29 | Indian Wells Memories, Headlines & More

Summary

The Player's Box – Episode 29: "Indian Wells Memories, Headlines & More"

Date: March 3, 2026
Hosts: Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, Jennifer Brady, Desirae Krawczyk

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Player's Box offers a lively, insider look at life on the women's tennis tour as Madison, Jessica, Jennifer, and Desirae reunite for the Sunshine Swing, focusing on Indian Wells—tennis paradise—and the latest tour headlines. From hilarious “unforced errors” and Indian Wells nostalgia to new prize money buzz, pop-culture games, and a fan-driven Real Housewives of Tennis fantasy draft, listeners are treated to candid stories and plenty of laughs.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Unforced Errors of the Week

(01:10 – 08:52)

Each host shares a recent mishap or funny personal blunder:

• Madison Keys:
  • Missed National Margarita Day (01:37)
    “I missed National Margarita Day and had been looking forward to it all month…woke up Monday, and I was like, I missed it.”
• Jennifer Brady:
  • Podcasting on the Fly (02:11)
    Recording from her car using her phone as a hotspot, narrowly avoiding loitering trouble with parking enforcement.
• Jessica Pegula:
  • Call of Duty Time Mix-Up (03:36)
    Logged on for the podcast an hour early because she mixed up times, forgot she’d agreed to an 8PM slot, and made use of the extra time by returning to her game.
• Desirae Krawczyk:
  • No Tennis Shoes at Practice (04:29)
    Drove 90 minutes to UCLA only to forget her tennis shoes; saved by borrowing a pair.
  • Disneyland Dress Code Fiasco (05:47)
    Excluded from Club 33 for leggings, she scrounged up a less-than-flattering dress and wore the leggings underneath.
    “It was just like that fit of what your mom makes you wear…that was my unforced error—pretty ridiculous.”
  • The group jokes about 2000s tunic/leggings nostalgia and nominates Jenny’s “car podcast” as the week’s top error.

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Tennis Headlines and Tour Stories

(10:30 – 18:54)

Austin & Dubai:

• Jessica Pegula withdrew from Austin after winning Dubai, sparking (fake) outrage from Madison:
  • Madison (11:03): "I'm friggin' pissed that you won Dubai and then pulled out…So livid."
  • Jess: “I hope people understand sarcasm.”
  • Keys: "Or they won't…and we'll have a real clickbaity headline!"
• They discuss how players generally understand when winning deep makes turnarounds impossible.

Sebastian Korda’s Hot Streak:

• Jenny played a challenger with Korda in San Diego, soon after which he won Delray Beach, showing the value of regaining confidence at lower-tier events.
  • Jenny (14:04): “Just to get a little bit of confidence helped him, obviously, to win Delray Beach.”

Windy Finals:

• Jess relays a chat with Tommy Paul about surviving “crazy windy” conditions at Delray.
  • Jess (14:50): “He said you either have a good attitude in the wind or you’re ready to lose your mind.”

Alcaraz/Sinner Domination Stat:

• If both are in the draw, one has won the last 17 tournaments together (Grand Slams, ATP Finals, etc.).
  • Madison (16:29): “That’s kind of a wild stat...It’s like watching a video game.”
  • The group jokes about what advice coaches can even give in those matches.
  • Jenny (17:44): "Have fun. Good luck!"

Indian Wells Mixed Doubles—$1 Million Purse:

• Prize money tripled for a mixed doubles event; everyone’s suddenly interested:
  • Jess (19:08): “Bjorn was ready to come out of retirement...for a million dollars, like, I’ll be good.”
  • Desiree shares her experiences playing with both her boyfriend Andrew (getting a wild card with the help of Tommy Haas) and Neil Skupski.
  • Jess (20:30): “Jess was like, I know I said I wasn’t going to play as much, but I’m signing up.”
  • Jenny (20:41): “This is the first I’m hearing of it!”—revealing she missed that group text in her car chaos.

Fun Doubles Pairings at Indian Wells:

• Big names team up: Medvedev & Lerner, Sinner & Opelka; discussion about the oddity and entertainment of mixed/crossover pairings.
• Awkward Doubles Stories
  • Jenny remembers teaming up with Sabalenka in 2020; a funny on-court run-in with Jess pegging Arena multiple times:
    • Jenny (25:52): “As soon as the ball hit her, she turned to Jess like, ‘you.’ …It was so funny.”

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Indian Wells Nostalgia and Memories

(28:33 – 37:34)

• Desirae Krawczyk:

  • Grew up in Rancho Mirage; was a ball kid for eight or nine years.
  • Almost hit Andy Roddick with the flag in the tunnel and recalls the heartbreak when he gifted a broken racket—"to the girl next to me."
  • “It’s amazing to see how much the tournament’s grown from a grass field with a picket fence to a major, permanent venue.” (30:37)

• Why Indian Wells is a Player Favorite:

  • For Europeans, “If you give a grass field to play soccer, they think it’s unbelievable!” (Jenny, 31:18)
  • Nostalgia for Juniors (grinding at Easter Bowl), comfort, player amenities, family vibes, and easy site logistics.

• Fan Experience:

  • Jess highlights how accessible practice sessions are for fans and the tournament’s “tennis paradise” atmosphere.
  • Jess (32:50): “It kind of consumes the whole town. You see players at breakfast…it really is tennis paradise.”

• Favorite Memories:

  • Madison (34:07): Her first big wildcard at age 15, delivering a hand-written thank you note to Steve Simon.
  • “Your staff was really confused as to why a child was just wandering through the offices!”
  • Hiking and the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway: Local tips and debates about heights (36:10 – 37:43).
  • El Paseo shopping and bakery recs (38:00).

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Game: "Drop the Beat or Drop the Set"

(39:48 – 47:02)

• Inspired by Coachella, each host must pair a song title with a player and justify it in 20 seconds.
  • Examples:
    • Good as Hell by Lizzo → “Sabalenka. Just look at her—dancing, TikTok, feeling herself, decked out in jewelry…” (Jess, 40:35)
    • Lose Yourself by Eminem → Jess, for "thriving in the big moment" with her Dubai win (Jenny, 41:13).
    • Slow Dancing in a Parking Lot → Iga Swiatek for her prowess on slow courts (Jenny, 42:10).
    • Break My Soul → Tatiana Maria for her slicing, patience, and ability to “break” opponents (Desirae, 43:38).
    • Burning Up → Daniil Medvedev, known for his "combustible" outbursts, especially at Indian Wells (Jess, 44:21):
      • “Solely for the fact this is where he had his big mental breakdown with the balls—'This is not a hard court!’”
    • Born in the USA → Lower-ranked American Haley Baptiste as a player to watch (Madison, 45:04)
  • Humorous banter about who “lingers" (in tournaments, or literally at the site)—Jenny volunteers herself (46:46).

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Festival Talk: Coachella, Stagecoach, and Ultra

(47:18 – 51:36)

• Madison attended Coachella (highlight: Florence + The Machine hopping on a broken ankle; Hozier, The Weeknd & Drake):

  • “Would recommend—if you’re eight years younger and want to stand outside for 12 hours.”

• Jess camped at Bonnaroo (rough, but “spirited” in youth).

