Live from Wimbledon Day 4 - Draper stunned by Cilic, should we have seen this coming?

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1:16Matt Roberts: Hello and welcome to the Tennis Podcast live from Wimbledon on day four of the championship, starting the show in daylight for the very first time this tournament. Thank you, Taylor Fritz, for not being on today's schedule. And that means, folks, that we have a crowd, a crowd of hardy folk over there. Hardy, hardy folk. Captain Whittaker is among them who have stayed to cheer us on this evening and celebrate the fact that we are coming on in daylight hours. Not 45 minutes ago, Gail Monfils was battling away on Court 18, just metres away from us down there, trying to avoid the dreaded suspended due to lack of, due to bad light announcement.

1:59Matt Roberts: But alas, it did come. Two sets all, he and Martin Futrovic. They'll be back tomorrow. A classic Wimbledon scene. People standing on tables trying to catch a glimpse of the last dregs of an incredible day of tennis. On our table. Standing on this very table. Booing. Booing when the match got called off. It was quite a scene, wasn't it? I'm Catherine Ritzker, alongside me as always, David Law and Matt Roberts, here to talk about tennis for the next hour or so. And there really is only one place to start tonight, and that is with the defeat of another seed, the fourth seed on the men's side, great British hope, Jack Draper.

2:40Matt Roberts: He went down to the former finalist here, Maren Cilic, 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4. and there are two very distinct angles to this story. There is the Jack Draper angle and there is the, is Marin Cilic going to win Wimbledon angle because he was that good today, David.

3:03David Law: Yeah, he was fantastic. I thought he was a threat when we spoke last night. I didn't think he would win, but I thought he was a threat because he's a great player. I mean, three Grand Slam finals, one Grand Slam title. He's very often run into, Novak Djokovic in particular, the one guy he's never really been able to beat at all. He beat him once in about 12. But he's such a complete player, and I think it's easy to forget because he's not been around for a couple of years. This is a guy who had knee surgery a year and a half ago or a year ago or something like that. And just, I mean, it was really in doubt as to whether he'd ever play again or at least certainly reached this sort of level again.

3:47David Law: But then you looked at his results when we were in that first set and it was a close first set and I started to look at the recent results and saw that he'd won a challenger in Nottingham and not lost on grass, basically. He looked confident and in the rallies between the two of them, I'm so used to Jack Draper in the last year being able to pull the trigger and just bully people. and there's very few people he can't do that against and yet Cilic was bullying him. He was the cleaner ball striker. He has such threat on both sides. It's very rare that you get a player who's got threat on both sides.

4:25David Law: I think he's got a slightly shonky forehand that can go off but when it's on, it's a destructive shot and the problem for Draper is his left-handed serve that carves people open out wide It goes right into that beautiful two-handed backhand of Cilic. And time and again, he just made Draper pay. And, yeah, this was a back-to-the-drawing-board performance from Jack Draper. We've seen it here before. We've seen it before on that court twice. So, you know, I don't think it's a coincidence. And he's got a lot to work on, and he knows it.

4:58Matt Roberts: Yeah, he doesn't think it's a coincidence either. He thinks he has a problem on grass.

5:03David Law: Yeah, that was really something, wasn't it?

5:05Matt Roberts: Yeah, it was. And look, the results back that up. He said I was, he didn't quite say lucky to reach the semifinals in Queens, but he said he surprised himself by doing that because he didn't think he was playing great tennis at any stage there. He says a grass court exposes holes in my game, in particular on my forehand. He said I couldn't deal with the pace of the Cilic ball into my forehand today. And I quite often find myself overspinning on that shot. And we're going to talk about Igor Svjantek later on today, Coco Goff, Mira Andreva had issues on the forehand. These extreme grip, heavily top spun forehands that are extremely suited to the majority of tennis that's played on tour aren't particularly suitable on these courts.

5:52Matt Roberts: And Jack Draper's in this really weird, unique position of just being, well, sort of a two-pronged attack, being assumed that he's going to be good on grass because he's British and he reached the junior final here. and because in his own words in press today I'm a six foot four inch lefty with a big serve like those two things on paper equal get a win Wimbledon but it's just not as simple as that Matt

6:19Catherine Whitaker: no it's not and look he can play well on this surface I I do think that um you know he did reached the semis of Queens without his best tennis, absolutely, but still the weaponry that he has came on strong in big moments in those matches and overwhelmed some players. We've seen him beat Carlos Alcaraz at Queens. OK, not peak Alcaraz, but it was a good performance. But I think what we're seeing at Wimbledon is a more encumbered version of Jack Draper, and that version right now is more vulnerable on the grass because of the reasons you've just laid out and especially against a guy like Maren Cilic.

7:04Catherine Whitaker: This level from Cilic really did surprise me. I must say, I was with David. I thought a threat. He's won a challenger. We know how much he likes the grass. I thought he might be able to bring this kind of level for a set or maybe two and Draper would win in probably four or five sets. I was kind of picturing that kind of match today. But Cilic really was awesome, striking the ball so well, moving so well. And yeah, what Draper's talking about there, the best tennis I've seen Jack Draper play ever is at Indian Wells, where he's got time on the ball and he's got time to generate pace and spin off his own forehand rather than being rushed on that wing.

7:50David Law: The ball holds up on the surface there, doesn't it? Exactly. He just pops up into his hitting zone. Exactly.

7:54Catherine Whitaker: And look, we saw that in Madrid as well. Another place where, you know, where in those conditions he could really make, just make a lot happen with that forehand of his and the serve as well. And so I think there was probably a, it was mostly Cilic outplaying Jack Draper today. That was very much what Draper said in his press conference and I agree with that. I think, I still think Jack Draper at his best can flourish on this surface and can do well here. I really do think that. I don't think one result and one performance today should totally change how we see Jack Draper on this surface. But it's maybe the most telling line in his press conference was, I thought I was ahead of where I was.

8:42Catherine Whitaker: And I think maybe I got a little bit carried away. He had never been beyond the second round here. And there's probably a reason for that. and I think maybe he's not quite figured out how to bring his best version of his game to grass and his best version of himself to Wimbledon yet, where it is different. There is pressure on him, there is more expected of him and it's kind of a curse really being a top player with a home slam. There's definitely a positive to it, but it's been a curse for more players than it's been a positive for, I would say.

9:18Matt Roberts: He was asked about that today. He was asked about, you know, pressure and expectation. Did it get to you, Jack? And he was like, it's kind of like, I don't really know how to answer that. Like, I was just outplayed today. I didn't freeze. I didn't, you know, I was exposed. But that's my game. Like, it's a very difficult one for him to answer. But he did say, you know, it makes me realise how incredible it is that Andy Murray won this thing twice. which was a great line from him in a great press conference because he was clearly just, I mean, obviously absolutely gutted. His bottom lip was wobbling at the start, wasn't it?

9:54Matt Roberts: He held it together so well.

9:56David Law: To be that emotional and that upset and yet that professional. He wasn't rude to anybody. It would be so easy to just get chippy. I wouldn't even hold it against him if he did. But the fact that he doesn't and he answers all the questions fully and just wants to go away and try and work on it, you know, in a week's time, he said. Imagine that, going back on court in a week's time. You know, and he was even asked, will you cheer on the other British players tomorrow? And he said, look, I'm right behind them. And he talked them all up and he said, but, you know, I'll probably have to stay away from it because it hurts too much.

