Rome - So is Swiatek back, or what?

What? TORN and grand snap! Det var en stor slam, men Ikamax är störst. Just nu, röda vindru och i ask 500 gram för 25 kronor, ika maxi störst på lågapris. En människa kan tjäna igen 5000 ansikten. Ja, sånt bry som. Men ännu mer bryver jag som. ansikte ska kännas oförglömligt med Välkommen till Kronans apotek.

Well hello and welcome to the Tennis Podcast where it is a chilly Friday morning here in the UK. Over in Rome things are heating up, not literally. It has looked uh really quite cold there for the last couple of days actually, particularly at one in the morning when a lot of the tennis seems to have been happening. Some of it engulfed in a thick cloud of smoke. It is been all in all, David, quite an eventful few days.

Yeah, it i it has, hasn't it? It brings back memories of the bees in Indian wells in terms of weird stoppages, um and And a and for a while I genuinely thought, Geez, are they done for the night here, you know, because that look lux like it's not going away, Hawkeye's not working. Um but uh anyway, they're they're getting through the tournament, but it has felt like a a heck of a slog for some of them and you know, the organizers I think as well. But you know, I've enjoyed watching it.

Yeah. M moments of farce but sort of quite enjoyable farce. In the words of Charlie Eckleshay, you've got to get your kicks where you can and and maybe that's a smoke delay. in men's tennis at the moment. Uh Matt Roberts is back, folks. Don't call it a comeback, call it a reset. How are you doing, Matt? Very well, thank you. Uh per your discussion on that excellent pod with Charlie in my absence, definitely not.

going to leave you to become a professional golfer. We had you know, we had some birdies but we had some quadruple bogeys and everything in between. So I'm gonna stick to podcasting, don't worry. Okay. Long may you remain average at golf, Matt. Ha ha. Thank you. No matter how much I play, I remain absolutely Okay. Great. Very pleased to hear that, but also that you had a good time.

Uh we have a Pamela Howard Shriver voice note on today's show that is coming up uh in just a little bit. We also have an awful lot to talk about. So the women's semifinals took place yesterday, the men's semifinals taking place today. uh the women's final tomorrow, the men's final Sunday, all very simple in theory. See you at two AM when tennis is inexplicably still happening. Let's start with the women's and a final setup between Coco Goth

And Alina Svitilina. Svitilina having beaten the world numbers two and three on back to back night. in Rome. An amazing comeback against Elaine Robacina in the quarterfinals, then returning twenty four hours later to beat Igar Schwiątek last night also in a three set thriller. Matt Roberts Alina Svitellina in twenty twenty six is no joke. Yeah, one of my uh better takes, I think, that one. And Uh No, they only take my bad ones.

Uh like honestly this is this is unreal, isn't it? And David David very much like called this I feel like a week ago when you saw Svetilina play, you were like, Wow, Svetilina is playing so well in Rome when she beat Hailey Baptiste. That was the match that really stood out when when we really took notice of her form and

you know, it was coming off that loss to Anna Bondar in Madrid that we weren't really sure what to make of it. We can now definitely say possibly just an Anna Bondar problem that Alina Svitalina has. And we always thought she was more of a Rome person anyway, given her

success at this tournament in the past. But, you know, to to pull off beating Rabatkina and Shviontek, you know, Rabatkina who has been the best player this year on the tour, and Igostek who was starting to look like the Igor Sviontek of a couple of years ago again, is an unbelievable feat and the resilience she's shown in both matches.

is extraordinary because she started slowly against Rabatkinna. She didn't really have it. I thought she was gonna actually get wiped off the court in straight sets, but she battled back And then I thought wow it's this this scheduling's so unfair for to have to come back the next day in a

tournament where they've got thirteen days to get this thing done. Why is this happening? And it's late at night and she came out sharp against Sigur Sfiantek and had a lull in the second set, where Sfiantech was really good, but then battled through in that final set and

You know, there've been a lot of times over the last few years where people have put out the comment, Oh, Alina's Fitolina obviously a new player since she's come back from from maternity leave, but a better player and I I've actually sometimes wondered whether that's true. I've sort of wondered whether we'd forgotten about how good Svitolina was before, you know, winning the WTA finals, top five in the world, back to back semis at majors, you know, these were great achievements and she hadn't

She hadn't quite matched that kind of coming coming back, even though she'd been she'd been really impressive. But I think twenty twenty six for me has been the confirmation that this is the best tennis Alina Svitellina has ever played. in her career. And if you look at the results she's had

I'm no longer really thinking about the ceiling of her game. I'm thinking about how dangerous she is to the very best players in the world. And she's among them. She's beaten Rabatkinna this season as she's just done this week. She's beaten Shviontek twice She's got a win over she's got a couple of wins over Goff as well. She's beaten Benchik. You know, like the only real top player she's really faced and hasn't come close to beating was Sabalenka at

the Australian Open and yet, you know, Sabalanka's done that to so many players. That doesn't mark Svitolina out. I I am so impressed and I think what what's got me the most is we talk about her newfound aggression, but I feel like she's managing to mix that in with the defence that she's always had now. And in particular they I'm talking about like being aggressive from defensive positions. She's doing that on the run.

so well. It was particularly notable against Rabatkina. The number of shots where she was on the defensive, but kind of able to hit an offensive shot on the run off either wing, forehand or backhand, blew me away. And I I I think it's been it's been one of the most compelling couple of days of tennis watching Svitolina do this to Rebecca and Svantek back to my Back to back. I'm just full of admiration.

And you have to be so strong to do that, don't you? I think her her strength is deceptive and underrated'cause she's not one of the most physically imposing looking players out there in terms of her stature, but to to pull that off those shots from the corners that she's doing, you you have to have some serious

body strength going on. Uh David you you did call this, you did earmark Citolina and given that you know, we've known all season, we've had her earmarked, you know, for a for a few weeks and months now, Matt in particular as being no joke in twenty twenty six. What did you see early in Rome in that Baptiste performance that made you think this is another level entirely, even from what we've been seeing so far this year? Authority and decisiveness, I think. She had the answer to the other.

But even when she would play good points, Swisselina would have the answer.

And it's the combination for me. It's the the the almost reinvention of Alina Svizzellina as an attacking player, because I I commentated on her for in the years of of BT Sport having the rights to WTA tour, she was always A significant figure in the latter stages of tournaments. I was always commentating But she always felt like

She's basically a counterpuncher with a great backhand, a great mover and a great backhand, but it's not imposing itself on you, it's reacting to you. Now she imposes herself. This new version of us her of her is is to go out and get people. Um and to see it come together, almost like a fusion of those two players, particularly in Rome, because she's won it twice before and she's her best stuff has come there, it just felt wow, she looked

right up there to me. The the form I'm seeing right now, I'm just fascin I wanted to see her play against the players she's played against, Rebecca in particular, because I felt similarly about her all maybe not as convinced on the surface because I think her better surfaces are others, but she feels like the m you know, with Sabolanka, the preeminent player, maybe the player who's gonna take over.

So I wanted to see that and then I wanted to see her against a rebounding Schwantek who's just beaten Jessica Pagula six one six two. I wanted to see these clashes and how does Svitlina match up and what I I I kind of expected her to end up losing both matches as they're going along. I mean she's a set down against Rebecca and a breakdown and it's looking like okay, well this We've seen a few times Fiselina play well in tournaments and then she plays Rabakin or Sabalenka, and then it's okay.

This isn't the same thing then. She she actually can't impact them because they're hurting her before she can get to their own. Um and she found a way. I mean I I d and I I in Rebecca I think I'm curious to know about the drop off in her level because I I think she needs to be careful um about about how much she's got left. It's like she gained a bit of traction, a bit of a bit of

footing in the match and then it was like she's off to the races and and it was kind of similar against Fiontek as well. I I just I couldn't have more admiration for for how she views herself now. It feels like she's changed how she views herself.

And she no longer puts any limits on herself whatsoever, um, particularly in Rome. I'd I'd love this to be carried through to Roland Garros and for her to be a real factor in that tournament in the way she is right here, but it's It's really enjoyable to watch. Hm. Do you see that? Do you think she can? She w of course she can. Do you think she will? I don't see why not. I mean she doesn't look she doesn't look tired. She looks fresh. She looks y you mentioned her her physical strength. She she

It's it's giving you know, peaking at the right time, isn't it? Whereas you know, that performance from Robacina felt ooh. Are you running out of gas at the wrong time? might help Rebecca now that she has a few extra days. You know, there's a few players that have ended up losing earlier who I think actually that might do them good for Roland Garrett.

I sort of feel like the Roland Garros picture, like the general overall picture on the men's side has maybe got just slightly less interesting as this clay season has gone on with I'll say. Obviously Carlos Alcraz being out and Ha ha ha. You know, people fooling by the way. At least not. Getting center of it all is fascinating to me.

