Aus Open Day 12 - Rybakina vs. Sabalenka showdown set

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Hello and welcome to the tennis podcast on women's semi-finals night at the Australian Open, a night that is seen Elena Rabakkina. and Arena Sabalenka set up a meeting in Saturday's final. It is moments before midnight and you find us in Garden Square. It's a gorgeous evening and we're in the aftermath of the session that is tended to most reliably deliver drama at a Grand Slam over the years. The back-to-back women's semi-finals. But of course.

This is the dud slam. So what we got was two straight setters, but... That doesn't tell the whole story because a mat accidentally broke out on the Rodlever Arena earlier on tonight. Unfortunately not for long enough to give us a deciding set, but we are feeding off crumbs at this point in the tournament.

And Jessica Pagula, David, definitely gave us a little snack with her second set comeback against Elena Rabacchina. Yeah, but it really wetted the appetite for more, didn't it? And I was really enjoying her comeback. I loved the way she played against Amanda and Nissamovi yesterday. I think that's one of the best performances I've seen from her yesterday.

I think we had others when she's mounted comebacks against Sabalenka, say at the US Open, things like that where she just steps up to it to a Probably a more talked about opponent who we assume has a bigger game and that was the case today and then retaliates and I love watching her retaliate against players and use her movement and use those snapping ground strokes.

that sort of take the opponent by surprise. But it took such a long time for that to to happen today against Rebecca. She didn't leave it quite too late because she managed to make a fight of that second set. She had two set points. But she didn't take'em. And and and a and you've got to give enormous credit for her backna for kind of I guess choking or at least losing a forehand, but getting it back and winning anyway.

Mm. It feels like we've had something absolutely delicious dangled in front of us tonight and then just whipped away at the last last moment. It's like we've been given a few Pringles. And you wanna you wanna just demolish the lot? Yeah, because we've been so starved. Like it was like for half an hour there it was awesome. And and that's how tennis can be. We felt alive. Yeah, I felt tension. I didn't know I could feel tension anymore.

after the last few days and it was a real joy there for for half an hour or so. Um and I do think what tonight's semifinals have done is

you know, ramped up the excitement for the final as well, you know, like we know that they can play good matches against each other. We've seen one on this court. So it so it has done that thing that the tournament has done all the way, which has been ever so slightly disappointing tonight, you know, in terms of as a whole, in terms of what women's semifinal night can be, but

Good things are coming. Made you think, oh good things are coming. Like it there's just a constant tease and waiting for the good thing to come this tournament. But I did enjoy Pagula's resistance.

in that second set and actually what I enjoyed about it was like knowing those two players. We'd seen last summer Rebecca lose a string of matches from having match points. and we'd seen Pagula post US Open get involved in these absolutely crazy matches where set points and match points were coming and going and You it felt like that context was here in this match. Yn yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n.

as David said, there was time for Pagula to find something and she did and she pressured Rabatkina and the Rabatkina forehand fell apart and then we were in to r a real situation of jeopardy and an I It was awesome from Rabatkiner tonight though, wasn't it? Apart from that that spell when the forehand Yeah, so good. And like you do see the difference that the serve can make, you know, compared to for example when it's a yesterday for

for Pagula. Like there were there were little times where Pagula would get involved in a service game and Rabatkinna would just slam the door like with you know with a big serve. Um and Yeah, her hitting was

brilliant from the start really. I thought I thought Pagula was a little sluggish early on, in a way that she just hadn't been against an Islamova. She was so sharp from the start of that match. Whereas this did take her a bit bit more time. I do think it might have been an adjustment to the condition. But yeah, Rebecca was so good. I th I think the frustration will be for Pagula that twice she broke back in the in the second set and then immediately got broken again.

It felt like she was never able to sort of break back and then hold and then like a really establish herself in the set. She was always kind of playing catch-up in it. Um now it has to be said Rebecca played great games when when Pugula did break back, uh you know, Rebecca responded very well. But it did just feel like there was a little bit of frailty there that that Pagula did a good job of trying to exploit but just couldn't quite fully and um

you know, I think Pagula will rue a couple of miss forehands of her own in that tie break, in the middle portion of it, and then a really curious decision to roll in the first serve on her first set point. Like I don't quite know why she did that, just rolled it into the rebac in the backhand. But other than that, I think I think you know, you can't have too many regrets because of how good Robatkina was as a whole.

And she's very good at processing this stuff, isn't she, Pagula? As as disappointed as I'm sure she is. And I think perhaps the disappointment will be added to b by the feeling that had she managed to get one of those set points, Pagula She would have felt like the favourite to me in the third in the third set just because of how well, the fact that Rebecca had had the three match points and failed to con convert and and th that frailty that that was there to be tapped into, she could have just

really stamped down on that, I I would have backed Pagula, I think, going into the third set. It's so tantalising.

She she'd have had to have a major reset because that forehand had gone for a while she couldn't trust what was coming off the strings and she was repeatedly over hitting and and actually I think maybe one of the regrets that Pagula will have is that unlike yesterday when it seemed she was so set on attacking the NSM over forehand. As as good as that shot is at times, she just went at it.

And broke it down really or broke the the baseline game down in in in totality. Whereas today I didn't feel that that was happening in the first set. Um it but I also think that's probably because she wasn't trusting her own game.

She w she didn't feel as good as she did yesterday. There can be lots of reasons why you don't feel as good. And I think a lot of it is because Rebecca just was hitting So cleanly, so many So many rallies where Pagula did play well, Rabakina still won them and I think that mentally that was

that was getting to Pagula a bit. You don't see much negative body language for her, but she was walking towards her team and there was a sort of despairing look in in her her fa face and features as if so all What can I do against this? You know? Yeah, like everything we said yesterday about Pagula being a great absorber of pace coming at her and Being able to turn it back on an opponent and staying staying solid and deflecting it. Like all of that is true. She's absolutely brilliant at that.

