1 00:00:02,410 --> 00:00:05,050 Speaker 1: Hello and welcome to The Sit Down. I'm Viv Christie 2 00:00:05,090 --> 00:00:09,039 Speaker 1: of Australian Tennis Magazine and joined by Matt Trelope of AusOpen.com. 3 00:00:09,180 --> 00:00:10,440 Speaker 2: Hey Matt. Hey Viv, how are you? 4 00:00:10,660 --> 00:00:14,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm great. We had a really interesting chat this week. 5 00:00:14,180 --> 00:00:16,180 Speaker 1: We talked to a man who has worn many hats 6 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: in tennis. Tell us a little bit more about that. 7 00:00:18,150 --> 00:00:20,770 Speaker 2: Yeah, we were lucky enough to get connected with Brad Gilbert, 8 00:00:20,890 --> 00:00:23,290 Speaker 2: who was the consultant coach on the new Challengers movie, 9 00:00:23,370 --> 00:00:25,650 Speaker 2: and we spoke to him the morning after he'd just 10 00:00:25,690 --> 00:00:28,750 Speaker 2: seen the film, the night before, for the first time. So, yeah, 11 00:00:28,790 --> 00:00:31,330 Speaker 2: the timing was brilliant and, yeah, it was a very 12 00:00:31,370 --> 00:00:32,010 Speaker 2: enjoyable chat. 13 00:00:32,110 --> 00:00:33,269 Speaker 1: Let's hear what he has to say. 14 00:00:36,850 --> 00:00:38,379 Speaker 2: Brad, good to see you and thank you so much 15 00:00:38,420 --> 00:00:40,500 Speaker 2: for joining us on The Sit Down. Yeah. 16 00:00:40,540 --> 00:00:41,660 Speaker 3: My pleasure. Good morning. 17 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:47,019 Speaker 2: Congratulations on the upcoming release of challenges. Um, yeah, we'd 18 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:50,180 Speaker 2: love to chat to you about your experiences working on 19 00:00:50,220 --> 00:00:52,540 Speaker 2: that film, because I know that you were pretty central 20 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 2: to getting the actors, you know, whipped up into shape 21 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:59,070 Speaker 2: and getting their kind of tennis skills honed to appear 22 00:00:59,110 --> 00:00:59,670 Speaker 2: on the big screen. 23 00:01:00,270 --> 00:01:02,150 Speaker 3: It was a really unique experience. 24 00:01:02,550 --> 00:01:05,929 Speaker 4: Um, you know, it's coaching, but in a different way, um, 25 00:01:06,530 --> 00:01:11,490 Speaker 4: obviously Zendaya and, um, Josh had very little tennis experience. 26 00:01:11,510 --> 00:01:15,570 Speaker 4: Mike had only played a bit of high school tennis, 27 00:01:16,010 --> 00:01:19,110 Speaker 4: but his character had to have a one-handed backhand. 28 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:21,740 Speaker 3: He had a two-handed backhand. 29 00:01:23,220 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 4: The unique challenge that's different about something like this, in 30 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:29,539 Speaker 4: a tennis match, a lot of times you. 31 00:01:29,500 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 3: Don't know what's going to happen. 32 00:01:32,810 --> 00:01:36,390 Speaker 4: In this, we had scripted points, and then you need 33 00:01:36,410 --> 00:01:39,390 Speaker 4: to get ready to have them ready to play these 34 00:01:39,490 --> 00:01:40,370 Speaker 4: scripted points. 35 00:01:40,830 --> 00:01:44,309 Speaker 2: We heard that Zendaya attended a college tournament or some 36 00:01:44,330 --> 00:01:47,030 Speaker 2: college matches with you. And one of the, one of 37 00:01:47,069 --> 00:01:49,950 Speaker 2: the actors studied Nick Kyrgios' serve. I was wondering like, 38 00:01:49,970 --> 00:01:51,810 Speaker 2: were they your ideas being like, you should watch this. 39 00:01:51,910 --> 00:01:53,810 Speaker 2: This is a great basis for kind of like learning 40 00:01:53,860 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 2: about the strokes and how tennis is played and how 41 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 2: it looks or kind of, yeah. How did that, how 42 00:01:58,220 --> 00:02:00,020 Speaker 2: was that kind of like extra research for the actors? 