Baseline Banter
Refreshing and sometimes ludicrous commentary on the professional tennis landscape, given by three teenagers.
Baseline Banter
Episode 6: Interview With Former Top-200 WTA Pro (ft. Maria Mateas)
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Hello everybody. I'm your host, Danny Diring, and you are listening to Baseline Panther. Please enjoy the episode. Thanks. Welcome back, loyal Baseline Panter fans. I know it has been a while, but today is a very special day. Austin, can you tell um our listeners why today's a very special day?
SPEAKER_04Today we have WTA Pro Maria Mateus on the pod. Wow. First uh pro special. First of many.
SPEAKER_05First guest speaker on the pod. I know. This is a very monumental note. Very monumental note. We'll be talking about this um forever.
SPEAKER_04No, I'm telling you. Maria.
SPEAKER_01Hi. Thank you for having me, you guys.
SPEAKER_04I know.
SPEAKER_01No. No.
SPEAKER_04Is this your first podcast you've done?
SPEAKER_01This actually is my first podcast. First podcast, guys.
SPEAKER_04Listen to this. So Maria, we know her through our coach. She's our coach's daughter. She played at Duke, the Duke women's tennis team. She was number one her freshman year finalist at the All-American Showcase her freshman year in college. She's also the ITA rookie of the year.
SPEAKER_05Oh my gosh, I did some research.
SPEAKER_04She won her first ITF 15K title in 2016 as a teenager and a challenger in 2024. And she was inside the WTA top 200.
SPEAKER_05What was your career high?
SPEAKER_01My career high was 190, but I did win a 25K, not a 15K, actually. It was the 25K when I was 17, yeah. Okay.
SPEAKER_04Where was that?
SPEAKER_01It was in um Fort Worth, Texas.
SPEAKER_04Fort Worth, Texas. Since that 15K was, you know, when you were getting recruited for college. Yeah. Was that before you had committed and did that affect how you um made the college decision process?
SPEAKER_01Um no, I don't think so. I think um I was already pretty committed. I think I actually partly won that because I was so free, because I knew I was going to school. I think it was maybe the second to last um event that I played right before going to college. So I was like so relaxed and um and like winning it didn't make me like reconsider at all. I was just pumped to to get in there with a title. It was my first title too, so it was awesome to achieve that before going to school too. So it was just fun. I was just more excited, I think, if anything.
SPEAKER_04That's awesome. Were you this is before college NIL, were you able to accept the prize money?
SPEAKER_01No, so it's funny looking back on it now with how much money people are getting, because I used to write down like every meal, every Chipotle, every flight, every Uber, every every single thing to make sure that I didn't get to that 10K that I was allowed to take. So I would like expense everything that I could. Um, and then I remember like, you know, the second I was getting close, it was like, you know, I can't take any more money. And I would like forfeit it.
SPEAKER_05Um did you ever like if the Chipotle was like$10, but like you said it was$15?
SPEAKER_01No, I really didn't. Um,$5 here. Yeah, no, I would keep the receipts. I was pretty honest about it. I didn't really try to scheme very much because it was normal, you know, like you weren't allowed to take any more than that. Um and now it's so funny because I I definitely would have been in a good position, I think, if I if there was NIL back then. Yeah.
SPEAKER_04No kidding.
SPEAKER_03Um, so quick question. What was the uh like what were you thinking when you decided to go to college instead of uh try to play pro? And like when you won the 25k, did you have any like second thoughts about that? Like did you think you like were gonna like make like top 200, top 300 like quickly? And did you think that you could have gone pro before college or like what was the s like the decision making behind that?
