Served with Andy Roddick: "AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2026: Kim Clijsters Joins, Women’s Semi-Finals Recap, & More"

Date: January 29, 2026
Guests: Kim Clijsters, Mike, Sean

Episode Overview

In this high-energy episode, Andy Roddick and the Served crew invite four-time Grand Slam singles champion Kim Clijsters for a spirited discussion anchored around the latest Novak Djokovic press conference controversy, in-depth analysis of the women’s semi-finals at the Australian Open 2026, and strategic previewing of men’s semi-final clashes. The episode delivers candid behind-the-scenes perspectives from current and former players, lively banter, and tactical breakdowns relevant to both players and tennis fans eager for insight.

Main Themes

• Debate Over Novak Djokovic’s Press Conference Response
• Women’s Semi-Finals Recap & Tactics (Sabalenka vs. Svitolina, Rybakina vs. Pegula)
• Comparative Strategy: Men’s and Women’s Tennis
• Preview & Tactics for Men’s Semi-Finals (Alcaraz vs. Zverev, Sinner vs. Djokovic)
• Kim Clijsters' Life Updates and Candid Tennis Wisdom

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Novak Djokovic Press Room Debate

[01:13 - 12:57]

• The Setup: Andy, Mike, and Sean introduce Kim Clijsters by diving into a polarizing press conference involving Novak Djokovic, focusing on a journalist's question about Djokovic’s transition from chasing Roger/Rafa to being chased by Alcaraz/Sinner.
• Diverging Reactions:
  • Kim Clijsters: Finds the question insightful and wishes Djokovic had answered in a more reflective way.
    • “I thought it was a great question… how is it tactically different? How is it mentally different? How is it physically different at this stage in his career… compared to his early 20s?” ([02:14])
  • Andy/Sean: Initially critique the question as missing the historical context of Novak’s dominance, noting that phrasing matters to a high-profile athlete's ego.
• Novak’s Salty Response: The team plays the press clip.
  • Djokovic: “So I’m always the chaser and I’m never being chased in the meantime?” ([03:45])
  • Sean observes: “If you ask a vague question, then you’re most likely going to get a vague answer.” ([12:17])
• Novak’s Motivation Psychology: The crew agrees Novak often uses perceived disrespect as fuel, likening him to Michael Jordan:
  • “He’ll pick a fight to win a fight because he needs that brawler mentality, that back-against-the-wall thing…” ([14:13])

Memorable Quotes

• Kim: “I love Novak’s brain… I thought we’re going to hear a really, really good answer to this question.” ([04:00])
• Andy: “There’s chasing history, and then there’s chasing a level on a Friday.” ([09:25])

2. Kim Clijsters’ Achilles Recovery (and Jersey Life)

[16:26 - 17:34]

• Kim updates on her Achilles injury recovery, PT workouts, first post-injury drives, and even shoveling Jersey snow.
• Anecdote: Andy jokes about a reality show on Kim’s New Jersey adventures.

“I have my freedom back. I drove again for the first time… shoveled a little bit of snow…” ([16:36]) – Kim

3. Women’s Semi-Finals Breakdown

[17:39 - 33:09]

Sabalenka vs. Svitolina

• General consensus: If Sabalenka plays her best, Svitolina’s aggressiveness won’t be enough.
  • “That matchup is probably on her racket, maybe more so than the other matchups we've seen.” ([29:50])

Rybakina vs. Pegula

• Kim watched some of the first set before leaving to help her mother-in-law, missing most of the second set.
• Sean highlights Rybakina’s improving second serve and dominant patterns.
• Kim analyzes Pegula’s missed opportunities, particularly in the tiebreak, drawing on her experience against big hitters (Serena, Davenport, Capriati):
  • “You have to be the aggressor… against players like Rybakina, Sabalenka… they’re not going to miss anymore.” ([19:34])
  • “You have to be the one dictating the point… You’re constantly on your back foot against those kinds of players.” ([20:22])

Aggression vs. Consistency: Lessons from Big Hitters

• “If I don’t create urgency with my shots early on in the rally… then I’m in trouble.” ([22:09])
• Kim details tactics for facing power: moving opponents, avoiding predictability.
  • Example: “My coach would say, okay, you can’t play more than three shots in the same corner.” ([23:59])

Parallels to Men's Game

• The crew draws lines between Pegula’s challenge and Zverev/Novak’s challenges against Sinner/Alcaraz, emphasizing the inviolability of getting on the front foot quickly.
  • “When Sinner and Alcaraz have a chance to step in, they do it. It’s become so physical…” ([26:13])

Technical Insights: Takebacks and Preparation

• Kim and Sean discuss the value of early racket preparation (Venus and Serena’s exaggerated warmups; Osaka’s compact swing), and how it relates to handling pace.
  • “There’s no one who has kind of like average preparation that can distribute the ball like these legends…” ([28:11])

Who Wins: Sabalenka vs. Rybakina?

