WEBVTT - The Sit-Down with Jaslyn Hewitt-Shehadie 0:00:02.279 --> 0:00:03.880 Hello and welcome to the sit down. 0:00:04.000 --> 0:00:07.520 I'm Viv Christy, managing editor of Australian Tennis magazine, and. 0:00:07.440 --> 0:00:08.200 I'm Brief Stewart. 0:00:08.360 --> 0:00:09.840 I'm from the AO Show. 0:00:10.080 --> 0:00:13.520 So Viv, tell me you're sitting down with Jaslyin Shewitt 0:00:13.560 --> 0:00:14.800 Shahadi this week. 0:00:15.040 --> 0:00:16.560 Tell me why and a little bit about her. 0:00:17.440 --> 0:00:20.680 Jacelin has worn so many hats in tennis, from professional 0:00:20.760 --> 0:00:24.920 playing Korea to a high performance coach, tournament director and 0:00:25.120 --> 0:00:27.880 many roles in between, and now she is the director 0:00:27.920 --> 0:00:30.040 of player Relations at the WTA Tour. 0:00:30.360 --> 0:00:30.960 Amazing. 0:00:31.520 --> 0:00:34.879 Yeah, she's very passionate about giving back to the sport 0:00:35.000 --> 0:00:36.599 and has some great insights for us. 0:00:39.920 --> 0:00:42.320 Jacelyin Hewitt Shahiti, thank you very much for joining us 0:00:42.360 --> 0:00:43.960 on the sit Down in studio today. 0:00:44.000 --> 0:00:44.440 How are you? 0:00:44.760 --> 0:00:45.879 I'm great. Thanks. 0:00:46.040 --> 0:00:48.360 No, it's been a nice trip down to Melbourne. Got 0:00:48.400 --> 0:00:52.040 some sunshine out here finally, so now it's always nice 0:00:52.040 --> 0:00:54.480 to come down to Melbourne and to the Tennis center here. 0:00:54.880 --> 0:00:57.440 I thought it'd be great if you could start from 0:00:57.560 --> 0:01:00.320 the very beginning, Relly and talk to us about how 0:01:00.400 --> 0:01:02.360 you first got connected into tennis. 0:01:02.640 --> 0:01:06.440 Yes, that was a very long time ago, so mum 0:01:06.440 --> 0:01:09.920 and dad after their sporting careers had finished. I'd played 0:01:10.560 --> 0:01:14.280 s ANFL in South Australia in Adelaide and came over 0:01:14.319 --> 0:01:16.520 here to Victoria and was in the VFL for a 0:01:16.520 --> 0:01:20.880 couple of years with Richmond. They took up playing tennis 0:01:20.920 --> 0:01:26.000 socially back in Adelaide at Seaside Tennis Club. So yeah, 0:01:26.040 --> 0:01:28.560 having an older brother having a court in the backyard, 0:01:28.640 --> 0:01:31.760 Mum and dad played socially, so basically started with a 0:01:31.840 --> 0:01:35.399 racket in the hand from a very young age, was 0:01:35.440 --> 0:01:40.080 always around the courts. Had some really great family memories 0:01:40.120 --> 0:01:44.920 about being at the Seaside Tennis Club every Saturday for 0:01:45.520 --> 0:01:49.120 basically morning camp and then afternoon comp. So that's pretty 0:01:49.160 --> 0:01:53.000 much where it all started. And then yeah, was blessed 0:01:53.000 --> 0:01:56.720 to go as far as I did playing so top 0:01:56.760 --> 0:02:00.240 three hundred, had some really good experiences traveling the world. 0:02:00.280 --> 0:02:03.960 Love that part of it. It's always positive when you 0:02:05.040 --> 0:02:06.960 get to take get some extra time off school and 0:02:06.960 --> 0:02:08.440 get to travel the world as well. 0:02:08.520 --> 0:02:10.680 So, yeah, we had had. 0:02:10.600 --> 0:02:13.679 A good career playing, got to three hundred, but then yeah, 0:02:13.760 --> 0:02:18.360 unfortunately broke my hand and then yeah, life takes different pathways. 0:02:18.520 --> 0:02:20.080 I don't know your dad have played for Richmond. Actually 0:02:20.080 --> 0:02:23.160 I have Varick for Richmond. So love that. 0:02:23.919 --> 0:02:26.639 You obviously do come from a very sporting family, as 0:02:26.680 --> 0:02:29.600 you say, Were there ever any other sports that competed 0:02:29.600 --> 0:02:30.280 for your attention? 0:02:30.440 --> 0:02:31.960 What did you most love about tennis? 