Hey guys, welcome to What's the Call the podcast where sports
meets side eye. We're here to breakdown the
matches, the meltdowns and the moments that make us pause and
say, what was that call? I'm Theo.
I'm Andrea. And we're glad you're here.
Whether you're sports obsessed or just here for the drama,
there's a seat for you courtside, so let's dive in.
Hi guys. Welcome back to another episode
of What's the Call? This week we've got a slightly
chaotic one. We're talking Carlos Alcaraz's
wrist injury and what that means heading into Roland Garros.
A very subtle, not subtle confirmation from Morgan Riddle
on her breakup with Taylor Fritz and somehow also a shrimp Taco
situation in Madrid, which I feel like, sadly for you, you
can relate to Andrea, yes? I can, I can.
Andrea's not feeling her rest today because she too ate a bad
shrimp. Yes, which is insane.
Actually. That's.
Crazy my life just mirrors tennis so.
Exactly. Yeah.
OK. So yeah, this week we have a bit
of everything. And let's jump in.
Obviously, most of you will have heard by now that Carlos Alcaraz
has withdrawn from the rest of the clay season, including
Roland Gauss, due to a wrist injury, which is devastating for
us in particular, but for all of tennis, for you in particular.
Andrea, how did you feel when you saw the news?
So upset, yeah. I just think it makes the whole,
I mean, for me, obviously the French Open way less
interesting. Of course, I mean, obviously
that we had known that he has having issues, right?
Like he something happened during his match in Barcelona,
he withdrew from there. Then he was spotted in out in
Madrid with a wrist brace. He went and accepted his Lawyers
Sports Award last Monday with a wrist brace as well.
And then he withdrew from Madrid and now he's withdrawn from Rome
and Paris. But yeah, as I said, obviously
we saw it coming, knew there was something up.
But I, yeah, I was in, I was in Venice on a work trip on Friday
and I was walking through the town.
It's like, you know, along the Grand Canal.
I'm like looking at my phone and suddenly, like, the athletic
notification popped up and I just, like, said really loud.
I was just like, oh, fuck to. And my colleague was like, what?
And I was like, oh, Kohlzak, I was with the French Open.
He was like, no, I was like, yeah, really sad.
So that was my reaction. I was like, like, that really,
really sucks. But equally, I think it's
probably the wise call to make. Right on.
Definitely for him and his team because yeah, injury is not a
joke. Wrist injuries are so scary.
Wrist injuries are incredibly scary and tough to come back
from. We've seen it in two cases
already. Actually in two pretty high
profile, let's say cases on the tennis tour.
So Dominic team cut his career short and retired in 2024 at
just 31 years old and was never the same post wrist injury.
And then going back a little further, Juan Martine del Potro,
his career was like defined by it, right?
You remember that he sort of was really plagued by wrist injury
shortly after winning the US Open in 2009 and then 2010
season. He pretty much withdrew from the
entire season and never fully recovered.
Yeah, I remember Del Potro, I remember watching him beat Rafa.
I think he beat him 626262 in the semis of the US Open and
being like, holy shit, this is terrifying.
This guy is going to now be a real contender.
Yeah, for slams. And yeah.
And then his career was completely derailed by by a
wrist injury, which is why it's just, I think it's definitely
better. Of course.
I mean, Carlos is making the right decision.
Of course. Very prudent about it.
I'm sure he's in the best hands, of course, one would hope and
getting all the expert advice out there and like, yeah, I
mean, devastating for this clay season.
But hopefully him taking this time off will mean that his
career can continue as normal and not following the same path
as the other two we just mentioned because that would be
a disaster. Yeah, definitely.
I saw a Spanish sports journalist, Jose Moron, post on
Twitter that the rumor is that Carlos has a case of
tenosynovitis. OK.
This is not even a joke and it's not funny because his is really
serious. But that is what I had last year
and it's derailed. It's derailed my tennis career.
I cannot get through an hour on the court anymore.
You can't, no. It's awful.
It's really bad. You remember when I was drawing
with my wrist, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And I recently started playing again and it's fine, but you can
just feel it. And I don't know, Obviously he's
taking his injury a lot more seriously than I was, but it was
horrible, horrible. So I can relate his.