• Desirae only attended Stagecoach; “not allowed” to go to Coachella growing up.

• Jenny admits she'd last “maybe an hour” at Coachella—noise and crowds are sensory overload.

  • Madison (49:59): “Jenny can’t really handle loud noises, so I can’t really imagine…”

• Ultra Music Festival ("Miami’s Ultra")—agreed by all to be overwhelming but top-tier for people-watching.

• Vibes Comparison:

  • Coachella vs. Ultra equated to Indian Wells vs. Miami tournaments:
    • “Very different vibes…like Indian Wells tournament versus Miami tournament...very much Coachella and Ultra.” (Madison, 51:40)

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Fan Questions

(53:03 – 59:18)

Q1: "Real Housewives of Tennis" Cast

• Madison: “Danielle Collins, Yulia Putintseva, and Naomi Osaka.” (53:25)
• Jess: Copies Danielle and Queen, adds Ostapenko and Serena.
• Desirae: Ostapenko, Alicia Parks, Putintseva, Donna Vekic (for her dry, confessional humor).
• Group agrees Donna (in Beverly Hills Housewives style) would be sneakily hilarious.

Q2: Food Missed Most from the US

• Group consensus: Publix subs and bakery; especially chicken finger sub and carrot cake (55:57).

Q3: Adjusting to Doubles Partners

• Desirae:
  • Best to mesh well and practice with full-time doubles partners; with singles players you often “just wing it.”
  • Partner choice typically depends on availability rather than surface or tournament type, unless needing a last-minute replacement.
  • “The more years that pass…the more you know it’s just a business situation.” (27:43)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Jenny, on learning about the $1M mixed:
  • “This is the first I’m hearing of it!” (20:41)
• Jess, on the Coachella/Indian Wells comparison:
  • “Very different vibes. I feel like it’s very much Indian Wells tournament versus Miami tournament…Coachella and Ultra.” (51:40)
• Madison, on “coaching” against Sinner/Alcaraz:
  • “I don’t even understand how you would go about creating a game plan to beat them.” (17:21)
• Desirae, on her ball kid days:
  • “I almost hit Andy Roddick in the tunnel.” (29:31)
• Jenny, on awkward partners:
  • “You get on court and it just does not work out…ships passing in the night.” (28:31)
• All, on Publix:
  • “So basically, we just really miss Publix?” (56:59)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Unforced Errors of the Week: 01:10 – 08:52
• Tennis Headlines: 10:30 – 18:54
• Tour Gossip & Doubles Stories: 20:01 – 28:33
• Indian Wells Memories: 28:33 – 37:34
• Coachella & Festival Chat: 47:18 – 51:36
• Fan Q&A / Real Housewives Draft: 53:03 – 56:59

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Episode Tone & Vibe

• Warm, self-deprecating humor (“car podcast” & fashion fails)
• Sarcastic back-and-forth (especially Keys & Pegula)
• Open sharing of insider stories and old memories
• Candid but supportive, including mild roasts
• Inclusive for tennis newcomers and die-hards
• True “locker room” access: mistakes, festival dreams, snack obsessions, and pop culture mash-ups

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For Listeners

This episode of The Player’s Box is a must-listen for anyone wanting the real scoop on life as a tennis pro, with a tapestry of honest stories, all-access tales, tennis hot-takes, and plenty of signature banter from Keys, Pegula, Brady, and Krawczyk. Whether you’re tuning in for tour insights or off-court antics, this is your all-access pass beyond the baseline.

Transcript

[Madison Keys]

Ugh.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

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[Jenny Brady]

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[Jess Pula]

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[Desiree Krafczyk]

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[Jenny Brady]

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[Desiree Krafczyk]

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[Madison Keys]

This is the players box.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Welcome back to the players box. I'm Desiree Krafczyk alongside Jenny Brady, Madison Keys, and Jess Pula. A friendly reminder to please give our podcast five stars and subscribe on YouTube. We're back stateside. It's time for the sunshine swing. We'll dive into Indian Wells, which is tennis paradise, and the latest tennis headlines in just a minute. But let's get into our unforced errors of the week. Maddie,

[Madison Keys]

my unforced error of the week is that Sunday, February 22nd. I believe that was the exact date. Let me double check so I don't look stupid. Yes, February 22nd, Sunday. I missed National Margarita Day and had been looking forward to it all month, had saved a bunch of margarita recipes. And then I woke up on Monday and I was like, I missed it. So, yeah, that was my unforced error of the week, Jenny.

[Jenny Brady]

Well, my unforced error of the week is happening as I speak. Currently doing this podcast in the car, so I have my laptop on the center console and I am currently in the backseat filming using my phone as a hotspot. So, yeah, and parking enforcement just showed up next to me, like, five minutes ago. And you guys were saying I could get in trouble for loitering, but I had a couple excuses already in my back pocket for if he approached me. But, you know, he looked over, said everything was normal. So, yeah, that's my unforced error, Jesse.

[Jess Pula]

And if anyone that's listening, just tune into the YouTube so you can actually see Jenny sitting in the backseat of her car because it's incredible.

[Jenny Brady]

Captivity. Yeah. I didn't have any other options. I just finished practice and gym and was a little short on time. So, you know, I came up with it on the spot, so. Okay. Anywho. Go ahead, Jess.

[Jess Pula]

Mine's not that bad, but it just happened. I am still have a day off today before I start hitting tomorrow. And so I was playing Call of Duty and I was like, oh, I gotta get off to film at 7. We filmed at 8. So I, like, log in and I'm just like, sitting in Riverside and I'm like, huh? Like, nobody else is here. It's like 7:01. And I'm like, okay, obviously I messed this up. So I go back and I forgot that we switched it to eight. And I, like, confirmed that eight was fine. So this is just like, my husband gets mad because he's like, don't you write these things down? Don't you like. I'm like, yes. And I still mess it up. Like, I put things in my calendar and I still mess it up. So, yeah, I showed up an hour early, but whatever. I just went back to playing Call of Duty and all was well.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Des, I have a couple that just happened in, I think, span of two days. My first one was I drove down to UCLA to practice, and it took me 90 minutes in LA traffic, and it was awful. And I'm contacting Stella, which is the head coach at ucla, and I'm like, I'll be there in five minutes. I'm just parking, get all my stuff and realize I didn't bring tennis shoes. And, yeah, I was like, stella, I don't have shoes. I'm so sorry. And she's like, what size are you? We've got a pair. And I was like, perfect. Great. Ended up being a winner in that situation. And then today, I actually went to Disneyland for lunch. I was with a friend, and we were going to Club 33, which is this, like, exclusive place if you know, you know what it is. And there's a dress code, and they update it every year. And I went in, I was covered up with what I'm wearing now, and I had leggings on, which I thought being covered up was fine. I guess not. And so there was a lady that was working there, and she was telling my friend who's a member, and she's like, like, whispering. And I'm like, hi.

[Jess Pula]

Hi.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Is something wrong? And she's like, oh, your attire. Like, you can't wear leggings. You know, it's a little bit too, like, showing too much. We were scrambling because we needed to find a skirt or something more not athleisure wear. So I'm scrambling. We're going to different shops and stores, and I found this dress, which is not the first thing I would buy, but I was like, whatever. It's gonna cover my shoulders, everything. And I had to wear my leggings underneath it. So I did send the girls a photo, but it was just like that fit of like what your mom makes you wear. And that was my other enforced error, but was pretty ridiculous.