She was having a much harder time doing that tonight against Rabatkina's ball. Like she kept saying weight of shot is too much, like I can't I I can't really handle it. And I don't you have to credit Rabatkin. Is the Rabacina way to shot greater than Anisomovers? I guess on the forehand it is, and on the backhand probably net about

I think it's a bit different in as much I th I mean I don't know what what it feels like, but but I think generally speaking Rebecca isn't having to try to hit the thing as hard all the time. Her natural stroke is just heavy and piercing and skidding and and and hard um when she's playing well like that and it's off the back of the big serve as well. So you probably never really feel like you're in charge.

And the difference is how do you extract the error? Unless the forehand goes off, which it did towards the end of the the second set She wa she talked, Pagula, about the strides that Anisimova had made yesterday in terms of rally tolerance. Compared to the past. But I still d I don't think that would even be a conversation point to have a ga about Rebecca and her. I don't think there is a qu there don't think there's ever been a question mark about her rally top

because she's a great baseliner who doesn't miss much. And I think that that's a there's still a difference there. I think Rebecca has a a more all-round reliable matured full game. I think Anisamova will get better yet, but she's not at Rebecca's level yet. And the serve that Anisimova doesn't doesn't have maybe will never. When it's clicking like that. I mean it has to be said I would I would say today first serve because actually Pagula really did a good job

of taking advantage of the Rebecca second serve. But the first serve is is such a weapon. She hits so many aces on it. She gets a lot of free points on it, even if they're not aces. And it does set her up and I I do think compared to Anissa Mova, Rubacina is just

more sort of settled on court. I think the serve sets it up, but then also I do think she's a slightly better mover than Anisimova and slightly better at handling the slice, especially coming forward. And I do think There were a couple of times today Pagula did have success with the slice, but it was nowhere near as a reliable play for her to be able to like just drop the ball short in a rally that she did so well yesterday against the Nissamova and

I I think Pagulo, even if she was soaking up the Inissimoba power, always felt like she had a play in the rally. Whereas I just think against Robatkin, she was she was doing a good job at times of really soaking up the power, but it always just seemed like she was on the back foot, generally, in the matchup and That's that's what Robatkin is like overwhelming smooth game can can do.

And on the Rabacina serve, both today and yesterday against Shontec, she was serving at below fifty percent, which she generally considered to be a bad serving day, and I guess kind of is, but she wins so such a high percentage of points on that first serve that it doesn't feel like she's having a bad serving day'cause she's still at that low percentage She's still dominating on serve more than anybody else would be on that percentage. But then also there is

there is more upside to be had in her game. Imagine if she comes out in the final against Sabalenka and serves at seventy percent. Yeah. Well we've seen her thrash Sabalenka before. Mae'n rhywbeth iawn, yn ymwneud â'r ffwrdd, yn ymwneud â'r ffwrdd, yn ymwneud â'r ffwrdd, yn ymwneud â'r ffwrdd, yn ymwneud â'r ffwrdd. Mae'n ymwneud â'r ffwrdd, yn ymwneud â'r ffwrdd.

Yeah, Pigula doesn't have a big serve, she doesn't have a bad serve, but if i it was so often being r rammed down her throat on the on the return and without Again a an isom over comparison without trying to hit it hit the living daylights out of it. It's just her natural stroke is thudding. It's nice going into this final that we'll talk about Sabalenka in a moment but it It's nice going into this Robatkinus Sabalenka final

knowing how good their matches against one another can look. Because I remember three years ago ahead of their final we were sort of excited about it from an individual perspective'cause they were both playing so well, but we were worried about how their games would match up against one another and whether there would ever be a rally longer than two or three shots and obviously it turned into turned into an absolute classic and they've had

more barnstormers since then. So I f I feel pretty good here I am promising a good tennis match on Saturday, but I feel pretty good about the potential for what that match could be. Yes, me too. Um it's it's quite an odd head to head in the The last nine matches they played against each other, they've alternated winners. You have to go back to twenty twenty-three for the last time someone won two in a row in that rivalry, which was Rubakin.

So I think it's been one of those it's been a little hard to grasp, right? Like who's got the advantage here because they keep going back and forth. A lot of Sabalenka's wins have tended to be three sets. It was only Wuhan last year where she actually did get a straight sets win, but I do think Rabatkiner was you know she was chasing that spot at the WTA final, she probably wasn't quite at her peak then. Whereas Rebacina has

beaten Sabalenka in ways that no one else has really done it, as David said. A l she's had a lot of straight sets wins. She's had a she's had wins where she's blown her off the call in a way that no one else has really and That's interesting because it brings into play the Sabalenka stat of not losing a Grand Slam match in straight sets since twenty twenty. It's an extraordinary run that she's on, Sabalenka, but

by far and away the most dangerous opponent for her to lose that stat is Rabakina because of what she's done to her in the past. So It is pretty tantalising. Obviously it will be a dud because it's the twenty twenty six Australian Open. But it is tantalising and I am excited for it because there's there's there's so much in the matchup that I I can't fully get my head around.

Sabalenka tonight, six two, six three over Alina Svitlina, a match that reminded me of Alcaraz de Mino from the other night. Catherine, I wrote the same thing down while watching it. Different weight classes somebody flinging their body, heart and soul at every single ball. playing out of their skin. That that turn of phrase that Alex de Manour gave us the other night in that devastating press conference, I had to p play out of my comfort zone and out of my skin.

