January 25, 2023 • 29 mins
Novak Djokovic moves another step closer to a 10th Australian Open title following a straight sets win over Andrey Rublev, Tommy Paul prevails in the battle of the Americans, Magda Linette claims the scalp of Karolina Pliskova to book a spot in her first major semifinal — our expert panellists analyse her upcoming opponent Aryna Sabalenka's victory over Donna Vekic and preview the other women’s semifinal: Elena Rybakina v Victoria Azarenka, plus Josh Martin meets the Aussie doubles pairing making a splash, and 500 days of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
To the backhand of plishkivat cross car from the net,
backhand of the line from Plishkiva tosses up a high ball.
Lynette steadies with the feet cross call backhand into the
backhand of Plishgeba, feel to the beastline, cross cork, fourhands.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
And mine into the left Calasiv the racket, shot, the
look of the light and shot and overwhelmed elution flatter Linette.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Hi everyone, and welcome to the AO Show for Day
ten of the Australian Open and episode one hundred of
The AO Show and by sheer coincidence, Today also marks
the Australian Open's five hundredth day of main draw action
at Melbourne Park. Here's what's coming up, another early night
for Novak.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
One thing is to imagine how you want to plan.
The other thing is to execute it on the court.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Tommy Paul stands tall as young Shelton goes out with
a big.
Speaker 5 (00:54):
Bang, making it to the second weekend of a slam
that's everyone's dream Sablenka sinks.
Speaker 6 (01:00):
It was all over the players, but I think mostly
than that.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Plus a preview of the Women's semifinals and five hundred
days of the AO at Melbourne Park.
Speaker 7 (01:09):
The venue was so completely different back then as well.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
That's all ahead on.
Speaker 8 (01:12):
The AO show, Djokovic serves on to the backhand of Rublev. Roblev,
leaning into a fourhand, dumpson into the nats and Novak
Djokovic had to put in another utterly commanding performance, demolishing a.
Speaker 9 (01:31):
Top ten player here on center court.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Novak Djokovic is two wins away from a historic tenth
Australian Open crown, following another two hour drubbing, this time
against Andre Rubelev in the quarterfinals. The scorecard resembled his
previous win over Alex Demonor, but the Russian did offer
more resistance, taking Djokovic to deuce on serve on multiple
occasions and holding five break points, though none converted. Djokovic
(01:57):
was more flustered than we'd seen so far this tournament,
engaging in animated conversation with his player box and complaining
to the umpire about a heckler in the crowd, but
even more frustrated with rube Lev, who, after dropping the
second set, left the court in search of a reset.
It was to no avail, as he was broken in
the very first game of the third set. The fifth
(02:18):
seed toughed it out to hold his next four service games,
but the Joker pulled out two aces one on a
second serve before a broken rube Lev netted his final
two balls to go down six to one, six two
six ' four.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
But very close to the performance of two nights ago. Yeah,
I cannot be happier with my tennis. Honestly. I've been
playing very solid from from back of the court and
really love love playing in these conditions in this court.
I've set it many times, you know, I love playing here.
Definitely more special court for me. I think there's the
score line in the first two sets doesn't speak the
(02:52):
truth or the reality of the of the match. You know,
it was some some really close games that we had.
Andre's is a great opponent, is a great player. I've
with tons of respect for him, you know, one of
the biggest four hands, one of the quickest players on
the tour. You know, I knew what the game plan
was obviously. You know, one thing is to imagine how
(03:13):
you want to play. The other thing is to execute
it on the court. But I think if I have
to sum it up all the important shots and important moments,
I found my best Ansl's that's what makes me, I guess,
the most pleased today.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
The twenty one time Grand Slam champ moves into another semifinal,
having spent twelve hours and twenty two minutes on court
so far this tournament. Rub Lev clearly unimpressed by the
level on both sides of the court.
Speaker 10 (03:37):
He's one of the best players, so there was nothing
that impressed me because she's one of the best and
I I knew he's going to be really tough, and
that's it. It's very simple.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Djokovic, now thirty five, also reflected on his first major
semi final way back at the two thousand and seven
US Open.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
I was fortunate to win that semifinals, but you know,
in the finals and lost to Roger. And yeah, let's
give him a big round of applause to Roger.
Speaker 7 (04:09):
Guys, here's go.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
Had some great battles over the years with Roger, that's
for sure. You know, Tennis misses him for sure. I've
seen him dressing up very sharply for a fashion week.
I've seen him the other day.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Did you see him skiing?
Speaker 11 (04:26):
Also, he's been on the slopes.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
Yeah, I've seen him skiing. I want to challenge him
for a little skiing skiing Greece.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
The second match point for Tommy Paul's kicks off about
why it's.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Long for Ben Shelton.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
And in his form Australian Open appearance, Tommy Paul has
reached the last four.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
There was a loser in the other quarterfinal, but it
certainly wasn't American tennis. Tommy Paul made the most of
his favorable draw against twenty year old compatriot Ben Shelton,
winning in four sets. The first set shaped as a
battle of the serves, with the young gun blasting three
more aces and holding a ten kilometers per hour advantage
on average first serve speed, but Shelton committed double Paul's
(05:12):
unforced errors and fell short in the tie break with
two shots flying awry. Shelton's blunders in the second set mounted,
but he refused to bow out in straight sets, the
Floridian taking advantage of Paul's inability to convert opportunities in
the third set, breaking to win it, but Shelton ran
out of gas in the decider, unable to claw back
an early break, and eventually succumbed seven six sixty three
(05:35):
five seven six ' four Paul is now the first
American man to make an Australian Open semi final since
Andy Roddick in two thousand and nine.
Speaker 5 (05:44):
Making it to the second weekend of a Slam. That's
everyone's dream when they started playing tennis. So I can't
believe I'm here right now. It's not just exciting for
the American fans. I think it's exciting for fans all
around the world and for us too. I mean, I'm
really excited for Ben. I'm excited for all the players
that are coming up. And if Foe made a semifinals
the US Open and now I'm semifinals here, so we
(06:06):
definitely have a good crop coming up, and I'm really
excited for all of us.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Shelton choosing to look at the upside he's made and
run at the Australian Open.
Speaker 12 (06:14):
I definitely exceeded my expectations this week what I thought
I could do on the court, not just tennis wise,
but physically being able to get through as many three
out of five set matches as I did. I mean,
I've only played one before in my career, so I
(06:34):
was pretty pleased with myself in that aspect as well.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
She tosses she subs into the backhand of Plishkiva, deep
to the feet bat can cross court from Lynette, backhand
up the line from Plishkiva. Lynette just scoops that one
deepish Giva tosses up a high ball. Lynette steadies with
the feet cross caught batcan into the backhand of Plishkiva,
deep to the baseline, cross caught fourhands from the net,
into the.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Net from Carolina Pleashkiva. The record shops the look of
delight and shock.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
I've overwhelmed emotion from Magta Lynette.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Poland's lesser light, has stormed into the final four of
a major for the first time in her career, stunning
Carolina Pliskova in straight sets. The two time Grand Slam
finalists couldn't shake the yips against Lynette, committing thirty six
unforced errors and seven double faults. Plushkiva started strongly in
the first set, utilizing her trademark power to smash three
(07:30):
consecutive fourhand winners and break in the very first game,
but the errors soon crept in, giving Lynette the break
back with a double fault and two unforced errors. From there,
it was mostly one way traffic going the Pole's way.
