December 24, 2025 • 46 mins
Who will win the singles titles at Australian Open 2026? On the season finale of The Tennis, Xave and Brie are joined by Todd Woodbridge, Jaimee Fourlis, and Simon Rea to debate this week’s Big Question. The panel also reacts to news of Stan Wawrinka’s impending retirement, Nick Kyrgios returning to the Brisbane International, and previews the must-see matches at United Cup 2026, including Alex de Minaur v Casper Ruud and Emma Raducanu v Naomi Osaka. Plus, Italian star Matteo Arnaldi drops by Pod Laver Arena with a life update as he prepares for the Australian summer. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to The Tennis family! Stay tuned for ‘Pod Laver Arena’ coming this January. If you or anyone you know needs support, call Lifeline on 131 114 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
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 It's the series finale.
It's the final episode of this show as it is,
and it's Christmas Day. Let's jump into it. It's the
most wonderful time of the year. The Australian Summer of
Tennis is almost upon us. Silver bells and bows. Who
will lift the silverware at AO twenty twenty six and
good a Mateo, Italy's honorarye Australian Mateo and Nali in
studio joining us.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
I'm so excited, I'm biting my own tongue.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
But that's all ahead with me and plenty more Zave
Muhlabark next to me to my left this week is
my lovely co host Brice Stewart here.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
For the last time. It's the end of an erar.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
We've essentially fired ourselves.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
I know, two and a half years I've been doing this,
I been here. I've only been doing it like seven months.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Yeah, but I've been pulling strings behind the scenes. Well yeah, yeah,
that was my story. Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
But we've got a brand new podcast coming to you
starting up on fifteenth of Jan Pod lab Arena. It's
going to be huge, It's going to be fun. I
won't be hosting it, so if be sick of my voice,
good luck to you. But across the desk, enough.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Of my rambling.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
We've got Simon Ray and Jamie Fallis joining us for
the last show.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Hey, hello, Merry Christmas.
Speaker 5 (01:06):
Now.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
I know to you guys it's Christmas Day. For those
who are watching and listening, it is, of course Monday.
We didn't force you to come in on Christmas Day itself,
so we're from the past.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Looking into the future.
Speaker 6 (01:18):
How exciting love that?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
So let's pretend it is Christmas Day. What was under
the treaty?
Speaker 7 (01:21):
You know?
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Or is it all all surprises for me?
Speaker 8 (01:25):
I think it's a bit of surprises.
Speaker 9 (01:26):
Good.
Speaker 7 (01:26):
Yeah, I've done my Christmas shopping this week, so oh yeah,
because it is Christmas Day.
Speaker 8 (01:33):
Yeah, a couple of surprises you.
Speaker 10 (01:35):
Very little under the tree, I think for me, but
hopefully some excited little people at my joint come Thursday morning.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
That's what it's all about. Absolutely little people. Oh you
mean children? Okay, I thought you'd just beent elves in general.
How you going, Bray, I'm all right.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
I have done no Christmas shopping and I expect no
Christmas presents because I live alone, so fantastic.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
What about the dog and the cat? Are they getting anything?
Speaker 11 (01:57):
God?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
No, they get treated like kings and queens every day
of the year.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
And you did buy like a ten kilo ham just
for yourself, cooked.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
On the weekend and it is delicious. And I have
ham sandwiches for lunch.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Forever for lunch.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Yeah, now I'm hearing in my ear.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
We've got a special someone on the line. Let's jump
straight into bree.
Speaker 11 (02:14):
You got a button.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Oh my god, you get to press up the.
Speaker 12 (02:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Hopefully we don't get pink copyright. But joining us from
somewhere else on the big screen. It's the face of
the Australian summer of tennis. It's top bloody Woodbridge.
Speaker 9 (02:31):
Hello, guys, Merry Christmas. I heard you talking about presents
and things. I bought my own coffee machine. Well it
died just before Christmas. I had to buy a new one.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Yes, yeah, planned obsolescence.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
You've got to let you know, mid sized family cars
and white goods. After a few years they just go, well,
this guy needs a new one. But we do have
a big question.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Our big question this week is who will win AO
twenty twenty six singles title.
Speaker 11 (03:00):
Who's going to win?
Speaker 9 (03:01):
I love this time of year because we're all supposed
to be an astradamascent.
Speaker 11 (03:05):
We're all experts and we know, really we don't know.
Speaker 9 (03:08):
But what you're going to base it on is what's
happened in the last twelve months, in particular the last
three months, and because we're never quite sure who's going
to start the year fresh and with a new attitude.
But what I'm going to go for is a little
bit more of the same, except I'm going to go
with Amanda Anison Mova. On the women's side, I think
that her year. I just like the confidence that she
(03:28):
built last year. Obviously we've talked a lot about wilboderone
and then the bounce back at the US Open.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
I just think those.
Speaker 9 (03:34):
Experiences are she is ready, she believes she can do
that and that she'll start this year really strong. And
I think the Aussie opens due for another one of
those changeups who had Madison Keys Obviously last year, Arina
Sabaleitka is going to be tough to beat, but I
think Amanda's going to make her breakthrough in twenty twenty six.
And I see Australia as a great starting point for her.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
I mean on the women's side, Todd the Australian and
he's always just an amazing place where on the WTA
side in particular, you kind of always get a surprise
be it. You know, Sophia Kennon, You've got Madison Keys
Like it's really yeah, Anison Ova, I.
Speaker 11 (04:11):
Like it, It's true.
Speaker 9 (04:12):
I mean, you know EGA's been playing great, can she?
I mean, that's the one that she needs to win.
There's a lot of great stories, but I'm going for
a first time winner, like like we've had a couple
of times. On the men's side, I'm going for the
three peak for Yannick Sinner. I just see horse he
loves it.
Speaker 11 (04:29):
Yeah, I know.
Speaker 9 (04:29):
But you know, if there is a reason getting over
the shock of Carlos and Juan Carlos Ferrero party, I
think that is going to be one of the major
stories of twenty twenty six. I think it's going to
make it very difficult for Carlos to win a major
next year.
Speaker 11 (04:46):
We know he's good.
Speaker 9 (04:47):
Enough, but that change at this point of his career.
I find it mind boggling because we're talking about one
of the greatest duos of coaching partnerships that our game
has scene and he was still improving. There was still
so much to get there, and it would see him
from reports that are out there that it wasn't between
(05:10):
the two of them. It was between outside sources and negotiations.
And if we're talking about a bit of money here
or scheduling there, get it, get it right, get it together,
and continue with this incredible career. But I think it's
the change is going to be difficult when one Carloss
hasn't been around the last few years.
Speaker 11 (05:33):
Al Choraz does not play as good.
Speaker 9 (05:35):
He struggles and you can see him looking out into
the stands. He's actually a little unsure of himself and
it's going to take months to settle down and then
Willie settled. In the meantime, he may give others the
opportunity to get some victories. So it's a fascinating start
to the season because of that. And given that change,
(05:57):
I think Yamick has the upper hand and he gets
the three pete.
Speaker 8 (06:01):
Do we know who is going to be coaching Carlos
at Ao?
Speaker 2 (06:04):
I thought it was you, but it's not you, Jamie.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
He has these other coach right, Yeah, backup, so.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
Will you just stick with Lopez or do you think
you'll get another coach into the team.
Speaker 9 (06:14):
I think you've got to stick with what's in the
team at the moment. But what's left, Well, the thing
that you had with one Carlos Ferrero is that the
two of them have the ability to fit aside from
the rest of the team and talk about what it's
actually like. You've had a former world number one, a
Grand Slam champion who understands the stress, the pressure, the
(06:35):
technical requirements, and really the scheduling for me has been interesting.
He's played a lot post US Open, There's been a
lot of exhibitions and I'm sure if you're the coach,
you're probably going do we need all of that when
the last thing left for us to achieve is the
fourth major and that is the Australian Open, Perhaps that
(06:56):
should be the focus that we really want to be
looking at. And then when there's our outside sources that
have other interests, that takes away from that relationship. But
nobody that walks into this coaching space now is going
to have as much knowledge as one Carlos Ferrero. So
it's going to be in my mind, almost irreplaceable.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
All right, Jamie, what about you answer of the big
question who is going to win our men's and women's
singles event Well.
Speaker 7 (07:20):
I'm going to be a bit boring and go center
as well. On the men's side, if it ain't broke,
don't fix it exactly. And then on the women's I'm
going to go eager.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Oh good one.
Speaker 7 (07:29):
Yeah, I just think coming off last year in her
form and now her team is quite solid as well,
I think having that continuity going into the summer is
really important.
Speaker 8 (07:38):
And yeah, she's going to be my one to watch.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Very good. All right, Razor, big question for you.
Speaker 10 (07:43):
Well, just to continue in the same vein to make
it a hat trick so far, I'm in the center
camp as well. And yes, that's the boring, predictable answer,
but I just think it's impossible to ignore.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
The pretty good bet. It's pretty exactly at.
Speaker 6 (07:55):
This point in time.
Speaker 10 (07:56):
I can't go past them, and I tried to and
looking outside the box if iwards to predict, maybe outside
of the obvious on the men's in the men's game,
and it's impossible to find anyone to unseat the big
two at the moment.
Speaker 6 (08:06):
I like Jack Draper on the hard courts, and it
depends on health.
Speaker 10 (08:10):
It depends on that arm injury that ended his twenty
twenty five campaign, and we haven't seen him since the
US Open, but I do think his game is best
suited to the hard courts rather than the clay or
the grass.
Speaker 6 (08:19):
So that's my smoky if you like, or one that
I'm keeping an eye on.
Speaker 10 (08:22):
I thought he played so well last year at times
on the hard court, so I think if he finds
his best tennis, he could be right there. And I
like Rebikner in the woman's I think we saw her
across the second half of twenty twenty five produce some
of her best stuff, So I'll be in camp Rebikner.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
She took us out the WTA finals this year, didn't
she did?
Speaker 11 (08:41):
So I almost think the big question is for us
on the men's side, who can unseat the other two?
Speaker 9 (08:48):
And I got asked that question the other day and
I'm still like, there's a few that are close, but
you know, they've got to have a massive game like
Draper to be able to do that. And yeah, that's
that's going to be I think that one of the
most fascinating, fascinating things for twenty twenty six. On that
man's side is who's willing and able and raising you
(09:10):
tached on it. It's actually the fitness that is the
hardest part, because if you've got the dynamic game, you've
got to be able to back it up so well,
and that's going to be the hard part.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
How about you, Brett.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
No one will be shocked by this, but I have
gone on the women's side, Mirror Andrevah.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
You are the president and CEO of the Mirror and
Driver fan club over here.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
If you need any help a promotion, Andrever, I'm your
goal because I love you, just because I think you'd
be really exciting to have someone so young and up
and coming raise that trophy.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
So she would be my pick.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
Then on the men's side, because we talked about this
last week, who could be a big question last week
Todd was who could be someone that could throw the
other two men off their ledge in our Cras and
Sinner and I had gone with Djokovic last week, and
I have gone with Jokovic.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Again this week.
Speaker 4 (10:01):
Wow, because I said, I feel like he's got one
more title in him at least.
Speaker 8 (10:06):
I think that's a good call.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
And I think this strain open is something he has
a lot of history with and.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
Cap of my choices are twenty years with and Drakovic.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
You've basically got like another tennis player in between.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Them goat and I've gone with the Spring.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Yeah, well that's pretty exciting.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
I mean, it would be it would be an upset,
but it would also be very plausible.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
I think if we had these two winners.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
From a promotional pr point of view, it's really good headlines.
Speaker 9 (10:37):
I cannot believe how far Brie has come in her
journalistic thank you as in losing all integrity.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
No, do you remember my first episode and I.
Speaker 12 (10:48):
Was like, yeah, you're actually hitting You're hitting your straps, Brie,
And I think that that call is actually really good call.
Speaker 9 (10:58):
I mean, I'm a massive fan of me, Andrea as
well would love to see.
