Served with Andy Roddick

Episode: Tim Henman Joins Served LIVE from the 2025 Laver Cup FINALS
Date: September 21, 2025
Host: Andy Roddick
Guests: Jon Wertheim (“JW”), Tim Henman

Overview

This live episode of "Served" with Andy Roddick was recorded during the 2025 Laver Cup Finals. The conversation celebrates the unique energy and competitive drama of this year’s event, with a focus on Team World’s surprising dominance and the adaptability of Team Europe. Special guest Tim Henman, Team Europe’s Vice-Captain, offers insight into coaching at this level, the team’s mindset after a rough day, and the spirit of the Laver Cup. The hosts reflect on notable player performances (notably Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz, and Carlos Alcaraz), the event’s evolving format, and the camaraderie that defines the Laver Cup.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Laver Cup Atmosphere and Event Growth

• Epic Crowd and Format Evolution:

  • Andy Roddick marvels at the sell-out crowds despite being in the “post-Roger, Rafa, Serena, Novak” era.
  • “If you would have told me that tennis was going to thrive and that there would be 18 or 19,000 people in that arena on a Friday afternoon, one, I'd be like, don't people work?...what a win.” — Andy (02:01)
  • The ability of the Laver Cup to connect generations, with Rod Laver present and young talents like Fonseca participating.

• Multimedia Experience:

  • Integration of video, fan interactions, and audience engagement described as “a dream come true” for the hosts.

2. Team World’s Surprising Success — Recaps & Analysis

• Day 2 Recap:

  • Team World sweeps all four matches, taking a 9-3 lead.
  • "Started day two trailing 3-1. Andre Scott went on to sweep all four matches. Now lead 9 to 3. It's pretty good." — Andy (05:23)

• Alex de Minaur’s (Demon) Standout Performance

  • Tactical brilliance in using the slice against Zverev.
  • "He was clear as day with his decisions...That's a clutch decision by Demon." — Andy (05:46)
  • First serve points won for Zverev was a career-low 48% — a testament to the disruptive tactics.

• Cerundolo’s Upset & Crowd Engagement

  • “I don't know that I've ever seen Serendolo play to the crowd as much as he did here." — Andy (08:13)
  • Noted for his high-octane forehand and emotional win over Rune.

• Taylor Fritz Topples Carlos Alcaraz

  • Fritz dominates with versatility and movement:
    • “Taylor Fritz, when he has two feet underneath themselves, can absolutely rip.” — Andy (09:24)
    • Carlos’s struggles attributed to lack of adaptation to indoor conditions and insufficient practice time
    • Fritz wins an important psychological battle: “He’s a gym rat who plays whenever he can… He may never be Roger Federer or may never have Alex Diminour's raw speed, but this is someone who's made these incremental upgrades and they've made a huge difference.” — JW (26:15)

3. The Carlos Alcaraz Equation

• Post-US Open Fatigue

  • Discussion of Alcaraz’s rigorous schedule and physical/emotional toll after a career run:
    • "At some point something has to give. And I think we have to give Carlos Alcaraz props because it would have been very easy to take the month and then finish the year that he actually showed up..." — Andy (21:27)

• Indoor Challenges

  • His historic struggles indoors, with the court’s muted bounce neutralizing some of his weapons.

• Leadership and Character

  • Despite the tough day, Alcaraz displays leader’s mentality by volunteering for both doubles and singles the next day — an inspiration for the entire team.

4. Revisiting the “Demon” Narrative

• Misconceptions Dispelled

  • Andy challenges the “counterpuncher only” label for de Minaur:
    • “Alex D. Minor's shot shape is flat, it's through the court, it stays low. Right? That's a superpower, is ball flight.” (14:01)
  • Emphasizes his offensive skill set, strategic court positioning, and ability to ‘come in’ both in singles and doubles.

• MVP Recognition

  • Both Andy and JW agree that Alex de Minaur has been Team World’s most valuable player, alongside Andre Agassi’s leadership.

