1 00:00:02,390 --> 00:00:05,029 Speaker 1: Hi, everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Sit Down. 2 00:00:05,350 --> 00:00:07,430 Speaker 1: I'm Matt Trollope, a writer for AusOpen.com. 3 00:00:07,910 --> 00:00:11,050 Speaker 2: And I'm Viv Kirstein, managing editor of Australian Tennis Magazine. 4 00:00:11,570 --> 00:00:13,670 Speaker 2: And Matt, why are we sitting down this week with 5 00:00:13,730 --> 00:00:14,510 Speaker 2: Andrea Petkovic? 6 00:00:14,910 --> 00:00:16,689 Speaker 1: Well, Viv, we were lucky enough to get some time 7 00:00:16,730 --> 00:00:19,630 Speaker 1: with Andrea from Berlin, where she was in town preparing 8 00:00:19,670 --> 00:00:22,529 Speaker 1: to commentate for the Labor Cup. And we thought it 9 00:00:22,550 --> 00:00:24,390 Speaker 1: would be a great opportunity to talk to her about 10 00:00:24,610 --> 00:00:27,300 Speaker 1: all things tennis. She's such an interesting figure in the game. 11 00:00:27,420 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: Her playing career was so long and spanned generations. And 12 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:33,990 Speaker 1: she's moved into the commentary and media space since she's retired. 13 00:00:34,250 --> 00:00:36,250 Speaker 1: She's still really connected with the sport and has such 14 00:00:36,370 --> 00:00:39,229 Speaker 1: interesting ideas about it. And she's such a great analyst. 15 00:00:39,290 --> 00:00:41,630 Speaker 1: So this was a really fascinating chat and we hope 16 00:00:41,650 --> 00:00:46,860 Speaker 1: you enjoy it. Thank you so much for joining us 17 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:48,820 Speaker 1: on The Sit Down. It's great to chat with you 18 00:00:48,900 --> 00:00:50,260 Speaker 1: and we really appreciate your time today. 19 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:52,650 Speaker 3: Thank you so much for having me. I'm excited. 20 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 4: It's an exciting time for tennis in Germany. We talked 21 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:00,540 Speaker 4: to Torben Balz last week for the sit-down, and he 22 00:01:00,620 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 4: talked about tennis in Germany being on a bit of 23 00:01:03,300 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 4: an upswing. What are your thoughts on that? 24 00:01:05,750 --> 00:01:08,470 Speaker 3: I agree with him in some way. 25 00:01:08,630 --> 00:01:12,669 Speaker 5: I do think that it's hard as a not-tennis expert, 26 00:01:12,730 --> 00:01:15,410 Speaker 5: let's say somebody who is not in tennis, to see 27 00:01:15,450 --> 00:01:19,390 Speaker 5: that as well, just because we've had this golden generation 28 00:01:19,410 --> 00:01:25,010 Speaker 5: of There's like Angie Kerber and Julia Gerges and all 29 00:01:25,050 --> 00:01:28,830 Speaker 5: these fantastic young women who are young for life, but 30 00:01:28,990 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 5: old for sports and have retired. And so it's maybe 31 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:35,320 Speaker 5: hard to see for people who are not in tennis 32 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 5: that we have young talents coming up and on the 33 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:40,900 Speaker 5: women's side. And then, of course, on the men's side, 34 00:01:40,980 --> 00:01:44,319 Speaker 5: we've had one of the best male players ever in 35 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:48,790 Speaker 5: Germany since Boris Becker and Michael Stich and Alexander Zverev, 36 00:01:49,250 --> 00:01:53,290 Speaker 5: who's just a top five player on such a consistent basis. 37 00:01:53,330 --> 00:01:57,010 Speaker 5: He hasn't quite been able to get that major title, 38 00:01:57,050 --> 00:02:00,950 Speaker 5: but I just think in terms of consistency and winning 39 00:02:01,010 --> 00:02:04,350 Speaker 5: titles and competing with the best in the world, he's 40 00:02:04,430 --> 00:02:07,900 Speaker 5: really one of the best male players we've ever had 41 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 5: in Germany. And so he's generating a lot of attention 42 00:02:12,540 --> 00:02:16,660 Speaker 5: and hopefully more tennis fans to flock to the tennis tournaments. 43 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:19,070 Speaker 3: But just Tennis is trending everywhere. 44 00:02:19,150 --> 00:02:22,380 Speaker 5: I live in New York and in Germany and I 45 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:25,820 Speaker 5: see around me all these people who are new to 46 00:02:25,860 --> 00:02:27,940 Speaker 5: tennis and trying to pick it up as a sport. 47 00:02:27,980 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 3: So good news for us. 48 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 4: You mentioned Angie Kerber earlier. She obviously ended her iconic 49 00:02:34,150 --> 00:02:37,270 Speaker 4: career at the Paris Olympics. Have you spoken to Angie 50 00:02:37,310 --> 00:02:37,730 Speaker 4: since then? 51 00:02:38,230 --> 00:02:38,790 Speaker 2: I have, yeah. 52 00:02:38,830 --> 00:02:42,250 Speaker 5: We are in close contact. We've actually been closer since 53 00:02:42,430 --> 00:02:45,540 Speaker 5: I retired just because I have also more time to 54 00:02:45,820 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 5: go see her and before we were both so busy 55 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:52,260 Speaker 5: with traveling for the tennis. And hopefully, I haven't seen 56 00:02:52,300 --> 00:02:54,839 Speaker 5: her since the Paralympics, but I have spoken to her. 57 00:02:54,919 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 5: So hopefully we can also have a face-to-face soon. And yeah, she's, 58 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 5: I mean, I think saying she's happy is a stretch 59 00:03:05,900 --> 00:03:07,399 Speaker 5: because it's always strange. 60 00:03:07,500 --> 00:03:07,919 Speaker 3: I've been there. 61 00:03:07,940 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 5: It's always strange to retire from something you loved for 62 00:03:10,900 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 5: so long. And I know Angie loved playing tennis, loved 63 00:03:13,660 --> 00:03:16,570 Speaker 5: being a tennis player. but she's happy that she's made 64 00:03:16,610 --> 00:03:20,730 Speaker 5: the decision and she's happy that she has been able 65 00:03:20,790 --> 00:03:23,470 Speaker 5: to retire in that manner because her showing at the 66 00:03:23,510 --> 00:03:27,709 Speaker 5: Paris Olympics was absolutely phenomenal. She played some great tennis 67 00:03:27,850 --> 00:03:31,030 Speaker 5: and she also played in a way A.G. Kerber always played, 68 00:03:31,090 --> 00:03:35,340 Speaker 5: which was fighting to the last point, sweating blood, sweat 69 00:03:35,380 --> 00:03:39,420 Speaker 5: and tears basically. And so that was really, really exciting. 