Mats Wilander

Okay.

You know, I remember, I remember Mats Wilander, Yannick Noah-

Mm-hmm

...

He did make mistakes.

I also feel like he spent most of the season playing alongside Tom Vilander, who was an NHL rookie thrust into a heavier matchup role than he probably should've been in.

And I feel like Marcus Pettersson actually had to compensate for a lot of Vilander's mistakes, too.

Um, not to excuse the guy, because he did make his own mistakes out there.

But I think my point is on a Canucks team last year that was really bad, he was, he was the best defensive defenseman on the team.

We got this big boy signed up, but I don't know, man.

I would just reverse that a bit.

Maybe he still gets sheltered minutes and be- like, after 20 games because Vilander actually takes a step Right? Like, I'm curious, man.

That's making steadiness itself the most dangerous thing on the court.

Number three, Mats Wilander.

Wilander won seven majors, and people barely remember him now, which is criminal.

The best time to recommit to your gut health goals? Right now.

Zverev, 13th player in history to win Roland Garros and US Open in the same season.

Joins Nadal, Laver, Lendl, Lacoste, Cochet, Budge, Trabert, Vilas, Vilander, Agassi, Djokovic.

But most notably again, Nadal, Lendl, Laver, Djokovic, Agassi, Vilander.

It's a special list to find yourself on.

By the way, four Slams now for the 1990s guys.

Well, it's just awesome that, uh, you know, to see all the other legends here around and, and, you know, honoring the great Roger Federer.

And I think it- it's something really special for him when he looks back and has, you know, Johnny Mac, uh, Mats Wilander, Stefan Edberg, these guys around here as well.

You know, Roger's still a guy who a young kid had a massive dream.

And, you know, for him I'm still think it would be an incredible feeling to be surrounded like those guys here and, and him coming and seeing the museum and being here at Newport and getting the chance to go on the court here on the grass court [laughs] at center court.

... part of that group and to go to these dinners and, and they call us up to the stage to do a big photo the night before, which, uh, it, it's kinda mind-boggling to stand on that stage.

And there's Roger and there's Mary and there's Martina Navratilova and Stefan Edberg and Mats Wilander, and right on down the line.

Mary Pierce.

You name it, they were there, and it, it was pretty thrilling to-

Yeah.

Let's talk about growing up in Sweden, because we, we, uh, um, we mentioned some of the players you played in finals, one of whom is here this weekend, Mats Wilander.

In fact, um, Stefan's been out on the court.

We have a bunch of legends and Hall of Famers out there playing in our legends camp over a couple of days here, of which you've been doing.

...

so he has some advantages at these crucial moments which you do have in tennis.

So you, um, you are in the Hall of Fame, of course, as is Mats Wilander, the great Björn Borg, who was sort of like the first idol in tennis, right? I've been around, you know, my brother for so many years and, uh, you know, uh, lucky enough to commentate at all these great matches with Roger and Rafa.

But there's, what...

[upbeat music] Welcome, tennis fans, to your favorite racket sports podcast, KickServeRadio.com 2026.

Kick Serve features a Swedish legend, former world number one, and seven-time Grand Slam singles champ, Mats Wilander, and Texas Longhorn all-time great, Phoenix, Arizona's very own Johnny Levine.

Your host, a man of not so few words, is the director of racket sports at Colorado's Columbine Country Club, Andy Zoden.

So take it away, AZ.

And take it away I will.

Welcome, everybody, KickServeRadio.com. AZ with you, joined by the Hall of Famer, Mats Wilander, the Longhorn legend, Johnny Levine joining us a little later in the show.

Mats, great to see you.

You're out on the East Coast.