US Open Draws - Is this America’s time?

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1:21Matt Roberts: Hello and welcome to the Tennis Podcast coming to you from inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium on draw day at the 2026 US Open. If you don't already know, I'm Catherine Mitica alongside me are David Law and Matt Roberts and together we are the Tennis Podcast. We aim to be your one-stop shop for tennis analysis. We're here every week of the year and we are daily at all four of the major tournaments, including here at the US Open, where we'll be bringing you 18 shows over the next 18 days. No sleep till Laver Cup, folks. Matt, you are our resident draw guy. Matt loves a draw. The Grand Slam draws are his four favourite days of the year.

2:10Matt Roberts: Today's draw day for us was a little bit different. How was it for you, Matt?

2:17Catherine Whitaker: It certainly was different, wasn't it? We were, as advertised, on the stage at the US Open, breaking down the draw already. And when we saw our colleague Matt Flutterman the other day, he said, have you seen the size of that stage that you're going to be on? You are going to feel like Bruce Springsteen. And I said, well, I've seen the weather forecast, Matt, and I once saw Bruce Springsteen have to cut short a show because of a storm in San Sebastian. I was like, maybe we're going to do that, put that out into the universe, thinking, well, that's obviously not going to happen. It'll be fine. It'll be fine.

2:55Catherine Whitaker: Well, that is exactly what happened. We got 20 minutes into our draw breakdown and then the lightning came, the thunder came, The rain came and it was a big evacuation situation.

3:09Matt Roberts: To be clear, we're not just pathetic Brits that can't hack a bit of rain. This was a health and safety situation. We were given no choice but to evacuate due to lightning. But they do say you should leave people wanting more. And we hopefully did do that in our curtailed show. Thank you to everybody that showed up and really showed out for us. Legend. In challenging conditions.

3:35Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, that was amazing, actually. A really nice crowd of Tennis Podcast listeners who'd brought their umbrellas, were sticking it out during the rain, bringing the vibes for the show. It was really lovely.

3:47Matt Roberts: It was good stuff. And those people will have heard the takes that we're about to give on this show already. Some of them. Some of them. Some of them. They were the takes that were going to come in the second half of the show that we never got around to, so do stick around for those. The ripples of applause, incidentally, that you can hear are for the players that are practicing on the court at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. In front of us here, it's Alexander Zverev and it's Lerner Tien. Lots of applause for Lerner Tien and Michael Chang, who is supervising courtside his coach. And I think that might be, David, one of Michael Chang's children that I met as a baby at a Champions Tour event some years ago, which is extraordinary.

4:29Matt Roberts: The passing of time is an extraordinary thing, folks. Returning our attention to the draw, we've done a lot of shows over the past few days. You've already both given your US Open predictions off the back of what we've seen in the hardcourt season so far. The champions in Canada and in Cincinnati. David, you had picked Ben Shelton for the men's title and Coco Goff for the women's. Matt, you had picked Carlos Alcaraz for the men's title and also Coco Goff for the women's. Let's start with the women's. And I guess my question is going to be the same for both draws, but I guess it is, does the draw change your prediction?

5:11Matt Roberts: Does it change how you feel about Coco Gauff or the various other contenders for this title?

5:18David Law: You know, it was interesting. When I saw the draw initially, I thought my perception is going to change because actually Gauff looks like she's ended up in a really unfortunate section of the draw. compared to, say, Irina Sabalenka, who's in the opposite half, who's at the top of it, who I think has got a far more preferable draw. But Goff, despite the fact that she opens against Sonmez in the first round and could play either Bedosa or Kasikina in the second round, she could play Sara Baelic, who had that great run recently in the third round. You know, these are tough opponents. It could be Jovic or Iala in round four.

6:02David Law: That's just to get to the quarterfinals where, you know, she's in a section with Andreeva and Inissimova. It's a tough half of the draw. There's Svjantek down there as well as a potential semifinal opponent. I still ended up coming out thinking, I back Goff, I think, in all of these matches based on what I'm seeing. And the player that, from her perspective, would worry me the most normally would be Sabalenka at this tournament. And yet I don't think she's in good enough form. So, yeah, I still end up predicting Coco Goff to win this title.

6:38Matt Roberts: Matt?

6:41Catherine Whitaker: I'm less concerned about Goff's opening couple of rounds, I think, than David. You know, I feel like Kasekina Badosa, to me, I'd be quite concerned about that in, like, 2022, maybe, for Coco Goff. I feel like she should be able to navigate that pretty well here.

7:02Matt Roberts: Is Sonmez round one tricky?

7:04Catherine Whitaker: I don't think so.

7:07Matt Roberts: She's not been in any form of late, has she? No, she's a good player. She came out hot at the start of the year.

7:13Catherine Whitaker: I struggle to see how she really hurts Goff. And I think the reason we're so confident on Goff is because she looks secure in her game suddenly. And she's ironed out the issues that we've seen for quite a while in terms of the serve and the forehand. and they've looked a lot better recently. And Coco Goff, a year ago, with the form she was in, I really probably would share those worries about the first few rounds, but I just have real faith in the way she's playing right now. I think Baylek, as David says, is probably the first name to me that jumps out just because of the form she's been in. But again, we did see that match, and Goff was a fairly comfortable winner.

7:51Catherine Whitaker: To me, the fascinating element is Iala being in Goff's section, you know, a potential fourth round. I should say Jovic has got a really good head-to-head against Iala and they could meet in the third round. But if it's Iala-Goff, I feel like you're going to get this coming together of probably the two biggest fan bases at this tournament. You know, Coco Goff is the star in America and Iala might be the star in tennis right now. And we saw even a little bit of it last year, the support she got here. She's a much bigger deal now a year on. Like that match has the potential to be absolutely tantalising, I think.

8:30Catherine Whitaker: Surely like a night session under the lights, that one. So I really hope that happens. But to come back to your sort of big picture question, I do think Goff has landed in the tougher half because herself included, all the winners of the leading events are in that half. You've got Goff, you've got Ejala, you've got Svante. There's a lot of informed players down there. I would also say, in my mind, the two most dangerous players outside of the top eight seeds are also in this half, Naomi Osaka and Amanda Nisimova. There's just so much firepower. I haven't even mentioned Delaney Rabakina because there's the injury concern over her, but there's so many players.

9:09Catherine Whitaker: So I do think it's tough for Goff from that perspective. but I like the form that she's in and I think I've not seen anything here that should totally shift my opinion on her as the favourite.

9:25Matt Roberts: I have to say, for me, the biggest player of whom my opinion has shifted solely on the basis of the draw is Naomi Osaka. I think she's got a heck of a draw to get deep and then of course it gets tricky. Then of course she could face the Toronto champion, Igor Shontek. But in terms of the earlier rounds, Elena Rabakina is the... Oh, that's a cracker thunder. Wow. Whoever's on the stage right now is getting called off, let me tell you. The big seed down there is Elena Rabakina and I think she might very well end up playing because I think she plays injured quite a lot, Rabakina, but I would be shocked if she was anywhere close to fit on the basis of the injury we saw her carrying just, what was it, just over a week ago.