70 00:03:39,580 --> 00:03:42,390 Speaker 5: And But it's normal to take some time to get 71 00:03:42,730 --> 00:03:45,270 Speaker 5: used to your new life. It took me a time too. 72 00:03:45,910 --> 00:03:48,810 Speaker 4: Your own retirement was two years ago. How did you 73 00:03:48,850 --> 00:03:51,690 Speaker 4: grapple with that decision? And was it an easy transition 74 00:03:51,710 --> 00:03:51,970 Speaker 4: for you? 75 00:03:53,070 --> 00:03:55,850 Speaker 3: So before the transition, it wasn't easy at all. 76 00:03:55,890 --> 00:03:58,630 Speaker 5: The three, four months before I retired were some of 77 00:03:58,670 --> 00:04:02,670 Speaker 5: the toughest of my tennis life, just because I didn't 78 00:04:02,730 --> 00:04:05,410 Speaker 5: want to retire. I really loved playing tennis. I really 79 00:04:05,470 --> 00:04:08,460 Speaker 5: loved traveling the world. I love being a tennis player. 80 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:10,930 Speaker 5: I love the routines and the structure of a tennis player. 81 00:04:11,380 --> 00:04:13,910 Speaker 5: But I could feel that it was time for me. 82 00:04:13,950 --> 00:04:17,470 Speaker 5: My body wasn't as able anymore to practice all these 83 00:04:17,510 --> 00:04:19,610 Speaker 5: hours that are required to stay at the top. 84 00:04:20,110 --> 00:04:21,970 Speaker 3: I could feel also my level dropping. 85 00:04:22,130 --> 00:04:24,350 Speaker 5: I could sense that against the best in the world 86 00:04:24,450 --> 00:04:28,460 Speaker 5: and against some of the younger players, I wasn't able 87 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:32,479 Speaker 5: to keep up for two sets or three sets if necessary. 88 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:35,039 Speaker 5: So I knew it was time and the last three, 89 00:04:35,100 --> 00:04:38,310 Speaker 5: four months were really, before I retired were really hard 90 00:04:38,370 --> 00:04:41,750 Speaker 5: because I wasn't quite ready to let it go. But 91 00:04:41,790 --> 00:04:44,530 Speaker 5: then once I did retire, it was actually okay. It 92 00:04:44,589 --> 00:04:46,729 Speaker 5: took me, I want to say I've been retired for 93 00:04:46,790 --> 00:04:48,770 Speaker 5: two years. I think it took me two years to 94 00:04:48,830 --> 00:04:51,900 Speaker 5: really let go of that identity as a tennis player. 95 00:04:52,380 --> 00:04:55,140 Speaker 5: Cause I still caught myself saying I play tennis to 96 00:04:55,180 --> 00:04:56,839 Speaker 5: people when they asked me what I did. 97 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:58,160 Speaker 3: So I don't do that anymore. 98 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:03,779 Speaker 5: But it was much easier than expected because before I retired, 99 00:05:03,860 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 5: I thought I will just live in my house and 100 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:09,289 Speaker 5: nobody will call me anymore. I won't know what to 101 00:05:09,350 --> 00:05:12,730 Speaker 5: do with myself. And that obviously hasn't been the case 102 00:05:12,810 --> 00:05:15,930 Speaker 5: at all. I've been almost busier than ever. And it's 103 00:05:15,950 --> 00:05:19,950 Speaker 5: been really fun and challenging to try new things. So 104 00:05:20,210 --> 00:05:23,159 Speaker 5: the transition itself wasn't as bad. But the moments before 105 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:25,010 Speaker 5: the transition were really hard for me. 106 00:05:25,740 --> 00:05:28,239 Speaker 1: We definitely want to talk about that busyness with you, Andrea. 107 00:05:28,300 --> 00:05:30,539 Speaker 1: But first of all, it would be great to reflect 108 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:34,040 Speaker 1: on your career. Certainly watching your career, the things that 109 00:05:34,060 --> 00:05:36,750 Speaker 1: stood out for me were 2011, when you made the 110 00:05:36,790 --> 00:05:39,130 Speaker 1: three Grand Slam quarterfinals. You cracked the top 10 later 111 00:05:39,150 --> 00:05:41,950 Speaker 1: that year. I also remember the first year I went 112 00:05:41,970 --> 00:05:44,930 Speaker 1: to Roland Garros was 2014. And I remember you beating 113 00:05:44,990 --> 00:05:48,190 Speaker 1: Irani in the quarterfinals. It was an incredible performance. And 114 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:51,480 Speaker 1: you made your first Slam semifinals. So to me, I 115 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:53,660 Speaker 1: guess on paper, they are your career highlights. Do you 116 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:55,780 Speaker 1: remember it the same way, or were there other moments 117 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:57,740 Speaker 1: of your career that stand out for you more? 118 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:00,089 Speaker 3: No, I think you nailed it. 119 00:06:00,110 --> 00:06:03,430 Speaker 5: There are in this 2014 season when I made the 120 00:06:03,470 --> 00:06:07,590 Speaker 5: semifinals of Roland Garros, there were a couple of other 121 00:06:08,010 --> 00:06:11,060 Speaker 5: highlights for me. I won Charleston after being injured for 122 00:06:11,100 --> 00:06:13,979 Speaker 5: two years. That was my first big title after the injury, 123 00:06:14,020 --> 00:06:16,750 Speaker 5: and it was more of a relief that I can 124 00:06:16,810 --> 00:06:19,170 Speaker 5: still do it. And I think that's also where the 125 00:06:19,350 --> 00:06:23,210 Speaker 5: semifinal run at Roland Garros stemmed from because I had 126 00:06:23,270 --> 00:06:24,770 Speaker 5: worked so hard to come back. 127 00:06:24,650 --> 00:06:27,010 Speaker 3: From injury and it just wouldn't click. 128 00:06:27,089 --> 00:06:29,570 Speaker 5: And I started to doubt whether it would ever click. 129 00:06:29,610 --> 00:06:32,110 Speaker 3: And so the Charleston title was that. 130 00:06:32,150 --> 00:06:35,380 Speaker 5: Necessary last piece of the puzzle to fall into place 131 00:06:35,420 --> 00:06:37,220 Speaker 5: before I was able to make the. 132 00:06:37,180 --> 00:06:38,720 Speaker 3: Semifinals at Roland Garros. 