43 00:02:00,060 --> 00:02:00,940 Speaker 2: How did they arrive at that? 44 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 4: Well, my wife who was involved in the project with 45 00:02:03,860 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 4: me sent all of them a lot of different videos and, And, 46 00:02:07,300 --> 00:02:09,620 Speaker 4: you know, we sent a lot of different videos to 47 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 4: Z on, you know, players to, you know, that maybe 48 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:18,460 Speaker 4: that she wanted to pattern, you know, herself after. Mike 49 00:02:19,740 --> 00:02:23,299 Speaker 4: Feist's character, Art Donaldson, was a little more defined. We 50 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:26,440 Speaker 4: knew it was patterned a little more after Roger Federer, 51 00:02:26,500 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 4: after Pete Sampras. 52 00:02:29,660 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 3: Zendaya Tashi, her character, was a little, we knew she 53 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:37,799 Speaker 3: was a killer. But didn't really know her game style. 54 00:02:38,580 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 4: And Josh was a little bit freewheely. So I think 55 00:02:43,180 --> 00:02:48,830 Speaker 4: that when we went to the Pepperdine Arizona State men's match, 56 00:02:49,090 --> 00:02:52,670 Speaker 4: and then we went to a Pepperdine UCLA women's match, 57 00:02:53,130 --> 00:02:55,510 Speaker 4: which at the time, both those teams were top five. 58 00:02:55,590 --> 00:02:58,390 Speaker 3: I think it was a really good experience for her 59 00:02:58,910 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 3: that she could see it live. It didn't realize that 60 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:04,360 Speaker 3: there was matches on so many courts and the energy 61 00:03:04,380 --> 00:03:05,730 Speaker 3: and and intensity. 62 00:03:05,770 --> 00:03:08,730 Speaker 4: So I think that helped her, you know, build some 63 00:03:08,790 --> 00:03:11,310 Speaker 4: thoughts on what she wanted to try to achieve for 64 00:03:11,330 --> 00:03:11,910 Speaker 4: the character. 65 00:03:12,570 --> 00:03:15,910 Speaker 1: Brad, who were some of the players that Zendaya watched 66 00:03:15,950 --> 00:03:17,910 Speaker 1: that you said that you sent some videos? 67 00:03:18,190 --> 00:03:21,450 Speaker 3: Well, we sent a lot of videos of taller players. 68 00:03:21,750 --> 00:03:24,109 Speaker 3: You know, she, you know, Z is about five, ten 69 00:03:24,130 --> 00:03:24,510 Speaker 3: and a half. 70 00:03:24,550 --> 00:03:29,010 Speaker 4: So it was more taller-based players and aggressive-based players. 71 00:03:29,410 --> 00:03:31,810 Speaker 3: Didn't want to send her small grinders. 72 00:03:32,490 --> 00:03:34,950 Speaker 4: You know, because her character was supposed to be an 73 00:03:34,990 --> 00:03:39,210 Speaker 4: aggressive style player. So, you know, we just sent videos 74 00:03:39,490 --> 00:03:41,740 Speaker 4: to all of them and then they could get an idea. 75 00:03:41,750 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 4: And then, you know, like as a kid, when you 76 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 4: watch a lot of players, you kind of, oh, I'm 77 00:03:47,860 --> 00:03:49,340 Speaker 4: going to take a little bit of him. I'm going 78 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:51,700 Speaker 4: to take a little of that. And that's what you do. 79 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:54,860 Speaker 4: And that's what we kind of did. And then the 80 00:03:54,900 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 4: biggest thing was the writer had written a lot of 81 00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:04,250 Speaker 4: the points and he would just say, okay, I want 82 00:04:04,270 --> 00:04:07,050 Speaker 4: this point to end on a winner, want it to 83 00:04:07,150 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 4: end on an error, want it to end on a tweener, 84 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:13,059 Speaker 4: want it to end on... So I actually had to 85 00:04:13,140 --> 00:04:17,099 Speaker 4: write for each point, okay, here's the nine ball route, 86 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:20,810 Speaker 4: here's the six ball route, like a play-by-play person. 