1 00:00:02,370 --> 00:00:04,990 Speaker 1: Hello and welcome to The Sit Down. I'm Viv Christie, 2 00:00:05,090 --> 00:00:06,970 Speaker 1: Managing Editor of Australian Tennis Magazine. 3 00:00:07,190 --> 00:00:09,290 Speaker 2: And I'm Matt Trollope, a writer for ozopen.com. 4 00:00:09,630 --> 00:00:10,590 Speaker 3: This week on The Sit. 5 00:00:10,470 --> 00:00:13,390 Speaker 1: Down, we catch up with Matt Ebden at an incredible 6 00:00:13,450 --> 00:00:15,910 Speaker 1: time in his tennis career. He is the world number 7 00:00:15,990 --> 00:00:18,890 Speaker 1: one in doubles. He's about to return to Wimbledon where 8 00:00:18,930 --> 00:00:22,070 Speaker 1: he's been a champion and he's looking ahead to his 9 00:00:22,110 --> 00:00:28,410 Speaker 1: Olympic debut. Matt, thank you for joining us on The 10 00:00:28,450 --> 00:00:31,030 Speaker 1: Sit Down. And you are joining us at a pretty 11 00:00:31,130 --> 00:00:34,409 Speaker 1: amazing time in your career, Australian Open doubles champion, Roland 12 00:00:34,930 --> 00:00:38,810 Speaker 1: Garros semi-finalist and world number one in doubles. Talk a 13 00:00:38,830 --> 00:00:40,449 Speaker 1: bit about those milestones for us. 14 00:00:42,090 --> 00:00:45,970 Speaker 3: Thanks. Yeah, most recently, well, yesterday, just regaining that number 15 00:00:46,050 --> 00:00:49,010 Speaker 3: one ranking after Roland Garros. You know, we had no 16 00:00:49,050 --> 00:00:51,729 Speaker 3: points to defend there from last year. We lost first round, 17 00:00:51,790 --> 00:00:54,510 Speaker 3: a close match. So obviously we had our sights set 18 00:00:54,570 --> 00:00:58,070 Speaker 3: on doing, you know, prioritizing the majors and the big tournaments. 19 00:00:58,110 --> 00:01:02,030 Speaker 3: So to go pretty deep was nice. We played well. 20 00:01:02,090 --> 00:01:04,309 Speaker 3: I was sort of happy with getting through there. But 21 00:01:04,330 --> 00:01:07,250 Speaker 3: then on the flip side, to lose the semi and 22 00:01:07,270 --> 00:01:10,190 Speaker 3: then feel like you were actually so close and really 23 00:01:10,230 --> 00:01:13,580 Speaker 3: could have been one set away from the final and 24 00:01:13,670 --> 00:01:17,319 Speaker 3: one match away from winning it was then really bittersweet, actually. 25 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 3: It was a hard few days to digest that as 26 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:24,300 Speaker 3: much as I was sort of happy of being in 27 00:01:24,620 --> 00:01:27,630 Speaker 3: that position as well it's sort of the good and 28 00:01:27,670 --> 00:01:30,350 Speaker 3: bad thing about tennis. Anytime you get a really good result, 29 00:01:30,510 --> 00:01:32,130 Speaker 3: you're sort of happy with it. But then at the 30 00:01:32,170 --> 00:01:34,949 Speaker 3: same time, you're like, oh, it's a missed opportunity. So, 31 00:01:35,610 --> 00:01:37,670 Speaker 3: you know, I obviously want to try and capitalize and 32 00:01:38,470 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 3: win all these slams now. Now's the time, you know, 33 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:43,220 Speaker 3: we're not getting any younger. No time like the present. 34 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 3: We're at the peak, at the top of our game. 35 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:48,820 Speaker 3: So it's the time for that. Yeah, of course. 36 00:01:49,020 --> 00:01:52,070 Speaker 1: And, um, The tour never stops, really. So just a 37 00:01:52,110 --> 00:01:54,810 Speaker 1: few days ago, you were at Roland Garros playing the 38 00:01:54,850 --> 00:01:57,850 Speaker 1: semifinals and now you're on the lawns in the UK 39 00:01:57,910 --> 00:02:00,570 Speaker 1: preparing for grass court tournaments. Is that one of the 40 00:02:00,630 --> 00:02:03,660 Speaker 1: most extreme adjustments in professional sports? 41 00:02:04,660 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 3: It can be. For me, not so much because growing up, well, 42 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 3: playing a lot of my junior tennis in Perth, I 43 00:02:11,460 --> 00:02:13,980 Speaker 3: played a lot of club and league tennis on grass. 