133 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:41,180 Speaker 5: And in the same year, we made the finals with, 134 00:06:41,660 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 5: back then, the Fed Cup team, now the Billie Jean 135 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:48,170 Speaker 5: King Cup team which was a great success for us 136 00:06:48,250 --> 00:06:51,729 Speaker 5: as Germany who hadn't been in the final since 93 137 00:06:51,730 --> 00:06:54,310 Speaker 5: I think and it was great fun also to share 138 00:06:54,330 --> 00:06:56,870 Speaker 5: it with team members which you normally don't have as 139 00:06:57,070 --> 00:07:00,190 Speaker 5: as tennis players and so yeah I think those were 140 00:07:00,230 --> 00:07:02,930 Speaker 5: my highlights but it was really interesting because I retired 141 00:07:03,010 --> 00:07:05,180 Speaker 5: at the same time as Serena Williams and while I 142 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:07,929 Speaker 5: was retiring I thought I've. 143 00:07:07,810 --> 00:07:11,230 Speaker 3: Done everything I could in my career. I had my successes. 144 00:07:11,310 --> 00:07:13,950 Speaker 5: I wasn't maybe the world number one and I didn't 145 00:07:13,990 --> 00:07:19,730 Speaker 5: win major titles, but I'm really happy with what I've achieved. 146 00:07:19,770 --> 00:07:22,190 Speaker 5: And then when Serena announced her retirement at exactly the 147 00:07:22,210 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 5: same time as me, I had this strange existential crisis 148 00:07:27,010 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 5: where I was like, what did I really do in 149 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 5: my tennis career? Because obviously retiring with one of the 150 00:07:32,380 --> 00:07:35,870 Speaker 5: goats in women's tennis, the greatest of all time, It 151 00:07:35,890 --> 00:07:38,930 Speaker 5: was a strange feeling, I have to say. I remember 152 00:07:38,990 --> 00:07:41,390 Speaker 5: very well, I retired at the US Open, so did Serena. 153 00:07:41,420 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 5: And I remember very well coming out of my apartment 154 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:46,260 Speaker 5: in New York and a bus was driving by with 155 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 5: Serena's face on it. And they would say, thank you, Serena, 156 00:07:50,060 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 5: for everything. And I was like, oh, I wonder if 157 00:07:52,900 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 5: there are buses in Germany with my face on. 158 00:07:57,180 --> 00:07:59,860 Speaker 3: I'm sure there were. I don't think there were. No, 159 00:07:59,920 --> 00:08:00,700 Speaker 3: I don't think so. 160 00:08:01,060 --> 00:08:04,670 Speaker 5: But I had a month or two of this existential 161 00:08:04,730 --> 00:08:07,710 Speaker 5: crisis where I was like, all my childhood dreams. 162 00:08:07,770 --> 00:08:09,340 Speaker 3: I didn't win major titles. I didn't do this. 163 00:08:09,700 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 5: And now removed from it two years, I'm so happy 164 00:08:12,900 --> 00:08:15,500 Speaker 5: and satisfied and grateful for what I did achieve. And 165 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 5: especially one thing, and I can just really, to all 166 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:21,690 Speaker 5: the active tennis players, that's the only message I have 167 00:08:21,730 --> 00:08:25,450 Speaker 5: for them. What you don't realize after you're retired, how 168 00:08:25,530 --> 00:08:28,150 Speaker 5: important it is that you've given it your all. Now 169 00:08:28,270 --> 00:08:31,410 Speaker 5: I find much more satisfaction in the fact that I 170 00:08:31,510 --> 00:08:33,849 Speaker 5: know that I pressed out the last job that I 171 00:08:33,929 --> 00:08:36,929 Speaker 5: could out of my performance, of my ability. Maybe I 172 00:08:36,970 --> 00:08:39,790 Speaker 5: didn't have as much talent as an Angie Kerber or 173 00:08:39,809 --> 00:08:43,110 Speaker 5: a Serena, but I tried my best and I did 174 00:08:43,270 --> 00:08:45,270 Speaker 5: everything I could, and I was the best tennis player 175 00:08:45,290 --> 00:08:48,150 Speaker 5: I could. And it's interesting when you get older, how 176 00:08:48,190 --> 00:08:51,740 Speaker 5: much more you value that over successes and titles. And 177 00:08:51,770 --> 00:08:54,600 Speaker 5: that's the only thing I can tell young players, that 178 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:57,699 Speaker 5: even if you maybe don't win major titles, you will 179 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 5: find a great satisfaction within you if you know you've 180 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 5: done it all to be the best that you can be. 181 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:08,160 Speaker 5: And that's just one thing that I've learned now just recently, 182 00:09:08,179 --> 00:09:09,920 Speaker 5: maybe in the last few months or so. 183 00:09:10,179 --> 00:09:11,900 Speaker 1: That sounds like a healthy perspective. 184 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 3: We like that. 185 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 1: And you mentioned Serena. It's almost like you're anticipating the 186 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:18,980 Speaker 1: next questions we're going to ask you. It's fantastic. The 187 00:09:19,020 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 1: way that your career kind of unfolded and overlapped with 188 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:24,960 Speaker 1: a lot of amazing generations in women's tennis. So Serena 189 00:09:24,980 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 1: was obviously kind of a constant for that whole time. 190 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:30,390 Speaker 1: She had like a 20-year, 25-year career. but you kind of, 191 00:09:30,650 --> 00:09:34,350 Speaker 1: when you emerged, it was Sharapova, Azarenka, Lina, and then obviously, 192 00:09:34,410 --> 00:09:37,630 Speaker 1: you know, Halep, Kvitova, Radwanska came along. And then there 193 00:09:37,650 --> 00:09:42,839 Speaker 1: was that young brigade, Ostapenko, one Roland Garros, Osaka, Barty, Andreescu. 