March 28, 2024 • 34 mins
Sam Stosur joins The AO Show to discuss the latest news including the shock parting of Novak Djokovic and coach Goran Ivanisevic, the latest from Miami where Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz remain on a collision course for the men’s final, Victoria Azarenka is back in the semis — the three-time champion opens up about the evolution of the women’s game over her 20-year career, and Stosur shares what it's like going from player to captain ahead of Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup qualifier against Mexico in April.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Yoda, everyone, and welcome to the AO Show Weekly with
me John whovenas plenty going on in the world of
tennis this week. The big news overnight Novak Djokovic has
split with Goran Ivanizovich, The Big Guns are firing in
the men's draw at Miami, upset Scalore in the women's draw,
and Ozzie Great Sam Stossa joins us as she prepares
to lead our Billy Jenkin Cup team next month.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Welcome to you, Sam, Thank you, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
How you been doing very well?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Thank you? Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Welcome to the other panelists today. Matt Chalope from oz
open dot com. How are you, Matte, I'm good. Thanks
for having me again. Two very good listeners of the
sit down so far. Congratulations on the new podcast stream.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Thanks and thanks for letting me do it. I've enjoyed
it so far. I love hosting with viv Christy, Australian
tennis magazine editor. That's been great. And yeah, getting to
chat in depth with tennis identities has been It's been great.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
And Brice Stewart from the AO content team, looking like
you're ready for an Easter break, Bree.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
I am.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
I can't wait, but we will still be doing the
pod so a break ish.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Yes, because everyone else will be home more on holidays.
But we're going to do a special episode.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
There's no one else I'd rather spend Easter with than you.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Yeah, I will reciprocate and say you're my favorite co host.
Oh great over the Easter period. But we do have
are We're going to spill the beans on who's on
the show next week. It's a big guest.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
It is a big guest.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
I kind of like to but you know.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
No, I think we should. Let's just say it's going
to be worth people coming back to the AO Show
next Thursday.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
It's going to be special, k that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
But look forward to that. Well, there's plenty going on.
We're going to recap everything that's happened in Miami and
then look forward to the Billy Jean Kincup qualifier. As
I mentioned, but Matt, the big news overnight is the
news that Novak Djokovic and Goran ivanizovitch ending their five
year coach player relationship. And it's come out of the blue.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Yeah, it has come out of the blue. They've obviously
had an incredible career or partnership together twelve Grand Slams one,
and you can also see I guess the changes that
Goran helped bring into Novak's game. I think under during
the time of that partnership, Novak's server has improved. He's
definitely shown more of a willingness to come to the net.
So you could see Goran's influence. Even though Novak could
do those things, I think he kind of maybe used
(02:10):
them more judiciously and it's helped him have this incredible
later part of his career. But I wouldn't have thought
it's a shock in terms of after five or six
years together separating, because that's happened with a lot of
other players that we've seen on tour, Like I think
it's Sam as well. Like just thinking of your partnership
with Dave Taylor, I think it was about the five
(02:31):
or six year mark when you eventually went your separate ways,
And we've seen it with Sachari and Pagoula recently on
the women's tour. I guess from that perspective, maybe it's
not so much of a shock.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 5 (02:42):
I mean, I didn't see it on the radar right now,
but I tend to agree with you. I think coaching
relationships do have that time frame. You spend a lot
of time together on and off the court. Sometimes hearing
that different voice might be the same messaging, but just
hearing it from someone different said slightly differently. Who knows,
But I mean coaching Novak wouldn't be, you know, the
(03:02):
easiest job in the world. You're expected to win every
week of the year, right, so if you lose a
couple of matches, it's like, oh my gosh, what's going on?
Whereas that's, you know, such a unusual.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Position to be in.
Speaker 5 (03:15):
He's expected to win every single week, so there's a
lot of pressure on a coach. Yeah, and he has
indicated and press conferences at Indian Wells. He doesn't feel
like he's playing well and he's got stuff going on
behind the scenes. So it kind of makes sense that
he's shaking things up because he's obviously he's not playing
to what we are used to I suppose pretty high bar.
(03:39):
And he said it for himself, so it's really his
own fault.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
It also made me think of that thing where like,
you're expected to win every week. Remember there was that
hilarious thing at the end of last season where Coach
of the Year was awarded to someone else and Novacce,
I guess we'll need Gore and we needed to won
all form mators last year for you to win that award.
It's like, yeah, he one three, like they were winning
all the time. They had such a productive partnership, and yeah,
(04:04):
I think what we've learned out of that Agora and
maybe underrated as a great coach and tactician and what
he can bring to a game from like a technical
and technical perspective. You know, maybe another he's in the
market for another play. I'm not sure.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
All those three major titles in twenty twenty three of
twelve over the five year period, it is quite a
remark amazing. Yeah, a very decorated partnership, it was. But
after that loss to Lukenadi at Indian Wells that upset.
He was of course absent from Miami. When do you
think we might be seeing a return to the court
for Novak.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Well, he's on the entry list for Monte Carlo, so
I guess we can assume we'll see him there, that
is in two weeks time. But yeah, beyond that, he
loves Rome. He always plays in Rome. He may play Madrid.
He just needs the clay court lead up for Roland Garross.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Well, all eyes have been on Miami this week, where
the big guns have been firing for the men and
in the women. We've seen some real throwback results with
a blend of young stars and established legends of the game.
We'll get the insights of Sam Stows as we work
through some of these, but we're up to the semi
finals where Victoria as a ranker will take on Elena Rabaikner.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (05:18):
Well, I mean I think as a Ernka back in
twenty twelve, twenty thirteen, fourteen, she was definitely the best
hardcourt player in the world, or top two or three
for sure, and I have to say since she I mean,
she's been back for a while now since the birth
of her son, but she's had some pretty rough draws
around the last year five six years, she hasn't quite
(05:38):
been in the top of the rankings and she seems
to come up against some high seeds early on, which
is always rough. But I think she's still showing again
that she's still best on hard court and that she
can beat anyone in the world. And now she's playing
current best player as well in Rebakana. So good on
her for making it through this far.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Again, it's a AO semi final rematch from last year, which,
again we think Azarenka's had a tough trot of it,
but she made the Australian Open semis last year a
couple of years before that US Open final. I know
there's been a lot of talk about the women's draw
kind of you know, blowing up and you know, falling
apart or whatever. But you've got rebikn Azarenka and Daniel
Collins in the semifinals. I mean, these people they might
(06:16):
not be one, two and three in the world, but
they are excellent. They've won majors or been in major finals.
It's actually it's a bit of a throwback. Having Collins
and Azarenka in a Miami semifinal is. Yeah, that I
probably didn't expect that, but when you think about what
they've done, that makes a lot of sense.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Yeah, their levels are there.
Speaker 5 (06:34):
The numbered next to their name may not quite be
the same as what you'd expect, but they're as good
as Matt.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
You mentioned Daniel Collins. She is the third semi finalist.
She took care of Caroline Garcia, who was the vanquisher
of Coco goff in the fourth round, which was a
big upset in itself. So Daniel Collins advances to the
last four to take on the winner of Ekaterina Alexandrova
and Jess Pigoula, who at the time of recording are
currently on court. Jess Pergola took the first set six
(07:01):
to three, but Alexandrova is serving for the second now
at five to three. In the men's we've got another
match about to get on court, Nicholas Jarry against Danil Medvedev.
The winner to play Yannick Sinner.
Speaker 6 (07:14):
I have to be ready if he starts off in
a similar way as in Australia, I have to be
ready and trying to understand it before then maybe he
is going to change couple of things. So let's see.
It's going to be an interesting test for me. Hopefully
I can show some good tennis physical shape.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
I feel good.
Speaker 6 (07:31):
Tomorrow is one day off to practice, to recover and
because it's going to be a very physical match in
the next round.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
And let's see what's coming.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
What a great start to the year for sin and
what is it twenty wins out of twenty one matches
or something. It has rebounded great after losing to al KaAZ.
It's been one of the best starts to a season
in history. I'm really enjoying seeing Sinner just keep it
going after winning the Australian Open. And I know it's hard,
we shouldn't do this, but I can never help it.
As like a tennis fan, just like seeing that Sinner
(08:00):
Alcarez potential final progressing. But there's a lot to happen
before then, obviously, Yeah, yes, but yeah it's been how
you jink that exactly as soon as you want something
to happen, or as soon as you predict it might,
it often doesn't. But yeah, the men's of the men's
drown Miament, you've got Medvedev still floating around in there,
as well as some real quality.
