US Open Day 6 - Taylor Townsend to the rescue

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1:26Matt Roberts: Hello and welcome to the tennis podcast coming to you from the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on day six of the US Open. It is just after 10.30pm and there are two matches still on court. We have eyes on them both via various devices. We have Taylor Fritz locked in another grind with the Swiss player Jerome Kim over on Armstrong. and we have Taylor Townsend and Mira Andreeva just about to get underway on the Arthur Ashe Stadium because their match was scheduled to follow what inevitably turned into a bit of an ordeal between Cameron Norrie and his horse lungs and 38-year-old Novak Djokovic.

2:07Matt Roberts: And that is where we should start, I think. Djokovic defeating Norrie in four sets, 6-4, 6-7, 6-2, 6-3, taking a medical timeout for treatment on a back injury. along the way, comfortably winning down the straight. David, how much trouble was Djokovic in tonight, really?

2:29David Law: In the end, not much, I don't think. It was a little bit of a concern when he had a twinge to his back and he had a medical timeout. It was a bit arsey between Norrie and him at that point because Norrie seemed to be asking the umpire how many times is he allowed to have a trainer out and Djokovic definitely seemed to shoot him a glance as if to say, stay out of it, mate. Anyway, they've had a few things happen in the past. But I think the really interesting thing is and Djokovic, I think it warmed up, he loosened up. A lot of the time these players, they get a twinge and they get worried and then they realise, oh, it's OK, I'm OK.

3:08David Law: So I think he's all right, but time will tell. The interesting thing to me was that this was a much cleaner performance from Djokovic at the start. and particularly at the end. I feel like he really found his range as the last two sets took place, and I think maybe Norrie started to struggle a little bit. I don't know whether there was a physical specific issue, but he certainly seemed to slow down a bit. But the interesting bit to me was when Norrie levelled the match, and that kind of came out of the blue. I thought Djokovic was going to go two sets to love up, and we sort of will come on to talk about Irina Sabalenka's tiebreak in a little while, but we had simultaneous tie-breaks going on and Djokovic, the past master of tie-breaks and it really is in the past now because he lost his while Sabalenka has taken that mantle on and then Djokovic went one love down in the third set with some of the best tennis I think I've ever seen from Cam Norrie just unreal combinations of shots to go one love up I went in the Arena Sabalenka press conference and came out.

4:18David Law: The break had been retrieved. It suddenly was 4-1 and the match felt over. So I don't quite know what happened in those 10 minutes. But I really was impressed with the way Djokovic, you mentioned his age, Catherine. He seemed to be getting better as the third hour started to move towards the fourth. It was just under three hours in the end. But yeah, I think this was good. I think this was good from Djokovic.

4:47Catherine Whitaker: And he had a very good serving day. Not only did he hit 18 aces, which is the most he's ever hit in a US Open match, but he also came through 10 service games without losing a point. 10 love service games, which maybe tells you something about Cameron Norrie's returning and resistance in this match as well. But there was just an ease by the end of it to know that Djokovic just easily coming through the service game. So I, you know, use the word ordeal. Like the first two sets here were a bit of an ordeal. There was definitely a world where it dragged out and became even more of one. But as David's described, he found the strike on the ball.

5:32Catherine Whitaker: He found the clean hitting that we thought he might come out with against Cameron Norrie. But it actually took him a little bit of time to find it. He had the clean serving. and by the end he was in great spirits in that on-court interview, very different to his previous matches. He was joking, he was staring into the camera and calling out his rivals. He was just having a good time, really.

5:56Matt Roberts: Called out a rapper that we didn't recognise. Not even we knew who that was, David. I'm assuming you don't either.

6:01David Law: As it happens, I'm well-versed with who it... No, I haven't got a clue.

6:07Matt Roberts: We'll get at it immediately. We'll be finding out soon who that was.

6:10Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, so I mean he was asked about his back and he started talking about, you know, dancing to this rapper. But I still don't think I've changed my big, like, overall take on Novak Djokovic. I still think he's got enough to get through to that semi-final, you know, looking at his path. I think he can probably work his way through there. But given the physical issues that I do think he has, I don't think he's perfect here. given the tennis he's been playing I just don't really see what's going to change about Novak Djokovic's grand slam year at this year's US Open I mean that's why we play we're going to find out over the next week or so but to me nothing is giving that he's suddenly going to beat Alcaraz and Sinner

6:58Matt Roberts: especially not based on what we saw from Alcaraz today which was unreal absolutely unreal yet again 6-2, 6-4, 6-love against Luciano Darderi. He had a medical timeout as well, Carlos Alcaraz. There was a period of about six minutes in this match where everybody was collectively holding their breath, Carlos Alcaraz included. He jarred his knee at 5-4 in the second set and it clearly felt dramatic to him at the time. He doesn't have a poker face, Alcaraz, at all, does he? Not at all. You can see how worried about it he was.

7:35David Law: He suddenly looked about eight years old and he just grazed his knee.

7:38Matt Roberts: He furrowed brow, looking like he needed a hug, called the trainer. And actually, by the time the trainer came, about five points later at the sit-down, sort of the first thing he said to the trainer was, well, it actually feels all right now. But seeing as you're here, might as well give me a leg rub. He said he didn't want any taping, didn't want any strapping. He was like, maybe a little leg, a little thigh rub. So he had that and then he didn't lose another game.

8:05David Law: And then he came out and he hit two shots on the next two points that made Catherine and me just laugh out loud. Because, OK, he's not only all right, but he's playing the best tennis of anybody in this tournament. It's an unbelievable level.

8:21Matt Roberts: I really do think that loss here last year, that second draft, I mean, I think lots of things actually are focusing him this year. This is a more concentrated Alcaraz than I think I've ever seen before consistently through early rounds of a Grand Slam tournament. And I do think what happened here last year is a big part of it. He's got a real point to prove, he feels.

8:47Catherine Whitaker: And he's proving it. He really is. And to be honest, I think it's an accumulation, right? He's built up so much confidence through this season of not having those sorts of early losses. We've talked about it. Everyone's talked about it. He's reached the final of his last seven events. That is a tremendous period of consistency now on different surfaces as well. And I think the summer break that he had was just what he needed. Last year, he obviously came in here with the Olympics. This time, he spent a lot of time at home. And I think that's where he's really able to decompress, still train, just relax and come into this American hardcourt swing with all the intensity that he's had through the spring and the summer on the clay and the grass.

9:38Catherine Whitaker: And he's looking fantastic.

9:41Matt Roberts: Gets to spend time with his mum when he's at home, doesn't he? and if I learned anything from the Netflix documentary, and I didn't learn loads, but if I learned anything, it's that she's a tremendous and pretty unique influence in his life. He got the 11.30am slot on Ash today. He didn't love it.

10:04Catherine Whitaker: He said, I'm not an early person. My first goal was to be awake.

10:10Matt Roberts: Really relatable quotes in the press conference. he said I went to bed at 11 that for me is really weird to be honest which I'm really proud about it was really really sweet he said proudly he said I woke up at 7 in the morning just to be ready and to warm up well and to be feeling awake and feeling good I too give myself a pat on the back if I successfully wake up at 7 a.m he said it was an unusual time for me but at the same time it's Good, because I'm already done with everything. It's a good time as well. Everything's good with Carlos Alcaraz. But, David, he now plays Arta Rindekanesh.

