Episode #29 Season 25: Shaun Boyce & Justin Yeo

Guests: Justin Yeo

Host: Shaun Boyce

Runtime: ~10 minutes

Episode Theme: Predictions, surprises, and sharp takes from the halfway point of the 2025 Miami Open.

🎯 What This Episode Is Really About

We’re halfway through the Miami Open — and the tournament is heating up. Shaun and Justin break down who’s thriving, who’s already packing their bags, and which matchups are shaping up to define the back half of the draw.

It’s not just the big names (though there’s plenty of Djokovic and Sabalenka talk). This episode highlights the rising players, under-the-radar stories, and why ATP 1000 events like Miami are starting to feel like mini–Grand Slams.

From bold predictions to unexpected toddler picks (yes, seriously), it’s a fast, opinionated, and unfiltered check-in from the middle of the madness.

📌 Key Players, Storylines, and Takes We Cover

Djokovic, Zverev, and the Men’s Draw So Far

• Justin’s pre-tourney prediction: Djokovic vs. Zverev final
• Why Djokovic looks dialed in — and who might have a shot
• Menzik, the 19-year-old Czech turning heads
• Aussies on the rise: De Minaur and Walton making noise

The Philz Prediction (Yes, the Toddler Was Right)

• Justin’s two-year-old called Philz going deep — and he’s in the Round of 16
• Joke or genius? Either way, Philz is making moves

Women’s Draw Drama: Can Anyone Stop Sabalenka?

• Pegula’s steady run — but Raducanu stands in her way
• Sabalenka’s bounce-back mindset after Indian Wells
• Gauff’s absolute rout of Kenin: 6–0, 6–0
• Iga Sviatek’s path and potential matchup dynamics
• How emotional momentum plays into this part of the tournament

The Bigger Picture: Why Miami Feels Bigger Than Ever

• ATP 1000s growing in energy, attendance, and impact
• James Blake’s leadership and the evolution of the event
• The prize money conversation — and why Federer helped push it
• What more players in the draw means for fan excitement and sport growth

👂 Who Should Listen?

• Fans tracking the Miami Open and want a straight-shooting update
• Coaches or players looking to follow rising names like Menzik or Walton
• Rec players who appreciate tournament insight that’s fast and real
• Anyone interested in how tennis events are evolving beyond just the Grand Slams

🎧 Why This Conversation Matters

Tennis is changing — not just on the court, but around it. Bigger draws, deeper fields, and more storylines mean fans need smarter, faster ways to stay in the loop. Shaun and Justin deliver exactly that, with insight that cuts through the noise.

Whether you're rooting for the favorites or watching for the breakout stars, this 10-minute check-in sets the stage for the rest of the Miami Open.

👉 Listen now and stay tuned for the full post-tournament recap next week.

For more 10 Minutes of Tennis episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKLIP3Zrp28TLg1nCs4E-2PzkRcjyePEM

Shaun Boyce USPTA: shaun@tennisforchildren.com

https://tennisforchildren.com/

Justin Yeo: https://www.instagram.com/yeocoach/

Bobby Schindler USPTA: schindlerb@comcast.net

https://windermerecommunity.net/

Geovanna Boyce: geovy@regeovinate.com

https://regeovinate.com/

This podcast is powered by GoTennis! Atlanta: Membership has its privileges

https://letsgotennis.com/

https://letsgotennis.com/join/

https://shop.letsgotennis.com/

https://letsgotennis.com/podcast/

https://www.facebook.com/gotennisatlanta

https://www.instagram.com/gotennisatlanta/

https://www.youtube.com/@gotennispodcast

Do you want to read about some good things going on in the world of tennis?

https://letsgotennis.com/stories/

Check out our GoTennis! Atlanta Facebook page for deals, updates, events, podcasts, news, stories, coach profiles, club information, and more

https://bit.ly/gt_facebook_page

Also, you can support this show (and save some $) by shopping at

https://letsgotennis.com/deals/

Or, donate directly HERE

Want to get into crypto? This is easy: https://www.coinbase.com/join/boyce_3s?src=ios-link

Want donate with Bitcoin? Here's the address: 3EqTU1gQBLoieMeFLC1BQgCUajPpPMCgwB

Considering your own podcast? We (obviously) recommend Captivate: This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

(upbeat music)

Hey, hey, this is Shaun with the GoTennis! Podcast

powered by Signature Tennis.

