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- [00:02]
A
So as a former professional tennis player loosely and now a professional coach working on tour, one thing that I see constantly, even at the very highest level of the game is players working incredibly hard, but not always smart, not always in the most structured of ways. Now there's so much information around strength and conditioning that it can become a little bit overwhelming for people. You know, players are just adding more hours, more sessions, more volume when what they really need, they need clarity. And I've seen technically excellent players out there plateau in their tennis not because of their skill level, but because their physical foundations weren't strong enough to support their game and their talent. That's why for me, tennis athlete is the platform that sets the standard. It provides a clear, structured approach to strength and conditioning. Every program is age appropriate, it's research informed and it's delivered by S and C coaches with proven track records of long term results. It's the platform that I trust when it comes to physical development. And if you're ready to take your development seriously, head over to sototenis.com tennis athlete. That's sototenis.com Tennisathlete because physical preparation is one of the biggest controllables that you have. Welcome to episode 288 of Controller Controllables. And it's Wimbledon time. And it's the chance for me to get the gang back together as we're Gonna preview Wimbledon 2026. Now we have Freddie Nielsen, the ever present on our preview shows, the Davis cup captain of Denmark and also the Wimbledon men's doubles champion back in 2012. Then we've got Kieran Vorster, the Piers Morgan of the tennis world, not afraid to share his opinions and they are very valid opinions. He comes from absolutely years and years at the top level of the sport as an SNC coach, but also a dab hand as a tennis coach as well. He's been helping Dan Evans over the years. He's now helping Henry Searle, the young British player Max Bassing. You know, there's lots and lots of different players that he's worked with from Wayne Ferreira to Tim Hemming over the years and he is always great value. And we had lots to talk about in this show. You know, it's the event starts in about 24 hours time and there's, there's so much that is going on from retirements to comebacks to failed drug tests or missed doping tests that have led to that. And we're going to cover all of that today as well as given our dark horses, our not not so dark horses. That you've got to look out for. And then, of course, picking our champions of Wimbledon 2026. So hope you enjoy the show. Before I do get started with today's show, just so you do know, it's a promise of mine that I'm gonna try and bring 14 lives live shows to you on YouTube, which will also go out the next day as podcasts from Wimbledon. You know, we're gonna really try and do that at 9pm UK time. Please do get involved. Watch, let us know how we're doing. I'm sure we'll probably start a bit rubbish and hopefully get a bit better. You know, we got a nice structure. We're gonna have lots of great guests joining, so please do get involved in that as well. But now I'm going to pass you over to our guests on the Wimbledon Preview 2026. So a big welcome to our Wimbledon 2026 Preview. Panelists, Kieran Vorster, Freddie Nielsen. How are you doing?
- [04:19]
B
I'm great. And you? How's everything down in Eastbourne?
- [04:22]
A
Yeah, yeah, good. Been. Been a nice week. What? I know it's very British to talk about the weather, but it feels like that's all anybody seems to talk about. But it's either talking about the weather or asking if. If I want a cup of tea is kind of the two things that tend to happen. But east things. Lovely, Lovely. In this, this setting actually been very little wind, blue skies. So. So all good. And guys, I'm going to bring you in, but first I just want to let everyone know that 9pm UK time. It's a promise I'm gonna try and keep. We're gonna do. We're going to do a live show on YouTube each evening. Control the controllables Wimbledon specials, where we're going to be bringing on a different guest every night. We're going to be reviewing the day. We're going to be hearing Wimbledon stories. Committing days is. Is not, not an easy task, but I promise you I will try my best. So that's my little bit of advertisement for, for that. But Vozi, we got, we got Wimbledon around the corner. You've been in the thick of it. It's in your kind of home, hometown. Are you working Wimbledon? What's what, what you thinking, what you're feeling? The draws come out today. Let's get some conversations rolling.
- [05:35]
B
Yeah, I mean, there's a great vibe around the village. You know, obviously my, my, my business is right in the heart. My studio is right in the middle of Wimbledon village. Although we're In a basement. But we've got loads of players coming in, loads of agents coming in and some ATP staff. It was nice today. We, I, you know, I was working with Sayaka, a Japanese player. We had Dan Evans in getting some treatment, then we had Max basing in getting some treatment, Henry Searle getting some treatment. So it had a good vibe. Members, members love having the players come in, you know, and feeling that support of what we do and, and then obviously players, if I'm working with players that they love to follow just to see how they're progressing and stuff. So yeah, you know, obviously with this weather, I mean this weather is just amazing. It was fantastic, you know, to sit outside, you know, having a cup of tea or you know, a cool drink, you know, having a cup of tea while it's a bit too hot for that. But, but having, you know, having know, having good chats and talking to Dan talking about the plan, you know, with Henry s moving forward, that's quite energizing. So yeah, and then, and then obviously as, as we spoke the draw came out, you know and then you know, just obviously Max plays Machizuki first round could qualify against the qualifier. Machizuki obviously won Junior Wimble I think back in 2018. Max is a bit of a novice on the grass but he earned his stripes. He played exceptionally well through qualies and
- [07:03]
A
he lost in pre qualities. Is that right?
- [07:05]
B
He lost in pre qualies. He lost a poor job so he's lost. He lost the poor job twice and he only got the wild card because Jay Clark and pass got, got in. So he got a wild card. So he's actually lost in Wimbledon and he's now in the main door.
- [07:21]
A
Cool story. Cool.
- [07:22]
B
Yeah, it's a cool story and you know, and well deserved. You know He's. He's had 10 weeks, 10 weeks off with. With a hamstring tendon injury which he, he did in China. So well rewarded for the boy worked really hard so the whole thing just worked out great for him, you know and, and obviously Henry had a tough two, two matches lost six and six second round. But his opponent went on to qualify. So you know, on the whole, yeah, no complaints. Happy to be home after a week in Dublin which was fun but yeah, all good mate, ready to rock and
- [07:57]
A
roll and we're talking about ever. I think obviously we're going to jump into our picks and people to look out for and you know, as we always do. But I think it is a hot topic, you know, Dan Evans and Freddie to bring you in at this point. I know you played at a similar sort of time as well to, to Dan Evans. He, he has retired. Not officially yet. He's got, he's in the doubles, doubles at Wimbledon. He has been working, I believe with Henry Searle. He's going to go into the coaching world. Let us know a little bit about Dan Evans, Fred, and his career and, and how do you see him then transitioning into being a tour coach as well?
- [08:35]
C
I think he's gonna be phenomenal for young guy because he has, there's a lot over the years that's been spoken about his, his attitude and I'm not gonna judge too much on that. Some of it rightly so, some of it maybe not rightly so, but what's always gone under the radar for me with him is his mentality is top notch. When you, when he goes on court, he always competes. He has a great mentality for competing in the, in the big picture but also on the court he always thinks that, that he can win, that he's, there's something to, to, to be had in a game. He's very good at finding the weak side and seeing a great positive attitude. And I think his mentality is, for lack of a better word, a little more old school in a good way. And I think it's very underrated because it's very easy to get caught up in the nice looking tennis. He's got a beautiful slice, great timing, comes in very well rounded, but he constructs the point so well and his mentality is fantastic when it comes to playing and I'm sure whoever, if it's Henry Searle now or whoever's going to have him in the corner are going to benefit. But at the same time I also think, I think he's a, from what I know he's a pretty, pretty harsh critic of himself and I think he puts high demand of himself and his competitiveness and I would expect, and I mean this as a compliment, that he has quite high expectations and of the players he coach and he expects a lot of the right things. So I think he would be brilliant for any young guy to have in the corner.
