Leylah Fernandez Breaks Down Lefties, Home Pressure & Serena’s Comeback | Q&Andy - Served with Andy Roddick

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Transcript76 lines

[00:00]
A
This episode is brought to you by Facebook. So you were scrolling on Marketplace, and there it was, the bike you'd been searching for. You sent a message, and it turned out the seller was super chatty, kind of funny, and an avid cyclist. The next thing you know, you're in a cycling crew. Well, a community cycling group. The thing about Facebook, you might find more than what you're looking for. From a browse to a bike ride this summer. Find more on Facebook.
[00:36]
B
Hey, everyone. Welcome to Q and Andy. We are pumped. We have a great guest this week. Layla Fernandez in the house. How's it going, Layla?
[00:46]
C
I'm doing great, Andy. Thank you so much for having me.
[00:49]
B
So happy to have you on. So I was kind of reading through some stuff, interesting tidbits, and apparently you're the smartest person that we've ever had on the show. You do you speak a million languages, but you also just do Rubik's Cubes for fun. Is that a true story or is that something that is just like, the Internet got wrong?
[01:10]
C
No, I feel like they've over exaggerated that because I would bring Rubik's Cube with me and I would do it, but I would just try to practice memorization. So I try to memorize the. The. The. The answers and just get it right. And then I would reshuffle it, and then I would again. So it's just memorization for me.
[01:30]
B
Okay. So the way that it was in my mind when I read it was, okay, wake up, coffee, and then solve four Rubik's Cubes and then go practice tennis. Is that not how. Is that not how it happens?
[01:42]
C
No, it does not. Only when I have some free time, just between practices, matches. Sometimes if I'm bored with no card games, I don't want to use my phone. I would take out the Rubik's Cube, and that's what I would do.
[01:54]
B
I think you should really, like, milk this. I think you should, like when people. I think when people ask you about it, I think you need to say, like, yeah, I solved eight last week.
[02:03]
C
I mean, it should be good. Yeah, if it gives me the Rubik's Cube sponsorship, why not?
[02:09]
B
I'm telling you, they could use a little rehab. It's, you know, let's bring back. It's retro at this point. In all seriousness, we are coming up on the big tournaments in Canada. As a Canadian, how do you kind of process playing at home? I know that, like, New York, it was my favorite place to play. Like, I loved it, but also it was very stressful. So, like, the trade off of those emotions, do you feel that, or is it one or the other?
[02:36]
C
Exactly. That is my favorite place to go back to. But then it's also very stressful. You want to do so well in front of your home crowd, but at the same time, you get to see your friends, family, so kind of balance things out. So. So it's fun.
[02:52]
B
Okay, Sean. So we had some. Some fans write in. They were pumped that Layla's coming on the show. Layla, I don't see these questions before, so hopefully Sean didn't mess up the submissions.
[03:04]
D
No, no, we've got some good ones. All right, so the first one comes from Sunny Princeton on Instagram. He asks for those of us who won't be able to go to the ESPYs. What's it like behind the scenes?
[03:15]
C
Oh, man, it's. It's so much fun. You see so many athletes that they go and hang out, talk, talk about their seasons, talk about, like, their off court or off field life out of their sports. It's great to. To see what they do. And it's not only training, but it's also what they do in vacation. So it's like, it's a big. It's a big show. And also, I think my favorite part is just kind of seeing everybody joking around. Like, it's not just competition. It's not just, like, kind of these rivalries. No, they go. They kind of poke each other, and it's a fun little banter. I like those banters.
[03:56]
B
We had a. It was a million years ago, the ESPs. I'm gonna get in trouble for saying this. This is gonna. This is gonna. We're about. We're. We're about to go the wrong type of viral. Yeah. So we were at the ESPYs, and Sean and Layla, we were sitting around. It was a group of athletes, and I won't name the other athletes involved in this dumb conversation, but it basically centered around, like, Mike Tyson walks in, right.
[04:18]
D
And we're like.
[04:19]
B
We're like, oh, like, that's. That's pretty intense. Mike Tyson walked in, and it was basically. What would the number be? To randomly go up and just give Tyson a shot in the jaw. And then. And so the conversation ended up devolving into. What is that worth monetarily? And are you faster than him?
[04:38]
C
Right.
[04:40]
B
But as an aside. Go ahead.
[04:43]
C
Did anyone punch him in the jaw?
[04:45]
B
No. You would have heard about it. That would have been. Yeah, that would have. That would have either ended up with someone being dead or. Or something else. But talk through kind of the process of. There's a lot that goes on. Did you have a lot of those things where. I remember I would go, and you'd see someone you were excited about, but you would make eye contact, and then maybe you wrecked. They recognized you, and maybe you go have a conversation. Is a bunch of that weird interaction.
