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 --> 00:00:12,027 Speaker 1: from News Talk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,667 --> 00:00:16,547 Speaker 2: Slam tennis champion Meantime and previous winner of the ASB Classic. 4 00:00:16,627 --> 00:00:19,267 Speaker 2: We'll both return to the women's field in twenty twenty six. 5 00:00:19,307 --> 00:00:22,707 Speaker 2: American Sloan Stevens is one of the four wild cards 6 00:00:22,707 --> 00:00:27,147 Speaker 2: for the tournament, alongside seven time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams, 7 00:00:27,467 --> 00:00:31,267 Speaker 2: British star Katie Bolter, and yet to be determined Kei We. 8 00:00:31,747 --> 00:00:35,787 Speaker 2: The field is headlined by Ukraine's Alinas Fitelina and American 9 00:00:35,827 --> 00:00:39,827 Speaker 2: Emma Navarro. They are fourteenth and fifteenth, respectively in the 10 00:00:39,867 --> 00:00:44,187 Speaker 2: current WTA World rankings. The tournament runs from January five 11 00:00:44,347 --> 00:00:47,787 Speaker 2: to eleven and is immediately followed by the men's tournament 12 00:00:47,787 --> 00:00:51,547 Speaker 2: of course, through until January seventeenth. Tournament director Nicholas lamper 13 00:00:51,587 --> 00:00:54,267 Speaker 2: And is with us on Weekend Sport. Nicholas, congratulations on 14 00:00:54,587 --> 00:00:56,987 Speaker 2: the women's field. It looks great. Are you happy with it? 15 00:00:57,987 --> 00:01:01,227 Speaker 3: We're all extremely happy about the field that we've we've 16 00:01:01,307 --> 00:01:04,827 Speaker 3: managed to put together. You know, every time we start 17 00:01:04,867 --> 00:01:07,027 Speaker 3: from at blank page, and it's always a bit of 18 00:01:07,027 --> 00:01:10,187 Speaker 3: a challenge to kind of bring the players that we 19 00:01:10,587 --> 00:01:14,067 Speaker 3: have in mind. I think the draw that we have 20 00:01:14,627 --> 00:01:18,667 Speaker 3: is a good reflection of you know, some established players 21 00:01:19,067 --> 00:01:21,987 Speaker 3: who've been you know, regular in the top ten. You 22 00:01:22,027 --> 00:01:26,987 Speaker 3: know players like Elena's Vitulina or em and Varro, you know, 23 00:01:27,107 --> 00:01:31,267 Speaker 3: world famous name like Venice Williams, but also the young 24 00:01:31,387 --> 00:01:35,667 Speaker 3: generation with the likes of A. A. La Yovic or 25 00:01:35,987 --> 00:01:36,627 Speaker 3: Yannis Kin. 26 00:01:37,147 --> 00:01:38,947 Speaker 2: Yeah, I want to ask about those younger players. The 27 00:01:38,987 --> 00:01:43,187 Speaker 2: ASP Classic has a great reputation of providing opportunities for 28 00:01:43,227 --> 00:01:46,947 Speaker 2: promising young players that go on to find success in 29 00:01:46,987 --> 00:01:50,547 Speaker 2: their careers. The likes of Cocoa Golf and Bianca Andrei Escu. 30 00:01:50,707 --> 00:01:52,187 Speaker 2: Tell us a bit more about some of the younger 31 00:01:52,227 --> 00:01:54,907 Speaker 2: players that we can look forward to saying this year. 32 00:01:56,027 --> 00:01:58,467 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean we're always really proud to say that. 33 00:01:58,547 --> 00:02:02,227 Speaker 3: You know, those players started in Auckland and it was 34 00:02:02,267 --> 00:02:05,027 Speaker 3: the very first step of the big journey to the 35 00:02:05,107 --> 00:02:09,427 Speaker 3: to the top of the rankings. So we scout them 36 00:02:09,707 --> 00:02:12,867 Speaker 