While you're here, please hit that follow button.

And after you listen, please share with your friends

and teammates.

Also, let us know if you have questions or topics

you'd like us to discuss, and we'll add them to our schedule.

With that said, let's get started

with 10 minutes of tennis.

- So we wanna talk about the Miami

open draw, we're about halfway through

the tournament we could say,

because we're in, what is the fourth round?

- Yeah, we're in round 16.

So four times a week, my prediction,

before the tournament started,

I should have put 10 grand on it.

I said, "Joggevic's February in the final,

and it's looking in that path at the moment."

There's something that happens with Joggevic injury-wise,

but I don't see anyone challenging him.

He's hungry, he's ready to go.

I called that before the tournament started.

So I think the path of the final to be,

so February, it looks good.

Best of three, both those guys are pretty dominant.

I'd say they're pretty much gonna get to the final,

and then we'll see what happens at that match.

I think that'll be very interesting.

February, it has had some wins now over Joggevic,

so he'll believe that he can do it,

but he better come out of the gates right from the get-go,

'cause otherwise I think Joggevic is gonna try to bounce

straight away.

But the other one I'd like to talk about in the draw,

though, is Mendesick, the 19 year old check.

Six foot four, it's got some good game,

good to see him get to the round of 16.

I love seeing the Aussies getting through too,

Walton and Domenna, that was awesome.

Hopefully, hopefully one of them keeps going deep.

I'd see Domenna being Brennitini,

just for the reason that you'll out-rallium and frustrating.

So the Demen will hopefully go a little further deeper

into the tournament.

Walton is just fantastic, great experience for him,

and maybe he surprises Fritz, you know?

Who knows, best of three, it can happen.

Best of five, I think that's where the more experienced players

tend to shine later on.

So yes, I think it's gonna be a very interesting,

with the other interesting point that we wanna talk about

is Phil's your little two and a half year old,

Pigg Phil's to go all the way,

and he's still going in round 16.

So I don't know how he picks or how he sees that,

but everyone at the sports family better start

talking to you a little, son, I can tell you.

'Cause I didn't think Phil's was gonna get this far,

and he's already at three out of six feet,

he gets very breath.

So, and he's knocked out some good players.

So, yeah, I mean to see some checks,

the checks have definitely started to shine on the men's side,

and then on the women's side, very interesting stuff.

A lot of Europeans playing well in the hard courts,

which is good to see.

But we've still got an American surviving Pagula,

and I'd like to see her keep going,

'cause she's in the, I guess the later stage of her career,

and I wanna see her just keep, keep enjoying some good success.

So, she's got the game.

She just keeps believing like Madison did

in the Australian Open, and I think she could go deep.

I think she could go all the way to the end.

Yeah, I agree.

She's gotta get through Radikanu just to make the semis,

which Radikanu you never know.

She's either playing tennis or selling cars.

So, you don't know what she's gonna be doing

when she shows up to play.

And then Sv'Altek, she's got an unranked.

So, a good chance you've got two and four

sitting in the bottom of that draw.

Right, top of the draw, you've got Paulini's

the one who's made it through there.

Right.

And then Sv'Altek has got Zhang, which Zhang's tough.

So, that's a tougher one to pick.

That top half, yeah.

It looks like kind of one and six, two and four,

which would be good.

Or if Zhang takes out Sv'Altek,

which is hard to do on a hard court.

You have no idea how to do on a hard court,

unless she has a bad day right from the start,

and she's very emotional in the first set.

But she's a tough, tough, tough competitor.

And Sv'Altek is gonna be,

I mean, I hate to say the word,

but she's gonna be wanting blood after losing that last one

in Indian Wells.

So, I think she's gonna be even hungrier

for the Miami title.

