All Of It with Alison Stewart: Updates on the US Open

Air Date: September 3, 2025
Host: Alison Stewart (A)
Guest: Caitlin Thompson (B), Founder of Racket Media
Theme: Recapping and analyzing the major storylines, matches, and cultural developments at the midpoint of the 2025 US Open tennis tournament.

Episode Overview

Alison Stewart welcomes back tennis journalist and Racket Media founder Caitlin Thompson for an in-depth check-in on the US Open as the tournament hits the quarterfinals. The discussion ranges from memorable on-court battles to the personal stories of top athletes, eruptions of on-court drama, and wider conversations about gender equity and culture within tennis. Listener calls and texts pepper the show with questions, predictions, and debate, creating a dynamic portrait of tennis as both sport and microcosm of broader societal change.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The US Open’s Vibrant Midway Point

• Multiple Events and Diversity of Play:
  Caitlin emphasizes the breadth of activity at the Open beyond high-profile singles matches, including junior events, wheelchair competitions (celebrating its 20th anniversary), and doubles.
  • Quote [00:45]:

    "There's really just kind of a cornucopia of tennis going on." — Caitlin Thompson

• Insider Tip: Thursday's grounds passes are free, offering access to many compelling matches outside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
  • Quote [01:23]:

    "You can go and check out all of the action that is not happening on Arthur Ashe Stadium, which is actually a lot."

Stand-Out Matches and Star Performances

• Venus Williams & Leylah Fernandez in Women’s Doubles

  • The “odd couple” pairing delighted crowds, moving from smaller courts to Louis Armstrong Stadium as their buzz grew — even attracting Anna Wintour from her usual perch.
  • Quote [02:19]:

    "[Venus] got a DM from Leyla Fernandez … she provided to be a really great compliment to Venus Williams' sort of ground game, assault tactics and then coming into the net.”

  • They ultimately lost to top seeds Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova, capping a “ferociously fun” run.
  • Quote [02:41]:

    "Anna Wintour herself ... came over to Louis Armstrong Stadium just to watch Venus and Layla play tennis … there's not really too much more of an endorsement you can have."

• Taylor Fritz vs. Novak Djokovic

  • Djokovic's defeat of Fritz (now 11–0 in their head-to-head) was viewed as disappointing for Fritz, though his “power of will” was praised.
  • Quote [03:53]:

    "I would like to say closer than the score line appeared, but I actually think it might have been less close."

  • Djokovic, though aging, shows few signs of slowing:

    "He's got 24 Grand Slams, the most of anybody male or female … very, very cool customer when it comes to being in pressure moments." — B [04:31]

• The Men’s Draw: Sinner & Alcaraz

  • The anticipated showdown between Jannik Sinner (reliable, stoic) and Carlos Alcaraz (improviser, playmaker) is compared to classic rivalries.
  • Quote [05:28]:

    "If you compare Jannik Sinner and Carlos [Alcaraz], it's fire and ice … the two of them are so far ahead of everybody else." — B

  • Alcaraz is seen as having the "slight edge" for creativity and ceiling.
  • Quote [06:20]:

    "His ceiling is higher when he hits his shots. He’s so much more of a playmaker, an improviser."

• Coco Gauff vs. Naomi Osaka: A Pivotal Women’s Match

  • Coco Gauff’s stellar season continues, but technique issues linger.
    • Quote [07:25]:

      "Nobody beats her in fight. But when it comes to technique, there's still room for her to improve."

  • Naomi Osaka’s return marks one of the episode’s emotional highlights. Caitlin details Osaka’s struggle with mental health and the pressures of media, tying her journey to larger conversations in tennis.
    • Quote [08:41]:

      "Naomi Osaka kind of had a combination of a series of mental health kind of anxiety driven situations. She kind of stopped doing press … and Naomi Osaka drew a line in the sand."

    • Quote [09:49]:

      "Just because you're great at playing tennis doesn't mean you're necessarily great at standing up and hosting an event with a microphone in your hand."

  • Osaka’s comeback, after motherhood and time away, earns admiration.
    • Quote [10:20]:

      "Prioritizing her, not only her mental health, but also the health of her family … I love to see people, especially young athletes, who have had a pressure filled early part of their career, take some time."

Listener Questions, Hot Topics & Broader Conversations

The Rise of Karolina Muchova

• Callers highlight Muchova’s “dynamic all-court play” and Caitlin enthusiastically agrees, likening her to Roger Federer, Carlos Alcaraz, and Justine Henin.
  • Quote [11:35]:

    "She comes to the net, she attacks. She's got variety ... Sometimes it can be easier to just 'see ball and hit ball.'"

  • Muchova’s fitness and outer-court battles are discussed as thrilling for true tennis fans.

