US Open Highlights, Celeb Encounters and Tough Moments

Summary

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The Player's Box

Episode: US Open Highlights, Celeb Encounters, and Tough Moments
Date: August 26, 2025
Hosts: Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, Jennifer Brady, Desirae Krawczyk

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Overview

This lively and candid episode brings listeners behind the scenes at the US Open, shining light on everything from quirky sleep schedules and favorite on-court outfits to celebrity sightings and navigating tough moments in tennis. Madison, Jess, Jenny, and Des share honest, personal stories (often with plenty of laughs) about what it really means to play a home Grand Slam. The players mix personal anecdotes, tennis insights, pop culture asides, and listener Q&As for an honest courtside experience.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Playing Night Matches: The Sleep Struggle is Real

• The Challenge of Scheduling

  • US Open night matches—especially "second on"—wreak havoc on players’ routines, often finishing past 1 or 2am.
  • Madison Keys: “I have like two of the top five [latest US Open finishes in women’s history] and I think I fit it. Legitimately like 2am.” (02:51)
  • That adrenaline can keep players up until 4-5am, and a late finish compresses recovery time before the next round.

• Crowd Energy at Midnight

  • “The crowd that stays when you’re like super, super late and it’s past midnight is like the most fun crowd you’ll ever play in front of…” — Madison (01:18)
  • The fans get moved closer and it becomes rowdy in a good way.

• Preparing for Late Matches

  • Jennifer Brady: “Every time I play a night match, I do like a double shot of espresso right before I go on.” (01:57)
  • Players share tips for navigating whacked sleep schedules; coffee and energy are essential.

Match Scheduling & Requests

• Requesting Times—Success Rate is Low

  • Players can request days/times, but usually these are not granted due to TV and logistical constraints.
  • Jess Pegula: “Every time I've requested, it’s like, hey, can I play on Wednesday? I’m scheduled for Tuesday.” (07:47)

• Singles vs. Doubles Scheduling Frustrations

  • New: Doubles players are now told in advance which days they play, making planning easier, but singles/doubles overlap creates headaches.
  • “...with me and Coco when we were winning every singles and doubles match...it was insane. They could not schedule it.”—Desirae (11:35)

The US Open Atmosphere: Electric but Intense

• Flushing Meadows Vibe

  • The buzz—especially during night matches or when big-name men’s players play—can be so loud it’s white noise.
  • Jenny Brady: “It's like a constant chatter noise...like a sound machine. It never turns off.” (07:01)

• Which is Better: Noise or Silence?

  • Most prefer the background hum to dead silence; it helps with focus and nerves.

• Fan Engagement & Entertainment Value

  • Discussion on whether more engagement (like walk-on music, interactive moments) would help or hurt the sport’s atmosphere.
  • Mascot confusion: Jokes about whether the US Open has a mascot. “That’s the first time I’m hearing it.” —Jess (14:00)

Celebrity Encounters

• Starspotting as a Distraction
  • Players spot stars like David Beckham, Jason Sudeikis, Jonas Brothers, and Simone Biles.
  • Madison: "I can't look again because now I'm nervous...I know things in the crowd." (16:22)
  • Sometimes looking up and making eye contact in a tough moment is "the worst feeling." (17:02)

Watching Replays on Big Screens

• Some players rewatch cool points on the stadium jumbotron, but others avoid looking altogether to stay focused.
• Desirae: “If it’s a sick point…I’m like hell yeah, let’s watch the screen. And then I’m like oh, it actually wasn’t that cool.” (17:49)

Pre-Match Routines: Focus vs. Chill

• Desirae: “I try to lock in and I feel more unlocked. I’m already so laid back that I don’t need to channel it.” (19:10)
• Some find texting friends helps maintain calm, while others feel the need to actively “lock in.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Sleep Deprivation:
  Madison: “You’re ruined for a couple days at least. Second night match, you’re ruined.” (02:26)

• On TV and Scheduling Politics:
  Jess: “They also say, ‘Oh no, it’s for TV. We need you for this.’ …No one’s even watching me.” (08:50)

• On Playing Before Rafa:
  Madison: “Not a single person cared about my tennis match. And it was the loudest stadium I’ve ever played in because no one was paying attention.” (06:18)

• On Historic US Open Outfits:

  • The Serena Williams denim skirt and iconic black catsuit are universally worshiped.
    • “I went out and bought a Nike denim skirt and I wore it to practice the next week.” —Madison (22:06)
    • “Could you imagine…she comes around the corner in [the catsuit]? That is my favorite US Open outfit of all time.” —Desirae (24:38)
  • Other shoutouts: Maria Sharapova’s “little black dress” (22:58), Serena’s tutu and Swarovski crystal looks.

Tough Moments: Candid Losses and Support

• Madison shares losing the US Open final in 47 minutes:
  • “I just sat on the ground and started sobbing…[then] got back out there. Then someone pulls me into…presidential suite area…and it’s Emma Stone. She’s like, ‘You did amazing,’ and I was like, ‘No, I didn’t.’ Immediately started crying again.” (30:24)
• Desirae’s Heineken Press Conference:
  • After a tough loss and doping delay: “I just went to press with the beer. And then that became a whole thing…" (33:43)

Learning to Embrace the Atmosphere & Fans

• On Arthur Ashe’s intimidating court away from home:

  • Jenny: “I would toss a ball up and lose it in the stands. The court felt twice the size I had to cover and half the size to hit into.” (36:36)

• On seeing the same loyal fans each year:

  • Madison: “There’s a few that I give tickets to every year or we take a picture every single year…I see a familiar face and I’m like, oh, it’s you again.” (56:18)
  • “They just want the best for you…So invested.” —Jess (60:49)
  • Desirae: “It’s wild to me. Sometimes you realize there’s a lot of really good ones who really want you to win and don’t care if you lose.” (62:32)

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Pop Culture & Off-Court Life

• Hard Knocks & NFL Fandom
  • Jess discusses her “borderline obsession” with Josh Allen and needing to go to a Bills game.
  • Jess: “Everyone knows I’m a huge Josh Allen fan. Maybe on the borderline of obsession.” (39:37)
• Food Hot Takes
  • The "blue cheese or ranch" debate for wings divides the group, with regional pride for Buffalo blue cheese.

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Music at Matches: Could Players Pick Their Songs?

• Desiree: “Each player should give a list...So, instead of the final countdown when you're down a break, you get something you actually vibe to.” (44:17)
• Jenny: “We usually just hear...sing-along songs.” (45:20)
• The Infamous “Cotton Eye Joe” Incident:
  • Jenny recounts how the song in a Toronto tiebreak became a viral moment:
  • “Someone lost a bet and some intern up in the AV…was just like, haha.” (47:46)

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Fan Q&A Highlights

• If you could add a fifth Slam, where?

  • Jess: Cincinnati, citing the new facility and “nicer than every other tournament on tour.” (50:34)
  • Madison: Hawaii, “End of year, vacation day after, straight into vacation.” (51:31)
  • Desirae: Japan/Tokyo for the cultural experience. (52:13)

• What's the best part of travel (besides seeing new countries)?

  • The group unanimously: “Food!” — and the friendships and returning to familiar faces on tour.
  • Jenny: “For me, being out injured for two years, the thing I miss the most besides food is…the chaos and the shit that goes on, just being able to hang out with everyone.” (54:20)
  • Madison: “It's kind of fun...you see the same fans every year and it becomes a cool thing.” (56:18)
  • Jess: “It’s so nice…Like, my kids look up to you, thank you for being a role model.” (61:47)

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Memorable Timestamps

• 01:18 – The "fun" of playing at 1am in front of a wild crowd.
• 06:18 – Playing a night match before Rafael Nadal: “No one cared about my match.”
• 14:00 – Mascot confusion and comedic detour.
• 16:22 – Maddie’s David Beckham sighting shakes her composure.
• 22:06 – Madison’s denim-skirt Serena tribute.
• 24:38 – The intimidation factor of Serena’s catsuit.
• 30:24 – Madison recounts sobbing after US Open final, tequila shot, and meeting Emma Stone.
• 33:43 – Jenny’s press conference with a Heineken after defeat.
• 36:36 – Jenny’s disorientation in Arthur Ashe stadium.
• 44:17 – The debate over player-chosen walk-on music and Trinity Rodman’s viral take.
• 47:46 – Jenny’s “Cotton Eye Joe” match interruption conspiracy theory.
• 50:34 – Cincinnati, Hawaii, and Tokyo suggested as dream Slam locations.
• 54:20 – The ups and downs of tour friendships and missing the chaos when injured.
• 56:18 – The comfort of seeing the same fans each year.