87 00:04:21,430 --> 00:04:24,230 Speaker 3: And then we would start to rehearse it a little 88 00:04:24,270 --> 00:04:25,289 Speaker 3: bit in the practice. 89 00:04:25,790 --> 00:04:28,470 Speaker 4: And then Luca is kind of a visionary a little bit, said, 90 00:04:28,790 --> 00:04:30,930 Speaker 4: I want to see that this point be a little longer, 91 00:04:30,940 --> 00:04:33,310 Speaker 4: a little shorter, a little faster, a little more. 92 00:04:33,790 --> 00:04:36,690 Speaker 3: And so I would just do the outline of the points. 93 00:04:37,210 --> 00:04:39,150 Speaker 4: And then I think the thing that helped the most 94 00:04:39,330 --> 00:04:42,089 Speaker 4: was practicing the points without the ball. 95 00:04:42,250 --> 00:04:44,590 Speaker 3: Learning the movement and learning. 96 00:04:44,350 --> 00:04:48,109 Speaker 4: The stroke of the point without the ball. So where 97 00:04:48,130 --> 00:04:52,690 Speaker 4: you don't miss and then you continue on with the points. 98 00:04:52,770 --> 00:04:54,630 Speaker 4: I think that helped all three of them a lot, 99 00:04:54,990 --> 00:04:56,950 Speaker 4: learning the points without the ball. 100 00:04:57,170 --> 00:04:57,710 Speaker 2: Interesting. 101 00:04:58,089 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 1: Was there anything that surprised you about the process of 102 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 1: filming and just the production overall? 103 00:05:03,580 --> 00:05:07,220 Speaker 4: I don't think you realize until you start filming that 104 00:05:07,260 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 4: there's like 150 people on set. I mean, there's a 105 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,500 Speaker 4: massive amount of people that are involved. And, you know, 106 00:05:14,540 --> 00:05:17,849 Speaker 4: there was a big CGI team. And, you know, Luke 107 00:05:17,910 --> 00:05:22,789 Speaker 4: has a big team, the cinematography team. And then when 108 00:05:23,330 --> 00:05:27,490 Speaker 4: you start to rehearse and start to film, you know, 109 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:31,280 Speaker 4: In tennis, a match is in real time. It could 110 00:05:31,310 --> 00:05:33,950 Speaker 4: be one shot, 20 shots, you don't know. But when 111 00:05:33,990 --> 00:05:37,909 Speaker 4: you're doing this type of work, let's say we're doing 112 00:05:37,950 --> 00:05:42,050 Speaker 4: this six-ball rally. It will be the same six-ball rally 113 00:05:42,130 --> 00:05:43,450 Speaker 4: until they feel like. 114 00:05:43,610 --> 00:05:46,330 Speaker 3: Okay, we've got that. We've got this nine. We've got, 115 00:05:46,740 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 3: you know, looking for different. 116 00:05:48,620 --> 00:05:51,820 Speaker 4: Another thing that is unique in tennis when you're watching 117 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:57,190 Speaker 4: a match, you're seeing the players. And then the reaction 118 00:05:57,310 --> 00:06:02,380 Speaker 4: is sometimes the crowd and the boxes afterwards. This sometimes 119 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:08,620 Speaker 4: literally you're looking at Zendaya's eyes as she's sitting in 120 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:13,430 Speaker 4: the stands watching the action and watching it unfold. 121 00:06:14,010 --> 00:06:19,190 Speaker 3: So it's a different way. And the movie itself is 122 00:06:19,300 --> 00:06:25,799 Speaker 3: like the narrator. It's the narration itself. of these three players' lives. 123 00:06:25,940 --> 00:06:28,540 Speaker 3: How do we get there? What are we doing? 124 00:06:28,700 --> 00:06:33,940 Speaker 4: So it answers a lot of the questions for the movie. 125 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:36,940 Speaker 4: That's how we get intertwined going back and forth. But 126 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 4: the Challenger tournament itself is the narration of the movie. 