French Open Day 3 - Is the sun Sinner’s most dangerous opponent?

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1:24Matt Roberts: Hello and welcome to the tennis podcast coming to you from Roland Garros on day three of the French Open where the first round is finally complete. It is half 11 at night or in the evening. We are back in our usual spot. The temperature is finally palatable. after highs in the mid-30 Celsius throughout most of the afternoon. We are being savaged by mosquitoes, though, but we'll take that over savaged by the midday sun. Players just wrapped for the day. Crowds are streaming away from court Suzanne Longland, which is towering over us about 30 metres away. Fun end to the day with Felix Auger-Eliassime winning in a deciding set tie-break there, but a bit of a weird day.

2:13Matt Roberts: I don't know, maybe the heat is just starting to make things a little bit weird over here.

2:18David Law: Well, and I'm still trying to get a sense of whether the heat has contributed to the upsets that we've had. I mean, two very, very significant upsets with Medvedev and Pegula. And yet I don't think it is because of that, you know, is my sense overall. I mean, I think it has made it a weird day. there have been I think results that have really been impacted by the heat there are some players definitely coming into their own as a result of this weather but you know being around the grounds covering the event I mean you know we Catherine and I we we arrived a good few hours after Matt just because it was just a little bit too much for us to to make to spend that much time in the sun and there really are only a couple of stadiums that you can go to and be out of it.

3:07David Law: So it is a strange experience because, I mean, this tournament's just never known heat like this. I definitely think Luke will never know

3:16Matt Roberts: how many of the actual results and winners and losers are being determined by the weather, but I definitely think the scorelines are being affected by the weather. we're seeing a lot of lopsided, sort of slightly weird scorelines. You know, 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4. Like, very lopsided sets and lots of them. So, like, competitive matches. But I feel like a lot of match management is going on within the matches and the sort of individual sets aren't feeling that exciting a lot of the time because players are going to break down and going, oof, okay, I've got this much in the canister, I'll conserve it for set number four or five or whatever it might be.

4:05Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, I mean, we're all sort of talking around it here, but basically it's turned into Melbourne and Musketeer of the Day has turned into Sensation of the Day. That is what has happened today at Roland Garros because Adam Walton and Kim Birrell are our big upsetters of the day and no, it's not the Australian Open, and it's Roland Garros. That's the vibe. And yeah, it is a bit weird.

4:30Matt Roberts: Yeah, it's weird. I wasn't expecting it. Yeah, it was a weird day. And look, maybe that is Daniil Medvedev's fault. There's nothing and no one like Daniil Medvedev to set a weird tone, particularly on clay and maybe particularly here at Roland Garros. That scoreline that I mentioned was his, his defeat to Adam Walton of Australia. 6216-6116-64 described by a French journalist to Daniel Medvedev in the post-match press conference as a very silly match. Which was one of my favourite moments of the day. Medvedev sort of nodded at that and really took the question on the chin as he really does. Matt, I know you were on Suzanne Longland for the latter stages of this.

5:19Matt Roberts: David and I left with Medvedev left the flat to come in with Medvedev, a break-up in the fifth. And given the way that these sets had been going, we kind of just assumed it was going to be 6-1 Medvedev, boom, job done. And then we're getting texts from you about how wild it had become, how weird it had become, and finally how Adam Walton had won the thing. So what on earth happened? Well, as you said,

5:47Catherine Whitaker: Those first four sets tell their own story with the scorelines. Like, Walton played well, Medvedev got it back, Walton played well, Medvedev got it back, and we found ourselves in this fifth set. And as you said, Medvedev goes up a break, and then he's up 3-1 and has triple break point. And honestly, like, I'm there, I'm on the court, I'm watching it, but it's a little bit flat in the stadium. It's the heat of the day, everyone's hot, and people are probably already thinking thinking this set is probably already done. This is just to make sure of it. But he didn't take any of those break points, Medvedev, and it got back to 3-2.

6:24Catherine Whitaker: And that was the moment that Walton pinpointed in his post-match interview as the moment where he started to believe that he might be able to mount this comeback. And fair play to him, because he really did mount this comeback from, you know, still a breakdown at that point. Medvedev, I thought, overplayed the drop shot from that point onwards. He'd actually found a really nice touch on it through the match, a backhand drop shot. He hit more than I'd ever seen him hit before, and a lot of them were successful. But, you know, the playbook here was quite obvious, I think. Extend these rallies, get into backhand-to-backhand exchanges with Walton, and Medvedev was going to come out on top, but he seemed to lose his way and lose his head a bit.

7:08Catherine Whitaker: He started to do the sarcasm to the box and he just lost the control of his game. And suddenly he was in real bother. And I think the probably other key moment to circle is the 4-0 game with Walton serving where he saved break points. And one of them with just the most incredible volley onto the line and then a smash onto the line to save those break points. and then hold and go up 5-4, Walton. And, you know, I turned to Matt Futterman next to me in the press seats and said, hold or break here, Medvedev. And we both thought, hold. We thought, Medvedev's going to hold, take it to 5-4, there's more drama ahead.

7:49Catherine Whitaker: And almost as I uttered those words, Medvedev hit the worst drop shot you've ever seen, didn't make it to the net. And we were like, oh, break. Like, he's in trouble here. He's gone.

7:59Matt Roberts: Tell you what, Longland's seen some bad drop shots in the past three days, hasn't it?

8:04Catherine Whitaker: Yes. and he just played the worst game you can possibly play, Medvedev, serving 4-5. That terrible drop shot. Then on the next point he shanked a serve, but it went in and he missed the drive volley. Then on Love 30 he shanked another serve and it was a double fold. And then at Love 40, three match points down, he hit another drive volley, this time on the forehand long. Like a horrific final game and he raced through it. He did that thing that he does where he just quickly gets on with the next point in a really careless manner. It was weird. It was weird. And look, Walton has beaten him before in Cincinnati.

8:46Catherine Whitaker: And he has got a heavy forehand that I think can do a bit of damage on the clay. And he played really well, Walton. But it was hard not to look at this match from a Medvedev perspective and think about what a missed opportunity this is, frankly. because, OK, look, there's a limit on that opportunity because he's in the half with Yannick Sinner. No one's really expecting him to go on and win this title or anything like that. But I said the other day I thought he was the player most likely to challenge Sinner from this half, and I still believe that. He's become such a high-ceiling, low-floor guy, Medvedev.

9:24Catherine Whitaker: And these sorts of performances, I mean, he started his clay court season with a six-love, six-love loss, and he's ended it with this. And yet there's been some real highs in between. He took that set off Yannick Sinner and it just feels like the Medvedev that we used to know was more consistent, albeit he's never really done it at the French Open and he's got this bad record here and maybe I should have taken that more into account and maybe I should have been on upset alert for every single Medvedev match here because that's kind of what he is now, especially at the Grand Slams, until he proves otherwise again.

10:03Matt Roberts: See, I don't think he sees this as a big opportunity miss. No. I think in his head he's like, Roland Garros, no chance. No chance of anything for me. That is the impression that I got from his press conference. As much as we sort of think of it as Medvedev not being great on clay and his Rome title a few years ago being a bit of an aberration, I actually think the biggest issue is Roland Garros. He said, I know exactly why I don't play well at Roland Garros. He said, I'm not going to tell you. I don't want to say it because I don't want to sound like I'm making excuses for losing today. But basically, I've got a Roland Garros problem that's unsolvable.

