Episodes
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On the Mailbag, Gill Gross is joined by Jimmy Arias to discuss Danielle Collins' incredible surge, the ATP landscape shifting and Novak Djokovic's comments on motivation, before delving into viewer questions, including: is Rafael Nadal actually going to retire in 2024, should Roland Garros have given Dominic Thiem a wildcard, which Roland Garros title contender can take advantage of uncertainty within the top-4 (Tsitsipas? Zverev? Ruud?), is there too much Jack Draper hype, what is the future of technique, is there more complaining on tour these days, how can Taylor Fritz level up his game, Andy Murray has switched to a Yonex EZONE 100 and why might Alexander Zverev have such a poor record against Stefanos Tsitsipas? Jimmy Arias is a former world #5, the director of player development at the IMG Academy, and an analysts for Tennis Channel and other outlets.
00:00 Intro
02:26 Danielle Collins
16:37 ATP Generation Shift
21:16 Djokovic Motivation
25:33 Will Nadal Retire
30:19 Thiem Wildcard Snub
35:14 RG Title Contenders
41:54 Jack Draper Hype
46:06 Future of Technique
51:40 Complaining on Tour
52:25 Fritz-Rublev Comp
54:14 Murray to Yonex
56:08 Tsitsipas vs. Zverev H2HSubscribe to The Draw, your one-stop-shop for the best tennis content on the internet every week: https://www.thedraw.tennis/subscribe
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On Monday Match Analysis, Gill breaks down blowout wins over Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal by Alejandro Tabilo and Hubert Hurkacz respectively, at the 2024 Rome Masters. We'll analyze both matches, plus address the water bottle incident and Roland Garros prospects. Lastly, we'll take a fresh look at the Rome draw with the Round of 16 stage ahead.
00:00 Intro
02:53 Water Bottle Incident
05:20 Djokovic Concern Meter
08:40 Tabilo Match Analysis
18:40 Nadal-Hurkacz Analysis
25:55 Nadal Shortcomings
34:15 Rome Draw NotesSubscribe to The Draw, your one-stop-shop for the best tennis content on the internet every week: https://www.thedraw.tennis/subscribe
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Missing episodes?
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On the Mailbag, Gill Gross unpacks Dominic Thiem's legacy and why the reaction to his retirement should be celebration, not regret. Then, we get to your comments: is Thiem quitting too soon, would Thiem have returned to peak form if the wrist injury never happened, are the injuries on tour a result of a poor calendar, who would be the Roland Garros Frankenstein, thoughts on Diego Schwartzman and Camilla Giorgi retirement developments, should excessive grunting be outlawed, what explains the decline in Daniil Medvedev's serve, why were top players so inconsistent at Roland Garros in the late 90s early 2000s? At the end of this podcast, we review the Challengers Movie.
00:00 Intro
00:55 Thiem's Legacy
16:30 Thiem's Decision
19:05 Imagine No Wrist Injury
26:14 Calendar and Injuries
34:20 RG Frankenstein
37:40 Schwartzman & Giorgi Retirements
42:10 Excessive Grunting
48:16 Medvedev Serve Decline
54:36 Early 2000s Inconsistency
1:03:35 Challengers ReviewSubscribe to The Draw, your one-stop-shop for the best tennis content on the internet every week: https://www.thedraw.tennis/subscribe
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On Monday Match Analysis, Gill Gross previews the 2024 Italian Open in Rome with dark horses, upset alerts, popcorn matchups and predictions. 6-time champion Novak Djokovic is the top-seed, followed by defending champion Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, and Madrid champion Andrey Rublev.
00:00 Intro
03:20 Djokovic Q
9:00 Zverev Q
18:50 Rublev Q
26:10 Medvedev Q
36:27 Final WeekendSubscribe to The Draw, your one-stop-shop for the best tennis content on the internet every week: https://www.thedraw.tennis/subscribe
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On Monday Match Analysis, Gill Gross breaks down Andrey Rublev's triumphant comeback win over Felix Auger-Aliassime in the 2024 Mutua Madrid Masters final. We'll talk about why Rublev called it the "most proud" title he's ever won. We'll discuss the key dynamic in the match: FAA's serve against Rublev's return. We'll cover the chances that Felix is primed to make another push towards the top-10. Lastly, we'll do the 2nd edition of the French Open Power Rankings which spoiler alert includes Rafael Nadal.