[05:10]
C
Yes, 100%. Especially for me, because I'm very much an introvert. Like, I. I'm shy. I don't like to come up to people and start a conversation. So I would kind of, like, be there. And I saw one of, like, my favorite athletes. Saw. Saw his documentary. And I was like, oh, man, it would be so cool to get a picture with. With him. And we made eye contact, but I didn't take that step forward. Okay, let's go talk. No, I just kind of stayed. It Was Steph Curry sick.
[05:39]
B
Oh, he's like. The nices have. He would. He's.
[05:41]
C
He would have. He would have done it. Because I. I saw him. He was, like, doing it with, like, everyone, but I was just too shy to actually make that step, so. But yeah, but what. What also helped is that, like, my boyfriend, like, he's not. He's a total opposite of me. Like, he would go up to people, so, like, he'd start the conversation, then I would kind of chime in and just. Just be there.
[06:04]
B
I mean, that's kind of what the SBS is, right? It's like athletes kind of. I don't know. Sean, what else we got?
[06:10]
D
All right, next question. We've got Heidi from Inst Asked. Does it feel like there are less and less lefties on tour?
[06:18]
C
Actually, no. I feel like the beginning when I started playing, yes, there wasn't a lot of lefties, but now there are more and more lefties on tour that I see. So we got Alex Ayala. We have Hadad Maya. I know. Jill Teichman. She's coming back, too. So it's saying there are more and more lefties that are coming out and that are doing well and getting into, like, the top 100, top 50.
[06:44]
B
It might. Maybe it's on the men's side.
[06:47]
C
I think it's the men's side. I don't remember. I only remember Dennis. Dennis and maybe Atman.
[06:52]
B
Yeah, there's. There's, like. There's, like, Mute. Yeah, when he's not being a psycho. There's like. But I think we. I think the thing is, we lost. We've lost, like, the. The Rafas and the Gorons and, like, the people winning Slams. So maybe that's. But that's interesting.
[07:06]
A
There.
[07:06]
B
There are a lot on the women's side. That's a gendered question, Heidi. All right, what else we got, Sean?
[07:13]
D
We've got Alice. She asked, what was your favorite memory from your memorable U.S. open 2021 run?
[07:21]
C
I think my favorite memory was playing Naomi. And I felt a shift on the fans, on who they were rooting for. So in the beginning of the match, it was very much one sided. Naomi and I had like a couple screams going my way because match was closed. But once the second set ended, there was that huge shift where most tears were on my side. And that just gave me goosebumps. Energy. Motivation, too. So it was like that was my favorite memory, favorite moment. Just the shift in energy with the crowd.
[08:00]
B
Well, I remember specifically walking around the grounds and you were playing on Louis Armstrong. I think you were playing Svitolina.
[08:09]
C
No, it was Kerber.
[08:10]
B
Was Kerber. Okay, So I remember walking and I remember the kind of fandom that was going on. And I remember your energy like you speak to that moment. It was palpable, that tournament. Did you consciously, once you recognize that you had that in the Osaka match, did you consciously use it or was it just, I'm excited. This is kind of the emotion that's falling out of me.
[08:36]
C
There's a little bit of both. So before matches, I would always talk with my. With my dad, who's also my coach, and he would say, look like you do well with like, and with like the crowd on your side. Try to use that energy. Like, use the. Motivate them, have them cheer your name a little bit more. And you know, that was like, kind of my goal going into that match. But at the same time, it was just, I'm excited. I'm playing against Angelique Kerber, one of my. One of my idols growing up a great lefty. And, you know, it was just like a kind of girl, little girl's dream come true.
[09:16]
B
Did you. You said another lefty. Is that something that you. I know you. You were adamant that there are many lefties on tour now. But did you watch lefties specifically growing up based on, like, playing style? Is Kerber someone you would have watched and been like, I need to see how she constructs points?
[09:32]
C
I watched Herbert a lot growing up. Yes. She. She was pretty much the player that I watch as a lefty. Okay. How she uses the angles when she goes down the line, how she uses her lefty serve. It's not powerful, but it's so effective on how she kind of opens up the court and leaves 90% of the court open of where she can hit whenever she wants. So it was so interesting to see her tactical plays on certain moments. And I would try to. It like, helped me in that match because I kind of knew what she was gonna do in certain. Certain times.
[10:11]
B
That's interesting.
[10:12]
C
Yeah, because I watched her so much, I was like, okay, you're gonna do this in this, in this moment. So it helped a lot. But, yeah, Kerber was definitely one of the lefties that I watched growing up. And then there's Nadal in the men's side, but it was mostly for his intensity, his mentality. But other than that, I would always watch Justine Hennin. Kind of her style of play, how early and elegant she played is so be to watch.
