January 25, 2025 • 34 mins
Madison Keys has dethroned Aryna Sabalenka to win her first Grand Slam title, denying the world No.1 a rare ‘three-peat’ in Melbourne — experts Jill Craybas and Levi Huddleston join Jon to dissect the women’s final, and preview the men’s championship match between Jannik Sinner and Alex Zverev on Day 15. Harry Heliovaara and Henry Patten have come from behind against Italian pair Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori to seize the men’s doubles trophy in an all-time epic final. Hear from the talented craftsmen responsible for spinning the Australian Open trophies ‘Norm’ and ‘Daphne’. And Alexia Mitchell goes backstage at AO Live to meet renowned DJ Armand van Helden.
AusOpen.com
iHeart
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Okay, bear with me. I'm absolutely going to cry. There's
no way I get through this without tears. So sorry.
In advance, Good.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Day and welcome to the tennis for Day fourteen of
AO twenty twenty five Women's Final Day, John Huveerna's with
all the big news from Melbourne Park every day of
the main drawer. Today on the tennis, Keys unlocks the
Grand Slam trophy cabinet.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
I just felt like, this is my moment. I can
absolutely do this.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Sasha dares to dream.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
It would definitely be a dream cop true for me.
I've been chasing their Grandsom title for a very long
time now.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Plus silver Lining playbook, meet the makers of the AO
trophies and go backstage at AO Live with amand Van Helden.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
It's good to be nervous because that means you want
to put on a good show.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
That's all ahead. On the tennis, Madison Keys has finally
summited the Grand Slam mountain on her third attempt, winning
a stunning three set final over Arina Sablenka in a
flashback to her maid An Australian Open final. Sable Anka
opened the mal with a double fault the first game, wobbles,
(01:02):
giving Keys a chance to draw first blood.
Speaker 5 (01:04):
Backing up a line by Keys, good deep ball. Now
she goes back in that direction and Sabelenka can't handle it.
A break your serve in the opening game of the
final for Madison Keys.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Sabolenka had more serving rose In the fifth game, a
third double fault, spelling trouble for the defending chat little
top toddy.
Speaker 5 (01:20):
To the net from Sabolenka, and it's a fall one
lead to Madison Keys.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
The American held to love to go ahead five to one,
and the pressure was all on Sabolenka. She managed to
settle for five to two and suddenly had some momentum.
Speaker 5 (01:34):
Sabelenka cross call back, end to backround. We go dug
out by Sablenca. Oh no, she's missed again. Keys hit
the key assign on the nets. Sabolenka has the breakback.
It's five to three now for Madison Keys opening sets.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
But it was short lived. Another double fault from the
Belarusians racket, granting Keys a chance to snatch the opener.
Speaker 5 (01:53):
The serve to the backhanded. Keys goes cross called off
fine from Sablenka. Keys goes up the live for a
winner barely deserved don't pet ex set for Manister Keys.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
It was a comprehensive thirty five minute first stanza from Keys,
who landed twenty two percent more first serves than her
opponent and smacked eleven winners to four in the second set.
Sablenka created early opportunities but failed to convert two break
points in the first game owing to big hitting from Keys,
but it was only so long the American could hold
the world number one at bay.
Speaker 6 (02:25):
The third break point in this game for Sabalenka to
get a nose ahead lands here on the back end.
Speaker 7 (02:31):
Going up the line.
Speaker 8 (02:32):
That's too good for Keys.
Speaker 6 (02:34):
The clenched fists from Arena Sabalanka. She's back in business,
and break serve in the second set to lead by
two games to.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
One, and the errors started to mount for the challenger,
opening the door for a double break lead for the
defending champ.
Speaker 6 (02:49):
Returned from Saballanca on the four hand. Keys is at
the nat because she's passed easily by Arena Sabalanka on
the four hands, and the double break this time goes
the way of Arena Savlenka.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Keys had two more opportunities to rekindle a break in
the sixth game, but each time Sabolenka had the answers
with big serves and deft dropshots, the match seemed destined
to go the distance.
Speaker 6 (03:14):
Forty thirty still set point for Arena. Sablenka serves heavily
and that's a good reply from Keys. Well defended by Sabalanca.
But that's just long from Madison Keys and Arena. Sablanca
has hit back in forty five minutes for the second.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Set, and nervous tension filled the stadium at the start
of the third set, with both players a set away
from holding the trophy. Savelenka continued to use her touch
to great effect while Keys tried to dictate play from
the baseline.
Speaker 6 (03:45):
There's a shorter fourhand this time from Sabalanka.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
She tries to.
Speaker 6 (03:48):
Lob overhead back and overhead smash was in from Keys.
Sabalanca was miles out.
Speaker 9 (03:54):
Of the court when she played that.
Speaker 6 (03:56):
She literally was nearly in the camera. Pets. She got
it back in Keys puts it away into the open court.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
As the finish line drew nearer, the crowd began to lift,
as did the intensity of the battle. New balls in
the ninth game brought new opportunities for Keys to put
pressure on Sabolenka, who had to serve to stay alive.
At five four, she rose to the challenge with a
stronghold before Keys summoned some magic of her own.
Speaker 6 (04:20):
Forty thirty here big serving onto.
Speaker 8 (04:22):
The full hand back behind Sabolenka.
Speaker 6 (04:25):
Keys has the answers at the moments and she moves
out to a six ' five lead.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
The set appeared destined for a tie break until an
unforced error from Sabolenka followed by a Key's return winner
put her two points from the championship, and when Sablenka netted,
Keys had two opportunities to close it out.
Speaker 6 (04:45):
Championship point for Madison Keys. It's thirty forty, Sablenka is ready, serves.
Keys goes with the big backhand, picks up on the
half folly by Sablenka, huge forehand from Keys, well defended by.
Speaker 7 (05:00):
She's done.
Speaker 10 (05:01):
Its long, ladies over to Madison Keyes.
Speaker 6 (05:08):
She is the Australian Open Champion.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
I have wanted this for so long, and I have
been in one other Grandsome final and it did not
go my way, and I didn't know if I was
ever going to be able to get back to this
position to try to win a trophy again, and my
team believed in me every step of the way.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
So thank you so much, and so a new Grand
Slam champion is born. I'm joined on the spotlight by
Levi Huddleston from Gig Welcome.
Speaker 11 (05:40):
Levi, thanks, what an amazing match.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
And Jill Crabs fresh from the AO Radio commentary box,
Congratulations to you both upon your country woman winning her
first major.
Speaker 8 (05:49):
Thank you. Yeah, it's very exciting.
Speaker 12 (05:51):
I mean I would have been happy either way, like
Arena as well, but yeah, I think it's I always
like when there's a new champion and just to see
the emotion and the feelings. And obviously I've always felt
for a very long time that Maddie's game was so
good to win a slamsum so.
Speaker 8 (06:07):
Happy for her that she she got it, she deserved.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
It, and she did it. Install lev We're going to
break this down set by set because I feel like
there was a different flavor to each of the sets
and really rising intensity in the last one. So should
we start from the start? Took us through the first
set where it was going. It was six ' three
to Madison Keys, who was a very fast starter.
Speaker 13 (06:27):
She was.
Speaker 11 (06:28):
I mean, there were several breaks of serve, so we
saw three breaks throughout that first set. Sabolenca had a
hard time holding. Her first serve percentage was you know,
sixty three percent versus eighty three or sorry, eighty six
for Keys. But the one thing of interest was really
the forehand. I think everyone was noticing that from Keys
(06:49):
one hundred and twenty seven kilometers per hour was really
able to dictate from the back of the court and arena.
Interestingly enough, she had one hundred and twenty five a
fourhand speed in the last match dropped down to one
hundred and fifteen, so she wasn't able to dictate because
Keys was hitting so so much power.
Speaker 8 (07:08):
Yeah, I agree with that.
Speaker 12 (07:09):
I mean, I think I think Sablanca started a little
bit slower than I was expecting. Keys started very strong,
and I think Keys got the break right out of
the gates, and I think from that point, because she
served so well, that pressure accumulated. I think throughout that
first set, I do feel like Sabolanka was kind of
on her back foot a bit. I think she realized
how much Keys was loving the pace off the ground,
(07:33):
so she did good job of adapting and switching it
up in the second started throwing a lot of different
variety using the slice.