5. Dynamic Analysis of Matchups and Tactics

• Adapting to Court Conditions

  • Respect for how Team World adjusted quickly (e.g., using more slice per Pat Rafter’s recommendations).
    • “They get day one. They Start getting the feedback from their teammates. How is this court playing? You saw quadruple the amount of chips yesterday...” — Andy (08:48)

• Doubles Laterals

  • Alex Mickelson’s emergence and Agassi’s double-down strategy of leveraging his net skills to disrupt Team Europe.

• Strategic Outlook for Finals Day

  • The potential of a dramatic, all-deciding Fritz-Zverev match is dissected.
  • Value of the Laver Cup’s alternate structure (“no majors indoors”, doubles before singles, points escalation):
    • "This format lends itself to so much absolute craziness. There is a slim possibility that we see Carlos Alcaraz play three matches well in a single day." — Andy (40:59)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Andy on the new era:
  “If you would have told me…there would be 18 or 19,000 people in that arena on a Friday afternoon…I’d be like—don’t people work?...what a win.” (02:01)

• JW on Taylor Fritz’s development:
  "He sits there and studies the stat sheet like it's a sacred text..." (26:15)

• Andy on de Minaur’s game:
  "Alex D. Minor's shot shape is flat, it's through the court, it stays low. That's a superpower..." (14:01)

• JW praises the Laver Cup’s engaging format:
  "Labor cup, baby. It's a genius of the scoring, isn't it?" (41:30)

• Tim Henman on Carlos Alcaraz’s leadership:
  "He comes into this event with so much passion, enthusiasm, energy, and that is just a joy. And when you've played best of five set matches and you're down two sets of love, it feels like the winning line is a long way away. But all great comebacks start with one small step..." (48:49)

• Tim Henman on his Laver Cup experience:
  “I haven't had this much fun at a tennis event since I stopped [playing]…It’s been such an honor and a privilege to be here. I've had so much fun.” (50:16)

Tim Henman Interview Highlights (43:44–54:08)

• On Team Europe’s Tough Day:
  "Yesterday was a tough day but I certainly tip my hat to Team World...Diminore set the tone with that game plan." (44:38)

• On Team Morale and Carlos’s Energy:
  "The vibe was brilliant. Yeah, we didn't win a match yesterday. We were thrilled." (45:45)
  "Carlos Alcaraz, I'm slightly stating the obvious here, but ... his energy is so good. And this morning when we came on the practice court ... he let out this sort of yell of, you know, I'm so pumped. He said, today's going to be a great day..." (47:44)

• Special Moments & Team Camaraderie:
  Jannik Sinner’s leadership and pre-match huddle ("when I say yeah, I want you to say yeah") (50:36)

• On the Laver Cup’s Vision and Legacy:
  “To see Rod Laver watching Fonseca, who was born 12 days before Andre retired...the goal is to connect generations—hook, line and sinker.” (52:49)

Segment Timestamps

• Opening reflections and crowd appreciation: 01:06–02:26
• Team World’s Day 2 sweep analysis: 05:23–07:38
• Demon vs. Zverev match breakdown: 05:46–08:39
• Cerundolo’s big win: 07:38–08:47
• Taylor Fritz vs. Alcaraz analysis: 09:24–11:38, revisit at 18:26–24:13
• Alcaraz: fatigue, preparation, indoor struggles: 18:26–24:06
• On de Minaur’s game and MVP status: 14:01–15:37, 13:38–14:01
• Henman interview begins: 43:44
• Henman on team energy, Alcaraz, team talk: 44:38–50:36
• Macro/legacy of Laver Cup: 52:11–54:08

Final Note from Andy Roddick

"I just want to say a quick thank you … to come out here and see actual people and feedback and hear the enthusiasm. Thank you for that gift that you gave us for the last four days. We really appreciate it." (54:09)

Summary by Segment:

• Celebration of Laver Cup’s new generation and success.
• Tactical, statistical breakdowns of the Day 2 matches and player performances, especially for Team World.
• Insightful commentary on the evolution and narratives of stars like Carlos Alcaraz, Alex de Minaur, and Taylor Fritz.
• Behind-the-scenes look at Team Europe’s mindset with Tim Henman, highlighting sportsmanship, leadership, and the tournament’s purpose in connecting tennis history.

For further info or to watch highlights, see the Served Podcast on YouTube or follow on social media.