[10:38]
B
She was. She's like my favorite all time to watch. She was, yeah, she's just so good. Would you ever. Are you the type of person that would reach out to Kerber now and. And kind of pick someone's brain, or is that like the Steph Curry photo situation?
[10:52]
C
It's a. It's a lot like the Steph Curry photo situation. It's a lot like the Steph Curry because it's the same like Venus. I also, like, extended like that, all of French, like, hey, like, if you ever need anything, don't. Don't hesitate to message. But, you know, it's tough also because she also, she's still playing. So, like, I kind of also see her as a competitor. Like, okay, well, I don't want to, like, give her, like, my, like, little problems and maybe doubts and, you know, so it's just, okay, let's. Let's stick to what I know. And then, you know, when I do have that courage, I'll definitely, like, send that first message, but it might take a while.
[11:31]
A
You.
[11:32]
B
I think one of the most fun parts of the US Open last year for me was you and Venus playing doubles. Are you gonna get dumped for Serena
[11:44]
C
if I do? I wouldn't mind at all. I would. I'd expect it 100. A lot of people are asking me, so, are you playing with Venus again this year? I'm like, I don't know. But Serena's back. She might want to play with Serena, and I wouldn't mind that at all. It would be so cool. So, you know, it's great to see sisters back on, and hopefully they get to play together and hopefully they can make a run.
[12:08]
B
You know, it'd be, you know, it'd be super messed up. What if Serena asked you to play?
[12:13]
C
Oh, my. I don't know what I would do. I feel like I'm cheating on one sister. No, I'm trying to think, like, on, like, with my sister. And I like Bianca. She plays tennis, too. And, like, what would happen if, like, I would ask one of, like, Bianca's favorite, like, player to play with, to play doubles with me? Like, would she be upset? Would it be, like, would I be betraying her? But I don't know.
[12:43]
B
It's a rough one. I don't know.
[12:44]
C
It's a rough one.
[12:45]
B
We'll see. The hypothetical game never ends.
[12:48]
C
No.
[12:49]
B
All right, so Toronto, Montreal, Canada is one of the places where you don't go to the same place every year. And the good news is is that absolutely no one watches this show. So do you like playing in Toronto or Montreal better?
[13:03]
C
Oh, it's so tough because I have so many family members in Toronto, so I love that I get to see them. But Montreal is where I grew up. It's where, like, I played in that stadium. I practiced there. So I have to say, I love playing in Montreal a lot more.
[13:19]
B
John, what else we got?
[13:20]
D
It's super lucky because we got a fan question from Randy Attic. He's asking if I was looking for an Airbnb on my way to Montreal. Give us some of your favorite spots to eat and maybe a neighborhood that you think is underrated.
[13:34]
C
Well, I would say because I love Italian food, especially lasagna. And there's this one place that has, like, a hundred layer, like, lasagna. It's called the La Palma Italian Restaurant. So that's the restaurant that I would go to and a good neighborhood to kind of rent an Airbnb, especially for, I would say someone in your 20s,
[14:00]
A
30s,
[14:03]
C
probably at the King west, because it has a lot of trendy rooftop bars and, like, it's like a nice nightlife. So in the day you can watch tennis, and then afterwards, you can go and enjoy your evening at a rooftop bar.
[14:17]
D
Nice.
[14:18]
B
I gotta say, we've done. We've done a lot of shows with a lot of fun tennis people. And what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna freeze frame Sean's face when you said a hundred layers of lasagna.
[14:30]
D
We gotta talk about this.
[14:32]
B
It was. It was. He literally. Sean, your face went like this.
[14:38]
C
Yes.
[14:40]
D
It's the most shocking thing I've heard in my two and a half years unserved.
[14:43]
B
Sean, you're going to have to, like, as we keep doing the shows, you're going to have to maintain a little bit of composure when people talk about food, man.
[14:49]
D
Yeah, I got to put a little
[14:50]
C
bit of poker face.
[14:50]
D
I know I need to build on my poker face for sure.
[14:53]
B
All right, well, the King west neighborhood for people in their 20s and 30s. I'll figure out where I go and have to get one when we go there. Layla, I'm always a fan of yours from afar. I think you're just such a great addition to the world of tennis. If you've ever been in a bad mood, I haven't seen it, and I think the sport is better for it. So thank you for sharing some time with with us on served, and good luck in Canada.
[15:20]
C
Of course. Thank you so much, Andy, Sean, for having me. It was great talking to you, and hopefully we can have many more like this.
[15:27]
B
160 layers of lasagna is what we're going for next time.
[15:30]
C
Perfect. If I find one, I'll let you know.
[15:33]
B
Thank.
[15:44]
A
You.

