1 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 1: You get that little nature in the background there. Hello, Caitlin. 2 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:23,920 Speaker 2: I feel like this is spring break Renee's tennis podcast, 3 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:24,599 Speaker 2: Gone Wild. 4 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, but I never went on spring break because you know, 5 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 1: in Australia it was only summer break. We didn't really 6 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 1: have spring break. I can't even remember what that. That 7 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: doesn't even it doesn't even really exist in Australia, I 8 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:41,519 Speaker 1: don't think, not really. I mean, we have summer and 9 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 1: winter and pretty much everything in between. We do have spring, 10 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 1: and we have autumn. You have fall, we have autumn. 11 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:51,720 Speaker 1: Don't you call it autumn in Canada? We do. Yeah, 12 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: So there you go. So you know what I'm talking 13 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: about anyway. But we're on the other side of the world. 14 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 1: So it's a little bit flippedloped. But I am, Yes, 15 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: I am. I have a week off of my show, 16 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:05,399 Speaker 1: so I tripped off down to Mexico and I can 17 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: honestly say, this is my second time to Mexico and 18 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: I want to live here. I love it. It's just the best. 19 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 3: I told you. 20 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 2: I mean, this is why I'm always this is why 21 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 2: I won't shut up about it on our podcast. 22 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 1: No no, no, I can listen. We're in last Carbo, 23 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:23,320 Speaker 1: so I'm just hoping that maybe a WTA decides to 24 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 1: put a tennis tournament here. I'm going to go and 25 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 1: hit some tennis balls at the resort that I'm at, 26 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: so I'll let you know if it's functional for a 27 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 1: WTA event. 28 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 2: Well, I have played in Los Carbos at the courts 29 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 2: where they have the men's event. 30 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:39,199 Speaker 3: They have a men's event, I mean in. 31 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 2: Los Cabos already, and they have a stadium court and 32 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 2: it's a hard court, and it's on a hill overlooking 33 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:47,319 Speaker 2: the ocean, and they put a stadium around the center court, 34 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 2: and there's a bunch of other courts all around it, 35 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 2: and there's a clubhouse. 36 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 3: It's cool, it works. 37 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 2: You get it, and it's a beautiful place to be 38 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 2: with amazing food and the people are pumped. 39 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 3: So Viva Mexico is what I have to say. 40 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 1: Viva on Mexico. Yes, have an event in Guadalajara, which 41 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: is great city, very different to Lost Cowbos, just a 42 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 1: little bit more historic and etcetera. But you know, the 43 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 1: WTA decided to go back to China, but we'll get 44 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 1: to that at some point in this podcast. 45 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 2: Should we start there, I feel like there's a lot 46 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 2: to discuss We obviously had a great, amazing tournament to 47 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 2: talk about on the men's side this past week. There's 48 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 2: now another women's tournament that's underway in Germany. 49 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,239 Speaker 3: It's Stuttgart. But before we. 50 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 2: Talk about the men's results, which was very fun and 51 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 2: very exciting, I think we should at Monte Carlo, I 52 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 2: think we should talk about the WTA a little bit. 53 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 2: Let's start there, because we had some pretty intense words 54 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 2: for the WTA specifically, although you know, per usual, we 55 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 2: don't really spare anybody in our assessment of how to 56 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 2: get everybody to try to do better. The WTA since 57 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 2: the last time we spoke, has announced that after a 58 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 2: couple of years of not going to China, I don't 59 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 2: necessarily want to call it a boycott. Even though they 60 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 2: called it a boycott, it was not going to China. 61 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 2: But also China was closed during the time that the 62 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 2: boycott was happening. Now that it's open, and now that 63 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 2: the CEO, Steve Simon has said that they need to 64 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 2: take a new tact. The initial boycott, as they called 65 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 2: it a boycott, was because, as they said, Pung Shui, 66 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 2: the Chinese player who made some credible seeming accusations against 67 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 2: a Chinese government official on a social media site later 68 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 2: deleted those accusations was essentially not available for comment or 69 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 2: follow up. The WTA, among many many other folks in 70 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 2: the world, had some serious concerns about her safety well 71 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 2: being where she was. She was made available to talk, 72 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 2: but under supervision, and after a few years of basically 73 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 2: waiting for something else to happen, I think the WTA 74 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 2: has decided that that's as much as they're going to 75 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 2: get from their Chinese counterparts, And now that the country's 76 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 2: open again, the WTA has a ton of its prize 77 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 2: money coming as much as a third coming from the 78 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 2: swing in China specifically, that's where the finals are. There's 79 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 2: a tenure, multi multimillion dollar prize pot associated with having 80 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 2: the tournament in that country specifically, as well as the 81 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 2: other tournaments in Wuhanna, Beijing, and so here we are 82 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:25,039 Speaker 2: this fall WT goes back to China. 83 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 3: I have a lot of thoughts, actually, but. 84 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 2: I'm curious how this struck. 85 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 3: You, you know. 86 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 1: I mean, initially, I think what they tried to do 87 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 1: was a good thing to try and bring light to this, 88 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 1: and it became a worldwide story. Obviously, I mean, I 89 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: don't think I've appeared on CNN more in my life 90 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: or MSNBC talking about women's tennis outside of actually women's tennis. 91 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 1: So you know, I think initially it was I guess 92 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 1: it was a good thing that they put, you know, 93 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 1: decided to stand up to the Chinese government and say 94 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: these things. But at the same time, what was the 95 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:06,159 Speaker 1: calculation here, Like, was it, Okay, let's sit down and 96 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:08,279 Speaker 1: really talk about this because if we do pull out, 97 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:12,479 Speaker 1: and clearly this is you know, with the with the 98 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,720 Speaker 1: idea that no one knew about COVID about to hit 99 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: the around the corner, you know, and then essentially, like 100 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:22,839 Speaker 1: you said, they weren't going there anyway because COVID wasn't 101 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 1: allowing people to play tournaments in China as it was 102 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 1: so because the man had no intention of not going 103 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 1: and they weren't going either because of COVID, So sort 104 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:32,599 Speaker 1: of you know, so you can say, well, they took 105 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 1: a stand, but really did they? So for the first 106 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 1: year they took a standand which I was, you know, 107 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 1: you know, proud of them for doing that and standing 108 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:43,919 Speaker 1: up to and trying to make change. But it seems 109 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 1: to me that they went into this not having a 110 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: clear understanding of what the ramifications were if nothing was changed, 111 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 1: and I have to say, you'd have to say nothing 112 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 1: was gonna change. I mean we're talking about China here. 113 00:05:57,680 --> 00:05:59,160 Speaker 1: I mean the bottom line is I just think that 114 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 1: they had no out. I would like them to be 115 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 