Is Coco Gauff the US Open Favorite? Carlos Returns & More | Love All w/ Kim Clijsters

Here we go! ♪ Break the bar, we'll come back on ♪ ♪ Break the bar, we'll come back on ♪ ♪ Break the bar, we'll come back on ♪ Hi everyone, welcome back to another episode of Love All. It's been, I had a great day yesterday Blair. I saw you in New York for the first time since we started hosting the podcast together, so that was really nice. We did our first in-person meeting and Kim, can I give our listeners a dramatic retelling of what that looked like? Please. So we're out on court 13 and anyone who has been to the US Open During Fan Week, and we're going to talk more about what that's like a little bit later in the episode. But it's packed, it's crowded. There are things happening, there are tons of people in the stands. Kim is out watching a Qualies match, and I knew which court she was on, so I knew where I needed to get. So I am entering this little mini stadium. Kim is exiting the stadium. There are like six people surrounding her wanting photos, and Kim and I see each other just going for the big, giant bear hug, a long, warm embrace. We are hysterically laughing because it's been the weirdest thing to talk multiple times for a week. We see each other on the podcast screen, and we are just hysterically laughing. So are that I like cramped, my side cramped. And I will speed myself laughing. It's so really nice to give your real hug Blair, like that was nice. It was just like on my screen and not an AI character or something like you're actually real. It was such a delight. I almost asked the random fan standing next to you like, hey, can you send me that picture of us hugging that you just took? I was, you know, anyway, so it was a really, a really neat moment. And yeah, it happened amongst the people. So it was so great to be reunited. Obviously, we had seen each other before we started this podcast, but did not know each other as well as we know each other now. So it was a true delight. Yes. I want more of it. Yeah. I know. Well, we're going to get it, Kim, because we're going to see a lot of each other this week in particular, because we, of course, have Roger Federer and Mary Carilla's Hall of Fame induction coming up this weekend. You, in fact, are Mrs. President, Ms. President. I don't know what the technical term is. So excited to see lots of you this week, Kim. And yeah, lots of tennis to discuss. They're all the pre-us open things, the buzz, the excitement, the energy as all the players love to say. That's probably the word I hear most in interviews over the course of the next three weeks. The energy, the buzz, all the things. So it's, and it's really true, right? It is very true. Just walking around the site yesterday, like the first round of quality started. And it feels like I love doing this. Like I went to the French Open during the week of qualities and just to walk around and kind of get a feel for what that's like. You know, experiencing players, like seeing them playing, you know, at a grand slam for the first time. And I just really enjoyed seeing that yesterday. I went to watch, like you said before, court 13, Yelene Vandroma, who was the junior. Girls' final winner last year is now playing on the women's draw in the qualities for the first time. So just an exciting, there's so many exciting moments. And some really interesting names and that are in the draw that, like, I was so shocked by. Like that I didn't realize we're playing qualities. And so, yeah, it's such a fun experience. I mean, there was, you know, at times I thought, like, it's kind of a little bit loud. Like, you know, you had, like, everything on the stage happening. There's people singing. But then you literally behind the stage, you have players playing matches. And so I was a little confused during, during, yeah, a few of the matches where it got so loud. But it's, the energy is amazing. And it's so fun to see and, yeah, and the crowd, like it's packed to the, to the brim. Like everything, all this stands to in between the courts, it's full. Players are people are lining up to get free, you know, free little things at the, at the stores on site. So it's, yeah, really good energy. For sure. And we're going to talk about that more in detail a little bit later. We're also going to talk about Cincinnati today. We know that happened a few days ago, but we're going to talk about it in terms and in the context of the US open coming up. We're also going to talk about Carlos Alcarazza's practice that I happen to be present for one of the two that he's had here so far. Some US open practices in general, US open predictions, of course, because Kim, I hate to inform you. We are, in fact, going to have to fill out another bracket in the coming days. Another serve bracket. I hope you all are ready to fill out your serve brackets, because you will undoubtedly be better than we are, but we are going to do our best. So we're going to start with since see when we come back. Okay, Kim. And Cincinnati, Coco Gau, defeated Jessica Gula, two and four and one hour and 14 minutes to capture her 12th career title. It was the tournament's first All-American WTA final since 1970, which about blew my mind, which is incredible. And just a really incredible display from both Jess and Coco throughout the entire week. And I'm curious what you saw watching them. I was very impressed by Coco. I feel throughout the week felt there was a different energy about her on the court. There was a confidence that, yeah, that I just felt was in her body language in the way, you know, she's always been an incredible mover and probably the best mover out there. But I feel like when her first two shots of the rally are going great and she's been a great returner at times, you know, you could kind of argue that the four hand return, you know, could kind of set her off in a little bit of a negative at the start of the rally. But I feel like this tournament, she looked so much more confident and when she's able to return well with the forehand, the serve looked incredible. I feel like she, yeah, it just, you know, when she, she just looked more confident, more confident in her in her first two shots of the rally. And I think that's what sets her up and it creates like a freedom into her shots and