Loosely Strung Tennis Podcast
Weekly tennis podcast covering the latest news and events in the tennis world, as well as putting our own (sometimes questionable) spin on things. 🎾🎙
Loosely Strung Tennis Podcast
Rafa Gone as Italy Stand Strong
In this episode, the hosts engage in light-hearted banter before diving into personal updates, including discussions about weekend sports experiences and who they would like as their 'Life Coach'. They then transition to tennis news, highlighting Italy's dominance in recent tournaments and reflecting on Rafael Nadal's retirement. The conversation shifts to Andy Murray's new coaching role with Novak Djokovic, sparking debates about the implications of this partnership. The episode concludes with a humorous apology for a previous betting mishap and predictions for the future of tennis.
Let us know what you think of this week’s pod and anything you’d like to hear being discussed in future episodes - you might even get a shout out!
X
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Email - hello@looselystrungpod.com
Welcome back to another episode of loosely strong and incredible episode we've got for you this week. All the breaking news from the tennis world which this week was non-stop. Every day something brand new. But yeah, let's get right into it with probably my favourite part of the week. Boys, tell me something interesting. What have you been up to? Come on, someone must have something interesting to say, eh? I had a meeting with someone who told me I can get a mortgage. Here we go. So the houses I'm looking at this podcast either really really needs to start making money or my ex-RV needs to shoot up overnight. You Come on, what's more likely? not this podcast. Aww. pricey, come on. That's a chance, that's a chance. working into the wee hours of the morning is grinding out content for us. Yeah, crazy. was the last time you slept? five. I've not slept great since probably 2016. I'm still carrying holiday weight from 2016. was that after Murray won his second one, wouldn't you just had a big binging day? Now you've been struggling for. He's just been injured ever since. Just injury after injury. my proper injuries I've only started this year. It's a torn ligament is a real injury. this year's really injured, the rest of the years, the rest of the years were not injured. How do you mean it's not really torn? is at- let's not get into the Ross B's injury corner already. Gary hit us with some disappointment. I just want to ask Ross P something, is that the baby chair in your bedroom? Yes, it has made its way from the cabin into the house. Yeah. Yeah, this chair is about 30 years old, so... shares the reason I stopped in the pod for a year so I was trying to move on as fast as possible. I had an interesting weekend. 37 degrees out here. Absolutely sweating, sweating my bollocks off. I had to play a match and it was 36.7. The heat out is 35 but I'm in tennis club. good guys that they are decided that they would go against the rules this week and it was absolutely fucking horrendous to play in. to be fair you didn't look well. I've a photo of you, you didn't look well. Yeah. you try and... Anytime you try and breathe man, you a shot and you try and breathe in air. It was just so... Like just the hottest thing in the world man. But yeah. Rod's P is saying you don't look well. Yeah, I know if Ross B's saying I look like that, like, I look fucking terrible. Yeah, Six love, six love. Fucking fight son. Come on boys. Yeah. Mate, I'm just fucking, I'm playing every day. I'm playing every day, mate. I'm on form. You know? just came out and was like, it's the hardest match ever, 37 degrees, pure sweat and all that and I was like... and then was love and love... built up with your... hit you with a lot. How's your week been? That week's great every week. Honestly I'm flying at the moment, just chilling with my wee boy. Can't mass much more than that. He's making noises, he's shit, sleeping in his own bed, all that stuff. What more do want? that's what Ross B's mum still says to his family about her. This honestly, because this has been an absolute roast already. I'm expecting someone to comment on what I'm wearing as well because I thought I'd wear it for today. You're gonna get there. when Yeah, before we went live there was probably a roast of me already. go Ross, you've just came back from Milan. Obviously not the fashion show. So, what are we in Milan for? Well this is a tartan AC Milan Christmasy jumper because I went into the store and I thought it is really really nice coming in so I was like I'd love that, I need to have that. That and I bought a hat because I buy a hat wherever I am. But yeah was in Milan Friday to Sunday, went to see AC Milan Juventus, the worst football match I've ever seen. Well you don't go for like, you're not banking on that 90 minutes, you go for the San Siro and it'd be iconic and amazing and it was... It was amazing, but the actual football itself was fucking awful. I was learning Italian for the last 55 days, I'm on a dual English streak, so went and learned Italian for 55 