Served with Andy Roddick — Special Guest Victoria Mboko & 2025 Cincinnati Open Recap

Date: August 19, 2025
Host: Andy Roddick with producer Mike and tennis analyst Jon Wertheim
Guest: Victoria “Vicki” Mboko

Episode Overview

This “Frankenstein episode” of Served with Andy Roddick covers two big tennis storylines: a recap of the 2025 Cincinnati Open and an extended interview with rising Canadian tennis star Victoria Mboko. The team discusses what (didn’t) change after Cincinnati, reviews standouts from the tournament, unpacks the form of leading players heading into the US Open, and reflects on the new energy and personality in the game. The Mboko interview delivers insight into her breakthrough, mentality, Canadian pride, injury scare, and what it means to make her US Open main-draw debut.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cincinnati Open 2025 Recap

Segment Begins: [02:29]

Men’s Field: Still Sinner and Alcaraz

• Status Quo at the Top: Despite hopes for a shake-up from a lead-in Masters event, the men’s game remains defined by Sinner and Alcaraz.

  “What has changed post Cincinnati versus pre Cincinnati? ... Pre Cincinnati, we would have said on the men’s side, Sinner and Alcaraz … leaving Cincinnati? Sinner and Alcaraz.” — Host, [03:27]

• Alcaraz and Sinner's Streaks: Alcaraz survived some tight matches but holds the positive head-to-head. Sinner was more clinical, “drilled guys.”
• Sinner’s Health a Worry: Noted concern over Sinner appearing ill and retiring from the Cincinnati final, jeopardizing his US Open mixed doubles plans.

  “We talk about Sinner being a part of the mixed doubles. I’ll be shocked if … after retiring on a Monday at Cincinnati.” — Host, [04:35]

Schedule Critique & TV Coverage

• Discontent with the Monday 3pm final, especially for North American fans watching the biggest rivalry.

  “That’s fantastic. That’s how to bring in the audience of the biggest rivalry in tennis now—is put it on 3pm and a fucking Monday.” — Host, [04:00]

Standouts and Surprises:

• Rublev & Ottman: Rublev played well; French qualifier Terrence Ottman amazed with his run and on-court personality.

  “Otman ... he was a dream to watch. He was really fun. Surfaces change, results change.” — Host, [05:23]

Women's Side:

• Sabalenka/Coco Questions: Sabalenka still a force but has “scar tissue of Grand Slam losses”; Gauff’s inconsistent form over US hard court swing.
• Rybakina Rising: Most consistent, expected to be a serious threat at the Open.
• Love for Paolini:

  “She might be the most complete player in the women’s game. ... She might not be tall in stature, but she is tall in heart. She is tall in fight, and she is tall in watchability.” — Host, [06:54]

• Swiatek’s Evolving Dominance: Broke free from “clay court only” narrative by winning Wimbledon, then Cincinnati without losing a set, serving harder.

  “Fiatek dominant … flipping narratives all over the place … I’d be hard pressed to bet against her in New York.” — Host, [07:51]

Sinner-Alcaraz Rivalry Etiquette

• Amusing, semi-serious advice:

  “If someone retires and they're sick, you give them a fist bump ... There's no hug at the net ... Get away from him. Don't stand next to him. Don't go see if he's okay.” — Host, [09:13]

2. Victoria Mboko Interview

Segment Begins: [12:35]

The Aftermath of a Breakthrough

• Celebration and Refocus:

  “I've been kind of focused on the next tournaments so I kind of celebrate a little bit, but I had to lock in pretty fast and early ... I feel pretty good and good with myself at least.” — Mboko, [13:16]

The Physical Test

• Endurance and Grit:

  “...towards the end, I was pretty tired physically and mentally a little bit. But I think what kind of kept me going was that ... I wanted to match whatever they were producing ... I just wanted to hang in there as much as possible and just fight until the last point.” — Mboko, [15:05]

The Mental Game

• Staying Poised Under Pressure:

  “In those kinds of moments, I feel like it's in my head. I'm actually really nervous and I'm really tight, but ... when I pretend like I don't care, that's actually when I'm playing a bit better … I just go there and swing.” — Mboko, [16:46]

Canadian Support

• Power of Home Crowd:

  “That whole experience was kind of crazy ... that's like our US Open in a way ... when I went on the court and I saw so many people ... supporting me, it really kind of warmed my heart ... at the end of every single match … that's the loudest I've ever heard a whole stadium cheering for me.” — Mboko, [18:12]

Family, Siblings, and Humbling Losses

• Sibling Beatdown Story:

  “My sister, she's 10 years older than me ... every time I played my sister, it was an 8-year-old vs. an 18-year-old ... she annihilated me, oh and oh ... I think I didn't talk to her for like a good week.” — Mboko, [20:08]

• Never Flipped the Script (Yet):

  “I actually never flipped it. That's the thing ... they’ll never want to play smart.” — Mboko, [21:39]

Injury & Decision-Making

• Wrist Injury Before the Final:

  “It was hurting pretty badly during the [semifinal] match, but I taped it up ... The morning of the final ... my wrist didn’t feel correct ... But I think I wanted it so bad that I was able just to play through the pain ... doing a lot of rehab ... it was a given I wasn’t able to play Cincinnati or Cleveland ... But it's doing a lot better now.” — Mboko, [22:17]

On Her Coach: Natalie Tauziat

• Benefit of Familiarity:

  “She’s known me for so long ... how I can be on and off the court, I think we've been able to kind of adapt to how I like things ... she used to play as well, so she has that insight of how it is on the tour ... I feel pretty comfortable with her guiding me.” — Mboko, [24:39]

Looking Forward: US Open Main Draw Debut

• Embracing New Experiences:

