French Open Day 12 - Will Maja Chwalinska match Raducanu’s title run?

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Hello and welcome to the tennis podcast on day 12 of the French Open, a tournament where we have learned to expect the unexpected and yet. The most unexpected thing of all has happened today and absolutely none of us saw it coming. World number one hundred and fourteen, Maya Kvalinska today, became the first ever qualifier to reach a Roland Garros final. She's the third lowest ranked major finalist.

I mean I'd love to pretend I did, but no, I didn't. I mean I saw her in fact in the first round, um, against Junkin Wen and I'd again I'd love to say at that point I said, Look out, look out for this qualifier. She is gonna take this tournament by storm. But I didn't. I mean I thought she was like really awkward and you know, not an opponent that players would relish playing, but not for a moment did I think.

Seven six six four in two hours and ten minutes, two lengthy, grueling sets over Diana Schneider today. Is that the most fun, David and Matt, that you have had watching a tennis match this week?

Oh, that's a good question'cause I've ha I've had a lot of fun. I really have. But I think maybe that was m the most surprising fun I've had. Not that I didn't think Valinska was good, it's just I didn't think she was that good. I mean that was a virtuoso performance showcasing everything she's got and what she's got is creativity and

Yeah.

Just out of the blue, and then the ball would come back, and Schneider hadn't been expecting that, and she then just packs away a drop volley winner. It was happening time and time again, drop shot. sudden sort of injections of pace without uh particularly on the backhand side on her left handed backhand, which don't look like she's trying to hit the ball hard, and she just strokes it and it just goes away and Shocks the opponent for the pace of it.

Matt, including me, how many stat requests have you had this evening pertaining to my Kralinska?

Actually just you. You'll be surprised. People are not coming to me in the press room for stats.

I must confess I went to Opta who's

I mean...

So it is their actual, you know, job.

Yeah, but look there are a lot of fun Yeah. There are a lot of fun ones. I I I just want to pick up on the point David made about like surprising fun because obviously we're gonna talk more about the other semifinal later, but I was at a bit of a low ebb after that one. Like that was the one today coming into the day that I was really excited for.

Matt had had some tough Marco Silver news and then the first semifinal flamed out and it was it was a tough Matt Roberts scene, list dear listener.

Yeah, so that was the one that I was really excited about. I thought was gonna be like the best match remaining in the tournament, and then when that was a bit of a a dud, I was I was a bit gutted and I I started watching this second one and immediately I was like, oh hang on a minute. The rallies in this one are really to my liking. And there were 41 rallies of nine shots or more in the opening set.

That doesn't happen very well.

That doesn't happen. And and it it tells you something about the style of player, neither of them blessed with like huge power, but both have enough power at their disposal to make things awkward for for the other player and I just loved it so much the the way the rallies were constructed. I mean Havlinska's dropped

That was amusing.

Yeah.

And the screen was on and I was so distracted. I wanted to make noises. I wanted to hit people next to me, David. But I had to I had to behave myself in the press conference and it was just like It was in that game, that five all game, where I think the match just elevated to something so special. The crowd was clearly going with them. And then in the tie break I wanna Shout out the drop shot lob combination because the other skill that Havinska has is anticipation.

It was a look I recognize from someone that's been segmented.

Yeah.

I mean, look, the... Helensky is not Laura Siegmund in in in lots of very positive ways.

Thank you.

in terms of what she th the distraction yeah she's been driving opponents to and the reaction she elicits in them, which makes me personally laugh in a very sadistic way, it's very similar.

Yeah, I thought Schneider actually Did well in some respects to deal with it and especially when she lost the first time on the tiebreaker, then got broken straight away at the start of the second. And she played some really good stuff as well. I think you know, it wasn't obviously Felitska was had the crowd, but Schneider also played with some really nice angles, some really nice Really nice feel. More so than I think she sometimes does. I thought she

Bye.

But Falinska, the ability she had, I mean Chatrier we know is this enormous court, but she made it feel tiny, like teeny tiny, the with her court coverage, her anticipation. In the last the penultimate game in which she breaks to leave herself serving for the match. Schneider hits his brilliant angled. And Felinska's like way out of court, just kind of hoists up a kind of

I mean stats wise, Fulinska, I I mean quite often this type of play, you know, th with lots of lots of loopy balls and, you know Trademarks of a defensive game, very e excellent mover, lots of lots of topspin. Sometimes the stats, you know, the the numbers are low on both winners and unforced errors. Thirty one winners, seventeen unforced errors for Krillinska for two sets for the match. I mean the ratio there is obviously incredible, but the the raw numbers As well.