00:00 Intro
01:03 Proud Rublev
04:35 Felix Wins 1st
10:25 Rublev Returning
22:35 Felix Physical
25:45 Rublev's Baseline Edge
29:08 Felix Back?
32:20 Foot Faults
36:18 FO Power RankingsSubscribe to The Draw, your one-stop-shop for the best tennis content on the internet every week: https://www.thedraw.tennis/subscribe
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On the Mailbag, Gill Gross overviews Madrid men's singles storylines such as the avalanche of injuries, Rafael Nadal's best run since 2022, Jiri Lehecka's breakthrough and an Andrey Rublev vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime final. Then, he answers your comments, including: has Andrey Rublev peaked, how do players qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics, how do I rank the top teenagers such as Joao Fonseca and Jakub Mensik, is play quality down in Madrid, how should Nadal increase his fitness, what are the new expectations for Casper Ruud, is Jannik Sinner ready to break through on clay and is Corentin Moutet entitled to coffee?
00:00 Intro
03:35 Madrid Overview
14:37 Rublev Peak
20:43 Olympic Qualification
25:55 Youngster Rankings
30:55 Showing Injuries
34:22 Madrid Play Quality
35:50 Rafa Fitness Plan
37:15 Ruud's Goals
44:50 Sinner Clay
46:25 Etcheverry Progress
48:43 Country Stereotypes
51:42 Moutet Denied CoffeeSubscribe to The Draw, your one-stop-shop for the best tennis content on the internet every week: https://www.thedraw.tennis/subscribe
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37-year old Rafael Nadal drew 16-year old Darwin Blanch in the first round of the Mutua Madrid Open. Gill Gross breakdown and analysis...
Subscribe to The Draw, your one-stop-shop for the best tennis content on the internet every week: https://www.thedraw.tennis/subscribe
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On Monday Match Analysis, Gill Gross previews the 2024 Mutua Madrid Open ATP 1000. The top-seed is Jannik Sinner looking for his first big clay title, Carlos Alcaraz is the back-to-back defending champion opposite the draw, Daniil Medvedev and two-time Madrid champion Alexander Zverev round off the top seeds. Rafael Nadal opens against Darwin Blanch. Novak Djokovic withdrew from the event. Gill gives his quarter-by-quarter preview with dark horses, upset alerts, popcorn matchups and predictions.
00:00 Intro
03:21 Sinner's Quarter
08:45 Medvedev's Quarter
16:20 Zverev's Quarter
21:30 Alcaraz's Quarter
29:20 Final WeekendSubscribe to The Draw, your one-stop-shop for the best tennis content on the internet every week: https://www.thedraw.tennis/subscribe
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On Monday Match Analysis, Gill covers Casper Ruud's breakthrough victory at the ATP 500 in Barcelona, where he reversed his previous result against Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final. We'll then move to Munich, where Jan-Lennard Struff beat Taylor Fritz for his first career title. Then, we'll take on Rafael Nadal's comeback effort in Barcelona, where he lost in the 2nd round to Alex De Minaur. Finally, Gill delivers the first intsallment of the 2024 French Open Power Rankings.
00:00 Intro
00:55 Ruud d. Tsitsipas
03:40 Ruud Aggression
12:10 Ruud Passing
16:13 Ruud Returning
18:26 Tsitsipas Performance
21:06 Struff d. Fritz Munich
27:30 Nadal in Barcelona
31:18 French Open Power RankingsSubscribe to The Draw, your one-stop-shop for the best tennis content on the internet every week: https://www.thedraw.tennis/subscribe
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On the Coach' Mailbag, Thread of Order author Hugh Clark joins Gill Gross to answer your questions about professional technique and various tennis topics. We'll start by discussing Stefanos Tsitsipas's one-handed backhand in response to the recent video by Intuitive Tennis claiming it's "not bad." Comments include: an argument that Casper Ruud's big match struggles are technical not mental, is it true peaking Carlos Alcaraz better than peaking Jannik Sinner while average Sinner is better than average Alcaraz, should coaches and players focus on strengths instead of fixing weaknesses, why do Americans serve bigger on average, what are the changes Alcaraz is making to his serve technique, what we would do if we were tasked with coaching Novak Djokovic, and much much more.
