1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:04,080 Speaker 1: Annie Murray's been the face of United Kingdom Great Britain 2 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: tennis for fifteen years. 3 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:06,560 Speaker 2: Yeah. 4 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:08,840 Speaker 1: If Serena Williams was playing her last US Open and 5 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 1: asked me to play mixed doubles and I broke my leg, 6 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:12,600 Speaker 1: I'd find a way out on the court. 7 00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 2: Okay, Hi everyone, and welcome to the French Connection, brought 8 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:19,640 Speaker 2: to you by NBC Sports and Racket. We are here 9 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:22,599 Speaker 2: to cover of course the French Open, which we've already done, 10 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:25,639 Speaker 2: and of course everything in between, right up until the 11 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 2: Olympic Games in Paris, which is not far away. And 12 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 2: I am Renee stubs and welcome to Sam Query. He's 13 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:34,520 Speaker 2: over there. Sam. How's it going, man? I know you're 14 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 2: missing Wimbledon, but you know I'm here for you, buddy. 15 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 1: I'm bummed miss Wimbledon. I have seen the weather. It 16 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 1: looks like if you're not playing on Center Court or 17 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 1: Court one, there's a lot of waiting around. But I'm 18 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:48,360 Speaker 1: just at home rehabbing, getting the leg back to the 19 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:51,160 Speaker 1: full strength, and I'm going to be at Wimbledon next year, 20 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: joining you in the Legends event. I hope I actually 21 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 1: need to get invited, so I don't I don't know 22 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 1: that for a fact. 23 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 2: I'm just hoping to Yeah, well, I'll put a good 24 00:00:58,360 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 2: word in for you. I'll let them all know that 25 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 2: you know, you really wanted to be here, but you 26 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 2: just missed out anyway. So let's got into the tournament 27 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 2: and what's been going on. Of course, Yannick Sinner yesterday. 28 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 2: Let's start with him the world number one, before we 29 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 2: get into him losing to Medvedev, though, I want to 30 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 2: ask you have you seen a harder draw for a 31 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 2: world number one than what he had to experience here 32 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 2: at Wimbledon? Berrettini second round, a former finalists, and of 33 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 2: course Ben Shelton, who's been playing great tennis on the 34 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 2: grass and so difficult to beat just with the serve, 35 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 2: and then he has to play against Medvedev in the 36 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 2: fourth round. I mean it's just a brutal I mean, 37 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 2: look at this, the big three. Congrats, you've beaten the 38 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 2: world number one. Now you get to place the most 39 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 2: recent Grand Slam champion to earn a spot into the final. 40 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 2: Oh and if you beat him, you'll need to beat 41 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 2: the greatest player of all time. Of course, he's talking 42 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 2: about our Karaz and then Novak Djokovic. If Novak makes 43 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 2: the final, but you know, Yannick just had a brutal draw. 44 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 2: So just your thoughts on the match against Medvedev. Obviously 45 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 2: we know that something was going on with Sinner. He 46 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 2: wasn't one hundred percent, but still a fantastic win for Mehdi. 47 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: Right, And yes, that that draw was brutal for Yonic. 48 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 1: I don't know if the toughest draw I've ever seen, 49 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 1: but it's up there. Like you said, he had to 50 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:08,360 Speaker 1: play Bartini, who final Wimbledon, and then Ben Shelton and 51 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: then Medvedev. But also like that, that quarter also a 52 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 1: tough quarter for Medvedev. He just beat the number one 53 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 1: player in the world, and like we see now now 54 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 1: he plays al Kaz If he wins, he would most 55 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 1: likely play Novak, and I believe Medvedev is maybe like 56 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:24,519 Speaker 1: one in six and Grand Slam finals, but the losses 57 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 1: are to Novak, to Rafa to Yanick. So Medvedev also 58 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: has a tough a tough draw here in a tough 59 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 1: pass So that that quarter of the Wimbledon draw was 60 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 1: hands down the toughest quarter of the four. I mean, 61 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: there really wasn't one close to that, and that's just 62 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: how the you know, the chips fall occasionally. You've seen it. 63 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 1: I've seen it, and you know, Medvedev is, you know, 64 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 1: he's got he's got two more tough matches if he 65 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 1: wants to win it. But he's got to be feeling 66 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:51,520 Speaker 1: pretty confident to come out of that quarter. 67 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, you would think feeling pretty good about the way 68 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 2: he's playing on gross and I think that you know, 69 00:02:57,400 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 2: now the weather is getting a little bit better. That 70 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 2: helps him as well. But Mehdi is, as you said, 71 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:04,080 Speaker 2: one and five in slam finals, but he's lost to 72 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 2: the absolute best, certainly, if not the best of all time, 73 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 2: certainly the best player at the at that time, and 74 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 2: Sinner at the Strain Open was one of those and 75 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 2: he was up two sets of love in that final. 76 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 2: So we got a little revenge yesterday, There's no doubt 77 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 2: about that. But now, you know, look, we talked about 78 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 2: Novak Djokovic to start the tournament with the knee problems, 79 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 2: et cetera. How much from your perspective, being somebody who's 80 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 2: played best of five matches, having to go back to 81 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 2: back and all that sort of stuff, how much of 82 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 2: it is an advantage of him getting the default over 83 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 2: Alex Dimonno today, and I have to I feel so 84 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 2: bad for Alex. I mean, it literally happened three points 85 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 2: before the end of that match that he hurt himself 86 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 2: brutal way to go out of the tournament after having 87 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 2: such a good year. But just you know, Novak, just 88 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 2: tell me how important that is for him, you think, 89 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 2: to get that default today. 