SPEAKER_01I think I could have. Um, you know, it's not really worth it to like sit here and wonder now what would have happened if I didn't go to school, obviously, because I still got to a very high level and I think I still had a really good career, but um, you know, so that like I'll never know, but I I did want to go to school and I wanted to go for a year, like I already had that planned out um pretty early on. I think, you know, by like March. So say I went to school August of 2018. By March, I was like very sure that I was gonna go. So nothing that happened after that kind of changed anything. Before that, I really didn't think I was gonna go to college at all. Um, but then when my brother was already at Duke, um, you know, I first of all wanted the college experience, second of all, um was able to get a full scholarship no matter what, and I knew like, okay, I go and play on a team, I go and have a little bit of a normal life as well, and then um, you know, my education's guaranteed from Duke, which is such a good school, and then um I kind of get the best of both worlds. So at that moment it was kind of a no-brainer. Um, I also had, you know, a lot of friends on like the ITF junior circuit that were getting hurt at the time, and you know, I saw their careers kind of be taken away from them, and I didn't really want that to happen to me, and then not have a backup plan. So um no, to answer your question, it didn't really change how I did after that because I knew that no matter what, I was gonna go to school for a year.
SPEAKER_05Was it always the plan just to go for one year? Or did you ever think about when you finished up your first year at Duke that you kind of wanted to stay? Or is it just you knew you could succeed and you you wanted to?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, no, I I knew that I was gonna stay for a year no matter what. Um because I wanted to stay for a year to secure my education, but also only stay for a year so that I could still stay focused on like training as hard as I could and and have tennis at the forefront because I think when you're in school, it's hard to have tennis as the priority.
SPEAKER_04Uh I want to go back a little bit to your junior career. Obviously, your game was shaped by our coach who is also shaping our games at a pro level. Um but you know, you're playing like junior grand slams at 15, I think, and you know, you're obviously very, very good, very young. What are some of like your core memories traveling around the junior circuit?
SPEAKER_05And did you have a favorite tournament uh to go to? Or a least favorite tournament. Oh yeah, that's the best one.
SPEAKER_01I hate to say that it like feels like so long ago now because it is, but um favorite tournament. I always loved going to Palm Springs and like playing Spring Nationals over there and Easter Bowl. That was always super fun. Um and then least favorite tournament, honestly, like sectional tournaments were so hard to play because I was always the favorite, so like it came with so much pressure. And I have to say I ended up doing really well too. I mean, I won sectionals um I think probably every age group. Um I won the winter sectionals 18s when I was 13. And then the summer I think I lost in the semis, maybe, but I was done playing sectionals actually pretty early because I'd won the 18s so early, but it was still a very stressful time, always. Um but as a junior, like playing ITFs, I loved playing the slams. Playing the slams was awesome. Um going to Indian Wells and playing those was super fun. Um I did really well over there too. I I think I got to the semis of 16s when I was 13 and I lost 0 and 0 in the semis. I remember this. Um and then ended up getting fourth place. But that was like the best memory. I we used to go, um my best friend Casey Harvey, um, who played also D1 um at Carolina. She I grew up with her, and then also um this guy, Will Peters, who went to Princeton and then Carolina as well. Um they were coached by my dad as well, and they were also very, very good in juniors and then in college, and so we kind of all traveled together a lot. Like Casey was always like a mini me, and Will was always a mini um Catalyn, my brother. So um we traveled together a lot. And so I say Palm Springs because we'd go and we'd have a golf cart and we'd like rent a house, and it was just it was a lot of fun.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, that's that's an awesome place. Um, so like when you were playing junior ITF tournaments, did you prioritize like location or was it just like the like the highest level tournament that you could play? Like would you travel to like Asia and Europe uh or would you go to like some lower level tournaments in the States most of the time?
SPEAKER_01Um I there weren't that many junior ITFs in the US that I can recall. I feel like you know, there were a few, but it kind of felt like it was just like the ITFs you had to play. There wasn't really like that much of a choice. Um it got to a point where like I was doing well, so I'd go play now it now it's called different. It's J, whatever, but before it was like grade one, grade two, grade three, grade four, whatever, and then grade A was the highest. Um so I would just go wherever you know the tournaments would be, like the grade ones and then the grade A's. It was always, you know, Orange Bowl is a grade A. Um, Brazil is a grade A. Um, there was a few. I never went to Asia, actually. I've uh the only time I've ever been to Asia was Thailand last year um as a pro, but I never went as a junior. Um and then the slams, but it kind of just felt like and I don't even remember because like my dad was kind of deciding where we were going. I didn't really have much of a say. I didn't even really know. I just picked up a rock and play tennis. So um yeah.
