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 --> 00:00:13,187 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZB Melbourne. 3 00:00:13,267 --> 00:00:16,547 Speaker 2: Veteran tennis journalist Craig Gabriel is with us. Craig, how 4 00:00:16,547 --> 00:00:19,827 Speaker 2: do you reflect on those two epic men? Seemi's your 5 00:00:19,827 --> 00:00:23,667 Speaker 2: witness yesterday and well into the early hours of this morning. 6 00:00:23,947 --> 00:00:26,827 Speaker 3: Well and through the early hours as well, and truly correct, 7 00:00:27,947 --> 00:00:30,627 Speaker 3: I think I managed an hour and a half overnight. 8 00:00:31,347 --> 00:00:35,827 Speaker 4: But two remarkable matches that you know, we were witnessed too, 9 00:00:36,307 --> 00:00:40,427 Speaker 4: with Carlos Arkuros defeating Alexander Zvera first in that final 10 00:00:40,507 --> 00:00:43,387 Speaker 4: set in particular, I mean the whole match was a 11 00:00:43,467 --> 00:00:46,267 Speaker 4: roller coaster. It really was just short of five and 12 00:00:46,307 --> 00:00:51,027 Speaker 4: a half hours of extraordinary played an incredible atmosphere. Sasha 13 00:00:51,067 --> 00:00:54,627 Speaker 4: Zverev had his chances, no doubt, even though he had 14 00:00:54,667 --> 00:00:57,187 Speaker 4: to fight back from two sets to love down, but 15 00:00:57,267 --> 00:01:00,827 Speaker 4: in that final set he broke to love, was up 16 00:01:00,867 --> 00:01:03,707 Speaker 4: for to serve for the match at five to four 17 00:01:04,787 --> 00:01:08,747 Speaker 4: and couldn't get over the line. It was just incredible 18 00:01:08,787 --> 00:01:13,707 Speaker 4: to see the way Carlos was able to withstand that attack, 19 00:01:14,107 --> 00:01:17,547 Speaker 4: and he said afterwards, I never give up. I hate 20 00:01:17,547 --> 00:01:21,227 Speaker 4: to give up, and that was certainly telling in that match, 21 00:01:21,267 --> 00:01:25,747 Speaker 4: and then Novak and Yanni come out for that second one. 22 00:01:25,787 --> 00:01:30,307 Speaker 4: It was just over four hours of play. Again, incredible 23 00:01:30,347 --> 00:01:33,787 Speaker 4: shot making, and Yannick once more had the chances, had 24 00:01:33,787 --> 00:01:38,347 Speaker 4: the opportunities. He had three break points in that final set. 25 00:01:38,587 --> 00:01:42,867 Speaker 4: On Novak he had forty love on forty fifteen on 26 00:01:42,907 --> 00:01:46,987 Speaker 4: his own serve. Could not convert those games, but incredible 27 00:01:47,107 --> 00:01:49,827 Speaker 4: entertainment and amazing atmospheres. 28 00:01:50,387 --> 00:01:53,667 Speaker 2: How do you evaluate both players' ability to recover in 29 00:01:53,787 --> 00:01:55,027 Speaker 2: time for tomorrow night. 30 00:01:56,307 --> 00:01:58,187 Speaker 4: I don't think it'll be an issue of it, because 31 00:01:58,187 --> 00:02:00,707 Speaker 4: they've got the whole day after day. Maybe it's going 32 00:02:00,747 --> 00:02:03,747 Speaker 4: to probably maybe affect Novak certainly, way more than it 33 00:02:03,747 --> 00:02:07,067 Speaker 4: would affect Carlos. Carlos finished a lot earlier, He's got 34 00:02:07,107 --> 00:02:10,787 Speaker 4: the day off, he's twenty two years old. Novak obviously 35 00:02:10,827 --> 00:02:14,867 Speaker 4: finished very late and he's thirty eight, so it would 36 00:02:14,867 --> 00:02:16,387 Speaker 4: give you know, it'll be a bit more of an 37 00:02:16,387 --> 00:02:20,467 Speaker 4: effort for Novak, but you know, there's things on the line. 38 00:02:20,587 --> 00:02:24,067 Speaker 4: I mean, there's history on the line for Novak, the 39 00:02:24,107 --> 00:02:28,067 Speaker 4: potential for a twenty fifth Major, which would put him 