AO Preview Show

00:00:16
Speaker 1: All right, everybody, Hi, everybody. My name is Renee Stubs and this is my friend Andrea Pekovich, who you might know from the TV screens over the last couple of weeks here at this tray and summer of tennis. This is the Renee Stubs Tennis podcast, and Andrea and I often do this weekly around the tennis world. So we're going to get stuck into the draws that came out today. The main draws came out today of the men's and women's singles, so we want to get into that. But before we get into the draw I want to talk to you, Andrea about the one point one million dollar Challenge last night. And I know that there's some people out here thinking maybe I'll enter next year, So just give me your thoughts on what you saw last night and the fact that an amateur, Jordan Smith won the event.

00:01:01
Speaker 2: So Laura Robson, who is a gold medalist at the Olympic Games in mixed doubles with Anny Murray and me, we was sitting there as fans and we had the grandest time of I think maybe any tennis match or a tennis event we've ever witnessed. It was so exciting. The matches. I mean the matches, if you can talk about them, there were sometimes just one serf and that was it. Were just absolutely hilarious. Sakary beating al Karaz and amateur winning the one million prize. It was just all over glorious. You hosted it, Renee, How did you Were you able to watch a little bit or did you have to focus on your work too much?

00:01:41
Speaker 1: No, I definitely was courtside watching every moment. I've never my hands were sweating so badly in the last couple of matches. Knowing that there's a million dollars for people like Joanna Gardner who made the final, of course, and for Jordan Smith who won it, that money is so important for them. I mean, obviously, if a Sinner or Alcarez one a million dollars, I have a sneaking suspicion maybe they're going to give a bit of money to charity. But to actually watch these two players in the final, where a million dollars is life changing, was just unbelievable. Todd Woodbridge and I have never sweated so bad watching a point, but it was great.

00:02:18
Speaker 2: Todd the Woodbridge hosts the Tipping Point.

00:02:20
Speaker 1: Yes he's exactly right. He doesn't give away a million dollars so but it was a great idea from Tennis Australia. I have a feeling we're going to see it back next year. It will be new and improved. There's things that we learned from it. But overall, what an awesome idea to give away a million dollars last night, and what a worthy winner. Jordan Smith from the Castle Hill Tennis Club up in Sydney, so I was wrapped for him.

00:02:43
Speaker 2: Yeah, and just maybe one more word to you mentioned her Johanna Garland. But she took out the world number three Alexander Zverev in an epic relli with a back end down the line and he was playing it well. There were some moments where the pros were tight. Sasha pleaded well, he really hit the ball, he was going for it, he was running and she just outplayed to him. That was glorious, as did Igaschiantek, by the way, against Flavio Kobali. She played the perfect rally to take that pint. It was so fun to watch.

00:03:12
Speaker 1: But it was really fun to watch the pros. I mean, Janick Sinner hitting a fault to lose the match. To Jordan Smith. That just shows you that even the pros are human Andick Senner Coco Golf, there was some top pros that didn't get the serve in the court. So don't feel like you're the only ones that can't hit a serve in the court or your amateurs. All right, let's get to the women's singles. So I don't know if you guys saw the draw come out today, but Arena Sabolenka is the number one seed in the women's draw and we have highlighted some first rounds. We've also highlighted parts of the draw that we think is really interesting. But Arena Sabolenka up the top of the drawer. We have a feeling that she's going to be tough to beat again here at the strain and Open. So just give me the thoughts Petco on her section of the draw, her quarterfinals section, and your thoughts on that. Well.

00:04:01
Speaker 2: I just think that Arena Sabalenka in Australia just seems to be almost invincible. She's just one Brisbane. She's in top form again. So I do have to correct you. It's Brisbane, Brisbane, I know, and it's Sydney and it's Melbourne Melbourne. You're doing I can't get it right. I always say Brisbane and I say Sydney. That's wrong, Sydney, Sydney, Brisbane, Brisbane, Melbourne, Melbourne.

00:04:25
Speaker 1: That's it. Just don't try and pronounce anything well.

00:04:28
Speaker 2: So you don't use the vocals in Australia Australia.

00:04:34
Speaker 1: Anyways. Sabolenka in her section of the draw, she has some interesting night yes exactly.

00:04:39
Speaker 2: So that's I think that she's in top form and I still would always pick her as a favorite. I do think that she has a tough, tough, tough section. She has Pabliuchenkova, who she played in the quarters last year in a tough three setter. She has there possibly in the second round already. She has Raducanu, who she beat in Cincinnati seven six in the third took her three hours and twelve to take her out. Victoria Boco, a y young up and coming player. She is in that section as well as a tough one. She has to beat good players to go through.

