Aus Open Draws - Winners, losers, picks and shocks

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1:26Matt Roberts: Well, 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. We are currently situated in the Creator Lounge inside the Media Centre, which we're not entirely sure we're qualified to be in. I'm hoping we're all feeling creative today.

1:51David Law: I feel particularly creative.

1:52Matt Roberts: Creative and sort of vaguely Gen Z. Might be relying on you for that, Matt.

1:57Catherine Whitaker: I feel less that. I'm feeling pressure to create.

2:01Matt Roberts: You're a Zillennial, aren't you? You're right on the cusp. But I feel you're more spiritually millennial.

2:07Catherine Whitaker: I think that's fair.

2:08Matt Roberts: But anyway, for today only, we are content creators. Matt, let's cut straight to it. Marks out a 10 for the Australian Open 2026 draw.

2:22Catherine Whitaker: I would say 10 for effort. You know, they saw what they did last year, putting it on the steps outside the second court here. And I think they elevated a little bit or attempted to elevate anyway by making it in an even more public setting. And we had crowd there gathered around and it was nice. It was a really good effort. It was what I want to see. You know, they'd advertise this draw in advance. They put the stream up in advance. they made a thing of it, which is all I really ask. I 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.

3:08Matt Roberts: I'm having feces, gating flashbacks here.

3:10Catherine Whitaker: 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. But my sources are telling me the broadcast stream of it could have been better they kept cutting away from the actual draw and it was quite hard to follow um so that's disappointing but overall i think we come out at an eight out of ten there if you put effort and execution together which is where we were with the one point slam last night um eight out of ten is good i had a good time i enjoyed draw day i i get the feeling that

3:46Matt Roberts: david might go higher than an eight out of ten but then i also get the feeling david that you're your bar is slightly lower than Matt's.

3:53Catherine Whitaker: And also he might not have thought about it in such a sort of forensic way.

3:58David Law: No, we come at it in different ways. And also I have different sight lines to you because I'm six foot seven. So I could see over those things that were in your way.

4:08Matt Roberts: Matt was like, we've got to move. We've got to move.

4:10Catherine Whitaker: Well, I noticed.

4:11Matt Roberts: David was like, it's OK, I can read it out for you.

4:12Catherine Whitaker: Matt was like, no, we've got to move. It was so quickly a problem. I couldn't see a quarter of the draw.

4:18David Law: Suddenly everything was very stressed in our row. But, you know, to me, they created a feeling of everyone's invited. Anybody who wanted to see the draw could surround the room that we were in, I mean, or the sectioned-off area that we were in, and it was undercover, sort of this shade, and they think of those things here. And this time it wasn't sort of sectioned off from the public in a way that they're behind a rope, you know. Yeah. I just thought this is a, I mean, the draw is a dramatic thing that shapes the whole tournament and tells, gives anybody who wanted to be there who'd got a grounds pass today and it's easy to get in this place today.

5:00David Law: Could feel part of it, I thought. So, you know, job done for me.

5:05Matt Roberts: Yeah, I, again, like I'm coming at it from a less forensic angle. It's OK, everyone is.

5:13Catherine Whitaker: You're the normal one here.

5:14Matt Roberts: I just really enjoyed the vibe of it. Like, again, it annoyed me slightly less than you, but obviously not being able to actually see the content of the draw was a problem. But I really enjoyed the vibe and they clearly get draws.

5:31Catherine Whitaker: Absolutely. Which we support.

5:34Matt Roberts: And I had a nice time. I did miss the marching band. if any powers that be are listening, either here in this creator lounge or at a later date. I just thought the marching band was great last year.

5:52David Law: It is very cool that Yannick Sinner walked from the player lounge and it's all the way through the public area, through the crowds, with the trophy in his hands and just walks onto the stage to talk to everybody.

6:07Matt Roberts: And it would have been Madison Keys too, except she's in Adelaide. And they do, I think that's just a known thing here, the defending champions appear at the draw. I remember in 2012 or 2013, I had a very minor role here in helping organise the draw backstage. And I think it was the defending, it was Lina defending. Anyway, no, it was Kim Clijsters. Kim Klysis was defending champion and whoever it would have been, Nadal, something like that. And they came. Djokovic. Djokovic is a safe bet, isn't it? Now you're just naming tennis players. They both came. I was like, that's really cool. And then another year I was involved as well and they did it in the city and the defending champions arrived by boat or barge even, perhaps, with the trophies and everything.

7:00Matt Roberts: and that was really cool. That's a thing that they do here and it's great, but it is even greater when they're accompanied by a marching band. Right, the content of the draw. Matt, what are the headlines?

7:15Catherine Whitaker: Well, if we start with the women's draw, that was how they started and I think quite a balanced draw, I would say. Personally, I wanted to see Sabalenka and Goff come out in the same half. So I was pleased about that. Why? Because that's happened. Because it's such a fascinating matchup for me. You know, we've seen what Coco Goff has done to Arena Sabalenka in a couple of Grand Slam finals. I want to see it again, you know. And, OK, they could well have met in the final if they were on opposite halves. but anything to just slightly increase the probability of that, I'm here for. Not that Goff-Sviontek isn't really interesting as well.

8:02Catherine Whitaker: You know, it absolutely is. That's the absolute beauty of where the women's game is right now. There are so many interesting match-ups, but just a personal taste thing, really. Goff-Sviontek, I'm keen to see it again. And then, of course, that leaves Anissimova in the Sviontek section if they both get to the semifinals. But honestly, that's the big difference, isn't it, between the men's and women's draw? I think I'm looking at the draw big picture for the women and I'm sort of putting Sabalenka through quite confidently, but I'm not really doing it for anyone else. Everyone else, there were potential real tests along the way.

8:43Catherine Whitaker: Because in the men's draw, you do look at it and you think, well, that's good for Alcaraz, that's good for Sinner, that's good for Alcaraz, that's good for Sinner. You have to work quite hard to find something that isn't Alcaraz-Sinna at the end, whereas for the women, you could make a case for so many of them.

8:59Matt Roberts: Yeah, the format of the draw here is that the players other than the seeds are automating it. They just appear and then they draw the seeds. And as you pointed out, Matt, the men's draw without the seeds in looked pretty ropey. But, yeah, sticking with the women's, David, your headlines, your biggest takeaways from this in terms of the tournament and the big contenders, I feel like there's two separate ways of looking at this. Like when I look at a draw, I'm very much less able to process the like projecting everything forward. I'm always looking at fun round ones and the you la la moments. And I think there are a lot of those in both draws, good round one matches.

9:49Matt Roberts: and we will talk about those, but in terms of the impact of the draw on the eventual winners of this tournament and how the latter stages might play out, what are your headlines?

10:02David Law: Yeah, it's interesting. Because of the manner of this draw and because of its execution and it not being that easy to see it in its entirety, I was this time picking out those first-round bangers or looking out for those more than I was the overall context. And it was only really when I came back into the media centre, put them up there on the screen and in front of me and properly had a look, you know, that I could really get any sense of what this might all mean for the tournament.

10:32Matt Roberts: A look with glasses on, no less. David has put his glasses on.

10:36David Law: I have just put them on mid-podcast.

10:39Matt Roberts: It's David's version of the business bun.

10:40David Law: I'm very taken aback by the names I've written down because I must have written them down without the glasses on.

10:47Matt Roberts: You did write a lot of them down during a Roger Federer press conference.

10:50David Law: Yeah, I did do that. More on that later, by the way. I've mapped out all the quarterfinals, both draws and the champions. Okay. But look, there are very few shocks in my mind that I've got here, really. I think the one name and I actually put I actually wrote down the name Paulini and scribbled it out in the quarter finals and put Kostjuk in which was interesting to me because I really struggled in that section of the draw that is to have the right to meet Sabalenka David Law underestimating Jasmine Paulini will come as no surprise to anybody and that may well be my mistake again.

11:36Matt Roberts: I put Paulini slash Kostiuk slash Alexandrova on that line.

11:40Catherine Whitaker: I've just written tough draw next to Paulini because, you know, like third round she could have to play Ivo Jovic, who is, you know, started the season well. Feels like a bit of a coming force. And then a potential fourth round against either Alexandrova or Kostiuk, as you say. So that is tough, I think, for Paulini. and that is before she even gets to Sabalenka in the quarters.

12:08David Law: I feel like there's some opportunity for certain young players, and I actually include Kostiuk even though she's been around for a while, mostly I feel form is going to come through and pedigree is going to come through here. But I do look at a player like Mboko, for instance, as somebody who's in that top half, that section of the draw as well and maybe she's about to just break through. I'm not predicting that, but that's one of the things I'm looking forward to witnessing over the course of the tournament.

12:42Matt Roberts: It's an interesting one with Mboko, isn't it? She would be a potential fourth round opponent for Sabalenka. Raducanu is the seeded player that Sabalenka is scheduled to play in round three and then it would be Mboko or Towson in round four. And Mboko is playing awesome tennis. She's just beaten Madison Keyes, but it's the curse of doing well the week before a slam. I think the stage she's at in her career, this is the right decision, even if it costs her here. Going deep in a WCA 500, getting these wins, even if she were to crash out in round one to who she got, Emerson Jones.

13:22Catherine Whitaker: The sensation.

13:23Matt Roberts: She's got a sensation. I still think that's good news. but equally it could be a springboard she could be coming in here without too much time to think about the pressure or talk to many media who are all hyping her up and she just carries on the form

13:41David Law: from Adelaide and on she goes I do feel like if Mboko had not had that wrist injury last summer I'd have been fascinated to see where she would have ended up you know because the form was there and the raw materials of a game are there.

