1 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:16,920 Speaker 1: Anyway, this is the Renee Stubs Tennis podcast, and I 2 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:19,600 Speaker 1: am Renee Stubs. It's a little jet lagged, a little tied. 3 00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: It's been a tough week, Caitlin. As anybody that follows 4 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: the pod knows what happened to my mum. So it's 5 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 1: a it's been a tough week. But I tell you what, 6 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: it's good to see your friend. We're talking to each 7 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,920 Speaker 1: other on zoom. Caitlyn Thompson in New York City. Caitlan, Wow, 8 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:36,320 Speaker 1: what a great one woman. Oh my goodness. We had 9 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:38,880 Speaker 1: some great matches throughout those that you know, one final 10 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:40,840 Speaker 1: was amazing, the other one not so much. But let's 11 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:41,519 Speaker 1: get into it all. 12 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 2: I can't wait to get into it all. I really 13 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 2: appreciated the fact that I feel like there were a 14 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:49,559 Speaker 2: lot of new watchers of this year because everyone was 15 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 2: talking about how chaotic it was. They're like, oh, this 16 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 2: woman is so chaotic, got all of these seeds, and 17 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 2: it's like, have you not ever seen like this happens 18 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 2: every year? This is this is carnage, you know. Obviously, 19 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 2: it was great to get the on the scene report 20 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 2: from you and our friend Andrea Petkovich after the first 21 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 2: week talking about some of those crazy upsets. Why maybe 22 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 2: Coco losing early was not a crazy upset. Just you know, 23 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 2: this is part of it, right, Like grass is the 24 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:18,480 Speaker 2: most unpredictable surface and we get a lot of you know, 25 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 2: interesting results. That's said to have Cinner and Alcoraz in 26 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 2: the final on the men's side was something that a 27 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:26,120 Speaker 2: lot of people, probably before the tournament would have said, 28 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 2: that's probably going to be the final. And it was 29 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 2: to see Good in the final not the craziest thing. 30 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 2: She was, after all, coming in a five time grandsime 31 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 2: winner and somebody who you know was used to being 32 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:41,680 Speaker 2: in grandson finals maybe just not this one. Amanda nisi Mova, Yes, 33 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 2: a little bit unexpected, but anybody who had seen her 34 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 2: play a Queen's and know what she's capable of, was 35 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 2: not the craziest thing to imagine. But before we get 36 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 2: to the finals, about which I suspect we have plenty 37 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 2: to say, anything strike you in the run up to 38 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 2: the last couple of matches, I would love to spend 39 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 2: a little bit of time talking about Gregordan Mitro playing 40 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 2: yen X, who maybe was a lot bit of a 41 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 2: sliding doors moment. You know, one timeline goes one way. 42 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 2: The other timeline goes another way. Obviously, we can talk 43 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 2: a little bit about Arena Sabalanka, who I think a 44 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 2: lot of people thought would win this tournament losing to 45 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 2: Nisov and the semis. You know, I'd love to get 46 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:20,120 Speaker 2: before we get into those last matches that we just 47 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 2: watched Saturday and Sunday on the singles, what were your 48 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 2: thoughts about some of the more notable second week tournament 49 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 2: tournament matches. 50 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: Well, I mean talk about sliding doors moment. You're so right, right, 51 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 1: I mean the you know, the thing that changed in 52 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 1: the universe in that match. Now, do we know that 53 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:40,679 Speaker 1: Gregor Dimitrov was going to win in three sets and 54 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: four sets and five sets? We don't know, right, Do 55 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 1: we think that Cine might have come back, We don't know. 56 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:46,959 Speaker 1: The bottom line is he was down two sets of 57 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 1: love on grass, and we know how well Gregor Demetrov 58 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 1: has played through the years on grass, and also Yanix 59 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 1: Sina hadn't really he made the semis up Wimbledon, but 60 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 1: you know, I hadn't really, I guess been super you know, 61 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 1: good on grass, you could and Grego was very good 62 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,919 Speaker 1: on grass. So to see that happened, Oh, my god. 63 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 1: I mean, he tore it off the sternum bone. His 64 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 1: muscle tore off the sternum bone. Actually spoke to him 65 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 1: a couple of days ago on text, just to you know, 66 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:16,639 Speaker 1: we've been friends for a long time, and I just said, 67 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 1: I cannot believe that that injury happened. I've had strained 68 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:23,240 Speaker 1: my peck in the past, but to tear it off 69 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 1: the sternum that is wild. 70 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 2: It sounds like it's such a serious injury that he 71 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 2: is technically slated to be back for the US Open, 72 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 2: But it's sort of hard to imagine that he's going 73 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 2: to be back for the US Open. I mean, that 74 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 2: was a profoundly upsetting thing to watch, especially if you're 75 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 2: a Grugo Demetro fan who's kind of been waiting for 76 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 2: his big moment for years and years and years. Obviously, 77 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 2: the guys on a lot of tournaments, he's never really 78 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 2: had a lot of Grand Slam success, much less, you know, 79 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 2: gotten himself to a final to even be in contention 80 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 2: for a title. But you know, a longtime player, favorite, 81 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 2: a long time considered like super nice guy. Nobody watching 82 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 2: him can deny that he plays the game at an 83 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 2: elite beautiful flavor, and this seemed like his moment he 84 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 2: was rolling on the Yenix Center. Who you know, it 85 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 2: didn't look like he was playing terrible, but Grego Treatrov 86 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 2: had all the answers and Yenix sitter had none. Looking 87 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:20,040 Speaker 2: after the fact that Yanix Center lifts this trophy at 88 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 2: the end of the tournament when he was really not 89 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 2: in that match, is yeah, again a little bit of 90 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:27,839 Speaker 2: a sliding doors moment for a lot of people who 91 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 2: were kind of watching watching what happened totally. 