January 23, 2023 • 29 mins
Novak Djokovic dashes Australian hopes with a straight-sets win over Alex de Minaur, setting up a last eight clash with Andrey Rublev who survived a five-set battle with Holger Rune — the Round Table analyses the win and previews Day 9 quarterfinals action: Jessica Pegula v Victoria Azarenka and Karen Khachanov v Sebastian Korda whose coach tells us why his player can win Grand Slam titles, plus what the fans are looking forward to in Week 2, and Josh Martin takes us behind the scenes of the commentary booth with tennis commentator Peter Marcato.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It hangs on a second serve for the nineteen year
old who pass had chances to.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Close in this match.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
Runa serves to the bank hands.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Hi everyone, and welcome to the AO Show. For Day
eight of the Australian Open. John Huvenard is bringing you
all the big stories from what's been a fairly surprising day,
although given the events of the past week, hardly anything
surprises you these days. Here's what's coming up. Rides the
runa roller coaster is more easier. Man Djokovic exercises demon.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I cannot say I'm sorry that you haven't watched the
longer match, to be honest.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Mag dignificent Garcia caught in lynette.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
I think the serve was a crucial fight today.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Plus all the results from day eight, a preview of
Day nine, and a day in the life of a
tennis commentator.
Speaker 5 (01:05):
There's a flurry of noise here, but it all makes
sense when it comes out the other end.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
That's all ahead on the AO Show.
Speaker 6 (01:17):
Now he's into his service, motion, goes out wide, find
returner's drifting long.
Speaker 7 (01:21):
Jokovic just tanges his best lets over to his entourage
and walks.
Speaker 8 (01:26):
Up to the nats Gilman Old tags off his cap.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
He has been roundly beaten five games.
Speaker 8 (01:31):
The Australian got n a master class.
Speaker 9 (01:34):
By Novak Jokovic.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
A pain free Novak Djokovic has delivered an emphatic statement
on Night eight, producing a straight sets masterclass against Alex
Demonor to dash Australia's hopes. The nine time champion played
like he had a dinner reservation, dispatching the twenty second
seed in a little over two hours. In the six
two six one six y two whitewash. Demonor fought tooth
(01:56):
and nail just to hold serve, which he managed to
do only five times for the match. Djokovic outperforming him
in almost every key stat winners, aces, first and second serves,
and rallies of all lengths, without being tested on serve,
and without any sign of pain from the hamstring complaint
that's threatened his campaign.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
I cannot say I'm sorry that you haven't watched the
longer match, to be honest, I mean I really wanted
to win in straight sets. Obviously, you never know what's
going to happen on the court, you know, once you're
on the court, obviously you've got to deal with a
lot of things that are on and off the court.
I didn't feel anything today, so today was great.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
The win is the twenty fifth in a row for
Djokovic at Melbourne Park, undefeated since his twenty eighteen fourth
round loss to Hyun Chung, and the thirty five year
old is showing no signs of slowing as he pursues
a fourth consecutive title.
Speaker 10 (02:50):
Some days you feel good, some days maybe not. As so,
as I said on the court, I do not want
to celebrate too early, you know, because I don't know
how the body is going to respond tomorrow and for
the next match. But what I've felt to Nate is fantastic.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
For demon Or, He's never faced such a difficult opponent
in his entire career.
Speaker 11 (03:12):
What I experienced today was probably uh Novak very close
to his best, I would say, and to me, maybe
that's the level I think he's, you know, definitely the
guy that's going to take the title.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Runa serves to the backhand.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
Records in this match and is on his back in jimilation.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Andre Lev has snatched victory from the jaws of defeat
in a tug of war with Holruna to reach his
seventh major quarter final. The first set belonged to the Russian,
who fired four aces and eleven winners, passed Runa, who
double faulted in the eighth game to hand Rublev the
cruse break. The Dane vastly improved his first serve win
rate in the second set, breaking Rublev in the fourth
(04:06):
game to put the match on level pegging, but he
came unstuck again in the third, committing fifteen unforced errors
and three double faults, giving Rubelev the two to one advantage.
Another swing of momentum happened in the fourth set, as
Runa converted both break point chances to send the match
to a decider. There, Runa had two match points on
the Rubelev serve in the eleventh game, but the Russian
(04:28):
rallied to win four points in a row and send
the decider to a super tie break. Despite sinking to
a five love deficit, Rubelev somehow worked his way back
into it and held his first match point at nine
to eight. Runa played one of the points of the tournament,
threading a backhand winner passed his opponent to momentarily save
the match, but his luck ran out two points later
(04:50):
on serve when Rublev's return hit the net Cord hard
and landed on the other side. A cruel end to
a brilliant battle and Rune's campaign six three three six
six three four six seven six.
Speaker 9 (05:02):
It's the luckiest probably moment of my life.
Speaker 11 (05:05):
And now I can go becuz in all so, if
I put for sure, I'm going to win.
Speaker 12 (05:10):
I think it was a great match. I think I had,
you know, all the chances that I could wish for.
I just didn't close him. I had five to two
in the fifth and five s in the tiebreak, and
you know, I saw I played. I played strong from
the fourth set. I raced my game a little bit
and I think I took my chance as well, just
not in the fifth set.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Andre rob Lev moves into the last eight for the
second time in Melbourne, and I'm joined at the roundtable
today by commentator Robbie Koenig and GIG analyst Simon Ray.
It was a rocking, rolling roof raiser between ruby Lev
and Runa and it ended in the most remarkable way.
Robbie and Nett Cord. Can you believe it?
Speaker 9 (05:49):
I couldn't.
Speaker 6 (05:50):
That's actually one of the few occasions where you know
when you come towards the end of a match, John,
you have something in your mind for each player when
they win, and how are you going.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
To see it up for the view at home.
Speaker 6 (06:00):
It's the last thing I expected. It was shades of
was it Becker Lindele at the Masters back in the
day when they had that like twenty seven or thirty seven?
Speaker 9 (06:09):
Shit?
Speaker 6 (06:09):
Really, Beck hits the backhand down the line on match
point fifth set, deciding tar breakof memory serves dead led
court to win. And that flashed in my head at
that very moment. So for a split second there I
was lost for words, and then I just came up with,
no way it's finished like this after all the drama
we've had, And then I can't even remember what I've said.
You just you're so in the moment.
Speaker 13 (06:32):
Wow, what a match, And as Robbie's described, some amazing, exhilarating,
high pressure, high stakes moments towards the back end of
that match, and not a lot in it. You know,
when you reflect on total points one across the contest
one hundred and sixty eight to rube Le one hundred
and fifty eight to runa I think one of the
key metrics that I want to take a look at
and keen to get Robbi's thoughts on this as well.
(06:53):
Is the iPads that you would have seen today if
you're watching on at home and the respective camps, the
respective player boxes. On the things that those iPads are
visualizing is a serve screen, and specifically there's four quadrants
if you like, on that one serve screen, first serve location,
second serve location, and then first serve under pressure location,
second serve under pressure location. So there's four things that
(07:15):
both playing camps have got access to from a pressure perspective.
When Runa is serving wide to the juice under pressure,
he went out wide seventy three percent of the time,
his win rate thirty eight percent on those balls. Now,
let's turn your attention to Rune on the ad side
of the court. So out wide sixty percent of the
time under pressure, fifty percent win rate.
