The Player's Box — Episode 7 | WTA Finals, Fan Gifts & Recording Internationally

Date: October 7, 2025
Hosts: Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, Jennifer Brady, Desirae Krawczyk

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a hilarious, candid glimpse behind the scenes as four top WTA players navigate life on tour—trains in China, Wi-Fi chaos, memorable fan gifts, career milestones, and their own unfiltered mishaps. The conversation flows from lighthearted “unforced errors” and Monfils’ retirement to a granular breakdown of the WTA Finals, behind-the-scenes travel stories, and fan Q&A. Expect playful banter, personal anecdotes, and the authentic camaraderie these players share on and off the court.

1. Unforced Errors of the Week (00:34–06:22)

Each host shares their biggest “facepalm” moment from the week:

Madison Keys

• Injured herself repeatedly at home (elbow, pinky toe, running into walls).
  • “I have bruises all over. I just, I don’t know where my body is this week. So, we’re struggling.” (00:34)

Jessica Pegula

• Booked the wrong (longer) high-speed train in China, costing an extra $140 and a slightly savage customer service exchange:
  • “Now that’s the power of financial freedom!” (01:55)
  • “Did I just get roasted by like, travel guy, China customer chat?” (02:30)
• Fan called her “inspiring” for playing at 30—she’s actually 31.
• E-SIM expired right before recording, “total disaster.”

Jennifer Brady

• Accidentally ran over an iguana: “Rip, Iggy.” (03:30)
• Emailed medical documents using the wrong staff member’s name (confidently called her “Abby” instead of “Amanda”). (04:06)

Desirae Krawczyk

• Forgot her change of clothes: “I was, like, drenched and... just sloshing around.” (05:40)

Winner: Jenny Brady, for the (unfortunate) iguana incident.

• “Iggy doesn’t get to see another day.” (06:45)

2. Monfils Retirement & Talk of Last Hurrahs (07:15–11:34)

The group discusses Gaël Monfils’ announced retirement at the end of next season:

• “He’s gonna put on a show every match he plays.” — Jessica Pegula (10:50)
• “Would you want people to know... that every single match at every tournament is your last?” — Madison Keys (09:53)
• Keys and Pegula agree they’d prefer a quieter retirement—maybe just “forgetting to announce it.”
• Admiration for Monfils’ energy and theatrical approach.

They briefly debate whether any of them would make a comeback after having children.

• Pegula: “There is no chance I would come back after having a kid. I admire and respect the ones that do, but that’s not in the cards for me.” (11:53)
• Keys: “I have a hard enough time traveling and keeping myself on a schedule... for all people involved, I just feel like it would be really, really hard.” (12:11)

3. Recording Woes & Wi-Fi Woes (13:38–16:16)

• Chronic Wi-Fi struggles while recording in China; hosts occasionally dropping from the Zoom.
• Playful chaos and self-deprecating humor.
  • “This episode is an absolute disaster.” — Pegula (14:45)
  • “She’s trying to erect—wait, no, I mean connect.” — Keys (15:04)
• Pegula jokes about host Desirae’s habit of typo-riddled texts.

4. WTA Finals Breakdown (18:48–25:28)

Keys explains qualifying for the WTA Finals:

• Top 8 players of the year (“the Race”) qualify.
• New rule: If a Grand Slam winner is outside the top 8, she takes the eighth spot. (19:56)

Experience and significance

• “It’s an amazing achievement to show that you’ve been consistent throughout the whole year... To win finals, you’re beating the top 8 players in the world.” — Pegula (21:54)
• “It’s the only tournament you can lose a match and still win the event.” (22:03)
• Payment structure, round robin format, and the stress and pressure that comes with it.

Doubles perspective: Krawczyk and Brady discuss:

• The challenges of qualifying as a doubles team (must stick with one partner).
• The stress of deciding whether to switch partners mid-year.
• “It’s an added layer of stress singles players don’t have to deal with.” — Keys (24:28)

5. Chinese Fan Culture & Gifts (25:43–32:37)

Pegula on fan engagement in China:

• “I have so many more fans this year... Tennis has grown so much in China just because of Qinwen winning the gold.” (27:18)
• “They make the most insane gifts for players and a ton of Players Box podcast gifts… keychains... like your iPhone screen with Players Box Pod...” (28:17)
• Fans assign animals to players (Pegula: capybara), hand out creative nicknames (Pegula: “Dafu,” meaning “rich woman”).
  • “I asked them for a more humble nickname, but I don’t think they…they’re just like, ‘No.’” — Pegula (29:16)
• Cultural translation quirks: “Dafu? Large, large woman.” (32:14)
• Story about a fan yelling “Howdy Ho” across the practice court, referencing a podcast meme.

