27 | Iva Jovic in The Player’s Box

Summary

The Player’s Box – Episode 27: Iva Jovic in The Player’s Box
February 17, 2026
Host(s): Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, Jennifer Brady, Desirae Krawczyk
Guest: Iva Jovic

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Episode Overview

Episode 27 features rising tennis star Iva Jovic joining the Player’s Box crew live from Dubai. The hosts dive into Iva’s rapid ascent through the ranks, explore her off-court personality, and share behind-the-scenes stories from the tennis tour. They keep the tone light and playful, alternate between deep and silly questions, and share their own relatable fumbles from tour life. Key highlights include career reflections, sing-in-the-shower embarrassments, locker room mishaps, advice for handling losses, Olympic drama commentary, and a fan-favorite "Prescribe the Vibe" segment.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Iva’s Breakthrough Year (00:41–02:20)

• Iva reflects on her first Grand Slam quarterfinal (01:03) and rapid ranking climb from 172 to top 20 in just a year.
  • ”You always expect to have this aha moment, but it's kind of just like another day of tennis... you're happy, but then... hopefully we can win some more matches.” (01:18)
• On what it feels like to be considered a rookie: ”Only beginning. I guess this is rookie year, you were saying.” (02:05)

2. “Unforced Error” Stories (02:49–07:14)

• Collective “unforced error” about their first podcast ad reads, which fans found hilariously awkward. The crew embraces fan feedback and promise better ads.
  • “Maybe it was all part of our plan—people said ours were so bad that they actually stayed and listened.” —Brady (03:24)
• Iva’s unforced error: Embarrassing run-in with her neighbor who overheard her “Vibey” solo shower-singing before Dubai, leading to awkward door interaction.
  • “I was singing in the shower... My neighbor knocks and says ‘Do you have people over? Or maybe, like, really loud music?’ I was mortified!” (05:05)

3. Getting to Know Iva: Rapid Fire “Finish the Sentence” (12:10–24:28)

• Guilty pleasure TV Show: “I love Gilmore Girls.” (12:17)
• Friends Describe Her As: “Probably chaotic...not in a bad way, just doing a lot of things all the time.” (13:18)
• Last Thing That Made Her Laugh: Goofy banter with coach Kathy Rinaldi: “Sometimes you don’t know if you should be offended or just laugh.” (13:38)
• Life Outside Tennis: On calls with family “20 times a day,” beach time, and her mom’s lasagna as top comfort food.
• Favorite Celebration After Wins: Vibing out with loud music in her room.
• Biggest Tennis Inspiration: “Jess [Pegula], my coaches told me growing up to watch you and play like you.” (16:07)
• Toughest Tour Aspect: “Being completely away from home... Nothing I despise more than losing and then packing, leaving in five hours.” (17:48)
• Surprising Facts: Frequently forgets tennis gear, infamous for packing mishaps, and runs a “pharmacy” in her tennis bag due to her pharmacist parents (21:34).
• Walk-up Song: Eminem’s "Lose Yourself" (19:36)
• Dream Doubles Partner: “Novak [Djokovic]—mixed at the US Open!” (19:56)
• Biggest Tennis Goal: “Solidify my place in the top 20, 30...so even on your average days you can win matches and be there consistently.” (22:31)

4. The Teenage Prodigy: School and Balance (24:11–25:24)

• Iva is still in high school and values her education, enjoys history, and plans to continue studies while playing.

5. Tennis Headlines & Locker Room Life (25:36–29:13)

• Maria Sakkari snaps Iga Swiatek’s 109-match streak after winning the first set at WTA 1000 tournaments.
  • “Oh my god, that’s insane!” —Iva (25:56)
• Iva narrates a memorable three-hour doubles match at the Australian Open: “Outrageous, not just doubles match—tennis match—I’ve ever played.” (26:56)
• Shares an off-court anecdote about Vicky Mboko’s pre-match McDonald’s indulgence: “She was already pulling out the fries before she got on the elevator!” (28:13)

6. Winter Olympics Pop Culture Chat (30:03–34:09)

• Hilarious discussion about the “goofiest” Winter Olympics sports, the drama in events like curling and biathlon, and quirky commentary on “quad god” figure skaters.
  • “Every sport you could die! Summer Olympics is like, run in a circle. Winter is: Go down this icy hill, seven flips, then don’t land on your feet.” —Brady (32:01)

7. Prescribe the Vibe: Iva’s Life Advice Pharmacy (35:24–45:14)

A playful segment where Iva “prescribes” solutions:

• Wardrobe: Nordstrom Rack or H&M for budget-friendly shopping (35:59)
• Rom-Com: “Crazy, Stupid, Love” (36:34)
• Comfort Show: Sticks with “Gilmore Girls”
• Dinner: Italian food, let “vibes” and crowd density decide (37:35)
• Coffee: Prefers chai lattes; “I feel like I have enough energy without coffee…imagine me on coffee.”
• Feel-Good Song: Early 2000s Katy Perry anthems (38:32)
• Dessert: Chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream (38:51)
• Boosting Confidence: “Music will make you feel better… For a book, I’d go with The Alchemist.” (39:20)
• Girls’ Night: Movie nights, popcorn, cookies, or organized pillow fights with rules (41:44)
• Non-Tennis Workout: HIIT yoga or a relaxed, self-paced jog (43:35)
• Social Media: Instagram is her pick—easy to keep in touch and get info.

8. Veteran Wisdom: Coping, Growth, and Perspective (46:11–52:42)

Iva turns interviewer, probing the hosts about growth from rookie years to being veterans:

• “How different does it feel from your first year to where you are now? Have you changed a lot?” (46:15)
• Hosts agree the experience changes: at first every stop is exciting, later it becomes routine unless you intentionally mix it up. Desirae shares: “It’s really important to enjoy the cities, not just hotel–site–leave.” (47:39)
• Pegula’s advice: “It feels like yesterday, then you realize—wow, that was four years ago, I’m a totally different person.” (48:57)
• On losses: everyone struggles, but maturity means learning to “be a goldfish”—let go quickly; celebrate small wins and don’t overthink the losses.
  • “I feel like some of the funniest stories I have were from awful weeks... When you do well, what we’re doing is really cool, so just take that extra second to appreciate it.” —Pegula (51:12)
  • “Success only happens from failure... sometimes you just gotta go goldfish and flush it.” —Pegula (55:23)

9. Favorite Games & Fan Q&A (57:24–65:38)

• "Who Am I?" tennis trivia: Iva gives clues—“has the all-time career ace record, three kids, still involved in tennis though retired.” (59:12)
• Fan Questions:
  • Do players hear coaching advice from other boxes? Not really, everyone’s in their own world (60:17).
  • Pre-tournament player parties: Used to be more common pre-COVID, now rare or even mandatory for seeds. Atmosphere varies, but most players mingle within their circles and indulge in the buffet (62:04).

