January 26, 2025 • 18 mins
On Sports Fix with Jason Pine for Monday 27 January 2025, former tennis professional and now coach and analyst Sebastain Lavie breaks down Jannik Sinner's impressive win over Alexander Zverev in the men's singles final at the Australian Tennis Open.
Elijah Fa'afiu jumps into The Chamber to discuss the continued rise of Auckland FC and the demise of the Breakers.
And Piney wonders why the Phoenix didn't wear yellow when they played in Christchurch on Saturday?
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Hello and welcome to a new week and to a
fresh episode of the Sports Fix podcast. Monday, January twenty seven,
a public holiday for some but not for others. I'm
Jason Pine with you for Sports Fix today. What is
on the pod? Well, we have our winner in the
men's Australian up in singles. It's Yarnick Cinner. A third
(00:41):
straight hard court major win for Yarick Center. What might
he go on to achieve? A tennis analyst and former
pro Sebastian Lavvy is with us on that Elijah Few
pops in to the chamber to kick around the tennis
and also the Auckland FC juggernaut that keeps on keeping on.
Unfortunately the breaker is going in the other direction. I've
(01:02):
got a few thoughts too on why the Phoenix war
and away strip at home on Saturday. So let's get
into it. In other news, let's get underway with some
of the big sports stories around today has mentioned men's
world number one Yarick Sinner has seen off German Alexander's
there Evan straight sets to win the Australian Open for
(01:23):
the second time in succession.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Very's actually tough to describe because, as you know, many
many things happen after quote what you maybe don't know.
You know, I always try to when I go on
the quote, even if sometimes it's very difficult to block
the kind of things.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Auckland FC two points clear at the top of the
A League men's table after Naida Moreno scored him a
ninety fifth minute just to cure a one nel victory
over Western Sydney last night. He has fellow striker gives
you my mind.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
So then we should before I think in the game
weekly really well. We are now in the top of
the day, so for sure we have great players who
can change the game, like Nada is doing really well.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
But a despondent and pastor Conglo knows his future as
Tottenham football manager is increasingly under question. A two to
one loss at home to Leicester City leaves them fifteenth
in the Premier League.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
Polo comic football manager and to judge the results, I
think that's the way the world and that's how I'll
be judged.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
News An apinion It's Sports Fix with Jason Lyne.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
It was great to see a leg football return to
christ Church on Saturday. It's been nine years since the
Wellington Phoenix last took a game there. In the time since,
most of their home away from home games have been
played in Auckland, but with Auckland FC there now, of course,
that has promptly stopped. So it was back to the
Garden City on the weekend with the Knicks welcoming the
(02:49):
Central Coast Mariners. The crowd was really good, over fourteen
thousand there. The venue worked well at Apollo Project Stadium
in Addington, rectangular and nice and compact, and even though
it finished goalless, there was enough on show for the
punters to enjoy. There was really only one mystery to
the day. I were the Phoenix wearing their away strip
(03:12):
Instead of their iconic yellow. The Phoenix went out in
their charcoal awaystrip. Now the reason for this, the rationale
is commercial. The yellow strip and the charcoal strip have
different front of shirt sponsors and each has a certain
number of games in their contract. Look, I get that,
but what I didn't get was why the Phoenix chose
(03:33):
one of the games against an opponent who also wears
yellow to wear their dark strip, and that allowed the
Central Coast Mariners to wear their yellow strip at the
home of the team that normally does Thousands of the
fourteen thousand who turned up had Phoenix replica shirts on
they were yellow. They then had to cheer for a
(03:54):
team wearing a different color against a team in yellow.
There were also stories of first time fans who didn't
immediately realize that it wasn't the Phoenix and Yellow out there,
it was the Mariners. As I say, I get the
commercial side of it. When you're allocating the shirt to
the games, at least pick a game against a team
who doesn't also wear yellow. Look, the Phoenix didn't draw
(04:17):
the game because they were wearing their away shirts, But
it was just an odd little side story to an
otherwise really good day for the football fans of christ Church.
The Nicks will be back in the Garden see the
next season, hopefully wearing yellow, this time.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Dissecting the sporting agenda. It's Sportsvex with Jason Vine.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
This is the Sports Fix podcast The Australian Open, Done
and Dusted. Yanick Cinner Singles Champion for the Men back
to back titles for Yannick Siner. Let's bring in former
tennis pro, now commentator and analyst and director of the
Lavvy Tennis Academy, Sebastian Lavy Janick Center straight sets last night,
Sebastian six three seven, six, six three. It all looks
very comfortable on the scoreboard. Did he ever look troubled
(05:00):
to you last night?
