Gay, Set, Match

Gay, Set, Match, Ep 4

• Brian & Winston • Season 1 • Episode 4

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0:00 | 1:09:16

Wimbledon is here!! Coach B & Coach Winston delve into the draws of this year's legendary edition of SW19. We also dish about this past French Open, the Vondrousova ban, and of course we gush over the Williams sisters' triumphant return to the calendar's most prestigious grand slam. Stay tuned for the Coaches Corner where we review the match we played against each other in a recent tournament.

SPEAKER_02

Hi, Brian. This is Winston, and this is Gay Set and Match Podcast. Hey Coach Winston. Yes, we are back, baby, in your ears once again. We are back. It's been a minute. I know. We apologize for our absence, but you know, life gets in the way.

SPEAKER_01

We are beautiful men in our 30s. We have a lot going on. And yeah, I'm just so happy for Grass, the best season ever. We get to really dish on that. And yeah, Wimbledon is literally here, sis. We have to dish.

SPEAKER_02

I mean, yeah, there's been so much that's been going down. Obviously, we'll get more into the big, big news that I'm sure everyone's waiting for us to dish on. But we'll just do a quick little catch-up. So how have you been?

SPEAKER_01

I've been good, sis. Yeah, like on the court a lot, a lot, um, heading to Europe in a few days to compete in some tournaments. The GLTA, yeah, in in Prague and Berlin. So I've been on the court every single day just so I can make money, so I can, you know, get my foods and get go to restaurants um as well as compete, sister. Okay.

SPEAKER_02

So if you're gonna travel, if you're gonna travel that far, you definitely need to, you know, have some money in that bank account. You've got to be able to experience and enjoy.

SPEAKER_01

Baby, you said it, sis. So yeah, some fun things to look forward to. And yeah, we're still killing it. What's up with you though, sis?

SPEAKER_02

Uh well, obviously, yeah, I've been working and I was on vacation, so that made things difficult with my family and uh been playing tennis as well. Don't have any tournaments lined up, but going to sectionals with my USTA team, so I'm excited about that. That's in August.

SPEAKER_01

So come on. Yeah. That's impressive, sis, because LA is already tough, tough. So USTA sectionals, she knows how to eat it up on coir over there. Come on.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. Well, speaking of which, we did we did to play each other, um, which was an interesting dynamic on my end. We're just teasing it. We're just teasing it because we're gonna talk about that a little bit later in our coach's corner, so stay tuned for that. Yes. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

There's some, there's some tea. No, not really.

SPEAKER_02

So yeah, I mean, there's always a little bit of tea, but we don't want to spill the whole whole cup yet.

SPEAKER_01

You know, we'll get there. Yes, ma'am.

unknown

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Uh okay, so let's get into the tops and bottoms of the week, or I guess of grass court season, since that's what we're headed into, as you said, which is also one of my favorite times of year. So I have a few things listed here. We'll discuss. Obviously, biggest news in tennis right now and in sports in general is the return of the GOAT queen icon legend Serena Williams.

SPEAKER_01

Sis.

SPEAKER_02

As you can tell, I'm already I'm yeah, I had to had to rep, had to represent. Uh, you know that she's like my idol of all idols. So for me, this is just I honestly am speechless. I don't even to be able to experience watching her play again, win, lose, or draw, like, is really all I care about.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

It's it's almost surreal. Like, I know what you're saying. It's weird. I mean, I and I'm telling my classes that Venus and Serena were playing Wimbledon in 1998, and here they are, 2026.

SPEAKER_00

Like, we aren't worthy. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_02

No, we're not worthy. We're really, we're not, we're not worthy.

SPEAKER_00

We're not worthy.

SPEAKER_02

Not at all. And obviously, there's a lot of like discourse online of like very similar to the Venus of it all. Obviously, Serena's been gone for four years, so there's there's that element of how's she gonna do? How's she gonna play? Uh, she obviously played two doubles matches. Uh, her and Umboco definitely, I think, could have won a few more matches if Mboko didn't get hurt, unfortunately. Um, I thought she looked good. Again, it's doubles, it's not singles, so I tell people all the time like until I see her on that singles court, I'm not gonna say anything about her singles game yet, because it's gonna come down to the movement. And in doubles, you don't move as much. It's about serving, it's about returning, it's about tactically playing smart. And I think she can still do that. It's a question of can she sustain the movement over the course of a singles match? TBD.

SPEAKER_01

You ate that up. The movement and of course the match mentality. Like you can literally be the goat and not play four years. And and we've seen this with Venus with her minimal amount of match play. She gets close and then the moment really hits, especially just now, yeah, like when you're not competing enough. The moments are momenting, and then it's easy to flail at big moments. So I just hope that doesn't happen with Queen Rena.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, same. Honestly, I just want to see her win a round. I just I want her to like not have a harmony tan moment, you know, like that's I know that was her last thing at Wimbledon. So for me, I just want like a better ending.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

And and we'll, I guess later we'll talk about her first round opponent, right? And because we can how that'll match up. But yes, I mean, the fact that she's in the main draw, it's just surreal, sis. Like we were eight, nine, ten years old obsessed with this girl, and we're in our 30s now. So I'm just happy that she's out there and hopefully stays healthy. You know, I don't want her to fall, no one, nothing bad to happen. Just get through a match, play fierce, and that's it.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, absolutely. And can't wait to see what she wears on court. Of course, it's gonna be a moment.

SPEAKER_01

I forgot about the um I'm so busy with like the Osaka walk-on of it all. Serena's gonna eat. Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. Mother's gonna mother, she's gonna mother, she's gonna bother.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, I I I hope I hope it's as big of a deal as I expect it to be, you know. But we'll see, we'll see. You know, we we don't know yet, but I'm I'm I'm thinking they've probably had this in the in the pipeline for a minute. So Nike, don't disappoint us.

SPEAKER_01

Please don't. Yeah, please don't.

SPEAKER_02

Um, the only other thing I want to say on the Sarian topic before we move into the next one is I am still unclear as to what her goals are. And I know that she can keep things close to the vest, that's fine. But like as a fan, I'm just kind of like, is this for a minute? Is this for a year? Is this for you know, the Olympics 2028, which is what I was hoping it would be for? Wishful thinking, TBH. Yeah, no shade. Right. Yeah. Um she's just still being very unclear. And as a fan, that's hard to like like you know, land on. That's hard for me to be like, okay, how excited should I get, or how like amped should I get, or how much should I prepare myself mentally? Like, how long are we gonna be here? Yeah, um, but then I have to just go back to, you know what, you're just lucky she's playing again. So just take every tournament, every match as an opportunity to get to see her on a tennis court again.

SPEAKER_01

So say it, say, and then my last thought on that too is I do believe that it's her swan song in front of her daughters, her envy at the US Open. I mean, it would seem like the storybook ending. Um, I wouldn't mind if Venus still wants to play, though. Um, but I think it would just be awesome. But Serena's so dang busy. You would really think she's gonna do a calendar next year or anything of that nature. It's it'll be tough to imagine, but that's just me guessing. I I would hope I'm wrong if she wants to like go full fledged.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, I think maybe she's like toe, like just dipping her toe in to kind of see how she can compete. And if it's going well, then I think that she will continue to play. Okay. If it doesn't go as well, I think she'll reevaluate. Okay, that makes sense. Yeah, but obviously that is definitely a top top, biggest top, the best top. Maybe right. I'd prefer her over any top. Yeah, well, girl. Exactly. Exactly. I will I will be fully open for that top. Oh, girl. Yes. So but okay, unfortunately, her top brings me to a bottom.

