She's an eight‑time Grand Slam champion, former world number one, Billie Jean King Cup captain and owner of the best arms in world sport. Tennis champion Sam Stosur joins us to reflect on life after tennis, the unique highs and lows of the game and what it really means to lead Team Australia. The future of the women’s game is bright with Talia Gibson and Storm Hunter leading the charge, but behind the glamour is a very real financial grind - Sam explains why it's such a slog even at the highest level. From sleeping in train stations to life‑changing prize money, five‑set debates to Italian marble benchtops, we're gifted all the stories from one of the very best to step on the court.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Here at two Good Sports.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
We would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the
land on which we record this podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
There were injurie.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
People this land was never seated, always was, always will be.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
You know, tell me that sometimes a guest requires like
a like a vocal warm up.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Like a mix, because you really just want the register
to hit.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Because the honor role of achievements that you have to
read out quite extensive, quite extensive. You know, I need
water just to the side of me in case I
just lose lose the ability to speak.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
There's that many achievements.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
But I actually want to spend most of our episode
talking to the guests, so I'm not going to go
through everything.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
I just want to remind everyone about what our.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Guest today, Sam Stoza, has achieved, not only one of
the greatest Australians, definitely one of the greatest Australian tennis players,
eight slam titles, one in the women's singles, four in
the women's doubles, three in the mixed doubles. Also, can
I just say, and I mean this, Sam, with all
due respect and all of the gravitas that I hope
(01:03):
you take this with the owner of the best arms
in world sport, the best arms in world sport.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Yes, I've said it, Nadal Alcoraz, get out of here.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Samantha Stoza has been as high as world number four
in the singles rankings, of course, was world number one
in the doubles rankings, and is now finding herself as
the captain for Australia Team Australia in the Billy Jean
King Cup.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Please welcome to do good.
Speaker 5 (01:37):
SPORTSA thank you, thank you lovely to be here.
Speaker 6 (01:45):
Georgie does go to the gymp and pumpey. I'm just
going maybe one day, one day we'll get the Samstozer arms.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
It's actually crossed my mind, Sam. Not to make you uncomfortable,
but I am every time I pick up.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Is it a six kilo dumbell? Or is it the nine?
Speaker 1 (01:56):
I go? What would Sam do?
Speaker 5 (02:00):
I'm telling you and nobody ever believes me when I
say this, but I never did vice it curls in
the gym ever ever?
Speaker 1 (02:07):
What there's the exclusive off the top? What do you mean?
Speaker 5 (02:11):
Huh?
Speaker 7 (02:11):
What were you doing?
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Is that genetics?
Speaker 7 (02:14):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Why don't I have them?
Speaker 7 (02:15):
It's a lot of hitting fourhands, I think, And so
get out on the court, maybe skip the gym and
get out on the court.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
It's not things that won't be happening.
Speaker 6 (02:25):
We'll start off very generally, how are you, How are
you and where do we find you?
Speaker 7 (02:29):
I'm great.
Speaker 5 (02:30):
Yeah, I'm in Melbourne gearing up for Billy Jinkin Cut,
which we're very lucky to actually be playing in Melbourne,
so it's awesome that we kind of can stay home
for that event. But yeah, just been laying low for
a little bit since obviously the big summer of tennis
and about to get right back in.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
How do you feel about the big summer of tennis
because Jellmy and I we're just on the periphery of that.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Obviously we're not on the court.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
This has already been discussed and pointed out, but we
adore it. But we also there's like this sense of
you're in it's aorbit, but then you're in the colmdown
and it's like the fatigue and we're not even a
part of it in any way.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Shape or form. What is it like now for you,
now that you aren't there representing yourself as a player.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Do you still have those highs and lows at the
start of every year, Like are you still like, is
it the muscle memory, the body going, oh, I've got
to be geared up for.
Speaker 7 (03:18):
This, and then the fall Oh my goodness.
Speaker 5 (03:20):
Yeah, it's like going to school camp every year and
then you come home from school camping or depressed or
you know, when the Olympics is on and you're also
into watching it, and then you're exhausted.
Speaker 7 (03:28):
But then when it's gone, it's like, oh, what do
I watch?
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Now?
Speaker 7 (03:31):
What am I doing?
Speaker 5 (03:32):
So yeah, we certainly have that, and if anything, it's
almost more tiring sometimes now being on this side because
you're there to watch many more matches and you know,
you're not thinking about your own tennis or your own
game or what you've got to do. So yeah, you're
at the mercy of everyone else's schedule now, so a
little bit different.
Speaker 7 (03:48):
But absolutely love it.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
I love obviously that I can still be part of it,
and then when it's gone you kind of, yeah, can't
wait for the next kind of bunch of tennis that
you can get to and watch and support.
Speaker 6 (04:00):
Can you believe the growth that we've seen in Australian
fans just loving tennis Because of course, something like COVID
happens and you're unable to attend these love events. And
I feel like, perhaps more successfully than any other sport,
tennis has put their foot down oh close twenty twenty
and the attendance that we've seen, and you know, opening
weeks that actually was qualifying instead of the first round
(04:20):
of the Oars Open had these unbelievable numbers that just
continued come, rain, hale or shine, and I just think
it's something that again a lot of other sports had
envy and gone, how have they done this?
Speaker 7 (04:32):
Oh yeah, it's incredible.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
I mean even the fact that we still had AO
through that COVID period was yeh. I mean, I don't
know how they did it, but somehow they pulled it off.
And it is just grown and grown and grown, and
it really is like the whole of Melbourne or the
whole of Australia really get behind it. But Melbourne especially
obviously because we're here. You can't speak to someone without
them saying, oh, I've been to the tennis, or I'm
going to the tennis, or I went there and just
(04:54):
watched music, or I went there and watched you know,
whatever matches on whatever court. So it's such a carnival
or a festival now and I think you know. And
when I was playing, I never went out into the grounds.
The only time I went into the grounds was to
get to the practice court or play my match, and
I never really knew what was going on around the precinct.
Speaker 7 (05:12):
And now being out there more, I'm like, ah, yeah,
this is why people want to come.
Speaker 5 (05:17):
This is awesome, this is fud like you want to
be part of it, You want to get out there more.
And it's funny the different outlet you can have from
player to now coach and you know, just going out
there to watch for enjoyment.
