In short
Australian Open 2026 draw day and match-day wrap, plus a preview of upcoming men’s/women’s matches and a “media one-point slam” gimmick. The hosts react to a “weird” draw day execution (blocked sight lines, podium/trophy/people in the way), discuss surprise results, and debate who’s likely to win next. They also recap major on-court moments: Stan Wawrinka’s five-set thriller (including taped knees and a “puked in a bin” moment), Daniel Medvedev’s shock loss (winners “flying past him”), Eva Jovic’s 6-0 6-1 beatdown, and Yulia Putintseva’s emphatic round-of-16 win. They end by celebrating Carlos Alcaraz completing the career Grand Slam at 22.
Guests
No named podcast guests; it’s hosted by Matt Roberts and David (plus Catherine).
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOTournament Expectations
0:45 to 2:30
Discussion on the unusual nature of the tournament and draw expectations.
“You know, there was a podium in the way.”
Surprising Draw Insights
2:30 to 4:30
Reactions to unexpected elements in the Australian Open draw.
“Roll my eyes at the way people get about Roger Federer.”
The Traitors and the Draw
4:30 to 6:30
Comparisons made between the excitement of watching 'The Traitors' and the draw.
“Matt Roberts stubbornly refuses to have his own private Instagram, despite the clamours of the people.”
Media and Player Interactions
6:30 to 9:30
Hosts discuss their experiences at the press conference and player interactions.
“Venus Williams was asked about Olga Danilovic in her press conference today.”
Tennis Commentary and Player Updates
9:30 to 12:30
The hosts share updates and anecdotes about various players and matches.
“Yeah, that would be enough to win this year and potentially next year's competition.”
Tennis Fashion and Player Kits
12:30 to 14:00
Discussion on the fashion choices of players and their impact on perceptions.
“right off the back of Grigel Dimitrov retiring against Thomas Mahatch?”
Discussing Fun and Party Atmosphere
14:00 to 17:20
The hosts share their views on fun at events, especially in the context of tennis.
“And Eva Jovic and Priscilla Hon are second on the Rod Laver Arena night session.”
Spotlight on Upcoming Matches
17:20 to 19:20
A detailed discussion about upcoming tennis matches and player performances.
“and nobody epitomises that more than 40-year-old Stan Wawrinka.”
Memorable Moments from the Matches
19:20 to 21:30
The hosts recount standout moments from recent matches, including player antics and reactions.
“And Jason Kubler, her fiancé, Kubler, He was there at the start of Matt.”
Sensation of the Day Segment
21:30 to 23:40
Discussion of the Sensation of the Day segment, including highlights from the day.
“Julia Putin's saver booked her place in the round of 16 via a 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 victory on the Kia Arena versus Zeynep Sonmez and all of Turkey.”
Show all 23 chapters
Analyzing Player Performances
23:40 to 26:40
In-depth analysis of player performances and their implications in the tournament.
“No, I actually thought you were going to say something else when you said, yeah, we've had, I thought you were going to say, 400 ,000 views on TikTok for our clip.”
Innovations at the Australian Open
26:40 to 28:00
Discussions about technological innovations and experiences at the Australian Open.
“And at this point, I think I'm going to have to hold my hand up.”
Match Highlights and Predictions
28:00 to 29:48
Discussion on recent match outcomes and predictions for upcoming games.
“She won the first 10 points of the second set.”
Anticipating Drama in Future Matches
29:48 to 31:26
Speculation on future matches and the expected drama in the tournament.
“Big plans to ramp up the pressure on Matt's young shoulders.”
Analyzing Player Performances
31:26 to 32:56
In-depth analysis of player performances and match strategies.
“So long as it's three sets, I don't mind.”
Personal Reflections and Mental Preparation
32:56 to 34:38
Personal anecdotes and reflections on mental preparation for competition.
“Having beaten Lerner Tien who gave us a little bit of jeopardy today.”
One-Point Slam Preparation
34:38 to 36:16
Preparation and excitement for the upcoming media one-point slam.
“the bottom half of Matt Roberts for the media one point slam on Thursday.”
Hindrance Calls and Match Atmosphere
36:16 to 37:58
Discussion on hindrance calls and their impact on the match atmosphere.
“You don't have nearly enough details about this event.”
Tournament Highlights and Insights
37:58 to 41:10
Insights and highlights from the recent matches and overall tournament.
“It was Matt's favourite moment of the match.”
