1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,907 Speaker 1: from Newstalks EDB. 3 00:00:13,547 --> 00:00:14,987 Speaker 2: Championship point. 4 00:00:16,907 --> 00:00:17,947 Speaker 1: For galmon Face. 5 00:00:21,547 --> 00:00:32,307 Speaker 2: Finally, Gal moon Face masters the ASP Classic. It's Lucky 6 00:00:32,427 --> 00:00:35,627 Speaker 2: number thirteen at Stanley Street. 7 00:00:35,787 --> 00:00:39,587 Speaker 3: There Frenchman gamontfisis Ion Auckland's ASB Tennis Classic for the 8 00:00:39,747 --> 00:00:44,147 Speaker 3: very first time, beating Belgian qualifier ziezu Bergh's sixty three 9 00:00:44,227 --> 00:00:46,667 Speaker 3: sixty fourth in just over an hour and a half 10 00:00:46,787 --> 00:00:50,787 Speaker 3: yesterday to take the crown. Montfeast broke Berg's serve early 11 00:00:50,827 --> 00:00:53,667 Speaker 3: in both sets to allow him to control the match. 12 00:00:53,907 --> 00:00:58,227 Speaker 3: It's his thirteenth ATP Tour title and he becomes the 13 00:00:58,267 --> 00:01:01,187 Speaker 3: oldest player to win on the tour since it began 14 00:01:01,387 --> 00:01:05,227 Speaker 3: in nineteen ninety, at the ripe old age of thirty eight. 15 00:01:05,587 --> 00:01:09,547 Speaker 3: Former pro Lee Radovanovitch was watching on as part of 16 00:01:09,627 --> 00:01:12,747 Speaker 3: Sky Sports commentary team. He joins us, now, thanks for 17 00:01:13,147 --> 00:01:15,787 Speaker 3: joining us two days in a row lead to review 18 00:01:16,067 --> 00:01:19,147 Speaker 3: this one. Now. Did go mon Feast always look in 19 00:01:19,227 --> 00:01:20,187 Speaker 3: control of the final? 20 00:01:21,827 --> 00:01:24,187 Speaker 4: He did. He seemed in control from the first point 21 00:01:24,307 --> 00:01:27,667 Speaker 4: in the first game. I think when we spoke yesterday 22 00:01:27,747 --> 00:01:29,947 Speaker 4: I mentioned that this might be another day at the 23 00:01:29,987 --> 00:01:33,027 Speaker 4: office for mon Feast, because you know, he's been in 24 00:01:33,107 --> 00:01:38,027 Speaker 4: seventy three semifinals, he's been into semifinals of Grand Slams, 25 00:01:38,347 --> 00:01:41,267 Speaker 4: He's won a tournament every year of his nineteen year career. 26 00:01:42,107 --> 00:01:46,067 Speaker 4: He just came out right from the start founders range. 27 00:01:46,187 --> 00:01:50,907 Speaker 4: He was composed, didn't make many errors, so he can't 28 00:01:51,307 --> 00:01:54,787 Speaker 4: well not kind of. He absolutely put in a flawless performance. 29 00:01:55,427 --> 00:01:59,267 Speaker 3: Was Zizuberg's in any way to your eye overrared by 30 00:01:59,307 --> 00:02:01,387 Speaker 3: the occasion, He's only just arrived after all. 31 00:02:02,147 --> 00:02:04,627 Speaker 4: Yeah, so I said in the build up, he's got 32 00:02:04,627 --> 00:02:06,267 Speaker 4: the game to beat mon Feest. It was quite a 33 00:02:06,387 --> 00:02:08,987 Speaker 4: good matchup for him in terms of how they operate 34 00:02:09,187 --> 00:02:12,867 Speaker 4: technically and physically. But being that it was his first final, 35 00:02:13,027 --> 00:02:18,227 Speaker 4: he wasn't able to just find the mental focus for 36 00:02:18,347 --> 00:02:20,707 Speaker 4: him to be able to allow himself to play his 37 00:02:20,827 --> 00:02:23,547 Speaker 4: best tennis like we had seen in the previous five 38 00:02:23,587 --> 00:02:27,067 Speaker 4: matches to the two qualifying matches plus around a thirty 39 00:02:27,067 --> 00:02:30,867 Speaker 4: two quarterfinal semifinal. He was in the zone in the final. 