Artem Sitak: New Zealand tennis player previews this weekend's Davis Cup matches

Davis Cup captain Artem Sitak has a plan to take out the doubles match in their tie against Luxembourg in Palmerston North this weekend. 

The singles matches featuring Kiwis KP Pannu and Ajeet Rai will headline today as Finn Reynolds and Rubin Statham play New Zealand's doubles match tomorrow.  

D'Arcy catches up with Artem to preview the weekend ahead.  

LISTEN ABOVE 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Dancy
Waldegrave from News Talks.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
It'd be let's talk some Davis Kappa. Off to Palmerston,
North we go the land of my forefathers. Atom sittek
joins Us is the captain of the Davis Cup team
for New Zealand taking on Luxembourg in this latest tie.
It and welcome to the program. Our first up, what
hangs on this particular tie? What are you looking to achieve?

(00:33):
It obviously victory. Where does this take you long term?

Speaker 3 (00:36):
Yeah, thanks for having me first of all, and yeah,
this tie is really really important for us. We were
in about the same well, we were actually in the
same situation last year when we played when we played
Thailand and we came up with the goods back then
in September in the Cargo, everyone played unbelievable and we
want that fairly easily against a strong team. So hopefully

(01:00):
we're going to ride this wave of playing really well
at home and this time we went Thomas the North
and sold out crowd and hopefully everyone's loud and we're
going to perform at our best.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
Tell us about Luxembourg, what they bring to the court.
I think, do you do much research into how they play,
access to any of the stats or video? Is the captain,
this is your desire. Isn't this what you have to do?

Speaker 3 (01:27):
Oh? Yes, yes, we did that. Yes, That's what I've
been doing when I was playing myself and bringing that
to the team. Definitely. I did a lot of scouting
on the opponents, watched them practice a bit here. So
one of the guys, the number one guy, just won
two or three tournaments in a row, so he's feeling
really confident and it seems like seems like he's very

(01:50):
at ease at what he's doing right now, and with
our with our game plan against him, I think we
can break that, break that confidence in him and get
that win. The number two guy is also playing well,
so just seeing the way he plays, the way he

(02:12):
operates on the court. Also, I think we have a
pretty good idea what he what he's going to come
up with, So we definitely have good preparation. We did.
We did the homework. Clint, the coach for the coach
for the tie in the in the team, he did
a lot of video or research too, and he put
on like pretty specific analysis of their game plan so

(02:37):
we are very professional in our approach on how we
approach this and how we're getting ready and hopefully we
can now leave it all out there on the court
perform at our best.

Speaker 2 (02:49):
Adam tinis is tenis Davis Cup? Is it a different
based when it comes to your approach and how you
apply yourself on the court.

Speaker 3 (02:59):
Oh definitely. We're seeing some crazy, crazy matches happening in
Davis Cup. Until you step on the court and you
actually realize you're playing for your country, it's a feeling
like no other. So no matter how good you are,
it might not matter actually on the day just because
of that mental mental burden. For some people it lifts them,

(03:24):
for some people it doesn't. So hopefully for us, you know,
we have their experienced players on the team. Jack is
our new guy, and I have one hundred percent certainty
that if he steps on the court and performs, he's
going to lift him up in a sold out crowd,
that's for sure.

Speaker 2 (03:44):
So when it comes to the matches and the reverse singles,
the doubles and the like as well, you plan who
plays win and where. How how do you put that together?

Speaker 3 (03:54):
Well, it's all about the rankings and like one place two,
two place one on the first day, so just reverse
singles on the first day. Not much we can do
about that second day.

Speaker 2 (04:05):
Sorry, it's based on world rankings. It has to be
it sits and.

Speaker 3 (04:08):
That's based on that's based on world rankings. Yes, and
the doubles is quite interesting because it plays it's being
played first on a second day. So the fact that
Luxembourg they their doubles combination, is there two singles guys
that played on a Saturday. I think it could play
a big role in this because our doubles combination is

(04:31):
two guys that are not playing on Saturday, so they'll
be fresh, so it'll be there'll be a big factor.
And if they have to play doubles on a Sunday
and then come out thirty minutes later and play singles,
it's not easy physically nor mentally, so that could give
us that small advantage. And of course that's the home crowd.

(04:53):
I'll never I'll never tire of saying, and that the
crowd can make a massive difference.

Speaker 2 (04:58):
Let's hope they tear the place down, not not literally,
but the crowd makes some noise and drive you guys
to victory. In New Zealand. That Luxemburg that is happening
over the weekend. Davis Cup World Group two, the first round.
I'm playing Captain artem sit down. Thank you very much
for your time and information. I trust you go well
and enjoy yourself.

Speaker 3 (05:19):
Thank you.

Speaker 1 (05:19):
Thank you For more from the All Sport Breakfast with
Darcy Watergrave. Listen live to News Talk set be on
Saturday mornings, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio