January 26, 2025 • 28 mins
Jannik Sinner has retained his Australian Open crown with a commanding straight-sets win over Alex Zverev, confirming him as the undisputed hardcourt king — experts Simon Rea and Peter Marcato join Jon to analyse the championship match and discuss the implications for both players. Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend have added the Australian Open trophy to their Grand Slam collection after upstaging Hsieh Su-wei and Jelena Ostapenko in the women’s doubles final. Madison Keys is acclimatising to her new identity as Grand Slam champion the day after her major breakthrough with a photo shoot at Melbourne’s iconic Brighton Beach. And we find out which musical artists the fans would like to see perform at the Australian Open finals.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Unfortunately we're not winning the bigger trophy today, but I
hope we'll win the next one. I hope we play
a lot of more matches together and we want to
keep the biggest trophy.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Gooday and welcome to the tennis for Day fifteen of
AO twenty twenty five Men's Final Day. John Hubernas with
all the big stories from Melbourne Park today. On the tennis,
sensational Sinner does it again.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
It's an amazing feeling to to share this moment with
all of you.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
While Sasha settles for second.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
I don't want to and my career as the best
player of all time to never win a grandstand.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Plus Melbourne's new queen the morning after her maiden major crown.
And who would the fans most like to see perform
on finals weekend.
Speaker 5 (00:41):
I think it'd be all sir, yes Old and.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
That's all ahead. On the tennis, Yannick Sinner has bolstered
his credentials as the hard court king of the world,
retaining his Australian Open championship with the straight sets victory
over alex Verev. Sinna looked threatening in the fourth game
of the first set, forcing Zverev to call upon his
big serve to get out of trouble.
Speaker 5 (01:05):
Says that wise the back.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
End you heard the let's go as that ball was.
Speaker 6 (01:09):
Still in the air because it was clearly going long.
And Zverev holds two break points, he sees them.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Off and holds for two all Sinner's sliding volley to
open up break points. At four to three in the
first was assigned. The eighth game was going to be
a crucial one, but Zverev's firepower proved a handy defense.
Speaker 6 (01:28):
Zverev so heavily, really heavily.
Speaker 7 (01:31):
Down the metal took center.
Speaker 6 (01:32):
By surprise, he's still gott a racket on it, but
he couldn't get it back over the net two one
hundred and eighteen.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Just looking at that as a second servi.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
As the game pushed beyond nine minutes, though something had
to give.
Speaker 6 (01:46):
Verev is there, lands that very close to the sideline,
goes back behind Sinner. Sinner forced into a defensive forehand
at the net.
Speaker 5 (01:53):
Comes Verev. Two dogs from.
Speaker 7 (01:55):
Senna and Yanik.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Senna finally breaks irving for the first set. The Italian
was taking no prisoners three set points.
Speaker 7 (02:04):
Theyick Sinner serves.
Speaker 6 (02:07):
An as the defending champion taking a hold of the
singles finals to night's against Alexander Zverev. The first set
goes his way.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Vera's first double fault in the second set gave Sinner
two chances to break for two to one, but again
he escaped with two big winners, backed up by another ace.
Neither player prepared to give an inch deep into the set,
highlighted by one of the rallies of the tournament.
Speaker 8 (02:33):
Speak fourhands served lantin four hen they got fined up
the line, see it.
Speaker 5 (02:38):
In, now put it away the five voice third once.
Speaker 8 (02:41):
At that tight thinker.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Clean sheets from both finalists saw the second set decided
in a tiebreaker. Sinner opened up daylight at three to two,
but quickly coughed it up with an error at the
end of a twenty shot rally, though it seemed was
on his side, waits.
Speaker 5 (03:02):
The first serve.
Speaker 8 (03:02):
It's on the forehand. It's deep in the middle of
the court. Now from Sinner, this takes an end. He
just gets home. Can't get there. The deadis of dead
neck courts, and that'll leaves Vereb a little flats.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
And suddenly Zverev was staring down the barrel of a
two set deficit.
Speaker 8 (03:20):
Blocked back by vera short ball up the lineo Sinner
to win, and he's in a very very strong position
now in this men single final.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Sinna looked a class above by the time the match
entered its third hour, Spinning straw into gold from the
back of the court, up the line brilliantly from Verev, well.
Speaker 6 (03:40):
Defended by Sinner, dropshop from Verev Sinner god and the
vollemes the net from the German, and that is the
story of.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
The match right now.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
He held to love in the fifth game of the
third set, while the unforced errors began to mount for Zverev.
Speaker 7 (03:57):
Still break point for Yannick sinnerrev serves forehand from Sinner,
straight back in the court, straight at Zev nice off.
Speaker 6 (04:05):
Four hand pull sierra from Zverev's racken. The relentless nature
of the Sinner groundstrokes has grounds Verev down and he's broken.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
In the sixth game, time was running out for the German,
who is desperate to find a chink in the champions armor.
But it was a bridge too far against the world's
best player Sinner.
Speaker 7 (04:27):
At championship point, second serve from Sinner onto the backhand
is Verev backhand also from Sinner and from Zverev up
the line goes Cinner jumping in plays another backend, quite
good depth from the Italian, goes up the line again again.
Speaker 8 (04:43):
Vere's the drop shot is not going to be too
good for Zverev.
Speaker 6 (04:46):
No, he makes it Crosscott is brilliant fabianca and he
raises his hands aloft.
Speaker 7 (04:54):
It's back to.
Speaker 5 (04:55):
Back Australian Opens. He defends his in a.
Speaker 6 (05:00):
Dominant performance hyper Alexander and for Sinner it's major number three.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
We we worked a lot to be again in this position.
It's it's an amazing feeling to to share this moment
with all of you. I know also a part of
the team is at home and and my family and everyone,
but it's it's it's amazing to to achieve these things,
but mostly to share.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
This with you guys.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
And I know Darren, it's your your probably maybe maybe
I tried to convince you, but it's your last Australian
Open as a coach and I'm very, very happy to
to share this trophy with you.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Janick Singer is the King of Melbourne once again, his
second Australian Open title in a row, his third major title. Overall,
it wasn't quite the five set battle we had hoped for,
but my goodness, there's a lot to unpack in just
how Janick Sinner managed to pull this off. Simon Ray
from GIG is back. Welcome Simon, Hey John, thanks for
having me back. And I must say I'm very excited
(06:10):
for the first time this tournament to have Peter Maccado,
the voice of AO Radio.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
With us people. I am giving you some of my time.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
John.
Speaker 8 (06:16):
It just happens to be right at the very end,
clean all your guests schedule, and now you've got me
before midnight.
Speaker 9 (06:22):
I know.
Speaker 5 (06:23):
Not badness happening here.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
What a treat. The scoreline six three seven six six '
three probably doesn't even start to describe this battle. Because
alex Verev put up a great fight tonight against a
different beast of a player.
Speaker 5 (06:38):
That's why he is so disappointed.