Dyma'r hyn y byddwn i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd. even though she was in a lot of you know, in that six two opening set, she was in a lot of those Sabalenka service games, it's still felt like a lost cause. Yeah. Um as we were careering towards the end and and it looked like it it looked like it was gonna be six two six two I remember thinking, uh right Daniel, it doesn't feel like a six two six two map

Because I think Elena Switzelin is actually playing some good stuff here. And at the start of the match um the T V channel interviewed Gael Monfils. her husband who's sitting there as part of the team and he's on the he's in the corner of the court and and he's saying, you know, the idea is to dictate, to try to not let Sabalenka dictate. And of course this is the new

um twenty twenty six version of Alina Switellina. It has been for the last couple of years. She was number three in the world in twenty seventeen, twenty eighteen, but she didn't play like that. She played much more counterattacking tennis. Now she's going after the ball. And there was one One rally. It must have been toward mid midway through this match where they just stood there and they just traded

Four hands. Like two boxers trading right hands over the top and just testing each other's chin. And and Svitelina was throwing her entire body into these balls and she was not backing down and she was gonna hit it even harder and she hit one right out of the middle of the strings that went but it went straight down the middle. Didn't get Sabalenka moving at all, just went straight down the middle.

And you could see Sabolinka just thinking, yes, come on then, let's go for it. And she's even got a greater way to shot and like the Dimonor Alcaraz thing, she's got the revolutions on the ball as well, so she can hit that shot. With mu with a bit more clearance over the net and it still bounds off into the distance after after hitting the ground.

That summed up the match in many ways to me. Um, but I also feel as though uh the moment I thought Svitalin has got no chance was the moment that a hindrance call was called against Sabalenka because I could tell looking at Sabalenka it pissed her off. And the moment she got pissed off. She just I thought she's g she's gonna be even more dangerous here. It was Matt's favourite moment of the match. He came alive when the hindrance was called. Jumped out of his seat. Hindrance.

I do enjoy a Hindu school. It just adds drama. You don't get it that often and you know, therefore you see players have to respond to it. Something that they would not have planned for at all. This extra element just thrown into a match. And I do think there were Potentially times in Sabalenka's career where that might have thrown her off. You know, I do think that she's such a she's developed mentally.

I think to be able to channel something like that and yeah, I was with David. I I I did think that was bad news. Like when you know, like when the doll used to get called for the shot clock and then like he would he would like make sure he would not miss the serve and then guaranteed win the next point. Just trying to trying to prove a point. And yes, I mean Sabalenko

She was trying to prove a point to the umpire. She was annoyed with the umpire. She gave you some extraordinary quotes, David, about about what she was thinking about the umpire in that moment.

Well, yeah, because I wanted to confirm that I was right, that it had annoyed her and that it had actually energized her performance even more. And I all I said in the press conference was, um There was a hindrance call after i early on in the first set, and I could see by the look in her face as soon as I said that, she'd been waiting for it.

because she wanted to get this out of a system and I was about to say, does it make you play better if you feel you've had an injustice against you? I didn't get that far. I could see in her look in her eye. I said, Well What was your view of it? And she just went off. And and and basically said it pissed me off. I think it wasn't fair. I it's just I think she said it's a natural exhalation when I hit the ball.

Um and I didn't think it was right and I th uh but any time she wants to give me a hindrance call in the future, please do because it's gonna make me play better. I but I'm curious to know whether you feel like the hindrance call was fair by the way. I do. Uh yeah, I did. I c I can understand why She was annoyed about it because like I think she does that quite a lot. Yeah. Um and she doesn't get called on it.

A lot did she do exactly but I think that's that's a f a failing of officialdom, th you know, in inconsistency. Like I think according to the rules this this was the correct call. Yeah, like she does this thing, Sabalenka, where if she thinks a ball is going out after she's hit it, she adds on a little extra part of her natural grunt. So it becomes like two sounds her grunt when that happens and on this ball in particular she mishits it.

and I think she's convinced it's going out in that moment and she makes that extra sound but while the ball is still in play and Svitolina's got got a play on it and Like Catherine said, I've become so attuned to watching Arena Sabalenka that in the stadium at the moment in the moment, it didn't jump out to me as a hindrance because I'm used to it from Savalenka. It's something that she does a lot. Whereas the other hindrance we had s earlier on in the tournament with Mukova celebrating midpoint

Before she'd hit a winner, that was very obviously a hindrance to me. This was a more subtle one, but I do think she made an extra sound. as Fitalina was still about to hit the ball and I can I can understand her frustration because she's not normally called out for that. But I actually don't think you can have

too many complaints. I it it strikes me as a bit harsh but reasonable from from the um My anecdotal theory that I can't prove because I'm not sure anyone is nerdy enough to be compiling data on this, but I think hindrance calls are on the rise. I've certainly noticed more of them. Yes, I think I think I've I think yeah, anecdotally I site that feels about this match. I mean

I mean we should say like Svizzerina did go up a break in the second set and right at the start of the start. And then consolidated Yeah. Consolidated that break and s Sabalenka did a sarcastic thumbs up to her box. She was definitely rattled and Svitolina was playing out of her mind. But that's the problem, isn't it? She was She was having to play out of her mind. Yeah, she was. Like as you said

you can't do nothing with the ball against Sabalenka, she'll flatten you. You you if you try and force it you will make errors. If you hit with a decent pace but not enough pace, you will just feed Sabalenka. Like it it was so hard to think of a game plan really for Svitalina. But she was doing everything she possibly could as evidenced by that. start of the second set, but it was all it was always gonna require Sabalenka to go a bit off, I think, for her to to have a chance. And maybe, you know

Again, far easier said than done. But I d as David said, I did think a lot of Svizzerina's shots were directed more or less at Sabalenka, didn't feel like Sabalenka was having to m hit on the run or move or whatever. And I I think she bec she got too into this Toe to toe slug fest and you don't want to have one of those against Serena Sabalenka. I mean she's just She's got greater power and she was playing well too, Sabalank. She was she's been playing well

For the last cup two or three rounds, hasn't she? And it's a different level to what we saw in the first week. Um the the moment she got broken back for two all I I saw Monfie straying out of his chair trying to trying to just reassure Svitanina'cause I think she she was in a similar position to Pagula. You're you're outmatched power wise, you're trying to impose your game, you're trying you've got your plan.

