THE BODY SERVE US OPEN TRILOGY

Episodes 94, 95 & 96 of The Body Serve Tennis Podcast

In a post-U.S. Open haze? Follow our journey from the draws to the finale. In our preview episode, learn what we got right (Murray's withdrawal didn't doom the tournament) and what we didn't quite anticipate (Muguruza's loss in the 4th round, Sloane Stephens' gripping performance). In our mid-tournament episode, we speak with repeat guest Rene Denfeld, German-based Tennis Twitter phenomenon and journalist. In our wrap-up episode, we praise Rafa and Sloane, drag Maria, and tie up some loose ends. 

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PART ONE: US Open Preview: Where My Boys At? 

The last major of the year is here, and lots of top players are not *sob*. We're completely foregoing draw analysis this time around, instead asking broader questions and talking about players who we hope make a splash. Is it fair to call the women's tournament "wide open?" Did Andy owe it to anyone to pull out earlier? Will James ever learn not to pick Tsonga?

:30 Back in Toronto! We saw Mariah & Lionel!
8:20 Where are the mens? Andy adds himself to the disabled list
14:00 What's with the pressitude about Andy's timing?
18:00 Halep & Shapovalov ... err, Sharapova will meet in the first round
22:00 Troubling the "wide open" draws discussion
24:30 Looking at the big performers at non-Slam events (Svitolina & Zverev) and how they will perform at the Open
31:00 You can lead James to water but you can't make him drink (there must be a thirst joke in here somewhere)
32:45 The players with momentum: Dimitrov, Kyrgios, Muguruza
38:45 Who do we hope to see break through?
49:50 Things we dislike: the USTA loves to talk about itself; and how will the flag-waving be received this year?
52:45 Things we like: that Nike shoot with les Canadiens!

​PART TWO: US Op-Ocalypse: A Mid-Major Chat Featuring Rene Denfeld 

Despite the missing stars, the 2017 US Open has offered no scarcity of big stories: Sharapova's return, Peak Petra defeating Muguruza, Venus' continued good form at majors, and the excitement around Denis Shapovalov. We're so excited to welcome back the insightful Rene Denfeld to the show. The Tennis Twitter-lebrity is covering the US Open for the first time as a journalist, and he shares his thoughts on Sharapova, Fognini, the draws, and what it's like to be there.
​
:35 What a day: James just got Twitter famous, Venus won, and Maria lost
8:00 The great women's round of 16s
11:00 Unpacking Sharapova - the scheduling, the "shade," the reception; or as James calls it, "a feeling of grossness"
21:45 Roger and Rafa's rocky starts to the tournament
26:15 The wild men's bottom half - Querrey, Anderson, PCB or Schwartzman in a major final
29:00 The Shapovalov hype!
33:00 #SeeWhatHadHappenedWas Fabio does Fabio. There's a reason that fogna means sewer
38:00 The problem with "I'm only here for the handshake"
42:10 The wonderful Rene Denfeld is back on the pod, straight from Queens
50:40 Talking with Rene about the weird men's draw, Shapo, Rafa's slow starts
1:00:30 What's it like to be on camera as a reporter? (Rene gets gif-ed)
1:03:50 Did you know? Rene was responsible for Naomi Osaka's excellent 'mesothelioma' monologue
​1:08:30 Rene's favorite moments so far

​PART THREE: Sloane Storms NY & El Decimosexto de Rafa 

Welcome to episode 96 and our U.S. Open recap. By now you know that Sloane Stephens and Rafael Nadal are your singles champions. It still doesn't seem real, but we try to get to the bottom of a truly inspired performance by Sloane in New York. Nadal put aside a shaky start to the tournament to find some of his best tennis, finishing with a sublime exhibition against Kevin Anderson in the final for his 16th Slam title. We revisit some of the more memorable moments and performances from the tournament, and induct our second ever member of The Body Serve Hall of Fame. We finish with another trip to the Maria well, this time to call out the racist BS from the Serena chapter of her book.
 
01:18 Jonathan apologizes to Venus fans and to Sloane
03:20 How exactly did Sloane do ALL THAT?!?!
11:21 Sloane evolves before our eyes, pitch perfect on and off the court
16:52 Venus and Petra are THE TRUTH; they deliver the goods again!
22:50 El Decimosexto de Rafa: proving the doubters wrong yet again
29:06 All the credit in the world to Kevin Anderson
34:33 Relitigating the start of 2013 and "I Made You"
44:36 Doubles Standards: time to up the ante
49:43 TBS Hall of Fame: Arigato, Kimiko
54:10 Parsing through the post-Open rankings
60:58 Alicia "Tornado" Black: GO FUND HER!!!
63:08 Sashay away, Tom Rinaldi!
66:54 Maria is truly unstoppable...with the MESS! We have had it.