¶ Intro / Opening
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¶ French Open Day Three Overview
Hello and welcome to the tennis podcast coming to you from Roland Garros on day three of the French Open, where the first round is Finally complete. It is half eleven at night or in the evening. We are back in our usual spot. The temperature is finally. Palatable after highs in the mid thirties Celsius throughout most of the afternoon. We are being savaged by mosquitoes though, but
We'll take that over savaged by the the midday sun. Uh players just wrapped for the day. Crowds are streaming away from Court Suzanne Longen, which is towering over us about thirty meters away. A fun end to the day with Felix Augelia seem winning in a deciding set tie break there. But uh A bit of a weird day. I don't know. Maybe the the heat is just starting to make things a little bit weird over here.
Well and and I I'm still trying to g get a sense of whether the heat has contributed to the upsets that we've had. I mean, two very, very significant upsets with Medvedev and Pagula and Yeah, I don't think it is because of that. You know, my is my sense overall. I mean I think it has made it a weird day. There have been I think results that have really been impacted by the heat. There are some players definitely coming into their own.
you know, being around the grounds, covering the event. I mean, you know, we we Catherine and I we we arrived a good few hours after Matt just because it was just a little bit too much for us to to make to spend that much time in the sun and and there really are only a couple of stadiums that you can go to and be out of. Um so it's it is a strange experience because I mean this tournament's just never known heat like this.
I definitely think um and and winners and losers are being determined by the weather, but I definitely think the score lines are being affected by the weather. We're seeing a lot of lopsided, sort of slightly weird weird score lines, you know, six two, one six, six one, one six, six four.
like very lopsided sets and lots of them. So like competitive matches but I feel like a lot of match management is going on within the matches in the sort of individual set aren't feeling that exciting a lot of the time'cause players are going a break down and going, Oof, okay, I've got this much in the canister, I'll conserve it for set number four or five or whatever it might be.
Yeah, I mean we're all sort of talking around it here, but basically it's turned into Melbourne and Musketeer of the Day has turned into Sensation of the Day. That is what has happened today at Roland Gareth. Because Adam Walton and Kim Beryl
Uh uh.
big upsetters of the day and no it's not the Australian Open, it's Roland Garrett. That's that's the vibe. And yeah, it is a bit weird.
Yeah.
I wasn't expecting it.
¶ Medvedev's Dramatic First Round Loss
Yeah. It it was a weird day and look, maybe that is Daniel Medvedev's fault. There's nothing Nothing and no one like Daniel Medvedev to set a weird tone, particularly on Clay, and maybe particularly here at Roland Garros. That score line that I mentioned was his His defeat to Adam Walton of Australia six two one six six one one six six four described by a French journalist to Daniel Medvedev in the post match press conference as a very silly man.
One of my favorite moments of the day. Medvedev sort of nodded at that and really Mae'n gweithio'r ymwneud ymwneud ymwneud ymwneud ymwneud ymwneud ymwneud ymwneud ymwneud ymwneud. of this. David and I left with Medvedev left the flat to come in with Medvedev a break up in the fifth and given the way that these sets had been going, we kind of just assumed it was gonna be six one Medvedev, boom
Job done, and then we're getting texts from you about how wild it had become, how weird it had become, and finally how Adam Molton had won the thing. So what on earth happened?
As you said, those first four sets tell their own story with the score lines like Walton played well, Medvedev got it back, Walton played well, Medvedev got it back, and we found ourselves in this fifth set. And as you said, Medvedev goes up a break and then he's up 3-1 and has triple break points.
And honestly, like I'm there, I'm on the court, I'm watching it, but it's a little bit flat in the stadium, it's the heat of the day, everyone's hot, and People are probably already thinking this set is probably already done, this is just to make sure of
But he didn't take any of those break points, Medford Ever and it got back to three two and that was the moment that Walton pinpointed in his post match interview as the moment where he started to believe that he might be able to mount this comeback and Fair play to him because he really did mount this comeback from you know, he's still a breakdown at that point. Medvedev I thought overplayed the drop
from that point onwards. He he'd actually found a really nice touch on it through the match, a a backhand drop shot. He hit more than I'd ever seen him hit before, and a lot of them were successful. But, you know,
The playbook here was quite obvious, I think. Th the extend these rallies, get into backhand to backhand exchanges with Walton and Medvedev was gonna come out on top, but he seemed to lose his way and lose his head a bit. He started to do the sarcasm to the box and he just lost the control of his game and suddenly he was in he was in real bother and I think the the probably other key moment to circle is the four all game.
just the most incredible volley onto the line and then a smash onto the line to save those breakpoints and then hold and go up five four, Walton. And You know, I turned to Matt Futterman next to me in the press seats and said, Hold or break here, Medvedev and we both thought hold, we thought Medvedev's gonna hold, take it to five all, there's more drama ahead.
And almost as I uttered those words, Medfordev hit the worst drop shot you've ever seen, didn't make it to the net, and we were like, Oh, break, like he's in trouble here, he's gone.
Tell you what, Longlands and some seen some bad drop shots in the past three days, hasn't it?
And he just Played the worst game you can possibly play, Medvedev, serving four five. That terrible drop shot. Then on the next point he shanked a serve but it went in and he and he missed a drive volley. Then on Love Thirty shanked another serve and it was a double fault.
And then at Love forty, three match points down, he hit a another drive volley, this time on the forehand long. Like a a horrific final game and he raced through it. He did that thing that he does where he just quickly gets on with the next point in a really careless manner.
It was
It was weird, it was weird and look, Walton has beaten him before in Cincinnati and he has got a heavy forehand that I think can can do a bit of damage on the clay and he he he played really well, Walton, but It was it was hard not to look at this match from a Medford perspective and think about what a missed opportunity this is, frankly, because
There's a limit on that opportunity'cause it's in the half with Yannick Sinn and no one's really expecting him to go on and win this title or anything like that. I said the other day I thought he was the player most likely to challenge Sinner from this half and I still believe that. He's become he's become such a high ceiling, low floor guy, Medvedev and
these sorts of performances. I mean he started his Clay Court season with a six love six love loss and he's ended it with this. And yet there've been some real highs in between. He took that set off Yannick Sinna and it just feels like the Medvedev that we used to know was more consistent, albeit he's never really done it at the French Open and he's got this bad record here and maybe I should have taken that more into account and maybe I should have
¶ Medvedev's Roland Garros Disdain
been on ups on upset alert for every single Medvedev match here, because that's kind of what he is now, especially at the Grand Slams and un until he proves otherwise again.