Both players held serve in the second set until Pushkev
Gift wrapped a break at five all with two consecutive
double faults, letting Lynette serve for the match, which she
(07:53):
went on to win six three seven five. Lynnette's made
in semi finals birth has been hard won, beating four
stated players, including formal world number one Pla Giver and
former world number two and net Contivate.
Speaker 13 (08:05):
Just staying composed really mentally when it was really tough
on my serf. She was getting very aggressive, and my
first serf wasn't always there. I think I did really
well to not to panic and still stay in the
rally and go for the shots when I had the chance.
Speaker 14 (08:22):
I suppose you can have days like this. I've been
serving really well for like all my matches and pretty
much like for the last two three weeks, So I
suppose you can have a day like that. Maybe also
the opponent makes you feel like that, you know, so
because even if I hit some really good serves, then
she still like puts many balls back. So that's the
pressure where you want to go for more and then
you miss. So yeah, I think she really made it
(08:46):
like difficult for me. Not missing many balls, not giving
anything for free, any mistakes and yeah, I just didn't
play it a great match.
Speaker 6 (08:55):
I don't think that bad, but definitely I can play.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Better Lynnette's semi finals oppon. It is the big arena, Sabolenka,
whom she hasn't beaten in their only two career meetings.
Speaker 13 (09:05):
Least encounter wasn't the best and the Olympics. So I
think I have really a big room there because it's
honestly can't be an the worst and the last one.
Speaker 15 (09:19):
Saperlanka shill put this away package is ready, but her
lob is going long.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Saberlenka, he's through. She's made it to the semifinals.
Speaker 16 (09:27):
It'll be Saberlenka against Magdalenette for a place in the
Australian Open Final.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Sabolenka continued her best run at the Australian Open, beating
an inefficient donovekch six y three, six y two. The
scorecard didn't quite capture the war of attrition between the players,
who struggled in the blazing midday sun. In the one
hour first set, Sablenka's trademark power hitting went hot and cold,
with the Belarusian smashing nine aces and thirty eight winners,
(09:54):
but also committing thirty five unforced errors and nine double faults. Vekch,
by contrast, made fewer errors, but also hit fewer winners,
more double faults, and only converted two of fourteen break
points in a frustrating day at the office. The Croatian
almost brought the match back from the brink with a
seven point juice on the Sabolenka serve, but fittingly, an
(10:16):
ace finally sealed the match for the Belarusian. Sabolenka had
lost five of her previous six matches against Vekis, but
she's now into her fourth Grand Slam semi final.
Speaker 17 (10:26):
I think that I lost those three semifinals just because
I wasn't like I wasn't really Colman quirt. I was
like overdoing things and like I really wanted to get
this Slam, and I was like I was rushing a lot.
I was I was nervous a lot, screaming, like doing
all this stuff. And right now I'm a little bit
(10:47):
more Colman Court, and I think I really believe that
this is the only thing that was missing my game,
and if I have if I can keep stay that
focused on that, Coleman Court I can.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Get Vekich lamenting her lackluster service game.
Speaker 6 (11:03):
It was all over the place, but I think mostly
in the NAT. You know, my surf is one of
my biggest weapons, so if that's not working, it's very
tough out there, especially against her, who is not giving
you any easy points, easy shots. So I think maybe
that's why. Also I felt a little bit more pressure
(11:25):
because I knew if I didn't have a great serve
that she's gonna crush it.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
So Vekech vanquished and sable Anka semi finals bound. Joining
me at the roundtable commentator Josh Eagle and analyst Dylan
Wood from the Game Inside Group. Josh, it wasn't the
fifth seed at her absolute best, but still a commanding
performance from Saballanka today.
Speaker 18 (11:48):
Look, I thought so. I thought she played the big
points particularly well and that was the difference today. She's
come in with a lot of confidence winning in Adelaide
two weeks ago, and I think for me, the serve
was the difference today. She was able to get herself
out of trouble and so particularly well when she needed to,
but got better as the match went on, and it's
a big step for her. She's been to the semifinals
a few times of Grand Slams, so there's a real
(12:09):
opportunity now for her to go on and potentially take
that title.
Speaker 19 (12:13):
Yeah, no, absolutely, just looking at the serve numbers and
another unbelievable performance based on her first serve, going at
winning seventy percent of points on her first serve with
forty one percent of those being unreturned, so she's not
even having to play another shot, which is super impressive.
She did still make some areas on the second serve
with nine double faults for the game. But what was
really impressive for me was, as you mentioned, Josh, was
(12:35):
the pressure points. You know, Vickers was able to create
fourteen break point opportunities, but when the chips were on
the table, Sabalanca was just too big on the pressure points.
Winning on the duce court when she went with the
out wide serve she won one hundred percent of points there,
and on the ad side when she went out wide
again or down the tee she was winning eighty three
percent of those points. So yeah, really really dominant.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
So just a reminder for our listeners, we're defining pressure
points as not just break points, correct, Dylan.
Speaker 19 (13:00):
Yeah, So any point that could potentially lead to a
breakpoint or is a break point.
Speaker 18 (13:05):
I just one thing to add there. On those second
serve stat numbers for Sable Anchor, I think, you know,
we must give credit to Vekitch. At one stage she
had made one hundred percent of returns. That was the
whole first set and even early into the second set,
So she was returning particularly well, and I thought that
just put a bit of pressure on the sable Anka serve.
And I think, you know, if we look back twelve
(13:27):
months ago, she was serving an average of this same
Ossie summer fifteen double faults per match. This summer she's
at four double folts per match, and I know it
was more today, but I thought that a lot of
that had to do with how well Vekich was returning.
Speaker 19 (13:39):
Yeah. Absolutely, And then if we look on the flip
side and we look at the vekitg serve, she was
only winning twenty six percent of her points on her
second serve, and that's going to make it make it
really difficult for you to have any sort of impact
in a match when your numbers are that low, especially
against someone who has so much more weight on their
ground strikes than you. You know, Sabalenka has nearly seventeen
kilometers on her forehand average speed and over ten kilometers
(14:01):
on her backhand average speeds on her opponent today.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
And that's happening on a hot day for Veket. She's
really feeling that ball.
Speaker 18 (14:07):
Yeah, lively conditions. I mean people sometimes don't realize it
says the top of twenty nine degrees and think, well,
that's just a lovely Melbourne summer's day, but what it
does to the court and how it reacts within the
ball as well, So it was really lively conditions. And
again today we saw the players changing rackets, not a
game changes, but actually mid game, which is rather unusual.
And of course, once again like we've seen throughout this
(14:29):
whole tournament, players sending rackets in to get restrung, most
likely a little tighter, particularly in hot conditions today where
it was really lively out there. And just the importance
of getting in that first good stroke today that was
what dictated and dominated the match.
Speaker 5 (14:43):
Really.
Speaker 18 (14:43):
Who could get that first good strike in the serf
plus one or the return plus one shot. That was
really noticeable, and I thought Sabolenkas certainly executed well today.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
Just quietly Ozzie's, Jason Kubler and Rinky Hijakata have been
putting toge a mighty doubles campaign. Today, they knocked over
the number one seeds Wesley Kolhoff and Neil Scoopsy to
roll into the semi finals. Josh Martin caught up with
them and let them take over the microphone.
Speaker 20 (15:12):
I want to hear you guys workshop your own doubles
nickname in front of me and interview each other about
your doubles journey so far. So do you guys have
any ideas?
Speaker 11 (15:23):
You know, my family actually came up with on like
my standard family. They said, like.