10:44Matt Roberts: Don't expect anything from me here in the future. Although he did say he would never skip Roland Garros unless injured. You know, he said he would consider playing the week before, which is something he would never ordinarily do before a slam but he was like, you know, might as well try something. What I've been doing hasn't worked. I mean, it is hard to believe that the same guy is the one that played Yannick Sinner in that Rome semi-final but that was a night session and this was the first match of the day.

11:16David Law: Yeah, and he's not keen on getting up early in the morning.

11:20Matt Roberts: Quote, I don't like to get up early and I'm usually less performative when I have to get up at 6.15am. Yeah. I hear you, Daniil.

11:31Catherine Whitaker: But you do care for it.

11:32Matt Roberts: Matt and David were not having this.

11:34Catherine Whitaker: I'm still not. I think that is pathetic. 11am start is really not that early. No, but it's not.

11:42Matt Roberts: It's a 6.15 start.

11:44David Law: Well, I mean, do we know that?

11:45Matt Roberts: OK, let me make my case in all seriousness, right? like it doesn't mean that he wasn't ready to go and professionally prepared etc etc just like I am when we do early early podcasts because that is practically the best thing to do I am usually mostly on time I am I perform just fine it's you know it's all good I will no matter what I do no matter how many coffees I've had before I podcast no matter how long a dog walk I do before we podcast so that, you know, I'm in the right frame of mind. No matter... I can do all the right things. I will never perform as well first thing in the morning as I do in the evening.

12:29Matt Roberts: Never. I just don't think you can make yourself a morning person. I do think that is something pretty deeply imprinted.

12:38David Law: Yeah, but I wouldn't have been able to tell that you don't. Because I think your performance is great in the morning. And I think his performance was terrible.

12:50Matt Roberts: You don't know how good I could be.

12:52David Law: I do, because I'm on all the podcasts with you. No matter what time I record them. I mean, look, I do find it... Look, I get it. He doesn't like it. Fine. Yeah, I understand that it's not his preference.

13:05Catherine Whitaker: And it can have an impact. But I don't think it should be something that you mention in a press conference playing at 11 o 'clock.

13:13David Law: When you're up against Adam Walton, are you supposed to be beating? You really are. Yeah. Just go and do your job.

13:20Matt Roberts: I mean, I kind of agree with you, but I guess the point I'm making is that it's more than just a preference. It is almost something physical. Like, I don't... It's not... I mean, I don't love doing things at 8am, but it's not just like, oh, I would find it more enjoyable to do it later. it's genuinely like a function thing. Functionality thing. They're not having it, folks. Champions are just. Look, I've got Billie Jean King on my side. I don't need you to.

13:53Catherine Whitaker: But she also says champions are just.

13:56Matt Roberts: And I do adjust. We very often podcast at 8am. Yeah, Memphedev didn't.

14:00Catherine Whitaker: Simple as. You're not the subject of my vitriol.

14:05Matt Roberts: Right now.

14:06Catherine Whitaker: He's not angry. What have I ever been angry at you at 8am? He's just disappointed.

14:11Matt Roberts: Oh, specifically at 8am.

14:13Catherine Whitaker: Or 9am, those early pods.

14:19Matt Roberts: David, you went to the Adam Walton press conference. Let's give him his flowers.

14:23David Law: I did. I did. And what a lovely chap. You won't be surprised to hear. And he's so straightforward and honest, you know, and quite earnest about the way he discusses things. And, you know, this is a guy, he's not trying to win the title. He's not expecting a deep run. He's trying to get into the US Open draw without needing qualifying. These are his goals at the moment. So this is a huge deal to him, absolutely huge, and he's fought his heart out. I actually asked both him and Medvedev whether they felt the heat had caused those lopsided set scores. Walton's view was he actually thinks it's the other way around.

15:05David Law: He doesn't think that it is kind of jacking it in because you're a breakdown. He says whoever was getting ahead was just freewheeling and feeling more confident, he felt. But he also assessed his own performance. He says, look, I'm not the most talented player out there, but I've got good cardio in the heat and I can last longer than most of the field. He clearly is used to these conditions. He hopes for it. There's some people here that are trading off this heat and they're going to get, I think, Maria Sakharin today beating Lyndon Oskar. You know, some of these results, I think, are going to really show that up, that some players can thrive for the next few days, and he's one of them.

15:48David Law: But, yeah, he said this was the best win of his career. And it's kind of a nice little story on the side, really. You know, he may well not go another round, but crikey, you earned that today.

16:01Matt Roberts: It does mean no Medvedev-Tian at this slam, which is a shame, because they were in the same section of the draw. Leonard Tien held up his end of the bargain with a very weird scoreline of his own in a win over Christian Gareen. Six love, two six, six love, six two. I mean, there was a lot of that around today.

16:24David Law: It has been. I mean, I can't believe the heat isn't causing some of this. And also five set tennis does cause it, doesn't it? Because people need a break almost in a match.

16:37Matt Roberts: ninth seed Alexander Bublik is out I mean Yannick Sinner's half of the draw I mean it was already let's let's gently say sparse and it's now looking absolutely threadbare Medvedev gone Alexander Bublik the ninth seed is gone now I don't think Bublik has any chance ever against Yannick Sinner we've seen what that I know he beat him in Halle but we've seen what that matchup looks like on a on a big stage. But he's a really good player and he's gone from Yannick Sinner's half. He was beaten in four sets by Jan-Lenad Strouf today. You know, those are, in the landscape of this draw, those are two names gone from that top half and it really is looking sparse up there.

17:29David Law: Yeah. It had me thinking today, what happens if Sinner gets affected by the heat and somehow ended up losing in the next two or three rounds when it's still this hot. What on earth's going to happen then in the draw? You know, who's going to be left standing? But as it is, the more likely scenario is that Sinner's just going to fly through this draw.

17:57Matt Roberts: Well, it's possible in that very unlikely scenario we would find ourselves remembering this evening and the win that we've just seen for Felix Auger-Eliassime in the deciding set tiebreak over Daniel Altmire. Now, obviously, big question marks over how much this is taken out of him, 10-8 in the deciding set tiebreak. But he's the fourth seed here, Felix Auger-Eliassime. He should be reaching the semifinals, quite frankly. I mean, I'm not saying that just because he's the fourth seed. But looking at how the draw looks right now, Valentin Vachero is still in there, but he's injured. I might have been thinking about Vachero doing a bit of what he did in Shanghai, quite frankly, picking up the pieces when everybody else falls by the wayside physically.

18:45Matt Roberts: But he's got some kind of foot injury. He won today against Thomas Ferrell, the French qualifier that got everyone a bit excited in qualifying, but kind of looked like man against boy out there. But yeah, I mean, that could turn out to be a big moment for Felix and for this top half of the draw.