just a lot more assertive with the forehand, a lot more aggressive than I've ever seen her play. So the combination with Coco of hitting the heavier forehand that she has, right, she hits it with a little bit of top spin, it pops up, a lot of the players don't like that. And then the combination with, you know, where she can also be a little bit more aggressive and go for the winners and is a deadly weapon. I feel like coming off of Coco's racket now. So really nice to see that I feel like, you know, all the work that she's put in and probably the critics that have, you know, the answers, the questions that she's had to answer over time about the serve, about the forehand is that it's all kind of falling into place and that the hard work is being off. Yeah, well, as we all remember, it's the one year anniversary of Coco Goff firing Matt daily, who she won Roland Garros with, I believe, and then hiring Gavin McMillan, the biomechanics expert. We saw them on court on the practice court at last year's US Open. We saw Coco in tears during matches last year. And it was tough to watch because you have this player who we've seen so full of joy. And she, and she was the first to admit she was miserable on the court. It was not the fun game. That's also a job, of course, that she had grown up loving and she actually, this is a bit of a longer quote, but I would love to read what she said in press after winning Cincinnati because I feel like it gives a lot of context to the move last year. And then how far she's come, I think I talked in last week's episode about how during my media day interview with her, she we were talking about the fact that this year has been an exercise and trusting the process. And so I'm going to read this quote because it sort of goes alongside that I think last year I was just frustrated with my game and I felt like I was declining. It's not something any player wants to feel you always want to feel like you're getting better or at the worst just plateauing. So last year I was in a weird predicament. I made sudden decisions that most people probably wouldn't do poor slam and I think it was worth it. I feel like it's night and day where I am from last year to now. Gavin and JC or other coach for all have done a great job kind of reworking my mind and reminding me of the player I am. I think I lost that a little bit, maybe sometimes feeding into the noise of some people who are saying I was lucky to win certain titles and things like that. Now I'm in the mindset that I deserve everything I've gotten so far and I worked really hard for it. A lot of context. Very, very deep. It gives you a lot more than I think a lot of players when they're going through the struggles or willing to share at the time. So for her to open up and to share which she does. I feel like she's very open and very wise when she explains kind of some of her deeper kind of moments on the negative side. And I love that she is able to articulate it so well and it just shows like you know it through sports and especially in tennis right everything happens in the spotlight and and. You go through the emotions like we've seen her from when she was 15 years old and this you know player who had nothing to lose and and played freely to the to a player that everybody wants to beat and that is you know one of the potential champions to do to win you know every tournament where she where she gets to. And I think you have to learn to deal with those moments the pressure is the the critics like everything is just louder when you're at the top of the game and the expectations are higher. So for her to go through it for her to have the team around her that is able to kind of make her you know stay grounded put in the work and like you said like trust the process and it's a great lesson. It's a great lesson it's a great live lesson really and I really love that for her and it's a great mindset to to get into it. the start of the US Open? - Well, speaking of things that were said in press, Jess Pagula, who had another incredible week at 32 years old, potentially playing some of the best tennis of her career. She was talking about how changing direction is one of the things that she does best. She also absorbs pace well and those two things I think can go hand in hand. But it made me want to ask you, Kim, for somebody who's listening who likes to play tennis in terms of the changing of direction, I think sometimes you may be tell recreational players. Steady cross-court does hang cross-court so you get the ball that you want. But the best players know how to change direction and when to change direction. And I was hoping that you could shed some light on both of those things. - Sure, and I don't think that it's just on the amateur tour that people like to play cross-court. It's like I see it and I've seen it in my career when I play practice with players. Like there's players that love just hitting cross-court and can do it for 30 minutes at a time. And just really get stuck into that rhythm because it is a really nice feeling. When you're into that routine of the sound and the rhythm of hitting shots and you can maybe hit some targets. And but I remember very well when I started, and I think Vika Azarenka was somebody who was very good at changing direction, especially with the back end down the line. It is so unpredictable to like, there's certain patterns that players have, and I feel with Jess, she's so good to change directions, but it's so unpredictable because you can't tell with the way that she moves her forearm or wrist. It's not that she moves her upper body with it. There's players who you can tell if they're going into, yeah, change directions of the ball and with her, it's just very, very unpredictable. It's to break up a pattern when I was younger. Like I learned, you know, to try to be the first one to change directions, but you have to feel comfortable. Like you have to feel comfortable with hitting that back end down the line. It's just a lot more easy for your system or for your body to keep going in that cross-court. But yeah, it's just a big, it's a disguise if you can do it well, and it just sets up, it breaks the rhythm of your opponents. And I think that's where Jess is so good at, is I also think that she's moving better than she's ever