Speaker 8 (07:39):
The drop shot was super effective for her.
Speaker 12 (07:42):
She won almost every point that she dropshotted, but it's
hard to do off of someone that's hitting with a
ton of pace, and Keys i think started hitting with
less pace in the second set, and I think Sablanca
started serving better. Her serve was not great in the
first set, so I think that's why.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
What was happening then for Medicine Keys, apart from the
air account rising.
Speaker 11 (08:05):
Yeah, I mean just the first serves percentage drop, so
you know it was eighty six and I dropped a
fifty nine percent. Meanwhile Sablenka's rose to eighty three percent.
So it was just Sabalanca was holding much easier. Keys
was having a very difficult time to hold and at
the forehand pace it's still bothered, I think Sablenka, but
(08:26):
she cut down a lot of the other errors and
so she was just able to, I think, merge out
of that easily.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
And so we arrived at the field set and you
really felt the energy in the stadium just go up
a notch as the crowd realized what was happening. Both
plays set away from holding the cup and they were
pretty solid.
Speaker 8 (08:44):
Yeah, it was.
Speaker 12 (08:45):
It was even, and you kind of got the sense
that they were both going to rise to the occasion,
and they did so. I didn't think I was at
surprise that it was going to be a very close
third set, because Sablenca played a lot better in the second.
The serve was a big factor. I knew the serve
was going to be a huge factor in the third
just because of how one side of each set was
(09:06):
in the serve, and so they both knew that they
both served better in the third set. But I think
you could feel the tension, and I was feeling the tension.
I mean, I was nervous for both. You didn't know
what was going to happen. But I do think I
can't remember exactly was it was maybe three All I
want to say in the third that Madison started, I
(09:28):
felt like up to the pace even more. And that
was one of the things that she was so proud
of herself against Fiontech in the semifinals was that she
didn't back down. She wanted to either win or lose,
but go down swinging, and that's what she did against
Sian Tech. It paid off saved a match point.
Speaker 8 (09:47):
I think she forgot she had a match point against her.
Speaker 12 (09:49):
But that's how much she was in the moment, just
knowing exactly what she needed to do, because you can
handle it when when you go down swinging, if you
lose that, you gave it your all. And she remembered
that semi final the US Open against sable Anca where
she didn't do that, and that really hurt her. So
(10:10):
she wanted to make sure she just backed herself and
she did it and it paid off.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Here, Leva, your team has a metric called pressure points,
which are the bright points or the previous.
Speaker 11 (10:20):
Yeah, lad lead to a break point. Yeah, and keys
talk about going down swinging, I mean eight to two
in terms of pressure points. She was winning those very
crucial points. Interesting though, Yeah, like no break points until
that final game, and I just thought that was pretty crazy.
It was just neck and neck holding comfortably. But you mentioned, yeah,
(10:40):
your gut instinct was right. Her fourhand speed actually she increased.
It's crazy, you know, one twenty seven in the first set.
She got to one thirty two in the third set.
She was really hitting that for hand hard.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
It came down to that last game and finally we
saw a break of serve and it was a really
mature way to end the match. Of course, the beneficiary
of an unforce astera from sable Anca at a crucial point,
but converted her second match point opportunity.
Speaker 12 (11:04):
But that had to do with the pressure right, the
pace that Madison broad and I mean, and that's the
way you want to finish a match, is going after it,
and so's.
Speaker 8 (11:15):
She should be proud of herself. You deserved it.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Yeah, it was a beautiful winner. Any other things that
the data was telling you throughout their LEVI.
Speaker 11 (11:23):
Well, we mentioned Baltas range a little bit and we
haven't seen a smaller ball toss range and since Sterns
really and so like her first serve, just how tight
that pattern was in terms of where she was tossing
the ball. I can't help but think that might have
helped her hold and be a little bit more comfortable
out there. Just a very consistent tass. But other than that,
(11:45):
I mean, what a fun match to watch.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Really, Maddie the metronome and now a major champion. You're
just looking at the path to the final where she's
beaten the likes of Daniel Collins in the third round,
a former finalist here in twenty twenty two, or a
Bikener in the fourth round, former finalists here and then
Spittalina Fiontech, the world number two and now the world
number one. It's hard to imagine a much more difficult
(12:11):
path for someone to break through for their first major.
Speaker 12 (12:13):
Yeah, very difficult, but that can only make you stronger,
I thinks as the tournament goes on. And also, I
love you that you brought up all these players because
a lot of them are very different styles, and I
think she had to adapt so differently to say a
Rebakkena to a Sidelina who's really consistent, to s Fiantec
who brings the heavy fourhand, you know. So there was
(12:35):
a lot of different things that Maddie had to adapt to,
and the fact that she could adapt is something that
I think that's improved in her game. I think her
defensive skills have gotten so much better. She's moving so
much better along the baseline. But the fact that she's
throwing in the slice as well, So it's not all
all It wasn't all about bang Mee Meg all the
time that we've seen maybe like I don't know, seventy
(12:57):
eight years ago. She has different things that she can
bring to the table to adapt to the different styles,
and I think that helped her when the tournament.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Well, congratulations to Maddie Kays. Let's hear from the twenty
twenty five champion. Following her triumph followed by the runner up.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Finally kind of getting past that hurdle of the semifinals
and getting back into a final and doing it the
way that I did it, I just felt like, this
is my moment. I can absolutely do this and I
just wanted to run with that.
Speaker 13 (13:28):
What are your thoughts on the tank klas of silver
that you've got here and where will you put.
Speaker 7 (13:34):
It in your house?
Speaker 1 (13:36):
I've been getting a bicep workout carrying it around. It's
been quite nice. Actually, I'm absolutely going to make space
for it in my house. I might have to have
like spotlights on it so that everyone that walks in
the house it's the first thing that you see. But yeah,
it's a it's a pretty one.
Speaker 8 (13:54):
Yeah, it's a very pretty one.
Speaker 14 (13:55):
I think when you get to the point of finals,
it's trow through and nothing you know, a little bit
numbers the finalists, you know, and nobody put like next
to the winner like finalist name. You know, So I
mean that at this point, yeah, I mean I I
go for titles, but of course I have to be.
Speaker 6 (14:17):
Anyway.
Speaker 14 (14:17):
I have to be proud of myself with the finals,
three finals in the row, that's something crazy. And I
hope that next year I'll come back as a better
player and I'll hold Daphne one more time.
Speaker 7 (14:39):
James and man he and six string up and.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Men's doubles title. Harry Hellavara and Henry Patton have added
a second major trophy to their collection, triumphing in an
all time epic men's doubles final against Simon and a Sorry.
The longest tie break of the men's doubles tournament remained
deadlocked till the nineteen minute mark, when Billelli produced a
winner to get the edge at eighteen sixteen, the Italians
(15:11):
clinching the first set in an hour and twenty seven minutes.
The second set also went to a breaker, this time
going the way of the finn and the brit seven
to five to send it to a championship deciding third set.
After one am Heliovara and Patten leapt to a four
love lead in the decider with one hand on the
trophy before the Italians managed to retrieve one of the
(15:34):
breaks in the fifth game, and at love thirty in
the ninth looked like doing the same, but the Boys
in Blue held their nerve before Patten sealed it with
an ace to win six seven seven, six sixty three
in three hours and four minutes.
Speaker 7 (15:47):
Yeah bloody, Elle well an evening.
Speaker 13 (15:52):
Firstly, I want to thank everyone that stayed out here
and watched display. You guys are a little bit crazy,
but I love you for it.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
It's Swiss Birthday bliss. In the Junior Boys final, Henry
Bennet of Switzerland has gifted himself the ultimate eighteenth birthday present,
defeating Benjamin Wilworth in straight sets, ripping serves of up
to two hundred and five kph the Birthday Boy cruise
to victory three and four.
Speaker 13 (16:18):
It's been probably three perfect weeks here and today on
my birthday, I had the chance to play on the
Rod Labor Arena, which is something very special and no
I will never forget that, even if I would have
lost the match, but it's it's even great, even better
when a that I won the match, So I'm just
very happier.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
WHI Kana Sanober has taken out the Australian Open Girls
singles title after a convincing win of a Christina Panischkova
in fifty four minutes. The fourth seed has become the
first Japanese player to lift the trophy after downing Panichkiva
six love, six to one. Alfi Hewitt has backed up
his doubles crown to take out the Men's wheelchair singles
title over defending champ at Tokitor Odda the Brits during
(17:00):
his second AO title with a six four six '
four victory.
