Dust those cobwebs off. Daily pods are back!

Tripp's Tennis Talk is back! The subject of today's episode is predictions for the 2024 professional tennis season, focusing on who will finish #1 and which players will win majors. Other topics addressed include Breakout Player of the Year, the state of Nick Kyrgios' tennis career, and the tournaments on our fan resume. I ask the same questions of each guest. First up is Tami, who has been on this podcast before, live from Dos Coffee and Wine. After Tami is my mom, Monica, making her podcast debut, at her house. Then we finish up with Bill from the Casa Monica Hotel in downtown St. Augustine. The Tami and Monica segments were taped on December 23, 2023. The Bill segment was taped on December 26, 2023.

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Auld Lang Syne music link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liUpizrDCTU 

Tennis Ball Sound Effect - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atVIPAdrGyE

"I'll see you again in 25 years."

It's a season finale blowout special here at Tripp's Tennis Talk! Over the weekend, Coco Gauff claimed her first grand slam title coming back on Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, and Novak Djokovic won his third major of the year 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 over Daniil Medvedev.

It is a big show today: the longest episode in podcast history once again. Settle in and enjoy. THANK YOU for downloading and listening.

Part 1 - Women's Final Audio and Discussion, Sabalenka Press Conference, Gauff Press Conference (0:00)

Part 2 - Men's Final Audio and Discussion featuring Bill (1:47:40)

Part 3 - Washington Post Match-Fixing Article (2:29:00)

Part 4 - Medvedev Press Conference, Djokovic Press Conference, and Goodbye (3:48:30)

Well here we are again

It's always such a pleasure

Remember when you tried to beat me twice?

Oh how we laughed and laughed

Except I wasn't laughing

Under the circumstances

I've been shockingly nice

You want your vacay? Take it

That's what I'm counting on

I used to want you beat

But now I only want you gone

You don’t give up easy

I tried to give it all back

With double faults and errors and too-quick-play

The crowd was all for you

Nobody clapped for me, sob

It’s such a shame their guy

Got beat in 4 tough sets

You've got your long flight home left

That's what I'm counting on

I'll let you get right to it

Now I only want you gone

Goodbye my nemesis

Oh, did you think I meant you?

That would be funny

if it weren't so right

Well you have been replaced

I don't need any help now

When I beat you maybe

I'll stop feeling so bad

Go on a long vacation

That's what I'm counting on

You're someone else's problem

Now I only want you gone

Now I only want you gone

Now I only want you gone

Excitement finally arrived on the big show courts at the US Open during Day 5.

On Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday night, Coco Gauff and Novak Djokovic both needed final sets to get their victories. Gauff was down 3-6, 2-3 0-15 but didn't lose another game against Mertens 3-6, 6-3, 6-0, while Djokovic was never seriously threatened but needed five sets anyway to beat Laslo Djere 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3.

Earlier in the day, American men did well, with Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul, and Frances Tiafoe all earning victories.

Elsewhere on the women's side, Sorana Cirstea, age 33, beat top-4 seed Elena Rybakina in a high quality one 6-3, 6-7, 6-4, and Caroline Wozniacki continued her improbable run 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 against Jen Brady.

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Nobody would describe today's action as a "wild card."

No impersonation needed - Novak Djokovic is the real thing. He will return to #1 in the world on September 11, 2023 after a breezy win 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 against Alexandre Muller tonight. Before that, Coco Gauff "won ugly" (to quote her coach Brad Gilbert) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 vs Siegemund after 2h51m (!) in a match that featured big-time aggro.

All that, and all the other scores, plus some player audio, on today's recap podcast.

0:00 Introduction

2:00 US Open TV Information

8:16 Andy Roddick GQ Article

56:12 Coco Gauff Pre-Tournament Press Conference

1:11:40 John Isner Pre-Tournament Press Conference

1:26:50 Draw Predictions and Monday Schedule

Errata:

-I forgot to mention Jim Courier as a voice of American tennis. He is good.

-After the John Isner clip I said that we just heard from Coco Gauff. Oops. Sorry John!

Link to GQ Article - https://www.gq.com/story/andy-roddick-us-open

Longtime family confidant Dave Gelter joins me to discuss Michael McDowell’s win at the Verizon 200, an event that we just witnessed live in person at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. What does McDowell’s win mean for Ford? What was our experience like at IMS? Do we like caution-free races? And should Indy return to the oval in 2024? All that and more on today’s episode of Tripp’s Tennis Talk.

(Tennis content returns next week, thank you for listening to recent digressions on this feed!)