November 21, 2024 • 50 mins
The tennis world has bid farewell to Rafael Nadal at the Davis Cup finals in Malaga — we pay tribute to the King of Clay with a special Australian Open tribute. Meanwhile, Netherlands has progressed to the semifinals against Germany, and Australia is set for a quarterfinal showdown with USA, with Italy or Argentina to follow. AusOpen.com’s Rhys de Deugd is on the ground in Malaga, where Italy’s women have returned to the top of the world with an inspired performance in the Billie Jean King Cup finals led by Jasmine Paolini. GIG analyst Simon Rea casts a spotlight over year-end tour champions Jannik Sinner and Coco Gauff five weeks out from the Australian Summer of Tennis. Plus, Nick Kyrgios is primed and ready for his much-anticipated comeback at the Brisbane International.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Good day and welcome to the AO Show presented by MasterCard.
Another legend bows out rougha Nadal's playing career comes to
an end in Malaga, Italy clinches the Billy Jean King
Cup from Surprise Packets Slovakia and Australia's Davis Cup Dream
on the line against the USA. That's all ahead on
the AO Show with Me John hoovenas Queen of the
(00:22):
Smallest Screen, Brief Stuart riding Shotgun as always, Welcome, Brie,
thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Lots of fun stuff happening at the moment.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Indeed, there is the man who eats numbers for breakfast
has rejoined the show. Simon Ray from gig YadA. Simon,
Hi John, Hi Brie, love it have you with us?
And up the Highway again, Ozzie Great, Casey de Laqua, Hello,
case high Team.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Great to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
I feel like I've seen you all over the place.
You were back in Melbourne again this week doing some
commentary training, right.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
I was, and it was it was actually a fantastic day.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
Nice to sit in the booth with the kind of
next gen of commentators coming through. And I mean, I'm
still learning, I'm still growing, but it was Yeah, it
was nice to just be in there and freshen up
the commentary skills again.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Awesome. I look forward to seeing the fruits of your
labor with some of the up and coming commentators throughout
the Australian summer. And would you believe Simon thirty six
days till the United Cup, Bree forty six days till
Australian Open opening week.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
I actually can't believe that because I hadn't done accounting yet,
because I'm avoiding it.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
You know, we need to get you one of those
paper chains you can rip off.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
One cross each day off.
Speaker 5 (01:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
No, it's really soon, but it's heating up to be
a really great summer for us and I'm really looking
forward to it.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
We're kicking things off in Malaga where we find rees
to derg from the AO content team. Good evening to you, Ree.
Speaker 6 (01:42):
Good evening, John, Good morning to you guys.
Speaker 5 (01:44):
There.
Speaker 6 (01:45):
Absolute pleasure to be here in Malaga. It's an absolute
dream come true and it's pandemonium here for Spanish Tennis
and the World Cup of Tennis.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Getting to Malaga wasn't necessarily the smoothest, was it.
Speaker 6 (01:58):
Yes, you may have seen in Australia some of the
flood situations that have been happening across Spain. Obviously the
tragic circumstance in Valencia, but the flooding here all occurred
the day I arrived, so there was no access to
the city. I arrived in Malaga without any luggage any Yeah, yeah,
it was absolute chaos. Could not get into the city
(02:20):
and uber driver had to turn around. Thankfully for the
Australian Billy jean Kin Cup team, they sorted me a
room out at their accommodation and that helped me through
the night. But then I had to get some clothes
in the morning and it wasn't too smooth sailing, but
all upwards from there, and yeah, it's been a great
experience over here in Malaga. And yeah it's just been
phenomenal tennis too.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
So one city, but the twin events happening can currently
Can you tell us how it all fits together with
the Billy jen Kin Cup and the Davis Cup.
Speaker 6 (02:47):
Yeah, so there's two stadiums just across the road from
each other, so the main stadium one where they had
the Davis Cup last year, and they've built a pop
up stadium which is actually phenomenal just across the road
for the Billy jen Kin Cup. So I got to
go lucky enough to go in there with the Australian
team for their tie in the quarterfinal against Slovakia and
(03:07):
the atmosphere was electric. It was very loud. Slovakian crowd
was very loud. There's even some Aussie fans that had
traveled all that way and were making some noise. But
those indoor arenas, this indoor season really creates a bit
of atmosphere, something new that I've experienced. And yeah, the
atmosphere was a bit great for the Billy Jenkin Cup
and last night, very fortunate enough to be in the
(03:29):
stadium where the great Rafa Dadahal had his last ever
professional tennis match, and to say the atmosphere was great
for that first tie that I saw. I don't think
anything will ever compare to what I witnessed on Senecord.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
What were the reactions that the people around you.
Speaker 6 (03:45):
Ironically, where we were sitting was a complete orange wave
of Dutch fans. The Dutch turnout for the Dutch team
last night was huge and it was just right at home.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Yeah, it was just absolutely.
Speaker 6 (03:57):
Crazy trying to get in from either the players area, accommodation.
Traffic everywhere was insane, people with red and yellow flags,
everyone trying to get a ticket out the front. So
I was super fortunate enough to even just be inside
the media set, let alone get a glimpse of the court,
and it was just it was just so loud, so chaotic,
(04:18):
and you just really felt like the Spanish people had
lost an icon last night. It was very emotional scenes,
but a great celebration for maybe Spain's greatest of athlete.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Were there lots of people crying? I haven't seen any
footage of this. I'm just curious.
Speaker 6 (04:36):
Lots of fans crying and raffer Is even shedding a
tear during the national anthem. It was Yeah, it was
very emotional scenes.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
So now that that story has sort of come to
its conclusion finally and it's been months in the making,
and we will unpack it shortly with the rest of
the panel, how has the mood shifted there on the
ground in Malaga, with I guess all the Spanish fans
probably going back home now and Italy taking center stage
for the Billy Jean King Cup final.
Speaker 6 (05:02):
Yeah, there's probably a sense for the if and people
around that the main show is out of the way.
Now let's get to the other tennis. Because people were
probably expecting Carlos and Rafford have a deep run at
this event, but it probably takes away the attention from
the rest of the great talent at this event, and
we saw. I was lucky enough to see Italy on
(05:25):
court against Poland and Jasmine Paulini put up a really
strong fight against Egishrion Tech that was some of the
best quality tennis I've seen in a really long time.
It was a phenomenal match to players who really fought
hard for their country and represented their flag well. Emotional
scenes in that match when Poland ended up losing the
doubles and Ega hasn't gone on to the final, which
(05:47):
Italy then took Cena stage tonight. And like I said before,
if Spain was still getting all the attention and Rafa
Andnodal was still getting all the attention, maybe the dynamic
shifts a bit. But what a performance by Jasmine Paolini
and the Italian team to get through in Beatslovakia in
the final. A big year for Jasmine, a couple of
Grand Slam finals and to end it like this representing
(06:08):
her country which she loves to do. Yeah, it's a
great sight to see.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Now Australia versus USA and the quarter final coming up
for Davis Cup. What's the energy like?
Speaker 6 (06:20):
So Australia in the US more Davis Cup ties against
each other than any other nation, more Davis Cups one
than any other nation. I believe the Australia leads the
head to heads slightly, but in terms of a historic
rivalry and battle of the heavyweights, he could not pick
two bigger nations and in my opinion, going through this
(06:43):
is a tie that is that will shape the draw
in a way. Next will play Germany without Alexander Zaverev,
so this tie will probably set up a pretty easy
run into the final. You never know, but this is
a massive, massive tie between two nay with super high
players who have had great years. One of those players
(07:04):
is Alexi Popprin, who featured in the final for Australia
last year, and I caught up with him quickly to
just speak about what it means to him to represent
the Green and Cold again this year in Malaga.
Speaker 7 (07:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (07:14):
Look, representing the Green and Gold is always, you know, special,
It's something we dream of as kids and to be
able to do it. You know, two years running for
me is unbelievable achievement and like you said, we've got
unfinished business. So we came really close and back to
back years last year and the year before losing in
the finals, and hopefully we can go one step further
this year. Man, we're really fighting.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
For it and the demons in camp to race. Huge
boost for the Aussies.
Speaker 6 (07:39):
Yes, so he's came in for Max Percell who was
looking a little bit ginger in his semi final of
the AHP Finals in Turin. So a big move for
Alex Demo in Australia's number one, who will again done
the Green and Gold and hopefully make it all the
way to the final yet again, maybe go one step further.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Wonderful. Let's go to have you on the ground there
and Malaga providing us all the latest from the Billy
Jean King Cup and Davis Cup. We're going to nick
back here into the studio with the rest of the panel.
Enjoy the rest of your trip. Thanks John, Thanks bre Big,
Thanks to Reesta. What a wonderful job he's been doing.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Bri He's doing such a great job.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
And historic week indeed for more than one reason Casey,
what's caught your eye this week?
Speaker 4 (08:21):
Well, you mentioned in the Introvert John just Italy Foksa
when winning the Billy Jean Kinkarpi. I thought it was
a really really impressive performance, a team performance, and that's
what these competitions are about, is the fact that you
have a captain that kind of steers the ship, which
was tady Ana Gabin who has been on tour for
(08:43):
many years and we see her scattered across all of
the different majors and events, keep.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
You and eye on all of her players.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
And then I think she just nailed the brief in
terms of who to put in when to put in
the best players for that role, and I think that's
really important. I think Jasmine Paolini led Team Italy, There's
no doubt about it, the little firecracker that she is,
and I think we saw some of her best tennis
at the United Cup earlier in the year and that
(09:12):
certainly set her up for such a wonderful season.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
But yeah, the win.
Speaker 4 (09:17):
From Brunzetti and then Paolini's effort was incredible.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
So yeah, I just think team credit to Team Italy.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
The other thing I probably just want to mention, is
it really speaks to I think the depth that Italian
tennis has. They have such a high group of players
in this ranking bracket where they can just pick and
choose players, and I think it also then and Raised
probably can talk to this a bit as well, But
I think it speaks to the depth in terms of
when what they do in Italy and how they perform.
(09:49):
So they go and play lots of ITF events, they
played club tennis, They have so much competitive opportunities over there,
and I just think that breeds are really good culture
in terms of what we see at the highest level.
So yeah, Team Italy did a fantastic job. So probably
just a highlight for me this week.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
A comprehensive result, raiser four sets to love, two rubbers
to love if you like, in the final against Slovakia,
who is very much the impressive one of the impressive
surprise packets of the BJK.
Speaker 9 (10:17):
Yeah, made a bit of a Cinderella run all the
way to the final, didn't they Team Slovakia and then
were Yeah, as you've described, comprehensively outplayed in the final,
and they would have been dreaming and they'd been able
to carry that momentum all the way through defeating Australia
along the way, which was unfortunate from a hometown perspective,
but yes, Italy absolutely deserving champions. Cases outlined some of
(10:39):
the points of difference in terms of how they combined
as a team and the role of the captain and
the unique kind of feature that that brings to the
Billy Jinking Cup environment. So deserving Champions for twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Can I ask how close are they as a team,
because you know, you look at team dynamics and the
fact that and we all know that not every country's
teams are close because you're not always on the same
kind of tall, kind of structure. So how close is
Italy good friends? Do they get along? Is that part
(11:14):
of it?
