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 --> 00:00:11,507 Speaker 1: from News Talks. 3 00:00:11,587 --> 00:00:16,387 Speaker 2: Edb a big upset in the first round of this 4 00:00:16,507 --> 00:00:21,307 Speaker 2: week's New Zealand Squash Open in christ Church, Going back 5 00:00:21,347 --> 00:00:28,587 Speaker 2: and there you go. What on absolutely immaculate performance from 6 00:00:28,587 --> 00:00:32,667 Speaker 2: Oli Dunbar here Wellington teenager tournament wildcard and world number 7 00:00:32,707 --> 00:00:37,147 Speaker 2: two fifty five Oli Dunbar stunning world number fifty four 8 00:00:37,267 --> 00:00:41,107 Speaker 2: Ruey Suarez from Portugal three games to one. It meant 9 00:00:41,147 --> 00:00:44,587 Speaker 2: he faced third seed and world number twelve Ian Yo 10 00:00:44,867 --> 00:00:46,547 Speaker 2: Ng in the second round, where he put up a 11 00:00:46,547 --> 00:00:49,907 Speaker 2: great fight before going down in three sets. Olli Dunbar 12 00:00:50,147 --> 00:00:53,507 Speaker 2: is with us congratulations on a pretty special few days 13 00:00:53,507 --> 00:00:55,547 Speaker 2: for you. Oli. When did you find out first of 14 00:00:55,587 --> 00:00:58,267 Speaker 2: all that you'd be included in the New Zealand Open 15 00:00:58,347 --> 00:00:59,227 Speaker 2: as a wildcard? 16 00:01:00,107 --> 00:01:03,187 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, well, thank you. I got a call from 17 00:01:03,227 --> 00:01:08,867 Speaker 3: the national coach about a couple about in the December. 18 00:01:08,987 --> 00:01:10,547 Speaker 3: He gave me a ring and told me I'd be 19 00:01:10,547 --> 00:01:13,547 Speaker 3: the wild carter. Yeah, there was a really cool experience 20 00:01:13,667 --> 00:01:16,587 Speaker 3: or the draw and yes, just keen to have a 21 00:01:16,627 --> 00:01:17,107 Speaker 3: good crack. 22 00:01:17,507 --> 00:01:19,907 Speaker 2: How did you feel going into your first round match? 23 00:01:19,947 --> 00:01:22,947 Speaker 2: What what we you know? How did you feel ahead 24 00:01:22,987 --> 00:01:23,707 Speaker 2: of your first game. 25 00:01:24,707 --> 00:01:26,667 Speaker 3: Yeah, I felt felt good, you know, nothing to lose, 26 00:01:26,787 --> 00:01:29,987 Speaker 3: no pressure like obviously, being a wild card, I'm not expected, 27 00:01:30,147 --> 00:01:32,427 Speaker 3: not expected to win, so it was good. All the 28 00:01:32,427 --> 00:01:35,427 Speaker 3: pressure was on him. I just thought, just try to 29 00:01:35,427 --> 00:01:36,027 Speaker 3: play my game. 30 00:01:36,147 --> 00:01:39,227 Speaker 2: Yeah, at what point in the match did you feel 31 00:01:39,267 --> 00:01:40,827 Speaker 2: as though you might have a chance to win it? 32 00:01:42,107 --> 00:01:46,627 Speaker 3: Well? After the first hip, I was up about eight 33 00:01:46,707 --> 00:01:49,267 Speaker 3: four in the first hit, I think, and about then 34 00:01:49,347 --> 00:01:51,787 Speaker 3: I was like, all right, going to keep keep doing 35 00:01:51,827 --> 00:01:53,907 Speaker 3: what you're doing and might have a good shot here. 36 00:01:54,787 --> 00:01:57,267 Speaker 2: Did you how difficult is it to look across the 37 00:01:57,307 --> 00:01:58,827 Speaker 2: court and say, okay, well this is the world number 38 00:01:58,867 --> 00:02:01,747 Speaker 2: fifty