US Open Day 10 - Can Djokovic derail Alcaraz again?

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1:36Matt Roberts: Hello and welcome to the Tennis Podcast coming to you for part one on a beautiful early autumn evening here in New York on day 10 of the US Open, the first day of quarterfinal action and let's be honest, it's been a little bit flat or certainly as flat as a day can be when Carlos Alcaraz is on the schedule. We've seen two straight sets, fairly uncompetitive matches and just now received the news that the first of tonight's matches between Arunis Abelenka and Marketa Vondroshova, probably our most anticipated match of the day is cancelled. because Marquette von Drosher has had to withdraw with a knee injury, which is obviously absolutely devastating for her.

2:20Matt Roberts: So it's another one of those days where you kind of say, thank goodness for Carlos Alcaraz and his ability to create vibe from the vibeless.

2:31David Law: Yes, and that includes the fact that he was playing in a pretty uncompetitive match, and that's no slight on Yuri Lehechka, who I actually thought put up a good account of himself. but the nature of Alcaraz is that people are able to come and still feel like they've had a show and they've had something truly memorable. At least that's how I see it. I don't think I've ever seen him more locked in. I think he's getting things just the right side of the line because there was a moment, I mean, look, there are two things to pick out. One is, I think, in the second game of the match, He hit a shot where he ran around a backhand to hit a forehand inside over the high part of the net.

3:16David Law: The most laconic, sort of relaxed-looking stroke imaginable, but the ball just set off like a bullet into the corner. And he enjoyed that so much, and yet I felt that it was greeted with ultra-focus. Later on in the match, when he was two sets to love up, and Lehechka was keeping the scores close, There were a couple of moments that frankly wouldn't have looked out of place in an exhibition match, where he just sort of hit an extravagant inside-out forehand drop shot, which Lehechka tracked down, put a ball onto Alcaz's baseline, and he just held his ground, and he just sort of half-followed it with a little poke down the line, which wasn't even a proper stroke.

4:04David Law: It was toying with Lehechka in the nicest possible way, and I thought actually this is the most vulnerable he's looked and I said to Matt at the time this is where he needs to be careful because he's having almost too good a time here and the score is close and he was just a little bit down on the scoreline and then suddenly Matt, he locked in again.

4:25Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, David said he needs to lock in and he didn't lose another point. It's like the David Law pep talks and now having an influence through a television screen. It is unbelievable David's power at this tournament but it was extraordinary the the point he got to break serve get the decisive break in that third set like honestly Lehekshka wins that point I think against everyone else in the draw but Alcaraz's ability to retrieve balls and put them back in awkward spots and then once he's made a couple of spectacular retrievals in the rally you get the sense that like he's desperate to win the point He wants to finish it there and then because he's done a highlight reel shot.

5:09Catherine Whitaker: Let's make this a highlight reel point. And he got the decisive break by scampering all over the court. And then he served it out to love as he did, you know, kind of repeatedly today. He didn't face a single break point. That was another big, big theme. Really good Alcaraz serving. I do want to linger a little bit on that shot that David described in the second game of the match because it was right in front of the press seats where I was at the start here. And it was one of the craziest things I've ever seen. He had no time and no space to be able to hit this shot. The ball was coming into his body.

5:52Catherine Whitaker: He had to get his body out of the way. The ball almost hit him. And he had this little sort of dancing feat to scamper back behind the ball. and then the softness of his feet was just juxtaposed with the strike of the ball. It just went like an arrow down the line. I felt like David Foster Wallace when he was watching Roger Federer here against Andre Agassi and he decided to write the essay about Roger Federer as a religious experience, having seen one point. I feel like I got all the things that David Foster Wallace was feeling. was like, how is that humanly possible? It was outrageous. And look, we've been hyping up Alcraz's form all tournament.

6:40Catherine Whitaker: I think this was the best performance so far because Le Hetschke played well. I really think Le Hetschke brought it today and he didn't have a chance. Alcraz was ridiculous.

6:52Matt Roberts: We've quite often talked or worried on this podcast and in chats between ourselves off air about the tension between the kind of tennis player that Alcaraz wants to be, sort of ultimately an entertainer ahead of anything else. The tension between that and the need to lock in and win tennis matches efficiently most of the time. And we've worried that those two things are too much in opposition for him. And we've worried about him having to kind of pick a lane to choose one thing at the expense of the other. Are we seeing over the course of this tournament perhaps evidence that those two things don't have to be in opposition?

7:38Matt Roberts: Because today was, it wasn't a competitive match. There was no jeopardy at any stage in that match. And yet it was really fun. And he had fun.

7:48David Law: Yeah, I feel like he's been getting there all year long. The finals in succession that he's been reaching, he hasn't had that drop off. I do feel, look, he was playing Yannick Sinner, of all people, in the final of Wimbledon, who was playing fantastically and was too good for him that day. I think that was a bit of a blip there, a bit of a sort of moment of can't bring it again, you know, but also look what he's up against. Today, though, and this tournament, as you say, I do feel like he feels a bit like the culmination of all that build-up and the scheduling being sensible, the break he's given himself after Wimbledon.

8:27David Law: The kind of look in his eye that I've sensed all through this tournament, that he is a man desperate to prove a point, that he can beat Yannick Sinner on a hard court, that he can win the US Open when everybody's saying that's Sinner's territory because Sinner's gone and won on his territory at Wimbledon. That's what I'm getting from it. And look, that may not be something that we see every week from now on until whenever. It may still go in fluctuations. He may need a loss in order to lock in the next time. I don't know. Or the maturity may be achieved by where we are now, and this may be the thing he's able to establish going forwards.

9:06David Law: But right here, right now, I've never seen him look better as a sort of rounded tennis player, entertainer, and professional. I think he's got that balance just perfectly at the moment.

9:18Matt Roberts: The more I watch of this tournament this year and think about last year, the more I think, like, of course, last year's titles were won by players that didn't play the Olympics. Like, I know Canada and Cincinnati extended in length this year, which hasn't helped. But this year, the schedule has felt untenable, like, ridiculous. Like, of course, Carlos Alcaraz had to take that break and not play Canada. Like, it is crazy that Igor Shontek has played it all. Like, the fact that there was a whole Olympics in there last year. On a different surface. What were we doing? Like, of course Carlos Alcaraz lost to Bertrand van der Zandtschulp in the second round.

10:10David Law: Look at the state he was in in Cincinnati when he was smashing his racket and losing his mind.

10:15Matt Roberts: And I think we did know that at the time. Like, we were talking about the Olympics a lot. I've always wanted to talk about the Olympics. But looking back now, like, what were we doing? What was tennis asking everybody to do?

10:28Catherine Whitaker: But what do you mean, what were we doing? Because, like, we want the Olympics. We want tennis in the Olympics.

10:35David Law: But why would we be surprised is the point that there was a letdown.

10:39Matt Roberts: Why was I ever thinking that players that had had success in the Olympics on clay a few weeks before and all the emotions of the Olympics and the experience of the Olympics, which is so completely different and wonderful, but I'm sure really draining and takes some processing as well. Why were we ever expecting players that had that experience to have any kind of success here in the US Open? When Sinner didn't play it. Sinner and Sabalenka didn't play the Olympics. I know Pagula did. Did Taylor Fritz play the Olympics? Have I erased Taylor Fritz from my...

11:19Catherine Whitaker: Didn't he get a doubles medal? Yes.

11:21David Law: I mean, he plays everything.

11:23Catherine Whitaker: That's who he is, isn't it? Yeah. I still think the nature of the Burtick van der Zandt result was shocking. Like, I don't think we should totally rewrite that. But back-to-back days. It's understandable.

11:41David Law: Him and Popper in back-to-back days beating Djokovic in Nelkraas.

11:45Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, it's definitely understandable. And I do think we thought the Olympics was a factor at the time. But I think it goes to show how good Alcaraz has been and how good Djokovic has been, that we just do kind of assume that they can do these ridiculous feats. And, you know, last year was kind of a step too far for sure.

12:08Matt Roberts: He didn't face a break point today, Carlos Alcaraz. His serve has been broken once all tournament. that's in five matches and that was in the game where he had jarred his knee and he'd called for the trainer like

12:22David Law: good sign isn't it

12:24Matt Roberts: it's not bad it's not bad at all and you know see everything we've previously said about Carlos Alcaraz when he's serving well it enables him to feel loose in the rest of his game doesn't it and that's when he plays his best tennis he gave a fascinating answer in press just now about body language.

12:45David Law: Oh, one of the best answers I've ever heard him give.

12:49Matt Roberts: Yeah, and obviously, as we're speaking right now, as he was speaking in press, he didn't know, doesn't know, who he's going to be playing in the next round. But obviously, he's thinking more about potentially playing Novak Djokovic in the next round than he is about potentially playing Taylor Fritz in the next round. And I don't know, David. he didn't specifically mention Djokovic and what happened in Australia when he got totally thrown off by Djokovic's injury timeout and how he came back onto court firing and how clearly discombobulated Alcaraz was by that whole situation. I don't know, I felt like Djokovic had his fingerprints all over that answer from Alcaraz.

13:37David Law: Yeah, I'm sure it's all of that, all of the experiences he's had, particularly with Djokovic, I think have stayed with him. And I think he's been ambushed a few times by Djokovic's, I don't want to say mind games, but I think presence and kind of ability to just change the mood of a match. And Al Kraus has not known what to do sometimes. And he's not known when the attack's coming at him and it's come out of the blue and everything's going fine. And then suddenly, oh my word, why is he playing like this now? I thought he was hurt a minute ago. All this sort of stuff. We've seen it in Cincinnati.

14:15David Law: We saw it at the Olympics. We've seen it now in Australia. But also, I think it's also, he gave this amazing insight into how there are two battles going on out on a court. There's a physical and tennis battle. And then there's the body language you give to your opponent, the way you carry yourself. And I do think when we've watched him today, I mean, he looks absolutely as healthy and as strong and as ready and as focused as he could ever look. He's got the shaved head. He's got the pink vest. He looks fit as a butcher's dog. You know, he looks so healthy and ready to go. And he's carrying himself with a strut, but it's not a sort of I'm distracted and looking everywhere strut.

15:03David Law: It's a sort of, I'm feeling it, and you're going to get it, strut. And I tell you, I think it's impacting opponents, and I think even if it isn't, he feels like it is, so he feels even better.

15:16Catherine Whitaker: What was interesting about the answer Alcraz gave, I thought, was that he said it doesn't matter if you feel exhausted, if you feel really tired, if you feel like you can't keep it going, you have to show the opponent you feel fresh. You have to show him that it's going to be really, really tough. I mean, thinking back to Australia, the fact that Djokovic wasn't showing him that he felt fresh and that he felt like he could keep it going was the thing that distracted him. Because Djokovic wasn't giving off the impression of between the points like he was absolutely fine. It was in the points where Djokovic was absolutely fine.

15:55Catherine Whitaker: And then outside of them, he looked injured. That's what freaked him out. That's what freaked him out. So it isn't as though Alcarez has taken that as a lesson and being like, I've got to do exactly what Novak Djokovic does. But I think he has realized the importance that his body language can have on an opponent. And the effect that he wants to give is that he's always ready. I don't think it would work for Alcarez to be exaggerating little niggles that he's feeling and trying to get in an opponent's heads that way. He wants to give off the aura of energy and joy, and that's when he's going to play his best stuff.

16:39Catherine Whitaker: So I think he's, yeah, it's less sort of cunning, I think.

16:45David Law: Do you think that's what Djokovic does? exaggerates and tries to get in his events head.

16:49Catherine Whitaker: Yes, I think that's exactly what he does. Yeah, and I think he's the master at it. I don't see it, I don't really have a big problem with it. I think a lot of people do. A lot of people think, oh, here he goes again, Novak Djokovic, you know, making something out to be a big deal when it isn't. I think there's a part of him that it feels like a big deal to him.

17:13David Law: See, that's where I stand on. I've always thought, I think he panics. And then his way of coping is to tell everybody in the stadium what he's going through. He absolutely knows.

17:23Matt Roberts: I don't think he creates things out of nothing. I don't think he totally makes things up.

17:29Catherine Whitaker: No, there's something there.

17:30Matt Roberts: But he uses things that he feels, for sure. And I agree with your read on it, David. I do think he panics and I do think he wants to let everybody know. But I also think he is 100 % aware of... it's won him, or it's helped win him, Grand Sam titles. And it's within the rules.