Speaker 7 (08:19):
For sure, he's going to try to adapt something like
he did in Australia already. I'm going to talk to
my team and try to adapt to also to see
what I can do better or maybe I just need
to do the same thing, but again better shots, better
shot quality. So I'm going to go there one hundred
percent ready to win and ready to make his life tough.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
If we are to get our desired one v two final,
Sinner would have to defeat the winner of Jerry Medvedev,
and then Alcarez would have to get through an informed
grig Or Dmitrov in the quarter final, and then the
winner of Zverev. Marajan, who's caused all sorts of problems
Matt for our Aussies over the past week.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Yeah, he's beaten Popper and demon Or in back to
back matches. But there's this absolutely wild stat going around
about Marajan that he's got the best ever winning rate
at ATP Masters in history of like better than Nadal,
better than Jokovic. If you've played a minimum of ten
matches at Masters level, this is your win loss wins
(09:18):
versus losses, and the winning rate that equates too. He's
like eighty two points something percent and it's the best
of any player. It's just such a straight yeah, because
he's only played like four Masters events ever, but he's
made the fourth round of the quarterfinals of all of them.
So he's never a final, never a final.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
I would love to spend some time in your brain
because how do you maintain all this?
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Oh? I just saw it yesterday though, Yeah, he's got
he's gone ahead of Nadal and Djokovic, they have the
best since so yes, obviously he hasn't got the same
amount of runs on the board as them, but that's
the key stash. You wouldn't have thought it was Fabian
Maragan that leads that a bit of a dark horse
then yeah, yeah, it's very obviously in great form and
yeah there's a lot, a lot to unfold on that side.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
I mentioned Thomas Mahuch before, who lost to you Onick
Sinner in the quarter final. He was the one who
ended the run of Andy Murray which had been a
charmed run. And we were really seeing some quality signs
back on the hard court from Andy Murray until the
terrible rolled ankle, which has actually confirmed almost his worst nightmares,
a fully ruptured ATFL I won't pronounce the anatomical name.
(10:23):
And he's also torn his CFL in the same ankle.
That could be a recovery time of up to twelve
months and depending on whether surgery is required. Considering he
had already announced that this possibly could be his last
year on the tour, the signs are not looking good
for Andy no.
Speaker 5 (10:41):
I mean, that's just the worst possible thing that you
could ever imagine happening to a player, especially someone like
him who has said, Okay, look I think it's going
to be my last one now blah blah blah, and
was almost on his farewell kind of sirgus, So you
really really upsetting for Andy.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
But he did say you'll see me.
Speaker 5 (10:58):
Back, so I don't he just yeah, he said off,
he's a gun at his rehab with one.
Speaker 4 (11:02):
Hip and no ankle ligaments when the time is right wing, you.
Speaker 5 (11:06):
Know, maybe trying to come back, maybe play one last
Wimbledon or something. I don't know, if it's a twelve
month sort of recovery, maybe that could be his sort
of farewell event. But yeah, just absolutely horrible to see
something like that happened to a player.
Speaker 4 (11:19):
Yeah, it was horrible watching it when you see the
exact moment where he steps on the foot and just
the pain in his face. And then he played another set, didn't.
I can't believe he completed the match.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
Yeah, that was amazing. It must have been what happens then, though, Sam, Like,
is it the adrenaline and the endorphins or something, and
then you cool down and you realize how much damage
you've done? Is that often what happens?
Speaker 5 (11:39):
I mean, yeah, I think the maybe what saved him
is the fact that he does wear those ankle braces
all the time.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
But that just stowns like.
Speaker 5 (11:48):
Is amazing to me that you could have injured yourself
that badly even wearing those ankle braces.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
But to continue a set.
Speaker 5 (11:54):
It's not like he's standing still, so it like amazing
effort to even get through that.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Potentially that he'd actually fully ruptured that atfl might have
played into in the painstakes.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Yeah, I mean, had you even been flopping around.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
It was attached.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Thank god for the ankleish incredible literally holding him together.
Good Luck to Andy Murray in his recovery. Hopefully by
the time we have our episode in a fortnight's time,
we'll have more news on whether the surgery has gone
to recovery. Yeah, but good luck to him in the
immediate future, he's back in London. Other notable Aussie performances, Matt,
(12:31):
you mentioned the two that went down to Fabian Marajan.
Alex Eminoor reached the fourth round, Alexei Poprin reached the
third round. Chris O'Connell was, I guess just another great
story on the comeback trail for him reaching the fourth
round and he lost to Sinner, who could very well
be the eventual champion.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Yeah, Chris O'Connell's had it like a sneaky good year
and as I think, verging on the top fifty now,
I'm not sure that what he is in the live
rankings at the moment, but has had a great start
of the year. Does everything right at the I've seen
him play a bit, but not a lot. And the
word on him is just that super professional, dots every eye,
what is it, dots across every day and just is
(13:11):
a real and almost thirty years old, so has really
kind of persisted to this point in his career, has
had to deal with a lot of injuries, has you know,
done that battling on the IRTF circuit and working his
way up through challenges. I remember there was one year
where he played like he did like an arena Roddy
and over and played like ninety matches on tour one
year and just got heaps of wins and titles and
that kind of set him up. That was a couple
of years ago, and yeah, look where he is. Look
(13:34):
where he is now. He's in the Aussie top five
and going great.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
I loved watching him at the US Open last year,
he did a really good job, like he just was
playing really really well. And I feel like there's been
a turnaround since then, getting through a couple of rounds
and then he's kind of kept projecting projecting is that
the right word?
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Progressing?
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Progressing, projecting, work, projected, ranking, profounded off it works.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Storm Hunter reached the second round after coming through qualify.
It was a terrible sort of series of events that
led to her getting there. But Sam just another feather
in the cap of storm Hunter.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Oh absolutely.
Speaker 5 (14:14):
I mean the effort to even just get on court
to play that qualifying match, after playing a doubles final,
getting to the airport, actually making a flight, getting stuck
in Dallas, sleeping at an airport hotel, flying that morning,
arriving boom game, and the rental, leaving the airport, like
that's another delay, This isn't possible. And then went out
(14:34):
there and won in three sets, and then next round
straight sets, And then I spoke to her coach and
Colprat and she just said it was unbelievable effort from her.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
She actually said early in the third set, I'm done.
I'm done. I can't do it, And.
Speaker 5 (14:47):
Just keep whatever you think Stormy just keep trying and
then she came out with a win over a quality player.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
So, you know, Storm's funny.
Speaker 5 (14:55):
She's qualitied in a couple of Slams last year, and
both of the time she did that, she arrived late
qualifying because she did well the week before in double
So I'm.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Like Toile, we just show up late everywhere. You're fine.
You don't need the pred.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Be late, you know what.
Speaker 5 (15:11):
Just come to Billy Jin King Cup on Thursday.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
You'll be right. Someone was saying it that.
Speaker 4 (15:17):
I think it was Casey who said that she flew straight.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
In the finals. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Yeah, so she comes to the Cancun, hadn't she and
then she had to just walk on the court. Yeah.
Maybe it's not having time to think general.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
Honestly, it's like like that, or if you're injured or
you know, sick or something, you don't have time to
or yeah, the energy to mess around or overthink things
and you just go out there and play. And but
I know she's playing an extremely good level at the moment,
and you know, we're just urging her, like willing her
into this top hundred as soon as possible.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
And Darius have Will also reached the second round lost
to Diana your Stremska there. So they are two of
your players you're starting five, let's call them for the
upcoming Billy Jean King Cup qualifier Australia versus Mexico. It's
happening in around about two weeks time. I've in Brisbane
after Arena, home base for you, Sam.
Speaker 5 (16:10):
Yeah, well, I mean I'm still a Queenslander, so you know,
it feels like my home home tournament in a lot
of ways. I love playing there, you know, for the
Brisbane International. But we've had plenty of Billy Jinkin Cup
ties there as well, and probably the most you know,
one of my most memorable ties ever was the twenty
nineteen semi final that we played against Belarus.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
So yeah, it was incredible.
Speaker 5 (16:31):
So going back to back to that scene, hopefully we
can replicate it.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
It was live doubles, was it not?
Speaker 5 (16:36):
It was yeah, Ash and I against Seberlenka and Azarenka
three sets.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Was yeah, very exciting.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
That's amazing every because of not at the time, but
Ash and Sabalinca have gone on to win Grand Slams.