Speaker 10 (17:03):
Yeah, I didn't expect me to stop blobbering on the court,
to be honest, but probably harboring a few few feelings
from the last couple of matches that we've played. Obviously
they have been pretty big ones with them being in
Slam finals, in the Paradompic final. Anyway, it does. It
does knock cre deep down, you know, your sort of
belief in your confidence, especially in the big moments. So
(17:24):
for me to do it today and prove to myself
more than anyone that I can rise to the occasion
against a player like Kim, Yeah, it was very overwhelmed.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
In the women's wheelchair singles. Yuik Amigi has backed up
her Paris gold medal with a third Australian Open title,
the top seed grinding past Anik Vancourt to win her
first Slam since twenty twenty six two six to two.
Speaker 15 (17:46):
First of all, I'm really happy. Of course it's my
hard title Australia Open, and today it was seventy times
against Nick. We played a lot, a lot of march
Is singles and doubles, so if we counting include doubles,
(18:06):
we'll be more. And yeah, always, she pushed me so
well and she has passion and power.
Speaker 8 (18:16):
But I'm happy with my performance.
Speaker 16 (18:18):
At the end.
Speaker 14 (18:18):
Today.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Sam Schroeder has secured his fourth consecutive Australian Open Quad
wheelchair singles title, the top seed winning an all Dutch
final against Nils Fink seven six seven five. In the
girls wheelchair final, Brazil's Victoria Miranda has staged an almighty
comeback against American Sabina Soors, the top seed, digging out
the win love six sixty three seven six, while boys
(18:42):
wheelchair singles champ Charlie Cooper found a more straightforward victory
against Alexander Lantaman six two six two. Well day fifteen,
as it's come to be, is the men's final day,
and tomorrow we have an absolute cracker on her hands.
It's the defending champion, Yannix against Alex Zverev, and he's
first Australian Open final. He's third major though, Jill, there's.
Speaker 12 (19:06):
Been a lot of talk from numerous people that before
the tournament started they felt like Zverev was kind of
ready for this moment in this Grand Slam, just a
feeling that people are going to think he's playing that well.
He's got the game to beat everybody. He's proven it,
he's beaten everybody before, and so I think he's ready.
I think he has to make sure that he doesn't
(19:26):
get too passive, which has been the case maybe in
some previous Slams. But I think he knows that and
I think kind of like a similar to like Maddie,
maybe he knows he's got to go for it and
let everything out there on the court, and I think
he's going to be able to do it. He's got
the weapons, he's got the big serve. It's one of
(19:49):
the hardest serves to read in the in the men's game.
According to a lot of the.
Speaker 8 (19:53):
Players, they struggled to read his serve, so he's got
to serve well.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
I think he was the number one ranked server for
most of.
Speaker 12 (19:58):
Last year IP and especially against Centeria. Center's got one
of the best returns in the game, one of the
most solid returners. So I would like to see Zverev
come forward a little bit more if he has the opportunity.
I think he's very capable of doing that and very
adept at the net. I don't know, I'm kind of
edging towards Vera for some reason.
Speaker 8 (20:20):
All right, well, let's break it down a new one
on both sides.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Let's break it down numerically, statistically, and later. Can you
make a case for how alex Verev wins this against
a Yonik Sinna who has been as dominant as we've
seen and showing very few signs of frailty.
Speaker 11 (20:36):
Yeah, I mean, I think you absolutely can make a
case Zverev. It's interesting, like diagnosing these two players. I
was looking at some of their stats and I thought
like this, and these are the same players. They have
such similar just high level statistics, so they've you know,
just at a really high level. Across six matches. They
both dropped two sets Okay, dig a little bit deeper.
(20:57):
They've hit about three thousand shots at total at the
this year. Seven percent are winners on both of them,
and they both have an air rate of fourteen percent,
So it's like they are playing super similarly. In terms
of is Verev ready Is he playing as well as
Sinner is, It's like, yes, absolutely he is. And I
think you could argue that even Sinner's playing better than
(21:19):
he was last year, and so if he was able
to win last year, is is Vera be able to
you know, win this year given that he's playing at
the same level. So I think it's going to be
a really really interesting match. I think what makes them
different or where is Verev's edge in this match? Like
you talked about volume, If he can come forward to
(21:40):
the net, I think there is definitely an edge there.
So when he comes to the net, he has an
air rate of about thirteen percent, so pretty good Cinner
twenty five percent. So if if Zverev gets to the
net or he brings center to the net, I think
that's definitely an edge on the Zaverev camp. Also, I
think obviously the serve huge edge for Zverev for a
(22:04):
serve and play much higher for Zverev than center. First
speed much higher for Zverev than center. We do this
thing like we measure actually the knee bend, you know,
and how does Zeverev generate all this pace? Well, like
Zverev's getting lower in that trophy position, so you know,
to give an edge, where does Zverev shine. It's it's
(22:27):
going to be on the serve and the volley, and
I think he has pretty good groundstrokes.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Well, let's have a look then at Janick Sinner's path
to the final. In the second round, he dropped that
opening set to Tristan's school Kate. He had Marcus Giron
in the third round straight sets win there against Holgaruna,
he also dropped a set and then against Alex Demoner
on the quarterfinals, was flawless before he came through Ben Shelton.
He's had a good range of opponents as well, like
(22:53):
we talked about with Maddy Keyes. So how does that
set him up to play in another final?
Speaker 12 (22:59):
Yeah, I mean he's always pretty strong. I mean, I
know he dropped a couple sets. I think he wasn't
feeling well against holg Aruna, but recovered very quickly in
that phenomenal match against Demonor. To me, that's sort of
a matchup sort of thing. Demon Or struggles. He's zero
in ten now against Center, So I think just Centered
does a little bit everything better than demon Or. There's
(23:19):
similar games, but Center a little bit more powerful off
the ground.
Speaker 8 (23:24):
The Shelton was a good test. That was a very
very good match. It was very physical.
Speaker 12 (23:30):
That first set was just the amount of court coverage
that both those guys did was just absolutely insane. So
I think that was a good physical test for Center.
So I think he's going to be fine. I think
he's going to be ready because I do think this
is going to be a longer, more physical match with
spheev as well. It's fair and so I think he's
(23:51):
going to be ready. Yes, I think the opponent's again
having to adapt for different things, right, Demonor are very
consistent off the ground. If you just take the quarters
and send me's Shelton huge lefty serve, Center returned very well.
He started reading Shelton serve exceptionally well, got so many
returns back in play, and then after that first set
kind of wore Shelton down a little bit. But he's
(24:14):
going to I mean he's played Zverev before, he's going
to be ready. He's going to know exactly what to expect. Again,
it's going to be how well Cinner can get a
lot of these returns back in play, because once starts
the point, think he's going to be comfortable at the baseline.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
All right, So where does Sinna hold the keys to
this championship label?
Speaker 11 (24:31):
It starts with the return eighty five percent on that
second serve. He's inside the baseline, so he's putting pressure
on you there. You can't you can't just roll one
in and expect okay, I can get back into that rally.
He's immediately pushing, putting pressure on you. And then he's
taking fifty seven percent of his ground strokes on the
rise compared to thirty seven for Zverev. So a little
(24:51):
bit of that passivity that you were talking about again
applying more pressure, Like he is getting closer and closer,
and he has a huge weapon, four hands massive, so
he's applying pressure and he's also getting closer.
Speaker 8 (25:04):
And then you know, you.
Speaker 11 (25:05):
Look at his own serf serf plus one, what does
that next shot look like?
Speaker 8 (25:09):
After the serve?
Speaker 11 (25:11):
You know he's always taking a forehand not always, but
like seventy seven percent of the time, whereas Verev's more
comfortable taking a backhand. And it's just in this game,
the forehands always favored, So if you can take that
more often and use that weapon, I think that's where
that's where sinners are just going to be.