17:52David Law: He did pull out of that tournament the next round with the injury. So it was obviously serious. I'm not saying it wasn't.

18:02Catherine Whitaker: But I... I think he knew that Alcarez was spooked out by the fact that he was still capable of playing really, really well.

18:11David Law: Some players put the poker face on because they don't want you to know. Even if it is really serious.

18:16Matt Roberts: Do you remember Alcaraz did that impersonation, that jokey impersonation of Djokovic limping? And to your point, what you're saying about Alcaraz has to do the body language thing his own way, that didn't really suit him, did it, that sarcasm? No. It was such an out-of-character moment, and it really revealed how gone he was mentally. But the answer he gave today about body language that we've just been discussing, discussing coupled with the answer in the press conference a couple of days ago that we also discussed on the podcast about proving that he's not about setting the record straight that he's not inconsistent I do think this underlines the point that he's got a point to prove here I'm not inconsistent I'm not this easily distracted puppy dog that everybody thinks I am I'm a serious tennis player and I'm here for this title I think you're right.

19:13David Law: That's bang on. Isn't it interesting? Isn't it interesting how body language, it's not all the same, and there are different ways that you can carry yourselves, and there are different ways you kind of need to, depending on who you are.

19:28Catherine Whitaker: And I know we're obviously going to talk about Taylor Fritz versus Novak Djokovic in part two. When people are listening to this, they will know the result. I'm not going to go into it too much, but what I will say is that, to me, the biggest remaining intrigue left in the men's draw before a potential Sinner Alcaraz final, which we've all been talking about the entire time, it feels like we're all on that path, is a fresh Novak Djokovic against Carlos Alcaraz in the semis. I think because he's never lost to him on a hard call. It's a great start. And he's beaten him this year at a slam. and

20:10Matt Roberts: I think Alcaraz wants it I think he wants Djokovic I think so I think he wants the revenge

20:15David Law: well I think it goes all with what you've just been saying about well what I've been saying about him wanting to prove Sinner wasn't something that's going to be repeated and wanting to prove that he's not flaky and he doesn't lose his concentration they're all that's the competitor in him isn't it we should

20:35Matt Roberts: we should probably curtail this element of the discussion until we should put a pin in it until part two. Let's talk about Jessica Pagula through to the semifinals. We know she'll face Irina Sabalenka there because of Vondrosheva's withdrawal due to a knee injury that we'll talk about as well. Pagula beating Barbora Krojcikova 6-3, 6-3. It's funny that this time last year when she reached the semifinals, Pagula, it was so huge because it was her finally getting over that, the hurdle, the ceiling that she'd been butting up against. And now it's like, oh, you've made the semifinals. Well done.

21:13Catherine Whitaker: Yeah.

21:14Matt Roberts: Thanks.

21:15Catherine Whitaker: Yeah. And I think also the nature of the quarterfinal, you know, last year was night session, Iger Sviontek. You know, it felt like a massive deal. This, her whole tournament has been pretty under the radar of Jessica Bergoula. She's not had like a really good match yet. She's not had a sort of, I don't really like the expression, but like popcorn match on the schedule. She's played players that you would expect her to beat. So it's all been a bit under the radar. And this one was first up on Ash. It was actually a really good crowd. Ash Stadium was pretty much full for this once it got going, which was great to see.

21:52Catherine Whitaker: And actually, you know, just exactly what a quarterfinal deserves. And she kept it that way. She kept it low-key. She's so good at that, Pagula, just sort of quietly going about and doing her thing. And I think the real sort of talking point of this was how much of this was about Pagula playing well versus how much was about Craig Cheekova not having much left. And I do think both things are true. Pagula, to start with, was, I thought, sublime, like hitting the ball so sweetly getting Craig Chicova moving out to her forehand side and she looked pretty slow getting out there and she just kept doing it kept doing it and fast starts have been a real theme of Pagula's tournament and slow starts have been the theme of Craig Chicova's and that's exactly where where we were in this match and you know Craig Chicova did get the break back in the first set but then her serve kind of really started to let her down Craig Chicova she seemed bothered by the by the sun she had a few double faults she was really going for it on second serve but Pagula had a lovely deep return and managed to get the crucial break and then and then served it out and then in the second set I think it was more about the Kričikova not having the the energy the fire to get her teeth into the match in a way that she has done in a lot of matches this tournament you know she just just didn't quite have it and the the energy was quite low in the stadium and that suited Pagula I think she went up a double break she did give one of the breaks back with a really poor service game Pagula but if that was the danger zone you know critique of her getting one of the breaks back she just didn't allow it to become a big problem and and she won it pretty pretty comfortably it was a little bit of a dud of a match.

23:50David Law: It's funny how that works, isn't it? That energy in the stadium thing. I mean, we were in the stadium when she's eight match points down against Taylor Townsend, and she said herself, I know everybody wanted her to win, but it still was an atmosphere. It's still something I was able to tap into to get this performance out of myself. And yet when you're on Arthur Ashe Stadium, and it was full. I mean, it was absolutely packed. Well, certainly 20 ,000 in, something like that. But it was quiet and people weren't that into it. And I think Jessica Bagula was pretty self-conscious, really. When she won the match, she was sort of asking for people to kind of give her a bit more.

24:30David Law: And I, yeah, it was an early day and it's a cavernous stadium and so forth. She'll have her moment, though, against Irina Sabalenka and she'll need it. She'll need that crowd.

24:43Matt Roberts: It was funny in the press conference, she did a David Law. She said, I've had a good draw.

24:49David Law: I know.

24:50Matt Roberts: She Jasmine Paolini, Maya Sharif, Anna Blinkova, Victoria Azarenka and Anne Lee. She did exclude Barbora Krojcik. She was very keen to exclude Barbora Krojcik of a two-time Grand Sime champion from that. I mean, obviously Azarenka is two, but... Rankings-wise is what she was pointing to, wasn't it? It was a funny moment in the press conference. And yet she will face Irina Sebelenka now in the semifinals on Thursday night. We got the just gutting news about Marketa Vondroshova an hour or so ago. She said, I'm sorry to announce that I have to withdraw from my quarterfinal match this evening due to a knee injury.