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Tone and Language

• Conversational, spontaneous, and full of friendly teasing and humor.
• The hosts are honest about insecurities, failures, and odd experiences, but always imbue stories with positivity and camaraderie.

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SUMMARY

This episode of The Player’s Box paints a vivid, genuine portrait of tennis life behind the baseline, especially during the US Open. The women open up about late nights, the emotional rollercoaster of competition, fashion that shapes memories, brushes with fame and fandom, and the importance of little comforts and community on tour. Sometimes the moments off the court—espresso shots at midnight, tequila after heartbreak, debating ranch versus blue cheese—are just as lasting as career highs under stadium lights.

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Transcript

[A]

This is the players box.

[B]

Hey, everyone. Welcome to the players box. I'm Desiree Krafczyk alongside Jenny Brady, Madison Keys and Jess Pegula. Welcome and enjoy, I guess the chaos of us for trying to stay on topic. Here we go.

[C]

We are recording this a bit early, knowing that the US Open is always a super busy time for everyone. But just to give an idea of what our time in New York has looked like and will probably look like, we wanted to cover a couple topics of what comes with the US Open, you know, so obviously us four being Americans playing at the US Open, for me at least, it's always been one of my favorite Grand Slams. You know, there's always good stories, good times. And there's nothing like playing in, in Flushing Meadows on Arthur Ash. Especially a night match.

[D]

We love night matches.

[C]

Yeah, I know Maddie loves. I know Maddie loves night matches. Especially second.

[B]

Second on.

[C]

Second on. Second night match.

[A]

Yeah, that's my favorite. Especially when the men go five before you finish at like 3am it's so fun. No, I will say that, like, the crowd that stays when you're like super, super late and it's like past midnight is like the most fun crowd that you'll ever play in front of because they let everyone come down into like the bottom bowl of the stadium. Everyone gets so rowdy. It's. Honestly, it's very cool. It is like, you know, 1:00am but it's pretty.

[D]

Everyone's.

[B]

Hey, at least you have some fans there. That's good.

[C]

It's great for your sleep schedule.

[D]

You know, you can hit really good.

[B]

You can hit the clubs.

[A]

Well, that does hit. The club. Told me one time, she was like, yeah, every time I play a night match, I do like a double shot of espresso right before I go on.

[C]

Yeah. So it's really hard for me. I don't know about you guys, but if I'm playing after, I don't know, 8 o', clock, I'm hitting double shot espresso and then rolling on court and then probably not falling asleep until like 4 or 5am so usually my sleep schedule is very whack.

[D]

Yeah, no, mine's always. I mean, second night match, you're just. You're ruined, like for a couple days at least. And it depends on what the schedule becomes after that. Like, yeah, you're kind of hoping it's not too different or like too drastic of a change, but you also don't want to be second night match again. Or like, it's just tough. It's really tough. What's the latest you guys have ever finished.

[B]

I think maybe a rain delay, a.

[A]

Late rain delay, have like the second and third latest finishes in US Open women's history. I think someone beat us out the other like a year or so ago for number one. But I think I have like two of the top five and I think I'll fit it legitimately. Like 2am.

[D]

Yeah. So you're getting back to your hotel, like, when, like, when do you think you went to sleep?

[A]

5, 4, 5, 6. The year I made US Open final. I played night match until the finals.

[D]

Yeah. That's crazy.

[B]

I mean, I guess it's better though matches.

[A]

I think I was like four or five of them were second night match. I think the earliest I finished before the finals, it was. I think we finished the earliest was like 9 o'.

[B]

Clock.

[A]

And it felt like the earliest night in the world.

[D]

It's like, tough because you're obviously like, oh, I'm not going to complain. I'm in the finals. But then the final was when?

[B]

1 1pm Right.

[D]

It was during the day because I walked three. And you're just like, what the.

[A]

Like, I have no idea where you were.

[D]

Like, where am I?

[A]

I was.

[D]

I mean, actually, though, like, that's what's so crazy. It's like you get stuck on a. And you want to stay on that schedule sometimes, but then sometimes you want to get off the schedule because you're like, I can't. I don't. Like, you don't want to happen. What? Yeah, like, what, what happened with that? Like, that sucks.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Like, if you, if they, if they schedule you for one night match, you're like, okay, when you know, you better.

[B]

Hope, you better let. Yeah.

[C]

Be scheduling me for another one and another one and another one. But also not ideal. I mean, for me personally, I'd rather be first or second on.

[D]

Oh, yeah.

[C]

I think second on is like the perfect, like, little, you know, if matches start at 11, second on, get there, you know, around 10, warm up, you know, you have time to eat lunch. Whereas first at 11, you know, you're still waking up pretty early especially. Yeah. Go commuting into the city. Yeah.

[D]

So very early.

[A]

I forget what I think. We were in maybe Rome this year and Francis and I were both first on at 11, and he kept complaining. He was just like, oh, it's just so early. It's just so bright. At 11am.

[C]

This guy's staying up, staying up late.

[A]

So bright.

[D]

Well, he like, he lives for a night match, though.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

He loves drives.

[D]

He Thrives like he loves, but I feel like the guys like it way more than the woman. I don't really think the woman really love being late. I don't know. I think we were more like, oh, let's just, like, get it done with and not linger up. But the guys, they. They tend to love the night matches. Yeah. I don't know about all of them.

[B]

Do you think more. Because the fans are inclined to watch more of the men than the women. And you're kind of like, all the buzz of it. It's like, it's not, like, electric as it is for, like, Faux playing or, like, you know, the men playing at night session.

[C]

I feel like it's based off personality. Like, Faux feeds off of that. Like, he's like, yeah, yeah, he loves that. 11 for faux is like, you know, does not.

[B]

Where's everyone?

[A]

Yeah, like a whole different, though. Like, if I'm gonna play.

[C]

Yeah, it better be at the US Open. On Ash.

[A]

Pretty sick. I did play first night match one year, but it was before Rafa came out, and not a single person cared about my tennis match. And it was the loudest stadium I've ever played in because no one was paying attention. And everyone was just like, if they could wrap this up quicker so we can see Rafa, that would be really cool. And everyone was just talking. And I remember the chair was, like, trying to call the score, and I forget who I was playing, but we kept looking at her and being like, we can't hear you. What are you saying?

[B]

Is it because of the buzz? Right.

[D]

The buzz on Ash is crazy.

[C]

The buzz from people being drunk.

[D]

Yeah, yeah. This is like a constant, like, noise. Like a little chatter noise, like a background noise all the time. It does not like a white noise almost. It's like. It's almost like a sound machine. And you had white noise on, and it's just like, at a certain level, and it just never turns off.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Would you rather that or like, just dead silent hair pin drop?

[D]

I kind of like the noise. I don't mind.

[A]

I like this.

[D]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So do you guys. So I. For listeners that don't know, we. You do get to request match times.

[B]

So are you double player?

[C]

You request, but how often is the request fulfilled?

[D]

Granted, but I mean, or you could.

[C]

Request what day you want to play and how often. I feel like, for me, personally, every time I've requested, it's been like, hey, can I play on Wednesday? I'm scheduled for Tuesday. It's like, hey, can I be first on I'm playing Night Match. So yeah, I've slowly given up on the request.

[B]

Shout out to the super Bowers. Yes.

[C]

Love you guys.

[A]

I feel like, I don't know, it's you definitely, you put your request in and you just kind of cross your fingers and hope that you get what you want. But it's very hit or miss and I feel like also there's just so many other factors. I think a lot of the time, so sometimes I get it and then other times I think a request is granted and it makes no sense on a schedule. And then you're like, yeah, this is gonna probably be bad actually.

[D]

Yeah. I mean everyone always wants who the.

[B]

Supervisor is if you're on their bad list or.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

They also say, oh no, it's for tv. Like we need to have you for this.