13:57Matt Roberts: Well, she's got some strapping going on. And maybe she's going to be a player that's always got some kind of strapping on the go. Maybe that's not an alarming thing. We don't really have enough data points about her. But yeah, she's in an interesting spot, isn't she, just at this moment?

14:17Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, definitely. And that is an interesting round one against Emerson Jones. You know, like seeing Mboko, who I think for a lot of time in her career will have had the crowd on her side, you know, exciting youngster that obviously really helped her in Canada last year. Like just seeing her in that environment, I think will be interesting. Just speaking of a couple of other people in this section, we mentioned Raducanu. She is getting tough Grand Sam draws really at the moment, isn't she? Like she keeps losing to the biggest names in the sport. if you think last year it was Sabalenka, it was Sviontek, it was Rabakina, here she is probably going to have to face Sabalenka again.

14:55Catherine Whitaker: It doesn't feel like she's quite getting the luck of the draws at the moment.

14:58Matt Roberts: And it's particularly brutal because she's finally seeded. This is the first time she's been seeded at a slam in a while and it's still a bum draw. OK, she's not facing Sabalenka in round two.

15:10Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, it's OK to get there, I would say, if she's fit. and then the other name I would just circle is your gal David, Clara Towson oh yeah well because she's played Sabalenka tough in the past

15:24Matt Roberts: David's done quite a bit of distancing himself from Clara Towson I would say

15:27David Law: look I have yet to see the Clara Towson to beat Jennifer Brady at that French Open when she dashed my dreams of Brady doing what I said she would do and reach the final all those years ago she's had really good results Look, she's the 14th seed. You know, this is a woman who's had results, but it's never really looked as spectacular as it did that day. Maybe a couple of times against Sabalenka, actually. That's it. That's kind of why I raised it. She has a ball strike. You know, there aren't many players. One of the reasons I'm excited about Kostiuk is just, I know she got beaten fairly handily the other day, but some of the time in rallies, it looked like she could handle Sabalenka.

16:12David Law: And Towson looks like that. against her. There's some players that, and for the most part, I'd probably include Raducanu in this, there are some players that look really good until they face Sabalenka. Mukova had this last week. You suddenly run into this player who can just overwhelm you with her game, but there's some players who can stand up to it. Yeah, I've ended up with what looks like quite a a boring quarterfinal line-up in terms of there are very few surprises, but really exciting in terms of the fact that the strength of women's tennis is such that if those all happened, I'd be delighted.

16:51David Law: They'd be mouth-watering.

16:53Matt Roberts: Does that mean you've got Goff and Draver happening in that second quarter?

16:58David Law: Yeah, and actually when you look at Draver I think that's a it's quite a big call because her draw is not pleasant. Donna Vekic, first round I know Vekic is not playing anything like what she has, but you don't really want her in the first round. This is somebody who's reached a Grand Slam semi-final. Maria Sakharie potentially second round, who suddenly looks a bit like that player that was formidable a few years ago, certainly to a level. Diana Yastrzemska's a potential third round opponent, and then maybe Alina Svitolina or a Barber. There's a barnstorm in first round between Krachykova, Barbara Krachikova and Diana Schneider, with the potential winner of that going through to Mita and Alina Svisalina in round three.

17:45David Law: And they're all in Andreeva's last 16 section, aren't they? So that is a tough draw.

17:52Catherine Whitaker: So tough. And she's still going this week as well, as we record. She's just playing a lot to then come into this draw. I think that's a big ask for Mira Andreeva to make it all the way through there. Obviously, with the caveat that, you know, it looks tough on paper and it might not end up being all these players. But there's just so many of them that you feel like she is going to have to beat some good names even to get to the quarterfinals.

18:17David Law: I just end up, I don't know how you two feel about it. I end up coming out on feeling, well, but she's still the best one. And so I think she will end up doing it.

18:28Matt Roberts: Asterisk Krejcikova there. Yes, true. I mean, Krejcikova's top level.

18:32David Law: Is a Wimbledon champion. Yeah. And a French champion. champion so that's fair and you just never know except that i i do not know where krejikova

18:40Matt Roberts: is sort of formal fitness wise really i mean she she played i thought she played well at the united

18:46Catherine Whitaker: cup but had the injury concerns you know it's a classic krejikova experience really um i i'd circle Svitolina from that little section actually fun yeah and just think you know we know typically that her matches against Russian players there is a kind of sort of even extra intensity and you know you've got Schneider in there you've got Andreeva like it could be a lot those matches

19:20Matt Roberts: Schneider played the Gazprom event didn't she what about the section just above it the Coco Goff section potential second round with Venus Williams if Venus can come through Olga Danilovic in round one Karolina Mukova potential fourth round opponent for Goff if Mukova can come through a tricky early couple of rounds Jacqueline Christian round one and most likely Alexandra Ayala in round two that would be great That's a good little section.

19:53David Law: Emma Navarro, potential round three for Mukova in that area. But also on Goff, she might have to face Vondrusova.

20:03Matt Roberts: Or Hayley Baptiste.

20:05David Law: Or Hayley Baptiste. Those two play each other, Baptiste and Vondrusova. And there's Boethes Meniere, who's a very good player. So there's probably going to be some tough contests, and yet I'd still probably expect Goff to win them all.

20:19Matt Roberts: Because the best tennis I've seen Goff play in, well, certainly this year and for a while, is against the best opponent she's played this year and in a while, Iga Svontek. Like, I know it's such a cliche with Goff, but, you know, the biggest threat is herself, right? And the second serve that we saw last night. It's very hard to make Coco Goff predictions. especially as we know she can play not particularly well and still win grand slams

20:50David Law: yeah she lost to Badosa here last year which is not a result I would have anticipated and yet an example of a player with a big game and a big shot who can just make you run out of time and there's there are players like that in this draw but I still expect the pedigree of Goff to win I I think in terms of predictions, you've probably got to go with that.

21:17Matt Roberts: So do we all think we're getting Gough Sabalenka?

21:19Catherine Whitaker: Yeah. Yeah, sitting here right now, I would predict that.

21:23Matt Roberts: What about the other half of the draw, the more open half, I would say? I mean, Matt wouldn't because Amanda and him have some overs in it.

21:34David Law: And I'd say the same.

21:36Matt Roberts: Take it away.

21:38David Law: Yeah, I mean, I...

21:40Catherine Whitaker: Oh, I like what you've got written down there, David. I've just seen it.

21:44David Law: I've got her in the final. Yeah, I mean, it was... It's a good draw, isn't it? And listen, she had a bit of treatment in a match the other day. She lost to Marta Kostyuk. It's difficult to know exactly what you're going to get.

21:57Matt Roberts: Beat Daniel Medvedev, though.

21:59David Law: Yeah, in the one-pointer. But more of him later. But, yeah, Anisimova, I think, once she gets through sort of first rounds and she's got somebody I don't know very well, Simona Walter. I think maybe is how you pronounce the Swiss player's name. Walter. But that's who she got first round. Siniak of a potential second round. She's in a Sophia Kennan. I tell you what, imagine how intense that match is going to be. Sophia Kennan against Peyton Stearns in the first round.

22:34Catherine Whitaker: You've got Tatiana Maria lurking there. We saw what she did to Anissa Mova at Queen's. But I do think that was pretty grass-specific. Yeah, I think so.

22:40David Law: And also I don't think Nisimova is as good as she is now. She looks ready to me to go deep here.

22:51Catherine Whitaker: That's it. I was mostly looking at the first few rounds for Nisimova because I do think she needs to get herself into this season and into this tournament. She's got to get going, I think, and then she can build up the momentum that we saw last year. She is that kind of player, isn't she? I think so. Yeah, I really do. Having said that, though, you know, the sort of quarterfinals semis, I think, could be pretty opponent-specific here, whether we're talking about this as a good draw or not. Because, you know, Jessica Pagulo is her potential quarterfinal opponent. She's never beaten her. She's 0-3.

23:28Catherine Whitaker: And OK, she hasn't played her as she is now. But there's just something about that matchup that she's not enjoyed in the past. And then we saw what Rabatkinner did to her at the WTA finals, you know, and suddenly it felt a bit like the Rabatkinner ball strike was overpowering the Inisimova ball strike. So if Rabatkinner's there in the latter stages, she's playing well and that could be a problem. But I like the early rounds for Anisimova. And then if she were to face, for example, Svjantek, while she showed in the back half of last year with those two wins over her, that she's OK in that matchup.

24:09Catherine Whitaker: So, you know, I think you could make a case either way for the latter stages here, depending on who the opponent is.

24:14Matt Roberts: Both of those would be semifinals, wouldn't they? Either Svjantek or Rabakina for Anisimova would be a semifinal. I've got Svjantek through to the quarters to face. I've written Rabakina slash Bencic in that bottom quarter.

24:32David Law: And understandably so. I've ended up with Rabakina. I find it quite hard to pick against her other than against the very top players. I think Sriantek, I tend to go with her most of the time. And it's interesting. and she's actually in the section, I think, fourth round section with Naomi Osaka, is Fiontech, which at the US Open I was definitely picking Osaka, and I'm not doing that this time. I don't have the same degree of confidence in her that I had last summer.

25:07Matt Roberts: I've written Osaka slash Lees, which would be a fourth round match. Sorry. Second round. Sorry, second round. And sorry, the winner of that would potentially go on to face Svantec in the fourth round. But yeah, Osaka-Lis in the second round.

25:26Catherine Whitaker: Lis not easy against Castella.