days. As soon as I stepped in the country, trying to go on a bus, this guy came up to me and just like, spewed a load of Italian words at me and I just panicked and just said, I don't speak Italian, mate. As if he was in Glasgow. As if he was in Glasgow, like, spewing Italian at me, and I'm like, why are you talking in Italian? he's like, I'm in your country. So that, it got better as it went on, I got a do davolo pitou, know, but that, a table for, well that actually means a table for you. So it is, I was trying to get a table for two, but I actually don't know two, like do is two. No. of the restaurants? outside a club with tickets. Table for you? But I got a table and I had chicken wings, which I know you roast, I know because you go to Italy and you but I had to have some wings at that weekend at some point. But yeah, everything was amazing to be fair apart from the actual football game itself. Superb. Fantastic. I love it. I'm glad you spent 95 % of that time editing last week's podcast, but aye, you do what you enjoy. You're welcome. Right boys, it's time to move on to the news. god, give me a little bit heads up before you do that, man! Ross Payne the news is coming up. What was that for other news? That's the news. news! It's obviously a news jingle! I found it, I hunting for a news jingle! And also Calum said let's do the news and I pressed a button and he heard some music so it's obviously for the fucking news! Sorry, jeez, I mean, I'm amped already so Calum, tell me what's happened. Not much news in tennis regarding results. Regarding results, I only have two. For the news, Italy dominate world tennis, basically. Italy's women win the Billie Jean King Cup absolutely easily in the final, defeating Slovakia because they have a player ranked highest of 34 and it was a bit of a mismatch. Jasmine Palliani doesn't lose all week. Dominates, yeah, a great win for Italy and then... end to a good season for her. Yep, yep. Wonder why she just parked into form. Got my theories, but I'll leave them for another day. And, yeah, don't want a lawsuit, but I have a theory. I'll let you know later. Second, second, no. Second is... version of this out, I'm not going to show Pricey's frame at that moment, but we'll keep the audio going. Italy win the Davis Cup as well. Sinner goes a full year without losing in straight sets. He's not lost a match since before the US Open. He has just... maybe he's lost one, Talcras? I can't remember. He's not lost three sets all year. He's dominating everyone. I'm starting to actually find him a little bit dull. you celebrate, see when they won I was looking at it and I was like, it doesn't look like it cares too much, was a bit subdued and it was a bit like, yeah this is just adding this trophy. history to win two slams at Davis Cup ATP Finals. You just need to break, that's probably why. let's get a... It's this time of year. He is a dull guy, but that doesn't matter. golf club today? I want a wee bit of... a wee bit of personality from him, feel like he's quite boring. He's just a winner, he's just a natural born winner, that's the thing. that's the thing, it's like, going back, we talked about Great Britain last week in the BJK Cup. If they got to the final they would have got spanked as well. Italy were far the best. then it comes to, we looked at a coupon last week which we'll discuss later, but it was always going to be Italy that were going to fucking win the Davis Cup as well. It just felt so like a foregone conclusion. You look at their team is absolutely stacked they're double-sparing, it's insane. all in though? was a bit of a damp squib but It's only, I think we all know the main reason you're saying that Gary, is we didn't get the fairytale ending that we wanted. But, I mean I'm going to say I enjoyed watching Bottas Van der Zandslip after he got over his jips against Nadal. I think it was brilliant this week. These chips. amazing to be fair. It was, it was really good. I just think that sometimes the format can kind of let you down a little bit. I think the doubles is fun. I feel like they should change it and have number one singles, then the doubles and then finish with number two singles. Just because you get to see if you want to promote the doubles game. Sorry about the chance to do that. But what it does show you for center season is that... A one millionth of a gram dope would make some difference. Can't argue with that. Could this come out as the biggest controversy of all time in tennis? No. no it couldn't, no, no, not about time. I don't know how many controversies there's been to be fair. I think it can, I think it... I think if it was anyone else that wasn't Sinner or Alcraz or Djokovic or basically anyone top five, yeah, anyone top five, the chairman of the ATP is Italian, he's a big player in the game, dominated this year. that... look what happened to Simone Halep, like banned until they found out. I know, but I just think... Should it all be the same? Yes. Should Sunner be playing right now until everything is finished? Maybe not. Yes. But you see it in other sports how easy it can get into