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 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from News Talk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,627 --> 00:00:15,947 Speaker 2: Bimbolden quarter finalist Lulu Son will play under the New 4 00:00:15,987 --> 00:00:18,667 Speaker 2: Zealand flag at the ASB Tennis Classic for the first 5 00:00:18,667 --> 00:00:21,667 Speaker 2: time this summer. LULUs On the first announcement for the 6 00:00:21,667 --> 00:00:24,507 Speaker 2: Auckland tournament starts on December the thirtieth, with the women's 7 00:00:24,507 --> 00:00:27,467 Speaker 2: tournament in rolls into the men's. Lu Lusn has twice 8 00:00:27,507 --> 00:00:30,667 Speaker 2: played in Auckland before, but under the Swiss flag. This 9 00:00:30,747 --> 00:00:33,667 Speaker 2: is the first time you'll play under the Kiwi frag flag. 10 00:00:33,747 --> 00:00:37,987 Speaker 2: Let's bring in tournament director Nicholas lambrin He Nicholas, how 11 00:00:38,067 --> 00:00:40,587 Speaker 2: keen were you to get lu LUs On back after 12 00:00:40,587 --> 00:00:41,467 Speaker 2: the year that she's had. 13 00:00:42,387 --> 00:00:47,107 Speaker 3: I Lulu was clearly one of our priorities. You know, 14 00:00:47,387 --> 00:00:50,267 Speaker 3: this is the first time a New Zealand player which 15 00:00:50,307 --> 00:00:54,507 Speaker 3: is the quarterfinal Wimbledon, especially coming from Quali, so it 16 00:00:54,587 --> 00:00:58,427 Speaker 3: was really an achievement that we wanted to reward and 17 00:00:58,747 --> 00:01:00,827 Speaker 3: I do believe this is just the beginning for her. 18 00:01:01,547 --> 00:01:04,427 Speaker 3: I was in Cincinnati last week. I saw it going 19 00:01:04,467 --> 00:01:07,627 Speaker 3: through qualities again, winning a matchine the Mendraw and as 20 00:01:07,667 --> 00:01:11,107 Speaker 3: we speak, you know She's just won a quarterfinals in Monterey, 21 00:01:11,147 --> 00:01:12,587 Speaker 3: will be in the Semis tomorrow. 22 00:01:13,947 --> 00:01:17,627 Speaker 2: The WTA role state you can only have two players 23 00:01:17,707 --> 00:01:20,947 Speaker 2: ranked between eleven and thirty. Are you hoping that Lulu 24 00:01:20,947 --> 00:01:23,107 Speaker 2: soon stays out of the world's top thirty so that 25 00:01:23,147 --> 00:01:25,147 Speaker 2: she doesn't take up one of those spots and you 26 00:01:25,187 --> 00:01:26,227 Speaker 2: still have two available. 27 00:01:27,747 --> 00:01:31,187 Speaker 3: We've got some flexibility. I think, you know, if Lulu 28 00:01:31,347 --> 00:01:33,547 Speaker 3: was to become a top thirty player, there would be 29 00:01:33,947 --> 00:01:37,747 Speaker 3: a good problem to have for us. But also there's 30 00:01:37,787 --> 00:01:43,027 Speaker 3: also there's another exception about national players, so she wouldn't 31 00:01:43,507 --> 00:01:46,387 Speaker 3: fall within that rule. Okay, well, we could still have 32 00:01:46,707 --> 00:01:48,627 Speaker 3: two other players ranked between eleven and thirty. 33 00:01:48,827 --> 00:01:51,587 Speaker 2: Wonderful. The other role, which is interesting is you can 34 00:01:51,627 --> 00:01:54,187 Speaker 2: only have a top ten player if she is the 35 00:01:54,227 --> 00:01:57,947 Speaker 2: defending champion. That's Coco Golf, of course, two time defending champion. 36 00:01:58,347 --> 00:02:01,027 Speaker 2: Can you give us any indication about whether she will 37 00:02:01,067 --> 00:02:02,067 Speaker 2: be back this summer. 