10:27Catherine Whitaker: And I think Charlie Equiché's question was really getting to the crux of what's difficult about this in that if it's a grass issue for Draper, and I think it may well be part of it. It's so hard to get better on grass, right? Like, he's not going to play on this surface now for such a long time. And the time you do get to play on it, you know, he's mostly at home here. Again, there's all that attention on him. It's just hard to see sort of how he makes those improvements. I think he probably will with time. That's it. It feels like time. you know like Andy Murray was I think more natural on the grass maybe than Jack Draper but he still needed time you know he still you know he had a lot of quarterfinals before he got to the final here and that's Andy Murray who is you know a true great so yeah Draper needs time is kind of

11:29Matt Roberts: is kind of my big sort of takeaway from this he's impatient for it all though isn't he he's as impatient as all the journalists that are desperate for him to succeed so that they can they can have the the brilliant the brilliant story that that everybody wants but that there aren't many shortcuts shortcuts um i know there is the odd exceptional player like carlos alcaraz that just rocks up here and wins the thing but as you say not even rafael nadal did that like So, yeah, give him a shot.

11:59David Law: Actually, he might be the guy he's got to look at. How did Rafael Nadal adapt his heavily top-spun game to this surface to make it work? Now, I realise we're talking about a player in Nadal who's an all-time great, and it may just be a question of Nadal's just so much better than Draper will ever be that it isn't doable for Draper. But I think that's what I'd be looking at, is watching a lot of video of Nadal on this surface to see what he did, what changes he made.

12:30Catherine Whitaker: I think we do forget how quickly Nadal was in the final at Wimbledon. Like 2006, he played a final. And his first Wimbledon here, I think he got further than Draper's ever got. I think he got to the third round.

12:45David Law: You beat a proper grass court player. Sorry, Mario Ancic. Yeah.

12:51Matt Roberts: I mean, it's not totally ludicrous to think that Marin Cilic could have been playing in 2006, David. It has been a while.

12:57David Law: It was in 2007 where we had him at Queen's for the first time. And he reached, I think, the quarterfinals, something like that. Beat Tim Henman. I mean, you know, it's 18 years ago.

13:07Matt Roberts: For anyone that didn't see it, I cannot tell you how good Marin Cilic was today. It's as good as I've seen him play. Like, simple as that.

13:17David Law: It was a ball strike. Yeah, it was beautiful tennis.

13:21Matt Roberts: The sweetness of the strike on both sides. He looked totally in the zone. 53 winners to 34 unforced errors.

13:29David Law: There's a lesson in there for Alexander Zverev about going and trying to take someone out.

13:34Matt Roberts: Those numbers are unusual. That is a serious statement. I've just been to his press conference and look, he's thrilled. He knows that's a big achievement and a big moment, but this is not about today for him. I mean, I asked him outright, I was like, obviously this is big but you seem like a guy that's viewing this as a step along the way rather than a destination and his answer was very much, yep. He said, I'm playing really well. Wow. He said it in a Marin Cilici way. Yeah, yeah. You know.

14:10David Law: But relatively bullish.

14:12Matt Roberts: Absolutely. He likes the way he's playing. he suspected that performance was in him obviously you don't know until you step out on the court lots of people come in after a loss in a press conference and are like I wasn't expecting that I was practicing really well but he's like won the title in Nottingham been practicing great like almost a bit kind of of course like I'm Maren Cilic I'm a finalist here I'm fresh because I've had so much time on the sidelines with injury Look at all these guys that have been thrashing away week in, week out for years. Tommy Paul will come on to talk about there are so many players out there who look like their bodies are being held together by sticky tape.

14:57Matt Roberts: And obviously he's been through those physical struggles. But he's in the great period where, you know, like when you recover from a cold and it's like, oh, my God, I feel normal again. I feel like I can take over the world. He's there. He thinks he can win Wimbledon. I'm telling you.

15:17Catherine Whitaker: I don't think you're going to win Wimbledon. He was great today, but, you know, David's explained the Novak Djokovic problem he's had.

15:26David Law: At his peak, he couldn't beat that guy.

15:28Catherine Whitaker: That problem is still there. Novak Djokovic is still in this draw. Yannick Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz. I think he was absolutely brilliant. He really, really was. And there's something about that generation that he's from. you know, those male players born in the 1980s. I don't know what happened in the 1980s, but that group of male players that came through were ridiculously strong. And, like, we're seeing it even, like, Monfils now. We've seen Wawrinka have, like, moments late in his career. We're seeing Cilic now, like, it just feels like they've been through, they've lived through that big three, big four era, these guys.

16:06Catherine Whitaker: And if they're still, like, that took them to such a high level. like Cilic got Cilic won a slam in that era like that is a crazily high level that he reached and okay he can't he can't do it consistently anymore his body has has let him down the last two years but I just think once you sort of reach that kind of level you don't it is in you still like in the right conditions in the right circumstances and he was great today I don't think it's going to continue in the latter stage of this tournament. But I think the other thing that impressed me was he had a problem closing out matches for quite a while, Maren Shevich.

16:50Catherine Whitaker: He's lost several times here from two sets to love up. You know, Medvedev, Guido Pella, Federer.

16:56David Law: Guido Pella won.

16:57Matt Roberts: That was when he'd won Queen's, wasn't it?

16:59Catherine Whitaker: That was when he was in, I think that was the best form he'd ever been in, coming into Wimbledon. It was a, okay, in hindsight, you know, Djokovic ended up winning that Wimbledon, but Chiric should just be in him at Queen's. That's the one he thought he was going to win. Right.

17:10David Law: He did.

17:11Catherine Whitaker: And he had a problem closing out matches and he would get twitchy with the leg and the serve. And that's kind of all still there. You know, the leg twitched, the ball bouncing. But I was kind of expecting it a little bit today but he was awesome at closing this out. Once he was serving first in that fourth set and he just kept holding, just kept applying the pressure to Draper and, you know, he could have broken at 3-4 but actually ended up breaking at 4-5. And yeah, like he was brilliant. I just think the things that have prevented him from winning multiple majors in the past, you know, a lot of those things are still still in this draw.

17:50Matt Roberts: Yeah, look, I don't think Cilic is winning Wimbledon either, but I think he's going to take some beating.

17:55Catherine Whitaker: Oh, yeah.

17:57Matt Roberts: Serious beating.

17:57David Law: He could be he could be moving through a fair way before somebody takes him.

18:02Matt Roberts: He's got Jamon Munar next, who is absolutely not to be underestimated. He won in straight sets, but that is absolutely by no means the headline from this match over Fabian Marajan. 11 match points, was it, Matt? Matt was going bananas next to me. Just the 11.

18:21Catherine Whitaker: It's one of my favourite things when match points start...

18:25Matt Roberts: And it happened a few times for you today.

18:26Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, when match points start stacking up and a player's not taking them, I do find it really, really fascinating and funny. But that's a good win. He's had a couple of very good wins there, Munar. Bublik and Marijan, these are good wins. And we sort of asked the other day, didn't we? What is the story there with Munar? Why is he so much better this year compared to last year's? And I spoke to a couple of Spanish journalists about this and it was clear that they've been wondering the same thing. So they kind of asked him at his pre-tournament press about the year that he's had. And it's interesting.

19:09Catherine Whitaker: It's kind of a story of like you don't necessarily need to change all that much to be able to make a big step in your career. Like there hasn't been a huge transformation. It's not like he's suddenly changed the way he's working and all that kind of thing. He said he's a big believer in change comes from within rather than necessarily just bringing someone from the outside and telling you to do something. Because ultimately, you're still the one who's got to do it. And his team has changed a little bit. His long-term coach has become a father and isn't sort of traveling so much. So while they're still in touch, he's got some different traveling coaches from the Nadal Academy.

