Aus Open Draws - Winners, losers, picks and shocks

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Well, hello and welcome to the Tennis Podcast coming to you on Australian Open Draw Day, otherwise known as Matt Roberts' third favourite day. of the year. We are currently situated in the creator lounge inside the media centre, which we're not entirely sure we're qualified to be in. I'm hoping we're all feeling creative today. I feel particularly creative. Creative and sort of vaguely Gen Z. Might be relying on you for that.

Matt. I feel less now. I'm feeling pressure to create. You're a zillennial, aren't you? You're right on the cusp. But I feel you're more spiritually millennial. I think that's fair. But anyway... For today only, we are content creators. Matt, let's cut straight to it. Marks out of 10 for the Australian Open 2026 draw. I would say 10 for effort. You know, they saw what they did last year, putting it on the steps outside the second court here.

And I think they elevated a little bit, or attempted to elevate anyway, by making it in an even more public setting. And we had crowd there gathered round and it was nice. It was a really... good effort it's what I want to see you know they'd advertise this draw in advance they put the stream up in advance they they made a thing of it which is all I really ask I would say

About a six for execution, though, because they'd forgotten some pretty crucial elements, like sight lines, being able to see the draw. I'm having fixating flashbacks here. There was shit in the way. Execution. You know, there was a podium in the way. The trophy was in the way. People were in the way. But my sources are telling me the broadcast stream of it could have been better. They kept cutting away from the actual draw and it was quite hard to follow.

So that's disappointing. But overall, I think we come out at an 8 out of 10 there, if you put effort and execution together, which is where we were with the one-point slam last night. 8 out of 10 is good. I had a good... Time. I enjoy a draw day. I get the feeling that David might go higher than an 8 out of 10. But then I also get the feeling, David, that you're... your bar is slightly lower than maps and also he might not have thought about it in such a

Forensic way. No, we come at it in different ways. And also, I have different sight lines to you because I'm six foot seven. So I could see over those things that were in your way. Matt was like, we've got to move. We've got to move. David was like, it's OK, I can read it out for you. Matt was like, no, we've got to move. It was so quickly a problem. I couldn't see a quarter of the draw. Suddenly everything was very stressed in our row. But, you know, to me...

They created a feeling of everyone's invited. Anybody who wanted to see the draw could surround... the room that we were in, I mean, or the sectioned-off area that we were in, and it was undercover, sort of this shade, and they think of those things here. And this time it wasn't sort of sectioned off from the public in a way that they're behind a rope, you know. Yeah.

I just thought the draw is a dramatic thing that shapes the whole tournament and gives anybody who wanted to be there who'd got a grounds pass today and it's easy to get in this place today. Could feel part of it, I thought. So, you know, job done for me. Yeah, I, again, like I'm coming at it from a less forensic angle. It's OK, everyone is. You're the normal one here.

I just really enjoyed the vibe of it. Like, again, it annoyed me slightly less than you, but obviously not being able to actually see the content of the draw was a problem. But I really enjoyed the vibe and they... They clearly get draws. Absolutely. Which we support. And I had a nice time. I did miss the marching band. If any powers that be are listening.

either here in this creator lounge or at a later date. I just thought The Marching Man was great last year. It is very cool that Yannick Sinner walked from... the player lounge, and it's all the way through the public area, through the crowds, with the trophy in his hands, and just walks onto the stage to talk to everybody. And it would have been Madison Keyes too, except she's in Adelaide.

And they do, I think that's just a known thing here, the defending champions appear at the draw. I remember in 2012 or 2013, I had a very minor role here in helping organise the draw. you know, backstage. And I think it was the defending, it was Lina defending. Anyway, no, it was Kim Clijsters. Kim Clijsters was defending champion and whoever it would have been, Nadal.

Something like that. And they came. Djokovic. Djokovic is a safe bet, isn't it? Now you're just naming tennis players. They both came. I was like, that's really cool. And then another year I... I was involved as well, and they did it in the city, and the defending champions arrived by boat, or barge even, perhaps, with the travies and everything, and that was really cool.

a thing that they do here and it's great but it is even greater when they're accompanied by a marching band. Right, the content of the draw. Matt, what are the headlines?

Well, if we start with the women's draw, that was how they started. I think quite a balanced draw, I would say. Personally, I wanted to see Sabalenka and Goff come out in the same half. So I was pleased about that. Why? Because that's happened. Because it's such a fascinating match-up.

for me you know we've seen what Coco Goff has has done to Arena Sabalenka in a couple of Grand Slam finals I want to see it again you know and okay they could well have met in the final if they were on opposite halves but anything to just slightly increase the probability of that, I'm here for. Not that goth Shwiątek isn't really interesting as well, you know, it absolutely is. That's the...

It's the absolute beauty of where the women's game is right now. There are so many interesting match-ups, but just a personal taste thing, really. Gough, Zabalenka, I'm keen to see it again. And then, of course, that leaves Anissimova in the Svantec section if they both get to the semifinals. But honestly, that's the big difference, isn't it, between the men's and women's draw?

I think I'm looking at the draw big picture for the women and I'm sort of putting Sabalenka through quite confidently, but I'm not really doing it for anyone else. Everyone else, there are potential real tests along the way.

Because in the men's draw, you do look at it and you think, well, that's good for Alcaraz, that's good for Sinner, that's good for Alcaraz, that's good for Sinner. You have to work quite hard to find something that isn't Alcaraz-Sinner at the end, whereas for the women, you could make a case for... for so many of them yeah the format of the draw here is that they uh the names other the players other than the seeds are automating they just appear and then they draw

And as you pointed out, Matt, the men's draw without the seeds in looked pretty ropey. But yeah, sticking with the women's, David, you're... Your headlines, your biggest takeaways from this in terms of, like, the tournament and the big... I feel like there's two separate ways of looking at this. When I look at a drawer, I'm very much less able to process the projecting everything forward. I'm always looking at fun round ones and the ooh-la-la moments, and I think there are a lot of those.

in both draws good round one matches and we will talk about those but in terms of the impact of the draw on the eventual winners of this tournament and how the latter stages might play out What are your headlines? Yeah, it's interesting. Because of the manner of this draw and because of its execution and it not being that easy to see it in its entirety, I was this time picking out those...

first-round bangers or looking out for those more than I was the overall context. And it was only really when I came back into the media centre, put them up there on the screen and in front of me and properly had a look. you know that i could really get any sense of of what this might all mean

For the tournament. A look with glasses on, no less. David has put his glasses on. I have just put them on mid-podcast. It's David's version of the business bun. I'm very taken aback by the names I've written down. Because I must have written them down without the glasses on. You did write a lot of them down during a Roger Federer press conference. Yeah, I did do that. More on that later, by the way. I've mapped out all the quarterfinals, both draws and the champions. Okay. But look.

There are very few shocks in my mind that I've got here, really. I think the one name, and I actually wrote down the name Paolini and scribbled it out. in the quarterfinals and put Kostjuk in, which was interesting to me because I really struggled in that section of the draw. That is to have the right to meet Sabalenka in the...

David Law underestimating Jasmine Paolini will come as no surprise to anybody. And that may well be my mistake again. I put Paolini slash Kostiuk slash Alexandrova on that line. I've just written tough draw next to Paolini because, you know, like third round, she could have to play Eva Jovic, who is, you know, started the season well, feels like a bit of a coming force. And then...

the potential fourth round against either Alexandreva or Kostiuk, as you say. So that is tough, I think, for Paolini, and that is before she even gets to Sabalenka in the quarters. I feel like there's some opportunity for certain young players, and I actually include Kostya even though she's been around for a while, as... Mostly, I feel form is going to come through and pedigree is going to come through here. But I do look at a player like Mboko, for instance, as somebody who's...

in that top half, that section of the draw as well, and maybe she's about to just break through. I'm not predicting that, but that's one of the things I'm looking forward to witnessing over the course of the tournament. It's an interesting one with Mboko, isn't it? She would be a potential fourth round opponent for Sabalenka. Raducanu is the seeded player that Sabalenka is scheduled to play in.

round three and then it would be Mboko or Towson in in round four and Mboko is playing awesome tennis she's just beaten Madison Keys, but it's the curse of doing well the week before a slam. I think the stage she's at in her career, this is the right decision, even if it costs her here. going deep in a WCA 500, getting these wins, even if she were to crash out in round one to who she got, Emerson Jones. The sensation. She's got a sensation. I still think that's good news.