SPEAKER_00

No, baby.

SPEAKER_02

Because Serena did take the last singles wild card at Wimbledon, and I'm a little disappointed because Venus obviously has been playing a lot more singles over the last year, and yes, I know that she still has yet to win a singles match this year. Unfortunately, she's been close, like you've said. Uh, but Wimbledon is Venus. Venus is Wimbledon. Like, in my mind, Venus is more correlated to Wimbledon than even Serena. Serena to me is more US open. Venus is Wimbledon. Like, I just when I think about Wimbledon, I think Venus, you know? And she won it five times. She was in the final, like four other times. Like, where was her wild card?

SPEAKER_01

Right. And didn't she convince the literal board of white men like at a meeting to make the prize money equal at Wimbledon? So that's crazy. So I'm almost thinking though, sis. I think maybe maybe V didn't want to take it. No, no, that's not, that's a lie, right? Because she's been playing singles warm-ups. But I'm wondering how the closed door, because you know that they had a conversation with V, and I would live to be a fly on the wall to see her reaction to, you know, possibly her getting snubbed. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. Just because I saw all the, I mean, again, I don't know every all the you know politics that go into becoming a wild card. And I know people will go on the other side of saying, well, she hasn't won a singles match all year, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. You know, heard it. That's fine. But of all the tournaments to not get a wild card, right? Like, this is not the one, you know. So that was confusing to me. But I think obviously, yeah, we don't know all the details on that. Or maybe she did say, you know, Serena, you can have it. Uh who knows? Who knows what the discussion was there. But they were obviously leaving that spot open for one of them. That was the way I was taking it. And if Serena was just like, nah, not ready yet, then I think they would have given it to Venus. So here we go again. Little sister taking some spots.

SPEAKER_01

Right. There it is. Poor V is used to it. But the what I'm a little on the like miffed side is Maya Polinska getting that wild card. Yes, amazing that she just won that uh got to the final. So it does make sense. But in essence, it is also pushing Venus out. And I think it's interesting because Maya Polinska still ain't gonna get those sales like V would. Not like Wimbledon's gonna need it really, you know, they gonna stay strong forever. But I'm just like, they're picking the dainty white girl. And I'm just like, ooh, it's not my favorite thing, my favorite choice in the world. But but Maya has done that work, and and I do understand it because there's so much discourse from people who are like, you gotta give it to other people who have more time, or this and that. So I feel like they're not caving, but they are listening. I feel like they would have done V without all the discourse lately instead of. So yeah.

SPEAKER_02

I mean, yeah, and I think also I just get disappointed on that end as well because we don't know, again, how long Venus plans to continue to play. And if this is Serena's just coming back to be with Venus for the end of her career, for her to not get another chance at Wimble Dando play singles would be like her last match would have been that match against Svitolina, right? In like 2023, where she slipped and she fell. And I'm like, I don't like that.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, me neither, but girl, that might be the last one. So we just gotta set up.

SPEAKER_02

I don't know what to say. Hey, I know. I mean, that's at least that's better than losing to Harmony Tan, but right. That's that's something that's yeah, we need something new.

SPEAKER_01

We need a new result for Serena.

SPEAKER_02

Unfortunately, we're gonna get something new. But Hallelujah.

SPEAKER_01

Hallelujah.

SPEAKER_02

But yeah, I guess it's just for me Wimbledon is Venus. So that's that was that's why it's a bottom for me, is just seeing her put all the time and energy on court this year to like actually travel and try to play more matches, even though she didn't win all of them. She was still competitive. It's not like she was getting blown out of the water every single match. So yeah, I'm just I'm bummed as a Venus fan. So that's my bottom of the week. I'm there with a great, yeah, because we both are you know very sentimental, yeah, when it comes to Venus.

SPEAKER_01

Um this yes, sorry, yeah, this this other bottom girl with Vondrushiva, it has to be discussed real brief before we get to the draw. Um, is that cool? Because I I feel for Marketta. Um do you know about the T like with this Vondrushava? I know there's so much going on surrounding it.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, I've been I've been trying to follow it because as someone who has who followed kind of, you know, when Sinner was not really banned or whatever, and then you know, the Simona Hallops and the Maria Sheropovas and uh who was the other Ega, right? Didn't Ega? Yep, Ega Sinner.

SPEAKER_03

Yep.

SPEAKER_02

Um so like because of those other like bigger names, I guess, comparatively, uh I definitely wanted to take note of it and be interested in it because I yeah, want to know the discourse on, you know, is there favoritism here? I don't know. But as far as like what actually happened, that I'm still kind of unclear on.

SPEAKER_01

Okay. So, fam, yeah, what if you're not sure what's going on here, Winston's referencing other players who've been um who have been tested positive for doping, as they say, and they had small, you know, one-month, three-month bans. And Marquetta Vondrusheva, here's the T, fam, she just got banned for years for not testing positive, but for refusing a test. And the T behind it was I think it happened a couple of years ago. She was alone in her apartment. Um, and the people the officials who have to drug test you at any time that they want, apparently is the rule, anytime they want, but they give you a window of time. And they were past that window, allegedly, as Marquetta said, past that window. So it was like a little later at night. Marquetta was alone. This person's coming in, probably acting all hot and cool, thinking that they something big and bad. P for us, miss, I'm coming in your door. And she basically had an anxiety attack. She had the covid of a stabbing in her mind. She was not sure. Clearly, this person didn't give their documentation appropriately. Um, but either way, they had to come in. She refused the test because she was just intensely uncomfortable and scared and feeling all these at some points irrational emotions. If we're talking anxiety and all that, these emotions come up. But she didn't take the test, and that essentially at this point, it's ruining her career because they're saying, no, ma'am, you need to piss for us now, or you're in mad trouble. And here we are, four-year ban because she refused a test because she felt threatened. She felt scared, and I think that's valid. Everybody is going to disagree, not everybody, excuse me. There's going to be people who are like, it's the rule's the rule. And apparently, the sorry, last thing I'll say is this official said when Marquetta was like, You're really going to come in here like after the time and like make me uncomfortable. And she said, That's professional tennis. Sorry. Um, I think it was a she, by the way. She did a screen grab and it was an androgynous human, so I'm not gonna be like it was some man, like I don't know. Yeah, um, that's basically the and I just feel bad for Marquetta, and it's so wrong. I think. I think it's just wrong. Do you have any opinions on that?

SPEAKER_02

Well, my thing is that my biggest thing here, and obviously I I have read some other things, so I'm gonna come from a place of just my own opinion on it, is I'm I go in two different areas here, you know, like where I'm the one area which is like, yes, I can understand feeling threatened or uncomfortable, also a violation of like my privacy, like you're past the window, so why are you here? Why are you even here?

SPEAKER_00

Right.

SPEAKER_02

But if that's the case and someone is past the window, I don't even know why this is a discussion. So that's what's unclear to me, or how this is how she's even getting a ban, because why are we not following the rules? If she has to follow the rules and pee within a certain time frame, if you're outside that time frame, then how come there's even a like an issue here? So that's confusing to me.

