January 24, 2025 • 6 mins
Top seed and two-time reigning champion, Aryna Sabalenka meets American 19th seed Madison Keys in Saturday's Australian Open final.
Sunday's men's decider sees the two top seeds - Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev square off for a seventh time.
Wellington-based coach Clint Packer, who runs PLANITPRO out of the Renouf Centre, joined Adam Cooper to look ahead to the deciders.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The finals weekend has arrived at the Australian Tennis opened
(00:03):
some amazing tennis over the last couple of weeks in Melbourne,
but it's down in terms of the singles to the
final two in the respective competitions. To look ahead to
the finals in sort of a recap the last couple
of days, it's great to be joined by top coach
Clint Packer, who runs Planet Pro out of the Renf
Center here in Wellington. He's also in New Zealand's national
Davis Cup team coach Money Clinton.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Great to have you on board, mate, Yeah, good mate,
thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
All Right, well, pretty underwhelming, I think maybe it's fair
to say, Clint. In terms of those men's semi finals
last night, we often see some pretty decent, you know,
four or five setters, but obviously a sad end. Snovak
Djokovic's campaign first of all against Alexander Variev.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Yeah, yeah, that was that was a tough one for everyone.
I think it's I think though, I think it will
make up for him a better final now. I think
there's a lot of fresh legs going into that final.
So yeah, it was tougher for Novack, but I think
Sinner and Zarev have only lost a couple of sets
(01:05):
of each and so we're going to We're going to
see a pretty epic final due to the the ease
of those semis and the rounds before that.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Also, yeah, how do you expect it to play out
with sein Zaverev at times show maybe a little bit
wobbly and then had to sort of really fights to
stay in this competition come I think quarter finals or so.
But that Yarnix Sina, he's looked pretty faultless himself. So
what are you kind of expecting tomorrow night for that
men's final?
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah, I think I think you're talking about the match
against Poor. I think Zarev went seven six seven six
and a really tight contests and I think, you know,
I think he'll be better for that. But I think
tomorrow's final is going to be epic. I think I
think is going to have to serve world. I think
he's shot. After the serve, he is going to decide
how well he goes in the match. He's served plus
(01:51):
one plays going to be absolutely huge. So the reason
being he's serving great, His service improved out of you,
serving over one hundred k almost every time seventy exercent
landing rate. But the ball is going to come back,
no doubt against Hinn. So what he does with that
next ball I think is going to play a big
part in in tomorrow's.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Match and soda. He's had a year or so of
controversy and headlines clip, but he seems to be doing
a pretty good job of just putting that aside and
getting on with things. Obviously, you know that the reigning
champion and the most recent Grand Slam winner in New
York as well.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Yeah, that's right. He said. There's a few controversies off
court with him, and he seems to have good people
around him. Obviously, his father and his brother's traveling with him,
and I think he's got a close a couple of
friends on tour. I think Djokovic is a good center
of his but also mellow who looks after him, and
(02:48):
I think, yeah, I think his head's in the right spot.
I thought coming into twenty twenty five this was going
to be Zarev's year for sure. I just felt that
he's probably in that two or three that are beginning
to break through. But after what I've seen from Cinner
this week, I'm starting to see him like I'm seeing
(03:08):
Zabalinka and the women's I think he's just a little
bit bit than everyone else right now.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
All right, so that's your peck for tomorrow?
Speaker 2 (03:15):
I think so, mate, I think I think sinner. You know,
he he's he's just so balanced. I've never seen a
guy remain so balanced on tough boards. And he can
tend defense in the offense like no one I've ever
seen before. So you know, you don't go to bed
at night love and sleep over the size of his
server or anything like that. But we've found that with
all the past three grades, and I just think that
(03:38):
he's he can absorb anything. And as I said, I
think Zuev's going to have have to really serve and
hit that next ball off the covert even have a shot.