90 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 1: It's huge. It's a huge bone for Alex. But for 91 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 1: Novak to have three days off now, he's you know, 92 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 1: he's still got these four weeks out, five weeks off 93 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 1: the knee surgery, and there's always that kind of that 94 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 1: question like, oh, like, how are you gonna handle three 95 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 1: days off? Some players don't like it, but Novak's been 96 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: around long enough. I don't think it matters for him. 97 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: He's gonna have three really light days of practice. I'm 98 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:17,680 Speaker 1: assuming he's gonna have a ton of work done on 99 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:20,159 Speaker 1: the knee. He's kind of in cruising through the draw, 100 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:23,040 Speaker 1: so I'm assuming he's gonna go into the semi final 101 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:25,720 Speaker 1: playing Mussetti, who's going to be a huge favorite against. 102 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:28,720 Speaker 1: I'm yeah, you know, more than likely he's going to 103 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 1: get through that one and he'll be in the final 104 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:33,040 Speaker 1: feeling good. The knee is gonna feel good. His body's 105 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: gonna feel good. There's not gonna be a lot of 106 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 1: wear and tear. So Novak couldn't have asked for a 107 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 1: better draw, and now to get a default in the quarterfinals, 108 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 1: it's even more fortunate luck. So he's in a he's 109 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 1: in a good spot right now to cruise to the 110 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 1: final and be feeling really good going into that final. 111 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 2: So tell me, you know, you saw the postmatch interview 112 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 2: with the room. I mean, look, Novak knows, right, he 113 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:01,279 Speaker 2: knows that that's that thing that people do in the crowd. 114 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:02,920 Speaker 2: It happened to him the first time he played Runa, 115 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:04,719 Speaker 2: if you remember at the US Open, and everyone's like, 116 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:06,239 Speaker 2: what the hell are they saying? And then we realized 117 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 2: that it was like Runa. And then of course the 118 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 2: postmatch you know, with the good night to the fans, 119 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:14,280 Speaker 2: you know, which was hilarious. I'm glad that he's embracing 120 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:17,320 Speaker 2: his like, you know, sort of darker side, and it's 121 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 2: like he's over trying to be politically correct and he's like, 122 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 2: you know what, screw these people. I'm gonna say what 123 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 2: I want to say, which is unusual for him because 124 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 2: he's usually pretty good at that sort of skirting over 125 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 2: the issues. But one thing I want you to talk 126 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:32,840 Speaker 2: about Runa and what you think he needs to do 127 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:34,839 Speaker 2: to get better, but also just the flip side of 128 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 2: what you thought about. You know, Novak sort of like 129 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:40,920 Speaker 2: embracing his bad boy thing, and do you think that's 130 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 2: going to hurt him? Because the crowd, it'll be interesting 131 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 2: to see how they react to him against MERSETI, who's 132 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:46,720 Speaker 2: become a bit of a crowd favorite. 133 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 1: I loved it. I loved him addressing the crowd. I know, 134 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 1: like you know, people say rude and then I'm sure 135 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:56,160 Speaker 1: there's I'm sure there is a small group of people 136 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 1: that might be booing Novak too because they know it 137 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 1: gets under his skin. But I love the authenticity of 138 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:04,360 Speaker 1: the of the reply on center court. You don't get 139 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 1: that from tennis players or any athlete too often, where 140 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:10,919 Speaker 1: they just kind of go on a ninety minute, you know, 141 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:13,599 Speaker 1: kind of rant if you want to say it about 142 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:15,919 Speaker 1: just like this is what's on my mind, you know, 143 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,480 Speaker 1: And he mentioned, look, you I've played in more hostile 144 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:20,920 Speaker 1: environments than this. No one's stopping me here, So I 145 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 1: think he's embracing it. I think he doesn't care if 146 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:27,360 Speaker 1: the people aren't cheering for him. I think I think 147 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 1: everyone still respects him, that he's he's so great and 148 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:32,919 Speaker 1: such an amazing champion. But uh, I loved it. I 149 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:37,480 Speaker 1: was fun to watch, and then and then for for Rune, Rune, Rune, 150 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: if you want to say it, you know, he's just 151 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:44,000 Speaker 1: on the outside looking in with the with the group 152 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 1: of of al Kirez, Center, Djokovic, you know, maybe even 153 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 1: Medvedev up there. Zverev, it seems like he's kind of 154 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 1: always pushing on the door of like he makes the 155 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: quarterfinals and around a sixteen, then another quarter you know, 156 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:59,719 Speaker 1: he might final a Master's series. So I don't know 157 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:01,880 Speaker 1: what the missing pieces, but I do know if you 158 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 1: kind of separate the players, he's just in that tier 159 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: two right now. But he's knocking on the door. He's 160 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 1: as if he keeps working hard, keeps putting himself in 161 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 1: these positions of making quarterfinals of slams, he's going to 162 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 1: get through. And at some point I expected, I expect 163 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 1: to see him in a Slam final at some point 164 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 1: in his career. 165 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:24,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, there's no doubt he will get to a final. 