127 00:06:42,140 --> 00:06:44,500 Speaker 2: Brad, when did you see the final version of the movie? 128 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 2: And when you saw it, what did you think? 129 00:06:46,540 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 3: Well, I saw the final version last night at the premiere. 130 00:06:49,420 --> 00:06:49,740 Speaker 4: Oh, wow. 131 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:51,799 Speaker 3: But after the movie. 132 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:54,700 Speaker 3: Like in September of 22. 133 00:06:54,700 --> 00:06:57,280 Speaker 4: So we kind of thought the movie was going to 134 00:06:57,320 --> 00:06:59,260 Speaker 4: come out in 23. 135 00:06:59,260 --> 00:07:01,619 Speaker 3: That's what was going to come out during the open. 136 00:07:02,020 --> 00:07:05,460 Speaker 3: But then we had the writer's. 137 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 4: Strike, the actor's strike. So that pushed everything behind. But 138 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:12,490 Speaker 4: we did, my wife and me, we did a ton 139 00:07:12,700 --> 00:07:16,490 Speaker 4: of editing work and seeing a ton of clips of 140 00:07:16,570 --> 00:07:20,150 Speaker 4: the tennis, making sure that like the scoreboards were right 141 00:07:20,190 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 4: from the open, the posters were right. The points that 142 00:07:23,070 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 4: we wanted were right. You know, so we would see 143 00:07:27,420 --> 00:07:32,020 Speaker 4: a ton of the tennis stuff. And we watched some 144 00:07:32,060 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 4: of the acting. But, you know, I never saw the 145 00:07:34,820 --> 00:07:39,140 Speaker 4: entire movie through. But I always was seeing every day 146 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 4: getting sent to me was the tennis stuff. 147 00:07:43,220 --> 00:07:46,750 Speaker 1: How stressful was the process compared to, say, coaching a 148 00:07:46,790 --> 00:07:47,870 Speaker 1: player at a Grand Slam? 149 00:07:49,190 --> 00:07:53,330 Speaker 3: You know, probably the most stressful. gratifying experience was the 150 00:07:53,410 --> 00:07:56,290 Speaker 3: three of them you know didn't really know each other 151 00:07:56,550 --> 00:08:03,010 Speaker 3: before their chemistry their camaraderie um and you know. 152 00:08:02,890 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 4: That you have a short period of time to get 153 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 4: them ready and it's a little bit like you know 154 00:08:08,060 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 4: the off season getting ready to get ready to go 155 00:08:11,060 --> 00:08:14,460 Speaker 4: to australia you know and you're hopeful that the work 156 00:08:14,500 --> 00:08:17,650 Speaker 4: you put in you know you can get them ready 157 00:08:17,970 --> 00:08:21,440 Speaker 4: to be to you know Literally, once we were in Boston, 158 00:08:21,490 --> 00:08:24,030 Speaker 4: we had six weeks to get ready and then they're 159 00:08:24,050 --> 00:08:27,510 Speaker 4: going to be shooting. So everybody's got to know and 160 00:08:27,550 --> 00:08:28,210 Speaker 4: do their part. 161 00:08:28,230 --> 00:08:30,730 Speaker 2: That's amazing. While we've got you here, we'd love to 162 00:08:30,810 --> 00:08:33,170 Speaker 2: ask you about Coco, obviously. We'd love to know what 163 00:08:33,190 --> 00:08:36,329 Speaker 2: most impresses you about her and what it's been like 164 00:08:36,350 --> 00:08:38,570 Speaker 2: working with her so far because it's been, what, about 165 00:08:38,670 --> 00:08:39,390 Speaker 2: just over six months? 166 00:08:40,350 --> 00:08:43,080 Speaker 3: Almost nine months now. Almost nine months now. Coco has 167 00:08:43,150 --> 00:08:45,180 Speaker 3: a lot of resolve for a young player. 168 00:08:45,950 --> 00:08:48,840 Speaker 4: And she's learning how, you know, what happened today doesn't 169 00:08:48,860 --> 00:08:50,540 Speaker 4: mean what is going to happen tomorrow. 