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 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,747 --> 00:00:16,507 Speaker 2: Venus Williams will meet fifth seed Magda Lynette and a 4 00:00:16,547 --> 00:00:20,347 Speaker 2: blockbuster first round matchup at the ASB Women's Tennis Classic. 5 00:00:20,707 --> 00:00:23,507 Speaker 2: Forty five year old Venus Williams, handed a wild card 6 00:00:23,507 --> 00:00:27,307 Speaker 2: into the tournament, has won her previous two meetings against Lynnette, 7 00:00:27,347 --> 00:00:31,867 Speaker 2: albeit both were ten years ago. Top seed Alenas Fitzelina 8 00:00:32,107 --> 00:00:37,107 Speaker 2: faces world number seventy six Vivara Grichaeva of France in 9 00:00:37,147 --> 00:00:40,787 Speaker 2: the first round. Williams and Fitzelina have also confirmed they 10 00:00:40,827 --> 00:00:44,267 Speaker 2: will link up as a doubles combination for the tournament. 11 00:00:44,667 --> 00:00:47,467 Speaker 2: They have already been set down for the first session 12 00:00:47,987 --> 00:00:50,787 Speaker 2: on day one. We're just attempting to get in touch 13 00:00:51,067 --> 00:00:54,067 Speaker 2: with tournament director Nicholas lamper In as far as the 14 00:00:54,147 --> 00:00:56,547 Speaker 2: key weis are concerned. You might have heard us report 15 00:00:56,627 --> 00:01:00,787 Speaker 2: yesterday which is, you know, the news of Lulusun you know, 16 00:01:00,947 --> 00:01:04,747 Speaker 2: really unfortunate news for Lulu Sun and for the tournament 17 00:01:04,747 --> 00:01:07,747 Speaker 2: itself that she will not be able to part. Monique 18 00:01:07,747 --> 00:01:10,867 Speaker 2: Bowrye is the only key we in the field. She 19 00:01:11,027 --> 00:01:15,787 Speaker 2: is up against Alice Seedel of Belgium. Alice Sedel, I 20 00:01:15,827 --> 00:01:19,187 Speaker 2: think is the in fact she's from Germany, the eighty 21 00:01:19,347 --> 00:01:23,227 Speaker 2: sixth ranked player in the world, so you'd have to 22 00:01:23,227 --> 00:01:26,387 Speaker 2: think that that will take something special from Monique Bowrie 23 00:01:26,467 --> 00:01:29,227 Speaker 2: if she is to somehow find a way to get 24 00:01:29,227 --> 00:01:33,987 Speaker 2: past Alice Sedel, but with a raucous home crowd behind her, 25 00:01:34,387 --> 00:01:37,307 Speaker 2: who knows, who knows? It may well be one of 26 00:01:37,307 --> 00:01:40,067 Speaker 2: those where you know, I mean, upsets happen all the 27 00:01:40,107 --> 00:01:43,227 Speaker 2: time in sports, So Moniq Bowry flying the Kiwi Flag. 28 00:01:43,307 --> 00:01:47,147 Speaker 2: Qualifying continues this weekend, but it feels unlikely that there 29 00:01:47,147 --> 00:01:51,467 Speaker 2: will be any more key we involvement, unfortunately, just Monique 30 00:01:51,467 --> 00:01:55,387 Speaker 2: Bowry by the sounds of things, to fly the Kiwi Flag. 31 00:01:55,947 --> 00:01:58,627 Speaker 2: Nicholas Lamber and with a number of other commitments that 32 00:01:58,667 --> 00:02:02,827 Speaker 2: he has to negotiate in order to get through today. 