40 00:02:31,107 --> 00:02:33,747 Speaker 4: He was battling with himself mentally. You could see it. 41 00:02:34,187 --> 00:02:38,347 Speaker 4: He was frustrated at times because the forehand wings his 42 00:02:38,587 --> 00:02:41,507 Speaker 4: which is his weapon, let him down from memory. He 43 00:02:41,587 --> 00:02:46,027 Speaker 4: might have been nineteen or twenty unforced erahs on that forehand, 44 00:02:46,347 --> 00:02:48,827 Speaker 4: and every time he had a half chance, it felt 45 00:02:48,867 --> 00:02:51,467 Speaker 4: like he missed that forehand. So when your best SHOT's 46 00:02:51,507 --> 00:02:55,307 Speaker 4: not going for you and you're mentally struggling with yourself, 47 00:02:55,907 --> 00:02:56,867 Speaker 4: it's very difficult. 48 00:02:57,467 --> 00:03:00,467 Speaker 3: Is the improvement of mental focus as a tennis pluer 49 00:03:00,547 --> 00:03:03,907 Speaker 3: something that can only come with experience. 50 00:03:05,827 --> 00:03:10,067 Speaker 4: I'd say generally yes, but sometimes no. Because we've had 51 00:03:10,147 --> 00:03:12,987 Speaker 4: three nineteen year olds here this week who have done really, 52 00:03:13,027 --> 00:03:16,267 Speaker 4: really well and are inside the world's top fifty, So 53 00:03:16,307 --> 00:03:18,987 Speaker 4: some of the guys can be where they need to 54 00:03:18,987 --> 00:03:23,227 Speaker 4: be right away. Bergs is twenty five years old, and 55 00:03:24,027 --> 00:03:26,427 Speaker 4: if you were his coach, you would say that was 56 00:03:26,467 --> 00:03:29,667 Speaker 4: the one thing that he needs to improve on to 57 00:03:29,707 --> 00:03:32,227 Speaker 4: get into the world's top twenty, top thirty, something like that. 58 00:03:32,387 --> 00:03:35,187 Speaker 4: Just stay on task, stay focused, don't get frustrated with 59 00:03:35,227 --> 00:03:37,707 Speaker 4: the crowd, focused on what you're doing, and try and 60 00:03:37,787 --> 00:03:39,667 Speaker 4: win as many points as you can. One of the 61 00:03:39,667 --> 00:03:41,987 Speaker 4: issues for him yesterday was he would play one good 62 00:03:41,987 --> 00:03:44,507 Speaker 4: point and he followed that up with a loose point. 63 00:03:44,667 --> 00:03:47,907 Speaker 4: He wasn't able to string four or five points together 64 00:03:48,347 --> 00:03:51,987 Speaker 4: in a row, where Montfeese was able to just keep 65 00:03:51,987 --> 00:03:54,947 Speaker 4: the ball on the court, allow the Belgian play to 66 00:03:54,987 --> 00:03:56,987 Speaker 4: self destructed make errors. 67 00:03:57,507 --> 00:04:02,747 Speaker 3: Whose side was the crowd on yesterday, I think definitely Montfee. 68 00:04:03,027 --> 00:04:05,907 Speaker 4: I mean the crowd was loving it, even though it 69 00:04:05,947 --> 00:04:09,747 Speaker 4: doesn't like it was tight on the score line, you 70 00:04:09,827 --> 00:04:14,227 Speaker 4: can feel the intensity of the match. Monte's absolutely the 71 00:04:14,227 --> 00:04:16,507 Speaker 4: crowd favorite. They loved it when he won. He had 72 00:04:16,507 --> 00:04:19,667 Speaker 4: a huge celebration and a couple of really long post 73 00:04:20,347 --> 00:04:23,907 Speaker 4: match interviews and speeches. He's a craft favorite of the 74 00:04:23,907 --> 00:04:26,547 Speaker 4: way that he plays. He's got shot the players don't 75 00:04:26,627 --> 00:04:29,627 Speaker 4: generally try. He throws in the cheeky drop shot from 76 00:04:29,627 --> 00:04:31,907 Speaker 4: a place where he shouldn't really be doing that. Or 77 00:04:31,907 --> 00:04:34,107 Speaker 4: he's got a big fourhand on the run out of 78 00:04:34,107 --> 00:04:36,227 Speaker 4: the blue that the crowd just gets up off the 79 00:04:36,307 --> 00:04:36,667 Speaker 4: seats for. 80 00:04:38,147 --> 00:04:41,107 Speaker 3: And you mentioned yesterday that he doesn't need the money anymore. 