November 3, 2024 • 31 mins
Viv and Matt are joined by not one, but two guests: Daria and Luke Saville. During a rare week at home in Melbourne together, the Savilles left dog Tofu with Dasha's mum and sat down for their first proper interview together. In a wide-ranging chat, they recall how they met as juniors, Daria's relocation to Australia, and how their professional tennis careers have unfolded in tandem: hitting together, offering each other advice, and learning from one another, shining a light on their various strengths as players, and their respective coaching ambitions. Also, Viv refreshes Luke's memory with his original letter to Australian Tennis Magazine 20 years ago!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hello, and welcome to the Sitdown. I'm Viv Christie, managing
editor of Australian Tennis magazine.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
And I'm Mattrolopa, a writer for oz open dot com
now Viv for this week's episode. Unfortunately, I was a
little unwell and couldn't join you in the studio. I
was on screen though for this interview. Tell us what
it was like to actually be in studio with Daria
and Luke savil Well.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
It was fabulous, Matt. There was so much fun and
energy spending time with Dasha and Luke, who were actually
doing their first official interview as a couple, and I
think we got a really strong sense of how they
click as a couple, but particularly how they've supported each
other throughout their tennis careers.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
For sure, and speaking of how they click for the
listeners who won't have seen them, they rocked up in
almost matching outfits. They were both in a shade of
pink or purple, so we loved their coordinated approach to
the interview, and you started it off by asking them
the most important question about their dog, who's almost as
famous as them.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Luke and Dasher, thank you for joining us today on
the sit Down. At Its great to have you here
in the studio.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Thank you. This is a very nice studio by the way.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Yeah, we call it pot labor Arena.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
Oh, I love it.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
This is so smart.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
What's of great interviews happened in here, including this one?
I'm sure, But let's start with the most important question.
Where is Tofu right now? Who is looking after Tofu.
Speaker 5 (01:21):
Dash's mum back in the back in the house. But
I'm sure he's probably pretty sad and disappointed that he's
not here. He's he always waves goodbye to us when
we go to work, and it's it's quite a funny,
quite a funny sight.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
You must you must love catching up with Tofu when
you're home.
Speaker 6 (01:38):
Yeah, yeah, definitely. I probably prioritize him over anyone. So
if any of my friends are listening to this, and
I may be sometimes canceled some of my some of
our okchops, that's probably because I wanted to just sit
on the couch with him.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
In all seriousness, it does seem like it's kind of
a rare break for both of you being home together.
What do you most laugh about being back in Melbourne?
Speaker 5 (02:08):
For me, it's probably just living kind of normal for
a little bit. It's staying in their own bed in
the in the house, waking up, making a coffee on
our coffee machine, and just sort of hanging out with
Tofu as well. I'm usually up before Dasha, so he
gets up with me as well, and I usually bring
him down.
Speaker 4 (02:27):
Then he just falls asleep on the couch.
Speaker 5 (02:28):
So I think he just likes knowing that we're home and.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
He can sort of see his mum and dad.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
But also just the training side of it, and I
mean obviously spending time with one another. When we're traveling
a lot of the time we're on different schedules, so
it's it's nice to sort of live normal and yeah,
just just be in the house and not do a
whole lot for a couple of weeks.
Speaker 6 (02:51):
Right, Oh, what about golf all the golf golfing that
you're doing that as well.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
But that's that's a touchy subject.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
I can actually really to that. We have that in
our house too. How many how many weeks would that
happen when you're of a year would happen when you're
home together?
Speaker 6 (03:09):
Honestly, we can probably count them on one hand, right, like,
not that much. Mostly, you know, at the end of
the season like pre season, and then you know, as
this summer, were still we're at home in the country,
(03:30):
but still like you know, playing tournaments, but still feels
like we're at home. But yeah, not not that often
to be.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Fair, speaking of this, like, I'm not sure how often
it is that you've done joint interviews before. Is this
Is this something that's regular for you to in your media.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Carews definitely not.
Speaker 5 (03:47):
It's probably maybe a first yeah, but then I'll be interesting.
I hope you guys don't stitch us up with any
hard hitting questions or anything like that. But no, it's
I mean, it's good to even spend time together, even
if it's an interview.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
How often do you get asked about each other in
interviews if you don't do them together? Is that something
that comes up a lot?
Speaker 6 (04:11):
Maybe a little bit, Yeah, I definitely get asked a
lot about Tofu and then and then Loup probably second.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
What about you Luke to come up in yours?
Speaker 5 (04:23):
Yeah, quite a bit. It's quite a common question how
much we see each other, And it's a very difficult
question to answer because from every year, you know, it
really varies on how much we see each other in
the different tournaments we play, but it probably, yeah, it
varies from probably fifteen to twenty five weeks something like that.
So but to be honest, we've been dating for so
(04:45):
many years, and especially early days in juniors, we weren't
seeing much of each other at all, So it's just
sort of it just comes with the business. And I
think that we both know what it takes to play
professional tennis and a lot of of that is travel,
so we both get it and I think it actually
really works well when we can bounce ideas off each
(05:06):
other and when we have to do long stints away.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
It's just part of the business.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
When was the first meeting between the two of you?
Was Was it in Australia?
Speaker 4 (05:14):
I think it was Junior Davis Cup in.
Speaker 6 (05:17):
Mexico in Mexico, okay, and then a lot of just
Facebook messaging.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
To be fair okay. And what year was that Junior
Davis Cup and Fair Cup.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I think we were sixteen, so two thousand and nine, oh.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
Ten, Yeah, so yeah, Dasha was obviously playing for Russia
at the time, and I think we both won, both
won the events, and yeah, there might have been a
player's party and slash disco there and that's where I
showed my great moves to Dasha clearly. Clearly I'm joking,
(05:50):
but yeah, from there it was a little bit of
messaging and obviously quite early day as we were young,
but yeah, sort of lost them from there.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
How often did you get to meet up at sort
of that early in those junior.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Days, Not much at all. I think we've.
Speaker 6 (06:08):
There was a time where we didn't see each other
for a year, like literally standing open juniors, and then
the following year something like that. But we just kept
in touch. And but yeah, I think when I turned eighteen,
that's when I moved to Australia, so that made things
(06:31):
a lot easier.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
And then, you know.
Speaker 6 (06:33):
To be fair, when I came to Australia, I've just
done my ACL so then that meant that I was
kind of staying in Melbourne, and that's when we probably
spent the most of our time together. And then until
Luke started, you know, traveling and playing tournaments. But then
(06:55):
that's when you know, this whole us trying to schedule
our tournaments together started and we're still going.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
It's a fantastic story. And I guess because the two
countries where you're from are so far apart, like they're
on opposite parts of the world. Dashing you said, yeah,
you came here when you were eighteen. How grateful were
you that tennis, you know, allowed you to meet Luke
and then it's kind of created it, maybe a different
path to you that you might not have known you like,
did you know you would end up in Australia and
be a citizen here when you were younger?