[C]

You're not on any bad list.

[B]

No one's. Exactly. No one's even. No one's even watching me.

[C]

Like, what?

[B]

Why do I need to be a first on?

[D]

But yeah, I guess you must have like the, like, like the opposite problem. You're just like, just put me on. Like, I don't care. Just put me on the court.

[B]

Yeah, exactly. I'm here Friday, I'm playing Wednesday. Like what? Just put me on Monday, put me on court. Yeah, but sometimes Monday and then Thursday play and then you're like, yeah, okay.

[C]

Well, yeah, that's a lot. It's a lot.

[B]

That's what I'm hang out in Ningbo for an extra three days. I don't know.

[C]

More sightseeing for you. More sighting China, by the way.

[D]

Yeah. People even know where you're at.

[B]

I have yet to be there though.

[D]

So I haven't either.

[B]

Can't wait.

[C]

She'll. She'll fill us in.

[D]

Yeah. Yes. Or actually Jenny, maybe you would. You're the kinda I always request first. Like honestly, first or second.

[C]

Yeah, first or second.

[D]

I'm just like. I mean, I think everyone knows but I think going into the US Open, you know, as an American, you're. If you're higher ranked, like you're probably going to get slotted.

[A]

It'll be a nightmare.

[D]

Especially if you play somebody that like, I don't know, it has a lot of buzz around it. You're going to be night match at some point so you kind of have to just deal that. So sometimes you don't even want to be that early knowing like if you win, you're probably going to be night the next day. Like, I don't know. It just depends. I Think you just have to roll with it. But just know that if you're an American, you'll probably be playing late at some point.

[B]

Yeah, we'll say, yeah, this time that they're doing, they're letting supervisor letting players know, hey, top half, you're playing on this date. Bottom half, you're playing on this day. Yeah, sometimes now for doubles, like we never knew what we could do for our, you know, gym, whatever. Push ourselves hard for two days before the match or when. And sometimes it's like, oh, you're actually playing the next day. So now they tell us, they're like, actually you're going to play on this day. So it gives us more of a heads up and not we're like kind of in limbo kind of stuff.

[D]

I think we started doing that.

[A]

That's new for doubles.

[B]

Yes. Well, now I was going to say.

[D]

They just started doing that.

[B]

Yeah, they just started doing that. Because we always ask, we would always ask and be like, hey, do you know when we're playing? And it's, you know, the first couple rounds, which. Okay, I get trying to figure out, but if we're a doubles, if we're doubles, Doubles versus doubles, doubles players. I don't understand. Why can't you play us? Like we're not singles player. That's first.

[C]

First on.

[B]

Yeah, exactly. Get us out of the way. And then if like, yeah, court three, someone. If someone is playing singles and doubles, which just did a lot of it really. I don't think supervisors were thrilled about.

[D]

But no, they hated it for it.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And it's obviously complicated.

[D]

Horrible. Especially with, with me and Coco when we were winning like every singles and doubles match and they're like, guys like, don't, please just stop playing doubles. Because they could not schedule it. Like, it was insane. Yeah. I mean, we kind of liked it though because if we were in doubles, we were like, you have to schedule us, schedule us earlier because they, you will never play doubles before singles. So as the tournament went on it, it actually got easier. But it, it's tough when you go deep in both and you kind of have to, you know, you're gonna have to like sacrifice a tough day of playing double. Being there late, possibly coming, have to coming back to play singles like the next day earlier than you probably should have. And then it just kind of. Yeah. Gets worse.

[C]

I mean, especially in the early stages of the tournament, like if you're playing singles and doubles, usually it'll be like a stack like you won't play singles and doubles on the same day or until maybe towards the end of the tournament or depending on who you end up playing in singles, if they're also playing doubles and you know, it kind of flip flops back and forth depending on the schedule.

[D]

And the schedule, I mean, what would you say? It's dictated by the tours and TV and tournament directors. I would say yeah. We were talking before about US Open being super crazy loud. Do you guys think it should be like with rules like now they allow people to move around during matches. There's shot clock, there's more, like a lot more entertainment value and like different things they're trying to do. Do you feel like it needs to be even more or do you feel like we're. We're kind of at a good spot where if you felt like we added more fan engagement, maybe similar to like a basketball or football or whatever, that it would be too much, too distracting.

[B]

The only time you can do that is at a 10 point heat rule if you brought out fans. So if you get a heat roll, the 10 minute. You have a 10 minute heat roll, the players are gone.

[D]

Oh, you're saying like a basketball game.

[A]

Oh, just let that plug in, make a half court shot on the tennis court or something.

[B]

I literally just say basketball.

[D]

I just meant like fan engagement, like with music. But I mean, I guess you're not wrong.

[B]

I was going for like the real bas ball half court shot or like a hockey.

[A]

He was like the mast jumping on a trampoline.

[B]

Hey, we got. Don't we have a mascot for US Open?

[D]

Is it Billy?

[B]

What's my name? Tilly. What's her name? Mascot for the US Open.

[C]

That's the first time hearing it.

[B]

I'm going to find it now. Oh, my God. Here it is.

[A]

I've never seen that in my life.

[D]

I've literally never seen it.

[B]

Oh, it's not the US Open mascot master. It's the what? It's the what? It's the BJJ cup, Matt. So make sure you take a picture with them.

[C]

I have tears in my eyes.

[B]

Please take pictures with her.

[A]

Three right now.

[D]

Your own.

[B]

Cu.

[A]

We're all like, I don't think bluff.

[B]

Is my middle name. Yes. Wait, that is true.

[D]

If anyone wants.

[B]

You're living up why we call Dez Bluff.

[D]

This is why. The last 10 minutes of me.

[B]

Hey, I thrive in escape rooms. Okay.

[D]

Are you black?

[C]

Okay, Nettie, watch out for Tez.

[D]

I don't even remember that from BJK either.

[B]

No, it's new.

[D]

It's new.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

I wonder if they'll be in China.

[C]

Nettie.

[B]

Nettie is 100% our type on paper, and she's walking out and strutting. I don't know. So take a picture with her for the pod, okay? Please do it.

[C]

Please do it, guys. Please take a picture with Nettie at BJK cup.

[D]

Celebrity sightings, US Open. I feel like another crazy thing is all the celebs that have been coming out the last few years thoughts?

[B]

No one comes to hot matches, but.

[C]

Yeah, I never look.

[D]

You don't look at the screens.

[A]

This year, we're gonna send everyone be like, go to Des's court.

[C]

People are gonna start yo to desiree's court at U.S. open. People.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

Who?

[B]

Desiree? Who?

[C]

She'll be first on court three.

[D]

Gosh. So you don't look at this as you look at the screen, Maddie.

[A]

No. There was one year where I kind of was looking and David Beckham was there, and I just. I was like, I can't ever look up again because now I'm nervous. I know things in the crowd. So now every changeover, I'm. No.

[D]

I looked at contact.

[A]

Have no idea.

[D]

I looked at everybody in the final last year. I was like, wow. Jason's Vegas. Oh, my gosh. Jonas Brother. Oh, my gosh. Simone Biles. Oh, my gosh. There were so many. And you don't actually, like, really ever see them. So I'm like, oh, my gosh. And I mean, the screen, it's hard not to look like you have to consciously, like, look away, especially if you're facing the screen.

[A]

So the worst is when you're on the far side from where you walk out, because the president's box is right there. And there's so many times where it's been like, a horrible match or something, and you look up and you lock eyes with someone and you're like, damn, they're watching me play freely, too.

[B]

This mouth.

[D]

No, it's true. You're in, like, the toughest moment. You're, like, falling apart. You're like, oh, my God. These people are, like, watching me just bomb out. Yeah, the worst feeling, too.

[B]

Well, speaking of the big screens, do you guys watch yourselves, like, after the points? Like, do you guys look at after the point ends? They obviously do the replay on the screen. Do you guys tend to look at it? Or you're like, oh, God, I'm not watching what I just did.

[C]

If it's a sick point. Yeah, I wonder if I'm like. If I'm like, hell, yeah. Like, that was a really sick point. Jetty. Like, you gotta watch the screen. Let's just watch the screen. Yeah. And then I'm like, oh, it actually wasn't that cool. I thought it was cooler in my head.

