Wimbledon 2024 Preview

DISCLAIMER: Please note we use a transcription service, so there may be some errors in the following transcription of this episode. If you can, please refer to the audio for exact quotations.

Daniel Kiernan  00:09

Welcome to Episode 226 of control the controllables. And it's that time of year. It's the time of year where we have tennis on our TVs. If you live in the UK all year round, it's we wake up in the morning and we sell prayers. And we hope that the rain stays away which it has, over the last 10 days I've been although I'm currently here at East born of the ATP and WTA event, and it is glorious. And is there a better day out there than a blue sky grasscourt tennis. I don't know how we get better than that. And as ever, we have brought a brilliant panel together to discuss all things Wimbledon. We're going to be looking at various storylines and insights into Wimbledon qualifying the grass court tournaments that we have been going through now for the last three weeks. All of the successes, the British successes, we're going to be looking into some names that you haven't heard of the dark horses, our picks of the expert picks for the title, and so much more. Always a great conversation. And I'm delighted to welcome jazz Clark, who he has is as she was a top top junior tennis player, she was up to 460 in the world WTA she was a great player in her own right and then she's gone on to be a brilliant coach. And she's she's coached. She's She's spent time coaching her brother, Jay Clark, who many of you will know. And she's also on your screens, or in your ear as she commentates around the globe on tennis as well. A brilliant tennis brain and someone who we're delighted to welcome to the panel alongside Freddie Nielsen. As ever, you know, if you've been listening to the podcast over the last few years, you will know Freddie and we all love Freddie, the Davis Cup captain for Denmark and the 2012 men's doubles Wimbledon champion. And then Calvin Betten, the coach of Henry pattern, the coach of Luke Johnson, to top British doubles players, and someone who brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to the panel as well. And I'm excited to to bring this new dynamic to you. Hope you enjoy hobbits Food for Thought orbit gets you excited for what we have in store over the next couple of weeks at SW 19. I'm gonna pass you over to our Wimbledon preview panelists. So a big welcome to our Wimbledon preview panelists. How you doing? Oh, good. Oh, good. How good. Yeah, they're well, thanks. And that is a new voice that we hear. He has Clark a big welcome at birth control the controllables first timer. Welcome.

03:08

I've listened to your podcast pretty a lot of times, but yeah, not been on it. So yeah. Thanks for having me.

Daniel Kiernan  03:13

Well, first thing to say is you're you're very lucky that Kieran Voss does not on he's just pulled out 510 minutes ago but because between Kieran and Calvin, you would have had to be particularly strong willed to get a word in so there's a little there's a little bit more space via now today. And and I think that's where I want to start actually ready. I know you're not British, but it's grass court season. It's the the time of year that us Brits seem to come alive. And I'm here and he's born. You know, I know. You as I know you've been at Wimbledon qualifying and, and all of a sudden we're seeing some some results flying around. We're seeing all sorts of people in a shout out to Sydney cartel who qualified today. We had 15 year old Hannah Klugman made last round equalities. And then your brother as well managed to back on the big time and won his first match. Last a tight second one. So how did it go down Roehampton this week?

04:13

Yeah, it's great. It was great watching so many of the breaks. I think the guys struggled a little bit, maybe the double throat sorry, the single straw was so so tough. There was so much depth there. There were so many guys who had been, you know, like you had done a golf and gas guy was playing Luca pwace. So there were some really experienced, which was, you know, great to see. I think it was 15 quid a ticket. So if you're in London, it was an absolute bargain. But yeah, I mean, Jay play digger Schwartzman first round, so that was not particularly easy, paid well had a good win, like say he's not had much time on the grass. He's been trekking all around the world just trying to get his ranking back, to be honest. So he had surgery this time last year, so had six months outside playing back end of 2023. And yeah, he's back up to about 310. So it's, you know, nice opportunity for Brent obviously playing Callie's yeah play tour has been a good match against Dallas, you know, one break in the third. And he went on to qualify so you know he's playing some good some good ball got to look forward to playing dubs next week I'm

Daniel Kiernan  05:13

playing doubles I don't know if you've seen it Friday but Jays playing with Marcus Willis

Freddie Nielsen  05:18

who just cracked 100 Well done

Daniel Kiernan  05:21

and absolutely a what a story that is a psalm in Nottingham a couple of weeks ago and I had to go and just give him the biggest of well Dunn's because his story to completely give up and stop playing. As someone myself who has battled waste all of my life. The fact that he's is he's got himself in just phenomenal shape. He looks fantastic. Looks fit as a fiddle is when a hell of a lot of matches top 100 in the world and looks like he's not going to stop tennis is a better place for any for these sorts of stories. You know, we've talked, we've talked a lot over the last few months about what's going to happen in the world of tennis, is it going to become Formula One where we're going to just have 90 players and that's it. You know, these these stories, these entrepreneurial hope stories. Warm the heart.

Freddie Nielsen  06:09

Absolutely. And I think it's also a little easier for regular people to relate to instead of these, these guys like Joker, which seems to be almost super superhuman or callous, or whoever it is. This is a real guy who had real problems. I mean, the skill set was never really an issue and I've seen him since he came on the tour. I played him many times and he's an awkward player and he's not easy to play against but there were always a few question marks around his tennis and fair play to just attack it head on I accept that something's wrong great and he had some some something left in tennis that he wasn't gonna leave behind and then he really is really come around and weren't it I mean there's no freebies in there he's played my guy a few times so I've seen him play a little bit as well and it's like he's he's also really good for doubles. His skill set is really well tailor made for doubles got an awkward service uncomfortable. He's got great hands. His his weaknesses doesn't get exposed as much as doing singles. So I think he can actually push on and and move up the rankings as well. But it's a great story, lovely fella. Like to see it. It is like you say people need all sorts of stories and it's not always the superhuman ones that are relatable to but this is relatable and hopefully it will mean something to somebody

Daniel Kiernan  07:29

and human cheer him and cheer made quarters last time or third round,

07:33

third round. Third round they had Yeah, that's it. Yeah, that's it. Yeah, I mean, they play well CeeLo J. J returns quite well with us is obviously unbelievable. And the third loves to come forward to the grave both like being in the net. But like you say, with a sort of not exposed as much but Jay is very sort of serious on court and Willis actually is really good at keeping it quite light hearted. But they actually complement each other quite a while so it's yeah know it's always fun to watch anyway,

Daniel Kiernan  08:03

bigger luck to them and a couple more stories after after kind of shocking then. It was only a few minutes ago, actually, before we went on air, that whole job of what I mean I thought that was brilliant when I saw it actually that he went off to New Yorker. You know, often the Brits are just kind of take their wildcards in Britain, but he's obviously used his own ranking to get into qualifying in New Yorker qualified at a couple of Did you get him in draw? Now? Oh,

08:31

wow. I got your wildcard in Connolly's.

Daniel Kiernan  08:33

Okay. Yeah. That the Spanish what's the Spanish connection there? No, no,

08:38

I'm not I'm not sure. I'm not sure how we got one. But yeah, it was wild carding

08:43

rocket is named with Andy. Andy Murray. Oh, oh, Andy Murray's previous agent I think looks after him. So

Daniel Kiernan  08:49

cool. Well, let's let's scratch that let's scratch that it's not such a lovely story. But it is it is amazing that he's just taken. He's just taken bend Shelton out. I was following the score. You had all sorts of break points. You know, then match points and it's going to be one of these matches is going to be one of these typical British matches where they lose after like this heart ache for him and then he stayed strong 110 Out of the third. And then here in East born Carl's Billy Harris. And I know all of you out there I get I get a message a week people asking me to get Billy Harris on the podcast. And I actually went up to him this week because I used to coach Billy and I said, Man, you know look at all these messages you know the everyone's everyone's after you and he's just such a underplayed downplayed guy you know anyone that doesn't know his story, you know pretty much lived in a camper van for however many years is getting close to cracking top 100 And how does that happened? Cow because like, all due respect to Billy and I love Billy I never really saw a game that was going into the top 100 in the world. We saw holes in his game we saw also Multilift little bit stiff, didn't move grid forehand wasn't overly fantastic. But he seems to have just by hook or by crook kept going, coached, managed to find a way to stay in the game. And now here he is. He's 29 years old now going on to 30 next year, almost going to be broken top 100. Yeah,

