Cincinnati - Did finals day change everything for the US Open?

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Hello and welcome to the Tennis Podcast and welcome to New York and more specifically to the New York Times. That is where you find us this evening at the New York Times offices. in Manhattan with these incredible red chairs, the colour of Amanda Ennisomova and Naomi Osaka's trainers today, less than 24 hours after landing at JFK yesterday, battling jet lag, but ready and ready. raring to go for the fourth and final Grand Slam of the tennis season, which...

I'm sure it has escaped nobody's attention, has already begun. Technically, this is our post-Cincinnati rap show. And of course, we will be talking about Cincinnati. Don't you worry, everything that happened there over finals weekend.

we last brought you a podcast but i feel like given we and a lot of you spent most of today watching the uh mixed doubles exhibition sorry no reimagined reimagined mixed doubles championship and official Grand Slam tournament TM I do feel like it would be weird for us not to start with a bit of chat about that are we agreed are we happy with that Yeah. I think that's realistic. And David, as someone who sat next to you on the sofa all day, you seemed blooming into it.

I was more into it than I expected to be. Actually, I thought I would enjoy it. I thought I would get... wrapped up in it, but I didn't think that I would enjoy the specifics of it as much as I did. There were things that I really didn't see working at all that did work for me. I mean, listen, everybody's going to have their own opinions. I actually...

Enjoyed the scoring system in the end, and I was really sceptical about that. I discovered right at the outset of the event, watching on ESPN, I don't know how I missed this, but apparently the semifinals and the finals... final are played to six games which we're all learning as we go with this i didn't know that so i mean maybe that's a late change maybe you all knew about that at the start i didn't so perhaps i've just haven't been paying enough attention but look

It doesn't matter. That's a good move. I really think that they've made a good decision there. There were elements of the vibe that I thought were a bit low-key and a bit flat. There were lots of people there, but it certainly wasn't like a packed house the whole day. But then whenever is it... even during the tournament. But the main thing I really don't like still is the lack of doubles players. You know, I'm all in on having the stars, but the star pair...

of this tournament so far after day one are the two players who won the thing a year ago. They're the ones who brought the drama and the vibe and the sort of intrigue. And why aren't there more of them? And the facial expressions. David, do you know where the vibes were?

They were in our apartment and they were brought by Matt Roberts. Matt Roberts went full one-point slam. That is where the vibes were today. In all of New York, there is no bigger vibe than Matt Roberts in our living room. I mean, we started the day with... Taylor Fritz double faulting against Sara Arani, unable to return her serve. What was not to love?

She was crowding his first serve. She was inside the baseline for his first serve. She didn't get broken all day, right? Both her matches? I think that's right, yeah. I mean, she certainly rolled through a number of service games. It's like her serve is... is too slow for them. They really don't know what to do with it. Generating your own pace is a really hard thing to do in tennis. And they're all bamboozled by the Saru Rani serve and their intensity, as David said.

was superb. It was a mission for them to win this. Bavisori said in his on-court interview afterwards, we're playing for the doubles players who can't be here. In that sense, Fritz and Rabatkinner were their perfect opening opponents because Fritz has made this big thing about how he sees himself as a mixed doubles specialist off the back of some tiebreak tens in the past. And Irani was like, I'll show you a mixed doubles specialist. It was so good. I had such a good time.

I agree with David. That was my highlight, that matchup. And I do think I would love this event to play more into that double specialists versus singles specialists. I think that's a really great, intriguing matchup. But honestly... I surprised myself. I had a good time the whole day. Yeah, I had a great time. And look, I don't know. I think we need to make we need to hold space for lots of things with this to be true at the same time. Right. We can have many, many.

We shouldn't cut off our noses despite our faces, right? We can have many, many issues with this and worry about the integrity of the sport and still allow ourselves to have a fun time. I don't know how much of the fun time is tied to novelty and how repeatable the fun time is. is but all the more reason to enjoy it while we have it but I really did enjoy it like let's be honest here it was a it was a it was really fun what I really needed to happen to find out

how I truly felt about it was for Amanda Nisimova and Holga Runa to win. Because then I would have a to-go-blonde or not-to-go-blonde decision to make. You know, does it count as an official Grand Slam title for Amanda Nisimova? That decision has been... We were browsing the hair dye aisle in CVS earlier. I mean, you were on pretty safe ground, I'd have thought, for it not to be happening. Yeah, it didn't take long to realise they're definitely not winning.

Can we just stay on the mixed doubles? I know we're going to do another show tomorrow talking pretty much exclusively about the mixed doubles. Shall I talk about results? Shall I mention results? Does anyone care about the results? I mean, they've got a semi-final of Daniel Collins and Christian Harrison against Sara Rani and Andrea Favisori, which isn't what the USTA dreamed of, is it? I mean, that could actually be the mixed doubles.

semi-finals in like normal circumstances couldn't it yeah which is precisely what they didn't want I know I love it I love it so much and I mean you say it wasn't what they dreamed of I mean

Up until 10.30 this morning, Collins and Harrison weren't in the draw. There was a big TBD in the draw for quite a while this morning. Yes, Matt and I were walking the streets of Manhattan as USTA... press alerts were dropping and so we knew we obviously knew the annexina was going to withdraw from this tournament after

pulling out of the final in Cincinnati yesterday. We will talk about that, don't worry, or retiring in the final yesterday in Cincinnati. So we knew that he wasn't going to play the mixed, but we didn't know what the fate of his partner, Katarina Siniarkova.

was to be so a press release landed at about 10 20 saying that Yannick Sinner's withdrawn and that that place in the draw would go to Matt It said that it would go to the sort of pair that entered by 1030 with the highest combined singles and doubles ranking. So we were just picturing a behind-the-scenes scramble of people trying to enter.

It did not cross my mind that those people would be Collins and Harrison. Christian Harrison, who doesn't have a singles ranking, that was something we checked in the aisles of CVS. He wasn't at the forefront of our minds at this point. And we were wondering... will Katerina Siniarkova be able to fight we were googling who's the highest ranked man that wasn't yet in the tournament that she could potentially partner with now I know that the rules of Grand Slam doubles is that

If you withdraw, if a team withdraws, if a team pulls out of the tournament, which is essentially what Sinner and Sinniakva did, then one half of them can't repair if that happens after the draw is done. Personally, I feel like... The USTA have treated the rules of doubles such that if it weren't Katarina Siniarkova, that rule might have been bendable. If Shontake had been in that position, I feel like rules.

might have changed or been bent. But, you know, the USTA never wanted Katarina Sinniakova in this tournament, did they? They wanted Yannick Sinner and she was a... She was a vehicle for Yannick Sinner. So poor old Sini Archiva on the scrap heap. Enter Christian Harrison. Like, she must be furious. Yeah. Wouldn't you think? Listen, I think there are a lot of furious doubles players around anyway, and this is only going to add to it from her perspective. And I just...

