Andy Roddick, Jon Wertheim host first-ever live Served Podcast show in Cincinnati

As promised on last week’s episode of Served with Andy Roddick, this week's episode of the podcast comes to you live from Ohio with a beer in Roddick's hand.

For the first time since the show began, this week's episode wasn't “being filmed in [Roddick's] garage,” the former No. 1 said.

Instead, with a crowd of fans and producer Mike’s family, the show was taped live from the Cincinnati Open as it welcomed special guests Matteo Berrettini and the man partially responsible for keeping the longtime tour stop in Cincinnati, Bob Moran, to the table.

Read more: Mason Renaissance: Reviving the Cincinnati Open, an American Classic

“Have you always been so ugly, and how did you overcome it?” Roddick jokingly asked as soon as the Italian took his seat.

Berrettini has won three tour titles to date in 2024 following his last couple of years facing injury. Sitting just outside the Top 40, the Italian speaks on his injuries and how they’re a normality in his career.

“Since I was really young, I’ve got a lot of injuries, so I’ve always considered myself as someone who was good at coming back and I had that kind of superpower,” Berrettini said.

He also speaks on the newest "Italian stallions" on the block and how the breakthrough of Jannik Sinner, Lorenzo Musetti and others is shaping his current career.

“When there’s a big match, me against Jannik, Lorenzo playing for bronze medal, or Jannik in the finals of the Australian Open, we won Davis Cup last year, the country stops for a little bit and it makes me unbelievably proud,” Berrettini said. “And I think the best is yet to come.”

Roddick also questions Berrettini on his time filming "Break Point," the two-season Netflix series following players behind the scenes. He admits he was excited about the opportunity, giving it his all and being as transparent as possible.

"You can see my room was a mess,” he said.

But when asked if he would he do it again, there was a deep breath before he replied. Watch the episode to find out what he said!

Bob Moran, the man responsible for keeping Cincinnati as a tournament site, was the next guest on the show.

“This city is passionate,” Moran said. “This city’s not just about tennis, it’s passionate about football, it’s passionate about baseball, it’s passionate about soccer.”

Part of the change that will be seen in the years to come is an expanded draw from 56 to 96 players, which means more bodies to be responsible for and fans to entertain.

“For me, the passion I felt in Cincinnati was unmatched anywhere else I went as far as these Masters 1000s,” Roddick said. “As players we want to feel the energy from the fans; it makes us better, and there’s no better place. Here specifically, when you get on site, the practice areas I always looked forward to it.

"Whether it’s warming up for a match, whether it’s day of practice, whether it’s the lead in, that’s the special sauce of the tournament in my opinion.”

The show then opened a Q&A session with the fans, ranging from “Do your kids like tennis?” to “Who in the Top 11 to 30 do you think will break through?"

Wertheim was asked which storylines he’s following.

"I’m interested in where this sport is headed, and the big picture about tennis is it’s a wonderful sport," he said. "It's men, it’s women, it travels all around the world, it’s guys that are 21 and guys that are 37, and the big challenge is just how tennis makes this work, and how tennis maximizes all of its virtues.”

Just under an hour and half, this episode is an ode to Cincinnati and a looking glass into the future of tennis.

Watch the 31^st episode of the Served Podcast on T2, Tennis Channel’s second network, on Sunday night, and find it on media channels Tuesday.