[Jess Pula]

We should have have them edit this into the YouTube.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

We will clip it in. It was wild. I just.

[Madison Keys]

I've never Dr. Yeah.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

It was not entire I would ever

[Madison Keys]

pick, but, you know, it looked good.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

It worked out. It worked out.

[Jenny Brady]

Had you made it look cute as per you.

[Jess Pula]

I had it.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

I had a nice lunch, birthday, late birthday celebration. So it was. It was fun.

[Madison Keys]

I just like that you committed to keeping the leggings on.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah.

[Jess Pula]

Yeah. Why did you keep the leggings on? Like see through or like, it was

[Desiree Krafczyk]

just a little short, you know, I didn't want to be flashing people when I'm going up the stairs at Club 33. It's just not it. And then the lady who was there, she's like, you're actually wearing it perfectly. Like, this is how we want our guests to be wearing. And I was like, with a dress and leggings. She's like, yeah, if you go up the stairs, you know, we don't want any, like, surprise shows. And I was like, no. Oh, my God.

[Jess Pula]

Okay.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

But like, the whole time I'm like, walking. Yeah. I went to the bathroom and I was like, I look freaking ridiculous in this outfit.

[Jess Pula]

You look like the outfits that, like, you wore in middle school. I feel like you wore the leggings under, but you wore like a tunic. Like, it wasn't quite a dress, but it wasn't like a shirt. It was kind of like just a long shirt.

[Madison Keys]

Yeah.

[Jess Pula]

And you wore like the belt over. And you like layered.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

It's like the layered of the Hollister tank tops kind of. Yeah.

[Jess Pula]

With the leggings.

[Jenny Brady]

Bring back the early 2000s.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

That was my unforced errors. But I think we have to give our own first air to Jenny. I mean, it's pretty good on first air right here.

[Jess Pula]

Jenny's is just.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah.

[Jess Pula]

Hilarious.

[Jenny Brady]

Another car unforced error.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

I mean, you sound great, though.

[Jenny Brady]

Maybe this will be my new spot.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

You're also filming in the backseat.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah, I'm in captivity. Yeah. I mean, I was gonna go to Desiree's, but it says an hour and five minutes in traffic and LA traffic.

[Jess Pula]

Yeah.

[Jenny Brady]

Just wouldn't make it on time. So, you know, just had to modify the plans. But here we are. We're all good.

[Jess Pula]

Improvise.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah, improvise. That's the word.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

We make it work.

[Madison Keys]

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[Desiree Krafczyk]

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[Jess Pula]

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[Desiree Krafczyk]

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[Jess Pula]

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[Desiree Krafczyk]

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[Desiree Krafczyk]

Close your eyes. Exhale.

[Jenny Brady]

Feel your body relax.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

And let go of whatever you're carrying today.

[Jess Pula]

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[Desiree Krafczyk]

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[Jess Pula]

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[Desiree Krafczyk]

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[Jess Pula]

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[Desiree Krafczyk]

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[Madison Keys]

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[Jess Pula]

Well, moving on to tennis headlines, I had to pull out of Austin this week because, you know, tight turnaround from Dubai. Someone wrote in that Maddie must be absolutely livid with my decision because she did not get to play Austin after all. After all, we talked about this before on previous episodes, and then now she technically could have played. So we're gonna follow up with Maddie. Are you? She specifically said livid. So are you livid?

[Madison Keys]

Oh, yeah, friggin pissed that you won Dubai and then pulled out. So once again, I'm the victim. And we'll have to think of Some way that you can make it up to me. But yeah, so livid.

[Jess Pula]

Yeah.

[Madison Keys]

Just can't even sleep at night. Just furious. So almost so livid. We can't even speak about it.

[Jess Pula]

Yeah. We almost didn't film today because she was so, so upset.

[Jenny Brady]

I hope, like, people understand sarcasm.

[Jess Pula]

Yes.

[Madison Keys]

Or they won't. And we'll have a great headline. We'll have a real clickbaity headline for

[Jess Pula]

this week and people will think Maddie is livid. Yeah, she is.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

But do players. Would players actually get mad at that? Like.

[Jess Pula]

Yeah, I think probably. But the fact that I won the turn, Jenny, the fact that I won the tournament, I feel like maybe if they didn't and then they did it last minute, I think players would get more upset.

[Madison Keys]

Yeah. Maddie, I feel like, well, since I'm the one that's livid this week, I guess I should take that. I mean, obviously once you won the tournament, it was like it's a massive ask to ask you to fly from Dubai and land Monday morning. Did you land Monday morning?

[Jess Pula]

I landed Sunday. Or I landed Sunday to Dallas, though, because there's only a direct to Dallas and it was 15 hours.

[Madison Keys]

Yeah. And the time change and whatever. So, like, I think it makes it more understanding. But yeah, just think about it next time you're going to pull out of a tournament about all the people that could be mad at you.

[Jess Pula]

Yeah, basically. Jenny, a few weeks ago, I didn't know this, you played a challenge picture with Sebastian Korda.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah, he was in San Diego playing the 100K. Yeah, he actually, he came, I think, straight from Australia and took a wild card and I believe he lost in the finals there. So. Yeah, yeah, I saw him there. He lost to Spider Zack. Spider, yeah.

[Jess Pula]

And then. So he just won Delray beach here in Florida. He beat Tommy Paul in the finals. So that's like a crazy, crazy turnaround for him. I didn't realize that he. I didn't know that it was a men and women's like a joint challenger.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Yeah.

[Jess Pula]

That he played. So.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah, it was a combined event. I didn't know that either until the day before.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

She's locked in.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah, because I knew, like, Nico was gonna play and I was like, oh, wait, what? In San Diego at Barnes, same place, same time. What? It's a combined. Like, I had no idea. But yeah, so that's obviously good for Sebi. You know, coming off just like, I think just getting matches was probably what he needed and just gaining confidence, which, like, he probably was like, I don't want to you know, be here at 100k, like, because he's so talented and so good that. But just to like, find your level and just get a little bit of confidence. Helped him obviously, to win Delray Beach.

[Jess Pula]

Yeah, I saw Tommy today at the gym and he said that the final, which I heard was crazy windy, like insanely windy. And he's like, you either have like a good attitude in the wind or you have a bad attitude in the wind. And he's like, I didn't quite have great attitude. He's like, there's never, like, both players are happy about the wind situation. It's always like, one's dealing with it fine and one is like, ready to, like, lose their mind. Um, so he kind of like implied a little bit that the conditions are bothering him a little bit. But I heard that people said that, you know, on TV as well, that it was crazy windy, which. It's down by the beach, obviously. We all know where it is. We've all probably played there. I don't know if you have Des, but we've all hit down there. June, that's gets very windy because it's very close to the beach, so. But also a good tournament for Tommy, cuz he hasn't been playing a ton now that he's back from his injury this year, so that's good for him. Oh, yeah, yeah. So good. Good week for the American. Yeah, American boys.