All four of you were singles Grand Slam champions. All
four of you have won doubles Grand Slam titles. When
you look at that doubles match now five years on,
you go, that was actually like, yeah, like it was phenomenal. Yeah,
that was that was amazing. It was amazing at the time,
but then again what everyone has gone on to achieve
(17:06):
since then, like that that is one of the great
fed Cup doubles rubbers.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Which was your last tie as.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
A player twenty twenty two in Glasgow, okay.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
And so it's only been two years and now you're
the captain. It's a very different role and I was
very interested to hear the mindset shift that you're having
to make from the way you approached opponents and matches
as a player. So now as the captain tell.
Speaker 5 (17:29):
Us about yeah, I mean, it obviously is a different
position to be in. I think even just thinking about all, right,
matchups and who plays who, and how you work out
tactics with different game styles and things. You know, before
this role, I'd look at matches and just be watching
them to think, ok, well, how would I play them?
How could I use my tennis against them? And now
(17:50):
that's completely irrelevant because you know, Storm's not going to
hit her foehand the way I do, or you know,
have a slice back end or you know, different things
like that. So now trying to watch it for somebody
else and just I guess in general terms kind of
all right, well they don't do that great, but this
is really good, So how do we match that up
to someone else? Yeah, it's a bit of a different
(18:11):
prospect for me, that's for sure.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
It's quiet.
Speaker 5 (18:13):
It sounds like warfare, like plodding out how to destroy
the component, the component the competitor. I had a question
because all the girls are really good friends. They obviously
are on the tour together. How does that really, like
how good a friends they are, does that propel them
to you know, work even harder together because they're just
(18:33):
so connected. I have to say, throughout my whole Billy
jin Kin Cup career, I think the Aussie team has
always been the most well tight knit group of players,
right from back playing in the team with Alisha, Stubbsy
and Pratty, like we all got along really well, whether
(18:55):
it was a tie week.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Or a normal week on tour.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
You knew that we all sort of good lookout for
each other or have each other's back and support, and
that has kind of really run through the course of
all the generations to now. And you know, I think
some of the teams they kind of fake it the
week of and like pretend they're all friends and whatever,
and it works for a little while, but then the
next week they barely talk to each other, whereas that
is just not the case with our team, and I
(19:19):
think that really does hold us in good stead. And
you know, no matter what happens, we know that every
person who gets the opportunity to play gives it everything
they've got, as do the players on the sideline. So
it's it really is a fantastic group of players through
the generations that we've had being able to play in
that respect.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
Is there a WhatsApp group chat group?
Speaker 2 (19:39):
I've got that many WhatsApp groups at the moment.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
Every tie we have.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
WhatsApp group, whether it's just players and captain or like
the greatest staff group, So every tie there's a new chat.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
And now being captain, I'm on the chat.
Speaker 5 (19:55):
The player chat, the big group chat, and I can't
find anything. You don't know what's been said to what
I need icons I know I do, So yeah, it's
probably it's a good insight to what Alisha had to
deal with.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
For ten years.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
It takes a certain personality type, don't you think to
be a good captain.
Speaker 5 (20:13):
Well, I mean, I hope I've got that good personality
only three months and they haven't done a tie yet.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
But it's obviously a lot about.
Speaker 5 (20:23):
Managing the group and the players, and you know, the
good thing is being a player for that long in
the team. I know what I liked, you know, to do,
and what I needed to do to prep and be
in the best position I could be to play on
the weekend. So I know I've got that insight, so
I can help create that and obviously work with the
(20:43):
players that are now playing.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
It's up to them.
Speaker 5 (20:45):
It's not going to be all the same as what
I liked, but I know that there's different elements that
I can suggest or bring to for them to hopefully
be able to play their best, because I mean, it's
it is different playing for your country, different playing at home,
and even though all these players have played some big
matches and everything, it's still it. You know, it gives
(21:07):
you a little different goosebumps, you know, so, but it's exciting.
It's it's such an awesome position and privilege to.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
Be when you said before about Storm getting like we're
hoping she gets into the top hundred. She's on the cast.
The players that are in your team, I think four
of them are all like in the top one thirty
five or the top one forty. Bus is like, we
don't have any women currently in the top one hundred,
but they could in a couple of months, we could
have multiple Like they're all kind of trending up. And
in terms of that kind of you know, all progressing
(21:37):
in the right way and the fact that there's that
talent and that great form, like, is that realistic that
we could soon see you know, four or five. I
mean there's about six or seven Aussie women like in
the top one fifty, one sixty, Like they're just on
the cast. And Storm's not the only one in great form.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
No, absolutely.
Speaker 5 (21:55):
I Mean we've seen Dasha get well inside one hundred
thirty odd a couple of times in her career, so
we know that she's got the game to be able
to get there. She just needs a little bit more
time again from you know, coming back from injury once more.
So I'm sure Dasha can get their. Storm great. If
she can get there, it'll be the first time she's
made top hundred recently, but she's got close before. So
(22:18):
you just just need that extra win in maybe a
slightly bigger event to propel you in there. Then you
get an opportunity to play in maindraw Grand Slam. You
win a match or two there, oh, I mean, and
you kind of feel safe when you get to like
eighty odds. So, I mean, the same thing's happened with
kim Byrell. She was just finished outside the top hundred arena,
just finished inside the top hundred doing the hard yards
(22:39):
on the Challenger circuit. Now you know Taylor Preston at
her best ranking ever.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
So we got.
Speaker 5 (22:45):
The top four singles ranked players in the country playing
in the team. But you're right, they could all potentially
go from being you know, just outside to just inside
and then from there you get that belief, you get
the opportunity to play bigger tournament.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Get more points. They could Yeah, hopefully fingers crossed by
the end of the year. We've got that shift.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
Happening, and it's all like they're propelling each other. So
that's why this tie is interesting. They're all vying for
selection as well, they're all in the team together. They'll
have that week training together kind of. I guess the
vibes are shared and yeah, I don't know. It just
feels like it just feels like really good momentum behind
them and as you said, just one or two wins
it could really change that complexion.
Speaker 5 (23:24):
Yeah, for sure, I think it's I guess I'd like
to say that's some healthy competition there to get a
run in one of the matches because they are so
close and ranking all done, you know, similar sort of
results recently. You know, it really could come down to all, right, well,
how's everyone's form in the practice week, of how you're
feeling physically mentally, like a lot comes into then deciding
(23:45):
who gets to play. So the great thing is we've
got four very good players who could be in that position.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Then you've got to pick and hopefully get it done.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
But we're out to qualify for the twelve Nation Finals
in Seville in Spain. So if you're in Brisbane around
April twelve thirteen, get yourself a ticket. It's going to
be one not to miss. Australia the Mexico for Sam
Stosi's first tie.
Speaker 5 (24:10):
As do you.
Speaker 4 (24:11):
Think will win?
Speaker 5 (24:14):
That's the question on my lips. I think yes, well,
obviously I'm going to say yes. However, you can't haunt
your chickens before they have so you've still got to
put your best players out there.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
You still have to perform and play and get it done.
Speaker 5 (24:29):
And we've sort of alluded to fans from Mexico here
in Australia. I tell you, I was shocked how many
flags I saw out there watching the Mexican number one
player against two wazsies actually during qualifying. So you know,
we can't be complacent. We've still got to bring it.
But obviously I have full belief in the team and
(24:50):
I'd love to see us get through to the finals.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
In a career spanning some two decades, Victoria Azarenka has
twice to the Australian Open Trophy and was the first
Belarussian world number one. The thirty four year old, who
is into the last four at Miami, recently spoke to
The AO Show about the lesson she's learned from tennis
and the future of the sport.
Speaker 8 (25:13):
I think the evolution of the game is pretty significant.
Speaker 9 (25:17):
When Azarenka made her pro tool debut, things looked a
little different.
Speaker 8 (25:21):
When I started just playing on tour, A few players
who we travel with a fitness trainer, and now everybody
travels with a fitness trainer and a physio. The teams
we get bigger, the game become more physical.
Speaker 9 (25:32):
She attributes this change to two players.
Speaker 8 (25:34):
I feel like Serena and Venus really changed the game,
the physicality of the game, and then everybody had to just,
you know, kind of try to catch up and elevate
their physicality. So now I think it's the game is different,
it's faster, it's stronger.
Speaker 9 (25:52):
But it's not just in physicality. Where the women's game
has improved.
Speaker 8 (25:55):
Amazing evolution of women coming back from having families and
and and being on tour. It's for me, I think
in my career is one of the biggest stereotypes we've
been able to break in our sport is that you
can you can do both, and you can do it
pretty well at at high level.