Speaker 8 (06:40):
He's walking away with the straight sets loss because he
played some great tennis, but the fellaw he was playing
played even better tennis and has been playing out of
this world tennis for the last couple of rounds. Janick
Sinner built his tournaments superbly, and I mean talk about
players who be pretty happy with obviously Yanick Sinner pretty happy,
(07:00):
but I reckon Raiser Tristan's school Kate would be pretty
happy as well, as one of only the two players
to take a set off Yannik Cinner through the tournament anyway,
he was fantastic from start to finish.
Speaker 5 (07:12):
Yanik he just controlled things. It was on his racket.
Speaker 8 (07:15):
There was lots of variation in pace during the match
and when they were in the long rallies, which Sinna
won comfortably. That was for me one of the biggest
factors that Zverev couldn't stay in the rallies long enough.
Sinner was just struggling because there'd be changes of pace.
He did an off pay shot Ciner and then he'd
really go for it. Changed the complexion of the rallies.
Zverev didn't really have a lot of opportunity to get forward,
(07:37):
and when he started to do that, he did give
himself some opportunities to just try and break the rhythm
of Cinner, but it was like a brick wall out
there tonight.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
It was one of the.
Speaker 8 (07:47):
Dominant performances two hours and forty two minutes on court,
but you still felt that Cinner was dominant despite the
fact that his opponent was playing so well as well.
It was just extraordinary.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
All right, Razer, help us understand this from a numbers perspective, Well, it.
Speaker 10 (08:00):
Was a stunning display. And really, if you told me
going in that Zvera was going to serve at eighty
one percent of first serves in play in the opening
set at an average speed of two hundred and nineteen
kilometers per hour, if you don't mind and be beaten
six three in a fairly regulation opening set, I would
have said, I think there's something wrong with that assessment.
So the inroads that Yarnix Centner was able to make
(08:22):
against the Alexander Vera first serve was significant across the
course of the night, and really on the flip side
of that coin, I think the sinner had lost only
five points on his first serve through the opening two sets.
He was nearly flawless. And when he on the rare
in the rare occasion that on the rare occasion that
he did find himself fifteen thirty thirty all juice having
(08:43):
to handle some moments of pressure is when his serving
elevated again. Yarnix center so he had it covered on
the return of serve. Despite the heat that Vera was
bringing to the table, and then it was a flawless
It was the best displayer serving we'd seen from Younix
Center across the fortnite or across the fifteen days, and
he needed it the most.
Speaker 8 (09:01):
So it was a breathtaking display. One of the things
was that Zara was trying to do was try and
upset that rhythm of Sinner. So he's returning position, he'd
be up in the court. Then he switched it around.
He'd be standing back and I mean way back in
terms of that second serve to give himself a good
swing at the ball. But the problem was that he
was getting into those rallies. But it was more often
(09:21):
than not it was Verev who was making the errors.
And it was the pressure obviously that Sinner was building,
and it continued to build and build and build. But
vere just at those moments you think he was trying
to attack. He had to play with such fine margins
to try and upset the rhythm of Sinner because he
was running down absolutely everything. He was the one that
was being forced into error and it was just because
(09:41):
Sinner was just too good.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
And you've already talked about the serve but there wasn't
even a look in for Zvera with no break points
across the all three sets.
Speaker 10 (09:50):
No and again going in. You know, I thought that
from a returner serve perspective, mindful, I guess or cognizant
of the fact that Zverev's going to bring so much
more heat on his own second serve than Yarnick Center.
And that was the case tonight, you know, in terms
of second serve pure speed, Vera's right up there compared
to Cinner And I thought, well, this is going to
be interesting because Yarnick Center typically likes to be a
(10:11):
lot more aggressive on second serve return with his positioning
than Zverev, who can often retreat back in the court.
And I thought, well, I wonder if that could work
in Vera's favor, because Yari's not going to find that
so easy to be on or inside baseline against a
second serve coming at of it let's call it one
hundred and eighty kilometers an hour. And this is what
makes this guy so good. So really we've not seen
(10:32):
it from him all fortnite so far, and what does
he do tonight knowing that that server is coming at
one hundred and eight kilometers an hour. He says, that's
no problem. Everyone back, I'll go to plan B. I'll
go back five and six meters tonight. You haven't seen
it from me yet at this tournament, not consistently. Here
it is tonight for the first time on the biggest
stage of the tournament and executes really well. And what
(10:52):
that does, and Pete's already shine a light on it.
What that does is allow him to play the type
of point in behind the serve and return that It
really allowed him to dominate from the back of the
court and those lengthy rallies. It was one way traffic.
I think from memory it was twenty six to thirteen
when the rallies went beyond eight shots, so two to
one in the favor of you Onix senate was a domination.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
And the way that he constructed those points as well.
Speaker 8 (11:15):
So he'd started off rallying with Zverev, who was a
little bit further back in the court, so he had
this loopy top spin, then be content to rally whether
it was fourhand to four hand, backhand to backhand, then
all of a sudden, sinner were just up the pace
and then the point would really get going. So it
was then going to be Zverev who was onto the
back foot, and he was the one that was left
scrambling more often than not. And that was the thing
(11:37):
for me, just so clever in terms of how he
actually constructed those points. We talk about moments in the match.
For Zverev, it was obviously that second set tie break
where he did get the mini break early on too
yep to put himself in front, give himself that opportunity. Then,
of course you talk about moments that net cord, the
deadest of dead net cords, and just the flating effect
(12:01):
that that has when you've tried so hard just to
keep pace with your opponent and you think, okay, if
I can just jag this set, then the complexion of
the match changes. He gets the neck cord, he gets
the lucky younix in it, and then he was able
to run away with the match. So that deflation and
we saw it. Obviously, Zarah was so frustrated, obviously, sitting
in the chair and smashing rackets and things like that.
(12:23):
You can understand why, because he was working so hard
to keep pace. He finally thought, right, I've got an
advantage here. One of the few that he had in
the match, but unfortunately luck and obviously anix sinner meant
he couldn't continue on.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Well, let's hear now from the runner up. First of all,
Alex is very following his loss tonight.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
I'm doing everything I can. I'm working as hard as
I ever did. I think I'm doing all the right
things off courts. I think I'm practicing the right things.
But I lost in straight sets today, so it's I mean,
those are facts. I mean, that is a fact. I
lost to Janik and sts at stas Or. I don't
(13:02):
want to end my career as the best player of
all time to never win a Grand Slam, That's for sure,
and I'll keep doing everything I can to to lift
one of those trophies.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Is it just a matter of finding versatility, like we
saw from Janick Cinna, when the moments come and he
needs to change it up a bit.
