January 26, 2023 • 29 mins
Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka book their spots in the women’s final while Victoria Azarenka and Magda Linette bow out at the second last hurdle — our Round Table experts dissect Rybakina’s win and preview Day 12 men’s semifinals action: Karen Khachanov v Stefanos Tsitsipas and Novak Djokovic v Tommy Paul, the ‘Ice Brothers’ Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler continue their golden run into the men’s doubles final, plus some AO legends reveal their fantasy modern-day match-ups.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Match point for Arena Sablenka at forty thirty.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
She serves heavily.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Lynette does well just to get a racket on this
into the open car. He's put away by Arena Sablenka
and she holds her fistlaugh. The moment has finally arrived
for Arena Sablenka. She's in too, a first Australian Open final.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Hi everyone, and welcome to the AO Show with me.
John huvenars for Day eleven of the Australian Open. Glorious
conditions for women's semi final night and g didn't they
put on a show? Here's what's coming up. Rebeikner waves
bye bye to Azarenka.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
It's incredible atmosphere and I'm super happy to be in
the finals and twenty one more.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Time formula win. Sabolenka takes Pole's position in final.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
Super happy that I was able to get this one.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Plus a full preview of the men's semifinals.
Speaker 5 (00:57):
Djokovic does that to you because he's suffocating. When push
comes to shove, he delivers.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
And which players of today do the stars of yesterday
most want to play?
Speaker 6 (01:07):
I think it's just a nice challenge.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
That's all ahead. On the AO Show.
Speaker 5 (01:17):
Arena.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Sablenka is a Grand Slam finalist for the first time
in her career, downing Magdalanette in a straight set's semi
final statement. The Belarusians power hitting against the deft slice
and dice of Lynette made for a contrasting duel in
a fifty one minute first set. The unseeded Pole made
a solid start, breaking to love in the first game
on the back of three Sabolenka unforced errors, but the
(01:40):
fifth seed powered back from love forty in the fourth game,
winning five consecutive points, including two winners, to get the
break back. The set remained on serve, with Sabolenka running
through her service games slightly quicker, blasting twenty winners to
Lynette seven. In a first set tiebreak, the Belarusian moved
into another gear, steam rolling Lynett seven to one. The
(02:01):
fifth seed's imperious form carried her into the second set,
piling on the pain with cross caught winners. Sabolenka suffered
a briefcase of the yips when she failed to convert
her first three match points on the poles serve, then
double faulting and netting a ball while serving for the set,
but she found the metal to close it out with
an ace and her signature forehand seven sixty six y
(02:22):
two in a little over an hour and a half.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
I'm super happy, super happy that I was able to
get this win. And I mean, she's an unbelievable player.
She played really great tennis, and yeah, I'm just super
happy right now. I would say that they didn't start
really well, and then on that I break, I yeah,
I kind of find my rhythm and just started trusting myself,
(02:47):
started going for the shots, and yeah, it was great
tennis from me on the day break.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
It brings to an end a remarkable campaign for Annette, who,
for the first time, at age thirty, reached the last
four of a Grand Slam.
Speaker 7 (03:00):
I still don't know, you know how I'm gonna maybe
realize what just happened in like a week or two.
But it's it's really been so rewarding, really for all
the hard work that we've done, for all the sacrifices
and all these years on tour and so many Grand Slams.
It was my thirtieth attempt, so it's really rewarding because
(03:25):
I really needed more than a couple of tries.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Sabina slides into the final without having lost a set
all year.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
I was trying to less screaming after like some bad
points or like some errors. I was just like trying
to hold myself, like stay home and just think about
the next point. And actually it's I'm not that boring.
I think I'm still screaming, come on and all this stuff.
I think it's not that boring to watch me. I
(03:53):
hope so, but yeah, it just less negative emotions.
Speaker 8 (04:01):
Second match point for Rebekkina says down the center falling
from Azarenka now to the back and of Rebecca off
the top of the net to slice from Azarenka back
and rebakkanau the middle of the court back and Razurenka
into the net. A gentle planch of the fast from Rupakana.
No other reaction from.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
A Elena Rabaikina has made history becoming Kazakhstan's first Australian
Open finalist after downing two time champion Victoria Azarenka seven
six sixty three. The first set was a high caliber
tug of war, with thirty seven winners and four breaks
of serve shared between the pair. Rebeiken is typically strong
first serve percentage, nose dived, only landing forty eight percent
(04:39):
compared to Azarenka's seventy one. The twenty second seeds still
lent on her serve heavily, with her opponent leading points
one in all rallies, extending past four shots. A turning
point in the match came on a line ball which
brought about break point at three to two on the
Azarenka serve. The Belarusian incensed by the electronic line call decision,
(05:00):
demanding to see the video review, which showed the ball
just catching the edge of the line Aserenka netted the
next point to gift the break to Rebeikner. The Kazakh
then served to love in the next game before earning
two break points with winners down each sideline Aserenka briefly
regained her focus to take the game to deuce, but
an unforced error saw Rebeikner run away with the break.
(05:23):
Serving for the set, she was unable to land her
first serves, allowing Azarenka back into the set by forcing
errors in the rallies, the Belarusian saving a set point
and taking the break when the Kazak's backhand flew long.
Rebikan had defended three break points in the eleventh game,
and Azarenka served to love to send it to a
tie break. There it was another back and forth dogfight,
(05:45):
with unforced errors by Azarenka proving the difference. Their first
serve in percentages flipped in the second set, with the
Kazakh surging to seventy seven percent while the Belarusian slumped
to fifty five. Rebaikna was aggressive from the start of
the set, taking an early break and earning a second
when as a ranker butchered a forehand. The former champ
remained defiant until the end, breaking late but costly unforced
(06:09):
errors led to a final crucial break of serve. Rebuik
and Are prevailing seven six sixty three in an hour
and forty one minutes.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
I'm super happy and proud with my team. Also, without them,
it won't be difficult to be here and really thank
you a lot, because without you it's really it's incredible
atmosphere and I'm super happy to be in the finals
and play one more time here. Today was a bit
(06:37):
tougher for me because there was different conditions. I couldn't
play really aggressive tennis. The ball was not going so much.
But I'm happy that in the end, I managed to win,
and yeah, I tried my best in the final.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Of course, as a ranker ruined too many missed opportunities.
Speaker 9 (06:52):
It's kind of hard to digest. Obviously, I had quite
a few chances that I gave myself off and kind
of not converting them right now, it's difficult, And yeah,
can I really say I'm really proud of how I played,
Not proud, but like very happy that I played great
tennis today, I feel like I didn't really do that.
(07:15):
I'm proud of myself how I fired and I tried,
but just was not tennis wise. I felt like I
just wasn't there, and especially in important moments when I
kept creating those opportunities for me, I just couldn't convert them.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Elena Rabaikana through to the women's final and joining me
on the round table commentator Abigail Johnson and GIG analyst
Simon Ray. And Simon, we must start by wishing Abigail
a very happy twenty sixth birthday.
Speaker 6 (07:43):
Absolutely, thank you very much.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
It's always a pleasure to as well. I say always.