25:28Matt Roberts: I tried my best to take to the court today, but during the warm up, I felt again my knee. And after consultation with the tournament, doctor decided not to risk aggravating the injury. I appreciate all the support this tournament and apologise to the fans who are looking forward to the match. I had an amazing time here in New York and can't wait to be back next year. And we've subsequently seen the ESPN had the footage of her from the practice court pulling up with the knee. And it's extremely evident that there was just no way she could have played that match tonight. And I'm absolutely gutted.

26:06Matt Roberts: That was my match of the tournament so far. her victory over Elena Rabachner the other night. And I was looking forward to something similar tonight in terms of how the match might have looked. And yeah, I had centred my day around it. I allowed myself to accidentally fall asleep on the sofa earlier because I thought Matt and David have got the day session covered and I can bring it with full pep for Sabalenka von Drosheva. And now here we are.

26:36Catherine Whitaker: Your Djokovic Fritz takes a better regard.

26:39Matt Roberts: Yeah, so much pressure on those.

26:41David Law: I tell you, there was a little bit of footage of Verena Sabalenka being told and the competitor that she is. She wouldn't like this. You know, she wants the stage. She wants the battle. And I think, look, I mean, Von Drossova was a real threat to her chances of actually going any further in this tournament. But that's what she's in it for. And I think she'd have loved the challenge. It's a terrible shame.

27:07Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, it's such a shame. Vondrosheva, you know, when she's fit, it's just such a joy to have on the tour because of the way she plays. And I really thought she was fit here and was just so excited to see that game come up against Sabalenka. I feel for the ticket holders as well, there was a brief moment when we thought that maybe they would move the Venus Williams, Leila Fernandes versus Siniakova Townsend doubles over to that first on the night session slot on Ash because they hadn't started yet. Jasmine Paolini and Sara Irani were looking like maybe they were going to go three sets and it was just a little moment where it seemed like they might have an obvious way to give the crowd something but actually Irani and Paolini wrapped it up in straight sets and I'm sure everyone involved in the Venus doubles were ready to go on court and there's also a whole Armstrong crowd of ticket holders and I know a lot of people on the grounds had gone into Armstrong make sure they had their seat.

28:14Catherine Whitaker: That would have been a tough scene for them to move it.

28:17Matt Roberts: I'm glad they didn't move it.

28:20Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, I think I am.

28:21Matt Roberts: Look, I would have understood. I think I'm a bit shocked.

28:22Catherine Whitaker: I thought they might. I thought they would as well. But I think the lateness of it kind of made it tricky. But actually, I'm looking at my screen right now, and 55 minutes, there it is, game, set, match, Sinaiakova Townsend, 6-1, 6-2. Wow. So, you know, I think they're just, you know, they're such a classy team, aren't they, Sinaiakova and Townsend? maybe one match too far for... Yeah, back-to-back days as well. Back-to-back days. They've been... What a great story they've been. But, yeah. Just, honestly, a tough scene of a day.

28:56Matt Roberts: Yeah. So, pressure on me for my Fritz Djokovic takes. Pressure on Djokovic and Fritz.

29:03Catherine Whitaker: Absolutely, yeah. In that order.

29:05Matt Roberts: To provide some competitive tennis.

29:06Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, even if it's shit, you better have to take it.

29:09Matt Roberts: they've moved it forward to start not before 8pm. Shall we go and watch it?

29:14Catherine Whitaker: Let's do it.

29:16Matt Roberts: That's it for part one. Join us in part two.

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31:28Matt Roberts: Welcome back to part two of the Tennis Podcast, where it is now shortly before midnight. We're all back at Tennis Podcast Towers and we have just watched 38-year-old Novak Djokovic beat 27-year-old Taylor Fritz, four sets, 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 to set up a US Open semifinal meeting with Carlos Alcaraz, a ninth career meeting, a first at the US Open. Matt, how is Djokovic doing this at 38 years old?

32:03Catherine Whitaker: It is pretty mind-boggling. He's now the oldest player in the Open era to reach the semi-finals at all four slams in a season. It's an extraordinary feat. And, you know, I think inevitably, because we talk so much about Alcaraz and Sinner, we've spent quite a lot of the year talking about Djokovic's shortcomings relative to them. But I think this Grand Slam season that he's putting together, with time, I think we will come to look at it as maybe an even better achievement than it's felt like in the moment, perhaps, because his consistency has been extraordinary. his level above the rest of the field apart from Alcaraz and Sinner is undeniable and I think the match tonight against Taylor Fritz kind of totally proves that if we were to have a conversation about who's the most likely guy other than Alcaraz and Sinner to win a major Taylor Fritz would be in that conversation I think I don't want to put words in your mouth But I think last year's finalist here, particularly at the US Open, you know, it's I don't think Fritz has quite been as good this year as he was last year.

33:26Catherine Whitaker: But, you know, he's still one of the best players in the world. And yet there wasn't really a moment tonight where tennis wise, I thought Fritz was going to win. it was only a question of whether he could outlast him somehow make it really really physical take advantage of his youth compared to Djokovic those to me were his avenues to actually winning it when it comes down to tennis Djokovic is still like the master and and better than someone like Taylor Fritz tactically better with his serve and then tonight I think the big one was better on the big points you know he played the break points so much better than Taylor Fritz in this match and that ultimately felt like the difference in what was you know pretty close match in terms of you know most of the sets were pretty in the balance it's such a good point actually about how we'll

34:30Matt Roberts: come to view this Grand Slam season in time. It's like, I think that one of the most incredible achievements of Serena Williams' career is the four Grand Slam finals she reached after maternity leave and after birth and after pregnancy. But because she was on this self-declared quest for 24, anything other than winning that 24th Grand Slam wasn't it. It was nothing. It was that or nothing. And it feels like we're viewing Djokovic's current quest through the same lens. And I don't think that's wrong. Like Djokovic isn't making any secret of the fact he's on a quest for 25. He's still out here because he thinks he might possibly be able to win a Grand Sam title still.

35:16Matt Roberts: But that doesn't mean we can't talk about what a friggy amazing achievement it is that he's doing what he's doing. Yeah.