194 00:09:43,340 --> 00:09:46,360 Speaker 1: And then as you were closing your career, we were 195 00:09:46,380 --> 00:09:48,700 Speaker 1: seeing Sviontek and Sabalenka start to kind of come to 196 00:09:48,740 --> 00:09:50,960 Speaker 1: the top. And I just wonder, yeah, like thinking about 197 00:09:50,980 --> 00:09:53,560 Speaker 1: all those names you overlapped with, like, is that something 198 00:09:53,580 --> 00:09:55,480 Speaker 1: that you're very proud of? And like, what did you, 199 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:58,780 Speaker 1: what were your thoughts on sharing the court with such 200 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 1: a great range of players in Yeah. 201 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:04,700 Speaker 5: I mean, it's, it's really, it was such a pleasure 202 00:10:04,780 --> 00:10:07,319 Speaker 5: and honor really to play alongside these women. 203 00:10:07,380 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 3: And I take a lot from having been. 204 00:10:10,100 --> 00:10:12,860 Speaker 5: Able to be in the same room and in the 205 00:10:12,900 --> 00:10:15,220 Speaker 5: same locker rooms on the same courts as the best 206 00:10:15,340 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 5: women in the world that have ever done this. And 207 00:10:17,780 --> 00:10:20,179 Speaker 5: I think I was always, I'm a writer now. I've 208 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:22,380 Speaker 5: always been a writer. I think I was a writer 209 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 5: before I was a tennis player. So what comes with 210 00:10:25,300 --> 00:10:28,100 Speaker 5: writing is watching, right? I was always a very keen 211 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:30,949 Speaker 5: observer of everything around me. And I would watch all 212 00:10:30,990 --> 00:10:34,850 Speaker 5: these girls and all these women do what they do 213 00:10:34,929 --> 00:10:37,230 Speaker 5: and how they achieved it and how they trained, how 214 00:10:37,270 --> 00:10:38,390 Speaker 5: they ate, how they slept. 215 00:10:38,850 --> 00:10:42,130 Speaker 3: All these things that sounded creepy. I didn't watch them sleep, 216 00:10:42,250 --> 00:10:44,830 Speaker 3: but you know. They sleep patterns. 217 00:10:44,850 --> 00:10:45,070 Speaker 1: Yeah. 218 00:10:47,150 --> 00:10:47,970 Speaker 3: That's a little weird. 219 00:10:49,070 --> 00:10:53,420 Speaker 5: So that was always a big, yeah, something that I 220 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:56,180 Speaker 5: gained a lot of strength from and something that I 221 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:59,900 Speaker 5: also modeled myself after, after these great women. And that 222 00:11:00,020 --> 00:11:03,850 Speaker 5: really made me stronger as a personality. And also, which 223 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:07,110 Speaker 5: is really interesting, the first year I came on tour, 224 00:11:07,670 --> 00:11:10,470 Speaker 5: I still played against the likes of Kim Clijsters and 225 00:11:10,490 --> 00:11:11,250 Speaker 5: Justine Anna. 226 00:11:11,330 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 3: So I was 18 or 19. 227 00:11:11,870 --> 00:11:16,700 Speaker 5: So I even had the last, I think the first 228 00:11:16,740 --> 00:11:19,060 Speaker 5: year on tour for me was the last year of 229 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:24,150 Speaker 5: those type of players. But I still kind of caught 230 00:11:24,290 --> 00:11:27,309 Speaker 5: the last cusp of Kleister's Anon as well. And so 231 00:11:27,350 --> 00:11:30,370 Speaker 5: that was really incredible to now look back at all 232 00:11:30,410 --> 00:11:35,390 Speaker 5: of that and having been part of all these tremendous players. 233 00:11:35,530 --> 00:11:38,790 Speaker 3: And, you know, also it helps me in my. 234 00:11:41,250 --> 00:11:43,469 Speaker 5: In my new job as an analyst and an expert, 235 00:11:43,530 --> 00:11:46,370 Speaker 5: because I have seen so many generations and I can 236 00:11:46,570 --> 00:11:50,070 Speaker 5: see patterns now. When I played Sabalenka when she was 17, 237 00:11:50,070 --> 00:11:53,250 Speaker 5: I already knew. And same with Iga Shiantek. I already 238 00:11:53,309 --> 00:11:56,010 Speaker 5: told my coaches, oh, these two will win slams, will 239 00:11:56,130 --> 00:11:56,890 Speaker 5: win major. 240 00:11:56,650 --> 00:11:59,150 Speaker 3: Titles for sure. You can just feel that there is 241 00:11:59,190 --> 00:12:01,310 Speaker 3: something else within them. Interesting. 242 00:12:01,330 --> 00:12:03,790 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's so interesting. And it's come true. Like they've 243 00:12:03,820 --> 00:12:06,280 Speaker 1: gone on to win multiple majors. So yeah, you can 244 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:09,300 Speaker 1: see something in them. Obviously, being an Australian Open podcast, 245 00:12:09,340 --> 00:12:12,580 Speaker 1: we're always really interested to recall things that happened here. 246 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 1: And your run in 2011 here, where you beat Maria 247 00:12:15,750 --> 00:12:18,270 Speaker 1: on Rod Laver Arena at night, and you were kind 248 00:12:18,290 --> 00:12:19,770 Speaker 1: of the story of the tournament that year. What do 249 00:12:19,809 --> 00:12:22,030 Speaker 1: you remember about that run at the AO? 250 00:12:23,390 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 5: Always when I come back, I love being at the 251 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:28,820 Speaker 5: Australian Open because all those images come back. 252 00:12:28,860 --> 00:12:29,960 Speaker 3: And I think what I remember. 253 00:12:30,750 --> 00:12:34,820 Speaker 5: So it really did change the trajectory of my career. 