this because we know 0:01:10.800 --> 0:01:12.840 that you love tennis as much as anybody that I've 0:01:12.880 --> 0:01:16.200 ever met. You play tennis way more than I do, 0:01:16.400 --> 0:01:20.160 and certainly more than pickleball. Sam play. So that in 0:01:20.280 --> 0:01:23.400 and of itself is pretty amazing. But why tennis? What 0:01:24.160 --> 0:01:25.600 do you love about the sport of tennis? 0:01:26.600 --> 0:01:28.880 I always grew up watching it, you know, my dad 0:01:29.520 --> 0:01:31.479 always had an agacy on on the weekends. 0:01:31.959 --> 0:01:35.160 Pete Samprass. I was always drawn to the sport. 0:01:35.319 --> 0:01:37.200 I think my dad really wanted me to be a 0:01:37.280 --> 0:01:40.680 tennis player, but he claims that I was horrible. But 0:01:41.000 --> 0:01:43.600 granted he did make me try at like two years old, 0:01:43.760 --> 0:01:45.800 so you know, I think he should have given me 0:01:45.840 --> 0:01:46.840 a couple more chances. 0:01:48.040 --> 0:01:51.720 But I just love the mental strength it takes to 0:01:51.840 --> 0:01:53.120 be a tennis player. 0:01:53.240 --> 0:01:55.600 You know, obviously you need to be incredibly talented and 0:01:56.040 --> 0:01:58.440 you need to have all the skills. But I love 0:01:58.520 --> 0:02:02.720 being able to see the athletes motion. It's not it's 0:02:02.760 --> 0:02:04.880 unlike any other sport, you know, it's not like football, 0:02:05.040 --> 0:02:07.560 you really can't see anyone's face, and tennis you see 0:02:07.640 --> 0:02:09.200 everything the athlete is going through. 0:02:09.160 --> 0:02:11.040 And I just I love it all. Right, So, who's 0:02:11.080 --> 0:02:12.680 your favorite player? I mean I kind of have an 0:02:12.720 --> 0:02:14.400 idea about this, But who's your favorite player? 0:02:15.440 --> 0:02:17.200 I mean, I don't think it's a secret. I mean, 0:02:17.680 --> 0:02:20.320 minus like Sam, obviously it would be Roger. 0:02:21.360 --> 0:02:23.600 I think Roger is everyone's favorite player. Who's your sick 0:02:24.040 --> 0:02:25.320 who's your second favorite player? 0:02:25.560 --> 0:02:28.959 Okay, that's a really good question. It would be Onick. 0:02:29.400 --> 0:02:32.280 Uh Yanick and I have become pretty good. 0:02:32.160 --> 0:02:36.880 Friends, and we went skiing together last year, which is 0:02:37.040 --> 0:02:41.240 shocking because normally active athletes don't ski. 0:02:41.960 --> 0:02:43.679 I actually was pretty nervous. I don't want to be 0:02:43.760 --> 0:02:44.640 responsible for. 0:02:45.240 --> 0:02:48.359 Anything that happens. But uh yeah, he's a He's a 0:02:48.440 --> 0:02:51.000 great guy, and I'm really excited for him to be 0:02:51.120 --> 0:02:51.560 number one. 0:02:51.639 --> 0:02:51.799 Now. 0:02:52.520 --> 0:02:55.840 Disappointed that Novac had to retire from his match, but still, 0:02:56.680 --> 0:02:58.600 you know, Yon being number one is pretty exciting. 0:02:59.120 --> 0:03:02.040 Yeah, very much. Listen, I confess I skied through my 0:03:02.160 --> 0:03:05.840 whole tennis career. I always thought this is really not 0:03:05.919 --> 0:03:08.000 the smartest although you'll be proud of me, Lens, I 0:03:08.120 --> 0:03:10.040 just stayed to the groom run. So I ski fast, 0:03:10.720 --> 0:03:12.760 terrible on bumps, and I do not go in the 0:03:12.840 --> 0:03:15.960 trees unless someone forces me so because I didn't want 0:03:15.960 --> 0:03:18.280 to hurt myself. But and again, but Yanik is an 0:03:18.360 --> 0:03:21.480 incredible ski He's five billion times better than me, So 0:03:21.639 --> 0:03:24.280 I'll let him go under the slopes. But what about 0:03:24.280 --> 0:03:26.200 skiing and tennis. I mean, you sort of touched upon 0:03:26.560 --> 0:03:28.679 the fact that the emotional side of tennis, and we 0:03:28.760 --> 0:03:31.639 talked about this last year at Wimbledon. Tell me some 0:03:31.760 --> 0:03:34.440 of the things about tennis that you were actually that 0:03:34.560 --> 0:03:37.920 are easier or harder when it comes to tennis and skiing, 0:03:38.000 --> 0:03:44.120 and what you like about them both individually. Well, I mean, I. 0:03:44.200 --> 0:03:47.360 Think you know tennis when you're when you're talking about 0:03:47.440 --> 0:03:50.280 the risk of you know, being down at that point 0:03:50.560 --> 0:03:52.360 or you know, you have all of these you know, 0:03:52.520 --> 0:03:57.040 high pressure situations, the ramifications of of not doing it 0:03:57.160 --> 0:03:59.680 well or you just lose the point, you lose the match, 0:03:59.720 --> 0:04:02.000 you know, and Johann Aga and I have talked about that. 0:04:02.240 --> 0:04:04.200 You know, there's it's not like if. 0:04:04.120 --> 0:04:06.360 You make a mistake, you're gonna hurt yourself. 0:04:06.440 --> 0:04:07.800 You know, you're not going to be in the fences, 0:04:07.880 --> 0:04:10.240 You're you know, there's no physical harm that will come 0:04:10.280 --> 0:04:13.880 to you, So I think that's the biggest difference. 0:04:14.480 --> 0:04:17.160 But I love that. You know, tennis is a is 0:04:17.240 --> 0:04:20.960 a very fast chess game, and it's very similar in skiing. 0:04:21.120 --> 0:04:23.599 You know, you have to make have to have a plan, 0:04:23.720 --> 0:04:25.720 but also be able to make the second decisions. 0:04:27.000 --> 0:04:28.600 I don't know, there's just there's so many things that 0:04:28.640 --> 0:04:31.800 are similar that I love about it. But yeah, the 0:04:31.880 --> 0:04:35.200 stakes are a little bit higher physically on the skiing side. 0:04:35.920 --> 0:04:39.280 Here's the question. Now we're talking about the similarities. A 0:04:39.440 --> 0:04:41.480 match point in tennis. You've been at a ton of 0:04:41.560 --> 0:04:43.840 tennis matches. You know how quiet is and it is 0:04:43.920 --> 0:04:46.520 in the stadium when you're at the starting gate for 0:04:46.640 --> 0:04:49.360 a final run for an Olympic gold what's a quieter 0:04:49.480 --> 0:04:51.960 moment that or the match point of a tennis match. 0:04:53.120 --> 0:04:54.440 Definitely tennis match. 0:04:54.680 --> 0:04:57.960 It's it's really weird in skiing because there's a lot 0:04:58.000 --> 0:04:59.479 of people actually yelling. 0:04:59.200 --> 0:05:03.560 At you and cheering you on, but sometimes yeeling at 0:05:03.640 --> 0:05:05.360 you in the starting gate. 0:05:05.400 --> 0:05:09.320 You know, especially at the Olympics or World Championships, people 0:05:09.440 --> 0:05:13.360 are standing right next to you. It's not like you know, 0:05:13.480 --> 0:05:16.320 in a tennis stadium, you have quite a big distance 0:05:16.360 --> 0:05:18.920 between you and the fans and ski racing, someone could 0:05:18.960 --> 0:05:23.240 actually be standing five feet away from you, and it 0:05:23.320 --> 0:05:25.760 can be a little bit distracting. I love the energy 0:05:26.080 --> 0:05:30.120 of fans of people. I would love to be competing 0:05:30.200 --> 0:05:34.160 in a stadium. I love that kind of energy. It 0:05:34.240 --> 0:05:39.240 really motivates me. But I think the silence it's really interesting, 0:05:39.360 --> 0:05:42.520 you know, on those on those really high pressure moments, 0:05:43.160 --> 0:05:44.600 and again that's why I love it. 0:05:44.800 --> 0:05:48.479 You know, there's so much intense focus on this one moment. 0:05:48.680 --> 0:05:51.560 And I always love Roger because no matter you know, 0:05:51.760 --> 0:05:54.640 if he had a match point or not, he would 0:05:54.680 --> 0:05:57.000 come up with an ace or you know, I never 0:05:57.160 --> 0:05:59.880 counted him out, no matter how hard the odds were 0:06:00.040 --> 0:06:02.360 to act against him, which is you know, just mete 0:06:02.400 --> 0:06:04.640 him so exciting to watch, among other things. 0:06:05.520 --> 0:06:07.440 Yeah, it's a lot. It's a lot different in skiing, 0:06:08.000 --> 0:06:10.000 and also there's just not as many people watching. 0:06:11.400 --> 0:06:13.720 Yeah, that's interesting. You hear the hop hoop hop, you 0:06:13.800 --> 0:06:15.760 know when you're skiing and people are like yelling and 0:06:15.800 --> 0:06:18.000 screaming at you. But it's interesting that you talk about 0:06:18.040 --> 0:06:20.520 being in the gate, how it can be distracting and 0:06:20.680 --> 0:06:22.200 do you feel like something you don't have time to 0:06:22.240 --> 0:06:25.400 be like, hey, Broke, can you just keep it down 0:06:25.480 --> 0:06:28.480 for a second. I'm trying to concentrate here, but I 0:06:28.560 --> 0:06:32.120 want to know you ski with Roger just pretty recently 0:06:32.760 --> 0:06:35.520 during the winter. Give me your thoughts on his downhill skis, 0:06:36.000 --> 0:06:39.600 skiing ability and tips he gave him and etcetera. I mean, 0:06:39.640 --> 0:06:42.520 he did post something today about taking up golf, so 0:06:42.760 --> 0:06:45.120 you know, now he's really getting into the casual sports. 0:06:45.880 --> 0:06:48.560 He is really crushing life right now. Let's be honest. 0:06:48.640 --> 0:06:51.080 I think we would all love to have Rider's life. 0:06:52.200 --> 0:06:55.400 He's clearly greeted. Everything he does as a golf game 0:06:55.640 --> 0:06:58.840 looks impeccable. But his scheme was really good. I mean, 0:06:59.400 --> 0:07:01.040 I think we need a little bit more time on 0:07:01.120 --> 0:07:04.160 the slopes together to sort out some technical kinks. 0:07:04.839 --> 0:07:08.640 I need to change his equipment for one. But but 0:07:08.800 --> 0:07:11.120 he was just he was so loose. He was out 0:07:11.160 --> 0:07:11.960 there having fun. 0:07:12.360 --> 0:07:15.680 He you know, was getting in his tuck. He really 0:07:15.800 --> 0:07:18.480 enjoyed himself. And I was really impressed with his kids skiing. 