Speaker 9 (07:37):
Okay, rube Lev.
Speaker 13 (07:39):
By contrast, under pressure out wide to the juice court
fifty nine percent of the time, a ninety percent win rate.
Remember Rune was down at thirty eight percent, and out
wide to the ad side, Andre Rublev thirty three percent
of the time eighty six percent win rate. So just
recap the win rate numbers. So rune wide to the
juice thirty eight percent win rate rune wide to them,
(08:00):
you add fifty percent win rate rube lev white to
the juice ninety and white to the aid eighty six
And in a match that's a marathon match, a five
set match ends on a dead neck cord. Incredible amount
of topsy turvy up and down in everywhere type tennis.
I think there's a fair bit to be said or
a fabit to be found and really examining the serve
numbers forensically like that.
Speaker 6 (08:20):
Your ability to problem solve in situations like it is.
I think what separates the very good players from the
great players. I think they're able to pick up on
those nuances. Am I having success when I'm going out wide?
Or am I having more success when I'm going up
to tea. I think this is where you can really
prove yourself as a coach, or you can also at
the same time show yourself up as a coach if
(08:42):
you're not looking into these numbers, because you can give
your player such a big leg up when they think
they are doing something right. But the numbers are there
in black and white, saying no when you go out
wide on the juice side, you aren't having a lot
of success, but hang on, when you go down the tee,
you know that success might be twenty or thirty more
percent of points higher. So I think from a coaching perspective,
(09:06):
it puts a lot of spotlight on the coaches now.
And if you're not, say a well known coach, but
you've got a match on a big court, you can
really show up your knowledge given the stats that you're
armed with.
Speaker 13 (09:19):
Yeah, and I think we saw a prime case in
point last night, didn't we with Darren Kale and the
Sinner Sits a past match up and literally watching on
it at home on the TV screen. It was the
option two or on the second serve get back. It
was the fingers and the body language and the waving
from the far end of the court, and we saw
it play a really significant role in reshaping that contest. So,
(09:40):
you know, not to say you know, the trickiness around
when or how to deliver that information for the coach,
but the willingness for Darren Kle and the Sinner camp
to take the plunge as Robbie's describing, to want to
influence the contest and then to be really clear about
what it is that they're going to focus on and
passing on that message. So it's something that's brand new
to all of us. We provided that type of analytics
(10:01):
into the coaches box before at the Train Open. The
coaching has never been legal before at the Austrain and Open,
so it's brand new. But I think it's a point
really well made from Robbie in terms of how impactful
it can be when it's done well.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Were there any other areas of interest out of this
match because both players had opportunities to win it in
that fifth set.
Speaker 13 (10:17):
I think the serving location and particularly the under pressure
serving location information that I've described feeds into a little
bit of what we call the summary statistics. So in
terms of short rallies one, so those rallies considered ended
within four shots a toss of the coin one hundred
and twenty to rub Lev, one hundred and nineteen to Aruna,
medium rallies one twenty seven to rub Lev and twenty
(10:39):
to Aruna, and once the point extends out beyond that,
we saw how dangerous the shot maker was and the
weapons on display and the back against the wall type
mentality that makes runa a star really on the rise
and a Grand Slam contender and the really short term
so in terms of long rallies one fifteen to nine
in his favor, so nearly double. But it was this,
(11:00):
I think in the return of Ruble that was able
to in a match decided by absolutely narrow, tiny, minuscule margins.
I think it was the serve location under pressure that
tipped the scales in his favor one point.
Speaker 6 (11:12):
Lest I forget, both players had match points in the
match before Rublev eventually converts and wins in the most
Romanica fashion. So the margins in the sport these days
is just insane, how thin they are, Johnny. I think
last year Greg Sharka from the ATP they keep a
running tally of all the matches where a player saves
(11:33):
match points and goes on to win.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
It happened in the mid eighties.
Speaker 6 (11:37):
I think it would have happened eighty five times last
and of course the most famous one was Carlos Ocarez
right against No No, then Yannix Sinner having a Sinner
having a match point before eventually losing. Ocrez goes on
not only to win his first major, but to get
world number one. I mean the margins on Menisco. So
if you have daughter that can swing something just as
(11:59):
small percent to point here or there, at least explore
the option. At least try and pass on the information
to your play Yes, it's one thing possing it on Jhono.
Your player still has to execute. So at the end
of the day, it is still down to the ability
of the player.
Speaker 9 (12:16):
Arena.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Sablenka is yet to drop a set in twenty twenty three,
firing thirty two winners against Belinda Bencicic to book her
spot in the quarter finals for the first time. The
ghost of Open's past appeared to be haunting Sabolenka early
after three double faults gave Benchicic a break in the
third game of the match, but some furious groundstrokes put
the match back on the Belarusians terms and pressure back
(12:39):
on the serve of her opponent, Benchicic gifting set point
to Sabolenka with a double fault in the first set,
and she did the same on break point in the second.
Speaker 14 (12:48):
I mean, definitely today I felt like I couldn't handle
her power. I think that was the biggest difference.
Speaker 6 (12:54):
Um.
Speaker 14 (12:55):
But still, you know, I don't feel like this is
a really bad loss like she's for sure, you know,
very inform right now and also playing very good.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
Sabolenka crediting the improvement of her serve to a biomechanics
trainer she's been working with.
Speaker 14 (13:09):
Even when my serf was working, it wasn't really right,
and I'm super happy that it's happened to me, And
in that moment I was open for whatever.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
I was just like, please, someone help me to fix
this serve.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Her opponent in the quarterfinals will be the surging Donna Vekich,
who smacked forty two winners in a three setter against
Linda Fravertova. Vekitch was decisive in a six to two
meter first set, but her check opponent held steady in
the second, capitalizing on unforced errors to twice break her
opponent serve. The Croatian firmed up on her second serve
and let Fravertiva self destruct. She double faulted in the
(13:45):
eighth game to let Vickage serve for the match.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
I think my mindset coming into this year it's a
little bit a little bit different than the years before.
I wouldn't say ten tennis is now my priority has
been my priority for the last ten years. But things,
so I don't know. Definitely a little bit different in
my mind.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Former world number one Carolina Plishkiva took less than an
hour to dispatch Jung Shwi, hammering twelve vases and thirty
three winners.
Speaker 15 (14:12):
They felt like I was dominating from the baseline, so
it was really good. They had many three points on
the surf and and obviously hitting. I saw the starts
hitting many winners from the baseline and just not that
many mistakes.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Plushkiva's quarter finals opponent is mag Dealannette, in her last
eight debut at a Slam after the poll stunned fourth
seed Caroline Garcia in straight sets. Lynette edged the frenchwoman
in a first set tiebreak, getting over the line thanks
largely to a tidier game on the error front. Garcia's
first serve percentage below fifty for the entire match diffused
(14:46):
one of her weapons, and Lynette hit two more key
winners in the second to close it out seven six
six ' four.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
She did started really fast, so and I think I
did not serve very well at the very beginning, and
then I picked it up a little bit more. I
think then my games started going like coming together a
little bit, because I think the serve was a crucial
part today.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Ben Shelton's improbable Australian Open debut has continued in fairy
tale fashion, edging fellow countryman JJ Wolf in five sets
to reach the quarterfinals. In his first overseas Slam. He
peppered Wolf with twenty three aces, the fastest of which
hitting two twenty six kilometers per hour. Wolf stepped up
in two tie breaks, but crumbled in the fifth set,
(15:35):
making thirteen unforced errors to Shelton's two.
