Good Riddance to Bad Shrimp
4/28/202652 min
Whether it was bad shrimp or a virus, the outcome – or the output, rather – was the same. Week one of Madrid was rocked by player illness and withdrawals, with Iga retiring for only the second time in her career and Coco getting sick on court before pulling through against Cirstea. We take a scattershot approach to Madrid, highlighting Pliskova, Jodar, and Grant (and a few lowlights). Plus, we take an extended look at electronic line calling on clay, the untrustworthiness of ball marks, and the imperfections and idiosyncrasies of tennis that make the sport sing. We finish up with some offcourt news – including the surprising departure of the WTA’s CEO – plus rapid-fire listener questions.
1:40 Carlos is out of Rome and Roland Garros <sob>
4:35 Virus or food poisoning … either way, the players were sick as dogs
11:40 Plisko, Naomi, Tyra Grant, Rafa J
21:05 Alex and Grigor down bad, Stefanos crashing out but actually winning
26:20 Electronic line calling on clay: the ball mark isn’t as clear-cut as you’d think
35:15 Maria Sharapova is in the podcast business
38:15 WTA CEO Portia Archer has resigned
40:35 The Fritz-Riddle breakup
43:55 A few listener questions
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsJonathan· Host0:00
[gentle music] I do not know what's going on with the ATP. I just don't have the frame, the bandwidth. [laughs] So wish them luck. [upbeat music] Hello, everybody. Welcome back to The Body Serve. I'm Jonathan.
James· Host0:33
I'm James.
Jonathan· Host0:34
This is episode 419, Where in the World is the 419?
James· Host0:40
I have no idea.
Jonathan· Host0:41
It is an area code that serves northwestern Ohio.
James· Host0:46
Oh, like Toledo?
Jonathan· Host0:47
Correct, including major cities like Toledo, Lima, Mansfield, and a city that shares the same name as a ginormous sexual predator.
James· Host0:59
Uh, excuse me?
Jonathan· Host1:01
Sandusky, Ohio.
James· Host1:02
Weinstein, Ohio?
Jonathan· Host1:04
Sandusky.
James· Host1:05
Oh, yeah. That's where Cedar Point is.
Jonathan· Host1:06
The Penn State- I've been there.
James· Host1:07
I was- Were you Penn?
Jonathan· Host1:08
Penn State with Joe Paterno.
James· Host1:11
Oh, yeah.
Jonathan· Host1:11
Yeah.
James· Host1:12
Yeah, but don't, don't put that on the good people of Sandusky, Ohio.
Jonathan· Host1:15
Also Bowling Green.
James· Host1:17
Okay. I feel... I think that's the smaller Bowling Green. There's one in Kentucky too.
Jonathan· Host1:22
Okay.
James· Host1:23
It might surprise you to know that Lima is pronounced Lima.
Jonathan· Host1:26
[laughs] It does not surprise me. [laughs] Absolutely does