0:07:18.680 --> 0:07:20.520 You know, they all all four of them were just 0:07:20.640 --> 0:07:22.960 ripping around and Mierka too, you know, they were just 0:07:23.760 --> 0:07:26.320 they were really good. And I think ski racing and 0:07:26.440 --> 0:07:29.160 skiing in general is just a fun family sport, and 0:07:29.360 --> 0:07:31.400 the fact that I was able to join the whole 0:07:31.480 --> 0:07:32.960 family and do it together with. 0:07:33.080 --> 0:07:34.560 Them was was really special. 0:07:35.080 --> 0:07:37.400 Where is that foot what mountain ranges that? Are you 0:07:37.480 --> 0:07:38.120 in Europe there? 0:07:38.200 --> 0:07:40.120 Or is that yeah, we're in Switzerland. 0:07:41.760 --> 0:07:42.160 Of course. 0:07:42.960 --> 0:07:45.680 Of course, you guys didn't have a gold star like, 0:07:45.840 --> 0:07:47.680 you know, ride up the chairlift like a you know, 0:07:47.800 --> 0:07:49.640 security all around you and all that kind of stuff. 0:07:49.680 --> 0:07:53.360 And I was actually really surprised by that, you know, 0:07:53.480 --> 0:07:57.040 I thought that people would recognize him and you know, 0:07:57.200 --> 0:08:02.000 bother him or or maybe me, but everyone was really respectful. 0:08:02.160 --> 0:08:05.360 He was waiting in line with his family, no one 0:08:05.480 --> 0:08:07.800 bothered him. I mean the lines were really long, there 0:08:08.000 --> 0:08:10.480 was a lot of people. I was also worried that 0:08:11.360 --> 0:08:13.320 he was someone was going to hit him, you know, 0:08:13.440 --> 0:08:15.360 so I was just I felt like I was playing, 0:08:16.360 --> 0:08:17.040 you know, keep. 0:08:16.880 --> 0:08:19.160 Away and trying to make sure and no one, no 0:08:19.280 --> 0:08:21.679 one touched Roger exactly. 0:08:21.880 --> 0:08:24.200 Do you have a favorite casual mountain somewhere around the 0:08:24.240 --> 0:08:25.120 world that you like to ski? 0:08:27.160 --> 0:08:30.760 You know, I've I've been around the world racing, but 0:08:30.840 --> 0:08:32.360 I haven't really casually. 0:08:32.080 --> 0:08:36.520 Skied very many places. I would have to say Valdez 0:08:36.520 --> 0:08:41.760 Air in France is amazing. Or Saint Maritz. I love 0:08:41.800 --> 0:08:43.839 Saint Maritz. There's a lot of places that are I 0:08:43.960 --> 0:08:48.360 really enjoy skiing, but I I have to actually go casually. 0:08:48.080 --> 0:08:49.920 Skiing in more places Before I could give you a 0:08:50.000 --> 0:08:52.760 better a better answer, lindsay, you can stay away from Australia. 0:08:52.800 --> 0:08:55.679 Those mountains are not I've been there. They've not long 0:08:55.800 --> 0:08:57.520 enough for you. You'd be down that mountain in like 0:08:57.600 --> 0:09:01.880 three seconds. I was, Yes, I was sixteen and I 0:09:02.120 --> 0:09:05.440 never went back for good reasons. But we've got great beaches. 0:09:06.640 --> 0:09:10.600 But interestingly, today we saw Sabalanca. I know that you've 0:09:10.640 --> 0:09:12.840 been watching the tennis. I know that you get up early, 0:09:13.120 --> 0:09:15.160 like you're into it as much as anyone else. But 0:09:15.360 --> 0:09:17.160 just take me through what she was going through today. 0:09:17.240 --> 0:09:19.880 Clearly we could see that she was struggling, struggling physically. 0:09:19.960 --> 0:09:23.439 There's something you know, either nauseous or whatever was going 0:09:23.520 --> 0:09:25.640 on with her. I want to know a story from you. 0:09:25.800 --> 0:09:28.080 We kind of touched upon it already today, But tell 0:09:28.160 --> 0:09:30.040 me a story where you had to actually go into 0:09:30.559 --> 0:09:33.079 a start gate or a day where you did not 0:09:33.240 --> 0:09:35.160 feel good and how you dealt with that. 0:09:36.440 --> 0:09:38.480 Well, yeah, I was disappointed that she last. I mean, 0:09:38.679 --> 0:09:40.439 I always want to see a fair match. You know, 0:09:40.640 --> 0:09:44.600 both opponents are you know, healthy. Obviously there's not always 0:09:44.600 --> 0:09:46.920 a case, and that was hard to see today. I 0:09:46.960 --> 0:09:48.600 don't know what she was going through, Like you said, 0:09:48.679 --> 0:09:50.640 maybe it was Naja. It seemed like she was out 0:09:50.640 --> 0:09:53.040 of breath and just low on energy. But I definitely 0:09:53.040 --> 0:09:55.599 have had many situations where I've been sick. There is 0:09:55.760 --> 0:09:58.839 one really bad time I had food poisoning. I was 0:09:58.920 --> 0:10:02.880 in Croatia. I hugging the toilet rim just letting it 0:10:02.960 --> 0:10:07.080 all out, and I missed the caravan to the mountain, 0:10:08.080 --> 0:10:11.000 so I had to scramble to find a ride. 0:10:11.600 --> 0:10:13.840 I finally made it up there. I had missed inspection, 0:10:14.120 --> 0:10:16.959 so we everyone gets one chance to look at the course. 0:10:17.080 --> 0:10:17.559 I missed it. 0:10:17.760 --> 0:10:21.520 I literally rolled straight in, puked right before I started, 0:10:21.600 --> 0:10:25.080 and then and then it went. I don't remember how 0:10:25.160 --> 0:10:30.200 I did, which means it probably wasn't very good. But uh, 0:10:30.800 --> 0:10:33.599 but I tried. You know, I hate missing races, you know, 0:10:33.720 --> 0:10:36.600 I think every athlete wants to always put their best 0:10:36.600 --> 0:10:39.360 foot forward, and even if you know you're not feeling well, 0:10:39.400 --> 0:10:40.160 you want to get out. 0:10:40.080 --> 0:10:40.640 There and try. 0:10:40.800 --> 0:10:43.400 And I give some of like a lot for just 0:10:43.520 --> 0:10:45.559 going out there and giving it her best shot. And 0:10:46.240 --> 0:10:50.800 it was definitely her mental strength shown showed through today. 0:10:51.000 --> 0:10:52.640 I mean, I don't physically let her. 0:10:52.640 --> 0:10:56.520 Down, but mentally she was very tough and again disappointed 0:10:56.520 --> 0:10:58.800 to see her lose. But it was a really fun 0:10:58.840 --> 0:11:00.959 match and it's going to be the next round's. 0:11:00.679 --> 0:11:03.360 Gonna be great, sure, going to be interesting to see Paulini. 0:11:03.480 --> 0:11:05.800 It's not a semi final that Sam and I would 0:11:05.840 --> 0:11:08.679 have guessed seeing Pauelini, who, by the way, I can 0:11:08.720 --> 0:11:10.679 say this out loud because I've said it on my podcast, 0:11:10.840 --> 0:11:12.880 is my favorite tennis player to watch. She is silly, 0:11:13.280 --> 0:11:16.680 She's literally this big and she plays like she's seven 0:11:16.760 --> 0:11:20.600 feet tall. She smiles all the time. She's the happiest 0:11:20.600 --> 0:11:22.160 person to be around on the court, and I'm so 0:11:22.400 --> 0:11:25.160 delighted to see her actually be doing as well. And 0:11:25.240 --> 0:11:27.480 she's had the same coach and Sam and lindsay, you 0:11:27.520 --> 0:11:30.520 can both appreciate this forever, and so they've gone through 0:11:30.559 --> 0:11:32.439 the ups and down, so I'm actually excited to sort 0:11:32.480 --> 0:11:34.800 of see this semi It's not one we expected. But Sam, 0:11:34.840 --> 0:11:36.760 real quick, before we get to the next question, have 0:11:36.880 --> 0:11:38.960 you ever puked on a tennis court or before a match. 0:11:40.200 --> 0:11:42.959 No, well, I mean I guess maybe hours before or 0:11:43.080 --> 0:11:46.120 days before. But I was gonna say sometimes as an athlete, 0:11:46.240 --> 0:11:48.720 if you get sick or you have an injury, sometimes 0:11:48.760 --> 0:11:51.280 it helps you on the court. It's like it's all 0:11:51.360 --> 0:11:53.800 you're focused on. You're not focused on, like you know, 0:11:54.280 --> 0:11:57.000 external things. And I've played great tennis matches. I don't 0:11:57.000 --> 0:11:59.680 know about Urina or you, Lindsey, like Skime, I've played 0:11:59.720 --> 0:12:02.400 great as matches before when I've been like partially sick 0:12:02.840 --> 0:12:05.200 or injured, because like I'm just like all right, play 0:12:05.240 --> 0:12:07.360 this point and focus on nothing else. Sometimes it can 0:12:07.440 --> 0:12:08.640 be can be beneficial. 0:12:09.400 --> 0:12:13.439 Yeah, yeah, anyway, So what's the best match Lens that 0:12:13.480 --> 0:12:15.800 you've seen so far at the French I know you 0:12:15.800 --> 0:12:17.719 can't watch every match unless you're up at four in 0:12:17.720 --> 0:12:20.079 the morning because you're in Miami. But but any of 0:12:20.120 --> 0:12:22.680 the any matches that you've just absolutely loved to watch. 0:12:23.320 --> 0:12:25.679 So if I love the Ego O SOCCA match, that 0:12:25.840 --> 0:12:29.920 was definitely my favorite so far. I just I thought 0:12:29.960 --> 0:12:32.360 the level of play was amazing and. 0:12:33.080 --> 0:12:37.320 Look at that look at that tweet for me, Yeah, 0:12:37.320 --> 0:12:38.320 I mean I think. 0:12:38.440 --> 0:12:40.360 I think it would have been an amazing final or 0:12:40.400 --> 0:12:42.959 semi Finally, know Asaka, I haven't seen her play like 0:12:43.040 --> 0:12:46.640 that in a long time, and she was just she 0:12:46.760 --> 0:12:48.679 was really swinging for the fences. She obviously made a 0:12:48.720 --> 0:12:52.439 couple of more errors than Ega, but but it was 0:12:52.559 --> 0:12:53.800 really fun to watch. 0:12:53.679 --> 0:12:55.080 Her, you know, play at that level. 0:12:55.160 --> 0:12:55.360 Again. 0:12:55.440 --> 0:12:57.280 I mean, I know she's she's had a baby, and 0:12:57.760 --> 0:13:00.000 I just think that in and of itself is so impressive. 