Speaker 7 (05:29):
I really get why people like it. So it's good.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Well, and we're going to drill down onto the Billie
Jean King Cup very very shortly, but because thank goodness,
we haven't actually had to wait that long before we
get on the tennis, right, but before that, just to
stay on the AO, because have you seen this, so
I'm sure you have that next year potentially the women's
draw go in five sets at the AO. Yes, it's
a move that's been like tabled. Would you be supportive
(05:52):
of that?
Speaker 5 (05:53):
Not as such? No, I don't think it's necessary. I
don't think we need to draw out matches.
Speaker 7 (05:59):
Anymore. I think it was Jess Pagoula, who's three or
four in the world at the moment.
Speaker 5 (06:04):
She was like, you know, some men's matches that go
to five are absolutely incredible, and obviously we got treated
to that this year at Ao in the Semis in
the final, but some can be quite boring.
Speaker 7 (06:13):
I hate to say it, but you.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
Know there's often a lapse in the matches they throw
a set to save energy, and it's not all unbelievable.
So look, I think rategic a lot of tennis. I
think there'd be a long way to go before that
actually happens. But you know, it's got nothing to do
with me anymore. If the girls women want to do it,
then go for it. But I'd be a bit surprised
if it did actually come out.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
What if it was just for the finals?
Speaker 5 (06:37):
Then to do that and spring that on players to
right at the end of a Slam, which is obviously
our pinnacle of our sport, or all the Grand Slams,
to change the score and format at that point, I
don't know why.
Speaker 7 (06:51):
What for?
Speaker 5 (06:52):
Yeah, And there's so many times that come into its
scheduling matches TV.
Speaker 7 (06:56):
There's so many different aspects that come into.
Speaker 5 (06:58):
It's not just about the two plays getting out on
the court and playing for an extra you know, set
or two.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
And I love that you say what for?
Speaker 6 (07:05):
And naturally our brains go to because the men do it,
and sometimes there can be a quality for quality's sake
when you're let wait, with this actually service the women's
game and make it better?
Speaker 3 (07:15):
No, I totally agree with you.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
I want to know, Sam, I know you say that
you wouldn't be potentially in those back rooms where these
deals get made, and you know you don't have the
voice in those rooms. Where you do have the voice
is as the captain of Team Australia. Can you explain
to me what the captain does?
Speaker 5 (07:32):
Well, I guess first and foremost what you see me
do is sit on the court with the plays during
the matches, which is unique tennis. We don't have our
coaches on the court obviously, recent is now you can
coach from the sidelines and in the stands. But yeah,
it went from thou shalt not talk to them to
let's put them closer to you and get a camera on.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Them and they can speak to you. And sorry, we're
going off a tangent. I'm so sorry. I we'll let
you finish the question. But when you were playing Sam,
was that annoying not being able to talk to your coach?
Would you have liked to have talked to your coach
or was it actually maybe better just to have them
at some distance so that you could fight yourself in
your head.
Speaker 5 (08:08):
Honestly, I quite I didn't mind it, and I like
doing it by myself. I think that was I mean,
that was the cool part of tennis, was that it
was just the players out on court. Having said that,
that wasn't always the case. I mean, I don't think
I'm going to spill the beans and be shocking you
know when I say some players did get coached even
though they weren't meant to, whether it was speaking another
(08:32):
language other than English, or with signals or whatever it
may be. So coaching, I think always did happen in
some respect, in some way, shape or form a lot
of the time. So I think it's good that they
opened it up, and now it's just like, you know, what,
go for it if you want to speak speak. But
I think also, you know, it's a fine line because
there's only so much you can really tell someone when
(08:52):
they're out there. You can say hit it this way,
or hit it to their fuehand or back then more.
But the players still got to do it, and they
still got to believe it and feel it and you know,
be able to execute it. So I don't know if
it necessarily changes the outcome of every single match because
you've got the coach there, but.
Speaker 7 (09:06):
That was that was a real, you know weapon for
some players, was strategically thinking through things and being able
to work things out better than their opponent. But yeah,
now it's all open.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
I think it's good, it's fine, and I think we're
seeing some pretty good content for it too.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
So when you are sitting courtside with Team Australia as captain,
what is what is your main role there? I mean
obviously hype girl number one of course, yes, yes.
Speaker 5 (09:30):
So supporting the player obviously, we're trying to work out
different tactics, keep doing same thing, change a little bit.
You know a lot of the time it's reassurance and
you know, keeping them pumped up, keeping them positive. And
I guess a big part of it actually for me
at the moment, and since I've started, we've got so
many new team members in our side.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Yeah, have never represented astray before.
Speaker 5 (09:52):
It might be their first time playing for the team,
you know, wearing the green and gold, so you had
all those other emotions of you know, pride and you know,
nervousness and all of that that goes along with playing.
So sometimes it's just actually making trying to make them
feel comfortable and understand, you know what, the lines are
still the same, still going to hit the ball in
go and do.
Speaker 7 (10:11):
What you do every other day of the year.
Speaker 5 (10:13):
It doesn't matter what color you're wearing your or your
teammates on the side, they're all supporting you no matter what.
So there's varying degrees of tactics and just support that
go on.
Speaker 7 (10:24):
And that's kind.
Speaker 5 (10:24):
Of what I try and do whenever I'm at events
as well. So obviously I'm not on the court then,
but talking to the players coaches what we can do better,
how they can improve their set up, whatever it may be,
goes from you know, it might be improving the forehand
down the line to jeez, I'm finally really hard to
travel and be away and you know it's really tough,
you know, being away from home for five months. So
(10:46):
there's a wide variety of subjects that we might try
and help.
Speaker 6 (10:50):
With You mentioned these new faces and these new names
that were seeing, particularly in women's tennis in Australia.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Can you talk to.
Speaker 6 (11:07):
Us about Talia Gibson and the fact that she's twenty
one and her run at Indian well saw her beat
three top twenty players.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
In five days. Yep, I'm excited. I'm excited. Tell us
just how excited we should be.
Speaker 5 (11:21):
She'd be very excited because then she backed it up
and did in Miami as well, I know, which was Yeah,
I mean, I think there was something that said she's
only the fifth player to beat five top twenty players
in the Indian World's Miami Swing and we're talking with
the likes of Steppie Graff hingis I think it was
Serena Williams and.
Speaker 7 (11:40):
Keep going, and then you've got Tarlie Gibson's name in
that list. Pretty exciting moment for her.