been? I feel like she's, yeah, still growing. And, you know, in the quote of Coco saying, like at least you want to be plateauing and or get better, I still feel that Jess keeps getting better and better. And that's really nice to see. So yeah, it's a great thing that Jess has. It's one of her strongest qualities is the fact that she's able to stay so low all the time and change direction. Okay, another player that I want to discuss with you, Kim. Sarah Baylick, another check player, young, exciting, fun, so dynamic on the court. Beat Aurena Savalanka, Beat Madison Keys, reach the semi-finals. What did you like about her game? I mean, she's another lefty, right? Which is why I think she makes it so hard for a lot of the players. She reminds me a little bit of the French open finalists of this year, Maya Shua Linska. It's that, you know, they're not, she's not the tallest player, right? But the quick feat, the movement, the ability to move so well from side to side, it's that kind of, I say like, it's like that pit bull kind of mentality, like never wanting to give up a point, like trying to run everything down and I saw it against Savalanka, I was watching the match and just the ability to bring one or two extra shots back against players who like to hit the ball hard and are expecting at times for the points to be over a little bit sooner, like it throws them off at times. And she was able to really do that. She is a great mover, the lefty serve. It's maybe not the best serve, but the lefty serve just tricks players out because of the effect bounces a little bit different. It's a little bit harder to read. So she's so fun to watch. And again, yeah, another check player that we can add to the list, it's incredible. I was just double checking her age, just 20 years old. And I do have to mention the fact that when I watched her and watched how she was sliding on the hard court and she might not have the Kim Cluster's flexibility, but there was some of that athleticism on display. So it was reminiscent at least, it was fun. - Yeah, no, I love it. And I think that's also why she got like a lot of the crowd to really cheer for her is 'cause she really gives it her all for every point and you hear the squeaking of the shoes when she's sliding and running back. And she's a really fun player to watch. So yeah, it's going to be interesting. Like when you've beaten some really good players and lead up tournament to the US Open and Cincinnati. And if she's able to kind of use that here and kind of stick to that same level and cause some damage in the draw here. - Before we move on, I just wanna say shout out to the short girls out there. - So love, love that Sarah Baylake is five three, I believe. I am five four, which brings me back to my one and only win at the US Open when I had a height off with Jasmine Pellini. - I am taller than Jasmine Pellini. So I'm one and no at the US Open as far as that's concerned. So we love to see, and that is honestly one of my favorite things about tennis, to be honest. The fact that there is no stereotypical body type. You can be so many different variations of a woman and you could be successful on the tennis court, which we love. - Definitely, definitely. And a lot of it comes with the mindset too, right? It's like just putting in the work and fighting until the very last shot and that's what I love seeing too. - All right, last Cincinnati note, Arthur Fees, it was the, well, before I move on to why that final was cool. He got his first ATV Master's 1000 title. May not have a driver's license yet, but he does have a Master's 1000 title. And it was the first Master's 1000 final contested between two black players since the series began in 1990, which was a really cool moment. And I want to shout out the journalist to ask Francis about this and press also a black journalist who does incredible work to money carry all rights for the Guardian and I think is one of the best journalists in tennis. So I thought it was really special that he asked the question, Francis gave a great answer about this. And you ended up with just two incredibly charismatic players and a really cool new winner. - Very, very cool. And I think I was as surprised as Francis. He was like, really? Like I'd never thought of that and that's how I felt. Like I felt like, wow, that's obviously on the women's side. I'm sure we've had Venus and Serena play each other but to see it on the men's side. It's really, really cool. So I'm very, very excited that there was history made on that side and great for these guys to be able to play great tennis, both kind of in very different stages of their career as well. So it's a nice story. And yeah, just exciting to see how they can take this with them into the US Open because they're both super explosive players, super physical players. And everything is a lot harder at the US Open. So I'm just always very curious to see how these guys who put so much work and physical physicality into their matches, if they're capable of doing this, seven matches in a row to win a slam here. - And I have to just note, I cannot remember if I said this last week, but when Francis came through media day and was explaining that he had assessed drained in his wrist, I think maybe four or five days before he was sitting there in front of me, he was not at all convincing that he was even going to play the tournament. So to reach the final, his second final in Cincinnati was an incredible effort and hopefully boathed well for his US Open Performance. - Sometimes distractions help, right? Or do you think that's maybe a low expectations thing? - Yeah, I think it may be a little bit of a freedom or just a little bit less pressure because you don't, because there's pressure from the outside world, but you also put pressure on yourself. And I think when you've had an injury or you don't really expect much of the tournament, you're excited to be there. There's maybe a little bit more of a freedom. Like I've definitely had that experience before where I had a little bit of a muscle issue or a small tear or strain or whatever it was and you decide to play. And yeah, you're just not too stressed out but doing everything perfectly. - Right, interesting. The psychology of that is pretty fascinating. If I get a chance to talk to