WEBVTT - Joao Fonseca: on Sinner, Alcaraz and the Federer influence

0:00:01.680 --> 0:00:04.120
<v Speaker 1>Hello, and welcome to the sit Down. I'm Viv Christie,

0:00:04.200 --> 0:00:06.720
<v Speaker 1>Managing editor of Australian Tennis magazine and.

0:00:06.640 --> 0:00:09.440
<v Speaker 2>I'm Metrolope, a writer an editor for oz open dot

0:00:09.440 --> 0:00:11.799
<v Speaker 2>com and Viv why are we sitting down this week

0:00:11.840 --> 0:00:13.680
<v Speaker 2>with Juel Fonseca, Well, Matt.

0:00:13.720 --> 0:00:15.560
<v Speaker 1>I had a chance to sit down with Joo at

0:00:15.600 --> 0:00:18.160
<v Speaker 1>the Brisbane International at the start of this season, and

0:00:18.280 --> 0:00:20.759
<v Speaker 1>he's of course one of the most exciting young players

0:00:20.760 --> 0:00:23.200
<v Speaker 1>in tennis from outside the top one hundred at the

0:00:23.200 --> 0:00:26.680
<v Speaker 1>start of last year, he rose to world number twenty

0:00:26.680 --> 0:00:29.840
<v Speaker 1>five and yeah, on the back of some incredible results,

0:00:29.920 --> 0:00:35.120
<v Speaker 1>big wins, amazing fanfare and just a fantastic game to

0:00:35.200 --> 0:00:35.880
<v Speaker 1>watch as well.

0:00:36.040 --> 0:00:38.640
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, one of the great stories of season twenty five

0:00:38.720 --> 0:00:41.760
<v Speaker 2>his rise. I obviously wasn't here for this interview, so

0:00:41.800 --> 0:00:43.400
<v Speaker 2>I was listening to it for the first time, so

0:00:43.479 --> 0:00:45.960
<v Speaker 2>that was fantastic for me. I really enjoyed it. But

0:00:46.040 --> 0:00:48.839
<v Speaker 2>also the timing's perfect because Juo has just reached the

0:00:48.840 --> 0:00:52.040
<v Speaker 2>fourth round at Indian Wells last week, He's best ever

0:00:52.120 --> 0:00:54.920
<v Speaker 2>result at a Masters tournament and after a bit of

0:00:54.920 --> 0:00:57.320
<v Speaker 2>a slow start to the season because of an injury interruption,

0:00:57.400 --> 0:00:59.240
<v Speaker 2>it kind of looks like he's building that momentum back

0:00:59.320 --> 0:01:01.360
<v Speaker 2>up again. So it's really exciting to see what he

0:01:01.400 --> 0:01:04.240
<v Speaker 2>did last week, and yeah, sets the stage for an

0:01:04.240 --> 0:01:04.959
<v Speaker 2>exciting season.

0:01:07.680 --> 0:01:10.160
<v Speaker 1>Gel fun Sikov, thank you for joining us on the

0:01:10.200 --> 0:01:10.640
<v Speaker 1>sit down.

0:01:11.200 --> 0:01:14.440
<v Speaker 3>It's a pleasure being here, pleasure meeting you, and yeah,

0:01:14.520 --> 0:01:16.000
<v Speaker 3>excited to talk.

0:01:16.760 --> 0:01:19.959
<v Speaker 1>And this time last year you were ranked around number

0:01:19.959 --> 0:01:23.240
<v Speaker 1>one forty five, and you know you launched an incredible

0:01:23.280 --> 0:01:26.760
<v Speaker 1>breakout year at the Canberra International. He had a chance

0:01:26.760 --> 0:01:29.440
<v Speaker 1>to sort of stop and think about what you've achieved.

0:01:30.319 --> 0:01:34.960
<v Speaker 3>I think, yeah, there was a period I think after

0:01:35.440 --> 0:01:41.080
<v Speaker 3>reopened that I had a time to reflect a little

0:01:41.080 --> 0:01:44.640
<v Speaker 3>bit what happened, because I mean I won the Nection

0:01:44.880 --> 0:01:47.080
<v Speaker 3>and then Camber and I did a pretty good run

0:01:47.120 --> 0:01:50.800
<v Speaker 3>in Australian Open, and after I went to South America

0:01:50.840 --> 0:01:54.960
<v Speaker 3>tour Juan Brunos Aires, and after reopen I had some

0:01:55.080 --> 0:01:59.800
<v Speaker 3>time and to reflect in it because everything just started

0:02:00.160 --> 0:02:04.560
<v Speaker 3>going week after a week just pretty good. So so yeah,

0:02:05.040 --> 0:02:07.600
<v Speaker 3>but now I'll say it was a I mean a

0:02:07.720 --> 0:02:14.120
<v Speaker 3>wonderful season. My expectations was was lower than well, everything

0:02:14.720 --> 0:02:19.359
<v Speaker 3>happened and and yeah, I just pretty pretty excited and

0:02:20.240 --> 0:02:23.400
<v Speaker 3>pretty happy that everything that happened to me in those

0:02:23.720 --> 0:02:28.520
<v Speaker 3>past months, and uh, just pretty excited for what's coming. Uh,

0:02:28.600 --> 0:02:32.639
<v Speaker 3>I'm playing glovel, I'm playing good tennis and confident with

0:02:32.680 --> 0:02:35.280
<v Speaker 3>my tennis. So so yeah, what have.