Speaker 21 (15:27):
Because you know how they did that, Rubik's cubes. They
were saying ice cubes and ice.
Speaker 11 (15:33):
Wrecks, rubbish others.
Speaker 15 (15:38):
Yeah, I don't know. I mean back to the drawing board.
Speaker 21 (15:42):
Really, we don't have much imagination, so I'm hoping. I'm
hoping the fans can come up with something thing, come
with something, and it will stick. I'm more than happy
because I think we might play for the after this week.
Speaker 11 (15:53):
Who knows how we go. Yeah, we're definitely looking to
play with each other for the rest of the year,
you know.
Speaker 15 (16:01):
Yeah, Yeah, I don't know, I'm pretty pretty hopeless. I
didn't get to finish college, so I'm pretty bad with
coming up with nicknames.
Speaker 11 (16:10):
What was your expectation going to this tournament.
Speaker 15 (16:13):
I was hoping to maybe win a match or two.
I knew you were going to be yeah, I mean,
I knew you could play dubs because obviously you had
a great year last year in dubs. Also, somehow, I
was honestly a little bit tight playing because I probably
lost like maybe five in my last six doubles matches
at the end of last year. What made you say
(16:33):
yes to playing with me after my results from last year?
Speaker 11 (16:37):
Now?
Speaker 21 (16:37):
To be honest, I actually I actually really thought we
had a good chance of playing well, just because you
returned so well. I thought maybe the serving side, you know,
just you know, I'm not serving over two hundred very often,
you know, so I thought that could be an issue.
But I thought, yeah, I thought we returned really well.
I was actually really excited. You know, you've been coached
by Bunty as well, so I was like, Okay, the
(16:58):
team chemistry is going to be there, well, so worst
case we're going to get along very well.
Speaker 11 (17:04):
And yeah, but man, this.
Speaker 21 (17:05):
This week or this these two weeks so far has
been beyond expectations.
Speaker 11 (17:09):
Hopefully we can keep it going.
Speaker 15 (17:11):
Yeah, I think after the first match or the second
match we won, I think you gave me a bit
of chest pump, and then I think we just yeah,
and then I think we're just it a part of
the routine.
Speaker 21 (17:21):
Now I guess there's definitely there's definitely a leader who initiates,
and it's this guy.
Speaker 11 (17:25):
Now you is initiate.
Speaker 15 (17:26):
Now I do, Now I did, But you did it
the first time.
Speaker 8 (17:28):
Yea, you did the time.
Speaker 11 (17:30):
I did the first time. But now it's initiated by rinking.
Speaker 22 (17:33):
I don't know.
Speaker 15 (17:33):
I mean, hopefully we're doing one on Saturday. That'd be nice, wouldn't.
Speaker 21 (17:37):
If we do it on Saturday, We're going to just
fall and that much force into each other.
Speaker 11 (17:42):
We just four.
Speaker 21 (17:43):
Yeah, if we can, if we can do it, like obviously,
each time we do one, you know something good's happened.
Speaker 11 (17:48):
So if we can, if we can do a couple more,
that would be that would be really great. Yeah, I
would like to know when you return, what do you think?
Speaker 15 (17:57):
I think Hopefully I'm late sing this one somewhere and
it's not coming back. Hopefully more times than not. That's
not the case. But if one or two come off,
then you can do the rest.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
So let's have a look at our semifinals then for
Day eleven, and Sabolenka has to back up tomorrow. It's
the first time a player will be playing two matches
in a row for singles, not including I guess Andy
Murray in that late finish. But Sablenka has Lynette, who
scored a big upset today over Plishkva, and they meet
tomorrow in the semi finals.
Speaker 18 (18:34):
Josh underrated player Magne Lynette. There's a lot to like
about her. She's a great ball striker and plays particularly
well on these fastish courts. I think if it was
in the day, she'd stand more of a chance Magna Lynette,
because the court plays so much quicker during the day.
So she's had a good Australian summer. She played well
at the United Cup up there in Brisbane and then
(18:55):
of course went to the finals in Sydney. So she's
a better player than what her ranking suggests. Although this
has got to be a big stage for her coming
out rod Laver Arena semifinals against Sabalenka. Whether she has
enough firepower to go with Sabolenka. I question that, So
for me it will be the match will be on
sabal Anka's racket. How she handles the occasion, and she's
(19:17):
done it very well this whole Australian summer, Saballenka, so
she has to go in as a pretty firm favorite
for me.
Speaker 19 (19:23):
Yeah, you know you spoke about it all being on
Sabolenka's racket. If we look a look at the average
speeds of all of the shots and weight of shot,
Sabalanka's got to cover it everywhere. She's got the biggest
serve by about twenty five kilometers, average fourhand speeds up
by about thirteen kilometers on her opponent, and the backhand
over ten k's as well. Ad in spin rates, She's
really got to cover there. Having said that, you know,
(19:44):
Lynette's having a fantastic run of form and she's really
been holding that baseline position well. So yeah, it makes
for a good contest.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
A lot of people haven't heard of Lynette until this tournament,
which is remarkable, but she had some big wins, especially
in twenty twenty two. What are her weapons? Where can
she exploit Sabalanka find a chink in the Belarusian's armor.
Speaker 18 (20:03):
She's a wonderful athlete, a great mover and very competitive.
So you know whenever you when I was coaching Sam Stowza,
for example, on tour, and you know, she's one player
you do not want to draw because she's just so
competitive and gets a lot of balls back. She can
make it feel uncomfortable. And she's improved a lot in
the last couple of years. I think she's really improved
(20:24):
her serve where she's her serve location has improved significantly,
so she's getting a lot of shorter balls back, so
she can then control the rallies and look, yeah, I
think she's going to have to compete very well and
try and maybe get back in behind Sablenka, get her
off balance and then try and push to the open court.
But if she doesn't get that first good strike in
(20:46):
the rally, I think it's going to be trouble for her.
But certainly capable because she is a wonderful mover out
there on court.
Speaker 19 (20:52):
Yeah, I think Sabatelenka is if she can control those
early rallies and keep the rallies under four shots. She's
she's been so successful in the tournament, is going to
go a long way to winning that match. Having said that,
if Lynette can extend the rallies, she gives herself a
red hot chance. And I do still think, you know,
the second serve of Saberlenka is much improved, but there
is still still a bit of a chink in the
armor there. You know, she made nine double folds today
(21:14):
and five of those were coming on what we consider
pressure points. So if she can put some pressure on Sablenka,
who knows what can happen.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
The second semi final is Elena Rebeikner and Victoria as
a ranker, and we've seen the power of the rebike
and a serve in the quarter final against Osta Penco.
How will it hold up against the two time champ.
Speaker 18 (21:33):
Look, I think she goes in as a favorite for me,
rebike and no, she's a wonderful talent, and of course
it will come down to how she serves. We know
that she won Wimbledon in twenty twenty two. Just serve
beautifully and I think she's got good rhythm on her serve.
At the moment. For me, I think she'll have too
many weapons, too much firepower. We talk a lot about
her serve, but I also think she returns particularly well,
(21:54):
so the serve and the return of the two most
important shots in the game. We all know that, so
I think she goes in as a favorite. I think
Azarenka's best match, though, was against Pergula. She played very well,
and we know how wonderful she is as a competitor,
but it's been a couple of years since she's won
a title and been at the top of the tree
in the women's game, so I think this is a
step up in class. I think I just really think
(22:17):
the pace of shot from Rebeikener will be enough, and
I think she goes and wins that in straight sets.