Look I agree, I d I find him fascinating and like the s sheer volume of pressure. Well come on to that. But come on, it is that yeah, it is the hunger games out there on the men's side. Although the Hunger Games is quite interesting, wasn't it? So That's not a good comparison.

But I felt like what's happened on the women's side has gotten more interesting. You know, like the narratives we thought we were gonna be going into Roland Garros with have have changed a little bit. And I think that's because of Well, the losses that Sabalanka's had that obviously you talked about l on the last show, and now this defeat for Rabatkina

the rediscovery of some really good form for cocoa goth, plus this with Svitilina, little signs from Igor Sviontek. Like it just feels like mae'n ymwneud â nhw'n ymwneud â nhw'n ymwneud â nhw'n ymwneud â nhw'n ymwneud â nhw'n ymwneud â nhw'n ymwneud â nhw It will be...

It will be tough'cause I think she's gonna have to go through these players if if she wants to win it and you know, like she's already had to beat two of them and she's not won this tournament yet, you know, and that is such a challenge.

But she just seems I think peeking at the right time is a is a really good way of putting it. She just seems primed and ready right now. And I think I think what I love is that I feel like and David, correct me if you're if I'm wrong here, but I feel like a lot of people in that time when you were talk when you were commentating on her for BT Sport, would admire Svitolina but not necessarily like enjoy the game all that much. And I feel like what I I I feel like what's happened

since she's come back from maternity leave is that people have really started enjoying her play and they've and they've imprint imprinted that on oh she's better than ever. I think th I think those two things have slightly sort of merged, but I think now you can genuinely say I'm enjoying her more and she's better than ever and it's a it's a brilliant it's a brilliant thing. And that was all like she beat Eagles Film Tech

without really a serve for half of the match. You know, like she was really struggling with double faults at the start and then she lost her serve like again as it as as it went on in the second set, but she stayed so calm and I really loved the communication she was doing with Andrew Bettles, her coach, that he was he was helping. Yeah. He was helping her stay positive on that and she did serve better as the match went on and and that was a really nice adjustment that she made.

And she was also breaking the Shiantech Service. at will, wasn't she, for for long periods. Okay, not in that not in that second set where Shontech found a gear, but then

was totally unable to sustain it in quite an alarming way. You know, our our agenda, written before last night's match, had originally said is Sriantech back? You know, she'd thrashed Naomi Sarka, she'd thrashed Jessica Bagula, it was that

you know, the look in her eye was back again. Authority, David, like you said about Alina Svitelina. I you know, I was pretty convinced really, in the possibility of of her being back and I I uh look it's only one it's only one match and we've just been talking about how brilliant Susalina is and how she'd beaten Rabakna the night before and you know, she could potentially do this to anyone, but as ever with sort of

Igoshantek over the last twelve months, it was the manner of the defeat that I found pretty alarming. The drop off in the third set, the panic, the overhitting, the inability to get the train back on the track. Yeah, it was alarming, quite frankly. And I I've I'm I go from naught to a hundred and back to naught again with Shuntek and probably the answer is you know, somewhere in the middle, as always. But um where, David, do you stand on Shwantec's I feel she is partially back.

I'm not sure that's very helpful. Um, but I I agree with you that having seen her against Osaka and Pagula, I was all in really, pretty much. You know, this reminded me of the player she used to be Just taking it two people. She was two games all with Osaka and Osaka's just been coming off a great win herself. And Osaka's hitting Ground strokes down the middle of the court deep onto the baseline.

Schwantek's just taking a a a step either side and hitting it for a winner, and I'm thinking, Well, how have you found that angle? That angle doesn't exist for anybody. And then she w took it to Pagula, six one, six two. You know, Pagula's a bloody good player.

And she's gone and done that to her. But that's what she used to do to people in French Open Finals, Coco Golf, Jasmine Paulini, you know, these these were the the non events that we were getting. People forget just how dominant she she was. When people say she hasn't had a drop in the I'm sorry, on clay it is very clear that there's a difference between the player that was winning m four of these titles and the player that

is is a bit in and out and losing some matches on clay and losing like a six love set to Coco Goff last year. But definitely this week I thought, wow this This reset of a different coach and a different attitude. What what I actually liked as well, the other reason I I I feel she's partially back is because during the Svitalina match. She look even when it wasn't all going her own way, she looked like she was enjoying it to me. Like the one said all and early stages of the third.

She was getting involved in rallies, she wins some, she'd lose some, but she seemed to have a bit of a smile on her face and seemed to be enjoying the way she was going about her business as if Ah, this is how I used to do it. I I this feels right. This is the muscle memory. And then you get that uh to use your word, alarming derailment of of the game where Some deep forehands cross court from Svitolina.

were were responded to with a f a four hand attempt down the line from Svantech and it happened time and time again and she just either hit it a bit later but it ended up certainly in the tram lines, you know, that ins slightly inside out forehand. She couldn't control that shot. And then she started to mir Pretty emphatic backhands cross court, way into the tram lines. You know, and you think she's lost control of the ball and it

Part of it's the pressure that's coming her way because she's having to do more. She can't just roll over this player because Swissline is so bloody good. But Overall I think she should take heart. the the the the tennis is in there. The the form is in there. It's just she's gonna have to find a way not to have these

Tail spins. I don't quite know what happens, but I mean we've seen them in the past, don't forget, in Grand Slimes, particularly at Wimbledon, where she would start over hitting, and maybe there's still a bit of that. You know, oh my god, my opponent's playing really well, I've got to hit it even harder.

And she's trying to get used to that. But I saw some nice coming into the net, volleys, um generally more s she feels more secure. Maybe it's because she was trying to go for a little too much, not exactly sure. But then I guess the counter to that would be David, the tennis has always been in there. Like it's always been It's a mental a mental thing. Yeah, I think she was scrambled the last

what she was trying to do and the things she was trying to add. I f I said at the when she finished with Wimfersette, I thought of thought, well m why don't just go back to what you were doing? You wouldn't God knows how many grand slams doing it. I don't really understand why we've done this reinvent. But when Fissette saw those lovely servant volleys, David, and thought, Oh, you can do it, can you? Huh. Doing it now.

But I think maybe because she's doing it without consciously thinking, Oh, I've got to do all these things that I've been working on you know. I realise the serves a big factor and all that sort of stuff too. Um but To me she looks a little more settled, like she's just back to her DNA in a I I agree. She did until she didn't. And that is therein lies the problem. I still

feel like that you know, the train can come off the tracks and I do not trust her to get it get it back on. You know, finding solutions is an essential part of being a A champion tennis player, right? Yeah. You know, it i it it's a different case'cause there's different things going on, but it's a little bit reminiscent to me of where we were last year with Osaka going into the US Open. Where she where she played really well through Canada and looked looked really good and then

it sort of quite dramatically and suddenly went wrong in in the final. And then going into the US Open you're sort of weighing up, well On the one hand I've seen a lot of really good from Nomi Osaka there, but there's this fundamental sort of deep rooted issue that has reared its head in a big moment. How do I interpret all that information I've got and make a prediction for Osaka going in?

to the US Open. And it look, in the end she had a really good run there and pl and played really well and got to the semis. And I don't think she lost at that tournament necessarily because of the sort of issues that we saw in Montreal. I think I think she was beaten in in the semis by Anissa Mova playing really well in on on that on that late night there. So I'm

Look, I feel better about Igos Fiontek's Roland Garrett's chances than I did before this tournament, I would say. And that is I feel the same. Kind of all you can really ask for, I think. Like I I think agree with you, David. Like people are People are not...

are not emphasizing enough just how different this Eagles Fiontech is to the one from a few years ago. It's not like you can just clip your fingers and get it back. It has to be a a work in progress and I therefore see this tournament as a good step And I did think she was playing with a lot more margin on the ball and she did look more secure and

She looked like she was enjoying her tennis again and enjoying the process. I completely agree with all of that, but she's not she's not back and that and that final set against Fitalina has has shown it. That that doesn't mean she she can't win Roland Gap. But it it absolutely means that she is in a pool of players who can win it rather than it's her against the field like it was for a few years at that tournament. That's that's kind of how I Um

She's probably the only one who could deal with another tournament before a long hours. I feel like every I feel like most people are like, Oh sh get me to get me to Paris. I'm I'm falling apart. I feel like she on tech because of what happened in Madrid where she got ill and she didn't really get much of a tournament there. I feel like

She almost just needs another one. The other the other little point to make is that I don't think she lost against Fitalina because it was night session, but I definitely think Sviontek is in that category of player who looks more effective on the clay when the sun is beating down and it's a bit hotter and the the topspin forehand can have more effect. She almost certainly won't play night session at Ronald Garros. So we don't have to worry about that.