Reflections on the Tournament
42:04 to 42:54
Discussion about the intensity and emotions witnessed during the tournament.
“I still can't fully process what we witnessed.”
Celebrating Niels Vink's Achievement
43:06 to 44:35
Discussion about Niels Vink's Golden Slam and the celebrations that followed.
“But now it feels like she's back in that conversation again, obviously, because she's just won.”
Carlos Alcaraz's Historic Win
44:36 to 46:29
Analyzing Carlos Alcaraz's achievement of completing the career Grand Slam.
“I like how he hits the racket and I like the way he focuses.”
Memorable Moments of the Finals
46:30 to 47:28
Reflecting on the excitement brought by Alcaraz and Djokovic throughout the tournament.
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:03Well, I mean, I do think this is a weird tournament and weird things might happen.
0:19Well, hello and welcome to the tennis podcast coming to you on Australian Open Draw Day, otherwise known as Matt Roberts' third favourite day of the year.
0:35I would say about a six for execution though because they'd forgotten some pretty crucial elements like sight lines, being able to see the draw. I'm having fearing flashbacks here. There was shit in the way. Execution. You know, there was a podium in the way. The trophy was in the way. people were in the way. A look with glasses on, no less. David has put his glasses on. I have just put them on mid-podcast. It's David's version of the business bun. I'm very taken aback by the names I've written down because I must have written them down without the glasses on.
1:20Could it be a possible Sinkoraz final? No. it isn't on my draw. I really wasn't expecting that. Bloody hell, we should have led the pod with that. There's your bloody headline. Okay, well, expand. Can you tell this wasn't planned for? I'm genuinely so shook. I'm so shook.
1:46Stop looking at me like that. It's a perfectly legitimate draw. It is, but please tell me. Have you got Flavio Cavalli in the film? No, I haven't. Have you got Medvedev? Well, look, to use... Is it Medvedev? You said more on him later. To use... Oh, my God, it's Medvedev. To use... Oh, my God. It's the first time we've all watched the traitors in Melbourne together, and it was really special. And a word for the traitors. My sister texted me last night, are you more excited about the traitors or the draw? Which was a perfect question. Yeah. And I said the draw. Particularly now. But actually, turns out it was traitors.
2:22When we were watching The Traitors, Matt said, God, the draw's going to have to be bloody good.
2:31Roll my eyes at the way people get about Roger Federer. You know, there was a round of applause at the end of the press conference, which made me want to rip off my accreditation. I knew that would have annoyed you. Distance myself from the media. Like, absolutely embarrassing. but then I'm sat next to David I'm wink adjacent and suddenly I get it I'm like oh just to be in the orbit of this guy yeah so it was a great little moment
3:10he was like yeah I know how hard the one point format can be I've played it lots before I've played it at weddings Yeah. What sort of weddings is Roger Federer going to? Ones where people go, Roger Federer's here. Imagine if we could play one point against him. Oh, let's do it. Yeah, and where there just happens to be a tennis court.
3:31David has been asked to join Team Medvedev as a hype man. So no David on today's show. Don't worry, he'll be back tomorrow for our Australian Open hype show. Today, we have the company of the man who claims to have the cure for jet lag. I think I'm a jet lag black belt at this point. I really like, it's, there's like two things I can do in life. And one is Concord jet lag and the other is Parallel Park.
4:01Always. On this, on this podcast, when we should always be talking about a man, Anissa Mova. I mean, you know, you just tell me who wants to, who gets to do the big reveal. I feel like, Catherine, it should be you. I don't want it to be me. It can't be me.
4:25Well, I mean, a couple of headlines. She follows Matt Roberts on Instagram. No, she follows the podcast. Matt Roberts stubbornly refuses to have his own private Instagram, despite the clamours of the people. But it was directed, I mean, what happened, And for those of you who weren't riveted in watching the press conferences, Mac got called on and Amanda Nismov's face immediately lit up and she said, I follow you on Instagram or I follow the podcast on Instagram and I love it. And it was just sort of like, okay, I think we can all go home now. This is it.
5:10You picked yourself up and did a good impression of a professional journalist in the aftermath of that moment. I was in the middle of asking a hair question. My personal reputation as somewhat professional was in tatters.