Speaker 9 (26:14):
The form of World number one sees herself as a
role model for other young moms.
Speaker 8 (26:19):
I think the most what I'm proud of is that
girls and players feel more confident and comfortable in doing that,
and so we see definitely the growing number of athletes
going that route, and it's it's really exciting.
Speaker 9 (26:32):
Tennis has long been a trailblazer of gender equality, but
as a ranker, believes there's still room for growth.
Speaker 8 (26:38):
Yeah, we are ahead of the curve. Me personally, I
don't like to talk about equality in that sense. I
think what we need to talk about is maybe equality
not in price, money, quality and opportunity. And if we're
gonna look at facts, we have to look at the
visibility of women's sport versus men's sport. And I'm really
(27:01):
not a fan of comparing women versus men. I think
we both have opportunity to strive. I think we both
have opportunity to shine. I think that if women's sports
like football, have an opportunity to gain the momentum, to
gain the visibility, what you do with that opportunity is
up to you. A vision is clear, with the right people,
(27:23):
with the right marketing, with people who believe in the
product and expand the product, I think we can do
great things. It requires sometimes taking the chance, sometimes giving
an opportunity, sometimes maybe a bit of luck with the timing.
But I believe that women's sports are on the rise,
so I hope that this trend continues.
Speaker 9 (27:46):
But losing is something the thirty four year old is
not so pain on.
Speaker 8 (27:50):
I'm never happy when I lose, and any game, in
any game like card game or dice game, I'm extremely competitive.
Speaker 9 (27:58):
No one gets off easily, not even her own son.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
I don't let him win.
Speaker 8 (28:02):
There's no there's no letting win. And because I want
him to learn how to I will teach him how
to play and I will help him how what what was?
Maybe not a best call what to do, but I
would not let him win. And and funny enough, he
can't beat me in a few in few things now
because he gets to learn that things don't come I
(28:25):
think easy.
Speaker 9 (28:26):
Well, some may consider this harsh, as a ranker sees
it as a learning opportunity.
Speaker 8 (28:31):
I am extremely supportive. I am extremely supportive of him,
and I want him to do best. But I want
him to learn the value of hard work and what
it takes, because that's what I try to show him
every day with my work. I try to show you
what it takes to be the best, what it takes
to earn your spot at the top, and how hard
(28:51):
it is.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Thanks to Vic for that wonderful feature, time for Ace
of the Weak Tamer. We share the one thing in
our lives. That's really warm the cockles of our hearts. Well,
let's kick it off with you, Bree are head of content.
What's your race of the week.
Speaker 4 (29:08):
I feel like every week I come with two and
I'm just going to do two again. My best friend
moved here from Sydney yesterday. She's one of my first
friends I ever made when I moved from Newcastle to Sydney.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
Little country.
Speaker 4 (29:21):
Giral known since she was nineteen, I was twenty three
or twenty two.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
Giver a shower, Charlie. It's very exciting.
Speaker 4 (29:29):
So she's moved here and I'm over the moon because
I haven't had any Sydney peeps. Moved to Melbourne because
it's too cold.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
She loves the Colt's what's broad?
Speaker 1 (29:37):
He here?
Speaker 2 (29:37):
Just you not she?
Speaker 4 (29:38):
Actually no, she didn't move for me at all. I've
been here seventy years. I think she's visited. She has
visited me. She is studying a PhD. In we go
in prison.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
Abolishment, Prison abolish, Wow, get rid of the prisons.
Speaker 5 (29:55):
Well it's kind of like, how is the system working
and how do we get people back into society in
a more meaningful way.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
I've never even heard of that I hadn't either.
Speaker 4 (30:07):
Anyway, She's incredibly smart. Don't ask me any more questions.
I'm also excited for a little break despite doing the pod.
Speaker 1 (30:14):
You're not heading away? Are your old child is coming down?
Speaker 4 (30:16):
I might take the dog away and room into holiday
because she deserves it.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
But other than that, no, very good to see you
back next Thursday, Matt. Your ace of the week.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
Hot cross buns. Yeah, four days coming out Easter break, Breen.
I've been talking about hot cross buns mostly this week.
I took on her recommendation and I took made a
stop by Penny for Pound Enrichment today and bought a
box of hot cross buns. It was most of my paycheck.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
What's a box constitute twenty four?
Speaker 3 (30:45):
No? No, no six?
Speaker 1 (30:46):
Six? A box?
Speaker 3 (30:46):
Six is a box? Yeah, what did you say? Twenty four?
That's what it costs.
Speaker 7 (30:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (30:53):
I got a two six packs for six dollars from Coals.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
Yeah, exactly. So what I'm working out now is that
the six are not going to last me for the
four four days because I usually at two or three
in a sitting so and I can't afford two boxes.
So I'm really looking forward to the nice boogie box
and then I'll just flesh out my stash with you know,
some cheap bags and that'll get me through good butter
and yeah and.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
Toasted.
Speaker 3 (31:14):
Yeah, I do it in the oven. Yeah, do it
in the oven. Lots of butter, cup of tea, and
that's just what I'll be eating for the next four days.
I can't wait. And then yeah, because we're on a break,
I'll try and go away to I'm not sure where yet,
but somewhere I don't know, country Victoria. That would be good.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
What about Newcastle?
Speaker 3 (31:29):
Newcastle? I haven't thought about vacant house, Charlie's house and
shout for shout for a house. No, I'll probably keep
it closer at home, but it would be Yeah, it's
always good autumn in Melbourne's autumn. Vie toy is nice?
Speaker 1 (31:43):
You like a hot Cross bun Sam?
Speaker 5 (31:44):
I actually bought a pack from supermarket. Yes, yeah, I've
gone through half of.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
Them already, the mixed fruit ones.
Speaker 5 (31:53):
Or but yeah, but without the orange peel. I don't
like the peel, but I'll have the sultanas.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
Yeah, definitely, lots of butter, lots of butter.
Speaker 5 (32:02):
Yeah, they're good hot Cross mounds, but they have been
out since January, so I know we just take away.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
I don't feel the same. Yeah, the novelty of them
if they're in the shops for three months.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
But whatever, I just refused to buy them until about.
Speaker 4 (32:13):
Util Now yea, Allan brought them today.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
Yeah, your A of the week son.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
We're seeing as Brie had too.
Speaker 5 (32:19):
I'm going to have a couple because I had a
really lovely long weekend last weekend. We went to Wogga
Wogga to visit some friends and had the most amazing
little barbecue on the top of a hill in the
middle of a farm, like chewing away the cows and
to get there and everything like bush bashing and full
wall driving and stuff. So just had a really lovely
long weekend in Wogga.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
Had a really good salad.
Speaker 5 (32:43):
Ham roll on the way up in glen Roll and
if you're driving through glen Roe and.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
Stop at the bakery.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
They did a really a country bakery, the best baker.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
Yeah, that's ned Kelly Territory.
Speaker 3 (32:54):
Yes exactly.
Speaker 5 (32:55):
We looked at where they had their last shootout thing there. Yeah,
there's a field anyway, good playground there too.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
For our international listeners.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
What is happening?
Speaker 5 (33:08):
And then My second one is I'm having another long
weekend this weekend because obviously it's Easter and we're going
down in block and it's a big birthday. So yeah,
happy birthday, Sam, Thank you two days, it's a pretty
decent one.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
So I'm having just.
Speaker 5 (33:26):
A whole birthday week. Happy birthday, take a month.
Speaker 1 (33:32):
Thanks for holding off your appearance on the AO show
to your birthday. Have a happy birthday and everyone, Happy
Easter to all of you.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
Do you get an ace?
Speaker 2 (33:42):
John?
Speaker 1 (33:42):
I never get asked.
Speaker 3 (33:47):
Week? And then I was like, no, come on down
the highway.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
To Geelong to spend the Easter weekend with my family,
my nearest and dearest, and then we're taking Elmie and
I are taking our little six month old kitten on
a Victorian road trip down to Warnable and then up
to Dalsford where my wedding band is playing on the
following Saturday. Oh yes, so it's a bit of it.
It's a gamble because that's ten days away for a
six month old.
Speaker 4 (34:11):
I saw you kid in on the video and the
other day and I was like, it's a cute cat.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
How are you going to keep it inside? How are
you going to do?
Speaker 1 (34:19):
Usually we do but she can go on to lead
and she's, oh, you put her on a lead. She
goes on the dog part.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
I'll show you some pictures after tries not to get eaten.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
We've got to make we've got to make haste.
Speaker 3 (34:30):
He yes, call it up.
