1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,387 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:13,747 Speaker 1: from News Talks EDB Let's go to Tennis. 3 00:00:13,747 --> 00:00:17,947 Speaker 2: Belgium qualifier Ziezu Bergs will meet French veteran Gaumont Fists 4 00:00:18,027 --> 00:00:21,787 Speaker 2: in today's men's singles final at the ASB Tennis Classic. 5 00:00:21,827 --> 00:00:25,507 Speaker 2: Bergs advanced to what is his first ATP Tour level 6 00:00:25,547 --> 00:00:29,027 Speaker 2: final with a thriller a three set win over Portugal's 7 00:00:29,067 --> 00:00:33,547 Speaker 2: new No Borgeous yesterday. Gaumon Fis got through in straight 8 00:00:33,587 --> 00:00:36,387 Speaker 2: sets earlier in the day, although he did have a 9 00:00:36,427 --> 00:00:40,347 Speaker 2: few nervous moments earlier in the week. The final set 10 00:00:40,347 --> 00:00:43,387 Speaker 2: down for two o'clock this afternoon. Former tennis pro and 11 00:00:43,427 --> 00:00:46,627 Speaker 2: now tennis commentator and analyst for Sky Sports coverage of 12 00:00:46,627 --> 00:00:51,707 Speaker 2: the tournament, Lee Ranovanovich joins us, Lee, can anybody hand 13 00:00:51,747 --> 00:00:55,947 Speaker 2: on heart truly say that this is the final they predicted? 14 00:00:56,907 --> 00:00:59,747 Speaker 3: No, absolutely not. You wouldn't have picked it when we 15 00:00:59,827 --> 00:01:02,707 Speaker 3: saw the draw, the cutoff of safty eight in the world, 16 00:01:02,747 --> 00:01:06,747 Speaker 3: so players to other top We had four big seeds 17 00:01:06,747 --> 00:01:09,787 Speaker 3: that a lot of people thought would come through on 18 00:01:09,827 --> 00:01:13,707 Speaker 3: paper anyway, So no, no one would have picked this final. However, 19 00:01:13,907 --> 00:01:16,227 Speaker 3: I'm excited for it. I've seen both of these guys 20 00:01:16,267 --> 00:01:19,387 Speaker 3: play every match this week and they are both on form. 21 00:01:19,507 --> 00:01:21,827 Speaker 3: They're both on fire, and it's going to be a 22 00:01:21,827 --> 00:01:23,347 Speaker 3: great match. It could be an epic. 23 00:01:23,467 --> 00:01:25,747 Speaker 2: All right, let's analyze them one by one then. What 24 00:01:25,867 --> 00:01:29,347 Speaker 2: has allowed thirty eight year old Gal Monfies to make 25 00:01:29,387 --> 00:01:30,667 Speaker 2: it all the way through to the final. 26 00:01:31,707 --> 00:01:34,387 Speaker 3: He just wants to play. He doesn't play for the money. 27 00:01:34,507 --> 00:01:37,827 Speaker 3: He's got money, he doesn't play for anything else. He 28 00:01:37,947 --> 00:01:40,027 Speaker 3: just wants to play and win, and he is in 29 00:01:40,227 --> 00:01:42,267 Speaker 3: for a thirty eight year old, he is an amazing 30 00:01:42,427 --> 00:01:46,907 Speaker 3: physical condition. The way that he moves around the quarter 31 00:01:46,947 --> 00:01:49,027 Speaker 3: is what really impresses me. He's still got all the 32 00:01:49,027 --> 00:01:51,067 Speaker 3: shots and his eyes haven't slowed down. But the way 33 00:01:51,067 --> 00:01:55,347 Speaker 3: that he can move and turned the fence into attack 34 00:01:55,507 --> 00:01:58,187 Speaker 3: through his movement around the quarters, it's pretty our ageous 35 00:01:58,187 --> 00:02:01,067 Speaker 3: for a thirty eight year old, and that's how he 36 00:02:01,107 --> 00:02:03,587 Speaker 3: can still fit it with the guys, just through his 37 00:02:03,707 --> 00:02:06,787 Speaker 3: movement and experience too. He knows how to play the 38 00:02:06,867 --> 00:02:09,107 Speaker 3: right shot at the right time and to try to 39 00:02:09,107 --> 00:02:10,347 Speaker 3: conserve his energy a little bit. 40 00:02:10,907 --> 00:02:12,747 Speaker 2: We almost lost him, didn't we, In the round of 41 00:02:12,867 --> 00:02:15,587 Speaker 2: thirty two behind a set. I think he lost the 42 00:02:15,587 --> 00:02:19,027 Speaker 2: first set, sixty one to Spain's Pedro Martinez. He was 43 00:02:19,027 --> 00:02:20,587 Speaker 2: down to break in the second. How did he get 44 00:02:20,587 --> 00:02:21,187 Speaker 2: out of that hole? 45 00:02:21,907 --> 00:02:23,627 Speaker 3: He was down at six one, five ten, and it 46 00:02:23,667 --> 00:02:25,427 Speaker 3: looked like he was going out in the first round. 