May 29, 2025 • 55 mins
Bonjour! The Sit-Down hosts Viv Christie and Matt Trollope discuss all the big news from week 1 of Roland Garros with experts Sam Stosur and Todd Woodbridge. 4-time champion Iga Swiatek is a step closer to defending her title after a convincing win over Emma Raducanu, while the Joao Fonseca juggernaut rolls on following his straight-sets triumph over Hubert Hurkacz. Casper Ruud’s shock elimination has opened up the draw for Alexei Popyrin and reignited the conversation about event scheduling. Hometown hero Gael Monfils has come back from two sets down to break the record for most 5-set wins at the event. The panel reacts to Naomi Osaka’s emotional media conference and recaps historical titles for Novak Djokovic and Maya Joint. Plus, Brie Stewart and Duncan McKenzie-McHarg join us from on the ground in Paris.
AusOpen.com
iHeart
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Hello, and welcome to the tennis Hoppies. Big goopy, rude
shock exit opens up the Rolling Garros straw for the
Australian Montfees Miracle, Gail's heroic come back in front of
a home crown in Paris, and joint winner Maya.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Doubles up in Morocco.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
That's all I had with me, Mattrolope, and this week
it's a sit down takeover of the tennis as I'm
joined by my regular co host five Christy.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
It's podcast domination.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
It is Matt, same chair, different podcasts, but great to
be here. Yeah, great to see you stepping in for
zeb who is unfortunately unable to join us today.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Yeah, we're hoping that he feels better soon. Normally, Todd,
when we introduce you, we would say twenty two times
doubles champion, but let's keep it Rolling Garros focus today
and say you are the two thousand Rolling Garross doubles
champion where you completed your career slab.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Yeah, it was a dry period on the clay, wasn't it,
Because it was one of those twenty two Yeah, dear
who wrote Poppy Zoppi, by the way.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
It wasn't me. I like that, but it's quite good opportunity.
But Todd wood Bridge in the chair joining us and
and and Sam Stoza a rollin Garross doubles champion in
two thousand and six, four times you reach the semi
finals in singles, and in twenty ten you made the final.
So it's a great tournament for you as well. It
must be nice to be watching it and bringing back
(01:19):
those memories.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
Did you make the semis four times?
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Yeah, I guess, yeah, I knew it's three well three
plus finals, so yeah, okay, okay, yeah, it's bloody good.
Speaker 5 (01:30):
Thank you. No, I love this, Timm, Yeah, I love
I mean I love say that she wore jacket.
Speaker 6 (01:38):
I have my Roar Rain jacket on today.
Speaker 5 (01:41):
But yeah, no, I love watching the clay. I mean
I love watching it. I love playing on it. I
just think it makes tennis, you know, that little bit
different interesting. You see the cat and mouse, you see
the tactics, and I know it's just fun.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
And Todd, you're in the chair for Channel nine's broadcast
for Roland Garross.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Has it all been going in for a couple of days.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
It's been good. I mean we've been fortunate enough with scheduling.
We've had Ozzie's to start our coverage, which is absolutely perfect.
So been a bit of a tough run, but also
we've had some wins, so we're pleased with that. And
I'm just getting used to kind of overnight slowly getting
later and later as we get into next week when
it gets very late where we'll be finishing at four
(02:18):
or five in the morning.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Well, we're seeing now we've actually got our draws lined
up in front of us, and you can see when
it starts to take shape and get through to the
third round and you've got seeds starting to meet each
other and things like that. I guess, with what's caught
your eye this week, I might kick off and I think,
what's caught my eye is the section that is right
closest to me here. I saw somebody describe it as
the section of death on Twitter. It is the section
(02:42):
led by Egish Fiontek, who is randomly the fifth seat
this time. That's a very unfamiliar seat to have her
to have next to her name, but she could potentially
in the fourth round play either Elena Rebikna or Elena Ostapenko,
which is kind of would be whoever is she was
to get past Jaqueline Christian in the third round, that
(03:02):
would be very, very tough considering everything that's happening. I
think Schiontec's caught my eye because of how she started
the tournament. There was a lot of question marks about
her coming in, but she put down a six one
six two win over Emma Rajakano overnight, which is a
real statement victory. And if she gets past Jackal and
Christian in the third round, and that's tough because she
just made the Rebat final, then yeah, you've got the
(03:23):
prospect of this match against potentially Ostapenko, who's six and
zero against her in the head to head, and the
two former French Open champions, or Rebikner, who's another player
that really troubles her, and that would probably be the
most most trouble she ever would have been in a
rolling Garros. I think every time she's played, and she's
always been winning, she's usually the favorite.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
I'm not sure she would.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
Be this time, especially if it's Ostapenko. I probably wouldn't
put her as the favorite. And I remember actually being
on this pod sometime last year talking about okay, let's
see when they play on clay, what happens with that result. Well,
Ostapenko just beat her the last time they played on
clay and the only time they played on clay, So
there's obviously something about that matchup that Iger does not
(04:04):
like and Jolena loves. And if it does end up
being that, it'll be, you know, a very interesting prospect
to see who.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
Can do it at Roland Garros.
Speaker 5 (04:13):
And then you know, if it's Rebarkner again, her ball
coming through the court, if the conditions are right for Rebekner,
that's going to be another tough one. So yeah, big
big test for Eager coming up.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
And you can talk to that too, Sam, because Rebeken
is coming in as the Strasburg champion, which is obviously
something that you that was a tournament you won a
couple of times leading into the French and is a
good it's quite a good week before the tournament because
it's the same country, same kind of conditions.
Speaker 5 (04:36):
Yeah, very similar conditions, courts, very similar, the center court,
there's beautiful to play on.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
You know, if it's raining.
Speaker 5 (04:42):
In Paris is probably reigning in Strasbourg, and it's it's
just a nice easy week to guide yourself into a
Grand Slam. And yeah, rebark In has form are so
this year hasn't been outstanding by her, you know, standard
or level. So to win a title coming into a
Grand Slam is always going to that confidence and that
feeling of oh, yes, you know my belongings back. I'm
(05:04):
feeling good, I'm feeling confident, and she's going to be
riding high.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
I guess the thing is if that eager does get
through whoever she plays there, then she becomes a favorite,
because that is a key moment in building confidence and
watching her in these first couple of days, it's fascinating
to see a player come back to a place they love.
Like you're talking about how much you enjoyed rolling GIRs
(05:27):
four semis. You just get there and you go, oh,
this is my place. I feel like that going into Wimbledon,
even if I hadn't been playing. Oh you just soak
up and you feel good and you and all of
these great matches and moments and points seem to relive
in your mind. And I feel like I've sensed that
within her body language when she's got into the tournament.
(05:48):
So that round is going to kind of define what
we might see in the rest of the tournament.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
And as you said she does get through Todd, then
eager's going. I think there's something that has been talked
about as much because people haven't been considering her the
favorite this time. If she wins Rollin Garris again, she'd
be the first woman since Suzanne Longland to win four
in a row, which was over one hundred years ago.
So that would be I mean, Raffa's always winning wats
of a row, so someone's always done it at Rolling Garris.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
But on the women's side that but.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
I mean Susan didn't have an ostra pink No.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
Do you think she pays attention as a player? Do
you pay attention to all those numbers? Everyone's talking about
the numbers the record.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
I believe she does.
Speaker 5 (06:27):
Do you Even if you don't, you get reminded of
it enough, then it does.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
You know.
Speaker 5 (06:32):
It may not be when you're about to serve at
three to two in the first set, but you do
think about it. I think, and I think she would. Yeah,
I probably love chasing these records.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
There are those different personalities that they are motivation and
some of them are oblivious. I think she is very
aware and very motivated by those and also at times
stressed by those So but that's also that fine line
between making you good and exceptional, and she's he's always
on that fine line. We see that with her emotion.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Another person that is putting together some impressive numbers, viv
Is gaum On Fees.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Yes, and he I believe caught your artist.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
He did, Yes, so amazing win from him in the
first round. He recovered from a two sets deficit to
beat Hugo Dellion And yeah, so building some incredible numbers.
As you said, he's won the most five setters of
any player at Roland Garros twelfth time he's won a
five set match, surpasses Novak and stand for Rinka, so
(07:31):
that's not bad company to keep. So yeah, it was
his fortieth match win in Paris, the most verny French
player alongside Janick Noah.
Speaker 7 (07:41):
And yeah, all of this.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
And he turns thirty nine in September, so yeah, incredible
run for him.
Speaker 7 (07:47):
And yeah, I think French tennis.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Generally has kind of been in the spotlight in this
first week. So you had nineteen French men starting in
the draw, nine women, and as well as Gail, you've
also got Arthur Feast doing really well.
Speaker 7 (07:59):
The opposite end of the scale.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
So he's only twenty third Rolling Girls campaign, so wouldn't
be surprised to see him make a little run either.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
He's well, that's an impressive story because Fis had never
won a match at rollind Girls. But he's the I
think the highest ranked french man. He's the fourteenth seed,
is the one that has got that incredibly high ceiling.
Have you seen much of him? Todd, like, what do
you think? He's the kind of player that could electrify
that tournament.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
Very much so, I mean he looks like he could
be a front rower for the rugby team as well.
I mean he's a big boy for a young lad.
But with that he brings huge speed in terms of
the way that he plays in racquetthead speed and power
and that type of thing. So he's really dynamic, typically
(08:41):
French in that way, and I say that sometimes you
can in trouble now for categorizing you know countries in
the way that they play, but the French they play loose,
flamboyant and they go for stuff and it's entertaining and
when he's on, you know, he's really dangerous. I mean
the match that he played against demon Or Wimbledon demon
or you know, ends up getting injured near there, and
(09:05):
he's just that type of player that you can see
all of a sudden going into a deep run. I
still think his choices on court because of that flamboyant
way that the French player maybe hold him back. He's
got a little bit more discipline, but he certainly has
the firepower the physicality to do some damage.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
And Vivi you mentioned it has been such a significant
tournament for the French players already. In one player, Caroline
Garcia Sam called it ended her rolling Garras career. I
think we first saw her there in maybe like twenty
eleven or twenty eleven, that Charipova match.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Yeah, I remember watching that.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Yeah, yeah, and yeah, she played her last match at
Roland Garss and she was in tears in the tunnel
before she walked out onto It was just, yeah, she
was so emotional already, but it looked like a really
beautiful moment and a lovely moment on the court with
Bernarda Perra who beat her, she had really nice things
to say. That was quite an emotional first round story.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Yeah, I did see that in the time.
Speaker 5 (10:04):
I thought, hang on, this is before the match, right,
and I rewatched it just to make sure. But yeah, look,
obviously any one retiring, for all of us, it is
a big moment. It is emotional because it has been
our whole life, you know, playing and doing what we love.
So I think for anyone who especially can finish, you
know at home or have a Grand Slam where you
(10:25):
can sort of say this is my last one and
feel it, it is emotional. But it's exciting for her.
I think, you know, she had a fantastic career. She
sort of bubbled up and then went down and then
came back up again. But yeah, won a couple of
grandson titles in doubles, and yeah, a heck of a player.
So good for her to be able to finish there. Well,
(10:45):
I guess she's going to continue on for a little
bit longer, but at least have this moment in Paris.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
I think it was interesting that she announced I'm going
to retire just before she goes out, and then she's
crying at the front gate, and I just think at
the end of the match, she saw pure relief that
it was over. And I don't think anybody at home
understands what that's like. You play your whole professional life
(11:11):
with tension and expectation, and when you make that decision.
I just looked at her and you could just see
the weight to the world come off, and I thought
she looked really happy. Yes, you're moving on, but there
is life after tennis, and I think she's going to
be somebody that really enjoys that. And I just thought
that was a moment that crossed my mind. Was just
(11:33):
the pure relief that I don't have to deal with
this stress anymore that I put on myself because a
lot of it as athletes, that's what we do. We
think other people think things, and we just add so
much to our emotions, so much pressure.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
She's also talked about, you know, she's been struggling with
a shoulder injury at various times, how she's been playing
through pain through a lot of her career. So yeah,
I can imagine that it would be a relief.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Yeah, hopefully her voice was staying sport because I believe
she's also got a podcast which she started in the
last year, So.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
Would it'd be great to listen to because I think
anybody who has the ability to express what they did
well but also be open to talk about their insecurities.
They're the best ones to listen to.
Speaker 7 (12:18):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
And another French player who is retiring as Richard Gay.
So he plays at Yanick Cinner in the second.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Rould and that is oh god, gas Gay. When did
he first play at Roland Garros more than twenty years ago.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
When I was still playing.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Really this is his twenty second I think that's two
thousand and three. He might have started two thousand and
two like that's and he plays, yeah, Yanick Sinner, so
that will be yeah, well, an amazing moment that he
got in round one to play and win another match
at Roland Garros in his long story career there, Todd,
I guess at the opposite end of the crew spectrum,
we've got Caroline Garcia coming to an end, but we've
(12:53):
got a young Brazilian that's lighting up the sport and
you know, just starting on what looks like an incredible journey.
It looks like Joe Alfonseeca has caught your eye.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
Unreal and what Courbai is a how he's been playing,
but it's been a little up and down in recent months.
But what he's able to bring to it but the
Brazilian fans and it was Bruno Suarez that you know
used to play great doubles player. I follow him, and
Bruno said, tournaments have to understand that he brings Brazil
(13:26):
to every match, and you cannot put him on an
outside court that doesn't have enough seats for all those
Brazilians to go watch, because he has a massive following already,
and we saw that already in his opening match, where
people are on the stands of Chartier looking down onto
his court to be able to get a glimpse. So
I really think, you know, that's where these the tournaments
(13:46):
have to think about him moving forward, about where they
put him no matter who he plays. Maybe he's on
the third court, maybe it's not the big two, but
depending on where he goes.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
But Miami discovered this, didn't I mean, do.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
You remember the Demon took him out and then he
wrote so nice to be at the Rio Open. You know,
that type of thing. But he's another example, a lot
like al Karez for me, who has watched these amazing
players of the era of Federer, Djokovic, Nadal and Murray
and has taken all of the things that they do well.