SPEAKER_05Did you ever like feel any pressure um from your dad, from Colleen, like to get good results? Um like I think we know him as a coach. Like he can be he can be a little bit harsh. I think that he cares a little bit less about our results because we're not his children. Um and you know, we're not gonna play number one at Duke. So um did you ever like want him to like not watch your matches? Like rather have like your mom watch your match, or like is that like a thing? Because I'd rather have my mom watch my match than my dad because I just don't like my dad watching my matches. Is that something that you experienced or?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I think I think there was pressure from everywhere all the time. Like I don't even know if it was my parents. I think I put a lot of pressure on myself. I always have. Um, to this day, I put a lot of pressure on myself because I've always been such a perfectionist. So, like in anything that I do, I want to be really successful, and I think that that's formed like a very high discipline in me, and I've been high achieving because of that. So, like, even in school, I mean my parents like quite literally put no pressure on us in school, like they had no idea what was going on, yet like we still got straight A's and like we still took honors classes, and like just because I felt like I had to, but no one ever told me that I had to, I just like felt like I did. Um, and so in tennis, like I just um when I was younger, I didn't even realize like you know, how much money my parents were spending on tennis or how much time or how much stress, like I just wanted to do well and I loved playing and I wanted to win. And then yeah, I think as I got older and I started like understanding, like, wait a minute, like this isn't just me like playing tennis, it's my parents sacrificing their lives and their time and their time together and their time, you know, as a family and and their money, and like basically everything they were earning were going toward tennis. So I think it's hard not to butt heads when there's so much going on internally as a parent, and at the same time, you know, if you have a bad day on court, your parent, I can imagine like it's so frustrating as a parent, yeah. Um because of all the other stresses going on. So you know, I think a lot of the time I thought he was harsh on me, and I used to cry a lot, and we used to have arguments and stuff like that. But but there was never a doubt that you know he didn't want the best for me and he didn't love me more than anything in the world. So it was never that. Um, I just think we spent so much time together and he was under so much stress that it would be impossible for a parent, you know, not to be frustrated sometimes.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_01So, but yeah, I love traveling with my mom just because we had more fun, I you know, like not, you know, just because she's a girl and it was like, you know, we were having girls' time. Um, but I think I got more out of trips with my dad because he actually knew what was going on.
SPEAKER_03So kind of transitioning into your career as a whole, we've heard a lot of like pretty crazy stories from uh Colleen and Angela about like you and your brother traveling for tournaments, but do you have like one or two stories that kind of stick out from like either junior college or pro as like the craziest or the most awesome best experience that you've ever had like playing tennis?
SPEAKER_05Or like caught up in like a like a drug cartel war or something, you know, like on any spectrum.
SPEAKER_04Like, do you have any like wild tennis springs tennis springs you do a lot of interesting places?
SPEAKER_01I I I've been very lucky to where I've never like felt in danger necessarily. Um, like you mentioned, like drug cartel stuff, or like I've never really felt scared. I I do think like maybe there were instances that I like didn't know about. For example, like you know, in Mexico City, there was um a grade A over there, and I remember going with this other girl from a section, and my dad um was coaching both of us, so we both went, and you know, we just wore like jeans shirts, jean shorts, and our like hair down one day to like walk to dinner from the hotel, and the tournament director like pulled my dad aside, and he was like, do not ever let them ever show any skin, first of all, and have their hair down here because they will stop a car, they will hit you in the head, they will grab them by the hair, and you will never see them again. Um and I was 13 at the time or 14, and I remember like him sitting us down and telling us that. And so after that, I was like very careful. Um and then my I went to Wimbledon one year, I was playing Wimbledon, and my brother um and I flew there, but then like the train was closed down. We were supposed to take the train to the hotel, and then so we were like walking for miles with our suitcases and bus, but we took the wrong bus, and we had to get off and start walking again, and then it started pouring. Um walking like through the fields. Yeah, and that was that was my first that was my junior Wimbledon main draw for the first time. Wow. Um, but then like two days later, like you know, I was sponsored by Nike at the time, so like you go to the Nike house and like Federer was there, so like you meet Federer. Um, so there was a lot of like fun and also like so like annoying experiences too, like kind of mixed in with the fun, but but it was it was good.