254 00:12:34,940 --> 00:12:37,859 Speaker 5: And I'm not exaggerating when I say that. The reason 255 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:39,980 Speaker 5: why I say that is there are players who have 256 00:12:40,059 --> 00:12:43,600 Speaker 5: confidence the moment they come on court, like Serena, like 257 00:12:43,660 --> 00:12:47,740 Speaker 5: Maria Sharapova, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic. 258 00:12:47,780 --> 00:12:49,500 Speaker 3: They always kind of, even. 259 00:12:49,380 --> 00:12:52,140 Speaker 5: As 12-year-olds, they always knew that they belong at the 260 00:12:52,179 --> 00:12:54,730 Speaker 5: top of the game. I wasn't like that. I always 261 00:12:54,830 --> 00:12:57,590 Speaker 5: need to gain the confidence before I could go on 262 00:12:57,650 --> 00:13:00,190 Speaker 5: to do great things. And Australian Open was a big 263 00:13:00,290 --> 00:13:03,560 Speaker 5: key moment for me because it added another block of 264 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 5: confidence for me knowing that I can beat the likes 265 00:13:06,700 --> 00:13:09,380 Speaker 5: of Maria Sharapova on a big stage in front of 266 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 5: a packed Rod Laver Arena in a night session setting 267 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 5: and reach the quarterfinals of a major tournament for the 268 00:13:15,300 --> 00:13:18,590 Speaker 5: first time. I think I think it set me up 269 00:13:18,710 --> 00:13:21,689 Speaker 5: for what I've reached after that and accomplished after that, 270 00:13:21,730 --> 00:13:26,950 Speaker 5: being a top 10 player and reaching multiple quarterfinals after that. 271 00:13:27,030 --> 00:13:29,700 Speaker 5: And that was the first stepping stone. And I think 272 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:33,260 Speaker 5: that's why I will always remember it very, very keenly. 273 00:13:33,340 --> 00:13:35,979 Speaker 5: And of course, the atmosphere is unlike anywhere else at 274 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 5: the Australian Open, just so many So many great fans, 275 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:42,900 Speaker 5: not only that, but also so many great fans who 276 00:13:42,940 --> 00:13:45,680 Speaker 5: have a fantastic knowledge about sports. You can just really 277 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:49,640 Speaker 5: tell that Australia is a sports nation and they respect 278 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 5: their athletes and other athletes. And it's always so fun 279 00:13:53,590 --> 00:13:56,390 Speaker 5: to come and play there whenever you get the chance. 280 00:13:56,929 --> 00:14:00,170 Speaker 4: Andrea, you mentioned earlier that you were a writer before 281 00:14:00,210 --> 00:14:03,229 Speaker 4: you were a professional player. I was always intrigued by 282 00:14:03,510 --> 00:14:07,070 Speaker 4: how you balanced those kind of interests in your career 283 00:14:07,210 --> 00:14:10,150 Speaker 4: and How did you balance it all? 284 00:14:10,730 --> 00:14:11,550 Speaker 3: Well, you know what? 285 00:14:11,570 --> 00:14:14,730 Speaker 5: I think when I started, it was kind of frowned 286 00:14:14,809 --> 00:14:18,270 Speaker 5: upon to have multiple interests. And I really think Maria 287 00:14:18,290 --> 00:14:21,720 Speaker 5: Sharapova and Serena Williams changed all that. I think they 288 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:24,880 Speaker 5: were the first ones. I've always had my interests and 289 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:27,420 Speaker 5: hobbies and my books and my writings and all these 290 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:30,260 Speaker 5: other things. But I would almost not talk about it 291 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:33,250 Speaker 5: because I thought I have to be focused on what 292 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:36,010 Speaker 5: I do, on playing tennis. And then Maria and Serena 293 00:14:36,070 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 5: kind of brought the narrative to another level where they 294 00:14:39,380 --> 00:14:43,020 Speaker 5: were like, no, I do design furniture and I am 295 00:14:43,100 --> 00:14:47,130 Speaker 5: a male specialist, Serena, and I am a businesswoman and Maria. 296 00:14:47,150 --> 00:14:51,010 Speaker 5: And I think they changed the narrative of an athlete 297 00:14:51,090 --> 00:14:52,870 Speaker 5: in general, not only tennis players. 298 00:14:52,990 --> 00:14:55,210 Speaker 3: And it was okay to do other things. 299 00:14:55,290 --> 00:14:58,530 Speaker 5: And I felt much more comfortable after that to talk 300 00:14:58,570 --> 00:15:01,250 Speaker 5: about the things that I had. And I always saw 301 00:15:01,290 --> 00:15:04,170 Speaker 5: it as an end on and not a takeaway to 302 00:15:04,210 --> 00:15:06,570 Speaker 5: my game. I always saw it as something that can 303 00:15:07,060 --> 00:15:09,920 Speaker 5: strengthen me mentally and not take away from me mentally 304 00:15:09,950 --> 00:15:12,770 Speaker 5: and i think that's just the way a way to 305 00:15:12,830 --> 00:15:14,790 Speaker 5: frame it you can say like oh if i uh 306 00:15:16,090 --> 00:15:19,170 Speaker 5: if i write for two hours after practice they can 307 00:15:19,330 --> 00:15:21,410 Speaker 5: sap my energy or you can say oh if i 308 00:15:21,450 --> 00:15:24,150 Speaker 5: write for two hours after practice that will give me 309 00:15:24,210 --> 00:15:27,300 Speaker 5: something extra and uh and it will give me energy 310 00:15:27,340 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 5: and i think that's how i always saw. 311 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:31,119 Speaker 1: It and way to take your mind off things as 312 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:33,660 Speaker 1: well if it's 100 tennis all the time that maybe 313 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:34,460 Speaker 1: that's not healthy. 314 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:35,420 Speaker 3: Yeah, exactly. 315 00:15:35,500 --> 00:15:39,060 Speaker 5: That's how I always saw it. And, which also now 316 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:41,580 Speaker 5: I am grateful for, it sets you up for a 317 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 5: career after. You see it with Serena, you see it 318 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:47,270 Speaker 5: with Maria. And for me, in a much smaller way 319 00:15:47,370 --> 00:15:51,290 Speaker 5: as well, you don't fall into a hole after tennis. 320 00:15:51,330 --> 00:15:53,270 Speaker 3: Like, what am I supposed to do with my life? 321 00:15:53,310 --> 00:15:55,570 Speaker 5: You kind of land on your feet and you find 322 00:15:55,650 --> 00:15:59,930 Speaker 5: another path if you've already tried a few things. 323 00:15:59,830 --> 00:16:02,160 Speaker 3: Out while you were still playing. How did you get 324 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 3: into tennis? 325 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:04,180 Speaker 1: And what did you love about it? 326 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:08,740 Speaker 5: So my dad is a tennis coach, so the classic 327 00:16:08,780 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 5: tale of a tennis coach. 