I don't think it's just that we haven't been paying close enough attention. I think a lot of things they've had to work out a little bit as they've gone along. had them down but they've not had to talk about them so they're only coming to light now um and listen in a year's time i dare say there'll be a few things that

aren't happening, that are happening now. Just the way when the Davis Cup finals in a single location started five years ago, it bears little resemblance now to what it was then. And that's... It's normal to me that they will tinker with it and make tweaks and so forth. But I think that the doubles players that are upset are absolutely within their rights to be upset. I just feel...

I still think that the USTA on the whole have kind of done this quite well. I think that this has been good. And I just think that they've... They have gone too far with it because it still does feel like a bit of an exhibition, really. I mean, Carolina Mugford called it an exhibition in her encore interview. The big problem is it still does feel like that.

For the most part. It's only really Irani and Vavasori who make it feel like it really matters and it's legitimate. Because I see the other players trying to win. But they're not that bothered. They're just not that bothered. Some are more bothered than others. Yeah. Right. There were some really unbothered. I feel like if you had another three.

doubles teams that really were into it really trying to win i mean it's a lot of money to these guys what is it a million dollars for a pair that wins this thing if they if you had we were trying to work out well what should the breakdown be and we came to

12 singles players, singles pairings, and four doubles pairings. And if you had that, I think you would have an absolutely electric competition because I think eventually the singles players might get a bit... irritated by the fact that they're getting humiliated by these doubles players and want to you know stand up for themselves but I mean the ones that we saw today

They weren't close, really, were they? I mean, Fritz and Zverev, they just got completely embarrassed. Fritz and Bencic got taken to the cleaners, didn't they? The other semi-final is Jack Draper, Jessica Begula. against Igor Shontek and Kasparud, which that's what the USCA had in mind for this thing, right? Yeah, totally. And both pairs are actually incredibly impressive in their matches.

I really haven't seen Jack Draper play a lot of doubles before, but he really seemed like much more of a natural than I was expecting, poaching at the net, sort of... targeting his attack at specific players. I thought he was really impressive and Pagoula was kind of a... as she always is you know extremely extremely good as well and then rude was exceptional i mean really good i think he really

I think he's a little bit in awe of Sviantek. I think he really wants to play well with Sviantek. And, you know, he's obviously very... He put out that tweet, didn't he, earlier in the year, supporting Igor Sviantek, kind of at her lowest air. And I think Sviantek really appreciated that. There was good chemistry there between them, and they both played really well, especially Svantec coming off.

I think she got into New York at 1.30am last night, her flight, and then she was second up today, like an incredibly quick turnaround. And it wasn't at all physical today, the tennis that they were playing. But still... But it also wasn't being in bed. Absolutely.

Where I'd have wanted to go. Yeah. So, yeah, I was impressed with both of those players. I'm glad you mentioned chemistry. because I do have a little bit just to wrap up our mixed double segment for today more to come tomorrow I do have a little sort of quick fire bit of fun because what was today if not A quick fire bit of fun. So I have some categories and I'd like you to submit your teams and or individuals for the winners of these categories. Okay. Best chemistry.

Oh, Vavasori and Arani. I mean, they were not doing headbutts. You can't just answer Vavasori and Arani. I'm just telling the truth. Yeah, I think of... Of everyone in the draw, it has to be them. But it's chemistry that they came to the event already with. Yeah, I guess, I'm sorry, I should have caveated that particular. I've got my little quiz off on a bum note here. I probably should have caveated that particular.

with Irani Vavasori aside, because we know about their chemistry. Of course they've got chemistry. And Shelton and Townsend. Right, yeah. It wasn't just, but it was also... Of the new partnerships. Of the new partnerships, I would say either Roode... as I previously mentioned, or actually I was quite impressed with Mukova Rublev. Me too. Apparently they have played together before, but not a lot. I thought they were adorable. They made me feel...

I just thought they were sweet. I think if Rublev had Mukhova around, you would not see him draw blood of his own ever again. Which he hasn't done for a while. He is a slightly different character now. Yes, and look, he's worked. very hard at trying to improve that situation and, well, to feel healthier and happier and good for him, you know. I've got a lot of time for Andre Rublev. But she is just the type of character.

that clearly brings out the best in him or helps him cope, I think. And I always think whenever she plays a match, she's got this wonderful ability. to make a loss for her not awkward for the opponent. Like, she's quite happy for them to celebrate and join them at the net to acknowledge the moment. And yet, none of it feels awkward. That takes some doing. Worst chemistry. I mean, they were successful, but Draper and Pegula were just so awkward. And I think that's... And I think that that's...

And I'm only looking, I'm just reading this from afar. Draper hasn't played in months. Or weeks. I think everything was anxiety-inducing today. But he was so good. So good. They were fantastic. He, in particular, was awesome. And yet... He looked like he was having an out-of-body experience. He looked like he was going to murder someone. He's hard-launching his new kit, so he comes out in this sleeveless shirt, making Al Karaz look puny at the coin toss. Genuinely.

It was wild. He looked like he was going to pick Alcaraz up and just break him in half. And he's got this look in his eye that is genuinely a bit terrifying. Not a problem for Jessica Pagula because they're not making eye contact. Don't think they made eye contact all day. She was fine about it. And he's sort of charging around the court with this... Like the Hulk. Like the Hulk. She looks a bit scared of him. He looks a bit scared of her. And yet they were...

They were awesome. But, you know, this is a guy who reached the semifinals of the US Open a year ago puking his way through it. He looked like he was going to puke today. And, look, he's not... He's not... I'm scared to talk about that. Do you think that's what it was today, nerves? I do, really. I mean, he hasn't played for a long time and had those feelings.

And I'm a listener. I am only reading this from afar. I'd love to talk to him about it or hear from him about it specifically. But he did just look really on edge. And yet he played absolutely brilliantly. He was, aside from... Iranian Vovasori, he was the player of the day, I thought. I also think the... I mean, we saw less of the second match that they played, Pagula and Draper. I think...