your system. Like milligrams like that, like if you eat meat and stuff like that and it just slams to be as a cream on him. Yeah, it was in only like two weeks or something like that in March, it was in his system. It's not as if it's like any system the full year. And he lost the week it was in. Yeah, but he lost the week it was in. and they had it again a couple of weeks later. Maybe it was still in his system, but for me it could be the biggest controversy of all time in tennis, but I'm on board because it makes it more interesting. Fair enough. Fair. is the end of tennis results news. Calum Price. Yeah. week for you. You came in. Yep. Rafael Nadal retires but goes out with a bit of a whimper. How did you feel? but it was even sadder to see Kool Holf go. No, of course not. I'll actually not lie. It was a genuine difficult watch. I think it must have been the same for all of you as Fed and Murray fans. I didn't feel the same way towards either of those two like I now. It's coming out a bit more serious than it was meant to and a little bit more on the friendly side that it was meant to as well. Yeah, but... But regardless, was a tough watch when Nadal, every point was a struggle. I've never seen Nadal not chase a ball. Like never. And he was done. He is done. And to be honest with you, I'm glad to see the back of him in that sense now. That I don't have to put up with this year of will he play, will he won't. And when he does play, something else is going to happen. Or he's going to pull out and then the hope dies. Yeah, I'm gonna be honest, see the minute I saw you was playing singles I put in the chat, lump on the Dutch. Lump on them, because... said lump on the dutch before the end of last episode, but none of you would listen to me. Yeah, to be fair. I never thought in the dial we'd play the singles, I thought it was going to be doubles. I just don't get it. Yeah. played them in the doubles because I think they would have probably got to the doubles anyway. Whoever played that one. Although, what was his name again? Granolas? He was good. You can't argue with it. He's a good Dulles player. Yeah, tough week, but anyway, I'll you guys lead it before it's late. again man. you can kind I don't think he's great on hard court. think you put him on the grass and you put him on the clay. He's better than anyone, but there's players that can... I think there's players that can... but okay. he has a bad year next year. Well, I know we've had quite a long time out of the pod but you will recall me saying I don't think you'll win more than 12 slams. And you all slated me for it. Yeah, but remember this, hang on, no, but hang on, let's not, hang on a fucking minute, let's not forget, let's not forget that he was the only one on the scene for a while who was looking untouchable. You know, this was, he was dominating thinner and I said this won't last and I was right. I'm still good, my good shot. this is an NA sport, think the year takes should be multiple years length like Precious said there. I think eventually down the line he's going to be vilified or vindicated from it. I think because we as a public jumped so quickly into, he's the next big thing, he's the next big thing, he's the next big thing. We did it like Holger Rune remember, thought when he won Paris a few years ago we thought mate, Felix was your earliest team. You practically moved in with the guy. there's a fort. How- leave, I thought you were gonna leave your missus and marry, marry him for a while. before the end of the year and we have our predictions for next year I've got a good one with Felix so don't you worry listeners, I'll be bringing that back May 1st 2.50. Just what we talking about before boys, on Nadal retiring, when your favourite player retires, how does that actually make you feel? For instance, when Fed retired and we sat in Ross Pease's... I only said basement there, Ross Pease's cabin. I don't want to be there. Ross Pease's cabin, when Fed's last match... man. Just like a bit of my... to watch the tennis and everyone watched the tennis except for Ross P, who's getting his toes bandaged. I felt like a bit of my soul, my childhood was ripped out man when Fed left. I was just like, fuck, I was talking to my girlfriend today and I was, yesterday. And I was like, this is tough, like, as soon as Djokovic goes, everything I watched growing up is just done. I mean I know this wasn't scheduled but who do we see when Djokovic see if Djokovic is the next one to go who of the old guard is there still to support? Monfils, Ravinka, Chilich, I'm bored off, Nishikori, I mean who is there to support anymore it's all new it's all Gen Z next gen, it? I think. us all. Boo! Craig Brown dislikes this. Boo! Thanks for your letter Craig Brown. But I just think, I think when the Dal kind of reminiscing over the weekend, like he had some unbelievable moments as like, he's a competitor, he won the greatest match of all time, technically. that like, yeah, and he's always got that, no matter what. And also I think he completed one of the greatest comebacks of all time against Medvedev. The great escape was a 4-3 down. one in two slams in a year when he had the dead foot was pretty unbelievable. the fact that... pumped Djokovic in the first set at Roland Garros and we were like, nah this won't last. We're watching him beat Unbelievable and we're all going, nah no way, no way he wins this. And then Djokovic's like, he's done, he's done, he's done, he's done. Then he wins two sets from nowhere with no foot. Unbelievable. Yeah. tier. it, he won the amount of French he's won is insane as well but remember he beat prime fed like 3-11-1 in a Grand Slam final and that must have been 06 or 07. most slams out of anyone. 