SPEAKER_01

Well, and sorry, well, Andy Roddick said the exact same thing, but apparently the actual rule is that that that time is more of a recommendation and they can come whenever they want. Wow. Because that's the way right, it's the way that they want to catch you. They want the players, you know, no matter what, like at any time of day, if you're Lance Armstronging, like we can clock you in that moment, is what their hope is. It's just too much.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, so that's already a place of like you're going out of a place from fear of like at any point in time someone could just come barging through my hotel room or my door. Like that's crazy. The president's they need to review that. They need to review that. T. Um, but also just if I were in that position and I'm not her. So again, this is just me looking at it from my my own, you know, and I'm not a female, and I don't obviously we don't know who what this what this man was this man or a woman or how uncomfortable she felt. If that's the truth, that's how she felt. Don't take that away from her. I I still would have just been like, okay, I'm gonna pee. Like, I that's just how I would be because I'm just kind of like, is this really worth what could possibly be the result of this?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

That's also like weighing options here. I feel like, okay, fine, I'll just go to the bathroom for five seconds and pee. Like, I don't so that's also something I not take anything away from her because she has every right to have that feeling. Um it just it just creates a very interesting discourse on this topic, especially when you have other big names who did positively test. That's not just refusing the test and got, you know, a month here or a month there, or even in Sinners' case where he tested positive, and then it felt like they kind of gave it to him at a time to be like where it wasn't important, like he was gonna miss anything important. Exactly. So it's just like it's all like BS, really.

SPEAKER_01

Say it for real.

SPEAKER_02

So yes, it's still a bottom, even though I feel there is something that doesn't quite add up for me on this front. I it's still a bottom because it feels like the rules are arbitrary. Yeah, thank you. That's what I was looking for.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

So I don't like that.

SPEAKER_01

No, me neither. But who's gonna hold them accountable, sis? Like, really? Like, that's the problem. And because she's gonna appeal, fam um listeners. Um, Marquetta can appeal this, and you know, it could be overturned, but I think that's what happened with Hallop too, and that was just it's impossibly difficult. Vondi does have a Wimbledon, but whatever prize money that was is not gonna help her with all of these legal fees and the more trauma she's gonna have to rehash and rehash and rehash her trauma if she really wants to get things fixed, if that doesn't seem like the system is on board to help her. So not at this point, no.

SPEAKER_00

Marky, no.

SPEAKER_02

But yeah, yeah, that's that's a bummer.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, so we'll we'll keep it.

SPEAKER_02

And she does be getting a lot of uh support. Support, yeah. Basically, from what I've seen is mostly support from people who are disappointed or or you know, wanting to send her love uh during this time.

SPEAKER_01

So all right. Well, girl, I'm feeling sad for Marky. We we gotta move on to the to this draw. Let's get excited again. I'm sad.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, let's get back to the happiness of tennis.

SPEAKER_00

Come on, girls.

SPEAKER_02

The drawings. Okay. So I actually printed mine off this year. Oh my god, come on, printer. I know. Um, that's very old school. Very old school. Used to do this all the time. Me too. I would I would just start at the end and always write in Venus and Serena's names, though. Not even like save the draw. Yes. And then I'd flip literally, I would like flip a coin on if like heads, I'm gonna pick Venus as a champion, or tails I'm gonna pick Serena.

SPEAKER_01

Oh my god. Your 2008 and 2009 must have been a joyous draw.

SPEAKER_02

Oh my god, it was. It was amazing. Um okay, so do you want to start with women or men? Like, do we start high with women or do we start low with men and then go to women?

SPEAKER_01

Girl. Okay, it's gonna be a little improv for me on the men. I'm this messy, where I really just did my notes for the women, but uh crap. So let's let's start. I mean, I think our listeners probably want to hear the women, so I mean maybe both.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, whatever. No, no, okay. Let's start with you two. That's fine. That's fine. I have I have I have more notes for the women than I do the men, but yes, I did fill out the men's draw as well.

SPEAKER_01

Okay. No, no, that's great.

SPEAKER_02

And I have it in front of me, so okay, so we're gonna break this down uh by each quarter. Um so first quarter, and we can talk about each quarter and like different rounds that we're excited for, first rounds to watch, that type of thing. But overall, first quarter, the predicted quarter final will be Sabalenka and Andreve, Andreva, excuse me, the French Open Champion. Um okay, so how are you sensing this section? Are we do we think that's gonna happen?

SPEAKER_01

I mean, honestly, no. This is the most stacked. We're starting with the most stacked section, at least when it comes to my faves, and a lot of danger girls. This is actually a crazy top half, sis, because um, I see in Sabalenka's section there's Ostapenko right there, Radu Kanu, freaking Naomi. So I'm like always. Of course, of course, all my faves are freaking in Arena section. Anyway, Lailani as well. And then an Andreva, there's freaking Kretchikova, who's as dangerous as they come. Falenska, Muhova, an Andreva section. Um, Alicia, Andrescu, like, are you kidding? Even Magda Lynette. Andreva could lose her first round to Lynette. You never know. It's great.

SPEAKER_02

I know. I actually have that as the first round. That's the highlighted match I have is Andreva Lynette. Just because I want to see kind of how Andreva handles, you know, now being a Grand Slam champion. Lynette is a good player and it is grass. And I don't I don't remember if Andreva's well versed on grass. I don't I don't remember other matches that she's played on grass. So that was my match to watch. Also, the other match I kind of highlighted here first round was Siniakova Zhang, just because she's coming back. And she was obviously an Olympic gold medalist. So I'll be interested to see that match as well. So those are the first two rounds, but I also wrote, just like you did, uh toughest part of the draw. That's literally what I put for this section because it is stacked. Um Asta Panko, you never know what you're gonna get. So I highlighted that as a third round match to watch. She could play Radhakanu in the second round, but I've been reading online that Radicanu's been wearing like a boot or something. I don't what is going on with this girl? I hate that. Because you know I'm a big fan of hers, and I actually felt like she started she was starting to play well again. And then without fail, it's always some something. It's an injury here, an injury there. I so who knows if she's even gonna play. I don't there's rumors that she hasn't been practicing, so oh god, yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Okay, god damn.

SPEAKER_01

All right, so all right, but Naomi, oh my god, Naomi's in the dang final.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, so her first craft final, she looks great. Yeah, yeah, straight sets, straight sets every match. I actually you'll be proud of me. You know I'm not the biggest Osaka fan. I know you are, but I actually have her beating Sabalenka. So yeah, yeah. I don't think Sab, I think Saab is is on a mental downward trajectory, yeah. So I don't think she's been playing as well this year as she has other years. Obviously, she's still an amazing talent. So we're comparing this to other like amazing years. And she did she did win the Sunshine Sunshine Double, so like that wasn't that long ago. But since then, I do feel there's just something not quite clicking mentally. I don't think it's not, it's not technical or physical. I still think she's probably technically the most sound player on tour when I look at her ground strokes, but there's just something like in the bigger moments where I just the edge is kind of off right now.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

So and I think Naomi's on the rise. I think she continues to constantly like improve just little by little. So, and she's having a great week this week. So if she can carry that over, I actually I actually have her getting all the way to the semis.

SPEAKER_01

So whoa. Yeah, sis. I live for that. Yeah, I know. I knew you'd be, I knew you'd be happy about that. Yeah, I'm so happy. Thank you, sis, for putting her that far. Let's manifest, honey. Yes, but yeah, no, that's juicy. I'll be watching all those matches.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, yeah. Did you have was there one match in the section first round that you're most excited for?

SPEAKER_01

No, I mean the gag is I didn't even catch Jung Chin Wen in this section, so that's so gaggy. But um, Ostapenko Dart, baby, I think drama.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, the gays will be living for that one.