19:05Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, well, one of these guys makes the quarterfinal. Oje Aliassim, Buruchaga, Vanash, Nakashima, Vallejo, Kuwame, Tabilo, Vashara. And like, not a huge amount has happened in that section. Norrie's gone. He retired today against Vallejo. But otherwise, those are the names in there anyway. I honestly hadn't quite realised how light that section is. And their quarterfinal opponent, Medvedev's gone from those possibilities as well. You've still got Kabali, you've still got Surundalo, you've still got Tien.

19:49Matt Roberts: Excuse me, Matt, both Surundalo's?

19:53Catherine Whitaker: yeah but not in that section

19:54Matt Roberts: in this half you've got both surrender loads

19:58Catherine Whitaker: so look there's good K court players in there as well some Argentinians but it's very light and I do think Ugi Ali has seen winning this I completely agree with you he could well make it through to the quarters or semis here he's going to be favourite in every match he plays for quite a while yet I think in this draw. And big for him to have won a physical match like that in hot conditions.

20:27Matt Roberts: Huge, actually, for someone that's had a cramping issue. Well, exactly.

20:30Catherine Whitaker: He cramped recently, didn't he? And he cramped back at the Australian Open as well. So for him to come through that, I think he'll take a lot of confidence from that, I would have thought.

20:41Matt Roberts: Landon Luthe won today. He's in the Yannick Sinner section. That would be a third round match, David.

20:48Catherine Whitaker: The Juan Manuel Sorundolo section, you might say.

20:51Matt Roberts: Excuse me, the Juan Manuel Sorundolo section. More on him in a moment. Landa Luthe won a four-hour, 30-minute match with Bolivian qualifier. Juan Carlos Prado Angelo, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 6-7, 6-4. I mean, in a week that could end up being defined by how you cope with the conditions, As a young player, he has shown something about himself today, hasn't he? Winning a four-hour, 30-minute match.

21:23David Law: Yeah, I sort of wonder what that might do to him because he won't have played that many matches like that in that sort of length, in that sort of heat. But he got through it. You were there, Matt, towards the end. And we were getting lots of very excitable messages from you.

21:42Catherine Whitaker: Yeah I went out for the fifth set of this one And took my seat next to the one and only Pamela Howard-Schreiber So of course I had a good time for the remainder of this match And like this is kind of the match I was thinking of And talking about the other day when I said If you look at the men's draw as a whole You're probably going to think Oh you know how much interest is there for me it feels like a Yannick Sinner procession. If you take it day by day and you're just dropping in on a match and then coming out of the tournament and this is one of the matches you happen to drop in on, you'd have had like the time of your life.

22:21Catherine Whitaker: This match was so compelling. It was both of their first ever fifth sets. Landa Luthe and JCP, as they're calling him. I don't quite know what's happened to his A, his Angelo, but all the Yonex guys he's one of the players that Pam is helping in her role as a mindset coach they all call him JCP and like he was 5-1 up in this final set Landalutze and it got super tight because Prado was coming back at him, he saved four match points one of them with a dry volley and he was having to manage cramps himself, you know, and Pam was telling him to take on as much water as he possibly could. He took his water bottle out to the towel box halfway through this match, which was a smart thing to do on Pam's instruction.

23:20Catherine Whitaker: And I was impressed with the way he managed that, right? Like his first fifth set match, he's cramping, he could have panicked. And he didn't at all. He played really smart tennis, kept making Landaluthe play, went for it when he had the short ball. and it was just, it was great, great scenes. I think Landoluthe got in his own way a little bit from 5-1 up to 5-4. He did get a little, I don't know if tight's the right word, but he just, he made some poor errors and it really felt on a knife edge, this one, until suddenly it was over. The crowd were loving it. Great experience for both players. And yeah, one of my highlights of the tournament so far, I would say, this one.

23:59Matt Roberts: David's got big hopes for the scheduled Lander Luthe-Sinner third round match.

24:07David Law: Yeah, I'm just hoping he's got something left in the tank if he gets that far, to be honest, after this epic he's just played.

24:15Matt Roberts: Well, excuse me, Yannick Sinner would have to make his way past Juan Manuel Surundolo in the second round to get to that third round, and Lander Luthe would have to get there as well. Yannick Sinner tonight, 6-1, 6-3, 6-4. over 26-year-old French qualifier, Clément Tabur, who played so well. Honestly, played so, so well. Yannick Sinner is just so many levels above. It was like he played a great point, but the rules were he had to stop one shot before his opponent, you know? Like, Yannick Sinner would always get the last shot. It was like those were the rules they were playing with. I would say about this, I mean, it's difficult to have too much to say about a matchup with this much golf in class.

25:09Matt Roberts: Yannick Senna was not enjoying himself in the third set. It's very airless tonight. The temperature has dropped a bit, but it is very airless. It's not lovely. It's not ideal conditions. and I don't know, it was just that little bit of... There was a point early on in the third set when I think Sinner was already a break-up and the result didn't feel in doubt, but Yannick Sinner was clearly just not feeling great. He looked a little bit pukey, which is very relatable, quite frankly. And Darren Cahill was up on his feet with that slightly terrifying glint in his eye. The Sinner team, they're doing that thing where they all wear the same kit as Yannick Sinner, which is not my jam, personally.

25:59Catherine Whitaker: Mine neither.

26:00Matt Roberts: But it, you know, definitely sets a tone. And he's there, he's on his feet, he's got that terrifying look in his eye, and he looked like he was trying to stop Yannick Sinner from getting tense, you know. Don't panic about how you're feeling. Because I do think that, you know, I experience this I really struggle in the heat and in the sun when it's like this and it I'm aware that an element of that is that it's self-fulfilling I get in my head about it like oh god I've just got to get out of this it's almost like claustrophobia and I worry about being in it and you know I'm not having to do any particular physical activity in it like I do think there is that feeling of oh god is it happening again is it happening again and we saw it happening in a night session match in Rome didn't we and I'm you know stress is a part of it pressure is a part of it you know these things are not binary but just emphasizes I think just how big a feature conditions are for Yannick Sinner and probably will always be for his career because this is not a lack of condition thing for Yannick Sinner it it really isn't but I do not to harp on about it, but I think Gael Monfils going out is massive for the annex in it.

27:27Matt Roberts: I think he gets the night session if he asks for it, and he will ask for it. And okay, his opposition in the next round is only the bad surrender load. But if he's in a day session, and it's 35 degrees, and the sun's beating down on him, there's a scenario where it doesn't matter who's down the other end.

27:52David Law: Yeah, I mean, it depends on how long it lasts.

27:54Matt Roberts: As long as they can get the ball in. And Surungelo is, you know, he is the least, he is the bad Surungelo, you know. He's not a great player, but I think he's a solid, physically strong player.

28:07David Law: Yeah, he's not going to be worried about the conditions and he's going to keep firing top spin forehands for days if he gets the chance. I mean, I think the thing is, we are now in a position where it's not just whether Yannick Sinner asks for the night session. Amazon Prime Video, who've got the rights here, are going to be asking for Yannick Sinner in the night session in that half of the draw. Because there isn't anybody else.

28:32Matt Roberts: I mean, there are women.

28:33David Law: Sure. But they don't put women on the night sessions in this tournament.