It's the second year I've spent it in Australia, but
I always joked with people that I'm an honorary Aussie
because I was born on Australia Day, so it feels
quite significant to spend my birthday in Australia.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Now I enjoy it absolutely wonder to have you here.
I'd written a note after the first set of that
match that it was a really high quality set, numerous
swings in momentum, but it didn't necessarily end that way. Abigail, Yeah, this.
Speaker 5 (08:11):
Is the thing. I think strategically both players were constantly
thinking their way through it, and in terms of a contest,
it was very absorbing and for much of the set
it was hard to see which way it was going
to finish. But I think ultimately it was always Rebeccaena leading.
Azarenka was always chasing, and that just gave Rebecca a
time to stumble and regain her balance, which Azarenka didn't
(08:34):
have that same breathing room. I also felt going in,
as much as I would have loved to see the
magical story of Azarenka winning again ten years after her
last title, it was not a great match up for
her in terms of she's top spinning the ball and
she's such a great athlete, but Rebecca and can rip
that ball flatter than most players on tour, and that
(08:55):
is how she really damaged the top seed Egastionceec. She
went hard on flat crosscourt in the forehand and she
broke it down. Jessica Bagoula against Azarenka in her most
recent match, she couldn't do that. She didn't have the
same trajectory of shot as what Rebeccah had brought to
the table today. And for Azarenka, she was the player
having to step out of her comfort zone that bit more.
(09:16):
She was having to make the adjustments, and as the
match wore on, you could just feel that taking as tall.
Speaker 6 (09:22):
It's almost like Azarenka's trying to hold back the damn
wall for a period of time, and she's hanging in there.
And you saw Azarenka use all of her guile and
experience and even try to dig into the emotional tank
and to give herself a some pep and bring her
box into play and get the crowd up and about it.
She was really digging because she knew. I think it
was going to take a phenomenal competitive performance to get
(09:43):
it done. Ultimately, I think Rebiken is the better player.
She's bringing more heat on serve at the moment anyway,
and this version of Azarenka that we see, she's bringing
more heat on serve, she's bringing a heavier forehand from
the back of the court, she's bringing quality on return.
At the end of the day, there's not a lot
of play to turn for Azarenka once Rebike and had
kind of settled in, and Abigail mentioned before we started
(10:05):
recording the element of tension in this match, and it
was really significant and really apparent from both ends. So
Azarenka could only hold back the damn wall for so long,
and you felt like there were cracks down to appear
in the damn wall and rebike and have found her
best tennis or enough of her best tennis when it
mattered the most to get the job done.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Just on that emotional perspective that you saw out there, Abigail,
it was sort of written on the faces of both women.
Speaker 5 (10:28):
Yeah, you could. It was very tangible as the word
that I would use, And for a while I wondered
if it might cost rebec in her because we've not
really seen a lot of that from her on her
previous Grands title run. When she went the distance at Wimbledon,
and she's referenced that run and how it's been able
to help us settle this time around and just be
(10:48):
more at home with the situation, more kind of aware
of what's going to happen. But there were some jumping
moments from her middle of the set. She was the
first player to go down a break, and I thought, okay, well,
she's your skin at this point. This match is on
your racket, so it's all about how you handle it mentally.
And I think that if we look at the match
as a whole in retrospect, that game with Azarenka serving
(11:11):
at three to two was probably the most key game
of the match because if Azarenka had held afterwards and
put that two game deficit between them, Rebeccaa could have
stayed down, She could have stayed nervy, stayed tense. But
after that, as much as there were moments that were
hit and miss and as much as there were anxious
glances towards her player box, she was never that jittery again.
And I think Azarenka, by not consolidating that break at
(11:32):
three to two, she just allowed Rebeccena to get a
foothold in the match and she more or less kept it.
I felt Rebeccena for the rest of the encounter.
Speaker 6 (11:39):
Yeah, I'd agree, and I think in Rebike in this
case and Azarenka, you know, both are world class returners,
so they're both incredible returners from either side of the net,
and ultimately eight breaks of serve in the match would
speak to the quality of returning as well as both
of them who struggled at times on their own serve.
So ultimately, I think one defining factor or decisive factor
in the matches first serves unreturned. As Abigail's mentioned, it
(12:02):
wasn't Rebaikna's best night from a first serve percentage perspective,
but when she was able to land that first serve,
fifty seven percent of those first serves unreturned, So that
notion of the free points, the breathing space, the ability
to exhale a little bit and get to the next point.
As compared to Azarenka, when she lands her first serve,
she served a slightly higher percentage, so she executed sixty
(12:23):
four percent of first serves on the night, but the
unreturned right down at seventeen percent of first serves unreturned,
So a massive differential in the match for me. In
that regard.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Ossie pair Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler are into the
men's doubles final following another upset win today over the
eighth seeds Horatio Zibayos and Marcel Grenoyas. A year after
the Special Case won the title against Max Purcell and
Matt Ebden, the Ice Brothers as we're now calling them,
are looking to do the same against Ugo Nice and
Yann Zelinski. Momentum is the first word that springs to
(12:58):
mind about your campaign, Rinky. How important has momentum been
throughout the past week?
Speaker 10 (13:04):
Yeah, I mean I think it's been huge. I think,
you know, when we came into the week, we didn't
really know what to expect, and to get the first
round win under the belt and then obviously we had
a couple of slow starts, but to kind of pull
it around and then get the Aussie crowd behind us
and yeah, just keep rolling with that. And when you
get a bit of momentum going and you're feeling confident,
(13:24):
I feel like, you know, anything's possible. So yeah, it's
been great. The last few matches have been crazy, and yeah,
I'm just hoping we can keep it going for Saturday.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
What's been the most surprising thing that you've discovered about
yourselves as a partnership do you think.
Speaker 11 (13:40):
I'ld honestly say probably the connection we've had on court.
Speaker 5 (13:43):
You know, we haven't.
Speaker 11 (13:44):
Played doubles before this, so it's I think it's surprising
for a team to sort of have success straight away,
and then almost the scary thing with us, I feel
like each match we're improving. You know, each match we're
slowly figuring out what each other likes a bit more,
We're figuring out, you know, where to hit certain balls
in certain occasions. Yeah, then you know, just with our
(14:07):
energy as well. I feel Rinky brings a lot of
energy to the court, and then you know, if I
can do my part and bring some back, then you know,
Rinky almost goes to another level. So that's probably been
the most surprising thing, but I'll happily take it.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
There's been an infiltration of singles players into the men's
doubles draw, it seems over the past couple of years.
What difference does it make being a singles plaque coming
into a team you've never played together before, but doing
so well on the double scene. What's behind that?
Speaker 10 (14:35):
I mean, I'm honestly not too sure. I mean, I
played a bit of dubs last year and I didn't
really have any success, So yeah, I'm not too sure.
To be honest, I guess, you know, singles players maybe
return quite well normally, just because you kind of facedup
against a lot of different serves and a lot of
(14:56):
big servers in the singles game, so you kind of
have to adapt well and be able to do that.
And then, Yeah, to be honest, I'm not really sure that.
