Aus Open Day 8 - The day the big guns arrived

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Well hello and welcome to the Tennis Podcast, coming to you from Melbourne Park at the very civilised hour of eleven PM. All matches having finished for the day. Thanks to frankly a lot of absolute thrashings on the show courts in today's fourth round matches. And well we haven't quite had the thrilling contests we might have been hoping for and

Some of us are grumpier about that than others. We have had some players come out here and properly Peacock on the big stages, kind of showing their cards for the business end of the tournament, which has been pretty fascinating in its own way, particularly for Matt, who I think is more of a purist. Yeah. There were a lot of performances today I enjoyed. I've been waiting for Arena Sabalenka to step up. That happened today. I've been waiting

For Carlos Alcaraz to do the same. That happened today. And Then we had a sort of unexpectedly incredible performance as well from Learner Tien. Not that I was expecting him to play badly or anything, but he was even better than I thought he was going to be. and I don't know, maybe even made me think about him differently as a player going forward. So I absolutely share your frustration at the lack of good matches today. When's the drama gonna come? I know. Bring Stamweather and Keback. Um

But I still think the tournament is is set up well. We're gonna keep promising that It's gonna happen, right? It's gonna come alive. J just to to give an idea of of how much that drama feels like it was last. w Matt and I have just come away from Alina Svitolina w against Mirandrava, which, you know, that was what, six two, six four? And yet there were one or two moments in there that felt like your p pulse really quickening.

And it was six two six four. That is how deprived we have been today. Um but but but it's coming, folks. It's coming. In f in fact, quite frankly, look we'll we'll get on to today's matches, but the biggest the biggest drama, the biggest news story of the day actually wasn't on the court. Um there was a There was a delay to the order of play today. It came a lot later.

than it usually does and we were speculating in our WhatsApp group with the um the guys from the Athletic about whether there was whether we'd heard any rumours about any r reasons for that and we hadn't But then, uh, early evening this evening we got the really unexpected news that Jakob Mentsek was withdrawing from the tournament ahead of his

fourth round match scheduled for tomorrow against Novak Djokovic and that explained a a lot of things about both the delay in the schedule and the way the schedule is configured which will Come on to in part three when we talk through tomorrow's order of play. devastating decision for him that uh an abdominal strain has progressed over his last matches and uh he's unable to compete properly. tomorrow and that means that Novak Djokovic, thirty eight year old Novak Djokovic who is

Three strate sets wins out of three as we were discussing yesterday. Now get Three days off ahead of a quarter final with either Lorenzo Mazzetti or Taylor Fritz. It is another absolutely enormous slice of luck for Novak Djokovic.

It really is, because he has expressed One of the reasons he thinks he hasn't been able to keep up with Alcaraz and Cinna in the latter stages of slams over the last three slams is because of the accumulation of tennis in his legs and niggles in his body through the first few rounds of majors. And that you know, has happened. He's got to those big matches and certainly at Wimbledon in the US Open been

severely depleted, taken to the court against his biggest rivals. So he's put an absolute premium on on his favourite court in the world, getting through the first few rounds of this tournament efficiently and straightforwardly, and he'd he'd done that for his first three matches. And now he gets the opportunity to not even take to the court and remain fresh, extra fresh going into the quarterfinals.

against players who he has matched up extremely well against in the past in Taylor Fritz and Lorenzo Mazzetti. So it's it's great news I think for Djokovic, you know, like sometimes when there's a withdrawal like this I worry about Will the player lose their rhythm?

That kind of thing. I just don't really have those worries with Novad Djokovic given you know, he he he he can go for so long now, stretches without playing tennis and come back and the level's still there and he's so experienced, so there the the key for him is the freshness and not picking up any extra injuries and all that kind of thing. So it's massive. Whether it

defining in terms of being able to actually close that gap to Sinnoh and Alcaraz, especially if he has to play them back to back to win this thing. I still think that's a big ask and I'm not sure one withdrawal from men sec in the fourth round makes up that gap, but it gives him you feel more of a chance and he can He can hang his hat on that and he can commit to that and he's gonna be feeling good going into the latter stage of this tournament. And uh Novat Djokovic.

feeling like that remains a very, very dangerous player to Yannick Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, I think. Yeah, I'm not sure there would be a more grateful recipient of a walk walkover in either draw. Maybe Luciano D'A Dari. But but probably not even Luciano Dalai. Like

Who would want the walkover? Novat Djokovic would want that walkover the most. Well, given that he really is only here for a title. I mean he he's enjoying the process, he's enjoying the the reaction of the fans to him, but basically he wants a title. What are you suggesting Dardari's here for, David? I'd say he's got what he's here for. He's been in the newsletter. The other day.

He was in a i in an interview. Yes, he was in an interview on a panel interview uh in a studio and poor guy had to stand up and try to stretch out a cramp whilst talking. Um, but he's done incredibly well to get to the last sixteen. He's not a player I expected to be there. He is ranked, what is he, twenty second seed, so he's he's a very good player. Um

Of obviously I'm sure he would love a walkov against Cinner, even though he'd r but he'd rather beat him. But at the same time I think if he loses Tiannik Sinna he goes home feeling pretty good about his tournament still. Anything other than winning this title is not gonna be enough. And I and I w would remind you the aside from the the freshness, which I do think is absolutely key if he's gonna win this thing. It's Australia. Let's not forget this is Melbourne.

And I know he hasn't won it the last two years, but he's actually only had one bad performance probably in the last fifteen years. And that was against Cinner in the final two years ago. Well a si semi final rather. He beat Al Kraz here last year and then he was injured and he lost a set to Zverev and had to pull the court.

So level-wise, he believes I think that this is his best possible chance anyway as a tournament that he's won ten times. Plus he's fresh now. He's not it's not gonna get any better than this. This is as good as it gets for Novak Djokovic in terms of chances of winning major number twenty five.

The problem is that well, first and foremost he's in Yannick Sin is half of the draw, he would be his semi-final opponent, and Carlos Alcaraz today Matt looks supreme. He you know, we were talking after his his last victory that he was really, really good, he's getting better as the tournament goes along, but this is not US open form. Today looked like US open form.

Yeah, there were definite signs of that form, particularly on the forehand, I felt, where he just He just had total control over that shot and m what that means for Carlos Alcaz is pretty much being able to do anything he likes with it. inject pace into it, rally with it, manoeuvre Paul around with it. Like it was on fire, that shot. He was so good off that wing today. And

Tommy Paul is such a interesting player against Carlos Alcaraz because for for so much of it he can hang with Carlos Alcaraz. He played really well today, Tommy Paul. Really well and as well as Carlos Alcaraz played, it wasn't it wasn't an easy match. You know, these these were close sets. And actually Tommy Paul led in that first set tie break by a mini break. He led 5'4. He was two points away from winning it.