Speaker 12 (25:27):
Which is crazy because Cinner's backhand was always considered his
strength and it was something that he's been working on
for a long time. Is being able to get way
more aggressive on the forehand side. And I remember a
couple of years ago he was going mock ten on
the forehand and missing everything. But the fact that he
didn't back down on that and just keep going after
(25:49):
it because he knew it was the right thing to
do to get better as a player. And now it's
not a risky shot for him anymore. So that's why
now he's looking more for that for him, because it's
just it looks to your opponent a more aggressive stance
and you can just get a little bit more firepower
behind it. So it is an amazing thing that he
worked on that is now a huge benefit to him
(26:10):
because now where do you go, I mean both sides.
His back ends insane, super strong, solid and now his
feign's even more dangerous.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
Well, we've seen Maddy Keys pull off her first major win.
Do you think we can see alex Verev follow in
her footsteps? How do you see it playing out?
Speaker 7 (26:27):
Jill?
Speaker 8 (26:27):
Go you first, A tough Carbet. I think I'm going
to go. It was Verrev and five five, Levi.
Speaker 11 (26:33):
I think I'm going to go with Centner and five sing.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
It's gonna be close.
Speaker 8 (26:37):
Okay, Yeah, it's gonna be a good match.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
Well, whichever way that goes bodes for an exciting battle
on day fifteen. I'm going to reserve my judgment as
always the impartial host of this show, but check back
in tomorrow to see which of our panelists experts is right. Jill,
thank you for your time. Thank you, Levi, thank you. Well,
let's hear the thoughts of Alex Zverev and Janick Sinner
as they prepare to face off for the trophy.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
He's been the player in the world over the last
twelve months. He has been very, very stable on the
hard courts, barely losing any matches, and I think he
lost only what two matches last year on a hard court,
So with three matches on a hard court, so obviously, Yeah,
difficult opponent, tremendous power, tremendous groundstrokes, incredible movement as well,
(27:24):
just all around a very difficult opponent.
Speaker 16 (27:26):
Yeah, it would mean so much to me. No, defending
of the title is his ovis very very special. But
again you know finals, just to play finals and you
know Sunday in every tournament is something special. So but
it would mean so much to me.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
Finals weakend. It's where the world gets to say the
beautiful pieces of silverware, and affectionately is Daphney and Norm
named in honor of Australian tennis pioneers Daphney Ekherst and
Norman Brooks. But where did the trophies come from and
how do they make them? Well, thanks to safety culture,
we go behind the scenes of the ceremony dais to
where the trophy spin at. Brad Sullivan and general manager
(28:09):
Darren May from w J Sanders put these beauties together.
Speaker 7 (28:15):
To craft the Shane Open trophies.
Speaker 9 (28:17):
You've got to take your time, don't try to rush
the metal into shape, because that's when things can go wrong.
The normal books usually takes between three point fifty and
four hundred hours. Basically it all starts with flat discs.
Speaker 7 (28:34):
Of stealing silver.
Speaker 9 (28:35):
Each hollow component has to be spun on the lathe.
I have to bring it all together and be able
to create an exact replica of the original one.
Speaker 17 (28:45):
The Australian Open trophies have been made by W. J.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Sanders since twenty twelve.
Speaker 17 (28:50):
There are five people in Australia that could do this work.
Four of them work right here. When you're spinning the trophy,
the metals talks to you the worst end and you
want to hear. When you're spinning the Norman Brooks is
a crack, the metal has split and in most cases
you have to start again, just.
Speaker 9 (29:07):
Preparing to do one of the final soldiers to sold
of the foot and.
Speaker 7 (29:11):
Stem to the bowl. I do know the metal inside
and out in my eye for detail.
Speaker 9 (29:15):
I can see every little mark and making sure as
perfect as I can get it. When I see it finished, yeah,
I feel very proud because I know how much effort
and blood, sweat and tears basically have gone into it,
and it's gone into the winner's hands.
Speaker 7 (29:30):
I think it's been nice as trophy that I've made.
Very proud of it.
Speaker 18 (29:38):
Well.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
A front row seat inside Rod Laver Arena might be
the hottest sticking in town this weekend. There are plenty
of fans flocking to John Caine Arena for a different reason.
AO Live, the Australian opens three day music festival is
once again a huge draw card for summer revelers, and
the lineup for twenty twenty five includes the likes of
Benson Boone Kesher Bag Raiders and armand Van Hel, the
(30:00):
creative force behind House Hits Bonkers, My My My and
I Want Your Soul. Producer Alexia Mitchell spent some time
with the Revere DJ in his dressing room before he
hit the stage.
Speaker 18 (30:11):
I just want to say, first of all, your music
kept me awake on my drive home last night. It
was brilliant. It was exactly what I needed. So thank
you for your service and welcome to the Tenant.
Speaker 7 (30:20):
Absolutely and thanks for having me.
Speaker 18 (30:22):
You have such energetic music. How do you get yourself
pumped up for your sets?
Speaker 4 (30:26):
I read a book prior, just like you know, just
a book, one of them.
Speaker 7 (30:31):
I'm joking. It's just i'd just like comment raring to go.
Speaker 18 (30:36):
It's just part of your nature.
Speaker 7 (30:38):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 18 (30:40):
Nerves aren't something that bother you well, an interesting thing.
Speaker 4 (30:43):
It was a statement I was told to me early
in my career, and I love this statement. I always
say this when it comes to nerves or stage freight
or these.
Speaker 7 (30:49):
Sorts of things.
Speaker 4 (30:50):
And the best thing I've ever heard was, if you're
not nervous to go up there, then you don't care.
So it's good to be nervous, because that meane you
want to put on a good show.
Speaker 18 (30:58):
You've had three decade of music success. What drives you
to just keep on making bops?
Speaker 7 (31:05):
I mean, it's just passion. It's plain and simple.
Speaker 4 (31:08):
And you know, to anybody that can say thirty years
of anything is a crazy, crazy statement. But ultimately, my
heart and my passion are in the right place, and
I traverse you know, the hills and valleys in the
sense of this industry with knowing that you know, I'm
(31:29):
about the art of this and the magic of it,
you know, And that's what's important.
Speaker 18 (31:33):
You're saying this, and it reminds me of some of
the things the best tennis players will say is they
do it for the love of the sport and the
love of competing. Did you play any sport or tennis
or anything like that growing.
Speaker 7 (31:47):
Up so with tennis.
Speaker 4 (31:50):
Interesting enough, my father was captain of his high school
tennis team, so he's very much into tennis.
Speaker 7 (31:56):
He did try and teach.
Speaker 4 (31:57):
Me when I was younger, but I kind of grew
up typical American boy. I did play a ton of sports,
but I basically was more I think. I think initially
when my father was showing me tennis, I had an interest.
I was like, it's kind of cool, but for me
it was like football school. I've learned to love the sport.
I watched it on occasion because my father, you know,
(32:18):
showed me the robes with it, because he would sit
and watch it. And then I was like, okay, what's that?
Is that a point? How does that work?
Speaker 7 (32:25):
So, you know, explained the game to me. So I
appreciate tennis a lot.
Speaker 4 (32:28):
And I love solo sports, I come to find out,
because I did wrestling in school and everything, and I
think I excelled the most in solo sports. And I
think I think my biggest thing with tennis itself is
that I'm a big fan.
Speaker 7 (32:43):
I think my favorite.
Speaker 4 (32:43):
Sports are solo sports where you're you're the whole team
is you, you know, if you.
Speaker 18 (32:48):
Were to make a pump up song using the sounds
of the tennis court. Walk me through how you would
do that. What sounds would you be picking up to
put sort of a bit of a bang up.
Speaker 4 (32:59):
The best sound in tennis is the serf, you know,
just that hit. It's like it's like that resonates, you
know what I mean. And you know there's the shuffling
of the feet you hear that and stuff like that,
and then the grunt thing. But I think I think
the set that I like that fresh silence and then
the serf, you know what I mean, because it's yeah,
(33:21):
and then it's just when it's when you hear when
you hear that first hit, it's just like whoof, because
you can kind of tell sometimes by the sound, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 7 (33:28):
You're like, oh, that's that's crazy.
Speaker 4 (33:30):
You could It's almost like in that one second, you're like, Okay,
that's they're not they're not returning that one you know
what I mean by the sound, you know.