See I don't I I don't think he sees this as a big opportunity miss. I think in his head he's like Roland Garros no chance. No chance of anything for me. That is the impression that I got from his press conference. As much as we sort of think of it as Medvedev
not being great on clay and his Rome title a few years ago being a bit of an aberration. I actually think the biggest issue is Roland Garros. He was he was He said, I know exactly why I don't play well, a Roland Garrison, I don't want to say it because I don't wanna sound like I'm making excuses for losing today, but basically I've got a run on Garrus problem that's unsolvable. Don't expect anything from me here in the future. Although he did say he would never
skip Roland Garros unless injured, you know, he said he would consider playing the week before, which is something he would never ordinarily do before a slam. But he was like, you know, might as well try something. What I've been doing hasn't worked. I mean It is hard to believe that was the same guy as the one that played Yannick Sinner in that Rome semi final, but that was a night session and this was a the first match of the day.
Yeah and he's not keen on getting up early in the morning.
Quote I don't like to get up early and I'm usually less performative when I have to get up at six fifteen AM. I hear you, Danielle. Matt and David were not having
Well not. Eleven AM star is
It's a six fifteen start.
Well I mean do we know that?
Okay, let me make my case in all seriousness, right? Like it doesn't mean that he wasn't ready to go and professionally prepared, etcetera, etcetera, just like I am when we do early early podcasts, because that is practically the best thing to do.
Yeah.
usually mostly on time. I um I perform just fine. It's you know, it's all good. I will no matter what I do, no matter how many coffees I've had before I podcast, no matter how long a dog walk I do before we podcast so that, you know, I'm in the right frame of mind. I d I no matter I can do all the right things, I will never perform as well.
first thing in the morning as I do in the evening. Never. I don't I just don't think you can make yourself a morning person. I do think that is something pretty deeply imprinted.
Yeah, but I wouldn't have been able to tell that that you don't because I think your performance is great in the morning. And I think his performance was terrible.
I don't know how good I could be.
I do,'cause I'm on all the podcasts with you. No matter what time I recorder. I mean look, I I d I do find it a b look, I get it, he doesn't like it.
Fine. Yeah, I understand that it's not his preference and it can have an impact, but I don't think I don't think it should be something that you mention in a press conference playing at eleven o'clock.
When you're up against Adam Walton who you're supposed to be beating, um l you really are. Yeah. Just go and do your job.
I mean I d yeah, I kind of agree with you, but I also I guess the point I'm making is that it's more than just a preference. It is It is almost something physical. Like I don't s I don't It's not like I mean, I don't love doing things at eight AM. But it's not just like, oh, I would I would find it more enjoyable to do it later. It's genuinely like a f a function. functionality. Yeah.
Champion success.
Yeah.
But she also says champions are just
And I do adjust. We very often podcast at eight AM.
Yeah, remember that? Simple as.
Y you're not the subject of my vitriol.
Right now.
He's not angry. Matt's not angry.
I never been angry at you at eight.
He's just disappointed.
Or 9am, those early pods.
Ha ha ha.
¶ Adam Walton Triumphs in Heat
Um David, you went to the Adam Morton press conference, let's give him his flowers.
I did, I did, and what a lovely chap. You won't be surprised to hear. Um And he's he's so straightforward and honest, you know, and quite earnest about about the way he he discusses things and you know, this is a guy he he's not Trying to win the title. He's not expecting a deep run. He's trying to get into the US Open draw without needing qualifying.
These are his goals at the moment. So this is a huge deal to him. Absolutely huge. And he's fought his heart out. I actually asked both him and Medvedev whether they felt the heat had caused those lopsided set scores. Walton's view was he actually think it it's the other way around. He doesn't think that it is kind of jacking it in because you're you're a breakdown. He says whoever was getting ahead was just freewheeling and feeling more confident. He felt.
But but he but he he also assessed his own performance. He says look I'm not the most talented player out there But I've got good cardio in the heat and I can last longer than most of the field. You know, i he he clearly is used to these conditions. He hopes for it. Th there's some people here that are trading up.
Thank you.
And they're gonna get I I think Maria Maria Sacary today beating Lyndon Oscover. You know, the the the sum of these results I think are are gonna really show that up that that some players can thrive. for the next few days and he's one of them. But yeah, he said this was the best win of his career. Um and N it's n it's kind of a nice little story on the side really, you know.
¶ Men's Draw: Sinner's Path Clears
Hm. It does mean no Medvedev Tien at this slam, which is a shame because they were in the same section of the drawer. Lernatian held up his end of the bargain uh with a A very weird score line of his own in a win over Christian Green. Six love, two six, six love, six two. I mean that th there was a lot of that around today.
It has been I mean I can't believe the heat is Causing some of that. It but b and also five set tennis does cause it, doesn't it? Because people need a break almost in a match. Mm-hmm.
Ninth seed Alexander Bublick is out. I mean Yannick's in as half of the draw. Let's gently say sparse.
Yeah.
Uh and it's now looking absolutely threadbare. Medvedev gone. Alexander Bublik, the ninth seed, is gone. Now I don't I don't think Bublik has any chance ever again. Yannick Sinner. We've seen what that I I know we beat him in Hallow, but we've seen what that matchup looks like on a on a big stage. Um but he's he's a really good player and he's gone from Yannix in his half. He was beaten in four sets by Yannin as Struff.
Today, um, you know, those are those are in in the landscape of this draw, those are two names gone from that top half and it it really is looking sparse.
Yeah. Sinner gets affected by the heat and somehow ended up losing in the next two or two or three rounds when when it's still this hot. What on earth's gonna happen then in the draw? You know, who's gonna le who's gonna be left Um but as it is, it the the more likely scenario is that sin is just gonna
Fly?
Well it's possible in that very unlikely scenario we would find ourselves remembering this evening. And the win that we've just seen for Felix Augel Yasim in the deciding set tie break over Daniel Altmeyer. Now obviously big question marks over how much this is taken out of him, ten eight. in the deciding set tie break, but he's the fourth seed here, Felix Uje Eliasim. he should be reaching the sem semifinal.
Quite frankly. I I mean not I'm not saying that just'cause he's the fourth seed, but looking at how the draw looks right now, Valentin Vacherot was still in there, but he's injured. I might have been might have been thinking about Vacherot doing a
falls by the wayside physically but he's got a some kind of foot injury. He won today um against uh Thomas Farral, the uh the French qualifier that uh got everyone a bit excited in qualifying but kinda looked like man against boy out there but but yeah, I mean, that could turn out to be a big moment for Felix and for this top half of the draw.