Francis, I'll have to ask him if he thought that that added to his freedom last week. - We talked a little bit about Fan Week at the top of the show, Kim. But you mentioned some of the players that you saw playing quality yesterday that surprised you a little bit. - Yeah, very, I mean, I didn't realize that Quinwen Zhang was in Qualies as well. So just for Fan Week, like the people that get to go out and watch it, walk on the grounds for free. Like there's so much entertainment outside as well. But you know, Quinwen Zhang, you have Bianca Andriescu, like a former champion here, like playing Qualies. It's so exciting to be able to be so close to the courts. I loved watching Yelene Vandroma yesterday. She played another Belgian against Grete Minne. She, yeah. It's so fun, I think there's so many exciting stories for players that are trying to get their ranking up. Like at Quinwen, Zhang or Bianca, you asked your two players who are there for the first time playing on the women's, you know, US Open Qualies, and it's really, really fun to see. And yeah, so it was the excitement is great, and I don't know on the men's side, I didn't really watch that much men's tennis yesterday, but just a lot of fun. Yelene van Drummer now plays against Montgomery, one of our friend of the pod, so excited to see that next second round, Qualies coming up tomorrow. I last night stopped by the practice office here at the US Open, my friend Haley oversees the practice court desk, also does a ton for the American player. She is fantastic at a job, she is a regular listener to level, so Haley had the best US Open. But I stopped by her office last night. I was in there with Tournament Director Eric Bouterak and one of their other staff members in the office. They were looking at the practice courts for tomorrow, seeing where the top players were going to end up. And we had a monitor up, and Coleman Wong was playing, and it was, I don't know which court it was, it was packed. And Eric said, how cool is this, that this is a Qualies match, and this looks on TV, like it easily could be a main draw match. And to know that now, if you play Qualies at the US Open, you are feeling, it's not like you're at a rangy park. You are feeling, you know, at Wimbledon, you're feeling like you are in a main draw match. It has the atmosphere. You might hear music from the stage, but you are going to get atmosphere, which I think is such a neat experience for players, whether you're in qualifying or main draw. But how cool. Very, very cool. And, you know, for the players, it means so much to have this opportunity. A lot of players have never played in front of this many people as well. So it's just a really, really cool vibe and cool energy. And it gives the first time, where is kind of the immediate feeling of like, oh, what is the US Open like? Like, why does each grand slam feel different? Well, this is the US Open. This is what you get. And, yeah, it's so fun. And I walked into the, into the players area for the first time and it is busy, right? Like, you have all the qualifiers. You have a lot of the main draw players that are here already. So it's super busy. And I walked in and I was like, whoa, like, why is it so busy here? And then everybody was kind of looking at the same direction towards where like the tournament, like Eric's offices and then I look over and then I saw Roger Federer. Like, he was in there. So all the players, like, all the qualifiers are like waiting, you know, like they want to see Roger. And I was like, oh, that's why. So it was, yeah, you get everything together. And that's what I love about the sport is, is you literally have a, you know, 17 year old playing their first qualifying match and then you have Roger Federer, who is, you know, playing an exhibition match there tomorrow with some of the greatest Americans to play, play the sport. And so to see that combination, it's, it's so inspirational. And so if it's fun to kind of get a feel for that energy out there. And it's not what it used to look like. Is it Kim? No, it's not. I definitely don't remember it being like this. It was a lot more quiet back in the day. But it still means as much, right? Like I think for the players, the feeling that you get like playing your, your qualities for the first time and, and playing, yeah, playing, even if there's not many people sitting on the side, like it's still an exciting experience to be a part of and you're trying to kind of just chip away one match at a time and qualify and, and try to reach that goal. So I heard players, I was in the players area, players are talking about like, oh, 140,000 if you get to the main draw, like, like the prize money is a huge, you know, step up again this year. So players are definitely looking at those things. And I hear there's a lot of perks that I think the U.S. Open is giving out this year as well to the players and I'm trying to find a key to the gifting suite. Kim. If anything goes missing, it might have been me because check your bag, check it, shop up here at the U.S. Open, making the players feel special. And qualities week has always been free, but just the fact that they built this party around the tennis and people understand, and you know, most people, if they are court side at a quality match, they are seeing world-class tennis up close and personal and, and sometimes that can even be a better experience than, I don't know, watching Carlos Alcaraz from the upper deck and ash, it is so cool to be that close and you can have your lobster roll, your honeydews, and watch some tennis. It used to be that, you know, maybe some of the vendors were open, you could like get a hot dog while you watched. Yes. These days, you can get first class service and also watch some tennis, so very neat. Player, when I travel with my family, a lot of times, I'm either like, whether it's Chatsy PT or just Google, like, okay, I'm in this city, what is there to do, right? So if there is families that are looking for like a fun day out before school starts, like, go to the open. Like, it's such an amazing experience and it will definitely be a day to never forget for the kids. I agree. Well, in addition to quality matches, Kim, there are practices, Glor, and I had Carlos Alcaraz on my practice court a couple of days ago. It was