170 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:54,320 Speaker 3: And sometimes when she's not at her best, she finds 171 00:08:54,380 --> 00:08:55,700 Speaker 3: a way to grind through. 172 00:08:56,520 --> 00:09:01,020 Speaker 4: And she's driven, you know, fiercely to get better and 173 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 4: keep improving and keep moving up. 174 00:09:04,540 --> 00:09:05,620 Speaker 3: She's a great kid. 175 00:09:06,140 --> 00:09:13,189 Speaker 4: She literally has no shortage of, I call, doing what 176 00:09:13,309 --> 00:09:15,050 Speaker 4: she needs to do to put in the hard yards 177 00:09:15,090 --> 00:09:15,630 Speaker 4: to get better. 178 00:09:16,290 --> 00:09:17,890 Speaker 2: I found it really interesting in an interview she did 179 00:09:17,929 --> 00:09:19,750 Speaker 2: on Tennis Channel when she was asked about winning the 180 00:09:19,830 --> 00:09:21,209 Speaker 2: US Open. And she said it was a bit of 181 00:09:21,230 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 2: a surprise because she thought when she won her first major, 182 00:09:24,220 --> 00:09:26,459 Speaker 2: it would come at Roland Garros. And I just wondered 183 00:09:26,620 --> 00:09:29,740 Speaker 2: if you, like, would you have agreed with that? I know, obviously, 184 00:09:29,940 --> 00:09:32,179 Speaker 2: her first major was at the US Open. But before 185 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:34,060 Speaker 2: she won a major, would you have thought her first 186 00:09:34,140 --> 00:09:37,140 Speaker 2: one would have been on clay? And I guess what 187 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:39,370 Speaker 2: does that mean, like, for her clay court season coming up? 188 00:09:39,830 --> 00:09:43,310 Speaker 3: That's a good question. I mean, her movement is such 189 00:09:43,330 --> 00:09:44,250 Speaker 3: a good factor, obviously. 190 00:09:44,790 --> 00:09:48,270 Speaker 4: But obviously, Sviantek has kind of established herself here at 191 00:09:48,290 --> 00:09:50,840 Speaker 4: a young age as being dominant on clay. 192 00:09:51,380 --> 00:09:54,199 Speaker 3: But, you know, she made her first final of a 193 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:58,189 Speaker 3: major enclave, and so then obviously that kind of makes 194 00:09:58,210 --> 00:10:00,700 Speaker 3: you feel like, okay, maybe that should be my best surface. 195 00:10:01,620 --> 00:10:04,840 Speaker 4: Andre got to the finals a couple times when he 196 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 4: was really young of the French, and you thought he 197 00:10:07,140 --> 00:10:10,140 Speaker 4: would win that, and then that became the last one 198 00:10:10,179 --> 00:10:13,020 Speaker 4: he could win. They're all difficult as heck to win, 199 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:18,339 Speaker 4: and wherever you get the first one, it's like, savor it. 200 00:10:18,900 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 4: And then start focusing on the next one. I feel 201 00:10:22,900 --> 00:10:27,100 Speaker 4: like at this point, park courts is probably her best surface. 202 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:33,160 Speaker 4: I think ultimately that the surface I think she will 203 00:10:34,340 --> 00:10:36,540 Speaker 4: improve the most on is grass because I think her 204 00:10:36,580 --> 00:10:39,199 Speaker 4: game has a lot of upside in grass. So I 205 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:42,610 Speaker 4: think that there's no reason why she shouldn't be good 206 00:10:42,660 --> 00:10:46,750 Speaker 4: on any surface because of her movement and her willingness 207 00:10:46,830 --> 00:10:48,010 Speaker 4: to grind on the court. 208 00:10:48,370 --> 00:10:50,250 Speaker 1: What's it been like for you, Brad, working with one 209 00:10:50,270 --> 00:10:52,470 Speaker 1: of the world's top women after you've worked with some 210 00:10:52,490 --> 00:10:56,080 Speaker 1: of the great ATP players in Agassi, Roddick and Andy Murray? 