(14:19):
The way he's handling himself and he's managed by Roger's team.
He is coping great. The one thing when I watch
him play at the moment, though he still looks quite young,
he still looks he still looks a bit like a
junior physically. So it's going to be harder for him
to go deeper in these tournaments because he isn't robust
(14:40):
enough yet in the legs and the recovery. He will be,
It's just a matter of time because of his age.
But he is so exciting. Crowds that he is bringing
is enormous, so that's great for the sport, and he's
got another good chance. He takes on Pierre Ubert who
got a while card and speaking of crowds, yeah, we're
(15:03):
going to have Brazil versus Frans so that you know,
if I would probably be putting that on susan long
one because that will bring a full house, great atmosphere.
But I think Pierre might have met his match.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Well.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
That would be the best ever result, wouldn't it a
slam if he was to make it through to the
third round.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
Yeah, So Fonseca for me caught my on many reasons
and taking out her catch too, which is a big win.
And Strake, who'd come off a good week in Geneva and.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
Sam, I believe something caught your either week before Roland Garross.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
It was a great story for Australian tennis.
Speaker 5 (15:36):
Yeah, obviously bits happened since then, but my joint picked
up her first WTA title in the two fifty event
in Rabat, heck of an effort. Also the doubles winner
the night before, so she's picked up, you know, her
first WTA singles and doubles titles the week before Roland Garros.
Then what was kind of funny as I saw that
(15:57):
she was going to play Eiler in the semi finals there,
and then I checked the Rolling Garross draw and I
was like, oh, that's you see, they play each other
in the first round of Rolling Garrols too, so they
knew that before they gone on the court in Rabat.
But I mean, we talked about her a few weeks
ago on here, about her rise and how well she's done,
and now she's fifty three in the world. I believe
(16:20):
just keeps on climbing and climbing and climbing. She's in
that kind of sweet spot at the moment where everything's new.
Every event is almost a bonus really because she's never
been there before, and you know, it's just upside for her,
so she can really kick on this year. And I
think winning last week is a tremendous effort. And now
obviously she did go out to Eiler in the first
(16:40):
round of Rolling Garros, but she has to remember, Okay,
look how far I've come and this is a new experience.
The first time she would have walked through the gates
at Roland Garros and she only had probably twelve hours.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
To really be there and experience it. And where's the
locker room? Where do I go?
Speaker 4 (16:54):
Where's this?
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Where's that?
Speaker 5 (16:56):
And then she was put onto the court straight away.
That's the way it goes. But that'll be a huge
learning experience for her, and yeah, she should be really
happy with what she's been able to achieve in recent weeks.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
I think that point you make about these learnings too.
I'm Alwa was pumping her up because I wanted to
do well in our coverage and then we had the
highlights of that match were crossing between them and it
was just so obvious that you forget how little experience
she had. It was a match of someone that hadn't
been in any of those places. And she played Ilo,
(17:28):
who has so experience and youth, went head to head
and experience one on this occasion. But she does seem
to take it in her stride. She seemed to be
as she rushed in that match. She didn't understand how
to take a time and let it sort of unfold,
which is a normal thing. And it just shows you
how a few players in the world, men and women,
(17:51):
really have this ability to just keep flying. And so
this was that first little moment where she has to
kind of adjust to being a professional and learning. But
when you look at her and you've mentioned her work ethic,
she will how hard is it?
Speaker 3 (18:06):
I mean, obviously she won a tournament with singles and doubles,
but like the I guess physically mentally, what's the comdown
like after that.
Speaker 5 (18:14):
Well, she would have literally played that singles final, probably
gone straight to the airport. She would have heard her
bags at the courts, going straight to the airport, flown
a couple of hours back to Paris.
Speaker 6 (18:22):
No you check, he go to the.
Speaker 5 (18:24):
Courts, have a quick hit and then you're playing the
next day. And it's not easy for anyone, but I
think especially it's someone who she literally just turned nineteen
a month ago as well.
Speaker 6 (18:34):
It's where am I Yeah, I've never been there before.
Speaker 5 (18:37):
It's it's everything, and then you're playing someone who you
obviously know very well as well.
Speaker 4 (18:43):
You add that on top of it.
Speaker 5 (18:44):
But I think the physically she was, I'm sure fine,
it's the more the mental toll on. Oh, I've just
played nine matches last week. Now I'm going into this
big moment where I really really want to do well.
And I mean her coach told me the next day
as she slept till eleven o'clock this morning, the day
after a match. I think that shows how drained she
(19:05):
probably was. And but again it does show the best
plays in the world what they are able to achieve
week in week out to back those things up. And
you know, you don't win titles every week on tour,
so you do want to be able to enjoy it,
enjoy it and soak it up. And you know, there
was one nine and I think maybe three of them.
(19:25):
I actually was able to spend the night there and
enjoy the moment properly before you straight away thinking about
the next tournament. So it really it's easy to say
in hindsight and everything, but you really do need to
enjoy those moments and she can't forget what she's just
done or because now you know Roland Garris has done
for the year. But just take a moment at some
stage and just really enjoy it.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
And what you do is that you look for the
champagne bar at the airport.
Speaker 7 (19:52):
A good tip. That's what you do, A great tip.
Speaker 6 (19:55):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
It was a big deal even celebrate just before boarding.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
On the edge.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Maybe she flew business, I don't know, maybe she got
a champagne on the flight. But she was the first
Australian women's singles title winner since Ashbarti won the Australian
Open three and a half years ago. So it was
a big deal for Australian tenants. But Sam, you're saying
that that first round match with Tom Lanovitch was juicy.
You know both of them very well because they're in
the Billy Jinking Cup team. Did you have a sense
that maybe Eiler might her experience might shine through in
(20:24):
that first round match?
Speaker 7 (20:25):
Sure?
Speaker 5 (20:26):
I mean yes, because of the reasons that Todd and
obviously highlighted before, but more so just because you're you're
the outside and you've got nothing to do with what's
going on you're on the other side of the work
that you can just see them play two times in
three days. So but yeah, look that experience. I think
Eiler did look very composed. She played a very solid
match and she sort of let Maya unravel a little
(20:48):
bit and was like, Okay, I don't have to do
more than this. I'm going to just keep being the
you know, the player that I'm right now. Solid and
she got through it, and that is exp sperience and
that's again what she's learned over the years as well.
So it's you know, it's not going to be the
last time I plays at Roland Garrison. She actually does
(21:09):
enjoy playing on the clay.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
She scrapped.
Speaker 5 (21:12):
You'll be aggressive, she'll slide in, she'll try and play
some dropshots, and so it will be a surface that
I think she kind of keeps growing into as she develops.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Well, that's what's caught our eye this week.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Yes, very exciting, and I'm sure lots more catch her
eye as Roland Garris continues into Week two next week.
But now I believe it's time for our fantasy draft
check in. This was a segment Viview were involved with
last week when we debut fantasy teams. So yes, if
we've cast our eyes up to the screen here, yes,
Simon Ray, Luke Savill, and Viv Christy picked their fantasy teams.
(21:48):
So just for our listeners at home that might not
be watching, Luke Savill selected Carlos el Karez, Egersh Fiontech,
Mira Andreva and Alex Demenor. Viv's gone with Arena Sablenka,
Novak Djokovic and Hinwan Jen and had Casper but obviously
he departed the tournament. And Simon Ray pick Coco Goff,
Janick Sinner, Jasmine Paulini and Jack Draper, all who are
still alive. And we'll drop a link in the show
(22:10):
notes if you want to check out the full teams
and follow along with how it's all going.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
Viva might let you talk to this a little bit
about how your team's going. How are you well?
Speaker 3 (22:19):
First of all, this was my fantasy debut in any
type of sport or experience. I've never never never done
a fantasy team before, so yeah, it was you know,
we had that experience of you know, taking turns, you
know when could pick the same player twice, so that
made it a little bit complicated.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
But team's looking pretty good.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Yeah, I mean we have lost Casper, Yespa Rude, which
is unfortunate. Yeah, Casper lost, as we know, in second
round overnight. So spoke, and he was a favorite going
into the tournament. He just won one of his biggest
career title. Well, he'd won his biggest career title in Madrid,
so a lot was expected of him. But yeah, it
(23:03):
turns out he was playing with an injury and knee injury.
So yeah, it was a tough loss for him, knowes.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
So yeah, and the manner of that loss obviously, the
last two sets were six to one and six larger.
Speaker 4 (23:15):
Yeah, he can run.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Yeah, Well I didn't know he'd been carrying an injury.
It sounds like that's been going on for quite a while. Obviously,
as he said, he won the Madrid Masters, but that
was probably almost a month ago by Now, what did
you make of those comments Todd when he said he's
been playing through his pain and feels like he can't
take a break.
Speaker 4 (23:33):
Well, knowing Caspar, he'll take a break on the grass
because he just switches off. So that's about to happen
and he'll get that chance to do it. But you
know what stood out to me is he's so classy.
He has a huge heart. He could have shaken hands
very early. He would not do that. He had too
much honor in himself and his opponent to do it,
(23:55):
and he finished the match off. I thought that's what
stood out to me. I just think that he is
a class act and you just never know. You hang
in you you might get through that one and then
you get chance to get treatment. Something happens. But if
he has been carrying an injury, well then he needs
to take some time out and fix it. He would
be doing his utmost to get through the clay court
(24:17):
season because that's the part of the year that he
thrives in. So he we'll see if he plays wimbled.
Speaker 7 (24:23):
And hey, he's never wont to match at wimbled and so.
Speaker 4 (24:26):
No, yeah, I am in the locker room near him,
and usually his thongs with his picture on them, He's
flip flops are semi packed. As he's going out for
the first round.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
We might actually just throw to Caspad to hear what
he had to say after his lost to new Noboard Jays.
Speaker 8 (24:44):
Well, it's kind of like a rat drace when it
comes to the rankings as well. You feel you're obligated
to play with certain rules that the ATPF set up
with the mandatory events, and you feel like you lose
a lot if you don't show up play both economically
and point wise, ranking wise, an opportunity wise for me,
(25:05):
I know that these weeks months are really important for
the remaining of the air.
Speaker 9 (25:10):
And for my career.
Speaker 8 (25:11):
So of course if my leg is broken, I won't play,
but I it's tough anyways, especially when there's a time
with mandatory events, to skip them because the punishments are
quite hard.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
He's not the only one that this topic has come
up with. We've had particularly comments regarding the schedule, so
Jordan Thompson had some pretty pointed comments about the calendar.
We've had Darius Saville reveal on social media she's coming
home due to burnout. And Grigor Dimotrov had another Grand
Slam retirement. He's now retired from matches at the past
four Grand Slams, which is really like a worrying trend.
(25:46):
What do you make of all of that? Same when
you see these top players kind of and I mean
other players have commented, and Schiontek has talked about the schedule,
and yeah, there seems to be just like a bit
of a growing trend of plays struggling with the demands
of the calendar.
Speaker 5 (25:59):
Yeah, it's not a new topic that everyone's talking about.
This has been going on for years about the length
of the season from January through November. Davis cut finishing
the end of November early December. It is an absolutely
grueling schedule. And now I do not understand. The last
couple of years they've extended a couple of these other
(26:19):
Masters events to two week events, which I think is
very unnecessary. Like what sporting, what other sport around the
world plays two week events the amount of times that
we do in tennis. We've got the four Slams, it
has to be there's one hundred and twenty eight players.
That's Slams are slams.
Speaker 4 (26:35):
That's it.
Speaker 5 (26:35):
But these other toments they're not Slams. They don't need
to be two weeks long, and it takes forever to
finish them. Some players my overheard the Nazi comment the
other night. He liked it because he needed the day
to recover for his peck and everything. But he's probably
one out of you know, the top hundred that actually
need that physically maybe and liked it, but it just
(26:55):
has that.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
Peck injury as well, and that's why.
Speaker 5 (26:59):
But yeah, it just it just extends everything out so
much longer, and it just I don't think it needs
to be that way, and they really do need to
look at condensing it. And some of the comments from players,
I can't take a break, I can't do this, I
can't do that.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
Well, you have to.
Speaker 5 (27:14):
You just have to find somewhere to do it and
be ready to play. If you're going to pick twenty
five events to play, just make sure you're absolutely ready
to play those events.
Speaker 4 (27:24):
But yes, I think you're right. I agree with you totally.
I think the two week events are awful. I find
it boring. I lose interest. It's not what it should be.
It's less, less cities around the world highlighting our great sport.
But what happens with it is those two week events
put pressure on players to be on the road more often.
(27:48):
So it means that you've got to allow for those
two weeks and then you've got to plan. If I
don't play, well, I've got to get to another tournament.
I've got to add something else. So it's making a
fifty two week year feel like it's about sixty four
weeks because there's pressure on the players, and that's what
they're feeling in my mind. Their schedule is I'm always
(28:11):
searching for points. I've got to maintain ranking, whatever it
might be. It might be someone in the top ten
that's looking to get a bonus in their contract by
getting finishing the year in the top five or number one,
or it's a player that's ranked one to ten who's
trying to get to one hundred to get in the Slams.
There are so many variables, and I mean the tour
is doing it because they can get more revenue the tournaments.
(28:31):
So it's a catch twenty two situation. You want more
money to play for or you want more weeks off,
and that's where the decision needs to be made.
Speaker 5 (28:42):
But it also on that so they say, if you
lose early enough, you might be able to go play one, two,
five or a challenger.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
On the men's side, it just.
Speaker 5 (28:50):
Creates more uncertainty for the players. Oh well, if I
win today, I won't go there, but if I lose,
I'll quickly get there and play again. And that's another event,
and it just it almost may everything feel more unprofessional.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
When we're a professional sport.