33 00:02:03,307 --> 00:02:05,307 Speaker 2: It's the draws done and then he's got to do 34 00:02:05,427 --> 00:02:07,827 Speaker 2: all the other logist and we're just hoping that we'll 35 00:02:07,827 --> 00:02:10,107 Speaker 2: be able to take our call at some stage to 36 00:02:10,587 --> 00:02:15,027 Speaker 2: run an eye over the drawer. Emma Navarro is the 37 00:02:15,067 --> 00:02:18,187 Speaker 2: fifteenth seed, or the fifteenth ranked player in the world, 38 00:02:18,347 --> 00:02:21,947 Speaker 2: the second seed here. She's up against a British player 39 00:02:22,027 --> 00:02:26,707 Speaker 2: Francesca Jones and Fitzelina. As I say, against grit Scheva 40 00:02:27,107 --> 00:02:30,627 Speaker 2: in the first round, Fittelina and Navarro seem as though 41 00:02:30,667 --> 00:02:33,627 Speaker 2: they're on a collision course to meet in the finals. 42 00:02:33,627 --> 00:02:37,067 Speaker 2: Fittealena is fourteenth in the world, Emma Navarro is currently 43 00:02:37,107 --> 00:02:39,707 Speaker 2: the fifteenth ranked player in the world, and then you 44 00:02:40,227 --> 00:02:43,027 Speaker 2: drop all the way down to the third seed at 45 00:02:43,067 --> 00:02:47,147 Speaker 2: this tournament, Eva Djovich, and she is in the thirties 46 00:02:47,587 --> 00:02:51,187 Speaker 2: currently in the world. So it feels as though Fittilina 47 00:02:51,587 --> 00:02:56,907 Speaker 2: and Navarro are the the two likeliest finalists, but things 48 00:02:57,627 --> 00:03:02,747 Speaker 2: can change, and yeah, odd things happen at tournaments of 49 00:03:02,787 --> 00:03:05,907 Speaker 2: this type, especially early in the year, players looking ahead 50 00:03:05,907 --> 00:03:08,907 Speaker 2: to the the Australian Tennis Open and how they might 51 00:03:09,747 --> 00:03:12,347 Speaker 2: prepare best for that. All of these players, or the 52 00:03:12,347 --> 00:03:16,387 Speaker 2: majority of the top seeded players anyway, will be heading 53 00:03:16,427 --> 00:03:19,267 Speaker 2: across to the Australian Open when that gets underway, so 54 00:03:19,347 --> 00:03:21,587 Speaker 2: they'll have to manage their way through this weather wise. 55 00:03:22,747 --> 00:03:27,747 Speaker 2: It's always a very interesting little side issue to the 56 00:03:27,787 --> 00:03:30,467 Speaker 2: tennis and Auckland, isn't it that the weather can play 57 00:03:30,507 --> 00:03:34,187 Speaker 2: a part? And we're looking forward to the roof being 58 00:03:34,227 --> 00:03:38,067 Speaker 2: put on the Auckland Tennis Center, the center court. Anyway, 59 00:03:38,107 --> 00:03:41,827 Speaker 2: that investment has been confirmed by the sounds of it. 60 00:03:41,827 --> 00:03:44,707 Speaker 2: It might not quite be finished by next year, but 61 00:03:44,787 --> 00:03:49,507 Speaker 2: twenty twenty eight, certainly it will be a roofed center court. 62 00:03:49,827 --> 00:03:51,427 Speaker 2: But I'm looking ahead to the forecast. There's a bit 63 00:03:51,467 --> 00:03:55,467 Speaker 2: of rain around today and tomorrow, but from Monday, I'm 64 00:03:55,507 --> 00:03:58,027 Speaker 2: looking at this at the long term forecast here the 65 00:03:58,067 --> 00:04:02,667 Speaker 2: seven day forecast and Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, there's 66 00:04:02,747 --> 00:04:06,347 Speaker 2: no rain in the forecast at all, which I'm sure 67 00:04:06,467 --> 00:04:10,107 Speaker 2: sure will be a huge relief for Nicholas Lamper and 68 00:04:10,147 --> 00:04:12,147 Speaker 2: who in the past. I mean, that's the one thing 69 00:04:12,227 --> 