328 00:16:12,700 --> 00:16:14,540 Speaker 3: And I always loved it. 329 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:17,900 Speaker 5: And actually, interestingly enough, the reason I wanted to become 330 00:16:17,950 --> 00:16:21,170 Speaker 5: a tennis professional was the first time I lost. I 331 00:16:21,250 --> 00:16:24,030 Speaker 5: really hated that feeling of losing. And so I was like, 332 00:16:24,130 --> 00:16:26,110 Speaker 5: this will never happen to me again. And that's when 333 00:16:26,130 --> 00:16:29,370 Speaker 5: I kind of started to practice and train really hard. 334 00:16:29,450 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 5: And then the successes came and It was just a given. 335 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:34,720 Speaker 5: And then once I was on tour, I really, I 336 00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 5: have to say, and that's why it was so hard 337 00:16:36,900 --> 00:16:39,140 Speaker 5: for me to retire. I think I really love being 338 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:43,120 Speaker 5: a tennis player. I love the competition. I love the training. 339 00:16:43,230 --> 00:16:45,550 Speaker 5: I love the traveling. You know, the traveling is a 340 00:16:45,590 --> 00:16:48,270 Speaker 5: big aspect that people don't really talk about. I've seen 341 00:16:48,390 --> 00:16:52,190 Speaker 5: so many players, talented players, not make it on tour 342 00:16:52,230 --> 00:16:55,050 Speaker 5: because they couldn't stand the traveling. They couldn't stand the 343 00:16:55,150 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 5: being away from their family and friends. And I never 344 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 5: had that. I always loved being around the world all 345 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:05,170 Speaker 5: the time. And so I think I just loved the 346 00:17:05,210 --> 00:17:08,070 Speaker 5: lifestyle as well as the tennis playing and the competition. 347 00:17:08,109 --> 00:17:11,330 Speaker 5: I think some players get tired from competing all the time. 348 00:17:11,390 --> 00:17:14,149 Speaker 5: But for me, it was always the most fun aspect 349 00:17:14,210 --> 00:17:15,290 Speaker 5: of being a tennis player. 350 00:17:16,210 --> 00:17:18,530 Speaker 1: It's really interesting you say that. I wonder, we were 351 00:17:18,550 --> 00:17:21,770 Speaker 1: interested kind of like in your cross-cultural upbringing. And maybe 352 00:17:21,810 --> 00:17:24,330 Speaker 1: that was a reason that you loved the global travel 353 00:17:24,369 --> 00:17:26,710 Speaker 1: of it. Because obviously you were born, I think, in Bosnia. 354 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:30,580 Speaker 1: to Serbian and Bosnian parents, but grew up in Germany. 355 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:32,610 Speaker 1: You obviously, you live in New York now, you speak 356 00:17:32,700 --> 00:17:36,169 Speaker 1: English fluently. I think you speak four languages. So you're 357 00:17:36,190 --> 00:17:38,170 Speaker 1: kind of like a global citizen. Like, do you think 358 00:17:38,190 --> 00:17:41,609 Speaker 1: that that helped you with that nomadic lifestyle of a 359 00:17:41,630 --> 00:17:44,570 Speaker 1: tennis player and experiencing different cultures because you had so 360 00:17:44,609 --> 00:17:45,490 Speaker 1: many to begin with? 361 00:17:45,970 --> 00:17:48,010 Speaker 5: I think that it's definitely a part of it. I 362 00:17:48,050 --> 00:17:52,090 Speaker 5: think when you are an immigrant, you struggle with feeling 363 00:17:52,270 --> 00:17:55,129 Speaker 5: at home anywhere because you're not fully at home back 364 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:56,190 Speaker 5: where you come from. 365 00:17:56,900 --> 00:17:58,860 Speaker 3: Back then when I was born, it was still Yugoslavia. 366 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:00,480 Speaker 5: So when I came back, all of a sudden it 367 00:18:00,500 --> 00:18:03,820 Speaker 5: was Bosnia and Serbia and it had fallen apart. And 368 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:06,850 Speaker 5: I never really felt at home there because I hadn't 369 00:18:06,900 --> 00:18:08,850 Speaker 5: grown up there, but I never really fully felt at 370 00:18:08,890 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 5: home in Germany either because I In the beginning, I 371 00:18:12,100 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 5: had an accent when I spoke German, and so it 372 00:18:14,580 --> 00:18:15,180 Speaker 5: took a while. 373 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:17,179 Speaker 3: And I think when you. 374 00:18:17,030 --> 00:18:22,310 Speaker 5: Travel and you're a tourist or a foreigner, you're that 375 00:18:22,730 --> 00:18:24,710 Speaker 5: everywhere you go. And that's why I think I live 376 00:18:24,750 --> 00:18:26,870 Speaker 5: in New York right now. That's my favorite part about 377 00:18:26,970 --> 00:18:29,970 Speaker 5: New York. Everyone is from somewhere else. There is no 378 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:34,040 Speaker 5: such thing as an immigrant because everyone is an immigrant there. 379 00:18:34,140 --> 00:18:35,600 Speaker 3: Nobody actually. 380 00:18:36,530 --> 00:18:39,090 Speaker 5: I know one person, I know so many people in 381 00:18:39,109 --> 00:18:40,929 Speaker 5: New York and I don't know one person who was 382 00:18:40,970 --> 00:18:43,129 Speaker 5: born and raised in New York or everyone else is 383 00:18:43,190 --> 00:18:46,290 Speaker 5: from somewhere else. I think that's why it's my favorite 384 00:18:46,470 --> 00:18:49,850 Speaker 5: place in the world. And, um, and, and maybe that's 385 00:18:49,930 --> 00:18:53,450 Speaker 5: definitely part of it that traveling does not come so 386 00:18:53,490 --> 00:18:58,250 Speaker 5: hard to me because it's, it's, the discomfort of being 387 00:18:58,310 --> 00:19:02,050 Speaker 5: somewhere new has always sort of been there. So it's 388 00:19:02,090 --> 00:19:05,350 Speaker 5: not a discomfort anymore. It's become the feeling of home 389 00:19:05,490 --> 00:19:06,750 Speaker 5: as being somewhere new. 390 00:19:08,050 --> 00:19:08,690 Speaker 3: And how do you feel? 391 00:19:08,830 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 1: So you've obviously had a lot of pro tennis experiences. 