166 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:26,720 Speaker 2: I think it's tough for him because he's got two 167 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 2: guys like you know, al Caraz and Sinner who were 168 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 2: so young twenty twenty two, twenty three years of age, 169 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:35,880 Speaker 2: where they feel like, well, he's behind because those guys 170 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:39,120 Speaker 2: are winning going slams. It's like calm the farm. You know, 171 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 2: not everybody wins Grand Slams at twenty and twenty two, 172 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:45,160 Speaker 2: and he may take it a little bit longer. I 173 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 2: think he has to work on his forehand. There's definitely 174 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 2: he's made, you know, changes to the forehand. You can 175 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 2: tell that he's trying to work on it. But also 176 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 2: he played Novak Djocobits like arguably player the best player 177 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 2: at Wimbledon over the last ten years. So you know, 178 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 2: that's just a rough draw. I don't care if Novak's 179 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 2: on like one and a quarter legs. He's still the 180 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 2: player to be at one moment. I mean, that's speaking 181 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 2: of injuries. I want to flip to Emma Radakano and 182 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:13,800 Speaker 2: what happened last week in the tournament. We saw Andy 183 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 2: Murray lost his last match with his brother in Santa Court, 184 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 2: which you know, to be honest with you, it was 185 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 2: probably the best way to fit for him to go out, 186 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 2: I mean, play on sena court with his brother. That 187 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 2: was such an emotional moment when he's when the brothers hugged, 188 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 2: like I lost it. Like when he hugged Jamie and 189 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 2: he was like patting him on the back, I was like, 190 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 2: I'm done, Like I cannot take this. So it kind 191 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 2: of felt like that was kind of the best thing. 192 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 2: But then Emma pools out citing, you know, wrist injury 193 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 2: or you know tightness or whatever the excuse was to 194 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 2: pull out. Just what did you think about that? And 195 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:47,079 Speaker 2: of course Judy Murray wasn't having it on Twitter right. 196 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: I don't know Emma Radakana at all. She seems so nice. 197 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 1: Annie Murray's been the face of United Kingdom Great Britain 198 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 1: tennis for fifteen years. If Serena Williams was playing her 199 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:01,320 Speaker 1: last US Open to play mixed doubles and I broke 200 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 1: my leg, I'd find a way out on the court 201 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 1: just because it's her. I just I felt like she 202 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:09,200 Speaker 1: had an obligation to Andy to like go out there 203 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 1: and do do what she ever she could to play. 204 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:14,600 Speaker 1: I don't know how bad her risk was was hurting her. 205 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 1: I'm sure she internally was like struggling with that decision 206 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:23,079 Speaker 1: to not play doubles and Andy Murray's last match. I'm 207 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 1: sure it's something. It was a story there for a second. 208 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:29,600 Speaker 1: I'm sure it'll blow over. God. It's a tough one though, 209 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: I don't know how I play it. I feel like 210 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 1: I would just feel so obligated because it's Andy Murray 211 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 1: in Wimbledon to play it. 212 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 2: I would have played it, and I would have played 213 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:46,560 Speaker 2: it because also, you know, she ended up losing the 214 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 2: next match as well. 215 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 1: It was like a little worse. If she went on 216 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 1: to have a run, it would have been justified the 217 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 1: decision a little more. 218 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, when do you sort of make that decision, you know, 219 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:00,600 Speaker 2: as a great player to decide I'm gonna picked my 220 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 2: singles over my doubles. And you know that was that 221 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:06,000 Speaker 2: was a tough disuse and I'm sure she had just 222 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:08,440 Speaker 2: an awful time trying to figure it out. But anyway, 223 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 2: let's move on to Cocoa Goff. She had a loss 224 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,440 Speaker 2: to Emminavarro. I know that you watched the match. What 225 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:16,080 Speaker 2: did you think about, like the exchange with Brad and 226 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:18,959 Speaker 2: the looking very lost, et cetera, et cetera on the court. 227 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:21,960 Speaker 1: It's rare. I mean, you don't see that from Coco 228 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 1: too often. Usually she's you know, kind of got her 229 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 1: head down. She's serious, she's you know, kind of like 230 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:30,319 Speaker 1: a woman on a mission out there. And and Emminavarro 231 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 1: played great, She's played great the whole tournament. You know, 232 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 1: kind of got crushed yesterday, but especially in this match 233 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 1: against Coco. But I liked it. It was, you know, 234 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:42,680 Speaker 1: you don't see a lot of emotion, negative emotion, I 235 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:45,800 Speaker 1: guess out of Coco, and she was not having a 236 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:48,680 Speaker 1: good day and and she was looking at Brad kind 237 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 1: of just saying, I need something, give me something. But 238 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:54,719 Speaker 1: it's so it's hard in the in the moment of 239 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 1: the match for Brad to say that much. And it's 240 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:59,320 Speaker 1: also awkward for people that don't know Wimbledon. The player 241 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:02,200 Speaker 1: boxes are right next to each other on center court. Yeah, 242 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: what what's bragging to lean over and be like, hey, 243 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:07,320 Speaker 1: you know, make keep hitting the ball high to Emma's best. 244 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 1: He wanted to move in and then he was you're right. 245 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:12,439 Speaker 1: But then I mean it was. 246 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 2: Literally telling her everything. And I was like, if I 247 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 2: was Emma, I'd be like, what what to go hide 248 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:20,960 Speaker 2: in my backhand? And then I mean he was basically 249 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:24,200 Speaker 2: telling Emma Navarro what he wants her to do. So 250 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 2: I don't know if that's the right thing to do. 251 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:29,080 Speaker 1: I think. I mean, look, at that point, Coca wanted anything. 252 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 1: I mean, she wasn't playing well, couldn't couldn't find her rhythm, 253 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:34,640 Speaker 1: and so I think Brad was like, look, I don't 254 00:11:34,679 --> 00:11:36,680 Speaker 1: care if the world knows what I'm saying right now, 255 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:39,040 Speaker 1: I need to tell her what to do. I mean, 256 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 1: I'm not a tennis coach. You've you've been a coach before. 