[Madison Keys]

Boys.

[Jess Pula]

Boys. And I will call them boys because they will always be boys to me.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Yeah, always.

[Jess Pula]

Um, so another interesting stat in tennis headlines. Whenever Alcaraz and Center are both in the draw, one of them has gone on to win the last 17 tournaments. They've played an incredible streak that includes eight Grand Slam events, two ATP Finals, five Master 1000s, and two ATP 500s. Carlos winning Doha last week. Just throw that in there. That's insane.

[Madison Keys]

Yeah, that's kind of a wild stat.

[Jenny Brady]

When was the last time that last player that they didn't win a title with them both in a draw?

[Madison Keys]

Rublev Madrid, 2024.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Is that a guess or you just know that?

[Jenny Brady]

No, Casper, we know. It's literally.

[Madison Keys]

It's literally written in the note, though.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

I know, I know. It's right there.

[Jess Pula]

Oh, I didn't even get to that.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

I was just making conversation.

[Madison Keys]

Jess actually just thought that I knew that off the top of my head.

[Jess Pula]

I was like, what? Like Casper Rude won Madrid.

[Madison Keys]

Yannick didn't play Madrid last year.

[Jess Pula]

Gotcha. Gotcha. Oh, yeah, that's right.

[Madison Keys]

He didn't come back until Rome.

[Jenny Brady]

Wow. That's insane.

[Jess Pula]

That's crazy. The dominance.

[Madison Keys]

Yeah. They're both so good. It's like watching a video game. Literally, you just. Video game. I don't even understand how you would go about creating a game plan to like beat them.

[Jess Pula]

Yeah. I don't know what, like, what would you. I don't know what I'd say.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Like, what would you say as a coach to them?

[Jenny Brady]

Have fun. Good luck.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Enjoy the.

[Jess Pula]

Enjoy it out there. Yeah, have fun out there.

[Madison Keys]

I feel like there'd be lots of those points where it's like, good point though. Good point.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

That's great. Great job. Great try.

[Madison Keys]

Good try.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

That.

[Jess Pula]

That's the.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Almost had it.

[Jess Pula]

Yeah. What do coaches always say where they're like, no, like, that's it though. That's it. And you're like, but it's not working.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

That's the right play.

[Jess Pula]

Yeah, that's the right play. And then you give the thumbs up. Like test.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Yeah.

[Madison Keys]

Then does. Hits him with a thumbs up.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Yeah.

[Jess Pula]

That was like watching. Was it Australia this year? US Open last year when Boobleg played center and he was just like, it's just impossible. He's like, this is a joke.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

This is.

[Jess Pula]

He might have said a video game.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

What do I do?

[Jess Pula]

He was just. He completely shut down because he was just like, I can't. Like, there's nothing I can do. Tough. Other news, they just announced the mixed doubles Indian Wells, I guess turn tournament draw with a $1 million prize money to the winner. Prize money? I don't know.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Sign me up.

[Jenny Brady]

Is anybody here?

[Madison Keys]

Purse.

[Jess Pula]

There we go. That's the word I was looking for. I don't think they know who's playing. It's the end of the 1st or March 10th, I think I read. So second week, Bjorn was ready to

[Madison Keys]

try to come out of retirement. So he's like, do you think we can get a wild card? And I was like, when was last time you hit serps? He's like, I don't know. But for a million dollars, like, I'll be good.

[Jess Pula]

I'm ready.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

I'll do anything for a million dollars.

[Jess Pula]

Dez, you played the tournament, right?

[Desiree Krafczyk]

So there is this mixed event that they've had the last couple years that they've incorporated to. Obviously it's a long two week event and people that are, you know, going into Miami, there's a lot of foreigners, like, what are they going to do? So they do put this event on. It's a very small draw. And I've played the last couple years. I actually played with Andrew one Year before he retired, which was kind of fun. And then I played with Neil last year, but it's a small draw. So now, I mean, it was definitely not this much money, but it was a decent amount to play.

[Jess Pula]

I think it's. I mean, same event, it's just like tripled the prize money from the first year that, like, you and Andrew played. Which, by the way, Andrew's your boyfriend. I don't think people know that.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Yes.

[Jess Pula]

Yeah. To make sense, while you said it was fun to play with him. Yeah. So it's kind of crazy that, like, a million dollars is wild. I sent it to you guys.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

I was like, oh, I think it was.

[Jess Pula]

It might be. I might be playing. I'll be there.

[Madison Keys]

Jess was like, I know. I said I wasn't going to play as much this year, but I'm signing up.

[Jess Pula]

I felt like Jenny was like trying to think of a partner she can sign up for.

[Jenny Brady]

This is the first time hearing of it.

[Jess Pula]

I didn't see.

[Jenny Brady]

That's why I'm pretty silent right now. No, I didn't see the text. I had 300 messages 20 minutes before we started filming. And I was so overwhelmed trying to figure out where I'm going to film that I didn't catch up. So clearly I'm still rattled about it, but I'm silent over here because I'm trying to think of, wow, I wonder who would want to play with me.

[Jess Pula]

I was waiting for your text to be like, oh, looking for partners right now. Texting everybody I know.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Did it say how big the draw was?

[Jess Pula]

No, it just said that the prize money basically tripled from, like, the first year that they brought it on. But when you played, you said it was a small draw. And did you guys play? Like, not full scoring, but, like double scoring? No. AD 10 point tie break.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Yep. And then we. It was.

[Jess Pula]

Yeah.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

The end of the. Her.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Those last few days, I don't. I can't remember how big the draw was, but there were a few wild cards as well. Maybe 16 draw.

[Jess Pula]

How did you get in? You signed in and they just.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

I signed in. There was one year. The one year I think I asked to play with Andrew. I asked Tommy Haas. I was like, hey, it's my boyfriend's, you know, maybe last year on tour, like, and I'm in a local. Can we get a wild card? Worth a shot. And then he was like, yeah, sure. So we did play and then there was one year we lost to Caroline. We lost to Caroline Garcia and Roger Vaseline. Yeah. I tried to Poach on a ball. And then I made an error and Andrew was like, I tried not to get mad at you, but you shouldn't have gone for that ball. So we lost 10, eight. But it's fine. It's fine. We're still together.

[Jess Pula]

So.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

And then, yeah, we. And then with Neil, we played. We signed in. So it's obviously based off ranking and obviously who's staying there at the tournament.

[Jess Pula]

Yeah. Well, speaking of doubles, I feel like any Wells always gets a lot of fans for their doubles matches and I guess a lot of really cool pairings because I think people come in and they want to get used to the conditions. A lot of singles players. So you always see a lot of singles players playing doubles at Indian Wells specifically, which is kind of fun. So I guess Medvedev and Lerner are playing together and Lerner's beaten him the last couple times, so now they're teaming up, which I actually think is so funny because Medvedev has made comments about, like, how annoying it is to play Lerner and, like, but, like, in a good way. Like, he really respects his game and, like, thinks he's really good. So, like, is he trying to figure out how to. How to beat him by pairing up with him?

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Get inside his head.

[Jenny Brady]

Good strategy.

[Jess Pula]

Other pairings are Sinner and Opelka, which is kind of interesting. I think they've won a doubles tournament before. They just don't really play doubles anymore. Render Kinek. Did I say that?