10:52David Law: Well, you see, I mean, I've got a record now of pep talks in corridors and elevators. You know, Roger Federer 1999, now Arta Rindekanesh here in 2025. And here he is, career best.

11:07Matt Roberts: through to the second week of a slam for the very first time aged 30. The only thing that's changed is he's had a chat with David Law in a corridor.

11:17David Law: Correct, yeah. And you can listen to it on Tennis Podcast Meets if you're a friend of the tennis podcast.

11:22Matt Roberts: Beat his countryman. Still there. Benjamin Bonzi, 4-6-6-3-6-3-6-2. What's different, David?

11:31David Law: Well, I actually think really the last two months are different because that win over Zverev, it came across in that interview we did, is just how much that meant to him. Not just the achievement of it, but I think he taught himself something, really. He taught himself that he could hang with a top player there and that his serve and his attacking game can get the job done. And, I mean, he spoke in that interview about how he'd kind of got his hunger back and his sort of love for it and the competition. And he is an entertainer and those sort of things. What he's got now, though, is much more of what I think we saw when he played Alcaraz in that Queen's match of 2023, when he just hung with him in three very close sets.

12:17David Law: And I think a lot of the time I watch him and he'll be good for a bit and then he will seem to go a bit AWOL. He's not doing that right now. And, I mean, look, Benjamin Bonzi, I think, was on fumes really today. He's had two five-setters. But still, Rindikinesh had had a long match in the one previously as well. And I just think he's going for it. He's backing himself. I think he'll go for it again.

12:45Matt Roberts: And what?

12:46David Law: And get absolutely hammered.

12:49Matt Roberts: Can I tell you what Carlos Alcaraz, bless him, had to say when he was asked about his next opponent? Sure. He was asked, can you say something about your next opponent? I think you played him in Queens recently. Carlos said, it's Arthur, right? Just wanted to make sure. My coach told me that when Arthur won, this is your next opponent, I was like, is this real?

13:14David Law: Okay.

13:18David Law: Amazing.

13:19Matt Roberts: Well, he's not been in the second week of a slam before. This is uncharted territory for Arthur. He's got, it's the proverbial free hit, isn't it?

13:27David Law: He's got to serve so well. And if he does, he can maybe keep some sets close. I just feel now that Al Kraz, I mean, the level Al Kraz is playing is just, is as high as we've ever seen in early rounds of slams. Highest, I would say, that I've seen him play at this stage. He usually gets better at slams. Right now, he's playing grand slam final level.

13:53Matt Roberts: Usually he has moments where he hits the peaks that we've been seeing, but he's maintaining it throughout matches in a way I've never seen before.

14:01David Law: And that's what I think is, Rindikinesh would have to hit his spots, not only hit the serves hard, but he would have to hit the corners. Because we saw what he did to Radia Pelka's serve, he was middling that thing back.

14:14Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, and I think the grass has helped Rindikinesh in the matchup against Alcaraz, you know, in terms of being able to do that and keep it tight in the score. Whereas you just feel like Alcaraz is just going to overwhelm him, really. And I think the big reason for the level of consistency he's able to bring in these matches right now is the serve. It's so good at the moment, the Alcres serve, and therefore he's kind of locked in the whole match. He's just not having these dips. and then he's also got the accelerations, exactly as you described when he broke Darderi to win the second set, having had the medical timeout.

15:02Catherine Whitaker: He just suddenly produced French Open final against Sinner-style tennis and then because he's not being broken, that's all he needs in a set. It's just so good right now.

15:16Matt Roberts: And knowing he can rely on a serve enables him to... Loosen up, take risks. Yeah. Yeah, it's irresistible tennis at the moment. So Alcaraz and Djokovic through as expected from this half of the draw, but we have had shocks today. We have had shock American exits. Ben Shelton and Francis Tiafoe packing their bags and headed out to this tournament in two very different fashions within an hour of one another. real like buzz kill of an hour or a sort of afternoon period for for the tournament really

15:54Catherine Whitaker: and I think it was this this round maybe even this day last year when they they took up a few hours playing against each other on ash and it you know was the big highlight moment of the tournament so far and you know just think god like losing them both in the space of an hour just absolutely brutal really for the tournament for a lot of the fans here and as you said like contrasting fashions for them to lose but both really depressed like depressing fashions like neither of them were really matches where you could take positives from it you know it was just really really brutal for

16:36Matt Roberts: both of them let's start with sholton uh lost via retirement to adrian manorino the first retirement at Ben Shelton's career. 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, so he's two sets to peace when Shelton retired and maybe he was going to anyway, but his dad and coach, Brian Shelton, indicated to him very clearly you need to stop now, Ben. You know, the classic hand-to-the-throat motion quit now. And he did. And it was devastated devastating for him, head straight in a towel was just about able to acknowledge the Armstrong crowd but it was through tears with the towel on the head, it was really really upsetting scenes, he says he can't quite pinpoint when the injury to his left shoulder the most important body part he has, he can't quite pinpoint when the injury occurred, he said he came into the match healthy but it was pretty dramatic when we all noticed it, right?

17:42Matt Roberts: Like, it seemed impossible that he would have been able to carry on at all, which he did for a set. But as soon as we noticed the injury, it seemed inevitable that he would retire.

17:53Catherine Whitaker: Yes, and that was why I found the quote about struggling to be able to pinpoint the moment a bit strange. Look, I'm not saying that he's wrong about that, but it seemed like a classic you could pinpoint the moment because he literally was stretched out wide to hit a forehand and he ripped it and was immediately in pain, grabbed his shoulder and then from that point onwards, you know, could barely like follow through properly on the forehand. You know, he was sometimes hitting the serve okay, but it seemed to be the follow through on the topspin forehand that he just couldn't do. And every time he did it, he was in pain.

18:32Catherine Whitaker: He started slicing the forehand quite a lot after that. And look, there was a brief moment where I thought he might be able to pull this through in four sets, because it was two sets to one up when it happened. And he actually was doing quite a good job with the shoulder that he had. I quite enjoyed it.

18:51Matt Roberts: I don't know if this makes me a terrible sadist, but I really enjoyed that fourth set. Like, it forced Ben Schoen. I don't like, once he's healthy again, I do wonder if you might look back on this match and sort of not think fondly of it. But I wonder if it taught him something about what he's capable of, what he has in his skill set that he doesn't usually need to look for. Like it was a really fun set of tennis and he did some incredible problem solving and he started playing Manarino tennis. He started doing flat bunts of the ball. I was all in on it. It was really fun.

19:31Catherine Whitaker: And before the injury, the match was really fun as well. You know, absolutely packed crowd on Armstrong for this one. And, you know, obviously Shelton had got that win over him very recently. But the match that people remember of Shelton Manorino, the big match in their head-to-head was at the Australian Open last year when Manorino beat him. So there was this intrigue. That was the tequila match. Exactly. There was this intrigue going into it. And Manorino started doing some of those things again. You know, this is, I think this is an objectively funny matchup because it's like the most obviously athletic and physical guy on the tour in Ben Shelton with, you know, his sort of big energetic brand of tennis and his, you know, his big clothing sponsor.

