March 13, 2025 • 55 mins
Top seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz have powered into the quarterfinals at Indian Wells, while big names like Novak Djokovic, Alex De Minaur and Alexander Zverev suffered exits. Mirra Andreeva is making waves and could face reigning champion Iga Swiatek in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Billie Jean King Cup squad announcements are imminent and the newly named "Orange Girl" of the Australian team Emerson Jones speaks about her upcoming role. Our correspondents from Indian Wells are Daniela Hantuchova and Duncan McKenzie-McHarg, while Xavier Muhlebach and Brie Stewart are joined by John Fitzgerald and Luke Saville in the studio.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Hello, Welcome to the tennis I am Zavian Mulebark. I'm
not John Whovenars, filling in for our favorite little host.
He's off and I'll explain why in a moment rain
in the desert as players combat the elements as well
as their opponents at Indian Wells, We've got all the
latest from our reporters on the ground in tennis Paradise,
Andrever on a tear, we look into the seventeen year
old's rise to start a machine, vised to go back
(00:24):
to back in WTA one thousand events, and future star
Emerson Jones joins us for a chat about her upcoming
Orange Girl duties and next month's Billy Jean King Cup
in Queensland. It's gonna be amazing. As I said, my
name Xavier, I'll be your cruise director of this ship
of fools for the next couple of weeks. As John
is off on parental leave. He's welcomed a little baby girl.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
But it is exciting.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
So I've got some stats here. Leanni Hoovenars, which I
did some research. It is a Hawaiian name. Oh means sky.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Oh that's quite nice.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Yes, yeah, yeah, Little sky Blue courts Boo Sky is
keeping it very much in the tennis family. Yeah. She
was born on the eleventh of March and he's put
in here her favorite surface cotton.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Oh, I see she's a good size too.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Yeah, so three point six eighty five kilos healthy beat
what's that in the old measure?
Speaker 3 (01:14):
I reckon that'd be close to eight pounds seven maybe
seven and a half. Right, yeah, somewhere there.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Well, all I love to missus. Hoovenurs. Yes, hopefully she
recovers well and we get to see the bub in
here in studio pretty soon. Anyway, enough about babies, let's
talk about the table here. I am Xavier, but enough
about me. Next up and Queen of the Smaller Screen.
Stole that from Johnny Huvenars. Bree Stewart.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Welcome back, thanks here every week.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Yeah, it is weird that I'm welcoming you.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Welcome to you.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Thanks.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Yeah, it's good to have you here.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
I'm looking forward to spending the next few weeks on
the pod with you.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Yeah, I am good.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Yeah, okay. And across the table back from his annual
wine and fishing trip, it's Fitzy.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Well, thank you, Zeve. I didn't really want to advertise
the wine part of it. It is a fishing club.
We go to Cocole. I've got a US friend here
with me, Bob Radcliffe, and we join a group of
Ossie sportsmen and others, few farmers, few local farmers. We
have a great time. Eat a lot of oysters at
Coffin Bay.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Sounds amazing, especially Coffin Bay oyster. Did you get in
the waiters and shuck a few?
Speaker 3 (02:20):
No, I don't shuck them, but some of the guys do.
I tend to eat them.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Yeah, i'd be with you.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
I have been named a pop a cork or two.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Very good.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
We have a great time. It's a great relief to
get especially after the Aussie Open. It's intense, we all
know that, and great exciting, but it's a nice relaxed
way to recover.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Sounds great. I do find that whenever a group of
men age forty five and up have a club, it
usually involves booze.
Speaker 5 (02:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
I don't hide it.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
There's a little bit of red wine and a touch
of white. But that it's We're not overly, you know,
overly silly about it.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
That's good. You look bright eyed Bush. Great to see
you again. And of course it nearly appointed w t
A Tour coach Luke Saville mister Dasher himself.
Speaker 6 (03:01):
That's still yeah, no, that's still sinking in a little
bit the coaching side of it. But great to be here.
Thanks having me again, guys.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Well, if you're here, who's taken care of Tofu?
Speaker 6 (03:15):
We have Dash's mum living with us here in Melbourne
and he's probably gone for his ten minute walk this morning,
probably having his sort of mid morning nap right now
and he'll just keep sleeping to about seven pm to
his next walk.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
The dog is white total.
Speaker 6 (03:34):
That was Dash's favorite idea, No, she's her favorite food
is agadashi.
Speaker 7 (03:40):
Tofu my heart rate going the near mention of a
dog caused Brie's heart rates. Sorry for those who are
sure which poach we're talking about, jump on Dash's Instagram
to features relatively for sure.
Speaker 6 (03:58):
Yeah yea. And the odd video of me just shaking
my head and discuss.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
That's right. That's your lot in life now. Well, great
to have you back, Luke, thank you, And on to
some sad news now. Fred Stolly, bit of a legend
of Australian tennis Global Tennis, we lost him late last week.
Fitzi yeah, very much.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
The legend. You know, one of the great players in
our greatest era. He'll be a huge loss. Is a
huge loss, and what a character and personality Fred was.
He We all looked up to him if you were
in a generation following that sixties generation, he was one
of the players that you looked up to number one
in the world and the amateur days. He won two
(04:42):
major singles titles, he won ten major doubles titles, I
think seven mixed doubles titles, and he played in three
consecutive winning Davis Cup teams. He made the women final
three years in a row. He lost to Chuck McKinley
in sixty three and then the great Roy Emerson his
great mate and doubles partner in the next two sixty
four to sixty five. And of course he's San and
(05:05):
Stolly's father who we know so well in tennis in
Australia these days. He works in Adelaide with the academy
there and was a top fifty player himself. It's just
a family that will forever be I think edged etched
in our memories as a tennis family, one of the
most prominent and pre eminent families we've ever had. Sandon
(05:29):
and Fred I believe, were the first two father sons
to play Davis Cup for this country. There's only been
one other, I believe, and that is sid Ball and
Castin Ball. So they hold a special place, the Stollies
and Fred's. They veiled to Valet de Fred yesterday in
(05:50):
a beautiful environment in Palm Springs where he'd moved to
from Florida and had a lot of tennis personalities including
Rod Labor, Billy Jean King, Roy Emerson was on the
online watching It's a sad week but a celebration of
a life that was right up there with the best
players Australia has ever produced.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Yeah, that global outpouring for Fred has been quite noticeable.
Not everyone in the tennis community might have been familiar
with Fred, especially the young, younger fans, but he really
is mentioned in the same breath as other recent names
that we've lost in sums that as some that are still.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Around, absolutely in the same breath at the same top
echelon at the sport, and had an amazing broadcasting career too.
Let's not forget that he was memorable in the broadcasting
booth and for decades worked with John Yukom, Tony treeb
and Mark Woodford did a lot with him in recent
years and he was a mentor to so many. He's
(06:44):
a big loss and never heard one person in my
tennis life speak badly Fred Stolly.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Not one, and that's a rare thing to find these days.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
He had a wicked sense of humor as well.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Right, wicked, a little bit naughty, which I sort of
liked a lot.
Speaker 8 (06:59):
You know.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
Yeah, there was a tiny bit of boarding us there.
But he was clever and he delivered a line well
so well. He was funny guy, and he encompassed when
he walked into a room. He brought the level of
camaraderie up every time.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Oh yeah, well, it sounds like on the court, off
the court, behind the mic. He will be greatly missed,
if only remembered, you will, alrighty, well, onto Indian Wells.
We're into week two now, day eight of the Sunshine
Slam as I like to call it, and just made
it up on the fly. Then the Coachell, Oh is it?
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (07:33):
I thought I just coined it Coachella of Tennis. That's you,
that's you. Yeah, there you go. It's a festival without
the music. A little bit. You're going to eat no
boo court side. That's not bad. But as we know
from last week, our good friends Daniello Handtakover and Duncan
Mackenzie Vick Caag have been loving their time in tennis Paradise.
Let's hear what's been happening around the courts and on
(07:54):
the golf course.
Speaker 9 (07:56):
Thanks.
Speaker 10 (07:57):
Team, We're back in tennis Paradise with two time Indian
El's champion Daniella Hantikova.
Speaker 9 (08:02):
Danielle is so great to see you once again.
Speaker 10 (08:04):
Hey, let's first talk about the women's side, because the
big guns they're looking really good so far, aren't they. Well?
Speaker 9 (08:08):
Number one to run a sable linka.
Speaker 10 (08:09):
She's through, as is the defending champion eagas fiancee co
Co Gough and Madison Keys.
Speaker 9 (08:14):
Who do you like out of the best of them
so far?
Speaker 8 (08:16):
I thought you were going to say, let's talk first
about the golf. I mean, that's what I was ready for.
I mean, all right now, let's stick with the tennis
for now. I'm still loving my big sabal Anka playing
incredible tennis, being so relaxed. She's going for a big time.
That's what you need to do. Here in desert. But
let's not forget Mira Andreva.
Speaker 5 (08:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (08:36):
I was gonna ask for that later, but yeah, let's
talk about Mira.
Speaker 11 (08:39):
Yeah we have talked about her.
Speaker 8 (08:41):
Yeah yeah, and she seems like she's in her own bubble,
and I kind of can relate to that feeling, you know,
when you start to play good in this tournament and
you start to feel like, hold on a second, I'm
playing very good tennis, and why shouldn't I win this tournament,
especially given how well she played in Dubai similar conditions.
So I'm starting to be a little bit nervous about
my pig about Arena Sablenka, so Mira would be the
(09:03):
one right behind her for me, absolutely.
Speaker 9 (09:05):
And Mira did actually paid her at Roland Garros.
Speaker 10 (09:08):
I told you about mirror because she seems to be
getting better and better with every single match.
Speaker 9 (09:13):
That she plants.
Speaker 8 (09:14):
I think Concita Martinez has so much to do with it,
And you know what, I think the turning point for
them was that match in Melbourne where she kind of
didn't really show up in her magic in Saballenka. Her
attitude was not that great and I saw country right
away after that match in the locker room, and she
was not happy. And sometimes you need to have the
tough talk with your player and it comes from someone
(09:34):
as experienced and as conchy. I think that's where Mira
kind of woke up and realized that she's got a game.
But now her attitude is there as well, and she
has so much, so many different ways how she can
win matches, and that's why she's so fun to watch.
I'm liking her slice back ends now a few drop
shots on the forehand side as well. So she's becoming,
just like Carlos, a very quick student of the game
(09:55):
and almost a full package by now, which is crazy
at her age.
Speaker 10 (09:59):
When we spoke last, you said you're about to head
out on court to sort of test out the new
conditions here at Indian Wells.
Speaker 9 (10:04):
What do you make at the speed of the courts?
Speaker 8 (10:05):
I have to say that pretty similar to previous years.
I did not feel I mean, at my little slow speed,
I did not feel much of a difference. The bar
bounds is still very high, but let's not forget the conditions.
They've been changing so much, and kudos to the players
because they had to deal with a lot of things,
even the rain first time ever I opened my umbrella
in the desert in twenty five years. Not as much wind,
(10:27):
I feel like the last couple of days, but it's
been chilly. As you can tell, it's going to be
even colder, I believe tomorrow. So again, it depends so
much on the schedule, which time of the day you
get to play, and what conditions kind of vide your
game the best, and sometimes you need that. Sometimes you
need a little bit of luck to you know, play
in the time you prefer to and kind of squeeze
through the draw.
Speaker 10 (10:48):
On the men's side, some big name casualties in week one,
top seed Alexander zaverev, Novak Djokovic, Kaspar Rude, Andrey Rublev
all out of the tournament, but Alex seemen Or is
making his way quietly through the drawer.
Speaker 8 (10:58):
Yes, I'm so happy for alex and again we go
to his fighting spirits. That's what you need here because
the conditions change so much, and as you said, so
many favorites early out of the tournament. You have to
be really strong mentally to accept that most of the
time you are not going to fill the ball grade
because it bounces high, it's very lively it's hard to control,
you know, the wind, the cold during the night sessions.
Speaker 11 (11:21):
And I think for.
Speaker 8 (11:22):
This Alex has got the best mentality. He always goes
the same about his business. That's why I admire him
so much. He never complains about anything and just focuses
on what he has to do out there on the court,
and that's why.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
He's still in the drum.
Speaker 10 (11:35):
So many interesting talking points from the first seven days
proper of the tournament. Carlos Alkaraz we had some fans
if he's dressed up as be he's got in tribute
to the b invasion last year. Obviously yos Ke Watanuki
drank a Pepsi. Completely different players since then, and of
course we've got hold Garuna, who was watched on by
a couple of celebrities in Timothy Chalomey and Kylie Jenna
over here on Stadium one. What's caught your eye in
(11:57):
the first seven days of this tournament, I would.
Speaker 8 (11:59):
Say the fans what we always appreciate as players, because
they love the game so much, so you want to
show up there and play your best tennis. And I
think that's why Carlos is enjoying his B support corner.
He might be probably thinking, well, the cowdboys are not around,
so I might as well use some momentum here. And
it's been always so much fun to kind of get
a little bit more connected with the crowd here.
Speaker 11 (12:20):
I think the players really enjoyed it.
Speaker 8 (12:22):
Maybe other tournaments you try to be more focused on
your game, but here you can really draw from the
energy from the crowds. Having some celebrities around that that
always helps. I always remember before my first final, I
was just about to go out to the court and
I caught my eye on the on the screen and
Matthew Perry was there, and I was such a huge
(12:42):
fan and of friends, so I almost like I was
shaking by the time I got to the court. So
sometimes can be a little bit intimidating, but at the
same time, it can give you a lot of energy
because you want to kind of perform even better if
I can say that. I mean, we should always play
it the same, but you know, when you've got someone
in the box that you kind of admire, it's it's
always a cool thing.
Speaker 10 (12:59):
Yeah, just hours down the highway from Los Angeles. So
who are you picking on the men's side now? With
Sasha out of the tournament. Do you think Carlos is
kind of in the box seat to do a three page?
Speaker 11 (13:07):
I think so.
Speaker 8 (13:08):
I mean, he's one, what twelve matches in a row here,
so obviously he's feeling confidence. Spoke to him the other
day's playing a lot of golf, so I think that
also helps to kind of keep him relaxed. And yeah,
it seems like he's doing all the right things, not
playing necessarily his best tennis yet, but as we've seen
in the last two years, you know, he always gets
better at the end of the tournament, so I wouldn't
(13:30):
be worried about it.