[D]

I shouldn't have watched, like, super underwhelming. I watched. I definitely watch Maddie.

[A]

I think sometimes I watch. I usually try not to look. Look up at all.

[B]

Oh, that's good. You're focused.

[C]

Yeah, she's like, tunnel vision. Locked. Yeah, she's locked in.

[A]

So locked.

[C]

Yeah, she's super locked.

[D]

I'm like, oh, oh, look at the person. I'm like, texting you guys, like, in the tunnel. Yeah. I just don't care. I don't. Yeah, I don't.

[C]

Like, I was just.

[D]

I don't know. And I don't care about, like, any of that.

[B]

I don't know.

[D]

It doesn't bother me.

[B]

Yeah, you were listening to something. And I text into the chat and I was like, I wonder what she's listening to. And I. She responds to. She says, Yukon. And I'm like, oh, my God, she's on court. She's walking on court. How is she responding?

[C]

She's literally walking on court and singing a song. And DEZ text us in our group chat and is like, I wonder what she said. And then me and Mad both like, well, she'll probably reply.

[D]

And then I'm like.

[C]

And then like, less than a minute later, she's like, yeah. Oh.

[D]

Oh, how did you song use that?

[C]

I'm obsessed.

[D]

My head all day. Yeah. Some people are, like, so different. I don't like, the more I try to, like, lock in. I'm like, no, I feel more unlocked. Yeah, no, I'm trying too hard. I can't. I just. I'm already. I'm like, so laid back that I don't really need to, like, channel to do that.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Airplane mode.

[D]

An hour before the match, I'm like, what? Why? I don't know. That's just me. But everyone's different.

[B]

I feel like sometimes it keeps me calm. If I'm like, talking to, like, people like Chad or something, and it's just like, oh, like low key. And you go out for a match. It's not like something so much pressure and I don't know, just as hyper focused on the match.

[D]

Yeah. Like, I already know, like, you already know, like, what to do. Like, there's not. There's nothing that's gonna be like, oh, I have to focus. Like, I don't really feel like any of us feel like that. Do we?

[C]

Sometimes.

[D]

Oh, Like I already know like what's going on.

[C]

I have to like lock in sometimes because if I'm too loosey goosey like then I'm like woo.

[D]

Like okay, I could.

[C]

I look at the score and I'm down 4, 0, 40 love. And I'm like, okay, maybe you should lock in here. Jenny. Like, Jenny, lock it in.

[B]

Eddie, lock it in. Jenny, lock it in.

[C]

I'm definitely experienced with both. Like I've tried like being like extra loose. Like, I mean sometimes I am like all right, loosey goosey, you know, like. And other times I'm like, no, I need to lock in. So I've tried both.

[B]

Yeah. Like in doubles, I. It's a set is obviously a doubles match is already so quick. So set goes by and it's just already mentally exhausting. And then you get down 04 and you're like, oh my God, that went by so quick. Okay, gotta like zone in because it goes by so quick and it's like you can't let any free points go to waste.

[D]

Yeah. Doubles is with the no ad. Yeah. If you start off slow, it's like the set could be over in like two seconds. And that, that, yeah, that sucks. But yeah, I don't know, I guess I'm just weird. I just, I'm pretty.

[A]

Well, it's working for you. So.

[C]

Yeah, it works, whatever works.

[D]

But like I could definitely be. Especially you, Jenny.

[B]

Like.

[D]

Yeah. If you're too loosey goosey.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

I think it depends. Yeah. On the personality for sure. All right. US Open outfits.

[A]

Oh, I love US Open outfits. This year or top three historically US Open. In my opinion that's where you get the iconic outfits. Yeah, like the Serena.

[B]

Like that. Yeah.

[A]

Serena jeans, zip up boots with the jacket. I went out and I bought a Nike denim skirt and I wore it to practice the next week.

[D]

Did you actually?

[A]

I absolutely did. I was, I forget what it was, but I still. Did you get a think of it? I still lived in Illinois so I was under 10 years old and I was like, I need that to go to my local tennis club and practice as like an 8 year old. I need the denim skirt.

[D]

Was it comfortable? Did you feel like you could play in it?

[A]

Probably. I don't know. I've always been like, I can look at basically almost any outfit and be like, I remember the year or I remember that match or like for me that's how I can tell you who did what, who won that year.

[C]

All of the things I, I don't.

[B]

Pay attention to outfits didn't she didn't share povo wear.

[D]

Like, the little black dress was my favorite.

[C]

Yes. Okay.

[B]

That was so cute.

[D]

The crystals here.

[B]

Serena also do that as well.

[D]

And she did the little bow, too. Maria.

[B]

The tutu, right?

[A]

Serena had the. Wow. It's like, all the Swarovski and everything. Yeah. That was also incredible.

[D]

Was that the bodysuit or was that the. The dress?

[B]

I think it was, like, a tutu, was it not?

[D]

Was that later, like, at the end?

[A]

No.

[D]

Was that your last outfit?

[A]

That was her last U.S. open.

[D]

Yeah. The tutu, you're thinking.

[A]

You're thinking the black puma bodysuit.

[D]

Bodysuit with the shorts. That was cool. I also didn't mind her when she. I think it was still, like, her coming back from after having a baby. The one she wore in Australia, that was, like, the full pant with, like, the one sleeve. I actually didn't mind that one. Oh, yeah.

[A]

Oh, it was kind of red, black.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Yes.

[D]

And.

[C]

Oh, I remember that one.

[D]

I actually thought it was kind of cool. But she always loved, like, a good, obviously, bodysuit tattoo. What did you say, Jenny? I said, I remember that one. Which one do you actually remember? Like, if you accidentally think about outfits, your blue Asics dress.

[B]

Hideous.

[C]

Like, Serena outfits or any iconic. Or when Serena came out in the full catsuit.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

At U.S. open. That one is pretty lives rent free.

[D]

Wait, we have to show the. We have to show the picture where we were. Like, when I sent it, I was like, I would lose. Oh, no. Like, I'm not winning this match.

[A]

No.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Could you imagine if you.

[D]

If someone came. Wow.

[A]

Like, in the tunnel, and she comes around the corner in that. That is my favorite US Open outfit of all time.

[B]

That's just, like, badass.

[C]

That's the one you bought, Maddie.

[B]

It's so intimidating.

[A]

I bought.

[B]

I bought the skirt.

[A]

Yes.

[D]

I'm not winning this match, let alone Serena.

[A]

For sale. I definitely tried to make my mom.

[C]

Buy the boobs, but no, I. I've lost on Ash in 46 minutes, and Serena would probably beat me. In 37 minutes, I'd be done.

[D]

She walked out in that. I don't know. Like what? Like what? Like here I just default. Like, we're tired. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. That was a look I remember well. Bethany wore a crazy Wimbledon white outfit, and it was just like. And she had. It was, like, dangling. I have to find it, but I can't even, like, describe it, but it was a crazy outfit. And Bethany has some very.

[D]

She goes. It's out there bold.

[A]

The only one I Can remember she went full cheetah print. Yes, I think there was a cheetah print headband, even. Yes, it was.

[D]

You actually remember sitting?

[B]

Sure.

[C]

Yes, I do.

[A]

Skirt all cheetah print.

[B]

Oh, my gosh. Yes. Here it is. Yep.

[D]

You found it.

[B]

Yeah, it's on my screen. Can't really show it, but.

[D]

Oh, my gosh.

[C]

Only Bethany. Only Bethany could wear it and pull it off.

[D]

And sometimes I feel like.

[C]

Yeah, imagine me rolling up in a cheetah print.

[D]

Like, honestly, though, I feel like you should. You can kind of pull it off. Oh, yeah.

[B]

Send it.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

All right.

[D]

Think about it.

[B]

Yeah. Okay.

[D]

I'm just curious to see what everyone else's outfits look like and what, like, certain people wear. The people that get really creative. Like Naomi.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

I want to see what Naomi's outfit is.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, she's got a really cool outfit.

[D]

She didn't. She already said it last year.

[B]

She did. She said it in her. The bow was last year, I think in Toronto or. Sorry, in Montreal. She said that. She's like, I got a really cool outfit because I'm. And I'm also seated.