Speaker 5 (29:04):
You shouldn't need to be making those decisions on the
fly to get to another tournament because you've just lost
and well I can play again tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
It's yeah, not a fan. And the tours put that
on themselves. The players have pressured them to increase prize
money and that's that's creating this issue. So I mean
the players. Now, there's a few injurs out there, there's
no doubt about that, because you're lucky to have places
to play. But you know, if you're looking at one
(29:31):
percentage to do your very best, then you know, Sam's right,
you have to find a way by there's pressure to
do that. If you take time.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
Off, it's good to get your perspectives as well as
former members of your respective player councils.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
So yes, it would be interesting if this.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
Was happening while you were both on tour, because I
think these started after you guys, the.
Speaker 4 (29:48):
Two well we had, Yeah we had Indie Wells and
keep a Skin at that time. But now that we've
but that month was always difficult. Two tournaments in a month. Yeah,
we didn't actually went and we were playing. We actually
didn't have other tournaments. We weren't allowed to go to
a second week timement if you lost first round.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Maybe we can bring up the fantasy draft again because
we haven't happy to do that just because we discuss
FIBs team. But also Luke and Simon's teams are both
full strength. I guess Vivos is close to full strength.
But yeah, I guess Sam and Todd, which are these lineups?
Do you like the best, because there's some really good
stuff in all three of these?
Speaker 4 (30:30):
Ah, I mean Luke and Simon, they got good picks. Yeah,
you've done well. I really like Simon's team as a
change up because no one in there has won a
rolling Garos and you know, maybe it's time for a change.
(30:50):
Coco has had a good clay court season. We know
what Yannick can do, Paulini just keeps driving along beautifully,
and Drape is dangerous. So I think I think Team
Simon right now is looking pretty good.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
The top five seeds.
Speaker 5 (31:02):
Lucky Simon, Yeah, yeah, he's really gone out in a
whim there.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
He did well with his peaks, like his choices were
very but.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Then Luke managed to get both defending champions.
Speaker 5 (31:13):
Yeah, I mean Luke's team obviously very strong, obviously our Kara.
I think, as we mentioned, we'll see how that plays
out the next couple of days with Fiontech progressing. But
Andreva is probably the player of the year so far
on the on the women's side, at least in the
in the masters events, and who doesn't want to see
Demon do well.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
So if he can have another deep run.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
Last year, it just shows you how important you see
position is for Demon.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
Yes, he was on that cask.
Speaker 4 (31:37):
He was on that cusp of eight to nine. If
he falls into eight, which is Muscetis section of the draw,
I mean I'm looking at that thinking Wells said, he's
got his best chance to reach a semi here at
Roland Garros. He hasn't done that in a major before.
He's playing great tennis, but that could have been Demon instead.
He's up in a section of huge ball strikers in
sinner section. He's got Boo Blair, maybe Mentik. It's just
(32:02):
it's just really hard. So if he reaches a quarter here,
I think he's played incredibly well. This would be the
hardest quarter he's made since he reached all four, and
we might.
Speaker 1 (32:12):
Actually keep our attention on the TV now because we're
going to head across to Paris to check in with
Brie and Duncan. And where do we find you to
this week?
Speaker 10 (32:21):
Okay, so we're back in Paris and Duncan, where have
you dragged me to today?
Speaker 11 (32:26):
Well, Bri, I've dragged you to the second most famous
site in all of Paris. This is the Arc de
treeoph As we know, to commemorate all the soldiers lost
in the French Wars, you know, one hundred and sixty
four feet tall. This is where the Tour de France
finishes as well around the Champs Elysee.
Speaker 9 (32:41):
So what do you reckon? Pretty cool, it's.
Speaker 10 (32:43):
Amazing, it's really nice to be here, quite nice and
early again love. But also, as you mentioned, it's quite tall.
So I just want to explain to you I'm currently
stood in a park. Ben Duncan has stood on a pellan.
Speaker 11 (32:58):
We're the same height, which is amazing. Yeah, it looks fantastic.
I hope you're enjoying that back at home in the studio.
Speaker 10 (33:04):
And I'm not going to fall off. But to the tennis, yep,
lot's been happening. We're nearing the end of week one.
What has been your highlights so far.
Speaker 11 (33:12):
Undoubtedly my highlight of week one was the raf Onadal
tribute ceremony inside court, Philip s Charchier, I mean, such
a special occasion, Brie. It was unbelievable to be inside
there with the fifteen thousand or so spectators.
Speaker 9 (33:24):
I mean the fact that the big four with.
Speaker 11 (33:25):
Their Snovak, Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafa all
together arm in arm on court, Philip Charcha, where've been
having all those battles over all those years? Yeah, and
then Raffa getting the trophy, you know, unveiling the plaque
with the footprint. Just the way in which it was
done by the French Tennis Federation. I think it was
a nine and a half out of ten. I really
don't think they could have really improved on it. It
(33:46):
was a fantastic effort by you all, especially to keep
it under wraps. And yeah, it was just a fantastic
start to Rolling Garris twenty twenty five.
Speaker 6 (33:53):
It really was. I was out in the crowd.
Speaker 10 (33:55):
We had to move to quite a few different screens
be able to actually see it felt like the precinct
stopped or stood still in time for that moment.
Speaker 6 (34:04):
There were people crying. We were all jealous.
Speaker 10 (34:06):
Everyone in the stadium actually received a Mercy Raffers shirt,
all jealous.
Speaker 6 (34:10):
We didn't get one. Did you get one?
Speaker 11 (34:12):
I did not get one, And I'm absolutely spewing it.
I'm absolutely spew it in because it kind of like
beautiful T shirt.
Speaker 9 (34:20):
Actually really know, no kind of Terra Cotta lovely.
Speaker 11 (34:22):
You know her story. So no, didn't get one. But
what was your highlight of week one?
Speaker 10 (34:26):
I'm going to go back to the end of qualifying
round and when I was in the crown for Dariusville,
our very own Dasher, when she got through to main
draw round one, it was just brilliant.
Speaker 6 (34:37):
To be there to see her do that.
Speaker 10 (34:39):
She played a great match, it was really emotional and
it was just it just felt so good to see
her do that.
Speaker 6 (34:46):
Yeah, it just gave me all the feels.
Speaker 11 (34:49):
Yeah, good highlight because I mean that's a thirty fourth
main draw Grand Slam appearance. That's a phenomenal effort when
you think about the career the Dash has had so yeah,
hats off to her.
Speaker 10 (34:57):
Yeah, and we've got some really results so far from
the Aussies, right.
Speaker 11 (35:02):
Yeah, really liking the look of Alexei Poprin at the moment,
you know what I mean, He's one of those guys
who you know, his best can be absolutely incredible at times.
We saw him beat Novak Chokovic at the US Open,
he won the Montreal Masses event last year, and he
knows that his best on any good day can beat anybody,
he says, just the matter of bringing that day in,
day out. And I spoke to him yesterday after his
(35:23):
match against Alle Jundro a Tibilo, you know, a proven
clay courter. You know, he's beaten Novak Chokovic in Monte
Carlo before, and he said to me that was the
best match he's played all year, straight set showing, you know,
in pretty tricky conditions as well.
Speaker 10 (35:35):
So it wasn't fun to be in the crowd. It
was a little bit, a little bit sad, exactly a
little bit of sad.
Speaker 11 (35:43):
That's rolling Garros right, it's the beauty of the tournament.
But really liking his chances at the moment. Obviously, alex
Demonol looks pretty good in his first round win as well.
And we can't forget Daria Casaquina, I mean, her first
win representing Australia Grand Slam level. Dasha is one of
those people that she's got such an attractive game style,
you know, whether it's the drop shots, whether it's the tweeners.
You know, she's got that sort of competitive streak as well.
(36:04):
So I think Australians are going to really really come
to love Dasher.
Speaker 4 (36:07):
Yeah. Love.
Speaker 6 (36:08):
And we've had some big losses overnight, haven't we.
Speaker 9 (36:11):
Yeah, some big losses, Yeah, massive losses.
Speaker 8 (36:13):
You know.
Speaker 11 (36:13):
Stefano Sitzipass a little bit out of sorts at the
moment obviously, you know, some really early exits from Grand
slams over the last you know, twelve months, so he'll
be dropping out of the world's top twenty. So he's
the big one that I think that we need to
sort of keep an eye on over the next six
to twelve months.
Speaker 9 (36:27):
But hey, Brisky, I gave you some homework you know
this time last week.
Speaker 6 (36:31):
Oh god, I've always been good with homework.
Speaker 8 (36:33):
You know.
Speaker 11 (36:33):
The Roland Garross must do the top five. I want
to ask you about them though. Number one, did you
get to see the raffe on a dull statue?
Speaker 6 (36:42):
Yes? I did. I've got a photo of it, not
with me in it, but I've got a photo.
Speaker 9 (36:45):
Love it?
Speaker 6 (36:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 11 (36:46):
Tick Number two, did you go see a Frenchman or
Frenchman play on court Suzanna long Land?
Speaker 6 (36:51):
I did. I saw Artifees defeat Nick Jerry.
Speaker 10 (36:55):
It was rowdy, it was loud, it was everything you
told me it would be in.
Speaker 9 (37:00):
Draw How good? Okay? Number three did you go to
the Greenhouse Court?
Speaker 6 (37:04):
I did?
Speaker 9 (37:04):
Yep.
Speaker 6 (37:05):
I loved it, thoughts, I never wanted to leave, uh huh.
Speaker 10 (37:08):
There wasn't a seat for me, but I did stay
in there for about ten minutes watching getting photos, and
then I sat outside for a while on a park
bench similar to the one I'm standing on, doing some
work on my.
Speaker 6 (37:18):
Laptop because I just loved being near it. It was
so amazing. Favorite court in the whole place.
Speaker 9 (37:22):
Love it? Okay.
Speaker 11 (37:23):
Number four did you go to the Moltle Hotel? Did
you see the swimming pool?
Speaker 10 (37:27):
I have not yet, but I'm hoping to do that
after I finished tonight, pending what time I can wrap
things up.
Speaker 9 (37:33):
Okay. Number five the Piece de Resistance?
Speaker 11 (37:37):
Did you go to the skybar at Court Phillips, Charta
and have a few bebies?
Speaker 6 (37:40):
We attempted it, you and I yesterday.
Speaker 4 (37:42):
We did.
Speaker 10 (37:43):
Turns out my creditation did not get me up there.
I'm not yet elite enough.
Speaker 6 (37:48):
But I'm hoping to come back next year and get straight.
Speaker 8 (37:52):
On up there.
Speaker 9 (37:52):
Put it on the bucket list.
Speaker 6 (37:53):
It's on the bucket list.
Speaker 10 (37:54):
See you next year, absolutely, I want to be here
play on the clay. Oh my god, can't wait to
see you guys back in Australia. Well.
Speaker 1 (38:05):
Great to hear from Bria and Duncan again. Very jealous
of seeing them all in Paris for a place where
we'd rather be, but.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
Great to hear from them, and we'll be back after
the ad breaking. Well.
Speaker 1 (38:18):
At the top of the episode we mentioned Alexi Popperin
and his draw is opening up beautifully now. I guess
with Casper being out of his section. It's a career
best result for Popperin at Roland Garross. So already by
winning his first round match, he won his first match
at Roland Garros since twenty nineteen, and now he's gone
into the third round. It's shaping up to be quite
a good tournament.
Speaker 4 (38:38):
It's a little bit like what happened for Alex at
last year's tournament at Roland Garross. I've caught both of
his matches first match against Nishioka was okay, wasn't great,
just enough. Then he came out and really played well
against Tabilo. He played an excellent clay court match against
a guy that's very comfortable on the clay, and that
opens up. He plays borges now and yes, it's going
(38:59):
to be tough, but it's it's winnable, and then it's
it's a touch and of and I'm gonna put my
glasses off. It gets it gets harder, but yeah, he
can win that too, And so a quarter final is
in reach. I mean, it's a long way to go.
Let's not be serious, but pop He's off. Opportunity is
(39:26):
a huge opportunity for him, and so I and I
just really like the way look the second round. He
came in really focused and he had a really deliberate
strategy game plan. He executed it from the opening game.
There were moments when you know, concentration dropped, but he
got back quickly. It was one of the more mature
matches I've seen in round two from Poperin in his career.
Speaker 7 (39:49):
He looked very composed, isn't he.
Speaker 1 (39:51):
And this is starting to like not be out of
the ordinary for Popperin, Like in the last six months
or a year. So there was the Master's title in Montreal,
fourth round of the US Open, so he's gone deep
in a lane before quarters of the Monte Carlo Masters,
which was a big result on clay, those kinds of
big results, Sam at like the master's level and Grand
Slam level. Does he carry that in with him to
Paris when he approaches that on the court?
Speaker 4 (40:11):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (40:11):
Absolutely, you have to. I mean he's proved he can
do that some of the times. The hardest part is
doing it the first time.
Speaker 2 (40:18):
But he has done it.
Speaker 5 (40:18):
And he also played exceptionally well at the Olympics last
year on these very courts, so he knows this feeling.
And yeah, he played really well at the Olympics, and
now it definitely is an opportunity.
Speaker 4 (40:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (40:31):
He actually he talks a lot about the well, he
talked a lot about the Olympics when he won in Montreal,
about what a turning point that was in his career.
Speaker 7 (40:37):
So you're right, I hadn't actually thought of that.
Speaker 3 (40:39):
Yeah, it must be bringing back some really confidence boosting memories.
Speaker 1 (40:42):
I think we underestimate the Olympics, like chin Wen and
Novak coming back to a place where they won like
they're you know, kind of in the background making second
and third round, like it's just something to watch out for.
Like Roland Garross, the last time he saw them wasn't
the last time. It was the Paris Olympics, and for
some players that was a big lift for them.
Speaker 4 (40:59):
Well, underness, Actually what the Olympics does for you in
confidence and what it does for you in how you're
perceived as a champion, and they're really important things that
a lot of people out there dismiss that tennis should
even be around the Olympics, and just have a look
at how many of our champions have worn medals.
Speaker 2 (41:19):
I guess.
