1 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:07,680 S1: When Australian Open stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka 2 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:10,319 S1: hit the courts this week, they'll do so with the 3 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:15,080 S1: support of screaming fans, massive sponsorship deals and a shot 4 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:17,320 S1: at a record breaking prize haul. 5 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:20,560 S2: Oh, Carlos. 6 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:26,400 S1: But what of those who aren't even close to being 7 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:29,800 S1: world number one? For them, the journey to this week 8 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:32,680 S1: is often a struggle to make ends meet. One of 9 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:36,720 S1: scrimping and saving, often without a paid coach, let alone 10 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:45,040 S1: a sponsor. I'm Samantha Selinger Morris, and you're listening to 11 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:49,440 S1: the Morning Edition from The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. Today, 12 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:54,360 S1: sports reporter Mark McGowan on whether Australian Open competitors get 13 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:57,520 S1: paid enough, and the gruelling journey to get to the 14 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:01,810 S1: Australian Open. For those tennis players you've probably never heard of. up. 15 00:01:08,170 --> 00:01:11,130 S3: So Mark, the Australian Open has kicked off and this 16 00:01:11,130 --> 00:01:15,170 S3: year the players prize pool has jumped up significantly. So 17 00:01:15,170 --> 00:01:18,530 S3: can you just take us through the eye watering figures. 18 00:01:19,050 --> 00:01:24,690 S4: Yeah. Look obviously the the $111.5 million figure right at 19 00:01:24,690 --> 00:01:28,250 S4: the top. That's obviously huge money. When people hear that 20 00:01:28,250 --> 00:01:30,450 S4: that sort of stuff, their eyes water a little bit. 21 00:01:30,450 --> 00:01:36,209 S4: And we obviously all know about the top one, two, 3% 22 00:01:36,450 --> 00:01:40,130 S4: of of tennis. And that's where the millions are. You know, 23 00:01:40,610 --> 00:01:42,929 S4: if you win the Australian Open, you're winning a hell 24 00:01:42,930 --> 00:01:45,770 S4: of a lot of money. What the Australian Open does 25 00:01:45,770 --> 00:01:49,970 S4: quite well though, is down the bottom. And that's, I think, 26 00:01:49,970 --> 00:01:52,170 S4: what we want to explore a little bit here. Sam, 27 00:01:52,490 --> 00:01:55,970 S4: you go right down to the qualifying battlers and these 28 00:01:55,970 --> 00:01:59,810 S4: are the players ranked, I don't know, let's say 110 to, 29 00:02:00,090 --> 00:02:03,370 S4: you know, 220 odd in the world. Massive effort to 30 00:02:03,450 --> 00:02:07,050 S4: even qualify for an Australian Open. But they desperately need 31 00:02:07,050 --> 00:02:10,130 S4: this money. And so if we break it down, I've 32 00:02:10,130 --> 00:02:13,970 S4: got these figures right in front of me. So if 33 00:02:14,010 --> 00:02:18,130 S4: you make the first round and you lose $150,000 seems 34 00:02:18,130 --> 00:02:20,850 S4: pretty good. That's pretty good money. But you've obviously got 35 00:02:20,850 --> 00:02:23,090 S4: to make it there first. So let's go back to qualifying. 36 00:02:23,610 --> 00:02:28,730 S4: Losing first round of qualifying 40,500. Losing second round of 37 00:02:28,730 --> 00:02:36,570 S4: qualifying 57,000. Losing final round qualifying 83,500. Now I don't 38 00:02:36,610 --> 00:02:38,370 S4: know how you react to that. What? You might as 39 00:02:38,370 --> 00:02:39,970 S4: well start with that. What do you think when you 40 00:02:39,970 --> 00:02:40,610 S4: hear that money? 