Served with Andy Roddick – Episode Summary

Episode: Holger Rune Handshake Drama, Iva Jović Victory, BJK Preview, & more
Date: September 16, 2025
Host: Andy Roddick
Guest/Producer: Mike (Producer Mike)
Podcast: Served with Andy Roddick

Overview

In this episode, Andy Roddick and Producer Mike dive into the week’s tennis headlines with their signature mix of sharp insight and playful banter. They preview the upcoming Laver Cup, discuss the drama surrounding Holger Rune’s viral handshake snub, celebrate Iva Jović’s breakthrough, and analyze the outlook for the Billie Jean King Cup (BJKC) and the changing landscape of team tennis formats. The conversation spotlights both on-court antics and behind-the-scenes issues, including the ongoing evolution/identity crisis of the Davis Cup.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Laver Cup Preview & On-site Plans

Time: 02:05–07:25

• Live Shows Announcement:
  • The team will broadcast live each morning from the Laver Cup fan zone, outside the Chase Center in San Francisco, starting Thursday, September 18th at 10:30 a.m., running through to the finals on Sunday, September 21st.
  • Teases about special guests, with playful rhyming games ("Fondre", "Fodger Rederer").
  • Andy expresses enthusiasm for doing on-site, live content and gauges the potential for similar live coverage at Grand Slams.
• Fan Engagement:
  • Discusses the “Served Challenge,” where fans can register for three chances to serve and win daily prize packs or a trip to the Laver Cup London 2026.
  • Prizes include a Wilson racket, Uniqlo jacket, Roger Federer shoes, Oliver Peoples sunglasses, and a signed Andy Roddick tennis ball.

Quote:
"If this works, Producer Mike, if this works, Techie Sean, there’s nothing stopping us from doing lead-in shows streaming live at Grand Slams."
— Andy Roddick (06:11)

2. Davis Cup Format Critique and USA Woes

Time: 09:47–15:35

• Final 8 Nations Named:
  • Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Argentina, Belgium (with commentary on unexpected qualifiers, surprise upsets).
• Format Frustration:
  • Andy laments the loss of home & away format, calling the current neutral-site system "a desert of emotion" and "a brand now—the tournament doesn't really matter."
  • He reminisces about the importance of atmosphere in classic ties (e.g., USA vs Spain in Seville with 29,000 fans).
  • Discussion about the turmoil around the ITF’s outside investor ("they promised all this money, left…what are we doing now?"), and the knock-on effects of this instability.
• USA Struggles:
  • Points out Team USA hasn’t advanced past the quarterfinals since the format change.
  • Notes on player health and selection, with concern for Taylor Fritz (“maybe you just don’t say that [you’re sick]”), and props to Tommy Paul for supporting the team despite injury.

Quote:
"Now you go to Malaga and there’s like a desert of emotion. Like you don’t get home and away, you don’t get the people. … It just feels like it’s a brand now and kind of the tournament doesn’t really matter."
— Andy Roddick (11:21)

3. Holger Rune Handshake Drama

Time: 15:35–18:49

• Viral Incident:
  • Recaps Holger Rune’s controversial handshake “psych-out” with an umpire after missed double-bounce calls, turning a potential snub into a meme-worthy prank.
  • Andy reacts: “I was ready to go Bitter Betty... but the actual, like, the umpire reach and that—that was kind of funny. That was a good one.” (17:03)
• Rune’s Justification:
  • Direct quote:
    "He doesn't deserve that. It's pretty clear with so many mistakes, I don't think it was very good work. So I don't think he deserved it."
    — Holger Rune (17:17, quoted by Producer Mike)
• Name Pronunciation Banter:
  • Humorous back-and-forth where Andy teases Mike for struggling to say Rune’s name correctly (“Why does your mouth do that?”).

Memorable Moment:
"My 9-year-old son will be like Rune’s psych-out handshake was maybe the biggest victory that’s ever been had in sports. We haven’t seen a performance like that since Lake Placid. That was legit."
— Andy Roddick (18:49)

4. Billie Jean King Cup Preview & Team Matchups

Time: 22:52–27:48

• Upcoming Ties:
  • Italy vs China
  • Spain vs Ukraine
  • Kazakhstan vs USA
  • Great Britain vs Japan
• Captaincy & Matchup Strategy:
  • Insights into how captains like Lindsay Davenport weigh rankings, matchup histories, court surface, player form, and data analytics (enabled by Microsoft Copilot/Match Insights App).
  • Roddick underscores the importance of "matchups and recency bias" at the highest levels—sometimes a higher-ranked player is a worse matchup.
  • Applause for Italian veterans Errani and Paolini, and speculation about team strengths (e.g., Svitolina and Kostyuk for Ukraine; Rybakina for Kazakhstan).