Speaker 18 (33:37):
Thank you for joining the tennis Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 7 (33:39):
So much for having me. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (33:42):
That's all for Day fourteen of the Australian Open. Join
me again tomorrow for all the big stories from day
fifteen men's final day. Be sure to subscribe to never
miss an episode, and please consider leaving a rating and
review so more fans can discover the tennis. You can
also catch our daily Spotlight segment on our YouTube channel
Australian and TV and I'll catch you tomorrow for more
of the tennis, h m hm
Okay, bear with me. I'm absolutely going to cry. There's
no way I get through this without tears. So sorry.
In advance, Good.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Day and welcome to the tennis for Day fourteen of
AO twenty twenty five Women's Final Day, John Huveerna's with
all the big news from Melbourne Park every day of
the main drawer. Today on the tennis, Keys unlocks the
Grand Slam trophy cabinet.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
I just felt like, this is my moment. I can
absolutely do this.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Sasha dares to dream.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
It would definitely be a dream cop true for me.
I've been chasing their Grandsom title for a very long
time now.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Plus silver Lining playbook, meet the makers of the AO
trophies and go backstage at AO Live with amand Van Helden.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
It's good to be nervous because that means you want
to put on a good show.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
That's all ahead. On the tennis, Madison Keys has finally
summited the Grand Slam mountain on her third attempt, winning
a stunning three set final over Arina Sablenka in a
flashback to her maid An Australian Open final. Sable Anka
opened the mal with a double fault the first game, wobbles,
(01:02):
giving Keys a chance to draw first blood.
Speaker 5 (01:04):
Backing up a line by Keys, good deep ball. Now
she goes back in that direction and Sabelenka can't handle it.
A break your serve in the opening game of the
final for Madison Keys.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Sabolenka had more serving rose In the fifth game, a
third double fault, spelling trouble for the defending chat little
top toddy.
Speaker 5 (01:20):
To the net from Sabolenka, and it's a fall one
lead to Madison Keys.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
The American held to love to go ahead five to one,
and the pressure was all on Sabolenka. She managed to
settle for five to two and suddenly had some momentum.
Speaker 5 (01:34):
Sabelenka cross call back, end to backround. We go dug
out by Sablenca. Oh no, she's missed again. Keys hit
the key assign on the nets. Sabolenka has the breakback.
It's five to three now for Madison Keys opening sets.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
But it was short lived. Another double fault from the
Belarusians racket, granting Keys a chance to snatch the opener.
Speaker 5 (01:53):
The serve to the backhanded. Keys goes cross called off
fine from Sablenka. Keys goes up the live for a
winner barely deserved don't pet ex set for Manister Keys.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
It was a comprehensive thirty five minute first stanza from Keys,
who landed twenty two percent more first serves than her
opponent and smacked eleven winners to four in the second set.
Sablenka created early opportunities but failed to convert two break
points in the first game owing to big hitting from Keys,
but it was only so long the American could hold
the world number one at bay.
Speaker 6 (02:25):
The third break point in this game for Sabalenka to
get a nose ahead lands here on the back end.
Speaker 7 (02:31):
Going up the line.
Speaker 8 (02:32):
That's too good for Keys.
Speaker 6 (02:34):
The clenched fists from Arena Sabalanka. She's back in business,
and break serve in the second set to lead by
two games to.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
One, and the errors started to mount for the challenger,
opening the door for a double break lead for the
defending champ.
Speaker 6 (02:49):
Returned from Saballanca on the four hand. Keys is at
the nat because she's passed easily by Arena Sabalanka on
the four hands, and the double break this time goes
the way of Arena Savlenka.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Keys had two more opportunities to rekindle a break in
the sixth game, but each time Sabolenka had the answers
with big serves and deft dropshots, the match seemed destined
to go the distance.
Speaker 6 (03:14):
Forty thirty still set point for Arena. Sablenka serves heavily
and that's a good reply from Keys. Well defended by Sabalanca.
But that's just long from Madison Keys and Arena. Sablanca
has hit back in forty five minutes for the second.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Set, and nervous tension filled the stadium at the start
of the third set, with both players a set away
from holding the trophy. Savelenka continued to use her touch
to great effect while Keys tried to dictate play from
the baseline.
Speaker 6 (03:45):
There's a shorter fourhand this time from Sabalanka.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
She tries to.
Speaker 6 (03:48):
Lob overhead back and overhead smash was in from Keys.
Sabalanca was miles out.
Speaker 9 (03:54):
Of the court when she played that.
Speaker 6 (03:56):
She literally was nearly in the camera. Pets. She got
it back in Keys puts it away into the open court.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
As the finish line drew nearer, the crowd began to lift,
as did the intensity of the battle. New balls in
the ninth game brought new opportunities for Keys to put
pressure on Sabolenka, who had to serve to stay alive.
At five four, she rose to the challenge with a
stronghold before Keys summoned some magic of her own.
Speaker 6 (04:20):
Forty thirty here big serving onto.
Speaker 8 (04:22):
The full hand back behind Sabolenka.
Speaker 6 (04:25):
Keys has the answers at the moments and she moves
out to a six ' five lead.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
The set appeared destined for a tie break until an
unforced error from Sabolenka followed by a Key's return winner
put her two points from the championship, and when Sablenka netted,
Keys had two opportunities to close it out.
Speaker 6 (04:45):
Championship point for Madison Keys. It's thirty forty, Sablenka is ready, serves.
Keys goes with the big backhand, picks up on the
half folly by Sablenka, huge forehand from Keys, well defended by.
Speaker 7 (05:00):
She's done.
Speaker 10 (05:01):
Its long, ladies over to Madison Keyes.
Speaker 6 (05:08):
She is the Australian Open Champion.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
I have wanted this for so long, and I have
been in one other Grandsome final and it did not
go my way, and I didn't know if I was
ever going to be able to get back to this
position to try to win a trophy again, and my
team believed in me every step of the way.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
So thank you so much, and so a new Grand
Slam champion is born. I'm joined on the spotlight by
Levi Huddleston from Gig Welcome.
Speaker 11 (05:40):
Levi, thanks, what an amazing match.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
And Jill Crabs fresh from the AO Radio commentary box,
Congratulations to you both upon your country woman winning her
first major.
Speaker 8 (05:49):
Thank you. Yeah, it's very exciting.
Speaker 12 (05:51):
I mean I would have been happy either way, like
Arena as well, but yeah, I think it's I always
like when there's a new champion and just to see
the emotion and the feelings. And obviously I've always felt
for a very long time that Maddie's game was so
good to win a slamsum so.
Speaker 8 (06:07):
Happy for her that she she got it, she deserved.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
It, and she did it. Install lev We're going to
break this down set by set because I feel like
there was a different flavor to each of the sets
and really rising intensity in the last one. So should
we start from the start? Took us through the first
set where it was going. It was six ' three
to Madison Keys, who was a very fast starter.
Speaker 13 (06:27):
She was.
Speaker 11 (06:28):
I mean, there were several breaks of serve, so we
saw three breaks throughout that first set. Sabolenca had a
hard time holding. Her first serve percentage was you know,
sixty three percent versus eighty three or sorry, eighty six
for Keys. But the one thing of interest was really
the forehand. I think everyone was noticing that from Keys
(06:49):
one hundred and twenty seven kilometers per hour was really
able to dictate from the back of the court and arena.
Interestingly enough, she had one hundred and twenty five a
fourhand speed in the last match dropped down to one
hundred and fifteen, so she wasn't able to dictate because
Keys was hitting so so much power.
Speaker 8 (07:08):
Yeah, I agree with that.
Speaker 12 (07:09):
I mean, I think I think Sablanca started a little
bit slower than I was expecting. Keys started very strong,
and I think Keys got the break right out of
the gates, and I think from that point, because she
served so well, that pressure accumulated. I think throughout that
first set, I do feel like Sabolanka was kind of
on her back foot a bit. I think she realized
how much Keys was loving the pace off the ground,
(07:33):
so she did good job of adapting and switching it
up in the second started throwing a lot of different
variety using the slice.
Speaker 8 (07:39):
The drop shot was super effective for her.
Speaker 12 (07:42):
She won almost every point that she dropshotted, but it's
hard to do off of someone that's hitting with a
ton of pace, and Keys i think started hitting with
less pace in the second set, and I think Sablanca
started serving better. Her serve was not great in the
first set, so I think that's why.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
What was happening then for Medicine Keys, apart from the
air account rising.