41 00:02:40,810 --> 00:02:43,650 S3: I mean that sounds massive, right? That sounds absolutely massive 42 00:02:43,650 --> 00:02:44,050 S3: to me. 43 00:02:44,050 --> 00:02:46,089 S4: And it is. I mean, it is massive when you think, oh, 44 00:02:46,090 --> 00:02:48,450 S4: one match could be a 90 minute match off the 45 00:02:48,450 --> 00:02:51,050 S4: court and I'll make all that money. But if we 46 00:02:51,050 --> 00:02:55,329 S4: put this into perspective, um, think about the thousands of 47 00:02:55,330 --> 00:02:58,730 S4: players across the world who are playing tennis. I've just 48 00:02:58,770 --> 00:03:02,530 S4: outlined to you that the players in these qualifying draws. 49 00:03:02,570 --> 00:03:04,370 S4: And so I'm not even talking about the main draw. 50 00:03:04,370 --> 00:03:09,500 S4: I'm talking about qualifying a ranked 110 to say 220 51 00:03:09,500 --> 00:03:12,700 S4: odd in the world. That is an outstanding effort to 52 00:03:12,740 --> 00:03:16,140 S4: be in that position, but it does not come with 53 00:03:16,139 --> 00:03:19,900 S4: the glamour of your. I'm going back a little bit here, 54 00:03:19,900 --> 00:03:23,260 S4: but your Roger Federer's and the people that the players 55 00:03:23,260 --> 00:03:25,299 S4: that are really well known across the world. So now 56 00:03:25,300 --> 00:03:28,340 S4: that's the sinners and the Alcaraz. So what they are 57 00:03:28,340 --> 00:03:31,299 S4: doing with these Grand Slams, they're supplementing their income for 58 00:03:31,340 --> 00:03:35,100 S4: an entire year. So we talk about that $40,000 that 59 00:03:35,100 --> 00:03:38,500 S4: will help them travel for the next few months. It 60 00:03:38,500 --> 00:03:41,100 S4: will not get them through the whole year. There's a 61 00:03:41,100 --> 00:03:45,100 S4: was a famous article way back in 2013 where a 62 00:03:45,100 --> 00:03:47,540 S4: player by the name of Michael Russell, who's retired now 63 00:03:47,540 --> 00:03:50,060 S4: and he's actually coaching Taylor Fritz, one of the top 64 00:03:50,060 --> 00:03:54,340 S4: ten players in the world, he outlined, blow by blow, 65 00:03:54,380 --> 00:03:57,940 S4: how much money he spent in a year to get 66 00:03:57,940 --> 00:04:00,740 S4: by to compete with the top 100 players in the world, 67 00:04:00,740 --> 00:04:02,940 S4: and what's required. You can't go on the cheap. You've 68 00:04:02,940 --> 00:04:05,100 S4: got to do things that are professional level. You've got 69 00:04:05,140 --> 00:04:07,070 S4: to spend a certain amount of money if you want 70 00:04:07,070 --> 00:04:11,350 S4: to be competitive. He rated a general year cost him 71 00:04:11,350 --> 00:04:18,190 S4: around $75,000. That's everything from traveling around the world to 72 00:04:18,430 --> 00:04:20,710 S4: all sorts of countries. And the lower you play on 73 00:04:20,710 --> 00:04:25,150 S4: the tour, the more obscure it gets. You're playing for accommodation. 74 00:04:25,190 --> 00:04:28,270 S4: You're paying for a coach to travel with you. You're 75 00:04:28,270 --> 00:04:32,030 S4: paying for stringing your racquets. I mean, there's so many 76 00:04:32,029 --> 00:04:35,510 S4: expenses that people do not even consider, but it's it's 77 00:04:35,510 --> 00:04:38,870 S4: enormous money, Sam. And even though that you talk about yet. Okay, 78 00:04:38,910 --> 00:04:42,669 S4: we made $40,000 for losing in qualifying. Um, you've also 79 00:04:42,710 --> 00:04:45,830 S4: worrying about when you look ahead. I've got to somehow 80 00:04:46,190 --> 00:04:47,950 S4: supplement all the money that I'm going to be spending 81 00:04:47,950 --> 00:04:48,990 S4: in the next 12 months. 82 00:04:49,029 --> 00:04:50,110 S5: Okay, so talk to us. 83 00:04:50,110 --> 00:04:53,229 S1: Then about what you've actually seen covering tennis, because you've 84 00:04:53,230 --> 00:04:55,710 S1: been covering it for quite a while now. Like how 85 00:04:55,750 --> 00:04:59,510 S1: tough is the tour for these lower ranked players? What 86 00:04:59,550 --> 00:05:02,150 S1: sort of stuff are you seeing that we just the 87 00:05:02,150 --> 00:05:04,789 S1: public never sees? I mean, we've got no idea, right? 88 00:05:04,830 --> 00:05:09,719 S1: And we see those figures $40,000 for losing and qualifying. 