It's possible they made brief eye contact on that. I think it's going to grow. Let us know. If he settles down, I think they're going to be fine. But I think that first match against Raducanu and against Alcares was particularly... Jean was awkwardness. I think a little bit. I don't want to get into the gossip of it all. I think a little bit. Yeah. There was an...

I know some people think I'm really too much into this, but I thought the Raducanu-Draper handshake situation was really weird and awkward. Yeah, I mean, I looked like he went in for a hug and... She went, no thanks. She didn't, which is always an awkward situation.

I never know what you're supposed to do in those situations. Yeah, but they know one another. Yeah, that was what was so weird about it. I still messed that up, so I get it. David's not engaging in any of this stuff. Most pumped couple, again, probably have to take, well, it is a Rani.

Yeah, they definitely have that one. As David said, they were head-buffing each other in celebration. If you think of the Bryan brothers' body bump celebration, this was literally forehead to forehead. Yeah, it was. There were so many forzas. It was incredible. Fewest shits given. Oh, Keys Tiafra. More than a Sarkamon feast. A Sarka came out in training. It looked like my pyjamas. Yeah, just a t-shirt. They were a close second.

But it was... Yeah, Keyes Tiafoe was a tough scene, wasn't it? It was vibeless. Total no-show. They did well to get a game, the way they played. Most there under duress. Olga Zinilovic, I think. I think Novak Djokovic was rivaling her. I think Djokovic was there for Danilovic. Yeah, I thought the same. No, but there's no way Danilovic is playing if Djokovic isn't there. The US Open are like, we want Djokovic, and Djokovic is like...

OK, I'll play with Danilovic. I think she was probably delighted about it. Yes, but I don't think anyone's ever played good doubles with Djokovic. Everyone who plays doubles with Djokovic looks like they're under duress. It's too much pressure, isn't it? It's... yeah. Yeah. Both of them. Yeah, both. The Serbian team, most they're under duress. Worst individual doubles player of the day? I fear it might be in a Samova. I thought Francis Tiafoe.

Anisimova can't volley at all. She's standing in the wrong place. I don't remember Tiafo winning a point. She made Olga Runa look really good. They walked out onto court, Anisimova and Runa, and... David said this, and it's going to look like she was walking her dog. He's sort of a few bases behind her. I have enjoyed their social media content together, though. He's terrified of her.

He's thinking, can I slide into her DMs now? It's all just... He let her have the backhand side, of course. I think other players played worse than Inisa Mova, but she played the worst. Doubles, if that makes sense. Who was the worst volleyer out of Raducanu and Anna Samova? That might have been Raducanu. And actually, shout out Rebecca for her shank volley that gave away the crucial break in the second set. Incredible. Biggest surprise of the day? Maybe Mazzetti McNally.

I enjoyed Mazzetti McNally. I really enjoyed that. Did Lorenzo Mazzetti know what Katie McNally looked like before this morning? No. No. I don't think so. No. But he was so, like, he's such a charming on-court interview where he just talked about what a great doubles player she is. Well, he was learning about it in real time. Oh, he's this girl. She's great. My word, was he good, though. Yeah. I wasn't expecting that.

in that. He is like a Jedi at the net. The way he just seems to know which way the ball's going to go and he's got these hands to deal with anything. Crowd loved watching him. Yeah, he needs to find a way to be a factor on hard courts because it's a terrible shame that we really only get to enjoy him for about... three months a year at the moment because visually he really is the closest thing to Federer yeah and he does bring back some memories he was

stealing shots from Katie McNally in quite an awkward way and yet I ended up feeling like if you're going to do that Lorenzo then fair enough and I feel like Katie McNally felt that way too unlike Jessica Peguli who made quite a sassy comment about how she didn't hit a shot for the first time

games which is was not entirely accurate yeah um david you can sit this one out if you want because you're you're you've got too much integrity for this but most likely to get married saying about me you know most likely to get married and possibly divorced. What, the same people? Which team? If you had to pick a team, they'll end up getting married. And then divorced? Well, potentially, lots of marriages end in divorce.

None of them are jumping out to me. I don't know. What do you think? I'm scrolling through the drawer. Good answer. Just trying to get us some clickbait. I don't know. I'm not feeling that. Okay. Most likely to never play doubles again after today. Naomi Osaka. Get on my face. I don't think I've ever seen Naomi Osaka play doubles before. It wasn't good, was it?

No. No. I just think, age-wise, Monfils hasn't got many doubles matches left. You've been saying that for years. Why wasn't he playing with Svitolina? Yeah, what a great point. They've already got married. Hopefully won't ever get divorced. Well, I mean, he came in for Kyrgios, right? Originally it was Osaka Kyrgios, then Magically Malphys disappeared. Zverev was pretty bad today. Yeah.

Although he plays quite a lot of doubles, doesn't he? But he was in a really bad way, what, three days ago, physically. And he didn't look totally recovered to me.

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And that does lead us on. to Cincinnati. Let's talk about Cincinnati. What a shift in the tone of your voice. I feel like we can do another whole show on the doubles tomorrow. I feel like we should try and restore some integrity that I have demolished with my little quickfire questions there.

Cincinnati, should we talk about proper tennis? Sure. Well, actually, not that proper tennis because, well, start with the men's or the women's? What do we want? Well, the men's is rubbish, wasn't it, at the end? Let's talk about the women. Yeah, I mean, rubbish in terms of the actual tennis, but in terms of talking point. OK, let's start with Igor Shantek beating Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-4 to win the Cincinnati title. And also talk about...

some of the matches leading up to that that we've had since our last pod. So Shontek beating Rabakina in the semi-finals after Rabakina had beaten Sabalenka. in the quarterfinals. Those kind of feel like the biggest results from the final weekend in Cincinnati, as well as Jasmine Paolini's win over Coco Goff in the quarters, 6-3 in the third. Iga Chianti, David. Wins Wimbledon. Well, okay. Semifinals of the French. Plays Berlin.

reaches the final, wins Wimbledon, plays Canada. Nobody else that went deep at Wimbledon, let alone won it, played Canada, plays Cincinnati and wins it. And then less than 24 hours later is playing mixed doubles and she looks fresh. Looks fresh, looks happy, looks excited. She said, I could play the semis in the final today. I mean, aside from anything else, she's that confident she's going to be in them. But no, she just looks in a really good place.