10:18Matt Roberts: So, I mean, look, that's a tremendous win. Whoever it was going to be coming out in her section of the draw, it's a big win. And, yeah, I see Naomi Osaka is the biggest beneficiary there.

10:33David Law: Yeah, I'd agree with that. And the form she's in and the general sort of look of mindset about her makes me feel like she could come through the rest of the draw to get to those last stages relatively uneventfully. You know, I think she looks locked into me just at the moment. And I agree. I mean, I think Rebecca is doing well to play a match, a lone winner match at the moment based on what I saw. Now, you know, you can sometimes do things out of precaution, but it didn't look like that to me. It looked like something had gone and that she just couldn't play anymore. Now, so whether she gets to even the start line, we'll have to wait and see.

11:22David Law: I mean, she's going to leave it as long as she can. But, yeah, I agree. Naomi Osaka has come out well there.

11:29Catherine Whitaker: And they're two players, of course, Of course, Osaka and Rabatkinner with opposite preparations coming in here. Obviously, Rabatkinner carrying that injury, whereas Osaka should be fresh because she pulled out of Cincinnati, citing the fatigue, but also, I think, targeting the US Open. Back on hard courts, her favourite surface. She's had lots of reasons to be positive over the last few months. I think she's targeting a really deep run here again like she had last year.

11:57Matt Roberts: Have you seen her Instagram content, Naomi Osaka?

12:01David Law: Sure have. Even I saw it, Catherine. And what I didn't expect to see was Naomi Osaka in one of her really fancy, very cool outfits draped over our press desks.

12:16Matt Roberts: Yeah, it looked like she was sort of getting ready for the Met Gala at our media centre desks. Yeah, good for her. Good for her. So Osaka has come out in the, as I say, Rabatkinu section. So in theory, they would meet in the fourth round if Elena Rabatkinu or if either of them get that far. Other seeds in that section are Murray Sakharie squeaking in as the 32nd seed. Elisa Mertens is down there, the section just above that. You've got Belinda Bencic, Madison Keyes, Marie Buskova, and you've got Igor Svjantek, who would be heavy favourite to come through that section and a Shontek-Asaka quarterfinal would be quite a thing to look forward to, I think.

13:04David Law: Yeah, it would. And that's the one cautionary note about looking at anybody as having a good draw. Eventually, you're going to run into somebody bloody good because this draw is so packed full of great players. And by that time, whoever it is you play, they're likely to be in cracking form. That's why I just don't think Rabakina for instance gets that far. If she did, chances are she's physically fine. But I don't think she is physically fine. So yeah, Svantec, Osaka, I mean that's a tantalising prospect later in the tournament.

13:39Matt Roberts: So that's the bottom quarter of the draw. The quarter above that is where you find Coco Goff. It's where you find, as we've mentioned, Alexandra Iala. You've got Sara Bailik who's a seeded player at Islam for the first time, 28th seed. She's in there. You've got Eva Jovic, Amanda Nissenmova, Matt's favourite player, of course. Anastasia Potapova, who's been doing chaotic things on Instagram. Very different chaotic things to what Naomi Osaka's been doing.

14:08Catherine Whitaker: What's she been doing?

14:09Matt Roberts: Oh, David.

14:11Catherine Whitaker: She has called out a United Airlines employee. Mary. And posted her picture. Oh, my goodness. This is Mary. And what's Mary done?

14:23Matt Roberts: Unspecified rudeness, a very unspecific, yeah.

14:27Catherine Whitaker: Potapova basically wants Mary fired. Yeah.

14:31David Law: That shouldn't be that.

14:32Matt Roberts: And she's posting people that have DM'd her saying, I had the same experience of Mary. I'm with you. Let's bring this woman down. So, yeah, Potapova, 24th seed, she's in that section, Yelena Ostapenko and there at the top of it is the French Open champion Mira Andreeva who has played some good tennis in fits and spurts throughout this hard court swing but doesn't feel convincing as a as a player to go deep here despite her seeding I feel like I'm always going to feel a bit on the edge with her like she could have one of her concentration lapses and teenage moments at any given time.

15:18Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, and I know that she was very honest speaking to Matt Futterman in Cincinnati about all the thoughts that are in her head right now when she's stepping on court. And I think she is very openly struggling to deal with being a Grand Slam champion and carrying that onto court and the weight of expectation, I think, in her own head as much as from the outside. And we've seen that. the stress has been back in her matches in recent tournaments. And, you know, she's got a kind of tricky first round match against Janice Chen, who's a very capable player, a crafty player. Normally, Andreeva sort of handles those sorts of players pretty well because she's capable of being really crafty herself as well and she's got a bit more game.

16:04Catherine Whitaker: So I do think the match-ups are actually OK there. But, yeah, there's a lot of good players in that section. Janostopenko, Bartonkova, Valantova, Potopova, and then Anissimova is the one that's jumping out to me, obviously, in the fourth round. And I do like that draw for Anissimova. I think if you were going to get one of the top seeds in your sort of fourth round, I do think Andreva wasn't the worst one for her to get, really. So there's also potential backhand heaven in the second round between Anisimova and Lily Tagga. I will be there if that match happens.

16:46Matt Roberts: So that's the bottom half of the draw. You've both got Coco Gough coming through that to make the final. Top half of the draw, obviously, Irina Sabalenka, the defending champion, is the top seed. Has she got a Barbora Kratikova problem looming?

17:04David Law: Yes, she has. I'd be surprised if she doesn't end up facing Krachygawa for a start. And we know Krachygawa as a former Wimbledon champion is very dangerous. And I'm just not convinced about Sabalenka generally at the moment. She is a fascinating player to follow throughout this tournament because we've tended to see a couple of decent rounds from her at a tournament and then just a really anemic, inexplicable sort of performance. And she's just not the player I think of as the inexplicable performance player. Yeah, I think that is a potential upset, really, for Krachikovic. And it wouldn't even be the biggest upset because she's that good.

17:52David Law: But, you know, even if you go through the draw, there are other players there in Schneider, perhaps, in the fourth round, and maybe the Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova or Marta Kosciuk and the one after that. And at the same time, Sabalenka is probably the favourite in all of those matches on paper. I'm just not convinced about her being in the best frame of mind and trusting her game right now.

18:17Matt Roberts: How do you like Sabalenka's draw, Matt?

18:20Catherine Whitaker: It is hard to look beyond Krejcikova, as you say, just because that's such an obstacle. It would be for anyone, but especially, I think, someone who's been having difficulty in tight moments. You know, like, sometimes Craig Chicova can be really clutch. You know, like, we've seen her play great tennis from, like, match point down and that kind of thing. Like, if that match were to get close, I would struggle to back Sabalenka in the form that she's been in recently in those big moments. That being said, like, the draw... The draw for me, for Sabalenka, was not something that I was going to look at too much because she's kind of been capable of having those sorts of performances against anyone.