Speaker 11 (08:05):
Yeah, I mean just the first serves percentage drop, so
you know it was eighty six and I dropped a
fifty nine percent. Meanwhile Sablenka's rose to eighty three percent.
So it was just Sabalanca was holding much easier. Keys
was having a very difficult time to hold and at
the forehand pace it's still bothered, I think Sablenka, but
(08:26):
she cut down a lot of the other errors and
so she was just able to, I think, merge out
of that easily.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
And so we arrived at the field set and you
really felt the energy in the stadium just go up
a notch as the crowd realized what was happening. Both
plays set away from holding the cup and they were
pretty solid.
Speaker 8 (08:44):
Yeah, it was.
Speaker 12 (08:45):
It was even, and you kind of got the sense
that they were both going to rise to the occasion,
and they did so. I didn't think I was at
surprise that it was going to be a very close
third set, because Sablenca played a lot better in the second.
The serve was a big factor. I knew the serve
was going to be a huge factor in the third
just because of how one side of each set was
(09:06):
in the serve, and so they both knew that they
both served better in the third set. But I think
you could feel the tension, and I was feeling the tension.
I mean, I was nervous for both. You didn't know
what was going to happen. But I do think I
can't remember exactly was it was maybe three All I
want to say in the third that Madison started, I
(09:28):
felt like up to the pace even more. And that
was one of the things that she was so proud
of herself against Fiontech in the semifinals was that she
didn't back down. She wanted to either win or lose,
but go down swinging, and that's what she did against
Sian Tech. It paid off saved a match point.
Speaker 8 (09:47):
I think she forgot she had a match point against her.
Speaker 12 (09:49):
But that's how much she was in the moment, just
knowing exactly what she needed to do, because you can
handle it when when you go down swinging, if you
lose that, you gave it your all. And she remembered
that semi final the US Open against sable Anca where
she didn't do that, and that really hurt her. So
(10:10):
she wanted to make sure she just backed herself and
she did it and it paid off.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Here, Leva, your team has a metric called pressure points,
which are the bright points or the previous.
Speaker 11 (10:20):
Yeah, lad lead to a break point. Yeah, and keys
talk about going down swinging, I mean eight to two
in terms of pressure points. She was winning those very
crucial points. Interesting though, Yeah, like no break points until
that final game, and I just thought that was pretty crazy.
It was just neck and neck holding comfortably. But you mentioned, yeah,
(10:40):
your gut instinct was right. Her fourhand speed actually she increased.
It's crazy, you know, one twenty seven in the first set.
She got to one thirty two in the third set.
She was really hitting that for hand hard.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
It came down to that last game and finally we
saw a break of serve and it was a really
mature way to end the match. Of course, the beneficiary
of an unforce astera from sable Anca at a crucial point,
but converted her second match point opportunity.
Speaker 12 (11:04):
But that had to do with the pressure right, the
pace that Madison broad and I mean, and that's the
way you want to finish a match, is going after it,
and so's.
Speaker 8 (11:15):
She should be proud of herself. You deserved it.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Yeah, it was a beautiful winner. Any other things that
the data was telling you throughout their LEVI.
Speaker 11 (11:23):
Well, we mentioned Baltas range a little bit and we
haven't seen a smaller ball toss range and since Sterns
really and so like her first serve, just how tight
that pattern was in terms of where she was tossing
the ball. I can't help but think that might have
helped her hold and be a little bit more comfortable
out there. Just a very consistent tass. But other than that,
(11:45):
I mean, what a fun match to watch.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Really, Maddie the metronome and now a major champion. You're
just looking at the path to the final where she's
beaten the likes of Daniel Collins in the third round,
a former finalist here in twenty twenty two, or a
Bikener in the fourth round, former finalists here and then
Spittalina Fiontech, the world number two and now the world
number one. It's hard to imagine a much more difficult
(12:11):
path for someone to break through for their first major.
Speaker 12 (12:13):
Yeah, very difficult, but that can only make you stronger,
I thinks as the tournament goes on. And also, I
love you that you brought up all these players because
a lot of them are very different styles, and I
think she had to adapt so differently to say a
Rebakkena to a Sidelina who's really consistent, to s Fiantec
who brings the heavy fourhand, you know. So there was
(12:35):
a lot of different things that Maddie had to adapt to,
and the fact that she could adapt is something that
I think that's improved in her game. I think her
defensive skills have gotten so much better. She's moving so
much better along the baseline. But the fact that she's
throwing in the slice as well, So it's not all
all It wasn't all about bang Mee Meg all the
time that we've seen maybe like I don't know, seventy
(12:57):
eight years ago. She has different things that she can
bring to the table to adapt to the different styles,
and I think that helped her when the tournament.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Well, congratulations to Maddie Kays. Let's hear from the twenty
twenty five champion. Following her triumph followed by the runner up.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Finally kind of getting past that hurdle of the semifinals
and getting back into a final and doing it the
way that I did it, I just felt like, this
is my moment. I can absolutely do this and I
just wanted to run with that.
Speaker 13 (13:28):
What are your thoughts on the tank klas of silver
that you've got here and where will you put.
Speaker 7 (13:34):
It in your house?
Speaker 1 (13:36):
I've been getting a bicep workout carrying it around. It's
been quite nice. Actually, I'm absolutely going to make space
for it in my house. I might have to have
like spotlights on it so that everyone that walks in
the house it's the first thing that you see. But yeah,
it's a it's a pretty one.
Speaker 8 (13:54):
Yeah, it's a very pretty one.
Speaker 14 (13:55):
I think when you get to the point of finals,
it's trow through and nothing you know, a little bit
numbers the finalists, you know, and nobody put like next
to the winner like finalist name. You know, So I
mean that at this point, yeah, I mean I I
go for titles, but of course I have to be.
Speaker 6 (14:17):
Anyway.
Speaker 14 (14:17):
I have to be proud of myself with the finals,
three finals in the row, that's something crazy. And I
hope that next year I'll come back as a better
player and I'll hold Daphne one more time.
Speaker 7 (14:39):
James and man he and six string up and.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Men's doubles title. Harry Hellavara and Henry Patton have added
a second major trophy to their collection, triumphing in an
all time epic men's doubles final against Simon and a Sorry.
The longest tie break of the men's doubles tournament remained
deadlocked till the nineteen minute mark, when Billelli produced a
winner to get the edge at eighteen sixteen, the Italians
(15:11):
clinching the first set in an hour and twenty seven minutes.
The second set also went to a breaker, this time
going the way of the finn and the brit seven
to five to send it to a championship deciding third set.
After one am Heliovara and Patten leapt to a four
love lead in the decider with one hand on the
trophy before the Italians managed to retrieve one of the
(15:34):
breaks in the fifth game, and at love thirty in
the ninth looked like doing the same, but the Boys
in Blue held their nerve before Patten sealed it with
an ace to win six seven seven, six sixty three
in three hours and four minutes.
Speaker 7 (15:47):
Yeah bloody, Elle well an evening.
Speaker 13 (15:52):
Firstly, I want to thank everyone that stayed out here
and watched display. You guys are a little bit crazy,
but I love you for it.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
It's Swiss Birthday bliss. In the Junior Boys final, Henry
Bennet of Switzerland has gifted himself the ultimate eighteenth birthday present,
defeating Benjamin Wilworth in straight sets, ripping serves of up
to two hundred and five kph the Birthday Boy cruise
to victory three and four.
Speaker 13 (16:18):
It's been probably three perfect weeks here and today on
my birthday, I had the chance to play on the
Rod Labor Arena, which is something very special and no
I will never forget that, even if I would have
lost the match, but it's it's even great, even better
when a that I won the match, So I'm just
very happier.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
WHI Kana Sanober has taken out the Australian Open Girls
singles title after a convincing win of a Christina Panischkova
in fifty four minutes. The fourth seed has become the
first Japanese player to lift the trophy after downing Panichkiva
six love, six to one. Alfi Hewitt has backed up
his doubles crown to take out the Men's wheelchair singles
title over defending champ at Tokitor Odda the Brits during
(17:00):
his second AO title with a six four six '
four victory.