his first practice since the site had opened, so that fans got to watch. It was two hours on Armstrong. It was all with his brother, the hottie bracket winner, Alvaro, who I definitely introduced myself to and said, I just wanted to say hello in person to the hottie bracket winner. And congratulations. Congratulations. He was tickled anyway. So he was with Alvaro and Samu Lopez, I believe. And so it was a mostly fed practice. This to me. Explain to people what that means. Yes. Okay. So typically with these practices, I have like, for instance, yesterday you had Mateo Arnaldi practicing with Lorenzo Musetti, or you had Danny Merida practicing with Alex Dimonore. So you have two players whose coaches or agents talked to each other. They plan a time to go out and hit. They get a practice in. It is fairly unusual during this lead up to the US Open Week to see a player out with just a coach where most of the balls are being fed to him out of a basket. Oh, he did some two on ones as well with Samu and Alvaro, but for the most part, he was getting balls fed to him. So initially, I was thinking, I don't know that that is a great sign. And then your response was, yes, for his wrist, correct, because a reminder, he has been out since Barcelona. So a little over four months, he's had that wrist inflammation issue. And we are hoping to see him this week with Serena for mixed doubles. And then next week in main draw of singles. Yeah, it can be unusual. I also think knowing a little bit of what this Spanish tennis culture, coaching culture is like. I think they love feeding balls. And feeding balls means there's a big basket with a ton of tennis balls in it. And the coach stands kind of on the service line and just feeds a lot of balls. And you get a repetition. Sometimes I loved getting balls fed to me when I was able to really, like, if I felt like I needed the fine-tuning, if I felt like my placement was a little bit off, if I felt like, hey, like my open stance just don't feel right, like, whatever it is, it just gives you repetition of, you know, 20, 30 shots in a row where you feel like, okay, my brain is starting to get used to this again. And when you're playing against or when you're playing match, a practice set or whatever, or tie break, you just don't get that enough. And maybe it's something just very innocent and it's like he just wants a little bit more repetition of certain shots. Or maybe it is still to kind of get, you know, the risk strong enough or the impact, you know, the impact of the shots, you know, the risk can't handle it maybe yet. So and I don't think he would be here if that was still the case or if this is where he would be in his recovery. The fact that he's going to play mixed doubles, I think it's great that he has the opportunities this week to start, you know, hitting some returns against hard hitting, you know, guys on the other side of the net. And I think it's just, it's a good test for him. And then again, I don't think he would be here if, yeah, if his wrist wasn't ready to go. So I just do think it was maybe just fine-tuning the rhythm a little bit. Hi, I love this positive outlook. Let's just say, we'll find out today we're recording this on Tuesday. But I do want to add that I had the chance to talk to Carlos after his practice, did a few questions for the fans that were there and there were many of them. So I asked if it was a hard decision with the risk to come back at the US Open and he said I did have to really be careful about what I decided to do here because it's best of five. A slam is best of five. And so that's obviously more pressure, more stress on a body part that has not got a ton of pressure and stress over the past four months. So he would, I thought that was refreshing, refreshingly honest to admit that. And then I also asked about mixed doubles and he said he felt so honored that Serena wanted to play with him and that they have been texting about which side they should play on and about their strategy and point to no I right exactly. But it made me wonder him which side do you think Carlos will play on which side do you think Serena will play on? Because I wanted to follow up, but I only got three questions and I'm a rule follower, so I didn't want to break the rules and follow up with one more. or else I would have asked, what do you think? - Well, you would assume that the guy will play on the ad side. - You would assume. - Well, you would assume. But then, you know, Serena is such a good returner and her precision on the return, especially in doubles has always been very, very good. So I don't even think it would really matter between the two of them, whether if Carlos, I think maybe they're communicating amongst each other about like, you know, what would be better for his wrist? Like maybe, you know, the flick of the wrist with the forehand or the backhand is maybe a little bit, yeah, I don't know, maybe on one side, it's a little bit better for him. But I really don't think it would matter too much between the two of them. - All right, last thing for you, Kim, on this topic. Thinking back to your week before the U.S. opens, specifically, because I feel like sponsor obligations, appearances, everything is sort of in overdrive. And I was wondering if you have any memories of that and how challenging it is to juggle. Taylor Fritz was on court yesterday and said, yeah, I'm here practicing early in the day because I have so many things I have to do in the afternoon. There are a lot of obligations. I'm not gonna lie. So what was that like for you and how do you sort of balance all of that plus focusing on trying to be fit for the U.S. open? - Yeah, I think it was for me, most importantly, I wanted to do what was the most important. That was make sure that I was ready, tennis and physically. My game was ready to go, but with the team and you discuss the WTA, ITF, like the U.S. TA, there's definitely a lot more tasks to do. And I didn't like to do them right before. I was supposed to play or a couple of days before. So I tried to do it earlier in the week. It was also later, I think, on in my career that I decided to not play anything the week before. I felt like when I was younger, I wanted to play more matches and get more routines in. And so then it can be a little bit