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Look, there was definitely some moments, especially in that second
set is fall in the table and so they've got
a net cord which really just fell his way, so
that was quite fortunate. But look, I think he's definitely
been the strongest player throughout the whole tournament. He's showed
that he's well and truly number one in the world.
There were a few moments, obviously, whereas there potentially had
a few opportunities, but based on that three set score line,
(05:25):
it was pretty one sided.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Across the tournament. What has been most impressive for you
about Janick Center?
Speaker 4 (05:33):
I think firstly, I've got the chance to see him
live play live a few times over there. I think
number one what stands out is just how calm he
is between points. Obviously there's some incredible points, but after
the point, he just goes to his tow, Will resets, refocuses,
and just goes back to work. And I think, you know,
that compounding pressure on his opponent of every time there's
a obviously there's unbelievable tennis, but there's someone who's playing
(05:54):
unbelievable tennis in front of you, and then they're just
ready to go again. It just really gets to their opponents.
And then secondly, I'd say the way he's able to
hold the baseline, the way he's able to take the
ball early and just create effortless power is really impressive.
And I think just again in a best of five
set match, for someone to beat him, they've got to
do that for three sets, and that's just really difficult.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
That mental side of it's so interesting to me, you know,
because if you were playing him, for example, and you
you know, you you're broken or something like that, or
you thought you're on top, you look across the net
and he just looks completely unconcerned by and all. That
must be pretty hard to take if you're as opponent.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Yeah, yeah, one hundred percent. I mean when he played
Ben Sheldon, he got off to a little bit of
a shaky start, didn't play that well. At the start,
but just managed to hang in their save set points,
was done a break early, but just kept doing his job,
you know. And he doesn't make really any unforced errors,
and it just again it just compounds on the opponent
and they are the ones who have got to come
up with the shots. It just puts a little bit
more pressure on them to do a little bit extra
(06:51):
with the ball. And you know, again, he's just he's
just incredible quality at the moment and pretty hard to
see him losing on hardcourt and at the stage.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah, and you talk about hard court. The first player
s in Snovak Djokovic in twenty sixteen to win three
success of hard court Grand slams Ossie opened last year,
You was open last year, Ossie Open this year. He's
only twenty three. What might he go on to achieve?
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Well, I look at this stage, it looks like it's
pretty much him and Alcaz who are really leading the
pack at the moment. There are a few young guns
who are coming up. Jil Fonseca from Brazil is pretty impressive,
but here's probably still a few years away from really peaking.
So I think I think Center and Alcarez would probably
have a pretty good run at the majority of the
Slams over the next four to five years. What he's
able to achieve will depend on a lot of things. Obviously,
(07:36):
he's working with Darren Cahill, but that relationship will come
to an end at the end of this year, so
he'll us to find something new. You know, tennis's invidual sports,
so as soon as there's a little personal problem or
a little injury, sometimes it stops quickly. But the way
he looks and the way he takes care of his
body and the level of professionalism, it looks like he
could definitely be reaching double digit slams within the next
couple of years.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
For a few years, Raither, Yeah, he hasn't made a
final of either the French Open or Wimbledon semi finals
last year at the French and in twenty twenty three
at Wimbledon. What is and what does he have to
do to translate his hard court success onto the klay
in the grass?
Speaker 4 (08:15):
Yeah? Well again, at the moment, his biggest strength is
really his movement and able to hold the baseline on
a clay court. Obviously it's a little bit slipped through
the ball, bounce a bit higher so it's not as
easy to hold that baseline the way he doesn't a
hard court. Having said that, the way he strikes the
ball is incredible, so I don't think he'll have too
much trouble translating it to a clay court. I'd say
(08:36):
probably this year, if not this year, next year, and
then for Wimbledon. Again it's a little bit. It's a
little bit of a lottery sometimes in terms of there's
only two or three tournaments to get ready. You've got
to really peak and if you have a deep run
at French Open, you really don't have any time to
recover and get ready for m Wooden. But again, I
think he's able to adapt. You could see he's coming
a little bit more to the net. His service phenomenal,
(08:57):
so I don't think he'd faced a break point actually
in the whole final. So you know, if he serves
like that on any surface, he'll be dangerous, and I
think it's only a matter of time until we see
him list one of those two Grand Flans too.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
What about Alexander Zverev. That's thirty six major tournaments now,
his third final. He's made finals at the Australian, the
French and the US Open now, but he's never won one.
