Rybakina’s Momentum, Sunglasses in Tennis, & Why Tiafoe Can’t Throw a Cricket Ball | Q&Andy

Summary

Podcast Summary: Served with Andy Roddick

Episode: Rybakina’s Momentum, Sunglasses in Tennis, & Why Tiafoe Can’t Throw a Cricket Ball | Q&Andy
Date: January 8, 2026
Host(s): Andy Roddick (A) with co-host (B, referred to as Mike)

Episode Overview

This week introduces the new Q&A format "Q and Andy," where listeners submit wide-ranging tennis (and life) questions. In this lively, off-the-cuff episode, Andy Roddick and his co-host field queries about Elena Rybakina's momentum, the impracticality of sunglasses in pro tennis, racket size challenges, Francis Tiafoe’s infamous cricket pitch attempt, and Andy’s favorite out-there music picks. The tone is playful and insightful, peppered with personal anecdotes and frequent laughter, providing both serious tennis insights and offbeat fun.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Elena Rybakina’s Momentum Carrying Over (00:17–03:32)

• Question: Does end-of-season momentum (e.g., Rybakina’s strong finish) carry into the Australian Open?
• Andy and Mike discuss that momentum is valuable but not an absolute predictor.
  • Andy (B): “If you have a choice as a player and you can finish on a hot streak, you choose that.” (01:51)
  • He notes there’s no one-size-fits-all rule, pointing out past players like Tsitsipas who didn’t always translate year-end wins into Grand Slam victories.
• Practice Doesn’t Replicate Match Momentum: Andy clarifies that, while practice matches help, they don’t simulate actual tournament nerves and stakes.
  • Andy (B): “I don’t know that you can replicate momentum in practice.” (02:42)
• Rybakina’s game gets a glowing review:
  • Andy (B): “Her talent is... she moves well for someone who is so tall. She can beat you off both sides. She’s rangy. I think she has the best serve in women’s tennis.” (03:16–03:32)
• Prediction: Andy expects Rybakina to win a major this year.

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2. Why Pro Tennis Players Rarely Wear Sunglasses (03:32–06:32)

• Primary Reason — Sweat: Sweat gets on lenses, blurring vision during play.
  • Andy (B): “One drop of sweat goes on the lens and it’s like blurred vision. You can’t see.” (03:45)
• Fit and Movement: Aggressive head movements can send sunglasses flying.
• Contrast & Vision: Sunglasses may negatively affect the ability to pick up the ball against varying backdrops.
  • Andy (B): “You want contrast because you have to pick the ball up. Maybe that’s muted if you have shades on.” (04:43)
• Notable Quote: “I was a sweaty bastard… you saw. I was a sweaty bastard.” (03:57)
• Fun riff on bringing back “flip-down” sunglasses just for comedic style (06:11–06:32).

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3. Racket Size Challenge: Beating a Top 12-Year-Old Junior with a Tiny Racket? (06:32–07:58)

• Question: Could Andy beat a strong 12-year-old using only a 17-inch racket?
  • Andy (B): Firmly answers, “No. That’s like a peewee racket… you can’t create any leverage.” (06:41–06:59)
  • Andy admits he wouldn’t take the bet even for a ham sandwich.
  • Andy (B): “By the way, like I was at Orange Bowl, those 12 year olds, they're rip city. No. My answer is no. I feel confident. No." (07:33–07:39)

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4. Francis Tiafoe’s Infamous Cricket Pitch Attempt (07:58–10:48)

• Context: Tiafoe attempted a ceremonial cricket pitch, resulting in a hilariously bad throw.
  • Andy jokes: “Did he just 50 cent this one?” (08:58)
• Reflects on his claim that tennis players are the best athletes: “My boy Fo’ not doing me any favors with that cricket pitch.” (09:12)
• Discusses the awkwardness and unique mechanics of cricket bowling (you must throw with a straight arm), as compared to the “Fritz falling off a treadmill” anecdote for more laughs.
• Memorable Exchange:
  • A: “Would you rather have thrown that pitch with an audience… or fall off a treadmill?”
  • B: “I think I’d rather fall off the treadmill.” (10:18–10:30)

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5. Bragging on Tiafoe’s Real Serve Stats (10:48–11:09)

• Andy’s quick to defend Tiafoe’s tennis serve: impressive 72% first serves in against Vukic, winning 82% of those points.
  • Andy (B): “He does that for a year, he ain’t gonna be 30 at the end of next year, I’ll tell you that.” (11:09)

