← Served with Andy Roddick
Loading summary
Transcript13 lines
- [00:00]
Windows 11 Student Offer Announcer
Study and play come together on a Windows 11 PC and for a limited time, college students get the best of both worlds. Get the Unreal College Deal everything you need to study and play with select Windows 11 PCs. Eligible students get a year of Microsoft 365 Premium and a year of Xbox Game Pass ultimate with a custom color Xbox wireless controller. Learn more@windows.com studentoffer while supplies last ends June 30th terms at aka mscollegepc
- [00:32]
Red Bull Summer All Day Play Announcer
ready to soundtrack your summer with Red Bull Summer All Day Play? You choose a playlist that fits your summer vibe the best. Are you a festival fanatic, a deep end dj, a road dog, or a trail mixer? Just add a song to your chosen playlist and put your summer on track. Red Bull Summer All Day Play Red Bull gives you wings. Visit red bull.com brightsummerahead to learn more. See you this summer.
- [00:56]
Multilingual Guest or Commentator
Foreign.
- [01:04]
Techie Sean
What's up Chuckers? Techie Sean here filling in for producer Mike this week to bring you your Served five setter, your weekly roundup of all things racket sports. Five stories in ten minutes or less. Before we get into it, please hit subscribe on YouTube and give us a follow on your favorite podcast platform so you can stay up to date on all things served. We really appreciate the love and support now. That said, Today is April 24, 2026, and here's what we've got for you. Motherhood and a comeback. WTA front Office Shake up Tennis owns the Oscars of sport and London is calling and the world answers. But first for set number one, we are starting in the Spanish capital, where this week's Madrid Open delivered both a graceful farewell and a breathless debut. First, the goodbye. On Wednesday, Roberto Batista Agout played his final match at Caja Magica, and the crowd gave it right back to him. The 38 year old Spaniard, who announced his retirement at the end of this season, just last week lost his first round match to Argentina's Thiago Agustin Terante, 626 4. But the scoreline was, in the words of the tournament itself, completely secondary. After the match, tournament directors Feliciano Lopez and Gabrin Muguruza, two legends of Spanish tennis in their own right, joined him on court to present a commemorative plaque. His wife, Ana and sons Roberto Jr. And Lucas were there. It was, by all accounts, the kind of farewell that players dream about and rarely get. Batista Agout's career numbers speak for themselves. 12 ATP titles, a peak ranking of world number nine, 27 weeks in the top 10, a Wimbledon semifinal in 2019 and $20 million in prize money. We wish him the very best on the road ahead. Now the debut. A 19 year old named Rafael Hodar showed up and reminded everyone why Spanish tennis doesn't stay quiet for long. Born and raised literally 12 kilometers from the Madrid open courts, Hodar came back from a set down to beat Jesper de Jong 267564 in two and a half hours. With that win, he became just the third Spaniard to earn a main draw win in Madrid before turning 20. He's now at a career high of 42 in the world after winning his first ATP title in Marrakesh earlier this month and reaching the Barcelona semis last week. Hodar is scheduled to face fifth seed Alex de Menaur today. Friday, April 24 Catch that one if you can. Set number two starts with a great announcement. On Tuesday, ONS Jabbour announced the birth of her son, elyan Khamun, born April 20. Jabbour shared the news on Instagram with a message, a tiny miracle, A lifetime of love, alongside a photo of her and husband Karim cradling their boy. The tennis world immediately flooded her comments. Coco Gauff, Emma Raducanu, Alina Svetolina, Leila Fernandez, Paula Badosa, Billie Jean King. The list goes on. Now they all showed up. Jabbour has confirmed her plans to return. The WTA's Enhanced Maternity Program ensures she'll have special rankings, protection and up to 12 months of paid leave. We'd be remiss not to remember just how singular a player jabbour has been. Three Grand Slam finals, the 22 US Open and back to back Wimbledon finals in 2022 and 23. The highest ranked Arab and African player in history for both the WTA and ATP, and one of the most beloved personalities in the sport has ever seen. Welcome to the world, Elian. Your mom is kind of a legend. In more motherhood news, Camila Giorgi, the Italian former world number 26, announced that she is expecting her first child with her husband, former ATP player Andreas Pasuti. Georgi retired from tennis in 2024 without so much as a goodbye tweet, but earlier this week she responded to a few fan questions on Instagram stories confirming her plans for a 2027 return. For those who need a recap, Georgie's exit was one of the stranger stories. In recent years, her name appeared on the ITIA's retired players. Then came reports out of Italy alleging she and her family had fled to Argentina to avoid tax collectors, allegations she has denied. We'll see when and where she decides to make her return in 2027.