Yeah, well one of these guys makes the quarterfinal Orjali Yasim, Burukchaga, Van Ash, Nakashima, Vallejo, Kuame, Tabilo, Vashar. Yeah, like not a huge amount has happened in that section. You know, Norrie's gone. He he retired today against Vallejo. But otherwise, you know, those are the names in there anyway. I honestly hadn't quite realised how how light that section is and the
you know, their quarter final opponent, you know, Medvedev's gone from from those possibilities as well. You've still got Kaboli, you've still got Surundalo, you've still got T M. You know, so there's
Excuse me, Matt.
Yeah, but not in that sector.
Oh okay. In this half you've got both surrender lows. Yeah.
So look, there's there's good K court players in there as well, you know, some Argentinians. Um but it's it's very light and I do think Orj Ali has seen winning this, yeah, I I completely agree with you. He could well make it through to the quarters or semis here. You know, he's gonna be favoured in every match he he plays for quite a while yet, I think, in this in this draw. And and and big for him to have won a physical match like that in hot conditions, okay.
Well, exactly. He he he he cramped recently, didn't he? And he cramped um back at the Australian Open as as well. So for him to come through that, I think he'll he'll take a lot of confidence from that.
¶ Landaluce Wins Epic Five-Setter
Land Luthe won today, he's in the uh Yannick Sinner section. That would be a third round.
The Juan Manuel Surindalo section, you might say.
Excuse me, the one man mile surundalo section, uh more on him in a moment. Lander Luce won a four hour thirty minute match with Bolivian qualifier Juan Carlos Prado Angelo, six three, four six, six two, six seven. Could end up being befine defined by how you cope with the conditions. He is as a young player he is shown something about himself today, hasn't hasn't he? And you know, winning a four hour, thirty minute match.
Yeah. I I sorta wonder w what that might do to him, um, because he won't have played that many matches like that. in that sort of length, in that sort of heat. But he got through it. You were there, Matt. I mean uh th towards the end and uh we were getting lots of very excitable messages from you.
Yeah, I went out for the fifth set of this one and took my seat next to The one and only Pamela Howard Shriver. So of course I had a good time for the remainder of this match and This is kind of the match I was thinking of and talking about the other day when I said if you look at the men's drawer as a whole you're probably gonna think, Oh, you know
how much interest is there for me it feels like a Yannix in a procession. If you take it day by day and you're just dropping in on a match and then coming out of the tournament and this is one of the matches you happen to drop in on, you'd have had like the time of your life. This match was so compelling. It was both of their first ever fifth set. Landaluthe and JCP, as they're as they're calling him. I d I don't quite know what's happened to his A. Um
He's Angelo uh but all the all the Yon X guys he's he's he's he's one of uh the players that Pam is is is helping in her role as a mindset coach. They all call him JCP and like It was five one up in this final set Landaluce and it got super tight because Prado was coming back at him. He saved four match points, one of them with a dry volley.
And he was having to manage cramps himself, you know, and Pam was telling him to take on as much water as he possibly could. He took his water bottle out to the towel bottom. halfway through this match, which was a smart thing to do on on Pam's instruction. And I was impressed with the way he managed that, right? Like his first fifth set match, he's cramping, he could have passed.
and he didn't at all. He he played really smart tennis, kept making Landeluth play, went for it when he had the short ball and it was just it was great great scenes. I think Landaluth got in his own way a little bit from five one up to five four. He did get a little I don't know if tight's the right word, but he just he he made some poor errors and it really felt on a knife edge this one until suddenly it was over. But the crowd were loving it. It was great experience for both players.
And yeah, one of my highlights of the tournament so far I would say this one.
Got big hopes for the the scheduled Landaluth Sinner third round match.
Yeah, I'm just hoping he's got something left in the tank if he gets that part to be honest after this epic he's just played.
¶ Sinner Progresses, Heat Concerns Loom
Well excuse me, Yannick Senna would have to make his way past Juan Manuel Sarundalo in the second round to get to that third round and uh Landaluce would have to to get there as well. Yannicksenna tonight, six one, six three. six four over twenty six year old French qualifier Clement Tabour who Played so well honestly played so so well Yannick Sinner is just so many levels above like it was like it was like he played a great point
but the rules were he had to stop one shot before his opponent, you know? Like Yannix inner would always get the last shot. Like it was like those were the rules they were playing with. Um I would say about this, the i th I mean the it's it's difficult to have too much to say about a a matchup with this much golf in class. Yannick Senna was not enjoying himself in the third set. It
It's very airless tonight. The temperature has dropped a bit, but it is very airless. It's not it's not lovely, it's not ideal conditions. Um and i I don't know, there was just that little bit of There was a point early on in in early ish on in the third set when I think S Cinner was already a break up and the result didn't feel in doubt, but Yannick Sinner was clearly just not feeling great. He looked a little bit pukey.
It was very very relatable, quite frankly. And Darren Kaye, who was up on his feet with that sort of slightly terrifying glint in his eye, the Sinner team, they're doing that thing where they all wear the same kit as Yannick Sinner, which It's not my jam personally. Um but it you know definitely sets a tone. Um and he's there, he's on his feet, he's got that terrifying look in his eye, and he looks
He looked like he was trying to stop Yannick Sinna from getting tense, you know. Don't Don't panic about how you feel. Because I do think that you know, I experienced this. I really struggle in the heat and in the sun when it's like this and it I'm I'm aware that an element of that is that it's self fulfilling. I get in my head about it. Like, oh God, I've just got to get out of this. It's almost like claustrophobia and I worry about being in
and, you know, I'm not having to do any particular physical activity in it. Like I do think there is that feeling of, Oh God, is it happening again? Is it happening again? And we saw it happening
a night session match in Rome, didn't we? And I'm s you know, stress is a part of it, pressure is a part of it. You know, these things are not binary, but just emphasizes, I think, just how big a feature conditions are for Yannick Sinner and probably will always be for his career because this is not a lack of conditions.
¶ Night Session Debate for Sinner
for Yannix in it. It it really isn't. But I do To harp on about it, but I I think Gael Morfice going out is massive. Fiannix in it. I think he gets the night session if he asks for it and he will ask for it. And and okay, his his opposition in the next round is only the bad surrenderlow. But if If he's in a day session and it's thirty five degrees and the sun's beating down on him, there's a scenario where it doesn't matter. Who's down the other end?
