Show Notes
Career-high No. 39 Eva Lys is our guest for one of our favorite conversations of the year. We chat about growing up with her dad as a coach, the friends she’s made on Tour, and why her social media works without ever feeling forced. She also opens up about the financial reality of life on Tour, balancing sponsorships with tennis, and why WTA is more exciting than ATP. Before Eva joins us, we break down a huge week in Washington. Alex Eala's incredible title run has everyone asking just how high her ceiling really is, while Taylor Fritz proves once again why the North American hard courts bring out his best. We also answer your fan questions, including whether a right-handed Rafa would still be one of the greatest players ever. Plus, how Alcaraz's new No. 3 seeding could shake up the US Open draw, dating apps for tennis players, an extremely serious ranking of Carlos' many hairstyles... and, somehow, a draft of the songs guaranteed to get every white person singing at full volume. 00:00 We're Back! 01:56 Fritz Does It Again 04:29 Eala Mania Arrives 04:59 White People Songs 10:14 Welcoming Eva Lys 11:15 Growing Up Around Tennis 12:24 Life Beyond the Tour 13:22 Friends on Tour 14:58 Favorite Cities on Tour 16:12 Social Media Without the Cringe 17:43 Rating Eva as an Influencer 19:17 Why the WTA Is So Open 21:05 Breakthrough Moments 22:20 Tour's Most Underrated Players 24:48 WTA vs. ATP 26:38 When Social Media Becomes Your Job 28:08 Sponsorships Behind the Scenes 29:09 The Financial Reality of Injuries 30:25 Instagram vs. TikTok 31:28 Prize Money Perspective 33:17 The Great Airline Miles Debate 34:45 Reality TV Draft 41:57 One Last Challenge 47:22 Wimbledon Bracket Winners 48:31 Fan Questions 48:31 Carlos as Seed No. 3? 51:29 What if Rafa was Right-Handed? 54:32 Dating Apps on Tour 55:57 Ranking Carlos Alcaraz's Hairstyles 58:20 See You Next Week!
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More from Nothing Major
On this episode of Nothing Major, John Isner, Sam Querrey, and Stevie sit down with rising Belgian star Alexander Blockx to talk junior success, winning the 2023 Australian Open junior title, his growth spurt, early pro breakthrough moments like Davis Cup vs. Berrettini, the Madrid Masters run, his love of serve-and-volley in big moments, and why Thiem was a childhood favorite. Blockx also shares how “Block X” became his nickname, his favorite and least favorite tour stops, and a viral celebrity encounter in Estoril. After the interview, the guys debut a tennis celebrity tier list segment featuring Shelton, Tsitsipas, Mannarino, Sinner, Heliövaara, Fritz, Monfils, Alcaraz, Zverev, and Ethan Quinn. Submit your Tennis Horror Story through the Mailbag section - https://keychain.club/NothingMajor 00:00 Show Intro and Teasers 00:33 Halloween Tennis Horror Stories 01:01 USTA Match Update and Banter 01:33 Meet Alexander Blockx 03:34 Junior Rise and Growth Spurt 08:26 How Blockx Got His Nickname 10:16 Davis Cup Welcome Moment 13:25 Madrid Breakthrough and Mindset 14:46 Serve and Volley in Big Moments 15:44 Thiem Inspiration and Hair Talk 19:54 Favorite Tournaments and Travel Life 23:42 US Open Money and Airline Miles 28:59 Belgian Tennis Crew and Locker Room 30:18 Team Vibes and Rivalry 31:01 Celebrity Moment 31:47 Starstruck Match Story 34:17 Viral Photo Aftermath 34:48 Interview Wrap and Reactions 35:33 Celebrity Tier List Rules 36:34 Shelton and Tsitsipas Ratings 39:18 A Listers 40:57 Fritz and Monfils Debate 42:36 Alcaraz and Zverev 44:10 Ethan Quinn 45:36 Signoff See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Nothing Major, Sam, John, and Stevie recap their weekend in Santa Fe for a First Serve New Mexico charity event, complete with fly fishing, a stacked tennis lineup, John singing with the Bryan Brothers Band, and Sam negotiating his way out of an oversold hotel. Then the guys break down Shanghai, where Alejandro Davidovich Fokina beats Zverev and comes from a set and a break down to win the final over Rafael Jodar, while Medvedev delivers another on-court blowup. They also discuss Federer’s appearance, the chaotic ATP Finals race, Chawlinska winning the Wuhan 1000, major ATP financial changes tied to a new Saudi Masters in 2028, Hall of Fame nominees, wild cards for Alcaraz and Djokovic, and João Fonseca shutting down his season. Follow Nothing Major on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/NothingMajorShow 00:00 Show Intro and Agenda 00:30 Santa Fe Ranch Weekend 01:35 First Serve Charity Gala 02:39 Isner Sings Onstage 03:54 Querrey Hotel Chaos 05:31 Shanghai Semis Recap 07:41 Medvedev Meltdown Moment 10:12 ADF Wins Shanghai Final 16:18 Federer Sightings in Shanghai 17:14 ATP Finals Race Predictions 19:07 WTA Wuhan and Swiatek Return 