Do you think he.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
Will look I think his window is definitely closing again.
With the strengths that Alcarez and Sinner have at the moment,
it looks like they're only getting better. I think zeb
was probably probably doing the right decisions. He's starting to
be a little bit more aggressive. He's taking the ball
a little bit earlier coming to the net, But I
(09:38):
just think at the stage he probably still doesn't yet
have quite enough aggression in his game to really win
Grand Slams. Obviously, he's been very close, and I wouldn't
be surprised if it if it happens in the next
couple of years. But he's definitely got to keep improving
his game because the way that those young guys are
just developing is pretty insane, and he's going to have
to make some changes quickly in his game if he's
going to have to win one of those soon.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
And just before we moved from the men's Novak Djokovic
retired and has semi against the Verev after one set,
twenty four major titles, who's looking for twenty five and
twenty five The aus he opened felt like his best
chance of that, might twenty four be his final number?
Speaker 4 (10:18):
I would say no, it could be, but just the
way that Djokovic is always just redefining himself and the
way he's able to improve even at his age is
really incredible. Obviously, he picked up an injury against Alparas,
he still managed to win that match, had to pull
out against the verb, So he's definitely up there in
the best few players of the world. If he will
(10:39):
win one or note, I think it will come down
to a lot of different little circumstances, but differently think
he still has a tennis to do it. I'd say
US Open he'll have a good, pretty good shout and
potentially Wimbledon as well. I don't think it will be
likely on the clay, but I think he still has
four or five Grand Flames lesson and he definitely could
take one out.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
We wait and see what the future holds for Novak Djokovic.
Thank you Sebastian for joining us. Sebastian Levy, director of
the Leavy Tennis Academy, former pro and tennis analyst, joining
us on the Sports Fix pot.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
The Chamber is now in session on sports Fix.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
On the sports Fix Podcast into the chamber. We go
the People's Chamber being a Monday, but also Auckland Anniversary
Day today, So I must give you huge credit, Elijah
for you for giving the people what they want even
on a public holiday. For you, how are you?
Speaker 5 (11:30):
Oh, it's great, Thank you pioneer. And it's a great
day up here in the O nine. I've added some
blue and white decorations here in the chamber so mark
upon the anniversary anniversary days.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
So great to be in here with you. They look amazing.
I can report they look amazing. Let's talk some actual sport. Well,
it was the Italian Ribbons going on the Aussie Tennis
Open Men's Singles trophy last night. Janick Sinner never really
looked troubled against Alexander Zverev. He could go on to
be quite good, couldn't he. Yanick Sinner, Yeah, he's not
(12:02):
too bad on hard court.
Speaker 5 (12:03):
He's only won the last three Grand Slams on hard court.
And I mean obviously last year Australian Open was the
big breakout tournament for him. This time around, it to
him establishing himself as the best player in the world.
And yeah, it wasn't much trouble for him beat Alexander's
fiery quite easily. But I guess as a whole I
really quite enjoyed the tournaments. There was a whole lot
of everything, a whole lot of drama, and the action
(12:26):
on the call was amazing. So all in all, a
great tournament throughout.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Yeah, I enjoyed it too. I enjoyed Madison Keys winning
on Saturday night. Was that the women's singles final kind
of a similar situation, really, wasn't it. Arena Sabalinka not
only defending champion, but double defending champion. Madison Keys hadn't
won a major, and she'd had forty five cracks at it,
finally got it on the forty six. Alexander Verev was
still waiting. Where the off court drama, as you say,
(12:51):
a bit a fair all Australian crowd behavior. The only
thing I think I would have liked to see was
Novak Djokovic in the final against Center, just to see
how that would have played out.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (13:00):
I was a bit disappointed and bit gutted that Novak
had to retire in the semi final, not too pleased
about how the crowd reacted. I think someone like Novak,
who has played through injuries before if the injury was
that serious, then you know there's no need for him
to play on any longer. But back to what you
said about Madison Keys, I think the run that she
had through to the finals, she'd beat about four top
(13:23):
ten players on her way to the final, including sab Linka,
fion Tek Right, Bakiner and Daniel Collins, which I think
if there's no trophy at the end of all that
like that, that's all for nothing. So great work for
Madison Keys.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
Absolutely right. Let's see how she goes now that she's
broken her duck, whether she can win a few more.