28:38Matt Roberts: But I do wonder if we'll start to get scenarios. I mean, look, we know from the Athletics reporting last year that Amazon Prime wanted Lois Boisson in the night session and the tournament, for whatever reasons, I mean, look, they've told us their reasons, haven't they, time and time again. but they didn't put Lois Boisson in the night session, which makes me think they're never going to. If they weren't going to do it with Lois Boisson, a French player, and their rights holder requesting it explicitly, I now just, I don't even hope for it when I see the order of play comes out now. But I don't know, maybe that will come into focus again this year with the disparity.

29:25Catherine Whitaker: I'm just looking at the halves of the draw and the options that they're going to have for potential night sessions in two days time if they don't pick Sinner. The one that's jumping out at me that I could see potentially is Rinne Kinesh Berrettini. That's the sort of thing they might go with. French player against a name that is going to be well known.

29:51David Law: I'd be pretty disappointed if Sinner doesn't play any match in the day. I think it would be completely wrong as well. But this happens.

30:00Matt Roberts: This happens in tennis.

30:02David Law: Yeah, but I think it's wrong. I don't like it. I've never liked it. I don't like the fact that Pete Sampras even and Roger Federer used to get entire tournaments of playing night sessions because it happened to suit them. That's anti-competitive.

30:15Catherine Whitaker: I mean, it is interesting that Djokovic is day. Tennis is always doing anti-competitive things, David.

30:19Matt Roberts: I just cannot stand it. Were you watching last night's match? I can't stand players coming into tournament directors' offices

30:27David Law: and pressuring and asking for positions on the schedule. Just do what you're bloody well told to do. And tournaments, stop listening to them.

30:38Catherine Whitaker: Well, it's quite interesting in that respect that Djokovic's day is session tomorrow. Because I would have thought, we don't know this for sure, I would have thought he would want the night again, given the weather forecast and given... OK, I don't think he's had the same struggles as Yannick Sinner in the heat. I don't think we've ever really seen Djokovic cramping and unable to hold the racket like we've seen with Sinner. But we know he doesn't like it. We know it's not his preference. I would have thought he would have requested the night. And he's not got the night tomorrow. Now, there's a more obvious other candidate, I would say.

31:14Catherine Whitaker: They've got Zverev down there, who's another very big name. this draw and he's got the best player in the world a very exciting draw like you know they can they can go with that but it i would theorize that they've denied a request there interesting

31:34Matt Roberts: do you agree or do you think yeah yeah no i i think that's a good point and i do wonder if there's a scenario where they've said to jokovic and sinner i think those are the only two with significant enough player power that this would apply to, where they've said to them, you have to play one during the day. It's up to you and you deploy that. I could imagine that being a scenario. And another counterpoint to what I originally said about my Sinner Monfils going out theory is that they have always made a big point here of always scheduling the big names on Longland once. once. Al Karaz played on Longland.

32:17Matt Roberts: Did he play there last? I think he might have played there once last year. I remember one year here I was working for the ITF. You know, in the peak Nadal dominance years, he played his opening round match on Longland as defending champion. And they always used to put him once on Longland. That is sort of something they've made a point of.

32:38Catherine Whitaker: I remember Djokovic Moutet last year was on Longland, wasn't it?

32:41Matt Roberts: So, I mean, I don't expect to see Sinner or Djokovic on long then because of how sparse the draw is, quite frankly.

32:54Matt Roberts: But maybe that means they don't bow to every player request. We will see. We will see. Just to say, by the way, we've mentioned a few of them, but there have been a lot of retirements today. We had Alexander Muller retiring on Châtelet today, three left down in the second set against Stefano Sitzabath. Sebastian Baez retired, trading Roman Burrachaga by two sets to one. Cameron Norrie, as you said, Matt, he retired. I mean, he had told the media pre-tournament that he was injured, but he retired in the second set against Paraguayan Adolfo Vallejo. On the women's side, Mayuka Uchijima retired in the third set against Claire Liu.

33:38Matt Roberts: And we've also had a withdrawal from the men's side today. Alexander Blocks, who was due to play his second round match tomorrow, I think, he got injured in practice today due to what he described in his Instagram post as the, and I think he's being ironic here, really necessary covers at the back of the court. He tripped over them, basically, turned his ankle. there's footage of him limping out of the premises and obviously he's absolutely gutted. Alex de Menor now getting a walkover in their scheduled match and this is something we've seen before. We saw David Goffin sustain a bad injury here tripping over the covers at the back of the court.

34:23Matt Roberts: I know it's something Jim Currier has talked about a lot that those are an accident waiting to happen and they don't seem essential. It seems like they could find a way for them not to be there, David.

34:35David Law: Yeah, I think, frankly, I worry about the little advertising blocks that they have as well for ball kids to stand next to. They just don't... It is a hazard. You've got to take as much out of the way as possible. And, yeah, I mean, Alexander Blocks, he's come in here and he's had a good clay court season. and the young lad got a good first round win, gets a chance at Alex Dimonor and won't even get to play because of something like that. So it's a tough one.

35:10Matt Roberts: We'll add him to the injury list. That is it for part one. We'll be back in part two to talk about the women and another contender for Sensation of the Day in May.

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37:46Matt Roberts: Welcome back to part two of today's podcast where we're going to talk about the women's matches today and it feels only right to start with our second contender for Sensation of the Day, which apparently is making a comeback.

38:00David Law: Are we going to be doing Muscatara the Day in Australia?

38:03Matt Roberts: Well, they do do reciprocal wild cards, don't they?

38:06Catherine Whitaker: Very good.

38:10Matt Roberts: although I don't support those. This is not a tacit endorsement of reciprocal wildcards or wildcards of any kind. But, Kimberley Birrell, Matt, you've always been low-key a bit of a Kim Birrell guy. Big day for you, big day for Kim. We were on, for a very brief period in the first set of this match, double bagel alert, Birrell against Pagula, because Pagula was for love?

38:41Catherine Whitaker: For love, yeah.

38:42Matt Roberts: For love in the first set and ended up...

38:44Catherine Whitaker: And this was when we were on triple bagel alert for Sinner because he went two love up.

38:48Matt Roberts: We were looking for bagels. We were trying to get our kicks. We were trying to get our kicks. And yeah, for love to Pagula. She ends up losing 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. Matt was out there for the culmination of this match. He came back absolutely buzzing, describing it as unbelievable.

39:09Catherine Whitaker: The thing is, I am a bit of a Kim Birrell guy because I think she's lovely. I've had some experiences in press conferences with her, like Billie Jean King Cups, and she's just a delight. She's the nicest person. But I've also, and I literally did it today, good drawder in the past. I'm always like Kim Birrell for a top seed is a good draw because she hits a lovely ball but typically doesn't have really big weapons. I just think it's a great sort of player to get you into a tournament, nice rhythm going, and you're probably going to win. That's kind of what I've always thought about Kimberhill.

39:53Catherine Whitaker: And I think up to this point, that has been a fair assessment. And I think what I sort of enjoyed about this one tonight in particular was it was my first, like, What I think of as a really typical Grand Slam experience, which is you're way over the other side of the courts, the other side of the grounds, sorry, where we'd come all the way over here for Court 14, which is as far as you can get from Court Simone Mathieu. We'd seen Mboko win, then I'd popped into Longlen to see a bit of Orgelia Seam, and suddenly I'm watching these live scores on my phone, and I'm thinking, I'm going to have to go to Mathieu.

