January 20, 2024 • 28 mins
Czech teenager Linda Noskova has produced the upset of the tournament toppling world No.1 Iga Swiatek — the earliest loss by a women’s top seed at the Australian Open since 1979, men’s seeds Casper Ruud and Grigor Dimitrov have come unstuck in the third round, Victoria Azarenka has outgunned Jelena Ostapenko in the battle of the Grand Slam champions to book her spot in the Round of 16 for the 11th time — experts Chris Bowers and Simon Rea pick apart the key moments in the match and preview Alex de Minaur’s fourth round clash with Andrey Rublev, Ursin Caderas gets to know French showman Arthur Cazaux, and the fans tell us their favourite players of yesteryear.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
What would you be if you weren't a tennis.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Player, maybe a humble player or an actor because I
love cinema and my first idol in cinema was a
mad demon. I love the way he plays, and yeah,
I love the guy.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Hi everyone, and welcome to the AO Show with me
John Hooven as Super Saturday at the Australian Open lived
up to its name. As we start to round the
bend into week two, here's what's coming up Triontech shockwaves.
The number one seed falls in the third round.
Speaker 4 (00:37):
I felt like I had everything under control until she
broke me in a second set.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Dimitrov stung by a Portuguese man of war. Honestly, I
still can't believe it. Well, second week of Australian Open
and a star is born. Caso thriving in the deep end.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
It's so good week for me. I walk every day,
you know it to be the best.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
That's all ahead On the AO Show.
Speaker 5 (01:03):
Linda and Oskova prepares again, Matts points.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
The serve to the fourhander.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
T when they goes long an enormous.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Upset on broad Labor Arena.
Speaker 5 (01:14):
The world number one has been beted by the world number.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Fifty Day seven has produced the biggest upset of the tournament,
with top seed Iggersh Fiontek beaten by check teenager Linda
Noskova three six six, three sixty four. The world number
one looked set for an early night in the first set,
capitalizing on her opponent's poor second serve and three double faults,
but Noscova cleaned up her service game in the second
(01:39):
set and converted her only break point opportunity to force
a decider. After trading breaks, the nineteen year old found
a second chink in the Fiontech armor in the crucial
ninth game to serve for the match, and despite two
big winners of the polls racket for love thirty, she
conceded two unforced erarors and was aced. As Noscova went
(02:00):
about sealing the deal, Oh speechless.
Speaker 6 (02:02):
Obviously.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
I knew it's going to be an amazing match for
all number one and such a player, but I don't
really think that it would end up leet.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
The result is the earliest loss for a women's number
one seed at the Australian Open since nineteen seventy nine,
and ends Friontec's seventeen match win streak dating back to September, I.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Felt like I had everything under control until she broke
me in a second set. She just went all in,
you know, without any pressure, and she probably knew that,
you know, she has nothing to lose, you know, and
maybe I should have done that when I had break
points in previous games.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Moscova's next opponent is Alenas Fittalina, who is in cruise control.
In her straight sets demolition of Victoria Golibitch, the twenty
nine year old crushed nineteen winners and won ninety one
percent of net points on the way to a six
two sixty three victory. Spitelina, now nine months back from
maternity leave, says she feels more pressure now to perform
than she did in twenty two twenty three.
Speaker 6 (03:00):
Here now, I think more people expect me to be
the same, you know, all the Elena, you know, making
the second week, and I think also with my game,
because I've been winning the matches quite confident, I think
people are now like expecting me to be easier in
(03:21):
the in the second week.
Speaker 7 (03:28):
Yeah, it's the biggest moment in his career by some margin.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Nuno Borges has become the first Portuguese player to reach
the round of sixteen at the Australian Open, upsetting thirteenth
seed Grigor Dimitrov in four sets. The Bulgarian was able
to convert just one of his twelve break point opportunities,
or Borges's efficiency punished him, the Portuguese making just a
solitary unforced era in the third set. In a fourth
(03:54):
set tiebreak, Dimitrov had set point at six y five,
but double faulted and followed it up with two un
four s errors to lose the match six to seven,
six four six two seven six.
Speaker 8 (04:04):
Got a break on the third set and then I
was like, holy crap, I can maybe maybe I can
actually win this.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
And yeah, it wasn't from the start.
Speaker 8 (04:11):
I mean it's like it's like people say, take one
set at a time, one game at a time, when
service game stand a game.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Cameron Norri triumphed over Caspar rud in the Battle of
the Seeds six ' four six seven, six ' four
six ' three. Nori changed tack from his usual baseline bash,
coming to the net fifty six times to win forty
one points. The brit also avoided the Nord's powerful forehand
by attacking his backhand. He is now the lone brit
remaining in the singles draw, moving to the round of
(04:39):
sixteen in Australia for the first time after failing to
make it past the third round in any Grand Slam
in twenty twenty three.
Speaker 9 (04:45):
Yep, there with one of my best I think in
a Grand Slam, you know, losing that second set a
few set points, and he saved really well, and I
came out with a lot of energy, then down a
break in the third and managed to stay really tough.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Nori sets up fourth round clash with Alex Zverev, who
sailed through his match with Alex Michelson in straight sets.
The sixth seed happy to be done before midnight after
spending almost eight hours on court across his first two rounds.
Speaker 8 (05:12):
I'm obviously a genius, and I decided to play five
hours the straight away in.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
The first two matches.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
You know.
Speaker 8 (05:20):
The tactical talk before before the match with my father,
who's also my coach, was was brilliant today.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
You know.
Speaker 8 (05:25):
He obviously told me, you know, hit more winners than him,
less than for Sarah's more aces and all of that stuff,
which is the usual, very simple to do, obviously, but
then he also he also put you know, put his
hand on my shoulder and he said, like, son, nobody
wants to watch you play tennis at three o'clock in
the morning, so please hurry up.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
And Daniel Medvedev dispatched Felix Augier Aliasine with ease, winning
in straight sets. The young Canadian was off his game
for the entire match, committing forty three unforced eers and
just nineteen winners after just two hours, nine minutes on
Medvedev is daring to dream he can win the title
after the heartbreak of twenty twenty two where he lost
to Rough and Nadal.
Speaker 10 (06:06):
I feel like I'm one hundred percent. Let's say, left
this match behind. Only future and present is ahead because
it was tough. Was tough, I mean for sure wanted
to win. It was close then even fifth set I
came back but still lost, so tough loss. But now
I have a one hundred percent behind me. I'm focusing
(06:27):
on right now. I want to want to, as you say,
try to go again to the final, try to have
my chance of winning another Grand Slam.
Speaker 11 (06:40):
Yeah, and there it is Victorians the risk at thirty
four years of age into the second week in Melbourne
for the eleventh time, in her career. Elene Rostapenko, another
tough day for.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Her against an old nemesis. Nobody it's going to want
to play this woman well. It was built as the
battle of the big serve versus the big ground strokes,
and it seems the big serve won out on this occasion.
Two time champion Victoria as a Renker booking her spot
in the round of sixteen for the eleventh time here
in Melbourne Chris Bauer's Welcome Back to the AO show.
(07:17):
A lot of anticipation around this match, but as a
Erenka triumphant in the end six to one, seven five.
Speaker 7 (07:23):
Yes, and more convincingly than I thought. I thought this
would be closer. It was very quick in the first set,
twenty six twenty seven minutes. Second set was not one
because Ostapenko looked like she was going to walk it
the same way. What was odd about this was that
Azarenka was solid all the way through Ostapenko. I keep thinking,
(07:44):
if she were to only start playing some rallies rather
than going for a big shot at the first possible opportunity,
would she be about a player or would she be
a worse player? Because you just get frustrated and there
were times in the second set. Well, I've just got
the sense she was trying to rally a little bit
and it's so not her game. And really, Azarenka's got
a number but oster Penco, I guess she's always been
(08:07):
like this. When she gets on a streak, she can
beat anybody, but you can also lose very very badly
matches that she ought.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
To be at least competitive in Simon Ray four and
Zip now to Azarenko.
Speaker 12 (08:16):
Yeah, that makes it for John and all about the
opening set. From my perspective, that's where the separation was
in this match. So twenty seven points to fourteen in
the opening set as compared to thirty seven to thirty
eight and a second set. So the separation or the
gap in the matches early, and we identified it last night.
We're looking at the contest in terms of the Azarenka
service game. So how about this for some variety on
(08:38):
serve in terms of the serves that she made in
the first set. From a first serve perspective, Azarenka splits
the court on the juice. Cort goes out wide forty
four percent of the time, goes down the t forty
four percent of the time, into the body the remaining
twelve percent of the time to the ad side fifty
to fifty tea and wide. So that serve variety keeps
Ostapenko off balance from a return spective. I mean, you
(09:01):
can't deliver any better variety than that, and then she
returns fire. In terms of getting a look at the
Ostapenko second serve, Victoria Azarenka steps way inside the baseline,
makes a statement and goes bang from a returner serp perspective,
and just heightens the discomfort in terms of what Ostapenko's
feeling on her own service game, which is not the
strength of the of the Ostapenko game.
Speaker 7 (09:20):
Now, the one thing that was working for Ostapenko was
the backhand down the line, and I just wonder whether,
if anything, Azarenka should have served a few fewer out
to the backhand in the advantage court.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 12 (09:31):
Perhaps, But I think the other standout thing for me
in terms of looking at the data, particularly out of
the opening set, is the gap between the players in
terms of speed and spin from the ground was even
starker than we might have thought. But I wonder if
that's almost a plan from the Azarenka camp. It's the
less speed you're giving Ostapenko perhaps the better right. So
the GAP's in excess of twenty five kilometers an hour
(09:52):
on the backhand side. Ostapenko is hitting the back end
one hundred and twenty clicks an hour. Azarenka's down at
ninety six, and I wonder if it's almost a de
liberate think there's a similar gap on the four in side.
But the gap in the match was absolutely made early.
The first set of this clash was where it.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Was at absolutely well. Yeah, the second set looked like
we might have had a reversal of fortune. She got
out to a four one lead the Latvian Chris, but
that quickly evaporated as her anchor in the end, getting
a run of five consecutive games to seal that second
set seven to five.
Speaker 7 (10:21):
Yeah, And the question I'm left with was not why
did Ostapenko lose that lead? It was how did she
get it in the first place? Because Azarenka's level didn't
really drop. I suppose Ostapenko was you know when she
goes for her strokes, and she makes quite a few.
But there was a run of games from about was
it one old for to one? I can't remember exactly
(10:42):
when Osterpenko seemed to be making her shots, but to
Azarenka's credit, she didn't not let her level drop, So
there was always that wall against which Ostapenko was playing.
I don't know if the stat sell was anything about that.
Speaker 12 (10:56):
Simon Well, I think in terms of what the numbers
do say on the Azarenka service game, in the opening set,
wins eighty seven percent of her points behind her first serve,
almost untouchable, forty four percent of the points on her
second serve, which you'd think is a poor return, but
it's not a bad return against a returner like a
Elena Ostapenko. And in the second set that starts to
shift a little bit in terms of second serve down
(11:16):
at twenty seven percent. So Ostapenko gets a hold of
the Azarenka second serve, but she's still operating at a
very high number in terms of first serve points, one
seventy eight percent. So the Azarenka first serve the location
the variety keeping Ostapenko off balance. We mentioned it last
night and it came to fruition today in the clash.
Speaker 7 (11:33):
Something that your numbers won't show is the this ability
of Osterpenco to be fighting a computer to be fighting
the electronic review system. The amount of times when a
ball is called out or in and she looks and
she says, looks up as their coach, as I have
to say, who plays this electronic review system? It's got
to be wrong now, you know, on the tightest of
(11:56):
tight decisions, you might say, okay, is the tolerance for
these systems so precise that actually I might have been
done out of a point here? But she was implying
once at she held him a racket in her hands
as if to imply a ball was twenty centimeters a.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
And requested a replay for a letter at one point.
Speaker 7 (12:13):
Now that suggests to me that she is looking for
to blame something rather than to say, right, what am
I going to do in this match? And that I
think is one of the big reasons why she is
losing matches that she should win.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Plenty to contemplate in the aftermath of that. Now, Azarenka
may be on track for a possible quarter final with
the other mother in the draw, Alena Fidelina. All eyes
on that section of the draw, turning our spotlight to
day eight, and it's the big one between the local hope,
Alex demenor the last remaining Australian and Andre Rublev both
have been here, both have been to the fourth round,
(12:47):
and I think rub Lev looking to get into his
third quarter final in Melbourne.
Speaker 7 (12:51):
In a way, this is bad news for demin Or
because if it happened in a quarter final, I would
say he's got a good chance. Because rube Lev, yeah,
he's had what six Grand Slam seven Grand Slam quarter finals.
He's stuck at that point and the really damaging one
was against Chilich when he got to a final set
tie break at Roland Garrass a couple of years ago
and just played an awful tiebreak. There's something about that
(13:14):
stage in a Slam. But this is fourth round and
rub Leff is very comfortable winning fourth rounds. And ruby
Leff has been in good form so far. Now it
so is Diminor, and Demonor is at the height of
his form, height of his ranking as well. So I've
been very impressed with what demon Or can do. He's
hitting serves at two hundred klometers an hour that he
was never doing before. He's not only quick about the
(13:35):
court but he always has been, but he's got a
greater weight of shot. This will be very competitive, but
I think I have a feeling rube Left might just
edge it.