47 00:02:25,427 --> 00:02:27,547 Speaker 3: He was playing pretty awful, to be honest with you, 48 00:02:27,947 --> 00:02:31,547 Speaker 3: but he's a streaky player. Mercurial was maybe another way 49 00:02:31,587 --> 00:02:34,147 Speaker 3: to describe him. He can be pretty ordinary, and his 50 00:02:34,187 --> 00:02:37,387 Speaker 3: body language can be negative, but he has the ability 51 00:02:37,427 --> 00:02:40,707 Speaker 3: to find something that flicks the switch to get him 52 00:02:40,707 --> 00:02:42,867 Speaker 3: to all of a sudden, go to go from zero 53 00:02:42,947 --> 00:02:45,787 Speaker 3: to ten in space of about one game. So he's 54 00:02:45,827 --> 00:02:48,147 Speaker 3: got the ability just to turn it on, and in 55 00:02:48,227 --> 00:02:50,147 Speaker 3: a couple of key points in that first set he 56 00:02:50,187 --> 00:02:53,107 Speaker 3: did turn it on musing his forehand mainly. And he's 57 00:02:53,107 --> 00:02:55,627 Speaker 3: built match by match as that's one of that's gone on. 58 00:02:56,347 --> 00:02:59,547 Speaker 3: Yesterday in a semi final, he was impressive. I felt 59 00:02:59,547 --> 00:03:02,947 Speaker 3: like he played within himself a lot, but that was 60 00:03:02,987 --> 00:03:05,987 Speaker 3: probably just a tactical thing. He wasn't too aggressive, didn't 61 00:03:05,987 --> 00:03:08,387 Speaker 3: make too many unforced theres, just kind of kept it 62 00:03:08,587 --> 00:03:11,627 Speaker 3: cool and calm. So he's got better and better and better. 63 00:03:11,667 --> 00:03:13,267 Speaker 3: He'll be formidable today in the final. 64 00:03:13,387 --> 00:03:15,267 Speaker 2: All Right, well, we know a bit about gam on face, 65 00:03:15,347 --> 00:03:19,627 Speaker 2: we know less about the man he's facing Belgian qualifiers, 66 00:03:19,707 --> 00:03:23,147 Speaker 2: zizu bergs. It give us the broad brush strokes of 67 00:03:23,227 --> 00:03:25,027 Speaker 2: him as a tennis player. First of all, ready. 68 00:03:26,307 --> 00:03:30,827 Speaker 3: He's a rollercoaster to the oddest, so he technically really sound. 69 00:03:31,067 --> 00:03:34,547 Speaker 3: He's big, he's strong, he's fast, he's got a big serve, 70 00:03:34,587 --> 00:03:36,587 Speaker 3: and he hits a heavy ball, so those balls like 71 00:03:36,627 --> 00:03:39,307 Speaker 3: coming through pretty quickly on the cord that rushes a 72 00:03:39,307 --> 00:03:42,107 Speaker 3: lot of his opponents. He takes away their time and 73 00:03:42,227 --> 00:03:45,587 Speaker 3: space by purely by the heaviness of his shot. But 74 00:03:45,787 --> 00:03:48,267 Speaker 3: mentally he's a bit up and down. He can play 75 00:03:48,387 --> 00:03:51,387 Speaker 3: a great set and he'll follow that up with not 76 00:03:51,467 --> 00:03:54,147 Speaker 3: a great set. And we saw that in the quarterfinal. 77 00:03:54,227 --> 00:03:57,227 Speaker 3: He was down six two two Mars. He was throwing 78 00:03:57,227 --> 00:03:59,747 Speaker 3: his racket, he was getting angry with the umpire, is 79 00:03:59,747 --> 00:04:03,027 Speaker 3: frustrated with the noise and the crowd, and he managed 80 00:04:03,067 --> 00:04:06,307 Speaker 3: the flips which get a break there in the quarter final, 81 00:04:06,427 --> 00:04:09,027 Speaker 3: would come back and win added three sets and played 82 00:04:09,107 --> 00:04:12,147 Speaker 3: it was like a totally different player for the back 83 00:04:12,147 --> 00:04:13,907 Speaker 3: into the second set, of the third set, and then 84 00:04:13,947 --> 00:04:17,227 Speaker 3: the semi final. Yesterday was the total opposite came out 85 00:04:17,227 --> 00:04:19,667 Speaker 3: of the blocks. He was on fire. He was aggressive, 86 00:04:19,787 --> 00:04:22,267 Speaker 3: hitting winners everywhere. At six two two love, he had 87 00:04:22,307 --> 00:04:24,587 Speaker 3: three break points to go three love in the second 88 00:04:24,587 --> 00:04:28,027 Speaker 3: but for a double break, so we're doing commetry thinking okay, 89 00:04:28,067 --> 00:04:30,427 Speaker 3: this is about to be over, and then he just 90 00:04:30,467 --> 00:04:33,107 Speaker 3: fell apart. He allowed boards to get back into the match, 91 00:04:33,267 --> 00:04:35,867 Speaker 3: ended up being down a break in the third, starting 92 00:04:35,867 --> 00:04:38,227 Speaker 3: to get frustrated. Then he broke back and then he 93 00:04:38,307 --> 00:04:41,227 Speaker 3: broke back again four brakes in the third set, and 94 00:04:41,427 --> 00:04:43,747 Speaker 3: eventually got back into the third set and had a 95 00:04:43,747 --> 00:04:46,467 Speaker 3: great performance. But he made it hard for himself in 96 00:04:46,547 --> 00:04:48,827 Speaker 3: terms of he was in winning positions and then he 97 00:04:48,907 --> 00:04:50,707 Speaker 3: dropped his bundle, and then he got fought back to 98 00:04:50,747 --> 00:04:53,107 Speaker 3: get into winning positions and he dropped his bundle again. 99 00:04:53,147 --> 00:04:55,307 Speaker 3: So mentally he's a little bit up and down, but 100 00:04:55,347 --> 00:04:55,867 Speaker 3: he could play. 101 00:04:55,907 --> 00:04:58,547 Speaker 2: He's a real player, So you're right, this just feels 102 00:04:58,587 --> 00:05:01,187 Speaker 2: like an epic in coming this afternoon. If it goes 103 00:05:01,227 --> 00:05:03,787 Speaker 2: to three sets, Lee, it feels as though the younger 104 00:05:03,787 --> 00:05:06,347 Speaker 2: man Bergs will have the advantage. Does it feel as 105 00:05:06,427 --> 00:05:09,347 Speaker 2: though the first set this afternoon's pretty important? 106 00:05:10,947 --> 00:05:12,747 Speaker 3: I think it always is in a final. Just thinking 107 00:05:12,787 --> 00:05:16,067 Speaker 3: about just to get that lead in that scoreboard. Pressure 108 00:05:16,907 --> 00:05:19,427 Speaker 3: for Berg it will be a case of can he 109 00:05:19,547 --> 00:05:22,267 Speaker 3: handle the occasion. He's come through qualifying, it was his 110 00:05:22,267 --> 00:05:24,787 Speaker 3: first semi final, went yesterday, so this is his first 111 00:05:25,347 --> 00:05:28,707 Speaker 3: final on an ATP tour and this will do wonders 112 00:05:28,707 --> 00:05:31,107 Speaker 3: for his rankings. It'll push him inside the top fifty. 113 00:05:31,427 --> 00:05:33,707 Speaker 3: So can he handle the pressure? Can he get in 114 00:05:33,747 --> 00:05:36,987 Speaker 3: and compete? Can he just play his best and forget 115 00:05:37,027 --> 00:05:39,427 Speaker 3: about the fact that it's the final. That's one thing 116 00:05:39,987 --> 00:05:41,947 Speaker 3: I think with mon thesis, just another day at the 117 00:05:41,947 --> 00:05:44,587 Speaker 3: office for him. He's been to semi finals of the 118 00:05:44,587 --> 00:05:47,267 Speaker 3: French Open, the US Open. He's won at least one 119 00:05:47,307 --> 00:05:50,107 Speaker 3: ATP to a tournament every single year for the last 120 00:05:50,187 --> 00:05:54,027 Speaker 3: nineteen years, so he'll be ready to go. Believe it 121 00:05:54,107 --> 00:05:57,427 Speaker 3: or not, I'm leaning towards the qualifier for a border 122 00:05:57,467 --> 00:05:58,907 Speaker 3: line upset in this one. 123 00:05:59,227 --> 00:06:03,067 Speaker 2: All right, Okay, let's wait and see what happens. Right, 124 00:06:03,227 --> 00:06:05,587 Speaker 2: great to get your analysis lay right. A Vanovitch there 125 00:06:05,587 --> 00:06:10,267 Speaker 2: at former pro real student of the game, have thoroughly 126 00:06:10,347 --> 00:06:13,667 Speaker 2: enjoyed his part in the coverage of the ASP Classic, 127 00:06:13,667 --> 00:06:16,467 Speaker 2: which wraps up this afternoon. In about twenty five minutes, 128 00:06:16,467 --> 00:06:19,467 Speaker 2: they'll be on court as Gail Montfist, the thirty eight 129 00:06:19,587 --> 00:06:24,107 Speaker 2: year old takes on the young Belgian zizu Bergs. Apparently 130 00:06:24,147 --> 00:06:27,147 Speaker 2: he was named after Zenodine Zidan, who of course is 131 00:06:27,587 --> 00:06:30,747 Speaker 2: known as zizu He's not French, he's Belgian, but his 132 00:06:30,747 --> 00:06:34,587 Speaker 2: parents are big football fans. Apparently, so zizu Bergs up 133 00:06:34,627 --> 00:06:37,347 Speaker 2: against Gaumorphi's two o'clock this afternoon. 134 00:06:37,867 --> 00:06:41,067 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 135 00:06:41,147 --> 00:06:44,547 Speaker 1: to News Talk ZEDB weekends from midday, or follow the 136 00:06:44,587 --> 00:06:46,107 Speaker 1: podcast on iHeartRadio