25:28Matt Roberts: No, Castella's just a pest, isn't she?

25:32Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, basically.

25:35Matt Roberts: But yeah, I have gone with Svantec. And if I was pressed to pick between Rabakina and Bencic, which I too would pick Rabatkinner, I think the top level. That would be a big test of the new Benchik serve,

25:52Catherine Whitaker: I would suggest against the Rabatkinner return, just thinking about it as a match-up. I think it's a good draw for Svantec early here. I do like her route through to the quarters. David's obviously flagged Asaka, who leaps out. we've mentioned Leeds, but other than that, I do like this for Sviante.

26:19Matt Roberts: Do you think the top section, not quarter, because Anisimova is in it, but the section above Anisimova, the Pegula-Keys section, do you think that is potentially the most open? I realise Madison Keyes is the defending champion and she's not at a bad start to the season, but she did get beaten by Victoria Mboko today. She's not in the form she was in last year. She did win Adelaide before Melbourne. Of course, none of us predicted she would have been in Melbourne.

26:48Catherine Whitaker: In hindsight, the signs were there.

26:49Matt Roberts: In hindsight, the signs were there, and she's not in that form right now. And, look, I am always guilty of underestimating Jessica Bagula. Like, I do think she will reach that quarterfinal to face Madison Keyes, but it feels the most open section to me.

27:08David Law: To meet her in the fourth round?

27:10Matt Roberts: The Keys-Pegula 8th feels to me the most open section if there's going to be a shock.

27:21David Law: I pretty confidently wrote Pegula's name down to face Inissa Nova in the quarter finals.

27:27Matt Roberts: So she would be beating Madison Keys?

27:30David Law: Or at least come in through that section whether she faces her or not. You've got Leila Fernandes in there.

27:36Matt Roberts: But Fernandes has got my fantasy league pick Janice Chen in round one who has not had a good start to the season.

27:44Catherine Whitaker: But that's a fun match. And that's, I was talking to David earlier, and that's kind of the point we made. There's a lot of those sort of round one matches in the women's draw, especially where, like, if you know, you know, there's a lot of fun matches between players like that. Like, they're not going to bring in the real casual fans, but Fernandes Chen, given the way Chen's been rising and Fernandes is such a good watch, like, that's an exciting first round match, I think.

28:08Matt Roberts: Yeah, let's just whiz through a few of those just to mark people's cards for matches to look out for over the first few days. I mean, a lot of them we picked out already, but these are the ones that I've circled. Sabalenka against Sarah Rakitamanja-Rajana. Look, I think Sabalenka is going to win that handily. But take a look at Rakitamanja-Rajana because she is a really talented player. Like she's at the beginning of her curve for sure. but I think the raw materials are there. I watched her play at the United Cup in Perth. I think I've seen her play on the TV before that but I really think she's a talent and it'd just be fun to see her on the big stage, I think.

28:52Matt Roberts: Mboko against Emerson Jones is obviously something to be very excited about. Mboko against a sensation, the sensation.

29:00David Law: And she's the sensation because you literally called that on the front cover of Vogue.

29:06Matt Roberts: On the front cover of Australian Vogue. I mean, Australia was very excited about this girl. And look, she's a junior world number one. She's extremely talented. I commentated on her in round one last year and she got taken to school by Elena Rabachner. It was adult against child. It was a total mismatch. And she is small, Emerson Jones. Like, that is just something she's going to have to contend with. It doesn't mean she can't have success. And she's definitely got something about her. And without question, she seems to come a long way in 12 months. But my goodness me, are Australia excited about this kid?

29:54David Law: Is that a bit early, to be going on the front cover of a magazine of that type?

29:59Matt Roberts: I was shocked to see her on the cover. I don't know. Magazines aren't what they were, are they? But Vogue still carries a real cachet. I was surprised to see her on the front cover of Vogue. I was surprised that she was getting publicity that mainstream. I understand why the tennis world in Australia is very excited about her. She's junior world number one. That's a big deal. in Great Britain we'd be getting very excited if we had a prospect that promising but outside of

30:37David Law: the tennis world is it cool I mean it's pretty cool on one hand you could say it's tennis is getting off the tennis sports pages and suddenly it's on the front cover of Vogue and and if she's enjoying it then great but it also does set her up in a way for for pressure I suppose it more so coming into an event like this?

31:00Matt Roberts: Yeah, because the world is how it is. I mean, look at... Yeah. Of course, if she fails to fulfil her talent, the narrative will be probably forever now. Well, you know, too many endorsements, too many appearances on the cover of Australian Vogue. You know, got distracted. Like, we know how it is for women. But I don't think that's a reason for her not to be doing it. yeah I think it's cool I think, how old is she, 17? What 17 year old is turning down the chance to be on the cover of Vogue? Being called a sensation?

31:40Matt Roberts: Amazing Other first rounds that I've picked out this is still the top half of the draw Hayley Baptiste against Marquette Vondroshova assuming Vondroshova's fit that's delicious Karolina Mukhova against Jacqueline Christian I think is cool Barbara Krejcikva against Diana Schneider and of course Donavekic against Mira Andreeva.

32:01Catherine Whitaker: I've got one other star next to Putin's saver Hadash Meyer just for drama.

32:08Matt Roberts: Okay.

32:09Catherine Whitaker: And the winner of that probably plays Kostiuk. It's just an intense section of the draw that I'm into it.

32:15Matt Roberts: Top half, Leila Fernandez and Janice Chen, which we've mentioned. Yelena Ostapenko against Rebecca Shramkova. Sivir Kenan against Peyton Stearns for an intensity off Matt I know you're a big fan of Kai Yuvan so I've circled her against Elena Rabatkin she does hit a nice ball Yuvan

32:34Catherine Whitaker: Yes and you know she's on the comeback she took a break from the sport her father died I've just always liked Kai Yuvan and just want good things for her really she speaks really impressively I think Yeah.

32:51Matt Roberts: Elena Abacna round one is not good. It's not ideal.

32:53Catherine Whitaker: It's not great for my fantasy team.

32:57Matt Roberts: Teresa Valantova against Maya Joint. I'm into that. And we have Belinda Bencic against Katie Bolter. Katie Bolter, far from the player we've seen in the last couple of years, but zero pressure and gets to play as Aussie Katie.

33:16David Law: Tough draw for her, that, isn't it? Yeah. I don't think she's winning that. She was probably hoping to get a bit of momentum going and suddenly you draw the most informed player in the world, pretty much.

33:27Matt Roberts: So Anna Kosteja against Ivelisse. Lyudmila Samsonova against Laura Siegmund. Hate myself for circling that, but there we are. Sonny Cartel against Anna Kalinskaya is the last one that I've circled. That's from the bottom section of the draw. OK, who do we have in the finals and who do we have winning?

33:50Catherine Whitaker: Tabalenka winning for me.

33:52Matt Roberts: Against?

33:54Catherine Whitaker: And it's them over. Although that would be three Grand South final losses in a row and I'm not sure any of us can cope with that.

34:02David Law: Well, we've done our brackets entirely independently and come up with exactly the same result.

34:12David Law: I don't know what that says. It says that we spend a lot of time with each other. But that's exactly what I've got. Sabalenka beating Anisimov in the final.

34:21Matt Roberts: I didn't really get that far because we hadn't actually decided to do brackets. I thought I was being very diligent by writing names on my draw sheet.

34:27David Law: I had no intention of doing this and then I found myself doing it in a Roger Federer press conference.

34:32Matt Roberts: Look, I have Sabalenka in the final for sure and I think probably regardless of who she plays she'll be the favourite. But that was the case in New York and I found myself picking a band run of some over anyway because I find her kind of irresistible.

34:50Catherine Whitaker: And look, I might be going against myself here because I do remember thinking last year, if I see Gough Sabalenka again, I need to remember what that match has looked like. And it's not a case of Sabalenka can't beat Coco Gough. She's got a number of wins against her. But put the pressure of a Grand Slam semi-final on the line and I know again I know Sabalenka's beaten Goff in that situation a couple of years ago but that French Open was so impactful and like has Sabalenka learned and grown from that like that's why I want to see it and right here right now I'm picking Sabalenka to make it through but if we actually get there on the day I might suddenly think god remember what Goff does to Sabalenka and how do you how do you hit through that Sabalenka's got to play a pretty perfect match to win that you know and so that that's what I'm really excited about

35:50Matt Roberts: Amanda Onisimova hasn't played a Grand Slam final as a blonde yet

35:55David Law: What a stat

35:59Matt Roberts: She's staying blonde forever if she wins a slam as a blonde isn't she I would have thought Maybe Matt Roberts will be too We need it to happen here because Amanda Nussmova has very helpfully posted on Instagram.

36:16Catherine Whitaker: Also thanks to Priscilla Hon, who's always involved. Always involved.

36:22Matt Roberts: She posted content from the salon, getting her hair dyed here in Melbourne. So we have a salon.

36:30Catherine Whitaker: It's the most authentic experience possible.

36:34Matt Roberts: Matt could go to the very same salon. It's quite near our apartment. Yeah, Matt's looked it up.

36:40David Law: Is it in our price range?

36:43Matt Roberts: I think we can fork out for... We are... David, we're in a creator lounge. Yeah. We are content creators. Yeah. There is no better content.

36:53David Law: No. Although, you know, I also would be quite amused if you used that one that you bring with you to Evergrande Slam to do it yourself. I actually didn't bring it here. Oh, okay.

37:02Catherine Whitaker: Have to be the salon then. Yeah. Book it. Sunday morning in two weeks' time.