[C]

Hey.

[D]

I mean, I do, like, appreciate the people that are willing to be bold. Would I be that person that would, like, go super crazy?

[C]

No, not me.

[D]

But, like, I do feel sometimes people or whatever get very, like, oh, just focus on, like, your tennis and not what you're wearing. And I'm like, yeah, but we're freaking girls. But, like, want to feel comfortable and look cute, but also play well. Like, obviously, we want to do all of those things.

[B]

Let's feel good.

[D]

Also, like, if you lose, I'd rather look better and, like, cute.

[B]

Like, feel.

[D]

Terrible something and, like, look awful. And then, like, take an L and you're like, wow, like that. This is incredible socks, this outfit. And I lost. Like, that's not fun.

[B]

Double whammy. Do we have a not favorite outfit that we've worn in the past or can we not say.

[D]

And not my favorite outfit? Like a not.

[B]

Not your favorite. Like, you're not. You're like, it's not my favorite. Yeah. Or is there one that stood out to you and you're like, I love this outfit. Because of the outfit or because of the. Also the result?

[D]

Like, at the US Open, I'm trying if we're staying on brand or you're.

[B]

I mean, do both just in case they can edit it out.

[A]

Well, U.S. open summer swing in 2017. I had a really cool red dress.

[D]

She's got the year. She's like, the fall collection.

[A]

And no, I'm like, pull the shoes out and be like, these were from AO in 2018.

[B]

Can we get that visual, please?

[A]

Like, I know all of it.

[B]

That's amazing.

[A]

But, yeah, my 20. 2017 US Open Series outfit, it was a red dress with blue undershorts. And I loved that dress. I thought it was so cute, and I felt very good. And is that the one that you won Stanford?

[D]

Yes, I did love that outfit.

[B]

Yes, I love that outfit.

[D]

That's the one you won Stanford in. I remember that was. It was like. It looked so good and it like, against your. It just like popped, but it wasn't too much.

[A]

Perfect cut and everything.

[D]

Perfect cut. Yeah.

[B]

Loved it.

[C]

Yes.

[D]

So you look good. Felt good. One took a title. Good. Yeah.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Yeah. That was the outfit.

[B]

Yes. I thought it was a T shirt first.

[A]

Did we play the full length?

[D]

They look.

[C]

It looked even better in person, guys.

[D]

No, that. That one was good. I just can't believe. Yeah, I. I remember that one. I was like the one that you once did. Yeah, that was right. Wait, can you find a picture with the blue shorts?

[B]

I'm trying to find it. It's just cropped of Maddie of her rising star on and off the tennis court faux article.

[D]

I'm trying to think what my. I mean, dez, do you like wearing vor? Yeah, I do.

[B]

I really like it. It's really comfortable.

[D]

There's some.

[B]

A lot of it's tailored towards more like athleisure, but now they're getting more into the tennis side of things and it's becoming way better. And it's just like that. Yeah.

[C]

Do you guys want to talk about tough moments or no?

[A]

Do you want me to go first?

[D]

It seems like you want to.

[B]

Yeah, go, girl.

[A]

When I lost the final in approximately 47 minutes and played horrendously and was so nervous and I went off court and you know the bathroom. That's right off of the court on ash. I just sat on the ground and started sobbing.

[B]

Honey.

[A]

One of one of the WTA comms people peeks her head around the corner and she's like, so we need you for the post match throttle.

[B]

Okay, I'm fine.

[A]

Everything's fine. I'm fine. I'm just okay. And I got out, got back out there. Somehow make it through. Somehow make it through. I don't even know what I said, but make it through. Come off the court, walk into the locker room. And the first person I see is Bethany Maddox hands. And she hands me a cup with some sort of Liquid in it. Have no idea what it was.

[B]

Just shot it back.

[A]

And I was like, tequila, great. Haven't eaten anything for a few hours and just played a match, but awesome. I think I just had a double shot of tequila. That'll be great. Take a shower. And as I'm, like, walking out before I go to press, someone pulls me into, like, the presidential suite area, and they're like, someone wants to meet you, and it's Emma Stone. The Billie Jean King movie had just come out, and she. That was when she played Billy. And so I see Emma Stone, and she's like, you did amazing. And I was like, no, I didn't. Immediately started crying again and then had to go into press. And I was like, wow. I think I kind of feel that tequila, which, like, could be better to get through press or not.

[D]

I guess we'll see. Oh, no.

[B]

Oh, my gosh.

[D]

That's.

[B]

That's a good story.

[D]

Yeah, that's great. The emisitone just, like, is the icing on the.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, on top. I did this.

[A]

So sorry you had to see me. Like, that.

[C]

Should have just been like, bethany, do you have another one of those?

[B]

Yeah, I need another. What? An MVP From Bethany, too.

[C]

Saw me off.

[B]

Yeah, I know.

[A]

She knew Bethany was clutch right there.

[D]

And, like, yeah, that. Speaking of alcohol, I guess mine, I. I guess would be. I don't know. I feel like, us open. I haven't had any, like, horrible, like, heartbreaking moments. But I will say, like, I was feeling pretty low when I drank the Heineken, which, by the way, was not even my, like, idea. It was someone else's because I had doping. So then, like, I lost whatever. I was annoyed. It was a night match, and I, of course, like, doping always comes, like, at the worst time. So then I had doping, and I couldn't go to the bath. I could not pee. And I was just so annoyed. And then someone's like, oh, you should drink a beer. And I'm like, oh, great idea. And then I just went to press with the beer. And then that became, like, a whole thing. And then everyone's like, well, you lost it. And I'm like.

[B]

She's like, us at me drinking a.

[D]

Press because I'm sad. And, like, I was like. I remember doing the press, and I was just like, guys, like, I don't know. Like, it was like, when I. I think it was when everyone was like, oh, like, you still. You lost another quarterfinal. Like, what do you need to do? I'm like, I need to win the match. Like, and then we'll stop talk and then I'll be in the semis and then that solves all these problems. And I was just like, guys, like, I don't go. I need to like win the Ratch and then I get to the next round and then like, whatever. And I just was just chugging this beer. It did work though. I went to the bathroom right after.

[B]

Oh.

[D]

I didn't want to do coffee. That's what it was. It was late at night and sometimes coffee, like quick diuretic, whatever you can go really quickly. But it was like, I don't know, 10, I think we were maybe first night match. It wasn't that late, but obviously not going to down like a coffee and not.

[C]

Jenny, espresso martini. Oh. Oh.

[D]

That actually would have been great. But I settled for a Heineken and it was the only beer that they had because it was sponsoring whatever they were the main sponsor. So there was no other beer anywhere. And that's what someone brought me. So. Yeah, I don't know why all these stories are ending and drinking.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Oh, yeah. Hila Heineken. Jenny, do you pop culture or do.

[D]

You have any dads? Do you have any?

[B]

I don't think so.

[C]

I mean in 2017, playing my first match on Arthur Ashe Stadium against Karolina Prischkova. She was the ace queen at that time and she definitely had a lot of aces against me. That was the match that was. I would have to look it up, but I'm pretty sure it was 47 minutes. We were first on at 11am and it was so quick that I. Right after the match I went up to player dining and was eating lunch and people were like, oh, are you playing today? I'm like, no, I actually just lost. Like it's like not even 12 o' clock yet. Like, it's like, oh, when are you. How you were planes today? When are you on? Yeah, I lost. Like that was. It was a quick one. Yeah. So that was.

[B]

That was a tough.

[A]

You're losing and you time and you the only thought I was just trying.

[C]

To make it to the hour mark. I was trying to make it to the hour mark and I got it. I don't know, like a game or something in the second set. I was so nervous, like going into that match playing on Arthur Ash, like the stadium is humongous. Like I would toss a ball up and lose it in the. In the stands. I was like, I can't see anything. I couldn't judge the distance between body and the Court.

[D]

That is a real thing, though.

[C]

Too far back and then I was too close and I was like, just everything. Just like I felt like the court felt twice the size of what he had to cover and half the size of what I had to hit into.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

So it was like. It was. Yeah, it was a real room.

[D]

I mean, that's. Yeah.