19:03Catherine Whitaker: A lot of her losses have really caught me off guard. I wouldn't have necessarily thought that she would have lost those matches. So on paper, I can look at these matches and think, oh, that's OK for Sabalenka, but it ultimately depends which Sabalenka shows up. I think the way we talk about matches being on her racket, that is more true than ever right now. If she shows up and is her best self, this is a workable draw, even with Krejcikova there. If she's anything shy of that, there's obstacles. And I just don't know. Part of me is saying it's a grand slam, it's different, it's hard courts, she's going to get it together.

19:39Catherine Whitaker: But part of me is thinking, well, all the evidence we've seen over the past few months would suggest that's not going to be the case.

19:48Matt Roberts: Nozkova, Alexandrova, Kostiuk, all tricky quarterfinal opponents for Sabalenka potentially if Sabalenka gets there. And, yeah, it is hard to look past Kraychikovic. And we know how much Kraychikovic will just blooming love that. Taking on an out-of-form Sabalenka.

20:07David Law: Yeah, she'll certainly be able to convince herself that she doesn't have much to lose and that she can play freely. And that's what makes her so dangerous.

20:16Catherine Whitaker: Just play the role of a dormant volcano. Absolutely. And erupt all over the after-ash stadium.

20:20Matt Roberts: She lives for that stuff.

20:23Catherine Whitaker: Yeah.

20:24Matt Roberts: So that is the top quarter of the draw, the second quarter. So if Sabalenka, as is her seeding, were to come through that top quarter, these would be potential semifinal opponents for Arena Sabalenka. You've got Karolina Mukova there is the seventh seed. In her section is the American Katie McNally. Emma Navarro is in there. Anna Kalinskaya, the 21st seed. Elina Svitolina, a potential fourth-round opponent for Karolina Mukova. And you've got Jessica Bagula further to the top of this section. She's in with Leila Fernandez, the 31st seed and former finalist here, Jasmine Paolini, the 19th seed, and Sarana Castella playing what is theoretically her final Grand Slam.

21:07Matt Roberts: She's announced this farewell tour year, but has sort of accidentally had her best-ever year on tour. She insists that the plan hasn't changed, but it's going to be hard for her to stick to the plan and step away, I think. Who do we like in this section, in this quarter, David?

21:26David Law: Well, Matt, and I think to a degree yourself, have really banged the drum for Jessica Begula this year. Generally, as though she's made another breakthrough achievement in terms of her consistency and level, and also particularly here at the US Open. This is where you've expected the breakthrough. And I've been looking for opportunities to rain on that, frankly. But I look at this draw and I see her coming through. In fact, the entire half of the draw. There are tough players there. As you say, I mean, she could end up playing Leila Fernandes in the third round, who's a former finalist here. She could be playing the winner of Castella Paolini.

22:15David Law: that's not easy and then there's in the quarter there's sort of Svitolina and Mukova in that section fascinated to see how Mukova does having won this mixed doubles and just the way she's sort of come into this tournament and we've not seen or heard of her since Wimbledon apart from just a slightly confusing Instagram post mysterious post about a surgery that she'd had but she looks great and they played an incredible match here Pegula and Mukava and the vibes seemed really good didn't they yeah absolutely but I just feel as though as long as Pegula's fully fit and I did have some concerns in Cincinnati if she's fully fit and I think there's enough time here to have a few days before she gets cracking I think she comes through that half of the draw

23:11Matt Roberts: that's music to Matt's ears is a man that has a lot of reputation riding on a big Pagula prediction.

23:19Catherine Whitaker: Why would you make a US Open prediction in March? Why did I do that? Why did no one stop me from doing that?

23:25David Law: Because it's a long time off and then you could just not have to worry about it for a while.

23:29Catherine Whitaker: And yet here we are. Yeah, look, I think the jump I felt like Pagula had made is that for years we always talked about her ceiling. You know, she's such a good player, but there'll inevitably be someone who is still just a little bit better than her in a draw. She's so reliable, but can she actually beat the very best players? I just really feel like in the past year or so, she has been beating the best players and her record will show that. The thing she hasn't done is the kind of really levelling up at a slam and suddenly changing your tour form to be slam form. And we kind of saw that at Wimbledon when she ran into Coco Goff, and I felt like Pagula had been playing better than Coco Goff for a while, but Goff has got that ability to step it up and play these big tournaments in just a different way, and she got the better of her there.

24:28Catherine Whitaker: But I do like this draw for Pagula, I agree with David. like being in this half, away from all those players we talked about. OK, she's in with Sabalenka, who has stopped her here at the US Open the last two years, but see everything we've just said about Sabalenka. Sabalenka is not the sure thing to me that she has been at previous editions of this tournament. So I look at that half of the draw and I think Pagula's in really good form herself. She won a lot of matches recently. I see no reason why she can't work her way through this top half and make it to the final. And look, there are obstacles, particularly Mukovo, if she really gets flowing and playing.

25:08But I don't know. I'm going to stick with the Jessica Pagula prediction.

25:15Matt Roberts: To win. To win the whole damn thing. I'm going to go with it

25:19Catherine Whitaker: because I went with it in March or April, whenever it was. And I actually think this draw has come out pretty well, really, like if you made that prediction. So I'd be silly to, like, the thing I don't want to do is predict it in March, get to the tournament, back out, and then she wins. Because then I'm in an awkward situation of like, well, I did call this, but I didn't. I just don't want to be in that situation. Like Charlie at the Australian Open, when all through the tournament, he talks up Ravakina and then, you know, changed his mind before the final. And that was a mistake. So I'm going with Pagula.

25:58He commits to his long-range mistakes.

26:01Matt Roberts: So you're both going for the same final, Gough-Pegula, but Matt, you're going Pegula to win it. David, you're going Gough to win it.

26:09David Law: That's correct. What do you think?

26:11Matt Roberts: I'm going Gough. I'm sticking with Gough for the title, for sure. And this is really boring, but looking at the draw, I back Pegula too. I perhaps feel less confident about it. I could maybe see a surprise. in that top half of the draw, but I just feel secure in Goff. And that made me think, you know, what kind of a draw would have made me back down from my Goff prediction? And maybe there wasn't a scenario where I, you know, maybe I believe in her form so much at the moment that I'd sort of back her to come through whatever route. But I certainly back her in this scenario.

26:55Catherine Whitaker: Is there a danger that in a few days' time we're saying, never as high as you think, never as low as you think? Definitely. Are we too all-in on Goff here? Or is the form that she's shown kind of making that assessment of her a little bit less relevant right now? Because the game has looked different in these past few weeks. She's been getting wins in different ways. It hasn't been grinding through matches. It's been really convincing.

27:22Matt Roberts: And yet she can still do the grinding if she needs to. Indeed. If she ends up in a tricky spot, which it's rare that you win a Grand Slam without that being the case.

27:33David Law: I think there is a danger because this place can do things to her and it's a pretty anxiety-inducing environment with how much is on her plate. It's just that she's in such a different place as to what she was last year.

