May 15, 2025 • 50 mins
With the Rome finals beckoning, AO 2024 finalist Zheng Qinwen has finally toppled Aryna Sabalenka on her seventh attempt, Coco Gauff has maintained her perfect record against teen queen Mirra Andreeva, and Carlos Alcaraz has locked in the No.2 seeding for Roland Garros after Alexander Zverev lost to Lorenzo Musetti in the quarterfinals. In What’s Caught Your Eye, Brie Stewart breaks down the split between Novak Djokovic and coach Andy Murray, Simon Rea dives into Peyton Stearns’ historic tie-breaker run, Luke Saville unpacks how the packed schedule is reshaping tournament fields, and Xavier Muhlebach brings us the surreal moment Sinner met the Pope. Plus, data whiz Simon has his say on Iga Swiatek’s slump and why we shouldn’t discount the ‘Queen of Clay’ ahead of Paris.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Hello and welcome to the Tennis au Revoir. Andy Murray and.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Djokovic part ways before Paris Schwantek struggles iggas drought extends
to a full year at home in Rome, Ken Plini
and Sinner complete the hometown double. That's all ahead on
the Tennis with me Brie Stewart by my side. It's
Australia's second favorite host and our very own head of
original content.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Save I'm in a different chair, which is good. We're
mixing it up.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
We are mixing it up.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
I'm not being demoted though, am I not that you
have the power to do that. We're just sharing a
load of hosting.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
You know.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
It's nice to have, you know, share a voice and
we're a team. This isn't my show, it's ours, and
by our, I mean everyone in the room.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Okay, we might cut you off there across the table.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
That's really good.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Stars Nick Kurios and Sam stows A, Simon Ray, so
good to have you.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Always a pleasure.
Speaker 5 (00:57):
Thanks to having me back on.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yeah, it's great to have you back end for the
second week in a row. It's atp Alumni and current
WTA coach Luke Savile.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
How was the weekend visit from the fam.
Speaker 5 (01:08):
Very good, very good.
Speaker 6 (01:10):
Yeah, from the country to the Big Smoke, and went
to a couple of footy games and.
Speaker 5 (01:15):
Carlton got up so we knew because of the.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Thought.
Speaker 6 (01:21):
We were pretty nervous for a while in that game,
but got up there and then went to another one
on Sunday.
Speaker 5 (01:25):
So nice relaxing weekend.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Did you do anything else or just footy footy footy
and then send them home.
Speaker 6 (01:30):
I played a bit of Pennant on Saturday, so so
brought them out and brought the dog out. He's an
absolute nightmare at the tennis. Yeah that sounds would When
people walked in between him and me, they I guess
he thought someone was attacking me and he had to
protect me from the people. So it was a bit
of a nightmare, but good fun gray Weather and he survived.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Tofu was there to save you?
Speaker 5 (01:54):
He was?
Speaker 6 (01:55):
He was. You know, he's eight kilos seven eight kilos,
so he's pretty intimidating.
Speaker 7 (01:59):
So he's a good guard dog. How are you striking
these days on the court? How are you striking them?
Speaker 5 (02:04):
Yeah? Not too bad.
Speaker 6 (02:05):
Went out there and as you know, Simon, I'm pretty well.
You know, when I was playing I was pretty professional
and ticked all the boxes and on on Saturday so much.
I rocked up five minutes before, rolled a few serves
over and started. So it's a little bit of a
change of scenery for relaxing into it. Good fun play
for rows out there and great club.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
We've got a jam pack show to get through today.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
But before we get into what's court, You're right, we're
going to look at some of the big updates from
overnight in Rome, because some big things did happen overnight.
So we had chin Wen defeated Arena Sebolenka.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
From a very high perch. She begins to fall perhaps,
or is Sabileinka going to bounce back in and just
keep being amazing.
Speaker 7 (02:46):
Well, I think Sabolinka's form has been nothing short of
immaculate really over the well across the entire twenty twenty
five seasons. So it was a win that Jing needed
to have against Sabolenka, particularly given the head to head
which has been absolutely one way traffic in Sabolenka's favor.
So I don't think it at all hurts or hindus
Sabolenka's preparation for rolling Garross. She's won a ton of
(03:07):
matches lately. She's in as good a four month guess
we've ever seen her, particularly going into the clay court slam,
so it doesn't hurt her and just gives chinwin Jing
that little bit of a boost coming into Rolling Garross
next week or the week after for the main draw players.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
And she was getting some tips from the crowd and
her response was to shut the up really yeah, told
a fan just to pipe down in the front row,
quit like that. Yeah, but because I love but the
crowd is starting to change a little bit and sometimes
but get into it, but then just enjoy the match.
Speaker 5 (03:39):
Yeah, especially in Rome.
Speaker 6 (03:40):
There's been a few occasions this year in that sortament
where the crowd's getting a little lippy. Yeah, and I
think even Alex demon I had to say a few
words to the crowd. And there's one other matches but
maybe Menziic. So yeah, it's a little a little I
guess unfortunate that the crowd's sort of getting to that point.
But yeah, yeah, the first final, well the first time.
(04:02):
She hasn't been in a final since February, so, as
Simon said, it just incredible runner form.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
It'll be interesting to see Chin win again at Roland
Garas because the last time she was a she won
an Olympic gold medal.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Oh yes, yeah, so her new favorite turf.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Yeah, it could be.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
We also saw a rematch from Madrid with Goth and
Andreva and Gough defeating her again six four seven six.
What heights will this rivalry reach? Coco is twenty one
and Mirror's eighteen matches so far, Battle.
Speaker 6 (04:33):
Of the Babies all very young, Yeah, very exciting, and
Goth leads that head to head four zero. Now, so yeah,
she's got the three years on Mirror, which is quite
substantial at that age twenty one to eighteen, but very
exciting for the women's game tennis in general. Two amazing players,
and Andreva I think she can win multiple slams and
(04:53):
have an incredible career, same as Coco Gough.
Speaker 7 (04:56):
I think exciting is the right word when you think
about these two. The first word that springs one for
me is athletes. Physicality, you know, just incredible athletes both
of these women, and I think they're going to be
seeing as you touched on a lot more of each
other over the next decade plus, because both of these
women are going to be at the pointy end of
whatever tournaments they enter for a long time to come.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
And then we saw Massetti defeated Zverev, which now sees
Verev moving from his number two ranking.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Yeah, that's got to hurt leading into a gasland.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Yeah, so Akaraz is back in number two. Zverev has
moved down to number three. But good match from Massetti
seven six six y four against him.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
You'll switch through at the point he end of the tournament.
Pretty exciting.
Speaker 6 (05:35):
Yeah, Mussetti's just playing incredible tennis right now. And I
think someone said he is, you know, I can only
sort of play on clay, but a lot of people
don't realize he made the final Queens and Sammis of
Wimbledon last year on the grass. So I think he's
one of those players that can definitely push for that
top four, top five because he can play on all surfaces.
So definitely Clayzy's preferred surface, but he can play on
(05:57):
all surfaces, and I think he's just coming into his own.
He might be twenty three, twenty four years of age
and amazing player. I'm very versatile and.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
All round back can perform. That's pretty impressive.
Speaker 7 (06:09):
Yeah, And as is so often the case in these things.
This is one where the head to head matchup plays
a role, and it's three to one in Muzzetti's favor. So,
for whatever reason, Muzzetti's game style seems to trouble vere
If there's not many players that clearly was Vera's ranking
and record being as good as what it is, there's
not many players have a head to head edge over him,
So this is a bit of a quirt that someone
(06:29):
ranked where Muzetti is still an elite player would lead
the head to head to that extent against Verev. Now,
some of those have been on clay, but not all
of them. He got them in Vienna at the back
end of last year on indoor hard, and he's beaten
them the last couple of times on clay, So three
to one in Muzetti's favor. He likes coming up against
Alexander Verev.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Lastly, Ourcaaz defeated Jack Draper six four sixty four. Draper's
looking very strong at what should be his least favorable surface,
but he's obviously all eyes on him as we approach
Wimbledon as well, because I think England's got all their hopes,
prayers and dreams.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
On him, don't they? But they'll turn on him, they'll
say he's Scottish or something like that, do with all
their heroes. But Demon had a decent run, didn't he.
Speaker 5 (07:08):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (07:09):
Yeah he Yeah, another fourth round for Demon and he
has over a week to freshen up for the French Open,
where as we know he made the quarters last year,
so eyeing off another run there. And I think during
the clay he went two fourth rounds and two quarter finals,
so on his least favorite surface he's done very well
and I think he's just sitting around that sort of
(07:30):
ten mark right now. So I feel like if he
can hold that top ten after the clay, going into
the grass, his best surface, and then onto the hard
court where he didn't play much last year because he
had that hip injury from Wimbledon, so not many points
to defend there. And I think, you know, he's been pushing.
He's been as high as top seven and absolutely incredible
(07:50):
the way he's just getting everything out of himself.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Was it last year at Roland Garrison where there was
like the mini Demon, the kid dressed up as him
that you got to get him back anyway rematch? Yeah,
he was super keen, so good. Yeah, Oh my God,
that was so cute that we'll find him. If you're
out there listening, you probably not speaking French. But get
to tennis.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Okay, let's move on to what's caught your eye.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Caught your eye.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
I was going to kick off.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Sorry, it was my attempt to sting.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
I really liked it.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
I was going to kick off with mine first, just
because I'm in the hosting chairs, I will be how
we're going to focus to my own yep, No, but
I wanted to discuss. Came out this week that Djokovic
and Murray have parted ways. So they've been well, Murray's
been his coach for the past six months. We saw
them in action here at the Australian Open as well.
(08:44):
They were expected to continue until at least Wimbledon, but
he has made first round exits in four of his
last five tournaments.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
What do you think?
Speaker 6 (08:55):
Yeah, it's I saw this news yesterday and I feel
like there's probably been a disappointing stretch for Djokovic. I
think we sort of can't ignore that he still made
the semis of the Australian Open final of Miami, maybe
a little bit injured in those matches, so obviously the
Australian Open one where he pulled out. So we've just
been so used to his lofty expectations winning at least
(09:16):
two slams per year, so it hasn't been the partnership
that we probably thought it could have been. Obviously they've
potentially just sort of butted heads a little bit. Didn't
work out the way they would have wanted and part
of ways, but great to see. They both gave each
other shout outs on Twitter and on their social medias.
But it'll be interesting where Djokovic goes from here and
(09:37):
sort of how much longer he plays for.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Because I'm sure they're still mates, but it always felt
strange to me, but were they ever mates? It's much
I'm being a bit political here, but yeah, because it's
sort of like your Novak Djokovic and you're Andy Murray.
Why did Novak need Andy? Was it just for show? Like,
look at me, I've got a coach and I'm not
going to listen to him.
Speaker 5 (09:58):
No, I don't think it's for show. No.
Speaker 7 (10:00):
I think there's there's that element that there's always tricky
to move beyond right or not an easy impediment to
overcome in terms of you've been adversaries at the absolute
guilt edge. He especially deep in Grand Slams, and it's
easy to say that, I think a lot harder to
do to put that that stuff, that baggage to one
(10:22):
side and become united as a team on a high
trust and psychological safety. And I think the best coach
player relationships are those relationships where they're entirely open with
each other. You know, I've got this level of honesty
that's just unparalleled, and I wouldn't imagine it's easy to
get to that. You overlay some of Novak's recent struggles
against that, and looks done a great job of touching
(10:42):
on some of those. Against such a lofty standard that
we're accustomed to seeing from him. He's at a really,
really tricky spot in his career.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Not for the first time.
Speaker 7 (10:50):
We've seen him have, perhaps not to this extent, but
we've seen him have some dips along the way, probably
going back now I have to check my records, but
six or seven years we saw him have a bit
of a dip in his career there He's rebounded before
this one looks like it's really serious or really grave
again up against that lofty backdrop, and so I just
got to feel like the tension would have been high
in the camp. There wouldn't have been These wouldn't have
been easy conversations or easy moments to navigate through. Let's
(11:14):
alone coming from that background where they've been adversaries for
the best part of twenty years. So I'd have to
say it's probably not a huge surprise knowing some of
the volatility that might have been at play here.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Yeah, I mean, it just was always weird to me
that someone's being coached by someone who was always beaten
by you. So no, not always, sorry always, but just
speaking about Australian Open, like how many quarter semis and
finals did they meet and Novak would defeat him and
now he's meant to be taking advice.
Speaker 7 (11:42):
Yeah, but I suppose, and look would be able to
talk to this. I suppose, And I've got my own
bias here. You know, sometimes if you're Novak, you're potentially
the greatest player of all time. You can't be coached
by anyone then.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
To that point, yes, Kings, So it's a complainer.
Speaker 5 (11:57):
It's got his record.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Are you prepared to take advice or not?
Speaker 7 (12:00):
It's a little bit like sometimes with a coaching hat
on you know, every parent wants the youngster to hit
with a player better than them, but if you Novak,
you'd never take the practice court everft That's exactly right,
So Luke would have his own view on what makes
a great player is not necessarily I don't think that
the ingredients that will make a great coach.
Speaker 6 (12:19):
Yeah, no, I completely agree. I think he went to
Andy to try and I guess have someone where he
could relate to for those bigger matches. Andy had been
at the point end of so many Slams, so many
events where they played each other, and maybe Djokovic was
sort of trying to get his insight into maybe what
he saw from about Djokovic's game from an opponent standpoint,
(12:40):
So you don't really know. But yeah, back to your point,
someone you know, I think someone like Djokovic and a
lot of these top ten players, especially like if they
wanted someone to coach them who was better than them,
there wouldn't be many around it, so many candidates.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
So yeah, interesting. I agree.
Speaker 6 (12:58):
It's a strange appointment when first happened, but not too
surprised that that sort of come to an end.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
What was you just changed tennis? Then once you're the best,
you just leave.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
Paddle or something.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Yeah. Yeah, form question, who do you think wouldn't be
his next coach? What's what's in the cards?
Speaker 1 (13:15):
Now? Where to from a coaching point of view?
Speaker 3 (13:19):
You've got the job.
Speaker 5 (13:21):
So guys, I'm leaving a few days. We're starting a
trial with the French I got. I got a call
from an unknown number, which I usually don't take last night.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
Did you pay that debt back? Or is that a
different way front?
Speaker 5 (13:33):
Yeah, I've probably got some span on my phone. You know.
Speaker 6 (13:38):
He part of ways with his long term coach, Marion
Vider a couple of years back, and who knows, maybe
he goes back there. But you know, I feel like
someone you know, I guess for the tail end of
his of his career right now, and someone who maybe
he can relate to, maybe enjoy it with. Potentially wasn't
much much enjoyment with with Murray there, so maybe even
(14:01):
like a relation, possibly even one of his brothers. I'm
not sure, but yeah, it's an interest. Do you think
he's got another slam in him some?
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (14:12):
I think it's interesting, Luke, because my mind went to
the same place. Is it back to a Marion Bider
or a Gore, An Ivanissovitch, those people that have been
key ingredients in this corner for so long, and perhaps
that stability and solidarity right now is what's sorely needed.
If you're inside the Jokovic camp, I'm not going to
say no. Yeah, I've got to think come Wimbledon and
(14:32):
come to the US Open. I think it's unlikely to
be at Roland Garross and come to the Australian Open again.
I'm not going to say no because I'm just not
silly enough. I hope to write off what, in my
mind is the greatest player of all time. So I
need more evidence. We've had a little bit of evidence recently,
but I need more evidence before I can definitively sit
here and say no.
Speaker 5 (14:49):
I don't think so the time's up.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Cool.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
We'll see what happens with Djokovic in the coming weeks
as we get to rollin GARRA's But Simon, we're going
to stay on you.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
What caught your eye this week?
Speaker 7 (15:00):
I wanted to talk a little bit about Peyton Sterns
and we've seen her with some remarkable back to back
to back victories this week in Rome, but even coming
back a little bit further beyond that, this has been
an interesting story of resilience and maybe humor in the
face of some adversity, and she's maybe handled some things
a little bit differently than we might have become accustomed
(15:20):
to most of these players handling them in the circumstances.
But I think she's been true to herself, right, So
what I mean by that. In early April, she loses
her coach, Tom Hill, who is the previous coach of
Maria Sachary worked with Peyton Sterns for the best part
of a year. They started in the clay court swing
twelve months ago. Tom said, Peyton, thanks, but no thanks,
I'm going back to the camp of Sachary. Early April
(15:40):
leaves Peyton Sterns. And this is not an off season thing.
Remember this is now a month out from Roland Garross
Winwood's right around the court. This is in the midst
of the season.
Speaker 5 (15:48):
It's not good timing, doesn't get much, doesn't get much
worse time.
Speaker 7 (15:54):
And I think Peyton Stern's, to her credit, kind of
handled it with a degree of humor that I quite liked.
Unique and we don't often see it. Went on social
media and said, well, applications now open, dm me. You know,
I'm looking for a coach, and I think has since
landed on BLAZKAVC and I think she posted again applications
now closed.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
And they started again.
Speaker 7 (16:12):
Come on, yeah, they started. We don't often see it.
They started in Madrid she did really well. She defeated
our own Australian Kimberrell. There she been Amanda in a
Simova Massarova, who's a good player, lost to sabal Anca.
And then in Rome she's gone up a gear again.
So she's defeated klan Skyer, she's defeated Keys seven six
in the third, she's defeated Osaka seven six and the third,
(16:34):
and she's defeated Alina's for Delena if you don't mind,
seven six and the third. So it's been the most
remarkable run you.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
Need but to get a lottery ticket with those numbers.
Speaker 7 (16:43):
Yeah, So clearly, you know, despite all of that upheaval
and adversity and change in her camp over the last
month or two, she's playing some of the best tennis
of her life. So I took my cap to her
in that regard, and it's easy to understand why. Even
though I mentioned how difficult. Perhaps that that backdrop is
her game is so well suited to the courts and
to the red clay in particular. She's someone that is
fourhand dominant in her game and she smacks the ball.
(17:05):
She doesn't hold back. So in terms of what we
come to expect in the women's game, top the top
ten players in the world average one hundred and eight
en kilometers an hour on their forehand and twenty four
hundred ReBs. That's speed and spin. What does she do?
Speaker 3 (17:18):
What does she do?
Speaker 7 (17:18):
Peyton STN's on fourhand side, she's averaging one hundred and
twenty three, so five kilometers an hour more than the
top ten, and she's averaging way up at twenty six
hundred ReBs on the ball on four hand side. So
the these are these are elite numbers and Luke will
be able to talk to. And it's not just on
fourhand side. She actually exceeds the average as well on
backhand side from speed and spin, so that ball's coming
(17:40):
at you in a hurry and it's jumping and exploding
at you on the red clay, she's got a kicksurve
to go with it. And the other thing is from
a tactical perspective, She's someone that one of the tactical
measures we measure here on our dashboards. Luke Ha talked
to us, how often are you looking for your forehand
out of your backhand corner? If you're someone liked Neil Medvedev,
you're not really looking for that play. You're happy to
trust your backhand. If you're someone like Peyton Stens, forty
(18:03):
percent of your fehands are out of your backhand corner.
That means she's hungry to find her forehand at all,
every every and any available opportunity. That the number there,
that what's par is twenty percent. So she doubles that
she's desperate to hit her forehand and when she finds
it she can do something.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
She must be quick on her feet to get there.
Speaker 7 (18:22):
That's exactly right, And that's a really good, amazing to
make zave Is. It's one thing to want to play
like that. It's another thing entirely to be able to
physically commit to that and employment that game.
Speaker 6 (18:30):
Stop, well, said Simon, and I think, yeah, the slower
courts allow her to actually get around and use her
feed to hit those foehands. Because Dasha actually played her
at Wimbledon last year and she beat her, and I
thought it was a pretty good match up on the
grass because we're actually able to get it into the
back end and the speed of the surface you're you know,
I guess you're just able to do that and then
also get her into her forehand corner, because that's Simon saying,
(18:53):
she's sort of camping in that backhand corner quite a bit.
So it's very interesting. She's playing great on the clay.
I think she moves very well as well. I think
we sort of underestimate the power of college tennis as well.
She came through college and just played so many matches.
You learn to compete at college, and I think she's
done that. And yeah, she plays a lot of three setters,
(19:14):
as you're alluded to, and I think she's a real
chance for the French Open as well. And great to
see that sort of story of resilience and you lose
your coach and in the middle of the season and
you come and you're in the semis and you've got
a crack at PALLLLINI so very good.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Can ask what do you think, both of you? How's
she going to go against Paullini?
Speaker 7 (19:33):
Well, they've not played before, but who's Yeah, she can't
continue to ride the crest of the wave, right, Yeah.
I think the key is when you've got this type
of momentum, it's hard to get so when you're running
hot like this against the backdrop of tumult and uphevil
and she'll be desperate to keep this going. She's got
conditions that suit the courts in Rome in particular are
(19:54):
generally pretty lively, which exacerbates the effect of that spin
on her forehand side and particular, and a kick serve,
so she's going to be a handful. And then she's
up against the hometown girl. So probably a fifty to
fifty matchup for me.
Speaker 6 (20:06):
Yeah, probably is a question of what she's got left
in the tank. Yeah, I think there's a few of
those six in the thirds as well, So Paulini playing
at home there'll be some nerves there as well, but
obviously the home crowd advantage as well. So very intriguing
that match. I don't know, it's probably genuine fifty to
fifty and depends a little bit on Sterns how she's feeling,
but probably give the edge to Paulini there who French
(20:28):
Open Final last year.
Speaker 5 (20:30):
Yeah, final of.
Speaker 6 (20:31):
Wimbledon as well, beat Dasha first round of the French
and thought it wasn't a great performance from Dasher, and
then two weeks later in the.
Speaker 5 (20:37):
Final so and then the final of the Wimbledon as well.
Speaker 6 (20:41):
So great story of resilience actually for Paulini as well.
She's a little older and sort of.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
Hanging around now twenty nine.
Speaker 4 (20:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (20:50):
Yeah, I think it's really just the last couple of
years where she's really broken through, so you know, very small,
so she's got to work super hard. It's a great
sort of I guess example for Dasher as well, who's
not the biggest and you've just got to be there
every point, point in, point out and really compete.
Speaker 5 (21:07):
So yeah, good match there.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
Yeah, so let's not stop you on your role. What's
caught your eye, Luke, So.
Speaker 6 (21:14):
I wanted to talk about the withdrawals and lucky losers
in Rome this week, and we've got nine in total,
four lucky losers on the men's side and five and
the women's and outside of those as well, there are
four more pullouts on the women's side where they weren't
(21:35):
lucky losers but they were within the tournament and three
more on the men's including hum Bear, Breeze Boy, Tomo
and Matteo Barattini so and then on the women's side,
Badosa Siegerman who beat Dasha in qualities, Gavid of a
benchit Folinets And I'm not sure what you think, Simon,
but I've been saying it for a while and just
the the schedule. The season is so long, it's so physical.
(22:00):
The game is becoming more and more physical as well, well,
only in May, and we're seeing that amount of pullouts
and lucky losers. And I think these two week events
as well, they're super long and you're just hanging around
the courts and I think, you know, we haven't even
played our second Grand Slam of the year yet, and
you know, I feel like a lot of the players
are sort of laboring at the moment.
Speaker 5 (22:20):
So very interesting one.
Speaker 6 (22:22):
I feel like we need to sort of shorten the
season possibly, but then again, we want the top players
playing all these events, So it is a tricky one.
Not sure what the answer exactly is, but I feel
like something's got to sort of change that.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
There's a bit of a silver lining to it, not
necessarily for those bigger names, but more for the younger
players coming through, the lower ranked players, they get a chance.
Like these lucky losers, they're lucky for a reason because
they know that they've finally got an opportunity to put
themselves on the world stage.
Speaker 6 (22:50):
Yeah, I mean, that's the great thing about a lucky loser.
You get a second chance. And especially in these Masters
series where there's buyers and lucky losers can go into
that second round slot. So it definitely is very very
lucky for those players. But I just think, yeah, look,
we want the top players playing, but you've got Djokovic, Montfige, Goffen, Humbert,
Bearattini pulling out. I'm not sure it's great for the
(23:13):
game having those guys injured and playing injured. And the
other thing with these Master series there's mandatories. So if
you're sort of healthy, you have to play, otherwise theres fines.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
So can you explain that a bit, luke, because I
know that, Like, so if you have like you're going
to you have to play. You have to prove that
you're not fit to play as well, Right, you can't
our listeners, You're going to have it see the doctors.
Speaker 6 (23:36):
And even them, you've only got so many of those
cards that you can only sat amount, and if you're
healthy and don't play, it's obviously a big fine and
you take a zero on your ranking. So I guess
with people they don't know that you get eighteen slots
for your points accountable to accountable tournaments throughout the year,
So a zero on one of those if your top
(23:57):
hundred is substantial because probably if your top twenty, that
eighteenth slot could be a fifty pointer, so it's actually substantial,
and that could be the difference of multiple ranking spots.
Speaker 5 (24:09):
So it is a tough one. I don't think there's
too many.
Speaker 6 (24:13):
Other sports where there's an eleven month season, especially something
as physical as tennis, so I think, and then I
guess the other argument is if we shorten it, a
lot of these top players playing exhibitions, and that really
contradicts that.
Speaker 5 (24:27):
I completely get that.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
Yeah, hey, you guys are meant to be resting.
Speaker 5 (24:30):
They might say it's less pressure, it's a job, but.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
Again, we all need money. Yeah, it's expensive.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
We get four weeks off a year in Australia. You
know they get four weeks off. Granted I'm sitting in
a chair talking into a microphone and not running a
couple hundred k's on a court.
Speaker 5 (24:44):
But look, I couldn't it ree more.