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On milestone successes:
  “You expect some aha moment—oh, this is great!—but it’s just another day. You’re happy…but you move on.” —Iva (01:18)
• On shower embarrassment:
  “Obviously, there’s no people over, and he can hear that there’s no music…so I just told him, ‘Yeah, it was my music, I’m sorry, I’ll turn it down.’” —Iva (05:03)
• On staying top-20:
  “It’s one thing to get there, but a completely different thing to stay there...to be there consistently.” —Iva (22:31)
• On success and failure:
  “It’s impossible to succeed if you haven’t failed…sometimes you just gotta go goldfish and flush it.” —Pegula (55:23)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro & Iva’s Breakthrough: 00:41–02:20
• Unforced Errors: 02:49–07:14
• “Finish the Sentence” with Iva: 12:10–24:28
• Locker Room Mishaps & “Pharmacy” Bag: 21:34–22:20
• Tennis Headlines & Doubles Drama: 25:36–29:13
• Olympics Pop Culture Chat: 30:03–34:09
• Prescribe the Vibe: 35:24–45:14
• Veteran Wisdom & Coping with Losses: 46:11–52:42
• “Who Am I?” Trivia: 57:24–59:46
• Fan Q&A: 59:52–65:38

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Conclusion

This episode is a lively, heartfelt glimpse into the life of a top young tennis prospect and the hard-earned wisdom of veteran tour players. From giggle-worthy embarrassments to deep life and sport advice, listeners are treated to the full spectrum of highs, lows, and hilarious in-betweens that define life on tour. The Player’s Box camaraderie shines through as they bond, tease, and support each other—and the audience—through every twist.

Listen for: Iva’s shower singer moment, the inside scoop on locker room “pharmacy” culture, practical vet advice, and a string of laugh-out-loud Winter Olympics takes.

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For more episodes, subscribe on your podcast platform of choice or watch on YouTube. Submit your fan questions via Instagram or email at theplayersboxpodmail.com.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

This is the players box.

[C]

Hi, everyone. Welcome back to the players box. I'm Desiree Krafczyk alongside Jenny Brady, Madison Keys, Jess Pagola. A friendly reminder to please give our podcast five stars and subscribe on YouTube. We have a very special guest today. Eva is jumping in the player's box. Welcome, Eva.

[D]

Thank you, Des. Thank you everyone for having me. Very excited to be here.

[C]

We're currently in Dubai right now and the last time we saw you was in Australia where you made your first Grand Slam quarterfinals. Congrats.

[D]

Thank you.

[C]

Have you had any time to like, reflect on that? Have some time to recharge a little bit?

[D]

I think more than most people. Most people went straight to the Middle east. So I guess I should be happy with my, with my two weeks at home. That's as good as it gets nowadays. But no, it was so much fun. But I think you always expect to have this aha moment or it's, oh, this is so great. But I don't know, it's kind of just like another day of tennis and you're like, oh, okay, great, I won. Now we move on. So it's kind of just like you're happy, but then you're also like, okay, let's just go on with our life and hopefully we can win some more matches. Wow.

[C]

Well, I mean, you made the course. That's pretty cool. Yeah.

[B]

Perspective.

[C]

Well, last year you were ranked 172 and now you've cracked the top 20. I mean, you've got to be really proud of yourself for that.

[D]

Yeah, definitely. Really proud. I've worked very hard to, to improve and all of that. So, you know, it feels good. Hopefully there's more. More to climb. Only. Only beginning. I guess this is rookie year, you were saying.

[C]

Well, yeah, I guess your first rookie.

[D]

Year, first whole year, kind of sort of. So I guess they say, we'll see. It's only February. Yeah, it's only February, Jenny. Definitely. So what does it go up or down from here, guys? Tell me as the best.

[B]

A little bit of both.

[E]

There's A Laurel.

[D]

Okay, great. I'll let you guys know. Like, this is a thumbs up week. This is a thumbs down week. I'll keep you guys updated.

[C]

Well, we have so much we want to talk about, but we always start our podcast with our unforced errors of the week, so let's dive in. I think we have a collective unforced error, as you guys saw last week. In our episode, we did our first ad readings, and it really caught a lot of fans off guard. I think people were like, whoa, we're going to get fired. It was pretty bad, I guess, but I guess you can only go uphill from here. Anybody else want to chime in on our bad ad readings?

[B]

I mean, maybe it was just all a part of our plan because there were a few comments that said they usually don't listen to ads, but ours were so bad that they actually stayed and listened, so. And they know they were onto something.

[E]

Didn't someone say they, like, didn't know what was happening and they just kept listening and they were like, I think this is an ad read.

[C]

Yeah, it was in the middle of. I think we were mid sentence, and it just chimed into us talking about factor meals or whatever, and they were like, whoa, what's happening?

[B]

It's kind of like a car crash. It's like you can't. You can't stop looking.

[E]

Yeah, you can't look away.

[D]

That's a great comparison you just made there, Maddie. Yeah.

[E]

Did you actually hear them?

[D]

I heard, like, one of them, but I didn't. I don't think I heard. They wasn't as bad as you guys are describing right now, so. Wow. I think I didn't hear the. The extent of this, honestly.

[C]

Well, that's good.

[D]

But you guys are hyping it up with how bad it is, so I really want to see it now. So I guess it is. We're just going working.

[B]

We're going off of the feedback that we received, and people didn't hold back. So.

[C]

No.

[B]

We have worked really hard to improve. Hopefully things get better.

[F]

Yeah. It can only go up from here.

[C]

Exactly. Do you have an unforced error?

[D]

Yes. Okay. Why you starting with me? Okay. Mine's pretty bad. This is. This is a bad one. I have bad ones all the time. But this is a night before I'm leaving for Dubai or like two nights before. So I'm packing.

[C]

Whatever.

[D]

I'm in the shower. I'm singing in the shower. Okay. So immediately that's pretty bad. But it's not that loud. It's all good. I come out of the shower, whatever. Five minutes later, my doorbell rings. I answer the door, and it's my neighbor, who I really don't even know, so this is already kind of awkward. And he's there and he's like, hi, so do you have people over or maybe, like, really loud music? Because I'm trying to take a nap and something's, like, really loud. And I was like, oh, my God, there's no way he just heard me. This is so. So I'm, like, so embarrassed. And I'm like, oh, my God, what do I say? What do I say? Like, obviously, there's no people over, and he can't hear anything right now. And I'm just saying, oh, I was playing music really loud, but he can hear that there's, like, no music. So I just told him, yeah, yeah, it was my music. I'm sorry, I'll turn it down. And he leaves, and I just close the door. And I'm just, like, in shock. For, like, five minutes. I was like, there's no way. Was he trying to be nice and, like, not tell me that he knew it was me singing, but, like, he definitely knew. So I was like, oh, no. And I hope that I never have another interaction with him again. What song were you singing? I don't even remember, but it was probably really bad.

[C]

Can you give us another, like, rendition of it?

[D]

Oh, my gosh. If you want, but I really, like.

[C]

No, no, no, tell us.

[D]

I. I don't. I want to say it was like, either one dance. Drake, or maybe it was like. I don't know, it was something kind of like, Vibey. It was like either Sean Paul or Drake, I think.

[B]

Oh, wow. Just like, no music. Just.

[D]

Just, just. No, just you, no music, just me.

[B]

Just the sound of the shower.

[D]

So that's where I don't know how he heard it. I swear I wasn't screaming, but it was bad. It was embarrassing. We'll never be doing that again. She's scarred.

[C]

That's pretty funny.

[D]

That's actually it, Jenny. I can't believe I just told this to Jenny. Now I'm never gonna live this down.

[C]

And the rest of our parents.

[D]

Yeah, but Jenny's gonna just keep mentioning it. It's fine. All good. It's pretty good.

[E]

Enforced air. That's actually incredible. Well, thanks for letting us know that you are an avid shower singer. We're going to try and get to know you a little bit more for us and for our fans here and all of your fans. So. Luxury bedding. Is one of those things you don't fully appreciate until you sleep on it. That was my experience with Quince. The softness, the weight, the quality of materials. You notice it immediately and then more with every night. European linen that gets softer with every wash. Organic cotton sheets. Breathable bamboo that stays cool all night. Plus premium quilts, comforters and duvet inserts. Everything you need to build a bed that feels finished and feels amazing.

