On the ninth episode, we start by talking about Novak Djokovic as he wins Wimbledon and looked virtually unstoppable while doing it; can anyone stop him from winning Olympic Gold and the US Open for the Golden Slam? Then we talk about Ash Barty’s victory and how good we think she can be throughout her career (21:35) before closing it with a conversation about Naomi Osaka’s mental health, her very thoughtful Time Magazine article, and the Olympics as a whole (27:19).

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @makingaracquet3

Novak Djokovic career statistics (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novak_Djokovic_career_statistics

Novak Djokovic (ATP Tour): https://www.atptour.com/en/players/novak-djokovic/d643/overview

Ashleigh Barty career statistics (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashleigh_Barty_career_statistics

Ashleigh Barty (WTA Tour): https://www.wtatennis.com/players/318033/ashleigh-barty

Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Singles Draw: https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/draws/index.html?event=MS

Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles Draw: https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/draws/index.html?event=LS

Naomi Osaka: “It’s O.K. Not to be O.K.” (Time Magazine): https://time.com/6077128/naomi-osaka-essay-tokyo-olympics/

Soul Cap Petition to FINA Nears 5,000 Signatures (Swimming World Magazine): https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/soul-cap-petition-to-fina-nears-5000-signatures/

Theme and End Music: “Back to the Future” by Ofshane from YouTube Audio Library, Remixed by Nathan Lee with Tennis Sound from FreeSFX

Middle Music: “Stairway” by Patrick Patrikios from YouTube Audio Library

Tennis sound effect from FreeSFX: freesfx.co.uk

History was made in Paris as Novak Djokovic won his second French Open and 19th Grand Slam title (start), and Barbora Krejickova not only won her third Grand Slam doubles title to get back to No. 1, but also broke through in singles by winning it all in just her fifth Grand Slam main draw (15:37). We have a break conversation about the NBA and the Olympics (26:20) before talking about Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal from Wimbledon and the Olympics (29:21) and Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal from Wimbledon and what should be reimagined about dealing with the press in tennis and the sports world at-large (34:26).

Follow us @makingaracquet3 on Twitter and Instagram

Theme and End Music: “Back to the Future” by Ofshane from YouTube Audio Library, remixed by Nathan Lee with tennis sound effect from FreeSFX

Middle Music: “Stairway” by Patrick Patrikios from YouTube Audio Library

Tennis sound effect from FreeSFX: freesfx.co.uk

We preview the French Open: Rafa Nadal’s road to 14 (or more importantly, 21), Novak Djokovic, and who has an easy draw even though they’ll end up losing to Nadal anyway. On the women’s side (8:47), we talk about the three favorites in Ash Barty, Iga Swiatek, and Aryna Sabalenka, plus some other big names and a possible dark horse that may get big in Paris. We close with our final four (19:55), and this was way shorter than we wanted.

Congratulations to UIL 6A Boys’ Singles State Champion Tyler Stewart, and we apologize we were not able to get the interview on this episode due to technical difficulties (that were caused by Nathan).

Midland Reporter Telegram article immediately after it happened: https://www.mrt.com/sports/highschool/mhs/article/BREAKING-MHS-Stewart-becomes-1st-MISD-player-16194358.php

Newswest 9 article: https://www.newswest9.com/article/sports/tennis/mhs-senior-tyler-stewart-wins-singles-tennis-state-championship/513-d363b4f5-3db7-4ebe-9524-a0e0477cbf44

French Open draws: https://www.rolandgarros.com/en-us/results/SM

Tennis Draw Challenge: tennisdrawchallenge.com

Theme and End Music: “Back to the Future” by Ofshane from YouTube Audio Library, remixed by Nathan Lee with tennis sound effect from FreeSFX.

Middle Music: “Awakening Instrumental” by Wataboi from Pixabay

Tennis sound effect from FreeSFX: freesfx.co.uk