38 00:02:03,507 --> 00:02:06,307 Speaker 3: It's a little bit early to say. There's a lot 39 00:02:06,467 --> 00:02:10,547 Speaker 3: of a conversation going on at the moment, and I 40 00:02:10,587 --> 00:02:13,307 Speaker 3: can't really comment on Cockoo's participation at this time. 41 00:02:13,587 --> 00:02:16,267 Speaker 2: You'd like to have her back, though, of. 42 00:02:16,187 --> 00:02:17,907 Speaker 3: Course, I mean, you know, Coco is probably one of 43 00:02:18,067 --> 00:02:21,507 Speaker 3: the best ambassador of the sport. But if she's not 44 00:02:22,227 --> 00:02:25,347 Speaker 3: able to come back, then we will also have some 45 00:02:25,387 --> 00:02:26,547 Speaker 3: really good opportunities. 46 00:02:27,467 --> 00:02:29,467 Speaker 2: Yeah, I look at the roles and I know you're 47 00:02:29,467 --> 00:02:31,747 Speaker 2: bound by them. But there are some big name players, 48 00:02:31,787 --> 00:02:34,307 Speaker 2: aren't they, Nicholas who would be major draw cards who 49 00:02:34,307 --> 00:02:36,427 Speaker 2: are outside the top thirty, aren't there? 50 00:02:37,547 --> 00:02:39,547 Speaker 3: Yes, I mean that's that's the reality. If you look 51 00:02:39,587 --> 00:02:43,707 Speaker 3: at the there's a lot of Grand Slam winners who 52 00:02:43,907 --> 00:02:48,227 Speaker 3: rank outside of the top thirty, and we're able to 53 00:02:48,787 --> 00:02:52,267 Speaker 3: go after them and bring them to Auckland. So we're 54 00:02:52,307 --> 00:02:56,387 Speaker 3: not really worried about the rules from the WTA. There's 55 00:02:56,547 --> 00:02:58,587 Speaker 3: many ways to work around them. 56 00:02:59,027 --> 00:03:01,747 Speaker 2: The rules aren't quite so strict for the means tournament obviously. 57 00:03:01,827 --> 00:03:03,507 Speaker 2: Do you think you'll be able to get a top 58 00:03:03,547 --> 00:03:05,627 Speaker 2: ten player to Auckland for the summer? 59 00:03:06,987 --> 00:03:08,947 Speaker 3: Top ten is always a bit of a challenge on 60 00:03:08,987 --> 00:03:12,587 Speaker 3: the men's side for a number of reasons. You know 61 00:03:12,667 --> 00:03:15,707 Speaker 3: traditionally that the top ten guys don't necessarily want to 62 00:03:15,707 --> 00:03:19,747 Speaker 3: play the week before going some Also, now we as 63 00:03:19,747 --> 00:03:21,307 Speaker 3: you know, we have a started final and you just 64 00:03:21,627 --> 00:03:25,907 Speaker 3: open start on the Sunday, which is a little bit challenging. However, 65 00:03:26,067 --> 00:03:28,387 Speaker 3: you know, we still have some some discussions going on, 66 00:03:28,627 --> 00:03:31,387 Speaker 3: and if not top ten, there will be some some 67 00:03:31,467 --> 00:03:33,347 Speaker 3: players between ten and twenty for sure. 68 00:03:33,667 --> 00:03:36,147 Speaker 2: When you sit down with these players and or presumably 69 00:03:36,147 --> 00:03:39,707 Speaker 2: they are representatives or both, what's your pitch to them 70 00:03:39,787 --> 00:03:41,587 Speaker 2: to try and lure them to Aalkland. 71 00:03:43,787 --> 00:03:47,347 Speaker 3: It's a combination of factors. I guess. The first thing 72 00:03:47,507 --> 00:03:51,947 Speaker 3: is it needs to fit within the schedule. Some players 73 00:03:51,987 --> 00:03:55,267 Speaker 3: want to play one tournament before the turn open, others 74 00:03:55,267 --> 00:03:57,987 Speaker 3: want to play two, so we we need to to 75 00:03:58,187 --> 00:04:01,907 Speaker 3: factor there in. And also, you know, we you know, 76 00:04:01,947 --> 00:04:04,667 Speaker 3: we're trying to track them. I mean not only from 77 00:04:04,827 --> 00:04:07,387 Speaker 3: a financial point of view, because you know the dollars 78 00:04:07,747 --> 00:04:11,067 