44 00:02:14,060 --> 00:02:16,790 Speaker 3: So I step on a grass court and I feel 45 00:02:16,830 --> 00:02:20,190 Speaker 3: like I'm Just gone into the lounge room in my 46 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:23,060 Speaker 3: living room at home. It feels that comfortable. I feel 47 00:02:23,460 --> 00:02:26,580 Speaker 3: so natural. For me, it's probably the opposite. It's probably 48 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:29,519 Speaker 3: when you finish Miami, the hard courts, and then you 49 00:02:29,540 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 3: go onto the clay that first week. Just doing that training, 50 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:36,590 Speaker 3: going onto the clay, all those specific movement patterns, drill 51 00:02:36,630 --> 00:02:40,790 Speaker 3: patterns for the body. Adapting that way is probably... the 52 00:02:40,830 --> 00:02:43,330 Speaker 3: biggest one for me, but yeah, going back onto the 53 00:02:43,370 --> 00:02:46,429 Speaker 3: grass is, uh, it's really natural and yeah, it's, it's 54 00:02:46,470 --> 00:02:49,450 Speaker 3: always a fun, exciting time for me. So I, I 55 00:02:49,470 --> 00:02:49,750 Speaker 3: love it. 56 00:02:49,970 --> 00:02:51,780 Speaker 1: So it's, it's fair to say this must be your 57 00:02:51,810 --> 00:02:52,640 Speaker 1: favorite time of the year. 58 00:02:53,060 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 3: It is, you know, we try and we try and 59 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:59,139 Speaker 3: trick ourselves mentally and not be judgmental on, on different services. 60 00:02:59,260 --> 00:03:02,220 Speaker 3: I've been sort of saying now clay is my equal 61 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 3: favorite along with grass, but, uh, yeah, it's no secret 62 00:03:05,220 --> 00:03:08,350 Speaker 3: that I love the grass course, the hardcore, it's Swimbledon, 63 00:03:08,389 --> 00:03:11,530 Speaker 3: Aussie Open, US Open, but, Now, you know, having some 64 00:03:11,550 --> 00:03:15,590 Speaker 3: better experience on clay and getting that confidence, I would say, 65 00:03:15,630 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 3: and belief that I could really win the French and 66 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:19,899 Speaker 3: even now Olympics. With the Olympics coming up, it's good 67 00:03:19,940 --> 00:03:22,660 Speaker 3: timing to start playing well on the clay because it's 68 00:03:22,700 --> 00:03:26,500 Speaker 3: a big clay year too. But yeah, you know, grass 69 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:29,620 Speaker 3: court season is the next thing. So yeah, I mean, 70 00:03:29,660 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 3: London already going to start hitting on grass today and 71 00:03:32,500 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 3: Queen sees next week. 72 00:03:34,100 --> 00:03:36,730 Speaker 4: Matt, we were talking to Stephen Farrow last week on 73 00:03:36,750 --> 00:03:39,210 Speaker 4: the podcast and you alluded to it before. You played 74 00:03:39,230 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 4: a lot of junior tennis basketball. in Perth on grass. 75 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 4: He said coming from England to Australia, he couldn't believe 76 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 4: how much grass there was in Perth. Where in Melbourne, 77 00:03:46,540 --> 00:03:49,060 Speaker 4: there's actually not a lot of grass here. It's at 78 00:03:49,090 --> 00:03:51,510 Speaker 4: some clubs, but it's mainly in the country. Was that 79 00:03:51,550 --> 00:03:53,100 Speaker 4: the main surface you played on when you grew up? 80 00:03:53,130 --> 00:03:55,230 Speaker 4: And is that why you've got the style you have today? 81 00:03:55,830 --> 00:03:58,170 Speaker 3: It wasn't the main surface. I would say hardcore generally. 82 00:03:58,510 --> 00:04:01,500 Speaker 3: My birth years, let's call it. I was in South 83 00:04:01,540 --> 00:04:04,080 Speaker 3: Africa those first 10 years of my life, 10, 12 years, 84 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:06,980 Speaker 3: and then in Perth since then. And hardcore was the 85 00:04:07,020 --> 00:04:11,300 Speaker 3: main surface for sure. And then In summer in Perth, 86 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 3: we played summer pendants on grass at that junior club level, 87 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:18,739 Speaker 3: at that men's club level, and they still do. And 88 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:22,360 Speaker 3: probably at least half the clubs, their main surface in 89 00:04:22,420 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 3: summer is grass. The more I've tended to hard court now, 90 00:04:25,700 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 3: but yeah, it was hard on grass. And then in 91 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 3: the winter, there was a little bit of clay, but 92 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:32,460 Speaker 3: not too much. So yeah, I guess I grew up 93 00:04:32,610 --> 00:04:34,370 Speaker 3: from those years of sort of 14 to 18, playing 94 00:04:34,380 --> 00:04:41,310 Speaker 3: at least, half my summer tennis on grass. So against men, 95 00:04:41,390 --> 00:04:43,450 Speaker 3: I was developing my game. So I was learning to 96 00:04:43,490 --> 00:04:46,610 Speaker 3: serve volley, use hands. I was playing against guys older 97 00:04:46,630 --> 00:04:49,190 Speaker 3: than me. So I had to find ways to win 