- [10:18]
A
He's not going to coach someone he doesn't believe in. Is he ever, you know.
- [10:21]
B
Yeah,
- [10:23]
C
I don't think he's got time for a job just for the sake of the job, you know, I think he'll be in it and I think he's, you know, he kind of reminds me of a tennis equivalent of just maybe exaggerated here, but a Roy Keane you know, who's like, who just can't understand if the players don't have the right mentality or the, the right attitude in the match or willing to get down and do whatever is required. And he will expect that of the, of his players. And I think that's a great quality, especially in these days where maybe people tiptoe a little bit around their players and I think there's so much value to be had. So if a player can, can deal with that, I think you have, you have a real, real asset in your corner.
- [11:11]
A
And Vozi, we, I follow you on social media. You've been, you've been quite active, you've been quite active over the last week or two, you know, with obviously Dan Evans coming out, announcing his retirement, not coming out in that way. You know, that's, I'm not judging ever if he, if he wants to come out in any other way that people are thinking. But his retirement, retirement a couple of weeks ago and then, you know, the timing of it certainly from, from the outside looked like that was leaning towards okay. Dan's been one of our great players of the last 10, 15 years. He's done so much for, for British tennis in so many ways. You know, it would seem right that he would then be getting wild cards in his kind of swan song. We see it with a lot of these players. They get them throughout the course of the year.
- [12:03]
C
Year.
- [12:03]
A
The question I want to ask you because obviously you clearly disagree and you're, you're, you weren't overly happy with the decision that that was made to not give him a wild card. The question I would ask, want to ask you is do you think he deserved the wild card because this was going to be his final Wimbledon. If this wasn't his final Wimbledon, should Dan Evans have got a Wild Card 1 and 5 since September 2025. Should he have received a wild card into the men's singles draw at Wimbledon if it wasn't his last year?
- [12:34]
B
So first of all, I wasn't critical on him not getting a wild card into Wimbledon. I was critical on how it was handled him not getting a wild card into Queens and for him to receiving a voice note that, that he wasn't going to get one. I think he deserved more than that.
- [12:50]
A
Communication style.
- [12:52]
B
Yeah, but then I've had a conference, I've had a meeting with Leon and we've cleared the error over a number, number of things since then and, and there's been been clarity with, with regard to the wildcard situation for Wimbledon. My understanding from when I spoke to Leon, Leon told, had a face to face meeting with Dan in, in April and told him in April that he was not going to be put forward for an LTA wild card. And but if they were going to go with just young, young people and obviously this was before it became public that Dan was going to retire. But Alderson said to Dan, by all means write to the wild card committee and apply for a wildcard through the All England Club. All England Club, which is what Dan did. A very, very, very articulate letter was, was sent. So I, I think it's sad that he never got one in, in, in into the main draw based on it being his last Wimbledon. I think that his services to British tennis have been immense and he's put his body on the line on a numerous, numerous occasions which has been detriment to his personal success as a tennis player. And I can only relate to when we went to Asia for three weeks. You know, he played that immense Davis cup weekend where they beat France, then they made the final that was going to be a Malaga and then that ended Sunday night and then we left to Chengdu Monday night, got to Chengdu 1130 Tuesday night and he was sick as a dog, sick as a dog for that whole week. So that, that whole tournament was a waste of time. He took that into Beijing Obviously Beijing lost first round to center like 6, 6 from the third and then made third round of Shanghai and then had that epic with Alcaraz losing 4 and 6, 6 and 4. So there has been compromises to his, his personal success obviously, most notably the, what he did in the Olympics. He sacrificed going to Washington to play with andy losing the 500 points. But if you're taking it on fact what you, what you saying then obviously it doesn't look good for him to get a wild card. But for what he's done and his services too, I think, I think it's pretty tough that he, he didn't get one and, and then you can argue, you know, would, did he deserve one more than Grigor, you know, in terms of, in terms of, you know, the All England Club being a private club in the UK with services to British tennis. Was that better? Was that better? Is that better served or better served giving one to, you know, one of your best players in, in the last six to eight years? That, that's, that's a question.
- [15:33]
A
No. Well, I look what from my point of view, I absolutely think he should have got one. However, I think the error for me again I'm on the outside, you're more on the inside. The error for me was the lateness of the announcement of the retirement. And I think, I think if this was announced, this was announced three months ago, which I'm led to believe was already in his mind that that was going to happen. Then, then I, then I think there's a little bit more time to be able to get things put in place for that, you know, and that. That's what it just seems like. I say a little bit from the outside. I think it's a real shame. Obviously, it's going to be nice that he's playing doubles and I think, you know, I think that'll be great. I think the British public should have their opportunity. And Dan Evans, Don Evans, this moment of, of appreciation from, from the British tennis public, you know, and I think, you know, that would have been a great thing to happen on the singles court. But I, I hope that people absolutely get behind him in the doubles. I hope people come in their thousands to show their appreciation for him. You know, it's. He's someone that. And Freddie touched on it. You know, he's what, 5 foot 8, 5 foot 9, and he's had the career that he's had. You do not do that without a winner's mentality and an incredible, incredible skill and tactical nous, you know, and I think, yeah, I, I hope that. And I'm sure he will. He'll. You'll pass that on to where it's Henry first. And he's, he's someone that will always, I guess, challenge the standards and challenge the, you know, you know, he's some, He's a disruptor. Right, Dan, in lots of ways. And that's. And we need people like that in the world as well. And I think we've been very lucky to have him in British tennis.
- [17:14]
B
His tennis IQ is through the roof.
- [17:17]
A
Yes.
- [17:17]
B
Like the way he reads the game and, you know, the way, the way he sees things and, and, and then how he applies it in lifetime is ridiculous. And, and then the, the work ethic. The work ethic that he brings on top of that is, is incredible as well. I mean, like.
- [17:34]
A
Absolutely.
- [17:35]
B
He said he's setting standards for, for somebody who, who will be appreciative of that.
- [17:41]
A
Absolutely. And talking of, of tennis iq, we've got Von Drusova, and I think that's now three of the last six female Wimbledon champions have all been banned for drugs. Somebody said to me the other day, or if we're talking, you know, drugs with Von Druseva but they've had, they've had doping issues. Four year ban. Freddie, you know the way that, I don't know how much you've read into it, the way the story seems to go is certainly from her side. I guess there's going to be investigations. But she claims felt that there was a robber coming into her house. You have your one hour time slot where the anti dopamine control can come to your house. She says it was outside of that hour, which I think is the crucial bit of information in this. If it was inside that hour, I don't think she has a leg to stand on on this. Outside of the hour she felt she was being robbed. However, when she's eventually gone outside, she has then gone ahead and signed a document to say she's refusing to take the test. So she obviously knew by that point that was anti doping that were coming. It feels strong, it feels harsh. You know, we've had, we've had some high profile issues over the last couple of years and all of a sudden it's just like, bam, four years. What's your take on that?