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[B]

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[F]

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[E]

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[C]

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[F]

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[B]

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[F]

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[C]

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[F]

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[C]

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[F]

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[B]

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[C]

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[E]

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[F]

Yeah.

[E]

Okay, first one, My Guilty pleasure TV show.

[D]

Is this for me?

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Yeah. Okay. I love Gilmore Girls. Oh, yeah.

[B]

Wheat nights.

[D]

It's my guilty pleasure. Did you.

[E]

Wait, what was our fun fact, Des? That you, like, killed us?

[C]

There's two Lorelei's.

[E]

Did you know that?

[D]

What do you mean there's two Lore? Lies. Yeah, that's the sort of reaction.

[C]

Okay, so there's two Lorelei's, like her daughter.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

Oh, did you know that?

[D]

Yeah. Okay.

[E]

Okay.

[C]

You made it sound like you didn't even know that.

[D]

No, I know that.

[C]

I felt so good about myself.

[D]

You just don't ever refer to the daughter as Lorelai.

[C]

But they didn't know that. And they were like, what?

[D]

Des, there's not. I'm A true fan. I know all that stuff.

[B]

Well, we all watch. Watched when it came out, however, and we just got does into it.

[C]

And I just started in November. She just started it fresh in my head.

[D]

You just started in November?

[C]

Yeah. Wow.

[F]

Yeah.

[D]

That's great.

[E]

Next, Eva. These are all for you, by the way. And we'll just chime in. Yeah. So my friends would describe me as.

[D]

I would say probably chaotic. I feel like I'm a little bit.

[E]

Yeah.

[D]

Lots going on. Not in a bad way. Just, like, kind of doing a lot of things all the time.

[E]

Love that. I can relate. The last thing I laughed really hard at was.

[D]

Okay, I was with Kathy Rinaldi all day, and she was just, like, making jokes, like, all the time. And you know. You know how Kathy's jokes. Sometimes you don't know if you should be offended or if you should just laugh. And then I just chose to just, like, laugh at all of them, and we were both kind of laughing at each other, and then she would laugh, and then I would laugh at her. So it was kind of just like whole thing. A little back and forth, giggle. A little back and forth, giggle. Love that. About nothing. About nothing in particular, honestly.

[C]

She made a comment, she was like, make sure you take care of my girl Eva today.

[D]

And I was like, yeah. And she looks so serious. And I was like, okay, will do. Yeah, she looks so serious. It's so good.

[E]

When I'm not playing tennis, I'm usually.

[D]

I'm usually with my friends at the beach. A lot of times when I'm home or my family is calling me, they call me, like, 20 times a day. So whenever I'm doing something, I'm on speaker with one of my family. Jenny knows what I'm talking about. Ciao, mama. So, yeah, that's the intro to every conversation.

[E]

That's amazing. My comfort food is.

[D]

Definitely my mom's lasagna. It is so good. I've been to Italy multiple times, as you all have been. It is better than any lasagna I've had in Italy.

[F]

Wow.

[C]

So, okay.

[D]

If you're ever in la, stop by the Yovich house and try for yourself.

[C]

I might. I'm about 20 minutes from you, so I have to.

[D]

Yeah, you actually have the chance. Yeah.

[E]

Jenny and Des will be there.

[D]

Yeah. On my way.

[E]

When I win a big match, I celebrate by.

[D]

I usually just, like, go back to my room and play some music really loud and just, like, vibe out the energy. And then I'll usually get a call from my sister or something, and we'll just be really hyped about it.

[C]

But not singing.

[D]

Not singing. Now we're, like, listening to music because we want to feel like the outside energy.

[C]

Got it.

[D]

Got it.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

It's different.

[E]

It's different.

[D]

And then hype woman Mia.

[E]

Yes. The. The player I learned the most from watching is.

[D]

Okay, Jess, I'm gonna give you a shout out here. Oh. Because. Yes. I'm gonna give you a shout out because, A, I love watching you, and B, when I was growing up, a lot of coaches would tell me that I should watch you and that that's how I should try to play. So I was always watching a bunch of your matches.

[E]

Oh, my God, that's so cute. That's why you were ripping those returns the other day, like, taking it early af. I love that.

[D]

Just not when it's against me, girl. That's what you do.

[C]

Give her a little bit of her own medicine.

[D]

I know.

[E]

I was getting a dose of my own medicine.

[D]

I, um.

[C]

That's awesome.

[E]

Thank you.

[D]

Wow.

[E]

That's cool. The best part of being on tour.

[D]

Is, I think, just meeting all the new people. I feel like I'm part of a community now and we're all in this together a little bit. Obviously, we're competing, and it's a little bit of, like, trauma bonding, I think, as well. But it's also really cool because I feel like you have no. Because it's hard at times and everyone's losing and you're in some places that are not home. Right. But I think that the friendships are. Are nice. And trauma bonding. Why we started podcast.

[E]

This whole podcast is about us trauma bonding. It's very relatable. It's so funny that you say that.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

I just love that it's year one and she already guess it.

[C]

She knows what trauma bonding is.

[F]

Got it nailed.

[E]

That's awesome.

[D]

She won't be surprised.

[E]

So what's the hardest part of being on tour then? The trauma, but not the bonding part.

[D]

The trauma bonding without the bonding. I would say a the trauma, but more being completely away from home and away from your family and friends while you're enduring the trauma and the losses. There's, like, nothing I despise more than, like, losing and then packing and then leaving, like, the next morning in, like, five hours. So that sequence is probably the worst.

[E]

Sorry.

[D]

The worst part.

[C]

Quick turnaround.

[E]

People would be surprised to learn that.

[D]

I. Oh, I forget everything. Oh, my God.

[C]

Oh, I have a story. I forget your clothes, your match clothes, and.

[D]

Oh, my God, you were there. Yeah. So I came to Wuhan with like pretty much two match outfits and wait, black.

[C]

They were black. And it was so hot.

[D]

And it was like 50 degrees outside. It was sizzling. And I had two black dresses. For whatever reason, I. I don't know what I was thinking packing. I really don't know what happened, but I forget a lot of things. I forget rackets on airplanes. I lock my stuff in other people's trunks. I'm gonna stop there.

[C]

Didn't you have to like air dry or like in between go do laundry?

[D]

Yeah, I was, I was like air washing.

[C]

Oh, my gosh.

[D]

Humble, humble roots over here.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

We all done.

[D]

We've all done it.

[E]

Well, yeah, speaking of, I just heard she left her badge in the locker and I texted her. Locker room yesterday and I texted her. I was like, did you forget this? Like, I'll leave it for you at player services.

[D]

Story. That was yesterday?

[E]

Yeah, yesterday. Oh, okay. So since we're learning you're an avid music listener, if tennis had walk up songs like baseball, what would yours be?

[D]

I would say Eminem. Lose yourself. Perfect.

[B]

Great song.

[D]

Yeah.

[E]

Lyrical genius.

[B]

I was just more so shocked.

[C]

Lyrical genius.

[B]

See, she gets it.

[D]

Yeah.

[E]

You can't go wrong with that song. My dream doubles partner is.

[D]

Okay, can I go mixed? Because then I would go Novak. Oh, of course. Yeah, yeah. Okay. I'm gonna put it out there. Mixed with Novak at a U.S. open.

[F]

U.S. open.

[D]

I mean, that's kind of the only, the only option there is for mixed doubles.

[F]

Well, we know he's listening to our pod, so he'll definitely hear.

[C]

Yeah. Avid listener.