1: a little bit more transparent in the fact that, look, 116 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 1: we really pursue trying to have tournaments in other parts 117 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:09,279 Speaker 1: of the world and sort of put it on the 118 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:12,719 Speaker 1: society to say, oh, really, oh shit, we'll put on 119 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 1: tennis tournaments here, We'll put prize money up. Like I 120 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 1: want to know, did they go to sponsors, did they 121 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:21,279 Speaker 1: go to other parts of the world and say, listen, 122 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 1: we really want to just take all of tennis out 123 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 1: of China. And we tried to have groups or VC 124 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 1: companies or whatever different countries whether it be Mexico or 125 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:36,160 Speaker 1: Spain or whoever you know, say no, no, we want 126 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:38,120 Speaker 1: to put on eight tournaments. We'd like to have your 127 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 1: fall schedule back again, because I mean, when I played 128 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:43,160 Speaker 1: the first fifteen years of my career, we're in Europe, 129 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 1: we played Europe at the end of the year, we 130 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: played all indoor tournaments, and we played then back in 131 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: the States. In Philadelphia and Chicago. 132 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 2: Where's the carpet Get some carpet company to sponsor the 133 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 2: carpet swing. I'm there for that. And if I own 134 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:57,719 Speaker 2: a carpor company, I'm bringing tennis back to my favorite 135 00:06:57,720 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 2: surface of carpet. 136 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 1: Yeah that's I mean, say, look, this came back down 137 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:04,159 Speaker 1: to finances. Just just be honest, Like no one else 138 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:05,960 Speaker 1: wanted to put on a six week or seven week 139 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 1: swing like China does. They're they're they're throwing money down 140 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 1: our roads. We got to go back, like, let's be 141 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 1: fucking honest about this, Like, let's not be like, well, 142 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 1: you know, we really got to know we've got you know, 143 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 1: Steve saying, we've got to take another another track. What 144 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 1: there's no track, it's one track. It's China's track. It's 145 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 1: China's track. 146 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 2: It is just see what the new approach would be 147 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 2: other than just taking their money, that's thee what else 148 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 2: that could be? 149 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:41,119 Speaker 3: Either take their money or you don't. 150 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 1: Oh, we're going to work with them. We want to 151 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:45,280 Speaker 1: you know, try and change the face of like tennis 152 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 1: and China and we want to try and you know, 153 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 1: get more people playing. It's like that was that was 154 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 1: the idea ten years ago and things. Of what has 155 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 1: changed since that moment to this is that we have 156 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 1: a credible former world number one in doubles, former top 157 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 1: twenty singles player who has essentially been silenced. So that 158 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 1: has not changed. So what was your you know, end 159 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 1: game in doing this in the first place, and just 160 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:17,040 Speaker 1: admit nothing changed. We're kind of screwed financially, we need this. 161 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 1: Nobody else has put up the money, and so we're 162 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 1: going back and just be honest, like take it up, 163 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: like like literally, you're just having to admit nothing worked, 164 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 1: and that's that's okay, you know. I just I feel 165 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 1: like Steve Simon in this situation should step down. And 166 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:33,959 Speaker 1: a lot of people like, oh, Steve's a great guy, 167 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 1: and all those things are true, and he is a 168 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 1: great guy. But I think there has to be a 169 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:41,960 Speaker 1: massive change in the leadership of the WTA with what's 170 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 1: happened here. 171 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:45,119 Speaker 3: I do, I think. 172 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 2: Interestingly because sometimes I despait our, not at the very 173 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 2: moment proximity to each other, but just how often I 174 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 2: see you and talk to you. Sometimes I feel like 175 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:02,400 Speaker 2: I could predict what you're going to say, and I 176 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:04,079 Speaker 2: didn't actually think that you were going to say any 177 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:05,559 Speaker 2: of that stuff, because that's essentially. 178 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:07,080 Speaker 3: What I was going to say, and it's really too bad. 179 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:09,079 Speaker 3: This is the fiftieth year of the WTA. This is 180 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 3: the fiftieth year of the. 181 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:14,480 Speaker 2: Existence starting in nineteen seventy three with the original nine. 182 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 2: We've talked about them ad nauseum. I've written about them, 183 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 2: you've met them all. Billy is a hero not only 184 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:25,080 Speaker 2: to both of us, but also like legion of people 185 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 2: in the world. This is on the fiftieth anniversary of 186 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:33,560 Speaker 2: this body. I have so many things that I feel 187 00:09:33,880 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 2: like I want to be able to celebrate but can't 188 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:39,320 Speaker 2: quite which is really frustrating, because so many things that 189 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 2: tennis was so good at doing, which was putting women 190 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 2: on nearly equal footing with men, creating a blueprint for 191 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:49,720 Speaker 2: all these other sports to have leaders and to have structure, 192 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:52,560 Speaker 2: and to have sponsors, and to have their own following 193 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:55,480 Speaker 2: and in their own media deals, you know, which really 194 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:57,800 Speaker 2: laid the ground for the ninety six ers, the women 195 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 2: who in nineteen ninety six won the gold medal soccer 196 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 2: and then became essentially able to create a viable league, 197 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:06,440 Speaker 2: now viable teams, and now viable really society of soccer 198 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 2: players hockey, we've now fallen behind. And what's so frustrating 199 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:14,880 Speaker 2: to watch. And I do want to make an optimistic 200 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 2: point here, but before I do, I have to get 201 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 2: this off my chest, which is what's frustrating to watch 202 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:25,560 Speaker 2: is just that as these other leagues and women's sports expands, 203 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 2: people who buy rights, people who buy stadiums, people who 204 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:33,239 Speaker 2: buy merchandise, sponsorship, celebrities who are buying shares of teams, 205 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 2: tennis has fallen behind this. And I can't help but 206 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:42,840 Speaker 2: think that as our sport, the third most popular global sport, 207 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 2: proven to create feeding frenzies of ticket sales, viewership, and 208 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:51,840 Speaker 2: all the attendant stuff that goes with it, we haven't 209 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:53,760 Speaker 2: been able to optimize this. And that's true of the 210 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 2: men too, they haven't been able to. 211 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:57,200 Speaker 3: Optimize it, but it's more true of the WTA. 212 00:10:57,480 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 2: And I think to your point, the fact that there 213 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:01,600 Speaker 2: wasn't a plan and the fact that there wasn't a 214 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 2: and I hope there was and we just don't know 215 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 2: about it, but a really aggressive outreach to sort of 216 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 2: say like, hey, we've now made this stand, we absolutely 217 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 2: have to do something else. And what is that something 218 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:15,200 Speaker 2: else going to look like? I think is the part 219 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:17,680 Speaker 2: that sort of shocks me that it's not happening. And 220 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:20,160 Speaker 2: I think the optimistic thing I will say is that 221 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 2: I think we know with the purchase by CBC the 222 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:29,439 Speaker 2: private equity group out of Europe and the incoming CEO 223 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 2: of that group, and there's a new board of advisors 224 