I guess there's no real expectation for us when we
go out there. No one's expecting us to go out
and beat these pairs who are so well established in
such great players, So I guess, yeah, not having that
kind of pressure either, being able to play freely is
(15:17):
a pretty important thing.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Jason, you've spoken press about, I guess your surprise and
delight being in your second doubles final in as many
years at the AO. What lessons did you learn from
from the mixed last year that you can bring to Saturday.
Speaker 11 (15:35):
I think I think just experiencing a final. You know,
there's a lot of emotions that you know before you
play that you feel. I think just having the experience
of aning sort of knowing what's coming, and then if
I can, you know, sort of help rink his path
a little bit, let him feel that. You know, it's
normal to feel, you know, nervousness is normal to feel,
(15:57):
you know, excitement or to think about winning. You know,
that's all normal stuff probably that to be honest, and
you know, I've learned lots of little things, even from
just the Aussie guys that I've been hanging out with.
You know, I got to spend a lot a lot
of time around Demon last year, you know, with the
Davis Cup as well with Rusty, So just being around
those guys that have been around in those those big
(16:17):
moments and those big courts so many times. You know,
they dropped little things that you know, I put in
the memory bank and then if I can, you know,
pass that on to Rinky or even you know Rinky,
if he passes anything on to me, you know, we'll
take it and then you know, just see how it goes.
Speaker 12 (16:34):
Well.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Let's cast a magnifying glass over men's semi finals day, Abigail.
If I told you a fortnight ago that we'd see
Tommy Paul in the last four of the Major, what
would your response be.
Speaker 5 (16:44):
I would have raised my eyebrows to the point of
no return. But I've got to give so much credit
to Tommy Paul because as I followed results over the
past few months, his was a name that kept cropping
up as having better and better results, And I thought,
what is it about Tommy Paul that's getting these results?
Because I watched more of him back in the early
days of when he was coming through, and to me,
(17:04):
he just seemed a little bit passive and didn't seem
to have the range of weapons that some other players do.
I think he's really tightened it up on all departments.
I was really impressed with him against Ben Shelton, not
just in terms of his staying power at the back
of the court, but his willingness to back himself up
on top of that court. And I think since he's
started working with his coach Brad Stein over the past
few years, I think that's something that he's really developed
(17:27):
in his game, the confidence to be a little bit
more out there in terms of going up the court
and finishing things off, and having that control and having
that confidence in himself and just an all round pretty
secure game. So I think that's what a lot of
the guys will have struggled with over the best of
five set format.
Speaker 6 (17:43):
Look, I don't think I'm telling anyone in the thing
that they don't know. In saying that, I think it's
a huge ask for Tommy Paul as we look towards
this match tomorrow. So a few things though that we
want to be aware of hitting into this. So pegging
back Novak, who's an incredibly fast starter borderline or nyon impossible.
So our early breaks converted stat John that we've been
(18:05):
going with across the fortnite Novak operates at ninety six
percent on that number, the Australian Open player average on
the men's side seventy eight percent. So basically, Novak gets
his nose in front early. There's no pegging him back.
So what's the plan that Tommy and Abigail mentioned brad
Stein can come up with an advance of that? How
are you going to go with them early? Because if
you're coughing up an early break in an early set
(18:26):
and then a breakdown and say, it's just a long
long way back. So I don't know what that plan is.
I think we're all searching for it. What's the kryptonite.
We don't know. We're all searching, we're all guessing. But
if you can't go with them early, it's a nigh
on impossible task.
Speaker 5 (18:40):
If there wasn't the facts of brad Stein, I would
be completely writing Tommy Paul off from this clash. I'm
not going to lie. I just think that Novak Djokovic
is in such ridiculously good form. There were no openings
in his game against Alex Dimenor. I think with Andrew
Riblov maybe had half a chance, but mentally he just
couldn't get it together.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
I break points none converted.
Speaker 5 (18:58):
Exactly, and that's Djokovic does that to you because he's suffocating.
When push comes to shove, he delivers nine point ninety
nine nine times out of ten. He's there so consistently,
and so that's not a slight on Paul at all.
It's just the fact that Djokovic is so complete. I
know there's a lot of respect, and I've got to
know Bred this month from being on commentary team with him,
so I actually met him for the first time this month.
(19:20):
I know someone else who knows him well that thought
that Paul had a better chance against Ben Shelton because
of the strategic mind of brad Stein. I think he
really knows his stuff. He's a quality coach. Tommy trusts
him completely and he will be right in there going
through every possible option. Whether they find an option that
works remains to be seen. But if anyone can find
(19:41):
the strategy, I would beg brad Stein to find that strategy,
and I know that Paul would work in tune with
that in order to try and put it out on
the table. So it's a it's a half chance of
a half chance of a half chance. But I think
that Novak Djokovic is the man.
Speaker 6 (19:56):
He's been ruthless and I think the challenge for Tommy
Paul is Avigail minch some of the things that he's
really good at. So he's a heck of an athlete.
He's defending well out of corners, he's staying the course
really well. He's competing well over the journey. But I
think that can be a bit of a trap to
fall into. So our physical numbers at the Australian Open
so far, with Tommy Paul in mind, the average number
of high intensity changes of direction in a men's match
(20:19):
at the Australia Open twenty twenty three so far one
hundred and six of those, Tommy Paul's number one hundred
and seventy nine, nearly double that number. From a sprint's perspective,
the average twenty two Tommy Paul's at thirty four, distance
covered twenty three hundred meters, Tommy's at twenty eight hundred,
so he's way above in a lot of these physical categories.
But I'm not sure if you think that's the way
through that'll help you hang in the point against Novak,
(20:42):
but it's not going to unsettle Novak. I don't know
what the answer is, and Abigail's mentioned it. What can
coach Bradsteine come up with and the Tommy Paul camp,
the Tommy Paul forehan in relation to the Novak Djokovic
for he he's not going to win that battle from
a speed and spin perspective. He's way down in comparison
to Novak. So I don't know what the answer is,
but I don't think it's really defensive capability.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
Sounds like it's Novak's match to lose. Whoever wins it
will be going through to Amen's final against the winner
of current Hatchanov and Stefanos City pass. It is a
sixth career meeting. The Russian is yet to prevail against
the great.
Speaker 5 (21:16):
This one's the more interesting matchup, even though there's the
weighty head to head in the favor of sits A pass.
I feel like Karen Hashanov is such a professional. He's
kept his head down. He's a dark horse. He's been
below the radar this entire time. I saw him when
I was in Adelaide and I just kind of gave
him a side glance when he was playing. He's never
really been for me, kind of up their lead title contender.
(21:36):
But I think he's thrived on that, the fact that
he is kind of in the shadows, and strategically he's
played really well in some of his matches. I think
he's got a shot tennis mind in terms of knowing
what he needs to do and win. I don't think
that he will be intimidated by the prospect of Stefanel
sits A pass despite the head to head there. Let's
put it this way, he'd far rather face sits A
pass than Jockovic. Absolutely, so you're going to seize that
(21:58):
opportunity and going to see what you can do. With it.