257 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 1: I mean, if you're Brad, do you do what he 258 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:46,960 Speaker 1: did and just you know, stand up and speak your 259 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:49,839 Speaker 1: mind and tell her what what you think is best. 260 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, it was, It was. It was. It 261 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 2: was almost tough to see in a lot of ways 262 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:58,440 Speaker 2: because you have to have game plan b right, you 263 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 2: have to be able to navigate that yourself as a 264 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:04,640 Speaker 2: player also, and obviously the original game plan wasn't working 265 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 2: and things weren't going her way. But you know, that's 266 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:10,960 Speaker 2: the thing about the coaching, or the on core coaching 267 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:13,440 Speaker 2: or the coaching from the box, is that sometimes it 268 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:15,560 Speaker 2: becomes a bit of a crutch and you have to 269 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 2: be able to as you know, Sam, when then the 270 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 2: game plan a is not working. You have to figure 271 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 2: it out. And from me, she just had to figure 272 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:24,200 Speaker 2: out a way to get her forehand to be a 273 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:26,199 Speaker 2: little bit deeper in the court, a little bit better, 274 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 2: a little bit more effective. Emma was playing very very well, 275 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 2: but at the same time, you've got to be able 276 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:33,240 Speaker 2: to control your own service games, and with that serve 277 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:35,880 Speaker 2: you also can do a better job there as well 278 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:38,840 Speaker 2: and not put as much pressure on your forehand at 279 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 2: that time. So so you know, it's a work in progress. 280 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 2: We'll see. Look, she lost first around a wimbline last 281 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:46,080 Speaker 2: year and was the hottest player on hardcourt after that, 282 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:49,320 Speaker 2: so I'm sure she'll be fine going into the hard 283 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 2: court season. And she lost her doubles today, but you know, 284 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:55,160 Speaker 2: lots of great things to come for Emminavarro. Let's switch 285 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:59,840 Speaker 2: to Alexander Zverev up two sets to love against Taylor. 286 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 2: It was a great effort from Taylor to come back 287 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:03,320 Speaker 2: in that match, and I did pick him to win 288 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 2: that match. So I was feeling a little tight down 289 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 2: oh two, but I did have faith. But Sam, is 290 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 2: this starting to be a little bit of a mental 291 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:14,760 Speaker 2: problem for him? Like it starts to start affecting you 292 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:16,720 Speaker 2: now as a player that you've now lost some very 293 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 2: big matches up two sets to love, So give me 294 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 2: your thoughts on that, because I've never led two sets 295 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 2: to love and lost a match, because I've never played 296 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 2: best of five, So give me the psyche behind that situation. 297 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:29,280 Speaker 1: It's got to be in his head at this point. 298 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 1: And I think watching him, if you've noticed, it seems 299 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 1: like in all these matches, when you know he gets 300 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:36,360 Speaker 1: up two sets to love or two sets to one, 301 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: he is a player that gets maybe a little tentative 302 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 1: toward the later end of sets. At the fourth set, 303 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 1: fifth set, he doesn't, you know, hit out on shots. 304 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 1: I think he needs to take the next The next 305 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:49,920 Speaker 1: time he's in a fifth set, or he's he's up 306 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:52,040 Speaker 1: in a match and it gets close, he needs to 307 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:54,600 Speaker 1: lose the match by hitting out on the ball. So 308 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 1: I feel like at this point he's losing these matches 309 00:13:56,960 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 1: just being tentative, letting the other player dictate play. And 310 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:02,280 Speaker 1: he's six ' six, he rips the ball on both sides. 311 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:04,679 Speaker 1: He's got a huge serve, Like I want to see 312 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:07,600 Speaker 1: him impose his will a little bit, you know, when 313 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 1: these matches get tough and lose, lose more on like 314 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:14,320 Speaker 1: his terms, and I feel like if he does that 315 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 1: and loses, it'll it'll at least give him a little confidence. 316 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 1: The way he's going down right now can't feel good, 317 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 1: and it's got to be in his head. 318 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 2: Yeah. I mean listen when he hit that double fault, 319 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 2: and he's been serving so well over the last what 320 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 2: feels like twelve months, But when he hit that double 321 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 2: fault into the net, I in my head immediately went 322 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:36,840 Speaker 2: that was it. The match is completely change same way. 323 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:40,080 Speaker 2: I was like, it'd be one thing if he played 324 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 2: a good point and Taylor hit a great shot or 325 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 2: he tried to go down the line and he missed 326 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 2: it by like this much. But we know as players 327 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:50,080 Speaker 2: there's there's ways to lose your service game, and he 328 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 2: literally was untouchable on serving this tournament. But when you 329 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:56,160 Speaker 2: have a propensity to get a little tight, when when 330 00:14:56,160 --> 00:14:58,920 Speaker 2: you get tight, and you know locker room reputation is everything, 331 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 2: right when you're when his four hand breaks down, you're 332 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 2: like I got him. When he double faults like that, 333 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 2: and particularly into the net, I was like, oh, that 334 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 2: just changed the whole match. And Taylor, i'm sure, was like, 335 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 2: oh he can get tight and he's getting tight. So 336 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 2: I've got him now, Not not like guarantee I'm going 337 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 2: to win, but I know I can get back into 338 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 2: this match. And I just felt immediately once you hit 339 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 2: that second serve, I was like, completely change the match. 