0:02:32.400 --> 0:02:32.640 Yeah? 0:02:33.160 --> 0:02:36.440 Growing up, I still remember there was a night after 0:02:36.560 --> 0:02:40.000 basketball training that was just done to get too much. 0:02:40.080 --> 0:02:43.240 So I used to play basketball. Really enjoyed that. 0:02:43.320 --> 0:02:46.480 We used to do athletics as well on a Friday night. 0:02:47.760 --> 0:02:50.520 But then, yeah, tennis started to take over by the 0:02:50.560 --> 0:02:54.800 age of twelve thirteen, started going on some international trips 0:02:55.400 --> 0:02:59.440 with Tennis Australia back in the day. So yeah, basically 0:02:59.520 --> 0:03:01.600 had to make a choice, and this is where trying 0:03:01.639 --> 0:03:04.440 to get the right amount of hours and training in. 0:03:05.440 --> 0:03:08.079 If you're going to pick one sport to make your 0:03:08.080 --> 0:03:10.720 profession or that's your goal, we kind of got to 0:03:11.080 --> 0:03:13.520 go one hundred percent in. So yeah, it was a 0:03:13.520 --> 0:03:16.440 tough decision back in the day, and I loved playing basketball, 0:03:16.480 --> 0:03:20.560 but yeah, it was probably a little bit better at tennis. 0:03:22.520 --> 0:03:25.440 Had a great coach in Peter Smith back in Adelaide, 0:03:25.440 --> 0:03:27.440 had a really great support team there. Mum and Dad 0:03:27.440 --> 0:03:31.160 were always behind us, Slayton and myself even still now, 0:03:31.520 --> 0:03:35.839 they're so supportive in our careers. So it's yeah, it's 0:03:35.920 --> 0:03:37.080 been a fantastic journey. 0:03:37.720 --> 0:03:40.200 You say it was a tough choice, but it must 0:03:40.200 --> 0:03:42.360 have felt like the right choice in the end. As 0:03:42.360 --> 0:03:44.400 you say you had a pro career, I think that 0:03:44.440 --> 0:03:47.200 went from say nineteen ninety nine to about two thousand 0:03:47.200 --> 0:03:47.600 and five. 0:03:48.320 --> 0:03:50.280 What are your favorite memories from that time. 0:03:51.080 --> 0:03:53.320 I'm not sure that the pro career was probably some 0:03:53.360 --> 0:03:56.360 of the highlights. I think it's the juniors growing up 0:03:56.600 --> 0:03:59.480 and a lot of the world junior teams that we 0:03:59.520 --> 0:04:03.480 went on on the tours that we went on. I 0:04:03.520 --> 0:04:06.520 was in the Australian Institute a sport with Craig Morris 0:04:06.600 --> 0:04:08.800 as a coach and we had a fantastic team. Then 0:04:09.640 --> 0:04:14.360 Melissa Dow, Sam Stoza, Alisha Mullik or all some of 0:04:14.360 --> 0:04:15.720 the players coming through. 0:04:15.800 --> 0:04:18.960 So I think it's the friendships. 0:04:18.440 --> 0:04:22.800 And the journeys that you go on, especially traveling back 0:04:22.839 --> 0:04:25.479 then we went away for eight, nine, ten weeks in 0:04:25.520 --> 0:04:28.560 a row with your mates, so we never came home 0:04:29.240 --> 0:04:31.560 during that block, and I think that built our resilience. 0:04:31.680 --> 0:04:34.720 Up to when I was older, I'd spend six months 0:04:34.760 --> 0:04:36.960 of the year away basically leave as soon as the 0:04:37.320 --> 0:04:39.920 Aussie summer was done, they have a couple of pro 0:04:39.960 --> 0:04:43.640 tours then in going into April, similar schedule to what's 0:04:43.960 --> 0:04:47.200 here in Australia now, and then you're in Europe until 0:04:47.200 --> 0:04:50.159 maybe October November, and then you come back. So I 0:04:50.160 --> 0:04:53.720 think those longer tours when we were juniors actually assisted 0:04:53.800 --> 0:04:56.919 us build our resilience and passion for the game, and 0:04:56.960 --> 0:04:59.839 then yeah, was able to build the career off that. 0:05:01.120 --> 0:05:03.560 In preparing for this interview, I looked at your Instagram 0:05:03.600 --> 0:05:05.320 account and there was this really nice photo of you 0:05:05.400 --> 0:05:09.200 with Elka Cleisters, and I just I have always I 0:05:09.279 --> 0:05:11.440 was wondering what