Let Em

00:00:08
Speaker 1: Welcome everybody to another episode of the Renee Stubbs Tennis Podcast.

00:00:12
Speaker 2: If I sound like who was a kroky.

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Speaker 3: Voiced actor, damn Maggie Smith.

00:00:18
Speaker 1: Oh, Sophia Bush. She always has that kroky voice as well. That's actually just how she sounds.

00:00:24
Speaker 3: Mailey Cyrus Ooh yeah.

00:00:27
Speaker 2: Anyway, guys, I've had a cold.

00:00:29
Speaker 1: I had a little bit of a fun time down in Miami, and I suspect my four hours a night of average.

00:00:34
Speaker 2: Sleep probably induced this cold.

00:00:37
Speaker 1: Although I couldn't really talk about five days ago, so this is an improvement.

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Speaker 3: I was just really happy you recovered in time for our live podcast event.

00:00:45
Speaker 1: Yes, so we did a live podcast here in New York City in the Grammacy Park area in Grammacy, Inn.

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Speaker 2: Oh my god. It was so great? Was it was great?

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Speaker 3: It was packed. We ended up selling it out. I mean I thought we were going to be packed, but the and the forecast was calling Karine and I was like, Oh, it's the holidays. Who knows everybody turned up?

00:01:04
Speaker 1: Everybody too on time too? What is it Whenever they predict that with New York it never happens. Remember that time had they predicted there was going to be that huge hurricane that came through here and Times I remember I was I wasn't living here at the time, and I remember I had to I forgot my phone charger at like the hotel the week before, and I had to go out and get one. And I was in like the Times Square area and I was like, oh my god, no one was out and I was like, I've never seen anything like this. And then the pandemic came in twenty twenty and I was like, Wow, that really can.

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Speaker 3: Happen, right, Times Square can be emptied of people.

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Speaker 2: Can be empty.

00:01:34
Speaker 1: Anyway, I just want to say thank you to everybody that came to our podcast, and hopefully you're listening to this one now.

00:01:40
Speaker 2: But we had a blast.

00:01:42
Speaker 1: We really do appreciate you all turning up and coming and we had such fun. And I know we didn't give it up for questions and answers in the crowd, which we ran.

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Speaker 3: Out of time. We ran out of time because there was so much to talk about.

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Speaker 1: We didn't want to keep you there for hours listening to me dribble on in particular. But I hope I answered some of your questions when you came out to me to talk to me in person. But next time we do that, we'll make sure that we need to have a little buzzer on me that says, okay, now it's start.

00:02:08
Speaker 2: Time to ask questions to the crowd.

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Speaker 3: No, we also need a bigger venue, and we do, which is great. It's a good problem to have. And also a lot of people have been listening for years and years, and a lot of people were pumped to, like I said, come out on a Sunday, which was awesome and fun, and we should clearly, clearly do more of those sow and twenty four. We hear you loud and clear, and Renee in particular has something special tucked up or sleeve. We'll not say more about it at this moment. Yes, but I do want to add, as a piece of cultural commentary for which I have become known, I do think weather apps are a scam. So just the weather is pretend.

00:02:44
Speaker 1: Oh, weather's scams worse than political polls. Yes, a year out, that's right, we're actually a day out of that.

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Speaker 3: There's just false flag information.

00:02:55
Speaker 2: Every time I see a pole.

00:02:56
Speaker 1: Now, I'm like whatever, sure, Like I don't even give a shit After what happened to Hillary in twenty sixteen.

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Speaker 2: I'm like, no, I don't believe in poles anymore.

00:03:03
Speaker 3: All you got to do is turn up. That's it. Whatever anybody says, don't listen.

00:03:06
Speaker 2: Just turn up.

00:03:06
Speaker 3: Just turn up.

00:03:07
Speaker 2: Please go turn up.

00:03:09
Speaker 3: Turn up to vote, turn up to a live podcast.

00:03:11
Speaker 2: Just show it. Do you hear what Trump said yesterday?

00:03:13
Speaker 3: We can't please, I can't talk about Donald Trump, renee.

00:03:18
Speaker 1: Poisoning the blood. It's like, what the fuck? Anyway, all right, let's get to our podcast.

00:03:23
Speaker 3: We're going to talk about tennis.

00:03:24
Speaker 1: We're going to talk about the predictions and what we see twenty twenty four looking like.

00:03:29
Speaker 2: We're going to start with the men. We usually don't start with the men.

00:03:31
Speaker 1: We usually throw them in at the end as a token, but we do want to give them a bit of love today. And of course we're going to talk about Novak Djokovic and his dominance over the Beds Tour, which is pretty extraordinary.

00:03:45
Speaker 3: Feels like he has a stranglehold over everybody.

00:03:47
Speaker 1: Thirty six years of age, wins three Grand Slams and the ATP Finals, came.

00:03:53
Speaker 3: A couple of games away from winning all four.

00:03:55
Speaker 1: Yeah, and I mean, let's face it, if he beats Jennick Sinner up those three match points in Davis Cup. He probably takes some of the Davis Cup as well, But kudos.

00:04:04
Speaker 2: To Sinna for hanging in there.

00:04:05
Speaker 1: But I mean, Yanik had a great year end of year, but Yannick is going to have to prove himself over five sets in a Grand Slam before he can unseat the goat Novak Djokovic. Just what a year he had, and I predict that he's going to have as good a year next year because I think that he is primed for the last great run of his career.

00:04:29
Speaker 3: Do you think it's because age at.

00:04:31
Speaker 1: Some point, at some point, even for someone like him who is in phenomenal shape, look what he does. I mean, if anyone saw that sixty minute seeing on him, he's so flexible, he's incredible. I think he can absolutely play until he's thirty eight, thirty nine, forty quite easily. I just think at some point that starts to catch up to you a little bit in the age department. I mean, Andrea Pekovic mentioned that in our pod that we did, just evaluating his year and then talking but maybe if he can and she said, look, at some point, the age does catch up to you. I mean, you get one injury, it becomes another, etc. But right now he doesn't look like he's ever going to get injured. He looks like he's just going to keep going. So I predict that it won't surprise me if he wins as many Grand Slams next year as he did this year. And I think he's focused solely on winning a gold medal.

00:05:23
Speaker 3: I was going to say, do you think the reason he will have a last great run is because of the extra motivation of this being an Olympic year, the chance for getting that Golden well, certainly gold medal, if not Golden Slam, which has only been done one time one time by Stephanie Graff, which to me is the coolest record in tennis. There are lots of records I like. I like overall tournaments, one which I think Martina and Ratilova has. I think there's so many different kinds of ways to.

00:05:52
Speaker 2: Slay Jimmy Connors.

00:05:53
Speaker 1: It's the only record that Novak doesn't have or have a gold medal, but the total atp to a wins is still Jimmy Connors, which is fucking crazy. Like we never talk about Jimmy talk about Jimmy Connors as a person.

00:06:08
Speaker 3: Probably because he's not super well liked, but you know, you can't his bipolarizing. He's polarizing. Yeah, actually not not unlike Novak, although you know, Jimmy, I think is much less of a gracious loser Novak is, and he's.