But equally, it could be a springboard. She could be coming in here without too much time to think about the pressure or talk to many media who are all hyping her up and she just carries on the form from...

Adelaide and on she goes. I do feel like if Mboko had not had that wrist injury... last summer i'd have been fascinated to see where she would have ended up you know because the form was there and the raw materials of a game are there well she's got some strapping going on i mean and maybe she's going to be a player that's always

got some kind of strapping on the go maybe that's not an alarming thing we don't really have enough data points about her but yeah she's she's in a she's an interesting spot isn't she just at this moment Yeah, definitely. And that is an interesting round one against Emerson Jones, you know, like seeing Mboko, who I think for a lot of time in her career will have had the crowd.

on her side you know exciting youngster that obviously really helped her in in canada last year like just seeing her in that environment i think will be interesting um Just speaking of a couple of other people in this section, we mentioned Radha Khan. She is...

getting tough Grand Sam draws, really, at the moment, isn't she? Like, she keeps losing to the biggest names in the sport. If you think last year, it was Sabalenka, it was Sviontek, it was Rabakina. Here she is, probably going to have to face Sabalenka again. Like, just...

It doesn't feel like she's quite getting the luck of the draws at the moment. And it's particularly brutal because she's finally seeded. This is the first time she's been seeded at a slam in a while and it's still a bum draw. OK, she's not facing Sabalenka in round... Yeah, and it's okay to get...

there, I would say, if she's fit. And then the other name I would just circle is your gal, David, Clara Towson. Oh yeah. Well, because she's played Sabalenka tough in the past. David's done quite a bit of distancing himself from Clara Towson. I would say. Look, I have yet to see the Clara Towson that beat Jennifer Brady at that French Open when she dashed my dreams of Brady doing what I said she would do and reach the final all those years ago.

She's had really good results. Look, she's the 14th seed. You know, this is a woman who's had results, but it's never really looked as spectacular as it did that day. Maybe a couple of times against Sabalenka, actually. That's it. That's kind of why I raised it. She has a ball strike. You know, there aren't many players. One of the reasons I'm excited about Kostiuk is just...

I know she got beaten fairly handily the other day, but some of the time in rallies, it looked like she could handle Sabalenka. And Towson looks like that against her. There's some players... And for the most part, I'd probably include Raducanu in this. There are some players that look really good until they face a Sabalenka. Mukova had this last week. You suddenly run into this player who can just overwhelm you.

with her game. But there's some players who can stand up to it. Yeah, it's... I've ended up with what looks like quite a boring quarterfinal lineup in terms of... There are very few surprises, but really exciting in terms of the fact that the strength of women's tennis is such that if those all happened, I'd be delighted. You know, they'd be mouth-watering. Does that mean you've got goth? Andreva happening in that second quarter. Yeah, and actually when you look at Andreva, I think that's a...

It's quite a big call because her draw is not pleasant. I mean, Donna Vekic, first round. I know Vekic is not playing anything like what she has, but... You don't really want her in the first round. This is somebody who's reached a grand slam semi-final. Maria Zachary, potentially second round, who suddenly looks a bit like that player that...

was formidable a few years ago, certainly to a level. Diana Yastrzemska's a potential third-round opponent, and then maybe Alina Svitolina, or there's a barnstorm in first round. between Kricykova, Barbara Kricykova and Diana Schneider, with the potential winner of that going through to Mita and Alina Svisalina in round three. And they're all in Andreeva's last 16 section, aren't they? So...

That is a tough draw. So tough. And she's still going this week as well, as we record. She's just playing a lot to then come into this draw. I think that's a big ask for Mira Andreva to... to make it all the way through there obviously with the caveat that you know it looks tough on paper and it might not

It might not end up being all these players, but there's just so many of them that you feel like she's going to have to beat some good names even to get to the quarterfinals. I just end up, I don't know how you two feel about it, I end up coming out on feeling well, but she's still the best one.

And so I think she will end up doing it. Asterisk Krejcikova there. Yes, true. I mean, Krejcikova's top level. Is a Wimbledon champion. Yeah. And a French champion. So that's fair. And you just never know. I accept that. I do not know where Krejcikova is sort of form or fitness-wise, really. I mean, she played, I thought she played well at the United Cup, but had...

the injury concerns, you know, it's a classic Kraychikov experience, really. I'd circle Svitolina from that little section, actually. Fun. Yeah. and just think you know we know typically that Her matches against Russian players, there is a kind of even extra intensity. You've got Schneider in there, you've got Andreva. It could be a lot, those matches. Schneider played the Gazprom event, didn't she?

What about the section just above it, the Coco Gauff section, potential second round with Venus Williams, if Venus can come through Olga Danilovic in round one. Karolina Mukova, potential... fourth round opponent for Goff if Mugovic can come through a tricky early couple of rounds. Jacqueline Christian round one and most likely Alexandre Ayala in round two.

That would be great. That's a good little section. Emma Navarro, potential round three for Mukova in that area. But also on Goff, she might have to face Vondrusova. Or Hayley Baptiste. Or Hayley Baptiste. You know, those two play each other, Baptiste and Vondrosseva. And there's Boethes Meniere, who's a very good player. So there's probably going to be some tough contests, and yet I'd still...

probably expect Goff to win them all. Because the best tennis I've seen Goff play in, well, certainly this year and for a while, is against the best opponent she's played this year and in a while, Igor Svantec. I know it's such a cliche with Goff, but, you know, the biggest threat is herself, right? And the second serve that we saw last night. It's very hard to make Coco Goff predictions.

Especially as we know, she can play not particularly well and still win Grand Slams. Yeah, she lost to Barossa here last year, which is not a result I would have anticipated. And yet an example of a player with a big game and a big shot who can just make you run out of time. And there are players like that in this draw, but...

I still expect the pedigree of Goff to win. I think in terms of predictions, you've probably got to go with that. So do we all think we're getting Goff's Abelenka? Yeah. Yeah, sitting here right now, I would predict that. What about the... are the half of the draw, the more open half, I would say. I mean, Matt wouldn't, because Amanda and Samova's in it. And I'd say the same. Take it away. Yeah, I mean, I...

Oh, I like what you've got written down there, David. I've just seen it. I've got her in the final. It's a good draw, isn't it? And listen, she had a bit of treatment in a match the other day. She lost to Marta Kostyuk. It's difficult to know exactly what you're going to get. Beat Daniel Medvedev, though. Yeah, in the one-pointer. But more of him later. But yeah, Anissa Mova, I think once she gets through sort of first rounds and she's got...

Somebody I don't know very well, Simona Voltaire. I think maybe is how you pronounce the Swiss players' name. Voltaire. But that's who she got first round. Siniak of a potential second round. She's in a... Sophia Kennan or, I tell you what, imagine how intense that match is going to be. Sophia Kennan against Peyton Stearns in the first round. You've got Tatiana Maria lurking there. We saw what she did to Anissa Moverett.

at Queen's, but I do think that was pretty grass-specific. Yeah, I think so. And also, I don't think Nisimov is as good as she is now. She looks ready to me. Yeah. To go deep here. That's it. I was mostly looking at the first few rounds for Anissimova because I do think she needs to...

get herself into this season and into this tournament. Like, she's got to get going, I think. And then she can build up the momentum that we saw last year. She's that kind of player, isn't she? I think so. Yeah, I really do. Having said that, though... You know, the sort of quarterfinals semis, I think, could be pretty opponent-specific here, whether we're talking about this as a good draw or not, because, you know...

Jessica Pagulo is her potential quarterfinal opponent. She's never beaten her. She's 0-3, and OK, she hasn't played as she is now, but there's just something about that match-up that she's not enjoyed in the past, and then... we saw what Rabatkinner did to her at the WTA finals, you know, and suddenly it felt a bit like the Rabatkinner ball strike was... overpowering the Inissim over a ball strike. So if Rabatkin is there in the latter stages, she's playing well, and that could be a problem.