98 00:04:49,970 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 3: strategically and with movement or with hands or craftiness on 99 00:04:55,130 --> 00:04:58,740 Speaker 3: the court. So I think then all that experience over 100 00:04:58,750 --> 00:05:01,260 Speaker 3: the years and training on it with guys older than me, 101 00:05:01,820 --> 00:05:06,580 Speaker 3: even some guys who were 20 years older than me, But, 102 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 3: you know, they had good craft and skills that I 103 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:11,420 Speaker 3: could learn from and pick up. So along with my 104 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:14,610 Speaker 3: modern style of a young up-and-coming player, I was able 105 00:05:14,670 --> 00:05:17,530 Speaker 3: to learn the slice backhand, even the slice forehand, the 106 00:05:17,570 --> 00:05:21,350 Speaker 3: serve volley, how to put balls in bad places on 107 00:05:21,410 --> 00:05:23,409 Speaker 3: a grass court where you might get a bad bounce 108 00:05:23,490 --> 00:05:27,300 Speaker 3: out of the court. So that would favor you. Passing shots, 109 00:05:27,380 --> 00:05:30,020 Speaker 3: you know, all those little things. Now do it in 110 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 3: the doubles. 111 00:05:31,060 --> 00:05:33,419 Speaker 4: I wanted to take you back to 2018. You were 112 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:35,279 Speaker 4: probably at the peak of your powers on grass, certainly 113 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:39,279 Speaker 4: in singles. You made the Den Bosch semis, the Harler quarters, 114 00:05:39,940 --> 00:05:43,620 Speaker 4: pushed Federer very close, scored a top 10 win over 115 00:05:43,660 --> 00:05:45,620 Speaker 4: Goffin at Wimbledon and made the third round there. 116 00:05:45,690 --> 00:05:47,170 Speaker 2: So that was an excellent grass court season. 117 00:05:47,190 --> 00:05:50,190 Speaker 4: I wondered what was clicking for you so well there. 118 00:05:50,210 --> 00:05:52,050 Speaker 4: I think that season you also reached your career high 119 00:05:52,110 --> 00:05:54,969 Speaker 4: ranking in singles. And maybe you can also tell us 120 00:05:55,430 --> 00:05:57,590 Speaker 4: what it was like to face a pretty much peak 121 00:05:57,650 --> 00:05:58,950 Speaker 4: Roger Federer on a grass court. 122 00:05:59,190 --> 00:06:01,910 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, definitely. That was definitely one of the best 123 00:06:01,950 --> 00:06:06,510 Speaker 3: seasons results-wise and ranking-wise. Yeah, I think I hit the 124 00:06:06,529 --> 00:06:09,130 Speaker 3: top 40 that season. So that was my career high 125 00:06:09,170 --> 00:06:12,270 Speaker 3: for singles 39, I think it was. So I think 126 00:06:12,290 --> 00:06:14,480 Speaker 3: that came on the back of a year, a year 127 00:06:14,500 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 3: and a half of more development and improving my game, 128 00:06:18,460 --> 00:06:22,700 Speaker 3: my mentality, myself as an athlete on and off the court. 129 00:06:23,260 --> 00:06:26,180 Speaker 3: And that was just a further progression of playing well 130 00:06:26,220 --> 00:06:29,060 Speaker 3: that 12 months before that. I think I was, you know, 131 00:06:29,100 --> 00:06:32,179 Speaker 3: coming into that grass court season, I don't know, already 132 00:06:32,220 --> 00:06:34,820 Speaker 3: top 50 or top six, I don't know, whatever it was. 133 00:06:35,460 --> 00:06:38,930 Speaker 3: But I played well at Indian Wells or Miami in 134 00:06:38,950 --> 00:06:42,010 Speaker 3: the six to 12 months before that, obviously to have 135 00:06:42,130 --> 00:06:45,210 Speaker 3: that ranking, let's say, and that form. And then, yeah, 136 00:06:45,250 --> 00:06:47,250 Speaker 3: coming into the grass court season, I was always confident. 137 00:06:47,270 --> 00:06:49,850 Speaker 3: I think even first round in Denbosch, I beat Gilles Muller, 138 00:06:49,870 --> 00:06:52,589 Speaker 3: who was defending champion. He'd made semis at Wimbledon the 139 00:06:52,610 --> 00:06:55,330 Speaker 3: year before. He beat Rafa. So those are the kind 140 00:06:55,370 --> 00:06:58,250 Speaker 3: of wins I was having and playing really well. And 141 00:06:58,290 --> 00:07:00,150 Speaker 3: I sort of knew how it, you know, on grass 142 00:07:00,190 --> 00:07:01,950 Speaker 3: at the moment, I was probably playing a sort of 143 00:07:01,990 --> 00:07:05,330 Speaker 3: top 10 level. There was probably, you know, eight other 144 00:07:05,370 --> 00:07:07,590 Speaker 3: guys playing great on grass, but I was probably somewhere there. 