00:06:28
Speaker 2: Certainly Novak is definitely one of the best losers.

00:06:31
Speaker 3: I mean, yeah, he's a he's a good sport towards his opponents. Where's Jimmy Connor's it's.

00:06:36
Speaker 2: Would rather kick you in the balls and then walk off the court.

00:06:39
Speaker 3: Which maybe speaks to the fact that he doesn't have a ton of friends in tennis who like still want to see him around, because remember he was like coaching Murray sher Pova for a hot minute and Erotick he coached Andy Rotick for another hot minute. I think he's like kind of around, Like sometimes you'll see him at slams and you'll kind of.

00:06:53
Speaker 1: Be like, oh, yeah, tennis with Jimmy, how was that?

00:06:56
Speaker 3: Was he a maniac?

00:06:57
Speaker 2: He was fun?

00:06:58
Speaker 1: Yeah, I've bout things that came out of his mouth that I was like, oh, okay, not politically correct.

00:07:02
Speaker 3: Yes, that doesn't surpress me one bit. I mean he's from kind of like the wrong side of the tracks in Saint Louis, Like he's not from a country club, which I admire about him. Yeah, but anyway, let's not get Deraail by Jimmy Hunters. But that is a cool record. The other record that I love, like I said, is Teffi Graft's Gordon Slam. And you know, it is certainly highly likely that Novak will be the favorite going into the Olympics. Yeah, it will be on clay, it will be in Rolandaros. Getting the Golden Slam is such an insane feat.

00:07:34
Speaker 2: I don't even know, well, I mean a calendar Grand Slam.

00:07:36
Speaker 1: First of all, I think he's I think his mindset is, look, I know that I can win all four.

00:07:42
Speaker 2: He knows that he almost.

00:07:44
Speaker 1: He came so close to doing it a couple of years ago when Medvedev beat him in the final the US Open. I think he was ragged after the Olympics, yep in Tokyo. I think mentally he was probably just absolutely fried by the time he got to that final. We saw that in his demeanor.

00:07:58
Speaker 2: He was just.

00:07:58
Speaker 1: Defeated in every set the word, and I think he's going to go into this year very set for all the Grand Slams and the Olympics. I think he'll set his schedule. I think he probably learned a lot about not overplaying like he's done mainly on his own voluition, really of not being able to play Indian Wells and Miami because of the vaccine status of the US still blah blah blah. And I think if he was smart, he would actually look at that and be like, oh, I don't need to play every single.

00:08:31
Speaker 3: Yeah, there's a good lesson.

00:08:32
Speaker 1: I just need to concentrate on the Grand Slams, which I think he'll do, and then I think he'll send his brain and his emotions around the Olympics as well.

00:08:41
Speaker 3: Do you think you said you thought he was going to win the same amount next year?

00:08:47
Speaker 2: I think he can win the same Well.

00:08:49
Speaker 3: Obviously he can win anything. But what if you had to say which one you thought he was the most vulnerable out of the four, it's certainly not Clay Well.

00:09:02
Speaker 2: I mean, straight open, he's on ten times. I do think that Kin is going to be.

00:09:06
Speaker 1: A real threat for him down there, you do, it depends on the speed of the court. If it's faster, I think Yannick really has a chance to sort of really push there, and I think if it's a little bit slower, I think Alcarez has a chance to beat him there. But you know, he's he's virtually unbeatable in Australia. He has unbelievable support down there, and I think that the likelihood of him winning eleven down there is really good. I think obviously the French Opens being the toughest because of Nadal, But is Nadal going to be a factor again this year?

00:09:35
Speaker 2: If he's playing it and he's.

00:09:36
Speaker 1: Healthy, clearly he's the favorite to win the French Open again.

00:09:39
Speaker 2: But you think so we were let's say about absolutely.

00:09:44
Speaker 1: I mean, depending on how much tennis he gets and if he's healthy going into the French Open, there's no question because whenever you step on the court at some place you've lost what twice in how many years, like you feel pretty good going in there.

00:09:57
Speaker 2: So I think physically, if Nadal is.

00:10:00
Speaker 1: Prime to go and he's healthy and he's had a lot of matches under his belt enough, when he gets there, there's no question he's the favorite, just like Novak is in.

00:10:08
Speaker 3: Austral I love Rafa everybody. I mean, I think most people do. It is hard to imagine, giving given the physical stats status of how he has sort of broken down, not only throughout his career, but especially in the last year and a half. And I think for me, yes, it's encouraging to see him bashing balls and videos and training and you know, he's he was at his academy in Mayorkai and said.

00:10:37
Speaker 1: Really expecting a lot of great things in Australia because you know, I don't think he's tennis is going to be there, blah blah blah. Now I've changed my mind after the last couple weeks of practice. So he's seeing something in Novak in Rafa that he feels really confident about. I don't think he's going to win the Australia Open clearly, but I think that he, without question, if he gets enough matches under his belt and he feels good physically, there's question he's still the favorite.

00:11:01
Speaker 2: Mike.

00:11:01
Speaker 3: My concern is just more like he's given how difficult it is to come back for injury, especially later in your career, especially the types of injuries he's had, you know, getting to the French the sort of rest versus rust thing that we always talk about with you know, uh, players who take it a significant amount of time off. You know, like I think for him, for it's hard to imagine just he is capable of reaching the peak of his physical form anymore. But maybe I'm being a negative Nancy and I you know, well, I just want to protect my heart because I don't want him to come back and then fall short. You know, I.

00:11:39
Speaker 1: Suspect Caitlin that you will not be disappointed because I think when you're that great, and Rafa is great, he will not play if he is not prepared.

00:11:49
Speaker 2: That's a good tournament.

00:11:52
Speaker 1: So I think he's a little bit different than a lot of players like that, and I think he feels like if he's entering the tournament, he feels like he went, just like Roger felt when he came back from that big layoff at Theustrain Open when he won it. I know he's a bit younger and certainly still capable, but I think if Ruffa physically can handle it, and if he goes and gets enough matches going into the clay court season, he's still the favorite to win the French. Still a lot of tennis to be played, and clearly we have to wait to see how he physically backs up. But I've got to tell you, I'm so excited as an Australian. The last time I saw Rafa in the Austrain Open, he was walked off the court and he waved to the crowd in a way that I just was like, Oh, he's never coming back, that's it, this is his last year. I don't think he's coming back. Was very much how I felt when Serena walked off the court at the Austrain Open, when she did her a little wave to everyone. Great players don't wave like that when they leave the court. That's kind of like a goodbye. And Serena when she lost, she fucking booked it out of there Normally, this time she stopped and did a twirl and waved and I went, that's the last time I'm going to see her, And I was right. So I'm so happy for the Australian public that they actually get to see Rafa play down there and hopefully be fit, because when he left there a couple of years ago, you know, with that groin injury, it was brutal to watch.

00:13:04
Speaker 2: I mean I was literally.

00:13:06
Speaker 1: Caught side watching that, just going, dude, just stop and maybe you know he should have probably stopped because it probably exacerbated the injury that he had clearly, So I think I'm just excited that the austrail public get to see him one more time, because.

00:13:18
Speaker 3: You think this is the this is the encore.