four. I'm two fifty five in the world, so 39 00:02:01,787 --> 00:02:04,467 Speaker 2: here's a blow two hundred places above me in the 40 00:02:04,507 --> 00:02:08,827 Speaker 2: world rankings. Like, how do you not get overawed in 41 00:02:08,867 --> 00:02:10,027 Speaker 2: a situation like that? 42 00:02:11,707 --> 00:02:14,587 Speaker 3: Just I've just tried to stay focused on my game plan, 43 00:02:14,747 --> 00:02:17,427 Speaker 3: just trying and keep things simple, stay in the momument, 44 00:02:17,867 --> 00:02:19,987 Speaker 3: the big thing, not think about the end result. 45 00:02:20,947 --> 00:02:23,267 Speaker 2: What did you do particularly well that night? Do you think? 46 00:02:24,427 --> 00:02:27,507 Speaker 3: I think I had found my targets really well as 47 00:02:27,747 --> 00:02:31,187 Speaker 3: played quite accurate, which was good. Always helps me, especially 48 00:02:31,187 --> 00:02:32,907 Speaker 3: on a glass court. It's a bit different to a 49 00:02:32,907 --> 00:02:36,627 Speaker 3: traditional court, so yeah, it was good to you've got 50 00:02:36,667 --> 00:02:37,587 Speaker 3: that right from the start. 51 00:02:38,147 --> 00:02:40,067 Speaker 2: How are the emotions when you secured the one? 52 00:02:41,067 --> 00:02:43,387 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, I felt great, Probably one of the best 53 00:02:43,387 --> 00:02:45,467 Speaker 3: feelings I've ever had, so yeah it was. It was 54 00:02:45,467 --> 00:02:47,387 Speaker 3: awesome and had to crowd behind me as well, so 55 00:02:47,467 --> 00:02:47,867 Speaker 3: it was good. 56 00:02:48,187 --> 00:02:50,627 Speaker 2: It must be quite nice playing on a home court. 57 00:02:50,667 --> 00:02:53,027 Speaker 2: What's the venue like there at the because they've basically 58 00:02:53,067 --> 00:02:55,867 Speaker 2: put a glass court, a glass court in the middle 59 00:02:55,867 --> 00:02:56,987 Speaker 2: of a theater, is it. 60 00:02:56,987 --> 00:03:00,387 Speaker 3: Right, Yeah, that's right. So it's at the Isaac Theater 61 00:03:00,587 --> 00:03:03,787 Speaker 3: Royal and crush it. So it was absolutely awesome, like 62 00:03:04,547 --> 00:03:06,307 Speaker 3: one of the biggest crowds I've played in for an 63 00:03:06,587 --> 00:03:09,827 Speaker 3: than Yeah, it was great. The theater that looks awesome 64 00:03:10,027 --> 00:03:12,107 Speaker 3: just itself, and then put a squash caught up on 65 00:03:12,147 --> 00:03:14,787 Speaker 3: the stage. Is awesome that Not many of the players 66 00:03:14,787 --> 00:03:17,267 Speaker 3: have played anything like that before. So ye, it's come. 67 00:03:17,587 --> 00:03:20,907 Speaker 2: How was your opponent Ruy Suirez? Afterwards? Was he was 68 00:03:20,907 --> 00:03:21,907 Speaker 2: he humble and defeat? 69 00:03:22,867 --> 00:03:24,987 Speaker 3: Yeah, he was humble and defeat you look at well, 70 00:03:26,427 --> 00:03:28,667 Speaker 3: well it could be quite tough for some people, but yeah, 71 00:03:28,867 --> 00:03:30,227 Speaker 3: he took it well. So that was good. 72 00:03:30,747 --> 00:03:32,947 Speaker 2: And then you fit into a second round match against 73 00:03:32,987 --> 00:03:35,987 Speaker 2: the world number twelve. How do you reflect on on 74 00:03:36,027 --> 00:03:38,107 Speaker 2: the way you performed in that match. 