SPEAKER_04On that note, like what are some kind of behind the scenes things? I know we think of like Grand Slams mostly that tournaments like perks that tournaments have for you mostly as pros, I would assume, but like I don't know, what are the stuff that like we don't see that like you're either getting from the tournament or like you know, what does it look like to go get a physio from the tournament and get a massage? Like, how does that kind of work um on your like day-to-day life at a tournament?
SPEAKER_01I think um the pro level is very different than juniors. I think as juniors, like there was a trainer on site, but then like your parents like your shoulder hurt, so like your mom or dad like massage your shoulder for a little bit or like put some biofreeze on it, or like you'd have your little Theragun and use it on yourself. But like as a pro though, even in like the ITF versus WTA level, like I always say it it's almost like um economy versus first first class, because you know, at an IT ITF level, you'll have a trainer. Now they made a rule that there need to be two trainers, but even so, I mean two trainers for you know, draw of 32 main draw plus qualities plus doubles, like there's always a line. So, like, you know, you finish your match, you want to get out of there, but like you need treatment, so you have to wait in line for like an hour to get treatment. Yeah, um, and that's annoying. But then at WTA's, you know, you walk into the training room, there's six trainers, um, you know, sign-up sheet for massage, you can get a massage, they have recovery stuff, they have food, um, you know, they have transport, they pay for your hotels. So it is very different. Um, you know, and then for the big tournaments, right? For the Grand Slams as a pro, like um really good pair player gifts, US Open especially, like they really treat the Americans really well. So, like we've gotten some very nice player gifts um from the US Open.
SPEAKER_05That's awesome. I think that everybody knows that um everybody who's played at least um at a decently high level knows that tennis is probably the most stressful sport or one of the most stressful sports um out there. Um and I've had a lot of special experiences, I'm sure you two have as well. But if you had to if you had to choose, and I'm sure I remember them very well. I remember them vividly. Um I think I can remember pretty much every match I played for like the last three years. So if if you can pin down your single most time, feeling the most nerves, whether it's like you were like matchpoint, super good or you were starting. Yeah, or like you were starting a match and you were like couldn't make a serve, or like just like most wired, the most wired you've ever been in your career. Do you think you can nail that down or not really?
SPEAKER_01I wish I could, because I'm actually interested in it for myself.
SPEAKER_05Yeah.
SPEAKER_01I probably can't nail it down. I think I've I've had a lot of um, you know, very grateful for it, but I've had a lot of like big matches. Um actually playing like a dual match and being the only match left is pretty stressful. Yeah, I'm gonna be able to do that. Um NCAA's was pretty stressful. Um as a pro, I mean, always when you're in a semi- or final, it's stressful. Um I think you know, I was in a couple finals before I won my first pro tournament, and like you want to win a pro tournament so much, but like it's it's hard to play because you're so nervous. Um and then playing US Open, um, I was extremely nervous. Actually, if I had to pinpoint the most nervous I have ever been, now that I think about it, as a pro, I was very nervous, so I remember it more so, especially when I had to start paying my own bills and stuff like that, and you realize like, whoa, like I need to kind of make money or like you know, stop. Um but as a junior, just because there were like physical things that were happening to me while I was playing, my first main draw junior slam. Um, I had played French and US Open quales, but it was my first um Australian Open main draw juniors, and I was playing a wild card Australian, and I was so nervous in that match that I remember like playing a point, and her ball was gonna go like literally in the fence, and I just remember like not being able to like get away from the ball. Like literally, like her ball was like gonna hit the fence, and somehow like it hit me. But like I lost the points of like I yes, like you like like I literally like hit the ball and she like went and just like swung at it, and it was like literally gonna hit the fence, and I couldn't dodge the ball because I was so paralyzed, and like the ball literally just hit me, and the whole crowd was like, ugh, I lost the point. So what are you doing? That was like the most like physical thing that's ever happened.
SPEAKER_04I can imagine Colin's reaction in the box. Oh my god.
