The French Connection: Jessica Pegula

This year tennis is going from Paris to Paris between the French Open and the Olympics both taking place at the legendary Roland Garros. Co-hosts Rennae Stubbs and Sam Querrey talk to tennis legends and legendary voices—and on this episode, we do a full draw breakdown ahead of the tournament, with world number five player Jessica Pegula. Starting with Rafael Nadal's opener against fourth seed Alexander Zverev, and what makes Iga so hard to play on clay?

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
As you've played against Eager so many times. What makes
her a so great and be so great on play?

Speaker 2 (00:07):
She plays more like a guy, to be honest, just
like heavier, heavier top spin. She doesn't necessarily hit his
flat and I think that again, her movement in her
athleticism is really good. And then her Yeah, her ability
to kind of throw up that heavy tops all kind
of it's heavy and it comes off your racket. It's

(00:27):
tough to kind of control it you get out of position.
And then she's just really good as well as taking
it early and stepping in. She's not afraid to step in.
We know that, especially when she's firing. She's you know,
can hit a lot of winners too. So yeah, I mean,
she's just kind of a really good play corner.

Speaker 1 (00:44):
Welcome everybody to the French Connection, brought to you by
NBC Sports and Racket. We'll be covering tennis from the
French Open through to the Paris Olympics and everything in between.
I'm Renee selves and he over there is Sam Query.
All right, Sam, it is the day. There is a
day that every tennis player stresses about and waits for.

(01:05):
The draw is out at the French Open. Now you
and I being pundits now and not playing in the draw,
we get to PRAISEE over it with smiles and with
chuckles and everything.

Speaker 3 (01:14):
So how much do you pay attention to the draw
and the seatings and everything?

Speaker 1 (01:18):
And what about this draw that surprises you the most
in the men's let's start with that.

Speaker 4 (01:23):
Well, it's huge. I mean I remember when I was playing.
If you were playing at two fifty of five hundred,
the draw, when the draw came out, the draw came
out at a plam, it was different. You knew that
the draw came out Thursday at four o'clock or maybe
Friday at three o'clock, so you almost were constantly looking
at your phone. Guys, draws in thirty minutes, draws in
an hour. You'd be at practice, practice, being on the changeover,
and it would be like draws out. We got to

(01:44):
like time out for twenty minutes. Let's look through the draw.
I know everyone's different, but that's what I was like.
And you would look through and see where you were,
who you played first round, who you possibly might play
second round. You look and see where all the I
mean maybe at like wibbled in for me at the
French open. I would mostly look at it for and
you look and see where all your friends were, all
the other Americans. So the draws at the French who

(02:05):
opened and the other slams were a much bigger deal.
And of course the issue We've got Rafa playing Zverev,
We've got Murray playing wile Rinka. Yourself, though, what were
you did you? Were you on my side? Were you
like a draw breakdown and so excited look at everything?
Or you just I don't care who I'm playing. I'm
going to walk on the court.

Speaker 1 (02:22):
I was a player that did not want to see
any parts of the draw at a Grand Slam. I
was completely the opposite at a regular tournament. I liked
looking at the draw. I was like, oh whatever, I
didn't care. I was just like, okay, who do we
play in the first round? And maybe I looked, but
I was the type of person and I really believe
in this, and some people don't really care, you know.
To our guest on today, Jessica Bagoola, I've actually asked her,

(02:44):
She's like, oh no, I look at the whole drawer
where Serena? If you told her who she was playing
too early in a tournament, she would never talk to
you again, Like I made that mistake.

Speaker 3 (02:53):
One time I told her who she was playing at Wimbledon.
I was like, oh, you play so and.

Speaker 1 (02:57):
So And it was like maybe Thursday for the tournament.
When the draw came out, She's like, she won the match.
And then she told me and by the way, don't
ever tell me who I'm playing first round too early
before because she doesn't like to stress about it. I
was the same. I don't want to know too much.
I want to know my first round. I want to
then concentrate on that. I don't want to think about
who's in the draw because there are so many things
that can happen.

Speaker 3 (03:17):
That you're not in control of.

Speaker 1 (03:18):
And if you're worrying about who you want to play
in the third round, maybe they're gonna lose.

Speaker 3 (03:22):
So I don't know.

Speaker 1 (03:22):
I just didn't want to know anything other than when
I was playing in the first round.

Speaker 3 (03:25):
But that one.

Speaker 1 (03:27):
Can we just talk about Rafa and Vera first round?
That is Bonker's crazy first round.

Speaker 4 (03:32):
It is crazy for everyone. Obviously, Rafa doesn't want to
see that draw, and I don't think Verav wants to
see that draws Vera's coming off for realm title. Rafa's
coming off fourteen French Open titles. He's not playing his
best right now. Hopefully, you know, he's got three four
more days to kind of fine tune his game and
see what level he can get to. But obviously Vera's
going to be a heavy favorite in that Rafa will

(03:53):
have ninety nine point nine percent of the crowd support
and hopefully we get a good competitive match from I
don't know if he down he believes he can win it,
but I think he would love to go out there
play really well and then anything can happen.

Speaker 1 (04:07):
Yeah, I mean, it's just a it's a sad first
round really in so many ways, because you'd want to
see him win a couple of matches at least. But
I think it's ninety nine point nine nine percent, and
maybe the two people in the crowd is Zverev's dad
and his brother cheering for him, but that'll be about it.

Speaker 4 (04:22):
A little part of them might want Rafa to win too.

Speaker 3 (04:25):
Maybe, but probably not so. Sam.

Speaker 1 (04:28):
What about the fact that Novak, who clearly is you
know a lot of people think al Karaz is the favorite.

Speaker 3 (04:33):
His draw isn't too bad. Alcarez down the bottom half
of the draw.

Speaker 1 (04:37):
It looks like he will play Sinner if they get
through to the semi finals and play one another, which
we know is arguably the best match up in tennis
these days. But Novak, what about him going to As
we look at the draw, I mean, there it is
al Karaz Djokovic the top and bottom sections of the drawer.

Speaker 3 (04:55):
Djokovic will have to play Alcaraz if Alcaraz beats Sinner.

Speaker 1 (04:59):
I mean, there's so many any great players, But I
want your thoughts on the fact that Novak has gone
and played a two point fifty in Geneva before the
French Open. I mean, when was the last time he
did that to prepare for the French And what is
that signal to you?

Speaker 4 (05:14):
Yeah, you know, I don't know if we've ever he's
ever done that before the French But this is one
of those weird years. He's never had a year like
this coming into the French. He hasn't won a tournament.
He's had a ton of early round exits. But I've
been saying this for a while. As long as Novak
Djokovic is in the draw, I'm picking him to win
the tournament. He's just been too dominant over the last
six seven, eight years. The French Open is a different

(05:35):
test than the previous you know, five six tournaments he's played,
which has been two out of three set of ends.
This is three out of five. This is a true test.
He's been to the finals seven times. So with Novak
in the draw, I'm picking him to win it right now.

Speaker 1 (05:50):
But look at that first round that he has to play. Arabert,
who we know is a very very good French player.
He can, you know, play unbelievable sometimes, you know, with
the French crowd, you know, Sam, there's nothing worse in
tennis than playing a French player in Paris. I mean
it's like, all of a sudden you realize, oh, they

(06:10):
hate me here. So I mean, just on that alone
and playing a tournament leading into the French Open, that
proves that he's not confident at all in thirty seven
years of age on Wednesday, Ah, it's not going to
get any easier for him.

Speaker 3 (06:23):
I mean his draw is quite strong.