10:18

I think I think Billy story as much as anything else is evidence that in this sport in particular, there is no blueprint, how to get there, there is no production line, there is no pathway. People just have their own journey. And it doesn't mean like we don't have to, you have to be at this ranking at this age. This ranking at this age, this ranking at this age, people are different. Tennis is a simple game played by complex people. And people just come they reach their level at different ages. And But Billy was, he's never been a bad player. He's always been a good player. And the thing with Billy, he's just a competitor. He's a real competitor, a member in the pro league four years ago. Now since we had the UK pro leagues over COVID. And over locked down. And for anyone who doesn't know it was there played that there was seven weeks in a row, six weeks of qualifying matches, and then a Masters where you played seven matches in seven days. So you played a match every day. And then most players had a week off somewhere. And they were all the same tournament and all on the same court, and Billy got himself an Airbnb, and he played all seven weeks, he played 49 matches in seven weeks. And he didn't actually win any of those tournaments, either. If the game's gonna rob, I think, but the money was good, you know, but what Billy was like, you know that the money was good. I think Billy made himself I think he probably made himself about 20 grand from those from weeks. But that showed a lot of people what also a lot of people already knew that there are players like Billy Harris around and like you, you think about the amount of money that has gone into other players who are no longer in the game since Billy was 18. Like the the amount of money that we've stuck into juniors and guys who we won't even remember now on ESP and that kind of thing. And as far as I know, I don't think Billy has ever had any funding from the governing body. Which to me say two things that one, the governing body haven't got this right and two, you don't need them. Tennis is one sport where you don't need the support of the governing body. You can do it without them. And He's battled he's drove his transit van around around Britain and then around Europe and that kind of thing and played his futures and then broke through into challenges and now he's breaking through into being good players. Kabbalah is a serious player on

Daniel Kiernan  12:29

looking so comfortable in that environment as well. Jazz, doesn't it say about an I bang this? I bang this drum all the time, but competitive structure. And I know Dan, Dan Evans has been a big fan of Billy for a long time, you know, working class background, you know, this is the kid I know. He's pushed him to be hidden partner at Davis Cup. And you seen the story coming for a while. But I know conversations I've ever had with Dan is Dan's always. And not everything. Dan says you want to you want to take on board. But it's always always been big. On you get it get a tournament structure in place where people can play closer to home, and almost put the funding in an incentive manner. And the cream will rise to the top and I guess exactly what Carl was saying. There were barely this ultra competitive guy ease found these were right. It's it's taken some time. But probably COVID was probably the best thing for him, you know that he managed to save up some money during that time. You know, what's, what's your take on that?

13:28

Yeah, no, I totally agree. I spent all the time around. But I actually know, the guy who helped sponsor him. Really, really work Smith, these are with him all the time. And the one thing that he's always picked up on is just his work ethic. He's just like you say is, is not potentially got the best technique or anything like that. But he is just relentless. And actually, that really does a lot of the time take you that little bit further. And I think I totally agree with ever around 200 structures. I don't think that, you know, the way that Italian tennis is just absolutely flying at the moment. You know, you look most weeks as a challenger as a futures, they're holding also all kinds of events there. And I just love to see more of that in this country. Obviously, you know, we have Wimbledon, it's huge for a few weeks. And we've got a couple of challenges around the grass. But I just think now we have a period where we had a lot of 25, which is great. But I think a lot of both of those are actually transitioned up to challenge level now that I'd love to see those 20 fives being transferred into challenges and just giving people just steps. Steps on the ladder

Daniel Kiernan  14:33

to push on. Yeah, and just keep it keeping people in the game. You know, like, like I am quite a big believer and actually pulled jobs a good example as well. I was quite close. I remember Paul came out to the academy when he was about nine or 10 He came out with Richard Crabtree and an account of your quite close to the job story as well but I don't believe he was someone who was necessarily funded till he was probably I know he got heavily funded after but probably Up until 1516. You know, he was someone that Johnny Carmichael, you know that it did an amazing job with JB. And that, but I always think of someone's got the right work ethic is the right attitude, the someone that will take a chance on you, you know, and when and when that happens. I think it happens in a bit more of an organic way than sitting there feeling like we're entitled to help. You know, and I think I think yeah, and billion job. You've got quite good examples of that. Really? No, I

15:31

mean, yeah, Jimmy's. I mean, Johnny Carmichael, who was Jovi's coach from like his first ever Stanley scholarship until, until I guess him coming back from university really was I mean, Johnny is a superhero, absolute superheroes in terms of tennis, and for what he's done, and just a top lad that there are no, there are no better blokes in tennis. And I mean, Jimmy's give his story is just one of resilience and ability. So everyone always talks about resilience with God that he's a good tennis player as well. Like he's not he's not just somebody who's resilient and gritty. And that's how he does it, have to be able to play tennis as well. And I'll say that probably in that with Billy as well, like, it's not, it's not just that they're competitive and resilient, that they're talented tennis players as well. And, and Jimmy wasn't Yeah, I mean, even Jimmy wasn't getting a whole lot of support until late in his in his tennis pathway. I suppose so many. He came good. He wouldn't be wouldn't national 16 and under from out of nowhere, and then just really kicked kicked on from there. He went to college Young as well, I think I think he was only 16 or 17 when he went to college at a really strong college coach made a good decision on where to go with that.

Daniel Kiernan  16:42

Just just on that it again, because I think the the obvious thing for us sometimes to see as well is players get lucky that they've got someone like that in their life. But I actually would look at it another way, because Josh Coffey, who was his college coach, he was a great guy, great coach, because of how job he was, Josh would have been more invested in he would have EA, he would have or he would have got more from it because of how he is. And I think it's, it's sometimes we forget that as well. Yeah, I

17:10

think so. And Jimmy is a great, you know, he's a great lad. And he'll work hard. And he's humble, and he's just a great light to be around. It's a great laugh. You know, I still don't see him. Whenever I'm down in London. I'll see him next week at Wimbledon. And hopefully I think Johnny's probably going to come down usually does, but wouldn't be and as his day they're like strawberries and cream and that kind of stuff. Like this is like this is a couple of days out from all that who wouldn't, ya know, I think, you know, she's just a great story, but I don't think Jimmy won't be going in there thinking you know, we just kind of play around. And I think it's like, I was actually talking to Luke, who I coach just before we did the podcast, I was on the phone to him and he told me that JRuby and Ben Shelton and and he was saying, you know, it's, it doesn't it goes a little bit on notes as well. Jeremy is a good grasscourt player, Luke reminded me that the year that Nick Kiryas made final of Wimbledon in the first round Gob took curiosa five sets and he had two break points to serve for the match. And then maybe a really clever response I'm sure it'd be rube level rubover Eastburn I think that was the year before though keyonnah was the year before but he's got Yeah, I think yeah then I think then the year it was two years ago when he when he had the other break he five sets with curiosity and then curious end up making final no I don't think anyone else to two sets off him other than jurkovich and the final

Daniel Kiernan  18:27

and it's nice to have some northerners as well to talk about you know, absolutely it is yeah lovely southerners in our country and before threat because I need to bring Freddy in because ready he's going to we're all these people these bloody British people. You know, don't get Holger you'll get some Holger chat in a minute. Don't worry, I'm Caroline winning some

Freddie Nielsen  18:45

playing against Hillary don't worry about it. I'm I'm down. I follow British tennis. I feel like an honorary great these days.

Daniel Kiernan  18:51

I need to mention a couple more people. And also, I guess a big shout out to the college system for these for these results as well. But obviously Jacob Fernley winning in Nottingham, Charlie brooms just fairplay at the Charlie broom. You know, he's just bloody hung around. You know, putting some great results took out what Dan Evans and who else did you take out Nottingham? Noise? Yes, yeah. Knowing Harry Harris after he'd written well and serve and then and then also Giles Hoshea, which was good to see him a bit who basically jail saucy, if you don't know Giles has he imagined Jamie Murray's face. He's like the spitting image. And then I don't know if anyone knows Johnny binding. But Johnny binding from Sunland. They play a very similar keep looking across and I'm like, oh my god Johnny bindings playing or Jamie Murray's playing, but he's had some great results. And but the last one I do want to mention because we've talked about the real stories. I mean, I know that all real stories, but we've talked about the ones that people can relate to, I think in terms of in terms of the one that probably people can't relate to is that there's a 15 year old girl, British girl Hannah Klugman, who just seems to just take every last little thing and astride it seems like she's a star as long as she stays fit physically and mentally it's hard to see that she's not going to have a fantastic career and we're talking about someone the pedigree has already worked not to put that pressure on her. Not that she is gonna feel that pressure from me, but a future Grand Slam winner. How much have you seen of Hannah? Yeah,

20:24

I've watched quite a bit of Hannah I saw a couple of matches qualifying and to be honest, she's so complete it's quite amazing to to watch a player who's who's So Young who's developing a game she's she's so versatile she'll great great game. Lovely ways it's changed his pace uses a slice and I think Ben Aaron's done an unbelievable job with it but also fitness trainer Laura Dykeman like she just seems to be getting better at better physically as well. thing with her is she's a fantastic player, but I guess when when I was younger, Laura Robson was the standout one Heather Watson was the standout one and they were kind of on their own. But there's just so much depth now. And you know, when you look at British women's tennis there's so many so many good players coming through the three British women in the final round of colleagues and mighty banks as well. Steezy Riley has done an unbelievable job with her she took out Caleb day the day before lost lost in the last round of calls, but there's just so many good players coming through and I think that's really good for like taking that pressure off. But yeah, Hannah is so composed, takes it all in stride as well. So I'm sure she'll be playing the main draw next year, probably offering ranking. So she may want to see she got quarters of 100k youngest player to do that. I think it was May quarters so she's Yeah, she's pretty phenomenal.