- [19:00]
C
First of all, I'm not in a bed anymore, so. Which is nice to you, but there is a dude behind me snoring through the roof in this airport lounge. So if that's the sound coming through, I apologize. No, I think like you said, this really is a really strange case to me because first of all, you said as well the details are so important because if they were within the time, that's indebatable. If it was outside the time, then that's really problematic for so many reasons. And if she signed that she missed the test. It's also kind of like she's probably being put on the spot. I mean, she probably needed a lawyer there to let her know what the consequences of this were. And I'm not sure she was a. She would have had the overview in that situation while being stressed to understand what she was signing under. And lastly, I think what's the precedence for four years? I mean, they say that you have to be seen as if you failed a drug test, right? How many drug tests over the last many years have resulted in a four year ban? To the best of my recollection, not many. We're talking about a few that have had months, maybe two years, maybe one and a half years. But I do not remember a first time offender getting four years. So I'm struggling a little bit with the precedence there. But besides that, it's so important, the detail, right? Because I know, Roddick spoke about this as well. It is pretty rough, the whereabouts. He got it wrong. Oh, but I just meant the detail of it that in the whereabouts you have an hour every day you have to be available for. And it's pretty rough. I would say. Luckily I was never good enough to be part of the whereabouts, so I was never, I never had to deal with this. But just knowing it's literally every day and they can be there every day and if you oversleep or if you decide to go to your parents house or something, they need to know and they can be there any time of day and they don't necessarily call you in advance or call you if they, if you gotta be, they might call you five minutes before your hours or something like that. So there is a lot of detail that goes into it. So if they did decide to go outside of that, I don't know what the rules are, but that seems like it changes the whole story a little bit. But it is a very strange case to me all around. I think that there has to be a lot that we don't know because like I said, let's say everything played out the way it fy, the Anti Doping Agency says it did. Four years is still difficult for me to see.
- [21:41]
B
The guidelines set by the ITA and the World Anti Turbuada athletes are required to be available for testing anytime, in any place, with no advance notice. The required one hour daily whereabout slot is simply a guarantee of availability. But surprise testing outside of that window is entirely permissible. There you go. So what they're saying, so that's where Andy got it so wrong, is that basically what they're saying is when can you guarantee to be home? So most people will say I'm guaranteed to be home between 5 and 6am but that is a guaranteed availability. But surprise testing outside that window is entirely permissible.
- [22:18]
C
So what you're saying is that they might have come to our house and she could have been in Germany and that would have been fine because it's not on her to be there at that time.
- [22:27]
B
Here lies the problem. So if she said, I'm available between 6 and 7am but they turned up at 10am but she opened the door.
- [22:36]
A
That's the problem.
- [22:37]
B
That's the problem.
- [22:38]
A
Lots of players don't. That's the problem. You know, they don't.
- [22:42]
B
That's the problem.
- [22:44]
C
And that's my, and that's, that's my point where she basically needs legal, certain legal service in, in, in real time. And because she probably doesn't understand the consequences of what's going on at that point.
- [22:56]
B
Tennis players know the law. I. I genuinely don't.
- [22:59]
C
No, I agree with you. I agree.
- [23:01]
B
The tennis players think I've given it six to seven as my guaranteed time at home. But you come at 10am I've opened the door, but it's not the six to seven. No, you've opened the door. You now need to take the test.
- [23:11]
A
Why hasn't she taken the test? Come on.
- [23:13]
B
Just.
- [23:14]
A
Just don't mean. Obviously moving forward. No one's gonna make that mistake. You'd think, but that's like. That is a. That is a crazy thing to. To sign a bit of paper and say I'm refusing to take it.
- [23:27]
C
She.
- [23:27]
B
She signed it saying she's refusing, which is a failed test.
- [23:30]
C
Yeah, yeah, that's. You can see I didn't even know that. So. So. And I've. I haven't been in the whereabouts, but I've been in and around people that have been pretty affected by the whereabouts. So. So it is a big deal.
- [23:42]
B
Black and white. The baseline ban for refusing a test is four years, which is the exact same maximum starting point as an international intentional positive test. So before. Before the social media guys go and girls go fucking mental on what. You know what it is. Read the rules. Read the rules. It's not difficult.
- [24:00]
A
So she's done four years.
- [24:02]
B
And a player can only deny or delay a test if they have compelling justifications, such as medical emergency, attending the funeral of a close relative, or the labor of a partner. However, tribunals require exceptional high bar to accept these excuses. If you're an athlete, you can review your precise rights, required locations and responsibilities. ITA persons. And so the ITA get a hard. They get a. Get a lot of abuse. The athletes sign up to this. They sign up to this. It's like, don't go. It's such a. It's so harsh. It's four years.
- [24:32]
C
You sign up to it and obviously it is. And obviously we're not talking about missing an airplane here or having to pay extra $50 for a bag. It's your life, right? You better be on 100%, Fred.
- [24:44]
B
100% sympathy is very zero for me right now.
- [24:47]
A
And would you have any sympathy vozzy for the players that we're still talking about media boycotts and prize money? Wimbledon have put their prize me up. Prize money up 20%. Where's your. Where's your stance on that? Are players right to be pushing for more?
- [25:02]
B
So my stance on that is My stance on that is if it's. If it's day. So. Because they'll have a projected. They'll have a projected on gross turnover. So if they have a projection on gross turnover of, say, 800 million, right, and you're paying, let's say you're paying 60 million in prize money as a percentage. It's really low. So you're playing on. You. You play. You're playing on words. You're playing on. We've increased it by 20 and the prize money pulls now63.63 million. But what is that, what is that based on the gross turnover? Because Simon Jordan trying to.
- [25:33]
A
They're not showing that.
- [25:34]
B
No, but Simon Jordan trying to be a smartass and talk sport, God love him, but, but he, he was, he was. He was talking about, well, they made 100 million profit and they've given them 50 million in prize money, so they've given 50%. So if that's, if that's the stance you're going to take, Simon Jordan, then you would wait till. Actually, we're not paying you prize money till we know what our profit is and then once we know our profit is pay prize money. That's ludicrous. Makes no sense. So you're giving prize money based on what your gross turnover is and it's set into your gross turnover price money is part of a tournament's expense, right?
- [26:08]
A
Yeah, absolutely.
- [26:11]
B
Yeah. So basically, basically, they should be looking at not just Wimbledon, but all of them. It's like, if we're projected to have 800 million turnover, right, so 20% of 800 million is 160 million, right. Not one Slam is paying that.
- [26:33]
A
No, and I know that the issue and why the players are going, because I heard Mark Pecci actually talking about this earlier and Air as well, where he said, why are the players going after the Grand Slams? They should be talking to the ATP, WTA. But the Grand Slams is where the big, big money's been made in our.
- [26:49]
B
I spoke to Ray Moore at Indian Wells and he said to me, why are you coming after us if the Grand Slams are the ones that are making huge, huge, huge.
- [26:59]
A
That's where the big money's been made. Yeah.
- [27:01]
B
Yeah. Huge, huge markets, like, they're, they're like, I'll give you this. I'll give you this one. So Wimbledon. These are presented numbers. Prize money as a percentage. Turnover hit 16% in 2013. In 2023 hovers around 12%. Since the pandemic, turnover has increased by 165%. But operating profit only by 30%. How's that possible? But the players are so dumb. The players are so dumb that they carry on playing for 20 cents in the dollar or 30 cents in the dollar. What do you think? Do you think the Slams really care that they, they're giving a 15 minute boycott on, on, on press? That for me is just, that for me is just headlines where it becomes a problem if you actually turn around and say, okay, we've got from rank number one to 104 in the world are not playing the Grand Slam which is never going to happen because the independent contractors. Yeah. You always going to have people wanting to play. So, you know. Really?