Speaker 11 (11:02):
I think that would be brilliant for the women's game.
Speaker 9 (11:04):
And then how can you discount the man that was
quite firing away the third best player in majors last year.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
Yeah, well that's why I'm retiring. I'm retiring at a
high from the podcast.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Imagine if but if this comes off, you're gonna have
to go back into the pod.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
I've been telling you you ceremoniously fired me.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
I think I let everyone know, including you, are just
in a team's message.
Speaker 9 (11:25):
You did bre you can change chairs now she just
comes in as expert guests.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Yeah, yeah, that's right, you're the new raiser.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
Oh god, no, I thank you.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
What about you say, Yeah, you've got zero knowledge and
you've only been here a couple of months.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Yes, So this is my approach to most things. Tennis
is just the dart board, just like who is it? So,
but I'm going to pretend to have some knowledge.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Eager. She's twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
This is her ao to take home, very exciting stuff
and then a little bit of patriotism.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
But on the men's side, it's the demon, Alex Demon.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
We would all love Demon.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
It'd be great. Todd, come on, what do you think
about demon?
Speaker 9 (12:03):
Just looking at razors look at you? That was all
and the stats man just looked at and you went, I.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
Don't let facts get in the way of a good prediction. No,
So let's just you know, there could be anything. There
could be food poisoning in the player group. There could
just be flight delays.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
There is food poisoning.
Speaker 10 (12:25):
We know to play you just me sprinkling some stuff
at the buffet. You know, he's not as far off
as as we're making out there in all jokes aside,
but I think it would take something remarkable given the
one sided nature of what we've seen in that match up,
particularly with Cinner.
Speaker 6 (12:42):
It would take.
Speaker 10 (12:43):
But anything's possible, and Teddy touched on it earlier when
you think back to the twenty twenty five campaign and
reflect on the center and runa match out there on
Rob Laver Arena, and he looked the champ, looked down
for the count, he looked in all sorts, and he
was somehow able to extricate himself out of that moment.
And we still don't know what that was. The rumor
on the street was some sort of gastro or something.
So a Fortnite of best of five set matches, it's
(13:05):
a long time to be able to get through unscathed,
and chances are you going to have, particularly one match,
even the dominant champion that he is, particularly one match
that really does challenge you. So it's a matter of
who can get themselves to the semifinals or quarterfinals and
being in position to take advantage of the opening if
and when it arrives.
Speaker 9 (13:23):
I absolutely agree, And I think if there is a
player that does the one percent, were the one percent
is better than any other player, that's Alex tiemen Or.
He's the one that will be there if that door
opens with that opportunity. And so he's coming up his
best year ever, and so he is like a Jack
Draper in a sense, doesn't have a bigger game, but
he has the boxers ticked and at some point in
(13:47):
the next you know, year or two, those guys can't
get to every final and something will happen and you
have to have done the work and be ready, and
he's one of those guys.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
I don't think it's the silliest predictions, Eve.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
I do think that might be on the horizon probably
later in the year, though maybe for Demon that's happening.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
I think that's the old heart overhead that one. Absolutely,
I'd never put logic into my decision.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
May what about you at home?
Speaker 4 (14:13):
Let us know in the comments which players you think
will win AO twenty.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Six and why do you think it will be Demon? Absolutely?
Speaker 4 (14:21):
And I also want to call out we've been doing
an editorial feature series on oyopen dot com which is
called why X will win the Australian Open.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Oh these are your clickbaity rage bait a, rage.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
Baita and we've done a series.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
It talks about Ben Shelton, Felix Coco, Rebecca Out. There's
lots more in the in the can to read there,
so head on over and have a read. And it's
already got a lot of comments coming about some of them.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Yeah, there's some opinions. There are some opinions.
Speaker 4 (14:49):
But all baked and lots of information, so they're really
good pieces.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
I don't do information literatuck baked and literally literature.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Yeah, well, Teddy Todd, mister Woodbridge, enjoy your time. I'm
I don't know whatever padded cell you're currently in. It
looks looks very cozy. But thank you for joining us. Well,
thank you not just on our last episode of the tennis,
but also you've been pretty consistent, you know, fitting us
in around your tipping points and your other travels and
your coverage of sports and Olympics and so yeah, thank
(15:18):
you for being a huge part of the Tennis the
podcast as well as the Tennis the sport.
Speaker 9 (15:24):
Just putting the battery in the charger for another few days,
So Merry Christmas and happy New Year to everybody and
can't wait for the tennis season to get underway at
the United Cup. That's where I start. So it says
it just it'll be honest in a moment.
Speaker 11 (15:37):
But it's been great. Thank you guys.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
Absolutely always good to hear from mister Woolridge.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
I hope he's having fun. But it is Christmas Day
through the magic of time delay and editing, so I'm
going to put on my little Merry Christmas basebook cap.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
I don't know why I put an accent on.
Speaker 6 (15:50):
That's a good number.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
That's a really nice part. Yeah, you can read that
for Christmas Day if you want, courtesy of TA Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Thanks. I love a bit of free that came out.
I love it. I love it Freebie very good. All right,
well let's get on with the show, bri. Where are
we going next to All Rattle last week?
Speaker 4 (16:09):
Moving into What's Caught? You're right, We're going to kick
off with Jamie.
Speaker 8 (16:13):
Nick curious to light up Brisbane International.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
He's backs that hit us six am Sunday morning.
Speaker 8 (16:21):
Yeah, it's huge.
Speaker 7 (16:22):
Yeah, Nick's back hasn't played since March, which has been
a long time. And yeah, back at Brisbane International as
a wild card. He was a twenty eighteen champ, so yeah,
it's nice to see Nick back on the court. Hopefully
he's going to have a really big summer and I
know he's been playing a lot of exhibitions the last
couple of weeks and months, so hopefully that's.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
One coming up.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
He was about to lose against Sabina. It's good.
Speaker 7 (16:44):
And during Brisbane International he's going to pair up with
the Nasty Cock and Uncas for doubles, so again which
is quite exciting.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
That's a sound of ticket sales, that's what that is.
They are fun.
Speaker 8 (16:55):
To watch back together.
Speaker 7 (16:58):
So yeah, so there's a really good field during Brisbane
International with Fonseka, Medvedev, Grigor as well as fellow OSSI's
Alexi Propin and Adam Walton. And then on the women's
side we have Anisimova, Sablenka, Rebarkina, Keys Kazakina as well
and some assi's Emerson Jones got the wild cut as
well for Brisbane International. Yeah, that's a great lineup.
Speaker 4 (17:22):
Simon, just going back to Curios, what level should we
expect from Curios after another nine months off the tour.
Speaker 10 (17:30):
Well, I think the challenges in front of them, I
really do. And I think, you know, last year, I
think we saw how quickly at times the game can progress,
you know, and being on the sidelines for the extent
of time that he has been, not just over months now,
but over multiple years, I think it posts a huge
challenge to him. But he's never been one to shy
(17:51):
away from all back down from a challenge, so he'll
back himself in against those odds. But I do think
it's an enormous challenge for him to not be have
the ground of the year round conditioning and the matches
under the belt, and to be hardened by regular access
to the competition. And once upon a time he probably
prided himself on his ability to flick the switch and
(18:11):
to be read Yeah, bring it. But I think sometimes
the evolution of an athlete over time means that that's
a different challenge.
Speaker 6 (18:18):
At what would he be in January at.
Speaker 10 (18:19):
Thirty, yeah, than it was at twenty.
Speaker 5 (18:24):
That's young, I'm like a whole ten years older actually physically,
If he's actually capable to go out play a full
tournament back to back weeks, you know, singles doubles in Brisbane,
and then whether he's going to be fit for AO.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
Much about his injuries. We haven't in a while, have we?
Speaker 6 (18:39):
No good point?
Speaker 7 (18:40):
I saw he was playing an exhibition in India. He
did have tape on his arm still still so yeah, how.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Do you think I'll make kigs?
Speaker 1 (18:49):
How is he going to treat this campaign from a
doubles perspective with the Nazi.
Speaker 7 (18:53):
I think it's just to be on a doubles court
with one of your best mates. I think that's quite exciting,
and no matter how you play, it's just about enjoying
being out on court for a period of time. And yeah,
just entertaining crowd. I think that's what they do best.
So really probably what you're going to see.
Speaker 4 (19:08):
Yeah, and on the women's side, what a bloody lineer,
amazing lineup, amazing, amazing, yeah, gobris, But it's what.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
It looks like, just what you'd see it as it is. Yeah,
it's incredible.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
What about picks on who we might see have a
high performance there. I've obviously got my eye on Andreva,
but anyone.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Else I think.
Speaker 10 (19:29):
You know, we're just recapping on our predictions for who
might hold the trophy at the Australian Open, and those
names are right in the mix there in Brisbane, So
take your pick from Anisimova or is it rebarking or
you know, Sabolenca the best player in the world. So
the field is outstanding, So talk about tough matches to
prepare yourself for an Australian Open by the time. If
you can get yourself to the quarter final stage of
the b I, then you're certainly in for a tough
(19:51):
match from from.
Speaker 6 (19:52):
There on in.
Speaker 4 (19:53):
One of those who are playing is Keina, and she
actually joined Viv and Matt on the sit down to
discuss her first Australians and we're gonna have a look
at it.
Speaker 13 (20:02):
I'm super proud to represent the country which accepted me quite.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
If I can see quite easily.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
Yet another great interview, So make sure you jump over
to that fee listen to the sit down. They've got
heaps of episodes in the can and more coming up.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
But Ozzy Ossi.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Kazekeina, she's got a little Lozzi flag and very very Australian.
Speaker 8 (20:27):
Yeah, very exciting.
Speaker 7 (20:28):
It'll be her first summer representing Australia and yeah, we'll
see how she kind of handles the pressure and what
comes with it. But very exciting.
Speaker 10 (20:35):
I think we've seen We've seen that go both ways,
haven't we When you play your home Slam or your
home summer of tennis, if you like.
Speaker 6 (20:40):
We've seen players.
Speaker 10 (20:41):
Thrive on that moment and the energy and the hometown support,
and we've seen others that been crippled by the pressure.
Speaker 14 (20:47):
You know.
Speaker 10 (20:48):
So I guess we wait with baited breath to see
which way that falls because Keina, but certainly the signs
are positive.
Speaker 6 (20:53):
Off the back of that conversation.
Speaker 4 (20:55):
And speaking of Australians, Simon, I feel like you've got
a list of izzy.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
Yeah, yeah, you equally think Demon's going to win the AA.
Speaker 10 (21:03):
I think Demon's going to be right in the next save,
right at the point. And I'm looking forward to having
a look at some not lesser known, but maybe some
ologies that fly under the radar a little bit in
terms of those away from the very top echelon of bossies,
but less finished twenty twenty five on a real high.
So when we think about Priscilla hon her second what
(21:23):
would we call that? Would probably call that a third
quarter of twenty twenty five before injury started to challenge
her from Wimbledon onwards through the US Open was fantastic
and she took some big scalps through that through that
time frame and after the US Open, pushed on in
Asia and her season was curtailed early with a lower
limb stress injury which he's had to rest up in
aka leg Yeah, yeah, foot.
Speaker 6 (21:44):
I think it was foot, so lower limb, but.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Her vet my lower limbs exactly, my lower limbs.
Speaker 6 (21:53):
A foot injury, A foot injury. That feedback is fair enough.
A foot injury.
Speaker 10 (21:58):
But I think at her best, she's showing that she's
got the weapons and the artillery to trouble some of
the best players in the game. Kim Berrell had her
challenges through the second half of twenty twenty five, but
was able to kind of be resilient enough and gritty
enough to get to Chennai at the very end of
the season and find a way to cement herself inside
the top hundred for that critical rankings cut at the
end of the year. And Tristan Schoolkate's another one that's
(22:19):
found himself right around one hundred, you know, entered the
top hundred for the first time. He's right on that
precipice of am I in or am I out from
one week to the next. But I think He's got
a lot to be excited about in his game. We
saw how while he played last year on Rob Laverino
against Centner in the second round.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
So do you think with Schoolkate, like it's January his
opportunity to really cement himself in that upper echelon?