And he had a set point as well. And I don't know, it just felt like a bit of a definitive Tommy Paul set really, like he goes with Alcaraz all the way and then lets it slip a little bit when he has that mini break and then he double faults on set point and you kinda think, Gosh, all that work, you've lived with him all that way. And yet in the defining moments you've not quite been able to bring it. It was a very similar story here for him against Ferev last year.

Um but that being said, Alcaraz was sublime today and yeah, finally looked like The US Open Alcaraz and I dunno, I just think that's yeah, if we're talking about it in a Novad Djokovic sense, I think that's that'd be bad news for Novad Djokovic, because this level today Djokovic would have to go some to to beat him over five sets. If he's also had to go through Yannick Sinna as well. Like that task remains

Extremely difficult for Djokovic, I think. As as great as he is on this court, as as David has rightly said.

after that match today because I agree with you he I thought he played really well and I I I didn't learn anything new about Tommy Paul but he lived up to sort of the best of what I think about Tommy Paul, it was very respectable scoreline, seven six, six, four, seven five. He brought out the best in Carlos Alcaraz. And yet these guys know that matching their level is just not within their grasp, no matter what they do, unless they're way off their game. And that must be so I suppose sort of

Delusion might be a a negative way of putting it, but believing anything's possible. They've got to believe it it is possible. Sprinting up sand dunes with bricks on your back, I know they don't all do that so that's what Andre Agassi used to do, isn't it, in the desert. But when they're doing whatever their version of that is, you've gotta believe that it's because anything could be possible. And

They know that it's not while Carlos Alcaraz and Yannick Sinner are in the drawer and on two legs. Now things can happen. We saw that yesterday with Yannick Sinner. We discussed his luck's g you know, at some point his luck will run out. But I don't think wandering around thinking, oh well maybe maybe they'll get struck down by s by a some bad luck. I don't think that's a way to be viewing it either. Like I it's just

Phew it's a tough spot for the best of the rest to be in. Yeah, it is. Um it's a huge test generally. I I think Leighton Hewitt got to a point where he'd already won two Grand Slam titles, but then Federer came along. And he he he didn't stop working just as hard. He was trying to work even harder. He was trying to add more to his game. But Federa was also working hard and Federa had so much more potential and and then other players that followed as well, Nadal, Djokovic.

Um I look at Alex Demonor tonight. He's the he's the absolutely perfect example of somebody who just keeps coming back for more. He's taken his hidings, but he still keeps coming back, still hoping, still adding. But It it's it'd be so easy to be dispirited if you're Tommy Paul. I can understand if he would be. A year ago he was a break up on Alexander Zverev in two successive sets. And he lost them both heavily in tie breaks. And he left the tournament I think pissed off, really just

Whereas today, I don't think he did really let a chance go at all. Yes, he might have won that first set. He was a breakup all the way through it. It was three all in that tie break. Then there was a long delay because there was a health issue in the crowd, fifteen minutes, and then he took advantage, but he still didn't win the set. And you come away from it and y and you're right, listen, as long as Alcras and Cinner are at the at the top of their games, their games are just

And and you can keep you can probably do a couple of years where you can go into a an off season thinking I'm gonna work even harder this year and they're not gonna be able to work like I can because I know that there's no stone unturned. And then you get this

And you find out okay there are levels. Now talking about levels, Alex Deminour. Six four six one six one over the world number ten Alexander Bublick tonight in an hour and a half. It was an absolute Dismantling it was a humiliation, quite frankly. Bublick reverted to Kyrgios S kind of pissing around. To to kind of soften his the blow to his ego, I think.

I I really do care, I've got a taste for winning now. I'm okay with showing that I care. Well this was so bruising against a guy that's in the same kind of ranking bracket as him. Diminal's the sixth seed, he's the tenth seed. That's It's not a world of difference.

Uh he he he pulled his pants down out there, did Alex Demonor. Uh I mean rinse and repeat everything that that Matt said about him the other night. He was absolutely awesome and watching him you're like, Well of course he's gonna give Carlos Alcaraz

A run for his money. How can a tennis player as good as the one that I'm watching right now not do that? And yet I also know there's a world in which That matchup happens in a couple of days time and Alex De Manoor is exposed, maybe not I I wouldn't expect a score line anywhere near as bruising as four, one and one, but there is a very real scenario where Alex DeManor is exposed perhaps like Tommy Paul was today as

just not having access to the levels that Carlos Alcaraz does. And yet there's a part of my brain that just can't compute that on the basis of what I've seen because Bloody hell Alex Demon always said. Awesome tonight, potentially more awesome than he even was two nights ago. Wow, I I actually barely saw any of this match. Uh tonight.

But you know, I know what I saw the other night against Diafo and yeah, he he is Mae'n amlwg iawn gwirionedd yn ymwneud â hynny, yn ymwneud â'r pethau sy'n ymwneud â'r pethau sy'n ymwneud â'r pethau sy'n ymwneud â'r pethau sy'n ymwneud â'r pethau sy'n ymwneud â'r pethau sy'n ymwneud â'r pethau.

I'm going into that match, Dimanour Alcaraz, excited that it's happening. I was I was re I really wanted that match to happen because, you know, I really like both players. I really like Alex Dimanour and I want him to have as many moments in Australia as he can, you know. Um I'm also pleased it's not Dimanor Sin.

Because I know that they had a good match at the end of last season. Demonor Sinnoh and Demonor showed signs of improvement in that matchup and improvement in his game generally, but they've just played so often that I'd sort of be kidding myself if I'm hyping it up and I would really know probably what to expect and also Diminor's game just can't impact Sinnoh in a particularly fun way because Sinnoh is so good at negating a lot of Alex Diminor's strengths and rushes him so much.

But I do feel like against Alcaraz they've not played as much. And I still feel like what Dimonor does well can hurt Alcaraz, rushing him, using his speed, moving with him, kind of in much the same way that Tommy Paul can can hurt. Carlos Alcraz, frankly. I also think De Manor's steelier in the big moments than Tommy Paul is. So I do I do have some hope for the matchup and I think it will be exciting for the crowd, you know. Um

So I'm I'm pleased that it's that the drawer has fallen like this. I ultimately I agree with you. I think we will end up thinking, wow, Carlos Alcaraz is incredible because he's managed to to beat Alex Diminor and he's incredible. Um but of course the other element to that match is the conditions on Tuesday. It is going to be boiling hot on Tuesday, even hotter than we had yesterday.