0:13:00.080 --> 0:13:01.280 Of so I love that match. 0:13:01.320 --> 0:13:02.160 I thought it was amazing. 0:13:02.600 --> 0:13:06.600 Who are you picking men's women, women's sorry, men's women, 0:13:06.720 --> 0:13:09.160 men's champion of each. 0:13:11.440 --> 0:13:14.559 I mean, I really you know, I really wish that 0:13:14.800 --> 0:13:17.520 the Carlos Janick match was a final. 0:13:17.720 --> 0:13:20.240 I really hate that it's always a semi final or 0:13:20.240 --> 0:13:22.760 a quarter final. I always want to see them. 0:13:22.640 --> 0:13:25.320 In a final. I'm going to go with Yan. 0:13:26.320 --> 0:13:28.120 I hope that he he can kind of win this 0:13:28.320 --> 0:13:30.120 and you know, be number one, and I think that 0:13:30.120 --> 0:13:33.760 would be a great ending to the last couple of weeks. 0:13:33.840 --> 0:13:39.200 But on the women's side, I'm a big fan of Ego. 0:13:39.280 --> 0:13:41.600 We're good friends, so I'm I'm going to go Ego 0:13:41.720 --> 0:13:41.959 the way. 0:13:42.679 --> 0:13:44.760 Yeah, I think I think you might be right, although 0:13:45.640 --> 0:13:47.600 I don't know. Kasper Rude might have something to say. 0:13:47.640 --> 0:13:49.280 He's made the finals a couple of times, he's had 0:13:49.320 --> 0:13:52.920 that guy called Ratha stop him a few times, and Novak, 0:13:53.440 --> 0:13:55.600 but it's going to be interesting. Vera of course coming 0:13:55.640 --> 0:13:58.640 in playing very very well as too. But yeah, you're right, 0:13:58.720 --> 0:14:00.520 it would kind of be nice as see those guys 0:14:00.520 --> 0:14:03.520 playing a final for once instead of a semi. We 0:14:03.600 --> 0:14:05.400 all want, yeah, it's all we all want. 0:14:05.679 --> 0:14:09.160 We need the ATP guards to kind of just we 0:14:09.320 --> 0:14:10.400 just realized. 0:14:10.800 --> 0:14:12.959 And it was interesting. Somebody tweeted at me the other day, 0:14:13.040 --> 0:14:15.719 why is Eager playing the number three player and not 0:14:15.800 --> 0:14:17.680 the number four player? And you could say the same 0:14:17.720 --> 0:14:20.120 thing with this situation in tennis. The one is at 0:14:20.160 --> 0:14:21.840 the top, two is down the bottom, and three and 0:14:21.920 --> 0:14:23.680 four get pulled out of a hat depending on what 0:14:23.840 --> 0:14:26.040 side they go up or down. So for people at 0:14:26.080 --> 0:14:27.240 home that don't know that rule. 0:14:27.080 --> 0:14:30.080 That's how we're just pulling the names out of the hat. 0:14:30.120 --> 0:14:32.400 You need to do listen, Sam, and I know I 0:14:32.440 --> 0:14:34.120 don't know Sam did it, but putting your hand in 0:14:34.200 --> 0:14:36.840 there and actually doing a draw is stressful because you're like, huh, 0:14:37.760 --> 0:14:37.920 you know. 0:14:39.440 --> 0:14:42.680 It's like to be pulled out. 0:14:43.000 --> 0:14:45.000 Yeah, you never wanted to do it. You're always asked 0:14:45.040 --> 0:14:46.000 to do it, and you're like, I don't want to 0:14:46.000 --> 0:14:48.000 do the draw. All right, Lens, let's take you inside 0:14:48.040 --> 0:14:50.480 the Olympic village. We know that the Olympics in Paris. 0:14:50.920 --> 0:14:54.200 First of all, are you going to go to Paris? I? 0:14:55.120 --> 0:14:55.880 Absolutely good. 0:14:55.960 --> 0:14:56.320 I love this. 0:14:56.880 --> 0:14:57.080 Yeah. 0:14:57.120 --> 0:15:00.360 Okay. So is there a moment, Lens in your time 0:15:00.520 --> 0:15:03.000 at the Olympics where you have been starstruck at the 0:15:03.080 --> 0:15:03.800 Olympic Games. 0:15:05.400 --> 0:15:11.360 I mean pretty much every moment of every Olympics is amazing, 0:15:11.520 --> 0:15:13.920 and I've always meet someone that I wouldn't expect. 0:15:13.960 --> 0:15:15.560 I think, you know, for me as a. 0:15:15.600 --> 0:15:18.080 Winter Olympian, going to the Summer Olympics is always really 0:15:18.160 --> 0:15:20.800 special because I meet people that I that I normally 0:15:20.880 --> 0:15:24.880 wouldn't meet or you know, maybe haven't met yet. The 0:15:24.960 --> 0:15:29.320 London Olympics, I met Kobe Bryant for the first time 0:15:29.680 --> 0:15:32.800 and that was really special. So I think that was 0:15:33.440 --> 0:15:37.720 probably my my coolest moment at any Olympics, I'd say. 0:15:37.840 --> 0:15:39.400 Was meeting him and spending time with him. 0:15:39.920 --> 0:15:42.400 Do you have a favorite Summer Olympics sport to watch? 0:15:42.800 --> 0:15:43.960 Gymnastics? Obviously? 0:15:44.480 --> 0:15:45.200 Wow, look at that. 0:15:45.280 --> 0:15:48.720 I mean, you listen, let's be really I love tennis, 0:15:48.880 --> 0:15:52.840 and I will always loved tennis, but no one really 0:15:52.880 --> 0:15:55.040 watches gymnastics outside of the Olympics, so. 0:15:55.720 --> 0:15:57.880 You get plenty of tennis. The three and a half 0:15:58.560 --> 0:15:59.240 give full. 0:15:59.080 --> 0:16:02.840 Of tennis, every Grand Slam or every ATV one thousand. 0:16:03.360 --> 0:16:05.840 So you know, I'm gonna go for gymnastics, and I'm 0:16:05.920 --> 0:16:07.880 so excited to watch someone. I think she's gonna be 0:16:08.360 --> 0:16:10.160 just absolutely crush everyone. 0:16:09.880 --> 0:16:11.200 Which is gonna be really fun to watch. 0:16:11.400 --> 0:16:13.440 Yeah, I mean, what a story is to have her back, 0:16:14.080 --> 0:16:16.000 just you know, with the potential of what we saw 0:16:16.040 --> 0:16:17.760 in the last Olympics, for her to come back is 0:16:17.760 --> 0:16:19.920 pretty amazing. As you, as a great athlete would know, 0:16:20.320 --> 0:16:22.000 it's not that easy just to put you know, the 0:16:22.080 --> 0:16:24.120 skis back on and do what she's doing and on 0:16:24.200 --> 0:16:26.080 a beam this big all right, So where are your 0:16:26.080 --> 0:16:27.280 Olympic medals, my friend? 0:16:28.600 --> 0:16:33.800 Oh? Well, two of them are in my sock drawer 0:16:34.200 --> 0:16:38.600 and one of them is hanging up next to my 0:16:38.880 --> 0:16:39.880 Backstreet Boys poster. 0:16:40.560 --> 0:16:41.760 We were hoping you were just going to have like 0:16:41.800 --> 0:16:43.520 a desk in your drawer, right we're at right now, 0:16:43.560 --> 0:16:44.400 you're gonna hold a couple of. 0:16:47.160 --> 0:16:47.200 No. 0:16:47.560 --> 0:16:50.200 I and the only reason I have the one hung 0:16:50.320 --> 0:16:53.920 up is because my friend surprised me with that. Otherwise 0:16:53.920 --> 0:16:55.600 it'd probably still be in my sock drawer. 0:16:56.120 --> 0:16:58.840 Oh that's cute. I have a funny story about Sue 0:16:58.920 --> 0:17:02.320 Bird at her house in Seattle. Not to name drop, 0:17:03.360 --> 0:17:05.560 but I was at her apartment and we played a 0:17:05.640 --> 0:17:08.520 drinking game. This is a true story, and you know 0:17:08.560 --> 0:17:11.120 the flip cup game. So we're playing the flip cup 0:17:11.160 --> 0:17:13.600 and she was on my team and we won. There 0:17:13.680 --> 0:17:15.240 was like five of us on one side, five of 0:17:15.359 --> 0:17:17.320 us on the other, and we won. And she was 0:17:17.440 --> 0:17:19.919 so funny. She turned around and grabbed all of her 0:17:20.000 --> 0:17:24.760 five gold medals and started putting on all her teammates. 0:17:24.840 --> 0:17:27.240 And I thought, who has their gold medals just hanging 0:17:27.280 --> 0:17:31.760 in the kitchen. So there you go. That's a lot. 0:17:32.400 --> 0:17:34.680 Some people have their medals like out and proud. Some 0:17:34.760 --> 0:17:36.840 people kind of have them tucked away, like Lindsay saying, 0:17:36.880 --> 0:17:40.720 it's just like everyone's got a different kind of mentality 0:17:40.800 --> 0:17:43.119 as far as like where do you display your Olympic medals? 0:17:43.119 --> 0:17:43.239 Here? 0:17:43.320 --> 0:17:45.600 Trophies now they go. 0:17:46.440 --> 0:17:47.320 I mean, I have my. 0:17:47.400 --> 0:17:50.560 Trophies lined up. They look really nice. But the Olympic medals, 0:17:50.600 --> 0:17:53.040 I don't know, they're just they're kind of. 0:17:53.080 --> 0:17:56.880 My special thing. Where are yours? Sam? Where are your trophies? 0:17:57.800 --> 0:17:59.560 I was gonna say, I I have no Olympic medals, 0:17:59.600 --> 0:18:02.200 but the trophies that I've got some kind of like 0:18:02.280 --> 0:18:07.359 in the family room. There's a couple like upstairs. But 0:18:07.600 --> 0:18:09.320 I kind of just spread out everywhere. I don't I 0:18:09.320 --> 0:18:10.840 don't have that many. I don't have as many as 0:18:10.880 --> 0:18:11.280 you guys. 0:18:11.840 --> 0:18:14.360 Yeah, well mine, I sort of tucked around all over 0:18:14.400 --> 0:18:16.600 the place, but not out and about. It's really interesting. 0:18:16.800 --> 0:18:17.280 What's that is? 0:18:17.320 --> 0:18:17.840 That is? 0:18:17.920 --> 0:18:21.720 That's that's a that's a joke. That's my French. What's 0:18:21.760 --> 0:18:24.200 not a joke. That's terrible. I shouldn't have said that. 0:18:24.520 --> 0:18:28.160 That is my runner up trophy. I have two runner 0:18:28.240 --> 0:18:30.840 up loser trophies from the French. So I displayed my 0:18:30.960 --> 0:18:33.960 loser trophies because one of our first guests, Mary Carillo, 0:18:34.160 --> 0:18:36.280 was the winner of the mixed doubles, and I told 0:18:36.280 --> 0:18:37.879 her she has that over me because I was just 0:18:37.960 --> 0:18:38.720 a loser there. 