40:31Catherine Whitaker: And, like, the weather had cooled that I was like, right, I'm going. I think if that had been earlier in the day when it was so hot, you've either got to be out of the heat or just totally committed to one spot with your fan, with your water, trying to get shade. Like, I haven't really bounced around as much as I normally do in these early days, but this was an opportunity to do that. So I did, headed over to Simone Mathieu, and there I am thinking Kim Birrell, no weapons. The first thing I see, she's banging away a Pergoula serve for a winner to go up a break at the start of the third. And absolutely compelling from that point onwards.

41:09Catherine Whitaker: And look, Pagula is going to think this is one that got away, absolutely, because she had many opportunities to break back in this final set and forehand really fell to pieces. It was sometimes long, sometimes in the net. She just couldn't really get the control on it that she wanted. And Beryl stayed strong. She did get broken trying to serve it out, but she had a double break cushion and ended up winning the match on return. It's such a big moment for her. That's a huge win. I cannot tell you how little I had this on upset alert, really. Pergoula, I know she's had some of these sorts of losses at slams in the past couple of years.

41:54Catherine Whitaker: She has become someone who, for so long we talked about her quarterfinal ceiling, but she'd always get there. She's now become someone who has gone through that and has reached the finals, reached some semi-finals, but has also become a bit more susceptible to these sorts of losses. You know, and now has a couple of round one losses on her most recent go-around the majors, Wimbledon and this year's French Open. So perhaps I should have seen it coming, but I just didn't. I think this is a... It's a really big shock. I don't think it's like draw shattering for the women's field because she was on the edge of my mix, Pagula.

42:34Catherine Whitaker: I felt like I was putting her in out of respect for the season she's had because she's been so good. But there were definitely four or five names above her in terms of who I thought were the real contenders to win this. So it doesn't change it in that respect. But I really thought that she was going to get through to at least the fourth round quarterfinal stage. So in that sense, it changes things and opens it up for, well, Kim Birrell and others. Yeah, it was quite a match, this.

43:04Matt Roberts: Yeah, it's big for Oleksandra Olenikova, who is Kim Birrell's second round opponent. She beat her Russian qualifier opponent, Prudankina, today 6-1, 6-2. a match that, as we heard about when we spoke to her for our interview for Tennis Podcast Meets that we ran on the main show, on the previous show on Saturday, her dad was going to be there at this match and be able to watch her for the first time in more than two years, I think. He is fighting for the Ukrainian army. He's on leave at the moment. He was able to watch her win today. And I think he's able to stick around and we'll be able to watch her second round.

43:47Matt Roberts: That'll be against Kim Birrell. I mean, with all due respect to Kim Birrell, everything you've just said, she'd take that, wouldn't she? Alexandra Olnikova.

43:58David Law: As opposed to Jessica Pagula. Absolutely.

44:01Matt Roberts: And the winner of that to face either McCartney Kessler or Deanna Schneider in round three.

44:06Catherine Whitaker: That is quite something for Birrell to go from playing Pagula, who I would say probably has the lowest trajectory over the net to Olenokova, who I think has the highest trajectory over the net.

44:20David Law: The most consistent ball you're ever going to get, albeit hit very hard, and then the most unpredictable and unusual ball.

44:32Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, that is a wild combination of opponents.

44:34Matt Roberts: Speaking of wild combinations of opponents, It's Naomi Osaka against Laura Siegmund. These two are a different vibe, aren't they?

44:43David Law: As proved when Laura Siegmund was asked what she thought of the Naomi Osaka outfit.

44:50Matt Roberts: What did she say, David?

44:52Catherine Whitaker: I don't care. I'm here for tennis, not a fashion show.

44:57Matt Roberts: And look, that's absolutely fine. I think it's absolutely fine not to be into it. But the way people lose their minds about something that has absolutely no impact on other people. It's so weird, isn't it? Like, if you're not into it, that's absolutely fine. Don't engage with it. If you are into it, cool, fun.

45:16David Law: Maybe she'd have been a bit warmer about it if she'd have won.

45:20Matt Roberts: I don't think she would have been. If I know Laura, and I think I do, I really don't think she would have been.

45:26Catherine Whitaker: And there were times today when Osaka looked very not into Siegmund's service motion.

45:31Matt Roberts: We've all been there, Naomi.

45:32Catherine Whitaker: It was definitely going both ways.

45:34Matt Roberts: yeah absolutely these two they're just they're just not a vibe i don't think they're never going to go for a beer together i thought neomi osaka did really well to come through this in straight sets six three seven six this was tricky it was really tricky yeah because osaka's never been

45:53David Law: beyond the third round here you know this is not her favorite service at all it's probably her least favourite, or certainly this and Graz but she's been working at it, she's been working really hard at trying to master the surface become good on it and she's had results she had that incredible match here against Svantec a couple of years ago as well and this absolutely looked like the sort of opponent and circumstance that could just derail her game, make her start missing, you know, unless she was composed and on it. I know she had some nervier moments later on but she was on it from the first ball really today.

46:37David Law: Hitting big which you've got to do against Sigmund and just keeping your foot down. And she did such a great job of that. And look, I'm not so good on the outfits as we know but I thought it was a really cool dress she was wearing in this match.

46:54Matt Roberts: Are you talking about the match dress or the walk-on dress?

46:56David Law: The match dress. I don't feel qualified to understand what's going on with the walk-on stuff.

47:00Matt Roberts: But I think it's like art, isn't it?

47:02David Law: Yeah.

47:03Matt Roberts: Like, everybody... It's what you enjoy. Yeah. Like, you don't have to be qualified.

47:09David Law: It was sort of a shimmery golden dress that she wore to play the tennis in.

47:14Matt Roberts: Which I thought was Alyssa Liu-inspired. That's certainly what it reminded me of. That's a nice skater. she won the gold at the olympics the winter olympics just gone and she's she's a big deal

47:29David Law: i mean i really don't i don't see her oh look she can wear what she wants anyway but i mean this looked as well as looking dazzling it was looked very functional as well it looked like it was causing her no issues in playing the sport uh whatsoever to me um and yeah i i think it's really cool that she brings something to the occasion that isn't just walking up and hitting tennis balls. She did say by the way in the press conference that she had also packed a couple of other Nike dresses in case the umpire said you're not allowed to wear that dress because it's too bright in the sun and that the sun will dazzle your opponent.

48:13Matt Roberts: And if any opponent

48:14Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, if she's past the Segment test, everyone else will be fine with it.

48:19David Law: Quite cleverly didn't let Lara know about that until after the match.

48:24Catherine Whitaker: It was very, Suzanne Longland, there must be some sparkle too. Absolutely.

48:29Matt Roberts: It was a shame there wasn't a bigger crowd for that walkout. I personally, I mean, I think it was just because I was sort of secondhand, like, feeling heat from the sort of long, black, full-length walk-on outfit it just made me feel even hotter than I already was when I saw it which just wasn't what I was looking for in that moment um but yeah like it some people love it some people don't

48:58Catherine Whitaker: it's not hurting anyone yeah and and she makes the point always doesn't she that like that's one of the ways she likes to express herself you know is is through fashion and her clothes and And she liked, as a kid growing up, seeing what Serena and Venus would be wearing. And those moments where they walked onto court were like cultural, cut-through moments. And she's trying to bring some of that back. And, yeah, I think it's great.

