SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
The French Open has served up a little bit of everything so far - major upsets, ciao, or maybe adieu to Jannik Sinner, blockbuster nightcap matchups, the emergence of local crowd favorites and some major news off the court - the GOAT, Serena Williams, making a comeback announcement. Lindsay Davenport has been all over the French Open's grounds taking in everything for TNT Sports and joins us now. Welcome back to the show.
LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Thanks so much for having me.
DETROW: Let's start with the women. Defending champion Coco Gauff got bounced earlier than expected, but there was still a great matchup last night. Tell us what you're seeing so far.
DAVENPORT: Oh, it's been such a wild, crazy, fun tournament. You know, sometimes predictable things can get a little boring. It's been anything but predictable here in Paris. A lot of the players that we thought were going to be factors and be involved in trying to win the title, they all lost early. We lost Gauff. We lost Iga Swiatek, a four-time champion. Super fun atmosphere last night - we had Aryna Sabalenka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, play Naomi Osaka, another four-time Grand Slam champion, play. It felt like such a big match, and it was only the round of 16 for those two.
DETROW: Right.
DAVENPORT: But Sabalenka's one in the world. She played like it - kind of sent a message to the remaining players, like, hey, man, I have my best level here, so good luck trying to beat me in Paris.
DETROW: On the men's side, when I talked to you before the tournament got underway, you said - begins and ends with Sinner. Of course, he's upset early. What happened?
DAVENPORT: That was so - one of the crazier things I've ever seen. Everyone historically knows that Jannik Sinner has suffered in hot conditions. He was absolutely cruising in his match, four points from winning, when all of a sudden, he started cramping. His body never recovered, and the shock of the tournament in that first week was Jannik Sinner losing. And without Sinner, now (ph) Alcaraz - they had won the last nine majors combined - all of a sudden, it's been a tournament of opportunity for the men. And you just never know. We've had the emergence of two teenagers, 19-year-old Rafael Jodar, who ended up going out today, but a great run to the quarters - and Joao Fonseca. And you're kind of meeting this next generation, I think, a little earlier than we thought we would.
DETROW: I mentioned - not questioning your tennis expertise at all - but yeah, I mentioned that Sinner prediction that you had talking to us, and, of course, the weather intervened. Do you want a do-over and tell us who you're expecting in the finals?
DAVENPORT: (Laughter) Expecting in the final - I really think that this is Alexander Zverev's tournament to win. I think Matteo Berrettini, on the other half of the draw, has a good chance of maybe getting through. Aryna Sabalenka on the women's side is a very good bet. Marta Kostyuk, a young Ukrainian player - she's spoken openly about how motivated she is to win here. She's been really fun to watch here. But my picks for the final weekend are Sabalenka and Zverev now.
DETROW: OK, OK. I mentioned some big non-French Open news but pretty exciting - Serena Williams coming back. You stared across the net at Serena Williams more than a dozen times over the course of your career. Like, what is it about her style of play that you think still translates in her 40s?
DAVENPORT: I played so many players, and nobody had that kind of intensity that Serena just naturally brought to the court. You could see the athleticism. You knew she was fast. She served great. She had all this power, but it was also how she competed. And, you know, you get a sense when you play players - like, OK, this is their weakness if I can maybe squeeze a little here or, you know, apply a little bit of pressure there. I just never kind of found that spot with Serena.
DETROW: Lindsay Davenport, I have to ask. You're so great with the analysis, but when you see the Serena news, do you think, like, could I - could I get back?
(LAUGHTER)
DAVENPORT: No way. I have four kids. She's got two kids. I'm not sure anyone else could do what she's doing.
DETROW: That is Tennis Hall of Famer Lindsay Davenport joining us from the French Open. Thanks so much for talking to us again.
DAVENPORT: Thank you.
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