Daniel Kiernan  21:39

Yeah, is as Louie Walsh would say on The X Factor. All those years ago, she got star quality star quality. That was always his favorite his favorite seeing and all of these great stories but the one Freddy that we were talking about off air before and you weren't familiar with it. And this one's a Chris one's a tough one. Katie Dunn and Katie Dunn's had a tough few years you know, Katie is a great girl. She's had a really tough few years injuries but she comes back always seems to be positive, always a great person to be around. She's playing in her first round qualities match six all in the third set. She wins a long point, Long Point like 2530 shots. And as she wins the point to go seven, five up in the third set tie break. She collapses to the floor in tears because in her mind, she has won the match and has won. And not only that for any, but the cameraman has ran on the court. The cameraman is videoing her the crowd is going crazy. And it was actually Katie Swan, who was watching you could see Katie Swan like shouting out to her. And as she stood up with the camera in her face, Katie said to her No, no, no, no, no, Katie. It's a tiebreaker to 10. Now, I'd love for this story to end with. She dusted yourself off. She told herself down. And she won the tie break. But unfortunately, she lost the tie break 10 Eight. So yeah, a difficult one to take. And I'm going to send this to you for it because somebody said it to me actually. Here in esport in the well. That's the coach's fault was always the bloody coach's fault when it goes wrong. That's the coach's fault. Why didn't the cut the court should have told her that before Matt before the match what the scoring system is another little thing to myself. And I thought I'm not sure that summer I would say to the players at a Grand Slam just remember, if it goes six all in the third. It's a tiebreaker to 10 I don't know what your your take on that is as a coach, it

Freddie Nielsen  23:42

happened to me last year, I was at French juniors with a girl and that exact same thing happened. And as it approached, I was thinking you probably should have addressed this. Of course she knows right? Of course he knows but and and obviously there's coaching available. So I tried to stream in, you know, all the way to 10 or something I didn't want to I didn't know how to deliver it without, like shocking the system. But I was also thinking because at the little pre chat the umpires have with the players before they say all these things, you know, best to three sets. If the ball change whatever. Remember 30 There's a 10 point break on all these things. So I was like, Yeah, of course she knows. She didn't know.

Daniel Kiernan  24:19

We don't listen, we don't listen to the air steward or the air stewardess do, we'd have no idea what they said and the exact same with an umpire.

Freddie Nielsen  24:26

But my girl then she didn't know. So when she got to seven, she was kinda like, but she was so far ahead that she didn't want it and she composed herself but I kind of took it upon myself as well. I thought I should have made sure that she know that she had known because that exact thing happened to me last year. I felt bad about it. And so that's just poor prep, because like you said, players are in the zone. It's a new rule, especially if she's a junior. She's not got that many slams under her belt. So I'm kind of I'm I at least I know for myself. I took responsibility for that. I felt it was my fault. I don't feel that's, you know, that's kind of also why one of the reasons I coach is there, I feel to make sure that the parents are on top of these things

Daniel Kiernan  25:06

in terms of interview, I'm gonna throw a bit of a statement out here and I want to, I want to hear and yours I want to bring it to you first. And I was thinking about it and I was thinking, why a British players seem to do well on grass. And because people will go on because they grew up they grow up on it. You know, that's when we say why do South Americans and Spaniards do well and clear when they grow up on it? That's what they grew up on it. They're so used to it and they do genuinely I live in Spain, players grew up playing on clay every day, let's take Paul job in halt. A Betty never saw grasscourt until he was at 90, you know, and maybe that's a good example. Maybe it's not. But I'm not convinced that British tennis players necessarily have a big exposure to grasscourt tennis any more than a foreigner that's coming over to play the junior circuits from a younger age, to then play the six, seven weeks. And I'm going to save this and then I'm going to throw it to you guys. So then I started thinking, who else is going on grass? It is a generalization. And of course this is a generalization. And I was I was these are in general it seems to you know that the Aussie when I start thinking of names, and then I started thinking quite often Americans are as well as seems to be some quite good Americans. So then is there a link between being an English speaking nation and playing good on grass like so that so then it got me thinking well, actually, if I take Australia and America especially America, but I think Australia is similar, they have big overhead sports, you know, there's a lot of overhead sports that happen in in their countries, you know, whether it's American football, baseball, you know, there's cricket you know, there's lots of you know, these sports, they're almost maybe more complete athletes or maybe they serve better and then I then maybe I'm just absolutely bullshitting and there's no there's no connection at all, but I just kind of wanted to open that up to the floor and Valve I would imagine this will be a one that you might have a couple of opinions on.

27:04

Yeah, I mean, I disagree slightly quinoa with what you're saying there about not growing up I don't think they've grown up on it. I don't think it's like the Spaniards and South Americans with clay where it's basically all they play on but I do think they get quite a lot of exposure like you said Jimmy there wouldn't have played on it I mean, I mean we have a big you'll have played as well key and other big like summer tournament in Ilkley every year which Gob would have played probably every year from being 10 There's also like why

Daniel Kiernan  27:28

the matches one week a year like that

27:31

there is a big there was a big grasscourt center in the US to hold the Yorkshire's in a hole on a big grassy dots and yeah, why did he I mean it's it barely had any grass on it given but Like always I'm indoors anyway. Imagine the Wimbledon behind the baseline after two weeks that's what the whole courts at ypi used to be like and the indoors care now that place will would so you actually like playing on the grass was the slowest surface you could get at that center and there are quite a lot of random clubs I mean, I played it quite a lot of grass cut I'm from Barnsley and I play quite a lot of grass court tennis because they used to be like local leagues and we're all I'm not saying you have a kid I'm not saying like that I'm not definitely not saying grown up on it or anything like that but I think they've had exposure to it more so than than a lot of the South Americans would and I think like differently from like back in the day when when I guess our generation when you got the the the guys who couldn't play on it like the Spaniards and that they they just could never play because of the speed of the court. I don't find it's that anymore and I've watched this week at Queen's quite a bit I watched last week we use quite a bit of singles and when Billy beats at your very I watch that match and then I watched quite a bit this week of the singles and for me that the main difference now is it's not the ball speed at all is that guys they just can't move on it they move on a grass court and that is for me is that is the biggest difference like what if you just take like sort of knee height up of these guys they're not struggling with the pace of the ball anymore, but they just don't know how to move and and I think that's the thing that that's the main difference from even getting three or four weeks on it every summer with British tours like there are like I think yeah, as you'll have played it. There are about five or six British tours on grass and you get like Felixstowe for instance. Yeah. Maybe you're

Daniel Kiernan  29:25

on grass.

29:26

We actually grew up around the corner literally 50 meters from my house. Three grass coats. That is literally what we grew up playing on the first

29:33

place and they Soldier The first place you ever saw Jay was when I was that that? Is it like the roll Royce center. Awesome. Yeah, so

29:40

rolls right. Yeah, Rolls Royce. How cool. Yeah, definitely. That's we didn't live near there. We live further out into that little over to the grass talk club there. But yeah, Rolls Royce are the last grass courts in the army now. But yeah, we grew up playing on it. I mean, the thing for me is that I think British players grew up playing on indoor surfaces and they're so quick that I think we Learn to deflect really well, we learn to sort of absorb pace. You know, we were sort of Norwegians and

Daniel Kiernan  30:05

duration surveys and

30:09

but I definitely have a lot more grass courts in I think we have a lot more grass courts and like I say, we grew up playing on it. And I think that does make a big difference in terms of like countries. I mean, it's an interesting one because I actually saw eight out of 16 men from the last round collies were actually French. So they had four men that qualified. And yeah, I mean, eight out of 16 50% of the last pay our 32 men in the last round equalities were French which is quite interesting 25% of the draw. So I mean, I don't think there's any sort of nation as such that aren't that are better on the surface but I totally understand what you're saying around the Americans a big says the audience I find that they just love coming forwards and generally they're always really good doubles players as well. And they just feel like I mean, when I watched the LCS they they're coming in Alex bolt seems to just mold to the grass whenever he whenever he goes, you know, he he was one of those players that literally got in last minute and when we Carly's and then I think he I think he went on to live he calls and he