Speaker 1 (41:19):
Also part of that Poparin story is that is the
loss of rude from the draw, and there have been
even though the drawers haven't fallen apart, there have been
some notable departures of players. We were very surprised by
their emmenavarros Or in the first round where she lost
six love, six to one. We had Peyton Sterns and
Marta Costuk, two players who had great lead up tournaments
go out very quickly. And then on the men's side,
(41:40):
we've lost fourth seed Taylor Fritz, We've lost Sitzer pass
we've lost Medvedev Sarundelo, who'd had a great lead up,
so there have been some surprises, even though the top
seeds are kind of still intact in the drawer.
Speaker 2 (41:53):
What have you made of all of that?
Speaker 4 (41:55):
Well, I think Taylor Fritz losing first round was a
big shock to me, and particularly you know the score
line that he went out. It was pretty straightforward four sets.
It's opened it up for a couple of other Americans,
then Tiafo and quarter though to potentially go through. But
that's Muzetti's section, and that's why I like it. For Mazzetti,
I just love the way he looks on the court
(42:15):
at the moment, the way he's playing, the depth that
he's carrying in his ground strokes. He just looks ready
to make his next move. But when you think about
Fritz playing and working with the Nasi Kokanakis this week,
and he sort of said about Fritz, he said, for
somebody as good as he is, ranked four in the world,
he plays too much. He actually doesn't give himself the
(42:37):
chance in terms of tapering up for a major. He's
hanging on when he gets into a major. And I
thought that was really interesting from a player in the
locker room. We can make all of those decisions sitting
here in a podcast, but when one of your own
who sees your week in week out, thinks that, then
(42:57):
I think a lot of the locker room thinking I've
got a bit of a chance. It's because I know
he's a little jaded.
Speaker 1 (43:01):
Another big name we lost was Naomi Osaka. Now technically
this wasn't an upset because she lost a Parlor Badoza,
who just made the Australian Open semis. She's top ten
in the world, so really Badoze was the favorite. But
Osaka had come in with a great some great results
on clay and was really devastated after the loss. That
showed in her press conference, and she had some pretty,
like I say, were troubling comments afterwards that she felt
(43:22):
that she'd let Patrick Moritoglu her coach down, he'd work
with Serena wat's he now doing working with her? It
was really it was really sad to see, and I
think she had to leave the press conference briefly. Yeah,
what did you make of that, Sam, and kind of
where her headspace might be.
Speaker 5 (43:35):
Yeah, I mean, playing Bidoza first round is no easy task.
But obviously she expects a lot of herself. She is
a Grand Slam champion and number one in the world,
so she would expect to still win that. But I think, look,
it is a troubling comment when you're thinking about letting
you coach down or people around you down, and some
personalities would certainly take those feelings on board a lot
(43:57):
more than others. But to be probably as candid as
what she was in the press about all that, it
is a little bit worrisome that that's what she's thinking
about maybe while she's out there all straight afterwards and
how does that?
Speaker 2 (44:13):
How do you get over that?
Speaker 4 (44:13):
How does that change?
Speaker 5 (44:14):
There's a bit of work I think there that needs
to be done off the court to you know, be
the person and the player that she is.
Speaker 4 (44:22):
This is the wrong way, the wrong word, but I'm
going to use it, you know, because we in the
media spaces want so much and there is social media
saying we need to express ourselves. She's a victim of that.
In sport, you cannot let your emotions out in a
(44:42):
way that your competitors see it. It gives them a lift.
And unfortunately for Naomi, she's now gone through the period
where I'm indestructible, and now she feels like most other
humans with you know, I'm unsure about myself. She has
(45:02):
moved on in life where more things happen, and I
kind of feel for her because I've been in the
spaces she's talking about. You've been in them, But it
would be my preference for her to talk about them privately.
I think it would help her enormously. We all feel
like we've let people down, but the reality is when
(45:25):
you chat with someone you haven't, everyone is behind you.
And I thought she played really well. Was one of
the best first round matches. She looks fantastic on court.
She's certainly been doing a lot of work physically to
get back to shape after having her first child. And
for me, Naomi, stick with it and just kind of
(45:49):
believe in yourself that you're doing the right thing, because
it looked to me that she was going to win
that match, and if she can start to get through
those matches, she's going to be top ten. She's going
to contend. But you have to let the expectations go
and just enjoy this journey a little more than perhaps
she is.
Speaker 1 (46:09):
It is an interesting one, isn't it. View as members
of the media and we host a podcast. We want
people to be candid, and we even had the Nassi
our podcast. Yes, sorry, shameless plug for the sit down,
but he was talking about one of the players to open.
Speaker 2 (46:22):
Up more and we thought that was great, didn't we do?
But it loves.
Speaker 4 (46:25):
There's a time for that though. Now's the time for
recently retired, moving into a different phase of life and
understanding it all. I've got another ten fifteen years on
you to be able to express that. But you can't
when one percent counts every time you walk out there.
Speaker 5 (46:43):
Yeah, I mean I probably in some way. I was
very guarded in a lot of ways. Now looking back,
I'm like, jeez, I really you were much.
Speaker 2 (46:52):
But it is.
Speaker 4 (46:52):
That you're the hardest interview in the sport.
Speaker 6 (46:55):
Is true.
Speaker 5 (46:56):
Like, there's no way I would have ever said anything
like that in praise. Maybe would have been around the corner,
you know, cry my eyes out about it to someone else,
But I wasn't going to let the rest of the
world or another player see that.
Speaker 2 (47:09):
I was that troubled by that.
Speaker 5 (47:10):
Because you do feel then well, I've just yeah, I've
lost a percent there.
Speaker 2 (47:15):
Next time I'm going out on court, they're going to
think they can win.
Speaker 5 (47:18):
So there is a balance to open it up and
not being open with the media.
Speaker 1 (47:23):
People like sharp Over told that story in her biography
actually heard Serena sobbing in the locker room after she
lost the Wimbledon final, and Serena disputes that even happened,
but sharff Iver wrote that in biography seeing other players
being devastated in the locker room is not uncommon. Right,
So you're your opposition already know you devastated.
Speaker 4 (47:40):
Sure, but it's this, This is deep, Okay, this is
not just I'm hacked off today. This is a little
deeper than that.
Speaker 5 (47:48):
And it's also the media can then use this at
any moment, whether it's next week or in six months time.
They're still going to remember this, whereas the play they
don't see that. In the in the locker room, we can,
we might see that, sure, but it's different than when
other people are going to be talking about it.
Speaker 3 (48:05):
So when you look back on your playing careers, are
you kind of relieved that social media wasn't the same
factor that it is in tennis today.
Speaker 4 (48:13):
I mean some of the things I've said and rackets
that went certain places around courts and imagine the real
would have been.
Speaker 1 (48:22):
I don't realized you were so fiery on court.
Speaker 4 (48:28):
Yeah, I'm just you know.
Speaker 1 (48:33):
This.
Speaker 4 (48:35):
When my videos used to turn up in the umpire
linesman training sessions, imagine what they would have done on Instagram.
Speaker 1 (48:48):
Well, just one other storyline before we get onto our
ace of the week that we should discuss is the
fact that Novak joined a very select group of people
by winning his one hundredth title in Geneva. That was
a bin story last week, wasn't it? And coming into
rollin Garl Yeah, one hundred titles after he'd been on
ninety nine since winning the Olympics. It was nearly a year.
And yeah, only Roger Federer and Jimmy Connors are ahead
(49:09):
of him. As just another massive milestone in Novak's caoreer.
Speaker 3 (49:12):
Yet another Novak Djokovic record. But I feel like that
one hundred title was kind of hanging over his head
for a long time, So maybe that's freed him up
a lot going into another.
Speaker 7 (49:23):
Rolling Girls campaign.
Speaker 4 (49:24):
Well, he did everything that he could to get ready
for this. I mean I talked about enough matches. It
didn't look like he was going to he had to
go play Geneva, and he did, and he wins it,
and he comes in with a good, solid first round
win against McKenzie McDonald, and he's just he's relentless in
his pursuit for this greatness. And I think winning one
(49:48):
hundred though it's like it may kind of let the
floodgates open a little again for him, there is a
bit of a relief to that. I'm sure it was
a target. He's got that done. But I did see
an interview with him talking about where he's at now
and what's more important to him, and it looks like
there's a quite a significant shift into what I want
(50:12):
for the next part of my life, being with family,
being a better dad, being around a bit more, looking
at what projects come after tennis. And as soon as
your mind moves to that, it's harder to be as
individually focused and relentless like he has been. So we're
seeing that shift. So it'll be interesting to see what
(50:33):
he can do here at Roland Garross, because I don't
think this is the one he wins. He has a
chance for me more so at Wimbledon.
Speaker 2 (50:41):
Currentine mutine.
Speaker 4 (50:42):
Its interesting to be a fun.
Speaker 2 (50:44):
Second round that will be.
Speaker 10 (50:47):
Well.
Speaker 1 (50:47):
I guess it's come time to the episode. Now for
Ace of the Week, Sam, we might start with you, Oh,
it's been.
Speaker 5 (50:52):
A pretty lean week. Actually yeah, I mean catching up
with a couple of friends and go for a couple
of walks. It's probably my heart. Like the last week,
I've been been a little bit sick.
Speaker 6 (51:02):
I'm getting over it.
Speaker 4 (51:03):
But yeah, sorry, guys, it's not can I how long
to go?
Speaker 5 (51:10):
Like three weeks? They're about I mean, I hope it's
still three weeks. It can keep cooking in there a
little bit longer.
Speaker 1 (51:20):
We've got to go slow at this point then, right,
that's yeah, well yeah, yeah, I.
Speaker 5 (51:24):
Mean but actually, one good thing is we do have
like some things now organized. We've built a cabinet to
actually put the baby's clothes in so that.
Speaker 4 (51:32):
The baby.
Speaker 2 (51:34):
That's not where.
Speaker 9 (51:38):
The drawer out.
Speaker 6 (51:41):
I'm feeling organized.
Speaker 1 (51:44):
An insight into Todd's child, no, no joking, joking, joking joking.
Speaker 2 (51:48):
What is your ace?
Speaker 4 (51:50):
I think my ace of the week has to be
seeing it's a tennis related one, and it's seeing Roger Raffa,
Andy and all out on the center court at Rolling
garyl It was just and people calling them the modern Musketeers.
That kind of gives me goosebumps. We've been around it.
I played against a couple of them, commentated with them,
(52:14):
I've worked with them, and they have just done enormous
things for tennis. And that I thought the FFT did
a fantastic job of Raffa's farewell and just seeing everyone
in the stand with clay court colored T shirts on
and fantastic. It was just that was my ace of
the week.
Speaker 2 (52:32):
Yeah, it was pretty pretty national.
Speaker 7 (52:34):
That's an amazing Ace of the week.
Speaker 3 (52:36):
I'm actually going to follow that theme because even though
we're not supposed to have a tennis themed Ace of
the week, Well, it's all about the tennis this week, right,
And as you know, Tennis mag is my product. We're
in our fiftieth year and I was actually looking back
at twenty years ago when we wrote about Raffa's first
win at Roland Garras and he was talking about his
(52:57):
match with Roger Federer in the semi finals and how
heologized to him, and yeah, it was just so interesting
to look back on how we reported that.
Speaker 7 (53:05):
So, yeah, that's my Ace of the week.
Speaker 1 (53:07):
Massive milestone. Yeah, we forget it's the twentieth year of
Raffa like coming back. There was someone I think on
Insta put a photo of the two of them hugging
that first time at Rolling Garras. After that match you
talked about and then the two of them hugging on
court in their suits for the farewell and it was
just like this lovely moments splice together.
Speaker 3 (53:24):
They're so intertwined and for everything that he's achieved, like
Graffa is so humble, I think.
Speaker 2 (53:29):
Yeah, for sure, I'm going slightly off topic. Non tennis.
Speaker 1 (53:34):
I sing in a choir and we have a concert
this week. It is this weekend, not quite fiftieth anniversary,
but it's the thirty fifth anniversary about choir.
Speaker 2 (53:42):
We are the first LGBTQI plus.
Speaker 1 (53:44):
Choir in Australia and formed in nineteen ninety and so
the concert is dedicated to that journey and how difficult
it was to form ac choir in nineteen ninety and
how hopefully it's a little easier.
Speaker 4 (53:56):
And what's the big number that you're singing.
Speaker 1 (53:58):
What we're doing sixteen, So the big number there is
these are all big numbers type sixteen sixteen songs I think.
Speaker 2 (54:05):
Twenty overall because we've also got like a like.
Speaker 4 (54:07):
A can you give us a few bars of your favor.
Speaker 2 (54:10):
No, no, no, absolutely not doing that.
Speaker 1 (54:11):
But all I will say is that it is a
broad like it's not a particular theme as like it's
this type of music where it's this era. It is
actually members have voted for their favorites, so it's quite
a user generators. And where is it we are seeing
an MLC so theater atty in Q.
Speaker 4 (54:29):
Tickets available are available.
Speaker 2 (54:31):
Can share links and.
Speaker 7 (54:34):
I can recommend. I went and saw them out last
year and it was yes, fabulous.
Speaker 2 (54:37):
Yeah, I came and saw very supportive. That's cool. Chapter.
Speaker 1 (54:41):
So that's yeah, that's a Saturday. So and then when
I go home, I'll put on the put on Rolling
Grass tennis, continue with the tennis.
Speaker 2 (54:49):
So yeah, there we go.
Speaker 1 (54:51):
Well, thank you all for being part of today's show.
To do this in a Grand Slam week as well.
Speaker 4 (54:55):
It's actually really cool to talk the meat of the tournament.
It's happening.
Speaker 2 (55:00):
Yeah, it's fantastic.
Speaker 1 (55:01):
And Brie will be back from Paris with us next
week and hopefully Zab as well and could be back
in the host chair next week to dissect the business
end of Rolling Gross on the tennis.
Speaker 12 (55:11):
Yea everyone, Harper and Andy here just want to say
thanks for tuning into this week's app.