5:31they are surprising and you probably you wouldn't you wouldn't pencil them into a final at this point right not like you might with daniel medvedev say if you were david law
5:46we love joanna garland well when i commentated on her match of hers about nine twelve months ago i nicknamed her judy garland wizard of oz and you know what she became almost the Wizard of Oz. Yeah, we will be following her progress so close. We're trying to get our editor, Jib, to fly to a WTA 125 event in Manila.
6:10While we're on the subject of Kit, I wasn't going to go here, but Yannick's in his kit, the worst tennis kit you've ever seen. The colours! It's a hate crime. He doesn't seem particularly keen on it either. No, I mean, he has slagged it off. And quite right too, he has been stitched up. It looks like someone's taking the piss out of him, quite frankly. Well, it looks like a pure example, yeah.
6:36Venus Williams was asked about Olga Danilovic in her press conference today. The question was, do you know anything about your opponent, Olga Danilovic? And the press conference reads, the answer reads, pause, very talented, love to see young women doing positive things.
6:59Tristan Shulhate one day I'm going to have to say his name in a more professional setting and I'm going to say Shulhate skill cape
7:13particularly the first slam of the season we come in full of hope we come in full of joy we come in fresh I came in for the first time my first Grand Slam as a Kabali guy David how was it? A fresh new look at life. He had the shits, David. The watery shits. He had. No, the trainer was out after the first game. And the first word I was able to tune into in that discussion was diarrhoea. And the first question poor old Flavio was asked by the trainer was, are you watery? He was also exposed to the world he doesn't really know how to play rock, paper, scissors.
8:09Very close to beating him here a couple of years ago. When I became a Norrie guy for about 15 minutes. What a night that was. Because he played like Jimmy Connors in the 1991 US Open. He was rushing the net. He was hitting left-handed inside-out, back-hand winners. It was amazing. It felt like we'd entered the parallel universe on that pod.
8:35And then we had Venus Williams. I mean, who didn't want Venus Williams to win today? Orgut Nilevich. Orgut Nilevich. That's about it. Her family. And that's about it.
8:52Out there. But of course, Julia Putin's savour fuel to her fire. When she won this match, she did a sort of provocative dance, took a bow in the direction of the most vocal Brazilian support and sung Vamos a la Playa at them. Which is not Portuguese. No.
9:201573 tomorrow is where you'll find eminor varro jordan thompson um they haven't put him on the bar court no hang on i get these things confused it was the sitza bros that complained about the bar court and it was jordan thompson that complained about the people moving during points being too woke is that right that is exactly right as as ludicrous as that sounds that is exactly right yeah
9:52it was i mean it was it was really bad uh between them they combined for nine winners and 31 unforced errors in the first set you know and like glad i missed it it's not about me but i always feel a little bit bad when i'm out on a court watching amanda and the pod fans everywhere and it's a dud you just ruined that day
10:25i had a bit of a situation with my with my seating in the media area but i was just about able to see the players if I craned my neck in the right position in order to be able to see around the absolutely obnoxious Australian men in the Viking hats in front of me. Horned Viking hats.
10:56give her a bit of time like the great and good of tennis australia were all out there in in the also craning their necks around the the the viking hats absolute assholes i mean can you imagine
11:17I don't know what it says about men's tennis that the players that most sort of captivated me today were 40-year-old Stan Woverinka, 38-year-old Novak Djokovic, and how old's Marin Cilic?
11:35Then in the night session, Hugo Gaston against Yannick Sinner, marking your cards, that if Hugo Gaston beats Yannick Sinner in straight sets tomorrow, Reggie gets 1 ,000 points in the predictions competition and we might as well shut up shop. For the rest of the year. Yeah, that would be enough to win this year and potentially next year's competition. He goes big or he goes home, Reggie. That is for sure.
12:10and Grigel Dimitrov against Thomas Mahatch quite exciting yeah I'm into that late night Kia Arena that actually could be fun we're all going to get drawn into that aren't we last about 90 minutes yeah join us for tomorrow's tennis podcast right off the back of Grigel Dimitrov retiring against Thomas Mahatch? No! Or Thomas Mahatch retiring against Grigel Dimitrov? Join us to find out.
12:43She really made Tatiana Maria look fairly straightforward and normal. And I mean, she was asked in her press comments afterwards, when did your last play a player who is doing that sort of thing, just throwing the ball up to the sky and chopping down on short balls and just generally kind of trying to irritate you into missing. And she said 12 and under.
13:09Our next bit of fun. Can we go to Giovanni Pesci-Pericar and Sebastian Baez? I mean, just seeing them stood next to each other was fun.