19:50Catherine Whitaker: He's not based at the Nadal Academy, but he sort of uses their coaches. and he said the main thing is mindset in terms of he realised he had to be more aggressive on court. He said, like, I've got to improve the elements of my game so I can be more aggressive and take it to opponents because otherwise, yes, I'm solid from the back of the court and I'm consistent, but I've got a ceiling. So he's really worked on that. He's worked on his serve and it's been a big change this year. He has been a lot more sort of proactive, I think, in matches. He's still got a problem getting over the line, like we saw it today, needing 11 match points.

20:28Catherine Whitaker: He's lost four final set tie breaks this year.

20:31David Law: He's been in some of the great matches of the year. The Artafiste match, the Kasparud match. Exactly. The Alcaraz match.

20:37Catherine Whitaker: All of these, and he's lost them. He's lost four final set tie breaks. He's lost a 7-5 in the third a couple of times. And both of his defeats at the majors this year have been in five sets to Rude and to Fiste. So you could look at that two ways, right? Yes, he's got a little bit of a problem getting over the line, but also he's incredibly tough to beat. Even for some of the best players in the world have found him tough to beat this year, and that wasn't the case previously. I by no means think that's an easy match for Cilic. I really don't. Munar is great. I think that's pretty tight. Maybe on today's form I would give the eggs to Cilic just because he can, as you said, he can bully opponents.

21:22David Law: Munnar might be able to expose the little hitch in the forehand by being quick and getting a lot of balls to it quite hard himself.

21:31Matt Roberts: So it's Munnar against Cilic. That's the match that we did significant preview of being Bublik against Draper. That's happened a few times this week. Munnar Cilic to face the winner of Mensik-Kabali. Mensik beat Giron in four very hard-fought sets today and Kabbali beat plucky Brit Jack Pennington-Jones on court 18 behind us here. So one of Mensik, Kabbali, Munar and Cilic is reaching the quarterfinals. Who's it going to be?

22:07David Law: I think I'm going to go Cilic.

22:10Matt Roberts: Because he's winning Wimbledon?

22:12David Law: No, but I think he's going to come through that section.

22:16Matt Roberts: Yeah, I think so too.

22:19Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, and then lose to Djokovic.

22:21Matt Roberts: Yeah. Let's talk about Djokovic then, because hard to know who put in the better performance today out of Novak Djokovic and Marin Cilic, because they were both absolutely awesome, I thought. He beat Dan Evans 6-4, 6-2, 6-love, and Dan Evans did not play badly. He showed up, he brought it, he was pumped, like you said. He put in a heroic effort in that opening set, fending off break point after break point after break point. He came from love 40 in one game, got the crowd into it, but what he had to expend to fend him off for as long as he did ended up costing him in the end. And Djokovic was so good, David.

23:05David Law: Yeah, and actually, I mean, I think you're right. I think it did wear Dan Evans out that first set, but also the tennis was just, it was just overwhelming him in the end. and it was incredible that he was he saved nine break points before he was finally broken on the 10th and as you say he kind of got himself out of one game that lasted about 10 minutes and he saved four break points in that the very next service game he was at that love 40 and when he served his way out of that you did think now hold on is Djokovic just going to get a bit wound up by this and he didn't he didn't get wound up in the slightest every ball was coming out of his racket beautifully tactically I thought he was majestic today.

23:49David Law: When Evans was trying to sort of tempt him into these cross-court rallies and maybe try and test his patience or maybe jump on a shot if he put it short, Djokovic just, the moment he saw a slice backhand come into him, he would quite often just suddenly backpedal really quickly to get around it and hit his forehand and he would hit it inside in over the high part of the net to Evans' forehand.

24:17Catherine Whitaker: The rounds will be closing in around 15 minutes Please make your way to the exit gate And make sure you take all your belongings with you We all have enjoyed your day here at Wimbledon Wish you a pleasant and safe journey home Thank you Oh, not my best

24:37Matt Roberts: That announcement effort was brought to you by Pimms No regrets

24:43David Law: so yeah he just kept hitting these inside in forehands which I don't think Evans was really expecting it was so tactically clever the way he'd worked this out and he was executing every one of them right suddenly Evans is sort of leaning left because he's expecting to go the cross and suddenly he's trying to hook his forehand back into play somehow and the point's basically over in a number of different ways for Djokovic when Djokovic finally broke on his 10th break point he crossed himself theatrically. It was quite a comical moment. But I think it also showed you just how relaxed he was. Look, he's totally respectful of Dan Evans' game and what he's done in the sport, but there's no weight of shot to trouble him, especially when he's playing like that, when he's not irritable.

25:39David Law: He can do all the things Dan Evans can do. He's quite happy to just go into these slow ball rallies. And then he'll just sort of take over. But in terms of tactics in a match now, there's nobody better than this guy. You have to shock and awe him like Al Krasnensina can do. Those are the only guys that beat him when he's on form now. We spoke to him afterwards in the press conference. And he's really excited.

26:07Matt Roberts: By how well he's playing.

26:08David Law: By how well he's playing, but how good he's feeling. I said to him a year ago you'd got the whole saga of your knee and every press conference seemed to be about that that's what we were asking about how different does he feel he could barely contain how happy he is to feel good now the problem is anybody can have this but at the age of 38 at any time a situation could happen where he pulls something in a match the wrong movement but in terms of just How he's feeling right now, there's not a complaint. Not a single complaint. And I think he's right where he wants to be. And he thinks he can beat anybody in this draw.

26:48David Law: And he was absolutely clear about that.

26:51Matt Roberts: But he's got Mirmi Ketamanovic next, who I really think he is beating. I think that's a bit of a dream for him. I think fellow Serbians just... I think there's so much kind of baggage they carry into that match-up that almost their game doesn't really matter. I mean, most players step onto the court in awe of Novak Djokovic in some way. But for the Serbians, I think it's totally different. Yeah, it's total reverence. And yeah, although they do have that history of having been terrible doubles partners together at the Davis Cup. Do you remember that?

27:28David Law: I do, I do remember that.

27:30Catherine Whitaker: That was a haunting experience.

27:32Matt Roberts: Yeah, where they had Djokovic was doing his egginess with the crowd and Ketsmanovic just... I mean, he let Djokovic do his thing. He was doing his egginess with Ketsmanovic as well. Because it's Djokovic, but that was not his vibe at all. Ketsmanovic wants to keep his head down and get out of there without egging on the crowd. It was very funny. But yeah, I think Djokovic might breeze that one as well. Speaking of breezing, Yannick Sinner, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 against Alexander Vukic. Look, that's not a bad draw. that's not a bad matchup, but Yannick Sinner, I mean, it's everything you associate with Yannick Sinner in these early rounds of slams now, isn't it?

28:14Matt Roberts: Total dominance and efficiency.

28:16David Law: Yeah, I was quite surprised when the third set became relatively close because all this drama going on everywhere. Yannick Sinner just shows up and just, what drama? You know, he just stamps his authority on matches. But he was doing this all the way through Rell and Garros, wasn't he? and that's almost become a new trademark of his. Not that he wasn't efficient before, but he does seem to come out now and just want to take you down. There's no playing his way in. He wants to... I mean, remember the Lehechka match that we were watching and we were on triple bagel watch? Well, here he was, what, 6-1, 6-1.

28:54David Law: You know, it's not even competitive. So, not exactly a thrill ride watching Yannick Sinner from a competitive standpoint, but blimey, who cares if you're him?

