Served with Andy Roddick – Australian Open 2026 Day 6 Recap

Episode: Australian Open 2026 Day 6: Sabalenka’s Tiebreak Streak, Medvedev 5-Set Grind, & More
Date: January 23, 2026
Host: Andy Roddick featuring Jim Courier, Chuck, and Jon Wertheim

Main Theme

This episode delivers a high-energy, insight-packed Day 6 recap of the 2026 Australian Open, breaking down thrilling matches, standout player performances, tennis trends, and the unique personalities defining this year's tournament. With playful banter and expert analysis, the hosts discuss Medvedev’s five-set comeback, Sabalenka’s historic tiebreak record, the dominance of teenage players on the women’s side, and much more.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Medvedev’s Five-Set Survival

• Jim Courier and Chuck discuss Daniil Medvedev’s rollercoaster match, emphasizing his newfound composure and resilience.
  • Medvedev was two sets down but avoided his old habit of creating drama and stayed focused to grind out a win (01:19).
  • Jim highlights the cyclical nature of confidence in sports:
    • "The greatest thing about sports is that you have to prove it every day... if you have an off year, you have to prove it all over again." (02:22)
  • Medvedev showed top fitness and maturity, a contrast to his more emotional past performances.

Other Men’s Results

• Zverev’s dominance over Norrie:
  • Jim: "I didn’t know that he had... He’s beaten Norrie like six or seven times in a row.” (03:13)
• Tommy Paul’s control over Davidovich Fokina:
  • Exploiting Fokina's second serve to Paul’s backhand; Jim praises Paul’s quick, punchy return game (04:08).
• Serindolo topples Rublev:
  • Chuck cracks up over Rublev’s famously simple post-match summaries: "Coffee, sleep. Coffee, practice. Coffee, sleep.” (04:46)
  • Hosts praise Rublev’s candor about his own ‘craziness.’

Lerner Tien’s Smart Play and Rematch with Medvedev

• Jim and Chuck marvel at Lerner Tien’s tennis IQ and consistency:
  • "He doesn’t play bad or sloppy points... His tennis IQ is really, really high." (05:14)
  • Tien avoids wasteful shots and maximizes court positioning.
• Tien faces Medvedev again in a highly anticipated rematch (06:10).
  • Chuck: "He’s two and one." (06:15)

Women’s Draw Standouts

• Teenage surge:
  • Chuck: "The teenagers on the women’s side are crushing. They’re five into the third round.” (06:49)
• Mboko’s resilience: Winning tight three-setters and showing mental toughness.
• Jovic’s tactical poise:
  • Jim explains Jovic’s rare understanding of mid-court control, favoring deep balls through the middle – a more mature tactic for her age (07:57 - 08:42).
  • Jim: "She realizes when middle is available... The control of the middle of the court is something that you feel like is learned. (08:22)
• Svitolina, Gauff, Andreescu, and others continue strong runs.

Sabalenka’s Record Tiebreak Streak

• Jim and Chuck break the news:
  • Sabalenka has now won 19 straight Grand Slam tiebreaks, tying Djokovic’s record for Slams and eclipsing Jim Courier’s own all-events record (09:53).
    • Chuck: "She currently holds the women’s record for 19 straight tiebreaker wins... Dating back to Wimbledon 2023." (09:54)
    • Jim: "Winning 19 tiebreakers in a row in Slams is absurd." (10:33)
• Swagger on and off the court:
  • Sabalenka’s confident attitude is matched by her new Gucci endorsement:
    • Jim: "She got swag. She’s wearing like Gucci sunnies… I have some stuff dialed up, some encore collabs for later in the tournament." (11:13)
    • Jim jokes about his own failed ad campaign and the “Gucci Snuggie” viral imagery (11:27 - 11:55).