[E]

Put that out into the universe.

[B]

Yeah.

[E]

That was so cool though. When in Australia he like was talking about you impress and stuff like that. It was really cool.

[D]

Yeah, he gave me a full on shout out. I was shaking. That was honestly, I think the most surreal part of Australia. A like meeting Novak and talking to him. It was.

[C]

Oh, wow.

[D]

It was amazing.

[E]

Yeah, that was the highlight.

[D]

Pretty cool trip. And he gave me a shout out. Besides the quarterfinal, live television, you know, like right after his match when he's like in his zone thinking about himself, I was like, wow, this is just amazing.

[E]

The most nervous I've ever been before a match was.

[D]

I am usually really nervous before first rounds. So every like first round at a slam I've played so far or kind of a bigger tournament or at Indian Wells last year, I was really nervous before my first round match. When there's like a lot of family or people that you know and then you hear them and you're like walking on the court. It's. It's kind of nerve wracking. But first rounds, definitely.

[E]

I would agree with that. First rounds are nerve wracking. The most random thing in my tennis.

[D]

Bag is I always have a ton of pills because my parents are both pharmacists. Not bad pills, but like, gosh, Tylenol Advils if you have like, Tums, if you have stomach issues. So like, any kind of concern, any kind of health.

[B]

Good clarification.

[D]

Yeah. Any kind of like, health issue that will pop up. I have like, you're ready medicine for it.

[B]

You have a pharmacy in your tennis bag.

[D]

I have a pharmacy, exactly.

[F]

A mobile gas X people.

[D]

A lot of people from like the juniors, the people that know me, they would always come to me whenever they have some problem because they know that some problem everything.

[C]

Well, you better stock up because we might be coming to you for that.

[D]

Yeah. If you're struggling.

[F]

Yeah.

[E]

My biggest tennis goal right now is.

[D]

I think right now is to kind of solidify, I think my place in the kind of top 20, 30. Because I think it's one thing to get there, but a completely different thing to stay there and to be there every week. So I think to just kind of solidify the base level where even on like your average days or your bad days, you can clean up certain matches and be there consistently.

[E]

It's a great answer. Great answer. Yeah.

[D]

Very mature.

[E]

The. The moment that made me believe I could go pro was, I would say the.

[D]

The US Open that year. Yeah, 2024. Yeah, that. That year I won hard courts. And then I was like 100% thinking about going to college at that time. And then I played my girl Magda. Love Magda. In the first round and won. And then I played, I lost in the second round. It was traumatizing, but it was a good match and it was really enjoyable, you know, and to see everyone, like, in their element, all these pros and. Yeah, it was really cool. So definitely that US Open.

[E]

Awesome. And last one in five years. I hope I'm.

[D]

I hope I'm still here and doing really well and playing all these tournaments and winning.

[E]

Great answer. I mean.

[D]

Yeah, I don't know. I don't say. Hopefully I'm. Hopefully I'm doing some other things as well. Hopefully I'm doing well in my school and. And all that stuff.

[C]

Are you doing schooling right now?

[D]

Yeah, I'm. I'm still in high school, you guys.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[D]

You're in high school.

[B]

Oh, my God, you're In high school.

[F]

You haven't graduated yet.

[D]

You guys are having a high school student on your podcast right now.

[F]

Wow.

[C]

Favorite class?

[D]

My favorite class. I love history, actually. Oh, I hate history.

[F]

Oh, me too.

[D]

Des is like, get out of my room.

[C]

I love math. Even though I may not be great at it, but I love math.

[E]

Math.

[D]

Okay. We're, like, on completely opposite sides of the spectrum.

[E]

You're going to continue school when you obviously, like, you want to do, like, a continuing while you're playing.

[D]

Yeah, I want to. I definitely want to. It's important to me, and I think it. It's good to, like, keep your brain working honestly and.

[F]

Yeah.

[D]

Yeah. The tennis stuff is, like, I think, a very small bubble that you can get wrapped into.

[C]

Yeah. And your sister.

[E]

Wow.

[C]

Is in college right now.

[D]

She's. Yeah, she's in college.

[F]

Our math queen.

[D]

Our math. Our math queen. She's a math queen Queen junior at ucla. Yeah.

[C]

Hi, Mia.

[D]

Hi, Mia.

[F]

Ciao, Mia.

[D]

Ciao, Mia.

[C]

Great answers.

[D]

Yeah.

[E]

Awesome.

[D]

Yeah. You guys put me on the spot. Like, right there. I was like, okay, we're going right in. Yeah.

[E]

To get to know you.

[C]

So deep dive.

[D]

No, it's. It's perfect.

[C]

And the fans.

[B]

Okay, we're gonna get into some tennis.

[F]

Ish.

[B]

Headlines. Maria Sakkari beat IGA this week, and it was the first time in a thousand level that Iga lost after winning the first set. She was 109 and.

[F]

Oh.

[D]

Oh, my God.

[E]

That's insane.

[F]

I don't even know if I've won 109 matches.

[B]

Well, no, specifically. Specifically in a thousand.

[F]

Wow.

[E]

That's crazy.

[D]

I don't think I.

[C]

Did you see that stuff?

[D]

That's a good effort.

[F]

That's crazy.

[D]

Yeah, I did see that. I mean, I pulled Maria Sakari this week, so that's kind of where I saw that stat. Oh, And then.

[E]

That's crazy.

[B]

Yeah.

[E]

Having a good tournament. Yeah.

[F]

Love that for Maria.

[E]

I just saw her in the training room, actually, right before I came here.

[B]

And then we saw that iga's doubles partner from ao, Vicky Mboko, is in the finals of Doha. Yes. We're recording a little early, so we don't know who has won Doha yet, but Eva, you played with her in Australia. You guys had a crazy doubles match, didn't you?

[D]

Oh, my God.

[C]

Didn't you guys play Merton's?

[D]

We played Merton's thing.

[E]

Yeah.

[D]

Oh, my God. But this was the most outrageous, not just doubles match, tennis match I've ever played in my life. That it was, I think, three hours long. I played singles earlier that day. Oh, my gosh. We had three match points. We lost. But the quality of tennis was just a joke. I mean, we were everywhere, changing sides, everything. And I literally told Mertens and Zhang after they beat us in that match, I was like, okay, now you have to win the tournament. Like, after that match. It was crazy. And then they went. When won the tournament.

[C]

They listened to you?

[D]

Yeah, we have, like a running joke now, and I'm just, like, telling them, go in now, and then they're going to win.

[C]

That was. Do you have any matches being watched by everyone in the locker rooms?

[E]

I saw some crazy highlights from that match. Yeah, Insane.

[D]

Yeah. Yeah. At like 8. All on the tie break at the most tight moment ever. But no, it was good.

[B]

Do you have any, like, insider stories on Vicky that would give everyone a good idea of who she is?

[D]

Okay, I have. I have a good one, actually. This is, I think, like one year exactly. Almost our one year anniversary from when we played first round at a 75K in Rome, Georgia. Oh, so that was last year in February. That was the first round draw, me and Vicky. And yeah, that was a crazy match. But actually, no, this happened the first time we played each other, which was a year and a half ago in the finals of a 35K. This is the first time I'm playing Vicky in the pros. It's been a while since I've seen her, and I win this match in three sets. But the night before, I see her going outside and I'm like, she's in tennis clothes. I'm like, what is she doing? She going for a run right now? Like, the night before we play a match. I was like, oh, my God, this is intimidating. And then she's, like, waiting out there, and then she's getting food. I was like, okay, good. She's not going for a run. It's all good. And she had. I'm sorry to call you out, Vicky, but she had McDonald's. McDonald's was ordered, and she was already pulling out the fries before she got on the elevator. So, Vicky, I caught you. Oh, my God. With the McDonald's. You didn't. I don't think she knew that I saw her with the McDonald's.

[E]

That's hilarious.

[D]

Wait, that's amazing. And I did win that match in three sets, the first.

[F]

And you were like.

[D]

It was so. I was like, it was the fries girl. No, but no, it was. It was funny. It was. It was that Happy Meal. It was that Happy Meal. But no, it was. It Was funny. That's so funny.

[E]

That's incredible. You went from like, I'm intimidated. She's going on a run to, like.

[D]

Not gonna win this. It's okay, it's okay. She's gonna crank. Not that I don't eat, like food like that, but it was just the comical timing of me about to be super scared and then just like, okay, relax. It's fine, it's fine.

[C]

I got this.

[E]

Yeah.

[D]

It's okay.

[C]

I got the advantage.

[D]

Yeah.

[E]

That's amazing.

[B]

Wow. Okay, we're going to pivot sports a little bit. Has anybody been watching the Winter Olympics?

[F]

A little bit.

[D]

A little bit. Yeah.

[C]

Any favorite.

[B]

Do we have a favorite sport to watch or like even like a scariest or strangest sport?

[E]

The two person bobsledding where the guys lay on top of each other.

[C]

The mongol, the model.

[D]

Sorry. Double yes. Yeah.

[E]

That is hilarious. And I keep seeing the memes where it's like, how do you find out you're good at this?

[D]

Yeah.

[E]

Like, what does this conversation start as? Like, how does it happen?

[B]

Well, I don't understand how. It's like they have doubles luge, but they don't have double skeleton. Like, why, why is it if they're on their backs, it's. You can go double. Maybe you can put skeleton head forward.

[D]

The sled where they go.

[B]

You can't double.

[C]

So they lay on top of each.

[D]

Other and they're like, yeah, like, I didn't know there was double version for this. Oh, yeah, yeah.

[C]

Mogul skiing, whatever you call it. Mogul skiing. Have you seen that?

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

Where they're like on the little slips. I feel like that looks painful.

[F]

Just going, yeah, my knee hurts watching.

[B]

Oh, I think I'd be concussed by the time I got to the flip.

[F]

Yeah, we would definitely have to run.

[D]

Concussion protocol on me after that.

[E]

What about the guy that was like, was it like. Like he did like the six minute mile in like snowshoeing, but it's like.

[C]

Oh, it's all the memes.

[B]

The biathlon.

[F]

Yeah.

[E]

Well, he's like going uphill for like.

[B]

He was doing a six minute mile uphill in skis.

[E]

And I was like, what the.

[C]

Have you seen that?

[D]

No.

[E]

It was wild.

[B]

I just find it's very funny watching. Watching the Winter Olympics. It's like every sport you could die. Summer Olympics. It's like run in a circle. Winter Olympics. It's like, go down this icy hill and do seven flips and then land on. Not your feet. Yeah.

[E]

It's crazy.

[C]

No, it's Insane. And then you got skeleton and all this.

[D]

Oh, my gosh. They're like, yeah.

[E]

Daredevils.

[B]

And have we seen any of the. Have we seen any of the drama? There's been lots of drama.

[D]

Oh, yeah. There's a lot more drama than the Summer Olympics.

[B]

I feel like there's the biathlon athlete who admitted to cheating on his girlfriend.

[D]

After he went crazy.

[C]

That guy.

[B]

And then the French woman who won the biathlon had, like, I think she did jail time last year for fraud and she stole her teammate's credit card or something.

[D]

They stole. Yep.

[B]

And then there's a big ice skating. There's like, big ice skating drama between the US Ice skating. What is it?

[E]

The dance in France.

[D]

Highly invested all over this.

[F]

Jess is locked in on that one.

[E]

Crazy.

[B]

We need an investigation.

[E]

It's about that.

[F]

Jesse's leading it.

[C]

And then now with the curling. Did you guys see?

[B]

I haven't seen the curling drama. Oh, that.

[E]

Yeah, we were. Des and I were just talking about this.

[C]

There's Canada and Sweden, and there's, like, a video of Canada and curling. And they're just. You can't. You have to let go before the green line, I believe.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

And this guy, like, went like this and then nudged it with his finger. And then obviously there was cheating. And I guess Sweden called them out. And Canada was just like, you can f off. And, like, it just became viral. He obviously cheated. Like, it's so obvious. No, it's crazy.

[E]

And it's on video. It's like slow motion video. He touched it.

[D]

He's like, I look like an idiot. Yeah, it doesn't look good, but we'll.

[B]

Have to show you.

[E]

Full on fight.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

Lots of drama in the Winter Olympics. It just unfolded.

[D]

That's why.

[F]

Wait.

[D]

My favorite is.

[F]

Well, it's not really a headline. Sorry, Maddie, I didn't mean to come.

[D]

Into your segment here, but the.

[F]

The. The figure skater, Ilya, I think.

[E]

Yeah.

[F]

And his name is Ilya. Well, I guess he calls himself quad God. And I was literally. I came across his Instagram, and no joke, I was like, wow, he must have massive quads, because I didn't know anything about, like, figure skating. I haven't watched. I don't. You know, and then. And then I sent you guys that video that he posted, and he, like, literally, like, was like, yeah, they called.

[D]

Me the Quad God. And then they zoom in on his quads, and I'm like, oh, my God, they're literally smaller than mine. I was, like, waiting for, like, these massive quads, like, Like.

[F]

Like the. The speed skaters. That's one of my favorite sports to watch.

[B]

But he's called the quad God because he landed a quad.

[C]

Yeah, like, turn right.

[F]

I know. Yes, yes. I later found that out that a quad that he landed.

[C]

You learn something new, and that's very.

[F]

Hard to do, but okay. Anyways, moving on to the next section called Prescribe the Vibe. Since Eva's parents. Since Eva's parents are pharmacists in la, what would Eva prescribe to people? Since we know now she's packing a pharmacy in her tennis bag.

[D]

But.

[F]

Okay, so first question. They need a new wardrobe. Prescribe them a shopping spree, too.

[D]

Oh, I think that a good shopping spree would be. I mean, obviously you have to go to the mall, right? So you have, like, multiple options. But if you're doing, like, one single store, like H and M or. I feel like you can find some good things in Norstrom, Nordstrom Rack. So I think that's the good shopping spree.

[B]

Love a good sale.

[F]

Perfect. They want to watch a romantic comedy. Prescribe.

[D]

Definitely. Crazy, stupid. Love O. Yeah.

[E]

I love that movie.

[F]

Yeah. Oldie but goodie. They need a comfort show.

[D]

I kind of think Gilmore Girls is also a comfort show.

[F]

Yeah, definitely is.

[D]

I'm going to repeat with that answer.

[F]

They want a fun dinner spot.

[D]

Okay. I'm really not good for this one because I kind of just do, like, the same thing every day, and my parents pretty much just pick all the places that we go to. So I'm gonna say just look at the one that kind of looks nice from the outside. And if there's, like, you know, presentable, if there's, like, enough people inside so that, you know it's good, but not too much so that you need a reservation, like, kind of that in between Vibe, then just.

[B]

You're all about vibes.

[F]

Yeah, she's very vibey girl.

[C]

Do you have a favorite cuisine or something you like?

[D]

I love Italian, but that's so basic. But it's the best. Yeah, I love Italian. Great.

[F]

They need a coffee order.