37:10Matt Roberts: Right, OK, that is it for the women's draw and that is it for part one. We'll be back in part two to talk about the men's draw and in part three to talk about Roger Federer, who winked at David Law today.

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41:00Matt Roberts: Welcome back to part two of today's Draw Day Tennis Podcast, where we turn our attention to the men's singles draw at the Australian Open. What are our headlines, David? Could it be a possible Sinkoraz final? No, it isn't on my draw.

41:26David Law: I really wasn't expecting that We should have led the pod with that

41:29Catherine Whitaker: There's your bloody headline Okay well expand

41:34Matt Roberts: Can you tell this wasn't planned for

41:36David Law: I'm genuinely so shook I mean again It was during the Roger Federer press conference I was listening to what he was saying And I did find it very interesting Have you got Grigor Dimitrov in the final

41:48Catherine Whitaker: Because he really talked up Grigor Dimitrov

41:51David Law: In my question to Roger that came up So more of that later. But no, I... Stop looking at me like that. It's a perfectly legitimate... It is, but please tell me. Have you got Flavio Cabali in the film? No, I haven't. Have you got Medvedev? Well, look, to use...

42:08Catherine Whitaker: Is it Medvedev? You said more on him later.

42:10Matt Roberts: To use... Oh, my God, it's Medvedev. Oh, my God.

42:14David Law: He's back. Words from the traitors. Oh, which we all watch.

42:18Matt Roberts: It's the first time we've all watched the traitors in Melbourne together, and it was really special.

42:24Catherine Whitaker: 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.

42:37Matt Roberts: When we were watching the traitors, Matt said, God, the draw's going to have to be bloody good.

42:43David Law: Was it good enough?

42:44Matt Roberts: The traitors was more than an 8 out of 10.

42:46Catherine Whitaker: Oh, the traitors was more than 8 out of 10, yeah.

42:50Matt Roberts: Anyway. Anyway, back to this.

42:53David Law: Well, Daniel, I've written your name, Dan. Oh, my God, what's happening?

43:00Catherine Whitaker: David, you've seen the Medvedev-Alkaraz matchup.

43:04David Law: Yeah.

43:04Catherine Whitaker: Is that going to happen? Do you think Medvedev's taking him out? Yeah, I do. US Open style? Yeah. Yeah. Wow. You've seen enough.

43:13Matt Roberts: You've gone big on Brisbane. I didn't plan this.

43:16David Law: I didn't come into the Australian Open thinking Medvedev's going to be in the final.

43:20Catherine Whitaker: Is this a Medvedev prediction or is it an Alcaraz prediction?

43:25David Law: Both. It's the combination that leads to the conclusion. Because, I mean, look, I just went through the draw and ended up with Medvedev facing Zverev, although I think I'm not that confident Zverev gets there. But overall, I think looking at his draw, I'd still end up with him there. I think Medvedev takes out Zverev because he always tends to beat him when it really matters and ends up playing Alcraz in the semis. And then I think you do get the one-class Ferreira factor coming in. And I think by then Medvedev is playing relentless tennis, just metronomic tennis. And you've got to beat the guy.

44:17David Law: And Alcraz is perfectly equipped and capable of doing it, as you said, we've seen it so many times. But he's never done it here. And look, I know that I said a few weeks ago that I'm picking Svantec and Alcraz to complete the career slam. He's actually picking neither. However, since then, Ferreiro's out. That is a major factor. Shriantech doesn't look convincing really by her standards and Sabalenka looks so convincing so that you know she's not even going to face Sabalenka in my draw because Nisimov will win that match if they face each other but in the end David's been very convinced by what he's seen in Brisbane clearly in the end I've written your name down, Daniel

45:11Catherine Whitaker: to reach the final and then have you got Medvedev losing another Australian Open final yes I have to Sinner I'm going to have to do a Medvedev's near misses AO relived in 10 years time

45:27Matt Roberts: Matt what have you got happening in the top half of the men's draw

45:30Catherine Whitaker: well I'm actually thrilled that David has has said what he said like I'm now I'm really really invested in in whether this ends up happening Personally, I've not seen enough from Medvedev to think that he's got a win over Alcaraz deep in a slam in him right now. I take the point about Alcaraz and Ferreiro and that is an unknown about how much that is going to impact things. it's like for me it's one of those things where maybe this is maybe this is bad analysis but it's one of those things where I'll be probably mentioning it when it happens rather than predicting that it is going to totally throw Alcaraz off I just sort of think his level above the rest of the field is is so high that it I could see it potentially impacting him against Sinner in the final if we're talking about Alcaraz being a level below where he was but But I still think, given what we've seen over the last couple of years and the way he's distanced himself from someone like Medvedev, it would have to be quite a dramatic drop in my mind for Alcaraz to lose that match to Medvedev.

46:42Catherine Whitaker: And I just don't really see that. I know Medvedev did beat him at that US Open, but generally Alcaraz has enjoyed that matchup and the ability to exploit the space that Medvedev leaves. Do you think we're getting that match-up? Do you think that will be the semi? I do, actually. I actually do, yeah.

47:03Matt Roberts: So you've got Medvedev beating Zverev in the second quarter and Alcaraz beating, well, I've put Diminor slash Bublik slash Kabali.

47:11David Law: I've got Diminor finding his way through a very tricky draw. The same for you, Matt? But without much confidence.

47:21Catherine Whitaker: Yes, I think the same for me. I mean, obviously, you say a very tricky draw. Berrettini in the first round.

47:27Matt Roberts: I'm a bit worried about Diminor. which is potentially really silly because he's the guy that delivers he is reliable

47:36David Law: so what's made you feel like that?

47:38Matt Roberts: I think it's I don't think it necessarily suits him being the guy here I think he's found ways to have done very well at handling it and is just a good enough tennis player that that ultimately is what is brought to bear but I don't think a first round draw against Matteo Berrettini is what he needs at all. I think he will be nervous about that. Yeah, I agree with that. You know, this is a place that does road to the title graphics for Thanasy Kokonakis.

48:13Catherine Whitaker: Like, like... Yeah. What is it for Dimonor? Just AI with him holding the trophy.

48:18Matt Roberts: Right, right. Exactly.

48:20David Law: Well, I mean, he's more or less discussed in the same breath as Zinner and Alcaraz here.

48:25Matt Roberts: Yeah. And look, he's an incredible player and he's the sixth seed. If Great Britain had a sixth seed at Wimbledon, the BBC coverage would be talking about him in the same way. It might be a slightly different vibe, but, you know, because of how Brits are. But it'd be the same level of, like, jingoism, I think. but I think Matteo Berrettini in round one is potentially quite a problem for Dominoor. Like he's a better tennis player in the year 2026 but Berrettini shows up for big matches. Like I think Berrettini will look at that draw and go, OK, yeah.

49:10David Law: If he's fully fit.

49:11Matt Roberts: This is what I'm here for, moments.

49:14David Law: Well, we saw his level at the end of last year in that Davis Cup. He was awesome. And we just haven't seen him in singles at big tournaments very often fully fit, not for a long time. So if he is, without the pressure, like you say, Catherine, he can go into Australia, court he likes, no pressure and swing. Yeah, big time.

49:37Matt Roberts: You know, he's the only player that's beaten Carlos Alcaraz in five sets and he did it here at the Australian Open, okay, a few years ago. But, like, I think he'll puff his chest out and rise to that. And I think that's close.

49:52David Law: Five-set classic all over it.

49:54Matt Roberts: Yeah.

49:55Catherine Whitaker: Yeah. He leads the head-to-head, Berrettini, 3-2. And I do remember a match of theirs at Wimbledon a couple of years ago where Berrettini really threw him around and won that handily. I know, obviously, grass, different situation. But I am backing De Menor just to come through.

50:13Matt Roberts: And I get that. He has earned people believing in his reliability.

50:19Catherine Whitaker: yeah and Berrettini did play very well at the end of last season he didn't play anyone in

50:24Matt Roberts: no in Dimonor's class what about new top tenner Alexander Bublik he's you know he's got a tough round one against Jenson Brooksby and Caballi in that section as well speaking of players that

50:37David Law: played well at the end of last season yeah interesting I mean I find Alexander Bublik forever fascinating as a tennis proposition, apart from, you know, he's a bit out there on a number of other levels, but as just a tennis prospect, he's already massively exceeded what I ever thought he would do. I think he's kind of done more than he ever thought he would do too. If you go back a year and he was 80 in the world, he's put it all together and suddenly he's a top 10 player and he's so dangerous. And yet he could come and stuck in the first round because he's that kind of guy. And Kabbali, I'd love to see that match.

51:17David Law: I think that's a really good match on paper. I'd love to see it. That'd be a third round public Kabbali. Super fast baseliner with electric ground strokes against this huge serving, mercurial, unpredictable presence. I want to see that.

51:33Catherine Whitaker: I'd also love to see Kabbali-Dimminor. I think that would be a fun match as well.

51:37Matt Roberts: That would be a quarterfinal.

51:39Catherine Whitaker: No, a fourth round, excuse me.

51:41Matt Roberts: Yeah, it would be that this would be to likely face Alcaraz in the in the quarterfinal and then obviously Medvedev in the semis.

51:49Catherine Whitaker: I was going to say with Bublik, I remember he obviously came in to Wimbledon last year with suddenly people talking about him, bit of hype. And actually we picked up on it in his media day. He was he was different. He was chippy. And I think the pressure was even if he said he wasn't feeling it, you could tell he was a different person and he he lost in round one. Here the situation's a bit different in that I don't think people are talking about him in quite the same way they were at Wimbledon. Because obviously there he'd just beaten Yannick Sinner on grass. But here the thing is he's just got to the top 10 and he's made no secret of how pleased he was.