20:52 WTA Finals Talk 21:50 ATP Money Boom 2028 24:03 Saudi Masters Cash Surge 25:00 2028 Calendar Shakeup 26:33 Hall of Fame Ballot 27:43 Alcaraz Wild Card Vienna 29:48 Djokovic Chasing Turin 33:07 Fonseca Injury Concerns 34:00 Stevie’s Stat 35:03 Spelling Bee Banter 37:29 250 Week Preview Wrap 38:42 Outro See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this Thursday episode of Nothing Major, John Isner, Sam Querrey, and Stevie Johnson recap the latest from the Shanghai Masters, including Rafael Jodar’s win and his towel outburst toward ball kids. They also cover Zverev’s dominant win over Alex de Minaur as they discuss Zverev’s durability and year-end No. 1 form. As well as preview the other quarter-finals, debate Tommy’s new beard, and discuss Casper Ruud’s quiet run ahead of his matchup with Jodar. The show also features a new segment on players who “don’t look like tennis players,” and they bring on US Open men’s bracket winner Andrew “The Oracle” Lee, who gives us one of our greatest and funniest interviews in show history. Follow Nothing Major on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/NothingMajorShow 00:00 Show Preview 00:37 Shanghai Rundown 02:21 Jodar Ball Kid Moment 03:43 Zverev Dominance 06:21 Tommy vs Medvedev 08:33 Maldives Watch 10:18 Ruud Matchup Picks 15:08 Shanghai Travel Stories 17:00 Non Tennis Looking Players 19:13 Curly Hair Athlete Debate 19:49 Players With Alternate Careers 21:20 Dane Sweeney Adventure Guide 21:51 Meet The Oracle 22:54 How He Won The Bracket 25:31 Prize Money Giving Back 26:23 Boat Banter 27:19 Australian Open Prediction 29:01 Oracle Can’t Leave the call 31:17 Memorable Losses Fan Question 34:33 Tennis Slang And Jargon 36:47 US Open Engagement Photo Story 38:48 Oracle Sends Us Off See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Nothing Major, Sam, John, and Stevie start with recapping Sam’s birthday post. Then they revisit Medvedev’s ball-into-the-crowd controversy before breaking down Zizou Bergs’ upset of Carlos Alcaraz on Shanghai’s fast courts and Carlos’ new mustache, unpack Novak Djokovic’s loss to Hubi Hurkacz and the year-end finals race, and review the Americans’ results. Plus, they discuss Qinwen Zheng’s Beijing title, Six Kings Slam cancellation rumors, Ferrero’s comments on five-set Slams, and name Hubie servebot of the week. Follow Nothing Major on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/NothingMajorShow 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Please carefully consider if it is appropriate for you in light of your personal financial circumstances. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. See kalshi.com/regulatory for more information. Go to the app store and sign up using promo code: MAJOR: http://kalshi.com/r/major 00:00 Shanghai Show Kickoff 00:18 Empty Stadium Photo Story 02:51 Sam Birthday And Horse Diet 03:49 USTA Match 04:45 Medvedev Ball Hit Debate 08:27 Alcaraz Upset By Bergs 14:02 Alcaraz Mustache Talk 17:58 Djokovic Falls To Hurkacz 22:14 Race To Turin And Americans 24:06 Tiafoe Meltdown Again 26:27 Fritz Falls to Tsitsipas 27:43 Americans Roundup in Shanghai 28:20 Italian Inconsistency Talk 29:57 WTA Beijing Zheng Wins 32:28 Six Kings Slam Rumors 34:40 Five Sets Debate 36:16 Stevies Stats 37:36 Serve Bot Hubi Praise 39:49 Ferrero Coaching Future 41:38 AI Dance Trend Rant 43:34 Closing Banter Credits See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Nothing Major, Sam, John, and Stevie jump in with an emergency finals recap from Tokyo and Beijing, starting with Carlos Alcaraz’s Tokyo title over Jiri Lehecka and what it says about his health, form, and ever-present drop shot. Then they head to Beijing, where Novak Djokovic stays undefeated at the event and boosts his push to qualify for Turin. The guys also unpack Medvedev’s default for hitting a ball into the crowd, Coco Gauff’s controversial point replay, and the major news that Jannik Sinner is out for the year. Plus, they debate why 2012 was the toughest era in men’s tennis, hit fan questions, and give doubles life advice after an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction. 00:00 Show kickoff and agenda 00:35 Emergency finals recap 00:47 Tokyo final Alcaraz wins 01:15 Alcaraz weapons and flair 04:27 Beijing final Djokovic rolls 06:40 De Minaur injury concern 07:11 Medvedev default debate 09:37 Coco Gauff screen replay 11:40 Sinner out for year fallout 15:49 Dog cameo 16:12 Toughest era 2012 case 22:04 Classic Order of Play 23:20 Peak Era Debate 27:31 League Tennis Update 28:19 Olympic Mugshot Photos 30:18 Fan Question Losing Early 32:33 Tour Friends And Breakups 34:41 What Held Us Back 38:56 Doubles Wardrobe Mishap 40:20 Wrap See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.