But I think most likely it ends up an indoor match. I I should think they want this at seven PM and The seven PM match the other day was Djokovic and Dazansko and that ended up indoors. If the weather forecast holds, the heat index will still be at five point zero around that time. And Alcaraz has never played an indoor match here. Certainly he doesn't think he's ever played an indoor match here, so if he has then he's forgotten it. Yeah. Um and

Look, Alcaraz was great indoors last season, uh towards the back end of it. He won a title as well, didn't he? Beat Dimenor in in that Rotterdam final. They also played indoors at the ATP finals and Alcaraz won. So but tha I think it was a tiebreak in that set. I think Dimenormate have got a set in the Rotterdam final. Like he's pushed him in a way that he just hasn't really pushed Sinna. So I'm excited for it, but I do I do agree with your overall take about

It's probably another one of those matches where where we see the level. I'm so relieved he's fallen in that Alcaraz quarter and not the Sinner quarter. Like if we're gonna have to see Djokovic Fritz in the quarterfinals, we shouldn't we shouldn't also have to see Dumino Sinner, you know? Yes, I'll take that point. I mean that uh Frit Fritz has still never beaten Djokovic and they've played what a dozen times, something like that. Um but

Dimonora I I think won't mind indoors. I think he'll quite enjoy it. I I I can't think of too many times that I've seen Alcraz play against the home favourite, a really top home favourite at a Grand Slam. And that'll be an interesting dynamic because crowds love out cross, don't they? W what are you trying to say about Raleigh Pelka, David Really top hope favourite?

You know, I I I enjoy those two playing against each other because of the speed that they get to to each other's ball and and s the gas that creates. And if this crowd gets anything to get its teeth into, it's gonna let Diminore and Alkraz know about it because it will be so partisan. I mean, again, I think they'll be appreciative of what Alkraz is doing, but they'll be absolutely ravenous. for for a a victory for for the home guy. Um

Look, I don't I don't think that's gonna happen. I think that Al Kraz has found his level now. But he will need to have a And there's no guarantee of that. You can't know until until they deliver it. He is a player who sometimes throws in a a dodgy one. That feels like the old Alkraz or the or the younger once you get to this stage of the tournament I expect him to just keep delivering.

So six games lost by Alex de Minor against Alexander Bublick on Rodleva Arena tonight over on the second court. uh in sort of the the twilight hours of the day, Learn a Tien dropping just seven games. including a streak of eleven games won in a row to beat a shell shocked Daniel Medvedev, six four, six love. Six three, another absolute shlacking, David. Yeah.

And at this point I think I'm going to have to hold my hand up and say that my my call on Danil Medvedev is in the uh the not avoiding humiliation territory. Um Uh the the actual interesting thing is I still think there's there's a chance. that Alcras doesn't reach the final and the c and kinda half the point is made, but it ain't gonna be by Tano Medvedev'cause he was nothing like the player I expected to see at this tournament. Um

But I also was totally overwhelmed by how good Learner T M was tonight. I didn't think he was that good. I didn't think he was capable of performances like that. Early on in the first set Matt and was jumping out of his chair because of some of the rallies and said to me that he you believe that Lerner Tien is top five in the world from the baseline.

Um, which is a heck of a statement. But based on what I've just seen of him playing against one of the better baseliners that we've seen over the last five to seven years And him just dismantling him the way he did and and overpowering him, you know, t finishing long, bruising rallies with just lashing winners down the line with the with th that lasso like forehand of his. I I described it as like a slingshot. It just s it s seems to have extra whip and

And when it hits the ground it bounds up as well. It's got often left to right curve that puts it just inside the sideline. Um, but he it feels like he's beefed up his game and he's beast beefed up his confidence. And truthfully, I I'm old enough to remember what Michael Chang was like, who's his coach these days. And when he won the French Open he was a very different player.

to the player that he tried to become over the next ten years because he beefed up his game. He he tried to play with a bigger like a longer racket. He tried to hit winners when he'd been known as a baseliner. And Honestly that looks like what's happened here. It looks like he is He got to learn a TN and made him hit bigger and be more of a threat. because he used to just be a lovely choreographer almost from the baseline. Now he now he's a he's a destroyer.

about this matchup this rivalry with Lerner Tien m on the eve of the tournament, at his pre tournament press, you know, because the drawer had sho thrown up this possibility of the meeting in round four. And Medford Ever's you know, his face had lit up at the opportunity to talk about his rivalry with Leonatian and the bizarre and thrilling matches that they'd had last year, and his words were it's fun'cause neither of us can hit a winner.

Well my God he must have been shocked by what he found out there today. I think he was, yeah. Yeah, life comes at you fast. Because the winners were flying past him. You know, and Yeah. I've I've always rated Tien from the ground, but mostly I've rated him because of his control on the ball and his ability to not miss. To change direction so easily. He's so comfortable hitting the ball up the line off across court ball. He's so comfortable. Off either wing he can do that.

changing the direction and the tempo of a rally and manipulating the ball. I'm sure these were all descriptions I've used before on the podcast to talk about Leonard Tien and in particular his matches against Medvedev. But I kind of agreed with Medvedev's analysis a few days ago. Like Yes, that has been the story of their matches. Neither of them have been able to hit winners past each other. That's why they've gone on so long. That's why we've ended up seeing

Both of them crampid matches. That's why I promised my mum and dad a five setter today on on the second court. Like th I thought this match was gonna look similar to their previous matches, but it didn't. T N staggering degree, like right from the start. Broke him in the first game. Just totally imposed his his power on him. And some of the stuff he was doing in that second set, thirteen winners to one unforced error.

The the for love game started with a rally that like brought me and David out of our seats in the in the media centre and you know, got some funny looks from those around us who weren't who didn't happen to be watching that match at the time, thinking, What on earth are these two other people's radio report. Always a fun moment. And it it just left Medvedev looking desperate. You know, after that incredible opening point of the Four Love game, he tried an underarm serve.

And TN was quick to it and whipped it up the line for a winner. So then he tried a serve from virtually in the tram lines, did Medford Evan he won that point, but he won it only after TN had hit the return round the net post. This was the kind of ridiculous stuff that he was doing and you felt like it was entirely within himself. And maybe maybe we'll see

him plays Verev in the next round and will realise that maybe actually he was totally peaking today. And Medvedev did say that in the in the press conference. As much as he praised him, he was He was impressed to a extraordinary level and thought, you know that that might be as well as he plays in this tournament, because it was extraordinary. But it felt within himself because he's so unflappable TN. Like I love drama. I do. I love players who who

It get involved in dramatic matches and you you know exactly what they're feeling and thinking and all the show of it. But I do also like a player who is No fuss and totally just Can I introduce you to Bertie van der Zandel? Yeah, but he's not as good as Learned Tier. It was so exciting to me to see someone like that who is playing this sport that we all know and love, but doing it in such a fun, interesting way, and just moving on to the next point and conjuring up something else.