I like the early rounds for Nisa Mova. And then if she were to face, for example, Svantec, while she showed in the back half of last year with those two wins over her, that she's OK in that matchup. I think you could make a case either way for the latter stages here, depending on who the opponent is. Both of those would be semi-finals, wouldn't they? Either Svantec or Rabakina for Anisimova would be a semi-final. I've got Svantec through to the...

quarters to face I've written Rabakina slash Bencic in that bottom quarter. Understandably so. I've ended up with Rabakina. I find it quite hard to pick against her other than against the very top players. I tend to go with her most of the time and it's interesting she's actually in... The section, I think, fourth round section with Naomi Osaka is Fiontech, which at the US Open I was definitely picking Osaka, and I'm not doing that this time. I don't have the same degree of confidence in her.

that I had last summer. I've written a Sarka slash lease, which would be a fourth round... Sorry. Second round. Sorry, second round. And sorry, the winner of that would potentially go on to face Fiontech in the fourth round. But yeah, Osaka-Lis in the second round. At least not easy against Castella. No, because they're just a pest, isn't she? Yeah, basically. But, yeah, I have gone with Shontek, and if I was...

If I was pressed to pick between Rabatkin and Bencic, I too would pick Rabatkin. I think the top level is higher. That would be a big test of the new Bencic serve, I would suggest, against the Rabatkin. just thinking about it as a match-up. I think it's a good draw for Svantec early here. Like, I do like her route through to the quarters.

David's obviously flagged Asako, who leaps out. We've mentioned Lise, but other than that, I do like this for Sviante. Do you think the top section, not quarter, because... Anisimova is in it, but the section above Anisimova, the Pegula Keys section, do you think that is potentially the most open? I realise Madison Keys is the defending champion and she's not at a bad start to the season, but she did get...

beaten by Victoria Mboko today. She's not in the form she was in last year. She did win Adelaide before... Of course, none of us predicted she would have been in Melbourne. In hindsight, the signs were there. In hindsight, the signs were there, and she's not in that form right now. I am always guilty of underestimating Jessica Bagula. I do think she will reach that quarterfinal to face Madison Keyes, but it feels the most open section to me. To meet her in the fourth round?

The Keys Pegula 8th feels to me the most open section. If there's going to be a shock... I pretty confidently wrote Pagula's name down to face Inissa Nova in the quarterfinals. So she would be beating Madison Keyes? Or at least come in through that section whether she faces her or not. You've got Nayla Fernandes in there. But Fernandes has got my fantasy league pick Janice Chen in round one who has not had a good start to the season. But that's a fun match.

And that's, I was talking to David earlier, and that's kind of the point we made. There's a lot of those sort of round one matches in the women's draw, especially where, like, if you know, you know, there's a lot of fun. between players like that. They're not going to bring in the real casual fans, but Fernandes-Chen, given the way Chen's been rising and Fernandes is such a good watch, that's an exciting first-round match, I think. Yeah, let's just whiz.

through a few of those just to mark people's cards for matches to look out for over the first few days. I mean, a lot of them we've picked out already, but these are the ones that I've circled. Sabalenka against Sarah Rakitamanja Rajana. I think Sabalenka is going to win that handily. But take a look at Rakita Manjarojana because she is a really talented player. She's at the beginning of her curve.

For sure. But I think the raw materials are there. I watched her play at the United Cup in Perth. I think I've seen her play on the TV before that. But I really think she's a... She's a talent, and it'd just be fun to see her on the big stage, I think. Mboko against Emerson Jones is obviously something to be very excited about. Mboko against a sensation, the sensation. And she's...

The sensation, because you literally called that on the front cover of Vogue. On the front cover of Australian Vogue. I mean, Australia was very excited about this girl. And look, she's a junior world number one. She's extremely talented. I commentated on her in round one last year and she got taken to school by Elena Rabachner. It was... adult against child. It was a total mismatch. And she is small, Emerson Jones. That is just something she's going to have to contend with. It doesn't...

Doesn't mean she can't have success. And she's definitely got something about her. And without question, she seems to come a long way in 12 months. But my goodness me, are Australia excited about this. kid is is that a bit early to be going on the front cover of a magazine of that type i was shocked to see her on the i don't know magazines aren't what they were are they but like vogue still carries a real cachet. I was surprised to see her on the front cover of Vogue. I was surprised that...

She was getting publicity that mainstream. I understand why the tennis world in Australia is very excited about her. She's junior world number one. That's a big deal. In Great Britain, we'd be getting very excited if we had a... prospect that promising but Outside of the tennis world? It's pretty cool on one hand, you could say. Tennis is getting off the tennis sports pages and suddenly it's on the front cover of Vogue. And if she's enjoying it, then great.

It also does set her up, in a way, for pressure, I suppose. More so, coming into an event like this. Yeah, because the world is how it is. I mean, look at... Yeah. Of course, if she fails to fulfil her talent, the narrative will be probably forever now. Well, you know, too many endorsements, too many appearances on the cover of Australian Vogue. You know, got distracted.

We know how it is for women. But I don't think that's a reason for her not to be doing it. Yeah, I think it's cool. I think, how old is she, 17? What 17-year-old is turning down the chance to be on the cover of Vogue? Being called a sensation? Amazing. Other first rounds that I've picked out, this is still the top half of the draw. Hayley Baptiste against Marquette Vondroshova. Assuming Vondroshova's fit, that's...

Delicious. Karolina Mukova against Jacqueline Christian, I think is cool. Barbara Krejcikva against Diana Schneider. And, of course, Donna Vekic against... Mira Andreva. I've got one other star next to Putin's saver, Hadash Maya, just for drama. OK. And the winner of that probably plays Kostiuk. It's just a very intense section of the draw that I'm into it. Top half, Leila Fernandes and Janice Chen, which we've mentioned. Elaine Ostapenko against Rebecca Shramkova.

Severe Kennan against Peyton Stearns for an intensity off. Matt, I know you're a big fan of Kai Yuvan, so I've circled her against Elena Rabatkin. She does hit a nice ball, Yuvan. Yes, and... You know, she's on the comeback. She took a break from the sport. Her father died. I've just always liked Kaya Yuvan. I just want good things for her, really. She speaks, you know, really impressively, I think. Yeah.

Elena Rebecca in a round one is not good things. It's not ideal. It's not great for my fantasy team. Teresa Valantova against Maya Joint. I'm into that. And we have Bilinda Bencic against Katie Bolter. Katie Bolter, far from the player we've seen in the last couple of years, but zero pressure and gets to play as Aussie Katie. Tough draw for her, that, isn't it?

She was probably hoping to get a bit of momentum going and suddenly you draw the most informed player in the world, pretty much. So Anika Steyer against Ivelisse. Lyudmila Samsonova against Laura Siegmund. Hate myself for circling that, but there we are. Sonny Cartel against Anna Kalinskaya is the last one that I've circled. That's from the bottom section of the draw. OK, who do we have? in the finals and who do we have winning? Tabelenka winning for me. Against? Anissa Mova.

Although that would be three Grand South final losses in a row and I'm not sure any of us can cope with that. Well, we've done our brackets entirely independently and come up with exactly the same result. I don't know what that says. It says that we spend a lot of time with each other. But that's exactly what I've got.

I didn't really get that far because we hadn't actually decided to do brackets. I thought I was being very diligent by writing names on my draw sheet. I had no intention of doing this and then I found myself doing it in a Roger Federer press conference. Look, I have Sablenka in the final for sure. And I think probably regardless of who she plays, she'll be the favourite.