Speaker 11 (13:31):
I am worried about my woman's peak just because I
want to change it now.
Speaker 8 (13:35):
I know I'm sticking to whatever whatever I go for
before the tournament, but I'm just loving the level of tennis.
Speaker 11 (13:41):
Let's not forgets Spittolina as well. Yeah, she's playing great.
Belly and Dave, who I'm super super happy for.
Speaker 8 (13:46):
So yeah, amazing stories on both sides, but I'm still
sticking to.
Speaker 11 (13:50):
My picks for that now.
Speaker 10 (13:51):
I was going to say the golf questions the end,
because you are a former tennis pro, but you do
have one of the greatest golf swings I've seen of
a non professional golf player. For those Australians or anyone
watching or listening all around the world, if they were
to come to Tennis Paradise and Greater Palm Springs, where's
your favorite place to play golf?
Speaker 8 (14:11):
That's a tough one because there are just so many.
Speaker 11 (14:13):
You look left and right.
Speaker 8 (14:14):
I believe there are like one hundred and fifty golf
courses at least.
Speaker 11 (14:18):
I have to say, I've been very, very spoiled.
Speaker 8 (14:20):
I've been staying with my incredible friends at Bighorn Golf,
which is probably one of the most special golf courses
you find in America. Overall, there is obviously Medicine Porcupine. Yeah,
there are some very very special ones. So this is
the time of the year when, yeah, we get really
spoiled and look forward to it. I wouldn't say my
(14:42):
swing is that great, just in case ash Barti is watching.
But I'm getting there, you know, training hard so that
one day I can have that match against her, which
would be awesome. But I saw her swing, so yeah,
I've got a lot of work to do still.
Speaker 10 (14:56):
Okay, let's set a match play between Daniela Hantakova and ashbuddy,
Danny always great chatting with you, and we'll chat you
after the.
Speaker 9 (15:02):
Men's final on Sunday.
Speaker 10 (15:03):
Sounds great back to you in the tennis studio.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
So it's great to kind of hear from those guys.
And interesting that Danny wants to play against Ashbardi at
golf because I'm not sure she's someone I'd be wanting
to compete with on.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
No happy walk around a golf course with Ash, but
she would absolutely fuck anyone else.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
I feel like she's just good at anything anyway.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
Just further to that, in terms of Alex Demonol playing
in Indian Wells, he sadly went down to Sarundlo this
morning Australia our time seven five six three. We did
have Craig Gabriel on the ground for us there who
had a bit of a chat with Demon afterwards, and
Demon just basically said it wasn't a good match on
(15:44):
his side. He felt like the match slipped away and
it really wasn't his best day on a tennis court.
He did say make some remarks about how the balls
are slower in Indian Wells than the Australian Open, because
obviously he played Sarundalo here at the AO and beat him.
And he did also indicate that the wind was up
at Indian Wells. But yeah, basically just said he had
(16:07):
a bad day. So sad to see him go down
to Thorndilo. But he didn't indicate when he'll go to Miami,
but we expect to see him there.
Speaker 8 (16:15):
You know.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Maybe he has a little bit of trouble with Srondilou
because at the Australian Open he played him and I
just forget which round, maybe the third round, I think
it was the third round and he struggled at the
beginning of that match too, and it was windy a
little bit and look, Sirundolo, what a forehand that is. Yeah,
I know you know a lot about it, but goodness me,
that can give a lot of players trouble. So maybe
(16:36):
the slightly slower conditions at Indian Wells, ye slow high
bounce gave Slo more time, don't know.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Sticking with demon off for a bit, Fitzy, we're about
to jump into what's caught your eye? Hit us off?
Speaker 3 (16:49):
Well, I think Alex always catches my eye because I'm
such a fan, you know, and I appreciate the way
he competes and just love everything about the way he
approaches our sport. But I think it's sort of proves
a point in a way that he's taken some time
off leading into this because these schedules are are not
to be taken lightly, you know that they hop from
(17:09):
I remember the first time, way back when I started
going from continent to continent and recovering from jet lag
and then playing again, and I wasn't winning that many matches, Luke,
I can tell you, but as someone like someone like
Alex would win. When you win that many matches and
you go from one continent to the next and then
back and then a third time and the jet lag
(17:31):
catches up with you, it can make you get pretty
run down at times. And it's a physical sport, very
very much so. So I just thought it was an
interesting little, you know, like preview of his Indian worlds
to see that he had to take some time off
even earlier in the season because he had a long year.
The finished late in the year Davis Cup all of that,
(17:53):
you don't get much time to recover before the big
one comes along for an Australians run open and just
sort it was interesting to see that he needed some
time off, and I think a lot of those players do,
especially the top players, because they win so many matches
as well as put up with the jet lags. So
I'm sad he's not going to play Alcarez over there.
But yeah, you need to manage your schedule and your
(18:17):
body more than ever as you start to get into
your mid to late twenties.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
Well, it really is so challenging. It's such a global sport.
I mean, last week you were telling us Sloke about
Dashes trouble with fight cancelations going to Mexico driving from Tijuana,
Like that's just one of many instances where people would
be caught out with traveling and needing to not just
cross country but across oceans, cross continents. It's just crazy
(18:41):
that these sportsmen and women can really back it up
in the face of that travel adversity with not much
off season.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (18:47):
Yeah, in these two week events I think are quite
long as well, and it can sort of get a
little stale if you're in the same hotel for multiple
weeks on end. And I think back to your point, FITZI,
the Australian summer probably takes quite a big mental toll
and pressure toe on Alex as well, and you know,
being the number one Australian and having all that pressure
of a nation to perform. I think it all takes
(19:08):
its toll and just very interesting to see that he
needs to take some time off, you know, getting to
Indian Wells early.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Ye, definitely. Well, Luke, let's stick with you. What's caught
your eye?
Speaker 6 (19:18):
My court, my eye was the teenage sensation mirror Andreva.
Just I think she was my court my eye last
week as well.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
But you're allowed to have regain. Yes, it's great, she's
so good.
Speaker 5 (19:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (19:31):
When I saw the drawer at Indian Wells and the
potential fourth round against Rebakner, I thought that was a
bit of a popcorn match and six one six two
Mira Andreva wins that one, and I think that's a
statement absolutely, and winning the last Masters one thousand in
Dubai as well. The youngest player in the top ten
(19:53):
of the WTA rankings in eighteen years Nicole, Yeah, Nicole
itis Ober was a last in two thousand and seven,
so it's been a while. I'm not sure what you
think fits you, but I think we're sort of witnessing
a bit of a sort of champion in the Laker
last year and potential to win multiple slams.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
Yeah, I think a star of the future for a
long period of time. It's hard to believe that a
young player, I reckon can be that good that young
For most most players, they take time to mature and
get there. But Wow, she's good and she looks good
on the court. She's going to be a big I think,
advertisement for our sport for a long time to come.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
And so you think she will stay lit. It's not
going to be a one hit wonder.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
And then I can't see why. I can't see why
it would be. I mean, she's been coming for a
while from a young age. I just I always have
this older person's thought process in this type of arrival
of a young player, though, I worry that they handle it.
If she can handle it, if she's got the right
people around her and her family is strong with her,
(21:01):
I think she's going to be a star for a
long time. I just hope she hands it well.
Speaker 4 (21:05):
Solid trajectory, right, she hasn't just gone up out of nowhere.
She's kind of been building and building, right.
Speaker 6 (21:11):
Yeah, it's sort of funny to say that she's been
building and she's seventeen.
Speaker 8 (21:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (21:15):
Yeah, but for me, I feel like she's got the
mentality for sure. She's nice and composed and very level headed.
And for me it's the game as well. It's such
an all court game, great surf moves well, and for me,
that game is suited to all surfaces. So I think
that's very important for being consistent. You know, being able
to play on all four surfaces is super super important
(21:38):
in all four slams, I should say. And I think
she's going to be a star in the making and
exactly what the game needs.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
That's where he's going to be a good coach. Yeah,
he knows the nuances and you have to be able
to read that too with young players and to help
them guide them in the right direction.
Speaker 4 (21:57):
So how do you think she'll go against Bielina, who
she has up now at Indian Wells.
Speaker 6 (22:03):
Yeah. I think it's again another challenge, and she's facing
all these challenges, you know, very early in her career.
I think Elena Swerdelena is such a seasoned professional player,
great player and been through her ups and downs as well,
and I think they played quite similar. There's gonna be
some long rallies there. But again I think Mira's game
(22:24):
matches up very well against a lot of players. She
can rally, she can be patient if she needs to,
and then she can sort of absorb some of the
bigger hitters as well, like Rebekna. So I think on
all surfaces she's good, and I think she's got a
great coach in her corner as well to keep her
nice and grounded. I think sort of after that Australian
(22:45):
Open match, they had a bit of a bit of
a chat and Sot straightened her out. But she's going
to have some of those in her. You know, such
a short career so far, and I think she's taken
all these challenges head on and on an amazing trajectory.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
Yeah, brilliant one to watch, Continue to watch. So some
would say, well, sticking with the WTA, Bree, what's caught
your eye this week in the women's game?
Speaker 2 (23:08):
Look.
Speaker 4 (23:08):
Last week the WTA launched their WTA Maternity Fund program,
which has been a long time coming for women in
the sport.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
So it's really great news.
Speaker 4 (23:18):
There is a lot of chatter around this, both negative,
positive and indifferent, but I wanted to lay out the
key points of what it entails because I think it's amazing,
but obviously there's with everything, there's some elements behind it
that probably are questionable. But the PIFF WTA Maternity Fund
program and powers women tennis players by providing the support
(23:38):
and flexibility to pursue professional careers and build their family.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
So that's kind of like their call line.
Speaker 4 (23:45):
It's a first of its kind and it's fully funded
and supported by an external partner. Provides up to twelve
months of paid maternity leave, so there are kind of
caps on it. It also gains access to grants for
fertill treatments to build families as well as other benefits
that's great, so like egg freezing IVF is included as well.
(24:08):
It will offer benefits to more than three hundred and
twenty eligible WTA players, so all players will receive the
same amount, which is not yet been disclosed but will
depend on the time of leave requested.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Now.
Speaker 4 (24:22):
The eligibility criteria for participation in the fund includes completing
in a certain number of WTA tournaments in a window
of time, and one of the existing benefits available through
this will make it easier to return to competition after
starting a family, so that's a bit of a rundown
on the key stats and facts. I think it's great
(24:43):
for women in the sport. I think it's amazing. I
think even seeing people like ben Keeach and how well
she's doing at the moment, just back from unpaid maternity leave,
which she would have taken.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
But yeah, it's a big move because on.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
Its face, that is one of the best parental leave
maternity lead policies I've ever heard in any industry, not
just in sports. Twelve months months, you know everyone's eligible.
There is obviously the kind of elephant in the room
of where the funding is coming from.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Yes, which is what a lot of the press is.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
What's the online chatter been like around that? And tell
us a bit more about the PIF and what that is.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
Yeah, So the PIF is the Public Investment Fund Fund,
and the public Investment fund for this particular fund program
is coming from Saudi Arabia.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
Now there's two stories, right.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
The fact is that the juicier one.
Speaker 4 (25:39):
The fact that the women are getting this, which is
much needed for the sport, is amazing. However, the country
that is giving it is known for not treating women
in the best light, very against LGBTQI kind of practices
and stuff like that, so there is a little bit
of comment around the Bunny is great to be able
(26:01):
to support this and potentially without that they wouldn't have
been able to do it. But it's coming from a
country that actually, so there's all these questions around sports
squashing for Saudi, so it's a little bit contentious.
Speaker 6 (26:12):
I know my wife Daria has been quite vocal and
sort of on the decisions. I guess she's on the
player councils, a player council, and she was very happy
with the result of it all. I think it's a
fantastic initiative. I've always thought when the women go away
have a baby and then come back and played a
(26:34):
high level, it's amazing.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (26:37):
And then as you said about Belinda bencicch playing so
well right now in the quarterfinals have been near wells
one Abu Dhabi probably about a month ago, the five hundred,
and it's just astonishing that they can come back and
play so well. So an amazing initiative and great to see.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
Yeah, couldn't agreement well onto my own court my eye. Yes,
Madison Keys the champion. I've been watching Maddie for many years.
She's got an amazing game and at the moment over
in Indian Wells, she's the three set queen and she's
absolutely smashing it over there. She's still undefeated in twenty
twenty five. She's had fifteen match win streak and she
(27:16):
always seems to find a way to win. Five verse
seven wins at AO were three setters, and this week
alone at Indian Wells, in her third round, she defeated
Mertons despite dropping four match points in the second set.
In the round of sixteen, she defeated Vekisch after losing
a first set four six. On the added pressure she's
dealing with since winning a first Grand Slam, she said,
for the first time, I'm trying to manage my own expectations.
(27:40):
Mental clarity.
Speaker 8 (27:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
She was great at the AO two when she did
her press conference right and talked about all the work
she'd done mentally.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
It's great to see her starting to actually fulfill that
potential that's been there for a long and.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
I think if you go back and watch the women's
final of the Australian Open this year, it's one of
the truest examples of partnership betweeneen player and coach I
think I've seen in a long time, because they're married.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
It does help me married, there's a few years go
and coach that wife of yours exactly. But you watch
with a bit of danger, by the way, every little.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
Bit of strategy that he would give to her, you
could see her taking it in, digesting it and then
putting it in action. So jump on the air YouTube channel, Luke,
you can watch that final back tis for you.
Speaker 6 (28:22):
It's just put a whole lot of pressure on me.
I'll be a good cook too, so going quite well.
And I message him after that said, damn it, why
did you do that? But yeah, great to see a
combination work like that, And as you said, gives me hope.
You saw a lot of the positive stuff her listening
to Bjorn. You didn't see the negative stuff or the
(28:45):
don't tell me there was some of that. I'm probably
more talking from my own experience. It's it's great to
see and I think she said in the past, you've
been getting those winning positions and just not committing to
her brand of tennis. I think, in her words, was
playing on her own terms in those moments when the.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
Pressure was on.