Speaker 13 (55:15):
And if you tuned in on YouTube you would have
seen everyone's fantasy draft team. We want to know in
the comments, whose was your favorite and which men's player
women's player have you got taken out the whole tournament?
Speaker 12 (55:26):
Yeah, please jump in the comments. So that's YouTube, Jump
on Australian Open TV and hit subscribe. And whilst you're there,
why don't you follow us on socials as well. We'll
see you next week
Hello, and welcome to the tennis Hoppies. Big goopy, rude
shock exit opens up the Rolling Garros straw for the
Australian Montfees Miracle, Gail's heroic come back in front of
a home crown in Paris, and joint winner Maya.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Doubles up in Morocco.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
That's all I had with me, Mattrolope, and this week
it's a sit down takeover of the tennis as I'm
joined by my regular co host five Christy.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
It's podcast domination.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
It is Matt, same chair, different podcasts, but great to
be here. Yeah, great to see you stepping in for
zeb who is unfortunately unable to join us today.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Yeah, we're hoping that he feels better soon. Normally, Todd,
when we introduce you, we would say twenty two times
doubles champion, but let's keep it Rolling Garros focus today
and say you are the two thousand Rolling Garross doubles
champion where you completed your career slab.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Yeah, it was a dry period on the clay, wasn't it,
Because it was one of those twenty two Yeah, dear
who wrote Poppy Zoppi, by the way.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
It wasn't me. I like that, but it's quite good opportunity.
But Todd wood Bridge in the chair joining us and
and and Sam Stoza a rollin Garross doubles champion in
two thousand and six, four times you reach the semi
finals in singles, and in twenty ten you made the final.
So it's a great tournament for you as well. It
must be nice to be watching it and bringing back
(01:19):
those memories.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
Did you make the semis four times?
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Yeah, I guess, yeah, I knew it's three well three
plus finals, so yeah, okay, okay, yeah, it's bloody good.
Speaker 5 (01:30):
Thank you. No, I love this, Timm, Yeah, I love
I mean I love say that she wore jacket.
Speaker 6 (01:38):
I have my Roar Rain jacket on today.
Speaker 5 (01:41):
But yeah, no, I love watching the clay. I mean
I love watching it. I love playing on it. I
just think it makes tennis, you know, that little bit
different interesting. You see the cat and mouse, you see
the tactics, and I know it's just fun.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
And Todd, you're in the chair for Channel nine's broadcast
for Roland Garross.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Has it all been going in for a couple of days.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
It's been good. I mean we've been fortunate enough with scheduling.
We've had Ozzie's to start our coverage, which is absolutely perfect.
So been a bit of a tough run, but also
we've had some wins, so we're pleased with that. And
I'm just getting used to kind of overnight slowly getting
later and later as we get into next week when
it gets very late where we'll be finishing at four
(02:18):
or five in the morning.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Well, we're seeing now we've actually got our draws lined
up in front of us, and you can see when
it starts to take shape and get through to the
third round and you've got seeds starting to meet each
other and things like that. I guess, with what's caught
your eye this week, I might kick off and I think,
what's caught my eye is the section that is right
closest to me here. I saw somebody describe it as
the section of death on Twitter. It is the section
(02:42):
led by Egish Fiontek, who is randomly the fifth seat
this time. That's a very unfamiliar seat to have her
to have next to her name, but she could potentially
in the fourth round play either Elena Rebikna or Elena Ostapenko,
which is kind of would be whoever is she was
to get past Jaqueline Christian in the third round, that
(03:02):
would be very, very tough considering everything that's happening. I
think Schiontec's caught my eye because of how she started
the tournament. There was a lot of question marks about
her coming in, but she put down a six one
six two win over Emma Rajakano overnight, which is a
real statement victory. And if she gets past Jackal and
Christian in the third round, and that's tough because she
just made the Rebat final, then yeah, you've got the
(03:23):
prospect of this match against potentially Ostapenko, who's six and
zero against her in the head to head, and the
two former French Open champions, or Rebikner, who's another player
that really troubles her, and that would probably be the
most most trouble she ever would have been in a
rolling Garros. I think every time she's played, and she's
always been winning, she's usually the favorite.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
I'm not sure she would.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
Be this time, especially if it's Ostapenko. I probably wouldn't
put her as the favorite. And I remember actually being
on this pod sometime last year talking about okay, let's
see when they play on clay, what happens with that result. Well,
Ostapenko just beat her the last time they played on
clay and the only time they played on clay, So
there's obviously something about that matchup that Iger does not
(04:04):
like and Jolena loves. And if it does end up
being that, it'll be, you know, a very interesting prospect
to see who.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
Can do it at Roland Garros.
Speaker 5 (04:13):
And then you know, if it's Rebarkner again, her ball
coming through the court, if the conditions are right for Rebekner,
that's going to be another tough one. So yeah, big
big test for Eager coming up.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
And you can talk to that too, Sam, because Rebeken
is coming in as the Strasburg champion, which is obviously
something that you that was a tournament you won a
couple of times leading into the French and is a
good it's quite a good week before the tournament because
it's the same country, same kind of conditions.
Speaker 5 (04:36):
Yeah, very similar conditions, courts, very similar, the center court,
there's beautiful to play on.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
You know, if it's raining.
Speaker 5 (04:42):
In Paris is probably reigning in Strasbourg, and it's it's
just a nice easy week to guide yourself into a
Grand Slam. And yeah, rebark In has form are so
this year hasn't been outstanding by her, you know, standard
or level. So to win a title coming into a
Grand Slam is always going to that confidence and that
feeling of oh, yes, you know my belongings back. I'm
(05:04):
feeling good, I'm feeling confident, and she's going to be
riding high.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
I guess the thing is if that eager does get
through whoever she plays there, then she becomes a favorite,
because that is a key moment in building confidence and
watching her in these first couple of days, it's fascinating
to see a player come back to a place they love.
Like you're talking about how much you enjoyed rolling GIRs
(05:27):
four semis. You just get there and you go, oh,
this is my place. I feel like that going into Wimbledon,
even if I hadn't been playing. Oh you just soak
up and you feel good and you and all of
these great matches and moments and points seem to relive
in your mind. And I feel like I've sensed that
within her body language when she's got into the tournament.
(05:48):
So that round is going to kind of define what
we might see in the rest of the tournament.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
And as you said she does get through Todd, then
eager's going. I think there's something that has been talked
about as much because people haven't been considering her the
favorite this time. If she wins Rollin Garris again, she'd
be the first woman since Suzanne Longland to win four
in a row, which was over one hundred years ago.
So that would be I mean, Raffa's always winning wats
of a row, so someone's always done it at Rolling Garris.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
But on the women's side that but.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
I mean Susan didn't have an ostra pink No.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
Do you think she pays attention as a player? Do
you pay attention to all those numbers? Everyone's talking about
the numbers the record.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
I believe she does.
Speaker 5 (06:27):
Do you Even if you don't, you get reminded of
it enough, then it does.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
You know.
Speaker 5 (06:32):
It may not be when you're about to serve at
three to two in the first set, but you do
think about it. I think, and I think she would. Yeah,
I probably love chasing these records.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
There are those different personalities that they are motivation and
some of them are oblivious. I think she is very
aware and very motivated by those and also at times
stressed by those So but that's also that fine line
between making you good and exceptional, and she's he's always
on that fine line. We see that with her emotion.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Another person that is putting together some impressive numbers, viv
Is gaum On Fees.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Yes, and he I believe caught your artist.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
He did, Yes, so amazing win from him in the
first round. He recovered from a two sets deficit to
beat Hugo Dellion And yeah, so building some incredible numbers.
As you said, he's won the most five setters of
any player at Roland Garros twelfth time he's won a
five set match, surpasses Novak and stand for Rinka, so
(07:31):
that's not bad company to keep. So yeah, it was
his fortieth match win in Paris, the most verny French
player alongside Janick Noah.
Speaker 7 (07:41):
And yeah, all of this.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
And he turns thirty nine in September, so yeah, incredible
run for him.
Speaker 7 (07:47):
And yeah, I think French tennis.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Generally has kind of been in the spotlight in this
first week. So you had nineteen French men starting in
the draw, nine women, and as well as Gail, you've
also got Arthur Feast doing really well.
Speaker 7 (07:59):
The opposite end of the scale.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
So he's only twenty third Rolling Girls campaign, so wouldn't
be surprised to see him make a little run either.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
He's well, that's an impressive story because Fis had never
won a match at rollind Girls. But he's the I
think the highest ranked french man. He's the fourteenth seed,
is the one that has got that incredibly high ceiling.
Have you seen much of him? Todd, like, what do
you think? He's the kind of player that could electrify
that tournament.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
Very much so, I mean he looks like he could
be a front rower for the rugby team as well.
I mean he's a big boy for a young lad.
But with that he brings huge speed in terms of
the way that he plays in racquetthead speed and power
and that type of thing. So he's really dynamic, typically
(08:41):
French in that way, and I say that sometimes you
can in trouble now for categorizing you know countries in
the way that they play, but the French they play loose,
flamboyant and they go for stuff and it's entertaining and
when he's on, you know, he's really dangerous. I mean
the match that he played against demon Or Wimbledon demon
or you know, ends up getting injured near there, and
(09:05):
he's just that type of player that you can see
all of a sudden going into a deep run. I
still think his choices on court because of that flamboyant
way that the French player maybe hold him back. He's
got a little bit more discipline, but he certainly has
the firepower the physicality to do some damage.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
And Vivi you mentioned it has been such a significant
tournament for the French players already. In one player, Caroline
Garcia Sam called it ended her rolling Garras career. I
think we first saw her there in maybe like twenty
eleven or twenty eleven, that Charipova match.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Yeah, I remember watching that.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Yeah, yeah, and yeah, she played her last match at
Roland Garss and she was in tears in the tunnel
before she walked out onto It was just, yeah, she
was so emotional already, but it looked like a really
beautiful moment and a lovely moment on the court with
Bernarda Perra who beat her, she had really nice things
to say. That was quite an emotional first round story.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Yeah, I did see that in the time.
Speaker 5 (10:04):
I thought, hang on, this is before the match, right,
and I rewatched it just to make sure. But yeah, look,
obviously any one retiring, for all of us, it is
a big moment. It is emotional because it has been
our whole life, you know, playing and doing what we love.
So I think for anyone who especially can finish, you
know at home or have a Grand Slam where you
(10:25):
can sort of say this is my last one and
feel it, it is emotional. But it's exciting for her.
I think, you know, she had a fantastic career. She
sort of bubbled up and then went down and then
came back up again. But yeah, won a couple of
grandson titles in doubles, and yeah, a heck of a player.
So good for her to be able to finish there. Well,
(10:45):
I guess she's going to continue on for a little
bit longer, but at least have this moment in Paris.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
I think it was interesting that she announced I'm going
to retire just before she goes out, and then she's
crying at the front gate, and I just think at
the end of the match, she saw pure relief that
it was over. And I don't think anybody at home
understands what that's like. You play your whole professional life
(11:11):
with tension and expectation, and when you make that decision.
I just looked at her and you could just see
the weight to the world come off, and I thought
she looked really happy. Yes, you're moving on, but there
is life after tennis, and I think she's going to
be somebody that really enjoys that. And I just thought
that was a moment that crossed my mind. Was just
(11:33):
the pure relief that I don't have to deal with
this stress anymore that I put on myself because a
lot of it as athletes, that's what we do. We
think other people think things, and we just add so
much to our emotions, so much pressure.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
She's also talked about, you know, she's been struggling with
a shoulder injury at various times, how she's been playing
through pain through a lot of her career. So yeah,
I can imagine that it would be a relief.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Yeah, hopefully her voice was staying sport because I believe
she's also got a podcast which she started in the
last year, So.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
Would it'd be great to listen to because I think
anybody who has the ability to express what they did
well but also be open to talk about their insecurities.
They're the best ones to listen to.
Speaker 7 (12:18):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
And another French player who is retiring as Richard Gay.
So he plays at Yanick Cinner in the second.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Rould and that is oh god, gas Gay. When did
he first play at Roland Garros more than twenty years ago.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
When I was still playing.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Really this is his twenty second I think that's two
thousand and three. He might have started two thousand and
two like that's and he plays, yeah, Yanick Sinner, so
that will be yeah, well, an amazing moment that he
got in round one to play and win another match
at Roland Garros in his long story career there, Todd,
I guess at the opposite end of the crew spectrum,
we've got Caroline Garcia coming to an end, but we've
(12:53):
got a young Brazilian that's lighting up the sport and
you know, just starting on what looks like an incredible journey.
It looks like Joe Alfonseeca has caught your eye.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
Unreal and what Courbai is a how he's been playing,
but it's been a little up and down in recent months.
But what he's able to bring to it but the
Brazilian fans and it was Bruno Suarez that you know
used to play great doubles player. I follow him, and
Bruno said, tournaments have to understand that he brings Brazil
(13:26):
to every match, and you cannot put him on an
outside court that doesn't have enough seats for all those
Brazilians to go watch, because he has a massive following already,
and we saw that already in his opening match, where
people are on the stands of Chartier looking down onto
his court to be able to get a glimpse. So
I really think, you know, that's where these the tournaments
(13:46):
have to think about him moving forward, about where they
put him no matter who he plays. Maybe he's on
the third court, maybe it's not the big two, but
depending on where he goes.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
But Miami discovered this, didn't I mean, do.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
You remember the Demon took him out and then he
wrote so nice to be at the Rio Open. You know,
that type of thing. But he's another example, a lot
like al Karez for me, who has watched these amazing
players of the era of Federer, Djokovic, Nadal and Murray
and has taken all of the things that they do well.
(14:19):
The way he's handling himself and he's managed by Roger's team.
He is coping great. The one thing when I watch
him play at the moment, though he still looks quite young,
he still looks he still looks a bit like a
junior physically. So it's going to be harder for him
to go deeper in these tournaments because he isn't robust
(14:40):
enough yet in the legs and the recovery. He will be,
It's just a matter of time because of his age.