Speaker 10 (17:03):
Yeah, I didn't expect me to stop blobbering on the court,
to be honest, but probably harboring a few few feelings
from the last couple of matches that we've played. Obviously
they have been pretty big ones with them being in
Slam finals, in the Paradompic final. Anyway, it does. It
does knock cre deep down, you know, your sort of
belief in your confidence, especially in the big moments. So
(17:24):
for me to do it today and prove to myself
more than anyone that I can rise to the occasion
against a player like Kim, Yeah, it was very overwhelmed.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
In the women's wheelchair singles. Yuik Amigi has backed up
her Paris gold medal with a third Australian Open title,
the top seed grinding past Anik Vancourt to win her
first Slam since twenty twenty six two six to two.
Speaker 15 (17:46):
First of all, I'm really happy. Of course it's my
hard title Australia Open, and today it was seventy times
against Nick. We played a lot, a lot of march
Is singles and doubles, so if we counting include doubles,
(18:06):
we'll be more. And yeah, always, she pushed me so
well and she has passion and power.
Speaker 8 (18:16):
But I'm happy with my performance.
Speaker 16 (18:18):
At the end.
Speaker 14 (18:18):
Today.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Sam Schroeder has secured his fourth consecutive Australian Open Quad
wheelchair singles title, the top seed winning an all Dutch
final against Nils Fink seven six seven five. In the
girls wheelchair final, Brazil's Victoria Miranda has staged an almighty
comeback against American Sabina Soors, the top seed, digging out
the win love six sixty three seven six, while boys
(18:42):
wheelchair singles champ Charlie Cooper found a more straightforward victory
against Alexander Lantaman six two six two. Well day fifteen,
as it's come to be, is the men's final day,
and tomorrow we have an absolute cracker on her hands.
It's the defending champion, Yannix against Alex Zverev, and he's
first Australian Open final. He's third major though, Jill, there's.
Speaker 12 (19:06):
Been a lot of talk from numerous people that before
the tournament started they felt like Zverev was kind of
ready for this moment in this Grand Slam, just a
feeling that people are going to think he's playing that well.
He's got the game to beat everybody. He's proven it,
he's beaten everybody before, and so I think he's ready.
I think he has to make sure that he doesn't
(19:26):
get too passive, which has been the case maybe in
some previous Slams. But I think he knows that and
I think kind of like a similar to like Maddie,
maybe he knows he's got to go for it and
let everything out there on the court, and I think
he's going to be able to do it. He's got
the weapons, he's got the big serve. It's one of
(19:49):
the hardest serves to read in the in the men's game.
According to a lot of the.
Speaker 8 (19:53):
Players, they struggled to read his serve, so he's got
to serve well.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
I think he was the number one ranked server for
most of.
Speaker 12 (19:58):
Last year IP and especially against Centeria. Center's got one
of the best returns in the game, one of the
most solid returners. So I would like to see Zverev
come forward a little bit more if he has the opportunity.
I think he's very capable of doing that and very
adept at the net. I don't know, I'm kind of
edging towards Vera for some reason.
Speaker 8 (20:20):
All right, well, let's break it down a new one
on both sides.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Let's break it down numerically, statistically, and later. Can you
make a case for how alex Verev wins this against
a Yonik Sinna who has been as dominant as we've
seen and showing very few signs of frailty.
Speaker 11 (20:36):
Yeah, I mean, I think you absolutely can make a
case Zverev. It's interesting, like diagnosing these two players. I
was looking at some of their stats and I thought
like this, and these are the same players. They have
such similar just high level statistics, so they've you know,
just at a really high level. Across six matches. They
both dropped two sets Okay, dig a little bit deeper.
(20:57):
They've hit about three thousand shots at total at the
this year. Seven percent are winners on both of them,
and they both have an air rate of fourteen percent,
So it's like they are playing super similarly. In terms
of is Verev ready Is he playing as well as
Sinner is, It's like, yes, absolutely he is. And I
think you could argue that even Sinner's playing better than
(21:19):
he was last year, and so if he was able
to win last year, is is Vera be able to
you know, win this year given that he's playing at
the same level. So I think it's going to be
a really really interesting match. I think what makes them
different or where is Verev's edge in this match? Like
you talked about volume, If he can come forward to
(21:40):
the net, I think there is definitely an edge there.
So when he comes to the net, he has an
air rate of about thirteen percent, so pretty good Cinner
twenty five percent. So if if Zverev gets to the
net or he brings center to the net, I think
that's definitely an edge on the Zaverev camp. Also, I
think obviously the serve huge edge for Zverev for a
(22:04):
serve and play much higher for Zverev than center. First
speed much higher for Zverev than center. We do this
thing like we measure actually the knee bend, you know,
and how does Zeverev generate all this pace? Well, like
Zverev's getting lower in that trophy position, so you know,
to give an edge, where does Zverev shine. It's it's
(22:27):
going to be on the serve and the volley, and
I think he has pretty good groundstrokes.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Well, let's have a look then at Janick Sinner's path
to the final. In the second round, he dropped that
opening set to Tristan's school Kate. He had Marcus Giron
in the third round straight sets win there against Holgaruna,
he also dropped a set and then against Alex Demoner
on the quarterfinals, was flawless before he came through Ben Shelton.
He's had a good range of opponents as well, like
(22:53):
we talked about with Maddy Keyes. So how does that
set him up to play in another final?
Speaker 12 (22:59):
Yeah, I mean he's always pretty strong. I mean, I
know he dropped a couple sets. I think he wasn't
feeling well against holg Aruna, but recovered very quickly in
that phenomenal match against Demonor. To me, that's sort of
a matchup sort of thing. Demon Or struggles. He's zero
in ten now against Center, So I think just Centered
does a little bit everything better than demon Or. There's
(23:19):
similar games, but Center a little bit more powerful off
the ground.
Speaker 8 (23:24):
The Shelton was a good test. That was a very
very good match. It was very physical.
Speaker 12 (23:30):
That first set was just the amount of court coverage
that both those guys did was just absolutely insane. So
I think that was a good physical test for Center.
So I think he's going to be fine. I think
he's going to be ready because I do think this
is going to be a longer, more physical match with
spheev as well. It's fair and so I think he's
(23:51):
going to be ready. Yes, I think the opponent's again
having to adapt for different things, right, Demonor are very
consistent off the ground. If you just take the quarters
and send me's Shelton huge lefty serve, Center returned very well.
He started reading Shelton serve exceptionally well, got so many
returns back in play, and then after that first set
kind of wore Shelton down a little bit. But he's
(24:14):
going to I mean he's played Zverev before, he's going
to be ready. He's going to know exactly what to expect. Again,
it's going to be how well Cinner can get a
lot of these returns back in play, because once starts
the point, think he's going to be comfortable at the baseline.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
All right, So where does Sinna hold the keys to
this championship label?
Speaker 11 (24:31):
It starts with the return eighty five percent on that
second serve. He's inside the baseline, so he's putting pressure
on you there. You can't you can't just roll one
in and expect okay, I can get back into that rally.
He's immediately pushing, putting pressure on you. And then he's
taking fifty seven percent of his ground strokes on the
rise compared to thirty seven for Zverev. So a little
(24:51):
bit of that passivity that you were talking about again
applying more pressure, Like he is getting closer and closer,
and he has a huge weapon, four hands massive, so
he's applying pressure and he's also getting closer.
Speaker 8 (25:04):
And then you know, you.
Speaker 11 (25:05):
Look at his own serf serf plus one, what does
that next shot look like?
Speaker 8 (25:09):
After the serve?
Speaker 11 (25:11):
You know he's always taking a forehand not always, but
like seventy seven percent of the time, whereas Verev's more
comfortable taking a backhand. And it's just in this game,
the forehands always favored, So if you can take that
more often and use that weapon, I think that's where
that's where sinners are just going to be.
Speaker 12 (25:27):
Which is crazy because Cinner's backhand was always considered his
strength and it was something that he's been working on
for a long time. Is being able to get way
more aggressive on the forehand side. And I remember a
couple of years ago he was going mock ten on
the forehand and missing everything. But the fact that he
didn't back down on that and just keep going after
(25:49):
it because he knew it was the right thing to
do to get better as a player. And now it's
not a risky shot for him anymore. So that's why
now he's looking more for that for him, because it's
just it looks to your opponent a more aggressive stance
and you can just get a little bit more firepower
behind it. So it is an amazing thing that he
worked on that is now a huge benefit to him
(26:10):
because now where do you go, I mean both sides.