I don't know.

As long as she stays healthy,

wakes up on the right side of the bed,

I don't see anyone beating Savile Anker into Miami.

She's gonna be too hungry.

Yeah.

I agree with that.

Sv'Altek though, if she watched the final of Indian Wells,

then she'll say to herself,

"I have to be more patient if I get to the finish line

with her and just stay with her."

Because she might shake her up a little bit

and say, "Wow, everybody's just surviving against me

and I'm gonna get inpatient."

So, yeah, we'll see.

But I think Savile Anker wants blood,

that's an adept after that in Indian Wells.

There's a lot to be said, I'm sure.

I mean, Andy Ruddick talks a lot about

just the characters and the feel and the vibe

and understanding when someone's due

and when someone's so there's a lot more to talk about

than just the tactics and the game styles

and where somebody at like how someone's playing against

somebody, there's a lot to be said about the hunger

and what's really driving through because

Joggerbitch and his last couple have been a little bit

disappointing to himself and that's why I thought

he was due this one, he's hungry,

he's still hitting the ball, we're still playing well.

You can see it in his body language, everything's there.

So, and Besta 3, hard not to pick him.

Besta 5, I think some of these long matches

will be a lot more hard wearing on him with his age.

So, agreed.

And did Coco go off beat Sophia Cannon all in home?

Yeah.

Ouch.

Ouch, yep.

Ouch.

Okay.

But the other thing about the Miami Open

is every year they just keep getting better and better.

I mean, Blake's down a great job

and they're getting that really fired up.

What we've started to see too is these ATP 1000s

are coming out with a lot of grand slam,

energy and spectators and we're really seeing

some great stuff for tennis, I would say,

in these ATP 1000s.

As Miami comes alive, it's fantastic city,

fantastic tournament.

And I think when they keep bringing these drawers

and they keep bringing this kind of spectators

and this kind of numbers, it just means the facilities

get better and better and they grow

them.

So anyway, I think there's a lot of flavor going on

in the ATP 1000s, which is awesome to see for the game.

Yeah, and with 128 draw and your top 10 players,

top 20 players, do they have to play?

Like I remember back in the day,

you kind of had to pay the guys to show up.

But in this case, are there reasons?

We all know why center's not there.

But is this a compulsory tournament that they have

to show up as a working day?

Yeah, it's getting to--

I mean, we've seen Algrés talk about it

that the tour is grueling and it's hard to keep up

because it's hardly--

if you take a break, there's someone else playing and growing.

So yeah, they've got to keep it going

because otherwise there's just so many people playing.

And so with that many guys playing and they all playing,

I think that's what's really lifted the calendar year.

And we're seeing-- we're also seeing better money.

Remember, Federer got involved in that a lot.

It's trying to raise the prize money on the low red

to give all of these other players another chance.

Otherwise, your top 50's now only really get paid

and the rest are struggling to make men's meat.

So I think it's really important that we see everything

that's going on in tennis right now.

And I think it's fantastic.

But we're really-- we're seeing a lot of growth.

And hopefully, we're seeing it on the junior development side

because the sport is really, I think,

is I haven't sat down and looked at all the numbers lately.

But the vibe of tennis seems fantastic.

I agree.

Let's follow up with that next week.

We'll follow up with a finishing conversation

in a full recap.

Justin, I appreciate it.

It's been 10 minutes of tennis with Justin Yeo.

See you next week.

Thank you, sir.

Let's hear from you guys.

See you.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Well, there you have it.

We want to thank reGeovinate.com for use of the studio

and signature tennis for their support.

And be sure to give us a review in your podcast app.

We can't give you a direct link, but I'm sure you can find it.

For more Racket Sports content, you can go to LetsGoTennis.com.

And while you're there, check out our calendar of events,

great deals on Racket Sports products, apparel, and more.

If you're a coach, director of any Racket Sports,

or just someone who wants to utilize our online shop,

contact us about setting up your own shop collection

to offer your branded merchandise to the Atlanta Racket Sports

world.

And with that, we're out.

See you next time.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

(bell dings)