And she will get asked about the egregious sexism of women not playing at night and she'll say, Well, I don't want to play at night, so it's fine and another little piece of me will die. Uh can't wait. Really pumped Roland Garros. Um I mean I am, but that specific inevitable And I Roland Garrett, so I'm I'm Speaking of weather forecasts, I had a had a little look at the at the weather app yesterday for our first three days in Panama. Oh. It is sweet. Looking good, guys. Yeah. I'm in 20s.

It's the un the universe has definitely validated the big order of new short And sandals with no place. Raining in thirteen degrees yesterday and Thunderstorms every four minutes. Hm. Yeah, get thee to Paris and some egregious sexism. Uh let's let's talk about Coco Goth.

The roller coaster that is Coco Goth, Matt, you've listened to uh the our last pod uh that you weren't on where I quoted you from our WhatsApp group I quoted I quoted Matt Roberts twice, much like Vanity Fair.

Um, I said I'm always thinking when I'm watching Coco Goth, of your words. Coco Goth is never as high as you think and never as low as you think. But then we're all watching her match against Solana Sierra and we are And Matt Roberts of all people, the Coco Goff is never as high as you think and never as low as you think guy, comes through in the group chat and says this is uh a level of

of uh behaviour and attitude and w worry on a on a tennis court from Cocoa Golf that I don't think I've ever seen before. Like she might be lower than we think basically is how I read that. And we had a big discussion about that on the show with Charlie on uh on Sunday and it was all very interesting and I think, you know, there were some good takes in there and I quipped at the end of it, well, she'll probably be in the final next weekend. Here she is in the final. She's unbeliever, isn't she?

She is she is unbelievable. And yeah it was a it was a joke. She'll probably be in the final. But also uh I don't know. Coco Goff, Disgust. So awesome. I I I and it's so different to Svitolina's rude route-through, you know, where I know she's had some she's come back and so forth, but her form has always been that.

Goff's been wrestling with it, and it's Certainly, you know, it hasn't ha been all the talking points I don't feel like we've had in the past of of serve and forehand and and those sort of things, but she's had struggles every match pretty much. And she's had to come through them and she does, she does, she does, she does, time and time again. I dunno. I I just think we're We're we're looking at one of the great competitors of the sports scene, uh in many ways because of of

how she just deals with the chips being down and maybe feeling a bit rubbish off the court and and she's still there. She's still coming through. And I think maybe what raised the red flags in that Solana Castr uh Solana Sierra uh performance was the fact that she didn't look like she was enjoying the battle. That was what felt different, how little fun she looked like she was having, how how much it looked like she didn't want to be out there, quite frankly.

We're really not used to that from Coco Goff. We're used to seeing her in a struggle and a battle, but there looks like a part of her that is going, This is right where I want to be. Thank goodness I'm not playing w my best tennis'cause

then I wouldn't be in this awesome, gritty battle. I mean it really didn't look like that against Sierra and sh obviously she gave those quotes of afterwards explaining what a a difficult time she's having off the court. Um and maybe there was a bit of Catharsis in her putting putting those words in her

out there in into the world. I don't I don't know because since then, Matt, she's continued to be involved in epic battles. I mean, I loved her match against Mirandra. I mean it was a bit of a hot mess, but I just Loved it. I find it found it so compelling. And she That's why you loved it, Catherine. Right, yeah. Yeah. There's no but there, that is why you loved it, hot mess. Oh, I've been outed. Um uh yeah, and the and she she looked like she was loving it as much as I was.

Yeah, and I I only saw the closing stage of that match and Like the the Andreva comeback in that third set was was really compelling. It it felt like a slightly false five one lead to me that Koff had because it it had been it had been close and Andreva was w was finding ways through and and really competing well as well. I think this was a positive a a kind of positive week for her as well and and to make that comeback and almost level it up at five all but

Just it was classic golf in that final game. Just like the number of times she asks you to beat her is just different to everyone else, especially on this surface. I love watching her on clay'cause it it really emphasizes the movement and the athleticism that she has and Yeah, look, she's had these slow starts, hasn't she? Ap apart from Costaya, I think she'd lost the first set in in three straight matches. And and that is something that I think she will want uh She will want to improve? But

I've I've been impressed with the serve actually. Like it's now it's now fifteen matches in a row where the double fault percentage has been below that ten percent. mark, which was the mark that she was constantly above and it was a real problem. I'm not not really thinking about it quite so much.

anymore. You know, I think th there are still some battles going on with the forehand, but again the clay I think generally generally can help her there. And yeah, talk about peaking at the right time. You know, like Gough has never has never won a major without some form going into You know, like e e even last year she reached those back to back finals in in Madrid and Rome and that set her up for for Roland Garros and the time she won the US Open she had a great

summer on the hard courts going into it. She needs form golf, I think, going into a major and she's she's got it. Okay, she's not playing her absolute best tennis, I don't think. But she's playing really well and well enough and feels like she she can keep building and yeah, it's it's some turnaround from from where the game was a few months ago and where she s it seemed like her head was just a week ago. It i it's it's pretty remarkable. She trails in the head to head with Alina Svitolina.

Um, it's three two in Svizzerina's fav favour, but she's won both the matches that they've played this year, the Australian Open and Dubai. What do we think ahead of this final? Who is the favour? yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw. Two questions. On paper I think on paper Goff would be the favourite because of her record uh Big titles, her name, but I feel Svitolina is the face.

I think she is playing the better tennis of the two, really in terms of like the top end of her own game. Um and I do feel like her game is a problem for I feel that she m can move with her and she can hurt on both with the other. The serve is the serve is probably the one where Gough is gonna need to really

capitalise, I think, by taking that on and trying to trying to get in charge. And obviously Goth fights so incredibly well. She may eke it out. You know, that that that I could absolutely see as well. I mean how how many how many times do you think oh the opponent's playing better than golf and golf wins. Um but I don't think Svetlin is gonna have that sort of So I I I fave her.

Yeah, I I I think I'm leaning Svizzolina as well based on the form they've both been in this week. You know, when the when it doesn't feel as much between them, I'm trying to just think what what could be the d the decisive factor. And it feels like at the moment Fitolina is

Playing closer to her, top level. And I agree with David about the way Svizzolina can can hurt golf. And she can also you know, you would put both of these at the top in terms of resilience, you know, like so many times golf wins scratch. But remember Dubai, that's one of the matches of the year. Goth won a fifteen thirteen second set tie break, I feel like I I think it was. That would have broken most players, not winning the match and that tie break there and then.

Cicelina just kept going and kept bringing it in that final set. And I think it's I think it's hard to took sort of breaks Vitalina in the way that Goth can other players with her sheer resilience. Um So I guess I guess my pick would be Svetina in three, but i if if like my other pick would be Gough in three. I think I feel like I've like I feel like it's go A scrap is is the is the safe prediction here, isn't it? Yeah. Hot mess, maybe. Yes please.

I don't think it will be a hot mess. I think it will be a scrap but not a hot mess. There is a difference. Goth's generally got a good finals record. I mean she wasn't great in the in the roam final last year, Paulini sort of really really did take her apart, but you know, generally I trust Goff in in finals. But then but then I think Spitellina's got a good record as well. Like I There's there's really not much not much to choose. I would lean for 8 years since I lost Roam final.

Swisselina. Incredible stuff. And I feel like we should uh also give a mention to Sorona Casteya who uh Coco Goff beat in her semi final. uh thirty six years of age on this retirement tour. Uh she's now twenty one in the li in the live rankings, which matches her career high from twenty thirteen. And that is extraordinary. She has

She's done the predictable thing, guys. Well actually no, she said she said when she was mid run, she said if I win the Rome title then I might reconsider my retirement. But I think that is putting on the table the mere possibility that the retirement could be revoked. So let's continue to watch that space, can we? I mean obviously Did you? Okay. Yeah. It's her career, she can do what she likes. I'm just saying I've seen this film before.

Yeah, no I go I was talking about it yesterday, uh how how it's um it's similar to the interim football manager of recently who performs amazingly for the rest of the season but do you give them the job full time you know and then the then you don't have the deadline and yeah and it becomes problematic because suddenly you don't have this deadline. It's a different job, isn't it? Yeah, yeah. Totally different job.

I hope Castella just well, I hope she does whatever she wants, but but I mean, I kinda feel like it'd be quite cool to just stop. Just play the best tennis you like. Right, see you then. Yeah, absolutely. Okay, that is uh our thoughts on the women's tournament so far and a look ahead to the final between Lunas Vitilina and Coco Goth. Let's get the thoughts on all of that and the men's and A whole lot more besides

from your friend of mine who has been in Rome. Uh she's she's no longer in Rome. She's now pampering herself in Italy. Go Pam. Uh but she's been in Rome uh doing good work for Yonick. and uh scouting players for us. She was on the practice court filming Greg Rosetsky and Giovanni Pesci Perikal. Go Pam. Here is your friend of mine, Pamela Howard Shriver, reporting on uh the sights and sounds of Rome. So we'll see you on the other side of Pam to talk about the men's tournament.