340 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, and he's unfortunately getting to the point now. I 341 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:30,640 Speaker 1: believe the for set went to a tiebreaker, and at 342 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 1: the beginning of that tiebreaker, I remember in my head thinking, oh, 343 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 1: like Fritz is a heavy favorite in this tiebreaker right now, 344 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:37,920 Speaker 1: Fritz is a guy that goes for it. He's klawn 345 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 1: his way back in the match. It's fair struggle to 346 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 1: close these guys out. So if I'm thinking that, I'm 347 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 1: sure Taylor Fritz is thinking that, and I'm sure other 348 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:48,000 Speaker 1: players are thinking that. You just he unfortunately needs to 349 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:51,000 Speaker 1: change the narrative and it's going to be tough to do. 350 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:53,520 Speaker 1: But you just you feel like when matches get close, 351 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 1: now it favors whoever he's playing. 352 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:58,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, totally. And you know, you're a very similar player 353 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 2: to someone like Taylor big serve fourhand, and you're like, oh, 354 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 2: there's a window. It just was open. I'm going to 355 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 2: run through it with some big serves and some big, 356 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:10,880 Speaker 2: big tennis well done from him. Unfortunately he went down 357 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:14,360 Speaker 2: to Mussetti today, he just looked like, I know we're 358 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:17,600 Speaker 2: going to get onto the semifinal matchup with Novak and Mussetti, 359 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 2: but just real quickly, I just want to say, this 360 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:23,800 Speaker 2: is what's so important about playing on grass. You have 361 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 2: to have creativity, you have to have slice, you have 362 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:29,800 Speaker 2: to have just a little bit of a difference in 363 00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:32,600 Speaker 2: the way that you play. And Mussetti played Taylor Fritz 364 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:35,400 Speaker 2: so well today, and when he won the fourth set Taylor, 365 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:38,480 Speaker 2: everyone thought, Okay, here we go. But Mussetti came out 366 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 2: in the fifth set and he showed that beautiful variety. 367 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 2: The break point at one love was so good the 368 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 2: way he played that, and Taylor just looked really uncomfortable 369 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:52,440 Speaker 2: playing a guy with variety. So I ask you, does 370 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:57,360 Speaker 2: he have a chance to beat Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. 371 00:16:57,720 --> 00:16:59,880 Speaker 2: We see the last time they played on Philip Chatrier, 372 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 2: Novak won six love in the fifth set. Is it 373 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 2: a different matchup on grass? 374 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:09,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, but no, he has zero chance to beat Novak. 375 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:11,640 Speaker 1: Having said that, if you would have asked me, does 376 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:13,399 Speaker 1: he have a chance to beat Taylor? If he had 377 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 1: does he have a chance to beat Taylor Fritz, I 378 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 1: would have said zero chance. I even texted you, I 379 00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:20,920 Speaker 1: bet my house that Taylor wins this in three sets 380 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:25,840 Speaker 1: your house tomorrow. My house is your house now. But 381 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 1: but you you said it spot on. The more I 382 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:30,680 Speaker 1: started watching it, I was like, Mussetti is playing him perfectly. 383 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:33,480 Speaker 1: When Taylor's in the middle of the court bashing the ball. 384 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:35,879 Speaker 1: He is one of the maybe the best player in 385 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:38,639 Speaker 1: the world. But Mussetti was bringing him in using the 386 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:40,879 Speaker 1: drop shot a lot, moving around with the slice, putting 387 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 1: Taylor in like awkward positions where he was having to 388 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:46,159 Speaker 1: hit the ball you know, from his from his ankles 389 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:49,280 Speaker 1: and then went high and then moving in. And it 390 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:51,160 Speaker 1: was a fun match to watch. It was a really 391 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 1: tactically speaking, Mussetti played Taylor absolutely perfect and uh he 392 00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:58,679 Speaker 1: proved me wrong. And I was really impressed with the 393 00:17:58,680 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 1: way he played. 394 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:02,679 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, the one hand is back. What are 395 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 2: these people saying about the one hand of being dead? 396 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:07,359 Speaker 2: Let me tell you, on grass, it is such a 397 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 2: it's such a good thing to be able to have 398 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:12,080 Speaker 2: a slice back. End. Roger Federer was the absolute greatest 399 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:14,480 Speaker 2: of that. And and that one point where and I 400 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 2: bring it up all the time because it was literally 401 00:18:16,359 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 2: the match. Once he broke Taylor to go to love, 402 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:22,480 Speaker 2: Taylor had no answers. Then you know he held serve. 403 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:24,480 Speaker 2: It was three love. It was just like it was 404 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:27,679 Speaker 2: just over after that. You know, it's unfortunately Taylor had 405 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:31,280 Speaker 2: that terrible slip that that that looks at the end. Yeah, 406 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:32,679 Speaker 2: I was that was a brutal thing. 407 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 1: Hopefully it looked worse than it actually is. 408 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:37,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, because when it happened, I was like, oh God, 409 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 2: that looked worse than Vera. It was very similar to 410 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:41,359 Speaker 2: Vera's but I felt it was even worse. 411 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:42,400 Speaker 1: I thought that too. 412 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:46,520 Speaker 2: I just felt like Sam he looked very uncomfortable in 413 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:49,040 Speaker 2: his movement Taylor because he had to deal with the 414 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 2: slice and the short balls, and you know, MERSETI had 415 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:54,760 Speaker 2: just such beautiful variety. It reminded me of so much 416 00:18:54,840 --> 00:18:57,240 Speaker 2: of watching Roger Federer on the grass and why he 417 00:18:57,359 --> 00:19:00,159 Speaker 2: was so good. But I think the difference is that 418 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:04,400 Speaker 2: Novak Djokovic handles the variety. He can slice as well, 419 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:06,919 Speaker 2: he can come into the net, he can he doesn't 420 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:09,040 Speaker 2: mind playing a little bit of cat and mouse sometimes, 421 00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 2: whereas Taylor, as you said, likes to bash it like 422 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 2: really big. So I just think that this is going 423 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:16,040 Speaker 2: to be an uphill climb big time for Massetti. And 424 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:18,560 Speaker 2: also Novak having the day, a couple of days extra off, 425 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 2: He's going to be just feeling great. 