Clever that we've not seen before. I loved it, and honestly, he humiliated Medvedev out there. It was it was extraordinary the gap between the

Mm. I went to his press conference, Lenate, and um I'd forgotten that he's kinda the same in press as he is on the court, like unflappable, not quite corporate, but you don't get he he's very likable. Um but you know, OB's not defensive about questions. He just doesn't you know, d doesn't give you that much. Everything seems fine. He's like, Yeah, played well today. On to the next one.

Um and the next one will be against Alexander Zverev who dished out his own shillaking today to Francisco Sarindlo, maybe not quite as Honestly not that far off six two, six four, six four for Zverev against a guy that has caused him problems in the past, but not today, David. No, Zverev's level continues to be exceptionally high to to my eye. I think he's playing better than he did a year ago and he reached the final a year ago. There there's something more convincing about

What he's doing about how he's striking the ball and and and the intents behind it. He's playing actually, for the most part, the sort of tennis that. onlookers and people like me and and yourselves have been saying he should be playing big man's tennis and should be crowding the the baseline and going forwards and not backing up all the time.

Um he's hitting huge off the backhand and forehand, so he's hitting loads of winners. This but this still was not the match that I was expecting at all. I thought it would be I thought Sarindalo would play really well and it would be close and that Zverev would eke it out. Surundalo didn't play well at all. This was Sarinderlo's performance from the Davis Cup for the first two cents.

He had no feel on the ball. He was hitting errors galore, and this is a good baseliner with a massive forehand. The forehand speed was way down. To the point where I thought, Is he ill? Is he is he injured? What's going on? Um he he he ramped up that power in the third set and he just made too many errors and got broken again. And there so there was a chance that he could have gone into a fourth I felt.

I went to his little press gathering afterwards just to ask him, um, were you okay physically out there today? He initially said y Yes, no, there was no problem. I'd and then he goes, I did feel something in the first set and I w and it was on my mind. But, you know, I managed to get into it and so I think there was something there. But I think Even so, Zverev played really well.

We now have this fascinating situation where in Zverev's mind I think generally and he listen, he was very quick to give respect. in what he said to Learner. Um and and he actually drew a parallel, he didn't name him, but he says he basically said you ev you're all making a big fuss about somebody else of that age, i. e. Fonseca, but actually this is the guy who's getting the results and and fair play. I mean that's true.

Um so he's got a lot of time for'em. They've won one match apiece those two, and and he's the only left hander I think that's beaten Zverev in about the last thirty matches between the two, something like that. stat I got from Gil Gross um earlier, Zverev's thirty seven and one in his last thirty eight matches against lefties, but the one is Lerner Tien. Yeah, and and I saw that match. Tien was good. Zverev was terrible that night. And TN knows that he he said that in in press.

Today. Like he's not focusing too much, I don't think, on that I don't find it particularly instructive. Um but I also I do find it interesting that I think in Zvarov's mind it's not a little bit more than a little Sinna, Alkraz, and maybe Djokovic standing between himself and the tithe. And it but first he's actually gotta get past this guy.

Um now it may be that Tien was just zoning and can't reproduce what he did today and also he's playing a different type of player with a bigger sh bigger weight of shot. But I also think that Tien is dangerous. fr based on what I've seen today. So, uh I'm I mean that's an interesting one. I I think Zwev is absolutely the favourite, but um

You know, there's there's definitely chances there I think if TN can get onto the ball. And another one, you know, when and where will it be scheduled because all of these matches that we're looking ahead to for Tuesday, Tuesday's gonna be forty three degrees apparently, according to the Accord according to the weather forecast, it's gonna be another one where we're watching that heat stress index slowly or maybe not so slowly tick up towards Yeah. Yeah, it's such a conundrum that

That lefty thing. Because Verev is so good against lefties, you know, and it's it's particular it's the angle of attack, you know, that the lefties have into his back cam, which is his best shots, one of the best shots in the world. But I do think T N is different from a lot of the other lefties. I'm just looking at the list of players he's beaten.

You know, Cameron Norrie, Ben Shelton, Mute, Tabilo, Montero, Umber, Bellucci, you know, these are the sort of lefties that he's been playing regularly over over this run of Of wins and yes, they all obviously have that one thing in common, they're they're left-handed, but none of them ha possess

the same level of control off both wings that Tien has, the and the uh you know, he's got a slice as well, TN. He's he's got just so much in his game and he's got such high IQ, I think, on a tennis court that I don't I don't think he's just standard lefty against Zverev. He's got he's got other ways and weapons and ability to think on a court and make life difficult for Zverev. And I'm not

That that's not predicting him to win. I do I do think Zverev is the favourite. I would probably predict Zverev to win, given how well he's playing. But I'm not sure it will necessarily just be because of the lefty thing. Like I I I do think Tien's got more ways to negate that than some of the other lefties on tour. That's also a list of players that he should be. Right? Like th they haven't until Jack Draper broke into the top ten, like weirdly considering it's it's

considered an advantage being a lefty. There has been a bit of a dearth of lefties at the top of the game, obviously in Adal, but like there aren't that many really top lefties, certainly you know, the world number three, which is what Zverov's been for quite a while now and was world number two for a while. Like there haven't been any lefties that he you would expect him to lose to. I think what he's done to Shelton is is a little interesting because he he kind of

To this point at least has m has has really handled him. Um but I think T N is way better off the ground than Shell. Yeah. Yeah. But he doesn't have the weapon of the serve, you know, so that That probably would even things up a little bit. Oh, it's it it's really it is absolutely fascinating. And look, we should stop bigging it up because it will be advanced last time we picked up all of today's. It is the twenty twenty six Australia open. Yeah. And and look.

The leftiness was a problem for Medvedev today, I think, because You know, his his standard background cross court was going straight into Tien's hitting zone. But I also think Tien is less bothered by the low trajectory of Zvere of Medvedev's shots than even someone like Zverev is. You know, I think that bothers Zverev when he plays Medvedev, the fact that he's coming through so low. T N is lower to the ground than Sverev and he he seemed absolutely fine. So I I'm I'm I'm wary of

reading too much into the matchup, you know, before kind of before we see it. But I I don't know, I What I saw today from TM was special. I do think he's special and he's been so good all tournament. I it wasn't a total one off. He'd we he'd been building to this. Um No, I I can't wait for it. I'm excited for that match. Me too. Okay, that's it for part one. Join us in part two when we've got a competitive match to discuss, folks.