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Yes? Absolutely, And I think you raise a really good
point Breed, because.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
That's why these events and when we saw, well, when
you see Sarah Arani and Jasmine Paulini and the connection
that they have from a doubles perspective, they play a
lot together and I guess it's an opportunity to quickly
mention the underarm serve on match point that Sarah Arani
did against eager Shuihontek in.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
The semi final, which is just extraordinary.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
I've watched it about ten times and I'm like, wow,
that's that's impressive. But yes, they're those two particularly, you know,
are strongly connected on and off the court. But then
you've also got Bronzerdi and as I said, Taddyana Gabin
who has a really good, respectful connection with each of
the players. And I think when you've got that, that
definitely speaks for Williams. And yeah, it was some really
(12:02):
nice team celebrations. But yes, as a team, I would
say they're tight knit.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
So congratulations to Team Italy. I think they were a
runner up last year against Canada. So to get back
on top in a fifth Billie Jean Kin Cup slash
fed Cup title for the Italians, Pride restored for the
great Nation of Italy. So the Davis Cup Finals now
take center stage in Malago. We heard a little bit
from Reese some of the big stories and we're going
(12:28):
to cover Raffer in more detail throughout this show. But
the current state of play is that Germany and Netherlands
are through to a semi final. Who would have thought,
and then we will have the winner of Italy Argentina
playing the winner of USA Australia. Let's start though with
the semifinal whose makeup we know simon Germany and the Netherlands.
(12:49):
Daniel Altmeyer and Jan Leonard Struff leading Germany in the
absence of Alexander Zverev, and they defeated Canada to Zip
to get through to this semifinal. Netherlands. Again we mentioned
surprising things, and that's another tale that we didn't really expect.
Speaker 9 (13:05):
Yeah, well, it all came to an end for one
of the greatest of all time in terms of the
Dutch victory over Spain. And then you touched on the
closeness of that stripe victory over sap of Alov, So
doesn't get much tighter than that. They didn't have to
go to the doubles, but they only just avoided not
needing to go to the doubles. And yeah, as you said,
as Case and Bria both touched on, I think it's
(13:26):
one thing to have the superior line up on paper
going into some of these events. It's another thing altogether
to be able to nail the skillful art as Cases
described with the captain and sometimes maybe the conversations with
players that might not be playing can be every bit
as important. As the conversation with the players that are
playing in terms of how does that player receive that,
(13:46):
what type of role do they play on the bench,
what does that do for your team culture or the
fabric of what's happening outside of the lines, if you like.
So a number of pieces that are unique about these
team events that go into to being successful across the
course of the week, that are more nuanced and more
complex than every other week on tour.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
And in the Netherlands versus Spain tie casey once again
Botic von de zoon Schulp taking a big Spanish scalp.
This time it was Rafa Nadal in what turned out
to be his last match. First of all, were you
surprised to see Rafa named in that singles rubber because
I think we talked about it about last month on
the show, whether David Farrer would go that way or
(14:25):
whether he'd give the nod to Roberto Artista a good
So what were your thoughts on that tie?
Speaker 3 (14:30):
I stick strong to what I meant.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
I guess my response was last month was that yes,
you would absolutely if you're David Ferrer, put Rafaadell in
as if he wouldn't. I mean he's one of the
best players to have ever ever walked onto a tennis court,
and it's his last event, his last tournament, so that's
I think that is.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Yeah, he duly deserved a match to play there.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
Am I surprised with the result, Well not really. I
think it was always going to be a tough match,
so look, it was close. It was two tightly contested sets.
But yeah, I'm really glad that Rafa Nadal kind of
got the send off that he deserved, playing, you know,
with the Spanish colors on something that he's always been
extremely proud to do.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
I mean, where do we start with Rafael Nadal. But
in terms of the Davis Cup.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
Result, as Ray's mentioned, just about like when you put
on your country's colors as well, Like some players really
thrive in that environment and some players it's quite daunting.
I know for myself putting on the Green and gold,
it wasn't the best experience because it because of just
the pressure that you put on yourself is immense when
you put on your country's colors. But some players put
(15:43):
it on and they're just from the get go just thrive.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
So look, I think a really good effort from Netherlands.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
Obviously with Wesley Kolhoff and vander zoon shelp in the
doubles are really good combo as well.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
That obviously secured the wind for them, and.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
We should mention Wesley Kolhoff is also in his farewell tournament,
so he goes what a servant he's been for Dutch
tennis as well. So bre The reaction to the end
of the career of Rafa Nadal has been immense and widespread.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Yeah, I feel like yesterday my whole social media was
just Rafa content and it just goes to show from
every corner I had friends sharing stuff that I didn't
even know liked tennis. It's just a remind of the
impact he had on so many people from so many
different walks of life. But the thing that caught my
(16:33):
eye was feder and what he said, And I'm sure
lots of people have read it, and if you haven't,
I'm going to give you a little excerpt, but you
can go and see the full thing on Feeda's Instagram
and various other places. Everyone republished it. But he said,
vamos Rafa, as you get ready to graduate from tennis,
I've got a few things to share before I'm I
(16:53):
maybe get emotional. Let's start with the obvious. You beat
me a lot more than I managed to beat you.
You challenged me in ways no one else could. On clay.
It felt like I was stepping into your backyard, and
you made me work harder than I ever thought I
could just to hold my ground. You made me re
imagine my game, even going so far as to change
(17:13):
the size of my racket head hoping for any edge.
I'm very I'm not a very superstitious person, but you
took it to the next level. All those rituals, assembling
your water bottles like toy soldiers, information, fixing your hair,
adjusting your underwear, all with the highest intensity. Secretly, I
(17:34):
kind of loved the whole thing because it was so unique.
It was you, and you know what, Rafa, you made
me enjoy the game even more. There's then a lot more.
I'll just share the last paragraph where he says, Rafa,
I know you're focused on the last stretch of your
epic career. We will talk when it's done. For now,
I just want to congratulate your family and team, who
all played a massive role in your success, and I
(17:56):
want you to know that your old friend is always
cheering for you and will be cheering just as loud
for everything you do. Next, Raffer that best always your fan.
Now I have read this a million times and I'm
now reading it and I've got goosebumps.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
A little tear.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Yeah, just the camaraderie and the friendship. And I talk
about this a lot on this pod. There's something in
tennis that knits these people together, and you guys can
talk to it as players, but there's something so special
and it's really beautiful to read and watch from the outside.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
I love that too, Brie. I think the whole I
think it was on like.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
Every radio this morning, like everyone was talking about it
and stuck because it was very real in terms of
Feda's thoughts put on a piece of paper, which I
thought was really cool. But yeah, I think when you
also you're right with the tight knitness, but I think
when you're Rafa and Roger and you have like these
two phenomenal athletes that have shared history, they've shared rivalry,
(18:55):
they've shared so much childhoods, yeah, and laughter and doing
it with such grace like there was never any you know,
in an individual sports rush talk. Yeah, it was just
so respectful, and I think we can all take a
lot from that, a very respectful, healthy working relationship that
they had with each other and brought the best out
(19:16):
in each other. And success breeds success, and I have
no doubt that those two, whilst they were playing their
best tennis, made and pushed each other to their ends
degree I agree.
Speaker 9 (19:27):
I think that's I felt the same way hearing you
recount that statement. It was just lovely, and I think
it's an amazing unique thing about our sport that you
can have two combatants like that at the highest level
for so long. But a big part, I think, a
big part of what we've loved about both of them
is the way that they've gone about it for everything
that they've achieved, and I think the themes that I
(19:50):
was hearing through that respect and then love for the journey,
the mutual journey they've gone through and caught up in
there somewhere that there's an element that's tinged with sadness
because that chapter has closed on us. But I think
it's just a lovely part of our game that these
combatants can demonstrate that kind of respect and love for
each other. Based on the number of times that we
(20:12):
saw them in those gladiatorial battles. I think it's just
a lovely.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Send sign off of your fan. I just loved that,
Like it's just a reminder that you know your competitors,
but you're such fan of how they.
Speaker 9 (20:25):
Put are human beings at the end of the day too. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
Yeah, And I also like the word graduate, right, like
I think did Serena use that.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
I think that was a very similar.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
It's been a theme welcome to the retire, the next step,
And I like.
Speaker 4 (20:39):
It because I having had transitioned in the last five
years out of tennis and when your whole self identity
is wrapped up in being Casey to luck with the
tennis player, Rafa and Nodal the tennis player.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Like, the word retired does hit quite hard, I think.
Speaker 4 (20:55):
But I think the word graduating might to others seem
a bit I don't know, funny, but I think it's
a very good analogy in terms of kay, you're graduating
from that part of your life, but that does not
mean that you're whatever's next is next, right, But you've
ticked and you've graduated with like almost the masters of tennis,
whatever you want to call it. But it's just a
(21:16):
nice way of putting it, and I really like that.
That was probably the key word for me that I
picked up with FEDS and I was like, I really
like that.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Well. The tributes have continued all around the world, but
even locally on the ground in Malaga, where Nadal's teammate
Carlos Alcarez, who did win his match against talent Greek Spot,
was also asked about the legacy of the legend Raphael Nadal.
I think he was.
Speaker 7 (21:38):
One of the best bussallor you know, for tennis. I mean,
his his let us is going to be eternal. He
has been great for tennis, for the sporting in general.
Speaker 10 (21:52):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 7 (21:53):
It is difficult for at least for me, and I
don't want to just to think that they asue continued,
you know, the legacy that he has left. It is difficult,
almost impossible. I will try to do my best, but
right now, you know, it's time to say great things
about about Rafa. What he has done, you know, during
(22:14):
his career.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
They are big boots to feel if you start to
conceive of it that way.
Speaker 9 (22:20):
Yeah, and I thought you heard an acknowledgment from him
that that task is impossible, and so he's going to
try to carve out his own space in the tennis pantheon,
if you like, and we think that he's capable of
achieving some incredible things. We've seen some of those incredible
feats already. But yeah, no one will do it, as
he acknowledged that no one will do it like Rafa
(22:40):
has done it, and so he can only hope to
be himself and maybe trying to free himself of some
of the expectation in that way.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
I hope to see Rafa and Adal stay in touch
with the game, as Roger Feder has done a great
job of over the past couple of years. Now we
must go back in his well, we must go back
to last week because we have to re visit the
magnificent piece to resistance achievement of Janick Sinner, who became
the ATP Finals champion for the first time, defeating Taylor
(23:08):
Fritz in the final, in doing so, picking up the
largest winners check in tour history, brief four point eight
eight million US dollars.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
Yeah, I did see a post on social that kind
of broke down some of his biggest wins this past year,
and it really did make me stop and think about
my own choices in life.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
It's not all about the money, I know.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
But it's amazing and you know, he's playing such great tennis.
But yeah, when you see it listed, it's like Wowser's.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
So the end results sixty four sixty four against Taylor Fritz,
who also has had a remarkable year, so much so
that despite the loss in the final, he goes out
on a big high.
Speaker 11 (23:47):
I feel like, I feel like I belong. It's a
it's a different feeling, and it's been a great year
and you know, that gives me a lot of confidence
to have that belief, and I think that's a huge
part of having the results. And the goals I set
for myself were to were to finish top five. That
that was really my mean, yeah, because my prior career
(24:09):
high was five, so I wanted to actually, you know,
I hit five for a week. I wanted to actually
finish five.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
He's gone to a new level in twenty twenty four
case and now shapes as a real Grand Slam fancy
next year.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
He's had a fantastic year, and I think the biggest
and most impressive thing for me is the consistency in
Taylor Fritz's game over the past twelve months. I think
what he's been able to bring on all the different surfaces,
starting you know, during the hard court season and then
obviously played some fantastics, tennis through the grass. Yeah, I
think he's been consistent. He's you know, really emotionally been
(24:46):
gone up to another level and court as well, which
when you're playing guys like El Kraz and Ciner and
that you need to you know, make gains wherever you can.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
But Taylor Fritz, he is definitely one to watch.
Speaker 4 (24:57):
It was really nice to hear that he had a
goal of being top five and last to your players.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
Kind of goal setting.
Speaker 4 (25:01):
I think athletes are the best at doing that, and
he's obviously ticked that one off. So yeah, I'm looking
forward to seeing what Taylor Fritz brings come next year.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
So Simon, we like to get you on the show
and task you with some projects along the way. And
what have you been tasked with on this occasion.