3: twelve to six months ahead of the tournament, and this 37 00:02:12,987 --> 00:02:16,307 Speaker 3: year we decided to go for Iva Yovich. You know, 38 00:02:16,387 --> 00:02:19,827 Speaker 3: she made some really good results on the tour. She 39 00:02:19,907 --> 00:02:23,067 Speaker 3: was aged seventeen and she managed to win a first 40 00:02:23,107 --> 00:02:25,467 Speaker 3: of BT at five hundred tournaments, so she's only eighteen 41 00:02:25,507 --> 00:02:29,027 Speaker 3: and she's coming to open for the first year. The 42 00:02:29,067 --> 00:02:33,467 Speaker 3: second one is Alexandra Aerla. She left the Philippines at 43 00:02:33,467 --> 00:02:37,267 Speaker 3: a young age, went all the way to Spain, based 44 00:02:37,587 --> 00:02:41,627 Speaker 3: herself in Majoca at the rough Underdella Academy. Also won 45 00:02:41,667 --> 00:02:45,227 Speaker 3: the first tournament this year and you know, very very 46 00:02:45,267 --> 00:02:48,747 Speaker 3: talented lefty and already a huge star in the Philippines. 47 00:02:48,787 --> 00:02:51,387 Speaker 3: First time ever that the Philippines have a player ranked 48 00:02:51,987 --> 00:02:54,987 Speaker 3: within the top fifty. And the last one is Yennistien 49 00:02:55,307 --> 00:02:57,867 Speaker 3: a bit of a different story. Decided to go to 50 00:02:57,947 --> 00:03:01,507 Speaker 3: college first, you know, just to become a bit stronger, 51 00:03:01,867 --> 00:03:06,427 Speaker 3: get more experience, and she went from being unranged thin 52 00:03:07,507 --> 00:03:09,987 Speaker 3: a year ago to being now a top fifty player 53 00:03:10,667 --> 00:03:12,827 Speaker 3: in the course of the last twelve months, which is 54 00:03:12,947 --> 00:03:14,067 Speaker 3: a remarkable achievement. 55 00:03:14,307 --> 00:03:16,627 Speaker 2: Look forward to seeing those young players in action. I 56 00:03:16,627 --> 00:03:19,467 Speaker 2: guess at the other end of the experienced scale. Venus 57 00:03:19,467 --> 00:03:23,067 Speaker 2: Williams back for her seventh appearance at the ASP Classic. 58 00:03:23,307 --> 00:03:25,987 Speaker 2: How much interest does she still generate for you? 59 00:03:27,387 --> 00:03:31,547 Speaker 3: Venus is huge. You don't know how much pressure I 60 00:03:31,587 --> 00:03:34,307 Speaker 3: gets from the people of the office to sign Venice 61 00:03:34,307 --> 00:03:38,547 Speaker 3: every year. It's really the the player that everybody wants 62 00:03:38,587 --> 00:03:41,867 Speaker 3: to see year after year. This year was a little 63 00:03:41,907 --> 00:03:43,867 Speaker 3: bit different because she she had been off for a 64 00:03:43,867 --> 00:03:46,267 Speaker 3: while and we were not really quite sure about what 65 00:03:46,347 --> 00:03:49,787 Speaker 3: the plans were going to be. And then over the 66 00:03:49,827 --> 00:03:52,547 Speaker 3: summer she gave us some indication that she was back 67 00:03:53,107 --> 00:03:55,627 Speaker 3: and that she wanted to play some more. So, after 68 00:03:55,747 --> 00:04:00,187 Speaker 3: witnessing the level that she displayed in the US, we 69 00:04:00,267 --> 00:04:03,587 Speaker 3: decided to go after her and then we managed to 70 00:04:04,027 --> 00:04:05,627 Speaker 3: secure a participation. 71 00:04:05,787 --> 00:04:09,707 Speaker 2: Elena's Selena and Emmanavro fourteenth and fifteenth in the world currently. 72 00:04:09,907 --> 00:04:12,067 Speaker 2: How happy are you, Nicholas would that pair as your 73 00:04:12,107 --> 00:04:13,227 Speaker 2: top two seats. 