6. Travel Stories: China’s High-Speed Trains (32:44–38:13)

• Praise for comfort and efficiency, but only if you enter passport numbers correctly.
  • “If you miss one number, you don’t get the whole thing.” (36:56)
  • Stories of travel fiascos—wrong passport numbers, getting locked out, running late, and hauling bags for a half-mile through endless train cars.
  • “Once we got there, it was great... It’s the best.” (36:16)
• Pegula’s booking mistake (wrong train time) spawned the “financial freedom” customer service quip.

7. Fan Q&A (38:23–54:11)

Q: Tips for tennis parents?

• “Just don’t be a tennis dad; stay out of it.” (38:45)
• “Just zipper your lips and clap your hands. Support.” (39:06)

Q: Desiree, why only doubles?

• Started after college. Singles was too tough/few wins, doubles clicked.
• “I was doing well in 15Ks, 25Ks, and 60s… winning every week’s really great.” (39:28)

Q: How’d you start tennis & what other sports would you want to play?
Jessica Pegula:

• Followed sister into juniors and college tennis. Would have played golf or softball. (40:58) Jennifer Brady:
• Dad started her (though no one else played tennis in family). Tomboy: loved kickball, maybe would have played rugby or football. (41:28) Madison Keys:
• Tennis “for the outfits” after seeing Venus Williams at Wimbledon. “I wanted a tennis dress… My mom was like, ‘You have to play the sport.’” (43:55)
• Would have been a cheerleader: “I had official pom poms and would stand down by them and do my whole routine.” (48:05) Desirae Krawczyk:
• Dad played the senior tour, put a racquet in her hand at 2. Did ballet as a kid but dad kept her away from contact sports. (49:18)

Dancing with the Stars Fandom

• Desirae is a huge fan—“gives us the weekly report” (49:38).
• Speculation she’d be the Player’s Box rep and talk of how intimidating dance routines appear—“I can’t even walk in heels.” — Brady (51:27)

Taylor Swift’s new album?

• Only Krawczyk is a superfan (“Swifty”); others appreciate some songs but are less devoted.
  • “There are some bangers, I’m not gonna deny that. But… I just… I’m not a Swifty.” — Pegula (55:36)
  • Favorite tracks: “Ruin the Friendship,” “Opalite,” “Wood,” “Elizabeth Taylor.” (54:34)

8. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Did I just get roasted by China travel customer chat?” — Jessica Pegula (02:30)
• “Poor Iggy. Iggy doesn’t get to see another day.” — Jennifer Brady (06:45)
• “There’s no chance I would come back after having a kid.” — Pegula re: tennis moms (11:53)
• (To tennis parents): “Zipper your lips and clap your hands.” — Jennifer Brady (39:07)
• “I wanted a tennis dress… so I told my mom, I would like a tennis dress. Well, I didn’t know what tennis was.” — Madison Keys (43:55)
• “Don’t come at me in the comments, people.” — Brady, after laggy Zoom recording (14:36)
• “That’s the power of financial freedom!” — Chinese customer service agent, as quoted by Pegula (01:55)
• “I have a whole suitcase [of fan gifts].” — Pegula (30:23)

9. Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:34 — Unforced Errors of the Week
• 07:00 — Monfils’ Retirement & Reflections on Retiring
• 13:38 — Technical & Wi-Fi Difficulties Abroad
• 18:48 — WTA Finals Breakdown (Qualifying, Structure, Stories)
• 25:43 — Chinese Fan Gifts and Culture
• 32:44 — High-Speed Train Mishaps & Travel in China
• 38:23 — Start of Fan Q&A
  • 38:45 — Tennis parent tips
  • 39:28 — Why Desiree chose doubles
  • 40:58 — How everyone got into tennis / alternate dream sports
  • 49:27 — Dancing With the Stars talk
  • 54:11 — Taylor Swift album opinions

10. Tone & Takeaways

The episode is marked by playful, self-effacing humor, authenticity, and the real friendship between these elite athletes. The hosts swap horror stories and advice with spirit and vulnerability, don’t shy away from poking fun at themselves, and give the listener an all-access pass to both relatable blunders and unique life on the women’s tour.

If you want to understand the personalities of top WTA players—or need proof that traveling the world as an athlete is chaotic, hilarious, and a little bit messy—this is your episode.