2025 Wimbledon Draw Breakdown | Andy Roddick & Jon Wertheim Predict the Winners!

Summary

Podcast Summary: Served with Andy Roddick

Episode: 2025 Wimbledon Draw Breakdown | Andy Roddick & Jon Wertheim Predict the Winners!
Release Date: June 28, 2025
Hosts: Andy Roddick & Jon Wertheim

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Introduction

In this episode of Served with Andy Roddick, former World No.1 Andy Roddick teams up with sports journalist Jon Wertheim to dissect the 2025 Wimbledon draw. The hosts delve into both the women’s and men’s sections, offering predictions, analyzing matchups, and sharing their insights on potential upsets and standout performances.

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Women's Draw Breakdown

Andy and Jon kick off the discussion with the women's draw, highlighting key players and potential dark horses.

Key Highlights:

• Aryna Sabalenka: Andy expresses confidence in Sabalenka's performance, initially wanting to place her as the tournament winner. However, he notes the unpredictability as Sabalenka lost in the first round last year.

  Andy (01:59): "That's where Sabalenka load to the semis of Roland Garros. He lost first round."

• Carson Branstein: A standout mention, Branstein's impressive qualifying run, including a victory over Bianca Andreescu, earns her attention. Jon emphasizes her potential as the top seed in her first match.

  Jon (04:12): "Carson Branstein had a wild time qualifying, beating Lois Boissa and Bianca Andreescu. She gets the number one seed in her first match."

• Katie Bolter vs. Ana Badoza: The hosts discuss Bolter's injury concerns, leading Andy to cautiously predict Vecic advancing due to the uncertainty surrounding Badoza's health.

  Andy (07:29): "If Badoza takes the court, I'll take her over Bolter, but I'm putting Vecic through."

• Beatrice Haddad & Anna Samova: Both hosts predict Samova advancing to the quarterfinals, despite recent tensions with Maria Sakkari. Jon remains skeptical about Samova channeling her frustrations effectively.

  Jon (11:17): "She's doomed. Forget it. She's gonna win."

• Diana Schneider & Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova: A contentious prediction arises as Andy chooses Schneider over Pavlyuchenkova, highlighting the challenges of predicting outcomes in a stacked draw.

  Andy (12:26): "I'm taking Schneider over Pavlyuchenkova. It's a choice of the heart."

Notable Insights:

• Andy (06:52): "This draw is a dumpster fire. Women's draw is wide open and unpredictable."

• The hosts frequently mention the impact of player health and surface specialization, particularly how grass courts present unique challenges and advantages.

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Men's Draw Breakdown

Transitioning to the men’s side, Andy and Jon navigate through a complex and competitive bracket, making several bold predictions.

Key Highlights:

• Tommy Paul & Luca Nardi: The firing of Paul’s trainer and physio is discussed, with Jon questioning its impact on Paul's performance. Andy, however, remains optimistic, favoring Paul despite health concerns.

  Jon (32:58): "Firing his trainer on the eve of Wimbledon is interesting. It might affect his first week."

• Daniil Medvedev: Both hosts agree on Medvedev's strength on grass, predicting his advancement to the quarterfinals and semifinals.

  Andy (50:23): "I have Medvedev in the quarters. He’s more likely to get to the fourth round."

• Novak Djokovic: A recurring focal point, Novak is predicted by Andy to reach the finals, potentially tying with legends like Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg with three Wimbledon titles. Jon supports Novak's prowess, emphasizing his consistency despite recent challenges.

  Andy (58:48): "Alcaraz over Novak Djokovic. This draw is the most confusing ever."

• Jensen Brooksby: Andy champions Brooksby’s inspiring journey, advocating for him to reach the fourth round as a feel-good story.

  Andy (55:34): "Jensen Brooksby through to the fourth round. His story is incredible and inspiring."

• Taylor Fritz & Marcos Giron: Acknowledging Fritz's technical adjustments, Andy predicts Fritz advancing, despite a tough first-round draw.

  Andy (49:07): "Fritz is hitting that little chip forehand return a bit more. I have Fritz in the fourth round."

Notable Insights:

• Jon (26:43): "Sabalenka has won 12 matches at majors this year but zero titles. She gets her first Wimbledon."

• The unpredictability of the men's draw is underscored by the multitude of potential upsets and the varying surface adaptations of players.

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Notable Quotes

• Andy (01:43): "Branding wasn't very clear. Maybe we need a hotel partner so we know exactly where we're going."

• Andy (06:31): "The draw, I think, matters more for this event than maybe any other as far as who you couple together."

• Jon (20:21): "Stephen A. Smith knows way more about basketball than I know about tennis."

• Andy (55:34): "Jensen Brooksby through to the fourth round. His story is incredible and inspiring."

• Jon (24:50): "She hasn't won here hardly at all. She’s never had a good result."

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Insights and Conclusions

Throughout the episode, Andy and Jon emphasize the unpredictability of Wimbledon, especially on grass courts where surface-specific skills can significantly influence outcomes. They balance statistical analysis with personal insights, often highlighting the mental and physical preparedness of players as crucial factors.

Key Takeaways:

• Surface Specialization: Success at Wimbledon heavily depends on a player's ability to adapt to grass, a surface that demands quick reflexes, strong serve-and-volley skills, and efficient movement.

• Health and Fitness: Player health remains a critical variable, with injuries and physical conditions potentially altering predicted outcomes.

• Rising Stars and Dark Horses: Emerging talents like Carson Branstein and Jensen Brooksby are spotlighted as potential game-changers, capable of causing significant upsets.

• Legendary Performances: Veterans like Novak Djokovic are positioned as favorites due to their experience and historical performance at Wimbledon, though the competition remains fierce.

• Emotional and Mental Factors: The hosts acknowledge the impact of off-court issues and mental resilience, suggesting that these elements can derail or propel players through the tournament.

Final Thoughts:

Andy and Jon conclude the episode by reflecting on the immense unpredictability of Wimbledon, setting the stage for an exciting tournament filled with potential surprises and memorable performances. Their blend of expert analysis and personal anecdotes provides listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the draw's complexities and the myriad factors that could influence the championship's outcome.

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Credits:
Served with Andy Roddick is part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Follow the show on YouTube, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok for more updates and episodes.

Transcript

[Sponsor Voice]

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[Host 1]

You can Venmo this or you can Venmo that. Yeah, you could Venmo this or you could Vemo that.

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[Host 1]

Hey, everyone. Welcome to served. Brought to you by our friends at Mercury. The Wimbledon draw show. Boom. Can't wait. This has been a bit of a mess this morning. Mike Techie. Sean. I'm not in the friendly confines of where are you of the production ninjas. I'm in a hotel somewhere and I ran into a situation this morning. Jw, let me know if you've ever experienced anything like this where there's the same name of a hotel, but they have two different check ins that are like four blocks apart. How's that for.

[Host 2]

For.

[Host 1]

For a pain in the ass for like, it's not a real problem, but like, you get to the place and they go, you're not staying here. It's like, okay, well, I just flew forever.

[Host 3]

Branding wasn't very clear.

[Host 1]

Yeah, it's like, oh, that's the other location. I'm like, oh, stupid me. It's called the same thing.

[Host 3]

Maybe we need a hotel partner so we know exactly where we're going.

[Host 1]

That would fix a lot of things. That.

[Host 3]

That'd be calling all hotel partners.

[Host 2]

Who. Who is the. Who's the WTA player who tried to fly to Carlsbad, California for an event and Flew to Carlsbad, New Mexico, instead. You remember that?