35:26David Law: I said after the previous match to him, if you pulled this off, would it be your greatest achievement ever? And he said, could be. But then he quickly moved on because he just didn't want to get into it. And I understand why. But I also think it would be because if you would have most likely beat Alcraz and then beat Sinner, because that's the likely scenario if he's going to win this thing at the age of 38. I mean, really? I don't I it's hard to even countenance the idea so it does feel a bit harsh to be judging him through that lens if we if that's what we are doing and I think we're taking a moment really to consider what he's actually done in isolation tonight for a start because he did play the best of the rest who's 10 years his junior and who's in his prime Taylor Fritz he was never going to have a better chance certainly to up until now um to get that win he started badly really fritz he didn't he didn't get going he came out with his headband upside down i mean that's that's a bad sign isn't it that that's onster burb playing on the wimbledon center court in practice in

36:42Matt Roberts: and it stayed that way for two sets yeah imagine the moment when he went back to the bathroom

36:48Catherine Whitaker: after the second set and looked in the mirror and realised all someone told you. You slightly realise your flies are undone.

36:56Matt Roberts: And you just think, oh, maybe it was like you'd go back and think, well, how long has this been like this for? Why has nobody said anything?

37:05David Law: I was going to say that at least when the flies are undone, you can kind of try to convince yourself that nobody's seen it. But when you've got your boss headband on upside down in front of millions. He had a henband on that didn't have a big word written on it. Exactly. You might not notice. Yeah. Nightmare. But the thing is, he had so many break points, Taylor Fritz. Those first three games of the service games of the second set, I think, he had 11 break points. And he was just one after another reeling these things off. And just, as you said, Djokovic just playing those big points perfectly, just hitting a line really taking out of it out of his hands and Fritz started to play some good stuff as the match went on he locked in he's a good baseliner he wasn't too far away from making it the physical contest that I think was his best chance of winning as you pointed out earlier because he doesn't have quite the game to outplay Djokovic and he certainly wasn't getting enough first serves in at the end um you know he wasn't getting those free points usually you see him just sort of roll through service games quite easily and i guess the tightness of playing jokovic with all those defeats 10 10 defeats before today and 11 now there were some really good conversations between espn's commentators and michael russell his coach uh one in each set and And they laid bare, I think, how stressed Fritz must be because whatever they'd come up with as a game plan, really, and what they wanted Fritz to do performance wise, he was just unable to do it from the first ball.

38:52Catherine Whitaker: And I think they also potentially exposed and maybe it was just Michael Russell, you know, in the heat of the match, not maybe not wanting to declare the game plan really, obviously, or maybe not able to with the with the nerves of the match. But it did seem a little bit confused, didn't it, in terms of did he want him to play really aggressively? Did he want him to hang in rallies? But I think that probably does speak to the problem for Fritz. There's not an obvious pattern for him to play Novak Djokovic. I think it's make it physical, you know, especially this stage of their careers. But kind of to do that, are you sort of saying that you're not trying to take the racket out of Djokovic's hand?

39:42Catherine Whitaker: And then if you do that, that's potentially dangerous because Djokovic has still got the level to rip it from you. Are you just going to go after every ball? That's not it's not fully Taylor Fritz's game, is it? He does like to trade and hang in rallies. So I think that just speaks to the matchup problem he's got. You know, I know he likes to say it's not 11-0. It is 11-0. It's a massive, massive head-to-head matchup issue he's got. And I think it was exposed a little bit tonight. And then, as we said, came down to those big moments. And the other one I would point out would be the end of the second set.

40:20Catherine Whitaker: When he got the break back, he fought so hard for it, got it back to five all. And then he played a really poor service game. Two double faults, couple of errors. And that, you just can't, I mean, you just can't do that against Novak Djokovic.

40:35Matt Roberts: He served it deserted when he most needed it tonight. Which you just, you just can't afford to give anything away like that against Novak Djokovic at whatever age. And look, as extraordinary as reaching this semifinal is and as well as he played tonight, and there were periods of this match where we were making all sorts of noises at the TV, really did play well. You said, Matt, shortly after the last ball, I don't think we learned anything new really about either of them. Our physical doubts about Novak Djokovic remain. He was really gassed there at the end. If it had gone to a fifth set, he could have been on the ropes big time.

41:19And in terms of taking on, well, first of all, taking on Alcaraz

41:22Matt Roberts: and then probably having to take on Sinner afterwards if he by some miracle makes it through Alcaraz. And I do believe no matter how he plays, he's relying on Alcaraz not being as good as he's been this tournament. I think, to be honest, I think even Sinner is. and look there's a good chance he's not but what we've seen so far from our crowds this tournament is pretty much the best tennis I've ever seen so I just as awestruck as I am by what I've seen Djokovic do tonight it doesn't really change how I feel about his likelihood to win this tournament or even really the next match that semi-final ceiling is still so firmly in place for me Anyway, I don't know how you two feel about that.

42:10David Law: No, I do feel similarly to you. In the past, I've felt more bullish about Djokovic at the French and at Wimbledon. He didn't actually win those matches. He didn't come close to beating Sinner the second time. I felt he wasn't far away the first time in the French Open.

42:31David Law: But it's not his level that's the issue. I mean, the ball was springing off his racket today, which is what I look for with Djokovic. The fact that he's able to go toe-to-toe with a guy as good from the baseline as Fritz and take it away from him the way he does. I mean, the one lapse was in the third set and he got into it with the crowd and the crowd gave him all sorts. And it's pretty unpleasant in that situation. And I think he kind of handed that set away by the end and thought, OK, well, I'll rebound. And you notice the moment he was in the fourth, suddenly he locked into the deadline of, I don't want to go five the way you were talking about, Catherine.

43:07David Law: I don't want to deplete the reserves anymore. I'm going to win it right here. And he managed to do that. And the tennis to me was there for that. It's just that the tennis he needs to beat Alcaraz, if Alcaraz is good, needs to beat Olympic final level over the best of five. because otherwise you're relying on Alcaraz having a bit of a meltdown like he did at the Australian Open or just coming out and really not being himself. You know, maybe the serve's not working. Maybe serve Alcaraz is not with us in a couple of days' time. Or maybe Djokovic gets in his head. Yeah, these are all possibilities, absolutely.

43:50David Law: But from what I've seen from Alcaraz, he gives me a sense of confidence that his best self will be on display for the remainder of this tournament.

