Served with Andy Roddick
Episode: Top 10 Tennis Matches of 2025 FAN VOTE
Date: November 25, 2025
Host: Andy "Techie Sean" Roddick
Co-host: Jon Wertheim (JW)
Producer: Producer Mike
Episode Overview
In this episode, Andy Roddick, Jon Wertheim, and Producer Mike count down the top 10 tennis matches of 2025 as voted by the fans. The hosts are in the dark about the match selections until they’re revealed, providing genuine reactions, commentary, and some good-humored skepticism. They discuss not just the drama on court, but also the narratives, resilience, and context that elevate these matches into memorable moments for the sport. Listeners are taken through the year’s biggest stories, from epic comebacks and ground-breaking triumphs to demonstrations of absolute dominance.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Subjectivity of "Best Matches"
- (05:23) The team opens up a thoughtful debate: is the “best” match about drama, high quality, context, or story?
- Techie Sean: “There’s such a thing as a dramatic match with a good story, but where the level was pretty bad... I would like to have a ‘best matches’ list and a ‘best performances’ list, because a lot of times those are different.”
- JW: “Context matters a lot... a certain threshold of stakes.”
Honorable Mentions
- (04:04–05:08)
- Paolini vs. Gauff
- Draper vs. Alcaraz (Indian Wells SF)
- Mboko vs. Osaka (Canadian Open Final)
All narrowly missed the cut.
Fan Voting Mechanics
- (05:08–05:19) Producer Mike explains the process: a list plus write-in options; final votes determined from fan submissions.
Top 10 Matches Breakdown
10. Iga Swiatek vs. Belinda Bencic – Wimbledon SF
[08:44]
- Swiatek dismantles Bencic 6-2, 6-0 in 71 minutes, serving as a “masterclass.”
- Hosts question whether dominance without drama should make the list.
- Techie Sean: “Half of our audience just left.”
- JW: “Does IGA’s mom know we only like one vote per entry?”
- Producer Mike: “So dominant that Bencic admitted she had no answers.”
9. Amanda Anisimova vs. Iga Swiatek – Cincinnati Final
[10:13]
- Anisimova avenges her double bagel loss at Wimbledon just 53 days earlier, winning 6-4, 6-3.
- Discussion centers on redemption, psychological storylines, and how context matters.
- JW: “This is a context match, not a classic tennis match, but I could see why this would be in our top 10.”
8. Valentin Vacherot vs. Arthur Rinderknech – Shanghai Masters 1000 Final
[13:23]
- Vacherot, ranked 204, upsets the field (including Djokovic and Holger Rune) and beats cousin Rinderknech in an all-family, all-underdog final.
- A genuine Cinderella story and highlight of perseverance.
- JW: “This is like tennis at its best. This is one of my favorite—never mind the eighth best match.”
- Techie Sean: “Preparation meets opportunity. You better be prepared when the opportunity presents itself.”
7. Madison Keys vs. Iga Swiatek – Australian Open SF
[22:25]
- Keys battles through to win in a third-set tiebreak, 10–8, launching her to her first Grand Slam crown.
- Discussed for both nerve-wracking theater and high quality of play.
- Techie Sean: “This was a great match. Not just a great story, like Shanghai, but a great match for every reason.”
- JW: “You could make the case, at the time, this was the biggest match of her career.”
6. Iga Swiatek vs. Amanda Anisimova – Wimbledon Final
[26:36]
- Swiatek delivers the most ruthless slam final of the era, winning 6-0, 6-0 in 57 minutes.
- Lively banter on whether a lopsided score deserves to be called a great match.
- Techie Sean: “The match was pretty gross, too.”
- JW: “Great achievement. God bless Iga. How in the world is this the best match? I'm not quite sure.”
5. Novak Djokovic vs. Carlos Alcaraz – Australian Open QF
[29:28]
- Djokovic, 37, rallies from a set down and a hip tweak to defeat Alcaraz in over 3.5 hours.
- Weighing the old guard vs. the new, and Djokovic’s ability to “complete tennis.”
- Techie Sean: “The aging boxer getting into the ring and finding a way... This was one of my best 10 matches of the year for sure.”
- JW [31:27]: “He sort of disappointed at the Open, went out early to Poppy. If he loses this match, it's possible he retires on the spot... But he goes into Novak gear against the mighty Carlos Alcaraz.”
4. Coco Gauff vs. Aryna Sabalenka – French Open Final
[36:29]
- Gauff rallies from a set down to become the first American woman to win Roland Garros since Serena.
- The match is remembered for adverse conditions, Coco’s grit, and Sabalenka’s post-match drama.
- JW: “Coco took her second major and it was a strange day. A great win for her, a comeback win, a disappointment for Sabalenka.”
- Techie Sean: “There’s a certain beauty in its ugliness if you’re a true sports fan.”