27:49Matt Roberts: Do you know, David, but I was on Getty Images earlier searching for pictures of Coco Gough for promotion of this show, and I searched for her and I sorted by most relevant. I searched at Gough US Open and a bunch of pictures from last year came up. I'd forgotten just how gruesome it was for Coco Gough last year. I mean, she was sobbing on the court after victories, during interviews. After victories, she was sobbing. It was an ordeal. And obviously she was in the first week of a huge, humbling project with the new biomechanist coach that she'd employed on the eve of the tournament to deconstruct and reconstruct the two most important shots in her game.

28:38Matt Roberts: It was an incredibly brave decision to make at that time before the most important tournament of her year. But the vibes could not be more different 12 months on for Coco Gauff.

28:54Catherine Whitaker: I mean, this time last year, she'd have been out in that thunderstorm practising herself. Right. No need to do that this year.

29:01David Law: And that's the thing, the serve and the forehand of those shots you're referencing, they're still concerns to me in as much as what happens if they go off again in one of the matches. My own conviction may wobble a little if that starts to happen. but at the moment I just kind of trust her game in a way that I haven't for a long time.

29:23Matt Roberts: Likewise. Exciting stuff. I mean, look, I don't think there's many people out there in the world that don't root for Coco Goff, quite frankly, but Coco Goff doing well here is just a vibe, isn't it? Oh, yeah. It's irresistible.

29:38David Law: We're sitting in the upper bleachers of Arthrashe Stadium here, surrounded by 23 ,500 seats. they will all be filled when she plays tennis matches and it's people are so into her here

29:50Matt Roberts: it's great yeah so cool okay that's it for the women we'll be back in part two to go through

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32:27Matt Roberts: Welcome back to part two of today's tennis podcast, where we turn our attention now to the men's draw. So I put to you, David, the same question I put to you about the women's draw. Just a few days ago, you picked Montreal champion Ben Shelton to be the victor here in New York. Has the draw changed that prediction for you?

32:51David Law: well similarly to with Koko Goff I think Ben Shelton has a really tough draw on paper it is it is a draw that would make me shudder a little bit if I was a Ben Shelton fan the first round itself I don't think is straightforward he's he's got a real shot maker in the Dutch player Talon Greekspor who we've seen get some significant wins he beat alexander's very a few weeks ago he's pushed him to the limit in grand slams before i'd still expect shelton to come through it he could have to play the cincinnati champion from a couple of weeks ago artifice in the fourth round they're great friends those two real showmen um and that's on paper a pretty tough one to to pick and that's just to get to the quarterfinals where he may be up against Carlos Alcaraz you know so on paper I think this is a horrific draw really for for Ben Shelton to get through to the final knowing that maybe a Djokovic or a Tiafoe might be in the semi-finals up against him and yet I still feel the same I think Shelton I think it's his time I think he's ready I think his game's never been in better shape I think he plays his best tennis under the lights in front of packed stadium crowds on the Arthrash Stadium at the US Open.

34:15David Law: And I think he's going to come through that half the draw to the final and that there's going to be an all-American pair of trophy holders at the end of it. And bear in mind, if Shelton does it, or frankly, if any American man does it, that's the first American man to win the singles trophy here in 23 years than Andy Roddick.

34:38Matt Roberts: Certainly would be if it happens, yes. I mean, it's a huge call, I think, that, David, on the basis of the draw. I mean, three of the contenders for this title, serious contenders, have come out in the same section. In Artifis, Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton. Matt, you had predicted Carlos Alcaraz to win the title prior to the draw.

35:05Catherine Whitaker: as Amanda Nisimova walks onto the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

35:08Matt Roberts: Matt's going to be distracted by the backhand for the rest of the show now. And I guess this is a trickier question for you, right? Because it's not necessarily who Carlos Alcaraz has to play that impacts how you feel about his chances. It's, well, what Carlos Alcaraz will be going to get. Carlos Alcaraz was supposed to practice today. He disappeared from the practice schedule.

35:31Catherine Whitaker: He went indoors.

35:32Matt Roberts: Right. I was going to say it could very well have been because he was smarter than us, saw the weather forecast and decided to pivot. Well done, Carlos. But, yeah, I mean, if 2025 Carlos Alcaraz shows up, draw irrelevant, right? Yes. So it's maybe a trickier question for you.

35:53Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, look, I just think the men's draw is particularly fascinating this time round because, to me, you can make a case for quite a lot of players. There's quite a lot of players that I think could win this tournament, but they've all got an almost equal but to their name, you know, whether it be they've never done it before, like a Ben Shelton, or they're 39 years old, like Novak Djokovic, or they haven't played in four months like Carlos Alcres. These are all really compelling reasons why they might not win the title. And I'm finding it really hard to pick someone out, so therefore I'm just drawn to the guy who I know is the best if he shows up anything close to that level and that is Carlos Alcarez and I'm not really expecting him to be at his best in this tournament because he hasn't played for so long but I'm trying to work out in my mind how good would he have to get to win it does 80 % Carlos Alcarez win this tournament?

36:51Catherine Whitaker: maybe not but 90 % might without Yannick Sinner here and can he get to that level through this draw is kind of what I've been asking myself with the obvious caveat that we don't really know physically how he's going to be. But assuming physically he's OK and the injury is OK and it's just a question of form and working himself in, I think he can do it. Now, I don't think the draw's been that kind in the opening couple of rounds to him. Roman Cefiulin is his first-round opponent. He's a guy who has had his best grandstand results at Wimbledon. He's a quarter-finalist there. He played very well at Wimbledon this year, in fact, as well.

37:33Catherine Whitaker: But he takes rhythm away, you know, and I think Alcaraz will be looking for rhythm in his first round. I just think it's awkward. He's a guy with weapons and power and can take the ball early. That will test quite quickly where Carlos Alcaraz is, as I think will the second round. either Jenson Brooksby, who is a very capable player, or Jaime Farrier, who is someone who has had the best season of his career, has qualified at all the slams before this one, is now in the draw on merit via his ranking. And we saw him beat Ben Shelton the other week. And he's just generally a really solid player, another test.

38:12Catherine Whitaker: So I think those couple of rounds are tricky for Alcarez if he's way off, which he might be. It's very possible that he is way off but all time greats do special things and I'm just thinking maybe Alcaraz can pull something incredible off and as you say the draw doesn't affect it too much because it's just all about how Alcaraz is but he is in big picture a tricky section because of the fact that Shelton's there and Fisa there and a bit like the women's draw so many of the form players have actually all landed in a similar section.

38:50Matt Roberts: Do you both think we will get the Alcaraz-Shelton quarterfinal?

38:59David Law: I'm going to say yes. I do have real reservations about Alcaraz because it's just such an unknown as to what physical state he's in. but given that I've said Shelton will go all the way, I've got to have him, so I'm saying yes But that does mean you don't have your

39:24Catherine Whitaker: guy, David, and I think I'm more drawn to your guy at this tournament, Artifis I don't know He was so convincing to me

39:34Matt Roberts: That draw was a tough one for David Law because you've gone big on Ben Shelton but long range you're so big on Artifis he's in the form of his life and he comes out in Shelton's section.