Speaker 1 (34:31):
But thanks for coming on the show. Sam is really good. Pleasure,
have a wonderful Easter, and we'll see you all after
the break.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
Thanks John, see you next week.
Speaker 1 (34:40):
Bye bye.
Yoda, everyone, and welcome to the AO Show Weekly with
me John whovenas plenty going on in the world of
tennis this week. The big news overnight Novak Djokovic has
split with Goran Ivanizovich, The Big Guns are firing in
the men's draw at Miami, upset Scalore in the women's draw,
and Ozzie Great Sam Stossa joins us as she prepares
to lead our Billy Jenkin Cup team next month.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Welcome to you, Sam, Thank you, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
How you been doing very well?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Thank you? Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Welcome to the other panelists today. Matt Chalope from oz
open dot com. How are you, Matte, I'm good. Thanks
for having me again. Two very good listeners of the
sit down so far. Congratulations on the new podcast stream.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Thanks and thanks for letting me do it. I've enjoyed
it so far. I love hosting with viv Christy, Australian
tennis magazine editor. That's been great. And yeah, getting to
chat in depth with tennis identities has been It's been great.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
And Brice Stewart from the AO content team, looking like
you're ready for an Easter break, Bree.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
I am.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
I can't wait, but we will still be doing the
pod so a break ish.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Yes, because everyone else will be home more on holidays.
But we're going to do a special episode.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
There's no one else I'd rather spend Easter with than you.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Yeah, I will reciprocate and say you're my favorite co host.
Oh great over the Easter period. But we do have
are We're going to spill the beans on who's on
the show next week. It's a big guest.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
It is a big guest.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
I kind of like to but you know.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
No, I think we should. Let's just say it's going
to be worth people coming back to the AO Show
next Thursday.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
It's going to be special, k that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
But look forward to that. Well, there's plenty going on.
We're going to recap everything that's happened in Miami and
then look forward to the Billy Jean Kincup qualifier. As
I mentioned, but Matt, the big news overnight is the
news that Novak Djokovic and Goran ivanizovitch ending their five
year coach player relationship. And it's come out of the blue.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Yeah, it has come out of the blue. They've obviously
had an incredible career or partnership together twelve Grand Slams one,
and you can also see I guess the changes that
Goran helped bring into Novak's game. I think under during
the time of that partnership, Novak's server has improved. He's
definitely shown more of a willingness to come to the net.
So you could see Goran's influence. Even though Novak could
do those things, I think he kind of maybe used
(02:10):
them more judiciously and it's helped him have this incredible
later part of his career. But I wouldn't have thought
it's a shock in terms of after five or six
years together separating, because that's happened with a lot of
other players that we've seen on tour, Like I think
it's Sam as well. Like just thinking of your partnership
with Dave Taylor, I think it was about the five
(02:31):
or six year mark when you eventually went your separate ways,
And we've seen it with Sachari and Pagoula recently on
the women's tour. I guess from that perspective, maybe it's
not so much of a shock.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 5 (02:42):
I mean, I didn't see it on the radar right now,
but I tend to agree with you. I think coaching
relationships do have that time frame. You spend a lot
of time together on and off the court. Sometimes hearing
that different voice might be the same messaging, but just
hearing it from someone different said slightly differently. Who knows,
But I mean coaching Novak wouldn't be, you know, the
(03:02):
easiest job in the world. You're expected to win every
week of the year, right, so if you lose a
couple of matches, it's like, oh my gosh, what's going on?
Whereas that's, you know, such a unusual.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Position to be in.
Speaker 5 (03:15):
He's expected to win every single week, so there's a
lot of pressure on a coach. Yeah, and he has
indicated and press conferences at Indian Wells. He doesn't feel
like he's playing well and he's got stuff going on
behind the scenes. So it kind of makes sense that
he's shaking things up because he's obviously he's not playing
to what we are used to I suppose pretty high bar.
(03:39):
And he said it for himself, so it's really his
own fault.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
It also made me think of that thing where like,
you're expected to win every week. Remember there was that
hilarious thing at the end of last season where Coach
of the Year was awarded to someone else and Novacce,
I guess we'll need Gore and we needed to won
all form mators last year for you to win that award.
It's like, yeah, he one three, like they were winning
all the time. They had such a productive partnership, and yeah,
(04:04):
I think what we've learned out of that Agora and
maybe underrated as a great coach and tactician and what
he can bring to a game from like a technical
and technical perspective. You know, maybe another he's in the
market for another play. I'm not sure.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
All those three major titles in twenty twenty three of
twelve over the five year period, it is quite a
remark amazing. Yeah, a very decorated partnership, it was. But
after that loss to Lukenadi at Indian Wells that upset.
He was of course absent from Miami. When do you
think we might be seeing a return to the court
for Novak.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Well, he's on the entry list for Monte Carlo, so
I guess we can assume we'll see him there, that
is in two weeks time. But yeah, beyond that, he
loves Rome. He always plays in Rome. He may play Madrid.
He just needs the clay court lead up for Roland Garross.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Well, all eyes have been on Miami this week, where
the big guns have been firing for the men and
in the women. We've seen some real throwback results with
a blend of young stars and established legends of the game.
We'll get the insights of Sam Stows as we work
through some of these, but we're up to the semi
finals where Victoria as a ranker will take on Elena Rabaikner.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (05:18):
Well, I mean I think as a Ernka back in
twenty twelve, twenty thirteen, fourteen, she was definitely the best
hardcourt player in the world, or top two or three
for sure, and I have to say since she I mean,
she's been back for a while now since the birth
of her son, but she's had some pretty rough draws
around the last year five six years, she hasn't quite
(05:38):
been in the top of the rankings and she seems
to come up against some high seeds early on, which
is always rough. But I think she's still showing again
that she's still best on hard court and that she
can beat anyone in the world. And now she's playing
current best player as well in Rebakana. So good on
her for making it through this far.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Again, it's a AO semi final rematch from last year, which,
again we think Azarenka's had a tough trot of it,
but she made the Australian Open semis last year a
couple of years before that US Open final. I know
there's been a lot of talk about the women's draw
kind of you know, blowing up and you know, falling
apart or whatever. But you've got rebikn Azarenka and Daniel
Collins in the semifinals. I mean, these people they might
(06:16):
not be one, two and three in the world, but
they are excellent. They've won majors or been in major finals.
It's actually it's a bit of a throwback. Having Collins
and Azarenka in a Miami semifinal is. Yeah, that I
probably didn't expect that, but when you think about what
they've done, that makes a lot of sense.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Yeah, their levels are there.
Speaker 5 (06:34):
The numbered next to their name may not quite be
the same as what you'd expect, but they're as good
as Matt.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
You mentioned Daniel Collins. She is the third semi finalist.
She took care of Caroline Garcia, who was the vanquisher
of Coco goff in the fourth round, which was a
big upset in itself. So Daniel Collins advances to the
last four to take on the winner of Ekaterina Alexandrova
and Jess Pigoula, who at the time of recording are
currently on court. Jess Pergola took the first set six
(07:01):
to three, but Alexandrova is serving for the second now
at five to three. In the men's we've got another
match about to get on court, Nicholas Jarry against Danil Medvedev.
The winner to play Yannick Sinner.
Speaker 6 (07:14):
I have to be ready if he starts off in
a similar way as in Australia, I have to be
ready and trying to understand it before then maybe he
is going to change couple of things. So let's see.
It's going to be an interesting test for me. Hopefully
I can show some good tennis physical shape.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
I feel good.
Speaker 6 (07:31):
Tomorrow is one day off to practice, to recover and
because it's going to be a very physical match in
the next round.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
And let's see what's coming.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
What a great start to the year for sin and
what is it twenty wins out of twenty one matches
or something. It has rebounded great after losing to al KaAZ.
It's been one of the best starts to a season
in history. I'm really enjoying seeing Sinner just keep it
going after winning the Australian Open. And I know it's hard,
we shouldn't do this, but I can never help it.
As like a tennis fan, just like seeing that Sinner
(08:00):
Alcarez potential final progressing. But there's a lot to happen
before then, obviously, Yeah, yes, but yeah it's been how
you jink that exactly as soon as you want something
to happen, or as soon as you predict it might,
it often doesn't. But yeah, the men's of the men's
drown Miament, you've got Medvedev still floating around in there,
as well as some real quality.