Speaker 6 (29:03):
So it was just great to see that she was
able to do that.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
The other one I wanted to call out was ben
chicch defeating golf, which I think is probably worthy and
I know you touched on it before, but defeating her
three six six three six four.
Speaker 1 (29:19):
Like pretty because Coco has kind of got quite a bit.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
Of history something. Guys on this side of the table
will never know how difficult that is to have a baby. Yeah,
and come back like that, it's impressive and take my
hat off.
Speaker 4 (29:31):
To it, like amazing. I didn't expect that when I
saw it.
Speaker 2 (29:36):
Good for her, Yeah, it's great. Sad for golf, that's.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
Right, good for the baby, something something to talking about it.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
There's also a shout out to Cocoa Goff. His birthday
is today, twenty one. Yeah, twenty one, that's all. Yeah, Yeah,
how scary is that?
Speaker 3 (29:56):
I don't want to look at myself in the mirror again.
Twenty first was last century.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
I can tell you that we assumed.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
Thank you, Thanks for that.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
A little bit of moving on up and moving on across.
It's part two of the Sunshine Double, the Miami one
thousand at P and W t A events kicking off
next week, and a number of Ossie women have been
arriving early in Miami for a training block ahead of
their respective qualities and main drawers.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
Welcome to Miami. Time may hear Miami? I hear that song?
Speaker 1 (30:27):
Continue, let's carry on with this.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
There's a bit of Don Johnson in. He doesn't know
who Don Johnson is. Probably think.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
Roll up the sleeves of the suit jacket. Yeah, getting
your greg in a mirror.
Speaker 3 (30:40):
You were last centry to were you generation?
Speaker 1 (30:46):
It's a.
Speaker 6 (30:48):
It's at the hard Rock Stadium there in Miami. So
the NFL where the Miami Dolphins play. A bit of
an NFL fantasy tragic myself, to be honest, when I
played there a few years ago, I was throwing some
arrible spirals trying to be the quarterbacks there. But it's
a it's a great.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
Tournament you're in. You've got to be a kicker.
Speaker 6 (31:07):
I was kicking it actually mostly, but yeah again it's
the two week events, longer this time around, and fantastic
time of the year to be there in the in
the summer. And I think you know, I've spoken about
this quite a bit, but especially start of the year,
we saw the men, Australian men doing so well. I
(31:28):
think we had eight or nine in the top hundred.
But I was really looking at the women and I
felt like we might have had two or even one
at the start of the year. We've got four now,
with maybe two or three right in the cast, including
my wife Daria. So very excited to see that push.
I think it's very interesting when you see one or
two get in a few more follow so I think
(31:50):
that sort of happened on the men's side and we're
starting to sit on the women's and I'm very excited
to see that progress.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
Brilliant. So more women's tennis news. We've got up a
BJK Cup tie in Brisbane. Lot's happening up there. It's
a three way tie, just a little bit different Australia,
Kazakhstan and Colombia, taking place April ten to twelve. But
Pat rafter Arena in Brisbane bre your thoughts on the
Bjkking Cup.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
I'm excited for it.
Speaker 4 (32:16):
We were lucky enough to have the BJK Cup in
Brisbane last year as well, so it's great to have
it here in Australian shores.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
Again. Very excited to hear who the teams are.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
The entry for teams were due today and so we
can announce who those are for each of the countries tomorrow,
so stay tuned. We do know that Kim Birell is
in the Aussie team, which is exciting. In terms of
Kazakhstan and Columbia, I don't have any insights on that,
but I'll look to you guys to see who you
think might be in those teams.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
Luke, you'd have an insight, wouldn't you.
Speaker 6 (32:49):
I might know who our team is, but I'm definitely
not allowed to share that. Sorry, we might know too, okayink,
sorry of yours. So Kazakhstan, I believe they'll be led
by Yulia put In Savor, who's a great player, very
strong in singles and doubles. I think she's around thirty
in the world, so very very tough customer. And then
(33:12):
Columbia Camilla Osorio, who again I believe she's probably around
eighty in the world and very good an outitue, a
great competitor, makes a lot of ball so and I
believe they've got a pretty good doubles combination as well.
So work cut out for our women. But as I
mentioned before, we've got so many to choose from, and
(33:33):
whoever we put in, we'll comprise a really strong team that's.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
Great should be a damn good tie. I love pat
Raft Arena, the whole Queensland Tennis Center. There really fun
environment facility. It's like a little baby Ao the whole precinct.
So jump online Ticketmaster, get your tickets, head up there
to Queensland. It's going to be a really good tie.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
Great atmosphere in that little story. Yeah, it's a perfect
size in so many ways, not too big, you don't
lose any contact.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
You know, absolutely feel.
Speaker 3 (34:01):
Like you're really really a beautiful, beautifully structured stadium that
provides atmosphere.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
It's great, definitely, and just that little gap at the
top for a bit of cool breeze in the afternoon. Perfect.
Speaker 3 (34:12):
It's got a good name on the roof too.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
Yeah, good Patty for me. There's a little gray patch
in the middle of the court that's where a bird
flu pass.
Speaker 8 (34:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:21):
Well, before we go to a break, here's a chat
with vic Rudnikov she had with Emerson Jones ahead of
her upcoming role as Orange Girl at next month's tie.
Speaker 12 (34:31):
Emson Jones, Welcome to the show.
Speaker 5 (34:32):
Thank you.
Speaker 12 (34:33):
Is this your first time on a podcast today?
Speaker 5 (34:36):
No, I did one in Canberra International and I did
that awesome.
Speaker 12 (34:40):
So you're a bit of a pro.
Speaker 13 (34:41):
Now we will make you feel like one by the
end of this. Do you listen to any podcasts? Are
you more of a music person.
Speaker 5 (34:49):
I don't really listen to any podcasts. I'm definitely more
of a music person.
Speaker 13 (34:53):
Yeah, And do you have like a hype song or
something you listened to before a match, or a genre
an artist that kind of gets you on the zone?
Speaker 5 (35:00):
I like NF but that's yeah, probably if I were
about to go on court, just to make sure songs.
Speaker 12 (35:06):
Yeah, I'll have to say.
Speaker 13 (35:07):
You've got a pretty exciting life for a sixteen year old,
and you had your first win at WTA level in
Adelaide earlier this year.
Speaker 12 (35:14):
Can you tell me a bit about that experience.
Speaker 5 (35:16):
Yeah, firstly, it was great to get a wild card
into my first five hundred and WTA. It was really exciting.
I wasn't expecting to win a first round, so I
was pretty happy with how I played and how I
performed for both of the matches. So yeah, I'm pretty
proud of.
Speaker 13 (35:32):
That and an AO wild card as well. What have
you learned from that experience of playing your first Grand
Slam main draw.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
I think it was a pretty tough draw.
Speaker 5 (35:42):
To get the first round of a Grand Slam. But
it's all about the experience, and I think I had
a pretty great one playing against the one of the
top women in the world, so I really enjoyed my experience.
Speaker 13 (35:53):
Yeah, and obviously you are the junior world number one,
You're in the top three hundred on the WTA Tour
and we just hit four women in the top one
hundred from Australia.
Speaker 12 (36:05):
How does that motivate you.
Speaker 5 (36:07):
I think it's exciting for everyone who plays Australian tennis
knowing that that level is possible, and I know most
of both all for the girls, so I think it's
pretty exciting for them and exciting that I know it's possible.
Speaker 6 (36:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 13 (36:22):
Yeah, and it doesn't really just kind of make you
believe all the hard work everything's going to pay off.
Speaker 5 (36:27):
Yeah, I do, because I also see how they train,
I've hit with them, and I just think it's it's
really exciting to know that that's right there.
Speaker 7 (36:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 13 (36:36):
And your brother Hayden, is also a tennis player, and
your parents have a bit of a sporting background as well.
What's it like to be in a family of elite athletes.
Speaker 5 (36:46):
I think it's good that my brother plays tennis, because
you know, we used to travel a lot together when
Hayden was.
Speaker 12 (36:53):
Still in juniors.
Speaker 5 (36:54):
Now it's a bit different because you know, he's playing
men's in another country and I'm still doing some junior
and women's.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
So it was really good.
Speaker 5 (37:03):
But my mom, my mom was a really good triathlete,
so I think that inspires me because she worked really hard.
Speaker 13 (37:10):
Yeah, and other than tennis, what do you and Hayden
kind of have in common or what do you do
for fine when you are together?
Speaker 5 (37:17):
We do board games. He always asked Dad to do
board games, and Dad always gets quite annoyed at him
because you know, he's always asking when Dad's busy. So
I sometimes step in and do amuse him with some
board games?
Speaker 12 (37:32):
And yeah, and what's the go to board game? And
who usually wins?
Speaker 5 (37:37):
So Hayden and Dad like playing Katan and I don't
really know how to play it, and I don't like it.
I've tried once and I just didn't like it. So
I found a board game that both of us would
like called Cludo. Yeah, I enjoyed that. That's probably the
only one.
Speaker 12 (37:53):
And who wins normally?
Speaker 5 (37:55):
Uh, I can't tell if he's cheating or not most
of the time, but I normally Haynes's really good at
board games, so I'd say probably him.
Speaker 1 (38:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 13 (38:06):
And coming up is the Billie Jean Kin Cup Qualifier
in April, and it's been announced you have a very
special role there.
Speaker 12 (38:13):
Can you tell us a bit about what you'll be
doing in Brisbane?
Speaker 5 (38:16):
Well, I got picked for Orange Girl, so that's really exciting.
I guess I get to hit with the top women,
the girls who are playing on the team, So that's
really exciting for me, getting to hit with them and
getting to stay with them going out to dinner.
Speaker 13 (38:32):
Yeah, And obviously we don't know the full team yet,
but we've got Kim who's been announced.
Speaker 12 (38:36):
You have much of a relationship with her.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Yeah, Kim.
Speaker 5 (38:39):
Kim actually went to my school. Obviously she was way
higher grade than me. But yeah, I know Kim because
she lives on the Gold Coast too. We sometimes have
hits when I'm there and she's there. Yeah, and in
Brisbane too we hit.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 13 (38:54):
And have you been able to form any other friendships
with some of the other Ouzsie girls as well?
Speaker 5 (38:59):
Yeah, I know for a while a bit now, a
couple of years since she came here, so I think
that's gonna be pretty good if she's, you know, in
the team. And I don't really I don't really know
Eiler too much. I've seen her around. Seems really nice.
Speaker 13 (39:16):
So yeah, exciting. And Sam Stoza is captain. How much
of an influence has she had on you and your
tennis career?
Speaker 10 (39:24):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (39:25):
I know Sam because my old coach, Dave Taylor coached her,
So I have a bit of a relationship with Sam.
She hit with me two years ago ao, that was
my first hit with her, and I think she gives
me really good advice. Yeah.
Speaker 12 (39:38):
Yeah, and not just Aussie's.
Speaker 13 (39:39):
But are there any other players on the tour that
you kind of model your game off or anyone else
that kind of influences how you play.
Speaker 5 (39:48):
I really like Saberlenka. I think her game style and
just her you know, how she really wants to win.
I think I really look up to that. Yeah.
Speaker 13 (39:59):
And my last question, obviously we're getting to know you
a bit better today, Emerson. What's one thing that our
listeners should know about you?
Speaker 5 (40:06):
One thing you should know about me?
Speaker 13 (40:07):
Yeah, you could take a second to have a think.
I know I've kind of put you on the spot here.
Speaker 5 (40:13):
I used to be a very good swimmer when I
was younger. I used to my mom made me do swimming.
I didn't really enjoy it, but I used to go
to like the regionals and all that for it.
Speaker 2 (40:26):
So yeah, so you're pretty good.
Speaker 5 (40:28):
Yeah, well I don't know about now. I mean, I
still have it, I think, but you know, I used
to be pretty good at it.
Speaker 13 (40:35):
Well, luckily you still have tennis. Thank you so much
for joining me today and can't wait to see what
you do next this year.
Speaker 5 (40:41):
Thanks, thank you.
Speaker 1 (40:46):
All right, welcome back. We've had a fun little lad break.
We had some fun chats. What did you get up
to that last ab break?
Speaker 2 (40:52):
I flipped my hair?
Speaker 1 (40:53):
Oh that was good.
Speaker 2 (40:54):
Yeah, I actually did.
Speaker 1 (40:56):
That's nice. Well, Brae will stick with you. It's time
for Breeze Top five. Yeah, hang on, send it all
up the buttons and you to me. I just need
to so that's I want to say. That's three. Okay, cool,
I'm ready.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
Okay cool.
Speaker 4 (41:10):
So this week's top five, I'm focusing on the top
five tennis player tattoos.
Speaker 1 (41:17):
I don't have a button for that, but no, no, it's.
Speaker 4 (41:19):
Exciting, right, and we'll figure out why I've leant into this,
but we'll start with five. Five British Dan Evans forum
says every saint has a past, every sinner has a future,
which I think is quite funny coming from Dan Evans.
Speaker 1 (41:35):
True, is it is it to do with Yannick at all?
Speaker 2 (41:40):
Or oh yeah, because you hadic sinner, you got it?
Speaker 6 (41:45):
What I thought?
Speaker 5 (41:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (41:46):
It just like I'm pretty sure he does have a future.
He'll be fine.
Speaker 2 (41:49):
I think you will if you want about cool.
Speaker 4 (41:51):
Four Vandreusiva Wimbledon champ twenty twenty three, so very well
known for having tattoos. She got her first tattoo when
she was sixteen. But my favorite hers, which is above
her right elbow, is no rain, no flowers.
Speaker 1 (42:07):
What a great little It's great.
Speaker 8 (42:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (42:09):
Yeah, although yesterday there was no rain, no tennis at
Indian Wells.
Speaker 2 (42:12):
But it's quite good.
Speaker 4 (42:16):
But yeah, in twenty twenty three, I could find that
she had reported she had ten tattoos, but I reckon
she's had more since because she really finds it an
art form beautiful.
Speaker 2 (42:25):
Yeah, I thought it was a good one.
Speaker 5 (42:27):
Three.