I think he's act good sooner.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
So yeah, that'll be interesting. And as you say, also
that got over and the women's singles final tonight, the
top seed and two time raigning Tamporina Sublinka. Jesu's a
ask for Madison Keys. He's had an amazing tournament, but
goodness knows how fast she could go tonight.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Yeah, mate, I think tonight we're going to see the
most powerful women's tennis match of all the time. I think, yeah,
Madison Keys has had a reputation of been a big
head on tour, but I have seen nothing like Sabalanka
in real life. I think she hits the ball. I
think she makes sua and the wings looks off when
(04:27):
it comes to hitting the balls. She hits it that
hard and she's got that much variation on the shots
as well. I think that this match is going to
be absolute, an absolute bombfest, and I think it will
go down the most powerful women's match that you'll ever see.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
To be honest, Yeah, well how does Medisine Keys someone
like her? She's just you know, inside the top twenty
in terms of the seeds. How does she approach a
game like this?
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Do you think it's a good question mate, because I
think she's still got to play within her style of play,
but I think that's somewhat going to the the counter productive.
So I think she's got to get a variation of power,
but also some change ups within a serve, maybe some
you know, some balls to slow down a bit. But
(05:12):
I think she's going to find that hard to do.
So she may go into the match and absolutely just
try and light up her forehand, and I think that's
the way she'll approach, and if it's not working, I
think she'll go to Plan B, which will involve some
change ups. But I think if she's not on top
of that baseline, she may not be out there, to
be honest, because Zavalenka has the ability to spread her
(05:33):
players as well as hit through them, So she's going
to be a Madison's going to have to be up
on that baseline to cut that option out for Zavalenka.
But yeah, I'd be struggling to put a game plan
together agains Zavalenka right now. If I've been honest, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
It's going to be tough, but also fascinating. Clint, really
appreciate your thoughts. Mate. Enjoyed the couple of finals over
the next couple of nights. Great to have you here
in New stoksb.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
No, it's mate, Just want to do a bit of
a got out to Aaron route left. What a tournament
has been angered for a long time. First time I'm back.
Two semi finals and all kurt to her and the team.
Neil Carr's over there with her and also Mikey making
a semi over the flying the till we're saying hi.
So good luck to those two.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Absolutely, it was great to see that the mixed doubles
care we pairing do really well too. Thanks for your time, Clint.
Clint Packer there local pro coach with his thoughts on
the Australian Open for more from News Talks b listen
live on air or online, and keep our shows with
you wherever you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio
The finals weekend has arrived at the Australian Tennis opened
(00:03):
some amazing tennis over the last couple of weeks in Melbourne,
but it's down in terms of the singles to the
final two in the respective competitions. To look ahead to
the finals in sort of a recap the last couple
of days, it's great to be joined by top coach
Clint Packer, who runs Planet Pro out of the Renf
Center here in Wellington. He's also in New Zealand's national
Davis Cup team coach Money Clinton.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Great to have you on board, mate, Yeah, good mate,
thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
All Right, well, pretty underwhelming, I think maybe it's fair
to say, Clint. In terms of those men's semi finals
last night, we often see some pretty decent, you know,
four or five setters, but obviously a sad end. Snovak
Djokovic's campaign first of all against Alexander Variev.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Yeah, yeah, that was that was a tough one for everyone.
I think it's I think though, I think it will
make up for him a better final now. I think
there's a lot of fresh legs going into that final.
So yeah, it was tougher for Novack, but I think
Sinner and Zarev have only lost a couple of sets
(01:05):
of each and so we're going to We're going to
see a pretty epic final due to the the ease
of those semis and the rounds before that.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Also, yeah, how do you expect it to play out
with sein Zaverev at times show maybe a little bit
wobbly and then had to sort of really fights to
stay in this competition come I think quarter finals or so.
But that Yarnix Sina, he's looked pretty faultless himself. So
what are you kind of expecting tomorrow night for that
men's final?