Speaking of winning Auckland FC again last night, I think
I could hear you cheering in the ninety fifth minute
as Nada Mourino bashed it into the net. It Paramatta
Comback Stadium in Western Sydney. The jug and orders just
keeping on keeping on, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
Yeah, And they're making sure that fans are watching the
entire game, not just the ninety minutes, but the stoppage
time minutes after that. Like I think you had the
status yesterday around eight goals after the eightieth minute. Now
it's nine goals after the eightieth minute. Five goals are
now after the ninetieth minute and stoppage time, which is insane, like,
so you might as well miss the entire first half,
(14:18):
you might as well miss the whole ninety minutes. Just
watch stoppage time and you're going to get the same
entertainment value as the entire game. So they've created so
many memorable moments walking the f C have in their
first season. And yeah, just another one there from Nata.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
It says a lot about them, doesn't it. A new team,
a startup team, A lot of these players didn't know
one another a few months ago. That they can knit
together a culture so quickly, and I know winning helps,
but they have knitted together a culture so quickly that
that allows them to deep, deep, deep into games keep
going exactly.
Speaker 5 (14:50):
And it's not only just how fast they've come together,
but also the fact that they've already faced adversity in
this middle past of the season and they've overcome that
to now get back to winning ways so quickly. That
is a great testament to how strong the squad has
come together. So, yeah, they're well on their way as
(15:12):
a top contender in the A League.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Yeah, and another home game coming up on Saturday. They
welcome MacArthur to go media. It's set to be jumping again.
Nobody used to say we'll be leaving early. If it's
if it's goalless at the ninetieth minute, you know that
things might just be getting going. So you're looking forward
to Auckland FC continuing on their winning way. Who knows,
they might even win the whole thing in their first season,
which will be quite remarkable. We can, though, draw a
(15:36):
line through the breakers playoff hopes in the Australian Basketball
League season nine wins, eighteen losses, a couple of games
to go, they can't make the playoffs. It's been fairly miserable,
hasn't it for the Breakers this season?
Speaker 5 (15:49):
It has been and I think when you draw back
to the start of the season, you know it was
a new coach, some new players coming through. Parker Jackson
Cartwright was the one constance you weren't really sure what
to expect with the side. When they were top of
the table after about nine or ten games, that was
quite a pleasant surprise. And then I guess the fans
are all going to point to the big Taco signing
(16:10):
as the turning points and the fact that the team
couldn't really get that chemistry together. But I think at
that point, you know, of the season, when that move
was made, why looks something that wasn't broken at that
point of the season. That's probably one of the big
questions heading into the off seasons. But it is unfortunately
the way things have gone for the Breakers was fifteen
(16:30):
of their last seventeen games that they've lost now, which
is unfortunate.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Is but Terry copen and a good coach or not?
Speaker 5 (16:37):
Well, I guess after the first ten games he was
when they were top of the table. But I think
he was out a really tough hand when that midseason
exchange happened because he was trying to find bait to
get Taco involved, and Taco is a very unique player
seven foot six. You don't get guys like that who
come along often. I mean, I think Copenhan had some
trouble trying to get the team or the right players around.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Taco to build that squad.
Speaker 5 (17:01):
So I'd love to see him come back and stay
with the Breakers to get another opportunity. But yeah, I
just think he was doubts a rough hand.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
Yeah, he's going to get the chance, I guess to
rebuild and to bring a team in that that he
believes can can be better next season. I think he
came highly credential, didn't he, And he was always you know,
touted it was a good a good player himself. So
so hopefully there's a there's a good coach in there
as well, and we might get the chance to see
that in the next a NBL season. All right, Elijah, Well,
(17:31):
that's the Anniversary Day or Auckland Anniversary Day edition of
the Chamber done and dusted. Keep those blue and white
streamers up, though, mate, because I guess you could add
some black ones, because your Black Knights might be might
be even further ahead by the time we chat next Monday.