29:07Matt Roberts: He plays Pedro Martinez next, which I'm also going to respectfully call a good draw for the second week of a slam. And then after that, so it's Pedro Martinez in the third round, and the winner of that faces the winner of Grigor Dimitrov against Sebastian Ofner. What a draw this is. so Pedro Martinez beat Mariano Navone today Grigor Dimitrov got the better of Kurentan Moutet in a really fun match Grigor Dimitrov four sets could it be happening?

29:45David Law: I need to watch that back because I didn't get to see that I just hope he's alright physically you know he's had so many retirements and withdrawals due to his body breaking down. Hasn't he had the full grand slam worth of retirements now in recent times? Wrap him in cotton wool. I don't think Ofner's doing anything against Yannick Sinner, but he might beat Grigor Dimitrov if Dimitrov's not 100 % fit.

30:18Matt Roberts: Ofner benefited from an injury to 13th seed Tommy Paul today. He was another seed to fall. He took the opening set against Ofner and then pulled up with a very worrying-looking foot injury at 4-all in the second set. Started having his foot very heavily strapped to the point where it totally restricted his movement. He said in press afterwards, he thought that was going to be the end of the match, but actually kind of adrenaline shock, painkillers kicked in, he was able to continue. But it was kind of one-way traffic in the direction of Sebastian Ofner after that he said he'd been feeling that foot for a couple of weeks and today he just felt it pop.

30:58Matt Roberts: He said he heard it pop. Oh. Which is absolutely grim. He said he hasn't played a normal match in a while, that he's been battling various different injuries. He's had this kind of ab adductor injury that's being referred to as a sports hernia, whatever one of those is. He's been managing that. managing that. I'm like, this is one of the fittest guys out there. He's falling apart.

31:27David Law: He does play very physical tennis, though. And I think the same about Taylor Fritz. They play so many tournaments and really batter their bodies on these hard courts a lot of the time.

31:37Matt Roberts: They do, but there's so much tennis. Everyone's falling apart.

31:43Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, and look, I've obviously mostly thought that Yannick Sinner's been playing so well in the last month or so because he's so great. But he had three months off. And it's kind of like how much three months off would help so many players if everyone had three months off. If they had to take that break, most of them are worried about it because they'd be missing out on ranking points and they'd be missing out on prize money and all that kind of thing. I understand why players don't take a break because they feel like they're losing out. Certainly they are in the short term. Maybe in the long term they would gain.

32:25Catherine Whitaker: But I think we're sinners kind of proof of how much it can help. And Djokovic. Right. And we've seen the physical work they've been able to do and the tennis they've been able to play.

32:38Matt Roberts: Classical music work. Yeah.

32:41Catherine Whitaker: Scraps that other part of your brain. Or maybe not.

32:46Matt Roberts: yeah no I I think it's a great point

32:49Catherine Whitaker: and it is it is an advantage like obviously it wasn't good that Sinner had that break but as we go into this second half of the season I think it's it's going it's going to be in his favour while the rest of the talks are hanging on he's and then when he does play he's so good he wins efficiently as well and obviously that all helps but yeah it's definitely a it's definitely a factor I think in the second half of this season to the context of Sinners season.

33:19Matt Roberts: Last men's result from today's matches I wanted to touch upon was August Holmgren, who beat the best player in the world today, Thomas Mahatch, in a final set tie-break, four hours and 38 minutes. He saved three consecutive match points. That's in fashion, isn't it? Move over, Carlos. there's a new guy in town he also saved match points in qualifying these are his first tour level match wins he's doing it at Wimbledon I saw that he was on his way to maybe winning this match I saw the incredible video of his embrace with his dad at the side of the court which just instantly made my bottom lip bobble watching that and I thought who is this kid I've got to look him up I've got to find out about him what an exciting young talent He is 27 years old.

34:16David Law: Where has he been? While we were preparing to come on air, one of our Danish colleagues came over to me and I didn't ask for the information. He just wanted to pass it on because he was so excited about it and about the story in general. He said he tried to play the future circuit, couldn't make it, went to college and then has come back to the sport. and he actually said it was five match points in qualifying that he saved to get to this point. And yeah, I mean, I was the same as you, curious about him and he looks a cool dude, you know, and there he was crying with his family and it was a beautiful scene on the side of the court there, as long as your name's not Thomas Mahatch.

35:03David Law: And yeah, good for him.

35:05Matt Roberts: World number 192 went to the University of San Diego. huge if there's one winner from week one of Wimbledon it's the University of San Diego sack the marketing department not needed he was there between 2017 and 2022 and he speaks about it just as glowingly as as Oliver Tarvit he had a great time there apparently participated in everything I read a piece about him from the ATP website he was he was salsa dancing he was surfing he was doing all sorts he's got a a theatre and performing arts degree I think is what he ended up majoring in he sounds like a really interesting guy and like I don't want to discourage people from listening to our Grand Slam build-up and preview podcast but Marin Cilic aside the lead up events seem to be more meaningless than ever before they've had a bad year August Holmgren lost in qualies of Nottingham.

36:08Matt Roberts: So it's a challenger event. He's lost in qualies of a challenger. 6-2, 6-4 to Hugo Blanchet. Oh, yeah. And now here he is beating the best player in the world in Wimbledon for the third round. Everything's meaningless. What are we doing? Trying to analyse anything on a tennis podcast.

36:28Catherine Whitaker: this was a classic like week one grand slam experience for me because you know i spent most of my afternoon watching this match mostly for thomas mahach and then i end up you know having having never watched august holmgren before i mean never heard of him before this tournament suddenly you spend four hours 38 minutes watching him you get to sort of know his game and then you're getting all emotional as he's hugging his father at the end it's like that's kind of what grand slams are kind of all about especially in the first week and it's just such a wild match robert mcnichol the wimbledon historian was following it because it had four tie breaks which is the most that's ever been in a match at wimbledon we've never had a a five tie-break match.

37:20Catherine Whitaker: Of course, they only brought in tie-breaks in the final set relatively recently. And this was the first one with the four tie-break matches to have a tie-break in the final set.

37:29Matt Roberts: It's quite a complicated stat, that, isn't it? It is. I don't want to take away... Please, Robert's excited, but... Oh, he's more than excited. That has fried my brain a bit.

37:38David Law: The texts were flying between Robert and Matt.

37:41Catherine Whitaker: And look, he's got a one-handed backhand. He's got a really good serve. Great serve. Mahatshah only broke him once, I think, in this whole match. But as I was watching it from a Thomas Mahatsh perspective, he was doing some utterly crazy things, like diving around on set points in the first and second set that I thought was going to injure himself. He had a left-handed forehand at one point, which was, you know, he's a right-handed player. He could have just hit a backhand. No, he had a left-handed forehand and absolutely middled it. Won the point. Yeah, won the point. And then there was this absolutely insane moment towards the end of the fourth set where he'd had the triple match point, Mahatch, lost it, then lost his serve to go down 6-5.

38:30Catherine Whitaker: So Holmgren's about to serve for the fourth set. Mahatch takes a medical timeout. The crowd really got on his back through that.

38:38Matt Roberts: Justifiably, was that a bit dodgy?

38:40Catherine Whitaker: Look, he was... Look, Mahatch has retired more than anyone. I think he was struggling. timing of it don't love it you know it's in the rules but I don't love that you can take a medical time out before your opponent is about to serve particularly for a set it was on his sort of forearm and then between the fourth set and the fifth set there was a over a ten minute delay while there was this huge discussion between Mahatch and the umpire about whether he was allowed to go off court to change his clothes and the umpire was saying well no because you're you've got to go off court you sort of missed your window.