Speaker 4 (06:25):
No, you're right, like you said, he's thirty seven. It's
just going to get harder and harder. But and tell,
someone can prove to me that they can beat Novak
consistently at a Slam, especially the French Open. Over a
five set match on clay. Novak is still the guy
to beat in my opinion. Having said that Al Karaz
Tinner those guys are are arguably maybe playing a little

(06:47):
better than him at the moment, but I think Novak
is still at the top of the mountain.

Speaker 1 (06:52):
And one first round that I stood out to me obviously,
other than Rafa and Zverev was Andy Murray plays against
Stan Vavrinkov cose Stan Balbrinka truly one of the great players.
It's interesting that Andy and Stan are probably the two
best players outside of the top three you know greats
in well certainly Nobauk, Roger and.

Speaker 3 (07:15):
Rafa.

Speaker 1 (07:16):
So them playing against each other first round arguably could
be their last Frinch Open as well, the two of them.
Just quick thoughts on the two of those two playing
each other in the first round, right.

Speaker 4 (07:25):
It could go back eight years that's a semi final,
but yeah, you know it could be their last one.
They've both been playing challengers this year. They're still they
still love the game. You know, you see them. Murray
was in Borteaux last week. You see Stan playing challengers.
There's Obviously there's some fire there still that they want
to kind of get back into the mix with the
guys in the top twenty, top thirty, but they're struggling

(07:47):
at the moment. But that's going to be one of
those matches. Maybe the quality isn't where it is, or
isn't where it was six seven, eight years ago, but
it's a huge matchup. It's two big names. They're going
to be on a big court. It's going to be
packed with fans, and I'm personally tited to watch it.
I don't know about you. I know they're not in
their prime, but it's still a fun matchup.

Speaker 3 (08:06):
I know Andy gets the worst draws.

Speaker 1 (08:08):
He really does get bad draws at the Slams no
matter what, and clearly not his favorite surface, clay, but
he played a lot on it as a kid. That's
really where he sort of crafted his tennis was in
Spain on the dirt, which is why he's kind of
a little bit defensive really as a player. But quickly
on the women's as well, Eager Sion Tech. We know
she's the favorite going to the French. We're going to

(08:29):
break all of this down a lot more with Jessica Bagoula,
who is our guest today. We can't wait to hear
from Josh. She is a little bit injured and pulled
out of the French Open today, so we get to
hear all about her thoughts.

Speaker 3 (08:39):
Going into particularly the women's.

Speaker 1 (08:41):
But your thoughts on that Danielle Collins is up her
section like up in her half of the draw. Possibly
in her fourth rounds she'll play eager Shontek Danielle. So
just your thoughts on the women's There were some interesting
first rounds Spitz to Lena playing against Plishkoba first round.

Speaker 3 (08:59):
Just give me a quick thoughts on the women.

Speaker 4 (09:02):
When we had Serena enterprime, it was Serena and everyone else.
That's what we've gotten right now. With the ego, especially
on the clay, she is the clay court queen, winning Madrid,
winning Rome. It's it's her tournament right now. I think
all the all the women in the event feel that
Okay is is there going to be an upset, But
ego has been so dominant. I don't see anyone beating

(09:22):
her as long as she plays at a relatively high level.
But yeah, that's that's kind of where I see it going.

Speaker 3 (09:29):
What are your thoughts on the woman that, Yeah, when
I look at this draw, I mean Ega arguably has
a tougher draw.

Speaker 1 (09:36):
I think a tougher draw, not in the first round.
Andreva is a very good young player, so that is
not going to be an easy first up match for
Saba Lenca, whereas you know, he gets to play against
the qualifier. Sometimes those qualifiers can be unbelievably good as well.
I mean Sophia Kennon took out Gough last year at
Wimbledond for example, after getting through qualifying and such a
classy player.

Speaker 3 (09:56):
So it depends on who the qualifier is.

Speaker 1 (09:58):
But I'd say Ega feels pretty good about that first round.
But to get through Bronzetti, Kudamatova, Alexandrova, and clearly we
know this is probably not going to be the players
that she plays because we know there's always upsets.

Speaker 3 (10:10):
But Goff in the semifinals and then of course Sabalenka.

Speaker 1 (10:14):
That's sort of been what we've been watching this year,
you know, her playing golf in the quarters or semi,
so her playing Sabalanka in the final, and then for Sablanka,
I think she starts off pretty tough there. Bolta had
a decent year. I think it's Mattie Key Sakari Rebarkina.
That's not easy three matches in a row, because they
both can play. They all can play very well on clay.

(10:36):
But once the train gets on the tracks with these two,
it's kind of hard to stop them. So I see
them being in the final against one another. But certainly
we never know. Rebarkina. Can she stay healthy, not injured,
not throwing up somewhere. I mean, she keeps getting sick.
I think she's just got to like, I don't know,
you bring a chef to cook for her or something.
I don't know what's going on, but certainly the women's

(10:58):
draw is uber exciting. Who knows, but it's eager against
the field for sure.

Speaker 4 (11:02):
Yep, absolutely, yeah, So we are.

Speaker 1 (11:06):
Really excited obviously to bring all of this to you.
We're gonna Sam and I are going to be here
throughout it, through the French Open, leading right through to
the Paris Olympics.

Speaker 3 (11:15):
We can't wait.

Speaker 1 (11:16):
We've got the one and only Jessica Pagoula, as we said,
who pulled out of the French today to talk about
all the men's and women's draw. Roland Garris coverage begins Sunday,
May twenty six at twelve pm Eastern, exclusively on Pickoff.
The full TV schedule is on nbcsports dot com.

Speaker 3 (11:39):
All right, guys, welcome to the show.

Speaker 1 (11:41):
The one and only number five currently on the WTA
ranking Jessica Pagoula, Jess, Welcome to the show. Welcome to
the French connection with myself and of course Sam Query.

Speaker 3 (11:51):
Jess, First of all, what's been going on?

Speaker 1 (11:54):
Can you give us an update on sort of what
your life has been like over the last couple of months.

Speaker 2 (11:59):
Yeah, well, I was, you know, playing a lot of
matches up until Charleston played Billy Jean King Cup and
then unfortunately kind of sustained a little bit of an
injury basically like the week before I was leaving for Madrid,
so unfortunately had to pull out of basically the whole
rest of the clay court season.

Speaker 5 (12:17):
So upset.

Speaker 2 (12:18):
I'm missing Roland Garros, but trying to play it smart
and be ready to go for full grass hard Olympics,
you know, the rest of the year awesome.

Speaker 4 (12:28):
Do you have a tournament you've kind of highlighted as
your first tournament back or trying to get back to
I think.

Speaker 2 (12:34):
I'm gonna play Schutagambosh in Holland. I actually haven't played that.
It was actually the first grass court tournament I ever played,
and I don't know if.

Speaker 5 (12:42):
I've been back since.

Speaker 2 (12:44):
So I'm excited though, because I've actually never played like
a full grass court season.

Speaker 5 (12:50):
It just like I'm always a long clay court season.

Speaker 2 (12:53):
Then I come back and then I go back over
so it'll be I think, actually good because you know,
I think my game's more so for the grass.

Speaker 1 (13:00):
Anyways, Yeah, Jose, I mean how much did that go
into it, not playing the French, your decision to really
focus on Wimbledon. We all know obviously how close she came,
you know, to being into that Wembledon final. But what
I want to know what you learned from that. But
also is that one of the reasons why you decided, Look,
I could probably play the French, but I'm not really
prepared for How much of a decision was that for you?

Speaker 5 (13:22):
Yeah, definitely.

Speaker 2 (13:23):
I think looking at the perspective of like my grasscourt
game has been getting better, I think I have a
good game to do well there, and then don't not
wanting to jeopardize that, especially with the kind of slammed year.

Speaker 5 (13:35):
With Olympics, it's always everything's really back to back. And
then obviously I.