Speaker 6 (07:27):
Probably not when I started tennis, but when I started traveling,
I really liked Australia and I was like, oh my god,
this is like I could live here.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
And yeah.
Speaker 6 (07:43):
Then I came back a few years later to play
like challenges ATFS twenty fives and I told my dad,
I was like, I'm going to Australia because you know
it's the cuts were weaker, so I would definitely be
in main draw of those tournaments. And he's like, aren't
(08:05):
you dating like a boy there? And I'm like, well, yeah,
that too.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
How old were you when you first came to Australia.
Can you remember your first trip?
Speaker 6 (08:17):
I think either fifteen or sixteen. I was still playing juniors.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
And on the flip side, Luke, have you been because
obviously Dasha lives here. Have you been to Russia much?
Can you speak any of the language?
Speaker 4 (08:29):
I definitely can't.
Speaker 5 (08:31):
We've tried, but I just can't pick it up for
the life of me.
Speaker 4 (08:35):
It's it's very difficult.
Speaker 5 (08:37):
And I've been once to Russia and Dasha wasn't there, actually,
But I went to Moscow and Saint Petersburg and was
absolutely blown away with just the cities themselves and the
architecture and the food. And Dasha's dad was there, and
I met a dog, and.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
Yeah, I met my grandama as well.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
I met Dasha's grandma and he walked me around the
park that Usha sort of grew up around, and we
went and had some cinnamon doughnuts that Dasha loves as well.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
So, but where were you, Dasha?
Speaker 3 (09:07):
I was injured.
Speaker 6 (09:09):
So it was also during like COVID year, so I
was recovering from achilles.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Injury.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Yeah, so these days, do you train together often or
hit together often?
Speaker 6 (09:22):
We actually do a little bit. Luke helps me out.
It's probably more beneficial to me than it is to Luke.
But then again, I think I make enough balls and
pretty consistent. Sometimes looks like, wow, you really don't miss
that much, And I think we make it work, but
(09:45):
definitely wouldn't play too many points. I don't think it'll
be very interesting for Luke to be fair.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Does it feel like work or does it feel like
fun when you're hitting together.
Speaker 6 (09:57):
Yeah, we tried to make it work. Otherwise it's a
bit of yeah, a bit of waste of time.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
And then.
Speaker 6 (10:06):
Actually during COVID in lockdown, we kind of had to
hit together because the you know, of their restrictions, that
was getting a bit difficult.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
I think, Yeah, there was a little bit of tension
on court, it's fair to say, but that was probably
just the times as well. We were staying the house
twenty four to seven together and then going out with
our one little bit of freedom for the day, and
then we'd practice with each other. So it's probably a
little bit like the mixed doubles. We go out there
and we aim to really enjoy it and not take
(10:40):
it too seriously, but ultimately it always gets competitive and
possibly a little argumentative. But I'd say in the last
last six months, maybe year, the hitting's been a lot better.
Speaker 4 (10:53):
We tend to enjoy it a lot more and make
it work.
Speaker 5 (10:56):
And yeah, I mean, obviously I'm a little bit biased,
but I think that sure is one of the best
out of the hand there is. She barely misses the
ball and just like a ball machine. So it's very impressive.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
Who is the better coach among you, Probably Luke, I
would say.
Speaker 6 (11:17):
I think Luke is a lot more patient. I can
be a little bit too direct, but some I guess
defends who you ask. Maybe some people like it more direct.
But I think I listened to you if you you know,
(11:38):
like even on court when we're practiced together, we'll have
our coaches there, but you know, we would still chat,
and I think we do listen to each other.
Speaker 5 (11:52):
Yeah, I think you don't speak a lot about tennis,
but when you do, it's really spot on.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
It's really good.
Speaker 5 (11:58):
And obviously your tennis mind is great, your tennis IQ
out on the court and all that.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
But yeah, you obviously don't.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
I think you try and you know, almost escape from
tennis a little bit, but when you actually do it,
it's great information. So one day, if you decide to coach,
you probably have to work on the delivery and being
a little bit softer. Maybe it depends on how you coach,
but if they can take that and you can work
on that part, I think, yeah, you could be a
great coach.
Speaker 6 (12:27):
I do think sometimes, you know, I would like to
be someone's mentor mentor like a young.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Junior.
Speaker 6 (12:39):
Yeah, especially a female. Yeah, that'd be something I would
want to do, even like while still playing.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Do you think that's kind of part of the Australian
tennis culture as well. It seems like there's a really
great environment of everyone supporting each other.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
Yeah. Absolutely.
Speaker 5 (13:02):
I mean I can speak for myself with a lot
of the boys that I travel with, a lot of
my great mates, and I think it's a really tight
knit group of us. And you know, even when we're
over in Asia or in the States or Europe, wherever
it might be, and we don't have a coach, you'll
see probably one or two Aussies out there supporting, And
even if they're playing the same day, they just want
to get out there and they know you don't have
(13:23):
a coach there or anyone in your team, but they'll
be out there supporting. I think that's just I think
from a young age we've had to do that because
you know, we're so remote and yeah, we sort of
feel like it's almost us against the world a little bit.
So Yeah, it's always been a great group and for
that it makes you really proud to be Australian when
(13:44):
you're over there and you see how tight we are
and then some other countries not so tight.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Yeah, for sure. Back to your relationship, it seems like
tennis obviously comes up a lot. Do you ever have
days where you sort of don't talk about tennis or
make an effort to not make it about tennis?
Speaker 6 (14:01):
Probably not, let's face it to be fair, It's not
like we talk about it all the time, but there
will be something every day that we will say, oh.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
Did you see did you see this result?
Speaker 6 (14:13):
Or did you see this drama or blah blah blah,
So something comes up.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (14:20):
Probably the only time we wouldn't talk about it at
all in the off season where there's no tournament.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Yep.
Speaker 4 (14:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (14:27):
I think it's just such a big part of our
life that if we actively try and avoid it, we're
probably thinking about it more.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (14:34):
So yeah, we try and switch off, but ultimately, yeah,
like Dasha said, we speak about it in the end.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
What's it like when you're watching each other, Oh, I'm.