49:28Matt Roberts: Yeah. It's such a... It's a binary sort, isn't it, for a certain sort of strain of misogyny, you know, like fashion, make-up, silly girl things, you know. Why is she doing that? Why is she trying to make a show of herself? Why is she being too much?

49:51David Law: Well, we liked it. Yeah.

49:54Matt Roberts: I mean, I think it's OK not to... You can not love the outfit and support the concept or support her right to do that. Gotcha. It's art, David. you're entitled to an opinion as much as anyone else.

50:10David Law: Even if I don't know what I'm talking about.

50:12Matt Roberts: To be honest, I think people are probably keener for your opinion than anyone else's. OK, so Osaka swerved the Siegmund banana skin, Coco Gough. Bit of a sort of first set banana skin against Taylor Townsend, but in the end incredibly comfortable in her, well, the first step of her title defence. 6-4, 6-love for Gough today on Chattier, David.

50:41David Law: Yeah, it did take a little time for it to settle, and I think that's inevitable against Townsend, who is a tricky opponent. They get along as well, they're friends. And she said it's a bit nerve-wracking playing your first match. It doesn't matter how many times you've done it. I find this with all the top players. You know, we can sometimes think that they're impervious to nerves, but they're not and she got over it she's she makes three set matches seem like there's plenty of time does Coco Goff more than anybody else to me there's never panic you always feel like she'll she'll find her way back into this at some point both kind of macro and micro right within a

51:24Matt Roberts: match within a swing yeah within a season yeah she's she's always going to figure something out

51:30David Law: I think that's why when she lost to Svitolina in the Australian Open, it was so jarring. Yes, how quickly it went. Because that went quickly. She looked like she had no answer. She couldn't figure out a solution. When she's the solution finder, really, most of the time.

51:49Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, normally everyone lives so many lives during a Coco Gauff match. Herself, her fans. and yeah it's kind of her greatest strength really that that ability i think that's a really good way of putting it like finding having time in matches to to figure things out but but generally

52:09David Law: i thought her game looks in good shape it's she's going to play different types of opponents to townsend um as as the tournament goes on but i think she looks in a in a good state of mind as much as anything else. I think she's right there.

52:28Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, I do think that match I circled at the start with Potopova, it's only one round away, that is looming a little bit. I think Goff would be the favourite, but I think that is tricky. Potopova has been in good form, is a big hitter. I'm not sure I would... I think it would be a good example of what you're talking about there, David. There might be a moment where Potopova comes out, hitting the ball cleanly and Goff hasn't quite got a game and Potipova jumps out to a lead but I just think Goff probably will still find a way through.

52:58David Law: She's another player as well that is going to use this heat to her advantage. She loves it. She loves playing in it. She says I sometimes schedule my practice sessions, a lot of people do it early to avoid the heat. She says I'll do it during the height of it to get used to it. She says I might practice for a shorter time but I want to feel it. I want to feel what I'm going to feel on match day. And, yeah, I think she's really excited about the prospect of that being a factor. I mean, obviously, that may only be for the first four rounds or so, but, yeah, she's going to take some beating in these conditions.

53:40Matt Roberts: Yeah, and on the subject of players like that, Maria Sekeri popping up out of nowhere today and beating the 12th seed Linda Noskova, 7-5, 7-6. I mean, a couple of years ago, wouldn't have been an upset at all. Feels like quite a big upset in 2026.

53:56Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, I think so. Noskova's had a nice start to the season, hasn't she? Getting close to making her top 10 debut. And Sakari, the last time she beat a top 15 player at a slam. 2021 US Open.

54:18Matt Roberts: Oof.

54:19Catherine Whitaker: I mean, she hasn't played a lot of top 15 players since then. She's just been losing to players ranked lower than that, quite honestly. But I think you're right. I think that was perfect for her in those conditions. I don't think Noskova loves them. And I think Sakari really backs herself still physically above pretty much anyone in the draw. So, yeah, she's really taken advantage of that. It'll be interesting to see whether she can keep it going or not.

54:49Matt Roberts: Sabalenka, about par for her, 6-4, 6-2, against Jessica Bothes-Monero on opening Chattrier today.

54:56David Law: Yeah, and on paper, that is a tough first round. You know, a player who's comfortable on the surface and who's a very good player in Bothes-Monero. And it was, yeah, it was a bit rusty, I thought, in the first set from Sabalenka. And then suddenly she just put her foot down and could have won that second set even more easily, I think. Yeah, another one who has time in a slightly different way because she's going to just keep swinging until she lands, even if it's not going that well. And she invariably, in these stages, catches up with an opponent eventually. I mean, you don't get early round losses from Marina Savalanka at Grand Slams.

55:38Matt Roberts: There are a few other American winners today besides Coco Goff on the women's side. Emma Navarro carried on her Strasbourg form. Obviously won the title there a few days ago, beat Janice Chen today, 6-4, 6-3. It was an interesting piece with her in Ben Rothenberg's sub-stack today about the health issues she's suffered from recently, hyperthyroidism being amongst them. I mean, it does sound like she's really been through it and continues to go through it and has quite a story to tell. She's a good talker, Emma Navarro. She's a smart cookie, I think. And, yeah, I'm really pleased to see her. It looks just a first-round win, but Janice Chen's a good player, and Strasbourg, that is a good title, and I'm really pleased to see it.

56:28Matt Roberts: Because, yeah, well, for lots of reasons, but I'm pleased to see it.

56:31David Law: Yeah, she's clearly had quite a tough time, really. and when you make a comeback after quite a long period of just not really being able to play or certainly not being able to play at the level you're used to or in the health that you're used to, it can sometimes take a while and actually this has been a pretty sharpish rise back up, hasn't it?

56:55Matt Roberts: Absolutely. Madison Keyes, also a winner today, looked fit, I think, which is the big win because she wasn't fit in the last match that she played just over a week ago. And Eva Jovic also a winner over Alexandra Ayala today. That's it for part two. We'll be back in part three to do Sensation of the Day and Musketeer of the Day

57:19Catherine Whitaker: and look ahead to tomorrow's order of play.

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58:30Matt Roberts: Welcome back to part three of today's tennis podcast, where we unexpectedly have to decide upon sensation of the day. Is it going to Adam Walton or is it going to Kim Birrell? I'll let you argue amongst yourselves.

58:45Catherine Whitaker: Kim Birrell for me. Kim Birrell for me. She's stolen it from right from under Adam Walton's nose. I thought that was a shoo-in for Adam Walton to get. this newfangled sensation of the day in May, but Kim Birrell has to be. I think that's a bigger upset.

59:02Matt Roberts: Birrell, done. On to Musquetaire of the day we go. We have a few contenders today. There were some French defeats. Thomas Farrell losing out to injured Valentin Vachero in four sets, as we say. It was a fun sort of comeback spell for Farrell, wasn't there, where they were so into it on court 14, but Vachero trudging through in the end, although it sounds like he's not in a great way, quite frankly. Lois Boisson, a bit of a sad scene for her on Longland today, beaten by Kalinskaya, 6-2, 6-2. Not sure how fit she is, certainly not match fit, Lois Boisson. And obviously old Clément Tabour, beaten by Yannick Sinner on Chatrier this evening.