[Host 1]

I've done. I've done. I've flown to Valdosta, Georgia instead of Valia, Georgia. So here we are. I guess you do enough travel. All right, for those of you. Hopefully most of you know how we do it at this point, but I have not seen the Wimbledon draw yet. It's been out for hours. I'm sure people are going crazy. I'm sure everyone has their picks. The first time you hear me, or the first time I look at it, you will hear me look at it. And then JW and I make a bunch of pretty average picks that, you know, normally kind of shake out towards the end. We kind of get there in the end. But I. I'm just going to say this after my. The worst pick I've ever made, and it doesn't count. Like, I picked Sabalenka last year, and then she pulled out of the event like 30 minutes after, you know, so whatever. That. That's. That's. Where was Surrender Load to the semis of Roland Garrelson. He lost first round. I don't care who he's playing. I'm choosing him to lose first round. I like him. It's just. It's just going to be a little bit of a revenge. Like, I'm going to overcompensate on the reversal. All right, J, Mike, are we starting with men's or women's jump into the ladies. Let's do ladies. Ladies. All right, so as you're looking at it, printed out by the hotel front desk, women. All right, let's let it rip. Sabalenka. Okay, that's not.

[Host 2]

Oh, all right. Early on, the first.

[Host 1]

The first section, I'm looking at, like, I'm just ready to. I was just ready to scribble in Sabalenka into the. The winner circle, and then she's going to get through the. I mean, Lulu soon made the quarters last year. JW and Buskova can play Radicano. Is there Kessler Von Drosseva. I mean, the two winners from last week, is that correct?

[Host 3]

First round, yeah.

[Host 1]

And Von Druzeva beats Sabalenka last week, 2 and 4. Wow.

[Host 2]

That was on. That was on grass, in all fairness. Oh, wait, we're back on grass.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Sorry.

[Host 1]

So is Wimbledon. Jw. Good stuff.

[Host 2]

Wait, don't skip over that second name as well. Have you been following this? Carson Branstein, who played at Texas A and M, cousin of Freddie Freeman, I'll have you know. And she had a wild time Qualifying, which included she beat Lois Boissa, Remember, old enough to remember when she reached a major semi, and then beat Bianca Andreescu, a former major champion who also came up through the juniors with her. It's been quite a week for, for our friend Carson Branstein from Texas A and M. Now she gets the number one seed in the first match.

[Host 1]

I hope she plays great. And also I traded for Freddie Freeman like a month ago in my fantasy baseball league, and he's decided to slump for the first time in his career. So that's just for that and because.

[Host 3]

Hopefully two weeks for both of them.

[Host 1]

And you, God, no, it's not gonna be, it's not gonna be a good two weeks. Sabalenka is winning first round. Not, not going that far. I mean, I'm basically to the point, like, are you taking Kessler or Vondro?

[Host 2]

Oh, man, just real one of these two play. I mean, all credit to Kessler, who has put herself in business that wasn't even sniffing distance of the top hundred this time last year, and now she's a seed. But Vondrose of a did win this little tournament two years ago. I guess I gotta go von Drosova. But that, that's a brutal first round match for both of them, huh?

[Host 1]

Remember how we were, it was talking about the last one, how, how important it was for Kessler to get that win and get seated in the top 32. So she gets a little bit of draw protection.

[Host 2]

Whoops.

[Host 1]

Yep. I have on Drozava Sabalenka in the third round. Jw, you gonna do it?

[Host 2]

No, I mean, I'm exactly the same. And you know, Radicanu at Wimbledon intrigues, but I don't, I don't think she's, that's a rough draw. Asking her to beat a seed, perhaps a former champion, and then the world's number one player just to get to the third round. That's brutal for Emiratkanu.

[Host 1]

Okay, so who are you taking in the fourth round? Are you, are you putting Vondrozova through? Are you gonna do it, shock the world?

[Host 2]

Jw, no, to beat Sabalenka twice in.

[Host 1]

You know, that is what it would require.

[Host 2]

It is pretty funny, though. You know, sometimes with men we say it's a different surface or it's a completely different strategy. When it's best of five, just beat Sabalenka. Same surface, same set format, but two and four, I think, I think, yeah. And gave her six games. Exactly. But I, I, I'm sticking with our top seed.

[Host 1]

All right, what about you Yeah, I got Sabalenka going through to the, to the fourth round as well. That was a, that was like an opening quarter if I've ever seen one. Okay, so the next one, we got Merton, Svitolina. I got Fertile in. I, I got Svitolina and Sabalenka in the fourth round.

[Host 2]

I like Mertens, who's solid, good athlete. It's kind of work a day player, but yeah, that's, that's, that's a toss up match. I think Sabalinka is our quarterfinalist no matter what. But I'll go Mertens over Svitolina.

[Host 1]

Okay. Some conflict. Badosa Bolter is Badoza. Do we have an update? Didn't she. She defaulted last week because she was hurt. Do we, Is that, Are we keeping that close to the vest? Because that makes it a tough one. That makes a tough one to call.

[Host 2]

And say, my gu. That sound you might hear in the background is the upset meter beeping.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

I think Katie Bolter, who has fallen out of the ranks of the seated, but I think that's a winnable match given Badosa's health.

[Host 1]

We just, I mean, my, my thing is like, okay, well then in that case, I have. I'm gonna take Vec to the fourth round just because we don't know about Badoza and Vecic was very close to making the final here last year, by the way. But in that section over in Bedosa section, I'm taking Vich Bosa actually looked good last week before she got hurt and she was pretty pissed when something went wrong. She broke a racket and I, I like Bosa a lot. I just don't know.

[Host 3]

Are you gonna then gonna take Bedosa over Bolter still or.

[Host 1]

Yeah, I'll take. I mean, okay, so at this point we're just predicting health. If Bosa takes the court, I'll take her over Bolter, but I'm just. Again, I probably would take Badoza through, but not knowing your injury, I'm going to put Vecic through. It puts it from like a toss up to a slight lean vecage, a Pam Shriverless Vecic.

[Host 2]

But yeah, I have the same.

[Host 1]

And then in the next section, Layla Fernandez, Peyton Sterns, who was another one of my flyer Roland Garros picks that did not work out. I'm going to take Matty Keys through to play Vegic in the fourth round.

[Host 2]

So far we're very boring. Keep an eye on that. I have the same. Keep, keep an eye on Fernandez against this, this Hannah Klugman, this young British Wild card junior teenager who they speak very highly of across the pond. Or across. Across the North Sea from where I am right now. But that's. Keep an eye on that match. Peyton Stern's had a bit of a rough go of it this year. I like. Yeah. Keys. Keys to beat Vekic.

[Host 1]

All right. And then in the next section, it's Paolini of last year's finalist fame. Just got run out of the building by Swiatek and Bod Homburg, which is just forever Will be a little bit weird name. She was good.

[Host 2]

Prefer benign Hamburg.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Neutral. I'm gonna go. Okay. I got my first. Play the horn. We don't have sound effects. We don't have a band. There we go. There we go. There's our sound effects. Good job. I'm going. No Scava. Fourth round over Paolini. She is playing well on grass. I just in. I should have learned my lesson. I finally put Paolini through. Picked her at like she deserves to be chosen. And Roland Garros. No. No dice. I'm going. No. Scova to the fourth round. Are you going? Yes. Kova to Paolini.

[Host 2]

I'm going. Yes. Kova to Paolini.

[Host 1]

All right.

[Host 2]

Winning begets winning. I don't think she's winning this tournament, but I think she's gonna be okay till middle weekend.

[Host 1]

Beatrice Haddad, Maya and a Samova section. I got Hamad Hadad. Maya going down. First round. Shrim Koba. Even though she played. She played pretty well last year. But Shram Kova played well somewhere in the semis. Semis or finals last week. And then Anna Samova. I got Anna Samova. Oof. This is. This is a big one. I got Anna Samova through to the quarters.