SPEAKER_01Just like, oh my god, are you serious?
SPEAKER_05I just did it, you just like, oh my god.
SPEAKER_01So that was brutal, but but I I I've definitely been more nervous as a pro. I just think that was like the only time that something has like happened that has been like, whoa, like I was really nervous.
SPEAKER_04I like that. I uh I want to transition a little bit more to your kind of recent career slash personal life. I'm looking at your engagement ring right now. Um, you know, you just got engaged to Mackie McDonald, who's um obviously an ATP pro. He's had a really great streak recently. Um and now that you're not playing as much. Depends on if you include the uh uh uh Pacheco Mendez two-in-two in Mexico. We we don't count challengers here. Uh but uh like how now that you're not traveling as much, how do you kind of orient your personal schedule and decide which tournaments you're going to go to with them? Yeah. You know, I I saw you in Dean Wells.
SPEAKER_05And I saw you need emails. Um tournaments like that. Is like is it just like the big tournaments, or is it as much as you can without feeling stressed?
SPEAKER_01Like what uh yeah, I while I was playing, it was fun to go to the slams specifically. Like I tried to make time because I think playing a slam as a pro is the most stressful by far tournament to play. As awesome and glamorous and cool as it is, it's by far the most stressful. You actually like almost want the week to end, especially US Open, especially as a home slam, especially with family there. It's just a lot is going on. So I've always gone to the slams with him.
SPEAKER_06Okay.
SPEAKER_01But um now that I haven't really been playing recently, um, and now that my dad is coaching him, it's kind of just been whenever my dad's needed a break. Um because as awesome as it is for me to be with him, like it he needs a coach. So it's good for my dad to be with him, but like my dad obviously needs a break as well. Um, and then Indian Wells, we made a family trip because it's Indian Wells and we hold so many memories, as I was saying before. That was my first time going back to Indian Wells since being there as a junior.
SPEAKER_04Wow.
SPEAKER_01Um, so that was really cool. But um, and then Miami, I went alone with him because Miami was actually the first time we'd ever gone to a tournament together as a couple. We went to Miami um for the first time when we were like dating for like two weeks. So that kind of felt like it was like our like you know, hard launch kind of tournament. Um so we went back there and then Houston. I went to see my best friend lives there, Casey, that I was talking about before. She lives in Dallas, but she went to Houston. Um, and then again, I'll go to Slams, I'll go to French and Wimby. Um, but yeah, so I mean I choose obviously, but like I like to be home too and take care of the house and take care of my life. But um I go whenever he needs me, and um, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, uh kind of uh leaning sorry, uh leaning into something similar. I know a lot of professional athletes mention um like a big like shift like in their lives and like how like in and like mental like states after they retire. Uh because you obviously spent like your whole life from when you were like probably five or six to like less than a year ago, like with tennis as like the the main and sometimes like like one of the only like focuses. So what's it been like like not having that? I mean, obviously you're still around tennis a lot, but not having it like be like the main focus in your life. Like it has it been like nice in some ways, or um it has been nice.
SPEAKER_01I think I've been way less stressed out. Um, I haven't felt that much stress. Nothing's felt like impossible to do um or obtain or whatever. Like I think, you know, before a tennis match, like no matter the the level of I'm I'm talking pro, like no matter if it's a first round or a 25 or you know, the first round of the US Open or the finals of a 60k, like you're like feel like you're gonna die before the match because you're that nervous. And now looking back on it, like my perspective has changed so much, but um nothing has stressed me out that much, and I haven't been as nervous for anything anymore. Um and it's been fun to like do what I want to do rather than what I have to do in terms of like you know, I don't have to be at the gym at 8 a.m. I can go to Pilates at 4 p.m. in the afternoon and still do what I need to do for my body. Yeah. Um and yeah, it's been fun to like focus on the wedding and focus on finishing my school. And um yeah, it's been interesting, but it's been fun.
SPEAKER_05That's awesome. Okay, so you mentioned that at some point you had to I mean, obviously, once you turn 18, or I don't know, it's different, a little bit different for everybody, you have to kind of transition off parents' money to go to these, um to you know, it's you have to live your own life. So what was it like? I mean, I know the money in ITFs, it's bad.