Speaker 5 (11:48):
I know that everyone's goal, her goal was to be
top hundred and she's smashed that now already in the
first few months of the year, so she's up into
the sixties now and yeah, what I you know, Indian
Wells was amazing, but then for her to back it
up and go through qualities again in Miami. I think
shows that she can sustain that level, you know, mentally
(12:10):
and emotionally, really steady to be able to then literally
fly across the country a few days later back it up,
not have a let down. So I think really exciting times.
I think she's always had a really big game. Her
backhand has always been world class, and now she's starting to,
you know, improve the other parts of her game. Serves
really big and she was just playing big tennis like
(12:31):
a top ten, top twenty player herself, and I think
that's why she got the win. She wasn't scared, she
went after it and yeah, now it's a matter of
keeping it going. So I'm super happy that she's in
the team again. She played well. She was part of
the team for the first time in November. I wasn't
at that titles on Matornity League. But now to be
back in my position and having her on the team again,
(12:51):
I'm really really excited to see her back on court.
Speaker 6 (12:54):
You mentioned that she plays beyond her years with this confidence.
She walks out into the court and you believe that
she can really make anyone on her day.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Tell us a little bit about her the person.
Speaker 7 (13:03):
Well, I mean also growing so much.
Speaker 5 (13:06):
I first met her maybe four or five years ago
to very quiet and just sort of you know, she
was a young junior. We practiced at the Aussie Open
together hit really well again. But her personalities, she's really
come out of a shell. And I think what I
love almost the most out of what I saw the
last couple of weeks is some of her reactions after
(13:26):
winning was just like, yeah, cool, calm, give my coach
a fist pump. I'm noting to do that, Like no,
but like I do, I really believe I was going
to win today and just that. Yeah, I think she
had a real quiet confidence about herself. She knows that
she can play exceptionally well, and I think she just
has the personality to just go about it every day.
(13:47):
All right, I've just got to do it again. I've
gotta do it again. And yeah, but she's yeah, come
out of a shell. I know she loves being around
the girls and they love you know, all of our
players really support each other, whether it's the week of
Billy Jenkin Cup or not doug out and watch each other.
They'll practice together. They really get around it like they're
part of a team, which is awesome, and I don't
think I honestly, I don't think that happens in every
(14:07):
single country around the world.
Speaker 7 (14:08):
So we've got a really special group of players at
the moment.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
Say that Tarlie's got the confidence, I mean, I want
to talk about a teammate who's got the name Storm Hunter.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
No, come on now, came out of the womb ready
to be around.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Come on now, come on now. Her name is exceptional.
But I tell you what I saw of her at
the Open as well. I was like, her play is
as exceptional, Like she is just going from strength to strength,
whether it be singles or whether it be doubles, she
is just absolutely killing it. You talk about this young
group of players and how they seem to have this
lack of fear or they're not scared on the court.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
Was there a time that you were Do you remember
when you were scared on the court?
Speaker 7 (14:45):
Oh? Plenty of times. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (14:46):
I mean, I'm not saying, you know, Tarlie or any
of the players haven't ever felt that, but yeah, there
was times where I remember playing Emily mores Motor I
think was two in the world at the time. We're
playing in Miami on the center cor and she was
six love three love up on me and I wanted
to jump into the photographer's pit and hide and never
(15:07):
come out. I was that scared and just get me
off this court, Like.
Speaker 7 (15:12):
Is there a mercy rule?
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Give me a towel, Give me a towel, Let me out.
And you're like, and you want this stuff to go
for five sets?
Speaker 7 (15:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (15:19):
Yeah, right, Like I wanted to be out there for
another set, and then it was just when Hawkeye came
out too, so then she actually challenged one of her
serves being out.
Speaker 7 (15:27):
I'm like, honestly, doesn't matter if you missed one.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
Like you're like, I'm already dead, don't ask for an autopsy.
I'm not here.
Speaker 5 (15:37):
Plenty of times I've been in a position where I
felt like I did not want to be there for
a second longer. I know exactly what that feels like,
and you don't wish it upon anyone. But I think
in sport there's always going to be those moments where Okay,
that maybe wasn't so great, and you you work towards
the hides again.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
I want to get that kind of realism and honesty
in terms of how you think Team Australia is going
to go in the Billy Jane Cup.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
Where should we set our expectations where should they be.
Speaker 7 (16:08):
Look, I'm very confident with my team.
Speaker 5 (16:11):
I think, Look, obviously I believe we can win, and
I don't want to say we'll win. I don't want
to count my chickens, but I do believe we're in
a very really good position. Obviously, You've still got to
bring it every single day these team competitions. Anything happens.
There's been enough upsets in the past where the team
on paper, maybe with better rankings, does not get through.
(16:31):
And people can do pretty special things when they're playing
for their country, which is what I hope our players
will do. But yeah, look, you've still got to play
first point to last point and be really focused and ready.
And we've got a bit of a change up with
the way the matches play out also this time around.
We've never done this before this year where the doubles
match is now the third match to the tie, so the.
Speaker 7 (16:52):
Doubles will always count towards the results.
Speaker 5 (16:55):
So I think that kind of adds a little bit
of extra excitement and different perspective for the crowd as well,
to know that they've got a live doubles match right
in the middle of the tie. So yeah, we've got
to still play well. But yeah, I'm looking forward to
having the time against the Brits. I actually played against
the British captain lots on tour when I was playing,
so I know I am pretty well. So we'll have
(17:17):
a bit of banter and you know, maybe a bit
of you know words on the side, who knows.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Just staring daggers at each other.
Speaker 6 (17:25):
We love a bit of band But speaking of banda
something and a storyline that came out of the recent
AO was madas English getting all the way through the
fourth round and having a payday that would have changed
her life. And I just thought it was so telling
that instead of going, oh, I'm so excited to get
this car, there was a particular toaster that she'd had
her eye on and she thought I wouldn't allow myself
(17:46):
to have that, and I think for mine, well gorgeous
and Smeg sent her backage. It did highlight when you
are a tennis player and you're not necessarily in the hundred,
it is a grind financially to try to and it's
something that I think a lot of women in Australia
or a lot of players in Australia are experiencing that
grind of having to keep giving their all in order
(18:06):
to be part of the tour. Is this something that
is an issue between players making it to the next
level just how expensive the sport is, because I think
we all see, oh there's a lot of equal prize money.
You know, the best makes such incredible coin. But it
is a really really taxing sport financially if you're first
trying to make it.
Speaker 7 (18:25):
Oh, absolutely, it is so hard financially.