Point is that it's not that serious of.
I'm sure if you take it seriously as he is and should
be, he's going to be fine. And I think it's just something
that feels like it's recurring and can come back.
Like I think if you have a tendency it can flare up.
But I'm sure obviously he's managing it in all the right
ways. I, you know, went to physio for
like 3 months and that was it. But he'll be tending to it
daily, hourly probably at this point right?
So. He also wrote that Rafa had the
same injury in 2014 and he was sidelined for two weeks.
OK, there we go. Sweet.
There we go. All is well.
So yeah, ultimately, Carlos, I can relate and wishing you a
very speedy recovery. I have no doubt that he will be
back. But the question I guess is will
he be back in time for the grass or would it be more responsible
of him to skip the grass? I just grass is very like injury
prone surface. Do you know what I mean?
And there's no time in between the French Open and Wimbledon
and the grass season. I know.
So yes, he was pretty. He clearly doesn't even know.
No, I don't think you can tell. I think it's to be like a he'll
see in the moment. I mean from what you just said,
if it is Tino Sinoitis like he should be mine.
Yeah, hopefully he will be back for Wimbledon.
It would just. Yeah, it would be devastating.
If he missed Queens and Wimbledon was 2 slams but then
equally long run right? If it means it's better for him
long run, then we might have to take the L here.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And apparently he's chosen A
conservative treatment for this. That's good.
And so I guess time will tell. OK, So should we talk about what
this means for tennis over the next couple of weeks or or
month? Because this obviously Carlos
pulling out has a massive ripple effect and it affects the
rivalries, the slam narratives and sort of the balance at the
top of the game, which we already know.
It's kind of at the moment it's a two man, 2 horse race rather.
So yeah, let's talk about that's the second man in the rivalry,
Yannick. He obviously, you know, they're
brothers in arms. They love each other.
The press were pressing him kind of being like, you know, to how
does this feel? And he was just like, I loved
his reaction. He was like, tennis needs
Carlos. Tennis is better when he is
around. So obviously, yeah, it's super
heartwarming to see. But what do you think it means
for Yannick Sinner? And what does it do to him?
I think it sucks for him. Too.
I mean, it sucks. It really sucks.
I don't get the sense that he's now thinking, oh, great, this
makes it easier for me to win the French Open.
No, I mean it is much easier now.
But it puts more pressure on him.
But I do think if there's anyone who can deal with the pressure,
it's him. So he's probably going to take
it and run. I think this is good news for
Novak Djokovic. Not that I think he's relishing
in this either, but I think this is a good chance for him to win.
Oh, I think it's his biggest shot at 25.
Yeah, I think also I mean, yeah, let's let's talk about what it
means for the rest of the draw as well.
I think his position in the drawer is obviously going to be
everything because I think if he is, well, he can be IANIC in the
semis in Australia. Actually.
He doesn't necessarily need to meet him in the final in order
to get there. Like it might even be better if
he meets him in the semi, right? It's less less of a an event
like now that we're talking about, it could be actually
really interesting. And then also see who else
might, you know, step up to the plate because there are some
people who should certain people who should on the ATP side take
advantage of this, But who knows?
Sasha Zverev Unlikely. Unlikely him.
I just don't back him. I don't back him to to make big
moves. Sadly.
I don't know who else like the Moussetti.
I would love to see him make a run.
I know I always say that you are the feast.
Are the feast, of course, but he's also killing it.
I saw him, I was in Barcelona last weekend.
I saw two of his matches. Oh, cool.
He's just so good. He's amazing and he won the
tournament. He's still in Madrid.
He's someone who could really do well at the French and probably
will do well, so I'm rooting for him.
Yeah, OK, Fees Mousetti, I'm rooting for and he's a bit, he's
been a bit injury plagued as well.
Everyone's injury plagued. We keep saying this, but that is
a whole other conversation. It is because there's too many
injuries both on the men's and the women's side anyways.
But OK, so who do we have? Musetti fees?
I mean, Medvedev, let's go. I want him to have a run.
Unlikely as well. Ben Shelton.
He won a Munich. Could be yes.
Ben Shelton Vashro, too. Oh yeah, he could for sure.
