Share

cover art for Australian Open - men's tournament review with Steve Flink

Tennis & Bagels Podcast

Australian Open - men's tournament review with Steve Flink

Season 5, Ep. 174
•

Join us in this captivating episode as tennis historian, writer, and hall-of-famer Steve Flink returns to dissect the thrilling moments of the Australian Open men's tournament. In an insightful conversation with our host Vansh, they delve into the triumphs and tribulations of the players who left their mark on the iconic tournament.


The spotlight is on the phenomenal ascent of Italian sensation Jannik Sinner, who emerged victorious in a historic showdown against the formidable Novak Djokovic. The 10-time Australian Open champion faced his first-ever defeat in the semi-finals, leaving fans in awe of Sinner's prowess and determination as he valiantly came back from a two-sets-to-love deficit against Daniil Medvedev to win his maiden Grand Slam title. Djokovic's shocking performance also left Flink and Vansh intrigued, wondering if this will affect the rest of the season for the Serbian.


Flink and Vansh navigate the twists and turns of Daniil Medvedev's journey, exploring his resurgence and reaching the final for the third time in Australia. The duo revisits Medvedev's past challenges, including a heartbreaking loss to Rafael Nadal at this same stage in 2022, and examines the improvements that have transformed him into a more promising and formidable player. From adjustments in his net game to strategic shifts in his return position, could Medvedev's evolution bring him back to being one of the most dangerous players on tour?


As the episode unfolds, the hosts speculate on the future prospects of Sinner and Medvedev, pondering whether they will secure victories in the remaining Grand Slam events of 2024. The burning question lingers: Can either of them rise to the pinnacle and claim the coveted World No. 1 ranking?


Tune in for a riveting discussion filled with expert analysis, tennis insights, and a glimpse into the potential future of these tennis titans. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a casual observer, this episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about the world of tennis. 🎙️🎾

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 199. End Sunshine Double, Enter the Clay: World No.1 Battles, What Can We Learn From Key Players' Results

    31:54||Season 6, Ep. 199
    Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka win the Sunshine Double, a feat harder than winning a Grand Slam title!Recency bias would have us believe Sinner is now the front-runner for the Year End No.1 battle. Not so fast: Alcaraz is still the champion of three of the last four majors, and clay is his best surface (maybe?)Sabalenka on the other hand, is the dominant factor in the WTA Tour. Rybakina has come close to three big final wins in a row, with a match point at Indian Wells, but Sabalenka took that win, and saw her off in straight sets in Miami. If the current World No.1 continues to win as consistently as she does, it will be hard for Rybakina, or anyone, to dethrone her - but it might get really interesting soon.Other players left their marks, either in a good or bad way: Fonseca, Zverev, Swiatek, Eala are all interesting players to follow during the clay court swing. And, of course, what will Novak Djokovic produce, now at almost 39 years old? Seems like we can't ever count him out - he was the World No.3 until recently, after all.SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel!Follow TENNIS AND BAGELS!Twitter/X: https://x.com/TennisAndBAGELSAndre:Twitter/X - https://x.com/RolembergAndreBlueSky Social: https://bsky.app/profile/andrerolemberg.bsky.socialVansh: https://x.com/vanshv2kOwen (BlueSky Social): https://bsky.app/profile/owensports.bsky.social

  • 198. Carlos Alcaraz Might Still Be Exhausted From Completing The Career Grand Slam in Australia

    18:31||Season 6, Ep. 198
    Like Djokovic in 2016, Carlos Alcaraz accomplished something massive this year in Australia.And this might have taken a bigger toll on him that maybe he would have liked to admit - and it might be time to admit it.Mentally, Alcaraz had to go through a very tough battle to achieve the Career Grand Slam. What if his performances at Indian Wells and, most importantly, Miami, mean that he's just lacking some motivation and energy to compete at the highest level? That, and the fact that it really does seem like he plays "Roger Federer" at every round, might be too much pressure, and he needs some time off to decompress.SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel!Follow TENNIS AND BAGELS!Twitter/X: https://x.com/TennisAndBAGELSAndre:Twitter/X - https://x.com/RolembergAndreBlueSky Social: https://bsky.app/profile/andrerolemberg.bsky.socialVansh: https://x.com/vanshv2kOwen (BlueSky Social): https://bsky.app/profile/owensports.bsky.social

  • 197. Fonseca vs Alcaraz #1 - Future of Tennis Narratives, How The Rackets Will Talk, Crowd Influence

    25:17||Season 6, Ep. 197
    Scrambled to get this up as soon as I realized that the João Fonseca vs Carlos Alcaraz #1 match would be TODAY (Friday) not Saturday.Anyway, this match will likely be AMAZING. Incredible hot shots, cat-and-mouse points, Alcaraz testing Fonseca's forehand and movement, Fonseca drawing all the energy he can from the crowd.Wait and see, will also see if I'll make a video after all is said and done for this crazy instalment.Tell me what you think!SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel!Follow TENNIS AND BAGELS!Twitter/X: https://x.com/TennisAndBAGELSAndre:Twitter/X - https://x.com/RolembergAndreBlueSky Social: https://bsky.app/profile/andrerolemberg.bsky.socialVansh: https://x.com/vanshv2kOwen (BlueSky Social): https://bsky.app/profile/owensports.bsky.social

  • 196. Rybakina Vs Sabalenka: Has The World No. 1 Battle Started?