13:24Look, Hugh Catch was, in Matt's words, a real vibe. Never thought I'd see the day.
13:35if you can wear it to play tennis i support it even if i don't like it but but wearing a mosquito net just to walk on court is stupid that's how i feel about it if she'd played in the mosquito net different conversation anyone have different takes do you like it Matt? the beekeeper vibe I like fun and I think it was quite fun it didn't offend me yeah I like fun too I just didn't find it that fun but I would like to let it be known I like fun I like fun too I sound like a party pooper Last night was pissing on Australian bonfires. Tonight it's pooping on this party.
14:36And Eva Jovic and Priscilla Hon are second on the Rod Laver Arena night session. How's that happen?
14:51They'll have a great time. Don't feel sorry for them. Matt's dad thinks he might have a Cameron Norrie cut. he could say I'll come halfway around the world to see Gary Norris
15:07to see the number of fans, the number of flags the outpouring of emotion and how much it means to her too this is a great news story for the sport really in the early stages of a Grand Slam I don't think Yulia Putin's saviour is going to enjoy those scenes all that much. That could get a bit tasty, couldn't it? I think. I hope so. You know, her against the fans. It could be fun, that. Yes, how do you say Bamos a la playa in Turkish?
15:43Second up is Dane Sweeney. He was on Channel 9 build-up this morning and I quite like Dane Sweeney. He speaks really well. He's a nice chap, isn't he? Who do you think he's going to lose? Sorry, TJ, who spent a lot of time bigging up his chances. Is he playing? Ben Shelton. Oh, yeah. He's going to lose.
16:08ANZ Arena tomorrow, folks. Oh, I know what you're commentating on. Starts with Karen Hashanov against Nishesh Basavaredi. A nice little appetiser. I've never seen you as excited about Karen Hashanov. Oh, you're not talking about him? No, that's the appetiser. before Madison Inglis, the potential sensation against Laura Siegmund.
16:31I think you'll have fun. Do you? It'll be a vibe. It'll be a vibe. Yeah, and really, vibe is what I want above all else. She's so complicated for me, though, because there's so much that I like, but it's all cancelled out by the faff.
16:52We've been recording at around about 11.30pm in the media centre's Creator Lounge, just like the young, relevant content creators that we are. And yet, today feels like it was all about the millennials, the remnants of the golden generation, the players trying to hold on for dear life to the sport they love and who they are when they get to play it and taste victory. and nobody epitomises that more than 40-year-old Stan Wawrinka.
17:33This was Arthur Jaya's first ever five-set match and it was Stan Wawrinka playing, well, by taking this match into a fifth set, he became the man that has played more five-set matches than anybody else in Grand Slam history.
Read the full transcript
17:58I mean, the whole match was an absolute scene. You know, there was, as you said, Jair with both of his knees taped. He also puked in a bin at one point. There was a man inexplicably dressed as Willy Wonka in the crowd. There were broken shoes going on. Like, it was just, it was, like you said, it stole the show. Like, everyone just suddenly was gravitating towards Kia Arena. That's where the noise was coming from. It was just the place to be.
18:32OK, well, the conditions might not be a problem for him on Saturday, David, but the opponent might be... Who's that? It's Bertic van der Zanschel. Oh, he's in form. It's the Marvel. He is in form. I mean, maybe that's the problem.
18:51I leave the match remembering Barton Covert. She is the sort of player that, having watched half a dozen games, is somebody I'm going to be recommending other people go and watch half a dozen games. Yeah, I want to know if she's on Hannah's future Wimbledon champion list. Oh, don't curse her. Where is Eula Niemeyer?
19:18it's the czech radio guys sit behind us in our working room busiest people in the world my god yeah
19:34congratulations talia gibson for winning sensation of yesterday unfortunately your heroic effort against Anna Schneider has been utterly overshadowed by events of today because Madison Inglis, folks, the world number 168 has taken out the marvel, the troll that is Laura Siegmund.
20:05Absolute scenes out there. And Jason Kubler, her fiancé, Kubler, He was there at the start of Matt. She had to leave to warm up for his doubles because he and Mark Polmans have just taken out Kyrgios and Kokonakis. Thank you for your service.
20:25Given the fact that Matt was trawling back through last year's podcast to see how we dealt with the Sensation of the Day segment when there were no winning candidates and was reminded that we once gave it to an Australian that bought me a beer.