[C]

I just feel like everybody behind the baseline, I feel like not everybody, you know, but like most people at least, like, have experienced that at least once. Like their first time. Like playing on a big stadium like that. Like something like that. But maybe not all of us.

[D]

Probably not.

[B]

I definitely did when I was. When I walked on to Ash. But I mean, there were like, what.

[C]

200 people watching, so I was like, oh, yeah. But it's not about the people that are watching. It's not about the. It's not about the people that are watching. It's just like so overwhelming. The court.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

Court itself. Even when I was warming up there, I was like.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

But I knew it wasn't going to be a good match. I was so stiff before the match.

[D]

Did you put lotion on your legs?

[C]

No, I also. No, I didn't moisturize. Maybe I should have. Oh, yeah.

[B]

Looser.

[D]

That is the real thing, though. The death perception on this huge stadium court is so weird.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

If you're not used to it going from.

[B]

You're. If you're starting on these smaller courts, like.

[D]

Yeah, it is totally different. You're like, wait, where is my body? Like, where am I standing in the court? Like, the shots you usually hit, like, you. Obviously you're seeing way more court behind it, so you feel totally different. It's. I mean, Ash is a huge fear. I mean, it's huge.

[C]

It is huge.

[D]

Yeah, it is huge.

[C]

Like, Court 17 compared to ash is like.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

You can't even compare Armstrong. Yeah.

[A]

Like, cozier than.

[C]

I love Armstrong.

[A]

Ash.

[D]

Yeah. I like Armstrong, too. And grandson.

[A]

My favorite I like was Old Grandstand.

[D]

I never got to play Old Grandstand.

[C]

Me neither. My favorite was Court 17.

[A]

Old Grandstand was the best court at U.S. open.

[D]

That's what everyone said.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Never. No, never.

[C]

Pretty great.

[B]

I like court 10 and 11. They've got the huge high bleed through those. Nice, too. That's where I play my first season rounds. But I don't go to the stadium or Arthur Ashe Stadium until the final, so I'm just. Hope you get there this year, Des.

[C]

Everyone's gonna be watching.

[D]

Just need your partner.

[B]

Okay.

[D]

You need to get called in.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Come on.

[B]

Come on someone pull out.

[D]

Come on.

[B]

Manifest.

[D]

Yeah, Manifest it. Oh, my gosh.

[B]

Yes.

[D]

Should we go into.

[C]

What's that?

[B]

Watching on Netflix.

[A]

Hunting Wives.

[D]

Oh, wait. Hard Knocks. We need to talk about Hard Knocks. Does anyone watch it?

[C]

Oh, that's with the Buffalo Bills. Bill's mafia. Oh, everyone knows I'm a huge Josh Allen fan.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

She is massive.

[C]

Maybe on the borderline of obsession.

[D]

She's obsessed.

[B]

She's obsessed with sauce.

[D]

Yeah. Hope he never.

[C]

I'm coming to Buffalo. Oh, I still have yet to. I still have yet to. Oh, I still have yet to go to a game.

[D]

In all need to go to a game at some point.

[B]

Yeah. How do we. How do we get tickets, though? So hard.

[C]

Yeah, it's hard.

[B]

Who do we know?

[C]

I don't know.

[B]

We'll have to figure that out, guys.

[D]

Yeah, you know me.

[A]

I'm a big sports fan, so.

[D]

Oh, yeah, I know. Well, you said you watch Hard Knocks, though, Sometimes or you have in the past?

[A]

Sometimes.

[D]

Go, team.

[B]

Not watch.

[D]

Go, go, go.

[A]

Everyone to have a good time.

[D]

I don't even. I didn't. I only watched the first episode. I'm not in it. A lot of people ask me if I was in it. They film it so quickly. Like, they film it and they're already. They edit, like, per episode. So they were still trying to, like, edit for the second episode, and it was. Had to get approved and all that stuff. So they. The turnaround time is pretty crazy, like, for a show, you think, you know, like, editing takes a long time, but I guess that's the whole point.

[C]

Months, usually.

[D]

Yeah, the whole point with it being, like, very behind the scenes. So. Yeah, I'd have to.

[B]

Might have to start it on my flight to New York.

[D]

Yeah. Yeah. Hard Knock. I don't know how many episodes. I don't even know how many episodes gonna be, but I just watched the first one. My dad's in it quite a bit. In the first one. They did, like, a stadium tour with Josh and Cool. And it was so funny. People were asking me today, like, oh, how's the stadium coming along? I was like, I literally haven't seen or done a tour, like, ever. And I was like, well, I just saw it on, like, the first episode of Hard Knock, so I basically know, like, the same amount you guys do. Like, seriously, I don't. I'm like. I'm not like, they're, like, looking at all the plans and everything, but it's gonna be pretty cool, so that's exciting. Yeah, I know. Yeah, it'll be cool. But you guys gotta come to a game eventually.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

And you guys have to watch the show.

[C]

Twist my arm.

[D]

Yeah, I know. Watch out.

[B]

She might just be waiting at the.

[C]

Don't tempt me. I'm ready for my buffalo wings.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

With blue. Okay, real, real quick.

[B]

Oh, gosh, here we go.

[C]

Blue cheese or ranch?

[B]

I don't like blue cheese. I like ranch. But I heard it's.

[C]

Wrong answer.

[B]

Ranch in Buffalo. So I guess I'll be trying the blue cheese for the first time.

[D]

Yeah. Maddie. Maddie, I feel like you're a ranch girl.

[C]

Definitely a ranch girl.

[B]

She's so quiet. She's like, it's okay. You and me, Maddie.

[D]

That's all right.

[A]

We'll, like, hide in the back.

[B]

We'll just be in the bathroom eating the wings. Yeah. This is so great. With ranch.

[C]

Blue cheese only.

[D]

I mean, the ranch is so good. It's just like, they, like, you know, when they bring you wings and everywhere else, they always give you cider. Ranch. It's just in Buffalo, like, it just comes with blue cheese. Like, there's just. No. Oh, you can't. Wait.

[B]

So if I ask, it's like. It's like going to steak house and asking for A one sauce. Oh, my God.

[A]

Really?

[D]

No. Because I've never asked. Yeah, that's terrible.

[B]

Yeah, they don't.

[D]

I don't. I've never had to ask anyone.

[B]

Sauce steak.

[C]

It's like going to l' Entrecot and asking for ketchup.

[B]

You don't ask for ketchup for your fries in the.

[A]

At Entrecot in Paris.

[D]

No, no, no.

[A]

Oh, whoops. Remind me not to go to Unpredictable.

[B]

I have never been.

[C]

They will literally fit on your food.

[B]

So, yeah, I definitely don't have to be there. I have yet to be there. Never been.

[C]

Actually, I've never been there either.

[D]

I've been twice.

[B]

And Jenny. And Jenny's getting mad at me.

[C]

Yeah. Because it's like a thing they, like, do this sauce.

[B]

You haven't been, but you're giving me shit for it. Okay.

[C]

Yeah, I'm cultured.

[B]

Okay. Add it to the list of what I need to go and see and eat.

[D]

Yeah, we'll see. Well, you can ask for ranch. We'll see how it goes. Oh, we'll update everybody.

[B]

I want to ask her. I don't know if I should ask.

[D]

The wings are, like, so much better than anywhere else, though. I will. Promise you. Promise you.

[C]

Great.

[B]

Can't wait.

[D]

They're so good. What else? Hard knocks. You guys have to watch it. Brittany, Rodman, oh, yeah, no, go for it.

[B]

Oh, no, I. I mean, I just watched it, but I don't really know what it is, so I'm gonna let you guys take it.

[C]

I didn't even see it.

[D]

I didn't see it.

[C]

Oh, wait, what?

[A]

It was hot. It was like hot takes with Trinity and one of them was. One of them was like songs during matches that do not vibe really with the players. And so she was dancing.

[B]

Yeah, that's what she said. Yeah.

[A]

So she was saying that she feels like each player should be able to give lists of songs so that during their matches that's what would come on instead of, you know, when you're down like a break in the third or something and they put on like the final countdown and you're like, yeah.

[D]

Yeah. No, I totally agree with that though. I don't know why. I feel like they used to do it way more and then like, I don't know, now they don't do it. Is there like licensing issues? Like, I don't know, understand why, like we don't have playlists and they just play. I mean, I don't. They probably have to edit a lot of songs and make sure like they're clean and stuff like that. That's. There's always an edited version of like anything that you can find.