Speaker 5 (18:29):
I mean to start out, remember when you're you know,
not at the ranking bracket of Grand Slams, so top
hundred or they're about you know, you're starting out playing
tournaments that are worth ten thousand dollars total prize money
for everyone in the draw. And then you work to
the next level and the next level, the next world.
So but you know, it's not cheap flying around the world.
It's not cheap paying for hotels when you're not in
(18:50):
the tournament anymore, and you've got to pick up extra
days or either side of you when you're lost and
when you're starting again. And I do think, especially coming
from Australia, like, we have a long way to go
to get to events no matter where we're playing, unless
we're playing in Australia, which happens very few weeks of
the year. We're always traveling a pretty business. So I
always think, yeah, you know, going to Southeast Asia for
(19:13):
US feels close and it's super easy, but in reality
it's still seven eight nine hours. But you know for
Europeans that's flying to the other side of the world
for them, so.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
And God, they complain when they come here, don't they.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
I was like, God, I'm like, hey, guys.
Speaker 5 (19:27):
I'll tell you what they're not happy about coming out
to Australia in April.
Speaker 7 (19:31):
But I'm like, suck it up, guys, we have to
do it all the time.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
Well the happy Slam be happy to be here.
Speaker 7 (19:37):
But yeah, it is.
Speaker 5 (19:38):
It is a really tough sport to be in until
you get to that spot where you know, prize money
can pay. But even a player ranked one hundred or
maybe you know, one hundred and fifty, by the time
they pay for their coach, the coach's expenses, their own expenses,
you still got to be doing pretty well throughout the
year to break even. Maybe at one hundred and fifty
(19:59):
or make So that's why it is so great that
the Grand Slams are now paying the amount of prize
money they are, because that can if you're in the
main drawer of the four Grand Slams, that can set
you up to actually be able to do things properly
and professionally and just do it right, because otherwise you
do have to cut corners you have, well I can't
do that, or maybe I won't put that re string in,
(20:19):
or you know, I'll go to that place for dinner
because it's not so expensive.
Speaker 6 (20:23):
And if you're playing someone that has a private jet.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
On Earth, it is a cosm.
Speaker 7 (20:29):
I know. I was in Japan.
Speaker 5 (20:31):
I slept in the train station one night with the
other players so we could save money from you know,
and that was like a Lord, we're playing ten thousand,
so not a little bit more than that, sorry, a
bit bigger tournament. But one of the girls wanted to
save money and sleep at the airport the night before
she was leaving, and we were like, well, I don't
think you should do that. We found out you couldn't
sleep at the airport.
Speaker 7 (20:51):
So she's like like.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Tom Hangks's terminal style just on the floor just on
the yeah.
Speaker 7 (20:55):
And then but we were like, no, we shouldn't do that.
Speaker 5 (20:58):
So I think there was more of us decided we'd
all go and sleep in the train station because we
didn't want her to be by ourself. So we locked
our bags together, slept outside the police station, and that's
what we did to say.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
What year is this? What year is this? Like where
in your career is this?
Speaker 7 (21:16):
It would have been maybe twenty two years ago something
like that, So I did that.
Speaker 5 (21:26):
But yeah, I mean, but players do that sort of
stuff all the time, and I mean we were in Japan,
it's very safe. In hindsight now I'm like, oh, you
probably didn't need to look at that.
Speaker 6 (21:36):
If they're going to mug you, they might bow and
be polite about it that time.
Speaker 5 (21:40):
It's okay, we came and bought as orange juice and
that's got bad for us, so room service very nicely.
But that's the sort of decisions that players make when
you are going through the ranks, and it only gets more.
To do better, you've got to spend more money, you know,
You've got to spend money to make money sometimes, so
it's not easy. But at least with the Slams, now
(22:01):
they can know, all right, if we get to first round,
we're going to make X amount. And for Maddie that
is absolutely life changing what happened to her at Ao,
and yeah, let's hope it can all happen again for
her and all the other girls.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
The juxtaposition of that and then with all of your slams,
I would like the most frivolous answer you can give
me or you'll allow us. Sam, do you remember something
that you bought with your prize money from the twenty
eleven US Open that was just not like, not, you're
not investing it back into the sport. Not investing it
(22:33):
back into the sport? What is your toaster?
Speaker 6 (22:35):
Like?
Speaker 3 (22:35):
What was the thing that you were like.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
I'm getting it.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
I'm getting that.
Speaker 5 (22:40):
I was renovating my apartment at the time, and I
really wanted a proper marble bench top, and I went
and got the proper marble bench top, which is the
stupidest thing I could have ever bought, because it's staying
so easily, and it's.
Speaker 6 (22:56):
An investment in enjoy, Sam, It's an investment and enjoy.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
I should have just gone with the Caesarstone.
Speaker 5 (23:02):
But I was like, no, I'm going with the best
marble slab I could find.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
So you don't know that.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
There's no way for you to know this, Sam, I
don't think unless you and Jeremy have been best friends
for three thousand decades.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
But her eyes just rolled back into her head.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
Because she loves.
Speaker 6 (23:19):
If I'm going to spend my money on something, it's unnecessary,
Italian stone and ideally as impractical as possible. And I'm
just perfect. Are you still in the apartment. Is it
the same apartment or you.
Speaker 7 (23:33):
I don't even live there anymore. Enjoy it.
Speaker 6 (23:36):
The resale, though, would have been immaculate, would have been
a maculate I'm sure.
Speaker 7 (23:40):
Oh no, we are all the water stains for sure.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
That's fantastic.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Incredible choices, incredible choices. Oh my gosh, what a delight
talking to you.
Speaker 6 (23:50):
So much fun, and we are so excited, and I
think it is important if you've got to be the
change you want to see. And I think we need
bums on the court to go and watch the Billy
Jean kink up, which again I've said, is such a
joy to say.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
It does roll off the time. We can't we can't
get wait to watch come out.
Speaker 5 (24:07):
It's going to be a great couple of days of tennis.
So yeah, really to get our hands on one of
your shinda.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
Yeah, we do.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
We need the captain. Can we get the captain though?
Can we get captain too, like we honorary captains?
Speaker 7 (24:19):
Sure? Oh, I love that. I thought you paused. That's no.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
No, how many slams have you won? A tim Tam
slam potentially?
Speaker 3 (24:27):
Yeah, the limit does not exist on that.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
No, that's fine with these arms. Yeah, she's gonna Georgie's
gonna go to.