211 00:10:56,750 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 4: Well, I told Zendaya last night that, you know, somehow 212 00:10:59,580 --> 00:11:02,140 Speaker 4: she must have prepared me in 2022 because I spent 213 00:11:02,580 --> 00:11:05,740 Speaker 4: like a couple months with her in LA before we 214 00:11:05,780 --> 00:11:08,319 Speaker 4: got to Boston. So I think she somehow must have, 215 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:11,900 Speaker 4: you know, art imitates life. So somehow she must have 216 00:11:11,940 --> 00:11:14,700 Speaker 4: got me prepared to get ready for Coco in 2023. 217 00:11:14,700 --> 00:11:19,630 Speaker 4: But honestly, um, If I'm working with a club player, 218 00:11:19,850 --> 00:11:23,050 Speaker 4: I'm working with a girl, a boy, or whoever I am, 219 00:11:23,929 --> 00:11:25,950 Speaker 4: your whole goal is trying to help them get better. 220 00:11:26,370 --> 00:11:30,400 Speaker 4: So I try to look through their lens and see 221 00:11:30,460 --> 00:11:32,440 Speaker 4: what we can do to help them get better and 222 00:11:32,500 --> 00:11:35,179 Speaker 4: try not to think about it's a male, it's a female, 223 00:11:35,260 --> 00:11:37,359 Speaker 4: it's a boy, it's a girl. This is a tennis 224 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:42,150 Speaker 4: player that hopefully we can help achieve their dreams and 225 00:11:42,190 --> 00:11:42,630 Speaker 4: get better. 226 00:11:43,050 --> 00:11:46,090 Speaker 1: What's pleased you the most about Coco's progress in your 227 00:11:46,110 --> 00:11:46,690 Speaker 1: time together? 228 00:11:47,170 --> 00:11:50,790 Speaker 4: I think that The thing that pleases me most about it, well, 229 00:11:50,809 --> 00:11:52,650 Speaker 4: first of all, she comes from such a great family. 230 00:11:53,210 --> 00:11:57,630 Speaker 4: She's a great kid. She's unbelievably hardworking and she's humble. 231 00:11:58,750 --> 00:12:02,949 Speaker 4: And she's incredibly dedicated to wanting to get better. And 232 00:12:02,970 --> 00:12:07,000 Speaker 4: I feel like she's not satisfied or complacent, you know, 233 00:12:07,100 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 4: with this result or that result. 234 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:10,980 Speaker 3: She just wants to get better. 235 00:12:11,670 --> 00:12:13,750 Speaker 2: Looking at your career as a whole, you've been so 236 00:12:13,809 --> 00:12:16,290 Speaker 2: connected with tennis for so many years in so many ways. 237 00:12:16,330 --> 00:12:18,370 Speaker 2: Obviously you were a pro yourself, you made the top 238 00:12:18,429 --> 00:12:20,410 Speaker 2: five and then you've moved into coaching. 239 00:12:20,790 --> 00:12:21,720 Speaker 3: You've written a book. 240 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:24,620 Speaker 2: You're also an analyst and a commentator. So you've worn 241 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:26,979 Speaker 2: lots of hats in tennis. Do you prefer one of 242 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:27,320 Speaker 2: the hats? 243 00:12:28,059 --> 00:12:31,780 Speaker 4: I would say, honestly, I've been blessed my entire adult 244 00:12:31,900 --> 00:12:35,179 Speaker 4: life to be involved in something that I love to do, 245 00:12:35,650 --> 00:12:40,170 Speaker 4: you know? So I really haven't had to have a job. Um, but, 246 00:12:40,530 --> 00:12:43,110 Speaker 4: I've been able to do something that I'm passionate about 247 00:12:43,330 --> 00:12:44,829 Speaker 4: in all different facets. 248 00:12:45,130 --> 00:12:47,530 Speaker 3: You know, I love to commentate. 249 00:12:47,990 --> 00:12:51,699 Speaker 4: I love to coach. I, you know, I never would 250 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:54,200 Speaker 4: have thought that I would have enjoyed coaching more than 251 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:58,220 Speaker 4: maybe playing. And, but, and then sometimes there's many times 252 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:02,090 Speaker 4: I got to pinch myself that when I'm sitting courtside, like, 253 00:13:02,450 --> 00:13:07,050 Speaker 4: you know, maybe for the 2005 Aussie Open for Fed 254 00:13:07,230 --> 00:13:10,260 Speaker 4: and Saffin, I'm sitting courtside watching that or the, the 255 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:13,860 Speaker 4: Rafa Verdasco match. And you're sitting there watching an epic 256 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:17,059 Speaker 4: match and it, you know, it's supposed to be a 257 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 4: so-called job, but like, it's amazing to, to be a 258 00:13:21,179 --> 00:13:24,620 Speaker 4: part of such a great sport that I feel like 259 00:13:25,059 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 4: I still have a long ways to go. 260 00:13:26,559 --> 00:13:28,860 Speaker 3: That that's the beauty of tennis. And, you know, now 261 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:29,740 Speaker 3: I'm back coaching. 262 00:13:29,820 --> 00:13:34,530 Speaker 4: It's, it, I feel like, honestly, that, It's been a 263 00:13:34,570 --> 00:13:38,010 Speaker 4: great ride and now doing this movie. So, you know, 264 00:13:38,050 --> 00:13:41,410 Speaker 4: who knows, maybe I'll be involved in another movie, you know, 265 00:13:41,750 --> 00:13:45,510 Speaker 4: but they're all unique and great experiences and something that 266 00:13:46,179 --> 00:13:47,740 Speaker 4: I love to do more than anything is tennis. 267 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:50,099 Speaker 1: And Brad, we have to ask, have you worked with 268 00:13:50,460 --> 00:13:52,660 Speaker 1: any other celebrities in guiding their tennis? 269 00:13:54,679 --> 00:14:00,170 Speaker 4: I once spent in the late 90s, two weeks, then 270 00:14:00,230 --> 00:14:03,660 Speaker 4: we became friends for you know, a long time after that, 271 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:07,550 Speaker 4: I helped Robin Williams get ready for an event that 272 00:14:07,590 --> 00:14:11,930 Speaker 4: he was playing. He was playing with Andre and he 273 00:14:11,950 --> 00:14:15,010 Speaker 4: was playing against Billy Crystal and Pete Sampras. And he 274 00:14:15,050 --> 00:14:17,990 Speaker 4: heard that his friend Billy was really taking the tennis serious. 275 00:14:18,530 --> 00:14:22,040 Speaker 4: So Andre's people arranged for me to, to, to, you know, 276 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:23,340 Speaker 4: spend a couple of weeks. 277 00:14:23,220 --> 00:14:24,340 Speaker 3: Every day with Robin. 278 00:14:24,380 --> 00:14:27,020 Speaker 4: It, it was one of the great experiences of my life. 279 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:30,260 Speaker 4: I mean, he was, it's such a funny guy and 280 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:32,600 Speaker 4: it just fun to be on the courts with it. 281 00:14:32,820 --> 00:14:35,340 Speaker 4: And like, and then to see him serious, okay, I 282 00:14:35,380 --> 00:14:37,660 Speaker 4: get ready for this tennis. He had played high school tennis, 283 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:40,850 Speaker 4: but he's like, Oh my God, I got, I gotta be, 284 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:43,090 Speaker 4: you know, ready to go because I, he knew his 285 00:14:43,150 --> 00:14:44,230 Speaker 4: friend was going to be ready to go. 286 00:14:44,290 --> 00:14:46,410 Speaker 3: And which led to a great friendship I had with 287 00:14:46,450 --> 00:14:47,850 Speaker 3: him for a long time after that. 288 00:14:49,330 --> 00:14:51,710 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's amazing. And it's been so great just listening 289 00:14:51,730 --> 00:14:54,190 Speaker 2: to you today, your passion about the sport in all 290 00:14:54,230 --> 00:14:56,380 Speaker 2: those different ways you mentioned has really come through and, 291 00:14:57,180 --> 00:14:59,820 Speaker 2: We're thrilled that, you know, there's a movie that's getting 292 00:14:59,860 --> 00:15:01,780 Speaker 2: out there into the mainstream and putting tennis out there 293 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:03,830 Speaker 2: because we're big tennis fans too. So it's always good 294 00:15:03,870 --> 00:15:05,730 Speaker 2: when tennis gets its time in the spotlight. 