Speaker 10 (22:39):
I reckon there's an opportunity for him maybe not to
head to the upper echelon through January, but to certainly
impact on the ranking from you know, mid nineties where
it probably sits at the moment, to perhaps find himself,
you know, down If he could end January round seventy
in the world, I think that'd be a fantastic January
for him. So he's one that I'm looking at to
have a great January.
Speaker 8 (22:55):
Can I add someone to that?
Speaker 2 (22:56):
Yeah? You made to them all. So who do you want?
Speaker 8 (22:59):
Can I do a storm watch?
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (23:04):
Yeah, Storming Collies. I think that's going to be an
exciting and just yeah, watch out for her. I think
she's playing some really good tennis and yeah, maybe qualifying
for Stormy that's going to be my take. Yeah, and
hopefully winning a couple of rounds.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Should we move to you say, yeah, there were some
pretty big I has been caught by an elder statesman
of tennis. He's just he's been around like he's just
like a Swiss watch. Funnily enough, he's reliable, he's just
always there and he's got some of the best viral moments.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
I am, of course talking about Stamorinka. Look it in there.
Whoa he is, spettyty.
Speaker 14 (23:45):
It was.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
It was a cutie patuity as a kid, and now
he's just like, I love tennis.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
But he's hanging up his.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
Hat at the end of the twenty twenty six season.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Yeah, so this is going to be his last year
pummeling balls on courts.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Here's some fun little factors.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
One of there's a great moment if you go back
on the Austraight Up and YouTube channel. He's playing on
MCA and someone in the crowd typical Australian fashion, goes, whoo,
we love you Roger and Standers goes, yeah, he's not
playing here, he's in rod Labor. Crowd goes nuts. He
has a giggle like he's just a fun guy. He
always comes across as very serious and you know, da
da da, but he's just a good boke and I
(24:20):
think he's got a lot of friends on the tours.
But looking at what he's done so twenty four years
being a professional player, he's won sixteen too level singles titles,
including three Grand Slams. He's won the Aussie in twenty fourteen,
the French in twenty fifteen, and the US in twenty sixteen.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Wouldn't it be great if you just like snuck in
a wimby?
Speaker 12 (24:37):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (24:37):
I was just thinking that. I wonderfull he's thinking.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Could I get a career slam?
Speaker 4 (24:41):
Just in my last Simon, again, your faces like strange,
great question.
Speaker 14 (24:48):
Fifty.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Yeah, he's outside the hundreds now like he was, He's
not in his prime, so I don't need a.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
World card to play the AO, right, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
Yeah, So he's currently ranked one hundred and fifty seven,
so still the one hundred and fIF your seventh best
tennis player in the world on the men's side, one
hundred and ffty six others who can probably give him
run for his money.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
Simon, what's your favorite stand memory?
Speaker 10 (25:08):
Well, I think probably reflecting on some of what you've
touched on there, I think his is one career. Maybe
you know, we get caught up and reflecting on the
Big three, maybe the Big four if we include Andy yep,
and now we think about the Big two with Center
and our Carez and we probably forget about winning three
Grand Slams through that period. Yeah, is again nominal achievement.
And to beat those guys in the finals, to win
(25:30):
those three Grand Slams, you had to be pretty special,
I think to do that Aine, and so that really
reinforces for me just just how good this guy was
to be able to beat those guys at the point
end of those Grand Slams.
Speaker 6 (25:42):
Remarkable career and going.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
Into United Cup he's one of the few player captains,
so he's going to be representing Switzer leading.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Yeah, it's really cool.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
Yeah, it's amazing.
Speaker 4 (25:52):
What do you think we'll see for him in his
last season and then what do you think he'll do
after Well?
Speaker 10 (25:58):
I think we'll see the adulation that the sport does
really well. When they fare well, they're they're departing champions
and I think, particularly in Australia, will take the opportunity
to thank him for for his incredible service to the game.
In terms of what comes next, I wonder whether you know,
being the captain on the United Cup team bench does
give us a bit of an indication of what might
come next. Yeah, into the coaching world maybe, I guess.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Davis Cup United, I know.
Speaker 3 (26:22):
Someone who's looking for a coach, Carlos Maybe.
Speaker 6 (26:25):
Yeah, I guess.
Speaker 10 (26:27):
And all that is the you know, whether you want
to continue to subject yourself to that lifestyle of dirty
five on the flights and hotels and or you are
looking to have some some breathing space.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
I mean, looking at that he's naked, just have a breath,
to sit down, have a cocktail, watch the tennis.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
From your telling, Dal.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
Said he's still just trying to recover and rest, right,
So yeah he did have an operation.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
Yeah, well that's my that's my eye catcher. What about you, Bree,
It's not a cup ah the other.
Speaker 4 (26:58):
You know, when I first started United, Cup was just launching.
So it means a lot to me as a tournament.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
You are, I'm not.
Speaker 4 (27:06):
There's a whole heap of us who really believe in
this tournament. It is so fun to watch, it's so
fun to work out. The players have so much fun
because they're in a team environment. And I am really
really excited to be going there again and to watch
it on TV because even when I have to leave,
I come home and I work at night watching tennis
as you do. I'm going to call out some must watch,
(27:31):
must watch, must watch a bit of a tongue tire there,
So I'm going to go for Group A Perth Taylor
Fritz versus Muna nice.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Ye.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
Then I'm also looking at Group C Perth must watch
Paulini Verse Benchic.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
Oh, yes, that'll be good.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
Going with another Perth.
Speaker 4 (27:49):
Radakane verse Asuka is incredible.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
Yeah, that's a great.
Speaker 4 (27:56):
I'm sorry, but some of the players playing this year
in the up absolutely stellar.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
Can tell in the social content that you and your
team create and put out there kind of to promote,
they genuinely love it. They're excited to be in the
team mixed gender team events two cities.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
It's cool.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
They're actually they're in such high spirits that players during it.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
We're moving to Sydney.
Speaker 4 (28:16):
Matt must watch Felix Zizi Berg's were still at David's
Cup this year and they beat us, beat Australia. But
he is great to watch, brilliant, nice, gorgeous young kid
Sydney Alex.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Stamina, future a champion Steah.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
And Casper Rude Heart Throb Casper.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Rude Okay, Now, if I had to guess, because you
just said you're going, You're probably going to Sydney.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
Right, I'm going to Sydney.
Speaker 4 (28:47):
Casper or Perth is too far away enough if I'm
completely honest. Sydney, we've got Eva Lis and.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
Iger Eager, future Astralian Open Champion Eager.
Speaker 4 (28:58):
What would be your favorite match up of all the
ones we've got, I would go Group E.
Speaker 7 (29:02):
Again what you said Red Kana and Osaka. I think
that's a pretty incredible match two Slam champions over in Perth.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
And also I'm going to stick with Group E. And
I'm city pass like he was kind of everywhere for
a time. But then sort of things are kind of called.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
I reckon we might be seeing a little bit of
a Greek surg agents.
Speaker 10 (29:20):
You think resurgence, yes, group and I think I think
Group D. I think Australia finds themselves themselves, particularly from
the ment from a men's perspective, in a stacked group.
They have a look at the rankings of Mensik and Rude,
a lot of small numbers and demon all you know,
three top twenty players in that group and Sydney so
and Maya is going to have a tough task on
her hand up against Credja Kova from Chechier and that group.
Speaker 6 (29:41):
So that's where my eyes are drawn as well.
Speaker 3 (29:44):
Yeah, And who do we think will lift the trophy
this year?
Speaker 2 (29:47):
So with the last two years, it's been Usa, hasn't.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
It mm hmm? And Poland has been running.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
Up both times, So that's been that.
Speaker 3 (29:55):
Mean they're coming for it this year, I believe.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
I honestly think we might see some mixed from great Britain.
Speaker 8 (30:02):
I'm going to go to Italy.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
Has been Italy, ye, hasn't it?
Speaker 11 (30:06):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (30:06):
Yeah, I think Australia can find themselves right at the point.
Speaker 10 (30:10):
Yeah, I do love that. I think Maya's right up
to this. Yeah, and I think Demon's going to hit
the ground running. I reckon Australia find themselves definitely in
the semi finals and potentially advancing beyond.
Speaker 6 (30:20):
That wouldn't be.
Speaker 1 (30:20):
Great if we got like a redo with the Ashes
and we got to pummel them again.
Speaker 10 (30:24):
That would be Australia Britain and just really drive it
rather than assault in the womb.
Speaker 8 (30:29):
Yes six zero.
Speaker 4 (30:33):
So for you listening at home watch tennis over summer,
purchase your tickets. We've got United Cup, Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart
and then this train open.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
Very exciting, but I'm just trying to picture the person
who's watching or listening to this podcast and has no
interest in watching the tennis during summer.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
That would be an odd human. Oh, buy your ticket.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
It's an ignore save.
Speaker 4 (30:54):
But we are going to take a break because up
ahead we were swapping out our amazing data king for
the last time on the Tennis podcast with a professional
tennis plant from Italy Mery Christmas.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
Ever, it's been a great year. Thank you very much
for having time for us.
Speaker 6 (31:13):
Mary Chris, always have fun when you're on.
Speaker 1 (31:15):
Thanks Rasor, welcome back to the Tennis That razor you
look very Wait a minute, we've been hot swapped out.
We have, of course Matteo and Naldi joining us here
once again.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
First time with me. But you were you last time
on the show.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
This time last year, we sat down and spoke to Mateo.
I want to call you a Naldi and spoke to.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
Mateo, what has been going on in the past year.
Speaker 14 (31:42):
It's been a tough year. Actually, it's been a lot
of injuries for the year. But you know, I might
be to be back here summer, been training. I've been
recovering orfully going to be ready for US own open'st
so Matato.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
When did you wheels down? When did you arrive in Australia?
Speaker 14 (31:58):
Arrived and November? So I've been here. Yeah, been pretty much.
I did my old pre season here. I had a
few weeks at home off but I was recovering and
doing pretty much nothing, just enjoying at home. Yeah. And
then I got here and I started to work. First
few weeks I was doing pretty much just Jim couldn't
(32:18):
go on court and everything. And now started to go
back on court, started to play a little bit, to
move a little bit on court. I haven't played points yet,
but hopefully I'm ready for Brisbane. That's that's the goal. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (32:30):
And will your girlfriend or is the fian sign now congratua.
Speaker 14 (32:36):
Because I don't call her I'm not English. So I
was like girl for a wife, that's.
Speaker 13 (32:42):
You know?
Speaker 3 (32:44):
So what's up ahead? Is she gonna come with YouTube Brisbane?
When are you getting married?
Speaker 2 (32:48):
And he can we get anything?
Speaker 3 (32:52):
Well, I would like to.
Speaker 11 (32:52):
Go to it.
Speaker 8 (32:55):
Of course.
Speaker 7 (32:56):
She tried some dresses on for the first time. She
posted on Instagram, which is really cool.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
That looks like, yeah, it's good.
Speaker 14 (33:06):
It happened in after your open in September. Was mid
September in Italy, just beautiful to my home. Nervous, a
little bit like crazy because it was kind of like.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
She was going ask me, ask me no, just because.
Speaker 14 (33:24):
I planned and then kind of had a change of
plan because it was rainy day or whatever. So I
was like nervous, but you know, just with all the
changes and stuff, it was like, okay, let me, let's
just do it.
Speaker 3 (33:36):
She said, yes, I'm kidding, amazing.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
Yeah, she's not an idiot. Yeah yeah, I feel like yeah, exactly.
Come on.
Speaker 4 (33:48):
And for our listeners who may not know, Maya, who
is Mateo's fiancee, is Australian. That's why spends quite a
bit of time in Melbourne.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
That's pretty cool.
Speaker 14 (33:58):
My second home one.