3. Madison Keys vs. Aryna Sabalenka – Australian Open Final
[44:12]
- Keys ends Sabalenka’s 20-match Melbourne Park streak 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, claiming her maiden Slam.
- Highlights mental fortitude in late-career breakthrough.
- JW [45:54]: “During the tournament, everything’s going to change...Here you go, two out of three sets to completely change your legacy. This was cold-blooded. Let’s focus for a minute on the tennis: such clean ball striking, no double faults, and then at 5-all, she just played two games to seal it.”
2. Jannik Sinner vs. Carlos Alcaraz – Wimbledon Final
[48:37]
- Sinner defeats defending champ Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, ending Alcaraz’s 24-match win streak on grass.
- Narrative around mental resilience following Sinner’s French Open heartbreak and the emerging rivalry.
- Techie Sean: “The professionalism getting over that Roland Garros loss, heartbreak, and going back to work—props.”
- JW: “It’s not just contrast, it’s swinging... he loses the first set, time to go to work, starts dialing in his serve. Wimbledon champion.”
1. Carlos Alcaraz vs. Jannik Sinner – French Open Final
[53:56]
- Five hours, five sets, three match points saved; Alcaraz comes back from two sets down to claim his first Paris crown, ending Sinner's 30-match Slam streak.
- Lauded for peak athleticism, mental strength, and mutual sportsmanship.
- Techie Sean [54:14]: “An absolute force of mental anguish, athleticism, drama, peaking at the right time—everything you could ever want in a match.”
- JW [55:31]: “The match was obvious to anyone watching for its physicality... Yet I don’t recall an injury timeout. The match was not tainted... Clutch tennis, crazy winners, extraordinarily high level.”
Notable Quotes & Moments
- On the subjectivity of “best”:
- “A Wimbledon final that goes five sets is probably going to make the list, and a brilliant second-round match in Charleston... probably doesn’t.” — JW [06:10]
- On Iga’s dominance:
- “This is for as much respect you have for IGA for dropping an oh at Wimbledon, you’re a psychopath if you don’t have empathy for Anisimova in that moment.” — Techie Sean [10:57]
- On the Vacherot family fairytale:
- “You couldn’t write this. If I’d gotten a script a month before it happens... I’d say that’s not, that’s so far.” — Techie Sean [19:52]
- On Keys’ breakthrough win:
- “There’s like a match a year, maybe two, where you don’t really have a dog in the fight, and then someone’s victory causes emotion for you. Right? This one broke me, in the most beautiful way possible.” — Techie Sean [44:31]
- On Alcaraz–Sinner at RG:
- “He had to turn into Superman. He had to go into the phone booth.” — Techie Sean [56:29]
- “Watching the athletes, we understood the extraordinarily high level... This wasn’t some great emotional passion play and drama that was going to wreck them—they were enjoying the competition. We did as well.” — JW [57:31]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 01:06: Introduction and fan-voting concept
- 04:04: Honorable mentions and close calls
- 05:23: “What is a best match?” discussion
- 08:44: Countdown begins — #10: Swiatek v. Bencic
- 13:23: #8: Vacherot v. Rinderknech — the underdog family story
- 22:25: #7: Keys v. Swiatek — AO SF
- 29:28: #5: Djokovic v. Alcaraz — AO QF
- 36:29: #4: Gauff v. Sabalenka — French Open Final
- 44:12: #3: Keys v. Sabalenka — AO Final
- 48:37: #2: Sinner v. Alcaraz — Wimbledon Final
- 53:56: #1: Alcaraz v. Sinner — Roland Garros Final
- 60:54: Andy’s honorable mentions and closing thoughts
Memorable Episode Moments
- Roddick recounts Mary Carillo’s candid “fuck yes” after her Hall of Fame nod [03:19]
- A running joke about Iga Swiatek’s mom voting repeatedly for her matches [09:41]
- Genuine awe and emotional resonance at Madison Keys’ major breakthrough [44:31]
- Comparing tennis greatness to LeBron, George Clooney’s ‘late break,’ and more [32:47; 19:03]
- Hot take (and not-so-subtle threat):
- “If number one doesn’t say Roland Garros, I’m quitting. This is our last show.” — Techie Sean [48:55]
Honorable Mentions Section
- Lerner Tien vs. Medvedev (Australian Open)
- Iga Swiatek vs. Rybakina (Roland Garros 4th round)
- Sabalenka vs. Pegula (US Open SF)
- Alcaraz vs. Fognini (Wimbledon 1st round)
- Taylor Townsend vs. Krejcikova (US Open)
Episode Tone & Language
The conversation is candid, lively, and peppered with friendly teasing. Andy and Jon strike a balance between analysis, storytelling, and humor, always bringing attention to the humanity behind the athlete and the singular drama that only tennis provides.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone who values storylines as much as shot-making and who enjoys tennis discussions with authenticity, warmth, and wit.