145 00:07:07,630 --> 00:07:10,010 Speaker 3: And that probably showed that Wimbledon I played, I think 146 00:07:10,110 --> 00:07:12,590 Speaker 3: often was seven in the world at the time and 147 00:07:12,630 --> 00:07:15,530 Speaker 3: a good grass quarter. And I beat him in straight sets. 148 00:07:15,590 --> 00:07:17,450 Speaker 3: So that was, you know, good, got through to the 149 00:07:17,510 --> 00:07:21,070 Speaker 3: third round, unfortunately lost to Gilles Simon, seven seats in 150 00:07:21,090 --> 00:07:23,090 Speaker 3: the fourth set. And I hadn't actually lost to him 151 00:07:23,150 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 3: ever before. I'd I'd beaten him both the two times before, 152 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 3: and so I probably thought I could have or maybe 153 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:31,120 Speaker 3: should have. There's a bad word, but I could have 154 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 3: won that one, then pushed on maybe to the fourth 155 00:07:33,220 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 3: round or quarters or something great, but it wasn't to be. But, yeah, same, 156 00:07:37,540 --> 00:07:41,980 Speaker 3: the week before, Halle won some good matches there, beat Kohlschreiber, 157 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:44,970 Speaker 3: the German favorite. He had obviously won there in Halle before, 158 00:07:45,010 --> 00:07:47,070 Speaker 3: so to beat him and then to play Roger after 159 00:07:47,110 --> 00:07:54,660 Speaker 3: that was a dream come true if I had won. Yeah. But, yeah, 160 00:07:54,700 --> 00:07:58,330 Speaker 3: wasn't quite able to win a close match. Like you said, 7-6, 7-5, 161 00:07:58,370 --> 00:08:00,610 Speaker 3: I think it was. I was the first one to 162 00:08:00,630 --> 00:08:02,830 Speaker 3: break serve, actually. I was up and breaking the second 163 00:08:02,850 --> 00:08:05,990 Speaker 3: set twice, served for the second set. So, yeah, for me, 164 00:08:06,070 --> 00:08:09,010 Speaker 3: I just really wanted to at least get the second 165 00:08:09,050 --> 00:08:12,280 Speaker 3: set there and have a chance at the third. I 166 00:08:12,340 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 3: don't know if I would have won or not, but 167 00:08:13,780 --> 00:08:15,900 Speaker 3: I was playing well enough to, I thought, have a 168 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:18,580 Speaker 3: chance at a third set and try and knock him off. Yeah, 169 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:20,220 Speaker 3: he was number one in the world at that time. 170 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:23,750 Speaker 3: He'd won Hallé 10 times in a row. he was, 171 00:08:23,770 --> 00:08:26,170 Speaker 3: I think he was favorite and maybe won Wimbledon that 172 00:08:26,190 --> 00:08:29,070 Speaker 3: year as well. But so yeah, that was a nice 173 00:08:29,130 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 3: period for me. I'd obviously always wanted to get to 174 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 3: the top 10 myself, let's say, never quite hit the 175 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 3: actual number, but I did feel at certain periods on 176 00:08:37,780 --> 00:08:40,780 Speaker 3: the right surfaces and conditions in my career that I played, 177 00:08:41,380 --> 00:08:43,540 Speaker 3: let's call it top 10 level. So probably some of 178 00:08:43,580 --> 00:08:46,240 Speaker 3: those months, they're all grass. As a grass court player, 179 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 3: I was probably playing that sort of a level. And 180 00:08:48,660 --> 00:08:51,300 Speaker 3: that's why it gave me those results that I had 181 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:54,059 Speaker 3: and the chances I had against Roger and then at 182 00:08:54,100 --> 00:08:58,030 Speaker 3: Wimbledon and yeah obviously in Den Bosch the week before 183 00:08:58,070 --> 00:09:01,210 Speaker 3: that too and then yeah I'm glad it's obviously kicked 184 00:09:01,330 --> 00:09:04,690 Speaker 3: on for grass court double success obviously you know to 185 00:09:04,730 --> 00:09:06,510 Speaker 3: then be able to win Wimbledon in the doubles a 186 00:09:06,610 --> 00:09:10,429 Speaker 3: few years later um yeah I was I said at 187 00:09:10,450 --> 00:09:12,690 Speaker 3: the time it was more than I could ever dreamed 188 00:09:12,750 --> 00:09:14,330 Speaker 3: of I didn't I didn't even dream of it being 189 00:09:14,370 --> 00:09:16,170 Speaker 3: that good where. 190 00:09:16,070 --> 00:09:19,850 Speaker 1: Does that achievement sit Matt in everything that you've achieved 191 00:09:19,890 --> 00:09:20,569 Speaker 1: in tennis. 