1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: Welcome to Fear and Greed Sunday feature. I'm Michael Thompson. 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:06,160 Speaker 1: This weekend is, of course the finals of the French Open. 3 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:08,320 Speaker 1: It is a great time to be talking about tennis, 4 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 1: and back in September of twenty twenty, we talked to 5 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 1: international tennis commentator and journalist Craig Gabriel. Now, Craig has 6 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:18,040 Speaker 1: covered more tennis tournaments than I suspected actually care to remember, 7 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:20,320 Speaker 1: and he's on a first name basis with a lot 8 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:22,800 Speaker 1: of the big stars, so at the time we took 9 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:25,919 Speaker 1: the opportunity to talk to him about the business of tennis. 10 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 1: Of course, there is huge money involved in these tournaments 11 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:33,880 Speaker 1: and their sponsorships. And what makes this interview particularly interesting 12 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:35,839 Speaker 1: is that we spoke to him in the depth of 13 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:39,319 Speaker 1: the pandemic. He just covered the US Open remotely at 14 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 1: the time, and of course that year Wimbledon had been 15 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 1: canceled for the first time since World War Two. This 16 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: is a terrific chat all about the business of tennis. 17 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:49,919 Speaker 1: I hope you enjoy it. 18 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 2: Regular listeners would know that every Friday we like to 19 00:00:56,920 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 2: look at the business of leisure. This week's topic is 20 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 2: one of the most popular leisure activities, in the country, 21 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 2: not just for players, but for spectators as well. I'm 22 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:09,400 Speaker 2: talking about tennis, a sport that's become synonymous with big sponsorships, 23 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:13,680 Speaker 2: huge prize money, and massive television audiences. My guest today 24 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:16,400 Speaker 2: is Craig Gabriel, one of the best commentators and journalists 25 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:18,679 Speaker 2: in the sport. He knows the players and he's got 26 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 2: great insight into the multi billion dollar business that tennis 27 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 2: has become. Craig normally spends a fair chunk of the 28 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:26,840 Speaker 2: year traveling the world. He's just wrapped up coverage of 29 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:29,760 Speaker 2: the US Open for nine Radio, although for once couldn't 30 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:32,840 Speaker 2: be there in person, forced to stay at home by COVID. Craig, 31 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 2: welcome to Fear and Green. 32 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:36,319 Speaker 3: Sure, and it's good to be with you. Yeah. It's 33 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 3: been a different sort of US Open alltogether. 34 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, how was it covering it? Remotely? 35 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:44,960 Speaker 3: It was very weird and very strange. I mean, certainly, 36 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 3: you know, when I'm in New York at the US Open, 37 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 3: because it's a day night event and I'm also dealing 38 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 3: with home differences. It's still a seventeen or eighteen hour 39 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 3: a day. It's even been up to a twenty one 40 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 3: hour day. But to do it back in Australia with 41 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 3: a fifteen to seventeen hour day is let me tell you, 42 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:12,799 Speaker 3: it takes some work, it really does. It's not easy 43 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:16,520 Speaker 3: at all, especially when you turn up at the studios 44 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:19,639 Speaker 3: and the station at half past twelve one o'clock in 45 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 3: the morning and you're still there at three o'clock in 46 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:25,520 Speaker 3: the afternoon. It is really quite an effort. 47 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 2: Quite an incredible tournament, even for the winners. Donic TM 48 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:31,399 Speaker 2: obviously not one of the big three winning that tournament, 49 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 2: with Rafa and Roger out and Novak Djokovic retiring, shall 50 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 2: we say. 51 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 3: Now, I'll be honest, defaulting. 52 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:43,640 Speaker 2: Defaulting anyways, surprise winners really, well, maybe not Naomi Asaka, 53 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 2: but Dominic Tim Dommy. 54 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:48,800 Speaker 3: Has been knocking on the door for a while. This 55 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 3: was the fourth time he had been in the final 56 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 3: of one of the majors. He was the runner up 57 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 3: at the Australian Open this year, lost a tight one 58 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 3: to Novak, lost the previous two French Open finals to 59 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 3: and Nadals. So the experience was there and we've been 60 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 3: waiting for this sort of a breakthrough because he's an 61 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:12,360 Speaker 3: incredible player, he's very professional, he's unbelievably fit and it 62 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 3: was about time. It really was. And I think what's 63 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 3: also exciting is that we're seeing a different line of 64 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 3: players that could be starting to make these inroads through 65 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 3: the Big Three. 