Speaker 19 (22:23):
Yeah, I think you hit the nail on the head
that just you mentioned the return position of where Rebikener
likes to stand. You know, she's been taking eighty three
percent of second serves inside the baseline, which is close
to the highest in the tournament and certainly far above
the average. So I really think this game is going
to be decided in who leads the rallies in under
four shots and who can take control of those. Well.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
Two of these players will make their way into the
women's final on Saturday. Lynette the Sabolenka and Rebeikner versus Azarenka.
Boys In summary, who's going through to the final?
Speaker 18 (22:53):
Well, for me, it's a Sablenka rebike in a final,
and I think I'm going to tip rebiken it to
go all the way. Think she's got the freedom to
go out and swing. The pressure is really not on
her because she has won a Grand Slam, so it
should be a really great final. And I just hope
Sabolenka can get there because she's got so close. She's
made three semis before, she deserves it, she's been number
(23:14):
two in the world. I think it's it's going to
be an exciting weekend in the women's game.
Speaker 19 (23:18):
Dylan and with josh On Sabalanka. I think she's too big,
too strong, got too many weapons, I will say I
do think Azarenka. I'm going to pick Azarenka in this one.
I just think her experience might be a bit of
a factor and we'll see how we go.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
So the women take center stage for Semi Final Night
eleven for the second consecutive year. Two time champ Victoria
Azarenka knows exactly the challenge that awaits her in the
form of Elena Rebaikner.
Speaker 22 (23:42):
I mean, she's an amazing player. You know, she's she's
won Wimbledon last year, so she's and she's been playing,
you know, very consistently, very well. I definitely don't think
that her ranking tells the full story of how good
of a player she is. So it's going to be
an amazing opportunity for me. And I don't really want
(24:04):
to look back to mutch On our last match was
kind of weird situation for me. But she's been playing
amazing tennis obviously, had some some incredible wins. And I
mean it's a semifinal Grand Slam. You gotta give it
your best, so not gonna Yeah, I'm gonna play against
another powerful hitter, so gotta be prepared for that.
Speaker 23 (24:24):
Has there been a moment in this tournament where you
everything is clicked, where there was a channing point where
you thought this this is gonna be a good tournament
for me.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
Nah?
Speaker 22 (24:35):
Now, I mean it's it's a it's a very tricky
thing to think that way. It's it's more about like
for me, taking little steps and execution of it. So
I definitely would say one thing is different for me
that I feel very grateful being on the court and uh,
you know, competing, which was not the case for me
last year. So so that is something that I feel
(24:57):
that this motivating me inspiring to continue and him going.
Speaker 24 (25:04):
The nineteen to eighty eight Australian Open began at Flinders
Park and Melbourne flocked to the seventy million dollar Center.
All were impressed with the space age Center court with
retractable roof, as well as the easy access to the
outside courts.
Speaker 20 (25:16):
Today mark's five hundred days of Australian Open Main draw
tennis played at Melbourne Park. We went down to chat
to some tennis legends about their favorite moments over the
last thirty six editions of the tournament.
Speaker 24 (25:27):
Sixteen year old Sydney boy Todd Woodbridge will go down
in history as the first player to win a tournament
match at the Center after beating American John Letzen straight
sets on court ten.
Speaker 7 (25:36):
I remember really like it was yesterday.
Speaker 25 (25:39):
It was quite an extraordinary opportunity to get a wild
card into the Australian Open, and I got a drawer.
I played an American named John Latson. Somehow I won
quite quite swiftly to get that honor of being the
first off the court, and funny enough, a very young
Eddie McGuire was the journalist that was courtside who interviewed
me on that particular day, and obviously Eddie's gone on
(26:01):
to do some big things in the media world.
Speaker 7 (26:04):
So it was and when you think about the venue
was so completely different back then as well.
Speaker 20 (26:11):
For Renet Stubbs, Marcus Bagdadis and Agni Eshka Radvanska, their
success on the court is hard to forget.
Speaker 15 (26:18):
My favorite moment is the match point against Nalbandian in
the semifinals.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
I aced and I won the match.
Speaker 7 (26:25):
That's easy.
Speaker 23 (26:26):
Winning the tournament two thousand and doubles and mixed. Yeah,
and I actually started my Grand Slam career here at
this Strain Open the first year I was at Flinder's Park,
you know, before it became Melbourne Park. So I've been
here to see all the changes and it's been remarkable
to see what they've done to the tournament.
Speaker 26 (26:42):
I think it was twenty fifteen my match against Azarenka
on the Roddavia arena. She was number one and defending
the title from the year before, and it was one
of the best matches I played, and bidding her and
La that it was quite a match, so I'll remember that.
Speaker 20 (27:04):
Three times AO semi finalist Tommy Hass and Sebastian Carters.
Coach Radick Stepnik remembers Melbourne Park as a venue of
highs and lows.
Speaker 27 (27:11):
A lot of great days, but also a lot of
tough days. You know, I've obviously loved coming here for
so many years. I guess you know. The first time
I really had a great tournament here was in ninety nine.
I was kind of thinking about that on my flight
over here last night. That was twenty four years ago.
That's kind of crazy.
Speaker 9 (27:27):
Definitely eleven years ago, winning first Grand Slam in doubles
with Leander Pace obviously the biggest moment for myself. On
the other hand, I played here my last match of
my career at the Ocean Open twenty seventeen, so bittersweet.
Speaker 20 (27:46):
Meltourn Park has long been a special place for Barbara
Schett Eagle, Eva Meoli and Daniella hunt Kova.
Speaker 28 (27:52):
Probably one moment I will never forget is when we
played the doubles on Margaret Quard Arena, and whenever you
played with Anna corney Kova, the fans were for us
and they were there and they were starting to sing songs.
They were singing a song about.
Speaker 19 (28:06):
Me ba ba ba ba ba bah and.
Speaker 28 (28:09):
It was just unbelievable the support we got. And I
think the the Australian crowd, the Melbourne crowd, they're they're
they're really very positive there. They get into the matches,
they're very knowledgeable and they give some great energy and.
Speaker 27 (28:23):
I love seeing that every single year.
Speaker 6 (28:25):
Winning the mixed doubles here, doubles finals, semifinals, in singles.
Speaker 11 (28:29):
But then just looking from.
Speaker 6 (28:31):
The outside, you know.
Speaker 7 (28:31):
Some of the Roger.
Speaker 11 (28:33):
Rafa Novak, Roger Novak Graffa a.
Speaker 9 (28:37):
Match is we witnessed the I think it's something that's
going to stay with everyone forever.
Speaker 16 (28:41):
I think most of us love coming here in January.
We feel this is the most relaxing Grand Slam. The
people are so nice, the weather is beautiful, coming from Europe.
Speaker 20 (28:53):
But for the Brian Brothers, doubles come out, the venue
always toss us up something unexpected.
Speaker 29 (28:57):
I think our best one was the two thousand and
six are first title here. Justine Hennan pulled out after
like fifteen minutes of the women's final, so was a
packed house. The crowd didn't quite get their money's worth.
They stayed for the doubles and it was a three
hour match. We played into the wee hours of the
night and we ended up winning our first title. We're
(29:17):
not up partying with Serena Williams.
Speaker 19 (29:21):
She treated us to a fun night on the town.
Speaker 20 (29:23):
She is to the first five hundred days at Melbourne Park,
He's to five hundred more.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
And what a wonderful five hundred days. There've been so
many good memories and so many more to be made.