Summary6 min read

Podcast Summary: Served with Andy Roddick

Episode Title: Leylah Fernandez Breaks Down Lefties, Home Pressure & Serena’s Comeback | Q&Andy

Date: July 30, 2026

Host: Andy Roddick (B), with Sean (D)

Guest: Leylah Fernandez (C)

Episode Overview

This engaging episode of "Served with Andy Roddick" features Canadian tennis star Leylah Fernandez, who sits down for a lively Q&A session. The conversation traverses Leylah’s unique off-court hobbies, her mindset when performing at home tournaments, her insights as a lefty on tour, memorable tennis moments, interactions with tennis legends, and some lighthearted Montreal travel tips. Notably, the hosts also field fan questions, leading to candid and often humorous exchanges.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Leylah’s Rubik’s Cube Hobby & "Smartest Guest" Label

Leylah sets the record straight about her Rubik’s Cube skills (00:49 – 02:08)
- Explains it’s a memorization exercise and just something to do for fun during downtime, not a daily obsession.
- Quote:
  
  “I would just try to practice memorization. So I try to memorize the... the answers and just get it right. And then I would reshuffle it, and then I would again. So it’s just memorization for me.” — Leylah Fernandez (01:09)
- Andy jokes she should claim solving 8 Cubes a week for sponsorships.
- Leylah quips,
  
  “If it gives me the Rubik’s Cube sponsorship, why not?” (02:03)

2. The Pressure and Joy of Playing at Home in Canada

Mixed emotions about home tournaments (02:08 – 02:51)
- Leylah enjoys being in Canada and close to friends and family but acknowledges the extra pressure to perform.
- Quote:
  
  “It is my favorite place to go back to. But then it’s also very stressful. You want to do so well in front of your home crowd, but at the same time, you get to see your friends, family, so kind of balance things out. So. So it’s fun.” (02:35)

3. Behind the Scenes at the ESPYs

Fan question leads to stories about the ESPYs (03:04 – 06:04)
- Leylah describes the ESPYs as a big, lighthearted reunion where athletes relax and share off-court stories.
- Notable Anecdote:
  Andy relays a humorous athlete conversation pondering how much money it would take to punch Mike Tyson in the jaw — which, thankfully, never happened.
- Leylah admits her introverted nature keeps her from approaching favorite athletes like Steph Curry, even when presented with the opportunity.
  
  “I’m shy. I don’t like to come up to people and start a conversation.”— Leylah (05:09) “We made eye contact, but I didn’t take that step forward.” (05:35)

4. The State of Lefties on Tour

Discussion on left-handed players in tennis (06:09 – 07:06)
- Leylah explains lefties are actually increasing on the women’s side, citing names like Alex Eala, Haddad Maia, and the returning Jill Teichmann.
- Andy notes the decline in prominent left-handed male Slam winners, contrasting the women’s side.
  
  “It might. Maybe it’s on the men’s side.” — Andy Roddick (06:44)

5. Favorite Memory from the 2021 US Open Run

Turning point against Naomi Osaka and the crowd’s shifting support (07:12 – 09:15)
- Leylah highlights the thrill of feeling crowd support transition in her favor and how it motivated her through the match.
  
  “...once the second set ended, there was that huge shift where most cheers were on my side. And that just gave me goosebumps, energy, motivation, too. So that was my favorite memory.” — Leylah (07:20)
- Discusses pre-match conversations with her dad/coach about rallying the crowd.
- Also touches on the surreal experience of facing Angelique Kerber, another lefty and one of her tennis idols.

6. Learning from Other Lefties

Kerber and Nadal as inspirations (09:15 – 10:38)
- Leylah admits to watching Kerber closely, especially for her tactical use of angles and lefty serve.
  