- [27:58]
A
Yeah. All I would say is it would be nice to, to have some transparency. Right. Of numbers. I know that, I know.
- [28:06]
B
Transparency on what then?
- [28:08]
A
On the numbers. The, the Grand Slams are not transparent on their numbers. That's not available. So if you, if you're talking about a percentage, you're, you're basically into in
- [28:18]
B
the All England Club. The all in the club are transparent on their numbers because they have to be. It's a non for profit organization. It's not limited company.
- [28:25]
A
I don't believe they are. Okay, all right.
- [28:27]
B
Okay, okay, okay. So let's go down this road. They give away 90% of the profit to the LTA. So let's just say that's 43 million. Right. So why don't they give what this will screw the LTA, but they can say okay, we'll give another 43 million towards prize money. LTA, you have no, you, you, you, you get nothing from us. So what is holding back on that? Yeah, you still you gobsmacked there, aren't you?
- [28:51]
A
No. Well, I don't. It's not, it's not, there's almost not that they're trying not to entertain the conversation. I know there's, I know there's real loggerheads on the conversation because they're just not, they're not, they're not entertaining the conversation. I think it's, I think the players, where the players are coming from are the organizations, wtatp and the players that represent those they, they are after a transparent model that goes up to 22%. That's what they're looking for. People have talked about trying to go the MBA route and go this 50% and they, they understand their independent contractors.
- [29:28]
B
Yeah, it's completely different.
- [29:29]
A
It's, it's a completely different setup. So they just want it to be fair. And then they, and they've come up with this figure that they believe it is 20, about 22%. They believe that probably right now it's, it's below 15% of what's being paid in prize money. But it's, but, but from what I understand is it's all. And I'm using that word they believe because it's not actually out there transparently exactly how much revenue is coming in with the Grand Slams. That's where, that's where there's this kind of disjointed. Because if that's fully transparent, then this is easy. It's just about working a percentage. Right. And then everyone is actually collaborating together to all to win. Win situation for everybody.
- [30:11]
B
Ben, Wimbledon, Wimbledon have been transparent with their turnover, operating profit, price money and price money as a percent turnover. It's, it's in their books. And I've got the numbers here from 2012 to 2023. And it's, it's basically in 2012, the turnover was 143,411,000. Operating profit was 41,41 million. Price money was 16 million. Price money as a percentage turnover, 11.2. If you take that to then 2023, the turnover was 380,156,000. Operating profit was 53,53 million. Prize money was 44 million. Prize money as a percentage, Turbo was 11.8 million. The numbers are transparent.
- [30:52]
A
Okay, so, so then, so then it's about agreeing on having a higher percentage. So then.
- [30:58]
B
Correct, correct. Wimbledon have been. Women are transparent with their numbers. I will send them to you. It's absolute transparent.
- [31:05]
A
But what the 20 increase, like you say, as a play on words in.
- [31:09]
B
It's a play on words. It's a complete play on words. Because, because in the last three years, let's say they've signed a deal, hypothetical them, you know, not that they have, but if they sign a deal with ESPN and they've got, yeah, 900 million, 50 million.
- [31:24]
A
Yeah, whatever.
- [31:25]
B
Yeah, whatever. So, but the players, the players, the players, the players, the players are just the, the leadership is weak, the PTPA is useless. It's that, that, that's, you know, that's, that's a complete smoke and mirrors. But if you have somebody leading them and actually saying to the players, this is, these are the numbers you want to go to US Open are going to come. Come with big numbers. You watch Craig Tyler coming in in July, they're ready to you. You'll see big numbers being launched.
- [31:53]
A
Yeah, it's going to be, it's going to be interesting. Yeah, I think the, the sport's certainly not in as bad a place as some people try and make out.
- [32:00]
B
No, no, no, no, no.
- [32:02]
A
It seems to be getting bigger and bigger and bigger, you know.
- [32:05]
B
Not at all. Yeah, not at all. It's. It's healthy, and you've got good athletes coming through. You've got current athletes that are doing a good job, you know, and everyone thought that, you know, when. When the big Four leave, that we're going to struggle. That's far from that. You know, you just have to. You just have to go on the court and watch Fonseca. I mean, people. The Brazilians are coming out, coming out
- [32:25]
A
the woodwork absolutely everywhere. And Freddie bringing it. Bringing it to the tennis. Where do you want to start? Where do you want your dark horses to start? You must have a. You must have. I've had to share mine a little bit on the. On our WhatsApp group to make sure you're not. You're not stealing them.
- [32:41]
C
Well, I'm stealing the whole draw.
- [32:43]
A
Dark horses. Can I start on the women? The women's draw. Who have we got to look out for?
- [32:48]
C
I think. I'm not sure. She might actually be doing great this tournament, but I think that Lily Taggart is one to look out for. She's got an interesting game and could be one to watch in the coming year. I find this to be very difficult always, especially on the women's side, because I feel like there's so many girls that could qualify as a dark horse. But then, you know, we have several Grand Slam champions and collies, and, like, one of the wild cards is Serena Williams. What is she gonna do?
- [33:26]
A
Well, how is she gonna do. How is she?
- [33:29]
C
Serena beats me. I mean, it could be anything, right?
- [33:32]
B
She'll be lucky to win a round.
- [33:33]
C
I mean, if you're. She'll be lucky to win a round. But at the same time, I think she has so much pride in her tennis and herself that I don't think she would be competing if she was going to be embarrassing, you know? So I think she must feel that she has a certain work.
- [33:47]
A
I mean, just what I've seen the last couple of weeks. But she was the worst player on the court in the doubles matches I watched. But she does play against Maya joint, who was 3 and 15 on the year. So the draw as good as Maya is, or was last year, the draw couldn't have fallen any kinder to her in terms of a match that she could. That she could win. But I'm gonna say she still doesn't win.
- [34:14]
C
Okay, but could it be that they're playing on a big court and she's gonna rise to the occasion. The crowd's gonna get behind her joint is gonna be a little overwhelmed.
- [34:26]
A
I think it's, I think it's very overwhelming. I mean, at Queens, it was a big event. When she played doubles at Queens, like, it felt big. It was like, wow, you know, you felt like, well, there's this icon in the building. The crowd are well up for it. That's all they cared. I spoke to like a couple of people on the grounds that day and they were like, oh, we just want the other matches to be out the way so Serena can come on. You know, there was this, that was the, that was the vibe and, and she played with Vicky and Boko, as we know, but played against two, two very high level doubles players on the women's tour. Erin Routliff and Melakar. And Melakar and Aaron Routliff had a shocker. And I think that was down to being overwhelmed with the whole situation. I wouldn't say Serena played very well at all, really. And Vicki and Boko was the best player on the next week, a little bit smaller in Berlin. Basically played the same girls or one of them, Aaron, and then lost. Just Aaron up the level a little bit, you know, from how she played and, and lost. So I think to do that in the singles court. But what I have to say is the, the intensity and focus she's bringing to the practice court. It's, it's impressive.
