Who should be next to chat on Instagram Live?
While the sports world has been shut down due to the global pandemic, the tennis community has been lucky enough to see some memorable discussions between the pros taking place on Instagram Live.
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis—as well as the joint Tennis United effort—have given viewers plenty of insight and offered up some humorous moments during these dark times.
There are plenty of possible interactions that would make for good “IG Live TV,” so to speak. Here are five suggestions for some intriguing meetups on the social media platform.
1
John McEnroe and Nick Kyrgios
The Hall of Famer and the 25-year-old Australian are definitely two of the most colorful personalities the game has ever seen. McEnroe has been critical of his Laver Cup charge in the past, but the relationship seems strong. Kyrgios has proven he knows his way around Instagram and he'll have his hands full problem solving as McEnroe isn't even on the platform.
2
Naomi Osaka and Bianca Andreescu
Serena Williams had to have been experiencing a bit of déjà vu in the 2019 US Open final against Andreescu. Just a year earlier, she had faced another player not even old enough to have a celebratory drink should she win in Osaka.
The most recent champs in New York could ruminate on what it was like to face a legend in the biggest match of their budding careers, among other topics.
3
Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Michael Chang and Jim Courier
Throughout the 1990s, it was a rare occasion when a major championship match didn’t feature at least one member of America’s “Big 4.” The former junior rivals pushed each other all the way to the Hall of Fame, and perhaps they could go into detail about the motivation they unintentionally provided to each other.
4
Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker
For three years straight, two of the greatest serve-and-volleyers of all time battled it out in the final of Wimbledon, with Edberg taking two of those matches. During a good portion of their time near the top, Ivan Lendl kept them at bay before they both finally broke through in the early ‘90s. In some ways, it was a joint effort: Like the net rushers they were, they just kept pushing forward and getting some insight into that relentless mind-set would be fascinating for observers of the game.
5
Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki
Over the years, the two former world No. 1s have had fun on the court and off as their friendship has evolved for all the world to see. Now that tennis is on the back burner for the recently retired Wozniacki and Serena continues to put family first, it would surely be a fun chat, where tennis might be about the 10th topic to discuss—if, at all.
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