Speaker 3: do matter in that in that regard, but also in 79 00:04:11,147 --> 00:04:13,587 Speaker 3: terms of the experience that we can offer to the 80 00:04:13,627 --> 00:04:17,907 Speaker 3: players in Oakland. We were lucky to have a great 81 00:04:17,947 --> 00:04:22,707 Speaker 3: history and players speak really highly of the tournament. We 82 00:04:22,747 --> 00:04:27,227 Speaker 3: get really good grades also from from the tool supervisors 83 00:04:27,227 --> 00:04:30,867 Speaker 3: both on the HPN W t A. So all all 84 00:04:31,027 --> 00:04:33,707 Speaker 3: of these factors really help to track the top talent. 85 00:04:33,987 --> 00:04:35,427 Speaker 2: And I guess from your point of view, you can't 86 00:04:35,547 --> 00:04:37,867 Speaker 2: you can't have everybody, can you. I mean, you do 87 00:04:37,947 --> 00:04:41,267 Speaker 2: have a budget that you work with. Then how do 88 00:04:41,347 --> 00:04:43,667 Speaker 2: you do the sums in your head, you know, trying 89 00:04:43,667 --> 00:04:47,027 Speaker 2: to tract some really big draw cards, but also making 90 00:04:47,067 --> 00:04:48,107 Speaker 2: sure that the numbers work. 91 00:04:49,187 --> 00:04:52,787 Speaker 3: Yeah, we need to be selective, you know, as when 92 00:04:52,787 --> 00:04:56,107 Speaker 3: we I do the player feel trying to select maybe 93 00:04:56,267 --> 00:04:59,787 Speaker 3: four or five players on the men's side and on 94 00:04:59,827 --> 00:05:02,907 Speaker 3: the women's side, and and then I go after the 95 00:05:03,427 --> 00:05:06,947 Speaker 3: ones that I believe the funds in Aukland want to 96 00:05:06,947 --> 00:05:10,827 Speaker 3: watch and also the ones that you know, I know 97 00:05:10,907 --> 00:05:12,547 Speaker 3: we'll be able to deliver on the. 98 00:05:12,467 --> 00:05:16,907 Speaker 2: Court fantastic And Kiwi's I know a feature in the 99 00:05:16,907 --> 00:05:20,147 Speaker 2: early round anyway has been Kiwi involvement. They'll be there 100 00:05:20,147 --> 00:05:23,187 Speaker 2: again potentially, you know you'll get wild cards, will you 101 00:05:23,267 --> 00:05:24,427 Speaker 2: to some Kiwi plas? 102 00:05:24,987 --> 00:05:28,907 Speaker 3: Yeah, we still have that playoff system. So there's there's 103 00:05:28,947 --> 00:05:31,907 Speaker 3: a player for the men's in piano and another one 104 00:05:31,947 --> 00:05:34,747 Speaker 3: for the women's at the v Tennis Center. The winner 105 00:05:34,787 --> 00:05:39,147 Speaker 3: gets Mendro and the runner up gets qualies. On top 106 00:05:39,187 --> 00:05:42,587 Speaker 3: of this, will most likely have you know, Marcus Daniel 107 00:05:43,467 --> 00:05:47,547 Speaker 3: plays last tournament in Oakland in doubles, so we'll be 108 00:05:47,587 --> 00:05:48,307 Speaker 3: glad to have him. 109 00:05:48,747 --> 00:05:51,267 Speaker 2: And you mentioned you're in the United States at the moment. 110 00:05:51,267 --> 00:05:53,667 Speaker 2: I know you spend some time at Wimbledon, so in 111 00:05:53,707 --> 00:05:56,707 Speaker 2: your travels, I mean, it feels like a dream job, 112 00:05:56,747 --> 00:05:58,467 Speaker 2: but it's probably all business for you. Is that you 113 00:05:58,507 --> 00:06:00,267 Speaker 2: actually get to watch any decent tennis. 114 00:06:01,667 --> 00:06:03,947 Speaker 3: Yeah, I've watched a lot of tennis over the summer. 115 00:06:04,427 --> 00:06:06,907 Speaker 3: I was at Wimbledon, then I went to Paris with 116 00:06:06,987 --> 00:06:10,427 Speaker 3: the Olympics. I was in Cincinnati last week. I'm this 117 00:06:10,587 --> 00:06:13,307 Speaker 3: week in New York for the UTS in the new 118 00:06:13,547 --> 00:06:16,907 Speaker 3: short format, which is quite interesting to watch. And then 119 00:06:16,907 --> 00:06:19,507 Speaker 3: I'll be at the US Open starting from from next 120 00:06:19,547 --> 00:06:21,787 Speaker 3: week and then back back in Auckland. 121 00:06:21,827 --> 00:06:25,707 Speaker 2: All right, and everything's in in place. You're where you 122 00:06:25,747 --> 00:06:28,147 Speaker 2: want to be in sort of. As we head towards 123 00:06:28,187 --> 00:06:30,387 Speaker 2: the end of August with the tournament, I'm sure it 124 00:06:30,347 --> 00:06:32,787 Speaker 2: will rush up quickly the back end of December. 125 00:06:33,787 --> 00:06:37,467 Speaker 3: Yeah, everything's in place. You know, we've we've made our 126 00:06:37,507 --> 00:06:42,427 Speaker 3: first announcement yesterday. Tickets go go and sell next week 127 00:06:42,667 --> 00:06:45,347 Speaker 3: and we'll start announcing more and more players as the 128 00:06:45,387 --> 00:06:48,227 Speaker 3: weeks get get closer to the start of the tournament. 129 00:06:48,467 --> 00:06:51,707 Speaker 2: Terrific. As I said, it's always a major draw card 130 00:06:51,747 --> 00:06:54,867 Speaker 2: on the New Zealand Sporting calendar. Nicholas, thanks for having 131 00:06:54,867 --> 00:06:57,027 Speaker 2: a chat to us. All the best with your ongoing 132 00:06:57,027 --> 00:06:59,547 Speaker 2: negotiations and look forward to catching up again as the 133 00:06:59,587 --> 00:07:00,627 Speaker 2: tournament draws closer. 134 00:07:01,787 --> 00:07:02,387 Speaker 3: My pleasure. 135 00:07:02,467 --> 00:07:04,667 Speaker 2: Thanks very much, No, thank you, Nicholas, Nicholas Lamper and 136 00:07:04,667 --> 00:07:07,427 Speaker 2: there joining us out of the United States the ASP Classics. 137 00:07:07,507 --> 00:07:10,907 Speaker 2: So it starts on December thirty. The women's week runs 138 00:07:10,907 --> 00:07:13,107 Speaker 2: through until January five, and then the men take over 139 00:07:13,147 --> 00:07:18,427 Speaker 2: from January sixth through eleven, leading directly into the first 140 00:07:18,467 --> 00:07:20,507 Speaker 2: round of the Australian Tennis Open. And it will be 141 00:07:20,507 --> 00:07:23,787 Speaker 2: here before you know it, twenty twenty five. Can you 142 00:07:23,827 --> 00:07:24,227 Speaker 2: believe it? 143 00:07:24,707 --> 00:07:24,907 Speaker 3: Yeah? 144 00:07:24,907 --> 00:07:27,267 Speaker 2: And justific case you missed that news, Lulusan is through 145 00:07:27,267 --> 00:07:31,907 Speaker 2: to the semifinals of the Monterey Open in Mexico. She's 146 00:07:31,947 --> 00:07:36,707 Speaker 2: cruised past Russian Erica on Dreva in straight sets sixty 147 00:07:36,707 --> 00:07:39,307 Speaker 2: four six three. It's also been confirmed that at the 148 00:07:39,467 --> 00:07:43,947 Speaker 2: US Open, Luluslan will take on Italian Lucia Bronzetti in 149 00:07:43,987 --> 00:07:46,947 Speaker 2: the opening round. That's the final Grand Slam event of 150 00:07:46,987 --> 00:07:49,147 Speaker 2: the year, so let's say lu Lusun can finish strongly. 151 00:07:49,347 --> 00:07:51,267 Speaker 2: Great to note that she's going to end the year 152 00:07:52,027 --> 00:07:55,387 Speaker 2: and be here over the summer at the ASB Classic 153 00:07:55,547 --> 00:07:56,347 Speaker 2: in Auckland. 154 00:07:56,907 --> 00:08:00,107 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 155 00:08:00,227 --> 00:08:03,627 Speaker 1: to News Talk ZEDB weekends from midday, or follow the 156 00:08:03,667 --> 00:08:05,147 Speaker 1: podcast on iHeartRadio