From Sabalenka and Alcaraz to Ostapenko and Moutet: Tennis’ nicest and naughtiest players according to Isner, Querrey, Johnson and Sock

Saturday, 13 December 2025 at 06:30

The Nothing Major podcast shifted from casual debate to sharp personality profiling as Sam Querrey, John Isner, Jack Sock and Steve Johnson unveiled their “Nice and Naughty” lists across the ATP and WTA Tours. What began as light-hearted banter quickly turned into a revealing snapshot of how players are perceived inside the locker room, blending respect, annoyance, and entertainment value without filters or diplomacy.

Jack Sock set the tone on the WTA side by naming Jessica Pegula as his top “Nice List” pick, praising her calm presence and lack of controversy rather than headline-grabbing moments. For Sock, Pegula embodied reliability and professionalism in an environment often driven by emotion. “She’s never in the drama, never involved in anything on the court. She just goes about her business. She’s one of the nicest people, all around.”

Sam Querrey followed by selecting Aryna Sabalenka, focusing less on results and more on her public-facing role within the sport. Querrey highlighted how Sabalenka’s openness and enthusiasm elevate her standing among fans and broadcasters alike. “She’s number one in the world, but she’s so good with the fans. So good on social. Any time TV wants her, it’s a yes right away, with the biggest smile and the biggest personality.”

Steve Johnson added an ATP perspective by selecting Holger Rune, describing him as surprisingly respectful and approachable despite his intensity on court. Johnson framed Rune as someone whose reputation often misrepresents his off-court demeanour. “He’s actually a really good guy. Off the court he’s great. People see the fire on court, but away from it, he’s super nice.”

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The tone shifted when the discussion turned to the Naughty List, where Sock immediately named Jelena Ostapenko on the WTA side, citing her frequent on-court disputes and unpredictable behaviour. Despite the criticism, Sock admitted her antics add an element of entertainment. “She gets into it with people on court, gets a little whiny at times. But it’s good entertainment. It’s a hustle, and I respect the hustle.”

Isner embraced the label on his own terms by selecting Danielle Collins, noting that the American herself would not dispute the characterisation. Rather than criticising her outright, Isner framed Collins as someone who leans into the role. “She would admit she’s on the naughty list. She owns it. She embraces it. She’s a heel.”

Querrey’s ATP Naughty List selection landed on Tomas 'short shorts' Machac, not for attitude but for repeated gamesmanship. While stopping short of a character judgment, Querrey framed the choice as frustration shared by fellow players. “He pulls the ripcord a lot. Probably a great guy, but it happens almost every week. It’s out of control.”

Nice & Naughty Lists (As Selected by the Hosts)

Nice List – WTA / ATP

Jack Sock: Jessica Pegula (almost Coco Gauff) / Carlos Alcaraz
Sam Querrey: Aryna Sabalenka (honourable mentions: Mirra Andreeva, Iva Jovic) / João Fonseca
Steve Johnson: Ons Jabeur / Holger Rune
John Isner: Jasmine Paolini / Daniil Medvedev, Jaume Munar

Naughty List – WTA / ATP

Jack Sock: Jelena Ostapenko / Corentin Moutet
Steve Johnson: Yulia Putintseva / Daniil Medvedev
Sam Querrey: Elena Rybakina / Tomáš Macháč
John Isner: Danielle Collins / Reilly Opelka

“Enjoy your flight back to Europe”: Sock’s locker room confrontation

The conversation took a sharper turn when a fan question prompted Jack Sock to revisit a tense locker room encounter with Feliciano López following a night match in Houston. Sock framed the incident as an escalation that caught him off guard after believing the issue had stayed on court. “He didn’t like how I was behaving on court. We got into it a bit, but I thought it was squashed out there.”

Sock explained that the situation intensified once they crossed paths in the locker room, where López allegedly approached him directly, accompanied by another person. “He actually came up to me in the locker room, started talking aggressively in English and Spanglish, trying to power up the situation.”

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The confrontation ended abruptly, with Sock delivering a parting line that, in his view, closed the argument decisively. “I think I said something like, ‘Enjoy your flight back to Europe,’ and then I walked away.”

Querrey summed up the unwritten rule that often governs such exchanges on tour, reinforcing how results dictate authority more than words. “Whoever wins the match always wins the argument.”

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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