Speaker 11 (15:38):
Definitely a lot on my plate, playing my first Grand
Slam outside of the United States and starting school this week.
Speaker 9 (15:48):
It's it's been a lot.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
The former college champ will battle against another fellow American
in his maiden major quarterfinal, Tommy Paul. He knocked over
Roberto Barutista Agut, who was unable to back up his
monumental win over Andy Murray two days ago, the Spaniard
folding in four sets.
Speaker 12 (16:05):
I'm not satisfied, So I mean, I'm gonna go out
there and try and win the match, you know, I mean,
semi final sounds a lot better in quarterfinal every day
of the week.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
All right, So let's turn our attention now to day nine,
the beginning of the quarter finals, and our first focus
match is between Jessica Pagoula and Victoria Azarenka. The career
head to head Robbie is to all this shape says,
a fascinating battle between a two time champion and someone
who is a genuine threat to take her first Grand
Slam title here.
Speaker 6 (16:36):
Yeah, I cannot believe how much Pagulla has come on
in the last couple of years under the tutelage of
David Witt. He joined the camp and long after she
goes on to in Washington. I think was the first
title that she won under David and memory, so she
hadn't won a title before he joined, so he's obviously
doing something right. She is only getting better. I think
the shot making, the ability to take the ball a
(16:58):
little bit earlier perhaps rushed Azerinka into errors, But with
Azerinka playing as well as she did, this is a
happy hunting ground for her, I'd almost fancy her chance
is more here, given the history, given the love affair,
given the fact she's a two time champion, She's got
a lot of experience at the tell in the big
tournaments as Azerinka.
Speaker 13 (17:17):
When I look at this match. A couple of areas
where I see these players almost coming together and a
couple of areas where I see these players starting to
separate or change their approaches over time. And Robbie mentioned
the on the rise factor, well, Begoula is taking a
higher percentage on the rise in twenty twenty three. She's
being even more aggressive. We know what a ball striker
she is and the weapons that she's got at her disposal.
(17:38):
She's taking forty five percent on the rise in twenty
twenty three. Prior to twenty twenty three that number was
down at thirty seven percent, So she's coming forward inside
the baseline even more so than we've seen from her
in years gone by under David witch tutelage. As Robbie described,
Azarenka also takes a hypercentage on the rise. So that's
that battle of wills, if you like, the battle of
ball striking, the battle of who can get on top
(17:58):
of the point early. He's the third highest percentage historically
in the top one hundred at wanting to take the
ball on the rise sixty two percent of the time.
She loves to take play offense and take control of
the point. But where are they coming apart well, Begola
is taking a high percentage on the rise this year.
We mentioned that shift that's taken place. Azarenka is taking
a lower percentage of second serve returns inside the court
(18:20):
than in previous years. So something's happened there in the
Azarenka camp, where twenty two percent of second serve returns
this year are being struck from inside the baseline. Fifty
nine percent prior to this year was struck from inside
the baseline. So curious to see whether that shift in
the Azarenka game continues tomorrow or whether she defaults back
(18:40):
to the first strike mentality, if you like, and really
mindful of not wanting to give up control or relinquish
a say in the point to Jessica Bigula adjusts her
approach again.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Our second match is Karen Hutchenov. He takes on seb Quarter.
They met twice in twenty twenty two and both went
the way of the American on hard court.
Speaker 6 (18:57):
Courter's greatest ability is to take the on the rise,
and this is what's going to be so difficult for
the top guys to handle. And we saw that with
Hashionov in Cincinnati. He could not deal with the early strike.
The scary thing is is that there's still so much
upside potential for the serve of quarter.
Speaker 13 (19:14):
I wonder whether Robbie thinks the wind Predictor's got this
one right. At the moment, We've got Sebbie Korter fifty
five percent chance of winning this match, Karen Hashanov at
a forty five percent chance, And it sounds like, without
wanting to speak for Robbie, sounds like Robbie thinks that's
somewhere around the mark. I'm hoping he thinks. So anyway
it is, I'm with you on that one. But and
I think there's been You know, this is a real,
(19:35):
as the wind Predictor would describe, a real toss of
the coin matchup. There's not a lot of differences between
this too, some subtle differences and the way they go
about it. I think it's anyone's game come down to execution.
Hashonov's a bigger second serve quarter, more second serve returns
inside the baseline, looking to have that much more offensive
mindset from a returning perspective, and Quarter generally the faster groundstrokes,
although as Robbie mentioned, that tendency to perhaps be a
(19:58):
little passive, a little conservative or careful when it matters
the most. So something to watch when forecasting an I
ford to that intriguing matchup on whatever day we're out
here at the AA twenty three. By now day nine
of AAO twenty twenty three.
Speaker 6 (20:13):
The whole story with Quarters and Australia is just a
fascinating one and I thank you we've we've done a
nice deep dive into some of the numbers, but I
think some of the color behind what's going on with
the Quarter family. You know, everybody's one here in Australia
that was a serious sportsman in their family. Both Jessica
and Nellie have won the Australian Open Dad one in
ninety ninety eight, young Sebbe won the juniors here. Imagine
(20:35):
if you could go all the way that they would
almost complete it as far as the Quarter family is concerned.
So again it's something I refer to about that feel
good factor. I mentioned it when you're talking about as
a NKA, but it's a similar story here as well.
For Sabbia, I think when he walks through those gates
in Melbourne Park, he's standing a little taller, the chest
is out and you know when you come through a
match like you did yesterday against who be her catch,
(20:57):
it's going to give you a lot of confidence. Even
though it was a struggle, you just wake up the
next day and you believe a little bit more.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
And I think the big question for me is can.
Speaker 6 (21:07):
He be a good closer, because people who win majors
you've got to be able to close. And he has
struggled in that department. And we saw the match last
year against Nadel at Indian Wells. He was five two
up in the third set, two opportunities to serve it out,
couldn't do it and I think that affected him for
a big chunk of the year.
Speaker 16 (21:26):
John.
Speaker 6 (21:26):
It was only later on in the season that he
start to play much better tennis indoors. So you know,
you've got to be strong between the ears. You've got
to just believe and go for a trust what you've
been training.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
One factor in Quarter's rise has been his coach, Ruddick Stepanek,
who was himself coached by Sebbi's father Peter for over
a decade during his playing career, and the forty four
year old is optimistic of the younger quarters chances of
emulating his father's feet at Melbourne Park a quarter of
a century ago.
Speaker 16 (21:52):
It has a reason that the players are calling us
and Open a happy Slam. We are always very happy
being here in all performing, playing in front of incredible
supportive crowd and the atmosphere is always something special. So
coming to Pocean Open every year it's something special. Obviously
I missed last four. I'm back and I'm enjoying every
(22:14):
second of it.
Speaker 9 (22:15):
It's been a very happy week for you this week.
Tell us about how it's been for you. Definitely, you
know when Sabby's winning.