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 2: for that group, among whom are brilliant sort of people 225 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 2: coming from outside of tennis, people who haven't necessarily worked 226 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 2: in the sport and sort of have its own limitations 227 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 2: and baggage are coming in through that portal who maybe 228 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:47,640 Speaker 2: will and there are plenty of people who I think 229 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 2: are really entrepreneurial and really thoughtful about bringing money in 230 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:53,439 Speaker 2: excitement and connecting that with some of what we see 231 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 2: other women's sports benefiting from. It's just a little bit 232 00:11:56,760 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 2: crazy to me that that's not already happened. I hope 233 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:02,320 Speaker 2: to guard that this new group is able to do it, 234 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:05,960 Speaker 2: because it's really sort of frustrating to watch them fail 235 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 2: to have a plan here. 236 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think that's what you know, I was sort 237 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 1: of getting to was that I just think and as 238 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 1: you just said, you know, I hope there was a plan, 239 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:17,560 Speaker 1: but it just seems like to me it was you know, 240 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 1: there was no plan. You know, I feel like the 241 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:24,320 Speaker 1: WTA's inconsistent with that, you know, and they struggle with 242 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 1: money and that's why they're going back to China. And 243 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:30,119 Speaker 1: as opposed to like you said, you know, you've got 244 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:34,319 Speaker 1: Alexis o'hanney and with his daughter an LA soccer game 245 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 1: yesterday because they own part of the lah W the 246 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:42,760 Speaker 1: women's soccer league. So it's like, wait a second, Like 247 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:46,600 Speaker 1: you've got people like Serena Williams and Venus Williams for example. 248 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 1: You know, Venus is buying shares in a pickaball team 249 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 1: or Naomi o Saka is buying shares in a pickaball team, 250 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:54,320 Speaker 1: and Nick curious. I'm not worried about the men, but 251 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: like the women we're talking about, Like you'd have got 252 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 1: the Brandy Chastain's involvement in you know, getting a new 253 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 1: soccer team up in San Francisco. You've got the w 254 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:06,560 Speaker 1: NBA is like, you know, going forward and forward and 255 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:09,199 Speaker 1: forward because of you know, players that are making strides 256 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 1: in the NC doublea women's tournament where the numbers are 257 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 1: going through the roof. How more successful. You know ESPN's 258 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 1: coverage of the NC Douba women's basketball was like all 259 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:21,280 Speaker 1: these things, And as you said, there's women's other women's 260 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:23,560 Speaker 1: sports that are nipping at the heels of the most 261 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 1: popular sport for women in the world, and that's tennis. 262 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 1: And I think that the WTA needs to really sit 263 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:30,080 Speaker 1: back and go what do we need to do to 264 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:32,559 Speaker 1: shake it up? And how do we get people involved? 265 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:35,360 Speaker 1: Like you know me, I can tell I know how 266 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:41,359 Speaker 1: so many people that I've met in the world of business, politics, entertainment, 267 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:44,320 Speaker 1: you know, all these things. And you know, you know, 268 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:47,720 Speaker 1: some of my friends, it's like they are obsessed with tennis, 269 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 1: but yet has someone gone out and outreached to them, Hey, 270 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:53,079 Speaker 1: will you want to get involved in a women's tennis event? 271 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 1: Like you know, just having people that are superstars going 272 00:13:56,840 --> 00:14:00,280 Speaker 1: to you know, these LA women's soccer games is making 273 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:01,720 Speaker 1: it more popular for sure. 274 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:05,959 Speaker 2: Why Jessica Chastain is a huge following And where's the 275 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:10,319 Speaker 2: La Angels football club jersey for free on her Instagram? 276 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:12,360 Speaker 2: You can't buy that kind of advertising. She owns part 277 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 2: of the team, she's at the games. I don't know, 278 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:16,560 Speaker 2: and I do will. I will say you brought up 279 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:18,680 Speaker 2: an interesting point. Whether you intended to or not, which 280 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 2: is not only is it incumbent upon the people who 281 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:24,200 Speaker 2: run the sport to create opportunities for people to invest in, 282 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 2: but also I want to know, and I would love 283 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 2: to challenge did Naomi Osaka look at tennis investments before 284 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 2: she decided to buy a pickleball? 285 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:34,080 Speaker 3: Shares? Did? Did Serena? Did Venus? 286 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 2: Did? 287 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:34,640 Speaker 3: All these? 288 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:37,360 Speaker 2: Are all these players making themselves available? Are they trying 289 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 2: to kind of give back to the sport? I hope 290 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 2: that's true, and I suspect it might not be, maybe 291 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 2: because it's hard, or maybe because there doesn't exist that 292 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 2: sort of affinity or opportunity, or maybe we should push 293 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:50,480 Speaker 2: them to be better, you know. And I think not 294 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 2: to let them off the hook, because part of this 295 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 2: has to do with them too. But I just think 296 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:56,400 Speaker 2: it's frustrating to watch such a great product, which is 297 00:14:56,440 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 2: women's tennis, and such a great moment, which is which 298 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 2: women's it generally is having, and feel like both the 299 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:05,840 Speaker 2: people in charge of the sport and also some of 300 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 2: the people who you mentioned are you know, leading funds, 301 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 2: creating legislation, powerful, interesting, you know, and I think ambitious people. 302 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 2: We got to be able to figure this out, like 303 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 2: it's not due to lack of popularity, and it's not 304 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:22,680 Speaker 2: due to lack of a good product. And so I'm 305 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 2: hopeful that this new generation of sort of leadership that 306 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 2: is kind of coming in to the WUTA, whose task 307 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:32,600 Speaker 2: is to solve this, will have some great ideas. But yeah, 308 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 2: I don't know how you leave things the way that 309 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:38,920 Speaker 2: they've been and with the leadership and some of the structure, 310 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 2: I think it needs to sort of drastically be addressed. 311 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 2: And you know, I've lived in China. 312 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 3: I like China. 313 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 2: I have plenty of things to sort of say about 314 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 2: the positivity of my experience. 315 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 3: But I also think, you know, if. 316 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 2: Charles Leclerc were kidnapped from you know, a Monaco event, 317 00:15:57,760 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 2: it's hard to imagine f one would stay there. You know, 318 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 2: Like it's just well, it's just like, how do you 319 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 2: do that? How do you as a as a sport 320 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:07,720 Speaker 2: do that. The ATP didn't even consider doing the right thing, 321 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 2: and the WTA, to their credit, and fault did for 322 00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:14,000 Speaker 2: whatever reason, and then now they undid it, and so 323 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 2: it's just sort of like, oh, man, leaders, lead guys. 324 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 2: You want to be leaders, You want to be the 325 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 2: guy at the you know, heavy is the head that 326 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:22,240 Speaker 2: worth the crown, Like, let's go do better. 