SPEAKER_01

Astapenko dart is yucky, honey. I live for the madness.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, that's a good one. That is a very good one. Yep. That sticks out for popcorn. Yeah, I think I think Astapenko will get through that one, but if the crowd is crowding, I don't know. She may you know how she gets.

SPEAKER_01

And Dart will go in knowing as well, and Dart will try to play some things. That's not gonna be straightforward.

SPEAKER_02

No, definitely, definitely not. Um yeah, that's definitely, like I said, the toughest section of the draw I have for sure.

SPEAKER_01

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02

Uh, did you predict who you thought would get to the quarters for this section before you move on to the next section?

SPEAKER_01

Um yes. I had um Osaka Sabalenka as well. Yeah. Just like the French. I did. I have oh wait, but you didn't have Sabalenka.

SPEAKER_02

No, I had Osaka Sabalenka having the fourth round.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, whoops. Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap. Yeah. Oh, so is it?

SPEAKER_02

No, no, no, fine. No, no, you're good. You're good. The section, the section with um Andreva and Muhova.

SPEAKER_01

Oh Sabalenka, Andreva. Yeah. Um Yeah, no, I didn't, I didn't put it. I didn't put it. I was trying to think on the spot. Damn it. I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_02

You were just so you're just so dead set on the uh Osaka Sabalenka that you just forgot that little I mean that section the top the topper half of that section is definitely tougher than the lower part. So but I I also would love to see a little Andrescu run, you know. I feel worse, you know, qualifying is amazing, and I still kind of root for her, even though you know she beat Serena in that one final, which I don't love. But I still I always thought she was really good, and so I just kind of hope that another person who's been very injury prone over her career, so it'd be nice to see her have like a little bit of a run of some sort.

SPEAKER_01

So adore her. I just have sensory overload in the section, and I'm just like uh Alicia versus Right, that's the penko.

SPEAKER_02

Right. I don't know. Well, I'll I'll I'll predict for both of us, and you can tell me if I'm crazy. But uh quarters I have quarters, I have Osaka Muhova. That's who I put. Oh, that would be really fun.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, and they're playing the final. They're playing the Bad Homburg final.

SPEAKER_02

I think she win, I didn't see Muhova. She won the first set, but I they had the heat warning, so I didn't see if she had actually all I saw as well. So I just actually assumed. You're just assuming. You're assuming good assumption. That's also why I put that there, because they're both playing very well this week. So very that.

SPEAKER_01

Uh yeah. Okay. Okay.

SPEAKER_02

All right.

SPEAKER_01

So let's go over to the next sec. Yes, ma'am.

SPEAKER_02

Okay. Second quarter is top seeds that would be predicted to get to the quarterfinals are Pagula and Coco. Um, so I'm just gonna be very blunt here. I feel like this section is the easiest section. And I think Pagula and Goff will get there. So that's that's what I got.

SPEAKER_01

I think Coco has a really nice draw. She does. She has a good draw here. Um, but I mean, you know, there's some girls looming. Remember, Solana made fourth round last year, but I don't think uh she like played any like severe players. But yeah, I mean Benchich, I think Goff has her number.

SPEAKER_02

So yeah, that's the only highlighted match I put was their possible fourth round match. But I think, like you said, I think Coco has a great draw. And you know, she lost in the first round last year, so I'm hoping we don't have a repeat performance. Uh I think Pagula's playing very well, so I have her beating Goff in that quarter as well. That's kind of where my head went.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, Pagula has landmines all over her area, though, with Podpova Drova, Tatiana Maria, and Eva Yovic.

SPEAKER_02

Like oh, I did highlight Maria Yovich. I did hire highlight that match.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. I mean, of course there's Owie Ito, but that girl hasn't won three games in a set on grass yet. And she's in a back brace. So we're gonna not have Owie Ito, but Pova, Drova, Maria, yo-yo. Girl is too much. Pagula ain't getting through that. Sorry.

SPEAKER_02

You don't think so?

SPEAKER_01

Wow.

SPEAKER_02

Okay, okay. So of the of those, who do you think is her biggest threat? Of Pagula.

SPEAKER_01

Um actually, now that I really think about it, if not their best day, Podopova, I think, is is dangerous on their best day. But I don't know if she loves grass. And Pagula's might beat Jovich in a big match. I don't know. I think Podopova and Eva Yovic. Tough. Okay.

SPEAKER_00

Okay.

SPEAKER_01

Tough for Peg.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Okay, well, I disagree, but that's why we're here. Right. That's all right.

SPEAKER_01

It's okay.

SPEAKER_02

But otherwise, I didn't highlight any first round matches in this section either, because I was just kind of like, mm-hmm. Nothing was like really like jumping out at me as a first round to watch.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. So I agree.

SPEAKER_02

I guess Putin Seva, Tatiana Maria if I had to choose.

SPEAKER_01

Actually, yes. Okay. I love how we're in this popcorn trend because that's very penko dart. Like, there's gonna be discomfort there. There's gonna be yuckiness, I live.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I do think Maria, I do think Maria will win that one, and I do think she'll play Jovich. So I thought that that was more of the highlighted match I put.

SPEAKER_01

But I would that would be scrumptious.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, for sure. Um otherwise, this section compared to the top section, not as exciting. Agree. Okay. Right along. Right along. Yes, ma'am. Uh third quarter, we have Svitolina and Shfiate, are the predicted quarter finalists here. And obviously, the biggest person in the world is in this section. Serena Williams.

SPEAKER_01

This is real, it's real, Winston. Anyway. So, yeah. Sviddy's looks better than Ego's. Do you agree?

SPEAKER_02

Absolutely, absolutely. Uh Ega's first round match. Come on. Taylor Johnson. I hate that. Yeah. But you hate it because Taylor's.

SPEAKER_01

I mean, that's gonna be a tough upset for Taylor.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, it would be, but I do think that if Taylor comes to net a lot, I think she I think she does have a good chance.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

And I don't think it'll be an easy out for IG.

unknown

Okay.

SPEAKER_01

Uh yeah.

SPEAKER_02

But I do have that one highlighted. Uh, I do obviously have Serena's first round match, of course. We're all gonna have eyes on that, versus Maya joint, which I didn't even know who that was, to be honest. So I had to do some of my I had to do some of my research. But before the tournament started, I told myself I was like, okay, I don't want her to play someone who like qualified. I don't want that because you know they have all those matches under their belt. So I didn't want that. I didn't want her to face a top seed in the first round, not in the very first round. So I was like, you know what? Anything from like 50 to 100, I'd be happy with.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

And you know what? I got my wish. She got 50. 50. 50. Yes. So I don't know much about her gameplay. I did read that she's on like a 10-match losing streak, which doesn't mean anything because these girls are gonna get up for Serena. We all know it.

SPEAKER_01

100%.

SPEAKER_02

So Serena can't just walk in expecting it that she's gonna be, you know, lights out. Obviously, would love to see that. But uh, even though it's a 10-match losing streak, she still played 10 more matches in Serena. So we can't have that expectation. Uh, could it could it have been a worse first round? Absolutely. This definitely has the opportunity for a win, I do think. But she's also only 20. So I know there's that.

SPEAKER_01

Sis, she is no Harmony Tan, so she's not slice and dice Chica, which I like because I want Serena to have a more straightforward ball. And I think Maya does hit like a regular ball, like strong, you know, amazing. Last year she had an amazing year. I was watching Maya. She had an amazing year, but now she's three and 13 this year. It's abysmal. But you said it best, sis. It doesn't matter what day of the week. If they're playing Serena, they're gonna play their best. So I just hope that she shits her pants, to be honest. I need Serena to get through in straights.