20:22Catherine Whitaker: And, you know, he's a star. He's the guy. versus Adria Manorino, who is like one of the least obviously athletic people on the tour, who barely swings at the ball, strings his rackets comically loose, up until recently didn't have any clothing brand. Like it couldn't be more different. You know, one's at the start of their career, one's at the end. It's just a really fun contrast of styles. And I was really, really enjoying it. And Shelton was figuring it out, I think, which makes it even more painful that he had to end up retiring because of the injury. And Manorino, I don't know whether he was just being, you know, a good sport, but he said, I think Shelton was going to win.

21:01Catherine Whitaker: Like Shelton winning that third set, which by the way won in the most comical fashion, I let out a very inappropriate scream in the media centre that got a lot of people looking at me funny. What happened? Well, it was a really long rally, and Manorino ends up working his way to the net and Shelton throws up a ball that looks like it's drifting out and as he throws up that ball, Shelton, he falls over. He's right in the corner of the court by the Rolex clock, you know, by the speed gun. He's off the court. He's gone. He's on his hands and knees. There was some speculation that that might have been the moment where he did his shoulder.

21:39Catherine Whitaker: So he's out of the court, but this ball that he's put up drops in and Manorino slightly misjudged it and he's backpedalling and all he's got to do is put it in the court off his backhand and he puts it in the bottom of the net. It seemed impossible. But that one shot on the set and the energy was up and it was just beautifully poised, this match. And then the devastating shot on the injury. So like a real, real shame because I think it was just shaping up so nicely and had been fun up to that point and everyone was in it. and yes the fourth set was like really tactically interesting but it was a little bit uncomfortable as well because you could just see the pain Shelton was in he said it was some of the worst pain he's ever been in in his life and in his little conversation with his dad

22:28Matt Roberts: Yeah this wasn't sort of dull ache pain this was clearly sharp fiery pain it was uncomfortable to watch there was also a very what should have been really comical moment at the end and was comical, but sort of comical in the way that you don't want to allow yourself to laugh at because Ben Shelton was in so much physical and emotional distress at the time. But Adrian Manorino went off court for a bathroom break and to change his kit at the end of the fourth set, at which point Shelton decided to retire. But Manorino wasn't there to receive this news, so Shelton had to wait for him, And Manorino strode back on court after his bathroom break, unaware that the match was over.

23:15Matt Roberts: And then in the post-match interview, he said, I'm 37 years old and it's the first time I'm winning a match from the toilet.

23:24Catherine Whitaker: Which is... Iconic. Absolutely iconic. And by the way, Manorino, like, this is a brilliant run of form that he's on now. He's won 19 of his last 24 matches. a guy who this year has had a 10-match losing streak and a 7-match losing streak, and yet has turned that around into this really nice run of form that he's put together now. And, yeah, like, he's just happening again, Andrew Manorino.

23:54Matt Roberts: And he now plays Yerila Hetschka for a place in the quarterfinals, which that feels pretty even. I might even back Manorino in that. He's the only player that has brought me points in the predictions this tournament. I think I might just need to keep going for Adrian Manorino. I wanted to today and Matt talked me out of it. He's my guy.

24:17Catherine Whitaker: I also tried to talk you out of going for Cameron Norrie. Yeah, you did. You can stop blaming me for your predictions.

24:24Matt Roberts: I was looking for a Hail Mary and I went for the wrong one. There were other Hail Marys available too. Jan-Leonard Struff take a bow. Straight sets for him over Francis Tiafoe, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6. Tiafoe exiting this tournament, this tournament that he pledged to come back and win one day. What was that, three years ago, David?

24:49David Law: Yeah.

24:50Matt Roberts: Exiting at the third-round stage in straight sets with a pretty anemic performance, quite frankly. Jan Lennard-Struf was incredible. He's his own really fascinating story. He's 35 years of age, Jan Lennard-Struf, and hasn't really come in here on the back of any form. But he's a good Grand Slam player. He likes the best-of-five format. There's a bit of diesel about him. And he just lit up today, clearly confident from his previous victory over Holger Rune. And he just handcuffed Francis Tiaffe. He was a passenger in this match, Tiafoe, both in terms of vibe and in terms of his tennis. He just seemed to have no control over it at all.

25:36Matt Roberts: There was a lot going on during the early stages of this match, and I was keeping an eye on that and a few other things. And every time I looked up at this match on grandstand, Tiafoe looked beaten. Even in the first set, it just felt like he was going to lose this. He looked annoyed and aggrieved that Strouf was daring to play this well against him. I went out for the latter stages of this and it was packed out there, standing room only, including in the media seats. I ended up hovering behind the photographers because there were no seats available in the media seats. I think because everybody was anticipating the Tiafoe comeback.

26:16Matt Roberts: and Jalen-Estrøf breaks to end up serving out the match and throws in the most horrible game imaginable. Like, I know choke is a horrible word, but there's just no other word for what this game was. It was as bad a choke as you'll see.

26:36David Law: Well, Strøf had hit one double fault in the match to that point. You know, you're talking nearly three sets.

26:44Catherine Whitaker: And hadn't faced a break point.

26:45David Law: Yeah, and then he steps up to serve the match and he hits three back-to-back double faults and loses the game. How you gather yourself after that is beyond me. I went in his press conference afterwards and asked him about what he was feeling, what he was going through when he stepped up to the line for that game. And he said, look, it can happen to you. And he said, but I was really annoyed about the first double fault. and then you know i i was trying to force it in and it wasn't going in and then and then he said but the thing is it i know it was dicey because if he'd have won that set then the crowd get involved and and so forth but i i knew i was playing well and and that's the thing he's come all the way through qualifying you know this is five matches he's won now and or six matches sorry and and i I mean, he's beaten Holger Runa.

27:42David Law: I was really taken with the way he finished that match. He didn't allow Runa to kind of have any say in it. It was either going to be won on Struth's racket or lost on Struth's racket. And that's what happened all the way through this match. He hit well over sort of 50 % more winners than Tiafoe. Tiafoe complained about how flat he felt and that he felt constantly rushed. And that's what Struth does to you. He just tees off. and if the ball's remotely in an attacking position, he will pull the trigger. And that's what Tiafa wasn't doing. He was rallying. He would occasionally try maybe a short one.

28:21David Law: He likes his drop shots. But he was miffed at being on grandstand court. And he didn't like the conditions. He said it plays differently. He said he hadn't prepared on that court. I mean, he gave loads of credit to Struff, But he said this is the most down I've been in a long time. And I really feel like he will have regrets from this.

28:45Matt Roberts: Yeah, look, I wasn't in the press conference. I've read the transcript. You were in there, David, and you put a question to him that elicited one of the most revealing answers, I think, about how miffed he was to be on grandstand court, which is an incredible court. And actually, in terms of whipping up home support, grandstand can be amazing for for home players harnessing that but he's become used to being the man here um and i think that really showed today that there was that slight sense of entitlement about him um and i think it showed in his tennis in a slightly unprofessional way really you know he's not he's he's not he's not 38 years old but he's he's not a spring chicken anymore he's got limited numbers of of us opens and it feels like he's just sort of let this one got in the way of himself with with this one and best case scenario even if he didn't feel

29:48David Law: entitled to a to one of the two bigger courts to to not be prepared for that court if he just assumed that he wasn't on it and didn't prepare on it well that's unprofessional really absolutely

30:01Matt Roberts: and that that's that's on you yeah and there was some there was some taking accountability from him impress it wasn't a total it wasn't a total sort of cognitive dissonance situation but there was sort of giving and taking away in terms of accountability it was he played great but the conditions on grandstand really suited him because it was quick out there and they and they didn't suit me, you know, and I just, I don't know, it felt like he was a ghost of his former self out there. It felt like your mate from uni that still wants it to be uni, you know, on a night out, even when everybody's, you know, you're in a different phase of life and you're still out having fun, but it's not uni anymore.