- [35:38]
B
You can't move.
- [35:40]
A
And that's going to be the issue. Right?
- [35:42]
B
You know, like if she stood in one corner and ripped the ball, I mean, like, if I said, like I, Novak Djokovic played two matches a week, you'll still be number one, number two in the world.
- [35:52]
A
It's got to be tough for her. Yeah, it's going to be tough. But Taga's got a decent draw, Freddy. That could be a decent, could be a good call. The draws, the, the draw's kind of there for her to win some matches, I think. So that's maybe not a bad shout.
- [36:05]
C
Yeah, that, that, that's, that's also why she stood out to me, obviously, because she had a decent draw. But yeah, whether, whether she's going to dominate on the grass. I think Alexandrova has big, big upside in her game.
- [36:17]
A
She lost to udvadi 2 weeks ago on the grass. Alexandrova, she plays a first round. All right, that one's gonna happen yet, but yeah, you'd think that I said upside in the second round. And what about you, Bozzy? Any I know you've always got some dark horses on Jabeur or someone like that. Normally.
- [36:36]
B
Yeah, no, I'm gonna go with on Jabeur because I saw the treadmills running. So, yeah, she's definitely it. Look, I'm not, No, I don't, I don't.
- [36:46]
A
You don't want to.
- [36:46]
B
I don't have an out. I don't have an outsider. I mean, I'm not going with Omar Sharif because she lost in qualities. So Charlinska, will she carry on the run? Is she still a dark horse or is the limelight on her lefty slider?
- [37:00]
A
She's top 20 in the world.
- [37:02]
C
I think she, I actually think she'll lose first round, to be honest. I think that I love her. I like a breath of fresh air to the game, but I don't see her do well on the grass. And it could be a potential upside against the. I'm sorry, I'm not going to try and pronounce the name
- [37:20]
B
Sawang Kawa. I mean, Serena plays joint. I mean, whatever it is, everyone will go out on a high on that one, weren't they?
- [37:32]
A
Hey, it's a good, it's a good one. It's a good one. Fuzzy. The, the, well, the one that I, and I, I sent it in the group because I sent it before she'd started to have some decent results. Barton Korva young, young Czech girl, 23 and 14 on the air, 20 years old, mid final junior Wimbledon 20, 23 hits big, plays big. Was a, setting a breakup on Saba Lanka a couple of weeks ago. I, I, I, I said that a week or so ago. I haven, but I think when I had a quick look, I thought, oh, draw is not too bad. It's not, it's not too bad. So that would be a, that would be a, a fairly dark horse. The one again that I, I said a week or two ago is Tatiana Maria, but I think we're seeing that she's in the final now in Eastbourne. Ostapenko was six, one down against her today. It started raining and Ostapenko didn't come back on the court. It was almost like, nah, I don't want to see any more slices coming my way, you know, I mean, I can't, I can't deal with that. So she' that no one likes to see. But I think the longer the grass court season goes on, the more people maybe, I think she'll take care of potinsova first round. Potinsa is going to hate that match but then potentially Eva Jovic who, who was basically an 18 year old who's about to be a 35 year old. You know she's so smart and intelligent I think she'll probably fall short against Jovic because I think Jovic is really a. Want to watch this Wimbledon I know it's not a dark horse.
- [39:02]
B
Is Kenwin Zing still in? She's 150. No she's 153. She plays, she plays senior cover first round I think I, I, I'm gonna go she could be a dark horse.
- [39:16]
A
I think Cine Akiva beat her last round at Wimbledon Last year Wimbledon first round when she was top 10 in the world so it's funny, it's funny that that matches, that match is happening and what about, I mean we'll, we'll, we'll kind of jump back and forth but I don't know if you've picked up on this one but you go on Bear against Berg's first round but you know what happens in Eastbourne tomorrow on Bear Bergs playing the final so you know they're gonna, they're gonna play on Saturday and potentially then again on Monday Are they gonna, are they gonna
- [39:48]
C
show all their cards?
- [39:49]
A
Interesting.
- [39:50]
C
Go wild.
- [39:51]
A
Well I'm hoping A bit of a side story to that if anyone cares I am taking my beautiful wife to see Garth Brooks in on Hyde park tomorrow night. A bit of a sentimental one to the two people that went to university in Louisiana but my girls play after that final they play at 2:30 and Garth Brooks is on stage at 8:40 in Hyde park and I reckon it's going to take me about 2 hours 20 from door to door if I race so I wouldn't mind maybe one of them withdrawing and saying do you know what? I'm not going to show you my cards so that I can get away to see Garth Brooks tomorrow night but with Vicky but for on behalf of
- [40:36]
B
the East1 tournament please ignore it. Judge Dan just said
- [40:41]
A
well there's two semi finals today in the women's there was a two six one set and then withdrawals I think that kind of tournament before, before it's, it's a, it was I think seven or eight walkovers. What do we think of that by the way
- [40:57]
B
A tournament before needs to finish on the Thursday I think so
- [41:00]
A
because there was lucky, there was eight lucky losers in the men's.
- [41:04]
B
No, nobody wants to be there past Thursday when they're, if they're playing Monday. No. 1. I'm sorry, even it was a Saturday final.
- [41:11]
A
Yeah, there's two, but there's too many withdrawals. I mean, like Felix Gill lost first round quality. Quentin Halas lost first round qualies. They ended up getting in. Quentin Hollis went and made quarterfinals, lost first round qualities, then came in as a lucky loser into the second round and then won one match and made quarterfinals. You know, like, I think it makes a bit of a mockery of the draws with all of those withdrawals.
- [41:34]
C
I mean, a lot of the guys, they. That do well, they don't want to play, but they have to end in case they don't play well the week before and then. Yeah, it. But I agree, it does give. It does make a mockery of the competition side. You have people that are losing. I think somebody who lost first round. Qualis got into a buy position as well.
- [41:52]
A
Yeah, he did, yeah.
- [41:53]
C
So. Well, I think it's a difficult one. It is.
- [41:58]
A
And what about your winner on the women's side, Freddie? Not easier.
- [42:02]
C
It's a good question now. Not easy. I think she owes me a good competition after Paris Rybakina, so I'm going to pick her. She needs to step it up.
- [42:15]
B
Yeah, I'm with you on that. I mean, I had a few. Had a few written down here. I mean, a few. No, no. Like to talk about. I think. I think Serana Cristia has. Has. Is having a fantastic year. She's having a free swing. It's gonna be her last year. She's a little bit injured, but I. I'm torn. I'm torn between. I'm torn between Zabalenka and Driva Pagoda. Rabakina. Rabbikina on the grass is. Is obviously mustard, but I am going to go. I'm going to go then Driva back to back slams. That's what I'm going with.
- [42:51]
A
Lap four. I need getting it done on the grass courts for me.
- [42:54]
B
I'll put it out there. I mean, I'm not gonna go with your regular, I think. I mean, obviously you got the. The. Obviously the two big ones. Serrano. No, I'm gonna. Yeah, I'm gonna go.
- [43:04]
A
What about this? Sabalenka. Sabalenka Ostapenko, third round. Interesting.
- [43:09]
B
They've got to get there first.
- [43:10]
A
They've got to get there first. But Ostapenko, Harriet dart. That'll be fine. And to play then Rusik or Radicanu. Is Radicano even going to play?