SPEAKER_04Um and tennis players like are generally kind of underpaid.
SPEAKER_05Oh yeah, like across the board. Probably the most underpaid athletes of any sport. I mean, you were probably a higher level ITF player, um-ish, but was it like was it really tight with money at times? Did your parents continue to help you out a little bit, even if um you were funding most of your expenditures? But was it like was money an issue at all? Like did you have to think about it a lot or not really?
SPEAKER_01Um I think actually my f my parents were funding me a lot. I mean, up until like two years ago, like it was kind of like, you know, I'd pitch in as much as I could, but I like didn't really have a lot to pitch in. Um and for example, like I moved to Orlando for a year and a half um to train over there. And you know, I had to pay for an apartment, and um there was you know, someone helping me a little bit with money there so I could afford the apartment. Um, and we tried to find, you know, a little bit of help from people or sponsors or whatever, or just you know, some really good friends that were willing to help out a little bit, but it's rare to find. And at the end of the day, it's like never enough, like just because it's such an expensive sport. Um, and then maybe like two years ago was when I like started paying for things um mostly on my own, I'd say. Um, and then like paying a little bit if I could, you know, if I was playing slams or whatever and the check was a little bit bigger, I'd pay my dad a little bit. But um, but it's very stressful, especially when you know you're becoming an adult and and you want to feel like an adult, but at the same time, like you don't feel like an adult at all, and you realize how expensive everything is and um how many expenses you actually have, it becomes very stressful for sure.
SPEAKER_04With I mean, last question, I think we're moving on to some like shorter kind of pop questions. Like, did that that feeling of like stress ever influence you on the court? Or were when you were out in court, were you like it's game time, you know, one point at a time, like, or as a pro player, is there just kind of like more on the back of your head that you're trying to like keep back?
SPEAKER_01No, I think I constantly had like 30 thoughts in my head at all times during matches. Um whether it was financial, whether it was, oh shoot, um, you know, if I leave tonight, I need to fly to um France tomorrow, or should I fly tomorrow tonight, or should I fly tomorrow morning? I don't know which one's better. Let's see which one's cheaper. And then, like, you know, I'd end up winning the set, and I'd be like, oh my god, wait, I might not be going home. Like, I might be staying here. What should I have for dinner? And then, you know, then I'd start singing a song in my head, and then it's like deuce, and you're like, Oh wait, I gotta lock in, like, but I forgot. So it's just like there's so many things happening at all times in your brain. And then there's those few matches where you're like so locked in and you like actually play good tennis. Um, but it's just so hard to be locked in like that all the time.
SPEAKER_05Do you ever like when you when it's like oh my gosh, when it's like when it's like, let's say it's like 3-1 and you're up like 40-15, you're like, okay, so in the 4-1 game, I'm gonna make sure to make all my returns, you know? And then and then it gets to like deuce, and you're like, wait, hold on. And then it gets to the add-out point, and you're like, wait, so in the 3-2 game, I'm gonna be able to do that.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, no, 100%. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_05Um that's like that's it's so intrusive, like you can't even stop it. It's terrible.
SPEAKER_03I mean, that's great to see that uh even some of the best tennis players in the world have the same thoughts that uh we have when we're playing, yeah, or at least so much thoughts.
SPEAKER_05I think everybody's thought process, yeah, even like across all spectrums, all levels of players, like everybody in some ways thinks about it the same. Yeah, like yeah, it because it's like I think the feelings are the same. Yeah, like the um like the emotions that you have on court generally the same, like the frustration that you feel when like the ball goes up and the sky's too blue and you can't see the ball.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, no, it's true, 100% for sure.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, okay. I just I I do have one more question. I'm actually kind of curious about this. Um so you were very good. But but you you weren't you weren't ever like top 100. You didn't get to um and you weren't like full-time on the on the WTA tour um playing those events. What do you think was the difference between someone like you who is like around 250 in the world for most of their career, as opposed to um anyone in the top 100 who ended up making there and was full-time on the tour?