327 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean speaking of la Clerk, he was at 328 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 1: the F one Sorry, he was at the Monaco tournament 329 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 1: yesterday and I mean hello another to him and Gasly 330 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 1: were at the tournament yesterday. So it's like, do you 331 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:35,400 Speaker 1: know how many people love tennis? Like you don't see 332 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:37,640 Speaker 1: them at watching pickable games? You know what I mean. 333 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 1: It's like, So that's what I'm saying about taking advantage 334 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: of the actual superstars that love the game of tennis, 335 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 1: and we don't reach out to them. And I mean 336 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 1: as far as this China situation is concerned, I mean 337 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 1: I know from some of you very very credible in 338 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 1: the in the tennis tour, you know that there were 339 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:56,760 Speaker 1: several top, top top players that were not even spoken 340 00:16:56,840 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 1: to about going to China. Again, there's only so much 341 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 1: that we can do as tennis players know the geopolitics 342 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:05,240 Speaker 1: of the sport of tennis going through and back to China. 343 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:07,440 Speaker 1: But you know, when you think about the going back 344 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:09,520 Speaker 1: to China, but yet you know it's taken them forever 345 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:12,400 Speaker 1: to deal with this Ukrainian issue with the players. I mean, 346 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:14,720 Speaker 1: you've got players that are having panic attacks that are 347 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:16,399 Speaker 1: not able to walk out on the court against the 348 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:18,679 Speaker 1: beller Ussian or a Russian player, and I mean they 349 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:21,159 Speaker 1: kind of like pussy footed around that whole situation. And 350 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:23,920 Speaker 1: now they're paying the price with that because now you know, 351 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:27,399 Speaker 1: the players are now getting able to play Russia. Sorry, 352 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:29,479 Speaker 1: the Russian and beller Russians are able to play with Wimbledon. 353 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 1: And then you've got some Ukrainian players that are pissed off. 354 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 1: So it's just like, oh my god, It's like it's 355 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 1: never ending with the decasse. 356 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:36,400 Speaker 2: It's also not going to go away, which is why 357 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 2: I think you need to sort of create which is 358 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 2: your point, Like the people who are tasked with leading 359 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:48,160 Speaker 2: the non player leaders, who are you know, the same 360 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 2: types of people who are in charge of the w NBA, 361 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:51,600 Speaker 2: the same types of people who are in charge of 362 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 2: the surf leagues, whatever it is, the career bureaucrat leaders, 363 00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:58,240 Speaker 2: I think need to Yeah, but listen, I hope it 364 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:00,480 Speaker 2: changes and I think maybe it will last. 365 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:02,200 Speaker 1: A little question to you, do you think that it's 366 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 1: incumbent on the WTA to be a little bit more 367 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:08,639 Speaker 1: open about the fact that they did have talks with 368 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 1: other people, but yet nothing came to fruition, and that's 369 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:15,959 Speaker 1: why we're going back to China, Like I hate this. Well, 370 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:17,919 Speaker 1: we're going to try a different track kind of thing, 371 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:21,080 Speaker 1: because that's just horseshit, Like I want to hear more 372 00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 1: honesty about it, and so everyone's on the up and up. 373 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:26,280 Speaker 1: And maybe the Player Council knows this. I don't know, 374 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:29,240 Speaker 1: but like to people that are in the industry like me, 375 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:31,320 Speaker 1: that are in television, that want to know more, that 376 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:33,520 Speaker 1: get asked to go on CNN to talk about the 377 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:37,480 Speaker 1: WTA and like their decisions, but yet there's no forthright 378 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:40,760 Speaker 1: understanding of what really took place deep down inside. It's 379 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:43,119 Speaker 1: the same as when I go onto their WTA website 380 00:18:43,119 --> 00:18:44,800 Speaker 1: and I want to find out information about players and 381 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:47,720 Speaker 1: hasn't been updated for two years, Like it's the same stuff. 382 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:50,600 Speaker 1: This is why I'm so passionate and upset about it, 383 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 1: because I just feel like and people can say all 384 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:55,720 Speaker 1: they want, well, you need more money for marketing, you 385 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:57,399 Speaker 1: need more money for this, you need more money for 386 00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 1: more expertise. I just it drives me crazy. I just 387 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:06,680 Speaker 1: think the WTA is just there's just this like big 388 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 1: black hole in the middle of it where they miss 389 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:12,480 Speaker 1: the boat half the time. And I'm I'm speaking from 390 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:15,680 Speaker 1: my own personal you know, encounters with having to deal 391 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 1: with it. So that's why I'm really passionate about and 392 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:19,119 Speaker 1: that's what I'm upset about it. And there might be some 393 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:20,760 Speaker 1: people out there that the WTA is like, oh, you have 394 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:22,879 Speaker 1: no idea the work we did behind the scenes, and 395 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:25,680 Speaker 1: we did this and we well tell me when you. 396 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 3: Say the way to link. 397 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 2: I think the points we're both making is I think 398 00:19:30,359 --> 00:19:32,639 Speaker 2: one thing I've seen, and this is true of a 399 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:35,040 Speaker 2: couple of different governing bodies. I won't pretend to have 400 00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:38,040 Speaker 2: had high level conversations with every single governing body there 401 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:41,360 Speaker 2: are seven, but I've had conversations with people pretty high 402 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 2: ranking in a number of different governing bodies, marketing, administration 403 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 2: of tournaments, you. 404 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:47,800 Speaker 1: Know, blah blah blah, blah blah. 405 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:50,840 Speaker 2: And one thing is almost always true. They're nice people, 406 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:54,440 Speaker 2: they're trying their best. They are handcuffed by myriad things 407 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:55,120 Speaker 2: that we don't see. 408 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 3: Blah blah blah. You know that's to be true. 409 00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:01,359 Speaker 2: But the other thing that's true is that not a 410 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:04,480 Speaker 2: whole lot of them have spent any time outside of tennis. 411 00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 3: Not a whole lot of. 412 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:10,200 Speaker 2: Them have what I would call particularly encouraging, big thinking, 413 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:15,280 Speaker 2: big ideas, creativity, and the sort of experience. Maybe it's entrepreneurship, 414 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 2: maybe it's working for another sports league, maybe it's working 415 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 2: at a bank or an entertainment firm. Tennis has had 416 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 2: a revolving door of you work at an agency, then 417 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:26,439 Speaker 2: you work at a governing body, then you work at 418 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:28,119 Speaker 2: a brand, Then you work at an agency, then you 419 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:29,800 Speaker 2: work in a governing body, then you work at a brand. 420 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 2: Like these are folks who kind of keep going in 421 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:35,360 Speaker 2: the revolving door of the same ideas, the same relationships, 422 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 2: the same people, the same concepts, and they see the 423 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:41,600 Speaker 2: same limitations. Whereas when you bring in somebody from the 424 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 2: outside who has a disruptive type of mindset or has 425 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:48,600 Speaker 2: different experiences, all of a sudden, new ideas get on 426 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:50,879 Speaker 2: the table, and things that maybe have been tried before 427 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:52,919 Speaker 2: but not in the same way get put on the 428 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:56,040 Speaker 2: table again. And so I think for me, that's where 429 00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 2: it comes down to transparency and competence. One of the 430 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:03,520 Speaker 2: things that everywhere else outside of the tennis world, governing 431 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 2: bodies and sports have learned to be much more transparent 432 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:08,359 Speaker 2: because they know that that makes a better product, it 433 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:12,919 Speaker 2: makes a better organization, and the candor with which most 434 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:17,560 Speaker 2: other governing bodies of sports treat their task treat the 435 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 2: discharge of their duties. I'm thinking specifically about the NBA, 436 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:25,240 Speaker 2: but also truly