Um
Surundalo is, you know, he is the least he is the bad Surundalo, you know, he's not he's not a great player, but I I think he's a solid
Is it good? He's gonna he's g he's not gonna be worried about the conditions and he's gonna keep firing topspin forehands. For days if he gets the chance. Um I mean I think the thing is we are now in a position where it's not just whether Yannick Sinner asks for the night session. Amazon Prime Video who've got the rights here are gonna be asking for Yannick Cinner in the night session in that half of the draw because there isn't anybody else.
Sure, but that but they don't put women on the night sessions in this tournament.
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Whatever reason
I mean look, they've told us their reasons, haven't they, time and time again. But they didn't put Lois Boisson in the night session, which makes me think they're never going to. If they w if they weren't gonna do it with Lois Boisson, French player, and their rights holder required. Requesting it explicitly. I now just I don't even hope for it when I when I see the order of when the order of play comes out now. I don't I d I I don't know, maybe that will come into focus again.
this this year with the disparity.
I'm just looking at the halves of the draw and the options that they're gonna have for potential night sessions in two days time if they don't pick sinner. The one that's jumping out at me that I could see potentially is Rindakonesh Beratini. That's the sort of thing they might go with? French player against a name that, you know, is is gonna be well known.
Pretty disappointed if Cinner doesn't play any match in the day. I think it would be completely wrong as well. I think I
But this happens, this happens in tennis.
Yeah, but I think it's wrong. I don't like it. I've never liked it. I don't like the fact that Pete Sampras even and Roger Federer used to get entire tournaments of playing night sessions because it happened to suit Anti competitive.
I mean it is interesting that Djokovic is dead.
Always doing anti-convection.
How do you
Were you watching last night's
I can't stand players. Come in into tournament directors' offices and Pressuring and asking for positions on the schedule. Just do what you're bloody well told to do. And tournaments, stop listening to them.
Well it's quite interesting in on in that respect that Djokovic's dead say. Because I would have thought we don't know this for sure, I would have thought he would want the night again, given the weather forecast and given Okay, I don't think he's had the same struggles as Yannick Sinner in the heat. I don't think we've ever s really seen Djokovic cramping and unable to hold the racket like we've seen with Cinner, but
Yeah, we know he doesn't like it, we know it's not his preference. I would have thought he would have requested the night, and he's not got the night tomorrow. Now there's a more obvious other candidate, I would say. You know, they've got Zverev down there who's another very big name in this drawer and he's got the best player in the world. A very exciting draw. Like, you know, they can they can go with that. But it I I would theorized that they've denied a request there.
Mm. Interesting.
Do you agree or do you think...
Yeah, yeah, no I I I think that's a good point. And I do wonder if there's a scenario where they've said to Djokovic and Seno, I think those are the only two with significant enough player power um that this would apply to where they said to them, you have to play one at day, it during the day. It's up to you when you deploy it.
I I could imagine that being a scenario. And another counterpoint to what I originally said about uh about my Cinner Monfils going out theory is that they have always made a big point here. of always scheduling the big names on Longlen once. Alcraz played on Longlen Did he play their last I think he might have played that once last year?
Nadal I I remember one year here I was working for the ITF, you know, in the peak Nadal dominance years, he played his opening round match on Long Then as defending champion. And they always used to put in one son long now. Yeah.
I remember Djokovic Mute last year was on Long Lem, wasn't it?
So I mean I don't I don't expect to see sinner. But maybe maybe that means they don't Bow to every player request.
We will see.
¶ Player Injuries and Court Safety
We will see. Just to say, by the way, we we've mentioned a few of them but there have been a lot of retirements today. We had Alexander Muller retiring on Chatrier today. Three love down in the second set against Stefano Sitzabath, Sebastian Bayers retired, trading Roman Burachaga by two sets to one. Cameron Norrie, as you said, Matt, he retired. I mean he had told us Told the media pre tournament that he was injured, but uh he retired in the second set uh against Paraguayan Adolfo Vallejo.
Um on the women's side Moyuka Uchojima retired in the third set against Clerlieu and we've also had a withdrawal from the men's side today. Alexander Blocks who was due to play his second round match tomorrow, I think. He got injured in practice. um today due to what he described in his Instagram post as the and I think he's being ironic here, really necessary covers
at the back of the court. He tripped over them basically, turned his ankle. There's footage of him limping out of the the premises and obviously he's absolutely gutted Alex Demon now getting a a walkov in there scheduled match and this is something this is something we've seen before. We saw David Goffan sustain a a bad injury here, tripping over the covers at the back of the court. I know it's something Jim Courier has talked about a lot, that those are an accident waiting to happen.
And they don't seem essential. It seems like they could find a way for them not to be there, David.
Yeah. I think frankly i I I I worry about the the little advertising blocks that they have as well for uh for for for for ball kids. It it is a hazard. These are th you gotta take as much out of the way as possible and yeah, I mean Alexander Blocks. Yeah he's come in here and he's had a good clay court season, a young lad, got a good first round win, gets a chance at Alex Diminore and won't even get to play because of something like that.
We'll add him to the injury list. That is it for part one. We'll be back in part two to talk about the women and another contender for Sensation of the Day in May.
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¶ Pegula Stunned by Kim Birrell
Welcome back to part two of today's podcast where we're gonna talk about the women's matches today and it feels only right to start with our second contender for Sensation of the Day, which apparently is making a comeback.
Are we gonna be doing Musketeer of the Day in Australia?
Well they do do reciprocal wild cards, don't they?
Very good.
Yeah. This is not a tacit endorsement of reciprocal wild cards or wild cards of any ty uh any kind. Kimberly Birrell Matt. You've always been low key, a bit of a Kim Birrell guy. Big day for you, big day for Kim. Uh we were on for a very brief period in the first set of this match double bagel. Beryl against Pagula because Pagula was
fall off fall off yeah And this was when we were on triple bagel alert for Cinner.
We were looking for bagels.
Trying to get our kicks.
We were trying to get our kicks. Uh and yeah, full love to Bagula. She ends up losing one six, six three, six three. Matt was out there for the culmination of this match. He came back absolutely buzzing, describing it as unbelievable.
The thing is, I am a bit of a Kim Bill guy'cause I think she's lovely. I've had some experiences in press conferences with her at like Billy Jinking Cups and she's just a delight. She's the nicest person. But I've also and I literally did it today, good drawder. In the past. Like I'm I'm always like Kimberl for a top seed is a good draw because she hits a lovely ball.