He could definitely make a run. Yeah.
I mean, All in all, it's it's definitely not anyone's game.
But to make a run, it's anyone's game.
I feel like. I still feel like Yannick will
probably take it, but I'm curious to see your your how
your Novak prediction comes out. I mean, I don't disagree for
sure. But ultimately, do you know what
this means for you as well, Andrea?
That you're Roland Gauss predictions out the window like
a month before it even started. I know.
Which is sad, obviously. So now you need to change your
prediction. It has to be Novak.
OK, I'm.
Going to go with Novak because obviously you pick Sinner.
So yeah, I'll. Get a Novak.
Statistically he's a good one to back right?
So when historically? Rather, and he's playing way
fewer tournaments, he's able to show up and really give it his
all. Totally I.
Think he has a good shot? OK, well everyone stay tuned.
Exciting month coming up for sure.
OK, so I thought this could be a fun little segment.
What is Carlos going to get up to off court during his time
away from the sport? Apart from rehab, obviously,
because that is #1. Well, he gets to be home.
That's definitely where he's going to be hanging out.
He's going to be more. He's such a homebody.
He loves his couch with his TV and his whole trophy setup.
Do you see that? That picture kills me.
I can't. I feel like yeah, he'll be at
home, home base, Morcia, rehabbing, resetting.
Cool. They'll for sure be in Ibiza.
Trip thrown in, although Carlos, if I were you, I'd try and keep
it super low key because he's going you're going to get
ripped. I back it but you're going to
get ripped for sure. But I think it could be good for
him. Too 100% I back it.
I think both of us back it you. Should go to the opening
parties. Yeah, there we go.
I feel like he's no stranger to the Formula One circuit, too.
You know, it's coming back. I mean, actually this weekend
it'll be in Miami, so I'd even make a trip that we know he
loves Miami. I don't think he's.
Going to be Miami. Unlikely, but he might be at
some of the European races. I'd love to see him at the
Monaco GP. Oh yeah, for sure.
That would be fun. I feel like, yeah, that's not
one that he that's like out of the realm of possibility for him
to attend. I also have this theory that
he's going to be at the Met Gala, so maybe he'll go Miami to
Met Gala. He might be at the Met Gala next
Monday. He loves a red carpet.
He was like flexing the tux last week at this Laura Sports Awards
with the wrist brace. Yeah, wrist brace is a vibe.
You can make it an accessory. I did.
It gives him more aura. It gives him.
Aura, aura, so he would say. That is so funny.
He might be at the Met Gala. I feel like Yannick Sinner is
more Anna Wintour's poster child at the moment.
Definitely right. Carlos is not her type.
It's the mullet she's not going to prove.
No, I know. OK, well, well, maybe she can
like, make it a project. I don't know.
I would love to see him there, honestly.
I think we will. But yeah, the tennis doors gets
in the way of the Met Gala appearances.
So I feel like if he's out one year, he should go.
There's no way. If he like showed an interest,
they wouldn't have him be top of the list.
Absolutely. I also I'm curious, do you think
when players are out they like tune into the sport or it's too
difficult? Do they they completely switch
off or do you think they follow? If it were me, I think I would
switch off. You would.
But I think it depends on the player.
And if it were me, I would be watching.
Yeah, you see. Yeah, which is so funny.
I would be like out of sight, out of mind.
Like I I would find it triggering to watch.
I get that it that would be the main reason, but it's actually
would also be quite healthy to do to just, you know, switch off
like there's nothing you could do, you think?
Yeah, he's definitely staying tuned 100%.
I think Carlos was having some major FOMO during the Bernabeu
practice session. Did you see that Nadal, Sinner,
Ego Shiontek and Jude Bellingham?
It was like all his faves in the Bernabeu in Real's Madrid
stadium. It's like Carlos's worst
nightmare and he wasn't there, or its biggest dream but it's
his worst nightmare because he missed it.
Yeah, he's the biggest Real Madrid fan.
He loves Yannick Sinner, he loves Rafael Nadal.
Everyone's in one place except him.
That must have been tough to see.
He's definitely having some FOMO, but that was I.
Yeah, just sidebar. I loved seeing that, like,
crossover again. It's great.