39:46David Law: Yeah, I think it's a tough draw for Feast in that regard because I think if he gets up against Shelton here when the crowd's going wild, I mean, I think Feast loves all that as well. Don't get me wrong.

39:58Catherine Whitaker: Do you think it's hard for him not to be the guy in a matchup?

40:02David Law: Not necessarily. I think it's probably harder that Shelton raises his game and that matchup so far has gone the way of Shelton. I still think the pattern with the Feast backhand being as good as it is should mean eventually that he will become the superior player in that rivalry because I think Feast is a better player overall. But Shelton here, I just think if he's ever going to win one, same as Roddick, it's here. and yeah I just feel as though the force is kind of with him a little bit at the moment coming into this tournament I know he had that early loss in Cincinnati which gives you pause for thought but I also don't think that was the worst thing in the world for him get plenty of time on this court plenty of time in the environment be fully energized um yeah I still see Shelton coming through maybe that maybe it's a stubbornness in me I don't know because I've said it early but I also didn't you know you gave me the chance Catherine earlier on when we were planning for this to back out of my predictions by telling me the draw I'm always fair you were fair and and I've stuck with them because I actually believe in these two players Goff and

41:19Matt Roberts: Shelton in the form they're in right now this is the very bottom quarter that we're talking about here the quarter above that so in theory the player that an Alcaraz or a Fies or a Shelton would meet in the semifinals. Technically, the highest two seeds in these sections are Novak Djokovic and Daniel Medvedev. I mean, at this point, if Medvedev achieves his seeding, I will be absolutely shocked. He was threatening to become a pickleball player 48 hours ago or maybe flirting with curling. I don't know. Daniel Medvedev, who on earth knows? We've got Francis Tiafoe in this section as well, Valentin Vachero, Brandon Nakashima.

41:59Matt Roberts: there's tough players in here. But Uriah, of course, is drawn to 39-year-old Novak Djokovic. Now, nobody needs a good draw like a 39-year-old, right? A 39-year-old who we have a lot of recent evidence now that if he is going to do the close to impossible and win his 25th major title at the age of 39 or more, he's going to need to do it by keeping gas in the tank along the way, by preserving his now limited canister of energy for the later stages when he meets the toughest players and he needs it most. So it feels like the draw is huge for Novak Djokovic. How has it fallen for him?

42:52David Law: Yeah, I don't think it's the worst draw that he could have had, But I also think there's potential for elongated drama that he could do without early on.

43:06Matt Roberts: It's almost like you've watched a lot of Djokovic matches before, David.

43:10David Law: I also wonder whether he's kind of used his luck up in Australia. And listen, it's not lucky that he ended up beating Yannick Sinner, but he was lucky against Lorenzo Mazzetti, who had to retire during their match while he was very clearly about to win. he had other bits of luck throughout that event and here he is with Navone in the first round and you know potentially having to face one of his old rivals in Vavrinka or Berrettini in the second round I could just really see him having a bit of a scenic route in one of the one or two of these matches and depleting himself. But overall, Nakashima is a fourth-round opponent.

43:55David Law: I don't think he's bad if that ends up happening. Do you not? No, I don't. I think Nakashima's really made strides this year, but I'd still back Djokovic to unsettle him because he's a really great kind of rhythmical player, and I think that Djokovic can deny him rhythm. Tiafro and Medvedev potentially in the quarterfinals. I'd still go Djokovic if they end up happening.

44:26Matt Roberts: Matt, I got the sense during the live show earlier, and we found a Brandon Nakashima fan, by the way, potentially even a super fan during the live show earlier. Shout out Mavis, who at the mere mention of Brandon Nakashima became just, she was just fizzing, fizzing at the mention of his name. I get the sense you're more worried about Djokovic's draw and specifically maybe about Brandon Nakashima.

44:54Catherine Whitaker: I just thought we should mention Nakashima. I feel like his summer has deserved that. He's been so consistent. He's made strides and he's in Djokovic's path. And I think it's just easy to overlook him. but honestly like ultimately I do fall down on the same side as David that if that match were to happen I would back Djokovic. I love the phrase elongated drama and I can see that as well with Ravrinka and Berrettini there for Djokovic but he's still the guy I go to next and we had this confusing situation recently where he comes out of Wimbledon talking about how great he felt after that tournament and how good his body was feeling but then he turns up in Cincinnati.

45:41Catherine Whitaker: I thought it was a real show of intent in terms of how good he's feeling and getting ready for the US Open, but he looked awful in Cincinnati and was really toiling in the heat and lost his first match. So that's not ideal preparation, but I guess to some extent, I just trust him to work his way through the early rounds, elongated drama or not.

46:05Matt Roberts: Do you think he will work his way through in such a way that he has nothing left for the later rounds when he gets there?

46:13Catherine Whitaker: I think he will have something left, and the question to me is whether that something is enough to beat who's in this draw. Because if a really convincing Yannick Sinner were in this draw, I would think, well, no chance. If a really convincing Carlos Alcaraz appears, I'll think, well, no chance. but if, you know, if Shelton and Alcaraz and Feast have played matches against each other and taken a lot out of each other and maybe, you know, are playing well but not absolutely peaking and Novak Djokovic is there, he is going to be licking his lips at this opportunity and relishing it. I don't have total faith in him being able to do it but I'm not going to write him off at all.

46:59Matt Roberts: It's a good draw for Francis Tiafoe, isn't it? Given everything I just said about Daniel Medvedev and how thoroughly unconvincing he is. I mean, look, looking really deep, it's a potential sort of Schulte-Naukras semi-final. But in terms of getting to the quarters for Tiafoe and then, you know, anything can happen from there, I like it for Tiafoe to get to the quarters.

47:24David Law: Yeah, because I would back him if he played Medvedev. That said, the interesting thing with Tiafoe is I've actually backed him to go deep in both of the last two Grand Slams, the French Open and Wimbledon. And his form leading into those events and at times during the matches that he's ended up losing has been fantastic. And he's had another great run in Cincinnati just now. This is where Tiafoe, a little like Shelton, I've seen him play his best stuff. but I feel like there's a mental block there that he needs to overcome in a big match to win. And that would probably require him to do that against Djokovic in the quarterfinals is what I've got in my mind.

48:10David Law: And there's a big question mark still there. But it's tantalising as a prospect.

48:15Matt Roberts: See, I think, I mean, I have it with Tiafoe too, as you've just described, but I have that trauma with Ben Shelton. I think that's why I'm holding back from Ben Shelton a bit. I agree that it's different here, but I am scarred by how thoroughly he imploded in the face of huge opportunity at the last two Grand Slams. So that's the bottom half of the draw. In terms of the top half, Alexander Zverev, top seed here at a slam for the first time. We've just been watching him practice in front of us Sonash shanking forehands left, right and centre. Again, in a different way, it's a bit similar to the Alcaraz situation or maybe more similar to the Sabalenka situation.