- [43:20]
C
And how bad is the injury? Because before That I think she was my second medium might win a surprise call.
- [43:30]
A
But she's got. I mean, I, I don't think she'll play. The noises I'm hearing. When you hear those noises around Emma normally it means she's out. I don't know if you're.
- [43:38]
C
That's a shame because she had a bit of a. She's doing all right.
- [43:41]
A
Yeah, she did. And so that, that's interesting. I think if you go to Rebecca, who's my pick as well. I think. Yeah, I think she has a. Yeah, I think she's got an okay draw. I mean maybe Mertens potentially in the third round. I, I see that in that next bunch. I'm not sure I see anyone in that part. Yeah, I think, I think Anissa Move is an interesting one. Right. Because she was on fire this time last year, but she doesn't seem the same player as she was was this time last year. So I'm, I'm on the Rebakina train as well. So we've got two of us and then Vozzy. Who did Vozzy go for? Andre Andreva. So those are, those are our picks. And what about on the. What about on the men's side? Dark horses? I mean we've got. And some first round matchups. Obviously we've got Unbear and Bergs were two of my dark horses, so I was actually looking for them both in the draw.
- [44:34]
B
Fritz Draper is an interesting one in it.
- [44:36]
A
Fritz Draper's obviously a banger. First round. Varinka Baratini for the old. For people that like a little bit of nostalgia. First round. Who is it? Ah. Is that right? Oh God, that's interesting.
- [44:52]
B
I'll tell you what's an interesting one is the American qualifier Zhang against Kamnari. That's not going to be easy.
- [44:57]
A
No, no. They play kind of similar.
- [45:00]
B
Yeah. And he's a back to back NCAA champion. He's just played three good matches at Roehampton. Yeah. Another one very good.
- [45:08]
A
Yeah.
- [45:08]
B
Another. Another good one is Brandon Nakashima playing Pennington Jones. Nakashima now being coached by Wayne Ferreira who's just finished with Pop Run. So the, the, you know, Nakashima will be feeling positive psychologically. Pennington Jones can play and then we've got Jodor Felix skill that. I don't know.
- [45:29]
A
You're picking that as a classic or what? What's going on?
- [45:31]
B
No, I just think. I just think it's. No, I'm just saying it could be, it could be interesting because Jordan hasn't played much because he's been injured on the grass.
- [45:39]
A
It'd be interesting how he plays on the grass.
- [45:41]
B
Yeah, Felix played a lot. He's a lefty and you know, he's a bull. He's strong, so. And I don't think Senec Manovich is. Is a. Is a rollover either on the top half. Yeah.
- [45:52]
C
I think.
- [45:52]
B
I mean, the ones that stand out for me are. Are obviously those dark horse.
- [45:59]
C
For me, I guide well. You think? I. I think we have a potential third round for Ollie Tavet. I really like him. Great competitor. He did well in the grass last year. I think he's got a decent shot at making a third round against Djokovic.
- [46:12]
B
He's playing rimback. That's not easy.
- [46:14]
C
No, not at all. It's not easy at all. But I think he can. I think he can take it out.
- [46:18]
B
Yeah, I'm not. I'm not. I'm not denying that. I mean. Cheese. What I saw yesterday wasn't. Was incredible, you know, but yeah, it's.
- [46:27]
C
And he's. He's got the leaf. He's a great mover. He'll come out firing. He'll rise to the occasion. I think potential third round is Elise, also against Zverev. And the potential. I think. I think he caused him some problems in Paris and on the grass. I wouldn't put it past him to maybe make a sneaky run there. So that would be a pick of mine. And there was one more qualifier. I'm blanking on the name right now. Who I thought. Because I got confused by this vacuum cleaner in the background. I apologize.
- [46:55]
B
What about Stan versus Berrettini? That's an interesting first round. And I think Laheka Popran. Popran doesn't have a lot of confidence, but if he goes there with a free mind and swings loose, that could be a banana skin. First round.
- [47:09]
C
The last qualifier I was thinking about was Vietnam from Finland, who's playing Shelton in the first round. That's not a gimme. Vietnam has insane upside down, insane Davis cup match.
- [47:19]
A
And it's a big problem for Shelton.
- [47:21]
C
Absolutely. And he's got. He's very comfortable on the grass and he did well in Crawley. So that's not gonna be a gimme. Might be too tough because Shelton is also a great competitor. But I think that's. That could be a potential banana field.
- [47:37]
A
Yeah. The dark horses I had down.
- [47:39]
B
I had.
- [47:39]
A
I had you go on. Bear Berg. Caesar.
- [47:42]
B
He's not a dark horse. What are you. Shut your mouth. He's not a dark horse. How can he be a dark horse? The guy's number. He'd be number. Number top 10 in the world. A dark horse is somebody like a dark horse is like Charlinska going into the French Open. That's a dark horse.
- [47:55]
A
Humbert's 30 in the world. I mean, he's a dark horse.
- [47:59]
C
He's.
- [47:59]
A
He's a dark horse. He's a light dark horse.
- [48:02]
B
Mate, stick that mic up your ass. I'm not having that. That's it,
- [48:07]
A
Bergs. And then. And then. And you're not going to like this.
- [48:10]
B
Then I'm gonna have Jack Draper as a dark horse. Jack Draper's a dark horse. To win Wimbledon.
- [48:14]
A
You're not gonna. You're not gonna like.
- [48:16]
B
Good. The guy. The guy's a top 10 player.
- [48:18]
A
Federer. No. Peshi Perakar is. I've been. We've obviously been waiting for that. We've been waiting.
- [48:27]
B
He's a bunny with a serve. I'm not having that. I. I liked him, but he's got. He's got nothing more than a serve.
- [48:32]
A
Are we going to see it at some point? Are we going to see it? What do you reckon?
- [48:36]
C
I mean, you can rule it out, right? But it's. The trajectory has not been good because it was going really well and now it's not going well at all.
- [48:43]
A
Well, no, it's. It's not. It's not going in a good.
- [48:47]
B
I mean. I mean, not. Not dance. Dance. Open up the gates. Unless that feels. Feels as a dark horse. Yeah. He's 20 in the world. I mean, you're an absolute donkey. I'm not having that.
- [48:59]
A
I'm there. Come on. I mean, the guys hardly want to match.
- [49:03]
B
A dark horse would be someone like basing playing Machizuki. Machizuki is a qualifier. Won 20 to Wimbledon. 20, 22 too. You know, that's a dark horse that's coming like a dark horse to qualify at Wimbledon as Max Basin. He's a wild card.
- [49:17]
A
If.
- [49:17]
B
If I said to you. If I said to you. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Don't throw your. Don't throw your.
- [49:22]
A
Look at the logo. Look at the logo. Control the controllables by Dan Keenan. You know, just like, look at where. Look at where the rules have been set. Come on.
- [49:32]
B
Yeah. Dang. Out of order.
- [49:35]
A
If we just keep talking and mention as many names as we can. That's our style. Come on. Then we.
- [49:40]
B
Yeah, yeah.
- [49:40]
A
Then we. Then we get our social media clips. Yeah. What it's about.
- [49:44]
B
So I'm going. I'm gonna go sinner. As my My main man is your dark horse? No, it's my main guy. To win my dark horse, my dark
- [49:52]
A
horse, it's got to be Sinner, hasn't it? It's got to be Sinner.
