Served with Andy Roddick: QUICK SERVED – US Open Day 4

Episode Date: August 28, 2025
Host: Andy Roddick
Featuring: Producer “Mike” (occasional co-host/sounding board)

Overview

This “Quick Served” episode recaps highlights and storylines from Day 4 of the 2025 US Open. Andy Roddick brings his signature irreverent, insightful commentary to major results, American hopes, big upsets, and some high drama—especially a heated clash between Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend. The episode is packed with both expert analysis and personal color from a former world No. 1 who knows the grind of the Grand Slam circuit.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. US Open Routine & Opening Anecdotes

• Roddick admits to messing up the first morning Quick Serve by oversleeping, a rare occurrence for him.
  • “I haven’t slept till the alarm in 10 years...I messed everything up.” (01:28)
• Fun banter about coffee routines and the behind-the-scenes chaos.

2. Top Seeds and American Standouts

Carlos Alcaraz—On Cruise Control

• Alcaraz dominates his match: “Carlos Alcaraz is on in cruise control right now. One, the haircut’s tight...he is a different sort of talent.” (21:06, 23:09)
• Roddick raves about Alcaraz’s charisma and massive forehand:
  • “He hit a forehand tonight, Mike, in the second set…cleaned one inside in…109 miles an hour. That’s a big second serve.” (22:57)
  • “Every single person that comes across him, no matter what their job is at the US Open, goes, ‘You know what? I really like that guy.’ He just has an easy smile...” (22:00)

Novak Djokovic—Still Searching for Form

• Mixed performance, but advances: “Novak first round looked like he was trying to find air...it seems like it’s just really hard…still feels like he’s trying to find match shape.” (03:05)
• Faces Cam Norrie next; “one of the fittest guys on tour,” potentially a tough test for Djokovic’s current form.

Taylor Fritz—Winning Ugly

• Fritz advances despite not playing his best:
  • “Taylor Fritz did not look good today…I’d be shocked if, you know, I read the transcript for his press conference and he said that everything felt good. The conditions are windy...but Taylor Fritz, I don’t think gets enough credit for being the competitor that he is.” (04:26)
  • “He understands that it’s not the end of the world if he wins but doesn’t play perfectly...he has caused us as a tennis fan base to have a lot of trust in him in those situations now.” (07:21, 09:02)

Other American Highlights

• Emma Raducanu: “It’s feeling a lot like 2021...hasn’t lost at the US Open since she won as a qualifier, and now she’s through to the third round.” (10:58)
• Frances Tiafoe: “Foe’s skill set translated really well…he does a great job with short swings on his return, mixing up positions.” (11:53)
• Emma Navarro: “She did not look that way today against Katie McNally. One and two. Rolled…she had control, that ball...Emma Navarro...might have found [her flow state] a little bit today.” (14:27)

3. Key Upsets, Comebacks & Form Watch

Pagula and Azarenka’s Anticipated Clash

• Jess Pegula shows renewed form versus Blinkova, lining up a marquee matchup against Victoria Azarenka:
  • “Pagula...one and three over Blinkova...two-time Grand Slam champion, former world number one, Vika Azarenka...has night session kind of written on it.” (02:37)

Casper Ruud, Mensik, Med Malfunctions & Others

• Casper Ruud upset:
  • “Colleague...beats Casper Ruud in five sets, Casper searching a little bit right...You had a 12 next year name going into a Slam, right? That’s a dream for most players. But...been a fixture at World Tour Finals. He’s gonna need a lot of form.” (16:02)
• Jakub Mensik upset:
  • “Men Sheik loses to Blanchette today. Blanchette had won one tour match ever...if you’re men chic and you want to be a top 10 player, I’m not sure this is the match you’re happy losing, especially in the fifth set.” (17:17)
• Bonzi’s physical battles:
  • “Bonzi...wins another five setter...props to Bonzi, man...life of a tennis player, really well done.” (18:52–19:20)

Other Notables:

• Krejcikova finding form:
  • “She’s someone where—it’s like, oh, she hasn’t been winning many matches and then she wins two matches, she’s like contender...When she finds that confidence and that gear, you might ignore [her] first round...all of a sudden has been injured, finds some form.” (20:27)

4. The Ostapenko/Townsend Drama—“Meltdown of the Day”

• High drama between Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend after a contentious match:
  • “Ostapenko. Lecturing someone about class on a tennis court is like me lecturing someone about wearing all black on a podcast right now…that bothers me.” (23:31)
  • Ostapenko calls out Townsend: Ostapenko accused Townsend of having “no class” and being “uneducated.” (27:21, 27:25)
  • Townsend responds after match: “I beat her in Canada too...play me outside of the United States.” (25:08)
• Roddick’s take on crowd antics: Sarcastically derides the critique of “using the crowd” saying, “Have you ever seen an athlete dare to use the crowd for their own benefit?” (25:27)
• On apologies for net cords:
  • “He just decided…never going to apologize for a let ever again...His reasoning was pretty simple: because I’m not sorry. I’m glad it happened.” (26:00)
  • Q: Should players apologize for hitting let cords?
  • Roddick: “Would you like me to lie to you?...I said, ‘I’m sorry.’” (26:22)
• **Roddick argues genuine sportsmanship starts with “looking people in the eye when you shake their hands. Let’s start with that.” (27:41)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Alcaraz’s shotmaking:
  • “He hit a forehand tonight, Mike, in the second set...109 miles an hour. That’s a big second serve.” (22:57)
• On players not apologizing for net cords:
  • “Would you like me to lie to you?...I said, ‘I’m sorry.’” (26:22)
• On Ostapenko’s ‘class’ lecture:
  • “Her lecturing someone about how to behave in a respectful manner to an opponent—fucking miss me with that, Mike.” (27:19)
• Townsend’s postmatch clapback:
  • [Quoting Townsend] “‘I beat her in Canada too…play me outside of the United States.’” (25:08)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Content | |-----------|-----------------------| | 01:17 | Roddick’s sleepy start, show banter | | 03:05 | Djokovic’s form, Cam Norrie preview | | 04:26 | Taylor Fritz “winning ugly” analysis | | 10:58 | Emma Raducanu’s US Open progress | | 11:53 | Frances Tiafoe & Martin Dam discussion | | 14:27 | Emma Navarro finds “flow state” | | 16:02 | Casper Ruud upset; form questions | | 17:17 | Mensik upset by Blanchette | | 18:52 | Bonzi’s back-to-back five-set battles | | 20:27 | Krejcikova’s unpredictable threat | | 21:06 | Alcaraz rolls; hair and all | | 22:57 | Alcaraz’s 109 mph forehand—“nuts” | | 23:31 | Ostapenko/Townsend postmatch drama, meltdown | | 26:00 | Net cord apology debate | | 27:41 | Roddick on true sportsmanship |

Tone and Language

Casual, witty, irreverent, but insightful—Roddick’s expert takes are mixed with playful digs at the players (and himself). The show has a locker-room vibe, with blunt honesty and industry-insider perspective.

Final Thoughts

For casual fans and tennis obsessives, this episode offers an engaging, incisive, and entertaining look at US Open Day 4: stars grinding, youngsters rising, Americans persevering, and the always colorful Grand Slam theater—on court and off.

End of Summary.