426 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:22,439 Speaker 1: So the knee is going to be one hundred percent 427 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:26,840 Speaker 1: and I expect him just like you know, going full 428 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 1: steam ahead and all cylinders, no problem. 429 00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:33,920 Speaker 2: All right. So Daniel Medvedev versus Carlos Alcaraz, Alcaraz leeds 430 00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:36,120 Speaker 2: they head to head four to two. Do you give 431 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 2: Mehdi a chance to be Galitos on the grass or 432 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 2: is this just a foregone conclusion that we are going 433 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:45,719 Speaker 2: to have the matchup that we had last year in 434 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 2: the final with Alcaraz and Novak. 435 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 1: I mean, I'd be curious to see what the betting 436 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:53,399 Speaker 1: nines are. I feel like this is a fifty to fifty. 437 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:56,679 Speaker 1: I mean, Alcaraz has been playing well, but you know, 438 00:19:56,720 --> 00:19:59,760 Speaker 1: he lost early in Queens. He beat Francis in five, 439 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:03,680 Speaker 1: He's lost a couple other sets during the tournament. He 440 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:06,520 Speaker 1: hasn't looked like you know, he hasn't been cruising all 441 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:09,919 Speaker 1: the way to the semifinals, beat Tommy Paul in four sets, 442 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:12,240 Speaker 1: and Medvedev like we said earlier. He came out of 443 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:14,760 Speaker 1: the the quarter of fire, you know, with all the 444 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:16,720 Speaker 1: best players, and so he's gonna be feeling good. So 445 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:18,919 Speaker 1: this this is a fifty to fifty match for me. 446 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:23,360 Speaker 1: I personally want Carlos to win, just got like watching 447 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:25,720 Speaker 1: him play a little more. But Medvedev is such a 448 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:28,640 Speaker 1: tough out. He just you know, plants himself ten feet 449 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:30,640 Speaker 1: behind the baseline and is like, I will be here 450 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:33,480 Speaker 1: for the next ten hours making backhand after backhand, foehand 451 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:36,879 Speaker 1: after forehand. But but we'll see. I expected to be 452 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:39,960 Speaker 1: a good match, and at fifty to fifty in my eyes. 453 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:45,439 Speaker 2: Well, the Carlos Alcarez betting odds are minus three hundred 454 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:48,119 Speaker 2: and ten and medi is plus two forty five. So 455 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:49,280 Speaker 2: are you taking a bet on Meddi? 456 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:52,879 Speaker 1: Yeah? I mean, look, I've never never bet on tennis, 457 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:54,920 Speaker 1: even though I probably could now that I'm retired. I 458 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:58,800 Speaker 1: would bet on Medvedev if I, uh I could, But 459 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:01,680 Speaker 1: what would you do? Are you going? Carlos is like 460 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:03,359 Speaker 1: a bit of favorite mate. 461 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:05,400 Speaker 2: I stick with who I picked to in the tournament, 462 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:08,040 Speaker 2: and who did I pick to win the tournament? Carlitos 463 00:21:08,359 --> 00:21:12,480 Speaker 2: and Rebakina. No, you're looking good, Real good, my friend, 464 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:17,879 Speaker 2: real good. Listen. Carlos to me is looking great. I 465 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:21,479 Speaker 2: think he's so comfortable out on that cord. He's so 466 00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:23,920 Speaker 2: good at being able to vary his shots, come into 467 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:26,280 Speaker 2: the net, hit the drop shot, which you'll use a 468 00:21:26,320 --> 00:21:30,440 Speaker 2: lot against Medvedev. I just think Meddi mentally doesn't feel 469 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:33,080 Speaker 2: great playing against al Kaz. He feels good playing against Sinner, 470 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:35,040 Speaker 2: which is why he plays him tough. Even though he 471 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:36,800 Speaker 2: lost to him in the straight open final. I think 472 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:40,000 Speaker 2: he was absolutely dead going into the final and I 473 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:42,480 Speaker 2: think that's why I beat him yesterday, even though I 474 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:45,119 Speaker 2: think Sinner was also a little hampered and not feeling 475 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:48,720 Speaker 2: great at all. Let's get to the ladies. I expect 476 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 2: Carlos to be in the final against Novak. That's my 477 00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:56,440 Speaker 2: picks for the men's Barbora Krajikova, who won, of course 478 00:21:56,480 --> 00:21:59,240 Speaker 2: the French Open a couple of years ago and is 479 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:01,720 Speaker 2: also won the a couple of times at Wimbledon, and 480 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:04,720 Speaker 2: she goes up against Elena Rebakina, who I said is 481 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:09,520 Speaker 2: my favorite. Rabackina looked unbelievable today against fitz Lena. Babora 482 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:12,560 Speaker 2: got a bit of a test against Ostapenko, particularly in 483 00:22:12,560 --> 00:22:15,159 Speaker 2: the second set, but she looked pretty good. They have 484 00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:17,320 Speaker 2: both been serving really well and Sam, as you know, 485 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:20,480 Speaker 2: on grass, you've got to serve well. Rebekin a heavy, 486 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:23,000 Speaker 2: heavy favorite to win this tournament now, having won it 487 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:25,120 Speaker 2: just a couple of years ago, and I think she's 488 00:22:25,160 --> 00:22:28,919 Speaker 2: heavy favorite going in against Kadjikova. What are your thoughts 489 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:30,800 Speaker 2: on the on the on the ladies. 490 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:32,639 Speaker 1: Yeah, look, you're gonna know more than me on this, 491 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:35,959 Speaker 1: but you just hit the you know, hit the the 492 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:38,159 Speaker 1: needle on the and the bulls eye there. It's Rebaccana's 493 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:40,119 Speaker 1: tournament to lose at this point. I do feel like 494 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:43,399 Speaker 1: she is just so much not so much better than 495 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:46,080 Speaker 1: the remaining three, but just such a heavy favorite. She 496 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:49,000 Speaker 1: looked great today against Sidelina. I feel like that was 497 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:52,120 Speaker 1: the toughest of all the quarterfinal matchups, maybe the two 498 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:55,520 Speaker 1: most accomplished best players, and she made quick work of her. 499 00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:59,160 Speaker 1: And it's just it's hard not to see here holding 500 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:02,200 Speaker 1: up the trophy, not holding up the trophy on Saturday. 501 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:05,240 Speaker 1: So that's that's where I'm going with the ladies. 