Personality & Humor Segments

• Demon’s (Alex de Minaur) Wedding Planning Interview:

  • Demon claims wedding planning is “50/50”, but Jim Courier delivers a classic marital wisdom bit:
    • Jim: "You're about to become a 49 percent shareholder of a really great company." (13:16)
  • Humorous skepticism about Demon’s actual involvement; Chuck and Jim laugh over Bolter’s “we all know that look” reaction (14:12 - 14:20).
  • Jim praises Courier’s interview style and his legendary research and humor (14:25).

• Ben Shelton’s Perfect ‘Delivery’ Joke:

  • (15:31-16:05) – Shelton roasts Emilio Nava’s wild stats:
    • Shelton (mocking): "How do you have 65 winners and 80 unforced errors?"
    • Leads to nostalgic banter about high error matches among American pros.

• Tennis TV Streaming Woes:

  • Chuck and Jim joke about the confusing state of streaming rights and subscriptions, with Jim joking he doesn’t even have access to all matches despite being the host (20:01–20:27).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jim Courier on sports psychology:
  • "The greatest thing about sports is that you have to prove it every day… you don’t automatically revert back to those feelings from 2020 or 2021." (02:22)
• Chuck on young women’s dominance:
  • "The teenagers on the women’s side are crushing. They’re five into the third round." (06:49)
• Jim Courier on Jovic’s tactical awareness:
  • "Her control through the middle is really impressive as I've watched her play this tournament." (08:22)
• Chuck on Sabalenka’s tiebreak streak:
  • "It’s set a record. 19 straight slam tiebreakers dating back to Wimbledon 2023..." (09:54)
• Jim Courier on Sabalenka’s fearlessness:
  • "She's not scared to hit her shot, like, step up and do it. I mean, winning 19 tiebreakers in a row in Slams is absurd." (10:33)
• Sabalenka’s “Gucci” segment:
  • "If I walked home and my wife was sitting around watching Real Housewives in a Gucci Snuggie like, that, I'd be… super stressed." (12:08)
• Demon’s wedding planning:
  • Demon: "This is like a 50/50 relationship, right." (13:13)
  • Jim: "You're about to become a 49 percent shareholder of a really great company." (13:16)
• Ben Shelton teasing Emilio Nava:
  • Shelton: "How do you have 65 winners and 80 unforced errors?" (15:39)
• Jim Courier on paying for streaming:
  • "When something costs money, but it's your job and you need it, that expense goes to the company." (20:30)
• Jim Courier and Chuck reflect on their recap podcast’s value:
  • "What if someone did a recap show every single day without highlights? Holy cow." (22:20)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Medvedev’s comeback and mentality: 01:00–02:24
• Paul vs. Davidovich Fokina analysis: 03:13–04:08
• Rublev’s defeat and humorous interviews: 04:35–05:08
• Lerner Tien’s skillset & Medvedev rematch: 05:10–06:17
• Women’s draw overview, Jovic analysis: 06:49–08:42
• Jovic’s control of the middle explained: 08:42–09:53
• Sabalenka’s tiebreak record discussion: 09:53–10:46
• Sabalenka’s Gucci deal banter: 11:11–11:58
• Demon’s wedding and Jim Courier’s ‘shareholder’ quip: 12:41–14:20
• On-air jokes, Ben Shelton’s mock interview: 15:31–16:05
• Streaming issues & inside jokes: 20:01–21:00

Final Thoughts & Takeaways

• The Day 6 recap balances sharp tactical analysis, fresh tournament storylines, and the signature humor of the Served team.
• Medvedev’s mental reset, Sabalenka’s composure under pressure, young stars breaking through, and the personalities shaping the tennis world make this a must-listen on the road to the Aussie Open finals.
• The episode is rich in chemistry, lighthearted tennis culture, and genuine respect for the sport’s evolving narratives.

Podcast Recap by: [Your Podcast Summarizer]
For fans who missed the show or need a play-by-play of the tournament’s evolving drama—this summary keeps you in the loop, with expert insight and personality true to the Served crew.