81 00:04:41,147 --> 00:04:43,507 Speaker 3: Does He doesn't need the agulation, He doesn't need to 82 00:04:43,547 --> 00:04:45,787 Speaker 3: do anything for a sense of achievement anymore. He's he's 83 00:04:45,827 --> 00:04:48,427 Speaker 3: pretty much done at all. Do you sense that, you know, 84 00:04:48,667 --> 00:04:50,827 Speaker 3: just a joy of the game of tennis, if there 85 00:04:50,867 --> 00:04:51,707 Speaker 3: is such a thing at this. 86 00:04:51,787 --> 00:04:54,907 Speaker 4: Level, I think so. Yeah. I think he's got to 87 00:04:54,947 --> 00:04:56,787 Speaker 4: that point where he knows he's not going to be 88 00:04:56,787 --> 00:04:59,547 Speaker 4: a Grand Slam winner, but he's won thirty six million 89 00:04:59,627 --> 00:05:03,107 Speaker 4: in prize money, so he's just fine. He's playing because 90 00:05:03,147 --> 00:05:06,347 Speaker 4: he loves it, and he's you know, getting another offer, 91 00:05:06,387 --> 00:05:09,147 Speaker 4: shoot into one. Another tournament means the world to him. 92 00:05:09,507 --> 00:05:12,987 Speaker 4: And he's just played in a care free fashion out 93 00:05:13,027 --> 00:05:16,747 Speaker 4: there on set Accord in the final, composed, more than 94 00:05:16,787 --> 00:05:18,187 Speaker 4: comfortable in that space that he was. 95 00:05:18,227 --> 00:05:21,387 Speaker 3: In a report on the Herald this morning, Rada, you 96 00:05:21,627 --> 00:05:23,827 Speaker 3: may have seen it and have no doubt her talk 97 00:05:23,867 --> 00:05:28,067 Speaker 3: of this a development of the venue with a roof plan. 98 00:05:28,187 --> 00:05:30,667 Speaker 3: That's the ambition of the organizers to help future proof 99 00:05:30,667 --> 00:05:33,427 Speaker 3: the event, make a bigger better take. Whether out of 100 00:05:33,427 --> 00:05:37,507 Speaker 3: the equation of course, is there something that almost has 101 00:05:37,547 --> 00:05:40,027 Speaker 3: to happen if this tournament is to continue on an 102 00:05:40,107 --> 00:05:41,867 Speaker 3: upward trajectory. 103 00:05:42,667 --> 00:05:45,307 Speaker 4: I certainly have to happen. You know, that's a fairly 104 00:05:45,387 --> 00:05:47,827 Speaker 4: old center there, and they do a really good job 105 00:05:47,867 --> 00:05:51,387 Speaker 4: to pull it all together. But you know, I don't 106 00:05:51,427 --> 00:05:53,907 Speaker 4: take the organizers might be saying there's a lot of scaffolding, 107 00:05:53,947 --> 00:05:58,787 Speaker 4: a lot of piecemealing going on around the stadium. I 108 00:05:58,827 --> 00:06:03,027 Speaker 4: think that as imperative they do it. Hopefully they can 109 00:06:03,027 --> 00:06:05,427 Speaker 4: get the money. I believe they're on their way towards 110 00:06:05,467 --> 00:06:07,947 Speaker 4: doing that. I believe they have consent to do it. 111 00:06:08,547 --> 00:06:13,827 Speaker 4: One interesting thing is one factor redoing the stadium is 112 00:06:13,867 --> 00:06:18,227 Speaker 4: that some of the players complain that the distance between 113 00:06:18,227 --> 00:06:21,387 Speaker 4: the baseline and the back fence is too short because 114 00:06:21,467 --> 00:06:24,707 Speaker 4: as men's tennis is changing over the years, players are 115 00:06:24,707 --> 00:06:26,827 Speaker 4: playing further further behind the baseline, so they need to 116 00:06:26,907 --> 00:06:31,067 Speaker 4: link to that to make more space between the baseline 117 00:06:31,507 --> 00:06:33,987 Speaker 4: and that fence. Is kind of interesting. 118 00:06:35,067 --> 00:06:37,827 Speaker 3: Yeah, that is there a well, there must I'm sure 119 00:06:37,827 --> 00:06:41,787 Speaker 3: there's a there's a you know, a minimum that's allowed. 120 00:06:41,867 --> 00:06:44,507 Speaker 3: But what I mean what a player say, we'll apply 121 00:06:44,587 --> 00:06:45,587 Speaker 3: look at it and say, well, I won't come a 122 00:06:45,667 --> 00:06:47,827 Speaker 3: play in Auckland unless there's more room for me behind 123 00:06:47,827 --> 00:06:48,547 Speaker 3: the baseline. 124 00:06:48,947 --> 00:06:51,507 Speaker 4: Oh yeah, absolutely, yep. Because most of the other or 125 00:06:51,547 --> 00:06:53,307 Speaker 4: a lot of the other stadiums or courts around the 126 00:06:53,307 --> 00:06:56,307 Speaker 4: world are probably newer, so they've got more room. You know, 127 00:06:56,347 --> 00:06:59,267 Speaker 4: they've got the clay quarters, the out and out clay quarters. 