75 00:03:39,227 --> 00:03:41,267 Speaker 3: Yeah, I don't think I played too poorly, Like the 76 00:03:41,267 --> 00:03:45,307 Speaker 3: score line wasn't that close, but I felt I played okay. 77 00:03:45,467 --> 00:03:49,147 Speaker 3: Just experience of a big part was specially pipping up 78 00:03:49,147 --> 00:03:51,547 Speaker 3: to that level. So hopefully get a bit more experienced 79 00:03:51,587 --> 00:03:55,027 Speaker 3: over the next few years and improved few aspects of 80 00:03:55,027 --> 00:03:57,427 Speaker 3: my game and hopefully get to that level. 81 00:03:57,867 --> 00:04:00,707 Speaker 2: Because I watched some of that game and there seemed 82 00:04:00,707 --> 00:04:02,427 Speaker 2: to be a lot of rallies that you were staying in. 83 00:04:02,827 --> 00:04:04,547 Speaker 2: You know, it wasn't as though it was a complete 84 00:04:04,867 --> 00:04:07,187 Speaker 2: whitewash by any stretch of the menation. Do you take 85 00:04:07,227 --> 00:04:09,307 Speaker 2: a quite a bit of heart from the fact that 86 00:04:09,307 --> 00:04:11,427 Speaker 2: that you, you know, you didn't just lie down against 87 00:04:11,427 --> 00:04:12,627 Speaker 2: one of the top players in the world. 88 00:04:13,547 --> 00:04:17,227 Speaker 3: Yeah, definitely. I spoke to national coach at host and 89 00:04:17,267 --> 00:04:19,907 Speaker 3: he who thought it was a thought I played well, 90 00:04:19,987 --> 00:04:23,227 Speaker 3: you know then just all the helleys, you know, competing 91 00:04:23,267 --> 00:04:25,907 Speaker 3: with him, but just he was just finishing them off better, 92 00:04:26,027 --> 00:04:28,667 Speaker 3: which is a big part, especially at the next level. 93 00:04:29,427 --> 00:04:33,267 Speaker 2: Paul Cole, of course, is top seed, defending champion. Is 94 00:04:33,307 --> 00:04:37,067 Speaker 2: he someone who as your squash journeys has sort of 95 00:04:37,427 --> 00:04:39,027 Speaker 2: started that you look up to. 96 00:04:39,987 --> 00:04:42,267 Speaker 3: Yeah, definitely. I remember watching him when I was younger 97 00:04:42,307 --> 00:04:44,867 Speaker 3: and like in the early hours of the morning, him 98 00:04:44,867 --> 00:04:47,787 Speaker 3: playing in finals overseas, and yeah, getting to know him 99 00:04:47,787 --> 00:04:49,707 Speaker 3: over the past few months have been really cool. He's 100 00:04:49,747 --> 00:04:53,307 Speaker 3: a great guy and obviously very successful squash player over 101 00:04:53,347 --> 00:04:55,547 Speaker 3: his career and more of them. Yeah. 102 00:04:55,587 --> 00:04:57,347 Speaker 2: Have you spent a bit of time, I mean, you're 103 00:04:57,387 --> 00:04:59,547 Speaker 2: both in the same tournament, you're both in the same 104 00:04:59,827 --> 00:05:01,347 Speaker 2: city at the moment. Have you had the chance to 105 00:05:01,347 --> 00:05:03,427 Speaker 2: spend any time with him in the last week or so? 106 00:05:04,347 --> 00:05:06,187 Speaker 3: Yeah, I've spent a bit of time with him, had 107 00:05:06,187 --> 00:05:08,747 Speaker 3: a media things to do with him, and yeah, I 108 00:05:08,867 --> 00:05:11,067 Speaker 3: had a couple hits of him which has been great, 109 00:05:11,147 --> 00:05:13,907 Speaker 3: giving me some advice and it's been really good again 110 00:05:13,987 --> 00:05:14,627 Speaker 3: to know him better. 