Speaker 4 (33:59):
Was, Yeah, our plan what Astralians like to do. We
like to take people for ourselves. So our plan is
that you just become Australian. Yeah, Australia's own.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
Yeah, yeah, exactly. Any day.
Speaker 14 (34:10):
Now, I got to learn the accent first.
Speaker 4 (34:13):
Yeah, I just don't talk properly.
Speaker 14 (34:16):
Yeah stuff, Yeah, we have that strong accent, so stuff.
Now I keep that one.
Speaker 1 (34:23):
We've got great Italian culture and cuisine in Melbourne, so
you'll feel right at home.
Speaker 14 (34:26):
Sure.
Speaker 8 (34:27):
Back to the tennis.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
Sorry, sorry about food and.
Speaker 8 (34:33):
We can later. What are your goals for this year?
Speaker 14 (34:37):
Be better? Understand?
Speaker 2 (34:40):
Yeah that's a good goal.
Speaker 8 (34:42):
Yeah, I think I think I need that one.
Speaker 14 (34:45):
Could all be a bit better ranking goals or I mean,
I want to come back to what I was. To
be honest, I lost a few behind. I'm like sixty.
I was thirty last year. I've been like pretty much
earlier struggling with that because I started Melbourne. Actually, when
I played with the first round, I started to feel
something in the foot and then I was like, I mean,
(35:05):
it's the start of the season. I don't want to
stop now. So I tried to push through the US
swing and then clay season was better because you know,
they didn't have that grip on the hard courts is
not as hard on the body, and then I didn't twist.
I kind of had an impeachment in my left ankle
in Queens, so I couldn't play. So that didn't help
because I kind of put more pressure on the right foot.
(35:26):
And then when I started again in Washington, it was
pretty bad, and then you just opened five side. I
couldn't play like I played two sides, and I was
like that, and then Asia started with the pain hears
and whatever. But at one point they weren't doing any effect,
like you know, it's I was starting quite okay, and
then after an hour we'll fill it again. So that
(35:50):
I kind of understood I reached the limit. I was like, okay,
I think I need to stop. Yeah, I mean I
pushed through all year. I don't figure it out too
but you know, they told me throughout the year that
it would and get two worse, you know, like you
wouldn't get after the micro factory. Couldn't get much worse
than that. So I was like, all right, let me
let me try to save a little bit of year.
Speaker 12 (36:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 14 (36:09):
I didn't want to stop all year, so.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
Well I could, I mean that could derive a lot
of things.
Speaker 1 (36:12):
So being smart, then, do you think potentially you're in
a pretty good position going into the Australian summer of tennis.
Speaker 14 (36:18):
Yeah, I mean I think I could have stopped earlier.
To be honest, I want because at one point after Asia,
I was like seventy something and I wanted to go
inside of sixty because then you're like main Breezy and Adelaide.
So I was more relaxed. And then I did Vienna
and I was lucky. I wasn't like playing very good,
(36:39):
but I wasn't moving at all. But I played actually
pretty good. I did the second round. There qualified a
secon round, so I did the points. I was like,
now I'm sixty something. So then after that I stopped,
but I could have stop a little earlier. But you know,
it's getting better. Like I stayed like I stopped completely
for like two three weeks, and then I started to
the gym, like I was saying before and then, so
(37:00):
it still hurts a little bit, but the goal is
to be like I have a little bit of pain.
But because it kind of became chronic at one point,
you know, like I was feeling pain every time every day.
So they're saying that there isn't pretty much anything now,
but my body is so used to the pain that
I still feel pain. So the goal is a start
and open feel a little bit of pain, and then
(37:21):
after that she should be better. That's the goal. Awefully, Yeah,
I don't play too long. If I play five hours
per match, maybe it's.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
It just gave it.
Speaker 4 (37:33):
How important for you is it to start your twenty
twenty sixth season with a strong performance here in Australia.
Speaker 14 (37:40):
I mean it's very important after they are had, for sure,
when I get back where I was, like I was saying,
I wanna, I mean, I like to play here. So
I never did two while in your Start and Open,
I played pretty good in Brisbane and Adelaide was actually
start Open, it did just second round. I play on
center with Alex demeannor yeah two years ago, but then
just second round.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
So I'm joking like right, I'm just like what you
want to plug role.
Speaker 14 (38:10):
And so yeah, I want to do it. I want
to do I want to get back to what I was.
So they go is to to go maybe second week
that's but like I said, I just first I want
to play without pain so I can, like you know,
go back to play like like I was, you know,
just to feel good and just think about playing tennis.
Then yeah, thats is gonna come. I'm sure.
Speaker 6 (38:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (38:29):
Now, I don't know if you know this, but this
podcast the Tennis we're actually wrapping it up.
Speaker 2 (38:35):
This is our last episode.
Speaker 11 (38:36):
Ever.
Speaker 2 (38:37):
It's not it's not all sad.
Speaker 1 (38:38):
It's sad for brit and I because we've kind of
fired ourselves. But we've got a new podcast and.
Speaker 3 (38:42):
My tale will probably be on the new week exactly.
You can still beyond the new.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
You probably enjoy it more because they're better, just better.
Speaker 3 (38:51):
But they're professionals.
Speaker 1 (38:52):
Our new podcast, pod labor Arena, starting just before the
Australian Open, so I really am excited. But I wanted
to ask you something that we're going to use in
that new podcast. So if you're listening now, you're getting
a little bit of an exclusive. If you yourself could
ask any other player a question, like a series of
questions a certain a series of players, what would be
a good question from you to ask of the player group.
Speaker 14 (39:15):
That's a good question, thank you.
Speaker 7 (39:19):
Now.
Speaker 14 (39:19):
I feel like if I look back at my year,
I would like to ask, like, I know Rafa that
has been injured quite a little bit, what does he
do like or how does he kill the time during
that period? You know, because for me it was quite
tough to like I was luck he was at the
end of the season or whatever, but after two three
weeks on doing pretty much nothing, I actually don't know
(39:40):
how to spend any time you know, the first week
is good to stay with the family and whatever. After
maybe some time off it's okay. But after a little bit,
you know, I'm always on courd. I'm always training and
always doing stuff. So I like to ask, like, just
in general, two players that are more injured than me,
maybe how do they kill their time?
Speaker 10 (39:58):
You know?
Speaker 15 (39:58):
Yeah, just because it's day like, like I gotta say, like,
like I said, I didn't stay long without doing much,
but just at one point, I really didn't know what
to do because I'm used to like wake up in the.
Speaker 13 (40:12):
Morning, go to the gym and do the same and
then exactly you're happy to have your day off whatever,
and then you start so you know, you go on
vacation or whatever.
Speaker 14 (40:22):
But after a little bit, I'm like, what do I do?
Speaker 1 (40:25):
Well, it's almost it's Christmas season. Last question for me
is what are your Christmas plans? If you've got a
big lunch somewhere.
Speaker 14 (40:31):
I was hoping for a beach Christmas, but the.
Speaker 2 (40:33):
Weather it was boggy at home yesterday.
Speaker 4 (40:39):
For me, well, grace this morning when I got up, Yeah,
I know, I'm really angry.
Speaker 14 (40:43):
Yeahlast year I had before it was running, so I'm
kind of getting everything. Yeah, So I mean I think
I'm gonna just be big or something and then some
Italian planet.
Speaker 2 (40:58):
I've got at home. I found a limit chain low Paneton.
I don't know. It's like two really good things. But
will they work together? I'll let you know.
Speaker 7 (41:08):
Do you have a favorite restaurant in Melbourne?
Speaker 3 (41:12):
I like to go to Oh yeah, Nicholson, Yeah, right
behind it.
Speaker 14 (41:19):
I don't got my yeah, I don't want to cook. Yeah,
but no, I'm more home.
Speaker 8 (41:25):
Who does more the cooking?
Speaker 14 (41:30):
Just outside? That's it.
Speaker 3 (41:31):
Yeah, very Australian already.
Speaker 2 (41:34):
Yeah, a beer in one hand. Maybe not in week one.
Speaker 1 (41:43):
And if you are currently stalking Bricht you and now
you've got a better idea of so enjoy that.
Speaker 2 (41:49):
But thank you so much for coming in.
Speaker 14 (41:51):
Thanks, have a good.
Speaker 4 (41:53):
Yes, and we want you to have a really great
Australian summer.
Speaker 14 (41:58):
Great Christmas. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (42:01):
Enjoy your wedding when that happens. You've got a big
year coming up, looking.
Speaker 3 (42:05):
Forward to the impact.
Speaker 4 (42:10):
Yeah, make sure we're on the list.
Speaker 1 (42:15):
On the list, I can be the flower boy where
my little It could be really cool and have a
ring bearer situation if you want to.
Speaker 14 (42:30):
You this is.
Speaker 1 (42:31):
Coming good now, thank you an all right, Well, we'll be
back in a sec. We've got more of this craziness
coming up. Yeah, don't go anywhere, all right. Well, in
the break, I've been informed by everyone the studio that
no one can take me seriously in this hat, so
I've decided to wear it every day for the rest
of the year just to be sure I am who
(42:51):
I am now. A couple of bit of summer tennis news,
especially around the Austrain Open One Point Slam, Everyone's favorite
million dollar reality show, Meets Meets.
Speaker 2 (43:00):
This event has some new names attached.
Speaker 1 (43:03):
Eager, Rebaccner, hal Anie, and Osaka all competing in the one.
Speaker 4 (43:08):
Point and they're joining Kara Sinner, Curios and Goth Huge.
We also announced wild cards with Ricky Hi Jakarta, Priscilla Hon,
Tarlia Gibson, Taylor Preston. There will be two more to
be announced coming on up.
Speaker 11 (43:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (43:23):
Pretty exciting. I feel like they're all deserved in their
own way. I think everyone's played incredible throughout the year.
I think one to watch is definitely Priscilla Hon. Her
form in the last couple months has been really good. Yeah,
and Taylor Preston thirty wins in last fifty matches has
been pretty incredible, especially the back end.
Speaker 8 (43:40):
Of the year.
Speaker 7 (43:43):
Yeah. Sure, no, she's playing really well and I think
everyone's well deserved of those wild cards, so she'll be
an exciting summer.
Speaker 4 (43:49):
So that's exciting news for our wild cards. There are
more to come, so keep an eye as we announce
that coming up.
Speaker 2 (43:57):
But Zave, well, this is at home.
Speaker 1 (44:00):
This is the last episode of the tennis I've been
plugging Pod Labor Arena. It is coming jan fifteen, and
it's going to look a little similar, but it's going
to be a lot more fun. I've told the team
I want more entertainment. I want it to be funnier.
I want it to be just with professionals, with people
who know how to do because I'm good at asking people,
(44:21):
hey can you do a funny thing, but not actually
doing the funny thing myself. Yeah, So hopefully that will happen,
but it will be the same place. We're going to
be in the same feed, so you don't do anything
too much, but keep it eye on socials and you
will see all sorts of Pod Labor interaction as we
get into it. But it's been this is season seven
of the Tennis. It's had a few different names, yeah,
a few different hosts.
Speaker 3 (44:42):
I've been here for three seasons or two and a half.
Speaker 2 (44:45):
I've been here for Heartbeat yep.
Speaker 1 (44:47):
Yeah, but what an impact I've made. I came in
and just made it end. Smash it so that's fun.
Smashed it so hard.
Speaker 2 (44:54):
It's no longer going to be on.
Speaker 4 (44:56):
But thank you to all our listeners that have stayed
with us over the various years and our various hosts.
And we're really looking forward to hearing what you think
of pod laver Arena.
Speaker 3 (45:06):
But we will miss you.
Speaker 1 (45:07):
Yeah, but you know you can still talk to Bree
on the Internet or in South Herera absolutely can.
Speaker 4 (45:13):
And on a somber note, it would be remiss of
us not to honor the memory of our amazing friend
and colleague, Duncan mackenzie mccague, who we sadly lost late
last week. He was a long time contributor to this podcast.