[Host 2]

Oh, man. Me too. That's. We're so bored. We ended up at the same place. All right. We didn't get it. Is really upset after being nearly challenged to a fight by Maria Sakari. And she's going to channel that into a quarterfinal? No, I don't think so.

[Host 1]

Should we send a letter of apology in advance to Anisa Mova right now.

[Host 2]

For both picking her?

[Host 1]

Yes.

[Host 2]

She's doomed. Forget it. She's gonna win. Like. Yeah.

[Host 1]

Her age is gonna edit.

[Host 2]

Exactly.

[Host 1]

All right. Diana Schneider and Ostapenko. Obviously the easiest person to ever predict. Ooh. Jabor's. Jabor's in there.

[Host 2]

Wacky section. This is. Huh?

[Host 1]

All right. All right. I. This is with my heart. I. This is not. I'm going to lose to John on points by the Way the point taking for like I should almost start third round. We should have some leeway to just.

[Host 3]

Pick every match.

[Host 2]

We're disincentivized to pick crazy because you're.

[Host 3]

Going to pick every match.

[Host 1]

All right, I'm. Screw. I don't care. Whatever. I'm going disincentivized to pick crazy.

[Host 3]

All right, well you know what? I'll come up. I'll come up with a. I'll come with. Up with a scale system. We'll wait later rounds more. It won't just be a straight.

[Host 1]

Oh no. Otherwise. Otherwise I might have to deal with the consequences of 7 seconds of your wrath.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

In the comments. I can't see.

[Host 3]

Yeah, yeah, true.

[Host 1]

I'm doing this just because I want to. I'm taking Jabor. Whoa. No, no, no, no, no. She's gonna lose to Schneider, but I'm taking her.

[Host 2]

I'm the one in Amsterdam. I should.

[Host 1]

I'm taking Schneider. Schneider to the fourth round, but I'm taking Jabor over Ostapenko. And I know. I don't. I just. I don't. I. This is not a blood oath. This is. This is. This is a choice of the heart.

[Host 2]

Can we. We just point out what an absolute batshit little pocket this is. You've got a four time major champion who we won't even. Who. Naomi Asaka. Who. Or we're on grass and her results are not what they are in hard courts. You've got the fifth seed, Jenkin Wen, who has lost her last two first round m. I mean I think she. She has a losing record at Wimbledon for his career and haven't gotten out of the first round the last two years. You've got Ashlin Krueger, the 21 year old. We don't talk about her enough. 21 year old American. Is she. Yeah, I was going to say that. Keep an eye on that name. A.A. panko is forest Gump. Who knows? And Schneider's a player we all like in a lefty, but it's having a rough year. This is a weird.

[Host 1]

This is a brutal site. Like we're going to. I'm looking at my. I'm looking at my draw and I realize that I'm going to have. I. I think I'm gonna go upset special on City. Akiva and. And Queen Wen first.

[Host 2]

I am too. Yep, I am too.

[Host 3]

You're both doing upset special.

[Host 1]

This is gonna be a disaster. I. I don't know why. I normally play it pretty close to the vest. This is a disaster and it's all gonna happen in one section. We're gonna get full surrender load.

[Host 3]

We're going T shirt.

[Host 1]

Kruger. How did she play last week? I don't know. She lost to. Was it chess? Cineakova. I got Anna Samova to the semis up top. Schneider to the quarter. I don't like. I hate my picks. Krieger, Cyniakova. All right. I got Sabalenka in the final over Ana Simova in the semis. I. This could be the least confident I've ever been in any half of any draw draw that we've ever done. This is a disaster.

[Host 2]

This is a strange quadrant of a major draw.

[Host 1]

Clip, clip this, clip this Mike really close up. Let me look. My draw is a dumpster fire.

[Host 3]

All right, so wait, we skipped through this. Let's work back.

[Host 2]

You don't have to do it.

[Host 1]

I'll send you the. I'll send you the full thing that you can post. But I got Noskova, Anisimova, Anisa through Schneider, Sinakova. Schneider going through Anisomova over Schneider. Sabalenka, Svitolina, Veitch. Keys Saba. Keys Saba through to the final. We're in the Andrea section. Maya Sharif, Teikman, Bronzetti, Baptist. Fresh. I'm gonna go Andrea. Although Fre Fre is playing pretty well on this stuff.

[Host 2]

Yeah. And Andrea does not.

[Host 1]

Andrea does not. She likes to mix up that pace. And the women's draw, by the way, is open. Just what like reading all this out loud. And I know the bottom's going to be stacked because we haven't seen. I haven't seen a spatech. I haven't seen a Rabbakina. I haven't seen a Coco. I haven't seen a lot. Like, I already know that the bottom quarter is going to be stacked. Andreva to the fourth round. Navarro is not playing great. Kochikova is like barely played.

[Host 2]

Look at. Look at Navarro's first round match.

[Host 1]

Kvitova. Oof. Kvitova hasn't played.

[Host 3]

Things. Battling some injury stuff too.

[Host 1]

No, always. Yeah. Yellow is still in the tournament the.

[Host 2]

Week before spending champion.

[Host 1]

Oh, I'm going. I'm going Yella. Gosh, I hate. I hate all of this.

[Host 2]

To meet the defending champion in round one.

[Host 1]

Yeah, you said that, Navarro.

[Host 2]

I know.

[Sponsor Voice]

Are you going different?

[Host 3]

Are you going different than that, John? Are you going Kojikova?

[Host 1]

Yeah, I don't.

[Host 2]

I mean, just as a defending champion, but.

[Host 1]

No, you're right. I don't even know if she's gonna play. She like, she barely.

[Sponsor Voice]

She hasn' played at All.

[Host 2]

She's. She's. She had a good week this week. I don't know if she's actually. She's still alive. Yell.

[Host 1]

Yell is still in the tournament, but Kika likes to play. I'm go. I can't do it. I'm sorry. I'm. I'm going back bk Kika, and then I'm going Kikova. Screw it. I'm. I'm. Total reversal.

[Host 3]

Let's go.

[Host 1]

Kik of a quarters. I'm in.

[Host 2]

But I have her there, too.

[Host 1]

You have her in the quarters, too?

[Host 2]

I have a. This is a cr. I mean, Haley Baptiste coming off a nice.

[Host 1]

Wrong.

[Host 2]

I don't know. I mean, you know, she could.

[Host 1]

She could. Haley Baptiste could sneak through in that Andrea section. Andreva has not looked great on grass. I gotta be honest.

[Host 2]

Haley Baptiste, quarterfinalist. You heard it here first.

[Host 1]

What?

[Host 3]

Haley Baptiste, quarterfinalist.

[Host 1]

What?

[Host 2]

Go through this list of names and we have an ailing. A very capable but ailing defending champion in Krajikova. Emma Navarro's really been struggling.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Patrick Vitova would be a great story, but I don't know if she's in shape to reach the second week of him. Go through this list and.

[Host 1]

No, I get it.

[Host 2]

Let's let it fly.

[Host 1]

Okay.

[Host 2]

Haley Baptiste, two nice appearances at majors in a row. You heard it here first.

[Host 1]

Baptiste. I like it. I like it a lot.

[Host 3]

So, Andy, you got. You have Andreva in the quarters now. John, you have.

[Host 1]

No, no, no, no, no, no. Oh, no, I have. I went full flip critique of a quarters.

[Host 2]

The player who 90 seconds ago was going to go out in round one, she's now.

[Host 1]

She could go out and run.