Speaker 7 (24:46):
Something's got to give, And I think what we're seeing
is like it is as the Grand Slams too, are
becoming more and more attractive to the playing group, and
this has been the case now or a trend for
five plus years. We're seeing more and more priority placed
on being absolutely healthy and cherry ripe for day one
of the Slams, which means it's becoming increasingly difficult for
(25:06):
the other events in the tennis ecosystem to continue to
exist with against that backdrop, because everyone wants to be
right for day one of Rolling Girls. So somebody's got
to give. Luke couldn't agree with a lot more. We've
got to revamp the tennis calendar. It's not a new problem,
but as of yet we yet to find the solution.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
Luke, what would be the dream scenario you think for players?
Speaker 6 (25:27):
I would say dream scenario would be almost finishing a
couple weeks after the US Open. And I was saying
this argument to someone and then they counter men said, oh,
what about Asia?
Speaker 5 (25:38):
What about Europe?
Speaker 6 (25:39):
I said, well, there's always going to be tournaments there,
Like you're only saying that it's because that's what we
know the point, and I said, look, it's unlucky. I
love the tornments in Asia, but something has to give,
as you've been saying. And I think two and a
half months, three months off, it's not crazy like that's
still a nine month season. Forty as we know is
(25:59):
six months. I think, you know, I'll use Alex Demonar
as an example because I'm close to that scenario. But
he plays to early December almost every year, and he's
because he's got Davis Cup and the end of your
finals last years, the top eight finals, and he comes
out to Australia on about the twentieth or twenty first
of December. He might have one week off, one week
(26:21):
pre season, and then you're starting again. And not only
to say or to mention, he's got the pressures of
all January, you know, being the top Australian, all the pressure.
Speaker 5 (26:30):
On him the Cup. Yeah, you see, and then he's
got so much pressure on the poor guy.
Speaker 6 (26:36):
So you know when he spoke about he was a
little bit fatigued after Dubai this year, before nim Wells,
you can completely see why. So I would think if
you finished it end of September, give the players a
couple weeks off, three weeks off, and then they have
you know, November December to train.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Anyway, if anyone's listening out there on the tour, we've
got some suggestions.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
Exactly get him chart little nap at the end of
the year.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
Moving to you a yeah, well we're getting holy are we?
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Well a little bit but breaking news. The Pope, the
earthly head of the Catholic Church, welcomed a sinner into
the Vatican and sinner so he's living in sin with Yannick. Yeah,
two Italians just having a chat. Of course, you know
pictures up here and you can probably hear it on
the pod. But yeah, Leo the fourteenth, the newly minted Pope,
(27:28):
welcome the newly minted back on the field, Yannick Sinner.
They swapped rackets, they had a chat. The first American Pope, Leo,
first American Pope. Big tennis fan. He's a bit of
an amateur player. There's actually a secret tennis court at
the Vatican.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
I'm so into that.
Speaker 5 (27:46):
Yeah, what surface is that?
Speaker 3 (27:49):
Holy water? And it's frozen so it's the first ice.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
I don't know, I think it was, do you know,
Andy Clay, I feel like it was no the court
he played on hard court.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Yeah, I don't know. We'll check that, we'll come.
Speaker 6 (28:04):
Back to you.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
But yeah, he's been he's been a very keen tennis player,
and so's so's Yanick. He's quite keen at the tennis.
But I don't know, we reckon Yannick was there to
kind of confess a few things or.
Speaker 6 (28:16):
Was a lengthy handshake, That's all I know. Yeah, I
was waiting for one to let go and and questioning
that grip that the pope was that wasn't no content
and a little bit a little bit high up on
the grip.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
So well, Leo, if you need some tips, hit up.
Speaker 5 (28:31):
Look, I'm looking to fill in a few weeks, so
fly me in.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
He's actually cook quite an American accent.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
Yeah, like you forget about it. Literally walking here from Chicago.
Speaker 6 (28:42):
You guys see that video of Yanni going to serve
when he was practicing, then he saw the Jets coming,
he did he was going to throw the ball toss up,
and then he saw the Jets with the colors with
the that's cool going over and had a bit of
a look.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
Yeah, and he'll put that in the show notes, that's cool.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
It was really cool.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
That's what caught my eye.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
Yeah, I love it.
Speaker 3 (29:01):
I made a little bit left to centerp but it's
still sort of tennis related.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
It's really good done cool.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
We've got a couple other storylines from Rome. We have
touched on Paolini quite a bit, but she's going strong.
Could Paolini and Sinner win the men's and women's singles title?
Speaker 1 (29:18):
What do we think? Are we going to have an
Italian off again?
Speaker 3 (29:22):
Like the fans have any to say about it? Yes,
Hope has blessed it potentially, but what about in reality?
Speaker 5 (29:27):
No.
Speaker 6 (29:28):
I definitely think she's a chance and obviously plays so
well on the on the clay Paolini and handling the
home pressure quite well. And there are a couple other
results in the men's that caught my eye and two
guys that I think are a good sort of outside
chances for the French Open, Ben Shelton losing six two
six one first round, so I thought that was a
bit of a surprise.
Speaker 5 (29:47):
And for Keena.
Speaker 6 (29:48):
Davidovich, who's been playing well as well. He's given Alex
demon Are a few troubles. I think maybe beat him
a few weeks ago. Also going down two and two.
So a couple of surprising ones that caught my eye there.
And it was their first round, but a second round
because they had to buy Archie. So yeah, I feel
like two guys who will both be seated at the
French Open going down pretty convincingly there.
Speaker 5 (30:07):
I thought that was a little bit of a shock upset.
Speaker 7 (30:11):
Yeah, well, we've spoken about the Paulini Sterns matchup being
in my mind fifty to fifty and looks perhaps given
the slight edge to Paulini there was good reason. So
absolutely every chance she can find herself playing for the title.
And as for Sinner, he comes up against Casperude. We
know Rude's best surface by far, I think as the
red clay. He's had his best results across his career
on the surface, so that'll be a test for you.
(30:31):
He owns the head to head there three to nothing,
but this is the first time they'll meet on clay,
so this will be a proper test for him in
his first tournament back.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
The other one I ordered to call out massive friend.
With the pod end of the Tom Marta and Alan Pez,
they're into the women's double quarterfinals in Rome. Storm's only
been back a couple of months after an achilles tear,
and I just can't believe how well they are doing,
and really hope that they make Nickney's steel.
Speaker 3 (30:58):
Now, no one's going to bust that one.
Speaker 1 (31:00):
But how good would it feel for Storm to be?
You know, when did she go back Indian Wells Miami
she started playing again.
Speaker 6 (31:07):
Yeah, she started off playing doubles there and then just
before just speaking to the Hunter camp and it felt
like they just wanted to ease her back in with
some doubles and then on the clay where it's possibly
a little bit easier on the body, starting to play
some singles. So yeah, she struggled a little bit in
her first few singles matches. Struggles maybe a bit harsh,
she's gone down, but you know, after a year out
(31:28):
of the sport and then coming back at the highest
level of singles is very difficult. So I think she's
finding her feet there in the singles and the great
to see winning some doubles matches with Ellen Perez And
I think, as Simon would also say, I feel like
even when you're first coming back, wins in doubles is
very very beneficial, just to get that confidence just get
(31:49):
that winning feeling back and then you can sort of
start the transition onto the singles court and then onto
the grass, which she'll play great on.
Speaker 2 (31:56):
And they're due to play with other partners at Rolling
and garret Us the Hunter's playing with Dollar Hyde and
Perez is playing with Milli car Markets.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
Do I say that right? Oh my god, I'm getting
better guys.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
And the other thing I wanted to call out is
with Roland Garras around the corner, we have well, the
French have announced the wild cards and excitingly Tristan's school
Kate here from Australia and Destiny Aeva.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
Is two of those people from Ossie that will be going.
Speaker 3 (32:30):
So what's that process like? Like we publiclyven know what
a wild card means and people get it, but when
you hear about it, it must be crazy to like
cire Us, I'm in and you didn't think you were
going to be.
Speaker 7 (32:41):
Yeah, well so they can probably speak to that better
than I can. In terms of the process. You know,
behind the scenes here that's the leadership team and from
a player dev or a performance perspective here at tennis
Australia would get together under Tim Jolly's leadership as the
director of strategy and performance, and really these decisions are
are nuanced, and they're in the margins and they're not
easy to make that team Tim Paul Kildery. Typically the
(33:03):
Davis and Billy Jinking Cup captains and the leadership teams
get together and make those decisions. And as far as
being on the receiving end of it, good, bad or ugly,
Luke can probably explain the whole gamut of emotions there.
Speaker 3 (33:13):
At times good, you're not bad, a little bit ugly,
but you'll be right.
Speaker 6 (33:15):
No, I've been through the roller coaster. I think, looking
back on it, a wild card is you know, it's
a privilege. It's it's one of those things where it's
out of your control. It's you know, if you're not
in the tournament on your ranking, you kind of don't
deserve to be in the tournament. So if you get it,
it's an absolute sort of blessing. You're lucky. So you
(33:39):
can't read too much into it and think about a
wild card. It can go to sort of anyone, and
there's I guess there's sort of criterias. You can give
it to older players that have maybe been top hundred
and done a few more things in the sport on
their way.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
Back and.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
And venus yeld card place.
Speaker 6 (33:56):
Yeah, but you know, I think more importantly it's to
those up and car up and coming players who need
the opportunities, need the experiences. You know, they maybe knock
on the door of the top hundred, and experiences like
this will help them go to the next level.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
Pardon my ignorance. Has there been a wild Card Grand
Slam champion?
Speaker 5 (34:16):
Yes? And it was.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Cool?
Speaker 5 (34:21):
Was it played? Raft raft?
Speaker 3 (34:22):
Donald pretty good said?
Speaker 2 (34:27):
Not bad?
Speaker 5 (34:28):
Well up there at the start.
Speaker 1 (34:31):
You actually.
Speaker 3 (34:34):
He's just smart, he is.
Speaker 5 (34:37):
It just was brilliant.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
Now Destiny was actually on our Sister show what she
was she was.
Speaker 1 (34:42):
On the sit down? Should we take a look?
Speaker 7 (34:45):
Great?
Speaker 3 (34:47):
What's it like playing the very cream of the crop
in the game, And what's it like when you reflect
on that you beat Sabolenka, who's now the world's dominant player.
Speaker 4 (34:56):
Yeah, I still think about, you know, watching all the
girls up there that I've played and known how well
I've done, even against Rebeccna. I feel like when I
play those quality players, I actually play better. So it's
just a matter of getting there myself. Actually inside the
top one hundred and being able to perform day and
(35:18):
day out against those girls and actually play other quality players.
So I can, you know, just keep testing my ability
and yeah, and knowing that I do play well against
those girls.
Speaker 7 (35:31):
It.
Speaker 4 (35:32):
Yeah, I think that's one of the things that keeps
me going because I see them, you know, playing the
big tournaments that I want to play every single week,
So you know, I think, yeah, that's definitely motivating for me.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Okay, welcome back. We are spoiled to have experts like
Simon Ray on the show today. So we're launching a
new segment which means you're going to have to come
back often.
Speaker 1 (35:56):
And what's it called?
Speaker 2 (35:57):
Say?
Speaker 3 (35:58):
Simon says, but thank you for their thanks for help.
They're producer boys. Lovely day. So Simon, what do you say, now,
I won't do that bit you go back to do it? Simon,
what do you say?
Speaker 1 (36:10):
Sound like a frog?
Speaker 3 (36:11):
And he looks like a frog.
Speaker 5 (36:12):
Well, I'm not wearing what I say against that backdrop
or that introduction, but what I'm what I'm thinking?
Speaker 3 (36:18):
He said, goodbye.
Speaker 7 (36:19):
The team asked me to articulate where we think Egishwontech's
sitting with rolling Garros right around the corner, and where
I think she's sitting is if I'm in the camp there,
I'm emphasizing that you are the envy of every other
player when you walk into the gates and Rolling Garriss
a week from now. You're a four time Rolling Garrols champion,
you're a five time major winner. You've had some hiccups
(36:41):
that were unaccustomed to seeing from you on your clay
court campaign in twenty twenty five. But do you want
to look at this one or two ways? Do you
want to take this recent form and some of these
losses as a bit of a burden and something to
be worried about and a little concerned about, or do
you see this as a massive opportunity to kind of
get back on the front foot and really thrive off
that fear factor which I think she has as soon
(37:03):
as she walks through the gates at Rolling Garrels, The
fear factor that the rest of the competition experiences when
they see you even in the venue, let alone come
up against you, come up against you. So that's kind
of the rhetoric or the storytelling, I guess, if you like,
or some of the energy that I'd be trying to
create if I was in the camp. That's what I
say now taking a bit of a deeper look. Tracking back, look,
(37:26):
we know one of the things that troubles Eager, and
Luke would have a view on this as well. I'm
sure if you can starve Eager of time and really
play with weapons up in the court and threaten her
with some weapons, it's not easy for her. She prefers
if she could draw it up a little more time
on the ball, which is why it plays her preferred
surface any time to get that yeah right. She's another
player that likes to use her forehand. Luke spoke previously
(37:49):
about Peyton Sterns and the clay, the opportunity that allows
her to get to a left and use her forehand
as a weapon. If there is an Archilles' heel in
her game, it's her second serve. It's not as easy
to take advantage of the second serve on clay. But
that's where I'd be focusing if I was in the camp,
because some of the concerns are on her second serve numbers.