Speaker 6 (24:33):
Her trainer and bit like you've been lying to me,
I've ordered Sosa arms and you've given me bicep mels
and my life is alive.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
Sam, thank you so so much. You're such a delight.
We really appreciate your time and go Aussies.
Speaker 7 (24:44):
Thank you guys, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
Thank you,
Here at two Good Sports.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
We would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the
land on which we record this podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
There were injurie.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
People this land was never seated, always was, always will be.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
You know, tell me that sometimes a guest requires like
a like a vocal warm up.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Like a mix, because you really just want the register
to hit.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Because the honor role of achievements that you have to
read out quite extensive, quite extensive. You know, I need
water just to the side of me in case I
just lose lose the ability to speak.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
There's that many achievements.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
But I actually want to spend most of our episode
talking to the guests, so I'm not going to go
through everything.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
I just want to remind everyone about what our.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Guest today, Sam Stoza, has achieved, not only one of
the greatest Australians, definitely one of the greatest Australian tennis players,
eight slam titles, one in the women's singles, four in
the women's doubles, three in the mixed doubles. Also, can
I just say, and I mean this, Sam, with all
due respect and all of the gravitas that I hope
(01:03):
you take this with the owner of the best arms
in world sport, the best arms in world sport.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Yes, I've said it, Nadal Alcoraz, get out of here.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Samantha Stoza has been as high as world number four
in the singles rankings, of course, was world number one
in the doubles rankings, and is now finding herself as
the captain for Australia Team Australia in the Billy Jean
King Cup.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Please welcome to do good.
Speaker 5 (01:37):
SPORTSA thank you, thank you lovely to be here.
Speaker 6 (01:45):
Georgie does go to the gymp and pumpey. I'm just
going maybe one day, one day we'll get the Samstozer arms.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
It's actually crossed my mind, Sam. Not to make you uncomfortable,
but I am every time I pick up.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Is it a six kilo dumbell? Or is it the nine?
Speaker 1 (01:56):
I go? What would Sam do?
Speaker 5 (02:00):
I'm telling you and nobody ever believes me when I
say this, but I never did vice it curls in
the gym ever ever?
Speaker 1 (02:07):
What there's the exclusive off the top? What do you mean?
Speaker 5 (02:11):
Huh?
Speaker 7 (02:11):
What were you doing?
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Is that genetics?
Speaker 7 (02:14):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Why don't I have them?
Speaker 7 (02:15):
It's a lot of hitting fourhands, I think, And so
get out on the court, maybe skip the gym and
get out on the court.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
It's not things that won't be happening.
Speaker 6 (02:25):
We'll start off very generally, how are you, How are
you and where do we find you?
Speaker 7 (02:29):
I'm great.
Speaker 5 (02:30):
Yeah, I'm in Melbourne gearing up for Billy Jinkin Cut,
which we're very lucky to actually be playing in Melbourne,
so it's awesome that we kind of can stay home
for that event. But yeah, just been laying low for
a little bit since obviously the big summer of tennis
and about to get right back in.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
How do you feel about the big summer of tennis
because Jellmy and I we're just on the periphery of that.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Obviously we're not on the court.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
This has already been discussed and pointed out, but we
adore it. But we also there's like this sense of
you're in it's aorbit, but then you're in the colmdown
and it's like the fatigue and we're not even a
part of it in any way.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Shape or form. What is it like now for you,
now that you aren't there representing yourself as a player.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Do you still have those highs and lows at the
start of every year, Like are you still like, is
it the muscle memory, the body going, oh, I've got
to be geared up for.
Speaker 7 (03:18):
This, and then the fall Oh my goodness.
Speaker 5 (03:20):
Yeah, it's like going to school camp every year and
then you come home from school camping or depressed or
you know, when the Olympics is on and you're also
into watching it, and then you're exhausted.
Speaker 7 (03:28):
But then when it's gone, it's like, oh, what do
I watch?
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Now?
Speaker 7 (03:31):
What am I doing?
Speaker 5 (03:32):
So yeah, we certainly have that, and if anything, it's
almost more tiring sometimes now being on this side because
you're there to watch many more matches and you know,
you're not thinking about your own tennis or your own
game or what you've got to do. So yeah, you're
at the mercy of everyone else's schedule now, so a
little bit different.
Speaker 7 (03:48):
But absolutely love it.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
I love obviously that I can still be part of it,
and then when it's gone you kind of, yeah, can't
wait for the next kind of bunch of tennis that
you can get to and watch and support.
Speaker 6 (04:00):
Can you believe the growth that we've seen in Australian
fans just loving tennis Because of course, something like COVID
happens and you're unable to attend these love events. And
I feel like, perhaps more successfully than any other sport,
tennis has put their foot down oh close twenty twenty
and the attendance that we've seen, and you know, opening
weeks that actually was qualifying instead of the first round
(04:20):
of the Oars Open had these unbelievable numbers that just
continued come, rain, hale or shine, and I just think
it's something that again a lot of other sports had
envy and gone, how have they done this?
Speaker 7 (04:32):
Oh yeah, it's incredible.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
I mean even the fact that we still had AO
through that COVID period was yeh. I mean, I don't
know how they did it, but somehow they pulled it off.
And it is just grown and grown and grown, and
it really is like the whole of Melbourne or the
whole of Australia really get behind it. But Melbourne especially
obviously because we're here. You can't speak to someone without
them saying, oh, I've been to the tennis, or I'm
going to the tennis, or I went there and just
(04:54):
watched music, or I went there and watched you know,
whatever matches on whatever court. So it's such a carnival
or a festival now and I think you know. And
when I was playing, I never went out into the grounds.
The only time I went into the grounds was to
get to the practice court or play my match, and
I never really knew what was going on around the precinct.
Speaker 7 (05:12):
And now being out there more, I'm like, ah, yeah,
this is why people want to come.
Speaker 5 (05:17):
This is awesome, this is fud like you want to
be part of it, You want to get out there more.
And it's funny the different outlet you can have from
player to now coach and you know, just going out
there to watch for enjoyment.
Speaker 7 (05:29):
I really get why people like it. So it's good.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Well, and we're going to drill down onto the Billie
Jean King Cup very very shortly, but because thank goodness,
we haven't actually had to wait that long before we
get on the tennis, right, but before that, just to
stay on the AO, because have you seen this, so
I'm sure you have that next year potentially the women's
draw go in five sets at the AO. Yes, it's
a move that's been like tabled. Would you be supportive
(05:52):
of that?