49:04Matt Roberts: I don't necessarily feel down on him because of the draw. I just feel down on his form and I think his confidence. Obviously, in terms of 2026 as a whole, his confidence must be high. But I do think in terms of the post-Wimbledon summer, he's nowhere near where he needs to be to be winning this tournament.

49:27David Law: Yeah, I sort of, on paper, I feel like that shouldn't be the case, that his French Open win and his Wimbledon final should override those things and that it's okay to have some blips along the way leading into a Grand Slam tournament like this and have some time off and maybe take a little while. But the fact that he lost the first round in Canada and then was beaten fairly early in Cincinnati. But moreover, just didn't look convincing. And has spoken a year ago when he lost to Felix Sociali, he's spoken about how he just never really had his timing all summer. And particularly this tournament looks as though he doesn't have the feel on the ball that much.

50:11David Law: And now having seen what I've just seen in a practice session against Lerner Tien where he just didn't look like he got control of the ball. And I realize it's only practice and that can change and you can play way in. And probably, you know, most of the players he's up against early on, I don't really see causing him a problem. Lorenzo Mazzetti may be in round four. I think Rafael Hodder is a real threat to him in the quarterfinals. I realize they played each other in the French Open and Zverev took care of him there. But I just don't I don't see Zverev in top seed form or title winning form here.

50:48Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, to me, I'm looking at Hodder there as well. I think as much as Zverev's form hasn't been good in the last few weeks on the American hardcourt, I do think with Zverev, his record has shown that five sets makes quite a difference. It's very hard to beat Alexander Zverev over five sets. Even when he's been in really poor form, it's still taken someone to go out there and grab it against him like Orgele has seen him last year. And I'm just not really seeing those threats in the first week. Mazzetti has got wins against him on clay. I remember him beating him at the Olympics and in Rome. I think on a hard court, that's a tall order for Mazzetti.

51:35Catherine Whitaker: But maybe, like maybe Mazzetti can find his spark and produce what he did in Australia. And that Mazzetti would have a real shot against this Vero, I think. But for me, it's Hodder that I'm really looking at as the big threat to Zverev in terms of blocking him from getting to the semis.

51:55Matt Roberts: Do you know what Hodder was doing during the US Open last year?

52:01David Law: Do you know, if you'd have mentioned Rafael Hodder to me a year ago, I'm not sure I'd have known who you were talking about.

52:07Matt Roberts: No, I mean, it's been the most extraordinary ascent through the rankings.

52:13Catherine Whitaker: So two years ago, he was winning the juniors here. Yes. Last year, I don't know. Last year, he was playing a tournament called Hersonisos 4,

52:25Matt Roberts: which is very COVID-coded in Greece.

52:29Catherine Whitaker: Did he win?

52:30Matt Roberts: Oh, hang on. It seems that Hersonisos had four back-to-back tournaments in the same location. Raphael Hodder played editions three and four, and he reached the final of... In fact, he won edition number three on the 11th of August last year, and then he lost to the guy he beat in the final, in the semifinals, in her Sonisos 4. So that's what Rafael Hodder was up to last year, and now he's in the mix for the US Open?

53:06David Law: Yeah, I'd absolutely say so. I would not be at all surprised.

53:11Matt Roberts: of in the mix, for anyone that doesn't know, is somebody that you wouldn't be surprised to see win the title.

53:18David Law: Yeah. Hodder would be in that conversation for me. Alongside Zverev. Hang on.

53:27Matt Roberts: In the conversation or in the mix? In the mix.

53:32David Law: Shelton. Feast. Even though I think Shelton beats Feast, he's still in the mix to me. It wouldn't surprise me if Feast won that match and then won the title. Alcaraz absolutely Djokovic 6 you know that's quite a lot of players Fritz 7 I think the mix is quite a lot of players this year

53:51Matt Roberts: Taylor Fritz we haven't talked about yet he's in the section below Alexander Zverev so he'd be a potential semi-final opponent for Zverev the seeds in this section are Felix Orgeliasim the third seed you've got Jakub Mensik the newly crowned mixed doubles champion in there Lerner Tien that Zverev was just practicing with. Fritz, as mentioned, and Flavio Caballi, the fifth seed down at the bottom of this half. Dare I ask what we expect of dear old Flavio?

54:24David Law: I don't think he's in the mix. I would be surprised if Flavio Caballi won this title.

54:30Catherine Whitaker: To me, Fritz is in a section here with a lot of guys who are just outside the mix. I think they're dangerous, they're threats, they could potentially beat Fritz, but then can they go on and win the tournament, I think is another question. And the guys I'm talking about there include Kabali, I would say Lerner Tien is in that category of player, Jakub Mensik as well, and Orjali Asim, semi-finalist last year, it took Yannick Sinner last year to beat Orjali Asim. Now he's had a He's had a back injury recently. His form hasn't been the best over the hard court summer, but he did play very, very well against Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon just a few weeks ago too.

55:17Catherine Whitaker: But they're all in that section with Fritz. It's kind of a stacked little section, little quarter, and yet none of them are the really big names that we're putting in the mix. There's a lot of threats there, but I do think Fritz has come out pretty well from this draw overall. like avoiding Alcaraz and Djokovic and Shelton and Fease and landing with Zverev, a guy who traditionally has got a really good head-to-head against. OK, he lost to him at Wimbledon. He lost to him heavily at Wimbledon. Zverev was awesome in that match, and Fritz was struggling with injury, but he said, even if I hadn't been injured, I might well have lost to him today.

55:55Catherine Whitaker: He recognised the level Zverev was playing that day. But on hard courts in the US, I do think Fritz still backs himself against Zverev in that matchup in a way that he can't against a Djokovic or an Alcraz. He just doesn't have the evidence of having done it. He can't prove it to himself that he can do it against them, but he can against Zverev. So, to me, one of the big draw winners was Fritz because we were all talking about can this be an American's time on the men's side and just think, He's a bit more experienced than the other ones, a bit more of a complete player maybe, maybe not in his absolute physical prime because of these knee issues, and that is a concern.

56:41Catherine Whitaker: That's my but for Taylor Fritz, you know, the knee issues he's having. Is his knee going to hold up? I just think it's not the worst draw for him here.

56:51Matt Roberts: I mean, obviously, we know David's answer to this question given his overall tournament prediction, but, Matt, if you had to select one of the American men to win this title...

57:00Catherine Whitaker: I think I would go Fritz.

57:01Matt Roberts: You'd go Fritz because of the draw.

57:03Catherine Whitaker: Because of the draw, yeah.

57:04Matt Roberts: Are you picking him to reach the final?

57:06Catherine Whitaker: I think I am, you know. Yeah, which I wasn't expecting.

57:12Matt Roberts: Well, that's the beauty of draw day.

57:14Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, because tennis is about match-ups and rivalries and these things matter.

