173: The Djokovic Dilemma, Boycott Buzz & João Fonseca's Brazilian Crowd Drama | EP 173
Nothing Major
Sift Creative
4.8 • 607 Ratings
🗓️ 12 May 2026
⏱️ 50 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Sam, John and Steve break down everything happening midway through the Rome Open, starting with 20-year-old Dino Prizmic shocking his idol Novak Djokovic, and what that loss could mean for Novak heading into Paris.
Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner continues to look like a machine built in a secret Italian lab, entering Paris with better odds than prime Rafa once had. Is it the field… or is Sinner just on another level?
On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka loses to Sorana Cirstea while battling a lower-back issue, sparking a debate about whether Italian hotel beds are destroying players’ backs.
Things also get heated during the Fonseca-Medjedovic drama, where Joao earns our Major respect for courageously asking Brazilian fans to calm things down after the atmosphere started drifting into football territory.
Plus: Grand Slam boycott rumors, “cease and assist”, and Sam continuing his all-out war against Friday podcast releases.
00:00 Intro: We're Back!
00:50 Sam's Rant: Thursday better than Friday
04:57 Djokovic Upset Concerns
11:16 Fils Injury Watch
14:11 Our Family Tennis Favorites
15:40 Sinner Seeking Golden Masters
22:10 American Men Struggles
24:35 Jodar vs. Tien
26:23 Fonseca and Brazilian Crowd Controversy
29:19 Medjedovic Ice Cold Win
30:36 Sabalenka Upset and Back Issue
35:39 Major News: Rune Withdrawl and Slam Boycott
44:00 Mannarino Clay (Bad) Streak
45:28 Servebot Double-Bagel Pegula
46:13 The Name Debate
49:01 Wrap Up and Sign Off
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | All right, we are back and lots to catch up on in Roma. |
| 0:03.6 | Let's get the show started. |
| 0:04.7 | Jack Jones, Stevie and Sam. |
| 0:07.5 | Got close a few times, never want to slam. |
| 0:10.1 | Nothing major. |
| 0:10.9 | Welcome back, everyone, to nothing major. |
| 0:14.1 | This is episode 173. |
| 0:16.6 | Gosh, we've been very, very consistent. |
| 0:19.9 | John Isner here with Steve Johnson, Sam Quarry, Charlie Fox, and the whole team at Sift, |
| 0:25.7 | creative. |
| 0:27.3 | Obviously, it is Rome week. |
| 0:30.4 | Still going on on this Monday morning, right in the dead middle of the tournament. |
| 0:35.7 | So we do not have a winner circle, |
| 0:39.3 | winter circle, of course, |
| 0:41.4 | but there is lots to catch up on in this tournament. |
| 0:44.7 | There's been a lot of really, |
| 0:45.8 | really big news. |
| 0:46.7 | And before we get started, |
| 0:47.8 | Sam just raised his hand. |
| 0:49.1 | Maybe he has another rant or something. |
| 0:50.9 | No, but I have two things I want to discuss openly on the pod. |
| 0:54.5 | Yep. One, I think we got to move our Friday shows to Thursday. You guys' thoughts? |
... |
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