Speaker 2 (13:38):
Always love the hardcourt swing, so I think kind of
prioritizing that and not rushing into the French Although it's
a slam and I've done while there before and I
would trust me like love to play, it was just
a little bit too much too soon. I think if
I had a few extra days, I maybe would have
been able to go. But you know, like you said,

(13:59):
having good results last year, I think I'm prioritizing kind
of that part of the season.

Speaker 4 (14:04):
Now we mentioned it earlier. You're right number five, You've
been top ten for basically two years, and things impressive.
Your double results are also impressive. Uh, you know, you've
won a ton of Masters series when you get back
into things in her Tokenboks, I was I wanted to
compliment you on how you pronounced that. No one knows
how to pronounce that. It's the lowercase S and then

(14:27):
a capital H her tognbash. Are you playing to play
singles and doubles? Like, get right back into it full
swing and kind of go both both events moving forward?

Speaker 5 (14:37):
Yeah, I think so.

Speaker 2 (14:39):
I definitely would love just as the first week on grass,
getting extra grass court practice is always I think a
good idea. So I would love to get right back
into kind of competing match situations. I Physically, I think
I'll be fine, So I definitely do that. I don't
know about the rest of the tournaments, you know, like
the week before if I play Eastporing leading up into Wimbledon,

(15:00):
while I play both events, probably not, I'm not sure yet,
but I would say for the first two weeks, definitely
want to get as much as pert purpose possible.

Speaker 3 (15:09):
Just on that, Jess.

Speaker 1 (15:11):
You know, Sam Sorready mentioned how long you've been inside
of the top ten. I mean, that's an incredible result
for you. A hundred consecutive weeks in the WTA top ten.
I don't think people realize how hard that is to
do on a consistent basis, because you have to stay
injury free, you have to be consistent every week.

Speaker 3 (15:27):
So what does that mean to you?

Speaker 1 (15:30):
Looking back, like four or five years ago on you
know where you were ranked and what you were doing.
What does it mean to you to have had that
longevity of success.

Speaker 2 (15:38):
Yeah, I mean it's funny because I was always hurt
all the time, and then finally I hadn't been hurt
till now really for the last like a long time,
like four years or something, so I've been.

Speaker 5 (15:48):
Able to really play.

Speaker 2 (15:49):
And I've always said when people ask me, like, what
have you done, I'm like, well, I've been really healthy,
and I feel like I've been able to play every
week and push myself to get better and learn and
get more experience. And now that I've been hurt the
last month, I'm like, gosh, this sucks. I haven't had
to deal with this for a long time. But at
the same time, I feel like every injury I've always

(16:10):
come back better, so I feel like it's just giving
me extra kind of like a fire to kind of
get back out there and.

Speaker 5 (16:16):
Get back to competing.

Speaker 2 (16:18):
You know, it's nice for like a week when you're
resting and everything, and then you know you're watching everyone play,
everyone's competing.

Speaker 5 (16:25):
You turn on TV and you.

Speaker 2 (16:26):
See it and I'm like, oh, gosh, I wish I
was there, Like, you know, you're just itching to get
back out there. But i mean health is you know,
I would say the number one priority, because you can't
do well or you have no chances, you're not healthy.
So that is definitely something I've prided myself on and
but you know, you can't say perfect forever. I feel
like every athlete goes through some sort of injury or

(16:46):
something that sets them back. So I'm just taking it
as a as a little break and a chance to
get back out there.

Speaker 1 (16:53):
Well, we had a little we had a little injury
there because I think we lost Sam. I think he
I don't know if he's computer to fill off the table.

Speaker 4 (16:59):
Was I don't know what. I just like was pushed
off the stream yar. But I'm back and ready to
go here. We're adjusting. Luckily, I'm very quick with my technology,
and I was right back on Jess like myself. I
have an achilles injury. You've been injured obviously, that gives
you a little exture time. Have you seen the Challengers
movie yet?

Speaker 5 (17:19):
Is he breaking up or is it just me?

Speaker 4 (17:22):
No?

Speaker 1 (17:22):
I think he wanted to ask you, and I think
he did ask you. Maybe you're too embarrassed to answer
this question. But have you seen challenges yet?

Speaker 4 (17:31):
Oh?

Speaker 5 (17:31):
Really that was the question? No, I actually haven't. I
need to. It's kind of bad. I feel like everyone
went and saw it, but I haven't seen it yet.

Speaker 4 (17:39):
I also haven't seen it. If that makes you feel
any better, we're the only two.

Speaker 3 (17:43):
I have seen it. I will leave the I will.
I'm not going to tell you anything, but you.

Speaker 1 (17:48):
Know, look, it's very hard for a tennis professional to
go and watch a tennis movie and not you know
what I'm trying to say, critique the absolutely being heck
out of it. Yeah, but the storyline is kind of interesting.
But anyway, I don't know what i'd give it out
of ten. I gave it a three out of ten
when I left the movies, but now that I've processed
it all, Now that I've processed it, I'd probably give

(18:10):
it a six and a half. But aside from the
tennis stuff, that was like a one. But Jess, I
want to know, like, you know, if if the injuries
happen to you like that, you know, and we know
about your your family's connections with the bills, you know,
all that sort of stuff, does it give you an

(18:30):
opportunity also to like think about the family business and
what you want to do after tennis careers over, because
you know, we don't think about what we're going to
do after because we think that's failing and what we're
doing now, what I want to know from your perspective, like, holistically,
was that kind of interesting for you as well to
sit back and think about what am I going to
do when I'm done?

Speaker 5 (18:49):
Yeah, I mean I do.

Speaker 2 (18:49):
I feel like that is a common theme where you
think about the next thing, and it does make you
feel like you're failing now, which is totally not true, right,
I Mean, there's multiple parts to your life, and I
think being an athlete, or being an athlete in the limelight,
you get stuck on and just I feel like the
perception too of like American sports, it's like, well, if
you're not winning every single tournament, you're kind of failing, right,

(19:11):
And that's so I don't know why we're like that.
We're so tough on our athletes like that, but it's
so not true. I mean, you can have an amazing
career and then have another amazing career afterwards and something
totally different. So I've always, i think taken the healthier
approach of looking to see what I can do after.
It's always helped me tennis wise, to take some pressure

(19:31):
off and kind of look towards the future. But yeah,
I mean, definitely I would love to be involved in
sports I mean ever since I was a kid, really
even before that, I always wanted to be involved. I
wanted to be like the first female GM of a
hockey team like that.

Speaker 5 (19:46):
When I was like fifteen. That was like I would
tell my dad that. And I have zero experience.

Speaker 2 (19:50):
Like knowing anything about hockey, so like, I don't know
how I was planning to do that, but that was
my goal. So I've always had wanted to be involved
in sports, and I I mean tennis too, and just
every sport because I feel like it's helped me so
much and it teaches you so much from a young
age that I don't know how people live their lives
without it. I mean, I know there's many that do,

(20:11):
but to me, it seems impossible. So I'd always love
to be involved in that down there, down.

Speaker 3 (20:15):
There, well there is that PWHL. Now, you know, you
get a little ways thing up in Buffalo.

Speaker 4 (20:20):
I'm just saying exactly, have you ever played tennis with
any of the Bills players.

Speaker 5 (20:25):
I've never seen any of them play tennis. I do
with love.

Speaker 2 (20:29):
I've told the Bills team that I would love to
do like a tennis thing with them. I think that'd
be really funny. Of course, not in season. I don't
want anyone getting hurt, but because you know.

Speaker 5 (20:41):
Then that would be really bad.

Speaker 2 (20:42):
But I think it would be really fun to kind
of do a little tennis academy, I don't know, some
sort of video with them and see who who's the best,
because I've seen some I think in Miami some of
the Dolphins players played with like Emma and Ben Shelton.
So I would love to see some of the Bills
players get out there and show me what they got.