Daniel Kiernan  31:10

was two sets to love down to five themes to

31:13

find it home

31:14

sorry, 13 hours and in Australia as well. I remember the first time I ever went to Australia, I went to visit my uncle in Perth and just walking around like the suburbs, they have these strange clubs in Perth in particular that just like one or two grass cots, and they have this league that they haven't so much league tennis in Australia, like local leagues and that kind of thing. I know I know quite a few tennis coaches who've gone over there and done summers like playing for the teams and also coaching and that kind of thing. And it's there's loads of grass Scots in Australia, or there were I mean, that was 20 years ago when I

Freddie Nielsen  31:48

mean the court thing I think everything that Jasmine Cal said is spot on I don't have much to add but as a foreigner we don't even have access to courts. Like we can't even find them so it besides England, in mainland Europe you can find the grasscourt anywhere. I think there's two summer house owners in Denmark that have a cross court privately but you don't even get it but in England you have you do have access to those courts and also like like the point there's a lot of nations that seem to do all right and say the overhead one to the to the Americans I don't necessarily think the Americans are that good as a nation there's just such a big number of players that I could attend us that are going to do well but there's also some obscure nations that are all right I mean there's always a funny one to me but it'll pay off from from Argentina I think grass is his favorite surface like why how did that happen? I don't think it's just kind of like Cal says these days you can move on and you can play because the speed of the court is out but before that it was also like yesterday you used to play the indoor kind of tennis where it's quick rallies and you're comfortable with the pace and this but it's simply it's simply not true that the brace Brits have the same kind of exposure to grass court tennis as the rest of the world because we just don't have the course the

33:03

last thing I was gonna say another major thing as well I think but later on in development is that most of these people are we talking about have played county week and county although I was gonna bring up county week as well actually yeah although it's although it's doubles you know, it is I mean they've kind of shortened the format quite a bit now but county week was is three matches a day for five days against decent opponents and again all those doubles it's moving, you've got the grass under your feet and that kind of thing. So a lot of these guys I know like both lads I coach I think they've probably both played seven or eight years of county where we get least it's Prusa as well.

33:39

All day for that they've

Daniel Kiernan  33:42

all got a badge rotator cuff that's what we know about County. County we you're the one that's got the strapping on your rotator cuff because I did I gave it and Mike you've touched on all of the things I had down I actually the leagues in the club tennis I think was a big one. But then my last point on it because there's such big margin when I just looked at their Giles Hussey, he's 359 in the world. You don't often see someone 360 Beaten someone 30 in the world like he did yesterday. You know jobbies 290 just beating the US Open semifinalist, you know, like, it seems to be a surface. I know we get a little bit of that unclear but it seems to be a surface. So let me flip this one out there as well. Because I think certainly my era of Brett's did this with Claire. It was almost like oh Claire can't do it. Can't do it. Can't do it allergic declare can't do it. I understand like we're behind the baseline and change my grip. Remember Kevin Herky. Do anyone remember Kevin Herky it was this guy. This guy used to go around playing all the futures in the UK or the satellites. And when he played on grass, and this is quite an extreme story, but I think it was a little bit like this. If he played grass he served volleyball serves. And then when the clear court season came around, you'd see him and he Change his grip to like this massive western grip. And then he would go like five meters behind the base like and start just completely grinding four hands out. And I think the mindset and the way we've looked at it, and if we look over the years, I don't remember who it was that said that grasses for cows to wheat, it was not real. So

Freddie Nielsen  35:18

I think it was either missed Aza or villous. Real

Daniel Kiernan  35:21

sunglasses for smoking. Smoke. I think it was an analogy that said, anyway, that is more a little bit more recent than those guys. But my question to put out there that again, this has never, it's never 100% One way or the other. Do you also think maybe the movement bit and the way people approach it is actually a little bit of mindset of just the unknown, of like, you know, I know, and I'm not going to name players, but I know a couple of players that were like, we're just going to just turn up and play wimpy qualities. And these players that actually did that actually won around and had an opportunity to win the second round, I think, if they'd gone with the mindset of actually, I'm going to go and play service and I'm going to play in Nottingham, I'm going to get the work in, then they're going to turn a bit when be qualities a bit more prepared. Whereas almost the unknown of the surface almost kind of turned some people off. And that mindset is all just wrong. I don't know if any of that you see that at all, for any yes

Freddie Nielsen  36:20

or no, I think maybe also the lowering the bar and giving them theory expectations might give them everything plus or any kind of feeling that might be why they went. But yeah, I think there is an element of that. I think it was more so back in the day, because like Cal said, There's not an painful and it's basically similar to the tour claycourt rally, I think it doesn't take much to adapt. So I do think that you just apply yourself, then you can be comfortable. And there is it is still that the one surface where you can get anomalies, like you just said, CPD in Nirvana is probably one of those results, where you hear the results you can like, yeah, I can see that happening. The guy has never seen a grasscourt in his life. He said before he came here, so but at the same time, it might also be a case of the grass court season is so short, it's going to be a hell of an effort. Am I really going to put all that effort in when I'm most likely not going to do particularly? Well? I can see that side of it, too. So I guess it's a little bit of both in my opinion, I think you you obviously can, but before you know what the grass court season is over?

37:27

Yeah, I totally agree. I think that that's one of the big things where I think people don't invest the time in it. You know, I think it's three or four weeks, and it's coming, it's gone. And the one thing for me is that you're even during the grass court season, you have challenges that are just the same level that you have that are on Play. So these players don't necessarily have to play on grass, they literally can come play one week and then leave whereas, you know, if you have this in a clique or you know, there is no grass talk tournaments during the build up to run and girls, so I think because the season is so short, it does probably put people off investing the time and effort unless it you know, they think that making up my game.

38:08

I don't know whether anyone saw this. But again, Luke told me just before we came on air, that Novotny as 100% of his ranking points are on clay called from clay. And he's also the first person ever to is made his grand slam debut as a seed like no one else has ever done that. Yeah, I mean, I will say this about grass. And I've expressed this opinion the last few weeks to various people. I do think it's a surface that will disappear in the next 15 to 20 years. I don't think it's feasible that we keep playing on it. I think there's too many injuries happening on it. And I think in terms of again, I'll come back to the movement guys are getting faster, they're getting bigger. And I just don't think it's feasible that we keep doing it. You see more and more guys going down like I remember two years ago at Wimbledon Mannarino went down with a bad one. Serena Williams I think maybe no last Wimbledon, she ruptured ligament, Dan Evans last week at Queen's,

Daniel Kiernan  39:08

I think just knackered his MCL on vondrousova as well. Yeah,

39:12

I think it's happening more and more and more. And I don't think it's feasible that I do think it will disappear. Or I think it should because I think it's I don't think it's safe. I think we get to a stage where it's not safe to keep to keep playing on it. If the game keeps moving as it's going. When you think about it is the only sport that's played on grass that you don't play in studs are spikes, and obviously can't play studs and spikes on a tennis court. But every other sport that you play on you play instance, and Spike now includes golf where you're only walking around day one.

Freddie Nielsen  39:43

I do like that part of it for Chris, because I do like that it's the one surface where it does take a little bit of skill, right? It takes some skills in the movement to not slide around and that's why it's so difficult. And I feel like a lot of the modern generation they're still taking off so aggressively. In the side and pushing off and they're sliding around and maybe I'm not too up to date with all the injuries but I feel like the grass is only getting better and maybe it's because people are playing so much from the baseline compared to back in the day where you played a lot of certain Molly has the injuries increase. I don't know I just feel like people are slipping maybe a little bit more because like you say Kel they're not moving as subtly as they used to be but I kind of like that that there's a little bit of variation to tennis so it's not just old brute power. It's

40:27

ready defending grasp. So there's Wimbledon like I don't want to see the grandkids going What did you win your grand slam on grand?