• Kim: “Whoever is capable of dictating the point early on, and I mean to the second or third shot, is going to win.” ([30:22])
• She praises Sabalenka’s improved variety under coach Max Mirnyi, calling attention to her transitions to net and use of slice as emerging tools ([32:09]).

4. Clijsters’ Car Mishap — Comic Relief

[33:09 - 35:56]

• Kim sheepishly recounts accidentally hitting a neighbor’s car:
  • “So I went back pretty fast, and I turned too close, and I hit… the car parked next to me. And it ended up being… my youngest’s mother’s car.” ([33:37])
  • Andy: “You know you’re a bad driver when you walk into the auto repair shop and they go, ‘Hey Kim.’” ([34:27])

5. Men’s Semi-Finals Preview & Tactical Keys

[37:19 - 44:25]

Alcaraz vs. Zverev

• Andy: If Zverev wants a shot, he must serve well and sprinkle in tactical chaos.
  • “The more rhythm you give Carlos, the more he can dance… You almost need to match Carlos’s chaos with a little bit of chaos of your own.” ([38:09])

Sinner vs. Djokovic

• “What Novak used to do to people as far as extending matches, inflicting pain—I don’t know if that option is on the table at 38.” ([40:37])
• On Sinner: If his first serve% is above 60%, he likely rolls Djokovic.
• Andy suggests Novak will have to up aggression, vary returns, and possibly serve-and-volley to disrupt Sinner.

Predictions

• “To the shock of no one, I think Alcaraz and Sinner are in the final.” ([43:36])

6. On Press Questions and Personalities

[44:24 - 44:38]

• Andy reflects: “You don’t ask the same style question to different personalities. You ask it in a way that makes it personal to their journey and then you'll get a better response.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Kim on Djokovic’s motivation:
  “He’ll pick a fight to win a fight because he needs that brawler mentality… I don’t know that anyone’s ever done that more than Novak successfully.” ([14:13])
• Kim’s tactical wisdom:
  “When I played Lindsay, my coach would say, ‘Okay, you can’t play more than three shots in the same corner.’” ([23:59])
• On women’s final key:
  “Whoever is able to be the most dominant early on in the rally is going to win the match.” ([30:22])
• On preparation against power hitters:
  “There’s no one who has kind of like average preparation that can actually distribute the ball like these legends can.” ([28:11])
• On men’s semi finals approach:
  “You almost need to match Carlos’s chaos with a little bit of chaos of your own.” ([38:09])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:13] – Kim Clijsters arrives; Novak press conference debate begins
• [04:00-05:39] – Kim details why she liked the journalist’s question to Novak
• [07:05-09:11] – Full Djokovic answer & panel reactions
• [14:13] – "He’ll pick a fight to win a fight…" – Novak’s motivation psychology
• [16:36] – Kim on her Achilles recovery and Jersey shoveling
• [17:39-35:01] – Women’s semi-finals analysis (Sabalenka/Svitolina, Rybakina/Pegula)
• [23:59] – “You can’t play more than three shots in the same corner…” (Kim’s tactical memory)
• [29:50-32:09] – Sabalenka vs. Rybakina: who wins and why
• [33:09-35:56] – Kim’s car mishap story
• [37:19-43:36] – Men’s semi-finals preview & strategic keys

Final Thoughts

This episode of Served blends tennis nerd analysis with locker-room honesty and plenty of humor, thanks to Kim Clijsters’ down-to-earth candor and Andy’s direct style. The main takeaways revolve around the importance of framing questions for top athletes, understanding the mental and tactical shifts required as tennis evolves, and recognizing that the margins at the very top continue to center on early aggression and adaptability—whether you’re Novak, Sabalenka, or a Jersey mom back on the road.

End note:
“My goal is to be as good as her one day. Just… as a human.” ([37:12]) – Andy, on Kim Clijsters