Yeah, we we were in the second set, once we'd come out of this press conference where we were I mean look, the press conferences were really interesting. I really enjoyed talking to An Mirandra and to Marta Kostchuk. But we just could not help have a have the eye on over to our right where this big screen was and

Yeah.

Yeah.

Just then subling.

And even in the second set, you know, when she's won in straight sets, the second set has been dominant the entire tournament. What once she's taken control of a max, she's really taken control.

Yeah, but Helenska never never really sort of let down. She just

Shit.

She kind of had the odd one or two wobbles, lost a couple of points, but then just quickly. And I think when you're trying to package a game like her. That must be really energy sapping. To have to keep that up for a long, long period of time. It's not like just having a big forehand that you just keep smacking about. You've got to constantly be putting these combinations together. And she she kept it up.

And she seems to be a bit ill.

Yeah, she didn't sound great, did she?

I know she...

Sometimes she lost that voice.

She was blowing her nose a lot during the match, and then in the press conference afterwards, she was very croaky and and uh coughing a little.

But against Callinscar as well, I thought, because she lost a big first set lead, and I kind of thought, um as the I keep waiting like for the spell to be broken. Uh and it hasn't been. Yeah. And and I guess then by extension I'm like, oh well, will it be against Andreva? And I that is kind of my sense. But I thought that today. I mean w I think it's natural to assume a player outside the top one hundred will eventually kind of come crashing back down to earth.

On the list of f the five lowest ranked WTA players to ever reach a a major final in the open era, all five of them won one I mean there are some an there are it is largely anomalies on that list, like Kleisters being unranked because she was coming back from having a baby. The Serena Williams two thousand and seven Australian Open is in there. Sloane Stevens is in. I mean Emberetta Khan, who is the most obvious parallel with Maya Felinska, but all five did win.

Is there not Serena twenty eighteen Wimbledon? Or did she is there a protected ranking that kind of screws

She's n she's she's not on the list I have in front of me.

That was one I was given and I th cause I think she was a hundred and something. Right. But it might might be a protected ranking message that up. But I think that that is really interesting, even if that even if she depending on w where she's classified, clearly the vast majority do go on and win.

Even just in the on off the top of my head, in the men's Goran. Yeah. Um Mark Edmondson was very low ranked when he won the Australian Open. So yeah, maybe there's there's something in that.

I I do think it helps that you d haven't come into the tournament with expectations. Yeah. And this you have not had time to process all of this, even on the courts when she was told you've you've just reached the final. She couldn't process it and it's almost better that she doesn't, I feel.

I think she knows that. Yeah. Right? She keeps saying, Oh what all this is and what it's meant and how I've dealt with it because she's like right now I'm just existing in it and and trying not to think about it too much. She's very interesting in the press conference room, I think. Like she's Really likable, but she's definitely not a people pleaser, is she? She's like I'm not she's not fawning or sort of trying to ingratiate herself with the media at all.

No, she didn't seem like, Wow, I'm so kind of lucky and happy to be here. Um, it was kind of business as usual. Like it was the kind of press conference That you'd expect someone who's kind of a veteran at being at those, you know. What it was just uh Yeah, a little bit. Um, you could certainly see it made sense that they're they're good mates, but like I just don't understand how. you're able to be that blinkered and block out the fact that like this

I I did think or wonder if today might be a bit different because her on court interview had been markedly different, I thought, in terms of the level of emotion and sort of realisation of what was happening to to previous rounds. It did feel like Okay, this is this is really quite big now, isn't it? But that's, you know, when you're totally caught up caught up in the moment and Julianne Beneteau's standing in front of you.

And she did say, didn't she, how sort of knackered she felt.

Yes, and she did seem exhausted.

Which might have j as you say, it might just be a you let your guard down and you let it all out. But I do wonder what that looks like in a couple of days' time.

But then she played yesterday, didn't she? She this was These two with this side of the drawer that only had one day uh one day's rest and not only is that sort of Difficult from the only having one day's rest point of view, but also I just think that's really tough from a like totally changing the cadence of what you've been used to for. Yeah.

Yeah, unless it helps in the it means there's less time to stop and think about where you are.

That's where I'm a I'd be a little concerned about the final, because of the set piece nature of it, the fact that it's so grand and

Interruptive dance beforehand, you know.