00:13:21
Speaker 2: There's no way he's playing more than one year and I will So.

00:13:23
Speaker 3: Let's say, but SiO, he comes back, he plays Australia, probably won't win it, but hopefully stays in good shape, gets into the class wing, gets enough matches hopefully, you know, like you're saying, enters the French with the intention to win it. And then, as we noted, the Olympics is at Roland Garros, it's at the same venue. Do you think that's the that's it? In a best case, that's it.

00:13:44
Speaker 2: I think.

00:13:45
Speaker 1: So I think we're going to see ralphah play through Wimbledon, then play at the Olympics and then.

00:13:50
Speaker 2: Call it down.

00:13:51
Speaker 3: Do you think he'll bother with grass?

00:13:54
Speaker 2: Good question? I don't know.

00:13:56
Speaker 1: You know, look, he still plays great on grass. Clearly he's won Wimbledon, you know a couple of time times. I think he would like to you know, I think you'd probably like the chance to play there one more time as well, But I suspect that the Olympics will probably be his last tournament.

00:14:11
Speaker 2: I don't know this.

00:14:12
Speaker 1: I mean, I would love to see him play the whole year, so you'll see what happens. But in the end, it's great to have him back. We're so excited to have Rougher back in the mix. And speaking of not being old and decrepit and wondering what the hell is going to happen next year? Physically, is yannixinner? I mean, what end of the year that he had, It was incredible. I think that win at Davis Cup and what he was able to do over the last couple of months I think will give him so much confidence going into the Train Open. And I really think that he can win a Grand Slam next year. And if he doesn't win it next year, it'll definitely be in the next two years. He's just too good and it's just doing it over five sets as a whole different animal when you're playing against Novak or an Alcaraz. But in my opinion, I think that he now realizes that he can control his emotions. He can, you know, problem solve out there. He doesn't, you know, he's not going to let the nerves get the best of him in the biggest of times. And I think we've seen him lose a couple of really close matches, clearly against alkhaz in that match of the tournament at the US Open a couple of years ago. We saw him lose to Novak over five sets at Wembledon when he was up two sets of love in the semi finals.

00:15:22
Speaker 2: So I think he would have learned from all.

00:15:24
Speaker 1: Those losses and know what it takes now to handle himself in the biggest moments on court, and so I think he's going to be a real threat at this strain Open. I certainly think he's going to be a threat going into the US Open next year because the faster the court the better for him. Hits the ball so flat and hard. But I can see him being a threat on any court, yeah, any surface, And you know, great coaching and so super happy that he's having the end of the year that he had, and I think he's going to be a threat in Australia.

00:15:53
Speaker 3: Let's talk about the rest of the field in terms of who else is currently healthy and looking strong.

00:16:01
Speaker 1: Are you saying that because you suspect Alcrez is going to be having injury issues.

00:16:06
Speaker 3: I hope not. No, yeah, I hope not. I didn't actually mean to even mentioned him. No, we haven't talked about Alcrez because I do think, like, yeah, the physicality of the way he plays, in the amount of injuries he's already had, is you know, something to certainly speculate about in the off season. You know, Taylor Fritz has been injured, A certain player from Germany we don't talk about very often has been injured and came back. Dominic team had a nice little sort of actually putting it together at the sort of mid to end part of last year. You know, Barrettini was out, he made a couple very strong runs, including you know final Wimbledon. So like it's sort of more just like how is the rest of the field in terms of separation, And you know, speaking of Carlitos, his peak is up there, Yeah, novact well, we know that on his best days, but can he get there consistently with his body the way that he plays well.

00:16:58
Speaker 1: The different smike in between him, for example and Sinner is that he knows he can win a Grand Slam, yep. And he knows he can win because over five sets it's a very different animal to beating someone over three sets.

00:17:11
Speaker 2: And so I the one thing that.

00:17:12
Speaker 1: Al Karaz has over everybody else other than Novak is he knows what it takes to win a Grand Slam, to manage his body, to manage his mind over seven matches, to win a Grand Slam over five sets, that is not a problem for him, and that is a huge advantage that he has over everybody else in the field, other than of course Novak Zokovic, who's done it twenty four times and is you know, the greatest player of all time. So I think, you know, as far as that's concerned, I think al Karaz is still the man to be outside of Novak because of that. Now, physically, yes, he's running into problems. I think physically he's I've talked about it before on the pod. He's like so energetic and running after everything and jumping around like a jack rabbit, you know, before matches, and spending a lot of energy in ways that maybe he could tamp down slightly. I don't want him to completely go away from that because that's what makes him so great. Just like no, you know, Rafa, how he's like so the bull, you know, all the time. I like that about him, but maybe he needs to bring that down. If he can stay healthy, if he can continue to you know, progress physically, then mentally he knows he goin a slam and he obviously.

00:18:24
Speaker 2: Has the game.

00:18:24
Speaker 1: I think he he has even more room to improve on his serve. I think his forehand can get a little bit better on a faster court. He needs to, you know, crack down on getting taken advantage of on that side on a fast court, and something that Sinner does really well against him, for example, and even Novak flattens the ball out and takes advantage of a faster court against Carlos. But you know, look, if he's healthy, he certainly is equal to Novak that he knows he can win the slams, and that's a big thing. Novak to me is still by far the favorite, though, but you know, Sinner has improved so much over the last couple months, and I think for him it's going to come down to mentally if he can do it over best of five sets and get to a final.

00:19:04
Speaker 2: You've got to get to a final first.

00:19:06
Speaker 1: He's only made one semi final where you had that incredible match against Novak, at Wimbledon, but I think that he can go. If he can break through the barrier of a semi final and get to a final, I think then the next step is can he mentally withstand a best of five against a Novak for example, or even an Alcoraz And I think that he's getting to that point where he actually starts starting to believe in himself and not panic under pressure and not you know, pull the trigger too early, and his servers improved under pressure.

00:19:35
Speaker 2: His forehand is getting better. So all the little things that.

00:19:38
Speaker 1: Darren has worked on with him and his other coach have worked on with him over the last twelve months, you've seeing them come to fruition now in the big stage.

00:19:46
Speaker 3: Encouraging for anybody who even at the recreational level, wants to get incrementally better, you know, working on stuff. It is the process. Trust the process, Keep working and we'll look at the results. Take care of themselves. Because they do think that there's something really profound about the concept of watching a pro not only be great to begin with, but working on things and getting even greater. Like Andy Murray, for me, was the greatest, sort of most quintessential embodiment of that he had to work literally for every tiny gain he made. Because I think the temptation when you're watching, especially the men, the talent naturally just is at such a high level you think, oh, well, all of these people are just otherworldly, And the truth is they're just they're laboring really hard, persistently with intention, and yes, of course there are godly elements to certain parts of their games, but I do think it's sort of nice to see somebody who's already good actually work really hard and see it payoff.

00:20:39
Speaker 2: Like Center, you have to constantly.

00:20:41
Speaker 1: There's not one player in the world playing a professionally playing professional tennis. It's not trying to get better at something every single day. It's crazy, and that's what people don't realize. Like I played till I was almost forty, I was constantly working on things, constantly trying to get better, constantly knowing that where my weaknesses were. Every single player knows where their weaknesses are and knows that they.