that experience is like because you reference 0:05:11.520 --> 0:05:14.080 late and obviously two time major champion, world number one, 0:05:14.760 --> 0:05:18.800 as a sibling of a very famous tennis player. What 0:05:18.880 --> 0:05:21.000 is that experience like? Because there are so many tennis 0:05:21.040 --> 0:05:24.039 players like that. I've just finished reading Naomi Osaka's biography 0:05:24.080 --> 0:05:26.760 and there's a chapter dedicated to Mari Osaka, and there's 0:05:26.880 --> 0:05:30.200 Marko Jokovic and so many like what was that like 0:05:30.240 --> 0:05:31.720 for you? Because your careers overlapped. 0:05:31.960 --> 0:05:36.080 Yeah, I always find that question interesting because I actually 0:05:36.080 --> 0:05:39.719 don't know anything else. So I've always grown up. Layton 0:05:39.880 --> 0:05:43.320 was always doing well, when he was fourteen fifteen, sixteen 0:05:43.320 --> 0:05:46.839 on international tours, So when I started doing the same tours, 0:05:46.880 --> 0:05:50.880 that was exciting. When he was fifteen, he then qualified 0:05:50.880 --> 0:05:54.200 for the Yusie Open when he was sixteen, he one Adelaide, 0:05:54.320 --> 0:05:58.680 So coming from being thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, when he's doing 0:05:58.720 --> 0:06:02.640 all these things, it's yeah, I really don't know much else, 0:06:02.760 --> 0:06:10.000 but the opportunities that did provide me were fantastic. So yeah, 0:06:10.279 --> 0:06:13.440 traveling with Elka who was in a similar position with me, 0:06:13.480 --> 0:06:16.520 with her sister Kim, understanding the pressures and traveling, and. 0:06:18.520 --> 0:06:21.080 More of the spotlight. 0:06:20.680 --> 0:06:23.760 Probably being on us as we're trying to make our 0:06:23.800 --> 0:06:27.039 way through the pro tour events, so not necessarily being 0:06:27.080 --> 0:06:30.440 on the top tour there, but still working our own 0:06:30.440 --> 0:06:37.039 pathways out. But looking back at it, it is again 0:06:37.120 --> 0:06:40.560 going back to those relationships in tennis, having lateon been 0:06:40.720 --> 0:06:43.760 a strong part of the Davis Cup team, working with 0:06:44.040 --> 0:06:45.120 Nukin Roachi and that. 0:06:45.080 --> 0:06:46.320 Whole family environment. 0:06:46.680 --> 0:06:50.760 When I started working for Tennis Australia, I had one 0:06:50.760 --> 0:06:54.159 of the toughest years as the AIS Pro Tour coach 0:06:54.480 --> 0:06:56.960 on the road for about forty six weeks of the 0:06:57.040 --> 0:07:02.280 year and just yeah, but I had sand and Stolly, 0:07:02.440 --> 0:07:06.400 also Milo Bradley there, but Sandon I was always around 0:07:06.440 --> 0:07:10.080 from Davis Cup days and he was a great mentor 0:07:10.160 --> 0:07:12.920 for me on the road on during that period of time. 0:07:13.240 --> 0:07:17.160 So it's definitely a second family there within the tennis. 0:07:16.800 --> 0:07:19.760 Community, yeah, for sure. And you also alluded as well 0:07:19.800 --> 0:07:22.480 to your playing career ending with a broken hand. That's 0:07:22.480 --> 0:07:26.360 like a pretty horrific injury. And I don't actually think 0:07:26.400 --> 0:07:28.880 I knew that part of your story very well and like, yeah, 0:07:28.880 --> 0:07:31.200 what was that like to conf like how did that happen? 0:07:31.240 --> 0:07:34.240 What was that like to confront and then making that decision, Yeah, 0:07:34.280 --> 0:07:36.520 I can't play pro anymore because this is this is 0:07:36.560 --> 0:07:37.480 really tough to overcome. 0:07:37.760 --> 0:07:37.960 Yeah. 0:07:38.000 --> 0:07:40.440 So I was middle Sunday of Ozzie Open. Layton was 0:07:40.480 --> 0:07:43.080 still in I was going out with my ex boyfriend 0:07:43.160 --> 0:07:46.960 Jokim Johansson, Peter Luchak, and I had just lost mixed 0:07:47.000 --> 0:07:51.240 doubles to the Black Brother and Sisters there Pimpim lost 0:07:51.240 --> 0:07:54.680 to Agacy after serving a massive amount of aces and 0:07:54.720 --> 0:07:58.080 then yeah, next minute, I've broken my hand and ended 0:07:58.160 --> 0:08:02.280 up in hospital booked for surgery the couple days later. 