Ceremony, all this we've seen a little bit of a rehearsal on the court there, right?

But the reason we're recording where we are is because some rehearsing interpretive dances are preventing us from being on chatterer.

We couldn't clash with that music. Um but but I you know it is two days. And y d it's a quite a job to try to avoid all the shenanigans that are going on because like I said, the the number of Polish flags in that stadium, you can only imagine the messages she's getting

Yeah. I really do think she's captured something here here in Paris. Like it was I I was I I came for little walks, my back was hurting a and I was by the by the deck chairs watching on the big screen at match point. And I know everyone loves an underdog. e and that can account for some of it. But they were cheering for her like she was a French player. It's like the spirit of Lois Boisson from last year.

And they love the creativity as well.

Absolutely, it's a similar type of game, potentially more deadly. I r a and there's you know, there's the Russian element too, we'll come onto that in part two when we talk about Androva and look ahead to the final but I think she's gonna have like French player esque support on Saturday. I really do.

Yes, I think it's a tougher final for Andreva than Schneider would have been.

I agree.

Because of the more awkward game style, the crowd support. the expectation that God, I mean the first grand same final and I've pl and I'm playing a qualifier, like this is a massive chance.

It's supposed to win.

supposed to win. Like I I I do think there's a chance that Avinska's so tired and maybe a bit overwhelmed. I do think that is possible, but if she can get into the match, I definitely think she can make it awkward for Endraver and uncomfortable in a way that I'm not I'm not sure Schneider who is obviously so friendly with Andreva I'm not sure that that would have happened in in that match.

Kostjuk's chance was when which we'll obviously we'll get on to, but in the second set when she had when she did rally and the crowd were getting on Andreva's case a l just a little bit, you know, or certainly they were rooting big time for Kostjuk. If that's happening again on Saturday, first land final match, you should absolutely be winning. What a huge opportunity in the crowd start getting on your case. I think that that could.

Like

I mean presumably she's got some but you know, she's suddenly she's got, as you would expect, patches now, sponsor patches on her kit. She doesn't have a kit sponsor, she's wearing different kit every round still. Whether that'll be the case on Saturday I don't know. But like

Someone at the press conference wasn't there? I don't know who that was.

always you know man in corner yeah what do they do

And someone's phone did keep going off and I was like, Is that someone to do with that? Just getting like loads of demands?

Yeah, I mean, how many patches do we think she'll have on Saturday?

As many as she's alive. I mean make the most of it, I'd say.

Yeah.

And any team members.

I mean, It is crazy. You know, David and I are walking out of the stadium talking about it. I genuinely thought I would never in my lifetime see a qualifier win a Grand Slam again after Ada Khan, right? And look, she might not win. But the fact that we've got this close Is blowing my mind and I r I remember so strongly the feeling at that US Open in twenty twenty one that Radakandu won, being like I watch tennis all the time.

You never know.

Exactly. Just imagine. It's it's that. It's like this is how David lives every day.

I always think this stuff can happen.

This is vindication.

So it's so fun when you just think What might happen? Like it's such a fun place to be.

But that's what's so weird about it, and I asked Schneider about- Literally yesterday she beat the world number one with a bagel set in the third set. Yes. A day later she's losing to the world number one hundred and fourteen.

The whip plash there.

Well yeah, and but but just by extension, are there like tons of other players who, if they caught like, would could have this kind of run?

Or and I think that's why this run of Havinska might be more inspiring to players than Radakanu's because Radicanu was so young and I know she'd had that Wimbledon so you know, people were tracking her talent and everything. It was it was the unknown of Radakanu that made it so special. Havlinska's lost ten times in qualifying at Grand Slams. Like we all thought But those who knew her would have thought, Oh, I know that player's level.

That sort of

momentum can catch on for people.

I do l love that suddenly past foot what little past footage of Marek Volinska that there is in the world is suddenly coming to the surface as it does.

Yeah.

Yeah. Well there's one somebody on the barge has realized that so Mike Linska has one Grand Slam main draw victory to her name prior to this tournament. Wimbledon twenty twenty two. She beat Katarina Siniakova and somebody on the barge was there at courtside. It was on you know, it was practically in the car park and they were there to watch Katarina Siniakova and they got a photo of the handshake.

It's just epic. So wonderful.

at the junior Australian Open.