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Favorite name.

[Jess Pula]

I know, right? I send it. I was like, oh, wait, we've done this before where we've butchered the name and the cousin pairing of Bash. Basherat. Basherat.

[Madison Keys]

Bashero.

[Jess Pula]

Bashero. Okay. They're playing together, which is really cool that they're cousins, Mute and Kaboli. And yeah, interest. That'll be an interesting pairing. I feel like there's going to be a lot of really funny content from that. Have you guys ever partnered up with someone that you don't know that well, or is it. Is it awkward? Yes, you not know them and it was awkward. Jenny's ready to like. Yeah, actually go for it.

[Jenny Brady]

I'm thinking of this story. I actually played with Sabalenka and it was in Lexington, 2020. This was like the first tournament back after the COVID all that stuff. And we played first round. We played Jess and Magdalenette and I remember Jess. I don't know if you remember, but we. I don't remember who won or what the score was, but there was like a stint of like, maybe like, three or four games where I, like, hit a return. And then Jess went to Poach and pegged Arena. And then again, maybe like a couple games later, I, like, was in a cross court rally and again Jess. Or like, I went down the line or something and hit it at Jess at the net, and she pegged Arena. And I don't know if it was either two or three times, but after that second or third time, as soon as the ball, like, hit her, she, like, turned around to Jess at the net and was like, you. And it was so.

[Jess Pula]

I remember this story.

[Jenny Brady]

It was so funny because it was like, as soon as she was getting hit with the ball, it was like, ah, you. And then I was like, oh. I was like, was that at me or at her? And then she was like, no, no, not at you, at her. And I was like, I mean, I'm the one who set you up, so I understand if it was towards me, like, you know, no hard feelings.

[Jess Pula]

But it was so funny.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah, it was actually so funny. We've.

[Jess Pula]

She didn't say it in, like, a. Like, it was like a totally humorous, like, yeah, can you stop effing hitting me? Like, laughing, like, seriously, like, again.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah, it was not. It was not, like, rude or, like, mean or anything. It was like, just like, if you were to, like, hit me, like, I would jokingly say something like that. Like, come on, Jess. Like, after the third time, Are you serious? Like, can't you just go open court? Like, why are you hitting me? But, yeah, it was just so funny. Like, her reaction as soon as she got hit, it was like, just like, instant. And it was like such a genuine, like. Like, like, gosh, I'm so annoyed. Like, I'm so annoy. Partners setting me up. Like, my partner sucks.

[Jess Pula]

It was such literally, like, right. It was. It was like, right as it hit her, it was like the most genuine, like, f you stop hitting me response.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah, it was so funny.

[Jess Pula]

And it was during COVID when there was nobody there and it was literally just the four of us. Like, yeah, on, like, there was not even, like, were there stands on that court? Like, I don't know. I think we 1. I think Magda and I, that's what matters.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah. I think we were a one and done. She didn't ask me to play after that, so.

[Jess Pula]

That's so funny. Do you guys. Anyone else have any awkward first. Does you gotta have at least one?

[Desiree Krafczyk]

I mean, yeah, there's a few, but this was more so. I think when I first started coming into the WTA Tour and trying to find partners just to get into tournaments. You know, you're trying to scramble for people's, like, numbers, and you don't really know them, but you just know the rankings high enough to get into the tournament. So you're kind of like, hey, how you doing? You know, you want to get into this tournament? Let's play. And then you get on court, and it just does not work out. And you're kind of just like ships passing in the night, just high five and then just hit the ball. And it's. It can be awkward. But, yeah, it's. I think the more years that pass on, I think it. You just know it's more of a business situation kind of thing. But, yeah, I mean, it's.

[Jess Pula]

It's normal.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

You get used to it.

[Jenny Brady]

Okay. Speaking of Indian Wells, first of all, Desiree, you're from Palm Springs. This is technically your home tournament. How young were you when you first started coming to Indian Wells?

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Yes. Home turf. I actually grew up in Rancho Mirage, and, oh, my gosh, I was so young. I remember when I was little, it was at the Hyatt when this was. This tournament was being hosted, and it finally turned into New World's Tennis Garden. But I was the ball kid for eight or nine years, running amok and causing trouble. Like, you know, as a flag bearer on finals day. I think I got kicked out one. One year I was, like, 12, because I was, like, waving the flag around. I almost hit Andy Roddick in the tunnel.

[Jess Pula]

No way.

[Jenny Brady]

I'm sure he was thrilled.

[Jess Pula]

Yeah.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Yeah. And then. And there was actually. I was ball kidding for Andy Roddick. I don't know what match he was playing, but he lost. And in the tunnel, you wait and you wait for all the players to pass by and get onto the buggies to go back to the locker room.

[Madison Keys]

But you.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

All the ball kids wait along the wall. And he came in the tunnel and he just whacked a racket. And I was just like, obviously at that time, I'm like, oh, my God, Andy Roddick. Like, oh, you're so hot. Like, you know, this young kid, and he passes the broken racket to the girl next to me. And I was, like, distraught, because I was like, oh, my God, you just got his racket, like. And I was like, can I just have your sweaty towel? But as a balk, you cannot ask for these things. Like, you can't be like, hey, I'm a big fan. Can I have this as you're, like, on duty? So, yeah, some wild memories as A ball kid. But it's obviously nice going back home and playing in front of friends, family. Just.

[Madison Keys]

Yeah.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

I mean, it's also amazing to see how much this tournament has grown. I remember it was just like, white picket fence on that grass field, and now it's permanent, and it's just. They've just done a really good job and really cool to have grown up there and also play there and be fortunate to play there every single year.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah, I'm sure. What makes Indian Wells such a favorite stop on tour? I think Maddie and I have discussed

[Desiree Krafczyk]

this and give us your hot take.

[Jenny Brady]

Should. Do you want me to say it?

[Desiree Krafczyk]

I.

[Madison Keys]

You can say it,

[Jenny Brady]

I think. Well, we think that it's such a favorite on tour because there's this large grass field, and if you give a European a grass field that they can play soccer in, they're like, oh, my God, this tournament is unbelievable.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

It's the best.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah. So that. That goes into a little bit of bias. I feel for it being such a favorite.

[Jess Pula]

Is it your favorite, Jenny? Top three, let's say.

[Jenny Brady]

It's definitely up there. Yeah. It brings a little bit of, like, nostalgia to me. We would play junior tournaments there, and my mom would always travel with me, and it's comforting, like, bringing back those memories of when we would be grinding Easter bowl, you know, switching hotels multiple times because Coachella is going on at the same time, and they're charging absurd rates and. Yeah, just. Just bringing back a little bit of nostalgia. And then also getting the chance to stay with a friend while I'm there is. Is also so nice. Just being able to stay in a house as opposed to a hotel makes it so much more homey and comfortable, and I just feel like it's really easy. Like, it's very close. They treat their players well. Yeah.