But your plan doesn't mean anything if if you're just up against somebody who's overwhelming it like that and they were they were actually quite similar, apart from the the the comeback at the end of the the Rebecca Pagula match, they're actually quite similar.

they've they've done for the last couple of years, haven't they? The Australian Open. They've put messages on the screen during these matches between Ukrainians and Russians and Belarusians to say to forewarn the crowd that there won't be a handshake. Um they also did an announcement of that tonight, a vocal announcement which which I think is a

a good call to keep the crowds informed about that, but they they did they did it at six two five two. Oh, did they? Which felt a bit on the nose for Switchina. It was very much

This is about to end everyone. Oh god, that that reminds me of all the years I was the communications manager on the ATP or at the Queens tournament where You know, it's the final and when you got to sort of six two four three you'd you'd bring the trophy into the corner of the courts and just tr try and keep it out of view, but you knew you'd gotta get out there quickly.

Philippe Chatrier. It's it's like um I think it was Medvedev a few days ago had a funny line in his Encore interview after beating Maraj. when he was uh two sets down, he said, Oh, I I I I spotted you courtside Matt. It was Mats Vallander doing it doing the interview. I s he said, I spotted you courtside at the end of the third set and I was thinking, God

It's a shame that Mats has chosen to watch one of my really bad matches. And then I realised that actually you were there'cause you were about to interview Marijan unless I unless I got a move on and and mounted a comeback. It was it was it was a classic uh it was a classic quip from Medvedev.

We'll we'll have time tomorrow to do a a proper preview of this final between Rabakkina and Sabalenko. What I will ask you Now is which of the two have impressed you more individually this tournament? Uh I'm afraid to say I think it's a it's pretty much a dead heat. I don't think I have an emphatic answer. I mean I I think

Certainly in week one Rabakina is the better player, I think uh in as much as in terms of four, but I think Savalenka's caught up. I I I personally would put them about on a par at that. For me, Robatkina has had the standout win, beating Sviontek. Um, you know, I think Sabalenka There's been no match where I've thought Sambalenka might lose. You know, like she's been impressive. Her her performances have been brilliant, but they've also been pretty much what I was

expecting from her. You know, like you know, th this run she's been on in the second week as David says, and Boko, Jovic, Svitolina, I thought she'd win all of those matches in straight sets. She's been she's been brilliant and I th I liked I think what's impressed me most is the is the way she's flicked the switch.

from the first week to the second week and been in sort of title winning form now for a few days. But You know, I was not I was one of the people not convinced that Rabatkin's end of season form would necessarily translate to Grand Slams because we'd s we'd seen her underperform at slams in the in in the last couple of years really and it it just felt like

She was delivering in those sort of one week events on tour, but trying to bring it to the majors felt like something that hadn't really been happening, but well, she's proven me completely wrong because carried on her form from the end of last season. She's now on a I think nine match winning streak against top ten players. Like it's a really brilliant run she's on. So it's it's hard because you're

comparing them against the expectations of them that you have. But I would I would probably slightly lean Rabakino in answer to your question, but I would lean Sabalenko in terms of Who I'm favouring for the title, if that makes sense. Neither have dropped to set en route to the final, so it's one of those unstoppable force No. Yes, unstoppable force, immovable object situations. Something's gotta give.

Seven consecutive Grand Slam finals at the hard court slam snap. Wow. You know, th that's the that's matching the streak that Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis did. Monica Selesh did re did reach eight in a row but there was they weren't consecutive slams because she She had uh the time away from the sport. This is a really incredible run of consistency and like four Australian open finals in a row

is the kind of thing that greats do, right? Like greats have a slam that they always show up in and dominate and put together streaks and feel like the person to beat. And we've had Igos Fiontech do that, a Roland Garros of this generation and Sabalanka is doing it right now in in Australia. Like she'd already been doing it, but just reaching another final just really cements it.

Byddwch yn Savelenka'r cyfrifol, David. Bydd wedi'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i'i

Put the cat amongst the pigeons today. Not amongst my pigeons, but some pigeons have some cats amongst them. Yes. Um I I think um Irina Sabanka, well she was she wasn't committing uh a a particular view to it other than whatever makes her happy I hope she does. Um but I also I I dare say Irina Sabalenka would love it if Serena Williams did come back because I think she would love to take her on. Um

But yeah, it's it is interesting, isn't it? This was this was an interview that uh Serena did on the Today programme in in America. Uh Today Show. The Today programme is a is a highbrow radio for show in the pr in the UK. True, true. Well put. Um this is maybe not quite the same. Um but That having been said I really quite enjoyed the the interviewer's style of just not letting her off the hook and repeatedly saying are you coming back? You've signed up

to the the drug testing programme again, um, you know, where you have to show your whereabouts and all that sort of thing. Are you coming back? And she was refusing to basically answer it. She was trying to get out of having to answer it. and she was trying to sort of um joke her way through it and then the interviewer kept saying, Well

You're not saying no. Um is that a may that's a maybe I think and she was trying to get out of it and not say anything, but she certainly didn't say no I'm not coming back. Um so maybe she is. We'll find out. Mm. I will believe it when I see it. Mm. I don't wanna I don't wanna piss on any bonfires, but I would I don't know, she's got something to promote, hasn't she? So the speculation speculation is publicity and publicity is

Yeah. I'm certainly not uh about to assume that she's definitely coming back. But she might I guess. Anything Serena does making making such big news because like This was essentially the the in person form of what she did on Twitter a few weeks ago when it was all sort of announced. Like she's she's not going to announce this

accept on her terms if she is coming back. Like she was quick to play it down on Twitter, she was trying to play it down in this interview, like To me like there was no news today and yet all I'm hearing about is is Serena Williams and that is the sort of effect that that Serena has and probably wants. Um Yeah, let's let's see and let's wait for Serena herself to m to say something. Yeah, all she did was say I'm not prepared to shut this down entirely because you all talking about it is

is good for me. But that is part of journalism, isn't it, is to Oh, absolutely. No, but to ask the question and if you don't get a no, then That's quite different to I mean to be fair, that is what they do on the Today programme. Hm. Absolutely. Maybe not that different after all. Folks that is it for part one. Do join us in part two though for a change to the regular programming because part two is where we'll have sensation of the day.