So she's lost recently to Gough, to Ostapenko and to Collins.
(38:11):
If we have a look at these matches, when she
played Ostapenko in Stuttgart.
Speaker 5 (38:14):
She won thirty nine.
Speaker 7 (38:15):
Percent of her second serve points thirty nine percent against
GoF She lost one on one, got beaten convincingly about
forty percent of her second serve points, so points on
her own second serve when she played Collins, and this
is the one that did concern me a little bit
because Osta Penco can take the racket out of your
hands at times, so can Goff. Now that was more
one sided than any of us would have been thinking Colins.
I wouldn't have expected that to play out the way
(38:36):
it did. She won just twenty two percent of her
second serve points, and I had a deeper look last year,
she's winning fifty five. Over the year as a whole,
she wins fifty five percent of her second serve points.
So when we're thinking thirty nine, forty and twenty two,
we're a long way down on fifty five. This year
as a whole so far, she's down in the mid forties.
So her second serve we know it's an Achilles' heel
(38:57):
for her. It's now starting to be exposed more than
we've seen pre So I've told you what I'm saying.
If I'm in the camp of eager, you know, in
terms of the messaging that I'm trying to deliver going
into rolling garrass. These are some of the things. Well,
this is one area where the competition are trying to
pick her off, so that'll be where the coaching team
are focusing. There's the I guess, the emotional hook, and
then there's the tactical stuff.
Speaker 5 (39:16):
So what have we got to do better?
Speaker 7 (39:17):
Maybe it's we've got to find more first serves, so
the second serve is being exposed less. Maybe we've got
to be bolder and more courageous and get after our
second serve more often. And that's kind of I think
sometimes those two things can be tied together. So you
walk through the gates at Roland Garross, you this is
your territory. Every other player is trying to knock you
off here, and you've got the fear factor here. So
let's believe in your kick serve again. Let's get that
(39:39):
thing launching. Maybe it's back to basics. Let's keep it simple.
Every second serve goes to the righty back end, and
we back your execution to get it lifting and kicking
and jumping on players. But let's do it with more
viciousness than what we've been delivering it late of late
how we've been delivering it of late. So that's how
I see the Eggos Roon Tech game coming into Rolling Garrison,
Bumps in the Road. Sure, still the Queen of Clay
(39:59):
for me, it's still my favorite going into Rolling Girls.
Speaker 3 (40:02):
And that's what Simon said.
Speaker 5 (40:05):
How was that?
Speaker 3 (40:05):
Yeah, that was that was intense and some of the
numbers Yeah, well there was some big and there were
some small. That was very good. Luke any thoughts.
Speaker 6 (40:12):
I think, yeah, she's definitely got that aura like sort
of Raffa has when they walk through the gates and
four time champion and playing her on shatrare definitely has
that different feeling. So thing exactly what you said, trying
to channel sort of that narrative to her if you're
in the camp of Sweet Tech.
Speaker 5 (40:31):
So very interesting.
Speaker 6 (40:32):
Those second serve numbers definitely very down on previous, very concerning,
and I think you know a lot of the women
they don't want to get into sort of any baseline
exchanges with her, right, So the second serve is, you know,
sort of the first shot in the rally if you're
the opponent, so you're trying to take it, you know,
(40:52):
take advantage, trying to be aggressive. So I think that's
definitely an area where they're trying to get at her,
and it's proving that bit of a a sort of
concerning area for her.
Speaker 5 (41:01):
At the moment.
Speaker 7 (41:02):
Let's get back to a strengths based approach, kicks of
heaviness of the Foyan, physicality and movement and willingness and
ability to defend on the surface. No one can get
through you at this venue at Roland Garross. If the
courts are lively. Sometimes in Paris we see thirty degrees
and lively courts, sometimes we see ten.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
And it's always spooky when everyone there is wearing the
same hats.
Speaker 1 (41:24):
Someone told me I need to buy one, and I
was like, I will not be doing there work.
Speaker 7 (41:28):
I think I'm saying, o A. If the courts are lively,
you can use your weapons to great effect. If the
courts are playing a bit more dead and a bit
more slip, then players can't get through you because of
how good a defender you are, so you can come
at it from any either way you want. Really, if
you're in the coaching team and.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
Luke Egger's about to go to match call. Right now,
you've got one sentence to yell out to her for
her to listen. Go, that's an interesting choice.
Speaker 5 (41:55):
Back yourself. You've won this thing four times.
Speaker 3 (41:58):
But then unfortunately she's got those giant head phones on
and she turned around again eager take the headphones off.
Sage advice.
Speaker 5 (42:07):
That's it.
Speaker 6 (42:07):
You've won these four times, ten less than Rafa. It's
still pretty good.
Speaker 3 (42:12):
Yeah, A ways to go before you get a statue
out in the front.
Speaker 5 (42:15):
Yes, and she needs at least three more.
Speaker 1 (42:17):
Proper Let's roll into Ace of the week.
Speaker 3 (42:20):
Great, Well, anyone is still listening? No, over to you, Luke,
how are you? I can go?
Speaker 6 (42:27):
I had the mum for Mother's Day come over from
the other show this weekend, so the week great. Great
to see her, my brother and his son. And because
on the Thursday show said that we're going to win, ye,
so we decided to go to that game. It was
pretty boring because I knew the result going to win
(42:47):
is bad, so yeah, was right normally yeah, exactly and
then yeah, and then played a bit of tennis on Saturday,
went to the blockbuster game Richmond and West Coast seveneenth
and eighteenth.
Speaker 1 (43:00):
Believe Richmond one. But the one game I decided not
to watch two points.
Speaker 6 (43:06):
Yeah, my little nephew, he likes Richmond. So it went
to that one and then dropped in the airport Monday morning.
So good, good to see them. They were ready to
get back to the country where they see.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
It's a bit out here in the big city. Yes, yeah, and.
Speaker 2 (43:18):
Footy matches for people who ain't used to being in
large volumes of people.
Speaker 3 (43:22):
Yeah, well they're probably used to watching footy from the
back of the ute, not the top of the g Yeah.
Speaker 6 (43:28):
So we're in the Colton cheer squad. Really good fun,
good win for Coton. Few injuries, but showed a lot
of heart.
Speaker 5 (43:35):
So that's my ad.
Speaker 1 (43:38):
How about you.
Speaker 3 (43:39):
Well, I was planning to say, oh I finally got
a haircut, but I didn't get a haircut.
Speaker 1 (43:44):
No, I can still see that weird curl at.
Speaker 3 (43:46):
This weird little ringlet happen.
Speaker 1 (43:48):
Yeah, it's like this weird flicky thing. Okay, you need
a haircut.
Speaker 3 (43:53):
It's an audio product on tube. Oh yeah, to shame
in it, so I'm gonna throw it out there. It
was Mother's Day on the weekend and we put the
boys and I put on a big day for their
mum and we cooked a beautiful lunch. Everyone had fun
and they gave her some gifts they made at kinder
(44:14):
and at school.
Speaker 1 (44:15):
Did you pop them in the bin?
Speaker 3 (44:16):
I didn't. Let's just say they might be there now,
dig cat maybe I love her? Yeah good, yeah, filing
them away for the garbage man to find. No, but
Mother's Day was great, So I shout out to all
the mums out there that it was just really fun,
fund good and I feel I have a haircut by
this time next week.
Speaker 1 (44:33):
Yeah, let's hope for our embrace.
Speaker 5 (44:36):
It and just go.
Speaker 3 (44:38):
Maybe you could go full early guys with job like lord,
fuck what I was thinking? More like Karen? Can I
speak to the managers? Style?
Speaker 1 (44:48):
That too intrue from Pathing campra.
Speaker 5 (44:52):
Into winter, So yeah, keep me wrong, grow the locks out, ponytail.
Speaker 3 (44:57):
Finally, we need to chat ept some of these hairstyles
on you. Yeah, I'm that that's the afternoon Sworded. Yeah,
if we do do that, they'll put them in the Simon.
Speaker 7 (45:12):
Mine's probably on a similar theme. Mother's Day were obviously
a very special day for all mums and the kids.
So my oldest to Charlie and Edie, I'm not a
Cats fan, but they managed to their grandparents and cousins
and they are all mad Cats fans living down in
Geelong like we do, and so they managed to secure
themselves a pass or a ticket to the Cat's game,
(45:35):
which the Cats were. They didn't come out on the
right side of the ledger of on this occasion, but
it was still a great atmosphere for a youngster and
just on Breeze she touched on the exact right note
there where she said something about the overwhelming crowds. My
daughter came with me to the game. That was the
first time she's made it, but she didn't quite get
to the start line. Just a little bit too many people,
too much. It's a little bit too full on, so
(45:57):
some had to come down and pick her up on
the other side of the Saint Mary's there. But Charlie,
I really enjoyed the day and we're really grateful for
what Anna, their mom does for for us, for me
and for all of us in our family.
Speaker 3 (46:07):
Absolutely love that.
Speaker 1 (46:09):
Well, my of the week is not to do with
Mother's Day because I am not a mother.
Speaker 3 (46:13):
And what about your dog? And I am always about.
Speaker 1 (46:16):
A dog mum.
Speaker 2 (46:18):
But yeah, my parents are back home and Nui. But
my ace of the week is that I hop on
a plane on Tuesday evening to go to Paris for
Roland Garrett.
Speaker 3 (46:27):
Yeah, which will be fun viva.
Speaker 1 (46:30):
Yeah. So I won't be here next week.
Speaker 3 (46:32):
Even better, I know I've got a new the week. Guys,
totally fair that you're going to be over there at
the having stuggle.
Speaker 1 (46:45):
Cargo, understand me.
Speaker 2 (46:51):
No, So I'm looking forward to that, going over to
do some stuff and figure out how the French do
opening week, not figure out, but just speak exposed to
their opening week, look at the media day stuff, do
some meetings and yeah, see how Aussie's go get some
content of out Aussies and qualities, which you know it's
always hard for us over here to get content of
(47:12):
our Australian players for our Tennis Australia platform. So very
excited about that. And I will be hanging out with
our ball kids who are in the Rolling Garras.
Speaker 3 (47:20):
Because we're sending some Aussie ball kids, two.
Speaker 2 (47:23):
Kids going over, so I will be doing some content
with them, like day in the life and what it's
like to work in the Roland Garross ball kids squad
versus Io ball kids squad, So lots of fun things
happening and I'm really looking forward to it.
Speaker 3 (47:36):
That's great. It's weird to think, like all these there's
four Grand Slams, so we're the Australian Open. Like each
one probably has like their version of a Brie, like
their head of.
Speaker 1 (47:45):
His name's Manuel.
Speaker 3 (47:46):
Yeah, he looks exactly like he's got a little mustache
a little bit, always riding a bike with a bagout
out the front. It's gonna be good.
Speaker 1 (47:52):
Yeah, it'd be great.
Speaker 5 (47:53):
Were you play caught one on?
Speaker 2 (47:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (47:58):
Were you playing now for it? Oh my god?
Speaker 5 (48:01):
Wondering who didn't bag the court?
Speaker 3 (48:06):
That's goods Yeah, prou Ryan.
Speaker 1 (48:09):
It's just there to get some kids to draw on
acrossant on a whiteboard.
Speaker 3 (48:17):
Was here tennis while you going to the Homer clay
so you better get that right when you're over there.
Speaker 1 (48:22):
Anyway, I met the kids.
Speaker 2 (48:23):
I'm on a group chat with all our team, so
I'm really looking forward to seeing how their experience is
because imagine being fifteen, that'd be crazy and getting awarded
this trip to go to Paris. And there's such lovely kids.
All our bull kids are. I actually love our Bull
Kids squad. But what just a special special thing to
(48:45):
be able to do and one of them turned sixteen
when they get over there are you going over Luke?
Yeah great, I'll be able to see you guys, because
I want to see get as much content of our
Aussies to be really able to promote everyone and hopefully
we go.
Speaker 3 (48:59):
Well, yeah, really good. It's going to take it. I
can feel it.
Speaker 1 (49:06):
Yeah, that's what we're all manifested.
Speaker 3 (49:09):
You've got his name written on you, Luke.
Speaker 5 (49:11):
Yes, shout out.
Speaker 1 (49:15):
Placement.
Speaker 6 (49:15):
Yeah, quarterfinals last year and as I said before, he
could and sort of freshen up in this week leading up,
and I think he's a real chance. He's been playing
really well a solo clay court swing so far and
I think he can definitely make a run.
Speaker 3 (49:31):
Well that might wrap us up journey. What I'm bray, gentlemen,
cross from us.
Speaker 2 (49:37):
Thanks for being part of the show. Is always a
pleasure to have you both. Look forward to seeing you
soon in the coming weeks.
Speaker 1 (49:44):
I won't be here. I will be emparissed.
Speaker 3 (49:46):
I will be calling in that that's our audience sighing,
I know, but I will be calling in. Oh that's right.
We'll put you on the big screen.