89 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:11,360 S1: What are we not seeing? 90 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:14,920 S4: Well, what I'll first do to explain to you is 91 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:18,200 S4: I'll break the tour down. So what we see on 92 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:22,440 S4: TV is the absolute upper echelon of of tennis. You've 93 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:25,440 S4: got your ATP tour, which is the men's tour, and 94 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:28,680 S4: you've got the WTA tour, which is the women's tour. Um, 95 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:31,599 S4: now they we've obviously seen some events in recent weeks 96 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:35,320 S4: on TV, whether it's Brisbane, Adelaide, whatever it might be. 97 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:38,280 S4: And now we're heading into Melbourne, which is the Grand Slam. Um, 98 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:41,080 S4: and that's there's four of those a year. That's where 99 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,040 S4: all the players want to be. Um, 128 players in 100 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:46,600 S4: each draw. Okay. So that's that's what we're seeing, your 101 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:48,880 S4: average person, your average tennis fan sitting on the couch, 102 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:51,240 S4: that's what they're seeing. Now what I'm going to talk 103 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:53,200 S4: to you a little bit about is as you go 104 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:58,480 S4: down levels. So one level down from the ATP, WTA 105 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:01,080 S4: sort of superstar level in a lot of ways is 106 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:03,640 S4: called the Challenger Tour. Um, so you still got to 107 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:05,200 S4: be pretty good to play on that tour. You might 108 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:09,279 S4: be ranked. You know, I talk about those guys in qualifying. Um, 109 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:11,680 S4: you know, there could be from, you know, there's low 110 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:14,240 S4: 100 seconds in the rankings up to maybe 500 in 111 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:19,200 S4: the world below that, there's different names, there's the ITF 112 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:22,720 S4: circuit or the Futures Tour. It could be called different things. 113 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:26,120 S4: That's where your your real battlers, uh, the guys who 114 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:27,960 S4: are just trying to make a living, they're trying to 115 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:30,760 S4: they're trying to move through from that level, get up 116 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:32,800 S4: to challenges. And they're dreaming of one day playing in 117 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:36,040 S4: a grand slam. Now you talk about things I've seen 118 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:38,040 S4: back in the day. I covered a lot of these 119 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:42,039 S4: secondary tours and, you know, down in to Elgin, um, 120 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:44,599 S4: in Burnie, in Tasmania, that's where these events are held 121 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:47,360 S4: and that's just in Australia. But there's some really obscure 122 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:49,919 S4: countries that they're held in across the world and their 123 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:53,760 