But that was the case in New York, and I found myself picking Amanda Renisimova anyway because I find her kind of irresistible. And look, I might be going against myself here because I do remember thinking last year... If I see Gough-Sabalenka again, I need to remember what that match has looked like. And it's not a case of Sabalenka can't beat Coco Gough. She's got a number of wins against her. But...

you know, put the pressure of a Grand Slam semi-final on the line. And I know, again, I know Sabalenka's beaten Goff in that situation a couple of years ago, but that French Open was so impactful. And like...

has Sabalenka learned and grown from that? Like, that's why I want to see it. And right here, right now, I'm picking Sabalenka to make it through. But if we actually get there on the day, I might suddenly think... got to remember what Goff does to Sabalenka and how do you how do you hit through that Sabalenka's got to play a pretty perfect match to win that you know and

So that's what I'm really excited about. Amanda Enosomeva hasn't played a Grand Slam final as a blonde yet. What a stat! She's staying blonde forever if she... Windsor Slam is a blonde, isn't she? I would have thought. Surely, yeah. Maybe Matt Roberts will be too. We need it to happen here because Amanda Nussmova has very helpfully posted on Instagram. Also, thanks to Priscilla Hom, who's always involved. Always involved. She posted content from the salon.

Getting her hair dyed here in Melbourne. So we have a salon. It's the most authentic experience possible. Matt could go to the very same salon. It's quite near our apartment. Yeah, Matt's looked it up. Is it in our price range? I think we can fork out for... We are... David, we're in a creator lounge. Yeah. We are content creators. There is no better content. No.

Although, you know, I also would be quite amused if you used that one that you bring with you to Evergrande Slam to do it yourself. I actually didn't bring it here. Oh, okay. Have to be the salon then. Yeah. Book it. Sunday morning in two weeks' time. Right, OK, that is it for the women's draw and that is it for part one. We'll be back in part two to talk about the men's draw and in part three. to talk about Roger Federer, who winked at David Law today.

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Welcome back to part two of today's Draw Day tennis podcast, where we turn our attention to the men's singles draw at the Australian Open. What? are our headlines, David. Could it be a possible Sincaraz final? No. It isn't on my draw. I really wasn't expecting that. Bloody hell, we should have led the pod with that. There's your bloody headline. OK, well, expand. Can you tell this wasn't planned for? I'm genuinely so shook. I'm so shook.

I mean, again, it was during the Roger Federer press conference. I was listening to what he was saying, and I did find it very interesting. Have you got Grigor Dimitrov in the final? Because he really talked up Grigor Dimitrov. Yeah, in my question to Roger. It came up, so more of that later. But no, I... Stop looking at me like that. It's a perfectly legitimate... It is, but please tell me. Have you got Flavio Caballi in the... No, I haven't. Have you got Medvedev?

Well, look, to use... Is it Medvedev? You said more on him later. To use... Oh, my God, it's Medvedev. Oh, my God. He's back. Words from the traitors. Oh. Which we all watch. It's the first time we've all watched The Traitors in Melbourne together and it was really special. And a word for The Traitors. My sister texted me last night, are you more excited about The Traitors or The Draw?

Which was a perfect question. Yeah. And I said the draw. Particularly now. But actually, turns out it was traitors. When we were watching the traitors, Matt said, God, the draw's going to have to be bloody good. Was it good enough? The Traitors was more than an 8 out of 10. Oh, The Traitors was more than an 8 out of 10, yeah. Anyway, David. Anyway, back to this. Well, Daniel, I've written your name, Dan. Oh, my.

God, what's happening? David, you've seen the Medvedev-Alkaraz matchup. Yeah. Is that going to happen? Do you think Medvedev's taking him out? Yeah, I do. US Open style? Yeah. Yeah. Wow. You've seen enough. You've gone big on Brisbane. I didn't plan this. I didn't come into the Australian Open thinking Medvedev's going to be in the final. Is this a Medvedev prediction or is it an Alcaraz prediction? Both.

It's the combination that leads to the conclusion. Because, I mean, look, I just went through the draw and ended up with... Medvedev facing Zverev, although I think I'm not that confident Zverev gets there. But overall, I think looking at his draw, I'd still end up with him there. I think Medvedev takes out Zverev because he all...

always tends to beat him when it really matters, and ends up playing Alcraz in the semis. And then I think you do get the one-class Ferrero factor coming in. And I think by then... Medvedev is playing relentless tennis, just metronomic tennis. And you've got to beat the guy. And Alcraz is perfectly equipped and capable of doing it, as you said, we've seen it so many times.

But he's never done it here. And look, I know that I said a few weeks ago that I'm picking Svantec and Alcrast to complete the career slam. He's actually picking neither. However... Since then, Ferrero's out. That is a major factor. Surround Tech doesn't look convincing, really. by her standards, and Sabalenka looks so convincing. So that, you know, I mean, she's not even going to face Sabalenka in my draw because Nismova will win that match if they face each other, but...

In the end... David's been very convinced by what he's seen in Brisbane, clearly. In the end, I've written your name down, Daniel, to reach the final. And then have you got... Medvedev losing another Australian Open final. Yes, I have. To Sinner. Yeah. I'm going to have to do a Medvedev's near-misses AO relived in 10 years' time. Matt.

What have you got happening in the top half of the men's draw? Well, I'm actually thrilled that David has said what he said. Now I'm really, really invested in whether this ends up happening. Personally, I've not seen enough from Medvedev to think that he's got a win over Alcaraz deep in a slam in him right now. I take the point about Alcarez and Ferrero and that is an unknown about how much that is going to impact things.

Like for me, it's one of those things where, and maybe this is bad analysis, but it's one of those things where I'll be probably mentioning it when it happens rather than... predicting that it is going to totally throw Alperaz off. I just sort of think his level above the rest of the field is so high that it... I could see it potentially impacting him against Sinner in the final, if we're talking about Alquaz being a level below where he was. But I still think...

Given what we've seen over the last couple of years and the way he's distanced himself from someone like Medvedev, it would have to be quite a dramatic drop in my mind for Alcaraz to lose that match to Medvedev. And I just don't really see that. um

I know Medvedev did beat him at that US Open, but generally Alcaraz has enjoyed that matchup and the ability to exploit the space that Medvedev leaves. Do you think we're getting that matchup? Do you think that will be the semi? I do, actually. I actually do. So you've got Medvedev beating Zverev in the second quarter and Alcaraz beating, well, I've put Diminor slash Bublik slash Kabali. I've got Diminor finding his way through a very tricky draw.

The same for you, Matt? But without much confidence. Yes, I think the same for me. I mean, obviously, you say a very tricky draw. Berrettini in the first round. I'm a bit worried about De Menor. Which is... Which is potentially really silly because, you know, he's the guy that delivers. He is reliable. So what's made you feel like that? I think it's... I don't think it necessarily suits him being the guy.

I think he's found ways to have done very well at handling it and is just a good enough tennis player that that ultimately is what is brought to bear. But I don't think a first-round draw against Matteo Berrettini is what he needs at all. I think he will be nervous about that. Yeah, I agree with that. You know, this is a place that does road to the title graphics for Thanasi Kokonakis. Like...

Yeah. What is it for Dimonor? Just AI with him holding the trophy. Right, right. Exactly. Well, I mean, he's more or less discussed in the same breath as Zinner and Alcaraz here. Yeah. And look, he's an incredible player. And he's the sixth seed. If Great Britain had a sixth seed at Wimbledon, the BBC coverage would be talking about him in the same.

in the same way it might be a slightly different vibe but you know because because of how brits are um but it'd be the same level of like jingoism i think but I think Matteo Berrettini in round one is potentially quite a problem for Domino. He's a better tennis player in the year 2026, but Berrettini shows up for big matches. I think Berrettini will look at that draw and go, OK, yeah.

If he's fully fit. This is what I'm here for. Moments. Well, we saw his level at the end of last year in the Davis Cup. He was awesome. And we just haven't seen him in singles. big tournaments very often fully fit, not for a long time. So if he is, without the pressure, like you say, Catherine, he can go into Australia, court he likes, no pressure and swing. Yeah.

Big time. You know, he's the only player that's beaten Carlos Alcaraz in five sets and he did it here at the Australian Open. OK, a few years ago, but like, I think he'll puff his chest out and rise to that. And I think that's close. Five-set classic all over it. Yeah. Yeah. He leads the head-to-head, Berrettini, 3-2. And I do remember a match of theirs at Wimbledon a couple of years ago where Berrettini really threw him around and won that.

I know, obviously, grass, different situation. But I am backing de Menor just to come through. And I get that. Like, he has earned people believing in... His reliability. Yeah. And Berrettini did play very well at the end of last season. He didn't play anyone in Dimonor's class. What about new top tenner, Alexander Bubb?