  “She was pretty much the player that I watch as a lefty. Okay, how she uses the angles when she goes down the line, how she uses her lefty serve. It’s not powerful, but it’s so effective.” — Leylah (09:32)
- She also admired Nadal for his intensity and Justine Henin for her style.
- On reaching out to idols: Leylah is hesitant, similar to her Steph Curry anecdote, but values connections for the future.

7. Serena and Venus Williams’ Impact & Doubles Dreams

Talk about playing doubles with Venus, and the hypothetical of partnering with Serena (11:30 – 12:45)
- Leylah says she’d totally understand if Venus partnered with Serena instead, calling it “so cool” to see the sisters back on tour.
- When asked what she’d do if Serena asked her to play instead, Leylah laughs about feeling like she’d be “cheating on” Venus:
  
  “Oh, my. I don’t know what I would do. I feel like I’m cheating on one sister.” — Leylah (12:12)

8. Toronto vs. Montreal: Favorite City to Play & Montreal Tips

Leylah reflects on her connection to both Toronto (family) and Montreal (her roots and training) (13:02)
- Ultimately, her heart belongs to Montreal:
  
  “Montreal is where I grew up. It’s where, like, I played in that stadium. I practiced there. So I have to say, I love playing in Montreal a lot more.” — Leylah (13:02)
- Recommendations for visitors:
  - Restaurant: La Palma Italian Restaurant for their “hundred layer lasagna.” (13:34 – 14:31)
    - The mention of the lasagna stuns Sean for several seconds.
      
      “It’s the most shocking thing I’ve heard in my two and a half years unserved.” — Sean (14:39)
  - Neighborhood: King West, for trendy rooftop bars and vibrant nightlife for people in their 20s and 30s.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“If it gives me the Rubik’s Cube sponsorship, why not?” — Leylah Fernandez (02:03)
“It is my favorite place to go back to. But then it’s also very stressful. You want to do so well in front of your home crowd.” — Leylah (02:35)
“I’m shy. I don’t like to come up to people and start a conversation.” — Leylah (05:09)
“There are more and more lefties that are coming out and that are doing well and getting into, like, the top 100, top 50.” — Leylah (06:17)
“Once the second set ended, there was that huge shift where most cheers were on my side. And that just gave me goosebumps, energy, motivation, too.” — Leylah (07:20)
“She [Kerber] was pretty much the player that I watch as a lefty… It helped me in that match because I kind of knew what she was gonna do...” — Leylah (09:32)
“Oh, my. I don’t know what I would do. I feel like I’m cheating on one sister.” — Leylah (12:12)
“If I find [160-layer lasagna] I’ll let you know.” — Leylah (15:30)

Timestamps for Important Segments

Leylah’s Rubik’s Cube routine: 00:46 – 02:08
Playing at home in Canada: 02:08 – 02:51
Behind the scenes at the ESPYs: 03:15 – 06:04
Left-handers on the women’s and men’s tour: 06:09 – 07:06
US Open 2021 fandom shift and match tactics: 07:12 – 09:15
Studying Kerber and other idols: 09:15 – 10:52
Doubting direct outreach to idols: 10:52 – 11:30
The Venus/Serena hypothetical and doubles: 11:30 – 12:45
Montreal over Toronto, food + travel tips: 13:02 – 14:31

Tone and Takeaways

The conversation is warm, playful, and honest, capturing Leylah’s infectious positivity, humility, and passion for tennis and life. Her anecdotes reveal a superstar who’s still grounded and a little starstruck by her own idols. The episode closes with lighthearted banter about lasagna and heartfelt praise from Andy Roddick for Leylah’s impact on the sport.

“[T]he sport is better for it. So thank you for sharing some time with us on served, and good luck in Canada.” — Andy Roddick (15:19)