S4: players travelling, you know, paying thousands to get across, um, 124 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:57,320 S4: to these countries. And then they're playing for $3,000 if 125 00:06:57,320 --> 00:06:59,480 S4: they win the tournament. I mean, they win the tournament, 126 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:02,520 S4: they're making $3,000. So if you're making that much money 127 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:05,480 S4: and you've paid an airfare to get there, you need 128 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:08,080 S4: to cut back somewhere. You've got to make sacrifices. So 129 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:11,090 S4: you'll have players, you know might be six players sleeping 130 00:07:11,090 --> 00:07:13,530 S4: in the same room. There might be some times where 131 00:07:13,530 --> 00:07:15,250 S4: you go, I can't even afford to pay for a room. 132 00:07:15,250 --> 00:07:18,850 S4: I'm going to sleep on the airport bench. I'm going 133 00:07:18,890 --> 00:07:21,730 S4: to sleep in a train station bench until someone kicks 134 00:07:21,730 --> 00:07:24,410 S4: you off and says, move along. You've got to find 135 00:07:24,450 --> 00:07:28,450 S4: ways to eat on the cheap. It's extraordinary stuff, and 136 00:07:28,930 --> 00:07:31,490 S4: that's why. And then you're often going there by yourself. 137 00:07:31,490 --> 00:07:33,810 S4: I talked about hiring a coach. If you're playing in 138 00:07:33,810 --> 00:07:36,610 S4: the Futures Tour or on the Challenger Tour, a lot 139 00:07:36,610 --> 00:07:38,610 S4: of times you don't even have the money to have 140 00:07:38,610 --> 00:07:41,690 S4: a coach with you. So it's a very, very lonely existence. 141 00:07:41,890 --> 00:07:43,730 S1: And just to butt in there for a second. And 142 00:07:43,730 --> 00:07:47,530 S1: how much money would these players be outlying per year 143 00:07:47,530 --> 00:07:49,370 S1: just to keep going? I mean, you mentioned a figure 144 00:07:49,410 --> 00:07:52,610 S1: earlier of $75,000 that a tennis player might lay out. 145 00:07:52,650 --> 00:07:54,890 S1: How is that accurate for these tennis players, or would 146 00:07:54,890 --> 00:07:57,450 S1: they be outlying less money per year? But still. 147 00:07:57,490 --> 00:07:59,370 S4: They would have to know. They would have to. So 148 00:07:59,450 --> 00:08:01,850 S4: this is the thing. So Michael Russell, who I referenced earlier, 149 00:08:01,850 --> 00:08:04,970 S4: he was a top 100 player. So he wasn't right 150 00:08:04,970 --> 00:08:07,050 S4: up there, but he was sort of on the fringes sometimes. 151 00:08:07,050 --> 00:08:08,690 S4: At the time of that article I referenced, he was 152 00:08:08,690 --> 00:08:11,900 S4: about 92 in the world, so he could afford to 153 00:08:11,940 --> 00:08:16,100 S4: travel with a coach. These guys are not making $75,000 154 00:08:16,100 --> 00:08:18,860 S4: in prize money a year. So the guys I'm talking 155 00:08:18,860 --> 00:08:21,020 S4: about on the lower level so they can't afford to 156 00:08:21,020 --> 00:08:23,620 S4: have a coach. Often what they'll do, you'll see a 157 00:08:23,620 --> 00:08:25,300 S4: lot of these situations and a lot of players I've 158 00:08:25,300 --> 00:08:28,260 S4: spoken to, and these are Australian players too. They might 159 00:08:28,260 --> 00:08:30,380 S4: have enough money to travel for a few months at 160 00:08:30,380 --> 00:08:32,740 S4: a time. They might come home and they. We saw 161 00:08:32,780 --> 00:08:35,660 S4: Chris O'Connell, who's now an Australian, who has made it now, 162 00:08:35,660 --> 00:08:37,540 S4: but there were times when he had a lot of 163 00:08:37,540 --> 00:08:39,380 S4: injuries and he couldn't afford. He'd come back and he'd 164 00:08:39,420 --> 00:08:43,620 S4: wash boats, he'd coach tennis, they'd spend a few months 165 00:08:43,620 --> 00:08:46,340 S4: building up their bank account again, and then they'd they'd 166 00:08:46,340 --> 00:08:48,940 S4: head back over and try again. You've also got the 167 00:08:48,940 --> 00:08:51,100 S4: bank of mum and Dad that gets a lot of 168 00:08:51,100 --> 00:08:53,059 S4: these players by, you know, a lot of these guys are, 169 00:08:53,059 --> 00:08:56,179 S4: you know, their early 20s, mid 20s. They're chasing a dream. 