0:08:03.480 --> 0:08:06.320 So all bands didged up. I still remember being on 0:08:06.360 --> 0:08:09.120 center court watching Layton's matches for a couple of the 0:08:09.280 --> 0:08:12.840 second week of the AO there. But yeah, a Playton 0:08:12.840 --> 0:08:15.760 five screws in. I got told within six weeks I 0:08:15.760 --> 0:08:18.600 should be back out on the court. Unfortunately that didn't happen, 0:08:19.640 --> 0:08:22.000 and just kept playing through pain. It was kind of 0:08:22.040 --> 0:08:25.880 like this vibration sensation when I was making impact with 0:08:25.920 --> 0:08:29.280 the ball. So six months later I had the Playton 0:08:29.360 --> 0:08:32.520 screws taken out and then tried it a little bit 0:08:32.559 --> 0:08:34.960 again after that, but it just was never the same. 0:08:35.000 --> 0:08:37.760 It was affected by heat and cool and just the 0:08:37.840 --> 0:08:40.559 nerves and things were a bit a bit out of whax. 0:08:40.600 --> 0:08:43.960 So but yeah, I believe everything happens for a reason, 0:08:44.120 --> 0:08:47.880 and it was at that point that, yeah, my next 0:08:48.600 --> 0:08:50.160 career pathway in tennis began. 0:08:50.600 --> 0:08:53.240 But you have worn a lot of hats in tennis. 0:08:53.320 --> 0:09:00.000 You've been pro player, high performance coach, personal trainer, massage therapists. 0:08:59.440 --> 0:09:00.240 Tournament. 0:09:02.920 --> 0:09:07.439 Player welfare, broadcasting, You've worked in the women and girls space, 0:09:07.640 --> 0:09:11.520 and now player relations. Is there any one area that 0:09:11.679 --> 0:09:12.720 stands out for you the. 0:09:12.600 --> 0:09:14.840 Mist No, I think it's all. 0:09:15.080 --> 0:09:19.240 It's all played a massive component into where I am today. 0:09:19.360 --> 0:09:24.040 So it's all contributed to probably each area in each 0:09:24.520 --> 0:09:29.959 stage of my own development building myself up to be 0:09:30.040 --> 0:09:33.680 a business woman, was what was the next thing or 0:09:33.679 --> 0:09:36.480 what was the next area that I could then evolve 0:09:36.559 --> 0:09:39.920 or improve my current place of work. 0:09:40.400 --> 0:09:43.080 So within my initial role. 0:09:44.840 --> 0:09:50.319 In Adelaide, I got the role as the high performance 0:09:50.520 --> 0:09:54.040 strength conditioning coach, then having to upskill myself as a 0:09:54.040 --> 0:09:58.160 tennis coach with Rowan Fisher down there, so that then 0:09:58.559 --> 0:10:01.560 built in the and was able to get the manager 0:10:01.679 --> 0:10:03.840 role in Sydney with Sandon. 0:10:05.080 --> 0:10:06.280 Was that two thousand and nine. 0:10:06.720 --> 0:10:10.200 So it's everything seems to evolve and keep building, and 0:10:11.600 --> 0:10:15.880 it was probably my passion to actually give back and continue. 0:10:15.400 --> 0:10:16.520 To improve. 0:10:17.559 --> 0:10:20.920 What services or offerings were out for me then as 0:10:20.960 --> 0:10:24.760 a player and then also as a coach, And that's 0:10:24.800 --> 0:10:28.000 one thing I'm really excited about the role that I'm 0:10:28.040 --> 0:10:33.439 in now with the WTA and also the coach Inclusion 0:10:33.480 --> 0:10:37.360 program that we've launched and partnered with Tennis Australia for. 0:10:38.080 --> 0:10:40.800 Did you ever imagine that tennis would open so many 0:10:40.800 --> 0:10:42.079 doors for you? 0:10:42.080 --> 0:10:44.480 No, to be honest, when I stopped playing, I didn't 0:10:44.480 --> 0:10:47.520 pick up a racket for twelve months, so I didn't 0:10:47.520 --> 0:10:51.160 really want much to do with the sport. I wanted 0:10:51.160 --> 0:10:54.720 to create my own pathway within that. But yeah, after 0:10:54.760 --> 0:10:57.200 twelve months, I felt I had some really good people 0:10:57.200 --> 0:11:00.720 that gave back to me in being really good hitters 0:11:00.720 --> 0:11:05.160 for me, Louise Stacey and Luke Smith, Brett Smith back 0:11:05.160 --> 0:11:07.319 in the day in Adelaide and that's where I just 0:11:07.360 --> 0:11:09.000 walked into tennis to SA and I said, if you 0:11:09.040 --> 0:11:11.040 need a hitter, I'm more than happy to jump on court. 