Speaker 4 (42:29):
Okay, we can't chat tats without curios, can we. Yeah,
love is a bit of ink, But I had to
pull this one out as my favor and something he
told GQ a couple of years ago. And I'm going
to get how I say this wrong, but Blastois is
smack bang in the middle of his chest, I believe,
(42:50):
which is his favorite Pokemon. And then obviously Charizad Girida
Doors can't really get go past those. I feel like
worldwhide If people don't Pokemon, they know who those Pokemon are.
Speaker 1 (43:03):
But that's fine. He's not seven though.
Speaker 2 (43:06):
No, but he loves Pokemon.
Speaker 1 (43:07):
That's cool. Buy a Donner cover.
Speaker 2 (43:12):
Anyway, the fact that he's got Pokemon. I thought it
was interesting.
Speaker 1 (43:15):
Yeah cool. He'll definitely not regret that on his ay
fourth birthday.
Speaker 2 (43:17):
He probably won't, to be fair.
Speaker 1 (43:19):
Sure the man lives with no regrets.
Speaker 2 (43:21):
He doesn't. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (43:22):
Good.
Speaker 2 (43:23):
Trouble number two.
Speaker 3 (43:24):
It look good with flabby skin, you know that's true.
Speaker 1 (43:26):
But it's the Pokemon evolving.
Speaker 2 (43:31):
Okay. The whole reason of why we did this.
Speaker 4 (43:33):
Carlos Akrez he has a tattoo I already like, and
we talked to him about it during AO. It's got it,
says Cabetha Corathon, which translates to head, heart and balls,
and he says it can be attributed to his grandfather
who always encouraged him to focus on the three season life,
which I quite like. I don't know what I expect. Anyway,
(43:55):
he has a new tattoo. So he walked out on
court Indian Wells with the new tattoo of the date
twenty three oh four, twenty.
Speaker 2 (44:02):
Five, and everyone was looking at it.
Speaker 4 (44:05):
It turns out it's a fake tattoo and it's all
about the promotion of his new Netflix documentary that launches
on the twenty third of April during Miami Open, which
is called Carlos Arcrez My Way.
Speaker 2 (44:16):
So not a bad little promotion.
Speaker 1 (44:18):
Do, but he was truly committed it'd be a real
tat well he.
Speaker 2 (44:22):
Probably he might make it real once he sees how
many people.
Speaker 1 (44:25):
Yeah, yeah, well that's true. But again once the check clearse,
you really want to permit tat last button?
Speaker 2 (44:32):
Okay, number one?
Speaker 1 (44:34):
What has to go?
Speaker 4 (44:36):
To Massetti Italian He has a tattoo of a heartbeat
intertwined with a tennis racket. Now it's not just that
his uncle is a cardiologist and his uncle took a
set of Marsetti's frequency of his heartbeat, and that is
the heartbeat that's in his tattoo.
Speaker 2 (44:54):
Which I thought was quite nice.
Speaker 1 (44:56):
Yeah, it's a bit much.
Speaker 2 (44:57):
I thought it was sweet grow a heart.
Speaker 1 (45:00):
Well, well, I don't want to get a tattoo one,
but is there a button to finish us up? No
more buttons?
Speaker 2 (45:08):
That was really good. I did it better than the
loved one?
Speaker 5 (45:11):
Right?
Speaker 1 (45:12):
Have you got any tats? I do great round the
table tattoos. No tats, I don't believe it. Okay, I've
got one, But do you actually.
Speaker 2 (45:23):
Dolphin?
Speaker 1 (45:23):
Long story short, It does resemble a tramp stamp in
the sense of where it is. It's on my left
hip and I don't remember getting it, but it was
in Thailand.
Speaker 4 (45:32):
What is it?
Speaker 1 (45:33):
It's a shamrock?
Speaker 2 (45:34):
Oh are you Irish?
Speaker 1 (45:36):
Nope.
Speaker 3 (45:38):
There'll be a time when that doesn't look like a
shamrock exactly.
Speaker 1 (45:41):
It'll be like, what's what rooted vase of flowers on
your back?
Speaker 2 (45:44):
I can't wait to tell everyone.
Speaker 1 (45:46):
Yeah, cool, cool, crea great Well speaking, that's my low point.
But talking about Ace of the week, let's do it.
Who wants to start us off with the Ace of
the week. Doesn't have to be chance related.
Speaker 3 (45:54):
I prefer if it wasn't, I can start Look, I
have a friend down here, and I'm going to embarras
him by saying this in the studio. He denies being
a friend occasionally. Yeah, he's American, he's about He's from Chicago.
I met him in Kansas when we were seventeen years old,
and he found out in recent years that I am
(46:15):
an R. M. Williams boot.
Speaker 1 (46:17):
A pair on right now, So do I.
Speaker 3 (46:20):
And I've got a fetish of not many things in life,
but i love Armon Williams boots. So he's got onto
this fad over the last few years. He was down
here a couple of years ago. He had a couple
of pairs in his closet. He has purchased four pairs
of arm Williams boots. In the last two weeks, He's
(46:40):
got two feet. He now has seven pairs of arm
Williams boots. He bought a new chocolate pair, chocolate leather.
They're unbelievably look they're good looking.
Speaker 1 (46:51):
I'm on board.
Speaker 3 (46:52):
He bought a pair of blue suede boots in honor
of Elvis President, and he bought two burnished pairs of
Aaron Winning's boots. Useful that a very dressy, very classy
he's just worried about how he's going to get them
back to the US. Sure, you're going to hit that,
import would I would tell him to leave them at
my place, except he's the wrong size, so he needs
(47:14):
to get him out of my house. But yeah, that
made my day. It made my week. That's my age
of the week.
Speaker 1 (47:20):
What about which heel did you get? Did you get
the flat, the block or the cuban?
Speaker 3 (47:23):
Not the cuban, not the kids.
Speaker 1 (47:25):
That's a bit extreme. He got the flat, Okay, the flat?
Speaker 3 (47:27):
Yeah, so that'll that will help the Achilles heel.
Speaker 1 (47:29):
Yeah, you've got to keep it that.
Speaker 3 (47:30):
Yeah, I bet you had Aaron Williams at Cobb Dogglar,
didn't you look? I bet you did.
Speaker 6 (47:35):
I'm very embarrassed you don't have it. I'm just looking
at yours underneath the table. I might be heading there
right off this podcast. Also, they look good.
Speaker 3 (47:44):
And they were a limited season, but they've just come
back in. They've got them.
Speaker 1 (47:48):
This is not paid content, is big Baron Williams chat
to us.
Speaker 2 (47:53):
I don't know our email, but we.
Speaker 1 (47:54):
Also love the last season Bloodstones.
Speaker 5 (47:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (47:56):
But last thing I want to say is when I
saw the advertisement of Hugh Jackman. Did you see that?
I did? I rushed out and bought two piers huge
you do you? That was the funniest I love a
bit of boarding us and yeah, that was perfect. It
was a perfect advertisement.
Speaker 1 (48:13):
Well, great to having the studio special arm we sponsored guest.
Look what's your ace of the week.
Speaker 6 (48:19):
So here in Melbourne it's known as the sporting capital
of the world for sure. So we've got the Aussie
Rules starting tonight. Opening round was last week but there
were two games on and I'm a Culton supporter. We
own the opening round against the Tigers. Fitz He's looking
at me.
Speaker 2 (48:38):
Because I don't we Why did that change? Is Richmond
and no longer? Good?
Speaker 1 (48:45):
Well you are sitting in Tigerland.
Speaker 2 (48:47):
I am a Tiger fan. Yeah, I'm about to move
to Carlton to be fair.
Speaker 6 (48:52):
The Blues are heavy favorite, so that's why I'm going.
Speaker 2 (48:54):
It wouldn't be hard.
Speaker 6 (48:56):
And then just walking around here at Melton Park prior
to this podcast, hearing the f ones yes firing up.
So the opening race of the New F one season
here in Melbourne on Sunday supposed to be raining, so
typical Melbourne. Think Saturday qualifying is thirty five and then
(49:16):
Sunday races raining and twenty so nice little child forum.
Speaker 1 (49:21):
But I get you with the tires out.
Speaker 6 (49:23):
Great time of year and looking forward to the weekend.
Speaker 1 (49:25):
Absolutely, I mean it is absolutely an incredible global event,
almost as good as the Australian Open. But yeah, Melbourne,
it's brand. Yeah it is great, but tow the company
line break.
Speaker 2 (49:35):
Yeah, doesn't touch at all on how good the AO is.
Speaker 1 (49:40):
Well played. I'm going to sit here quietly because that
was going to be mine, So I'm going to think
of another one while you go your.
Speaker 2 (49:46):
Yeah cool on the spot.
Speaker 4 (49:47):
My ace of the week is pretty boring at the
moment because I'm back at work and life has got
a bit more boring. But I do have a great
week ahead in terms of I have a friend's who
had a birthday this week, Ellie gosber All, shout out
to you. She used to work here. I used to
be our chief content officer's executive assistant.
Speaker 2 (50:05):
She sets left us, so she should be dead to me.
Speaker 1 (50:07):
But she's not knocking around during this Year's kept her accreditation.
Speaker 8 (50:11):
No, she did not keep it.
Speaker 1 (50:12):
She bought a ticket.
Speaker 2 (50:13):
She bought a ticket.
Speaker 4 (50:15):
Anyway, it's her birthday, so I'm going out for dinner
with her tomorrow night and a couple of her friends
which will work at Tennis Australia as well, so that
will be nice. And then I'm back to playing tennis
next week as well. So cool Wednesday Saturday.
Speaker 2 (50:27):
I'm back on court. I will play with playing at
Forkner Park again. I'm not playing here yet.
Speaker 4 (50:38):
It's very hard for a lowly publican person to get
onto the NTC indoor courts.
Speaker 2 (50:44):
Just to let you know, but you've got got the
hook up. Yeah, I'm a hitting partner with Luke's.
Speaker 1 (50:51):
When I watched that, that would be it'd be great content.
Speaker 4 (50:55):
Once I've played a little bit more. When you come
back after you go away with the Alex Demonor Foundation,
then we'll play after that.
Speaker 1 (51:05):
Yeah great. Well, I suppose I was going to do
for my as of the week the Melbourne g Prix.
Speaker 2 (51:11):
Are you going?
Speaker 1 (51:12):
I'm not going, but I suppose I'm technically actually on
rest and recovery leave right now, so just annual leave
for a night. Who works the Australian Open. But I
came back in to do the podcast. But on my leave,
I've been doing practically nothing and Jesus been good. Yeah,
it's been really, really nice. I was telling fifty before
that I was actually I hit the driving range at
(51:33):
my local golf course earlier this week and I lost
track of how many buckets of balls I went through
my hand. I still quite can't quite close it fully,
but it was just so cathartic. And that's my as
of the week, whacking balls with not a care in
the world and not having to walk after them, just
get into the bucket.
Speaker 3 (51:50):
Yeah, beautiful.
Speaker 2 (51:51):
I do love a driving range.
Speaker 1 (51:52):
Good fun, so much fun.
Speaker 9 (51:53):
That was.
Speaker 1 (51:54):
Yeah, the last ball was a bit wanting there on
your own. Yeah, drinking day, drinking alone while on lead.
Speaker 9 (52:01):
That is a worry.
Speaker 1 (52:01):
That's a worry a mid strength anyway. Well, that's the
end of the show.
Speaker 2 (52:06):
It's been.
Speaker 3 (52:07):
He wants me to say something, No, I want to
say one thing. I just want to pay tribute to
Luke Saville. Yes, he's retired. It's the first time I've
seen him since he's been retired. This is a kid
that can mentor a lot of our young players. He's
left a legacy that is something special. He's from South Australia,
so I'm naturally a little biased towards Luke, but I
(52:29):
want to give you tribute, mate, for what you did
for us, what you've done for our sport and how
you do. How you conducted yourself for me was the
most beautiful thing. And you played Davis Cup, you represented
us in Olympic Games. You had a great career, but mate,
you left a great legacy. Not everyone, as we all know,
(52:49):
can say that about their careers, but you can. So
well done. Yeah, congratulations.
Speaker 6 (52:54):
I'm yeah, as you said, those achievements, but very happy
how I conducted myself and left a good legacy for
juniors to follow. And Mate, I've looked up to you
my whole career as well, and can't.
Speaker 3 (53:08):
A mutual obsession. I didn't know.
Speaker 6 (53:10):
I can't say I ever saw you play. Sorry, but
just yeah, big fan of yourself. So thank you.
Speaker 9 (53:17):
This is about you, Luke.
Speaker 6 (53:18):
Now I'm going to put it on the back on you.
Speaker 1 (53:20):
I don't like this even now.
Speaker 3 (53:22):
Yeah that's what that's you know, there's not enough personalities
like like Luke's in our sports, so I wanted to
say that that's great.
Speaker 4 (53:32):
Good on you, And for anyone who wants to read
more about Luke, we have a story, multiple stories on
him on Tennis Dot com toda are you? And also
if you're an Australian Tennis mag subscriber, there was a
big write up on Luke.
Speaker 2 (53:43):
I don't know whether you've even read it.
Speaker 4 (53:45):
He's looking this magazine which I actually read on Tuesday.
Wasn't next No, the calendar comes out later. No, but
I'll give you a copy of the magazine so you
can have a readers.
Speaker 6 (53:58):
A few on our table here.
Speaker 1 (54:00):
So four we need to update that LD of these.
Speaker 2 (54:03):
No, they're not that old. But the latest one isn't
there it does?
Speaker 3 (54:06):
It have cobb dogglar at the top of it.
Speaker 1 (54:10):
What a place?
Speaker 8 (54:10):
So what a name?
Speaker 6 (54:12):
Population of three hundred people on the Murray River in
South Australia. Shout out to everyone back home.
Speaker 1 (54:17):
Sounds picture perfect. Well, ladies and gentlemen, thank you very
much for joining us for another edition of the Tennis.
I'ms ab Muhlebark. Stick around and come back next week.
We'll be jumping into Miami for the second half of
the Sunshine Double. Don't forget. You can watch this episode
and every other episode of The Tennis on the Australian
Open YouTube channel. Jump on there like and subscribe. Hit
(54:39):
that bell so you never miss an episode. We've also
got full matches, cut down matches, match highlights, interviews, amazing
content on the AA YouTube channel. And that's it from me.
It's going to be a blast. Fits He's got one.