But I do think it's on the sits of pass
racket just because and I may have mentioned this before,
of his ability on break points this fortnite has just
been incredible those high prescuous situations. It's not just the
fact that he's coming through most of those, it's the
manner in which he's doing it, the aggression that going
after his shots, and he's a great mover as well.
(22:20):
Sits Apass. He's really solid and really well balanced at
the back of the court, and with a player with
a one handed backhand, often he would ask the question
of is that going to hold up? I think sits
APAs has proven himself time and again and has the
history to back him. In Melbourne, He's not been to
the final here, but this is semi final number four,
so that tells you something about how comfortable he feels
in these particular conditions.
Speaker 10 (22:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (22:41):
I think this is a really interesting contrast in terms
of how players are looking to be offensive off the
back of their first serve. So after their first serve
the ball comes back into play, both of these guys
are serving big first serves, they're serving big on second serves.
They're above the top hundred average on surf speed both
first and second. But sits a pass Abigal's mentioned the
one handed back end. He's desperate to be offensive on
(23:02):
the third shot of the rally, so he wants to
find his forehand in behind his first serve eighty four
percent of the time. Hashanov, by contrast, quite comfortable relying
on his back end. Certainly as it relates to Sitzapass's number,
he's down at about sixty two, which is about the
average for the top hundred. So and that speaks to
the you know, the athleticism or the desperation, the fleet
of foot approach that we see from sits Apass, desperate
(23:24):
to dictate not just with a serve, but also with
his first ball after the serf, and the differences don't
stop there. But that's one to look for in their
respective approaches that they take on serve games.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Well, let's hear now from both hutch Andov and sitzi
pass on how they plan to combat each other in
tomorrow's semi final.
Speaker 13 (23:39):
I would say, the last time we've played lasient clay
in the room but on hardcore, I think it was
in twenty twenty one in Rotterdam. So and it was
a close match. I was winning the third set, and
I had all the chances to close it out, but
you know I didn't, And I would prepare it to
keep doing the same things what I'm doing, just know
(24:00):
tactically to adjust to him, and it will be obviously
very important serve in return. This is how you start
start your games and how you start building your game.
You know, it's one of the most important parts, I
would say in tennis and men's tennis, and I would
definitely prepare to that much.
Speaker 12 (24:18):
He's definitely a strong opponent, has always been a strong opponent,
but he definitely looks like he has made a bigger
step this time and when when he's out on the
court competing, So you know, I'm expecting a tougher and
more refined, as I said, opponent, which is a challenge
(24:42):
for me as well, because you know, I've been playing
good tennis and I like when I get to be
tested at this very high level, which I think is
beneficial for everyone.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
It's an age old debate who is the greatest player
of all time? Lavor Court, Sampras, Williams, Federer, Djokovic, Nadal.
Of course, it's just so hard to compare without having
seen the players compete across eras. But Josh Martin quiz
some Australian Open legends about which current player they most
like to have played in their prime.
Speaker 14 (25:18):
There are so many great players in the women's top ten,
but Barbara Schett Eagle, Renee Stubbs and Daniella Hantakova love
the style of the Tunisian world number two.
Speaker 15 (25:27):
If I could play one a current player right now,
it would be Muschabel.
Speaker 16 (25:32):
If I could play one current player in my prime,
no one.
Speaker 5 (25:36):
Because they would still kill me.
Speaker 4 (25:38):
But I would say I would love love to play
on Shbur because I think we'd have a lot of
fun on the court.
Speaker 5 (25:43):
I think I would play on Strabor just because of
how much touch she's got and I love to play
kind of a similar way, so I think it would
be a lot of fun for.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Both of us.
Speaker 14 (25:52):
Eva Meoli and Polish great Agnieshka Radvanska want to wind
back the clock to take on the ultimate challenge in women's.
Speaker 17 (25:59):
Tennis would be iagos via Tek. I like her style
of play and in my times I like to play
the girls who played the kind of a game not
too fast, so it gives me time to like play
my forehead move around. I like to put.
Speaker 7 (26:16):
Pressure on the serfs.
Speaker 17 (26:17):
So she would be the one that I would like
to challenge myself against.
Speaker 5 (26:22):
That'll bet you tech.
Speaker 16 (26:23):
I think it's just a nice challenge.
Speaker 8 (26:27):
I was number one.
Speaker 4 (26:29):
In our country now she is, so why not playing
the best right?
Speaker 14 (26:35):
Two thousand and six finalists Marcus Bagdadis and Tommy Hass
want to make sure they come out on top in
their battle with the young guns.
Speaker 18 (26:42):
If I could play any current player in my prime,
it would be met with A because he plays completely
different than other people. He stands so much far back,
and I think I have the game to mix this
game up.
Speaker 15 (26:56):
I'm going to pick somebody that I've got record against
that I've lost to them. You know, that could be
like I don't know, I'd be like David now Bandy
and I have our lost to A stan MAA Rinka,
I never lost two. To make it also attractive for
the viewers, you know, because they know those names, definitely
wouldn't want to play anybody like you know, the top
three that we always talk about that have won so
many majors.
Speaker 14 (27:12):
And Foreman Doubles champion Roddick Stephanie's streame opponent is already
under his tutelage.
Speaker 19 (27:17):
I would like to place Abastian Korda because I want
to feel what the opponents are feeling. Definitely what his
ball does in the match, because obviously practice is different
than the match, and just to feel him.
Speaker 12 (27:34):
Well.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
It's the last week of January, which means we're at
the business end of the tournament. It also means it's
the end of the summer school holidays, with millions of
Australian children set to return to school over the coming days,
so we thought we'd take this final opportunity to get
a kid's perspective of the AO.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
Yeah, first time. We're really excited.
Speaker 5 (27:52):
I'm on the internet.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 16 (27:54):
Well, I came here on the of the train for
my friend's birthday party and did the climbing thing, and
then we the jumping thing when you jump off like
the thing with the harness, and then we jumped off
the wall onto the like we're airbag, and then we wow,
(28:14):
you went on the water slide. And now we're just
playing tennis.
Speaker 20 (28:17):
I did some table tennis and they did a little
and I watched a little bit of tennis. And I
played on the courts for a little bit.
Speaker 13 (28:30):
The whatever you call that.
Speaker 15 (28:33):
Whoever listening to this, I'm sorry, you don't know what
I'm doing.
Speaker 16 (28:35):
I'm gonna We're gonna watch some tennis, have some lunch,
and then go home.
Speaker 13 (28:39):
Ah.
Speaker 5 (28:40):
Well, we've been through.
Speaker 16 (28:41):
Most of the ballpark things, including Thomas whatever the tripe
things called.
Speaker 5 (28:47):
The water slide was probably my favorite, though.
Speaker 16 (28:49):
Yeah, iking a Doll unfortunately got knocked out in like
the second round.
Speaker 5 (28:53):
Though I've never watched tennis before.
Speaker 20 (28:56):
I played hot cross tennis, I played table ti tennis,
and I watched for tennis.
Speaker 16 (29:02):
We took a photo over there watching tennis and eating.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
Great to hear the younger voices at the AO, and
who knows, maybe we've just heard from one of the
stars of tomorrow. Speaking of which, the stars of today
will be in action tomorrow for men's semi finals day.