0:18:39.119 --> 0:18:41.680 There it is, Well, Mary is great, so it's okay 0:18:41.760 --> 0:18:43.000 a first loser to her. 0:18:43.280 --> 0:18:46.040 She is all right. Lind's we so appreciate you being 0:18:46.080 --> 0:18:48.360 on the show today. Just real quick. You are going 0:18:48.400 --> 0:18:50.800 to Paris the Olympics. Where are you going to be 0:18:50.880 --> 0:18:51.879 seeing the most? 0:18:53.240 --> 0:18:56.840 Oh, I mean again, gymnastics. I really want to do 0:18:56.920 --> 0:18:59.560 the beach volleyball. I think that's underneath the Evil Tower. 0:19:00.520 --> 0:19:02.720 I want to kind of do all of the all 0:19:02.760 --> 0:19:06.200 of the really scenic events. I have to see the 0:19:06.280 --> 0:19:10.639 lay out of where everything is. But definitely gymnastics. And 0:19:11.320 --> 0:19:13.760 I'm really excited about the opening ceremonies. 0:19:14.240 --> 0:19:15.280 Yes, along the canal. 0:19:15.320 --> 0:19:17.360 Apparently want to be amazing. 0:19:18.080 --> 0:19:20.320 All right, well, Lind's we really appreciate you not only 0:19:20.440 --> 0:19:22.719 joining us today talking about tennis. We know I can 0:19:22.880 --> 0:19:25.920 attest you are huge tennis. Wait a second, quickly show 0:19:26.040 --> 0:19:28.840 me your video of you playing tennis today or yesterday 0:19:28.920 --> 0:19:31.120 or whatever it was before your knee surgery, because you've 0:19:31.160 --> 0:19:34.520 had reconstructed knee surgery. Show us, give me, give it 0:19:34.600 --> 0:19:34.879 to us. 0:19:35.000 --> 0:19:38.119 Well, my doctor didn't really approve it, so let's just 0:19:38.840 --> 0:19:39.719 let's no one tell them. 0:19:39.760 --> 0:19:42.920 Okay, okay, look at it. Let's have a look at this. 0:19:43.280 --> 0:19:47.280 This is good. This is good form with abong knee. 0:19:47.520 --> 0:19:48.520 As we say, a. 0:19:48.520 --> 0:19:50.480 Good couple more years of practice, you might make the 0:19:51.040 --> 0:19:54.679 Olympic team in LA twenty twenty eight. Yeah, look at 0:19:54.680 --> 0:19:57.399 this yeah, twenty twenty six in La twenty thirty. 0:19:58.440 --> 0:20:01.280 Well, you know, Renee gave me like go like some tips, 0:20:01.760 --> 0:20:04.000 but I don't know when you promise me you're gonna 0:20:04.000 --> 0:20:04.480 get me a lesson. 0:20:04.520 --> 0:20:05.560 I'm still waiting on that. 0:20:05.760 --> 0:20:08.600 So hey, I'll come down to Miami anytime. My friends. 0:20:08.760 --> 0:20:11.359 All right, well, skiing, les tennis lesson. 0:20:11.600 --> 0:20:11.800 Yeah. 0:20:12.040 --> 0:20:14.159 We actually we do send each other videos of our 0:20:14.280 --> 0:20:16.840 different sports and we do critique, which he did off 0:20:16.880 --> 0:20:20.159 my scheme, which I appreciate anyway. All right, Lens, we 0:20:20.200 --> 0:20:21.920 love you, thanks so much for joining us. We can't 0:20:21.920 --> 0:20:24.480 wait to see you in Paris. And a reminder that 0:20:24.600 --> 0:20:28.640 the US Olympic and Paralympic team trials kick off June fifteenth. 0:20:28.720 --> 0:20:31.199 I cannot wait to see them get into action, all 0:20:31.280 --> 0:20:33.320 of them trying to make the Olympic team, the best 0:20:33.400 --> 0:20:36.800 athletes in the country seek as I said, to join 0:20:36.920 --> 0:20:39.240 and make the toughest team in the world. Ahead of 0:20:39.359 --> 0:20:42.120 the Paris Games. We cannot wait and catch the action 0:20:42.280 --> 0:20:46.320 on NBC Peacock. Then the Paris Olympics, of course, begins 0:20:46.640 --> 0:20:53.919 July twenty sixth. Just give me your thoughts on Novak 0:20:53.960 --> 0:20:56.480 having to pull out as just detrimental not only to 0:20:56.560 --> 0:21:00.520 the tournament, but of course for his I mean going forward. 0:21:00.600 --> 0:21:02.840 This is not a great injury to have at this 0:21:02.920 --> 0:21:03.480 time of the year. 0:21:04.000 --> 0:21:06.159 No, it's a brutal injury for Novak and a brutal 0:21:06.240 --> 0:21:08.360 injury for the tennis community. No one wants to see 0:21:08.400 --> 0:21:10.159 him pull out of the French Open, especially at a 0:21:10.240 --> 0:21:15.080 quarterfinal stage like this. He's battled the two previous matches 0:21:15.119 --> 0:21:18.000 in five sets, which has been an incredible effort from him. 0:21:18.880 --> 0:21:22.320 But you know, a meniscus tear like this, I think 0:21:22.359 --> 0:21:25.080 that's what it is. It's a minor injury. It's gonna 0:21:25.119 --> 0:21:27.680 put him out four to six weeks, maybe eight weeks. 0:21:27.880 --> 0:21:30.119 I'd be shocked to see him at Wimbledon. Hopefully we 0:21:30.240 --> 0:21:32.679 get him back in time for the Olympics in Paris. 0:21:32.800 --> 0:21:35.280 Yeah. I have to say. I've had my two of 0:21:35.400 --> 0:21:41.280 my knees surgic surgically repaired by a miniscus and one 0:21:41.640 --> 0:21:44.400 I came back six weeks later, but I was only 0:21:44.520 --> 0:21:47.760 just playing doubles and I felt like six weeks was 0:21:47.840 --> 0:21:52.720 probably a week or two too soon. So I imagine 0:21:52.720 --> 0:21:54.560 if he is going to have if he's gone into 0:21:54.600 --> 0:21:57.320 immediate surgery to have a meniscus. You can play with 0:21:57.400 --> 0:21:59.720 a meniscus tear. It's just said how bad is it? 0:22:00.000 --> 0:22:02.160 Because I saw him point to hit in the back 0:22:02.200 --> 0:22:03.920 of his knee when he was having issues with it 0:22:03.960 --> 0:22:05.640 and had the trainer come out, and I actually said 0:22:05.680 --> 0:22:07.480 to a friend of mine, I was like, that kind 0:22:07.520 --> 0:22:09.719 of looks like meniscus. I mean, I was totally guessing, 0:22:10.080 --> 0:22:13.560 but when they said meniscus. So there's no question he 0:22:13.600 --> 0:22:16.240 won't be able to play Wimbolan unless he decides not 0:22:16.359 --> 0:22:18.080 to have the surgery, because you can't. I played for 0:22:18.119 --> 0:22:20.520 about two three months with a miniscus tair. It just 0:22:20.560 --> 0:22:22.680 depends on how bad it is. But if he wants 0:22:22.720 --> 0:22:24.399 to win a Grand Slam, there's no way that he 0:22:24.480 --> 0:22:26.760 can do that with a slight miniscus tair. So if 0:22:26.800 --> 0:22:30.560 that's the case, six weeks, my guess minimally, although he 0:22:30.720 --> 0:22:32.720 is into the ru WU, he does all the stuff, 0:22:32.800 --> 0:22:36.000 maybe he can recover a little bit quicker like what 0:22:36.160 --> 0:22:39.600 was that quarterback's name that came back from the Achilles quickly? Anyway, 0:22:39.880 --> 0:22:42.520 Aaron Rodgers, I'm kidding, but anyway, so I think you know, 0:22:42.640 --> 0:22:45.119 Novak certainly has the capability of maybe coming back a 0:22:45.160 --> 0:22:47.320 bit earlier than most. But that is a rough injury 0:22:47.359 --> 0:22:49.000 to have for him, all right, So let me. 0:22:49.080 --> 0:22:51.119 See physical too. A big part of his DA is 0:22:51.240 --> 0:22:52.960 the movement, and so to have it, you know, I 0:22:53.000 --> 0:22:54.720 think he's a guy that's only going to go out there, 0:22:55.560 --> 0:22:57.680 you know, when his knee is one hundred percent and healed, 0:22:57.760 --> 0:22:59.520 and hopefully that's sooner rather than later. 0:23:00.040 --> 0:23:02.800 I know one thing that your little your little crutch 0:23:02.880 --> 0:23:04.680 behind you. He's going to be needing that for a 0:23:04.720 --> 0:23:06.840 day or two after that surgery, so you could probably 0:23:07.000 --> 0:23:08.480 lend it to him, although you're a little bit taller, 0:23:08.760 --> 0:23:11.080 all right. So let's get to know. One of the 0:23:11.160 --> 0:23:14.160 great stories though, is Janick Sinner has been the best 0:23:14.160 --> 0:23:16.800 player this year without question. He has won the Australian Open, 0:23:16.840 --> 0:23:19.639 He's won multiple tournaments coming into this event in the 0:23:19.760 --> 0:23:23.040 next the second Grand Slam of the year, arguably the 0:23:23.080 --> 0:23:25.600 best player this year deservedly gets the number one ranking. 0:23:25.840 --> 0:23:29.920 Sadly Novak didn't wasn't able to at least get to 0:23:30.000 --> 0:23:32.159 the final or keep that number one ranking with all 0:23:32.200 --> 0:23:33.920 the points that he has coming off from now until 0:23:33.960 --> 0:23:36.440 the end of the year. But Janik's been fantastic, but 0:23:36.560 --> 0:23:38.960 also has Carlos Alcaraz. Just give me your thoughts on 0:23:39.840 --> 0:23:41.359 who you think is going to win this match. 0:23:41.960 --> 0:23:44.120 Yeah, I mean Center, even going back to last year, 0:23:44.440 --> 0:23:48.919 you know, winn winning Vienna and then winning the Divers 0:23:48.960 --> 0:23:51.760 Cup finals of the year in winning Australia, winning Miami, 0:23:51.840 --> 0:23:54.159 He's been on an incredible run. Now. It's well deserved 0:23:54.200 --> 0:23:56.880 this number one ranking. Even if Novak didn't pull out here, 0:23:57.280 --> 0:23:59.399 I think Center was going to hit that number one 0:23:59.440 --> 0:24:02.040 rankings by at some point this year. And Alcaraz is 0:24:02.080 --> 0:24:05.359 right on his heels and they're kind of the right. 0:24:05.440 --> 0:24:09.040 They're the feder Nadal of ten years ago, and so 0:24:10.040 --> 0:24:12.080 it's a shame they have to play each other. They're 0:24:12.119 --> 0:24:13.679 on the same side of the draw. As we had 0:24:13.720 --> 0:24:16.240 talked about earlier. I think everyone would everyone kind of 0:24:16.320 --> 0:24:19.320 wants that as a fun finals matchup at every tournament. 