Hey everybody, I'm coming to you from a jam shriver reset at a spa by a lake in Italy. Um I went to Foro Italico and worked as a coach this year. It was a place I had been to as a player over thirty years ago. It was amazing to be back, one of the most iconic tennis venues on the planet. Um a lot of it was uh the same, but so much had changed.

Um I spent a lot of time watching and uh supporting players who played on the new arena, the BNP Paraba arena, which is about uh the same distance as maybe Court fifteen all the way towards downtown at Melbourne Park, going all the way to John Kane Arena. I mean, it is a hu probably maybe even a longer walk.

Um but it was a beautiful new arena in a amazing setting um where the Olympics you know, it's the old Olympic site from the early sixties. Um I actually was in the coaching box for a player, a Yonex player who does not currently have a uh primary coach and uh was in the coaching box on the main court.

um compost central, how do they say it? I don't I won't say it correctly. Um and that was kind of interesting to be in the coaching box uh there. I wasn't really expecting it. Um And I will say plain conditions. To me I saw a lot of aggressive tennis being rewarded. I mean obviously look what Center continues to do with his aggression. Um I saw some big power tennis um in the matches I watched on the women's game.

Um so while of course the conditions are a little slower than Madrid, um you can see like today's Clay Court game is still like they're hitting it hard, rallies are quite entertaining. I do think Foro Italico may need to think about in the coming decade extending the back of the court. Um I saw Casper Roode practicing and it and the practice courts there's just not enough room for Uh

especially the men players to s to return server they want to return serve. So the field of play is changing. It's almost like uh golf courses have gotten longer. Well the backcourt between the baseline and the back fence it it's i it has to be redesigned. Um and that was something I really noticed that for a telico. Not enough room at the back of the court and even the sides sometimes uh just

uh players are their their movement is so much better than thirty, forty, fifty years ago and they play differently. They play much more um the back of the court and of course moving forward quickly. Anyway, enough about that. I do want to make a quick mention And some players complained about white seats and some of the new stadiums uh at Fort O'Talago and also um

There is a big white uh signage for a sponsor a low down, like at the back wall, and white is the total enemy of a tennis player. When you're trying to play Um and and you see white, especially if it's electronically lit. I watched um Ben Shelton lose his match uh and he played during dusk.

And I was sitting behind the court and I was like, I can totally understand. He could not see the ball come out. So I feel like Overall, tournaments need to really respect what players need in order to see the ball in a way that makes them feel comfortable and confident that they're able to play. Yeah, if you can't see the ball you can't play at your best.

Uh and I'm gonna transition into from this word respect the players, what the players need with playing conditions, also respect what they should have as a percentage of the prize money. That's a conversation that's been going on now since the beginning of this tournament. Um I think Cinner really brought up that word respect and obviously he's such a huge leader in the game today'cause he's a dominant number one on the men's side.

Um you show respect to players by percentage of the prize money. It's nowhere near what it is for uh sporting entities, certainly in my h home country, USA. Um again, showing respect by having good playing conditions. I think having the same tennis ball on segments of the tour so that players aren't, you know, uh risking arm injury because the balls are feel different with each tournament leading into a major.

Um scheduling shows respect. Having athletes play at 2 a.m. in the morning and then expect them to recover. That is not showing respect. Um obviously we're coming up on the one anniversary of my rant at last year's Rolling Garros with you all about tournament director Amelie Moresmo and how French Federation

schedules the women, they you know, they get them out of the way. It feels like by three two or three in the afternoon and then it's prime time men on all courts, including um night matches through the years. But you know, overall showing respect to the athlete and the athlete's voice

It's trying to get more organized, it's trying to get more unified. I've seen it many other times in my forty seven years and obviously before I started to play in the late seventies, it was, you know, there was a lot of um

Uh you know, there was the boycott at Wimbledon, there was the women uh seeking equal prize money at the US Open. There was a lot going on. So let's see what happens. I think it's gonna be interesting. On the court uh Obviously I gotta just give a shout out to a guy I nicknamed the Piece of Work a couple of years ago at a one thirty AM US Open uh interview on Ash. Um Medvedev is I saw him uh have a practice match with Fonseca before the tournament started and he is just

Unbelievable to watch, whether it's practice or a match. He's he's locked in though at times when he was uh finishing off. uh Landa Lucy it was so interesting to see him you know, he s he could have closed that match out a little sooner but he stayed so locked in. So, you know, I find Cinder Medvedev Uh well Sinner goes in the big favorite. I I think it's such an interesting match. I look forward to that. Um but women's final.

Coco Golf, I watched her suffer through uh an early round, I think it was her first match, Solana S Sierra on that new court. Um and she really struggled. She needed to double fall at the end from uh Salon Sierra to lock up the match and she was carrying so much anxiety during that match.

and look like she was just oh hating to be out there. And then the next thing you know, uh you know, she's here she is in the finals and she's gotten better each round. I haven't really watched her play a whole lot, but Spitalina is uh fascinating. I mean I I th she's playing by far her best tennis of her career post um having her baby and Andrew Bettles, her coach and I, you know, I've known Andrew for a long time and we had a few moments. We chatted um

you know, like after she beat Hailey Baptiste in the middle of the tournament easily, like two on one and you know, how much she just followed the game plan to perfection. I just feel like Svitlene's example of a such a mature athlete in the prime of her physical and emotional and mental state. So it's kind of contrasting styles. Coco, we never know how she's gonna be emotionally right now.

We know she'll keep competing, but how much so I think it's I think it's gonna be a good final. I'm looking forward to it. Um and I'm mostly also looking forward to seeing you all next week. I know this is a long voice note, so feel free to chop away as you want. Hallo? Ja. Uschta? Nädla, vad är det därför tråkigt meddelande? Vad? Ja, det smakar ju inte alls helgen. झाल झाल झाल झाल झाल

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Welcome back to part two of today's tennis podcast, turning our attention to the men's tournament now in Rome where the semifinals are being played today as we come to Friday morning. Um they may already have been played, uh one or both of them by the time that you're listening to this. Luciano D'Adery having the week of his life. at his home tournament against Kasparud and Yannick Sinner against Daniel Medvedev. Yannick Sinner, the first player in history

To reach 32 consecutive masters 1000 wins. He did that with victory over Andrei Rublev. Rublev. Deserves, you know, mini trophy, becoming the f first man this week to break the annex in a serve. I feel like that should get you the runner up prize in uh in men's tennis at the moment. Um but yeah, I mean what can you say about Yannick Sinner? He's He's brilliant. He was clutching at uh his leg towards the end of that match, which was

I found that very worrying just because of the landscape of men's tennis at the moment. We've lost Lorenzo Mazzetti this week. He is out of Roland Garris. We have had the good news that Artifice does seem to at least be fit in the injury that we were talking about for him on Sunday's show

doesn't seem to be what he and we were all worried it might be. So that's a a bit of good news. Uh but we've had ra ra Rafael Hodar be injured this week later Rob the wrap these guys in in cotton wool, uh and Yannick Senna included, I I was worried, I am worried, but David You're not falling for a bit of clutching. Y a bit of Yannix in a clutching doesn't worry David Law. We've seen a lot of it, haven't we?

I I I get it. I I mean we've seen Andy Murray do it, we've seen Novet Djokovic do it, now we've seen Yannick Sinner do it. It's this sort of oh my leg hurts. Oh and and it does. It does hurt. So why why not let people know that it hurts?'Cause it does. Um and s some people don't do that. Some people just don't make a sign a a a Uh anything to g to give you an idea that something's hurt. Um I mean I I think he gets cramped, I think he's Yeah.

Who knows, maybe maybe his body will start to tire out. I mean it it's not surprising if he's feeling a bit tired now, um and and I think he does need to be a little bit careful for sure. But his matches are not massively taxing because he's so efficient and so bloody good. He's so much better than everybody he's playing.

that matches aren't lasting very long. He's ordeal free in in his r route through these draws. Um So I'd I just think I I think the bigger problem is that whereas you said Sriantech could probably do with another tournament. next week and I agree with that. Yannick Sinner could probably do with another week off. You know, he could do probably do with one week of just not being in Paris and not being in Rome but being maybe with Pam on the spa weekend she's having. You know, um Yeah.