[A]

I feel like they usually go for like crowd favorite sing along songs though.

[D]

Yeah. Seline Dion, Carolina.

[B]

That's what they do. Definitely.

[D]

Is she frozen on your screen?

[C]

Yeah, she's frozen.

[D]

She froze on my.

[C]

She was singing. She was singing Sweet Caroline.

[A]

Yeah, but that's like. You hear Sweet Caroline all the time. What is it the. Come On Eileen. I've heard that song, oh my gosh, million times when I'm playing Take Me Home Country Road. Well, and then we have Cotton Eye Joe.

[D]

Oh, yeah.

[C]

Cotton Eye Joe. Cotton Eye Jeff.

[D]

I'm still. But like, do they actually play Cotton Ey Joe at tournaments or was it just me? Like, was it just my. This whole disaster in Toronto. I've never heard it in Montreal.

[B]

I've. Unless I'm at a. Unless I'm at a country bar.

[D]

Yeah. I feel like. You know what? I feel like they played at hockey games, right? Yeah, they played at hockey.

[C]

Tell us about the disaster.

[D]

Yeah, we were eager and I were in a tie break and Cotton I. Joe came on at the tie break and I'm like someone else who deliberately. Yeah. Like it was like this kind of like a long, crazy point too. And I had won the first set. So this was. Yeah. For Me to win. Right? Yeah, I think I won the first set. So it was like, obviously a big turning point in. In that. And then. Yeah, it just came on and I'm convinced that like, I don't really think that would be on a tennis playlist because I have never heard Cotton Igo being played at a match only at like hockey games specifically, if I can remember.

[B]

I think it was planned specifically.

[A]

Sabotaging.

[D]

Yes.

[B]

Conspiracy. The wow digest.

[D]

I think somebody like lost a bet that worked up there and they just were like, I dare you to put Nigel in the middle of this point because why would it be on anyone's playlist?

[B]

Would love to hear maybe tournament and see what happens.

[D]

Nobody ever found out. It was like brushed under the rug. I'm like, I wanted, like, I wanted to know.

[A]

Tell me like, why is like, like.

[D]

A doping investigation has never happened ever, ever in like the history. And why Cotton? I. It was just so. I think it was. I think someone like lost the bed and some random intern up in like the AV whatever was just like, haha.

[A]

Like that was.

[B]

Who said that you were like, what?

[A]

We're just like, okay. But the best part was after you won the tournament, when they started playing it.

[C]

Yeah, that was.

[B]

Well, now maybe that's why.

[C]

Maybe they had it planned. Maybe they had it planned and they thought you were gonna win and they didn't know how to keep score.

[D]

Like, but imagine if I lost and.

[A]

They played it early and I had.

[D]

To hear that song. Like, that would be a core memory, like in a negative. More of a negative way for like the rest of my life. Now. I guess it's positive. Yeah. When I went back to do media in Montreal, because I was in Montreal and we obviously, we alternate Toronto, Montreal. When I went back this year, they. They're like, is it okay if we like, if they put the Cotton Eye Joe song into like your media hour? So then like, I'm with Blair doing media and then they just start blasting Cotton Eye Joe and I was just like. So did you break out into. I did not. Did not. Yeah.

[A]

Dance for it.

[B]

I don't. But I do know how to line dance. I love a little kind.

[C]

Oh, no, not another Tik Tok dance.

[D]

I know the Cottonite show, I think. Or maybe I did when I was a kid.

[B]

That's my cut.

[C]

See it?

[B]

I don't know it. I just. Just wing it.

[D]

I'm trying to remember what it is. I don't know. Yeah, that would have been great if I busted it out. But no, I was Like. Yeah, it's still. It's still too tough of a moment for me. Takes you back.

[B]

I was gonna say.

[D]

Oh, yeah. We need better questions. We need better songs.

[C]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Going back to that.

[D]

We need better.

[C]

Yeah, we do. The only one time I've ever had, like, give me a playlist. Like your walkout playlist. Yeah, it was at U.S. open during COVID Yeah, like, during COVID at U. S. Open, probably because there were no fans. Like, we usually just hair. Yeah, they didn't. They didn't care. Except unless you cross the line. But the bubble.

[A]

Did you say the parking lot line?

[C]

The parking lot line in the bubble. Yeah.

[B]

Default of the tournament.

[C]

Q, tips of your nose.

[D]

That's a whole other episode.

[B]

Another segment.

[D]

We have way more time.

[A]

No, that's. That's reason for that one.

[D]

Yeah, we need that one's way.

[C]

I love the bubbles, but.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

Hot take fan question. We'll have to do a hot take episode about that. Fan questions.

[D]

It's your time to shine. Time to shine.

[B]

Come on.

[C]

Okay, question from Larissa. If you could add another major to the schedule, what city would it be in?

[D]

I like that question.

[C]

Would you say.

[B]

I said Cincinnati because the new facility. And, like, how can you not.

[D]

I mean, it is nicer than like every other tournament on tour.

[A]

Thousand of the year, easy.

[D]

Slam somewhere. I mean, I guess it would have to be like Indian walls or might over Cincy.

[A]

No, it's. It's any city, right?

[C]

Yeah, any city. Like, just a city somewhere.

[D]

Not like a tournament.

[B]

So, like, even if. Yeah, like, without the venue, everything. I'll just do like this fifth slam.

[C]

If you could add another major to the schedule, what city would it be in?

[D]

I mean, it would be in America.

[B]

Have room. Yeah.

[C]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

And like, can we put it in, like, Hawaii or something?

[B]

Oh, end of year.

[C]

Yeah, Aloha.

[A]

End of year and then vacation day after. And you can just go straight into vacation.

[D]

That's. Yeah.

[C]

Down for that. Hawaii. Well, I guess. So what city? Like Maui or.

[B]

Hawaii.

[A]

I choose.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Okay.

[D]

Yeah, that's a tough question. I'd have really have to somewhere like, in North America, preferably, But that's just selfishly for me.

[A]

Or put it somewhere that we can vacation immediately after.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, that'd be great. What do I like?

[D]

Japan.

[C]

Oh, Tokyo. Yes. I'm all for it.

[D]

That would be kind of cool. I mean, I know it's far, but, like, you can vacation out over there. Like, I feel like that would be kind of cool.

[A]

And it would be awesome.

[D]

It have, like, a cool cultural take on it because it's just so different, and I feel like every slam is, like, so different. Japan would be pretty cool.

[B]

Yeah. Can't wait to go back.

[C]

Tokyo, Japan.

[B]

City. City.

[D]

You're very adamant about the city.

[C]

Well, you guys are giving me countries and states.

[B]

Well, why don't you give me.

[D]

Very particular about the. Wait, what was the last one we did? We were, like, favorites. Oh, no. Favorite. Favorite Taylor Swift album.

[C]

My favorite favorite Taylor Swift album. And DEZ was giving me two, but I wouldn't have won.

[B]

Yeah, she's very particular.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Okay.

[D]

She's tough with these questions.

[C]

From Josh. I know travel is difficult, but what are the best parts about it besides seeing other countries? We want a better answer than that.

[D]

Your friends. I don't know.

[B]

Or not.

[D]

Food.

[C]

For me, I would say the best part about it is seeing you guys every day. The best part of traveling.

[D]

Food.

[B]

Oh, I love food more than my.

[C]

Yeah, I was trying to give, like.

[D]

No, that was goodies. I was like, food. I. I do need to eat dinner. Yeah, okay.

[B]

Yeah, the food.

[D]

Thanks, daddy.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Yeah. I mean, I would back you on the food. I love food.

[B]

I would say, honestly. Yeah. Seeing in the other countries, which you don't want to hear, but the food. And also just the people on tour. Well, a few of them. Not. Not all, but a few of them. Like, you guys. I think it makes it more special to travel and, like, do certain things and create memories with your friends on tour and, you know, in different countries when you can look back after you retire and you can actually say you enjoyed the tour. Tour life. Yeah.