Speaker 10 (13:18):
Well, again, I thought that the intent from this very
of camp tonight was correct insofar as it didn't look
like he was going to win those lengthy baseline exchanges
and was maybe going to play into sin his hands
in trying to do so. So he did look to
get forward. I think he got forward tonight off the
top of my head twenty six times and one just
over just over fifty percent of those points, which was
(13:40):
not enough. But some of those misses, some of the
execution that was below where it needed to be. We're
in some pivotal moments of this contest, and I think
that's the discussion point, isn't it, Because is it a
plan that you just it might be the right plan,
but is it absolutely can comitted to from the athlete
(14:01):
or believed in from the athlete versus maybe the plan
that's perhaps not as well thought through. But the conviction
behind that plan is complete, it's resolute, and I think
that's the discussion point. So into the medium term, I
think you're right, John, it was the right way to
go about it from the Zverev camp, but some of
his execution in those moments let him down.
Speaker 8 (14:21):
It's going to be the question that gets asked, obviously,
it's the one that our listeners on a radio talking
about as well.
Speaker 5 (14:27):
Will Zara be able to make that breakthrough?
Speaker 8 (14:30):
And obviously when you consider that the players that are
around him, with al KaAZ and Center in particular, the
task gets a lot more difficult. He certainly played to
such a high level throughout the tournament. I mean, his
first week of the event was sensational. He was the
form player. He was breezing through his matches relatively speaking,
and then obviously the degree of difficulty started to increase
(14:53):
from there. So he can take plenty from this. Obviously,
the disappointment will continue to fuel him on.
Speaker 5 (15:00):
And drive him on.
Speaker 8 (15:01):
He's a finalist at Roland Garross's last year, so there's
nothing to say that he can't get back to the top.
It's just that extra hurdle that has felled so many
players over the years. And obviously he's also a player
that wants to get it done sooner rather than later.
Considering the next generation who have had a glimpse of
here at AO twenty twenty five to see what they
(15:22):
can do, he wants to get one in the bag now.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Now, pressure at both ends of this age spectrum. So
where does this leave center then? Now three hard court
titles and his twenty three years of age, clearly he's
the new king of the hard court. So you'd put
him down for US Open favorite. What other slams can
you see him going the distance at in twenty twenty five?
Speaker 10 (15:44):
Well, I'll probably ask you and Peter what other slams
can we not see him going all the way out?
I think he goes straight to the top of my
reckoning when I think about Roland Garross being the next
cab off the rank, and he can win Wimbledon too,
He can do it all.
Speaker 5 (15:56):
This guy his ceiling's.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Untapped calendar slam in making.
Speaker 8 (16:00):
Possibly, Yeah, Wimbledon is probably more likely than Roland Garross,
I'd say. I mean, obviously if he's dominating and steam
rolling his way through, but he won that grass court
title last year in Hullah, so he's sort of now
he's away. He's got one of those on grass and
obviously to be contender, he's obviously got enormous belief in himself.
And if it's just it's that thing of building the momentum.
(16:21):
It's such a long season. Obviously anything can happen. But yeah,
he's certainly installing himself, I would say for Wimbledon, and
I'd say probably more Alcarez for Roland Garross at the moment.
Obviously it's it's January and there's still a long way
to go. But yeah, if you're on his day, obviously
he comes into the number one player in the world,
so he's got to be amongst the title fancies for
(16:43):
every tournament that he plays this year.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
It has been an incredible campaign after a really testing
back end to twenty twenty four for Yannick's inner final.
Thoughts on the tournament from both of you, Simon, so
many highlights. For me, it was Lerner Tien's five set
upst of Daniel Medvedev in the first week. But we
usually do Ace of the Week on the show, so
I'm going to put you on the spot Ace of
the Fortnite for you favorite thing that you've seen or
(17:06):
been a part of this week?
Speaker 10 (17:07):
Well, probably selfishly, I was really lucky to have a
close up view of the Vukchen Draper match on Margaret
Corderina that finished in the weels, and I thought that
was a phenomenal contest in terms of two athletes that
literally left it all out there, and we saw what
that did to Draper a couple of days later, potentially
finished or ruined his campaign, but what a competitor he
(17:29):
was to somehow find a way to prevail. And I
thought Alex Vuksch did Australia proud that night as well,
So that was.
Speaker 5 (17:34):
One that leaves to the top of my page.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Beautiful and you Pete.
Speaker 8 (17:37):
As always John when we do the podcast, I always
picked more than one, so it's a fortnite actually get
two because it was two weeks of a double as
I will thank you Madison Keys Egiston Tech.
Speaker 5 (17:47):
What a match that was from start to finish.
Speaker 8 (17:50):
Fantastic tens and congratulations to Maddie for winning that title.
Who made a major title, finally got there. And then
Joe Fonseeka my goodness, talk about the next generation of
players coming through, dismantling under a.
Speaker 5 (18:04):
Rube Lev and then building his tournaments. He went along.
Speaker 8 (18:08):
But even then this is turning into four or five.
But the fans obviously had over a one point two million,
a new record here, but just so many countries represented,
so fonsakah, the Brazilian fans, we're out and abouts. We
had Lebanese fans for the first time coming in and
celebrating their player who made it through and started making history.
There was obviously the Aussie fans were out in force,
(18:30):
but most countries were represented. Even the Finnish fans for
the men's doubles final we're here too, So it's great
to see that this is truly an international event.
Speaker 5 (18:39):
And we've had great action.
Speaker 8 (18:40):
The site has looked fantastic right from start to finish,
and the vibees been positive.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
So it's been a wonderful couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Wonderful. Well, thank you for your insights tonight, Pete in
a wonderful campaign from the AO Radio team under your tutelage.
Speaker 5 (18:53):
That's the ultimate highlight, John, and also to.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Your gig team, the insights on this program have been terrific,
first class. Thank you so much, Thanks John.
Speaker 5 (19:00):
Thanks for great for night.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
Let's leave the final word to a men's champion for
twenty twenty five, Yannick Sina.
Speaker 5 (19:05):
What kind of champion do you want to be in
people's eyes? I want to be.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Just a humble person, to be honest. I mean, I
always remind myself where I'm from, and I'm from a
small house in a small village with you know, an
amazing family which I was very very lucky to have
and I still have.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
And that's it, you know.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
I believe we are people who are very good in
what we do, and so we are automatically also the
inspiration for younger people.
Speaker 5 (19:42):
But that's it.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
No, we are not changing the world or whatever. So
you know, why change ourselves with success?
Speaker 5 (19:51):
Who do you dedicate as trophy too?
Speaker 3 (19:54):
To all the people who are close to me? Twelve
the people who I really love and this kind of
of people they know who.
Speaker 6 (20:02):
I love, and.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
And also a bit, you know, to myself because it's
it's I'm I was in a very difficult situation during
this tournament, also before tournament, so I'm very happy Hawaii handle.
But obviously without the people around this impossible.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Well she might have already had one of the biggest
smiles in tennis, but you couldn't wipe the smile off
the face of Madison Keys this morning, taking a stroll
on Melbourne's iconic Brighton Beach with her new friend, the
Daphney Ackerst Memorial Trophy, the Women's champion posing for photos
with her silverware before reflecting on the biggest achievement of
her fourteen year professional careers.