92 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:33,600 Speaker 1: When he ended up getting through that match and I 93 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:37,719 Speaker 1: knew that he was playing Novak, I thought part of 94 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:42,600 Speaker 1: him has to feel a huge such a relief that 95 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 1: it's almost like he feels like now as opposed to 96 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 1: all the pressure to win the tournament or to do 97 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 1: well on grass, it's almost like it sort of released 98 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 1: him to be like you're kind of like you're kind 99 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 1: of lucky still be in some ways, so just like 100 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:02,039 Speaker 1: play fleet freely, like don't play with with any sort 101 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 1: of tightness. And that's what he looked like in the semis. 102 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 1: I mean, obviously Novak was a little hampered, but Yanik 103 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:10,719 Speaker 1: was unbelievable in that match, and I think he's just 104 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 1: released so much pressure on him getting through that match 105 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 1: with Greg Goldher. It was kind of like, I feel 106 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:17,599 Speaker 1: lucky to be here still, so fuck it right, just 107 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 1: play now. And that's exactly how he played the semis 108 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 1: and the finals. I mean, you the Tennessee played in 109 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:27,160 Speaker 1: those two matches at some of the best ti I've 110 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:28,360 Speaker 1: ever seen at Wimbledon one. 111 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:32,359 Speaker 2: I mean, he looked locked into a degree that he 112 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,839 Speaker 2: hasn't looked basically outside of a hardcourt ever, which is 113 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 2: not to say he's not capable of that level. But 114 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:42,840 Speaker 2: the focus he seemed to find, as you suggests, might 115 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 2: have been because he felt freed by relief and just 116 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:51,280 Speaker 2: you know, uh, the ability to put that match behind 117 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,280 Speaker 2: him with Demitrov. Let's before we talk about the aucrast final, 118 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 2: let's talk a little bit about the semifinal from Novak Djokovic, 119 00:05:57,600 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 2: which a lot of people, you know, I don't love 120 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 2: like dwelling on retirement talk, and I think that's like 121 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:04,680 Speaker 2: not always the most interesting way to frame somebody's uh, 122 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 2: you know, performance in a Slam. Certainly not when we 123 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 2: have information that suggests that it was his you know, 124 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 2: no Vak Jovich Djokovic's last Wimbledon. But I think a 125 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 2: lot of people you included, thought, okay, well, if he's 126 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 2: going to get another title on at a Slam, it's 127 00:06:19,839 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 2: probably going to happen at Wimbledon. That's the one's most likely. 128 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 2: And also it tends to favor the aged because it's 129 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 2: a little faster in the points to last is long, 130 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 2: and if you're you know, on the on the wrong 131 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:31,839 Speaker 2: side of thirty five heading into forty, like you know, 132 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 2: you can potentially, you know, playing attacking style of tennis 133 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 2: that shortens points and and maybe gets you, uh, you know, 134 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 2: gets you out of out of matches quicker than the 135 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 2: five side grind you know on clay. So anyway, this 136 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:45,560 Speaker 2: is a long way of saying, what do you think 137 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:46,479 Speaker 2: about Novak Djokovic? 138 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:50,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, that was a really long life asking me that question. 139 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 1: But just kidding, listen, I think that I don't know, 140 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:58,599 Speaker 1: I'm not in his brain, and this is the greatest 141 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:03,040 Speaker 1: playerable time, so where I don't you know, I don't 142 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:06,279 Speaker 1: pretend to think that he's not capable of doing, you know, 143 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 1: great things still because that's who he is. But at 144 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 1: some point father time catches up with you, and the 145 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 1: amount of injuries that you've actually had in tournaments now, 146 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 1: whether it be slipping over or you know, various injuries 147 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 1: through the last couple of years. It's like, it's kind 148 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 1: of what happens when you get injured. When you're older, 149 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 1: you tend to get injured a little bit more, and 150 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 1: you tend to break down here and you tend to 151 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 1: break down there. And that's starting to really be a factor. 152 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 1: And not only that you're playing against you know, Yannick 153 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:37,320 Speaker 1: Sinner and colors Alcarez, who have arguably taken what you've 154 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 1: done for the last twenty something years and possibly even 155 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: elevated it. And the reason they've elevated it is because 156 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 1: they've had to elevate it to beat the like the 157 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 1: likes of a Rafa Nada and then of course even 158 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 1: more so a bat Djokovic. So I just think at 159 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 1: some point you start going just they're just a little 160 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 1: bit better than me, now, you know what I mean. 161 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 1: And there's there's absolutely no one out there that's an 162 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 1: expert that'll be like, oh, that's that's awful. No, that's 163 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 1: that's genetics, that's life, that's getting older, and that's these 164 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 1: young twenty two twenty three year old guys that are stronger, 165 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 1: a little bit quicker, hit the ball a little bit harder, 166 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 1: are just better than you now. And that's not doesn't 167 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: have any slate on what you've clearly achieved in your 168 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 1: career as the greatest player of all time. 169 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 2: No. I mean, I think if anything, you know, as 170 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 2: your results start to decline, as your body starts to 171 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:31,960 Speaker 2: sort of as you suggest, like you know, be be 172 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 2: hampered by persistent stuff that it keeps crapping up. You know, 173 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:40,200 Speaker 2: there's a lot of ways to call it a day. 174 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 2: And I think, you know, we've seen everything from you know, 175 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:47,200 Speaker 2: stephie Graff winning a title, the last one, you know, 176 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 2: and then just saying well the next day, like that 177 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 2: was it. 178 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 1: You missed it by well actually no, she she actually 179 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 1: defaulted a match and said that's it, peace out. I'm 180 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 1: the French finals of Wimbledon, like the second round of 181 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 1: something in San Diego, got hurt in the match and default, 182 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:05,320 Speaker 1: you know, gave her any trasia, you know, walkover in 183 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 1: the match with her hands and never played again. 