Speaker 2 (49:53):
From Roland Garros with Duncan and a few others. Might
get Bernie on as well to talk about how the
Ausies are going. In the meantime, don't forget you can
watch this episode and every other episode of the Tennis
on YouTube channel straight and open a TV and while
you there, be sure to hit the bell subscribe, stay
across the Tennis all year round, and of course you
can listen in your ears on any podcast provider you prefer.
Speaker 1 (50:17):
Thanks, team, have a great week and see you next week.
Speaker 3 (50:21):
Yeah, so Troubles
Hello and welcome to the Tennis au Revoir. Andy Murray and.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Djokovic part ways before Paris Schwantek struggles iggas drought extends
to a full year at home in Rome, Ken Plini
and Sinner complete the hometown double. That's all ahead on
the Tennis with me Brie Stewart by my side. It's
Australia's second favorite host and our very own head of
original content.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Save I'm in a different chair, which is good. We're
mixing it up.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
We are mixing it up.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
I'm not being demoted though, am I not that you
have the power to do that. We're just sharing a
load of hosting.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
You know.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
It's nice to have, you know, share a voice and
we're a team. This isn't my show, it's ours, and
by our, I mean everyone in the room.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Okay, we might cut you off there across the table.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
That's really good.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Stars Nick Kurios and Sam stows A, Simon Ray, so
good to have you.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Always a pleasure.
Speaker 5 (00:57):
Thanks to having me back on.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yeah, it's great to have you back end for the
second week in a row. It's atp Alumni and current
WTA coach Luke Savile.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
How was the weekend visit from the fam.
Speaker 5 (01:08):
Very good, very good.
Speaker 6 (01:10):
Yeah, from the country to the Big Smoke, and went
to a couple of footy games and.
Speaker 5 (01:15):
Carlton got up so we knew because of the.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Thought.
Speaker 6 (01:21):
We were pretty nervous for a while in that game,
but got up there and then went to another one
on Sunday.
Speaker 5 (01:25):
So nice relaxing weekend.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Did you do anything else or just footy footy footy
and then send them home.
Speaker 6 (01:30):
I played a bit of Pennant on Saturday, so so
brought them out and brought the dog out. He's an
absolute nightmare at the tennis. Yeah that sounds would When
people walked in between him and me, they I guess
he thought someone was attacking me and he had to
protect me from the people. So it was a bit
of a nightmare, but good fun gray Weather and he survived.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Tofu was there to save you?
Speaker 5 (01:54):
He was?
Speaker 6 (01:55):
He was. You know, he's eight kilos seven eight kilos,
so he's pretty intimidating.
Speaker 7 (01:59):
So he's a good guard dog. How are you striking
these days on the court? How are you striking them?
Speaker 5 (02:04):
Yeah? Not too bad.
Speaker 6 (02:05):
Went out there and as you know, Simon, I'm pretty well.
You know, when I was playing I was pretty professional
and ticked all the boxes and on on Saturday so much.
I rocked up five minutes before, rolled a few serves
over and started. So it's a little bit of a
change of scenery for relaxing into it. Good fun play
for rows out there and great club.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
We've got a jam pack show to get through today.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
But before we get into what's court, You're right, we're
going to look at some of the big updates from
overnight in Rome, because some big things did happen overnight.
So we had chin Wen defeated Arena Sebolenka.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
From a very high perch. She begins to fall perhaps,
or is Sabileinka going to bounce back in and just
keep being amazing.
Speaker 7 (02:46):
Well, I think Sabolinka's form has been nothing short of
immaculate really over the well across the entire twenty twenty
five seasons. So it was a win that Jing needed
to have against Sabolenka, particularly given the head to head
which has been absolutely one way traffic in Sabolenka's favor.
So I don't think it at all hurts or hindus
Sabolenka's preparation for rolling Garross. She's won a ton of
(03:07):
matches lately. She's in as good a four month guess
we've ever seen her, particularly going into the clay court slam,
so it doesn't hurt her and just gives chinwin Jing
that little bit of a boost coming into Rolling Garross
next week or the week after for the main draw players.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
And she was getting some tips from the crowd and
her response was to shut the up really yeah, told
a fan just to pipe down in the front row,
quit like that. Yeah, but because I love but the
crowd is starting to change a little bit and sometimes
but get into it, but then just enjoy the match.
Speaker 5 (03:39):
Yeah, especially in Rome.
Speaker 6 (03:40):
There's been a few occasions this year in that sortament
where the crowd's getting a little lippy. Yeah, and I
think even Alex demon I had to say a few
words to the crowd. And there's one other matches but
maybe Menziic. So yeah, it's a little a little I
guess unfortunate that the crowd's sort of getting to that point.
But yeah, yeah, the first final, well the first time.
(04:02):
She hasn't been in a final since February, so, as
Simon said, it just incredible runner form.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
It'll be interesting to see Chin win again at Roland
Garas because the last time she was a she won
an Olympic gold medal.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Oh yes, yeah, so her new favorite turf.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Yeah, it could be.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
We also saw a rematch from Madrid with Goth and
Andreva and Gough defeating her again six four seven six.
What heights will this rivalry reach? Coco is twenty one
and Mirror's eighteen matches so far, Battle.
Speaker 6 (04:33):
Of the Babies all very young, Yeah, very exciting, and
Goth leads that head to head four zero. Now, so yeah,
she's got the three years on Mirror, which is quite
substantial at that age twenty one to eighteen, but very
exciting for the women's game tennis in general. Two amazing players,
and Andreva I think she can win multiple slams and
(04:53):
have an incredible career, same as Coco Gough.
Speaker 7 (04:56):
I think exciting is the right word when you think
about these two. The first word that springs one for
me is athletes. Physicality, you know, just incredible athletes both
of these women, and I think they're going to be
seeing as you touched on a lot more of each
other over the next decade plus, because both of these
women are going to be at the pointy end of
whatever tournaments they enter for a long time to come.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
And then we saw Massetti defeated Zverev, which now sees
Verev moving from his number two ranking.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Yeah, that's got to hurt leading into a gasland.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Yeah, so Akaraz is back in number two. Zverev has
moved down to number three. But good match from Massetti
seven six six y four against him.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
You'll switch through at the point he end of the tournament.
Pretty exciting.
Speaker 6 (05:35):
Yeah, Mussetti's just playing incredible tennis right now. And I
think someone said he is, you know, I can only
sort of play on clay, but a lot of people
don't realize he made the final Queens and Sammis of
Wimbledon last year on the grass. So I think he's
one of those players that can definitely push for that
top four, top five because he can play on all surfaces.
So definitely Clayzy's preferred surface, but he can play on
(05:57):
all surfaces, and I think he's just coming into his own.
He might be twenty three, twenty four years of age
and amazing player. I'm very versatile and.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
All round back can perform. That's pretty impressive.
Speaker 7 (06:09):
Yeah, And as is so often the case in these things.
This is one where the head to head matchup plays
a role, and it's three to one in Muzzetti's favor. So,
for whatever reason, Muzzetti's game style seems to trouble vere
If there's not many players that clearly was Vera's ranking
and record being as good as what it is, there's
not many players have a head to head edge over him,
So this is a bit of a quirt that someone
(06:29):
ranked where Muzetti is still an elite player would lead
the head to head to that extent against Verev. Now,
some of those have been on clay, but not all
of them. He got them in Vienna at the back
end of last year on indoor hard, and he's beaten
them the last couple of times on clay, So three
to one in Muzetti's favor. He likes coming up against
Alexander Verev.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Lastly, Ourcaaz defeated Jack Draper six four sixty four. Draper's
looking very strong at what should be his least favorable surface,
but he's obviously all eyes on him as we approach
Wimbledon as well, because I think England's got all their hopes,
prayers and dreams.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
On him, don't they? But they'll turn on him, they'll
say he's Scottish or something like that, do with all
their heroes. But Demon had a decent run, didn't he.
Speaker 5 (07:08):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (07:09):
Yeah he Yeah, another fourth round for Demon and he
has over a week to freshen up for the French Open,
where as we know he made the quarters last year,
so eyeing off another run there. And I think during
the clay he went two fourth rounds and two quarter finals,
so on his least favorite surface he's done very well
and I think he's just sitting around that sort of
(07:30):
ten mark right now. So I feel like if he
can hold that top ten after the clay, going into
the grass, his best surface, and then onto the hard
court where he didn't play much last year because he
had that hip injury from Wimbledon, so not many points
to defend there. And I think, you know, he's been pushing.
He's been as high as top seven and absolutely incredible
(07:50):
the way he's just getting everything out of himself.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Was it last year at Roland Garrison where there was
like the mini Demon, the kid dressed up as him
that you got to get him back anyway rematch? Yeah,
he was super keen, so good. Yeah, Oh my God,
that was so cute that we'll find him. If you're
out there listening, you probably not speaking French. But get
to tennis.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Okay, let's move on to what's caught your eye.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Caught your eye.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
I was going to kick off.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Sorry, it was my attempt to sting.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
I really liked it.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
I was going to kick off with mine first, just
because I'm in the hosting chairs, I will be how
we're going to focus to my own yep, No, but
I wanted to discuss. Came out this week that Djokovic
and Murray have parted ways. So they've been well, Murray's
been his coach for the past six months. We saw
them in action here at the Australian Open as well.
(08:44):
They were expected to continue until at least Wimbledon, but
he has made first round exits in four of his
last five tournaments.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
What do you think?
Speaker 6 (08:55):
Yeah, it's I saw this news yesterday and I feel
like there's probably been a disappointing stretch for Djokovic. I
think we sort of can't ignore that he still made
the semis of the Australian Open final of Miami, maybe
a little bit injured in those matches, so obviously the
Australian Open one where he pulled out. So we've just
been so used to his lofty expectations winning at least
(09:16):
two slams per year, so it hasn't been the partnership
that we probably thought it could have been. Obviously they've
potentially just sort of butted heads a little bit. Didn't
work out the way they would have wanted and part
of ways, but great to see. They both gave each
other shout outs on Twitter and on their social medias.
But it'll be interesting where Djokovic goes from here and
(09:37):
sort of how much longer he plays for.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Because I'm sure they're still mates, but it always felt
strange to me, but were they ever mates? It's much
I'm being a bit political here, but yeah, because it's
sort of like your Novak Djokovic and you're Andy Murray.
Why did Novak need Andy? Was it just for show? Like,
look at me, I've got a coach and I'm not
going to listen to him.
Speaker 5 (09:58):
No, I don't think it's for show. No.
Speaker 7 (10:00):
I think there's there's that element that there's always tricky
to move beyond right or not an easy impediment to
overcome in terms of you've been adversaries at the absolute
guilt edge. He especially deep in Grand Slams, and it's
easy to say that, I think a lot harder to
do to put that that stuff, that baggage to one
(10:22):
side and become united as a team on a high
trust and psychological safety. And I think the best coach
player relationships are those relationships where they're entirely open with
each other. You know, I've got this level of honesty
that's just unparalleled, and I wouldn't imagine it's easy to
get to that. You overlay some of Novak's recent struggles
against that, and looks done a great job of touching
(10:42):
on some of those. Against such a lofty standard that
we're accustomed to seeing from him. He's at a really,
really tricky spot in his career.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Not for the first time.
Speaker 7 (10:50):
We've seen him have, perhaps not to this extent, but
we've seen him have some dips along the way, probably
going back now I have to check my records, but
six or seven years we saw him have a bit
of a dip in his career there He's rebounded before
this one looks like it's really serious or really grave
again up against that lofty backdrop, and so I just
got to feel like the tension would have been high
in the camp. There wouldn't have been These wouldn't have
been easy conversations or easy moments to navigate through. Let's
(11:14):
alone coming from that background where they've been adversaries for
the best part of twenty years. So I'd have to
say it's probably not a huge surprise knowing some of
the volatility that might have been at play here.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Yeah, I mean, it just was always weird to me
that someone's being coached by someone who was always beaten
by you. So no, not always, sorry always, but just
speaking about Australian Open, like how many quarter semis and
finals did they meet and Novak would defeat him and
now he's meant to be taking advice.
Speaker 7 (11:42):
Yeah, but I suppose, and look would be able to
talk to this. I suppose, And I've got my own
bias here. You know, sometimes if you're Novak, you're potentially
the greatest player of all time. You can't be coached
by anyone then.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
To that point, yes, Kings, So it's a complainer.
Speaker 5 (11:57):
It's got his record.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Are you prepared to take advice or not?
Speaker 7 (12:00):
It's a little bit like sometimes with a coaching hat
on you know, every parent wants the youngster to hit
with a player better than them, but if you Novak,
you'd never take the practice court everft That's exactly right,
So Luke would have his own view on what makes
a great player is not necessarily I don't think that
the ingredients that will make a great coach.
Speaker 6 (12:19):
Yeah, no, I completely agree. I think he went to
Andy to try and I guess have someone where he
could relate to for those bigger matches. Andy had been
at the point end of so many Slams, so many
events where they played each other, and maybe Djokovic was
sort of trying to get his insight into maybe what
he saw from about Djokovic's game from an opponent standpoint,
(12:40):
So you don't really know. But yeah, back to your point,
someone you know, I think someone like Djokovic and a
lot of these top ten players, especially like if they
wanted someone to coach them who was better than them,
there wouldn't be many around it, so many candidates.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
So yeah, interesting. I agree.