Bublik, he's got a tough round one against Jenson Brooksby and Caballi in that section as well, speaking of players that played well at the end of last season. Yeah, interesting. I mean, I find... Alexander Bublik, forever fascinating as a tennis proposition, apart from, you know, he's a bit out there on a number of other levels, but as just a tennis prospect.

He's already massively exceeded what I ever thought he would do. I think he's kind of done more than he ever thought he would do too. If you go back a year and he was 80 in the world, he's put it all together and suddenly he's a top 10 player and he's so dangerous. And yet he could come and stuck in the first round because he's that kind of guy. And Kabbali, I'd love to see that match. I think that's a really good match on paper. I'd love to see it.

Third round, Bublik Kabbali. Super fast baseliner with electric ground strokes against this huge serving, mercurial, unpredictable presence. I'd also love to see Kabbali-Diminor. I think that would be a fun match as well. That would be a quarterfinal. No, a fourth round, excuse me. This would be to likely face Alcaraz in the...

in the quarterfinal and then obviously Medvedev in the semis. I was just going to say with Bublik, I remember he obviously came in to Wimbledon last year with suddenly people talking about him, bit of hype and actually we picked up on it and his... media day he was he was different he was chippy and I think the pressure was even if he said he wasn't feeling it you could tell he was a different person and he he lost in round one here the situation's a bit different in that I don't think

People are talking about him in quite the same way they were at Wimbledon. Because obviously there he'd just beaten Yannick Sinner on grass. But here the thing is, he's just got to the top ten. And he's made no secret of how... pleased he was he said literally that was his year goal he's done it already and sometimes that can just lead to a little bit of a drop-off for players when they do accomplish the thing they've been chasing and

Yeah, as David said, he's just, he's very tough to read public. And I really do find him tricky. Like, I don't... Right here, right now, I wouldn't say he plays Alcaraz in the quarterfinals. I don't specifically... pick someone to beat him. I just sort of think, cumulatively, I'm not sure I trust him over that many rounds, over five sets. No, I share the same concerns about Bublik. I would be shocked if he has the same...

season now this year that he had last year. I think psychologically he's quite a similar character to Kyrgios. I don't think he is going to enjoy any kind of target on his back at all. I think he... wants to be a... An outsider, an underdog, a disruptor. And actually, I think one of the things that is really tough when you break into the top ten is your ranking kind of does stop going up unless you do incredible things. Really.

incredible things just the nature of of the elite level where the air is thinner and there are fewer opportunities um and then you've got to get used to that mentality uh and and i suspect He might have a few bad ones and start dropping. Just staying with this half for a moment longer and dropping to the second quarter, how confident are we in Zverev last year's... finalist and third seed making the quarterfinals to face what we all think is probably going to be Daniel Medvedev.

Well, I'm not that confident because, I mean, he's due to face Gabriel Diallo in the first round, who's as big as him, even taller, in fact, six foot eight, huge serve. Diallo isn't in the sort of form that he was six months ago, but he's exactly the type of profile for a tennis player that could cause...

real problems because he goes for his shots. He's a huge ball striker. He's a huge server. He can stay with Zverev without too much difficulty on serve if he's playing well. And then it can bring nerves and tightness.

into into matters and you know i i i mean it's very i've only played two matches i think so far this year he played an exhibition the other night and Something Andy Roddick mentioned the other day is that he spoke to Zverev and that they share a preference for having a lot of matches going into a Grand Slam, proper matches, not Alcaraz, Sinner, exhibition-type things. And, well, Zverev hasn't had that. And he also really didn't end the year that well. And he's lost to Joanna Garland.

If it gets tight, think of the players that beat Zverev last year, like Rinderknecht. 16 of them. But I'm talking about the grand slams. If you think of the players in the last couple of grand slams that beat him, Oji Ali Asim and Rindy Kinesh, people who just went for the shots and found them and got him tight and got him... playing passively. I think Diallo...

this might be his big chance. I don't know what sort of fitness shape he's in. It could be Alex C. Popperin in the second round, who's another big ball striker, but he's in terrible form. He hasn't won a match since the US Open. And he also doesn't beat Zverev when they play one another. So it's not a good draw for Zverev, I don't think, in those first couple of rounds. But, you know...

He could have Sarundalo in round four or Rublev, players that have had success against him. But I still think, on balance, I'd have to put him in the quarterfinals as my expectation. I don't say that with confidence. There's also the element for Zverev of knowing how much of a hit his ranking will take if he doesn't get close to defending his final.

points from last year it's not a ranking entirely propped up by those final points because there is such a gap between between Sinner and Alcaraz and everybody else but it it would take a big hit yeah he would start start to tumble. Yeah absolutely and I see this draw for Zverev as potentially having a cumulative effect you know like he's he's never been a really efficient winner.

at Grand Slams, just getting the job done straightforwardly. He often ends up with a lot of matches and time on court in his legs. And I think we've seen slams where that has taken its... toll on him and I wouldn't be surprised if that sort of thing happens again you know if he ends up facing Medvedev in the quarterfinals and yet he's had to battle through a couple of long matches already and

even if he were to get through Medvedev, I think that could be a lot. And then how much has he got in the tank for alcohol? You know, I just think that that's been the sort of pattern for Zverev over the years at these... at these Grand Slams. And yeah, there are a lot of dangerous players who could take them out themselves. But I think it's more of a pack effect on Sverev that I see here. I do think...

Felix at the very bottom. I know we've all written Medvedev through to that quarterfinal. I think since the US Open last year... Orgeliasim's been kind of playing top five tennis. The only thing is a lot of that has been in his favourable conditions, indoors. I'm interested to see whether he can bring it. And Medvedev Orgeliasim is...

The match here they played a few years ago, I think that's one of the best matches Orgiali's team's ever played. I know he lost it, but he was bloody good that day. That would be a very... intriguing fourth round. There's also Leonard Tien. Of course, yes. Now, he would have to beat Felix Auger, Eliassime, in round three, but if he did, he would, it would be a potential... fourth round opponent for Medvedev. I do want to see that, yeah. Just looking at the...

Let's say Zverev does end up in the quarterfinals. If it's not Medvedev, it could well be Ogeli Asim, who's beaten him twice in a row. It could even be Rindeknes, who beat him twice late last year. I don't think that'll be the case, by the way. I don't think... Rinderkinesh is likely to back up last year. Not even the Rinderkinesh guy is backing Rinderkinesh. No, I enjoy watching him, but I don't see him repeating last year. OK, on to the...

second, the bottom half of the draw. I feel like I need to ask you now, David, have you got Yannick Sinner coming through this? Have you done something insane? No. I've got him very much, very, very emphatically in the final. Do you know, he came to that draw ceremony today, brought... Brought the Norman Brooks trophy on, had a little chat with Todd Woodbridge and then went on his way. And we were sitting on the second row, you know, just a few metres away. And it struck me.

Even more so today, seeing him from up close, the same thing that struck me last night, watching him in the one-point slam, even though he faulted to hand the win to Jordan Smith, and from the footage I saw of... The exhibition he played in Seoul and all of the associated, you know, lovely content from him and Carlos Alcaraz arriving together on their private jet.

how much more swagger he has about him than a year ago and before, even though a year ago he was world number one. He's the world number two now. There was actually a really... fun clip from last night or moment from last night when Yannick Sinner was introduced as the world number one and he immediately turned to Carlos Alcaraz and like

Because I think Carlos Alcaraz was distracted and he alerted him like, oh, he's just introduced me as world number one. It was a great reaction from Alcaraz. I'm sure you've seen it online. If you haven't, look it up. It's fun. But yeah, he's world number two right now. well, number one a year ago. And look, part of this, I think, is just like time and comfort levels with being at the top of the game. Like it's inevitable that you would get more comfortable.

and assured and confident with your place in the world the more time you spend there. But I also think it makes you realise, I mean, of course, but how affected he was. by everything that was hanging over him a year ago. And we talked about that at the time and since, didn't we? And yet we also talked about how remarkably well he dealt with it and how unaffected he seemed to be.

be by it but I think it's incredibly clear like his body language is so so different yeah he's really swaggering around now that's it I think we mostly talked about how well he was dealing with it from a very pure tennis results perspective you know he was he was dominant during that that period and yet yeah when you see him on on the stage and how relaxed he was and he he has he does have

real charisma in those in those settings you know it's different to Al Karaz's but it's absolutely there you can you can tell that he's a he's a star and yeah he just He just gives you so much confidence, doesn't he? He looks happy with where he is in life right now and comfortable in his own skin. And it's a good draw, isn't it? I know Fonseca's in there, but I'm...