20:43David broke this news to them on the street it was so fun like maybe my favourite moment of the day was the WhatsApp popping up and it was just David taking a selfie with my parents on the street in Melbourne made my heart full we had a lovely chat and they looked gleeful because they'd just been informed they hadn't travelled across the world to see Cam Norrie yeah
21:09four hats two each yep my mum came with her pos hat my dad with his flat cap and they were both given free hats which they accepted gladly the roberts is a hat people they're one step away from a koala baseball cap i reckon there's a lot of those around this year i tell you they've they've realized oh they work now we're gonna have every color under the sun you've hashtag influenced David. In fact I'm going to put mine on. Yes David.
21:42Julia Putin's saver booked her place in the round of 16 via a 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 victory on the Kia Arena versus Zeynep Sonmez and all of Turkey. And she celebrated like she had defeated all of Turkey. Matt. I was living for
22:09this Catherine no longer a cabali guy no no that was before I was a cabali guy yeah but now you're now you're using as an example no I'm not I'm not I can't kick a guy when he's down he's got the watery shits hope he still hasn't
22:31very uncomfortable flight home anyway
22:39welcome back to part three of today's tennis podcast david's still got the koala hat on yeah can i be sensational
22:50that's your first submission it's pretty strong it is strong it was the clubhouse leader for a long time until we met Fred. Who did he be? Potentially everybody. He bought us beers.
23:11Ambled up to his two beers in hand and said, Matt and Catherine, we said, yep. He said, I'm here to make a play for Sensation of the Day.
23:26But it did lead to some good aggro, so, you know, I can't be complaining, can I? We actually have, we've had, we're on a good run with aggro. Yeah, thanks to Putin's saver. Did you have a moment there of forgetting Putin's saver? You looked at me blankly. No, I actually thought you were going to say something else when you said, yeah, we've had, I thought you were going to say, 400 ,000 views on TikTok for our clip.
23:56You're like John from last year. The views. The views. Everybody loves me. Yeah, although maybe they don't. Right. Typically the ones that get that many views, people do not love us.
24:14It takes him a while to impose his game on this surface. And he was also serving badly in that first set. He sort of threw his mum under the bus in his on-court interview and said that he was serving like his mother in the opening set, which was, I'm not sure, entirely necessary.
24:34And suddenly, the old 2015 Wawrinka came out with the final shot of the rally, and he absolutely marmalised this backhand. And I just jumped out of my seat and laughed. Oh, it was so funny.
24:54I have a hot off the press stat now that Rude has won that match against Cilic it means that for the first time at a Grand Slam in the Open era there are no unseeded players in the last 16 of the men's singles
25:19it's actually better than my stat I tried to lure Matt Matt was having a stat crisis and I tried to lure him into doing one that was contingent on Marin Cilic winning so I did see the error of that Matt was like I appreciate your suggestion but I'm fine leave me alone
25:40so we have podcast co-hosts playing a match like you and me, David at the Albert Hall. 2014. I wonder whether that will end in controversy like ours did. It can't, it simply can't be as controversial as ours where you... Cheated? Yeah, you did, didn't you? Kind of, yeah. Yeah. I'd have felt more confident giving you the point if there'd been technology on the lines, like there is here, you know, but there wasn't. There was math there filming is what there was. there is footage. Yeah, but it was close. Release the tape. I'm wearing a protest t-shirt. You are. Yes. In anticipation of what I was about to do.
26:24No, I think I just wanted the crowd to have more entertainment, so I thought, let's extend it. The crowd was my brother and Dave.
26:38I absolutely share your frustration at the lack of good matches today. I just want drama, Matt. I know you live for the drama. When's the drama going to come? I know. Brings down my rinker back.
26:56Absolute shellacking, David. Yes. And at this point, I think I'm going to have to hold my hand up. and say that my call on Daniel Medvedev is in the not avoiding humiliation territory.
27:16And his words were, it's fun because neither of us can hit a winner. Well, my God, he must have been shocked by what he found out there today. I think he was, yeah. Yeah, life comes at you fast. because the winners were flying past him.
27:38Coffee from a robot? Yeah, there's a robotic barista in the Rod Laver arena and it was a... I mean, I could do a whole podcast on this if you like. It was a really... I've been to the future today, folks.
28:00She won the first 10 points of the second set. The words golden set were mentioned by one of us and she, of course, lost the next point. It was you, wasn't it? It was. I went way too early on.