0:02:35.320 --> 0:02:37.480
<v Speaker 1>You learned about yourself in the last year?

0:02:38.320 --> 0:02:43.280
<v Speaker 3>I would say, I think due all from last the

0:02:43.320 --> 0:02:46.000
<v Speaker 3>boats from the beginning of the year, and the draw

0:02:46.200 --> 0:02:52.359
<v Speaker 3>now is much more mature and much more experienced, and

0:02:52.360 --> 0:02:56.160
<v Speaker 3>and yeah I got to to meet uh the great

0:02:56.160 --> 0:02:59.679
<v Speaker 3>players and uh got to got to know different tournaments

0:02:59.720 --> 0:03:02.840
<v Speaker 3>to in places. I understand a little bit how to

0:03:02.880 --> 0:03:05.720
<v Speaker 3>play with the five sets. I'll say I'm a little

0:03:05.720 --> 0:03:11.040
<v Speaker 3>bit more experienced than from last year. So so yeah,

0:03:11.120 --> 0:03:15.680
<v Speaker 3>I'll say I'm I'm happy with myself of course evolving

0:03:15.760 --> 0:03:19.119
<v Speaker 3>as a person and as a player. So but yeah,

0:03:19.280 --> 0:03:22.320
<v Speaker 3>very happy the way the way the things are handling.

0:03:23.040 --> 0:03:25.520
<v Speaker 1>Just on some of your highlights from the past year.

0:03:25.560 --> 0:03:27.880
<v Speaker 1>I mean, you qualified for these Joint Open, you upset

0:03:27.919 --> 0:03:31.440
<v Speaker 1>Andre Ruble in the first round, you want two titles,

0:03:31.440 --> 0:03:34.639
<v Speaker 1>You had success at challenger level. What what stands out

0:03:34.720 --> 0:03:35.360
<v Speaker 1>the mist for you?

0:03:36.440 --> 0:03:41.160
<v Speaker 3>I think rube Lev was where I started. Everything. I

0:03:41.200 --> 0:03:46.440
<v Speaker 3>think was where like I think the players and I'll say,

0:03:46.440 --> 0:03:49.800
<v Speaker 3>the world to tennis tour and get to know a

0:03:49.840 --> 0:03:52.840
<v Speaker 3>little bit more about me. And you know, I was

0:03:52.920 --> 0:03:56.520
<v Speaker 3>where my confidence was pretty high, and I knew that

0:03:56.560 --> 0:03:59.800
<v Speaker 3>I could do some great things and that my leave

0:04:00.200 --> 0:04:04.960
<v Speaker 3>was there. I just needed maybe time and experience. So

0:04:05.840 --> 0:04:09.880
<v Speaker 3>that was one highlight. And Buenos aidas my first title.

0:04:10.240 --> 0:04:15.080
<v Speaker 3>It meant a lot. I was well playing for almost

0:04:15.120 --> 0:04:19.679
<v Speaker 3>say moms on hard and then practice two three days

0:04:19.680 --> 0:04:23.600
<v Speaker 3>and played the Buenos Aids, so it was a special tournament.

0:04:24.120 --> 0:04:28.919
<v Speaker 3>I played really well, and yeah, that was also a highlight.

0:04:28.960 --> 0:04:34.080
<v Speaker 3>And and of course Basil finishing the year. I think

0:04:35.279 --> 0:04:40.200
<v Speaker 3>it was pretty good moments for me and that I

0:04:40.279 --> 0:04:41.799
<v Speaker 3>played such a good level.

0:04:42.440 --> 0:04:45.480
<v Speaker 1>If you take a step back that Australian Open breakthrough,

0:04:45.600 --> 0:04:49.279
<v Speaker 1>you actually qualified for the Australian Open last year. How

0:04:49.320 --> 0:04:52.320
<v Speaker 1>important was it to qualify? Like how much did that

0:04:52.440 --> 0:04:52.800
<v Speaker 1>help you?

0:04:53.240 --> 0:04:56.520
<v Speaker 3>I think I mean a lot. I played the US

0:04:56.640 --> 0:05:02.320
<v Speaker 3>Open in twenty twenty four the qualities and I lost

0:05:02.560 --> 0:05:06.800
<v Speaker 3>two in the third third drama qualities and it hurt

0:05:06.839 --> 0:05:09.480
<v Speaker 3>a little bit. And because I was playing good and

0:05:09.520 --> 0:05:14.680
<v Speaker 3>then well, it was difficult. But on the Australian Open,

0:05:14.839 --> 0:05:18.760
<v Speaker 3>just wanted so much to to play my first mandra

0:05:19.440 --> 0:05:22.440
<v Speaker 3>and I was just super happy that I got it.