[D]

I don't drink a lot of coffee because I feel like I have enough energy without coffee. And coffee would probably imagine you on coffee.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Bouncing off.

[D]

Yeah. So I don't. I don't drink a lot of coffee. I like a chai latte. I don't know why. I like chai. So that's what I. What I would prescribe. Have you tried matcha? I don't like matcha that much. Yeah. Like grass.

[B]

Like grass.

[F]

Maddie likes chai. Maddie likes chai.

[D]

Right, Bonnie?

[B]

I like a dirty chai.

[F]

Yeah, with. With. With coffee in it.

[D]

Oh, you don't like coffee though? No, I don't think so.

[F]

Maybe we already know the answer to this one. Oh, no, they need a feel good song.

[D]

Oh, I would say go like early 2000, some Katy Perry classics and just. Yeah, just bring the high energy, you know, the high energy, happy vibes.

[F]

They need a dessert.

[D]

I love chocolate lava cake with some vanilla ice cream. I think that's a go to dessert. Ooey gooey on the inside. Just warms the soul.

[F]

Yum.

[E]

Sounds so good.

[D]

Amazing.

[C]

Right now I'm hungry.

[D]

Yeah, same.

[F]

They're feeling low on confidence. Prescribe either a quote, a movie, a book.

[D]

Okay. For a book, I would go the Alchemist. It's kind of like a good little self purpose awareness book. I don't honestly have a ton of quotes that I just can name off the top of my head. But again, I would say music. Just some music will make you feel better.

[B]

Yeah, music.

[F]

Singing in the shower, music.

[E]

Okay. But I feel like you saying the Alchemist is crazy.

[F]

Yeah.

[E]

I don't even know what, like you just threw that out there.

[D]

Yeah. Well, so my family, like, we love to do like the purposeful birthday gifts. I get a lot of like books from my cousins and they also like expect you to read the book, not just like, oh, thank you so much, because they're gonna ask you questions about it after. So that was. I had gotten it as a present and it was like, okay, I need to read this because it's gonna be mentioned at a family dinner at Thanksgiving.

[F]

Wow.

[D]

Yeah.

[E]

It is a great. Beyond your years.

[F]

Yeah, I know. I need my family to step it up.

[B]

Do better.

[F]

They do like, we do like no gifts. They need a glow up prescribe. Do you have a favorite makeup brand?

[E]

Oh.

[D]

That'S a great. That's a great, great.

[B]

Or you can do like. Or you can do favorite skin care.

[C]

Yeah, yeah.

[D]

Okay. I product. I like. I don't know, I kind of just do like random shoppings at Sephora. Sometimes when I feel like, oh, something's not right, like, let's just try to feel pretty, you know, and then I'll go to support. I don't really look at brands that much. I kind of just go in and something looks fun and colorful and then on the label it says poreless, shiniest, something that you know, it like, definitely won't do that. But you still listen to the label because you're like, this looks like I Want all of that. So I love the false advertising labels. They usually always get me. Yes. Sucker for the labels. Yeah, Scammed.

[F]

They want a girls night activity either.

[D]

Like movie night. Because movie night. Some popcorn and then you maybe bake some cookies or something like that. I like pillow fights. It's a little bit aggressive. Oh, my God. But I've done a couple fights in my day, but with like rules, you know, not just like completely. What are the rules? Well, there's different ways you can go about it.

[C]

She's looking at the pillows right now, by the way.

[E]

We're going to get some weird comments, guys.

[B]

Yeah, but I feel like Eva. I feel like Eva's pillow fights are like, no, no. There's a winner.

[D]

There is a set, there's rules. Yeah. What's the rule?

[E]

How do you.

[D]

Well, sometimes rules, it's like once you hit, you can't go like two hits in a row. You have to like pause and give them a chance to hit back. So you can't just like completely like obliterate the person. Oh, and there's also like rules with how aggressive. And there's always like a. Okay, I'm outward. Right. If they don't wanna. But then again if they say they're out, then the other person wins. So there's definitely always a winner.

[F]

I definitely did pillow fights when I was at UCLA my freshman year when I was your age, so I get it. Well, she's in high school. Yeah, I know, but 18, like.

[D]

Yeah, it's kind of like freshmen. Yeah. Freshman in college age.

[F]

Yeah, they kind of got a little out of hand. Once someone gets hit in the eye, it's. It can get pretty ugly.

[D]

Yeah, no, you, I. You always stay away from the face. You know, it's just like kind of like stomach, legs. Like, it's more for fun.

[F]

Okay.

[D]

It's more.

[C]

But you gotta win.

[D]

But you still have to win. Yeah.

[F]

There you go. Yeah. They need a new non tennis workout.

[D]

I think like some hit yoga is kind of fun. It gets like the whole body going and some core as well. I think running. Running can be kind of fun. Runner's high is definitely real, but not the running that we're used to where it's like, go as fast as you can for 20 seconds, you know, like kind of just chill. Pick your own pace.

[B]

I don't think a runner's high's ever found me.

[D]

Really? Never really got there.

[B]

No.

[F]

No.

[B]

Not ever. Everyone's like, just wait like 10 minutes later, you'll feel amazing. And I'm Just, like, waiting for it to hit. And then I'm like, no. Still not a fan.

[E]

No.

[D]

But maybe you were going, like, too fast. Was it like. Because when someone else tells you, like, you need to do this and you need to do that, it's not the same.

[B]

I can honestly say I've never once in my life been like, I'm just gonna go for a nice, slow, enjoyable jog just because I want to. So maybe that's my problem.

[C]

But Maddie's our track star of our group.

[D]

I got it. Yeah, that's okay. It's not for everyone.

[F]

The runners high. The runner's high is a real thing. My sister did cross country in high school, and she hated working out. And when she would finish her runs one time, she was like, wow, that was hardcore. Give me a pound.

[D]

We were like, what? Like, where did that come from?

[F]

It's funnier if you know her. Maddie knows her. So. Okay, last one. They want to use social media. Which app would you prescribe?

[D]

Instagram, I think. I'm not, like, big on TikTok or some of the other apps, but I feel like Instagram, you can have your information through, like, the reels and your for you page and then the. The messaging. Stay in touch with people. So it's a little bit of everything.

[F]

Yep. Great.

[D]

Nice.

[C]

Good answers. Well, we've obviously asked you a ton of questions. Do you have any questions for us vets?

[D]

We heard you.

[A]

Nine years of bring back the snack wrap and you've won, but maybe you.

[E]

Should have asked for more.

[A]

Say hello to the hot honey snack wrap. Now you've really won. Go to McDonald's and get it while you can.

[D]

Yes, I do have some questions.

[C]

Oh.

[E]

Oh, gosh.

[D]

I didn't even, like, prepare anything, but there's just so much to ask when you have the opportunity. Okay. I would say. How different does it feel from when you're in, like, the first year on tour? Kind of like my situation to where you are now. Like, do you feel like you've changed in a lot of ways, or is it kind of just like, oh, I'm still doing my same thing, and that's it changed.

[B]

Big change. Huge change.

[C]

Lots of change. I feel like you also adapt to everything. I mean, from your first year, you're seeing the lay of the land and tournaments and you know where you're at level wise, but obviously improving. You want to improve every year, so. But yeah, I've definitely, from my experience, I definitely have grown and seen a lot of change.

[F]

But yeah, yeah, I think the first year is like, wow, a new place. Wow, this is so exciting. And then the second year, you're like, wow, this is so great. I get to come back here. And then like, maybe, like the years after that, it's just like, you know, maybe less. Not less exciting because, you know, obviously all the places we get to go to are so cool and. But it just becomes more normal. Like, you're not, like a routine. Yeah. Yeah. My. My brain. My.