Speaker 5 (14:43):
A nervous wreck or really yeah, I can sympathize for
all the coaches and love ones out there because it
is much harder. I don't know about much harder, but
it's definitely harder than playing. You just you care so much. Obviously,
you're so invested and can't control the outcome. And I've
gotten better of late of just sitting back and just
(15:05):
telling myself, well, whatever happens happens. Like she's doing her best,
that she's doing her best. I know that for a fact,
And yeah, that's all you can really ask for at
the end of the day, because I know when I'm
out there playing, she's feeling the same. I'm doing my
best and sort of what can you do? You can
support and whatnot. But it's it's brutal.
Speaker 6 (15:26):
It's brutal because you feel like so helpless and you
feel like we know each other so much, like we
feel like, oh, we should say something, but you really shouldn't.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Like sometimes it's.
Speaker 6 (15:38):
Really hard not to like be a coach, but you're
actually there just to support each other, not coach each
other unless we specifically asked each other, hey, like can
you can you have that role and be the coach?
(15:59):
Because Luke, you've probably been my on like traveling coach
twice maybe actually both times in Canada, one time during
Toronto and one time in Granby, and that's when they
actually made finals.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Yeah. I was just about to say, wasn't that a
great result for you? Yeah, formulas working. Did you enjoy
that side of it, LP, Yeah, I did.
Speaker 5 (16:27):
Actually, I'm hoping maybe one day it's a route I
could possibly go down his coaching and I think it's
just all I think just the appreciation of how hard
tennis is for me over the last few years. That
just shows that probably helps me sort of relax a
bit more and just know that she's doing her best
and whatever happens happens.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
But I think, yeah, it worked well.
Speaker 5 (16:49):
I think I did some on court coaching in Toronto
and some of my mates they took some footage of
that and kind of, yeah, joked about it a little bit.
They thought it was pretty funny me going out and
coaching Dash and I was up as.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Well, so that yeah, that was allowed.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
That was a joke amongst the boys. So but yeah,
it was.
Speaker 5 (17:08):
It was good fun and having the responsibility of a player,
I found it very exciting.
Speaker 6 (17:14):
We did say that that's probably not something we would do,
like you know, have Luke traveling with me and coaching me.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
That's not happening. We discussed.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
That sounds very.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Clear, Dasha. It was interesting hearing Luke describe like your
strength strengths as a player, like your consistency and your
tennis i Q. And it sounds like that you get
a lot out of the practice sessions with Luke. What
are his strengths as a player.
Speaker 6 (17:44):
I think Luke's strength is definitely patience and probably his
I would say attitude, like I could never.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
Luke's like impossible to read.
Speaker 6 (17:55):
You wouldn't know if he is mad, if he is
Like he doesn't show much emotion, even like since junior
is he doesn't show like negative emotions at all.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
And I think.
Speaker 6 (18:11):
That's something I should maybe learn a bit late. Now
I'm like thirty, still still learning. I look at some
like young players and I'm like, yeah, one day I
want to be like them.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
And I'm like ten years older than.
Speaker 6 (18:29):
But it's cool, like we're pretty different me and Luke.
And Luke can also just like push through and like
keep grinding, and you know, even like with schedules like
play many back to back tournaments where I'm like, okay,
(18:50):
I'm out, I can't do this anymore. So I guess
it's like, yeah, that that mentality you know that you know,
I've I can keep going and what is it like great?
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Would you say persistence?
Speaker 5 (19:06):
Yeah, yeah, but I mean you've got that as well.
But yeah, I know what you mean. You I probably
just I'm just probably silent and just go through it
and probably not for the better, whereas you can sort
of feel like you're maybe dragging the chain a little
bit and a little bit down and you just say no,
I'm done, I'm going home and have a refresh, and
which I think there's strengths to both sides.
Speaker 6 (19:28):
I think Luke's like also the most consistent, one of
the most consistent players are probably even like athletes have
ever come across, and are very diligent, and you know,
like on weekends I will be like just chilling doing nothing,
(19:49):
where Luke would still, you know, like do something that
is not just good for a tennis but like good
for his body, like do a recovery, where I sometimes
just yeah, completely like that, I'm done. I just want
to not do anything that is good for me.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
I love that. It's kind of the balance though, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Yeah, for sure, Luke, you alluded to mixed doubles before
and that you know, it can get a bit competitive
when you guys play together, but you have played five
Australian Opens together, so there must be something that keeps
you guys coming back and entering the mixed doubles draw
and wanting to go on there one one.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Matt.
Speaker 5 (20:26):
Yeah, yeah, we don't know the best record, to be fair,
mad we lost the runner ups start of this year,
but yeah, I think in the moment, yeah, we're competitive,
and maybe straight after, but in reflection, I think it's
still great that, you know, as a couple, were able
to play the Australian Open. You know, one day our
career is going to be done and we look back
(20:47):
on those memories, you know, you know we're married as
a couple. To go and play out there in front
of family and friends and play a Grand Slam, our
home Grand Slam. We live here in Melbourne, it's it's amazing.
So I think that's what keeps us coming back, is
those opportunities to go out there and play, and obviously
we want to win, but we're out there and sort
of making memories and we can look back on those
(21:08):
for the rest of our life.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
So I think that's the core part.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Yeah, Yeah, for sure. It's an incredibly unique opportunity. It
was also really cool listening to the two of you
describe each other's strengths. What would you say, given your
careers of any parallel I as pro plays for such
a long time, what's the biggest thing you've seen in
each other and learned from each other, maybe even adopting
in your game or your approach or your mentality.
Speaker 5 (21:29):
Well, with Dasher, I think it's, you know, she's obviously
had a lot of setbacks, injury setbacks, and you know,
touch Wood, I haven't had as many, or really any
at all to the extent of her, And I mean
just her grit and determination and persistence to come back
from those I think three or four times and back
to top one hundred basically from no ranking. I think
(21:49):
it's I can't even sort of find a word for it.
It's so admirable, absolutely incredible, and it just shows the
determination she's got. I mean, obviously the tennis she has
as well. I mean I think it's she's been top twenty,
and I think she can get back there again with
some health, with a good run, and I think just yeah, looking.
(22:10):
It's you know, she's gained so much respect from not
only her peers, but a lot of the Australians, the
Australian public as well, and just her fighting, fighting.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
Spirit as well.
Speaker 5 (22:20):
I think, no matter what the score is, you're always
given your absolute best and I think that's what everyone.
Speaker 4 (22:26):
Loves about you.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
Oh thank you.
Speaker 6 (22:27):
I think with Luke, Luke's like one of the best
team players, even though tennis is not a team sport,
but I admire, you know, how supportive he is of
his mates. And you know, I think it goes a
long way if you you know, reach out to someone
(22:50):
or come and watch them.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
And it's something I'm starting.