0:05:22.520 --> 0:05:24.600
<v Speaker 3>I played such a good level. I was feeling good.

0:05:25.120 --> 0:05:28.680
<v Speaker 3>Like I said, we went to was then action and

0:05:28.720 --> 0:05:32.120
<v Speaker 3>then camera and then after the qualie. So meant to

0:05:32.200 --> 0:05:36.520
<v Speaker 3>me a lot to start the season, getting to play

0:05:36.680 --> 0:05:40.320
<v Speaker 3>my well, doing my debut on the mendra of a

0:05:40.320 --> 0:05:41.040
<v Speaker 3>Grand Slam.

0:05:41.440 --> 0:05:44.800
<v Speaker 1>And everywhere you go, including at the Astraine opened, there's

0:05:44.960 --> 0:05:48.960
<v Speaker 1>sort of huge fanfare and just such a great atmosphere.

0:05:49.240 --> 0:05:50.479
<v Speaker 1>How much do you enjoy that?

0:05:51.839 --> 0:05:54.880
<v Speaker 3>Well, I know that now. I just love playing of

0:05:55.000 --> 0:06:00.760
<v Speaker 3>the crowd. But like the early drive, from like thirteen

0:06:00.800 --> 0:06:04.599
<v Speaker 3>years old, they're fourteen, he was more shy and he

0:06:04.640 --> 0:06:06.800
<v Speaker 3>didn't like very much the crowd. He stayed a little

0:06:06.800 --> 0:06:09.800
<v Speaker 3>bit more tense. But nowadays I just love it. I

0:06:09.839 --> 0:06:13.320
<v Speaker 3>think the support that they bring me when I'm winning,

0:06:13.440 --> 0:06:18.120
<v Speaker 3>winning or losing is just very positive and andy know

0:06:18.200 --> 0:06:20.320
<v Speaker 3>when I'm winning there they are there to keep me

0:06:20.440 --> 0:06:25.400
<v Speaker 3>folks and like keep hungry for more. And when I'm losing,

0:06:25.440 --> 0:06:30.160
<v Speaker 3>they just gives me like motivations to not not think

0:06:30.200 --> 0:06:34.120
<v Speaker 3>about negative things and keep positive and keep believing. So

0:06:34.120 --> 0:06:36.200
<v Speaker 3>so yeah, I just love playing with them and they

0:06:36.200 --> 0:06:36.839
<v Speaker 3>helped me a lot.

0:06:37.360 --> 0:06:39.480
<v Speaker 1>What changed for you when you said you were shy.

0:06:39.760 --> 0:06:40.600
<v Speaker 1>Was there any change?

0:06:40.640 --> 0:06:43.479
<v Speaker 3>I think was the experience to play with the crowd

0:06:43.560 --> 0:06:47.680
<v Speaker 3>and to see the benefits that they bring you and

0:06:47.800 --> 0:06:52.200
<v Speaker 3>not like the negative things like their team for you.

0:06:51.720 --> 0:06:56.160
<v Speaker 3>You need to win, you have the obligation. They're putting expectations,

0:06:56.200 --> 0:06:59.400
<v Speaker 3>they're putting pressure. Now, it's just they're there to support

0:06:59.520 --> 0:07:03.680
<v Speaker 3>and and that's a hopeful. Well, unfortunately I'm not gonna

0:07:03.680 --> 0:07:07.120
<v Speaker 3>win all the matches. We all know that, but yeah,

0:07:07.160 --> 0:07:09.479
<v Speaker 3>I'm there to to put one hundred percent. So they're

0:07:09.600 --> 0:07:11.880
<v Speaker 3>tuning there and it just need to to use them

0:07:12.280 --> 0:07:15.000
<v Speaker 3>as as I can to in the positive way.

0:07:15.640 --> 0:07:18.960
<v Speaker 1>And have you had any unusual experiences with fans along

0:07:18.960 --> 0:07:20.200
<v Speaker 1>the way.

0:07:20.640 --> 0:07:25.440
<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I think I think kids they're super excited and

0:07:26.000 --> 0:07:29.240
<v Speaker 3>it's just nice to see. Well, there's some players there,

0:07:29.280 --> 0:07:32.800
<v Speaker 3>there are some fans that they said that they came

0:07:32.840 --> 0:07:36.720
<v Speaker 3>from well Brazil to Australia just to see me. It's

0:07:36.800 --> 0:07:39.680
<v Speaker 3>just it's just super nice to have this support and

0:07:40.200 --> 0:07:42.920
<v Speaker 3>it's just amazing to have their the support from the kids,

0:07:43.160 --> 0:07:46.680
<v Speaker 3>kids saying that I inspire them. It's just it's just

0:07:46.760 --> 0:07:51.280
<v Speaker 3>amazing and hopefully I can do some great stuff for

0:07:51.360 --> 0:07:55.640
<v Speaker 3>this sport and keep inspiring them.