SPEAKER_01So I think you know, it's different because nobody's really on the full WTA tour unless they're like top 50. Because if you're not top 50, there's so many events that you can't get into. So you actually see a lot of the top hundred girls still playing. Like 125s or I think especially in women's they do. Exactly. I mean, there's there's actually a handful of girls in the top hundred only from ITFs, you know. Um a couple years ago, there was a couple girls in the top hundred only from 25Ks. Yeah, you know, and all they played was 25s, and they won like 10 25s, and then that's you know, that was like what like Umboko did.
SPEAKER_05Umboko like won like six tournaments in a row and got to like 50 in the world, and then just like won't.
SPEAKER_01So um I think there was you know, a lot of girls like that, but um I can't remember your question. What was your question?
SPEAKER_05Uh like what do you think was the difference? Like, why why weren't you top 100? Like, is there was there is there like a specific shot, or is it just like sort of unlucky, sort of like just like mentally, or like was it like my back end was bad? I mean like I don't I think never watched it.
SPEAKER_01I think there's so many things that are involved, and um you know, I think it's hard to beat yourself up that way and to think about that many things because if you know, if you think about every single thing that you could have done a little bit better um to have made it top hundred, then you know why would you do that? Because then why isn't everybody top 100? You know? Yeah, exactly. So um why am I? At the end of the day, well, yeah, and it's just like at the end of the day, not even in a harsh way, but it's just like I wasn't good enough. Whether it was um probably sexual mentally, or um I didn't go play in the right places, or I didn't get a walkover when I, you know, in a semifinal, like sometimes that happens to people, and you know, they um get a retirement in the quarters, you know, they're up to one and someone retires, and then the next day they get a walkover, and then suddenly they're in the finals, and then you know, but I lost seven third first round, um, and then the girl pulled out the next day. Like it's just like there's so much love involved, and there's so much um going to play in the right place and just playing the right week and um you know getting a wild card here and there. Um yeah, so I think you know, you could get lucky, or you know, maybe my serve could have been better. Uh if there's one shot I would pick that I could say it could have been better, it could have been my serve. Um but but yeah, I don't, you know, I think uh what was meant to be was meant to be.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Um, so I have kind of one a little bit silly last question. Um, so uh me uh and Danny and Austin were having this debate about whether uh who is like better, uh the big three in their in their prime or Sinner and Alcaraz, like right now. Um I have a lot to say about this. I I kind of wanted to um I'm kind of in the minority here. Uh I think it was the big three.
SPEAKER_04Okay. Um, point and and like elaborate on that a little bit.
SPEAKER_03Like why do you think that? Why do you think I just think that I mean it's breaking down already? Well, I I think in their prime they're like they're so dominant. Like Fedder in like 06 and 07 was barely losing any matches to anyone except for Rafa. And how many matches are Carl's Awkward to be in Center right now? And I think that each of Fedder and Dahl and Djokovic had like one thing that they would do just like and and would be like center awkwards like that. Like Fedder was like the feel, like this, like the short, like short slices, draw shots. Sorry, Zach. Uh that would just that would just slice you just slide center off, like slices away. Um Novak was just so like mentally like strong, mentally tough, and Rafa with like the heavy forehand. Okay, okay, they're valid never Rafa. They're valid points. Yeah, they are.
SPEAKER_04Having seen I mean, I mean you've been at these tournaments, I know you like you've seen some of these guys play and obviously watch them on TV. Like, what are your what are your thoughts?
SPEAKER_01I think that um there are generational differences, so it is hard to compare the two. Um, you know, if I there's also, you know, are you taking Rafa on clay? Are you taking Rafa on a hard uh fast, hard surface? Or um you know, but I do think I'd have to sway in the direction of Carlos and Yannick. Um probably, you know, if they're playing the best tennis match of their life, probably would be better at the best tennis match of his life. I just think the depth of tennis is so different now, and I think the physicality and the mental toughness and the equipment and the recovery, and they now have doctors on their teams and they have physios and they have you know everything kind of prepared and potioned for them. Um though I actually have asked Mackie this question because he has played all of them.