Speaker 3 (54:49):
More, go Leanni. Yes, yeah, Little Yanni, go Leanni.
Speaker 1 (54:54):
Aloha Leanni, Yeah, beautiful heart. We'll have a great week
in tennis. We'll see you next week. And that's it.
Speaker 5 (55:02):
Oh,
Hello, Welcome to the tennis I am Zavian Mulebark. I'm
not John Whovenars, filling in for our favorite little host.
He's off and I'll explain why in a moment rain
in the desert as players combat the elements as well
as their opponents at Indian Wells, We've got all the
latest from our reporters on the ground in tennis Paradise,
Andrever on a tear, we look into the seventeen year
old's rise to start a machine, vised to go back
(00:24):
to back in WTA one thousand events, and future star
Emerson Jones joins us for a chat about her upcoming
Orange Girl duties and next month's Billy Jean King Cup
in Queensland. It's gonna be amazing. As I said, my
name Xavier, I'll be your cruise director of this ship
of fools for the next couple of weeks. As John
is off on parental leave. He's welcomed a little baby girl.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
But it is exciting.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
So I've got some stats here. Leanni Hoovenars, which I
did some research. It is a Hawaiian name. Oh means sky.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Oh that's quite nice.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Yes, yeah, yeah, Little sky Blue courts Boo Sky is
keeping it very much in the tennis family. Yeah. She
was born on the eleventh of March and he's put
in here her favorite surface cotton.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Oh, I see she's a good size too.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Yeah, so three point six eighty five kilos healthy beat
what's that in the old measure?
Speaker 3 (01:14):
I reckon that'd be close to eight pounds seven maybe
seven and a half. Right, yeah, somewhere there.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Well, all I love to missus. Hoovenurs. Yes, hopefully she
recovers well and we get to see the bub in
here in studio pretty soon. Anyway, enough about babies, let's
talk about the table here. I am Xavier, but enough
about me. Next up and Queen of the Smaller Screen.
Stole that from Johnny Huvenars. Bree Stewart.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Welcome back, thanks here every week.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Yeah, it is weird that I'm welcoming you.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Welcome to you.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Thanks.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Yeah, it's good to have you here.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
I'm looking forward to spending the next few weeks on
the pod with you.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Yeah, I am good.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Yeah, okay. And across the table back from his annual
wine and fishing trip, it's Fitzy.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Well, thank you, Zeve. I didn't really want to advertise
the wine part of it. It is a fishing club.
We go to Cocole. I've got a US friend here
with me, Bob Radcliffe, and we join a group of
Ossie sportsmen and others, few farmers, few local farmers. We
have a great time. Eat a lot of oysters at
Coffin Bay.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Sounds amazing, especially Coffin Bay oyster. Did you get in
the waiters and shuck a few?
Speaker 3 (02:20):
No, I don't shuck them, but some of the guys do.
I tend to eat them.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Yeah, i'd be with you.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
I have been named a pop a cork or two.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Very good.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
We have a great time. It's a great relief to
get especially after the Aussie Open. It's intense, we all
know that, and great exciting, but it's a nice relaxed
way to recover.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Sounds great. I do find that whenever a group of
men age forty five and up have a club, it
usually involves booze.
Speaker 5 (02:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
I don't hide it.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
There's a little bit of red wine and a touch
of white. But that it's We're not overly, you know,
overly silly about it.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
That's good. You look bright eyed Bush. Great to see
you again. And of course it nearly appointed w t
A Tour coach Luke Saville mister Dasher himself.
Speaker 6 (03:01):
That's still yeah, no, that's still sinking in a little
bit the coaching side of it. But great to be here.
Thanks having me again, guys.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Well, if you're here, who's taken care of Tofu?
Speaker 6 (03:15):
We have Dash's mum living with us here in Melbourne
and he's probably gone for his ten minute walk this morning,
probably having his sort of mid morning nap right now
and he'll just keep sleeping to about seven pm to
his next walk.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
The dog is white total.
Speaker 6 (03:34):
That was Dash's favorite idea, No, she's her favorite food
is agadashi.
Speaker 7 (03:40):
Tofu my heart rate going the near mention of a
dog caused Brie's heart rates. Sorry for those who are
sure which poach we're talking about, jump on Dash's Instagram
to features relatively for sure.
Speaker 6 (03:58):
Yeah yea. And the odd video of me just shaking
my head and discuss.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
That's right. That's your lot in life now. Well, great
to have you back, Luke, thank you, And on to
some sad news now. Fred Stolly, bit of a legend
of Australian tennis Global Tennis, we lost him late last week.
Fitzi yeah, very much.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
The legend. You know, one of the great players in
our greatest era. He'll be a huge loss. Is a
huge loss, and what a character and personality Fred was.
He We all looked up to him if you were
in a generation following that sixties generation, he was one
of the players that you looked up to number one
in the world and the amateur days. He won two
(04:42):
major singles titles, he won ten major doubles titles, I
think seven mixed doubles titles, and he played in three
consecutive winning Davis Cup teams. He made the women final
three years in a row. He lost to Chuck McKinley
in sixty three and then the great Roy Emerson his
great mate and doubles partner in the next two sixty
four to sixty five. And of course he's San and
(05:05):
Stolly's father who we know so well in tennis in
Australia these days. He works in Adelaide with the academy
there and was a top fifty player himself. It's just
a family that will forever be I think edged etched
in our memories as a tennis family, one of the
most prominent and pre eminent families we've ever had. Sandon
(05:29):
and Fred I believe, were the first two father sons
to play Davis Cup for this country. There's only been
one other, I believe, and that is sid Ball and
Castin Ball. So they hold a special place, the Stollies
and Fred's. They veiled to Valet de Fred yesterday in
(05:50):
a beautiful environment in Palm Springs where he'd moved to
from Florida and had a lot of tennis personalities including
Rod Labor, Billy Jean King, Roy Emerson was on the
online watching It's a sad week but a celebration of
a life that was right up there with the best
players Australia has ever produced.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Yeah, that global outpouring for Fred has been quite noticeable.
Not everyone in the tennis community might have been familiar
with Fred, especially the young, younger fans, but he really
is mentioned in the same breath as other recent names
that we've lost in sums that as some that are still.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Around, absolutely in the same breath at the same top
echelon at the sport, and had an amazing broadcasting career too.
Let's not forget that he was memorable in the broadcasting
booth and for decades worked with John Yukom, Tony treeb
and Mark Woodford did a lot with him in recent
years and he was a mentor to so many. He's
(06:44):
a big loss and never heard one person in my
tennis life speak badly Fred Stolly.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Not one, and that's a rare thing to find these days.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
He had a wicked sense of humor as well.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Right, wicked, a little bit naughty, which I sort of
liked a lot.
Speaker 8 (06:59):
You know.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
Yeah, there was a tiny bit of boarding us there.
But he was clever and he delivered a line well
so well. He was funny guy, and he encompassed when
he walked into a room. He brought the level of
camaraderie up every time.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Oh yeah, well, it sounds like on the court, off
the court, behind the mic. He will be greatly missed,
if only remembered, you will, alrighty, well, onto Indian Wells.
We're into week two now, day eight of the Sunshine
Slam as I like to call it, and just made
it up on the fly. Then the Coachell, Oh is it?
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (07:33):
I thought I just coined it Coachella of Tennis. That's you,
that's you. Yeah, there you go. It's a festival without
the music. A little bit. You're going to eat no
boo court side. That's not bad. But as we know
from last week, our good friends Daniello Handtakover and Duncan
Mackenzie Vick Caag have been loving their time in tennis Paradise.
Let's hear what's been happening around the courts and on
(07:54):
the golf course.
Speaker 9 (07:56):
Thanks.
Speaker 10 (07:57):
Team, We're back in tennis Paradise with two time Indian
El's champion Daniella Hantikova.
Speaker 9 (08:02):
Danielle is so great to see you once again.
Speaker 10 (08:04):
Hey, let's first talk about the women's side, because the
big guns they're looking really good so far, aren't they. Well?
Speaker 9 (08:08):
Number one to run a sable linka.
Speaker 10 (08:09):
She's through, as is the defending champion eagas fiancee co
Co Gough and Madison Keys.
Speaker 9 (08:14):
Who do you like out of the best of them
so far?
Speaker 8 (08:16):
I thought you were going to say, let's talk first
about the golf. I mean, that's what I was ready for.
I mean, all right now, let's stick with the tennis
for now. I'm still loving my big sabal Anka playing
incredible tennis, being so relaxed. She's going for a big time.
That's what you need to do. Here in desert. But
let's not forget Mira Andreva.
Speaker 5 (08:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (08:36):
I was gonna ask for that later, but yeah, let's
talk about Mira.
Speaker 11 (08:39):
Yeah we have talked about her.
Speaker 8 (08:41):
Yeah yeah, and she seems like she's in her own bubble,
and I kind of can relate to that feeling, you know,
when you start to play good in this tournament and
you start to feel like, hold on a second, I'm
playing very good tennis, and why shouldn't I win this tournament,
especially given how well she played in Dubai similar conditions.
So I'm starting to be a little bit nervous about
my pig about Arena Sablenka, so Mira would be the
(09:03):
one right behind her for me, absolutely.
Speaker 9 (09:05):
And Mira did actually paid her at Roland Garros.
Speaker 10 (09:08):
I told you about mirror because she seems to be
getting better and better with every single match.
Speaker 9 (09:13):
That she plants.
Speaker 8 (09:14):
I think Concita Martinez has so much to do with it,
And you know what, I think the turning point for
them was that match in Melbourne where she kind of
didn't really show up in her magic in Saballenka. Her
attitude was not that great and I saw country right
away after that match in the locker room, and she
was not happy. And sometimes you need to have the
tough talk with your player and it comes from someone
(09:34):
as experienced and as conchy. I think that's where Mira
kind of woke up and realized that she's got a game.
But now her attitude is there as well, and she
has so much, so many different ways how she can
win matches, and that's why she's so fun to watch.
I'm liking her slice back ends now a few drop
shots on the forehand side as well. So she's becoming,
just like Carlos, a very quick student of the game
(09:55):
and almost a full package by now, which is crazy
at her age.
Speaker 10 (09:59):
When we spoke last, you said you're about to head
out on court to sort of test out the new
conditions here at Indian Wells.
Speaker 9 (10:04):
What do you make at the speed of the courts?
Speaker 8 (10:05):
I have to say that pretty similar to previous years.
I did not feel I mean, at my little slow speed,
I did not feel much of a difference. The bar
bounds is still very high, but let's not forget the conditions.
They've been changing so much, and kudos to the players
because they had to deal with a lot of things,
even the rain first time ever I opened my umbrella
in the desert in twenty five years. Not as much wind,
(10:27):
I feel like the last couple of days, but it's
been chilly. As you can tell, it's going to be
even colder, I believe tomorrow. So again, it depends so
much on the schedule, which time of the day you
get to play, and what conditions kind of vide your
game the best, and sometimes you need that. Sometimes you
need a little bit of luck to you know, play
in the time you prefer to and kind of squeeze
through the draw.
Speaker 10 (10:48):
On the men's side, some big name casualties in week one,
top seed Alexander zaverev, Novak Djokovic, Kaspar Rude, Andrey Rublev
all out of the tournament, but Alex seemen Or is
making his way quietly through the drawer.
Speaker 8 (10:58):
Yes, I'm so happy for alex and again we go
to his fighting spirits. That's what you need here because
the conditions change so much, and as you said, so
many favorites early out of the tournament. You have to
be really strong mentally to accept that most of the
time you are not going to fill the ball grade
because it bounces high, it's very lively it's hard to control,
you know, the wind, the cold during the night sessions.
Speaker 11 (11:21):
And I think for.
Speaker 8 (11:22):
This Alex has got the best mentality. He always goes
the same about his business. That's why I admire him
so much. He never complains about anything and just focuses
on what he has to do out there on the court,
and that's why.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
He's still in the drum.
Speaker 10 (11:35):
So many interesting talking points from the first seven days
proper of the tournament. Carlos Alkaraz we had some fans
if he's dressed up as be he's got in tribute
to the b invasion last year. Obviously yos Ke Watanuki
drank a Pepsi. Completely different players since then, and of
course we've got hold Garuna, who was watched on by
a couple of celebrities in Timothy Chalomey and Kylie Jenna
over here on Stadium one. What's caught your eye in
(11:57):
the first seven days of this tournament, I would.
Speaker 8 (11:59):
Say the fans what we always appreciate as players, because
they love the game so much, so you want to
show up there and play your best tennis. And I
think that's why Carlos is enjoying his B support corner.
He might be probably thinking, well, the cowdboys are not around,
so I might as well use some momentum here. And
it's been always so much fun to kind of get
a little bit more connected with the crowd here.
Speaker 11 (12:20):
I think the players really enjoyed it.
Speaker 8 (12:22):
Maybe other tournaments you try to be more focused on
your game, but here you can really draw from the
energy from the crowds. Having some celebrities around that that
always helps. I always remember before my first final, I
was just about to go out to the court and
I caught my eye on the on the screen and
Matthew Perry was there, and I was such a huge
(12:42):
fan and of friends, so I almost like I was
shaking by the time I got to the court. So
sometimes can be a little bit intimidating, but at the
same time, it can give you a lot of energy
because you want to kind of perform even better if
I can say that. I mean, we should always play
it the same, but you know, when you've got someone
in the box that you kind of admire, it's it's
always a cool thing.
Speaker 10 (12:59):
Yeah, just hours down the highway from Los Angeles. So
who are you picking on the men's side now? With
Sasha out of the tournament. Do you think Carlos is
kind of in the box seat to do a three page?
Speaker 11 (13:07):
I think so.
Speaker 8 (13:08):
I mean, he's one, what twelve matches in a row here,
so obviously he's feeling confidence. Spoke to him the other
day's playing a lot of golf, so I think that
also helps to kind of keep him relaxed. And yeah,
it seems like he's doing all the right things, not
playing necessarily his best tennis yet, but as we've seen
in the last two years, you know, he always gets
better at the end of the tournament, so I wouldn't
(13:30):
be worried about it.
Speaker 11 (13:31):
I am worried about my woman's peak just because I
want to change it now.