0:07:56.040 --> 0:07:58.640
<v Speaker 1>What what's it like to be a role model at

0:07:58.640 --> 0:07:59.520
<v Speaker 1>such a young age.

0:08:00.840 --> 0:08:03.440
<v Speaker 3>I don't say like that. I just say like I'm

0:08:03.480 --> 0:08:08.679
<v Speaker 3>a player doing my my my work and and getting

0:08:08.720 --> 0:08:11.560
<v Speaker 3>to do great things for this amazing sport and like

0:08:11.600 --> 0:08:16.640
<v Speaker 3>I said, inspiring kids. But at the same time, it's

0:08:16.680 --> 0:08:19.520
<v Speaker 3>just cool to like to see the like people just

0:08:20.120 --> 0:08:22.880
<v Speaker 3>stop you. Uh well, I'll say more. In Brazil, the

0:08:23.360 --> 0:08:25.960
<v Speaker 3>people saw you when you go to a restaurant or

0:08:26.440 --> 0:08:30.160
<v Speaker 3>just passing on the street and once take a picture

0:08:30.240 --> 0:08:32.439
<v Speaker 3>of saying that good luck in the next ram. Is

0:08:32.480 --> 0:08:36.000
<v Speaker 3>just pretty nice to to see this from from other people.

0:08:36.160 --> 0:08:40.320
<v Speaker 3>Just like getting to know you and and wishing them

0:08:40.360 --> 0:08:43.400
<v Speaker 3>all the beast is just super nice. And but yeah,

0:08:43.400 --> 0:08:47.760
<v Speaker 3>i'd like they're there. Sometimes it's just like you want

0:08:47.800 --> 0:08:52.000
<v Speaker 3>to stay private with something and oh it's just but

0:08:52.640 --> 0:08:55.240
<v Speaker 3>I think in the positive way is just super nice

0:08:55.280 --> 0:08:56.360
<v Speaker 3>and and then.

0:08:56.640 --> 0:09:00.520
<v Speaker 1>I enjoy it's not just the fans who are taking night.

0:09:00.600 --> 0:09:02.559
<v Speaker 1>You also had a chance to meet with Roger Federer

0:09:02.760 --> 0:09:05.319
<v Speaker 1>at the Laver Cup. Describe that experience.

0:09:06.320 --> 0:09:13.080
<v Speaker 3>Oh, for me, it was I mean amazing. Just getting

0:09:13.080 --> 0:09:15.760
<v Speaker 3>to know my idol was just I think that I'm

0:09:15.920 --> 0:09:20.600
<v Speaker 3>I'm not gonna I'm gonna remember for for a long

0:09:20.640 --> 0:09:24.400
<v Speaker 3>long time and and now if my hands were shaking,

0:09:24.440 --> 0:09:27.360
<v Speaker 3>I was super nervous, and and now I was just

0:09:27.720 --> 0:09:32.839
<v Speaker 3>super great. Uh he's a fantastic guy, and uh, you know,

0:09:33.000 --> 0:09:37.400
<v Speaker 3>we had a quick chat and just amazing and I

0:09:37.440 --> 0:09:39.120
<v Speaker 3>really like it was an amazing experience.

0:09:39.360 --> 0:09:42.800
<v Speaker 1>What about the Team World captain Andre Agacy? What did

0:09:42.800 --> 0:09:43.680
<v Speaker 1>you learn from him?

0:09:44.360 --> 0:09:48.680
<v Speaker 3>Pretty much? Actually, I think the experience that both Andre

0:09:48.840 --> 0:09:54.480
<v Speaker 3>and Pat bring me and this amazing week was the

0:09:54.520 --> 0:09:59.160
<v Speaker 3>experience of playing on tour. The stories some things that

0:09:59.400 --> 0:10:04.360
<v Speaker 3>they talked and we we we got. I didn't know

0:10:04.440 --> 0:10:07.800
<v Speaker 3>them before before this week, and I was a little

0:10:07.840 --> 0:10:10.120
<v Speaker 3>bit nervous how I was going. And they were super

0:10:10.200 --> 0:10:13.520
<v Speaker 3>nice guys, and they helped me a lot during that week,

0:10:13.559 --> 0:10:17.160
<v Speaker 3>and and I was pretty nice chats and and yeah,

0:10:17.200 --> 0:10:18.840
<v Speaker 3>both of them are pretty nice guys.

0:10:19.080 --> 0:10:22.160
<v Speaker 1>Took us through your relationship with Gasta Vocushion.