Speaker 5 (05:53):
Not as such? No, I don't think it's necessary. I
don't think we need to draw out matches.
Speaker 7 (05:59):
Anymore. I think it was Jess Pagoula, who's three or
four in the world at the moment.
Speaker 5 (06:04):
She was like, you know, some men's matches that go
to five are absolutely incredible, and obviously we got treated
to that this year at Ao in the Semis in
the final, but some can be quite boring.
Speaker 7 (06:13):
I hate to say it, but you.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
Know there's often a lapse in the matches they throw
a set to save energy, and it's not all unbelievable.
So look, I think rategic a lot of tennis. I
think there'd be a long way to go before that
actually happens. But you know, it's got nothing to do
with me anymore. If the girls women want to do it,
then go for it. But I'd be a bit surprised
if it did actually come out.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
What if it was just for the finals?
Speaker 5 (06:37):
Then to do that and spring that on players to
right at the end of a Slam, which is obviously
our pinnacle of our sport, or all the Grand Slams,
to change the score and format at that point, I
don't know why.
Speaker 7 (06:51):
What for?
Speaker 5 (06:52):
Yeah, And there's so many times that come into its
scheduling matches TV.
Speaker 7 (06:56):
There's so many different aspects that come into.
Speaker 5 (06:58):
It's not just about the two plays getting out on
the court and playing for an extra you know, set
or two.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
And I love that you say what for?
Speaker 6 (07:05):
And naturally our brains go to because the men do it,
and sometimes there can be a quality for quality's sake
when you're let wait, with this actually service the women's
game and make it better?
Speaker 3 (07:15):
No, I totally agree with you.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
I want to know, Sam, I know you say that
you wouldn't be potentially in those back rooms where these
deals get made, and you know you don't have the
voice in those rooms. Where you do have the voice
is as the captain of Team Australia. Can you explain
to me what the captain does?
Speaker 5 (07:32):
Well, I guess first and foremost what you see me
do is sit on the court with the plays during
the matches, which is unique tennis. We don't have our
coaches on the court obviously, recent is now you can
coach from the sidelines and in the stands. But yeah,
it went from thou shalt not talk to them to
let's put them closer to you and get a camera on.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Them and they can speak to you. And sorry, we're
going off a tangent. I'm so sorry. I we'll let
you finish the question. But when you were playing Sam,
was that annoying not being able to talk to your coach?
Would you have liked to have talked to your coach
or was it actually maybe better just to have them
at some distance so that you could fight yourself in
your head.
Speaker 5 (08:08):
Honestly, I quite I didn't mind it, and I like
doing it by myself. I think that was I mean,
that was the cool part of tennis, was that it
was just the players out on court. Having said that,
that wasn't always the case. I mean, I don't think
I'm going to spill the beans and be shocking you
know when I say some players did get coached even
though they weren't meant to, whether it was speaking another
(08:32):
language other than English, or with signals or whatever it
may be. So coaching, I think always did happen in
some respect, in some way, shape or form a lot
of the time. So I think it's good that they
opened it up, and now it's just like, you know, what,
go for it if you want to speak speak. But
I think also, you know, it's a fine line because
there's only so much you can really tell someone when
(08:52):
they're out there. You can say hit it this way,
or hit it to their fuehand or back then more.
But the players still got to do it, and they
still got to believe it and feel it and you know,
be able to execute it. So I don't know if
it necessarily changes the outcome of every single match because
you've got the coach there, but.
Speaker 7 (09:06):
That was that was a real, you know weapon for
some players, was strategically thinking through things and being able
to work things out better than their opponent. But yeah,
now it's all open.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
I think it's good, it's fine, and I think we're
seeing some pretty good content for it too.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
So when you are sitting courtside with Team Australia as captain,
what is what is your main role there? I mean
obviously hype girl number one of course, yes, yes.
Speaker 5 (09:30):
So supporting the player obviously, we're trying to work out
different tactics, keep doing same thing, change a little bit.
You know a lot of the time it's reassurance and
you know, keeping them pumped up, keeping them positive. And
I guess a big part of it actually for me
at the moment, and since I've started, we've got so
many new team members in our side.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Yeah, have never represented astray before.
Speaker 5 (09:52):
It might be their first time playing for the team,
you know, wearing the green and gold, so you had
all those other emotions of you know, pride and you know,
nervousness and all of that that goes along with playing.
So sometimes it's just actually making trying to make them
feel comfortable and understand, you know what, the lines are
still the same, still going to hit the ball in
go and do.
Speaker 7 (10:11):
What you do every other day of the year.
Speaker 5 (10:13):
It doesn't matter what color you're wearing your or your
teammates on the side, they're all supporting you no matter what.
So there's varying degrees of tactics and just support that
go on.
Speaker 7 (10:24):
And that's kind.
Speaker 5 (10:24):
Of what I try and do whenever I'm at events
as well. So obviously I'm not on the court then,
but talking to the players coaches what we can do better,
how they can improve their set up, whatever it may be,
goes from you know, it might be improving the forehand
down the line to jeez, I'm finally really hard to
travel and be away and you know it's really tough,
you know, being away from home for five months. So
(10:46):
there's a wide variety of subjects that we might try
and help.
Speaker 6 (10:50):
With You mentioned these new faces and these new names
that were seeing, particularly in women's tennis in Australia.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Can you talk to.
Speaker 6 (11:07):
Us about Talia Gibson and the fact that she's twenty
one and her run at Indian well saw her beat
three top twenty players.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
In five days. Yep, I'm excited. I'm excited. Tell us
just how excited we should be.
Speaker 5 (11:21):
She'd be very excited because then she backed it up
and did in Miami as well, I know, which was Yeah,
I mean, I think there was something that said she's
only the fifth player to beat five top twenty players
in the Indian World's Miami Swing and we're talking with
the likes of Steppie Graff hingis I think it was
Serena Williams and.
Speaker 7 (11:40):
Keep going, and then you've got Tarlie Gibson's name in
that list. Pretty exciting moment for her.
Speaker 5 (11:48):
I know that everyone's goal, her goal was to be
top hundred and she's smashed that now already in the
first few months of the year, so she's up into
the sixties now and yeah, what I you know, Indian
Wells was amazing, but then for her to back it
up and go through qualities again in Miami. I think
shows that she can sustain that level, you know, mentally
(12:10):
and emotionally, really steady to be able to then literally
fly across the country a few days later back it up,
not have a let down. So I think really exciting times.