00:04:15,667 Speaker 2: you can't control, right. You can do everything in your 70 00:04:15,827 --> 00:04:20,627 Speaker 2: power to get things ready for the tournament, to secure 71 00:04:20,667 --> 00:04:23,427 Speaker 2: all of the best players, and the one thing you cannot, 72 00:04:23,707 --> 00:04:27,987 Speaker 2: you cannot negotiate for, is the weather. Nicholas Lamper and 73 00:04:28,067 --> 00:04:30,227 Speaker 2: joins us, Nicholas, I know you're very busy just on 74 00:04:30,267 --> 00:04:32,787 Speaker 2: the weather. You'll be delighted with the forecast. Hardly any 75 00:04:32,867 --> 00:04:34,787 Speaker 2: rain in the forecast at all beyond tomorrow. 76 00:04:36,267 --> 00:04:39,987 Speaker 3: Yeah, hi yah, so far, so good. You know, Qualley 77 00:04:40,067 --> 00:04:44,307 Speaker 3: is starting this morning at eleven. I think we just 78 00:04:44,347 --> 00:04:48,627 Speaker 3: need to get through today because there's potentially some showers, 79 00:04:48,627 --> 00:04:52,107 Speaker 3: but I think from tomorrow onwards, the rest of the 80 00:04:52,147 --> 00:04:53,787 Speaker 3: week looks pretty good. 81 00:04:54,387 --> 00:04:56,427 Speaker 2: The draw has been made. How happy are you with 82 00:04:56,507 --> 00:04:58,867 Speaker 2: the draw you've got for the women's tournament. 83 00:05:01,627 --> 00:05:06,187 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it's very progressive drawl. The top seeds 84 00:05:06,747 --> 00:05:10,027 Speaker 3: are protected in the first two rounds, but at the 85 00:05:10,027 --> 00:05:14,267 Speaker 3: same time got some interesting matchups with various Williams coming 86 00:05:14,307 --> 00:05:18,387 Speaker 3: back and playing the number five seed, and also Alexandro 87 00:05:18,747 --> 00:05:22,707 Speaker 3: hell at the number four seed facing Donovikich in the 88 00:05:22,747 --> 00:05:26,787 Speaker 3: first round, who was a silver medalist at the Paris Olympics. 89 00:05:27,227 --> 00:05:30,547 Speaker 2: Can you just give us some insight into the draw procedure, Nicholas, 90 00:05:30,547 --> 00:05:31,587 Speaker 2: How does it all work? 91 00:05:33,547 --> 00:05:36,667 Speaker 3: It's all based on ranking. So basically what we do 92 00:05:36,867 --> 00:05:42,787 Speaker 3: is we you have eight seeds which are positioned on 93 00:05:42,827 --> 00:05:45,667 Speaker 3: a particular line of the draw, and then all the 94 00:05:45,747 --> 00:05:49,267 Speaker 3: rest is it's random, so we just pick the numbers 95 00:05:49,347 --> 00:05:52,667 Speaker 3: and they're being allocated from top to bottom. 96 00:05:52,947 --> 00:05:56,707 Speaker 2: Elena Spittelina and Emminavarro are your top two seeds. Do 97 00:05:56,787 --> 00:05:59,867 Speaker 2: they feel as though they're on a collision course to 98 00:05:59,947 --> 00:06:00,747 Speaker 2: meet in the final? 99 00:06:02,467 --> 00:06:05,827 Speaker 3: I would think so, But at the same time, it's 100 00:06:05,947 --> 00:06:08,667 Speaker 3: you know, the the first Woman of the Year, and 101 00:06:09,307 --> 00:06:12,587 Speaker 3: the form and the level of preparation of players can 102 00:06:12,747 --> 00:06:15,507 Speaker 3: can really vary from uh, you know, one player to 103 00:06:15,507 --> 00:06:19,187 Speaker 3: the next one. So I guess, you know, I would 104 00:06:19,187 --> 00:06:21,867 Speaker 3: say if they win their first two rounds, we could 105 00:06:21,947 --> 00:06:24,987 Speaker 3: you know, potentially see them, you know, going as far 106 00:06:25,027 --> 00:06:25,947 Speaker 3: as the as the final. 