18 slams missed. He could have dominated everyone but guess we'll never know. but that's the way you play it, that's what you put on eye. So the whole game has been available. this goes down whenever everyone has that debate about whether it's Federer the best or it Djokovic with the stats. Nadal will always be talked about when it comes to tennis. He transcends the sport like any other. When you talk about Michael Jordan, talk about Lionel Messi. I think Nadal fits into that with tennis and sport. we're looking at Sinner and Alcaraz at the minute as the next generation coming through and winning things. Nadal was winning the French Open at 16. Nobody will ever that again I don't think. Yeah. I lost a bet and go one at like 15, did you not? Yeah, but... Great shit, pretty shit. Great fucking shit. You Right, well he's talking about great serve of the game. Novak Djokovic hires a new coach. Andrew Baron Murray. I gotta go that right, don't I? Sir Andrew Baron Murray. Come on. What's my thoughts on it? PR stunt. Or hates his messes. How can you be retired for such a short time and have to leave the house again? Slam. I don't do you know what? he wins? No! No! Hank, no! That's like putting Carlos Maia down as most successful Spaniard in the last three years. you I think, see when the news broke and it's a Saturday afternoon, you're watching the football scores and in the middle of it all it breaks up and comes up in Sky Sports News, it's BBC breaking news, my wife turns around to me and goes, what the hell is this? Like it's just, it's just again, one of those news, you're just like, where has this came from? Why are you doing it? What's the reason? Like, is it going to be successful? It just opens up so many more questions that you just can't wait to find out the answers to, if that makes sense. Well, can I just say, I know you guys call me Mercurio, you call me all sorts of shit to be fair, but you better start calling me an oracle as well, because I called this 23rd of July this year. 23rd of July this year, I said, by the way, Murray coaching Djokovic would work 100%. What feedback did I get from you guys? that's such a shit shout, get him out the chat, block him through our group. I was like, you know what, I'll just sit back and take this. Murray's IQ is like the best of all time, he's tactically I think as just pure tennis tactic the greatest of all time, so that's one of the main reasons he was able to be the fourth out of that era of four was doing that. Ross B. I believe that's the only reason, because he's so technically far behind the other three. His brain got him so far. No, Ross B. I'm sorry, I'm not giving you any of it. He is nowhere near the top three in terms of the physical side. It's all up there, and it's a compliment. It is a compliment to introduce the drop shots and the lobs. That's why he got himself up there. His forehand is ish, relatively speaking. just take them on because Murray knows his weaknesses and he'll mate, do you know what? I love it. many first sets and was able to come back, he works people out. I love it because it's like these two old guys teaming up for one last ride together to take out the young boys and I fucking, I always want Djokovic to lose but fuck me I want him to win this year we don't win. I want him to win it's so bad. I'm so on board with him. Do you what the bit I'm so interested in seeing? it's like, ever, because of the build up and hype, it's gonna be insane, right? See what is in the box, what he says to him, how he reacts, he's sitting there as he cam, as he relaxes. And I think it's just, yeah, do you know what mean? What's he gonna be like? Because I think, just. turning like shout at his box and Murray sitting there? easy mate, he's a fucking nutter. Imagine he ruins Djokovic, but I him put white on and that made him eat gluten. Eat this you fucking dick. I can't wait for it, I'm absolutely buzzing. I'll be there as well, I'll be there as well, so I'll you know how it goes. I'm coming. that would be a stone laughing back about for that. Fuck you then. Nothing. I said enjoy it mate. god. Boys, if you, let's say you were getting towards the end of your going out career, not tennis career, just life in general career, and you were offered a coach to come on board with you, you're like, I need someone just to give me the last few years of my life to be fucking good. Who are you employing? Like a celebrity or something. to bed on. Obviously anyone. I've got mine. I