US Open Day 12 - Djokovic vs. Wawrinka final; What on earth was Gael Monfils Doing? 250th Episode, 2 Millionth Download;
The Tennis Podcast
David Law
4.5 • 2.6K Ratings
🗓️ 10 September 2016
⏱️ 24 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Novak Djokovic will take on Stan Wawrinka in the final of the US Open on Sunday, but the main question that needed answering on the Tennis Podcast on Friday night was: what on earth was Gael Monfils doing?
Playing in his first Grand Slam semifinal for eight years, and with a 0-12 record against Djokovic, Monfils appeared to adopt ‘Rope-a-dope’ tactics, trying to mess Djokovic around to a point where he might lose his form. It didn’t work. Accusations of ‘tanking’ - not trying - were levelled from various quarters, but Monfils fiercely denied them. So what did happen?
Presenters Catherine Whitaker (Eurosport) and David Law (BBC 5 Live) describe the extent of the humidity felt in New York during the semifinals, and try to imagine what it would be like to play in.
During the podcast, Wawrinka walks past and he looks every inch the seasoned Grand Slam finalist after reaching the third of his career. He is yet to lose one.
This is the 250th edition of The Tennis Podcast, which...
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hi, I'm John McIner, I'm Bjorn Borgh. |
| 0:02.3 | This is Martina Navratelova, I'm Matt Vylander, I'm San Roenka, I'm Lighten Youet, I'm Andy |
| 0:07.3 | Mari and you're listening to the tennis podcast. |
| 0:10.6 | Well, hello and welcome to the tennis podcast, brought to you in association with the telegraph. |
| 0:24.4 | My name is David Law from BBC Radio 5 Live. |
| 0:26.9 | I'm joined by Catherine Whittaker of Eurosport on a momentous day for the tennis podcast. |
| 0:32.3 | This is episode number 250. |
| 0:35.7 | We've had our two millionth download, I mean really, surely people have got better things |
| 0:40.8 | to do than listen to this, apparently not, which we're grateful for. |
| 0:44.7 | So thank you everybody for listening over the last four and a half years. |
| 0:48.7 | But Catherine Whittaker and I, the reason I'm speaking a little bit quieter than maybe |
| 0:52.1 | perhaps I normally would is we've just seen both of the men's singles semi-final in which |
| 0:57.5 | Galmon Feast has been defeated by Novak Chokovich and Stan Verenker is just one through |
| 1:02.1 | and four sets over Kandishikuri and they were dragging themselves around the court, struggling |
| 1:07.8 | for breath at times and the reason for that is the humidity. |
| 1:11.5 | We're sitting outside right now, Catherine, just outside the media centre. |
| 1:15.9 | It is deeply unpleasant sitting out here. |
| 1:18.4 | I mean the temperature itself is quite nice, it's warm compared to the ice box of a commentary box. |
| 1:23.8 | I've just been sitting here, you're rolling your eyes because you've been out here for about six hours. |
| 1:28.0 | But in terms of the humidity, just try to explain what it's like. |
| 1:33.0 | Well it's an incredibly tough task you've just set me because it's very, very difficult to put into words. |
| 1:38.0 | As English people we're not really allowed to complain about heat or summary weather conditions. |
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