I'm not sure Fonseca is even going to play, let alone play well, given everything we're hearing about his fitness situation. He's got Hugo Gaston in round one, a potential fourth round with... Karen Hashanov or unexpectedly 22nd seed Luciano Darderi. That was my biggest shot from the draw. Who on earth is Luciano Darderi and how is he 2022 in the world? Do you know what would be quite interesting?

Just because I can't remember seeing it. You may tell me they've played a million times. But I'd be quite interested to see if you played Pesci Perikar. And just tried to... And if Pesci Perikar... He's won... multiple matches this year already without breaking serve and just got it into tie breaks and won the tie breaks. I predict, David, that he will break serve in round one. Pesci Perry car.

Yeah, he's playing against Sebastian Baez. Who has come out of the year hot. He's been incredible. I watched his matches at the United Cup in Perth. He's been absolutely incredible. But he was getting a serve broken a lot. Like, that's his... Even the best Sebastian Byers isn't holding serve very much. Pescipericard and Sinner have never played one another. So I'd just be, you know, he was in bad form a year ago as Pesci Pericard. I saw him lose to Gamon Fils here.

And look, I know we've pointed out his deficiencies on return or serve. He did break the other day in a match he won. It does feel like quite an event, but the fact is his serve... is so good now and his volleys are good and all the rest of it that he's getting to so many of these time. I'd be fascinated to see that. I think that might happen, you know. I would be really unfascinated by Pesci Perry.

Sin and Pesci Perry car. Oh, I'm sure it'd be a terrible match. I'm not trying to pretend it would be a great match, but I'm talking about threat levels. Right, okay, interesting. Yeah, like, I still think as much as we can... Rib and Pesci Perikar for those return stats, like that serve is a problem for players. And it's, you know, it's the is-na thing. It's the...

It's the Opelka thing. It is just a test. And there were times when the top players would play Isno. And they'd come through. They'd figure out a way. But he was a more threatening name than a lot of people just because of that. singular weapon and how he does test you in tie breaks. But then do you remember how worried we were about Alcaraz playing a pelker in round one in New York? He's way better than a pelker, but I take your point.

I mean, he is. I think he is the sort of player whose serve really goes with his physicality. I mean, he's six foot eight, he's a huge guy, and he serves even bigger than that. But it wasn't working for long periods last year in the way that he needed it to. Now, I mean, he's just started the year really strongly. I have a question for you, Catherine. Would you rather see a fourth round?

of Yannick Sinner versus Giovanni and Pesci Perikar or Yannick Sinner versus Karin Hakchanov? Oof. Novelty Valley, Pesci Perikar maybe. I mean, I like watching Yannick Sinner because I like his tennis, but neither of those. I'm not rushing out for either of those. I'll be browsing other options. Yeah, I mean, like potential quarterfinal opponents for Yannick Sinner. On seedings, it's Ben Shelton. I have massive concerns about his shoulder, particularly in...

Best of five. I mean, even that match-up. I know Shelton got an early win against Sinner, but Sinner has... Oh, I'm talking about Shelton getting there. Right, OK, yeah. But even in the match-up, Sinner has absolutely dominated that. It hasn't even occurred to me that Sinner's not reaching the final. No, me neither.

Me neither. We spent like 10 minutes talking about Giovanni and Pescipericam. Trying to inject some tension into this half of the draw. I could imagine on the day that Sinner is certainly in the semi-finals. assuming he gets there, the hardest match that he has faced was Pesci Pericard. Looking at that draw, I could imagine that being the case. So who do you think...

he will face in the semi-final. I've got Djokovic. He's coming through the third quarter. I've got Djokovic. And I mean, look, I know that Djokovic has... has reportedly got a neck problem and I don't necessarily have confidence that Djokovic physically can make it through that far. But he's also Novak Djokovic, who's won more than anybody else ever has in men's tennis. And he's also got most of the field terrified of him.

And he's in a section where there's nobody else particularly obvious to go for. He's in a section where a lot of the other names also have fitness concerns. And I'm backing Novak Djokovic to deal with those. fitness concerns the best because we've just seen it so many times that you know the other two big names in that section being taylor fritz who okay i don't think is in a is in a sort of acute injury situation i don't think it's but i think

It's there, absolutely. And we saw that he was diminished, really, at the United Cup. He didn't play his best stuff. And then we've got Mazzetti, who retired from an exhibition the other day. And that was a new injury. It was the it was the elbow that seemed to be concerning him in Hong Kong. And that wasn't the elbow. I mean, I know, you know, I'm sure it was mostly a precaution, but I don't know, like.

you do look at that section and you do sort of think Djokovic should be the most likely one to come through it still. Or Hubert Hercatch. Well. I mean, tough round one. Hubert Hercatch against Zizou Burgs. Yeah, that's got a star next to it on my draw. On the basis of United Cup form, and obviously continuation of that is by no means a given, you've got to have...

A couple of eyes on Hubert Hercatch, I think. He has been really surprisingly good considering what he's had to deal with physically. What, six, seven months out after knee surgery? I just think best-of-five set tennis is going to... catch up with him quite soon you've also got Jakub Mensik in there who obviously has a win over Novak Djokovic in a big match you know okay not a Grand Slam match but a

Masters 1000 final. Stefanos Tsitsipas is in there and we're not even mentioning him. So many one-handed backhands in that section. Mazzetti, Dimitrov, Tsitsipas and Wawrinka are all... very close to each other in the draw. They all came out there, the one handers. Let's mock some cards for good round ones. I've circled, maybe I was desperate.

But I've circled Tristan's cool hatay against Kortan Mutay. Right there with you. Just because Mutay against a sensation, that should be your vibe, shouldn't it? Yeah, I want to see Mutay winding up the locals here. Yeah, that's good stuff. I've got Bublik against Brooksby circled. I've got Berrettini-Dominor, obviously, Zverev Diallo, as David was pointing out. I mean, I agree with everything you've said about...

Diallo and Zverev David and yet I also know Diallo lost to Andrea Vavasori in singles this week and I think that's embarrassing I don't disagree with that. He wasn't the only one. No, Raphael Collignon also did and he's got Mazzetti first round and somebody else lost him as well. Three singles wins.

a spell on these opponents but I mean I haven't seen Dialla play for a while so and I don't know what sort of shape he's in all the rest of it I just know that when I have watched him I've thought crikey he carries himself with real confidence and and looks like he believes he's going to go and beat anybody plays, whether or not that's realistic or not. He has this self-assured look about him. So, yeah, I hope he brings it. It'll be interesting.

Rublev potentially interesting if Arnaldi's fit. He's got a connection to Australia, I think, Arnaldi, hasn't he? might get a lot of support. Mazzetti Collignon, as I said, Collignon had that breakout run at the US Open, didn't he, and played well in the Davis Cup finals. He's a good player, although, as we said, did allude to Andrea Favisor. in singles. We have Dimitrov against Mahatch. Who can retire first?

Unfortunately, that is the first thought I had. But he's flying. Did Mahatcha have a good win today? He did. He beat Munar. Straight set into the semis. Okay. I've... I've... I've done a lacklustre circle around menship Karenja Buster. You do you, Catherine. I didn't. Why have you done that? I didn't. I was grasping. There aren't many circles on the men's draw. I think, you know, just a match I'm interested in is whether Wawrinka can get a win.

Yeah, absolutely. Against Gerrard. That would be a moment. I was going to say, I actually think whether he gets a win or not, he's actually got an opponent who's going to at least let him play. Yes. Not just make life miserable for him. If he'd have played Pesci Pericard for him... since he just doesn't have any rallies to play and make anybody gasp, which against Gerrard, he will. Yeah, yeah, I think that's a good point. John Kane for that match, do you think?