00:21:03
Speaker 2: Need to improve on them all the time.

00:21:05
Speaker 1: And I think that's what makes greats great. You know, Novak has improved so much over the last twenty years. His forehand is so much more it his foyand to me is better than his backhand in some respects. You know, everyone talks about how great his backhand is, but his foehand is unbelievable, Like he's put extra.

00:21:21
Speaker 2: Spin on it.

00:21:21
Speaker 1: He never misses it now under pressure. His serve is I mean, his spot serves as well as anybody that's ever served. I think the biggest issue is like he can hit the spot bom you know, and you think Novak's not a big server. No one ever talks about novak serve. They always talk about, you know, the big but his serve is unbelievable and so guy never gets broken.

00:21:44
Speaker 2: So for me, he's improved so much.

00:21:45
Speaker 1: His volleys have improved out rageously over the last ten years. And he comes into the net now he knows when to have come forward. Greats know where to improve their game and where they need to get better. And there's no doubt that Rougher and Ride made Novak better. And now I think the Sinners and the Runas and you know, all these and the Alcorazes have made Novak even better knowing what he needs to get better at to beat these young guys.

00:22:11
Speaker 3: We're reaching my capacity for talking about Novak as great as his game as let's talk about Una a little bit, and then I want to talk about the American man. Runa to me, has the farthest to go from where I think he can, not to say that I think his peak is the highest, maybe, but just more like I feel like we're just at the beginning with Runa, whereas Alcaraz and Sinner, who are both sort of in his same age cohort, have maybe arrived a little bit they have ahead of him. Whereas to me, Runa, it's it's going to be really exciting, especially with Boris, whom we all love on my bag for him in a way that I think will hopefully bring out what you know, the next sort of chunk of potential, if not all of his potential.

00:22:52
Speaker 1: Yeah, there's no question that having Boris is going to be a huge help for Runa. I mean, you know, he got rid of certain other coaches that will remain nameless, but I think having there's no question having Boris is going to help him manage his emotions, figure out game plans, better know when to pull the trigger, nobody needs to work on. His volleys will get better with Boris, His forward movement will get better with Boris, and that's something that you know, someone that came into the net all the time, like Boris, you understand when to come in, what to come in on, all that sort of stuff. And that's the area that Alcoraz does better than anyone and Novak is that they know when to come into the net and they're very capable at the net, and I think that's a difference maker between a lot of those guys. It's an area that Sinner will get better at as well with Darren because Darren was a net player, and he'll know how to come into the net, what to come into the net on, you know what volley to hit. You know, it's funny that people go, well, how do they not know? You don't know if you don't do it a lot. You don't know what shot to come in on. Sometimes you don't know the volley that you could possibly hit. You don't know how to improve that technique on the volley. So I think that's all areas that Runa will improve on a tremendous amount with Boris, as well as the emotional side it because Runa is very emotional. He's emotional like Alcaraz in a lot of ways because Alchoriz.

00:24:08
Speaker 2: But Alchorz smiles through his toughness.

00:24:11
Speaker 1: I mean he has these moments as well, but Runa gets very hyper and very anxious looking, and I think Boris will help him in that department. So I'm looking forward to all these young guys.

00:24:20
Speaker 3: Is wearing his shorts very short.

00:24:22
Speaker 2: Yeah, we know that you like the short shots.

00:24:23
Speaker 3: I do. I really wive.

00:24:24
Speaker 1: We've been carolling this for this for a while. We want all the manufacturers to shorten the shorts.

00:24:31
Speaker 2: On the guys.

00:24:32
Speaker 3: Look, I don't know what it's going to take, and coming from two gay girls, but we just want to see a little leg.

00:24:37
Speaker 2: We want to see a little muscle, is what we.

00:24:39
Speaker 3: Want to see a little more leg. Can we talk about Boris for a second, Okay, sure we can. We can speed through this, but it needs to be noted that Boris is currently in a decently epic war of words with Nick Curios.

00:24:51
Speaker 2: Yeah.

00:24:51
Speaker 3: Nic Curius is you know, not shy about going after kind of whomever. And the reason I like this particular conflict it's for tet tit for tat, is because it elucidates something that I feel like we have to sort of dig into as people who talk about the game, people who love the game. You know, the old guard versus the new who would win, who's better? Blah blah, because Nick's premise is basically like, oh, these old guys, they wouldn't stand a chance, which, like I'm less interested in that argument because it's stupid. It's stupid and will full stop. That's all we can say, Like dumb, cool, go play five sets against bjorn Borg with a wooden racket. Yeah, try to the lass Boris Becker at the net where when you're both playing with you know, Donne's made from a fucking two buy four, you know, like okay, cool, like talk your talk whatever. If you don't have your nylon strings and your oversized racket heead and you're you know, you're.

00:25:45
Speaker 1: Bailey winning wearing grass court shoes on grass because you just wear that herring bone hoping to stay upright.

00:25:51
Speaker 3: Exactly Like anybody who's ever tried to play a legend knows there's just an insane level of skill that you're not fully appreciating on TV because you know, also the TV was really greeny, Like even if you go back and watch the YouTube.

00:26:07
Speaker 1: Bottom line is Caitlin every decade every sport, every player, they all get better. They get faster, they have better technique, they have better technology, they have better nutrition, they have physios with them all the time. They aren't going out to two in the morning and having a few too many drinks and then playing the next day. Like, every single era gets better, every ear gets more professional. You cannot compare the ears. It's just fucking dumb.

00:26:36
Speaker 3: It's also really dumb. And I'm tempted to bring in like a non tennis reference, like you want to tell me Jim Thorpe, a pert indigenous person who ran track and was one of the you know, greatest athletes of all time. You plunk that guy in any sport right now with all the technology and tools and mental training and equipment, and they would he wouldn't dominate. It's just what's the point of this, especially coming from Nick carry else where?

00:26:57
Speaker 1: You're just kind of like you even playing. The reason why Nick isn't playing it is because he's injured.

00:27:01
Speaker 2: And why why is he injured?

00:27:03
Speaker 1: Because the guy didn't invest in himself for the you know, five six seven, I don't know how long he's been playing professionally in taking care of his body. He barely gets in the gym. I mean he started to when he had that great run and got to the finals. Shape and he was working hard. It was putting, you know, getting all his shit done. But like Nick, like you didn't invest in yourself in the gym, you know, having a physio with you. I mean he had a physio with him for the last few years, but like having a fitness trainer with you. You didn't have a coach, like all the things that all the professional athletes and tennis players have done. And you can say, oh, I made a final of Wimbledon basically with nobody with no training. It's like, well, that's not something to be proud of. And that's not true because you were in shape when you made the finals in Wimbledon. So everything since then and before then you didn't invest in yourself and then therefore your body.

00:27:55
Speaker 2: Is breaking down. Duh.

00:27:56
Speaker 1: It's because tennis is a really fucking hard sport to play, physics, and if you don't invest in yourself and take care of your body, it will betray you. And that's what's happening right now. So stop comparing greats. You're not a great. If you were a great and one twenty. If Novak had said, they wouldn't have you know what, Novak would never say that about a Rod Laver or Pete Sampress because the greats respect each other because.