Speaker 6 (12:58):
It's a strange appointment when first happened, but not too
surprised that that sort of come to an end.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
What was you just changed tennis? Then once you're the best,
you just leave.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
Paddle or something.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Yeah. Yeah, form question, who do you think wouldn't be
his next coach? What's what's in the cards?
Speaker 1 (13:15):
Now? Where to from a coaching point of view?
Speaker 3 (13:19):
You've got the job.
Speaker 5 (13:21):
So guys, I'm leaving a few days. We're starting a
trial with the French I got. I got a call
from an unknown number, which I usually don't take last night.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
Did you pay that debt back? Or is that a
different way front?
Speaker 5 (13:33):
Yeah, I've probably got some span on my phone. You know.
Speaker 6 (13:38):
He part of ways with his long term coach, Marion
Vider a couple of years back, and who knows, maybe
he goes back there. But you know, I feel like
someone you know, I guess for the tail end of
his of his career right now, and someone who maybe
he can relate to, maybe enjoy it with. Potentially wasn't
much much enjoyment with with Murray there, so maybe even
(14:01):
like a relation, possibly even one of his brothers. I'm
not sure, but yeah, it's an interest. Do you think
he's got another slam in him some?
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (14:12):
I think it's interesting, Luke, because my mind went to
the same place. Is it back to a Marion Bider
or a Gore, An Ivanissovitch, those people that have been
key ingredients in this corner for so long, and perhaps
that stability and solidarity right now is what's sorely needed.
If you're inside the Jokovic camp, I'm not going to
say no. Yeah, I've got to think come Wimbledon and
(14:32):
come to the US Open. I think it's unlikely to
be at Roland Garross and come to the Australian Open again.
I'm not going to say no because I'm just not
silly enough. I hope to write off what, in my
mind is the greatest player of all time. So I
need more evidence. We've had a little bit of evidence recently,
but I need more evidence before I can definitively sit
here and say no.
Speaker 5 (14:49):
I don't think so the time's up.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Cool.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
We'll see what happens with Djokovic in the coming weeks
as we get to rollin GARRA's But Simon, we're going
to stay on you.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
What caught your eye this week?
Speaker 7 (15:00):
I wanted to talk a little bit about Peyton Sterns
and we've seen her with some remarkable back to back
to back victories this week in Rome, but even coming
back a little bit further beyond that, this has been
an interesting story of resilience and maybe humor in the
face of some adversity, and she's maybe handled some things
a little bit differently than we might have become accustomed
(15:20):
to most of these players handling them in the circumstances.
But I think she's been true to herself, right, So
what I mean by that. In early April, she loses
her coach, Tom Hill, who is the previous coach of
Maria Sachary worked with Peyton Sterns for the best part
of a year. They started in the clay court swing
twelve months ago. Tom said, Peyton, thanks, but no thanks,
I'm going back to the camp of Sachary. Early April
(15:40):
leaves Peyton Sterns. And this is not an off season thing.
Remember this is now a month out from Roland Garross
Winwood's right around the court. This is in the midst
of the season.
Speaker 5 (15:48):
It's not good timing, doesn't get much, doesn't get much
worse time.
Speaker 7 (15:54):
And I think Peyton Stern's, to her credit, kind of
handled it with a degree of humor that I quite liked.
Unique and we don't often see it. Went on social
media and said, well, applications now open, dm me. You know,
I'm looking for a coach, and I think has since
landed on BLAZKAVC and I think she posted again applications
now closed.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
And they started again.
Speaker 7 (16:12):
Come on, yeah, they started. We don't often see it.
They started in Madrid she did really well. She defeated
our own Australian Kimberrell. There she been Amanda in a
Simova Massarova, who's a good player, lost to sabal Anca.
And then in Rome she's gone up a gear again.
So she's defeated klan Skyer, she's defeated Keys seven six
in the third, she's defeated Osaka seven six and the third,
(16:34):
and she's defeated Alina's for Delena if you don't mind,
seven six and the third. So it's been the most
remarkable run you.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
Need but to get a lottery ticket with those numbers.
Speaker 7 (16:43):
Yeah, So clearly, you know, despite all of that upheaval
and adversity and change in her camp over the last
month or two, she's playing some of the best tennis
of her life. So I took my cap to her
in that regard, and it's easy to understand why. Even
though I mentioned how difficult. Perhaps that that backdrop is
her game is so well suited to the courts and
to the red clay in particular. She's someone that is
fourhand dominant in her game and she smacks the ball.
(17:05):
She doesn't hold back. So in terms of what we
come to expect in the women's game, top the top
ten players in the world average one hundred and eight
en kilometers an hour on their forehand and twenty four
hundred ReBs. That's speed and spin. What does she do?
Speaker 3 (17:18):
What does she do?
Speaker 7 (17:18):
Peyton STN's on fourhand side, she's averaging one hundred and
twenty three, so five kilometers an hour more than the
top ten, and she's averaging way up at twenty six
hundred ReBs on the ball on four hand side. So
the these are these are elite numbers and Luke will
be able to talk to. And it's not just on
fourhand side. She actually exceeds the average as well on
backhand side from speed and spin, so that ball's coming
(17:40):
at you in a hurry and it's jumping and exploding
at you on the red clay, she's got a kicksurve
to go with it. And the other thing is from
a tactical perspective, She's someone that one of the tactical
measures we measure here on our dashboards. Luke Ha talked
to us, how often are you looking for your forehand
out of your backhand corner? If you're someone liked Neil Medvedev,
you're not really looking for that play. You're happy to
trust your backhand. If you're someone like Peyton Stens, forty
(18:03):
percent of your fehands are out of your backhand corner.
That means she's hungry to find her forehand at all,
every every and any available opportunity. That the number there,
that what's par is twenty percent. So she doubles that
she's desperate to hit her forehand and when she finds
it she can do something.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
She must be quick on her feet to get there.
Speaker 7 (18:22):
That's exactly right, And that's a really good, amazing to
make zave Is. It's one thing to want to play
like that. It's another thing entirely to be able to
physically commit to that and employment that game.
Speaker 6 (18:30):
Stop, well, said Simon, and I think, yeah, the slower
courts allow her to actually get around and use her
feed to hit those foehands. Because Dasha actually played her
at Wimbledon last year and she beat her, and I
thought it was a pretty good match up on the
grass because we're actually able to get it into the
back end and the speed of the surface you're you know,
I guess you're just able to do that and then
also get her into her forehand corner, because that's Simon saying,
(18:53):
she's sort of camping in that backhand corner quite a bit.
So it's very interesting. She's playing great on the clay.
I think she moves very well as well. I think
we sort of underestimate the power of college tennis as well.
She came through college and just played so many matches.
You learn to compete at college, and I think she's
done that. And yeah, she plays a lot of three setters,
(19:14):
as you're alluded to, and I think she's a real
chance for the French Open as well. And great to
see that sort of story of resilience and you lose
your coach and in the middle of the season and
you come and you're in the semis and you've got
a crack at PALLLLINI so very good.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Can ask what do you think, both of you? How's
she going to go against Paullini?
Speaker 7 (19:33):
Well, they've not played before, but who's Yeah, she can't
continue to ride the crest of the wave, right, Yeah.
I think the key is when you've got this type
of momentum, it's hard to get so when you're running
hot like this against the backdrop of tumult and uphevil
and she'll be desperate to keep this going. She's got
conditions that suit the courts in Rome in particular are
(19:54):
generally pretty lively, which exacerbates the effect of that spin
on her forehand side and particular, and a kick serve,
so she's going to be a handful. And then she's
up against the hometown girl. So probably a fifty to
fifty matchup for me.
Speaker 6 (20:06):
Yeah, probably is a question of what she's got left
in the tank. Yeah, I think there's a few of
those six in the thirds as well, So Paulini playing
at home there'll be some nerves there as well, but
obviously the home crowd advantage as well. So very intriguing
that match. I don't know, it's probably genuine fifty to
fifty and depends a little bit on Sterns how she's feeling,
but probably give the edge to Paulini there who French
(20:28):
Open Final last year.
Speaker 5 (20:30):
Yeah, final of.
Speaker 6 (20:31):
Wimbledon as well, beat Dasha first round of the French
and thought it wasn't a great performance from Dasher, and
then two weeks later in the.
Speaker 5 (20:37):
Final so and then the final of the Wimbledon as well.
Speaker 6 (20:41):
So great story of resilience actually for Paulini as well.
She's a little older and sort of.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
Hanging around now twenty nine.
Speaker 4 (20:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (20:50):
Yeah, I think it's really just the last couple of
years where she's really broken through, so you know, very small,
so she's got to work super hard. It's a great
sort of I guess example for Dasher as well, who's
not the biggest and you've just got to be there
every point, point in, point out and really compete.
Speaker 5 (21:07):
So yeah, good match there.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
Yeah, so let's not stop you on your role. What's
caught your eye, Luke, So.
Speaker 6 (21:14):
I wanted to talk about the withdrawals and lucky losers
in Rome this week, and we've got nine in total,
four lucky losers on the men's side and five and
the women's and outside of those as well, there are
four more pullouts on the women's side where they weren't
(21:35):
lucky losers but they were within the tournament and three
more on the men's including hum Bear, Breeze Boy, Tomo
and Matteo Barattini so and then on the women's side,
Badosa Siegerman who beat Dasha in qualities, Gavid of a
benchit Folinets And I'm not sure what you think, Simon,
but I've been saying it for a while and just
the the schedule. The season is so long, it's so physical.
(22:00):
The game is becoming more and more physical as well, well,
only in May, and we're seeing that amount of pullouts
and lucky losers. And I think these two week events
as well, they're super long and you're just hanging around
the courts and I think, you know, we haven't even
played our second Grand Slam of the year yet, and
you know, I feel like a lot of the players
are sort of laboring at the moment.
Speaker 5 (22:20):
So very interesting one.
Speaker 6 (22:22):
I feel like we need to sort of shorten the
season possibly, but then again, we want the top players
playing all these events, So it is a tricky one.
Not sure what the answer exactly is, but I feel
like something's got to sort of change that.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
There's a bit of a silver lining to it, not
necessarily for those bigger names, but more for the younger
players coming through, the lower ranked players, they get a chance.
Like these lucky losers, they're lucky for a reason because
they know that they've finally got an opportunity to put
themselves on the world stage.
Speaker 6 (22:50):
Yeah, I mean, that's the great thing about a lucky loser.
You get a second chance. And especially in these Masters
series where there's buyers and lucky losers can go into
that second round slot. So it definitely is very very
lucky for those players. But I just think, yeah, look,
we want the top players playing, but you've got Djokovic, Montfige, Goffen, Humbert,
Bearattini pulling out. I'm not sure it's great for the
(23:13):
game having those guys injured and playing injured. And the
other thing with these Master series there's mandatories. So if
you're sort of healthy, you have to play, otherwise theres fines.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
So can you explain that a bit, luke, because I
know that, Like, so if you have like you're going
to you have to play. You have to prove that
you're not fit to play as well, Right, you can't
our listeners, You're going to have it see the doctors.
Speaker 6 (23:36):
And even them, you've only got so many of those
cards that you can only sat amount, and if you're
healthy and don't play, it's obviously a big fine and
you take a zero on your ranking. So I guess
with people they don't know that you get eighteen slots
for your points accountable to accountable tournaments throughout the year,
So a zero on one of those if your top
(23:57):
hundred is substantial because probably if your top twenty, that
eighteenth slot could be a fifty pointer, so it's actually substantial,
and that could be the difference of multiple ranking spots.
Speaker 5 (24:09):
So it is a tough one. I don't think there's
too many.
Speaker 6 (24:13):
Other sports where there's an eleven month season, especially something
as physical as tennis, so I think, and then I
guess the other argument is if we shorten it, a
lot of these top players playing exhibitions, and that really
contradicts that.
Speaker 5 (24:27):
I completely get that.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
Yeah, hey, you guys are meant to be resting.
Speaker 5 (24:30):
They might say it's less pressure, it's a job, but.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
Again, we all need money. Yeah, it's expensive.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
We get four weeks off a year in Australia. You
know they get four weeks off. Granted I'm sitting in
a chair talking into a microphone and not running a
couple hundred k's on a court.
Speaker 5 (24:44):
But look, I couldn't it ree more.
Speaker 7 (24:46):
Something's got to give, And I think what we're seeing
is like it is as the Grand Slams too, are
becoming more and more attractive to the playing group, and
this has been the case now or a trend for
five plus years. We're seeing more and more priority placed
on being absolutely healthy and cherry ripe for day one
of the Slams, which means it's becoming increasingly difficult for
(25:06):
the other events in the tennis ecosystem to continue to
exist with against that backdrop, because everyone wants to be
right for day one of Rolling Girls. So somebody's got
to give. Luke couldn't agree with a lot more. We've
got to revamp the tennis calendar. It's not a new problem,
but as of yet we yet to find the solution.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
Luke, what would be the dream scenario you think for players?