cramped, especially the day before because you had the host broadcast who wanted to film some things as well in the lead up. But I do think it just feels a lot more busy now, like walking around there. And I don't know if it's social media or that there is a lot more, maybe more than back in the day, like attention, media attention on the sport. But it's, yeah, it definitely does feel a lot more busy than back in the day. And the biggest difference for me, if you go to the U.S. Open and you're a defending champion, that's when there's another added kind of list of attention that you never really, that I never experienced before until I was able to kind of be in that moment. So, but you kind of also feel honored in a way, right? In that sense, but you just try to not get distracted by it all and make sure that you focus on what you got to do. And I never really, it's not like back in the day. Now I feel like there's so many things going on into the city as well where a lot of players are busy in the city. I feel like for me back in the day, it was a lot more like on-site. And I could kind of plan it whenever it fits. But then you have, you know, your sponsors for the next year that want to start doing photo shoots and things like that. So it's sometimes hard, but you know, it's a part of it. And they're a part of your team as well. And they're really trying to work with what's best for the player. - Did you have a go-to modeling look? - None. Is that an answer? None. - Yes. - I'm just curious if you had like a go-to. - No, Blair. No, I cannot think of anything more weird than posing for a picture. Like I'm so happy that I play tennis and that I was able to hold a tennis racket and a tennis ball like that, 'cause still to this day, like I will grab my kids and like hold them and be like, "Hey, this is what I'll do with my hands." Like, so no, I'll just grab one of the kids or like I'll hold Brian or whatever. And it's just more, yeah, I don't know. I just don't feel comfortable. It just feels so unnatural to pose to me. - I am right there with you. If somebody actually, it's one thing to take a picture of me doing my job. But if somebody wants me to actually pose for a picture, I could not be more awkward. So, Kim, we have this in common. - Yesterday, Blair, I was sitting in the stands and I was watching Yelene Vantromo play "Hate Minute" at two Belgians and I'm sitting in the stands and the guy, two rows below me, look so, he's like, "Hey, Kim, can I take a picture?" And I was like, "Sure." So I'm kind of getting up thinking that he was going to get up and he just stayed seated and like took a picture. So I just-- - I love you. - Stoop there like, "Oh, we're doing it like this." So I was like, "This is awkward, the match is going." Like, it was a very weird like, so I just smiled and I was like, "Okay, thanks." - He's got a nice portrait of Kim Glacier's on his phone now, congrats to that fan. All right, moving on, shall we? Kim, do you have a favorite for the US Open? - Let's start with the men. - I don't, I mean, especially with Sinner now being out, I feel like it's so wide open and I think we talked about this last week that there's a lot of players that are going to these big tournaments now that believe like, "Hey, Alkarz is back, but maybe he's not fully, fully back yet and Sinner's not in the draw, like I have a chance." So it's just really hard to predict and I don't know, like I, you know, you would think on one side, like with Artuch Feast, like playing so well in Cincinnati, but yeah, then I think like, oh, is it maybe too soon for him to win, you know, the battle of the long matches and, but I do think he's a player who loves the energy of New York and I think he can really rise, you know, above himself because of the vibe that New York brings, especially in the night matches. So I'm gonna go, I'm gonna go with Artuch Feast, just to give an answer to your question because otherwise my brain goes all over the place and I contradict or I'll say things that I think, like five seconds later, yeah, but what if this player, like you go, there's so many routes this can all go, but I'll go with Artuch Feast on the men's side and I'm gonna stick to a player that I name very often because I just love watching her play and I think she's great and I'm gonna go with Coco Gough again. - Okay, well, as an Arthur Feast and Artuch Feast, it does yet, that's okay, you gotta get a little, you're welcome for that, listen to her. - Yes, I'm sorry. - For me learning French on the air. - Yes, I would love to see Artuch Feast win the entire, I'm still not getting it, but win the entire thing. He's missed, I believe, four of the five last slams due to injury, so. - Back injury, right? - Yes, I'm happy. - Yeah, and I think he had a couple of different things, but I think in the big, in the master's events that he has played, he has consistently gone deep. And so if he's healthy here at the US Open, I would love to see him be holding the trophy at the end. Do you think, do you think Novak could be holding the trophy at the end? - Yes, I also think he has an option for that to happen. And I just, in a slam, 'cause I have experience, I feel like so many things have to fall into place, you have to be lucky to, right? Like you, yeah, and I don't know, you've been around the sport for a long time as well. Like there's so many surprises that can happen. So it just becomes really, yeah, very unpredictable. And I just find it really hard to pick names or just knowing that because I hate it. You know, when I got asked that question back in the day, oh, you just started a tournament. Oh, your potential semi-final against Serena or potential semi-final against Justine. Like, yeah, it's just hard to look ahead and, 'cause it's so much easier said than done. But I love Octofeast his energy. Like I love it. And the interview is I love it on the court. I love the energy when he plays. It gives me kind of like Rafa vibes a little bit as well. So I like that energy out on the court. So yeah, a lot of fun to watch. - I'm gonna throw Ben in my mix as well. Ben Shelton. - Of course, yeah. - See, like there's so many names. Like, there are so many names, right? - Of course, yes, exactly. And then on the women's side, I thought this was a great tweet from my friend Bastien