111 00:05:14,947 --> 00:05:18,667 Speaker 2: Good stuff. So are you now a full time squash professional? 112 00:05:18,747 --> 00:05:19,787 Speaker 2: Is this your job now? 113 00:05:20,907 --> 00:05:24,147 Speaker 3: Yeah? Well, basically do a bit of work. I'm pack 114 00:05:24,227 --> 00:05:26,467 Speaker 3: and save on the on the spot and make a 115 00:05:26,467 --> 00:05:30,107 Speaker 3: bit of money, but yeah, most of the time. Yeah. 116 00:05:30,147 --> 00:05:32,787 Speaker 2: And so what does the next twelve months look like 117 00:05:32,987 --> 00:05:35,187 Speaker 2: for you then, Ollie? Are you going to be traveling 118 00:05:35,187 --> 00:05:37,027 Speaker 2: far and wide? Have you charted out what the year 119 00:05:37,067 --> 00:05:37,787 Speaker 2: looks like for you. 120 00:05:38,707 --> 00:05:41,587 Speaker 3: Yeah, so the next twelve months, well, the next probably 121 00:05:41,707 --> 00:05:45,347 Speaker 3: until in the July of the Worldingior Champs in Egypt, 122 00:05:45,707 --> 00:05:48,027 Speaker 3: which is a big focus for me, try and get 123 00:05:48,027 --> 00:05:50,467 Speaker 3: a meddle there. So I'm going to go overseas for 124 00:05:50,507 --> 00:05:53,267 Speaker 3: about a month beforehand to England just to get some 125 00:05:53,347 --> 00:05:57,147 Speaker 3: training and over there and then play the Worldingior Champs 126 00:05:57,187 --> 00:05:59,547 Speaker 3: in Egypt, and then I come home and regroup for 127 00:05:59,547 --> 00:06:02,227 Speaker 3: a bit and then gets stuck into the Senior tour. 128 00:06:02,707 --> 00:06:05,067 Speaker 2: Outstanding. How did you become involved in the game? When 129 00:06:05,107 --> 00:06:06,267 Speaker 2: did you first pick up a record? 130 00:06:07,587 --> 00:06:09,507 Speaker 3: First picked up for recup when I was probably about 131 00:06:10,107 --> 00:06:12,907 Speaker 3: seven or something like that and my parents just took 132 00:06:12,947 --> 00:06:16,787 Speaker 3: me down to the Kendala squash club and yeah, just 133 00:06:17,427 --> 00:06:19,387 Speaker 3: played ever since, both of them played. 134 00:06:19,427 --> 00:06:23,587 Speaker 2: So yeah, when did it become something you started well, 135 00:06:23,667 --> 00:06:26,867 Speaker 2: A realizing you were quite good at and B started 136 00:06:26,867 --> 00:06:29,707 Speaker 2: to take quite seriously and devote a lot more time 137 00:06:29,707 --> 00:06:32,667 Speaker 2: to What age would you have been Well, I. 138 00:06:32,747 --> 00:06:34,707 Speaker 3: Played it well since I was seven or so, but 139 00:06:35,267 --> 00:06:38,867 Speaker 3: I played other sports like cricket and football until I 140 00:06:38,907 --> 00:06:42,867 Speaker 3: was about fifteen maybe, so Yeah, when I was about fifteen, 141 00:06:42,907 --> 00:06:46,587 Speaker 3: I started to focus a lot more on squash, and yeah, 142 00:06:47,107 --> 00:06:47,787 Speaker 3: it's been good. 143 00:06:48,067 --> 00:06:50,347 Speaker 2: Well this has happened quite quickly then, because we're only 144 00:06:50,347 --> 00:06:54,547 Speaker 2: talking about three years. So where are the improvements still 145 00:06:54,587 --> 00:06:55,947 Speaker 2: to come in your game? What are you now two 146 00:06:56,027 --> 00:06:58,387 Speaker 2: hundred and fifty five in the world to really start 147 00:06:58,427 --> 00:07:02,187 Speaker 2: making strides up the world rankings and to have success. 