BONUS - The Tennis Podcast Meets - US Open 2025 Edition

0:10Hello friends and welcome to the Tennis Podcast Meets 2025 US Open Edition. This has been a really fun addition to our friends offering for 2025 doing these interviews on media day or over the couple of days leading up to these Grand Slam tournaments. and getting to know players that we've not previously had the chance to speak to or certainly not in these kind of one-on-one settings. And we're really excited about this show and the interviews that we've been able to do here over the last couple of days at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre. David has spoken to former semi-finalist here, Karolina Mukova.

0:51He's spoken to Arta Rindeknesh, who tried to wriggle out of his grasp, but David wasn't having it so did a walk and talk on the way to the locker room. David and Matt have both spoken to Karen Hashinov. I have spoken to Ivelisse and Fran Jones who, as it happens, will be meeting in round one of the US Open in a couple of days' time. And we start with David's interview with Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime. Enjoy. Felix, lovely to see you on the eve of the US Open, a tournament where you have some happy memories, certainly from a few years ago. When you walked through the gates, do those sort of memories ever come back to you at all?

1:34More or less, to be honest. I don't know. I was trying to think of what I felt coming through the gates, as you said, the first day. The reality is so much goes on in a year, like so much changes. I know during the season, it's kind of about more like you go with the earliest memories that you have. So the last few weeks, few months. But then to remember how I felt last year, the year before into 2021 is tough but it is a tournament that has been good to me in the past all the way back almost 10 years ago in juniors it's kind of the first time I stepped on you know the Grand Slam side so those are good memories for sure and then you know but this year I don't really think about those anymore.

2:12It's relentless isn't it tennis week to week you've always got to start again and and keep pushing and year to year I just wonder I was looking at back at your 2022 season you were six in the world you were you winning davis cup you were semi-finest here now you're 25 you're 27 in the world what what is different now compared to then obviously you're still as ambitious as ever but but what what was different then well you know it's kind of uh first of all to get to get the six in the world wasn't done overnight so me getting back there is not going to be done overnight so that's the first thing uh i'll be i'll be the first happy if it does right but um but it's it was at least from my experience my first experience getting up there it was it was progressive so now at this point in my career it's again it's no different you know it's not because i'm 25 that's all of a sudden i want to you know to want a magic pill and just click my fingers and everything is gonna i'm gonna start winning every match so it's a progression i need to see okay accept where i am and see okay how can i built up and i've been working on that you know this year it's been good you know overall I've been you know doing some good work I've been obviously way more healthy than I was in the last let's say 23 and 24 so that's the first thing that's good and then you know tennis wise I feel like I've had my good moments so it's just to put a lot more of those matches together and to and to be more consistent.

3:37Do you think your best may still be to come in your career? I very much hope so of course I had a great first few years on tour as a teenager and then early in my 20s. It was amazing, but hopefully there's still a lot of good to come. Best of luck. Thank you. Crashing my press conference. Unbelievable.

4:05Frank, congratulations. Absolutely incredible achievement. How does it feel to qualify here for the first time? Yeah, fantastic. you know like I've got a lot of friends here in New York and it feels like home so I'm happy that I managed to do it here on the hard courts and yeah just grateful to have an opportunity to stay out here. You were on the phone on the court can I ask who you're on the phone too? Yeah I just called my mum it's you know they don't get to share these moments with me when they can't travel but they put so much into my career and into me as a person so if I can try and you know involve them in any way I do so yeah it was important to make that phone call.

4:43Was there any thoughts of them coming out here? I wish that they would have come out here but unfortunately yeah dog sitters weren't available and it was a bit too much of a last minute plan but they made it clear that next year they'll be coming. I've got to ask more about the dogs, tell me about the dogs. Yeah we have two growing retrievers and they're the highlight of the family to be honest we make decisions based on them as you can tell so they come first and I'm glad they do. That's very relatable names Barney and Rufus are they friends yeah yeah the brothers yeah big boys um breaking into the top 100 this summer tell me about that achievement what it means to you how how how long it's felt like it's been coming for you yeah it definitely feels like it's been a long time coming but it felt so far away um I I've worked really hard I've had a lot of obstacles you know physical obstacles and it felt like at times I was hitting the same wall but I'm really grateful to have the people around me that have made sure that I keep believing and keep trying new stuff and be innovative with with my my ideas and way of training to keep keep finding solutions.