295 00:15:06,170 --> 00:15:08,310 Speaker 3: Thank you. I appreciate it. And I look forward to 296 00:15:08,310 --> 00:15:10,740 Speaker 3: 2025 Aussie Open. Yes. We'll see you down here. Thank 297 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:11,620 Speaker 3: you so much, Brad. 298 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 1: It's been great talking to you. 299 00:15:12,780 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 3: Thanks, Brad. Thank you. 300 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:21,540 Speaker 1: I loved hearing all the details of, you know, Brad's experience. 301 00:15:21,580 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 1: You don't think about things like having to teach a 302 00:15:24,230 --> 00:15:28,210 Speaker 1: player with a double-handed backhand, a one-hander and, you know, 303 00:15:28,250 --> 00:15:30,550 Speaker 1: how he checked the scoreboard and things like that and 304 00:15:30,570 --> 00:15:32,410 Speaker 1: made it a really authentic experience. 305 00:15:32,590 --> 00:15:34,510 Speaker 2: Yeah, I love that quality control he got to do. 306 00:15:34,610 --> 00:15:37,040 Speaker 2: And in his point about, you know, 150 people being 307 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 2: on set, you know, there's a bit of pressure on that. 308 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 2: So he did a great job. 309 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, absolutely. 310 00:15:41,180 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 2: And I think one thing that's kind of underrated in 311 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 2: Brad Gilbert's story is the fact that every point of 312 00:15:46,140 --> 00:15:48,660 Speaker 2: his tennis journey, he's absolutely excelled. Like he got to 313 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:51,940 Speaker 2: world number four himself. He's written a book, Winning Ugly, 314 00:15:51,980 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 2: that we still talk about now. He's coached three different 315 00:15:54,740 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 2: players to Grand Slam titles. And yeah, just kind of, yeah, 316 00:15:57,730 --> 00:15:59,750 Speaker 2: every step along his way in tennis, he's just done 317 00:15:59,790 --> 00:16:01,350 Speaker 2: such a good job. And it was just, yeah, great 318 00:16:01,390 --> 00:16:03,510 Speaker 2: to talk to someone so passionate about it. Yeah. 319 00:16:03,590 --> 00:16:05,670 Speaker 1: I think it's fair to say that he's valued every 320 00:16:05,750 --> 00:16:08,729 Speaker 1: one of those experiences equally. I loved hearing that he 321 00:16:08,790 --> 00:16:10,970 Speaker 1: says he's never had a job just because he loves 322 00:16:11,010 --> 00:16:11,850 Speaker 1: what he does so much. 323 00:16:11,890 --> 00:16:12,530 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was awesome. 324 00:16:12,900 --> 00:16:15,540 Speaker 1: So we'll be back again next Monday. And in the meantime, 325 00:16:15,580 --> 00:16:17,940 Speaker 1: you can listen to John and the team this Thursday 326 00:16:18,140 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 1: on the AO Show Weekly. 327 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:21,620 Speaker 2: Details for how to contact us are in the show notes. 328 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:24,660 Speaker 2: And as always, please subscribe, rate and review. Oh, and 329 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:26,580 Speaker 2: there's still time to get your entries in for our 330 00:16:26,660 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 2: Challengers Ticket Giveaway. Details for how to enter that competition 331 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,020 Speaker 2: are in episode 34 of the podcast. And winners will 332 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:35,240 Speaker 2: be announced on the AO Show this Thursday. See you 333 00:16:35,260 --> 00:16:35,720 Speaker 2: next week, Viv. 334 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:36,720 Speaker 1: See you next week, Matt.