As the Australian Open continues into the semi finals day
eleven tomorrow, join me again for all the big stories
here from Melbourne Park. In the meantime, don't forget to subscribe,
and if you like what you hear, please rate and
review so more fans can enjoy the AO Show.
To the backhand of plishkivat cross car from the net,
backhand of the line from Plishkiva tosses up a high ball.
Lynette steadies with the feet cross call backhand into the
backhand of Plishgeba, feel to the beastline, cross cork, fourhands.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
And mine into the left Calasiv the racket, shot, the
look of the light and shot and overwhelmed elution flatter Linette.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Hi everyone, and welcome to the AO Show for Day
ten of the Australian Open and episode one hundred of
The AO Show and by sheer coincidence, Today also marks
the Australian Open's five hundredth day of main draw action
at Melbourne Park. Here's what's coming up, another early night
for Novak.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
One thing is to imagine how you want to plan.
The other thing is to execute it on the court.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Tommy Paul stands tall as young Shelton goes out with
a big.
Speaker 5 (00:54):
Bang, making it to the second weekend of a slam
that's everyone's dream Sablenka sinks.
Speaker 6 (01:00):
It was all over the players, but I think mostly
than that.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Plus a preview of the Women's semifinals and five hundred
days of the AO at Melbourne Park.
Speaker 7 (01:09):
The venue was so completely different back then as well.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
That's all ahead on.
Speaker 8 (01:12):
The AO show, Djokovic serves on to the backhand of Rublev. Roblev,
leaning into a fourhand, dumpson into the nats and Novak
Djokovic had to put in another utterly commanding performance, demolishing a.
Speaker 9 (01:31):
Top ten player here on center court.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Novak Djokovic is two wins away from a historic tenth
Australian Open crown, following another two hour drubbing, this time
against Andre Rubelev in the quarterfinals. The scorecard resembled his
previous win over Alex Demonor, but the Russian did offer
more resistance, taking Djokovic to deuce on serve on multiple
occasions and holding five break points, though none converted. Djokovic
(01:57):
was more flustered than we'd seen so far this tournament,
engaging in animated conversation with his player box and complaining
to the umpire about a heckler in the crowd, but
even more frustrated with rube Lev, who, after dropping the
second set, left the court in search of a reset.
It was to no avail, as he was broken in
the very first game of the third set. The fifth
(02:18):
seed toughed it out to hold his next four service games,
but the Joker pulled out two aces one on a
second serve before a broken rube Lev netted his final
two balls to go down six to one, six two
six ' four.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
But very close to the performance of two nights ago. Yeah,
I cannot be happier with my tennis. Honestly. I've been
playing very solid from from back of the court and
really love love playing in these conditions in this court.
I've set it many times, you know, I love playing here.
Definitely more special court for me. I think there's the
score line in the first two sets doesn't speak the
(02:52):
truth or the reality of the of the match. You know,
it was some some really close games that we had.
Andre's is a great opponent, is a great player. I've
with tons of respect for him, you know, one of
the biggest four hands, one of the quickest players on
the tour. You know, I knew what the game plan
was obviously. You know, one thing is to imagine how
(03:13):
you want to play. The other thing is to execute
it on the court. But I think if I have
to sum it up all the important shots and important moments,
I found my best Ansl's that's what makes me, I guess,
the most pleased today.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
The twenty one time Grand Slam champ moves into another semifinal,
having spent twelve hours and twenty two minutes on court
so far this tournament. Rub Lev clearly unimpressed by the
level on both sides of the court.
Speaker 10 (03:37):
He's one of the best players, so there was nothing
that impressed me because she's one of the best and
I I knew he's going to be really tough, and
that's it. It's very simple.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Djokovic, now thirty five, also reflected on his first major
semi final way back at the two thousand and seven
US Open.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
I was fortunate to win that semifinals, but you know,
in the finals and lost to Roger. And yeah, let's
give him a big round of applause to Roger.
Speaker 7 (04:09):
Guys, here's go.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
Had some great battles over the years with Roger, that's
for sure. You know, Tennis misses him for sure. I've
seen him dressing up very sharply for a fashion week.
I've seen him the other day.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Did you see him skiing?
Speaker 11 (04:26):
Also, he's been on the slopes.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
Yeah, I've seen him skiing. I want to challenge him
for a little skiing skiing Greece.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
The second match point for Tommy Paul's kicks off about
why it's.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Long for Ben Shelton.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
And in his form Australian Open appearance, Tommy Paul has
reached the last four.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
There was a loser in the other quarterfinal, but it
certainly wasn't American tennis. Tommy Paul made the most of
his favorable draw against twenty year old compatriot Ben Shelton,
winning in four sets. The first set shaped as a
battle of the serves, with the young gun blasting three
more aces and holding a ten kilometers per hour advantage
on average first serve speed, but Shelton committed double Paul's
(05:12):
unforced errors and fell short in the tie break with
two shots flying awry. Shelton's blunders in the second set mounted,
but he refused to bow out in straight sets, the
Floridian taking advantage of Paul's inability to convert opportunities in
the third set, breaking to win it, but Shelton ran
out of gas in the decider, unable to claw back
an early break, and eventually succumbed seven six sixty three
(05:35):
five seven six ' four Paul is now the first
American man to make an Australian Open semi final since
Andy Roddick in two thousand and nine.
Speaker 5 (05:44):
Making it to the second weekend of a Slam. That's
everyone's dream when they started playing tennis. So I can't
believe I'm here right now. It's not just exciting for
the American fans. I think it's exciting for fans all
around the world and for us too. I mean, I'm
really excited for Ben. I'm excited for all the players
that are coming up. And if Foe made a semifinals
the US Open and now I'm semifinals here, so we
(06:06):
definitely have a good crop coming up, and I'm really
excited for all of us.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Shelton choosing to look at the upside he's made and
run at the Australian Open.
Speaker 12 (06:14):
I definitely exceeded my expectations this week what I thought
I could do on the court, not just tennis wise,
but physically being able to get through as many three
out of five set matches as I did. I mean,
I've only played one before in my career, so I
(06:34):
was pretty pleased with myself in that aspect as well.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
She tosses she subs into the backhand of Plishkiva, deep
to the feet bat can cross court from Lynette, backhand
up the line from Plishkiva. Lynette just scoops that one
deepish Giva tosses up a high ball. Lynette steadies with
the feet cross caught batcan into the backhand of Plishkiva,
deep to the baseline, cross caught fourhands from the net,
into the.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Net from Carolina Pleashkiva. The record shops the look of
delight and shock.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
I've overwhelmed emotion from Magta Lynette.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Poland's lesser light, has stormed into the final four of
a major for the first time in her career, stunning
Carolina Pliskova in straight sets. The two time Grand Slam
finalists couldn't shake the yips against Lynette, committing thirty six
unforced errors and seven double faults. Plushkiva started strongly in
the first set, utilizing her trademark power to smash three
(07:30):
consecutive fourhand winners and break in the very first game,
but the errors soon crept in, giving Lynette the break
back with a double fault and two unforced errors. From there,
it was mostly one way traffic going the Pole's way.
Both players held serve in the second set until Pushkev
Gift wrapped a break at five all with two consecutive
double faults, letting Lynette serve for the match, which she
(07:53):
went on to win six three seven five. Lynnette's made
in semi finals birth has been hard won, beating four
stated players, including formal world number one Pla Giver and
former world number two and net Contivate.