His back ends insane, super strong, solid and now his
feign's even more dangerous.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
Well, we've seen Maddy Keys pull off her first major win.
Do you think we can see alex Verev follow in
her footsteps? How do you see it playing out?
Speaker 7 (26:27):
Jill?
Speaker 8 (26:27):
Go you first, A tough Carbet. I think I'm going
to go. It was Verrev and five five, Levi.
Speaker 11 (26:33):
I think I'm going to go with Centner and five sing.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
It's gonna be close.
Speaker 8 (26:37):
Okay, Yeah, it's gonna be a good match.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
Well, whichever way that goes bodes for an exciting battle
on day fifteen. I'm going to reserve my judgment as
always the impartial host of this show, but check back
in tomorrow to see which of our panelists experts is right. Jill,
thank you for your time. Thank you, Levi, thank you. Well,
let's hear the thoughts of Alex Zverev and Janick Sinner
as they prepare to face off for the trophy.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
He's been the player in the world over the last
twelve months. He has been very, very stable on the
hard courts, barely losing any matches, and I think he
lost only what two matches last year on a hard court,
So with three matches on a hard court, so obviously, Yeah,
difficult opponent, tremendous power, tremendous groundstrokes, incredible movement as well,
(27:24):
just all around a very difficult opponent.
Speaker 16 (27:26):
Yeah, it would mean so much to me. No, defending
of the title is his ovis very very special. But
again you know finals, just to play finals and you
know Sunday in every tournament is something special. So but
it would mean so much to me.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
Finals weakend. It's where the world gets to say the
beautiful pieces of silverware, and affectionately is Daphney and Norm
named in honor of Australian tennis pioneers Daphney Ekherst and
Norman Brooks. But where did the trophies come from and
how do they make them? Well, thanks to safety culture,
we go behind the scenes of the ceremony dais to
where the trophy spin at. Brad Sullivan and general manager
(28:09):
Darren May from w J Sanders put these beauties together.
Speaker 7 (28:15):
To craft the Shane Open trophies.
Speaker 9 (28:17):
You've got to take your time, don't try to rush
the metal into shape, because that's when things can go wrong.
The normal books usually takes between three point fifty and
four hundred hours. Basically it all starts with flat discs.
Speaker 7 (28:34):
Of stealing silver.
Speaker 9 (28:35):
Each hollow component has to be spun on the lathe.
I have to bring it all together and be able
to create an exact replica of the original one.
Speaker 17 (28:45):
The Australian Open trophies have been made by W. J.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Sanders since twenty twelve.
Speaker 17 (28:50):
There are five people in Australia that could do this work.
Four of them work right here. When you're spinning the trophy,
the metals talks to you the worst end and you
want to hear. When you're spinning the Norman Brooks is
a crack, the metal has split and in most cases
you have to start again, just.
Speaker 9 (29:07):
Preparing to do one of the final soldiers to sold
of the foot and.
Speaker 7 (29:11):
Stem to the bowl. I do know the metal inside
and out in my eye for detail.
Speaker 9 (29:15):
I can see every little mark and making sure as
perfect as I can get it. When I see it finished, yeah,
I feel very proud because I know how much effort
and blood, sweat and tears basically have gone into it,
and it's gone into the winner's hands.
Speaker 7 (29:30):
I think it's been nice as trophy that I've made.
Very proud of it.
Speaker 18 (29:38):
Well.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
A front row seat inside Rod Laver Arena might be
the hottest sticking in town this weekend. There are plenty
of fans flocking to John Caine Arena for a different reason.
AO Live, the Australian opens three day music festival is
once again a huge draw card for summer revelers, and
the lineup for twenty twenty five includes the likes of
Benson Boone Kesher Bag Raiders and armand Van Hel, the
(30:00):
creative force behind House Hits Bonkers, My My My and
I Want Your Soul. Producer Alexia Mitchell spent some time
with the Revere DJ in his dressing room before he
hit the stage.
Speaker 18 (30:11):
I just want to say, first of all, your music
kept me awake on my drive home last night. It
was brilliant. It was exactly what I needed. So thank
you for your service and welcome to the Tenant.
Speaker 7 (30:20):
Absolutely and thanks for having me.
Speaker 18 (30:22):
You have such energetic music. How do you get yourself
pumped up for your sets?
Speaker 4 (30:26):
I read a book prior, just like you know, just
a book, one of them.
Speaker 7 (30:31):
I'm joking. It's just i'd just like comment raring to go.
Speaker 18 (30:36):
It's just part of your nature.
Speaker 7 (30:38):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 18 (30:40):
Nerves aren't something that bother you well, an interesting thing.
Speaker 4 (30:43):
It was a statement I was told to me early
in my career, and I love this statement. I always
say this when it comes to nerves or stage freight
or these.
Speaker 7 (30:49):
Sorts of things.
Speaker 4 (30:50):
And the best thing I've ever heard was, if you're
not nervous to go up there, then you don't care.
So it's good to be nervous, because that meane you
want to put on a good show.
Speaker 18 (30:58):
You've had three decade of music success. What drives you
to just keep on making bops?
Speaker 7 (31:05):
I mean, it's just passion. It's plain and simple.
Speaker 4 (31:08):
And you know, to anybody that can say thirty years
of anything is a crazy, crazy statement. But ultimately, my
heart and my passion are in the right place, and
I traverse you know, the hills and valleys in the
sense of this industry with knowing that you know, I'm
(31:29):
about the art of this and the magic of it,
you know, And that's what's important.
Speaker 18 (31:33):
You're saying this, and it reminds me of some of
the things the best tennis players will say is they
do it for the love of the sport and the
love of competing. Did you play any sport or tennis
or anything like that growing.
Speaker 7 (31:47):
Up so with tennis.
Speaker 4 (31:50):
Interesting enough, my father was captain of his high school
tennis team, so he's very much into tennis.
Speaker 7 (31:56):
He did try and teach.
Speaker 4 (31:57):
Me when I was younger, but I kind of grew
up typical American boy. I did play a ton of sports,
but I basically was more I think. I think initially
when my father was showing me tennis, I had an interest.
I was like, it's kind of cool, but for me
it was like football school. I've learned to love the sport.
I watched it on occasion because my father, you know,
(32:18):
showed me the robes with it, because he would sit
and watch it. And then I was like, okay, what's that?
Is that a point? How does that work?
Speaker 7 (32:25):
So, you know, explained the game to me. So I
appreciate tennis a lot.
Speaker 4 (32:28):
And I love solo sports, I come to find out,
because I did wrestling in school and everything, and I
think I excelled the most in solo sports. And I
think I think my biggest thing with tennis itself is
that I'm a big fan.
Speaker 7 (32:43):
I think my favorite.
Speaker 4 (32:43):
Sports are solo sports where you're you're the whole team
is you, you know, if you.
Speaker 18 (32:48):
Were to make a pump up song using the sounds
of the tennis court. Walk me through how you would
do that. What sounds would you be picking up to
put sort of a bit of a bang up.
Speaker 4 (32:59):
The best sound in tennis is the serf, you know,
just that hit. It's like it's like that resonates, you
know what I mean. And you know there's the shuffling
of the feet you hear that and stuff like that,
and then the grunt thing. But I think I think
the set that I like that fresh silence and then
the serf, you know what I mean, because it's yeah,
(33:21):
and then it's just when it's when you hear when
you hear that first hit, it's just like whoof, because
you can kind of tell sometimes by the sound, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 7 (33:28):
You're like, oh, that's that's crazy.
Speaker 4 (33:30):
You could It's almost like in that one second, you're like, Okay,
that's they're not they're not returning that one you know
what I mean by the sound, you know.
Speaker 18 (33:37):
Thank you for joining the tennis Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 7 (33:39):
So much for having me. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (33:42):
That's all for Day fourteen of the Australian Open. Join
me again tomorrow for all the big stories from day
fifteen men's final day. Be sure to subscribe to never
miss an episode, and please consider leaving a rating and
review so more fans can discover the tennis. You can
also catch our daily Spotlight segment on our YouTube channel
Australian and TV and I'll catch you tomorrow for more
of the tennis, h m hm
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!