40 00:02:28,147 --> 00:02:30,827 Speaker 4: separate him from everybody else. He shares that record at 41 00:02:30,827 --> 00:02:33,427 Speaker 4: the moment with Margaret Court. He would have been eleventh 42 00:02:33,467 --> 00:02:38,747 Speaker 4: Australian Open, which is just phenomenal. And for Carlos, he 43 00:02:38,867 --> 00:02:41,827 Speaker 4: wins and he becomes the youngest man to win the 44 00:02:41,907 --> 00:02:45,187 Speaker 4: career Slam. That's a record that dates back to nineteen 45 00:02:45,267 --> 00:02:48,787 Speaker 4: thirty eight when Don Budge he will, you know, still 46 00:02:48,827 --> 00:02:51,947 Speaker 4: in that position as the youngest man to achieve the 47 00:02:51,987 --> 00:02:55,507 Speaker 4: career Slam. So there's more than an off at stake. 48 00:02:55,787 --> 00:02:58,627 Speaker 4: And you know, when you're at this level and at 49 00:02:58,627 --> 00:03:01,747 Speaker 4: this stage of a tournament, a bit of extra tiredness 50 00:03:01,787 --> 00:03:05,547 Speaker 4: is not going to make you know, make you want 51 00:03:05,587 --> 00:03:07,627 Speaker 4: to do something your friend or here you you just 52 00:03:07,667 --> 00:03:10,027 Speaker 4: want that adrenaline is what I'm trying to say to 53 00:03:10,107 --> 00:03:12,107 Speaker 4: keep on flowing, and it will for both of them. 54 00:03:12,267 --> 00:03:16,147 Speaker 2: Elcarez's favorite for sure. But Noveak could win, couldn't we Oh? 55 00:03:16,187 --> 00:03:18,987 Speaker 4: Absolutely absolutely? I mean when you look at last year, 56 00:03:19,387 --> 00:03:23,347 Speaker 4: Novak beat him in the quarterfinals here and then no, 57 00:03:23,507 --> 00:03:25,747 Speaker 4: and then Carlos beat him at the US Open, so 58 00:03:25,787 --> 00:03:28,467 Speaker 4: then he played twice last year. Novak has the slight 59 00:03:28,507 --> 00:03:31,587 Speaker 4: advantage on the head to head, so absolutely he can 60 00:03:31,627 --> 00:03:36,827 Speaker 4: beat Carlos. We'll see how adventurous And there's an interesting 61 00:03:36,867 --> 00:03:40,667 Speaker 4: thing is that Novak is the only player to beat 62 00:03:40,827 --> 00:03:43,667 Speaker 4: Carlos and Yannick at the same tournament before, and he's 63 00:03:43,667 --> 00:03:44,707 Speaker 4: got a chance to do it again. 64 00:03:45,267 --> 00:03:47,507 Speaker 2: Quick wote on the women's singles final tonight, tops a 65 00:03:47,547 --> 00:03:50,547 Speaker 2: ring to Sabolinka her fourth straight final fifth sayd Alina 66 00:03:50,747 --> 00:03:53,867 Speaker 2: Rebakana is her opponent they played in twenty twenty three 67 00:03:53,947 --> 00:03:56,707 Speaker 2: in the final. A favorite would have a FIV would 68 00:03:56,707 --> 00:03:59,027 Speaker 2: a ring of Sabalinca be I think? 69 00:03:59,107 --> 00:04:01,627 Speaker 4: Look, I wouldn't say she's a red hot favorite. She's 70 00:04:01,627 --> 00:04:05,987 Speaker 4: certainly favorite, having one of them two out of the 71 00:04:06,027 --> 00:04:08,347 Speaker 4: last three years and being in the final for a 72 00:04:08,427 --> 00:04:12,187 Speaker 4: fourth time. It's her backyard or almost and as far 73 00:04:12,227 --> 00:04:16,467 Speaker 4: as but as far as Elena Rebuccino is concerned, she 74 00:04:16,827 --> 00:04:20,267 Speaker 4: hits the ball a tone, just like Saberlanka does, so 75 00:04:20,267 --> 00:04:23,187 Speaker 4: we're going to see an aggressive match, and Rebuccina was 76 00:04:23,227 --> 00:04:25,787 Speaker 4: saying that she wants to be able to take the 77 00:04:25,827 --> 00:04:29,907 Speaker 4: experiences of twenty twenty three out for herself and apply 78 00:04:30,147 --> 00:04:34,387 Speaker 4: them in the final and have another chance to win 79 00:04:34,427 --> 00:04:35,627 Speaker 4: a second career major. 