66 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 2: So you're heading to the French Open. Are you in 67 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 2: a week or so? Are you actually covering that court 68 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 2: side or back home? 69 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 3: No, the plan is to be in Paris at Roland 70 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:33,920 Speaker 3: Garls to cover at courtside. I'm fortunate enough to have 71 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 3: the exemption, and look, you know, it is of business 72 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 3: interest as well to be there because it is one 73 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 3: of the biggest tournaments in the world. I would have 74 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 3: gone to the US Open, but what happened with that 75 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 3: is that the United States Tennis Association decided it was 76 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 3: going to be a completely closed tournament, so there were 77 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 3: no crowds as we know, but they also cut back 78 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 3: the number of me that were allied and they opened 79 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 3: it only to about eight or ten media and they 80 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:08,960 Speaker 3: had to be New York based media, right, So even 81 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 3: if I had gone into New York, I wouldn't have 82 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 3: been allowed on site at the US Open. The French 83 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 3: Open is a bit different. 84 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:17,280 Speaker 2: So how does tennis tournaments make money? Is it all 85 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 2: in TV rights? But they must lose some money without 86 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:20,919 Speaker 2: the crowds. 87 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:23,039 Speaker 3: Oh, there's no doubt about it. But so much of 88 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:27,839 Speaker 3: it is because of TV rights and because of sponsorship rights. 89 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:31,720 Speaker 3: Obviously there is a great amount of money that comes 90 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 3: in with ticket sales, but it's the other two aspects 91 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 3: that outdo that, So. 92 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 2: It's worthwhile putting it on. Then. 93 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:43,919 Speaker 3: Absolutely, it's crucial for sponsors and to keep the word 94 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 3: out there. That was what was so important for the 95 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 3: US Open and also looking ahead to the French Open. 96 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:52,160 Speaker 2: So what about Wimbledon this year? What happened there? 97 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 3: Well, Wimbledon took the decision not to go ahead because 98 00:04:56,279 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 3: numbers were so bad in the London area and as 99 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 3: result they decided not to go ahead. But the crucial 100 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:08,599 Speaker 3: aspect of Wimbledon's decision was because a few years ago 101 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:13,359 Speaker 3: a member of the finance committee decided that they should 102 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 3: take out insurance, not just regular insurance. A lot all 103 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 3: the tournaments take out insurance. If there's a total washout 104 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 3: one day, then they can claim that insurance and then 105 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:27,840 Speaker 3: compensate people who have bought tickets, et cetera. But what 106 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 3: this very brainy man decided was they should take out 107 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:39,160 Speaker 3: pandemic insurance. Prescient, well unbelievable because that insurance also covers 108 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:43,479 Speaker 3: things in the event of Her Majesty's death. So they 109 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 3: really were thinking ahead, weren't they. 110 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 2: They're probably lucky they had a monic as old as 111 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 2: she is. 112 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:52,719 Speaker 3: Perhaps, yeah, well quite possibly. And look, you know, obviously 113 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 3: that day is going to come hopefully, you know it's 114 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 3: not going to be it's not going to be in 115 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 3: the next few years or anything. But were all those 116 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 3: sort of things were taken in consideration in Wimbledon? You know, 117 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 3: they made I think it was about one hundred and 118 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 3: forty three hundred and fifty million pounds out of that 119 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 3: insurance on a premium that was costing them about I 120 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:15,719 Speaker 3: think two million pounds a year. 121 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:20,040 Speaker 2: Wow, the poor underwrider. Now getting onto the players themselves, 122 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 2: someone like Roger Federal or Serena Williams, how much are 123 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:25,480 Speaker 2: they worth? And is it sponsorship money that they make 124 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:26,280 Speaker 2: their money from. 125 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 3: They make their money two ways, one from sponsorship and second, 126 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 3: obviously with prize money. Novak Djokovic actually leads the pack 127 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:37,239 Speaker 3: on prize money. He's earned in excess of one hundred 128 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 3: and fifty million US dollars and it was incredible. Roger 129 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 3: was so close to becoming the first player to earn 130 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 3: one hundred million. He was sitting on about ninety seven 131 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 3: ninety eight, and then Djokovic pipped him at the post 132 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 3: on that as well. So Rafa is on about an 133 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 3: eighty five million, Serena is on about eighty million or so. 134 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:01,919 Speaker 3: So that's one area. But most of their money is 135 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 3: earned from sponsorships, and there are so many different aspects 136 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 3: that sponsorship, because not only are they paid to have 137 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:12,240 Speaker 3: a patch on their sleeves on their tennis shirts, but 138 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 3: just on that point, players that are sponsored by Nike 139 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 3: are not allowed to wear a patch for any other company. 140 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 2: Oh well, that's exclusive. 141 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 3: It has to be exclusive. Only one player got away 142 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 3: with that, and that was Lina, China's Lina. If you 143 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 3: look at Ruffer's outfits or Serena, there is no other 144 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 3: patch on their outfits other than the Nike swosh. Roger 145 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 3: was with Nike, he was in the same boat he 146 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 3: is now with Uniclow, which used to sponsor Novak. Roger's 147 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 3: contract is worth about three hundred million US dollars with 148 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 3: the Unchiclow. 