Speaker 16 (22:22):
Saby is in the first quarterfinals of a Grand Slam,
so very excited about it, but in a same way,
very humble and focused on his next match, and I
can't wait to see him go out there and fight
for his part in some finals.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
I'm not asking you to speculate on how deep he
can go, but is he the sort of player that
has the game to win Grand Slams?
Speaker 9 (22:45):
I believe so.
Speaker 16 (22:47):
I strongly believe so. Otherwise I wouldn't be in his
team and try to help him. His game is special
in many ways. You know, he's twenty one years old.
He climbing up to the rankings, you know, smoothly, step
by step. That's what I like about his about his progress,
and uh you know, it's a it's a pleasure to
(23:09):
coach him because he's His knowledge about tennis in general
is great.
Speaker 9 (23:14):
He knows the history of the game, which impresses me
a lot.
Speaker 16 (23:19):
These days, you know, the young generation, they have all
their phones and barely recognizing, you know, the legends of
the past.
Speaker 9 (23:28):
And Sabby knows a lot about the past of our game.
And uh you know, he has. His passion for tennis
is exceptional.
Speaker 16 (23:35):
So I believe we we fit great together and hopefully
it's gonna keep going.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
Who knows what lies in wait as we enter the
business end of the Australian Open, But we decided to
find out from the fans what they're most looking forward
to in Week two?
Speaker 9 (23:52):
Are we two? In my opinion, is one of the
most underrated weeks.
Speaker 11 (23:55):
The players have got a real grip of the conditions
and what Melbourne has to offer to really settle in
the start playing their best tends.
Speaker 9 (24:02):
And we two, I think to say a new champion
in some search saying some great tennis.
Speaker 5 (24:07):
Watching the final, I guess the tennis has been pretty
good so far and hopeful a few good matches and.
Speaker 9 (24:12):
I'm just excited for all those matches. I think they'll
be pretty exciting to watch. Should be good. I reckon
the single matches are fun to watch.
Speaker 6 (24:19):
Yeah, I love watching Stephanus to see us play following
great just watching it with my family.
Speaker 17 (24:25):
The tennis players usually the ones at the highest ranked,
so you get into better games. But the women are
pretty competitive when they get down to the last six thing,
they were competited.
Speaker 18 (24:32):
It's our first time here and I'm from Hong Kong,
so we're just really excited to see any players play
in like sort of real time for us in person
rather than watching it from TV. So we just watched
the first match with Sablanca and that's really exciting.
Speaker 8 (24:46):
We just love watching four games a day and watching
them all day and then going to the Fed Square
and watching more games.
Speaker 9 (24:53):
Yeah, it doesn't matter really what the games are.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
Commentators. We hear them every time we turn on the tennis.
They're as much a part of the soundtrack of the
game as squeaks from shoes and racket on ball. But
have you ever wondered what it's like in the commentary
booth calling a match. Josh Martin spent a day with
commentator Peter mccato to find.
Speaker 17 (25:15):
Out your Twitter bio reads the best commentator you've never
heard of? Why don't you enlighten our audiences?
Speaker 5 (25:22):
Well, it's very simple.
Speaker 8 (25:24):
I'm sure a lot of the people who are listening
right now probably would have no idea who I am,
but just recognize that voice and go.
Speaker 9 (25:30):
I can't quite place it.
Speaker 8 (25:31):
He played the forehead point to point in both players.
Speaker 7 (25:35):
And the record has gone from cocodile gus Y says,
can you give me something?
Speaker 8 (25:42):
This is my seventeenth Australian Open. So it's been a
long time, mainly with radio and then the last no
seven years I can't remember now been doing the world
feed TV coverage as well.
Speaker 17 (25:53):
You do both radio and TV. Can you explain to
some people who might never have listened to tennis on
the radio before how different it is and how differently
you prepare?
Speaker 15 (26:02):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (26:02):
Absolutely, I mean TV you've got to prepare a bit
more because you've got to fill the space in between
the points and have lots of facts and figures and
stats and everything to go with Radio is a bit
different because you are calling every point and you rely
a lot on your other commentator, so the analysts to
really break down the play and give a bit more
of that.
Speaker 8 (26:22):
Radio tends to be more conversational, so well, yes, we'll
be calling the match, and if it's really close, we'll be.
Speaker 12 (26:28):
Right on it.
Speaker 5 (26:28):
But we also have the opportunity to sort of go
into other areas and have a bit of fun and
involve our listeners in the conversation. We get a lot
of feedback and a lot of questions from around the world.
Speaker 17 (26:39):
So where are we right now?
Speaker 5 (26:41):
We are in Master control for AO Radio. This used
to be the old press conference room back in the day,
but it's been repurposed and still looks the same, but
it's where the nerve center of AO Radio happens.
Speaker 17 (26:53):
So what match are you getting ready to call?
Speaker 3 (26:55):
Right now?
Speaker 5 (26:55):
We are going to be.
Speaker 9 (26:56):
Doing citsipas and sinner.
Speaker 5 (26:58):
We're going to be doing the fourth set at least
of this or part of the four set, because we
do time shifts so we don't wear ourselves out.
Speaker 17 (27:05):
So we're walking down the Walk of Champions and you're
getting ready to start calling the match. How do you
actually change commentators?
Speaker 5 (27:14):
So we normally have breaks that we take, so they're
pre recorded promotions for TA and the Australian Open and
everything like that, so have ninety seconds basically to change over.
So it means that the two commentators can get out,
we can go in, which takes a little while because
it's a very compact booth that we've got. So down
(27:34):
here at our commentary bunker, we've got a lot of
different radio stations, so the BBC is here, our host
broadcaster in Australia, Channel nine has a space here. There's
also Australian Open Radio and then a local station in
Melbourne as well, a sports station takes the coverage and
they've got a commentary box too, So there's a flurry
of noise here, but it all makes sense when it
comes out at the other end.
Speaker 17 (27:55):
And what's the view down in the bunker, Well, it's.
Speaker 5 (27:58):
Actually a great view because we're a level basically, it's
actually slightly lower than court level, so we sort of
can be at knee height, if that's probably the best
way to describe it.
Speaker 7 (28:07):
Peter Macato Hello, Hello, Hello, Candy, Hello ros This one
on the backhand of sits about middle of the court,
big off Foy and from sinner Citzipas goes a looping
backhand working the a court.
Speaker 8 (28:17):
Now I'll find up the line. Sinner's there with a
point of his loan big backhand too big from Sitzipass
another era and it is fifteen.
Speaker 1 (28:25):
All we've got Josh in the back here just majh.
Speaker 8 (28:28):
It's great and picked up by Sis caught backhand from
in a high ball sits a pass center.
Speaker 9 (28:32):
Then at easy overhead put away.
Speaker 8 (28:35):
He goes to fifteen or Josh works on the Australian
Open podcast, which you can catch on ozopen dot com
and all wherever you get your podcast from. Every day
there is a new episode and the team is doing
a special basically behind the scenes on what happens here
at AO radio. Game point for Citzipas serves out wide.
Another ice SITSI pass two cents to one on AO
(28:55):
Radio Live.
Speaker 9 (28:56):
Around the world. Josh is leaving Bojosh, he's gone. He's
going stand by.
Speaker 5 (29:01):
That'll be on the AO podcast at some stage next
couple of days yeap when he gets around editing lovely
to see it. Thanks for stopping by anytime.