Speaker 12 (13:46):
Yeah, I think this is really exciting, really enticing prospect.
Obviously three two in Rubler's favor overall in terms of
the head to hit, but even the clash in Paris
at the back end of last year was a tight tussle,
a three set battle that I think Rubylev ended up
coming up out on top of It's a really appealing prospect.
Chris is right, Alex diman Or serving speeds are significantly
(14:06):
higher in twenty twenty four than we've ever seen before,
one hundred and ninety seven kilometers now the other night
on first serve, one hundred and sixty on second I
do have a theory though, in terms of what we've
all been talking about and identifying as the weakness in
the Rublev game in terms of his second serve. We're
all talking about it, and that Camp's not silly. This
is a world class player. So I've run some numbers
(14:28):
tonight in anticipation of perhaps you asking the question, John,
and the rube Lev second serve's gone up nearly ten
kilometers an hour in twenty twenty four based on what
we were seeing down under here in twenty twenty three,
so he knows the story too. He's delivering more heat
on second serves certainly than we saw from him in
twenty twenty three. I think this is a fifty to
fifty matchup and I'm really looking forward to taking it in.
Speaker 7 (14:49):
I don't think that the second serve is going to
make the difference. What's going to make the difference is
what between rub Lev's is because he is a superb
ball striker. To me, he is as good as Medvedef
and hachanoff that group of Russians. What has let him
down is that he gets down on himself. Oh yeah,
he really does lose confidence in himself. And that's not
only bad for his own confidence on the tennis cord,
(15:11):
it gives the opponent the signal, ah, I've got under
his skin or he's got under his own skin, and
that I think is what could damage rube Lef. On
pure ball striking, rub Leff is about a player here,
but in terms of match play, I think that's where
I think it really is a fifty to fifty.
Speaker 12 (15:26):
Yeah, And I think sometimes that mentality can manifest in
terms of second third points.
Speaker 9 (15:30):
One.
Speaker 12 (15:30):
So when he fell at the hurdle to Djokovic last year. Rubleev,
I think he wins about thirty percent of his second
third points. The other night against quarter he's up towards
sixty percent. So sometimes that mentality I think Chris is right,
but it does manifest in the numbers sometimes, particularly on
second serve. He who hesitates is lost and there'll be
no room for hesitation tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
Final prediction from you, Chris.
Speaker 7 (15:52):
For me, it's a fifty one to forty nine to
rube lef and signed it.
Speaker 12 (15:55):
I'm going to go to the other camp. I'm going
to say it's a fifty one to forty nine the
other way and the Australian gets it done.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
French wild card Acta Cazo continues to make waves at
the AO, knocking another seed out of the tournament, this
time Talon Greek Sport in straight sets. The Dutchman struggled
to deal with Cazo's thunderbolt serves, which saw him win
eighty five percent of first serve points, the twenty one
year old taking the match in an hour forty five
minutes six three six three six ' one. Producer Ersin
(16:25):
Cadera spoke to the Frenchman and ersin. Suddenly everyone wants
to know about this young man who's just appeared on
our screens and courts.
Speaker 13 (16:33):
Honestly, I reckon a star is born. We saw that today,
the way he plays, the way he carries himself, he's
just got the X factor. I reckon, he's got that
little bit of show business in him. He did say
tennis is a show, and you can see that. He
came into our studio. We did profile shots, had him
(16:55):
stand in front of the cameras and do different moves
and natural. He is so natural. Honestly, he's like an actor.
He's got something to him and he's got personality. Honestly,
this guy, I'm so surprised because he's never won a
Grand Slam match in his life, and now he's here
today absolutely destroyed Greek sport. He's now won three matches
(17:18):
and now he's here and he's a star already.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
Well, let's hear from the man himself.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
I'm playing good right now. I'm in good shape, and
I hope he's going to continue. And yes, I love
I don't know. I love the atmosphere here, the crowd, people,
the city, everything is fun, you know, So that's cool.
Speaker 13 (17:38):
So this is your best performance at a Grand Slam
by far. So if I do you have any explanation
why now?
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Yes, I train h during the preseason, and I train
very well during all the year, even if I had
heigh and low moments. But no, you know, I know
I was capable to play this kind of level and
(18:05):
but I never prove it. And yeah, this week it's
it's a good week for me. I bet many good
players and I hope it's gonna continue.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Now, what level do you think you can play in
the next couple of years.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
I don't know. I don't know. I work every day,
you know, to be the best. You know, I don't
want to fix, you know, me any limits. So we'll see.
We'll see. I want to be the best, and we'll
see what the future gonna give me.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
The sky is the limit, Yes, exactly How did you
get into tennis? And maybe who inspired you as well?
Speaker 2 (18:46):
To start with, I have a funny story about tennis
because in my family, nobody touched a racket in his
whole life, nobody. And I came to tennis because of
for Raffa Ndel, because my dad just watched one tournament
(19:06):
per year. It was Rolos and when I was four
years old, they were like a Rafa match on TV
and I saw him, and I don't know, I felt
in love about the game and about Rafa, and uh yeah,
my mum always said me, yeah, when you you watch Raffa,
(19:28):
you asked me to to have a small racket and
you you play tennis and in the you know, against
the wall in my house and I start tennis like this,
and you know, I never don't and I'm still a big,
big fan of Rafa is a big inspiration for me.
And it's a bit him who who introduced me to tennis,
(19:50):
so that that's fun.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
Have you been able to tell him.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
That, no, no, never, never, but no, I I hope
I'm gonna play in one day. And he had to
show him what I have, you know, and what he
inspired me, you know, like it's a real fighter like me.
I love the fight. And yeah, it can be wonderful
(20:14):
to shadow court with him.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Cazo seed slang ways will need to continue if a
quarterfinals birth is on the cards. His round of sixteen
opponent's world number nine Hubert Herkach, who rallied from a
set down against twenty first seed Hugo Umbert to take
his match three six six one seven six sixty three.
Duncan McKenzie mccag spoke to the Big Serving Poll after
his win.
Speaker 14 (20:35):
Congratulations, Zoopy, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
I mean the definitely, definitely enough. It's good to be here.
Speaker 15 (20:41):
And you know, augu is such a great player, and
I mean, I gotta I gotta dig dip today and
badala out there.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
You've been a Frenchman.
Speaker 14 (20:49):
You got to play a Frenchman next in a twenty
one year old wild card superstar on the rise, Kaso,
he's just been the whole Grona and talon Griggsport. What
do you know about art Well?
Speaker 15 (20:59):
I mean, to be honest, not as much as I
wish right now, but you know he's a bit hulger
and taller, which are obviously like amazing players, and you know,
to be able, you know, to get to the second
week of Islam, you've gotta present like really great level
of tennis. So it's gonna it's gonna be a challenge
and then I would prepare for it now, Hube.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
Is it just me?
Speaker 14 (21:20):
Or are there so many Polish fans at Melbourne Park
for these two weeks at the moment Remembory they're watching
World one IGAs Filonsik, they're out of watching you on
John Caynrena.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
What is it?
Speaker 15 (21:29):
Oh, it's amazing. You know, we really feel like we
were playing at home. It's so many polished people coming
out there and they're really you know, great support, and
then you know, hopefully they're they're having great time as.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
Well here well.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
Number two Carlos Alcarez spent just an hour on court
against his third round opponent, Jerry Shung, the Spaniard winning
the first two sets six one, six one before the
Chinese wild card retired hurt with a cord injury. Alchoraz's
opponent in the next round is Miamir Keichmanovich, who took
a considerably harder route, saving two match points for the
second consecutive time to our twenty twenty three semi finalist
(22:05):
Tommy Paul six four three six two six seven six
six love. The Serbs High Wire Act sealed in a
dominant decider, winning twenty five of thirty one points to
feed the American a fifth set bagel.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
You know I want to play five, said, just to
see how ready I feel.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
But yeah, I feel good.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Ukrainian qualifier Diana Yastremska continued her golden run, beating American
seed Emma Navarro six two two six sixty one, the
world number ninety three, earning herself a date with two
time champion Victoria Azarenka. Twelfth seed Jung Chinwen survived a
serious scare against her countrywoman Wan Yafan, needing to clinch
(22:45):
a third set tiebreak with a twenty five shot rally
on match point to walk away the winner six four
to two, six seven six.
Speaker 6 (22:52):
Starting the second set, I actually I was feeling my
focus was dropping Avid and also those like quality of
was is not the same like in the.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
First said.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
Adrian Manarino's fourth round opponent is Novak Djokovic, not that
he knows that the enigmatic Frenchman has a thing about
not finding out his opponent until it's time to walk
out for the match. As John Milman discussed with Catherine
Murphy on the ABC Tennis podcast.
Speaker 16 (23:21):
Please explain what is happening with Adrian Manarino.
Speaker 5 (23:25):
Well, it's definitely a match that he can win because
he's shown in the last two years that he's getting
better with age. He plays an incredibly difficult game and
it's it's a hard game to match up against because
it's so unique. Obviously has that massive lefty swinging serve it.
It's not massive in terms of pace, but in terms
of the whip and the action he gets on it.
(23:46):
It really moves off the court. But his ball flight's
so different to most other players. And I've played I've
hit a lot with Adrian and I've played against him
a lot, and his ballflight is so different. He almost
it's it's it's underspin is how he hits it. It's
next to no tops, and what that means is when
it hits the cord, it doesn't get up at all,
(24:08):
so you're playing balls from below knee level most of
the time. So he plays a really unique style. I
think that's helped his longevity of his career. But he
looks after his body incredibly well. He said, he doesn't
think about it too much. I did ask him when
I hit with him, I said, how are you doing
this mate? He goes, ah, I don't know. He keeps
(24:28):
pretty relaxed about. He goes, I am taking a few
more painkillers these days. Though he is human. He does feel,
you know, his body does get a little bit sore,
but he's going incredibly well, plays this unique style. Obviously
he's got a tough match up now, although he doesn't
know so maybe that's a good thing because he's one
(24:48):
of those players. There's very few that will not look
ahead in the drawers, So when you're hitting with Adrian,
you can't make mention of the fact of who he's playing.
So most of the time you're hitting with him and
and yeah, you know who he's playing, but he doesn't
know who he's playing. It's what really scenario.
Speaker 16 (25:06):
But wouldn't don't You sometimes pick heating partners based off
what you want to prepare for it, like a Ben
Shelton will be maybe picking a heading partner if he
faces him again, that will give him that low ball,
so we can get used to the feel of that ball.
You were telling me. So when you're hitting with him,
are you giving him shots like the opponent, you know,
(25:27):
to help him?
Speaker 3 (25:28):
No, that makes sense.
Speaker 5 (25:29):
Like, no, I'm trying to get the most out of
my session. I was probably playing a lefty That's why
I'm hitting with him. But no, look that's how he
does it. There was actually a really funny story. Obviously
being French, he was playing. I can't remember what tournament.
Speaker 12 (25:43):
It was.
Speaker 5 (25:45):
But one of his friends is was Jill Simont, who
was a great tennis player. And at breakfast, Jill comes,
you know, has breakfast with him. They're just chilling. They're
talking now. Jill actually knows that he's playing against his
friend Adrian Mannarino, but Jill, knowing that Adrian doesn't like
to know, he didn't mention a thing. He just had
breakfast with him.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
Top at and men.
Speaker 16 (26:07):
Fil well when he's like, what are you up to later?
Speaker 5 (26:09):
Yeah, he walks out onto the court and oh, there's
Jill's Oh thanks for not telling me. I appreciate it.
Speaker 16 (26:14):
This blows my mind that everyone just goes along with it.
In the locker room, they've breakfast with him. Everyone knows.
Speaker 5 (26:21):
I mean, there's just a bit of respect. That's how
he goes about his business. And good on him.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
One of the most entertaining things about Week two of
the Australian Open is the Legends tournament, and this year,
twenty fourteen women's champ Lee nah is returning to Melbourne
to compete alongside Eva Maoli, two thousand and two men's
champ Thomas Johansen, Tommy Has, Marcos s bagdatis Alisha Mollick,
Mark Philippusis and The AO Show's own Casey de Laqua.
(26:49):
So we took this opportunity to ask the fans who
their favorite former players.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
Are any Eric Rodger Federer for sure.
Speaker 12 (26:55):
I grew up watching him and this is his play
style of about him, I just love him. Women's player
was Ash Bardi and now currently we pretty much watch
everyone anyway.
Speaker 8 (27:08):
Men's I still forever love Nick Kirios, Roger.
Speaker 14 (27:12):
Freender, just because he just seems like a real nice bloke,
like he's on for a yarm.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
He's always positive, just a good guy.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
And it'd have to be Roger as well.
Speaker 14 (27:19):
I just love his class and his you know, his
play styles is awesome.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
Andy Murray.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
He's from the UK, as am I by default, Djokovic
the rest of the family love him, so I've grown
to like him as well. That's all for Day seven
of the Australian Open. Join us again tomorrow as the
Round of sixteen gets underway. In the meantime, stay up
to date with the latest news on oz open dot com.