52:27Catherine Whitaker: He said literally that was his year goal. He's done it already. And sometimes that can just lead to a little bit of a drop off for players when they do accomplish the thing they've been chasing. And, yeah, as David said, he's just, he's very tough to read, Bublik. And I really do find him tricky. Like, I don't, right here, right now, I wouldn't say he plays Alcaraz in the quarterfinals. I don't specifically pick someone to beat him. I just sort of think, kind of cumulatively, I'm not sure I trust him over that many rounds, over five sets.

53:05Matt Roberts: No, I share the same concerns about Bublik. I would be shocked if he has the same season now this year that he had last year. I think psychologically he's quite a similar character to Kyrgios. I don't think he is going to enjoy any kind of target on his back at all. I think he wants to be an outsider, an underdog, a disruptor.

53:30David Law: And actually, I think one of the things that is really tough when you break into the top ten is your ranking kind of does stop going up unless you do incredible things, really incredible things. It's just the nature of the elite level where the air is thinner and there are fewer opportunities. And then you've got to get used to that mentality. And I suspect he might have a few bad ones and start dropping.

53:55Matt Roberts: Just staying with this half for a moment longer and dropping to the second quarter, how confident are we in Zverev, last year's finalist, finalist and third seed making the quarterfinals to face what we all think is is probably going to be Daniel Medvedev.

54:16David Law: Well I'm not that confident because I mean he's due to face Gabriel Diallo in the first round who's as big as him even taller in fact six foot eight huge serve. Diallo isn't in the sort of form that he was a year sort of six months ago um but but he's exactly the type of profile for a tennis player that could cause very real problems because he goes for his shots he he's a huge ball striker he's a huge server he can stay with zverev without too much difficulty on serve if he's playing well and then it can bring nerves and tightness into into matters and you know i i i mean zverev has only played two matches i think so far this year he played an exhibition the other night and something andy roddick mentioned the other day is that he spoke to zverev and that they share a preference for having a lot of matches going into a grand slam proper matches, not Alcaraz, Sinner, exhibition-type things.

55:24David Law: And, well, Zverev hasn't had that. And he also really didn't end the year that well. And he's lost to Joanna Garland. If it gets tight, think of the players that beat Zverev last year, like Rindiknish. I mean, there were 16 of them. But I'm talking about the grand slams. If you think of the players in the last couple of grand slams that beat him, Oshiali Asim and Rindikinesh, people who just went for the shots and found them and got him tight and got him playing passively. I think Diallo, this might be his big chance. I don't know what sort of fitness shape he's in. It could be Alexi Poparin in the second round, who's another big ball striker, but he's in terrible form.

56:11David Law: He hasn't won a match since the US Open. And he also doesn't beat Zverev when they play one another. So it's not a good draw for Zverev, I don't think, in those first couple of rounds. But, you know, he could have Sarundalo in round four or Rublev, players that have had success against him. But I still think on balance, I'd have to put him in the quarterfinals as my expectation. But I don't say that with confidence.

56:40Matt Roberts: But there's also the element for Zverev of knowing how much of a hit his ranking will take if he doesn't get close to defending his final points from last year. It's not a ranking entirely propped up by those final points because there is such a gap between Sinner and Alkraus and everybody else. But it would take a big hit. He would start to tumble.

57:06Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, absolutely. And I see this draw for Zverev as potentially having a cumulative effect. You know, like he's never been a really efficient winner at Grand Slams, just getting the job done straightforwardly. He often ends up with a lot of matches and time on court in his legs. And I think we've seen slams where that has taken its toll on him. And I wouldn't be surprised if that sort of thing happens again, you know, if he ends up facing Medvedev in the quarterfinals. and yet he's had to battle through a couple of long matches already. And even if he were to get through Medvedev, I think that could be a lot.

57:46Catherine Whitaker: And then how much has he got in the tank for Alcoyle? You know, I just think that's been the sort of pattern for Zverev over the years at these Grand Slams. And yeah, there are a lot of dangerous players who could take them out themselves. But I think it's more of a pack effect on Zverev that I see here. I do think Felix at the very bottom, I know we've all written Medvedev through to that quarterfinal. Like, you know, I think since the US Open last year, Orjali Asim's been kind of playing top five tennis. The only thing is a lot of that has been in his favourable conditions, indoors. I'm interested to see whether he can bring it.

58:26Catherine Whitaker: And Medvedev-Orjali Asim is the match here they played a few years ago. I think that's one of the best matches Orjali Asim's ever played. I know he lost it, but he was bloody good that day. And that would be a very intriguing fourth round.

58:41Matt Roberts: There's also Lernotien. Of course, yes. Now, he would have to beat Felix Auger-Liasim in round three. But if he did, it would be a potential fourth round opponent for Medvedev.

58:55Catherine Whitaker: I do want to see that, yeah.

58:58David Law: Just looking at the, let's say Zverev does end up in the quarterfinals. If it's not Medvedev, it could well be Ozilio Sime, who's beaten him twice in a row. It could even be Rindeknes, who beat him twice late last year. I don't think that'll be the case, by the way. I don't think Rindeknes is likely to back up last year.

59:17Matt Roberts: Not even the Rindeknes guy is backing Rindeknes. No, I enjoy watching him, but I don't see him repeating last year. OK, on to the second, the bottom half of the draw. I feel like I need to ask you now, David, have you got Yannick Sinner coming through this? Have you done something insane?

59:41David Law: No. I've got him very much, very, very emphatically in the final.

59:47Matt Roberts: Do you know, he came to that draw ceremony today, brought the Norman Brooks trophy on, had a little chat with Todd Woodbridge and then went on his way. And we were sitting on the second row, you know, just a few metres away. And it struck me even more so today seeing him from up close, the same thing that struck me last night, watching him in the one point slam, even though he faulted to hand the win to Jordan Smith. And from the footage I saw of the exhibition he played in Seoul and all of the associated, you know, lovely content from him and Carlos Alcaraz arriving together on their private jet.

1:00:33Matt Roberts: Like, how much more swagger he has about him than a year ago and before, even though a year ago he was world number one. He's the world number two now. There was actually a really fun clip from last night, a moment from last night, when Yannick Sinner was introduced as the world number one and he immediately turned to Carlos Alcaraz because I think Carlos Alcaraz was distracted and he alerted him like, oh, he's just introduced me as the world number one. It was a great reaction from Alcaraz. I'm sure you've seen it online. If you haven't, look it up. It's fun. But yeah, he's world number two right now.

1:01:11Matt Roberts: He was world number one a year ago. And look, part of this I think is just like, time and comfort levels with being at the top of the game like it's inevitable that you would get more comfortable and assured and confident with your place in the world the more time you spend there but I also think it makes you realize like of course I mean of course but how affected he was by everything that was hanging over him a year ago and we talked about that And at the time and since, didn't we? And yet we also talked about how remarkably well he dealt with it and how unaffected he seemed to be by it. But I think it's incredibly clear.

1:01:57Matt Roberts: Like his body language is so, so different. Yeah, that's really swaggering around now.

1:02:04Catherine Whitaker: that's it I think we mostly talked about how well he was dealing with it from a very pure tennis results perspective you know he was he was dominant during that that period and yet yeah when you see him on on the stage and how relaxed he was and he he has he does have real charisma in those in those settings you know it's different to Al Karaz's but it's absolutely there you can you You can tell that he's a star. And, yeah, he just gives you so much confidence, doesn't he?

1:02:39David Law: He looks happy with where he is in life right now and comfortable in his own skin. Yeah.

1:02:45Matt Roberts: And it's a good draw, isn't it? I know Fonseca's in there, but I'm not sure Fonseca's even going to play, let alone play well, given everything we're hearing about his fitness situation. He's got Hugo Gaston in round one, a potential fourth round with Karen Hashanov or unexpectedly 22nd seed Luciano Darderi. That was my biggest shot from the draw. Who on earth is Luciano Darderi and how is he 22 in the world?

1:03:15David Law: Do you know what would be quite interesting? Just because I can't remember seeing this. You may tell me they've played a million times. but I'd be quite interested to see if he played Pesci Perikar and just tried to... And if Pesci Perikar... He's won multiple matches this year already without breaking serve and just got it into tie breaks and won the tie breaks.

1:03:38Matt Roberts: I predict, David, that he will break serve in round one, Pesci Perikar.

1:03:44David Law: Yeah, he's playing against Sebastian Baez. Who has come out of the year hot.

1:03:50Matt Roberts: He's been incredible. I watched his matches at the United Cup in Perth. He's been absolutely incredible, but he was getting a serve broken a lot. Like that's his, even the best Sebastian Byers, like isn't holding serve very much.

1:04:03David Law: Pesci Pericard and Sinner have never played one another. So I'd just be, you know, he was in bad form a year ago as Pesci Pericard. I saw him lose to Gaumont Fies here. And look, I know we've pointed out his deficiencies on return of serve. He did break the other day in a match he won. It does feel like quite an event. But the fact is his serve is so good now and his volleys are good and all the rest of it that he's getting to so many of these tie-backs. I'd be fascinated to see that. I think that might happen, you know.

1:04:37Matt Roberts: I would be really unfascinated by Pesci Perica. Like Sinem, Pesci Perica. Oh, I'm sure it'd be a terrible match.

1:04:45David Law: I'm not trying to pretend it would be a great match, but I'm talking about threat levels.

1:04:48Matt Roberts: Right. OK, interesting. Yeah.