Speaker 3 (21:02):
Right, well, kill me up all we'll come and critique
them as well.

Speaker 4 (21:04):
All right, with the French Open starting in four days
and you're injured obviously, although feeling better, are you gonna
sit home watch the French Open? You have kind of
fomo not watch it? What's your plan for the two
weeks of the French Open while you're not playing?

Speaker 5 (21:22):
I don't know.

Speaker 2 (21:23):
I've just started practice, like back to like real practicing again.

Speaker 5 (21:27):
I don't know. I feel like it'll be if I
remember and I turn it on.

Speaker 2 (21:32):
And then like I might like get into it. But
I feel like if I just kind of like decide
not to get involved, that I really won't watch much
for the next two weeks. But I feel like I
always watched the Slams. I'm always you know, kind of
dialed in, and if there's some really good matchups and
the time zone permits, then I definitely would want to watch.

Speaker 1 (21:52):
Yes, what you're saying is that you're not going to
get up at four in the morning to stop watching it.

Speaker 3 (21:56):
Okay, it's got to be in your timeline.

Speaker 2 (21:58):
No, I don't even know what the time zone change
is because I've never here.

Speaker 5 (22:02):
Is it is at four am?

Speaker 1 (22:04):
Six hours? Jess, come on, you know you're better than this,
all right, So what's.

Speaker 4 (22:08):
Your West Coast with me?

Speaker 1 (22:09):
It?

Speaker 4 (22:09):
Really? It's true, that's true.

Speaker 3 (22:13):
I'm not gonna like, listen.

Speaker 1 (22:15):
I hate, I hate to burst both your bubbles, but
try growing up in Australia where you gotta get up
one am to watch any kind of decent tennis, so
it's not so great. But just what's your favorite memory
on the court and you know, off the court in Paris?

Speaker 5 (22:29):
In Paris, I mean, I would definitely say.

Speaker 2 (22:34):
I mean making the quarterfinals there, I think that was
something that was really big.

Speaker 5 (22:38):
I remember the match before.

Speaker 2 (22:41):
I'm sorry, I think it was two matches before, So
maybe I don't know, second third round, but I'd beat
like kind of a clay quarter and it was a
really tough match, and I remember just getting a lot
of confidence from that because it was the kind of
more of a mental battle and being able to use
that to then win the next match and you know,
play Egan in the quarters on shot your It was
was really cool, just because clay wasn't always I mean,

(23:04):
like I I like playing on clay. I've had good results,
but you know, I'm not really supposed to go super
deep there. So that was that was really I feel like, yeah,
that was really cool. And then making the finals of
the Devils with Cocoa as well, that was our you know,
a really good year for us. Starting to do really
well in singles and then having a big result in

(23:24):
doubles two was really fun. And then she played you know,
the finals there, so it was it was cool to
to be there for the full two weeks. But that
year was a was a good year.

Speaker 4 (23:34):
I always had that that kind of same confidence. I
wasn't a clay quarter. Maybe like you were obviously way
better on clay than I was, But if I ever
won matches on clay, gave me like fake confidence up
like false hope going forward. You're like, wow, like I'm
this tall guy that like plays well on clay, and
you know I was not supposed to win these, but
I win them, and it like it helped me go
into the grass courts season.

Speaker 5 (23:54):
Yeah, definitely.

Speaker 2 (23:55):
I It's like I'm not a clay quarter, but I'm
not awful, Like I definitely still can do well. So
I mean, I don't mind, especially if it's nice weather
and it's a good day in Paris. Like the courts,
it plays pretty fast, Like I really actually like the
conditions if it rains all night. And remember one year
I played Sablanca and it rained all day and I

(24:15):
played on Langlan and I was just the balls were
massive and they were like wet and I lost.

Speaker 5 (24:21):
Like I played her first round.

Speaker 2 (24:23):
I don't I don't think she was even like seated
then this is like three four years ago.

Speaker 5 (24:27):
Anyways, I lost.

Speaker 2 (24:28):
It was awful. I was like the ball wasn't going anywhere.
She was just like king off and I was like,
I hate the French. This sucks, blah blah blah. But
then the next year I was actually started to find
my footing on clay and I actually really enjoyed it.

Speaker 1 (24:40):
So well, there's there's clay cortenas wrapped up in a
great sentence because when you win, it's great when you die.
But also I think people at home need to understand conditions,
particularly the French Open, affect the plate more than any
A little bit on grass, for sure, when it's hot
and when it's called a damp down, some bouncy aside,

(25:00):
But on clay it's a really big difference. And I
think you illust right and you play it's the one
surface that you play through a little bit of rain,
so that doesn't make it easy as well. So Jess,
all right, while we're talking about the French Open, I
don't know if you've had a chance to look at
the French Open draws that came out today, but wow, wow, wow,
let's start with the men.

Speaker 3 (25:20):
To begin with. I don't know have you had a
chance to peruse through it.

Speaker 1 (25:25):
Obviously we know the first round of first rounds is
where was Rafael Nadal going to fall? And he fell
right into the hands of Zverev. I mean, this is
a nightmare draw for Nadal fans playing against Zvera. But
your thoughts just on that first round and Rafa in general.

Speaker 5 (25:43):
Yeah, I mean I'm a big Rafa fan.

Speaker 2 (25:46):
It's like been sad, you know, kind of the last
year because I just want him to be able to
finish however he wants and on his terms, like anybody, right,
So it's always it was like a bummer seeing him
actually play pretty well in Madrid and then and you know,
not be able to play as well later on and
not be super healthy. It's crazy to me how he
can still just show up and just like routine guys

(26:09):
on Clay and I also think his record at the
French is doesn't get enough credit as probably the toughest
hardest record ever in sports, being able to win the
French Open that many times, the most physical slam, the
most demanding.

Speaker 5 (26:28):
Yeah, it's just unbelievable. So massive fan. Terrible draw for him,
but also.

Speaker 2 (26:32):
Not an easy draw for fri Zvere coming off he
just won what Rome. Yes, Yeah, so it's like one
of those where it's like, oh, I just want a tournament,
but I also play Nidole at the French three at
five that's not easy. But yeah, that's just that sucks
because you want to kind of see Nidal maybe get
some matches you know he can work his way into

(26:54):
the tournament with.

Speaker 5 (26:56):
So yeah, that's a bummer.

Speaker 4 (26:58):
Yeah, we touched on this last week. Rafa is already
you know, he's coming to the French Open. He says
he's most likely going to play, but also as kind
of leaving people wondering, like, hey, if I'm not one
hundred percent I'm not going to play. Where do you
fall in the sense that do you want Rafa to
play the French Open no matter what? And do you
want this to be his final tournament?

Speaker 2 (27:18):
That's such a tough question. I mean, yeah, like I
want to see him play. I don't want to see
him pull out, But then I also don't want to
see him play and him just be like not himself.
He's not able to like at least give himself the
best shot to win. I think that would also be
kind of sad.

Speaker 5 (27:34):
But it seems kind of like this is this last year.

Speaker 2 (27:38):
I mean, has he actually said it, but it seems
like I don't think he'll play after this, right like
after the French I.

Speaker 4 (27:44):
Don't think though, But you're right, he kind of hasn't
said anything definitive. He kind of teases everyone every week.

Speaker 2 (27:49):
Yeah, every week so I don't really know. Yeah, I
don't know, but I mean I would definitely want to.

Speaker 5 (27:55):
See him healthy and play.

Speaker 2 (27:56):
It would it would be kind of a bummer to
see him go out there and try and then obviously
playing against a guy who's playing type tennis right now
on clay, Like, I don't want it to be like
a sad ending, But yeah, I just hope that maybe
he can get healthy and at least give himself a
good chance.