Quote:
"It’s all matchups, right? ... At the highest level of tennis, matchups matter more. You know, matchups and recency bias, I think, are the two biggest factors."
— Andy Roddick (25:57)

• Team USA Outlook:
  • Players include Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro, Taylor Townsend, McCartney Kessler, Haley Baptiste.
  • Pegula and Townsend likely to anchor singles and doubles, but captaincy decisions are key due to a deep and talented squad.

5. Stan Wawrinka Plays Challengers & Reflection on Career Arcs

Time: 28:39–30:11

• Stan Wawrinka’s Presence in Challenger Events:
  • Admiration for Wawrinka, age 40, still competing and drawing crowds at smaller events.
  • Discussion of the value for up-and-comers getting to play a 3-time major winner.
  • Parallels with Venus Williams and Andy Murray extending their careers and providing special opportunities for fans and emerging pros.

Quote:
"Imagine having an 8-year-old and you can go—'You know what we’re gonna do today? We’re going to go see a three-time major winner up the road in our city.' This is great. This is the Venus thing. This is Murray last year. ... Shut up, you can go see Murray or Wawrinka in a... This is great."
— Andy Roddick (29:36)

6. Young American Breakthrough: Iva Jović

Time: 31:05–31:34

• Iva Jović’s Victory:
  • Age 17, wins a WTA 500—youngest American woman to win a tour title since Coco Gauff in 2021.
  • Roddick celebrates the depth of American women’s tennis:
    "Ranked 36 at 17. And it’s like we don’t even talk about it. Amazing." (31:34)
  • Notes Jović’s power, movement, and high ceiling.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• [06:11] Andy Roddick:
  "If this works ... there’s nothing stopping us from doing lead-in shows streaming live on a YouTube channel at Grand Slams."
• [11:21] Andy Roddick:
  "Now you go to Malaga and there’s like a desert of emotion. Like you don’t get home and away, you don’t get the people. ... It just feels like it’s a brand now and kind of the tournament doesn’t really matter."
• [17:03] Andy Roddick:
  "I was ready to go Bitter Betty... but the actual, like, the umpire reach and that—that was kind of funny. That was a good one."
• [17:17] Holger Rune (quoted):
  "He doesn't deserve that. It's pretty clear with so many mistakes, ... I don't think he deserved it."
• [25:57] Andy Roddick:
  "It’s all matchups, right? ... At the highest level of tennis, matchups matter more. ... Matchups and recency bias, I think, are the two biggest factors."
• [29:36] Andy Roddick:
  "Imagine having an 8-year-old and you can go ... see a three-time major winner up the road in our city. This is great ... Shut up, you can go see Murray or Wawrinka in a ... This is great."
• [31:34] Andy Roddick:
  "Ranked 36 at 17. And it’s like we don’t even talk about it. Amazing."

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Laver Cup Live Show Plans & Served Challenge: 02:05–07:25
• Davis Cup Final Eight / Format Rant: 09:47–15:35
• Holger Rune Handshake Drama: 15:35–18:49
• Team USA’s Davis Cup Challenges: 18:49–20:41
• Billie Jean King Cup Preview and Matchup Deep Dive: 22:52–27:48
• Stan Wawrinka in Challengers: 28:39–30:11
• Iva Jović’s Breakthrough: 31:05–31:34

Tone & Takeaways

True to Andy Roddick’s style, the episode is a blend of irreverent humor, technical analysis, and candid opinions—equal parts locker room rant, tennis nerd-out, and fan celebration. Key moments range from poking fun at mispronunciations to fierce critiques of tennis governance, all tied together by genuine appreciation for the sport’s past, present, and future. Roddick’s perspective as a former World No. 1 provides weight to his takes, yet the episode remains accessible and entertaining, packed with engaging asides, running jokes, and endearing humility.

For fans and new listeners alike, this episode offers a snapshot of tennis’ top storylines, a primer on the game’s evolving formats, and a dose of classic Roddick wit.