44:00Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, I mean, we had, I think we may even have called a Wimbledon podcast. Is this the end for Novak Djokovic as a Grand Slam winning force? You know, I think maybe it was a punctier title than that, but kind of, you know what I'm getting at here. And here we are at the very next Grand Slam. We're presented with this situation again where he's most likely going to have to go through both of them And therefore, we've just seen so much over the last couple of years over best of five for me to think that this is not an impossible task for him, but a very, very unlikely one to have to go through both of them.

44:42Catherine Whitaker: but this way round Alcaraz in the semis first he's got two days of rest now you know he's gonna we know he's gonna play the first semi-final on the Friday so it's gonna be day session I think that's to his disadvantage but I think it's to his advantage that he's got a couple of days off here he should be fresh going into it as fresh certainly fresher than he was you know at the other slams this year when he played these big matches and he does have the record against Alcarez you know I I said god Alcarez and Sino just shown they're so much further ahead than everyone and Djokovic can't play like he can against Fritz against them and you you you pointed out David that isn't actually true against Alcarez you know he's got a winning head-to-head record against him as I said in part one he's never lost him on a hard court he's beaten him at a slam this year like it's a different case with Alcaraz than it is with Sinner I think for Djokovic match-up wise I think the relentlessness of Sinner his the lack of chinks in the armor right completely unflappable the ball speed that he's got off both wings it's just a problem for Djokovic now that he's that he's shown time and time again the thing is Alcaraz has been that guy hasn't he unflappable, you know, big speed off both wings.

46:09Catherine Whitaker: He's been a better version of himself. And if that Alcaraz comes out, I don't see how Djokovic beats him over five. And, you know, I know we talk a lot about the Australian Open. The first set, when Alcaraz did have his head together, he totally outplayed Djokovic in that match. Obviously things flipped. Djokovic is going to have to, yeah, get in his head, I think. Get Andy Murray back.

46:37Matt Roberts: Isn't it wild to think Andy Murray was there? Physically on the court.

46:42David Law: His best moment. He was his first hug afterwards.

46:46Matt Roberts: The more I think about it, you know, the more I think we know Alcaraz is a look at the draw guy, study the draw guy. The more I think Alcaraz has spent five matches practicing for playing Novak Djokovic. practicing being focused and composed and concentrated throughout a match and not having dips so that when he comes to face Djokovic in the semi-final he's in that groove yeah I'd even

47:17David Law: go one stage further I think he's been practicing to play Yannick Sinner in terms of thinking that that's the guy that beat me but he doesn't most recently I agree on a but in a slightly different

47:31Matt Roberts: where he doesn't have the focus issues, or he hasn't in the past had any focus issues really against Sinner. But he has. I don't think Sinner's in his head. I just think they are pretty much equally good tennis players that can beat one another. Djokovic has been in his head. Yeah, it's a big match in that regard. And he wants to get him out.

47:51David Law: It is a massive match in that regard, isn't it? Because, and it's three matches really, because I'd include Cincinnati in it as well, because Alcaraz had just thrashed him in the, no, he'd beaten him in the Wimbledon final, not thrashed him. That was the second one, wasn't it? But he'd beaten him in that Wimbledon final and he felt like he was beating him again in the Cincinnati final and Djokovic turned that around and that was what catapulted him to the US Open title a few weeks later. Then you have the US, the Olympic final off the back of the thrashing at Wimbledon and it it really did rock our crowds to his foundations that and and then maybe the australian one was even more of a a weird head mess for our crowds and actually since then that's when he's come out and and played his consistent tennis isn't it um so he's remodeled a lot of a lot of his approach and and we've talked about that pride that he's got in the consistency so yeah i see where you're coming from.

48:58David Law: It's, I just feel like this is the one. This is the one he's been waiting for. Hardcore US Open. He feels different. He's got his short hair. He's ready to go.

49:08Matt Roberts: It's all going to come back to the hair, isn't it? I'm big on the hair. I've been big on the hair from day one. It's amazing how won over pretty much everyone is by the hair, given the reactions when it first happened, sort of all of eight days ago.

49:22David Law: And I would add that if Djokovic were somehow to beat him, I think Alkraze would take that really hard now.

49:34Matt Roberts: You'd have no hair and no US Open title. It'd all be for nothing.

49:38David Law: But I don't see that happening. I think all things being equal, i.e. physical fitness, etc., I'd be surprised if Alkraze doesn't win.

49:47Matt Roberts: Okay, well, we've got another 48 hours to look ahead to it, build up to it, get excited about it. That is it for part two. We will be back in part three to look ahead to tomorrow in more quarterfinal action. AI is only as powerful as the platform it's built into. That's why it's no surprise that more than 85 % of the Fortune 500 use the ServiceNow AI platform. While other platforms duct tape tools together, ServiceNow seamlessly unifies people, data, workflows, and AI, connecting every corner of your business. And with AI agents working together autonomously, anyone in any department can focus on the work that matters most.

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51:12Matt Roberts: Welcome back to part three of tonight's tennis podcast. Let's have a look at what we have tomorrow. Wednesday, September 3rd at Flushing Meadows US Open. A big day for Matt Roberts. We start at 11.30am on the Arthur Ashe Stadium with a little, just little appetizer. Alex de Menor against Felix Auger Aliassime.

51:37David Law: what's going to happen there what an opportunity for these two that's what that's what i love about it first of all in the case of alex dimeno you've got a guy who's always there who's always pushing to try to to get into the grand slam semi-final stage and so often runs into yannick sinner or somebody else and here he's got not yannick sinner a very very good player in felix ojali but one who you know he'll he'll be feeling confident about not not that he hasn't lost to him before he's lost two out of the three of their meetings but more recently dimon or has had the better of the two careers for the last couple of years and he feels like he's a better player it's a bit like taylor fritz tonight thinking like he's made strides and and dimon is going to come bouncing out onto that court and yet ogiel yassim has just found himself again and and unlocked something and beaten Zverev and beaten Rublev.

52:31David Law: You know, these are massive wins for him. Land of opportunity for these two guys. And I love that. And it makes me really look forward to it. But I think I favour Urge Aliassim and his weight of shot. Matt?

52:45Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, I'm leaning Urge Aliassim as well. I think Dimonor, so reliable. I think he'll show up. but I think you know I know he's been having good results this summer, Diminor, I'm not actually convinced he's quite at his best and I think Augie Aliasim, this is a really rich vein of form he's in and looking at their head to head, there's been a couple of times where Augie Aliasim has just stamped his authority on the match, you know one in Cincinnati, the Davis cup match that they played I think there's a chance that happens again and he takes over with his with his forehand he's got the greater weight of shots that's that's my feeling if or jealous him can keep up the level he's had in the last couple I think I think he'll come through this but big opportunity for both and that can that can do funny things to a match but that's my hunch.