[Sponsor Voice]

Run Yellow still in the tournament, too.

[Host 2]

This is a great. I mean.

[Host 1]

This is. I hate everything about what we've said.

[Host 2]

Speaking of checks and suboptimal health, how do we feel about Muhava?

[Host 1]

I. I mean, every single section here is terrible and not terrible. It's just like, in a great way. Just. You can't.

[Host 2]

This is brutal. Gosh, look at these, Matt. I mean.

[Host 1]

All right, okay. I know what I'm doing here.

[Host 2]

Eva Jovich, what are you doing?

[Host 1]

No, I'm not doing that. I'm doing Alexandrova to the fourth round.

[Host 2]

Oh, man.

[Host 1]

Okay. Flat ball. She played fine last week. She lost to Egan, two tight ones, and IGA's apparently playing great on grass now. Okay, well, it's all for not. It doesn't matter because the next section I have, I'll skip ahead a little bit. But who are you putting in that Alexandrova section.

[Host 2]

Serena Williams. Didn't Alexandrova lose like 52 match points in that final against Mertens in the week after.

[Host 1]

I'm not here for your negative.

[Host 2]

You know, keep an eye. Keep an eye on Alicia Parks, probably one of the five best serves in the women's game. Maybe that alone.

[Host 1]

Gosh.

[Host 2]

This is a. What I mean, you know when, like, can we just. Quick 30 second hot take. When people like Stephen A. Smith have very firm opinions. I just, I mean, I'm throwing up my hands of about 20 matches saying I have no friggin. These are coin flips.

[Host 1]

To be fair, John, like, let's, let's not be stupid. Stephen A. Smith knows way more about basketball than I know about tennis.

[Host 2]

Exactly. I just don't know how you have authoritative opinions about.

[Host 1]

And as. As long as you yell the opinion, then apparent that that makes it true. As long as you scream it at someone next to you and talk over outros and intros in and out of commercial breaks and you know, talk over everyone and also, and also not offer anything of substance that anyone who actually knows basketball can respect, then you can say it with confidence.

[Host 3]

Where are we derailing here?

[Host 2]

Ibovic is going to get to the quarters.

[Sponsor Voice]

Oh, my God.

[Host 1]

So you have. Wait a minute, wait a minute. You have Jovic and Baptiste in the quarter.

[Host 2]

I'm kidding, I'm kidding.

[Host 1]

All right, I have Pula in the semis.

[Host 2]

Yeah. I have Pagoola beating Baptiste in the. The quarters.

[Host 1]

Okay, so there's gonna be, there's gonna be some, there's gonna be some, some smoke in this. In this next.

[Host 2]

Exactly. We're going to do the redraw show. Wearing bloody butcher smocks, all the bloodletters.

[Host 1]

It's going to look like Halloween. I have IGA to the fourth round. Clara Tossen, Heather Watson, Kalinskaya, Sakuri and Rabakina. Gosh. I'm going IGA Rabakina on the fourth round.

[Host 2]

Who wins? That's a good one.

[Host 1]

This is the most confident. I've felt like walking two players out to the fourth round yet.

[Host 2]

It's a, It's a rematch of one of the better matches of Roland Garros. You have the same player winning.

[Host 1]

I have Rabakina winning. I have Rebakken on the quarters in that section. And then the next one, Kazakina Samsonova. Samsonova looked great last week, by the way. My joint. I have Samsonova to the fourth round.

[Host 2]

Beating my. My joint is an intrigue guy. I think you're right. Sam Saliva is going to win that match. My adjoint. Australian teenager intriguing prospect on grass. Taylor Townsend qualified and plays Kennen. These are good matches here.

[Host 1]

Samsonova over. Insert whoever you want. Kenan Townsend. Coco has a brutal draw. Just so we're clear, Coco has a nightmare of a draw. Yastremska can play on grass. She just made the finals of a tournament last week.

[Host 2]

Remember, Remember Kenan beat Coco two years ago in the first round.

[Host 1]

I know.

[Host 2]

And then. Yeah, seriously. And then. And then. And then. Coco be okay. Coco is going to be okay.

[Host 1]

Okay. Who, who do you have out of that section? John?

[Host 2]

I have Coco to beat. Samsonova.

[Host 1]

You have Coco in the quarter. This is a hard one because I'm like, I, I find myself. My, my mind is telling my. Telling me something different than my heart is telling me. I don't, I don't. I don't think Coco makes it the fourth round. Wow.

[Host 2]

Come on. Really?

[Host 3]

You don't think she makes it to the fourth round?

[Host 1]

No. And I'm flirting with this upset on Yastremska first round. Whoa.

[Host 2]

Really?

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

Can you walk us through why?

[Host 2]

Yeah, exactly.

[Host 1]

I think grass is going to be. And it's weird because we, we judge people against their own shadows. How much stock do you put in what she did, which was amazing over the clay court season versus grass is everything that benefits her game about clay. It slows it down. More time on the forehand side. Grass is going to be her most challenging surface. It just is like the playbook hasn't changed because she won Whirl on Garros. She was able to manage, you know, the, the, the, the playbook against her going through with speed on that forehand side. Her legs are, are more of a weapon on the clay. She slides great. The spin profile on her forehand is better on clay. I don't know. Like, she, she hasn't won here hardly at all. Like she, she's never had a good result. I mean, she, her best result maybe was like, she's like 15, that breakthrough.

[Host 2]

And she beat Venus.

[Host 1]

Yeah, she hasn't.

[Host 2]

That's her best. That's her best swimmer.

[Host 1]

She has not played well on grass at all. And the forehand is. It does it no favors. And Yka is just coming off of a big win. I, I'm going to, I think I'm going to take. I'm going to take Sam Son of AA through to the quarters and then I'm going to take Rabakina. I have Rabbakina in the final.

[Host 2]

That's so funny, man. We gotta. We came to the. We reached the same destination through very different routes, but I have Rabbakina beating Coco and then Rabakina beating Bagula.

[Host 1]

Yeah, I think I'm. I think Kenan makes the fourth round. Okay.

[Host 2]

You have Cannon. You have either.

[Host 1]

Wow.

[Host 2]

All right.

[Host 1]

I'm. I'm. I don't know. Like, I. I understand. I get it. And it's going to be her worst surface. And she has a brutal draw. She has a terrible draw. Yastremska, when she. She just found some form. It made semis or finals last week. Hits a huge ball, likes to play up and down to her competition. Kenan is a nightmare since Sonova played great last week is a nightmare. Rabbakina is a nightmare. Like, I don't see her. I. I just don't see a path for her to. To make. To make semis. I hope I'm wrong. By the way, I love Coco. I love Coco. I respect Coco. I think she's amazing. And also I just think clay is. Or grass is gonna be really challenging for her. I think it's gonna be the most challenging service in her career. Okay. Sabalenka Rybakane. This is a hard one for me.

[Host 2]

Really?

[Host 1]

Yep. Who do you have Sabalenka winning?

[Host 2]

Yeah, I think. I think Sabalenka, she's number one in the world and she has won 12 matches at majors this year, but has won zero titles at majors. I think she gets her first major of the year and her first Wimbledon.

[Host 1]

We haven't. We haven't seen her enough on grass, you know, with the band from a couple years ago where they banned all the Russian players. But Rabakina, who is Russian, took citizenship somewhere else. So the only actual Russian in the draw won the tournament. So all time backfires. And then she pulled out last minute last year, Sabalenka did. So we haven't even seen. She squeezed in, I think a couple semis on each side, one of which I think she lost to either Jaborakana. I'm going to take Sabalenka. But this is a. This is. This draw. This. This draw is the most confusing draw I've seen since we started doing this dumb show.