502 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 2: I think you meant you hit the nail on the head, 503 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:14,240 Speaker 2: Buddy Haystack. I was like, where we're going. Where are 504 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:15,080 Speaker 2: we going with this mate? 505 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:16,880 Speaker 1: Nail on the head. 506 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:20,119 Speaker 2: That's what I know you've been, you know, overwhelmed with 507 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:22,560 Speaker 2: the love that you're getting on your Instagram page, with 508 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:28,919 Speaker 2: your good it's good, it's I gotta tell you, it's 509 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:33,040 Speaker 2: real good. Okay, But let let's look at the other 510 00:23:33,119 --> 00:23:38,480 Speaker 2: ladies semi final. I am overwhelming favorite for uh Rebarkina. 511 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:40,040 Speaker 2: I picked her to win the tournament, and to me, 512 00:23:40,240 --> 00:23:42,520 Speaker 2: she is by far the best player. She was the 513 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:44,679 Speaker 2: best player coming in here anyway, even though she's had 514 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:46,960 Speaker 2: a little ups and downs. The only thing to stop 515 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 2: Rebarkina from getting to number one in the world in 516 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 2: a lot of ways is her physicality. She's getting injured 517 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:56,320 Speaker 2: and she gets these random illnesses, so it's kind of random. 518 00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 2: But if she's healthy, get out of the way especially, 519 00:24:00,359 --> 00:24:02,760 Speaker 2: and that's how I feel about her. So Donna Vekich 520 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 2: just a player that has dealt with so many injuries 521 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:07,520 Speaker 2: over the last couple of years. She was so close 522 00:24:07,560 --> 00:24:10,119 Speaker 2: to like wanting to retire a few years ago with 523 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:12,240 Speaker 2: this knee injury. I can tell you I had a 524 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:17,200 Speaker 2: personal conversation with her two years ago in Nottingham prior 525 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:20,320 Speaker 2: to Wimbledon. Two years ago, and look, she was carrying 526 00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 2: a lot of weight. She was not at her fittest. 527 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:26,120 Speaker 2: She was struggling coming back from a knee injury. As 528 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:28,080 Speaker 2: you know, Sam, when you have a knee injury or 529 00:24:28,119 --> 00:24:30,520 Speaker 2: a lower leg extremity, it's hard to do the work 530 00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:32,520 Speaker 2: that you need to to drop the weight to get 531 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:35,720 Speaker 2: fit because you can't run. You can't do the things 532 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:38,760 Speaker 2: that lose the weight, you know. And she and I 533 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:40,840 Speaker 2: said to her, because she's hitting. She was still hitting 534 00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:42,879 Speaker 2: the ball, unbelievable. I said, what do you feel like 535 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:45,399 Speaker 2: you need to do it? She says, honestly, stubbsy, I 536 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:47,520 Speaker 2: need to lose weight and I need to get fitter. 537 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:49,800 Speaker 2: And so she was the first person to call it 538 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:52,520 Speaker 2: on herself. And boy did she get in great shape 539 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:56,240 Speaker 2: in a year. And I am so happy for her, 540 00:24:56,520 --> 00:24:58,760 Speaker 2: somebody that's been knocking on the door of a semi 541 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:00,760 Speaker 2: final of a Grand Slam for so long. She was 542 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:04,280 Speaker 2: a young protege, like they thought she was going to 543 00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:07,119 Speaker 2: be the next one. And for me, it's so great 544 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:10,160 Speaker 2: to see her have an opportunity not only to play 545 00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:12,560 Speaker 2: in a semi final, but to play against Jasmine Pauline, 546 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:15,520 Speaker 2: who Parleini has to be the story of the of 547 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:18,240 Speaker 2: the last two months. I mean, coming from where she's 548 00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:19,720 Speaker 2: come from at twenty eight in the world, getting the 549 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:21,840 Speaker 2: finals of the French Open. Now has a real chance 550 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:24,640 Speaker 2: to make another final. There's not many that have done that. 551 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:27,960 Speaker 2: But what do you think about this matchup? You've got 552 00:25:28,119 --> 00:25:31,920 Speaker 2: big hitter against another very good player that's so good 553 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:35,760 Speaker 2: or caught comes into the net, Nam Paulini, Who are 554 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:37,400 Speaker 2: you picking in that one? 555 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:40,679 Speaker 1: I'm picking my new favorite player on the woman's side, Paulini. 556 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:44,520 Speaker 1: I honestly, I know you love her too. Yeah, to 557 00:25:44,560 --> 00:25:46,240 Speaker 1: be honest here, I didn't know who she was before 558 00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:48,840 Speaker 1: the French Open. I hate him any that and then 559 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:51,560 Speaker 1: cruises to the French Open final and now on Wimbledon. 560 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:54,680 Speaker 1: I love her little attitude, I love how she plays. 561 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:57,840 Speaker 1: I like, I'm just like, I'm such a fan and 562 00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:00,399 Speaker 1: so I mean, I wanted Emmaavarra to win that, like 563 00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:02,399 Speaker 1: Emma a lot. But if she's not gonna win it, 564 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:06,760 Speaker 1: like Paulini, I love her and so uh, she's gonna 565 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:09,520 Speaker 1: She's gonna beat Donna Vekitch in this one. I think, 566 00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 1: I know, I know she is in two sets. She's 567 00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:12,600 Speaker 1: not even to lose a set. 568 00:26:13,359 --> 00:26:14,680 Speaker 2: Wow, I think that would be cool. 569 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 1: I watched Donna Vekitch the other day in her quarterfinal. 570 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:23,119 Speaker 1: Who she played in the quarterfinal? Beckache beat a little 571 00:26:23,119 --> 00:26:24,480 Speaker 1: blanket on it? Oh? 572 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:27,960 Speaker 2: In her quarterfinal she beat Why am I blanking on 573 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:29,520 Speaker 2: it too? I've got there. 574 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:30,159 Speaker 1: You watched it. 575 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:33,560 Speaker 2: It's ten thirty at nine here, okay, so so you know, 576 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:35,320 Speaker 2: give me, give me a slight break. 577 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 1: I know, okay, Yeah, she won her quarterfinal. I watched it. 578 00:26:39,359 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 1: I wasn't like overly impressed with how she played in 579 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:44,800 Speaker 1: that quarterfinal, and I was very in she beat Lulusan, 580 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:47,639 Speaker 1: That's what it was. And I was very impressed with 581 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:51,680 Speaker 1: how Paulini played against not only Amminavarro, but the three 582 00:26:51,680 --> 00:26:55,280 Speaker 1: previous matches. So in my eyes, this is this is 583 00:26:55,320 --> 00:26:58,560 Speaker 1: Paulini's match, and I think she's going to the final. 584 00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:00,919 Speaker 1: You you seem like to be a little more on 585 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:01,240 Speaker 1: the phone. 586 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:05,760 Speaker 2: I'm a little bit. I'm not sure. Here's the things. 