392 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 1: Your career was long. And as you said, you had 393 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:15,180 Speaker 1: these off-court interests as well that helped keep you kind 394 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:19,540 Speaker 1: of like balanced. Do you think it kind of made 395 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:22,179 Speaker 1: it an easier transition for you to move out of 396 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:23,560 Speaker 1: the sport and be doing what you're doing now? 397 00:19:24,190 --> 00:19:25,889 Speaker 3: I think so. I do think so. 398 00:19:27,650 --> 00:19:31,460 Speaker 5: Having said that, I think that I had interests during 399 00:19:31,500 --> 00:19:34,440 Speaker 5: the career helped me transition into a next career. I 400 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:37,419 Speaker 5: do think that you still have to mourn your tennis 401 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:40,639 Speaker 5: player identity despite being ready for the next step. And 402 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:42,710 Speaker 5: I was ready for the next step. And I'm very 403 00:19:42,750 --> 00:19:45,350 Speaker 5: happy with what I do now. But I do think 404 00:19:45,450 --> 00:19:48,830 Speaker 5: that the letting go of having been a tennis player 405 00:19:48,850 --> 00:19:49,650 Speaker 5: is still very precious. 406 00:19:50,540 --> 00:19:51,360 Speaker 3: And very normal. 407 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 5: And you have to go through it, no matter whether 408 00:19:54,580 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 5: you don't work a day in your life anymore or 409 00:19:57,080 --> 00:19:59,290 Speaker 5: whether you start working right away like I did in 410 00:19:59,330 --> 00:20:02,970 Speaker 5: something else. And so it didn't take away from that morning, 411 00:20:03,050 --> 00:20:06,389 Speaker 5: but it did make things maybe less empty and it 412 00:20:06,450 --> 00:20:09,990 Speaker 5: made it more fun. And the challenge of trying new 413 00:20:10,050 --> 00:20:13,430 Speaker 5: things was also part of my life, not only the 414 00:20:13,820 --> 00:20:14,680 Speaker 5: morning of my. 415 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:15,680 Speaker 3: Tennis player career. 416 00:20:15,740 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 5: And so I think it was definitely helpful at the 417 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:22,060 Speaker 5: same time, not forgetting that you have to let go 418 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:22,420 Speaker 5: as well. 419 00:20:24,060 --> 00:20:28,960 Speaker 4: You have become such a media all-rounder, commentary, on-court interviews, 420 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:34,460 Speaker 4: your connection to Racket Magazine, Substack, podcasting. You've really obviously 421 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:36,980 Speaker 4: embraced it. What was so appealing to you about the media? 422 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 5: I don't actually know, to be honest. I think other 423 00:20:44,580 --> 00:20:47,939 Speaker 5: people thought that I could be good in media because 424 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:49,940 Speaker 5: I never really pursued. 425 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 3: So what I did pursue is the writing. That's for sure. 426 00:20:52,540 --> 00:20:54,280 Speaker 3: I've always been, as I said, a writer. 427 00:20:54,300 --> 00:20:58,419 Speaker 5: I've published two books in Germany before I had even retired. 428 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:01,199 Speaker 5: I have different columns in Germany, not only in the 429 00:21:01,220 --> 00:21:04,359 Speaker 5: sports sections, also in the arts and leisure sections. So 430 00:21:04,380 --> 00:21:05,399 Speaker 5: that was always part of me. 431 00:21:06,020 --> 00:21:08,680 Speaker 3: I then really pursued the TV. It kind of always 432 00:21:08,780 --> 00:21:09,400 Speaker 3: came to me. 433 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:11,360 Speaker 5: People would ask me, hey, do you want to do 434 00:21:11,420 --> 00:21:14,160 Speaker 5: a trial week at Tennis Channel? 435 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:17,560 Speaker 3: Would you mind commentating at the Australian Open? And then 436 00:21:17,660 --> 00:21:19,040 Speaker 3: it just progressed from there. 437 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:22,709 Speaker 5: And I have to say, analyzing tennis matches, commentating is 438 00:21:23,010 --> 00:21:25,050 Speaker 5: one of my favorite things that I do. I love 439 00:21:25,109 --> 00:21:30,950 Speaker 5: watching tennis. I love analyzing it. But it's weird, honestly, 440 00:21:30,990 --> 00:21:34,330 Speaker 5: to have landed there because it's not something I sought out, 441 00:21:34,470 --> 00:21:37,670 Speaker 5: but it kind of fell into my lap. So I 442 00:21:38,950 --> 00:21:41,250 Speaker 5: don't really know what to make of it. Let's see 443 00:21:41,290 --> 00:21:42,110 Speaker 5: where it takes me. 444 00:21:42,810 --> 00:21:45,450 Speaker 4: I think the sport is better for having you there. 445 00:21:46,190 --> 00:21:48,480 Speaker 4: But you are part of sort of this younger generation 446 00:21:48,540 --> 00:21:55,220 Speaker 4: of women who've moved into the broadcasting space. You've got Konta, Vanduwe, Hentikova, Dokic, Stoza, Bardi, 447 00:21:55,340 --> 00:21:58,540 Speaker 4: the list goes on. Do you enjoy being part of 448 00:21:58,580 --> 00:22:01,060 Speaker 4: this wave and how important is it to have this 449 00:22:01,300 --> 00:22:03,199 Speaker 4: young female voice in tennis? 450 00:22:04,180 --> 00:22:06,869 Speaker 5: I think it's very important. I really enjoy, first of all, 451 00:22:06,910 --> 00:22:08,990 Speaker 5: working with all of them. I've worked with most of 452 00:22:09,070 --> 00:22:12,970 Speaker 5: them or at least around them and it's always been 453 00:22:13,150 --> 00:22:16,669 Speaker 5: great fun. Laura Robson was probably the first one of 454 00:22:16,790 --> 00:22:21,680 Speaker 5: our generation to walk that walk who unfortunately got injured 455 00:22:21,740 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 5: very early and had to retire much earlier than all 456 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:30,109 Speaker 5: of us. And I think that it's really important to 457 00:22:30,150 --> 00:22:33,310 Speaker 5: have both views, one. And I think what's really fun 458 00:22:33,350 --> 00:22:35,690 Speaker 5: to see now that they are putting, not everyone, but 459 00:22:35,730 --> 00:22:39,040 Speaker 5: some are also putting women on men's matches. 