[Host 2]

Right. So some of this is also. The players did us no favors. You know, Coco won six games, lost three and three in her one and only grass court match. Rybakina is danger. But there's a lot going on off court. I mean, some of this is just context and a function of times. I got to say I kind of love this. Like you know this isn't about you and I getting picks right. This is about entertainment and possibility and opportunity and there's a lot there. I'm going Santa Blanca. But boy, I think you're totally right. I mean this draw is just we, we could easily get 20% of our picks right? And it wouldn't surprise me at all.

[Host 1]

Yeah, this is, this is a rough draw and it seems like all the kind of players where you can bank on their the quality like Svitolina is pretty bankable on the surface. Vetic is bankable on the surface. Keys is pretty bankable on the surface. And they're all stuffed into one section.

[Host 2]

Yeah, right, right.

[Host 1]

And then the sections are kind of are kind of wide open. Anyways, Sabalenko over Rubakana, he says with a question mark. Men's side, let's take a break first. Let's take a break first.

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[Host 1]

All right, and we are back thanks to Mercury for being our title sponsor during this Wimbledon draw show. Okay, let's see if we can get back to some sanity in the men's draw here. I don't. I feel very uncomfortable with what we just chose on the women's side. I don't feel like I went. I literally freaked out and went from someone losing first round to them making the quarters.

[Host 2]

We're. We're a fickle bunch, but we're like gaslighting each other here. I just don't know. I mean, what's the alternative, though?

[Host 1]

I mean, I don't know.

[Host 2]

You want to say with great authority and certitude that Coco Goth is going to emerge from that quarter. Knock yourself out. But there. There are a lot. A lot of variables on this women's side.

[Host 1]

A lot of challenges. And I don't think. I think that hangover when you're. I mean, I. That hanger might not exist if you're like a Alcaraz who likes to translate to grass or a Borg or a. But I think Coco needs more time on the surface to figure it out. And if she keeps playing great at Roland Garros every year, I'm not sure she gets that time. Like, there's not. I mean, and also the other thing about picking Wimbledon versus Roland Garros. Roland Garros. We have 77 Masters, 1000s in the six weeks leading in. There is a massive sample size. Like we've normally seen whoever's in the semis play each other in the last month. You know, when you actually get there with the grass, it's such a specific surface, such a specific skill set. I say that, you know that there are only like 30 players on each side who actually know how to play on the surface. So the. The draw, I think, matters more for this event than maybe any other as far as who you couple in together. So it's always going to be a little bit more unpredictable, and that's the way that I'm going to explain my bad picks.

[Host 2]

You got to redraw show. Let's do the dudes.

[Host 1]

Oh, God. We might as well do it. And we're going to need to do it in four days after the first round.

[Host 2]

Yeah, right. What are you doing Tuesday night?

[Host 1]

Redraw. All right, I got center. Center. Nardi Vukic. No trouble. I got center in the fourth round.

[Host 2]

Jw, what do we make of Sinner? This was literally crossed, like, an hour ago. Firing his trainer and physio on the eve of Wimbledon, especially given sort of greater. Greater context there strikes me as an interesting personnel move as you try to win your first Wimbledon. I don't think it's going to cause him any problems against Luca Nardi or the Vukic Sang winner for that matter. But I thought that was an interesting.

[Host 1]

That's. That's a really weird. That's a really weird thing to do. Yeah. I mean on the EVA Wimbledon, you wouldn't. Had to be something. It had to be.

[Host 2]

Yeah. This was like an hour ago. So, I mean we don't. I'm just reading what popped up on my phone.

[Host 1]

I don't know anything. So I have no. John tells me and then I react. Right. But my guess would be that it has to be something off court. Whether it's financial, whether it's an argument, whether it's. This doesn't feel like what you would do when you're trying to win your first Wimbledon. But I. This also sounds like it could be something that we will never know the answer to, at least publicly. Tommy Paul, who again, like he didn't get any matches in. I like Tommy Paul through to the fourth round. Dimitrov, he's really good on grass. Mute is going to be a tough one. Second round. He can actually play on grass. He's such a pain in the ass. Just generally he fights with everyone. He makes me look like the most agreeable player of all time.

[Host 2]

What percentage of aggro clips does this guy dude figure into?

[Host 1]

I saw him keep a straight face with an argument at Queens. He argued a double bounce. It almost bounced three times. It was the. Like he has no credibility because he. Are he. He argued this double bounce to the death in the replay. Just did not do him any favors. Like he just needs. He needs the. He needs the fight, he needs the angst. He needs. He needs stuff. I get to operate. He almost got in a fight with Fognini in the most predictable outcome of a handshake ever a couple of weeks ago. But he's good on grass though, I'll tell you that. I like Tommy Paul through to play center. Objections.

[Host 2]

I just. I worry about Tommy Paul and this. This AB injury that he kept under wraps in Roland Garros. Still got the second week, but clearly was. Was hampering him. I don't know. Maybe. Maybe he's had some time to recover and no one else really pops out. Playing the British wild card. Johannes Monday off the bat. Yeah. I mean who. Assuming anything close to 80% health, Tommy Paul should still probably win his first three matches.

[Host 1]

Yeah. I mean, Dimitrov is a former semifinalist. He can play. Just is still. You feel like he's trying to find that big result for the year so far. I don't think old Joey Monday is going to get it done against Tommy Paul first round. I like, I like Tommy Paul. Obviously question marks around his physical health, but I like, I like Tommy Paul. Okay. Ben Shelton, he, I watched him last week in Mallorca. He just, it's not natural on grass. I think he's still trying to, I think he's still trying to figure it out a little bit. It just, the line, the lines that he takes to the balls are a little awkward. The chip isn't chippy enough. You know, he's trying to get forehands, but it's harder to run around on grass. I like him through to the third round. I mean, if you would have seen a brutal first round, like a mute or someone like that, it would have been interesting. I mean, Gofund's gonna know how to play on this a little bit. I like Shelton to the third round, but I, I, he needs to find a little bit of something on grass. Um, Bear. I'm going, um, Bear to the fourth round.

[Host 2]

Oh, Bear. So he would have to. Yeah, I, I think you, I had, I had Shelton. But I think you're right. I mean, the grass results were not there.

[Host 1]

No, but you have Shelton to the fourth round.

[Host 2]

I have Sheldon to the fourth. But that's as much because of the draw than anything else.

[Host 1]

Yeah, yeah. And maybe, and listen, maybe if he gets through, the stuff can change quickly. He gets through two matches and finds a little bit of comfort. It's hard to kind of try to find your way on a surface or just find form when you, like, lose first round, have a week off lose for. You need those like, tournament matches. And he was, he's short on them coming in. Okay, here we go. This is my, this is where I like to check it out. Nakashima put him in the third round. He is very good on grass.

[Host 2]

Good on grass. Yeah.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Is former round 16 here. Do you remember who he lost to in the round of 16 here in 20? Was it 20, 22? And then this person went on to beat just in the quarterfinal of all quarterfinals. This guy beat Garin in the quarters. Nakashima Green. And then in the semis, he had a walkover to make the final.

[Host 2]

Curious.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Wow.

[Host 1]

He beat Nakashima in five sets. And then the grass court specialist.

[Host 2]

Oh, right, right, right into. Yeah.

[Host 1]

And then Quarters and then got a walk over in the semi. Nakashima. I have Nakashima through to the third round. Opelka sitting there a little bit, but I like Nakashima Musetti.

[Host 2]

Musetti's kind of become Mr.

[Host 1]

Reliable to a semis on grass last year.

[Host 2]

Exactly. And then he can play and a semi rolling garros, too.