Speaker 7 (08:19):
For sure, he's going to try to adapt something like
he did in Australia already. I'm going to talk to
my team and try to adapt to also to see
what I can do better or maybe I just need
to do the same thing, but again better shots, better
shot quality. So I'm going to go there one hundred
percent ready to win and ready to make his life tough.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
If we are to get our desired one v two final,
Sinner would have to defeat the winner of Jerry Medvedev,
and then Alcarez would have to get through an informed
grig Or Dmitrov in the quarter final, and then the
winner of Zverev. Marajan, who's caused all sorts of problems
Matt for our Aussies over the past week.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Yeah, he's beaten Popper and demon Or in back to
back matches. But there's this absolutely wild stat going around
about Marajan that he's got the best ever winning rate
at ATP Masters in history of like better than Nadal,
better than Jokovic. If you've played a minimum of ten
matches at Masters level, this is your win loss wins
(09:18):
versus losses, and the winning rate that equates too. He's
like eighty two points something percent and it's the best
of any player. It's just such a straight yeah, because
he's only played like four Masters events ever, but he's
made the fourth round of the quarterfinals of all of them.
So he's never a final, never a final.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
I would love to spend some time in your brain
because how do you maintain all this?
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Oh? I just saw it yesterday though, Yeah, he's got
he's gone ahead of Nadal and Djokovic, they have the
best since so yes, obviously he hasn't got the same
amount of runs on the board as them, but that's
the key stash. You wouldn't have thought it was Fabian
Maragan that leads that a bit of a dark horse
then yeah, yeah, it's very obviously in great form and
yeah there's a lot, a lot to unfold on that side.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
I mentioned Thomas Mahuch before, who lost to you Onick
Sinner in the quarter final. He was the one who
ended the run of Andy Murray which had been a
charmed run. And we were really seeing some quality signs
back on the hard court from Andy Murray until the
terrible rolled ankle, which has actually confirmed almost his worst nightmares,
a fully ruptured ATFL I won't pronounce the anatomical name.
(10:23):
And he's also torn his CFL in the same ankle.
That could be a recovery time of up to twelve
months and depending on whether surgery is required. Considering he
had already announced that this possibly could be his last
year on the tour, the signs are not looking good
for Andy no.
Speaker 5 (10:41):
I mean, that's just the worst possible thing that you
could ever imagine happening to a player, especially someone like
him who has said, Okay, look I think it's going
to be my last one now blah blah blah, and
was almost on his farewell kind of sirgus, So you
really really upsetting for Andy.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
But he did say you'll see me.
Speaker 5 (10:58):
Back, so I don't he just yeah, he said off,
he's a gun at his rehab with one.
Speaker 4 (11:02):
Hip and no ankle ligaments when the time is right wing, you.
Speaker 5 (11:06):
Know, maybe trying to come back, maybe play one last
Wimbledon or something. I don't know, if it's a twelve
month sort of recovery, maybe that could be his sort
of farewell event. But yeah, just absolutely horrible to see
something like that happened to a player.
Speaker 4 (11:19):
Yeah, it was horrible watching it when you see the
exact moment where he steps on the foot and just
the pain in his face. And then he played another set, didn't.
I can't believe he completed the match.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
Yeah, that was amazing. It must have been what happens then, though, Sam, Like,
is it the adrenaline and the endorphins or something, and
then you cool down and you realize how much damage
you've done? Is that often what happens?
Speaker 5 (11:39):
I mean, yeah, I think the maybe what saved him
is the fact that he does wear those ankle braces
all the time.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
But that just stowns like.
Speaker 5 (11:48):
Is amazing to me that you could have injured yourself
that badly even wearing those ankle braces.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
But to continue a set.
Speaker 5 (11:54):
It's not like he's standing still, so it like amazing
effort to even get through that.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Potentially that he'd actually fully ruptured that atfl might have
played into in the painstakes.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Yeah, I mean, had you even been flopping around.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
It was attached.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Thank god for the ankleish incredible literally holding him together.
Good Luck to Andy Murray in his recovery. Hopefully by
the time we have our episode in a fortnight's time,
we'll have more news on whether the surgery has gone
to recovery. Yeah, but good luck to him in the
immediate future, he's back in London. Other notable Aussie performances, Matt,
(12:31):
you mentioned the two that went down to Fabian Marajan.
Alex Eminoor reached the fourth round, Alexei Poprin reached the
third round. Chris O'Connell was, I guess just another great
story on the comeback trail for him reaching the fourth
round and he lost to Sinner, who could very well
be the eventual champion.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Yeah, Chris O'Connell's had it like a sneaky good year
and as I think, verging on the top fifty now,
I'm not sure that what he is in the live
rankings at the moment, but has had a great start
of the year. Does everything right at the I've seen
him play a bit, but not a lot. And the
word on him is just that super professional, dots every eye,
what is it, dots across every day and just is
(13:11):
a real and almost thirty years old, so has really
kind of persisted to this point in his career, has
had to deal with a lot of injuries, has you know,
done that battling on the IRTF circuit and working his
way up through challenges. I remember there was one year
where he played like he did like an arena Roddy
and over and played like ninety matches on tour one
year and just got heaps of wins and titles and
that kind of set him up. That was a couple
of years ago, and yeah, look where he is. Look
(13:34):
where he is now. He's in the Aussie top five
and going great.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
I loved watching him at the US Open last year,
he did a really good job, like he just was
playing really really well. And I feel like there's been
a turnaround since then, getting through a couple of rounds
and then he's kind of kept projecting projecting is that
the right word?
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Progressing?
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Progressing, projecting, work, projected, ranking, profounded off it works.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Storm Hunter reached the second round after coming through qualify.
It was a terrible sort of series of events that
led to her getting there. But Sam just another feather
in the cap of storm Hunter.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Oh absolutely.
Speaker 5 (14:14):
I mean the effort to even just get on court
to play that qualifying match, after playing a doubles final,
getting to the airport, actually making a flight, getting stuck
in Dallas, sleeping at an airport hotel, flying that morning,
arriving boom game, and the rental, leaving the airport, like
that's another delay, This isn't possible. And then went out
(14:34):
there and won in three sets, and then next round
straight sets, And then I spoke to her coach and
Colprat and she just said it was unbelievable effort from her.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
She actually said early in the third set, I'm done.
I'm done. I can't do it, And.
Speaker 5 (14:47):
Just keep whatever you think Stormy just keep trying and
then she came out with a win over a quality player.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
So, you know, Storm's funny.
Speaker 5 (14:55):
She's qualitied in a couple of Slams last year, and
both of the time she did that, she arrived late
qualifying because she did well the week before in double
So I'm.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Like Toile, we just show up late everywhere. You're fine.
You don't need the pred.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Be late, you know what.
Speaker 5 (15:11):
Just come to Billy Jin King Cup on Thursday.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
You'll be right. Someone was saying it that.
Speaker 4 (15:17):
I think it was Casey who said that she flew straight.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
In the finals. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Yeah, so she comes to the Cancun, hadn't she and
then she had to just walk on the court. Yeah.
Maybe it's not having time to think general.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
Honestly, it's like like that, or if you're injured or
you know, sick or something, you don't have time to
or yeah, the energy to mess around or overthink things
and you just go out there and play. And but
I know she's playing an extremely good level at the moment,
and you know, we're just urging her, like willing her
into this top hundred as soon as possible.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
And Darius have Will also reached the second round lost
to Diana your Stremska there. So they are two of
your players you're starting five, let's call them for the
upcoming Billy Jean King Cup qualifier Australia versus Mexico. It's
happening in around about two weeks time. I've in Brisbane
after Arena, home base for you, Sam.
Speaker 5 (16:10):
Yeah, well, I mean I'm still a Queenslander, so you know,
it feels like my home home tournament in a lot
of ways. I love playing there, you know, for the
Brisbane International. But we've had plenty of Billy Jinkin Cup
ties there as well, and probably the most you know,
one of my most memorable ties ever was the twenty
nineteen semi final that we played against Belarus.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
So yeah, it was incredible.
Speaker 5 (16:31):
So going back to back to that scene, hopefully we
can replicate it.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
It was live doubles, was it not?
Speaker 5 (16:36):
It was yeah, Ash and I against Seberlenka and Azarenka
three sets.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Was yeah, very exciting.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
That's amazing every because of not at the time, but
Ash and Sabalinca have gone on to win Grand Slams.
All four of you were singles Grand Slam champions. All
four of you have won doubles Grand Slam titles. When
you look at that doubles match now five years on,
you go, that was actually like, yeah, like it was phenomenal. Yeah,
that was that was amazing. It was amazing at the time,
but then again what everyone has gone on to achieve
(17:06):
since then, like that that is one of the great
fed Cup doubles rubbers.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Which was your last tie as.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
A player twenty twenty two in Glasgow, okay.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
And so it's only been two years and now you're
the captain. It's a very different role and I was
very interested to hear the mindset shift that you're having
to make from the way you approached opponents and matches
as a player. So now as the captain tell.