Speaker 9 (25:18):
Well, you asked me to have a look at Young
Axcent and some of the dominance that we've seen in
Young ac Center, particularly in the year end finals, but
across the course of twenty twenty four really and I
was trying to unpick what might be behind that dominance.
Just as an example of that dominance, I think this
guy's becoming more offensive and more damaging than we've ever
seen before. So this is the I think the challenge
(25:39):
that it waits for all competition out there or for
the sport as a whole. This guy was no doubt
a better version of himself in twenty twenty four than
he has been previously. So imagine what opportunity twenty twenty
five presents against that backdrop. If you want to compete
with this guy, you better be improving. Okay, So here's
some numbers over the year of the week at the
year end finals, twenty one aces and one double fault
(26:01):
for the week.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
It's a good start.
Speaker 9 (26:03):
It's phenomenal dominance. And behind serve forty one aces and
one double fault for the week.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
That's five matches, isn't it.
Speaker 9 (26:09):
Yeah, it's just phenomenal dominance on serf. So then I
was trying to look at Okay, well, has anything changed
his returning game. I've got a bit of a love
for second serve return points one. I think the best
players year on year are generally doing damage when they
get an opportunity to impose themselves on their opponent second serve.
But there's not much change in the sinner second serve
return game year on year, but in his service game
(26:31):
there has been some change over the last year or two.
So when you look at his profile in twenty twenty
two compared to twenty twenty four, because I wanted to
give that little bit of a gap, that establishment of
aka what trends are changing over time here, So he
won in twenty twenty two seventy four percent of his
first serve points on his serf and twenty four or
seventy nine percent. It's a five percent climb second serve
(26:52):
fifty three to fifty eight, five percent climb. And behind
his second serve aces, he's serving six aces a match
two years ago. This year is served eight as a match,
So there's another two free points. Service games won across
the whole calendar year eighty percent in twenty twenty two,
ninety one percent twenty twenty four breakpoints saved. Okay, so
now you're weaving in the element of your serve under pressure.
(27:13):
He was able to save sixty percent or close enough
to sixty percent of points in twenty twenty two seventy
five percent of break points saved in twenty twenty four.
So that's not just about the serve. There's a mentality
component to that. How am I handling the pressure, what
am I backing up my serve with from the back
of the court, et cetera. And we know some of
the weapons that he's got in his game. So his
(27:34):
forehand is five kilometers an hour faster than the average
on tour, his backhands ten kilometers an hour faster than
the average on tour. And then you get into spin.
So not often do you have more speed than your
opponent and more spin, because typically it's a bit of
a trade off. If I'm getting the ball faster down
the other end of the court, I don't generally have
more spin as well, because spin typically is accompanied by
(27:54):
net clearance, needs a little bit of time to leap
off the court. Well, this guy's got the full package.
So he's got the speed that we mentioned, and on
spin he's three hundred revs more than the average on fourhand.
So I think about the board leaping and rearing off
the court at you and five hundred revs more than
the average on backhand side. So there's an indication or
some numbers around what this guy brings. And we know
about his physicality as movement, his ability to defend. I
(28:17):
think he's had that in the back pocket, and I
would say, I would hypothesize if you like that. In
twenty twenty four, what we've seen is him build out
on that already solid profile that he's got, phenomenal mover,
phenomenal athlete, phenomenal competitor, and he's become more offensive, more
damaging on his own service game, which makes him even
more of a threat. And we saw a case in
(28:37):
point in the aear End finals forty one aces and
one double fault across the week.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
Well, let's see how it's altered his mindset, especially now
that he is going to have a massive target on
his back come the first Grand Slam of twenty twenty five.
Speaker 12 (28:49):
There are going to be many many first times in
our life. It doesn't matter if it's a Grand Slam
or something else. So you know, you just have to
be yourself and as a player in this case and
trying to understand if it works. And it works and
this is then going to be a problem in Melbourne.
You know, I don't know how I am going to
(29:11):
react how I am going to play, but for sure
is that I'm going to prepare it in the best
possible way.
Speaker 1 (29:16):
It seems to be a very unflappable character given all
that he's been through this year and still the way
that he takes it all in his stride.
Speaker 4 (29:23):
Yeah, look, I think that speaks to probably the people
he's got around him. He's got a great team of
people around him.
Speaker 10 (29:29):
You know.
Speaker 4 (29:29):
Darren Cahill, to say the least, is probably one of
those people around him that keeps him grounded. But yeah,
Simon as a commentator going into the twenty twenty five season,
knowing some of that stuff is like invaluable, that was epic,
and yeah, one double fault when you think about it,
that's extraordinary.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
And then forty four aces, forty one aces, forty one
aces what I know?
Speaker 4 (29:55):
But the one I love was the one under pressure,
and I think that probably speaks to him mentality the most.
In I read an article where he talks about how
he still wants to even improve in that area, which
I think is massive. He's going to be extremely tough
back on the hard courts coming down under. We saw
some of the tennis he played here last year, so
(30:17):
I'm looking forward to seeing that.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
The other thing I was just going to mention, but
it slipped my mind.
Speaker 4 (30:21):
Who said it, But one of the players was talking
about the difference in Sinner's ball compared to say, like
even a Novak Djokovic. When you play Novak, who has
been one of the best to have ever played the game,
you still feel like you're always in the rallies and
the points. With someone like a Novak like you can
feel like you can find your feet and make your
way around the core and get comfortable. But with Sinner,
it's just like a barrage of big balls. He's got
(30:44):
that extra I can't remember what you said pace of
shot behind the ball and someone was explaining it. I
need to find an article again which player it was,
But yeah, it gave a really good description of what
you face when you're facing a player like Yannick Sinner.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
I'm going to grab the gigs light now and turn
it over to the WTA Tour and a young lady
who finished on an absolute high hasn't made the finals
here in Melbourne. But could twenty twenty five be the
year of Coco Goth Sigmon?
Speaker 9 (31:12):
Well, it was a heck of a way to finish
the campaign for twenty twenty four from the Coco Goth perspective,
and in particular, I know the final was against Jing,
but in particular on her way through, I had to
look at the Sabolenka match, which I think was the semifinal,
and I had to look at the schwon Tech match
on the way through in the round robin stage, because
she trails the head to head there against swon Tech
(31:32):
eleven to one going into this clash it's now eleven two.
But I just really wanted to take a close look
at those couple of matches, in particular those two players.
So Saballenka she averages in terms of on her first serve,
She wins seventy percent of points on her first serve
over the year. Eager she's the same seventy percent of
her first serve points, she claims over the course of
the year. What does Coco GoF do in those two matches.
(31:54):
Saballenka in the semifinal against GoF wins forty four percent
of points on her first serve yep, so that's twenty
six percent below her average over the year, and Eager
wins fifty percent, so that's twenty percent below her average.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
So how does she do that?
Speaker 9 (32:06):
Because I think when I look at those two matches,
I'm thinking, well, that's the key to the match. So
then I wanted to know about how she typically returns
a lot deeper in the court Cocoa golf, so you'll
often see on the coverage she's deeper. When I'm looking
at my dashboard of where players are returning from, she's
deeper in the court than most players. But don't confuse
that depth with defensiveness, because it's not. In her case.
She's craving a little bit more time. But then I
(32:28):
saw her deal with the Sablenka serve, and don't forget,
Sablenka is serving it one hundred and eighty kilometers. Now,
this is no powder puff serve. She's dealing with it
with purpose, with intent, and with quality. She was getting
after that serve and sending a message. At the bare minimum,
she was going to rifle that thing back deep through
the middle of the court and back Saberlenka off the
baseline down the other end at the bare minimum, And
(32:49):
if she was afforded any more of a look than that,
she was going to try to spread the court and
challenge of movement. You just don't see the Sablenka serve
kind of treated with that type of disdain very often,
and I think it really rattled her. So when you
combine that with we know again the movement and the
physicality and the incredible athlete the Coco Goth is from
the back of the court. When you combine that type
(33:10):
of duel threat, I guess if you like to be
offensive on the return of serve, to back it up
with movement, you shrink the court on your opponent, you
induce pressure. So it gets to six ' four in
the first set tiebreak. On Sabolenka's serve, she lands a
first serve. Goth doesn't do a lot with this return
on this instance. It's a short mid court forehand for Sabolenka,
and the pressure is built over that first set. She's
(33:31):
fearful of the golf physicality, the golf movement. She overplays
on the forehand, and you're shrinking the court against the
best players in the world. So because of that threat
that you're able to bring not just the physicality and
ability to defend an ability to extend rallies, but the
ability to do damage on the return the first serve return.
I haven't seen many players do that to Eager or
(33:52):
to Sabolenka's first serve across the course of twenty twenty four,
And I thought those were a couple of things that
were different about golf at the year end fives then
we'd seen throughout twenty twenty four.
Speaker 1 (34:02):
Case it's a game changer then for Coco Gough now
that she's able to neutralize the play after the first
serve of these big guns.
Speaker 4 (34:12):
You know, so many people talk about I guess some
of those I wouldn't even call them weaknesses, but things
in Coco Goth's game maybe perhaps technically that she needs
to improve. And I'd love to hear Simon with his
coaching kind of background in just in terms of those
you know, the forehand particularly we know with her grip
with the ball coming in hard and first off that
(34:33):
first serve, how she uses her positioning on return a
serve with just to not get exposed on that fourhand side,
which we know can folter at different times. So yeah,
I don't know, do you have any thoughts around that race,
just in terms of like how she's able to not
hide but just not be exposed on that fourhand side
with the serve coming in hard and fast, just based
(34:55):
on where maybe she returns in.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
The court as well.
Speaker 9 (34:58):
Yeah, yeah, I do case, and I think it's a
good question and a good point, and I was half
expecting to see I know, to your point, she is
someone that she's prepared to return deeper in the court
than the competition. She's not someone that's on top of
or inside baseline as much as a lot of the
other leading women are. She needs that little bit more time.
(35:18):
Part of that's the grip structure that you're describing. But
when I was having a look at preparing for this segment,
I was half expecting to see a bunch of instances
where she's maybe forced to go to the slice return
on forehand side and be exposed in that way. But
there's very very little evidence of that. So what she's
saying is she's acknowledging. Okay, I'm a little deeper in
the court the most of my competition. I go about
(35:39):
it a little different way. I need a little more
time on my forehand return, but you won't get me
to chip my forehand return. You might have me deeper
in the court and if you give me half a look,
I'm going to hurt that ball. So unless you've got
me on full stretch with absolute perfect serve location, I
can damage you because I can damage you with my physicality.
I can damage you with my movement. And I'm looking
(35:59):
as a as an elite return. I'm looking for the
little cues. Okay, I'm fully aware. She knows everyone wants
to serve her out wide to the juice cart under pressure,
so she's gone to work on This is how I'm
going to counter that. You think you can serve here
to me under pressure and not be threatened by my
forehand return. Well, I'm here to tell you I've made
some improvements in my game over the course of the
last couple of months of twenty twenty four.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
I just hope we get to see them again in Melbourne.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
Why either of those matchups. I'm there for any any
of that three in a combination. I'm keen to watch.
Speaker 1 (36:29):
She probably about fifty two days to wait until the
first round of the main drawer. You're viewed gone. Every
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(36:50):
day spend into a winning moment with MasterCard exclusions t's
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eight one five Back on the AO Show presented by MasterCard,
John Huvenas, Briece Stewart, Simon Ray with some outstanding gig analysis.
Thank you Simon and Casey de Lacra up in Sydney.
(37:11):
Now we've already spoken at length on Rafael Nadal. With
twenty two Grand Slams, two hundred and nine weeks at
world number one, ninety two titles and two gold medals,
It's one incredible legacy. Nadal has officially farewelled his professional
tennis career, but legends are never forgotten, as Victoria Rudnikov
reminds us with this look back on Nadal's Australian Open journey.
Speaker 3 (37:35):
Four hours and twenty three minutes to two.