00:28:21
Speaker 3: They've been there and they know right, and somebody was you know. So this has gone on and back and forth and the two of them, and you know, Boris has been like, stick to your OnlyFans, and Nick is like, I sell more tickets than you do, and it's kind of like he's, you know, arguing that he's brother new fans in the sport, which yeah, great, and that's what a lot of us like about him. On the other hand, you know, you can't sell tickets when you don't play. Yeah, so I just sort of want to say, like, hey, we're excited to watch everyone play tennis, and if you're not up for playing tennis, maybe you know, quit the jibber jabber and don't go after Boris.

00:29:18
Speaker 1: Well, don't go after Boris Boris. I mean, I don't understand Nick. Nick probably don't doesn't remembyes too young. How great Boris Becker.

00:29:25
Speaker 3: Was, I don't know that he is, and how popular he was. I think a lot of these young guys don't know their history. That's more the issue.

00:29:32
Speaker 2: I don't really not, No, some of them don't.

00:29:35
Speaker 1: Most of them do, which is why they don't give Boris Becker shit about anything, or any era about anything.

00:29:41
Speaker 2: So let's just drop that.

00:29:42
Speaker 1: But I'm looking forward to Boris making a huge difference for Runa. Me too.

00:29:46
Speaker 3: I would love to see Runa come in tomorrow of his potential. Have we talked about the that enough we have?

00:29:51
Speaker 1: I just want to throw out a little thing. Ben Shelton, American Tennis. I think you know. One of the things about Ben that I think that Ben has probably the best chance to win a Grand Slam. And I probably wouldn't have said that a year ago.

00:30:02
Speaker 3: More than tylor Fred, more than Francis.

00:30:04
Speaker 1: Yes, because I think he has the hotspot to believe that he can, and I think he has the weapons.

00:30:08
Speaker 2: He has the serve, clearly, he has the forehand.

00:30:10
Speaker 1: When Alcarez says he's never played against the guy that hits the ball harder, I believe him. I think that he has the tools, and I think now he has the belief in himself. You know, winning a Grand Slam over best of five sets, seven matches is a whole different ballgame.

00:30:25
Speaker 2: But I actually think that he has the potential to do it.

00:30:28
Speaker 1: I think he has more potential than any of the other American guys, and not because I don't think they're capable, But to win seven matches again over five sets is a very different is a tall task. Taylor loses his shit too much in five sets. He's got to bring that down, you know, Francis, you know he's been struggling now for the last six months. He's got to get himself in order if he wants to win seven matches and Tommy Paul over five sets, seven matches against the greats, it's really hard to do, to tell. So I just think Ben has the ability to be able to do it, and I think he has the weapon. So I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do this year.

00:31:02
Speaker 3: This is his sophomore year, and Australia is where he had his first real big run, and.

00:31:06
Speaker 2: He struggled after that.

00:31:07
Speaker 1: He didn't barely won two matches in a row until he made a great run again at the US Open and so and then he and then I think he learned a lot about himself there and then I think he went on then to play a great four, So I think he learned to sort of, you know, shut up with the put the phone down. I think he decided to sort of put that aside. He was getting too much negativity around that, and he's just going out and winning matches now and I think he's a real threat going forward in any Grand Slam.

00:31:32
Speaker 3: So all right, well, you're welcome, men, you're welcome. He's the most we've talked about you probably ever, Yeah, probably ever and ever will again.

00:31:38
Speaker 2: Let's get to the chicky babes. Let's start with Eger.

00:31:41
Speaker 3: Is that an Australian as I'm again.

00:31:43
Speaker 1: Chikibabe, Yeah, chikybabe, listen eager. I'm looking forward to I think he's going to have I think Eger's going to have a great year. I think he's going to have a better year last next year. Then she's had ever and that's a big statement because when thirty seven matches in a row, it is really hard to do. I don't think that's going to happen again, but I do think that she would have learned so much about herself this year with coming back. Listen, she was she was overwhelmed at the start of the year. I know that after this train open after she lost, had a conversation with her, and look, I think she was so worried about all the points that she had to defend, and how am I going to play thirty How am I going to win thirty seven matches in a row again?

00:32:25
Speaker 2: And how am I going to have that kind of year again?

00:32:27
Speaker 1: And I think it overwhelmed her and I think it got to her, and I think she learned a lot about herself in twenty twenty three is that, oh, I might not have the greatest run again and win all these tournaments again like it did last year and.

00:32:38
Speaker 2: I didn't die.

00:32:39
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's not going to be okay.

00:32:42
Speaker 1: So how am I going to approach twenty twenty four. I'm going to go into twenty four like I did, knowing the down would slide I could have. I also know how to win thirty seven matches in a row. What have I learned about myself in twenty twenty three is that I don't need to panic if I don't win everything.

00:33:02
Speaker 2: And I think that she's.

00:33:03
Speaker 1: Gotten maybe into a into a better mind frame matching a match out to not panic too much about the worst case scenario. So I think that she's going into twenty twenty four, having learned so much about herself in the last three years, about what it takes and what is not, what she should do, which is panic and know how to play these big hitters, know how to step up on a faster court and learn a little bit more about herself, and she knows how she's going to win the French Open again.

00:33:36
Speaker 2: I think of all the.

00:33:37
Speaker 1: Players, who's going to win a Grand Slam next year? That won one this year, Marquette, Saberlenka, girl and Coco, all of them are going to Who's going to win next year?

00:33:48
Speaker 2: Who's going to repeat that next year?

00:33:49
Speaker 3: Well, Sablenka should have won at least one other one. So yeah, but that was a that was a circumstantial Listen, is it?

00:34:00
Speaker 2: Circumstances are part of tennis.

00:34:01
Speaker 1: Of course, you can't handle the crowd at the US Open if you lose your shit at the French Open up five to one? Was it five to one in the third against Muhova, Like, you've got to be able to control yourself and manage those mind for sure.

00:34:13
Speaker 3: But actually the reason I'm actually banking on Sablenka to do it is because, in my view, just like you're talking about with ego freaking out and you know, learning some equanimity in the toughest of moments. I think, uh, Sabolenka overcame the stupidest, hardest, dumbest thing that can possibly happen to an athlete, which is getting the yips on something routine like your serf like to me, that fortitude and just still sort of getting through it. I'm not sure that she's an intellectual. I'm not sure that she's you know, there's a lot inward when she's meditating and looking. But I do think that she's confronted some hard things, and my hope is that being in the position to win certainly one one Grand Slam final, that she probably should have won. Nothing against Coco whatsoever. I think everybody preferred outcome outside of you know, Sabolenka, Sabalanka herself, and maybe Dve Portnoy from Barstoel Sports, was that Coco was gonna win. But I think, you know, Sebalinka should have won that match, and she probably should have won at least the SAMMI against Mcova and the friend. I'm not so to me, I think she's come closest and she's beaten some interior demons that might prove possible because she certainly to me, has the most upset of all the other players.