Yes, that's lovely. And some footage of Kelinska um icing Schontek's head during a particularly gruelling United Cup match. Felinska's been a non playing member of multiple Polish

So what's happening?

Oh, Felinskay keeps it hits a completely legitimate body shot volley.

Uh

It's pretty pretty vicious though. It's the sort of thing you see all the time. It's actually a mid-court sort of forehand. She rifles it straight at her and she holds a racket up but actually hits Van der Wey in the shoulder. And Van der Wey turns around and goes That is so messed up. That is just so messed up.

Mm-hmm.

She yeah, she goes, you're a pathetic player, she goes, just eat it. She goes like this. And then and then Valinska hits a forehand out on the next port point and Vanderway goes, yeah, karma baby. Next thing you know is whoever's edited it cuts to the handshake, which Velinska wins, and I mean it's just the classic van der Wey no look and walk on. That is amazing.

Get this out.

Velinska's like saying sorry, sorry, I you know, she's trying to be

Really?

She's very graceful.

And and Van Der Wey is just well being van der Weiff. Yeah.

Incredible stuff. I think we've reached the end of the road of what we can talk about with Valinska before we address who she's gonna play in the final on Saturday. So join us in part two and we'll talk about Mira and Rover.

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You've decided to quit smoking. That's a big step. But cravings don't always make it easy. Zonic can help. A nicotine pouch that provides fast craving relief, offering smoke-free support in the moments that matter on your quit smoking journey, with an easy to use format that can be used anytime, anywhere.

Welcome back to part two of today's tennis podcast. On to the second semifinal, which was the first semifinal of the day, but the second one we're gonna talk about because frankly as a as a match, it was nothing compared to the Schneider Felinska match, nothing compared to what we were hoping for and expecting from this matchup. Mira Androva beating Marta Kostic six one Six three in an hour and sixteen minutes. Debate has been raging all day, Charlie, on on our tennis podcast group chat.

I mean I think Andra handled the conditions really well, thoug her and her backhand was really good. She didn't look like she was particularly bothered by the conditions, by the wind, whereas Kostjuck looked so ragged, her forehand kept misfiring. So It's c I kind of find it tricky to separate those two things. I don't think Andreva was like absolutely lights out or anything like that, but I think she was really solid and basically did all the things that

Uh

Because Costje was so.

And and it's easier to be good when you're not feeling under any pressure, right? Like I think, you know, playing well and playing badly they don't they don't ever happen in a in a vacuum. But there's no getting away from the fact that this was not the match that Marta Kostic wanted to play today at all.

No. I guess I had let my guard down a little bit and didn't see this kind of performance coming from her, given the way she's won Madrid in the build up and the way she's beaten Schviontek and Svitolina. I just trusted her to really show up on this stage, and perhaps that was. unfair because Grand Sams semifinals are massive occasions and it was windy and and and the conditions were tricky but

Yeah.

Yeah, I thought that as well. I came up I was like settling. You're home for the next three hours and then after like an hour is like oh this is done.

Um, it's amazing how I mean I'm sort of always caught out a bit by how good Mirandrava's serve is. It is such a weapon.

Absolutely.

And it it wasn't diminished by the wind, you know, we were talking was it yesterday, day before? sometime in the recent past about how roof closures tend to benefit big servers because, you know, perfect conditions for your for your big serve. She's got a fairly low toss. And in those very windy conditions her serve continued.

Yeah, and the only period where she was in any sort of peril was when the roof closed. I mean it's slightly surreal thing where the roof suddenly was closing and then she lost a couple of games

If anybody would like to see Matt Roberts' expression at that exact moment when the roof began closing during bright sunlight, it's available on our Instagram. And it's it's worth a look.

Yeah. I mean, I did feel that potentially they were Vindicate.

Mine did then come.

It did drive.

Before the end of the

It did. I don't believe that on clay, with the speed with which the roof can close, they need to operate a preventative policy with the roof here.

Tend to

Personally.

I think they were a bit too trigger happy with it. I think you can you can almost start doing that as soon as the first drops appear. Yeah. Especially on clay, as you say. Uh but yeah, the roof uh the rain did come. It wasn't like the other days where they shut the roof and there's been no rain at all.