Speaker 10 (37:40):
It's another five set epic from the two first players
in the world.
Speaker 13 (37:45):
When then twenty two year old Rafael Nadal defeated Roger
Federer in two thousand and nine, he became the first
Spaniard to win the Australian Open. Federer was looking to
match Pete Sampras's all time record of forteen Grand Slam wins,
but he was overcome by Nadal's power.
Speaker 3 (38:05):
Raphael Nadal wins.
Speaker 7 (38:07):
In Norvathil styling icon for the first time.
Speaker 13 (38:10):
The win made him the first player to hold three
Grand Slam singles titles on three different surfaces.
Speaker 14 (38:17):
Well very especially now for me. It's a dream when
here jan Islam and hardcourt. I worked. We had the
last well all my life for improve the tennis outside course,
well outside of clay. So may happy now, may happy
for the title today was really a lot of emotions
(38:40):
on Gourd. I was there with the best player I
ever saw like is.
Speaker 13 (38:48):
Roger Nadal found himself back in the Championship decider in
twenty twelve when he took on Novak Djokovic, despite falling
to the world number one. The match would go down
in history as the longest major final, lasting as staggering
five hours and fifty three minutes.
Speaker 5 (39:07):
I really had a fantastic two weeks and with all
the love that you show me, something unforgettable for me,
and I will forget this match ever because of you,
even if I lost, was something really really special for me.
Speaker 13 (39:21):
Twenty fourteen also ended in heartbreak for the King of
Clay when he was defeated by stan Vavrinka, who picked
up his maiden Grand Slam title. But in twenty seventeen,
Nadal was one step closer to an elusive second crown
in Melbourne.
Speaker 1 (39:36):
Can you believe us?
Speaker 13 (39:38):
When he met Roger Federer in the final?
Speaker 1 (39:40):
How kit the sights, the outcome did It's just seven
years suits maaster.
Speaker 13 (39:56):
Although he didn't walk away with the trophy, the Mayor
Native's trademark positivity never faded.
Speaker 15 (40:03):
I just feel that have been a good match, five
says much in a very special final. I think for
the fans, for us and it's great to play against
him against again after a couple of years without made
that happen in a big final.
Speaker 13 (40:19):
After losing to Djokovic again in twenty nineteen, Nadal surprised
many when he advanced to the final three years later
against Medvedev Following an injury riddled twenty twenty one. It
was a fairy tale ending for the champion when he
came back from two sets under breakdown to become the
first man in the Open era to reach twenty one
(40:41):
Grand Slam singles titles.
Speaker 5 (40:43):
It's just amazing no being gone. As one month and
a half ago, I didn't know if I will be
able to be back on the tour playing tennis again,
and today I am here in front of all of
you having this trophy with me, and.
Speaker 3 (40:55):
You really don't know how much I find that to
be here.
Speaker 5 (40:58):
I can't thank hold the supporter that they were said,
since aramac here, you are just amazing.
Speaker 3 (41:06):
Thank you so much for the love. I'm on the support.
Speaker 13 (41:09):
With the thirty eight year old having drawn the curtains
on his playing career, there is no doubt he will
live on in tennis memory as one of the best
players to ever pick up a racket.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
I'm super happy about all the things that I did.
Speaker 15 (41:23):
I did more than that way.
Speaker 11 (41:24):
They even did.
Speaker 1 (41:28):
A wonderful tribute to an outstanding player. And I will
never forget that twenty two Men's final, two sets to
love down and a break in the third forty love down. Yeah,
writing was on the wall and he finds away Simon.
People were going home, people were going home to bed
around midnight. Yeah, came back and won it.
Speaker 9 (41:48):
Yeah, Well, we'd started to pack up some of our
our belongings down in the broadcast compound. It was looking
grim and I'm right there with you. That'll be my
lasting memory of him is being able to sneak in
and out of the stadium at times across the horse
of that match and see him pick himself up off
the canvas and fight his way back into that contest,
and to ultimately get it done. I don't know what
it was to thirty seven in the morning, something ridiculous.
(42:10):
It was close to to us phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (42:11):
I actually skipped out before I worked at tennis that
same AO twenty two. I skipped out of work early
one day with my boss and we came and watched
one of his early round matches.
Speaker 9 (42:23):
Folks skipping out.
Speaker 2 (42:23):
Yeah, we were just like, oh, let's go see Nadal
because this is a moment in time. And yeah, we
just left the agency and trotted over here. It was great.
Speaker 1 (42:32):
Well, we've seen the last of the great Ruff and Nadal.
But we had a big announcement last week regarding one
of Australia's favorite players, bri who's also just signed on
for one of the leading events.
Speaker 2 (42:43):
Yeah, we're going to see well Nick in previous years,
which was previous Nick in previous weeks, which we've talked
about has announced his coming back for the summer of
tennis and to see what his tennis career can bring
in this next shot after injury. He has confirmed he's
going to be playing the brisbe And International, which is
extremely exciting. We often see some really great thing things
(43:06):
from our Aussies at that event and he joins a
raft of other amazing players as well.
Speaker 10 (43:11):
Yeah, I mean I'm a bit nervous. I think it's
it's only natural to feel that way, and I think
it's healthy. It just means I care about how I'm
going to perform and the pressure of all. It's interesting
because I got asked like, why would I put myself
back in that position, and it's I think it's just
something that US tennis players, us Ozzie tennis players really
miss about the train. So I'm playing in front of
our fans that they are some of the best fans
(43:31):
in the world as well. So yeah, I'm just super excited.
I feel like I'm in the best shape of my life.
I've been training really hard and then I'm going to
continue to do that over the next six to eight
weeks and we'll give it a crack.
Speaker 1 (43:40):
That was Nick speaking there on the Sitdown, the most
recent episode with Viven Matt a fantastic long form interview.
Just scroll down in the feed if you'd like to
hear that. Also joining Nick in Brisbane will be Jordan Thompson,
Alexi Popprin and Eiler tom Ladovich. So heeps to look
forward to case for the Queensland tennis fans in the
upcoming summer.
Speaker 4 (44:00):
Yeah, and I was just up in Brisbane at the
Queensland Tennis Awards a couple of weeks ago, and the
BI got mentioned many times. They love that event there
and it's great to see that they've got you know,
Nick alongside many other big names there. It's going to
be you know, they pack the pat Raft Arena and
the outside courts every time. So yeah, really, you know,
(44:22):
good news to hear that Nick's back. We're going to
see him back on court. I mean, we love seeing
the type of tennis he can produce when he's at
his best, whether it be on serve or that big
hitting and his charisma and everything that goes along with.
Speaker 3 (44:36):
The entertainment factor that Nick brings. I think we all
enjoy that.
Speaker 4 (44:41):
So I'm really really actually looking forward to seeing the
level of Tennessee brings and what we can kind of
see what Nick brings for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (44:49):
There'll be more player announcements concerning the upcoming Australian summer
of tennis next week and the following week on the show.
Now with us running out of time, so let's go
straight into our ace of the week, Bree, would you
like to kick us off? Sure?
Speaker 2 (45:03):
Last week I wasn't on the pod because I was
in Sydney with a few others from around here at
Tennis Australia and we went to the World Business Conference
forum kind of thing where it just talks about how
to lead high performing teams and all that kind of stuff,
and Andre Agassi spoke at the event. Yes, I also
(45:25):
got to meet him, signed a book, all that kind
of stuff, But it was really amazing to meet someone
I grew up as a little kid watching quite extensively
on the TV and kind of even tell you what
the TV looked like. It was so old school, and
I'm sure you guys relate, but meeting him was so amazing.
So we met him first, he's very quietly spoken, very measured.
(45:47):
He's kind of like talking to someone who's on a
higher level. And then when he went out and spoke
and spoke about his journey and the way he thinks
about things in life, and he's just a really really special,
amazing human. We also heard from Kathy Freeman, so similar
kind of thing like that, just this different presence when
you're around people like that, and it really was a highlight.
(46:10):
I think of my year hearing people like that talk
about what success means and what drive is and what
performance is and because we heard all the business people too,
but then to have an athlete is very very inspiring.
Speaker 1 (46:25):
He's a different operator, that's for sure. Simon over to you,
what's been your highlight.
Speaker 9 (46:29):
I was lucky enough to be on a Tennis Australia
table at the Sport Australia Hall of Fame dinner on
Monday night. The team were good enough to throw and
invite our way and on a night kind of filled
with incredible speeches and a lot of emotion and Jess
and Naimi Fox were the ultimate Don Award winners on
(46:50):
the night I think is the name of the and
Lauren Jackson won the Dawn Award for her services to
sport in Australia and the number of inductees into the
Hall of Fame, etc. Michael Milton, the Paralympian Michael Milton
and some of his stories on stage in his interview
with Bruce McAvaney. It's worth a Google search. I reckon
(47:10):
I think eight time Winter Paralympian medallist, and then you know,
he spoke about going broke, did some coaching in Colorado,
saved some money, chucked it all towards going to France
where he wanted to tackle speed skiing, and he lost
his leg to bone cancer at nine. And there was
a video clip they showed on the montage of him
breaking the world record for downhill speed skiing at two
(47:31):
hundred and ultimately I think two hundred and fourteen kilometers
an hour.
Speaker 1 (47:34):
Goodness.
Speaker 9 (47:36):
Yeah, and this guy just some of the you know,
imagine the courage and yeah, it was just that was
my whole other the week, just to be in the
room and to listen to some of those inspiring stories
from inspiring Australians.
Speaker 1 (47:46):
Very special definitely awards time of the year and a
case has been involved in a lot case. What's your
Ace of the week?
Speaker 3 (47:52):
Mace the Week is.
Speaker 4 (47:54):
Well, my NUM's actually just derived from Perth, so yeah,
it's great. She got in last night and it was
her birthday last week, so yeah, she's just here now.
I've actually got a kid home sick today, so it's
actually really nice to have my mum here to just
sit there and play with him. And usually I'm hustling
(48:15):
and I don't get Mum's not around all the time,
just because she is in Perth. So yeah, mom flew in.
Speaker 3 (48:19):
We're going to have a really lovely weekend.
Speaker 4 (48:22):
It's pretty quiet, so we're going to go and just
watch some of the kids' sports, take her out for
dinner because it was her birthday, as I said a.
Speaker 3 (48:28):
Couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 4 (48:30):
And yeah, just really enjoy spending some quality time with
my mum, which will be really lovely. I'm really looking
forward to it, even though she might drive me crazy.
She doesn't listen to this potty hopefully.
Speaker 1 (48:43):
Yeah, she wouldn't support her daughter on I think that's normal.
Speaker 4 (48:46):
Yeah, she's Yeah, my mum's the crazy one and I'm
a very responsible daughter. But yeah, she loves a good
time neat, so I'm looking forward to having glass a
while with her and chillin.
Speaker 1 (48:56):
It'll be nice, lovely enjoy that and beautiful to see
the Christmas tree up a little earlier than we usually
so fastive, yep, you've triggered my ace of the week
because I am attending this Saturday a Thanksgiving lunch. Oh yeah,
my first time, first time. Yeah, I don't think Australia
does them much, but there's a few. There's a few
(49:17):
Americans in this particular friendship group and they do it
every year. So been Invited's actually like thirty people attending.
It's not all known to each other. It's kind of
like bring your friends, so an opportunity to come together
towards the end of the year, take stock of all
that we are grateful for and give thanks for it.
So yeah, I'm told it's going to be cobious amounts
of food and potentially watching football if we can get
(49:39):
it on NFL. Yes, so that's the traditional past time.
That's right, That's about all we got time for. We
will keep a keen eye on the Davis Cup Finals.