[B]

I got you.

[D]

Hey, give me my brain cell back. Yeah.

[F]

It becomes a routine, and it's. It's just the same thing, you know, each year. But I think it's really important to find. I think we've all talked about. I think Des does a really good job of, like, going out and seeing the city or, like, immersing herself, like, amongst. You know, wherever she is and not just hotel site. And then once she's out of the tournament, leaves. So it's really important to, like, you know, enjoy the city and get to see things. Yeah.

[C]

I mean, I feel like if that were me, if I did the same thing over and over again, it would be.

[F]

It would be hard.

[C]

I wouldn't. I feel like it would be more of a job. And I think. Yeah. Like Jenny said, I. I love to go and see different things. Obviously, you go to the same tournaments every year, so I try to make it a thing where I try and see something different than I did the year before.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

And obviously go to places that I enjoy going to, like food or whichever. But I. Yeah, I enjoy it.

[D]

Anybody else?

[E]

I don't know. We've all changed so much from that. Just you're asking if, like, you've changed. It's just.

[D]

I don't know.

[E]

It's a weird feeling. It's like it feels like yesterday, and you feel like the same person, but at the same time, you're like, oh, wow, that was, like, four years ago. It feels like yesterday.

[F]

Yeah.

[E]

But it feels like it takes forever. But then you're like, wow, what was I even thinking four years ago? Like, I'm a totally different person. It's a weird feeling.

[F]

Yeah.

[C]

It goes by quick.

[F]

It goes by quick, but it also goes by slow. Like, you'll.

[D]

It's.

[F]

Yeah, you'll. You'll see it. It's like. Because days long.

[E]

Yeah.

[F]

But the weeks are like. You know, you're only at a tournament for one or two weeks, and then you're on to the next one. And, you know, the days are long. But then you're like. Like the fact that it's already February 14th is crazy to me. And I'm like, I've done nothing.

[D]

So what do you mean?

[B]

I think also, I think when you start young, which obviously you're already fully on tour at 18. I think when you start so young, it's like the conversation is always, oh, you have so much time. Like, you'll get. You'll just, like, get a feel for it and whatever. And you kind of just keep thinking that, and then you're like, oh, I'm only 20. Like, I still have so much time. And then all of a sudd. One day you wake up and you're like, I'm 30. Like, I'm closer to the end.

[D]

Like, Eva coincidence after being on the podcast. Enjoy it, guys.

[C]

We're basically saying you're gonna change.

[B]

It's just a. It's a funny, like, perspective change. Because I think when you're on tour so young, it's like you think you just have all of this time, and you kind. And then it's just like they said, all of a sudden you wake up one day and you're like, wow, I've been on tour for, like, eight years already. Like, that went so fast. So it's just all of us. I just feel like you eventually have this, like, perspective shift.

[F]

Yeah.

[E]

Yeah. At some point, it happens in that kind of window, and then all of a sudden, it's there, and it's just. It's. It's a bizarre feeling.

[F]

Definitely enjoy it because it's not forever.

[E]

Yeah. I would definitely say, like, celebrate the small wins, even though. Yeah, we're so, like, oh, move on. And there's always a next week, and that's, like, great if you're not doing well and you want to, like, keep moving. But I always just feel like I always come back, too, to, like, some of the funniest stories I have were from, like, awful weeks.

[F]

Yes.

[E]

Went just hit the fan. Like, those are some of, like, the best moments, even though it was, like, a terrible week. And then I would also say, when you do well, like, what we're doing is really cool. And sometimes you don't celebrate, like. Like, this is the stuff that you wanted to do when, like, you were, like, five, you know? And it just goes by so fast, and you're just like, wait a second. Like, I didn't even get a chance to kind of, like, appreciate it. So I feel like it's not a. A super high where you're like, oh, my God, I don't have to work hard anymore. And, like, I'M gonna win forever type of high. It's just more of like, wow. Like, I really accomplish that. And that's, like, really, really cool. And I feel like just taking an extra little second because the sport moves so fast and it. I think that's what happens is that you're kind of forced to move on. So I think it's important to just cherish the little wins and then laugh at the. The bad.

[F]

Yeah, because celebrate the wins and don't get too down on the losses.

[C]

Be a goldfish with the losses.

[D]

Oh, God. Yeah, I've heard that one before. Yeah, that's. That's good. You guys kind of like, gave me the whole rundown. I appreciate that. Yeah.

[E]

So do you have any more questions?

[D]

Yeah, well, I was gonna ask, how do you guys handle losing? How do you. How are you able to, like. But you kind of already answered it. I feel like that's the biggest thing that I struggle with. I. Like, when I lose, I take it not well. Like, I'm not happy. I'm not a happy camper for a little bit too long.

[C]

Like, you just don't let it sit with you.

[D]

Like, how long? Yeah, like, the initial phase where I just am fully, like, not okay, is a couple days. But then, like, the. You know in the back of your mind when you're doing something, and then it reminds you of the loss and the moment and whatever will last for, like, weeks. So that, like, kind of low key where you're not, like, in it. Well, you're not.

[C]

There's a mental health provider.

[E]

WTA.

[B]

Do you, like, build. It's like, as losses happen.

[F]

Are you.

[D]

Yeah. So it's like week after week. Yeah. The problem is I try to, like, find logic behind things. Too many times, like, okay, that happened because of that. But sometimes, like, I feel like the sport has no logic. Like, oh, I played great. And then I just played, like, absolute trash. And it doesn't make sense. And they played great and then they didn't play great. And it's like, I don't know. Sometimes I try to just, like, go over my brain, like, what happened? Why did I do that? Why is this like this? And then you can't come up with anything. And then I come up with, like, something that doesn't really make sense. And I'm like, yeah, that's definitely what happened. But it's like, not. But I just need to hold on to something so that I can, like, move on. And like, okay, lesson learned. Do you write at all? Do you journal? I honestly get, like, Too lazy sometimes to journal. It's, like, all up here.

[E]

Yeah.

[C]

Writing it out or, like, talking about it will help that. So that way you can put it aside.

[F]

Apparently, Des is now a.

[B]

Therapist.

[F]

Therapist.

[C]

No, I'm just learning from my own experiences because I do go to therapy, and that helps me, so.

[D]

But I do think that you guys had some good points about the.

[F]

Yes.

[D]

Like, moving on. And then probably remembering, like, the wins, too, helps.

[B]

Yeah.

[F]

I think the more that you do it, the more that you'll. It's just experience. It's not like you come on tour your first year, first two years, and you're like, I know how to handle everything. Like, yeah, no, no.

[C]

Like, yeah, Just said it perfectly with. Just enjoying the wins as well. Like, in perspective, because you're most likely going to lose every week, so you got to enjoy all those wins you have.

[D]

Yeah, very true.

[E]

I always think, like, it's impossible to suc. Like, success only happens from failure. Like, it's impossible. Like, you can't actually succeed if you haven't failed. So I feel like that always, like, brings me back to, like, okay, like, you lost. Whatever you failed. It's like, well, if I'm going to succeed, that kind of, like, has to happen. So I feel like not having to overthink, like, logically, maybe what happened. It's just sometimes you just. You gotta, like, Des said gold. You just gotta go goldfish and just flush it and be like, yep, you know what? I'm moving on. But, yeah, sometimes you can't control which matches to, like, hit harder than others first. You know, it kind of depends on your state of mind. I feel like going in. There's definitely been some matches where I lose, and I'm like, oh, you know what? Whatever. They played well. I played well. I had chances. And then there's some. I lose, and I'm like, give me the rage room. So I can just take every racket and just smash every single racket. But, yeah, well, you know, you have.