Incite to us a conversation. Um but no, I I think Cinner is right where he needs to be. I'm not concerned. I mean I don't have any medical or inside information to t to be sure of that, but my sense is that he's just fine. And will be okay, but he is knackered. And I'm not surprised, you know, he's been on and this is the problem with his m back to back two week masters, you're on for a month. And everybody's not going to be able to do

And it's not just the tennis, is it? I mean he told us that he used Madrid to to recharge, but Rome you know, the demands on him in Rome. I mean everywhere, he's the world number one. But the demands on him in Rome in terms of sponsors and, you know, fans who'll be stopping to sign every single aut autograph. You know, he he's good he's good like that. That's why I said... Absolutely.

Well a bit like Dolph in New York. You know, it's just you can see that it's just weighing a little bit on certainly on her over there. And he's he's much quieter about it. Or he n he never makes you he never he never references that. But Yeah, in fact he always says he loves it. And and I think he does, but it's it is a lot. And I think he compartmentalizes probably as well as anybody I've seen in years.

Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. I I and I read those those closing stages as fatigue rather than injury yesterday against Rublev and

You know, it kind of affected his serve. I think that was why Rublev managed to managed to break his serve. Um just just on that on that number of thirty two wins, I just I just wanted to If you had to ask like what was the best version of Novat Djokovic I think a lot of people would say twenty eleven and a lot of people would say twenty fifteen. You know, th th th those are like historic great Djokovic years and Cinna is putting up numbers that

It was better than that right now. And he's also overtaken Federer's streak of twenty nine and that was in two thousand and five, two thousand and six. That was Federer's peak, I think a lot of people would say as well. So I just feel like that's a number where If he can add some majors to it, you know, like a which we expect him to do, if he can add two, maybe even three majors this season

this is gonna be going down as like an all time great ATP season, given this consistency that he's on. And it might go down as

his best ever season if if we if if he adds those majors as well. I feel like we're in the middle of something really historic, which is which is hard to Rekognise when you are in it but just I think the comparison there with Djokovic and Federer helps you realise just how good that is and it was it was kind of remarkable that two matches I watched back to back were the Dardery Hodar really late one night.

And it was like fun, but it was it was a hot mess, Catherine. It was a total hot mess. And then like The next match that I watched was Yannick Sinna against Andrei Rublev, and it was just a total opposite. It was just like total efficiency and competence from the start. And it was like

That's it. That's the difference b with with him and the rest of men's tennis right now. The rest of men's tennis might be really fun and interesting and a a good match in isolation but The difference in performance level from everyone else to Cinner is just

staggering right now. You think, Oh, maybe that wasn't a brilliant Yannick Sinner set and then they flash up the stats at the end and okay, well we all take the performance rating with a pinch of salt, but you think, Okay, maybe that wasn't brilliant and he's just dropped an eight point nine on that scale.

And you think, Oh, actually, like the numbers tell you that that was that was really quite good. It just wasn't it just wasn't perfection, you know? And That's what everyone else is having to sort of live with, right?

You know he's gonna try and drag him into a hot mess though Daniel Medvedev. That's is that's the play, isn't it? I mean that's kind of always the play, whether he wants it to be or not, for Medvedev, isn't it? Make it a hot mess. Uh but it's definitely the play for him against uh Yannick Sinner. Nothing if not compelling, Daniel Medvedev on a clay court.

Thriller last night against uh Martin Lander Luthe, one six, six four, seven, five. I it's a w been a weird tournament, hasn't it, for Medvedev got a got a buy in the first round. How Is this sort of a bit of a quirk that he's reached the semi final here, or is he I dunno, is he showing some form on Clay? I mean the last time he was showing some form on Clay won Rome and lost round one of Ron Garros, didn't he? So even if he is showing some form, could mean nothing.

But is he showing some form, David, or is this a slightly quirky little Medvedevron? I think he's showing some form. I mean, I think everything is relative and I'm comparing him to losing Six Love, Six Love in Madrid. He wasn't showing any form. Um But then I also think back to I he's been fascinating this year. I mean he's he's always kinda

But he's been fascinating in a positive way overall to me. Even though he lost Love and Love. Even though he really he got destroyed by Leonatian in in in Australia, he then Played incredible tennis for a two or three weeks. um in the Middle East and then going into Indian Wells where it where he'd he lost out on two tie breaks in the final to Sinner. And honestly going into that final I thought Medvedev was gonna win that. The level he was playing. It was kinda like Svitolina here in Rome.

I don't think Medvedev's playing like that, but I'm not sure he can because of club. Um he wasn't very good in Miami. It's it's really interesting that you think oh, he's he's cracked it. He's i this is Medvedev back, a bit like we're talking about Svantek and then he throws in a duffer Um but I just I do think he's playing well. I I mean What?

to deal with a lot from Landeluther last night. I mean the first set being six one and Landeluther in Nimvedev's player words saying like if he played like that every set for the rest of the year he'd be in there with Sinner and Alcara. And I mean I know what he means, you know, Landeluthe is he's uh I think he's a really exciting talent. And he walks about the place. I was trying to think who does he remind me of? Who's this w what's this walk? Um and this look that he's got.

And it reminds me of early Boris Becker. He just has this strange gate and this sort of like loving it and as if no no limits on himself and I love watching But Medvedev's the guy who ended up winning, you know, and and he hit an incredible uh sort of the vintage Medvedev backhand around the net post from being put in the head to the

you know, by a kick serve and he goes over the high over the net post or round that and then into the postage stamp in the corner. Um I think he's playing well. I think there are there's there are

limitations to what he can do on play. Um because the ball doesn't really react in the way that it might elsewhere. I still g I often think of him in Sinar as just one of the more fascinating rivalries because of how dominant Medvedev was and how dominant Siner has become. Um But Medvedev should hopefully take some heart from from what he knows he's capable of

Sinner. Um so I wouldn't write that one up. You know, I think this is a different category. If if Sinner is a little frayed around the edges, which I think he probably is mentally, and who wouldn't be, just like because of fatigue, Medvedev could be the guy. to draw that out and m and as y in your words, hot mess it up. Yeah, definitely.

Uh Italian representation in the other semi final as well. Let's talk about Luciano Darderi. There are so many good Italian men. It's quite hard to sort of make yourself stand out from the from the pack, isn't it? Like it's really easy to sort of Look at a Grand Slam drawer or look at, you know, result at a Grand Slam and go, Oh, there's another Italian I'm always making the making the gag, aren't they? Like, Oh, another another Italian man's come out of the r woodwork. Who on earth is this one?

um so sort of to mark yourself out particularly at a at a home tournament you know the biggest the biggest tour event in Italy if you if you don't count the ATP finals is is incredibly good going, I think, from from anyone. And and he's he's done it in memorable style as Luciano Darderi. I mean, obviously because of the smoke delay in his match against Rafael Hadar. I will come to you on that. Bat Robert.

Wyrwyr stuff happening in tennis with comical graphics involved I feel like is your mastermind subject. Ha ha. Uh but I feel like we should probably start before that with his victory over Alexander Zverev uh in the match before, saving four match points, then went on to win the decider six love. Um you know, a brilliant performance from Dardai who stood up to to Zverev and said, Okay, you've you know, if your play is to wait for me to miss, I'm I'm not gonna, mate. I I'm I I I'm up to this.

um and played with a good amount of variety as well. Like it was just a really smart performance I thought from from Dardary. Zverev's take on that match was that it's the worst court I have played on in my life. Juniors, pros, futures, practice

I have match point, the ball jumps over my head, I have break point, the ball rolls. Anyway, the wind was also strong. Overall, I still think I should have won the match in two sets. After that, yes, he played wonderfully. uh graceful as ever from uh from Zverov there. Also posted a chippy reply to uh the tennis channel on Instagram. uh on one of their social videos complaining about how little he was featured in the final edit um

It's not giving contender at Roland Garros, is it? I mean, obviously just totally graceless and making himself look an idiot. But in terms of, you know w the insight he's giving us into his state of mind, David, like He's clearly a mess, isn't he? Alexander Zverev.

I mean I I think he's another one who needs a rest. This is the problem. I think he's a bit tired. Um and You don't want to be tired going into Grand Summe. So actually I think in a way losing earlier in Rome might end up helping him. Get over to Paris. Enjoy this m glorious weather you promised me. relaxing a bit. I mean he's not I don't I mean he works bloody hard, doesn't he? You know, but I think he ne he probably needs some time.

The problem is I'm I'm not sure he's a hundred percent fit either. You know, there there's there are these question marks over his back, he's his service speed is a bit off, but I feel like Dardari was just tactically superb. In in his own way he took the blueprint of the

and kept Zverov off balance. I mean he at the at the start it was a disaster, I mean, in terms of what he was doing. He was he was he looked um exhausted, uh Dardari didn't feel good. Uh I think he was a bit freaked out by suddenly the scores going the wrong way and he was really heavily down. Um but then he just He he's f he's s set and five three down. I mean he he's about to lose this match. So it's very f yeah, he's right he should have won the match in two sets. He's right.