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah, I think I think you're talking about the match
against Poor. I think Zarev went seven six seven six
and a really tight contests and I think, you know,
I think he'll be better for that. But I think
tomorrow's final is going to be epic. I think I
think is going to have to serve world. I think
he's shot. After the serve, he is going to decide
how well he goes in the match. He's served plus
(01:51):
one plays going to be absolutely huge. So the reason
being he's serving great, His service improved out of you,
serving over one hundred k almost every time seventy exercent
landing rate. But the ball is going to come back,
no doubt against Hinn. So what he does with that
next ball I think is going to play a big
part in in tomorrow's.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Match and soda. He's had a year or so of
controversy and headlines clip, but he seems to be doing
a pretty good job of just putting that aside and
getting on with things. Obviously, you know that the reigning
champion and the most recent Grand Slam winner in New
York as well.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Yeah, that's right. He said. There's a few controversies off
court with him, and he seems to have good people
around him. Obviously, his father and his brother's traveling with him,
and I think he's got a close a couple of
friends on tour. I think Djokovic is a good center
of his but also mellow who looks after him, and
(02:48):
I think, yeah, I think his head's in the right spot.
I thought coming into twenty twenty five this was going
to be Zarev's year for sure. I just felt that
he's probably in that two or three that are beginning
to break through. But after what I've seen from Cinner
this week, I'm starting to see him like I'm seeing
(03:08):
Zabalinka and the women's I think he's just a little
bit bit than everyone else right now.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
All right, so that's your peck for tomorrow?
Speaker 2 (03:15):
I think so, mate, I think I think sinner. You know,
he he's he's just so balanced. I've never seen a
guy remain so balanced on tough boards. And he can
tend defense in the offense like no one I've ever
seen before. So you know, you don't go to bed
at night love and sleep over the size of his
server or anything like that. But we've found that with
all the past three grades, and I just think that
(03:38):
he's he can absorb anything. And as I said, I
think Zuev's going to have have to really serve and
hit that next ball off the covert even have a shot.
I think he's act good sooner.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
So yeah, that'll be interesting. And as you say, also
that got over and the women's singles final tonight, the
top seed and two time raigning Tamporina Sublinka. Jesu's a
ask for Madison Keys. He's had an amazing tournament, but
goodness knows how fast she could go tonight.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Yeah, mate, I think tonight we're going to see the
most powerful women's tennis match of all the time. I think, yeah,
Madison Keys has had a reputation of been a big
head on tour, but I have seen nothing like Sabalanka
in real life. I think she hits the ball. I
think she makes sua and the wings looks off when
(04:27):
it comes to hitting the balls. She hits it that
hard and she's got that much variation on the shots
as well. I think that this match is going to
be absolute, an absolute bombfest, and I think it will
go down the most powerful women's match that you'll ever see.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
To be honest, Yeah, well how does Medisine Keys someone
like her? She's just you know, inside the top twenty
in terms of the seeds. How does she approach a
game like this?
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Do you think it's a good question mate, because I
think she's still got to play within her style of play,
but I think that's somewhat going to the the counter productive.
So I think she's got to get a variation of power,
but also some change ups within a serve, maybe some
you know, some balls to slow down a bit. But
(05:12):
I think she's going to find that hard to do.
So she may go into the match and absolutely just
try and light up her forehand, and I think that's
the way she'll approach, and if it's not working, I
think she'll go to Plan B, which will involve some
change ups. But I think if she's not on top
of that baseline, she may not be out there, to
be honest, because Zavalenka has the ability to spread her
(05:33):
players as well as hit through them, So she's going
to be a Madison's going to have to be up
on that baseline to cut that option out for Zavalenka.
But yeah, I'd be struggling to put a game plan
together agains Zavalenka right now. If I've been honest, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
It's going to be tough, but also fascinating. Clint, really
appreciate your thoughts. Mate. Enjoyed the couple of finals over
the next couple of nights. Great to have you here
in New stoksb.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
No, it's mate, Just want to do a bit of
a got out to Aaron route left. What a tournament
has been angered for a long time. First time I'm back.
Two semi finals and all kurt to her and the team.
Neil Carr's over there with her and also Mikey making
a semi over the flying the till we're saying hi.
So good luck to those two.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Absolutely, it was great to see that the mixed doubles
care we pairing do really well too. Thanks for your time, Clint.
Clint Packer there local pro coach with his thoughts on
the Australian Open for more from News Talks b listen
live on air or online, and keep our shows with
you wherever you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio
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