148 00:07:02,467 --> 00:07:06,307 Speaker 2: What are the improvement areas that you're targeting at the moment. 149 00:07:06,387 --> 00:07:10,667 Speaker 3: Targeting like my short game and my attacking skills, like 150 00:07:11,187 --> 00:07:13,827 Speaker 3: I was like, like I said, I can compete in 151 00:07:13,867 --> 00:07:16,227 Speaker 3: the valleies against the top guys, but just finishing them 152 00:07:16,227 --> 00:07:19,387 Speaker 3: off at a whole other level. And obviously fitness can 153 00:07:19,427 --> 00:07:22,387 Speaker 3: always improve. You can always get fitter, and physicality is 154 00:07:22,427 --> 00:07:23,947 Speaker 3: a big thing at that level. Will be able to 155 00:07:23,947 --> 00:07:26,187 Speaker 3: do play like that for a long time, and the 156 00:07:26,227 --> 00:07:28,667 Speaker 3: intensity of the top guys is really high. 157 00:07:29,027 --> 00:07:31,627 Speaker 2: Indeed, what about patients, Ollie, do you have to be 158 00:07:31,787 --> 00:07:34,507 Speaker 2: quite patient because these rallies, I mean most of us 159 00:07:34,547 --> 00:07:36,507 Speaker 2: will never be in rallies as long as the ones 160 00:07:36,507 --> 00:07:38,227 Speaker 2: that you'll run. But do you do you have to 161 00:07:38,227 --> 00:07:41,067 Speaker 2: be patient and wait for the right opening to play 162 00:07:41,107 --> 00:07:41,507 Speaker 2: that winner. 163 00:07:42,347 --> 00:07:46,147 Speaker 3: Yeah. Mentally, there's also another area I need to focus on, 164 00:07:46,227 --> 00:07:48,787 Speaker 3: like just woritning for the right one, because it's like 165 00:07:48,827 --> 00:07:52,427 Speaker 3: you say, it's easy to just there's one. I could 166 00:07:52,507 --> 00:07:53,907 Speaker 3: go for it and then just go for it and 167 00:07:54,227 --> 00:07:56,067 Speaker 3: might not be the right time or might not play 168 00:07:56,107 --> 00:07:59,347 Speaker 3: the right shot. So yeah, just being patient is a 169 00:07:59,387 --> 00:08:02,747 Speaker 3: big Obviously Black Poor was very patient and wait for 170 00:08:02,787 --> 00:08:05,587 Speaker 3: the right one, and yeah, it's a really big part. Yeah. 171 00:08:06,067 --> 00:08:08,787 Speaker 2: And squash is now an Olympic sport, or will be 172 00:08:09,147 --> 00:08:11,947 Speaker 2: in Los Angeles twenty twenty eight and beyond. Have you 173 00:08:11,987 --> 00:08:15,067 Speaker 2: thought about what it might be like to represent your 174 00:08:15,107 --> 00:08:16,907 Speaker 2: country at in Olympic Games? 175 00:08:17,507 --> 00:08:19,707 Speaker 3: Yeah, that would be awesome. You know, it's a big 176 00:08:19,707 --> 00:08:22,467 Speaker 3: goal of mine to make you the twenty twenty eight 177 00:08:22,467 --> 00:08:26,507 Speaker 3: Olympics or hopefully twenty twenty or twenty thirty two. So yeah, 178 00:08:26,507 --> 00:08:28,867 Speaker 3: that would be awesome. You know, it's a pennacle of 179 00:08:29,627 --> 00:08:31,427 Speaker 3: every sport in the world, so to be able to 180 00:08:31,427 --> 00:08:32,427 Speaker 3: do that would be awesome. 181 00:08:33,227 --> 00:08:36,747 Speaker 2: And you're eighteen now, I don't know how old Paul Kohlers, 182 00:08:36,787 --> 00:08:38,547 Speaker 2: I get the feeling is in his late twenties. Now, 183 00:08:38,667 --> 00:08:41,027 Speaker 2: do you feel as though you're like win is the 184 00:08:41,467 --> 00:08:44,507 Speaker 2: win is the typical peak for a male squash player. 