00:35:33
Speaker 1: I think she's going into the Austrain Open feeling great because it's a tournament that she loves to play, and she clearly knows going into it that she can win the tournament. So I think she's absolutely on equal footing to eager to win the tournament as far as favorites, there's no question about that to me. But she does have and I call it scar tissue on her brain about the losses that she had this particular last year in twenty twenty three. You know that lost to Muhova, the lost to Coco, that's scarte issue. So you have to chip away at that. I say, if she can chip away at it, like she tend to open with the servant yips and she handled.

00:36:08
Speaker 3: It before this. She had never gotten past to Sammy yep before that this past year, So I do think she's somebody who just like beasts her way through it.

00:36:16
Speaker 1: Yeah, if she can chip away at that scar tissue and not let it affect her in the big matches going forward, then there's no question that she can win one, if not two.

00:36:25
Speaker 2: If not three Grand Slams next year, There's no question of it.

00:36:28
Speaker 3: She's certainly more fun.

00:36:29
Speaker 2: She she's a lot of fun. You know.

00:36:32
Speaker 1: Look, Rebekina a lot of injuries in twenty twenty three. If she can get herself, you know, injury free a little bit like our Karaz, then she absolutely has the game to win any on any surface except maybe clay, and so she has right in Australia if she's emotionally and.

00:36:47
Speaker 2: Physically ready to go.

00:36:50
Speaker 1: Jessica Bagoula, you know, has to prove herself by getting past that quarter final. Talk about scar tissue, oh my god. But if she can break through that quarterfinal, I really think that she can win a Slam if she can break through that final, like that quarter final, because it I mean, I'm not comparing myself to a singles player getting through this, but I went through a period I think it was like six or seven quarter finals myself in doubles, and once I broke through that quarter final, then it was just like, oh okay, I'm good, Like let's go. And I almost won the my first Grand Slam by doing that, lost in the finals.

00:37:21
Speaker 2: It's open.

00:37:22
Speaker 3: It's about belief, right, It's about belief.

00:37:24
Speaker 1: And once you break through that and then you and she knows she can beat any of those players playing on to us. So when you know you can beat any of the players playing on tour, then you know you can win a Grand Slam.

00:37:33
Speaker 2: And that's key.

00:37:34
Speaker 1: And so if Jess can break through the quarters, I think that she can win a Grand Slam. But she's got to break through that quarter final and she should have done it. Talk about should have cut a wud, I mean, come on up four to one points for five to one against Vondrosova and you know Makete goes on to win the tournament. That's that's a match that definitely mentally would fuck with you.

00:37:51
Speaker 3: I actually think Jess Piccola is most likely to win Wimbledon.

00:37:55
Speaker 1: Well yeah, I mean that's what she has won, possibly.

00:37:57
Speaker 3: Like because of the Vondrosova match, but also just because she's pure ball streaking.

00:38:02
Speaker 2: You know, she can win on any surface.

00:38:03
Speaker 1: She can look the French no chance, and she'll be the first to probably admit that. Although she had a great couple of tournaments.

00:38:11
Speaker 3: On clay last year, let's talk about.

00:38:15
Speaker 2: And Kerba coming coming back.

00:38:17
Speaker 3: I mean, Kerber coming back is great. I can't imagine just because she's a little bit older. And I think her peak is lower. Love Kerber, love the angles, love the Crouch, love the Lefty, But I.

00:38:30
Speaker 2: She loves Australia.

00:38:32
Speaker 3: I yes, it's to me more dynamic to think of what Naomi has in store for us.

00:38:41
Speaker 1: Listen, I'll tell you what. Seeing Naomi practice the other day on her Instagram, Holy shit balls. And yes, she's so young still, much like how kim Clesis came back at a very early age after having kid dominated after that that's really where she had her best results. Because and I think for Naomi, if the game is and physically she's able to go, look out because I wouldn't have said no chance at the Ustrain Open, Like she's got to have time to get me.

00:39:06
Speaker 2: I don't know, like if she gets her teeth.

00:39:09
Speaker 1: Talk about somebody who knows how to win a Grand Slam. She's won four of them, so she's coming.

00:39:12
Speaker 3: She did it in a pretty quick order.

00:39:15
Speaker 1: And Australia is her favorite.

00:39:17
Speaker 3: My thing about Naomi is just the belief, because I think it got really sad watching her the last couple of years be sad, and.

00:39:27
Speaker 1: Well, I think, listen, I have to imagine she's gonna have to mentally adjust her brain, and I think she has already. I think having a kid, you realize they're a way as you know, Caitlin, there are way bigger fucking things in life to stress about, for sure, Like is my kid breathing? It's my kid eating? Is my kid sick? Where's my kid? You're not thinking about?

00:39:45
Speaker 2: Oh h shit.

00:39:46
Speaker 1: If I lose this match, the press is going to come after me. I'm like, listen, say what you want about me. I'm going back to my kid, who loves me unconditionally and who needs me. So I think her, I think things that will help her in a lot of ways be a little bit more adjusted to the heis and lows. So I think Nate look out. I think Naomi's going to be I think Naomi's has a real passion again for the game. She wrote that nice little thing on her Instagram about thanking your fans of being patient.

00:40:15
Speaker 2: I think she's going to be really hard to beat. I really do.

00:40:17
Speaker 1: I wouldn't have said that a month ago, but watching her training a little bit. I know it's only one video that we got, but fuck it looked good.

00:40:24
Speaker 3: I also think there could be like a little psychological warfare at play, like Kylos Moya tucking up Nadal, the Naomi team releasing videos. You know, there is.

00:40:33
Speaker 1: Something a little like we're coming for you people.

00:40:34
Speaker 3: Yeah, like, don't get complecent, We're coming back.

00:40:37
Speaker 2: Now, moveover.

00:40:38
Speaker 1: I just want to throw her in there. What the talk about somebody who can't get it right with injuries?

00:40:42
Speaker 2: Yeah she could.

00:40:43
Speaker 1: She's a perennial top tenor. She should be winning Grand Slam. She has a game to do all of it on any surface.

00:40:50
Speaker 3: For me, even without a one hitter back end, which she should have. She has the prettiest game, the best game.

00:40:57
Speaker 1: On to it by far. I love watching, he replies.

00:40:59
Speaker 3: Tools, most versatility, What an incredible athlete.

00:41:03
Speaker 1: But the wrist injury, man having surgery and ship that's like bad, that's bad. She's just had bad injury for tennis.

00:41:09
Speaker 3: Great run and then boom and the injuries and then okay back and then injured again.

00:41:16
Speaker 2: So we'll see.

00:41:16
Speaker 1: Yeah, we have to just quickly throw in your favorite player.

00:41:21
Speaker 3: Who's my fishe chen one?

00:41:24
Speaker 2: Yeah? Did I say it right?

00:41:24
Speaker 3: You're sounding like you actually are pronouncing chin yeah, junk junk jung chin one.

00:41:31
Speaker 2: That's because you speak cantones.

00:41:32
Speaker 3: I don't speak cantony.

00:41:33
Speaker 2: I speak what do you speak?

00:41:36
Speaker 3: And little Mandarin? Not? Great?

00:41:42
Speaker 1: I can hear you.