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Welcome back to part two of today's tennis podcast where as promised we have a competitive match to talk about folks. Coco Goff and Carolina Mukova. Delivering the goods out on the second court today. Coco Goff with the win. 6-1-3-6-6-3. I thought Coco Goff was awesome today, but I was getting a coffee order for myself and Matt's parents from a robotic coffee barista during the second set which she lost so

I am not the most thorough judge of of this match today. You had a coffee from a robot. Yeah, there's a there's a robotic barista in the Rodlavre arena and it was a I mean I could do a whole podcast on this if you like. It was a really um it I've been to the future today, folks. Yeah, I've got a video of the robot arm doing the baristaing and delivering the coffees. But anyway Pop that on Insta. Yeah. It's a it's sort of a bit scary but also

Also kind of great. That's the kind of thing they like, isn't it? Yeah, okay, I'll pop it on Insta. Uh Coco Goth, Matt. How good did you think she was today? Very good. Yeah, I really did. Um interesting that you know, on the on the day of all the duds this matchup actually turned out to be w one of the more interesting and competitive ones that they'd had. You know, it was the first time that they'd actually gone to a deciding set.

Uh and it didn't look likely, honestly, early on because Goff was So good in the opening stages and you immediately saw the matchup problem that this is for Mukaver. Her ability to construct points is almost second to none. Her ability to move opponents all over the court is almost second to none. And yet Goff can handle those things. And what Mukova doesn't really have is

A huge potent weapon to end points. She relies on being able to move opponents around and win points in different ways, and it's just Goth can handle that. And in the opening stages, we saw it. Mukava was conjuring up.

Brilliant stuff, but Goff always had a response. There was there was a c uh two points back to back in Mukava's first service game, I think it was, where Gough chased down a drop shot, got lobbed, and then hit this sort of hook Forehand passing shot past Mukava at the net, and you thought, wow, like Mukava wins that point against everyone else in the draw.

But Goff's got the foot speed and the skills on the reach to come up with something like that. And then the very next point was a brilliant backhand passing shot from Goff. And it was like, Wow, she can do that as well. Like that was the challenge for Mukova, like how do you win points reliably? Again.

Goff and she just couldn't do it in that first set. She just could not do it. She made a very good tactical switch, I thought, in the second set Mukava, and s basically stopped hitting her backhand cross court. Whenever she got a backhand, she hit it down the line. to to cut out the backhand to backhand exchanges and to try and get some errors, I think, out of the Coco Goth forehand, and they came. You don't often see

Down the line exchanges. Exactly. Yeah. But Mukova did it really well and it h hit hit the backhand with enough pace to I think draw some errors from from Goth. And it really worked. And then she started to hit with a lot more conviction, Mucava, a lot more. She'd come out

I think unsure of how to play the match, but she but she committed to that tactic, played a really good second set, and Goff's level did drop. But I think what Goff then was did in the third set, was fascinating how they were responding to each other, was realizing that actually she's just gotta make that forehand when Mukova's hitting it down the line.

If she can then loop it a bit and push Mukova back and that's all that that's gonna be enough. She just needs to She just needs to get that ball back and she'd been missing quite a lot of them in the second set, but she corrected that in the third set and the rallies became much more like they were in the opening set and Goff was able to use her all court game and and play really well and Unfortunately for Mukova she had a series of points midway through the third set where she just

totally lost her way and lost the break. Yeah, she coughed up about eight errors in a row, lost eight points in a row and went from two one down to four one down. And that was it. That was the match right there and then it was a real We'll lapse from Mukaver and what otherwise have been quite good recovery in this match.

She rallied in the final game and threatened the break back. She saved some match points in incredible style, did Mukova, but never was able to create a breakpoint in that final game and and and Goth closed it out and her serve, I thought, held up really well. today goth. I wasn't thinking about it. I w I wasn't thinking, oh my God, she's gonna double fault, the serves a disaster. Not at all.

She had a couple of double faults to get broken in the second set, but otherwise, a very reliable serving day. She corrected on the forehand. I thought it was a really good another really good performance from Gold.

Yeah, that was the most confident I've felt in Goth's servant forehand in well, this year, certainly. And okay, I was getting robotic coffee during the period when home forehand had it had its laps, um, but by the time I came back she had really found it and I f it it felt really secure to me and okay, Mook of a

doesn't have the power to ask that forehand questions that other players can. It's when people are going hard into it and she gets rushed with that swing and that grip, isn't it? So maybe today isn't the best judge. the b best evidence to judge on. But she was clearly thrilled with those two shots today, particularly the serve. She was asked by Mary Joe Fernandez on the court.

Um I think the question was what makes you so she did a big celebration after the after the match and she was asked, you know, why are you so pleased with with this win and this performance? And she said you know, because today was great on serve and you've got Gav McMillan sitting, he's physically on the court at this tournament, of course. He's right there sort of examining her the um the fruits of his labour up close and it it really look, I I know things with Coco Goff are never linear.

Um, this doesn't mean her servant forehand will look exactly like this in in the next match, but it felt like, you know, even if there is one step back to come, this felt like two steps forward today. Yeah, sh she had confidence. The only the the one thing I I noticed in the first set I was only there in the first set was she actually ran around backhands to hit forehand.

few times because that's the one with the extra oomph on it, isn't it? The one where you can damage opponents more often and she had the confidence to do it. Mm. She's twenty one and six in three set matches at majors. which is, you know, m maybe not a surprising record given w what an athlete she is. Um, but I do you know, when it goes into a third set I do just think, huh. Like obviously Goff is gonna win this. She said I don't get tired

Which must be lovely, Coco. Enjoy that. Try being a podcaster. Uh Alina Svitalina will be Coco Goff's quarterfinal opponent. She be Uh not Carolina Mukova as I've written in the agenda. She beat Mira Andreva tonight, six two, six four. You both watched this on the Rodlava arena. Alina Sviselina had that look in her eye again. she did she played

f her forceful brand of tennis that we've become accustomed to. Um comfortably the better player in the first set. Second set Androva went up two love and looked like she'd found a game because in the first set she was terrible. She had Unforced errors all over the place. And then looked like she'd corrected it.