Speaker 6 (25:27):
I would say dream scenario would be almost finishing a
couple weeks after the US Open. And I was saying
this argument to someone and then they counter men said, oh,
what about Asia?
Speaker 5 (25:38):
What about Europe?
Speaker 6 (25:39):
I said, well, there's always going to be tournaments there,
Like you're only saying that it's because that's what we
know the point, and I said, look, it's unlucky. I
love the tornments in Asia, but something has to give,
as you've been saying. And I think two and a
half months, three months off, it's not crazy like that's
still a nine month season. Forty as we know is
(25:59):
six months. I think, you know, I'll use Alex Demonar
as an example because I'm close to that scenario. But
he plays to early December almost every year, and he's
because he's got Davis Cup and the end of your
finals last years, the top eight finals, and he comes
out to Australia on about the twentieth or twenty first
of December. He might have one week off, one week
(26:21):
pre season, and then you're starting again. And not only
to say or to mention, he's got the pressures of
all January, you know, being the top Australian, all the pressure.
Speaker 5 (26:30):
On him the Cup. Yeah, you see, and then he's
got so much pressure on the poor guy.
Speaker 6 (26:36):
So you know when he spoke about he was a
little bit fatigued after Dubai this year, before nim Wells,
you can completely see why. So I would think if
you finished it end of September, give the players a
couple weeks off, three weeks off, and then they have
you know, November December to train.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Anyway, if anyone's listening out there on the tour, we've
got some suggestions.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
Exactly get him chart little nap at the end of
the year.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
Moving to you a yeah, well we're getting holy are we?
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Well a little bit but breaking news. The Pope, the
earthly head of the Catholic Church, welcomed a sinner into
the Vatican and sinner so he's living in sin with Yannick. Yeah,
two Italians just having a chat. Of course, you know
pictures up here and you can probably hear it on
the pod. But yeah, Leo the fourteenth, the newly minted Pope,
(27:28):
welcome the newly minted back on the field, Yannick Sinner.
They swapped rackets, they had a chat. The first American Pope, Leo,
first American Pope. Big tennis fan. He's a bit of
an amateur player. There's actually a secret tennis court at
the Vatican.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
I'm so into that.
Speaker 5 (27:46):
Yeah, what surface is that?
Speaker 3 (27:49):
Holy water? And it's frozen so it's the first ice.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
I don't know, I think it was, do you know,
Andy Clay, I feel like it was no the court
he played on hard court.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Yeah, I don't know. We'll check that, we'll come.
Speaker 6 (28:04):
Back to you.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
But yeah, he's been he's been a very keen tennis player,
and so's so's Yanick. He's quite keen at the tennis.
But I don't know, we reckon Yannick was there to
kind of confess a few things or.
Speaker 6 (28:16):
Was a lengthy handshake, That's all I know. Yeah, I
was waiting for one to let go and and questioning
that grip that the pope was that wasn't no content
and a little bit a little bit high up on
the grip.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
So well, Leo, if you need some tips, hit up.
Speaker 5 (28:31):
Look, I'm looking to fill in a few weeks, so
fly me in.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
He's actually cook quite an American accent.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
Yeah, like you forget about it. Literally walking here from Chicago.
Speaker 6 (28:42):
You guys see that video of Yanni going to serve
when he was practicing, then he saw the Jets coming,
he did he was going to throw the ball toss up,
and then he saw the Jets with the colors with
the that's cool going over and had a bit of
a look.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
Yeah, and he'll put that in the show notes, that's cool.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
It was really cool.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
That's what caught my eye.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
Yeah, I love it.
Speaker 3 (29:01):
I made a little bit left to centerp but it's
still sort of tennis related.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
It's really good done cool.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
We've got a couple other storylines from Rome. We have
touched on Paolini quite a bit, but she's going strong.
Could Paolini and Sinner win the men's and women's singles title?
Speaker 1 (29:18):
What do we think? Are we going to have an
Italian off again?
Speaker 3 (29:22):
Like the fans have any to say about it? Yes,
Hope has blessed it potentially, but what about in reality?
Speaker 5 (29:27):
No.
Speaker 6 (29:28):
I definitely think she's a chance and obviously plays so
well on the on the clay Paolini and handling the
home pressure quite well. And there are a couple other
results in the men's that caught my eye and two
guys that I think are a good sort of outside
chances for the French Open, Ben Shelton losing six two
six one first round, so I thought that was a
bit of a surprise.
Speaker 5 (29:47):
And for Keena.
Speaker 6 (29:48):
Davidovich, who's been playing well as well. He's given Alex
demon Are a few troubles. I think maybe beat him
a few weeks ago. Also going down two and two.
So a couple of surprising ones that caught my eye there.
And it was their first round, but a second round
because they had to buy Archie. So yeah, I feel
like two guys who will both be seated at the
French Open going down pretty convincingly there.
Speaker 5 (30:07):
I thought that was a little bit of a shock upset.
Speaker 7 (30:11):
Yeah, well, we've spoken about the Paulini Sterns matchup being
in my mind fifty to fifty and looks perhaps given
the slight edge to Paulini there was good reason. So
absolutely every chance she can find herself playing for the title.
And as for Sinner, he comes up against Casperude. We
know Rude's best surface by far, I think as the
red clay. He's had his best results across his career
on the surface, so that'll be a test for you.
(30:31):
He owns the head to head there three to nothing,
but this is the first time they'll meet on clay,
so this will be a proper test for him in
his first tournament back.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
The other one I ordered to call out massive friend.
With the pod end of the Tom Marta and Alan Pez,
they're into the women's double quarterfinals in Rome. Storm's only
been back a couple of months after an achilles tear,
and I just can't believe how well they are doing,
and really hope that they make Nickney's steel.
Speaker 3 (30:58):
Now, no one's going to bust that one.
Speaker 1 (31:00):
But how good would it feel for Storm to be?
You know, when did she go back Indian Wells Miami
she started playing again.
Speaker 6 (31:07):
Yeah, she started off playing doubles there and then just
before just speaking to the Hunter camp and it felt
like they just wanted to ease her back in with
some doubles and then on the clay where it's possibly
a little bit easier on the body, starting to play
some singles. So yeah, she struggled a little bit in
her first few singles matches. Struggles maybe a bit harsh,
she's gone down, but you know, after a year out
(31:28):
of the sport and then coming back at the highest
level of singles is very difficult. So I think she's
finding her feet there in the singles and the great
to see winning some doubles matches with Ellen Perez And
I think, as Simon would also say, I feel like
even when you're first coming back, wins in doubles is
very very beneficial, just to get that confidence just get
(31:49):
that winning feeling back and then you can sort of
start the transition onto the singles court and then onto
the grass, which she'll play great on.
Speaker 2 (31:56):
And they're due to play with other partners at Rolling
and garret Us the Hunter's playing with Dollar Hyde and
Perez is playing with Milli car Markets.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
Do I say that right? Oh my god, I'm getting
better guys.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
And the other thing I wanted to call out is
with Roland Garras around the corner, we have well, the
French have announced the wild cards and excitingly Tristan's school
Kate here from Australia and Destiny Aeva.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
Is two of those people from Ossie that will be going.
Speaker 3 (32:30):
So what's that process like? Like we publiclyven know what
a wild card means and people get it, but when
you hear about it, it must be crazy to like
cire Us, I'm in and you didn't think you were
going to be.
Speaker 7 (32:41):
Yeah, well so they can probably speak to that better
than I can. In terms of the process. You know,
behind the scenes here that's the leadership team and from
a player dev or a performance perspective here at tennis
Australia would get together under Tim Jolly's leadership as the
director of strategy and performance, and really these decisions are
are nuanced, and they're in the margins and they're not
easy to make that team Tim Paul Kildery. Typically the
(33:03):
Davis and Billy Jinking Cup captains and the leadership teams
get together and make those decisions. And as far as
being on the receiving end of it, good, bad or ugly,
Luke can probably explain the whole gamut of emotions there.
Speaker 3 (33:13):
At times good, you're not bad, a little bit ugly,
but you'll be right.
Speaker 6 (33:15):
No, I've been through the roller coaster. I think, looking
back on it, a wild card is you know, it's
a privilege. It's it's one of those things where it's
out of your control. It's you know, if you're not
in the tournament on your ranking, you kind of don't
deserve to be in the tournament. So if you get it,
it's an absolute sort of blessing. You're lucky. So you
(33:39):
can't read too much into it and think about a
wild card. It can go to sort of anyone, and
there's I guess there's sort of criterias. You can give
it to older players that have maybe been top hundred
and done a few more things in the sport on
their way.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
Back and.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
And venus yeld card place.
Speaker 6 (33:56):
Yeah, but you know, I think more importantly it's to
those up and car up and coming players who need
the opportunities, need the experiences. You know, they maybe knock
on the door of the top hundred, and experiences like
this will help them go to the next level.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
Pardon my ignorance. Has there been a wild Card Grand
Slam champion?
Speaker 5 (34:16):
Yes? And it was.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Cool?
Speaker 5 (34:21):
Was it played? Raft raft?
Speaker 3 (34:22):
Donald pretty good said?
Speaker 2 (34:27):
Not bad?
Speaker 5 (34:28):
Well up there at the start.
Speaker 1 (34:31):
You actually.
Speaker 3 (34:34):
He's just smart, he is.
Speaker 5 (34:37):
It just was brilliant.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
Now Destiny was actually on our Sister show what she
was she was.
Speaker 1 (34:42):
On the sit down? Should we take a look?
Speaker 7 (34:45):
Great?
Speaker 3 (34:47):
What's it like playing the very cream of the crop
in the game, And what's it like when you reflect
on that you beat Sabolenka, who's now the world's dominant player.
Speaker 4 (34:56):
Yeah, I still think about, you know, watching all the
girls up there that I've played and known how well
I've done, even against Rebeccna. I feel like when I
play those quality players, I actually play better. So it's
just a matter of getting there myself. Actually inside the
top one hundred and being able to perform day and
(35:18):
day out against those girls and actually play other quality players.
So I can, you know, just keep testing my ability
and yeah, and knowing that I do play well against
those girls.
Speaker 7 (35:31):
It.
Speaker 4 (35:32):
Yeah, I think that's one of the things that keeps
me going because I see them, you know, playing the
big tournaments that I want to play every single week,
So you know, I think, yeah, that's definitely motivating for me.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Okay, welcome back. We are spoiled to have experts like
Simon Ray on the show today. So we're launching a
new segment which means you're going to have to come
back often.
Speaker 1 (35:56):
And what's it called?
Speaker 2 (35:57):
Say?
Speaker 3 (35:58):
Simon says, but thank you for their thanks for help.
They're producer boys. Lovely day. So Simon, what do you say, now,
I won't do that bit you go back to do it? Simon,
what do you say?
Speaker 1 (36:10):
Sound like a frog?
Speaker 3 (36:11):
And he looks like a frog.
Speaker 5 (36:12):
Well, I'm not wearing what I say against that backdrop
or that introduction, but what I'm what I'm thinking?
Speaker 3 (36:18):
He said, goodbye.
Speaker 7 (36:19):
The team asked me to articulate where we think Egishwontech's
sitting with rolling Garros right around the corner, and where
I think she's sitting is if I'm in the camp there,
I'm emphasizing that you are the envy of every other
player when you walk into the gates and Rolling Garriss
a week from now. You're a four time Rolling Garrols champion,
you're a five time major winner. You've had some hiccups
(36:41):
that were unaccustomed to seeing from you on your clay
court campaign in twenty twenty five. But do you want
to look at this one or two ways? Do you
want to take this recent form and some of these
losses as a bit of a burden and something to
be worried about and a little concerned about, or do
you see this as a massive opportunity to kind of
get back on the front foot and really thrive off
that fear factor which I think she has as soon
(37:03):
as she walks through the gates at Rolling Garrels, The
fear factor that the rest of the competition experiences when
they see you even in the venue, let alone come
up against you, come up against you. So that's kind
of the rhetoric or the storytelling, I guess, if you like,
or some of the energy that I'd be trying to
create if I was in the camp. That's what I
say now taking a bit of a deeper look. Tracking back, look,
(37:26):
we know one of the things that troubles Eager, and
Luke would have a view on this as well. I'm
sure if you can starve Eager of time and really
play with weapons up in the court and threaten her
with some weapons, it's not easy for her. She prefers
if she could draw it up a little more time
on the ball, which is why it plays her preferred
surface any time to get that yeah right. She's another
player that likes to use her forehand. Luke spoke previously
(37:49):
about Peyton Sterns and the clay, the opportunity that allows
her to get to a left and use her forehand
as a weapon. If there is an Archilles' heel in
her game, it's her second serve. It's not as easy
to take advantage of the second serve on clay. But
that's where I'd be focusing if I was in the camp,
because some of the concerns are on her second serve numbers.
So she's lost recently to Gough, to Ostapenko and to Collins.
(38:11):
If we have a look at these matches, when she
played Ostapenko in Stuttgart.
Speaker 5 (38:14):
She won thirty nine.