184 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:11,080 Speaker 2: I was like what Yeah, and then become Venus Williams, 185 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 2: who technically is still unretired. I mean, she just took 186 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 2: a wild card to the tournament you're going to next 187 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 2: the City Open in DC. Like Venus Williams, does she 188 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 2: still play professional tennis? Like the answer is kind of 189 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 2: like whenever she wants to, you know, which is cool 190 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 2: Williams like, she's incredible. She was like one of my 191 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:32,240 Speaker 2: childhood heroes, even though there was a tame age. But 192 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 2: I think for me, the the Novak Djokovic, you know, 193 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:38,840 Speaker 2: retirement talk until he retires, you know, it's all just speculative, 194 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 2: but it does definitely feel like the page has been turned, 195 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 2: which I think was equivocally to take the correct take 196 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 2: on what It's not only this tournament, but did the 197 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 2: French Open. You know, a lot of what's been happening 198 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:52,840 Speaker 2: really in the last like eighteen months on the tour 199 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 2: has now been like okay, well now we're in the 200 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:56,800 Speaker 2: era of Carlos Operas in the X Center. 201 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:00,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, listen. I think that he's so of 202 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 1: hinted that the last Grand Slam will be austray and Open, 203 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 1: and I think the reason for that is that's been 204 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 1: his most successful, winning at nine times, so I think 205 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 1: that it's not a bad way for him to go 206 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 1: out if he decides to. It's clearly been the best 207 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 1: place for him to win a Grand Slam. If he 208 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 1: can get to twenty five, that's probably where he's going 209 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:21,200 Speaker 1: to do it. I thought that he is best chance 210 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 1: was also at Wimbledon, so that's now slipped away. But 211 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:26,720 Speaker 1: I think that he probably almost feels like he not 212 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:29,720 Speaker 1: ows it's kind of Australia has been so your curl 213 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 1: in his life, right, He's had such successes, He's had 214 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:35,280 Speaker 1: so many, you know, very dramatic moments in his life 215 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:38,080 Speaker 1: where he was treated very unpoorly by the Australian government. 216 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:41,480 Speaker 1: So it's an interesting dichotomy. But I think that that's 217 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:43,920 Speaker 1: where he wants to finish his career and I think 218 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:47,200 Speaker 1: that probably will be his last Grand Slam. But anyway, 219 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 1: aside from that, we'll just finish off the guys because 220 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 1: we've been talking about them. I mean, Taylor Fritz. Got 221 00:10:57,720 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 1: to give the guy a lot of credit. He really 222 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 1: is pushing and pushing and pushing. There's a few things 223 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:04,120 Speaker 1: that he just has to raise his level on. And 224 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:06,200 Speaker 1: when you see the tennis that we saw in the final, 225 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 1: you just see the little, little tiny things that just 226 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:12,960 Speaker 1: are the difference maker. When he is playing against Sinner, 227 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 1: at the US Open and then Carlos Alcroz at Wimbledon, 228 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:17,760 Speaker 1: and so but I want to give Kurdos to Taylor 229 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:20,840 Speaker 1: because my god, did he fight through so many long 230 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 1: matches and incredible matches and it was just keep going, 231 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 1: keep going, because you're so close. But these two guys 232 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 1: are just exceptional. It's kind of like, you know, Andy 233 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 1: Roddick trying to win a tournament. It's like this guy 234 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:34,760 Speaker 1: Federer and Nadahal and all these guys get getting in 235 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:38,680 Speaker 1: front of him. So, but what awesome tournament, but just 236 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 1: not quite good enough against al Chist. 237 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:42,959 Speaker 2: Yeah, I do want to I want to double down 238 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 2: on that a little bit, just because I think Taylor 239 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:47,640 Speaker 2: Fritz kind of reminds me of like an Andy Murray 240 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 2: tape where it's like, Okay, you're in this era of 241 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 2: two exceptionally gifted, exceptionally talented multag and you won a 242 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:57,079 Speaker 2: lot of Grand slams, and you want a lot of 243 00:11:57,080 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 2: Grand slams. He won Wimbledon twice and he won two 244 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 2: gold medals. You know, but I and I think, and 245 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:04,839 Speaker 2: it was open and the tour finals, I mean, listen, 246 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:07,679 Speaker 2: and Andy Murray had an enviable career and is one 247 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:10,080 Speaker 2: of the greatest of all time in an era where 248 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 2: the two and then three of the other greatest were 249 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 2: also just absolutely dominant. So the fact that he got 250 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 2: in there at all was amazing. If anything, that should 251 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:21,680 Speaker 2: be an inspiration to Taylor Fritz, which is to say, 252 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:25,560 Speaker 2: you know, I feel like this guy has come unbelievably 253 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:31,040 Speaker 2: far and optimizing his talents, optimizing his mental strength, optimizing 254 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:34,439 Speaker 2: his weapons, Let's see how much further he can get. 255 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 2: And I hope that that's a challenge, not an insult 256 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:43,719 Speaker 2: to say, Like he's clearly made incredible strides, there's still 257 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 2: considerable distance. And I think that Alcarez Final, even though 258 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 2: it was four sets and some of those sets went 259 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:52,840 Speaker 2: to tiebreaks, oh it wasn't. It didn't feel. It didn't 260 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 2: feel like Taylor Fritz was in control of that match. 