You might have to. Yeah, cheers.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
This is Sportsfix, your daily dose of sports news cowen
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Speaker 2 (17:56):
Just out does us for the Sports Fix podcast for
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Sports check out Sports Talk weeknights between seven and eight
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Speaker 1 (18:14):
For more from News Talk set B listen live on
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You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Hello and welcome to a new week and to a
fresh episode of the Sports Fix podcast. Monday, January twenty seven,
a public holiday for some but not for others. I'm
Jason Pine with you for Sports Fix today. What is
on the pod? Well, we have our winner in the
men's Australian up in singles. It's Yarnick Cinner. A third
(00:41):
straight hard court major win for Yarick Center. What might
he go on to achieve? A tennis analyst and former
pro Sebastian Lavvy is with us on that Elijah Few
pops in to the chamber to kick around the tennis
and also the Auckland FC juggernaut that keeps on keeping on.
Unfortunately the breaker is going in the other direction. I've
(01:02):
got a few thoughts too on why the Phoenix war
and away strip at home on Saturday. So let's get
into it. In other news, let's get underway with some
of the big sports stories around today has mentioned men's
world number one Yarick Sinner has seen off German Alexander's
there Evan straight sets to win the Australian Open for
(01:23):
the second time in succession.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Very's actually tough to describe because, as you know, many
many things happen after quote what you maybe don't know.
You know, I always try to when I go on
the quote, even if sometimes it's very difficult to block
the kind of things.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Auckland FC two points clear at the top of the
A League men's table after Naida Moreno scored him a
ninety fifth minute just to cure a one nel victory
over Western Sydney last night. He has fellow striker gives
you my mind.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
So then we should before I think in the game
weekly really well. We are now in the top of
the day, so for sure we have great players who
can change the game, like Nada is doing really well.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
But a despondent and pastor Conglo knows his future as
Tottenham football manager is increasingly under question. A two to
one loss at home to Leicester City leaves them fifteenth
in the Premier League.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
Polo comic football manager and to judge the results, I
think that's the way the world and that's how I'll
be judged.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
News An apinion It's Sports Fix with Jason Lyne.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
It was great to see a leg football return to
christ Church on Saturday. It's been nine years since the
Wellington Phoenix last took a game there. In the time since,
most of their home away from home games have been
played in Auckland, but with Auckland FC there now, of course,
that has promptly stopped. So it was back to the
Garden City on the weekend with the Knicks welcoming the
(02:49):
Central Coast Mariners. The crowd was really good, over fourteen
thousand there. The venue worked well at Apollo Project Stadium
in Addington, rectangular and nice and compact, and even though
it finished goalless, there was enough on show for the
punters to enjoy. There was really only one mystery to
the day. I were the Phoenix wearing their away strip
(03:12):
Instead of their iconic yellow. The Phoenix went out in
their charcoal awaystrip. Now the reason for this, the rationale
is commercial. The yellow strip and the charcoal strip have
different front of shirt sponsors and each has a certain
number of games in their contract. Look, I get that,
but what I didn't get was why the Phoenix chose
(03:33):
one of the games against an opponent who also wears
yellow to wear their dark strip, and that allowed the
Central Coast Mariners to wear their yellow strip at the
home of the team that normally does Thousands of the
fourteen thousand who turned up had Phoenix replica shirts on
they were yellow. They then had to cheer for a
(03:54):
team wearing a different color against a team in yellow.
There were also stories of first time fans who didn't
immediately realize that it wasn't the Phoenix and Yellow out there,
it was the Mariners. As I say, I get the
commercial side of it. When you're allocating the shirt to
the games, at least pick a game against a team
who doesn't also wear yellow. Look, the Phoenix didn't draw
(04:17):
the game because they were wearing their away shirts, But
it was just an odd little side story to an
otherwise really good day for the football fans of christ Church.
The Nicks will be back in the Garden see the
next season, hopefully wearing yellow, this time.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Dissecting the sporting agenda. It's Sportsvex with Jason Vine.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
This is the Sports Fix podcast The Australian Open, Done
and Dusted. Yanick Cinner Singles Champion for the Men back
to back titles for Yannick Siner. Let's bring in former
tennis pro, now commentator and analyst and director of the
Lavvy Tennis Academy, Sebastian Lavy Janick Center straight sets last night,
Sebastian six three seven, six, six three. It all looks
very comfortable on the scoreboard. Did he ever look troubled
(05:00):
to you last night?