Isn't it lovely seeing an energetic like that and just looking at the ball, going after the ball? And I think... I don't necessarily think it's a massive switch between being on the right side of the edge and the wrong side of the edge. A year ago, she was on the wrong side of it. She was stressed. It was coming out in stress. Now it's coming out in heightened reaction times and focus.

I'm sure there are psychologists out there who could give a lot more of a sort of... educated viewpoint of all that but that's how it looks to my eye and watching her play yesterday was an absolute joy watching the whole match was in fact because paolini really brought it you know she went three love up that was quite a lot to do with the fact that she found Tep was missing early on and sort of overhitting and overpressing. But once she'd found her game, I mean, she won the next five games.

It's actually a really tough match-up on paper, I think, for Paolini. She's not done well against her. She's never beaten her. And you can see why, because the moment she leaves any ball remotely short, Svante just puts it away. I don't think there's a player in the world who puts away a mid-court...

ball better than Iga Svantec in terms of choosing which way to go, virtually always wrong footing the opponent and always putting it on a dime in the corner. She just has a brilliant ability to do that. But then in the second set, Paulini just... realizing that she couldn't, her sort of... Standard game is just not good enough. It doesn't work against this opponent. She started to go for it way more. Take it out of the hands of Svantec. And it ended up becoming a cracking contest.

I would say the rally of certainly the tournament in that second set. I watched it back again with you, actually, Matt, and it went on for even longer than I thought, where Svantec is just dominating side to side and, again, hitting these sort of put-away balls. that against anybody who's not as fast as...

and as tenacious as Paolini, and as good at picking the right side as Paolini. I mean, most of the time she wasn't and was getting wrong-footed. In this rally, she just kept on picking the right side, chasing the ball down, getting it back, and eventually turned it around and won. it with a forehand window down the line on a passing shot. It was one of the glorious single standout points. You could put that in the top ten points of all time and it would stand up, I think. So, given...

What a downer it had been earlier in the day with both finals being played the same day and Alcraz and Sinner not being anything because of ill health due to Sinner. This was such a treat. that you had Svantec and Irani putting on a show like this. And it was a good final. Svantec's playing fantastic tennis. She's moved herself into favourite.

position i think now for the us open i didn't expect to be saying that uh even in the last show um so good honor yeah i think that's all really well said i was wondering What is post-Schwiontek, post-Wimbledon Schwiontek going to be like? You know, like has everything, all the sort of... Little problems that she's had on court, have they all just gone away because she's won Wimbledon? Or were they more...

embedded in her game. I thought that was going to be a really interesting question post-Wimbledon for Igor Sviantek. And, you know, first tournament back, she loses to Clara Towson, doesn't she? OK, she hasn't had a lot of rest. And Clara Towson is an incredibly dangerous opponent. been in good form a big heavy hitter i kind of thought okay

Maybe we are still where we were with Fiontech, but obviously slightly better. But actually, I think what we've seen is deeply embedded confidence now in her game. She's on this high because she won Wimbledon. Her adjustments to be able to play on faster surfaces are really notable this year. Wimbledon and Cincinnati, two of the faster or lower bouncing, in Wimbledon's case, where traditionally you wouldn't have said they necessarily would have favoured her.

The improvements she's made in her game are suiting those sorts of conditions and services. I think she's serving finally a lot better. We've seen the different motion, but it does seem to be really... paying off now that new motion it was particularly good against Rabakina and that was particularly a match where we saw that deeply embedded confidence because she went down a break against Rabakina and you know it wouldn't it wouldn't have been that long ago that

I would have watched that match and been kind of a bit worried about Fiontech in it, but not at all. She kept her level high, made little adjustments, kept... her movement really good to be able to chase down were back in his big shots and just flipped that match on its head and played a really really good one and I don't think she necessarily had her

Best tennis against Paolini all the time, as David said, an error-strewn start. But she played the big moments really well, which, again, when you think back to the start of the year, wasn't something that she was doing all the time. But she is now, David mentioned, that incredible... point that Paolini won. That got the break back in the second set. The crowds are... What does Fiontech do? Just broke the next game.

just like silence the moment, played the match really well. And I don't think she was doing that at the start of the season. But I don't know whether I'm drawing too much cause and effect, but it does seem like... The demeanour, the confidence post-Wimbledon is back to, closer to kind of peak Sviantec. And it's great to see. It's great to see. I've really, really enjoyed seeing it. If that's where Sviantec is at, where is Sabalenka?

One and four beaten by Rabakina in that. quarterfinal. Rebecca was awesome in this match. She served and returned incredibly well and we've actually seen her do that against Sabalenka in the past sometimes as well. I don't know, something about that match-up. Suits Rebecca now, I think. She often plays well against Sabalenka. Her ball hurts Sabalenka. Right. It just puts her on the back foot in a way that...

So few players are able to do. Yeah, Sabalenka loses some of her agency. And yet one and four. Yeah. Yeah, I don't know because, you know, Sabalenka's... come into a lot of slams this year in great form and not won them you know she sort of dominated on the tour and she's been my favorite i think going into every slam we've

played this year and yet she's gone incredibly deep in them incredibly consistent but not ended up being able to bring her very best tennis in the closing stages so I don't I don't actually know really how much we can read into It feels very specific for Sabalenka right now at the end of majors. Can she bring her best tennis? And this year, the answer's been no. Who's the favourite?

Well, I do think Sviantek is the favourite now, and that's changed over and over in the last few days, because I watched that match against Rebecca, but I think it's maybe more Sviantek convincing me. of the way she is in perfect form and condition right now and mentally just where she needs to be. There are still players that, you know, if she draws Osterpenko at some point... That is going to be so interesting because it was, was it two years ago that Ostapenko sort of thrashed her? So...

She's not an overwhelming favourite in that way. And I do still think Sabalenka can win this thing. But I also think she wants to avoid Rebecca now. I found that really interesting with the draw. I still, I know, you know, Goth has...

sort of receded maybe as one of the favourites for the US Open. I think she would remain in everybody's mix still. But I would back her against Sabalenka still. Yeah, I would. I mean, because of everything I said on... on the pod the other day, not guaranteed, but Sabalenka would have to show us something in that matchup, show that she's not going to get stressed out by it, show that she's got the either...

She's playing brilliant tennis and she's ending these points or she's got the tolerance to accept the mistakes when they come. And, you know, in two of her really big matches against Goff, she's not had that. I know she did beat her in... in australia and she's beaten her many times as well but yeah just the stress of a u.s open semi-final or final which it would be if they were to meet

Yeah, I kind of would back Gough to handle that occasion. Is Gough getting there? Is Gough getting there is a fair question. Shontek's now up to second seed, isn't she? Exactly. So now the question for the draw becomes whose side does Gough fall in? Yeah, and Goff definitely would want to, I think, be on the Sabalenka side. The match-up problem has been there against Fiontech when Fiontech's been playing really, really well, as she looks like she kind of is at the moment. I do think...

One thing, we always used to talk about the Rabatkinner matchup being a big problem for Svantec. She's really improved that head-to-head, got a grip on it across surfaces now. I think that's been notable. That feels like a name that, in the past, I would have looked at that in the draw and thought, big problem, Vigas Fionte.

It's not a gimme. She has to play well to beat Rebecca Kinner, but it's not anywhere near the same level as Ostapenko in her draw, for example. She's got that match-up under control, which is impressive. Coco Gauff still in the mix, right? I would say yes. But she's... The gremlins were back, big time. To me, I put her... I probably put a fourth favourite now, really. It's funny, isn't it? Any other player playing the level that I saw her play...

recently, the Pallini match in Cincinnati, they're not in my mix. But because it's Coco Goff, she remains in the mix for me. But it was pretty ugly in Cincy. I haven't seen her play... good tennis since she won the French Open at all. And isn't that a strange feeling given what a monumental achievement that was to win?

Roland Garros. I think that was massive. And I thought that that would be a springboard for her. But, you know, we've seen it in other sports. Rory McIlroy winning the Masters and you expect it to just unleash him and he'll go and... win all these things. And I'm not saying that I thought that would happen to Goff, because I think she's got these couple of fundamental weaknesses.

issues in her game that she can't rely on them. But I didn't expect them to suddenly look so glaring again in just the space of a few weeks. And I do think the New York factor here is interesting because... I think as a reflex, I'm going, well, that's going to help Goff. You know, she's won this title. The crowd's going to be behind her. She's going to bring it. She's probably going to play a lot of night session. All of that kind of thing.

generally stack that in her favour here. But actually, I do think there's a scenario, and I think we probably saw it last year, where it can go the other way, where you're not confident with your game, and actually there's sort of increased pressure. can be a lot and we saw the you know we saw the double faults a lot last year didn't we in that match against Emma Navarro and she never really played her best tennis here last year and so I think I think that could go

But either way, and I know that's probably not groundbreaking and Alice's not helpful. I don't know what the answer is there, but I think you will probably get a lot of people saying, oh, it's goth in New York, it's going to help her. I think last year we saw...

the opposite, potentially. Like, if you're not confident in your game and everyone's come there to see you, like, it's a lot. She could be vulnerable in early rounds, too. Yeah, the draw is big. You know, she got a Wimbledon-esque draw. Yastrzemska round one. Yeah. She's vulnerable, I think. But as you said, she's also the type of player who can play her way in despite her game not being there. Is Paolini in the mix? I would say no.

I'd be surprised if she won this tournament. Yeah, I would too. But shout out Paolini, because I do think she is backing up 2024 really well. She's doing new things. Exactly. And I think it would be easy to look at her slam results this year and say, well, she's not backing it up. You know, those slams are what we focus on the most. And that's where the breakthrough came.

last year 2025 just for her has not been like that it's been it's been about other things you know the rome double was incredible getting to another final here i think's really impressive she's ninth in the race i think now like there or thereabouts potentially could qualify for the WTA finals. And if you'd said two years ago that Paolini would be in contention for the WTA finals, in contention to win these 1,000 events, like...

we wouldn't have thought that was the case. So the fact that she still is, to me, feels like she is backing up last year pretty well, really. Absolutely.

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I think what gets me most about this whole journey that I've been through is just how many jigsaw pieces come together to help someone like me. I've met people who have just packaged the drugs. Just this white box saying World Courier on it. But I want to be able to say thank you to every single person that works on these things because they've saved my life. Every single one of them. Every minute, World Courier makes another life-changing delivery. Learn more. Search World Courier.

Okay, on to the men and the final that never really was. Matt and I were at however many tens of thousands of feet. You are, when you're over the Atlantic, winging your way to New York. Smug as I have ever been in my life. So smug. I got so many selfies of you two with your laptops out, showing me the match you were able to watch in the sky. Full disclosure. We got upgraded. It was a great moment. It was great. We got upgraded.

We got upgraded. I crammed my legs into those economy seats. We sussed out the Wi-Fi. We paid for the streaming level of Wi-Fi on the plane, thinking maybe it'll be good enough for us to stream Cinaran. in the sky from our upgraded seats. Incredible. What a world. Honestly. And then there it goes. It happens. I accidentally had to pay for it on two separate devices. So at this point, we've sunk 45 English pounds.

into streaming. Wasn't even questioned. Money well spent. Matt and I are going to be able to watch Cine Alcoraz live. Honestly, it was reverse one-point slam, my emotions, over the course of that half an hour from smuggest person in town. Or, you know, in the sky to just crushing disappointment. What am I going to do with the next four hours of this flight? And it started like before we even knew that Sinner was unwell.

You know, we watched the first point. I'm like, this is amazing. I'm watching Alcaraz Sinner in the sky. And we're watching Alcaraz Sinner. I just kept looking over at Matt. I was like, aren't humans amazing? And I was like, oh, I can't see the ball. It's Cincinnati. I can't see the ball. It's too bright. No one's come up with a solution for that, have they? Here I am watching Alcrest Sinner in the sky. Can't see the ball. Turns out, Matt, you didn't really need to see the ball.

Because it wasn't really a tennis match. That became clear incredibly quickly. Sinner was kind of not... Really present, clearly struggling with illness, was underpowered, was kind of off balance the whole time. Ended up retiring five love down in the opening set. lots of consolation from Alcaraz. In those sorts of situations, it seems to feel so genuinely for his opponent, doesn't he? He's really bothered by it. He's really bothered by it. He had the same with Zverev in his semi-final.

Alcaraz had a really weird end to Cincinnati. And I feel like this sort of thing affects Alcaraz. and more than any other top player. Because he's really... Look, he likes winning. He wants to win. And he wants to win trophies. But I feel like it's less about winning for him than...

all of his peers, pretty much. He wants the battle. He wants the fun. Yeah, and, well, that line from Gary Nathan's book, which has come out today in the US that we spoke to him about on Monday's show, where he says... It's about the spectacle for Alcaraz. I mean, I really feel like... I mean, I think he'll be fine, but he really didn't... want that end to Cincinnati. He didn't want those last two matches to be as...

as they were. I feel like he's won a title and yet it feels like really suboptimal US Open preparation for him. Well, I don't agree. I think he is disappointed about it. And he wanted the moment. Actually, I think this could not have worked out better for Carlos Alcaraz because he is fresh.