28:16Eva Jovic, who delivered the biggest beatdown of the day. Guys, 6-love, 6-1, 53 minutes, It's the shortest match of the women's draws so far. Yulia Putinsaver is thoroughly danced out of the Australian Open.
28:38Second up, not before 2pm, Lorenzo Musetti is Taylor Fritz, while Djokovic has his feet up. Might be having a massage, might be having a nice long bath, might be catching up with the traitors. He's got three days to play with. Might be. Doesn't he like a hug freeze? Yeah, he's not watching the traitors, is he? He's got a specific tree here in the botanical barn that he goes to hug.
29:06Which leaves just one singles match on the John Kane Arena. And unfortunately for Matt, it's Amanda Inisimova against Wong Jin Yu. Are you going to go? Who have I upset at Tennis Australia? The Amanda Inisimova Arena. That's its next name. This scheduling was a personal attack.
29:28To buckle up, folks, that is unequivocally don't leave the house weather. So it's a very good job. We have a comfortable sofa, which is where you find us right now after, frankly, another day that hasn't delivered on the drama that we've been promising. I mean, there's there's a case for leading the show with Roberts against Briggs.
29:55they both when i started filming for content purposes they both immediately tensed up it was really their hearts were beating they got tight my heart was beating fast on the watching the seahawks the pressure of 50 000 instagram followers
30:14not on thursday though i'm going to make a sign we've got we've got big plans for the media Media one-point slam. Big plans to ramp up the pressure on Matt's young shoulders. It's going to be great. And if the tennis in the main Australian Open continues to be crap, then we've got the media one-point slam to talk about on Thursday, folks. That's a banker.
30:41It's a Mandarinism over. She beat Wong Jin Yu 7664 on what the stadium announcer called while we were in there, the People's Arena. Well, Matt Roberts and I are not the people.
31:00Look, that could be the one. That could be an absolute belter. It's a ball-striking joy, that match. And speaking of which, the other quarterfinals... Catherine's not allowing herself to get hyped. Well, look, I am. I've just... I've been burnt before. I've been burnt, yeah, two days in a row. Well, a whole tournament in a row, quite frankly. I never run out of energy for this. You beat the Joanna Garland.
31:32So long as it's three sets, I don't mind. Three sets of anything, please. Or two belting sets. Yeah, I do feel like we're owed some three setters, though. I'm collecting my debts. One day, one day we're just going to have a day full of them. And then it will be four in the morning and we'll be like, oh, it's too late.
31:58This was a weird match. 6-1-6-3, 7-6 for Yannick Sinner, who came out, by the way, in white socks, white shorts and white cap. I think he's taken matters with Nike into his own hands. And I respect that.
32:19To my mind, I think he might have just matured another level by having separated from Ferreira. In which case, my theory, my working theory from pre-tournament is completely wrong, and I'm completely happy to acknowledge that. And maybe the other one will be right. It's very clever to have two completely imposing theories on the go, isn't it? Listen, I'm not going to claim any credit for either one, but I think that they're both possible, and I'm just fascinated to see whether either of them ends up being right.
32:56Having beaten Lerner Tien who gave us a little bit of jeopardy today. Can I hear it for some jeopardy? Woo! Just a little bit. When was the last five set match? When was the last fifth set on the Rod Laver Arena? Well, I know there haven't been any this year. I've got an awful feeling there weren't any last year There was one last year Was it something terrible? It was Medvedev, Kasadit, Samreich in the first round
33:31Maybe there needs to be a private racket smashing area Yes That will be annoying Soundproof room where they can go in and just go Can I go in there? there and scream on days when there are only crap matches.
33:53Pegula against Anisimova. It's a big day for Matt. He's got to get shorts for the one-point slam as well. When's that got to be fitted into the shirt shop? No, but it feels quite important. Matt doesn't have any tennis shorts. I forgot my tennis shorts on this. In fact, I've just been wearing sort of other shorts that aren't specifically tennis shorts. You're not allowed to enter otherwise? No, but it's like, you know, when I win, I need to look good with the trophy. I need to be pleased with my outfit. New Balance, Wilson, Nike. No, not Nike. New Balance, Wilson, Adidas. This is a come and get me plea to kit out the bottom half of Matt Roberts for the media one point slam on Thursday.
34:41There might be a sensation of the day option up for grabs. Yes.