5:53How differently do you how differently do you feel like you have to train to other people and how how I know you have to make a lot of investments in that side of things as well can you talk us through that yeah i think you know i have to invest more in the expertise um i think you know sometimes you think that means there's there's more complication and deeper thought process but actually it's probably people just encouraging the basics to be better um i think that for me the you know the investment's been worth it of course um i feel like in terms of the training i'm just very much i personally i'm a very meticulous person as it is So my team have to understand how to navigate that and myself and the questions that I'll ask because they're nonstop.

6:38But I feel like for me, you know, I have to keep I have to keep keep trying new things and keep developing the formula that works for me. So it's about self-belief. Like the self-belief is always something that strikes me about you, like aspirational levels of self-belief. Is that something that comes naturally and has always been there or have you had to work on that mentality and that mindset? I think self-belief comes in many forms. I think for me it's key that I back myself because I have so much to manage all the time. It doesn't mean I have more to manage than other people, just different things to manage.

7:20I'd be lying to you if I said that there haven't been moments of self-doubt. I don't think that's ever viable for anyone. but I think it's just how you bounce back from those moments of self-doubt and keep persevering within those moments and finding the little things that add to the confidence. What have been the lowest moments? Is there anything in particular that jumps out? Yeah, the back end of last year, I had three consecutive retirements in events that I really enjoy in South America on the clay where I feel at home as well and that was difficult to swallow and I needed some time to reflect after that.

7:54I took some time off and you know there were there was a lot of questioning for me as to where I wanted to go with my career and if I wanted to go somewhere with it so and ultimately I felt like I hadn't thrown everything at it yet and I said that I'd give it one more year throwing everything at it so I'm very grateful that that's what I've done. What would have been at the end of that year if if this wasn't happening like did you think that far? Did you think about the alternate scenario? yeah yeah of course you know I I considered that if I didn't manage to play full season this year didn't stay fit that um I'd move my career elsewhere I'd pick up a different profession um you know I like to remain um passionate about other subjects as well and I think use my other skill sets so um it was definitely a consideration um but I think you know I'm all or nothing so definitely this year it was it was key for me to to go all and give myself the opportunity what other career could you have seen yourself doing i love politics i love law i love um i just love like entrepreneurship as well so uh tons of passions to explore yeah and a lot of time after after tennis is done you said um in your press conference you wanted to prove you're not just a clay court specialist, do you thrive on having a point to prove?

9:18Is that sort of a personality trait of yours? I mean, I can see how it looks that way. But no, you know, it's not a direct thought process of mine. It's more just a consequence of the hard work. And I think those things speak for themselves. I try and make sure that's the case. You goal-orientated? Yes, results-driven. What's the next goal?

9:44Honestly, I don't think I have one for this year because the goal was to end the top 100 and I'm at that point at this stage. So I actually just want to give myself the freedom to play for the end of the year. That's the main goal. Just wanted to ask about the... Tour can be a lonely place. I wanted to ask about the camaraderie and what you've got from being part of the Billie Jean King Cup set-up and friendships and that sense of camaraderie and how big that is for tour life. I mean, ultimately, it's Emma and I that share that camaraderie. So I'm very grateful to have that friendship with her.

10:19And, you know, we get each other through some tough moments. And, yeah, the opportunity to share the team with her is kind of what built the pillars of that relationship at the start, but certainly not something that we depend on now. So, yeah, I mean, of course, our friendship is important. That said, you know, I have quite a few on tour where I feel I've got people that have got my back. and yeah, it definitely changes your perspective on tour but I think that comes off the back of just also remembering that we're human beings and just on court is on court and everyone knows that I'll fight my arse off if I have to but off court you've just got to remember that you're a human.