think I had this, I have been thinking about this for a while. Mine would be Roy Keane. Pia, actually. Just for me personally. Just for me. here, for a going out or to be a tennis player? Going out. Coaching my life. Life coach. No, I'm taking Roy Keane. He's obviously going to show at you, get you going, motivated. He's going to, you know, just, for me, he's going to kind of sit back, relax, let me do it myself and then chop in when he wants. Herdy's a good dad. Herdy actually secretly likes getting pissed up. And... As we saw yesterday with that switch game he'll fucking scrap as well if you need to he'll be in your corner to back you up So I've got Roy Keane in my... I'm actually gonna call him Uncle Roy Uncle Roy Back to an Iraqi interview, sir. would fill the In-Orders Vest card and take Andy Molley and see what we can talk about. and do what the fuck with them. about that. I'm surprised. Yeah, I mean, I don't need all these quotes, I'm doing pretty good. But what would Andy Murray help you with? My back hand maybe? Fuck you, I'm the... Gary. Key in... What's the bloody word for it? Them in glassed houses should not throw stones, Gary Brown. You fat dick. Sorry. well, that's another cut from Price Name. Ross Peas isn't fucking David Goggins, we're fucked. If Ross Peas doesn't have David Goggins, it's his life, It's fucking over. That guy needs a full reset. I can't believe Skitty didn't take Goo Goo Quirton after knowing all his fucking medical history last week. No, because, Roy King's gonna help me beat him, you know what mean? Sorry, Uncle Roy, Uncle Roy. to speak, on, who are you thinking? you I mean, to be honest. think I... Okay, I think I... Yeah, Guy's throwing his mic away basically. Sorry! Thank fuck I don't think he's been able to use that. It's the only one he's been able use. my god. Yeah, I hate myself for what I'm about to say but I'm honest. Because I know you guys want me to say this, I think. So, yeah, I'll take on the Rizler. I didn't see that coming. Yeah, I mean, you guys have been calling me Riz P for years. I don't know why to be honest, I mean not Riz'd anyone up in about 18 months and even when I do it, it's like, you're saying it's like, you but you say it like, aw he's Riz'ing, he's doing this and that and I'm like, I'm not, I'm just being nice at someone when I'm ordering nachos or something like that and it speaks more probably about the nachos I'm ordering rather than the person I'm speaking to have ordered it. So you can call me that. You know, actually, fuck that. I'm not gonna do that. I'll take Gandalf. No, I'm not taking that. I'm not gonna take that. Because you guys, I know you want me to say respe. Pricey, what are you trying show me here? Last time you read Summon Up, once upon a time in Perth. Yeah, move on. Gary, you gonna take, Gary? fuck, here we go. Can I guess, you're going to basketball, Michael Jordan, golf? no. No, no, I he just watched the US Office. Michael Scott. Yeah. I like where this is going, please say the right... Aargh! Good shout, I like that a lot. That's the... It's taking your 50... Taking your 50 to it, just so you can do something good. top notch. superb. Yeah, I'll give you that one. an official character as... DeVito. Yeah. tonight after dropping the mic. Who is yours, Calum? out and join Ugh, here we go. Right, why? I am a massive Elton John fan, if you can justify it. lettuce? I ain't doing Elton John. I ain't doing Elton John. You'd be so lucky. Dunno, movie was good, looks like I a fucked up life so it'd be nice for my last couple of years to be fucked up as well. Anyway, moving on because that's not going in. Boys, before we call it a day, Skinny's got a little message for everyone from last week. OSP. We are very sorry for putting together the worst coupon of all time. We is a big statement considering every one I chose was correct. You did not choose everyone correct, you took someone a shrine. listen to it. Did he not pick Canada? I'm gonna go back and listen. remember I said Dustin Brown was going to play for Germany, he was going to beat them. Remember? Yeah. that doesn't count as a shout, you chose a guy who's not played, aw. we were gonna play Duster Brown. Fair enough, that bit was wrong, but I still got it. So we're going to take pause on money makers for our fans because it lasted one week because I think first of all we're going to take a pause because no tennis but I think we're going to rethink about the idea and make sure that we nail the next one and also I used to say this all the time and I forgot last week, remember and gamble responsibly when the fun stops, stop. Well, the fun starts about another ten then. No? No. stops, stop. No. But we will come back with this with an absolute winner that will send your kids through college even though university in Scotland is free. I've got a banker for them. What is it? What's the banker? I'll carise not to win more than 12 slams. And with that boys, and with that boys, we've come to the end of podcast number 51. We're on our way to 100, baby. Two? 52? everyone. F2R. Over and out. Go up, up. Hit it pricey.