0:11:11.600 --> 0:11:12.960 They go, what have you done? 0:11:13.000 --> 0:11:16.920 And then my strength and conditioning background was able to 0:11:16.960 --> 0:11:19.160 open up a door there and the rest is pretty 0:11:19.200 --> 0:11:19.800 much history. 0:11:19.880 --> 0:11:20.960 So fantastic. 0:11:21.080 --> 0:11:23.559 Yeah, that is fantastic and the progression that you've gone 0:11:23.600 --> 0:11:26.320 into now which I find interesting. So working for the WTA, 0:11:26.679 --> 0:11:28.920 your previous roles have all been with like TA or 0:11:29.040 --> 0:11:31.600 SA in New South Wales. So what's it like shifting 0:11:31.640 --> 0:11:34.000 to more of an international tennis lens than just an 0:11:34.000 --> 0:11:34.959 Aussie tennis lens. 0:11:35.360 --> 0:11:35.680 Yeah. 0:11:36.160 --> 0:11:39.720 Probably working with the National Academy in New South Wales, 0:11:39.760 --> 0:11:42.520 we did have a strong focus on being an international 0:11:42.679 --> 0:11:45.680 level of player and what we wanted that to look like, 0:11:45.760 --> 0:11:47.559 and we've been able to reap the rewards of that 0:11:47.600 --> 0:11:51.520 with all the New South Wales guys in the top 0:11:51.559 --> 0:11:54.720 of the top one hundred now, which has been fantastic. 0:11:54.840 --> 0:11:59.719 So we always had an international focus or best of 0:12:00.160 --> 0:12:02.480 practice focus for what we wanted to do. 0:12:02.360 --> 0:12:02.680 So. 0:12:04.240 --> 0:12:05.840 It's nice for me. 0:12:05.880 --> 0:12:09.920 It's probably more so the international travel and that level 0:12:09.920 --> 0:12:14.800 of tournament versus necessarily what that focus of the international 0:12:14.920 --> 0:12:15.440 level was. 0:12:15.960 --> 0:12:18.080 And so yeah, speaking of that, you were telling us 0:12:18.160 --> 0:12:21.080 before we started that it's mainly based. You're based in Sydney, 0:12:21.160 --> 0:12:23.240 mainly in Australia, but there is a big travel component, 0:12:23.280 --> 0:12:25.200 so yeah, what is the what will you be doing 0:12:25.280 --> 0:12:28.040 in play relations at the WTA, Yes. 0:12:28.000 --> 0:12:32.720 So traveling about three months of the year to various tournaments. 0:12:33.559 --> 0:12:39.040 Player relations has a large broad scope from making sure 0:12:39.120 --> 0:12:41.599 that the players are well looked after. The WTA was 0:12:41.640 --> 0:12:45.280 actually created by the players for the players, So we 0:12:45.920 --> 0:12:50.320 have a lot of player Council meetings and feedback that 0:12:50.360 --> 0:12:52.840 we receive from the players that we then look to 0:12:52.920 --> 0:12:56.120 execute to continue to improve what the tour looks like 0:12:56.240 --> 0:12:56.680 for them. 0:12:56.800 --> 0:12:58.840 So that varies. 0:12:58.960 --> 0:13:01.840 Every day is different, depends on what the demands is, 0:13:01.920 --> 0:13:05.120 depends on the amount of staff that we can have 0:13:05.160 --> 0:13:08.240 there on site. Kind of got to be a jack 0:13:08.280 --> 0:13:08.920 of all trades. 