But he didn't. He didn't serve it out. And I think I think that's a real concern if you're Zerev, that you're this m big guy with this big serve and you don't serve it out. Um that's kind of his bread and butter, but credit to Dardary for getting back into it and then just keeping him off balance. Kept on throw just throwing in a slice and then when when Zv would lurch forward to get it back

and rally it deep, then Dardai would pull the trigger with a really hard, fast, deep one, and you could see that Zverev's just like, Whoa, where's that come from? And then he doesn't really give you much in response and then Dardai just takes over. This was happening time and time again. He volleys well, he's not afraid to go to the net and and and so forth. So

Yeah, I think Dardai's been a real revelation this week. I th I suspect that this will probably hurt his chances in Roland Garros in a way,'cause I think you know there's he's gonna be on such a high and he's gonna have a bit of a crap. We'll see. I don't think it's terrible. I mean look he until this one he'd he'd only been losing to Yannick Sinner. He'd been beating everybody else.

Um and it's best of five at Rolling Garrett's six. Yeah, no, I it's it's bad. He checked out I think he checked out a bit mentally. I think he's got I think he's a bit gone. Like he's just knackered and and he was like I can't scrap any more. A bit it was a bit of that, I think. Um I don't think that that will impact Roland Garris for him. I think he's got enough time because he's lost earlier. He's got a week and a half.

um, to freshen himself up, get into five set mentality. Trying to trying to put that guy away over five sets is bloody difficult. Um and he still has to remind himself Al Kraz ain't here. I'm the other guy in the half of the draw. You know, he he he should still be reaching the final of Roland Garros. He should still Given everything that's going on. No Mazzetti. Um feast question marks injury wise. Djokovic barely played. He's the guy. Yeah, yeah, we'll be playing on a proper court.

But honestly, don't d any more excuses. Just shut up with your I just think those, you know, uh I don't know, it's doing the rounds on s I I think he's deleted it now, that comment on the tennis channel video. But I think it's pretty revealing of how you know, I mean It it's a study in the fragile male ego, isn't it? Like it okay you Revealing about like what tennis he's gonna produce though? Don't you think like he's always just like

I think it's yeah, I do. But the fact that he's actually posting I think he probably thinks that. a hundred percent of the time. But the fact that he's actually posting is a bit revealing about where he's at. Yeah, I mean okay, it might just be that he's he's knackered, making bad choices and he'll be fine in a week. But he is I think his his Ego and confidence is at a low ebb and I agree, David, it takes a lot to expose that.

in best of five tennis. Like not many players are able to expose that and sort of stand up to him enough to to do it over best of five, but it it's clearly there to be exposed and I don't think he can miraculously solve that in a week. Das ist wie ich finde. Uh I'd be surprised if he doesn't have to be a good one. Given The likely competition in Yeah. I mean that's probably still true. Yeah. And yet, David, post orangerie you will say Ooh, that guy in the second round.

David Goffin's gonna be too. Yeah. You're absolutely right. Okay. Don't read me like a book. Yeah. Hang on. Yeah. No smoke on the side. Sorry. I got distracted by the orangerie. Take it away, Matt. Off you go.

Well we've had another smoke delay. Yeah, I mean it was crazy. It was absolutely crazy. Like I I think the I think the Copper Italia final, you know, like the sort of Italian version of the FA Cup always clashes with with Rome, doesn't it? And it's played in the in the Olympic Stadium which is right next door. Um and and after that they let off fireworks and the and the smoke from those fireworks drifted over to the tennis in Rome and just

sat there and hung in the air for so long. I mean it was a it was a twenty minute delay where they had to stop the match because it was so thick that it meant that the electronic line called.

wasn't working and they had no they had no back up, you know, so they had to stop. I think the players frankly couldn't see the ball anyway. Tim Hemman on Sky was saying that he was at one end of the stadium and if he If he looked to the other side of the stadium he couldn't make out people's faces or anything like that.

I mean, I was once present at a at a champions tour event that was played entirely in those conditions in Chengdi. So, you know, suck it up, lads is what I was thinking at one o'clock in the morning. And and and yeah, and that was the extra element. Of course it was happening ridiculously late because you know, there'd been a brilliant women's match on first. Um and I mean it was just just comical.

I sort of loved it'cause it was funny, but it was also, frankly, ridiculous. And yeah, this match ended at gone two AM. Uh as they as they went into a third set, you're thinking, right, okay, it's gone one in the morning. Let's see how this set goes. Maybe it'll be quick. And they and like the second game of the deciding set was a twenty six point game taking over ten minutes. It was like, of course. Of course. Um and look, I was actually kind of impressed with both players, you know.

Hoddar was a set and a break down, uh got it back, he saved match points in that second set, won the second set. I thought he showed real composure and resilience in that second set. He did. lose it physically and I think this is a little trend we've seen from Hollow through this season. Like a lot of the reas a lot of the times he's losing matches is physically. His tennis is right there, it's good enough. But he hasn't got it in the legs yet. And and Dardai like

to recover from losing that second set. His his tactic in the third seemed to be coffee. He he seemed to just Kept just kept getting coffee coffee deliveries at like one thirty in the morning. Yeah. It was like, have you got to record a podcast after this? Yeah, it's like so So funny. Like a wild match, one that we will remember. It was also extra late because after that women's match they had a music break.

Sh sh shout out Laura Robson on Sky. She was absolutely losing her mind at this. She was I think that was actually I think that was the most farcical thing that happened in the forum of Calico. It was. It was not the smoke delay. L Laura was the only one who was appropriately annoyed about it. She was like, Yeah, what are we doing?

Get we've got another match to get on. Of course it's probably gonna be like two and a half, three hours. That means it's gonna finish at two in the morning. Then there was a smoke delay. I mean just ridiculous. And like and like the bigger point uh n l less related to the smoke, but yesterday that that Sviontek Svitolina match, you know, that is your That is your headline match of the tournament, pretty much, up to this point. Semi final, two great players and

The way you've scheduled it, the deciding set is happening after midnight and the stadium's half empty. And there's just absolutely no reason for that in an event like this where you've got so much time to play all these matches. I feel like they've tried to They've tried to elevate the one thousands by elongating them. I don't think it has had that effect, but they've tried. And what they've ended up doing is just totally undermining their own tournament by scheduling key matches.

late at night when half the stadium's gone home. I mean it's just it's just so like tin And when the conditions are crap. Like the b the you know, it was So cool. yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw. Pospital pass if a said a circumstances. than Svitolino who'd played late the night before against Robatkina, like, You've got thirteen days to play with. What are we doing?

Yeah, repeatable repeatable rant. Uh Casper Rude. Ha ha ha! He's in the semifinals, but Karen Hashinov in a in a weird match, Hashinov having been responsible for uh the dinosaur in group chat being so so short so shortly lived under that name, uh Karan Hashinov's sort of a a test that you have to pass, isn't he? And Dino Prismic did not pass that test. So Dino soaring is

is on the back burner for now. There's a sort of we've got a hodar thing going on which I don't know if that's gonna last. Number three is up for grabs and the group chat name is up for grabs. So put that memo. To men's tennis. Yeah, you've got to come up with a pun though, David. I hate puns. I might have a word with Hannah, she'll come on with something for me. Um, David, a few words on Kasparud, give him some flowers. Well having just said uh

Alexander Zero should be reaching the Rolling Arrows final. If you put Casparude in his half I would We're doing it already. We haven't even got to the air. I believe in Kasparud in that matchup on clay. I do. And and an um in I hope he stays fit, yeah,'cause'cause he's he's he pulled up lame a few weeks ago, um, I think against Alge El Yassim. Um

Like he's got his mojo back a little bit on on clay. Like i I I know he won Madrid last year, but the rest of it wasn't quite what I was anticipating. I I feel like it's coming for him. You know, he's he he's moving really well, I think he's He he he's he had that really chastening loss to Sinner, didn't he, at Rome last year where he like he won a game. Yeah, and he was just Oh my word. And of course look he could end up playing sinner and having another experience.

But I think he's playing better, Roger. So let's see what I'm saying on Sunday night. Um but no, I I I'm I'm encouraged. Because you're right. I mean look that was the so that that was a a ho horrible match interrupted by a what three hour rain delay against uh Hans. and and all the sets. It was like watching a I I mentioned it was like watching an Ostapenko Yastremska match in terms of the score line, sort of six love, one six, six two. Um but no I think um I think Rude's coming on.