Speaker 1 (29:10):
And that concludes a superb Day eight from the Australian Open,
and we're down to the last date in the singles draws,
but join me again tomorrow for Day nine as the
quarterfinals action gets underway. In the meantime, be sure to
subscribe and if you like what you hear, leave us
a rating and review so more fans can enjoy the
AO Show.
It hangs on a second serve for the nineteen year
old who pass had chances to.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Close in this match.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
Runa serves to the bank hands.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Hi everyone, and welcome to the AO Show. For Day
eight of the Australian Open. John Huvenard is bringing you
all the big stories from what's been a fairly surprising day,
although given the events of the past week, hardly anything
surprises you these days. Here's what's coming up. Rides the
runa roller coaster is more easier. Man Djokovic exercises demon.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I cannot say I'm sorry that you haven't watched the
longer match, to be honest.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Mag dignificent Garcia caught in lynette.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
I think the serve was a crucial fight today.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Plus all the results from day eight, a preview of
Day nine, and a day in the life of a
tennis commentator.
Speaker 5 (01:05):
There's a flurry of noise here, but it all makes
sense when it comes out the other end.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
That's all ahead on the AO Show.
Speaker 6 (01:17):
Now he's into his service, motion, goes out wide, find
returner's drifting long.
Speaker 7 (01:21):
Jokovic just tanges his best lets over to his entourage
and walks.
Speaker 8 (01:26):
Up to the nats Gilman Old tags off his cap.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
He has been roundly beaten five games.
Speaker 8 (01:31):
The Australian got n a master class.
Speaker 9 (01:34):
By Novak Jokovic.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
A pain free Novak Djokovic has delivered an emphatic statement
on Night eight, producing a straight sets masterclass against Alex
Demonor to dash Australia's hopes. The nine time champion played
like he had a dinner reservation, dispatching the twenty second
seed in a little over two hours. In the six
two six one six y two whitewash. Demonor fought tooth
(01:56):
and nail just to hold serve, which he managed to
do only five times for the match. Djokovic outperforming him
in almost every key stat winners, aces, first and second serves,
and rallies of all lengths, without being tested on serve,
and without any sign of pain from the hamstring complaint
that's threatened his campaign.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
I cannot say I'm sorry that you haven't watched the
longer match, to be honest, I mean I really wanted
to win in straight sets. Obviously, you never know what's
going to happen on the court, you know, once you're
on the court, obviously you've got to deal with a
lot of things that are on and off the court.
I didn't feel anything today, so today was great.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
The win is the twenty fifth in a row for
Djokovic at Melbourne Park, undefeated since his twenty eighteen fourth
round loss to Hyun Chung, and the thirty five year
old is showing no signs of slowing as he pursues
a fourth consecutive title.
Speaker 10 (02:50):
Some days you feel good, some days maybe not. As so,
as I said on the court, I do not want
to celebrate too early, you know, because I don't know
how the body is going to respond tomorrow and for
the next match. But what I've felt to Nate is fantastic.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
For demon Or, He's never faced such a difficult opponent
in his entire career.
Speaker 11 (03:12):
What I experienced today was probably uh Novak very close
to his best, I would say, and to me, maybe
that's the level I think he's, you know, definitely the
guy that's going to take the title.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Runa serves to the backhand.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
Records in this match and is on his back in jimilation.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Andre Lev has snatched victory from the jaws of defeat
in a tug of war with Holruna to reach his
seventh major quarter final. The first set belonged to the Russian,
who fired four aces and eleven winners, passed Runa, who
double faulted in the eighth game to hand Rublev the
cruse break. The Dane vastly improved his first serve win
rate in the second set, breaking Rublev in the fourth
(04:06):
game to put the match on level pegging, but he
came unstuck again in the third, committing fifteen unforced errors
and three double faults, giving Rubelev the two to one advantage.
Another swing of momentum happened in the fourth set, as
Runa converted both break point chances to send the match
to a decider. There, Runa had two match points on
the Rubelev serve in the eleventh game, but the Russian
(04:28):
rallied to win four points in a row and send
the decider to a super tie break. Despite sinking to
a five love deficit, Rubelev somehow worked his way back
into it and held his first match point at nine
to eight. Runa played one of the points of the tournament,
threading a backhand winner passed his opponent to momentarily save
the match, but his luck ran out two points later
(04:50):
on serve when Rublev's return hit the net Cord hard
and landed on the other side. A cruel end to
a brilliant battle and Rune's campaign six three three six
six three four six seven six.
Speaker 9 (05:02):
It's the luckiest probably moment of my life.
Speaker 11 (05:05):
And now I can go becuz in all so, if
I put for sure, I'm going to win.
Speaker 12 (05:10):
I think it was a great match. I think I had,
you know, all the chances that I could wish for.
I just didn't close him. I had five to two
in the fifth and five s in the tiebreak, and
you know, I saw I played. I played strong from
the fourth set. I raced my game a little bit
and I think I took my chance as well, just
not in the fifth set.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Andre rob Lev moves into the last eight for the
second time in Melbourne, and I'm joined at the roundtable
today by commentator Robbie Koenig and GIG analyst Simon Ray.
It was a rocking, rolling roof raiser between ruby Lev
and Runa and it ended in the most remarkable way.
Robbie and Nett Cord. Can you believe it?
Speaker 9 (05:49):
I couldn't.
Speaker 6 (05:50):
That's actually one of the few occasions where you know
when you come towards the end of a match, John,
you have something in your mind for each player when
they win, and how are you going.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
To see it up for the view at home.
Speaker 6 (06:00):
It's the last thing I expected. It was shades of
was it Becker Lindele at the Masters back in the
day when they had that like twenty seven or thirty seven?
Speaker 9 (06:09):
Shit?
Speaker 6 (06:09):
Really, Beck hits the backhand down the line on match
point fifth set, deciding tar breakof memory serves dead led
court to win. And that flashed in my head at
that very moment. So for a split second there I
was lost for words, and then I just came up with,
no way it's finished like this after all the drama
we've had, And then I can't even remember what I've said.
You just you're so in the moment.
Speaker 13 (06:32):
Wow, what a match, And as Robbie's described, some amazing, exhilarating,
high pressure, high stakes moments towards the back end of
that match, and not a lot in it. You know,
when you reflect on total points one across the contest
one hundred and sixty eight to rube Le one hundred
and fifty eight to runa I think one of the
key metrics that I want to take a look at
and keen to get Robbi's thoughts on this as well.
(06:53):
Is the iPads that you would have seen today if
you're watching on at home and the respective camps, the
respective player boxes. On the things that those iPads are
visualizing is a serve screen, and specifically there's four quadrants
if you like, on that one serve screen, first serve location,
second serve location, and then first serve under pressure location,
second serve under pressure location. So there's four things that
(07:15):
both playing camps have got access to from a pressure perspective.
When Runa is serving wide to the juice under pressure,
he went out wide seventy three percent of the time,
his win rate thirty eight percent on those balls. Now,
let's turn your attention to Rune on the ad side
of the court. So out wide sixty percent of the
time under pressure, fifty percent win rate.
Speaker 9 (07:37):
Okay, rube Lev.
Speaker 13 (07:39):
By contrast, under pressure out wide to the juice court
fifty nine percent of the time, a ninety percent win rate.