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6. Music Recommendations and Andy’s Workout Playlist Rituals (11:09–14:18)

• A fan references Andy recommending “Combine Harvester” years ago.
  • Andy fondly recalls the bizarre “The Wurzels” song, and describes watching their quirky music video at midnight jet-lagged.
• Other musical recommendations:
  • “Enjoy the Silence” by Depeche Mode: “One of the best songs in history.” (12:20–12:27)
  • Eminem's “Kamikaze” album: “Extremely underrated. He just went and basically was just bitter for 12 songs and just killed people.” (12:42–12:46)
• Discussion about starting a Served Spotify playlist for fans.
• Andy’s baffling workout ritual: exercises in silence.
  • Andy (B): “Brooke thinks I’m a psycho. I work out in silence.” (13:45–13:48)
  • Favorite Peloton instructors: Emma Lovewell and Ali Love—both get shoutouts.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On carrying momentum:
  “If you have a choice as a player and you can finish on a hot streak, you choose that.” – Andy (01:51)
• On sunglasses in tennis:
  “I was a sweaty bastard.” – Andy (03:57)
• On tiny rackets:
  “I don't move well anymore... my answer is no. I feel confident. No.” – Andy (07:39)
• On Tiafoe’s cricket pitch:
  “My boy Fo’ not doing me any favors with that cricket pitch.” – Andy (09:12)
• On music:
  “I can’t stop watching that YouTube video... Combine Harvester.” – Andy (11:38) “One of the best songs in history is Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode.” – Andy (12:27) “He just went and basically was just bitter for 12 songs and just killed people.” (On Eminem’s Kamikaze) – Andy (12:46)
• On workouts:
  “Brooke thinks I’m a psycho. I work out in silence.” – Andy (13:45)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:17] — Introduction to “Q and Andy” format
• [01:17] — Rybakina’s momentum and whether hot streaks carry over
• [03:32] — Why sunglasses are rare in pro tennis
• [06:32] — Could Andy beat a 12-year-old with a 17” racket?
• [07:58] — Francis Tiafoe’s cricket pitch & best athletes debate
• [10:48] — Tiafoe’s serve stats defense
• [11:09] — Music recommendations: Combine Harvester, Depeche Mode, Eminem
• [13:45] — Andy’s workout music habits and Peloton instructor preferences

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Tone & Takeaways

The episode blends deep tennis knowledge with playful banter and self-deprecating humor, making it approachable for both hardcore fans and casual listeners. Andy’s candidness and willingness to poke fun at himself (and his pro peers) sets an inviting tone, while still offering genuine technical and strategic tennis insights.

For newcomers, this episode is a perfect introduction to Andy Roddick’s quick wit, honesty, and passion for the game—plus some truly odd musical shoutouts.

Transcript

[A]

Foreign.

[B]

I'm Andy. Welcome to Q and Andy.

[A]

Oh, what a clever name.

[B]

Look what you did.

[A]

We really workshop that.

[B]

Look what you did. So what's the idea? This is coming out on Thursdays.

[A]

This will be out every Thursday. Okay. During non slam weeks. And it's an opportunity for you guys, the listeners and watchers or whatever you are, the watchers, viewers, to get you to answer some questions. And nothing, nothing is out of bounds.

[B]

And how are you gonna say that for me?

[A]

Oh, I mean, we'll still screen them.

[B]

I bet I could tell you something that's out of bounds right now.

[A]

Anyways.

[B]

Okay, where can. Where can people send in a question.

[A]

So they can go to servpodcast.com and they can see where to submit a question there? Or you know what? They can hit hit up Sophie and Ella anywhere on our social channels. Just throw out some questions and we'll find them, we'll dig through them and we'll get the best ones.

[B]

Ella, does anyone else ever do like the Rihanna song? Every time. It's like Sophie and Ella. Ella.

[A]

He's asking her a question. She doesn't have a mic.

[B]

She doesn't. She doesn't know.

[A]

She's just laughing right now.

[B]

It's awkward. She doesn't know that song because everyone's young and we're not. Mike. Anyways, go ahead.

[A]

All right, first up we have from Zachary. This question about is Elena Rybakina. We. When a player hits their peak and really comes into form like she has in the China Swing and WTA Finals to end the season, do you think that carries over to the Australian Open? Does it wear off in the short off season?

