Kyrgios, Monfils, Agassi & more: Querrey, Isner and Sock reveal their ultimate Las Vegas draft picks

The Nothing Major podcast, hosted by American former tennis stars Sam Querrey, John Isner, Steve Johnson, and Jack Sock, recently featured a hilarious segment dubbed the "Vegas Draft." The premise was simple: draft a three-man crew of ATP players, past or present since the year 2000, for an imaginary weekend getaway to Las Vegas.

The game originated from their playing days, born out of necessity to kill time during long, boring transit rides at tournaments in places like Shanghai. Querrey explained the backstory regarding those long bus drives: "We would waste our time in the bus saying, hey, if you had to go to Las Vegas right now, like which guys on tour would you want to go to Vegas with?"

They utilized a traditional "snake draft" format to ensure fairness, adding a layer of genuine strategy to the comical proceedings. The criteria for selection were entirely subjective, based purely on who would provide the best company, the wildest nights, or the best overall vibe in Sin City. It was a test of their deep knowledge of their peers' off-court personalities as much as their on-court achievements. The banter immediately heated up as they vied for the ultimate party crew.

Steve Johnson held the coveted first overall pick and wasted no time selecting a current American star known for his high energy and charisma. He chose Tommy Paul, prioritizing youth, hunger, and guaranteed fun over older veteran status. Johnson felt that Paul was universally recognized among the players as a top-tier companion for a night out. “The kid is young, he's hungry, he's a great animal, he's a partier. he's good looking. You're going to be in good hands with Tommy and Vegas.”

John Isner immediately took the draft in a different, more nostalgic direction with the second overall pick. He selected Brazilian legend and former world number one Gustavo "Guga" Kuerten, sparking immediate jealousy among his co-hosts who had eyed Guga for their own teams later in the draft. Isner believed the beloved clay-court specialist was unmatched in his potential for a purely fun time. He defended going "old school" early in the draft, stating, "I feel like the dude would have a lot, a lot of fun in Vegas."

As the draft unfolded, distinct strategies emerged based on what kind of Vegas weekend the hosts envisioned. Jack Sock clearly prioritized high-octane energy and dance floor prowess with his selections. After grabbing the always-unpredictable "King" Nick Kyrgios in the first round—noting that while the night might end early, it would definitely be fun—he doubled down in the second round with athletic Frenchman Gaël Monfils. Sock envisioned a night dominated by music and movement, predicting Monfils would be in the middle of the club "breaking it down, Chris Brown-esque," ensuring high vibes and high energy.

Conversely, John Isner built what he considered the ultimate "fellowship" team, focusing on good hangs rather than just clubbing. After securing Kuerten, he selected fellow American Robby Ginepri. Isner argued that Ginepri wasn't just about the party itself: "Going off the beaten path a little bit... He loves a good time. Not necessarily the party scene, he's just a good guy to hang with, to watch sports, to just take it all in. All-time fellowship guy."

Steve Johnson may have made the smartest strategic (and logistical) move of the entire draft in the second round. He selected Andre Agassi, not just for his legendary tennis status, but for practical Vegas connections. Johnson argued that as someone who owns nightclubs in the city, Agassi is essentially "Mr. Vegas," ensuring the crew would be well taken care of with "no issues getting in anywhere." It was a pick that combined star power with serious utility.

On the other end of the spectrum was Sam Querrey’s team, which drew heavy fire from the others. His roster of the "Spanish Stallion" Fernando Verdasco, fellow American James Blake, and the volatile Italian Fabio Fognini drew immediate criticism regarding team cohesion. Isner humorously noted that team chemistry was not high in Querrey's group. Querrey defended Blake by claiming he was lucky and would "win you so much money" at the tables, but admitted Fognini was a total wildcard selection, describing him simply as a "little angry Italian" whose presence would be an adventure.

By the end of the draft, Isner was supremely confident in his retired legends trio, declaring his roster "cannot be beat," while the group mercilessly mocked Querrey's disjointed lineup. The segment ended with the sobering realization that these dream teams would likely never assemble in reality. As Querrey noted, "No one's ever going to go to Vegas with their groups. This is all hypothetical."