Yeah. And shout out to Philly Lopez
and Garbini Muguruza, Madrid tournament directors.
I feel like they get a lot of shit for the stuff around the
tournament, but this was a move I feel.
Also honourable mention to Rafa Nadal junior and how he hits the
ball at only three years old. Wild, insane.
No, wild, wild. So yeah, Carlos, watch out.
That's one, one Rafa coming for you.
So careful. Stay tuned because there is
another which we will be talking about.
Yeah, I mean, Rafa's uncle was a Real Madrid player too.
There you go, It runs in the family.
Like I just, I was so cute. I know and I love that he's Rafa
Junior. I never and like Sinner was like
seen like turning around watching him.
I thought it was really cute as well.
But yeah, I just love, I love these moments.
I don't know, I can't explain it.
I'm like, if it doesn't make you feel something, you're dead
inside. So yeah.
With that, we will be watching out for Carlos's movements over
the next month or so and see where he pops up.
You know, our predictions might be completely off, but I still I
think that should be on his itinerary, all those things.
Speaking of younger Rafa's, we should check in on the actual
tournament in Madrid that is going on this week.
We are about halfway through. It's always a bit confusing some
sort of somewhere at the time of recording it is Monday, it is
like fourth round quarterfinals somewhere there.
It's a two week Masters even which is very confusing.
So OK, let's start with the men and with one Rafael Hodar.
And I know that we're really sad about Carlos being out of the
play swing, but Spanish tennis is in good hands.
Like between Spanish and Italian tennis, there's not much space
left. So I'm going to pass it to you,
the Spaniard, to assess. Yeah, it was.
I also saw him play in Barcelona last week and he's just so
impressive. He's 19 years old.
So impressive. And he's tall, actually, like
very tall. I think he's 191.
Wow, OK. And he seems much older, just
like his temperament. He seems like a pretty mature
guy. He hasn't even been on tour for
a year. He's a wild card in Madrid.
And now he's already into the fourth round and he beats Drop
Fonseca last night and three sets it looked like a.
Crazy match. No, I don't know, I just saw
Fonseca smashed his racket multiple times on the floor.
And he's a pretty even tempered guy and it's the first time he's
smashed his racket. Well, I think he's.
Like Jesus, like help, but someone who is right, especially
yeah, because. They're both 19.
Yeah, feel like they.
Both well, now Hodar has a lot of hype around him, but Fonseca,
you know, I feel like there's so much hype around him and I feel
like it's getting to him. That's the sense, I guess.
It's like it's really tough when they get.
So much hyped. They need to stay really like
feet on the ground and not let it get to them because the
pressure is crazy. But I also saw like a a crazy
start. Before his first round, Hodar
had played his first 25 professional matches.
So professional matches being on the ATV tour, sorry.
And he won 17 of them, which is the highest number within the
1st 25 matches. And behind him is Fonseca at 15
and Alcaraz at fourteen wins in their first 25 matches.
So if that starts anything to go by kind of crazy.
It's yeah, it's crazy. It was crazy to hear because to
hear Obama's Mamas Rafa. I know.
Right. It's like.
Oh my gosh, I don't know. I felt wrong.
History you're repeating. Itself.
Oh no, I hope I'm like. No, there's we need to find a
new. He needs to change his name.
I. See what you mean?
I mean, yeah, Carlos is shaking his boots.
He's got 2. Rafa's coming for him.
He's got. Rafa Hodar and then a three-year
old. Yeah, but he seems actually, I
feel like the two Rafa's just temperamentally are very similar
to. Oh, they are.
They're like very reserved and even keeled.
He's amazing and he's like very brave and really goes for it and
has an amazing return. It's just, yeah, it's so cool to
see another Spaniard. I mean it's.
You're so lucky having no luck. I'm having no luck, honestly.
None. Yeah.
OK, so Hodar has been doing well.
Who else is still? I mean, there's still like a the
draw's pretty stacked still. Like in terms of like big names,
we have Musetti still in Feast still in which you mentioned
Medvedev is still in Crazies, where is still in Steph is still
in Let's Go. It's very next Gen. vibes.
We like to see it. Yeah, I was kind of worried
about this tournament. Felt bad for Felly because there
were a lot of. Withdrawals I.