34:50Do we foresee any upsets tomorrow? Upsets would be Rabakina. Well, interesting. She's the favourite, Rabakina. And that... I don't buy that. That took my interest for the newsletter predictions, which you can sign up to. She's not my favourite. No, I don't think she's mine either. Is Eti Djokovic a match? No, that's not happening. The Dud Slam, as we've decided to rename it, because the damp squibs just keep on coming. In hindsight, Flavio Caballi's watery shits in the first match of the tournament were potentially an omen. And in the words of Matt Roberts, during a particularly low moment earlier on this evening.
35:42We used to get washouts that were better than this.
35:49Matt was in such need of a win a couple of hours ago that he went up to the media reception to make inquiries about whether the winner of the Guess the Number of M &Ms in the jar competition had been decided.
36:13if Djokovic can get in the mindset rather than oh I'm going to be humiliated again but actually oh maybe maybe the stars are aligning maybe this is my chance if he can just sort of grab onto something like that and get a bit inspired then maybe he's got some kind of chance
36:35the whole thing is making me anxious I like to know, like to have the information about what's coming. You don't have nearly enough details about this event. I only just learned where it is. I don't know how many are in it. We don't know what the draw is. We don't know who's going to be there. You can't do a workflow. I haven't got a workflow. It's really putting me on edge. It's more my kind of thing. Catherine's bought wristbands. I'm going to re-grip my racket. I've bought shorts. It's going to be a sign. I bought him. What a nightmare. I'm basically going to play, probably going to play one point, shank a forehand, and we're all going to go home.
37:11Matt, if I'm coming, you get a pep talk. That's true. And we get to see David Heckle the opposition. That's the bit I'm most excited about. We don't know how allowed that is yet, but... Oh, I don't care if it's allowed or not. I haven't seen any published rules. We will deal with the consequences of the heckling. Imagine if you got disqualified from the one point slam for your mate on the sidelines. I think your game is there, Matt. What's most important is that you're mentally fresh. Right, yeah, agreed. Because I think, I'm sensing that your main issue here is the mental side of the press. Your biggest opponent is yourself.
37:51Yeah, I agree. Yeah. I agree. I'm pretending to be Bear Henley.
38:02It was Matt's favourite moment of the match. She came alive when the hindrance was called. Jumped out of his seat. Hindrance. I do enjoy a hindrance call. It just adds drama. You don't get it that often. My anecdotal theory that I can't prove, because I'm not sure anyone is nerdy enough to be compiling data on this, but I think hindrance calls are on the rise. The same to me, yeah. There's been a crackdown. It's all that Red Bull they're drinking.
38:35It's like, I think it was Medvedev a few days ago had a funny line in his on-court interview after beating Marijan when he was two sets down. He said, oh, I spotted you courtside, Mats. It was Mats Valander doing the interview. He said, I spotted you courtside at the end of the third set. And I was thinking, God, it's a shame that Mats has chosen to watch one of my really bad matches. And then I realised that actually you were there because you were about to interview Marijan unless I got a move on and mounted a comeback. It was a classic quick from Medvedev.
39:11And this brings me, David, to the media one-point slam. Oh, guys, I flamed out in round one. Of course I did. You had your sign. I had my sign. One side said, the time for talk is over. And one side said, let's go, Senor Lobbets. Yep. A real if you know, you know. Yeah. Well, I got a win in the rock, paper, scissors. And then I had my dilemma. And despite everything that I'd thought I'd learned on the practice court. The days and days of discussion we'd had about this exact scenario. And I was thinking, OK, I'm going to serve. I bottled it in the moment and I let Jill Tan serve.
40:08Jill's reaction, she looked terrified at having to serve. I thought I'd made the right decision. But you know what she was thinking? She was thinking Joanna Garner. She was thinking, yeah, and thinking Matt's nervous. Yeah. He's made me serve. Yeah, I know. I made a right mess of it. Yeah, I just, and like, remember last year when Madison Keyes said, she said, even if I lose this final, I will, I'll, I'll feel good because I know I played the right way. I lost playing the wrong way, which is just, just the worst.
40:52Sinner is a heavy heavy favorite against Djokovic I expect him to win but I am reserving in the back of my mind that Djokovic is a 10-time champion capable of the most extraordinary great things and maybe there's one more left in him welcome to the tennis podcast coming to you from garden square at 2 20 in the morning after a day that has delivered all the drama that we've been desperately craving for the last 12 days and more quite frankly it turns out it was coming it was just all coming on one bonkers day
41:41so in total nine hours 36 minutes of breathless entertainment i feel alive i feel ruined i feel like i need a group therapy session
41:58well i feel i feel okay because i'm like tennis is good after all these days. Like, I told you, tennis is good. That is why we do this.