SPEAKER_02

Bye. Well, you know, you know, I'm all you know what I'm always hoping for? I'm like, you know, all these people who are so excited for Serena, not maybe not everyone in the draw, but you know, a large percentage of these girls who like what grew up watching her or got a racket. I'm like, lose on purpose. Right?

SPEAKER_01

I think the same thing.

SPEAKER_02

You owe her. You owe her. You have a career and you start tennis because of her. Just lose.

SPEAKER_01

Preach. Speaking my language, honey.

SPEAKER_02

Okay, you, Tom Yanovich. Oh, I live. I love. Um, but I do think Serena will win the first round. I do. I'm putting it out there. I think she's gonna win the first round.

SPEAKER_01

Oh my god, you see who who she could face in the second?

SPEAKER_02

Bish. Yeah, this this is that would be popcorn on popcorn on popcorn.

SPEAKER_01

No, Gaga, Trondra, that crowd. Like, I'm like getting emotional thinking about how that crowd would be incredible. Um, Iyala would have the absolute upper hand, I believe. She is looking so good and young and sprite.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. The only thing that would be possibly a fear factor for her is her serve. If Serena is having a good return day, that's where Serena could really capitalize in that match. So I'm hoping we get to see it. Yeah. Really hope we get to see it. Um, but yeah, I'd really like to just see Serena get through the first round. Yeah. So 100%. I'm just focused on one match at a time. So yeah, so that's those are some matches we I I have. Uh, do you have any other highlighted here?

SPEAKER_01

Navarro Bedosa. Oh, yeah, called that one.

SPEAKER_02

That's juicy. That's juicy. I think Navarro's playing quite well though.

SPEAKER_01

She looks amazing. And yeah, and I'll now just really quick, I'm not gonna harp on this, but of course, people are now talking about Navarro's body because she's gained weight recently. And I think it's because of something medical or a health reason. Um, so it's just anybody listening and you see a picture of Emma, don't even dare comment about her body. So if you're, you know, I don't know how many people are listening, but just don't do it. You don't know what people are going through. And clearly she's playing sickening right now after a hiatus. She, what, two finals barely played. That girl has something, has something special.

SPEAKER_02

So and she's also good on grass, like she's shown that she can play very well on grass over the last few years. So she's definitely one to watch. I actually have her getting to the quarterfinals. Whoa, whoa. I do, I know. She obviously has to. I feel like this this section isn't as tough as the top, very top section, but uh of the two sections, uh, this one stood out a little bit more for me just because you have like Kosjuk and Vecich. Yes, Tausin, like a lot of good clay or clay court, a lot of good grass court players are in this section. Paulini, she made the final. Oh, but she plays Montgomery. I highlighted that one.

SPEAKER_01

I I don't know if Paulini's on the ego, oh, in the ego section, I think. Yeah, yeah. Um, oh yeah, Robin, yeah, she's looking good. She could pull out that upset.

SPEAKER_02

That's what, yeah, that's that's an upset alert for me. Yeah. Um, especially because Paulini has been playing as well this year.

SPEAKER_01

Not every year right now, no.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. So I don't know. This section's kind of fun for me. This is like the fun section.

SPEAKER_01

I agree. There's a lot of fun people in this.

SPEAKER_02

Because you still also have like, which would be funny, like if Serena were to get past Yala, and this is just we're just putting this out there, and like Yawtek doesn't get through, like, should you play Plishkova of all people?

SPEAKER_01

Oh god. I get scared every time she plays somebody who's beaten her, you know.

SPEAKER_02

Right, exactly. But it's like there's so few people in the draw that she has played before. Yeah, you got like Svidalina and like Plishkiva in this section, so it's just it's interesting. Yeah. That four four years later, she's still possibility could be playing some people that she's played before.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, live. That's amazing.

SPEAKER_02

Um, anyway, so for the quarterfinals, if I pick with my heart, we're gonna put Navarro and Serena. I love. But if we're being smart, yeah, I have Navarro and I actually have Tausend getting there.

SPEAKER_01

So Clara? Yeah. Okay. Um, all right. I feel like she hasn't been winning, Jack recently. Don't come for me. No shade.

SPEAKER_02

I because I think it's because but it's because it's because when I was taking some of the upsets, she just kind of like found her way there. And you know how to do it. Right, and I have Montgomery beating Paulini, so that took that seed out of her section. I think if she gets out of the first round, she is playing soccer in the first round. Sorry. So that is another good first round match to watch. Um yeah, I agree. Soccery is very up and down though, so it's like I don't True. Anyway, if Towson gets through the first round and the rest of these things fall the way I expect them to, then I see her getting there. If Shwatec does get through and, you know, gets to the third round and plays Serena Oriola and she starts to play well. Obviously, Shuatec won it last year. But I don't think she's I don't know. She I don't think she's playing that well either. So this section to me is a wild card. I'm just gonna put it out there. I think Serena could have had a much worse section to be in. Yeah. So you never know, people. Just pray to Jehovah, okay? We all can just pray to Jehovah and get Serena through.

SPEAKER_01

Let's go, Jehovah. Come on.

SPEAKER_02

Yes. So anybody else in this section you're excited about or would like to draw in the ring?

SPEAKER_01

No, I mean, no. We've said every name that I wrote down. I mean, I guess, you know, we'll see if Daria Sneegore can pull pull off the upset against Svitty. Uh-huh, because Daria is a very weird hitter, and I love a weird hitter, so they're gonna get a shout-out from me. Her forehand is strange, honey. So since you asked.

SPEAKER_02

Okay, okay. Well, I will I'll I'll peek into that one. You know, Sedlana's been having a very good year, so yeah. Never can count her out either. Um, so moving along to our last quarter, which has a lot of big hitters in it. Um, the top seeds that are predicted to get there are uh Rabakina and Anasimova. Where do you see this one, Brian?

SPEAKER_01

I think it's gonna be tough. Honestly, I see so many upsets occurring in this tournament. I just think the top players right now are in a little bit of a lull, and grass is when you'll get clocked if you're mentally weak. Clay, you can get away with it because you can physicalize yourself and push and be strong. But things happen so fast on grass. If you're not mentally tough, you gonna flounder. So I don't know about Amanda here. She's got keys, she's got Christilla and Noskova all insanely dangerous. Maddie's looking cute, even though she's always good in the lead up, and then something about the London grass doesn't suit Maddie. Would love to say she'll get far. Shit always happens to her. Hope I'm wrong. But I think Noskova is the most dangerous there. And then Rebakina has, you know, that's better. Samsonova, maybe Schneider. Rebokina has a better draw.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, she definitely does. I uh the first highlighted match I have in this section is Schneider and Eva Lease. Yes, ma'am. Yeah, so I don't know if Schneider will even get through that match. So Okay.

SPEAKER_01

I think Eva's health is up and down, so I'm not sure. Oh, really?

SPEAKER_02

Okay, okay. But um I I I'm just let's put it out there, upset alert. Let's not say it's actually gonna happen, but so yeah, I I do think that Rabakina has definitely a better section. I think that little top hat with like Anasamova, Keys, like you said, Naskova, Kristeya, um, even like a Kenan. I know that obviously she hasn't she's you know here and there, but you just never know. Just never know, you know.

SPEAKER_00

You're right.