30:48We're not going to go to Oceania on a Thursday night.

30:52Matt Roberts: Do you know what I mean? Like, it just felt a bit like that. It's interesting. A little bit sad.

30:58David Law: Two years ago, it was a bit like that when he got beaten by Shelton after the big breakthrough run when he beat Nadal. And then last year, he seemed to come out more hyped up, and he beat Shelton that time. And, you know, really, he should have reached the final. So he's still got time. But you could see, when he was at the end of the press conference, when he was talking about what comes next for the rest of the year, Oh, my God, it sounded such a drag by comparison. The US Open's over.

31:27Matt Roberts: I mean, look, he struggles to get up for anything that's not the US Open and Wimbledon, right? That is now a problem. Yeah.

31:33Catherine Whitaker: You know, like, what is he without Wimbledon and the US Open? And he's not performed at those events. He's going to be down, I think, to about 30 in the world now. He's going to take a big hit here. He's had semifinals points coming off. He's only got to the third round. Like, that's a hit to his ranking. He now needs to be a guy who embraces the grind again and embraces trying to get back up and win some tournaments and at least go deep in tournaments. You can't just be a Wimbledon and US Open guy. He's not good enough to be like that.

32:11David Law: He's not. By the way, I was in the press comments for Tiafoe and he didn't know about the Shelton injury. he was asked about it and he said what happened I don't even know if he won or lost you know so that was news to him and then as he's trudging out looking so sad then we're told Ben Shelton's coming straight in and they literally passed each other in the corridor and you know pats on the shoulder and in walked Shelton honestly it was I mean you feel for these players when they do lose their demean I mean Shelton came into this tournament with such high hopes such great form even today he's come in feeling good you know and actually the first half a dozen questions and answers were pretty monosyllabic because he just he just couldn't really talk about it all he just and i understand that and that i mean i'm not trying to give myself credit here but i asked him a question about whether this is the hardest thing he's ever had to take as a professional, given how well he was playing and so forth.

33:17David Law: And suddenly it was like it clicked him into gear and he stopped slouching back in his chair. He sat up to the microphone and he was very keen to remind himself and remind everybody in the room and anybody who might be listening that actually he has it pretty good that this isn't the worst thing that will ever happen to him. He's still got a lot to be proud of and, you know, he's not going to be whining. and I found that quite interesting that he just sort of grabbed himself a little bit in that moment but you said it before how many US Opens do you get? Now he's a very young man but he had a bit of Roddick about him this year when Roddick won it in 2003 and I know the Sinner and Al Kraz there would have been a hell of a long way to go and I still don't think he would have beaten Al Kraz the way Al Kraz is playing but you never know if Al Kraz is going to jar his knee Jar his knee.

34:11David Law: This might have been the chance, and it might have just been taken away from Shelton. Now, he's going to have many more opportunities, but one day we'll look back on a career and we'll wonder.

34:23Matt Roberts: Let's have some Mahatch vibes, shall we, from Matt Roberts to lighten the mood. Straight sets over Hugo Blanchet, proving he is the best player in the world.

34:36Catherine Whitaker: What can I say? They started playing Sweet Caroline at the end of the second set. I had to do everything in my powers not to join in from the media seats. He was great. He was absolutely ripping the ball, not missing, taking the ball early, doing all the things that he's been doing all tournament. This is definitely the best tennis he's played since the very start of the year, the back end of last year when he was so dangerous. He's hitting the ball like that again. And he's a problem when he plays like that because his shot-making ability is unbelievable. He did the full splits at one point today.

35:15Catherine Whitaker: He hit a single-handed backhand pass. He hit a lob with his left hand. He had it all going on. And it did remind me of the type of setting where we first saw him and we declared him the best player in the world. You know, like, OK, it was court 17. It's a big court, but it wasn't packed because it was the end of the night. And he was just kind of going on vibes. And it felt a bit like a practice match. You know, like it wasn't that intense.

35:47Matt Roberts: If he could make all matches feel like that, he would be the best player in the world.

35:51Catherine Whitaker: Genuinely. It's absolutely remarkable, the stuff that he can do. Yeah, I'm enjoying it. Nine sets out of nine. Like, I know you're going to say, oh, but what about the next round and all that? but that's for two days' time. Let's not do the post-mortem now.

36:11Matt Roberts: That enormous roar of the crowd, by the way, that you heard while Matt Roberts was talking was obviously for Matt Roberts, Thomas Mahatch takes, but also for Taylor Townsend, who has broken the Mira Andreeva serve and will come out to serve herself for the opening set. Mira Andreeva is in a bit of a French Open Lois Boisson's situation by the sounds of things in terms of, you know, albeit not a full Arthur Ashe crowd, but an extremely vocal and probably quite drunk Arthur Ashe crowd in terms of the way they're getting behind Taylor Townsend. So you'll probably hear how that's going from the background noises, but we will keep you posted.

36:54Matt Roberts: And incidentally, in terms of who Thomas Mahatch plays next, we don't know because it's between Taylor Fritz and the Swiss man Jerome Kim and they're locked to the set apiece on Armstrong

37:05David Law: and three games all in the third and Fritz had some set points in that second set as well Kim playing a bit like Struff just taking it to the American

37:14Matt Roberts: it's going to be a late night isn't it and who's getting up at 7am to watch football

37:19David Law: us

37:21Catherine Whitaker: me and David

37:23Matt Roberts: not Catherine okay that's it for part one we'll be back in part two to talk about the women

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39:24Matt Roberts: Welcome back to part two of the pod where it is now quarter past 11 Taylor Townsend is serving for the opening set against Mira Andrava Taylor Fritz continues to grind over on Armstrong and we turn our attention to talk about the results from the women's draw on day six here at the US Open let's start where the day started on Armstrong with Elena Rabatkin's sublime performance to beat Emma Raducanu 6-1, 6-2, an encounter described by Mary Carrillo in commentary, Matt. You came in early for this match as a boxing match with players in different weight classes.

40:06Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, I mean, of course, Mary's put it perfectly there. I think, you know, Raducanu had been in her press conferences previously, hadn't she, talking about how buoyed she was by the fact that she was dictating matches and dominating them and playing them on her terms. And she just found that absolutely impossible today against Rabatkinner. You know, right from the start, the depth on Rabatkinner's shots was a real problem for Raducanu, whether that be off the return or off her first shot after the serve. She was just pinning Raducanu back, and Raducanu was kind of unable to just influence the match.

40:50Catherine Whitaker: She was saying to her team, every ball is on the baseline, every ball is so deep. She was really, really struggling with that. And look, Catherine, you called it. You said that you thought Raducanu was maybe ready for a big win, but maybe not this win against Robackina, given that matchup. I'd been encouraged by what I'd seen from Raducanu against Sabalenka, Velenka, another power player. And, you know, I had some sort of just general, like, Rabakina clutchness doubts, you know. I've just seen her involved in a lot of matches where maybe her form has just inexplicably dipped or she hasn't quite brought it in the big moments or whatever.