10:56Why Emma? Why do you connect so well with Emma? I think we share a lot of different interests in tennis. We like to explore these interests together and I think there's an understanding of my personal values from her that know that she knows I've got her back and that's difficult in her situation to find. Fran, best of luck for the first round we'll be watching. Wishing you well. Thank you very much. So Eva, I think your third time playing the US Open, but your first time direct entry into the main draw, I guess one of a lot of firsts, right, this year after what happened in Australia. Do you feel like you've had an opportunity to properly process everything that's changed, I guess, in your life over the last few months?

11:40I mean it's interesting because as soon as I process the change that has happened a new change is coming. So definitely took me a while, it's still taking me a while to adjust to the new changes but so far I'm enjoying my ride. Definitely a couple of challenges I haven't had in the past years but again I'm really happy how this year has turned out for me and I'm really excited for the next tournaments. What are these challenges? I feel like you're facing different players. I've faced a lot of top 10s this year and I feel like the first matches were pretty tough because you've never faced a top 10 or you're nervous and you were always looking up to them.

12:18So for me to get through the barrier of actually competing and believing in myself that I can beat them has definitely been a change and I feel like I'm getting closer. I'm feeling pretty good on court. I know I'm a dangerous player for everyone right now and I feel like my game also developed throughout the months just because I'm gaining the experience, I'm playing the tournaments I've never played before, which is amazing. But also at first, you're always adjusting, you're always trying to take the experience in. And yeah, definitely had some tough months, but also very, very exciting ones.

12:52I was in your press conference in Paris when you talked about the diagnosis you received in 2020, the spondyloarthritis and the physical challenges and the journey you've been on with learning about how to manage that. I was just, I've been wondering about the emotional process with all of that, what it was like as an 18-year-old athlete to receive a chronic diagnosis, something that there's no fix for, something you just have to live with and learn about. I mean, the past years have definitely been challenging, especially the first ones, because I couldn't really figure out what or how my body is reacting either to the new medication, to tough matches, to tough schedules and I've definitely had some tough moments when it came to my immune system because I was getting sick a lot or when it came to flare-ups and I didn't know what to do so definitely have an amazing team around me, had great doctors, I mean my coach, my physios, I feel like this is really a good running system but there's a lot behind it maybe a lot that people also don't know but yeah i feel like in the past five years i've definitely figured out a way for me that makes my body be stable and feeling good i mean this is the first time i got into top 100 so i definitely feel like a professional athlete i know i can play i know i can definitely get into the tough matches worked a lot physically but i also have to accept that i have times where i cannot do that and I have to maybe stay a little bit more put, not play practice as much, which sometimes happens during tournament phases, which is very devastating and heartbreaking, but also something I cannot change.

14:37I mean my way of accepting is maybe laughing about it with it. So, but yeah, I mean for example last week was a tough one, just pulling out of the tournament, not an easy decision had a great draw felt amazing on court but not physically and if I keep on playing when I physically don't feel great it might take me out for a longer time so this is the moment where I have to adjust. How hard is that emotionally like 18 years old 23 years old you're supposed to feel like bulletproof right like you're gonna live forever like that's weird thing to learn at such a young age? 100 % I really I think because I'm surrounded by so many amazing people I never had the feeling that I was weak I feel like that's important and I also just wanted to show other people hey even if you have it you can live with it you can play with it you can become whatever you want and yeah again I'm very lucky that I have a great team around me that helps me physically but also mentally so every time I had a tough phase I was down I had someone to talk to and it's still happening now I mean sometimes I deal with it great um but then there are times where I do have a hard time and it kind of it doesn't feel nice especially when you see everyone else practicing hard and you want to practice hard where you can't do that so um yeah it's challenging but I'm I'm a person that figuring out I'm I'm figuring out everything somehow and I'll figure out that as well but definitely ups and downs with it I actually You spoke to your first round opponent yesterday, Fran Jones, and she's obviously very different, but she has her own physical challenges and she's learned to manage all of that.