Speaker 6 (22:55):
To do a lot more because especially I like what
Luke said, you know, when you were growing up and
traveling with other boys and a few years later you're
playing like the biggest tournaments and it's pretty cool. So
it's something I would like encourage up and coming you know,
(23:19):
players juniors.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
To do is support each other.
Speaker 6 (23:25):
And yeah, I've mentioned before how Luke is very consistent
with you know, his routines and whatnot.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
But I also learned.
Speaker 6 (23:38):
With Luke that he actually can switch off and you know,
take the day off to play golf, let's say, or
you know, any like he has other interests, which is
also really important because yeah, you definitely need another source
(24:02):
where yeah you can with the energy and then feel like, okay,
this is also fulfilling. It's not just always about tennis.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
It's interesting hearing a little bit about your junior career, Luke,
because I wanted to take you back bear with me
to a letter that I have in the Australian Tennis
magazine files from a few years ago, and I just
wanted to read you a couple of lines. Just when
I thought it couldn't get any worse, I injured my
arm and couldn't play the last game. It was a disaster,
(24:32):
disaster and big letters. So after the tournament I had
two and a half weeks off and then there was
a question. What I don't understand is why does the
number one seed play the number three seed and in
the semifinals and number two plays number four seeds? Just
wondering if you remember anything about that letter he wrote
a letter, Just want to pull it out for you.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
Oh my god, do you remember this?
Speaker 6 (24:55):
Oh my god, that is wow years old.
Speaker 4 (25:01):
I actually do I need to frame this? So was
that it was.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
Big letters disaster.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
It's not just big letters.
Speaker 4 (25:10):
It's like, I'm so taken aback right now?
Speaker 1 (25:14):
Is it fun looking back?
Speaker 5 (25:16):
That's hilarious. It's absolutely hilarious. I vaguely remember that. And
that was Bruce Cup.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
Yes, it was Bruce.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Cups two thousand and five, by the way, two.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
Thousand and five.
Speaker 5 (25:26):
Yeah, I played three Bruce Cups. It's an under twelve's
state teams competition. And I remember my arm.
Speaker 4 (25:33):
I was.
Speaker 5 (25:34):
They kept me in the lineup, but I couldn't serve,
so I was serving under arm. And then I went
home and I had like an hour physio treatment on
my arm and it was just basically a huge not
in the back of the back of my shoulder that
he just had to get out. And I was good
as gold after that. But that was up in. That
was up in Darwin, and I remember riding. It was
(25:58):
a disaster and or four times bigger than than the
rest of the So yeah, it's like.
Speaker 6 (26:06):
A notebook with lines and Luke it took one to
five lines or six lines to put it was a disaster.
Speaker 5 (26:14):
Yeah, I don't I don't mince my words. So I.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
Will be very, very thrilled that Luke, you were reading
it and conceiving the magazine from such a young age.
That's like a real tennis fan.
Speaker 6 (26:27):
You still ride the same, by the way, it's probably
better back then, but we don't need to know that.
You know how you brought up a few weeks ago
that when you have like little injury, like you really struggle.
I guess it started from two thousand and five. You
just had a nel like niggle in your arm and
you take six lines to write it was a disaster.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
So after looking back, let's look forward a little bit. Dasha,
You're about to go to Billy Jing King Cup finals.
Speaker 6 (26:59):
Yeah, so I'm actually leaving tomorrow. I'm playing another tournament
just before that, an IF seventy five in Luxembourg. And yeah,
I've been looking after, you know, my body a little bit.
I've had a foot like plant of fasciatis foot injuries,
(27:21):
so it's it's it's feeling good. So I'm excited to,
you know, compete again. And I've actually started working with
Michael Lagazo, so spend almost a month working with him.
(27:45):
So if I don't do well, that's because of and
if I do well, that's also because of you. I'm kidding,
but yeah, I'm actually we've been working on a few things.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
You know.
Speaker 6 (28:00):
It's not like anything dramatic, and I don't have a
one handed back end, but I am excited to confit
with what we've worked on.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Fantastic, Luke. What's next for you?
Speaker 5 (28:12):
I'm sort of done for the year, just chilling out
a little bit at the moment, spending a little bit
of time with Dasher and possibly heading up to the
Gold Coast for the future up there, and Dasha's also
playing the seventy five a couple of weeks after fed Cup,
so yeah, just a little bit of downtime now and
then just looking ahead to January and hopefully playing the
(28:36):
playing the Australian Open and maybe enjoying the mixed doubles
this time around.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
What do you most kind of look forward to when
you think about an Australian summer coming up.
Speaker 5 (28:46):
Firstly, it's probably just being home, that's the obvious one.
But there's just there's nothing like playing the Australian Open
every single year, the anticipation of just playing your home Slam,
and every year it's improving, it really is, and it's
definitely the bestl I am and craiging the team just
do an amazing job of just you know, basically improving
(29:07):
the event from year to year and then just playing
in front of family and friends and looking back on
letters like this and just seeing how much tennis means
to me. And then you know, twenty years later, I'm
playing the Australian Opener. It's probably my fifteenth Australian Open
and it's still the same feeling every time. So yeah,
for me, it's just nothing really compares to just playing
here at home.
Speaker 6 (29:27):
Yeah, and definitely the fans. That's so much fun when everyone,
almost everyone in the stands is supporting you. And yeah,
I definitely feel like I connect with everyone and I
always try and find a group of people that are
there like supporting me, and I give that energy back.
(29:51):
So yeah, I definitely, you know, I can't I almost
can't wait. Like it's like December is when I I
like have so much fun training because well, first of all,
it's summer, We're in the sun finally Melbourne, So I think, yeah,
I love pre season because like I have a goal
(30:13):
and something to look forward to, and then playing you know,
in front of home crowd and friends.
Speaker 3 (30:20):
It's always so much fun.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
That was absolutely incredible that you kept that letter to
Australian Tennis magazine from Luke for twenty years. I loved
his and Dash's reaction to when you actually handed that
to them, like all those memories coming back that that
was incredible.
Speaker 1 (30:38):
Yeah, that was really fun. I've been waiting for an
opportunity to share that. But I do think I'm bringing
letters to the editor back for the magazine. We never
know what future star is going to be writing to us.