Gonna start heavily raining in three games time. At this moment, it's sunny outside. You know, you can see the shofts of sunlight around the place. she is so clearly handling the conditions way better than her opponent. I mean, I would have felt I I would have been stomping my feet and thinking I'm being sabotaged and she's nineteen. And you know, she clearly was having feelings about it. And there is a version of Mirandra that would have

And she said I told myself to accept everything that happened on the court because it felt like today was a day when anything could happen. And that's also I think the kind of mentality you've needed to get through this tournament. It's been a tournament where they've had to deal with so many different weather conditions and the mayhem and chaos of the draw and not let that affect you. Like, I think this is a real Mindset wise from Andreva.

Yeah th there's there's a real change in her to me. Uh I I haven't seen that much of her over the course of the tournament. I haven't actually been in any any of her press conferences this week, which uh I'm n I normally loved her press conferences and and a and Russell Fuller on BBC Radio tonight said said to me during the commentary, you know

And it is interesting in in this match and against Castella, second set she gives up a break and you're thinking, Okay, like we're back on terms. Is is this the start of the unraveling or the comeback? stomps it out straight away and breaks herself. And I do think if Kostic, well she'll have many regrets, but she got it back to four three and on serve in the second set. The roof's just closed, as you say, Catherine.

I don't know quite what I was expecting from Kosjuk impress, but definitely not what we got, which was a Totally okay. Marta Kostrick, that it seemed to already have

Yeah, it's interesting because yesterday I was saying to Matt Futterman, I was like with Sabalenko, I was like, God, I totally can relate to how Sabalenka's feeling right now. She is just pissed off.

Yeah.

I'm not always going to be sulky and petulant. In some instances, I can understand that, and I would be. I actually do think in this case. I wasn't so surprised by Costrup because I do think she was able to be like to take a step back, which admittedly isn't always easy, but she's had a great tournament and a great clay court season. I do think she can recognise that this has been a breakthrough period. and she's lost to

She suddenly wanted to talk about the streak, didn't she?

Yeah, first.

Util now it's been like it doesn't mean anything the streak doesn't mean anything, doesn't mean I'm unbeatable today. It was like, let's talk about my big streak.

She said I'll take it with me to the grave. And and I loved as well when she said I changed first and then the street came rather than the street changed me. And I think that's kind of what you're

Yeah.

Getting at like I think she is okay with this because Think she'll think she's got other shots and she feels like she belongs at that kind of level now and she's done the work. You know, she's she's she's she's put in the work in terms of her mindset and off court and on court to make her this person and this player now. And I think okay, this was this was a tough day, but I think I think she'll back herself if Yeah.

Bear in mind as well, she had a really bad run in Garros record. I think

That's part of it.

In the presser as well, isn't it?

Exactly, and I interviewed her just before the tournament and we we were talking about it. I was like, you know, your prospects are going here. She was like, I've had a bit of a love-hate relationship. You know, she was like, I love Paris, but my record there has been really bad. So I do think to get to a semi-final is such an enormous program. Yeah, again I think with that perspective, she can see the positives.

And just to to let our listeners a little bit behind the curtain of of of how all this works. This conversation, the press conference room, did happen a good hour and a half after the match finished. So sometimes players are able to

And we know she's got two dogs backstage.

Exactly.

It helps. Will Marta Kostriuk qualify for the WTA finals? She is currently

I have no idea where you're not.

There she is.

And yeah, I'm sure she will.

Will Maya Havlinska qualify for the WTA Friday?

Uh so Martekostuk is currently seventh in the race, just ahead of Karolina Mukova and quite ahead of Victorian Boko in ninth. Igor Svantek is in eleventh. So

I'd back out to finish above Mukaver, I have to say. I mean I love Mukaver just with the fitness record I would back Kostuk to be able to play a lot more events. Not that it matters as well for the race, but she pointed out to me when we spoke, she's basically got no points to defend. Between now and Canada, I think. She had a really bad this chunk of um the season last year, so she's in a pretty nice position.

To me, she can play on any surface. Uh and and now that she's moved to another level. I I think she's gonna make it quite comfortably.

She's headed to Queens now, isn't she? She's uh she's committed to uh to playing a full grass court season. In terms of Mirandreva's press conference, just to go back to that, there was one great line which A journalist picked up on and sort of re asked her about I think it was Katie Smith that you work with on uh BBC Radio, David, about how she described being so locked in, both in this match and in her semifinal, that she could see the hairs. On the ball.

That was amazing.

Yeah.

It's like...

Yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna, yna. It was like uh what is that Bradley Cooper film where he takes the drugs and it makes him see everything in technicolo?

Let me

What are you saying about me around Drava?