Speaker 1 (28:13):
Yeah, I have to say, when I saw the draw
come out, my first thought was will he play now?
Because seeing that draw is just like this is just
impossible for him.

Speaker 3 (28:23):
He's just not playing well enough. But I don't know.

Speaker 1 (28:25):
It's an interesting dichotomy when you think about zvere if
he was out of the game for that period of
time when he sprained his ankle badly against Nadala in
it which was a very competitive match, when Nadal one
maybe his fourteenth I don't know if it was his
thirteenth or fourteenth, I've lost count. But he's up in
the section obviously, he's up there with Novak.

Speaker 3 (28:44):
What about Novak?

Speaker 1 (28:44):
What are your thoughts on Novak hasn't won a tournament
this year. Yes, so just really quick on him.

Speaker 2 (28:49):
It's been weird with him, right, Like it's like, well,
I mean we say this every time, right, It's like, oh,
it's the changing of the guard and like blah blah blah.
But then it never really seems to change because then
he starts playing well and he wins everything again, and
so it's been just.

Speaker 5 (29:04):
Like, yeah, weird with him.

Speaker 2 (29:07):
But to me him at a slam again, we don't
really talk about him as a clay quarter, but he's
won the French several times and three out of five
at a slam, I feel like he just still has
the ability to just be the greatest and switch on
this mode that nobody else can kind of challenge him.

(29:27):
And maybe a few guys now like a Sinner, maybe
even a Zverev or whatever. But I mean, I think
he's still gonna he's still gonna do well. I don't
know if he's going to win, But I don't know
how you can really go against him, you know. I
mean I've seen him before kind of not play that
much and he pops into a slam and he's able
to again three out of five. Beating him three out
of five is a totally different, totally different than two

(29:50):
out of three, So I think that helps him favors him.
And then if he's able to get confidence, I mean,
if he's already confident, he's gonna need like one match,
like you know, he's gonna be like okay, like Novack's back,
you know. So I don't know how you can really
how you can go against him.

Speaker 4 (30:07):
And even watching him this year, even watching him this
year not having the results, he seems pretty happy. Even
these tournament that he's losing early, You've still seen him
sign autographs as he walks off the court. He seems
like he's in a good mood weekend week out. So yeah,
he go quickly. I feel like he's doing one match
the French, the confidence will be there and he can
make a run.

Speaker 2 (30:25):
Yeah, it's like he does he need matches. I mean
I don't really think he needs that. He needs like
one match he needs like you know, and then he's back.

Speaker 5 (30:34):
But he does. He got hit in the head with.

Speaker 2 (30:36):
That bottle and he was like making you know, jokes
about it the next day, So I feel like he's
still in good spirits and I think he knows that
he can just he can still win the tournament of course.

Speaker 1 (30:46):
Well, looking at those sort of possibilities and the run
through the tournament, if you looked at that, which which
side of the drawer do you feel is stronger? And
also you know, just on know that he is playing
at two fifty this week leading into the French Shop,
but which is crazy, which means he feels like he
needs as we talked about notes, but if you looked
at that section of the drawer, like Alcaraz is a
little bit of an unknown with the injury. Sinner of course,

(31:07):
probably the best player this year without question in my opinion,
best player on the men's too, but also he comes
into the friend So if you had to pick a
favorite or who was going to be in the finals,
I know it's hard, but if you had.

Speaker 5 (31:19):
To guess, I guess I gotta go Novak.

Speaker 1 (31:23):
And is there an American in there that could surprise Jess.
We haven't talked about them. Fritz obviously, Tommy, Paul.

Speaker 3 (31:29):
Those guys, I know you're kind of loving because.

Speaker 2 (31:30):
Like the French was on Clay, Like I mean, Sam,
you can attest I don't I don't know.

Speaker 5 (31:35):
I don't think they have the greatest myth.

Speaker 4 (31:41):
Well, you're absolutely right, but the current wave is a
little different. I will say, like when I was playing,
no one was making like semis the Masters series on
the clay. At least Fritz has, you know, semi finals himself.
Laylor Claylor, you know he's had some results, Ben Shelton
one Houston. At least there's like some some hints of

(32:02):
some clay courts success on the Americans. Would you be
surprised if if a Taylor France or a Shelton or
a Tifo or one of those guys make the quarterfinal
or even a semi final at the French Open.

Speaker 5 (32:12):
I wouldn't be surprised. I think it's gonna be hard.

Speaker 2 (32:15):
I think it depends on the draw and the matchups
and the conditions. I think there's a lot of things
that are going to have to kind of favor them,
because I think if you're playing a really tough play
quarter three out of five and the conditions are bad,
that's not going to be great for probably many of them.
But of course I always give them a chance. I mean,
I think some of them have gone pretty deep at

(32:36):
the French before, so I think if they're playing well
and Claylre I've been playing well and I know he
didn't do that great last week, but he's been playing well.

Speaker 5 (32:46):
And then Tommy Paul I think also.

Speaker 2 (32:48):
He's just a great athlete and loves to grind into battle,
so I always give him a chance bend with the
big Serve Francis, you know, like I would always give
them a chance. I would just say, you know, it's
going to be hard, but that's the French.

Speaker 5 (33:02):
It's always hard.

Speaker 3 (33:03):
Yeah, And the boys are up the top of the drawer.

Speaker 1 (33:05):
There's a possibility that Tommy will play Novak if they
get through to their seeds, and Taylor will play Rude
if they get to their seed.

Speaker 3 (33:12):
So listen.

Speaker 1 (33:13):
Rude not playing as well as he probably wants to
Novak knop, so listen.

Speaker 3 (33:18):
If there's a chance for them to do it, maybe
this is the year we'll see. Certainly they've both been.

Speaker 1 (33:22):
Playing very very well on clay comparative to maybe some
of their results. And just real quick, before we get
onto the women's, there's another interesting first round with Andy
Murray playing against stan Vavrika. So I mean, these guys
can't avoid each other, but it'll be a popcorn match,
all right. So I want to get to the women's
because you know a lot about those players. Look, there's
a possibility that Eager will play Naomi in the second round.

Speaker 3 (33:45):
They are up that section of the draw.

Speaker 1 (33:48):
But more importantly, what, as you've played against Eager so
many times, what makes.

Speaker 3 (33:53):
Her a so great and be so great on Clay?

Speaker 2 (33:57):
Yeah, I've played her, Yeah, clay on hard, but yeah,
I mean she's a Clay quarter. I mean, I think
that's kind of what she modeled her game after. She
modeled it after Rafa. You know that was her idol, right, so,
hitting that heavy top spin, her athleticism, I think her
ability to kind of turn points from defense to offense.
Not just defense, but her ability to get in and

(34:19):
out of the corner so quickly and then turn the
point and take the ball early, I think is something
really special. And then on Clay, she you know, it's
just has more time to do that, and it just
caters her game with kind of her heavy top spin,
and she plays more like a guy. To be honest, like,
I feel like it's a little bit more like that.

Speaker 3 (34:37):
Can you explain what way Just like.

Speaker 2 (34:40):
Heavier, heavier top spin, she doesn't necessarily hit his flat
and I think that again, her movement in her athleticism
is really good. And then her, Yeah, her ability to
kind of throw up that heavy tops ball. Kind of
it's heavy and it comes off your racket. It's tough
to kind of control it you get out of position.
And then she's just really good as well as taking

(35:03):
it early and stepping in.

Speaker 5 (35:04):
She's not afraid to step in. We know that.

Speaker 2 (35:07):
Especially when she's firing. She's you know, can hit a
lot of winners too. So yeah, I mean she's just
kind of a really good clay quarter and she's just
her movement I think really is kind of sets her apart.