SPEAKER_02

Uh I also think Anna Samova, uh, you know, we're both fans of her, but I actually think Keys will beat her. I have that as the third round match to watch if they both get there. Yeah. And I, to your point, I have Vnoskova uh getting to the quarters. So I think Anna Samova, even though I'd like to see her get back to that final and not lose O.

SPEAKER_01

Right.

SPEAKER_02

Uh I just she's not playing as well this year. So I don't, it's I I'm it's it's hard for me to envision it at this point. Now she gets through a few matches, I see her playing. Maybe that will change my opinion, but just based on where we're at at this moment, uh, I think Keys has a better chance.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, definitely. And then do you think anyone could stop Rybakina? I do not have that note.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, right. I know I know I know I know she's not playing as well, but she is a former winner and she won the Australian Open and she's had a relatively good year. I know recently it hasn't been as great. But I when she's mentally like or like not doing as well, I don't worry as much about her as I do with Sabalenka. For whatever reason, I think it's because they're they're emotions. I feel like Rabakina emotionally, like obviously, is a little more cold. Not cold, that's maybe not the right word, but just more muted. So I think she's able to kind of control that from match to match, whereas I think Sab has carryover. So that's where you know she gets into another tight match, that gets to another match where she's not playing well or she's not playing her best, then the other matches before are gonna like play on her, where I don't think that will happen with her rockiness. So that's why I think she'll be okay in this section.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I would agree with that. Um, and then there's one other first round that I'm just like being niche gay with this one, but. But um Katie Bolter versus Tyra Grant, our girl who took out Harmony and stopped us from this Serena dreaded rematch. Tyra picked that up. Yeah, right. And and that might be on a relatively big court with Katie. And I like watching Tyra play because every time I see her hit a forehand, I'm like, it's not someone I would show um my students to because her take her swing path always ends down. Did you notice that? It's just so random. Uh yes. Yeah. So I just love that. I love something different, but but it works. Like something you wouldn't teach, but it works for them. And I think she's fierce. But she'll probably win.

SPEAKER_02

She's fun to watch. Uh she's yeah. Uh I don't have that one highlighted. The only batch, other match I had highlighted here was Elise Mertons and Laura Sigman. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, not that I'm gonna watch that match, but just you know, two good players.

SPEAKER_01

It's yeah, no, definitely. It's giving like it could be close three-setter. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, yeah. Uh so that's the only other thing I have in this section. So my predicted quarter for this section was uh Noskova Rubakina. So Yep, I would probably agree with that.

SPEAKER_01

That's a sensible guess.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. So who's winning? I think you're well you're not gonna like who I put for winning.

SPEAKER_00

Oh no. Did you put your box in?

SPEAKER_02

No.

unknown

Wait.

SPEAKER_02

Pagula.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, right. Oh, okay. Honestly, I would be love to see. I would love to see it from Peg.

SPEAKER_02

No, it'll be cute. I think she's just like consistently getting incrementally better. We're getting closer. Now it may not be this one, it could be the US Open, but I I think within the next year, as long as she doesn't have like a major injury, I think she's gonna get that slam.

SPEAKER_01

She's knocking on that door to be like a little caprioti-esque tease, like that type of style to win a major. You know, she's gonna need that.

SPEAKER_02

You that is nail on the head. Nail on the head. So that's who I have as the winner. I know, you know, you don't think she'll get out of that section. So if I'm right, someone owes me dinner.

SPEAKER_01

Okay. Okay, well, you owe me dinner if because my girl who's getting through that and making the final, other than Pagula, Anna Kalinskaya. Catch her in the final. She's gonna have a Falensk run. Don't blame me. She hits flat, she's sickening, and she has a she's gonna have a Falenska run. Kalinskaya. Can't wait to post this with the thread next being Anna in the final.

SPEAKER_02

Verse Serena.

SPEAKER_01

Is that the wrong side?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. No, no, that's right. You could have that. Okay, great. That's way too nice. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Well, like I said, if we're picking with our hearts, Serena's obviously winning. She's winning Wimbledon, and I can't wait to see it. Yeah, I can't wait to see 24 in Wimbledon. Thank you. Woo wee! We deserve it. So honestly, the girls should all just lose. Okay. Right. If you heard it here first, just lose. Just lose on purpose. She's the goat. Yeah, right. Like you have next year. She doesn't have much time.

SPEAKER_00

Okay.

SPEAKER_01

All right. So that's that's there. You have it for the women's draw.

SPEAKER_02

Yes. I will only say one other thing. This isn't really the women's draw, but I wanted to just briefly touch on this before you move to the men's very quickly. Is I'm far more invested in Serena and Venus playing doubles than I am Serena playing singles. So I just want to put that out there.

SPEAKER_00

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, no, I forgot about that. That is good. Oh my gosh. I need to set my alarm for those big time.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. Like sentimentally, like that means more to me than Serena even in singles. I mean, obviously I'm gonna watch both, but I want to see them like go far in doubles. Like I really, really, really want to see that.

SPEAKER_01

So anyway, just fingers crossed. Yeah, I live, I live, I love, I agree.

SPEAKER_02

So okay, so I know you don't have many notes on the men's, so maybe this will breeze through this quickly.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. There aren't many superstars here. No, there are, there are. What do you have?

SPEAKER_02

Okay, so first quarter is Sinner and Med Medvedev. Yeah, okay. I'm like, am I looking at the right thing? Yes. Uh so yeah, right? Eight, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Oh yeah, you're right, you're right. Go ahead.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, okay. Um, so yeah, I mean, obviously I have Sinner getting to the quarters. I know he didn't obviously play well a French because of his physical fitness, which seems to still be like an issue. I don't really know what's going on there. But uh, and I know it they're going through a heat wave right now, right? Yeah. Oh there.

SPEAKER_01

So Paris.

SPEAKER_02

Okay. Okay. But obviously, that of anything that can really get in his way, it's that because that's he's shown that several times at this point. But I wouldn't be surprised if he gets to the final. So I'm staying. Right.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, literally, only the heat can beat him at this point.

SPEAKER_02

So other other than that, the matches obviously first round I have to watch are Medvedev, Chilich. Of course, that's a first match. Uh, I could see that being an upset. I don't know how well Medvedev's playing. I know he can be kind of hot and cold. So, and Chilich has a great serve. He's played well at Wimbledon before, so that could be a tough match. Yep. And then I also have Casper and Herbie or Codge as another match to watch. That'll be it. I Casper doesn't usually play well at Wimbledon, nor does he he's very honest about not really liking Grasso. Right. Uh yeah, Battle of the Pewties.

SPEAKER_01

I'm into that.

SPEAKER_02

Right. Yeah. So those are the ones I have to watch in this section.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_02

But I just can't see anyone getting past center.

SPEAKER_01

So thoughts. I agree. Uh well, I mean, let's not forget Tommy Paul in that section. Well, you know, I I you don't think so? Oh, you love him.

SPEAKER_02

No, I I love me some Tommy Paul. Okay. I love Tommy Paul, I love his fiance, I love them together, I love the whole thing, right? But as a Paul fan, I just I can't invest because I feel like every time I invest, I'm heartbroken.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, no, you really like him like that. Okay, work.

SPEAKER_02

Because I feel like I watch his matches and then he like loses a tight match. It's like watching Venus. It's like I can't invest myself in these matches and watch you lose tight third set matches or five set matches over and over again. It's just too much of a toll. It takes too much of a toll. I do actually have him getting to the quarterfinals, but Okay. I he's not I just can't see him beating Cinner. So Cinner is plainly placed right there into the quarterfinals of this section.