0:24:19.440 --> 0:24:22.760 But it's it's gonna be a fun match, It's it's 0:24:22.840 --> 0:24:25.960 going to be something that everyone's excited to want, you know. 0:24:26.080 --> 0:24:28.960 I think sinner, knowing he's number one in the world, 0:24:29.320 --> 0:24:31.440 it kind of gives him a little extra confidence on 0:24:31.480 --> 0:24:34.640 the back end of this French Open, and I'm I'm 0:24:34.760 --> 0:24:36.200 picking him to win it at this point. 0:24:36.640 --> 0:24:36.880 Wow. 0:24:37.080 --> 0:24:39.879 Yeah, I mean, I don't know who's going to win 0:24:39.920 --> 0:24:42.320 between the two of them. They both play so well 0:24:42.359 --> 0:24:44.960 against one another. It is arguably the best matchup. It is, 0:24:45.359 --> 0:24:48.320 without question the big These two are the big two 0:24:48.440 --> 0:24:51.280 now they've taken over from the Big three. Obviously Novak 0:24:51.359 --> 0:24:53.520 is still there, but this is the next generation of 0:24:53.680 --> 0:24:57.600 Roger Rafa and Novak. I don't know. I would say 0:24:57.640 --> 0:25:02.000 that Carlos is slightly more comfortable on clay then Yanick. 0:25:02.040 --> 0:25:04.440 Yannick likes it fast, so I think it's dependent also 0:25:04.640 --> 0:25:07.600 on the on the on the temperature. Andy Roddick said 0:25:07.600 --> 0:25:09.399 it last week that the French Open is probably the 0:25:09.480 --> 0:25:12.600 one tournament that is really subject to the weather. If 0:25:12.600 --> 0:25:15.720 it's hot and bouncy, that will help Yanick a little 0:25:15.760 --> 0:25:18.840 bit make the court quicker. But also the spin on 0:25:18.960 --> 0:25:21.960 the ball and the velocity of the spin of Alcaraze's 0:25:21.960 --> 0:25:24.119 shots will also be helped with the hot weather. So 0:25:24.560 --> 0:25:26.520 it's kind of like a pick them. Look look at 0:25:26.520 --> 0:25:29.440 their look at their matchups against one another, four and four. 0:25:29.680 --> 0:25:31.960 Who's going to be the one that breaks the drought 0:25:32.040 --> 0:25:35.000 and maybe takes over and gets the final and wins 0:25:35.040 --> 0:25:37.479 the French Open. So much on the line between these 0:25:37.520 --> 0:25:40.399 two guys, and as you said, Sam, they're two great guys. 0:25:40.560 --> 0:25:42.639 These two they're just so great for the game of tennis. 0:25:42.680 --> 0:25:45.880 I'm so excited for the next ten years of men's. 0:25:46.000 --> 0:25:48.320 As much watch TV when these two are matched up. 0:25:49.400 --> 0:25:50.800 Wherever I am in the world, I look at what 0:25:50.880 --> 0:25:52.399 time are they play, and I set the alarm to 0:25:52.440 --> 0:25:54.440 watch it, because it's just it's it's like I said, 0:25:54.480 --> 0:25:57.080 it's better than it all from ten years ago. So 0:25:57.160 --> 0:26:00.960 it's a it's going to be. Hopefully they have a 0:26:01.040 --> 0:26:03.399 great match and to kind of entertain the crowd and 0:26:03.560 --> 0:26:04.160 everyone watching. 0:26:04.640 --> 0:26:06.880 Yeah, well, I'm hoping they both get through injury free 0:26:06.920 --> 0:26:08.560 and they, as you said, have a great match, and 0:26:08.600 --> 0:26:12.560 I suspect if they're injury free they will all right, Sam. So, 0:26:12.920 --> 0:26:16.120 of course, the other semifinals certainly not being talked about 0:26:16.240 --> 0:26:19.200 as much as Alkora Sinna, which is understandable in a 0:26:19.240 --> 0:26:21.960 lot of ways. Is of course now Kaspar Rude, who 0:26:22.000 --> 0:26:27.560 got the default over Novak Djokovic, going up against Alexander Zverev, 0:26:27.640 --> 0:26:31.160 who just also had a great win over alex Demonor 0:26:31.280 --> 0:26:33.879 in straight sets. But boy or boy, it was pretty complicated, 0:26:34.160 --> 0:26:36.280 even though it was straight sets for Zverev. It was 0:26:36.520 --> 0:26:38.400 very complicated that match. It could have been a lot 0:26:38.440 --> 0:26:41.639 more difficult if poor old Alex Diemono had won that 0:26:41.680 --> 0:26:43.840 second set. But just give me your whole thoughts on 0:26:43.920 --> 0:26:45.600 that semi on that quarter final. 0:26:46.000 --> 0:26:49.640 Yeah, like you said, it was three difficult sets. As 0:26:49.840 --> 0:26:52.560 well as demon Are played, you never really felt like 0:26:52.640 --> 0:26:54.080 he was going to win the match. You felt like 0:26:54.160 --> 0:26:57.399 he was doing everything he could to like get really close. 0:26:58.359 --> 0:27:00.080 You know, like you said he needed that second and 0:27:00.119 --> 0:27:02.119 said he was in that set point. I think he 0:27:02.160 --> 0:27:05.639 got a little tentative there. I definitely needed that, and 0:27:05.720 --> 0:27:07.399 then in the end did a good job of breaking 0:27:07.720 --> 0:27:10.080 Vera when Zvera was serving for it. Vera, as tough 0:27:10.119 --> 0:27:11.720 as he's playing in, as great as he's plane right now, 0:27:11.840 --> 0:27:15.080 broke right back. But now we've got Zvera against Casper 0:27:15.160 --> 0:27:17.160 route and that's going to be another great semi final 0:27:17.200 --> 0:27:21.480 along with Alcarez Center and you know, the ruths Vera 0:27:21.600 --> 0:27:22.840 is a little bit of a toss up to me. 0:27:22.920 --> 0:27:25.040 I think I'm going Casper just because he's going to 0:27:25.119 --> 0:27:28.600 have a you know, four days off now, and Vera's 0:27:28.600 --> 0:27:30.639 played a lot of match, He's had a lot of 0:27:30.720 --> 0:27:33.159 time on court, so I'm gonna I'm gonna go a 0:27:33.359 --> 0:27:36.840 rude kind of sixty five thirty five there for percentage one. 0:27:37.280 --> 0:27:39.000 Yeah, So I have a question on that. I mean, 0:27:39.320 --> 0:27:41.400 I don't know if you've had a situation where you've 0:27:41.840 --> 0:27:43.840 been at a Grand Slam, you've got best of five, 0:27:44.040 --> 0:27:47.480 you know it's a brutal struggle. You know that Rude's 0:27:47.480 --> 0:27:49.800 going to come out banging four hands, you know, looking 0:27:49.880 --> 0:27:52.560 for the forehand, all all of the things. But tell 0:27:52.640 --> 0:27:55.240 me from your perspective, as like a best of five situation, 0:27:55.440 --> 0:27:58.920 Casper hasn't played in like four days essentially for him 0:27:59.000 --> 0:28:00.919 to go up now and play guy that's gotten through 0:28:00.960 --> 0:28:02.800 a lot of tough matches, and I don't know what 0:28:02.880 --> 0:28:05.199 it is as very he plays unbelievably long matches. Look 0:28:05.240 --> 0:28:06.960 at these stray and open. He got through some really 0:28:07.000 --> 0:28:10.880 long matches there, but not does it help? But does 0:28:10.920 --> 0:28:14.159 it hurt in some respects as well? That rud hasn't 0:28:14.160 --> 0:28:16.160 played a match in four days? So do you lose 0:28:16.359 --> 0:28:20.720 your like your match, prep your match, Like, tell me, 0:28:20.760 --> 0:28:22.679 give me a little bit of what you think about that, right, 0:28:23.640 --> 0:28:24.040 you know, I. 0:28:24.040 --> 0:28:26.760 Think it's a little bit of like, you know, sorry, 0:28:26.880 --> 0:28:29.679 it's okay, Ruby, I. 0:28:29.880 --> 0:28:31.120 Like this, your dog. 0:28:31.320 --> 0:28:34.440 You got a dog in here. You leave that on? 0:28:34.640 --> 0:28:34.960 Please? 0:28:35.359 --> 0:28:37.520 Yeah, leave that on. You know it's gonna be four 0:28:37.600 --> 0:28:39.760 days off. I don't think that's enough time for him 0:28:39.800 --> 0:28:41.600 to get rusty. I think I think he would have 0:28:41.640 --> 0:28:43.440 signed up for that before the tournament started. I think 0:28:43.480 --> 0:28:45.840 the four days is a short enough time where he's 0:28:45.840 --> 0:28:48.920 still gonna be confident coming off three prior matches. He's 0:28:49.240 --> 0:28:51.280 he's been to the finals here twice before, so it's 0:28:51.320 --> 0:28:54.360 nothing new. So I think for Casper, he's gonna go 0:28:54.400 --> 0:28:56.800 into this match literally feeling one hundred percent. And I 0:28:56.920 --> 0:28:59.560 expect them to have I expect him to have zero 0:28:59.680 --> 0:29:01.960 Russ expect them to come out firing from the first shot. 0:29:02.400 --> 0:29:04.560 And and Zverev, like you said, he's played a lot 0:29:04.600 --> 0:29:07.920 of long matches in his career. He's extremely fit. I 0:29:07.960 --> 0:29:09.920 don't think the fact that he's gone five cent or 0:29:09.920 --> 0:29:11.840 five setter is going to make that much of a difference, 0:29:12.880 --> 0:29:15.920 unless they do go five sets themselves. But I expect 0:29:16.040 --> 0:29:18.680 Vereb to come out and be ready to go as 0:29:18.720 --> 0:29:20.240 well in two days time. 0:29:21.120 --> 0:29:23.080 Well, I picked Zvereb. I didn't know what was going 0:29:23.120 --> 0:29:25.200 to happen to Novak. Clearly none of us knew that 0:29:25.240 --> 0:29:26.840 he would pull out in the quarter finals. That's just 0:29:26.920 --> 0:29:30.080 unheard off for him. So he's obviously very injured. But 0:29:30.280 --> 0:29:32.240 I did pick Zverev to make the finals. I don't 0:29:32.280 --> 0:29:33.800 think he's going to win the tournament. I think he 0:29:33.960 --> 0:29:35.960 gets too tight. We saw it even when he served 0:29:36.000 --> 0:29:38.760 for the match against Alex Demonor. He didn't close out 0:29:39.320 --> 0:29:41.040 the game, and those are sort of the games you 0:29:41.120 --> 0:29:43.520 expect someone who wants to win the tournament close those 0:29:43.560 --> 0:29:46.440 games out, even though he broke. But you have to 0:29:46.480 --> 0:29:49.200 think the casker with the days off, with having thrashed 0:29:49.320 --> 0:29:51.600 Zverev last year, I think Zvera is a better player 0:29:51.640 --> 0:29:53.840 this year. He comes in with tons of confidence after 0:29:53.880 --> 0:29:57.080 winning in Rome, and the matchup is it'll be interesting. 