SPEAKER_04Beat Rafa.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, he said nothing will ever compare to playing Rafa on Clay.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_01So, you know, I don't know. I don't know if if Rafa is playing Carlos on Philippe Chatrier um at his prime, maybe Rafa takes it.
SPEAKER_05But I would agree. I would agree. So I um I've thought a lot about this in arguments with Arv. Um and when I when I look at um Carlos Alcaraz and I look at um Yannick Center, I think there's just a main difference in the way they move. Yeah is just it's just completely different. You didn't really see um you didn't really see Fed and um Nadal like sliding into a forehand at full sprint and rip it down the line at 98 miles an hour, like Al Crass and Cinnar are doing, and then you didn't see them keep that physicality for um the whole entire match, and they're they're moving in incredible ways. Um and then that's just one part of it. Then I think on top of it, I think the depth of the game is a lot better. Like if you look at number 100 in the world today, it's definitely way better than 100 in the world in 2012. I mean number 300 in the world. Yeah, exactly.
SPEAKER_04Also, like look at the equipment. Imagine Roger Roger was still playing with a 95 inch like backhead. Like it's not.
SPEAKER_05And they're doing in Unix Cinner and Clark Soccer, they're doing the same things that the Big Free were doing, and honestly, they're on pace to beat them right now. And you look at Cinner, he just beat he just had the Masters 1000 stat record, which was actually broken today by um who was it? Maj. Oh yeah, Mah. Um who was only wearing boxers actually during that rant. Um no, but um you look at Cinner, he had the set record, and it's against cover competition. And I mean the way he's moving and they're all compatible on all services. Um I would just say there's I'm sorry. RF. I think you're too nostalgic. Yeah, yeah, maybe. Yeah.
SPEAKER_04All right. I have one last question to wrap us up. We don't talk a whole lot about the WTA tour on the pod, I do have to say. It's true. But to educate us and our listeners, who do you think is the most from players that you've seen, maybe specifically American players, who do you think is the most underrated w kind of younger woman's player um on the women's tour right now? Or who do you think has the most potential?
SPEAKER_01I think underrated is hard to say because I think if you're good, you're good. Um and people see you. Um I mean, I think Umboko is phenomenal. I think Igo Yovic is phenomenal. Um those are some of like the younger younger, younger ones. Um Amanda Anisumova has always been good. I think you know she has the ability to win a grand slam. Um, but none of those are underrated, right? Because they're top 20 in the world. But um or even top ten. Um underrated is hard to say.
SPEAKER_05Um do you know of any like hidden talent that nobody knows about yet that you're like they're gonna be super good?
SPEAKER_01Do you not really not really, but it's funny because I played Eva um three years ago. Uh, and I was when she was like 16? She was 15 and she had she still had braces on and no way, that's the worst, and I lost to her, and I remember calling my dad and saying I'm done playing tennis like immediately after the match, and then she ends up winning the tournament, and then now she is where she is. And so but I remember being like, This girl is freaking good. Like, what is going on? Like, there's no way I just played that bad. Like, she is literally so good. Um, and she is so wow, yeah.
SPEAKER_03That's that's worked out okay.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, okay. Um, guys, I think um Maria, what'd you say was a successful uh interview today? Was it good? Very yeah, I love it. Very insightful. Thank you. A lot of um I think there's a lot of good takeaways our listeners can uh um take from that. We can uh maybe if we've got any up and coming WTA um aspiring professionals, they can uh take what Maria said really to heart. But um I think we're gonna leave it at that today. Hopefully we're gonna get out another episode soon. Our upload schedule is absolutely cooked. Um I think our last episode released was like late January. Um yeah. I'm hoping to have this up in like a week or so. So uh hopefully less, but you know. Yeah, we'll see. I don't know. I think it was a good interview today. Thank you, Taria. Thanks for coming out. Thank you so much for coming on. Thank you so much for coming on the pod. Very fun. And this is the start of something great. So thank you so much for listening, and we'll see you on the next one. Thank you for listening to Baseline Banter. You can find us wherever you get your podcasts. Uh, and please remember to tune in next time for another great episode.
SPEAKER_02Thank you.