SPEAKER_01

Stunning. Okay.

SPEAKER_02

Well what next next section or is that another? Yeah, next. No, no, I got nothing else on that section. Slay. Uh next section. So this took me by surprise. I I didn't realize FAA was Felix OJ Aliasim, sorry, was third seed.

SPEAKER_01

Wow, I'm reading, I'm just seeing that now, too. Three? My eyes are ringing. I'm like, how? Bish.

SPEAKER_02

Did I miss something? Yeah, it's a tournament.

SPEAKER_01

I he's consistent. You know, he just keeps getting far in tournaments, I guess.

SPEAKER_02

So I yeah, I guess, but that was, I mean, to see that there was shocking to me.

SPEAKER_01

Three is a lot.

SPEAKER_02

Uh and his section, obviously, he's the third seed, and then his quarter production quarterfinalist would to play would be Djokovic. So this section, I feel is not terrible for Novak, to be honest.

SPEAKER_00

No.

SPEAKER_02

Uh, I actually have him getting to the quarterfinals. He could play Fan Fonseca is in his little like section, his smaller section.

SPEAKER_01

Potential Tsitzipa second round, which I know it sounds like it will be good, but it still might be not good for Stefanos, but it might be the moment he needs to get better. Could push it.

SPEAKER_02

It's hard, it's hard to get on that bandwagon anymore, though.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, wait, no, I know. I totally agree. But I'm like, that's the Wimbledon's definitely gonna push that second round if it occurs as like one of the big ones.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I do actually have that highlighted as a possible second round. That I mean he has to get out of the first round, though.

SPEAKER_01

That part.

SPEAKER_02

I mean, I don't trust anything on that end.

SPEAKER_01

That part. And then the only the only girly that I like live for and would hope to see make a deep run is learner Tien in this round. Yes, in this section.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, I actually have him getting to the fourth round.

SPEAKER_01

Um I think Lerner could push Novak. I a hundred percent think Lerner could beat Novak at Wimbledon.

SPEAKER_02

And you know who also plays well at Wimbledon every year is Cam Nori. So I have him getting through a few rounds as well.

SPEAKER_01

Yep, that's fair.

SPEAKER_02

Okay, cute.

SPEAKER_01

So little section.

SPEAKER_02

But I feel like this section is pretty much Djokovic's to get through.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Um, but we'll see. We'll see. I don't know. I mean, I I would love to see Learner get there and push Novak. That would be fun to to watch.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, for sure. So we'll see. I'd watch that one.

unknown

Right.

SPEAKER_01

We in the second half of the drawing. Yes, ma'am.

SPEAKER_02

Oh, we have through. I mean, you know, we don't we don't live as much as we do for the girlies. So you know, we're still here. We're still here, we're still trying. We're talking about it. We'll talk about so uh okay, so this section we got Demonor and Fritz are the projected quarterfinalists here, but obviously the biggest first round match of all is Taylor Fritz, Jack Drake Barr.

SPEAKER_01

Okay. Wait, is that I think we that's the second section below, isn't it? Demon R Shelton.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, you're so right. Uh Ben Shelton. Sorry. Shelton Demonar is in this section.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Which also didn't know Ben Shelton was fourth seed. Like some scrolls. Yeah. Uh so this section, obviously, the not yeah. So this section, the round to watch is Vavrinka Berrini. Very that. Yeah. That first round is gonna be Gangbusters. Yep. And honestly, I think it's a toss-up. Oof. Oh.

SPEAKER_01

I think Beratini, Berrettini will have the edge.

SPEAKER_02

I mean, I give Beratini the edge, that's who I picked, but Stan still got something. If he's play, you know, he's still got something.

SPEAKER_01

I agree.

SPEAKER_02

I think if that one will be definitely fun to watch. Gregore's in this section, and you know, he's a sentimental favorite for me.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Not that I still see him going or doing very much, but I still like to point it out.

SPEAKER_01

For sure, for sure.

SPEAKER_02

Uh Arthur Feast has been having a good year. He's in this section. Uh a Thiece Shelton fourth round would be really fun.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Feast hasn't played that.

SPEAKER_01

He's been re- he's been injured as of late, but yeah. But when he's ready and he's fit, he's he can beat anybody.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. This section has a lot of young, young talent. I'll say that. Uh like Demonar, Kaboli, Feast, Shelton, Menschick. Yeah. Yeah. So this is kind of a fun section to watch. I actually I have Ben Shelton getting to the semis. Whoa. Just because I think on grass he is really good. But also hard to tell with warm-up tournaments sometimes, especially on the men's side, because they only played three sets. And a lot of it's some people aren't great five-set players. So even though I have him getting there, I could see him having some trouble on the way with like maybe an Umber. Yeah. It's hard, it's hard for me to judge this section. I'll say that.

SPEAKER_01

There's too many. I mean, even Hachinov, who's a veteran, and he can anytime break through. I mean, even Petchy Paracard could be impossible on a good serving day.

SPEAKER_02

Oh, yeah. Yeah, I see that one here too as well. A ton of threats.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, Manorino. There's so many threats in this section. This would not be the one I would want to be in.

SPEAKER_02

No, definitely not. And Demonor isn't really a big threat on grass as of yet.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

So Yeah. Agree. So this one, this section's a toss-up. Big toss-up. Big toss-up section.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. Um, okay, so moving right along.

SPEAKER_01

Well now. Let's do it.

SPEAKER_02

Our last section, which I've already said, uh, starts with tops top seeds in the section are Taylor Fritz and that other guy.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. A German person. Okay.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. Uh-huh. Uh and the match to watch, I think the match of the tournament, first round to watch, other than Serena, because she's, you know, she's back, would be Taylor Fritz, Jack Draper. I mean. 100%. What a what a rotten draw for both of them. Oh my god. For both of them. Especially for the like Wimbledon fans, because like Jack Draper is their, you know, after Andy Murray is like their next big, like hopeful. And to get Taylor in the first round, that is tough.

SPEAKER_01

Right. Because he's going in underdog. I mean, because Fritz is pretty fresh.

SPEAKER_02

I think Fritz will win. I think it'll be a fun match, but I do think just because Jack's just coming back, and he is playing well this week. I think he's getting to the final, or he may and be, they maybe they haven't played that match yet, but it's not he hasn't been playing names like Taylor Fritz.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. To be clear. Right. Right. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

So I do think Taylor will get through that match. I don't think he'll get all the way to the quarters, but I think he'll get through that match.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, other than Draper, it's like looking decent um ahead. Other than I guess TFO. You know, he could have freaking been to the French Open Final. So he he has something to prove.

SPEAKER_02

I put TFO getting to the quarters, which I know may be surprising, or maybe not, but I have him playing Fritz in the possible fourth round match, but I've seen them play a lot of matches against each other, and I think TFO kind of can get under his skin a little bit. So I could see that being a deciding match for TFO. So I have him getting there. He has to get through some some people before that. Like maybe a booblick would be hard.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

So that's not to say, or Kokonakis, you never know. So hard to know, hard to judge sometimes, especially like you've you said earlier about grass. It goes so fast. So if he's not having a good day, you know, he could he could lose to any of these people, to be honest.

SPEAKER_01

Right. Oh, and then um we can't forget Sarundalo, who just won a grass title. So he's lurking with German.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, yeah. And I actually have that as a possible fourth round match, Sarundalo and that man.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

I will not allow myself to pick that man. So Slice, this I think getting to the final.