(27:45):
If you'd like to get in touch, you can contact
us by our oz open dot com slash listen or
email the Ao show at Tennis dot com dot au.
Take this moment to subscribe to never miss an episode,
and if you're enjoying our content, why not leave a
rating or review so more fans can discover about the
Irish shirt oh hm
What would you be if you weren't a tennis.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Player, maybe a humble player or an actor because I
love cinema and my first idol in cinema was a
mad demon. I love the way he plays, and yeah,
I love the guy.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Hi everyone, and welcome to the AO Show with me
John Hooven as Super Saturday at the Australian Open lived
up to its name. As we start to round the
bend into week two, here's what's coming up Triontech shockwaves.
The number one seed falls in the third round.
Speaker 4 (00:37):
I felt like I had everything under control until she
broke me in a second set.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Dimitrov stung by a Portuguese man of war. Honestly, I
still can't believe it. Well, second week of Australian Open
and a star is born. Caso thriving in the deep end.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
It's so good week for me. I walk every day,
you know it to be the best.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
That's all ahead On the AO Show.
Speaker 5 (01:03):
Linda and Oskova prepares again, Matts points.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
The serve to the fourhander.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
T when they goes long an enormous.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Upset on broad Labor Arena.
Speaker 5 (01:14):
The world number one has been beted by the world number.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Fifty Day seven has produced the biggest upset of the tournament,
with top seed Iggersh Fiontek beaten by check teenager Linda
Noskova three six six, three sixty four. The world number
one looked set for an early night in the first set,
capitalizing on her opponent's poor second serve and three double faults,
but Noscova cleaned up her service game in the second
(01:39):
set and converted her only break point opportunity to force
a decider. After trading breaks, the nineteen year old found
a second chink in the Fiontech armor in the crucial
ninth game to serve for the match, and despite two
big winners of the polls racket for love thirty, she
conceded two unforced erarors and was aced. As Noscova went
(02:00):
about sealing the deal, Oh speechless.
Speaker 6 (02:02):
Obviously.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
I knew it's going to be an amazing match for
all number one and such a player, but I don't
really think that it would end up leet.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
The result is the earliest loss for a women's number
one seed at the Australian Open since nineteen seventy nine,
and ends Friontec's seventeen match win streak dating back to September, I.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Felt like I had everything under control until she broke
me in a second set. She just went all in,
you know, without any pressure, and she probably knew that,
you know, she has nothing to lose, you know, and
maybe I should have done that when I had break
points in previous games.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Moscova's next opponent is Alenas Fittalina, who is in cruise control.
In her straight sets demolition of Victoria Golibitch, the twenty
nine year old crushed nineteen winners and won ninety one
percent of net points on the way to a six
two sixty three victory. Spitelina, now nine months back from
maternity leave, says she feels more pressure now to perform
than she did in twenty two twenty three.
Speaker 6 (03:00):
Here now, I think more people expect me to be
the same, you know, all the Elena, you know, making
the second week, and I think also with my game,
because I've been winning the matches quite confident, I think
people are now like expecting me to be easier in
(03:21):
the in the second week.
Speaker 7 (03:28):
Yeah, it's the biggest moment in his career by some margin.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Nuno Borges has become the first Portuguese player to reach
the round of sixteen at the Australian Open, upsetting thirteenth
seed Grigor Dimitrov in four sets. The Bulgarian was able
to convert just one of his twelve break point opportunities,
or Borges's efficiency punished him, the Portuguese making just a
solitary unforced era in the third set. In a fourth
(03:54):
set tiebreak, Dimitrov had set point at six y five,
but double faulted and followed it up with two un
four s errors to lose the match six to seven,
six four six two seven six.
Speaker 8 (04:04):
Got a break on the third set and then I
was like, holy crap, I can maybe maybe I can
actually win this.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
And yeah, it wasn't from the start.
Speaker 8 (04:11):
I mean it's like it's like people say, take one
set at a time, one game at a time, when
service game stand a game.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Cameron Norri triumphed over Caspar rud in the Battle of
the Seeds six ' four six seven, six ' four
six ' three. Nori changed tack from his usual baseline bash,
coming to the net fifty six times to win forty
one points. The brit also avoided the Nord's powerful forehand
by attacking his backhand. He is now the lone brit
remaining in the singles draw, moving to the round of
(04:39):
sixteen in Australia for the first time after failing to
make it past the third round in any Grand Slam
in twenty twenty three.
Speaker 9 (04:45):
Yep, there with one of my best I think in
a Grand Slam, you know, losing that second set a
few set points, and he saved really well, and I
came out with a lot of energy, then down a
break in the third and managed to stay really tough.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Nori sets up fourth round clash with Alex Zverev, who
sailed through his match with Alex Michelson in straight sets.
The sixth seed happy to be done before midnight after
spending almost eight hours on court across his first two rounds.
Speaker 8 (05:12):
I'm obviously a genius, and I decided to play five
hours the straight away in.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
The first two matches.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
You know.
Speaker 8 (05:20):
The tactical talk before before the match with my father,
who's also my coach, was was brilliant today.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
You know.
Speaker 8 (05:25):
He obviously told me, you know, hit more winners than him,
less than for Sarah's more aces and all of that stuff,
which is the usual, very simple to do, obviously, but
then he also he also put you know, put his
hand on my shoulder and he said, like, son, nobody
wants to watch you play tennis at three o'clock in
the morning, so please hurry up.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
And Daniel Medvedev dispatched Felix Augier Aliasine with ease, winning
in straight sets. The young Canadian was off his game
for the entire match, committing forty three unforced eers and
just nineteen winners after just two hours, nine minutes on
Medvedev is daring to dream he can win the title
after the heartbreak of twenty twenty two where he lost
to Rough and Nadal.
Speaker 10 (06:06):
I feel like I'm one hundred percent. Let's say, left
this match behind. Only future and present is ahead because
it was tough. Was tough, I mean for sure wanted
to win. It was close then even fifth set I
came back but still lost, so tough loss. But now
I have a one hundred percent behind me. I'm focusing
(06:27):
on right now. I want to want to, as you say,
try to go again to the final, try to have
my chance of winning another Grand Slam.
Speaker 11 (06:40):
Yeah, and there it is Victorians the risk at thirty
four years of age into the second week in Melbourne
for the eleventh time, in her career. Elene Rostapenko, another
tough day for.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Her against an old nemesis. Nobody it's going to want
to play this woman well. It was built as the
battle of the big serve versus the big ground strokes,
and it seems the big serve won out on this occasion.
Two time champion Victoria as a Renker booking her spot
in the round of sixteen for the eleventh time here
in Melbourne Chris Bauer's Welcome Back to the AO show.
(07:17):
A lot of anticipation around this match, but as a
Erenka triumphant in the end six to one, seven five.
Speaker 7 (07:23):
Yes, and more convincingly than I thought. I thought this
would be closer. It was very quick in the first set,
twenty six twenty seven minutes. Second set was not one
because Ostapenko looked like she was going to walk it
the same way. What was odd about this was that
Azarenka was solid all the way through Ostapenko. I keep thinking,
(07:44):
if she were to only start playing some rallies rather
than going for a big shot at the first possible opportunity,
would she be about a player or would she be
a worse player? Because you just get frustrated and there
were times in the second set. Well, I've just got
the sense she was trying to rally a little bit
and it's so not her game. And really, Azarenka's got
a number but oster Penco, I guess she's always been
(08:07):
like this. When she gets on a streak, she can
beat anybody, but you can also lose very very badly
matches that she ought.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
To be at least competitive in Simon Ray four and
Zip now to Azarenko.
Speaker 12 (08:16):
Yeah, that makes it for John and all about the
opening set. From my perspective, that's where the separation was
in this match. So twenty seven points to fourteen in
the opening set as compared to thirty seven to thirty
eight and a second set. So the separation or the
gap in the matches early, and we identified it last night.
We're looking at the contest in terms of the Azarenka
service game. So how about this for some variety on
(08:38):
serve in terms of the serves that she made in
the first set. From a first serve perspective, Azarenka splits
the court on the juice. Cort goes out wide forty
four percent of the time, goes down the t forty
four percent of the time, into the body the remaining
twelve percent of the time to the ad side fifty
to fifty tea and wide. So that serve variety keeps
Ostapenko off balance from a return spective. I mean, you
(09:01):
can't deliver any better variety than that, and then she
returns fire. In terms of getting a look at the
Ostapenko second serve, Victoria Azarenka steps way inside the baseline,
makes a statement and goes bang from a returner serp perspective,
and just heightens the discomfort in terms of what Ostapenko's
feeling on her own service game, which is not the
strength of the of the Ostapenko game.
Speaker 7 (09:20):
Now, the one thing that was working for Ostapenko was
the backhand down the line, and I just wonder whether,
if anything, Azarenka should have served a few fewer out
to the backhand in the advantage court.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 12 (09:31):
Perhaps, But I think the other standout thing for me
in terms of looking at the data, particularly out of
the opening set, is the gap between the players in
terms of speed and spin from the ground was even
starker than we might have thought. But I wonder if
that's almost a plan from the Azarenka camp. It's the
less speed you're giving Ostapenko perhaps the better right. So
the GAP's in excess of twenty five kilometers an hour
(09:52):
on the backhand side. Ostapenko is hitting the back end
one hundred and twenty clicks an hour. Azarenka's down at
ninety six, and I wonder if it's almost a de
liberate think there's a similar gap on the four in side.
But the gap in the match was absolutely made early.
The first set of this clash was where it.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Was at absolutely well. Yeah, the second set looked like
we might have had a reversal of fortune. She got
out to a four one lead the Latvian Chris, but
that quickly evaporated as her anchor in the end, getting
a run of five consecutive games to seal that second
set seven to five.
Speaker 7 (10:21):
Yeah, And the question I'm left with was not why
did Ostapenko lose that lead? It was how did she
get it in the first place? Because Azarenka's level didn't
really drop. I suppose Ostapenko was you know when she
goes for her strokes, and she makes quite a few.
But there was a run of games from about was
it one old for to one? I can't remember exactly
(10:42):
when Osterpenko seemed to be making her shots, but to
Azarenka's credit, she didn't not let her level drop, So
there was always that wall against which Ostapenko was playing.
I don't know if the stat sell was anything about that.
Speaker 12 (10:56):
Simon Well, I think in terms of what the numbers
do say on the Azarenka service game, in the opening set,
wins eighty seven percent of her points behind her first serve,
almost untouchable, forty four percent of the points on her
second serve, which you'd think is a poor return, but
it's not a bad return against a returner like a
Elena Ostapenko. And in the second set that starts to
shift a little bit in terms of second serve down
(11:16):
at twenty seven percent. So Ostapenko gets a hold of
the Azarenka second serve, but she's still operating at a
very high number in terms of first serve points, one
seventy eight percent. So the Azarenka first serve the location
the variety keeping Ostapenko off balance. We mentioned it last
night and it came to fruition today in the clash.
Speaker 7 (11:33):
Something that your numbers won't show is the this ability
of Osterpenco to be fighting a computer to be fighting
the electronic review system. The amount of times when a
ball is called out or in and she looks and
she says, looks up as their coach, as I have
to say, who plays this electronic review system? It's got
to be wrong now, you know, on the tightest of
(11:56):
tight decisions, you might say, okay, is the tolerance for
these systems so precise that actually I might have been
done out of a point here? But she was implying
once at she held him a racket in her hands
as if to imply a ball was twenty centimeters a.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
And requested a replay for a letter at one point.
Speaker 7 (12:13):
Now that suggests to me that she is looking for
to blame something rather than to say, right, what am
I going to do in this match? And that I
think is one of the big reasons why she is
losing matches that she should win.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Plenty to contemplate in the aftermath of that. Now, Azarenka
may be on track for a possible quarter final with
the other mother in the draw, Alena Fidelina. All eyes
on that section of the draw, turning our spotlight to
day eight, and it's the big one between the local hope,
Alex demenor the last remaining Australian and Andre Rublev both
have been here, both have been to the fourth round,
(12:47):
and I think rub Lev looking to get into his
third quarter final in Melbourne.
Speaker 7 (12:51):
In a way, this is bad news for demin Or
because if it happened in a quarter final, I would
say he's got a good chance. Because rube Lev, yeah,
he's had what six Grand Slam seven Grand Slam quarter finals.
He's stuck at that point and the really damaging one
was against Chilich when he got to a final set
tie break at Roland Garrass a couple of years ago
and just played an awful tiebreak. There's something about that
(13:14):
stage in a Slam. But this is fourth round and
rub Leff is very comfortable winning fourth rounds. And ruby
Leff has been in good form so far. Now it
so is Diminor, and Demonor is at the height of
his form, height of his ranking as well. So I've
been very impressed with what demon Or can do. He's
hitting serves at two hundred klometers an hour that he
was never doing before. He's not only quick about the
(13:35):
court but he always has been, but he's got a
greater weight of shot. This will be very competitive, but
I think I have a feeling rube Left might just
edge it.
Speaker 12 (13:46):
Yeah, I think this is really exciting, really enticing prospect.
Obviously three two in Rubler's favor overall in terms of
the head to hit, but even the clash in Paris
at the back end of last year was a tight tussle,
a three set battle that I think Rubylev ended up
coming up out on top of It's a really appealing prospect.
Chris is right, Alex diman Or serving speeds are significantly
(14:06):
higher in twenty twenty four than we've ever seen before,
one hundred and ninety seven kilometers now the other night
on first serve, one hundred and sixty on second I
do have a theory though, in terms of what we've
all been talking about and identifying as the weakness in
the Rublev game in terms of his second serve. We're
all talking about it, and that Camp's not silly. This
is a world class player. So I've run some numbers
(14:28):
tonight in anticipation of perhaps you asking the question, John,
and the rube Lev second serve's gone up nearly ten
kilometers an hour in twenty twenty four based on what
we were seeing down under here in twenty twenty three,
so he knows the story too. He's delivering more heat
on second serves certainly than we saw from him in
twenty twenty three. I think this is a fifty to
fifty matchup and I'm really looking forward to taking it in.
Speaker 7 (14:49):
I don't think that the second serve is going to
make the difference. What's going to make the difference is
what between rub Lev's is because he is a superb
ball striker. To me, he is as good as Medvedef
and hachanoff that group of Russians. What has let him
down is that he gets down on himself. Oh yeah,
he really does lose confidence in himself. And that's not
only bad for his own confidence on the tennis cord,
(15:11):
it gives the opponent the signal, ah, I've got under
his skin or he's got under his own skin, and
that I think is what could damage rube Lef. On
pure ball striking, rub Leff is about a player here,
but in terms of match play, I think that's where
I think it really is a fifty to fifty.
Speaker 12 (15:26):
Yeah, And I think sometimes that mentality can manifest in
terms of second third points.
Speaker 9 (15:30):
One.
Speaker 12 (15:30):
So when he fell at the hurdle to Djokovic last year. Rubleev,
I think he wins about thirty percent of his second
third points. The other night against quarter he's up towards
sixty percent. So sometimes that mentality I think Chris is right,
but it does manifest in the numbers sometimes, particularly on
second serve. He who hesitates is lost and there'll be
no room for hesitation tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
Final prediction from you, Chris.
Speaker 7 (15:52):
For me, it's a fifty one to forty nine to
rube lef and signed it.
Speaker 12 (15:55):
I'm going to go to the other camp. I'm going
to say it's a fifty one to forty nine the
other way and the Australian gets it done.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
French wild card Acta Cazo continues to make waves at
the AO, knocking another seed out of the tournament, this
time Talon Greek Sport in straight sets. The Dutchman struggled
to deal with Cazo's thunderbolt serves, which saw him win
eighty five percent of first serve points, the twenty one
year old taking the match in an hour forty five
minutes six three six three six ' one. Producer Ersin
(16:25):
Cadera spoke to the Frenchman and ersin. Suddenly everyone wants
to know about this young man who's just appeared on
our screens and courts.
Speaker 13 (16:33):
Honestly, I reckon a star is born. We saw that today,
the way he plays, the way he carries himself, he's
just got the X factor. I reckon, he's got that
little bit of show business in him. He did say
tennis is a show, and you can see that. He
came into our studio. We did profile shots, had him
(16:55):
stand in front of the cameras and do different moves
and natural. He is so natural. Honestly, he's like an actor.
He's got something to him and he's got personality. Honestly,
this guy, I'm so surprised because he's never won a
Grand Slam match in his life, and now he's here
today absolutely destroyed Greek sport. He's now won three matches
(17:18):
and now he's here and he's a star already.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
Well, let's hear from the man himself.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
I'm playing good right now. I'm in good shape, and
I hope he's going to continue. And yes, I love
I don't know. I love the atmosphere here, the crowd, people,
the city, everything is fun, you know, So that's cool.
Speaker 13 (17:38):
So this is your best performance at a Grand Slam
by far. So if I do you have any explanation
why now?
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Yes, I train h during the preseason, and I train
very well during all the year, even if I had
heigh and low moments. But no, you know, I know
I was capable to play this kind of level and
(18:05):
but I never prove it. And yeah, this week it's
it's a good week for me. I bet many good
players and I hope it's gonna continue.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Now, what level do you think you can play in
the next couple of years.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
I don't know. I don't know. I work every day,
you know, to be the best. You know, I don't
want to fix, you know, me any limits. So we'll see.
We'll see. I want to be the best, and we'll
see what the future gonna give me.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
The sky is the limit, Yes, exactly How did you
get into tennis? And maybe who inspired you as well?
Speaker 2 (18:46):
To start with, I have a funny story about tennis
because in my family, nobody touched a racket in his
whole life, nobody. And I came to tennis because of
for Raffa Ndel, because my dad just watched one tournament
(19:06):
per year. It was Rolos and when I was four
years old, they were like a Rafa match on TV
and I saw him, and I don't know, I felt
in love about the game and about Rafa, and uh yeah,
my mum always said me, yeah, when you you watch Raffa,
(19:28):
you asked me to to have a small racket and
you you play tennis and in the you know, against
the wall in my house and I start tennis like this,
and you know, I never don't and I'm still a big,
big fan of Rafa is a big inspiration for me.
And it's a bit him who who introduced me to tennis,
(19:50):
so that that's fun.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
Have you been able to tell him.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
That, no, no, never, never, but no, I I hope
I'm gonna play in one day. And he had to
show him what I have, you know, and what he
inspired me, you know, like it's a real fighter like me.
I love the fight. And yeah, it can be wonderful
(20:14):
to shadow court with him.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Cazo seed slang ways will need to continue if a
quarterfinals birth is on the cards. His round of sixteen
opponent's world number nine Hubert Herkach, who rallied from a
set down against twenty first seed Hugo Umbert to take
his match three six six one seven six sixty three.
Duncan McKenzie mccag spoke to the Big Serving Poll after
his win.
Speaker 14 (20:35):
Congratulations, Zoopy, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
I mean the definitely, definitely enough. It's good to be here.
Speaker 15 (20:41):
And you know, augu is such a great player, and
I mean, I gotta I gotta dig dip today and
badala out there.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
You've been a Frenchman.
Speaker 14 (20:49):
You got to play a Frenchman next in a twenty
one year old wild card superstar on the rise, Kaso,
he's just been the whole Grona and talon Griggsport. What
do you know about art Well?
Speaker 15 (20:59):
I mean, to be honest, not as much as I
wish right now, but you know he's a bit hulger
and taller, which are obviously like amazing players, and you know,
to be able, you know, to get to the second
week of Islam, you've gotta present like really great level
of tennis. So it's gonna it's gonna be a challenge
and then I would prepare for it now, Hube.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
Is it just me?