74 00:04:14,907 --> 00:04:17,707 Speaker 3: I think it's great to have bought the number fourteen 75 00:04:17,907 --> 00:04:20,587 Speaker 3: and number fifteen. Last year the top seed was made 76 00:04:20,667 --> 00:04:23,507 Speaker 3: some keys and she was, if I remember correctly, twenty 77 00:04:23,507 --> 00:04:26,267 Speaker 3: one in the world, so it's an improvement from last 78 00:04:26,347 --> 00:04:30,747 Speaker 3: year the top fifteen player. By the same time, they 79 00:04:30,787 --> 00:04:33,067 Speaker 3: spend a lot of time in the top ten and 80 00:04:33,747 --> 00:04:36,107 Speaker 3: I have a feeling this is where they belongs. So 81 00:04:36,147 --> 00:04:39,507 Speaker 3: for them to be in Auckland in week one, I 82 00:04:39,547 --> 00:04:44,267 Speaker 3: think it creates the perfect pathway to start the season strong, 83 00:04:44,827 --> 00:04:47,107 Speaker 3: be ambitious and do well for the rest of the 84 00:04:47,107 --> 00:04:47,947 Speaker 3: season and the. 85 00:04:47,987 --> 00:04:50,627 Speaker 2: Week two new Zealanders in the field, Lulu Sun qualifying 86 00:04:50,627 --> 00:04:53,707 Speaker 2: directly under her world ranking. Now that allows a second 87 00:04:53,787 --> 00:04:56,587 Speaker 2: key We to compete as a confirmed wild card. How 88 00:04:56,627 --> 00:04:58,067 Speaker 2: much of a boost is that to you to know 89 00:04:58,107 --> 00:05:00,187 Speaker 2: that there's going to be two Keywis involved in the 90 00:05:00,227 --> 00:05:00,947 Speaker 2: women's tournament. 91 00:05:01,867 --> 00:05:04,587 Speaker 3: Well, we always want to have as many Keywis as 92 00:05:04,627 --> 00:05:08,147 Speaker 3: possible in the draw in his learning, and obviously people 93 00:05:08,587 --> 00:05:13,347 Speaker 3: want to see the locals do well. Lulu had a 94 00:05:13,387 --> 00:05:18,187 Speaker 3: strong finish which gave her the opportunity to enter directly 95 00:05:18,227 --> 00:05:21,067 Speaker 3: on ranking, and at the same time it opens an 96 00:05:21,107 --> 00:05:25,067 Speaker 3: opportunity for another World cut to qualify. So there's a 97 00:05:25,227 --> 00:05:30,827 Speaker 3: race system in place which is based on results over 98 00:05:30,827 --> 00:05:35,707 Speaker 3: the last twelve months. Two more tournaments to play, one 99 00:05:35,747 --> 00:05:39,747 Speaker 3: this week in Hamilton, another one in Papamoa, and once 100 00:05:39,827 --> 00:05:43,187 Speaker 3: those tournaments are over will have a better indication who 101 00:05:43,187 --> 00:05:46,467 Speaker 3: will be the player eligible for that last worldout. 102 00:05:46,627 --> 00:05:49,067 Speaker 2: Well look forward to seeing who that second key We is. 103 00:05:49,667 --> 00:05:51,867 Speaker 2: Beyond the women's tournament, the men's tournament of course, and 104 00:05:51,907 --> 00:05:54,787 Speaker 2: great news this week you've confirmed the return of Casper 105 00:05:54,907 --> 00:05:57,707 Speaker 2: Route for the men's tournament. We've seen them here, but 106 00:05:57,747 --> 00:06:00,467 Speaker 2: it was almost a bit of a not a non event, 107 00:06:00,507 --> 00:06:04,547 Speaker 2: but you know, conditions conspired against you last time Casper 108 00:06:04,667 --> 00:06:07,347 Speaker 2: was here. How significant to have a coming back for 109 00:06:07,427 --> 00:06:07,947 Speaker 2: you though. 