41:32Catherine Whitaker: But none of that was the case today. And, you know, I think it's interesting. It was put to Raducanu in the final question of the press conference by Tomaini Cariole of the Guardian about whether she feels that these top players, and particularly, I think, Sviontek, who she's lost to at a couple of slams this year, and today, Rabatkinner, whether she feels like they're playing better because it's her. Almost like they've got a bit of a point to prove against her. And Raducanu leaned into that. I think she feels that that's the case. And there's absolutely no doubt today that Rabatkinah was sharper and more on it than she has been in a lot of her previous matches.

42:17Catherine Whitaker: I personally think that a big reason she was able to be sharp and on it for so long is not necessarily Raducanu the person and the former Grand Slam champion, but the game. like Raducanu I think I think it's absolutely a fair take to recognise the absolute brilliance of Rabatkinna today she was striking the ball incredibly well but I also think it's ok to feel a little bit disappointed that Raducanu didn't try a few more things and in particular changing the pace there was two slices she hit that drew errors from Rabatkinna and she didn't try it again, she didn't go through it I think it may well not have worked.

43:00Catherine Whitaker: It may well have been a case that Rebecca just stepped in and crushed those as well. But she does have that in her locker, Raducanu. She once tried stepping back and looping the return and it worked. She tried it again and it didn't work. And then she put it away. And I just think she was a little bit resigned today to the match-up being a problem and kind of that she was unable to do anything. And maybe that was the reality, but personally I thought she'd made a little bit more progress than this. And I thought she might have a bit more of a shot at just disrupting Rebecca Kinnar a bit more. And look, that's not to take away from the progress I think she has made and everything we've said, I stand by.

43:42Catherine Whitaker: She's in the best form of her career in terms of consistency. It's the best tennis she played since she won this tournament. Things are moving in the right direction. But I thought she'd closed the gap a little bit with these top players. And today just made me doubt that a little bit.

44:00Matt Roberts: And look, I think she did too. I think, you know, I referenced a few times how much she had referenced the two performances against Sabalenka and how close she'd managed to push Sabalenka. And I think today was a bit shocking for her, honestly, discovering how far she was away from a player like Rabakina when she's in good form. And look, maybe she didn't want to lay herself bare in front of the media today. Maybe she wasn't telling everybody the whole truth in terms of her answer to that question from Tomaini. But I'm a big believer that good performances and bad performances very rarely happen in a vacuum.

44:43Matt Roberts: And I think, honestly, the biggest single reason why Rabakina was so clean today is she was under no pressure. it's like we were talking about with Alcaraz and his serve enables him now to feel free and loose in the return games I think Rabatkinu is free and loose because Raducanu was kind of pretty much as you described Matt apart from a couple of attempts here and there committed to the baseline game it was almost a prideful kind of no I need to not admit that I'm in a different weight class here I need to try and make my game match up with Rabatkinner and that just doesn't work and I think she's young enough and has the raw tools enough to add things to her game that might enable her to beat power players in a different way she has dexterity she has natural dexterity I think if she can add variety to her game and really commit to that and it does take commitment then I think that could be a real way to go for her you know her her volleying is not good we all saw the mixed doubles their volley is not good but I believe it could be good I really do I think the raw materials are there but I don't know whether that's something that I don't know whether that's where her head is at I think she's in a phase right now of trying to beef up her baseline game and I that's important and she's made strides but I do think that's only going to take her so far.

46:20Matt Roberts: I think there is going to be a glass ceiling for her with that and maybe that's okay and I think she's pushing the ceiling up a bit and agree with Matt. It's all been positive recently but I really do think there's always going to be that glass ceiling with trying to do it that way.

46:40David Law: I would have thought if there was going to be a performance that would have brought that home to her, it was today's because I think after she saw what she was able to do hanging with Irina Sabalenka the other week, she thinks she's there. She thinks she's ready to go and take one of these players out, and frankly, so did I. And today, yes, by going toe-to-toe against somebody who hits the ball like that, and my goodness, Rebecca, it was good. That is the best tennis I've seen so far at this tournament in terms of just clean hitting. and we've seen her do it to Sabalenka more than once on the same surface so no massive surprise there what I like is that Raducanu is seemingly pumped and committed to really go for it in the next few months and phase of her career where I think she can probably try to get more wins and also maybe just find out a few things against players that aren't Rebecca Hena and Sabalenka and Svantec and you've got to build You've got to build this foundation.

47:44David Law: I think she's finding out actually power levels wise. Yeah, there is a level that she's probably never going to get to. So smart player and smart human being that I think she is. I would imagine that will that tactical approach that you're suggesting will start to come more into her thinking.

48:06Matt Roberts: Maybe Malketa Vondroshova will create a template for her when she takes on Elena Rabatkinner in the next round. Vondroshova might be erupting. She beat Paolini today, 7-6, 6-1, and she will be Rabatkinner's fourth-round opponent.

48:25Catherine Whitaker: It was quite something to go from Armstrong watching Raducanu against Rabatkinner, which was all about the hitting from the baseline, as we've just talked about, to watching Vondroshova on grandstand, who just plays the sport in such a different, pretty much unique way, really, in terms of players that we have in the game today. She did a job on Jasmine Paolini. It was a slightly weird match to start with because they were both holding serve really easily, which is not what I expected from this match at all. I thought it would be lots of breaks, lots of long rallies. And it was only as the first set reached its crescendo that the rallies really, really started to flow.

49:14Catherine Whitaker: And just, you know, we always say it, don't we? But Vondroshova pulled Paolini into her web, you know, like giving her no pace and her ability to defend in different ways. We talk about Vondrosheva's variety. I think we often talk about it in an attacking sense. But she's also got it on defence. Like, she might slice her defensive shot. She might throw up a moon ball. You know, she might try and rip it. Like, she can do so many things from defensive positions, Vondrosheva. And she can cut through you with deceptively piercing power as well, on that forehand in particular. And she was serving like an absolute dream, Vondrosheva.

49:57Catherine Whitaker: Like, Paulini was really struggling to make any meaningful inroads into the Vondrosheva game. And it started to get to Paulini. She was hanging with Vondrosheva in that first set. There was a moment where it looked like she might be able to win the first set. She fluffed a volley at 5-4-30 all. That was a big, big moment. That would have given her a set point.

50:26Catherine Whitaker: but once Vondroshova won that first set in the tie break and started doing all these things again in the second set Paolini's body language and attitude kind of disintegrated out there and you could see how frustrated she was but that's what Vondroshova can do to you I think someone with Paolini's forehand thinks I should be able to hit through her I should be able to make inroads here and she couldn't Vondrosseva was awesome. She's absolutely doing it again. There's a little theme this year with Paolini's Grand Slam losses where the final set of those losses, whether it be a second set today or the third set previously, been pretty one-sided.

51:07Catherine Whitaker: It's actually been a theme of her year where she's just faded in these Grand Slam matches and not had so much resistance. So that's been a blow to see, but Vondrosseva exploited that and it was an absolute joy to watch her. She came through a sort of 11, 12-minute game right at the end to go 5-1 up and that was like, that was it. That was Paolini's last chance. She simply had to hold there, but it was done. And yeah, like everything we've just said about Raducanu, needs to play with more variety, all of the above. That's all the things that Vondrosheva does. so can she bring that against Rabatkinner is a fascinating match up

51:49Matt Roberts: it's a big yes please that match up isn't it Paulini joining the you've been Vondroshovid support group

51:55David Law: and this on a day when I estimated her finally and picked her to win

52:00Matt Roberts: you overestimated Jasmine Paulini

52:03Catherine Whitaker: the golden rule is don't go anywhere near Marquette Vondroshovid predictions you don't know what she's going to do on any given day She might crash out or she might win a grand slam. Great.