39:19Catherine Whitaker: You can't do it now.

39:21Matt Roberts: I was watching this on mute, this hoo-ha from another court, and it just looks so tin-pot. This is Wimbledon. This is a Grand Slam match, and there's some people just standing about, vaguely debating whether somebody can go and change their pants. What are we doing? Why doesn't anyone know the rules?

39:42Catherine Whitaker: It was wild. Mahatch was insistent that he was right. He refused to play on. They brought the supervisor out. He didn't agree with them either. And then someone from the ATP came out. I think it was Ali Nilly actually came out. And Ali Nilly was like, yeah, of course you can go and change your clothes.

39:57Matt Roberts: Did he say, I've heard rumours that he said, what if I ship myself?

40:00Catherine Whitaker: I mean, I didn't hear that, but he may well have said that.

40:04Matt Roberts: Was that the energy he was giving? Absolutely. Yeah.

40:07Catherine Whitaker: I think he was just desperate to let them go off and change his clothes. He was like, you want me to change in the tunnel? What with a towel? would you change there in front of all these people? He definitely said that. And basically it turned out...

40:18Matt Roberts: Did he change in the tunnel?

40:19Catherine Whitaker: No, he was allowed to go to the bathroom as long as he didn't enter the toilet area. What? He'd already done his quota of toilet breaks and he wanted to go to the bathroom to change but the umpire was like, no, you can't because you've already done your maximum number of toilet breaks. And he was saying it's not a toilet break, it's a clothes change break. I haven't done that yet, I'm allowed to do that.

40:40Matt Roberts: So he was allowed to leave the court if he committed to not have any fluids leave his body?

40:46David Law: What if he'd got diarrhoea?

40:49Catherine Whitaker: Well, they were telling him to do a lot. That's what he said. Look, it was a ridiculous situation. It went on for so long.

40:58Matt Roberts: Should he have been allowed?

40:59Catherine Whitaker: Well, Ali nearly seemed to think so. He came on and was like, yeah, go on, change your clothes. Oh, dear. So that then led into this fifth set. and the crowd were very much on Holmgren's side after this and Mahatsch was barely moving for a lot of that fifth set. He was cramping, he was occasionally exploding into shots and he's still so dangerous when he gets it right but Holmgren played a way better final set tie break and he kind of had the crowd in the palm of his hand and it's an amazing story.

41:34Matt Roberts: Yeah, it really is. He's got Alex de Manor next who beat Arthur Cazor today And look, of course, Alex Demenor is the favourite, but he's not himself, Demenor. He hasn't been all grass court season. He hasn't been since Roland Garros. He's told us that, that he feels burnt out. It's quite a tough sight seeing someone like him, like the Energiser Bunny guy.

41:58David Law: Because he always looks up for it. He seems so flat. He's the guy you always associate with being pumped.

42:02Matt Roberts: And look, he's winning because he's such a pro. But he's not right to me. and I think obviously Katie Bolter's loss last night, that's affected him.

42:12David Law: I think it's quite instructive really. Burnout can happen to anybody. It doesn't matter what personality type you are, you can have it and you've got to, I think more power to him for realising it and talking about it. I respect him a lot for that. I hope he gets a break as well after this event. I know it's such a relentless tour, but take a bit of time off, whatever happens here.

42:41Matt Roberts: Just to cover off the matches that resumed today after failing to finish yesterday, Alejandro Davidovic-Fekina finished off Bertik van der Dan Schloop. Yep.

42:58Matt Roberts: Apparently, when this match was called off bad light last night, we've already got an explicit tag, haven't we? So in for a penny, in for a pound. Apparently, Bertic said this is the biggest bullshit ever. And I imagine that sentiment very much continued into today because he lost 7-6 in the fourth. So it's Alejandro Davidovic-Vikina that'll play Taylor Fritz. Jan-Leonard Struff won both sets that he played today to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime on court 18 behind us here. So it will be Struff to play Carlos Alcaraz in tomorrow's third round match. And Arta Rindeknesh will play again tomorrow. What even is Wimbledon 2025 without Arta Rindeknesh on the schedule?

43:42David Law: He's the story of the tournament so far.

43:43Matt Roberts: Five days in a row. He's going to play Myerschak for a place in the second week. Fabian Myerschak? Camille. Camille Myerschak.

43:54Catherine Whitaker: Yeah. Five of Rindeknesh's last six Grand Slam matches have been five setters. And the one that wasn't was the Sinner Match.

44:07Matt Roberts: He's a wild ride at the moment.

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45:41Matt Roberts: On to the women's matches from today. Should we start with Mira Andreva? Because I feel like we've barely talked about her. She won convincingly today, Lucia Bronzetti, 6-1, 7-6. I watched a lot of the first set of this, and then I had quite a lot of Wi-Fi issues that prevented me from watching too much of the second set. I was really impressed with Andreeva in the first set, particularly with her touch.

46:07David Law: Yeah, that's what the five live correspondents who were on that court were saying, really impressed with just how complete her game looked. And she actually ended up, I think, 4-2 down maybe in the second set and had to sort of dig herself out a little bit. And it felt a bit dicey around there.

46:24Matt Roberts: And I checked in with Pam. Not Jam, but Pam. Pam bought her own Jam today. There are now two Jam Shrivers on the scene. I checked in with Pam because she was covering this match for ESPN. And she was overall very impressed with Andreeva. But I asked her, you know, can Andreeva win this tournament? She's in our mix, right? I think she's in all of our mixes. And Pam is a huge fan of Andreeva. but she thinks Androva has the same forehand issue that Coco Goff has. Really? And Jack Draper has the extreme forehand grip. She says she can get pushy on it and lose racket head speed. It's that very extreme grip which, look, she's good enough that it'll take something high level, I think, to really expose that enough to cause her to lose.

47:18Matt Roberts: But the weakness is there to be exposed on this surface. And Matt, she has Hayley Baptiste next, which is really fun, isn't it? You watched Baptiste beat Mboko today on court 15.

47:32Catherine Whitaker: I did, yes. Really good first set between them. Very, very little to choose between them. It was very even level. Mboko went up a break early, but Baptiste got it back and they went into a tie break. and Mboko was up 5-2 in that tie break, but it was Baptiste who won it. And I felt like the difference was kind of sort of demeanor-wise or maturity-wise, you know. Like Mboko is obviously still very, very young and you could kind of see that today. She was kind of a little bit on edge the entire first set and a little bit tight. you know we've sat right in the front row right by her coaching box right by where she was coming to get her towel amazing position to really be able to see kind of the stress that these players are going through on court and the moment the decisive moment for me was baptiste had a set point in that uh first set tie break and boko saved it with a dead net cord winner you know pretty much like if you're baptiste the most frustrating thing that can happen to you she just smiled took it in her stride walked around the net sort of Serena style around the other side of the net and won the next two points and won the first set it was the sign of someone who was sort of confident in her own game just able to not get frustrated by something that was incredibly frustrating whereas Mboko was getting frustrated by all the little things and that felt like the difference because there wasn't a big difference in the games and then Baptiste, once she had that first set in the bag she then went through the second set much more comfortably and on this surface she can do so much damage with her game she's got a big heavy forehand, a flat backhand she loves the drop shot, she loves the slice, she loves coming forward I would make Andreva the favourite against Baptiste but I definitely think Baptiste's got weapons that can hurt her And if she wants to trade forehands with Andreva, then that might be a sensible play for her.