    22:10||Season 6, Ep. 196
    Hear me out: Elena Rybakina could end the year as World No.1.Why? She has been playing the best tennis of her life in the past few months, has probably the best serve and forehand of the tour, can play well on all surfaces, and is capable of winning against Aryna Sabalanka anywhere, any day. And that's exactly what she's done lately.Up to World No. 2 from down to No.12 at the Canadian Open 2025, Rybakina's level has soared, and even Sabalenka has been struggling against her. The Indian Wells final may have turned against her favour, but she had a match point, and Sabalenka needed to produce some of the most clutch tennis shots she can to win that match.That being said, it's still an uphill battle. Sabalenka is so good so often that, to have a chance, Rybakina needs to match the intensity and win matches constantly. No first or second-round losses. Only quarter-finals and up.And she still needs to truly prove herself on clay.Can Elena Rybakina become the new WTA World No.1? I believe so.Tell me what you think!SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel!Follow TENNIS AND BAGELS!Twitter/X: https://x.com/TennisAndBAGELSAndre:Twitter/X - https://x.com/RolembergAndreBlueSky Social: https://bsky.app/profile/andrerolemberg.bsky.socialVansh: https://x.com/vanshv2kOwen (BlueSky Social): https://bsky.app/profile/owensports.bsky.social

  • 195. Medvedev's Indian Wells run shows why Zverev can't win Majors.

    21:31||Season 6, Ep. 195
    Beating a dead horse? Maybe. But, personally, seeing Daniil Medvedev come through an extreme rough last two seasons, than come out in 2026 winning a title, beating Carlos Alcaraz (who was on a 16-0 winning streak to start the year) and pushing Jannik Sinner to play some of his best, most clutch tennis at the Indian Wells final, really made something clear to me:Alexander Zverev just doesn't possess a crucial trait of a Grand Slam champion - or, a trait that turns a good player into a history making player.SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel!Don't agree with me? That's fine! Reach out on Twitter/X and BlueSky Social :)Follow TENNIS AND BAGELS!Twitter/X: https://x.com/TennisAndBAGELSAndre:Twitter/X - https://x.com/RolembergAndreBlueSky Social: https://bsky.app/profile/andrerolemberg.bsky.socialVansh: https://x.com/vanshv2kOwen (BlueSky Social): https://bsky.app/profile/owensports.bsky.social

  • 194. What Makes Alexandra Eala So Contagious (And Good For Tennis)

    19:32||Season 6, Ep. 194
    Alexandra Eala, the Filipina phenomenon, is ridiculously fun to watch. And her fans know that, other players know that, and the tours know too.But why is that? She isn't the hardest hitter. She is a great player, but still has some way before she can enter the tennis elite of the Top 10 and 5. Well, the talent is surely not lacking - but it's not just that that Eala has in abundance.Her on-court attitude, fighting spirit, celebrations, and then great presence and insightful answers in every interview, and on top of all that, she seems like just a great, kind, genuine person.Plus, party time with the Filipinos hits differently (and South Americans know the value of a party no matter where you are.)SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel!Follow TENNIS AND BAGELS!Twitter/X: https://x.com/TennisAndBAGELSAndre: https://x.com/RolembergAndreVansh: https://x.com/vanshv2kOwen (BlueSky Social): https://bsky.app/profile/owensports.bsky.social

  • 193. Why The Two-Week Masters Across The Board Hurt The Sunshine Double

    28:30||Season 6, Ep. 193
    Big rambling time talking about why the spot where Indian Wells and Miami were in the PERFECT spot in the calendar for two-week 1000 events.In this episode:The season as a narrativeAwkward spots in the season where there's too much time between majors are great for two-week 1000 eventsShanghai as the only other Masters that could be in two weeksNo one can do this much tennis without getting tired. We need FOMO and build-up to care about the tournamentsPrestige isn't about how long a tournament isThanks for listening!Comments? Hmu on Twitter/X:https://x.com/RolembergAndrehttps://x.com/TennisAndBAGELSSUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel!

  • 192. Tennis Season 2026 - What to expect from the top players?

    34:12||Season 6, Ep. 192
    Tennis and Bagels solo time! My thoughts on how I see the season unfolding for the top players, especially those who made big at he Australian Open.A quick look into the overall progression of players from last year: who seems to be even better? Who has stagnated? Who's regressed?Alcaraz, Rybakina, Sabalenka are in my radar.I am starting to worry a little about Swiatek and Sinner.I personally continue to believe Zverev will never win a major title unless all the stars align - and he might even not be able to win it then.Comments? Hmu on Twitter/X:https://x.com/RolembergAndrehttps://x.com/TennisAndBAGELSTennis ONE apphttps://download.tennis.one/

  • 191. What's next for the Tennis and Bagels Podcast?

    10:22||Season 6, Ep. 191
    Hello! Andre here, the podcast isn't dead. It's been definitely amazing to keep having Vansh and Steve Flink commenting on the biggest tournaments of the season, but I also got stuff I'd like to share with the world. Opinions, not so much commentary on match analysis (though there will be some of that.) It's not that I don't like it, but there's plenty of people doing a great job in it, so I want to look at the season through a narrative lens. What stories are being told? What will players do next? What key moments could define the year, even sometimes a whole career? THAT's what's interesting. And the tennis, of course. So many great matches to appreciated.Let's go, tennis.Follow me on Twitter (X, I guess.)https://x.com/RolembergAndreFollow Tennis and Bagelshttps://x.com/TennisAndBAGELS