0:13:08.960 --> 0:13:09.439 You might be. 0:13:09.400 --> 0:13:13.200 Working with marketing and media one day, you might be 0:13:13.240 --> 0:13:16.160 then working with the coaches another day. So part of 0:13:16.200 --> 0:13:19.440 my role is also the working with the coaches program, 0:13:19.640 --> 0:13:23.680 so other than the accredited coaches, Yeah, trying to really 0:13:23.679 --> 0:13:27.720 build on our female coaching network out there on the tour, 0:13:28.559 --> 0:13:32.280 just because there are so many challenges and barriers for 0:13:32.320 --> 0:13:34.920 females to get on the tour in the first place. 0:13:35.040 --> 0:13:38.280 So yeah, well that follows into the next question perfectly. 0:13:38.320 --> 0:13:41.360 So this WTA Coach Inclusion program you referred to before, 0:13:41.800 --> 0:13:44.199 something obviously that is very important to you and you're 0:13:44.200 --> 0:13:46.640 passionate about. So why is this and maybe you could 0:13:46.640 --> 0:13:48.600 talk a little bit about what that program will bring. 0:13:48.880 --> 0:13:51.920 Yeah, so it probably for me I'm passionate about is 0:13:52.280 --> 0:13:55.760 having a good role model, a mentor. When I was 0:13:55.760 --> 0:13:59.760 coming up and having more females coaching and on the 0:13:59.760 --> 0:14:04.120 tour as a high performance coach myself, it has been 0:14:04.559 --> 0:14:11.439 a challenge raising two boys and being a player development coach, 0:14:11.679 --> 0:14:16.160 so that is always a challenge. But this role, we 0:14:16.240 --> 0:14:20.880 are providing great mentorship for the players sorry for the coaches, 0:14:21.880 --> 0:14:26.480 where we will then partner the coaches up with pro 0:14:26.560 --> 0:14:30.160 tour coaches that are already out there it's a great 0:14:30.160 --> 0:14:33.960 opportunity for them to build their network, and that's one thing. 0:14:34.120 --> 0:14:36.720 The main barrier that we find is a lot of 0:14:37.080 --> 0:14:40.960 players will have a hitting partner that will organically grow 0:14:41.000 --> 0:14:45.440 into that relationship and then have that next step. Unfortunately, 0:14:45.480 --> 0:14:49.520 we don't necessarily see enough hitting partners out there being females. 0:14:50.400 --> 0:14:52.800 So it's how do we then create that network and 0:14:52.880 --> 0:14:55.720 environment for our female coaches to be in and around 0:14:56.760 --> 0:15:03.600 and get their knowledge analytical skills. How they then relate 0:15:03.680 --> 0:15:06.320 to the player, which is one thing we're finding is 0:15:06.800 --> 0:15:10.400 very strong with a lot of the female players is 0:15:10.680 --> 0:15:13.400 they're finding that female coaches are actually relating to them 0:15:13.440 --> 0:15:14.120 a lot stronger. 0:15:14.560 --> 0:15:17.720 Do you think that tennis is becoming somewhere that more 0:15:17.840 --> 0:15:19.560 female coaches can thrive. 0:15:20.480 --> 0:15:23.040 Definitely, But I think it also depends on the stage 0:15:23.040 --> 0:15:28.360 of the coach's life and journey, and that was definitely 0:15:28.400 --> 0:15:32.000 one challenge for myself, even staying in working for Tennis 0:15:32.000 --> 0:15:35.440 Australia and being on court until late in the evenings 0:15:35.480 --> 0:15:38.479 and trying to come home and put your family and kids. 0:15:38.200 --> 0:15:40.960 To sleep at nine o'clock at night. So I do 0:15:41.080 --> 0:15:42.200 understand that the role. 0:15:42.200 --> 0:15:45.400 Does have the demands on it, but it is a 0:15:45.480 --> 0:15:50.040 very inclusive place to work. We do have This year, 0:15:50.040 --> 0:15:52.920 we've got five female coaches are coaching top fifty players 0:15:52.920 --> 0:15:54.520 in the world, whereas you look back a couple of 0:15:54.640 --> 0:15:58.680 years we only had five female coaching coaches coaching top 0:15:58.720 --> 0:16:01.560 one hundred and fifty players in the world. So that 0:16:01.720 --> 0:16:04.040 top end and where we're wanting to see it. This 0:16:04.160 --> 0:16:07.600 program has had some really great success. I've had about 0:16:07.640 --> 0:16:10.840 twenty applicants come through the North American program. We've