16:17But I also got the impression from her that it's made her more resilient and helped her mentally. Do you feel the same? A hundred percent. I mean, only the person that's dealing with it knows how tough it was for them to get where they are right now. And for all the challenges I've faced, I can say that I'm pretty proud of myself, too. be where I am right now and yeah, it's been a tough run, but I feel stronger. I feel like I'm mentally also definitely grown a lot because of that and yeah, just dealing with it shows you that you also have to kind of appreciate life next to it, that not everything's about tennis and it's funny because I definitely appreciate everything more when I'm not having a good time because I'm like, oh look, two months ago everything was fine and I was not happy standing on court and now I wish I would so yeah I definitely agree with her just finally I wanted to ask about your social media post your insta post calling out the the disparity in prize money in Cincinnati which is obviously not uncommon on tour what what is kind of uncommon is to see people call it see players call it out in the way that you did does does that confuse you Are you confused about why more players don't speak out?

17:34That's a good question. I wouldn't say it confuses me. I do feel like everyone makes their own decision to speak about stuff, so I would never force anyone to speak about anything. But for me, I was always a person that wanted to get loud about anything where I don't feel like it's right, where I feel like I have to fight for my rights. And this is definitely how especially my mom taught me. but yeah I feel I feel bad when I don't speak out so I'm not only doing it for myself but maybe also for everyone who doesn't want to speak out or can't speak out or I don't know if I can help maybe one person with it then definitely trying to do it and I feel like the way to change something is being loud.

18:17You said that your follow-up post was about the number of men that were triggered by that like I'm imagining the mentions and DMs were pretty bad like do you think that puts other players off from from speaking out the amount of bandwidth that that takes up a hundred percent because obviously it gets a big topic and then you obviously get confronted maybe with questions you're not feel comfortable of answering and it's just it's maybe one thing to post about it but we both know that the topic is way bigger than just one post and way deeper and a lot of people that are i don't know maybe not educating themselves a lot enough are asking stupid questions like there are so many questions that I don't even want to repeat that I've had in my DMs and it's just people that I mean I don't know feel offended by it but I feel like exactly that's the point what I'm trying to make that not everything in this world is maybe going right and if that's right I feel like I can change a little bit or speak up about it I definitely do.

19:21Does it motivate you extra to have success on the court more success you have bigger bigger platform more people will hear you uh definitely um i would say i wouldn't say that i'm success driven at the end of the day when i go on court i just do what i love and everything else comes with it but i also know that um if you're a tennis player you're not only playing tennis there comes a lot of different stuff with it and i know that a lot of other players have to fight a lot for um for for their rights and they don't have a platform like me and this is why I always said even when I didn't have the platform as soon as I have it I want to use it for yeah topics I feel like I have to talk about I want to talk about and that's what I'm trying to do it's great to see keep it up thanks best of luck thank you thanks hi Karen last time we saw you having to retire in Cincinnati just checking how you are physically coming in here?

20:17Look, I had four days off after this match, so we tried to let the body recover after three weeks in a row. I didn't rest one day since Toronto. So, yeah, look, I started to practice on Monday. To be honest, so far, finger crossed. I feel well. Those days, trying to play against, already yesterday against Rublev, today against Alcaraz, you know, with a high intensity playing points. So, so far it's okay, nothing is bothering, but, you know, we need to see how it's going to be when we play, you know, the match and with the heat conditions, let's say, with the best of five. So we'll see, we'll see.

21:01But so far it's way better. Thank you. You've had this really good summer with Wimbledon and Canada. You're back in the top 10 now for the first time in quite a while. Is this the best you've felt about your tennis in a long time? Well, look, it's a theoretical question. We can always, I don't know what is my best, you know. In a way, you know, in 2023 I had a great season also, you know, until the injury occurred me at the French Open. And I actually, at that time, I came back to top 10 after five years when the first time I reached it in 2019. So, you know, I had two semifinals in the Grand Slam, quarterfinals another one so I had a few quarterfinals in the Masters so I had really really good results then the injury occurred you know I was out for three and a half months and then you can finish the season still in top 15 but you know now I'm happy that I'm able to to play again this level of tennis this is these are the goals that I set up for myself so you know I'm happy to see that I'm able and managing to to do it and to show it basically and prove it to myself not to anybody else do you think karen that your your best could still be to come i mean you've been on the circuit now for a long time you've had some really good results but you've played some really good tennis this year do you do you feel maybe maybe something even bigger might be in your future i wish i wish and i really think it can be i believe strongly in myself in abilities but you know also the question would be the physical you know physical i mean in a way with this injury you know with this a few pains you know since 2023 coming back and forward you know here and there so it's a whole package you know everything has to work perfectly you know to to play the high level of tennis and to achieve the highest goals you know so we will see we will see only time will show you know i cannot guarantee anything i just can I can, let's say, hope and believe that I can do it.