the most interne scene and secretive of 437 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:28,200 Speaker 2: the governing bodies, the NFL. Even Roger Goodall has had 438 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 2: to explain multiple times why people like Dan Snyder are 439 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:34,840 Speaker 2: still in the league, why the sexual harassment policy exists 440 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:37,520 Speaker 2: as it does, why they've made this decision or not 441 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:40,200 Speaker 2: that decision. Part of that is having a healthy, robust 442 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:43,560 Speaker 2: press around the sport, asking the tough questions. But part 443 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:45,600 Speaker 2: of it is also the culture of the sport feeling 444 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:48,280 Speaker 2: like they have to provide answers. And I think because 445 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:50,760 Speaker 2: tennis has been this like kind of little sleepy backwater 446 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:53,440 Speaker 2: where everybody knows each other and everyone's got don't worry, 447 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 2: I'll hire your kid over at my company. Don't worry, 448 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:58,040 Speaker 2: I've got your back. When you are done doing that 449 00:21:58,080 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 2: governing body thing, just come over here and be in 450 00:21:59,880 --> 00:22:02,480 Speaker 2: a you know, it's the same kind of like little 451 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:05,239 Speaker 2: buddy buddy thing, and the culture isn't You're right, I'm 452 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 2: gonna come out and I'm gonna be transparent. I'm going 453 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:08,920 Speaker 2: to tell you we tried really hard to get the Amoradis, 454 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:10,480 Speaker 2: and we tried really hard to get the Mexicans, and 455 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:12,480 Speaker 2: they didn't quite come up with enough money. So we 456 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:13,919 Speaker 2: have no choice and this is what we have to do, 457 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:16,480 Speaker 2: and it sucks, but this is my responsibility, is to 458 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:16,960 Speaker 2: make sure. 459 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 3: There's a viable league. 460 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:21,000 Speaker 2: If Steve Simon had said that, I would think, yeah, okay, 461 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 2: and maybe he did all those things. He's just not 462 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:26,160 Speaker 2: The culture isn't to say them because nobody is afraid. 463 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 2: Everyone's afraid to sort of say or own anything and 464 00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:31,880 Speaker 2: to be honest. Most of what allows us as an 465 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:37,359 Speaker 2: independent media company, you, as an independent media personality, coach, contractor, 466 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:40,560 Speaker 2: et cetera. What allows us to have this conversation is 467 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:42,919 Speaker 2: our independence. If you and I were working for the WTA, 468 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:44,840 Speaker 2: if we're working for the USTA, if we're working for 469 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:47,719 Speaker 2: some other governing body, we would be scared into silence, 470 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:49,639 Speaker 2: or probably in my case at least, i'd already have 471 00:22:49,760 --> 00:23:02,800 Speaker 2: been fired because nobody tolerates this level of transparency. It 472 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:06,359 Speaker 2: is springtime, and I would encourage all of you listening 473 00:23:06,359 --> 00:23:09,040 Speaker 2: to this podcast that it is possible to start spring 474 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:13,400 Speaker 2: in a body that you love with Cicara's Signature nutrition program. 475 00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:15,000 Speaker 3: It's designed to support. 476 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:19,240 Speaker 2: Healthy weight management, ease bloat, boost energy, all with Cikara's 477 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:22,639 Speaker 2: plant rich organic ready to eat meals, but ensure that 478 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:25,960 Speaker 2: you get the right nutrients to see and feel real results. 479 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:31,359 Speaker 2: Skara brings expertly designed organic nutrition programs and wellness essentials 480 00:23:31,440 --> 00:23:34,400 Speaker 2: right to your door. 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That's 486 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:57,480 Speaker 2: Sicara saka r a dot com slash racket to get 487 00:23:57,520 --> 00:24:04,359 Speaker 2: twenty percent off your first order Soakara dot com flash Racket. 488 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:11,320 Speaker 2: So the idea that Steve Simon could come out and say, 489 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:13,199 Speaker 2: here's what we tried, here's what we did, here's what 490 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:15,879 Speaker 2: we're doing, here's what I'm thinking. Maybe he could do 491 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:18,199 Speaker 2: it because he runs it, but the whole culture of 492 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:21,680 Speaker 2: the place isn't even tolerant of that. And again when 493 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:24,640 Speaker 2: I say things like the entirety of the media apparatus, 494 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 2: the entirety of the governing body apparatus, the entirety of 495 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:30,760 Speaker 2: the sponsorship an agent apparatus needs probably to be blown 496 00:24:30,840 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 2: up and rebuilt a little bit. Not to say everybody 497 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:35,280 Speaker 2: needs to lose their job and you know, forever be 498 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:39,040 Speaker 2: stuck in condemnation, but rather there just needs to be 499 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:41,920 Speaker 2: a shakeup in a lot of very fundamental ways, because 500 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:43,680 Speaker 2: the things that we know to be true or true. 501 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:47,840 Speaker 2: Tennis is incredibly popular global sport. Women's tennis is the 502 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:50,800 Speaker 2: most popular women's sport. Somehow, the fact that we've fallen 503 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:54,200 Speaker 2: behind all these other women's sports is unacceptable. 504 00:24:54,680 --> 00:24:57,479 Speaker 3: Things need to change. Yeah, I'm a fan of drastic change. 505 00:24:57,560 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 2: I know you are too, And that's in the spirit 506 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:03,679 Speaker 2: of making this product as absolutely successful as it deserves 507 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:05,680 Speaker 2: to be. Is what this conversation is about, and it's 508 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:09,439 Speaker 2: one that unfortunately we find ourselves keep having. 509 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:13,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, I just I just feel like there's an avenue 510 00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:16,479 Speaker 1: or there's ways to, you know, make it popular and 511 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:19,960 Speaker 1: make it more popular, make it marketing, marketing it better, 512 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:24,920 Speaker 1: and so we don't have to go to China necessarily, right, 513 00:25:25,359 --> 00:25:29,560 Speaker 1: And so that's my so we have options. Just give 514 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:32,680 Speaker 1: me options and then let me know the bottom line 515 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:37,199 Speaker 1: of those options, and if they are significantly less or whatever, 516 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:40,520 Speaker 1: after we've done all of the marketing, or you know, 517 00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:43,600 Speaker 1: ask people to get on board. I don't know, grab 518 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:46,479 Speaker 1: a rebel Wilson who's obsessed with tennis and get her 519 00:25:46,480 --> 00:25:49,280 Speaker 1: to do a campaign for you or something like that. 520 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:51,080 Speaker 1: You know, like, there's ways around it. I know it 521 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:52,760 Speaker 1: doesn't cost you money, of course, to cost you money, 522 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:54,879 Speaker 1: but there's also a quid pro quo. You know, you 523 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:57,159 Speaker 1: can you can say we'll invite you to any event 524 00:25:57,200 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 1: and we'd love to have you here, and would you 525 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:01,000 Speaker 1: mind doing like like she did the NFL last year 526 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:03,840 Speaker 1: with the LA Rams. Like she did an entire thing 527 00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:06,280 Speaker 1: for the NFL and the LA Rams. They paid her 528 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:08,919 Speaker 1: money and she did the like. There's so many people 529 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:11,600 Speaker 1: like that that are obsessed with tennis. I know plenty 530 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:13,639 Speaker 1: of them that would love to do something like that, 531 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:16,199 Speaker 1: but there's never a question asked of people like that. Instead, 532 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:21,280 Speaker 1: we get them to fucking buy pickle ball, you know, teams. 533 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:27,679 Speaker 2: But we did all the notes, all the hits, everybody. 534 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:30,560 Speaker 2: You're welcome for yet another wt A rant on to 535 00:26:31,080 --> 00:26:34,840 Speaker 2: Charles Leclerk, Paul Gastley and what they were watching in Monacrlo, 536 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:37,959 Speaker 2: which was the incredible tennis tournament that took place at 537 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:39,960 Speaker 2: what has to be one of the most beautiful tennis 538 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:41,720 Speaker 2: clubs in all of the world. I have not been 539 00:26:41,760 --> 00:26:44,680 Speaker 2: to Monaco. I have not seen it in person. I 540 00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:46,960 Speaker 2: don't know if you've been a lot of players live there. 