Freddie Nielsen  40:44

Lawnton is right, it's and as long as we will win this round. I think it'll be on grass. So I think we just have to come to terms with it. But I do like it. I mean, I do like that there's something different there. It does look good. I think it's here to stay as long as Wimbledon's around, but day

Daniel Kiernan  41:00

one center buildin that is never played on fills me with anxiety watching that match. I was watching it was I think it was Jack Draper played jurkovich A couple of years ago. It was just like neither of them could foot down without just slip sliding everywhere. Like and I think that I think it's really the center court, isn't it because all the other courts get some play. And we're here at East born on Nottingham, the courts have all got planned. It's all okay. But it's that that first year, they look so beautiful, but it's too it's too lush and too fresh to be able to stand up on it really is on that on

Freddie Nielsen  41:41

the days where you would want to get it to get a chance against an adult kind of guy because the more the grass get one of the more comfortable he's gonna get in this movement. But you know, if you if you haven't, he's lost a few of his first rounds because like the Russell man has to Darcy's and he had he had to brown some big ones I remember and Justin Brown, the green of the grass is the more difficult it is for these guys. And I think they're a guy like Rafa, if he if he survived the first few rounds, he's much more likely to win it as SAP instead of losing the first three rounds. So like I said, I do like that aspect. I don't want people to get hurt. I don't know if too many people that get hurt long term there obviously is that issue. But tennis is a skill game. And there's also a skill to the movement and floating around like a butterfly and yeah, adaptability, right, even then get French Open to prepare for breath. That's the same anymore. But I do like

42:35

I think as well I do find it crazy that we have a surface that gets worse as the tournament goes on. And it's at its worst finals day. And I said somebody yesterday when somebody else was defending it not as vigorously as Freddie's here. But I said like, imagine us open in about two months time. Imagine if at the end of the end of each day in the US Open, you go out and take a little pickaxe to the baseline for about 20 minutes. And then you do that every single day. And by the final, the baseline is just a complete mess of dirt and dust and slip in us. That's how ridiculous it is with Wimbledon. Because in two weeks time, like you're saying, I agree entirely with what you're saying here on the first week. But in the second week, it's just that baseline is a mess. Has anyone played on how you played tennis on that? On that though? I mean, a couple of sort of double of interesting developments. I know that this year apparently is the first year and they trialed it last year they're using this I think it's something like 25% will be fake synthetic grass to try and keep the color of just around the baseline they trialed it on some of the practice courts last year. And I've heard that they are putting them on the match courts this year to try and keep the color similar and you can't tell they actually do it in football features. It's about I think in football pitches, it's 5050 now in the Premier League pictures it's 5050 actual actual grass and synthetic grass. That's why that when you look at old pictures from like 20 years ago to now there's never they're perfectly green all over and that's that's because of the synthetic grass in there. But on a trying to do the similar thing in the Yorker this week, the tournament that's going on and they started doing this last week apparently at the end of each day they spray paint the baseline green which is great which is equally crazy that we're building and trying this scientific method of weaving in synthetic grass into the into the ground and in New York In New York they just get a kind of spray paint out

Freddie Nielsen  44:28

there good stuff

Daniel Kiernan  44:30

you know talking of talking to players not wanting to play on grass another interesting one so Amina Beck TAS was number one alternate in the women's draw for literally weeks upon weeks upon weeks until about two hours before the qualities draw was made and what that shows us is as much as people might not want to they certainly seem to like to turn up for their paycheck you know, it's not stopping people from turning up for the old money and and actually what happened there which is which is Write an amazing story actually was Tom Lamma vich, who made final it in Edgbaston, she was in on her protected ranking. And then what they did is they gave her a wildcard into the main draw, so she didn't need to use her protected ranking. And what that then did is it then pushed Amina into the main draw. Because if they'd used that wildcard on someone that was, traditionally, last few years, they've done it with the winners of Ilkley. And I think that was Rebecca Marino, who won Ilkley this year. And that would have kept Amina and that would have been quite amazing, right? That, you know, she stayed on that number one, and that ultimately is for for so many weeks, so as the prize money rises, and I think now Wimbledon is the second highest behind the US Open and it's like 50 million prize from this year, it's still going to attract the players to to rock up

Freddie Nielsen  45:51

especially also in quality is there's a big price tag in Collister Yeah, I

45:54

think it's 10% increase pretty much I think 15% of the first round is 15 grand, the first round call is now so that's helping pay for a lot of flights and hotels, you know, players who are playing Callie's can effectively from their tennis even if they lose in all four majors first round follies,

Daniel Kiernan  46:12

which is amazing, right? It's gonna that's gonna move the rankings. When they did studies, they did studies a few years ago, it was what like somewhat like, you had to be 150 in the men's game and 110 or something in the women's game to kind of break even if you were doing it properly with a coach and things like that. It should be if you if you're making all four Grand Slam qualities within a calendar year. You should be making money out of the sport, you know that it should be. You should be in a comfortable position where you can you can do it correctly. So I think I think that has to be it has to be a good thing. Cow before we move into the dark horse. What come on what's your I see the hand up? I mean only the hand I was gonna say

46:51

Yeah, well, we're talking about players who like liking grass or not playing grass is always worth keeping an eye on Casper Ruud who says that he is training for grass after Roland Garros is going and playing golf. And and these results at Wimbledon normally show that that's what he's been doing for the last few weeks and I know it's this year again, he hasn't played a single tournament. But the interesting thing to keep an eye on there is he plays golf and one of the best golfers on the tour. I mean, he's rarely on the tour is a doubles player called will Blumberg who is mates with Casper Ruud, and you'll notice that will Bloomberg is playing doubles this year with Casper Ruud and will Bloomberg

Freddie Nielsen  47:28

play Wimbledon right? Yeah, well, yeah.

47:32

Last year and the year before, and we'll Bloomberg and excellent golfer and good mates with Casper Ruud, and I think they basically have three weeks of golf and then go and pretend to play tennis at Wimbledon for over a week or so. And well Bloomberg also hasn't played a tennis match since April, but he's in main draw doubles with Casper Ruud, and I expect not for very

Daniel Kiernan  47:50

long I had a little giggle calve as often I do on Twitter, or acts as the now call it. You definitely still one of my favorites to follow. And it was Casper Ruud was at some award show or some some red carpet with his glamorous girlfriend and I think you tweeted that. Why does he have John isn't a suit on?

48:13

It is like you've got to if anyone hasn't seen it, you've got to look at Casper Ruud. Right, a phenomenal looking lad, like a phenomenal looking lad. And you either have to make a serious effort for to be that good looking. And look as ridiculous as Casper Ruud does in that feature. Like, it's remarkable that you've got him and it can't be a style. It can't be something that's a style, it's just too long for him.

Daniel Kiernan  48:37

I'm not going to cut I'm not going to comment on caspers look, you know, I'm not I don't feel well positioned to be able to comment on on gas. So the years we've we this is often a bit of a bone of contention on control. The controllables is the dark horse selections. And as as I said to you earlier in my message, what we're really looking for here is where we're looking to get some names out there that maybe someone who's not necessarily following tennis massively closely. They might not have heard of them, they might not be quite sure of them. But it just gives them someone to look at someone that maybe makes a bit of a run to the fourth round. You know, pushes on to the second week of Wimbledon. We've had this is kind of changed into people picking Grand Slam champions previous Grand Slam champions we had I think rube Lev somebody tried to give us a dark horse one time, and that absolutely doesn't count. So I'm gonna I'm gonna actually go to Fred.

Freddie Nielsen  49:41

Also because some of this is dark, dark horses for quarterfinals and stuff if it's just for the title, but if you bring out number 13 in the world as a dark horse for the quarterfinal,

49:53

okay, I'm gonna go on I know, this is crazy, but I'm gonna go with it. He's not crazy. He's unbelievable. I think I agree with Jack roper. Like Jack's playing phenomenal. Lefty on the ground, obviously won a couple of weeks ago 28th in the world, so I feel like it's a little bit of a dark horse. He's not you know, but Well, he's good. Am I okay, I'll give you one other I think he's also doing well in my Orca is Sam offner say play live and last round colleagues a few years ago, I think may 4, one at Roland Garros a few years ago but he's also made the random Wimbledon and he's very very good on the grass great surf. And just it's bullets he could he could do

Daniel Kiernan  50:36

come on in Friday who's your who's your who your dark horses men or women we could we'll do them joint

Freddie Nielsen  50:41

so I already decided they did this a little bit for for a Danish news outlet. But I actually think it might be time for a break to have a run so so give me Katie boulder. He's also been playing some good tennis and

50:53

I thought seeds weren't allowed Draper and bolter. Oh, yeah. But

Freddie Nielsen  50:58

I have I have to stick to this because I did it before the grass court season so I'm I can't change now. Yeah,

Daniel Kiernan  51:04

I mean, you I think you've got the three British girls you've got. You've actually got Harriet Dart as well. Who's someone who can win matches at Wimbledon for sure where that's coming from a bit further and Emma Rata Carney who had her biggest ever ranking win yesterday against Jasper Gula. I don't know what the hell happened today. Actually, I didn't see the match there but she lost to and to discuss it kina so it doesn't I'm not sure what that Rata Carney was got a big run in her. She certainly got a big match in her. But I would say Katie balter is is absolutely someone that could have a run. And I think we'll maybe let you sneak it. We'll we'll let you sneak it Freddie.

Freddie Nielsen  51:43

I mean, for all the obscure ones all going back to people that weren't even in the draw. I think I've gotten a bit mainstream here.