All the best to Australia. At the time of recording,
they are preparing for their quarter final battle against USA
and who knows if they get through that. As Reese
reported off the top, then they're a good shot at
(50:00):
getting through to the final because it will be the
winner of Italy and Argentina are waiting in the Semis. Simon,
thanks for joining us, Thanks for having me, John, looking
forward to more of you throughout the summer case. Good
to see you, Thanks Al. We'll do it again all
next week.
Speaker 2 (50:12):
Hey yep, you always do.
Speaker 1 (50:14):
Have a great week in tennis everyone, see ya, bye bye.
Good day and welcome to the AO Show presented by MasterCard.
Another legend bows out rougha Nadal's playing career comes to
an end in Malaga, Italy clinches the Billy Jean King
Cup from Surprise Packets Slovakia and Australia's Davis Cup Dream
on the line against the USA. That's all ahead on
the AO Show with Me John hoovenas Queen of the
(00:22):
Smallest Screen, Brief Stuart riding Shotgun as always, Welcome, Brie,
thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Lots of fun stuff happening at the moment.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Indeed, there is the man who eats numbers for breakfast
has rejoined the show. Simon Ray from gig YadA. Simon,
Hi John, Hi Brie, love it have you with us?
And up the Highway again, Ozzie Great, Casey de Laqua, Hello,
case high Team.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Great to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
I feel like I've seen you all over the place.
You were back in Melbourne again this week doing some
commentary training, right.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
I was, and it was it was actually a fantastic day.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
Nice to sit in the booth with the kind of
next gen of commentators coming through. And I mean, I'm
still learning, I'm still growing, but it was Yeah, it
was nice to just be in there and freshen up
the commentary skills again.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Awesome. I look forward to seeing the fruits of your
labor with some of the up and coming commentators throughout
the Australian summer. And would you believe Simon thirty six
days till the United Cup, Bree forty six days till
Australian Open opening week.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
I actually can't believe that because I hadn't done accounting yet,
because I'm avoiding it.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
You know, we need to get you one of those
paper chains you can rip off.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
One cross each day off.
Speaker 5 (01:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
No, it's really soon, but it's heating up to be
a really great summer for us and I'm really looking
forward to it.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
We're kicking things off in Malaga where we find rees
to derg from the AO content team. Good evening to you, Ree.
Speaker 6 (01:42):
Good evening, John, Good morning to you guys.
Speaker 5 (01:44):
There.
Speaker 6 (01:45):
Absolute pleasure to be here in Malaga. It's an absolute
dream come true and it's pandemonium here for Spanish Tennis
and the World Cup of Tennis.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Getting to Malaga wasn't necessarily the smoothest, was it.
Speaker 6 (01:58):
Yes, you may have seen in Australia some of the
flood situations that have been happening across Spain. Obviously the
tragic circumstance in Valencia, but the flooding here all occurred
the day I arrived, so there was no access to
the city. I arrived in Malaga without any luggage any Yeah, yeah,
it was absolute chaos. Could not get into the city
(02:20):
and uber driver had to turn around. Thankfully for the
Australian Billy jean Kin Cup team, they sorted me a
room out at their accommodation and that helped me through
the night. But then I had to get some clothes
in the morning and it wasn't too smooth sailing, but
all upwards from there, and yeah, it's been a great
experience over here in Malaga. And yeah it's just been
phenomenal tennis too.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
So one city, but the twin events happening can currently
Can you tell us how it all fits together with
the Billy jen Kin Cup and the Davis Cup.
Speaker 6 (02:47):
Yeah, so there's two stadiums just across the road from
each other, so the main stadium one where they had
the Davis Cup last year, and they've built a pop
up stadium which is actually phenomenal just across the road
for the Billy jen Kin Cup. So I got to
go lucky enough to go in there with the Australian
team for their tie in the quarterfinal against Slovakia and
(03:07):
the atmosphere was electric. It was very loud. Slovakian crowd
was very loud. There's even some Aussie fans that had
traveled all that way and were making some noise. But
those indoor arenas, this indoor season really creates a bit
of atmosphere, something new that I've experienced. And yeah, the
atmosphere was a bit great for the Billy Jenkin Cup
and last night, very fortunate enough to be in the
(03:29):
stadium where the great Rafa Dadahal had his last ever
professional tennis match, and to say the atmosphere was great
for that first tie that I saw. I don't think
anything will ever compare to what I witnessed on Senecord.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
What were the reactions that the people around you.
Speaker 6 (03:45):
Ironically, where we were sitting was a complete orange wave
of Dutch fans. The Dutch turnout for the Dutch team
last night was huge and it was just right at home.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Yeah, it was just absolutely.
Speaker 6 (03:57):
Crazy trying to get in from either the players area, accommodation.
Traffic everywhere was insane, people with red and yellow flags,
everyone trying to get a ticket out the front. So
I was super fortunate enough to even just be inside
the media set, let alone get a glimpse of the court,
and it was just it was just so loud, so chaotic,
(04:18):
and you just really felt like the Spanish people had
lost an icon last night. It was very emotional scenes,
but a great celebration for maybe Spain's greatest of athlete.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Were there lots of people crying? I haven't seen any
footage of this. I'm just curious.
Speaker 6 (04:36):
Lots of fans crying and raffer Is even shedding a
tear during the national anthem. It was Yeah, it was
very emotional scenes.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
So now that that story has sort of come to
its conclusion finally and it's been months in the making,
and we will unpack it shortly with the rest of
the panel, how has the mood shifted there on the
ground in Malaga, with I guess all the Spanish fans
probably going back home now and Italy taking center stage
for the Billy Jean King Cup final.
Speaker 6 (05:02):
Yeah, there's probably a sense for the if and people
around that the main show is out of the way.
Now let's get to the other tennis. Because people were
probably expecting Carlos and Rafford have a deep run at
this event, but it probably takes away the attention from
the rest of the great talent at this event, and
we saw. I was lucky enough to see Italy on
(05:25):
court against Poland and Jasmine Paulini put up a really
strong fight against Egishrion Tech that was some of the
best quality tennis I've seen in a really long time.
It was a phenomenal match to players who really fought
hard for their country and represented their flag well. Emotional
scenes in that match when Poland ended up losing the
doubles and Ega hasn't gone on to the final, which
(05:47):
Italy then took Cena stage tonight. And like I said before,
if Spain was still getting all the attention and Rafa
Andnodal was still getting all the attention, maybe the dynamic
shifts a bit. But what a performance by Jasmine Paolini
and the Italian team to get through in Beatslovakia in
the final. A big year for Jasmine, a couple of
Grand Slam finals and to end it like this representing
(06:08):
her country which she loves to do. Yeah, it's a
great sight to see.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Now Australia versus USA and the quarter final coming up
for Davis Cup. What's the energy like?
Speaker 6 (06:20):
So Australia in the US more Davis Cup ties against
each other than any other nation, more Davis Cups one
than any other nation. I believe the Australia leads the
head to heads slightly, but in terms of a historic
rivalry and battle of the heavyweights, he could not pick
two bigger nations and in my opinion, going through this
(06:43):
is a tie that is that will shape the draw
in a way. Next will play Germany without Alexander Zaverev,
so this tie will probably set up a pretty easy
run into the final. You never know, but this is
a massive, massive tie between two nay with super high
players who have had great years. One of those players
(07:04):
is Alexi Popprin, who featured in the final for Australia
last year, and I caught up with him quickly to
just speak about what it means to him to represent
the Green and Cold again this year in Malaga.
Speaker 7 (07:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (07:14):
Look, representing the Green and Gold is always, you know, special,
It's something we dream of as kids and to be
able to do it. You know, two years running for
me is unbelievable achievement and like you said, we've got
unfinished business. So we came really close and back to
back years last year and the year before losing in
the finals, and hopefully we can go one step further
this year. Man, we're really fighting.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
For it and the demons in camp to race. Huge
boost for the Aussies.
Speaker 6 (07:39):
Yes, so he's came in for Max Percell who was
looking a little bit ginger in his semi final of
the AHP Finals in Turin. So a big move for
Alex Demo in Australia's number one, who will again done
the Green and Gold and hopefully make it all the
way to the final yet again, maybe go one step further.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Wonderful. Let's go to have you on the ground there
and Malaga providing us all the latest from the Billy
Jean King Cup and Davis Cup. We're going to nick
back here into the studio with the rest of the panel.
Enjoy the rest of your trip. Thanks John, Thanks bre Big,
Thanks to Reesta. What a wonderful job he's been doing.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Bri He's doing such a great job.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
And historic week indeed for more than one reason Casey,
what's caught your eye this week?
Speaker 4 (08:21):
Well, you mentioned in the Introvert John just Italy Foksa
when winning the Billy Jean Kinkarpi. I thought it was
a really really impressive performance, a team performance, and that's
what these competitions are about, is the fact that you
have a captain that kind of steers the ship, which
was tady Ana Gabin who has been on tour for
(08:43):
many years and we see her scattered across all of
the different majors and events, keep.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
You and eye on all of her players.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
And then I think she just nailed the brief in
terms of who to put in when to put in
the best players for that role, and I think that's
really important. I think Jasmine Paolini led Team Italy, There's
no doubt about it, the little firecracker that she is,
and I think we saw some of her best tennis
at the United Cup earlier in the year and that
(09:12):
certainly set her up for such a wonderful season.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
But yeah, the win.
Speaker 4 (09:17):
From Brunzetti and then Paolini's effort was incredible.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
So yeah, I just think team credit to Team Italy.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
The other thing I probably just want to mention, is
it really speaks to I think the depth that Italian
tennis has. They have such a high group of players
in this ranking bracket where they can just pick and
choose players, and I think it also then and Raised
probably can talk to this a bit as well, But
I think it speaks to the depth in terms of
when what they do in Italy and how they perform.
(09:49):
So they go and play lots of ITF events, they
played club tennis, They have so much competitive opportunities over there,
and I just think that breeds are really good culture
in terms of what we see at the highest level.
So yeah, Team Italy did a fantastic job. So probably
just a highlight for me this week.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
A comprehensive result, raiser four sets to love, two rubbers
to love if you like, in the final against Slovakia,
who is very much the impressive one of the impressive
surprise packets of the BJK.
Speaker 9 (10:17):
Yeah, made a bit of a Cinderella run all the
way to the final, didn't they Team Slovakia and then
were Yeah, as you've described, comprehensively outplayed in the final,
and they would have been dreaming and they'd been able
to carry that momentum all the way through defeating Australia
along the way, which was unfortunate from a hometown perspective,
but yes, Italy absolutely deserving champions. Cases outlined some of
(10:39):
the points of difference in terms of how they combined
as a team and the role of the captain and
the unique kind of feature that that brings to the
Billy Jinking Cup environment. So deserving Champions for twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Can I ask how close are they as a team,
because you know, you look at team dynamics and the
fact that and we all know that not every country's
teams are close because you're not always on the same
kind of tall, kind of structure. So how close is
Italy good friends? Do they get along? Is that part
(11:14):
of it?
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Yes? Absolutely, And I think you raise a really good
point Breed, because.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
That's why these events and when we saw, well, when
you see Sarah Arani and Jasmine Paulini and the connection
that they have from a doubles perspective, they play a
lot together and I guess it's an opportunity to quickly
mention the underarm serve on match point that Sarah Arani
did against eager Shuihontek in.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
The semi final, which is just extraordinary.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
I've watched it about ten times and I'm like, wow,
that's that's impressive. But yes, they're those two particularly, you know,
are strongly connected on and off the court. But then
you've also got Bronzerdi and as I said, Taddyana Gabin
who has a really good, respectful connection with each of
the players. And I think when you've got that, that
definitely speaks for Williams. And yeah, it was some really
(12:02):
nice team celebrations. But yes, as a team, I would
say they're tight knit.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
So congratulations to Team Italy. I think they were a
runner up last year against Canada. So to get back
on top in a fifth Billie Jean Kin Cup slash
fed Cup title for the Italians, Pride restored for the
great Nation of Italy. So the Davis Cup Finals now
take center stage in Malago. We heard a little bit
from Reese some of the big stories and we're going
(12:28):
to cover Raffer in more detail throughout this show. But
the current state of play is that Germany and Netherlands
are through to a semi final. Who would have thought,
and then we will have the winner of Italy Argentina
playing the winner of USA Australia. Let's start though with
the semifinal whose makeup we know simon Germany and the Netherlands.