He would have had to, even if he won those matches, the way they were going, I mean, Zverev made a good start in that match. They had the interruption because of somebody being unwell in the crowd, and he's, I think, 2-1 down, love 30, something like that. like that at that point and you can see just the way the rallies are going my word he's he's having to deal you know his very playing well his very physical condition became a factor very quickly as well in his match but now I think

Alcus has had enough tennis. He's had his proper break. after Wimbledon. He's come out, he's been rusty, he's had another match against Schumacher where he's had his set reversals and he's had his Rublev match and he even went... Because he went 4-2 down against a couple of rounds earlier than that. I can't remember who it was in the second set. Luca Nardi, he went 4-2 down, and then he eventually won that 6-4 in the second set. But...

Then he suddenly hits some form. And when he, even, I know it was very unwell, but he turned that around. And even though Sinner was unwell, Al Krause was playing out of his mind at the start of that match. He was. In that first game, when he broke into love, I thought. Okay. He is right where he needs to be.

And after one game, I said, I think Alclass is going to win this. And I didn't know that Sinner was unwell at that point. I mean, it was a sloppy start, I thought. It is incredible how he shows up against Sinner differently to against anybody else. And I actually thought... I also think he's got one of those in him where he needs a reason to almost prove himself again.

When he wins too many in a row, I think it becomes a little bit harder for him to have quite those senses as heightened. And suddenly he's lost to Sinner. Everybody's talking about how Sinner's going to win everything. He's like, right then, come on, let's have it. Let's go for it. Let's have the moment. And I think he is bang where he needs to be. We don't know how it will affect Sinner coming into the US Open. Is he going to be at all affected? I think probably he'll be okay. But...

I really feel bullish about our crowds now. That's very interesting. Matt, has anybody ever won a trophy, won a title, having played a worse game over the course of that title? winning run than Carlos Alcaraz. Take the title part out of it. It was the worst game I've ever seen. Which one was that? Zverev cannot move.

Like, he's clearly struggling, I think, with his back. He was unwell as well. Like, he was... This is the semi-final. He was gone. He was totally gone. And Alcraz is up a break. He's 40-15 up. He misses seven serves in a row. Like, I would have potentially backed myself to hold serve there against Ferenc. Yeah. Like, make the serve. Yeah.

And then he pretty much won the point. Yeah, because Tarev isn't moving. He is not moving. The only movement he's doing is from the deuce court to the ad court as Alcraz is double faulting in front of him. He ended up hitting four double faults in that game. Yeah, three in a row. And then there's this... This close-up of him at the change of ends. Yeah. Where you can just tell that he's just thinking, what have I just done? Alcaraz has an injured opponent problem. Totally messes with him.

which makes David's theory about his form in that final being so good. Yeah. You know, I think it's a great theory because despite an injured opponent or an ill opponent in front of him, he kept playing well. But yeah, like... We've seen some real shockers from our crowds against injured opponents, but this was... Yeah. It was absolutely unreal. Yeah. I just feel very...

unfulfilled coming out of Canada and Cincinnati on the men's side. Because, you know, Canada was... Actually, I think there was a lot of good matches. There was a lot of good matches in Canada. Hang on a second, David. In Canada. Yeah. All right. Because the last match he played in Cincinnati was one of the worst performances I've ever seen. Yeah. But like Canada was an interesting event from the perspective of, OK.

When Sinner and Alcaraz are not there, who's going to end up winning it? Which was interesting, but I'm not drawing a load of that in terms of the US Open because Alcaraz and Sinner are going to be there. And then we get Alcaraz and Sinner there in Cincinnati.

And the end of that tournament, well, as we've described, was just a disaster with, you know, a retirement in the final, a heavily compromised Verev in the semi-final. I just feel like we didn't really learn anything about where... OK, I know... David's decided that Alcaraz is looking great, and I love that. But personally, I feel like all my questions were left unanswered going into the US Open. I feel like...

It was such a weird weekend. I mean, the Shelton, yeah, he hit the wall. I was still alarmed by how bad that performance was against Ferov. He couldn't make a ball. He can be dramatically different when he's not good. Some people can cover it up. He can't. Yeah, it was really, really alarming. Yeah, and then obviously it was a very of illness, sinner illness. And then adding to that...

You say, oh, well, at least hopefully we'll get to see Terrence Atman at the US Open in the form of his life. And we knew he was going to have to go through qualifying to get there. But now he's injured and is out of the... had to pull out a qualifying and we won't see him at the US Open and that's a tremendous shame. We asked for him for tennis podcast meets as well. The curse is back. The curse is back at the request stage which is a new...

New level for it. It sounds like it's a sort of flu-y thing for Yannick Sinner. Like, he'll probably be okay, right? Because he's that much better than anybody he's going to face in the early rounds, even if he is still hampered. He'll probably be OK, but it... You know, I feel like a week ago, on the basis of Sinner's form prior to the final in Cincinnati, people were handing him the US Open trophy. And...

Doesn't quite feel like that now. Is Alcaraz your favourite, David? I think so. Yeah, I think so. Because of 12 in a row. it starts now we reset that's right i know last year coming into the us open we weren't on our crisis behalf worried about

the Burtick thing happening. We weren't worried about Burtick. But obviously we've been, because it happened, we've been on alert for it kind of ever since. Notable that he's now made seven finals in a row. You know, like he's cut out... the sort of bad losses that he was having I just feel better about Al Carrera's getting to the latter stages than I kind of ever have like I know he still has the ups and downs within matches see

The worst game ever played. The worst game ever played. The Demir Jumher match. We've made it sound like he was an absolute wreck in this tournament. But he has these ups and downs. But he still is coming through. His general level of consistency is really good right now. To me, though, Sinner is still the favourite. He's my favourite, anyway. I thought going into that final, Sinner played the big moments really well, the three tie breaks that he needed to get.

to get there. He absolutely destroyed Orjali Asim, who I know was really poor in that match. He weathered Atman. Like serving like Sampras in that first set. Like he was just rolling through service games. He didn't serve like Sampras. No, because he double-folded on the first point of the tie break. Yeah, Sampras didn't do that. Sampras wouldn't have done that.