00:05:08
Speaker 1: And Victoria and Bocco just beat the defending Adelaide and Australian Open champion Madison Keys literally like about twenty minutes ago, so Victoria Momboco. If you don't know her, she won the Canadian Open last year. She's a very young Canadian up and coming player with a ton of power.

00:05:24
Speaker 2: Until she's nineteen years older, nineteen years of age.

00:05:27
Speaker 1: So Vicky Momboco will come into this tournament feeling a lot of confidence and she will not be an easy out for anybody. But I think Sabolenka still will move through the quarters there, but there are some interesting names. Jasmine Paolini is up that section of the drawer. Alexandrova, who's back, is into the top ten in the world last year, has actually beaten Saberlenco a couple of times as well, so she's up that section of the drawer. So it is a very hard hitting section. Marta Costuk is up there as well, so it's going to be a tough little section of the drawer.

00:05:58
Speaker 2: And maybe a little word for Iva Jovich, who comes in here at the Ostian Open as a twenty ninth seat. She's also only eighteen years old and had an incredible rise through the rankings at the end of the year. I think she needed a wildcard that the US Open still and now she's here and she's seated and she will possibly play Jasamine Paulini in the third round. She lost to her at the US Open, so she will get a little revenge match there.

00:06:21
Speaker 1: You know, one of the things that we do is we predict what we might see in the round to sixteen or quarters, but honestly, you just with women's tennus especially, you just never know what's going to happen. So there are some interesting names in there for sure, And Priscilla Harna is in that section of the drawer, and Ossie I do want to mention Priscilla. She had a really good end of the year, particularly the US Open last year, so look out for Priscilla to maybe have a sneaky good tournament here at the Australian Open. In the bottom half of Saberlenka's draw is Coco Goth And in her section of the drawer, there's a possibility that she might play Venus Williams in the second round if Venus wins her first round. But just your thoughts on Venus Williams being back at forty five years of age getting a walk out in the austral And Open.

00:07:08
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, she's an absolute legend of the sport. I mean, she's done incredible things. At the US Open. She puts Carolina Mukhova, she got her to three sets before she finally lost to her. I do think that she plays Danilovich in the first round, who is a lefty and who really is able to open the court, and it will be tough for Venus. But that's the thing with these legends of the sport. You think you know it, but they always teach you that they know better. Because I think that's something we have to keep in mind. I say that always when I talk about somebody like Federal, like Nadal, like Djokovic, like Venus, like Serena Williams. We look at them with our human eyes, but they are built different and so you can't really judge them the same way you would judge a normal tennis player like I was or you and you were. You were pretty up there in terms of Australian tennis legend.

00:07:59
Speaker 1: Well, if you want to put me in the version of Venus Williams, I will stand you corrected and say not so much. But anyway, Look, Coco is in that section of the drawer, and market Vondrosova is up that section. Carolina Muhova, who we know can beat anyone on any given day. She's proven that through the years. It's just a matter of can she break through to another final of a major. I think the cord here suits her a lot, so I think that look out for Carolina Mukhova's.

00:08:28
Speaker 2: And it was the first major tournament where she reached the semifinals. Yeah, I think five six years ago. Maybe now she just has to say healthy.

00:08:37
Speaker 1: Carolina Mukhova's a type of player that just has to say healthy because she has so many injuries, as has Vondrosova, who's also up that section of the draw. I think Coco gets through into that section of the draw, but I do think that there are some dangers there with Mukhova, with Vondrossova, they all are very big match players and so and clearly Venus. We don't know what to expect. But hopefully she gets through one round at least and we get to see her maybe play against Coco Gough because when Coco became famous was when she beat Venus at Wembledon when she was fifteen years of age, So that'd be nice moment.

00:09:11
Speaker 2: And with Coco that's the great thing. I think people sometimes treat her a little bit unfairly because she has these days where she seems to have a lot of trouble with you can have mine. Thanks is that the manster?

00:09:23
Speaker 1: No, I don't know who that is. Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

00:09:26
Speaker 2: But I honestly think that that's amazing with Coco, similar with Carlos Alcaraz, that they can have that day where they just have so much trouble, but they have this incredible mentality to still fight through. And if somebody has watched the United Cup over in Perth and Sydney, they would have seen that Coco had a really tough time again. Jessica Buzas Manero served thirteen double falls, a lot of unforced errors, but then just three days later she played one of the best matches I've ever seen her play against IGAs Fiantek. And I kind of love that you have these surprise packages with Carlos Alcaraz and Coco gov I don't know how you feel about it.