Speaker 5 (20:57):
Close on Madison James, she is a champion.
Speaker 11 (21:05):
The last kind of twelve hours has been very quick.
Didn't sleep a whole lot last night, but being able
to just win my first Grand Slam and have so
many people who I got to talk to and FaceTime
and I got to talk to my mom and it's
been really, really nice. There was definitely some times when
I didn't know if I was going to ever be
(21:26):
able to get back into a Grand Slam final, and
I really wanted another opportunity to try to play on
my terms and walk away with my head held high.
And to be able to do that is just incredible.
Speaker 12 (21:39):
Her husband and coach, Biorn Frantangelo.
Speaker 11 (21:43):
He's kind of a big softie. I don't think he
always shows that.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
I'm one of the.
Speaker 11 (21:48):
Few people that actually gets to see it, but he's just,
you know, the sweetest, best guy. I've always wanted to
win every single tournament I've ever been in a draw,
so I think that's going to continue to be the goal.
And I think now it's just sky's limit and we
just keep working towards the next title.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
As has become tradition in recent years, a Lucky Hot
Shots tennis participant had the opportunity to interview the champion.
Ten year old Kiara from Barrack Tennis Club sat down
with the new Queen of Melbourne.
Speaker 9 (22:28):
My name is Kiara and today I'm going to interview
Madison Keys. I know that your birthday is like in
the next month. Is this like your early birthday present?
Speaker 11 (22:42):
I wasn't planning on it being my early birthday present,
but this is a pretty good one to give to myself.
Speaker 9 (22:48):
What is your favorite thing mostly about tennis?
Speaker 11 (22:51):
I think my favorite thing about tennis is you get
to learn so much about yourself. It's constant changing and
you it kind of forces you to also change and adapt,
and I think it makes you try to be kind
of the best version of yourself that you can be.
Speaker 9 (23:11):
What are you most excited about for today?
Speaker 11 (23:14):
I think actually getting to kind of spend time with
my team because I haven't gotten to see a whole
lot of them the last few hours, and just really
get to kind of enjoy everything that's happened the last
three weeks.
Speaker 9 (23:28):
What did you take your long.
Speaker 11 (23:31):
I think I said, oh my god, I did it,
and I've been a bunch of heart emojis.
Speaker 5 (23:37):
I think that's what I sent her, very logically.
Speaker 11 (23:41):
Thank you, You're welcome.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend have claimed the Australian Open
Women's doubles championship in a three set roller coaster. The
top seeds and defending Wimbledon champs overcame last year's finalist
Che Suwe and Elena Ostapenko in two and a half hours.
Siney Arkiva and Townsend got the jump to snatch the
opening set and had the chance to serve for the
match at five to four in the second, but some
(24:10):
gritty defense from Che and Ostapenko kept them minute before
they clinched the second set tiebreak at a set of piece.
Sine Arkiva and Townsend found a crucial break in the
eighth game of the decider before going on to victory
six two sixt' seven six three.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
I am excited. It was really tough match and I'm
just really happy that we managed to did it, that
we kept fighting and that I can have the trophy
on once more time. Yeah, so I'm really excited. I'm
enjoying the feeling and I just want to stick with it.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
Sine Akiva has made history with her tenth Grand Slam
title in the women's doubles, the first player to reach
double figures since Martina Hingis won her tenth at the
twenty fifteen Wimbledon Championships. Well, it's a second Grand Slam
title for Townsend.
Speaker 13 (24:58):
I look at it as part a part of history
where you know, it's nobody in our generation that is
as decorated or that has accomplished the things that this
woman has, and so to be able to be on
the same side as hers, it's an honor and I'll
be happy to continue to rack up those slams.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
Yeah exactly.
Speaker 13 (25:16):
You know, she's in double digits. You know I'm a
work to get there. But you know, in the meantime,
I'm really happy to be able to share the court
with her and shared these moments. It means a lot.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
The Australian Open Finals are a feast for the senses,
and not just the spectacular exploits of the two players
left at the final dance. There's an array of pre
match entertainment that sets the stage for the main event.
On women's final night, the crowd was treated to a
performance by ruvac Nuena and the cast of Tina the Musical,
and the cast of Beauty and the Beast performed be
(25:49):
our Guest before the men's final. But who are the
fans most like to open on Rod Laver Arena during
finals weekend? Harper Pesninger went to find out. Now if
you could pick one musical artists to perform at the
Australian Open Final. Who you haven't on stage?
Speaker 5 (26:04):
Chris Martin, no doubt, best ever do it?
Speaker 2 (26:06):
Chris Martin solo or Chris Martin with cold for the band.
Speaker 5 (26:09):
Is pretty good as well, so we'll take cold Play
as a whole.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
I'd probably say Bruno Mars. I want to Dynasam live
and hit me, hit suit, the vibe reckon.
Speaker 11 (26:16):
Oh definitely Billie Eilish.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
I went to a concert last year and she performed
at URLAS.
Speaker 13 (26:22):
So you know she knows the venue. I feel like
somebody that would really get the crowd going and somebody
that Australians I think club would be Pink.
Speaker 12 (26:30):
I think yes, yeah, Chili Peppers. Yeah, can't stop when
that drops. Yeah, everybody's along for the ride. So I
think that's probably the best walkout entrance song you could.
You could lead out too, So Chili Peppers for mine.
Speaker 5 (26:49):
Queen, that would be big.
Speaker 6 (26:51):
That would be huge queen as well.
Speaker 13 (26:53):
So Harry Styles would be gray as well.
Speaker 11 (26:55):
Yeah seeing him down then like down Under again, that'd.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Be good about Harry Styles front.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, that would make my year.
Speaker 8 (27:05):
Would be John Mayer and I've seen him at rod
labor before, so Ao, if you could get him down somehow,
that would be amazing.
Speaker 12 (27:13):
Well, I saw Choice Savanne Margaret Court a couple of
years ago, so I'd say him, I'll have to go.
Speaker 5 (27:20):
He's big at the moment. Dom Dollard would be good, Matt,
do you know who that is?
Speaker 2 (27:24):
I've gotten as you can see the age difference.
Speaker 13 (27:27):
Now, I have no idea that did they sing?