Loading summary

Transcript76 lines

[00:00]
A
This episode is brought to you by Facebook. So you were scrolling on Marketplace, and there it was, the bike you'd been searching for. You sent a message, and it turned out the seller was super chatty, kind of funny, and an avid cyclist. The next thing you know, you're in a cycling crew. Well, a community cycling group. The thing about Facebook, you might find more than what you're looking for. From a browse to a bike ride this summer. Find more on Facebook.
[00:36]
B
Hey, everyone. Welcome to Q and Andy. We are pumped. We have a great guest this week. Layla Fernandez in the house. How's it going, Layla?
[00:46]
C
I'm doing great, Andy. Thank you so much for having me.
[00:49]
B
So happy to have you on. So I was kind of reading through some stuff, interesting tidbits, and apparently you're the smartest person that we've ever had on the show. You do you speak a million languages, but you also just do Rubik's Cubes for fun. Is that a true story or is that something that is just like, the Internet got wrong?
[01:10]
C
No, I feel like they've over exaggerated that because I would bring Rubik's Cube with me and I would do it, but I would just try to practice memorization. So I try to memorize the. The. The. The answers and just get it right. And then I would reshuffle it, and then I would again. So it's just memorization for me.
[01:30]
B
Okay. So the way that it was in my mind when I read it was, okay, wake up, coffee, and then solve four Rubik's Cubes and then go practice tennis. Is that not how. Is that not how it happens?
[01:42]
C
No, it does not. Only when I have some free time, just between practices, matches. Sometimes if I'm bored with no card games, I don't want to use my phone. I would take out the Rubik's Cube, and that's what I would do.
[01:54]
B
I think you should really, like, milk this. I think you should, like when people. I think when people ask you about it, I think you need to say, like, yeah, I solved eight last week.
[02:03]
C
I mean, it should be good. Yeah, if it gives me the Rubik's Cube sponsorship, why not?
[02:09]
B
I'm telling you, they could use a little rehab. It's, you know, let's bring back. It's retro at this point. In all seriousness, we are coming up on the big tournaments in Canada. As a Canadian, how do you kind of process playing at home? I know that, like, New York, it was my favorite place to play. Like, I loved it, but also it was very stressful. So, like, the trade off of those emotions, do you feel that, or is it one or the other?
[02:36]
C
Exactly. That is my favorite place to go back to. But then it's also very stressful. You want to do so well in front of your home crowd, but at the same time, you get to see your friends, family, so kind of balance things out. So. So it's fun.
[02:52]
B
Okay, Sean. So we had some. Some fans write in. They were pumped that Layla's coming on the show. Layla, I don't see these questions before, so hopefully Sean didn't mess up the submissions.
[03:04]
D
No, no, we've got some good ones. All right, so the first one comes from Sunny Princeton on Instagram. He asks for those of us who won't be able to go to the ESPYs. What's it like behind the scenes?
[03:15]
C
Oh, man, it's. It's so much fun. You see so many athletes that they go and hang out, talk, talk about their seasons, talk about, like, their off court or off field life out of their sports. It's great to. To see what they do. And it's not only training, but it's also what they do in vacation. So it's like, it's a big. It's a big show. And also, I think my favorite part is just kind of seeing everybody joking around. Like, it's not just competition. It's not just, like, kind of these rivalries. No, they go. They kind of poke each other, and it's a fun little banter. I like those banters.
[03:56]
B
We had a. It was a million years ago, the ESPs. I'm gonna get in trouble for saying this. This is gonna. This is gonna. We're about. We're. We're about to go the wrong type of viral. Yeah. So we were at the ESPYs, and Sean and Layla, we were sitting around. It was a group of athletes, and I won't name the other athletes involved in this dumb conversation, but it basically centered around, like, Mike Tyson walks in, right.
[04:18]
D
And we're like.
[04:19]
B
We're like, oh, like, that's. That's pretty intense. Mike Tyson walked in, and it was basically. What would the number be? To randomly go up and just give Tyson a shot in the jaw. And then. And so the conversation ended up devolving into. What is that worth monetarily? And are you faster than him?
[04:38]
C
Right.
[04:40]
B
But as an aside. Go ahead.
[04:43]
C
Did anyone punch him in the jaw?
[04:45]
B
No. You would have heard about it. That would have been. Yeah, that would have. That would have either ended up with someone being dead or. Or something else. But talk through kind of the process of. There's a lot that goes on. Did you have a lot of those things where. I remember I would go, and you'd see someone you were excited about, but you would make eye contact, and then maybe you wrecked. They recognized you, and maybe you go have a conversation. Is a bunch of that weird interaction.
[05:10]
C
Yes, 100%. Especially for me, because I'm very much an introvert. Like, I. I'm shy. I don't like to come up to people and start a conversation. So I would kind of, like, be there. And I saw one of, like, my favorite athletes. Saw. Saw his documentary. And I was like, oh, man, it would be so cool to get a picture with. With him. And we made eye contact, but I didn't take that step forward. Okay, let's go talk. No, I just kind of stayed. It Was Steph Curry sick.
[05:39]
B
Oh, he's like. The nices have. He would. He's.
[05:41]
C
He would have. He would have done it. Because I. I saw him. He was, like, doing it with, like, everyone, but I was just too shy to actually make that step, so. But yeah, but what. What also helped is that, like, my boyfriend, like, he's not. He's a total opposite of me. Like, he would go up to people, so, like, he'd start the conversation, then I would kind of chime in and just. Just be there.
[06:04]
B
I mean, that's kind of what the SBS is, right? It's like athletes kind of. I don't know. Sean, what else we got?
[06:10]
D
All right, next question. We've got Heidi from Inst Asked. Does it feel like there are less and less lefties on tour?
[06:18]
C
Actually, no. I feel like the beginning when I started playing, yes, there wasn't a lot of lefties, but now there are more and more lefties on tour that I see. So we got Alex Ayala. We have Hadad Maya. I know. Jill Teichman. She's coming back, too. So it's saying there are more and more lefties that are coming out and that are doing well and getting into, like, the top 100, top 50.
[06:44]
B
It might. Maybe it's on the men's side.
[06:47]
C
I think it's the men's side. I don't remember. I only remember Dennis. Dennis and maybe Atman.
[06:52]
B
Yeah, there's. There's, like. There's, like, Mute. Yeah, when he's not being a psycho. There's like. But I think we. I think the thing is, we lost. We've lost, like, the. The Rafas and the Gorons and, like, the people winning Slams. So maybe that's. But that's interesting.
[07:06]
A
There.
[07:06]
B
There are a lot on the women's side. That's a gendered question, Heidi. All right, what else we got, Sean?
[07:13]
D
We've got Alice. She asked, what was your favorite memory from your memorable U.S. open 2021 run?
[07:21]
C
I think my favorite memory was playing Naomi. And I felt a shift on the fans, on who they were rooting for. So in the beginning of the match, it was very much one sided. Naomi and I had like a couple screams going my way because match was closed. But once the second set ended, there was that huge shift where most tears were on my side. And that just gave me goosebumps. Energy. Motivation, too. So it was like that was my favorite memory, favorite moment. Just the shift in energy with the crowd.
[08:00]
B
Well, I remember specifically walking around the grounds and you were playing on Louis Armstrong. I think you were playing Svitolina.
[08:09]
C
No, it was Kerber.
[08:10]
B
Was Kerber. Okay, So I remember walking and I remember the kind of fandom that was going on. And I remember your energy like you speak to that moment. It was palpable, that tournament. Did you consciously, once you recognize that you had that in the Osaka match, did you consciously use it or was it just, I'm excited. This is kind of the emotion that's falling out of me.
[08:36]
C
There's a little bit of both. So before matches, I would always talk with my. With my dad, who's also my coach, and he would say, look like you do well with like, and with like the crowd on your side. Try to use that energy. Like, use the. Motivate them, have them cheer your name a little bit more. And you know, that was like, kind of my goal going into that match. But at the same time, it was just, I'm excited. I'm playing against Angelique Kerber, one of my. One of my idols growing up a great lefty. And, you know, it was just like a kind of girl, little girl's dream come true.
[09:16]
B
Did you. You said another lefty. Is that something that you. I know you. You were adamant that there are many lefties on tour now. But did you watch lefties specifically growing up based on, like, playing style? Is Kerber someone you would have watched and been like, I need to see how she constructs points?
[09:32]
C
I watched Herbert a lot growing up. Yes. She. She was pretty much the player that I watch as a lefty. Okay. How she uses the angles when she goes down the line, how she uses her lefty serve. It's not powerful, but it's so effective on how she kind of opens up the court and leaves 90% of the court open of where she can hit whenever she wants. So it was so interesting to see her tactical plays on certain moments. And I would try to. It like, helped me in that match because I kind of knew what she was gonna do in certain. Certain times.
[10:11]
B
That's interesting.
[10:12]
C
Yeah, because I watched her so much, I was like, okay, you're gonna do this in this, in this moment. So it helped a lot. But, yeah, Kerber was definitely one of the lefties that I watched growing up. And then there's Nadal in the men's side, but it was mostly for his intensity, his mentality. But other than that, I would always watch Justine Hennin. Kind of her style of play, how early and elegant she played is so be to watch.