261 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 1: It wasn't big enough. No, no, no, no, he wasn't. 262 00:12:56,960 --> 00:13:00,439 Speaker 1: He wasn't. But let's talk about the final, because, as 263 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 1: you know, I am still in Australia. I'm coming back 264 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:07,840 Speaker 1: to New York on Thursday, but I am watching tennis 265 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 1: like I used to watch tennis when I was a child, 266 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 1: which is at two o'clock and three o'clock in the morning. Okay, 267 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 1: So I got up to watch the women's going to 268 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:17,439 Speaker 1: not lie. It was kind of nice if it was 269 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:20,319 Speaker 1: quick because I was very tired. But the next night 270 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 1: I'm sitting up the match that's a one okay, one am, 271 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 1: and I'm thinking, okay, I'm going to watch a set. 272 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:28,480 Speaker 1: I'm going to see how I feel about watching it. 273 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:30,319 Speaker 1: If I want to stay up, it's going to be 274 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:34,560 Speaker 1: a real commitment, right. So this first set, I'm like 275 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 1: that set point that Carlos reaches out to slice that 276 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: back end into the open court after Yanicksinn hit one 277 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:44,560 Speaker 1: of the greatest foehands on the run I've ever seen, 278 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 1: was I was like, how the f did I go 279 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 1: to bed and not watch the rest of this match? 280 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 2: Okay? 281 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:53,480 Speaker 1: So I sit there and again it gets to five 282 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:55,360 Speaker 1: to four and the second yannicks Inner plays one of 283 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 1: the sickest games I've seen to win that game to 284 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:00,560 Speaker 1: win the second set, and I'm like, how can I 285 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 1: do to sleep? It was just like it just kept 286 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 1: getting better and better and better. And I said it 287 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:09,880 Speaker 1: in a tweet a couple of days previous. The hot 288 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:12,600 Speaker 1: weather and it was so hot in London this year, 289 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:15,480 Speaker 1: like super hot. I knew a straightaway when I saw 290 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:17,960 Speaker 1: the conditions through those two weeks, I knew that it 291 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:19,800 Speaker 1: was a real chance for Yanick, and I knew that 292 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 1: it was a better chance for Eager. And the hot conditions, 293 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 1: no doubt helped Yannick's game his bigger more, he's super more. 294 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 1: He's a little bit more aggressive, particularly on the forehand. 295 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 1: And the serve, the serve was the factor and the 296 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 1: second serve was a huge factor and that's the difference. 297 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 1: And I think the harder conditions helped be time today. 298 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 2: Can you just expand on that a little bit. I'm 299 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:47,560 Speaker 2: just thinking of all the all the tennis fanatics, but 300 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 2: amateur prognostic here, as I spent the weekend with who 301 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 2: listened to this podcast, who watched and sat with Jaza Geeb? 302 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 2: You know at that at the that's final. But what 303 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 2: exactly is it besides you know, he can be more 304 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 2: aggressive on the surf, What exactly is it about the harder, 305 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:07,320 Speaker 2: faster court that a harder maybe bounce your court that 306 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 2: helps the anccenter and maybe get yards towards Egan and 307 00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:12,960 Speaker 2: Yannik as opposed to Carlos and other women. 308 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:15,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, so the small little things like if it's a 309 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 1: bit the grass is a little bit softer, means it's 310 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:20,360 Speaker 1: a little bit more dew right through the two weeks, 311 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 1: maybe a bit of rain, you know, and it's kind 312 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 1: of grassier, and it's just softer right when it's when 313 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 1: you get a lot of when you get a lot 314 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 1: of sun, it just gets harder and harder and harder. Right, 315 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 1: So the ball is going to hit the grass and 316 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 1: it's going to bounce up a little bit higher. So 317 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 1: for someone like Yannick, who's a lot taller than Carlos, 318 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 1: the ball's going into his heading zone a lot better. 319 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 1: It's going right into that area where he can really 320 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 1: smack it. And the slice from Carlos is not going 321 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 1: to be as an effective shot because that also is 322 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 1: not going to sort of die, and his drop shots 323 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 1: aren't going to just die on the grass. They're going 324 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:57,080 Speaker 1: to actually bounce up. There's little tiny factors like that 325 00:15:57,080 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 1: that do make a difference with someone like Yannick, who 326 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 1: there can sort of take advantage of his bigger ball 327 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 1: striking because the ball's not being as affected by the 328 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 1: different conditions that a grassier, softer court would be for Carlos. 329 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: And so I think that was a huge factor. And 330 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,160 Speaker 1: the same thing for Eager. The ball is you know, 331 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 1: jumping on her second serve, it's bouncing a bit higher, 332 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 1: gives her a little bit more time on the forehand 333 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:25,280 Speaker 1: and the back end. Frankly, but they just suited both 334 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:29,280 Speaker 1: of their games so much more than Amanda. I mean 335 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:31,720 Speaker 1: suited Amanda too, but she was just overcome with nerves. 336 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 1: But we'll get to that. But for someone like Yannick, 337 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:35,160 Speaker 1: the ball is coming up higher and he's sitting zone 338 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 1: and he can be way aggressive with it. That's what 339 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 1: he was today. 