0:10:23.360 --> 0:10:28.040
<v Speaker 3>Well, I'm at Gustavo in twenty twenty four Davis Cup

0:10:28.080 --> 0:10:30.960
<v Speaker 3>when we played in Brazil. He went there to talk

0:10:31.000 --> 0:10:33.920
<v Speaker 3>with the team and and uh, well he said some

0:10:33.960 --> 0:10:38.400
<v Speaker 3>great things about playing Davis Cup and while representing our country,

0:10:39.040 --> 0:10:42.920
<v Speaker 3>and uh, after we had a quick chat and he's

0:10:42.960 --> 0:10:48.040
<v Speaker 3>not very much into the tennis world. But the the

0:10:48.160 --> 0:10:52.120
<v Speaker 3>Google figure is just amazing. The compassion that he has

0:10:52.880 --> 0:10:56.040
<v Speaker 3>talking to well, I mean, the charisma that he has

0:10:56.160 --> 0:10:59.080
<v Speaker 3>is just amazing. He's a he I don not only

0:10:59.160 --> 0:11:03.240
<v Speaker 3>for both tennis world, but like the whole the whole

0:11:03.280 --> 0:11:09.400
<v Speaker 3>Brazilian culture. So so yeah, it's just uh an idol

0:11:09.480 --> 0:11:14.360
<v Speaker 3>for all of us. And I would say, well, he's

0:11:14.400 --> 0:11:16.640
<v Speaker 3>just an idol, and I just look at him like

0:11:18.200 --> 0:11:21.480
<v Speaker 3>as a like the an athlete that I want to

0:11:21.480 --> 0:11:22.160
<v Speaker 3>be in the future.

0:11:22.679 --> 0:11:24.960
<v Speaker 1>Who else has been influential in your career?

0:11:25.960 --> 0:11:29.960
<v Speaker 3>I'll say my parents, and they they helped me a

0:11:29.960 --> 0:11:33.120
<v Speaker 3>lot in the well and everything that they they put

0:11:33.120 --> 0:11:37.800
<v Speaker 3>me in this amazing sport. And well, they were always

0:11:37.800 --> 0:11:42.560
<v Speaker 3>there to support me. Whenever decision and whenever moment that

0:11:42.600 --> 0:11:45.520
<v Speaker 3>I had that they they were there. So so I

0:11:45.679 --> 0:11:48.520
<v Speaker 3>put this there. I'll put them in the in this

0:11:49.920 --> 0:11:52.600
<v Speaker 3>in this answer because they were there always for me

0:11:52.679 --> 0:11:55.959
<v Speaker 3>and cheering for me, and and yeah, because of them,

0:11:56.000 --> 0:11:57.319
<v Speaker 3>I'm playing the sport.

0:11:57.640 --> 0:12:00.559
<v Speaker 1>I know that in the past you've spoken about Federer

0:12:00.600 --> 0:12:03.920
<v Speaker 1>and Rafael Nadal as players that you really admire and

0:12:03.960 --> 0:12:06.960
<v Speaker 1>you really love their rivalry. Who would you like to

0:12:07.000 --> 0:12:09.800
<v Speaker 1>see become. If you were to have a great rivalry

0:12:09.840 --> 0:12:12.280
<v Speaker 1>like that, who would you like to be your rival?

0:12:13.920 --> 0:12:21.200
<v Speaker 3>Well, hopefully right now, say Johnny Can, carlosm Maybe in

0:12:21.280 --> 0:12:24.000
<v Speaker 3>a few few years I can play in the same

0:12:24.080 --> 0:12:26.640
<v Speaker 3>level as them. Of course, it's it's a long path

0:12:26.800 --> 0:12:31.120
<v Speaker 3>and and it's a long way to be there. We

0:12:31.160 --> 0:12:34.880
<v Speaker 3>still need to evolve a lot of stuff. But at

0:12:34.880 --> 0:12:38.400
<v Speaker 3>the same time, it's where I want to be and

0:12:38.480 --> 0:12:41.600
<v Speaker 3>it's it's my goal. So so Ye're working very hard

0:12:41.600 --> 0:12:44.640
<v Speaker 3>to be in the same level as them, and and yeah,

0:12:44.920 --> 0:12:49.319
<v Speaker 3>hopefully some years that I can play finals against those guys.

0:12:49.880 --> 0:12:52.880
<v Speaker 1>Are there any players that you haven't played yet that

0:12:52.960 --> 0:12:54.560
<v Speaker 1>you think I can't wait to play.

0:12:56.840 --> 0:13:01.600
<v Speaker 3>I love to play against Djokovic. I think kiss idol

0:13:01.679 --> 0:13:06.080
<v Speaker 3>for the sport is like we all say, the goat.

0:13:06.320 --> 0:13:12.160
<v Speaker 3>So so yeah, maybe hopefully soon I can play against him,

0:13:12.800 --> 0:13:17.400
<v Speaker 3>because well we know that in the future, like last

0:13:18.400 --> 0:13:23.480
<v Speaker 3>probably like four years, he's going to retire, so yeah,

0:13:23.640 --> 0:13:26.880
<v Speaker 3>we never know, so so I'll say him, I'll left

0:13:26.920 --> 0:13:32.120
<v Speaker 3>playing against him to see how it is. And yeah, last.