And yeah, so many nuggets in that interview as well.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
Absolutely, Yeah there were weren't there. There was the revelation
that Dash is working with a new coach. She wants
to do some coaching and mentoring. Luke talked about a
potential coaching career. He's interested in doing that. We covered
a lot of ground with him in that chat.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
Yeah, we could have talked to them forever, but Luke
had another interview to get to Actually.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
Yes, Luke made his debut on The Aoshow Weekly this
week and John and Brie and the team will be
back with another episode next Thursday.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
And we'll be back with another episode of the sit
Down next week. Please remember to subscribe, rate and review
See you next week, Mat, see you Viv
Hello, and welcome to the Sitdown. I'm Viv Christie, managing
editor of Australian Tennis magazine.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
And I'm Mattrolopa, a writer for oz open dot com
now Viv for this week's episode. Unfortunately, I was a
little unwell and couldn't join you in the studio. I
was on screen though for this interview. Tell us what
it was like to actually be in studio with Daria
and Luke savil Well.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
It was fabulous, Matt. There was so much fun and
energy spending time with Dasha and Luke, who were actually
doing their first official interview as a couple, and I
think we got a really strong sense of how they
click as a couple, but particularly how they've supported each
other throughout their tennis careers.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
For sure, and speaking of how they click for the
listeners who won't have seen them, they rocked up in
almost matching outfits. They were both in a shade of
pink or purple, so we loved their coordinated approach to
the interview, and you started it off by asking them
the most important question about their dog, who's almost as
famous as them.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Luke and Dasher, thank you for joining us today on
the sit Down. At Its great to have you here
in the studio.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Thank you. This is a very nice studio by the way.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Yeah, we call it pot labor Arena.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
Oh, I love it.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
This is so smart.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
What's of great interviews happened in here, including this one?
I'm sure, But let's start with the most important question.
Where is Tofu right now? Who is looking after Tofu.
Speaker 5 (01:21):
Dash's mum back in the back in the house. But
I'm sure he's probably pretty sad and disappointed that he's
not here. He's he always waves goodbye to us when
we go to work, and it's it's quite a funny,
quite a funny sight.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
You must you must love catching up with Tofu when
you're home.
Speaker 6 (01:38):
Yeah, yeah, definitely. I probably prioritize him over anyone. So
if any of my friends are listening to this, and
I may be sometimes canceled some of my some of
our okchops, that's probably because I wanted to just sit
on the couch with him.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
In all seriousness, it does seem like it's kind of
a rare break for both of you being home together.
What do you most laugh about being back in Melbourne?
Speaker 5 (02:08):
For me, it's probably just living kind of normal for
a little bit. It's staying in their own bed in
the in the house, waking up, making a coffee on
our coffee machine, and just sort of hanging out with
Tofu as well. I'm usually up before Dasha, so he
gets up with me as well, and I usually bring
him down.
Speaker 4 (02:27):
Then he just falls asleep on the couch.
Speaker 5 (02:28):
So I think he just likes knowing that we're home and.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
He can sort of see his mum and dad.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
But also just the training side of it, and I
mean obviously spending time with one another. When we're traveling
a lot of the time we're on different schedules, so
it's it's nice to sort of live normal and yeah,
just just be in the house and not do a
whole lot for a couple of weeks.
Speaker 6 (02:51):
Right, Oh, what about golf all the golf golfing that
you're doing that as well.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
But that's that's a touchy subject.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
I can actually really to that. We have that in
our house too. How many how many weeks would that
happen when you're of a year would happen when you're
home together?
Speaker 6 (03:09):
Honestly, we can probably count them on one hand, right, like,
not that much. Mostly, you know, at the end of
the season like pre season, and then you know, as
this summer, were still we're at home in the country,
(03:30):
but still like you know, playing tournaments, but still feels
like we're at home. But yeah, not not that often
to be.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Fair, speaking of this, like, I'm not sure how often
it is that you've done joint interviews before. Is this
Is this something that's regular for you to in your media.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Carews definitely not.
Speaker 5 (03:47):
It's probably maybe a first yeah, but then I'll be interesting.
I hope you guys don't stitch us up with any
hard hitting questions or anything like that. But no, it's
I mean, it's good to even spend time together, even
if it's an interview.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
How often do you get asked about each other in
interviews if you don't do them together? Is that something
that comes up a lot?
Speaker 6 (04:11):
Maybe a little bit, Yeah, I definitely get asked a
lot about Tofu and then and then Loup probably second.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
What about you Luke to come up in yours?
Speaker 5 (04:23):
Yeah, quite a bit. It's quite a common question how
much we see each other, And it's a very difficult
question to answer because from every year, you know, it
really varies on how much we see each other in
the different tournaments we play, but it probably, yeah, it
varies from probably fifteen to twenty five weeks something like that.
So but to be honest, we've been dating for so
(04:45):
many years, and especially early days in juniors, we weren't
seeing much of each other at all, So it's just
sort of it just comes with the business. And I
think that we both know what it takes to play
professional tennis and a lot of of that is travel,
so we both get it and I think it actually
really works well when we can bounce ideas off each
(05:06):
other and when we have to do long stints away.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
It's just part of the business.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
When was the first meeting between the two of you?
Was Was it in Australia?
Speaker 4 (05:14):
I think it was Junior Davis Cup in.
Speaker 6 (05:17):
Mexico in Mexico, okay, and then a lot of just
Facebook messaging.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
To be fair okay. And what year was that Junior
Davis Cup and Fair Cup.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I think we were sixteen, so two thousand and nine, oh.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
Ten, Yeah, so yeah, Dasha was obviously playing for Russia
at the time, and I think we both won, both
won the events, and yeah, there might have been a
player's party and slash disco there and that's where I
showed my great moves to Dasha clearly. Clearly I'm joking,
(05:50):
but yeah, from there it was a little bit of
messaging and obviously quite early day as we were young,
but yeah, sort of lost them from there.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
How often did you get to meet up at sort
of that early in those junior.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Days, Not much at all. I think we've.
Speaker 6 (06:08):
There was a time where we didn't see each other
for a year, like literally standing open juniors, and then
the following year something like that. But we just kept
in touch. And but yeah, I think when I turned eighteen,
that's when I moved to Australia, so that made things
(06:31):
a lot easier.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
And then, you know.
Speaker 6 (06:33):
To be fair, when I came to Australia, I've just
done my ACL so then that meant that I was
kind of staying in Melbourne, and that's when we probably
spent the most of our time together. And then until
Luke started, you know, traveling and playing tournaments. But then
(06:55):
that's when you know, this whole us trying to schedule
our tournaments together started and we're still going.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
It's a fantastic story. And I guess because the two
countries where you're from are so far apart, like they're
on opposite parts of the world. Dashing you said, yeah,
you came here when you were eighteen. How grateful were
you that tennis, you know, allowed you to meet Luke
and then it's kind of created it, maybe a different
path to you that you might not have known you like,
did you know you would end up in Australia and
be a citizen here when you were younger?