Well that but it was that was that was what popped into my mind when she described

Yeah, I mean it's it's an incredibly vivid visual Image isn't it? You know I th I did and I but I also think that that is part of whether it's therapy or sports psychology or whatever it is, to break down the sport into the most granular detail possible. Not just the ball that I'm gonna keep my eye on, the hairs on the ball.

Mm-hmm.

That clears your mind of all the crap that you might think about that might get you ranting at Gangita Martin.

Chita Martinez popped up on the screen, didn't she? She was out there scouting for Mira Androva's final opponent and then Androva was asked. uh about the potential of facing Felinska obviously w wasn't determined who she'd be facing at that point. She'd already had a Schneider question. So then the I think it was the Polish journalist that got in with the question about Felinska.

Yeah, and it was interesting hearing Schneider saying that she they basically couldn't find footage of her playing a lefty. Yeah.

All you can find is footage of her and Coco Vanderway.

Exactly.

We've exhausted the coca vannoise stuff, can't we?

We're gonna wear that footage.

Yeah.

Um I thought Catherine you were asking a question to Dana Schneider about whether would she act as a sort of scout for uh Andreva and kind of say to her this is what it's like playing her? Because that you'd think that would be invaluable.

And she kind of said yeah, if she are And like got the impression that like, yes, I think that would be useful because you know, I wouldn't I wouldn't presume to volunteer it if she she doesn't want it but Hey, this is a pretty unique experience playing playing this person and I was prepared today and it still was a shock to me. So I think you can use all the intel that that's it.

Yeah, the implication was I wish I'd had someone I could ask.

Yeah, and she and look, it's different for Schneider'cause she's a lefty. Um and I the I I followed up and said, Could you share what the advice what the tips would be? And she said, Yeah, tell her to come into the net, especially given the serve that Androva has.

That was interesting by the way because I did think watching it that Kvalinska was doing that quite cleverly. She was anticipating when Schneider was gonna try just looping shots up herself. And she was sneaking into the net, kind of like you described earlier, David. But yeah, I did think Schneider needed to do a bit of that herself. Just to keep her honest as well, to say you can't just loop up balls all the time, because occasionally I'm gonna sneak in and pick them up.

Yeah.

I think Andrava game wise is quite well set up. to handle the game. But I did also think that about her against Louise Poisson last year. So what the hell do I know? But I I just think, you know, she's got the hands, she's got variety herself, she's happy taking the backhand down the line. She is quite comfortable coming forward, she does have a big serve at times. There's a lot there that I think she can use at at her disposal, but Grand Sun final crowd.

It's kind of i i I I'm I'm really into this final.

Yeah.

You know, on on paper if you'd said before the tournament it's gonna be established top ten player who's Okay, not been in a slam final, but been at the latter stages of slams before, you know, big experience deficit against a qualifier who has, you know, the potential to freeze. I'd have been like okay, that sounds you know, potentially a tough scene. I I don't know, I don't feel that way about Saturday.

No, I don't think so. Did any part of you j'cause I I love this match today, I wouldn't have changed it for anything, Schneider Kulinska, but a part of me did just wonder what would how would Sabalenko have gone? Like annoy obviously the roof was on, so that would have been a big equalizer, but I even just like a few ga I would love to have seen that. Just how mad that might have driven Savalenka trying to deal with those loopy top spinny shots.

We saw Savalenka Siegmund at Wimbledon last year. And Havelinska here is is better than

Siegmund.

Of course I need this tournament.

Yeah.

Yeah.

It's like an exhibition.

Ca can I just also mention I think it was in the Android match that when I was commentating on it. Um, I blank a bit sometimes when I'm commentating so I don't make the notes in the same way as I do when I'm watching in the press box, but There was uh there was one point when she played a lob, followed by a drop shot, followed by another lob. And I and I just I just loved it.

Creamy stuff.

Yeah. She's very good at her own point construction, snooker style, being a shot ahead. She you know, she's got that quality as well, Andreva.

Yeah. Okay, that's for Saturday. We'll have another look ahead to it tomorrow. Join us in part three for a look ahead to the men's singles semi-finals coming up tomorrow.

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Welcome back to part three of today's tennis podcast. Just before we move on to talk about tomorrow's order of play and award Miskatera of the day, essentially. Uh the mixed doubles final was played first on Court Philippe Chatrier today and of course Sara Rani. And Andrea Vavasori were victorious. They defended their title from last year, beating Gabi Dabrowski and Evan King in dramatic style. One on the Sarit Irani serve. 46-63104. Should clarify, not an ace.

Compliment.

The way his talents

Yeah.

Yeah, they are a jigsaw. They're a jigsaw puzzle. It's it's beautiful to watch. It's it's brilliant. And and there was a decent crowd in for it and and their winning just reminds me that uh we now know there's gonna be a format change to the US Open mixed doubles where they are are of course the defending champions.

Yeah.

Yeah. So they're like we're giving you an opportunity but

Think there's two spots.

Not one that ESPN has to put on their airways.

I need a walk.

Well, Tatiana Maria hasn't got one for Queens.

Yeah.

Will my

I mean we were talking about this because I do not think when would they gonna be, you know gladly doing that. I think they might realise they kinda have to because it would be so ludicrous for her not to be there but I think they're gonna be pretty tight for wild cards.

I do too and you've had Scott Lloyd. making this incredibly punchy statement about how wildcards at British events are for British players. Now I know it's the Wimbledon committee that make the wildcard decisions, but they do tend to go to British players and the LTA have a lot of Saying that, I mean, obviously the whole thing throws up what an absolute unscientific nonsense wildcards are. Clearly we don't have time to debate that. I'll just let that sit there as the truth.

You into wildcards with the Charlie?

I do think the I've said this before, but the Grand Slam Navy getting to give, you know, players from their countries who already have such privileges anyway by coming from a Grand Slam nation to also get that is that to me I do That to me

Yeah, yeah.

having a scheme to help like privately educated kids get into the workplace. It's like I think they've had enough of a leg up in the same way. I think if you come from Britain as a tennis player, you have a lot of adva you have a lot of fringe advantages. I don't think you then all need to be getting well.

Speaking my language, Charlie. Musketeer of the day. I found one. Twenty year old Cosenia Chasteau has reached the women's wheelchair singles semi-final for the first time in her career with a win over Cagozazzo Montiane. So congratulations, Cosenia, placing the semi-finals. And musketeer of the day.

More important.

In terms of tomorrow's order of play, just two singles matches on Chatrier tomorrow. First up Jakub Menschik against Alexander Zverov, second up Mateo Arnaldi against Flavio Caboli. Charlie, the man who sees things coming. Mm-hmm. What do you think?

Well, I said as soon as Cinna went out, we did a piece on the athletic, all of us saying who we thought would win it. I said Zverev. That was the day before Djokovic went out as well. He was still there. And on the other side of the draw, Cabody's been my pit to get to the final. So I'm not changing not deviating from those two. I think it will be as fair

If he is physically fine, let's say he's physically fine and this is to all three of you, ha what chance do you give men shik? Um Try and ignore the image you have in your mind of him cramping in the press conference today.

Well exactly that or him leaving on a wheelchair last week. But yeah, putting all that aside, if it's just two players of fit.

I think I would probably go sixty five thirty five to Zverev, just a little bit stronger in Zverev's favour. Um I think I think Menshik's got a

Going for him. You know, like

The serve, a big one. I think he can keep sets close. I think he has delivered in some very important moments in big matches in his career, not least the quarter final. He was so good at when the when the pressure was at its peak. he's got a great backhand, which a lot of players really struggle against fair in those exchanges. You know, so there's a lot that he can do well. Um I think though that Zvereo

And just quickly that is why I backed him to win it, because you look at his three final defeats, they were all to players that were better than him. Higher rank than him, Dominic Team, that was the one that was probably closest in ranking and obviously in the fact team hadn't won one, but team was in the position Zverev's in now as being the guy who'd had the more experience had lost three sound finals and then he plays Alcraz and then he plays Sinner.

Thanks for mentioning Dominic Team. Matt and I fell down a Dominic Team rabbit hole yesterday, ended up watching highlight. Jimmy's only thirty two. He could be here winning this Runch Open. We've lost so much. David, what do you think?

I I don't have much to add uh um because I feel very similar to the to both Charlie and Matt on it. I I do I think Menschik need needs to win the first set. I think he needs to not be behind chasing he might do some catching up but the thing is I think he needs to have enough Of a buffer for when he probably has a bit of a letdown physically and maybe mentally at some point in the match.

And everyone's back in Kaboli.

Yeah

Yeah.

You're gonna lead with the big Nadal shower story.

I mean Capoli.

I saw that on the BBC today.