185 00:08:45,707 --> 00:08:48,787 Speaker 3: Yeah, probably, It varies for a lot of players. But Paul, 186 00:08:48,827 --> 00:08:52,947 Speaker 3: I think he's thirty two now thirty three maybe, so 187 00:08:52,987 --> 00:08:57,707 Speaker 3: he's like he's still in physically great condition like obviously, 188 00:08:57,907 --> 00:08:59,707 Speaker 3: and a lot of the top players that can be 189 00:08:59,747 --> 00:09:04,267 Speaker 3: anywhere from really twenty seven to thirty two or something 190 00:09:04,387 --> 00:09:07,347 Speaker 3: that's quite yeah, convary in this great players who were 191 00:09:07,387 --> 00:09:11,667 Speaker 3: younger as well, in their early twenties as well, So yeah, vary. 192 00:09:11,947 --> 00:09:15,747 Speaker 2: So you might have another fifteen years of this, you know, 193 00:09:16,427 --> 00:09:19,907 Speaker 2: I could imagine could become all consuming. What do you 194 00:09:19,947 --> 00:09:22,747 Speaker 2: do to relax when you're not hitting a squash? 195 00:09:22,747 --> 00:09:26,467 Speaker 3: For I spend time with my family is a big thing. 196 00:09:27,707 --> 00:09:29,547 Speaker 3: Play a bit of golf as well, which is good. 197 00:09:29,587 --> 00:09:33,467 Speaker 3: To get outside obviously squashes indoors. Yeah, so it's good 198 00:09:33,467 --> 00:09:36,587 Speaker 3: to get outside and see a bit more sunlight, which 199 00:09:36,707 --> 00:09:37,027 Speaker 3: is good. 200 00:09:38,547 --> 00:09:41,147 Speaker 2: Tremendous. Well, it was a great thrill for a lot 201 00:09:41,187 --> 00:09:43,667 Speaker 2: of squash fans around the country to watch you win 202 00:09:43,707 --> 00:09:46,827 Speaker 2: that first round match during the week. Oli a terrific 203 00:09:46,867 --> 00:09:51,267 Speaker 2: achievement for you, the first of many significant achievements. I'm 204 00:09:51,267 --> 00:09:53,067 Speaker 2: sure to come all the best for the rest of 205 00:09:53,107 --> 00:09:55,467 Speaker 2: you stay in New Zealand and towards the World Junior Champs. 206 00:09:55,747 --> 00:09:56,907 Speaker 2: I really enjoyed the chance. 207 00:09:56,747 --> 00:09:58,067 Speaker 3: To chat to you chess. 208 00:09:58,107 --> 00:10:00,507 Speaker 2: Thank you very much, Thank you for joining us. Oli Dunbar. 209 00:10:00,547 --> 00:10:03,667 Speaker 2: Their eighteen year old Oli Dunbar, who yeah, did something 210 00:10:03,707 --> 00:10:06,027 Speaker 2: pretty special during the week in his first crack at 211 00:10:06,067 --> 00:10:07,707 Speaker 2: the news on Squash Open and one out of the 212 00:10:07,707 --> 00:10:10,707 Speaker 2: world number fifty four. He's world number two fifty five, 213 00:10:10,787 --> 00:10:12,547 Speaker 2: So that gives you an idea of just what a 214 00:10:12,587 --> 00:10:16,067 Speaker 2: significant achievement that is. It's a name to remember, Ollie Dunbar. 215 00:10:16,867 --> 00:10:20,027 Speaker 1: For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 216 00:10:20,147 --> 00:10:23,427 Speaker 1: to news Talks at b Weekends from midday, or follow 217 00:10:23,467 --> 00:10:25,027 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.