110 00:06:08,747 --> 00:06:12,507 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean Casper came last time in twenty twenty 111 00:06:12,587 --> 00:06:15,827 Speaker 3: three was a bit of a sad situation whereby we 112 00:06:15,907 --> 00:06:18,467 Speaker 3: had a lot of rain, he had to play indoor, 113 00:06:18,947 --> 00:06:21,707 Speaker 3: it was late at night, and no one got a 114 00:06:21,787 --> 00:06:23,827 Speaker 3: chance to see him. I think at the time he 115 00:06:23,867 --> 00:06:26,387 Speaker 3: had just played the final at the US Open. He 116 00:06:26,427 --> 00:06:28,467 Speaker 3: was number two and number three in the world, so 117 00:06:28,507 --> 00:06:31,347 Speaker 3: it was real shame for our funds not to be 118 00:06:31,387 --> 00:06:35,867 Speaker 3: able to see him player on court. So it was 119 00:06:35,907 --> 00:06:37,547 Speaker 3: always in the back of my mind that I would 120 00:06:37,587 --> 00:06:40,507 Speaker 3: like him to return one day, and I'm super happy 121 00:06:40,547 --> 00:06:43,267 Speaker 3: that we managed to get it done for twenty twenty six. 122 00:06:43,587 --> 00:06:45,387 Speaker 2: And of course we had news a couple of months 123 00:06:45,427 --> 00:06:48,107 Speaker 2: ago of government investment into a roof on center Court 124 00:06:48,147 --> 00:06:51,427 Speaker 2: at your venue there at Stanley Street, possibly as early 125 00:06:51,467 --> 00:06:54,107 Speaker 2: as as twenty twenty seven. We wait to see how 126 00:06:54,147 --> 00:06:56,587 Speaker 2: much confidence, though, will that give you moving forward in 127 00:06:56,667 --> 00:06:58,867 Speaker 2: terms of the tournament, the players you're going to track, 128 00:06:58,947 --> 00:07:01,627 Speaker 2: in security that the roof will give you in terms 129 00:07:01,627 --> 00:07:03,867 Speaker 2: of weather conditions. 130 00:07:04,427 --> 00:07:07,787 Speaker 3: It's crucial for us to have an infrastructure and a 131 00:07:07,907 --> 00:07:11,787 Speaker 3: stadium that is up to the standards. This year we 132 00:07:12,467 --> 00:07:16,707 Speaker 3: started a lot of renovation around the venue by extending 133 00:07:16,747 --> 00:07:20,307 Speaker 3: Saint Court by replacing one of the stands, increasing the 134 00:07:20,347 --> 00:07:23,267 Speaker 3: capacity of the stadium, and then the second step will 135 00:07:23,267 --> 00:07:26,307 Speaker 3: be to have the roof on. So we almost there 136 00:07:26,347 --> 00:07:29,707 Speaker 3: in terms of funding, which is waiting a final confirmation, 137 00:07:30,307 --> 00:07:34,107 Speaker 3: which I'm being told should happen very very soon. And 138 00:07:34,427 --> 00:07:37,027 Speaker 3: you know, once we have this new facility in place, 139 00:07:37,187 --> 00:07:40,947 Speaker 3: it's really going to help us deal with the conditions. 140 00:07:41,107 --> 00:07:44,907 Speaker 3: We know they can be very wet or very windy 141 00:07:44,907 --> 00:07:48,227 Speaker 3: in Auckland and sometimes it gets stuck in players' minds. 142 00:07:48,227 --> 00:07:51,427 Speaker 3: So for us to be able to tell players that 143 00:07:51,587 --> 00:07:55,987 Speaker 3: now in the conditions are going to be ideal will 144 00:07:56,067 --> 00:07:59,827 Speaker 3: help us to continue to bring the top ten of 145 00:07:59,907 --> 00:08:00,387 Speaker 3: the future. 146 00:08:00,587 --> 00:08:03,507 Speaker 2: Very exciting times and ticket sales no doubt going well 147 00:08:03,547 --> 00:08:06,627 Speaker 2: for this year's or early twenty twenty. So with the 148 00:08:06,627 --> 00:08:09,787 Speaker 2: women's feel confirmed now some exciting names and the means 149 00:08:10,067 --> 00:08:12,107 Speaker 2: tickets will be we're going well, no doubt. 