192 00:09:20,929 --> 00:09:26,089 Speaker 3: I think it's probably number one. Um, I mean, yeah, 193 00:09:26,150 --> 00:09:28,750 Speaker 3: at the time and then even winning Aussie this year, 194 00:09:28,770 --> 00:09:32,220 Speaker 3: it would maybe equal it or come close, but I mean, 195 00:09:32,250 --> 00:09:34,860 Speaker 3: we all know what Wimbledon is. It's kind of like folklore, 196 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:37,800 Speaker 3: you know, it's even not even just as tennis players 197 00:09:37,860 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 3: or people in tennis, there's people in South America who 198 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:44,199 Speaker 3: don't watch tennis, who play football that they know what 199 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:46,620 Speaker 3: Wimbledon is, you know, they know who won Wimbledon. It's 200 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:49,310 Speaker 3: sort of, I don't know. It has a special aura 201 00:09:49,350 --> 00:09:52,560 Speaker 3: about it. And, um, I think even as Aussies, we 202 00:09:52,580 --> 00:09:55,599 Speaker 3: kind of identify as Wimbledon as, well, it's not our 203 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:58,329 Speaker 3: home slam, but our second home slam, let's say, is 204 00:09:58,370 --> 00:10:00,670 Speaker 3: the last hundred years we've had so many great Aussie 205 00:10:00,700 --> 00:10:05,780 Speaker 3: champions win there in singles, doubles, men's, women's, mixed doubles, whatever. 206 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 3: It has such a great heritage for us. And even 207 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:12,080 Speaker 3: as a kid, my parents and my family took me 208 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:13,699 Speaker 3: there when I was, I think, about seven years old 209 00:10:13,740 --> 00:10:18,140 Speaker 3: to go watch And, yeah, just those special early memories 210 00:10:18,179 --> 00:10:20,620 Speaker 3: and then, you know, to win Wimbledon and even coming 211 00:10:20,660 --> 00:10:22,459 Speaker 3: back to Oz and seeing how that was so well 212 00:10:22,500 --> 00:10:26,140 Speaker 3: received and seeing how many people did actually stay up 213 00:10:26,179 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 3: all those late nights and watch the matches and follow 214 00:10:28,500 --> 00:10:31,380 Speaker 3: online and in the media. And, yeah, for that, even 215 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:34,710 Speaker 3: the two weeks after I came back, it was a 216 00:10:34,750 --> 00:10:37,570 Speaker 3: real big buzz and just to sort of go be 217 00:10:37,590 --> 00:10:40,490 Speaker 3: a part of that. And, yeah, I don't know, having 218 00:10:40,530 --> 00:10:42,470 Speaker 3: my name part of that was kind of surreal in 219 00:10:42,510 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 3: a lot of ways, but... was uh very special and 220 00:10:46,260 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 3: yeah very very grateful that that one went our way 221 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:49,870 Speaker 3: and what's it. 222 00:10:49,870 --> 00:10:52,550 Speaker 1: Like going back to the all in england club as 223 00:10:52,590 --> 00:10:53,969 Speaker 1: a wimbledon champion. 224 00:10:53,890 --> 00:10:56,690 Speaker 3: Yeah it was a little bit spooky it's um you 225 00:10:56,710 --> 00:10:59,390 Speaker 3: kind of walk through there and or the year coming 226 00:10:59,429 --> 00:11:02,510 Speaker 3: back after we had won it um yeah you come 227 00:11:02,550 --> 00:11:04,150 Speaker 3: back through the doors you see your name on the 228 00:11:04,190 --> 00:11:08,310 Speaker 3: wall uh on the champion board and obviously all those 229 00:11:08,770 --> 00:11:12,700 Speaker 3: great feelings and emotions fill you up inside from day 230 00:11:12,890 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 3: one and sort of through the whole tournament. And you 231 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:19,500 Speaker 3: kind of play with definitely an extra confidence, but also 232 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 3: maybe an extra freedom because you feel like this is great. 233 00:11:23,090 --> 00:11:24,750 Speaker 3: I know I play well here. I know I'm one 234 00:11:24,770 --> 00:11:28,050 Speaker 3: of the favorites, let's say. But at the same time, 235 00:11:28,090 --> 00:11:30,090 Speaker 3: you know, you have already done it and achieved it too. 236 00:11:30,170 --> 00:11:32,750 Speaker 3: So no one can take that away from you. So 237 00:11:33,330 --> 00:11:36,030 Speaker 3: you're kind of able to kind of draw on the 238 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 3: best part of the confidence and let's say, obviously the 239 00:11:41,260 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 3: pressure of being a favorite, but maybe... pressure's also off 240 00:11:44,420 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 3: a little because you've won it before. So it's a 241 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:49,980 Speaker 3: super nice feeling. And to know that for the rest 242 00:11:50,020 --> 00:11:53,599 Speaker 3: of your life I can come