- [04:52]
Home Depot Spring Backyard Days Announcer
It's time to refresh your yard during Spring Backyard Days at the Home Depot. Get low prices guaranteed on propane grills starting at $179 like the next grill 3 burner gas grill. Or get $50 off a select Weber Spirit Grill and bring big flavor to your backyard. Then set the scene with Hampton Bay String lights that bring it all together. Shop Spring backyard days for seven days at the Home Depot now through May 6th. Exclusions applies to home depot.com pricematch for details.
- [05:22]
American Express Business Card Announcer
Get business done with the new American Express Graphite Business Cash Unlimited card with unlimited 2% cash back on all eligible purchases, unlimited 5% cash back on flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel Online and a flexible spending capacity that can grow with your business. You'll have the confidence to keep building. Apply today and earn a welcome offer of $1,500 cash back after you spend $50,000 in qualifying purchases on your new card within the first six months of card membership terms. Apply. Learn more at Go Amex Graphite on
- [05:52]
Techie Sean
to set number three where we're going from the court to the front office On Wednesday, the WTA confirmed that CEO Porsche Archer has stepped down, effective Monday, April 20, right at the end of her initial contract and ahead of renewal talks. The news came through a memo from WTA chair Valerie Camillo to staff members and stakeholders, which was then shared publicly. No reason was given for the departure. In her note, Camilo credited Archer with expanding the tour into new markets, pushing player first initiatives, enhancing safeguarding standards and driving tech innovation. A transition plan is in the works, with an update promised by mid May. That's what we know. For now. Stay tuned for updates. If you weren't watching the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid on Monday, you missed a clinic in why tennis is having a moment known as the Oscars of sport. The Laureus Awards gather the biggest names in global athletics once a year to honor excellence. Carlos Alcaraz won the World Sportsman of the Year. Aryna Sabalenko won the World Sportswoman of the Year. Both accepted their awards in Madrid just days before the Madrid Open draw came out. The ceremony was hosted by two former Laureus winners, freestyle skiing star Eileen Gu and the goat of our sport, Novak Djokovic. Check this out.
- [07:07]
Multilingual Guest or Commentator
Very impressive. English, Spanish, Mandarin. Let me try. Men, you apologies for my accent and let me.
- [07:23]
Techie Sean
That was so good. It's kind of.
- [07:25]
Multilingual Guest or Commentator
It's a Beijing accent. Yeah, sorry. And let me say
- [07:31]
Red Bull Summer All Day Play Announcer
Serbian.
- [07:32]
Multilingual Guest or Commentator
Yes. Don't tell me you're speaking that too. Wow. Impressive. And of course to our host. Gracias Anuestros Amphitriones, El Ala Ila Presidenta Ayuso. Gracias.
- [07:50]
Techie Sean
Multilingual, charismatic, commanding the room. Is there anything this guy isn't good at? I'd like to know so I can feel better about myself. There was also plenty of tennis star power in the crowd. Sinner was nominated for Sportsman of the Year alongside Alcaraz. Amanda Anisimova was up for Comeback Player of the Year and Joao Fonseca was nominated for Breakthrough of the Year. Lorenzo Musetti, Jasmine Paolini and Alex Aiala were all in attendance. This was the 26th edition of the Laureus Awards. Since 2000, tennis players have won the top men's individual award 13 times and Sabalenka joins an illustrious group of WTA winners. The sport has never been more present on the global stage and finally set number five from one European capital to another. This Tuesday, April 28, the 100th World Team table Tennis Championships begins in London, kicking off at the Copper Box arena before moving to the OVO Arena Wembley on May 2, where it runs through the finals on May 10. This is a centennial event. The very first World Table Tennis Championships were held in London 100 years ago and the sport is returning to the city where it all began. The last time Wembley hosted the championships was in 1954. In 2026 there's an elephant in the room. Or more accurately, an elephant not in the room. Fan Zhendong, the reigning Olympic singles champion and the sport's biggest star, is not competing for China. His absence has ignited speculation online that there's tension between Fan and the federation. He actually withdrew from the ITTF world rankings entirely after Paris to avoid fines for non participation. Despite his absence, China's men are still the heavy favorites. They're chasing their 12th consecutive title. If you're interested in watching some high class table tennis, you can find streams@worldtabletennis.com Time for the tie break trivia. Going back to set number four and the Laureus Awards, who is the only tennis player to win two awards in the same year? We'll have that answer in this week's five setter newsletter. And while you're there, check out the headlines that didn't make the show this week, including a full update on the Madrid Open and the top player who just withdrew from Rome. For the full breakdown, head to surfpodcast.com or find us on substack. Remember to hit subscribe on YouTube or follow us on your favorite podcast platform. This has been Techie Sean. Thank you, chuckers, for putting up with me this week. Please, producer Mike, save me from being on camera.