Join us then for all the big stories from Melbourne Park.
In the meantime, take this opportunity to subscribe and consider
rating and reviewing so more fans can discover the AO show.
Match point for Arena Sablenka at forty thirty.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
She serves heavily.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Lynette does well just to get a racket on this
into the open car. He's put away by Arena Sablenka
and she holds her fistlaugh. The moment has finally arrived
for Arena Sablenka. She's in too, a first Australian Open final.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Hi everyone, and welcome to the AO Show with me.
John huvenars for Day eleven of the Australian Open. Glorious
conditions for women's semi final night and g didn't they
put on a show? Here's what's coming up. Rebeikner waves
bye bye to Azarenka.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
It's incredible atmosphere and I'm super happy to be in
the finals and twenty one more.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Time formula win. Sabolenka takes Pole's position in final.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
Super happy that I was able to get this one.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Plus a full preview of the men's semifinals.
Speaker 5 (00:57):
Djokovic does that to you because he's suffocating. When push
comes to shove, he delivers.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
And which players of today do the stars of yesterday
most want to play?
Speaker 6 (01:07):
I think it's just a nice challenge.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
That's all ahead. On the AO Show.
Speaker 5 (01:17):
Arena.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Sablenka is a Grand Slam finalist for the first time
in her career, downing Magdalanette in a straight set's semi
final statement. The Belarusians power hitting against the deft slice
and dice of Lynette made for a contrasting duel in
a fifty one minute first set. The unseeded Pole made
a solid start, breaking to love in the first game
on the back of three Sabolenka unforced errors, but the
(01:40):
fifth seed powered back from love forty in the fourth game,
winning five consecutive points, including two winners, to get the
break back. The set remained on serve, with Sabolenka running
through her service games slightly quicker, blasting twenty winners to
Lynette seven. In a first set tiebreak, the Belarusian moved
into another gear, steam rolling Lynett seven to one. The
(02:01):
fifth seed's imperious form carried her into the second set,
piling on the pain with cross caught winners. Sabolenka suffered
a briefcase of the yips when she failed to convert
her first three match points on the poles serve, then
double faulting and netting a ball while serving for the set,
but she found the metal to close it out with
an ace and her signature forehand seven sixty six y
(02:22):
two in a little over an hour and a half.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
I'm super happy, super happy that I was able to
get this win. And I mean, she's an unbelievable player.
She played really great tennis, and yeah, I'm just super
happy right now. I would say that they didn't start
really well, and then on that I break, I yeah,
I kind of find my rhythm and just started trusting myself,
(02:47):
started going for the shots, and yeah, it was great
tennis from me on the day break.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
It brings to an end a remarkable campaign for Annette, who,
for the first time, at age thirty, reached the last
four of a Grand Slam.
Speaker 7 (03:00):
I still don't know, you know how I'm gonna maybe
realize what just happened in like a week or two.
But it's it's really been so rewarding, really for all
the hard work that we've done, for all the sacrifices
and all these years on tour and so many Grand Slams.
It was my thirtieth attempt, so it's really rewarding because
(03:25):
I really needed more than a couple of tries.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Sabina slides into the final without having lost a set
all year.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
I was trying to less screaming after like some bad
points or like some errors. I was just like trying
to hold myself, like stay home and just think about
the next point. And actually it's I'm not that boring.
I think I'm still screaming, come on and all this stuff.
I think it's not that boring to watch me. I
(03:53):
hope so, but yeah, it just less negative emotions.
Speaker 8 (04:01):
Second match point for Rebekkina says down the center falling
from Azarenka now to the back and of Rebecca off
the top of the net to slice from Azarenka back
and rebakkanau the middle of the court back and Razurenka
into the net. A gentle planch of the fast from Rupakana.
No other reaction from.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
A Elena Rabaikina has made history becoming Kazakhstan's first Australian
Open finalist after downing two time champion Victoria Azarenka seven
six sixty three. The first set was a high caliber
tug of war, with thirty seven winners and four breaks
of serve shared between the pair. Rebeiken is typically strong
first serve percentage, nose dived, only landing forty eight percent
(04:39):
compared to Azarenka's seventy one. The twenty second seeds still
lent on her serve heavily, with her opponent leading points
one in all rallies, extending past four shots. A turning
point in the match came on a line ball which
brought about break point at three to two on the
Azarenka serve. The Belarusian incensed by the electronic line call decision,
(05:00):
demanding to see the video review, which showed the ball
just catching the edge of the line Aserenka netted the
next point to gift the break to Rebeikner. The Kazakh
then served to love in the next game before earning
two break points with winners down each sideline Aserenka briefly
regained her focus to take the game to deuce, but
an unforced error saw Rebeikner run away with the break.
(05:23):
Serving for the set, she was unable to land her
first serves, allowing Azarenka back into the set by forcing
errors in the rallies, the Belarusian saving a set point
and taking the break when the Kazak's backhand flew long.
Rebikan had defended three break points in the eleventh game,
and Azarenka served to love to send it to a
tie break. There it was another back and forth dogfight,
(05:45):
with unforced errors by Azarenka proving the difference. Their first
serve in percentages flipped in the second set, with the
Kazakh surging to seventy seven percent while the Belarusian slumped
to fifty five. Rebaikna was aggressive from the start of
the set, taking an early break and earning a second
when as a ranker butchered a forehand. The former champ
remained defiant until the end, breaking late but costly unforced
(06:09):
errors led to a final crucial break of serve. Rebuik
and Are prevailing seven six sixty three in an hour
and forty one minutes.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
I'm super happy and proud with my team. Also, without them,
it won't be difficult to be here and really thank
you a lot, because without you it's really it's incredible
atmosphere and I'm super happy to be in the finals
and play one more time here. Today was a bit
(06:37):
tougher for me because there was different conditions. I couldn't
play really aggressive tennis. The ball was not going so much.
But I'm happy that in the end, I managed to win,
and yeah, I tried my best in the final.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Of course, as a ranker ruined too many missed opportunities.
Speaker 9 (06:52):
It's kind of hard to digest. Obviously, I had quite
a few chances that I gave myself off and kind
of not converting them right now, it's difficult, And yeah,
can I really say I'm really proud of how I played,
Not proud, but like very happy that I played great
tennis today, I feel like I didn't really do that.
(07:15):
I'm proud of myself how I fired and I tried,
but just was not tennis wise. I felt like I
just wasn't there, and especially in important moments when I
kept creating those opportunities for me, I just couldn't convert them.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Elena Rabaikana through to the women's final and joining me
on the round table commentator Abigail Johnson and GIG analyst
Simon Ray. And Simon, we must start by wishing Abigail
a very happy twenty sixth birthday.
Speaker 6 (07:43):
Absolutely, thank you very much.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
It's always a pleasure to as well. I say always.
It's the second year I've spent it in Australia, but
I always joked with people that I'm an honorary Aussie
because I was born on Australia Day, so it feels
quite significant to spend my birthday in Australia.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Now I enjoy it absolutely wonder to have you here.