57:19Matt Roberts: Yeah, I agree. There's a lot of... apocalypse.

57:25Catherine Whitaker: The gods do not like my Fritz prediction.

57:27Matt Roberts: If you're hearing this right now, It does mean we survived whatever we're about to encounter when we leave the Arthur Ashe Stadium. My goodness me. So, OK, Matt, you're going for an Alcaraz-Fritz final.

57:41Catherine Whitaker: Which feels mad, but here we are.

57:43Matt Roberts: David, who are you picking to come through this top half and play Ben Shelton in the final?

57:50David Law: I'm also going Fritz, which means I'm going for two All-American finals. He knows his audience. Incredible from David.

58:02well that would be that'd be quite something i mean i was thinking earlier that in terms

58:10David Law: of stories to come out of this event that is perhaps second only to djokovic winning 25 as as a kind of narrative you know to have american domination of this tournament after all the years of, particularly on the men's side of fallow land, you know, this would be quite incredible.

58:34Matt Roberts: Did you see the ATP social video that they put out asking a bunch of players to, this is before the draw, but to predict who they thought would win this US Open.

58:47Catherine Whitaker: Fritz was backing himself.

58:48Matt Roberts: Fritz backed himself.

58:49Catherine Whitaker: Not many were.

58:51Matt Roberts: Tiafoe backed himself. Tommy Paul backed Novak Djokovic.

58:58Matt Roberts: It's quite revealing.

59:01David Law: When you told me about that, I was thinking, yeah, but don't they mean like the men predicting the women's champion? Because isn't it just a bit awkward?

59:11Matt Roberts: Yeah, I mean, it was good content. It was really good stuff. Okay, that is it for part two and the men's draw. We'll be back in part three to mark your card about some first round matches to look out for over the first three days of the tournament. 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.

59:53Matt Roberts: Learn how ServiceNow puts AI to work for people at servicenow.com.

1:00:43Matt Roberts: Welcome back to part three of today's tennis podcast. First round matches. What were the ooh-la-la moments for you, Matt, when the PDF dropped in your inbox?

1:00:57Catherine Whitaker: Well, the big one, we've mentioned it, but was Berrettini-Wavrinka. That just jumps off the page, particularly because they met at Wimbledon in the first round as well. The previous Grand Slam, we now get it again. And it was a bell tie. It was a great match. Four tie breaks. One of the tie breaks was 18-16. I think it was happening at the same time that Serena Williams was making her comeback and playing Maya Joint and it was one of those all my attention is on Serena Williams but oh my god there's this incredible tie break happening I need to get my second screen up and watch that as well and it adds it's added to by the fact that Novak Djokovic is potentially waiting in round two it just gives it extra weight as a match up and I'm fascinated to see where they where they schedule it, sort of what Wawrinka shows up.

1:01:48Catherine Whitaker: Is it one with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder, points approved, having been originally denied a wild card? Like, I think that story's been big that I think also is what I think he'll have the support with it being his last Grand Slam. I think that could be an absolute scene.

1:02:04Matt Roberts: Where would you like to see that match scheduled?

1:02:08Catherine Whitaker: Grandstand? Yeah. You know, like a lot of grounds pass holders in their big courts.

1:02:15Matt Roberts: Sort of a Twilight grandstand match.

1:02:19Catherine Whitaker: That'd be great.

1:02:20Matt Roberts: Lovely stuff. David, some picks from you?

1:02:23David Law: Yeah, there were two or three, really. I mean, on the women's side, there was Venus Williams against Sophia Kennan. You know, you've got Kennan, who's won a grandson being in another final. He's a feisty American. You've got Venus Williams who's mid-40s and still revered and loved everywhere she goes. You know, it's just, it's a great scene, isn't it? And I think the winner of that would play Pagula, which is quite something.

1:02:50Matt Roberts: People are going to see the Venus Williams ace count in that match and predict a return to the top 20, aren't they?

1:02:57David Law: Yeah, because Sophia Kennan cannot return serves at all. She's worse than Pesci Perigard. And actually, the other one I would say is we mentioned Artific earlier on. What a draw he's got. Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round. And, you know, there has been beef between Fises coach Goran Ivanovic and the guy who used to go, Stefanos Tsitsipas. So that'll be tasty.

1:03:24Matt Roberts: Gosh, yeah. The Goran derby.

1:03:26David Law: Yeah.

1:03:27Matt Roberts: Is Goran going to be here?

1:03:28David Law: No, I think he's going to be back in situ in the autumn, in the fall, for the Asian tournaments. and even Shinkush, they basically share the duty of coaching Nartafis. He's going to continue. He's been in Cincinnati and Canada.

1:03:49Matt Roberts: Are you telling me that if Nartafis goes on a run, Goran's not going to get FOMO and hop on a plane?

1:03:55David Law: I'm not telling you that, no.

1:03:58Matt Roberts: That's not the plan. Watch this space, folks. Any other cards to mark with first rounders? I think Muzetti-Ferry is interesting.

1:04:13Catherine Whitaker: Like, two very stylish players. I'm just interested how Ferry's going to get on post-Wimbledon, trying to back up that big breakthrough. And then for Loles, you look no further than Jelena Ostapenko against Tatiana Maria. Because...

1:04:33Matt Roberts: This is such a hipster pick, but you won't regret it, folks. We'll all be there.

1:04:38Catherine Whitaker: Right. Like, contrast of styles is something we always look for in matches. And you cannot get more contrast than these two.

1:04:48Matt Roberts: Contrast of fashion. Just everything.

1:04:51Catherine Whitaker: Yeah.

1:04:51Matt Roberts: Yeah. That won't disappoint. And I've actually forgotten who Alexandre Iala plays in round one. But regardless, that's where the vibes are, folks. I mean, I don't know whether you'll be able to get anywhere near it. I don't know whether the tournament will feel like they have to schedule her on a ticketed court for safety reasons, genuinely. But if it isn't and you can get near it, I suggest you do because sampling that vibe is something very special.

1:05:21Catherine Whitaker: She has a qualifier in the first round. So and as of right now, we don't know who all the qualifiers are because it's been raining today and they haven't finished the qualifying. But there are some potential, as we're recording here right now, big names that could get through and could face Iala in the first round.

1:05:41Matt Roberts: Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's going to end up being our show tomorrow now where we bring you the results of who's qualified. We know that Grigel Dimitrov's qualified because his third round qualifying opponent, Otto Werthinen, had to withdraw ahead of today. So Grigel gets into the main draw, but none of the other, well, none of the qualifying matches have been completed. Jung Chin-Wen is a set-up in her final round qualifying match. Bianca Andreescu is to love up.

1:06:08Catherine Whitaker: Still only dropped six games.