Speaker 7 (38:15):
Percent of her second serve points thirty nine percent against
GoF She lost one on one, got beaten convincingly about
forty percent of her second serve points, so points on
her own second serve when she played Collins, and this
is the one that did concern me a little bit
because Osta Penco can take the racket out of your
hands at times, so can Goff. Now that was more
one sided than any of us would have been thinking Colins.
I wouldn't have expected that to play out the way
(38:36):
it did. She won just twenty two percent of her
second serve points, and I had a deeper look last year,
she's winning fifty five. Over the year as a whole,
she wins fifty five percent of her second serve points.
So when we're thinking thirty nine, forty and twenty two,
we're a long way down on fifty five. This year
as a whole so far, she's down in the mid forties.
So her second serve we know it's an Achilles' heel
(38:57):
for her. It's now starting to be exposed more than
we've seen pre So I've told you what I'm saying.
If I'm in the camp of eager, you know, in
terms of the messaging that I'm trying to deliver going
into rolling garrass. These are some of the things. Well,
this is one area where the competition are trying to
pick her off, so that'll be where the coaching team
are focusing. There's the I guess, the emotional hook, and
then there's the tactical stuff.
Speaker 5 (39:16):
So what have we got to do better?
Speaker 7 (39:17):
Maybe it's we've got to find more first serves, so
the second serve is being exposed less. Maybe we've got
to be bolder and more courageous and get after our
second serve more often. And that's kind of I think
sometimes those two things can be tied together. So you
walk through the gates at Roland Garross, you this is
your territory. Every other player is trying to knock you
off here, and you've got the fear factor here. So
let's believe in your kick serve again. Let's get that
(39:39):
thing launching. Maybe it's back to basics. Let's keep it simple.
Every second serve goes to the righty back end, and
we back your execution to get it lifting and kicking
and jumping on players. But let's do it with more
viciousness than what we've been delivering it late of late
how we've been delivering it of late. So that's how
I see the Eggos Roon Tech game coming into Rolling Garrison,
Bumps in the Road. Sure, still the Queen of Clay
(39:59):
for me, it's still my favorite going into Rolling Girls.
Speaker 3 (40:02):
And that's what Simon said.
Speaker 5 (40:05):
How was that?
Speaker 3 (40:05):
Yeah, that was that was intense and some of the
numbers Yeah, well there was some big and there were
some small. That was very good. Luke any thoughts.
Speaker 6 (40:12):
I think, yeah, she's definitely got that aura like sort
of Raffa has when they walk through the gates and
four time champion and playing her on shatrare definitely has
that different feeling. So thing exactly what you said, trying
to channel sort of that narrative to her if you're
in the camp of Sweet Tech.
Speaker 5 (40:31):
So very interesting.
Speaker 6 (40:32):
Those second serve numbers definitely very down on previous, very concerning,
and I think you know a lot of the women
they don't want to get into sort of any baseline
exchanges with her, right, So the second serve is, you know,
sort of the first shot in the rally if you're
the opponent, so you're trying to take it, you know,
(40:52):
take advantage, trying to be aggressive. So I think that's
definitely an area where they're trying to get at her,
and it's proving that bit of a a sort of
concerning area for her.
Speaker 5 (41:01):
At the moment.
Speaker 7 (41:02):
Let's get back to a strengths based approach, kicks of
heaviness of the Foyan, physicality and movement and willingness and
ability to defend on the surface. No one can get
through you at this venue at Roland Garross. If the
courts are lively. Sometimes in Paris we see thirty degrees
and lively courts, sometimes we see ten.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
And it's always spooky when everyone there is wearing the
same hats.
Speaker 1 (41:24):
Someone told me I need to buy one, and I
was like, I will not be doing there work.
Speaker 7 (41:28):
I think I'm saying, o A. If the courts are lively,
you can use your weapons to great effect. If the
courts are playing a bit more dead and a bit
more slip, then players can't get through you because of
how good a defender you are, so you can come
at it from any either way you want. Really, if
you're in the coaching team and.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
Luke Egger's about to go to match call. Right now,
you've got one sentence to yell out to her for
her to listen. Go, that's an interesting choice.
Speaker 5 (41:55):
Back yourself. You've won this thing four times.
Speaker 3 (41:58):
But then unfortunately she's got those giant head phones on
and she turned around again eager take the headphones off.
Sage advice.
Speaker 5 (42:07):
That's it.
Speaker 6 (42:07):
You've won these four times, ten less than Rafa. It's
still pretty good.
Speaker 3 (42:12):
Yeah, A ways to go before you get a statue
out in the front.
Speaker 5 (42:15):
Yes, and she needs at least three more.
Speaker 1 (42:17):
Proper Let's roll into Ace of the week.
Speaker 3 (42:20):
Great, Well, anyone is still listening? No, over to you, Luke,
how are you? I can go?
Speaker 6 (42:27):
I had the mum for Mother's Day come over from
the other show this weekend, so the week great. Great
to see her, my brother and his son. And because
on the Thursday show said that we're going to win, ye,
so we decided to go to that game. It was
pretty boring because I knew the result going to win
(42:47):
is bad, so yeah, was right normally yeah, exactly and
then yeah, and then played a bit of tennis on Saturday,
went to the blockbuster game Richmond and West Coast seveneenth
and eighteenth.
Speaker 1 (43:00):
Believe Richmond one. But the one game I decided not
to watch two points.
Speaker 6 (43:06):
Yeah, my little nephew, he likes Richmond. So it went
to that one and then dropped in the airport Monday morning.
So good, good to see them. They were ready to
get back to the country where they see.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
It's a bit out here in the big city. Yes, yeah, and.
Speaker 2 (43:18):
Footy matches for people who ain't used to being in
large volumes of people.
Speaker 3 (43:22):
Yeah, well they're probably used to watching footy from the
back of the ute, not the top of the g Yeah.
Speaker 6 (43:28):
So we're in the Colton cheer squad. Really good fun,
good win for Coton. Few injuries, but showed a lot
of heart.
Speaker 5 (43:35):
So that's my ad.
Speaker 1 (43:38):
How about you.
Speaker 3 (43:39):
Well, I was planning to say, oh I finally got
a haircut, but I didn't get a haircut.
Speaker 1 (43:44):
No, I can still see that weird curl at.
Speaker 3 (43:46):
This weird little ringlet happen.
Speaker 1 (43:48):
Yeah, it's like this weird flicky thing. Okay, you need
a haircut.
Speaker 3 (43:53):
It's an audio product on tube. Oh yeah, to shame
in it, so I'm gonna throw it out there. It
was Mother's Day on the weekend and we put the
boys and I put on a big day for their
mum and we cooked a beautiful lunch. Everyone had fun
and they gave her some gifts they made at kinder
(44:14):
and at school.
Speaker 1 (44:15):
Did you pop them in the bin?
Speaker 3 (44:16):
I didn't. Let's just say they might be there now,
dig cat maybe I love her? Yeah good, yeah, filing
them away for the garbage man to find. No, but
Mother's Day was great, So I shout out to all
the mums out there that it was just really fun,
fund good and I feel I have a haircut by
this time next week.
Speaker 1 (44:33):
Yeah, let's hope for our embrace.
Speaker 5 (44:36):
It and just go.
Speaker 3 (44:38):
Maybe you could go full early guys with job like lord,
fuck what I was thinking? More like Karen? Can I
speak to the managers? Style?
Speaker 1 (44:48):
That too intrue from Pathing campra.
Speaker 5 (44:52):
Into winter, So yeah, keep me wrong, grow the locks out, ponytail.
Speaker 3 (44:57):
Finally, we need to chat ept some of these hairstyles
on you. Yeah, I'm that that's the afternoon Sworded. Yeah,
if we do do that, they'll put them in the Simon.
Speaker 7 (45:12):
Mine's probably on a similar theme. Mother's Day were obviously
a very special day for all mums and the kids.
So my oldest to Charlie and Edie, I'm not a
Cats fan, but they managed to their grandparents and cousins
and they are all mad Cats fans living down in
Geelong like we do, and so they managed to secure
themselves a pass or a ticket to the Cat's game,
(45:35):
which the Cats were. They didn't come out on the
right side of the ledger of on this occasion, but
it was still a great atmosphere for a youngster and
just on Breeze she touched on the exact right note
there where she said something about the overwhelming crowds. My
daughter came with me to the game. That was the
first time she's made it, but she didn't quite get
to the start line. Just a little bit too many people,
too much. It's a little bit too full on, so
(45:57):
some had to come down and pick her up on
the other side of the Saint Mary's there. But Charlie,
I really enjoyed the day and we're really grateful for
what Anna, their mom does for for us, for me
and for all of us in our family.
Speaker 3 (46:07):
Absolutely love that.
Speaker 1 (46:09):
Well, my of the week is not to do with
Mother's Day because I am not a mother.
Speaker 3 (46:13):
And what about your dog? And I am always about.
Speaker 1 (46:16):
A dog mum.
Speaker 2 (46:18):
But yeah, my parents are back home and Nui. But
my ace of the week is that I hop on
a plane on Tuesday evening to go to Paris for
Roland Garrett.
Speaker 3 (46:27):
Yeah, which will be fun viva.
Speaker 1 (46:30):
Yeah. So I won't be here next week.
Speaker 3 (46:32):
Even better, I know I've got a new the week. Guys,
totally fair that you're going to be over there at
the having stuggle.
Speaker 1 (46:45):
Cargo, understand me.
Speaker 2 (46:51):
No, So I'm looking forward to that, going over to
do some stuff and figure out how the French do
opening week, not figure out, but just speak exposed to
their opening week, look at the media day stuff, do
some meetings and yeah, see how Aussie's go get some
content of out Aussies and qualities, which you know it's
always hard for us over here to get content of
(47:12):
our Australian players for our Tennis Australia platform. So very
excited about that. And I will be hanging out with
our ball kids who are in the Rolling Garras.
Speaker 3 (47:20):
Because we're sending some Aussie ball kids, two.
Speaker 2 (47:23):
Kids going over, so I will be doing some content
with them, like day in the life and what it's
like to work in the Roland Garross ball kids squad
versus Io ball kids squad, So lots of fun things
happening and I'm really looking forward to it.
Speaker 3 (47:36):
That's great. It's weird to think, like all these there's
four Grand Slams, so we're the Australian Open. Like each
one probably has like their version of a Brie, like
their head of.
Speaker 1 (47:45):
His name's Manuel.
Speaker 3 (47:46):
Yeah, he looks exactly like he's got a little mustache
a little bit, always riding a bike with a bagout
out the front. It's gonna be good.
Speaker 1 (47:52):
Yeah, it'd be great.
Speaker 5 (47:53):
Were you play caught one on?
Speaker 2 (47:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (47:58):
Were you playing now for it? Oh my god?
Speaker 5 (48:01):
Wondering who didn't bag the court?
Speaker 3 (48:06):
That's goods Yeah, prou Ryan.
Speaker 1 (48:09):
It's just there to get some kids to draw on
acrossant on a whiteboard.
Speaker 3 (48:17):
Was here tennis while you going to the Homer clay
so you better get that right when you're over there.
Speaker 1 (48:22):
Anyway, I met the kids.
Speaker 2 (48:23):
I'm on a group chat with all our team, so
I'm really looking forward to seeing how their experience is
because imagine being fifteen, that'd be crazy and getting awarded
this trip to go to Paris. And there's such lovely kids.
All our bull kids are. I actually love our Bull
Kids squad. But what just a special special thing to
(48:45):
be able to do and one of them turned sixteen
when they get over there are you going over Luke?
Yeah great, I'll be able to see you guys, because
I want to see get as much content of our
Aussies to be really able to promote everyone and hopefully
we go.
Speaker 3 (48:59):
Well, yeah, really good. It's going to take it. I
can feel it.
Speaker 1 (49:06):
Yeah, that's what we're all manifested.
Speaker 3 (49:09):
You've got his name written on you, Luke.
Speaker 5 (49:11):
Yes, shout out.
Speaker 1 (49:15):
Placement.
Speaker 6 (49:15):
Yeah, quarterfinals last year and as I said before, he
could and sort of freshen up in this week leading up,
and I think he's a real chance. He's been playing
really well a solo clay court swing so far and
I think he can definitely make a run.
Speaker 3 (49:31):
Well that might wrap us up journey. What I'm bray, gentlemen,
cross from us.
Speaker 2 (49:37):
Thanks for being part of the show. Is always a
pleasure to have you both. Look forward to seeing you
soon in the coming weeks.
Speaker 1 (49:44):
I won't be here. I will be emparissed.
Speaker 3 (49:46):
I will be calling in that that's our audience sighing,
I know, but I will be calling in. Oh that's right.
We'll put you on the big screen.
Speaker 2 (49:53):
From Roland Garros with Duncan and a few others. Might
get Bernie on as well to talk about how the
Ausies are going. In the meantime, don't forget you can
watch this episode and every other episode of the Tennis
on YouTube channel straight and open a TV and while
you there, be sure to hit the bell subscribe, stay
across the Tennis all year round, and of course you
can listen in your ears on any podcast provider you prefer.
Speaker 1 (50:17):
Thanks, team, have a great week and see you next week.
Speaker 3 (50:21):
Yeah, so Troubles
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