00:41:43
Speaker 3: Great, I can hear you. You know. You know who couldn't hear each other? The people who were recording the first two chunks of this podcast in New York City together because our memory cards kept running out of batteries. So here we have time span. You're into twenty four. I'm in twenty twenty three finale for a year preview podcasts. Since you're already in twenty twenty four, Rene, I want you to tell us what you see because right here in New York, I'm just having a beer in my apartment and it's still twenty twenty three, so I can't see it around.

00:42:18
Speaker 1: Yeah, well you know i'd flick you around. I'm going to flick you around. Our viewers and our listeners, well, our listeners, we don't have viewers yet. Our listeners can't see what I can see as well. I'm sitting here at Clovelly Beach in Sydney and I've had news already here, so it's a little weird that I'm already in twenty twenty four. You still are not in twenty twenty four. But yes, we have extended this podcast because of the fact that the two of us we did have a bit of trouble finishing this podcast back in the day, but we're going to finish it today. Well, we do have some things to report.

00:42:56
Speaker 3: That's right, and everything we talked about is still relevant, which is looking for to this year. And like a lot of things around this time of year, you know, it really sneaks up on you. It doesn't last Suday we could record together. You were flying off back home to Australia and I was trying to get presents for everybody, you know, So this is just what happened around this time of year. The good news is now we have actually completed our look at the men's field and the women's field. We do have a bit of an update about one of the athletes we talked about, that is Carolyne and Mukova. We were talking about how amazing she is probably the best all around player on the women's tour, and now she has yet another injury.

00:43:36
Speaker 1: Well it's the same injury, it's just not recovered. She had the risk surgery, which I was to be quite honest, with you, a little surprised that she was coming back to play this early, because quite honestly, it's just it's a devastating injury for a tennis player. I know myself, I had a wrist injury and I was out seven months with that risk injury back when I was doing quite well in singles. It really kind of ruined my singles career, to be quite honest with you. So I feel badly for I know that she's just one of these players that just keeps getting injured. She's kind of like the Del Potro of the women's tour. But you know, let's hope that she can get back and get back to the form that she showed in twenty twenty three into twenty twenty four, because it's just it's a shame what's happening to her, because, as you said, one of my favorite, if not my favorite women's player to watch, just because of her ability around the court. But sadly she won't be in Australia, so we send her all our best. But look, we've got a couple of upsets already early in the United Cup, with Katie Boulder beating Jess Kapagoula and a really great three set match the other day. So it's all happening already. Tennis has started down here in Australia and I can't wait for it to begin. And as I said, it's already started down here in the great country of Australia, in the.

00:44:52
Speaker 3: Greek country of Australia and Australian Summer. Two matches that I took notice of Jasmine Paulini a nice win against Njinan Kerber, who comes back after having a little one, and Naomi Osaka as we speak, is taking the court right now, so it'll be interesting to see how she fares. But I mean, for me, just the lack of time to get any kind of emotional catharsis before you're already thrust into the play. It's like so jarring. Don't get me wrong, I love having tennis on my TV at all times. Like it seems like any time of year, any day of year, whether it's the Challenger Tour or some exhibition or anything like, there's just really not really even a day off. And I feel like that was especially true this year. I was watching you know, Arena Seblingk and on Super Play Christmas night. It was in Saudi twenty sixth, the boxing day, but like just you know, there really hasn't been a break at all, and so for me it's just more like.

00:45:52
Speaker 1: I would say, especially for the man, I feel like, I mean, Nobek's you know, gonna take the court we all want. I wanted to say. I did watch Rapa plays doubles. Yes, today he looks fit and healthy and happy. He didn't get the win, but it had a tough doubles match against Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson, both very good ossie doubles players that play quite a bit together. And let's face it, Rauffa was playing with forty one year old essentially hitting partner, his old doubles partner in Mark Lopez, who's a look at a little slow out there. Yeah, it wasn't his sprightly self. So I would say that ruff would be pretty happy with just getting one match under his belt. And of course he goes into playing qualifier dominic team in the first round in Brisbane, so it'll be awesome to see those two going at it. But Ruffa looked happy, looked healthy, and just a little thing on Angie Kerber. I did notice after the match when she did lose to Paolini, she looked happy, you know what I mean. She shook hands and Angie Kober is not that type of person that usually shakes hands and smiles and looks pretty happy. So I think she's kind of adjusted to the fact that she probably feels good about being back on the court, being back on tour. Very different perspective now being a mom, as Naomi Osaka's talked about already, pres she feels very differently being a mom. Life has changed and as you know, Caitlin, you know when you have a kid, sort of things change in your life very quickly. So it's nice to see them back out there playing. All of them look good, all of them look healthy. So nice to see Rafa, Angie and of course Naomi Asaka back. But we'll see how they go the Australian Open, because that's really the big test, particularly for Rafa and best of five sets. I think for the girls it's a little different when they're playing best of three and I think, you know, Angie look fit and healthy and happy and worn on the street. Is that her coach, who was longtime coach and Torben Belts, he said that she's looking really good and really likes her chances to do well in her comeback. So we'll see was Aniaki so of thrown down the gortonland of playing well and Switzerlina obviously coming back as well. So we've got four really terrific mums, you know, going to go battle at the U Straight Open. So let's hope that I play each other in the first round.

00:47:54
Speaker 3: Let's talk about not playing each other in the first round, like Rafa's got dominic team, which is a rematch of a French Open finer, which is crazy, that's the first round. But I do think like a little shout out to the parents, especially the moms who have had children in their bodies, because getting those bodies back into fight and form is no small feet. But I do think like there is a little bit of a parent perspective there, if I may, which is just sort of an energy I'm bringing into twenty twenty four. I don't know if you want to embrace this kind of energy, but something tells me you might, which is when you get to be a parent, you're just kind of like, you know what, let them like, people want to talk shit, let them people want to come at me, let them people want to do whatever. They're doing, let them. You know, Anngie Kerber my favorite, which is when you said she wasn't known for put a big smile on her face and shaking hands after a loss. I can remember a few frosty moments with Anngie Kerber at the net. And you know, Nami Osaka certainly had her share of kind of talking about some haters through the years. And I think, you know, one of the things I would like to see both of them in their comebacks just you know, let them just do what you're gonna do, care business, go home, see your kid. Anybody else wants to do whatever they're going.

00:49:03
Speaker 1: To do them Yeah, I mean you can't. I mean, you know, you get so caught up in your own BS right and importance, and then all of a sudden you realize, oh wait, I'm going to keep that kid alive.

00:49:12
Speaker 2: You know.

00:49:12
Speaker 1: I was talking to my best friend the other day about, you know, when she had her first kid, and she said that the only thing she worried about once it was born was I'm going to keep this kid alive? How am I going to keep this kid alive?

00:49:23
Speaker 2: You know?

00:49:24
Speaker 1: So, so I think their perspectives as far as being a tennis player are very different now in knowing that there are way more important things in the world and in life than winning and losing a tennis match and caring about what the public say and what a person in the press room says.