Speaker 2 (27:32):
Well, that's all for Day fifteen and for Australian Open
twenty twenty five. Hope you've enjoyed our coverage of the
main draw and the entire Australian summer. It's all possible
thanks to the creative talents and the hard work of
our team Segment producer Alexia Mitchell, Voxpot producer Harperpestinger, Audio
editor Ed Denton, video editor Andrew Davies, Proofing and fact
(27:53):
checking by Raharne Dekretsa, and our panelists and contributors throughout
the past fifteen days. Brie Stewart, Candy Reed, Chander, Ruben,
Juel Crabus, John Fitzgerald, Laughlin, Wills, Levi Huttleston, Mark Lorotti,
Mike Cashin, Peter Miccado, Ryan Harrison, Shannon Davis, Simon Ray
and Ursin Cadis. Be sure to subscribe to never miss
(28:14):
an episode, and please consider leaving a rating or review
so more fans can discover the tennis. You can also
catch the last of our daily spotlight segments on our
YouTube channel, Australian Open TV. Don't forget to subscribe there
for more great content throughout the year, and I'll catch
you again next time for more of the tennis
Unfortunately we're not winning the bigger trophy today, but I
hope we'll win the next one. I hope we play
a lot of more matches together and we want to
keep the biggest trophy.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Gooday and welcome to the tennis for Day fifteen of
AO twenty twenty five Men's Final Day. John Hubernas with
all the big stories from Melbourne Park today. On the tennis,
sensational Sinner does it again.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
It's an amazing feeling to to share this moment with
all of you.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
While Sasha settles for second.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
I don't want to and my career as the best
player of all time to never win a grandstand.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Plus Melbourne's new queen the morning after her maiden major crown.
And who would the fans most like to see perform
on finals weekend.
Speaker 5 (00:41):
I think it'd be all sir, yes Old and.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
That's all ahead. On the tennis, Yannick Sinner has bolstered
his credentials as the hard court king of the world,
retaining his Australian Open championship with the straight sets victory
over alex Verev. Sinna looked threatening in the fourth game
of the first set, forcing Zverev to call upon his
big serve to get out of trouble.
Speaker 5 (01:05):
Says that wise the back.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
End you heard the let's go as that ball was.
Speaker 6 (01:09):
Still in the air because it was clearly going long.
And Zverev holds two break points, he sees them.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Off and holds for two all Sinner's sliding volley to
open up break points. At four to three in the
first was assigned. The eighth game was going to be
a crucial one, but Zverev's firepower proved a handy defense.
Speaker 6 (01:28):
Zverev so heavily, really heavily.
Speaker 7 (01:31):
Down the metal took center.
Speaker 6 (01:32):
By surprise, he's still gott a racket on it, but
he couldn't get it back over the net two one
hundred and eighteen.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Just looking at that as a second servi.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
As the game pushed beyond nine minutes, though something had
to give.
Speaker 6 (01:46):
Verev is there, lands that very close to the sideline,
goes back behind Sinner. Sinner forced into a defensive forehand
at the net.
Speaker 5 (01:53):
Comes Verev. Two dogs from.
Speaker 7 (01:55):
Senna and Yanik.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Senna finally breaks irving for the first set. The Italian
was taking no prisoners three set points.
Speaker 7 (02:04):
Theyick Sinner serves.
Speaker 6 (02:07):
An as the defending champion taking a hold of the
singles finals to night's against Alexander Zverev. The first set
goes his way.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Vera's first double fault in the second set gave Sinner
two chances to break for two to one, but again
he escaped with two big winners, backed up by another ace.
Neither player prepared to give an inch deep into the set,
highlighted by one of the rallies of the tournament.
Speaker 8 (02:33):
Speak fourhands served lantin four hen they got fined up
the line, see it.
Speaker 5 (02:38):
In, now put it away the five voice third once.
Speaker 8 (02:41):
At that tight thinker.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Clean sheets from both finalists saw the second set decided
in a tiebreaker. Sinner opened up daylight at three to two,
but quickly coughed it up with an error at the
end of a twenty shot rally, though it seemed was
on his side, waits.
Speaker 5 (03:02):
The first serve.
Speaker 8 (03:02):
It's on the forehand. It's deep in the middle of
the court. Now from Sinner, this takes an end. He
just gets home. Can't get there. The deadis of dead
neck courts, and that'll leaves Vereb a little flats.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
And suddenly Zverev was staring down the barrel of a
two set deficit.
Speaker 8 (03:20):
Blocked back by vera short ball up the lineo Sinner
to win, and he's in a very very strong position
now in this men single final.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Sinna looked a class above by the time the match
entered its third hour, Spinning straw into gold from the
back of the court, up the line brilliantly from Verev, well.
Speaker 6 (03:40):
Defended by Sinner, dropshop from Verev Sinner god and the
vollemes the net from the German, and that is the
story of.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
The match right now.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
He held to love in the fifth game of the
third set, while the unforced errors began to mount for Zverev.
Speaker 7 (03:57):
Still break point for Yannick sinnerrev serves forehand from Sinner,
straight back in the court, straight at Zev nice off.
Speaker 6 (04:05):
Four hand pull sierra from Zverev's racken. The relentless nature
of the Sinner groundstrokes has grounds Verev down and he's broken.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
In the sixth game, time was running out for the German,
who is desperate to find a chink in the champions armor.
But it was a bridge too far against the world's
best player Sinner.
Speaker 7 (04:27):
At championship point, second serve from Sinner onto the backhand
is Verev backhand also from Sinner and from Zverev up
the line goes Cinner jumping in plays another backend, quite
good depth from the Italian, goes up the line again again.
Speaker 8 (04:43):
Vere's the drop shot is not going to be too
good for Zverev.
Speaker 6 (04:46):
No, he makes it Crosscott is brilliant fabianca and he
raises his hands aloft.
Speaker 7 (04:54):
It's back to.
Speaker 5 (04:55):
Back Australian Opens. He defends his in a.
Speaker 6 (05:00):
Dominant performance hyper Alexander and for Sinner it's major number three.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
We we worked a lot to be again in this position.
It's it's an amazing feeling to to share this moment
with all of you. I know also a part of
the team is at home and and my family and everyone,
but it's it's it's amazing to to achieve these things,
but mostly to share.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
This with you guys.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
And I know Darren, it's your your probably maybe maybe
I tried to convince you, but it's your last Australian
Open as a coach and I'm very, very happy to
to share this trophy with you.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Janick Singer is the King of Melbourne once again, his
second Australian Open title in a row, his third major title. Overall,
it wasn't quite the five set battle we had hoped for,
but my goodness, there's a lot to unpack in just
how Janick Sinner managed to pull this off. Simon Ray
from GIG is back. Welcome Simon, Hey John, thanks for
having me back. And I must say I'm very excited
(06:10):
for the first time this tournament to have Peter Maccado,
the voice of AO Radio.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
With us people. I am giving you some of my time.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
John.
Speaker 8 (06:16):
It just happens to be right at the very end,
clean all your guests schedule, and now you've got me
before midnight.
Speaker 9 (06:22):
I know.
Speaker 5 (06:23):
Not badness happening here.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
What a treat. The scoreline six three seven six six '
three probably doesn't even start to describe this battle. Because
alex Verev put up a great fight tonight against a
different beast of a player.
Speaker 5 (06:38):
That's why he is so disappointed.
Speaker 8 (06:40):
He's walking away with the straight sets loss because he
played some great tennis, but the fellaw he was playing
played even better tennis and has been playing out of
this world tennis for the last couple of rounds. Janick
Sinner built his tournaments superbly, and I mean talk about
players who be pretty happy with obviously Yanick Sinner pretty happy,
(07:00):
but I reckon Raiser Tristan's school Kate would be pretty
happy as well, as one of only the two players
to take a set off Yannik Cinner through the tournament anyway,
he was fantastic from start to finish.