Him and I spent a lot of fun times in
Paris together and I know he has touched many lives
(45:33):
here at Tennis Australia, many lives in our media globally.
Speaker 3 (45:38):
Full stop.
Speaker 4 (45:39):
We are sending all our love to his family and friends. Duncan,
you will never be forgotten and we love you very much.
Hello, and welcome to the Tennis It's the series finale.
It's the final episode of this show as it is,
and it's Christmas Day. Let's jump into it. It's the
most wonderful time of the year. The Australian Summer of
Tennis is almost upon us. Silver bells and bows. Who
will lift the silverware at AO twenty twenty six and
good a Mateo, Italy's honorarye Australian Mateo and Nali in
studio joining us.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
I'm so excited, I'm biting my own tongue.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
But that's all ahead with me and plenty more Zave
Muhlabark next to me to my left this week is
my lovely co host Brice Stewart here.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
For the last time. It's the end of an erar.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
We've essentially fired ourselves.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
I know, two and a half years I've been doing this,
I been here. I've only been doing it like seven months.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Yeah, but I've been pulling strings behind the scenes. Well yeah, yeah,
that was my story. Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
But we've got a brand new podcast coming to you
starting up on fifteenth of Jan Pod lab Arena. It's
going to be huge, It's going to be fun. I
won't be hosting it, so if be sick of my voice,
good luck to you. But across the desk, enough.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Of my rambling.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
We've got Simon Ray and Jamie Fallis joining us for
the last show.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Hey, hello, Merry Christmas.
Speaker 5 (01:06):
Now.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
I know to you guys it's Christmas Day. For those
who are watching and listening, it is, of course Monday.
We didn't force you to come in on Christmas Day itself,
so we're from the past.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Looking into the future.
Speaker 6 (01:18):
How exciting love that?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
So let's pretend it is Christmas Day. What was under
the treaty?
Speaker 7 (01:21):
You know?
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Or is it all all surprises for me?
Speaker 8 (01:25):
I think it's a bit of surprises.
Speaker 9 (01:26):
Good.
Speaker 7 (01:26):
Yeah, I've done my Christmas shopping this week, so oh yeah,
because it is Christmas Day.
Speaker 8 (01:33):
Yeah, a couple of surprises you.
Speaker 10 (01:35):
Very little under the tree, I think for me, but
hopefully some excited little people at my joint come Thursday morning.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
That's what it's all about. Absolutely little people. Oh you
mean children? Okay, I thought you'd just beent elves in general.
How you going, Bray, I'm all right.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
I have done no Christmas shopping and I expect no
Christmas presents because I live alone, so fantastic.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
What about the dog and the cat? Are they getting anything?
Speaker 11 (01:57):
God?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
No, they get treated like kings and queens every day
of the year.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
And you did buy like a ten kilo ham just
for yourself, cooked.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
On the weekend and it is delicious. And I have
ham sandwiches for lunch.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Forever for lunch.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Yeah, now I'm hearing in my ear.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
We've got a special someone on the line. Let's jump
straight into bree.
Speaker 11 (02:14):
You got a button.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Oh my god, you get to press up the.
Speaker 12 (02:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Hopefully we don't get pink copyright. But joining us from
somewhere else on the big screen. It's the face of
the Australian summer of tennis. It's top bloody Woodbridge.
Speaker 9 (02:31):
Hello, guys, Merry Christmas. I heard you talking about presents
and things. I bought my own coffee machine. Well it
died just before Christmas. I had to buy a new one.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Yes, yeah, planned obsolescence.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
You've got to let you know, mid sized family cars
and white goods. After a few years they just go, well,
this guy needs a new one. But we do have
a big question.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Our big question this week is who will win AO
twenty twenty six singles title.
Speaker 11 (03:00):
Who's going to win?
Speaker 9 (03:01):
I love this time of year because we're all supposed
to be an astradamascent.
Speaker 11 (03:05):
We're all experts and we know, really we don't know.
Speaker 9 (03:08):
But what you're going to base it on is what's
happened in the last twelve months, in particular the last
three months, and because we're never quite sure who's going
to start the year fresh and with a new attitude.
But what I'm going to go for is a little
bit more of the same, except I'm going to go
with Amanda Anison Mova. On the women's side, I think
that her year. I just like the confidence that she
(03:28):
built last year. Obviously we've talked a lot about wilboderone
and then the bounce back at the US Open.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
I just think those.
Speaker 9 (03:34):
Experiences are she is ready, she believes she can do
that and that she'll start this year really strong. And
I think the Aussie opens due for another one of
those changeups who had Madison Keys Obviously last year, Arina
Sabaleitka is going to be tough to beat, but I
think Amanda's going to make her breakthrough in twenty twenty six.
And I see Australia as a great starting point for her.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
I mean on the women's side, Todd the Australian and
he's always just an amazing place where on the WTA
side in particular, you kind of always get a surprise
be it. You know, Sophia Kennon, You've got Madison Keys
Like it's really yeah, Anison Ova, I.
Speaker 11 (04:11):
Like it, It's true.
Speaker 9 (04:12):
I mean, you know EGA's been playing great, can she?
I mean, that's the one that she needs to win.
There's a lot of great stories, but I'm going for
a first time winner, like like we've had a couple
of times. On the men's side, I'm going for the
three peak for Yannick Sinner. I just see horse he
loves it.
Speaker 11 (04:29):
Yeah, I know.
Speaker 9 (04:29):
But you know, if there is a reason getting over
the shock of Carlos and Juan Carlos Ferrero party, I
think that is going to be one of the major
stories of twenty twenty six. I think it's going to
make it very difficult for Carlos to win a major
next year.
Speaker 11 (04:46):
We know he's good.
Speaker 9 (04:47):
Enough, but that change at this point of his career.
I find it mind boggling because we're talking about one
of the greatest duos of coaching partnerships that our game
has scene and he was still improving. There was still
so much to get there, and it would see him
from reports that are out there that it wasn't between
(05:10):
the two of them. It was between outside sources and negotiations.
And if we're talking about a bit of money here
or scheduling there, get it, get it right, get it together,
and continue with this incredible career. But I think it's
the change is going to be difficult when one Carloss
hasn't been around the last few years.
Speaker 11 (05:33):
Al Choraz does not play as good.
Speaker 9 (05:35):
He struggles and you can see him looking out into
the stands. He's actually a little unsure of himself and
it's going to take months to settle down and then
Willie settled. In the meantime, he may give others the
opportunity to get some victories. So it's a fascinating start
to the season because of that. And given that change,
(05:57):
I think Yamick has the upper hand and he gets
the three pete.
Speaker 8 (06:01):
Do we know who is going to be coaching Carlos
at Ao?
Speaker 2 (06:04):
I thought it was you, but it's not you, Jamie.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
He has these other coach right, Yeah, backup, so.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
Will you just stick with Lopez or do you think
you'll get another coach into the team.
Speaker 9 (06:14):
I think you've got to stick with what's in the
team at the moment. But what's left, Well, the thing
that you had with one Carlos Ferrero is that the
two of them have the ability to fit aside from
the rest of the team and talk about what it's
actually like. You've had a former world number one, a
Grand Slam champion who understands the stress, the pressure, the
(06:35):
technical requirements, and really the scheduling for me has been interesting.
He's played a lot post US Open, There's been a
lot of exhibitions and I'm sure if you're the coach,
you're probably going do we need all of that when
the last thing left for us to achieve is the
fourth major and that is the Australian Open, Perhaps that
(06:56):
should be the focus that we really want to be
looking at. And then when there's our outside sources that
have other interests, that takes away from that relationship. But
nobody that walks into this coaching space now is going
to have as much knowledge as one Carlos Ferrero. So
it's going to be in my mind, almost irreplaceable.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
All right, Jamie, what about you answer of the big
question who is going to win our men's and women's
singles event Well.
Speaker 7 (07:20):
I'm going to be a bit boring and go center
as well. On the men's side, if it ain't broke,
don't fix it exactly. And then on the women's I'm
going to go eager.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Oh good one.
Speaker 7 (07:29):
Yeah, I just think coming off last year in her
form and now her team is quite solid as well,
I think having that continuity going into the summer is
really important.
Speaker 8 (07:38):
And yeah, she's going to be my one to watch.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Very good. All right, Razor, big question for you.
Speaker 10 (07:43):
Well, just to continue in the same vein to make
it a hat trick so far, I'm in the center
camp as well. And yes, that's the boring, predictable answer,
but I just think it's impossible to ignore.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
The pretty good bet. It's pretty exactly at.
Speaker 6 (07:55):
This point in time.
Speaker 10 (07:56):
I can't go past them, and I tried to and
looking outside the box if iwards to predict, maybe outside
of the obvious on the men's in the men's game,
and it's impossible to find anyone to unseat the big
two at the moment.
Speaker 6 (08:06):
I like Jack Draper on the hard courts, and it
depends on health.
Speaker 10 (08:10):
It depends on that arm injury that ended his twenty
twenty five campaign, and we haven't seen him since the
US Open, but I do think his game is best
suited to the hard courts rather than the clay or
the grass.
Speaker 6 (08:19):
So that's my smoky if you like, or one that
I'm keeping an eye on.
Speaker 10 (08:22):
I thought he played so well last year at times
on the hard court, so I think if he finds
his best tennis, he could be right there. And I
like Rebikner in the woman's I think we saw her
across the second half of twenty twenty five produce some
of her best stuff, So I'll be in camp Rebikner.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
She took us out the WTA finals this year, didn't
she did?
Speaker 11 (08:41):
So I almost think the big question is for us
on the men's side, who can unseat the other two?
Speaker 9 (08:48):
And I got asked that question the other day and
I'm still like, there's a few that are close, but
you know, they've got to have a massive game like
Draper to be able to do that. And yeah, that's
that's going to be I think that one of the
most fascinating, fascinating things for twenty twenty six. On that
man's side is who's willing and able and raising you
(09:10):
tached on it. It's actually the fitness that is the
hardest part, because if you've got the dynamic game, you've
got to be able to back it up so well,
and that's going to be the hard part.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
How about you, Brett.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
No one will be shocked by this, but I have
gone on the women's side, Mirror Andrevah.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
You are the president and CEO of the Mirror and
Driver fan club over here.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
If you need any help a promotion, Andrever, I'm your
goal because I love you, just because I think you'd
be really exciting to have someone so young and up
and coming raise that trophy.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
So she would be my pick.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
Then on the men's side, because we talked about this
last week, who could be a big question last week
Todd was who could be someone that could throw the
other two men off their ledge in our Cras and
Sinner and I had gone with Djokovic last week, and
I have gone with Jokovic.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Again this week.
Speaker 4 (10:01):
Wow, because I said, I feel like he's got one
more title in him at least.
Speaker 8 (10:06):
I think that's a good call.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
And I think this strain open is something he has
a lot of history with and.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
Cap of my choices are twenty years with and Drakovic.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
You've basically got like another tennis player in between.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Them goat and I've gone with the Spring.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Yeah, well that's pretty exciting.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
I mean, it would be it would be an upset,
but it would also be very plausible.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
I think if we had these two winners.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
From a promotional pr point of view, it's really good headlines.
Speaker 9 (10:37):
I cannot believe how far Brie has come in her
journalistic thank you as in losing all integrity.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
No, do you remember my first episode and I.
Speaker 12 (10:48):
Was like, yeah, you're actually hitting You're hitting your straps, Brie,
And I think that that call is actually really good call.
Speaker 9 (10:58):
I mean, I'm a massive fan of me, Andrea as
well would love to see.
Speaker 11 (11:02):
I think that would be brilliant for the women's game.
Speaker 9 (11:04):
And then how can you discount the man that was
quite firing away the third best player in majors last year.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
Yeah, well that's why I'm retiring. I'm retiring at a
high from the podcast.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Imagine if but if this comes off, you're gonna have
to go back into the pod.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
I've been telling you you ceremoniously fired me.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
I think I let everyone know, including you, are just
in a team's message.