I'd written a note after the first set of that
match that it was a really high quality set, numerous
swings in momentum, but it didn't necessarily end that way. Abigail, Yeah, this.
Speaker 5 (08:11):
Is the thing. I think strategically both players were constantly
thinking their way through it, and in terms of a contest,
it was very absorbing and for much of the set
it was hard to see which way it was going
to finish. But I think ultimately it was always Rebeccaena leading.
Azarenka was always chasing, and that just gave Rebecca a
time to stumble and regain her balance, which Azarenka didn't
(08:34):
have that same breathing room. I also felt going in,
as much as I would have loved to see the
magical story of Azarenka winning again ten years after her
last title, it was not a great match up for
her in terms of she's top spinning the ball and
she's such a great athlete, but Rebecca and can rip
that ball flatter than most players on tour, and that
(08:55):
is how she really damaged the top seed Egastionceec. She
went hard on flat crosscourt in the forehand and she
broke it down. Jessica Bagoula against Azarenka in her most
recent match, she couldn't do that. She didn't have the
same trajectory of shot as what Rebeccah had brought to
the table today. And for Azarenka, she was the player
having to step out of her comfort zone that bit more.
(09:16):
She was having to make the adjustments, and as the
match wore on, you could just feel that taking as tall.
Speaker 6 (09:22):
It's almost like Azarenka's trying to hold back the damn
wall for a period of time, and she's hanging in there.
And you saw Azarenka use all of her guile and
experience and even try to dig into the emotional tank
and to give herself a some pep and bring her
box into play and get the crowd up and about it.
She was really digging because she knew. I think it
was going to take a phenomenal competitive performance to get
(09:43):
it done. Ultimately, I think Rebiken is the better player.
She's bringing more heat on serve at the moment anyway,
and this version of Azarenka that we see, she's bringing
more heat on serve, she's bringing a heavier forehand from
the back of the court, she's bringing quality on return.
At the end of the day, there's not a lot
of play to turn for Azarenka once Rebike and had
kind of settled in, and Abigail mentioned before we started
(10:05):
recording the element of tension in this match, and it
was really significant and really apparent from both ends. So
Azarenka could only hold back the damn wall for so long,
and you felt like there were cracks down to appear
in the damn wall and rebike and have found her
best tennis or enough of her best tennis when it
mattered the most to get the job done.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Just on that emotional perspective that you saw out there, Abigail,
it was sort of written on the faces of both women.
Speaker 5 (10:28):
Yeah, you could. It was very tangible as the word
that I would use, And for a while I wondered
if it might cost rebec in her because we've not
really seen a lot of that from her on her
previous Grands title run. When she went the distance at Wimbledon,
and she's referenced that run and how it's been able
to help us settle this time around and just be
(10:48):
more at home with the situation, more kind of aware
of what's going to happen. But there were some jumping
moments from her middle of the set. She was the
first player to go down a break, and I thought, okay, well,
she's your skin at this point. This match is on
your racket, so it's all about how you handle it mentally.
And I think that if we look at the match
as a whole in retrospect, that game with Azarenka serving
(11:11):
at three to two was probably the most key game
of the match because if Azarenka had held afterwards and
put that two game deficit between them, Rebeccaa could have
stayed down, She could have stayed nervy, stayed tense. But
after that, as much as there were moments that were
hit and miss and as much as there were anxious
glances towards her player box, she was never that jittery again.
And I think Azarenka, by not consolidating that break at
(11:32):
three to two, she just allowed Rebeccena to get a
foothold in the match and she more or less kept it.
I felt Rebeccena for the rest of the encounter.
Speaker 6 (11:39):
Yeah, I'd agree, and I think in Rebike in this
case and Azarenka, you know, both are world class returners,
so they're both incredible returners from either side of the net,
and ultimately eight breaks of serve in the match would
speak to the quality of returning as well as both
of them who struggled at times on their own serve.
So ultimately, I think one defining factor or decisive factor
in the matches first serves unreturned. As Abigail's mentioned, it
(12:02):
wasn't Rebaikna's best night from a first serve percentage perspective,
but when she was able to land that first serve,
fifty seven percent of those first serves unreturned, So that
notion of the free points, the breathing space, the ability
to exhale a little bit and get to the next point.
As compared to Azarenka, when she lands her first serve,
she served a slightly higher percentage, so she executed sixty
(12:23):
four percent of first serves on the night, but the
unreturned right down at seventeen percent of first serves unreturned,
So a massive differential in the match for me. In
that regard.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Ossie pair Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler are into the
men's doubles final following another upset win today over the
eighth seeds Horatio Zibayos and Marcel Grenoyas. A year after
the Special Case won the title against Max Purcell and
Matt Ebden, the Ice Brothers as we're now calling them,
are looking to do the same against Ugo Nice and
Yann Zelinski. Momentum is the first word that springs to
(12:58):
mind about your campaign, Rinky. How important has momentum been
throughout the past week?
Speaker 10 (13:04):
Yeah, I mean I think it's been huge. I think,
you know, when we came into the week, we didn't
really know what to expect, and to get the first
round win under the belt and then obviously we had
a couple of slow starts, but to kind of pull
it around and then get the Aussie crowd behind us
and yeah, just keep rolling with that. And when you
get a bit of momentum going and you're feeling confident,
(13:24):
I feel like, you know, anything's possible. So yeah, it's
been great. The last few matches have been crazy, and yeah,
I'm just hoping we can keep it going for Saturday.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
What's been the most surprising thing that you've discovered about
yourselves as a partnership do you think.
Speaker 11 (13:40):
I'ld honestly say probably the connection we've had on court.
Speaker 5 (13:43):
You know, we haven't.
Speaker 11 (13:44):
Played doubles before this, so it's I think it's surprising
for a team to sort of have success straight away,
and then almost the scary thing with us, I feel
like each match we're improving. You know, each match we're
slowly figuring out what each other likes a bit more,
We're figuring out, you know, where to hit certain balls
in certain occasions. Yeah, then you know, just with our
(14:07):
energy as well. I feel Rinky brings a lot of
energy to the court, and then you know, if I
can do my part and bring some back, then you know,
Rinky almost goes to another level. So that's probably been
the most surprising thing, but I'll happily take it.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
There's been an infiltration of singles players into the men's
doubles draw, it seems over the past couple of years.
What difference does it make being a singles plaque coming
into a team you've never played together before, but doing
so well on the double scene. What's behind that?
Speaker 10 (14:35):
I mean, I'm honestly not too sure. I mean, I
played a bit of dubs last year and I didn't
really have any success, So yeah, I'm not too sure.
To be honest, I guess, you know, singles players maybe
return quite well normally, just because you kind of facedup
against a lot of different serves and a lot of
(14:56):
big servers in the singles game, so you kind of
have to adapt well and be able to do that.
And then, Yeah, to be honest, I'm not really sure that.
I guess there's no real expectation for us when we
go out there. No one's expecting us to go out
and beat these pairs who are so well established in
such great players, So I guess, yeah, not having that
kind of pressure either, being able to play freely is
(15:17):
a pretty important thing.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Jason, you've spoken press about, I guess your surprise and
delight being in your second doubles final in as many
years at the AO. What lessons did you learn from
from the mixed last year that you can bring to Saturday.
Speaker 11 (15:35):
I think I think just experiencing a final. You know,
there's a lot of emotions that you know before you
play that you feel. I think just having the experience
of aning sort of knowing what's coming, and then if
I can, you know, sort of help rink his path
a little bit, let him feel that. You know, it's
normal to feel, you know, nervousness is normal to feel,
(15:57):
you know, excitement or to think about winning. You know,
that's all normal stuff probably that to be honest, and
you know, I've learned lots of little things, even from
just the Aussie guys that I've been hanging out with.
You know, I got to spend a lot a lot
of time around Demon last year, you know, with the
Davis Cup as well with Rusty, So just being around
those guys that have been around in those those big
(16:17):
moments and those big courts so many times. You know,
they dropped little things that you know, I put in
the memory bank and then if I can, you know,
pass that on to Rinky or even you know Rinky,
if he passes anything on to me, you know, we'll
take it and then you know, just see how it goes.
Speaker 12 (16:34):
Well.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Let's cast a magnifying glass over men's semi finals day, Abigail.
If I told you a fortnight ago that we'd see
Tommy Paul in the last four of the Major, what
would your response be.
Speaker 5 (16:44):
I would have raised my eyebrows to the point of
no return. But I've got to give so much credit
to Tommy Paul because as I followed results over the
past few months, his was a name that kept cropping
up as having better and better results, And I thought,
what is it about Tommy Paul that's getting these results?
Because I watched more of him back in the early
days of when he was coming through, and to me,
(17:04):
he just seemed a little bit passive and didn't seem
to have the range of weapons that some other players do.
I think he's really tightened it up on all departments.
I was really impressed with him against Ben Shelton, not
just in terms of his staying power at the back
of the court, but his willingness to back himself up
on top of that court. And I think since he's
started working with his coach Brad Stein over the past
few years, I think that's something that he's really developed
(17:27):
in his game, the confidence to be a little bit
more out there in terms of going up the court
and finishing things off, and having that control and having
that confidence in himself and just an all round pretty
secure game. So I think that's what a lot of
the guys will have struggled with over the best of
five set format.
Speaker 6 (17:43):
Look, I don't think I'm telling anyone in the thing
that they don't know. In saying that, I think it's
a huge ask for Tommy Paul as we look towards
this match tomorrow. So a few things though that we
want to be aware of hitting into this. So pegging
back Novak, who's an incredibly fast starter borderline or nyon impossible.
So our early breaks converted stat John that we've been
(18:05):
going with across the fortnite Novak operates at ninety six
percent on that number, the Australian Open player average on
the men's side seventy eight percent. So basically, Novak gets
his nose in front early. There's no pegging him back.
So what's the plan that Tommy and Abigail mentioned brad
Stein can come up with an advance of that? How
are you going to go with them early? Because if
you're coughing up an early break in an early set
(18:26):
and then a breakdown and say, it's just a long
long way back. So I don't know what that plan is.
I think we're all searching for it. What's the kryptonite.
We don't know. We're all searching, we're all guessing. But
if you can't go with them early, it's a nigh
on impossible task.
Speaker 5 (18:40):
If there wasn't the facts of brad Stein, I would
be completely writing Tommy Paul off from this clash. I'm
not going to lie. I just think that Novak Djokovic
is in such ridiculously good form. There were no openings
in his game against Alex Dimenor. I think with Andrew
Riblov maybe had half a chance, but mentally he just
couldn't get it together.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
I break points none converted.
Speaker 5 (18:58):
Exactly, and that's Djokovic does that to you because he's suffocating.
When push comes to shove, he delivers nine point ninety
nine nine times out of ten. He's there so consistently,
and so that's not a slight on Paul at all.
It's just the fact that Djokovic is so complete. I
know there's a lot of respect, and I've got to
know Bred this month from being on commentary team with him,
so I actually met him for the first time this month.
(19:20):
I know someone else who knows him well that thought
that Paul had a better chance against Ben Shelton because
of the strategic mind of brad Stein. I think he
really knows his stuff. He's a quality coach. Tommy trusts
him completely and he will be right in there going
through every possible option. Whether they find an option that
works remains to be seen. But if anyone can find
(19:41):
the strategy, I would beg brad Stein to find that strategy,
and I know that Paul would work in tune with
that in order to try and put it out on
the table. So it's a it's a half chance of
a half chance of a half chance. But I think
that Novak Djokovic is the man.
Speaker 6 (19:56):
He's been ruthless and I think the challenge for Tommy
Paul is Avigail minch some of the things that he's
really good at. So he's a heck of an athlete.
He's defending well out of corners, he's staying the course
really well. He's competing well over the journey. But I
think that can be a bit of a trap to
fall into. So our physical numbers at the Australian Open
so far, with Tommy Paul in mind, the average number
of high intensity changes of direction in a men's match
(20:19):
at the Australia Open twenty twenty three so far one
hundred and six of those, Tommy Paul's number one hundred
and seventy nine, nearly double that number. From a sprint's perspective,
the average twenty two Tommy Paul's at thirty four, distance
covered twenty three hundred meters, Tommy's at twenty eight hundred,
so he's way above in a lot of these physical categories.
But I'm not sure if you think that's the way
through that'll help you hang in the point against Novak,
(20:42):
but it's not going to unsettle Novak. I don't know
what the answer is, and Abigail's mentioned it. What can
coach Bradsteine come up with and the Tommy Paul camp,
the Tommy Paul forehan in relation to the Novak Djokovic
for he he's not going to win that battle from
a speed and spin perspective. He's way down in comparison
to Novak. So I don't know what the answer is,
but I don't think it's really defensive capability.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
Sounds like it's Novak's match to lose. Whoever wins it
will be going through to Amen's final against the winner
of current Hatchanov and Stefanos City pass. It is a
sixth career meeting. The Russian is yet to prevail against
the great.
Speaker 5 (21:16):
This one's the more interesting matchup, even though there's the
weighty head to head in the favor of sits A pass.
I feel like Karen Hashanov is such a professional. He's
kept his head down. He's a dark horse. He's been
below the radar this entire time. I saw him when
I was in Adelaide and I just kind of gave
him a side glance when he was playing. He's never
really been for me, kind of up their lead title contender.
(21:36):
But I think he's thrived on that, the fact that
he is kind of in the shadows, and strategically he's
played really well in some of his matches. I think
he's got a shot tennis mind in terms of knowing
what he needs to do and win. I don't think
that he will be intimidated by the prospect of Stefanel
sits A pass despite the head to head there. Let's
put it this way, he'd far rather face sits A
pass than Jockovic. Absolutely, so you're going to seize that
(21:58):
opportunity and going to see what you can do. With it.
But I do think it's on the sits of pass
racket just because and I may have mentioned this before,
of his ability on break points this fortnite has just
been incredible those high prescuous situations. It's not just the
fact that he's coming through most of those, it's the
manner in which he's doing it, the aggression that going
after his shots, and he's a great mover as well.