Speaker 13 (08:05):
Just staying composed really mentally when it was really tough
on my serf. She was getting very aggressive, and my
first serf wasn't always there. I think I did really
well to not to panic and still stay in the
rally and go for the shots when I had the chance.
Speaker 14 (08:22):
I suppose you can have days like this. I've been
serving really well for like all my matches and pretty
much like for the last two three weeks, So I
suppose you can have a day like that. Maybe also
the opponent makes you feel like that, you know, so
because even if I hit some really good serves, then
she still like puts many balls back. So that's the
pressure where you want to go for more and then
you miss. So yeah, I think she really made it
(08:46):
like difficult for me. Not missing many balls, not giving
anything for free, any mistakes and yeah, I just didn't
play it a great match.
Speaker 6 (08:55):
I don't think that bad, but definitely I can play.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Better Lynnette's semi finals oppon. It is the big arena, Sabolenka,
whom she hasn't beaten in their only two career meetings.
Speaker 13 (09:05):
Least encounter wasn't the best and the Olympics. So I
think I have really a big room there because it's
honestly can't be an the worst and the last one.
Speaker 15 (09:19):
Saperlanka shill put this away package is ready, but her
lob is going long.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Saberlenka, he's through. She's made it to the semifinals.
Speaker 16 (09:27):
It'll be Saberlenka against Magdalenette for a place in the
Australian Open Final.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Sabolenka continued her best run at the Australian Open, beating
an inefficient donovekch six y three, six y two. The
scorecard didn't quite capture the war of attrition between the players,
who struggled in the blazing midday sun. In the one
hour first set, Sablenka's trademark power hitting went hot and cold,
with the Belarusian smashing nine aces and thirty eight winners,
(09:54):
but also committing thirty five unforced errors and nine double faults. Vekch,
by contrast, made fewer errors, but also hit fewer winners,
more double faults, and only converted two of fourteen break
points in a frustrating day at the office. The Croatian
almost brought the match back from the brink with a
seven point juice on the Sabolenka serve, but fittingly, an
(10:16):
ace finally sealed the match for the Belarusian. Sabolenka had
lost five of her previous six matches against Vekis, but
she's now into her fourth Grand Slam semi final.
Speaker 17 (10:26):
I think that I lost those three semifinals just because
I wasn't like I wasn't really Colman quirt. I was
like overdoing things and like I really wanted to get
this Slam, and I was like I was rushing a lot.
I was I was nervous a lot, screaming, like doing
all this stuff. And right now I'm a little bit
(10:47):
more Colman Court, and I think I really believe that
this is the only thing that was missing my game,
and if I have if I can keep stay that
focused on that, Coleman Court I can.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Get Vekich lamenting her lackluster service game.
Speaker 6 (11:03):
It was all over the place, but I think mostly
in the NAT. You know, my surf is one of
my biggest weapons, so if that's not working, it's very
tough out there, especially against her, who is not giving
you any easy points, easy shots. So I think maybe
that's why. Also I felt a little bit more pressure
(11:25):
because I knew if I didn't have a great serve
that she's gonna crush it.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
So Vekech vanquished and sable Anka semi finals bound. Joining
me at the roundtable commentator Josh Eagle and analyst Dylan
Wood from the Game Inside Group. Josh, it wasn't the
fifth seed at her absolute best, but still a commanding
performance from Saballanka today.
Speaker 18 (11:48):
Look, I thought so. I thought she played the big
points particularly well and that was the difference today. She's
come in with a lot of confidence winning in Adelaide
two weeks ago, and I think for me, the serve
was the difference today. She was able to get herself
out of trouble and so particularly well when she needed to,
but got better as the match went on, and it's
a big step for her. She's been to the semifinals
a few times of Grand Slams, so there's a real
(12:09):
opportunity now for her to go on and potentially take
that title.
Speaker 19 (12:13):
Yeah, no, absolutely, just looking at the serve numbers and
another unbelievable performance based on her first serve, going at
winning seventy percent of points on her first serve with
forty one percent of those being unreturned, so she's not
even having to play another shot, which is super impressive.
She did still make some areas on the second serve
with nine double faults for the game. But what was
really impressive for me was, as you mentioned, Josh, was
(12:35):
the pressure points. You know, Vickers was able to create
fourteen break point opportunities, but when the chips were on
the table, Sabalanca was just too big on the pressure points.
Winning on the duce court when she went with the
out wide serve she won one hundred percent of points there,
and on the ad side when she went out wide
again or down the tee she was winning eighty three
percent of those points. So yeah, really really dominant.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
So just a reminder for our listeners, we're defining pressure
points as not just break points, correct, Dylan.
Speaker 19 (13:00):
Yeah, So any point that could potentially lead to a
breakpoint or is a break point.
Speaker 18 (13:05):
I just one thing to add there. On those second
serve stat numbers for Sable Anchor, I think, you know,
we must give credit to Vekitch. At one stage she
had made one hundred percent of returns. That was the
whole first set and even early into the second set,
So she was returning particularly well, and I thought that
just put a bit of pressure on the sable Anka serve.
And I think, you know, if we look back twelve
(13:27):
months ago, she was serving an average of this same
Ossie summer fifteen double faults per match. This summer she's
at four double folts per match, and I know it
was more today, but I thought that a lot of
that had to do with how well Vekich was returning.
Speaker 19 (13:39):
Yeah. Absolutely, And then if we look on the flip
side and we look at the vekitg serve, she was
only winning twenty six percent of her points on her
second serve, and that's going to make it make it
really difficult for you to have any sort of impact
in a match when your numbers are that low, especially
against someone who has so much more weight on their
ground strikes than you. You know, Sabalenka has nearly seventeen
kilometers on her forehand average speed and over ten kilometers
(14:01):
on her backhand average speeds on her opponent today.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
And that's happening on a hot day for Veket. She's
really feeling that ball.
Speaker 18 (14:07):
Yeah, lively conditions. I mean people sometimes don't realize it
says the top of twenty nine degrees and think, well,
that's just a lovely Melbourne summer's day, but what it
does to the court and how it reacts within the
ball as well, So it was really lively conditions. And
again today we saw the players changing rackets, not a
game changes, but actually mid game, which is rather unusual.
And of course, once again like we've seen throughout this
(14:29):
whole tournament, players sending rackets in to get restrung, most
likely a little tighter, particularly in hot conditions today where
it was really lively out there. And just the importance
of getting in that first good stroke today that was
what dictated and dominated the match.
Speaker 5 (14:43):
Really.
Speaker 18 (14:43):
Who could get that first good strike in the serf
plus one or the return plus one shot. That was
really noticeable, and I thought Sabolenkas certainly executed well today.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
Just quietly Ozzie's, Jason Kubler and Rinky Hijakata have been
putting toge a mighty doubles campaign. Today, they knocked over
the number one seeds Wesley Kolhoff and Neil Scoopsy to
roll into the semi finals. Josh Martin caught up with
them and let them take over the microphone.
Speaker 20 (15:12):
I want to hear you guys workshop your own doubles
nickname in front of me and interview each other about
your doubles journey so far. So do you guys have
any ideas?
Speaker 11 (15:23):
You know, my family actually came up with on like
my standard family. They said, like.
Speaker 21 (15:27):
Because you know how they did that, Rubik's cubes. They
were saying ice cubes and ice.
Speaker 11 (15:33):
Wrecks, rubbish others.
Speaker 15 (15:38):
Yeah, I don't know. I mean back to the drawing board.