[10:38]
B
She was. She's like my favorite all time to watch. She was, yeah, she's just so good. Would you ever. Are you the type of person that would reach out to Kerber now and. And kind of pick someone's brain, or is that like the Steph Curry photo situation?
[10:52]
C
It's a. It's a lot like the Steph Curry photo situation. It's a lot like the Steph Curry because it's the same like Venus. I also, like, extended like that, all of French, like, hey, like, if you ever need anything, don't. Don't hesitate to message. But, you know, it's tough also because she also, she's still playing. So, like, I kind of also see her as a competitor. Like, okay, well, I don't want to, like, give her, like, my, like, little problems and maybe doubts and, you know, so it's just, okay, let's. Let's stick to what I know. And then, you know, when I do have that courage, I'll definitely, like, send that first message, but it might take a while.
[11:31]
A
You.
[11:32]
B
I think one of the most fun parts of the US Open last year for me was you and Venus playing doubles. Are you gonna get dumped for Serena
[11:44]
C
if I do? I wouldn't mind at all. I would. I'd expect it 100. A lot of people are asking me, so, are you playing with Venus again this year? I'm like, I don't know. But Serena's back. She might want to play with Serena, and I wouldn't mind that at all. It would be so cool. So, you know, it's great to see sisters back on, and hopefully they get to play together and hopefully they can make a run.
[12:08]
B
You know, it'd be, you know, it'd be super messed up. What if Serena asked you to play?
[12:13]
C
Oh, my. I don't know what I would do. I feel like I'm cheating on one sister. No, I'm trying to think, like, on, like, with my sister. And I like Bianca. She plays tennis, too. And, like, what would happen if, like, I would ask one of, like, Bianca's favorite, like, player to play with, to play doubles with me? Like, would she be upset? Would it be, like, would I be betraying her? But I don't know.
[12:43]
B
It's a rough one. I don't know.
[12:44]
C
It's a rough one.
[12:45]
B
We'll see. The hypothetical game never ends.
[12:48]
C
No.
[12:49]
B
All right, so Toronto, Montreal, Canada is one of the places where you don't go to the same place every year. And the good news is is that absolutely no one watches this show. So do you like playing in Toronto or Montreal better?
[13:03]
C
Oh, it's so tough because I have so many family members in Toronto, so I love that I get to see them. But Montreal is where I grew up. It's where, like, I played in that stadium. I practiced there. So I have to say, I love playing in Montreal a lot more.
[13:19]
B
John, what else we got?
[13:20]
D
It's super lucky because we got a fan question from Randy Attic. He's asking if I was looking for an Airbnb on my way to Montreal. Give us some of your favorite spots to eat and maybe a neighborhood that you think is underrated.
[13:34]
C
Well, I would say because I love Italian food, especially lasagna. And there's this one place that has, like, a hundred layer, like, lasagna. It's called the La Palma Italian Restaurant. So that's the restaurant that I would go to and a good neighborhood to kind of rent an Airbnb, especially for, I would say someone in your 20s,
[14:00]
A
30s,
[14:03]
C
probably at the King west, because it has a lot of trendy rooftop bars and, like, it's like a nice nightlife. So in the day you can watch tennis, and then afterwards, you can go and enjoy your evening at a rooftop bar.
[14:17]
D
Nice.
[14:18]
B
I gotta say, we've done. We've done a lot of shows with a lot of fun tennis people. And what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna freeze frame Sean's face when you said a hundred layers of lasagna.
[14:30]
D
We gotta talk about this.
[14:32]
B
It was. It was. He literally. Sean, your face went like this.
[14:38]
C
Yes.
[14:40]
D
It's the most shocking thing I've heard in my two and a half years unserved.
[14:43]
B
Sean, you're going to have to, like, as we keep doing the shows, you're going to have to maintain a little bit of composure when people talk about food, man.
[14:49]
D
Yeah, I got to put a little
[14:50]
C
bit of poker face.
[14:50]
D
I know I need to build on my poker face for sure.
[14:53]
B
All right, well, the King west neighborhood for people in their 20s and 30s. I'll figure out where I go and have to get one when we go there. Layla, I'm always a fan of yours from afar. I think you're just such a great addition to the world of tennis. If you've ever been in a bad mood, I haven't seen it, and I think the sport is better for it. So thank you for sharing some time with with us on served, and good luck in Canada.
[15:20]
C
Of course. Thank you so much, Andy, Sean, for having me. It was great talking to you, and hopefully we can have many more like this.
[15:27]
B
160 layers of lasagna is what we're going for next time.
[15:30]
C
Perfect. If I find one, I'll let you know.
[15:33]
B
Thank.
[15:44]
A
You.