Ep. 54: Canadian Open w/Dasef Weems

Alvin and Dasef dive into the 2025 Canadian Open (officially the National Bank Open), celebrating Ben Shelton’s Masters 1000 win and Victoria Mboko’s first WTA title on home soil.

They explore the appeal of watching tournaments between Grand Slams, noting how events like this preview form heading into the US Open and give players a chance to build confidence. On the men’s side, they dissect Shelton’s progression into a top-10 threat, his “Captain America” style, physical weapons, and areas for growth—especially in manipulating the ball like Alcaraz, Sinner, or Djokovic. They contrast Shelton with Taylor Fritz, praising Fritz’s tennis IQ and identifying limitations in lateral movement. The conversation highlights Shelton’s strong partnership with his father/coach, Brian, and the tactical in-match adjustments that helped secure tight wins.

On the women’s side, they break down Mboko’s calm demeanor, movement, and adaptability in defeating four Grand Slam champions (Kenin, Gauff, Rybakina, Osaka). They identify her forehand spacing as a potential technical weakness but applaud her ability to problem-solve mid-match.

They move on to Mboko’s final vs. Naomi Osaka, analyzing a dramatic shift in Osaka’s body language and intensity in the second set. They debate whether Osaka’s dip was tactical, mental, or crowd-influenced, while also weighing her unusual career résumé—four Grand Slams but few other titles—and what expectations are fair moving forward. They connect Mboko’s home-court moment to past examples like Coco Gauff’s US Open run, noting how crowd energy can tilt matches.

The episode closes with a broader reflection on men’s vs. women’s tennis viewing habits, the depth of the WTA field, and upcoming action in Cincinnati and the US Open.

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