00:00 Intro
03:56 Tsitsipas Backhand
10:40 Ruud Mental vs. Skill
18:28 Peak Alcaraz & Sinner
21:45 Sinner Easy Power
24:30 Focusing on Strengths
30:25 American Serves
33:05 Alcaraz Serve Technique
37:10 Weird ATP Forehands
40:09 Stop Double Faulting
43:38 Footwork Importance
46:41 Coaching Djokovic -
On Monday Match Analysis, Gill Gross dissects Stefanos Tsitsipas’s commanding win over Casper Ruud in the 2024 Monte Carlo final. We’ll talk about how the event has shaped the narrative of Tsitsipas’s career, why Ruud should be upset with his performance, who’s forehand is better between the two, what to make of the Norwegian’s finals record and why, although it’s uncomfortable to acknowledge, a poor lines call possibly cost Jannik Sinner a spot in this championship match.
00:00 Intro
00:30 Tsitsipas Monte Carlo
04:22 2nd Serve Domination
13:10 8/8 Break Points
20:25 Tsitsipas Backhand
21:38 Forehand Comparison
24:18 Tsitsipas Patterns
26:16 Ruud Finals Record
30:45 Sinner ControversySubscribe to The Draw, your one-stop-shop for the best tennis content on the internet every week: https://www.thedraw.tennis/subscribe
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Gill Gross breaks down two high-billing quarterfinals from Friday's action at the Monte Carlo country club. Jannik Sinner faced Holger Rune in a rematch from last year's semifinal at the event. Plus, Novak Djokovic took on Alex De Minaur looking to reverse the result from this year's United Cup. At the end, we'll preview the semifinal lineup of Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic vs. Casper Ruud.
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On Monday Match analysis, Gill Gross talks Ben Shelton’s title in Houston, Matteo Berrettini’s win in Marrakech and previews the 2024 Monte Carlo Masters quarter-by-quarter. First, we’ll discuss how Berrettini breaks the conventional wisdom of needing matches to play well, and we’ll analyze why he has three titles on grass and clay, but none on hard court. Then, we’ll cover how Shelton is the closest thing there currently is to Rafael Nadal (forehand!) and talk about the improvements he is quickly making. We’ll get a quick word in on Estoril and Hubert Hurkacz before going to the Monte Carlo preview. Novak Djokovic is the top seed, followed by Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev.
00:00 Intro
01:00 Berrettini Marrakech
08:56 Shelton Houston
24:15 Hurkacz Estoril
26:25 Monte Carlo
27:23 Djokovic Q
34:47 Alcaraz Q
40:03 Medvedev Q
43:45 Sinner Q
48:50 Final WeekendSubscribe to The Draw, your one-stop-shop for the best tennis content on the internet every week: https://www.thedraw.tennis/subscribe
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On the Mailbag, Gill Gross unpacks Novak Djokovic’s split with Goran Ivanisevic, including the media coverage, the reasons for the breakup, who might be next and what value that person should bring to the 24-time major champion. We’ll answer your comments, including: how do we rank events in order of court speed, why Nuno Borges got robbed in Estoril, why Iga Swiatek can struggle against relentless power aggression, how Jannik Sinner will fare on clay, will Medvedev overcome his limitations, has Stefanos Tsitsipas’s forehand declined, what are the ideal surface speeds, can stats help explain errors, what to make of Dominic Thiem’s admission that his wrist still limits his power?
00:00 Intro
00:30 Djokovic x Ivanisevic
10:30 Novak’s Next Coach
18:09 Court Speed Tiers
22:33 Borges Robbery
28:50 Swiatek vs. Power
43:37 Sinner on Clay
38:40 Medvedev’s Limitations
45:08 Sinner vs. Alcaraz Movement
48:35 Tsitsipas Struggles
51:50 Ideal Surfaces
55:58 Explaining Errors
1:00:13 Thiem’s QuoteThings I forgot to say…
Regarding punishment for umpire mistakes; their performance is constantly being evaluated, so the punishment generally comes in the form of doing smaller matches.