Speaker 6 (07:27):
Probably not when I started tennis, but when I started traveling,
I really liked Australia and I was like, oh my god,
this is like I could live here.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
And yeah.
Speaker 6 (07:43):
Then I came back a few years later to play
like challenges ATFS twenty fives and I told my dad,
I was like, I'm going to Australia because you know
it's the cuts were weaker, so I would definitely be
in main draw of those tournaments. And he's like, aren't
(08:05):
you dating like a boy there? And I'm like, well, yeah,
that too.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
How old were you when you first came to Australia.
Can you remember your first trip?
Speaker 6 (08:17):
I think either fifteen or sixteen. I was still playing juniors.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
And on the flip side, Luke, have you been because
obviously Dasha lives here. Have you been to Russia much?
Can you speak any of the language?
Speaker 4 (08:29):
I definitely can't.
Speaker 5 (08:31):
We've tried, but I just can't pick it up for
the life of me.
Speaker 4 (08:35):
It's it's very difficult.
Speaker 5 (08:37):
And I've been once to Russia and Dasha wasn't there, actually,
But I went to Moscow and Saint Petersburg and was
absolutely blown away with just the cities themselves and the
architecture and the food. And Dasha's dad was there, and
I met a dog, and.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
Yeah, I met my grandama as well.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
I met Dasha's grandma and he walked me around the
park that Usha sort of grew up around, and we
went and had some cinnamon doughnuts that Dasha loves as well.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
So, but where were you, Dasha?
Speaker 3 (09:07):
I was injured.
Speaker 6 (09:09):
So it was also during like COVID year, so I
was recovering from achilles.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Injury.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Yeah, so these days, do you train together often or
hit together often?
Speaker 6 (09:22):
We actually do a little bit. Luke helps me out.
It's probably more beneficial to me than it is to Luke.
But then again, I think I make enough balls and
pretty consistent. Sometimes looks like, wow, you really don't miss
that much, And I think we make it work, but
(09:45):
definitely wouldn't play too many points. I don't think it'll
be very interesting for Luke to be fair.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Does it feel like work or does it feel like
fun when you're hitting together.
Speaker 6 (09:57):
Yeah, we tried to make it work. Otherwise it's a
bit of yeah, a bit of waste of time.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
And then.
Speaker 6 (10:06):
Actually during COVID in lockdown, we kind of had to
hit together because the you know, of their restrictions, that
was getting a bit difficult.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
I think, Yeah, there was a little bit of tension
on court, it's fair to say, but that was probably
just the times as well. We were staying the house
twenty four to seven together and then going out with
our one little bit of freedom for the day, and
then we'd practice with each other. So it's probably a
little bit like the mixed doubles. We go out there
and we aim to really enjoy it and not take
(10:40):
it too seriously, but ultimately it always gets competitive and
possibly a little argumentative. But I'd say in the last
last six months, maybe year, the hitting's been a lot better.
Speaker 4 (10:53):
We tend to enjoy it a lot more and make
it work.
Speaker 5 (10:56):
And yeah, I mean, obviously I'm a little bit biased,
but I think that sure is one of the best
out of the hand there is. She barely misses the
ball and just like a ball machine. So it's very impressive.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
Who is the better coach among you, Probably Luke, I
would say.
Speaker 6 (11:17):
I think Luke is a lot more patient. I can
be a little bit too direct, but some I guess
defends who you ask. Maybe some people like it more direct.
But I think I listened to you if you you know,
(11:38):
like even on court when we're practiced together, we'll have
our coaches there, but you know, we would still chat,
and I think we do listen to each other.
Speaker 5 (11:52):
Yeah, I think you don't speak a lot about tennis,
but when you do, it's really spot on.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
It's really good.
Speaker 5 (11:58):
And obviously your tennis mind is great, your tennis IQ
out on the court and all that.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
But yeah, you obviously don't.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
I think you try and you know, almost escape from
tennis a little bit, but when you actually do it,
it's great information. So one day, if you decide to coach,
you probably have to work on the delivery and being
a little bit softer. Maybe it depends on how you coach,
but if they can take that and you can work
on that part, I think, yeah, you could be a
great coach.
Speaker 6 (12:27):
I do think sometimes, you know, I would like to
be someone's mentor mentor like a young.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Junior.
Speaker 6 (12:39):
Yeah, especially a female. Yeah, that'd be something I would
want to do, even like while still playing.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Do you think that's kind of part of the Australian
tennis culture as well. It seems like there's a really
great environment of everyone supporting each other.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
Yeah. Absolutely.
Speaker 5 (13:02):
I mean I can speak for myself with a lot
of the boys that I travel with, a lot of
my great mates, and I think it's a really tight
knit group of us. And you know, even when we're
over in Asia or in the States or Europe, wherever
it might be, and we don't have a coach, you'll
see probably one or two Aussies out there supporting, And
even if they're playing the same day, they just want
to get out there and they know you don't have
(13:23):
a coach there or anyone in your team, but they'll
be out there supporting. I think that's just I think
from a young age we've had to do that because
you know, we're so remote and yeah, we sort of
feel like it's almost us against the world a little bit.
So Yeah, it's always been a great group and for
that it makes you really proud to be Australian when
(13:44):
you're over there and you see how tight we are
and then some other countries not so tight.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Yeah, for sure. Back to your relationship, it seems like
tennis obviously comes up a lot. Do you ever have
days where you sort of don't talk about tennis or
make an effort to not make it about tennis?
Speaker 6 (14:01):
Probably not, let's face it to be fair, It's not
like we talk about it all the time, but there
will be something every day that we will say, oh.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
Did you see did you see this result?
Speaker 6 (14:13):
Or did you see this drama or blah blah blah,
So something comes up.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (14:20):
Probably the only time we wouldn't talk about it at
all in the off season where there's no tournament.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Yep.
Speaker 4 (14:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (14:27):
I think it's just such a big part of our
life that if we actively try and avoid it, we're
probably thinking about it more.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (14:34):
So yeah, we try and switch off, but ultimately, yeah,
like Dasha said, we speak about it in the end.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
What's it like when you're watching each other, Oh, I'm.
Speaker 5 (14:43):
A nervous wreck or really yeah, I can sympathize for
all the coaches and love ones out there because it
is much harder. I don't know about much harder, but
it's definitely harder than playing. You just you care so much. Obviously,
you're so invested and can't control the outcome. And I've
gotten better of late of just sitting back and just
(15:05):
telling myself, well, whatever happens happens. Like she's doing her best,
that she's doing her best. I know that for a fact,
And yeah, that's all you can really ask for at
the end of the day, because I know when I'm
out there playing, she's feeling the same. I'm doing my
best and sort of what can you do? You can
support and whatnot. But it's it's brutal.