- [49:55]
B
Yeah, it's got to be Sinner. I'm gonna go dark horse.
- [50:00]
C
Yeah, I'm, I'm Sinner as well. And dark horse to win. Not dark horse. But the second in line to win is.
- [50:06]
A
What's your economic.
- [50:08]
B
I'm not having Novak. Novak can never win, win a slam again. Not with the physical, the physical side. That's my opinion. Two matches a week, you'd be number one in the world. That guy's mustard, but his body can't sustain. Now playing back to back, he gets hurt.
- [50:25]
C
But I think, I think, I think the chances of him sustaining it physically are bigger than the rest of the draw to step it up and zone.
- [50:34]
B
And my dark horse is Nakashima.
- [50:36]
A
Can we go through it? Can we go through Novak's draw? And I know I don't like to do this projected nonsense that they do, but like, let's have a bit of fun with it. So he plays Wu first round. He's winning that, right?
- [50:46]
B
Yeah, yes.
- [50:48]
A
And then he plays Gaston or City Pass.
- [50:51]
B
That's not easy.
- [50:52]
A
None of them's easy. But he's winning that. And then he's playing, let's say Cedar to play Rindic Neck. Was he, is he winning that? Yes. So now the draws psyching me out. How do I now find out who he plays?
- [51:02]
C
Is it not the ruble? Ruble FA section he goes into Rublev.
- [51:06]
B
Might even may not beat sa.
- [51:09]
A
I just, I just think when you look at those sort of matchups, you go, well, I think he wins that. Yeah, well, I think he wins that. Obviously there is a, there is a question mark physically, Vozy. Of course there is. But I also saw him, I was in the stadium watching him play Fonseca at Roland Garros. And yes, he was struggling physically, but he, he was unbelievably good in that match. Stuff like his, his ability, his gamesmanship, his time management, his, the way that he managed the rhythm of that match. And it took an, it took a great performance by a Fonseca on, on a clear court to beat him in a very tight five set match. I just think that he's a very, very difficult man for, for people to beat, you know, and it's I, I
- [51:50]
C
and he, and he goes, he goes to the Felix section in the potential order showing.
- [51:56]
A
Yeah, I just, I, I Think we've got. He's got to be favorite for semis. Was he? He's got to be.
- [52:01]
B
Oh no, not having it.
- [52:02]
A
How can. But look, what, what, what's Novak Djokovic, last four. So, so Roland Garrison lost quarters or last 16 to Fonseca. But then you go, wasn't that third round or something? Okay, so was it that deep third round or last 16? So you then either. But then he was semis in, in Australia. Semis in US Open.
- [52:23]
C
Dino. Right. Final, wasn't it? Final in Australia.
- [52:26]
A
Final.
- [52:27]
C
Am I missing something?
- [52:30]
B
Struggling a bit there.
- [52:32]
A
Final. Semi. I mean he's like, we can't say that he's not the favorite to go to semis. Vozy. I'm sorry, we can't.
- [52:39]
B
Well, I'm saying it. I, I think he's undercooked. He hasn't played enough tennis. He hasn't played on the grass. You know, playing, playing, you know, two, two tickling sets at that Hurlingham club is completely different. Playing five sets. The intensity and then the recovery. As I said to you, if, you know, if you, if he was playing two matches a week, I, I, I, I, I struggle to see anyone beating him. But I think it's 2025.
- [53:02]
A
Ay. 2025. Novak Djokovic, semis. Semis of Roland Garros. Then didn't play again until Wimbledon.
- [53:10]
B
Yeah.
- [53:10]
A
Mid semis.
- [53:12]
B
Yep.
- [53:13]
A
Then didn't play again until US Open and made semis.
- [53:17]
B
Yep.
- [53:18]
A
Then played Shanghai. Made semis.
- [53:20]
B
Yep.
- [53:21]
A
Then played a random 250 in Athens and won. Then didn't play a match and made final of Australian Open.
- [53:30]
B
Yeah.
- [53:30]
A
I don't know. Undercooked. Undercooked? What like he's. Because
- [53:36]
B
take that. Three years ago he would have won all those events. He's not, he's not there to make semis. He's not there to make finals. He's there to win. And so, so, so it's his, his going backwards.
- [53:46]
A
I'm not having different, different argument. All I'm saying, he's not there.
- [53:51]
B
He's not there. He's not there to make semis. Do you think he's playing Wimbledon to make semis? Do you think he's playing well to make third round? He's playing Wimbledon to win, mate.
- [53:58]
A
I agree. I agree fully. But just, but just to go back to what I said, I said he is favorite to make semis. Yes. Right or wrong. Would you agree with that, Bozzy?
- [54:10]
B
No, I don't think he'll get there.
- [54:11]
A
Okay. His favorite though, Freddy, is he Making semis Novak?
- [54:18]
C
Yeah, yeah, I think so. But that's also why he was my kind of under the radar, second in line to. To win after sinner. I mean, I think for me it's just he's in that caliber of athletes that whenever he enters the tournament, you just can't rule him out. I just can't do it. I will never underestimate him. Even though he, he's getting up in age and showing some sign of physical weakness. I will never underestimate him. He's just that good and he has that next level mentality.
- [54:49]
A
He does. And, and because I don't want to keep you much longer because me and Bozzy are going to have a falling out is I did see. I don't want to go fully into the doubles, but first round doubles match between Kyrgios and Bublek against aravello and Pavic. Mr. Kyrgios and Mr. Bublek seem to have a lot to say about doubles, especially Mr. Bublek. What do we think of that matchup, Freddie?
- [55:13]
C
I think it's what the tournament hoped for when they gave them a wild card and I think it's what the fans hope for and I think it's going to be a spectacle and they'll definitely be competitive. But how competitive we'll just have to see. But they're dangerous floaters if they decide to play the win. But there's been some talking about physical issues he had. There's some question marks with curious. So we'll see how, how much it affects them.
- [55:40]
A
And before we go, Vozzy, what's one storyline for us to look out for that nobody's picking up from Wimbledon yet. We've got, we haven't talked about the electronic line calls which are the. That's happening for the first time, is that right? Not the electronic line calls, but no,
- [55:54]
B
that happened last year.
- [55:55]
C
No, that's been happening before calls.
- [55:57]
A
But we've got something happening for the first time, I'm sure the video review. Sorry. We've got video review introduced for the first time far. I think it's the first time that Wimbledon's got that it's 139 year history available on Center Court. Court 1, Court 2, Court 3, Court 12, Court 18. So it's fair to say my doubles teams won't have to worry about that for a few rounds. But you can. Yeah, you can challenge umpire calls. We talked about it on the French Open review. You know how many shocking calls happen at Roland Garros, but they didn't have Radio review.
- [56:33]
B
But, but you're challenging, you're challenging it on, on. On. On the. On the call of it being in or out.
- [56:40]
A
No, your challenge. This is for the challenge. So, like at French Open, one of my guys hit a ball and he was like two feet from the net and the umpire called, touch of the net. And you couldn't, you couldn't challenge that. And it was the wrong call.
- [56:55]
B
But you'll double bounce, all that.
- [56:57]
A
Double bounce or the ball, you know, things like that. So this is the first time that you. System or.
- [57:03]
B
What about let call?