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Look, there was definitely some moments, especially in that second
set is fall in the table and so they've got
a net cord which really just fell his way, so
that was quite fortunate. But look, I think he's definitely
been the strongest player throughout the whole tournament. He's showed
that he's well and truly number one in the world.
There were a few moments, obviously, whereas there potentially had
a few opportunities, but based on that three set score line,
(05:25):
it was pretty one sided.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Across the tournament. What has been most impressive for you
about Janick Center?
Speaker 4 (05:33):
I think firstly, I've got the chance to see him
live play live a few times over there. I think
number one what stands out is just how calm he
is between points. Obviously there's some incredible points, but after
the point, he just goes to his tow, Will resets, refocuses,
and just goes back to work. And I think, you know,
that compounding pressure on his opponent of every time there's
a obviously there's unbelievable tennis, but there's someone who's playing
(05:54):
unbelievable tennis in front of you, and then they're just
ready to go again. It just really gets to their opponents.
And then secondly, I'd say the way he's able to
hold the baseline, the way he's able to take the
ball early and just create effortless power is really impressive.
And I think just again in a best of five
set match, for someone to beat him, they've got to
do that for three sets, and that's just really difficult.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
That mental side of it's so interesting to me, you know,
because if you were playing him, for example, and you
you know, you you're broken or something like that, or
you thought you're on top, you look across the net
and he just looks completely unconcerned by and all. That
must be pretty hard to take if you're as opponent.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Yeah, yeah, one hundred percent. I mean when he played
Ben Sheldon, he got off to a little bit of
a shaky start, didn't play that well. At the start,
but just managed to hang in their save set points,
was done a break early, but just kept doing his job,
you know. And he doesn't make really any unforced errors,
and it just again it just compounds on the opponent
and they are the ones who have got to come
up with the shots. It just puts a little bit
more pressure on them to do a little bit extra
(06:51):
with the ball. And you know, again, he's just he's
just incredible quality at the moment and pretty hard to
see him losing on hardcourt and at the stage.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah, and you talk about hard court. The first player
s in Snovak Djokovic in twenty sixteen to win three
success of hard court Grand slams Ossie opened last year,
You was open last year, Ossie Open this year. He's
only twenty three. What might he go on to achieve?
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Well, I look at this stage, it looks like it's
pretty much him and Alcaz who are really leading the
pack at the moment. There are a few young guns
who are coming up. Jil Fonseca from Brazil is pretty impressive,
but here's probably still a few years away from really peaking.
So I think I think Center and Alcarez would probably
have a pretty good run at the majority of the
Slams over the next four to five years. What he's
able to achieve will depend on a lot of things. Obviously,
(07:36):
he's working with Darren Cahill, but that relationship will come
to an end at the end of this year, so
he'll us to find something new. You know, tennis's invidual sports,
so as soon as there's a little personal problem or
a little injury, sometimes it stops quickly. But the way
he looks and the way he takes care of his
body and the level of professionalism, it looks like he
could definitely be reaching double digit slams within the next
couple of years.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
For a few years, Raither, Yeah, he hasn't made a
final of either the French Open or Wimbledon semi finals
last year at the French and in twenty twenty three
at Wimbledon. What is and what does he have to
do to translate his hard court success onto the klay
in the grass?
Speaker 4 (08:15):
Yeah? Well again, at the moment, his biggest strength is
really his movement and able to hold the baseline on
a clay court. Obviously it's a little bit slipped through
the ball, bounce a bit higher so it's not as
easy to hold that baseline the way he doesn't a
hard court. Having said that, the way he strikes the
ball is incredible, so I don't think he'll have too
much trouble translating it to a clay court. I'd say
(08:36):
probably this year, if not this year, next year, and
then for Wimbledon. Again it's a little bit. It's a
little bit of a lottery sometimes in terms of there's
only two or three tournaments to get ready. You've got
to really peak and if you have a deep run
at French Open, you really don't have any time to
recover and get ready for m Wooden. But again, I
think he's able to adapt. You could see he's coming
a little bit more to the net. His service phenomenal,
(08:57):
so I don't think he'd faced a break point actually
in the whole final. So you know, if he serves
like that on any surface, he'll be dangerous, and I
think it's only a matter of time until we see
him list one of those two Grand Flans too.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
What about Alexander Zverev. That's thirty six major tournaments now,
his third final. He's made finals at the Australian, the
French and the US Open now, but he's never won one.