00:10:01
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean it's sort of like a box of chocolates with it too. I mean, Carlos a little less than Coco, but he's gotten much better. But yeah, he used to be a little bit more unpredictable a couple of years ago, he's pretty predictable. Now he just wins Grand Slam, so loses in the final. The bottom half of this particular draw is that probably the toughest little section, we feel with Switzlina, Schneider, Yastremska and Andreva. But there are players in that section of the drawer like Babora Kojikova, we know who's a multiple Grand Slam singles champion on her day can beat anybody, and she's not even seated in that section of the draw. So we are expecting maybe some outcomes in that section of the draw. It might be some surprises.

00:10:40
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think actually Switzalina has already a really tough first round against Boksa. I think she's much more dangerous than people would think, but I do think she gets through if kri Chikova is healthy. I would always pick her to go through to the quarters, just because I think she is such an incredibly talented player. The courtsier suitor I think was it last year two years ago when she made the quarters here with barely a functioning back. She was just serving one hundred and thirty five ks an hour on average. And still made a quarters, so I do think that if she's healthy that she will go through to In this.

00:11:14
Speaker 1: Section, yeah, I mean Andreva is down the bottom and has to play Donna Vikic in the first round, and Donna made the quarters here last year, So there are just unbelievable players in that section of the draw. Sakari is there, so if there's an unpredictable quarter final, it is the bottom half of the first page of the women's singles. For sure, we're gonna flip it over. And there's some interesting possibilities here. Jessica Bogoula up the half of the draw. It's kind of had a bit of an up and down year last year with some injuries, but finished the year well. At the us OP, I'm playing one of the best matches against Saberlenka, losing in three sets, and she's had a couple of good matches to start the year. Tough loss in the semifinals to Costure in Brisbane, but we've kind of highlighted that we think she can get through to the quarters. But in the section is Matty Keys. And also I do want to have a shout out to Carolina Plishkova, who's back former world number one is back from injury and it's nicest here in the draw. But just your thoughts on that section with Matti Keys but Dooza Pagoula's that's a tough section.

00:12:18
Speaker 2: It's a tough section. I would really would wish it for Jess Pagola because she's played some of the best matches last year. You mentioned the one against Sablenka in the semis of the US Open. She's also played a brilliant match against Rebakeina in the semi final of the WTA Finals. So she's had these crazy matches where she's match pointed up or has a set and a break and ends up losing heartbreakers. So I would want it for her the most. Probably. However, I watched McCartney Kesla yesterday, not only in that one point slam, but also in that practice match she played against a Nissimova and Rod labor Arena, and she was so brave and hitting the ball so well. That is a potential second round. I think if Jess Pagola can get through that second round, I think that's very dangerous. I think she will get to the quarters. But that's just one to keep an eye on.

00:13:04
Speaker 1: In my opinion, I agree McCartney Kesler can beat anyone. She's a doggedly determined opponent and so look out for her to give Pegoula a bit of a trouble in that section of draw. But it'll be interesting what American gets through there because Mattie Keys is a defending champion and whenever you come back to play an event, you tend to play well, you tend to feel comfortable in that situation. So we'll see if Maddie can get the win or get through because she has a lot of points to defend.

00:13:31
Speaker 2: Soly what do you think about Bodosa? She would be a potential third run She was last year's semi finalist, struggled with injuries. What do you think how quickly can she bounce back?

00:13:41
Speaker 1: Look on her best day she can beat anyone, But it's just a matter of fitness. Paula Bodoza has to have the fitness and in her section of the draw, I mean she plays Diaz in the first round, she has a pretty good section. But I think Pagola is going to get through there. But I think it's going to be very interesting to who moves through her noskover Penko Sophia Kennon, a former champion here, is also up that section of draw and Amanda Anisimova, who for me, I have said that Amanda, I feel like she's gonna win a major title this year. I don't know where it's going to be, but I suspect that she can win on any surface. She made the finals obviously of Wimbledon, she made the finals of the Years Open, but she has made the finals here in Australia, and she's made the semifinals, sorry, the semifinals here and in Roland Garriss. So this is a player that can play on any surface. So I think Amanda will win a major, if not this year next. She hasn't had a great lead up, she hasn't had a great couple of matches leading in here, but it sometimes doesn't take a lot for her to find her best form, and she is up that section of the drawer. So I think she's my pick to get through to the quarterfinals up there. Yeah.

00:14:48
Speaker 2: Nice, I like that because yesterday what you just said, I think that's a great point you're making, because she was playing McCartney Keslar in that Rod Labor Arena match I just mentioned, and she was not playing well. You could just that she was not feeling the ball quite yet. And in the second set, there was a moment she was down three to six, it was three all in use, and her face just changed. It was all of a sudden, the Amanda and Nissimova game face, and she ran away with the next three game, six to three and a heartbeat, and lost it in a match tiebreak. Obviously, there is no match tiebreak as a third set in the real deal. So I think if she can find that game face, you know, that's the inner stance of I'm not going to moan about what's happening. I'm not going to complain about the conditions. I'm just gonna settle down and do this thing. Then she can and will beat anybody.