170 00:08:59,900 --> 00:09:02,699 S4: And most of them are not going to ever be 171 00:09:02,980 --> 00:09:05,740 S4: in that, you know 1 to 5% group. But they're 172 00:09:05,740 --> 00:09:07,420 S4: not going to give up on the dream because it 173 00:09:07,420 --> 00:09:09,540 S4: sometimes only takes a few good months. And you might 174 00:09:09,540 --> 00:09:12,069 S4: make that jump up the ladder from those futures tournaments 175 00:09:12,070 --> 00:09:14,470 S4: are talked about to the challengers, and then you might 176 00:09:14,470 --> 00:09:16,830 S4: got a purple patch and suddenly you've qualified for a 177 00:09:16,830 --> 00:09:19,189 S4: Grand Slam and away you go. And that's why that 178 00:09:19,190 --> 00:09:22,469 S4: money is so, so important. Again, going back to that 179 00:09:22,470 --> 00:09:26,390 S4: Michael Russell article, and he talked about how 40% of 180 00:09:26,390 --> 00:09:30,309 S4: his income had come from the slams, 40%. So in 181 00:09:30,350 --> 00:09:32,030 S4: four of those tournaments for the year. So the rest 182 00:09:32,030 --> 00:09:34,310 S4: of the year he's toiling away and he's heading to Ecuador. 183 00:09:34,350 --> 00:09:37,990 S4: He's heading to all sorts of countries, Uzbekistan. And and 184 00:09:38,470 --> 00:09:41,270 S4: you're not getting the money you're getting in these qualifying draws. 185 00:09:41,270 --> 00:09:43,469 S4: So it becomes really important to perform well at the 186 00:09:43,470 --> 00:09:44,470 S4: right times of the year. 187 00:09:48,350 --> 00:09:49,309 S1: After the break. 188 00:09:50,070 --> 00:09:53,069 S4: This kid is something special. If you've got a chance 189 00:09:53,070 --> 00:09:55,430 S4: to get out there and you might not have a 190 00:09:55,429 --> 00:09:58,670 S4: Centre Court ticket. Joao Fonseca is someone you should absolutely 191 00:09:58,670 --> 00:10:01,429 S4: watch because not only is he exciting to watch, but 192 00:10:01,429 --> 00:10:04,550 S4: the Brazilian fans, he has a cult like following with them. 193 00:10:06,830 --> 00:10:07,750 S1: We'll be right back. 194 00:10:11,790 --> 00:10:12,710 S5: So what do you think then? 195 00:10:12,750 --> 00:10:15,390 S1: Do you think that players competing in the open, did 196 00:10:15,390 --> 00:10:17,270 S1: they get paid enough? You know, for those listeners who 197 00:10:17,270 --> 00:10:19,429 S1: are listening to this and they're thinking, okay, okay, you're 198 00:10:19,429 --> 00:10:21,230 S1: scrimping and saving and you need to rely on your 199 00:10:21,230 --> 00:10:24,270 S1: parents and your washing boats, but you're still getting to, 200 00:10:24,309 --> 00:10:26,790 S1: you know, live your dream and you're getting to play 201 00:10:26,790 --> 00:10:28,390 S1: what is your passion? And you're getting to go to 202 00:10:28,390 --> 00:10:30,750 S1: some really interesting places in the world. What would you 203 00:10:30,750 --> 00:10:31,430 S1: say to them? 204 00:10:31,830 --> 00:10:34,110 S4: Look, it's it's a really challenging one because at the 205 00:10:34,110 --> 00:10:37,350 S4: top end, the look most of the money comes from, 206 00:10:37,390 --> 00:10:40,150 S4: you know, probably those absolute superstars at the top, the Sabalenka's, 207 00:10:40,190 --> 00:10:43,750 S4: the Djokovic's, the the Alcaraz's. And they're right now in 208 00:10:43,750 --> 00:10:45,310 S4: a bit of a fight. They want more money, they 209 00:10:45,309 --> 00:10:47,910 S4: want a greater revenue share. And they're the absolute top guys. 210 00:10:48,270 --> 00:10:49,950 S4: And the other thing that I always talk about with 211 00:10:49,950 --> 00:10:53,590 S4: tennis is you compare how many players on the tennis 212 00:10:53,590 --> 00:10:56,870 S4: circuit are making a comfortable living, and I'm only saying comfortable. 