49:50Matt Roberts: Cameraman Matthews chuckling away to himself, and I don't know whether it's because a fly just flew into my mouth or because you said flat backhand. He says both. So it is Andreva against Baptiste to face the winner of Barbora Krejcikova and Emma Navarro. so one of those four players will be reaching the quarterfinals here Krojikova beat Caroline Dollehyde 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 today I was really worried for Krojikova after she dropped that second set because she's barely played and I felt like maybe this is a physical tailing off and the level that she had in the first set she's just unable to sustain that was not expecting her to punch back and win that third set 6-2 She's a...

50:38Matt Roberts: We've seen this and heard this before from her, haven't we? She's a player that leans into having a bit of a chip on her shoulder. And I do feel like being the defending champion that nobody's talking about and everybody was expecting to lose in round one to the talented youngster is giving her a bit of fuel to the fire if it were needed.

50:57David Law: Yeah, she's a quiet competitor. And she loves it. This is a woman who's won two Grand Slam titles, and she wants to show what she can do every time she gets out there, I think. She's missed such a lot of tennis over the last year. Not necessarily the freshness thing in isolation, but I think that that is a factor. But I think definitely you're making up for lost time, if you hurt. I don't know how physically good she feels, but she's not been able to play at all. So, right, I'm at Wimbledon. I've made it last for another round. I mean, she could still be dangerous for this tournament.

51:42Matt Roberts: It's Navarro next, and Navarro was, I mean, dismissive today. Veronica could have met over 6-1, 6-2. That was a blink-and-you-miss-it performance, very much like seeds losing. What seeds losing from Emma Navarro, who really is comfortable on grass, isn't she? Like, you see her move on grass, and it just makes sense.

52:02David Law: That's a stylish match here and Krejcikova, isn't it?

52:06Matt Roberts: Yeah, it really is.

52:06Catherine Whitaker: It's a lovely section, actually, that. And Drava Baptiste, the winner, plays the winner of Krejcikova, Navarro. There's lots of different game styles in there.

52:18Matt Roberts: Iger Svjontek was in trouble today. Dropped the first set to the American Katie McNally 5-7. Came back, won it comfortably in the end, 6-2, 6-1. But I did feel there was jeopardy here. not just because of the scoreline, but because how Iga Shvantec was looking. Everything I said the other day about her shoulders being dropped and the signs of stress on her face being mostly gone while they were back today, she was feeling it out there against Katie McNally, who's a bit of a nightmare, actually. I saw this matchup and I thought, well, I haven't heard Katie McNally's name much in the last few years, so she can't be up to much.

52:59Matt Roberts: Well, I've done her a disservice there. She's been horribly injured. She's had elbow surgery. She's a lovely grass court player. Seriously nice grass court player. She was unable to sustain it today and withstand the weight of shot from Svantec. Are you trying to distract me with, is that a mosquito? Could we just deal with it?

53:22Catherine Whitaker: We are under siege.

53:25Matt Roberts: I know some of us seamlessly carry on broadcasting. Is it flying?

53:29David Law: I wasn't talking. Is it flying and today, just about to start? Because it's got that feel to it.

53:38Matt Roberts: Let's just press on, shall we? Iga Svjontek. She was stressed today, wasn't she? Is fundamentally my question.

53:48Catherine Whitaker: For a moment there, in that first set, she lost her way. She started really well. Look, McNally is a lovely player. and you can see the doubles sort of influence on her game. She's got a nice sliced backhand. She's comfortable coming forward. To me, she's not the sort of player that I was thinking was a threat to Igor Svantec, even on this surface, because stylistically, I think Svantec, if she plays the right game style there, can be in control of that match and can have too much. And she was great to start. She lost her way in that first set and did look a little bit stressed. But I thought the way she reset was actually fantastic.

54:36Catherine Whitaker: She just upped her patience. She stopped trying to end points early and was prepared to rally and work the points and manoeuvre them. There were a couple of really long exchanges that Igor's Fiontech got the better of. And I thought the recovery was actually really impressive in this match. even if there was a moment there in that first set where I agree, things went a bit out of control. The problem is her draw.

55:06Matt Roberts: It's a big problem.

55:07Catherine Whitaker: It's a problem. She's got Danielle Collins next and I think a lot of the time we've talked up Danielle Collins against Diga Sfjantek and generally Sfjantek gets the better of that matchup. She does. But it's uncomfortable Has he ever played on grass before?

55:25David Law: I don't remember that.

55:26Catherine Whitaker: No, I don't think so. And so that you would think maybe favour Collins, the surface here. Not that grass is necessarily Collins' best surface either, but it's just clearly Sviontek's weakest. But I just think she's a bit on edge playing Collins. And even her answers in the press conference when Collins' name got brought up, And Sviontech gave short answers about it, you know. And, thank you.

55:58Matt Roberts: I'm trying to carry on as instructed. I am declaring it an invasion now. Right, okay.

56:05Catherine Whitaker: I appreciate your efforts. You know, like Collins' name gets brought up and suddenly Sviontech's like giving short answers. Yeah, body language changes. She doesn't want to get into it all that much. and Collins is just dangerous. If Schrontek isn't serving well, Collins can absolutely punish that shot. So suddenly she goes from a match against McNally that I think was totally in her control to Collins potentially to face for Bakunar two matches which feel far less in her control. And that's my worry for Igor Schrontek. She can do it. I think she can win those matches. It's not impossible. But I think if she did win them both, this would be her best ever results on grass.

56:54Matt Roberts: Yes, she's unfortunate with the section of the draw she's in, isn't she, given what openings there are elsewhere. Collins, Shvantec, next round is tasty. Winner of that to face most likely Rabakina, extremely tasty. Rabakina is swatting opponents aside. Could do with the round here. Yeah. Her or Lance Davis of Killer Bee Live Removal? Do you think he does other insects?

57:22Catherine Whitaker: No, but I would back him.

57:25David Law: Especially with that hoover.

57:26Matt Roberts: I'd back anyone with a leaf blower probably right now. Yeah, she thumped Zachary today, 6-3, 6-1. She's got Clara Towson next. I do feel like, I still feel anything can happen with Rebecca. She doesn't fill me with confidence. She hasn't been serving very well, which I know you might not think from their scorelines, but better players, I think, would perhaps punish the serve she's had.

57:51Catherine Whitaker: Right, yeah.

57:53Matt Roberts: Call off the tournament.

57:55Catherine Whitaker: Yeah.

57:55Matt Roberts: A couple of other results to mention from the women's today. A low-key big upset. Zeynep Sonmez, the Turkish player, beating Wang Jin-yu, the Berlin finalist, which once the seeds started to be decimated, a lot of people looked at Wang Jingyu after that first round and thought maybe this is her time to shine. Lost straight sets today. 7-5, 7-5. I mean, even, yeah, I mean, no one is safe.

58:26David Law: Bit of atmosphere out there from what I gather. I could hear that over this side of the grounds, completely the other side of the ground.

58:34Matt Roberts: Yeah, I think Turkish fans bring it big time. And Jessica Bouthas-Monaro beat Sophia Kennan, ending the theory. Oh, yeah.

58:45Catherine Whitaker: It's a great theory. I loved it. I really respected that theory, but it's over.

58:53Matt Roberts: Jastrzemska next for Bouthas-Monaro. Well done, Jastrzemska, for backing up the golf victory because she's not necessarily known for doing the backing up.