00:15:38
Speaker 1: Yeah, I think she's the player to beat up that half.

00:15:40
Speaker 2: Of the day. What do you think about Madison Keys? You mentioned her. She just lost to Victorian Bokoov and Adelaide, But she is the defending champion here. Can she find the magic of winning a major title?

00:15:52
Speaker 1: I don't think she's gonna defend. And the reason I say that it's not because she's not capable. She's arguably the best hitter of the ball in women's tenna. But she just hasn't gotten this. She hasn't had the same lead up she won Adelaide playing probably the best tennis of her life, came in here super confident, whereas she's had a lot of injuries, she's had an iteration to her service motion again, so I just think that she just doesn't quite have the same confidence she had last year. So I just don't see her defending her title this year. I see Amando being the one who get through there. In the bottom half of that drawer, Elena Rabarkina, who finished the year off winning the WTA Finals. Unbelievable tennis from her, and she can beat anyone on any given day. I really feel like she's the play to beat in that section of the drawer. Maya Joint is the seed to get through there, hopefully, and Aussie gets through there to play her and Belinda Bencic, Alisa mertens Naomi Osaka, Samsonova, Kalinskaya and Igasciontek. I mean, there's some unbelievable names in that section the draw.

00:16:51
Speaker 2: Well and interesting, and we will get to the menstruw where we have a similar situation, but both Mertens and Benchic where the MVPs of United Cup for Belgium Benchic for Switzerland. She actually ended up winning the trophy for MVP because she really won every single match that she played and except for the last mixed doubles, but other than that, she won every single match, and a similar thing for Matton. She won almost all her singles, almost all her mixed doubles, So they are both in tremendous form and they will play each other possibly in the third round.

00:17:24
Speaker 1: Yeah, I feel like IgA Siontech will get through there and maybe to play Rebakina or Benchic. I think Eager, I think this court will suit her this year. I think she's she looked pretty good last night and that one challenge she looked super relaxed. But it's interesting when they play these different exhibition type of tennis that some of the things that Eager struggles with is just being more relaxed. And I think she actually was looking more relaxed last night than any other pro the way she handled it. But yeah, so listen, who's gonna Let's have a round of four for Maddy English from Australia who just got through these austral and Open qualifying, which is such an amazing thing to feel as a player, is to get through qualifying and earn your right into major. Did you ever qualified? Did you ever have to qualify? Were just too good?

00:18:10
Speaker 2: I was too good? Of course. I actually did qualify in my very first Grand Slam. I qualified at the French Open.

00:18:17
Speaker 1: Yeah. It's just the best feeling in the world. You know, a lot of these Australian players expect to get a wild card and sometimes you get denied the wildcard and then you have to go and play qualifying, and then to get it through you earn your way into the major. Feels even better than getting a wildcard. I can tell you that right now, So well done, Maddie Keith.

00:18:33
Speaker 2: Maddie h Well maybe you just maybe she will be Maddie keys that I just predicted.

00:18:38
Speaker 1: Her the tournament. All right, let's get to the guys.

00:18:40
Speaker 2: Wait, well we would, we would one more thing Nowaka she is in the section. She could be a possible fourth round for Igosh Fiantek. How do you rate her form currently after that semi final of the US Open last year?

00:18:53
Speaker 1: Look, I just think again, she just doesn't have the tennis under her belt that she needs. Coming in here. Can she beat anyone at any given day? Absolutely? Naomi Saka is a what four or five time champion of a major title. She knows how to win them. But everyone is so good now, and I think you just have to she has she has to get more tennis under a belt. I just don't think she's quite there enough to oppress an eager Shon Tech or Reba Kina or any of these players. But then again, who knows. And we know she's capable of she has the she has the tools, that's for sure. All Right, let's get to the guys. We sort of went through the drawer of the men and then we're like, well, let's go through this section in this section, and then we had a bit of a laugh because we're like, let's just put Alcoraz and Sinner in the final. I mean, it's just who is going to beat those two guys. I mean, I was kind of hoping Alex Dimonor wasn't anywhere near Yanik or Carlos, But sadly he's got Carlos in the quarterfinals again if he makes it there, so for him to reach a semifinal, he's gonna have to beat the number and play in the world, which is a bit of a bummer, but there's a lot of tennis to be played there. We never know why.

00:20:00
Speaker 2: Happens well, and the Demon has a really tough first round because he drew Matteo Barrettini, who is unseated in the first round because Matteo was struggling with a lot of injuries and so he has lost his seating and Demon got him. That's a tough one. Although I will say it's kind of a perfect matchup for Demon because he's one of maybe the best returners of serf when it comes to getting a ball back into court when somebody's serving huge bombs at you. He was the only one to break through Hubert Hercutch to serve over at United Cups. Huby were serving twenty aces on average per match and Demon was able to return them. And so I think maybe this is not as bad as it sounds on paper for Alex.