Felix Auger-Aliassime (FAA)

• FAA’s hard-court prowess and dramatic upset victories at this year’s Open. Caitlin admits personal bias but doubts FAA can overcome Sinner or Alcaraz, noting a "gap" between them and the rest.
  • Quote [13:51]:

    "He's got a bigger game than Alex Diminar, but I also think he is susceptible to a little bit more nerves."

Gender Equity: Why Don’t Women Play Five Sets?

• Most women want to, says Caitlin; the issue is tradition and logistical challenges. She proposes a three-sets-first-week, five-sets-second-week model.
  • Quote [16:22]:

    "Most of it is an ossified, hidebound, good old fashioned gender differential ... My personal solution ... is to have everybody play three sets the first week and everybody play five sets the second week."

Taylor Townsend & Jelena Ostapenko: Explosive Encounter

• Their singles match erupts in controversy after Ostapenko accuses Townsend of lacking “class” and “education.”
  • Quote [19:54]:

    "Ostapenko was mostly just salty because she lost, obviously ... Yelena Ostapenko is banana. She would probably even say it."

• Taylor Townsend's response is lauded:
  • Quote [21:43]:

    "[Taylor] Townsend so thoroughly won this ... she said, 'You need to learn how to lose,' which is the most accurate statement of all. That was the best statement ever."

Jessica Pegula: The American Hope

• Despite strong performance, the challenge posed by Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka is steep. Sabalenka’s temperament is flagged as a possible Achilles’ heel.
  • Quote [22:08]:

    "Jess Pegula was a finalist last year ... she's up there, certainly."

  • Quote [23:11]:

    "Sabalenka seems like she'd have a harder time because she's volatile ... the minute you get a little bit of doubt, that creeps in."

Amanda Anisimova

• Young phenom’s rise and hardships (including the sudden loss of her father and subsequent hiatus); now returning with “a new fervor.”
  • Quote [23:44]:

    "She was a teen prodigy ... but like many people ... pressure, expectations, money ... it all gets very complicated."

  • Quote [25:00]:

    "The way that these champions a lot of times break through is by being there enough times that it gets normalized that they can chill out and play the way that they want to play."

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On the excitement outside the main stadium:
  • [01:23] Caitlin: “You can go and check out all of the action that is not happening on Arthur Ashe Stadium, which is actually a lot.”
• On Venus Williams and age:
  • [01:57] Caitlin: “Venus obviously got a wild card into the tournament. She is my age. We were both 45, which, in case anybody doesn't know, is quite long in the tooth for a tennis player.”
• On Djokovic versus Fritz:
  • [03:53] Caitlin: “I would like to say closer than the score line appeared, but I actually think it might have been less close than the scoreline appeared.”
• On mental health and Naomi Osaka's comeback:
  • [08:41] Caitlin: “Naomi Osaka drew a line in the sand and I think did something that a lot of players really admired, which was kind of step back and say, ‘you know what, if I have to do this, then I'll skip it and take the fine, but this is not part of the game that I find helpful or constructive…’”
• On Taylor Townsend shutting down Ostapenko’s accusations:
  • [21:43] Caitlin: “She [Townsend] said ‘You need to learn how to lose,’ which is the most accurate statement of all. … Taylor Townsend so thoroughly won this because she got for the first time ... a player like Yelena Ostapenko apologized.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:09 — Alison introduces the show and returning guest
• 00:45 — Caitlin describes the diverse events happening at the US Open
• 01:32 — Discussion of Venus Williams/Leylah Fernandez doubles run
• 03:49 — Analysis of Fritz vs. Djokovic
• 05:24 — Preview of potential Sinner–Alcaraz showdown
• 07:07 — Deep dive into Coco Gauff vs. Naomi Osaka
• 08:38 — Discussion on Naomi Osaka’s hiatus and return
• 11:11 — Listener call: enthusiasm for Muchova
• 13:18 — Listener text: Felix Auger-Aliassime’s (FAA) chances
• 16:13 — Gender parity: Why best-of-three in women’s matches?
• 18:22 — Taylor Townsend–Jelena Ostapenko controversy
• 21:57 — Jessica Pegula’s prospects
• 23:41 — Amanda Anisimova’s journey

Final Thoughts

This episode offers not just a rundown of tennis results but a dynamic cultural snapshot of the sport as it exists at the 2025 US Open — a place of tradition and evolution, personal struggle and resilience, drama both athletic and social. Through Caitlin Thompson’s knowledgeable and witty commentary, the episode captures the tournament’s present pulse and its larger significance.

For tennis fans and cultural observers alike, this episode provides both rapid-fire roundups and thoughtful insights, making the storylines at the US Open accessible and engaging for all listeners.