Feel like that's. Always the case in Madrid,
though. Madrid's such a weird one
because people skip it because they're like, oh, we'd rather
play Rome. The conditions are more similar
to rolling gals. It's closer to rolling gals.
So there's always like those last minute withdrawals.
But I think it's it's it's actually turned into great,
great one this year. I feel like no, I'm, I'm, I'm.
Actually excited for it. I wasn't really that excited.
And I'm like, I'm curious to see, but it's pretty open.
I mean, Yannick and Rafael Hodar are on the same side of the
drop. They're going to meet.
In the quarters, I mean, by the time this comes out, we'll
probably know. But yeah, I know.
It's so exciting, honestly. So yeah, let's see, next week we
will know who comes out on top. OK?
WTA is also, like big names left still in the drawer, Yeah.
Tabalenka is still. In Rebecca is still in, Coco is
still in, Naomi Osaka is still in.
She actually plays Ilenka this afternoon, so that'll be
interesting. And she also has made yet
another fashion statement. How did you see her Poochie
headscarf? I did not, but I'm looking at it
now and. Well, OK, you know, I like
Poochie. I think it's fun.
It's supposed to be like European, a nod to European
summer. But I don't know if it has a
place for if there's a place for it on the tennis court, I guess.
She gets people talking every time.
Yeah, it looks like she's going to a rave.
Is that getting ready for your summer?
Is that Is that what that is? So clean this.
Oh, no way. How funny.
Yeah, OK. Well, I also like, I quite like
the orange it looks. I do too like clay as well.
Yeah, but yeah, no. Interesting and.
Sponsored by Poochie No. Vintage shops like source it and
then this designer she works with, like worked it into her
Madrid outfit. Fine, You know, the haters don't
deter her. I've actually.
Wants to get yeah comments, yeah.
You know. Yeah, because inevitably that
will be the response she gets whenever she does these.
They're not but. She they're just like a bit
provocative and she knows she's poking the bear because people
have their thoughts on it. Like, I mean, whether they're
positive or negative. I actually don't, I don't mind
this one. I think it's a little bit
strange, better than the. Jellyfish, I think.
Yes, to me, I love my grandmother to death, but she
would always wear a headscarf when she would take her dogs for
a walk, you know, Queen Elizabeth style.
That's sort of reminding me of, right.
But anyway, so yeah, she's still in the draw.
All that to say, there are still a lot of big names on the
women's side as well. We probably both think Savolinka
is going to take it. But I do think Rebecca now she's
like a silent killer. As usual, I want Rebecca.
Now to take it, you know to keep.
Things more, yeah, to keep things more.
More balanced, more competitive for sure.
Do you know I want to take it? I don't think she will Coco.
OK, yes, we want Coco to take it.
Definitely unlikely. Do you know why?
Now here are we going to come to the shrimp Taco debacle?
Who is serving shrimp tacos at Player Dining?
Because that is just asking for something to go wrong.
There's been a whole thing around the shrimp tacos in
Madrid in player dining that they have poisoned multiple
players or food poisoned, rather.
Multiple players. Not poisoned, not poisoned.
Sorry, but yeah. So Ego Shreyon Tech pulled out
due to food poisoning. Coco was vomiting on court
during her match. She came through it, but she was
vomiting. Terence Atman, Have you seen
this video? He is.
He's like. Writhing in pain on the on the
ground cramping. Like screaming crazy.
I like, why did he go on court? Why did he play?
I guess, yeah, I. Don't, I don't know honestly.
Like I mean it's giving. Kabali.
It's giving Kabali. Australia.
I mean, you've just experienced bad shrimp yesterday as well, so
you know, it's not fun. But like imagine I just, I just
don't understand. Like This is why, you know, I
remember Steph was saying like he eats chicken and rice.
Keep it simple. Don't go for the shrimp tacos
when you're in competition. What are you doing?
But also don't serve them. Yeah, I feel like this happens.
You. Know pretty often Acapulco.
They're always. Puking, but you know.
Player dining. Just there's some sort of player
dining. Does them dirty.
They need better. Food Standards they do.