I think she's always had a really big game. Her
backhand has always been world class, and now she's starting to,
you know, improve the other parts of her game. Serves
really big and she was just playing big tennis like
(12:31):
a top ten, top twenty player herself, and I think
that's why she got the win. She wasn't scared, she
went after it and yeah, now it's a matter of
keeping it going. So I'm super happy that she's in
the team again. She played well. She was part of
the team for the first time in November. I wasn't
at that titles on Matornity League. But now to be
back in my position and having her on the team again,
(12:51):
I'm really really excited to see her back on court.
Speaker 6 (12:54):
You mentioned that she plays beyond her years with this confidence.
She walks out into the court and you believe that
she can really make anyone on her day.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Tell us a little bit about her the person.
Speaker 7 (13:03):
Well, I mean also growing so much.
Speaker 5 (13:06):
I first met her maybe four or five years ago
to very quiet and just sort of you know, she
was a young junior. We practiced at the Aussie Open
together hit really well again. But her personalities, she's really
come out of a shell. And I think what I
love almost the most out of what I saw the
last couple of weeks is some of her reactions after
(13:26):
winning was just like, yeah, cool, calm, give my coach
a fist pump. I'm noting to do that, Like no,
but like I do, I really believe I was going
to win today and just that. Yeah, I think she
had a real quiet confidence about herself. She knows that
she can play exceptionally well, and I think she just
has the personality to just go about it every day.
(13:47):
All right, I've just got to do it again. I've
gotta do it again. And yeah, but she's yeah, come
out of a shell. I know she loves being around
the girls and they love you know, all of our
players really support each other, whether it's the week of
Billy Jenkin Cup or not doug out and watch each other.
They'll practice together. They really get around it like they're
part of a team, which is awesome, and I don't
think I honestly, I don't think that happens in every
(14:07):
single country around the world.
Speaker 7 (14:08):
So we've got a really special group of players at
the moment.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
Say that Tarlie's got the confidence, I mean, I want
to talk about a teammate who's got the name Storm Hunter.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
No, come on now, came out of the womb ready
to be around.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Come on now, come on now. Her name is exceptional.
But I tell you what I saw of her at
the Open as well. I was like, her play is
as exceptional, Like she is just going from strength to strength,
whether it be singles or whether it be doubles, she
is just absolutely killing it. You talk about this young
group of players and how they seem to have this
lack of fear or they're not scared on the court.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
Was there a time that you were Do you remember
when you were scared on the court?
Speaker 7 (14:45):
Oh? Plenty of times. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (14:46):
I mean, I'm not saying, you know, Tarlie or any
of the players haven't ever felt that, but yeah, there
was times where I remember playing Emily mores Motor I
think was two in the world at the time. We're
playing in Miami on the center cor and she was
six love three love up on me and I wanted
to jump into the photographer's pit and hide and never
(15:07):
come out. I was that scared and just get me
off this court, Like.
Speaker 7 (15:12):
Is there a mercy rule?
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Give me a towel, Give me a towel, Let me out.
And you're like, and you want this stuff to go
for five sets?
Speaker 7 (15:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (15:19):
Yeah, right, Like I wanted to be out there for
another set, and then it was just when Hawkeye came
out too, so then she actually challenged one of her
serves being out.
Speaker 7 (15:27):
I'm like, honestly, doesn't matter if you missed one.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
Like you're like, I'm already dead, don't ask for an autopsy.
I'm not here.
Speaker 5 (15:37):
Plenty of times I've been in a position where I
felt like I did not want to be there for
a second longer. I know exactly what that feels like,
and you don't wish it upon anyone. But I think
in sport there's always going to be those moments where Okay,
that maybe wasn't so great, and you you work towards
the hides again.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
I want to get that kind of realism and honesty
in terms of how you think Team Australia is going
to go in the Billy Jane Cup.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
Where should we set our expectations where should they be.
Speaker 7 (16:08):
Look, I'm very confident with my team.
Speaker 5 (16:11):
I think, Look, obviously I believe we can win, and
I don't want to say we'll win. I don't want
to count my chickens, but I do believe we're in
a very really good position. Obviously, You've still got to
bring it every single day these team competitions. Anything happens.
There's been enough upsets in the past where the team
on paper, maybe with better rankings, does not get through.
(16:31):
And people can do pretty special things when they're playing
for their country, which is what I hope our players
will do. But yeah, look, you've still got to play
first point to last point and be really focused and ready.
And we've got a bit of a change up with
the way the matches play out also this time around.
We've never done this before this year where the doubles
match is now the third match to the tie, so the.
Speaker 7 (16:52):
Doubles will always count towards the results.
Speaker 5 (16:55):
So I think that kind of adds a little bit
of extra excitement and different perspective for the crowd as well,
to know that they've got a live doubles match right
in the middle of the tie. So yeah, we've got
to still play well. But yeah, I'm looking forward to
having the time against the Brits. I actually played against
the British captain lots on tour when I was playing,
so I know I am pretty well. So we'll have
(17:17):
a bit of banter and you know, maybe a bit
of you know words on the side, who knows.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Just staring daggers at each other.
Speaker 6 (17:25):
We love a bit of band But speaking of banda
something and a storyline that came out of the recent
AO was madas English getting all the way through the
fourth round and having a payday that would have changed
her life. And I just thought it was so telling
that instead of going, oh, I'm so excited to get
this car, there was a particular toaster that she'd had
her eye on and she thought I wouldn't allow myself
(17:46):
to have that, and I think for mine, well gorgeous
and Smeg sent her backage. It did highlight when you
are a tennis player and you're not necessarily in the hundred,
it is a grind financially to try to and it's
something that I think a lot of women in Australia
or a lot of players in Australia are experiencing that
grind of having to keep giving their all in order
(18:06):
to be part of the tour. Is this something that
is an issue between players making it to the next
level just how expensive the sport is, because I think
we all see, oh there's a lot of equal prize money.
You know, the best makes such incredible coin. But it
is a really really taxing sport financially if you're first
trying to make it.
Speaker 7 (18:25):
Oh, absolutely, it is so hard financially.
Speaker 5 (18:29):
I mean to start out, remember when you're you know,
not at the ranking bracket of Grand Slams, so top
hundred or they're about you know, you're starting out playing
tournaments that are worth ten thousand dollars total prize money
for everyone in the draw. And then you work to
the next level and the next level, the next world.
So but you know, it's not cheap flying around the world.