Speaker 5 (17:29):
Us about yeah, I mean, it obviously is a different
position to be in. I think even just thinking about all, right,
matchups and who plays who, and how you work out
tactics with different game styles and things. You know, before
this role, I'd look at matches and just be watching
them to think, ok, well, how would I play them?
How could I use my tennis against them? And now
(17:50):
that's completely irrelevant because you know, Storm's not going to
hit her foehand the way I do, or you know,
have a slice back end or you know, different things
like that. So now trying to watch it for somebody
else and just I guess in general terms kind of
all right, well they don't do that great, but this
is really good, So how do we match that up
to someone else? Yeah, it's a bit of a different
(18:11):
prospect for me, that's for sure.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
It's quiet.
Speaker 5 (18:13):
It sounds like warfare, like plodding out how to destroy
the component, the component the competitor. I had a question
because all the girls are really good friends. They obviously
are on the tour together. How does that really, like
how good a friends they are, does that propel them
to you know, work even harder together because they're just
(18:33):
so connected. I have to say, throughout my whole Billy
jin Kin Cup career, I think the Aussie team has
always been the most well tight knit group of players,
right from back playing in the team with Alisha, Stubbsy
and Pratty, like we all got along really well, whether
(18:55):
it was a tie week.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Or a normal week on tour.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
You knew that we all sort of good lookout for
each other or have each other's back and support, and
that has kind of really run through the course of
all the generations to now. And you know, I think
some of the teams they kind of fake it the
week of and like pretend they're all friends and whatever,
and it works for a little while, but then the
next week they barely talk to each other, whereas that
is just not the case with our team, and I
(19:19):
think that really does hold us in good stead. And
you know, no matter what happens, we know that every
person who gets the opportunity to play gives it everything
they've got, as do the players on the sideline. So
it's it really is a fantastic group of players through
the generations that we've had being able to play in
that respect.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
Is there a WhatsApp group chat group?
Speaker 2 (19:39):
I've got that many WhatsApp groups at the moment.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
Every tie we have.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
WhatsApp group, whether it's just players and captain or like
the greatest staff group, So every tie there's a new chat.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
And now being captain, I'm on the chat.
Speaker 5 (19:55):
The player chat, the big group chat, and I can't
find anything. You don't know what's been said to what
I need icons I know I do, So yeah, it's
probably it's a good insight to what Alisha had to
deal with.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
For ten years.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
It takes a certain personality type, don't you think to
be a good captain.
Speaker 5 (20:13):
Well, I mean, I hope I've got that good personality
only three months and they haven't done a tie yet.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
But it's obviously a lot about.
Speaker 5 (20:23):
Managing the group and the players, and you know, the
good thing is being a player for that long in
the team. I know what I liked, you know, to do,
and what I needed to do to prep and be
in the best position I could be to play on
the weekend. So I know I've got that insight, so
I can help create that and obviously work with the
(20:43):
players that are now playing.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
It's up to them.
Speaker 5 (20:45):
It's not going to be all the same as what
I liked, but I know that there's different elements that
I can suggest or bring to for them to hopefully
be able to play their best, because I mean, it's
it is different playing for your country, different playing at home,
and even though all these players have played some big
matches and everything, it's still it. You know, it gives
(21:07):
you a little different goosebumps, you know, so, but it's exciting.
It's it's such an awesome position and privilege to.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
Be when you said before about Storm getting like we're
hoping she gets into the top hundred. She's on the cast.
The players that are in your team, I think four
of them are all like in the top one thirty
five or the top one forty. Bus is like, we
don't have any women currently in the top one hundred,
but they could in a couple of months, we could
have multiple Like they're all kind of trending up. And
in terms of that kind of you know, all progressing
(21:37):
in the right way and the fact that there's that
talent and that great form, like, is that realistic that
we could soon see you know, four or five. I
mean there's about six or seven Aussie women like in
the top one fifty, one sixty, Like they're just on
the cast. And Storm's not the only one in great form.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
No, absolutely.
Speaker 5 (21:55):
I Mean we've seen Dasha get well inside one hundred
thirty odd a couple of times in her career, so
we know that she's got the game to be able
to get there. She just needs a little bit more
time again from you know, coming back from injury once more.
So I'm sure Dasha can get their. Storm great. If
she can get there, it'll be the first time she's
made top hundred recently, but she's got close before. So
(22:18):
you just just need that extra win in maybe a
slightly bigger event to propel you in there. Then you
get an opportunity to play in maindraw Grand Slam. You
win a match or two there, oh, I mean, and
you kind of feel safe when you get to like
eighty odds. So, I mean, the same thing's happened with
kim Byrell. She was just finished outside the top hundred arena,
just finished inside the top hundred doing the hard yards
(22:39):
on the Challenger circuit. Now you know Taylor Preston at
her best ranking ever.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
So we got.
Speaker 5 (22:45):
The top four singles ranked players in the country playing
in the team. But you're right, they could all potentially
go from being you know, just outside to just inside
and then from there you get that belief, you get
the opportunity to play bigger tournament.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Get more points. They could Yeah, hopefully fingers crossed by
the end of the year. We've got that shift.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
Happening, and it's all like they're propelling each other. So
that's why this tie is interesting. They're all vying for
selection as well, they're all in the team together. They'll
have that week training together kind of. I guess the
vibes are shared and yeah, I don't know. It just
feels like it just feels like really good momentum behind
them and as you said, just one or two wins
it could really change that complexion.
Speaker 5 (23:24):
Yeah, for sure, I think it's I guess I'd like
to say that's some healthy competition there to get a
run in one of the matches because they are so
close and ranking all done, you know, similar sort of
results recently. You know, it really could come down to all, right, well,
how's everyone's form in the practice week, of how you're
feeling physically mentally, like a lot comes into then deciding
(23:45):
who gets to play. So the great thing is we've
got four very good players who could be in that position.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Then you've got to pick and hopefully get it done.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
But we're out to qualify for the twelve Nation Finals
in Seville in Spain. So if you're in Brisbane around
April twelve thirteen, get yourself a ticket. It's going to
be one not to miss. Australia the Mexico for Sam
Stosi's first tie.
Speaker 5 (24:10):
As do you.
Speaker 4 (24:11):
Think will win?
Speaker 5 (24:14):
That's the question on my lips. I think yes, well,
obviously I'm going to say yes. However, you can't haunt
your chickens before they have so you've still got to
put your best players out there.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
You still have to perform and play and get it done.
Speaker 5 (24:29):
And we've sort of alluded to fans from Mexico here
in Australia. I tell you, I was shocked how many
flags I saw out there watching the Mexican number one
player against two wazsies actually during qualifying. So you know,
we can't be complacent. We've still got to bring it.
But obviously I have full belief in the team and
(24:50):
I'd love to see us get through to the finals.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
In a career spanning some two decades, Victoria Azarenka has
twice to the Australian Open Trophy and was the first
Belarussian world number one. The thirty four year old, who
is into the last four at Miami, recently spoke to
The AO Show about the lesson she's learned from tennis
and the future of the sport.
Speaker 8 (25:13):
I think the evolution of the game is pretty significant.
Speaker 9 (25:17):
When Azarenka made her pro tool debut, things looked a
little different.
Speaker 8 (25:21):
When I started just playing on tour, A few players
who we travel with a fitness trainer, and now everybody
travels with a fitness trainer and a physio. The teams
we get bigger, the game become more physical.
Speaker 9 (25:32):
She attributes this change to two players.
Speaker 8 (25:34):
I feel like Serena and Venus really changed the game,
the physicality of the game, and then everybody had to just,
you know, kind of try to catch up and elevate
their physicality. So now I think it's the game is different,
it's faster, it's stronger.
Speaker 9 (25:52):
But it's not just in physicality. Where the women's game
has improved.
Speaker 8 (25:55):
Amazing evolution of women coming back from having families and
and and being on tour. It's for me, I think
in my career is one of the biggest stereotypes we've
been able to break in our sport is that you
can you can do both, and you can do it
pretty well at at high level.
Speaker 9 (26:14):
The form of World number one sees herself as a
role model for other young moms.
Speaker 8 (26:19):
I think the most what I'm proud of is that
girls and players feel more confident and comfortable in doing that,
and so we see definitely the growing number of athletes
going that route, and it's it's really exciting.