(12:49):
Daniel Altmeyer and Jan Leonard Struff leading Germany in the
absence of Alexander Zverev, and they defeated Canada to Zip
to get through to this semifinal. Netherlands. Again we mentioned
surprising things, and that's another tale that we didn't really expect.
Speaker 9 (13:05):
Yeah, well, it all came to an end for one
of the greatest of all time in terms of the
Dutch victory over Spain. And then you touched on the
closeness of that stripe victory over sap of Alov, So
doesn't get much tighter than that. They didn't have to
go to the doubles, but they only just avoided not
needing to go to the doubles. And yeah, as you said,
as Case and Bria both touched on, I think it's
(13:26):
one thing to have the superior line up on paper
going into some of these events. It's another thing altogether
to be able to nail the skillful art as Cases
described with the captain and sometimes maybe the conversations with
players that might not be playing can be every bit
as important. As the conversation with the players that are
playing in terms of how does that player receive that,
(13:46):
what type of role do they play on the bench,
what does that do for your team culture or the
fabric of what's happening outside of the lines, if you like.
So a number of pieces that are unique about these
team events that go into to being successful across the
course of the week, that are more nuanced and more
complex than every other week on tour.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
And in the Netherlands versus Spain tie casey once again
Botic von de zoon Schulp taking a big Spanish scalp.
This time it was Rafa Nadal in what turned out
to be his last match. First of all, were you
surprised to see Rafa named in that singles rubber because
I think we talked about it about last month on
the show, whether David Farrer would go that way or
(14:25):
whether he'd give the nod to Roberto Artista a good
So what were your thoughts on that tie?
Speaker 3 (14:30):
I stick strong to what I meant.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
I guess my response was last month was that yes,
you would absolutely if you're David Ferrer, put Rafaadell in
as if he wouldn't. I mean he's one of the
best players to have ever ever walked onto a tennis court,
and it's his last event, his last tournament, so that's
I think that is.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Yeah, he duly deserved a match to play there.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
Am I surprised with the result, Well not really. I
think it was always going to be a tough match,
so look, it was close. It was two tightly contested sets.
But yeah, I'm really glad that Rafa Nadal kind of
got the send off that he deserved, playing, you know,
with the Spanish colors on something that he's always been
extremely proud to do.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
I mean, where do we start with Rafael Nadal. But
in terms of the Davis Cup.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
Result, as Ray's mentioned, just about like when you put
on your country's colors as well, Like some players really
thrive in that environment and some players it's quite daunting.
I know for myself putting on the Green and gold,
it wasn't the best experience because it because of just
the pressure that you put on yourself is immense when
you put on your country's colors. But some players put
(15:43):
it on and they're just from the get go just thrive.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
So look, I think a really good effort from Netherlands.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
Obviously with Wesley Kolhoff and vander zoon shelp in the
doubles are really good combo as well.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
That obviously secured the wind for them, and.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
We should mention Wesley Kolhoff is also in his farewell tournament,
so he goes what a servant he's been for Dutch
tennis as well. So bre The reaction to the end
of the career of Rafa Nadal has been immense and widespread.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Yeah, I feel like yesterday my whole social media was
just Rafa content and it just goes to show from
every corner I had friends sharing stuff that I didn't
even know liked tennis. It's just a remind of the
impact he had on so many people from so many
different walks of life. But the thing that caught my
(16:33):
eye was feder and what he said, And I'm sure
lots of people have read it, and if you haven't,
I'm going to give you a little excerpt, but you
can go and see the full thing on Feeda's Instagram
and various other places. Everyone republished it. But he said,
vamos Rafa, as you get ready to graduate from tennis,
I've got a few things to share before I'm I
(16:53):
maybe get emotional. Let's start with the obvious. You beat
me a lot more than I managed to beat you.
You challenged me in ways no one else could. On clay.
It felt like I was stepping into your backyard, and
you made me work harder than I ever thought I
could just to hold my ground. You made me re
imagine my game, even going so far as to change
(17:13):
the size of my racket head hoping for any edge.
I'm very I'm not a very superstitious person, but you
took it to the next level. All those rituals, assembling
your water bottles like toy soldiers, information, fixing your hair,
adjusting your underwear, all with the highest intensity. Secretly, I
(17:34):
kind of loved the whole thing because it was so unique.
It was you, and you know what, Rafa, you made
me enjoy the game even more. There's then a lot more.
I'll just share the last paragraph where he says, Rafa,
I know you're focused on the last stretch of your
epic career. We will talk when it's done. For now,
I just want to congratulate your family and team, who
all played a massive role in your success, and I
(17:56):
want you to know that your old friend is always
cheering for you and will be cheering just as loud
for everything you do. Next, Raffer that best always your fan.
Now I have read this a million times and I'm
now reading it and I've got goosebumps.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
A little tear.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Yeah, just the camaraderie and the friendship. And I talk
about this a lot on this pod. There's something in
tennis that knits these people together, and you guys can
talk to it as players, but there's something so special
and it's really beautiful to read and watch from the outside.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
I love that too, Brie. I think the whole I
think it was on like.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
Every radio this morning, like everyone was talking about it
and stuck because it was very real in terms of
Feda's thoughts put on a piece of paper, which I
thought was really cool. But yeah, I think when you
also you're right with the tight knitness, but I think
when you're Rafa and Roger and you have like these
two phenomenal athletes that have shared history, they've shared rivalry,
(18:55):
they've shared so much childhoods, yeah, and laughter and doing
it with such grace like there was never any you know,
in an individual sports rush talk. Yeah, it was just
so respectful, and I think we can all take a
lot from that, a very respectful, healthy working relationship that
they had with each other and brought the best out
(19:16):
in each other. And success breeds success, and I have
no doubt that those two, whilst they were playing their
best tennis, made and pushed each other to their ends
degree I agree.
Speaker 9 (19:27):
I think that's I felt the same way hearing you
recount that statement. It was just lovely, and I think
it's an amazing unique thing about our sport that you
can have two combatants like that at the highest level
for so long. But a big part, I think, a
big part of what we've loved about both of them
is the way that they've gone about it for everything
that they've achieved, and I think the themes that I
(19:50):
was hearing through that respect and then love for the journey,
the mutual journey they've gone through and caught up in
there somewhere that there's an element that's tinged with sadness
because that chapter has closed on us. But I think
it's just a lovely part of our game that these
combatants can demonstrate that kind of respect and love for
each other. Based on the number of times that we
(20:12):
saw them in those gladiatorial battles. I think it's just
a lovely.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Send sign off of your fan. I just loved that,
Like it's just a reminder that you know your competitors,
but you're such fan of how they.
Speaker 9 (20:25):
Put are human beings at the end of the day too. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
Yeah, And I also like the word graduate, right, like
I think did Serena use that.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
I think that was a very similar.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
It's been a theme welcome to the retire, the next step,
And I like.
Speaker 4 (20:39):
It because I having had transitioned in the last five
years out of tennis and when your whole self identity
is wrapped up in being Casey to luck with the
tennis player, Rafa and Nodal the tennis player.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Like, the word retired does hit quite hard, I think.
Speaker 4 (20:55):
But I think the word graduating might to others seem
a bit I don't know, funny, but I think it's
a very good analogy in terms of kay, you're graduating
from that part of your life, but that does not
mean that you're whatever's next is next, right, But you've
ticked and you've graduated with like almost the masters of tennis,
whatever you want to call it. But it's just a
(21:16):
nice way of putting it, and I really like that.
That was probably the key word for me that I
picked up with FEDS and I was like, I really
like that.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Well. The tributes have continued all around the world, but
even locally on the ground in Malaga, where Nadal's teammate
Carlos Alcarez, who did win his match against talent Greek Spot,
was also asked about the legacy of the legend Raphael Nadal.
I think he was.
Speaker 7 (21:38):
One of the best bussallor you know, for tennis. I mean,
his his let us is going to be eternal. He
has been great for tennis, for the sporting in general.
Speaker 10 (21:52):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 7 (21:53):
It is difficult for at least for me, and I
don't want to just to think that they asue continued,
you know, the legacy that he has left. It is difficult,
almost impossible. I will try to do my best, but
right now, you know, it's time to say great things
about about Rafa. What he has done, you know, during
(22:14):
his career.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
They are big boots to feel if you start to
conceive of it that way.
Speaker 9 (22:20):
Yeah, and I thought you heard an acknowledgment from him
that that task is impossible, and so he's going to
try to carve out his own space in the tennis pantheon,
if you like, and we think that he's capable of
achieving some incredible things. We've seen some of those incredible
feats already. But yeah, no one will do it, as
he acknowledged that no one will do it like Rafa
(22:40):
has done it, and so he can only hope to
be himself and maybe trying to free himself of some
of the expectation in that way.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
I hope to see Rafa and Adal stay in touch
with the game, as Roger Feder has done a great
job of over the past couple of years. Now we
must go back in his well, we must go back
to last week because we have to re visit the
magnificent piece to resistance achievement of Janick Sinner, who became
the ATP Finals champion for the first time, defeating Taylor
(23:08):
Fritz in the final, in doing so, picking up the
largest winners check in tour history, brief four point eight
eight million US dollars.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
Yeah, I did see a post on social that kind
of broke down some of his biggest wins this past year,
and it really did make me stop and think about
my own choices in life.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
It's not all about the money, I know.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
But it's amazing and you know, he's playing such great tennis.
But yeah, when you see it listed, it's like Wowser's.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
So the end results sixty four sixty four against Taylor Fritz,
who also has had a remarkable year, so much so
that despite the loss in the final, he goes out
on a big high.
Speaker 11 (23:47):
I feel like, I feel like I belong. It's a
it's a different feeling, and it's been a great year
and you know, that gives me a lot of confidence
to have that belief, and I think that's a huge
part of having the results. And the goals I set
for myself were to were to finish top five. That
that was really my mean, yeah, because my prior career
(24:09):
high was five, so I wanted to actually, you know,
I hit five for a week. I wanted to actually
finish five.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
He's gone to a new level in twenty twenty four
case and now shapes as a real Grand Slam fancy
next year.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
He's had a fantastic year, and I think the biggest
and most impressive thing for me is the consistency in
Taylor Fritz's game over the past twelve months. I think
what he's been able to bring on all the different surfaces,
starting you know, during the hard court season and then
obviously played some fantastics, tennis through the grass. Yeah, I
think he's been consistent. He's you know, really emotionally been
(24:46):
gone up to another level and court as well, which
when you're playing guys like El Kraz and Ciner and
that you need to you know, make gains wherever you can.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
But Taylor Fritz, he is definitely one to watch.
Speaker 4 (24:57):
It was really nice to hear that he had a
goal of being top five and last to your players.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
Kind of goal setting.
Speaker 4 (25:01):
I think athletes are the best at doing that, and
he's obviously ticked that one off. So yeah, I'm looking
forward to seeing what Taylor Fritz brings come next year.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
So Simon, we like to get you on the show
and task you with some projects along the way. And
what have you been tasked with on this occasion.
Speaker 9 (25:18):
Well, you asked me to have a look at Young
Axcent and some of the dominance that we've seen in
Young ac Center, particularly in the year end finals, but
across the course of twenty twenty four really and I
was trying to unpick what might be behind that dominance.