Speaker 6 (15:26):
It's brutal because you feel like so helpless and you
feel like we know each other so much, like we
feel like, oh, we should say something, but you really shouldn't.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Like sometimes it's.
Speaker 6 (15:38):
Really hard not to like be a coach, but you're
actually there just to support each other, not coach each
other unless we specifically asked each other, hey, like can
you can you have that role and be the coach?
(15:59):
Because Luke, you've probably been my on like traveling coach
twice maybe actually both times in Canada, one time during
Toronto and one time in Granby, and that's when they
actually made finals.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Yeah. I was just about to say, wasn't that a
great result for you? Yeah, formulas working. Did you enjoy
that side of it, LP, Yeah, I did.
Speaker 5 (16:27):
Actually, I'm hoping maybe one day it's a route I
could possibly go down his coaching and I think it's
just all I think just the appreciation of how hard
tennis is for me over the last few years. That
just shows that probably helps me sort of relax a
bit more and just know that she's doing her best
and whatever happens happens.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
But I think, yeah, it worked well.
Speaker 5 (16:49):
I think I did some on court coaching in Toronto
and some of my mates they took some footage of
that and kind of, yeah, joked about it a little bit.
They thought it was pretty funny me going out and
coaching Dash and I was up as.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Well, so that yeah, that was allowed.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
That was a joke amongst the boys. So but yeah,
it was.
Speaker 5 (17:08):
It was good fun and having the responsibility of a player,
I found it very exciting.
Speaker 6 (17:14):
We did say that that's probably not something we would do,
like you know, have Luke traveling with me and coaching me.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
That's not happening. We discussed.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
That sounds very.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Clear, Dasha. It was interesting hearing Luke describe like your
strength strengths as a player, like your consistency and your
tennis i Q. And it sounds like that you get
a lot out of the practice sessions with Luke. What
are his strengths as a player.
Speaker 6 (17:44):
I think Luke's strength is definitely patience and probably his
I would say attitude, like I could never.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
Luke's like impossible to read.
Speaker 6 (17:55):
You wouldn't know if he is mad, if he is
Like he doesn't show much emotion, even like since junior
is he doesn't show like negative emotions at all.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
And I think.
Speaker 6 (18:11):
That's something I should maybe learn a bit late. Now
I'm like thirty, still still learning. I look at some
like young players and I'm like, yeah, one day I
want to be like them.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
And I'm like ten years older than.
Speaker 6 (18:29):
But it's cool, like we're pretty different me and Luke.
And Luke can also just like push through and like
keep grinding, and you know, even like with schedules like
play many back to back tournaments where I'm like, okay,
(18:50):
I'm out, I can't do this anymore. So I guess
it's like, yeah, that that mentality you know that you know,
I've I can keep going and what is it like great?
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Would you say persistence?
Speaker 5 (19:06):
Yeah, yeah, but I mean you've got that as well.
But yeah, I know what you mean. You I probably
just I'm just probably silent and just go through it
and probably not for the better, whereas you can sort
of feel like you're maybe dragging the chain a little
bit and a little bit down and you just say no,
I'm done, I'm going home and have a refresh, and
which I think there's strengths to both sides.
Speaker 6 (19:28):
I think Luke's like also the most consistent, one of
the most consistent players are probably even like athletes have
ever come across, and are very diligent, and you know,
like on weekends I will be like just chilling doing nothing,
(19:49):
where Luke would still, you know, like do something that
is not just good for a tennis but like good
for his body, like do a recovery, where I sometimes
just yeah, completely like that, I'm done. I just want
to not do anything that is good for me.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
I love that. It's kind of the balance though, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Yeah, for sure, Luke, you alluded to mixed doubles before
and that you know, it can get a bit competitive
when you guys play together, but you have played five
Australian Opens together, so there must be something that keeps
you guys coming back and entering the mixed doubles draw
and wanting to go on there one one.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Matt.
Speaker 5 (20:26):
Yeah, yeah, we don't know the best record, to be fair,
mad we lost the runner ups start of this year,
but yeah, I think in the moment, yeah, we're competitive,
and maybe straight after, but in reflection, I think it's
still great that, you know, as a couple, were able
to play the Australian Open. You know, one day our
career is going to be done and we look back
(20:47):
on those memories, you know, you know we're married as
a couple. To go and play out there in front
of family and friends and play a Grand Slam, our
home Grand Slam. We live here in Melbourne, it's it's amazing.
So I think that's what keeps us coming back, is
those opportunities to go out there and play, and obviously
we want to win, but we're out there and sort
of making memories and we can look back on those
(21:08):
for the rest of our life.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
So I think that's the core part.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Yeah, Yeah, for sure. It's an incredibly unique opportunity. It
was also really cool listening to the two of you
describe each other's strengths. What would you say, given your
careers of any parallel I as pro plays for such
a long time, what's the biggest thing you've seen in
each other and learned from each other, maybe even adopting
in your game or your approach or your mentality.
Speaker 5 (21:29):
Well, with Dasher, I think it's, you know, she's obviously
had a lot of setbacks, injury setbacks, and you know,
touch Wood, I haven't had as many, or really any
at all to the extent of her, And I mean
just her grit and determination and persistence to come back
from those I think three or four times and back
to top one hundred basically from no ranking. I think
(21:49):
it's I can't even sort of find a word for it.
It's so admirable, absolutely incredible, and it just shows the
determination she's got. I mean, obviously the tennis she has
as well. I mean I think it's she's been top twenty,
and I think she can get back there again with
some health, with a good run, and I think just yeah, looking.
(22:10):
It's you know, she's gained so much respect from not
only her peers, but a lot of the Australians, the
Australian public as well, and just her fighting, fighting.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
Spirit as well.
Speaker 5 (22:20):
I think, no matter what the score is, you're always
given your absolute best and I think that's what everyone.
Speaker 4 (22:26):
Loves about you.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
Oh thank you.
Speaker 6 (22:27):
I think with Luke, Luke's like one of the best
team players, even though tennis is not a team sport,
but I admire, you know, how supportive he is of
his mates. And you know, I think it goes a
long way if you you know, reach out to someone
(22:50):
or come and watch them.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
And it's something I'm starting.
Speaker 6 (22:55):
To do a lot more because especially I like what
Luke said, you know, when you were growing up and
traveling with other boys and a few years later you're
playing like the biggest tournaments and it's pretty cool. So
it's something I would like encourage up and coming you know,
(23:19):
players juniors.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
To do is support each other.