Speaker 4 (35:20):
Outside of Sablenka, who you know can beat her. Challenger
is right there with her, maybe not quite at her level.
Who else in the draw do you think can challenge
IgA this week at the French Open? Is there is
there anyone? Or is it one of those cases where
she's playing her best there's no one at her level.

Speaker 2 (35:37):
I think Rebakena can definitely if she's healthy. She's I
don't think ever lost to her. Actually, I don't know
if they've played much though on clay, but I think,
you know, a girl like that can definitely beat her.
I think Cocoa is good on clay, she can, you know,
play well and you catch her on kind of an
off day and make her uncomfortable. It's just a little

(35:59):
bit harder to make her uncomfortable on clay because she's
super comfortable on clay. But I mean, I think Arena
and Elena are probably people that can beat her, like
the challenge of playing her. It's just on clay, you know.
I think she's still kind of the favorite going into
this tournament.

Speaker 1 (36:18):
And what about in your opinion, like watching Danielle Collins
what she's done this year. I mean, it's just crazy.
She announces that she's quitting at the end of the year.
It's over, she's done, She's going back to Saint Pete,
living on the beach, and then she's having literally the
other than making the finals of the Australian Open, the
best year of her career. I mean, just give me
your thoughts on the fact that she and Vondrosova are

(36:42):
in sort of like you know, that quadrant of the
of the draw. I mean, just on Danielle a little bit.

Speaker 2 (36:48):
Yeah, I'm a big daniel Collins fan. I think she's great.
I think she's entertaining. I like think she's such a
great personality, especially as a woman. You know, like she's
not afraid to kind of get in your and you know,
I think that sometimes people might get offended by that,
maybe being a female, but she's not afraid to back

(37:08):
down from them. That's her personality, and that's I feel
like that she kind of overtakes when she steps on
the court. She's like, no, this is like I'm a
different person now, like competing and I really want to win.

Speaker 5 (37:19):
And honestly, I feel like she kind of taught me
a lot.

Speaker 2 (37:22):
Like I remember playing with her like World Team Tennis
at the beginning, and she's like, you know, sometimes you
gotta throw a little extra drama in there, and like,
you know, a little extra grunt, and I was just
kind of laughing because she's just not afraid to like
completely be herself on court and give it her all
and put it all out there.

Speaker 5 (37:38):
And obviously a great competitor.

Speaker 2 (37:40):
So it's been really nice now that she's been pretty
healthy to kind of see the level that she can
play at, because I think we saw that, you know,
when she made finals of Australia and when she was
already a top player. It's been just nice to kind
of see her come back to that and maybe announcing
her retirement has helped to kind of take some of
the pressure off and play better. Who knows, but the
fact that she's been able to back up you know,

(38:02):
these results week to week, two week to week, it
seems it's crazy. So she's someone that's yeah, super dangerous
and also pretty good on clay. Maybe not known as
a as a clay quarter, but she's won several tournaments
on clay, and I think can do really well.

Speaker 3 (38:17):
Yeah I agree.

Speaker 1 (38:18):
I mean, look, she won Miami and then backed it
up and won Charleston on green clay, which is not
quite the same as red clay, but certainly we know
that she slide, she can play well on that court,
and being able to move on a clay quarter is
really half the problem for a lot of Americans because
they don't grow up on a clay. We've let's stick
with the women's a little bit obviously. Mattie Keys, you know, look,
had had a tough start to the year with an injury,

(38:40):
but has come back quite well, hitting the ball really well.
You know, she's done well at the French Open and
making the Semis before. So out of the Americans Coco, Danielle, Maddie.

Speaker 3 (38:50):
Who do you see going the deepest?

Speaker 1 (38:52):
Because all of them, quite frankly, are really good enough
to make the semis or finals of the French Open.

Speaker 2 (39:00):
I mean, I honestly, that's such a toss up to me.
They're all playing really well. They can all play really
well on clay. I think Maddie is always dangerous when
she's starting to find her form, which it seems like
she has the last couple of weeks. She's beat some
good players, some good clay court players, has a lot
of matches under her belt and is healthy.

Speaker 5 (39:18):
I think Danielle is the same.

Speaker 2 (39:19):
I mean, it's hard to beat someone when she's writing
that much confidence. And then Coco has just been competing
and proving that she at a slam especially, is really
tough to be and I know that she loves playing
in Paris. I think it's her favorite tournament, winning juniors there,
making what the finals, semis, losing to Ega, I mean,
she's gonna go deep there, I think, no matter what.

(39:42):
So again, I think it just kind of depends on
the draws and matchups. I think matchups are huge, especially
on clay, So honestly, I have no idea. I feel
like that is a total toss up. Are they in
the same section or what?

Speaker 1 (39:57):
Yeah, Danielle is up the top, Coco is, I believe,
down the bottom half of the drawer. So look there,
I think Coco's at the top. I tried to print
out the drawer and it's hard for me to see
that because it's yellow.

Speaker 4 (40:11):
Is in her quadrant? That could be a believe around
a sixteen matchup? Yeah?

Speaker 5 (40:15):
Oh wow, early crazy?

Speaker 2 (40:19):
Okay, Well, yeah, I think that'll be one to watch
because I mean, like you said, it's hard to beat
someone with that much confidence. But then you know, Coco,
I think is really confident on clay, so that'll be
a really really good match.

Speaker 5 (40:31):
I think I have no idea.

Speaker 3 (40:35):
Can I ask you just on Coco.

Speaker 1 (40:37):
You know her so well just from playing dubs with her,
being on the court with her. What is it about
her that impresses you the most? Just about her personality
when she's in the toughest of moments. Give us a
little bit of insight into what she thinks about under pressure,
and also what do you think she needs to do
just to look she won the She's fine, She's won
a Grand Slam already.

Speaker 3 (40:57):
At the USOPA. But what do you think she needs.

Speaker 1 (40:58):
To now tweak in her game that you feel like
stops her from winning some of these bigger matches.

Speaker 5 (41:03):
Now, I don't know.

Speaker 2 (41:05):
I mean she I think obviously, you know, her serf
can kind of leave her sometimes. I know that's always something.
But she has a really good serve when she's serving well.
So it's kind of tough to say that because you know,
then she'll hit a one twenty bomb and I'm like,
oh my god, I wish I could do that. But
it's so I think that's something obviously she needs to

(41:25):
serve well. I mean, like anybody that always makes everything
else kind of fall together with your game. But no,
I mean, she's just been competing really well, and I
think she just has so much self belief. And of
course she's an incredible athlete, so I think her athleticism,
I mean, she just kind of wills her way.

Speaker 5 (41:42):
And I think she's just been the last year.

Speaker 2 (41:45):
I feel like I've noticed she's just been playing better
when she knows she's not playing well, and she's like,
you know what, I'm just gonna do what I know
I do really well, instead of maybe trying to be
overly aggressive, like she doesn't necessarily have to play like that,
and I think she's kind of I mean, and I
don't know for sure, she's never said this to me,
but I feel like she's just kind of playing her

(42:06):
game and kind of finding what her game actually is.

Speaker 5 (42:09):
And when she's having a good day.

Speaker 2 (42:10):
It's like, Okay, she might play super aggressive and be
hitting all these winners and stuff like that, but she's
definitely adjusting it seems like better when she's not playing great,
and she's just finding ways to win the big points
in the big moments, and that's really kind of all
it comes down to. Especially, you know, you only play
good X amount of matches a year and maybe a
handful if that, So all those other matches she's figuring

(42:31):
it out. And I mean, she's pretty smart on court,
like she problem solves really well, she picks up on
patterns I feel like pretty fast. And again, her self belief,
I think, is just really high. And that's, you know,
that's the biggest thing out there.