0:13:31.960 --> 0:13:34.320
<v Speaker 1>Year, I mean there was a sense that it was

0:13:34.360 --> 0:13:37.439
<v Speaker 1>everything was new for you. Does does it feel different

0:13:37.520 --> 0:13:38.720
<v Speaker 1>for you this season?

0:13:40.840 --> 0:13:45.640
<v Speaker 3>Yes? I think, well, I know a little bit more

0:13:45.679 --> 0:13:48.160
<v Speaker 3>of the tour, and I know more of the players,

0:13:48.640 --> 0:13:55.000
<v Speaker 3>and and yeah, it's gonna be my first You're defending points.

0:13:56.320 --> 0:14:01.000
<v Speaker 3>The the pressure of going to a tournament be well,

0:14:01.520 --> 0:14:06.599
<v Speaker 3>uh defand points or defending champion uh buenz aidres or

0:14:06.720 --> 0:14:13.520
<v Speaker 3>bazo is just uh, it's gonna be a great uh

0:14:14.040 --> 0:14:18.959
<v Speaker 3>experience for me. And but yeah, it's pretty different from

0:14:18.960 --> 0:14:23.680
<v Speaker 3>from last season. And but yeah, hopefully we can do well.

0:14:23.960 --> 0:14:26.760
<v Speaker 3>I'm confident with my game, like I said, and uh

0:14:26.880 --> 0:14:27.600
<v Speaker 3>and playing good.

0:14:28.480 --> 0:14:31.840
<v Speaker 1>You arenown for your power and your short making. Where

0:14:31.840 --> 0:14:32.720
<v Speaker 1>did that come from?

0:14:34.440 --> 0:14:38.840
<v Speaker 3>Difficult say? But I think since I was younger, I

0:14:38.920 --> 0:14:42.080
<v Speaker 3>liked playing hot, like full power. I like going for

0:14:42.160 --> 0:14:45.840
<v Speaker 3>the shots. Sometimes my shots went directly to the fans

0:14:46.080 --> 0:14:52.160
<v Speaker 3>or directly to the bottoms of that. But uh, working

0:14:52.240 --> 0:14:55.800
<v Speaker 3>and I keep playing more solid, but sometimes it just

0:14:56.960 --> 0:15:01.400
<v Speaker 3>it keeps going to defense sometimes. But hopefully I'm doing

0:15:01.440 --> 0:15:05.760
<v Speaker 3>some winners and and yeah, but since I was young,

0:15:05.840 --> 0:15:10.000
<v Speaker 3>I liked playing hard and I kept with that and

0:15:10.160 --> 0:15:15.760
<v Speaker 3>it's my it's my way to play. So so yeah, your.

0:15:15.640 --> 0:15:18.680
<v Speaker 1>Start in tennis was famously helped by being able to

0:15:18.840 --> 0:15:21.960
<v Speaker 1>attend the Real Open when you were young. How when

0:15:22.000 --> 0:15:24.560
<v Speaker 1>you think about it, how life changing was that having

0:15:24.600 --> 0:15:26.160
<v Speaker 1>that tournament so close.

0:15:26.480 --> 0:15:33.440
<v Speaker 3>I think was really important for my bow the start

0:15:33.520 --> 0:15:37.160
<v Speaker 3>of my career. Like I went to all the auditions

0:15:37.200 --> 0:15:43.240
<v Speaker 3>of the real opening, and I went as a spectator

0:15:42.920 --> 0:15:46.040
<v Speaker 3>for many years. Hence I went as a hitting partner

0:15:46.600 --> 0:15:50.360
<v Speaker 3>and then after as a player. But I'm there for

0:15:50.560 --> 0:15:53.360
<v Speaker 3>like I don't know, determined has like about fifteen years

0:15:53.400 --> 0:16:00.280
<v Speaker 3>maybe and and it's just super special and it helps well,

0:16:00.320 --> 0:16:03.200
<v Speaker 3>it put me in this sport. I think watching Nadal

0:16:03.280 --> 0:16:08.320
<v Speaker 3>playing there and winning and well all of this big players,

0:16:08.480 --> 0:16:12.080
<v Speaker 3>so so yeah, is this special tournament for me? And

0:16:12.240 --> 0:16:14.080
<v Speaker 3>one of my dream is to win win.

0:16:14.120 --> 0:16:17.800
<v Speaker 1>There is there one memory from that tournament that stands

0:16:17.800 --> 0:16:19.440
<v Speaker 1>out above all others.