340 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, clearly. I mean I think for a lot of us, 341 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:45,400 Speaker 2: you know, slate poisons toward Carlos Alchoras, although you know, 342 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:49,320 Speaker 2: new insult intended toward Danic center, like the usual magic 343 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 2: was not able to be conjured. You know, maybe ball 344 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 2: set up or drop shots lingered. You know, it looked 345 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:59,880 Speaker 2: like his tools were not as readily accessible, and he 346 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 2: looked a lot of you know, out of sorts. Obviously, 347 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:05,119 Speaker 2: the highest levels that were cheap in the match were 348 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:09,119 Speaker 2: unbelievably high. And I saw an analysis that said, and 349 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:10,879 Speaker 2: I think this is generally true, but you know, I'm 350 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:13,400 Speaker 2: curious if you agree with that. You know, Carlos Alcaraz's 351 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:18,080 Speaker 2: highest level is higher than Yannix, but his lowest level 352 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:21,640 Speaker 2: is way lower. And so even though Yannick Centers is 353 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 2: in that band reliably, you know, that's just like such 354 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 2: an interesting, interesting contrast. And I think that was true 355 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 2: in the match, Like Carlos had incredible peaks, but a 356 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 2: lot of it was he wasn't able to I think 357 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 2: some in some of his gradest moments, which you know, 358 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 2: again credits to Yanick center for for forcing him out 359 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:42,640 Speaker 2: of his favorite you know, sort of shots and patterns. 360 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 1: I saw that tweet. I think it was from Chris Clary, 361 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:49,879 Speaker 1: and I think I agree to a certain extent that 362 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 1: his the Alchoriz is low is definitely lower than Yanix, 363 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:56,399 Speaker 1: There's no question about that. I would disagree that the 364 00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 1: high is not as high as Alcoriz's because I think Yanik, 365 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:04,399 Speaker 1: when he hits the ball big, his ability to brush 366 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:08,879 Speaker 1: the ball and hit into corners is incredible. Does he 367 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:11,879 Speaker 1: have the flare of Alcrez. No, But you can't really 368 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:14,640 Speaker 1: say that that top level is as good as Alcrez, 369 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:16,040 Speaker 1: So I disagree with that. 370 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:19,280 Speaker 2: But I think the difference Claire, So maybe that's what. 371 00:18:19,359 --> 00:18:22,439 Speaker 1: Yeah, Yeah, I think for me, it's like if Yannick 372 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:25,960 Speaker 1: said his A plus, I mean, he can be Pallos 373 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:28,640 Speaker 1: at his A plus, There's no question about that, particularly 374 00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 1: on a court like today that was a little bit 375 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:33,160 Speaker 1: bouncy here and a little bit faster, and he served better. 376 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:35,480 Speaker 1: That's what it came down to. I mean, even the 377 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:38,000 Speaker 1: game when he held to go at five to three 378 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:41,080 Speaker 1: in the second set and he was down fifteen forty, 379 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 1: he went huge on the second serve to the forehand side, 380 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:47,720 Speaker 1: like one p thirty on a second serve out wide, 381 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:50,320 Speaker 1: and that really caught Carlos off. And the same thing, 382 00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:52,919 Speaker 1: I believe in the next one. So for me, it 383 00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:55,359 Speaker 1: was like he was more aggressive on the second serve 384 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:58,680 Speaker 1: and he was willing to take the chances that he 385 00:18:58,760 --> 00:18:59,720 Speaker 1: maybe didn't take it. 386 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:04,879 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think that, you know, kind of contextualizes this. 387 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:09,200 Speaker 2: I mean, the last seven Slams have now been worn 388 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 2: by Alcaraz and center and so not to get prognostication game, 389 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 2: but I think those of us going into this year 390 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:20,760 Speaker 2: ni looking at I mean, I'm not even gonna like 391 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 2: wager guests on like the final number one. All this 392 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:25,760 Speaker 2: said and done, and these guys are you know, at 393 00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:28,320 Speaker 2: the very ends of their careers, counting their Slam titles. 394 00:19:28,720 --> 00:19:31,119 Speaker 2: But I think, like looking at to is open, I 395 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:33,720 Speaker 2: think before this year you and I have talked about 396 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 2: and I think most people would agree. Okay, Alcoraz has 397 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 2: the edge at least right now on natural surfaces and 398 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:41,639 Speaker 2: Sinner's got the edge on on the Australian. I have 399 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:43,240 Speaker 2: to say I think Center has the edge going into 400 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:45,439 Speaker 2: the US as. 401 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:48,960 Speaker 1: Well, no question, no question. Hardcore is as we know, 402 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:52,439 Speaker 1: he's best surface, and he has the footing, the balls 403 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:56,679 Speaker 1: bouncing up very similar to today, and so it without 404 00:19:56,760 --> 00:20:00,680 Speaker 1: question is his best surface. Tallas is the more natural mover. 405 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 1: We talked about it before the French Open and Wimbledon, 406 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 1: and I think that's that's why he was the favorite 407 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:07,480 Speaker 1: for both again, is because he's such a great natural 408 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 1: move And it's interesting that Janick whent one on grass 409 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:12,640 Speaker 1: and Carlos won on clay, and you would probably say 410 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 1: that maybe it should have been flipped right, but that 411 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:16,919 Speaker 1: just shows you that they're both becoming so good on 412 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 1: all surfaces. But I do think that Janick has the 413 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:24,359 Speaker 1: edge on the hard courts. So it's it's just going 414 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 1: to be a beautiful race between the two of them. 415 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:31,000 Speaker 1: It's just like it's very similar to Rufa and Roger. 