Sure. Yeah, that'd be fine. I think you could put him on... I'm not saying what I want. I wouldn't put him on Rod Laverina. It feels like what they would do. Yeah, I think that is. I think they might put him on the second court. I think he could play there. I think he could play Keira Arena and all of these courts. would be a vibe. I think he should go on one of the three.

main courts. I think Rod Laver would be too big, but one of the other two. I think John Kane. Yeah, I think that's a good show. It's kind of the people's... There was quite a grassroots movement for him to get a wild card, wasn't there? It feels like he would... really creating Atmos out there yeah and I just think obviously David's injected great intrigue and life into the men's draw but but

That is the kind of moment that we're looking for in the first week, right? A Stan getting a moment. That will power us through the first few days on the men's side. Who knows? Nakashima van der Zanschel could provide those vibes too. You just... You just never know. Her catch, Zizi Berg's, I think, is a corking first round. That is good. And Ben Shelton against Ugo Ember. Like, I know Ugo Ember is...

barely won matches recently. I don't really know why. I think his ranking should be way higher than it is. But, you know... That's a handful for Ben Shelton. If Ben Shelton's shoulder isn't quite right, he's playing this week, isn't he, Shelton? And just that section is interesting as well. The winner of that could face Gaël Monfils, who again is a vibe.

But then there's also Manorino, like Shelton Manorino. Think how good that's been. Yeah, there's Vachero. And then there's Vachero, who I am interested in. This is our first Grand Slam since... Shanghai. It's our first Grand Slam paying attention to Vachiro. Qualifier slash lucky loser. That seems very fitting. So yeah, that's the end of my circling for the men's draw.

Any other ones to propose? I've taught myself and David's helped me and, you know, I'm quite into Impessi Perry car buyers now. I mean, what is the height difference there? You're talking six foot eight. against i mean what is he five six five seven five five five six i reckon they'll i don't think they on the atp they never call anyone below five six i feel like i don't you know on the atp bio

Five, six is like their small person limit. David's looking it up. I am, yeah. While David does that, we'll take a break and we'll be back in part three with the big bombshell height news and with some Roger Federer chat. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Fiscally responsible, financial geniuses, monetary magicians. These are things people say about drivers who switch their car insurance to Progressive and save hundreds.

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Welcome back to part three of today's tennis podcast. What is, David, the height difference between Giovanni and Pesci Pericard and Sebastian Byers? It is a foot and an inch because he's listed at... A very generous 5'7". It's always generous. I stood next to that guy. He is 1m70 and Peshi Perikar is 2m1. According to this, I think he's a bit taller than that personally. But yes, big chap. Can't believe he's bumped Roger Federer down from the lead item in part three. Because Roger Federer...

came to a press conference today. There was that moment, wasn't there, when the announcement came through, Roger Federer is on his way to the main press conference room. And it was... It was fun. It was really fun. We knew he was coming. We knew he was... He's going to be playing this exhibition opening ceremony event on Saturday night with Agassi and Hewitt and Pat Rafter and Crowded House.

unclear if they're participating in the tennis element. Hopefully they're playing bangers, as David said earlier. I love it when David says bangers. Bangers and duffers. Yeah, me too. Duffers. Do you think it's going to be just... A couple of songs or do you think it's a full set? Well, I think there's also potentially somewhere in between. I definitely don't think it's a full set, you know, hour and a half type thing.

I reckon they'll play for... Half an hour? Yeah. OK. We'll get the big one, but we'll get the biggies. OK. So, yeah, he's playing that on Saturday and he's here, you know, he's here for the tournament, isn't he? I assume they're... See him there paying him. You know, he'll be doing loads of sponsor things. It's his first time back at the Australian Open since retiring. And, of course, he never played, you know, his retirement.

came out of the blue a little bit he didn't do any kind of farewell so you know the opening press question in this press conference from the moderator Todd Woodbridge was this is kind of hello and goodbye all at the same time that was after he'd walked in and immediately clocked David and winked at him which was really really great

I always, I really, I bristle and roll my eyes at the way people get about Roger Federer. You know, there was a round of applause at the end of the press conference, which made me want to rip off my accreditation. I knew that would have annoyed you. Distance myself from the media. Like, absolutely embarrassing. But then... I'm sat next to David, I'm wink adjacent, and suddenly I get it, you know, I'm like, oh, just to be in the orbit of this guy. Yeah, so...

It was a great little moment. He remembers his pep talks. He does. I can see it in his eye. He really does. And the first thing he said was, I'm a little bit nervous to be back here. facing the media in this way because he hasn't for so long and it's not a normal thing to do to sit at a desk.

in a theatre-style arena with spotlights, dimmed lighting and spotlights, and face a barrage of... questions albeit from people that are going to applaud you out of the room and people that used to give you pep talks and lifts but it wasn't a barrage was it no but

Like, it's not a normal thing to do. It's just something tennis players get used to doing because they're doing it all the time. And I kind of believed him that he was a little bit nervous. Yeah, listen, I mean, he handles... things so lightly I think that was something Mario Carrillo once said about him the way how lightly he carries his work you know and and walks around the place and carries his greatness in that wonderfully light way. And he enjoys...

A lot of it. He always used to enjoy talking to the media. I don't think that has changed. But I think it's a bit like going on holiday for several weeks and then going back to work. And it all feels a bit... clunky and a bit weird and you just need to get back into the rhythm and routine of it all and he hasn't done this for years really in certainly at a tennis tournament

And he's coming in, he knows there's a lot of attention and he loves it, but he kind of wants to feel as self-assured as he used to, I think in some ways, knowing that he's actually got to go out and perform. And he doesn't want him to be rubbish. He wants to be good. He wants to make people think, oh, it's that guy, I remember him, and feel the things they always used to feel. And frankly, they do.

because he is still him. But he's also human. I do think he was probably a bit anxious, just very slightly. Anxious, yeah. Yeah, while also being just... spectacularly relaxed and at ease and happy like he was asked a question like if you found retirement easier or harder than you thought and he was like way easier than I thought like Yeah, Roger Federer in being relaxed and happy with life, shocker. Like, he's...

He's so fine, isn't he, Roger Federer? He managed to bust the myth that Craig Tidey invented the one-point format. He was dollied up a question about whether he liked the one-point slam. He was like, I was out to dinner. so I didn't watch it. Didn't watch it, but I've played that before. Yeah, he said, I watched the highlights on, he said, my fame is blowing up about it, so I watched all the highlights on. It sounds like he's a real one for falling down YouTube rabbit holes, doesn't it?

He said, I watched all the highlights when I came back. And he was like, yeah, I know how hard the one-point format can be. I've played it lots before. I've played it at weddings. Yeah. What sort of weddings is Roger Federer going to? Ones where people go, Roger. Fenner is here imagine if we could play one point against him oh let's do it yeah and where there just happens to be a tennis court yeah those aren't the weddings I'm going to um and uh

David, the best answer, of course, if the press conference was to your question. Oh, I mean, it was interesting. I was curious to see what you thought. I asked him, having... had the opportunity to be a part of great rivalries and now witnessing one with Sinner and Alcraz. Do you find yourself imagining what your game would look like against them and what... What are you seeing? Subtext, because you do.