[Host 1]

God. You ready for the dumbest pick ever?

[Host 2]

Nakashima over Musetti. Say it.

[Host 1]

Nakashima in the quarterfinals.

[Host 2]

Oh, man, you're a cowboy on the steel horse.

[Host 1]

I am. I'm making all the picks that I haven't made for six of these. Now I've gone chalk. I'm.

[Host 3]

What did you have for breakfast?

[Host 2]

Yes.

[Host 1]

I had to get up. I was in an airport hotel.

[Sponsor Voice]

I had to drive two hours to.

[Host 1]

Get to the other hotel. That wasn't the hotel hotel. That was four blocks from the hotel. It had the same name. I couldn't find coffee. I'm all out of sorts. Mike, who's off camera?

[Host 3]

Who's off camera? Are you being threatened?

[Host 2]

Exactly. My. My captors have been good to me. My captors have treated me well.

[Host 1]

I feel fine. Everything is fine. Oh, man, I got sinner in the semis.

[Host 2]

All right, keep now. Now we got a little tasty pocket. See what you like.

[Host 3]

So wait, real quick, John, do you have a Musetti over Nakashima?

[Host 2]

I have Musetti beating Nakashima and Musetti beating Shelton.

[Host 1]

Man, that's a couple of tough matchups that you put Musetti through. The old B knock can hit through the court and then you got him. You got him returning the lefty with that one hander, the one handed serving volley on the. The old one hander Chipper Magoo.

[Host 3]

Who do you have? Do you have Nakashima over Hugo Umbert?

[Host 1]

Just because that lefty serve is coming into Knox. Got that. He's got that strong left hand in the backhand return. I have Nakashima in the quarters. He can play on grass. Ooh, ooh. Draper. I mean, I'm sorry. I like. Okay, so Draper is going to roll Baez. Chilich is there, but I don't know what version of Chilich we're getting. I have Draper. Okay, So I know everyone's looking at bublick.

[Host 2]

Yep. And right.

[Host 1]

And rightfully so. Okay, this guy Munar can play on grass. He almost beat Alcaraz and Queens, and I'm not going to pull that upset. But I am going to put Draper through to the fourth round even with the old Bublek. Just because I think I Think Draper is much more likely to get to the third round.

[Host 2]

Well, you lost me on the logic, but I have your pick. You. You think?

[Host 1]

I. I think I don't know who I would choose straight up with Draper and Buck in a matchup on grass. I think it's a. I think that's a popcorn match. I think Bublek. I think there's a 30% shot that Munar can take out Bublek first round. I wouldn't.

[Host 3]

I'm not going to take upset watch, are we. We throwing up an upset watch on that one.

[Host 1]

I don't know what you do with your graphics, Mike, but I think Moon. I. I don't underestimate. Like, we're gonna see Boo book. And everyone's like, he's playing great. Put him through. Munar is not. Not nothing. I'll just tell you that first. First round against Bullock. That's a rough first round draw.

[Host 2]

I wish. Don't you wish Mundar were a better closer? There's a lot of talent. This guy loses a lot of close matches.

[Host 1]

Yeah, I mean, I can't really punish him for. Listen, he. He's getting through to those big matches for the first time consistently in his career. I. I just think there's something there with the energy with Bublek and expectation in the whole thing. So I have Draper over Booblook in the third round. Once it gets to that matchup, I probably won't know. I just think it's a gear. I. I think it's. I'm very confident that Draper gets there, and I think Bublick has a bit of a tougher path to get there. That's br. That's a brutal third round draw, though. That's maybe the first worst. That's maybe the worst third round floater for any top seed. Is. Is Buick there? That guy can play on grass. I'll just tell you that much right now. If he can keep it together and just keep this roll going, everything he does well translates to grass, and he wants that center court. He wants to get that crowd. He want. He wants all of that. He's not scared of that. All right, next sec. Next section is a little bit. Ooh. Etber is in there.

[Host 2]

On grass. Yeah.

[Host 1]

What about forever? Going to give you a chance to put all the Argentinians in the sense.

[Host 2]

All the. Chile. No, I'm Mr. Chile.

[Host 1]

Oh, you're Chilean. That's right.

[Host 2]

Yeah. Chichi Chile.

[Host 1]

I mean, I. I have men. I have men cheek in the fourth round, but I just.

[Host 2]

We.

[Host 1]

You don't you hate to kind of. You don't want to, you don't want to criticize. We're just. This, this, these are facts. He hasn't really put together three good six matches in a row since Miami. And I think we've all been looking for it for that like building block for men. Chic. And maybe it wasn't clay and now it's like not grass. You know, there's. I have Draper through to the quarters.

[Host 2]

Same.

[Host 1]

Oof. Next one down is a tough one too. Normally I would. I just, I always choose Demon. He's just been not struggling. He's been saying I'm, I'm burnt out. There's something there in Mahach is. He's like. It's like a heart rate monitor.

[Host 2]

Mahach is way up and down.

[Host 1]

I know.

[Host 2]

And prone to. Prone to injury. Invest of 5.

[Host 1]

This is a tough one.

[Host 2]

Yeah, it's a tough one.

[Host 1]

They're not. I'm going Demon.

[Host 2]

Don't you think the. The British fiance is the deciding factor? Very fact based.

[Host 1]

No. I know you like that narrative, but I don't, I don't actually think that matters in the Mahaj Demon matchup. I don't think it's gonna be psyched out about engagements. Don't know that it actually works that way, but you know, oh boy. All right, you know what I was hoping?

[Host 2]

My guy Zoomer.

[Host 1]

All right, you know what I was hoping? I was hoping as I look at the next section, I was hoping that Mickelson was going to have some room to make a run because I think Alex Mickelson is really good on grass and I really like his attitude. I like everything that he does. And I will not be choosing against Novak. I have Novak in the semis. I think this is. I think this is Novak's last best chance at a major.

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[Host 1]

Savor every last drop of summer with Starbucks. From bold refreshers to rich cold brews, the sunniest season only gets better with a handcrafted ice beverage in your hand. Available for a limited time. Your summer favorites are ready at Starbucks. I think. I don't know when the end is coming, but I. I think his best chance is on grass. I think he gets them. His game as it stands currently, not Novak from five years ago, but as it stands currently, I think he gets the most benefit for surface on grass now as. As it currently stands. And he knows what to do with it.

[Host 2]

Right. I mean, let's also. If he were to win this tournament, just hypothetically, if you were to win this 25 major, he would tie. Roger. I mean, I feel like in a weird way, no facts. Wimbledon record is like criminally underrated.

[Host 1]

It's great. I mean, it's. It's absurd. We were. You know, it's. We don't talk about it enough. It's. We get to the point where we're spoiled and we get used to numbers and so then they. The things, they become normal when they should never be normal. Novak, I have no.

[Host 2]

7. Wimbledon is pretty good, isn't it?

[Host 1]

I have Novak in the semis.

[Host 2]

So who's he beating in the quarters?

[Host 1]

Draper.

[Host 2]

Wow. You know, actually, you know, so Novak beats Alcaraz in Australia and Zverev in Paris. He actually has had that one match against sort of the. The younger, higher seated opponent at both majors this year that he's played really well. It's just then backing it up. But.

[Host 1]

I just. He's gonna get balls to hit the first couple of rounds like Evans is gonna chip. That's not gonna. Mickelson serves well, but Novak's gonna be in his service games demon. He's going to be able to distribute and hit through the court. Draper, he can actually return the lefty serve. That's not going to bother him too much. And J.W. i'm ready. I'm going to take it one further.

[Host 2]

What do you got? I've never come on Novak to beat sinner.