Speaker 9 (11:25):
You did bre you can change chairs now she just
comes in as expert guests.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Yeah, yeah, that's right, you're the new raiser.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
Oh god, no, I thank you.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
What about you say, Yeah, you've got zero knowledge and
you've only been here a couple of months.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Yes, So this is my approach to most things. Tennis
is just the dart board, just like who is it? So,
but I'm going to pretend to have some knowledge.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Eager. She's twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
This is her ao to take home, very exciting stuff
and then a little bit of patriotism.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
But on the men's side, it's the demon, Alex Demon.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
We would all love Demon.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
It'd be great. Todd, come on, what do you think
about demon?
Speaker 9 (12:03):
Just looking at razors look at you? That was all
and the stats man just looked at and you went, I.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
Don't let facts get in the way of a good prediction. No,
So let's just you know, there could be anything. There
could be food poisoning in the player group. There could
just be flight delays.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
There is food poisoning.
Speaker 10 (12:25):
We know to play you just me sprinkling some stuff
at the buffet. You know, he's not as far off
as as we're making out there in all jokes aside,
but I think it would take something remarkable given the
one sided nature of what we've seen in that match up,
particularly with Cinner.
Speaker 6 (12:42):
It would take.
Speaker 10 (12:43):
But anything's possible, and Teddy touched on it earlier when
you think back to the twenty twenty five campaign and
reflect on the center and runa match out there on
Rob Laver Arena, and he looked the champ, looked down
for the count, he looked in all sorts, and he
was somehow able to extricate himself out of that moment.
And we still don't know what that was. The rumor
on the street was some sort of gastro or something.
So a Fortnite of best of five set matches, it's
(13:05):
a long time to be able to get through unscathed,
and chances are you going to have, particularly one match,
even the dominant champion that he is, particularly one match
that really does challenge you. So it's a matter of
who can get themselves to the semifinals or quarterfinals and
being in position to take advantage of the opening if
and when it arrives.
Speaker 9 (13:23):
I absolutely agree, And I think if there is a
player that does the one percent, were the one percent
is better than any other player, that's Alex tiemen Or.
He's the one that will be there if that door
opens with that opportunity. And so he's coming up his
best year ever, and so he is like a Jack
Draper in a sense, doesn't have a bigger game, but
he has the boxers ticked and at some point in
(13:47):
the next you know, year or two, those guys can't
get to every final and something will happen and you
have to have done the work and be ready, and
he's one of those guys.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
I don't think it's the silliest predictions, Eve.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
I do think that might be on the horizon probably
later in the year, though maybe for Demon that's happening.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
I think that's the old heart overhead that one. Absolutely,
I'd never put logic into my decision.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
May what about you at home?
Speaker 4 (14:13):
Let us know in the comments which players you think
will win AO twenty.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Six and why do you think it will be Demon? Absolutely?
Speaker 4 (14:21):
And I also want to call out we've been doing
an editorial feature series on oyopen dot com which is
called why X will win the Australian Open.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Oh these are your clickbaity rage bait a, rage.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
Baita and we've done a series.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
It talks about Ben Shelton, Felix Coco, Rebecca Out. There's
lots more in the in the can to read there,
so head on over and have a read. And it's
already got a lot of comments coming about some of them.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Yeah, there's some opinions. There are some opinions.
Speaker 4 (14:49):
But all baked and lots of information, so they're really
good pieces.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
I don't do information literatuck baked and literally literature.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Yeah, well, Teddy Todd, mister Woodbridge, enjoy your time. I'm
I don't know whatever padded cell you're currently in. It
looks looks very cozy. But thank you for joining us. Well,
thank you not just on our last episode of the tennis,
but also you've been pretty consistent, you know, fitting us
in around your tipping points and your other travels and
your coverage of sports and Olympics and so yeah, thank
(15:18):
you for being a huge part of the Tennis the
podcast as well as the Tennis the sport.
Speaker 9 (15:24):
Just putting the battery in the charger for another few days,
So Merry Christmas and happy New Year to everybody and
can't wait for the tennis season to get underway at
the United Cup. That's where I start. So it says
it just it'll be honest in a moment.
Speaker 11 (15:37):
But it's been great. Thank you guys.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
Absolutely always good to hear from mister Woolridge.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
I hope he's having fun. But it is Christmas Day
through the magic of time delay and editing, so I'm
going to put on my little Merry Christmas basebook cap.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
I don't know why I put an accent on.
Speaker 6 (15:50):
That's a good number.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
That's a really nice part. Yeah, you can read that
for Christmas Day if you want, courtesy of TA Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Thanks. I love a bit of free that came out.
I love it. I love it Freebie very good. All right,
well let's get on with the show, bri. Where are
we going next to All Rattle last week?
Speaker 4 (16:09):
Moving into What's Caught? You're right, We're going to kick
off with Jamie.
Speaker 8 (16:13):
Nick curious to light up Brisbane International.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
He's backs that hit us six am Sunday morning.
Speaker 8 (16:21):
Yeah, it's huge.
Speaker 7 (16:22):
Yeah, Nick's back hasn't played since March, which has been
a long time. And yeah, back at Brisbane International as
a wild card. He was a twenty eighteen champ, so yeah,
it's nice to see Nick back on the court. Hopefully
he's going to have a really big summer and I
know he's been playing a lot of exhibitions the last
couple of weeks and months, so hopefully that's.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
One coming up.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
He was about to lose against Sabina. It's good.
Speaker 7 (16:44):
And during Brisbane International he's going to pair up with
the Nasty Cock and Uncas for doubles, so again which
is quite exciting.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
That's a sound of ticket sales, that's what that is.
They are fun.
Speaker 8 (16:55):
To watch back together.
Speaker 7 (16:58):
So yeah, so there's a really good field during Brisbane
International with Fonseka, Medvedev, Grigor as well as fellow OSSI's
Alexi Propin and Adam Walton. And then on the women's
side we have Anisimova, Sablenka, Rebarkina, Keys Kazakina as well
and some assi's Emerson Jones got the wild cut as
well for Brisbane International. Yeah, that's a great lineup.
Speaker 4 (17:22):
Simon, just going back to Curios, what level should we
expect from Curios after another nine months off the tour.
Speaker 10 (17:30):
Well, I think the challenges in front of them, I
really do. And I think, you know, last year, I
think we saw how quickly at times the game can progress,
you know, and being on the sidelines for the extent
of time that he has been, not just over months now,
but over multiple years, I think it posts a huge
challenge to him. But he's never been one to shy
(17:51):
away from all back down from a challenge, so he'll
back himself in against those odds. But I do think
it's an enormous challenge for him to not be have
the ground of the year round conditioning and the matches
under the belt, and to be hardened by regular access
to the competition. And once upon a time he probably
prided himself on his ability to flick the switch and
(18:11):
to be read Yeah, bring it. But I think sometimes
the evolution of an athlete over time means that that's
a different challenge.
Speaker 6 (18:18):
At what would he be in January at.
Speaker 10 (18:19):
Thirty, yeah, than it was at twenty.
Speaker 5 (18:24):
That's young, I'm like a whole ten years older actually physically,
If he's actually capable to go out play a full
tournament back to back weeks, you know, singles doubles in Brisbane,
and then whether he's going to be fit for AO.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
Much about his injuries. We haven't in a while, have we?
Speaker 6 (18:39):
No good point?
Speaker 7 (18:40):
I saw he was playing an exhibition in India. He
did have tape on his arm still still so yeah, how.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Do you think I'll make kigs?
Speaker 1 (18:49):
How is he going to treat this campaign from a
doubles perspective with the Nazi.
Speaker 7 (18:53):
I think it's just to be on a doubles court
with one of your best mates. I think that's quite exciting,
and no matter how you play, it's just about enjoying
being out on court for a period of time. And yeah,
just entertaining crowd. I think that's what they do best.
So really probably what you're going to see.
Speaker 4 (19:08):
Yeah, and on the women's side, what a bloody lineer,
amazing lineup, amazing, amazing, yeah, gobris, But it's what.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
It looks like, just what you'd see it as it is. Yeah,
it's incredible.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
What about picks on who we might see have a
high performance there. I've obviously got my eye on Andreva,
but anyone.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Else I think.
Speaker 10 (19:29):
You know, we're just recapping on our predictions for who
might hold the trophy at the Australian Open, and those
names are right in the mix there in Brisbane, So
take your pick from Anisimova or is it rebarking or
you know, Sabolenca the best player in the world. So
the field is outstanding, So talk about tough matches to
prepare yourself for an Australian Open by the time. If
you can get yourself to the quarter final stage of
the b I, then you're certainly in for a tough
(19:51):
match from from.
Speaker 6 (19:52):
There on in.
Speaker 4 (19:53):
One of those who are playing is Keina, and she
actually joined Viv and Matt on the sit down to
discuss her first Australians and we're gonna have a look
at it.
Speaker 13 (20:02):
I'm super proud to represent the country which accepted me quite.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
If I can see quite easily.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
Yet another great interview, So make sure you jump over
to that fee listen to the sit down. They've got
heaps of episodes in the can and more coming up.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
But Ozzy Ossi.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Kazekeina, she's got a little Lozzi flag and very very Australian.
Speaker 8 (20:27):
Yeah, very exciting.
Speaker 7 (20:28):
It'll be her first summer representing Australia and yeah, we'll
see how she kind of handles the pressure and what
comes with it. But very exciting.
Speaker 10 (20:35):
I think we've seen We've seen that go both ways,
haven't we When you play your home Slam or your
home summer of tennis, if you like.
Speaker 6 (20:40):
We've seen players.
Speaker 10 (20:41):
Thrive on that moment and the energy and the hometown support,
and we've seen others that been crippled by the pressure.
Speaker 14 (20:47):
You know.
Speaker 10 (20:48):
So I guess we wait with baited breath to see
which way that falls because Keina, but certainly the signs
are positive.
Speaker 6 (20:53):
Off the back of that conversation.
Speaker 4 (20:55):
And speaking of Australians, Simon, I feel like you've got
a list of izzy.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
Yeah, yeah, you equally think Demon's going to win the AA.
Speaker 10 (21:03):
I think Demon's going to be right in the next save,
right at the point. And I'm looking forward to having
a look at some not lesser known, but maybe some
ologies that fly under the radar a little bit in
terms of those away from the very top echelon of bossies,
but less finished twenty twenty five on a real high.
So when we think about Priscilla hon her second what
(21:23):
would we call that? Would probably call that a third
quarter of twenty twenty five before injury started to challenge
her from Wimbledon onwards through the US Open was fantastic
and she took some big scalps through that through that
time frame and after the US Open, pushed on in
Asia and her season was curtailed early with a lower
limb stress injury which he's had to rest up in
aka leg Yeah, yeah, foot.
Speaker 6 (21:44):
I think it was foot, so lower limb, but.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Her vet my lower limbs exactly, my lower limbs.
Speaker 6 (21:53):
A foot injury, A foot injury. That feedback is fair enough.
A foot injury.
Speaker 10 (21:58):
But I think at her best, she's showing that she's
got the weapons and the artillery to trouble some of
the best players in the game. Kim Berrell had her
challenges through the second half of twenty twenty five, but
was able to kind of be resilient enough and gritty
enough to get to Chennai at the very end of
the season and find a way to cement herself inside
the top hundred for that critical rankings cut at the
end of the year. And Tristan Schoolkate's another one that's
(22:19):
found himself right around one hundred, you know, entered the
top hundred for the first time. He's right on that
precipice of am I in or am I out from
one week to the next. But I think He's got
a lot to be excited about in his game. We
saw how while he played last year on Rob Laverino
against Centner in the second round.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
So do you think with Schoolkate, like it's January his
opportunity to really cement himself in that upper echelon?