But typically doesn't have really big weapons. I just think it's a great sort of player to get you into a tournament, nice rhythm going. And you're probably gonna win. You know, like that that's kind of what I've always thought about Kimberle. And I think up to this point that has been has been a fair assessment.
And I think what I sort of enjoyed about this one tonight in particular was it was my first like What I think of as a really typical Grand Slam experience, which is you're way over the other side of the court. The other side of the ground, sorry, where we'd come all the way over here for court fourteen, which is as far as you can get from Court Simon Matieu.
We'd seen Umboco win, then I'd popped into Longglen to see a bit of Augelia seam, and suddenly I'm watching these live scores on my phone and I'm thinking I'm gonna have to go to Mathieu'cause and like the weather had cooled that I was like right, I'm going. I think if that'd been earlier in the day when it was so hot, you've either got to be out of the heat or just totally committed to one spot with your fan, with your water, trying to get shade like
I haven't really bounced around as much as I normally do in these early days, but this was an opportunity to do that. So I did, headed over to Simon Mathieu and There I am thinking Kim Birrill no weapons. The first thing I see is she's banging away a Pagula serve for a winner to go up a break at the start of the third. And absolutely
the compelling from that point onwards. And look, Pagula is gonna think this is one that got away, absolutely,'cause she had many opportunities to break back in this final set and forehand really fell to pieces. It was sometimes long, sometimes in the net. She just couldn't really get the control on it that she wanted and
Bill s Bill stayed strong. She did she did get broken trying to serve it out, but she had a double break cushion and ended up winning the match on on return and it's such a big big moment for her. That's a that's a huge win. I d I mean I cannot tell you how to How little I had this on upset of the really Pagula. I know she's had some
Some of these sorts of losses at slams in the in in the past couple of years. She has become someone who for so long we talked about her quarterfinal ceiling, but she'd always get there. She's now become someone who has gone through that and has reached the finals, reached some semifinals. But has also become a bit more susceptible to these sorts of losses. Um you know, and now has a couple of round one losses on her most recent go around the majors, Wimbledon and this year's French Open. So
Perhaps I should have seen it coming but I just didn't. I think this is a it's it it's a really big shock. I don't think it's like draw shattering for the women's field because she was on the edge of my mix, Pagula. I felt like I was putting her in out of respect for the season she's had'cause she's been so good. But there were definitely four or five names above her in terms of who I thought were the real contenders to win this. So it doesn't
change it in that respect. But I really thought we w that she was gonna get through to at least the fourth round quarter final stage. So in that sense it it changes things and opens it up for Well, Kim Birrell and and others. Yeah, it was it was it was quite a match this.
¶ Olnikova's Inspiring Family Story
Yeah, it's big for Alexandra Olnikova who uh is Kim Birrill's second round opponent. She beat her and qualifier opponent Pradankina today six one six two the match that as we heard about when we spoke to her for our Well, our interview for Tennis Podcast Meets that we ran uh on the main show, uh on the previous show on Saturday. Uh her dad was gonna be there at this match and be able to watch her for the first time in
uh more than two years I think. He he is fighting for the Ukrainian army. He's on leave at the moment. He was able to watch her win today. Uh and I think he's able to stick around and we'll be able to watch her second round that'd be against Kim Burrell. I mean With all due respect to Kim Burrell, everything you've just said.
Suppose as opposed to Jessica the girl.
Absolutely. And the winner of that to face either McCartney Kessler or Diana Schneider in in round three. Quite
something for Bill to go from playing Pagula, who I would say probably has the lowest trajectory over the net. To Olinakova, who I think has the highest trajectory over.
The most important thing. The most consistent ball you're ever gonna get, albeit hit very hard, and then the most unpredictable and unusual Yeah.
That is a wild combination of opponents.
¶ Osaka's Fashion Statement Win
Speaking of wild combinations of opponents, Naomi Osaka against Laura Siegmund. These two are a different vibe, aren't they?
Yeah.
As proved in the i when uh Laura Sigmund was asked what she thought of the Noeya Sarka outfit.
What did she say, David?
I don't care.
I'm here for tennis, not a fashion show.
And look that's that's absolutely fine. I think it's absolutely fine not to be into it, but the way people lose their minds.
Yeah.
something that has absolutely no impact on other people is so weird, isn't it? Like if you're not into it, that's absolutely fine. Don't engage with it. If you're into it, cool, fun.
Maybe she'd have been a a bit warmer about it if she'd have won.
I don't think she would have been. If I know Laura and I think I do, I really don't think she would have been. Mm.
Going it was definitely going both ways.
Yeah, absolutely. These two they're just they're just not a vibe, I don't think. They're never gonna go for a beer together. Uh I thought Naomi Osaka did really well to come through this in straight sets. Six three, seven, six. This was
Uh because Osaka's never been beyond the third round here, you know, this is not her favourite service at all. It's probably her least favourite. Well certainly this and grass. Um She's been working at it. She's been working really hard at trying to master the surface, become good on it, and she's had results. She's she had that incredible match here again, Shvantec a couple of years ago as well. Um derail her game, make her g start missing, you know, unless she was composed and honest. And
I know she had there was some some nervier moments later on, but she was on it from the first ball really today. Hitting big, which you've got to do against Siegmund, and just keeping your foot down. Um and she did such a great job of that. And look, I'm not so good on the outfits as we know, but I thought it was a really cool dress she was wearing.
This match. Are you talking about the match dress or the walk on dress?
The match dress. I don't feel qualified to understand what's going on with the war.
But I think it's like art, isn't it? Like everybody What it's what you enjoy. have to be qualified.
Sort of a shimmery golden
Which I thought was Alyssa Lew inspired. That's certainly what it reminded me
That's an ice skate.
She won the gold at uh the Olympics. The the Winter Olympics just gone. And she's she's a big
I really don't I don't see Oh look, she can wear what she wants anyway, but I mean this looked as well as looking dazzling, it was looked very functional as well. It looked like it was causing her no issues in playing the sport uh whatsoever. To me. Um and yeah, I I think it's really cool that she she brings something to the
to the occasion that isn't just walking up and hitting tennis bull sh balls. She did say by the way in the um the press conference that she'd she had also packed a couple of other Nike dresses. in case the umpire said you're not allowed to wear that dress because it's too bright um and will sh in the sun and that and that the sun will dazzle your opponent.
And if any opponent was good.
Yeah, if she's passed the Siegman test, everyone else will be fine with it.
Yeah.
Quite cleverly didn't let Lara know about that until after the match.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Susanne Longland, there must be some sparkle too. Absolutely.