541 00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:47,720 Speaker 3: What were your. 542 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 2: Thoughts were impressions, give me the give me everything off 543 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:51,720 Speaker 2: the top of your mind. 544 00:26:52,520 --> 00:26:58,120 Speaker 1: Fantastic event, right, just incredible to see, you know, these 545 00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:00,679 Speaker 1: players just battling it out. Tough condition, a lot of 546 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:03,680 Speaker 1: rain this week and so that was that was pretty 547 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:05,359 Speaker 1: tough for the players to have to go on and 548 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:07,240 Speaker 1: off the court. I was super happy to see Taylor 549 00:27:07,280 --> 00:27:09,680 Speaker 1: Fritz have a great tournament. I always loved the fact 550 00:27:09,680 --> 00:27:13,560 Speaker 1: that he kicked stephanoff sits A passes, but after Stephanov's 551 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:17,680 Speaker 1: made that very very very weird. But not that that's 552 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:21,560 Speaker 1: every any abnormality when it comes to stephan Stephana sits 553 00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:25,280 Speaker 1: a pass and he's weird tweets and rants on cameras, 554 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:30,359 Speaker 1: but basically saying, USA, red clay unicorn, like what and 555 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:33,280 Speaker 1: then and then I love it. I'm loving the trash talk, 556 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:36,119 Speaker 1: to be honest, and then Taylor goes and kicks his 557 00:27:36,119 --> 00:27:37,920 Speaker 1: butt on red clay and then writes on the thing 558 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:41,000 Speaker 1: USA clay question mark, question mark, question mark. I loved it. 559 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 1: It was great that that whole little episode between him 560 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:47,680 Speaker 1: and Steph was classic. And you know, Taylor Fritz is 561 00:27:47,760 --> 00:27:49,679 Speaker 1: letting everyone know that he is a real threat on 562 00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:52,040 Speaker 1: every single surface. So I'm happy to see that for 563 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:54,680 Speaker 1: American tennis, obviously. I want to flip back to Francis 564 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:59,000 Speaker 1: Tiafo speaking of clay winning the US Clay Court Tournament 565 00:27:59,119 --> 00:28:03,520 Speaker 1: and in Houston. That was awesome to see him get 566 00:28:03,520 --> 00:28:07,040 Speaker 1: his second ATP title. So you know, American men are 567 00:28:07,080 --> 00:28:09,200 Speaker 1: sort of proving themselves that they can play on all surfaces, 568 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:12,320 Speaker 1: which is nice to see. But I mean, overall, look, 569 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:14,280 Speaker 1: you know, I was bummed for a sinner that he 570 00:28:14,320 --> 00:28:16,399 Speaker 1: didn't get through to another final. I mean, you know 571 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:17,920 Speaker 1: how I feel about him. I just love him. I 572 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:20,040 Speaker 1: think he's just such a great kid, and his efforts 573 00:28:20,119 --> 00:28:22,360 Speaker 1: through the week to come back from I mean, he's 574 00:28:22,359 --> 00:28:26,600 Speaker 1: had such a long, long, long, like two months, and 575 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:28,760 Speaker 1: I was kind of hoping you would culminate by winning 576 00:28:28,760 --> 00:28:32,280 Speaker 1: this tournament, but you know, fell short against Rune who's 577 00:28:32,359 --> 00:28:35,159 Speaker 1: just you know, proving himself to be so good on 578 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:38,760 Speaker 1: all surfaces and he's so young. But man, he's disliked 579 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 1: on tour. I mean, is there a person that likes 580 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:43,920 Speaker 1: this kid? Like it's amazing? He just pisses people off 581 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:47,120 Speaker 1: on the court and the garbage that he carries on with. 582 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:49,040 Speaker 1: But I'm hoping by the time he's twenty two or 583 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:50,800 Speaker 1: twenty three, he's kind of calmed down a little bit 584 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:55,960 Speaker 1: with that stuff and being so I don't know, just punishable. 585 00:28:56,520 --> 00:29:00,600 Speaker 1: Can I say that? Just punishable with hiss and the 586 00:29:00,720 --> 00:29:02,680 Speaker 1: way he carries on, And I think it really hurts 587 00:29:02,720 --> 00:29:04,600 Speaker 1: him because look at what happened in the final against 588 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:07,280 Speaker 1: ruby Blev. I mean, he was smacking rube Lev. He 589 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:10,120 Speaker 1: gets up for one and bang the cramps start again. 590 00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:12,160 Speaker 1: And he's had an issue with this in the past 591 00:29:12,520 --> 00:29:15,320 Speaker 1: where the cramping has really hurt him. And I just 592 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:17,200 Speaker 1: wonder how much of that has to do with his 593 00:29:17,280 --> 00:29:19,280 Speaker 1: emotions and his ups and downs. 594 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:23,440 Speaker 3: And his the energy he's using to yeah, just. 595 00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:25,880 Speaker 1: Do whatever, you know, And then he belts two balls 596 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:28,880 Speaker 1: out out of the stadium, which frankly should have been 597 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:30,760 Speaker 1: two warnings. I don't know why that was only given 598 00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:33,080 Speaker 1: one warning. That's some bullshit, Like as soon as he 599 00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:35,400 Speaker 1: hit it out, it should have been warning ball of 600 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:37,920 Speaker 1: Bruce abuse. Instead there was like five seconds and then 601 00:29:37,920 --> 00:29:40,080 Speaker 1: bang he hit another one out. That should have been too, 602 00:29:40,160 --> 00:29:42,520 Speaker 1: That should have been a point penalty. There's little things 603 00:29:42,560 --> 00:29:44,800 Speaker 1: like that that teach people. Look at Dennishopavolov when he 604 00:29:44,840 --> 00:29:46,280 Speaker 1: hit the umpire, you know. 605 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:47,600 Speaker 3: Change the course of his life. 606 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:51,800 Speaker 1: He's never been a deck again, well, I don't know 607 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:53,320 Speaker 1: if he hasn't been a dick on court. I mean, 608 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:55,360 Speaker 1: there's certainly things that Dennis probably could get a little 609 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:57,600 Speaker 1: bit better up himself when it comes to his attitude. 610 00:29:57,600 --> 00:30:00,280 Speaker 1: And this is hello those that live in glass else. 611 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:03,720 Speaker 1: Like I'm talking about this from experience, Like I think 612 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:08,120 Speaker 1: he definitely definitely that changed him. He could probably get better. 613 00:30:08,160 --> 00:30:10,920 Speaker 1: But someone like that to rune to lose a point, 614 00:30:11,040 --> 00:30:12,960 Speaker 1: you know, and get a point penalty, you start saying, 615 00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:15,880 Speaker 1: you've got to have some restraint at times, you know. 616 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:18,160 Speaker 1: And Roger Federer learned that from a very young age 617 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:20,600 Speaker 1: because he was a complete hot head when he was younger. 618 00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:24,120 Speaker 1: And like someone like you know, Uncle Tony tells rape 619 00:30:24,160 --> 00:30:26,040 Speaker 1: if you ever do that again, Like, I'll take the 620 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:27,440 Speaker 1: record out of your hand. You'll never get on the 621 00:30:27,480 --> 00:30:29,480 Speaker 1: tennis court. So there are little things that he could 622 00:30:29,480 --> 00:30:31,760 Speaker 1: probably get better at, but Rune has definitely proven himself 623 00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:33,040 Speaker 1: to be one of the best players in the world. 624 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:34,520 Speaker 1: This kid is going to be around a long time. 625 00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:39,040 Speaker 1: He's really friggin good. But I mean, how happy were 626 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:42,320 Speaker 1: you for Rubelev? I mean, this guy like that. 627 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:45,320 Speaker 2: Was such a good outcome, especially because with all of 628 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:47,560 Speaker 2: the Russia stuff and him being on the right side 629 00:30:47,560 --> 00:30:52,240 Speaker 2: of it and just a emotive, thoughtful, hard working, you know, 630 00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:55,640 Speaker 2: head down kind of player, especially against a hot head 631 00:30:55,680 --> 00:30:58,239 Speaker 2: like Runa, who's got the game. I totally agree and 632 00:30:58,400 --> 00:31:03,800 Speaker 2: is absolutely on all surfaces. But emotionally, you just really 633 00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:06,400 Speaker 2: really want rube Lev to win that unless you like 634 00:31:06,680 --> 00:31:10,680 Speaker 2: the assholes, because rube Lev could not be I think 635 00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:14,160 Speaker 2: more well liked and self effacing and funny, Like he's 636 00:31:14,200 --> 00:31:16,560 Speaker 2: such a good personality. But honestly, like one of the 637 00:31:16,560 --> 00:31:19,640 Speaker 2: things that I took away from the tournament, especially given 638 00:31:19,680 --> 00:31:23,240 Speaker 2: like the kind of like little trash talk with Britz 639 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:28,800 Speaker 2: and Stefanos, the little like you know, Medvedev and Zverev, 640 00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:32,000 Speaker 2: that was hilarious, especially because Verev is talking about how 641 00:31:32,040 --> 00:31:33,560 Speaker 2: it feels to be a great sport and then people 642 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:36,440 Speaker 2: on the internet immediately posted that video of him tomahawk 643 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:39,680 Speaker 2: chopping the umpire stand, which in my mind should have 644 00:31:40,120 --> 00:31:42,560 Speaker 2: been the second time that he was probably justified in 645 00:31:42,640 --> 00:31:45,360 Speaker 2: being kicked off the tour. But it's really funny because 646 00:31:45,400 --> 00:31:49,040 Speaker 2: I think now that the Big three are not as 647 00:31:49,080 --> 00:31:52,600 Speaker 2: present in our space. And obviously Djokovic played, he broke 648 00:31:52,640 --> 00:31:56,480 Speaker 2: a couple of rackets. He did not play as best 649 00:31:56,480 --> 00:31:59,720 Speaker 2: as he often doesn't in Monte Carlo, but since he 650 00:31:59,800 --> 00:32:02,720 Speaker 2: was from the tournament, it was sort of nice to 651 00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:05,960 Speaker 2: see this other generation of kids sounding getting chippy and 652 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:07,000 Speaker 2: like competing with each other. 