Speaker 10 (22:39):
I reckon there's an opportunity for him maybe not to
head to the upper echelon through January, but to certainly
impact on the ranking from you know, mid nineties where
it probably sits at the moment, to perhaps find himself,
you know, down If he could end January round seventy
in the world, I think that'd be a fantastic January
for him. So he's one that I'm looking at to
have a great January.
Speaker 8 (22:55):
Can I add someone to that?
Speaker 2 (22:56):
Yeah? You made to them all. So who do you want?
Speaker 8 (22:59):
Can I do a storm watch?
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (23:04):
Yeah, Storming Collies. I think that's going to be an
exciting and just yeah, watch out for her. I think
she's playing some really good tennis and yeah, maybe qualifying
for Stormy that's going to be my take. Yeah, and
hopefully winning a couple of rounds.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Should we move to you say, yeah, there were some
pretty big I has been caught by an elder statesman
of tennis. He's just he's been around like he's just
like a Swiss watch. Funnily enough, he's reliable, he's just
always there and he's got some of the best viral moments.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
I am, of course talking about Stamorinka. Look it in there.
Whoa he is, spettyty.
Speaker 14 (23:45):
It was.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
It was a cutie patuity as a kid, and now
he's just like, I love tennis.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
But he's hanging up his.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
Hat at the end of the twenty twenty six season.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Yeah, so this is going to be his last year
pummeling balls on courts.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Here's some fun little factors.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
One of there's a great moment if you go back
on the Austraight Up and YouTube channel. He's playing on
MCA and someone in the crowd typical Australian fashion, goes, whoo,
we love you Roger and Standers goes, yeah, he's not
playing here, he's in rod Labor. Crowd goes nuts. He
has a giggle like he's just a fun guy. He
always comes across as very serious and you know, da
da da, but he's just a good boke and I
(24:20):
think he's got a lot of friends on the tours.
But looking at what he's done so twenty four years
being a professional player, he's won sixteen too level singles titles,
including three Grand Slams. He's won the Aussie in twenty fourteen,
the French in twenty fifteen, and the US in twenty sixteen.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Wouldn't it be great if you just like snuck in
a wimby?
Speaker 12 (24:37):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (24:37):
I was just thinking that. I wonderfull he's thinking.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Could I get a career slam?
Speaker 4 (24:41):
Just in my last Simon, again, your faces like strange,
great question.
Speaker 14 (24:48):
Fifty.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Yeah, he's outside the hundreds now like he was, He's
not in his prime, so I don't need a.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
World card to play the AO, right, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
Yeah, So he's currently ranked one hundred and fifty seven,
so still the one hundred and fIF your seventh best
tennis player in the world on the men's side, one
hundred and ffty six others who can probably give him
run for his money.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
Simon, what's your favorite stand memory?
Speaker 10 (25:08):
Well, I think probably reflecting on some of what you've
touched on there, I think his is one career. Maybe
you know, we get caught up and reflecting on the
Big three, maybe the Big four if we include Andy yep,
and now we think about the Big two with Center
and our Carez and we probably forget about winning three
Grand Slams through that period. Yeah, is again nominal achievement.
And to beat those guys in the finals, to win
(25:30):
those three Grand Slams, you had to be pretty special,
I think to do that Aine, and so that really
reinforces for me just just how good this guy was
to be able to beat those guys at the point
end of those Grand Slams.
Speaker 6 (25:42):
Remarkable career and going.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
Into United Cup he's one of the few player captains,
so he's going to be representing Switzer leading.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Yeah, it's really cool.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
Yeah, it's amazing.
Speaker 4 (25:52):
What do you think we'll see for him in his
last season and then what do you think he'll do
after Well?
Speaker 10 (25:58):
I think we'll see the adulation that the sport does
really well. When they fare well, they're they're departing champions
and I think, particularly in Australia, will take the opportunity
to thank him for for his incredible service to the game.
In terms of what comes next, I wonder whether you know,
being the captain on the United Cup team bench does
give us a bit of an indication of what might
come next. Yeah, into the coaching world maybe, I guess.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Davis Cup United, I know.
Speaker 3 (26:22):
Someone who's looking for a coach, Carlos Maybe.
Speaker 6 (26:25):
Yeah, I guess.
Speaker 10 (26:27):
And all that is the you know, whether you want
to continue to subject yourself to that lifestyle of dirty
five on the flights and hotels and or you are
looking to have some some breathing space.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
I mean, looking at that he's naked, just have a breath,
to sit down, have a cocktail, watch the tennis.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
From your telling, Dal.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
Said he's still just trying to recover and rest, right,
So yeah he did have an operation.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
Yeah, well that's my that's my eye catcher. What about you, Bree,
It's not a cup ah the other.
Speaker 4 (26:58):
You know, when I first started United, Cup was just launching.
So it means a lot to me as a tournament.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
You are, I'm not.
Speaker 4 (27:06):
There's a whole heap of us who really believe in
this tournament. It is so fun to watch, it's so
fun to work out. The players have so much fun
because they're in a team environment. And I am really
really excited to be going there again and to watch
it on TV because even when I have to leave,
I come home and I work at night watching tennis
as you do. I'm going to call out some must watch,
(27:31):
must watch, must watch a bit of a tongue tire there,
So I'm going to go for Group A Perth Taylor
Fritz versus Muna nice.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Ye.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
Then I'm also looking at Group C Perth must watch
Paulini Verse Benchic.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
Oh, yes, that'll be good.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
Going with another Perth.
Speaker 4 (27:49):
Radakane verse Asuka is incredible.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
Yeah, that's a great.
Speaker 4 (27:56):
I'm sorry, but some of the players playing this year
in the up absolutely stellar.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
Can tell in the social content that you and your
team create and put out there kind of to promote,
they genuinely love it. They're excited to be in the
team mixed gender team events two cities.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
It's cool.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
They're actually they're in such high spirits that players during it.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
We're moving to Sydney.
Speaker 4 (28:16):
Matt must watch Felix Zizi Berg's were still at David's
Cup this year and they beat us, beat Australia. But
he is great to watch, brilliant, nice, gorgeous young kid
Sydney Alex.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Stamina, future a champion Steah.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
And Casper Rude Heart Throb Casper.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Rude Okay, Now, if I had to guess, because you
just said you're going, You're probably going to Sydney.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
Right, I'm going to Sydney.
Speaker 4 (28:47):
Casper or Perth is too far away enough if I'm
completely honest. Sydney, we've got Eva Lis and.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
Iger Eager, future Astralian Open Champion Eager.
Speaker 4 (28:58):
What would be your favorite match up of all the
ones we've got, I would go Group E.
Speaker 7 (29:02):
Again what you said Red Kana and Osaka. I think
that's a pretty incredible match two Slam champions over in Perth.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
And also I'm going to stick with Group E. And
I'm city pass like he was kind of everywhere for
a time. But then sort of things are kind of called.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
I reckon we might be seeing a little bit of
a Greek surg agents.
Speaker 10 (29:20):
You think resurgence, yes, group and I think I think
Group D. I think Australia finds themselves themselves, particularly from
the ment from a men's perspective, in a stacked group.
They have a look at the rankings of Mensik and Rude,
a lot of small numbers and demon all you know,
three top twenty players in that group and Sydney so
and Maya is going to have a tough task on
her hand up against Credja Kova from Chechier and that group.
Speaker 6 (29:41):
So that's where my eyes are drawn as well.
Speaker 3 (29:44):
Yeah, And who do we think will lift the trophy
this year?
Speaker 2 (29:47):
So with the last two years, it's been Usa, hasn't.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
It mm hmm? And Poland has been running.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
Up both times, So that's been that.
Speaker 3 (29:55):
Mean they're coming for it this year, I believe.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
I honestly think we might see some mixed from great Britain.
Speaker 8 (30:02):
I'm going to go to Italy.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
Has been Italy, ye, hasn't it?
Speaker 11 (30:06):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (30:06):
Yeah, I think Australia can find themselves right at the point.
Speaker 10 (30:10):
Yeah, I do love that. I think Maya's right up
to this. Yeah, and I think Demon's going to hit
the ground running. I reckon Australia find themselves definitely in
the semi finals and potentially advancing beyond.
Speaker 6 (30:20):
That wouldn't be.
Speaker 1 (30:20):
Great if we got like a redo with the Ashes
and we got to pummel them again.
Speaker 10 (30:24):
That would be Australia Britain and just really drive it
rather than assault in the womb.
Speaker 8 (30:29):
Yes six zero.
Speaker 4 (30:33):
So for you listening at home watch tennis over summer,
purchase your tickets. We've got United Cup, Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart
and then this train open.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
Very exciting, but I'm just trying to picture the person
who's watching or listening to this podcast and has no
interest in watching the tennis during summer.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
That would be an odd human. Oh, buy your ticket.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
It's an ignore save.
Speaker 4 (30:54):
But we are going to take a break because up
ahead we were swapping out our amazing data king for
the last time on the Tennis podcast with a professional
tennis plant from Italy Mery Christmas.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
Ever, it's been a great year. Thank you very much
for having time for us.
Speaker 6 (31:13):
Mary Chris, always have fun when you're on.
Speaker 1 (31:15):
Thanks Rasor, welcome back to the Tennis That razor you
look very Wait a minute, we've been hot swapped out.
We have, of course Matteo and Naldi joining us here
once again.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
First time with me. But you were you last time
on the show.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
This time last year, we sat down and spoke to Mateo.
I want to call you a Naldi and spoke to.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
Mateo, what has been going on in the past year.
Speaker 14 (31:42):
It's been a tough year. Actually, it's been a lot
of injuries for the year. But you know, I might
be to be back here summer, been training. I've been
recovering orfully going to be ready for US own open'st
so Matato.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
When did you wheels down? When did you arrive in Australia?
Speaker 14 (31:58):
Arrived and November? So I've been here. Yeah, been pretty much.
I did my old pre season here. I had a
few weeks at home off but I was recovering and
doing pretty much nothing, just enjoying at home. Yeah. And
then I got here and I started to work. First
few weeks I was doing pretty much just Jim couldn't
(32:18):
go on court and everything. And now started to go
back on court, started to play a little bit, to
move a little bit on court. I haven't played points yet,
but hopefully I'm ready for Brisbane. That's that's the goal. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (32:30):
And will your girlfriend or is the fian sign now congratua.
Speaker 14 (32:36):
Because I don't call her I'm not English. So I
was like girl for a wife, that's.
Speaker 13 (32:42):
You know?
Speaker 3 (32:44):
So what's up ahead? Is she gonna come with YouTube Brisbane?
When are you getting married?
Speaker 2 (32:48):
And he can we get anything?
Speaker 3 (32:52):
Well, I would like to.
Speaker 11 (32:52):
Go to it.
Speaker 8 (32:55):
Of course.
Speaker 7 (32:56):
She tried some dresses on for the first time. She
posted on Instagram, which is really cool.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
That looks like, yeah, it's good.
Speaker 14 (33:06):
It happened in after your open in September. Was mid
September in Italy, just beautiful to my home. Nervous, a
little bit like crazy because it was kind of like.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
She was going ask me, ask me no, just because.
Speaker 14 (33:24):
I planned and then kind of had a change of
plan because it was rainy day or whatever. So I
was like nervous, but you know, just with all the
changes and stuff, it was like, okay, let me, let's
just do it.
Speaker 3 (33:36):
She said, yes, I'm kidding, amazing.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
Yeah, she's not an idiot. Yeah yeah, I feel like yeah, exactly.
Come on.
Speaker 4 (33:48):
And for our listeners who may not know, Maya, who
is Mateo's fiancee, is Australian. That's why spends quite a
bit of time in Melbourne.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
That's pretty cool.
Speaker 14 (33:58):
My second home one.
Speaker 4 (33:59):
Was, Yeah, our plan what Astralians like to do. We
like to take people for ourselves. So our plan is
that you just become Australian. Yeah, Australia's own.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
Yeah, yeah, exactly. Any day.
Speaker 14 (34:10):
Now, I got to learn the accent first.
Speaker 4 (34:13):
Yeah, I just don't talk properly.