back to Wimbledon as 243 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:56,500 Speaker 3: a member guest or play the Legends or something one 244 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:58,840 Speaker 3: day and when I'm 85 years old come back and 245 00:11:58,860 --> 00:12:03,780 Speaker 3: watch with my wife or something, it's a nice thought 246 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:04,090 Speaker 3: to have. 247 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:07,490 Speaker 1: What is the tournament like generally? Could you maybe explain 248 00:12:07,530 --> 00:12:09,730 Speaker 1: it to our listeners who haven't been lucky enough to 249 00:12:09,790 --> 00:12:10,510 Speaker 1: experience it? 250 00:12:10,870 --> 00:12:15,750 Speaker 3: Yeah, Wimbledon... It's a hard one to really explain. I 251 00:12:15,809 --> 00:12:18,530 Speaker 3: feel like any other tournament during the 52 weeks, I 252 00:12:18,570 --> 00:12:22,730 Speaker 3: could really explain really well, but there's something about Wimbledon. 253 00:12:23,670 --> 00:12:28,030 Speaker 3: It's tradition, it's history, it's aura. It's kind of small, 254 00:12:28,090 --> 00:12:31,870 Speaker 3: it's intimate. Even Centre Court, that's for another discussion. We'll 255 00:12:31,910 --> 00:12:35,790 Speaker 3: talk about Centre Court. It's a whole different ballgame on itself. 256 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:39,610 Speaker 3: But the grounds, the tournament in general... Yeah, there's not 257 00:12:39,670 --> 00:12:42,070 Speaker 3: too many other things like it. I think in sport, 258 00:12:42,090 --> 00:12:44,050 Speaker 3: you might have to look at some of the most 259 00:12:44,390 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 3: famous hallowed cricket pitches or locker rooms around the world 260 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:53,420 Speaker 3: or other sports fans to empathize with those feelings of 261 00:12:53,660 --> 00:12:58,069 Speaker 3: how it really is. But yeah, as a player, there 262 00:12:58,110 --> 00:13:01,030 Speaker 3: isn't anything like it. It's sort of hard to explain 263 00:13:01,090 --> 00:13:03,189 Speaker 3: until someone goes there and sees it. But I think 264 00:13:03,309 --> 00:13:07,870 Speaker 3: as a fan, I think it's, I mean, it's probably 265 00:13:07,890 --> 00:13:09,840 Speaker 3: we're stuck in the stories in our own head of 266 00:13:10,660 --> 00:13:13,559 Speaker 3: the tradition, the hundreds of years of things we've seen 267 00:13:13,620 --> 00:13:17,220 Speaker 3: on TV, the great champions. We've seen it all around 268 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:19,719 Speaker 3: the world. But as a fan, I think if you 269 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:23,679 Speaker 3: go there, I think it's the intimacy. I think everything 270 00:13:23,700 --> 00:13:28,630 Speaker 3: is slightly more bunched up. Even center court, it's incredible. 271 00:13:29,550 --> 00:13:31,630 Speaker 3: It's got an aura about it, but it's not the 272 00:13:31,670 --> 00:13:36,450 Speaker 3: biggest court in the world. The fans are really into it. Obviously, they're... 273 00:13:37,390 --> 00:13:41,589 Speaker 3: extremely well-educated fans they're been around wimbledon for 50 years 274 00:13:41,630 --> 00:13:46,929 Speaker 3: themselves um yeah just it's it's hard to explain i 275 00:13:46,950 --> 00:13:49,970 Speaker 3: mean yeah yeah if you get the chance go to 276 00:13:49,990 --> 00:13:52,189 Speaker 3: wimbledon and see what i'm talking about and you'll sort 277 00:13:52,230 --> 00:13:55,590 Speaker 3: of hopefully get some of that mystic kind of a 278 00:13:55,630 --> 00:13:58,949 Speaker 3: feel and aura of that tradition that we feel and 279 00:13:59,010 --> 00:14:02,130 Speaker 3: experience going there that the air is different i suppose 280 00:14:02,150 --> 00:14:05,890 Speaker 3: also british summer You know, everything comes to life a bit. 281 00:14:06,290 --> 00:14:09,370 Speaker 3: It's still kind of cool but crisp. Everyone's sort of 282 00:14:09,550 --> 00:14:14,569 Speaker 3: super happy if it's sunny. Yeah, there's a lot of 283 00:14:14,590 --> 00:14:17,319 Speaker 3: special things about it. But, yeah, if you can't get there, 284 00:14:17,460 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 3: take my word for it, it's a special place. It's 285 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 3: a hallowed turf. There's a special aura and mysticness, let's say, 286 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 3: about it. But, yeah, really do get the chance. If 287 00:14:29,220 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 3: you get the chance, go and visit. 288 00:14:30,660 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 4: I haven't been since 2019 and I just want to 289 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:35,220 Speaker 4: jump on a plane after hearing you say that Viv 290 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:36,260 Speaker 4: is going. 291 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 2: Viv is about to go. 292 00:14:37,820 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 1: You've got me excited, Matt, for the English summer. 293 00:14:40,820 --> 00:14:42,540 Speaker 4: We know you've been very generous with your time, Matt. 294 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:44,470 Speaker 4: Thank you so much. We've got one more, if that's 295 00:14:44,490 --> 00:14:47,510 Speaker 4: all right. It's about Australian tennis because also there's a 296 00:14:47,550 --> 00:14:49,450 Speaker 4: fair bit of strength in those ranks too. We've got 297 00:14:49,490 --> 00:14:51,950 Speaker 4: an enormous amount of guys in the top 100. There's 298 00:14:51,990 --> 00:14:54,970 Speaker 4: what Demon's doing. He's become a top 10 player. You 299 00:14:55,010 --> 00:14:57,790 Speaker 4: referenced Davis Cup. Australia's been the finalist the last two years. 300 00:14:58,340 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 4: you've been involved in Australian tennis for a long time now. 301 00:15:00,500 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 4: How encouraged are you with the current crop and where 302 00:15:04,020 --> 00:15:05,450 Speaker 4: the strength of Aussie tennis is right now? 303 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:08,350 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's very exciting. And I think, again, it's a 304 00:15:08,390 --> 00:15:10,910 Speaker 3: progression of all the work that everyone's done behind the 305 00:15:10,950 --> 00:15:14,630 Speaker 3: scenes and in the grassroots the last 15 years, I 306 00:15:14,650 --> 00:15:16,850 Speaker 3: would say. When I came up broke in top 100, 307 00:15:16,830 --> 00:15:20,010 Speaker 3: I think only Leighton was still top 100 when I 308 00:15:20,050 --> 00:15:22,350 Speaker 3: came in. I think I was number two. And then 309 00:15:22,390 --> 00:15:25,130 Speaker 3: obviously Tommy came and then Nick and that came later. 310 00:15:25,190 --> 00:15:27,870 Speaker 3: But At some point, there was only two of us 311 00:15:27,950 --> 00:15:31,570 Speaker 3: in top 100, whereas previously there'd always been five, ten 312 00:15:31,610 --> 00:15:34,430 Speaker 3: guys at least. But since that point, I'm proud to 313 00:15:34,450 --> 00:15:36,690 Speaker 3: say that there was then started to become always five 314 00:15:36,750 --> 00:15:39,490 Speaker 3: or eight or ten or however many top 100. And 315 00:15:41,670 --> 00:15:43,610 Speaker 3: people take it a bit for granted too how hard 316 00:15:43,650 --> 00:15:45,250 Speaker 3: it is. And we sit here and we throw out 317 00:15:45,330 --> 00:15:47,970 Speaker 3: numbers of these guys winning this many slams and this 318 00:15:47,990 --> 00:15:51,820 Speaker 3: many people in the top 100. But it's incredibly, incredibly hard, 319 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:54,220 Speaker 3: the ranking system, to get that many points at the 320 00:15:54,260 --> 00:15:57,910 Speaker 3: top level. in a 12-month period to have a ranking 321 00:15:57,930 --> 00:16:01,050 Speaker 3: of the top 100. And that's why you see only 322 00:16:01,090 --> 00:16:05,150 Speaker 3: every 10 years, there's only, unfortunately, only ever, I don't know, 323 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:07,940 Speaker 3: six to 10 of us or these players making the 324 00:16:07,980 --> 00:16:11,380 Speaker 3: top 100 from Australia or from any country, really, because 325 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:17,140 Speaker 3: the level is that hard and it demands so much physically, mentally, emotionally, financially. 326 00:16:17,970 --> 00:16:20,750 Speaker 3: And even being from Australia, what I've seen and everyone's 327 00:16:20,950 --> 00:16:25,670 Speaker 3: shared this, even geographically, it's very difficult. We basically have 328 00:16:25,710 --> 00:16:30,220 Speaker 3: to live away nearly the whole year, away from home, friends, family, 329 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:34,420 Speaker 3: since you're 16, 17, 18 years of age through until 330 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:39,060 Speaker 3: into your 30s, your whole life almost as an adult. And, 331 00:16:39,740 --> 00:16:42,890 Speaker 3: you know, that's incredibly demanding. And there's thousands of variables 332 00:16:43,150 --> 00:16:45,390 Speaker 3: that go into that, I think. I was going to 333 00:16:45,410 --> 00:16:47,380 Speaker 3: say to a lot of the young kids coming up 334 00:16:47,430 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 3: or their parents or coaches when they say, oh, this 335 00:16:49,100 --> 00:16:51,180 Speaker 3: kid's really good. I'm like, yeah, but being a good 336 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:55,860 Speaker 