Do you think he.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
Will look I think his window is definitely closing again.
With the strengths that Alcarez and Sinner have at the moment,
it looks like they're only getting better. I think zeb
was probably probably doing the right decisions. He's starting to
be a little bit more aggressive. He's taking the ball
a little bit earlier coming to the net, But I
(09:38):
just think at the stage he probably still doesn't yet
have quite enough aggression in his game to really win
Grand Slams. Obviously, he's been very close, and I wouldn't
be surprised if it if it happens in the next
couple of years. But he's definitely got to keep improving
his game because the way that those young guys are
just developing is pretty insane, and he's going to have
to make some changes quickly in his game if he's
going to have to win one of those soon.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
And just before we moved from the men's Novak Djokovic
retired and has semi against the Verev after one set,
twenty four major titles, who's looking for twenty five and
twenty five The aus he opened felt like his best
chance of that, might twenty four be his final number?
Speaker 4 (10:18):
I would say no, it could be, but just the
way that Djokovic is always just redefining himself and the
way he's able to improve even at his age is
really incredible. Obviously, he picked up an injury against Alparas,
he still managed to win that match, had to pull
out against the verb, So he's definitely up there in
the best few players of the world. If he will
(10:39):
win one or note, I think it will come down
to a lot of different little circumstances, but differently think
he still has a tennis to do it. I'd say
US Open he'll have a good, pretty good shout and
potentially Wimbledon as well. I don't think it will be
likely on the clay, but I think he still has
four or five Grand Flames lesson and he definitely could
take one out.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
We wait and see what the future holds for Novak Djokovic.
Thank you Sebastian for joining us. Sebastian Levy, director of
the Leavy Tennis Academy, former pro and tennis analyst, joining
us on the Sports Fix pot.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
The Chamber is now in session on sports Fix.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
On the sports Fix Podcast into the chamber. We go
the People's Chamber being a Monday, but also Auckland Anniversary
Day today, So I must give you huge credit, Elijah
for you for giving the people what they want even
on a public holiday. For you, how are you?
Speaker 5 (11:30):
Oh, it's great, Thank you pioneer. And it's a great
day up here in the O nine. I've added some
blue and white decorations here in the chamber so mark
upon the anniversary anniversary days.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
So great to be in here with you. They look amazing.
I can report they look amazing. Let's talk some actual sport. Well,
it was the Italian Ribbons going on the Aussie Tennis
Open Men's Singles trophy last night. Janick Sinner never really
looked troubled against Alexander Zverev. He could go on to
be quite good, couldn't he. Yanick Sinner, Yeah, he's not
(12:02):
too bad on hard court.
Speaker 5 (12:03):
He's only won the last three Grand Slams on hard court.
And I mean obviously last year Australian Open was the
big breakout tournament for him. This time around, it to
him establishing himself as the best player in the world.
And yeah, it wasn't much trouble for him beat Alexander's
fiery quite easily. But I guess as a whole I
really quite enjoyed the tournaments. There was a whole lot
of everything, a whole lot of drama, and the action
(12:26):
on the call was amazing. So all in all, a
great tournament throughout.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Yeah, I enjoyed it too. I enjoyed Madison Keys winning
on Saturday night. Was that the women's singles final kind
of a similar situation, really, wasn't it. Arena Sabalinka not
only defending champion, but double defending champion. Madison Keys hadn't
won a major, and she'd had forty five cracks at it,
finally got it on the forty six. Alexander Verev was
still waiting. Where the off court drama, as you say,
(12:51):
a bit a fair all Australian crowd behavior. The only
thing I think I would have liked to see was
Novak Djokovic in the final against Center, just to see
how that would have played out.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (13:00):
I was a bit disappointed and bit gutted that Novak
had to retire in the semi final, not too pleased
about how the crowd reacted. I think someone like Novak,
who has played through injuries before if the injury was
that serious, then you know there's no need for him
to play on any longer. But back to what you
said about Madison Keys, I think the run that she
had through to the finals, she'd beat about four top
(13:23):
ten players on her way to the final, including sab Linka,
fion Tek Right, Bakiner and Daniel Collins, which I think
if there's no trophy at the end of all that
like that, that's all for nothing. So great work for
Madison Keys.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
Absolutely right. Let's see how she goes now that she's
broken her duck, whether she can win a few more.