416 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 1: Rufa was going to wear a lot of clay and 417 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 1: Roger was going to win a lot of grass, and 418 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 1: it was who could pinch the couple of hard courts 419 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:40,480 Speaker 1: against each other, and who could pinch maybe a French 420 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:43,240 Speaker 1: or maybe a Wimbledon. So that's what it's getting to 421 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:46,119 Speaker 1: now with Yanick and with Gullis, and I am so 422 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:47,000 Speaker 1: year for it. 423 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:49,160 Speaker 2: Sam. I mean, I also want to give the edge 424 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:52,800 Speaker 2: to Yanick center because he was wearing a collar, so 425 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:55,280 Speaker 2: we saw a colored shirt in the final and I 426 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 2: think that might have been the difference maker. The top 427 00:20:57,119 --> 00:21:00,880 Speaker 2: button was buttoned, so you know, we're looking at minute details, 428 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:02,720 Speaker 2: but really like it doesn't come down to much. 429 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 1: Well, one thing I do want to say in stress 430 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:09,440 Speaker 1: before we get to the women's what an incredible two 431 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:13,240 Speaker 1: men we have at the top of the men's game. 432 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 1: Dear Lloyd. That speech that jani'sinner gave after the French Open, 433 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:20,480 Speaker 1: we talked about it was extraordinary. I've never felt worse 434 00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:23,119 Speaker 1: for a tennis player than I did that day when 435 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 1: Yanick lost that match, having three match points and serving 436 00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:29,280 Speaker 1: for the title and all the things, and I thought, 437 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:32,359 Speaker 1: what a gracious speech he got off there, particularly after 438 00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:37,040 Speaker 1: the one the day before, which wasn't so gracious from 439 00:21:37,119 --> 00:21:40,600 Speaker 1: a little bil Russian. But Yannick gets up there after 440 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 1: and he's so exemplary in this speech and congratulates Carlos 441 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:48,119 Speaker 1: and his team and thanks his team for getting to 442 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:50,000 Speaker 1: the final, and it was a great effort. It was 443 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:52,240 Speaker 1: just like it was the most amazing speech. And I 444 00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:54,199 Speaker 1: just feel like when we saw the speeches from the 445 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:56,760 Speaker 1: two of them yesterday after women that he was like, oh, 446 00:21:56,800 --> 00:21:59,639 Speaker 1: thank god, you two are going to save men's tennis 447 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:01,920 Speaker 1: for twenty years. This is awesome. 448 00:22:02,119 --> 00:22:04,119 Speaker 2: It's true. And it was looking real dicey there with 449 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:09,000 Speaker 2: the Sandwich generation of you know, Medvedev, who I love, 450 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 2: but you know he's mercurial, mercurial, it's Verev, you know, 451 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:17,160 Speaker 2: which you know, the less said about the better dommy team, 452 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:20,880 Speaker 2: who's you know already in the ranks that they're retired, 453 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:24,840 Speaker 2: and Tisipas, who you know, is sort of out on 454 00:22:25,359 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 2: a great spiritual walk about at the moment, and so 455 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:29,920 Speaker 2: like for me, just like this idea that these guys 456 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:32,480 Speaker 2: have come along and like just in time, it's sort 457 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:36,399 Speaker 2: of reminiscent of before, you know, before fetter and adults 458 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:39,439 Speaker 2: started winning everything, there was a real crisis in men's tennants, 459 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:42,240 Speaker 2: basically post agacy, like between two thousand and like two 460 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:44,080 Speaker 2: thousand and five or so, like who's going to take 461 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:46,800 Speaker 2: it up? The women were overshadowing them, you know. It 462 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:49,919 Speaker 2: was really like, oh wow. And that's certainly the feeling 463 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:51,119 Speaker 2: that I think a lot of us have had the 464 00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:52,760 Speaker 2: last couple of years, where it's like, oh, well, the 465 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:55,399 Speaker 2: women's game, it's like, actually much more interesting, And here's 466 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:57,520 Speaker 2: come along these two guys in the early twenties and like, 467 00:22:57,560 --> 00:22:59,160 Speaker 2: let's see what happens for the thint twenty years. 468 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:01,000 Speaker 1: It's so hard to it against either of them. And 469 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:03,199 Speaker 1: I loved him. It is a little bit more like 470 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:05,280 Speaker 1: he was like, come on, crowd, give me some love, 471 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:06,760 Speaker 1: giving me some love a little bit today. I just 472 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 1: love that they're both so different. They're so different, but 473 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:11,600 Speaker 1: they are two of the nicest guys you will ever 474 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:16,520 Speaker 1: ever ever meet. So I don't want to. 475 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:18,760 Speaker 2: I don't want to put any negative note in here, 476 00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:20,600 Speaker 2: but do you want to address the fact that Nick 477 00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:25,000 Speaker 2: Curious tweeted an asterisk? I have no, no, I. 478 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:30,560 Speaker 1: Don't want to even talk about that. I don't need 479 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:31,320 Speaker 1: to give that time. 480 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:35,120 Speaker 2: Great, she's reclaiming her time, folks, I. 481 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:37,920 Speaker 1: Am reclaiming my time. Let's talk about the ladies. 482 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:40,600 Speaker 2: Claiming your time. To talk about the ladies. Where to start? 483 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:20,399 Speaker 1: Let's start with how incredible tournament Amanda Anissa overhad Okay 484 00:24:20,440 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 1: before we get to the final, to have achieved what 485 00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:26,480 Speaker 1: she's achieved after taking a mental breakaway from sport after 486 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:28,720 Speaker 1: the loss of her father at such a young age, 487 00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:33,680 Speaker 1: who was her mentor her coach, and having lost a 488 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:35,200 Speaker 1: parent in the last week and a bit, I'll tell 489 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:37,600 Speaker 1: you what to do it at that age. Incredible that 490 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:39,840 Speaker 1: she's been able to even come back and be the 491 00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 1: person that she is and she is a really really 492 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:45,880 Speaker 1: sweet girl and to come back after having that break 493 00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:50,560 Speaker 1: and to get herself into these positions is awesome. She's 494 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:52,720 Speaker 1: one of WT one thousand this year. She's had a 495 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:55,840 Speaker 1: great year so far. And to beat Sabalanka in that 496 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:58,040 Speaker 1: semi final and get through the matches that she did, 497 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:02,800 Speaker 1: zudos dude finals of Queens look Out. She's back and 498 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 1: she's in the top ten and that's where she deserves 499 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:06,280 Speaker 1: to be because she's that good. 500 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:08,399 Speaker 2: And you know, like I was saying in the in 501 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:12,239 Speaker 2: the beginning moments of the show today, you know, if 502 00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:15,720 Speaker 2: anybody started to play at Queen's which was the tournament 503 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 2: immediately preceding womenon where she gets to the finals and 504 00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:22,639 Speaker 2: went down to Taitana Maria who was summoning like true grass, 505 00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:28,239 Speaker 2: you know, excellence. This is somebody who had was very 506 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:32,359 Speaker 2: comfortable on the surface and had gone through a murderer's 507 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:36,680 Speaker 2: row of really great players on her way to the finals. 508 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:39,960 Speaker 2: Like that was incredibly well deserved in terms of her. 509 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 2: You know, her was obviously semi final against Sabolenka, who 510 00:25:47,359 --> 00:25:49,280 Speaker 2: I think again a lot of us thought was her 511 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:53,640 Speaker 2: tournament to capture, especially after having lost to like very 512 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:58,639 Speaker 2: tough in the in the preceding two slams, one to 513 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:01,520 Speaker 2: Madison Keys that sam is the Australian, the other to 514 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:05,880 Speaker 2: Coco in the finals of the French But you know, yeah, 515 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:07,119 Speaker 2: let's maybe start there. 516 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:11,359 Speaker 1: But see, the thing is Sabalanca is, look, you have 517 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:14,439 Speaker 1: to pick her everywhere she goes, because she's been so 518 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:16,840 Speaker 1: consistently good at the Grand Slams as well. But I 519 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:20,880 Speaker 1: just I don't feel like she moves well enough on grass, 520 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:25,280 Speaker 1: and you have to be able to move. Listen, she 521 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 1: has the weapon. So yes, you can hit anyone off 522 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:30,439 Speaker 1: the court and not move that well. There's been a 523 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:33,359 Speaker 1: couple of won the tournament and that's the case. But 524 00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:37,320 Speaker 1: if you look traditionally at the winners of Wimbledon in 525 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:41,560 Speaker 1: women's singles, they're very athletic, very athletic, and so if 526 00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:44,080 Speaker 1: you're not serving someone off the court and crushing every 527 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:46,720 Speaker 1: single ball, which so Abalanka can do, you've still got 528 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:49,400 Speaker 1: to be able to manage the footwork and you've got 529 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:52,200 Speaker 1: to manage those little things. And if she gets a 530 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:54,240 Speaker 1: bit off balance on grass, you can see it a 531 00:26:54,280 --> 00:26:56,119 Speaker 1: lot more than you can on a hard court, for example, 532 00:26:56,160 --> 00:26:58,120 Speaker 1: where she can just push off and be so much 533 00:26:58,119 --> 00:27:01,159 Speaker 1: more aggressive, and clay she might get a little bit 534 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:05,760 Speaker 1: more time to get somewhere right. So I think on grushy, 535 00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:08,760 Speaker 1: just to me, she still looks uncomfortable moving on it, 536 00:27:08,840 --> 00:27:12,639 Speaker 1: and maybe that might be the difference, you know, with 537 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:14,479 Speaker 1: her winning the tournament or not. If you look at 538 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:17,480 Speaker 1: eger the way that Eager moves great on every surface, right, 539 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:19,399 Speaker 1: it was just a matter of her being able to 540 00:27:19,960 --> 00:27:22,399 Speaker 1: you know, adjust with the forehand and you know, be 541 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:25,320 Speaker 1: more aggressive with the serve. Which was clearly a positive 542 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:27,320 Speaker 1: thing for her through this tournament. Her serving stats were 543 00:27:27,359 --> 00:27:30,119 Speaker 1: through the roof such good serving and that won or 544 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:33,520 Speaker 1: a lot of matches and won them very easily. But 545 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:36,560 Speaker 1: the heart of the court, the drier, the conditions, she 546 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:38,200 Speaker 1: was always going to help her as well. And I 547 00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:40,000 Speaker 1: could see that through the week, and I thought she's 548 00:27:40,040 --> 00:27:41,320 Speaker 1: going to be the one look out. 549 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:45,520 Speaker 2: Yeah. And I think also, you know, maybe having had 550 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:47,840 Speaker 2: a rough kind of similar to what you were saying 551 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:50,119 Speaker 2: about Center and demitrav like maybe having a rough eighteen 552 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:52,959 Speaker 2: months where she didn't win a single tailor much as 553 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:56,199 Speaker 2: her grandson Taylor, where she was really kind of in 554 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:59,400 Speaker 2: the wilderness herself, sort of trying to figure out what 555 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:01,920 Speaker 2: was going on, coming into a tournament that pretty much 556 00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:04,199 Speaker 2: nobody thought she was gonna have a chance in much 557 00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:09,840 Speaker 2: less win and then just being freed of pressure, free 558 00:28:09,880 --> 00:28:11,360 Speaker 2: to sort of focus on the things that she does 559 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:13,520 Speaker 2: well helped a little bit by the hardness of the 560 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:16,639 Speaker 2: court and the bounce. Yeah, it was like sort of 561 00:28:17,040 --> 00:28:18,880 Speaker 2: I would like to see this version of Ega more 562 00:28:18,920 --> 00:28:21,480 Speaker 2: where she doesn't look pained, she doesn't look stressed, she 563 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:24,240 Speaker 2: doesn't look anxious, she doesn't look upset and she's just 564 00:28:24,320 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 2: moving well and playing free. I you know, I had 565 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:27,480 Speaker 2: the chance to watch her when she was like really 566 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:31,720 Speaker 2: really young, when she won the French Open Girls, and 567 00:28:31,760 --> 00:28:33,600 Speaker 2: I think that same year she won the Wimbledon Girls. 568 00:28:33,680 --> 00:28:35,800 Speaker 2: So you know, obviously like she can win on grass, 569 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:40,040 Speaker 2: but she smiled on the court, and I just want 570 00:28:40,040 --> 00:28:41,480 Speaker 2: to sort of take a moment and say, like, what 571 00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:43,280 Speaker 2: a nice thing it was to see. And it was 572 00:28:43,280 --> 00:28:45,120 Speaker 2: really nice to see her dancing in the pictures with 573 00:28:45,280 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 2: NNIX Center or the Wimbledon ball. You know, like there 574 00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:52,000 Speaker 2: is something to the joyousness of release and relief, and 575 00:28:52,320 --> 00:28:54,880 Speaker 2: you know, I want to say that I like this 576 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:57,440 Speaker 2: version of ego because it doesn't feel like you're watching 577 00:28:57,480 --> 00:29:02,720 Speaker 2: somebody play a pained way and it feels like, you know, 578 00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:04,560 Speaker 2: it was it was sort of it was a nice 579 00:29:04,560 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 2: thing to do. I mean, obviously when you're not being 580 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:09,880 Speaker 2: pushed very hard, which she wasn't in her last two matches, 581 00:29:09,920 --> 00:29:12,840 Speaker 2: because not only did that Anissimova match go real fast, 582 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:15,959 Speaker 2: the match she played before with Benchic, who's no slouch 583 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:18,480 Speaker 2: like Belinda Benchich is you know, an elite player, She's 584 00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:21,520 Speaker 2: a gold medal in her closet, Like she went through 585 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:26,160 Speaker 2: some incredibly tough matches to get to the to the Semis, 586 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:27,680 Speaker 2: and you know, she didn't make much of a stand 587 00:29:27,680 --> 00:29:30,840 Speaker 2: against Ega either, So it wasn't so much Anisimova collapsing 588 00:29:30,880 --> 00:29:32,800 Speaker 2: in the final, although I definitely think the nerves and 589 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:37,080 Speaker 2: the pressure got to her undoubtedly, but Eaga's level in 590 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:39,240 Speaker 2: those last two matches was pretty unreal if if she 591 00:29:39,280 --> 00:29:41,400 Speaker 2: also pretty much blanked Benchitch at least in one of 592 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:42,120 Speaker 2: those sets. 593 00:29:42,800 --> 00:29:44,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, listen, didn't somebody who beat Caroline to 594 00:29:44,680 --> 00:29:46,360 Speaker 1: police show over in the finals that royan oh and 595 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:48,400 Speaker 1: one two with one of the biggest serves in the world, 596 00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:51,560 Speaker 1: and she played to get to the final, Like you know, 597 00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:54,120 Speaker 1: I know, rhyme's not like Wimbledon, but it's it's still 598 00:29:54,240 --> 00:29:56,120 Speaker 1: she can beat some of the best players in the 599 00:29:56,160 --> 00:29:57,880 Speaker 1: world like oh and one. There's a reason why we 600 00:29:58,040 --> 00:29:59,920 Speaker 1: like call it the Eagers. She onto you know, bake, 601 00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:03,080 Speaker 1: It's like it's like that's what she does when she's on. 602 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:07,200 Speaker 1: It's like, look out. She's the most similar person and personality, 603 00:30:07,600 --> 00:30:10,720 Speaker 1: not playing style obviously, but just personality as Steffi Graff. 604 00:30:11,080 --> 00:30:15,560 Speaker 1: It's just like head down, momentum doesn't stop. You do 605 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:18,960 Speaker 1: not take anything for granted, and you just keep going right. 606 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:22,440 Speaker 1: And so that's the similarity for me with Steffy, with 607 00:30:22,560 --> 00:30:25,720 Speaker 1: Eager Shantek. But listen, even in the final, she didn't 608 00:30:25,760 --> 00:30:28,240 Speaker 1: waiver at all. She just kept doing the right thing. 609 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:32,120 Speaker 1: And look, it's clear that Amanda was completely frozen in 610 00:30:32,160 --> 00:30:34,680 Speaker 1: the final. She was probably spent from when the semi 611 00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:37,280 Speaker 1: final came out in that match and just you know, 612 00:30:37,600 --> 00:30:40,720 Speaker 1: depleted and then also incredibly nervous. You could tell that 613 00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:43,440 Speaker 1: her movement was she wasn't the same mover. It was 614 00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:45,480 Speaker 1: like Eager would go and hear to ball and she 615 00:30:45,520 --> 00:30:47,959 Speaker 1: would just start moving to one side. There was no 616 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:50,840 Speaker 1: sense of balance on the court. And I just thought, oh, 617 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:54,040 Speaker 1: she's just she's just frozen. And it happens. It happens, 618 00:30:54,240 --> 00:30:58,680 Speaker 1: and she was exhausted and so she, without question will 619 00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:00,560 Speaker 1: learn from this and it will make her at a player. 620 00:31:00,880 --> 00:31:03,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I think the idea for me that you know, 621 00:31:03,520 --> 00:31:07,200 Speaker 2: there's anything other than just like, let's applaud this girl 622 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:09,720 Speaker 2: for what she's been through and how she as you 623 00:31:09,760 --> 00:31:11,680 Speaker 2: said at the top of the podcast, like you know, 624 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:13,840 Speaker 2: you know what it is to lose a parent, especially 625 00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:15,640 Speaker 2: at a young age, that she did, like you know, 626 00:31:15,720 --> 00:31:18,400 Speaker 2: she's she's been, she's had a she's had a lot 627 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:20,880 Speaker 2: of life, and I think for me, the idea that 628 00:31:20,920 --> 00:31:23,440 Speaker 2: she's back here at the highest levels of the game, 629 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:25,560 Speaker 2: where I think a lot of us knew she always deserved. 630 00:31:25,560 --> 00:31:30,000 Speaker 2: To me, is a really lovely a lovely thing. Now 631 00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:32,560 Speaker 2: are we done talking about the women and any other 632 00:31:32,880 --> 00:31:34,160 Speaker 2: random observations. 633 00:31:34,360 --> 00:31:38,600 Speaker 1: I just she congrats to IgA. Was just awesome to 634 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:41,040 Speaker 1: watch and I knew she could play well on grass 635 00:31:41,040 --> 00:31:42,479 Speaker 1: and she trusted herself and she did it. 636 00:31:42,520 --> 00:31:47,040 Speaker 2: So congrets to her. What are we doing that, Yolene asked, 637 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:50,480 Speaker 2: the Pinko didn't win Wimbledon along with chaseu Way uh 638 00:31:50,520 --> 00:31:53,440 Speaker 2: and then women's final. Uh, you know, at least a 639 00:31:54,040 --> 00:31:59,040 Speaker 2: pretends uh coming back, you know again just minor minor 640 00:31:59,120 --> 00:32:02,120 Speaker 2: quibbles here here and there. I thought Wimbledon this year 641 00:32:02,200 --> 00:32:04,719 Speaker 2: was amazing. I do have to ask you because there 642 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:07,920 Speaker 2: was a, you know, a lot of talk, especially after 643 00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:13,040 Speaker 2: the tn T rights acquisition of the French Open. There's 644 00:32:13,040 --> 00:32:16,120 Speaker 2: a lot of talk in this country anyway about some 645 00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:21,320 Speaker 2: of the commentary and the ways that you know, tennis 646 00:32:21,360 --> 00:32:23,640 Speaker 2: can and should keep improving. Now, without wanting to put 647 00:32:23,640 --> 00:32:25,440 Speaker 2: you on any kind of hot seat. What was it 648 00:32:25,520 --> 00:32:31,360 Speaker 2: like for you watching Wimbledon from the from the broadcast? 649 00:32:31,360 --> 00:32:33,720 Speaker 2: Obviously you're in Australia, but like, what was it like 650 00:32:33,760 --> 00:32:36,480 Speaker 2: watching as a as a fan as opposed to being there? 651 00:32:36,520 --> 00:32:39,840 Speaker 2: Calling it sucks? 652 00:32:40,280 --> 00:32:43,320 Speaker 1: I'd rather much rather be there, much rather be calling 653 00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:46,680 Speaker 1: it you're writing it. There's nothing like watching tennis live. 654 00:32:47,560 --> 00:32:50,560 Speaker 1: Watching it on TV is great, but you cannot get 655 00:32:50,560 --> 00:32:52,240 Speaker 1: the sense of how hard people hit the ball, you 656 00:32:53,120 --> 00:32:56,760 Speaker 1: feel the energy. So no, being being at Wimbledon is 657 00:32:57,320 --> 00:32:59,600 Speaker 1: you know, one of the great things that I still 658 00:32:59,600 --> 00:33:03,760 Speaker 1: get to do, and so you know, it's always it's 659 00:33:03,760 --> 00:33:06,480 Speaker 1: always great to be a part of the coverage, but yeah, 660 00:33:06,480 --> 00:33:07,920 Speaker 1: I want to be there on site. 661 00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:10,960 Speaker 2: All right. Well, the update from over here is I've 662 00:33:11,040 --> 00:33:14,960 Speaker 2: just completed a successful edition of wimbled Down. My friend 663 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:18,920 Speaker 2: Don has a birthday celebration grass court tennis tournament at 664 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:23,760 Speaker 2: her home every year called wimbled Down. So, Claire, my 665 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:26,240 Speaker 2: wife and I just won Wimbledon. So I didn't know 666 00:33:26,280 --> 00:33:29,040 Speaker 2: you were talking about champion today, but you are. 667 00:33:30,080 --> 00:33:31,120 Speaker 1: Did not did not know? 668 00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:34,719 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm up you center, I'm a two time wimbled 669 00:33:34,720 --> 00:33:38,400 Speaker 2: Down champion. Let's just be clear about the pronunciation. Her 670 00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:40,920 Speaker 2: name is okay, and then then I'm going to grass 671 00:33:40,920 --> 00:33:44,240 Speaker 2: Court Nationals later today in Philadelphia. We'll see what happens. 672 00:33:44,680 --> 00:33:46,600 Speaker 1: All right, We'll get that chip and charge out because 673 00:33:46,640 --> 00:33:49,680 Speaker 1: that fourhand of yours that's not so good on the grass. 674 00:33:49,720 --> 00:33:51,080 Speaker 2: I want to take any slander. You haven't seen my 675 00:33:51,080 --> 00:33:54,640 Speaker 2: fourhead in about two years, so anyway, that's the slander. 676 00:33:55,720 --> 00:34:00,280 Speaker 1: Hey guys, yeah you too, Thanks for joining us. Guys, 677 00:34:00,680 --> 00:34:01,400 Speaker 1: see you next week. 678 00:34:01,600 --> 00:34:28,600 Speaker 2: Baye