Just as an example of that dominance, I think this
guy's becoming more offensive and more damaging than we've ever
seen before. So this is the I think the challenge
(25:39):
that it waits for all competition out there or for
the sport as a whole. This guy was no doubt
a better version of himself in twenty twenty four than
he has been previously. So imagine what opportunity twenty twenty
five presents against that backdrop. If you want to compete
with this guy, you better be improving. Okay, So here's
some numbers over the year of the week at the
year end finals, twenty one aces and one double fault
(26:01):
for the week.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
It's a good start.
Speaker 9 (26:03):
It's phenomenal dominance. And behind serve forty one aces and
one double fault for the week.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
That's five matches, isn't it.
Speaker 9 (26:09):
Yeah, it's just phenomenal dominance on serf. So then I
was trying to look at Okay, well, has anything changed
his returning game. I've got a bit of a love
for second serve return points one. I think the best
players year on year are generally doing damage when they
get an opportunity to impose themselves on their opponent second serve.
But there's not much change in the sinner second serve
return game year on year, but in his service game
(26:31):
there has been some change over the last year or two.
So when you look at his profile in twenty twenty
two compared to twenty twenty four, because I wanted to
give that little bit of a gap, that establishment of
aka what trends are changing over time here, So he
won in twenty twenty two seventy four percent of his
first serve points on his serf and twenty four or
seventy nine percent. It's a five percent climb second serve
(26:52):
fifty three to fifty eight, five percent climb. And behind
his second serve aces, he's serving six aces a match
two years ago. This year is served eight as a match,
So there's another two free points. Service games won across
the whole calendar year eighty percent in twenty twenty two,
ninety one percent twenty twenty four breakpoints saved. Okay, so
now you're weaving in the element of your serve under pressure.
(27:13):
He was able to save sixty percent or close enough
to sixty percent of points in twenty twenty two seventy
five percent of break points saved in twenty twenty four.
So that's not just about the serve. There's a mentality
component to that. How am I handling the pressure, what
am I backing up my serve with from the back
of the court, et cetera. And we know some of
the weapons that he's got in his game. So his
(27:34):
forehand is five kilometers an hour faster than the average
on tour, his backhands ten kilometers an hour faster than
the average on tour. And then you get into spin.
So not often do you have more speed than your
opponent and more spin, because typically it's a bit of
a trade off. If I'm getting the ball faster down
the other end of the court, I don't generally have
more spin as well, because spin typically is accompanied by
(27:54):
net clearance, needs a little bit of time to leap
off the court. Well, this guy's got the full package.
So he's got the speed that we mentioned, and on
spin he's three hundred revs more than the average on fourhand.
So I think about the board leaping and rearing off
the court at you and five hundred revs more than
the average on backhand side. So there's an indication or
some numbers around what this guy brings. And we know
about his physicality as movement, his ability to defend. I
(28:17):
think he's had that in the back pocket, and I
would say, I would hypothesize if you like that. In
twenty twenty four, what we've seen is him build out
on that already solid profile that he's got, phenomenal mover,
phenomenal athlete, phenomenal competitor, and he's become more offensive, more
damaging on his own service game, which makes him even
more of a threat. And we saw a case in
(28:37):
point in the aear End finals forty one aces and
one double fault across the week.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
Well, let's see how it's altered his mindset, especially now
that he is going to have a massive target on
his back come the first Grand Slam of twenty twenty five.
Speaker 12 (28:49):
There are going to be many many first times in
our life. It doesn't matter if it's a Grand Slam
or something else. So you know, you just have to
be yourself and as a player in this case and
trying to understand if it works. And it works and
this is then going to be a problem in Melbourne.
You know, I don't know how I am going to
(29:11):
react how I am going to play, but for sure
is that I'm going to prepare it in the best
possible way.
Speaker 1 (29:16):
It seems to be a very unflappable character given all
that he's been through this year and still the way
that he takes it all in his stride.
Speaker 4 (29:23):
Yeah, look, I think that speaks to probably the people
he's got around him. He's got a great team of
people around him.
Speaker 10 (29:29):
You know.
Speaker 4 (29:29):
Darren Cahill, to say the least, is probably one of
those people around him that keeps him grounded. But yeah,
Simon as a commentator going into the twenty twenty five season,
knowing some of that stuff is like invaluable, that was epic,
and yeah, one double fault when you think about it,
that's extraordinary.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
And then forty four aces, forty one aces, forty one
aces what I know?
Speaker 4 (29:55):
But the one I love was the one under pressure,
and I think that probably speaks to him mentality the most.
In I read an article where he talks about how
he still wants to even improve in that area, which
I think is massive. He's going to be extremely tough
back on the hard courts coming down under. We saw
some of the tennis he played here last year, so
(30:17):
I'm looking forward to seeing that.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
The other thing I was just going to mention, but
it slipped my mind.
Speaker 4 (30:21):
Who said it, But one of the players was talking
about the difference in Sinner's ball compared to say, like
even a Novak Djokovic. When you play Novak, who has
been one of the best to have ever played the game,
you still feel like you're always in the rallies and
the points. With someone like a Novak like you can
feel like you can find your feet and make your
way around the core and get comfortable. But with Sinner,
it's just like a barrage of big balls. He's got
(30:44):
that extra I can't remember what you said pace of
shot behind the ball and someone was explaining it. I
need to find an article again which player it was,
But yeah, it gave a really good description of what
you face when you're facing a player like Yannick Sinner.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
I'm going to grab the gigs light now and turn
it over to the WTA Tour and a young lady
who finished on an absolute high hasn't made the finals
here in Melbourne. But could twenty twenty five be the
year of Coco Goth Sigmon?
Speaker 9 (31:12):
Well, it was a heck of a way to finish
the campaign for twenty twenty four from the Coco Goth perspective,
and in particular, I know the final was against Jing,
but in particular on her way through, I had to
look at the Sabolenka match, which I think was the semifinal,
and I had to look at the schwon Tech match
on the way through in the round robin stage, because
she trails the head to head there against swon Tech
(31:32):
eleven to one going into this clash it's now eleven two.
But I just really wanted to take a close look
at those couple of matches, in particular those two players.
So Saballenka she averages in terms of on her first serve,
She wins seventy percent of points on her first serve
over the year. Eager she's the same seventy percent of
her first serve points, she claims over the course of
the year. What does Coco GoF do in those two matches.
(31:54):
Saballenka in the semifinal against GoF wins forty four percent
of points on her first serve yep, so that's twenty
six percent below her average over the year, and Eager
wins fifty percent, so that's twenty percent below her average.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
So how does she do that?
Speaker 9 (32:06):
Because I think when I look at those two matches,
I'm thinking, well, that's the key to the match. So
then I wanted to know about how she typically returns
a lot deeper in the court Cocoa golf, so you'll
often see on the coverage she's deeper. When I'm looking
at my dashboard of where players are returning from, she's
deeper in the court than most players. But don't confuse
that depth with defensiveness, because it's not. In her case.
She's craving a little bit more time. But then I
(32:28):
saw her deal with the Sablenka serve, and don't forget,
Sablenka is serving it one hundred and eighty kilometers. Now,
this is no powder puff serve. She's dealing with it
with purpose, with intent, and with quality. She was getting
after that serve and sending a message. At the bare minimum,
she was going to rifle that thing back deep through
the middle of the court and back Saberlenka off the
baseline down the other end at the bare minimum, And
(32:49):
if she was afforded any more of a look than that,
she was going to try to spread the court and
challenge of movement. You just don't see the Sablenka serve
kind of treated with that type of disdain very often,
and I think it really rattled her. So when you
combine that with we know again the movement and the
physicality and the incredible athlete the Coco Goth is from
the back of the court. When you combine that type
(33:10):
of duel threat, I guess if you like to be
offensive on the return of serve, to back it up
with movement, you shrink the court on your opponent, you
induce pressure. So it gets to six ' four in
the first set tiebreak. On Sabolenka's serve, she lands a
first serve. Goth doesn't do a lot with this return
on this instance. It's a short mid court forehand for Sabolenka,
and the pressure is built over that first set. She's
(33:31):
fearful of the golf physicality, the golf movement. She overplays
on the forehand, and you're shrinking the court against the
best players in the world. So because of that threat
that you're able to bring not just the physicality and
ability to defend an ability to extend rallies, but the
ability to do damage on the return the first serve return.
I haven't seen many players do that to Eager or
(33:52):
to Sabolenka's first serve across the course of twenty twenty four,
And I thought those were a couple of things that
were different about golf at the year end fives then
we'd seen throughout twenty twenty four.
Speaker 1 (34:02):
Case it's a game changer then for Coco Gough now
that she's able to neutralize the play after the first
serve of these big guns.
Speaker 4 (34:12):
You know, so many people talk about I guess some
of those I wouldn't even call them weaknesses, but things
in Coco Goth's game maybe perhaps technically that she needs
to improve. And I'd love to hear Simon with his
coaching kind of background in just in terms of those
you know, the forehand particularly we know with her grip
with the ball coming in hard and first off that
(34:33):
first serve, how she uses her positioning on return a
serve with just to not get exposed on that fourhand side,
which we know can folter at different times. So yeah,
I don't know, do you have any thoughts around that race,
just in terms of like how she's able to not
hide but just not be exposed on that fourhand side
with the serve coming in hard and fast, just based
(34:55):
on where maybe she returns in.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
The court as well.
Speaker 9 (34:58):
Yeah, yeah, I do case, and I think it's a
good question and a good point, and I was half
expecting to see I know, to your point, she is
someone that she's prepared to return deeper in the court
than the competition. She's not someone that's on top of
or inside baseline as much as a lot of the
other leading women are. She needs that little bit more time.
(35:18):
Part of that's the grip structure that you're describing. But
when I was having a look at preparing for this segment,
I was half expecting to see a bunch of instances
where she's maybe forced to go to the slice return
on forehand side and be exposed in that way. But
there's very very little evidence of that. So what she's
saying is she's acknowledging. Okay, I'm a little deeper in
the court the most of my competition. I go about
(35:39):
it a little different way. I need a little more
time on my forehand return, but you won't get me
to chip my forehand return. You might have me deeper
in the court and if you give me half a look,
I'm going to hurt that ball. So unless you've got
me on full stretch with absolute perfect serve location, I
can damage you because I can damage you with my physicality.
I can damage you with my movement. And I'm looking
(35:59):
as a as an elite return. I'm looking for the
little cues. Okay, I'm fully aware. She knows everyone wants
to serve her out wide to the juice cart under pressure,
so she's gone to work on This is how I'm
going to counter that. You think you can serve here
to me under pressure and not be threatened by my
forehand return. Well, I'm here to tell you I've made
some improvements in my game over the course of the
last couple of months of twenty twenty four.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
I just hope we get to see them again in Melbourne.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
Why either of those matchups. I'm there for any any
of that three in a combination. I'm keen to watch.
Speaker 1 (36:29):
She probably about fifty two days to wait until the
first round of the main drawer. You're viewed gone. Every
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(36:50):
day spend into a winning moment with MasterCard exclusions t's
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eight one five Back on the AO Show presented by MasterCard,
John Huvenas, Briece Stewart, Simon Ray with some outstanding gig analysis.
Thank you Simon and Casey de Lacra up in Sydney.
(37:11):
Now we've already spoken at length on Rafael Nadal. With
twenty two Grand Slams, two hundred and nine weeks at
world number one, ninety two titles and two gold medals,
It's one incredible legacy. Nadal has officially farewelled his professional
tennis career, but legends are never forgotten, as Victoria Rudnikov
reminds us with this look back on Nadal's Australian Open journey.
Speaker 3 (37:35):
Four hours and twenty three minutes to two.
Speaker 10 (37:40):
It's another five set epic from the two first players
in the world.
Speaker 13 (37:45):
When then twenty two year old Rafael Nadal defeated Roger
Federer in two thousand and nine, he became the first
Spaniard to win the Australian Open. Federer was looking to
match Pete Sampras's all time record of forteen Grand Slam wins,
but he was overcome by Nadal's power.