Speaker 8 (13:35):
I know I'm sticking to whatever whatever I go for
before the tournament, but I'm just loving the level of tennis.
Speaker 11 (13:41):
Let's not forgets Spittolina as well. Yeah, she's playing great.
Belly and Dave, who I'm super super happy for.
Speaker 8 (13:46):
So yeah, amazing stories on both sides, but I'm still
sticking to.
Speaker 11 (13:50):
My picks for that now.
Speaker 10 (13:51):
I was going to say the golf questions the end,
because you are a former tennis pro, but you do
have one of the greatest golf swings I've seen of
a non professional golf player. For those Australians or anyone
watching or listening all around the world, if they were
to come to Tennis Paradise and Greater Palm Springs, where's
your favorite place to play golf?
Speaker 8 (14:11):
That's a tough one because there are just so many.
Speaker 11 (14:13):
You look left and right.
Speaker 8 (14:14):
I believe there are like one hundred and fifty golf
courses at least.
Speaker 11 (14:18):
I have to say, I've been very, very spoiled.
Speaker 8 (14:20):
I've been staying with my incredible friends at Bighorn Golf,
which is probably one of the most special golf courses
you find in America. Overall, there is obviously Medicine Porcupine. Yeah,
there are some very very special ones. So this is
the time of the year when, yeah, we get really
spoiled and look forward to it. I wouldn't say my
(14:42):
swing is that great, just in case ash Barti is watching.
But I'm getting there, you know, training hard so that
one day I can have that match against her, which
would be awesome. But I saw her swing, so yeah,
I've got a lot of work to do still.
Speaker 10 (14:56):
Okay, let's set a match play between Daniela Hantakova and ashbuddy,
Danny always great chatting with you, and we'll chat you
after the.
Speaker 9 (15:02):
Men's final on Sunday.
Speaker 10 (15:03):
Sounds great back to you in the tennis studio.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
So it's great to kind of hear from those guys.
And interesting that Danny wants to play against Ashbardi at
golf because I'm not sure she's someone I'd be wanting
to compete with on.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
No happy walk around a golf course with Ash, but
she would absolutely fuck anyone else.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
I feel like she's just good at anything anyway.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
Just further to that, in terms of Alex Demonol playing
in Indian Wells, he sadly went down to Sarundlo this
morning Australia our time seven five six three. We did
have Craig Gabriel on the ground for us there who
had a bit of a chat with Demon afterwards, and
Demon just basically said it wasn't a good match on
(15:44):
his side. He felt like the match slipped away and
it really wasn't his best day on a tennis court.
He did say make some remarks about how the balls
are slower in Indian Wells than the Australian Open, because
obviously he played Sarundalo here at the AO and beat him.
And he did also indicate that the wind was up
at Indian Wells. But yeah, basically just said he had
(16:07):
a bad day. So sad to see him go down
to Thorndilo. But he didn't indicate when he'll go to Miami,
but we expect to see him there.
Speaker 8 (16:15):
You know.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Maybe he has a little bit of trouble with Srondilou
because at the Australian Open he played him and I
just forget which round, maybe the third round, I think
it was the third round and he struggled at the
beginning of that match too, and it was windy a
little bit and look, Sirundolo, what a forehand that is. Yeah,
I know you know a lot about it, but goodness me,
that can give a lot of players trouble. So maybe
(16:36):
the slightly slower conditions at Indian Wells, ye slow high
bounce gave Slo more time, don't know.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Sticking with demon off for a bit, Fitzy, we're about
to jump into what's caught your eye? Hit us off?
Speaker 3 (16:49):
Well, I think Alex always catches my eye because I'm
such a fan, you know, and I appreciate the way
he competes and just love everything about the way he
approaches our sport. But I think it's sort of proves
a point in a way that he's taken some time
off leading into this because these schedules are are not
to be taken lightly, you know that they hop from
(17:09):
I remember the first time, way back when I started
going from continent to continent and recovering from jet lag
and then playing again, and I wasn't winning that many matches, Luke,
I can tell you, but as someone like someone like
Alex would win. When you win that many matches and
you go from one continent to the next and then
back and then a third time and the jet lag
(17:31):
catches up with you, it can make you get pretty
run down at times. And it's a physical sport, very
very much so. So I just thought it was an
interesting little, you know, like preview of his Indian worlds
to see that he had to take some time off
even earlier in the season because he had a long year.
The finished late in the year Davis Cup all of that,
(17:53):
you don't get much time to recover before the big
one comes along for an Australians run open and just
sort it was interesting to see that he needed some
time off, and I think a lot of those players do,
especially the top players, because they win so many matches
as well as put up with the jet lags. So
I'm sad he's not going to play Alcarez over there.
But yeah, you need to manage your schedule and your
(18:17):
body more than ever as you start to get into
your mid to late twenties.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
Well, it really is so challenging. It's such a global sport.
I mean, last week you were telling us Sloke about
Dashes trouble with fight cancelations going to Mexico driving from Tijuana,
Like that's just one of many instances where people would
be caught out with traveling and needing to not just
cross country but across oceans, cross continents. It's just crazy
(18:41):
that these sportsmen and women can really back it up
in the face of that travel adversity with not much
off season.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (18:47):
Yeah, in these two week events I think are quite
long as well, and it can sort of get a
little stale if you're in the same hotel for multiple
weeks on end. And I think back to your point, FITZI,
the Australian summer probably takes quite a big mental toll
and pressure toe on Alex as well, and you know,
being the number one Australian and having all that pressure
of a nation to perform. I think it all takes
(19:08):
its toll and just very interesting to see that he
needs to take some time off, you know, getting to
Indian Wells early.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Ye, definitely. Well, Luke, let's stick with you. What's caught
your eye?
Speaker 6 (19:18):
My court, my eye was the teenage sensation mirror Andreva.
Just I think she was my court my eye last
week as well.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
But you're allowed to have regain. Yes, it's great, she's
so good.
Speaker 5 (19:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (19:31):
When I saw the drawer at Indian Wells and the
potential fourth round against Rebakner, I thought that was a
bit of a popcorn match and six one six two
Mira Andreva wins that one, and I think that's a
statement absolutely, and winning the last Masters one thousand in
Dubai as well. The youngest player in the top ten
(19:53):
of the WTA rankings in eighteen years Nicole, Yeah, Nicole
itis Ober was a last in two thousand and seven,
so it's been a while. I'm not sure what you
think fits you, but I think we're sort of witnessing
a bit of a sort of champion in the Laker
last year and potential to win multiple slams.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
Yeah, I think a star of the future for a
long period of time. It's hard to believe that a
young player, I reckon can be that good that young
For most most players, they take time to mature and
get there. But Wow, she's good and she looks good
on the court. She's going to be a big I think,
advertisement for our sport for a long time to come.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
And so you think she will stay lit. It's not
going to be a one hit wonder.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
And then I can't see why. I can't see why
it would be. I mean, she's been coming for a
while from a young age. I just I always have
this older person's thought process in this type of arrival
of a young player, though, I worry that they handle it.
If she can handle it, if she's got the right
people around her and her family is strong with her,
(21:01):
I think she's going to be a star for a
long time. I just hope she hands it well.
Speaker 4 (21:05):
Solid trajectory, right, she hasn't just gone up out of nowhere.
She's kind of been building and building, right.
Speaker 6 (21:11):
Yeah, it's sort of funny to say that she's been
building and she's seventeen.
Speaker 8 (21:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (21:15):
Yeah, but for me, I feel like she's got the
mentality for sure. She's nice and composed and very level headed.
And for me it's the game as well. It's such
an all court game, great surf moves well, and for me,
that game is suited to all surfaces. So I think
that's very important for being consistent. You know, being able
to play on all four surfaces is super super important
(21:38):
in all four slams, I should say. And I think
she's going to be a star in the making and
exactly what the game needs.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
That's where he's going to be a good coach. Yeah,
he knows the nuances and you have to be able
to read that too with young players and to help
them guide them in the right direction.
Speaker 4 (21:57):
So how do you think she'll go against Bielina, who
she has up now at Indian Wells.
Speaker 6 (22:03):
Yeah. I think it's again another challenge, and she's facing
all these challenges, you know, very early in her career.
I think Elena Swerdelena is such a seasoned professional player,
great player and been through her ups and downs as well,
and I think they played quite similar. There's gonna be
some long rallies there. But again I think Mira's game
(22:24):
matches up very well against a lot of players. She
can rally, she can be patient if she needs to,
and then she can sort of absorb some of the
bigger hitters as well, like Rebekna. So I think on
all surfaces she's good, and I think she's got a
great coach in her corner as well to keep her
nice and grounded. I think sort of after that Australian
(22:45):
Open match, they had a bit of a bit of
a chat and Sot straightened her out. But she's going
to have some of those in her. You know, such
a short career so far, and I think she's taken
all these challenges head on and on an amazing trajectory.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
Yeah, brilliant one to watch, Continue to watch. So some
would say, well, sticking with the WTA, Bree, what's caught
your eye this week in the women's game?
Speaker 2 (23:08):
Look.
Speaker 4 (23:08):
Last week the WTA launched their WTA Maternity Fund program,
which has been a long time coming for women in
the sport.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
So it's really great news.
Speaker 4 (23:18):
There is a lot of chatter around this, both negative,
positive and indifferent, but I wanted to lay out the
key points of what it entails because I think it's amazing,
but obviously there's with everything, there's some elements behind it
that probably are questionable. But the PIFF WTA Maternity Fund
program and powers women tennis players by providing the support
(23:38):
and flexibility to pursue professional careers and build their family.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
So that's kind of like their call line.
Speaker 4 (23:45):
It's a first of its kind and it's fully funded
and supported by an external partner. Provides up to twelve
months of paid maternity leave, so there are kind of
caps on it. It also gains access to grants for
fertill treatments to build families as well as other benefits
that's great, so like egg freezing IVF is included as well.
(24:08):
It will offer benefits to more than three hundred and
twenty eligible WTA players, so all players will receive the
same amount, which is not yet been disclosed but will
depend on the time of leave requested.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Now.
Speaker 4 (24:22):
The eligibility criteria for participation in the fund includes completing
in a certain number of WTA tournaments in a window
of time, and one of the existing benefits available through
this will make it easier to return to competition after
starting a family, so that's a bit of a rundown
on the key stats and facts. I think it's great
(24:43):
for women in the sport. I think it's amazing. I
think even seeing people like ben Keeach and how well
she's doing at the moment, just back from unpaid maternity leave,
which she would have taken.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
But yeah, it's a big move because on.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
Its face, that is one of the best parental leave
maternity lead policies I've ever heard in any industry, not
just in sports. Twelve months months, you know everyone's eligible.
There is obviously the kind of elephant in the room
of where the funding is coming from.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Yes, which is what a lot of the press is.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
What's the online chatter been like around that? And tell
us a bit more about the PIF and what that is.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
Yeah, So the PIF is the Public Investment Fund Fund,
and the public Investment fund for this particular fund program
is coming from Saudi Arabia.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
Now there's two stories, right.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
The fact is that the juicier one.
Speaker 4 (25:39):
The fact that the women are getting this, which is
much needed for the sport, is amazing. However, the country
that is giving it is known for not treating women
in the best light, very against LGBTQI kind of practices
and stuff like that, so there is a little bit
of comment around the Bunny is great to be able
(26:01):
to support this and potentially without that they wouldn't have
been able to do it. But it's coming from a
country that actually, so there's all these questions around sports
squashing for Saudi, so it's a little bit contentious.
Speaker 6 (26:12):
I know my wife Daria has been quite vocal and
sort of on the decisions. I guess she's on the
player councils, a player council, and she was very happy
with the result of it all. I think it's a
fantastic initiative. I've always thought when the women go away
have a baby and then come back and played a
(26:34):
high level, it's amazing.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (26:37):
And then as you said about Belinda bencicch playing so
well right now in the quarterfinals have been near wells
one Abu Dhabi probably about a month ago, the five hundred,
and it's just astonishing that they can come back and
play so well. So an amazing initiative and great to see.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
Yeah, couldn't agreement well onto my own court my eye. Yes,
Madison Keys the champion. I've been watching Maddie for many years.
She's got an amazing game and at the moment over
in Indian Wells, she's the three set queen and she's
absolutely smashing it over there. She's still undefeated in twenty
twenty five. She's had fifteen match win streak and she
(27:16):
always seems to find a way to win. Five verse
seven wins at AO were three setters, and this week
alone at Indian Wells, in her third round, she defeated
Mertons despite dropping four match points in the second set.
In the round of sixteen, she defeated Vekisch after losing
a first set four six. On the added pressure she's
dealing with since winning a first Grand Slam, she said,
for the first time, I'm trying to manage my own expectations.
(27:40):
Mental clarity.
Speaker 8 (27:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
She was great at the AO two when she did
her press conference right and talked about all the work
she'd done mentally.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
It's great to see her starting to actually fulfill that
potential that's been there for a long and.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
I think if you go back and watch the women's
final of the Australian Open this year, it's one of
the truest examples of partnership betweeneen player and coach I
think I've seen in a long time, because they're married.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
It does help me married, there's a few years go
and coach that wife of yours exactly. But you watch
with a bit of danger, by the way, every little.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
Bit of strategy that he would give to her, you
could see her taking it in, digesting it and then
putting it in action. So jump on the air YouTube channel, Luke,
you can watch that final back tis for you.
Speaker 6 (28:22):
It's just put a whole lot of pressure on me.
I'll be a good cook too, so going quite well.
And I message him after that said, damn it, why
did you do that? But yeah, great to see a
combination work like that, And as you said, gives me hope.
You saw a lot of the positive stuff her listening
to Bjorn. You didn't see the negative stuff or the
(28:45):
don't tell me there was some of that. I'm probably
more talking from my own experience. It's it's great to
see and I think she said in the past, you've
been getting those winning positions and just not committing to
her brand of tennis. I think, in her words, was
playing on her own terms in those moments when the.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
Pressure was on.
Speaker 6 (29:03):
So it was just great to see that she was
able to do that.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
The other one I wanted to call out was ben
chicch defeating golf, which I think is probably worthy and
I know you touched on it before, but defeating her
three six six three six four.