1:04:50Catherine Whitaker: Like I still think as much as we can rib and Pesci Perica for those return stats, like that serve is a problem for players. And it's, you know, it's the Isna thing. It's the Apelka thing. It is just a test. And there were times when the top players would play Isno. And they'd come through. They'd figure out a way. But he was a more threatening name than a lot of people just because of that singular weapon and how he does test you in tie breaks.

1:05:22Matt Roberts: But then do you remember how worried we were about Alcaraz playing a Pelker in round one in New York?

1:05:29David Law: He's way better than Al Pelker. But I take your point. I mean, he is. I think he is the sort of player whose serve really goes with his physicality. I mean, he's six foot eight, he's a huge guy, and he serves even bigger than that. But it wasn't working for long periods last year in the way that he needed it to. Now, I mean, he's just started the year really strongly.

1:05:55Catherine Whitaker: I have a question for you, Catherine. Would you rather see a fourth round of Yannick Sinner versus Giovanni and Pesci Perikar or Yannick Sinner versus Karin Hakchanov?

1:06:09Matt Roberts: Novelty value, Pesci Perikar maybe. I mean, I like watching Yannick Sinner because I like his tennis, but neither of those. I'm not rushing out for either of those. I'll be browsing other options. Yeah, I mean, like potential quarterfinal opponents for Yannick Sinner. On seedings, it's Ben Shelton. I have massive concerns about his shoulder, particularly in best of five.

1:06:36Catherine Whitaker: I mean, even that matchup. I know Shelton got an early win against Sinner, but Sinner has...

1:06:41Matt Roberts: Oh, I'm talking about Shelton getting there.

1:06:43Catherine Whitaker: Right, OK, yeah. But even in the matchup, Sinner has absolutely dominated that.

1:06:48Matt Roberts: Oh, it hasn't even occurred to me that Sinner's not reaching the final.

1:06:51Catherine Whitaker: No, me neither. Me neither. We spent like 10 minutes talking about Giovanni and Pester Perry car.

1:06:56Matt Roberts: Trying to inject some tension into this half of the draw.

1:06:59David Law: I could imagine on the day that Sinner is certainly in the semifinals, assuming he gets there, that the hardest match that he has faced was Pesci Perikard. Looking at that draw, I could imagine that being the case.

1:07:16Matt Roberts: So who do you think he will face in the semifinals? I've got Djokovic. Who's coming through the third quarter?

1:07:20David Law: I've got Djokovic. And I mean, look, I know that Djokovic has reportedly got a neck problem. And I don't necessarily have confidence that Djokovic physically can make it through that far. But he's also Novak Djokovic, who's won more than anybody else ever has in men's tennis. And he's also, he's got most of the field terrified of him.

1:07:44Matt Roberts: And he's in a section where there's nobody else particularly obvious to go for.

1:07:49Catherine Whitaker: He's in a section where a lot of the other names also have fitness concerns. and I'm backing Novak Djokovic to deal with those fitness concerns the best because we've just seen it so many times. The other two big names in that section being Taylor Fritz, who I don't think is in a acute injury situation, but I think it's there, absolutely. And we saw that he was diminished, really, at the United Cup. He didn't play his best staff. And then we've got Mazzetti, who retired from an exhibition the other day. And that was a new injury. It was the elbow that seemed to be concerning him in Hong Kong. And that wasn't the elbow.

1:08:30Catherine Whitaker: I mean, I know, you know, I'm sure it was mostly a precaution. But I don't know, like you do look at that section and you do sort of think Djokovic should be the most likely one to come through it still.

1:08:43Matt Roberts: Or Hubert Hurkacz.

1:08:46Catherine Whitaker: Well.

1:08:47Matt Roberts: I mean, tough round one. Hubert Hurkacz against Zizou Burgs.

1:08:50Catherine Whitaker: but yeah that's got a star next to it on my draw on the basis of united cup form and obviously continuation of that is by no means a given you gotta you gotta have a couple of eyes on hubert

1:09:04David Law: he has been really surprisingly good considering what what he's had to deal with physically what six seven months out after knee surgery i just think best of five set tennis is gonna is gonna catch up with him quite soon.

1:09:20Catherine Whitaker: You've also got Jakub Mensik in there, who obviously has a win over Novak Djokovic in a big match, you know. OK, not a Grand Slam match, but a Masters 1000 final.

1:09:30Matt Roberts: Stefanos Tsitsipas is in there and we're not even mentioning him.

1:09:34Catherine Whitaker: So many one-handed backhands in that section. Muzeti, Dimitrov, Tsitsipas and Wawrinka are all very close to each other in the draw. They all came out there, the one-handers.

1:09:46Matt Roberts: Let's mock some cards for good round ones. I've circled, maybe I was desperate, but I've circled Tristan's cool hat-ay against Cortan Mute. Right there with you. Just because Mute against a sensation, that should be your vibe.

1:10:05David Law: Yeah, I want to see Mute winding up the locals here. Yeah, that's good stuff.

1:10:11Matt Roberts: I've got Bublik against Brooksby circled. I've got Berrettini, De Menor, obviously, Zverev, Diallo, as David was pointing out. I mean, I agree with everything you've said about Diallo and Zverev, David. And yet, I also know Diallo lost to Andrea Vavisori in singles this week. And I think that's embarrassing.

1:10:34David Law: I don't disagree with that. I just think...

1:10:36Catherine Whitaker: He wasn't the only one.

1:10:38Matt Roberts: No, Raphael Collignon also did. And he's got Mazzetti first round. And somebody else lost him as well. Three singles wins straight above us.

1:10:47David Law: It's like he puts a spell on these opponents. But, I mean, I haven't seen Diallo play for a while. And I don't know what sort of shape he's in, all the rest of it. I just know that when I have watched him, I've thought, crikey, he carries himself with real confidence and looks like he believes he's going to go and beat anybody he plays, whether or not that's realistic or not. He has this self-assured look about him. So, yeah, I hope he brings it. It'll be interesting.

1:11:16Matt Roberts: Arnaldi Rublev, potentially interesting if Arnaldi's fit. He's got a connection to Australia, I think, Arnaldi, hasn't he? Might get a lot of support. Mazzetti Collignon, as I said, Collignon had that breakout run at the US Open, didn't he? And played well in the Davis Cup finals. He's a good player, although, as we said, did lead to Andrea Favassori in singles. We have Dimitrov against Mahatch Who can retire first?

1:11:47Catherine Whitaker: Unfortunately that is That is the first thought I had But he's flying Mahatch

1:11:53Matt Roberts: Didn't Mahatch have a good win today?

1:11:53Catherine Whitaker: He did, he beat Munar Straight set into the semis Okay

1:11:59Matt Roberts: I've done a lacklustre circle Around Mensik, Karenja Buster

1:12:05Catherine Whitaker: You do you Catherine

1:12:07Matt Roberts: I didn't Why have you done that? I was grasping there aren't many circles on the men's draw I think

1:12:15Catherine Whitaker: you know just a match I'm interested in is whether Wawrinko can get a win against Gerrard that would be a moment I was going to say I actually think

1:12:25David Law: whether he gets a win or not he's actually got an opponent who's going to at least let him play not just make life miserable for him if he'd have played Pesci Perikar for instance he just doesn't have any rallies to play and make anybody gasp which against Gerrard he will.

1:12:42Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, yeah. I think that's a good point.

1:12:44David Law: John Kane for that match, do you think? Sure. Yeah, that'd be fine. I think you could put him on... I'm not saying what I want. I wouldn't put him on Rod Laverina. It feels like what they would do. Yeah, I think that is. I think they might put him on the second court. I think he could play there. I think he could play Keir Arena and all of these courts would be a vibe. I think he should go on one of the three main courts. I think Rod Laver would be too big, but one of the other two. I think John Kane.

1:13:12Matt Roberts: Yeah, I think that's a good show. It's kind of the people's, like there was quite a grassroots movement for him to get a wild card, wasn't there? It feels like he would really create an atmos out there.

1:13:22Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, and I just think obviously David's injected great intrigue and life into the men's draw, but that is the kind of moment that we're looking for in the first week, right? A Stan getting a moment, that will power us through the first few days on the men's side.

1:13:38Matt Roberts: Who knows? Nakashima van der Zanschel could provide those vibes too. You just never know. Her catch, Zizou Berg's, I think is a corking first round. That is good. And Ben Shelton against Ugo Ember. I know Ugo Ember has barely won matches recently. I don't really know why. I think his ranking should be way higher than it is. But, you know, that's a handful for Ben Shelton. Ben Shelton's shoulder isn't quite right. He's playing this week, isn't he, Shelton?

1:14:12Catherine Whitaker: And just that section is interesting as well. Like the winner of that could face Gael Monfils, who again is a vibe. But then there's also Manorino, like Shelton Manorino. Think how good that's been.

1:14:26Matt Roberts: Yeah, there's Vachero. And then there's Vachero, who I am interested in. This is our first Grand Slam since Shanghai. It's our first Grand Slam paying attention to Vachero.

1:14:37Catherine Whitaker: Qualifier slash lucky loser.

1:14:39David Law: That seems very fitting.

1:14:43Matt Roberts: So, yeah, that's the end of my circling for the men's draw. Any other ones to propose?

1:14:50Catherine Whitaker: I have taught myself and David's helped me. I'm quite into Impessi Perry car buyers now.

1:14:57David Law: I mean, what is the height difference there? You're talking six foot eight against, I mean, what is he?

1:15:04Matt Roberts: Five six, five seven.