Speaker 21 (15:42):
Really, we don't have much imagination, so I'm hoping. I'm
hoping the fans can come up with something thing, come
with something, and it will stick. I'm more than happy
because I think we might play for the after this week.
Speaker 11 (15:53):
Who knows how we go. Yeah, we're definitely looking to
play with each other for the rest of the year,
you know.
Speaker 15 (16:01):
Yeah, Yeah, I don't know, I'm pretty pretty hopeless. I
didn't get to finish college, so I'm pretty bad with
coming up with nicknames.
Speaker 11 (16:10):
What was your expectation going to this tournament.
Speaker 15 (16:13):
I was hoping to maybe win a match or two.
I knew you were going to be yeah, I mean,
I knew you could play dubs because obviously you had
a great year last year in dubs. Also, somehow, I
was honestly a little bit tight playing because I probably
lost like maybe five in my last six doubles matches
at the end of last year. What made you say
(16:33):
yes to playing with me after my results from last year?
Speaker 11 (16:37):
Now?
Speaker 21 (16:37):
To be honest, I actually I actually really thought we
had a good chance of playing well, just because you
returned so well. I thought maybe the serving side, you know,
just you know, I'm not serving over two hundred very often,
you know, so I thought that could be an issue.
But I thought, yeah, I thought we returned really well.
I was actually really excited. You know, you've been coached
by Bunty as well, so I was like, Okay, the
(16:58):
team chemistry is going to be there, well, so worst
case we're going to get along very well.
Speaker 11 (17:04):
And yeah, but man, this.
Speaker 21 (17:05):
This week or this these two weeks so far has
been beyond expectations.
Speaker 11 (17:09):
Hopefully we can keep it going.
Speaker 15 (17:11):
Yeah, I think after the first match or the second
match we won, I think you gave me a bit
of chest pump, and then I think we just yeah,
and then I think we're just it a part of
the routine.
Speaker 21 (17:21):
Now I guess there's definitely there's definitely a leader who initiates,
and it's this guy.
Speaker 11 (17:25):
Now you is initiate.
Speaker 15 (17:26):
Now I do, Now I did, But you did it
the first time.
Speaker 8 (17:28):
Yea, you did the time.
Speaker 11 (17:30):
I did the first time. But now it's initiated by rinking.
Speaker 22 (17:33):
I don't know.
Speaker 15 (17:33):
I mean, hopefully we're doing one on Saturday. That'd be nice, wouldn't.
Speaker 21 (17:37):
If we do it on Saturday, We're going to just
fall and that much force into each other.
Speaker 11 (17:42):
We just four.
Speaker 21 (17:43):
Yeah, if we can, if we can do it, like obviously,
each time we do one, you know something good's happened.
Speaker 11 (17:48):
So if we can, if we can do a couple more,
that would be that would be really great. Yeah, I
would like to know when you return, what do you think?
Speaker 15 (17:57):
I think Hopefully I'm late sing this one somewhere and
it's not coming back. Hopefully more times than not. That's
not the case. But if one or two come off,
then you can do the rest.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
So let's have a look at our semifinals then for
Day eleven, and Sabolenka has to back up tomorrow. It's
the first time a player will be playing two matches
in a row for singles, not including I guess Andy
Murray in that late finish. But Sablenka has Lynette, who
scored a big upset today over Plishkva, and they meet
tomorrow in the semi finals.
Speaker 18 (18:34):
Josh underrated player Magne Lynette. There's a lot to like
about her. She's a great ball striker and plays particularly
well on these fastish courts. I think if it was
in the day, she'd stand more of a chance Magna Lynette,
because the court plays so much quicker during the day.
So she's had a good Australian summer. She played well
at the United Cup up there in Brisbane and then
(18:55):
of course went to the finals in Sydney. So she's
a better player than what her ranking suggests. Although this
has got to be a big stage for her coming
out rod Laver Arena semifinals against Sabalenka. Whether she has
enough firepower to go with Sabolenka. I question that, So
for me it will be the match will be on
sabal Anka's racket. How she handles the occasion, and she's
(19:17):
done it very well this whole Australian summer, Saballenka, so
she has to go in as a pretty firm favorite
for me.
Speaker 19 (19:23):
Yeah, you know you spoke about it all being on
Sabolenka's racket. If we look a look at the average
speeds of all of the shots and weight of shot,
Sabalanka's got to cover it everywhere. She's got the biggest
serve by about twenty five kilometers, average fourhand speeds up
by about thirteen kilometers on her opponent, and the backhand
over ten k's as well. Ad in spin rates, She's
really got to cover there. Having said that, you know,
(19:44):
Lynette's having a fantastic run of form and she's really
been holding that baseline position well. So yeah, it makes
for a good contest.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
A lot of people haven't heard of Lynette until this tournament,
which is remarkable, but she had some big wins, especially
in twenty twenty two. What are her weapons? Where can
she exploit Sabalanka find a chink in the Belarusian's armor.
Speaker 18 (20:03):
She's a wonderful athlete, a great mover and very competitive.
So you know whenever you when I was coaching Sam Stowza,
for example, on tour, and you know, she's one player
you do not want to draw because she's just so
competitive and gets a lot of balls back. She can
make it feel uncomfortable. And she's improved a lot in
the last couple of years. I think she's really improved
(20:24):
her serve where she's her serve location has improved significantly,
so she's getting a lot of shorter balls back, so
she can then control the rallies and look, yeah, I
think she's going to have to compete very well and
try and maybe get back in behind Sablenka, get her
off balance and then try and push to the open court.
But if she doesn't get that first good strike in
(20:46):
the rally, I think it's going to be trouble for her.
But certainly capable because she is a wonderful mover out
there on court.
Speaker 19 (20:52):
Yeah, I think Sabatelenka is if she can control those
early rallies and keep the rallies under four shots. She's
she's been so successful in the tournament, is going to
go a long way to winning that match. Having said that,
if Lynette can extend the rallies, she gives herself a
red hot chance. And I do still think, you know,
the second serve of Saberlenka is much improved, but there
is still still a bit of a chink in the
armor there. You know, she made nine double folds today
(21:14):
and five of those were coming on what we consider
pressure points. So if she can put some pressure on Sablenka,
who knows what can happen.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
The second semi final is Elena Rebeikner and Victoria as
a ranker, and we've seen the power of the rebike
and a serve in the quarter final against Osta Penco.
How will it hold up against the two time champ.
Speaker 18 (21:33):
Look, I think she goes in as a favorite for me,
rebike and no, she's a wonderful talent, and of course
it will come down to how she serves. We know
that she won Wimbledon in twenty twenty two. Just serve
beautifully and I think she's got good rhythm on her serve.
At the moment. For me, I think she'll have too
many weapons, too much firepower. We talk a lot about
her serve, but I also think she returns particularly well,
(21:54):
so the serve and the return of the two most
important shots in the game. We all know that, so
I think she goes in as a favorite. I think
Azarenka's best match, though, was against Pergula. She played very well,
and we know how wonderful she is as a competitor,
but it's been a couple of years since she's won
a title and been at the top of the tree
in the women's game, so I think this is a
step up in class. I think I just really think
(22:17):
the pace of shot from Rebeikener will be enough, and
I think she goes and wins that in straight sets.