had 0:16:10.840 --> 0:16:13.800 two seasons of that. They're just about to start their 0:16:13.840 --> 0:16:18.840 third third round of the North American Swing. We've got 0:16:18.880 --> 0:16:21.880 the Tennis Australia program that we'll launch in Hong Kong 0:16:21.880 --> 0:16:24.760 at the two fifty, which will be fantastic, so working 0:16:24.800 --> 0:16:27.480 with Nicole Pratt and Belinda Culinari there that will be 0:16:27.520 --> 0:16:30.640 delivering this as part as the Women's and Girls Initiative 0:16:30.640 --> 0:16:33.840 from Tennis Australia. So it's great to have that collaboration 0:16:34.000 --> 0:16:38.840 and support with Tennis Australia and the WTA both coming together. 0:16:39.480 --> 0:16:43.520 We've also got one kicking off early December in London 0:16:43.520 --> 0:16:46.760 with the LTA as well, so looking to try to 0:16:46.800 --> 0:16:52.360 cover the globe with this initiative. And yeah, we've got 0:16:52.440 --> 0:16:54.520 a few coaches that have come through the program and 0:16:54.560 --> 0:16:57.560 our Billy Jinkin Cup captains, so we've got some really 0:16:57.600 --> 0:16:59.200 good success stories out there from it. 0:16:59.480 --> 0:17:03.440 You mentioned earlier that women players respond really well to 0:17:03.520 --> 0:17:08.040 having a women's coach. What are the differences between sort 0:17:08.040 --> 0:17:11.200 of coaching a female player and a male player do 0:17:11.280 --> 0:17:11.640 you think? 0:17:11.720 --> 0:17:16.680 I don't think there's much differences for coaching a female 0:17:16.880 --> 0:17:18.840 or a male. I probably think it's the way that 0:17:18.880 --> 0:17:23.879 the coach handles the situation with the female player. I 0:17:23.920 --> 0:17:28.120 think the emotions of what a female player and how 0:17:28.160 --> 0:17:32.280 they handle their emotions there, and how that coach is 0:17:32.320 --> 0:17:33.639 then reacting to that. 0:17:34.240 --> 0:17:35.640 I think that can probably be. 0:17:37.840 --> 0:17:42.640 Misunderstood in some relationships that it's just always put down, oh, 0:17:42.680 --> 0:17:46.520 she's emotional or she's this, whereas some days the player 0:17:46.560 --> 0:17:51.840 may just prefer to have a training day, may have 0:17:52.160 --> 0:17:55.160 a day off, may have other areas. And I think 0:17:55.200 --> 0:17:59.240 it's that understanding of the whole player themselves that probably 0:17:59.320 --> 0:18:03.400 the female co which is more willing to dive deeper 0:18:03.560 --> 0:18:08.800 into and yeah, emotions are scary and having those deep conversations, 0:18:09.200 --> 0:18:13.159 especially for tennis coaches when you're not necessarily taught a 0:18:13.160 --> 0:18:16.640 psych degree on how to handle those. I think it's 0:18:16.640 --> 0:18:20.760 probably the empathy or the maternal instinct that females and 0:18:20.800 --> 0:18:24.040 female coaches have that they can really connect better. Who 0:18:24.119 --> 0:18:26.479 are some of the coaches that you look back on 0:18:26.800 --> 0:18:30.560 with great fondness or really motivated you or inspired you? 0:18:31.160 --> 0:18:34.000 For me, I was always surrounded by male coaches. So 0:18:35.280 --> 0:18:38.840 the one hitter that I did have and she was fantastic, 0:18:39.720 --> 0:18:43.960 it was Louise Stacy. So she played OSIO Open Juniors, 0:18:44.960 --> 0:18:46.680 tried on the tour for a little bit as well, 0:18:46.720 --> 0:18:49.760 so as a female mentor, I did have her around. 0:18:50.880 --> 0:18:53.840 But for me, probably my main two coaches that I 0:18:53.920 --> 0:18:56.440 really clicked with were Peter Smith from a very young 0:18:56.440 --> 0:19:01.200 age as well as Craig Morris during my years with AIS. 0:19:01.240 --> 0:19:05.760 So I think both the way that those two went 0:19:05.840 --> 0:19:08.880 about their coaching was actually understanding you and giving you 0:19:08.920 --> 0:19:15.119 that full holistic development with how they're handling you and 0:19:13.680 --> 0:19:15.560 how they're how. 0:19:15.440 --> 0:19:17.280 You're learning as a person. 