[B]

Yes, it's there. There's not a. There's not a. Like a blanket. Like you can point to the Sitziposses and the Zveras and the teams winning World Tour finals and then it not translating into a slam immediately the next year. If you have a choice as a player and you can finish on a hot streak, you choose that.

[A]

Right?

[B]

You always choose more wins as opposed to two less wins. She's not going to go into Australia going, you know what I'm searching for something that existed six months ago. Like, I know it's in there, but it's. The memory is getting hazier. Yeah, she's going to take the momentum now. Does that mean she wins? Does that mean like quarterfinal matchups don't matter? Absolutely not. But just simply given the choice of finishing on a high note versus struggling to the finish line, you take the.

[A]

High note Can I get to ask you a follow up on that? So, like, obviously they need a break. They need a little bit of an off season. Is there a fine balance between, like, hey, momentum, let's keep getting some matches, even if it's just training matches, but also being like, hey, this is the time we have to reset our body.

[B]

Yeah, it's, I don't know that you can replicate momentum in practice.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Like, I, I just don't, I'm not a believer in that. You play practice matches for those reps and the points present differently than drills and like you're trying to get, you know, the X's and O's and maybe different matchups, but like when you get your name announced and you walk out, it's just very different. But she's maybe instead of, I struggled, I get through the first match and it's still a question mark if she rolls in her first match in Australia and it's like right back on. Like, it's a problem for everyone else that's excited.

[A]

How excited you see to see her play.

[B]

I think, I mean, I was on record in our, our year end recap show. I think she wins a major this year. Her talent is, you look at, she moves well for someone who is so tall. She can beat you off both sides. She's rangy. I think she has the best serve in women's tennis.

[A]

So we're heading into the Australian up. We're heading into the summer down under. James Preston Kilman asked, why don't pro tennis players wear sunglasses?

[B]

Sweat.

[A]

Oh, interesting.

[B]

Sweat. I can't tell you why everyone doesn't. I can tell you that I was sweaty. So therefore, like one drop of sweat goes on the lens and it's like blurred vision. You can't see. And I was, I mean, you saw. I was a sweaty bastard.

[A]

You're sweating right now.

[B]

Yeah. Thinking about it. Anyways. Um, but yeah, I, I, I would imagine it's, it's probably because of, of, of sweat.

[A]

Yeah. And so like Andre could wear it because he, I mean, he's right over your shoulder and that board wearing sick Oakleys.

[B]

Yeah. And he had a deal with Oakley, but I'm not sure that he ever wore them in. They weren't around for very long. I'll put it that way. Like he wore some Oakleys. We got the, we got the what? He's smiling. That's an exhibition. That's an exhibition.

[A]

I don't know. He's in jeans.

[B]

He needed to play the bare minimum to get the cash. Go Andre, way to go. But I, I would guess also like, if you're slinging your head around, maybe they come all. I don't know.

[A]

Is there something about like the lenses? Have you ever played, do you plan them at all now, like when you play recreation?

[B]

No, no, I like to be able to like, actually see the ball in the contrast. So I guess that's, that's an interesting. That's another part is like, if you want the. You'll never see like a yellow backdrop because you have to basically track the ball against like a green backdrop. You want it to be dark, right? You want contrast because you have to pick the ball up. Maybe that's muted if, if you have shades on, but I would say sweat them flying off your head and potentially just not being able to track the, the differences in color.

[A]

How much are you like, like a baseball? Like, because they obviously have the pitching wall behind people. How much are you able to pick up on, like the seams of the tennis ball?

[B]

You don't look for seams.

[A]

Like, you like the spin. You're just seeing it come off the racket.

[B]

You can hear it.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I always say. Because I always get the question. I think we've talked about it on the show before. Like, well, baseball players, you have to be quiet. I'm like. Because you can't hear a pitch. Like, our first tell is like, if it's square up, it's flat, it's coming hard. If it's off a little bit, then it's most likely coming spin. A slice sounds different than, you know, a rip city with spin, which sounds different than, you know, a flat ball, which sounds like a cannon. So our first tell is we can't, like, we're not going to read the spin like that. You're trying to hear it first or not trying to hear it first. You are hearing it first.

[A]

So then the depth perception that comes with that. Wearing sunglasses potentially could diminish the ability of that.

[B]

Yeah, I think there's a lot of, a lot of reasons. And I think, you know, I just. Tracking the ball and it's just one more thing to worry about in my mind.