23:08But then I need to really show and do it. We've seen some players of your age, your generation, have a bit of a dip recently. You've always been super consistent. Do you think that consistency is a little bit underrated? What are the keys to it? I don't know if it's underrated or not. It's not for me to decide or to judge. I would say, yeah, in a way that I was, I am, let's say, consistent with certain levels, with the results, you know, but then maybe at one point, like I said, during those five years, I was missing this extra push to be, you know, to have a little bit bigger results in a bigger tournament to actually be top 10 and where I want to be.

23:51So then, you know, this happened in the second part of the 2022 and then the whole season in 2023, where I came back to top 10. And then, you know, 24, again, I started on a better note. Then, you know, the middle part, you know, was like a little bit here and there, not so good. And then end of the season was again strong, you know, where again I kind of got inspired and say, okay, this is a level I want to play and this is what I can do. So then, you know, beginning of this season, again, it was a little bit rusty, you know, after preseason, which I put a good work. and from clay I started to kind of waking up again until now.

24:31And, you know, you've obviously been around now for seven, eight years at the top of the sport. We've seen, we've heard some players kind of compare the level from maybe 2018 to now. Like Sitsapas, for example, has talked about how he thinks it's generally higher now on the tour. What would be your assessment of that? I think now everybody plays good tennis, everybody hits the ball well, you know, really the in general the average level I would say is higher. Also I think about myself that it's always tough to compare with the results, with the, you know, I think it's more about the feeling and I feel like now I'm a better player overall.

25:12So, you know, I'm more improved, better understanding myself, even better mentally. I was always trying to be tough mentally, and I was always fighting, never giving up. But now I know more things about what is the mental part. It's way bigger than just not giving up and fighting. It's really knowing your emotions, your feelings, your thoughts, how to control them. And this all takes time and takes also experience and maturity. So I would say if I speak overall, I'm a better player now. Is part of that a challenge of belief against the best players in the biggest moments? Because I was watching when you beat Alexandre Zverev, and obviously you've had a number of matches with him, and this was a big moment for you.

25:59In your head, did that feel a big deal to try to get over the line against him? I would say so, definitely. Look, all these matches against top guys, it's a kind of a big challenge, you know. because okay, to beat a high level player you need to show a really good level because sometimes, of course, with the other guys it can happen that they play high level, you are not, but then at one point if you increase and you push, you know that maybe it's going to be enough. But then with the guys who are in top, you need to play really flat like this all the time or even increase in the tough moments.

26:34So that's why this was a good reference for me, to show that I'm playing this level. So definitely, it's one of the matches, yeah. Just one final one from me. The US Open, all the Grand Sams, they're very different to one another. The atmosphere, the kind of conditions. Do you like this place? Yeah, definitely. It's different, you know. US Open is always with the crowd, its atmosphere, it's very electric, you know. and I think, yeah, I had a good run, a good memory since 2022 when I reached the semi-finals, you know, so definitely, you know, this stays. Also, I had some early losses and early exits, you know, here, but, you know, it's part of the journey.

27:16I don't compare. Sometimes you remember better moments than negative ones, you know. Lovely to talk to you. Thanks for your time. Thank you, guys. Artur, I wonder what your thoughts are of the US Open generally as a place, as a tournament, as a sort of city compared to the others that you would normally play on or the other Grand Slams? Well, of course, it's a lot more crazier than probably than Paris or even Wimbledon, for sure. The city, I mean, we all know New York and Manhattan. It's great to be here. You know, a lot of excitement all around the tournament. so it's just great for a player to be here it's one of the best four tournaments in the world so just very happy to play one more year here I just wonder, you've hit the age of 30 now but you've had some fantastic results this year where do you feel like you are in your career?