213 00:10:56,990 --> 00:10:58,790 S4: So when I certainly get out of out of that 214 00:10:58,790 --> 00:11:02,829 S4: top 100, it's they're not rich. Now let's go talk 215 00:11:02,830 --> 00:11:06,989 S4: about Premier League soccer. Um, even let's talk about the AFL. 216 00:11:07,950 --> 00:11:11,110 S4: These guys are getting their travel paid for their physio. 217 00:11:11,150 --> 00:11:14,840 S4: They're paid for. Everything's covered. They've got a salary. And 218 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:18,480 S4: they're just playing in Australia. They're footballers. There's a sport 219 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:21,480 S4: that's only really played in Australia and they're having a 220 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:24,960 S4: comfortable living. You think about these tennis players, they're earning 221 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:27,960 S4: a certain amount of money, but they're having to pay 222 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:30,760 S4: for all those things that AFL players take for granted. 223 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:33,839 S4: So there are certainly arguments to be made that tennis 224 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:36,320 S4: players are underpaid, even at Grand Slam level, but they 225 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:39,199 S4: certainly are underpaid at the lower levels. Now, this has 226 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:42,559 S4: been an ongoing debate for decades, really, because there hasn't 227 00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:45,440 S4: been a lot of movement at those in those lower tournaments. 228 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:49,000 S4: But often what the absolute top guys, the officials will 229 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:52,280 S4: talk about is that they don't want players to be 230 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:55,000 S4: comfortable in the futures. The whole way. It's the system 231 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:57,240 S4: set up is that you get in there and if 232 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:00,720 S4: you're good enough, you travel through that process quickly. Whereas 233 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:02,800 S4: if they make it pump a lot of money into 234 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:06,240 S4: that end of the sport, players might get comfortable and 235 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:09,240 S4: quite happy just being there. A lot of people don't 236 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:11,839 S4: like that argument either. So look, it's it's a hard 237 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:15,730 S4: one because there's no one watching these tournaments. There is 238 00:12:15,730 --> 00:12:18,810 S4: no one watching the futures tournaments. I've been at them 239 00:12:18,809 --> 00:12:21,690 S4: and there might be a man and his dog walking by. 240 00:12:22,050 --> 00:12:24,929 S4: This is not the heaving crowds that you see at 241 00:12:24,929 --> 00:12:27,290 S4: Melbourne Park at this time of year, so you can 242 00:12:27,290 --> 00:12:29,610 S4: understand it's not exactly generating income. 243 00:12:30,210 --> 00:12:30,690 S5: Okay. 244 00:12:30,730 --> 00:12:33,610 S1: Interesting. And Mark, you're going to be covering the open 245 00:12:33,610 --> 00:12:36,050 S1: for our mastheads. So of course I can't let you 246 00:12:36,050 --> 00:12:39,610 S1: get away without asking of course which players you are 247 00:12:39,610 --> 00:12:42,130 S1: going to be really interested in this time around. 