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Welcome back to part two of today's tennis podcast where we have moved up sensation of the day. It's uh it it's jumped up the order. Uh all will become clear, folks. We have I think three strong contenders. For the title today. I give you Jason Kubler and Mark Pullman's Whose train keeps on a rolling? They've beaten Luke Johnson and Nian Zelinski, 623663.

to reach the men's doubles final where they'll play Christian Harrison and Neil Skubsky. They beat uh Grinoyez and Zabios today and also an assist here from Madison Inglis in the um in the coaching box for for Kubler and Pullman's who was having a stressful time and she had a camera on her throughout and there's lots of clips doing the round. She was living and breathing. every point by the looks of things.

both played that role during this tournament. Very fun. For the other. Very fun, yeah. I really like that. So Kublet and Pullmans are my are my first submissions and just

staying with the doubles for a moment, you two w while I was having a nap this afternoon, David and Matt were on the sofa trying to wake me up from my nap. watching the doubles team that David is calling Dafani. You're trying to make Dafani happen. Which is a very undavid thing to do. Well But he's committing to it. That tells you just how big a deal they are in my life, doesn't it? Well they lost today, David. I know, but they were just so good for a while.

Yes, they were they were winning for a bit. They lost a very tight opening set in which they were down and had got it back, but then lost it and then they They were great in the second set and they had the momentum at the start of the third and then it started raining.

And the roof had to close and That was the turning point. That was the turning point. They don't like the rain, they don't like the roof. And like, by the way, check out match point in this one. One of the one of the crazier match points you'll ever see. Crew Nick. and Danilina won it despite having a dead neck chord against them. The way they got up to that was remarkable and then the rally really carried on quite a long time after that. It was It was real scenes and yeah, look, you know.

We're not worried about about the Stefani Dabrowski result here. It's a good start, isn't it? It's a good start. They're finding out their chemistry. We do love the way they just charge the net together on anything. It doesn't matter what the approach shot is, then they just trust their volleys and overheads. Makes for a very fun spectacle. But actually their opponent. Got a g I mean it wasn't that match point was incredible, but their comeback in general

I didn't see it coming. They really played well. They're on quite a roll this tournament, Kruenich and Danalino. I think they're gonna take some stopping in that final, they'll face uh Elisa Mertens and Zhang Shui in the final. And it did feel a little bit to me like Shibahara and Zvonoreva got a bit screwed over by some scheduling there. I mean they were on court. to about quarter past one yesterday and had to had to come back

I think it was a knock before four PM today, something like that. Like Yeah, it's tough. You know. We haven't we haven't talk much about late night schedule. The flip side is the matches have all been terrible and I probably would have preferred to have ranted about some late nights. But yeah, that was kind of the first one all tournament where I thought, ooh that Yeah.

In the wheelchair events today we watched the conclusion of a thriller in the men's doubles between Gustave Fernandez and TikTok Oda and uh Alfie Hewitt. and Gordon Reed, Fernandez and Oda getting getting the better of that one in the uh in the match tie break. It was Th there was some drama.

Yeah, and and that hurt Hewitt and Reed, didn't it? You saw at the end, I mean, because they're so used to winning the doubles championships at the Grand Slams. I mean they are a I mean Hewitt is a fantastic singles player. They're they're an even better doubles pair. and another example of just how special odor is as a talent I think that I mean um and he didn't do it on his own but he is taking over the men's wheelchair sport really at the moment.

This was uh this felt big actually. Yeah again, gonna talk about a a net cord, there was a there was one in that um match tiebreak that felt pretty decisive. It felt like it would maybe help Hewitt and Reed, but Oda got there, hit a remarkable forehand off of it, and then

you'd think like, okay, he's out of the point now'cause he's he's had to go all the way over the court to to get that net court and then he just sort of reappeared at the net and put it away with a sort of high backhand smash and his ability to just change the feel of a match by just doing something really special. He's one of those players, isn't he, that creates a force field on a tennis court. He's got his own kind of

gravity around him. It's it's quite something. He's in the singles semifinal where he'll face his doubles partner, Gustave Fernandez. Alfie Hewitt um is also into the semis. He'll face Martin de la Puente. He beat his doubles partner today in the quarterfinals he beat Gordon Reed in the women's Didier De Hout made a statement with a two and two win over the second seed, Enique Van Koot so this

This is getting interesting now for for Didder De Rut. Um she'll face uh Wang Ji Ying in the semifinals. The other semi final will be Y Li Zhao Hui against uh Yui Kimiji.

Um and in the quad events now here we have our second contender for sa for sensation of the day. Heath Davidson, the Aussie. Um he and Andy Lapthorne uh are into the quad wheelchair doubles final after a ten six match tie break win over Donald Rampardi and uh fellow Australian Gin Woodman. Uh so Heath Davidson is my nominee here because not only did did he win the doubles alongside his British partner, he lost the singles today, getting double bageled by Guy Sasson. So

Heath Davidson is I mean look, it hasn't been all bad, but I think he would enjoy Sensation of the Day after a double bagel. But the problem is there's a third entrant. Oh yeah.

And this brings me, David, to the media one point slam. Right. Matt, tell us what happened in the media one point slam. The people the people that aren't on Instagram want to know. Oh guys, I flamed out in round one. Of course I did. Of course I did. What happened? Well it was an extremely fun morning, wasn't it? We all It was well done Tennis Australia. Yeah. We all got onto sight at ten forty five, went down to the National Tennis Centre and to the indoor court.

Um obviously I should I should say open the roofs at this point. Uh but it was it was great to be playing on courts that, you know, you we we've seen the top players practising on. Uh you had your sign. I had my sign. One side said the time for talk is over. And one side said Let's go senior lobbets. Yeah. A real if you know you know. Yeah. Your joint support was Making all that effort to come here. Um we did some drills to start with, we hit some forehands. Bunch of journalists do drills.

And then we did some champions and challenges. doubles, practiced some points. I was playing well. I was I was feeling it. I was I was feeling quite good. I was hitting through the ball. Things were good. Then we got told that the event was happening. The one point slam was about to happen. And suddenly it all sort of went just went by in a flash. There were three courts. We were separated by our portion in the drawer onto the various courts.

And I'd had a peek at the draw, a draft draw. There was a PDF guys. Yeah. Yeah. And I thought I was playing someone who I didn't know. You took it better than I expected, actually the fact that there is a PDF. Yeah, and like But it at least looked like a few years. When was the draw done? How was it done? There were a lot of questions. I think there was at least a sense of order with the PDF that we we saw. Yeah. But clearly there were a lot of no shows. Right. The PDF got ripped up, clearly.

60 seconds notice, I'm told I'm playing Jill Tan. And I know Jill. We know Jill. She's lovely. So I thought, right, okay, I'm playing Jill Tan. The tactic was clear. She had been talking to me about a week ago saying, Matt, my backhand's crap. I've got a really good forehand, but I got a little bit of a little bit of a little bit in the drills'cause I was forced to watch the drills. Um and she's got quite forehand. Quite a forehand. Yeah. So I thought right heavy top spun Great shot.

Then of course we go into the rock, paper, scissors. Which David and I weren't even aware this was it had all become so chaotic so quickly. David and I didn't even know you were in the rock, paper, scissors situation. Right. Well I got a win in the rock, paper, scissors. Um and then I had my dilemma and I despite everything that I'd thought I'd learn on the side. Days and days of discussion we'd had about this exact scenario. And I was thinking, okay, I'm gonna serve.

I bottled it in the moment and I let Giotan Ha ha. Oh dear. So we we're the first ones to play on our core. I absolutely was. Sorry, Jill. But I was. And look Jill's reaction, she looked terrified at having to serve. I thought I'd made the right decision. But you know what she was thinking? She was thinking Joanna Garner. Yeah, and thinking Matt's nervous. Yeah. He's made me serve. Yeah, I know. I made a right mess of it. Anyway, I wasn't thinking that after three aborted bull tosses from Jill.

I was thinking, oh I've made the right decision here. But then look, you have you have to credit your opponent and Jill found a lovely first serve. I hit a forehand return to the backhand. Hoping for an error. Was she telling lies about this backhand? It stood up. The backhand stood up. She she retrieved it devilishly short in the court from it caught me out. I had to sort of sprint forward. Returned it again to the backhand.

Nice little dink on the forehand, nice little dig. Yeah, not bad. It was low. And then I had a decision to make about whether to stay at the net or go back.

I d I did the wrong thing, I went back a bit, I probably should have stayed at the net, but I thought You were in no man's land. I was totally in no man's land. I got caught. Then the ball comes to my backhand and the damn thing I've been working on for the last twelve months is hitting a plumbing topspin back can and I'm I can do it, I can hit a good top spin backcan.

And I I just bottled it again and I went for the slice and I got it horribly wrong and and sent it wide and that was the point over. What a waste of a good pair of shorts. His championships died. Yeah. I just and like Remember last year when Madison Keyes said She said, even if I lose this final, I will f I'll I'll feel good because I know I played the right way. I lost playing the wrong way, which is just the worst.

y obviously I I still haven't played in a one point slam myself but you know, I felt that bit closer to the experience today than than even my previous two one point slams ex slam experiences. Um And my god, it's just it's just over so quickly. Oh. I could barely get the camera up to film and it was like oh it's over. He's lost the point. Well that build up Yeah. That alarm for nothing. Sign. It's just it's just Yeah.

Son sign was in the bin five minutes later. And look, shout out Jill. We love Jill. Um I was a bit annoyed when she then double faulted in her next match. Bit annoyed. That's what you've been hustled. Opponents do that against people like you, Matt. You see, they they up their g their game. That's a very positive way of looking at it. So all of which is to say Mae'n ymwneud ymwneud ymwneud ymwneud ymwneud ymwneud ymwneud.

She's got my vote. So we have Heath Davidson, we have Jill Tan and we have Jason Kubler and Mark Pullman's with a an assist from Madison English. David, how are you voting? Just remind me what Kubra and Pullmans did again. They reached the men's doubles final. I think I'm probably gonna go with that.

See they were the w they're in last place. They're in last place for me. If David Just reached the final of the doubles, you know. David last place. If you had said Heath Davidson, I might a voted with you. But out of Kubla and Pullmans and Jiltan, I'm gonna Jiltan. Winning one point against Matt Roberts Yeah, when he turned out an unforced error she got in his head. She did. She absolutely did.

And we should we should shout out uh Augustin, who won the media one point slam. People have been asking who won. Yeah. Look. It might be a scam. He's He's too good. He's very good. He's played college tennis. Yeah. He was clearly too good. You will feel how you feel. He wouldn't be allowed to be sensation of the day, for instance. No, exactly too good. He's also French. Ha ha ha.