80 00:04:36,867 --> 00:04:38,547 Speaker 2: Craig can I just ask you about the nature of 81 00:04:38,627 --> 00:04:41,387 Speaker 2: covering tennis. To finish, You know, most people who cover 82 00:04:41,467 --> 00:04:44,187 Speaker 2: sport know that a game's going to finish at a 83 00:04:44,187 --> 00:04:46,667 Speaker 2: certain time, they'll do the postmatch and they'll be home 84 00:04:47,027 --> 00:04:49,667 Speaker 2: probably at a certain time or back in their hotel room. 85 00:04:50,347 --> 00:04:53,867 Speaker 2: Tennis is very different, and day after day after day 86 00:04:53,947 --> 00:04:55,947 Speaker 2: you have to deal with the you know, the very 87 00:04:55,987 --> 00:04:58,307 Speaker 2: real possibility that you're going to be there in the 88 00:04:58,347 --> 00:05:01,347 Speaker 2: early hours as you were last night. What's it like 89 00:05:01,467 --> 00:05:04,747 Speaker 2: in the in the media center during days like yesterday. 90 00:05:06,107 --> 00:05:08,787 Speaker 4: Well, it wasn't only last night. I mean I haven't 91 00:05:08,787 --> 00:05:11,947 Speaker 4: not got back to the hotel before one in the 92 00:05:11,987 --> 00:05:15,867 Speaker 4: morning after any session, and I have to start again 93 00:05:15,947 --> 00:05:20,987 Speaker 4: at about six, So it's it's it's one of those things, 94 00:05:21,027 --> 00:05:23,747 Speaker 4: you know, the austral And Open with day night matches 95 00:05:23,787 --> 00:05:26,667 Speaker 4: every night and day, and the US Open with day 96 00:05:26,747 --> 00:05:31,667 Speaker 4: night matches. It look takes its toll and you see as. 97 00:05:31,547 --> 00:05:34,227 Speaker 3: The night goes on, the fewer and fewer deaths that 98 00:05:34,227 --> 00:05:36,827 Speaker 3: have been occupied in these rooms. 99 00:05:37,907 --> 00:05:41,907 Speaker 2: Oh well, goodness, Craig. I greatly appreciate you taking time 100 00:05:41,947 --> 00:05:44,507 Speaker 2: for us. I've loved your coverage. Here's here's the two 101 00:05:44,587 --> 00:05:47,707 Speaker 2: fantastic singles finals. Rather to finish things off. 102 00:05:48,427 --> 00:05:50,427 Speaker 4: Yeah, look, and you know we've already had the mixed 103 00:05:50,427 --> 00:05:54,867 Speaker 4: doubles final decided yesterday and that was an Ossie duo winning, 104 00:05:54,867 --> 00:05:58,227 Speaker 4: which was fantastic. There's Aussie duos in the men's doubles 105 00:05:58,307 --> 00:06:01,107 Speaker 4: final today and you know, so there's still lots to 106 00:06:01,147 --> 00:06:04,587 Speaker 4: play for and it's I think it's been a pretty 107 00:06:04,587 --> 00:06:08,347 Speaker 4: good tournament. There's been criticism, but what do you do. 108 00:06:08,387 --> 00:06:12,227 Speaker 4: You know, the media never satisfied when you have the upsets. 109 00:06:12,267 --> 00:06:14,067 Speaker 4: Oh where are the big names when you have the 110 00:06:14,107 --> 00:06:16,667 Speaker 4: big names? Oh, there's no stories because there's no upsets, 111 00:06:16,867 --> 00:06:19,027 Speaker 4: can't satisfy them. I think it's been fine. 112 00:06:18,987 --> 00:06:21,187 Speaker 2: Brilliant stuff. We've loved to coverts. Craig, thanks as always 113 00:06:21,227 --> 00:06:24,267 Speaker 2: for joining us. Okay, that is Craig Gabriel out of 114 00:06:24,307 --> 00:06:26,267 Speaker 2: Melbourne here on Weekend Sport. 115 00:06:26,867 --> 00:06:30,027 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 116 00:06:30,147 --> 00:06:33,427 Speaker 1: to news talks it'd be weekends from midday or follow 117 00:06:33,467 --> 00:06:35,067 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.