53:49Matt Roberts: Now then, what's next after Orgelia Seem de Minot on Arthur? Here it is. It's a repeat of the Wimbledon final. Igor Sviontek against Amanda Anisimova. What's going to happen? No, in fact, what percentage chance do you give Anisimova of getting the win here? 30?

54:11Catherine Whitaker: 35? Like, I genuinely think she's got a shot here. It was interesting. I was thinking about what you said earlier and Shviontek having played everything since all summer. She's played everything and I didn't detect it in the last match against Alexandreva. I thought she was really good but there have been little times this tournament where I thought is she a bit tired here, Shviontek? Is there an accumulation? She's not been utterly convincing this tournament and I do think Anissimova's got a game that can hurt her. Not fully, because I do think the movement, while much improved for Anissimova, is an issue in this matchup with Fiontech's width on her shots.

55:01Catherine Whitaker: But to me, it's so much about, and this is not a big, it's not a clever take, it's just so much about, can Anissimova settle? Can she get a game on the board? Can she eradicate the memory of the Wimbledon final? And look, so much of that work probably happens before you get on the court. You know, like I really hope that there's been a big, big mindset discussion in the team in the last few days about what it's going to be like to face Egan Svjantek again. And if she can be herself out there, I'd give her maybe more than a 30 percent chance. I would make Svantec the favourite, but I'd give her maybe more of a 30 % chance.

55:44Catherine Whitaker: I think factored into my thinking is that this is going to be a lot for her. That was a really chastening experience in the Wimbledon final against a brilliant player. So yeah, look, I think Svantec will probably win.

56:05Catherine Whitaker: But I'm hopeful it's going to be very, very different to Wimbledon.

56:09Matt Roberts: Do you think the crowd will be tennis literate enough to, do you think they'll do big applause when she wins her first game?

56:21Matt Roberts: I don't know if I want them to. I think a few of them might. I think there might be a bit of a, just prepare yourself for that. Or maybe there'll be too much honey juice happening. What do you two think?

56:34Catherine Whitaker: I feel like I'm much more interested in your takes on this than mine.

56:37David Law: Well, I think she'll get a game. Last time I said that I thought, I feared a 50 minute final. I think it'll be more than an hour and 50.

56:50Catherine Whitaker: Okay, I think a battle.

56:51David Law: I think it'll be a battle. And I think that Shantek will come through, but I think she'll be really pushed. And I think the wall that you've kind of touched on there is coming, but it'll come in the next round.

57:07Catherine Whitaker: Oh, I see what you've done there.

57:11Matt Roberts: I see what he's done there as well.

57:13Catherine Whitaker: You're the only person, Catherine, who's got a fully objective rational take. So I believe in my take.

57:22Matt Roberts: I think 35 % sounds about sounds about right. I wish I'd seen more of the Alexandre match to really understand why that was quite as one sided as it was. um but but yeah i mean i did i said at the beginning of this tournament right it was when we were talking about yannick sinner and in the context of his lovely three months off making classical music or making videos for classical music that you know it would be madness watching him makes it feel like it's madness to pick somebody somebody that has just been on the grind all year for this particular tournament and nobody's been on the grind more than than Iger Shiontek um I really really do believe this will be properly competitive and I think of course Iger Shiontek is most likely to win it but 30 35 sounds about right to me and I I really, really don't see a blowout.

58:29Matt Roberts: I would actually be quite shocked if it was a blowout. Obviously not love and love. I'm not sure anyone's expecting that, but even sort of two and three or something, I'd be pretty surprised by that, I think.

58:40David Law: I think Anisimova can hurt Shvantec more on the return than she could at Wimbledon, even just because of the surface. I think it sits up more for her back and return to hurt her.

58:52Matt Roberts: And Anisimova's been serving better this tournament than she did at Wimbledon.

58:56Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, her first serve percentage is up. Her double faults are down. Her aces are up. It's been a really good serving tournament. And yeah, it's going to be key again.

59:06Matt Roberts: Night session tomorrow starts with Karolina Mukova against Naomi Osaka. I think we probably all are seeing an Osaka win here. I think I might be any which way, but I just struggled to see a scenario where Mukova is sort of in enough of one solid piece to be competitive here, I'm afraid, because otherwise it would be just the most delicious match to look forward to. But I have anxiety looking at that match on the schedule. I'm worried about it. If you told me a Czech was going to pull out, was going to withdraw ahead of a quarterfinal, Mukova would have been my go-to.

59:49David Law: Well, it was extraordinary that she won against Noskova with the treatment on court that she was getting to her lower back because that isn't something you easily just overcome. And yet she managed to win that match. And therefore, I wouldn't put anything past her. She's beaten Osaka before at the US Open a year ago. I think Osaka's a little bit in awe of her skill set. They practiced together on the eve of the tournament and she can't believe what she can do, I think, Osaka, because the soccer's more straight up and down, you know, in her approach to hitting tennis balls. But I just feel like she is, she's exactly where she needs to be.

1:00:32David Law: She doesn't seem to have these aches and pains. And yeah, I would be surprised if that doesn't take some sort of factor in the match.

1:00:40Matt Roberts: Second on Ash in the night session is Yannick Sinner against Lorenzo Musetti. If you told me there's going to be a blowout tomorrow, this is where I'd be looking. I'd love to be wrong but I'm worried about this one as well for different reasons

1:00:55David Law: I'm worried about it too and I really hope that those worries prove not to be valid in the end because I'd love to see Mazzetti give a good account of himself because he's such a great watch and the crowd would love him they would love to see his extravagant shot making and his expressive reactions and all the stuff he brings to the table. But the problem is he needs a bit of time to do those things. And Sinner doesn't give you that. He's just on you. So my concern is that he gets rushed and he can't cope.

1:01:37Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, I don't have much to add to that. I think Sinner will just strangle him from the baseline with his weight of shot and his ability to take the ball early and maybe on another surface, Mazzetti's hands and slice and just a bit more time, for example, on the clay might allow him to get his forehand into play a bit more. I just think on this surface, I think it's tough to see Mazzetti winning a set.