[Jess Pula]

I do think for fans, it's definitely tennis paradise. Like, if you were just a tennis fan and you just totally, like, acts out all that we know as a player, I mean, it kind of, like, consumes the whole town. And, I mean, you see players going to breakfast, getting coffee at all the hotels because all the hotels get so booked because all the fans stay there, and a lot of players stay there, and they do a really good job with fans. Watching practice, you get really up close to the practice court. So when I don't know if it's, like, my actual favorite, I do think there is a little bias with the grass field. I'm with you on that. I also like the wet. When the weather's nice, it is like Beautiful to play, like the backdrop with the mountains, like there's nothing prettier. But I do always tell fans, like if there's one tournament they want to go to, I always think that one, as a purely tennis fan, is definitely probably one of the best, if not the best in that aspect.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

I used to sneak onto that grass, onto that grass field actually all the time, but never got caught.

[Jenny Brady]

Does anybody have a favorite memory of Indian Wells besides Desiree hitting Andy Roddick with the flag as a ball kid?

[Madison Keys]

I, I think one of my, my first, I don't know if it's my favorite memory or anything, but one of my first is one of my first tournaments that I was given a wild card to. And I think I was like 15 or 16. And I remember I wrote Steve Simon, because he was a tournament director at the time. I wrote him a thank you note. And I like why it was like just wandering through all of the offices like, hi, do you know where Steve's office is? I need to deliver this to him. And I like, I just dropped it off in his office. And it's so funny because it was like years later, he was obviously

[Jess Pula]

in

[Madison Keys]

charge of the WTA and it's like years and years later and he was like, you know, you're one of the only people that ever like delivered a thank you note to my office. And I was like, yeah, I think your staff was really confused as to why a child was just like wandering around the office by themselves. And they kind of just all pointed me in the right direction. But it was, it was, I mean, like I said, it was one of the first places that I ever got to play like a really big WTA event. So I've been playing there for a long time. And it's always, I mean like Jenny said, it's always such an easy stop. It's so nice, it's so beautiful. And they treat the players so well that it's just, it's a good place to go before the chaos of Miami.

[Jenny Brady]

What does everyone like to do during their time off while they're there in the desert?

[Madison Keys]

I always like to go hiking.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Which ones do you go on?

[Jenny Brady]

I've done bumping.

[Madison Keys]

Grind, grind.

[Jenny Brady]

I did it once and I ran up and then walked down the non paved side and the whole time I was like, oh my gosh, one little slip and like game over.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

We used to run that in high school, like every Wednesday. We used to run the bump and

[Madison Keys]

grind and I was like, oh my

[Desiree Krafczyk]

God, it was the worst.

[Jenny Brady]

Has anybody ever taken the gondola up the mountain?

[Jess Pula]

Yes.

[Madison Keys]

Shelby and I took it years and years ago and there was still snow up at the top, which was fun.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah, it's pretty cool, right? It's like so weird. It's desert and then all of a sudden you're in this place and you're like, wait, why is there still snow on the ground?

[Desiree Krafczyk]

You did that and you. But you don't like heights.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah, but you just take the gondola. Like it's not like you're still pretty high.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Well, you're swinging in the air.

[Jess Pula]

And I feel like I would be more scared. Like if I do get kind of scared if like I'm high up, it's usually more in a gondola situation, not like on a hike.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah. But on level, if you're looking over the edge and like that's where it's scary. I mean, we could sit here and argue about what's scary about heights. My fear of heights. But let me tell you, if I'm standing on a table and I'm on the edge of the table looking down and it's four feet off the ground, I'm pretty scared.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

So you don't do box jumps, you're afraid of falling?

[Jenny Brady]

I think it's just the situation. Yeah, I think I'm afraid of falling.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Yeah.

[Jess Pula]

Four feet.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah, it's the fear of falling. Yeah.

[Madison Keys]

If you're secure inside something, then you're good.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah.

[Jess Pula]

But I don't feel like the gondola could crash. You don't have that fear.

[Jenny Brady]

Well, now I'll probably never go in a gondola again.

[Madison Keys]

Well, now you just took something like totally. Like now we're talking about things crashing and stuff.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah, like you just took that away from me. So no gondola for me in 2026? No, no snow Mountain for me.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Yeah, it's Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, actually.

[Madison Keys]

Yeah.

[Jenny Brady]

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Does anybody like to go shopping? There's good shopping there On El Paseo

[Madison Keys]

is a great, great street.

[Jess Pula]

Yeah, hit up the street. Yeah, I'll be there next week.

[Jenny Brady]

I love to hit up Goriana, especially when Jessica's there.

[Jess Pula]

Gift cards. Oh, yeah. I bribed Jenny with gift cards basically. She always shows up.

[Jenny Brady]

I'm always there.

[Jess Pula]

And now they know. Lifelock.

[Madison Keys]

How can I help?

[Jess Pula]

The IRS said I filed my return, but I haven't.

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[Jenny Brady]

What do I do?

[Madison Keys]

My refund though.

[Jess Pula]

I'm freaking out. Don't worry, I can fix this.

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[Jess Pula]

I'm so relieved.

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[Jess Pula]

I'll be with you every step of the way.

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[Jess Pula]

Your planet is now marked for death.

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[Jess Pula]

We will protect you as a family.

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[Desiree Krafczyk]

That is fantastic.

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And critics say it's one of the best superhero movies of all time. Marvel Studios the Fantastic Four first steps now streaming on Disney Plus. Rated PG 13. What time has it been? It's cl.

[Madison Keys]

Well, we are headed to the desert and one of the biggest events in the desert is Coachella. So we are going to play Drop the beat or drop the set. I'm going to give a song title and one of you has to assign it to a player and defend why you chose that player. And you have 20 seconds. I will have a timer and I will cut you off because there is no lingering in this game. So let's play Jessica. Okay. I have to get my timer ready.

[Jenny Brady]

Jessica, no lingering.

[Jess Pula]

Yeah.

[Madison Keys]

Okay. Our first song is Good as Hell

[Jess Pula]

by Lizzo Arena Savalenko. Because, I mean, just look at her. The way that she's dancing, the way that she does her tick tock. She obviously is always feeling herself, always feeling good. Decked out in jewelry, earrings, diamonds, hair done, like, showing off her outfits, her new Nike outfits, having fun with her team. I don't really know how else you explain that besides good as hell.

[Madison Keys]

Okay, there we go. We will accept your answer.

[Jess Pula]

Thank you.

[Madison Keys]

Well done. We will take it. Next song, Lose Yourself by Eminem.

[Jenny Brady]

Jessica, because she just won Dubai and she was clearly thriving in that big moment. And she's gonna bring that same thriving energy to Indian Wells. Shoot.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Ah.

[Madison Keys]

Okay.

[Jess Pula]

Did he know? I flattered, but no,

[Madison Keys]

it was. It was okay. I liked My palms are sweaty.

[Jess Pula]

No, Jenny was literally bopping.

[Madison Keys]

Arms are heavy.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

I was bopping with her.

[Jenny Brady]

My arms are heavy. Holding my mic.

[Madison Keys]

Okay, next song. Slow dancing in a parking lot. Who loves a slow, hard court?

[Jenny Brady]

Iga. She loves a slow, hard court. I've never been good at debates. I need more time than 20 seconds. She's won a lot of clay court titles. Indian Wells is slow and bouncy. Feel like it could.

[Madison Keys]

Okay.

[Jenny Brady]

She moves really well. She moves extremely well.

[Jess Pula]

I think she's also won it a couple times.

[Madison Keys]

It was a good answer. You just didn't defend it very well.

[Jess Pula]

Yeah, you didn't make me believe it.

[Jenny Brady]

I know.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

I don't like debates.

[Madison Keys]

Okay, next song. Look what you made me do. Comeback energy. I'm gonna say myself last year because I had to win multiple matches being match point down. Played way too many matches that I almost lost and made it really dramatic. So I'll insert myself into that one. Can't think of anyone else.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Love it. Great answer.

[Jenny Brady]

And you did it in matches under 20 seconds. Well done. I think you won that set.

[Madison Keys]

Thank you. Too good at. Goodbye. I don't want to put that bad juju out there, break my soul. Who could mentally break someone?

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Tatiana Maria, because she just never misses a ball and she slices everything. And all I just see is she's playing long matches. And I feel like every time anyone plays her, it's, oh, I gotta play Tatiana Maria. It's gonna be a slice fest done.

[Jess Pula]

Not bad.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

It was either that or Laura Sigman. That's all I got.

[Jess Pula]

I was literally thinking of Siegman when you were talking.

[Jenny Brady]

Oh, yeah.

[Madison Keys]

Burning up. Who might combust under pressure. I think we go to the ATP side and we just think of, like, all of the boys because they're a little crazy over there sometimes.

[Jess Pula]

Medvedev.

[Jenny Brady]

Wait.

[Madison Keys]

Medvedev, when he's playing 20 seconds go.

[Jess Pula]

Solely for the fact that this is where he had his big mental breakdown with the balls. And he's yelling and says, I'm a hardcourt special specialist. And this is not a hardcore. Done. I don't even need to say anything else.

[Madison Keys]

Mic drop accepted. He also.

[Jenny Brady]

You win.

[Madison Keys]

He was just playing somewhere and he was complaining. He was like, the ball's not even round. Round. Yes. So, yeah, we love it. Born in the usa. Which lower ranked American do you think could make some noise at Indian Wells?

[Jess Pula]

How low we talking?

[Madison Keys]

I'm gonna throw out Haley Baptiste.

[Jenny Brady]

Oh, yeah.

[Madison Keys]

I think Haley's game on those courts could be very dangerous. I think she's obviously incredibly talented, but I think she's been playing some really good tennis, so I would not be surprised if she had a very good tournament.

[Jenny Brady]

I'm gonna back you up on that. I hit with her two days ago and she was feeling it.

[Jess Pula]

She's just a really good tennis player. Didn't you have a really tough match with her there? First round, Maddie, like a couple years ago?

[Madison Keys]

Yes.

[Jess Pula]

Right.

[Madison Keys]

We were like last night. Match. Second.

[Jess Pula]

Yeah, it was late. I just remember super late. And you didn't you.

[Madison Keys]

Second round, I think six, four, and

[Jess Pula]

the Third or something crazy like.

[Madison Keys]

Yeah, it was tough.

[Jess Pula]

It was tough. Throw a random song title out there and try on a whim. Jenny. Jenny's currently thinking, okay, well, we'll let Jenny linger.

[Madison Keys]

Songs.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Is there a song title named Linger?

[Jess Pula]

Yeah, there's a song, Cranberries.

[Jenny Brady]

It's called Linger.

[Jess Pula]

Yeah, it's a great song.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah. Who?

[Desiree Krafczyk]

I can't even think of it.

[Jenny Brady]

Okay, Lingerie. Who do you think is going to.

[Madison Keys]

Queen of three sets is going to linger.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah, like, going to stick around. Yeah, like, going to stick around longer, like, grind their way through the match matches that we maybe don't expect or is just going to stick around on site after they lose.

[Jess Pula]

Jenny.

[Madison Keys]

Jenny's gonna linger all day long.

[Jess Pula]

Jenny's gonna linger.

[Jenny Brady]

All right, moving on.

[Jess Pula]

You picked yourself.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Okay.

[Jess Pula]

Jenny's gonna linger all day at the site for sure.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Well, I don't think any of us are going to be at Coachella, sadly, this year, because we will be overseas. But would anyone ever go to Coachella if they had the chance? Or are you more of a Stagecoach person? Because they're both there a couple weeks apart.

[Madison Keys]

I've been to Coachella. Oh, who played Be Fun? Do you remember? It was the year. Well, Hozier was there, and I'm, like, massive fan. And also Florence and the Machine. And the week before, she jumped off the stage and. And, like, broke her ankle or something or, like, severely sprained it. So the next weekend, we went weekend two, she had to, like, she was, like, hopping around the stage. She was, like, sitting. But still phenomenal. And then I want to say that was like, the Weeknd and Drake were maybe, like, the big closers. But, yeah, great time. Would highly recommend it if you're, like, eight years younger and want to go stand outside in the desert for 12 hours a day.

[Jess Pula]

Did you have good tickets? Like, where were you? Like, did you have an easier access than like. Like, a ga VIP situation where you're, like, battling? Okay. Yeah, No, I think it's the only way.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah, I think. Yeah. The only way I would do it is vip.

[Madison Keys]

Yeah, we. We had a. We rented a Airbnb. So I'm. I wasn't gonna, like, camp and grind. No.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Didn't want the full experience.

[Madison Keys]

No, it was fine. It was great the way that it was.

[Jess Pula]

I camped out of my car at Bonnaroo, which is in Tennessee. My brother and I with these people that we knew. It was rough there, like, weren't really showers.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Hope it was with people you knew.

[Jess Pula]

Yeah, no, like, we met up with the same Car. So we. Sorry. So we met up with people that we knew, so we camped next to each other. So we kind of had, like, a bigger space where it felt like we were all together, camping together. But, yeah, that was rough. But, yeah, I was very young, and I was very spirited, and I was like, yeah, let's, like, go to this music festival and camp and. Yeah, probably won't do that again.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Yeah, I've only been. I've only been to Stagecoach. I never. I wasn't allowed to go to Coachella, but StageCoach, when you're 14, you can get in for free. So that was the last time I ever went because I've been playing tournaments since, so love to go to Coachella if I could.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah, it sounds like fun until we all know, like, I would like it for maybe, like, an hour. And then it'd be like, all right, I'm out.

[Jess Pula]

Jenny would be so done.

[Madison Keys]

Jenny can't really handle, like, loud noises, so I can't really imagine.

[Jenny Brady]

I get. I just get really overstimulated. I think there's just so much going on, and it's just a lot of people.

[Jess Pula]

Well, usually most of the people that go to those are also, like, on drugs. Because usually the only way you get through sitting there all day, like, in the heat and, like, all this, like,

[Jenny Brady]

is because you're probably not sober. It's.

[Jess Pula]

Well, it's not as.

[Madison Keys]

It's not as bad as Ultra.

[Jess Pula]

Ultra. I've done Ultra for. I went for half a day, and I was like, I can't. I have to get out of here.

[Madison Keys]

It was.

[Jess Pula]

It was awful.

[Jenny Brady]

You hear Ultra when you're in the hotel in Miami at the jw.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Oh, my gosh.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah.