28:18Are you playing as well as you've ever played? I don't know if I can say that I probably had my best wins, single wins I beat my first two top 10 in the world, which is a great achievement, of course. But yeah, looking forward to this tournament, really motivated, really want to play some tennis, really enjoying playing tennis. You know, I had a tough first part of the year where some stuff in my head were not really going straight and I wasn't enjoying as much the, you know, the sport on court. So now I'm finding the rhythm again back on court, being able to just enjoy these moments, hitting the ball.

29:07And I just want to play tennis every week now. What does that mean, things that weren't quite right or straight in your head that are now? I don't know. If we all go through these times during our career, I think so. A lot of people are talking about mental aspects lately, these past years, and I was probably right into it. I had to find new goals, new reasons. I'm really someone that I've always played tennis for the passion of it, for the love of tennis. and this passion and this love was a little bit smaller or shorter lately and as soon as I don't have as much passion about it, then I'm not the same.

30:03I don't play tennis for the fame of it. I don't play tennis for the money of it. I don't play tennis for social media or anything else than just love of tennis. I love this game and it's always been the case. And this love was a little bit, like I said, a little bit more tiny. So I wasn't enjoying my time as much and that was the main issue for me. As soon as I don't feel like I want to be at this tournament and I would prefer to be home or with some of my family or my wife, then it's not the best way for me to compete and get the best results out of my tennis. So I was battling a bit through these little tough times, but that's how it is and it's part of it.

30:55And now it's been good for the last few months, so I'm really happy about it. I imagine that win that you had over Alexander Zverev at Wimbledon was kind of like the exclamation mark for that, the underlying that you were where you wanted to be? Yeah, of course. It's probably the best memories that I've had on court so far in my career. Playing, first of all, on the centre of Wimbledon is huge for me. Being able to win the match even more and against a player like Zverev, that is a guy that I really respect and look to when I'm outside the court and look at the TV. I'm watching a lot of his matches and he's a great example of longevity in tennis he's been top 5 for whatever, maybe, I don't know how long 10 years, I don't even know now it's been a long time so really, really, really amazing player and being able to beat him especially in 5 sets on centre court of Rimbledon he was something amazing and I can complain about that for sure Just one final question Arthur in in this the way you describe how you want to feel as a tennis player the way you want to feel motivated you want to feel excited I imagine to me that comes across when I watch you on the court there are moments when you celebrate that everybody celebrates you seem to you'll you'll run around the court you'll you'll almost dance around the court in celebration is is that what you're looking for in I mean obviously you want wins you want ranking and all the rest of it but is that what what this is all about, really, in terms of excitement?

32:34At the end of the day, we play tennis for what we live on court. The emotions, the moments. Like I said, this match in Wimbledon was something I'll keep with me forever. I will be retired after my career and I will just think about it or re-watch some videos or some pictures of the match, then I'll be okay. That was probably one of my top moments in my career. That's what we play for at the end of the day, to live great, just to have great emotions, share it with your close ones, and just do something that you like and enjoy. I hope you have many more. Thank you very much. Thank you. Good luck.

33:23Thank you. Thank you for the time.

33:28Caroline, lovely to meet you for the first time and great to see you here at a tournament that you've had such good experiences at in the past. When you walk through the gates here, do they come back? Thank you very much for having me. Yeah, I kind of always liked New York. Even in the past, I think it's my, I would call it a signature slam, because it's the first time I qualified for a slam and I made, I would call it, And it was like really the first year that I played and made a third round was like a kind of breakthrough tournament for me. And I enjoy New York so much, even like outside of the tennis, you know, the Manhattan.

34:08And I like the energy it gives me. And yeah, did you mention last two years I played some good tennis here and I feel nice on these courts and around here. So probably it's, yeah, it always brings it back a bit. And the memories you have here, obviously two semifinals in back-to-back years, so close to a final. When you think back to them, do you have moments of, oh, I wish I'd just won that one point or two points, or is it a different approach because you've still got another event or the future US Opens to come? Yeah, I mean, probably right after the match. yeah I thought especially last year I played pretty good so maybe there I was I wouldn't use the word regret I kind of never regret the results I mean I could have regret every single match I think in tennis it's you know one point can switch the whole match and I know that happens in tennis and and I think it last year it slipped a little bit through my fingers but that happens and I was So overall pretty happy with the way I played and obviously still fighting for the dream to win a Slam.