52:18Matt Roberts: But I told you this. Good day for Rina Sabalenka today. Not only, well, three things. She won 6-3, 7-6 over Leila Fernandez. She extended her extraordinary tie-break record. And Elisa Mertens, her scheduled conqueror, was knocked out of the tournament. couldn't have come up more Irina Sabalenka today, David.

52:45David Law: No, because Hannah, the wonderful Hannah, had very bullishly said that Elisa Mertens would beat Irina Sabalenka when they met. Well, they ain't meeting.

52:56Catherine Whitaker: Hannah, by the way, is trying to claim this as a... A moral victory. As a win. She said, I just said that Mertens would beat Sabalenka. I never said she wouldn't lose the book, sure.

53:07David Law: True. You know, this was this Sabalenka match. There was a bit of peril in that second set. But, you know, she won the first set against Fernandes. Suddenly, Fernandes starts to hit some audacious winners. She's a very aggressive player. She was sort of doing everything that we're asking Raducanu to do. OK, maybe not variety wise, but in terms of just taking it to an opponent and saying, OK, let's influence the match. but then they got to a tie break and Irina Sabalenka has now won 18 of them in a row and this one she it's it's like she was driving the most powerful sports car in the world and then she just put it into a gear that she hadn't bothered with for the first hour and a half and and she was producing shots of good rally balls from Fernandez she's been put under pressure and coming up with emphatic answers, i.e.

54:05David Law: clean winners and combination forehands and volleys behind them. I mean, I don't know. I asked her in the press conference, what is different in a tiebreak at the moment? Why are you able to produce this sort of level? Do you feel different? She said, it's because I've got no more time left. It's the deadline thing. And she knows it's now or never. so I'll stop thinking about it. Stop overthinking about the potential for things going wrong or needing to be patient. Just go for it. And that's what she's doing and she's just coming up trumps time and time again. And this was, I said at the start of the podcast, happening at exactly the same time as Novak Djokovic was losing the sort of tiebreak that he was winning time after time two years ago.

54:55David Law: And it's a superpower that Sabalenka's got. And if she ends up winning this title, I think it could well end up being that tie-break record that sees her through. Because imagine what it's doing to opponents' minds now. They must know about this.

55:12Catherine Whitaker: Can I just play a tiny bit of Devil's Advocate? Because, you know, I've said the tie-break record is extraordinary. We've all said how good it is, and it is. And exactly as you've described it, it's phenomenal the way she keeps locking in in these tie-breaks. Do you remember at Wimbledon, we talked about how her return was a bit of a problem? You know, against Raducanu, against Anissimova. She really struggled on the return. And I kind of think that the tiebreak record that is so extraordinary at the moment might be hiding the problems she's got on return. She's in too many of them. She's in too many of them.

55:57Matt Roberts: Oh, she's an Ishikori. She's the Nishikori of tie breaks.

56:00Catherine Whitaker: She's an Mpeshi Perica. No, no, no. Like, I don't think Sabalenka should be really in a tie break with Leila Fernandes. As well as Fernandes was playing in that second set, Sabalenka at her best can knock Fernandes off the court. And she can... I just think that there might be something in that in terms of when she's getting... You know, if she gets these latter stages of the tournament and she's struggling on return, well she might not find herself in a tiebreak because the better players might win the set before that so the tiebreak record is stunning but it did just occur to me today that I think actually she needs to be improving her return game at the moment it wasn't really there in that second set she wasn't making the inroads as David described she was the one having to hang on to her own serve a little bit more and yeah that's just something I'm thinking about with Sabalenka maybe for further down the line because at the moment I think the tie-break record's amazing and she can get through the matches with it.

56:59Catherine Whitaker: But when push comes to shove, can she get the big matches into a tie-break or is her return actually going to be a bit too much of an issue? I think that's going to be an interesting thing to monitor as this tournament goes on.

57:14Matt Roberts: Very interesting. Barbora Krejcikova came through against Emma Navarro. 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. Lovely performance from Barbora Krejcikova. I think she's pretty exhausted afterwards. This is her first time into the second week of a slam since she won Wimbledon. Obviously, it's been an incredibly injury-blighted period since then. But in terms of this new era of Barbora Krejcikova, post all of that, this is uncharted territory. And she lost the first set. Although I did feel like by the end of that first set, it somehow already felt like she was on top. She had started to figure out Emma Navarro. but then she was down in the decider and won six of the last seven games

57:59David Law: yeah from three love down in that deciding set and I watched a lot of those last seven games and thought wow this is a good matchup for Kritschigover I know it's close but she got a chance to put a stamp on the match because the ball isn't going that fast you know she's able to just redirect it and what a clever player If you wanted to watch just a strategist and an executor of tennis strokes, watch a match between these two because it's different. And, yeah, I always felt, well, Krachika is the better of the two players and they're both kind of trying to do similar things. And she remains a threat in this draw.

58:47David Law: I think there will remain those question marks over her health, but so far, so good.

58:52Matt Roberts: She plays the winner of the match currently still on court between Taylor Townsend and Mira Andreeva, which is on serve in the second set. It wasn't. Andreeva was up a break, but Townsend is broken back and she looks absolutely on a mission. So we don't know at this moment who Barbora Krojchikova plays next. And nor does Barbora Krojchikova, and nor will she, until sometime late in the day tomorrow. I hadn't realised that she was a don't look at the draw gal, but she is. I discovered this in her press conference, which was a little bit tense. Because it was in room two, which is that very intimate room.

59:32Matt Roberts: It was mostly Czech press, few English, well, not English, I was only English, I think, but few English-speaking press. And obviously it was made clear by the moderator, Catherine Sudden, from the WTA, who's excellent, that, you know, don't ask her about her next match because she doesn't want to know, and that's completely fine. But something about that kind of just hung over the room and dominated the whole... I don't know that it dominated the press section, but it certainly dominated the English section. And I ended up not asking her any of the questions that I'd intended to, and instead asking her about the fact that she doesn't like to know her draw.

1:00:08Matt Roberts: I asked her whether she knew about Adrian Manorino and his not knowing the draw approach.

1:00:13David Law: And he literally wants to walk on the court and go, oh, I'm playing Ben Shelton, am I? Yeah.

1:00:18Matt Roberts: She didn't know about that. She sort of said, well, good for him. I think she was tired in her defence. And I respect that approach. I respect, you know, tennis always wants you to be looking for the next thing, looking ahead to the next thing, the next tournament. Even when you win a Grand Slam, it's like, okay, what about the next one? It's relentless. So she wants to be able to appreciate the victory, live in that for a moment before turning her attention to the next one, whoever that may be against.

1:00:56Catherine Whitaker: I think it's one of the things about tennis, like professional tennis players, that I find the absolute hardest to relate to. like if I in a fantasy world where I'm a professional tennis player I would 100 % be Carlos Alcaraz at the Roland Garros draw same staring at it and just like I'd be tracking every match I'd be seeing oh he's gone out in that section it's opened up there and like obviously that obviously that just probably isn't the thing you should be doing but I find it extraordinary that

1:01:32Matt Roberts: well it's been okay for Carlos Alcaraz I guess

1:01:35Catherine Whitaker: but I just find it extraordinary that so many of them have an ability to shut off the tournament that they're in.