00:49:37
Speaker 3: One of my favorite practices that my wife Claire has started, and I would love for us to end this very special time spanning, multi continental episode, perhaps the first episode of the new year, the last episode of the past year. Who can say, instead of making resolutions my wife makes, she'd livers resolutions for other people. You should say something like, I would really like for you to not leave the dinner table until everyone's finished eating to me, because I like, I'm a little neurotic and I start tidying already. For example, I told my son I would like for him to stop screaming when any button or any beeping sound happens in the entire apartment, and he's like ready to run for the hills. So if you could make some resolutions for other people, for people in the tennis space, maybe they're players, maybe they're governing bodies, you know, in the spirit of let them people are gonna do what they're gonna do. But I feel like this they're in a Stubsentis podcast. Should have a few resolutions for our tennis folks as we, you know, clear out the energy of twenty twenty three and make way for the energy of twenty twenty four. I'll start, Hey, what a great time it would be for the tours to really get it together. I'm not here to talk any smack. We talked plenty this year. There's new leadership, there's changes, especially on the WTA side. What a good time to get it together tours and figure yourself out and figure out how to cooperate. That's just one that's type of mind that feels a little a political at this point. But over to you. Any anything that's rumbling around in your mind is a resolution for others.

00:51:10
Speaker 1: Oh well, you know, I think you've already touched on it. We have our thought processes when it comes to the tours and the leadership of those tours. I would like to see the year of the Olympic Games not have Davis Cup or Billy Jean king Cup. I think that needs to go. The year of the Olympics. I think we have way too many weeks in schedule and I think a lot of players feel really as they should, as I did, really responsible of playing for their countries and representing their countries, and they take a lot of pride in that. And I think that, you know, when the Olympic gear is on, I think that we should probably scrap the Davis Cup and Billy Jean King Cup because I think that would really help in the weeks and the calendar being already really long for those players, especially when you're thinking about the really great players that are playing six, five, six matches every single week to win tournaments, or four or five matches to win them. So that one yes, tours need to get there. You know what, together the leadership and the WTA gone get some new blood in there. The last thing I would like to see, speaking of haters, I would like to see people calm the farm when it comes to abusing people online on the tennis Twitter okay, or on the X or whatever. I would like to everyone appreciate their champions, appreciate their great players, you know, praise them all you want. But when it comes to your people that aren't your favorites, you don't have to trash them, Okay, you can just leave that alone. Be nice about your player and not go after these other players you don't know them personally, Like, calm the farm a little bit, right, if you tweet something that's really aggressive, just put the phone down.

00:52:42
Speaker 3: Just look at you what a This is what growth looks like, gentlemen. This is real growth. And I probably have been guilty about poping off in the past myself, and I'm going to take that a base and calm the phe because one of the best things is I was reminded watching some of these exos and seeing some of my favorite players come back to Team is coming back and Curb is coming back, News is coming back. You know, Like, I love tennis because I love how many different players I love, you know what I mean, There's so many players to love. There's so many styles to love. There are so many moments and matchups and situations to love, and that to me is like the most fun thing about tennis. You can't have the same match twice, even if it's the same two players or same four players in the same place in the same tournament. It's just there's no there's no account for what happens on the court, and it's all magical. And there's so many players that I love, and that's really what I'm gonna be excited about. I'm already excited about it now, so that's for me. Like the good note, So calm the farm. Everybody wants to wile out let them and we're going into the twenty four with a lot of I think positive energy. I feel really resolved.

00:53:47
Speaker 1: How do you feel, Yeah, I feel good. We our fashion connoisseur, our fashion attache andreve Pekevich and I will hopefully We're not going to say we didn't gonna do it every your time because it's based on our schedule, but we would. We are going to try and facilitate a little ten to fifteen minute update every day in Melbourne on the Renee Stubs Tennis podcast. We'll get it out to you. We're going to film it, we're going to get it out to you. Sadly, Caitlin is not going to be in Melbourne, but Petco will be, So we're going to get a little bit of love out to you guys on a daily basis and give you a little just to look into what happened at the estral Ipurn every single day. So I hope everybody enjoys that. When we get to it in the meantime.

00:54:29
Speaker 3: Now I sat it out on the old you gotta do it.

00:54:32
Speaker 1: I got to do it now. But I tell you no, Petko's already. She's already texted me and said we're going to do this, and I said, Yep, we're going to do it. So another thing just to add I did put out on the old Socials that I really appreciate everyone because I know you, Caitlin will be one of these people that we'll be watching us on ESPN. I believe it's on ESPN two through the whole entire tournament, our numbers, we will be live. I know it's really early in the morning for everybody, et cetera, et cetera, but we do appreciate you getting up and watching it live with us, because it's going to be impossible not to know those results the next day if you put a hand on a phone and you turn it over if you're a tennis enthusiast, because you'll know the results. So we appreciate everyone getting up early in the mornings and all that sort of stuff to watch ESPN's coverage and we are all going to be down there. We are missing Chrissy Ebert obviously going through her treatments once again, so we send her all our best and thankfully she caught it early enough, so hopefully she's going to be all good. But we are very grateful to hear that. But she will be the only one on our talent roster that won't be down in Melbourne. So we were going to be bringing you all the live love of Tennis to your screens at ESPN, so hopefully everyone will join us on that. But in the meantime, Happy New Year, everybody, Caitlin new an hour or so away, are you not?

00:55:50
Speaker 3: I'm three and a half hours away from New Year's and I am probably an hour and a half away from bed, So that's really how I like to We've already sell a rid of the countdown London's. Uh, you know, when you're a parent, speaking of you to, you tend to tune into the seven pm London midnight broadcast. At least you were on the East coast. They did an incredible job. Can't imagine New York topping that. So I'm not gonna stick around to find out, but I do feel particularly.

00:56:17
Speaker 1: Great celebrations come on our Sydney. Let's not Let's just make them understand, to make a blanket excitement. No, Sydney Harbor has the best fireworks in the world, and I will not hear you say anything differently.

00:56:30
Speaker 3: No, China invented fireworks. They put on a great show. I will say that London's was particularly good because they had a musical medley involving heavily.

00:56:39
Speaker 1: Involved Did you watch Sydney.

00:56:41
Speaker 3: Yes, they I turned on CNN and they're just playing all of them. So I watched Sydney sin It is very good. It's a beautiful backdrop. But the musical medley that London put on was they had fat boys, slim, they had massive attack, they had the spice girls, they had do a lipa. It was a real the music.

00:56:57
Speaker 1: Oh that's what got you.

00:56:58
Speaker 3: They do a.

00:57:01
Speaker 1: Gotcha? All right, everybody, all right.

00:57:02
Speaker 3: Thank you for listening. Thank you for listening the entire year. Thank you so much to everyone who came out and packed the joint for our live podcast. You heard it here. So now Renee has to do it recording and I have to edit it and produce it unless I can come up with somebody else to labor on that effort, which maybe I will. You're going to hear a very very regular podcast from Australia, and if there's anything you and I need to check in on before that, let's make time to do it, even in our very different time zone.

00:57:29
Speaker 1: Sung good sounds good, and anybody who wants to write us on X as a positive let us know what you want to hear and we'll hear from you in twenty twenty four. We appreciate all your support of twenty twenty three. Have a great year everyone, and here's to a great Tennesse season in twenty twenty four. Caitlin, my friend. Okay, bye, bye bye,