Look at that. He played well, he got his serves in. He was a worthy winner. It was another tournament of no upsets. He was too good. Yeah. Yeah, he was very Hm. Well done, August. And we should shout out Matt Futterman for winning his point. Which is fantastic. Simon Briggs retrieved an underarm served. Yeah, he got underarms served. And Fatterman was just outstanding. Yeah. And Charlie Equals Share was very sporting. Mae'n ymwneud ymwneud ymwneud ymwneud ymwneud ymwneud ymwneud ymwneud.

He was hoping his opponent would overturn it. Uh anyway, it was a lot of fun. Uh it really was. And I I hope we can do it all again next year. I'm s I'm so motivated. Which is gonna make it even worse. But no, I've got to get out of this defeatist mindset. I think you need a sport psychologist. Pam. Yeah. Big into mindset. And Amanda Runova's offered to help you with your backhand.

She has in the Instagram comments. Yeah, it's an overall. I would say. Binding. Right, that's it for part two. We'll be back in part three to look ahead to tomorrow and the men's singles semifinals. Studies show that 100% of everybody in the world wants to curl up indoors and do nothing because it's so darn cold out there. That's why many people are turning to bambas, whose pillowy plush slippers and warm merino wool socks have been said to be the most comfortable in the history of feet.

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Welcome back to part three of today's tennis podcast where it's time to look ahead to what we'll have tomorrow. Uh men's singles semi-finals day that kicks off with the mixed doubles final at midday on the Rodlaver Arena. Contestants for sensation of the day, Olivia Gadecki and John Pierce, the wildcards. uh taking on Kristina Medanovich and M Guinard. What is Manuel? クイナークアニータ

uh the unseeded French pairing. Then the day session men's single semi-final not before two thirty is Carlos Alcaraz against Alexander Zverev and then the night session semi final is Novak Djokovic against Yannick Sinna. It is all juniors on the second court tomorrow. You've got uh girls singles, boys singles and some girls doubles and the Kia Arena tomorrow is the place to go.

for the wheelchair matches, really great wheelchair matches. You've got Yui Comedian Action, you've got that Gustave Fernandez. uh against Tequito Oder match. You've got uh Heath Davidson and Andy Lapthorne back in uh quad wheelchair action. That's the doubles final tomorrow. and uh you've also got the women's wheelchair doubles final and the men's wheelchair doubles final. So you've got Tequita Oda in action twice on the Kia Arena tomorrow.

Uh, in terms of the men's singles semi finals that we have tomorrow, Alkarazverov, Djokovic Sinner, how strong a case Can either of you make for an upset of any kind? Well I mean, I do think this is a weird tournament, and um weird things might happen. Um, I do I do think. Zverev's beaten Al Kras here before two years ago, and he came out, he did it with a big game, he served

brilliantly, served lights out, he was bold from the baseline. He kind of took a little bit of that Murray mentality against Nadal all those years ago of I ain't gonna beat this guy by playing my normal game. I'm gonna have to hit out and he hurt Alcaraz, but Alcaraz also did have a terrible, terrible first two sets. I mean he was awful in the first two sets. Rwy'n mynd yn mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd.

Um I think he could have a spell like that because you know we s we we saw it in the Dimenoar match, you know, three love playing out of his mind is suddenly three all and juice on his own s on his own so So I think he could definitely lose a set. I think he could lose two, but I'd be surprised if he lost. I'd be surprised if if he if he didn't win. Um and

Cinner is a heavy, heavy favorite against Djokovic. I expect him to win, but I am reserving in the back of my mind that Djokovic is a ten time champion. Capable of the most extraordinary great things, and maybe there's one more left in him. Um so that that's my case for for two upsets. But I don't actually think, despite the fact that I said Al Kraz wouldn't reach the final, based on what I've seen with my own eyes since then, I believe.

Yeah, it's quite interesting, isn't it, that the two guys trying to cause the upset One, you've got Zverev who the reason you think he might be able to is that he's in really good form and he's playing well. The reason the big case you would have against him is sort of history. And okay, has got that win here against Alcaraz, but, you know, he doesn't have an amazing history of like showing up in these sorts of matches and causing real, real problems to the very, very best players in the world.

Whereas Djokovic is the opposite. History's on his side and that and that feeling of, oh, what if he can tap into that? What if the experience comes in? But his problem in the last round was his form was bad. And he was pretty much out of the tournament were it not for Mazzetti's unfortunate injury. So what do you give more weight to? I I I feel like the m more likely upset is Ferv over Alcaraz. Um

It is an odd head to head, it's six all. It doesn't feel like six all to me there head to head because I think Sveev won a couple of matches early before Alkaraz was the famous Carlos Alcaraz. Um and then a couple of his wins have been at the ATP finals, you know, in those in those

tricky conditions for Alkaz and great conditions indoors for Zverev. But then he does have two wins at Slams against him. But I just think Alcaraz is such a different prospect now at Slams. He's one So many consecutive sets against people not named Yannick Sinner at slams. I I just have such confidence now in Alcarez in a way that I didn't a couple of years ago when he played Sverv to quite the same extent. So

You know, the case for Zareev is that he's playing well and he's come into some of these matches in the past not playing well. But this time he actually is. And with that serve, he can keep it close, I think, and then and then it's about moments, you know. Um but I'm but I'm backing Alcaraz and I'm definitely backing Cinner. Um, I think it would take an old timer from Djokovic to pull out the form he needs.

Which I think is more likely to happen under the night conditions. I do think there was something about those day conditions that that really didn't click with Djokovic the other day against Muzzetti. But even so, like for him to do that against this Yannick Sinnoh and that ball speed and that intensity off the ground and the movement

I I just not sure Djokovic can do the things he wants to do to quite the same extent anymore against against Sinna. Like Sinna's beaten him five times in a row. Um And I'm I'm expecting an Alcaraz Cine final here.