0:29:57.600 --> 0:29:59.640 I think Zverev serves really well. He has a chance, 0:29:59.680 --> 0:30:01.040 but you have have to think with the rest with 0:30:01.160 --> 0:30:03.680 Casper's also, let's not forget about Casper Rude. I mean, 0:30:03.720 --> 0:30:06.680 this guy's been the perennial runner up, really, I mean 0:30:07.000 --> 0:30:10.080 Novak Rafa without them, he wins a French Open. He 0:30:10.200 --> 0:30:12.120 probably thinks this is his best chance to do it. 0:30:12.520 --> 0:30:15.360 You know, this year, having had the opportunity to have 0:30:15.480 --> 0:30:17.960 the rest day against Novak and going up against Verev, 0:30:17.960 --> 0:30:21.080 who he has a great record against, clearly on clay. 0:30:21.320 --> 0:30:24.840 So look, the bottom line is, you don't know, we 0:30:24.960 --> 0:30:26.760 throw the balls in the airt we let them play 0:30:26.800 --> 0:30:28.720 and that's the best thing about the French Open this year. 0:30:28.800 --> 0:30:31.400 It's been very unexpected. Look at the women's some of 0:30:31.440 --> 0:30:34.320 the surprises there, but certainly with the men's probably what 0:30:34.440 --> 0:30:37.440 we expected in some ways other than Novak, but rude 0:30:37.480 --> 0:30:40.080 being there is no surprise because he's been so good 0:30:40.240 --> 0:30:43.840 in rolling ger So give me. You gave me your prediction, 0:30:44.080 --> 0:30:46.360 but give me a prediction for the final on what 0:30:46.480 --> 0:30:47.880 you think we're going to see in the men's. 0:30:48.200 --> 0:30:49.880 Yeah, so I'm going to take I'm going to take 0:30:49.960 --> 0:30:53.040 Casper over Zverev. I think to Casper is a clay 0:30:53.120 --> 0:30:55.840 quarter like he's made two finals before, he's loving this. 0:30:56.280 --> 0:30:58.120 On the other side, I'm going to go with Cinner 0:30:58.440 --> 0:31:01.600 over al Karez and then the more than I think 0:31:01.600 --> 0:31:04.200 about it here, I'm gonna go with Casper Rudd in 0:31:04.320 --> 0:31:08.400 the for the for the title. You know what he's like, 0:31:08.520 --> 0:31:10.880 you said, I think he looks at this draw and 0:31:11.000 --> 0:31:12.920 kind of says like, Okay, maybe this is the time 0:31:12.960 --> 0:31:15.000 when I can win it. I've made two finals, I've 0:31:15.040 --> 0:31:18.000 lost the Novak, I've lost to Rafa. Those guys aren't here. 0:31:18.280 --> 0:31:21.520 This is my time. He's kind of quietly going through 0:31:21.520 --> 0:31:22.760 the draw. I guess you would say, you know, a 0:31:22.800 --> 0:31:24.440 lot a lot of people are talking about him. They're 0:31:24.440 --> 0:31:27.200 talking about Center and al KaAZ and Zara, So I 0:31:27.240 --> 0:31:28.840 think he's just going to kind of go into the radar. 0:31:29.640 --> 0:31:34.120 He's winning matches relatively easily, and this is his tournament 0:31:34.200 --> 0:31:34.400 to win. 0:31:34.800 --> 0:31:36.520 I like it. Sam. You always go for the you know, 0:31:36.640 --> 0:31:38.240 the random stuff and you throw it out there, and 0:31:38.360 --> 0:31:41.120 I appreciate it. Listen, you're not wrong. But the bottom 0:31:41.160 --> 0:31:43.720 line is if he does win against vera hottest player 0:31:43.800 --> 0:31:45.600 coming into the tournament, he has to play against the 0:31:45.600 --> 0:31:48.120 two hottest players over the last you know, year and 0:31:48.160 --> 0:31:50.560 a half, let's say, other than Novak. So if he's 0:31:50.600 --> 0:31:52.280 gonna win it, he's going to have to do it 0:31:52.360 --> 0:31:54.440 the hard way. That's there's no doubt about that, and 0:31:54.520 --> 0:31:57.960 he certainly will earn his French Open title. We can't 0:31:58.000 --> 0:32:00.840 we count wait for it. It's going to be great semifinals. 0:32:01.360 --> 0:32:03.720 All right, let's get to the lad is. It's time 0:32:03.800 --> 0:32:07.200 to talk about them. What we saw today was pretty extraordinary. 0:32:07.280 --> 0:32:10.520 From the upset cut, this is not what we thought. 0:32:10.600 --> 0:32:13.520 But before we get to that, let's preview the number 0:32:13.560 --> 0:32:16.080 one player in the world, the most dominant player at 0:32:16.120 --> 0:32:19.280 this tournament over the last several years, Eageron Tech going 0:32:19.400 --> 0:32:22.120 up against Toco a golf. They've played each other a 0:32:22.160 --> 0:32:24.400 couple of times here at the French but and the 0:32:24.480 --> 0:32:27.960 head to heads certainly are very favorable for eager Tech. 0:32:28.280 --> 0:32:30.400 But Coco having won a Grand Slam, now she knows 0:32:30.440 --> 0:32:33.880 what it takes. Just uh, who wins here, Sammy. 0:32:34.640 --> 0:32:37.800 It's Eager I mean you, I hope, I hope you 0:32:37.920 --> 0:32:39.800 can pull the upset. It's so hard to get go 0:32:39.880 --> 0:32:42.600 against eager right now. She's so dominant, not only on clay, 0:32:42.720 --> 0:32:44.720 but against Coco as well. We see there she's ten 0:32:44.800 --> 0:32:47.640 and one overall, four and oh on clay, And you know, 0:32:47.760 --> 0:32:49.400 as in the top half, it's kind of work. We've 0:32:49.400 --> 0:32:51.640 got two heavy hitters on the top half of the 0:32:51.680 --> 0:32:55.720 woman's draw and two somewhat unknown girls on the on 0:32:55.800 --> 0:32:57.320 the bottom half. So I think a lot of people 0:32:57.360 --> 0:33:00.760 are almost looking at this matchup as the final. Whoever 0:33:00.840 --> 0:33:03.520 wins this will be a pretty heavy fever in the final. 0:33:03.600 --> 0:33:07.680 But I got to go with Eager here. She's just 0:33:07.840 --> 0:33:09.160 too dominant in my opinion. 0:33:09.240 --> 0:33:11.520 What about you, Yeah, look, I think that as it 0:33:11.680 --> 0:33:14.479 was against Osaka, Osaka's ability to really hit anyone off 0:33:14.520 --> 0:33:17.360 the court, Coco doesn't quite have that ability on the forehand. 0:33:17.400 --> 0:33:19.440 Certainly on the back end, she has arguably the best 0:33:19.480 --> 0:33:22.160 back end in women's tennis. But I think the matchup 0:33:22.280 --> 0:33:24.360 is the issue here. Ega loves to hit the forehand 0:33:24.400 --> 0:33:26.440 cross court and heavy and deep, and that goes into 0:33:26.520 --> 0:33:30.160 the weaker side of Coco. Eventually gets one a bit 0:33:30.200 --> 0:33:32.320 short and then Eager takes control of the point again. 0:33:32.360 --> 0:33:35.280 So this is a little bit more about you know, 0:33:35.680 --> 0:33:37.400 Coco's going to have to serve at her best, She's 0:33:37.440 --> 0:33:39.280 going to have to have a high percentage of first serves. 0:33:39.280 --> 0:33:42.720 In her second serve will get punished big time by Eager, 0:33:42.840 --> 0:33:45.360 and that's part of the issue as well. On the clay, 0:33:45.400 --> 0:33:46.920 it sits up for Eager to do a little bit 0:33:46.960 --> 0:33:49.760 more with it. Where's a post. On hard court, her 0:33:49.800 --> 0:33:52.440 ball stays a bit lower, gives Eager a few more 0:33:52.520 --> 0:33:54.640 issues on the forehand, But overall on the clay, I 0:33:54.720 --> 0:33:57.440 just thinking Eager shontek is by far the favorite. Having 0:33:57.520 --> 0:34:00.440 said that there's no one greater at trying to match 0:34:00.520 --> 0:34:02.760 no matter what is happening in front of her than 0:34:02.840 --> 0:34:05.160 Cocoa Gough. It was not pretty in her match in 0:34:05.200 --> 0:34:08.319 the quarterfinals. She lost the first set, she bounced back. 0:34:08.440 --> 0:34:10.920 She just hangs in there. There's no one that has 0:34:10.960 --> 0:34:14.080 a better fighting spirit than her, although you'd have to 0:34:14.120 --> 0:34:16.600 say Sabalanca today had some fighting spirits. Just your thoughts 0:34:16.640 --> 0:34:20.719 on also what we saw Mirah Andreva. I mean, this teenager. 0:34:20.920 --> 0:34:22.920 We've been talking about her on the Whimen's tour now 0:34:23.000 --> 0:34:26.360 for a couple of years. I remember her playing Cocoa Gough, 0:34:27.239 --> 0:34:29.560 might have been last year. She won the first set 0:34:30.200 --> 0:34:32.919 and she lost her flipping mind in the first game 0:34:32.960 --> 0:34:35.000 of the second set, and I was like, what are 0:34:35.080 --> 0:34:37.279 you doing? You were in control of the match, and 0:34:37.320 --> 0:34:39.359 that was just her youth. Have been sixteen years of age. 0:34:39.560 --> 0:34:41.960 She lost one point, she threw a racket on the ground. 0:34:42.000 --> 0:34:43.440 I was like, oh my god. As a coach, you'd 0:34:43.480 --> 0:34:44.719 be like, pick your rack itt up, pick your rack 0:34:44.760 --> 0:34:46.120 it up. You're up a set, what are you doing? 0:34:46.360 --> 0:34:48.840 And I think she won one game after that against Cocoke. 