Speaker 4 (42:46):
Now. It's obviously a huge bummer for yourself and everyone
that you can't play the French Open. But fast forward
two months, we've got the Olympics, it's right back in Paris.
How excit here are you for that? And do you
have a favorite Do you have a favorite Olympic memory
from over the years.

Speaker 2 (43:01):
I well, I played one and it was Tokyo and
it was COVID and it kind of sucked, but it
was really We actually stayed at the hotel with the
women's soccer team and the men's basketball team, so that
was pretty cool to be able to see them around.
We saw them quite a bit because it was COVID,
so we were really like the only people in the hotel,
so that was really cool. And being able to bond

(43:22):
kind of with all the rest of the players was fun.

Speaker 5 (43:25):
We were all really excited to be there. But yeah,
I'm excited.

Speaker 2 (43:29):
I'm excited to kind of get a real Olympic experience
under my belt, obviously with singles, doubles and maybe mix.
I feel like, you know, being able to play possibly
all three is a lot different than just playing one
where you feel like, oh, only have one chance, you know,
to get a medal. I mean, now it could be
all three, which is kind of crazy. So I'm looking
forward to that aspect and just kind of yeah, I mean,

(43:53):
I think embracing that experience and hopefully being able to
see some other athletes some different events. You know, that's
the stuff I didn't get to quite do in Tokyo.
So I feel like it'll be more of like a
first time experience for me.

Speaker 4 (44:06):
All right.

Speaker 1 (44:07):
So yes, we're going to do seven volley and Jess,
we're going to do the quick Q and a's. And
that question was the first one. What is your favorite memory?
I mean that just see it in your mind in Tokyo.

Speaker 2 (44:21):
My favorite memory from Tokyo, Oh my gosh. I would
say we probably I think we sang happy birth.

Speaker 5 (44:33):
Ok as we.

Speaker 3 (44:35):
Wait, say that again, Jess, say that again.

Speaker 1 (44:37):
What's your Yes, what's your favorite That's okay because your
your Mike went out there a little. What is your
favorite memory from Tokyo Olympic Games?

Speaker 5 (44:48):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (44:48):
I think maybe singing Happy Birthday to Kevin Durant in
the tunnel as we walked out for the ceremony. That
was pretty cool. We were walking right behind them, so
uh like he was right in front of us, and
I was like, oh, this is pretty cool sing Happy
birthday to KD. So yeah, that was that was pretty sick.
I feel like that all kind of stick in my
head as a as a really cool memory that is.

Speaker 1 (45:12):
It's funny how the things outside of you know, playing
matches or this sort of stuff are the things that
you remember.

Speaker 3 (45:19):
My greatest memory at the Olympics as well.

Speaker 1 (45:21):
I mean I have you know, I've played him four
so I had a you know, different ones, but the
one in Sydney that I will remember was walking out
onto the stadium very similar to that Jess, where we
were all singing the national anthem and as we were
walking out onto the actual stadium and it was so
loud in the tunnel and then we got out into
the we got out onto the the you know, the track,

(45:44):
and it sounded quiet because we were so loud in
the tunnel. And so yeah, that is a memory that's
definitely seen into my brain as well. What about you, Sam,
what's your favorite Olympic memory?

Speaker 4 (45:56):
Favorite Olympic memory, I've only played one. It was Bathing
two thousand and eight and I remember walking out onto
the opening ceremonies and it was the tennis guys and
a lot of the NBA guys and Robbie Jeannepri accidentally
or he was walking right next to Lebron James and
Lebron James kind of scuffed Robbie Jeppri's shoe and we're
all wearing like these beautiful, like white, brand new shoes.

(46:18):
And then Lebron got down on the ground and kind
of like licked his fingers and then like smudge the
you know, got the smudge mark out of Robbi Janepri's shoes,
like I'm so sorry, bro, and like rubbed it out.
We're all just watching Lebron James like clean Robbie's shoe
and it was just like we still talk about it
to this day. It was incredible.

Speaker 5 (46:33):
That's amazing.

Speaker 3 (46:34):
Did no one get that on film?

Speaker 4 (46:37):
I don't think this was two thousand and eight. I
don't even know if the iPhone was around yet. There
was a couple of guys with like the camp quarters.
I remember Chris Bosh had that big camp quarter that
he was walking around with.

Speaker 5 (46:45):
Like that, Oh yeah, that's funny, but yeah.

Speaker 4 (46:49):
No it was. It's just the word of mouth story
that's like gotten a little better each time.

Speaker 3 (46:53):
That that is hilarious. I remember Sam Stars and I
think it was in Beijing.

Speaker 1 (46:58):
We emptied out Aaron tied tennis bags trying to find
a camera because again as you said, it was like,
you know, you didn't really have your find to take
a photo in the Olympic village with Michael Phelps. I've
never seen Sam so aggressive with getting a photo in
my life.

Speaker 3 (47:12):
So yeah, some great memories, Jess.

Speaker 1 (47:15):
Would you rather win a Grand Slam title or an
Olympic medal?

Speaker 5 (47:23):
Oh?

Speaker 2 (47:25):
I think probably a Grand Slam. I would love obviously
to win a medal too, but I feel like in tennis,
I don't know, just the format and the way it is,
the Grand Slam kinda would take present.

Speaker 5 (47:36):
I think over a medal. I wish tennis and the
Olympics was.

Speaker 2 (47:41):
More of like a team kind of vibe because sometimes
when you go there and not that again, I'm not
trying to knock it, but it feels like it's like
a tournament.

Speaker 5 (47:48):
Like so I remember in Tokyo, I.

Speaker 2 (47:50):
Went, I lost first round to Belinda and she won
the gold and I was just like, okay, it was
just another week. I lost for a round and I
went home, like, you know, I played doubles and actually
the best thing I did, okay, But like yeah, it's
just kind of like okay, like next and there's so
many other sports going on so I feel like it's
just when people are trying to win those medals in
those sports where it means like everything, like swimming, gymnastics

(48:12):
and all this stuff. I think you kind of just
you look at those sports as being more special in
the Olympics. But I think for me, probably slam.

Speaker 4 (48:20):
Who going this year. Like you said, there's singles, there's
doubles from and mixed doubles. Do you have any partners
who are like I want to play doubles with them,
or I want to play mixed doubles with them, or
are you just fine with like anyone and I'm happy
to be in the tournament.

Speaker 5 (48:34):
I mean anyone.

Speaker 2 (48:35):
I'm happy to be in the tournament because I know
the draw is really small and it's whoever we can
get in with and has the best chance. But I've
played a lot with Austin, so I would love to
you know, we've put in a lot of time together,
so I would love to just.

Speaker 5 (48:47):
Play with him.

Speaker 2 (48:48):
And I know he plays well there he won you know,
the French Open, so as yeah, yeah, so that would
be fun and like we get along really well, so
I think that would be a nice experience. I've also
heard this rumor that I don't know if it's sure
or not, but like you can play with each other
and then switch partners. Oh, everyone that's competed and you

(49:09):
end up meddaling, you all get a medal.

Speaker 5 (49:10):
So like I could play with obviously you have to win.

Speaker 2 (49:12):
If I played with Austin and I won, and then
the next round, let's say I'm still in singles and
doubles and Cocoa wants to play, she could go play
with Austin or I think someone out like braj or
someone and you can like switch.

Speaker 3 (49:26):
Oh that is interesting.

Speaker 4 (49:28):
We're gonna have to get to the bottom of that rumor.
That sounds awesome.

Speaker 3 (49:32):
What it sounds like to me. What it sounds like
to me is a little bit like the theme of Challenges,
And when you guys see it, you're gonna know what
I'm talking about. There's a little bit of switchy ruie
of the partner. So you know, that's all I'm gonna say.
But I kind of like that idea.