Yeah, me too. I I would I would be really shocked if Novak Djokovic won that match tomorrow. I can't believe I'm saying that. Here there's always that fraction of your brain that says it's Novak Djokovic.

I'm prepared to eat my words. Um I unfortunately I've had the chance to to watch back that that moment from the press conference yesterday that we discussed on the pod because it's gone so viral today in the way that clips from press conferences so often do now, you know, with the W with the caption journalist gets owned by insert.

tennis player here, um and look, I think the question was entirely legitimate to know about Djokovic. I think he handled it in a very I think Djokovic handled it in a very, very brittle britle way. Um and I I think that was an insight into Into Djokovic's mental state, quite frankly. Like, that's what I take from that moment from the press conference yesterday. Not that that was uh a disrespectful question from um from the journalist in question. Like

Forget about how great he was because he's likely to take a bit of a hammering in a in a couple of days to work. Remember I've won twenty four of these and we will. Like he's the greatest male player of all time. Like we will and we do. You don't need to insert it into every question to know that that we're thinking that. But exactly like that is what it makes me Um and the other problem Zverev and everybody has against Alcaraz is, you know, Zverev is great at best of five set management, but

You've got to do it in four against Alcaraz, unless you're Matteo Berettini in twenty twenty two. Two, yeah. Like That's such a problem. I it is, but of all the players out there, I think Zverev's the one who doesn't fade. at the end of five set matches. Um I think he has in the past when he's had cumulative Yeah, he did in that French open final final, didn't he? But that he had a lot of things. But but I d I don't think you know, there are some people that

Alcras just outlasts because he's physically so much better and stronger. I think he he's gonna have to outplay Sverev, but then I also think he will.

Okay, well we'll be back with a podcast at the end of it all tomorrow evening. And I think Charlie Eccleshare is gonna join us on the show. tomorrow. Um mustachioed Charlie. He's been causing quite a stir on our Instagram. His Charlie and his new mustache. Uh hello to Gus, our lovely mascot. I can't believe Gus gives us a new photo every day. It

What an absolute treat. Uh Gus today has an enormo I I can't tell if it's a trick of perspective or whether that is an absolute enormous tennis ball that Gus has in uh her mouth. But it might be one of those big ones that you get for Getting autographs signed. I don't know, but it's a lovely photo and we love guts. Hello to Bodie, still on zero points Bodie. Hello to Maisie and to Roger. Hello to Greg, Chris and Jeff, our top folks and executive producers. Matt, let's have some shout-outs.

We have Pauline Pellettier. I don't I don't know whether I've sort of francophoned that up, but uh I'm sure Pauline'll enjoy it if so. In Virginia. We we had another Virginia recently, didn't we? Because I had to say Virginia Wade. Well I'll say Virginia Wade, but I'll also say Pauline Parmontier. Exactly. Yes. Which Pauline herself Shouts out. Most excellent. Hi, Pauline. Hello, Pauline. Lovely stuff. And Pauline is a big Jasmine Paulini fan. Oh we all never agree like Pauline Paulini.

Tennis Podcast meets with Jasmine Paulini. Paulini's chuckle echoing in my ears at Matt asking her whether she would consider an umdram serve inspired by Sara Rani. It's just such a hearty chuckle. We've also got Ted Kerf from Chicago. Hello Ted. Right Ted. Like Ted Tinling. Oh yeah. That is what Ted says. Hey! Ted Tingling the icon uh has also Ted's given us Ted Schroeder who won the nineteen forty-nine Gentleman singles at Wimbledon. Oh. Excellent. And Ted says

I recently attended the premiere of the new play about Billie Jean King in Chicago and was pleasantly surprised to discover Billie Jean herself sitting several rows behind us. Ah, so cool. Isn't that great? I've heard about that play. Rydyn ni'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'r West End. Let's manifest. Yeah. Absolutely. Ted, that's so great. Thank you. And finally we have Alex Green. Oh one of the many people that is beating me in in various different competitions.

Yes, Alex says I've been a listener since twenty eighteen and loved every episode. I've taken part in the newsletter predictions a couple of times, including uh well all the slams this year because Alex has taken the leap and joined the fantasy league. And we love that, Alex. Yay. Very, very welcome addition to the fantasy league. Fun. Absolutely. And Alex like Alex de Manour.

Exactly. Who deserves another mention given he can't get the sensation of the day. He he does. Pauline, Alex and Ted, thank you ever so much for being friends of the Tennis Podcast. If you'd like to become a friend then the link is in our show notes. It gets you access to all of our uh bonus episodes, including our archive of bonus episodes, which includes

our tennis relived special on Ted Tinling, which is one of our very favourites actually. That was from last year, so do look that up if you're a friend. It also gets you access to the barge, our A wonderful community platform that kind of warms our hearts every day. Ad free listening. Hannah's column. Uh anything else? What am I missing? Well included in the bonus episodes uh

Grand Slam review shows, which I bet we're really looking forward to reviewing this Grand Slam. I wanna know what the other people we know think. No. But it'd be great next week, but Uh yeah, the link is in our show notes if you if any of that sounds good. Uh we are part of the Athletic Podcast Network and do check out their live coverage which started from tonight. They're doing um live coverage.

of all of the uh singles matches from today onwards. They'll be back for the men's singles semi-finals tomorrow, the women's final on Saturday and the men's final on Sunday. So do check that out. It's very good. We will be back tomorrow after those two. Singles, semi-finals, will I be eating my words? Only time will tell. Thanks for listening. We'll speak to you tomorrow. Parles-tu français? If you've used Babble, you would

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