[C]

I mean, for me, being out injured for two years, the thing I miss the most besides food is. Yeah. Just like. Like the chaos and the shit that goes on. Like, just, you know, being able to hang out with everyone. I mean, all my friends are on tour, so every single week, you know, getting to see my friends, you know, it's just like. And you go to the same place every single year, a different place every single week. So, yeah, it's fun. It's fun if you enjoy it.

[B]

Most of it you have.

[C]

It depends who you hang out with, who you spend your time with. It can definitely be, like, very draining and hard.

[D]

I feel like a little bit.

[C]

It's hard. Yeah. Repetitive. But it also depends on who you.

[B]

Like, hang out with and what you do with your time. I mean, we, like.

[C]

I think we do a good job.

[B]

Of kind of balancing.

[C]

For me, at least Des is really good at it. Like, you will see the sites you will go and explore. You will.

[D]

Sometimes I need to be better.

[C]

Send me a postcard. You'll send me a postcard?

[B]

I will. I send you postcards and it's nice of you going like dabbing, you know, and Rome. I send you one from Rome. But I mean, yeah, I feel like it makes it because we, I mean, Maddie's what, been on tour the longest out of all of us. And yeah, gosh, it's. It's obviously a lot. You go to the same term. It's every single year you're going to the same cities. So it's just trying to find something new that you can do. Like, one year I did a pizza making class. One year I did a pasta making class. It's something like keeps you just stimulated and you're not just like, oh, look, there's a Vatican. I saw it for the sixth time that, like this.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

Time.

[B]

I've been to Rome, so, yeah. It's nice to sometimes drag you guys out and say, hey, let's go. I don't know, go to Florence. It's fully an hour, hour train ride. Let's go. Or Jess and I went to Tivoli.

[D]

Tivoli.

[B]

That was hilarious.

[D]

I agree.

[A]

I think it's kind of fun when you go back to the same places, but then you see like the same fans every year and it becomes a cool thing where you get to see them in the same place every year. I always kind of like that, like there's. There's a few that I like, give tickets to every year or we take a picture every single year. And it's just kind of nice when especially you're like walking around the grounds and you're not really paying attention and then you see a familiar face and you're like, oh, it's you again.

[B]

And it's you.

[A]

I don't know your name.

[C]

I don't know your name, but I see you every year. See every year. You think I'm Maria.

[B]

No.

[A]

He'S telling me I'm Jessica.

[B]

That's like when I have housing, like when I first started on tour, there are how, like I still keep in contact with some of the housing guys that I stayed with. And like that to me is like. And they're following your results. And it's kind of like they're. You're like, I guess, second family in a way. And it's, you know, I'm really close with like the Stockton family or in Ilkley. Like, Ilkley is like the smallest town. It's like A countryside town. There was a 125k there, and they housed us. One year and she still called my results and she came to Wimbledon for finals and it was just like, nice to see them again. And you really just like, felt comfortable.

[D]

And it's like, homey.

[B]

So.

[D]

Yeah, I think those are, like, the best parts of it, the relationships that you can make, especially if you're open. I mean, like, not everyone's like that, but you do, like, get the chance to meet some really, really, like, cool, interesting people and maybe some people that actually, like, stay in your lives for a really long time. And I just feel like, like you're saying, like, people that stay in touch and. Or do housing or have helped you with something in the city. And then like, when you go back to that city, you're like, oh, my gosh. I know. So and so, like, maybe they can help me find good places to eat or fun things to do and they almost like. And, like, become really helpful to you. Yeah, yeah. And then when you. They come visit the States, then, you know, you help them out with something like. I don't know, it's just. It's cool. I think meeting a lot of different people from different countries is really interesting.

[B]

Yeah. The fans one's pretty cool because you're like.

[D]

That's a good point.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah, that's really cool. Is there one specific fan that you're like, oh, my God, I love seeing them. Like, they're like my hype woman or hype man.

[C]

Like, or, like one. One city or, like, place or.

[A]

There's. He's gonna die if I. That I'm actually saying this, but his name is Sam. He comes to Hamilton every single year. And I mean, we have pictures from, I don't know, like, 10 years in a row or something. And then him and his mom come. I give them tickets every year. And he. I mean, he sends me a message basically after every single match that I play, which is so cute and I love it. But it's every year, like, if I'm at a rangy and I'm warming up for a match, he's always there. I always see him. I get to say hi, and it's just become a thing. He's also obsessed with Paramore, which, like, works out really well for me, so I did over that as well. But yeah, I mean, it's so cool because, like, I would obviously never get to meet him if I didn't play tennis and we travel and. And it's like, it's. I think that's also, like, the better side of social media for us, where it's like, yeah. You take the risk sometimes of going through DMS and reading that.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And you. I mean, you find some really, like, genuinely great people.

[D]

Yeah. But that's so true and very appreciative.

[B]

And, like, love, like, just.

[D]

It's, like, so crazy to me. Like, you think about, like, that you have fans, like.

[B]

Yeah, I just.

[D]

It's so wild. It's so weird.

[C]

It is weird.

[D]

They, like, genuinely, like, love to, like, cheer for you. You see them, like, you're saying you see them multiple times at the same tournaments. See them at different tournaments throughout the year. Like, I see a lot of the same fans through, like, dc, Cincinnati, US Open, because a lot of them go to one or, like, all of them, and they're like. They just like your fans. And I'm like, that's so crazy. Yeah. Sometimes you kind of like, oh, like, yeah, like the DMS or this or whatever. But then you realize there's also, like, a lot of really good ones that are so supportive and, like, really want you to win and don't care if you lose, too. Which is nice. Like, genuine. Like, just care. And it's wild to me.

[B]

They just want the best for you. And they're like, yeah. So invested.

[C]

I'm like, what did I do?

[B]

I really appreciate that.

[C]

So, like. Like, what did I do for you?

[D]

Like, I, like, lose, and they'll just be like, you did great. Like, you're gonna get it next week. You did great. I'm like, oh, my God, you're so positive.

[B]

I lost in Cincy to this couple weeks ago, or, God, last week, and this lady, like, in the middle. We won the second. We lost first set. We won the second set. And she's like, yeah, come on and do it. Like, get ready for the breaker. You got this. Like, I believe in you. And I'm like, yeah.

[A]

Like, I actually found.

[B]

And I was like, yeah, okay. And I went to play the breaker. I mean, we lost, but. And then after the match, she was like, you did so, so great. Like, I am so proud of you. And I was like, thanks so much.

[A]

Like, oh, my God.

[D]

That means so much.

[B]

I'm sorry I let you get out. Yeah. Do you wanna.

[A]

Do you wanna come to China with me?

[B]

Can you do my.

[D]

It's so nice.

[B]

It's just, like, you can tell, like, when they're really like, God, I was really rooting for you. Like, I. You played that match so great. Like, I am just like. And, like, they mentioned their kids, too. Like, my kids look up to you, and it is just amazing. Like, thank you so much for being a role model. You're like, oh, that's so nice. Like, oh, yeah, I gotta make sure what I'm. What I'm posting on Instagram. I feel like, dude, candy pigst.

[D]

I feel like it too. Like, it takes you out of your head too, about, like, whether you won or lost. More specifically, when you lose. Because they're like, oh, like, these kids, like, they don't really care if you lose. They just, like, look up to you and think you're, like, aliens. Because they, like, worship you, like, in a way.

[C]

Like, Right.

[D]

They don't even think you're human. And they're, like, so invested and just, like, can't even be near you. And you're like, okay.

[B]

Put things into perspective.

[D]

Yeah. It's such a nice feeling. Especially. Yeah. When they bring the kids or you see the kids are. Yeah. Like your idols. It's like the sweetest thing ever because.

[B]

That'S, like, us, like, we looked up to, I don't know, other players and obviously, yeah, the pictures we sent to Lindsey, but another story. But yeah, like, we obviously idolize them and, you know, it's like passing on to the next generation.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

That is nice.

[D]

That's cool. Well, thank you guys for listening to our second episode of the Players Box. Please leave us a rating and a review. It helps people find out more about the podcast. And don't forget to watch on YouTube at the players box YouTube page. If you want to ask any more questions, you can always Instagram at the Players Box below pod or email us at the Players Box pod at Gmail. So thank you for listening and hopefully you guys can tune into the next episode.