[C]

All of us if you need an event session. Yeah, we've all been there.

[D]

Very true.

[F]

Moving on to who am I now? I would just like to say that I was looking through the YouTube comments, and there were a lot of people who got my who am I correct? And I just want to do a little refresher, even though I had more than three clues, because apparently the three other people did not understand my clues, so I had to add about 10 more. But we'll run it back. Tennis runs in my family. I've got main Character, energy. I took a path less traveled. And I have a game that refuses to stay quiet. If I were to skateboard or snowboard, I would go goofy style.

[B]

Well, I don't even know what that means.

[F]

Lefty.

[C]

I don't either. Why are we goofy?

[F]

Lefty.

[E]

Lefty. Yeah.

[B]

Come on.

[F]

That was a good one.

[C]

Do you know who that is?

[F]

Do you know who that is? Do you want to guess?

[E]

Any ideas?

[F]

He's.

[D]

That felt like a poem. I didn't even like, next time I'm.

[F]

Going to like, next time I'm do a little haiku.

[D]

Yeah, guys, mine is not.

[F]

No, no, no. It doesn't. It doesn't matter. Okay, so the answer was Ben Shelton. So congrats to everyone in the comments who guessed correctly, which was literally every single person besides the three here. So, Eva, would you like to give us your three clues for your who am I? Or however many you have? Whatever you have.

[D]

Sure. No, no, I just have three. Jenny, they're not just three. I was kind of not thinking that people would be like, googling the answers. I thought that this was going to be kind of just like on the spot I asked you guys and so it's fine.

[F]

We don't Google.

[B]

We don't Google. We don't.

[D]

People just knew that it was Ben Shelton from what you just said. Yeah.

[E]

Wow.

[D]

Okay, that's.

[C]

Except us three, apparently.

[D]

Yeah, I feel like we did it.

[B]

I would have been better if I knew that goofy style was lefty.

[D]

Yeah, yeah, same.

[E]

I thought you said lefty when we recorded. You said.

[F]

I said if I were to skateboard or snowboard, I would be goofy style, which I assume people knew that that was lefty.

[D]

Oh, I. That's a really, like, fun way to say he is lefty. Yeah, I know.

[F]

Thank you.

[D]

You're welcome. No, that's great.

[E]

Stop giving Jenny compliments.

[C]

Yeah. Enough.

[D]

Okay, so the person that I have selected has the all time record for career ACEs, has three kids, and is still involved in tennis to this day even though the players retired.

[E]

All right, well, I guess everyone can comment below and see and guess who you're. Who am I?

[D]

As good clues. Thank you. Thank you.

[E]

Yeah, those are solid.

[F]

Okay, last section, we'll do some fan questions. I think we only have time for one or two fan questions this week, so. First question from correra95. Can you generally hear the opposing coaches yelling feedback to your opponent during a match? If so, do you find coaches who are constantly talking to their players distracting?

[E]

I don't really hear anything.

[F]

I don't hear anything.

[B]

I barely hear my own coach.

[E]

Yeah.

[F]

Yeah.

[E]

I can't even hear what he's saying.

[D]

Yeah, I definitely don't.

[F]

You guys. Yeah.

[E]

Eva.

[D]

Yeah, I. Yeah, I barely listen, honestly, to what my own coach.

[B]

Oh, God.

[D]

Is saying. No, I feel like, no, no. Tom, you give great tips, but I think I'm kind of like in my own world, you know? So there's definitely no way I'm hearing what's going on on the other side of the net.

[E]

Yeah, same.

[D]

Yeah.

[F]

Okay.

[B]

Sometimes I think, sometimes I choose not to hear. Well, I think it's worse on TV because the mics now make it sound way louder than it actually is.

[E]

Yeah, you can't hear anything.

[D]

Yeah.

[F]

Much rather the box on the other side. Well, I guess if you're on the same side as them, if they're talking, they obviously wouldn't say, like, things maybe just like. Yeah, they wouldn't say anything actually.

[E]

Maybe just clap signal.

[F]

Maybe if they're like annoying, like obnoxious. But sometimes that fires me up. So be obnoxious. Okay, next question from Emery. From Cleveland. I wanted to ask about the pre tournament player parties. Do only select tournaments have them or do most tournaments host these? Do the players all mingle with each other or is it usually pretty clicky? Are these parties pretty fun, like with dancing, drinking, or pretty stiff affairs?

[C]

Loaded question.

[F]

Wow, that's. That's a three part question.

[C]

You want to go first?

[D]

Yeah, I haven't. I haven't been to a lot of player parties. Honestly, I'm kind of just starting the tournaments that are nice enough to have player parties.

[F]

But there's your first part answer.

[D]

Yeah. Wait, I'm trying to think if I've even been to any one of them.

[B]

Honestly, post Covid, they don't have a ton of.

[E]

Yeah, definitely not as many post Covid. Some are mandatory one here.

[D]

Yeah.

[E]

For top seeds, right?

[B]

Yes.

[D]

Mandatory for seeds, Right.

[B]

Well, sometimes tournaments it's mandatory for everyone.

[F]

Yeah.

[B]

Other tournaments it's mandatory for some people. I think a lot of times if they're like in the hotel, they get more players because we all love free food.

[F]

Yeah. And just go downstairs.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Pre Covid, they. There were way more.

[F]

Yeah.

[B]

Because I felt like I used to always pack an outfit in case there was a player party. And now more times than not, I'm somewhere and it's like, mandatory player party. And I'm like, I have pajamas or jeans.

[F]

Yeah, pajamas. But dress them up.

[B]

I feel like some pajamas with a kitten heel.

[F]

Oh, pajamas with a kitten heel. Des.

[D]

Okay, Des. I looked at it. I don't think it was that bad. I'm gonna vacuum up here.

[C]

Thank you.

[D]

I think it looked pretty good. I think she pulled it off.

[C]

I'm still gonna wear that.

[F]

Totally.

[E]

But, you know, we thought it looked fine. It's just that guy just absolutely roasted Bellwright.

[F]

And then he still commented and was like, burn them.

[B]

Double down.

[E]

It was like, shout out. But they still suck.

[D]

Yeah, please burn them. But I feel like.

[C]

I don't know. I feel like I'm. Players, back to the question. I feel like a lot of players mingle with each other, but you obviously, like, stick to your own team and girls you get along with, because, I mean, then it gets all awkward and stiff as they say.

[F]

Yeah, sometimes I go for the free food. Sometimes I'll ask to see who's going, and that will be the decision of whether I. What time I go, like, pending. You know, I'm like, oh, I don't.

[D]

Want to be there too early.

[F]

And then, you know, just be so. Just waiting for someone else to be there so I can mingle with them. But in terms of, like, drinking and stuff, like, some people will, like, you know, like, drink wine. I definitely have never drank at a player party.

[D]

So.

[F]

Yeah, I think personal preference.

[E]

Some people have a drink.

[F]

Yeah, that's what I said. Like, some people drink. Yeah. To each their own, but. Okay. Well, thanks, everyone, for your fan questions. Please leave us a rating and review. It helps people find out about the podcast. And don't forget to watch us on the players box YouTube page and send us fan questions to our Instagram or to our email at the players box podmail.com thank you so much, Eva, for joining us. Good luck this week in Dubai. We're rooting for you and thank you.

[D]

Thank you, guys. That was fun.