00:20:43
Speaker 1: Yeah, we'll see. I mean, it will certainly be a huge match on rod Lava. There's no doubt that match will be on rod Lava at night, which probably helps Demon a little bit more as well. The serve won't jump as much at night as it would in the daytime, but I don't do this schedule, so don't look at me if it doesn't get scared at the right time. But yeah, Alcarez up the top of the half of the draw. I'm interested to see how Tommy Paul does up that section of the draw because Tommy has really sort of struggled with a terrible injury last year and I think he's finally healthy. So it'll be nice to see him back and see how much he can push these players.

00:21:17
Speaker 2: Yeah, and tough for him because he was in a top eight seat or top twelve seats in the last few major tournaments. Now he's only nineteen. That's why he will meet somebody like Alcaraz in the fourth round and so early. But there's a few We have Corda there who is unseated, who could maybe potentially be a third round for Alcaraz. Other than that, I do think that Alcaraz will go through. But who doesn't think that.

00:21:40
Speaker 1: As long as Alcaraz doesn't have Maria Sakari in his draw. Just kidding up to the one point last night, that's a joke, okay, okay, So demon I feel like it's going to get through and play Alcoraz in the quarters, but again there's so much tennis to be played. Bublik is up there. He just won a tournament leading into the austral And Open. So watch out for Alexander Bubla He's that type of player that can beat anyone on any given day and he doesn't care about who he's playing, and so look out. If there's a dark horse to get through to the semifinals to maybe take out Alcarez or somebody, is Alexander Bublick For shore Fantasy Tiafo is also in that section, but I just think Alexander Blue Black might be your dark horse to get through deep into this tournament. So if you have to have a bed out there, that's the one I would put it on. Alexander Zverev is at the top half of the bottom half of the section. Of course, he made the finals here last year. I feel like he's the class of that bottom half the draw except Medvedev, who all of a sudden wins Brisbane and is he back? Is he back?

00:22:42
Speaker 2: I would say he's back. I thought already by the end of last year he was playing really, really well. I thought he missed a huge opportunity in Shanghai at the ATP one thousand when he was in the semis Nova klast and he was the last player standing with Rinda Kneshen Basharoh, and he just kind of knew that, and I felt like, just meant to just say it. Well, he knew that he might should, probably should win the Shanghai Masters. But what I really liked he bounced back and won a title after that, and ever since then he's kind of looked like the same Medvedev again. He has a new coach and Thomas jo Hansen, who is not an unknown here, won the Australian Open. When was it? Do you remember two thousand?

00:23:22
Speaker 1: I want to say two thousand and one, It might be it might have been. I think it might have been the year. The only reason I know that is because the year I won the doubles. It might have been two thousand, actually, because I remember. It's a good story. Actually, when I won the doubles, I walked off the court and he was walking to the court to play his semi final and he said, hey, congratulations, and I was like, thanks, why don't you concentrate on what you're trying to do out there? So I think it might have been that year. I don't know, somebody will look it up and tweet me and say you were totally wrong and you don't know what you're talking about. But that's nothing different.

00:23:50
Speaker 2: No, I think that's pretty good. That's a pretty good guest. So and I do think so.

00:23:54
Speaker 1: I wait, wait, wait, why don't you look up on that on chat GPT? Do you want to tell people about your obsession with chat ChiPT?

00:24:00
Speaker 2: So this is very uninteresting, but I will tell it anyways. I had a huge fight with AI today because I asked AI, did McCartney Kesla ever play on Rod Labor Arena? And AI gives me the answer yes. In twenty twenty four, she played Igaciontech in second round. I called the match from Igasciontec in twenty twenty four and she actually played Danielle Collins. So I write back, I don't think you chat I'm talking to I'm still talking to an AI on my on my phone right, So I write back, I don't think that's right. I called that match and I'm pretty sure it was Danielle Collins. So Chetchipt writes back, Oh, I'm sorry my answer was incorrect. However, Kesla did play on Rod Labor she played Noskova. I was like, in what history of the world did Noskova McCartney Kesla in the second round of the Australian Open ever play on rod Labor arena. And I was now, I'm making it sound like it was all nice. I was yelling and cursing at It was actually Gemini.

00:25:04
Speaker 1: I want to get it was yelling at Gemini. She's swearing at.

00:25:09
Speaker 2: Swearing, cursing. I was like, you're the worst. I'm like, you're the worst. This is terrible. I can't believe how wrong you are. And in the end Gemini apologize to me.