107 00:06:26,707 --> 00:06:29,587 Speaker 2: How much do you enjoy having Venus Williams in Auckland. 108 00:06:31,387 --> 00:06:33,987 Speaker 3: It's it's a massive joy for us. You know, she's 109 00:06:34,307 --> 00:06:38,707 Speaker 3: she's she's bigger than any of the players in the 110 00:06:38,747 --> 00:06:43,867 Speaker 3: tennis world. She's dedication at forty five years old, is 111 00:06:45,547 --> 00:06:47,667 Speaker 3: you know, never never heard of she She's the first 112 00:06:47,667 --> 00:06:51,507 Speaker 3: one at the club in the morning when everybody else 113 00:06:51,587 --> 00:06:55,347 Speaker 3: is probably still sleeping. She's training early, she's stay at 114 00:06:55,347 --> 00:06:59,907 Speaker 3: the gym. And then she actually asked us yesterday about 115 00:07:00,187 --> 00:07:03,947 Speaker 3: playing doubles as well, so I can I can announce 116 00:07:03,987 --> 00:07:06,187 Speaker 3: you that she will be competing in the doubles draw 117 00:07:07,187 --> 00:07:08,387 Speaker 3: with Elena Aina. 118 00:07:08,867 --> 00:07:12,547 Speaker 2: Oh brilliant, so Venus Williams and Elena's Fortelina as a 119 00:07:12,627 --> 00:07:16,307 Speaker 2: doubles combination, and it's it'll be something to look out for. 120 00:07:16,387 --> 00:07:18,107 Speaker 2: Have youve got have you done the draw for the doubles? 121 00:07:18,107 --> 00:07:20,227 Speaker 2: I think you may have they they're going to play 122 00:07:20,227 --> 00:07:22,707 Speaker 2: on day one? Are they as a as a doubles co? 123 00:07:22,947 --> 00:07:23,347 Speaker 2: We haven't. 124 00:07:23,427 --> 00:07:26,547 Speaker 3: We haven't done the draw for the doubles yet because 125 00:07:26,587 --> 00:07:32,067 Speaker 3: the signing deadline finishes tomorrow, but we know already that 126 00:07:32,427 --> 00:07:37,507 Speaker 3: will schedule Venus and Elena for the first doubles match 127 00:07:37,587 --> 00:07:39,387 Speaker 3: on on Monday during the day session. 128 00:07:39,907 --> 00:07:43,347 Speaker 2: Outstanding Harmonic Barry the Kiwi a first round meeting with 129 00:07:43,387 --> 00:07:47,027 Speaker 2: eighty sixth ranked German Ela Seigel. Could she cause an 130 00:07:47,067 --> 00:07:49,867 Speaker 2: upset with a raucous home crowd behind her? 131 00:07:51,867 --> 00:07:53,707 Speaker 3: I would love to think so. I think, you know, 132 00:07:53,827 --> 00:07:56,147 Speaker 3: Mo Nigue's got a got a big game, and she's 133 00:07:56,147 --> 00:07:58,387 Speaker 3: she's got what it takes to to be those those 134 00:07:58,427 --> 00:08:02,147 Speaker 3: girls ranking in the top hundred. You know, last year 135 00:08:02,227 --> 00:08:05,267 Speaker 3: she she wasn't far. She she was an on really 136 00:08:05,307 --> 00:08:07,987 Speaker 3: good form and I'm really looking forward to see how 137 00:08:08,067 --> 00:08:10,427 Speaker 3: much it's improved twelve months later. 