59:00Catherine Whitaker: That was a final set tie break. She was down in this match, she sat down, had to win a final set tie break. There's a lot of big hitters in this half of the draw, you know? Like, you've got Alexandreva, you've got Rabatkaner, you've got Towson, you've got Samsonova, you've got your Stremska. Like, I kind of always say that with grass. You either get players who have a lot of variety and touch and feel, or you get a lot of big hitters as well. And I feel like this draw really does have both of those sort of types of game style in it. Shout out Elisabetta Cotciareto as well for backing up the Jessica Bergula win.

59:44Catherine Whitaker: You know, it was just look at that. When someone has a big win, can they back it up? Well, she was pretty emphatic today over volley nets. And she now plays Belinda Bencic, who hadn't been in much form either. So, you know, kind of not bad for her to get to the third round. So there's, yeah, there's a big opportunity for both of them.

1:00:01Matt Roberts: Can Bencic do anything here?

1:00:06Catherine Whitaker: I think I'm looking at Alexandrova, really, in that section, to be honest. But yeah, maybe. Like, as I said, it's open. Sonmez, Alexandrova to play Bencic, Cotiereto. I think all of them have got a shot.

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1:01:32Matt Roberts: Right, let's look at tomorrow's order of play, starting on Centre Court 130 with Taylor Fritz against Alejandro Davidovic Fikina. It's been fun, Taylor, but he could do with something straightforward, couldn't he? The bad news for him is Davidovic Fikina doesn't really do straightforward.

1:01:51David Law: And the thing is, what Fritz keeps doing is coming up against dangerous players. Two massive servers, and now somebody who's just got the sweetish ball strikes and who likes grass. And I mean, you may well get a Davidovich Fikina that is terrible. He jams dealing with the flies now. Great. But I feel like there's no guarantee that Davidovich Fikina doesn't just turn up and make life a nightmare again for Taylor Fritz. These things can start catching in that way. And Fritz, like you say, he just doesn't need that. He now needs efficient until he gets to play in the semifinals.

1:02:38Matt Roberts: Yep. Carlos Alcoraz tomorrow has Jan-Leonard Strouf, who, of course, as well as Davidovic Shakina, finished off his second round match today. Luke Striff hasn't been the player that he once was but I do think he's dangerous I do

1:02:55David Law: Well he's going to bring power isn't he and he's going to probably come to the net and I think that Alcraz circa 2025 deals with him they had a five set epic three years ago I do wonder whether Alcraz will be feeling down, feeling distracted by the tragic news about Diego Jota today. I don't know that. I don't know whether they know each other. I don't know. But he's a sensitive guy. Everybody would be affected by it to a degree. But, you know, who knows? But, yeah, I think game style wise, Struff is the kind of guy that is going to come at him that much is sure but I'd expect Alcres to deal with it

1:03:50Matt Roberts: I share the same concern about Alcres tomorrow I wonder if he could be he's not a compartmentaliser he feels his feelings I think it's great for him as a human being but he's sensitive and I think there's a world in which that's a factor tomorrow and Struff is a bit of a nightmare Sabalenka-Radakani is the final match on Centre Court. I just want it to be an occasion and a proper competitive match, a proper Friday night Centre Court. It's on the BBC during prime time. The whole country are into it. The hill is full. It's a glorious summer evening. That's what I want from that match.

1:04:33David Law: Well, they've given it the best chance of it happening because they've put it on after two men's matches and I think that is Raducanu's kind of scene. I think she could be at her best in that situation.

1:04:45Matt Roberts: Yep, I agree with you. I backed Sablainka to win, but that's the best set of circumstances for Amradi Kani for sure. Court number one tomorrow opens with Dihan Parry against Sonne Cartel. It's a good ticket for British tennis fans on number one court tomorrow. Mattia Bellucci, a very fun Italian. I know he's not one of the bigger names. There's so many Italians that Mattia Bellucci doesn't get any bandwidth, but he is good fun. He'll bring a show against Cameron Norrie tomorrow. I have Cameron Norrie intel. I can't disclose my sources, but I have fuel for the funfire, the Cameron Norrie funfire.

1:05:34Yeah.

1:05:35Matt Roberts: Guess who went to Ibiza post-Rolongaros other than Carlos Alcaraz?

1:05:42Catherine Whitaker: Cameron Norrie.

1:05:43Matt Roberts: Cameron Norrie. Apparently he came into press in a Pasha t-shirt and nobody noticed. Because you're just not on the lookout for that kind of thing with Cameron Norrie, are you?

1:05:55Catherine Whitaker: Told you he's fun. Well, there you go.

1:06:00Matt Roberts: If he wins Wimbledon...

1:06:02David Law: With Matt Roberts.

1:06:04Matt Roberts: you'll know why, won't you? Let's go on a tennis podcast trip to Ibiza and then win Wimbledon afterwards. It's what the kids are doing.

1:06:15Catherine Whitaker: I think we are winning Wimbledon.

1:06:16David Law: I was going to say that. Look at us. That's fair enough. We get to the final every year. It's brilliant.

1:06:23Matt Roberts: Yeah, flying ants aside, we are winning Wimbledon. Can Bellucci trouble Norrie? David, you're on... What's that?

1:06:32David Law: That's not a flyman.

1:06:33Matt Roberts: Same as what it's always been, they're flying ants.

1:06:35David Law: No, that is different. I'm not going anywhere near that one. Sorry. What were you saying?

1:06:40Catherine Whitaker: Going Baluchi, Trouble, Norrie.

1:06:42Matt Roberts: Yeah. I was just going to plug your commentary on this one, David. Oh, thanks.

1:06:49David Law: Yes, you can. I'm fascinated to see what Baluchi's like on grass. I haven't seen any of his matches yet. And, you know, he loves a stage and he's going to get one tomorrow. but that said the stage is court number one which is Cameron Norrie's place so I think that could be a really good contest

1:07:09Matt Roberts: Elisa Mertens and Alina Svitolina is the last match on number one court tomorrow number two court is a fun time tomorrow Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Naomi Osaka open things up then it is Ben Shelton and Rinki Hijikata to finish now this was called off

1:07:29David Law: that was hilarious

1:07:30Matt Roberts: This was called off moments before we came on air. At 5-4, Shelton the game away from the win.

1:07:38Catherine Whitaker: About to serve for the win.

1:07:40David Law: Didn't he have three match points? At 5-3 on Hijikata's serve, he had love 40. He didn't take them. And then it goes 5-4 and then they call it off. Incredible.

1:07:53Catherine Whitaker: I think he should have played that game.

1:07:57Matt Roberts: He thinks so too, I think.

1:07:59Catherine Whitaker: I can understand why Shelton's annoyed about that. Like, give him the balls, see if he can serve it out. If he can't, it's five ball, suspend it there. His press conference could be fun tomorrow.

1:08:10Matt Roberts: If it were, like, if it were in the fifth set and it, like, it's two sets to love, you know, like, I think we all know where this is going, unless that's a terrible disservice to Rinki Hedgikata, like, whether it's played in insufficient light or not. Let's just, let's just get this thing over.

1:08:27Catherine Whitaker: Look, it was pretty dark, but I think for the players that have been playing in that light, they're used to it. I just think one game. I don't know. I think I can understand why Sean's annoyed about that.

1:08:42Matt Roberts: Speaking of people being annoyed about things, third on number one court tomorrow, Madison Keys has got Laura Siegmund. Good luck, Madison.