00:25:20
Speaker 1: It's like when you yell at Syria and it goes I'm so sorry, Renee, please don't yell at me. So anyway, But then again, she's been yelling at me all day today, so I feel like she's been on a tear and I think Gemini is the cause of that. So Gemini, get your you know what together. I can't say because there's children around here. I can't say you the S word, Okay, So let's flip it over.

00:25:42
Speaker 2: Yeah, just so one more thing, Zverev please Gabriel d'yello, which is not an easy first round Gabrielle is forty one in the world, so quite high. He's had a good season last year. I still think Zarap is getting through. And I want to say a few words about Medvedev because I think what he did last year was very commendable because he played horrible on paper in the first six months, but he tried to develop his game. He played much more aggressive than he would actually and after six months he had hit the most winners on the ATP Tour of all the players on the ATP too. So what it tells me is that yes, he was not winning many matches, but he was trying to find a game that is more suitable to modern tennis. To Jannick Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, he was trying to become more aggressive, and in the end, I think at the end of the season he found the perfect balance between his game and his natural instincts of being a little bit further back and playing defensively, but also that more aggressive mindset, and that's why I think he can be very dangerous here at the Australian All all.

00:26:45
Speaker 1: Right, well, there you go. You heard it from Petco first.

00:26:48
Speaker 2: I definitely know more than Gemini about tennis. That's been proven.

00:26:52
Speaker 1: Geez, don't start her on Gemini. One thing that I do want to say is learn a tienn American, young American who had a really good ton in here last year qualifying. He beat a couple of really good plays. That guy knows how to beat the best in the world, and he is now one of the best in the world himself. He's starting to climb up the rankings. So keep an eye out and learn a ti And he's a terrific young lefty.

00:27:12
Speaker 2: Oh my god. And he actually beat Medvedev in the first round.

00:27:15
Speaker 1: There you go. See. But I think they would play far th round. I think Maddi wins that one this year. All right, well, if we're gonna flip it over and start on the other section of the men's draw, Lorenzo Mercetti. There's a couple of Italians up there, Sonigo who made the quarters last year. Here he is unseeded. That's a section. And also somebody to look out for, and there's a great story that he's back is Grigor Dimotrov. Gregor had a rough year last year when he basically tore his bicep off or his pack muscle off his bone at Wimbledon. It was terrible. He is back played in Brisbane. He lost a tough match there, but nice to see him back. And he's up that section of the drawer unseated and he will go up against Marshak Mahach mahush. Sorry I relied. I relied on you and not Gemini.

00:28:03
Speaker 2: That it is tough European names.

00:28:06
Speaker 1: You've got that one. But there is a lot of really good players in that section.

00:28:11
Speaker 2: Passes there who played brilliantly over at United Cup and Perth he beat the Taylor Fritz. He looks much improved.

00:28:19
Speaker 1: Yeah, And on the bottom section of Mercedes's draw there is a guy called Novak Djokovic who's only won this title how many times? Ten, ten times, ten times? And he just on an exhibition match against Francis Tiafo out there. He looks younger than ever. He looks younger than you ever look a here, maybe I should become vegan.

00:28:38
Speaker 2: He doesn't even have.

00:28:39
Speaker 1: Any gray hairs yet. I mean, what is going on this guy? It's like Benjamin Button. He just ages in reverse. But it'll be nice to see Novak. He's going to have unbelievable support here in Melbourne, being such a champion here. I'm waiting for them to do a statue of him on the on the grounds here somewhere, like they did with Rafael Nadal. But do you think this is his last Australian Open. I don't know.

00:29:06
Speaker 2: I definitely am looking at his gar right now and I honestly don't see anybody beating him before the semi finals. I think he will make the semifinals. He has a basically fifteen and oh heads ahead against Fruitz, he has a six and zero against Muzzetti, He has a The only player he's lost to really is Menschik. He lost to him at the Miami Open final last year seven six, seven six. It was very humid, very hot, so maybe that's but Menschik has to get to the fourth round to be able to play Djokovic in the first round best of five is a completely different beast. I see him in the semis again, to be honest.

00:29:40
Speaker 1: And we also want to mention Hovey Hert Cutch, who played amazing at Hotman Cup. He is also in that section of the draw. So that is a bit of a group of death, let's put it that way. The Novak with Brandon jet Nakashima, with Menchiic, with Creekspoor who's had some big matches, Hubi Hercutch. They're all in same section of the draw. So that's an incredible section of the draw. And that's to play Taylor Fritz and Muscetti and Stefano Sitza pass. So that is a really, really tough section to draw for Novak if he's going to get through to another semi or final here at this train open. But you think he's going to.

00:30:16
Speaker 2: I think he's going to. I just I also think that I think Taylor Fritz, who usually I would always circle, is one of the favorites. He's been having terrible knee tender itis in his preseason, so he wasn't able to practice as much as he would have liked to. So I don't think he's as fit as he would probably want it to be if he had a perfect preseason.