But he is so exciting. Crowds that he is bringing
is enormous, so that's great for the sport, and he's
got another good chance. He takes on Pierre Ubert who
got a while card and speaking of crowds, yeah, we're
(15:03):
going to have Brazil versus Frans so that you know,
if I would probably be putting that on susan long
one because that will bring a full house, great atmosphere.
But I think Pierre might have met his match.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Well.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
That would be the best ever result, wouldn't it a
slam if he was to make it through to the
third round.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
Yeah, So Fonseca for me caught my on many reasons
and taking out her catch too, which is a big win.
And Strake, who'd come off a good week in Geneva and.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
Sam, I believe something caught your either week before Roland Garross.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
It was a great story for Australian tennis.
Speaker 5 (15:36):
Yeah, obviously bits happened since then, but my joint picked
up her first WTA title in the two fifty event
in Rabat, heck of an effort. Also the doubles winner
the night before, so she's picked up, you know, her
first WTA singles and doubles titles the week before Roland Garros.
Then what was kind of funny as I saw that
(15:57):
she was going to play Eiler in the semi finals there,
and then I checked the Rolling Garross draw and I
was like, oh, that's you see, they play each other
in the first round of Rolling Garrols too, so they
knew that before they gone on the court in Rabat.
But I mean, we talked about her a few weeks
ago on here, about her rise and how well she's done,
and now she's fifty three in the world. I believe
(16:20):
just keeps on climbing and climbing and climbing. She's in
that kind of sweet spot at the moment where everything's new.
Every event is almost a bonus really because she's never
been there before, and you know, it's just upside for her,
so she can really kick on this year. And I
think winning last week is a tremendous effort. And now
obviously she did go out to Eiler in the first
(16:40):
round of Rolling Garros, but she has to remember, Okay,
look how far I've come and this is a new experience.
The first time she would have walked through the gates
at Roland Garros and she only had probably twelve hours.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
To really be there and experience it. And where's the
locker room? Where do I go?
Speaker 4 (16:54):
Where's this?
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Where's that?
Speaker 5 (16:56):
And then she was put onto the court straight away.
That's the way it goes. But that'll be a huge
learning experience for her, and yeah, she should be really
happy with what she's been able to achieve in recent weeks.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
I think that point you make about these learnings too.
I'm Alwa was pumping her up because I wanted to
do well in our coverage and then we had the
highlights of that match were crossing between them and it
was just so obvious that you forget how little experience
she had. It was a match of someone that hadn't
been in any of those places. And she played Ilo,
(17:28):
who has so experience and youth, went head to head
and experience one on this occasion. But she does seem
to take it in her stride. She seemed to be
as she rushed in that match. She didn't understand how
to take a time and let it sort of unfold,
which is a normal thing. And it just shows you
how a few players in the world, men and women,
(17:51):
really have this ability to just keep flying. And so
this was that first little moment where she has to
kind of adjust to being a professional and learning. But
when you look at her and you've mentioned her work ethic,
she will how hard is it?
Speaker 3 (18:06):
I mean, obviously she won a tournament with singles and doubles,
but like the I guess physically mentally, what's the comdown
like after that.
Speaker 5 (18:14):
Well, she would have literally played that singles final, probably
gone straight to the airport. She would have heard her
bags at the courts, going straight to the airport, flown
a couple of hours back to Paris.
Speaker 6 (18:22):
No you check, he go to the.
Speaker 5 (18:24):
Courts, have a quick hit and then you're playing the
next day. And it's not easy for anyone, but I
think especially it's someone who she literally just turned nineteen
a month ago as well.
Speaker 6 (18:34):
It's where am I Yeah, I've never been there before.
Speaker 5 (18:37):
It's it's everything, and then you're playing someone who you
obviously know very well as well.
Speaker 4 (18:43):
You add that on top of it.
Speaker 5 (18:44):
But I think the physically she was, I'm sure fine,
it's the more the mental toll on. Oh, I've just
played nine matches last week. Now I'm going into this
big moment where I really really want to do well.
And I mean her coach told me the next day
as she slept till eleven o'clock this morning, the day
after a match. I think that shows how drained she
(19:05):
probably was. And but again it does show the best
plays in the world what they are able to achieve
week in week out to back those things up. And
you know, you don't win titles every week on tour,
so you do want to be able to enjoy it,
enjoy it and soak it up. And you know, there
was one nine and I think maybe three of them.
(19:25):
I actually was able to spend the night there and
enjoy the moment properly before you straight away thinking about
the next tournament. So it really it's easy to say
in hindsight and everything, but you really do need to
enjoy those moments and she can't forget what she's just
done or because now you know Roland Garris has done
for the year. But just take a moment at some
stage and just really enjoy it.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
And what you do is that you look for the
champagne bar at the airport.
Speaker 7 (19:52):
A good tip. That's what you do, A great tip.
Speaker 6 (19:55):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
It was a big deal even celebrate just before boarding.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
On the edge.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Maybe she flew business, I don't know, maybe she got
a champagne on the flight. But she was the first
Australian women's singles title winner since Ashbarti won the Australian
Open three and a half years ago. So it was
a big deal for Australian tenants. But Sam, you're saying
that that first round match with Tom Lanovitch was juicy.
You know both of them very well because they're in
the Billy Jinking Cup team. Did you have a sense
that maybe Eiler might her experience might shine through in
(20:24):
that first round match?
Speaker 7 (20:25):
Sure?
Speaker 5 (20:26):
I mean yes, because of the reasons that Todd and
obviously highlighted before, but more so just because you're you're
the outside and you've got nothing to do with what's
going on you're on the other side of the work
that you can just see them play two times in
three days. So but yeah, look that experience. I think
Eiler did look very composed. She played a very solid
match and she sort of let Maya unravel a little
(20:48):
bit and was like, Okay, I don't have to do
more than this. I'm going to just keep being the
you know, the player that I'm right now. Solid and
she got through it, and that is exp sperience and
that's again what she's learned over the years as well.
So it's you know, it's not going to be the
last time I plays at Roland Garrison. She actually does
(21:09):
enjoy playing on the clay.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
She scrapped.
Speaker 5 (21:12):
You'll be aggressive, she'll slide in, she'll try and play
some dropshots, and so it will be a surface that
I think she kind of keeps growing into as she develops.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Well, that's what's caught our eye this week.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Yes, very exciting, and I'm sure lots more catch her
eye as Roland Garris continues into Week two next week.
But now I believe it's time for our fantasy draft
check in. This was a segment Viview were involved with
last week when we debut fantasy teams. So yes, if
we've cast our eyes up to the screen here, yes,
Simon Ray, Luke Savill, and Viv Christy picked their fantasy teams.
(21:48):
So just for our listeners at home that might not
be watching, Luke Savill selected Carlos el Karez, Egersh Fiontech,
Mira Andreva and Alex Demenor. Viv's gone with Arena Sablenka,
Novak Djokovic and Hinwan Jen and had Casper but obviously
he departed the tournament. And Simon Ray pick Coco Goff,
Janick Sinner, Jasmine Paulini and Jack Draper, all who are
still alive. And we'll drop a link in the show
(22:10):
notes if you want to check out the full teams
and follow along with how it's all going.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
Viva might let you talk to this a little bit
about how your team's going. How are you well?
Speaker 3 (22:19):
First of all, this was my fantasy debut in any
type of sport or experience. I've never never never done
a fantasy team before, so yeah, it was you know,
we had that experience of you know, taking turns, you
know when could pick the same player twice, so that
made it a little bit complicated.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
But team's looking pretty good.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Yeah, I mean we have lost Casper, Yespa Rude, which
is unfortunate. Yeah, Casper lost, as we know, in second
round overnight. So spoke, and he was a favorite going
into the tournament. He just won one of his biggest
career title. Well, he'd won his biggest career title in Madrid,
so a lot was expected of him. But yeah, it
(23:03):
turns out he was playing with an injury and knee injury.
So yeah, it was a tough loss for him, knowes.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
So yeah, and the manner of that loss obviously, the
last two sets were six to one and six larger.
Speaker 4 (23:15):
Yeah, he can run.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Yeah, Well I didn't know he'd been carrying an injury.
It sounds like that's been going on for quite a while. Obviously,
as he said, he won the Madrid Masters, but that
was probably almost a month ago by Now, what did
you make of those comments Todd when he said he's
been playing through his pain and feels like he can't
take a break.
Speaker 4 (23:33):
Well, knowing Caspar, he'll take a break on the grass
because he just switches off. So that's about to happen
and he'll get that chance to do it. But you
know what stood out to me is he's so classy.
He has a huge heart. He could have shaken hands
very early. He would not do that. He had too
much honor in himself and his opponent to do it,
(23:55):
and he finished the match off. I thought that's what
stood out to me. I just think that he is
a class act and you just never know. You hang
in you you might get through that one and then
you get chance to get treatment. Something happens. But if
he has been carrying an injury, well then he needs
to take some time out and fix it. He would
be doing his utmost to get through the clay court
(24:17):
season because that's the part of the year that he
thrives in. So he we'll see if he plays wimbled.
Speaker 7 (24:23):
And hey, he's never wont to match at wimbled and so.
Speaker 4 (24:26):
No, yeah, I am in the locker room near him,
and usually his thongs with his picture on them, He's
flip flops are semi packed. As he's going out for
the first round.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
We might actually just throw to Caspad to hear what
he had to say after his lost to new Noboard Jays.
Speaker 8 (24:44):
Well, it's kind of like a rat drace when it
comes to the rankings as well. You feel you're obligated
to play with certain rules that the ATPF set up
with the mandatory events, and you feel like you lose
a lot if you don't show up play both economically
and point wise, ranking wise, an opportunity wise for me,
(25:05):
I know that these weeks months are really important for
the remaining of the air.
Speaker 9 (25:10):
And for my career.
Speaker 8 (25:11):
So of course if my leg is broken, I won't play,
but I it's tough anyways, especially when there's a time
with mandatory events, to skip them because the punishments are
quite hard.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
He's not the only one that this topic has come
up with. We've had particularly comments regarding the schedule, so
Jordan Thompson had some pretty pointed comments about the calendar.
We've had Darius Saville reveal on social media she's coming
home due to burnout. And Grigor Dimotrov had another Grand
Slam retirement. He's now retired from matches at the past
four Grand Slams, which is really like a worrying trend.
(25:46):
What do you make of all of that? Same when
you see these top players kind of and I mean
other players have commented, and Schiontek has talked about the schedule,
and yeah, there seems to be just like a bit
of a growing trend of plays struggling with the demands
of the calendar.
Speaker 5 (25:59):
Yeah, it's not a new topic that everyone's talking about.
This has been going on for years about the length
of the season from January through November. Davis cut finishing
the end of November early December. It is an absolutely
grueling schedule. And now I do not understand. The last
couple of years they've extended a couple of these other
(26:19):
Masters events to two week events, which I think is
very unnecessary. Like what sporting, what other sport around the
world plays two week events the amount of times that
we do in tennis. We've got the four Slams, it
has to be there's one hundred and twenty eight players.
That's Slams are slams.
Speaker 4 (26:35):
That's it.
Speaker 5 (26:35):
But these other toments they're not Slams. They don't need
to be two weeks long, and it takes forever to
finish them. Some players my overheard the Nazi comment the
other night. He liked it because he needed the day
to recover for his peck and everything. But he's probably
one out of you know, the top hundred that actually
need that physically maybe and liked it, but it just
(26:55):
has that.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
Peck injury as well, and that's why.
Speaker 5 (26:59):
But yeah, it just it just extends everything out so
much longer, and it just I don't think it needs
to be that way, and they really do need to
look at condensing it. And some of the comments from players,
I can't take a break, I can't do this, I
can't do that.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
Well, you have to.
Speaker 5 (27:14):
You just have to find somewhere to do it and
be ready to play. If you're going to pick twenty
five events to play, just make sure you're absolutely ready
to play those events.
Speaker 4 (27:24):
But yes, I think you're right. I agree with you totally.
I think the two week events are awful. I find
it boring. I lose interest. It's not what it should be.
It's less, less cities around the world highlighting our great sport.
But what happens with it is those two week events
put pressure on players to be on the road more often.
(27:48):
So it means that you've got to allow for those
two weeks and then you've got to plan. If I
don't play, well, I've got to get to another tournament.
I've got to add something else. So it's making a
fifty two week year feel like it's about sixty four
weeks because there's pressure on the players, and that's what
they're feeling in my mind. Their schedule is I'm always
(28:11):
searching for points. I've got to maintain ranking, whatever it
might be. It might be someone in the top ten
that's looking to get a bonus in their contract by
getting finishing the year in the top five or number one,
or it's a player that's ranked one to ten who's
trying to get to one hundred to get in the Slams.
There are so many variables, and I mean the tour
is doing it because they can get more revenue the tournaments.
(28:31):
So it's a catch twenty two situation. You want more
money to play for or you want more weeks off,
and that's where the decision needs to be made.
Speaker 5 (28:42):
But it also on that so they say, if you
lose early enough, you might be able to go play one, two,
five or a challenger.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
On the men's side, it just.
Speaker 5 (28:50):
Creates more uncertainty for the players. Oh well, if I
win today, I won't go there, but if I lose,
I'll quickly get there and play again. And that's another event,
and it just it almost may everything feel more unprofessional.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
When we're a professional sport.
Speaker 5 (29:04):
You shouldn't need to be making those decisions on the
fly to get to another tournament because you've just lost
and well I can play again tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
It's yeah, not a fan. And the tours put that
on themselves. The players have pressured them to increase prize
money and that's that's creating this issue. So I mean
the players. Now, there's a few injurs out there, there's
no doubt about that, because you're lucky to have places
to play. But you know, if you're looking at one
(29:31):
percentage to do your very best, then you know, Sam's right,
you have to find a way by there's pressure to
do that. If you take time.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
Off, it's good to get your perspectives as well as
former members of your respective player councils.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
So yes, it would be interesting if this.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
Was happening while you were both on tour, because I
think these started after you guys, the.
Speaker 4 (29:48):
Two well we had, Yeah we had Indie Wells and
keep a Skin at that time. But now that we've
but that month was always difficult. Two tournaments in a month. Yeah,
we didn't actually went and we were playing. We actually
didn't have other tournaments. We weren't allowed to go to
a second week timement if you lost first round.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Maybe we can bring up the fantasy draft again because
we haven't happy to do that just because we discuss
FIBs team. But also Luke and Simon's teams are both
full strength. I guess Vivos is close to full strength.
But yeah, I guess Sam and Todd, which are these lineups?
Do you like the best, because there's some really good
stuff in all three of these?
Speaker 4 (30:30):
Ah, I mean Luke and Simon, they got good picks. Yeah,
you've done well. I really like Simon's team as a
change up because no one in there has won a
rolling Garos and you know, maybe it's time for a change.
(30:50):
Coco has had a good clay court season. We know
what Yannick can do, Paulini just keeps driving along beautifully,
and Drape is dangerous. So I think I think Team
Simon right now is looking pretty good.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
The top five seeds.
Speaker 5 (31:02):
Lucky Simon, Yeah, yeah, he's really gone out in a
whim there.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
He did well with his peaks, like his choices were
very but.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Then Luke managed to get both defending champions.
Speaker 5 (31:13):
Yeah, I mean Luke's team obviously very strong, obviously our Kara.
I think, as we mentioned, we'll see how that plays
out the next couple of days with Fiontech progressing. But
Andreva is probably the player of the year so far
on the on the women's side, at least in the
in the masters events, and who doesn't want to see
Demon do well.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
So if he can have another deep run.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
Last year, it just shows you how important you see
position is for Demon.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
Yes, he was on that cask.
Speaker 4 (31:37):
He was on that cusp of eight to nine. If
he falls into eight, which is Muscetis section of the draw,
I mean I'm looking at that thinking Wells said, he's
got his best chance to reach a semi here at
Roland Garros. He hasn't done that in a major before.
He's playing great tennis, but that could have been Demon instead.
He's up in a section of huge ball strikers in
sinner section. He's got Boo Blair, maybe Mentik. It's just
(32:02):
it's just really hard. So if he reaches a quarter here,
I think he's played incredibly well. This would be the
hardest quarter he's made since he reached all four, and
we might.
Speaker 1 (32:12):
Actually keep our attention on the TV now because we're
going to head across to Paris to check in with
Brie and Duncan. And where do we find you to
this week?
Speaker 10 (32:21):
Okay, so we're back in Paris and Duncan, where have
you dragged me to today?
Speaker 11 (32:26):
Well, Bri, I've dragged you to the second most famous
site in all of Paris. This is the Arc de
treeoph As we know, to commemorate all the soldiers lost
in the French Wars, you know, one hundred and sixty
four feet tall. This is where the Tour de France
finishes as well around the Champs Elysee.
Speaker 9 (32:41):
So what do you reckon? Pretty cool, it's.
Speaker 10 (32:43):
Amazing, it's really nice to be here, quite nice and
early again love. But also, as you mentioned, it's quite tall.
So I just want to explain to you I'm currently
stood in a park. Ben Duncan has stood on a pellan.
Speaker 11 (32:58):
We're the same height, which is amazing. Yeah, it looks fantastic.
I hope you're enjoying that back at home in the studio.
Speaker 10 (33:04):
And I'm not going to fall off. But to the tennis, yep,
lot's been happening. We're nearing the end of week one.
What has been your highlights so far.
Speaker 11 (33:12):
Undoubtedly my highlight of week one was the raf Onadal
tribute ceremony inside court, Philip s Charchier, I mean, such
a special occasion, Brie. It was unbelievable to be inside
there with the fifteen thousand or so spectators.
Speaker 9 (33:24):
I mean the fact that the big four with.
Speaker 11 (33:25):
Their Snovak, Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafa all
together arm in arm on court, Philip Charcha, where've been
having all those battles over all those years? Yeah, and
then Raffa getting the trophy, you know, unveiling the plaque
with the footprint. Just the way in which it was
done by the French Tennis Federation. I think it was
a nine and a half out of ten. I really
don't think they could have really improved on it. It
(33:46):
was a fantastic effort by you all, especially to keep
it under wraps. And yeah, it was just a fantastic
start to Rolling Garris twenty twenty five.
Speaker 6 (33:53):
It really was. I was out in the crowd.
Speaker 10 (33:55):
We had to move to quite a few different screens
be able to actually see it felt like the precinct
stopped or stood still in time for that moment.
Speaker 6 (34:04):
There were people crying. We were all jealous.
Speaker 10 (34:06):
Everyone in the stadium actually received a Mercy Raffers shirt,
all jealous.
Speaker 6 (34:10):
We didn't get one. Did you get one?
Speaker 11 (34:12):
I did not get one, And I'm absolutely spewing it.
I'm absolutely spew it in because it kind of like
beautiful T shirt.
Speaker 9 (34:20):
Actually really know, no kind of Terra Cotta lovely.
Speaker 11 (34:22):
You know her story. So no, didn't get one. But
what was your highlight of week one?
Speaker 10 (34:26):
I'm going to go back to the end of qualifying
round and when I was in the crown for Dariusville,
our very own Dasher, when she got through to main
draw round one, it was just brilliant.
Speaker 6 (34:37):
To be there to see her do that.
Speaker 10 (34:39):
She played a great match, it was really emotional and
it was just it just felt so good to see
her do that.
Speaker 6 (34:46):
Yeah, it just gave me all the feels.
Speaker 11 (34:49):
Yeah, good highlight because I mean that's a thirty fourth
main draw Grand Slam appearance. That's a phenomenal effort when
you think about the career the Dash has had so yeah,
hats off to her.
Speaker 10 (34:57):
Yeah, and we've got some really results so far from
the Aussies, right.
Speaker 11 (35:02):
Yeah, really liking the look of Alexei Poprin at the moment,
you know what I mean, He's one of those guys
who you know, his best can be absolutely incredible at times.
We saw him beat Novak Chokovic at the US Open,
he won the Montreal Masses event last year, and he
knows that his best on any good day can beat anybody,
he says, just the matter of bringing that day in,
day out. And I spoke to him yesterday after his
(35:23):
match against Alle Jundro a Tibilo, you know, a proven
clay courter. You know, he's beaten Novak Chokovic in Monte
Carlo before, and he said to me that was the
best match he's played all year, straight set showing, you know,
in pretty tricky conditions as well.
Speaker 10 (35:35):
So it wasn't fun to be in the crowd. It
was a little bit, a little bit sad, exactly a
little bit of sad.
Speaker 11 (35:43):
That's rolling Garros right, it's the beauty of the tournament.
But really liking his chances at the moment. Obviously, alex
Demonol looks pretty good in his first round win as well.
And we can't forget Daria Casaquina, I mean, her first
win representing Australia Grand Slam level. Dasha is one of
those people that she's got such an attractive game style,
you know, whether it's the drop shots, whether it's the tweeners.
You know, she's got that sort of competitive streak as well.
(36:04):
So I think Australians are going to really really come
to love Dasher.
Speaker 4 (36:07):
Yeah. Love.
Speaker 6 (36:08):
And we've had some big losses overnight, haven't we.
Speaker 9 (36:11):
Yeah, some big losses, Yeah, massive losses.
Speaker 8 (36:13):
You know.
Speaker 11 (36:13):
Stefano Sitzipass a little bit out of sorts at the
moment obviously, you know, some really early exits from Grand
slams over the last you know, twelve months, so he'll
be dropping out of the world's top twenty. So he's
the big one that I think that we need to
sort of keep an eye on over the next six
to twelve months.
Speaker 9 (36:27):
But hey, Brisky, I gave you some homework you know
this time last week.
Speaker 6 (36:31):
Oh god, I've always been good with homework.
Speaker 8 (36:33):
You know.
Speaker 11 (36:33):
The Roland Garross must do the top five. I want
to ask you about them though. Number one, did you
get to see the raffe on a dull statue?
Speaker 6 (36:42):
Yes? I did. I've got a photo of it, not
with me in it, but I've got a photo.
Speaker 9 (36:45):
Love it?
Speaker 6 (36:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 11 (36:46):
Tick Number two, did you go see a Frenchman or
Frenchman play on court Suzanna long Land?
Speaker 6 (36:51):
I did. I saw Artifees defeat Nick Jerry.
Speaker 10 (36:55):
It was rowdy, it was loud, it was everything you
told me it would be in.
Speaker 9 (37:00):
Draw How good? Okay? Number three did you go to
the Greenhouse Court?
Speaker 6 (37:04):
I did?
Speaker 9 (37:04):
Yep.
Speaker 6 (37:05):
I loved it, thoughts, I never wanted to leave, uh huh.
Speaker 10 (37:08):
There wasn't a seat for me, but I did stay
in there for about ten minutes watching getting photos, and
then I sat outside for a while on a park
bench similar to the one I'm standing on, doing some
work on my.
Speaker 6 (37:18):
Laptop because I just loved being near it. It was
so amazing. Favorite court in the whole place.
Speaker 9 (37:22):
Love it? Okay.
Speaker 11 (37:23):
Number four did you go to the Moltle Hotel? Did
you see the swimming pool?
Speaker 10 (37:27):
I have not yet, but I'm hoping to do that
after I finished tonight, pending what time I can wrap
things up.
Speaker 9 (37:33):
Okay. Number five the Piece de Resistance?
Speaker 11 (37:37):
Did you go to the skybar at Court Phillips, Charta
and have a few bebies?
Speaker 6 (37:40):
We attempted it, you and I yesterday.
Speaker 4 (37:42):
We did.
Speaker 10 (37:43):
Turns out my creditation did not get me up there.
I'm not yet elite enough.
Speaker 6 (37:48):
But I'm hoping to come back next year and get straight.
Speaker 8 (37:52):
On up there.
Speaker 9 (37:52):
Put it on the bucket list.
Speaker 6 (37:53):
It's on the bucket list.
Speaker 10 (37:54):
See you next year, absolutely, I want to be here
play on the clay. Oh my god, can't wait to
see you guys back in Australia. Well.
Speaker 1 (38:05):
Great to hear from Bria and Duncan again. Very jealous
of seeing them all in Paris for a place where
we'd rather be, but.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
Great to hear from them, and we'll be back after
the ad breaking. Well.
Speaker 1 (38:18):
At the top of the episode we mentioned Alexi Popperin
and his draw is opening up beautifully now. I guess
with Casper being out of his section. It's a career
best result for Popperin at Roland Garross. So already by
winning his first round match, he won his first match
at Roland Garros since twenty nineteen, and now he's gone
into the third round. It's shaping up to be quite
a good tournament.
Speaker 4 (38:38):
It's a little bit like what happened for Alex at
last year's tournament at Roland Garross. I've caught both of
his matches first match against Nishioka was okay, wasn't great,
just enough. Then he came out and really played well
against Tabilo. He played an excellent clay court match against
a guy that's very comfortable on the clay, and that
opens up. He plays borges now and yes, it's going
(38:59):
to be tough, but it's it's winnable, and then it's
it's a touch and of and I'm gonna put my
glasses off. It gets it gets harder, but yeah, he
can win that too, And so a quarter final is
in reach. I mean, it's a long way to go.
Let's not be serious, but pop He's off. Opportunity is
(39:26):
a huge opportunity for him, and so I and I
just really like the way look the second round. He
came in really focused and he had a really deliberate
strategy game plan. He executed it from the opening game.
There were moments when you know, concentration dropped, but he
got back quickly. It was one of the more mature
matches I've seen in round two from Poperin in his career.
Speaker 7 (39:49):
He looked very composed, isn't he.
Speaker 1 (39:51):
And this is starting to like not be out of
the ordinary for Popperin, Like in the last six months
or a year. So there was the Master's title in Montreal,
fourth round of the US Open, so he's gone deep
in a lane before quarters of the Monte Carlo Masters,
which was a big result on clay, those kinds of
big results, Sam at like the master's level and Grand
Slam level. Does he carry that in with him to
Paris when he approaches that on the court?
Speaker 4 (40:11):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (40:11):
Absolutely, you have to. I mean he's proved he can
do that some of the times. The hardest part is
doing it the first time.
Speaker 2 (40:18):
But he has done it.
Speaker 5 (40:18):
And he also played exceptionally well at the Olympics last
year on these very courts, so he knows this feeling.
And yeah, he played really well at the Olympics, and
now it definitely is an opportunity.
Speaker 4 (40:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (40:31):
He actually he talks a lot about the well, he
talked a lot about the Olympics when he won in Montreal,
about what a turning point that was in his career.
Speaker 7 (40:37):
So you're right, I hadn't actually thought of that.
Speaker 3 (40:39):
Yeah, it must be bringing back some really confidence boosting memories.
Speaker 1 (40:42):
I think we underestimate the Olympics, like chin Wen and
Novak coming back to a place where they won like
they're you know, kind of in the background making second
and third round, like it's just something to watch out for.
Like Roland Garross, the last time he saw them wasn't
the last time. It was the Paris Olympics, and for
some players that was a big lift for them.
Speaker 4 (40:59):
Well, underness, Actually what the Olympics does for you in
confidence and what it does for you in how you're
perceived as a champion, and they're really important things that
a lot of people out there dismiss that tennis should
even be around the Olympics, and just have a look
at how many of our champions have worn medals.
Speaker 2 (41:19):
I guess.
Speaker 1 (41:19):
Also part of that Poparin story is that is the
loss of rude from the draw, and there have been
even though the drawers haven't fallen apart, there have been
some notable departures of players. We were very surprised by
their emmenavarros Or in the first round where she lost
six love, six to one. We had Peyton Sterns and
Marta Costuk, two players who had great lead up tournaments
go out very quickly. And then on the men's side,
(41:40):
we've lost fourth seed Taylor Fritz, We've lost Sitzer pass
we've lost Medvedev Sarundelo, who'd had a great lead up,
so there have been some surprises, even though the top
seeds are kind of still intact in the drawer.