[Host 1]

I have Novak in the finals of Wimbledon to make a. A. I mean, to be repeat. I know it's been like crazy. It's been like a whole year since he's been in a Wimbledon final.

[Host 2]

No, no, I'm saying there's three. So. So three. Well, I'll wait to hear your pick on the other side of the draw. But you're. You're picking a potentially a Novak. Alcaraz. Re. Repeat.

[Host 1]

I said what I said. Novak's in the finals of Wimbledon. Or do you have a center center in the final?

[Host 2]

No, I had. I. I'm a big Draper believer.

[Host 1]

You're going Draper in the final.

[Host 2]

Draper to beat center to make the final.

[Host 1]

This is. Yeah, yeah.

[Host 2]

Fourth seed, all those batches he's won.

[Host 1]

I understand how. I understand how rankings work. Like, you know.

[Host 2]

I think.

[Host 1]

Tell me more. Does that mean he has more points than Novak?

[Host 3]

The country would go.

[Host 2]

Nothing reaches. Yeah, exactly. We're rooting for the storyline.

[Host 1]

I have no storyline.

[Host 3]

Storyline.

[Host 1]

Picks. Oh, this one sucks. Fritz and Pechy par.

[Host 2]

Oh, I know. That's a brutal first rounder for.

[Host 1]

Oh, you know what? I got a little. I was watching. I was watching Eastborn yesterday. Watched before I had to go get on a flight. I was watching a little. Little Taylor Fritz, Marcos Giron. And normally you wouldn't pull much from that matchup as it applies to Peggy Paracard. I'll tell you, Fritz was hitting that little chip forehand return a little bit more. That's a new little wrinkle. Didn't always look perfect, but that's a little wrinkle. I have. I have Fritz. Oh, Diallo. Fritz has a tough.

[Host 2]

I know. Brutal, right?

[Host 1]

Fritz has a brutal draw.

[Host 2]

So if he's. If he say 60, 40 to beat Pesci Perry card and he's 60, 40 to beat Diallo.

[Host 1]

Yeah, but who else do you.

[Host 2]

Only 36. No, but I'm saying. I'm saying you combine those back to back, he's only 36% chance to get to the third round. That's a brutal draw right off the bat.

[Host 1]

Brutal draw.

[Host 2]

Grass.

[Host 1]

Okay, well, I'm gonna. And Popperin can play on grass, too. Sitting there at the 20 seed. Jordan Thompson can play on grass. This is a tough. This is a brutal little section. Hey, props to Brandon Holt.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Being in the job playing Davidovich Fokina, son of Tracy Austin, qualified in my.

[Host 2]

ORCA this week as well.

[Host 1]

Awesome. Yeah, that's. That's really cool.

[Host 2]

Lovely.

[Host 1]

Davidovich Fikina can actually play on grass. This. This is a brutal section for Taylor. I'm going to take him to the fourth round. I'm going to take Medvedev to the quarter. We forget that Medvedev beat center last year in. In this tournament.

[Host 2]

Medvedevs reached the semis two years running.

[Host 1]

Yep. And he just made the finals of Holly Hollow. I have Medvedev in the quarters.

[Host 2]

I'll hit your boys. Yeah, I do, too.

[Host 1]

Okay.

[Host 3]

Is fritz going to fourth?

[Host 1]

You said I have Fritz in the fourth round, but I don't. I don't.

[Host 3]

I mean, 60, 40 feels.

[Host 1]

That's tough. And that's probably a big reason why I have Medvedev through the quarters is because I just think he's more likely to get to the fourth round. Like in a head to head matchup, you know, Fritz on grass, can he out hit Medi pra, you know? Yeah, he can, but that's a medi quarter where I just have more faith in his path. All that changes maybe if it's a straight up matchup, if it's just picking the fourth round, but you gotta head your bet against a potential loss for Fritz. But that, that's a, that's a tough draw. Diallo can play on grass too. Big time. Just won a title, I think.

[Host 2]

Title winner. Yeah. Here's your, here's your dark horse, that 81 spot.

[Host 1]

Serendo. Oh, gosh. See if that was against Pechy Paracord or anyone.

[Host 2]

Does he ever won a match at Wimbledon?

[Host 1]

Serendalo, it doesn't matter because I'm taking.

[Host 2]

One match, one match for his career.

[Host 1]

I'm doing. Hatching off.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Hatching off through to the fourth round.

[Host 2]

We should add that. The last player to beat Roger Federer, Wimbledon, former semifinalist Herkash, just pulled out.

[Host 1]

So that's tough too, because her coach can play on grass. He's. He won. He's one hollow too. What is still the knee? Is it still the same issues?

[Host 2]

I'm guessing?

[Host 1]

Yeah, that's tough. That's. That stinks. He's. He kind of played his way back into a little bit of form. I'm. So I'm gonna take Serendolo to the third round, but that's all I can do for. I can't. I can't do anything more for him.

[Host 2]

Wow. That would double his wimble and wind total.

[Host 1]

That's fine. I mean, are you gonna go, Are you gonna go Nuno Gorgeous or lucky loser or Billy Harris over Serendulo Nuno Borges, Mississippi State. Okay, so does that mean you're taking him?

[Host 2]

Yeah, but I think, I think I have. I don't know if he beats Billy Harris. Who knows? Gorgeous Karen Katchenov to, to the fourth round.

[Host 1]

Baratini Zverev. Baratini is so good on grass, but has he been playing much?

[Host 2]

It's the same. I feel like the cut and paste for this whole show is. What's the level of health we're talking about?

[Host 1]

No, it's just brutal. And then it's like you have to play. If you're not like Novak, you kind of. You. I, I want a sample size. I don't care if it's in a 250. If you've won two or three matches. I value that a lot on grass. Right. Like Zverev has actually been playing. He hasn't been playing great, but Final Stuttgart like I have. I have Zverev through to the quarters.

[Host 2]

Baratini hasn't played since Rome, by the way.

[Host 1]

Yeah, he's. I mean, that's a tough one. I have. I have him through to the third round. I mean, render Kanesh is not an easy first round for Zverev. I think he gets through it. I mean, sphere of Medvedev.

[Host 2]

Yeah. Who do you like?

[Host 1]

I think I have Medvedev in the semis again.

[Host 2]

3. Three semis in a row for a guy who's barely in the top 10.

[Host 1]

I would not have like. Yeah, I guess I. I kind of hate this as much as the women's draw. All right. Runa.

[Host 2]

Yeah. Qualified.

[Host 1]

Look at him.

[Host 2]

What do you think?

[Host 1]

He's got some form. Do it. You won't do it.

[Host 2]

Yeah, I will.

[Host 1]

You will do it.

[Host 2]

I'm a cowboy, you know that. Nicholas Chari. God, he's. I mean, this is a guy who is seated at majors a year ago and now he's outside the top hundred, but I'll take him.

[Host 1]

You're taking him over?

[Host 2]

Runo Hogaruda, actually not the worst. I mean, it's a crazy pick, but when just. Just for. For kicks and giggles, as we say, Hogan Ruda, actually not the worst grass court player, but he.

[Host 1]

He went away last at Queens. I was watching that match. He just. I don't know. His. His. His energy is like. It's like seasons in certain cities. It's like you can have such a variance of emotion over the course of like six minutes.

[Host 2]

Isn't. He's turning into one of these guys who's really good. If he's playing like a top 10 player on a Saturday weekend session with a lot of crowd and then it's like a Tuesday night and he kind of does not have the same intensity.

[Host 1]

Okay, let's see how much credit you give to name, name, value. Fonseca versus Fernley. Who you take?

[Host 2]

I thought you were gonna say, how about Indiana Zone against.