She won the first ten points of the second set. The words golden set were mentioned by by one of us and she of course lost the next you, wasn't it? And and I mean then she didn't win that set. You know, that and and It left us reflecting back on last year when she was playing against Slowest Bright.

in a very different difficult situation at Roland Garros and and or and the whole crowd against uh and then against Taylor Townsend at the US Open. And how I don't want to say badly she handled it because I think that's it was really tough for her, but she wa she didn't she wasn't able to handle it and play her best tennis in those environments.

And one of the big things she she'd made the point of, having won the title at the start of this year, was that that's what she's trying to do now is just sort of not be petulant, not she makes fun of herself in those situations. I'm not saying she was petulant, but she She didn't handle this well tonight. Her form wasn't there and she couldn't find a way to reliably provide.

Do you think being a Russian playing a Ukrainian, playing a Lit Lina Svitolina, d do you think that could have been a factor for Andreva tonight? She knew there wasn't gonna be a handshake, she She went immediately to her chair and didn't sort of stand there waiting for a handshake. She got booed for that on the court because it caused a lot of people in the crowd.

wouldn't have known that that Androva had known that there wasn't gonna be a handshake, you know, just one of those misunderstandings that we've seen a lot and it's complicated, isn't it?'Cause I I really support Alina's Fitzelina's

stance on this uh and not doing those handshakes and yet also Mirandrova's like she's a child and I don't I just don't feel great about seeing her go through that experience either, but I c I can't imagine being the age that she is that not being some sort of a factor tonight. I agree. I think these matches Do have an odd feel to them. They there is an edge to them, a tension to them that maybe doesn't exist in in other matchups. And Andrava She was so flat in that first set, like just

just a no show. Like it was like she wasn't really there, you know, and like she she corrected that in the second set and started to play with a bit more oomph and a bit more impact. Um But only for a few games and then Svitolina was was in charge again and and the better player and the one pushing. I think I think though to David's point and I I I really agree with it, she's got to deal better with situations where she's not playing well.

And she I know and look, she's incredibly young and I'm sure this can improve but it is a real pattern that we see and She gets very frustrated, I think, when she doesn't have her game. And for someone who I think has so many tools in her game to be able to adapt and to be able to correct. And fall back on something else, she she loses her way in matches in in in a way that I just think she shouldn't she shouldn't be.

And that that happened here, absolutely. Like she was under pressure by Svitolina for sure in that final game. But She got frustrated, she sort of bounced her racket away. Um, and that I think was the first moment the crowd sort of turned on her a little bit. and then ended up ended up losing the match and I think in addition the reason the crowd booted was because there was

as you said, she just walked off. You know, like there is a way I think you can handle those situations where you at least acknowledge your opponent Even if you're not shaking their hand because of the agreement that there is. And look, I don't wanna I don't wanna slam Mirandrava for doing that and just walking off, but I I do think if she had acknowledge Svitolina. I think Svitolina would have acknowledged her at a distance. And maybe the crowd wouldn't have have booed in the way they did. And

I'm not not excusing the crowd. I I if I'd been a fan, I certainly wouldn't have been booing her. Um but I think that was part of why they ended up booing her as well, rather than just the fact of no handshake. Um but

Yeah Yeah, there's there's a lot for Andreva to still improve and grow at. Um and I think tonight tonight did demonstrate that. But credits for Tolina as well. Like there's There's an extra zip in her footwork in those latter stages when she's sensing that the match can go in her favour and she's

hitting her backhand line suddenly with a bit more with a bit more power behind it or she's getting the ball on her forehand and unloading and unleashing and her record now at slams since she came back is incredible in terms of its consistency. She is reliably winning so many matches. She's not suffering too many early defeat.

And now she gets another chance to kind of push one of the very best players in the world. It it it is remarkable how she's And she's remodeled her game and yeah. continue to be in awe of what she's done. I I also checked her record against Russian players. versus her general record to to m kind of confirm that I'm not imagining something being different about Alina Svitolina in these matchups and somebody on Instagram asked us to

run the numbers as well. Um and since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on february twenty fourth, twenty twenty two, Sv Svitlin are including tonight is twelve and two against Russian players, which is an eighty six percent win percentage um and overall during that period against all opponents her win percentage is sixty seven percent. So it's a

Set up for a couple of days time. The other quarter final set up today. Well Arena Sabalenka uh she has beaten Victorian Bokeh today six two seven six. This This got interesting for a period at the end of that second set, obviously until it went to a tie break when the match instantly fell over because it's Arena Sabalenka in a in a grand slam tie break. But uh by and large in this match, Arena Sabalenka was absolutely unplayable.

Yeah, as you know, I love this point of a grand slam when the very best players, particularly in this era, and I'm talking about Cynna Alcrash, Djokovic, Sabalenka, Shvontek when she's at her best. When they just arrive, when they the when the real Grand Slam version of them enters the building and You can kind of forget. And then suddenly you say that.

From Sabalenka, and you realise again there are levels. Because Victoria Mboka was playing well, even in the first set that she got absolutely hammered.

She's hitting a great shot that would normally be a winner against most players or set up an easy put away. And Sabalenka either retaliates with even greater power, and you can see the look of shock on Umboko's face, or she diffuses it very often with the most incredible Soft hands does Sabalenka with a slice on the forehand or backhand, puts it down low, and then suddenly Umboko is required to just whip up a a shot that is so difficult to hit f aggressively for a winner.

And it's suddenly back in Sabalanka's hand. She's developed, she's she's improved as a player so much over the last few years. It is kind of Djokovic Nadal like, I feel, the way she has added incrementally to her game. And today, as Matt said at the start of the show Yeah. through those doors and just took over. And and I feel like the second set I'm pleased for Umboko because I think she's gathered a lot of a lot of information today about what it's like playing

this level of player at a Grand Slam and she got into the the match a little bit at the end, but I also don't think it's representative of the match that we saw today, the fact that she ended up in a tie break. Yeah, I That performance would have been terrifying for anybody else in the draw, I think. I thought Mbokia played really well. Yeah, I I think

This performance from Sabalenka was like a huge compliment to Mboko. Like because she'd been ragged Sabalenka in previous matches and today she was awesome. Like Uh maybe I shouldn't be surprised by world number one plays plays tennis really well, but it will just always be amazing to me to see tennis played at that stand.

Like she was so good. And to si six one four one, it was a flawless match. I actually felt like Mboko's game did feed in a little bit to Sabalenka, like she had enough power to give Sabalenka pace, but maybe not quite enough to disrupt her in in in that sense and I think Sabalenka was able to rush Mboko in in such a dramatic way here. Um but

Full credit to Umboko, as you said, because it could have been so easy to get despondent, to get down, and to just lose this match one and one. But she kept believing, she kept fighting, she broke back. uh saving some match points when when Sabalenka was serving for it. And you know, for a moment there there was genuine ooh, okay, could this match still turn? Because as we've been saying, Umboka was playing really well.