1:01:41Matt Roberts: Yeah, I could not bear that feeling of being in a room with a bunch of people that know more about me than I do. I absolutely couldn't handle that. Any therapists and psychologists listening are welcome to analyse that to their heart's content. So Kraychikova against either Andreva or Townsend it is break point to Taylor Townsend in the second set last result to touch upon from today Jessica Begula beating Victoria Azarenka 6-1 7-5 a good rally actually from Azarenka here because there was a point well there was a period in the early stages of the match where this felt awkward and uncomfortable the words golden set were mentioned in commentary when And Jessica Begula won the first 10 points of the match.

1:02:30Matt Roberts: And then Azarenka won a point. And suddenly you're thinking, OK, well, at least that's off. But maybe the double bagel's on and she wins a game. And you're like, OK, because you don't want to see someone like Azarenka be humiliated. And it wasn't humiliating. She was outclassed. Physically, she's definitely lost something. I don't know whether there's any specific injury going on. But she's definitely not physically what she was, Azarenka. and Pegula was eventually pretty comfortable.

1:02:59Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, she was hampered today, Azarenka for sure. But I think so often recently I've found the experience of watching Azarenka quite tough. It's been quite sad watching her. What was nice about that second set today is that she seemed to be playing with a lot of joy. There was a lovely moment where she hit a brilliant dry volley with a backhand that helped her get a break in the second set. And she looked up at Leo in the box sitting there and gave him the biggest smile, like the kind of smile that you would give at the end of a match. But she gave it like mid-match. It was really a nice moment to see her like that.

1:03:45Catherine Whitaker: Pagula, a real trend in all her matches is an absolutely very clean first set and then letting an opponent back in a little bit in the second set. It happened against Sharif, happened against Blinkova, and now it's happened against Azarenka. She's got through them all in straight sets. But, yeah, I think she'd want to be a little bit more clinical than she has been. I think against better opponents or more in-form opponents, that might hurt her later on in this tournament. So, yeah, she's been good. She's been impressive. I kind of had her on upset watch here, Pergoula, given her slam results this year.

1:04:21Catherine Whitaker: but she's made it through to the second week pretty comfortably.

1:04:24Matt Roberts: She plays Anne Lee next, who beat Priscilla Hon. None of us were really able to watch too much of this match, but we did get an assessment of it from a lovely listener that Matt has encountered two days in a row here at the US Open. Yesterday, he was a Priscilla Hon, no, two days ago.

1:04:44Catherine Whitaker: Only on Priscilla Hon days.

1:04:46Matt Roberts: He only comes on Priscilla Hon days. This is John, John the Hon guy. Right, John. Well, he was John the Hon guy. two days ago Matt encountered him and Matt came came to us with this story and said I met a Priscilla Hon guy today he was just so big on Priscilla Hon unexpected but great good luck to you John we bumped into him again today and he'd watched Priscilla Hon's defeat to Anne Lee and he was he was selling his stocks in Priscilla Hon and we asked him okay was Anne Lee really good then and he said she was good enough to beat Priscilla Hon

1:05:24Matt Roberts: So that's the assessment of John the Hon guy. And that's it for part two. We will be back to look at it tomorrow in part three. 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 14500 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. Learn how ServiceNow puts AI to work for people at ServiceNow.com.

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1:06:26Matt Roberts: Welcome back to part three of the Tennis Podcast, where we have just watched Taylor Townsend add to a big week for Taylors everywhere, reaching the round of 16 at the U.S. Open for the second time in her career, the last time back in 2019 when she lost to eventual champion Bianca Andreescu, something she's just reminded us of in her on-court interview after beating Mira Andreeva in two straight sets. A match, in terms of Andreeva, very reminiscent of what we saw her go through in front of the French crowd where she crumbled in that match against Louise Poisson. Very, very similar for her. And I think it's possible to say that without taking anything away from the utterly brilliant Taylor Townsend tonight.

1:07:14David Law: Yeah, I would say maybe it was more dramatic how it affected her in Paris. And she probably should have been winning that match. And the crowd really got involved and affected her. Here, she was actually outplayed. I mean, I do think she was affected. She looked bothered, a bit inhibited, but I think she was also bothered and inhibited by the variety that was coming her way. We were talking a little bit about what Emma Raducanu might add to her game in terms of variety. But if you want to watch what variety is all about, watch Taylor Townsend's performance tonight. Because the whole thing seemed to be built around just giving a different ball every single time to her opponent.

1:07:56David Law: and as a viewer I didn't know what was coming next and I think that that is the whole idea when she plays people. She's got to world number one as a doubles player and I've often wondered how good could her singles play be if she could get a break and get into the biggest tournaments and maybe not have to worry quite so much about doubles but well she's putting it all together right now and that is going to be one heck of a match that she's got up next.

1:08:24Matt Roberts: against Barbora Krochikova. Don't tell Barbora Krochikova that.

1:08:29David Law: Okay.

1:08:31Matt Roberts: Yeah, look, Taylor, look, she's already a big story here because of, and she just referenced it on court, what's happened over the last 48 hours. But this could be, she could be massive at this tournament, I think, you know, maybe not quite Coco Goff levels, but I think ESPN and the US press and coverage of this tournament, I think that everybody's going to go all in now on Taylor Townsend.

1:08:57David Law: Well, I think the thing is the last 48 hours, and she wouldn't have wanted it to be this way at all, but the truth is a heck of a lot of America discovered who she is over the last 48 hours. People who don't care about tennis normally are aware of tennis because of what happened there with Jelena Ostapenko. And I think there's a lot of people that were tuning in tonight to follow the story of this player that they've seen standing up for herself on court there. And they will have been introduced to one heck of a player and also one heck of a personality. I mean, she's just given an interview on court there with Chris Eubanks.

1:09:39And you can't not like her.

1:09:43David Law: The way she... She's just so charismatic. She's so great to listen to. I love listening to her speak and the game to go with it. I mean, it's just box office.

1:09:57Catherine Whitaker: Welcome to the show, as she said. Yeah, exactly.

1:10:02Matt Roberts: I'm here. I'm seated, Taylor. Tomorrow's order of play. We start on Ash with Coco Goff getting the early call. She's probably in bed by now. She's going by the Carlos Alcaraz time schedule. she takes on Magdalena Frech at 11.30am anyone care to make any predictions about that day session helps her a bit

1:10:30Catherine Whitaker: I think so, I think generally she would prefer those conditions I think that early slot on Ash just slightly takes some of the pressure off I know it's a weekend so actually it's not quite the same in terms of what are the biggest slots, but I don't know, I think it just feels a little bit less pressure cookery.

1:10:53David Law: I think she's going to lock in tomorrow. I mean, not that she hasn't been locked in, but I think we're going to see her best performance of the tournament tomorrow.

1:11:00Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, I think so too. I think, I was looking at the stats on that second set against Vekic.

1:11:07Matt Roberts: They weren't bad. They were good.

1:11:09Catherine Whitaker: Yeah. Really, it was, the first set was an ordeal. We don't need to talk about it ever again. but actually she did get something together in that second set. I think she'll win.