42:13I still can't fully process what we witnessed. A Serbian journalist asked me to hold his laptop at the end so that he didn't get up on match point and it fly everywhere. That was the sort of scenes that were around us in the press.
42:31He wants it more than the next three slams, Catherine. He wants it more than the other three put together. Catherine put that question to him, and I couldn't believe that he just didn't take a beat before saying, yes, I'd rather win this tournament to be the youngest ever to win the career slam than if I were to win Roland Garris, Wimbledon and the USA, but I'd rather win this one.
42:54Hello, and welcome to the Tennis Podcast coming to you from Melbourne Park on day 14 of the Australian Open, otherwise known as Women's Singles Final Night, a night that belongs to Elena Rabakina.
43:11But now it feels like she's back in that conversation again, obviously, because she's just won. An Australian Open trophy and back in the mix. Big. Big day for Elena Rabakina. Potentially the backhand list. Absolutely. I'm not sure that's what Matt said. I said potentially. Potentially.
43:34We've reached the end of the road. A pretty good run. It was a good run. This has happened way later than I feared. I thought sensation of the day might fizzle out. Yeah, but the problem is nobody's bought us beers today. Maybe that says something. Has anybody had a positive experience with some Australians today? I've met some.
44:01We had Niels Vink completing the career Golden Slam on the Keir Arena. And both times that Vink had lost in the final, it was to Schroeder. And he'd also won the doubles with Guy Sasson yesterday, had Niels Vink. So incredible from him. And he said, I completed tennis afterwards. words, I'm only 23 and I've completed tennis. And he said, I'm going to celebrate the hell out of this. So somewhere in Melbourne right now, Niels Vink is having a good time and that is very well deserved. And we are here processing the history that we have witnessed tonight with Carlos Alcaraz at 22 years of age, becoming the youngest man to ever complete the career Grand Slam
44:54Yeah That Djokovic Backhand around the net Has got to be like Contender for Best shot Not to win a point God I'd be annoyed Oh
45:10Yeah Discipline Maturity Match management These are These are words We used to talk about Cameron Norrie
45:22John Jones last year knew things. I like how he hits the racket and I like the way he focuses. He was ahead of his time as little John Jones.
45:36Yeah, David, I need to ask you about your theories. OK. Now, by my count, you had three Alcaraz theories on the go this tournament. If you have enough, one of them is going to come, right?
45:55Yeah. And he was asked in English about goals. And he... He said, I hate lose. I hate lose. That's my motivation. I hate lose. Yeah. And I've always thought of him more of an I love win sort of guy.
46:13You know what I mean? Yeah, he's got time. and by the way he's just won the same number of Grand Slam singles titles as John McEnroe and that's Philander at the age of 22. Yeah, like we've lost sight of how many seven is. I was so sure for so much of today that the recipient of the final Sensation of the Day award would be John Blom, chair umpire of the men's singles final who, in the second set, I think, after a very vocal call-out from an obnoxious man in the crowd, said, ladies and gentlemen, if you call out during the points, you will be sent out and that will ruin your night. Thank you.
47:06Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic discussion what a ride it has been these past two weeks with them I mean they have ensured that we won't remember the 12 days of duds we will remember this tournament as having been exhilarating and life-affirming and it really wasn't the case for 12 days
47:35so thank you for listening one last time from the australian open 2026 and the media center's creator lounge it's over and out can we have a word for how professional matt is being given that he's got fulham on his screen right now and we're losing yeah it's not over yet I fucking hate Man U. Oh, they've just scored again. They've literally just scored again. Kunja's doing his stupid celebration. Well, that's going on. Please VAR it out. There was absolute VAR nonsense on the first goal as well. Okay. Well, he was professional up until 30 seconds ago. Five years ago, we conceded against Man City live on the pod, and I went, oh, they've scored.
48:26And it's happened again. Yeah, sorry, Matt. It's happened again. Oh, fuck's sake. Look, comebacks do happen. No, not this time. I'm going to have to put an explicit on this now as well. A couple of other bits of business.
From the publisher
With Catherine, David and Matt travelling home from Melbourne, Vicki has put together this compilation of some of the best bits and funniest moments from the podcast over the past couple of weeks. Enjoy!