Speaker 3 (38:05):
Raphael Nadal wins.
Speaker 7 (38:07):
In Norvathil styling icon for the first time.
Speaker 13 (38:10):
The win made him the first player to hold three
Grand Slam singles titles on three different surfaces.
Speaker 14 (38:17):
Well very especially now for me. It's a dream when
here jan Islam and hardcourt. I worked. We had the
last well all my life for improve the tennis outside course,
well outside of clay. So may happy now, may happy
for the title today was really a lot of emotions
(38:40):
on Gourd. I was there with the best player I
ever saw like is.
Speaker 13 (38:48):
Roger Nadal found himself back in the Championship decider in
twenty twelve when he took on Novak Djokovic, despite falling
to the world number one. The match would go down
in history as the longest major final, lasting as staggering
five hours and fifty three minutes.
Speaker 5 (39:07):
I really had a fantastic two weeks and with all
the love that you show me, something unforgettable for me,
and I will forget this match ever because of you,
even if I lost, was something really really special for me.
Speaker 13 (39:21):
Twenty fourteen also ended in heartbreak for the King of
Clay when he was defeated by stan Vavrinka, who picked
up his maiden Grand Slam title. But in twenty seventeen,
Nadal was one step closer to an elusive second crown
in Melbourne.
Speaker 1 (39:36):
Can you believe us?
Speaker 13 (39:38):
When he met Roger Federer in the final?
Speaker 1 (39:40):
How kit the sights, the outcome did It's just seven
years suits maaster.
Speaker 13 (39:56):
Although he didn't walk away with the trophy, the Mayor
Native's trademark positivity never faded.
Speaker 15 (40:03):
I just feel that have been a good match, five
says much in a very special final. I think for
the fans, for us and it's great to play against
him against again after a couple of years without made
that happen in a big final.
Speaker 13 (40:19):
After losing to Djokovic again in twenty nineteen, Nadal surprised
many when he advanced to the final three years later
against Medvedev Following an injury riddled twenty twenty one. It
was a fairy tale ending for the champion when he
came back from two sets under breakdown to become the
first man in the Open era to reach twenty one
(40:41):
Grand Slam singles titles.
Speaker 5 (40:43):
It's just amazing no being gone. As one month and
a half ago, I didn't know if I will be
able to be back on the tour playing tennis again,
and today I am here in front of all of
you having this trophy with me, and.
Speaker 3 (40:55):
You really don't know how much I find that to
be here.
Speaker 5 (40:58):
I can't thank hold the supporter that they were said,
since aramac here, you are just amazing.
Speaker 3 (41:06):
Thank you so much for the love. I'm on the support.
Speaker 13 (41:09):
With the thirty eight year old having drawn the curtains
on his playing career, there is no doubt he will
live on in tennis memory as one of the best
players to ever pick up a racket.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
I'm super happy about all the things that I did.
Speaker 15 (41:23):
I did more than that way.
Speaker 11 (41:24):
They even did.
Speaker 1 (41:28):
A wonderful tribute to an outstanding player. And I will
never forget that twenty two Men's final, two sets to
love down and a break in the third forty love down. Yeah,
writing was on the wall and he finds away Simon.
People were going home, people were going home to bed
around midnight. Yeah, came back and won it.
Speaker 9 (41:48):
Yeah, Well, we'd started to pack up some of our
our belongings down in the broadcast compound. It was looking
grim and I'm right there with you. That'll be my
lasting memory of him is being able to sneak in
and out of the stadium at times across the horse
of that match and see him pick himself up off
the canvas and fight his way back into that contest,
and to ultimately get it done. I don't know what
it was to thirty seven in the morning, something ridiculous.
(42:10):
It was close to to us phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (42:11):
I actually skipped out before I worked at tennis that
same AO twenty two. I skipped out of work early
one day with my boss and we came and watched
one of his early round matches.
Speaker 9 (42:23):
Folks skipping out.
Speaker 2 (42:23):
Yeah, we were just like, oh, let's go see Nadal
because this is a moment in time. And yeah, we
just left the agency and trotted over here. It was great.
Speaker 1 (42:32):
Well, we've seen the last of the great Ruff and Nadal.
But we had a big announcement last week regarding one
of Australia's favorite players, bri who's also just signed on
for one of the leading events.
Speaker 2 (42:43):
Yeah, we're going to see well Nick in previous years,
which was previous Nick in previous weeks, which we've talked
about has announced his coming back for the summer of
tennis and to see what his tennis career can bring
in this next shot after injury. He has confirmed he's
going to be playing the brisbe And International, which is
extremely exciting. We often see some really great thing things
(43:06):
from our Aussies at that event and he joins a
raft of other amazing players as well.
Speaker 10 (43:11):
Yeah, I mean I'm a bit nervous. I think it's
it's only natural to feel that way, and I think
it's healthy. It just means I care about how I'm
going to perform and the pressure of all. It's interesting
because I got asked like, why would I put myself
back in that position, and it's I think it's just
something that US tennis players, us Ozzie tennis players really
miss about the train. So I'm playing in front of
our fans that they are some of the best fans
(43:31):
in the world as well. So yeah, I'm just super excited.
I feel like I'm in the best shape of my life.
I've been training really hard and then I'm going to
continue to do that over the next six to eight
weeks and we'll give it a crack.
Speaker 1 (43:40):
That was Nick speaking there on the Sitdown, the most
recent episode with Viven Matt a fantastic long form interview.
Just scroll down in the feed if you'd like to
hear that. Also joining Nick in Brisbane will be Jordan Thompson,
Alexi Popprin and Eiler tom Ladovich. So heeps to look
forward to case for the Queensland tennis fans in the
upcoming summer.
Speaker 4 (44:00):
Yeah, and I was just up in Brisbane at the
Queensland Tennis Awards a couple of weeks ago, and the
BI got mentioned many times. They love that event there
and it's great to see that they've got you know,
Nick alongside many other big names there. It's going to
be you know, they pack the pat Raft Arena and
the outside courts every time. So yeah, really, you know,
(44:22):
good news to hear that Nick's back. We're going to
see him back on court. I mean, we love seeing
the type of tennis he can produce when he's at
his best, whether it be on serve or that big
hitting and his charisma and everything that goes along with.
Speaker 3 (44:36):
The entertainment factor that Nick brings. I think we all
enjoy that.
Speaker 4 (44:41):
So I'm really really actually looking forward to seeing the
level of Tennessee brings and what we can kind of
see what Nick brings for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (44:49):
There'll be more player announcements concerning the upcoming Australian summer
of tennis next week and the following week on the show.
Now with us running out of time, so let's go
straight into our ace of the week, Bree, would you
like to kick us off? Sure?
Speaker 2 (45:03):
Last week I wasn't on the pod because I was
in Sydney with a few others from around here at
Tennis Australia and we went to the World Business Conference
forum kind of thing where it just talks about how
to lead high performing teams and all that kind of stuff,
and Andre Agassi spoke at the event. Yes, I also
(45:25):
got to meet him, signed a book, all that kind
of stuff, But it was really amazing to meet someone
I grew up as a little kid watching quite extensively
on the TV and kind of even tell you what
the TV looked like. It was so old school, and
I'm sure you guys relate, but meeting him was so amazing.
So we met him first, he's very quietly spoken, very measured.
(45:47):
He's kind of like talking to someone who's on a
higher level. And then when he went out and spoke
and spoke about his journey and the way he thinks
about things in life, and he's just a really really special,
amazing human. We also heard from Kathy Freeman, so similar
kind of thing like that, just this different presence when
you're around people like that, and it really was a highlight.
(46:10):
I think of my year hearing people like that talk
about what success means and what drive is and what
performance is and because we heard all the business people too,
but then to have an athlete is very very inspiring.
Speaker 1 (46:25):
He's a different operator, that's for sure. Simon over to you,
what's been your highlight.
Speaker 9 (46:29):
I was lucky enough to be on a Tennis Australia
table at the Sport Australia Hall of Fame dinner on
Monday night. The team were good enough to throw and
invite our way and on a night kind of filled
with incredible speeches and a lot of emotion and Jess
and Naimi Fox were the ultimate Don Award winners on
(46:50):
the night I think is the name of the and
Lauren Jackson won the Dawn Award for her services to
sport in Australia and the number of inductees into the
Hall of Fame, etc. Michael Milton, the Paralympian Michael Milton
and some of his stories on stage in his interview
with Bruce McAvaney. It's worth a Google search. I reckon
(47:10):
I think eight time Winter Paralympian medallist, and then you know,
he spoke about going broke, did some coaching in Colorado,
saved some money, chucked it all towards going to France
where he wanted to tackle speed skiing, and he lost
his leg to bone cancer at nine. And there was
a video clip they showed on the montage of him
breaking the world record for downhill speed skiing at two
(47:31):
hundred and ultimately I think two hundred and fourteen kilometers
an hour.
Speaker 1 (47:34):
Goodness.
Speaker 9 (47:36):
Yeah, and this guy just some of the you know,
imagine the courage and yeah, it was just that was
my whole other the week, just to be in the
room and to listen to some of those inspiring stories
from inspiring Australians.
Speaker 1 (47:46):
Very special definitely awards time of the year and a
case has been involved in a lot case. What's your
Ace of the week?
Speaker 3 (47:52):
Mace the Week is.
Speaker 4 (47:54):
Well, my NUM's actually just derived from Perth, so yeah,
it's great. She got in last night and it was
her birthday last week, so yeah, she's just here now.
I've actually got a kid home sick today, so it's
actually really nice to have my mum here to just
sit there and play with him. And usually I'm hustling
(48:15):
and I don't get Mum's not around all the time,
just because she is in Perth. So yeah, mom flew in.
Speaker 3 (48:19):
We're going to have a really lovely weekend.
Speaker 4 (48:22):
It's pretty quiet, so we're going to go and just
watch some of the kids' sports, take her out for
dinner because it was her birthday, as I said a.
Speaker 3 (48:28):
Couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 4 (48:30):
And yeah, just really enjoy spending some quality time with
my mum, which will be really lovely. I'm really looking
forward to it, even though she might drive me crazy.
She doesn't listen to this potty hopefully.
Speaker 1 (48:43):
Yeah, she wouldn't support her daughter on I think that's normal.
Speaker 4 (48:46):
Yeah, she's Yeah, my mum's the crazy one and I'm
a very responsible daughter. But yeah, she loves a good
time neat, so I'm looking forward to having glass a
while with her and chillin.
Speaker 1 (48:56):
It'll be nice, lovely enjoy that and beautiful to see
the Christmas tree up a little earlier than we usually
so fastive, yep, you've triggered my ace of the week
because I am attending this Saturday a Thanksgiving lunch. Oh yeah,
my first time, first time. Yeah, I don't think Australia
does them much, but there's a few. There's a few
(49:17):
Americans in this particular friendship group and they do it
every year. So been Invited's actually like thirty people attending.
It's not all known to each other. It's kind of
like bring your friends, so an opportunity to come together
towards the end of the year, take stock of all
that we are grateful for and give thanks for it.
So yeah, I'm told it's going to be cobious amounts
of food and potentially watching football if we can get
(49:39):
it on NFL. Yes, so that's the traditional past time.
That's right, That's about all we got time for. We
will keep a keen eye on the Davis Cup Finals.
All the best to Australia. At the time of recording,
they are preparing for their quarter final battle against USA
and who knows if they get through that. As Reese
reported off the top, then they're a good shot at
(50:00):
getting through to the final because it will be the
winner of Italy and Argentina are waiting in the Semis. Simon,
thanks for joining us, Thanks for having me, John, looking
forward to more of you throughout the summer case. Good
to see you, Thanks Al. We'll do it again all
next week.
Speaker 2 (50:12):
Hey yep, you always do.
Speaker 1 (50:14):
Have a great week in tennis everyone, see ya, bye bye.
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