Yeah. It was a shame there wasn't a bigger crowd for that that walkout. I I personally I I mean I think it was just because I was sort of second hand, like feeling feeling heat from the sort of long black. full length walk on outfit. It just made me feel even hotter than I already was when I saw it, which just wasn't what I was looking for in that moment. Um but yeah, like it some people love it, some people don't. It's not hurting anyone.
Yeah. And and she makes the point always, doesn't she, that like one of the ways she likes to express herself, you know, is is is through fashion and her clothes and She likes as a kid growing up seeing what Serena and Venus would would be wearing and those moments where they walked onto court were like cultural cut through moments and she's trying to bring some of that back and yeah, I think it's great.
Yeah. It's su it's such a um it's a binary sort, isn't it, for certain sort of strain of misogyny, you know, like fashion, makeup, city girl things. Why is she doing that? Why is she trying to make a show of herself? Why is she being too much?
Well we liked it.
I mean I think it's okay not to you can not love the outfit and s support the concept or support her right to to do that.
Gotcha.
It's it's art, David. You're entitled to an opinion as much as anyone else.
Even if I don't know what I'm talking.
To be honest, I think your p uh your people are probably keener for your opinion than anyone else's.
¶ Coco Gauff Masters Tough Conditions
Uh okay, so Osaka swerved the Siegmund banana skin cocoa got. Bit of a sort of first set, banana skin against Taylor Townsend, but in the end incredibly comfortable in her well, the first step of her title defence. Uh six four, six love for Goff today on Chatrier Day.
Yeah, uh i it did take a little time for it to settle and I think that's inevitable against Townsend, who is a tricky opp opponent. They get along as well, they're g they're friends, um And she said she sh it's it's a bit nerve wracking playing your first match, doesn't matter how many times you've done it. I find this with all the top players, you know, we can sometimes think that they're impervious to nerves, but they're not. And
She got over it. She's she makes three set matches seem like there's plenty of time to come. more than anybody else to me. There there's never panic. You always feel like she'll she'll find her way back into this at some point.
Both kind of macro and micro, right? Within a man. Within a swing, the
Yeah. Yeah, she's she's always gonna figure something out. I think that's why when she lost to Svitolina in the Australian Open it was so Jarring.
Clear.
Because that went quickly. She looked like she had no answer. She couldn't figure out a solution. When she's the solution finder really most of the time.
Yeah, normally everyone lives so many lives during a Coco Golf match. Herself, her fans And yeah, it's kind of her greatest strength really, that that ability. I think that's a really good way of putting finding having time in matches to to figure things out.
But generally I thought her game looks in good shape. opponent to Townsend um as as the tournament goes on. But I think she looks in a in a good Sa s sort of state of mind as much as anything else. I think she's right there.
Yeah. Yeah. I do think that that match I circled at the start with Potapova. It's only one round away, that is looming a little bit. I get look, I think golf would be the favourite but Think I think that is tricky. Potopova's been in good form, he's a big hitter. I'm not sure I would
Uh look you know, I think that's I think it'd be a good example of what you're talking about there, David. Like there might be a moment where Potapova comes out hitting the ball cleanly and golf hasn't quite got a game and Potopova jumps out to a lead but I think Goth probably will still find a way through.
She's another player as well that is is gonna use this heat to her advantage. She loves it. She loves playing in it. She says sometimes schedule my practice sessions m a lot of people do it early to avoid the heat she says I I'll do it dur during the height of it to get used to it and she says I might I might practice short for shorter time. but I wanna feel it. I wanna feel what I'm gonna feel on match day. And um yeah, I think she's really
excited about the prospect of of that being a factor. I mean obviously that may only be for the first four rounds or so um but yeah she's gonna take some beating and these
¶ Sakkari's Physical Edge Pays Off
Yeah, and on the subject of players like that, Maria Secari popping up out of nowhere today and beating the twelfth seed Lyndon Oscova, seven five, seven six. I mean a couple of years ago wouldn't have been an upset at all. Feels like quite a big Upset in twenty twenty six?
Yeah, I think so. Um Noskova's had a nice start to the season, hasn't hasn't she? Getting close to making her top ten debut. And Sachary, the last time she beat a top fifteen player at a slam? Twenty twenty one US Open.
Oof.
I mean she hasn't played a lot of top fifteen players at Slam since then. She's just been losing to Players rank lower than that, quite honestly. But I think you're right, I think that was perfect for her in the in those conditions. I don't think Noskova loves them. And I think Sacharie really backs herself still physically above pretty much anyone in the drawer. So yeah, she's really taken advantage of that. It'd be interesting to see whether she can she can keep it going or not.
¶ Sabalenka Powers Through First Round
Sabalenka, about par for her, six four, six two against Jessica Both Us Monero on opening chatter today.
Yeah, and On paper that is a tough first round, you know, a player who's comfortable on the surface and who's a very good player in both his maniera and and it was yeah, it was a bit rusty, I thought, in the first set from Sabalenka, and then suddenly she just put her foot down. And could have won that second set even more easily I think.
¶ Navarro's Strong Comeback Story
Yeah, the aga another another one who has time in a slightly different way because she's gonna just keep swinging until she lands. Even if it's not going that well. Um and she she invariably in these stages catches up with an opponent eventually. I mean you don't get early round losses from Arena Sabalanka at Grand Slam.
There are a few other American winners today besides Coco Goff on the women's side. Emma Navarro carried on her Strasbourg form, obviously won the title there a few days ago, beat Janice Chen today, six four six three was an interesting piece uh with her in Ben Rothenberg's substatement. today about the health issues she's suffered from recently, hypothyroidism being amongst them. I mean it does sound like she's she's really been through it and continues to go through it and um has quite a
story to tell and she's a good talker, Emma Navarro. She's a smart cookie, I think, and um Yeah, I'm really pleased to see her. It looks just a first round win. But Janice Chen's a good player and Strasbourg that is a good title and I'm I'm really pleased to see it. Yeah, well for lots of reasons but I'm pleased to see it.
She's c clearly had quite a tough time, really, and um and it's when you when you make a comeback after quite a long period of just Not really being out of play, or certainly not being able to play at the level you're not used to, or in the health that you're used to, it can sometimes take a while, and actually this has been a pretty sharpish Rise back up, hasn't it?
Mm, absolutely. Madison Keys also a winner today. Look I think, which is the big win because she wasn't fit in the last match that she played, uh just over a week ago. Neviovich also a winner over Alexandra Ayala today. Uh that's it for part two. We'll be back in part three to do Sensation of the day and musketeer of the day and look ahead to tomorrow's order of play.