Remember Rune was down at thirty eight percent, and out
wide to the ad side, Andre Rublev thirty three percent
of the time eighty six percent win rate. So just
recap the win rate numbers. So rune wide to the
juice thirty eight percent win rate rune wide to them,
(08:00):
you add fifty percent win rate rube lev white to
the juice ninety and white to the aid eighty six
And in a match that's a marathon match, a five
set match ends on a dead neck cord. Incredible amount
of topsy turvy up and down in everywhere type tennis.
I think there's a fair bit to be said or
a fabit to be found and really examining the serve
numbers forensically like that.
Speaker 6 (08:20):
Your ability to problem solve in situations like it is.
I think what separates the very good players from the
great players. I think they're able to pick up on
those nuances. Am I having success when I'm going out wide?
Or am I having more success when I'm going up
to tea. I think this is where you can really
prove yourself as a coach, or you can also at
the same time show yourself up as a coach if
(08:42):
you're not looking into these numbers, because you can give
your player such a big leg up when they think
they are doing something right. But the numbers are there
in black and white, saying no when you go out
wide on the juice side, you aren't having a lot
of success, but hang on, when you go down the tee,
you know that success might be twenty or thirty more
percent of points higher. So I think from a coaching perspective,
(09:06):
it puts a lot of spotlight on the coaches now.
And if you're not, say a well known coach, but
you've got a match on a big court, you can
really show up your knowledge given the stats that you're
armed with.
Speaker 13 (09:19):
Yeah, and I think we saw a prime case in
point last night, didn't we with Darren Kale and the
Sinner Sits a past match up and literally watching on
it at home on the TV screen. It was the
option two or on the second serve get back. It
was the fingers and the body language and the waving
from the far end of the court, and we saw
it play a really significant role in reshaping that contest. So,
(09:40):
you know, not to say you know, the trickiness around
when or how to deliver that information for the coach,
but the willingness for Darren Kle and the Sinner camp
to take the plunge as Robbie's describing, to want to
influence the contest and then to be really clear about
what it is that they're going to focus on and
passing on that message. So it's something that's brand new
to all of us. We provided that type of analytics
(10:01):
into the coaches box before at the Train Open. The
coaching has never been legal before at the Austrain and Open,
so it's brand new. But I think it's a point
really well made from Robbie in terms of how impactful
it can be when it's done well.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Were there any other areas of interest out of this
match because both players had opportunities to win it in
that fifth set.
Speaker 13 (10:17):
I think the serving location and particularly the under pressure
serving location information that I've described feeds into a little
bit of what we call the summary statistics. So in
terms of short rallies one, so those rallies considered ended
within four shots a toss of the coin one hundred
and twenty to rub Lev, one hundred and nineteen to Aruna,
medium rallies one twenty seven to rub Lev and twenty
(10:39):
to Aruna, and once the point extends out beyond that,
we saw how dangerous the shot maker was and the
weapons on display and the back against the wall type
mentality that makes runa a star really on the rise
and a Grand Slam contender and the really short term
so in terms of long rallies one fifteen to nine
in his favor, so nearly double. But it was this,
(11:00):
I think in the return of Ruble that was able
to in a match decided by absolutely narrow, tiny, minuscule margins.
I think it was the serve location under pressure that
tipped the scales in his favor one point.
Speaker 6 (11:12):
Lest I forget, both players had match points in the
match before Rublev eventually converts and wins in the most
Romanica fashion. So the margins in the sport these days
is just insane, how thin they are, Johnny. I think
last year Greg Sharka from the ATP they keep a
running tally of all the matches where a player saves
(11:33):
match points and goes on to win.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
It happened in the mid eighties.
Speaker 6 (11:37):
I think it would have happened eighty five times last
and of course the most famous one was Carlos Ocarez
right against No No, then Yannix Sinner having a Sinner
having a match point before eventually losing. Ocrez goes on
not only to win his first major, but to get
world number one. I mean the margins on Menisco. So
if you have daughter that can swing something just as
(11:59):
small percent to point here or there, at least explore
the option. At least try and pass on the information
to your play Yes, it's one thing possing it on Jhono.
Your player still has to execute. So at the end
of the day, it is still down to the ability
of the player.
Speaker 9 (12:16):
Arena.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Sablenka is yet to drop a set in twenty twenty three,
firing thirty two winners against Belinda Bencicic to book her
spot in the quarter finals for the first time. The
ghost of Open's past appeared to be haunting Sabolenka early
after three double faults gave Benchicic a break in the
third game of the match, but some furious groundstrokes put
the match back on the Belarusians terms and pressure back
(12:39):
on the serve of her opponent, Benchicic gifting set point
to Sabolenka with a double fault in the first set,
and she did the same on break point in the second.
Speaker 14 (12:48):
I mean, definitely today I felt like I couldn't handle
her power. I think that was the biggest difference.
Speaker 6 (12:54):
Um.
Speaker 14 (12:55):
But still, you know, I don't feel like this is
a really bad loss like she's for sure, you know,
very inform right now and also playing very good.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
Sabolenka crediting the improvement of her serve to a biomechanics
trainer she's been working with.
Speaker 14 (13:09):
Even when my serf was working, it wasn't really right,
and I'm super happy that it's happened to me, And
in that moment I was open for whatever.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
I was just like, please, someone help me to fix
this serve.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Her opponent in the quarterfinals will be the surging Donna Vekich,
who smacked forty two winners in a three setter against
Linda Fravertova. Vekitch was decisive in a six to two
meter first set, but her check opponent held steady in
the second, capitalizing on unforced errors to twice break her
opponent serve. The Croatian firmed up on her second serve
and let Fravertiva self destruct. She double faulted in the
(13:45):
eighth game to let Vickage serve for the match.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
I think my mindset coming into this year it's a
little bit a little bit different than the years before.
I wouldn't say ten tennis is now my priority has
been my priority for the last ten years. But things,
so I don't know. Definitely a little bit different in
my mind.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Former world number one Carolina Plishkiva took less than an
hour to dispatch Jung Shwi, hammering twelve vases and thirty
three winners.
Speaker 15 (14:12):
They felt like I was dominating from the baseline, so
it was really good. They had many three points on
the surf and and obviously hitting. I saw the starts
hitting many winners from the baseline and just not that
many mistakes.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Plushkiva's quarter finals opponent is mag Dealannette, in her last
eight debut at a Slam after the poll stunned fourth
seed Caroline Garcia in straight sets. Lynette edged the frenchwoman
in a first set tiebreak, getting over the line thanks
largely to a tidier game on the error front. Garcia's
first serve percentage below fifty for the entire match diffused
(14:46):
one of her weapons, and Lynette hit two more key
winners in the second to close it out seven six
six ' four.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
She did started really fast, so and I think I
did not serve very well at the very beginning, and
then I picked it up a little bit more. I
think then my games started going like coming together a
little bit, because I think the serve was a crucial
part today.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Ben Shelton's improbable Australian Open debut has continued in fairy
tale fashion, edging fellow countryman JJ Wolf in five sets
to reach the quarterfinals. In his first overseas Slam. He
peppered Wolf with twenty three aces, the fastest of which
hitting two twenty six kilometers per hour. Wolf stepped up
in two tie breaks, but crumbled in the fifth set,
(15:35):
making thirteen unforced errors to Shelton's two.
Speaker 11 (15:38):
Definitely a lot on my plate, playing my first Grand
Slam outside of the United States and starting school this week.
Speaker 9 (15:48):
It's it's been a lot.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
The former college champ will battle against another fellow American
in his maiden major quarterfinal, Tommy Paul. He knocked over
Roberto Barutista Agut, who was unable to back up his
monumental win over Andy Murray two days ago, the Spaniard
folding in four sets.
Speaker 12 (16:05):
I'm not satisfied, So I mean, I'm gonna go out
there and try and win the match, you know, I mean,
semi final sounds a lot better in quarterfinal every day
of the week.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
All right, So let's turn our attention now to day nine,
the beginning of the quarter finals, and our first focus
match is between Jessica Pagoula and Victoria Azarenka. The career
head to head Robbie is to all this shape says,
a fascinating battle between a two time champion and someone
who is a genuine threat to take her first Grand
Slam title here.
Speaker 6 (16:36):
Yeah, I cannot believe how much Pagulla has come on
in the last couple of years under the tutelage of
David Witt. He joined the camp and long after she
goes on to in Washington. I think was the first
title that she won under David and memory, so she
hadn't won a title before he joined, so he's obviously
doing something right. She is only getting better. I think
the shot making, the ability to take the ball a
(16:58):
little bit earlier perhaps rushed Azerinka into errors, But with
Azerinka playing as well as she did, this is a
happy hunting ground for her, I'd almost fancy her chance
is more here, given the history, given the love affair,
given the fact she's a two time champion, She's got
a lot of experience at the tell in the big
tournaments as Azerinka.
Speaker 13 (17:17):
When I look at this match. A couple of areas
where I see these players almost coming together and a
couple of areas where I see these players starting to
separate or change their approaches over time. And Robbie mentioned
the on the rise factor, well, Begoula is taking a
higher percentage on the rise in twenty twenty three. She's
being even more aggressive. We know what a ball striker
she is and the weapons that she's got at her disposal.
(17:38):
She's taking forty five percent on the rise in twenty
twenty three. Prior to twenty twenty three that number was
down at thirty seven percent, So she's coming forward inside
the baseline even more so than we've seen from her
in years gone by under David witch tutelage. As Robbie described,
Azarenka also takes a hypercentage on the rise. So that's
that battle of wills, if you like, the battle of
ball striking, the battle of who can get on top
(17:58):
of the point early. He's the third highest percentage historically
in the top one hundred at wanting to take the
ball on the rise sixty two percent of the time.
She loves to take play offense and take control of
the point. But where are they coming apart well, Begola
is taking a high percentage on the rise this year.
We mentioned that shift that's taken place. Azarenka is taking
a lower percentage of second serve returns inside the court
(18:20):
than in previous years. So something's happened there in the
Azarenka camp, where twenty two percent of second serve returns
this year are being struck from inside the baseline. Fifty
nine percent prior to this year was struck from inside
the baseline. So curious to see whether that shift in
the Azarenka game continues tomorrow or whether she defaults back
(18:40):
to the first strike mentality, if you like, and really
mindful of not wanting to give up control or relinquish
a say in the point to Jessica Bigula adjusts her
approach again.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Our second match is Karen Hutchenov. He takes on seb Quarter.
They met twice in twenty twenty two and both went
the way of the American on hard court.
Speaker 6 (18:57):
Courter's greatest ability is to take the on the rise,
and this is what's going to be so difficult for
the top guys to handle. And we saw that with
Hashionov in Cincinnati. He could not deal with the early strike.
The scary thing is is that there's still so much
upside potential for the serve of quarter.
Speaker 13 (19:14):
I wonder whether Robbie thinks the wind Predictor's got this
one right. At the moment, We've got Sebbie Korter fifty
five percent chance of winning this match, Karen Hashanov at
a forty five percent chance, And it sounds like, without
wanting to speak for Robbie, sounds like Robbie thinks that's
somewhere around the mark. I'm hoping he thinks. So anyway
it is, I'm with you on that one. But and
I think there's been You know, this is a real,
(19:35):
as the wind Predictor would describe, a real toss of
the coin matchup. There's not a lot of differences between
this too, some subtle differences and the way they go
about it. I think it's anyone's game come down to execution.
Hashonov's a bigger second serve quarter, more second serve returns
inside the baseline, looking to have that much more offensive
mindset from a returning perspective, and Quarter generally the faster groundstrokes,
although as Robbie mentioned, that tendency to perhaps be a
(19:58):
little passive, a little conservative or careful when it matters
the most. So something to watch when forecasting an I
ford to that intriguing matchup on whatever day we're out
here at the AA twenty three. By now day nine
of AAO twenty twenty three.
Speaker 6 (20:13):
The whole story with Quarters and Australia is just a
fascinating one and I thank you we've we've done a
nice deep dive into some of the numbers, but I
think some of the color behind what's going on with
the Quarter family. You know, everybody's one here in Australia
that was a serious sportsman in their family. Both Jessica
and Nellie have won the Australian Open Dad one in
ninety ninety eight, young Sebbe won the juniors here. Imagine
(20:35):
if you could go all the way that they would
almost complete it as far as the Quarter family is concerned.
So again it's something I refer to about that feel
good factor. I mentioned it when you're talking about as
a NKA, but it's a similar story here as well.
For Sabbia, I think when he walks through those gates
in Melbourne Park, he's standing a little taller, the chest
is out and you know when you come through a
match like you did yesterday against who be her catch,
(20:57):
it's going to give you a lot of confidence. Even
though it was a struggle, you just wake up the
next day and you believe a little bit more.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
And I think the big question for me is can.
Speaker 6 (21:07):
He be a good closer, because people who win majors
you've got to be able to close. And he has
struggled in that department. And we saw the match last
year against Nadel at Indian Wells. He was five two
up in the third set, two opportunities to serve it out,
couldn't do it and I think that affected him for
a big chunk of the year.
Speaker 16 (21:26):
John.
Speaker 6 (21:26):
It was only later on in the season that he
start to play much better tennis indoors. So you know,
you've got to be strong between the ears. You've got
to just believe and go for a trust what you've
been training.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
One factor in Quarter's rise has been his coach, Ruddick Stepanek,
who was himself coached by Sebbi's father Peter for over
a decade during his playing career, and the forty four
year old is optimistic of the younger quarters chances of
emulating his father's feet at Melbourne Park a quarter of
a century ago.
Speaker 16 (21:52):
It has a reason that the players are calling us
and Open a happy Slam. We are always very happy
being here in all performing, playing in front of incredible
supportive crowd and the atmosphere is always something special. So
coming to Pocean Open every year it's something special. Obviously
I missed last four. I'm back and I'm enjoying every
(22:14):
second of it.
Speaker 9 (22:15):
It's been a very happy week for you this week.
Tell us about how it's been for you. Definitely, you
know when Sabby's winning.
Speaker 16 (22:22):
Saby is in the first quarterfinals of a Grand Slam,
so very excited about it, but in a same way,
very humble and focused on his next match, and I
can't wait to see him go out there and fight
for his part in some finals.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
I'm not asking you to speculate on how deep he
can go, but is he the sort of player that
has the game to win Grand Slams?
Speaker 9 (22:45):
I believe so.