149 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:52,800 Speaker 2: I don't feel said there from not making that one 150 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 2: hundred million dollars exactly. 151 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 3: Right, Novak. He moved across to Lacoste, who also provide 152 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 3: me with with kit but certainly not the dollars. Novak. 153 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 3: The kid, just a kid, is on nine million a 154 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 3: year and it's a five year contract with La cost. 155 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 2: What about the difference between men and women's earnings. 156 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, look, it's tougher on the women's side. I mean, 157 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 3: Serena is paid an astronomical amount and she's also got 158 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 3: business interests as well that rake in the dollars with 159 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 3: her brand s, Serena on the Home Shopping Network and whatnot. 160 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 3: But the difference is that the women struggle more on sponsorships. 161 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 3: And for a long time, you had a world number 162 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 3: one in women's tennis that didn't have a clothing sponsor, 163 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 3: and that's Simona Hallap. She's now with Nike. She used 164 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 3: to be with Adidas. She's with Nike now. But none 165 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 3: of these women that have mentioned is the highest earning 166 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 3: female athlete or tennis player in the world at the moment. 167 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:09,880 Speaker 3: That honor is with Naomi Orsaka. 168 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 2: Right, Naomisaka. I mean I'm thinking of Ashbardi here, who 169 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 2: just your run of the mill world number one, yep. 170 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 2: But I'm sure wouldn't attract outside Australia, particularly, wouldn't attract 171 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 2: the sponsorship dollars of certainly of Nonisairraena Williams. Why is 172 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:26,240 Speaker 2: Naomi Asaka so attractive to sponsors Japan? 173 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 3: Roger by the way, I'll get to Naomi a second, 174 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 3: but Roger for the first time became the highest earning 175 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 3: athlete in the world period Wow, on the Forbes list 176 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:41,319 Speaker 3: and that was only this year. In the last few months. 177 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 3: Or Soccer and her opposite number on the men's Kenishi 178 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 3: Cory are showered with sponsors from Japan, and that's where 179 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 3: most of it comes from. I think she's picking up 180 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 3: like twenty six million dollars a year from sponsorships. 181 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 2: Good honor. How difficult is it to pick? I mean 182 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 2: they're sort of nick curios level and we sort of 183 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:03,679 Speaker 2: know what he's cable. He's not a top three at 184 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 2: this point, but is that level? But what about that 185 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:08,840 Speaker 2: next level down? And you know Alex de Minor and 186 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:11,200 Speaker 2: even the level down? How hard does it depick a 187 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:13,320 Speaker 2: winner If you're a sponsor trying to get to your 188 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 2: name out there. 189 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's not easy because everybody focuses on those players. 190 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 3: Roger Rafa, Serena Novak. You have to win a major. 191 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 3: When you win a major, that's when the dollars start 192 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:28,840 Speaker 3: to roll in. You have to be top ten the 193 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:31,439 Speaker 3: dollars roll in. And one of the points I was 194 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:33,959 Speaker 3: going to make is that it was these sponsorships. It's 195 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:37,080 Speaker 3: not just about wearing a patch. They get a bonus 196 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:39,720 Speaker 3: for their ranking, they get a bonus for who they beat, 197 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 3: they get a bonus for if the match is on television, 198 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 3: all those sorts of things, and that all adds up. 199 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:49,439 Speaker 3: Alex Dimino is starting to pick up some of the sponsorships. 200 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 3: He's now got a sponsorship for a watch company. There 201 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 3: are a couple of other sponsors that he's got in 202 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:58,680 Speaker 3: addition to his clothing and his rackets, et cetera. So 203 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:02,040 Speaker 3: it's starting to build up, and the more of a 204 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:06,079 Speaker 3: profile he develops, more of those sponsors and the dollars 205 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 3: will start coming in. 206 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:09,360 Speaker 2: But I mean Alex would be a top thirty or 207 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 2: forty rate player, I'm guessing, which means there's a hell 208 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 2: of a lot of players out there who must be 209 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 2: doing it a little bit tough week in week out 210 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 2: on the circuit. 