00:30:38
Speaker 1: Yeah, and one of the things about Taylor here is unbelievably fit. The guy works so hard, so if it's not able to put in that little bit extra, it can hurt him. And also, you guys know how I feel about him not getting to the net. He's got to improve his netplate If he does that, I think then he can he can maybe push these guys in big matches on the bottom half the draw of course, yar Nick Sinner down the botto half the draw. There, the two time Australian Open champion. He's the guy to beat here until someone beats him. He's kind of turning it a little bit of a novak here in Australia. Loves the court surface, the speed is perfect for him and I don't see anyone really pushing him. If if it was Roughie on Nadal says, if if if does not exist, but Jao Fonseka, that could be a third round between fon Saka and Sinner. That'll be a lot of fun. Oh my god, that will be in the wins. But there'll be some fireworks and there will be the two biggest four hands you've ever seen out there playing against each other. And it's pray that we see that match in the third round.

00:31:38
Speaker 2: Yeah, And I think that there is something to be sent for players that have their break through in a specific country and draw. Fonseca had his breakthrough here last year where he won this huge hundred and twenty five K Challenger before the Australian Open, then qualified here and I went out to watch his qualifying matches and I was like, who is this kid? He's so good and he'd be so in his first ever best of five match, he beat a top ten player. He beat Andre Rublev here in the first round and then lost I think in a second. But I think he will feel very very good about himself coming here. Unfortunately, he did have to pull out of was it Brisbane or Adelaide because of some back issues, But hopefully he's just being pre cautious about the Australian.

00:32:24
Speaker 1: Yeah, let's hope and pray we get that third round because that'll be blockbuster. Karen Hatchinov is down there as well. Ben Shelton. How is Ben going to come back? He had that. We saw what happened at the US Open where he couldn't finish his match there. That was terrible. I was actually commentating that match and it was brutal to see. But you know, look, if Ben's at one hundred percent and he's playing well, and he's had a couple of matches under his belt, he's playing in Auckland, I believe he's still in the tournament there. Look out for Ben because again where was his breakthrough here at this train open? So he comes in here feeling really good about him the way he plays here at this court and is a great court for him. So maybe see Ben Shelton and Yannick Sinna playing against each other in a quarterfinal would be a great quarterfinal to see just for the fans.

00:33:09
Speaker 2: Yeah, and and I mean Ben Shelton has a possible third round with Valentine Vaucheroe. And for the Franco file of us, that is the French section there. I think we have Monfist there, we have Vasher there, we have Umberg there. So if you do like France, which I wouldn't know why you would, And I'm just joking as a German, you know we have we have some kind of animosity between us, but if you're a friend.

00:33:36
Speaker 1: Out of all, there's enough going on right now, Like seriously.

00:33:38
Speaker 2: And I'm just joking. I love the French actually I speak for but Vachero speaking of Ai, doesn't washero look like an Ai. If you told an Ai, show me what a tennis player looks like, Valentine Vacherol would come out of the other side, because he's exactly the right size of a tennis player. He's the long share with the three day beer, you know what I'm mean.

00:34:04
Speaker 1: No, and I think perfect tennis player. I think maybe Roger Federer or Novak joc No, I mean.

00:34:09
Speaker 2: Just from the looks. If you saw him here, you know, not from playing. If you saw him here, if I saw him on the street, I would know immediately that he's a tennis player, without Evan knowing who he is.

00:34:19
Speaker 1: Okay, if if he went on vacation in the Maldives, well that would just be he was definitely a tennis player. All right. So we've got through the draws in pretty good depth. So I'm gonna ask you, so you better listen to this. If you want to put any money on these matches, you should not listen to us. Who do you think is going to win the men's who's gonna win the women's and who is going to get into the final? On your thoughts on this.

00:34:47
Speaker 2: Well, I'm gonna go with center al Karaz and which.

00:34:51
Speaker 1: Actually was he really went on a limb there?

00:34:53
Speaker 2: Yes? Actually I don't know al Karaz because he's never made it past the quarters here, has he? No? Oh, we have a little calling, Yannick as the winner and final final answer. It's just there is nobody up there that can beat him. I think I'm going to go Alcaraz. Maybe maybe if Media Dev makes it to the Semis, I can see Mediadev beating Alcaraz in the Semis. But I would say center Alcaraz Cina wins. Women. I would say rebeccn As Saballenka rematch, Sablenka wins.

00:35:37
Speaker 1: Wow, you're just making that call straight up. I love that.

00:35:40
Speaker 2: I honestly I think Chiontek will go really far. But I just wanted to be extra today.

00:35:45
Speaker 1: Okay, well you've been extra all day, You've been yelling at me all day. I'm gonna agree with you. Alcoraz, you know, I think that you know, will absolutely be in the final. He's just too good here in Melbourne. And I do think that it's time. I think it's time for Alcoraz to breakthrough here. I think it's time that he had a tattoo of an Australian animal. Word on the street maybe is it's going to be a kangaroo. Take a quaker, Yeah, a quaker. They're so cute. It's not quite as symbolic as a kangaroo. For me, it is okay.

00:36:17
Speaker 2: For you it is, but I also call it brisbane.

00:36:20
Speaker 1: That's true. I did suggest a koala, but he said no, not kangaroo. So we'll see. So he's already manifested a kangaroo somewhere on his body. Whether it's a tattoo or he has to go to the zoo will be a different story. But I think that it will be a classic Alcarez Ciner final. And on the women's you know, it's so unpredictable. We had four Grand Slam champion, different champions last year. In the women's we had, of course Saberlenka won at the US Open, Cocoa GoF wins at the French Eager wins unexpectedly at Wimbledon, and of course Maddie Keys wins here. I think Amanda Nsimova is going to win somewhere this year. I don't know if she's playing quite well enough to win this tournament, but I'm going to go on a limb and I'm gonna say I think Amanda makes a final, or.

00:37:08
Speaker 2: As antr Inda Knesh said yesterday, go big or go home. I go home.

00:37:13
Speaker 1: I go home, Okay, So I'm going to say Amanda Anasamova mate reached another final here.

00:37:18
Speaker 2: Yes, I love that.

00:37:19
Speaker 1: I mean going down a limb.

00:37:21
Speaker 2: I love that, Joe, I love that choice for you. I will say one more word for Igasantek. I have a feeling that she will do that. She will surprise many here because people think she's not in good form because she lost those two matches at United Cup. But she played twice absolutely red hot players in Coco goth and Belinda Bencic. I think she will have learned tremendous amount from these matches.

00:37:45
Speaker 1: Oh wait, wait, wait, so you changing your mind?

00:37:49
Speaker 2: No, I'm just putting it. I think that she will surprise people here.

00:37:52
Speaker 1: Okay, I don't disagree with you. If I had to pick one person outside of the people we chose in that section, I tek yes, I think it's time for her and Alchiz to make a final here. Neither of them have been in the final here, So maybe I'm gonna change my mind. I'm gonna go with Tech me too, Okay, fine, so Igason Tech and then Saberlenka likely in the final on the other side, So pick your winners, pick your winner.

00:38:18
Speaker 2: Oh, I think I'm staying with Arena red labor arena hasn't been named arena for has been named arena for reason.

00:38:28
Speaker 1: Okay, So Saberlenka Sinner is that you choose choices? Yes, okay, I'm I might. I'm I'm gonna go just to be a contrarian away from you. I'm gonna say she on Tech and Sinner. I think Sinner is going to win this tournament. Oh geez, thanks, all right, what's been that kind of day? You've been abusing me all day and now you're abusing me with the mic. This has been an incredible experience for all of you guys the fan week here at the Australian Open. It feels like a tournament. It's unbelievable what tennis is done the grounds here, all the things that are happening around the grounds have been unbelievable. And I just as an Australian who played the Australian Open back the very first time here at Melbourne Park when it was called Flinders Park in nineteen eighty eight. Yes, I was four when I played my first one. But the amount of changes to this park and this precinct has been outrageous and it's been incredible. So the Victorian Government to Tennis Australia. Well done on just producing. Arguably, it's not just a tennis tournament here. If you haven't been to the Australian Open, it's like a carnival. It's like a fair, it's like a picnic, it's like a music festival. It's like it's like a kid zone. It's everything you ever wanted in in a sporting event, mixed in with a lot of fun, a lot of beer, a lot of Apperol spritzers, a lot of to kill, a lot of Sahi beer. It's just I mean for you. Also, you played and been here so many times, is it just not incredible what's been happening here?

00:39:58
Speaker 2: Yeah? I mean I'm the big fan off the one point Slam. I think, just without any bias, I think it's by far and the best organized and best Grand Slam tournament that we have in the world. And I think even the other Grand Slams would pick the Australian Open to be the best Grand Slam tournament. I'm not even lying. I really think they would.

00:40:18
Speaker 1: No. I mean, and I will say this, it's amazing how many things that ustrain Open does that other Grand Slams all of a sudden the next year implement into their courts or their grounds, or their led screens or a roof or whatever, and so so anyway, to everybody at Tennis Australia and everyone who came today, thank you for joining us. I cannot wait to see you all back here on the grounds or watching on Channel Nines coverage or all around the world wherever you're watching on your streaming networks. Thanks for joining us today and have fun, keep drinking, have a good time today. Thanks very much, Bike, and thanks Andrea.