1:02:08Matt Roberts: OK, big hype job for the night session. Then one injured player and one player that's going to get his clock cleaned. We're excited.

1:02:18Catherine Whitaker: It'll be nice.

1:02:20Matt Roberts: It'll be nice. Yeah.

1:02:22David Law: It'll be a lovely watch. Great in the knock-up. Yeah.

1:02:27Matt Roberts: Do tune in for the knock-up. We'll be back with a podcast, of course, at the end of it. Just wrapping up today. Oh, my goodness. It's the return of Jagger and Gucci. Oh, wow. Today's mascots are Jagger and Gucci, owned by Laura. Laura says, you may remember Jagger and Gucci. Do I, Laura? They are three-time pet mascots, Bernadoodle sisters, owned by Laura's sister, Amy, and niece, Sophia, but now also live with me and their Auntie Deb in our new shared home in Fairfield, Connecticut. What a lovely, like, familial canine commune type situation this sounds like. Room for an extra one? As you can see, says Laura in the photo, these sweet girls graduated this year from a month long training program with flying colors.

1:03:26Matt Roberts: Oh, my goodness. They enjoyed treats, long walks and guarding us from the various water birds that live in the marshlands behind our house. They are also big tennis fans and join their aunt Laura in watching matches whenever they can. they especially enjoyed fangirling over favorite players carlos alcaraz and coco goff during the french open finals they they are posing in this photo with their degree certificates from the last day of boot camp

1:03:58Matt Roberts: i am totally speechless which laura does not make good good podcasting but welcome back jagger and gucci hall of famers i would say lovely faces i love the idea that we've got a tennis podcast pet hall of fame just came up with it and i'm now wondering why haven't why haven't i've been

1:04:21Catherine Whitaker: doing that all along because they're all in it you're gonna have to work out some criteria

1:04:26Matt Roberts: creating the shortlist would be too traumatic uh jagger and gucci laura thank you thank you and hello to our mascots. Hello, Phoebe. Hello, Maisie. Hello, Roger. Hello to our top folks and executive producers, Greg, Chris and Jeff. Let's have some shout outs, Matt.

1:04:45Catherine Whitaker: We have Kim Ferguson from Glasgow.

1:04:48Matt Roberts: Hi, Kim. Hello, Kim. Like Kim Sears.

1:04:52David Law: Like Kim Clijsters. Remember how I said Adam Hogg instead of Adam Walton last night for the Adams? Yeah, we forgot a sensation. Yeah. I mean, both good Adams, but... I probably should have come up with the current ATP professional. There we are. Anyway, Kim.

1:05:10Catherine Whitaker: Kim has completed three quarters of the fan slam and just has the US Open. Wow, good work.

1:05:17Matt Roberts: See you next year, Kim. See you in New York. Any tennis Fergusons? None that I can think of, actually. I'm sure there is. We're going to get an email from Nick Imerson with a tennis Ferguson. I hope so.

1:05:30David Law: Well, Nick definitely asked. He emailed us about Adam Wall. He pointed at Adam, yeah. We had another couple there as well.

1:05:36Matt Roberts: Yeah, thank you, Nick. And thank you, Kim.

1:05:40Catherine Whitaker: Thanks, Kim. We've also got Catherine Willerton.

1:05:44Matt Roberts: Hello, Catherine. I think I recognise that name.

1:05:47Catherine Whitaker: Yes, me too. From Birkdale, Merseyside.

1:05:51Matt Roberts: Yes, hello, Catherine.

1:05:51Catherine Whitaker: Same church, same pew. Oh, lovely. And Catherine has been a listener to the pod from about two years into the pod. Wow, good work. Catherine said I was a Sampras fan like David. Oh, now we're talking. Nadal is my all-time fave. And he'll do too.

1:06:10Matt Roberts: Well, you know how to win over me and David, Catherine. Have a good name. Great name. Support Pete Sampras. Good preferences. Thank you very much for your continued support, Catherine.

1:06:21Catherine Whitaker: And lastly, we have Ash Jamieson.

1:06:25Matt Roberts: Hello, Ash.

1:06:27Catherine Whitaker: Hi, Ash. Who is having a shout-out for the third year in a row. Wow.

1:06:32Matt Roberts: And I reckon for the previous two years we said Ash Barty. I dare say. And I've got sad.

1:06:37Catherine Whitaker: Yes. So Vicky's actually done some research for us. She's preempted. Yeah.

1:06:46Matt Roberts: She's preempted my pathetic predictability. Thank you, Vicky.

1:06:51Catherine Whitaker: And come up with Ashley Harkle Road. I remember Ashley Harkle Road very well indeed.

1:06:57Matt Roberts: Didn't she do a Playboy cover?

1:06:59David Law: I wasn't going to bring that up. Yes, she did. And she was quite a good player.

1:07:07Catherine Whitaker: Vicky's got stats. A career-high singles ranking of 39. Wins over Daniela Hantakova, Caroline Wozniacki and Dinara Safina. I remember the one over Daniela Hantakova.

1:07:21Matt Roberts: And me being the great feminist I am brought up her Playboy cover. That's great.

1:07:26David Law: All part of her journey.

1:07:28Catherine Whitaker: All part of the Ashley Argel Road journey. Yes, Vicky writes, her Wikipedia entry is actually quite the read.

1:07:39Matt Roberts: There's also Ashley Cooper.

1:07:42Catherine Whitaker: Oh, very good.

1:07:44Matt Roberts: Yes. Good. Yeah. Thanks, David. I got a real look of approval there from David. Well, I was trying to think, who's that? And then I thought, oh, yes. Ash. Let's hope that Ash is short for Ashley. It is. Right. OK, great. Great. we haven't overstepped. Ash, thank you ever so much. Thank you Kim. Thank you Ash. Thank you

1:08:09Catherine Whitaker: You've forgotten your own name.

1:08:10Matt Roberts: Catherine Oh my god.

1:08:12Catherine Whitaker: It's quite late folks.

1:08:14Matt Roberts: Thank you all ever so much. If you'd like to become a friend of the tennis podcast, the link as always is in our show notes. Thank you for listening. We're part of the Athletic Podcast Network. We'll of course be back tomorrow. Enjoy the tennis. We'll speak to you then.

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