0:16:19.680 --> 0:16:24.680
<v Speaker 3>I think Nadal winning. We watched the final and I

0:16:24.840 --> 0:16:27.680
<v Speaker 3>was this is one one of the boxes and I

0:16:27.720 --> 0:16:33.240
<v Speaker 3>remember him winning. So and now another moment, just my

0:16:33.240 --> 0:16:36.120
<v Speaker 3>my deeper dere in twenty twenty three, it was well

0:16:37.680 --> 0:16:40.520
<v Speaker 3>I lost all and four, but it was a special

0:16:40.560 --> 0:16:44.960
<v Speaker 3>moment for me, and yeah, it was great moments.

0:16:45.280 --> 0:16:48.240
<v Speaker 1>You also played soccer when you were young. What made

0:16:48.320 --> 0:16:49.040
<v Speaker 1>you choose.

0:16:48.800 --> 0:16:55.960
<v Speaker 3>Tennis, Well, I think since twelve eleven I was playing

0:16:56.040 --> 0:16:59.880
<v Speaker 3>more both and I had a little injury in so

0:17:00.040 --> 0:17:03.840
<v Speaker 3>occurred that I played futsal and I had a little

0:17:03.880 --> 0:17:06.840
<v Speaker 3>injury played with the old guys. I was eleven twelve

0:17:06.920 --> 0:17:12.520
<v Speaker 3>and I played with guys thirteen fourteen, And well, I

0:17:12.640 --> 0:17:16.320
<v Speaker 3>felt and I injured a little bit. Was not that

0:17:16.320 --> 0:17:26.359
<v Speaker 3>that like was not like very very like important pain

0:17:26.520 --> 0:17:30.040
<v Speaker 3>or whatever, but it just like felt me, I don't

0:17:30.040 --> 0:17:31.840
<v Speaker 3>want to play soccer anymore. I don't want to go

0:17:31.880 --> 0:17:36.239
<v Speaker 3>with tennis. And uh yeah, but not only that, I

0:17:36.359 --> 0:17:40.040
<v Speaker 3>really fell in love with this sport and I really

0:17:40.080 --> 0:17:42.320
<v Speaker 3>liked traveling. I felt I think I played a little

0:17:42.320 --> 0:17:47.400
<v Speaker 3>bit better at tennis, and uh, and I was already traveling.

0:17:47.480 --> 0:17:50.280
<v Speaker 3>I was already uh with a with a coach and

0:17:50.320 --> 0:17:53.240
<v Speaker 3>then and then uh, when I was twelve, I changed

0:17:53.240 --> 0:17:55.600
<v Speaker 3>my coach. Things got a little bit more serious. And

0:17:56.280 --> 0:17:56.760
<v Speaker 3>here I am.

0:17:57.400 --> 0:18:00.000
<v Speaker 1>What has been your favorite place on tour so far?

0:18:01.960 --> 0:18:04.919
<v Speaker 3>My favorite place on tour? I think I really like

0:18:05.080 --> 0:18:12.159
<v Speaker 3>Rome the Master Well, I love Pasta and Andy. I

0:18:12.160 --> 0:18:14.399
<v Speaker 3>think that the culture there is just really nice. The

0:18:15.000 --> 0:18:19.120
<v Speaker 3>city is just, I'm beliefubl beautiful. So so I'll say

0:18:19.160 --> 0:18:23.840
<v Speaker 3>this one. And also Wimbledon is just unbelievable. Every little

0:18:23.880 --> 0:18:28.560
<v Speaker 3>Detay is just amazing. So also this both places.

0:18:28.840 --> 0:18:31.400
<v Speaker 1>It's interesting that you say both roam and Wimbledon because

0:18:31.400 --> 0:18:37.399
<v Speaker 1>you've had success on hardcourt. On what what's your favorite.

0:18:37.800 --> 0:18:41.960
<v Speaker 3>I actually lost first round Rome, but yeah, it was

0:18:42.000 --> 0:18:45.560
<v Speaker 3>it's a cool city. But I think my favorite one

0:18:45.680 --> 0:18:51.280
<v Speaker 3>is nowadays. I always felt like I played better on clay,

0:18:51.560 --> 0:18:55.160
<v Speaker 3>and uh, but I've seen nowadays I'm playing I'm playing

0:18:55.200 --> 0:18:59.880
<v Speaker 3>good and hard. There's a long time that I'm central

0:19:00.359 --> 0:19:04.000
<v Speaker 3>I'm not playing clay, So for now I'll say hard

0:19:04.440 --> 0:19:08.119
<v Speaker 3>and maybe in the future I will say clay again,

0:19:08.200 --> 0:19:09.480
<v Speaker 3>but but nowadays hard.

0:19:10.080 --> 0:19:12.600
<v Speaker 1>It's a busy life for a nineteen year old. What

0:19:12.720 --> 0:19:15.400
<v Speaker 1>do you do to unwind when you're not playing tennis.