Fashon. I believe it's another French name that I'm sure I'm butchering up. But on X, he has, he's the king of the stats, but he said, all of the top 11 women on tour currently hold a big title, so either a thousand or a slam, which is wild to think about the depth. And I think that underscores why it is going to be next to impossible to try to choose a women's winner. But I do wanna know what you think about arena, Savalanka and, you know, after losing to Sarah Baylek in Cincinnati, where do you think she would be mentally coming into the US open? And can she write the ship here? - I definitely think she can. Does she, you know, is it going to be with full confidence? No, but I do think a player like her, and it reminds me a lot of how Serena could have been. And I'm not saying Serena probably never had stages where she, you know, lost to players that she, a few times in a row that she should have beaten. But I do think she has the greatness of a Serena when it comes down to switching. like making the switch like she can grow into a tournament so if she has one or two matches where you know she has to really like work her way into the tournament a little bit um but then I think the the occasion uh the last grand slam of the year the tournament like I think the energy uh I think it's really going to um give her another boost uh and I think that's yeah it's hard to describe like what that does to you going to a tournament where you've done well and um so I do think she has it in her to do that like to step up and to play the big matches really well when it comes down to being on the biggest stages and so I definitely think she can um she can go go all the way here again. Okay I would say though if I had to pick one Coco would also be my pick it's just sort of that serenity that you sort of see from her on court that was obviously missing last year as we discussed and and feeling like she believes and has the the belief inside I think is extremely dangerous that plus a well functioning serve which is what we saw in Cincinnati I think is a deadly combo for Coco Goff so um cannot wait we will have brackets coming soon reminder fill out your served brackets once the draw is released on Thursday I used to be really excited about the bracket and now now we're stressed. I'm like yes it's not that I'm not excited it's just like the fear of like failing. I mean Kim yeah where I am in the same boat with you there the good news is you are all a favor and I am not so you so what it's more embarrassing for me. No you're allowed to do bad I want you asked to you know justify the fact that I am on this podcast if I agree I don't know if I really like I feel like I should be the one who knows more about this. I mean in theory yes but but I I am trying to you know justify my my occupation. You're trying to make me feel better that's what you're trying to do. I'm trying maybe we should fill it out together. We could. I would be fun great content for the socials yes. Okay Kim uh before we leave today I just want to say I cannot wait to see you at the Hall of Fame induction it is going to be three days of events Thursday Friday Saturday what are you most looking forward to anything in particular? I'm I feel like you know the induction moment itself is kind of the highlight of everything so seeing Roger and Mary yeah on stage and giving their speeches I know for a fact like it's going to be emotional and because they're both such great speakers they speak from the heart and that's what I like so I'm really looking forward to to that's like the human side of it all and to like listen to their their story right from their mouth and then like we over the years have you know heard so many people talk about an experience with Roger or you know an interview here and there but now to be able to listen to Roger and except for him to explain kind of his journey and the ups and the downs and I think it's going to be very very exciting to see him there and his family and the same for Mary like she's been a woman that's been so great to listen to to speak to and interviews but her energy is something that I've always loved and she's not like the you know doesn't want to be in the spotlight and doesn't want the show to be on her but I'm excited to um yeah for it to be like that in that moment and and that's my favorite part what about you? Definitely the induction for sure I I think every year I go back to the Hall of Fame I just feel really thankful to be involved with that incredible place there's no place like it if you're a tennis fan and haven't been I tell everyone make the pilgrimage to Newport Rhode Island you will not regret it not only the museum but the grounds and just feeling like you are a part of history and then also getting to see the way that Hall of Famers react to the Hall of Fame I think every year without fail I don't know if it was like this for you Kim but but from what I've seen incoming Hall of Famers who have yet to see the Hall of Fame and that will be the case for Roger he has not been physically to Newport yet it is more emotional than they expect it's very yes it's very overwhelming and I remember my moment that felt very surreal was seeing the players in the museum on you know they're engraved wherever in the in the buildings seeing the players that I admired so much that to me are like my superheroes right like Steffi Grav Monica Sellett Gabriella Sabatini like there's so many that I just loved watching when I was younger and then to then see your name and your pictures and your memorabilia right next to them in the same glass you know cabinet or what do you want to call it is it's like a it feels very very surreal and in my own head I remember walking around and thinking oh my god like look at this like my whatever my US Open trophies right next to a Steffi Grav and like remember when like I pretended I was her playing tennis on the driveway like that's the movie that goes on in my own head and I think it's a reflection because I don't I think as tennis players you don't have enough time to reflect on everything because it's such a roller coaster and it's such a fast pace lifestyle and that it almost only gives you the time like I feel like at the when I was at the induction weekend it's almost like everything kind of came