It's not cheap paying for hotels when you're not in
(18:50):
the tournament anymore, and you've got to pick up extra
days or either side of you when you're lost and
when you're starting again. And I do think, especially coming
from Australia, like, we have a long way to go
to get to events no matter where we're playing, unless
we're playing in Australia, which happens very few weeks of
the year. We're always traveling a pretty business. So I
always think, yeah, you know, going to Southeast Asia for
(19:13):
US feels close and it's super easy, but in reality
it's still seven eight nine hours. But you know for
Europeans that's flying to the other side of the world
for them, so.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
And God, they complain when they come here, don't they.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
I was like, God, I'm like, hey, guys.
Speaker 5 (19:27):
I'll tell you what they're not happy about coming out
to Australia in April.
Speaker 7 (19:31):
But I'm like, suck it up, guys, we have to
do it all the time.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
Well the happy Slam be happy to be here.
Speaker 7 (19:37):
But yeah, it is.
Speaker 5 (19:38):
It is a really tough sport to be in until
you get to that spot where you know, prize money
can pay. But even a player ranked one hundred or
maybe you know, one hundred and fifty, by the time
they pay for their coach, the coach's expenses, their own expenses,
you still got to be doing pretty well throughout the
year to break even. Maybe at one hundred and fifty
(19:59):
or make So that's why it is so great that
the Grand Slams are now paying the amount of prize
money they are, because that can if you're in the
main drawer of the four Grand Slams, that can set
you up to actually be able to do things properly
and professionally and just do it right, because otherwise you
do have to cut corners you have, well I can't
do that, or maybe I won't put that re string in,
(20:19):
or you know, I'll go to that place for dinner
because it's not so expensive.
Speaker 6 (20:23):
And if you're playing someone that has a private jet.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
On Earth, it is a cosm.
Speaker 7 (20:29):
I know. I was in Japan.
Speaker 5 (20:31):
I slept in the train station one night with the
other players so we could save money from you know,
and that was like a Lord, we're playing ten thousand,
so not a little bit more than that, sorry, a
bit bigger tournament. But one of the girls wanted to
save money and sleep at the airport the night before
she was leaving, and we were like, well, I don't
think you should do that. We found out you couldn't
sleep at the airport.
Speaker 7 (20:51):
So she's like like.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Tom Hangks's terminal style just on the floor just on
the yeah.
Speaker 7 (20:55):
And then but we were like, no, we shouldn't do that.
Speaker 5 (20:58):
So I think there was more of us decided we'd
all go and sleep in the train station because we
didn't want her to be by ourself. So we locked
our bags together, slept outside the police station, and that's
what we did to say.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
What year is this? What year is this? Like where
in your career is this?
Speaker 7 (21:16):
It would have been maybe twenty two years ago something
like that, So I did that.
Speaker 5 (21:26):
But yeah, I mean, but players do that sort of
stuff all the time, and I mean we were in Japan,
it's very safe. In hindsight now I'm like, oh, you
probably didn't need to look at that.
Speaker 6 (21:36):
If they're going to mug you, they might bow and
be polite about it that time.
Speaker 5 (21:40):
It's okay, we came and bought as orange juice and
that's got bad for us, so room service very nicely.
But that's the sort of decisions that players make when
you are going through the ranks, and it only gets more.
To do better, you've got to spend more money, you know,
You've got to spend money to make money sometimes, so
it's not easy. But at least with the Slams, now
(22:01):
they can know, all right, if we get to first round,
we're going to make X amount. And for Maddie that
is absolutely life changing what happened to her at Ao,
and yeah, let's hope it can all happen again for
her and all the other girls.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
The juxtaposition of that and then with all of your slams,
I would like the most frivolous answer you can give
me or you'll allow us. Sam, do you remember something
that you bought with your prize money from the twenty
eleven US Open that was just not like, not, you're
not investing it back into the sport. Not investing it
(22:33):
back into the sport? What is your toaster?
Speaker 6 (22:35):
Like?
Speaker 3 (22:35):
What was the thing that you were like.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
I'm getting it.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
I'm getting that.
Speaker 5 (22:40):
I was renovating my apartment at the time, and I
really wanted a proper marble bench top, and I went
and got the proper marble bench top, which is the
stupidest thing I could have ever bought, because it's staying
so easily, and it's.
Speaker 6 (22:56):
An investment in enjoy, Sam, It's an investment and enjoy.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
I should have just gone with the Caesarstone.
Speaker 5 (23:02):
But I was like, no, I'm going with the best
marble slab I could find.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
So you don't know that.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
There's no way for you to know this, Sam, I
don't think unless you and Jeremy have been best friends
for three thousand decades.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
But her eyes just rolled back into her head.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
Because she loves.
Speaker 6 (23:19):
If I'm going to spend my money on something, it's unnecessary,
Italian stone and ideally as impractical as possible. And I'm
just perfect. Are you still in the apartment. Is it
the same apartment or you.
Speaker 7 (23:33):
I don't even live there anymore. Enjoy it.
Speaker 6 (23:36):
The resale, though, would have been immaculate, would have been
a maculate I'm sure.
Speaker 7 (23:40):
Oh no, we are all the water stains for sure.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
That's fantastic.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Incredible choices, incredible choices. Oh my gosh, what a delight
talking to you.
Speaker 6 (23:50):
So much fun, and we are so excited, and I
think it is important if you've got to be the
change you want to see. And I think we need
bums on the court to go and watch the Billy
Jean kink up, which again I've said, is such a
joy to say.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
It does roll off the time. We can't we can't
get wait to watch come out.
Speaker 5 (24:07):
It's going to be a great couple of days of tennis.
So yeah, really to get our hands on one of
your shinda.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
Yeah, we do.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
We need the captain. Can we get the captain though?
Can we get captain too, like we honorary captains?
Speaker 7 (24:19):
Sure? Oh, I love that. I thought you paused. That's no.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
No, how many slams have you won? A tim Tam
slam potentially?
Speaker 3 (24:27):
Yeah, the limit does not exist on that.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
No, that's fine with these arms. Yeah, she's gonna Georgie's
gonna go to.
Speaker 6 (24:33):
Her trainer and bit like you've been lying to me,
I've ordered Sosa arms and you've given me bicep mels
and my life is alive.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
Sam, thank you so so much. You're such a delight.
We really appreciate your time and go Aussies.
Speaker 7 (24:44):
Thank you guys, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
Thank you,
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