Daniel Kiernan  51:50

Well, there's another interesting one that I that Parrikar to Carl brought to our attention before the French Open. I don't know if you saw that 159 in the world, but he had to play qualities because he caught fire after the cut and then he lost in last round qualities hold

52:10

as well that if he did B and Billy Harris it Queens then he was getting the wildcard that Charlie broom got so Billy's done Charlie a massive favor there but I also find that weird with the wildcards that the All England Club give out anyway like that you could have won four challenges this year. But if you don't but but then you can win four challenges if you you don't get anything but if you win one of the grass one you're in like I always find that a strange way to dish out wildcards if I'm honest.

Freddie Nielsen  52:39

Welcome a Brit. Yeah,

52:42

I think is really tough. There's so many good guys in Cali Yeah, gas gay came around. It was asking around for one or So personally, my bestie Parrikar said there's so many good guys got found obviously one elderly, so I thought he might make the last one. But yeah, they gave it to the eight Brits which is pretty amazing. Off the fees got one last year. Right. He won. He won Leon so I think Giovanni was probably hoping for a similar similar thing after he won it this year. I

53:10

mean, yeah, just like I said, like you said, kid I brought brought him up at the French and I think it will be the last Wimbledon he doesn't get in. And I think in years to come, he's going to be a real threat on the grass because he is a serious player

Daniel Kiernan  53:21

and who called

Freddie Nielsen  53:22

to finish my Men's I'm going to I want to bring in young limit golf, I still feel he has a Grand Slam run in him. And I think grass is a good surface for him. He's he's a he's a great player who hasn't really to my recollection. And I've had a particularly good run in in the big tournaments besides Madrid last year, and I think he's got it in him. So if he if he gets a if he gets a decent draw, I think he might be to disrupt a lot of the good guys later on in the in the draw, if you get a little bit of competence. He's got a big game. Good attitude likes to come forward.

Daniel Kiernan  54:01

He was on my list. I tend to have long lists. But he was out when I went through the rank

Freddie Nielsen  54:08

and you've covered all your bases.

Daniel Kiernan  54:10

Well, he was he was one of three, one of three. So one I knew you weren't going to give me but because obviously he's a household name, but he's also not been playing the game, but Knott's Berry TV, you know, parity and if we go on ranking berrettini He's way down the ranking list. But he's obviously someone that beggin we know that he can win on grass, right. I then add stuff and then my last one is Jordan Thompson. I just think it

54:39

online use Thompson I was gonna say Jordan Thompson I mean he's an excellent grasscourt plays an excellent tennis player but he got injured at Queen's I don't know what his fitness levels are like again and grasscourt injury I did in the middle of the semifinal match. You got injured during that time I was wheeled If he's he's quite good friends with Henry. And as we were leaving Henry had a word with him and he said he was pretty pretty badly injured so I don't know if he's going to be I imagine he will be fit but I don't know what what level of fitness he's going to be at. Yeah, just feels

Daniel Kiernan  55:13

actually this year. I don't know if he's rankings higher now than it was. I think it is. Probably is what top 40 Now,

Freddie Nielsen  55:20

it must be any winners. Table in Los Cabos. Yeah. Maybe

Daniel Kiernan  55:24

even Los Cabos. He just just feels like he's put some matches together a bit more this year. I don't know. There seems to be a little bit more substance behind them. And again, it goes back to did

Freddie Nielsen  55:35

he changed his forehand a little bit. He's working with metaswitch now. I think he's done really well on those routes with his players. He also helped Chris O'Connell. So I think there's a little bit of expected there maybe happening.

Daniel Kiernan  55:46

And what about the women's side called?

55:48

I was I haven't been up to date on the women's To be honest, kidding. I was just gonna say like, another one of my men's although, again, kind of been stiffed on this today, because I was gonna say Xinzheng thinks an excellent player, but he's actually just sneak the last seat in place. But I think there's a lot more to come from him. You know, the Chinese have been looking for a male player for some time, who can do some damage and he can play but he's sneakers 32nd seed today. But yeah, I think he could go deep. The problem he's going to have is if you get one of those low seating places, you're gonna get one of the top four in the third round. Although you don't know where Djokovic sits at the minute. Until you I don't think Jack Richard want to be facing him in the third round if he's not entirely fit yet.

Freddie Nielsen  56:29

I agree. That's a very good, good show. I've been seeing him play from credit, as well. He's really gotten good.

Daniel Kiernan  56:34

Does jurkovich play? Yeah, like without

56:36

a shadow of a doubt he'll play? Yeah, I think so

56:39

too. Yeah, that's talent. See, as you get older, Surely even if you're not 100%, you want to play as many. I'd be surprised if he doesn't play Give me Give

Freddie Nielsen  56:48

a thumbs up today saying that he was gonna play or be in the drawers something nice.

56:53

He's arranged the practice set on center court, which, you know, it's like one of the set they give them and they were saying if he wasn't going to, if he wasn't going to play wouldn't be playing wouldn't take that, you know, he's not no longer just hitting balls. He's playing a full set, but

Freddie Nielsen  57:09

I think I might be making this up. But I think I read somewhere that somebody was asking me to just want to play any kind of a fan some obscure, we kind of gave him a thumbs up but maybe I'm missing that up or confusing myself.

Daniel Kiernan  57:21

I'm gonna give give a couple of couple of women I had the Brits down was as a as a blanket, I think fair play to the British girls right now. I think they're looking great. And I expect one of them double run, if not a couple. And then a couple of names. One that I don't think any of you will be thinking I'm gonna say greet minute.

Freddie Nielsen  57:44

seconds that I think you're gonna bring that up No,

Daniel Kiernan  57:46

above watch the last couple of weeks. And Paul, she she can really serve and what she does on the serve, actually, she has one of these bowl tosses on the serve that you think she's going to maybe kick it. But from that ball position, she can go flat, she can move the ball wide. And I just I just think it's it's actually a very good second serve. And then when I've seen a play of the ball goes to a forehand, she is just she is playing big, big, big of that forehand. She's someone that I think could do some damage, you know, she's someone I, I would expect that the seeds wouldn't want to see actually on a grasscourt. So that one could be interesting. And the other one and I think I mentioned the French Open hand I've mentioned before, I like her, she's my she's my new and this and this and moreover, who I think last in qualities, and she was in qualities this time. Is that Diane Perry and again, she just got some nice, just got some real ability. You know, I think she she she put up a good performance at Nottingham a couple of weeks ago. Again, she serves better than many of us think she has this ability on the forehand really hold the ball you know she can hold she can freeze anticipation and she can really get the girls moving. He has the ability to get out of a bit of trouble with a nice slice backhand. Yeah, I think she's got some real ability actually. And I think her skill set matches up quite nicely quite nicely on the grass court. So those are maybe a couple of true dark horses to to watch out for any anybody else before we before we move we're going to have to it's impossible for us not to in fact actually let's jump in there now because I'm going to jump in with a reading a tweet. And this was like I was like my heart sank when I read read this I thought oh my god somebody's somebody is cocked up big time here. No and what it was, it was Judy Murray. And she tweeted when your private medical details are leaked to the media, by someone you thought you could trust so disappointing. an FYI. He's not ruled out yet. So it's anyone that's gone. What's that about? Well, about three, four days ago, it was quite heavily reported that Andy Murray was ruled out of Wimbledon, after an operation on a spinal cyst, and it seems there, and Judy is not given any names, but she's very much implied that they know who it is. That's in their in their circle of trust that has leaked those medical records out to the journalists. It's then been reported by some mainstream journalists, but including I believe that maybe even the Wimbledon tweeted out, the Tennis Channel, even tweeted it out as well that he officially was out of the event. Now. It's a pretty sensitive subject.

Freddie Nielsen  1:00:46

I think it was ATP, who tweeted it? And then the mediated ATP. Yeah.

Daniel Kiernan  1:00:50

And it's then come out, it's all a little bit coy right now, but I think we can all see that this is the time has come. You know, the really the time has come that Andy Murray is is moving away from the sport. And he is doing everything in his power to get on those courts and SW 19. Next week, you know, is it going to be on the singles court? probably unlikely. Is it going to be maybe that He just tries to play one match? And has his has he send off possibly, but obviously it's it just it feels to me is slowly accepting that it's time slits buddies, he doesn't seem to be at ease. With the decision. It's quite it's quite quite heartbreaking to see it actually. Because it's it's not something that it feels that's in his is completely in his control. And it's not only where he wants to wants to wants to go out jazz.