Yeah, absolutely, I do. And I quite liked how emphatic he views himself as Alcaraz in the rivalry. And, I mean, he actually ended up naming... Dimitrov as the example that made him think like that because he was at the Dimitrov Cinematch where we all remember the traumatic facial expression that he had when Dimitrov got injured. Like, I thought that was a classic bit of Federer humble brag, talking about...

watching what Dimitrov was doing to Sinner. Yeah, I mean, because if he could do that... Yeah, he was kind of like, suddenly I was like, oh, that's how I would have played in, that's how I would have done... That's how I would have gone two sets of love up on him at Wimbledon. Right. And then just... you know, clinically one of the first. Except I wouldn't have got injured. Yeah, I really enjoyed that. But you're right, like he's as a, like he clearly massively respects Sinner's game and...

you know, is so impressed with what he's doing. But he's drawn to Alcaraz because he does see some of himself in him in terms of that instinct to always, he said, play on my... play tennis on our terms and when to hit the drop shot and all that sort of thing and that I talk about it in terms of these players being able to move on to the ball and I've said that before like Federer is the best I've ever seen at that picking up on a short ball and just...

taking it early, coming forward. And Alcaraz is also absolutely brilliant at that. And there is a similarity there, a similarity in mindset. And yeah, like I'm not surprised that Federer is an Alcaraz guy. And Alcaraz is a Federer guy. Yes. Of course there's a connection there with Nadal. But spiritually, he's always made it clear that he's a Federer guy, really. They relate to one another.

the most. And I do just want, maybe this is a real stretch, and I don't know how long Federer's scheduled to stay around for, but we know that... Alcaraz's interactions with Federer at the Labour Cup in 2024 were very impactful on him. We know that from the documentary he did and that he was then asked about subsequently and he did it. expand on the advice that Roger Federer gave him about viewing his career in five-year sections. I do just wonder if...

Given that connection between them, Federer being here, I'm not for a moment suggesting he's going to sort of be a... Be on the court coaching. Be a Ferrero surrogate. But I think the presence of Roger Federer has an... has a positive impact on Carlos Alcaraz. And he is here. He's not usually at slams. I don't know. I wonder if that's a thing for Alcaraz. Well, I definitely think, like Federer used to do...

They want to impress the great champions. They want to show off a little bit. Look what I can do. You know, Federer used to do it in front of his heroes. But I... I mean, I agree with that point, but I'm thinking more behind the scenes. Yeah, no. Whether they could have, you know, just a couple of chats. Well, the other thing is, I think that is true. And I also think Federer was a contemporary of Ferraro.

And I do think that... The new balls please generation. Yeah. Alcruz is going to miss that, I think. First slam of real note without the guy. I think he's a bit like Federer in that he just sort of seems to sail through tennis life and enjoy it all. But... You can't tell me that somebody who's been that significant in his life and in his career isn't going to be missed. You've just made me realise that I forgot to check with you both who you think is winning the Australian Open.

I'm assuming David, given who you've got in the final, you've got Yannick Sinner winning it. I'm not going to row back on what I've said, but I mean, I could easily, easily be absolutely ridiculously wrong and that Alcaraz is in that final. But would you be going for Sinner regardless? I still think now...

Given the situation with Ferreira, I think that that tips it in Sinner's favour, I do. Matt? Yes, right here, right now would go Sinner. I mean, the other thing I would say is the last two slams... I've changed my mind during the slam. You're allowed. You're allowed. And again, this is a bit of a Rochevedere humble brag. But at Wimbledon, I thought Alcaraz before the tournament. Seeing what I saw, I changed to Sinner. And then...

at the U.S. Open, I thought, seeing their pre-tournament with the hard court, but seeing what we saw ended up going for Alcorat. So I do think... We've got to see how the matches play out and we've got to take stuff from the room. Especially given neither of them have played a warm-up event. We've got nothing. So I'm mostly going on, OK, I still think Sinner on hard courts here. He's a two-time defending champion. The Alcarez, bit of instability.

with Ferreira not being here. To me, that is all pointing Sinner, but that's how it goes. If Alcaraz came out looking like he did at the US Open and he shaved that hair off. Do you mean the hair? Well, shave it off for a start. I told you he should have that as his... grand slam thing. Medvedev has a haircut and David predicts he'll reach the Australian Open final. I think it's good for these guys. You know, but the...

the emphatic manner with which he was handling business at the US Open and hitting the ball. If he comes out looking like... He will do spectacular things, for sure. But that was different. If he comes out as that version...

then I may be singing a different tune. He's got a sensation in round one. Adam Walton. Adam Walton. Good luck, Adam. I heard on Australian radio earlier, I like Adam Walton's draw. Yeah, it turned out to be an ironic gag, thank goodness. It's quite good. Because that person would have had to have their accreditation ripped from them.

OK, that's it for our draw show. A bumper. It's a good draw day, isn't it? It's a good draw day. It's been great. Yeah, it has been good. And now I'm looking at a picture of Gus. And she's so gorgeous. And it's different. We've got a... Renee has sent us multiple pictures.

of Gus, but I think more to come. Oh, we've got a Dropbox folder. Which we very much appreciate. And in fact, this one is a sort of, it's a diptych with yesterday's photo. It's a sort of continuation. So I'll post them on our Instagram as a two-parter. Goodness me, she's beautiful. So hello, Gus. Hello to our mascots, Bodie, Maisie and Roger, to our executive producers, Greg, Chris and Jeff, and to our shout-outs, Matt. We have Andrew Wilhelm from Denver, Colorado.

Hi, Andrew. Hello, Andrew. Andrew says, Karolina Mukova and Jasmine Paolini. Andrew and Andy have taste, I would say. Those are, yeah, great picks. Our Cavalier King Charles Waffles couldn't care less about any of it. Yeah, that's relatable. Andrew, like the former Wimbledon referee, Andrew Jarrett. Very good. I've been at a few dinners with him. Oh. Yeah, like your lunches with John Blom. A couple called Andrew and Andy, I bet they...

Get a lot of tired gags. So I won't confront them with another one. But that's fun. Thank you, Andrew. We've also got Rob Becker from New York. Right, Rob. Hello, Rob. What a tennis name. And actually, Rob, like this is this is incredible. Like Roger Federer says, I've played in the one point slam precursor.

back when the USTA had a nationwide tournament for amateurs to get a spot in the US Open qualies. The US Open is claiming it. We've been mis-sold the one-point slam. It wasn't Greg Diley's idea. Craig was courtside when Rob was playing his one-pointer. I thought you were going to say that Rob was at the same wedding that Roger Federer's been at. Rob, I know we should be more imaginative, but your surname's Becca. Like, come on. Like Benjamin.

Oh, David. Ended Andre Agassi's career, didn't he, Benjamin Becker? Correct, yeah. Sorry, I'm just reading chapter on verse now on Rob's one-point slam experience. Lost promptly on an outside court at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre. But depending on the luck of the draw, some people got to play on grandstand and other... Show courts. Rob could be another Bee Becker, couldn't he? Because Rob's are off Bob. Thanks, Rob. And finally, we have...

Bobby, Connor and Luke Murray. Oh. Connors and Murray. This is a crazy set of... Yeah, we've really started... With the bar high for the Australian Open shout outs. Bobby Connor and Luke Murray from New Jersey. Hi, guys. And they say we all love and play tennis at Mendham Golf and Tennis Club and attend the U.S. Open every year on the last Thursday of qualifying during fan week.

Good choice. We love Tommy Paul, Lorenzo Mazzetti, Irina Sabalenka and Jesse Pagula. And we root for Newcastle United in the Premier League. You were doing so well, Bobby, Connor and Luke. You didn't need to ruin it. Yeah, they dashed. Matt's Fulham EFL Cup hopes. Yeah. We've lost twice to Newcastle this season. I went to one of them. With one more fixture to come. Yeah. We won't hold it against you.

Bobby, Connor and Luke Murray. Is there a tennis? Luke Jensen? Yes, very good. Bobby Riggs and Connor... McNamara? That's a commentator from football. Has he ever done tennis? Five Live. Not to my knowledge. I took a swing. Yeah. It's a good try. Yeah. Sports. Surely we can have Connors. Yeah. Conor Story. There we go. Conor. Connor Nyland, the Irish tennis player who wrote that great book. A triumph, David. Connor, Bobby, Luke. Rob. Andrew, Andy. And Andrew and Andy.

Thank you ever so much for being friends with Tennis Podcast. If you'd like to become a friend and get access to all of our bonus content, ad-free listening, Hannah's column, The Barge, our community platform, all that jazz, then the link is in our show notes, as is the link.

to subscribe to our newsletter, which is daily during the Grand Slams and has all sorts of excellent content in it, including Matt's stats. The newsletter is the only place to get full access to the Matt Roberts Mind Palace. And that is reason enough to subscribe, folks. We are part of the Athletic Podcast Network. It is fun being in Melbourne. We'll be back tomorrow for more after Media Day. Speak to you then.

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