Speaker 19 (22:23):
Yeah, I think you hit the nail on the head
that just you mentioned the return position of where Rebikener
likes to stand. You know, she's been taking eighty three
percent of second serves inside the baseline, which is close
to the highest in the tournament and certainly far above
the average. So I really think this game is going
to be decided in who leads the rallies in under
four shots and who can take control of those. Well.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
Two of these players will make their way into the
women's final on Saturday. Lynette the Sabolenka and Rebeikner versus Azarenka.
Boys In summary, who's going through to the final?
Speaker 18 (22:53):
Well, for me, it's a Sablenka rebike in a final,
and I think I'm going to tip rebiken it to
go all the way. Think she's got the freedom to
go out and swing. The pressure is really not on
her because she has won a Grand Slam, so it
should be a really great final. And I just hope
Sabolenka can get there because she's got so close. She's
made three semis before, she deserves it, she's been number
(23:14):
two in the world. I think it's it's going to
be an exciting weekend in the women's game.
Speaker 19 (23:18):
Dylan and with josh On Sabalanka. I think she's too big,
too strong, got too many weapons, I will say I
do think Azarenka. I'm going to pick Azarenka in this one.
I just think her experience might be a bit of
a factor and we'll see how we go.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
So the women take center stage for Semi Final Night
eleven for the second consecutive year. Two time champ Victoria
Azarenka knows exactly the challenge that awaits her in the
form of Elena Rebaikner.
Speaker 22 (23:42):
I mean, she's an amazing player. You know, she's she's
won Wimbledon last year, so she's and she's been playing,
you know, very consistently, very well. I definitely don't think
that her ranking tells the full story of how good
of a player she is. So it's going to be
an amazing opportunity for me. And I don't really want
(24:04):
to look back to mutch On our last match was
kind of weird situation for me. But she's been playing
amazing tennis obviously, had some some incredible wins. And I
mean it's a semifinal Grand Slam. You gotta give it
your best, so not gonna Yeah, I'm gonna play against
another powerful hitter, so gotta be prepared for that.
Speaker 23 (24:24):
Has there been a moment in this tournament where you
everything is clicked, where there was a channing point where
you thought this this is gonna be a good tournament
for me.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
Nah?
Speaker 22 (24:35):
Now, I mean it's it's a it's a very tricky
thing to think that way. It's it's more about like
for me, taking little steps and execution of it. So
I definitely would say one thing is different for me
that I feel very grateful being on the court and uh,
you know, competing, which was not the case for me
last year. So so that is something that I feel
(24:57):
that this motivating me inspiring to continue and him going.
Speaker 24 (25:04):
The nineteen to eighty eight Australian Open began at Flinders
Park and Melbourne flocked to the seventy million dollar Center.
All were impressed with the space age Center court with
retractable roof, as well as the easy access to the
outside courts.
Speaker 20 (25:16):
Today mark's five hundred days of Australian Open Main draw
tennis played at Melbourne Park. We went down to chat
to some tennis legends about their favorite moments over the
last thirty six editions of the tournament.
Speaker 24 (25:27):
Sixteen year old Sydney boy Todd Woodbridge will go down
in history as the first player to win a tournament
match at the Center after beating American John Letzen straight
sets on court ten.
Speaker 7 (25:36):
I remember really like it was yesterday.
Speaker 25 (25:39):
It was quite an extraordinary opportunity to get a wild
card into the Australian Open, and I got a drawer.
I played an American named John Latson. Somehow I won
quite quite swiftly to get that honor of being the
first off the court, and funny enough, a very young
Eddie McGuire was the journalist that was courtside who interviewed
me on that particular day, and obviously Eddie's gone on
(26:01):
to do some big things in the media world.
Speaker 7 (26:04):
So it was and when you think about the venue
was so completely different back then as well.
Speaker 20 (26:11):
For Renet Stubbs, Marcus Bagdadis and Agni Eshka Radvanska, their
success on the court is hard to forget.
Speaker 15 (26:18):
My favorite moment is the match point against Nalbandian in
the semifinals.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
I aced and I won the match.
Speaker 7 (26:25):
That's easy.
Speaker 23 (26:26):
Winning the tournament two thousand and doubles and mixed. Yeah,
and I actually started my Grand Slam career here at
this Strain Open the first year I was at Flinder's Park,
you know, before it became Melbourne Park. So I've been
here to see all the changes and it's been remarkable
to see what they've done to the tournament.
Speaker 26 (26:42):
I think it was twenty fifteen my match against Azarenka
on the Roddavia arena. She was number one and defending
the title from the year before, and it was one
of the best matches I played, and bidding her and
La that it was quite a match, so I'll remember that.
Speaker 20 (27:04):
Three times AO semi finalist Tommy Hass and Sebastian Carters.
Coach Radick Stepnik remembers Melbourne Park as a venue of
highs and lows.
Speaker 27 (27:11):
A lot of great days, but also a lot of
tough days. You know, I've obviously loved coming here for
so many years. I guess you know. The first time
I really had a great tournament here was in ninety nine.
I was kind of thinking about that on my flight
over here last night. That was twenty four years ago.
That's kind of crazy.
Speaker 9 (27:27):
Definitely eleven years ago, winning first Grand Slam in doubles
with Leander Pace obviously the biggest moment for myself. On
the other hand, I played here my last match of
my career at the Ocean Open twenty seventeen, so bittersweet.
Speaker 20 (27:46):
Meltourn Park has long been a special place for Barbara
Schett Eagle, Eva Meoli and Daniella hunt Kova.
Speaker 28 (27:52):
Probably one moment I will never forget is when we
played the doubles on Margaret Quard Arena, and whenever you
played with Anna corney Kova, the fans were for us
and they were there and they were starting to sing songs.
They were singing a song about.
Speaker 19 (28:06):
Me ba ba ba ba ba bah and.
Speaker 28 (28:09):
It was just unbelievable the support we got. And I
think the the Australian crowd, the Melbourne crowd, they're they're
they're really very positive there. They get into the matches,
they're very knowledgeable and they give some great energy and.
Speaker 27 (28:23):
I love seeing that every single year.
Speaker 6 (28:25):
Winning the mixed doubles here, doubles finals, semifinals, in singles.
Speaker 11 (28:29):
But then just looking from.
Speaker 6 (28:31):
The outside, you know.
Speaker 7 (28:31):
Some of the Roger.
Speaker 11 (28:33):
Rafa Novak, Roger Novak Graffa a.
Speaker 9 (28:37):
Match is we witnessed the I think it's something that's
going to stay with everyone forever.
Speaker 16 (28:41):
I think most of us love coming here in January.
We feel this is the most relaxing Grand Slam. The
people are so nice, the weather is beautiful, coming from Europe.
Speaker 20 (28:53):
But for the Brian Brothers, doubles come out, the venue
always toss us up something unexpected.
Speaker 29 (28:57):
I think our best one was the two thousand and
six are first title here. Justine Hennan pulled out after
like fifteen minutes of the women's final, so was a
packed house. The crowd didn't quite get their money's worth.
They stayed for the doubles and it was a three
hour match. We played into the wee hours of the
night and we ended up winning our first title. We're
(29:17):
not up partying with Serena Williams.
Speaker 19 (29:21):
She treated us to a fun night on the town.
Speaker 20 (29:23):
She is to the first five hundred days at Melbourne Park,
He's to five hundred more.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
And what a wonderful five hundred days. There've been so
many good memories and so many more to be made.
As the Australian Open continues into the semi finals day
eleven tomorrow, join me again for all the big stories
here from Melbourne Park. In the meantime, don't forget to subscribe,
and if you like what you hear, please rate and
review so more fans can enjoy the AO Show.
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