248 00:12:42,490 --> 00:12:44,330 S4: Well look beyond the obvious ones. We obviously want to 249 00:12:44,330 --> 00:12:47,370 S4: see the Aussies do really well, and Alex de Minaur 250 00:12:47,410 --> 00:12:51,010 S4: is the one that we're very much. He's right. He's 251 00:12:51,010 --> 00:12:52,610 S4: carrying the weight of a nation, so we'd love to 252 00:12:52,610 --> 00:12:55,010 S4: see him go deep in the tournament. And look, we 253 00:12:55,010 --> 00:12:58,770 S4: haven't seen a sinner. Alcaraz final in Australia, so if 254 00:12:59,050 --> 00:13:01,330 S4: he's not there, I'd probably love to see that one. 255 00:13:01,370 --> 00:13:04,090 S4: On the women's side, Sabalenka has been a dominant force 256 00:13:04,090 --> 00:13:06,690 S4: here for years, made the final last year, won the 257 00:13:06,690 --> 00:13:09,650 S4: previous two titles. I'd love to see another woman step 258 00:13:09,650 --> 00:13:12,730 S4: up and and challenge that. I think something that the 259 00:13:12,730 --> 00:13:14,410 S4: Australian Open has been really good at over the years 260 00:13:14,450 --> 00:13:17,340 S4: is is unearthing new talent. So I hope we see 261 00:13:17,340 --> 00:13:18,700 S4: that over the next fortnight or so. 262 00:13:19,020 --> 00:13:21,100 S1: And are there any players that, you know many of 263 00:13:21,100 --> 00:13:23,179 S1: us might not know about but you've kind of got 264 00:13:23,179 --> 00:13:25,579 S1: your eye on? You know, those who perhaps haven't been 265 00:13:25,580 --> 00:13:26,700 S1: in the headlines as much. 266 00:13:27,059 --> 00:13:31,579 S4: Look, there's always it depends your level of interest in tennis. But, um, look, 267 00:13:31,620 --> 00:13:34,699 S4: Joao Fonseca is a 19 year old. He is in 268 00:13:34,700 --> 00:13:37,980 S4: the top 30. But this kid is something special. Um, 269 00:13:37,980 --> 00:13:40,740 S4: if you've got a chance to get out there and 270 00:13:40,740 --> 00:13:43,380 S4: you might not have a Centre Court ticket. Joe Fonseca 271 00:13:43,380 --> 00:13:46,220 S4: is someone you should absolutely watch. Because not only is 272 00:13:46,220 --> 00:13:48,980 S4: he exciting to watch, but the Brazilian fans, he has 273 00:13:48,980 --> 00:13:51,660 S4: a cult like following with them and it's, um, I 274 00:13:51,660 --> 00:13:54,140 S4: think he's got a bit of a tag now. Fonseca mania. 275 00:13:54,179 --> 00:13:56,380 S4: That's what's sort of described as. And you'd have a 276 00:13:56,380 --> 00:13:58,980 S4: great time. Those outside courts can sometimes be the best 277 00:13:58,980 --> 00:14:02,820 S4: part of the watching experience, because there's a real tribal 278 00:14:02,820 --> 00:14:04,140 S4: support of tennis players. 279 00:14:04,500 --> 00:14:07,340 S1: Amazing. And any Australian players that, again, might not sort 280 00:14:07,340 --> 00:14:10,100 S1: of win this time around or even get close, but 281 00:14:10,100 --> 00:14:11,859 S1: maybe they're ones to watch for future. 282 00:14:11,900 --> 00:14:13,939 S4: I think Emerson Jones is the one that springs to mind. 283 00:14:13,940 --> 00:14:16,540 S4: She's a 17 year old. She's ranked outside the top 284 00:14:16,540 --> 00:14:18,580 S4: 100 at the moment, but she was the world junior 285 00:14:18,580 --> 00:14:22,020 S4: number one. So we always talk about where's our next 286 00:14:22,060 --> 00:14:26,060 S4: Ash Barty? Emerson's, uh, it's a burden to carry that 287 00:14:26,060 --> 00:14:28,860 S4: sort of a tag, but Emerson is someone who's taking 288 00:14:28,860 --> 00:14:30,340 S4: that in stride, and I think we're going to see 289 00:14:30,340 --> 00:14:31,780 S4: a lot more of her in the years to come. 290 00:14:32,100 --> 00:14:35,660 S1: Fantastic. Well, obviously, it's an incredibly exciting week. So thank 291 00:14:35,660 --> 00:14:37,540 S1: you so much, Mark, for your time. 292 00:14:37,820 --> 00:14:39,580 S4: No worries Sam, happy to be on here. 293 00:14:46,260 --> 00:14:49,580 S1: For all of today's headlines and in-depth analysis on what's 294 00:14:49,580 --> 00:14:55,380 S1: making news today, head to our websites at theage.com.au or smh.com.au. 295 00:14:57,340 --> 00:15:01,619 S1: Today's episode was produced by Josh towers. Our executive producer 296 00:15:01,620 --> 00:15:05,100 S1: is Tammy Mills, and our podcasts are overseen by Lisa 297 00:15:05,100 --> 00:15:09,380 S1: Muxworthy and Tom McKendrick. If you like our show, follow 298 00:15:09,380 --> 00:15:11,740 S1: the Morning Edition and leave a review for us on 299 00:15:11,740 --> 00:15:14,460 S1: Apple or Spotify. Thanks for listening.