1:01:47

No, I totally agree. I think Andy would genuinely play for as you know, I think he's tried to pay for as long as you physically can. He still loves it. I mean, he changed rackets. Can I change rackets just not long ago, like he's still looking for the 1%? Like, genuinely, you know, I think it's a it's a real shame. And obviously, like you say, there was obviously someone that in their camp that they felt they could trust that it's like that. So I do hope he just manages to get out on court, even if it's on the doubles court. And you know, he really gives it his best obviously is not played with daily, I think in the doubles, or the read somewhere. So it would be a wonderful way to, for him to leave the sport, although I think he still wants to do the Olympics, from what I heard. So it'll be interesting to see what happens over the next few days. I know they're, they're not rolling it out, or they're leaving it as long as they physically can, before they make a decision. Yeah, I

Daniel Kiernan  1:02:42

think he's literally come out today and said, If he doesn't make it and he doesn't make the Olympics, then he will, you will put another tournament in. But I think he's saying he will finish on the tennis court, you know, if he doesn't want to just kind of, I think what what happened at Queen's and just being physically incapable of performing or playing tennis. That's not how he wants to, wants to go out. So yeah, we're gonna find out a little bit more on that on over the next few days. But that brings me guys to the winners and the winners of the event. Yeah, a bit late the French Open, it was it was relatively open. So we thought data to write off those that were injured before. And on the women's side, we got Saba Lenka and Rebecca, who have both pulled out of tournaments over the last couple of weeks. We've got EGA, who we know doesn't particularly like the grass courts, we got corecore, who just can't see grasping her favorite surface as well. So does that open up for Eddie somebody on the women's side of the draw? Or is it gonna go to one of the big hitters sabalenka or rabac. And I

Freddie Nielsen  1:03:53

think it could definitely open up, but I think it's very much they're so loose. They are the most dangerous players on the surface. But I do think that some of the players just behind them will feel pretty good about their chances. So semi open, but there's obviously the element of the illness of repacking. If you're gonna stay still healthy for the two weeks that but yeah, I do think it's, for me, it's seven, I guess, the main favorites, but I do think the ones behind will feel good about their chances. And like we said, that Anoma the variables of the grass, the green grass, the beginning of the tournament, the luck of the draw might play and so and I also feel like that sibling and Rebecca and Rebecca now only has one I haven't seen enough for them to think that they're just comfortably gonna win a slam as a favorite and so, so nice to see them win a little bit more because before we I kind of just hang my hat on. It's not like an EGA and grandchildren's. That's what I mean. So So I do think it's, it's theirs to lose, but it's still going to be interesting to watch Have one of my favorites Coco, who is also one that Cal really writes highly I think we'll be looking for for it to do some damage.

Daniel Kiernan  1:05:08

So who's your pick on picking sub? Sub Alenka?

1:05:12

Isn't it really I won't go with someone like samurai but my heart like genuinely, I want to win. Like genuinely I think he's a brilliant player. I think he's got so many weapons and got so much she needs to win so I'm ready for her. So I'm gonna pick ons

Daniel Kiernan  1:05:29

we would love that. And calve I think

1:05:33

I think Frontech might win it I'm gonna go my usual predictions from take a winner and lead she plays Rebecca and I actually think

Daniel Kiernan  1:05:41

bank or Daniel Collins, you've been

1:05:43

Danny on college does have a terrible record against Danielle Collins. Danielle

Daniel Kiernan  1:05:47

Collins. Danielle Collins has got Danielle Collins as the new ostapenko This year I

1:05:53

wouldn't be surprised to see our soccer in a run either. I think I've said before I mean, when we talked about the grass Scott's earlier that Wimbledon are pretty much grab hardcourts that the pace that they play is that the hardcore and as we discussed at length in this group, I was like it doesn't really move anyway, so the movement doesn't really prevent Ambra she basically stands in the middle and wax the ball.

Daniel Kiernan  1:06:21

I tell you what I get I get a lot of stick for seeing seeing a lot of names and covering bases. But can we just can we just point out that Calvin does double the amount of names that I do every single time. I mean, if he's not right, if he's not right, I mean series.

1:06:38

I never get it right. I look at it right I'm trying to find one trying to get one year and show someone my French Open one that I said I had good. My friend joven pigs Darko speaks with good, like Ebola had about 50 match points against Runa and lost them and pet Eric. He didn't

Freddie Nielsen  1:06:58

have a match coin but let's match point.

1:07:04

Breaker. Yeah.

1:07:06

Yeah, that's it. Yeah. And Impex Parrikar do I picked at the start of the week of Leon. Like he was hampered by the fact that he wouldn't Leon I said that before he played a match in Lyon, but he was my dark horse. And he ended up pampering himself by by doing too well. So my pick was too good.

Daniel Kiernan  1:07:22

If anything, so it's your money. Attitude.

1:07:28

Yeah, I think I think it's Frontech kind of win one sooner or later. And I think it might be this time. I don't see any reason why she wouldn't be good on at Wimbledon. She's won the juniors there and absolutely crushed everyone she beat Remo Radek annual love and live I think in June is when she wanted I'm gonna I'm

Daniel Kiernan  1:07:44

gonna make an exciting we're gonna go different to all of you guys. I'm gonna go Rebecca. I said Rebecca I said Sean tech and so you've got the record Calvin's gone eager with an asterix. Come on. One name one eager. I'm gonna go Rebecca. Yeah. I think she was gonna win it. And then on the men's side, now there's a few that feels it could be somewhat open. I'm gonna say mine first. Just because I always get pushed last. The best. The current best male player in the world is going to win Wimbledon. I think he's the best player in the world right now. Yannick sinner is my pick. But I just got I think he's really good. I think he's really really, really good. And there's no Asterix. There's no What if there's no excuses. It's just straight up. Yannick sinner, men's Wimbledon 2024 champion.

Freddie Nielsen  1:08:43

I mean, if you did if you installer is the courts are much more suitable in Wimbledon. Like they're basically basically hardcore these days, three years time for swings, and he's been playing well there the last few years. So not a bad call. Also not a very courageous call. But all right, well, well, hold

Daniel Kiernan  1:09:01

on hold on. The wind is not Darkhorse, this is the winner. That I mean, it's not we're not trying to be fancy. We just gone on who we think will win and

Freddie Nielsen  1:09:11

absolutely not, but you build it up as if it was the most unbelievable cold in the history of calling.

Daniel Kiernan  1:09:16

What I let me let me add on I actually am not sure who beats Yannick sinner when I think about it. Five sets on grass. I think he rushes I think he rushes

Freddie Nielsen  1:09:28

on the final when the grass is not green anymore. There's no spray paint here. No. Locks,

Daniel Kiernan  1:09:34

it will be dusty. Yeah. Okay, so over to you over to Freddy, you get the next pick. You can. You can follow me if you want as well. I've

Freddie Nielsen  1:09:42

got Carla. I was very impressed by what he did last year. And I think he has got so much skill and versatility and I think he matches up against a good match as well up against the you know, the Favorites jazz.

1:09:53

Oh, I'm going to be different. The two not very different, not very creative. I'm going to open no back. If I just think it's really hard to bet against that guy, I think he's, he's phenomenal. And it wouldn't surprise me if he played that practice set, and then all of a sudden rocked up. Some of them enrolled everybody. He's just the greatest though the only guy with knowledge.

1:10:14

I think Alcatraz is gonna win as well as Freddy does. I worry a bit, that sinner had the chance to really nail them a couple of times and get a real rivalry going. And he's not done. I know that that I think that two weeks now or three to Alcatraz, maybe. But sinners should have won the last two when he hasn't done. He's been a good lead. I think in both of those he absolutely crushed Alcatraz in the first set. And then he kind of let him off the hook and Alcatraz ended up winning it and worry now that Alcatraz might just have his number. Most of the times that they play, although he has beaten them at Wimbledon before

Freddie Nielsen  1:10:51

was the same I saw in Indian Wells when they gave each other it sent out him out healing for itself. And then he kind of let down a little bit and kind of starting using skills and making them uncomfortable. And then I felt like there was no way back. I

1:11:05

think in the French there was a point where synergis gone two sets to one up. And it was like seemed like an innocuous point. I think it was maybe like one all in the second set. What it was something like one or 15 or a one or 1530 maybe and sinner played a decent point and he added an inside out for around like midcourt ball and he just put it wide. And I thought then I said to Henry, I was with it. I was like that, that gives him two sets to love and to two sets to one and two break points. And he didn't seem overly fussed that he missed it. We should know he never does. cinerary some sort of does not have much emotion. But it just felt like a really sloppy point to give away that was actually a big point because I don't think he came close to breaking again for the rest of the match. And you know that those shots that I say this all the time that if that if the score was for all 50 in 30 he doesn't miss that ball. He hits it away for a winner it was almost like in his own mind it kind of accepted Yeah, I can. I can miss this one. And he and again in Indian was it Indian Wells on Miami Friday. So they played

Freddie Nielsen  1:12:07

Indian Wells final. Yeah. Indian Wells. Final semi final sorry.