Speaker 2 (41:53):
What have you made of all of that?
Speaker 4 (41:55):
Well, I think Taylor Fritz losing first round was a
big shock to me, and particularly you know the score
line that he went out. It was pretty straightforward four sets.
It's opened it up for a couple of other Americans,
then Tiafo and quarter though to potentially go through. But
that's Muzetti's section, and that's why I like it. For Mazzetti,
I just love the way he looks on the court
(42:15):
at the moment, the way he's playing, the depth that
he's carrying in his ground strokes. He just looks ready
to make his next move. But when you think about
Fritz playing and working with the Nasi Kokanakis this week,
and he sort of said about Fritz, he said, for
somebody as good as he is, ranked four in the world,
he plays too much. He actually doesn't give himself the
(42:37):
chance in terms of tapering up for a major. He's
hanging on when he gets into a major. And I
thought that was really interesting from a player in the
locker room. We can make all of those decisions sitting
here in a podcast, but when one of your own
who sees your week in week out, thinks that, then
(42:57):
I think a lot of the locker room thinking I've
got a bit of a chance. It's because I know
he's a little jaded.
Speaker 1 (43:01):
Another big name we lost was Naomi Osaka. Now technically
this wasn't an upset because she lost a Parlor Badoza,
who just made the Australian Open semis. She's top ten
in the world, so really Badoze was the favorite. But
Osaka had come in with a great some great results
on clay and was really devastated after the loss. That
showed in her press conference, and she had some pretty,
like I say, were troubling comments afterwards that she felt
(43:22):
that she'd let Patrick Moritoglu her coach down, he'd work
with Serena wat's he now doing working with her? It
was really it was really sad to see, and I
think she had to leave the press conference briefly. Yeah,
what did you make of that, Sam, and kind of
where her headspace might be.
Speaker 5 (43:35):
Yeah, I mean, playing Bidoza first round is no easy task.
But obviously she expects a lot of herself. She is
a Grand Slam champion and number one in the world,
so she would expect to still win that. But I think, look,
it is a troubling comment when you're thinking about letting
you coach down or people around you down, and some
personalities would certainly take those feelings on board a lot
(43:57):
more than others. But to be probably as candid as
what she was in the press about all that, it
is a little bit worrisome that that's what she's thinking
about maybe while she's out there all straight afterwards and
how does that?
Speaker 2 (44:13):
How do you get over that?
Speaker 4 (44:13):
How does that change?
Speaker 5 (44:14):
There's a bit of work I think there that needs
to be done off the court to you know, be
the person and the player that she is.
Speaker 4 (44:22):
This is the wrong way, the wrong word, but I'm
going to use it, you know, because we in the
media spaces want so much and there is social media
saying we need to express ourselves. She's a victim of that.
In sport, you cannot let your emotions out in a
(44:42):
way that your competitors see it. It gives them a lift.
And unfortunately for Naomi, she's now gone through the period
where I'm indestructible, and now she feels like most other
humans with you know, I'm unsure about myself. She has
(45:02):
moved on in life where more things happen, and I
kind of feel for her because I've been in the
spaces she's talking about. You've been in them, But it
would be my preference for her to talk about them privately.
I think it would help her enormously. We all feel
like we've let people down, but the reality is when
(45:25):
you chat with someone you haven't, everyone is behind you.
And I thought she played really well. Was one of
the best first round matches. She looks fantastic on court.
She's certainly been doing a lot of work physically to
get back to shape after having her first child. And
for me, Naomi, stick with it and just kind of
(45:49):
believe in yourself that you're doing the right thing, because
it looked to me that she was going to win
that match, and if she can start to get through
those matches, she's going to be top ten. She's going
to contend. But you have to let the expectations go
and just enjoy this journey a little more than perhaps
she is.
Speaker 1 (46:09):
It is an interesting one, isn't it. View as members
of the media and we host a podcast. We want
people to be candid, and we even had the Nassi
our podcast. Yes, sorry, shameless plug for the sit down,
but he was talking about one of the players to open.
Speaker 2 (46:22):
Up more and we thought that was great, didn't we do?
But it loves.
Speaker 4 (46:25):
There's a time for that though. Now's the time for
recently retired, moving into a different phase of life and
understanding it all. I've got another ten fifteen years on
you to be able to express that. But you can't
when one percent counts every time you walk out there.
Speaker 5 (46:43):
Yeah, I mean I probably in some way. I was
very guarded in a lot of ways. Now looking back,
I'm like, jeez, I really you were much.
Speaker 2 (46:52):
But it is.
Speaker 4 (46:52):
That you're the hardest interview in the sport.
Speaker 6 (46:55):
Is true.
Speaker 5 (46:56):
Like, there's no way I would have ever said anything
like that in praise. Maybe would have been around the corner,
you know, cry my eyes out about it to someone else,
But I wasn't going to let the rest of the
world or another player see that.
Speaker 2 (47:09):
I was that troubled by that.
Speaker 5 (47:10):
Because you do feel then well, I've just yeah, I've
lost a percent there.
Speaker 2 (47:15):
Next time I'm going out on court, they're going to
think they can win.
Speaker 5 (47:18):
So there is a balance to open it up and
not being open with the media.
Speaker 1 (47:23):
People like sharp Over told that story in her biography
actually heard Serena sobbing in the locker room after she
lost the Wimbledon final, and Serena disputes that even happened,
but sharff Iver wrote that in biography seeing other players
being devastated in the locker room is not uncommon. Right,
So you're your opposition already know you devastated.
Speaker 4 (47:40):
Sure, but it's this, This is deep, Okay, this is
not just I'm hacked off today. This is a little
deeper than that.
Speaker 5 (47:48):
And it's also the media can then use this at
any moment, whether it's next week or in six months time.
They're still going to remember this, whereas the play they
don't see that. In the in the locker room, we can,
we might see that, sure, but it's different than when
other people are going to be talking about it.
Speaker 3 (48:05):
So when you look back on your playing careers, are
you kind of relieved that social media wasn't the same
factor that it is in tennis today.
Speaker 4 (48:13):
I mean some of the things I've said and rackets
that went certain places around courts and imagine the real
would have been.
Speaker 1 (48:22):
I don't realized you were so fiery on court.
Speaker 4 (48:28):
Yeah, I'm just you know.
Speaker 1 (48:33):
This.
Speaker 4 (48:35):
When my videos used to turn up in the umpire
linesman training sessions, imagine what they would have done on Instagram.
Speaker 1 (48:48):
Well, just one other storyline before we get onto our
ace of the week that we should discuss is the
fact that Novak joined a very select group of people
by winning his one hundredth title in Geneva. That was
a bin story last week, wasn't it? And coming into
rollin Garl Yeah, one hundred titles after he'd been on
ninety nine since winning the Olympics. It was nearly a year.
And yeah, only Roger Federer and Jimmy Connors are ahead
(49:09):
of him. As just another massive milestone in Novak's caoreer.
Speaker 3 (49:12):
Yet another Novak Djokovic record. But I feel like that
one hundred title was kind of hanging over his head
for a long time, So maybe that's freed him up
a lot going into another.
Speaker 7 (49:23):
Rolling Girls campaign.
Speaker 4 (49:24):
Well, he did everything that he could to get ready
for this. I mean I talked about enough matches. It
didn't look like he was going to he had to
go play Geneva, and he did, and he wins it,
and he comes in with a good, solid first round
win against McKenzie McDonald, and he's just he's relentless in
his pursuit for this greatness. And I think winning one
(49:48):
hundred though it's like it may kind of let the
floodgates open a little again for him, there is a
bit of a relief to that. I'm sure it was
a target. He's got that done. But I did see
an interview with him talking about where he's at now
and what's more important to him, and it looks like
there's a quite a significant shift into what I want
(50:12):
for the next part of my life, being with family,
being a better dad, being around a bit more, looking
at what projects come after tennis. And as soon as
your mind moves to that, it's harder to be as
individually focused and relentless like he has been. So we're
seeing that shift. So it'll be interesting to see what
(50:33):
he can do here at Roland Garross, because I don't
think this is the one he wins. He has a
chance for me more so at Wimbledon.
Speaker 2 (50:41):
Currentine mutine.
Speaker 4 (50:42):
Its interesting to be a fun.
Speaker 2 (50:44):
Second round that will be.
Speaker 10 (50:47):
Well.
Speaker 1 (50:47):
I guess it's come time to the episode. Now for
Ace of the Week, Sam, we might start with you, Oh,
it's been.
Speaker 5 (50:52):
A pretty lean week. Actually yeah, I mean catching up
with a couple of friends and go for a couple
of walks. It's probably my heart. Like the last week,
I've been been a little bit sick.
Speaker 6 (51:02):
I'm getting over it.
Speaker 4 (51:03):
But yeah, sorry, guys, it's not can I how long
to go?
Speaker 5 (51:10):
Like three weeks? They're about I mean, I hope it's
still three weeks. It can keep cooking in there a
little bit longer.
Speaker 1 (51:20):
We've got to go slow at this point then, right,
that's yeah, well yeah, yeah, I.
Speaker 5 (51:24):
Mean but actually, one good thing is we do have
like some things now organized. We've built a cabinet to
actually put the baby's clothes in so that.
Speaker 4 (51:32):
The baby.
Speaker 2 (51:34):
That's not where.
Speaker 9 (51:38):
The drawer out.
Speaker 6 (51:41):
I'm feeling organized.
Speaker 1 (51:44):
An insight into Todd's child, no, no joking, joking, joking joking.
Speaker 2 (51:48):
What is your ace?
Speaker 4 (51:50):
I think my ace of the week has to be
seeing it's a tennis related one, and it's seeing Roger Raffa,
Andy and all out on the center court at Rolling
garyl It was just and people calling them the modern Musketeers.
That kind of gives me goosebumps. We've been around it.
I played against a couple of them, commentated with them,
(52:14):
I've worked with them, and they have just done enormous
things for tennis. And that I thought the FFT did
a fantastic job of Raffa's farewell and just seeing everyone
in the stand with clay court colored T shirts on
and fantastic. It was just that was my ace of
the week.
Speaker 2 (52:32):
Yeah, it was pretty pretty national.
Speaker 7 (52:34):
That's an amazing Ace of the week.
Speaker 3 (52:36):
I'm actually going to follow that theme because even though
we're not supposed to have a tennis themed Ace of
the week, Well, it's all about the tennis this week, right,
And as you know, Tennis mag is my product. We're
in our fiftieth year and I was actually looking back
at twenty years ago when we wrote about Raffa's first
win at Roland Garras and he was talking about his
(52:57):
match with Roger Federer in the semi finals and how
heologized to him, and yeah, it was just so interesting
to look back on how we reported that.
Speaker 7 (53:05):
So, yeah, that's my Ace of the week.
Speaker 1 (53:07):
Massive milestone. Yeah, we forget it's the twentieth year of
Raffa like coming back. There was someone I think on
Insta put a photo of the two of them hugging
that first time at Rolling Garras. After that match you
talked about and then the two of them hugging on
court in their suits for the farewell and it was
just like this lovely moments splice together.
Speaker 3 (53:24):
They're so intertwined and for everything that he's achieved, like
Graffa is so humble, I think.
Speaker 2 (53:29):
Yeah, for sure, I'm going slightly off topic. Non tennis.
Speaker 1 (53:34):
I sing in a choir and we have a concert
this week. It is this weekend, not quite fiftieth anniversary,
but it's the thirty fifth anniversary about choir.
Speaker 2 (53:42):
We are the first LGBTQI plus.
Speaker 1 (53:44):
Choir in Australia and formed in nineteen ninety and so
the concert is dedicated to that journey and how difficult
it was to form ac choir in nineteen ninety and
how hopefully it's a little easier.
Speaker 4 (53:56):
And what's the big number that you're singing.
Speaker 1 (53:58):
What we're doing sixteen, So the big number there is
these are all big numbers type sixteen sixteen songs I think.
Speaker 2 (54:05):
Twenty overall because we've also got like a like.
Speaker 4 (54:07):
A can you give us a few bars of your favor.
Speaker 2 (54:10):
No, no, no, absolutely not doing that.
Speaker 1 (54:11):
But all I will say is that it is a
broad like it's not a particular theme as like it's
this type of music where it's this era. It is
actually members have voted for their favorites, so it's quite
a user generators. And where is it we are seeing
an MLC so theater atty in Q.
Speaker 4 (54:29):
Tickets available are available.
Speaker 2 (54:31):
Can share links and.
Speaker 7 (54:34):
I can recommend. I went and saw them out last
year and it was yes, fabulous.
Speaker 2 (54:37):
Yeah, I came and saw very supportive. That's cool. Chapter.
Speaker 1 (54:41):
So that's yeah, that's a Saturday. So and then when
I go home, I'll put on the put on Rolling
Grass tennis, continue with the tennis.
Speaker 2 (54:49):
So yeah, there we go.
Speaker 1 (54:51):
Well, thank you all for being part of today's show.
To do this in a Grand Slam week as well.
Speaker 4 (54:55):
It's actually really cool to talk the meat of the tournament.
It's happening.
Speaker 2 (55:00):
Yeah, it's fantastic.
Speaker 1 (55:01):
And Brie will be back from Paris with us next
week and hopefully Zab as well and could be back
in the host chair next week to dissect the business
end of Rolling Gross on the tennis.
Speaker 12 (55:11):
Yea everyone, Harper and Andy here just want to say
thanks for tuning into this week's app.
Speaker 13 (55:15):
And if you tuned in on YouTube you would have
seen everyone's fantasy draft team. We want to know in
the comments, whose was your favorite and which men's player
women's player have you got taken out the whole tournament?
Speaker 12 (55:26):
Yeah, please jump in the comments. So that's YouTube, Jump
on Australian Open TV and hit subscribe. And whilst you're there,
why don't you follow us on socials as well. We'll
see you next week
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.