0:19:18.240 --> 0:19:21.080 So yeah, I don't think it's it's black and white 0:19:21.119 --> 0:19:24.199 that males can't can't do a really good job, but 0:19:24.280 --> 0:19:27.439 I think that that connection between the player and the 0:19:27.480 --> 0:19:29.280 coach really has to be strong, of. 0:19:29.240 --> 0:19:31.720 Course, and I think we've seen that. Actually it was 0:19:31.760 --> 0:19:33.840 Costchuk that's been talking about since she moved to working 0:19:33.840 --> 0:19:37.639 with Sandra Zanievska. Yes, exactly what you said about just 0:19:38.240 --> 0:19:41.080 having those conversations and relating. Just Sandra gets her in 0:19:41.080 --> 0:19:43.520 a way that maybe a male coach didn't, and not 0:19:43.600 --> 0:19:46.360 that the male coaches were bad, it's just a different relationship. 0:19:46.720 --> 0:19:49.760 But she's also having her career best year, so you know, 0:19:49.880 --> 0:19:51.360 maybe that works for her so. 0:19:52.000 --> 0:19:55.199 Exactly, And that's that's one thing that Marta. Marta and 0:19:55.240 --> 0:19:57.880 Sandra have been fantastic within this program. So when we've 0:19:57.880 --> 0:20:01.440 had the coaches in the fine stages of the program, 0:20:01.480 --> 0:20:03.880 they will partner up with a touring coach and we've 0:20:03.920 --> 0:20:06.800 had some of our coaches partner with Sandra and then 0:20:06.880 --> 0:20:10.080 been privileged to have some insights from Martyr as well. 0:20:10.080 --> 0:20:14.479 And that's definitely one thing that was spoken very openly about, 0:20:14.560 --> 0:20:17.640 is that relationship and understanding of the athlete. 0:20:17.880 --> 0:20:20.080 Now, if you've asked you about which coaches you enjoyed 0:20:20.080 --> 0:20:22.000 working with, we also know that you worked with players, 0:20:22.000 --> 0:20:23.760 and you alluded to before a lot of the players 0:20:23.760 --> 0:20:26.240 coming through New South Wales have gone on to great things. 0:20:26.520 --> 0:20:28.840 Who were some of your favorite players to guide and 0:20:28.880 --> 0:20:30.800 coach and some of those great relationships you've had. 0:20:30.920 --> 0:20:34.679 Yeah, probably my main strongest relationship would have been with 0:20:34.920 --> 0:20:38.639 Gabby DESILVERFK. So she's around four hundred now in the 0:20:38.640 --> 0:20:42.240 world WTA had some injuries up and down the last 0:20:42.280 --> 0:20:44.560 couple of years, but yeah, the last six months really 0:20:44.600 --> 0:20:48.200 starting to step it up. So working with her day in, 0:20:48.280 --> 0:20:50.800 day out, the commitment from the family, it is that 0:20:50.960 --> 0:20:54.479 whole holistic relationship that you build with the family because 0:20:54.560 --> 0:20:58.359 there's they're trusting so much of you as a coach, 0:20:59.160 --> 0:21:02.359 the amount of our that you're with their son or daughter. 0:21:03.359 --> 0:21:08.040 But yeah, working with Gabby has been very rewarding for 0:21:08.119 --> 0:21:10.720 me and to see where she's still continuing to go. 0:21:12.960 --> 0:21:18.400 Also had some great trips with Olivia Gadeki and Annlie 0:21:18.440 --> 0:21:22.280 Paulus and Tina Smith. So yeah, it's been fantastic to 0:21:22.920 --> 0:21:24.680 see how it lives done in the last. 0:21:24.440 --> 0:21:26.880 Time the woman of the hour, isn't she exactly. 0:21:27.200 --> 0:21:30.119 So no, so proud of her to see where she 0:21:30.240 --> 0:21:34.440 is now, so taking some time off to reset herself 0:21:34.480 --> 0:21:38.240 and now watching her sore is just fantastic to see. 0:21:38.560 --> 0:21:40.480 Now. I guess you stayed so connected with the game 0:21:40.520 --> 0:21:43.560