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¶ Kim Birrell Named Sensation
Welcome back to part three of today's tennis podcast, where we unexpectedly have to decide upon sensation of the day. Is it going to Adam Walton or is it going to Kim Beryl? I'll let you argue amongst yourselves.
Kim Beryl for me. Stolen it from right from under Adam Walton's nose. I'd have thought that was a shoe. for Adam Walton to get this new fangled sensation of the day in May, but Kim Burrell. Has to be. I think that's a bigger upset.
Birl, done. On to Musquataire of the day we go. We have a few contenders today. There was some French defeats, Thomas Farrell Lur losing out to injured Valentin Vacher in four sets as we say. There was a it was a fun sort of comeback spell for Pharrell wasn't there, where they were so into it on court fourteen, but Fachereau trudging through in the end, although sounds like he's not in a great way, quite frankly. Lois Boisson, bit of a
Sad scene for her on on Longland today, beaten by Callan Skyer six two, six two not sure how fit she is. Certainly not match fit Lois Bison. And obviously older Clemont Tabour.
¶ Teenage Sensation Moise Kouame Wins
uh beaten by Yannick Sinna on uh on Chatre this evening. We do have some French winners though and some some exciting and interesting ones. We have our first female French winners, Yagal Elsa Jacimo, Matt. French female winner of the tournament, she beat Linda Fruvertova six four six three. Dianne Parry got unexpectedly moved to Chatrier and played a very odd match against Angelina Kalinina. Both of them seemed quite injured.
Uh and there was a time when it looked like this match might delay the night session. Um
I was routine.
Yeah yeah. Me too. But in the end Parry winning through with hefty strapping on her thigh, shall we say. And on the men's side, a win for Moisa Kwame, a uh a shining light today on the men's side of things for the French. He beat Marin Chilic in three Straight sets and he's He's quite a talent, David, said
Yeah, th they've been talking about Kwame for quite a while here in France. Yeah he's seventeen years of age at the moment, but this is the first year really that he's made some breakthrough results. I was talking to Julien Roboy from Lake who said that He'd never beaten anybody in the top 250 before this year and he's beaten eight of those players this year. So that that's a pretty significant change and in terms of his style he's He he's he's quick, he plays
a surprising unpredictable game. You know, y he'll he'll give you some fairly slow balls and then he'll suddenly dart them through and and start thrashing at the ball. You know, you're not quite sure what's coming from one minute to the next. And I think Catherine and I watching this on one of our screens this morning we were we were quite taken by how he he sort of hung with Chilich to get through that first set and then it was Chilich that faded. Um he look he's late f late thirties. Um
Kwame's seventeen, you know, he's less than half his age. It's maybe not that surprising, but it's quite interesting that he's coached by Richard Gasquet, who apparently, according to Julian from Le Keep, Gasquet said to the the French Tennessee Federation, if you want me to do anything, just get me to work with the really young kids because as they're coming through, because I'm the one who knows what that was like trying to do it. And basically I'd I'd a I would have wanted
if I could do it all over again. I mean this is a guy Gasquet who was on the front cover of tennis magazine at the age of nine which I mean that sounds irresponsible to me. Um I saw his debut in Monte Carlo. I was there at the time when he was fifteen and he beat Franco Squilari. And it was an amazing sight to see his backhand for the first time in the French crowd where
getting really into him, but he was a child, you know, and he wasn't ready for it. He wasn't mature enough and he came along so closely in age to Nadal but He he just wasn't ready like Nadal was ready for it and and I think it stunted him all the way through, really. I don't it didn't didn't feel to me like Gasquet ever really was able to completely mature at his at the right pace. Um and I think he knows it and um and he wants to help them not make the same mistakes and help these young lads.
¶ Kouame Crowned Musketeer of Day
So far, Kwame I mean that's a great win. That's a great a great result for him to be getting a wild card and getting through to the second round of the French.
Does he get Musketeira the day?
He does for me.
Yeah, me too.
Those female winners?
Don't want to put too much pressure on him, you know.
I just think Kwame youngest male player to win a match at a slam since Tomick at the two thousand nine Australian Open. He's twenty years younger than Chilich. I know that may have helped him as well.
Haha.
I I look I agree with you. I just think if we don't give it to A woman today, there probably won't be any women. When she's
Takes out.
Very French open.
When Giacomo takes out Sabalenka.
She can have it.
Is Savalenka uh the Chilich equivalent, yeah?
Yeah.
She'll p sh we must have the tournament. Okay.
Three straight sets.
I accused him of misogyny.
Yeah, which was crazy. I was opening up the opportunity to someone else to enjoy some time on the Batcan list. Um th this is the this is the worst French Open on the women's side for France in a long time. Yeah. Only having two players into the second round. I think since the eighties they've not had uh they've not had this this few players. in in the second round. But yeah, I d I do think it's Kwame, also because He uh his his favourite player is Petra Kovitova. Isn't that fun?
I do love that. I genuinely I don't think I've ever heard a male player went on Who their favourite player is, say a w a a a female player. And you hear and women usually say male player.
He wasn't asked directly who's your favourite platform.
He had
Done a video on TikTok a few weeks.
That's enough for me.
He was asked about that video by Tamani Carriol. more across Kwame's TikTok than I am, but I'm gonna change that. Uh yeah.
How do we get across TikTok?
We're on itYou're big on itYou're on it David
Yeah.
Uh okay, sold sold on that. I do love that.
¶ Previewing French Open Day Four
Yeah, me too. It is. Uh this is what we got to look forward to tomorrow. We're finally into round two, folks. We made it. So what do we got tomorrow? Day four of the French Open. Finally, round two action is getting underway. Chatre starts with a women's match. Sara Balic is that am I saying that right, Matt?
I that's how I've been saying.
Balek against uh Igor Schwyanteck first up, then Alina Svitolina again. Caitlin Quevedo. A Spanish player, world number hundred and twenty six. I know very little about her, but we will see her tomorrow against Alina Svitolina third. On the day session on Chateauer tomorrow is Valentin Royer against. Novak Djokovic and in the night session Thomas Mahatch against Alexander Zvarev. Thoughts and feelings.
You never know.
Yeah, just imagine my hatch retiring at a certain three love down.
Or just imagine him. producing the sort of form that led to him being known by us as the best player in the world.