Er, just to confirm what we've touched upon a couple of times already, Art of Feast, uh has confirmed that he is in for Roland Garros said he was being uber cautious with that uh retirement earlier on in the tournament, but scans revealed there's nothing sinister at play.

uh and he's now going to wrap himself in cottonwool and bubble wrap until his first match at Roland Garros. Uh not so for not so for Lorenzo Mazzetti, absolutely Heartbreaking stuff for him. He's out of Roland Garros with a rectus femoris injury. Matt Futterman in the athletic. uh reports for us that the rectus femoris is a muscle on the inner part of the thigh, one of the four quadricep muscles.

It's the only quadricep muscle that crosses both the hip and the knee, making it nearly impossible to function athletically without it. It s it sounds pretty crap, yeah. Um, I mean the fact that he even took to the court for his match against Casparude is mad. I mean he s he said in his statement, he b all but said, like I wouldn't have done that if it wasn't Italy and Rome and

I respect that, bless him, but also pff I hope he hasn't done himself further damage by even giving that match a go. Um yeah, it it It's terrible for men's tennis, it's terrible for Mazzetti, it's gutting, he's he's Making a bit of a play for Cursed Player is uh is Lorenzo Mazzetti. I wonder if he regrets the nightmare tour a little bit. I wonder if there's a sort of cumulative toll of the nightmare.

Yeah. The thing is, like, I d I I think you're right, Kathany, you probably could draw a line between the nightmare tour and what's happened to him this season in terms of how how hard he pushed it, but I think you can also Yn can also look at the injuries he's had over the last 18 months or so.

Always the upper leg. There's the he's he's obviously got a bit of a weak spot there. Monte Carlo last year in the final, it was the leg. Roland Garros last year in the semis, the leg, Australian Open this year, now Rome this year. Like There's there's obviously something there that he that he needs to find a solution for because it It's holding him back in in big moments, you know. Umizetti's withdrawal from Roland Garris does mean that Stammarinka sneaks into the main drawer as a direct

A wild card for another lowly ranked French tennis player. Okay, that is uh it for part two. We'll be back in part three with some pretty interesting news. Utreservering, vilorum, hotellrum. Någon måste köpa grejerna till företaget. Är det du? Hos jus får företagskunder 8% extra rabbatt, till och med på kampanpriser. Och med butiker över hela landet nära jobbet, föreningen där du är. Får du hjälp och leveransnabbt? Business Scandinavian sleeping and living.

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Welcome back to part three of today's tennis podcast where we now have to talk about the bombshell news that Andy Murray is to coach Jack Draper. for the grass court season. Also in tandem with the news that Jack Draper is no longer working with Jamie Delgado, uh obviously Delgado himself, a former coach of

of Andy Murray. Tough for for Jamie Delgado because he's never really kind of got a run at that job, did he?'Cause uh'cause Jack Draper's pretty much been injured for the the duration of their partnership. Um I mean this This news indicates that Jack Draper is going to be fit to return on grass, which which is good news, and there's going to be the added intrigue of Andy Murray being there in his coaching box, which I mean, even if it is just the novelty factor

I don't mind, I'm here for it, I'm into it. I'm pumped. And Andy Murray's got maybe something to prove as a as a tennis coach, you know, after you know, it didn't go badly with Novak Djokovic but You know, I d I I think if he was marking himself out of ten and he's done a few interviews about it now, including with us, like I think He thinks that could have gone better, doesn't he? Like I I'm really, really into this, David. Interesting. Yeah, yeah.

I want to see Jack Draper be a tennis player again before I get interested. Really? And that's the problem. Is everything you say I agree with. Ever I'm I am excited by the prospects as well. And I'm interested to see you know, uh having interviews with the two of them a month apart at the end of last year. I mean it it's fantastic for us to get this insight into them. And to see the struggles of Jack Draper and to see the desperation for to succeed and and all and I remember him saying to us

next grass court season I'm gonna slide. You know, I'm gonna do all you know, I'm not gonna do what what I've been doing and I'm gonna figure it out and be a better player on grass. So I was I'm really into that. I'm really into Andy Murray the coach'cause

I mean he did say i he probably wouldn't be a coach again until his kids were older, but obviously I g I get that this is different. You know, if this is just a short spell and it's in in in Britain it's it's easy for him to do it and it's not gonna mess his life up, you know, and it's it's Jack Draper and they've got that whole relationship and they've got the the the singing proclaimers whilst drunk and Andy Murray's middle finger and and Only one of them was drunk.

Right. Yeah. Andy Murray was being perfectly respectable and above board and completely sober, uh, and taking the piss out of Jack Draper while he sang. And it was great. It was all all the all the fun thing. I just think well w where's sorry, Jack, but where's the evidence that you can play tennis anytime soon? I know you just said that that this is confirmation that he's back for the grass course. Is it? I mean how do we know he's gonna be fit? I I I mean I I know there's no guarantees.

I assume you wouldn't make an announcement like this that you know is gonna cause this kind of stir. I understand. I mean like today he might be fit. But there's a there's been so many breakdowns of his fitness. I really look, I really hope that's not the case. And You know, I love Jack. I think he's such a good guy and really want it to happen for him. But I just have

I I kind of not I'm not that into it because I don't think of Jack at the moment as somebody who's playing tennis. He's pulled out of the v Claycourt season and he's got it all to prove as to whether he's gonna be able to Lay on the grass, it's not that long away. I I ho I hope he can. What? Yeah, I mean... My first thought was

At least at least Jack Draper won't make Randy Murray go on a run, I suspect. You know, right at the start of their coaching relationship. I feel like I feel like it's gonna be a sort of easier way in for Andy Murray into into this gig. Um Yeah, th than than a a minion coming and requesting your presence on a long distance run through Monte Carlo. yeah cramping after a few minutes

Um I think look, I think I thought Draper would sort of pull the Murray lever at some point in his career. That I'd really thought that would happen. It would it would make sense given we know their relationship and we know how much Murray is into the idea of coaching.

I just didn't think it would be now. Like and I I do think it makes sense to have Murray on board in in terms of Draper as a player and his career and what he's trying to achieve through that grass court season because, you know, we've seen Draper Particularly at Wimbledon, you know, he's done well at Queens, but particularly at Wimbledon, I think deal with a lot of nerves and a lot of pressure of being British number one and he's never really looked comfortable at Wimbledon, you know, his

And the sort of expectation of look at you, you're a you're a big you're a tall guy, big serving lefty, like obviously this game should be working on grass, this is where you should be peeking and and I think David it was you w you asked him about that in our interview, like and he really responded to that and was like, Yeah, like I'm actually As you were saying, Matt, like I'm actually not that comfortable.

on on grass. Like in very rudimentary ways my game should make sense, but in sort of more nuanced ways it doesn't actually make all that m much. So I mean and and Murray knows the pressures of Wimbledon and being the guy, you know, better than anyone who's ever lived, probably, and I think can help manage that. But I do sort of just think at this stage

i it almost puts the pressure back on, you know. Like I think Draper was kind of going into this Wimbledon probably pretty expectation free, you know, like because he's not

played that much, everyone understands that as something people recognise. But now, like, with Andy Murray in his box and without having played that much, I feel like there is gonna be a lot of spotlight and attention on it. And I just I'm with David. I just don't know whether Whether he's ready physically for for the tennis that's coming and almost like I hope it's not, but is it like Is it like a little bit of a

panic to pull the Andy Murray lever now and try and just try and get some good news, you know, just like just be like I need something, I need a kick. And I totally understand if that's how he's feeling and what he thinks he needs. But I don't know, I thought that he would do this when he's You know what I mean? Knocking on the door of trying to win Wimbledon and Andy Marray was trying to help him get over the line. Like that's not to say he can't go back to Andy Marray later in his career.

Yeah. I could imagine this being just sort of an annual thing that Andy Murray hoped. Maybe it will be. Yeah. Maybe it will be. Um I hope so. I think that'd be great. Mm-hmm. No bad. I mean maybe this isn't a good comparison'cause this, you know, results wise hasn't gone well, but almost a bit of a Paulini Irani situation where it was like, Well, you're helping me anyway, like let's just f let's formalise it, you know.

'Cause I can imagine, you know, they would be texting a lot during Wimbledon anyway. I d uh I don't know. Yeah. Is this the time given Draper's you know, not really a sort of active But I I I hope that I hope you're right, Catherine. I hope this is this is uh a sign that he is feeling better and the decision to pull out of of the clay is very much one that targeted for the grass and trying to be fully fit for that rather than oh I just cannot play.

You know, we're th what we're hearing is that the knee is is recovering and Laura Robinson on Sky said the other day that he is hitting, you know, full on at at at the National Tennis Centre right now. So Okay. I I feel a bit disconcerted'cause I'm not used to being the most optimistic uh On the podcast. I don't know where to go. It's good being Catherine, isn't it?