211 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:20,080 Speaker 3: Oh absolutely, I mean Alex has been inside the top twenty, 212 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 3: he's inside top thirty. Now the potential is there to 213 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 3: go really high, and that's what a lot of these 214 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 3: companies will also look at. What is the potential of 215 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:33,960 Speaker 3: some of these players, what is their drive? How do 216 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 3: they present themselves? You know, So things will work out 217 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 3: for somebody like Alex diminor, But when you look at 218 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 3: somebody like John Millman, who's ranked in the top fifty, 219 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 3: he's been a quarter finalist at the majors, he's beaten 220 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:51,280 Speaker 3: Roger Federer, you know, it's not so easy for him. 221 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:53,840 Speaker 3: He may get a bit here and a bit there 222 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:56,200 Speaker 3: if a company knows his match is going to be 223 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 3: a television match, and they may put a temporary patch 224 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:01,840 Speaker 3: on him. But it is a struggle. It is absolutely 225 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 3: a struggle. You know. Everybody just looks at those big 226 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:08,839 Speaker 3: names and think every and things. Everybody further down is 227 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:11,880 Speaker 3: privy to those sort of dollars. It's not the case. 228 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:14,840 Speaker 2: Why is tennesso popular, particularly in Australian Why have we 229 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 2: been okay the next last few years, probably in the 230 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:19,920 Speaker 2: last couple of decades really hasn't been our strongest period, 231 00:12:19,960 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 2: that sort of sixties and seventies was, I suppose. But 232 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 2: why is tenness so big and why is Australia so 233 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 2: good at it? 234 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 3: Well, because it's a sport you can play from the 235 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:32,360 Speaker 3: age of three to ninety three. You know, things dipped 236 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:37,360 Speaker 3: when a lot of the backyard courts were removed for 237 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:41,600 Speaker 3: further development of properties and things like that. But it's 238 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:45,439 Speaker 3: a game that appeals to so many and people feel 239 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:48,840 Speaker 3: that they can also relate to those stars out there, 240 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:52,280 Speaker 3: and you know feel you know, you go to the 241 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:55,080 Speaker 3: Australian Open, or you go to the tournament like the 242 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:58,280 Speaker 3: ATP Cup that was held in Sydney and you're in 243 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:03,560 Speaker 3: such close proximity players, but you know, it just rubs 244 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 3: off and I think that's why. You know, Australians love 245 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 3: the sport. And obviously we do have a tradition and 246 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:13,959 Speaker 3: a heritage with tennis and the people that we've had, 247 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:18,320 Speaker 3: you know before our current crop and how they've presented themselves, 248 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:21,320 Speaker 3: et cetera. And to have a world number one in 249 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 3: the most delightful of people in ash Barty only adds 250 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 3: to the attention and focus of the sport here in Australia. 251 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:30,640 Speaker 2: And it's one of those sports. I mean, I remember 252 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 2: going to the US Open many years ago and here 253 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 2: was playing with It's a night match. Watching tennis live 254 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:40,480 Speaker 2: is several levels up then watching non TV. And after 255 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 2: the game was an outside court, he came over and 256 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:44,839 Speaker 2: had a chat to we in the Australian contingent, it 257 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 2: was personal. I was sold on watching tennis live from 258 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 2: that moment, as you say, you get so close. These 259 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 2: are superstars who are kind of looking at you. It's 260 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:54,880 Speaker 2: quite incredible. 261 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 3: You get the feel of it, you get the smell 262 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 3: of it, you hear it, you hear the way that 263 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 3: ball strikes the strings of a racket. You can almost 264 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 3: feel the sweat falling off their faces, and it's just 265 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:12,360 Speaker 3: it's a different feeling altogether. It's you know, you really 266 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 3: get to appreciate seeing it live, how hard they hit 267 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:21,480 Speaker 3: the ball and how quickly they move around the court. 268 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 3: There's nothing like seeing it live. There really isn't. Na. 269 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:27,400 Speaker 2: Look, I can't let you go without asking you who 270 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 2: is your favorite male and who's your favorite female tennis 271 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 2: player At the moment. 272 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 3: It's tough. I mean, I actually adore Ash. I mean 273 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 3: she's just the sweetest person to know. I worked for 274 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 3: Serena for ten years and Venus you know, so you're 275 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 3: up close and personal, but it's more the players in 276 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 3: the past, players that I grew up with that I 277 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 3: probably have a closer connection to. But you know, it's 278 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:55,920 Speaker 3: so tough to go past Roger, I mean, is so 279 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 3: amazing on and off the court. I would say in 280 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 3: the last few months, I've really come to appreciate Naomi 281 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 3: Osaka and Victoria Azarenka because I really didn't think much 282 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 3: of them previously with their personalities, etc. But things have 283 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:13,760 Speaker 3: changed with them. So, you know, there are so many 284 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:17,600 Speaker 3: it's tough to really pinpoint one or two players because 285 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 3: like humans, every human, they have their moments, they have 286 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 3: their personalities and their times. But it's a matter of 287 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 3: appreciating what they do and what they're capable of doing. 288 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 2: Very diplomatic, Graig, thanks for talking to Fear and Greed. 289 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 3: Thanks Sean, it was a pleasure. It was really nice 290 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 3: to talk with you. 291 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 2: That was Craig Gabriel, one of the best commentators and 292 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 2: journalists in the sport of tennis.