SPEAKER_01

Wow. I mean, but another American who I think could do damage on the grass is Mickelson. Alex Mickelson's in that section, too.

SPEAKER_02

You're right. I actually have him playing Sarundalo. I got him going to the third round. That would be a juicy one. Yeah. So that would be a fun match for sure. So who do we think? Who'd we pick? Who who are who are you going for?

SPEAKER_01

Okay. To win this one. To win this tournament, our winner is gonna be Martin Landaluce! And in the final, he's gonna play. Wait, the finalist, he's gonna play Rafael Colignon. Come on. Okay. Oh my god. Can't wait to tell you when that happens.

SPEAKER_02

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_01

You know what?

SPEAKER_02

If that were to happen, you you would yeah, you would deserve all the money in the world.

SPEAKER_01

Yes. It'll have to go viral once I share this. Um what do you have for finals, sis?

SPEAKER_02

Uh I have okay, so I've I I I put Sinner Shelton. That's who I put.

SPEAKER_01

I would live.

SPEAKER_02

And I have Sinner winning.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

As no surprise. I know that's boring, sorry. But I don't know. He's the fending champion with no Alcaraz. I think if he gets back, uh I think Djokovic actually, this is a has a pretty good chance to play well this this one. And if he wants to try and get to that, what did what is he trying to get to? 25. Is that right?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, 25, I think.

SPEAKER_02

Or he already has 25.

SPEAKER_01

I don't know.

SPEAKER_02

No, he's at 24. I think he's at 24.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_02

So you never know. You never know. Right. I would like to see someone fun win it, you know? That's not that man. Anyone about that man?

SPEAKER_01

No, I mean if he wins back-to-back majors, I'm gonna just quit men's tennis for a while. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you just mean watching it. Correct. Oh yeah, no, I'll still compete for the gays, Annie. But yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_02

There you have it. Uh yeah, there you have it. There you have it. Okay, so that was fun. Let's finish up. So we mentioned earlier we teased it, we teased it, that we played each other in a little GLTA event. And for our coach's corner, we're going to discuss, as coaches, what it's like to play another coach and also a friend, and how you go into that match, prepare for it mentally, physically, tactically. So what did you do, Brian? FI Brian crushed me.

SPEAKER_01

I mean, right, the score line aside, because every game was a thing. I went in, uh, you know, and it it's always gonna come around to Venus and Serena, as you know, those those girls shaped us. So and I did come in respecting you greatly. And I almost feel like sometimes that's dangerous if you are friends and like you respect or you know, you respect each other, there's mutual respect that one of the girls can come so correct and focused. And I think that's what I honestly think it was one of my best matches of the year. Um, just because I I took every point as its own story, like I put all the importance into every point, and then if I were to lose it, it's on to the next. Um, so that's always how my mentality works there. And also, luckily, we I had a lot of space in the back of the court, honey. So I was able to take um to neutralize a lot of Winston's ferocia shots and somehow absorb it all. Um, because if we played three times or five times, it wouldn't be, you know, one-sided. Let's just say that. I had a very good day. And um, yeah, just knowing you're a coach, I just knew what you were capable of. And like at any time you can hit winners. And I'm just like, Bish, you are a wall today. You're not even Brian, you are a wall. That's your first name. A wall. Um, so that's that's really all I had. You know, I I don't oversimplify in matches, I'm just like fight and then find the openings. So that was generally my thought. And as a coach, the last thing I'll say coach-wise, is and people coaches say, Oh, it's it's a lot to like feed, and I'm just standing around sometimes, so it doesn't really help me with matches. But I think it does a lot with my continental grip and you know, with feeding and placing and having to give it to even lower level other players, all different levels, having to put the ball in certain places. I think it just helps so much when it comes to me aiming. Uh, that's kind of aside from the match itself, but I I always feel like coaching helps me compete. So that's my diatrophy. Well said.

unknown

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02

Well said. Um, yeah. Similarly, I I we'd only really ever played each other in doubles. I'd never played you in singles. So going into it mentally, I told myself, have fun. That was like the first thing I told myself. Yes um, but similarly, as to what you said, like the respect level was very high, like and knowing the style that you play, I can know can be troublesome for me because you were a wall. Like it's hard when you feel your style of play is I'm very aggressive. I like to go for winners, I like to go for a lot. And you were getting the balls, and not just getting to balls, but able to redirect the ball. And and so it wasn't like you were just getting it and it was like, oh, easy, now I can just put it away. So Brian is never seen Brian play, or you don't follow him, or you don't know his style. He's he's very good with his hands, he's able to really just move the ball very well. He takes the ball early. He's a very smart tennis player. Um, so yeah, I just honestly felt like I remember looking over at one of our friends, Josh, and shaking my head being like, I just don't know what to do. Like I felt like I was trying different things. I was trying to, you know, play more aggressive, more assertive, or then I would try to pull back. And I just felt no matter what I tried, Brian, Brian was there and was able to put balls away. And and yeah, it's when you feel you're playing someone that you are it's almost like being suffocated because you you just feel like there's there's no room. No, I'm being honest. Like there was just like nowhere I felt like I could put the ball that he wouldn't be. Like the anticipation was there, everything was just there. And so, and then sometimes you just like, and this is from my my tip for students as well is you just say too good, you know, like on that day, I didn't feel like I played poorly, truly. The score line may not put that out there, but I remember coming off being like, I thought I served well, I didn't feel like I was like just like giving points away. Like I felt like I played very well on the day, and I just didn't win. And so that's where you just that you're gonna have days like that too. There are gonna be days where you play horribly and you're mad at yourself, and there's things you could have done better. But overall, you know, I thought I played well, and the my opponent, which was Brian, played better. And so as a coach, you just tell your students, you know, those there are gonna be days like that. As long as you can walk off the court and hold your head up high and know that you gave everything you could, then you you feel better about those losses than ones where you didn't, you know, or you didn't fight or you didn't try, or you, you know, you got so frustrated that you gave up, or those things. Like none of that happened. And so I was able to still walk away feeling really good about my tennis, even though I lost.

SPEAKER_01

So wow. Yeah, you really are a coach. You're a good coach, sis. So thank you, thank you for the kind words. And yeah, I love that um that take at the end, too. Yeah, that's that's so good, sis. Yeah, no, I'm glad we got to. Many more times to come, many more times for for sure. And now, and that's the scary part is when I play the girls and I play amazing, and and Winston's smart too. Let's not fuss. She played me, she took her notes. I'm I don't know about playing her again. Maybe it shouldn't happen because she's gonna probably come with her notes and know what she's gotta do. Cause there are ways.

SPEAKER_02

I do have my notes. I do actually have I do actually no joke, in here, I do have like match notes from that match afterwards. Oh, stuff before, too. Yeah, this is like this is like my tennis book. So I have like podcast stuff, and yeah, so I do have my notes, so I'll be able to look back.

SPEAKER_01

Sickening. Yeah, don't share them with me, you know, to keep it safe so that you can beat me up.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, yeah. All right. Well, it's been amazing, as always, Brian. Good to chat and be able to get back on the pod and the mic and give us. We can all look forward to Serena.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, that's my biggest takeaway. Right. It's it's definitely, yeah. I love doing these so much, and and the draw previews are everything, you know. So it's it's really a good time. It's really a good time.

SPEAKER_02

We will see how things shake up over the next two weeks and get back to you guys.

SPEAKER_01

Yep. Absolutely can't wait. All right. All right, bye. Thanks for listening, everyone. Bye.