No, I feel weird. I feel it's uh it's irksome. Uh shall we go uh to in fact it's the only place to go'cause it's the last agenda item.

Carlos Alcaraz and uh his Vanity Fair piece, his cover shoot, uh the first kind of sport special for Vanity Fair worldwide. Like just in principle a huge deal for tennis to have this kind of cut through and exposure in the mainstream and in this in the sort of places that a a piece in a photo shoot like this. will be seen, has been seen, and a real sort of indicator of Carlos Alcaraz's status in in the sporting world and in in the wider world. Uh Matt Roberts is quoted in the piece.

as you might have gathered over the course of this show. Uh it was d very um distinct style choice with the photo shoot. I think it was done in

in Miami. Uh we know this because he Carlos Alcra has posted a photo of what we now know is the photo shoot during a March April photo dump and uh th then deleted the photo from all in white, uh and uh dusted up in clay, uh because obviously they were expecting him to be playing on clay, uh about to be defending his Roland Garrett's title at the time of the drop of this interview, so that's just

a really unfortunate turn of events for for Vanity Fair and for the style choice of this this photo shoot. Um what Matt Roberts did we think? When the when the photos and the interview dropped, other than ooh, that's a Matt Roberts quote. Yeah, I was alerted to that by uh Itamar. He sent me a screenshot that said Mr Vanity Fair. Like like but like the photo I was you know, I was a I was away in in Devon, poor signal. The photo wouldn't load. I was like what

What is this? Um anyway, that was that was my experience of it. Uh I don't know, I f I feel like I had a a different take to you, Catherine. You didn't like the photos, I don't think. I

Oh we're back to normal. I loved I liked the concept. I've Executed. Interesting. See, I I've got no problem with the home eroticism of it all. I find that fantastic. Um I you know, there's been lots of clo c pearl clutching about it and that is absolutely not the angle of my um my issues with it. I j I just I yeah, I d I don't think it was executed brilliantly. I

I think he looks really childish in the cover shot, the s the smile and then the one where he's sort of posing on the ground looking over the shoulder, so that's the one where he should be doing the cheeky smile. I just think you can see in his eyes that he doesn't look quite comfortable. Um but the internet seems to have enjoyed it so I'm obviously I'm obviously wrong. Han ha um Vicky said that in the cover sheet he looks like a child in P E

And that's how I felt as well. I thought the one in there... The one in the suit um is the one that should have been the same. David. I've I've no opinion. I've not I've just not even really taken any of this in It's about I the only bit I was interested in was Matt Roberts' quote. Ha ha ha. I feel like no one else read the piece. They just looked at the picture. David's the one.

I just sort of let this this convers I knew it was going on in the group chat and I just thought I'm just gonna let this roll. I don't I'm not really bothered. Ha ha. I haven't even I don't think I've even really looked at all the pictures. I saw the one. But I just want him to start playing tennis again. The one where he's covered in clay and he's He's wearing white shorts and white top. The P Kit one. Yeah. Ha ha ha! Sorry. Anyway, it's good for tennis, isn't it?

Yeah, that's true. Yeah, it's good t good for tennis, yeah. Great. Right.

Okay. Uh we are back on Sunday night with our post Rome Live show. Eight PM UK time will be on YouTube. The live chat will be going if you want to join us that'll be up at a as a podcast as usual uh as well. It is our fifteen hundredth show. uh on Sunday. I'm gonna really try and remember that during the actual show, so And if you don't, we've told everybody now, so it's fine. Exactly.

Yes, thank you. Uh so that's our next show on Sunday, and then on Wednesday of next week we are headed to Paris. And uh I can't wait. I can't wait. Uh we have a mascot for this show. I'm gonna try and I'm gonna try and get through this because it Such a lovely picture. This is Clara. Clara is owned by Steph and Clara, Steph says, is our beloved three-year-old rescue and three peat mascot. Um she says there's no point in guessing her breeds because she's a mix of all dogs.

Um, and I'm looking at a picture here of her being hugged so tightly by a little girl whose identity I don't know, but it's making me think of my niece Nina and Billie Jean. Um and Billie Jean is gonna go and stay with Nina um and family uh for the duration of my time uh at Roland Garros and uh there is nothing I love more than Nina Billie Jean content or you know. Yeah. Toddler plus dog hugging content Yes please said.

Yeah, Clara's gazing at the camera in that sort of doleful way. It's all just lovely. And um there's nothing better than a repeat mascot. We love We love returning mascots. So thank you so much, uh, Steph and Clara. What a good girl. The bestest of girls. Uh hello to our mascots. Hello Bodie. Hello to Maisie. David's aiming to be top of the table. Come the end of role on Garros. Maisie, all you need is for Otto Feast to win the title, I'm sure it'll happen. Uh hello to Roger.

We haven't any Roger photos in a while, have we, Matt? Paging carrying the correct. Yes some some rocher photos. Paging carry. Uh hello to our top folks and executive producers Greg, Chris and Jeff. Matt's back, so so a shout out. That's right, we have Alec Mills from Bristol. Hello Alek. Alec says I've been to all four Grand Slams at least twice. Very impressive from Alec. And he's all he's also visited uh the Masters events in Madrid and Rome. So very fitting time for Alec.

Alex a clay court guy, by the sounds of things. Wow. Alec Mills, you say. Yes. Yeah. Like Alan Mills, who was such a wonderful contributor to the show once upon a time. When we had uh end of season. And Wimble the referee and he was bloody great at it. Yeah. Alec, thank you. Keep keep I mean how many times can you go to all the slams? Keep going. Let us know what you get to. Love that. We also have Marty Betton, short for Martha, Marty says, uh, from Philadelphia.

Hello, Marty. Matt's been to Philadelphia. I have been to Philadelphia. Yeah. One of the one of the many places I've seen Fulham beat Brentford. Ha ha ha. Uh and Like Marta cost you. Well, uh th m Vicki has has looked at this shout out and says M Marty's given us a very long list of Martys and but has not included Marta Costia, which is the one that Vicky would have gone for, she said. Oh. Thanks, Vicky. What about Marty Mulligan?

That's a very good one. That's come up a lot in my uh Pietrangeli research. Excellent. Australian player in the in the sixties. Good name that, isn't it? Marty Mulligan. Yeah, reached the Wimbledon final in nineteen sixty two. Wow. And is that on Marty's list? Is he is he on Marty's? Okay. So that's acceptable. Yeah. Thanks, Marty. And finally we have a birthday shout out for Emmy from Barry. Hey Like Barry Island? Like going in Stacy, Barry.

Yeah. Or is there a ba there's a barrier island as well, isn't there? No no no no hang on. The sh no no. The shout out is for Emmy from a person called Barry. Well I mean red this email. So like Barry Cowan. Right. Thank you. What do we, what do we know? About Em what do we know about Emmy and Barry? So Emmy and Barry uh live in San Diego and met during COVID and since then they've gone to Indian Wells together every year and they're The US Open for Serena Williams' final match.

And Barry says tennis has been a big part of our relationship and discovering your podcast this past year, listening to it regularly together and both of us becoming friends of the tennis podcast has become the latest evolution of our tennis boss. I couldn't let Emmy's birthday, which was on Thursday the fourteenth of may, pass without a shouting. Emmy is the ultimate renaissance woman. She's lived such a rich, varied and full life, and it continues to be a joy to connect with her.

And now we've butchered their shout-out. They're from San Diego. They haven't even heard of Barry Island or Gavin and Stacy. They're like Maybe they're in to go in and stay sea. You can get it overseas apparently. Maybe it will introduce them to Gar Yeah. Barry, I'm sorry, Emmy Alright. It's my fault. I c and I don't think we're gonna be able to think of any tennis Emmys, are we? I think that's David's taking that as a challenge, I mean. Closest I've got is Emil Rusivori, but

What about Roy Emerson, who used to be known as MO? Can that be? Yeah, we'll take it. I'm afraid we're gonna have to take that. Uh Emmy, I hope you had a wonderful birthday. None of us have. Emmy, I hope you had an absolute wonderful birthday. It sounds like you've got a good in there with Barry. Um Love that. Love that for for you two. Uh and uh yeah, I've loved this show. Uh bit of a bumper one. We'll be back uh on Sunday with our live post Rome show, eight PM UK time.

On YouTube, if you fancy joining us live, if not, then you can watch that anytime or listen to us anytime wherever you get your podcast. But you know that because you're listening. Thank you for listening. Podcast network. Vet du vad en hel ska vara? Den ska vara god och vill du ha ett riktigt bra helgmus kom till Villis, för där har de helgigheter till vadspriser. Nu tar vi helg. Vi ses på Villis. Möt nya klar. Det första kalciumbaserade vitasnuset.

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