together and it's again very overwhelming so I'm excited to experience that and that's probably my favorite part about being a part of it is is um yeah seeing that happen to uh to the Hall of Famers yeah and knowing that you are a part of the history it's really cool it is it's very cool um very very cool again still at times feels uh yeah surreal um so but it's really really fun even hearing you talk about it gives me the chill so there there's a moment in one of the events that we're doing that I'm hosting where I get to ask all the Hall of Famers who are present to stand and be recognized and I am already just imagining what that moment is going to be like because as again as you might imagine there are many Hall of Famers coming back to the Hall of Fame for this particular induction and just to see them all stand up is going to be a really incredible moment I think yes like to me and I don't know if it's because the stage like the age that I have now like you saying that and me trying to imagine I can already like I get tearied like it's it's so yeah just seeing thinking how that's going to be like and I'm even for me I'm trying to just let it surprise me I don't know what's happening um the weekend I kind of know the layout of it but I'm not sure like people are asking me like oh who's performing who's going to be there like which celebrities are going to be there with Roger and I'm like I have no idea like I don't you know I don't get involved in it like that and and because I also wanted to feel very yeah authentic and and yeah the team always puts up a great event so I'm excited to see the surprises that will be there for Roger and Mary obviously last quick thing Kim do you have a recommendation for this week I do have a recommendation okay do you want me to start or do you want to yes no you can start all right so last week I had the the eye mask right that helps with my sleep I do am guilty sometimes that when I wake up really early and I get um and I know that in Belgium you know I have emails and all that stuff I start grabbing my phone and then it's harder to fall back asleep so I have started putting on my red my red lens that are really good for the blue light from the phone so this brand is roca um it's I have a pair for you so excited I'll bring to do some listen you don't have to walk outside with them Blair it's literally if you go to bed at night and you still want to be on your phone or on your computer you have some work to do you so it just makes your brain kind of not wake up again uh because of the light so you wear these red glasses for those who are listening and not watching Kim has so they look like sunglasses fray yes black sunglasses frames with a bright red lens and so I cannot wait to receive mine we will in fact take a picture of ourselves together wearing the red frame or excuse me the red lens glasses yep so that's a great idea they they are great and there's you know a lot more science has been done behind them and and um and this is a really good breath there's some crappy ones out there as well where it's literally it's not protecting you it just looks like red lenses but these are legit uh the coat roca and um and I'm a fan and even with the kids now these days like I feel like my sons you know when they have basketball and they come home later at nights and they want to you know play some whatever game on on the computer I tell them at night to just put this on there's one next to the computer and they know you know just put these on and um maybe it's my mom my mom obviously my mom brain that's like all right just put these on they're right there put them on and uh and then I feel less guilty sending them up to bed from uh from watching the computer I love that that's a great idea all right well I might need I might need more than one pair Kim yes all right up all right Next, do you have any other recommendations this week or was that it? That's it. Okay, so my recommendation is for anyone coming on site to the US Open over the course of the next three weeks who likes to enjoy an adult beverage. As you may know, the honeydews is the signature drink of the US Open. The US Open makes and I'm estimating a gazillion dollars off of these vodka-based drinks. But, for those who are not aware, there are two variations. There is the standard honeydews and as of a few years ago, they also have a frozen honeydews. And to anyone who is considering purchasing one of these, go for the frozen honeydews. Couple reasons. Number one, the biggest reason is if you would like to sip your drink, which I would recommend, if you are here at the US Open for hours and hours, I would not recommend joking. And you have the regular honeydews, it has ice in it and the ice melts. And if you are sipping at a responsible pace, by the end, you are going to have a more watery honeydews. You do not have that problem with the frozen honeydews and it is also much more flavorful in my opinion than the regular. So, if you would like to partake, but you do get a brain freeze if you shog it. Correct. Well, and listen, I'm helping you all be responsible and sip the frozen honeydews. You do not have to rush because the flavor stays the same as it melts. So, there you go. My PSA to all of you would like to responsibly partake at the US Open. I have never had any of them. So, maybe we need to add that to the schedule, too. Our social list is getting longer by the minute. Red glasses try and try. We do everything at the same time. Perfect. I cannot wake him. And the drinks. So much to look forward to. Thank you all for listening to another episode of Love All. We appreciate you. I appreciate everyone who has come up to us to say you love the podcast, seriously. So many messages. I've taken so many selfies, which is unusual for me, not so unusual for Cam, but just those of you who have appreciated this and who like to hang out with us every week. We appreciate you as well. And we hope you have liked and subscribed and commented and all the things at Love All Podcast. And we will see you all next. Oh, no, we will not see you all next week. We'll see you all after the US Open. We will have so much to download, but in the meantime, we will be on social media. So at Love All Podcasts on Instagram and beyond, we'll see you soon. Bye. [MUSIC]