He was good, though. He was great. And Sinner just dealt with it, though. In a way that everyone else was getting caught up in the Atman of it all. Sinner just dealt with it. I just thought he was impressive. So I know he was unwell, but to me, I'm... I'm still taking Sinner. Yannick Sinner on a hardcore mix of two. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, literally injury aside, unless one of them gets compromised physically, I don't see anybody else. Rajiv Ram and Nikola Mettich.

Won the men's doubles title. They beat the two Lorenzos in the final, Mazzetti and Sonego. A big up-yours-to-moddy fish, that, isn't it? Who's been trolling Rajiv Ram in pretty... gross fashion. And we trolled us a couple of weeks ago. That seems to be his vibe these days. They also ended Cash and Glasspool's incredible...

So well done, Raman Mektic. And Gabby Dabrowski and Erin Routliff won the women's doubles title. Gabby Dabrowski reminding us all in her very moving... speech on court during the victory ceremony that this time last year she was having radiation treatment for cancer and here she is lifting titles it's an absolutely incredible story so congratulations to them just before we move on from

Cincinnati. A couple of things. They've obviously done this incredible 200 million pound dollar. redevelopment of the site and but we weren't there but by all accounts it really is incredible and like it's great to see tennis being invested in that way and the infrastructure and all the rest of it it's brilliant but there's no shade anywhere on that centre court and that's a problem it's a problem like the the world is heating up like it was

uncomfortable watching a lot of Cincinnati I found I was worrying about people in the crowd and I know they're locals and they're used to it and they know what they signed up to and all the rest of it but like wouldn't it be better if they were just a bit more comfortable And also it makes it less inclusive. Like it's more difficult for the elderly, for the less abled, for people like me that just feel the heat.

It doesn't need to be like this. The Australian Open has made incredible strides at providing shade for spectators and made it a massive priority, providing shade for the spectators in a way that... still maintains a totally outdoor feel those sort of canopy sort of sail type things that they have And it's not like every seat is in the shade at the Australian Open, but it is possible to provide huge swathes of shade. And I feel like that needs to happen in Cincinnati because it was...

disgustingly hot and humid and uncomfortable for spectators and players. It was a problem. And the last thing... to point out on Cincinnati. And I really, I feel like we should always be leading with this, but it's just such a bummer. And it's so wild that it's not something that anybody really talks about. But Carlos Alcaraz won $1,124,380. for winning the Cincinnati title. Sivantec won $752,275. That is a difference of $372,105. So Alcaraz earned an extra 49% on top.

of Shontek's paycheck. This is a combined event. They're playing the same court, the same length of event, the same format, the same absolutely everything. It's disgusting. How everybody's not talking about that is wild to me. How Svantec's not talking about it. Why we're not rioting in the streets. 200 million pounds of dollars of redevelopment. I know there are...

The WTN ATP standardised prize monies are different and they're following those guidelines, but other tournaments make up the difference because it's the right thing to do. Canada does that. Indian Wells does that. Madrid does that. Others do that. You can do that. And if there was more pressure on them to do it, I think they would because it's embarrassing. It's shameful. I think just for PR reasons.

Thank goodness you brought it up because it's so easy to forget it. I had pretty much forgotten that that was the situation because it's a combined event, it's Masters 1000, but of course they get paid the same. Of course they do. Because why wouldn't they? And yet...

There is that level of disparity and we just have to keep on saying it. I think it has, because I think that I'm sure our audience is a heck of a lot more educated and knowledgeable about that than many and, well, maybe more than I am. I'm embarrassed about that. But it has to keep getting talked about because I think a lot of people out there watching would be absolutely shocked by that. I saw Ava Lees called it out. Did she? Good for her. She was the only one I saw.

And I know that they've got this line about there is going to be equal pay by a certain year. I can't quite remember the year off the top of my head. It's in a few years' time. But it's almost like they're hiding behind that.

Absolutely. Because it's like, oh, we will get it. You can click your fingers and do it now. Right. Other tournaments do it. Look at the money they've got. $200 million. Yeah, shave off a bit of redevelopment and sort that out. Ben Navarro, the tournament owner, he has a daughter. He's a WCA player. Yeah. And I don't want to just totally throw him under the bus. He's investing in tennis. That's a great thing. This is disgusting. We can sort it out.

let's let's do it bits and bobs obviously US Open qualifying is underway we'll talk about that a bit tomorrow and over the course of the week we've got plenty of shows Coming up, don't you worry about that. By the way, qualifying is free at the US Open and that is a really, really cool thing. And I hadn't quite processed the fact that although they are selling tickets for Ash... today and tomorrow. That's a separate ticket. You can see the mixed doubles on Armstrong with free...

with free entry into the grounds, which obviously was just today, all of the matches tomorrow on Ash. But, like, that is a really cool thing, isn't it, about the US Open? Well, I loved it last year when I was with my kids. Not only the qualifying, but when we went on to Ash and watched Daniel Medvedev practicing with Karen Hachinov, and we were in the first row of this 23,000-seat stadium. We were hearing their conversations. We were right there.

My kids couldn't believe it. They loved it. Aoyito's one. I just can't wait till tomorrow's show to bring that qualifying update. She was in the third set, wasn't she? So that is good news. Go on, Owie. Two more to go. It seems that Bianca Andreescu's pulled out of... US Open qualifying. I haven't seen an announcement from her. I was just scouring the order of play, scouring the draw, and I couldn't see her. And that is...

That's a worry I'm worried about. I'm sort of in a permanent state of worry about Bianca Andreescu, but I'm particularly worried right now. Art of Feast has pulled out of the main draw of the US Open, which I've got mixed feelings about. It's obviously a bummer, but also I think... that's the right thing call it all off see you in 2026 yeah see you in 26 exactly um and just just the final bit of sort of sad news um carl edmund

has retired. It's not a shock he hasn't been a factor or even, frankly, a player of any note for a long time. But 30 years old, I mean, his career, in terms of relevance, ended... Probably about six or seven years ago, really, didn't it? I mean, what a tragic career, really. Strange one to sum up, isn't it? Because when he first came along, I thought he'd be a good British player who...

had some upside and could get some results. I remember him... at 20 years of age, coming to the Royal Albert Hall, beating Andy Murray in the Tiber 8-10s final that they held there, and winning a load of money that he said, I'm going to invest this in my career and really try to make a difference. He took that on and he ended up getting to the semi-finals of the Australian Open, which is something I never thought he'd be able to do to that degree.