Regarding Tsitsipas’s first serve percentage; I am still perplexed by his desire to experiment with the pinpoint footwork given the effectiveness of his serve relative to other areas of his game.
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Note to audio listeners: 6:25 to 19:29 is pretty heavy on visuals; I try to describe what I'm showing as much as possible, but if you wish to skip that part my analysis shifts away from film study thereafter.
On Monday Match Analysis, Gill breaks down Jannik Sinner's dominant 2024 Miami Open performance. The Italian took over the #2 ranking with a 6-3 6-1 win over Grigor Dimitrov in the final. We'll cover why Sinner is on a path to number one, how his defense left Dimitrov without answers and what his strategy was in baseline rallies and on serve. We'll also both finalists performance as a whole.00:00 Intro
03:05 The Draw
04:05 Dimitrov's Chance
6:25 Sinner's Defense = Breaks
19:29 Finding Dimitrov's Backhand
21:35 Sinner Serve Strategy
24:40 Performance ConclusionsSubscribe to The Draw, your one-stop-shop for the best tennis content on the internet every week: https://www.thedraw.tennis/subscribe
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Top-seed Carlos Alcaraz looked to keep his Sunshine Double chances alive facing Grigor Dimitrov in the 2024 Miami Open quarterfinals. Gill Gross breaks down that result, and previews the semifinals featuring Alexander Zverev and a AO Final rematch of Daniil Medvedev vs. Jannik Sinner.
00:00 Intro
00:25 Alcaraz vs. Dimitrov
17:40 ? vs. Zverev
22:50 Sinner vs. Medvedev -
On The Mailbag, Gill Gross answers your comments, including: rating the WTA's one-slam winners of the last decade, my favorite matchups on tour, what could separate Carlos Alcaraz from Jannik Sinner long-term, why is Serena Williams considered the GOAT when Steffi Graf has statistical advantages, what improvements has Daniil Medvedev made this year, how do Alcaraz and Sinner stack up on clay, what is the potential of TopSpin SK25 the video game, how players manage themselves during rain delays, why my old videos are deleted, why is Dominic Thiem still struggling, how will the proposed Super Tour effect lower ranked players, should catching tosses be legal, why am I wearing a hat?
00:00 Intro
1:15 WTA 1-Slam Winners
8:15 Favorite Matchups
13:35 Alcaraz Advantages vs. Sinner
21:00 Serena vs. Steffi
25:25 Medvedev Adjustments
29:05 Alcaraz vs. Sinner Clay
33:35 TopSpin SK25
38:17 Rain Delay Management
41:40 Old Videos
43:45 Dominic Thiem
49:31 SuperTour Effects
54:45 Catching Tosses
57:15 The Hat -
With Novak Djokovic’s uncharacteristically sloppy performances against Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open and Luca Nardi at Indian Wells, it is time to take stock of his future. He is, after all, 36 years old. Is Djokovic in decline? While it won’t take long to get an answer, Gill Gross argues it’s still far too soon to know for sure.
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On Monday Match Analysis, Gill Gross gives his quarter-by-quarter predictions for the 2024 Miami Open, featuring upset alerts, dark horses and popcorn matchups. Defending champion Daniil Medvedev, Indian Wells champion Carlos Alcaraz and Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner are deserved top-3 seeds. Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev and Casper Ruud are among the many looking to break the mold.
00:00 Intro
01:30 Alcaraz Q
08:52 Zverev Q
15:05 Medvedev Q
21:12 Sinner Q
28:00 Final Weekend -
On Monday Match Analysis, Gill Gross discusses Carlos Alcaraz's massive week at Indian Wells. How he found found his best tennis to snap Jannik Sinner's 19-match win streak and then beat Daniil Medvedev in the final for his first title since Wimbledon. We'll also cover takeaways from the Phoenix Challenger and Gill will share his personal experience in commentating it.
00:00 Intro
01:15 Alcaraz Improvements
05:52 Alcaraz d. Sinner
15:45 Alcaraz-Medvedev Serving
18:50 1st Set Tiebreak
22:00 2nd Set
24:18 Alcaraz FH Stats
28:56 Phoenix Takeaways
40:08 Commentary - Show more