Speaker 14 (21:20):
Or are there so many Polish fans at Melbourne Park
for these two weeks at the moment Remembory they're watching
World one IGAs Filonsik, they're out of watching you on
John Caynrena.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
What is it?
Speaker 15 (21:29):
Oh, it's amazing. You know, we really feel like we
were playing at home. It's so many polished people coming
out there and they're really you know, great support, and
then you know, hopefully they're they're having great time as.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
Well here well.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
Number two Carlos Alcarez spent just an hour on court
against his third round opponent, Jerry Shung, the Spaniard winning
the first two sets six one, six one before the
Chinese wild card retired hurt with a cord injury. Alchoraz's
opponent in the next round is Miamir Keichmanovich, who took
a considerably harder route, saving two match points for the
second consecutive time to our twenty twenty three semi finalist
(22:05):
Tommy Paul six four three six two six seven six
six love. The Serbs High Wire Act sealed in a
dominant decider, winning twenty five of thirty one points to
feed the American a fifth set bagel.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
You know I want to play five, said, just to
see how ready I feel.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
But yeah, I feel good.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Ukrainian qualifier Diana Yastremska continued her golden run, beating American
seed Emma Navarro six two two six sixty one, the
world number ninety three, earning herself a date with two
time champion Victoria Azarenka. Twelfth seed Jung Chinwen survived a
serious scare against her countrywoman Wan Yafan, needing to clinch
(22:45):
a third set tiebreak with a twenty five shot rally
on match point to walk away the winner six four
to two, six seven six.
Speaker 6 (22:52):
Starting the second set, I actually I was feeling my
focus was dropping Avid and also those like quality of
was is not the same like in the.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
First said.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
Adrian Manarino's fourth round opponent is Novak Djokovic, not that
he knows that the enigmatic Frenchman has a thing about
not finding out his opponent until it's time to walk
out for the match. As John Milman discussed with Catherine
Murphy on the ABC Tennis podcast.
Speaker 16 (23:21):
Please explain what is happening with Adrian Manarino.
Speaker 5 (23:25):
Well, it's definitely a match that he can win because
he's shown in the last two years that he's getting
better with age. He plays an incredibly difficult game and
it's it's a hard game to match up against because
it's so unique. Obviously has that massive lefty swinging serve it.
It's not massive in terms of pace, but in terms
of the whip and the action he gets on it.
(23:46):
It really moves off the court. But his ball flight's
so different to most other players. And I've played I've
hit a lot with Adrian and I've played against him
a lot, and his ballflight is so different. He almost
it's it's it's underspin is how he hits it. It's
next to no tops, and what that means is when
it hits the cord, it doesn't get up at all,
(24:08):
so you're playing balls from below knee level most of
the time. So he plays a really unique style. I
think that's helped his longevity of his career. But he
looks after his body incredibly well. He said, he doesn't
think about it too much. I did ask him when
I hit with him, I said, how are you doing
this mate? He goes, ah, I don't know. He keeps
(24:28):
pretty relaxed about. He goes, I am taking a few
more painkillers these days. Though he is human. He does feel,
you know, his body does get a little bit sore,
but he's going incredibly well, plays this unique style. Obviously
he's got a tough match up now, although he doesn't
know so maybe that's a good thing because he's one
(24:48):
of those players. There's very few that will not look
ahead in the drawers, So when you're hitting with Adrian,
you can't make mention of the fact of who he's playing.
So most of the time you're hitting with him and
and yeah, you know who he's playing, but he doesn't
know who he's playing. It's what really scenario.
Speaker 16 (25:06):
But wouldn't don't You sometimes pick heating partners based off
what you want to prepare for it, like a Ben
Shelton will be maybe picking a heading partner if he
faces him again, that will give him that low ball,
so we can get used to the feel of that ball.
You were telling me. So when you're hitting with him,
are you giving him shots like the opponent, you know,
(25:27):
to help him?
Speaker 3 (25:28):
No, that makes sense.
Speaker 5 (25:29):
Like, no, I'm trying to get the most out of
my session. I was probably playing a lefty That's why
I'm hitting with him. But no, look that's how he
does it. There was actually a really funny story. Obviously
being French, he was playing. I can't remember what tournament.
Speaker 12 (25:43):
It was.
Speaker 5 (25:45):
But one of his friends is was Jill Simont, who
was a great tennis player. And at breakfast, Jill comes,
you know, has breakfast with him. They're just chilling. They're
talking now. Jill actually knows that he's playing against his
friend Adrian Mannarino, but Jill, knowing that Adrian doesn't like
to know, he didn't mention a thing. He just had
breakfast with him.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
Top at and men.
Speaker 16 (26:07):
Fil well when he's like, what are you up to later?
Speaker 5 (26:09):
Yeah, he walks out onto the court and oh, there's
Jill's Oh thanks for not telling me. I appreciate it.
Speaker 16 (26:14):
This blows my mind that everyone just goes along with it.
In the locker room, they've breakfast with him. Everyone knows.
Speaker 5 (26:21):
I mean, there's just a bit of respect. That's how
he goes about his business. And good on him.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
One of the most entertaining things about Week two of
the Australian Open is the Legends tournament, and this year,
twenty fourteen women's champ Lee nah is returning to Melbourne
to compete alongside Eva Maoli, two thousand and two men's
champ Thomas Johansen, Tommy Has, Marcos s bagdatis Alisha Mollick,
Mark Philippusis and The AO Show's own Casey de Laqua.
(26:49):
So we took this opportunity to ask the fans who
their favorite former players.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
Are any Eric Rodger Federer for sure.
Speaker 12 (26:55):
I grew up watching him and this is his play
style of about him, I just love him. Women's player
was Ash Bardi and now currently we pretty much watch
everyone anyway.
Speaker 8 (27:08):
Men's I still forever love Nick Kirios, Roger.
Speaker 14 (27:12):
Freender, just because he just seems like a real nice bloke,
like he's on for a yarm.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
He's always positive, just a good guy.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
And it'd have to be Roger as well.
Speaker 14 (27:19):
I just love his class and his you know, his
play styles is awesome.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
Andy Murray.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
He's from the UK, as am I by default, Djokovic
the rest of the family love him, so I've grown
to like him as well. That's all for Day seven
of the Australian Open. Join us again tomorrow as the
Round of sixteen gets underway. In the meantime, stay up
to date with the latest news on oz open dot com.
(27:45):
If you'd like to get in touch, you can contact
us by our oz open dot com slash listen or
email the Ao show at Tennis dot com dot au.
Take this moment to subscribe to never miss an episode,
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