Speaker 16 (22:47):
I strongly believe so. Otherwise I wouldn't be in his
team and try to help him. His game is special
in many ways. You know, he's twenty one years old.
He climbing up to the rankings, you know, smoothly, step
by step. That's what I like about his about his progress,
and uh you know, it's a it's a pleasure to
(23:09):
coach him because he's His knowledge about tennis in general
is great.
Speaker 9 (23:14):
He knows the history of the game, which impresses me
a lot.
Speaker 16 (23:19):
These days, you know, the young generation, they have all
their phones and barely recognizing, you know, the legends of
the past.
Speaker 9 (23:28):
And Sabby knows a lot about the past of our game.
And uh you know, he has. His passion for tennis
is exceptional.
Speaker 16 (23:35):
So I believe we we fit great together and hopefully
it's gonna keep going.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
Who knows what lies in wait as we enter the
business end of the Australian Open, But we decided to
find out from the fans what they're most looking forward
to in Week two?
Speaker 9 (23:52):
Are we two? In my opinion, is one of the
most underrated weeks.
Speaker 11 (23:55):
The players have got a real grip of the conditions
and what Melbourne has to offer to really settle in
the start playing their best tends.
Speaker 9 (24:02):
And we two, I think to say a new champion
in some search saying some great tennis.
Speaker 5 (24:07):
Watching the final, I guess the tennis has been pretty
good so far and hopeful a few good matches and.
Speaker 9 (24:12):
I'm just excited for all those matches. I think they'll
be pretty exciting to watch. Should be good. I reckon
the single matches are fun to watch.
Speaker 6 (24:19):
Yeah, I love watching Stephanus to see us play following
great just watching it with my family.
Speaker 17 (24:25):
The tennis players usually the ones at the highest ranked,
so you get into better games. But the women are
pretty competitive when they get down to the last six thing,
they were competited.
Speaker 18 (24:32):
It's our first time here and I'm from Hong Kong,
so we're just really excited to see any players play
in like sort of real time for us in person
rather than watching it from TV. So we just watched
the first match with Sablanca and that's really exciting.
Speaker 8 (24:46):
We just love watching four games a day and watching
them all day and then going to the Fed Square
and watching more games.
Speaker 9 (24:53):
Yeah, it doesn't matter really what the games are.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
Commentators. We hear them every time we turn on the tennis.
They're as much a part of the soundtrack of the
game as squeaks from shoes and racket on ball. But
have you ever wondered what it's like in the commentary
booth calling a match. Josh Martin spent a day with
commentator Peter mccato to find.
Speaker 17 (25:15):
Out your Twitter bio reads the best commentator you've never
heard of? Why don't you enlighten our audiences?
Speaker 5 (25:22):
Well, it's very simple.
Speaker 8 (25:24):
I'm sure a lot of the people who are listening
right now probably would have no idea who I am,
but just recognize that voice and go.
Speaker 9 (25:30):
I can't quite place it.
Speaker 8 (25:31):
He played the forehead point to point in both players.
Speaker 7 (25:35):
And the record has gone from cocodile gus Y says,
can you give me something?
Speaker 8 (25:42):
This is my seventeenth Australian Open. So it's been a
long time, mainly with radio and then the last no
seven years I can't remember now been doing the world
feed TV coverage as well.
Speaker 17 (25:53):
You do both radio and TV. Can you explain to
some people who might never have listened to tennis on
the radio before how different it is and how differently
you prepare?
Speaker 15 (26:02):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (26:02):
Absolutely, I mean TV you've got to prepare a bit
more because you've got to fill the space in between
the points and have lots of facts and figures and
stats and everything to go with Radio is a bit
different because you are calling every point and you rely
a lot on your other commentator, so the analysts to
really break down the play and give a bit more
of that.
Speaker 8 (26:22):
Radio tends to be more conversational, so well, yes, we'll
be calling the match, and if it's really close, we'll be.
Speaker 12 (26:28):
Right on it.
Speaker 5 (26:28):
But we also have the opportunity to sort of go
into other areas and have a bit of fun and
involve our listeners in the conversation. We get a lot
of feedback and a lot of questions from around the world.
Speaker 17 (26:39):
So where are we right now?
Speaker 5 (26:41):
We are in Master control for AO Radio. This used
to be the old press conference room back in the day,
but it's been repurposed and still looks the same, but
it's where the nerve center of AO Radio happens.
Speaker 17 (26:53):
So what match are you getting ready to call?
Speaker 3 (26:55):
Right now?
Speaker 5 (26:55):
We are going to be.
Speaker 9 (26:56):
Doing citsipas and sinner.
Speaker 5 (26:58):
We're going to be doing the fourth set at least
of this or part of the four set, because we
do time shifts so we don't wear ourselves out.
Speaker 17 (27:05):
So we're walking down the Walk of Champions and you're
getting ready to start calling the match. How do you
actually change commentators?
Speaker 5 (27:14):
So we normally have breaks that we take, so they're
pre recorded promotions for TA and the Australian Open and
everything like that, so have ninety seconds basically to change over.
So it means that the two commentators can get out,
we can go in, which takes a little while because
it's a very compact booth that we've got. So down
(27:34):
here at our commentary bunker, we've got a lot of
different radio stations, so the BBC is here, our host
broadcaster in Australia, Channel nine has a space here. There's
also Australian Open Radio and then a local station in
Melbourne as well, a sports station takes the coverage and
they've got a commentary box too, So there's a flurry
of noise here, but it all makes sense when it
comes out at the other end.
Speaker 17 (27:55):
And what's the view down in the bunker, Well, it's.
Speaker 5 (27:58):
Actually a great view because we're a level basically, it's
actually slightly lower than court level, so we sort of
can be at knee height, if that's probably the best
way to describe it.
Speaker 7 (28:07):
Peter Macato Hello, Hello, Hello, Candy, Hello ros This one
on the backhand of sits about middle of the court,
big off Foy and from sinner Citzipas goes a looping
backhand working the a court.
Speaker 8 (28:17):
Now I'll find up the line. Sinner's there with a
point of his loan big backhand too big from Sitzipass
another era and it is fifteen.
Speaker 1 (28:25):
All we've got Josh in the back here just majh.
Speaker 8 (28:28):
It's great and picked up by Sis caught backhand from
in a high ball sits a pass center.
Speaker 9 (28:32):
Then at easy overhead put away.
Speaker 8 (28:35):
He goes to fifteen or Josh works on the Australian
Open podcast, which you can catch on ozopen dot com
and all wherever you get your podcast from. Every day
there is a new episode and the team is doing
a special basically behind the scenes on what happens here
at AO radio. Game point for Citzipas serves out wide.
Another ice SITSI pass two cents to one on AO
(28:55):
Radio Live.
Speaker 9 (28:56):
Around the world. Josh is leaving Bojosh, he's gone. He's
going stand by.
Speaker 5 (29:01):
That'll be on the AO podcast at some stage next
couple of days yeap when he gets around editing lovely
to see it. Thanks for stopping by anytime.
Speaker 1 (29:10):
And that concludes a superb Day eight from the Australian Open,
and we're down to the last date in the singles draws,
but join me again tomorrow for Day nine as the
quarterfinals action gets underway. In the meantime, be sure to
subscribe and if you like what you hear, leave us
a rating and review so more fans can enjoy the
AO Show.
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