1:06:10Matt Roberts: Still only dropped six games. Coco is back in the stands. We are so back, folks. So, look, there's the potential for Iala against Andreescu, a former champion, or Jung Chin-Wen, the Olympic gold medalist. Like, there's good stuff there. Yes, please. Yeah, good stuff. but we'll confirm all of that in tomorrow's show because I don't know if I've mentioned this, folks, but we've got 18 shows in the next 18 days. Yeah. So anything that we don't cover on one show will always be covered around about 24 hours later. We had a show on Tuesday that feels apt to mention today because it is our latest edition of Tennis Relived, our bonus content for Friends of the Tennis Podcast.

1:06:58Matt Roberts: This is our history series that we do, delving into the recent medium and distant past history of the sport and storytelling, quite frankly, or doing our very best efforts at storytelling. And the story that we told this time around was about the 1996 men's draw at the US Open, which had to be redrawn, provoking much controversy and a walkout from Yevgeny Kafelnikov, the reigning French Open champion, who withdrew himself from the tournament in protest and who David spoke to at length for this edition of the Tennis Podcast. And he doesn't mind being punchy, does Yevgeny? No. He doesn't hold back.

1:07:47Matt Roberts: So that is up now for Friends of the Tennis Podcast. If you would like to become a friend of the Tennis Podcast, the link to sign up is in our show notes. And it also gets you access to The Barge, our community safe space platform for talking about tennis with like-minded people. It gets you access to the writing of our brilliant writer, Hannah. She's written a column previewing the US Open, dovetailing with a review of Novak Djokovic's documentary. It's excellent stuff. She's such a special talent. We can't believe we have her on the team. And if you're a friend of the pod, then you get access to all of her work.

1:08:25Matt Roberts: And you also get significantly fewer ads. What else do you get, David? All sorts of stuff.

1:08:31David Law: Yeah, you get Q &As with us once a month on YouTube.

1:08:37Matt Roberts: Monthly live shows.

1:08:39David Law: Grand Slam review shows. Yeah, where we have voice notes from our very favourite contributors giving us a totally different perspective on a Grand Slam.

1:08:48Matt Roberts: We have our tennis podcast meet series that we do on the eve of every Grand Slam, where we do a series of kind of get to know you interviews with players that are new on the scene or that we're curious about or that have a particular story to tell. And we'll be working towards our 2026 US Open edition of that tomorrow. So as I say, link in the show notes. There's also a link there to subscribe to our free newsletter, which is your source of all sorts of fun stuff, including Matt Statt. which is daily throughout the US Open. You ready, Matt? I think so.

1:09:25Catherine Whitaker: I wonder how many stats I've done now.

1:09:28Matt Roberts: You could do a stat on how many stats you've done. Yeah, if I do that, then I've run out. And that's just about it, folks, for today, at least for us, and maybe for Amanda Anisimova and Eva Jovic, who are, I think, winding up their practice.

1:09:45David Law: Yeah, I think they're testing out the electronic line calling system at the moment as well.

1:09:50Catherine Whitaker: I can tell them it's working.

1:09:53Matt Roberts: Except to tell you about Leo, our wonderful US Open mascot, who very appropriately is in rainwear in today's photo. In fact, I think those are little rubber ducks on his waterproof-looking jacket. So Leo obviously is in tune with the vibe. Leo says, or Leo's happiest days are spent at the park with his beloved uncle Paul, a friend of the podcast. Go on, Paul. Or visiting his grandparents who spoil him with fresh meals and endless affection. Whether he's strolling through the neighbourhood with his mummy or running on the beach, playing in the park or socialising at doggy daycare, Leo approaches every adventure with boundless enthusiasm and a heart wide open.

1:10:38Matt Roberts: That's like a description of David Law.

1:10:42David Law: And Carlos Alkraut.

1:10:44Matt Roberts: We love Leo. We love our mascots, Bodhi, Maisie and Roger. We love our top folks. And executive producers, Greg, Chris and Jeff. Matt, let's have some shout-outs.

1:10:57Catherine Whitaker: We have a couple of shout-outs today. The first one for Lejean Austin from Denver.

1:11:04Matt Roberts: Lejean?

1:11:05Catherine Whitaker: Yes.

1:11:07Matt Roberts: Well, Denver is where friend of the pod Sarah is from, who's been helping us out today.

1:11:13Catherine Whitaker: Hi, Lejean.

1:11:14Matt Roberts: Hey, Lejean.

1:11:16Catherine Whitaker: Lejean says, I made my first trip to London last autumn, primarily to see the Denver Broncos play at the Tottenham Stadium. I did manage to visit Wimbledon, but didn't realise how extensive the museum was and thus didn't allow enough time. On my next visit to London, I plan to rectify that.

1:11:35Matt Roberts: It's just an excuse to go back, Lejean.

1:11:37Catherine Whitaker: Absolutely.

1:11:38Matt Roberts: You know, Sarah told me a story about when she was at school, you know how it's a thing to have cartons of milk at school. She said apparently a local company launched a special edition type of milk that was orange in honour of the Denver Broncos. And that was distributed at her school. Orange in colour and in flavour. Horrifying. Absolutely horrifying.

1:12:05Catherine Whitaker: Thank you, Lejean. And finally, we have David Smith.

1:12:10Matt Roberts: Oh, hello, David. Hi, David.

1:12:12Catherine Whitaker: We know David. David says, I would like to use my shout-out to say hello to my partner, Marsha.

1:12:20Matt Roberts: Hello, Marsha. Hi, Marsha.

1:12:22Catherine Whitaker: And they were married at the beginning of this month on the 3rd of August. Congratulations. And David says, I've been slowly trying to introduce Marsha to tennis and hope to bring her along to Wimbledon one day for the full experience. In the meantime, I will happily settle for watching from afar with her and our little cat, Binks. Photos available on request, Catherine, David says. Consider that a request, David. Binks is a four-year-old tuxedo cat who loves chasing balls, falling asleep in front of deciding sets and catching and eating butterflies in the garden. So congratulations to David and Marcia.

1:13:02Catherine Whitaker: David is the, as he's reminded me here, he is the only Bruce Springsteen fan I know whose favourite song is Outlaw Pete, which is such a deep cut.

1:13:13Matt Roberts: Did you previously know that about David?

1:13:15Catherine Whitaker: Yes, David's told me that before, but he has reminded me, and I was just as shocked hearing it again.

1:13:21Matt Roberts: Gosh, I thought we were hipster before.

1:13:23Catherine Whitaker: Yeah, I do actually think that's insane, David.

1:13:28Matt Roberts: Well, David liked David Law, of course. my old headmistress was called Marsha Marsha Elms and I played her in the school sixth form pantomime

1:13:44Catherine Whitaker: you played your

1:13:47Matt Roberts: teacher it was like every couple of years the year 12 put on a pantomime that like mocked you were allowed to like mock the yeah it was a real star turn it might have been my peak thank you David hello Marsha and congratulations to you both folks we are part of the Athletic Podcast Network we are here on the Arthur Ashe Stadium at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre in New York City for the next 18 days previewing and then talking about the 2026 US Open thank you for listening and or for watching we'll speak to you tomorrow

1:14:29Thank you.

1:14:59Thank you.

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