0:19:15.840 --> 0:19:19.400
<v Speaker 3>I think I have a pretty good social life, friends, family,

0:19:19.520 --> 0:19:22.480
<v Speaker 3>and I can hang out a little bit when I'm home,

0:19:22.560 --> 0:19:25.639
<v Speaker 3>and when I'm playing a tournament, my parents, who are

0:19:26.320 --> 0:19:29.040
<v Speaker 3>well family members of the family or friends, they can

0:19:29.080 --> 0:19:35.200
<v Speaker 3>come and for me to follow. My mental health stays good,

0:19:35.359 --> 0:19:40.520
<v Speaker 3>so I'll say it's my social life, like I said,

0:19:40.880 --> 0:19:43.200
<v Speaker 3>is pretty good. And I like to say to stay

0:19:43.240 --> 0:19:46.240
<v Speaker 3>with the family. When I'm home, I like to go

0:19:46.560 --> 0:19:51.520
<v Speaker 3>out of my friend's girlfriend and yeah, I'm pretty chill,

0:19:51.600 --> 0:19:54.920
<v Speaker 3>I like to stay home, and I think that's and.

0:19:55.040 --> 0:19:57.639
<v Speaker 1>Just to finish, what does a successful season look like

0:19:57.720 --> 0:19:59.080
<v Speaker 1>for you in twenty twenty.

0:19:58.840 --> 0:20:03.920
<v Speaker 3>Six, I think just keep evolving as as a player

0:20:03.960 --> 0:20:11.320
<v Speaker 3>as a person, keep learning, keep playing well, good progressing

0:20:11.400 --> 0:20:16.919
<v Speaker 3>on ranking and yeah, I think I'm looking forward for

0:20:16.960 --> 0:20:21.119
<v Speaker 3>this season. It's going to be fine and now hopefully

0:20:21.160 --> 0:20:22.160
<v Speaker 3>I can do some great stuff.

0:20:22.320 --> 0:20:24.240
<v Speaker 1>Well, thank you so much. We wish you all the

0:20:24.280 --> 0:20:29.960
<v Speaker 1>best with that, and thanks you sit down, Thank you, Viv.

0:20:30.040 --> 0:20:32.359
<v Speaker 2>Congrats on that. I loved listening to that and it

0:20:32.400 --> 0:20:34.720
<v Speaker 2>was a great opportunity to learn a little bit more

0:20:34.720 --> 0:20:37.080
<v Speaker 2>about him off the court. I thought it was so

0:20:37.400 --> 0:20:39.959
<v Speaker 2>fascinating hearing him finish the interview when you asked him

0:20:39.960 --> 0:20:43.040
<v Speaker 2>about what would make a successful season, and it's rather

0:20:43.080 --> 0:20:45.520
<v Speaker 2>than kind of rankings, milestones or rounds of tournaments, it

0:20:45.560 --> 0:20:47.000
<v Speaker 2>was a little bit broader than that. It was about

0:20:47.040 --> 0:20:49.520
<v Speaker 2>evolving as a player and a person. And I just

0:20:49.560 --> 0:20:52.080
<v Speaker 2>think that's what I took away from this interview. How

0:20:52.280 --> 0:20:55.280
<v Speaker 2>mature he sounds for someone so young, still a teenager.

0:20:55.480 --> 0:20:58.160
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I mean I was very lucky to have quite

0:20:58.160 --> 0:21:00.280
<v Speaker 1>a bit of time with him in Brisbane, but yeah,

0:21:00.280 --> 0:21:02.680
<v Speaker 1>it was fascinating to hear him talk about early Joo

0:21:02.800 --> 0:21:05.720
<v Speaker 1>Juao and you know, just I guess the progress he's

0:21:05.720 --> 0:21:07.320
<v Speaker 1>made in such a short amount.

0:21:07.080 --> 0:21:09.879
<v Speaker 2>Of time for sure. And yeah, with the Indian Wells

0:21:09.920 --> 0:21:12.400
<v Speaker 2>result being, you know, that breakthrough at a master's level,

0:21:12.520 --> 0:21:15.720
<v Speaker 2>and you know he's establishing himself as such a force

0:21:15.760 --> 0:21:17.680
<v Speaker 2>on tour. It's really exciting to see what will come

0:21:17.680 --> 0:21:18.440
<v Speaker 2>next for him.

0:21:18.960 --> 0:21:21.439
<v Speaker 1>And we'll be back next week with another episode of

0:21:21.480 --> 0:21:24.359
<v Speaker 1>the sit Down when We Sit Down with Lindsay Davenport.

0:21:24.440 --> 0:21:26.760
<v Speaker 2>Can't wait for that one. And as always, if you

0:21:26.800 --> 0:21:28.800
<v Speaker 2>subscribe to The sit Down, you'll never miss an episode

0:21:28.800 --> 0:21:30.600
<v Speaker 2>when it lands in your feet. And if you could

0:21:30.680 --> 0:21:32.840
<v Speaker 2>leave us a rating or a review, we'd love that too.

0:21:33.040 --> 0:21:34.600
<v Speaker 2>See you next week, viv See there, Matt,