128 00:06:59,307 --> 00:07:01,387 Speaker 4: They want to be three, four or five meters behind 129 00:07:01,387 --> 00:07:03,427 Speaker 4: the baseline. They don't want to be up close because 130 00:07:03,427 --> 00:07:07,627 Speaker 4: it's not not where they're comfort zoners. So look a 131 00:07:07,627 --> 00:07:10,667 Speaker 4: short story. Yes, they need to read to the stadium. 132 00:07:10,747 --> 00:07:13,147 Speaker 4: Hopefully they can get it done. And I'm sure this 133 00:07:13,347 --> 00:07:16,547 Speaker 4: tournament sold out every single year. It's so popular people 134 00:07:16,587 --> 00:07:18,587 Speaker 4: come back year after year. I'm sure if they can 135 00:07:18,707 --> 00:07:22,107 Speaker 4: increase capacity, they'll sell that out, no problem, because there'll 136 00:07:22,147 --> 00:07:23,267 Speaker 4: be such great quality. 137 00:07:23,547 --> 00:07:26,707 Speaker 3: Indeed, and just finally, Ossie Open starts today, you will 138 00:07:26,707 --> 00:07:29,387 Speaker 3: be I guess on your couch. You're certainly keeping an 139 00:07:29,387 --> 00:07:31,587 Speaker 3: eye on things for the next two weeks or so 140 00:07:31,627 --> 00:07:35,467 Speaker 3: as time permits. A Yanick Center arena, Sabolenka defending champions, 141 00:07:35,547 --> 00:07:38,227 Speaker 3: top seeds. Do they appeal to you as firm favorites 142 00:07:38,267 --> 00:07:39,667 Speaker 3: for the next couple of weeks? 143 00:07:40,507 --> 00:07:43,387 Speaker 4: She does. Sabalinka for sure is a firm favorite for me, 144 00:07:43,507 --> 00:07:46,787 Speaker 4: no doubt. I actually think she'll get that done. She's 145 00:07:47,107 --> 00:07:50,907 Speaker 4: in great form physically, just such a weapon and sinner. 146 00:07:50,947 --> 00:07:52,947 Speaker 4: I would say, you've got you've got two options, the 147 00:07:53,067 --> 00:07:56,107 Speaker 4: Yannick Center or our cras. I think of the two 148 00:07:56,747 --> 00:07:59,227 Speaker 4: standout players that will see go deep into the week, 149 00:07:59,827 --> 00:08:02,787 Speaker 4: I would love to see that Djokovic go on a 150 00:08:02,867 --> 00:08:04,987 Speaker 4: run and get deep. I'm sure he'll go close, but 151 00:08:05,707 --> 00:08:08,987 Speaker 4: I don't know. I really want to, Yeah, I don't 152 00:08:09,027 --> 00:08:11,747 Speaker 4: know that he's got another Grand Slam left, Adam. These 153 00:08:11,787 --> 00:08:14,987 Speaker 4: younger guys that are coming through are now making him 154 00:08:14,987 --> 00:08:17,827 Speaker 4: look just a half a step slow, which is why 155 00:08:17,867 --> 00:08:19,667 Speaker 4: he hasn't been winning the big ones. Yeah. 156 00:08:19,707 --> 00:08:22,707 Speaker 3: Well the headlines there isn't it twenty five and twenty five. 157 00:08:22,787 --> 00:08:24,587 Speaker 3: Whether it gets written or not over the next couple 158 00:08:24,627 --> 00:08:27,147 Speaker 3: of weeks, I guess remains to be seen. Lee, great 159 00:08:27,147 --> 00:08:28,867 Speaker 3: to chat tennis with you as always, Thanks for taking 160 00:08:28,867 --> 00:08:32,187 Speaker 3: the time. Cheers, Thank you mate. That's Lee Radovanovitch, former 161 00:08:32,227 --> 00:08:35,827 Speaker 3: pro now Sky Sport commentator and analyst and a good 162 00:08:35,867 --> 00:08:38,107 Speaker 3: friend of the show. I always enjoy talking tennis with 163 00:08:38,547 --> 00:08:40,827 Speaker 3: rado So Gamon Feast at the age of thirty eight, 164 00:08:41,107 --> 00:08:43,507 Speaker 3: winning his first ASB Tennis Classic yesterday. 165 00:08:43,947 --> 00:08:47,147 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 166 00:08:47,267 --> 00:08:50,547 Speaker 1: to News Talk zed B weekends from midday or follow 167 00:08:50,587 --> 00:08:52,187 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.