1:12:11

Yeah, a lot of points like that that sinner plays against Alkire as well. The last twice they've played him and I thought like, you can't let someone this good. Just have these easy wins against you when when you've got a good record against them. And it wouldn't surprise me if if sinner if Alcatraz ends up having a very good record against synonym. This is

Daniel Kiernan  1:12:31

what I love about sport, right? And I think that's what drags us all in. And I think we were all looking for these rivalries. We're all looking for these head to heads. And actually, interestingly, I've just had a little look, they've actually played already nine times that it's actually centers one for Alcaraz is one, five, and I think this is the most obvious next rivalry on the men's tour. You know, I think there's, there's a nice contrast and how they play. I would love to see more of CINAHL kuras. I'm not sure I agree with you. But I think that's the beauty as well of, of this as well, you know that we all have different opinions. We all start to pick our favorites within the rivalries, and I absolutely love Carlos Alcatraz, and I'm with you, Freddie. What he did at Wimbledon last year was just phenomenal. You know, he took on jurkovich in jock Rich's playground, in the moments that Jack have. It's just eats people alive and has done for so many years. And he showed just an incredible resilience and found another gear at the right time. And for me, that was that was something that Alcaraz not that he had to show up. But that really showed an extra layer. But I just think there's something really, really special about center as well. And I would that would be the dream final for me, actually. But I do before before we move to the last little bit of the show, and maybe a little bit concerning not that this is the full measure of the success of someone's tennis career. Whether you're mentioned on control, the controllables preview and review for the grand slams. But I think there probably is quite a probably is quite a good measure of how your career is going. And if I go back 18 months, we never we never did one of these shows without Holger runer be mentioned he was always someone that we discussed and we we had in that conversation alongside Yannick Sinha alongside Kahless Alcaraz you know, we were taking those three on a bit of a journey together. But that gaps that gap seems to be grown and a is almost not even in the conversation right now already know

Freddie Nielsen  1:14:41

and unfortunately, rightfully so because the results over the last year have been vastly different. I think he actually had a good chance of beating Carlos last year in the in the Wimbledon qualifying when I was a little bit lucky unlucky with especially how the first set played out. So I do think he has he has a run in him here and I'm alone, especially if the draw comes out in his way. But he does seem like he kind of plateaued a little bit of that that level he was at and and didn't move move up. But for me, it's just a question of time. I think there's so much finish quality and skill there, that he will come back up and compete with them. And I think, you know, he's one of those guys that I know for sure, I would think that all the guys would think they didn't want to play him. I think that's because for Carlos so Yannick are these guys, I don't think any of them would want to play him on a day, but it's more getting those consistent results back to back and he ended up playing a good match against Farah, for example, but he doesn't lead at the moment, the last little bit of that cutting edge he was up to sets love to go bowling that we just talked about love having to win and super topic we came back even though he was quite comfortable. And the first set against fear of surf looked like he was all over the place like Bambi on ice. And then just lost a little bit of the grip of the match. And it kind of seems to be be the way at the moment. But for me, it's It's nice 21 years old, it's it's a learning curve, he needs to also come to terms with what it requires to be the top five player which he was so for me, he needs a little bit of stability, a lot of the talks about this themselves, changing of coaches, different people in the team, but there's so much quality and capability of playing tennis there that he will come up and and compete for slams at some point. And it could as well be I know, it's Queens Tournament didn't look too promising. But I wouldn't put it past him to have a good one and Wimbledon now because yeah, like I said, he's just such a good player. Yeah,

Daniel Kiernan  1:16:36

completely, completely agree. And it's a bit unfair to fully measure him up against a couple of freaks that have maybe matured a little bit earlier as well. You know, I think it's the normal normal tennis route that we get to a level and then we find out where maybe drop a little bit and then go up again. And then we're more more ready for that level as well. But without a shadow of a doubt, because I think ease ease great for the game as well. Right? You know, he's a great character for us to have right in the mix with those guys as well. He's

Freddie Nielsen  1:17:05

so good for the game. He's the kind of player that people come out to watch and wants tickets to play. It's kind of like curious in the same way, they're saying the same person, but in the case kind of same ballpark, whereas they people either like him or they don't like him and, and that creates some interest, and people want to see what happens. And also because he's got the game to back it up. He's not a boring tennis player. And I think we talked about this last podcast on one of the other ones that the game has lost a lot of personality. There's a lot of boring PR machines out there that play and he just gives it himself though, so it is a little more fun and a little more relatable. You don't really know what it's gonna get. And it's always it's always a show and the way his tennis is at the moment. He kind of operates best in the in the kind of third set tiebreaker so the amazing tiebreaker so you also have some drama at the moment. So I think he's great for the game I do I really do. We live

Daniel Kiernan  1:18:00

in a world where where the social media is very powerful, right? It's the way that we all live our world. And there's one little story I want to share before I throw it to you guys. And what you're gonna do is you're gonna give us the headline Tweet of the next two weeks, you're going to be creative. What are we going to be? What's going to be the main the headline at the end of this Wimbledon? You know what we're going to be talking about, not just the winners, but what are what are going to be a real headline storyline at the end. And I'm gonna just take us in the Jules Jules Miller Murray, the Frenchman, who actually retired from tennis about eight years ago, to pursue a YouTube career in the army returned two years ago ranked 246 in the world 120,000 subscribers on YouTube. I don't know if anyone saw this, but he was he was the next alternate to get in Wimbledon qualifying. So he sent a message out to Andy Murray, he put it out there on social media, asking if he could be ever so kind, and to withdraw before 10 o'clock on the Monday morning, you know, and again, just something a little bit of fun seeing a little bit of personality on the tennis side. That didn't happen. But he did end up getting into the qualifying and actually ended up serving for the match and the third set against Hemery and and he ended up losing seven, six and the third 10 810 in the third. But you know, nice to see some of those stories and those bits of personality coming out. There was then another player that was searching online for somewhere to stay alongside his coach. You know, people are kind of using social media in big ways. Now. What is it ready? Now? Let's What is it Calvin because you need to go you're gonna give us first. What is your headline? Your social media headline at the end of Wimbledon? What is it that we're all going to be talking about and it doesn't just have to Be about those that have won the tournament.

1:20:04

I will probably it's boring ones I might not be but I will be talking about the graphs whether it's whether it's surface that we can keep playing. And I hope it's not because we've had a serious injury but it does worry me and I think that you know, the headline might be if if Murray does play, or they get you know, the headliner beats his last one he has.

1:20:24

Okay, I think it will be around probably a little bit of a changing of the guard with Andy leaving but also maybe some Brits coming through so hopefully it's around. Jack and Katie are flying the British flag and hopefully a few others to Emma as well coming through Harriet so yeah, baby changing of the garden. British tennis. Very good. Sorry, Andy

Freddie Nielsen  1:20:45

bows out at SW 19 After glorious Korea. Thanks for the memories dandy a

Daniel Kiernan  1:20:51

fitting way to finish control the controllables preview, sir Sir Andy Murray are our eyes on you. And Our thanks go out to you for a quite incredible, incredible career. Guys, thank you for your time, guys. It's been an absolute pleasure having you on. So thank you for for your being a first timer and control the controllables and we will hope to have you again. Thanks, guys. Thank you. So there we have it, the pics are out there. The eagles on the table, you know who's gonna get it right. And we never know. That's the beauty of sport. We never quite know what's going to happen. And without a shadow of a doubt, there's going to be some surprises out there as as they always is on a grass court. Even more so you know somebody serves? Well. Somebody has a good day, as we talked about throughout the conversation is the guy gap get shortened. You know the ranking gaps get shortened. Those first couple of days look out for some surprises as the grass courts are going to be green. They're going to be lush, it's not going to be easy to move on. And it's often brings results that we're not quite sure. I for one will be there at Wimbledon this year. Tomorrow, the players that I am fortunate to be working with Gabriella de broski and Aaron Routledge they play in the semi finals here at the WTA of 500. In esport it's very late as I'm bringing this together before they're before this will be final tomorrow morning. And you can blame this scouting that I've wanted to do for for them for tomorrow. And then we will be traveling on to London on to Wimbledon after the event finishes for us here and he spawned so there's been some people reaching out to me here at East barn this week, saying how much they love the podcast. They've come up and they've said hello and I just love it. I love connecting with you all. So please, at Wimbledon do the same, you know, give me a shout cold call me over. I'd love to. I'd love to speak to speak to you all. I want to hear your favorite episode. I want to hear everything that you've got to say about the podcast the good, the bad, the ugly, and how you want to see it develop. So hopefully see lots of new faces and old over the next couple of weeks. And wherever you are in the world. I hope you are well. I hope you're happy. I hope you're healthy. But until next time, I'm Dan Kiernan and we are controlling the controllables