Definitely, or players should just stick with what they know
and keep it simple. Beige, beige, beige safe and
beige no shrimp. So yeah, let's see who comes
through it. I mean I hope they've like
gotten rid of the shrimp tacos by now from the buffet.
Hopefully it's just a 20. 4 hour thing, yeah.
Exactly. I mean, listen, I I love a
shrimp Taco, but if they're going to make you sick, no
thanks anyway. Yeah.
So this time next week, we're going to know who who made it
through without getting food poisoning.
OK, So we just need to revisit this story surrounding the sport
as well because if I may say so myself, I think we called it
Taylor Fritz and Morgan Riddle. Breakup has been confirmed, yes.
Yes, she confirmed it in a subtle, not so subtle Instagram
post which contained. Pictures of moving.
Boxes she's clearly moved to New York start this new era of hers.
And then she also posted a selfie wearing a shirt that says
world's best ex-girlfriend. Honestly, kind of like that
isn't a. Confirmation.
I don't know what is kind of like.
Respect. I don't know.
Yeah, and, and Taylor Fritz liked the post.
He liked the. Post I think he sends on liked
it because I think people were like what the hell I saw that
earlier again I didn't check myself I just saw someone say
that Taylor unlike it rather I honestly I think that that they
just the relationship ran its course and they can be friends
like I don't think she's like posting that to bait him I think
she probably like they probably like agreed on it I don't know
yeah I. Think it seems like they're on
good terms. Yeah, that's like.
Not every breakup needs to be this massive, like, scandalous,
like who did what thing, you know, Yeah.
I I do feel like she is kind of feeding into the speculation.
Yeah, you're right. No, you're right, you're right.
But also like, so if I were her, it's her life, but if I were
her, like whatever happened between them, it's every breakup
is tough. But she's built her career
around what he does. And I will say she's she's done
a really good job of it. Like she has, you know, whatever
your thoughts are on influencing and like how she started, she
has achieved a lot. She has like over half a million
followers on Instagram, goes viral all the time.
She did sort of bring a whole new demographic to the sport.
I feel like, alongside some other Wags as well.
But she I think was the sort of OG and like, good for her.
Not many girls would have done that.
But like, so for her, it's kind of a bit of like an existential
crisis she's in now because she needs to pivot a little bit.
I mean, she can still stay in tennis, but she needs to pivot.
And she has, it seems. Yeah, It seems like she's trying
to navigate how to, you know, pivot into a new role which is
not, you know, she's not a WAG anymore.
And so it's different. But clearly she still wants to
be involved and wants to be part of the tennis world and the
conversation and so I don't know I.
Mean. And he's supportive.
And sports in general, yeah, he's supportive.
Yeah, I think that they're just like, he seems like a kind of
guy. He's not going to be like
bitter, you know, he's just gaming.
He cares about gaming. Yes.
So no, but I get curious to see what's next for her anyways.
But yeah, I mean, what can I say?
We hold it. That is the name.
Of our podcast, We're making calls and they're hitting hard.
Let me tell you, great call. Great call, Great call.
And with that, I think we should make a call for this week.
What do you think? Question for today is in today's
tennis, is staying healthy more important than being the best
player? I think.
Staying healthy, obviously, And I think it's kind of ironic
because these are athletes who take such amazing care of
themselves, who are so healthy and yet there are so many
injuries. And I think it just shows that
the tour is too long and the scheduling is insane and it's
not sustainable. It's bad for tennis.
It's like, you know, they're shoot shooting themselves in the
foot because now they're losing out on, you know, one of the
biggest names for one of the in one of the biggest tournaments.
So yeah, it's 100%. It is sad.
And yeah, I mean, ultimately, I think final call, yes, being
healthy is more important than being the best player because
without health, you will not be the best player.
Yeah, with that, let's call it wrap it.
We'll see everyone next week. In the meantime, as always,
please like subscribe, follow review, leave a five star
rating. We really appreciate you guys
tuning in every week and we will see you next week.
Bye, bye. Thanks for.
Listening. That's it from us this week if
you enjoyed. The episode Make the call,
follow rate and share it with someone who loves the drama as
much as the sports Send us your. Voice notes, hot takes and soft
launch sightings at What's the call pod until.
Next time, what's the call?