653 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:07,680 Speaker 3: I really liked that. 654 00:32:07,760 --> 00:32:11,200 Speaker 2: I thought it meant this layer of the ATP was 655 00:32:11,240 --> 00:32:13,040 Speaker 2: all kind of like interesting. I do want to make 656 00:32:13,040 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 2: the point that Bozverev and Runa, who have like two 657 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:21,640 Speaker 2: of the more like kind of questionable attitudes on the court, 658 00:32:21,720 --> 00:32:24,640 Speaker 2: are both the guys like most likely most likely to 659 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:26,040 Speaker 2: like double fault on match point. 660 00:32:26,280 --> 00:32:27,520 Speaker 3: You know, I think there's something. 661 00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:30,760 Speaker 2: About their like, you know, like tough guy act that 662 00:32:30,920 --> 00:32:33,320 Speaker 2: is such an act where you're like, oh, who's going 663 00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:35,880 Speaker 2: to double fault on match point, it's alex Verev. Oh, 664 00:32:35,880 --> 00:32:37,760 Speaker 2: who's going to choke against rube Lev? 665 00:32:37,880 --> 00:32:38,400 Speaker 3: It's runa. 666 00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:39,800 Speaker 2: You know, it's like all the tough guys on the 667 00:32:39,920 --> 00:32:43,040 Speaker 2: on the on the blacktop at recess. You're like, oh, 668 00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:45,400 Speaker 2: really you want to step to me, and yeah, let's 669 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:47,200 Speaker 2: see what you got. Oh it's a bunch of eighty 670 00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:49,640 Speaker 2: seven mile an hour second serves. That's what we're getting. 671 00:32:49,640 --> 00:32:51,920 Speaker 3: Cool, all right, keep keep keep it up, big boy. 672 00:32:52,800 --> 00:32:54,920 Speaker 1: It reminds me of my best friend had a party 673 00:32:54,960 --> 00:32:56,800 Speaker 1: for her seven year old son once and the two 674 00:32:57,120 --> 00:33:00,920 Speaker 1: most bullying kids at the potty I I've never listened. 675 00:33:00,920 --> 00:33:02,480 Speaker 1: If you ever want to have you know, you have 676 00:33:02,880 --> 00:33:05,880 Speaker 1: a son, but he's like he's like my best friend's kid, 677 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:10,040 Speaker 1: like really sensitive and really like adorable and very you know, 678 00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:13,680 Speaker 1: he's obviously has two moms. My friend's kid has two 679 00:33:13,720 --> 00:33:16,480 Speaker 1: older sisters. So you know, I think when you're around women, 680 00:33:16,560 --> 00:33:18,600 Speaker 1: you tend to respect them and act a little bit 681 00:33:18,640 --> 00:33:21,800 Speaker 1: better as opposed to So they had this seven year 682 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:24,600 Speaker 1: old birthday party and it was literally, I swear to god, 683 00:33:24,640 --> 00:33:26,880 Speaker 1: it was like Lord of the friggin Flies. I couldn't 684 00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:29,360 Speaker 1: believe it. Like once they all get together, these boys, 685 00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:32,600 Speaker 1: they become little pricks and like even my friend's kid, 686 00:33:32,640 --> 00:33:34,440 Speaker 1: I was like, what happened to you? Was so sweet? 687 00:33:34,440 --> 00:33:36,080 Speaker 1: And he was like run around like a boy, like, 688 00:33:36,120 --> 00:33:38,760 Speaker 1: you know, getting all in trouble. And the two kids 689 00:33:38,800 --> 00:33:41,280 Speaker 1: that were the biggest bulliers at that at his little 690 00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:43,719 Speaker 1: party that I was watching, you know, and watching all 691 00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:47,080 Speaker 1: the you know, all the little groups get together and 692 00:33:47,120 --> 00:33:51,240 Speaker 1: stuff happening, the two biggest little assholes. When it became 693 00:33:51,320 --> 00:33:54,080 Speaker 1: time to sleep over at night, they were they both 694 00:33:54,120 --> 00:33:56,120 Speaker 1: cried and wanted to go home. They wanted them picked 695 00:33:56,120 --> 00:33:57,240 Speaker 1: them up a little bit. 696 00:33:58,960 --> 00:34:02,400 Speaker 2: So funny was actually out of sleepover yesterday. And the 697 00:34:02,440 --> 00:34:04,360 Speaker 2: one kid who was trying to bully everybody is the 698 00:34:04,360 --> 00:34:06,760 Speaker 2: one kid who ended up crying. You're like, you know what, 699 00:34:07,120 --> 00:34:10,160 Speaker 2: that's always the case, Like who's who's the little bitch? 700 00:34:10,520 --> 00:34:12,440 Speaker 2: It's not the guy who's talking tough. It's going to 701 00:34:12,480 --> 00:34:15,320 Speaker 2: be the rube lev who's like actually tough, who's emotionally 702 00:34:15,400 --> 00:34:17,719 Speaker 2: mature and not gonna talk shit and then not be 703 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:19,720 Speaker 2: able to back it up. So for me, the ROUBLEV 704 00:34:19,760 --> 00:34:22,120 Speaker 2: outcome was awesome. And I just want to say, I'm 705 00:34:22,200 --> 00:34:26,480 Speaker 2: so into this cohort of men's tennis players. We've kind 706 00:34:26,480 --> 00:34:30,359 Speaker 2: of gotten past the corporate Oh what a great, incredible 707 00:34:30,520 --> 00:34:32,960 Speaker 2: person you are, what you know, It's just I'm so. 708 00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:33,440 Speaker 3: Sick of that. 709 00:34:33,640 --> 00:34:35,600 Speaker 2: Like, let's just be real and be athletes and kind 710 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:36,080 Speaker 2: of chippy. 711 00:34:36,160 --> 00:34:37,239 Speaker 3: I like that. I'm here for that. 712 00:34:37,440 --> 00:34:38,960 Speaker 2: I don't you know, don't be a jerk, don't take 713 00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:42,360 Speaker 2: it too far. But like we're competitors, let's compete. 714 00:34:43,160 --> 00:34:45,200 Speaker 1: I'd be afraid to say. I mean, listen, I don't 715 00:34:45,239 --> 00:34:47,680 Speaker 1: mind the chippiness, but you know, be a little bit 716 00:34:47,719 --> 00:34:50,120 Speaker 1: more self aware. I mean, like saz Vera to bitch 717 00:34:50,120 --> 00:34:52,160 Speaker 1: about Medvedev, Like now, I find Medvedev to be one 718 00:34:52,200 --> 00:34:54,640 Speaker 1: of the more sporting guys on too it. I mean, yes, 719 00:34:54,640 --> 00:34:56,279 Speaker 1: he carries on, carries on like a bit of an 720 00:34:56,280 --> 00:34:58,440 Speaker 1: idiot when he's bitching about the hard court not being 721 00:34:58,440 --> 00:35:00,319 Speaker 1: a hard court, and maybe he's trying to get into 722 00:35:00,320 --> 00:35:02,080 Speaker 1: the head of his opponent that way. But as far 723 00:35:02,120 --> 00:35:03,960 Speaker 1: as he's playing, the guy just plays, you know what 724 00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:05,719 Speaker 1: I mean. And if he had to pee at four 725 00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:07,440 Speaker 1: three and the third he had to pee, I've never 726 00:35:07,440 --> 00:35:08,920 Speaker 1: seen him do that. I've never seen him go off 727 00:35:08,960 --> 00:35:10,560 Speaker 1: the court like he really Obviously he's. 728 00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:12,839 Speaker 2: Not famous for being a bathroom brick. 729 00:35:13,480 --> 00:35:16,799 Speaker 1: Now no, no, he's not Stefano Sitzapas going off the 730 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:18,960 Speaker 1: court for twenty minutes. But I just thought it was 731 00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:21,080 Speaker 1: so funny that zvere I've had his comments about that. 732 00:35:21,120 --> 00:35:24,280 Speaker 1: It's like, dude, just like, admit your lost, like you choked, Okay, 733 00:35:24,360 --> 00:35:26,600 Speaker 1: this is the bottom line, Like get on with it, Paz, 734 00:35:26,680 --> 00:35:29,320 Speaker 1: and then and then Medvedev to come into the press 735 00:35:29,320 --> 00:35:32,400 Speaker 1: comments the next day, it'd be like, hold on, hold 736 00:35:32,440 --> 00:35:36,600 Speaker 1: on a second time out, let's go through the litany 737 00:35:36,680 --> 00:35:39,919 Speaker 1: of shit that's very ever's done. So I just think 738 00:35:40,000 --> 00:35:42,759 Speaker 1: it's hilarious and I'm here for it, and I love 739 00:35:42,880 --> 00:35:45,880 Speaker 1: the fact that Rublaf said in the end of his speech, 740 00:35:46,080 --> 00:35:48,040 Speaker 1: I want to thank you all for the support because 741 00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:50,920 Speaker 1: knowing where I'm from, I want to thank you for 742 00:35:50,960 --> 00:35:53,759 Speaker 1: the support all around the world. And it's because he's 743 00:35:53,800 --> 00:35:56,920 Speaker 1: been the one Russian player really that has written on 744 00:35:56,960 --> 00:36:00,360 Speaker 1: the cameras no war, I want peace, Like that's just 745 00:36:00,400 --> 00:36:02,040 Speaker 1: about as far as you can go, I think as 746 00:36:02,080 --> 00:36:04,920 Speaker 1: a Russian without having to worry about your family being 747 00:36:04,960 --> 00:36:08,440 Speaker 1: abducted and put away somewhere in Siberia. So you know, 748 00:36:08,560 --> 00:36:10,920 Speaker 1: I'm super aware that these Russian and Bella Russian plays, 749 00:36:11,040 --> 00:36:13,480 Speaker 1: it's really hard for them to say something publicly because 750 00:36:13,719 --> 00:36:15,359 Speaker 1: I mean, look, you just saw I don't know if 751 00:36:15,360 --> 00:36:18,319 Speaker 1: you saw this Russian journalist that said something about anti war. 752 00:36:18,360 --> 00:36:21,200 Speaker 1: He's been put in prison for twenty years in Russia. 753 00:36:21,239 --> 00:36:24,879 Speaker 2: This is what autocracies do. Like they're not fucking around 754 00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:28,160 Speaker 2: with journalists. And if you're an athlete who's an ambassador 755 00:36:28,239 --> 00:36:30,280 Speaker 2: and you're out in front of a bunch of cameras 756 00:36:30,960 --> 00:36:34,120 Speaker 2: and you say something like the Pung Shwai situation we 757 00:36:34,120 --> 00:36:37,600 Speaker 2: were just talking about, you are an enemy of the state. 758 00:36:37,760 --> 00:36:40,279 Speaker 2: You know, like these guys don't like dissent, and so 759 00:36:40,360 --> 00:36:42,880 Speaker 2: for me, yeah, Rubelev is so hard not to like. 760 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:44,800 Speaker 2: And for him to have a big breakthrough at a 761 00:36:44,840 --> 00:36:47,120 Speaker 2: Master's one thousand like this after getting to a ton 762 00:36:47,160 --> 00:36:49,160 Speaker 2: of finals, going deep but a ton of these tournaments 763 00:36:49,360 --> 00:36:52,600 Speaker 2: and really being I think among this generation's like sort 764 00:36:52,640 --> 00:36:54,640 Speaker 2: of most exciting players. Like the way he hits his 765 00:36:54,680 --> 00:36:57,399 Speaker 2: forehand in particular, is so exciting. If you've never seen 766 00:36:57,400 --> 00:36:59,400 Speaker 2: the meme of him looking like a cat on the 767 00:36:59,400 --> 00:37:02,000 Speaker 2: internet yourself a favor and google that. I don't know 768 00:37:02,040 --> 00:37:05,239 Speaker 2: if you've seen it, it's hilarious. He looks like, I'm 769 00:37:05,239 --> 00:37:07,279 Speaker 2: gonna send us you over this podcast. It's incredible. So 770 00:37:07,280 --> 00:37:10,080 Speaker 2: for me, just really really great outcome, really great tournament. 771 00:37:10,719 --> 00:37:13,080 Speaker 2: And you know, I think for me, the clay season 772 00:37:13,200 --> 00:37:15,960 Speaker 2: being fully underway with both men's and women's, we should 773 00:37:15,960 --> 00:37:18,240 Speaker 2: shout out to Casper Rude who won the tournament in Portugal. 774 00:37:19,160 --> 00:37:21,279 Speaker 2: You know, there's just there's just a ton of really good, 775 00:37:21,440 --> 00:37:22,680 Speaker 2: exciting tennis. 