1:15:05Catherine Whitaker: Five five, five six. I reckon they'll, I don't think on the ATP, they never call anyone below 5.6, I feel like. I don't think, you know, on the ATP bio, 5.6 is like their small person limit.

1:15:18Matt Roberts: David's looking it up. I am, yeah. While David does that, we'll take a break and we'll be back in part three with the big bombshell height news and with some Roger Federer chat. AI is only as powerful as the platform it's built into. That's why it's no surprise that more than 85 % of the Fortune 500 use the ServiceNow AI platform. While other platforms duct tape tools together, ServiceNow seamlessly unifies people, data, workflows and AI, connecting every corner of your business. And with AI agents working together autonomously, anyone in any department can focus on the work that matters most.

1:15:57Matt Roberts: Learn how ServiceNow puts AI to work for people at servicenow.com.

1:16:05Catherine Whitaker: This episode is brought to you by Gradient FC, the go-to soccer app for player discovery and analysis. If you're somebody who doesn't follow soccer year-round, but suddenly gets pulled into the World Cup conversation every four years like the rest of us, this app is made for you. Gradient FC makes it really easy to figure out who matters, why they matter, and what exactly makes certain players elite. You can explore global player rankings across Europe's top five leagues, filtered by nationality, position, age, and more, and quickly get up to speed before the World Cup takes over sports discourse this summer.

1:16:38Catherine Whitaker: And what's really cool is that Gradient FC's player grades are not just surface-level numbers. They evaluate the context behind over 2 ,000 actions per match with analysis from real expert graders, including former players, coaches, and analysts. So you're getting a much deeper understanding of how players actually impact games with the data that is trusted by scouting departments across Europe. And if you love sports debates, the comparison tools are kind of addictive. You can go head-to-head between players across more than 100 different grades and metrics to actually back up your takes. So whether you're brand new to soccer or already locked in for the World Cup, Gradient FC is the app for you this summer.

1:17:18Catherine Whitaker: Discover and compare players at gradientfc.com or download the Gradient FC app from any app store.

1:17:28Matt Roberts: Welcome back to part three of today's tennis podcast. What is, David, the height difference between Giovanni and Pesci Perikar and Sebastian Byers?

1:17:37David Law: It is a foot and an inch because he's listed at a very generous five foot seven.

1:17:44Catherine Whitaker: It's always generous. I stood next to that guy.

1:17:47David Law: He is one metre seventy and Pesci Perikar is two metres and one, according to this. I think he's a bit taller than that personally. But yes, big chap.

1:18:04Matt Roberts: Can't believe he's bumped Roger Federer down from the lead item in part three. Because Roger Federer came to a press conference today. There was that moment, wasn't there, when the announcement came through. Roger Federer is on his way to the main press conference room. And it was... It was fun. It was really fun. We knew he was coming. We knew he was here. He's going to be playing this exhibition opening ceremony event on Saturday night with Agassi and Hewitt and Pat Rafter and Crowded House. Unclear if they're participating in the tennis element.

1:18:41Catherine Whitaker: Hopefully they're playing bangers, as David said earlier. I love it when David says bangers. Bangers and duffers. Yeah, me too. Duffers.

1:18:50Matt Roberts: Do you think it's going to be just a couple of songs or do you think it's a full set?

1:18:56Catherine Whitaker: well I think there's also potentially somewhere in between I definitely don't think it's a full set you know hour and a half type thing um I can they'll play for an hour yeah okay we'll get the big one but we'll get the biggies okay um so yeah he's playing that on on Saturday and he's here

1:19:15Matt Roberts: you know he's here for the tournament isn't he I assume they're seeing they're paying him you You know, he'll be doing loads of sponsor things. It's his first time back at the Australian Open since retiring. And, of course, he never played, you know, his retirement came out of the blue a little bit. He didn't do any kind of farewell. So, you know, the opening question in this press conference from the moderator, Todd Woodbridge, was this is kind of hello and goodbye all at the same time. That was after he'd walked in and immediately clocked David and winked at him, which was a really, really great moment.

1:19:52Matt Roberts: I always, I really, I bristle and roll 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 you know I'm like oh where's my wink just to be in the orbit of this guy yeah so it was a great little moment

1:20:29David Law: he remembers his pep talks he does

1:20:32Matt Roberts: I can see it in his eye he really does and the other first thing he said was I'm a little bit nervous to be back here facing the media in this way because he hasn't for so long. And it's not a normal thing to do, to sit at a desk in a theatre-style arena with spotlights, dimmed lighting and spotlights, and face a barrage of questions, albeit from people that are going to applaud you out of the room. And people that used to give you pep talks and lifts. It wasn't a barrage, was it? No. but like it's not a normal thing to do it's just something tennis players get used to doing because they're doing it all the time and I kind of believed him that he was a little bit nervous

1:21:18David Law: I mean he handles things so lightly I think that was something Mario Carrillo once said about him the way how lightly he carries his work you know and and walks around the place and and it carries his greatness in that wonderfully light way. And he enjoys a lot of it. He always used to enjoy talking to the media. I don't think that has changed, but I think it's a bit like going on holiday for several weeks and then going back to work. And it all feels a bit clunky and a bit weird. And you just need to get back into the rhythm and routine of it all. And he hasn't done this for years, really, certainly at a tennis tournament.

1:22:02David Law: And he's coming in. he knows there's a lot of attention and and he loves it um but he kind of wants to feel as self-assured as he used to i think in some ways knowing that he's actually got to go out and perform to us and he doesn't want he doesn't want him to be rubbish he wants to be good he wants to make people think oh it's that guy i remember um and and and feel the things they always used to feel and and frankly they do because he is still him but but he's also human i do think he was

1:22:30Matt Roberts: probably a bit anxious just very slightly anxious yeah yeah while also being just spectacularly relaxed and at ease and happy like he was asked a question like is you find it if you found retirement easier or harder than you thought and he was like way easier than i thought like yeah roger federer in being relaxed and happy with life shocker like he's he's so fine isn't Roger Federer he managed to bust the myth that Craig Tidey invented the one point format. He was dollied up a question about whether he liked the one point slam and he was like I was out to dinner so I didn't watch it. Didn't watch it but I've played that before.

1:23:15Matt Roberts: Yeah he said I watched the highlights on he said my phone was blowing up about it so I watched all the highlights on. It sounds like he's a real one for falling down YouTube rabbit holes doesn't it? He said I watched all the highlights when I came back and he was he was like yeah i know how hard the one point format can be i've i've played it lots before i've played it at weddings yeah what sort of weddings is roger federer going to ones

1:23:39David Law: where people go roger federer is here imagine if we could play one point against him oh let's do it

1:23:45Matt Roberts: yeah and where there just happens to be a tennis court yeah those aren't the weddings i'm going to um and uh david the best answer of course if the press conference was to your question oh

1:23:56David Law: I mean it was interesting I was curious to see what you thought I asked him having had the opportunity to be a part of great rivalries and now witnessing one with Sinner and Alcraz do you find yourself imagining what your game would look like against them and what are you seeing? Subtext, because you do Yeah, absolutely, I do. And I quite liked how emphatic he views himself as Alcaraz in the rivalry. And, I mean, he actually ended up naming Dimitrov as the example that made him think like that. Because he was at the Dimitrov Cinematch, where we all remember the traumatic facial expression that he had when Dimitrov got injured.

1:24:55Catherine Whitaker: Like, I thought that was a classic bit of Federer humble brag, talking about watching what Dimitrov was doing to Sinner.

1:25:04David Law: Yeah, I mean, because if he could do that. Yeah, he was kind of like, suddenly I was like,

1:25:08Catherine Whitaker: oh, that's how I would have played in, that's how I would have done.

1:25:12Matt Roberts: That's how I'd have gone two sets of love up on him at Wimbledon. Right.

1:25:15Catherine Whitaker: And then just, you know, clinically went with the third.

1:25:17Matt Roberts: Except I wouldn't have got injured.

1:25:19Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, I really enjoyed that. but you're right he clearly massively respects in his game and is so impressed with what he's doing but he's drawn to Alcaraz because he does see some of himself in him in terms of that instinct to always play tennis on our terms and when to hit the drop shot and all that sort of thing and that I talk about it in terms of these players being able to move on to the ball. And I've said that before, like Federer is the best I've ever seen at that, picking up on a short ball and just taking it early, coming forward. And Alcaraz is also absolutely brilliant at that. And there is a similarity there, a similarity in mindset.

1:26:07Catherine Whitaker: And yeah, like I'm not surprised that Federer is an Alcaraz guy.

1:26:11Matt Roberts: Yeah. And Alcaraz is a Federer guy. Yes. Of course, there's a connection there with Nadal. but like spiritually he's always made it clear that he's a Federer guy really they relate to one another the most and I do just want, maybe this is a real stretch and I don't know how long Federer is scheduled to stay around for but we know that Al Karaz's interactions with Federer at the Labour Cup in 2024 were very impactful on him we know that from the documentary he did and that he was then asked about subsequently and he did expand on the advice that Roger Federer gave him about viewing his career in five year five year sections I do just wonder if given that connection between them Federer being here I'm not

1:27:07Catherine Whitaker: for a moment suggesting he's going to sort of be a beyond the court be a Ferrero surrogate

1:27:13Matt Roberts: but I think the presence of Roger Federer has a positive impact on Carlos Alcaraz and he is here. He's not usually at slams. I don't know. I wonder if that's a thing for Alcaraz.

1:27:27David Law: Well, I definitely think like Federer used to do, they want to impress the great champions. They want to show off a little bit. Look what I can do. Federer used to do it in front of his heroes.