Speaker 6 (23:25):
And yeah, I've mentioned before how Luke is very consistent
with you know, his routines and whatnot.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
But I also learned.
Speaker 6 (23:38):
With Luke that he actually can switch off and you know,
take the day off to play golf, let's say, or
you know, any like he has other interests, which is
also really important because yeah, you definitely need another source
(24:02):
where yeah you can with the energy and then feel like, okay,
this is also fulfilling. It's not just always about tennis.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
It's interesting hearing a little bit about your junior career, Luke,
because I wanted to take you back bear with me
to a letter that I have in the Australian Tennis
magazine files from a few years ago, and I just
wanted to read you a couple of lines. Just when
I thought it couldn't get any worse, I injured my
arm and couldn't play the last game. It was a disaster,
(24:32):
disaster and big letters. So after the tournament I had
two and a half weeks off and then there was
a question. What I don't understand is why does the
number one seed play the number three seed and in
the semifinals and number two plays number four seeds? Just
wondering if you remember anything about that letter he wrote
a letter, Just want to pull it out for you.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
Oh my god, do you remember this?
Speaker 6 (24:55):
Oh my god, that is wow years old.
Speaker 4 (25:01):
I actually do I need to frame this? So was
that it was.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
Big letters disaster.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
It's not just big letters.
Speaker 4 (25:10):
It's like, I'm so taken aback right now?
Speaker 1 (25:14):
Is it fun looking back?
Speaker 5 (25:16):
That's hilarious. It's absolutely hilarious. I vaguely remember that. And
that was Bruce Cup.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
Yes, it was Bruce.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Cups two thousand and five, by the way, two.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
Thousand and five.
Speaker 5 (25:26):
Yeah, I played three Bruce Cups. It's an under twelve's
state teams competition. And I remember my arm.
Speaker 4 (25:33):
I was.
Speaker 5 (25:34):
They kept me in the lineup, but I couldn't serve,
so I was serving under arm. And then I went
home and I had like an hour physio treatment on
my arm and it was just basically a huge not
in the back of the back of my shoulder that
he just had to get out. And I was good
as gold after that. But that was up in. That
was up in Darwin, and I remember riding. It was
(25:58):
a disaster and or four times bigger than than the
rest of the So yeah, it's like.
Speaker 6 (26:06):
A notebook with lines and Luke it took one to
five lines or six lines to put it was a disaster.
Speaker 5 (26:14):
Yeah, I don't I don't mince my words. So I.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
Will be very, very thrilled that Luke, you were reading
it and conceiving the magazine from such a young age.
That's like a real tennis fan.
Speaker 6 (26:27):
You still ride the same, by the way, it's probably
better back then, but we don't need to know that.
You know how you brought up a few weeks ago
that when you have like little injury, like you really struggle.
I guess it started from two thousand and five. You
just had a nel like niggle in your arm and
you take six lines to write it was a disaster.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
So after looking back, let's look forward a little bit. Dasha,
You're about to go to Billy Jing King Cup finals.
Speaker 6 (26:59):
Yeah, so I'm actually leaving tomorrow. I'm playing another tournament
just before that, an IF seventy five in Luxembourg. And yeah,
I've been looking after, you know, my body a little bit.
I've had a foot like plant of fasciatis foot injuries,
(27:21):
so it's it's it's feeling good. So I'm excited to,
you know, compete again. And I've actually started working with
Michael Lagazo, so spend almost a month working with him.
(27:45):
So if I don't do well, that's because of and
if I do well, that's also because of you. I'm kidding,
but yeah, I'm actually we've been working on a few things.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
You know.
Speaker 6 (28:00):
It's not like anything dramatic, and I don't have a
one handed back end, but I am excited to confit
with what we've worked on.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Fantastic, Luke. What's next for you?
Speaker 5 (28:12):
I'm sort of done for the year, just chilling out
a little bit at the moment, spending a little bit
of time with Dasher and possibly heading up to the
Gold Coast for the future up there, and Dasha's also
playing the seventy five a couple of weeks after fed Cup,
so yeah, just a little bit of downtime now and
then just looking ahead to January and hopefully playing the
(28:36):
playing the Australian Open and maybe enjoying the mixed doubles
this time around.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
What do you most kind of look forward to when
you think about an Australian summer coming up.
Speaker 5 (28:46):
Firstly, it's probably just being home, that's the obvious one.
But there's just there's nothing like playing the Australian Open
every single year, the anticipation of just playing your home Slam,
and every year it's improving, it really is, and it's
definitely the bestl I am and craiging the team just
do an amazing job of just you know, basically improving
(29:07):
the event from year to year and then just playing
in front of family and friends and looking back on
letters like this and just seeing how much tennis means
to me. And then you know, twenty years later, I'm
playing the Australian Opener. It's probably my fifteenth Australian Open
and it's still the same feeling every time. So yeah,
for me, it's just nothing really compares to just playing
here at home.
Speaker 6 (29:27):
Yeah, and definitely the fans. That's so much fun when everyone,
almost everyone in the stands is supporting you. And yeah,
I definitely feel like I connect with everyone and I
always try and find a group of people that are
there like supporting me, and I give that energy back.
(29:51):
So yeah, I definitely, you know, I can't I almost
can't wait. Like it's like December is when I I
like have so much fun training because well, first of all,
it's summer, We're in the sun finally Melbourne, So I think, yeah,
I love pre season because like I have a goal
(30:13):
and something to look forward to, and then playing you know,
in front of home crowd and friends.
Speaker 3 (30:20):
It's always so much fun.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
That was absolutely incredible that you kept that letter to
Australian Tennis magazine from Luke for twenty years. I loved
his and Dash's reaction to when you actually handed that
to them, like all those memories coming back that that
was incredible.
Speaker 1 (30:38):
Yeah, that was really fun. I've been waiting for an
opportunity to share that. But I do think I'm bringing
letters to the editor back for the magazine. We never
know what future star is going to be writing to us.
And yeah, so many nuggets in that interview as well.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
Absolutely, Yeah there were weren't there. There was the revelation
that Dash is working with a new coach. She wants
to do some coaching and mentoring. Luke talked about a
potential coaching career. He's interested in doing that. We covered
a lot of ground with him in that chat.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
Yeah, we could have talked to them forever, but Luke
had another interview to get to Actually.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
Yes, Luke made his debut on The Aoshow Weekly this
week and John and Brie and the team will be
back with another episode next Thursday.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
And we'll be back with another episode of the sit
Down next week. Please remember to subscribe, rate and review
See you next week, Mat, see you Viv
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