Um but that tie break from Sabalenka, my God. Like she's she's won what, twenty in a row now at Slams and many more on the tour as well in in that period. This might have been the best one. Like, it was extraordinary. The five winners to go five love up, a big serve for six love, and Charlie Accleshare made the point that this tiebreak streak is so impressive because so often it has required a reset from Sabalenka. She's she's very often had a set in her grasp, like she did

today, let it go and then needed to resort to a tie break. It was a similar story against Potapova the other day. And she's not sure. letting the momentum of the set carry over into the tiebreak. She is resetting and stamping her authority on them. It's so impressive.

And she now has the outright record at Grand Slams in the open era for most tie breaks, one in a row, men or women, stealing Novat Djokovic's record. And I I I quite enjoyed his tweet to I don't know if maybe it was to Sabalenka directly or to an account that posted about the streak anyway. Don't know why they're getting involved. Right. I think yeah, somebody aired to the fact that it that that that his record had been broken and he he quipped. So I'm not happy about this. Yeah. I enjoyed it.

It's also thirteen consecutive Grand Slam quarter finals for Sabalenka. Yeah, an incredible streak. And again we talk about players who've transform themselves or change the stories of their careers, you know. What a long time ago it feels and I mean it w kinda was now, but Sapalenki used to underperform in slams. dangerous on tour and then she'd come into a slam and

wouldn't really perform. Well she's totally upset proofed her game. You cannot beat her in the early round. She's guaranteed to be there in the latter stages. Yeah, it's it's remarkable. Every time I for whatever reason am reminded of that Kineppe match, I think it must have been before the pandemic.

It it was very much not before the pandemic. It was very much post-pandemic. Uh right, so that's Sabalenka through to the quarterfinals where she will face eighteen year old Eva Jovich. Who delivered the biggest beatdown of the day, guys? Six love, six one, fifty-three minutes, shortest match of the women's draw so far. Yulia Putin Saver is

thoroughly danced out of the Australian Open by a child. She did have the chance to do the funniest thing, didn't she, Jovic and and dance in celebration. Yeah, I mean She's a gr she's a grown up. She's unfortunately a class act. And boy is she. I mean she she I I I went to her press conference and she's like She's really charming and impressive and not at all obnoxious, but like she could be given how

poised and comfortable she is speaking to a room full of strangers. She's like a she's like a theatre kid that's been primed for being famous for for their whole lives, you know, like like they were a child actor that was in adverts for you know, kids things when they were five years old. Like she's so poised and sure of herself and articulate and comfortable in ways that I can never understand or relate to, certainly for an eighteen year old, but it is

And she's like she's like, Yeah, this is a this is a great run. Obviously I'm chuffed a bit to be in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open but like this isn't out of nowhere. She's like She's like, you know, I got to the final in was it Auckland or Hobart? I get those confused Hobart. Yeah. She had a decent run in Auckland as well. Had a run in Auckland, she pointed that out too. Got to the final in Hobart, she was like

This has been coming. My whole year's been good. Like this is I mean maybe the specific results are in excess of what she was expecting, but She was expecting to be a much improved player this year as a result of the work she did in the off season. She's ser uh she's obviously done serious strengthening and serious um serious work on her her game and physicality, um, and she's able to stand up to adult opposition now.

There is no more adult opposition than the Arene the Arena Sabalenko. I'm not sure anything can prepare you for that. But I did love that she she wanted to face Sabalenka in the next round. Like I love to hear that. And that's the thing I f I feel no matter what, she I hope for her sake she doesn't really get a a uh a a heavy defease in it that that leaves you shell shocked.

Even that though I think would give her information because she got one of those from Elena Rabakina a year ago. I know you asked her about that in the press comment. But she's aware that she's a different player now. And uh so so i if if if she has a similar experience to Umboko, I think that that would be a very positive thing for her. But I love the I love the ambition, the way the c the that she's coming into this. And just gonna she's just gonna go for it. Mm.

She she didn't even properly focus on tennis as her main sport until the pandemic hit. And it kind of had to be tennis because it was the only individual sport that she did and the only one she was allowed to do. All all the team sports stops. So if she wanted to

keep doing anything. It had to be tennis and that kind of made her decision for her. And then she won the Orange Bowl the next year at fourteen. Like yeah, she's been she's been destined for this, I think, for or has maybe felt like she's destined for this for for a long time and she's she's really exciting. I I fear for a bit of a shellacking, but I you know, I think she'll she'll come into it with absolutely the right approach and

an attitude and that's really all she can do. Okay, so those are the quarterfinal matches that have been set up today. We'll have some more set up tomorrow and do join us in part three when we talk through that order of play and Adjudicate sensation of the day. When you're a forward thinker, you don't just bring your A game, you bring your AI game.

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Welcome back to part three of today's tennis podcast where I have just one submission for sensation of the day. I will take others if you have them, but nobody bought me beers today. Did anybody else get bought beers? No. No. No. So come back, Fred. In I miss Fred. Uh so in that case I submit Olivia Gadecki and John Piers. who beat Laura Siegmund and Edouard Roger Vassaland ten five in the match tie break on this first match of the day on the second court today. So not only did they win

It's a it's a pretty strong case. It's a strong case. You could win the Australian Open singles and not not beat that. Uh does any have anyone have any objections to giving Olivia Gadecki and John Pierce Sensations of the Day? No, they deserve it. Olivia, John, it's yours. Uh right then, uh what do we have in store on day nine of the Australian Open? Contenders for

Sensations of the day everywhere here. In fact, we're guaranteed some. We've got an all sensation matchup on the second court. So that gets us through one more day, but do still buy us beers if you see us. Maybe this is too late in the podcast to be coming up with such an e existential question about sensation of the day. Does Alex de Manor become a sensation when he plays Carlos Alcaraz?

You know what I mean? Like I think I think if I think becomes a plucky underdog. I'm gonna say it if Alex Dimeno beats Carlos Alcaraz, I think he deserves sensation of the death. Shall I put it to a poll on our Instagram? Yeah, like maybe I'm folding. Maybe I'm not committing to to the real bit. I just think his status changes when he plays his you know, when he plays Alcaraz. I don't know, polls.