Speaker 1 (29:19):
Like pretty because Coco has kind of got quite a bit.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
Of history something. Guys on this side of the table
will never know how difficult that is to have a baby. Yeah,
and come back like that, it's impressive and take my
hat off.
Speaker 4 (29:31):
To it, like amazing. I didn't expect that when I
saw it.
Speaker 2 (29:36):
Good for her, Yeah, it's great. Sad for golf, that's.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
Right, good for the baby, something something to talking about it.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
There's also a shout out to Cocoa Goff. His birthday
is today, twenty one. Yeah, twenty one, that's all. Yeah, Yeah,
how scary is that?
Speaker 3 (29:56):
I don't want to look at myself in the mirror again.
Twenty first was last century.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
I can tell you that we assumed.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
Thank you, Thanks for that.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
A little bit of moving on up and moving on across.
It's part two of the Sunshine Double, the Miami one
thousand at P and W t A events kicking off
next week, and a number of Ossie women have been
arriving early in Miami for a training block ahead of
their respective qualities and main drawers.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
Welcome to Miami. Time may hear Miami? I hear that song?
Speaker 1 (30:27):
Continue, let's carry on with this.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
There's a bit of Don Johnson in. He doesn't know
who Don Johnson is. Probably think.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
Roll up the sleeves of the suit jacket. Yeah, getting
your greg in a mirror.
Speaker 3 (30:40):
You were last centry to were you generation?
Speaker 1 (30:46):
It's a.
Speaker 6 (30:48):
It's at the hard Rock Stadium there in Miami. So
the NFL where the Miami Dolphins play. A bit of
an NFL fantasy tragic myself, to be honest, when I
played there a few years ago, I was throwing some
arrible spirals trying to be the quarterbacks there. But it's
a it's a great.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
Tournament you're in. You've got to be a kicker.
Speaker 6 (31:07):
I was kicking it actually mostly, but yeah again it's
the two week events, longer this time around, and fantastic
time of the year to be there in the in
the summer. And I think you know, I've spoken about
this quite a bit, but especially start of the year,
we saw the men, Australian men doing so well. I
(31:28):
think we had eight or nine in the top hundred.
But I was really looking at the women and I
felt like we might have had two or even one
at the start of the year. We've got four now,
with maybe two or three right in the cast, including
my wife Daria. So very excited to see that push.
I think it's very interesting when you see one or
two get in a few more follow so I think
(31:50):
that sort of happened on the men's side and we're
starting to sit on the women's and I'm very excited
to see that progress.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
Brilliant. So more women's tennis news. We've got up a
BJK Cup tie in Brisbane. Lot's happening up there. It's
a three way tie, just a little bit different Australia,
Kazakhstan and Colombia, taking place April ten to twelve. But
Pat rafter Arena in Brisbane bre your thoughts on the
Bjkking Cup.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
I'm excited for it.
Speaker 4 (32:16):
We were lucky enough to have the BJK Cup in
Brisbane last year as well, so it's great to have
it here in Australian shores.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
Again. Very excited to hear who the teams are.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
The entry for teams were due today and so we
can announce who those are for each of the countries tomorrow,
so stay tuned. We do know that Kim Birell is
in the Aussie team, which is exciting. In terms of
Kazakhstan and Columbia, I don't have any insights on that,
but I'll look to you guys to see who you
think might be in those teams.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
Luke, you'd have an insight, wouldn't you.
Speaker 6 (32:49):
I might know who our team is, but I'm definitely
not allowed to share that. Sorry, we might know too, okayink,
sorry of yours. So Kazakhstan, I believe they'll be led
by Yulia put In Savor, who's a great player, very
strong in singles and doubles. I think she's around thirty
in the world, so very very tough customer. And then
(33:12):
Columbia Camilla Osorio, who again I believe she's probably around
eighty in the world and very good an outitue, a
great competitor, makes a lot of ball so and I
believe they've got a pretty good doubles combination as well.
So work cut out for our women. But as I
mentioned before, we've got so many to choose from, and
(33:33):
whoever we put in, we'll comprise a really strong team that's.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
Great should be a damn good tie. I love pat
Raft Arena, the whole Queensland Tennis Center. There really fun
environment facility. It's like a little baby Ao the whole precinct.
So jump online Ticketmaster, get your tickets, head up there
to Queensland. It's going to be a really good tie.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
Great atmosphere in that little story. Yeah, it's a perfect
size in so many ways, not too big, you don't
lose any contact.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
You know, absolutely feel.
Speaker 3 (34:01):
Like you're really really a beautiful, beautifully structured stadium that
provides atmosphere.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
It's great, definitely, and just that little gap at the
top for a bit of cool breeze in the afternoon. Perfect.
Speaker 3 (34:12):
It's got a good name on the roof too.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
Yeah, good Patty for me. There's a little gray patch
in the middle of the court that's where a bird
flu pass.
Speaker 8 (34:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:21):
Well, before we go to a break, here's a chat
with vic Rudnikov she had with Emerson Jones ahead of
her upcoming role as Orange Girl at next month's tie.
Speaker 12 (34:31):
Emson Jones, Welcome to the show.
Speaker 5 (34:32):
Thank you.
Speaker 12 (34:33):
Is this your first time on a podcast today?
Speaker 5 (34:36):
No, I did one in Canberra International and I did
that awesome.
Speaker 12 (34:40):
So you're a bit of a pro.
Speaker 13 (34:41):
Now we will make you feel like one by the
end of this. Do you listen to any podcasts? Are
you more of a music person.
Speaker 5 (34:49):
I don't really listen to any podcasts. I'm definitely more
of a music person.
Speaker 13 (34:53):
Yeah, And do you have like a hype song or
something you listened to before a match, or a genre
an artist that kind of gets you on the zone?
Speaker 5 (35:00):
I like NF but that's yeah, probably if I were
about to go on court, just to make sure songs.
Speaker 12 (35:06):
Yeah, I'll have to say.
Speaker 13 (35:07):
You've got a pretty exciting life for a sixteen year old,
and you had your first win at WTA level in
Adelaide earlier this year.
Speaker 12 (35:14):
Can you tell me a bit about that experience.
Speaker 5 (35:16):
Yeah, firstly, it was great to get a wild card
into my first five hundred and WTA. It was really exciting.
I wasn't expecting to win a first round, so I
was pretty happy with how I played and how I
performed for both of the matches. So yeah, I'm pretty
proud of.
Speaker 13 (35:32):
That and an AO wild card as well. What have
you learned from that experience of playing your first Grand
Slam main draw.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
I think it was a pretty tough draw.
Speaker 5 (35:42):
To get the first round of a Grand Slam. But
it's all about the experience, and I think I had
a pretty great one playing against the one of the
top women in the world, so I really enjoyed my experience.
Speaker 13 (35:53):
Yeah, and obviously you are the junior world number one,
You're in the top three hundred on the WTA Tour
and we just hit four women in the top one
hundred from Australia.
Speaker 12 (36:05):
How does that motivate you.
Speaker 5 (36:07):
I think it's exciting for everyone who plays Australian tennis
knowing that that level is possible, and I know most
of both all for the girls, so I think it's
pretty exciting for them and exciting that I know it's possible.
Speaker 6 (36:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 13 (36:22):
Yeah, and it doesn't really just kind of make you
believe all the hard work everything's going to pay off.
Speaker 5 (36:27):
Yeah, I do, because I also see how they train,
I've hit with them, and I just think it's it's
really exciting to know that that's right there.
Speaker 7 (36:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 13 (36:36):
And your brother Hayden, is also a tennis player, and
your parents have a bit of a sporting background as well.
What's it like to be in a family of elite athletes.
Speaker 5 (36:46):
I think it's good that my brother plays tennis, because
you know, we used to travel a lot together when
Hayden was.
Speaker 12 (36:53):
Still in juniors.
Speaker 5 (36:54):
Now it's a bit different because you know, he's playing
men's in another country and I'm still doing some junior
and women's.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
So it was really good.
Speaker 5 (37:03):
But my mom, my mom was a really good triathlete,
so I think that inspires me because she worked really hard.
Speaker 13 (37:10):
Yeah, and other than tennis, what do you and Hayden
kind of have in common or what do you do
for fine when you are together?
Speaker 5 (37:17):
We do board games. He always asked Dad to do
board games, and Dad always gets quite annoyed at him
because you know, he's always asking when Dad's busy. So
I sometimes step in and do amuse him with some
board games?
Speaker 12 (37:32):
And yeah, and what's the go to board game? And
who usually wins?
Speaker 5 (37:37):
So Hayden and Dad like playing Katan and I don't
really know how to play it, and I don't like it.
I've tried once and I just didn't like it. So
I found a board game that both of us would
like called Cludo. Yeah, I enjoyed that. That's probably the
only one.
Speaker 12 (37:53):
And who wins normally?
Speaker 5 (37:55):
Uh, I can't tell if he's cheating or not most
of the time, but I normally Haynes's really good at
board games, so I'd say probably him.
Speaker 1 (38:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 13 (38:06):
And coming up is the Billie Jean Kin Cup Qualifier
in April, and it's been announced you have a very
special role there.
Speaker 12 (38:13):
Can you tell us a bit about what you'll be
doing in Brisbane?
Speaker 5 (38:16):
Well, I got picked for Orange Girl, so that's really exciting.
I guess I get to hit with the top women,
the girls who are playing on the team, So that's
really exciting for me, getting to hit with them and
getting to stay with them going out to dinner.
Speaker 13 (38:32):
Yeah, And obviously we don't know the full team yet,
but we've got Kim who's been announced.
Speaker 12 (38:36):
You have much of a relationship with her.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Yeah, Kim.
Speaker 5 (38:39):
Kim actually went to my school. Obviously she was way
higher grade than me. But yeah, I know Kim because
she lives on the Gold Coast too. We sometimes have
hits when I'm there and she's there. Yeah, and in
Brisbane too we hit.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 13 (38:54):
And have you been able to form any other friendships
with some of the other Ouzsie girls as well?
Speaker 5 (38:59):
Yeah, I know for a while a bit now, a
couple of years since she came here, so I think
that's gonna be pretty good if she's, you know, in
the team. And I don't really I don't really know
Eiler too much. I've seen her around. Seems really nice.
Speaker 13 (39:16):
So yeah, exciting. And Sam Stoza is captain. How much
of an influence has she had on you and your
tennis career?
Speaker 10 (39:24):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (39:25):
I know Sam because my old coach, Dave Taylor coached her,
So I have a bit of a relationship with Sam.
She hit with me two years ago ao, that was
my first hit with her, and I think she gives
me really good advice. Yeah.
Speaker 12 (39:38):
Yeah, and not just Aussie's.
Speaker 13 (39:39):
But are there any other players on the tour that
you kind of model your game off or anyone else
that kind of influences how you play.
Speaker 5 (39:48):
I really like Saberlenka. I think her game style and
just her you know, how she really wants to win.
I think I really look up to that. Yeah.
Speaker 13 (39:59):
And my last question, obviously we're getting to know you
a bit better today, Emerson. What's one thing that our
listeners should know about you?
Speaker 5 (40:06):
One thing you should know about me?
Speaker 13 (40:07):
Yeah, you could take a second to have a think.
I know I've kind of put you on the spot here.
Speaker 5 (40:13):
I used to be a very good swimmer when I
was younger. I used to my mom made me do swimming.
I didn't really enjoy it, but I used to go
to like the regionals and all that for it.
Speaker 2 (40:26):
So yeah, so you're pretty good.
Speaker 5 (40:28):
Yeah, well I don't know about now. I mean, I
still have it, I think, but you know, I used
to be pretty good at it.
Speaker 13 (40:35):
Well, luckily you still have tennis. Thank you so much
for joining me today and can't wait to see what
you do next this year.
Speaker 5 (40:41):
Thanks, thank you.
Speaker 1 (40:46):
All right, welcome back. We've had a fun little lad break.
We had some fun chats. What did you get up
to that last ab break?
Speaker 2 (40:52):
I flipped my hair?
Speaker 1 (40:53):
Oh that was good.
Speaker 2 (40:54):
Yeah, I actually did.
Speaker 1 (40:56):
That's nice. Well, Brae will stick with you. It's time
for Breeze Top five. Yeah, hang on, send it all
up the buttons and you to me. I just need
to so that's I want to say. That's three. Okay, cool,
I'm ready.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
Okay cool.
Speaker 4 (41:10):
So this week's top five, I'm focusing on the top
five tennis player tattoos.
Speaker 1 (41:17):
I don't have a button for that, but no, no, it's.
Speaker 4 (41:19):
Exciting, right, and we'll figure out why I've leant into this,
but we'll start with five. Five British Dan Evans forum
says every saint has a past, every sinner has a future,
which I think is quite funny coming from Dan Evans.
Speaker 1 (41:35):
True, is it is it to do with Yannick at all?
Speaker 2 (41:40):
Or oh yeah, because you hadic sinner, you got it?
Speaker 6 (41:45):
What I thought?
Speaker 5 (41:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (41:46):
It just like I'm pretty sure he does have a future.
He'll be fine.
Speaker 2 (41:49):
I think you will if you want about cool.
Speaker 4 (41:51):
Four Vandreusiva Wimbledon champ twenty twenty three, so very well
known for having tattoos. She got her first tattoo when
she was sixteen. But my favorite hers, which is above
her right elbow, is no rain, no flowers.
Speaker 1 (42:07):
What a great little It's great.
Speaker 8 (42:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (42:09):
Yeah, although yesterday there was no rain, no tennis at
Indian Wells.
Speaker 2 (42:12):
But it's quite good.
Speaker 4 (42:16):
But yeah, in twenty twenty three, I could find that
she had reported she had ten tattoos, but I reckon
she's had more since because she really finds it an
art form beautiful.
Speaker 2 (42:25):
Yeah, I thought it was a good one.
Speaker 5 (42:27):
Three.
Speaker 4 (42:29):
Okay, we can't chat tats without curios, can we. Yeah,
love is a bit of ink, But I had to
pull this one out as my favor and something he
told GQ a couple of years ago. And I'm going
to get how I say this wrong, but Blastois is
smack bang in the middle of his chest, I believe,
(42:50):
which is his favorite Pokemon. And then obviously Charizad Girida
Doors can't really get go past those. I feel like
worldwhide If people don't Pokemon, they know who those Pokemon are.