Speaker 14 (34:16):
Yeah stuff, Yeah, we have that strong accent, so stuff.
Now I keep that one.
Speaker 1 (34:23):
We've got great Italian culture and cuisine in Melbourne, so
you'll feel right at home.
Speaker 14 (34:26):
Sure.
Speaker 8 (34:27):
Back to the tennis.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
Sorry, sorry about food and.
Speaker 8 (34:33):
We can later. What are your goals for this year?
Speaker 14 (34:37):
Be better? Understand?
Speaker 2 (34:40):
Yeah that's a good goal.
Speaker 8 (34:42):
Yeah, I think I think I need that one.
Speaker 14 (34:45):
Could all be a bit better ranking goals or I mean,
I want to come back to what I was. To
be honest, I lost a few behind. I'm like sixty.
I was thirty last year. I've been like pretty much
earlier struggling with that because I started Melbourne. Actually, when
I played with the first round, I started to feel
something in the foot and then I was like, I mean,
(35:05):
it's the start of the season. I don't want to
stop now. So I tried to push through the US
swing and then clay season was better because you know,
they didn't have that grip on the hard courts is
not as hard on the body, and then I didn't twist.
I kind of had an impeachment in my left ankle
in Queens, so I couldn't play. So that didn't help
because I kind of put more pressure on the right foot.
(35:26):
And then when I started again in Washington, it was
pretty bad, and then you just opened five side. I
couldn't play like I played two sides, and I was
like that, and then Asia started with the pain hears
and whatever. But at one point they weren't doing any effect,
like you know, it's I was starting quite okay, and
then after an hour we'll fill it again. So that
(35:50):
I kind of understood I reached the limit. I was like, okay,
I think I need to stop. Yeah, I mean I
pushed through all year. I don't figure it out too
but you know, they told me throughout the year that
it would and get two worse, you know, like you
wouldn't get after the micro factory. Couldn't get much worse
than that. So I was like, all right, let me
let me try to save a little bit of year.
Speaker 12 (36:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 14 (36:09):
I didn't want to stop all year, so.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
Well I could, I mean that could derive a lot
of things.
Speaker 1 (36:12):
So being smart, then, do you think potentially you're in
a pretty good position going into the Australian summer of tennis.
Speaker 14 (36:18):
Yeah, I mean I think I could have stopped earlier.
To be honest, I want because at one point after Asia,
I was like seventy something and I wanted to go
inside of sixty because then you're like main Breezy and Adelaide.
So I was more relaxed. And then I did Vienna
and I was lucky. I wasn't like playing very good,
(36:39):
but I wasn't moving at all. But I played actually
pretty good. I did the second round. There qualified a
secon round, so I did the points. I was like,
now I'm sixty something. So then after that I stopped,
but I could have stop a little earlier. But you know,
it's getting better. Like I stayed like I stopped completely
for like two three weeks, and then I started to
the gym, like I was saying before and then, so
(37:00):
it still hurts a little bit, but the goal is
to be like I have a little bit of pain.
But because it kind of became chronic at one point,
you know, like I was feeling pain every time every day.
So they're saying that there isn't pretty much anything now,
but my body is so used to the pain that
I still feel pain. So the goal is a start
and open feel a little bit of pain, and then
(37:21):
after that she should be better. That's the goal. Awefully, Yeah,
I don't play too long. If I play five hours
per match, maybe it's.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
It just gave it.
Speaker 4 (37:33):
How important for you is it to start your twenty
twenty sixth season with a strong performance here in Australia.
Speaker 14 (37:40):
I mean it's very important after they are had, for sure,
when I get back where I was, like I was saying,
I wanna, I mean, I like to play here. So
I never did two while in your Start and Open,
I played pretty good in Brisbane and Adelaide was actually
start Open, it did just second round. I play on
center with Alex demeannor yeah two years ago, but then
just second round.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
So I'm joking like right, I'm just like what you
want to plug role.
Speaker 14 (38:10):
And so yeah, I want to do it. I want
to do I want to get back to what I was.
So they go is to to go maybe second week
that's but like I said, I just first I want
to play without pain so I can, like you know,
go back to play like like I was, you know,
just to feel good and just think about playing tennis.
Then yeah, thats is gonna come. I'm sure.
Speaker 6 (38:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (38:29):
Now, I don't know if you know this, but this
podcast the Tennis we're actually wrapping it up.
Speaker 2 (38:35):
This is our last episode.
Speaker 11 (38:36):
Ever.
Speaker 2 (38:37):
It's not it's not all sad.
Speaker 1 (38:38):
It's sad for brit and I because we've kind of
fired ourselves. But we've got a new podcast and.
Speaker 3 (38:42):
My tale will probably be on the new week exactly.
You can still beyond the new.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
You probably enjoy it more because they're better, just better.
Speaker 3 (38:51):
But they're professionals.
Speaker 1 (38:52):
Our new podcast, pod labor Arena, starting just before the
Australian Open, so I really am excited. But I wanted
to ask you something that we're going to use in
that new podcast. So if you're listening now, you're getting
a little bit of an exclusive. If you yourself could
ask any other player a question, like a series of
questions a certain a series of players, what would be
a good question from you to ask of the player group.
Speaker 14 (39:15):
That's a good question, thank you.
Speaker 7 (39:19):
Now.
Speaker 14 (39:19):
I feel like if I look back at my year,
I would like to ask, like, I know Rafa that
has been injured quite a little bit, what does he
do like or how does he kill the time during
that period? You know, because for me it was quite
tough to like I was luck he was at the
end of the season or whatever, but after two three
weeks on doing pretty much nothing, I actually don't know
(39:40):
how to spend any time you know, the first week
is good to stay with the family and whatever. After
maybe some time off it's okay. But after a little bit,
you know, I'm always on courd. I'm always training and
always doing stuff. So I like to ask, like, just
in general, two players that are more injured than me,
maybe how do they kill their time?
Speaker 10 (39:58):
You know?
Speaker 15 (39:58):
Yeah, just because it's day like, like I gotta say, like,
like I said, I didn't stay long without doing much,
but just at one point, I really didn't know what
to do because I'm used to like wake up in the.
Speaker 13 (40:12):
Morning, go to the gym and do the same and
then exactly you're happy to have your day off whatever,
and then you start so you know, you go on
vacation or whatever.
Speaker 14 (40:22):
But after a little bit, I'm like, what do I do?
Speaker 1 (40:25):
Well, it's almost it's Christmas season. Last question for me
is what are your Christmas plans? If you've got a
big lunch somewhere.
Speaker 14 (40:31):
I was hoping for a beach Christmas, but the.
Speaker 2 (40:33):
Weather it was boggy at home yesterday.
Speaker 4 (40:39):
For me, well, grace this morning when I got up, Yeah,
I know, I'm really angry.
Speaker 14 (40:43):
Yeahlast year I had before it was running, so I'm
kind of getting everything. Yeah, So I mean I think
I'm gonna just be big or something and then some
Italian planet.
Speaker 2 (40:58):
I've got at home. I found a limit chain low Paneton.
I don't know. It's like two really good things. But
will they work together? I'll let you know.
Speaker 7 (41:08):
Do you have a favorite restaurant in Melbourne?
Speaker 3 (41:12):
I like to go to Oh yeah, Nicholson, Yeah, right
behind it.
Speaker 14 (41:19):
I don't got my yeah, I don't want to cook. Yeah,
but no, I'm more home.
Speaker 8 (41:25):
Who does more the cooking?
Speaker 14 (41:30):
Just outside? That's it.
Speaker 3 (41:31):
Yeah, very Australian already.
Speaker 2 (41:34):
Yeah, a beer in one hand. Maybe not in week one.
Speaker 1 (41:43):
And if you are currently stalking Bricht you and now
you've got a better idea of so enjoy that.
Speaker 2 (41:49):
But thank you so much for coming in.
Speaker 14 (41:51):
Thanks, have a good.
Speaker 4 (41:53):
Yes, and we want you to have a really great
Australian summer.
Speaker 14 (41:58):
Great Christmas. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (42:01):
Enjoy your wedding when that happens. You've got a big
year coming up, looking.
Speaker 3 (42:05):
Forward to the impact.
Speaker 4 (42:10):
Yeah, make sure we're on the list.
Speaker 1 (42:15):
On the list, I can be the flower boy where
my little It could be really cool and have a
ring bearer situation if you want to.
Speaker 14 (42:30):
You this is.
Speaker 1 (42:31):
Coming good now, thank you an all right, Well, we'll be
back in a sec. We've got more of this craziness
coming up. Yeah, don't go anywhere, all right. Well, in
the break, I've been informed by everyone the studio that
no one can take me seriously in this hat, so
I've decided to wear it every day for the rest
of the year just to be sure I am who
(42:51):
I am now. A couple of bit of summer tennis news,
especially around the Austrain Open One Point Slam, Everyone's favorite
million dollar reality show, Meets Meets.
Speaker 2 (43:00):
This event has some new names attached.
Speaker 1 (43:03):
Eager, Rebaccner, hal Anie, and Osaka all competing in the one.
Speaker 4 (43:08):
Point and they're joining Kara Sinner, Curios and Goth Huge.
We also announced wild cards with Ricky Hi Jakarta, Priscilla Hon,
Tarlia Gibson, Taylor Preston. There will be two more to
be announced coming on up.
Speaker 11 (43:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (43:23):
Pretty exciting. I feel like they're all deserved in their
own way. I think everyone's played incredible throughout the year.
I think one to watch is definitely Priscilla Hon. Her
form in the last couple months has been really good. Yeah,
and Taylor Preston thirty wins in last fifty matches has
been pretty incredible, especially the back end.
Speaker 8 (43:40):
Of the year.
Speaker 7 (43:43):
Yeah. Sure, no, she's playing really well and I think
everyone's well deserved of those wild cards, so she'll be
an exciting summer.
Speaker 4 (43:49):
So that's exciting news for our wild cards. There are
more to come, so keep an eye as we announce
that coming up.
Speaker 2 (43:57):
But Zave, well, this is at home.
Speaker 1 (44:00):
This is the last episode of the tennis I've been
plugging Pod Labor Arena. It is coming jan fifteen, and
it's going to look a little similar, but it's going
to be a lot more fun. I've told the team
I want more entertainment. I want it to be funnier.
I want it to be just with professionals, with people
who know how to do because I'm good at asking people,
(44:21):
hey can you do a funny thing, but not actually
doing the funny thing myself. Yeah, So hopefully that will happen,
but it will be the same place. We're going to
be in the same feed, so you don't do anything
too much, but keep it eye on socials and you
will see all sorts of Pod Labor interaction as we
get into it. But it's been this is season seven
of the Tennis. It's had a few different names, yeah,
a few different hosts.
Speaker 3 (44:42):
I've been here for three seasons or two and a half.
Speaker 2 (44:45):
I've been here for Heartbeat yep.
Speaker 1 (44:47):
Yeah, but what an impact I've made. I came in
and just made it end. Smash it so that's fun.
Smashed it so hard.
Speaker 2 (44:54):
It's no longer going to be on.
Speaker 4 (44:56):
But thank you to all our listeners that have stayed
with us over the various years and our various hosts.
And we're really looking forward to hearing what you think
of pod laver Arena.
Speaker 3 (45:06):
But we will miss you.
Speaker 1 (45:07):
Yeah, but you know you can still talk to Bree
on the Internet or in South Herera absolutely can.
Speaker 4 (45:13):
And on a somber note, it would be remiss of
us not to honor the memory of our amazing friend
and colleague, Duncan mackenzie mccague, who we sadly lost late
last week. He was a long time contributor to this podcast.
Him and I spent a lot of fun times in
Paris together and I know he has touched many lives
(45:33):
here at Tennis Australia, many lives in our media globally.
Speaker 3 (45:38):
Full stop.
Speaker 4 (45:39):
We are sending all our love to his family and friends. Duncan,
you will never be forgotten and we love you very much.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
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.
The Bobby Bones Show
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.