1:08:52Catherine Whitaker: It's their first match against each other since here in 2016. which is wild yeah good luck Madison

1:09:01Matt Roberts: Pam is in the courtside position for this for ESPM and I encouraged her to buy an inflatable cushion earlier which she did

1:09:10David Law: she's our secret correspondent as well excellent

1:09:14Matt Roberts: settle in for a long one Pam or maybe Keyes will just hit her off the court who knows last on court 2 tomorrow Nicholas Jarry against Joel Fonseca the Battle of South America

1:09:26Catherine Whitaker: Can't wait Yeah

1:09:27Matt Roberts: Really can't wait for that

1:09:29David Law: What time are you getting your seat Matt?

1:09:30Catherine Whitaker: Oh For the start

1:09:32Matt Roberts: That's That's everything isn't it We know where Matt will be at 11am tomorrow Court number three

1:09:37Catherine Whitaker: Talking of can't wait This is my favourite scheduling

1:09:40Matt Roberts: Amanda Ronesome over it against Dalma Galfi Clears the rest of your day

1:09:44Catherine Whitaker: Yep

1:09:45Matt Roberts: Ideal for Matt

1:09:46Catherine Whitaker: Perfect Thank you very much

1:09:48Matt Roberts: Andrzej Rublev against Adrian Manorino Second on Karen Hashanov against Nuno Borges third on court 12 is where Solana Sierra and Christina Bookshire face off that's where Reggie will be, shout out Reggie who's back in the queue

1:10:03David Law: Just for Bookshire

1:10:06Matt Roberts: Just, well, who knows I hope he got some sleep last night put it that way Kamila Rakimova against Circle That Name Linda Nozkova second on court number 12 and third on Kamil Mejershack against of course on the schedule once again Arta Rindeknesh Fuchovic and Monfils will resume on court 18 behind us they are second on that is two sets apiece so the fifth set will begin second on court 18 tomorrow

1:10:34Catherine Whitaker: he served for the win in four Monfils

1:10:37Matt Roberts: don't I know it that was my prediction Monfils in four brutal and Luciano Darderi taking on Jordan Thompson that is the last match on court 18 tomorrow We're going to lose any more seeds tomorrow? Probably. Who's going to go? If you had to pick a seed to go tomorrow, who's it going to be?

1:11:00Catherine Whitaker: Well, we start getting seeds against seeds, so presumably you're not counting those. I'll take an upset. An upset.

1:11:11Matt Roberts: An upset. Yeah.

1:11:14Catherine Whitaker: Could Manorino beat Rublev? No.

1:11:20Matt Roberts: he definitely could

1:11:24Catherine Whitaker: well I haven't got anything else to say

1:11:26David Law: I think all the favourites are going to win tomorrow

1:11:31Matt Roberts: that feels such a bold prediction

1:11:33Catherine Whitaker: that would be an upset that would be the upset all the favourites are going to win tomorrow

1:11:38Matt Roberts: ok I'll take that, I'll accept that we have a mascot for today's show oh my goodness look at this face that mascot is Gus Gus is owned by Billy Ituli Gus is our adorable one and a half year old West Highland Terrier a Westie, he's the sweetest little man around he loves to go on walks, play with his human brother and sister and cuddle with dad on the couch watching tennis he dreams of meeting Catherine and Billie Jean one day at Wimbledon make it so Gus we're around on the Common every day outside of Grand Slams you know where we'll be Westies are absolutely adorable look at that face it's a good dog isn't it thank you Gus good name as well I like that I like it's a sort of small but mighty name Gus thank you Billy and see you on Wimbledon Common one day we of course have our mascots hello to Phoebe, hello to Maisie and hello to Roger, hello to our top folks and executive producers Greg, Chris and Geoff, let's have some shout-outs, Matt.

1:12:46Catherine Whitaker: Hello to Lynne Jones in Devon.

1:12:50Matt Roberts: Another Lynne.

1:12:51Catherine Whitaker: Another Lynne.

1:12:52Matt Roberts: Hello, Lynne.

1:12:53Catherine Whitaker: And Lynne would also like to dedicate her shout-out to her husband, Damien. And Damien has basically sort of got Lynne into playing tennis. Lynne is now a regular tennis player. That's great. Which is lovely. Good work, Damien. And Damien's birthday is always during Wimbledon.

1:13:11Matt Roberts: Aww. Big Wimbledon birthday coming up tomorrow. Two. Two.

1:13:20Catherine Whitaker: The Pamela Howard-Shriver and the Nina.

1:13:25Matt Roberts: Absolutely. Good birthday, July the 4th. All July birthdays are good, Damien and Lynn.

1:13:31Catherine Whitaker: Yeah.

1:13:32Matt Roberts: Those aren't very Tennessee names, are they? I can't think of any.

1:13:34David Law: I'm sat here racking my brain.

1:13:37Matt Roberts: Damien Dumassoir.

1:13:39Catherine Whitaker: Oh, it's good. It's very impressive.

1:13:41Matt Roberts: That's good, Matt. Lynne, I hope you accept that incredible work from Matt Roberts. Thank you for your shout-out.

1:13:47Catherine Whitaker: We've also got Karen Maybam.

1:13:50Matt Roberts: Yes, we know Karen.

1:13:52Catherine Whitaker: Hi, Karen. Living in Switzerland, but originally from Denmark. So...

1:13:57Matt Roberts: Big day for the Danes. Big day. It's not the Dane they thought they would be covering.

1:14:02David Law: August has delivered.

1:14:04Matt Roberts: Yeah, imagine having a Taylor Swift song named for you without knowing anything about it.

1:14:11David Law: what's that August is it yeah

1:14:14Matt Roberts: yeah

1:14:16David Law: what's it about

1:14:18Matt Roberts: August August slipped away like a moment in time it was never mine I'll have to have a listen thank you Karen do we know anything else about Karen

1:14:29Catherine Whitaker: Karen had three days at Roland Garros this year three three consecutive Karen you have my respect who could say yeah incredible

1:14:39Matt Roberts: you know how to live Karen

1:14:42Catherine Whitaker: and finally we have Grace from Balham Grace who is in our predictions competition hello Grace

1:14:50Matt Roberts: how's Grace getting on

1:14:51Catherine Whitaker: hi Grace let me have a little you better not be ahead of me

1:14:56Matt Roberts: Grace

1:14:57Catherine Whitaker: most people are

1:14:58Matt Roberts: I should say these points are Monfils victory pending for me right

1:15:03Catherine Whitaker: yeah no Grace Grace is ninth at the moment but that haven't ended up today's points but she did get points today she had Bufus Manero beating Ken

1:15:13David Law: I appear to be 11th and I haven't added any points today at all despite having two matches at stake it's been

1:15:21Matt Roberts: tough subscribe to the newsletter if you want to follow the predictions competition closely

1:15:27Catherine Whitaker: Grace is a very very long time listener since the beginning she says when David was irritating Catherine with pole vaults

1:15:36Matt Roberts: Hannah says Grace like arena Sabalenka didn't show in her French Open final defeat if anyone else has another Grace then you're welcome to submit that no we'll go with Hannah's one Grace, thank you Grace, Lynn, Damien, Karen thank you very much thank you to Wimbledon for letting us win Wimbledon it's incredibly special being here every night and doing these podcasts and thank you to the athletic we are of course part of the athletic podcast network and it's excellent to be so we'll be back tomorrow folks not before 9 30 but taylor fritz is on the schedule so see you at 11 it could be later but do keep across our socials and hit that like and subscribe button if you subscribe to the youtube channel you can get alerts about when we're going live every night and it does vary a bit during Wimbledon but it will not be before 9 30 it might be never if we get eaten by flying ants so let's get this show off the road folks thanks for listening thanks for watching we'll see you and speak to you tomorrow

1:16:49Matt Roberts: went up my nose That was so nice.

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