150 00:08:13,187 --> 00:08:16,347 Speaker 3: Yeah, it sells are going extremely well. Were a couple 151 00:08:16,387 --> 00:08:21,147 Speaker 3: of thousands above what we had last time at the 152 00:08:21,187 --> 00:08:24,787 Speaker 3: same at the same period so extremely happy. We still 153 00:08:24,787 --> 00:08:29,267 Speaker 3: have some tickets available, but it's going really really really well. 154 00:08:29,347 --> 00:08:31,307 Speaker 2: Great to hear. Great and hear in the next all 155 00:08:31,347 --> 00:08:34,107 Speaker 2: of this organizing all of these tennis players on the tournament, 156 00:08:34,347 --> 00:08:36,187 Speaker 2: you spend a bit of time at go Media Stadium 157 00:08:36,187 --> 00:08:38,587 Speaker 2: watching Auckland. If so as well, you become a Black 158 00:08:38,667 --> 00:08:41,667 Speaker 2: Knights fan as well, I understand, Yeah, I do. 159 00:08:41,827 --> 00:08:44,867 Speaker 3: I do love my my auklindess. He I come with 160 00:08:44,947 --> 00:08:49,387 Speaker 3: my kids as much as I can. We we we 161 00:08:49,627 --> 00:08:54,427 Speaker 3: big Liverpool fans in the family, so it's slightly different. 162 00:08:54,747 --> 00:08:57,387 Speaker 3: But it's nice to be able to relate to a 163 00:08:57,427 --> 00:09:01,507 Speaker 3: team locally. And uh, last year, actually I invited your 164 00:09:01,547 --> 00:09:04,827 Speaker 3: rookie Psychi to the tournament, you know when when now 165 00:09:04,947 --> 00:09:08,227 Speaker 3: Musica was playing, so it was great and then he 166 00:09:08,307 --> 00:09:10,507 Speaker 3: came with I think Tommy Smith came as well. He 167 00:09:10,667 --> 00:09:14,867 Speaker 3: was taking photos with immar Ret Canue and but yeah, 168 00:09:14,867 --> 00:09:16,747 Speaker 3: it was it was nice to have the players around. 169 00:09:16,867 --> 00:09:19,707 Speaker 2: Nice connection, wonderful stuff. Nicholas. Again, thank you for chatting 170 00:09:19,707 --> 00:09:22,147 Speaker 2: to us. Well done on this awesome women's field. Look 171 00:09:22,147 --> 00:09:24,227 Speaker 2: forward to catching up again when the tournament draws closer. 172 00:09:24,907 --> 00:09:25,667 Speaker 3: Yeah, my pleasure. 173 00:09:25,747 --> 00:09:27,987 Speaker 2: Thanks very much, No, thank you, Nicholas Nicholas Lamper and 174 00:09:28,027 --> 00:09:31,387 Speaker 2: they're the tournament director of the ASP Classics. So Sloan 175 00:09:31,467 --> 00:09:34,547 Speaker 2: Stevens is coming back, Venus Williams is coming back, British 176 00:09:34,587 --> 00:09:37,507 Speaker 2: star Katie Bolter. There'll be another key we wild card 177 00:09:37,547 --> 00:09:41,067 Speaker 2: with Lulusun in the field on her ranking. Elena s 178 00:09:41,067 --> 00:09:44,947 Speaker 2: Fittelina and Emminavaro the top two seats fourteenth and fifteenth 179 00:09:44,947 --> 00:09:48,627 Speaker 2: respectively in the current WTA World rankings. The women's tournament 180 00:09:48,707 --> 00:09:51,827 Speaker 2: January five through eleven, then the men's through until the 181 00:09:51,907 --> 00:09:53,347 Speaker 2: seventeenth of January. 182 00:09:54,067 --> 00:09:57,267 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 183 00:09:57,347 --> 00:10:00,667 Speaker 1: to news talks it'd be weekends from midday, or follow 184 00:10:00,707 --> 00:10:02,307 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio