5 SETTER: Record-Breaking Sponsors, Battle of the Sexes & More

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Served with Andy Roddick

Episode: 5 SETTER: Record-Breaking Sponsors, Battle of the Sexes & More

Date: December 12, 2025

Host: Producer Mike (on behalf of Andy Roddick and the Served team)
Guest Contributor: Jon Wertheim (in spirit), with news and analysis from the Served staff

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Episode Overview

This "5 Setter" episode of Served delivers a rapid-fire roundup of the week's five most compelling stories in the tennis world, focusing on record-breaking sports sponsorship, emerging stars, player-led content, cultural crossovers, and a provocative new “Battle of the Sexes” exhibition. Lively and insightful, the show keeps the tennis community updated on the game’s shifting landscape with punchy updates, memorable commentary, and meaningful debate.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Historic WTA and Mercedes Benz Sponsorship

[01:14]

• News: The WTA signs Mercedes Benz as its new premier partner, replacing Hologic.

• Financials: “The largest sponsorship in the history of women's sports” at $500 million over 10 years.

• Impacts: Mercedes Benz to provide a fleet of electric vehicles for 30+ tournaments, and their branding will now headline the WTA Tour.

• Notable Athlete: Coco Gauff joins Mercedes Benz’s athlete ambassador roster, alongside the likes of Roger Federer.

• Coco Gauff’s Statement:

  “Mercedes Benz and WTA partnering together is proving that the dreams of young girls in sports are worth investing in. To invest in someone like me, a woman of color, is super inspiring.”
  —Coco Gauff [01:55]

• Quirky Note: Potential awkwardness when the “WTA Tour, driven by Mercedes Benz,” lands at Stuttgart’s Porsche Grand Prix in April—will Gauff play?

• Summary: The deal signals a monumental investment in women’s tennis, both in visibility and resources.

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2. Jakob Mencik Withdraws from Next Gen ATP Finals

[02:51]

• Update: Czech rising star Jakob Mencik withdraws from Next Gen ATP Finals due to medical reasons.

• Career Highlight: Mencik made waves earlier in 2025 by defeating Novak Djokovic to win the Miami Open.

• Replacement: German teen Justin Engel steps in—known for breaking age-related records and winning on all three surfaces.

• Playful Question:

  “Wonder if he's a Porsche or a Mercedes guy?”
  —Producer Mike [03:35]

• Event Timeline: Draw on December 15; play begins Tuesday.

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3. Ben Shelton Launches YouTube Docuseries

[03:49]

• New Content: Ben Shelton starts a YouTube channel with the docuseries "The Long Game."
• Content Style: Promises an “unedited and unfiltered” glimpse into his life, from US Open runs to his ATP Finals debut.
• Target Audience: Appeals to both passionate tennis aficionados and casual fans with behind-the-scenes access.
• Personal Note:

  “I am personally pumped to watch this. Let us know what you guys think about the show.”
  —Producer Mike [04:21]

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4. Venus Williams Named Co-Chair of the Met Gala

[04:44]

• News: Venus Williams will co-chair the Met Gala, joining Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Anna Wintour.
• Historic Context:
  • Serena Williams co-chaired in 2019.
  • Other tennis co-chairs: Naomi Osaka (2021), Roger Federer (2023).
• Theme & Date: “Costume Art,” set for the first Monday in May.
• Takeaway: A celebration of tennis stars crossing into high fashion and global cultural influence.

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5. Battle of the Sexes Exhibition Returns

[05:12]

• Event: On December 28, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka faces (maybe-retiring) Nick Kyrgios at the Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai.

• Historical Context:

  • Last held in 1992 (Connors vs. Navratilova).
  • The original “Battle of the Sexes” (1973): Billie Jean King def. Bobby Riggs.

• Match Rules for 2026:

  • Kyrgios—first serve only (limits his power);
  • Sabalenka’s court reduced by 9% (evens physical advantage).
  • Best of three sets; 10-point tiebreak if needed.

• Kyrgios’ Playful Trash Talk:

  “If I go down, this one might be the one that hangs up the rackets for good.”
  —Nick Kyrgios, on Piers Morgan Uncensored [06:43]

• Cultural Significance: Stirs debates around gender equality and sporting fairness.

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Notable Quote & Memorable Moment

Aryna Sabalenka on Trans Athletes in Women’s Tennis

[07:24]

In a direct and nuanced response to interviewer Piers Morgan’s question about trans women competing in WTA events:

“I have nothing to do against them, but I feel like they still got huge advantage over the woman and I think it's just not fair to a woman to basically face like the biologically men… The woman been working the whole life to reach her limit and then she has to face a man which biologically [is] much stronger. So for me I don't agree with this kind of stuff in sport.”
—Aryna Sabalenka [07:24]

• Context: Opens important, sometimes contentious dialogue about gender, sport, and fairness.

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Trivia Segment: Tiebreak Theme

[08:00]

• Question: How many people watched the 1973 Battle of the Sexes (King vs. Riggs)?

• Teaser:

  “Safe to say it was way more than who will watch this one?”
  —Producer Mike [08:05]

• Answer Location: Promises the answer will be in the Served newsletter—not revealed on air.

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Structure and Tone

• Language/Tone: Smart, lightly irreverent, and community-oriented. Brings tennis news with a modern spin, blurring insider knowledge and fan excitement.
• Style: Punchy headlines, rapid transitions, sly humor, and direct athlete quotes anchor the episode.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• WTA x Mercedes Benz Sponsorship: [01:14–02:49]
• Jakob Mencik Withdraws / Justin Engel: [02:51–03:39]
• Ben Shelton Docuseries: [03:49–04:23]
• Venus Williams Met Gala Co-Chair: [04:44–05:12]
• Battle of the Sexes Announcement: [05:12–07:56]
• Sabalenka on Trans Athletes: [07:24]
• Tiebreak Trivia: [08:00–08:20]

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Final Takeaways

Episode #5 of Served delivers a fast-paced, witty, and informative sweep of today’s tennis landscape—from industry-shaking sponsorships and Gen-Z media moves to hot-button issues at the intersection of sports and society. It’s essential listening for tennis fans who want news, context, and personality—all served up in 10 minutes flat.

Transcript

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[Producer Mike]