Did you? Yeah. Yeah. And I'm sure the sun. Yeah.

I just didn't check that.

Didn't need to.

Right there going enjoying the K Coco Vanderway footage, the Sun News n sports news desk.

Who isn't?

Sorry, Charlie.

Kaboli is just great value. I mean, he's quirky, he's uh he's good fun. I mean, obviously the fact that Arnaldi his match got cut short against Berrettini is a help slash essential to him having any chance because I think he must be you know, right on the edge physically.

19 and a half hours.

Insane.

It's unreal. Okay, we will find out tomorrow. We'll be back with a podcast at the end of it all. Charlie, are you a cat guy?

So I have quite a complicated relationship with cats actually. I did have a cat growing up who I really loved and then we just sort of drifted apart a bit.

Okay.

Where did it go?

She just I don't know, she got

You sure you're talking about a cat?

Literally never heard of anybody falling out of love with a family pet before.

Drifting apart!

Yeah.

Jenny and I we just we had this really great relationship and then yeah just went our separate ways a little bit. Not helped by me once. throwing a VHS in frustration at a last minute equalizer being conceded. Unbeknownst to me, she it wasn't deliberate. She kind of entered the room and I very nearly Hit her with this V8.

You've buried the lead there, Charlie.

Cacked your family. Cacked.

Yeah.

Not so much drifted apart. Bolted out around.

I was gonna show you Bashir, but I'm not sure I I want him anywhere near you. But anyway, there's a lovely cat. Cute cat. Yeah. Great cat. Let's move Charlie on from Cats.

What was the last minute equalizer?

Uh it was january two thousand and three Matt uh Liverpool two Arsenal two in a game Arsenal should absolutely have won. It's very annoying. Nothing wor last minute equalisers are they are the worst, aren't they?

If you remember it unfondly, imag imagine how Jenny remembered it.

Not directly related.

Eight years after that. She was very old.

Hello to Bodie, hello Maisie, hello Roger, hello to our top folks and executive producers, Greg, Chris and Jeff. Matt, let's have some shout outs.

We have Fee Simpson from Brisbane, Australia.

Hello.

Uh Fee says got to live out my dream of going to Wimbledon in twenty twenty five to celebrate my fiftieth birthday. My first time in London and I loved every second.

Sure for Fiona, we're assuming.

I reckon.

Sarah?

Fairy.

Go and Drava beat in the first round here.

Simpsons, Tennis Simpsons.

Yeah, there was one where Agus was that Agus? Certainly Sampris and a few other and the Williams sisters, I think, uh guest starred.

There we go. Only Charlie was a Simpsons guy.

They wanted pistol peat on it, you see.

Thank you, Fee.

We also have Katie Killian from Mountain Brook, Alabama.

Right, Casey?

Katie.

Uh that's Katie with a Y. And Katie says like Katie Dunn, a British player who I've never heard of.

I was thinking Katie Swan, but she was an IE.

Would you like me to tell you what the capital of Alabama is? I can do that,'cause I'm cool, Matt.

Yeah.

Montgomery. Because I was cool as a teenager. Yeah.

Yeah, good.

Last time I shared that.

Albany being the capital of New York.

Yeah, Matt said, I'm glad I'm friends with you now.

Would that we should move on?

Thank you, Kate. Thank you, Katie.

We have a lovely last shout out and it comes from Vicky, our Vicky. Who wants to wish her mum, Chrissy, a happy birthday for June the fifth? So, as we're recording, that is tomorrow. And the day that Chrissy will be listening.

That is wonderful. Yeah.

And vi and Vicky says we're looking forward to our day together going to Queens next week.

Oh my daughter trip to Queens. My mum met Vicki at Queens last year.

Everybody's day improves when they meet Vicky, don't they?

Other mums. Uh Chrissy, I hope you have a wonderful birthday. You have a wonderful daughter. Thank you, Vicki. Happy birthday, Chrissy. Thank you all for listening to the tennis podcast. We're part of the Athletic Podcast Network. Do check out Charlie and everyone else's work at the Athletic. Five people you've had on site this fortnight.

Great.

Absolutely. Uh we will be back tomorrow, folks. Thanks for listening. We'll speak to you then.

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Composed in any condition, confident on any terrain, envied everywhere. Boasting an unrivaled combination of premium technology, inspired design, and exhilarating performance. The Range Rover Sport redefines what a luxury SUV can be. Build yours today at Ranger.ca.