[A]

I just wish you guys would wear like the flip down sunglasses. Nobody wears flip down sunglasses anymore.

[B]

Just like you hit a good shot.

[A]

And you boop just in between shots and then you flip them up and then you're only wearing them to look cool in between.

[B]

Someone's going to get an offer.

[A]

I mean, we'll do it. I'll do it.

[B]

We'll do it.

[A]

I'll do it in between takes.

[B]

We'll do it. I'll wear them here. Just be like douche central.

[A]

All right, so this one's from George R. Andy. Do you think you could beat a strong 12 year old Junior using a 17 inch racket?

[B]

17 inch racket is. No, that's like nothing, right? 17 inch racket, what's the standard one? 28. Yeah, I can't. I know. I don't know. That's like a peewee racket. Like you give a. Like a, like a, like a baby. Yeah, you can't, you can't do anything with that.

[A]

Like what would be the effect of it? Just smaller.

[B]

You can't create spin. It's this big. Like you can't create any leverage. No, like you're talking about like a kid who's like number one in the country or something. Like really good. Yeah, I don't think so because I don't move well anymore.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

If I should have moved and like gotten around then I could have figured it out, but I don't think so. And I like most bets like that proposal and I don't think so. No.

[A]

Yeah, because like a junior age is like a 19 to 23 inch racket. So it's even smaller than that.

[B]

That's like one of those things you buy like for a barbecue at Target.

[A]

Yeah, that's like when you see the social media people, you see them, they're just.

[B]

By the way, like I was at orange bowl, those 12 year olds, they're rip city. No. My answer is no. I feel confident. No.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I would not take that bet. You wouldn't take that bet for a ham sandwich?

[A]

No. What do you, what do you think, what do you think would be the size that you could compete at, do you think, like a 19?

[B]

Like a little less.

[A]

A little less?

[B]

I don't know. I've never, I haven't hit with one since I was nine. So I don't, I don't actually. No.

[A]

It sounds like a fun experiment.

[B]

It's not great.

[A]

This sounds like a fun experiment. I feel like we should do this show.

[B]

I'll take on the rest of the surf team with one.

[A]

I mean, that's a 12 year old junior would be able to beat us two on one.

[B]

Oh, no. Oh, you wouldn't. You wouldn't win a game.

[A]

Not even close.

[B]

Ever.

[A]

Not even close. You think you can't move?

[B]

Well, remember that time that Sophie thought she could serve 100 miles an hour?

[A]

Oh, my God.

[B]

We were at Labor Cup.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it came in at 27.

[A]

So did mine. Mine was horrible, too. I think I skyrocketed into the wall. Yeah. Shoulder click.

[B]

I honestly, I thought my expectations were low enough. Yeah, they weren't. And what's the next question?

[A]

All right, so this next one, and there's some context to this one. Our friend France Francis Tiafo recently went out and did a pitch at a cricket match. Sean, can you please. This is a question from our served. Our served team. Sean, can you play this clip? All right, he's throwing it. And it is. It is one of the worst first pitches you've ever seen in your entire life.

[B]

Oh, did he just 50 cent this one?

[A]

Yeah, it goes straight low into the left, and I love Francis for it. He's so upset with himself. So the serve team was wondering, do you still think tennis players are the best athletes in the world or just maybe not better than cricket pitchers?

[B]

I've repeatedly made the claim that I'm very confident that tennis players are the best athletes in the world. My boy fo n not doing me any favors with that. With that. With that cricket pitch. I will say the cricket. Like, you. You realize, like, we have. You have to throw it with a straight arm. Yeah.

[A]

You have to go, like, around, like.

[B]

I'll do. I'll see if I can do better next week.

[A]

Yeah, all right.

[B]

I'm be a cricketer.

[A]

We'll go out. We'll go out in the yard and do it.

[B]

I will tell you one of the craziest things I ever got to do something like that. I wasn't, like, in front of a crowd, but also props for, like, getting out there in front of, like. I guarantee you he's never made that movement before. It also doesn't do much for the conversation we had where he was like, Fritz couldn't put one foot in front of the other, just.

[A]

He did go check out the episode.

[B]

Just rewind. The context is when Fritz was, like, 12 or 13 and growing, and then he.

[A]

Didn't he fall off a treadmill or something? He said, true story, didn't he?

[B]

Okay, I have a question. Would you rather have thrown that pitch with an audience and with YouTube and the Internet and it'll never die, or would you rather fall off a treadmill?