- [57:04]
A
I don't know about let call. Actually, I don't know if you can call, but I think, I don't know. I don't know what the.
- [57:12]
B
I think it's going to be used minimal and I think it's not. Not really going to have a massive impact on, on. I think, I think that's, that's just nice, nice glamour to have, but I don't think it's going to make critical decisions. I mean, it could be like if, if a player's sliding and, and the umpire sets it, your foot touched the net and they've called far and it hasn't. But those are, you know, those are outliers.
- [57:36]
A
So. Storyline. What storyline? Fiction. What, what you're gonna, what you're gonna. What we're gonna see. What's nobody seeing, what's gonna shock us, what we're going to be talking about?
- [57:46]
C
Well, what everybody's seeing is obviously Serena and if she loses early, there'll be a story and people will be talking about whether it's right or wrong that she comes back or she makes a run and people will talk about how it's great and she's good and the goat and whatever. So I think there are two potential storylines there and secondly that nobody's picking up on. I think it'll be a great tournament for the Brits all around.
- [58:09]
B
Yep, I think I agree with you on that. You know, they had, I think, was it 14 Brits in qualifying? It's pretty good.
- [58:18]
C
Yeah. And it just seems like there's good momentum, there's a lot of numbers in, you know, the lower ranked guys that starting. They all have good levels. They're making, they're winning matches in Eastbourne and they're qualifying here and there and for the Slams and there's a lot of very good players, a lot of girls, doubles, everything. I think it could be a very good summer for a very good two weeks for the Brits.
- [58:40]
A
Yeah, very good voz.
- [58:42]
B
I think Individual headlines. I think basing Max Basing has an individual headline. If he. If he all of a sudden, you know, beats Matchizuki, you know, the headline being you've lost already in Wimbledon and, you know, in the second round. How's it feel?
- [58:57]
A
Yeah, be nice.
- [58:58]
B
Yeah. And I think. I think he's, you know, he's. He's got a wonderful chance. I think Chilich could have a run there. If he beats me first round. That could. That could be. That could be a headline, you know, the granddad or the sport coming through. And. Yeah, I think we haven't spoken about Jack Draper at all.
- [59:14]
C
Jack Drapery, but he's part of my British call because I think that he could do well.
- [59:20]
A
Does he beat Taylor? Fritz, who wins that match? Fritz.
- [59:23]
B
That's interesting thing because they're both undercooked in terms of playing. You know, obviously Taylor has. Has won a few. Few more matches. Obviously, Jack's just started now. Jack's going to have the British crowd behind him. He's got Andy Murray behind him. So I'm going to go Draper posh.
- [59:37]
C
I'm actually. I mean, despite Fritz having turned it around a little bit, he doesn't. He hasn't had a great year. And Draeba is going to be. If he's fit as it looks to be, he's going to come out, be in great shape, have momentum. Seems like a lot of positive vibes in around him at the moment and get the crowd behind him. So I'm backing Draper to win that one as well. And I think also it's one of the few times where he starts the tournament where a match after he got really good, where it's not really expected for him to win. I think that's going to help him a little bit to ease the pressure,
- [60:08]
A
Excuse the negativity, but I actually think, think one of the storylines is that Emma Radicano and Jack Draper didn't make it to the. To the. To the. To the starting line. I think we're going to have a cup.
- [60:20]
C
Oh, really?
- [60:20]
A
I don't know any. I have no inside information on that. With Jack, I. With Emma, Emma, again, I don't have inside. I've just got public information. I really have a strong feeling Emma's not going to play. I really hope Jack's okay, but Jack's history of the last 612 months has been when he's played 3 or 4 matches, he's then had to. He's then had to rest, you know, and I. I really hope if Jack makes it to Wimbledon and plays Wimbledon. It is a great sign for Jack Draper in my opinion because that shows that he's, that he's been able to get back to back matches whatever his injuries are. Again, I'm not, not behind the scenes on that but for him to get to the race line, for him to compete hard against Taylor Fritz, even if he loses, I think there's a massive win because I think Jack Draper in the US on those courts fully fit and healthy, that's, that's really what it's about for Jack Draper. The one storyline I think everyone's going to be talking about at the end of Wimbledon is one. We mentioned it earlier the CTC live shows every day and watch out for the segment we used to have. Dear Deidre, Dear Deidre on the the sun newspaper we've got a deer Dan section where people can come with all of their any questions that they want. Hopefully with tennis. But if it is love interest and romance or whatever else it might be, get your dear Dan questions, I'll sort them out.
- [61:45]
B
Don't worry about that.
- [61:46]
A
She was at Control, the controllables and I think I can just see it now. I think in 14 days time I think it's going to be one of the revelations of Wimbledon 20, 26 guys. Okay, get your questions in Freddie. You can send them in as anonymous. You don't have to admit to all of your problems with your name signed on of it can be anonymous and then every evening I will, I will fix your problems live on YouTube on control, the controllables channel. So it's, it's an exciting two weeks for you.
- [62:19]
C
Thank you. Exciting for me personally.
- [62:22]
A
Ozzy, thank you for next time maybe don't hold back on your opinions but thank you for, for coming on as as ever Freddie, love having you guys, both of you on. Really, really appreciate it and, and look forward to catching up up with you soon. So there you have it. The, the consensus is Rebakena and Yannick Sinner and I think it's hard to argue against those picks but as we knew in Roland Garros there's, there's always a storyline at a major championships and you can never take anything for granted and I just can't wait to see what that is going to be this year. You know there will be a surprise, there will be something that happens happens. There will be some big talking points and as we said at the start of the show we're going to be bringing those talking points to you. You know that's something that here Our promise of controller controllables. We're going to have our man on the ground. Harry's going to be on the ground, he's going to be at the press conferences, he's going to have his ear to the ground. He is going to know what is going on when I'm working hard, coaching and on that tennis court during the day, he's going to be collecting all of the information, all of the stories. And then at 9p UK time every day throughout Wimbledon, we're going to be bringing our controller controllables Wimbledon live shows which you'll be able to watch on YouTube and then you'll be able to pick up the next day either on YouTube or on our, on your podcast platform and look out for, yeah, the various things that we're gonna do. But we're gonna, you know, we're gonna be bringing together the news from the day. We are gonna aim to have a guest every day that we're gonna explore a little bit with that guest on their favorite Wimbledon, their event, personally to them. You know, whether that was winning Wimbledon, whether that was playing Wimbledon, winning matches at Wimbledon, coaching at Wimbledon. We're going to be bringing that to you. And then get their opinion on how the day has gone. And then we'll have a little quick fire round, which I think it'll be. Be a little bit of fun. And then look out for, I said it at the end of the show, look out for Dear Dan. And if you've got anything that you want to ask me, preferably tennis related, then get your questions in. You'll see in the show notes how to do that. Look out on social media. There'll be lots of opportunities for you to send your questions in. Now all of this is going to be in association with Novellas, who has been a big supporter of the podcast over the last 12 months, but also Soto Tennis Academy and tennis athletes. So watch out for our players of the day. We're going to have all sorts going on and we want you to be involved. So start getting your questions in. What do you want to know from me? What you want to know about Wimbledon, about tennis in general? It could be advice and we're going to try and Dear Dan is going to try and give you a little bit of that as well as many Updates coming from SW19. But until next time, I'm Dan Kieran and we are control the controllables.