0:34:49.200 --> 0:34:52.279 But to see her maturity of handling this moment today 0:34:52.280 --> 0:34:56.000 against Sablenka and getting through a couple of tough matches 0:34:56.360 --> 0:34:59.319 of late. This kid is going to be, without question, 0:34:59.680 --> 0:35:02.719 punch finals of Grand Slams for a long time to come. 0:35:02.800 --> 0:35:04.799 And we saw her get through a really tough match 0:35:04.840 --> 0:35:08.560 today against Sabolanka, who was clearly feeling not well. 0:35:09.440 --> 0:35:11.439 Yeah, and that mets here. I think we're just waiting 0:35:11.480 --> 0:35:13.920 for Andreva to make a run, and here it is. 0:35:14.000 --> 0:35:16.200 And I was actually a rehab for my knee, so 0:35:16.239 --> 0:35:18.200 I missed the first set, missed part of the second set. 0:35:18.280 --> 0:35:19.800 By the time I came back and turned it on, 0:35:20.360 --> 0:35:23.279 saw that Sabalanka was kind of injured and sometimes it's 0:35:23.320 --> 0:35:26.160 tough to play against an opponent like that. So Andreva 0:35:26.280 --> 0:35:28.200 the match there. When I turned it on in the 0:35:28.239 --> 0:35:30.080 third set, it was a back and forth. You'd see 0:35:30.120 --> 0:35:33.240 Andreva getting frustrated, then it would go to Sabalanca getting frustrated, 0:35:33.440 --> 0:35:35.560 then back to Andreva getting frustrated. But in the end 0:35:35.600 --> 0:35:40.440 Andreda Andreva did a great job of staying focus, kind 0:35:40.480 --> 0:35:43.479 of getting through the mental battle of playing someone who's 0:35:43.520 --> 0:35:46.160 partially injured, and that last game at four or five, 0:35:46.200 --> 0:35:48.440 she did a great job of kind of hanging in there, 0:35:48.800 --> 0:35:51.480 forcing some airs from Sabolanca and then on match point 0:35:51.560 --> 0:35:54.719 guessing right and just feeling a perfect backhand lob over 0:35:54.800 --> 0:35:58.880 Sabolenka's backhand side. And so it was an exciting day 0:35:58.920 --> 0:36:01.440 for her, an exciting match of great fight from Sablenca. 0:36:01.680 --> 0:36:04.640 We know she was injured a little bit, but all 0:36:04.719 --> 0:36:06.280 in all, it was just that was great drama. 0:36:07.080 --> 0:36:09.640 Yeah, I mean, I think you put it beautifully in 0:36:09.719 --> 0:36:11.880 the last game when you were getting so close to 0:36:11.960 --> 0:36:14.000 beating someone. It's the biggest win of her career, to 0:36:14.080 --> 0:36:17.000 make the semi finals of her first Grand Slam. I 0:36:17.080 --> 0:36:19.399 think it helps to have someone like Conchita Martinez, who's 0:36:19.400 --> 0:36:21.719 been there herself many times, who's now coaching her, has 0:36:21.760 --> 0:36:23.520 been coaching her for the last couple of months. We 0:36:23.600 --> 0:36:25.880 don't give enough credit to you know what Knchita's been 0:36:25.920 --> 0:36:27.560 able to do with her, to calm her down, to 0:36:27.680 --> 0:36:29.479 teach her the ropes a little bit. The mum left, 0:36:29.880 --> 0:36:32.120 you know, at the end of the second set. You know, 0:36:32.239 --> 0:36:34.799 so there was a lot going on, but the fact 0:36:34.800 --> 0:36:37.719 that she was able to calm herself and not get 0:36:37.800 --> 0:36:41.280 overawed by this situation, knowing that Sabalannka was certainly struggling. 0:36:41.360 --> 0:36:42.960 You can see that. But as an opponent, you know 0:36:43.040 --> 0:36:44.440 you're seeing down the other You're like, oh my god, 0:36:44.560 --> 0:36:46.200 she's sick. Is she going to pull out? There's all 0:36:46.239 --> 0:36:48.840 these things going through your head. So for someone so 0:36:49.080 --> 0:36:51.319 young to be able to not let that affect her 0:36:51.400 --> 0:36:54.799 and actually get the job done was so impressive. Flip 0:36:54.920 --> 0:36:57.960 it two. Paolini, who is my favorite player? I love 0:36:58.080 --> 0:36:59.880 her so much. Every time I see her on the 0:37:00.080 --> 0:37:02.719 to her, I'm like, Jasmine, I love you, You're my 0:37:02.840 --> 0:37:04.600 favorite player, and she always laughs at me and I go, 0:37:04.719 --> 0:37:07.680 I'm serious. I've watched her for years, Sam. I watched 0:37:07.680 --> 0:37:10.080 her in small tournaments in Europe, you know, playing on 0:37:10.160 --> 0:37:11.879 the clay, and I'm like, who is this kid? She's 0:37:11.920 --> 0:37:14.239 so good, but she's like this big so I'm like 0:37:14.560 --> 0:37:17.279 for her to match up against someone like Ribarkina in 0:37:17.400 --> 0:37:21.200 that moment and hit with her aggressively on the baseline, 0:37:21.560 --> 0:37:23.640 and also to be able to handle the prosure where 0:37:23.680 --> 0:37:25.800 she was up a set and a break twice in 0:37:25.880 --> 0:37:29.200 the second set four three forty fifteen on serve lost 0:37:29.239 --> 0:37:31.560 the game, lost the set, to be able to come 0:37:31.640 --> 0:37:34.560 back and bounce back and not give anything free away 0:37:34.560 --> 0:37:36.680 in the third set against someone like Ribarkina, who in 0:37:36.800 --> 0:37:39.160 the end made her own errors to lose that match. 0:37:40.000 --> 0:37:42.800 So I'm so bloody and pressed by this young Italian 0:37:42.920 --> 0:37:44.640 at twenty I think she's twenty eight years of age. 0:37:44.680 --> 0:37:47.600 She's been around a while. To get through that match 0:37:48.680 --> 0:37:51.120 was awesome. I mean, it's going to be so interesting 0:37:51.239 --> 0:37:54.040 to see two players that probably never expected to be there. 0:37:54.080 --> 0:37:56.560 I think Andreva, we all expect to be there eventually, 0:37:56.880 --> 0:37:59.600 but to get there now to play against Poelini, it's 0:37:59.600 --> 0:38:01.080 going to be in interesting to see how they handle 0:38:01.120 --> 0:38:03.000 it because they would not have expected to play each 0:38:03.000 --> 0:38:04.760 other in the Semis to make their first final. 0:38:05.600 --> 0:38:07.840 I haven't watched a ton of her matches, but watching 0:38:07.880 --> 0:38:09.800 it today, she's so fun to watch. She's like a 0:38:09.840 --> 0:38:12.840 little ball of bubbly energy. She's kind of built like Sakari, 0:38:13.280 --> 0:38:16.600 but just with a bigger smile almost. So I think 0:38:16.640 --> 0:38:18.680 if you would, if you have not watched tennis, and 0:38:18.719 --> 0:38:20.799 you turn that match on today and watch Jasmine play, 0:38:20.840 --> 0:38:22.520 you're gonna be like, oh my gosh, this girl is 0:38:22.640 --> 0:38:25.120 so fun to watch. She's got such great energy, and 0:38:25.680 --> 0:38:27.920 like you said, to lose that second set and then 0:38:28.000 --> 0:38:30.959 come back against herbakana and win the third was really 0:38:31.040 --> 0:38:34.320 impressive for a girl that hasn't been in this position before. 0:38:34.360 --> 0:38:37.280 I was really impressed with kind of her mental fortitude 0:38:37.320 --> 0:38:38.920 coming back in that third set and getting the win. 0:38:39.640 --> 0:38:42.080 Yeah, I mean, I just love her. So I was 0:38:42.160 --> 0:38:44.760 so excited. Even when she was choking, she was looking 0:38:44.880 --> 0:38:47.239 up literally all the time and just laughing at her crew. 0:38:47.480 --> 0:38:48.880 And I want to give a shout out to her 0:38:48.960 --> 0:38:53.240 coach who has been with her for it feels like forever. 0:38:53.440 --> 0:38:56.560 And as you and I know, when players aren't having success, 0:38:56.640 --> 0:38:59.280 they certainly get rid of their coaches too quickly sometimes, 0:38:59.320 --> 0:39:01.719 and these two have developed such a great relationship that 0:39:01.800 --> 0:39:03.440 she's able to look up at him and smile and 0:39:03.520 --> 0:39:07.080 he's not like concentrate. He knows her. And so for me, 0:39:07.239 --> 0:39:09.880 that's a beautiful story as well of two people that 0:39:09.960 --> 0:39:12.360 have stuck in there with each other and they've achieved 0:39:12.360 --> 0:39:14.879 what they've achieved today. Sam, what do you think about 0:39:14.880 --> 0:39:17.600 Amsburg calling out the rolling garrel scheduling a little bit? 0:39:18.160 --> 0:39:19.600 What are your thoughts on that? I know I have 0:39:19.760 --> 0:39:21.600 mine certainly if you follow me on Twitter, you know. 0:39:22.440 --> 0:39:24.840 Yeah, you know the scheduling is tough and I'm not 0:39:24.880 --> 0:39:28.400 going to kind of single out the French Open. I 0:39:28.520 --> 0:39:31.200 can't stand it when tennis matches go to twelve, one am, 0:39:31.360 --> 0:39:33.920 two am, we're seeing him going to three am. I 0:39:33.960 --> 0:39:35.960 don't exactly know what the solution is. I know they're 0:39:35.960 --> 0:39:38.479 going to go late at times, but I just feel 0:39:38.480 --> 0:39:40.680 like people don't want to be out and about at 0:39:40.960 --> 0:39:43.560 two am on a Tuesday night watching tennis. So I 0:39:43.600 --> 0:39:46.680 wish they would start these matches a little earlier or 0:39:47.000 --> 0:39:49.600 come up with a solution to kind of I don't know, 0:39:49.719 --> 0:39:52.239 maybe play half the match that we had a hard 0:39:52.280 --> 0:39:56.439 cutoff time at midnight. But they do need to figure 0:39:56.480 --> 0:39:59.040 out something because I'm not a fan of these matches 0:39:59.120 --> 0:40:01.360 going so late to the nave. It's just bad for 0:40:01.440 --> 0:40:04.400 the players, bad for the fans, and you know, they 0:40:04.520 --> 0:40:06.239 need to do something about it. And like I said, 0:40:06.280 --> 0:40:08.640 not just the French Open, all these tournaments. 0:40:08.560 --> 0:40:11.040 I agree, and having two matches starting at seven o'clock 0:40:11.120 --> 0:40:12.920 with the men's and the women's. Who ever place that 0:40:13.000 --> 0:40:16.279 second match is getting absolutely screwed every single time, and 0:40:16.880 --> 0:40:18.440 people are like, why do you let it? Why do 0:40:18.520 --> 0:40:20.640 they let it happen? I'm like, well, you don't and 0:40:20.760 --> 0:40:24.320 you cannot predict the amount of time someone takes to 0:40:24.360 --> 0:40:26.600 win a match, right, So a match could be an hour, 0:40:26.760 --> 0:40:28.080 or it could be three and a half hours if 0:40:28.080 --> 0:40:29.560 it's a women's match, and then the guys are going 0:40:29.600 --> 0:40:31.920 on at eleven o'clock at night playing best of five. 0:40:32.200 --> 0:40:33.799 The men could go best to five, the women are 0:40:33.840 --> 0:40:35.800 getting on at midnight. It's just ridiculous. So we have 0:40:35.880 --> 0:40:38.200 to figure out a way to make it quicker. I 0:40:38.239 --> 0:40:40.600 don't know. I've always been an opponent also to maybe 0:40:40.640 --> 0:40:42.440 make the men's best of three, but that's a whole 0:40:42.520 --> 0:40:43.040 nother story. 