59:48Matt Roberts: We do have some French winners, though, And some exciting and interesting ones. We have our first female French winners, your gal Elsa Giacomo, Matt, the first French female winner of the tournament. She beat Linda Fruvitova, 6-4, 6-3. Diane Parry got unexpectedly moved to Châtrier and played a very odd match against Angelina Kalinina. Both of them seemed quite injured. And there was a time when it looked like this match might delay the night session.

1:00:20Catherine Whitaker: I was rooting for that

1:00:21Matt Roberts: Yeah, me too But in the end, Parry winning through With hefty strapping on her thigh, shall we say And on the men's side, a win for Moise Kwame A shining light today on the men's side of things for the French He beat Marin Cilic in three straight sets And he's quite a talent, David

1:00:43David Law: Yeah, they've been talking about Kwame for quite a while here in France He's 17 years of age at the moment, but this is the first year really that he's made some breakthrough results. I was talking to Julien Roboy from L 'Equipe, who said that he'd never beaten anybody in the top 250 before this year, and he's beaten eight of those players this year. So that's a pretty significant change. And in terms of his style, he's quick. he plays quite a surprising unpredictable game you know he'll he'll give you some fairly slow balls and then he'll suddenly dart them through and and start thrashing at the ball you know you're not quite sure what's coming from one minute to the next and I think Catherine and I watching this on one of our screens this morning we were we were quite taken by how he he sort of hung with Cilic to get through that first set and then it was Cilic that faded look he's late 30s Kwame's 17 you know he's less than half his age it's maybe not that surprising but it's quite interesting that he's coached by Richard Gasquet who apparently according to Julien from L 'Equipe Gasquet said to the French Tennis Federation if you want me to do anything just get me to work with the really young kids because as they're coming through, because I'm the one who knows what that was like trying to do it.

1:02:12David Law: And basically, I would have wanted to do things differently or had a different experience than what I did have, if I could do it all over again. I mean, this is a guy, Gasquet, who was on the front cover of Tennis Magazine at the age of nine, which, I mean, that sounds irresponsible to me. I saw his debut in Monte Carlo. I was there at the time when he was 15 and he beat Franco Scolari and it was an amazing sight to see his backhand for the first time and the French crowd were getting really into him but he was a child you know and he wasn't ready for it he wasn't mature enough and he came along so closely in age to Nadal but he just wasn't ready like Nadal was ready for it and and I think it stunted him all the way through really I don't didn't didn't feel to me like Gasca ever really was able to completely mature at the right pace and I think he knows it and he wants to help them not make the same mistakes and help these young lads so far Kwame, I mean that's a great win, that's a great result for him to be getting a wild card and getting through to the second round of the French Open

1:03:29Matt Roberts: So does he get Muscatara the day?

1:03:32David Law: He does for me. Yeah, me too

1:03:37Matt Roberts: First female winners

1:03:38David Law: Don't want to put too much pressure on him I just think Kwame

1:03:43Catherine Whitaker: youngest male player to win a match at a slam since Tomic at the 2009 Australian Open he's 20 years younger than Chilich I know that may have helped him as well

1:03:57Matt Roberts: Look, I agree with you I just think if we don't give it to a woman today, they probably won't be any women. When Giacomo takes out Sabalenka.

1:04:08Catherine Whitaker: That's very French open. When Giacomo takes out Sabalenka. She can have it. She can.

1:04:14Matt Roberts: Is Sabalenka the Cilic equivalent here?

1:04:18Catherine Whitaker: She'll be musketeer of the tournament. OK.

1:04:22Matt Roberts: Three straight sets. This is like when Matt removed Belinda Bencic from the backhand list when she had a baby and I accused him of misogyny.

1:04:33Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, which was crazy. I was opening up the opportunity to someone else to enjoy some time on the backhand list. This is the worst French Open on the women's side for France in a long time, only having two players into the second round. I think since the 80s, they've not had this few players in the second round. But yeah, I do think it's Kwame. Also because his favourite player is Petra Kvitova. Isn't that fun?

1:05:04Matt Roberts: Well, I do love that. I genuinely, I don't think I've ever heard a male player when asked who their favourite player is say a female player. And women usually say male players.

1:05:19Catherine Whitaker: He wasn't asked directly, who's your favourite player? He had done a video on TikTok a few weeks ago in which he apparently said that his favourite player is Petra Kvistva and he was asked about that video. That's enough for me. He was asked about that video by Tomani Carial, who is clearly more across Kwame's TikTok than I am, but I'm going to change that. Yeah. How do we get across TikTok?

1:05:47Matt Roberts: We're on it. You're big on TikTok, David. Okay, sold on that. I do love that. So Kwame, it is. This is what we've got to look forward to tomorrow. We're finally into round two, folks. We made it. So what have we got tomorrow? Day four of the French Open. Finally, round two action is getting underway. Chattere starts with a women's match. Sara Belek. Am I saying that right, Matt?

1:06:16Catherine Whitaker: That's how I've been saying it.

1:06:18Matt Roberts: Belek against Iga Svjantek first up. Then Alina Svitolina against Caitlin Quevedo, a Spanish player. world number 126. I know very little about her, but we will see her tomorrow against Alina Svitolina. Third on the day session on Chateau tomorrow is Valentin Royer against Novak Djokovic. And in the night session, Thomas Mahatch against Alexander Zverev. Thoughts and feelings?

1:06:51Catherine Whitaker: You never know. Just imagine.

1:06:58Matt Roberts: yeah just imagine Mahat retiring at a certain three-love down or just imagine him producing

1:07:05David Law: the sort of form that led to him being known by us as the best player in the world yeah

1:07:13Matt Roberts: Longland tomorrow starts with look this was supposed to be blocks against a menor but Hashanov and Trunjeliti have been upgraded at the gate. They open Longlen tomorrow. Following them is Yulia Starobdubtseva against Lena Rabakina. Third on, Jasmine Paolini against Sorol Anak, Sierra and then Kaspar Rude against Hamad Majedovic. He'll be hoping it's cooled off quite a bit by the time he takes to the court.

1:07:42David Law: Jen, do you know it occurred to me today that I could, if I time it right on Susan Longland tomorrow I could be reunited with the drop shot dragon 25 years on

1:07:54Matt Roberts: Who's he coaching?

1:07:56David Law: He's coaching Trunjuliti

1:07:57Matt Roberts: Is he? Albert Portas We've got to make that happen for content purposes haven't we?

1:08:04David Law: He won't have a clue where I am He would remember you, wouldn't he? Only if I say I'm the bloke who came up with the drop shot dragon remember? You might remember then

1:08:12Matt Roberts: you're quite easy to remember though David

1:08:16David Law: you've got some distinctive features

1:08:20Matt Roberts: could we try could we genuinely try and make that happen

1:08:24David Law: sure I'm excited the press seats are right behind the coaching box exactly

1:08:31Matt Roberts: feels achievable Albert I haven't seen you for 25 years

1:08:36David Law: remember old Hamburg me stood next to you and the first question was why did they call you the drop shot dragon and you just pointed at me.