Speaker 9 (26:32):
Tennis has long been a trailblazer of gender equality, but
as a ranker, believes there's still room for growth.
Speaker 8 (26:38):
Yeah, we are ahead of the curve. Me personally, I
don't like to talk about equality in that sense. I
think what we need to talk about is maybe equality
not in price, money, quality and opportunity. And if we're
gonna look at facts, we have to look at the
visibility of women's sport versus men's sport. And I'm really
(27:01):
not a fan of comparing women versus men. I think
we both have opportunity to strive. I think we both
have opportunity to shine. I think that if women's sports
like football, have an opportunity to gain the momentum, to
gain the visibility, what you do with that opportunity is
up to you. A vision is clear, with the right people,
(27:23):
with the right marketing, with people who believe in the
product and expand the product, I think we can do
great things. It requires sometimes taking the chance, sometimes giving
an opportunity, sometimes maybe a bit of luck with the timing.
But I believe that women's sports are on the rise,
so I hope that this trend continues.
Speaker 9 (27:46):
But losing is something the thirty four year old is
not so pain on.
Speaker 8 (27:50):
I'm never happy when I lose, and any game, in
any game like card game or dice game, I'm extremely competitive.
Speaker 9 (27:58):
No one gets off easily, not even her own son.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
I don't let him win.
Speaker 8 (28:02):
There's no there's no letting win. And because I want
him to learn how to I will teach him how
to play and I will help him how what what was?
Maybe not a best call what to do, but I
would not let him win. And and funny enough, he
can't beat me in a few in few things now
because he gets to learn that things don't come I
(28:25):
think easy.
Speaker 9 (28:26):
Well, some may consider this harsh, as a ranker sees
it as a learning opportunity.
Speaker 8 (28:31):
I am extremely supportive. I am extremely supportive of him,
and I want him to do best. But I want
him to learn the value of hard work and what
it takes, because that's what I try to show him
every day with my work. I try to show you
what it takes to be the best, what it takes
to earn your spot at the top, and how hard
(28:51):
it is.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Thanks to Vic for that wonderful feature, time for Ace
of the Weak Tamer. We share the one thing in
our lives. That's really warm the cockles of our hearts. Well,
let's kick it off with you, Bree are head of content.
What's your race of the week.
Speaker 4 (29:08):
I feel like every week I come with two and
I'm just going to do two again. My best friend
moved here from Sydney yesterday. She's one of my first
friends I ever made when I moved from Newcastle to Sydney.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
Little country.
Speaker 4 (29:21):
Giral known since she was nineteen, I was twenty three
or twenty two.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
Giver a shower, Charlie. It's very exciting.
Speaker 4 (29:29):
So she's moved here and I'm over the moon because
I haven't had any Sydney peeps. Moved to Melbourne because
it's too cold.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
She loves the Colt's what's broad?
Speaker 1 (29:37):
He here?
Speaker 2 (29:37):
Just you not she?
Speaker 4 (29:38):
Actually no, she didn't move for me at all. I've
been here seventy years. I think she's visited. She has
visited me. She is studying a PhD. In we go
in prison.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
Abolishment, Prison abolish, Wow, get rid of the prisons.
Speaker 5 (29:55):
Well it's kind of like, how is the system working
and how do we get people back into society in
a more meaningful way.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
I've never even heard of that I hadn't either.
Speaker 4 (30:07):
Anyway, She's incredibly smart. Don't ask me any more questions.
I'm also excited for a little break despite doing the pod.
Speaker 1 (30:14):
You're not heading away? Are your old child is coming down?
Speaker 4 (30:16):
I might take the dog away and room into holiday
because she deserves it.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
But other than that, no, very good to see you
back next Thursday, Matt. Your ace of the week.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
Hot cross buns. Yeah, four days coming out Easter break, Breen.
I've been talking about hot cross buns mostly this week.
I took on her recommendation and I took made a
stop by Penny for Pound Enrichment today and bought a
box of hot cross buns. It was most of my paycheck.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
What's a box constitute twenty four?
Speaker 3 (30:45):
No? No, no six?
Speaker 1 (30:46):
Six? A box?
Speaker 3 (30:46):
Six is a box? Yeah, what did you say? Twenty four?
That's what it costs.
Speaker 7 (30:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (30:53):
I got a two six packs for six dollars from Coals.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
Yeah, exactly. So what I'm working out now is that
the six are not going to last me for the
four four days because I usually at two or three
in a sitting so and I can't afford two boxes.
So I'm really looking forward to the nice boogie box
and then I'll just flesh out my stash with you know,
some cheap bags and that'll get me through good butter
and yeah and.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
Toasted.
Speaker 3 (31:14):
Yeah, I do it in the oven. Yeah, do it
in the oven. Lots of butter, cup of tea, and
that's just what I'll be eating for the next four days.
I can't wait. And then yeah, because we're on a break,
I'll try and go away to I'm not sure where yet,
but somewhere I don't know, country Victoria. That would be good.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
What about Newcastle?
Speaker 3 (31:29):
Newcastle? I haven't thought about vacant house, Charlie's house and
shout for shout for a house. No, I'll probably keep
it closer at home, but it would be Yeah, it's
always good autumn in Melbourne's autumn. Vie toy is nice?
Speaker 1 (31:43):
You like a hot Cross bun Sam?
Speaker 5 (31:44):
I actually bought a pack from supermarket. Yes, yeah, I've
gone through half of.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
Them already, the mixed fruit ones.
Speaker 5 (31:53):
Or but yeah, but without the orange peel. I don't
like the peel, but I'll have the sultanas.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
Yeah, definitely, lots of butter, lots of butter.
Speaker 5 (32:02):
Yeah, they're good hot Cross mounds, but they have been
out since January, so I know we just take away.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
I don't feel the same. Yeah, the novelty of them
if they're in the shops for three months.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
But whatever, I just refused to buy them until about.
Speaker 4 (32:13):
Util Now yea, Allan brought them today.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
Yeah, your A of the week son.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
We're seeing as Brie had too.
Speaker 5 (32:19):
I'm going to have a couple because I had a
really lovely long weekend last weekend. We went to Wogga
Wogga to visit some friends and had the most amazing
little barbecue on the top of a hill in the
middle of a farm, like chewing away the cows and
to get there and everything like bush bashing and full
wall driving and stuff. So just had a really lovely
long weekend in Wogga.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
Had a really good salad.
Speaker 5 (32:43):
Ham roll on the way up in glen Roll and
if you're driving through glen Roe and.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
Stop at the bakery.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
They did a really a country bakery, the best baker.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
Yeah, that's ned Kelly Territory.
Speaker 3 (32:54):
Yes exactly.
Speaker 5 (32:55):
We looked at where they had their last shootout thing there. Yeah,
there's a field anyway, good playground there too.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
For our international listeners.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
What is happening?
Speaker 5 (33:08):
And then My second one is I'm having another long
weekend this weekend because obviously it's Easter and we're going
down in block and it's a big birthday. So yeah,
happy birthday, Sam, Thank you two days, it's a pretty
decent one.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
So I'm having just.
Speaker 5 (33:26):
A whole birthday week. Happy birthday, take a month.
Speaker 1 (33:32):
Thanks for holding off your appearance on the AO show
to your birthday. Have a happy birthday and everyone, Happy
Easter to all of you.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
Do you get an ace?
Speaker 2 (33:42):
John?
Speaker 1 (33:42):
I never get asked.
Speaker 3 (33:47):
Week? And then I was like, no, come on down
the highway.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
To Geelong to spend the Easter weekend with my family,
my nearest and dearest, and then we're taking Elmie and
I are taking our little six month old kitten on
a Victorian road trip down to Warnable and then up
to Dalsford where my wedding band is playing on the
following Saturday. Oh yes, so it's a bit of it.
It's a gamble because that's ten days away for a
six month old.
Speaker 4 (34:11):
I saw you kid in on the video and the
other day and I was like, it's a cute cat.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
How are you going to keep it inside? How are
you going to do?
Speaker 1 (34:19):
Usually we do but she can go on to lead
and she's, oh, you put her on a lead. She
goes on the dog part.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
I'll show you some pictures after tries not to get eaten.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
We've got to make we've got to make haste.
Speaker 3 (34:30):
He yes, call it up.
Speaker 1 (34:31):
But thanks for coming on the show. Sam is really good. Pleasure,
have a wonderful Easter, and we'll see you all after
the break.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
Thanks John, see you next week.
Speaker 1 (34:40):
Bye bye.
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