  “If you would've told me a year ago I was going to be direct acceptance into the main draw of US Open, I would've told you you're crazy ... I think I'm even going to be seeded, which is insane.” — Mboko, [26:32] “First time also playing in the main draw ... I just want to have as much fun as possible ... and honestly just have as much fun as possible.” — Mboko, [26:32]

Reflections on Mboko as a Person

• Host & Analyst in Awe:

  “I think you're such a breath of fresh air ... love the way you compete, love the gratitude you seem to show for everything and everyone.” — Host, [27:43] “That was rather impressive ... traveling around the world at 18, building your ranking ... that might be the cumulative effect, what we just heard for the last 15 or 20 minutes, that was really impressive.” — Jon Wertheim, [28:43]

3. Winners & Errors with Jon Wertheim

Segment Begins: [32:49]

Winners

• Rivalry:

  “This is the 14th meeting of Sinner and Alcaraz. ... These guys have played each other as many times at ages, whatever, 22 and 23 as one of the great storied rivalries in tennis history. Long live rivalry.” — Wertheim, [32:49]

• Terrence Ottman’s Run:

  “Apart from the standout tennis, what a real character this guy revealed himself to be. Did you catch him giving Sinner the Pokémon card before their match?” — Wertheim, [34:13] “Ranking is one thing, but ... this is amazing because now I have the finances to actually plan my career in a responsible manner.” — Host, [35:11]

• Jasmine Paolini’s Attitude:

  “She is so loose and so genial and smiling and positive ... I wonder if her attitude and personality and winning ways, if there isn’t something instructive there about playing with a smile.” — Wertheim, [36:32] “I like defaulting to the personality of the player and figuring out the best working mechanisms ... we’re not trying to square peg, round hole it with attitude. And Paolini is a great example.” — Host, [37:45]

Error / Talking Point

• Heat & Climate Change:

  “This 2025 is going to go down as the hottest year on record ... This is something tennis has to reckon with ... not just the athletes ... but fans and chair umpires and ball kids. Climate is a real factor.” — Wertheim, [39:13] “As people play less tournaments in this heat ... you do need to acclimatize for extreme conditions ... I don't know that tennis can fix this issue.” — Host, [41:01]

Notable Tennis Banter

• On Solutions:

  “There's no easy solution. ... I felt personally that ... I had to do my physical training ... acclimatize ..." — Host, [41:01-43:06] “When guys in their physical prime are literally collapsing on the court, you do wonder, what are we doing here?” — Wertheim, [43:06]

4. Preview: US Open Mixed Doubles Spectacle

Segment Begins: [43:49]

• Excitement for the star-studded mixed doubles draw at the US Open, featuring top singles stars.
• Discussion of first-round matchups, including Alcaraz, Raducanu, Djokovic, Osaka, Sinner, and more.

  “Top half ... Pegula-Draper vs. Raducanu-Alcaraz ... Danilovic Djokovic vs. Andreeva Medvedev ... Sinyakova Sinner ... Venus Williams & Riley Opelka ... Rublev.” — Producer Mike, [46:14-47:24]

• Broader Impact:

  “If your option is we want the overall game to benefit, we want more eyeballs on this variation of the game, this will be an absolute ratings bonanza ... You do not like tennis if you hear those matchups ... and you're like, no, not interested.” — Host, [47:53-48:57]

5. Closing & Upcoming Served Coverage

Segment Begins: [49:17]

• Details on special US Open live shows, quick serves, draw recap, and Hall of Fame coverage.
• Call for listeners to subscribe and provide feedback.

  “My favorite time of the year going to New York ... the US Open is fricking three weeks long ... Thanks for watching and listening to Serve.” — Host, [50:12]

Notable Quotes

• “She might not be tall in stature, but she is tall in heart. She is tall in fight, and she is tall in watchability.” — Host on Jasmine Paolini [06:54]
• “When I pretend like I don’t care, that’s actually when I’m playing a bit better ... I just go there and swing.” — Victoria Mboko on her mental approach [16:46]
• “That’s the loudest I’ve ever heard a whole stadium cheering for me. So that was honestly incredible. And I think that made my whole week.” — Mboko on Canadian support [18:12]
• “I was a moron when I was 19. These prototypes are just coming out. Mature, thoughtful.” — Host on Mboko’s maturity [28:15]
• “This rivalry is real. It’s built. Now how far can it go? Amazing.” — Host on Sinner-Alcaraz [33:29]
• “[Ottman] ... before you went on court, your opponent said, ‘Hey, dude, I got something for you. Happy birthday. Here’s a Pokemon card.’” — Wertheim [34:13]
• “This is something tennis has to reckon with ... Climate is a real factor.” — Wertheim on heat and climate [39:13]
• “Put it in my veins.” — Host on mixed doubles star matchups [46:17]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Episode logistics, Cincinnati intro: [01:10–05:40]
• Cincinnati recap – men’s and women’s fields: [02:29–10:00]
• Pre-Mboko interview transition: [10:00–12:35]
• Victoria Mboko interview: [12:35–28:11]
• Reflections on Mboko: [28:15–29:55]
• Winners & Errors (Wertheim): [32:49–44:07]
• US Open mixed doubles preview: [44:07–48:57]
• Closing, upcoming Served content: [49:17–50:12]

Overall Tone & Style

The conversation is casual, witty, and self-aware—with plenty of tennis “inside baseball,” but also a spirit of appreciation for player development, diversity, and fan culture. Andy Roddick’s humor, Wertheim’s analysis, and the team’s banter keep the show dynamic, honest, and accessible. Mboko’s interview delivers authenticity, gratitude, and youthful wisdom.

Useful for any tennis fan who wants the latest context, insight, and fresh personalities in the game—especially as the US Open approaches.