1:27:41Matt Roberts: But I mean, I agree with that point, but I'm thinking more behind the scenes.

1:27:45David Law: Yeah.

1:27:46Matt Roberts: Whether they could have, you know, just a couple of chats.

1:27:49David Law: Well, the other thing is, I think that is true. And I also think Federer was a contemporary of Ferreiro. And I do think that... The new balls please generation. Yeah. Alcruz is going to miss that, I think. First slam of real note without the guy. I think he's a bit like Federer in that he just sort of seems to sail through tennis life and enjoy it all. But you can't tell me that somebody who's been that significant in his life and in his career isn't going to be missed.

1:28:30Matt Roberts: You just made me realise that I forgot to check with you both who you think is winning the Australian Open. I'm assuming David, given who you've got in the final, you've got Yannick Senna winning it.

1:28:40David Law: You know, I'm not going to row back on what I've said, but I mean, I could easily, easily be absolutely ridiculously wrong and that Alcaraz is in that final. But would you be going for Sinner regardless? I still think now, given the situation with Ferreira, I think that that tips it in Sinner's favour, I do.

1:29:01Matt Roberts: Matt?

1:29:03Catherine Whitaker: Yes, right here, right now, I would go Sinner. I mean, the other thing I would say is the last two slams, I've changed my mind during the slam. Like at Wimbledon, and again, this is a bit of a Rochevedo, a humble brag. But at Wimbledon, I thought Alcrest before the tournament. Seeing what I saw, I changed to Sinner. And then at the US Open, I thought Sinner pre-tournament with the hard court. But seeing what we saw, ended up going for Alcrest. So I do think we've got to see how the matches play out. And we've got to take stuff from the room.

1:29:33Matt Roberts: Especially given neither of them have played a warm-up event. We've got nothing.

1:29:36Catherine Whitaker: So I'm mostly going on. Okay, I still think Sinner on hard court is here. He's a two-time defending champion. The Alcarez, bit of instability with Ferreira not being here. To me, that is all pointing Sinner.

1:29:48David Law: If Alcarez came out looking like he did at the USA, and he shaved that hair off. Well, shave it off for a start. I told you, he should have that as his grand slam thing.

1:29:58Matt Roberts: Medvedev has a haircut, and David predicts he'll reach the Australian Open final.

1:30:02David Law: I think it's good for these guys. you know but the emphatic manner with which he was handling business at the US Open and hitting the ball if he comes out looking like he will do spectacular things for sure but that was different if he comes out as that version then I may be singing a different tune

1:30:24Matt Roberts: he's got a sensation in round one well Karaz

1:30:26David Law: Adam Walton

1:30:27Matt Roberts: Adam Walton good luck Adam

1:30:30Catherine Whitaker: I heard on Australian radio earlier I like Adam Walton's draw. Yeah, it turned out to be an ironic gag.

1:30:38Matt Roberts: Thank goodness. It's quite good. Because that person would have had to have their accreditation ripped from them. OK, that's it for our draw show. A bumper.

1:30:49Catherine Whitaker: It's a good draw day, isn't it? It's a good draw day. It's been great.

1:30:51Matt Roberts: Yeah, it has been good. And now I'm looking at a picture of Gus. And she's so gorgeous. And it's different. we've got a Renee has sent us multiple pictures of Gus with I think more to come Oh we've got a Dropbox folder which we very much appreciate and in fact this one is a sort of it's a diptych with yesterday's photo it's a sort of continuation so I'll post them on our Instagram as a two-parter, goodness me she's beautiful so hello Gus hello to our mascots Bodie, Maisie and Roger, to our executive producers Greg, Chris and Jeff and to our shout-outs, Matt.

1:31:29Catherine Whitaker: We have Andrew Wilhelm from Denver, Colorado. Hi, Andrew. Hello, Andrew. Andrew says, my husband is named Andy, of course, like Roddick and Murray. Some favourites to watch lately are Lerna Tien, Lorenzo Mazzetti, Carolina Mukova and Jasmine Paolini. Andrew and Andy have taste, I would say.

1:31:51Matt Roberts: Those are, yeah, great picks.

1:31:53Catherine Whitaker: Our Cavalier King Charles Waffles couldn't care less about any of it. Yeah, that's relatable.

1:32:00David Law: Andrew liked the former Wimbledon referee, Andrew Jarrett.

1:32:03Matt Roberts: Very good. I've been at a few dinners with him. Oh. Yeah, like your lunches with John Blom.

1:32:12Matt Roberts: A couple called Andrew and Andy, I bet they get a lot of tired gags. So I won't confront them with another one. But that's fun. Thank you, Andrew.

1:32:22Catherine Whitaker: We've also got Rob Becker from New York. Right, Rob.

1:32:26Matt Roberts: Hello, Rob. What a tennis name. And actually, Rob, like, this is incredible, like Roger Federer,

1:32:35Catherine Whitaker: says, I've played in the one-point slam precursor back when the USTA had a nationwide tournament for amateurs to get a spot in the US Open qualies.

1:32:44David Law: The US Open is claiming it.

1:32:48Catherine Whitaker: We've been missold, the one-point slam.

1:32:50Matt Roberts: It wasn't Craig Diley's idea. Craig was courtside when Rob was playing his one-pointer. I thought you were going to say that Rob was at the same wedding that Roger Federer's been at. Rob, I know we should be more imaginative, but your surname's Becker. Like, come on. Like Benjamin. Oh, David. Ended Andre Agassi's career, didn't he, Benjamin Becker?

1:33:14Catherine Whitaker: Sorry, I'm just reading chapter on verse now on Rob's one-point slam experience. lost promptly on an outside court at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre. But depending on the luck of the draw, some people got to play on grandstand and other show courts.

1:33:29David Law: Rob could be another B. Becker, couldn't he? Because Rob's are off Bob.

1:33:37Matt Roberts: Thanks, Rob.

1:33:39Catherine Whitaker: And finally, we have Bobby, Connor and Luke Murray.

1:33:46Matt Roberts: Connors and Murray? This is a crazy set of...

1:33:51Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, we've really started with the bar high for the Australian Open shout outs. Hang on, Bobby Connor and Luke Murray from New Jersey. Hi, guys. And they say, We all love and play tennis at Mendham Golf and Tennis Club and attend the US Open every year on the last Thursday of qualifying during Fan Week.

1:34:14David Law: Good choice.

1:34:14Catherine Whitaker: We love Tommy Paul, Lorenzo Mazzetti, Irina Sabalenka and Jesse Pagula. And we root for Newcastle United in the Premier League. You were doing so well, Bobby, Connor and Luke.

1:34:25David Law: You didn't need to ruin it. Yeah, they dashed Matt's Fulham EFL Cup hopes.

1:34:32Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, we've lost twice to Newcastle this season. I went to one of them.

1:34:36Matt Roberts: With one more fixture to come.

1:34:38Catherine Whitaker: Yeah.

1:34:39Matt Roberts: We won't hold it against you. Bobby, Connor and Luke Murray. is there a tennis Luke Jensen

1:34:46David Law: yes very good

1:34:48Matt Roberts: Bobby Riggs and Connor McNamara

1:34:54David Law: that's a commentator from football has he ever done tennis not to my knowledge

1:35:00Matt Roberts: I took a swing

1:35:01David Law: yeah it's a good try

1:35:03Matt Roberts: yeah sport surely we can have

1:35:05David Law: Connors

1:35:06Catherine Whitaker: yeah Connor Story

1:35:07David Law: there we go Connor Nyland the Irish there we go That's even better. You wrote that great book.

1:35:17Matt Roberts: A triumph, David. Connor, Bobby, Luke, Rob.

1:35:26Catherine Whitaker: Andrew, Andy.

1:35:27Matt Roberts: And Andrew and Andy. Thank you ever so much for being friends with the Tennis Podcast. If you'd like to become a friend and get access to all of our bonus content, ad-free listening, Hannah's Column, The Barge, our community platform, all that jazz, then the link is in our show notes. as is the link to subscribe to our newsletter, which is daily during the Grand Slams and has all sorts of excellent content in it, including Matt's stats. The newsletter is the only place to get full access to the Matt Roberts Mind Palace. And that is reason enough to subscribe, folks. We are part of the Athletic Podcast Network.

1:36:02Matt Roberts: It is fun being in Melbourne. We'll be back tomorrow for more after Media Day. Speak to you then.

1:36:15Catherine Whitaker: This episode is brought to you by Gradient FC, the go-to soccer app for player discovery and analysis. If you're somebody who doesn't follow soccer year-round, but suddenly gets pulled into the World Cup conversation every four years like the rest of us, this app is made for you. Gradient FC makes it really easy to figure out who matters, why they matter, and what exactly makes certain players elite. You can explore global player rankings across Europe's top five leagues, filtered by nationality, position, age, and more, and quickly get up to speed before the World Cup takes over sports discourse this summer.

1:36:48Catherine Whitaker: And what's really cool is that Gradient FC's player grades are not just surface-level numbers. They evaluate the context behind over 2 ,000 actions per match with analysis from real expert graders, including former players, coaches, and analysts. So you're getting a much deeper understanding of how players actually impact games with the data that is trusted by scouting departments across Europe. And if you love sports debates, the comparison tools are kind of addictive. You can go head-to-head between players across more than 100 different grades and metrics to actually back up your takes. So whether you're brand new to soccer or already locked in for the World Cup, Gradient FC is the app for you this summer.

1:37:28Catherine Whitaker: Discover and compare players at gradientfc.com or download the Gradient FC app from any app store.

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