(22:20):
Sits Apass. He's really solid and really well balanced at
the back of the court, and with a player with
a one handed backhand, often he would ask the question
of is that going to hold up? I think sits
APAs has proven himself time and again and has the
history to back him. In Melbourne, He's not been to
the final here, but this is semi final number four,
so that tells you something about how comfortable he feels
in these particular conditions.
Speaker 10 (22:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (22:41):
I think this is a really interesting contrast in terms
of how players are looking to be offensive off the
back of their first serve. So after their first serve
the ball comes back into play, both of these guys
are serving big first serves, they're serving big on second serves.
They're above the top hundred average on surf speed both
first and second. But sits a pass Abigal's mentioned the
one handed back end. He's desperate to be offensive on
(23:02):
the third shot of the rally, so he wants to
find his forehand in behind his first serve eighty four
percent of the time. Hashanov, by contrast, quite comfortable relying
on his back end. Certainly as it relates to Sitzapass's number,
he's down at about sixty two, which is about the
average for the top hundred. So and that speaks to
the you know, the athleticism or the desperation, the fleet
of foot approach that we see from sits Apass, desperate
(23:24):
to dictate not just with a serve, but also with
his first ball after the serf, and the differences don't
stop there. But that's one to look for in their
respective approaches that they take on serve games.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Well, let's hear now from both hutch Andov and sitzi
pass on how they plan to combat each other in
tomorrow's semi final.
Speaker 13 (23:39):
I would say, the last time we've played lasient clay
in the room but on hardcore, I think it was
in twenty twenty one in Rotterdam. So and it was
a close match. I was winning the third set, and
I had all the chances to close it out, but
you know I didn't, And I would prepare it to
keep doing the same things what I'm doing, just know
(24:00):
tactically to adjust to him, and it will be obviously
very important serve in return. This is how you start
start your games and how you start building your game.
You know, it's one of the most important parts, I
would say in tennis and men's tennis, and I would
definitely prepare to that much.
Speaker 12 (24:18):
He's definitely a strong opponent, has always been a strong opponent,
but he definitely looks like he has made a bigger
step this time and when when he's out on the
court competing, So you know, I'm expecting a tougher and
more refined, as I said, opponent, which is a challenge
(24:42):
for me as well, because you know, I've been playing
good tennis and I like when I get to be
tested at this very high level, which I think is
beneficial for everyone.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
It's an age old debate who is the greatest player
of all time? Lavor Court, Sampras, Williams, Federer, Djokovic, Nadal.
Of course, it's just so hard to compare without having
seen the players compete across eras. But Josh Martin quiz
some Australian Open legends about which current player they most
like to have played in their prime.
Speaker 14 (25:18):
There are so many great players in the women's top ten,
but Barbara Schett Eagle, Renee Stubbs and Daniella Hantakova love
the style of the Tunisian world number two.
Speaker 15 (25:27):
If I could play one a current player right now,
it would be Muschabel.
Speaker 16 (25:32):
If I could play one current player in my prime,
no one.
Speaker 5 (25:36):
Because they would still kill me.
Speaker 4 (25:38):
But I would say I would love love to play
on Shbur because I think we'd have a lot of
fun on the court.
Speaker 5 (25:43):
I think I would play on Strabor just because of
how much touch she's got and I love to play
kind of a similar way, so I think it would
be a lot of fun for.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Both of us.
Speaker 14 (25:52):
Eva Meoli and Polish great Agnieshka Radvanska want to wind
back the clock to take on the ultimate challenge in women's.
Speaker 17 (25:59):
Tennis would be iagos via Tek. I like her style
of play and in my times I like to play
the girls who played the kind of a game not
too fast, so it gives me time to like play
my forehead move around. I like to put.
Speaker 7 (26:16):
Pressure on the serfs.
Speaker 17 (26:17):
So she would be the one that I would like
to challenge myself against.
Speaker 5 (26:22):
That'll bet you tech.
Speaker 16 (26:23):
I think it's just a nice challenge.
Speaker 8 (26:27):
I was number one.
Speaker 4 (26:29):
In our country now she is, so why not playing
the best right?
Speaker 14 (26:35):
Two thousand and six finalists Marcus Bagdadis and Tommy Hass
want to make sure they come out on top in
their battle with the young guns.
Speaker 18 (26:42):
If I could play any current player in my prime,
it would be met with A because he plays completely
different than other people. He stands so much far back,
and I think I have the game to mix this
game up.
Speaker 15 (26:56):
I'm going to pick somebody that I've got record against
that I've lost to them. You know, that could be
like I don't know, I'd be like David now Bandy
and I have our lost to A stan MAA Rinka,
I never lost two. To make it also attractive for
the viewers, you know, because they know those names, definitely
wouldn't want to play anybody like you know, the top
three that we always talk about that have won so
many majors.
Speaker 14 (27:12):
And Foreman Doubles champion Roddick Stephanie's streame opponent is already
under his tutelage.
Speaker 19 (27:17):
I would like to place Abastian Korda because I want
to feel what the opponents are feeling. Definitely what his
ball does in the match, because obviously practice is different
than the match, and just to feel him.
Speaker 12 (27:34):
Well.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
It's the last week of January, which means we're at
the business end of the tournament. It also means it's
the end of the summer school holidays, with millions of
Australian children set to return to school over the coming days,
so we thought we'd take this final opportunity to get
a kid's perspective of the AO.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
Yeah, first time. We're really excited.
Speaker 5 (27:52):
I'm on the internet.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 16 (27:54):
Well, I came here on the of the train for
my friend's birthday party and did the climbing thing, and
then we the jumping thing when you jump off like
the thing with the harness, and then we jumped off
the wall onto the like we're airbag, and then we wow,
(28:14):
you went on the water slide. And now we're just
playing tennis.
Speaker 20 (28:17):
I did some table tennis and they did a little
and I watched a little bit of tennis. And I
played on the courts for a little bit.
Speaker 13 (28:30):
The whatever you call that.
Speaker 15 (28:33):
Whoever listening to this, I'm sorry, you don't know what
I'm doing.
Speaker 16 (28:35):
I'm gonna We're gonna watch some tennis, have some lunch,
and then go home.
Speaker 13 (28:39):
Ah.
Speaker 5 (28:40):
Well, we've been through.
Speaker 16 (28:41):
Most of the ballpark things, including Thomas whatever the tripe
things called.
Speaker 5 (28:47):
The water slide was probably my favorite, though.
Speaker 16 (28:49):
Yeah, iking a Doll unfortunately got knocked out in like
the second round.
Speaker 5 (28:53):
Though I've never watched tennis before.
Speaker 20 (28:56):
I played hot cross tennis, I played table ti tennis,
and I watched for tennis.
Speaker 16 (29:02):
We took a photo over there watching tennis and eating.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
Great to hear the younger voices at the AO, and
who knows, maybe we've just heard from one of the
stars of tomorrow. Speaking of which, the stars of today
will be in action tomorrow for men's semi finals day.
Join us then for all the big stories from Melbourne Park.
In the meantime, take this opportunity to subscribe and consider
rating and reviewing so more fans can discover the AO show.
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