What's up Chuckers? Producer Mike here. Welcome to your Served 5 Setter, a weekly roundup of all things racket sports. Five stories in 10 minutes or less. Today is December 12th, and here's what we have for you. A rising star is out, the battle of the sexes part Quattro Ben Shelton goes unfiltered and Venus Williams prepares for fashion's biggest night. But first, some breaking sponsorship news. The WTA has officially signed Mercedes Benz as its new premier partner, a deal that reports are calling the largest sponsorship in the history of women's sports. The German luxury Automaker will replace Hologic's 20 million a year title sponsorship with a whopping 500 million over the next 10 years. The title will now be the WTA Tour, driven by Mercedes Benz and and beyond the name check, it includes a fleet of electric vehicles for players and officials at over 30 tournaments. Mercedes did not stop there with women's tennis. They also added world number three Coco Golf to the roster of athlete ambassadors, joining one Roger Federer and many others in a press conference. Coco Gauff had this to say on the WTA in the Mercedes Benz Partnership Quote Mercedes Benz and WTA partnering together is proving that the dreams of young girls in sports are worth investing in. To invest in someone like me, a woman of color, is super inspiring. End quote. This deal is an incredible boost to the tour and hopefully the players. To recap, it's 50 million a year across 30 tournaments. However, it's not all good. This deal also includes now one very awkward week in Germany when the newly minted WTA Tour, driven by Mercedes Benz makes its stop in Stuttgart for the Porsche Grand Prix. You think Mercedes Benz ambassador Coco Golf will play? Tune in in April and find out. On to set number two and a last minute change for the last big event of the year. Czech rising star Jakob Mencik has officially withdrawn from the next gen ATP finals in Jeddah due to medical reasons. Mensik had a standout start to the 2025 season, beating Novak Djokovic in straight sets to claim his first Masters 1000 title at the Miami Open. Mencik's withdrawal opens the door for German teenager Justin Engel. Angle is clearly worthy of the Kennedy grabbing headlines in October 2024 when he became the youngest player since Carlos Alcaraz to claim an ATP main draw win and just this year with a win in his hometown of Stuttgart, becoming the youngest player since Rafa de Dahl to win a Tour level event on all three surfaces. Wonder if he's a Porsche or a Mercedes guy? The draw for the event will take place on Sunday, December 15, with play kicking off on Tuesday. Now to a new kind of content from America's most electrifying lefty. Ben Shelton has officially launched his own YouTube channel with a docu series titled the Long Game. The series promises an unedited and unfiltered look at his life on tour. Episode one dropped on Wednesday, covering Shelton's run at the US Open and his debut at the ATP Finals in Turin, offering the kind of locker room access that both tennis nerds and and casual fans should love. Here's a clip from the first step. At Georgia Ben Shelton I am personally pumped to watch this. Let us know what you guys think about the show. Go check it out over on his YouTube channel and and hit us up in the comments. Now on to set number four. From the hard court to the red carpet. Venus Williams has been named the co chair of this year's Met Gala. The seven time Grand Slam champion will join a powerhouse lineup that includes Beyonce, Nicole Kidman and one Anna Wintour. Next year's theme is costume art and the event takes place on the traditional first Monday in May. Venus is the second Williams sister to co chair the iconic event. Her sister Serena co chaired the gala back in 2019. Other tennis players who have taken on the honor for this event are Naomi Osaka in 2021 and some guy who people think has pretty good fashion, Roger Federer in 2023. And finally, something that many people were calling for. Many probably were not. The battle of the sexes is back. World number one Arena Sabalenka will face off against the possibly soon to be retired Dekirios on December 28th at the Coca Cola arena in Dubai. The last Battle of the Sexes event was in 1992, before Social Sophie or Techie Sean were even born, when Jimmy Connors beat Martina Nabratilova in straight sets. The moniker Battle of the Sexes hit Mainstream back in 73 when Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs 646363 in a best of five match. The 2026 event will feature specific rules to level the playing field. The match will feature a first serve only rule to limit Kyrgios power and Sabalenka's side of the court will be reduced by 9% to account for court coverage speed differences. The scoring format is best of three sets with a 10 point tiebreaker if needed for a decider. The duo appeared together on the Piers Morgan Uncensored show this week to promote the event. When asked about his chances in the upcoming match, Kyrgio said, quote, if I go down this one might be the one that hangs up the rackets for good. Career futures match rules and playful smack talk weren't the only topics covered in the joint interview. Morgan also asked Sabalenka this Let me ask you Irina.

[Interviewer]

It has raised the whole question again of this ongoing debate about trans athletes in women's sport because obviously it highlights the physical disparity between men and women. Martina Ratlova, a former number one obviously like yourself, says it's wrong for the Women's Tennis association to allow trans women to compete in its events. Do you agree with her?

[Irina Sabalenka]

Well that's a tricky question. I have nothing to do against them, but I feel like they still got huge advantage over the woman and I think it's just not fair to a woman to basically face like the biologically men and then and it's not fair like the woman been working the whole life to reach her limit and then she has to face a man which biologically much stronger. So for me I don't agree with this kind of stuff in sport.

[Producer Mike]

For more on this story, check out this week's newsletter. Link is in the show description. All right guys, let's close out this week with our tiebreak trivia. Sticking with the battle of the sexes theme, how many people watched the battle of the sexes match between Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King on TV in 1973? Safe to say it was way more than who will watch this one? Want the answer without the hassle of the searching the Internet thing? Just sign up for our five setter newsletter link in the show description and we will share the answer to the Tiebreak trivia as well as the rest of the top stories from the week. Plus, you can find the Weekend draw so you know what to watch, where and when. Be sure to hit subscribe on YouTube or follow us on your favorite podcast platform to stay up on all things Served. This is a production of Served Media. Special thanks to techie Sean and Eric, the editor who has been waiting all night for me to finish this read. See you chuckers Tuesday.

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