[A]

Who all seeing me fall off the treadmill?

[B]

Just a security camera just falling off the treadmill. You fell off a treadmill one time, right? Yeah.

[A]

He's pointing at Sophie and she's just nodding. I've never fallen off a treadmill. I think I'd rather fall off the Treadmill.

[B]

Than do that.

[A]

Than do that. I don't know, though. But I think then if you're out in front of those people and you give it a shot, at least you gave it a shot.

[B]

I'd rather. I don't. I don't need to break anything. I'd rather like, this guy's going, oh, these Yanks are terrible. I'd rather. That's fine for me. Like, whatever. We're fine. Not, not. Not a great effort.

[A]

Can we brag on foe a little bit, though? You were telling me some stuff about his serving stats.

[B]

Better. I mean, he was. I know he's working hard in his serve. He was here for a day or two and he shouted, yeah, 72% first serve is out of the gate against Vukic from Australia. Won 82% of his first serve points. He does that for a year. He ain't gonna be 30 at the end of next year, I'll tell you that.

[A]

All right, last question.

[B]

I'm ready.

[A]

You good? This one's from rcm. You might have to dig into your phone for this one. Andy got me hooked on a song called Combine Harvester a while back. I think it was 2011 or 2012 from some interview. What are a few other gems that you have hidden that us chuckers can jam to?

[B]

Oh, I need.

[A]

And I think our crack team said they found that interview.

[B]

Combine Harvester. Yeah. I was in one of the first couple days I was here. I was in a complete, like, J. Jet lag haze around midnight, and I saw this wonderful song that was part shock horror, part awesome, and it was the Wurzels. Okay. I feel like more people knew Angry Birds, but. So I. I can't stop watching that YouTube video. Which. Which particular song is this? It was. What was it? Combine Harvester, Shameless? Plug Runarounds?

[A]

Well, yeah, definitely. We were listening to him this morning.

[B]

I think that Runaround is a TV show on Amazon, and I just think the mom of the lead singer is super hot.

[A]

She's very nice, too.

[B]

Super into her. There's nothing like. I think one of the best songs in history is Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode.

[A]

All right.

[B]

And if you're young, like, you don't know what we talked about that last week, that is like, a banger. It was in a scene of Narcos where he goes in and just basically like, it was. It was pretty sweet. The Eminem album, the Kamikaze album. Extremely underrated.

[A]

The whole album.

[B]

Oh, he just went and basically was just bitter for 12 songs and just killed people.

[A]

Just angry. It's right up your alley.

[B]

That's fantastic. You know, what other wreck do we talk? We talked about the Eddie Murphy doc that just watched that. And then I could realize. And then I realized my kids are on my phone because it's like frozen. I'll think about it. I'll have it. I'll have it next week. I'll have a bunch of.

[A]

Should we start, like a serve.

[B]

A bunch of bangers?

[A]

A serve Spotify playlist?

[B]

Yeah, probably.

[A]

And put it out.

[B]

I don't know how hard that is, but, like, it's.

[A]

I. I mean, you wouldn't have to worry about it. You can just tell us songs and we'll figure it out for you in. We'll put a link in the show description. We'll just start running it.

[B]

We'll just Combine Harvester. You guys are going to expect, like, something great. I can't wait for you to hear it. This is you. You might never watch this.

[A]

All right, so what.

[B]

So this has been the only episode of Q and Andy ever.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

After the combine harvester reference.

[A]

So what?

[B]

The warbles, the wargles, the Wibbles.

[A]

Do you. When you. When you work out, like, because you. You're. You're a big peloton guy. Are you a playlist guy? Are you a podcast guy? What are you doing? Just dead silence.

[B]

Brooke. Brooke thinks I'm a psycho. I work out in silence.

[A]

That is a bit mental.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, I watch, like, when I do classes on Peloton, I have the class music and the instructor.

[A]

That's true. Just yelling at you.

[B]

Yeah. Just being like, you can do better. You're terrible.

[A]

Favorite, favorite instructor?

[B]

Emma Lovewell.

[A]

She's great.

[B]

Big fan.

[A]

She's so good.

[B]

Ali Love is awesome. Does a lot of work in tennis. Very cool. Those are. Those are probably the two go to's. What about you, Mike? Have you been on the peloton before?

[A]

We sold it when we moved.

[B]

Thank you for watching Q and Andy. We'll see you next week.