Speaker 1 (43:03):
But that's fine. He's not seven though.
Speaker 2 (43:06):
No, but he loves Pokemon.
Speaker 1 (43:07):
That's cool. Buy a Donner cover.
Speaker 2 (43:12):
Anyway, the fact that he's got Pokemon. I thought it
was interesting.
Speaker 1 (43:15):
Yeah cool. He'll definitely not regret that on his ay
fourth birthday.
Speaker 2 (43:17):
He probably won't, to be fair.
Speaker 1 (43:19):
Sure the man lives with no regrets.
Speaker 2 (43:21):
He doesn't. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (43:22):
Good.
Speaker 2 (43:23):
Trouble number two.
Speaker 3 (43:24):
It look good with flabby skin, you know that's true.
Speaker 1 (43:26):
But it's the Pokemon evolving.
Speaker 2 (43:31):
Okay. The whole reason of why we did this.
Speaker 4 (43:33):
Carlos Akrez he has a tattoo I already like, and
we talked to him about it during AO. It's got it,
says Cabetha Corathon, which translates to head, heart and balls,
and he says it can be attributed to his grandfather
who always encouraged him to focus on the three season life,
which I quite like. I don't know what I expect. Anyway,
(43:55):
he has a new tattoo. So he walked out on
court Indian Wells with the new tattoo of the date
twenty three oh four, twenty.
Speaker 2 (44:02):
Five, and everyone was looking at it.
Speaker 4 (44:05):
It turns out it's a fake tattoo and it's all
about the promotion of his new Netflix documentary that launches
on the twenty third of April during Miami Open, which
is called Carlos Arcrez My Way.
Speaker 2 (44:16):
So not a bad little promotion.
Speaker 1 (44:18):
Do, but he was truly committed it'd be a real
tat well he.
Speaker 2 (44:22):
Probably he might make it real once he sees how
many people.
Speaker 1 (44:25):
Yeah, yeah, well that's true. But again once the check clearse,
you really want to permit tat last button?
Speaker 2 (44:32):
Okay, number one?
Speaker 1 (44:34):
What has to go?
Speaker 4 (44:36):
To Massetti Italian He has a tattoo of a heartbeat
intertwined with a tennis racket. Now it's not just that
his uncle is a cardiologist and his uncle took a
set of Marsetti's frequency of his heartbeat, and that is
the heartbeat that's in his tattoo.
Speaker 2 (44:54):
Which I thought was quite nice.
Speaker 1 (44:56):
Yeah, it's a bit much.
Speaker 2 (44:57):
I thought it was sweet grow a heart.
Speaker 1 (45:00):
Well, well, I don't want to get a tattoo one,
but is there a button to finish us up? No
more buttons?
Speaker 2 (45:08):
That was really good. I did it better than the
loved one?
Speaker 5 (45:11):
Right?
Speaker 1 (45:12):
Have you got any tats? I do great round the
table tattoos. No tats, I don't believe it. Okay, I've
got one, But do you actually.
Speaker 2 (45:23):
Dolphin?
Speaker 1 (45:23):
Long story short, It does resemble a tramp stamp in
the sense of where it is. It's on my left
hip and I don't remember getting it, but it was
in Thailand.
Speaker 4 (45:32):
What is it?
Speaker 1 (45:33):
It's a shamrock?
Speaker 2 (45:34):
Oh are you Irish?
Speaker 1 (45:36):
Nope.
Speaker 3 (45:38):
There'll be a time when that doesn't look like a
shamrock exactly.
Speaker 1 (45:41):
It'll be like, what's what rooted vase of flowers on
your back?
Speaker 2 (45:44):
I can't wait to tell everyone.
Speaker 1 (45:46):
Yeah, cool, cool, crea great Well speaking, that's my low point.
But talking about Ace of the week, let's do it.
Who wants to start us off with the Ace of
the week. Doesn't have to be chance related.
Speaker 3 (45:54):
I prefer if it wasn't, I can start Look, I
have a friend down here, and I'm going to embarras
him by saying this in the studio. He denies being
a friend occasionally. Yeah, he's American, he's about He's from Chicago.
I met him in Kansas when we were seventeen years old,
and he found out in recent years that I am
(46:15):
an R. M. Williams boot.
Speaker 1 (46:17):
A pair on right now, So do I.
Speaker 3 (46:20):
And I've got a fetish of not many things in life,
but i love Armon Williams boots. So he's got onto
this fad over the last few years. He was down
here a couple of years ago. He had a couple
of pairs in his closet. He has purchased four pairs
of arm Williams boots. In the last two weeks, He's
(46:40):
got two feet. He now has seven pairs of arm
Williams boots. He bought a new chocolate pair, chocolate leather.
They're unbelievably look they're good looking.
Speaker 1 (46:51):
I'm on board.
Speaker 3 (46:52):
He bought a pair of blue suede boots in honor
of Elvis President, and he bought two burnished pairs of
Aaron Winning's boots. Useful that a very dressy, very classy
he's just worried about how he's going to get them
back to the US. Sure, you're going to hit that,
import would I would tell him to leave them at
my place, except he's the wrong size, so he needs
(47:14):
to get him out of my house. But yeah, that
made my day. It made my week. That's my age
of the week.
Speaker 1 (47:20):
What about which heel did you get? Did you get
the flat, the block or the cuban?
Speaker 3 (47:23):
Not the cuban, not the kids.
Speaker 1 (47:25):
That's a bit extreme. He got the flat, Okay, the flat?
Speaker 3 (47:27):
Yeah, so that'll that will help the Achilles heel.
Speaker 1 (47:29):
Yeah, you've got to keep it that.
Speaker 3 (47:30):
Yeah, I bet you had Aaron Williams at Cobb Dogglar,
didn't you look? I bet you did.
Speaker 6 (47:35):
I'm very embarrassed you don't have it. I'm just looking
at yours underneath the table. I might be heading there
right off this podcast. Also, they look good.
Speaker 3 (47:44):
And they were a limited season, but they've just come
back in. They've got them.
Speaker 1 (47:48):
This is not paid content, is big Baron Williams chat
to us.
Speaker 2 (47:53):
I don't know our email, but we.
Speaker 1 (47:54):
Also love the last season Bloodstones.
Speaker 5 (47:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (47:56):
But last thing I want to say is when I
saw the advertisement of Hugh Jackman. Did you see that?
I did? I rushed out and bought two piers huge
you do you? That was the funniest I love a
bit of boarding us and yeah, that was perfect. It
was a perfect advertisement.
Speaker 1 (48:13):
Well, great to having the studio special arm we sponsored guest.
Look what's your ace of the week.
Speaker 6 (48:19):
So here in Melbourne it's known as the sporting capital
of the world for sure. So we've got the Aussie
Rules starting tonight. Opening round was last week but there
were two games on and I'm a Culton supporter. We
own the opening round against the Tigers. Fitz He's looking
at me.
Speaker 2 (48:38):
Because I don't we Why did that change? Is Richmond
and no longer? Good?
Speaker 1 (48:45):
Well you are sitting in Tigerland.
Speaker 2 (48:47):
I am a Tiger fan. Yeah, I'm about to move
to Carlton to be fair.
Speaker 6 (48:52):
The Blues are heavy favorite, so that's why I'm going.
Speaker 2 (48:54):
It wouldn't be hard.
Speaker 6 (48:56):
And then just walking around here at Melton Park prior
to this podcast, hearing the f ones yes firing up.
So the opening race of the New F one season
here in Melbourne on Sunday supposed to be raining, so
typical Melbourne. Think Saturday qualifying is thirty five and then
(49:16):
Sunday races raining and twenty so nice little child forum.
Speaker 1 (49:21):
But I get you with the tires out.
Speaker 6 (49:23):
Great time of year and looking forward to the weekend.
Speaker 1 (49:25):
Absolutely, I mean it is absolutely an incredible global event,
almost as good as the Australian Open. But yeah, Melbourne,
it's brand. Yeah it is great, but tow the company
line break.
Speaker 2 (49:35):
Yeah, doesn't touch at all on how good the AO is.
Speaker 1 (49:40):
Well played. I'm going to sit here quietly because that
was going to be mine, So I'm going to think
of another one while you go your.
Speaker 2 (49:46):
Yeah cool on the spot.
Speaker 4 (49:47):
My ace of the week is pretty boring at the
moment because I'm back at work and life has got
a bit more boring. But I do have a great
week ahead in terms of I have a friend's who
had a birthday this week, Ellie gosber All, shout out
to you. She used to work here. I used to
be our chief content officer's executive assistant.
Speaker 2 (50:05):
She sets left us, so she should be dead to me.
Speaker 1 (50:07):
But she's not knocking around during this Year's kept her accreditation.
Speaker 8 (50:11):
No, she did not keep it.
Speaker 1 (50:12):
She bought a ticket.
Speaker 2 (50:13):
She bought a ticket.
Speaker 4 (50:15):
Anyway, it's her birthday, so I'm going out for dinner
with her tomorrow night and a couple of her friends
which will work at Tennis Australia as well, so that
will be nice. And then I'm back to playing tennis
next week as well. So cool Wednesday Saturday.
Speaker 2 (50:27):
I'm back on court. I will play with playing at
Forkner Park again. I'm not playing here yet.
Speaker 4 (50:38):
It's very hard for a lowly publican person to get
onto the NTC indoor courts.
Speaker 2 (50:44):
Just to let you know, but you've got got the
hook up. Yeah, I'm a hitting partner with Luke's.
Speaker 1 (50:51):
When I watched that, that would be it'd be great content.
Speaker 4 (50:55):
Once I've played a little bit more. When you come
back after you go away with the Alex Demonor Foundation,
then we'll play after that.
Speaker 1 (51:05):
Yeah great. Well, I suppose I was going to do
for my as of the week the Melbourne g Prix.
Speaker 2 (51:11):
Are you going?
Speaker 1 (51:12):
I'm not going, but I suppose I'm technically actually on
rest and recovery leave right now, so just annual leave
for a night. Who works the Australian Open. But I
came back in to do the podcast. But on my leave,
I've been doing practically nothing and Jesus been good. Yeah,
it's been really, really nice. I was telling fifty before
that I was actually I hit the driving range at
(51:33):
my local golf course earlier this week and I lost
track of how many buckets of balls I went through
my hand. I still quite can't quite close it fully,
but it was just so cathartic. And that's my as
of the week, whacking balls with not a care in
the world and not having to walk after them, just
get into the bucket.
Speaker 3 (51:50):
Yeah, beautiful.
Speaker 2 (51:51):
I do love a driving range.
Speaker 1 (51:52):
Good fun, so much fun.
Speaker 9 (51:53):
That was.
Speaker 1 (51:54):
Yeah, the last ball was a bit wanting there on
your own. Yeah, drinking day, drinking alone while on lead.
Speaker 9 (52:01):
That is a worry.
Speaker 1 (52:01):
That's a worry a mid strength anyway. Well, that's the
end of the show.
Speaker 2 (52:06):
It's been.
Speaker 3 (52:07):
He wants me to say something, No, I want to
say one thing. I just want to pay tribute to
Luke Saville. Yes, he's retired. It's the first time I've
seen him since he's been retired. This is a kid
that can mentor a lot of our young players. He's
left a legacy that is something special. He's from South Australia,
so I'm naturally a little biased towards Luke, but I
(52:29):
want to give you tribute, mate, for what you did
for us, what you've done for our sport and how
you do. How you conducted yourself for me was the
most beautiful thing. And you played Davis Cup, you represented
us in Olympic Games. You had a great career, but mate,
you left a great legacy. Not everyone, as we all know,
(52:49):
can say that about their careers, but you can. So
well done. Yeah, congratulations.
Speaker 6 (52:54):
I'm yeah, as you said, those achievements, but very happy
how I conducted myself and left a good legacy for
juniors to follow. And Mate, I've looked up to you
my whole career as well, and can't.
Speaker 3 (53:08):
A mutual obsession. I didn't know.
Speaker 6 (53:10):
I can't say I ever saw you play. Sorry, but
just yeah, big fan of yourself. So thank you.
Speaker 9 (53:17):
This is about you, Luke.
Speaker 6 (53:18):
Now I'm going to put it on the back on you.
Speaker 1 (53:20):
I don't like this even now.
Speaker 3 (53:22):
Yeah that's what that's you know, there's not enough personalities
like like Luke's in our sports, so I wanted to
say that that's great.
Speaker 4 (53:32):
Good on you, And for anyone who wants to read
more about Luke, we have a story, multiple stories on
him on Tennis Dot com toda are you? And also
if you're an Australian Tennis mag subscriber, there was a
big write up on Luke.
Speaker 2 (53:43):
I don't know whether you've even read it.
Speaker 4 (53:45):
He's looking this magazine which I actually read on Tuesday.
Wasn't next No, the calendar comes out later. No, but
I'll give you a copy of the magazine so you
can have a readers.
Speaker 6 (53:58):
A few on our table here.
Speaker 1 (54:00):
So four we need to update that LD of these.
Speaker 2 (54:03):
No, they're not that old. But the latest one isn't
there it does?
Speaker 3 (54:06):
It have cobb dogglar at the top of it.
Speaker 1 (54:10):
What a place?
Speaker 8 (54:10):
So what a name?
Speaker 6 (54:12):
Population of three hundred people on the Murray River in
South Australia. Shout out to everyone back home.
Speaker 1 (54:17):
Sounds picture perfect. Well, ladies and gentlemen, thank you very
much for joining us for another edition of the Tennis.
I'ms ab Muhlebark. Stick around and come back next week.
We'll be jumping into Miami for the second half of
the Sunshine Double. Don't forget. You can watch this episode
and every other episode of The Tennis on the Australian
Open YouTube channel. Jump on there like and subscribe. Hit
(54:39):
that bell so you never miss an episode. We've also
got full matches, cut down matches, match highlights, interviews, amazing
content on the AA YouTube channel. And that's it from me.
It's going to be a blast. Fits He's got one.
Speaker 3 (54:49):
More, go Leanni. Yes, yeah, Little Yanni, go Leanni.
Speaker 1 (54:54):
Aloha Leanni, Yeah, beautiful heart. We'll have a great week
in tennis. We'll see you next week. And that's it.
Speaker 5 (55:02):
Oh,
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