0:40:44.640 --> 0:40:47.520 I don't even play anymore, but i've when I was playing, 0:40:47.560 --> 0:40:49.120 I would have loved flams to be best of three. 0:40:49.440 --> 0:40:51.279 Hey, that's what the Olympics do. And we see the 0:40:51.360 --> 0:40:54.200 drama there. We see nineteen fifth, you know, nineteen seventeen 0:40:54.320 --> 0:40:57.000 or seventeen fifty Dean in the third. I'm all for 0:40:57.080 --> 0:41:00.239 of playing out the third set, no problem. So I 0:41:00.280 --> 0:41:02.080 think there's a ways we can get around it. But 0:41:02.280 --> 0:41:05.400 starting a men's match at eight point thirty on clay 0:41:05.719 --> 0:41:08.840 best of five is really a dumb idea, That's what 0:41:08.920 --> 0:41:10.640 I'm gonna say. So if you're gonna. 0:41:10.520 --> 0:41:12.600 Totally in the grands and I think I think we're 0:41:12.640 --> 0:41:14.480 with the majority here. I don't think anyone wants this, 0:41:14.640 --> 0:41:16.640 so it it'd be great. Look, they're not going to 0:41:16.680 --> 0:41:19.640 make a change this year, But the next Grand Slam, Wimbledon, 0:41:19.680 --> 0:41:22.680 doesn't have night matches. I hope the US Open. Maybe 0:41:22.680 --> 0:41:24.279 they'll be the first one to say, hey, we're going 0:41:24.320 --> 0:41:26.960 to start our night session at six pm, or we're 0:41:26.960 --> 0:41:29.640 going to have a hard cutoff at midnight. Or I'd 0:41:29.680 --> 0:41:33.080 be up for a tournament or a Slam, trying something 0:41:33.160 --> 0:41:35.279 and if it doesn't work, go back. But these lead 0:41:35.320 --> 0:41:36.240 matches are ridiculous. 0:41:36.640 --> 0:41:38.319 I'm with you, And you know what if someone who 0:41:38.400 --> 0:41:40.680 covers these matches often court side, and I'm sitting there 0:41:40.680 --> 0:41:44.120 at one thirty, two thirty in the morning, I'm like, really, 0:41:44.880 --> 0:41:47.520 do we really have people watching? So that's another thing. 0:41:47.840 --> 0:41:50.040 We don't feel bad for you, Courtsie. We're feeling bad 0:41:50.080 --> 0:41:51.280 for the players and the fans. 0:41:51.680 --> 0:41:54.279 Yeah. Thanks, I appreciate you, Sam, thanks for that. Thanks 0:41:54.320 --> 0:41:57.520 for dropping the on me. All right, So the bottom 0:41:57.560 --> 0:42:00.320 line is I'm going to ask you real quick, with 0:42:00.440 --> 0:42:03.080 what you've seen so far at the French who's winning Wimbledon. 0:42:03.960 --> 0:42:05.120 Oh, who's winning Wimbledon? 0:42:07.840 --> 0:42:08.000 You know? 0:42:08.080 --> 0:42:09.920 I'm gonna go with kind of like man out. I'm 0:42:09.960 --> 0:42:11.640 not going to give you one guest, but I'm gonna 0:42:12.160 --> 0:42:14.960 say it's gonna be someone like a like a tailor 0:42:15.080 --> 0:42:17.720 Fritz or Demono or you know, one of these guys 0:42:18.320 --> 0:42:21.840 that's like ranked between like eight and fifteen on the 0:42:21.920 --> 0:42:25.520 men's side and on the and on the on the 0:42:25.600 --> 0:42:27.440 women's side. I'm going to go with sabal Anca. I 0:42:27.480 --> 0:42:29.840 think just how hard she hits the ball, it's just 0:42:29.920 --> 0:42:32.640 going to just fly through the grass. And so I'm 0:42:32.680 --> 0:42:34.040 going to take her on the grass. But the men, 0:42:34.120 --> 0:42:35.759 I think we're going to see kind of someone that 0:42:35.840 --> 0:42:38.560 wor that's unassuming when their first Grand Slam. 0:42:38.920 --> 0:42:42.440 Okay, our producer just texted on our chat that you're 0:42:42.520 --> 0:42:45.760 drunk picking one of those guys. But it's okay because 0:42:45.800 --> 0:42:48.279 if you're right, we get to give it to her, 0:42:48.520 --> 0:42:50.600 and like I said, it's going to be like I'm sorry, Sam, 0:42:50.640 --> 0:42:53.880 you were right. My prediction is Sinner. I think he 0:42:53.960 --> 0:42:56.959 wins Wimbledon, and if he does and wins the French 0:42:57.200 --> 0:42:59.160 we'll look out because he's my favorite to win the 0:42:59.280 --> 0:43:01.440 US Open because I think he's so good on that surface. 0:43:02.400 --> 0:43:06.040 And I think Rebarkina is going to win Wimbledon again, 0:43:06.239 --> 0:43:09.520 but we don't know, because Sabolanca could come good, we don't. 0:43:09.560 --> 0:43:12.840 Eager's not super comfortable in grass on je Bersman in 0:43:12.840 --> 0:43:14.239 the final a couple of times, so we don't know. 0:43:14.320 --> 0:43:17.279 So my two picks are Rebarkina and Yanick Sinner. But 0:43:17.360 --> 0:43:19.759 well we'll see, all right, guys, Well we did a 0:43:20.160 --> 0:43:23.080 question for you in the last show with the one 0:43:23.120 --> 0:43:26.359 and only Andy Roddick, Chris Evertt, Steffie Graff, Justine Enna, 0:43:26.840 --> 0:43:29.680 Monica sell Us or Egis Fiantec. Which one of these 0:43:29.760 --> 0:43:32.040 women has to win a match for you to save 0:43:32.120 --> 0:43:33.880 your life on clay? Who are you picking? We've got 0:43:33.920 --> 0:43:37.080 a lot of great responses and a lot of people 0:43:37.760 --> 0:43:43.960 really loved Steffie fraeulein fourhand Steffie Graff, Steffie anywhere against 0:43:44.000 --> 0:43:47.800 any woman that has ever played the game, Stephie, Steffie, Steffie. 0:43:47.880 --> 0:43:50.520 There was also I don't know, you take some here, Sammy. 0:43:51.320 --> 0:43:53.359 Good because I also wanted Steffie. I mean I would 0:43:53.360 --> 0:43:55.359 have taken them all, but like Steffie was my pick too, 0:43:55.440 --> 0:43:58.800 but you know, and like we said here with that 0:43:58.880 --> 0:44:01.000 when we got kids to you to remember Christy ever 0:44:01.120 --> 0:44:03.960 On clay, and that was like me, Chrissy was so 0:44:04.239 --> 0:44:08.280 dominant on clay and kind of the current generation doesn't 0:44:08.360 --> 0:44:11.359 know that she, you know, maybe didn't have as many 0:44:11.440 --> 0:44:14.080 French Opens as the adult, but her record on clay, 0:44:14.239 --> 0:44:16.839 especially at the French Open was one that will could 0:44:16.920 --> 0:44:19.200 never be broken on the women's side of the game. 0:44:19.640 --> 0:44:22.839 One hundred and twenty five consecutive matches on clay, are 0:44:22.880 --> 0:44:23.800 you kidding? 0:44:24.040 --> 0:44:25.719 Will never be broken? It's just say it will never 0:44:25.840 --> 0:44:26.240 be broken. 0:44:26.840 --> 0:44:29.960 That's insane. Oh god, so yes, a lot of Stepfie, 0:44:30.160 --> 0:44:32.080 a lot of Chris Ever, there was a lot of 0:44:32.160 --> 0:44:36.440 Monica sell Us as well before you know, sadly what 0:44:36.520 --> 0:44:40.120 happened to her in Hamburg, Germany. But Monica was to 0:44:40.239 --> 0:44:42.840 me probably the toughest player I ever saw play at 0:44:42.880 --> 0:44:44.719 the French Open, and the nineteen ninety two final with 0:44:44.760 --> 0:44:49.200 stephie Graff was unbelievable, which Monica won. So listen, bottom 0:44:49.239 --> 0:44:51.200 line is, I don't even go wrong with picking any 0:44:51.320 --> 0:44:55.200 of those people, right exactly. I'll take Braffa and the 0:44:55.239 --> 0:44:58.200 men's and any of those ladies on the clay in Paris. 0:44:58.360 --> 0:45:01.320 All right, So the next segment, okay for next week's 0:45:01.719 --> 0:45:05.200 question is We're going to do it right now, Which 0:45:05.280 --> 0:45:10.400 tennis content are you most excited about? Roger Federer's docu series, 0:45:11.120 --> 0:45:15.759 Andre Agassi and Stephie Gruff's movie, or Serena Williams doc 0:45:15.800 --> 0:45:19.000 you series. Tweet your answer to us, of course always 0:45:19.040 --> 0:45:23.200 at NBC Sports. Tag me and Sam in there as well. Well, Sam, 0:45:23.239 --> 0:45:25.160 you're not on Twitter, so don't worry about you, but 0:45:25.280 --> 0:45:28.120 I am so oh well, I'll retweet it. But bottom 0:45:28.160 --> 0:45:31.360 line is which tennis content are you most excited about? 0:45:31.400 --> 0:45:35.239 With Roger, Andre, Stephie and of course Serena's docuseries coming out, 0:45:35.320 --> 0:45:37.080 we can't wait to hear your answers. Thanks to joining 0:45:37.160 --> 0:45:39.239 us once again today. Thank you again course to the 0:45:39.320 --> 0:45:42.399 one and only great Lindsay Vaughn and everyone for joining 0:45:42.480 --> 0:45:44.560 us on the French Connection, brought to you by NBC 0:45:44.719 --> 0:45:48.960 Sports and Racket. The next episode is out Friday, June seventh. 0:45:49.080 --> 0:45:52.280 We look ahead to the finals of course at Roland 0:45:52.320 --> 0:45:55.480 Garris see then Sam. Thanks for joining me. The end today, 0:45:55.840 --> 0:45:57.759 and take it easy on the old crutch there. 0:45:58.080 --> 0:46:00.360 Well, don you've had two crutches and under one crutch. 0:46:00.400 --> 0:46:02.520 Next week will be no crush, all right, We're gonna 0:46:02.520 --> 0:46:04.160 see Sam with no crutches by the end of this 0:46:04.680 --> 0:46:06.680 French connection. All right, guys, thanks for joining us today. 0:46:06.880 --> 0:46:07.920 We'll see you next time. 0:46:09.360 --> 0:46:10.760 Sam, good luck with your Achilles. 0:46:11.360 --> 0:46:11.600 Thank you. 0:46:11.800 --> 0:46:17.920 Only six more months before he's back to pickleballing.