460 00:22:39,140 --> 00:22:40,220 Speaker 3: And the other way around, I. 461 00:22:40,300 --> 00:22:44,640 Speaker 5: Don't think that it necessarily has to be just one way. 462 00:22:44,700 --> 00:22:48,930 Speaker 5: I did the Yannick Sinner and Jack Draper semifinals from 463 00:22:48,990 --> 00:22:51,330 Speaker 5: Courtside Commentary, for example, for World Feeds. 464 00:22:51,350 --> 00:22:54,090 Speaker 3: So I really enjoy that they are shaking things up. 465 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:59,150 Speaker 1: There's the narrative around big three, big four and Serena retiring, 466 00:22:59,190 --> 00:23:02,170 Speaker 1: but we've got these new young stars, Elkaraz, Sinner, Svantec, 467 00:23:02,250 --> 00:23:04,230 Speaker 1: Goff coming up. People were saying it was going to 468 00:23:04,250 --> 00:23:06,890 Speaker 1: be so hard. We're losing such icons from the game, 469 00:23:06,930 --> 00:23:10,129 Speaker 1: but it seems tennis is replenishing. Like, is that an 470 00:23:10,150 --> 00:23:12,530 Speaker 1: exciting time? So that was one question. Well, the other 471 00:23:12,590 --> 00:23:15,680 Speaker 1: one was if you're tennis commissioner for a day, what 472 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:16,760 Speaker 1: change would you make to the sport? 473 00:23:17,820 --> 00:23:19,919 Speaker 5: I would start with a tennis commissioner because that's a 474 00:23:19,940 --> 00:23:22,899 Speaker 5: very short answer. How I would do it. in major 475 00:23:22,940 --> 00:23:26,540 Speaker 5: tournaments i would have everyone men and women play best 476 00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:29,500 Speaker 5: of three in the first week and both men and 477 00:23:29,540 --> 00:23:32,619 Speaker 5: women have played best of five in the second love 478 00:23:32,660 --> 00:23:35,910 Speaker 5: that and everyone can make up their own minds about 479 00:23:35,950 --> 00:23:37,890 Speaker 5: it but i think it would be the perfect format 480 00:23:38,130 --> 00:23:40,170 Speaker 5: so that's me i can also argue for it but 481 00:23:40,350 --> 00:23:44,350 Speaker 5: i'll i'll keep that for another day yes and what 482 00:23:44,390 --> 00:23:47,230 Speaker 5: i think about so what i always so as i 483 00:23:47,250 --> 00:23:51,930 Speaker 5: look at tennis as a writer and what I can 484 00:23:52,310 --> 00:23:54,710 Speaker 5: say about the sport through the lens of a writer 485 00:23:54,770 --> 00:23:57,950 Speaker 5: and maybe more broadly about life, I will come back 486 00:23:58,010 --> 00:24:00,850 Speaker 5: to your question, don't worry, is I think the game 487 00:24:01,010 --> 00:24:05,210 Speaker 5: is bigger than its stars. We think that the stars 488 00:24:05,350 --> 00:24:08,590 Speaker 5: make the sport, but I think the sport makes the stars. 489 00:24:09,130 --> 00:24:15,300 Speaker 5: The very specific way tennis works with the one-on-one battle, 490 00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:18,500 Speaker 5: the combat one against the other, and also the way 491 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:21,270 Speaker 5: it's You can't let the time run down. You have 492 00:24:21,290 --> 00:24:24,730 Speaker 5: to win the last point. It's such mental challenges that 493 00:24:24,770 --> 00:24:27,709 Speaker 5: it breeds stars. And we will always have stars. And 494 00:24:27,780 --> 00:24:31,640 Speaker 5: some shine brighter than the others, talking about Roger Federer, obviously, 495 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:32,880 Speaker 5: and Serena Williams. 496 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:36,040 Speaker 3: But this sport will always breed stars. 497 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:39,240 Speaker 5: It just makes stars the way the mental challenges are 498 00:24:40,119 --> 00:24:43,750 Speaker 5: presented to them. And so I'm never worried about the sport. 499 00:24:43,830 --> 00:24:46,050 Speaker 5: And what is also great, it's a global sport. So 500 00:24:46,090 --> 00:24:48,550 Speaker 5: if Germany is not watching because we don't have a star, 501 00:24:49,170 --> 00:24:52,430 Speaker 5: Spain will because Carlos Alcaraz is there, or Italy will 502 00:24:52,490 --> 00:24:55,830 Speaker 5: because Yannick Sinner is there, or Australia will because the 503 00:24:55,869 --> 00:24:58,510 Speaker 5: next Aussie star is just around the corner. And so 504 00:24:58,570 --> 00:25:00,750 Speaker 5: I think that's the biggest strength of tennis, that it's 505 00:25:00,810 --> 00:25:01,690 Speaker 5: a global sport. 506 00:25:05,270 --> 00:25:07,730 Speaker 2: Well, Matt, what a note to finish on. Tennis makes 507 00:25:07,750 --> 00:25:12,710 Speaker 2: the stars, not the stars making tennis. Incredible insight from Andrea, 508 00:25:13,340 --> 00:25:16,160 Speaker 2: who always brought something a little extra to her time 509 00:25:16,220 --> 00:25:16,560 Speaker 2: on tour. 510 00:25:16,910 --> 00:25:19,310 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I was just struck talking to Andrea during 511 00:25:19,350 --> 00:25:21,940 Speaker 1: that interview. We're talking to her in English, which I 512 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:24,020 Speaker 1: think is her third language, and she's just lived this 513 00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:26,960 Speaker 1: incredibly global life. Like now she's living in New York, 514 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:29,020 Speaker 1: she's grown up in different places, and she's just got 515 00:25:29,060 --> 00:25:33,300 Speaker 1: such a cool, worldly perspective. I really appreciated that. And yeah, 516 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:34,320 Speaker 1: we were lucky to talk to her. 517 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:37,359 Speaker 2: I love how she threw in that she'd written a 518 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:40,010 Speaker 2: couple of books while she was still playing tennis as well. 519 00:25:40,220 --> 00:25:43,990 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely phenomenal. We'll be back again next Monday with 520 00:25:44,050 --> 00:25:46,710 Speaker 1: another episode of The Sit-Down. But in the meantime, you 521 00:25:46,750 --> 00:25:48,790 Speaker 1: can listen to John and the team this Thursday on 522 00:25:48,830 --> 00:25:49,750 Speaker 1: the AO Show Weekly. 523 00:25:50,070 --> 00:25:52,750 Speaker 2: Details for how to contact us are in the show notes. 524 00:25:52,890 --> 00:25:57,580 Speaker 2: Please remember to subscribe, rate and review. See you next week, Matt. 525 00:25:57,880 --> 00:25:58,260 Speaker 3: See you, Viv.