3: tennis player is almost irrelevant. That's the easy part. Anyone 337 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:58,420 Speaker 3: can be a good tennis player. And you put together 338 00:16:58,460 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 3: a career where you have 10 years in the top 339 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 3: 100 overseas, the whole time away from your support system, 340 00:17:03,740 --> 00:17:08,020 Speaker 3: your friends, your family, your home, living with travel, dealing 341 00:17:08,060 --> 00:17:13,830 Speaker 3: with all those things, physically, mentally, emotionally, relationships, coaches. all 342 00:17:13,890 --> 00:17:17,360 Speaker 3: those things. So it's a lot, but I'm proud that 343 00:17:17,410 --> 00:17:19,780 Speaker 3: there are, I think, five or six guys in that 344 00:17:19,820 --> 00:17:22,880 Speaker 3: top 100 now again and still and some more pushing 345 00:17:22,940 --> 00:17:27,080 Speaker 3: and some more coming back, let's say. And similarly on 346 00:17:27,100 --> 00:17:29,780 Speaker 3: the women's side, I think the women, they also had 347 00:17:29,820 --> 00:17:31,980 Speaker 3: a few stronger years there and a couple of that 348 00:17:32,010 --> 00:17:34,530 Speaker 3: being injured and lost ranking a bit. It would be 349 00:17:34,570 --> 00:17:36,669 Speaker 3: nice to see another four or five of the girls 350 00:17:36,730 --> 00:17:39,709 Speaker 3: push up into that top 100 and really solidify us 351 00:17:39,810 --> 00:17:43,210 Speaker 3: as one of the top three, four tennis nations on 352 00:17:43,250 --> 00:17:46,430 Speaker 3: the planet. Obviously, yeah, like you say, two Davis Cup finals. 353 00:17:47,369 --> 00:17:49,390 Speaker 3: We've been able to do that on the men's side. So, 354 00:17:49,930 --> 00:17:51,949 Speaker 3: you know, we're obviously right up there and strong. And 355 00:17:51,970 --> 00:17:54,340 Speaker 3: obviously the girls coming off the back of Ash being 356 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:57,619 Speaker 3: world number one, hopefully that can inspire them to push 357 00:17:57,660 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 3: on up as well. And then some coming back from 358 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:03,139 Speaker 3: injury again, I know. So it's, yeah, it's an exciting 359 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:06,189 Speaker 3: time for Australian tennis. But I think, yeah, it's also 360 00:18:06,270 --> 00:18:09,490 Speaker 3: a result and a combination of processes and plans that 361 00:18:09,530 --> 00:18:12,119 Speaker 3: were put in place A good 15 years ago, I 362 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:15,020 Speaker 3: watched them change and take place before my eyes and 363 00:18:15,060 --> 00:18:17,530 Speaker 3: I benefited from a lot of them. Just the support, 364 00:18:17,570 --> 00:18:20,470 Speaker 3: the structures, the networks that they were sort of trying 365 00:18:20,490 --> 00:18:23,970 Speaker 3: to build and give players the self-responsibility to. And in 366 00:18:24,010 --> 00:18:26,730 Speaker 3: this tennis life, that's what it's all about. You know, 367 00:18:26,750 --> 00:18:29,389 Speaker 3: you can have people help you and whatever, but in 368 00:18:29,410 --> 00:18:31,869 Speaker 3: the end, we're the only ones out there at the 369 00:18:31,910 --> 00:18:34,660 Speaker 3: tournaments gaining the points on the court, winning the matches, 370 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:38,480 Speaker 3: doing the hard yards, doing the tough things. And it's important. 371 00:18:38,510 --> 00:18:40,660 Speaker 3: We have a lot of support and help as well, 372 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:45,169 Speaker 3: but it ultimately comes down to the players being self-empowered. 373 00:18:48,290 --> 00:18:50,470 Speaker 2: Well, Viv, the time could be right for Ebdon to 374 00:18:50,510 --> 00:18:51,310 Speaker 2: do just that. 375 00:18:51,750 --> 00:18:53,650 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I really hope we have a chance to 376 00:18:53,810 --> 00:18:56,490 Speaker 1: chat to him about those experiences. So we'll be back 377 00:18:56,550 --> 00:18:58,929 Speaker 1: next week with another episode of The Sit-Down. And in 378 00:18:58,970 --> 00:19:00,710 Speaker 1: the meantime, you can tune in to John and the 379 00:19:00,750 --> 00:19:02,619 Speaker 1: team on the AO Show Weekly. 380 00:19:03,050 --> 00:19:04,730 Speaker 4: And details for how to contact us are in the 381 00:19:04,750 --> 00:19:07,440 Speaker 4: show notes below. And as always, remember to subscribe, rate 382 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:08,020 Speaker 4: and review. 383 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:09,160 Speaker 2: We'll see you next week, Viv. 384 00:19:09,380 --> 00:19:10,180 Speaker 1: Look forward to it, Matt.