Speaker 5 (07:12):
Yanik he just controlled things. It was on his racket.
Speaker 8 (07:15):
There was lots of variation in pace during the match
and when they were in the long rallies, which Sinna
won comfortably. That was for me one of the biggest
factors that Zverev couldn't stay in the rallies long enough.
Sinner was just struggling because there'd be changes of pace.
He did an off pay shot Ciner and then he'd
really go for it. Changed the complexion of the rallies.
Zverev didn't really have a lot of opportunity to get forward,
(07:37):
and when he started to do that, he did give
himself some opportunities to just try and break the rhythm
of Cinner, but it was like a brick wall out
there tonight.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
It was one of the.
Speaker 8 (07:47):
Dominant performances two hours and forty two minutes on court,
but you still felt that Cinner was dominant despite the
fact that his opponent was playing so well as well.
It was just extraordinary.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
All right, Razer, help us understand this from a numbers perspective, Well, it.
Speaker 10 (08:00):
Was a stunning display. And really, if you told me
going in that Zvera was going to serve at eighty
one percent of first serves in play in the opening
set at an average speed of two hundred and nineteen
kilometers per hour, if you don't mind and be beaten
six three in a fairly regulation opening set, I would
have said, I think there's something wrong with that assessment.
So the inroads that Yarnix Centner was able to make
(08:22):
against the Alexander Vera first serve was significant across the
course of the night, and really on the flip side
of that coin, I think the sinner had lost only
five points on his first serve through the opening two sets.
He was nearly flawless. And when he on the rare
in the rare occasion that on the rare occasion that
he did find himself fifteen thirty thirty all juice having
(08:43):
to handle some moments of pressure is when his serving
elevated again. Yarnix center so he had it covered on
the return of serve. Despite the heat that Vera was
bringing to the table, and then it was a flawless
It was the best displayer serving we'd seen from Younix
Center across the fortnite or across the fifteen days, and
he needed it the most.
Speaker 8 (09:01):
So it was a breathtaking display. One of the things
was that Zara was trying to do was try and
upset that rhythm of Sinner. So he's returning position, he'd
be up in the court. Then he switched it around.
He'd be standing back and I mean way back in
terms of that second serve to give himself a good
swing at the ball. But the problem was that he
was getting into those rallies. But it was more often
(09:21):
than not it was Verev who was making the errors.
And it was the pressure obviously that Sinner was building,
and it continued to build and build and build. But
vere just at those moments you think he was trying
to attack. He had to play with such fine margins
to try and upset the rhythm of Sinner because he
was running down absolutely everything. He was the one that
was being forced into error and it was just because
(09:41):
Sinner was just too good.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
And you've already talked about the serve but there wasn't
even a look in for Zvera with no break points
across the all three sets.
Speaker 10 (09:50):
No and again going in. You know, I thought that
from a returner serve perspective, mindful, I guess or cognizant
of the fact that Zverev's going to bring so much
more heat on his own second serve than Yarnick Center.
And that was the case tonight, you know, in terms
of second serve pure speed, Vera's right up there compared
to Cinner And I thought, well, this is going to
be interesting because Yarnick Center typically likes to be a
(10:11):
lot more aggressive on second serve return with his positioning
than Zverev, who can often retreat back in the court.
And I thought, well, I wonder if that could work
in Vera's favor, because Yari's not going to find that
so easy to be on or inside baseline against a
second serve coming at of it let's call it one
hundred and eighty kilometers an hour. And this is what
makes this guy so good. So really we've not seen
(10:32):
it from him all fortnite so far, and what does
he do tonight knowing that that server is coming at
one hundred and eight kilometers an hour. He says, that's
no problem. Everyone back, I'll go to plan B. I'll
go back five and six meters tonight. You haven't seen
it from me yet at this tournament, not consistently. Here
it is tonight for the first time on the biggest
stage of the tournament and executes really well. And what
(10:52):
that does, and Pete's already shine a light on it.
What that does is allow him to play the type
of point in behind the serve and return that It
really allowed him to dominate from the back of the
court and those lengthy rallies. It was one way traffic.
I think from memory it was twenty six to thirteen
when the rallies went beyond eight shots, so two to
one in the favor of you Onix senate was a domination.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
And the way that he constructed those points as well.
Speaker 8 (11:15):
So he'd started off rallying with Zverev, who was a
little bit further back in the court, so he had
this loopy top spin, then be content to rally whether
it was fourhand to four hand, backhand to backhand, then
all of a sudden, sinner were just up the pace
and then the point would really get going. So it
was then going to be Zverev who was onto the
back foot, and he was the one that was left
scrambling more often than not. And that was the thing
(11:37):
for me, just so clever in terms of how he
actually constructed those points. We talk about moments in the match.
For Zverev, it was obviously that second set tie break
where he did get the mini break early on too
yep to put himself in front, give himself that opportunity. Then,
of course you talk about moments that net cord, the
deadest of dead net cords, and just the flating effect
(12:01):
that that has when you've tried so hard just to
keep pace with your opponent and you think, okay, if
I can just jag this set, then the complexion of
the match changes. He gets the neck cord, he gets
the lucky younix in it, and then he was able
to run away with the match. So that deflation and
we saw it. Obviously, Zarah was so frustrated, obviously, sitting
in the chair and smashing rackets and things like that.
(12:23):
You can understand why, because he was working so hard
to keep pace. He finally thought, right, I've got an
advantage here. One of the few that he had in
the match, but unfortunately luck and obviously anix sinner meant
he couldn't continue on.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Well, let's hear now from the runner up. First of all,
Alex is very following his loss tonight.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
I'm doing everything I can. I'm working as hard as
I ever did. I think I'm doing all the right
things off courts. I think I'm practicing the right things.
But I lost in straight sets today, so it's I mean,
those are facts. I mean, that is a fact. I
lost to Janik and sts at stas Or. I don't
(13:02):
want to end my career as the best player of
all time to never win a Grand Slam, That's for sure,
and I'll keep doing everything I can to to lift
one of those trophies.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Is it just a matter of finding versatility, like we
saw from Janick Cinna, when the moments come and he
needs to change it up a bit.
Speaker 10 (13:18):
Well, again, I thought that the intent from this very
of camp tonight was correct insofar as it didn't look
like he was going to win those lengthy baseline exchanges
and was maybe going to play into sin his hands
in trying to do so. So he did look to
get forward. I think he got forward tonight off the
top of my head twenty six times and one just
over just over fifty percent of those points, which was
(13:40):
not enough. But some of those misses, some of the
execution that was below where it needed to be. We're
in some pivotal moments of this contest, and I think
that's the discussion point, isn't it, Because is it a
plan that you just it might be the right plan,
but is it absolutely can comitted to from the athlete
(14:01):
or believed in from the athlete versus maybe the plan
that's perhaps not as well thought through. But the conviction
behind that plan is complete, it's resolute, and I think
that's the discussion point. So into the medium term, I
think you're right, John, it was the right way to
go about it from the Zverev camp, but some of
his execution in those moments let him down.
Speaker 8 (14:21):
It's going to be the question that gets asked, obviously,
it's the one that our listeners on a radio talking
about as well.
Speaker 5 (14:27):
Will Zara be able to make that breakthrough?
Speaker 8 (14:30):
And obviously when you consider that the players that are
around him, with al KaAZ and Center in particular, the
task gets a lot more difficult. He certainly played to
such a high level throughout the tournament. I mean, his
first week of the event was sensational. He was the
form player. He was breezing through his matches relatively speaking,
and then obviously the degree of difficulty started to increase
(14:53):
from there. So he can take plenty from this. Obviously,
the disappointment will continue to fuel him on.
Speaker 5 (15:00):
And drive him on.
Speaker 8 (15:01):
He's a finalist at Roland Garross's last year, so there's
nothing to say that he can't get back to the top.
It's just that extra hurdle that has felled so many
players over the years. And obviously he's also a player
that wants to get it done sooner rather than later.
Considering the next generation who have had a glimpse of
here at AO twenty twenty five to see what they
(15:22):
can do, he wants to get one in the bag now.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Now, pressure at both ends of this age spectrum. So
where does this leave center then? Now three hard court
titles and his twenty three years of age, clearly he's
the new king of the hard court. So you'd put
him down for US Open favorite. What other slams can
you see him going the distance at in twenty twenty five?
Speaker 10 (15:44):
Well, I'll probably ask you and Peter what other slams
can we not see him going all the way out?
I think he goes straight to the top of my
reckoning when I think about Roland Garross being the next
cab off the rank, and he can win Wimbledon too,
He can do it all.
Speaker 5 (15:56):
This guy his ceiling's.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Untapped calendar slam in making.
Speaker 8 (16:00):
Possibly, Yeah, Wimbledon is probably more likely than Roland Garross,
I'd say. I mean, obviously if he's dominating and steam
rolling his way through, but he won that grass court
title last year in Hullah, so he's sort of now
he's away. He's got one of those on grass and
obviously to be contender, he's obviously got enormous belief in himself.
And if it's just it's that thing of building the momentum.
(16:21):
It's such a long season. Obviously anything can happen. But yeah,
he's certainly installing himself, I would say for Wimbledon, and
I'd say probably more Alcarez for Roland Garross at the moment.
Obviously it's it's January and there's still a long way
to go. But yeah, if you're on his day, obviously
he comes into the number one player in the world,
so he's got to be amongst the title fancies for
(16:43):
every tournament that he plays this year.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
It has been an incredible campaign after a really testing
back end to twenty twenty four for Yannick's inner final.
Thoughts on the tournament from both of you, Simon, so
many highlights. For me, it was Lerner Tien's five set
upst of Daniel Medvedev in the first week. But we
usually do Ace of the Week on the show, so
I'm going to put you on the spot Ace of
the Fortnite for you favorite thing that you've seen or
(17:06):
been a part of this week?
Speaker 10 (17:07):
Well, probably selfishly, I was really lucky to have a
close up view of the Vukchen Draper match on Margaret
Corderina that finished in the weels, and I thought that
was a phenomenal contest in terms of two athletes that
literally left it all out there, and we saw what
that did to Draper a couple of days later, potentially
finished or ruined his campaign, but what a competitor he
(17:29):
was to somehow find a way to prevail. And I
thought Alex Vuksch did Australia proud that night as well,
So that was.
Speaker 5 (17:34):
One that leaves to the top of my page.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Beautiful and you Pete.
Speaker 8 (17:37):
As always John when we do the podcast, I always
picked more than one, so it's a fortnite actually get
two because it was two weeks of a double as
I will thank you Madison Keys Egiston Tech.
Speaker 5 (17:47):
What a match that was from start to finish.
Speaker 8 (17:50):
Fantastic tens and congratulations to Maddie for winning that title.
Who made a major title, finally got there. And then
Joe Fonseeka my goodness, talk about the next generation of
players coming through, dismantling under a.
Speaker 5 (18:04):
Rube Lev and then building his tournaments. He went along.
Speaker 8 (18:08):
But even then this is turning into four or five.
But the fans obviously had over a one point two million,
a new record here, but just so many countries represented,
so fonsakah, the Brazilian fans, we're out and abouts. We
had Lebanese fans for the first time coming in and
celebrating their player who made it through and started making history.
There was obviously the Aussie fans were out in force,
(18:30):
but most countries were represented. Even the Finnish fans for
the men's doubles final we're here too, So it's great
to see that this is truly an international event.
Speaker 5 (18:39):
And we've had great action.
Speaker 8 (18:40):
The site has looked fantastic right from start to finish,
and the vibees been positive.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
So it's been a wonderful couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Wonderful. Well, thank you for your insights tonight, Pete in
a wonderful campaign from the AO Radio team under your tutelage.
Speaker 5 (18:53):
That's the ultimate highlight, John, and also to.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Your gig team, the insights on this program have been terrific,
first class. Thank you so much, Thanks John.
Speaker 5 (19:00):
Thanks for great for night.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
Let's leave the final word to a men's champion for
twenty twenty five, Yannick Sina.
Speaker 5 (19:05):
What kind of champion do you want to be in
people's eyes? I want to be.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Just a humble person, to be honest. I mean, I
always remind myself where I'm from, and I'm from a
small house in a small village with you know, an
amazing family which I was very very lucky to have
and I still have.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
And that's it, you know.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
I believe we are people who are very good in
what we do, and so we are automatically also the
inspiration for younger people.
Speaker 5 (19:42):
But that's it.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
No, we are not changing the world or whatever. So
you know, why change ourselves with success?
Speaker 5 (19:51):
Who do you dedicate as trophy too?
Speaker 3 (19:54):
To all the people who are close to me? Twelve
the people who I really love and this kind of
of people they know who.
Speaker 6 (20:02):
I love, and.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
And also a bit, you know, to myself because it's
it's I'm I was in a very difficult situation during
this tournament, also before tournament, so I'm very happy Hawaii handle.
But obviously without the people around this impossible.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Well she might have already had one of the biggest
smiles in tennis, but you couldn't wipe the smile off
the face of Madison Keys this morning, taking a stroll
on Melbourne's iconic Brighton Beach with her new friend, the
Daphney Ackerst Memorial Trophy, the Women's champion posing for photos
with her silverware before reflecting on the biggest achievement of
her fourteen year professional careers.
Speaker 5 (20:57):
Close on Madison James, she is a champion.
Speaker 11 (21:05):
The last kind of twelve hours has been very quick.
Didn't sleep a whole lot last night, but being able
to just win my first Grand Slam and have so
many people who I got to talk to and FaceTime
and I got to talk to my mom and it's
been really, really nice. There was definitely some times when
I didn't know if I was going to ever be
(21:26):
able to get back into a Grand Slam final, and
I really wanted another opportunity to try to play on
my terms and walk away with my head held high.
And to be able to do that is just incredible.
Speaker 12 (21:39):
Her husband and coach, Biorn Frantangelo.
Speaker 11 (21:43):
He's kind of a big softie. I don't think he
always shows that.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
I'm one of the.
Speaker 11 (21:48):
Few people that actually gets to see it, but he's just,
you know, the sweetest, best guy. I've always wanted to
win every single tournament I've ever been in a draw,
so I think that's going to continue to be the goal.
And I think now it's just sky's limit and we
just keep working towards the next title.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
As has become tradition in recent years, a Lucky Hot
Shots tennis participant had the opportunity to interview the champion.
Ten year old Kiara from Barrack Tennis Club sat down
with the new Queen of Melbourne.
Speaker 9 (22:28):
My name is Kiara and today I'm going to interview
Madison Keys. I know that your birthday is like in
the next month. Is this like your early birthday present?
Speaker 11 (22:42):
I wasn't planning on it being my early birthday present,
but this is a pretty good one to give to myself.
Speaker 9 (22:48):
What is your favorite thing mostly about tennis?
Speaker 11 (22:51):
I think my favorite thing about tennis is you get
to learn so much about yourself. It's constant changing and
you it kind of forces you to also change and adapt,
and I think it makes you try to be kind
of the best version of yourself that you can be.
Speaker 9 (23:11):
What are you most excited about for today?
Speaker 11 (23:14):
I think actually getting to kind of spend time with
my team because I haven't gotten to see a whole
lot of them the last few hours, and just really
get to kind of enjoy everything that's happened the last
three weeks.
Speaker 9 (23:28):
What did you take your long.
Speaker 11 (23:31):
I think I said, oh my god, I did it,
and I've been a bunch of heart emojis.
Speaker 5 (23:37):
I think that's what I sent her, very logically.
Speaker 11 (23:41):
Thank you, You're welcome.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend have claimed the Australian Open
Women's doubles championship in a three set roller coaster. The
top seeds and defending Wimbledon champs overcame last year's finalist
Che Suwe and Elena Ostapenko in two and a half hours.
Siney Arkiva and Townsend got the jump to snatch the
opening set and had the chance to serve for the
match at five to four in the second, but some
(24:10):
gritty defense from Che and Ostapenko kept them minute before
they clinched the second set tiebreak at a set of piece.
Sine Arkiva and Townsend found a crucial break in the
eighth game of the decider before going on to victory
six two sixt' seven six three.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
I am excited. It was really tough match and I'm
just really happy that we managed to did it, that
we kept fighting and that I can have the trophy
on once more time. Yeah, so I'm really excited. I'm
enjoying the feeling and I just want to stick with it.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
Sine Akiva has made history with her tenth Grand Slam
title in the women's doubles, the first player to reach
double figures since Martina Hingis won her tenth at the
twenty fifteen Wimbledon Championships. Well, it's a second Grand Slam
title for Townsend.
Speaker 13 (24:58):
I look at it as part a part of history
where you know, it's nobody in our generation that is
as decorated or that has accomplished the things that this
woman has, and so to be able to be on
the same side as hers, it's an honor and I'll
be happy to continue to rack up those slams.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
Yeah exactly.
Speaker 13 (25:16):
You know, she's in double digits. You know I'm a
work to get there. But you know, in the meantime,
I'm really happy to be able to share the court
with her and shared these moments. It means a lot.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
The Australian Open Finals are a feast for the senses,
and not just the spectacular exploits of the two players
left at the final dance. There's an array of pre
match entertainment that sets the stage for the main event.
On women's final night, the crowd was treated to a
performance by ruvac Nuena and the cast of Tina the Musical,
and the cast of Beauty and the Beast performed be
(25:49):
our Guest before the men's final. But who are the
fans most like to open on Rod Laver Arena during
finals weekend? Harper Pesninger went to find out. Now if
you could pick one musical artists to perform at the
Australian Open Final. Who you haven't on stage?
Speaker 5 (26:04):
Chris Martin, no doubt, best ever do it?
Speaker 2 (26:06):
Chris Martin solo or Chris Martin with cold for the band.
Speaker 5 (26:09):
Is pretty good as well, so we'll take cold Play
as a whole.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
I'd probably say Bruno Mars. I want to Dynasam live
and hit me, hit suit, the vibe reckon.
Speaker 11 (26:16):
Oh definitely Billie Eilish.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
I went to a concert last year and she performed
at URLAS.
Speaker 13 (26:22):
So you know she knows the venue. I feel like
somebody that would really get the crowd going and somebody
that Australians I think club would be Pink.
Speaker 12 (26:30):
I think yes, yeah, Chili Peppers. Yeah, can't stop when
that drops. Yeah, everybody's along for the ride. So I
think that's probably the best walkout entrance song you could.
You could lead out too, So Chili Peppers for mine.
Speaker 5 (26:49):
Queen, that would be big.
Speaker 6 (26:51):
That would be huge queen as well.
Speaker 13 (26:53):
So Harry Styles would be gray as well.
Speaker 11 (26:55):
Yeah seeing him down then like down Under again, that'd.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Be good about Harry Styles front.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, that would make my year.
Speaker 8 (27:05):
Would be John Mayer and I've seen him at rod
labor before, so Ao, if you could get him down somehow,
that would be amazing.
Speaker 12 (27:13):
Well, I saw Choice Savanne Margaret Court a couple of
years ago, so I'd say him, I'll have to go.
Speaker 5 (27:20):
He's big at the moment. Dom Dollard would be good, Matt,
do you know who that is?
Speaker 2 (27:24):
I've gotten as you can see the age difference.
Speaker 13 (27:27):
Now, I have no idea that did they sing?
Speaker 2 (27:32):
Well, that's all for Day fifteen and for Australian Open
twenty twenty five. Hope you've enjoyed our coverage of the
main draw and the entire Australian summer. It's all possible
thanks to the creative talents and the hard work of
our team Segment producer Alexia Mitchell, Voxpot producer Harperpestinger, Audio
editor Ed Denton, video editor Andrew Davies, Proofing and fact
(27:53):
checking by Raharne Dekretsa, and our panelists and contributors throughout
the past fifteen days. Brie Stewart, Candy Reed, Chander, Ruben,
Juel Crabus, John Fitzgerald, Laughlin, Wills, Levi Huttleston, Mark Lorotti,
Mike Cashin, Peter Miccado, Ryan Harrison, Shannon Davis, Simon Ray
and Ursin Cadis. Be sure to subscribe to never miss
(28:14):
an episode, and please consider leaving a rating or review
so more fans can discover the tennis. You can also
catch the last of our daily spotlight segments on our
YouTube channel, Australian Open TV. Don't forget to subscribe there
for more great content throughout the year, and I'll catch
you again next time for more of the tennis
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