Speaking of winning Auckland FC again last night, I think
I could hear you cheering in the ninety fifth minute
as Nada Mourino bashed it into the net. It Paramatta
Comback Stadium in Western Sydney. The jug and orders just
keeping on keeping on, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
Yeah, And they're making sure that fans are watching the
entire game, not just the ninety minutes, but the stoppage
time minutes after that. Like I think you had the
status yesterday around eight goals after the eightieth minute. Now
it's nine goals after the eightieth minute. Five goals are
now after the ninetieth minute and stoppage time, which is insane, like,
so you might as well miss the entire first half,
(14:18):
you might as well miss the whole ninety minutes. Just
watch stoppage time and you're going to get the same
entertainment value as the entire game. So they've created so
many memorable moments walking the f C have in their
first season. And yeah, just another one there from Nata.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
It says a lot about them, doesn't it. A new team,
a startup team, A lot of these players didn't know
one another a few months ago. That they can knit
together a culture so quickly, and I know winning helps,
but they have knitted together a culture so quickly that
that allows them to deep, deep, deep into games keep
going exactly.
Speaker 5 (14:50):
And it's not only just how fast they've come together,
but also the fact that they've already faced adversity in
this middle past of the season and they've overcome that
to now get back to winning ways so quickly. That
is a great testament to how strong the squad has
come together. So, yeah, they're well on their way as
(15:12):
a top contender in the A League.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Yeah, and another home game coming up on Saturday. They
welcome MacArthur to go media. It's set to be jumping again.
Nobody used to say we'll be leaving early. If it's
if it's goalless at the ninetieth minute, you know that
things might just be getting going. So you're looking forward
to Auckland FC continuing on their winning way. Who knows,
they might even win the whole thing in their first season,
which will be quite remarkable. We can, though, draw a
(15:36):
line through the breakers playoff hopes in the Australian Basketball
League season nine wins, eighteen losses, a couple of games
to go, they can't make the playoffs. It's been fairly miserable,
hasn't it for the Breakers this season?
Speaker 5 (15:49):
It has been and I think when you draw back
to the start of the season, you know it was
a new coach, some new players coming through. Parker Jackson
Cartwright was the one constance you weren't really sure what
to expect with the side. When they were top of
the table after about nine or ten games, that was
quite a pleasant surprise. And then I guess the fans
are all going to point to the big Taco signing
(16:10):
as the turning points and the fact that the team
couldn't really get that chemistry together. But I think at
that point, you know, of the season, when that move
was made, why looks something that wasn't broken at that
point of the season. That's probably one of the big
questions heading into the off seasons. But it is unfortunately
the way things have gone for the Breakers was fifteen
(16:30):
of their last seventeen games that they've lost now, which
is unfortunate.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Is but Terry copen and a good coach or not?
Speaker 5 (16:37):
Well, I guess after the first ten games he was
when they were top of the table. But I think
he was out a really tough hand when that midseason
exchange happened because he was trying to find bait to
get Taco involved, and Taco is a very unique player
seven foot six. You don't get guys like that who
come along often. I mean, I think Copenhan had some
trouble trying to get the team or the right players around.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Taco to build that squad.
Speaker 5 (17:01):
So I'd love to see him come back and stay
with the Breakers to get another opportunity. But yeah, I
just think he was doubts a rough hand.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
Yeah, he's going to get the chance, I guess to
rebuild and to bring a team in that that he
believes can can be better next season. I think he
came highly credential, didn't he, And he was always you know,
touted it was a good a good player himself. So
so hopefully there's a there's a good coach in there
as well, and we might get the chance to see
that in the next a NBL season. All right, Elijah, Well,
(17:31):
that's the Anniversary Day or Auckland Anniversary Day edition of
the Chamber done and dusted. Keep those blue and white
streamers up, though, mate, because I guess you could add
some black ones, because your Black Knights might be might
be even further ahead by the time we chat next Monday.
You might have to. Yeah, cheers.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
This is Sportsfix, your daily dose of sports news cowen
by News TALKSB and that.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Just out does us for the Sports Fix podcast for
today a fresh episode. They will drop into your podcast
feed right about the same time tomorrow if you subscribe,
that will happen automatically. And for more from News TALKSB
Sports check out Sports Talk weeknights between seven and eight
and Weekend Sports Saturday and Sunday between midday and three.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
For more from News Talk set B listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
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