776 00:37:23,040 --> 00:37:26,880 Speaker 1: Although I would like you to explain to me why 777 00:37:26,920 --> 00:37:29,399 Speaker 1: he's complaining about the fact that he doesn't get enough 778 00:37:29,400 --> 00:37:33,960 Speaker 1: publicity after he won that tournament in Portugal, but yet 779 00:37:34,120 --> 00:37:37,000 Speaker 1: it's basically the first time he's won more than two 780 00:37:37,040 --> 00:37:40,120 Speaker 1: matches at a tournament all year, and yet he wins 781 00:37:40,120 --> 00:37:41,600 Speaker 1: one tournament. He's like, you know, I just feel like 782 00:37:41,640 --> 00:37:44,800 Speaker 1: I don't get enough coverage. I'm like, dude, you've played 783 00:37:44,800 --> 00:37:45,879 Speaker 1: like shit for six months. 784 00:37:45,960 --> 00:37:48,520 Speaker 2: That's why the thing I would say is, hey Ruble, 785 00:37:48,719 --> 00:37:50,719 Speaker 2: Hey Casper Rude. 786 00:37:50,360 --> 00:37:52,120 Speaker 3: We made an overture. 787 00:37:52,360 --> 00:37:54,319 Speaker 2: I came up with a nickname for you, and an 788 00:37:54,320 --> 00:37:57,200 Speaker 2: oatmeal company wanted to sponsor you. You want to show 789 00:37:57,239 --> 00:37:59,560 Speaker 2: that you're fun and able to like be in front 790 00:37:59,600 --> 00:38:02,440 Speaker 2: of camera and cool and taking a joke get at me. 791 00:38:02,520 --> 00:38:03,200 Speaker 3: Tell your agent. 792 00:38:03,440 --> 00:38:06,240 Speaker 2: He blew it like we're the offers still on the table, 793 00:38:06,320 --> 00:38:08,960 Speaker 2: you know, Like are you no, of course not. An 794 00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:10,919 Speaker 2: oatmeal company came to me and said, hey, we saw 795 00:38:10,920 --> 00:38:12,960 Speaker 2: that you started calling casp Root oatmeal stallion. 796 00:38:13,000 --> 00:38:14,160 Speaker 3: Do you think he would do it? And I said 797 00:38:14,239 --> 00:38:14,480 Speaker 3: I don't. 798 00:38:14,520 --> 00:38:16,840 Speaker 2: Here's his agent's number, give him a call. And the 799 00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:19,839 Speaker 2: agent was like, oh, this guy just used too high 800 00:38:19,920 --> 00:38:21,520 Speaker 2: rank to consider something like this. And I was like, 801 00:38:21,520 --> 00:38:24,480 Speaker 2: making money from a cool idea? All right, cool, let 802 00:38:24,480 --> 00:38:26,840 Speaker 2: me know when you change your mind. So it's ironic 803 00:38:26,920 --> 00:38:29,480 Speaker 2: to hear somebody complaining about not having a high enough 804 00:38:29,520 --> 00:38:32,320 Speaker 2: profile if they're gonna not be cool or fun. 805 00:38:32,640 --> 00:38:35,399 Speaker 3: So listen, offers always at the table to be cool 806 00:38:35,400 --> 00:38:35,759 Speaker 3: and fun. 807 00:38:36,680 --> 00:38:39,799 Speaker 1: So the point of this is, Casper, it's actually not 808 00:38:39,880 --> 00:38:44,000 Speaker 1: the ATP that are causing you to have no public 809 00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:48,720 Speaker 1: persona and more exposure. It's actually your agent. 810 00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:53,000 Speaker 2: The call is coming from inside the house. 811 00:38:53,719 --> 00:38:57,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, there you go. Okay, So let's uh, you know, 812 00:38:57,400 --> 00:39:01,279 Speaker 1: Billy Jene King, Philly Jean King, that's a lot. Can 813 00:39:01,280 --> 00:39:03,840 Speaker 1: we just call it the BJK cup? Yes? Can we 814 00:39:03,920 --> 00:39:06,439 Speaker 1: just call it the King Cup? Anyway? The Billy Jean 815 00:39:06,560 --> 00:39:09,200 Speaker 1: King Cup was played last week. To all the players 816 00:39:09,200 --> 00:39:11,319 Speaker 1: that moved through. I just love to still see these 817 00:39:11,320 --> 00:39:13,320 Speaker 1: players like lose their friggin minds when they went a 818 00:39:13,400 --> 00:39:15,480 Speaker 1: match for their country. It's just the most fun thing. 819 00:39:16,000 --> 00:39:18,400 Speaker 1: I know how much it felt and how proud I 820 00:39:18,520 --> 00:39:21,279 Speaker 1: was to play for Australia and win big matches and 821 00:39:21,560 --> 00:39:23,600 Speaker 1: it's still so meaningful to the players. So it was 822 00:39:23,640 --> 00:39:25,960 Speaker 1: great to see all the outcomes last week. We'll get 823 00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:28,160 Speaker 1: to see them all in the finals coming up at 824 00:39:28,200 --> 00:39:29,759 Speaker 1: the end of the year. So congrats to all the 825 00:39:29,760 --> 00:39:32,560 Speaker 1: teams that moved through. We're talking about it. 826 00:39:32,440 --> 00:39:35,160 Speaker 3: It was USA mccoco, uh. 827 00:39:36,719 --> 00:39:43,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, Goola can and yeah that that that team. They 828 00:39:43,640 --> 00:39:45,879 Speaker 1: all moved They moved through, France moved through. 829 00:39:46,160 --> 00:39:48,600 Speaker 2: It was some It's going to be some pretty good, big, 830 00:39:49,719 --> 00:39:52,319 Speaker 2: big opinion games coming up in the next in the 831 00:39:52,360 --> 00:39:53,120 Speaker 2: next round. 832 00:39:53,000 --> 00:40:01,799 Speaker 1: Because Doesbarkina played for Kazakhstan got them through? Yeah, so yeah, 833 00:40:01,960 --> 00:40:03,520 Speaker 1: I need to listen in front of you. 834 00:40:03,560 --> 00:40:06,560 Speaker 2: But I imagine the Czech team is probably headed through. 835 00:40:07,560 --> 00:40:10,440 Speaker 1: Check team played against Ukraine. You have your computer, why 836 00:40:10,440 --> 00:40:12,680 Speaker 1: don't you look that up. We'll cut this out and 837 00:40:13,000 --> 00:40:17,640 Speaker 1: actually have an idea. But so yeah, Ukraine and the 838 00:40:17,680 --> 00:40:21,360 Speaker 1: Czechs played in Turkey because it was supposed to be 839 00:40:21,400 --> 00:40:23,920 Speaker 1: a home tie in Ukraine because the last time they 840 00:40:23,960 --> 00:40:26,400 Speaker 1: played was in the Czech Republic, and so whenever you 841 00:40:26,440 --> 00:40:28,879 Speaker 1: play the team that you play against, the next time 842 00:40:28,960 --> 00:40:31,640 Speaker 1: you play them in your country and then it flips 843 00:40:31,640 --> 00:40:33,560 Speaker 1: back to the other country. So this time they had 844 00:40:33,600 --> 00:40:36,680 Speaker 1: to play in a neutral zone. And then Barbara ka Jikova, 845 00:40:36,680 --> 00:40:38,000 Speaker 1: I want to give a big shout out to buy 846 00:40:39,239 --> 00:40:43,319 Speaker 1: who donated all her money from her play for the 847 00:40:43,320 --> 00:40:47,239 Speaker 1: Czech Republic against Ukraine to the earthquake victims, and I 848 00:40:47,280 --> 00:40:52,520 Speaker 1: believe to Ukraine's Ukrainians as well. So yeah, yeah, so 849 00:40:52,680 --> 00:40:55,640 Speaker 1: you know, she's just, you know, she's just, she's a 850 00:40:55,680 --> 00:40:57,920 Speaker 1: person that gets the whole big picture as well. She 851 00:40:57,960 --> 00:41:02,439 Speaker 1: doesn't get talked about enough. She doesn't get enough publics solining. 852 00:41:02,480 --> 00:41:03,120 Speaker 3: You know what she's doing. 853 00:41:03,160 --> 00:41:05,200 Speaker 2: She's putting her money where her mouth is literally and 854 00:41:05,880 --> 00:41:08,319 Speaker 2: getting headlines for doing the right thing. So shout out 855 00:41:08,320 --> 00:41:12,000 Speaker 2: to barberberuk Kadjukova, Casparude take a page. Congratulations to the 856 00:41:12,040 --> 00:41:14,000 Speaker 2: Czech team and the other team that's going on a spin. 857 00:41:14,120 --> 00:41:17,319 Speaker 2: So we have an incredible, incredible lineup for BJK Cup 858 00:41:17,360 --> 00:41:19,880 Speaker 2: in the next the next semis and finals, as we 859 00:41:19,880 --> 00:41:23,560 Speaker 2: should because there's just absolute incredible depth on every team 860 00:41:23,600 --> 00:41:25,640 Speaker 2: that we just talked about. All right, should we wrap 861 00:41:25,640 --> 00:41:26,799 Speaker 2: it up? Should I let you get back to your 862 00:41:26,880 --> 00:41:27,800 Speaker 2: Los Carbos vacation. 863 00:41:28,840 --> 00:41:31,560 Speaker 1: But yeah, well, we'll keep an eye on all the 864 00:41:31,560 --> 00:41:35,879 Speaker 1: things happening in the Porsche Stuttgart tournament, which is one 865 00:41:35,880 --> 00:41:37,680 Speaker 1: of my favorite was one of my favorite tournaments of 866 00:41:37,680 --> 00:41:42,120 Speaker 1: the year. Fabulous to see Egision take back playing indoors 867 00:41:42,120 --> 00:41:45,640 Speaker 1: on clay. We'll see where she stacks up. Now. I'm 868 00:41:45,680 --> 00:41:48,279 Speaker 1: going into her defense of the French Open. Clearly she's 869 00:41:48,280 --> 00:41:51,440 Speaker 1: going to be the favorite. We've got just fabulous women's 870 00:41:51,480 --> 00:41:54,080 Speaker 1: stories all around, and the men's is so open now 871 00:41:54,160 --> 00:41:57,520 Speaker 1: I love it. Obviously, we've got Alcarez what's going on 872 00:41:57,560 --> 00:42:00,640 Speaker 1: with his injuries. It's a real concern to me that 873 00:42:00,719 --> 00:42:03,040 Speaker 1: someone who's eaten his age is really struggling with that 874 00:42:03,120 --> 00:42:05,800 Speaker 1: week in and week out. But hopefully as he matures 875 00:42:05,840 --> 00:42:08,680 Speaker 1: and gets stronger in his body, like Runa. To be honest, 876 00:42:08,760 --> 00:42:12,320 Speaker 1: I think Runa maybe these cramps and situations will dissipate 877 00:42:12,440 --> 00:42:14,440 Speaker 1: as he gets older and stronger and understands how to 878 00:42:14,440 --> 00:42:16,720 Speaker 1: control his emotions a little bit and same with al Carez. 879 00:42:16,760 --> 00:42:19,600 Speaker 1: Like Alcirez as well, is so fied up all the 880 00:42:19,640 --> 00:42:22,240 Speaker 1: time that maybe that causes some tension in his body 881 00:42:22,239 --> 00:42:24,520 Speaker 1: and it's causing him to have injuries as well. But 882 00:42:25,200 --> 00:42:29,560 Speaker 1: you know, hopefully everyone's back at full force. Not what 883 00:42:29,760 --> 00:42:32,640 Speaker 1: is not happening is Raphael and Nadal playing. What the 884 00:42:32,680 --> 00:42:35,319 Speaker 1: fuck is happening with him? You know, his body is 885 00:42:35,719 --> 00:42:39,000 Speaker 1: not cooperating. This hip is going to be an ongoing issue. 886 00:42:39,200 --> 00:42:42,080 Speaker 1: And I mean at this present moment, he's not playing 887 00:42:42,080 --> 00:42:44,600 Speaker 1: any lead up times to the French Open, so you know, 888 00:42:44,960 --> 00:42:46,880 Speaker 1: I think if he plays Rome, that'll be a really 889 00:42:46,880 --> 00:42:51,280 Speaker 1: good sign for him. But the injuries there are very strange, 890 00:42:52,560 --> 00:42:54,200 Speaker 1: So I don't know. With the men's there's a lot 891 00:42:54,239 --> 00:42:56,600 Speaker 1: of injuries that are causing some disruptions with the women 892 00:42:56,680 --> 00:42:58,919 Speaker 1: that are all hopefully back strong and at their best 893 00:42:58,960 --> 00:43:01,800 Speaker 1: this week and next week. So I'm yeah, I'm super pumped. 894 00:43:02,040 --> 00:43:04,120 Speaker 1: I'm going to enjoy every second of my trip away, 895 00:43:04,160 --> 00:43:06,399 Speaker 1: but I will be keeping a good and close eye 896 00:43:06,440 --> 00:43:09,719 Speaker 1: on everything happening in the world of tennis with you, 897 00:43:09,800 --> 00:43:10,719 Speaker 1: my friend, all. 898 00:43:10,680 --> 00:43:14,480 Speaker 2: Right, until next time, enjoy the beach, enjoy the sand, 899 00:43:14,640 --> 00:43:17,479 Speaker 2: enjoy the food you have a Mexico and. 900 00:43:17,520 --> 00:43:20,760 Speaker 1: I will have plenty of mandar eatas and plenty of tequila, 901 00:43:20,760 --> 00:43:22,560 Speaker 1: and I will bring back a sweet bottle of tequila 902 00:43:22,600 --> 00:43:24,320 Speaker 1: back to the States because it's my favorite thing to 903 00:43:24,360 --> 00:43:27,040 Speaker 1: do when I'm here, by tequila at half price in 904 00:43:27,080 --> 00:43:29,520 Speaker 1: Mexico and then take it back to the States. So, Caitlin, 905 00:43:29,680 --> 00:43:32,440 Speaker 1: great talking to you. Everybody else, thanks for listening to us. 906 00:43:32,520 --> 00:43:36,000 Speaker 1: And I'm sorry again about getting fired up about the WTA, 907 00:43:36,120 --> 00:43:40,600 Speaker 1: but it's a personal reminder of so many things that 908 00:43:40,640 --> 00:43:43,080 Speaker 1: are lacking when it comes to them, and I think 909 00:43:43,160 --> 00:43:45,640 Speaker 1: we just need to get it all better. Thanks everybody, 910 00:43:45,719 --> 00:44:01,799 Speaker 1: see you next week. Back mate.