[Host 1]

In the third round? By the way, I already already put him through to the third round.

[Host 2]

I'll go. I'll go. Fun sake. I mean, I don't know what his grass court aptitude is playing his first Wimbledon, but on ball striking alone. I'll. I'll take him.

[Host 1]

You ready? You ready for my. You ready for my feel good story of the. Of the first week of Wimbledon.

[Host 3]

Bring it.

[Host 1]

Jensen Brooksby through to the fourth round. I just. I wanted to make a run I have, I have so much respect for his, his journey, his, his, his. The way he's been able to talk about in Tennis Channel is running a special before Wimbledon, so everyone please check that out. Jensen Brooks be talking about his autism and how it affects his tennis game and where it's like a superpower and what are the challenges and, and I mean he, he said he was non verbal. I think it was till five or six years old.

[Host 3]

It's a wild story.

[Host 1]

It's a cool story. I don't care about your little point counter. I want Brooks being the fourth round. I think that would be just an unbelievable show and I think it would be such a great story and I think it'd be inspiring to many people who maybe on their worst day need a little bit of inspiration. I think he is fantastic and I hope he makes the fourth round.

[Host 2]

Should bookmark this for a later episode discussion, but I think there's actually a really interesting story to be done about individual sports and people on the spectrum and it might be hard to be on a team, but if you can funnel all of your. This repetition and the solitary nature of tennis and I think actually this should be inspiring and I think a lot of parents would be really interested to.

[Host 1]

Follow the story from that section. The next section down. Lahechka is the seed. Francis Tiafo is the seed. There's a lot of like kind of pretty savvy grass quarters in there. Nori's made a semi before. Bautista Goud's made a semi before. Just made the finals in Ed Queens. I have Lahechka to the quarters.

[Host 2]

Keep an eye on Francis's match. By the way, this Elmer Moeller, I saw him play in Paris, he's got his backhand is like no shot I've seen in tennis. It's like a hockey slap shot. Casper Rude was talking about it and based on Casper's press conference, I went and checked it out. I think Francis probably wins this match. I think Mueller may have been the last automatic in, by the way, but Elmer Moeller in his backhand for the, for the connoisseur fan check. Check that out if you can. I have Laheska beating Francis.

[Host 1]

What a great name Elmer is, huh? Kind of forgotten like a little Elma. What a great name. I have Lahechka through to the quarters. Did you, did you say the same? J.W.

[Host 2]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Host 1]

He was legit, like queens. He played great and he played such a strategically sound match against Carlos. I know he lost in the final, but he kind of Picks and chooses the right spots on grass. In my opinion of when to get aggressive and when to. He has a good feel for, for the gamesmanship of, of grass. Okay. Rublev Jara. I mean sits apart. I mean I get this is a, this is a bit of a. Rublev has not been playing great. Sitsipas has not been playing great. This, I mean we're all just looking at it. But I'm, I'm just gonna put Alcaraz through to the semis into the final. Alcaraz wins his third straight Wimbledon over Novak Djokovic.

[Host 2]

Yep. I mean look, look at Alcaraz's draw. Talk about a player who has no reason to complain.

[Host 1]

I mean, yeah, I mean Felix if he finds it conserve big and Felix is another ones that he likes playing those, the, the bigger names. But yeah, I mean even Lehechka who's so dangerous, like you feel like he just snuck through a set and then Alcaraz drilled him. I don't see Alcaraz losing the medi or is Vera V on grass. Yep, Alcaraz is see picked him at Roland Garros. Pick him again. Here I have Alcaraz over a guy named Novak Djokovic. And also can we like, should we give some context just so we don't take people for granted in, in real time. If Alcaraz wins this, he's one as many Wimbledons as Becker.

[Host 2]

That's great. Well, wait, I'll get. Wow. You know, you know, here's, here's something. Novak Djokovic, of course Nadal and Serena Williams never did three in a row. And yeah, he would be. I mean let's, let's not put it in the bank yet, but yeah, six, six majors is pretty good for, for a guy who's barely old enough to drink. It's.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Some other, some other context for the six majors and three Wimbledons, he'd be tied with Edberg and Becker at six. Like these are all time iconic names. And this is to John's point, let's, let's pump the brakes. We still have to play. It's the world's best reality show. You don't, you don't just get given titles but three Wimbledons, you match Becker there, you match his total slam count like in your 22. And Becker is a monster of this game. He is an icon of this game. This is what we're watching. This is what we're dealing with right now. Pretty fun. Well, I, I know it feels. I don't feel good. I don't feel Good at all. How do you feel?

[Host 2]

I feel about as good as I feel being in a hotel room with a maroon curtain behind me.

[Host 1]

To be fair.

[Sponsor Voice]

To be fair.

[Host 1]

If I was feeling bad about something, I'd rather be in Amsterdam with the choices there than stuck in my hotel room somewhere in California. Well, I guess California.

[Host 2]

I was going to say.

[Host 3]

I don't think you got a bad day ahead of you, bud.

[Host 2]

Exactly.

[Host 1]

Yeah, that's true. I think we're gonna be fine.

[Host 2]

This will be a fun night. So it'll be fun though. It'll be fun.

[Host 3]

Let's.

[Host 1]

Let's just.

[Host 3]

Let's do some. The first couple days. What are. What are a couple of the matches to watch you. You picked kind of some upset specials over Quinn win. You did over maybe potential for Munar over Bublek. What are. What are a couple. Must watch.

[Host 1]

There were a couple in the. I feel like there were a couple more in the. The women's draw.

[Host 2]

Yeah. I mean Taylor. Taylor Fritz with the potential NBA front line of Pesci Perry card and then Diallo back to back is. Is pretty rough. I will be following this sinner firing key personnel on the eve of the tournament store. I don't know if that's going to affect his first week, but that's. That's an interesting one. And then what else do I have?

[Host 1]

Oh, Serindello Borges render connections. Vera is interesting.

[Host 2]

Potentially playing his last Wimbledon against fellow Frenchman.

[Host 1]

Yeah, I'll find. I'll find some more. I threw. I threw my draw over here. Hold on. Because I was so mad at my picks.

[Host 2]

Coco Yastremska. That's an interesting one.

[Host 1]

I mean Saba early. Oh the. I think the. The best. The best matchup in all of round one. And it won't. It'll get played somewhere that is. People won't value it the same way that we do. Kessler and von Droseva I think is a really interesting match. Those are. They both won last week. They're both in Sabalenka section. There's a lot of. We'll see if Bedosa is healthy Badosa bolter especially in the English market. Is a. Is a. Is a big match. I don't know that there are a ton more. Those would probably be my. Oh, Cyniakova. I took. I took Cyniaka over Queen wen first round. So that's an upset special. I had Yella over Kritykova until I took Krishikova into the quarters.

[Host 2]

Until you had her defending her title.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Till I had her winning again. But I'll tell you this like Krishikova gets the quarters, we all start going I don't know, let's see. But lot to watch the first couple of days and we'll revisit. There's some we'll get some quick serves out obviously as as it comes in but there are some really interesting second round matches too. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Producer Mike I will send I will send you my screenshots of my full draw so we can get all the first rounders so you can be a nerd and aside your you know 1 and 2 points.

[Host 3]

We'Ll figure out something good that will still piss you off.

[Host 1]

And value Eva Lee's versus you won the same as the finals as far as points. That's great. Way to go.

[Host 3]

If you know you know.

[Host 1]

Or if you don't know, you don't know. Thank you for watching Serve. This has been a Wimbledon Wimbledon draw show by Mercury. Thanks for listening to Producer Mike because apparently if you know, you know.

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