Served with Andy Roddick

2025 US Open Men’s Semi-Final Reaction & Women’s Final Preview

Date: September 6, 2025
Host: Andy Roddick (as Chris Evert, likely standing in for Andy this episode), with Mike McIntyre
Guests/Recurring Voices: Tracy Austin, Jon Wertheim (not featured in this particular episode)

Overview

In this engaging and insightful episode, the hosts break down the 2025 US Open Men's semi-final results, focusing on the extraordinary runs from established legends like Novak Djokovic and the new era stars Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. The show also previews the women’s final between Aryna Sabalenka and Amanda Anisimova, analyzing matchups, head-to-head stats, and tactical nuances, while sprinkling in behind-the-scenes anecdotes and off-beat tennis humor.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Chris Evert's Personal US Open Day Highlights

• Chris opens with a rundown of her packed day, featuring high-level clinics with tennis legends: Kim Clijsters, Jimmy Connors (notably playing with two metal hips), and Pat Rafter.
• Evert humorously plays the role of the weakest pro among the group:

  "I did a clinic where I was by far the worst player in the clinic on the pro side."
  (01:10 – Chris Evert)

• Praises Pat Rafter as "the coolest dude ever," currently Andre Agassi's assistant captain at Laver Cup, and reminisces about hanging out with him.

2. US Open Men’s Semi-Finals Breakdown

• Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz:

  • Evert marvels at Novak's continued excellence despite his age:

    "53 semifinals is absurd in Grand Slams. Like, start doing the math on that where there’s four a year... he’s taken up a decade and a half just in semifinals."
    (03:58 – Chris Evert)

  • Highlights Novak's surprisingly candid post-match admission:

    "[Novak] is just like, ‘they’re better. Maybe, I don’t know, maybe I keep going and I can sneak one. But you know, on the day, day after day, week in, week out, they’re better than I am.’"
    (04:52)

  • Marvels at Carlos Alcaraz’s error-free run to the final:

    "Carlos into the US Open final hasn’t dropped a set. First person since who 10 years ago to do that is it Roger Federer? That guy."
    (06:18)

• Jannik Sinner vs Felix Auger-Aliassime (FAA):

  • Praises FAA’s tactical variety and competitiveness, acknowledging the challenge of sustaining high-level play through best of five sets:

    "It's so hard to beat these guys three out of five sets. They make you play outside of your... when you’re playing best of five, longer format, you need more than like a 45 minute sugar rush."
    (08:38 – Chris Evert)

  • Emphasizes the gap between Sinner and Alcaraz versus the rest of the field, Novak included, but lauds Djokovic for still being third best at 38.

3. Physical and Mental Demands of Grand Slam Tennis

• Both hosts discuss why best-of-five is such a different beast:

  "I think it’s that, right? ...This long format is just, you need everything, right? It’s not just power, it’s not just more knowledge. ...It all needs to come together."
  (10:00 – Mike McIntyre)

• Chris draws a universal analogy:

  "You can run fast, right? Everyone can sprint. Is it easier to sprint for 30 yards? Sprinting for 300 meters is a lot harder. That’s what the ask is."
  (10:27 – Chris Evert)

4. Side Banter: Observing Friends Run

• Entertaining aside where Chris laments how, as adults, we never see how our friends actually run—injecting levity into the episode.

5. Women’s Final Preview: Sabalenka vs Anisimova

• The hosts dig into IBM Watson X’s probability (55% chance for Anisimova):

  "You're asking me this because it's probably Ana Samova for some reason... There's a recency bias. She just beat her in the Wimbledon final."
  (13:21 – Chris Evert)

• Break down the matchup dynamic:

  • Anisimova is one of the few who can “match Sabalenka’s power and give it back.”
  • Recognizes Anisimova’s toughness, improved fitness, and ability to play full schedules post-comeback.
  • Both Sabalenka and Anisimova are noted for their relentless aggression—a rare mental trait.
  • Contextualizes both players carrying “baggage” from previous major final losses and being favorites who didn't seize titles:

    "In a Grand Slam final... she didn’t make the finals of the lead-in tournaments, but she was winning matches every week... She’s fitter than she was at Wimbledon."
    (14:14 – Chris Evert)

• On the stats:

  • Sabalenka has won 92% of her service games this tournament, Anisimova 79%:

    "92% has to be kind of near... I wonder what the all-time record for hold percentage is. It’s probably like Steffi... in the last 15, 20 years, I’m guessing the only person that touches that status, Serena, for an entire tournament."
    (18:30 – Chris Evert)

  • Cautions against over-reliance on stats not factoring matchup quality or context.

6. Comedy and Culture: Life on the Ground at the US Open

• Evert references the “Tracy Austin and Andy road show” and the fun atmosphere with colleagues, injecting tennis humor and the camaraderie of major events.
• Jokes about giving the same anecdotes on different platforms and listeners catching on.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Novak’s Era-Spanning Success:

  "I never made three Grand Slam finals in a year. I was number one in the world. It’s crazy he did it in the last three months."
  (05:44 – Chris Evert)

• On Facing Sinner:

  “The most confusing question I get these days is, they say, if you were coaching against Yannick Sinner, what would you do? And I go, well, I’ve thought about this and I think it starts with prayer. Hit him. Bang.”
  (19:36 – Chris Evert)

• On Women’s Final Previews:

  "She’s so tough, man. ...Their ability to hit it as hard as they hit it, miss a couple and swing harder the next time. ...It’s like a Steph Curry pulling up from 28ft, missing four, and being like, no, fuck it, I’m Steph Curry. Here’s 29ft and Drano."
  (15:22 – Chris Evert)

• On Service Stats:

  “92% [hold] has to be kind of near... the all-time record. ...On the women’s side, where there are more breaks, that’s a massive number.”
  (18:30 – Chris Evert)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• Clinic with Legends: 01:10 – 03:30
• Men’s Semis (Djokovic/Alcaraz focus): 03:51 – 06:18
• FAA vs Sinner Analysis: 06:18 – 09:51
• Grand Slam Demands & Novak’s Longevity: 09:58 – 10:27
• Running Gait Analogy & Side Banter: 10:27 – 12:48
• Women’s Final Preview (Sabalenka vs Anisimova, head-to-head, Watson X stats): 13:09 – 19:05
• Behind-the-Scenes US Open Humor: 19:20 – 19:36
• Quick Coaching Wisdom (re: Sinner) & Closing Remarks: 19:36 – 20:49

Final Thoughts

• The energy and expertise of Chris Evert and Mike McIntyre dominate this punchy episode, balancing sharp analytical breakdowns with breezy, all-access banter.
• Listeners are left with a detailed understanding of both men’s and women’s final matchups, the mental and physical toll Grand Slam tennis demands, and a healthy dose of tennis nostalgia and humor.
• Chris Evert’s tendency to humanize larger-than-life players makes the insights both relatable and memorable.

Summary prepared for listeners who may have missed the show—skip the rest days because this one’s match point.