Yes, do a poll, poll vaults. No, actually I think we should decide. Can can I think about it and decide to I think you make a strong case and I'm open to it. I just need to let it percolate.'Cause it's quite Quite a big deal for us to let Alex De Menore in. It is. I just love the bit so much. Oh, the bit's not going anywhere. I'm assuming we're gonna get bought beers daily, Matt. Good point though. That you make Matt, I think. And excuse me, Matt in English is still in the tournament. Oh yeah.

Will she be when Alex Demonor plays Carlos Alcaraz? Mm.

Well, there's only one way to find out. Uh on tomorrow's tennis podcast. Uh Rod Laver Arena tomorrow starting from eleven thirty is Jessica Pagula against Madison Keys. Uh second up, not before two PM, Lorenzo Musetti against Taylor Fritz while Djokovic has his feet up. Might be having a massage, might be having a nice long bath, might be catching up with the traitors.

He's got three days to play with like the doesn't he like hug trees? Yeah. He's not watching the traitors, is he? He's hugg he's got a specific tree here. Mm in the very Melbourne thing for a year, isn't it? Yeah. Yeah. At night session, Madison English. Up against Eager Schwyantech, seven PM Making a play for Sensation of the Day. And then last up in the night session, this one was scheduled to be Djokovic against Menchik. It's been moved over from the John Cain arena. Ben Shelton against

Casper Rouge. Second court starts with James McCabe and Lee Two against Jason Kubler and Mark Pullmans. There it is. Yeah, that's our banker. They might whoever wins that Cooper has been on court so much. I can't get away from him. The entire time. He's chasing me around. Yeah. Uh they the winner of that is not guaranteed sensation of the day because following it on court we have Guo and Mladenovich up against Kim Birrell and Talia Gibson of yesterday's Sensations of the Day fame.

Uh then not before four PM, Elena Rabakino against Lisa Mertens. And finally not before six PM on the second court. It's Luciano Darderi and Yannick Sinner. And we think Cinner being scheduled on the second court was something to do with the the Djokovic situation and the the knowing at the time of putting out the schedule there was a high risk of the Djokovic Menshik match not happening, I can't I can't quite thought map.

Well, I would have thought that he would have been moved across if that was the case. I wonder whether it is but tickets had already been sold at that point. for the second court with Cinner on the schedule, so I think that would have been tough. I I mean I'm sure he just has made a massive campaign to play in the evening probably, but maybe he hasn't. Maybe. Or the forecast for tomorrow is okay.

Yeah, it's it's around thirty Celsius I think. Which, you know, in the heat of the day would be would be potentially tough for Sinner, but nowhere near as bad as the other Which leaves just one singles match on the John Kane arena and unfortunately for Matt it's a mandarinism over against Wong Jinyu. Are you gonna go? Who have I upset at Tennis Australia? Yamander in the Samova Arena, that's its next name. This scheduling was a personal attack.

Yeah. I'm gonna go. I am gonna I am gonna be there. Of course I am. Having a bad time. Well And you're gonna bitch about it on the podcast later. It's what the people want. So if she loses. If she loses on the John Kane arena.

My God. Tune in to tomorrow's show, folks, to find out. Uh right. Hello to our lovely mascot gut. Gus who uh I'm looking at a picture of sitting in front of some wine barrels, which is how she spends her day being a being a wine dog. What a life. Thank you, lovely gus. Uh hello to Maisie. Hello to Bodie. Hello to Roger. Of course hello to our top folks and executive producers, Greg, Chris and Jeff. Let's have some shout outs, Matt.

We have V Ellixon. V. V. V. Hi, V. Uh they are from Washington State. Ah. And they say I've been an avid listener of the pod since twenty eighteen. And you've been instrumental in deepening my understanding and appreciation for tennis, both as a sport and as a medium for viewing and thinking about the world at last.

Oh V. I really like that. Thanks. That's lovely. Washington State, home of the Seahawks, David. I know. I'm wearing my Seahawks top right now. What time what time's the game? I think i local time here, uh it's uh noon. So twelve o'clock and I'll be ready. I'll be sorta double screening Madison Keyes and Jessica Bagula with the Seahawks against the Rams. All while Matt is en route to the John Cain Arena. After playing tennis with Simon Briggs.

Lots is happening tomorrow. That's where the real action is. Hey, Matt needs the practice. He's got something to get ready for. More on that tomorrow. Uh thank you, V, that's lovely. We've also got Bridget Robinson. Hello Bridget. Hi Bridget. Who is currently in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Wow. And says I've been listening to the podcast since close to its start, certainly since the days of David and Catherine recording in the Putney Exchange. Oh the good old days.

Well I imagine um I imagine Bridget is is sad to see Victoria and Boko go out of the tournament today, but generally Bridget the future is very bright for you with with Mboko, I would say. Tennis Bridget Bridget's come up with the only tennis adjacent Bridget of which I know is Bridget Wilson Sampras. Oh very good. I think that's a great submission. Yes, well done, Bridget. Well done, Bridget. You can come again. And finally, we have Natalie Huyn.

Oh, hello Natalie. Hi Natalie. Who is currently living in London but from Sydney. Yes, we know Natalie. We know Natalie. We met Natalie at our Melbourne live show last year and we chatted to her afterwards and she told me she was moving to London in the spring and Did I have any advice for her and um uh she's met Billy Jean. She's been for a walk in in Wimbledon Common.

Felly mae'r advice mewn gwirionedd yn ôl bywyd bywyd bywyd bywyd bywyd bywyd bywyd bywyd bywyd bywyd bywyd bywyd bywyd bywyd bywyd bywyd And she inadvertently almost did the calendar fan slam last year, only missing out on the US Open because she'd planned a trip to Croatia already. Well that was a good idea. Hm. Always a good idea. I can see why David loves it so much. Natalie like Natalie Tozier.

Coach of Victorian Boko. Ordeshi. Ordeschie, yeah. Lots of French Natalie's. Natalie, thank you ever so much for being a friend of the pod. Uh Natalie's a big barger. If you'd like to become a friend of the pod and get access to the barge are Um our exclusive community platform for talking about tennis with like minded people in a in a safe space.

then the link is in our show notes. You also get ad free listening, you get access to all of our bonus episodes. We'll be doing an Australian Open review show with contributions from some incredible people. Um that'll be coming just a few days after this. Grand Slam and every Grand Slam to help you get through the the come down period. So uh the link will be in our show notes if you'd like to become a friend.

Uh, we are part of the Athletic Podcast Network. We will be back tomorrow to tell you about Matt's intrepid adventure to the John Kane Arena. Thank you for listening. We'll speak to you. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing the budgeting game?

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