1:08:46Matt Roberts: I think you should try and get his attention by shouting Dropshot Dragon.

1:08:50David Law: Yeah, that would be quite interesting to see if he turned around. It would be so disappointing if he did. Imagine how hurt I'd be. Anyway.

1:08:58Matt Roberts: Mathieu tomorrow opens with Katie McNally against Belinda Bencic. It's a lovely match. Yeah, lovely. Camila Ugo Carabelli against Andre Rublev, second up. Umber against Alice. another all French match for Hugo and Bear and then Mira and Draiva against Basel's Rivera is last on Mathieu tomorrow Davidovic for Kina opens court 14 Marta Kostiuk is there tomorrow against Katie Volinets third on I really hope it's not too hot for this because I want to see Joel Fonseca against Dino Prismic oh yes yeah

1:09:38Catherine Whitaker: that would be good

1:09:39Matt Roberts: winner to face

1:09:42Catherine Whitaker: probably Novak Djokovic oh

1:09:46David Law: they've got my attention

1:09:48Matt Roberts: we found some kicks in the men's draw we found some potential kicks, Karolina Mookova is last on court 14 tomorrow court 7 has Jelena Ostapenko against Magda Lynette

1:10:02Catherine Whitaker: it's huge

1:10:04Matt Roberts: circle that one it's so big

1:10:07David Law: are you concerned that Yeah, Lynette's tricky.

1:10:12Catherine Whitaker: Lynette's exactly the sort of player who could completely... Very tricky. Certified tricky. But also was really struggling, wasn't she, in her previous match against Balintover.

1:10:21Matt Roberts: And, you know, that is going to be peak heat. That match.

1:10:24Catherine Whitaker: Yeah.

1:10:26Matt Roberts: James Duckworth against Raphael Hodder is third on court seven tomorrow. It's good tomorrow. Lorenzo Sonnigo against Tommy Paul. It's good tomorrow. Yeah, it's a good order of play. We've got the fake sinner opening court six. Who's the fake Sinner?

1:10:41Catherine Whitaker: The Italian called Sinner. C-I-N-N-A.

1:10:49David Law: What's his first name?

1:10:52Catherine Whitaker: Federico. Okay.

1:10:54Matt Roberts: Sounds right. Jakub Mensik, Mariano Navone. Hayley Baptiste is on court six tomorrow, third on, followed by Ava Lees against Sarana Castella. It's a good order of play tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it I don't expect to be awarding a sensation of the day I think we'll go back to just Muscatara of the day but look we weren't expecting to do that today so anything can happen

1:11:19Catherine Whitaker: If Duckworth beats Hoddle he can have it

1:11:22David Law: I hope he doesn't do that because then all my predictions will be up in smoke

1:11:27Matt Roberts: David's got a credibility issue if James Duckworth does a thing tomorrow Folks let's say hello to truly the most handsome cat I have ever seen. Elise says, I feel like you just need plenty of Bashir content to keep you going in this weather. And that is absolutely right. In fact, it might be Vicky that said that. Someone has said that and they're absolutely right. Bashir is looking up at me with his beautiful blue eyes. He is absolutely mesmerising. There have been some requests to see Bashir's portrait done by my mum and we will be putting that on Instagram when I have some Wi-Fi which I didn't for most of today we will get that on Instagram hello to our mascots hello Bodie, hello Maisie hello Roger hello to our top folks and executive producers Greg, Chris and Jeff let's have some shout outs Matt

1:12:27Catherine Whitaker: we have Vicky not our Vicky but Vicky from Brooklyn but like our Vicky Same church, same pew in fact Vicky with an I at the end

1:12:38Matt Roberts: Like Vicky Spreadbury Yeah Our Lord and Saviour

1:12:41Catherine Whitaker: You're lucky to have that name Vicky We love Vicky

1:12:45Matt Roberts: I got myself in such a pickle this afternoon And I just forlornly turned to Matt and said Do you think Vicky could sort this out? And Matt said yep I think Vicky could sort anything out

1:12:57Catherine Whitaker: Yep to find anything that she can't sort out for us Did she?

1:13:02Matt Roberts: I sorted it out myself, David.

1:13:04Catherine Whitaker: You harvassed your inner Vicky. Yeah.

1:13:07Matt Roberts: I did, actually. Really did.

1:13:08Catherine Whitaker: You got on the phone and everything. I was proud of you.

1:13:12Matt Roberts: Thank you, cooling off period.

1:13:15David Law: I still haven't been told about it, have I?

1:13:17Matt Roberts: I did a disaster, David. But I also undid said disaster all in the same day. So it doesn't count. Thank you, Vicky.

1:13:28Catherine Whitaker: We also have Diane Martin.

1:13:32Matt Roberts: Hello, Diane. Like Diane Parry that won today.

1:13:36Catherine Whitaker: Exactly. Diane is from Melbourne. Moved back just in time to go to the Australian Open this year after 20 years of living in the UK and Thailand.

1:13:50Matt Roberts: Well, very apt that Diane should get her shout-out on the day that sensation of the day makes an unexpected return. Thank you, Diane.

1:14:01Catherine Whitaker: Diane's been listening to the pod almost since it first began, she says.

1:14:05Matt Roberts: Gosh, what a trooper. It's not that hard. It's great. Except for those ones where I have to get up at 7am.

1:14:18David Law: Yeah, but the listeners can have a line and listen to it later.

1:14:23Catherine Whitaker: Thanks, Diane. And finally, we have Noreen Riley from Robbinsville, New Jersey.

1:14:32Matt Roberts: New Jersey heard that Seattle...

1:14:34Catherine Whitaker: Hitting back after the Seattle reference.

1:14:37Matt Roberts: Seattle was coming for its title. Our first Noreen, potentially.

1:14:44Catherine Whitaker: I've got a feeling you've said that before. Yeah, I think we might have had this Noreen before.

1:14:49Matt Roberts: Well, maybe our only Noreen, then. Noreen says

1:14:54Catherine Whitaker: since starting to listen to the pod during the pandemic you've opened my eyes to all the amazing tournaments outside of the Grand Slams my husband and I went to our first grass tournament this past summer when we saw the women's semifinals at Queen's while on vacation

1:15:11Matt Roberts: that's really lovely Noreen because Matt and I had dinner with our mate Dave last week and he described everything podcasts outside of the Grand Slams as a trudge and that's our dear friend Dave so that's a boost Noreen

1:15:29Catherine Whitaker: I won't forget that I'm excited for the text from Dave when he's heard that mind you we did reveal he doesn't listen to all the pods so maybe we won't get a text it's a real test

1:15:44Matt Roberts: Noreen, Diane and Vicky thank you ever so much for being friends of the tennis podcast We are part of the Athletic Podcast Network. It is 20 to 1 in the morning. We've ticked over into day four of the French Open. We'll be back. How is it 20 to 1 in the morning? Cine one in about two hours. After a cinema. What are we doing?

1:16:03David Law: This is my early night.

1:16:05Matt Roberts: We'll be back tomorrow, later today. Whatever it might be, we'll speak to you then.

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