1:11:22Matt Roberts: Second on Ash is Yannick Sinner against the unpredictable Denis Shapovalov. I won't make you make predictions there. Night session is Iger Svontek against Anna Kalinskaya and Tommy Paul against Alexander Bublik. Tommy Paul, by virtue of finishing at 1am last night, eventually getting the win, hauling himself over the finish line against Nuno Borges. He's got himself in the cycle of sort of having to be scheduled at night now, because otherwise it's not really fair, because he would be so disadvantaged by having his sort of recovery time cut short. So for as long as he stays in the tournament, he's probably going to be second in the night session.

1:12:06Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, and what an extraordinary finish, by the way, to that match against Borges. that match point we called it as we got back to our apartment last night just the most brilliant match point that you could wish to see I don't know I actually don't know what time it was

1:12:23Matt Roberts: yeah Matt said tennis is the tennis will be brilliant because it's happening at one o 'clock

1:12:28Catherine Whitaker: in the morning it always is I don't understand it but it always is um and yeah honestly like Paul, I've been surprised by some of his night session scheduling like Moller and Borgias against Paul, these didn't necessarily feel like big night session matches he is now in that rhythm, but actually I think Paul against Bublik fun match

1:12:50Matt Roberts: Armstrong starts with the Italy off between Lorenzo Musetti and Flavio Caballi and then it's Dario Kasichina against Naomi Osaka, the night session on Armstrong's Verov against Felix Auger Eliasim and Hadajmaja Sakari. The singles matches on grandstand Nozkova Mukova and Coleman Wong against Andrej Rublov. Then you've got Leila Fernandes and Venus Williams doubles, followed by Amanda Onisimova against Jacqueline Christian. Court 17 is where you'll find Jan Wimunar and Zizi Bergz and Daniel Altmaier against Alex de Minor. You've got Pari Kostiuk, Majak Reedy and And Alexandra Siegmund all on court five.

1:13:35And I think that's it for singles tomorrow.

1:13:38Matt Roberts: That is your lot. That'll be day seven of the US Open. And of course, we will be back with a podcast at the end of it. We have a mascot for today's episode. Hello fondly to Kira. Oh, what a lovely dog. kira is owned by james moldrew and ross schuldberg um and apologies if i haven't pronounced that right james and ross kira is a 13 year old black lab we named her as such because kira is irish or gaelic for dark haired which i didn't know we anglicized the spelling uh it's spelt with a k so people in the u.s would know how to pronounce her name since she was eight weeks old she's been part of our family and brought nothing but joy ever since her favorite past times include enjoying mealtime with treats soliciting walks because she knows she gets a treat at the end using her perpetual puppy dog eyes to remind us with just a long stare that she hasn't gotten a treat in a while and assisting the amount of treats be proportional to the amount of people in the room she loves a house party and all the treat giving people that come with it that is that's very labrador we now live in arlington virginia just across from the potomac River from Washington, D.C.

1:14:56Matt Roberts: But for most of Keira's life, we live just a block away from the White House. Blimey. Which translated to the guards around the government facilities. Which translated to the guards around the government facilities who managed the working dogs there. Always having extra treats for Keira as we walked by. My God, like secret service treats.

1:15:19David Law: That's excellent.

1:15:20Matt Roberts: Forget the president, say James and Ross. Kira always showed she was the real power in Washington, if only James and Ross put Kira in charge immediately.

1:15:33Catherine Whitaker: The world would be a better place.

1:15:35Matt Roberts: Absolutely. Look at that face. She knows what's what. Thank you, James and Ross. That is absolutely tremendous. Love that and love Kira. Hello to our mascots, Phoebe, Maisie and Roger. Hello to our top folks and executive producers, Greg, Chris and Jeff. And let's have some shout-outs, Matt.

1:15:55Catherine Whitaker: We have Eleanor Liederbock.

1:15:59Matt Roberts: Hello, Eleanor.

1:16:00Catherine Whitaker: Hi, Eleanor. From Valley City, Ohio. Oh.

1:16:07Matt Roberts: Valley City. Sounds fake, doesn't it? I believe it's real, Eleanor. It just sounds like an AI-generated location.

1:16:17Catherine Whitaker: I bet it's lovely. Eleanor found us right before COVID.

1:16:23Matt Roberts: Oh, that feels a long time ago.

1:16:27Catherine Whitaker: It does. And Eleanor is halfway through a career slam. Oh. Has done the US and the French. Keep going, Eleanor.

1:16:36Matt Roberts: Keep going. It's good to have goals.

1:16:38David Law: You can do it. Good to have goals. It is.

1:16:41Matt Roberts: Tennis Eleanor's.

1:16:45David Law: Eleanor Visnina? Different spelling.

1:16:49Matt Roberts: Selayna, isn't it?

1:16:50David Law: Oh.

1:16:51Matt Roberts: I think it's the same spelling. Is it? Well, I can't see the spelling. Oh, it is that spelling. Yeah. I assumed Eleanor. And I was going to go down a Roosevelt road,

1:17:03Catherine Whitaker: so I'm glad you've intervened. No, it's the same spelling as Vesnina and Rabatkinah. Well, I think I've done very well then. Eleanor rather than Elena. Perfect. Great.

1:17:13Matt Roberts: Eleanor, thank you.

1:17:15Catherine Whitaker: And we've also got Beatrice Gote.

1:17:19Matt Roberts: Hello, Beatrice.

1:17:20Catherine Whitaker: Like a Dutch Meyer.

1:17:21Matt Roberts: Playing tomorrow against Maria Zachary.

1:17:24Catherine Whitaker: Yes, this is a sort of French spelling as opposed to the Hispanic spelling. But, yeah, it's the same name, I suppose. Born in Paris, raised in Marseille. Lived and worked in London for 12 years. Relocated to California in 2013.

1:17:41Matt Roberts: God, Beatrice has been around. Yes. What a woman of the world. Thank you, Beatrice. Thanks, Beatrice.

1:17:47Catherine Whitaker: And is planning to complete her career slam this US Open. Oh. That's good going.

1:17:54Matt Roberts: Could be happening as we speak.

1:17:56Catherine Whitaker: Having done Wimbledon in 2003, the Australian Open in 2007, and Roland Garros in 2012. Wow. So she's waited 13 years. Really spaced out. Love it.

1:18:10Matt Roberts: Absolutely love that. Congratulations, Beatrice.

1:18:15Catherine Whitaker: And finally we have Minneapolis Ted Is that his full name? Using his barge name To fully lean in to all things tennis podcast

1:18:26Matt Roberts: Love that Ted presumably is from Minneapolis

1:18:30Catherine Whitaker: And has been a listener since midway through Wimbledon 2017 Good work Says I can't remember what was happening to make me search for some tennis analysis But it changed my tennis life From casual to obsessed fan

1:18:43Matt Roberts: Yes! Yes, Ted.

1:18:45David Law: Ted, love it.

1:18:46Matt Roberts: Absolutely love that. Ted, Beatrice, Eleanor, thank you ever so much for your support of the Tennis Podcast. If you'd like to become a friend, get access to all of our bonus episodes, including David's inspirational chat with Arta Rinderkinesh in the most recent episode of Tennis Podcast Meets. Get access to The Barge, which is where you'll find Minneapolis Ted. It's our safe community space to chat about tennis. get ad-free listening and get all sorts of other things as well then the link to do that is in our show notes we are part of the athletic podcast network we will be back tomorrow thank you for listening enjoy day seven of the us open we'll speak to you soon

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