[Jess Pula]

That's what. Amazing people watching, though. Amazing.

[Jenny Brady]

Oh, so good.

[Jess Pula]

Yeah.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

When they're all leaving the festival and they're just walking in their fishnets. It's so funny.

[Madison Keys]

I do actually, like, I really love the Coachella, like, influencer vibe, where it's, like, you get to see all of the very, like, vibey festival outfits that everyone comes up with. But, like, was it, like, 20. I feel like 2015, like, 2016, like, Nina Dobrev, like, Coachella outfits. I used to, like, live for Coachella because I was like, oh, we're gonna see such good outfits.

[Jess Pula]

Yeah, Ultra. It's just a hot mess.

[Madison Keys]

There's not really very different vibes. I feel like it's very much Indian Wells tournament versus Miami tournament. It's very much Coachella and Ultra.

[Jess Pula]

Very true. All right, I will announce my. Who am I from last week it was Elena Svitolina. So I just played her in the finals of Dubai, won a medal at the Olympics, wore a lavender wedding dress. That was the lavender hint. And then six more titles than anyone else in her family. She's married to Monfis. So, yeah, I saw some people in the comments guessed her correctly, so good job. Maddie, you want to give your hints for.

[Madison Keys]

So I have three, but if it's too hard, I can give you guys a fourth one. One grand slam and Olympic silver medal career high of three in the world. One handed backhand. Jenny's thinking so hard.

[Jess Pula]

Katy, can you repeat one more time

[Madison Keys]

grand slam champion, also won an Olympic silver medal, career high of three in the world. One handed backhand.

[Jenny Brady]

Let's move on to some fan questions. First question from Lily B. 97. If you could cast the Real Housewives of tennis, besides us four, who would you choose? Madison, would you like to start us off since you're an avid Real Housewives watcher?

[Madison Keys]

Yes. I actually thought quite hard on this question. I would choose queen, obviously. Danielle Collins, Yulia Putintseva, and Naomi Osaka. Oh,

[Jenny Brady]

I don't know if that list can be topped.

[Madison Keys]

Wow. I thought about it a lot, actually.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah, you did think about it. Oh, my gosh, Jessica.

[Jess Pula]

That's tough to beat. I would maybe go. I would go Serena. Am I allowed to say Serena?

[Madison Keys]

Oh, well, I went active players.

[Jess Pula]

Okay. So. Well, she might be kind of active.

[Madison Keys]

We never know.

[Jess Pula]

Whatever. Well, I was gonna say her. I'm gonna have to copy Danielle and queen for sure, but I'll go Elena Ostapenko and Serena.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

I had Ostapenko, Alicia Parks, Yulia Putintseva, and Donna Vecic.

[Madison Keys]

Oh, Donna's a good pick. Yeah.

[Jess Pula]

Wow.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

It's pretty wild. I think that'd be great tv.

[Jenny Brady]

It's good.

[Jess Pula]

I couldn't even think Donna is so funny because, like, the way that she's like.

[Jenny Brady]

No, she would be so good when you know her.

[Jess Pula]

It's. I don't know. It would be.

[Madison Keys]

She's got, like, the driest humor ever.

[Jenny Brady]

It's so funny. So funny.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

I can see her in real houses of Beverly Hills. I don't know why. Just all her diaries.

[Jenny Brady]

Oh, my God.

[Madison Keys]

Donna Vecich in a confessional. I would watch.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

I would watch all of those four.

[Madison Keys]

I would too. But I think Donna. Donna would be really good with, like the one liners and stuff.

[Jess Pula]

Yes. It would be very to the point about, like, some draw whatever happened, and she would just be like her in the camera with Like a one liner. Like, Like. I mean, it's crazy. She would just say, like, the one line, and it would just be also

[Jenny Brady]

with the accent, too.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

It would be so good.

[Jenny Brady]

Okay, next question from Christopher. Maddie's mention of Publix made me wonder, when you're outside the country, what food from the U.S. do you miss the most from public.

[Madison Keys]

Specifically, a pub sub.

[Jenny Brady]

You can't beat a pub sub.

[Madison Keys]

So good.

[Jenny Brady]

Love a pub sub.

[Jess Pula]

The chicken finger sub is

[Jenny Brady]

so good.

[Jess Pula]

So good.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Yeah, we don't have Publix here in California, but.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah, that's right.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

I've only ever had their black and white cookies.

[Jenny Brady]

Oh, I actually don't like black and white cookies. I've had, like, the mini ones because I see picky. Oh, no, I like icing.

[Madison Keys]

Also, like, the fact that you go into Publix Bakery and, like, the only thing you would walk out with is a black and white cookie is, like, crazy work.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

No, I haven't. I haven't. It was given, like, when I was at a friend's place in Florida. I don't go and buy it, but it was there. And that was the first thing I ever remember of a Publix.

[Jess Pula]

Their bakery is good. They make really good cakes.

[Madison Keys]

The key lime pie is so good.

[Jenny Brady]

The carrot cake is phenomenal.

[Madison Keys]

So good.

[Jenny Brady]

The carrot cake is the best carrot cake.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

It's so good.

[Jess Pula]

I don't think I've had the.

[Madison Keys]

So basically, we just really miss Publix?

[Jenny Brady]

No.

[Jess Pula]

So, yeah, basically the only thing we miss is publix.

[Jenny Brady]

Jess, you need to try that carrot cake. I'm serious.

[Jess Pula]

I've never tried it.

[Jenny Brady]

Yeah, well, you need.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

I love carrot cake.

[Jenny Brady]

No, it's so good. Okay, dez, during Miami Open, I'll bring you carrot cake.

[Jess Pula]

Wait, Miami Open? We do a Publix. Publix Food hall snack, public subs, and bakery items. Wow. Can't wait for that. Okay.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Yeah, I need to go to the gym after that.

[Madison Keys]

Thank you.

[Jenny Brady]

Okay, last question from PM I have a doubles question. How difficult or easy is it to adjust with different partners? Do you practice before match or just wing it? Do you pick specific partners based on court type or tournament, or is it just who's available to play at which tournament? Whoa. Des, do you want to answer this since you're the Dub Special?

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Lot of questions.

[Jenny Brady]

You can just summarize it.

[Jess Pula]

Yeah,

[Jenny Brady]

yeah.

[Desiree Krafczyk]

Obviously, when you're adjusting a different partners, I feel like you want to find a partner that you can mesh well with. And usually if I'm playing with another sole doubles player, we will practice leading up to the tournament. Sometimes if I play with singles player, you just wing it. You don't play, you don't practice if they are playing singles match or. Yeah, you just don't have time to. But I've never really picked a specific partner based on a court type or tournament unless I needed to switch to partner last minute because my original partner got injured. So I will try and look for that. But yeah, usually if someone who's available, you try and stick with the same partner. I don't know, it's a lot of different. Yeah. Things you can do. But yeah, obviously if people are available then you want to play with them, but you obviously want to find someone you can mesh well with and pair up and go deep into tournaments.

[Jenny Brady]

Good answer. Okay, well thanks everyone for your fan questions this week. 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 questions on Instagram or to our email at the Players Box pod at gmail com. Thank you and see you all next week. Hopefully not from the backseat of my car.