587 00:27:06,119 --> 00:27:11,159 Speaker 2: Donna serves really well, and she loves the serve out wide, 588 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:14,320 Speaker 2: and Paulini, if she stands too far back, she's the 589 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:17,320 Speaker 2: one thing. The one return that she struggles with is 590 00:27:17,359 --> 00:27:19,760 Speaker 2: that one where she's really reaching because she's only like 591 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 2: literally five foot three, so for her to get that 592 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:26,040 Speaker 2: return back, so Donna has to control her service games 593 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:27,480 Speaker 2: and she can do that because she has one of 594 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:30,479 Speaker 2: the best serves on the tour and she goes for it. 595 00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:32,680 Speaker 2: She doesn't She's not going to give Paolini a lot 596 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:37,080 Speaker 2: of time. Her ball is flat and hard, so Pauline 597 00:27:37,119 --> 00:27:39,600 Speaker 2: is going to have to serve well. Donna's going to 598 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:40,320 Speaker 2: have to serve well. 599 00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:41,040 Speaker 1: Two. 600 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:44,280 Speaker 2: I don't know. I think it's going to go three sets. 601 00:27:44,280 --> 00:27:47,879 Speaker 2: I think Donna. I think Donna has played ten years 602 00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:51,199 Speaker 2: on tour and this is her moment that she feels 603 00:27:51,240 --> 00:27:55,600 Speaker 2: like she is emotionally prepared for. She has worked very, 604 00:27:55,720 --> 00:27:58,399 Speaker 2: very hard on her mental side. She has her mental 605 00:27:58,440 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 2: coach here with her. They done a lot of work 606 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:04,320 Speaker 2: and she looks really calm in the biggest of moments. 607 00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:06,720 Speaker 2: So I think it's going to come down who serves well, 608 00:28:07,840 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 2: as it does always on grass. But I think this 609 00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:11,800 Speaker 2: is going to be a close, really close match. I 610 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:13,879 Speaker 2: think Rabarkin is going to win fairly comfortably, but I 611 00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:16,280 Speaker 2: think that one will go through and I might be 612 00:28:16,359 --> 00:28:18,600 Speaker 2: give a slight edge to Paulini just because she just 613 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:20,359 Speaker 2: feels like it's inevitable. 614 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:22,800 Speaker 1: But I got a lot of momentum right now, just 615 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:24,440 Speaker 1: based on the last few months. 616 00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:26,639 Speaker 2: Yeah, and you know, I just want to throw in 617 00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:28,520 Speaker 2: that because we haven't had a chance to talk about 618 00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:30,439 Speaker 2: it because we haven't done the pod in a little bit. 619 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:34,000 Speaker 2: But it was really hard to watch her beat Matti Keys. 620 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:36,240 Speaker 2: Maddi Keys was up five to and the third serving 621 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:37,880 Speaker 2: for the match, it looked like the match was over. 622 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:41,160 Speaker 2: So maybe Paulini is feeling like she's playing with house 623 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:42,440 Speaker 2: money and getting through that match. 624 00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:45,080 Speaker 1: So was that was emotional for everyone to watch? This 625 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:48,400 Speaker 1: seems Maddie. I felt like that was like, I've never 626 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:52,880 Speaker 1: felt so bad for a player. Yeah, I know, could 627 00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:53,720 Speaker 1: this could be Madison? 628 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:53,920 Speaker 2: Right? 629 00:28:53,960 --> 00:28:55,320 Speaker 1: I mean this this should be you know, if she 630 00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:57,000 Speaker 1: didn't hurt herself, she was probably going to get through 631 00:28:57,040 --> 00:28:59,960 Speaker 1: that match and this would probably be her playing Donna 632 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:01,520 Speaker 1: right now in the semifinals. 633 00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:05,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, could have been. Maddie's had so many injuries through 634 00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:08,520 Speaker 2: her career and I was calling that match and it 635 00:29:08,600 --> 00:29:10,600 Speaker 2: was really hard for me to keep it together in 636 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:13,200 Speaker 2: the last couple of games, watching Maddie cry and looking 637 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:16,680 Speaker 2: up beyond Frantangelo, who bought you know, her soon to 638 00:29:16,680 --> 00:29:18,840 Speaker 2: be husband and coach, and it was just it was 639 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 2: so hard because he was just like, just call it, babe. 640 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:25,400 Speaker 2: It was yeah. Anyway, well, we've had a lot of 641 00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:29,440 Speaker 2: injuries this Wimbledon. We've also had some incredible comebacks. I 642 00:29:29,440 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 2: think the most loved to best of five comebacks in 643 00:29:33,320 --> 00:29:36,080 Speaker 2: a Grand Slam, I think, if not the most, certainly 644 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:41,000 Speaker 2: almost the most. So it's been an incredible tournament. But anyway, guys, 645 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:43,760 Speaker 2: it's been a great it's been fun to be here. 646 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:47,000 Speaker 2: I have to play two matches tomorrow, Sam and the Invitational. 647 00:29:47,040 --> 00:29:48,720 Speaker 2: I don't even know how that's possible for me to 648 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:52,640 Speaker 2: physically do that, but I'll let you know, because a. 649 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:55,960 Speaker 1: Good nay to sleep big, breakfast and you know, get 650 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:57,880 Speaker 1: in with the physio and take care of the body. 651 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:02,280 Speaker 2: I have TV between those matches, so that's going to 652 00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:04,800 Speaker 2: be a little bit tough. But anyway, anyway, guys, it's 653 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:08,560 Speaker 2: been great. Of course, a reminder, the Olympics is so close. 654 00:30:09,200 --> 00:30:12,200 Speaker 2: It is going to begin on July twenty six. I 655 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:15,320 Speaker 2: cannot wait for the Olympics. A couple more days here 656 00:30:15,320 --> 00:30:18,200 Speaker 2: at Wimbledon, so I'm excited about that, but once it's over, 657 00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:20,560 Speaker 2: I cannot wait for the Olympics to start. Of course, 658 00:30:20,920 --> 00:30:22,960 Speaker 2: I'll be calling all the tennis for you in a 659 00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:25,440 Speaker 2: couple of weeks July twenty six across the networks of 660 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:28,960 Speaker 2: NBC and Peacock, and all the Olympic matches will be 661 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:32,320 Speaker 2: streaming live on Peacock throughout the day. Cannot wait to 662 00:30:32,320 --> 00:30:34,560 Speaker 2: bring it to you, Sam, Thanks for joining me and 663 00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:37,640 Speaker 2: again today it's been a lot of fun. Thanks everyone 664 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:40,120 Speaker 2: for joining us on the French Connection. It's been brought 665 00:30:40,120 --> 00:30:42,520 Speaker 2: to you by NVC Sports and Racket and the next 666 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:46,520 Speaker 2: episode drops the twenty second of July. We'll see you then, Sam, 667 00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:48,520 Speaker 2: We'll see you then see it. 668 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:50,640 Speaker 1: Good luck in the invitation. I'll I expect to see 669 00:30:50,680 --> 00:30:53,880 Speaker 1: you holding up the trophy on Sunday. 670 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:57,880 Speaker 2: I held it up last year. I think this year 671 00:30:57,960 --> 00:30:59,280 Speaker 2: is going to be a little more difficult for me, 672 00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:02,520 Speaker 2: but I appreciate at your your love. 673 00:31:02,800 --> 00:31:05,840 Speaker 1: I trust that you're I believe in you, cheering for you. 674 00:31:06,560 --> 00:31:10,560 Speaker 1: M hmmmmmmmm hmm