Speaker 1 (49:47):
I do like your idea, Jess, about the Olympics in
tennis maybe being more of a team thing and actually
make United States wins the gold medal. Based on what
happens in singles, doubles and mes just me, oh am,
I going in and out.

Speaker 4 (50:01):
Now I can hear Renee perfectly.

Speaker 5 (50:04):
What did she say? Sorry, I couldn't hear she was saying?

Speaker 4 (50:07):
Should be Would you be a fan of the in
the Olympics having the tennis be more of a team competition?
I mean there's only you know, four or five women,
four or five men any way that are playing it.
Would you prefer to be team competition and everyone gets
a battle over an individual?

Speaker 5 (50:20):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (50:21):
I think if it's the Olympics, I think it should
be a team I mean that was kind of my point.
It's like, for us, it just feels like another kind
of event, and maybe they keep it the same and
they add more of a team component to it, or
they have a separate I don't know how they would
do it, but to me, for tennis, I think it
should be more of a team event. I mean, everything
we do is individuals, so I would love to have

(50:43):
kind of a different vibe going into that week. I
think it'd be a lot more fun.

Speaker 4 (50:48):
Totally agree. I mean I remember when I put an
Olympics in two thousand and eight, I lost first round
in singles to Igor Andrea and then about two hours
later lost them in doubles and I was done. Yeah,
meanwhile you got James Blake medal, you're the Brian Brothers medal,
and like you wanted to like kind of be a
part of that with them, but yeah, it was just
an annual event. You were done and kind of on
the sideline.

Speaker 5 (51:08):
Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 2 (51:09):
I would love to kind of feel like it was
more again, more of a team kind of atmosphere, something different,
especially because it's like that when we play Davis Cup
and we play Billy June King Cup. You know, it's
definitely that feels more like a team. You're playing individually,
but someone can sub in for you. You could get hurt
and someone else could play and you still have a
chance to actually win the match. So to me, I'm like, okay, well,

(51:30):
why doesn't it feel more like that for the Olympics
when you know that's what we play to qualify for
the Olympics too, So I mean I love team events.
That's always it's always really fun. So I think, yeah,
hopefully one.

Speaker 1 (51:42):
Day, all right, Jess, All right, Jess, well, we thank
you so much for your time this morning. We know
that you know, getting your body back into shape, you're
getting ready to get back on the tour. I know
how much you're looking forward to getting back to Wimbledon,
and you know, you know, proving to us all or
why you've been inside the top ten for so many years.

(52:03):
We're really proud of what you've been able to achieve
over the last bunch of years.

Speaker 3 (52:06):
And you're a credit to American tennis.

Speaker 1 (52:08):
And we can't wait to see you not only through
the rest of the season, but of course back in
Paris so you get a chance to get back to
Rollingdos for the Olympics, and we can't wait to see
you competing there.

Speaker 3 (52:19):
And we just thank you so much for joining us today.

Speaker 5 (52:21):
Yeah, thanks guys. This is fun.

Speaker 3 (52:23):
Okay, guys.

Speaker 1 (52:24):
So the Olympics, we cannot wait for it. Of course,
it begins July twenty six on the networks of NBC.
So Sam, it is time. It is dropshot. We sent
out a tweet or an ex or whatever you want
to call it a question in our last show, should

(52:44):
Rafael Nadal play doubles with Novak Djokovic at the Labor
Cup to recreate his last match with Roger Federer clearly
without the tears? Maybe, but let's get into some of
the responses. Why don't you go ahead, Sam and read
some of these.

Speaker 4 (53:00):
We've got Kimberly here now. Rafa should not play dubs
with Novak at Labor Cup. There's no need to copy
rogers last tennis match. I actually felt the same way
again on the bottom we have Karen. It's a no
for me. What made rogers last match with Rafa was
so special their affection for each other. Don't think it
could be recreated. I actually feel the same as both
those responses. I want Raffa's last hurrah to be here

(53:23):
at the French Open coming up. I think rogers moment
was at the Labor Cup. So I am in agreement
with Kimberly and Karen. How do you feel about this?

Speaker 3 (53:31):
I like Karen suggesting if he's going to do it,
do it with Carlitos. So I like that as well.
And Steve, Yes, Lefty and Ryany would be a good
team l ol.

Speaker 1 (53:39):
Course referring to Roger and Nadal ps who would play
with Djokovic.

Speaker 3 (53:46):
During his last match and season? Okay, so I agree.
I don't think he should play with Novak.

Speaker 1 (53:51):
I don't think they have the friendship that clearly that
Novak that Roger and Rafa had, so I think Rafa
would probably be best serve, not only to finish I
think at the Paris Olympics if he can make that,
and clearly in Rolling Garris, because by the looks of
the drawer, he's not gonna last very long Sam at
the French Open, so maybe his best way to have

(54:12):
the last hurrah in rolling Garris is actually.

Speaker 3 (54:14):
To have it at the Olympics. So I'd like that
to be his last match.

Speaker 1 (54:17):
And if he is going to play labor Cup, I'd
like to see him maybe play with someone like Carlos,
who's looked up to him. But who would you suggest
a Novak play play within his last match.

Speaker 4 (54:28):
Novak's a tough one, especially if Roger's gone and Rafa's gone.
It's like Andy, whose who else is there? You could
have Andy, you could have Waarenka. You know, when it's
all said and done, if Novak's the guy with the
most Grand Slams, I'd want to just see him go
out with the parade in Serbia. It doesn't even have
to be a tennis tournament. At that point, you know
that the two other grades are gone. Let's just give

(54:49):
Novak a parade, and that's how he can walk off
into the sunset.

Speaker 3 (54:52):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (54:52):
I was going to maybe suggest Gorn, but I don't
know how much if they're on the greatest of terms
after basically Gorn getting fired.

Speaker 3 (55:00):
So there you go.

Speaker 1 (55:01):
But yes, let's have the parade down the street in
the streets of Serbia.

Speaker 3 (55:04):
I like that idea. Sam, You're on it all right, guys, Well,
we have a new.

Speaker 1 (55:09):
Question we're posting on NBC Sports a Twitter or x account,
and we're going to share it with you. Of course,
all the responses to it in our next show. But
here it is Serena Williams. She posted this yesterday and
said I'm ready to hit some balls again, and you
can imagine, Sam, I got a few text messages saying

(55:30):
get in contact with her. But if Serena were to
come back on tour, where would she be ranked?

Speaker 3 (55:38):
Here's the question for everyone out there.

Speaker 1 (55:40):
Where would she be ranked on the WTA Tour A
rankings if she came back today? So thanks for joining
us everyone today on the French Connection, brought to you
by NBC Sports and Racket.

Speaker 3 (55:53):
We cannot wait for you.

Speaker 1 (55:55):
To view it and of course catch us we're going
to drop another episode Tuesday, May twenty eighth, after the
first round of the French Open.

Speaker 3 (56:05):
I'm going to get up. I'm going to get to
bed early. Sam.

Speaker 1 (56:08):
I don't know about you, but we've got a lot
of tennis to watch over the next few weeks and
I can't wait for it.

Speaker 4 (56:12):
I'm getting to bed real early, West Coast guy. I
got coverage thirty and I believe at two am my
time starting this week, starting on Sunday. So I'm going
to bed sooner.

Speaker 3 (56:23):
You know, Sam, you can, you can.

Speaker 1 (56:25):
You can record it if you really really want, and
then wake up a little bit earlier than all of us,
but you just can't look at the phone to see
any results.

Speaker 3 (56:33):
But anyway, all right, guys, we're so looking.

Speaker 1 (56:35):
Forward to you joining us on our next episode. And
thanks for joining us today, and thanks of course to
Jessica for your