If you think of the players, the good players out there who haven't done that, that was a notable achievement. He's had some other good wins around that period of his career. And then he's just run into an injury problem that... has never been able to let him play properly again. And it has ended up being a very short career. And when I think back to when he was 20 and it was all ahead of him...

And now he's 30 and it's all behind him. It's a reminder of, I mean, a lot of these careers go on a long time now, but there's also a lot of them that are over in a flash. It's a shame for him.

Wishing well in his retirement, whatever that might hold. Folks, a little update on our schedule. We're back tomorrow to talk more. You know, salacious mixed doubles stuff. We'll be here after. Maybe we should request Irani and Vavasori live on the show after they've lifted the trophy. Sure. I repeat, bring it on. Do you think if they win it...

they'll pop off about it? Or do you think they'll say lovely, positive things about the official Grand Slam tournament? With the million in their pocket. I think they'll pop off. Yeah. I think they'll take the million and the trophy and still pop off. Why wouldn't you? Yeah, they'll be like, this is for the Devils players. It'd be great.

So much fun. We'll have a pod tomorrow at the end of it all. Then Thursday, we have a live show here in New York at the Gramercy Theatre. And then Friday, we're daily from Friday. Friday, we have Draw Media Day. show Saturday we have another preview show we'll take some questions from you on the barge if you have any and then the tournament of course starts on Sunday And we will be daily from that point onwards, well, from Friday onwards, from our media day and draw combined show. So...

A lot of podcasts coming your way, folks, and coming our way. And I'm pretty pumped. We have a mascot for this episode. In fact, we have a three-peat. mascot for this episode I know this adorable face this is Rue and Rue is owned by Erin Kaplan what are you laughing at Matt The photo. The photo. It's magnificent. It is truly magnificent. Rue is a nine-year-old coton de tulier who loves to cuddle and chase bunnies and deer in our backyard, says Erin. She's small but mighty at eight pounds.

but thinks she's much bigger than she is and has the heart of a lion. This is reminding me of someone. Her favourite things are long walks and cheese. And she is proud to be a three-time pet mascot. Her mum Erin met Matt and David on the shuttle bus leaving the US Open last year and came home and told Roo all about it. I remember. Yeah.

She was at the back of the bus. Oh, yes. I remember. Had a chat with us. It was lovely. Where was I? At the front of the bus? Maybe I got upgraded. Maybe you'd already gone back. Oh. Yeah. It's making me sound like a part-time. We were hardcore, Matt. Rue is... Absolutely splendid. And always seems so clean. I marvel at owners of white dogs that are able to keep them so pristine. She's incredible. Thank you, Erin, for bringing Rue back.

for year number three. See you next year, Roo. Hello to our mascots. Hello, Phoebe. Hello, Maisie and hello, Roger. We love them all. We love them all. Hello to our top folks and executive producers, Greg, Chris and Jeff. Matt, let's have some shout outs. We start with Stacey Meadows from Dallas, Texas. Hi, Stacey. Hello, Stacey. And Stacey is attending the US Open for the first time. Cool.

Love that. She's going to be here for the first three day sessions on Ash. And she hopes to see Paolini, Andreeva and Mboko, if she can. Good choices. Good list. By the way, good to see Andreeva back. today in the doubles and she looked I mean it's hard to tell completely from doubles but she did look fit she's a good doubles player I mean we know that but I mean she managed to get a win with Daniel Medvedev

Big. Big, yeah. One of his biggest spins of the year. She goes, he's playing okay. Like Stacey Allister, US Open Tournament Director. Very good. Any other Stacys? No, that's a big one. Yeah. It's a big one. Thank you, Stacey, and enjoy the US Open. We've also got Helen Hood. Right, Helen. Hello, Helen. Who's from Brooklyn, New York. Well, amazing.

And Helen says, I became a tennis fan after reading Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid a few years ago. To be honest, the book kind of sucked. She says, not my words, Helen's words. I've not read it. In part because at least 50% of it was descriptions of tennis matches. But that got me interested in the mechanics of tennis. And once I started watching, I was instantly hooked. I found the pod soon after.

And they're making a film adaptation of it, aren't they? Produced by Serena Williams. Is that right? Yeah. I have tried and given up on that book several times, but only because I feel like I just sort of know the story already. I know a lot of non-tennis fan friends that have really enjoyed that book. And that's great. And Helen like Helen Wills Moody. Very good. Very good.

Thank you very much. Very, very good. Thank you, Helen. And our final shout-out is for Nens, who is from North Hertfordshire. Oh. Which Vicky says is her neck of the woods. Yeah, and my brother's neck of the woods. And then says that she's really Jennifer. So a couple of options there. I'd take Capriati. Yes.

Nend. Oh, that's an interesting shortening of Jennifer. I like that. I've never heard that before. And Nend says, but your show is strong on friendships. So can I shout out my dear friends Kath and Malochita. who introduce me to the pod, tolerate my poor tennis and are on the barge. Yay! You can and you have, Nens. That's lovely. We are indeed strong on friendship. Love that. Nens, Stacey and Helen.

Thank you very much indeed. Thank you all for listening. Thank you for joining us live if you did. We are, of course, part of the Athletic Podcast Network. So thank you to the Athletic and thank you to the New York Times. And thank you to Leah behind the camera here for... facilitating this lovely show today. I've enjoyed it very much indeed. How cool do we look? Thank you. You can't say that out loud, David. It makes it uncool. I don't care.

Thank you to everybody that has joined us live, if you have. And thank you to Vicky and Hannah in the chat. As always, it's going to be a fun... I was going to say fortnight, but it's three weeks, isn't it? Yeah. It's going to be a fun three weeks, folks. We can't wait. We'll see you again tomorrow when we'll be talking more mixed doubles, official Grand Slam tournament, TN. Thanks for listening. speak to you then.

Group health plans are limited to a single carrier and a few plan options, but that doesn't fit everyone's needs. Now, a new form of employer coverage called an ICRA allows employees to choose any plan from any carrier. Learn more at ambetterhealth.com slash ICRA. Carol, you're in remission. I think what gets me most about this whole journey that I've been through is just how many jigsaw pieces come together to help someone like me. I've met people who have just packaged the drugs.

Just this white box saying World Courier on it. But I want to be able to say thank you to every single person that works on these things because they've saved my life. Every single one of them. Every minute, World Courier makes another life-changing delivery. Learn more. Search World Courier.