138 00:08:10,987 --> 00:08:12,787 Speaker 2: Fantastic. I know you've got other things to do, Nicholas, 139 00:08:12,827 --> 00:08:15,507 Speaker 2: but what does take up most of your time during 140 00:08:15,507 --> 00:08:17,827 Speaker 2: the tournament. You've got us to this point, the draws 141 00:08:17,827 --> 00:08:20,187 Speaker 2: downe the tournament's about to start, we've got qualifying. What 142 00:08:20,307 --> 00:08:23,507 Speaker 2: takes up most of your time during the tournament itself. 143 00:08:24,867 --> 00:08:29,187 Speaker 3: I can't say, because it's it's so many different things 144 00:08:29,707 --> 00:08:32,867 Speaker 3: that I need to look after. We do get a 145 00:08:32,907 --> 00:08:35,667 Speaker 3: lot of requests from players in terms of, you know, 146 00:08:35,707 --> 00:08:38,347 Speaker 3: what time they can practice and things they can do 147 00:08:38,387 --> 00:08:40,347 Speaker 3: in Auckland, or what time they want to play the 148 00:08:40,427 --> 00:08:43,987 Speaker 3: match or so there's a lot of those requests that 149 00:08:44,067 --> 00:08:47,067 Speaker 3: we need to look after. We always spend a lot 150 00:08:47,067 --> 00:08:49,667 Speaker 3: of time also working on the schedule, just to make 151 00:08:49,707 --> 00:08:53,107 Speaker 3: sure it's fair and balance normally for the players, but 152 00:08:53,147 --> 00:08:56,067 Speaker 3: also for the ticket holders between the day and the 153 00:08:56,427 --> 00:09:01,387 Speaker 3: evening sessions, and you know, just checking that everything's running 154 00:09:01,467 --> 00:09:05,827 Speaker 3: smoothly around the stadium, whether it's for our sponsors, our 155 00:09:05,947 --> 00:09:11,347 Speaker 3: fun I were broadcasters. So yeah, there's plenty to keep 156 00:09:11,387 --> 00:09:11,787 Speaker 3: me busy. 157 00:09:12,467 --> 00:09:14,467 Speaker 2: Vet Theros, thank you for joining us at a very 158 00:09:14,467 --> 00:09:16,147 Speaker 2: busy time for you, Nicholas, all the best for the 159 00:09:16,187 --> 00:09:19,907 Speaker 2: next two weeks there at the ASP Classic. Thank you 160 00:09:20,627 --> 00:09:23,907 Speaker 2: Nicholas Lamber and tournament director. With the women's draw done 161 00:09:24,267 --> 00:09:27,947 Speaker 2: and that news there that the doubles combo that'll be 162 00:09:27,947 --> 00:09:31,627 Speaker 2: one to watch. Elenas Fittelina and Venus Williams teaming up 163 00:09:31,667 --> 00:09:34,707 Speaker 2: as a doubles combination and they will play in the 164 00:09:34,707 --> 00:09:40,747 Speaker 2: first session on day one. Venus Williams has a tournament 165 00:09:40,787 --> 00:09:43,867 Speaker 2: wild card, of course, into the singles, up against fifth 166 00:09:43,907 --> 00:09:48,707 Speaker 2: seed Magda Lynnette in a blockbuster first round match. Fittelina 167 00:09:48,747 --> 00:09:52,547 Speaker 2: will face world number seventy six Vivara Grichava in the 168 00:09:52,547 --> 00:09:55,587 Speaker 2: first round. Emminavarro, as mentioned, up against the British player 169 00:09:55,667 --> 00:09:58,347 Speaker 2: Francesca Jones. We will keep you right up today with 170 00:09:58,987 --> 00:10:01,107 Speaker 2: all of the tennis action over the next little while. 171 00:10:01,667 --> 00:10:04,827 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 172 00:10:04,947 --> 00:10:08,227 Speaker 1: to News Talk zed b cans from midday or follow 173 00:10:08,267 --> 00:10:09,867 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.