Longland tomorrow starts with look this was supposed to be blocks against a minor uh but Hashinov and Trunjalici have been upgraded at the gate. Uh they open Longlen tomorrow. Following them is Judas Darbseva against Elena Rabakina. Third on Jasmine Paulini against Soralanak Sierra and then Kaspar Rude. against Hamad Majedovic. He'll be hoping it's it's cooled off quite a bit by the time he takes to the court.
You know it occurred to me today that I could, if I time it right on Suzanne Longland tomorrow, I could be reunited with the drop shot dragon twenty five years on.
Who's he coaching?
He's coaching Trungioliti.
Is he? Yeah. Albert Portas.
Yeah.
We've gotta make that happen for content purposes, haven't we?
He won't know a clue why. Only if I say I'm the bloke who came up with drop the drop shot dragon, remember? You might remember then.
You've got some distinctive features.
Ha ha.
Could we try and could we genuinely try and make that happen?
I'm excited.
The press seats are right behind the coaching.
Exactly. Feels feels achievable.
Albert.
That's it.
Senior for twenty-five years. Remember old Hamburg. Me stood next to you, and the first question was why do they call you the drop shot dragon? And I s and you and you just pointed at me.
I
You should try and get his attention by shouting drop shot dragon.
Oh, yeah.
From there.
Quite interesting to see if he turned round. Yeah. Be so disappointing if he didn't, wouldn't it? Imagine how hurt I'm.
Mathieu tomorrow opens with Katie McNally against Belinda Benchich.
A little flavor.
Yeah, lovely. Camilla Camilo Carabelli against Andre Rublev, second up, and bear against Ali. Another all French match for Uko and Baer and then Mira Andreva against Basol's Rivera uh Rivera rather, excuse me. uh is last on Mathieu tomorrow. Davidovich Fakina opens court fourteen. Martha Kostrik is there tomorrow against Katie Volinets. Third on. I really hope it's not too hot for this because I wanna see. Joel von Secret against Dino Prismit.
Oh yes.
Yeah.
That would be good.
Winner to face.
Probably Novat Djokovic.
Hm. Now you've got my attention. Yeah.
What is it?
Patrol.
Uh Carolina Mukova is last on court fourteen. Tomorrow court seven has Yelena Ostepenko against Magdalene.
Big that's a big circle that one.
It's so big.
Lynette's exactly the song.
Very tricky, certified tricky, but also was really struggling, wasn't she, in her in her previous match against Alan?
That is going to be peak here.
Yeah.
Uh James Duckworth against Rafael Hodar is uh third on court seven tomorrow and then Lorenzo Sonago against. Yeah. We got the fake sinner. Opening court six.
Italian called Cinner. C I N A.
Ha ha ha.
What's his first name?
Federico.
Okay.
Yakomensik, Mariana Navone, Hayley Baptiste. is on uh court six tomorrow, third on, followed by Eva Lease against Savana Castella. It is it's a good order of play tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it. I don't expect to be awarding a a sensation of the day. think we'll go back to just Muskara the day, but look, we weren't expecting to do that today. So anything can happen.
Well if Duckworth beats Hoddar, he can have it.
I hope he doesn't do that'cause then all my predictions will be up in spoke.
Yeah.
¶ Listener Gratitude and Farewell
David's got a credibility issue if James Duckworth does a thing tomorrow. Folks, let's say hello to truly
The most
handsome cat I have ever seen. Elise says, I feel like you just need plenty of bashir content to keep you going in this weather. And that is absolutely right. In fact it might be Vicky that said that. Someone has said that and they're absolutely right. Uh Bashir is looking up at me with his beautiful blue eyes. What a he is absolutely mesmerizing. There have been some requests. Uh and we will be putting that on Instagram.
When I have some Wi-Fi which I didn't for most of today, we will get that on we will get that on Instagram. Hello to our mascots, hello Bodie, hello Maisie, hello Roger, hello to our top folks and executive producers, Greg, Chris and Jeff. Let's have some shout outs, Matt.
We have Vicky. Not our Vicky, but Vicki from Brooklyn. But like our Vicky. Same church, same pew in fact. Oh. Vicki with an eye at the end.
Like Vicky Spreadbury, our Lord and Saviour. I got myself in such a pickle this afternoon and I just forlornly turned to Matt and said Do you think Vicky could sort this out?
Ha ha
And Matt said, Yep, I think Vicky could sort anything out. I sorted it out myself, David.
You you harness your inner Vicky.
Yeah.
Really did. You got on the phone and everything. I was proud of you.
Thank you, cooling off period.
I still haven't been told about it, have I?
I did a disaster, David, but I also undid said disaster all in the same day.
Doesn't count.
Ha ha.
Thank you, Vicky.
We also have Diane Martin.
Hello Diane. Hello Diane Parry that won today.
Exactly. Uh Diane is from Melbourne. Moved back just in time to go to the Australian Open this year after twenty years of living in the UK and Thailand.
Well, very apt that Diane should get her shout out on the day that sensation of the day makes an unexpected return. Thank you, Diane.
Diane's been listening to the pod almost since it first began, she says.
Gosh what a trooper.
Yeah.
That's great.
Except for those ones where I have to get up at at seven AM.
Ha ha ha.
Yeah, but the listeners can have a line and listen to it later.
Mm.
Thanks, Diane.
And finally we have Noreen Riley from Robinsville, New Jersey.
New Jersey heard that Seattle Seattle is coming for its title. Our first Noreen, potentially.
I've got a feeling you've said that before.
Yeah, I think we might have had Nori this Noreen before.
Well our uh well maybe our only gnawing then.
Noreen says, since starting to listen to the pod during the pandemic, you've opened my eyes to all the amazing tournaments outside of the Grand Slam. My husband and I went to our first grass tournament this past summer when we saw the women's semi-finals at Queens while on vacation.
That's really lovely Noreen because Matt and I had dinner with our mate Dave last week and he described everything, podcasts outside of the Grand Slams, as a trudge. And that's our dear friend Dave. So that's a boot.
Nor rain.
I won't forget that.
I'm excited for the text from Dave when he's heard that. Mind you, we did reveal he doesn't listen to all the pods. Maybe we won't get a test. Surreal test. Yeah.
Noreen, Diane and Vicky, thank you ever so much for being friends of the tennis podcast. We are part of the Athletic Podcast Network. It is twenty to one in the morning. We've ticked over. Into day four of the French Open. We'll be back.
Twenty to one in the morning.
What do we do?
This was my only night.
We'll be back tomorrow, later today, whatever it might be, we'll speak to you then.
🎵 Music
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