1 00:00:02,420 --> 00:00:05,160 Speaker 1: Hi everyone and welcome to another episode of The Sit Down. 2 00:00:05,500 --> 00:00:08,000 Speaker 1: I'm Matt Trollope from ozopen.com and I'm joined this week 3 00:00:08,020 --> 00:00:11,379 Speaker 1: by my colleague Viv Christie, Managing Editor of Australian Tennis Magazine. 4 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:11,820 Speaker 2: Hey Viv. 5 00:00:12,119 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 3: Hey Matt, it's great to be here with you today. 6 00:00:14,380 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 2: And who have we got on the show this week? 7 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:18,800 Speaker 3: So this week we have a legend of Australian tennis 8 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:21,740 Speaker 3: joining us in an absolute treat, Sam Stozer, who is 9 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:24,950 Speaker 3: coming off a great week in her debut as Australia's 10 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 3: Billie Jean King Cup captain. 11 00:00:26,620 --> 00:00:28,210 Speaker 2: She's kind of the woman of the hour, which makes 12 00:00:28,270 --> 00:00:29,690 Speaker 2: it perfect. So let's have a listen. 13 00:00:33,170 --> 00:00:36,240 Speaker 3: Sam, welcome to The Sit Down. It's great to be 14 00:00:36,500 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 3: talking to you today. 15 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:39,520 Speaker 2: Thank you very much for having me. Sam, I thought 16 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 2: we'd start. 17 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:43,880 Speaker 3: With a few questions around Australian tennis. We know that 18 00:00:43,900 --> 00:00:46,779 Speaker 3: you've sort of taken an informal role guiding some of 19 00:00:46,830 --> 00:00:49,090 Speaker 3: the Aussie women over the last couple of years as 20 00:00:49,290 --> 00:00:53,550 Speaker 3: your career wound down. Firstly, what inspired that and how 21 00:00:53,590 --> 00:00:55,590 Speaker 3: does it feel to be doing that more formally now? 22 00:00:55,970 --> 00:00:57,610 Speaker 4: Yeah, well, I mean, I guess now being in the 23 00:00:57,810 --> 00:01:00,900 Speaker 4: position I'm in, it is more of a formal captain position. 24 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 4: coaching mentoring sort of gig. Um, but yeah, certainly as 25 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:08,300 Speaker 4: my career was going on, I mean, I always loved 26 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,700 Speaker 4: tennis anyway, in general, and would always like the amount 27 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:14,830 Speaker 4: of conversations I'd have with different coaches and my coaches 28 00:01:14,890 --> 00:01:18,929 Speaker 4: and people, you know, about Australian tennis, um, was always, 29 00:01:18,950 --> 00:01:22,350 Speaker 4: you know, a really passion, a big passion for me. 30 00:01:22,410 --> 00:01:25,650 Speaker 4: So as I felt like, all right, I can start 31 00:01:25,770 --> 00:01:28,069 Speaker 4: doing some of that and giving some of, you know, 32 00:01:28,510 --> 00:01:31,450 Speaker 4: myself and you, You know, later on I played, I 33 00:01:31,470 --> 00:01:34,890 Speaker 4: guess you sort of become a little less selfish and 34 00:01:35,030 --> 00:01:38,060 Speaker 4: self-centred about what you need to do and all that 35 00:01:38,100 --> 00:01:38,679 Speaker 4: sort of stuff. 36 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 2: But I just, yeah, I've always taken interest. 37 00:01:41,500 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 4: I think our players here, they're such a great group 38 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:49,060 Speaker 4: of people and they try and they give it everything 39 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,310 Speaker 4: to try and, you know, whether it's 1% more of 40 00:01:53,070 --> 00:01:57,330 Speaker 4: information or help or whatever it may be to make 41 00:01:57,390 --> 00:02:01,190 Speaker 4: them a bit better and I love that prospect now. 42 00:02:01,310 --> 00:02:03,010 Speaker 4: So yeah, being. 43 00:02:02,810 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 2: In this role, it's really exciting. 44 00:02:05,110 --> 00:02:07,500 Speaker 4: I was pumped to, you know, get the nod and 45 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:09,419 Speaker 4: now be able to do it in a proper capacity. 46 00:02:10,020 --> 00:02:13,210 Speaker 3: What's pleasing you the most about Australian women's tennis right now? 47 00:02:14,060 --> 00:02:16,239 Speaker 4: Well, I think the fact that we've got such a 48 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 4: big group of players, six or seven of them in 49 00:02:21,260 --> 00:02:25,870 Speaker 4: the top 150, 160. Obviously, we want as many in 50 00:02:25,910 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 4: the top 100 as we possibly can. But if you're 51 00:02:27,910 --> 00:02:29,330 Speaker 4: not going to be in 100, you want them as 52 00:02:29,389 --> 00:02:31,470 Speaker 4: close to as possible. And we do have a group 53 00:02:31,510 --> 00:02:34,710 Speaker 4: that are really knocking on the door. Obviously, Irina made 54 00:02:34,750 --> 00:02:37,390 Speaker 4: it late last year. She's been hanging in there just 55 00:02:38,010 --> 00:02:41,360 Speaker 4: in recent weeks. Um, but you know, it only takes 56 00:02:42,100 --> 00:02:44,980 Speaker 4: one extra win in a slightly bigger tournament or, you know, 57 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 4: you know, you catch a break somewhere and then you 58 00:02:47,540 --> 00:02:49,820 Speaker 4: get yourself in there, you get into the main drawer 59 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:52,260 Speaker 4: of another event, you win some matches and then boom, 60 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:55,780 Speaker 4: you're off. So, um, you know, they're in a, it's 61 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 4: a tough position to be in right now because it's, 62 00:02:58,410 --> 00:03:01,090 Speaker 4: it's hard to play on. all right, am I on 63 00:03:01,110 --> 00:03:03,530 Speaker 4: the WTA tour? I'm on the Challenger Pro Circuit tour. 64 00:03:03,550 --> 00:03:05,130 Speaker 4: You're sort of in this in and out phase a 65 00:03:05,150 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 4: little bit, but, you know, full belief in them that 66 00:03:08,500 --> 00:03:10,140 Speaker 4: they're going to be able to make that transition. And 67 00:03:10,180 --> 00:03:13,019 Speaker 4: then once we can do that, hopefully, you know, not 68 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 4: putting pressure on, but hopefully in months to come, we 69 00:03:15,860 --> 00:03:19,030 Speaker 4: can see that group transition from outside of 100 to 70 00:03:19,990 --> 00:03:21,230 Speaker 4: inside and then hopefully beyond. 71 00:03:21,790 --> 00:03:23,740 Speaker 1: I'm going to ask you to put your WTA hat 72 00:03:23,820 --> 00:03:26,519 Speaker 1: on now, Sam. This is the week of the Clay 73 00:03:26,540 --> 00:03:30,079 Speaker 1: Court event in Stuttgart, which I think has been consistently 74 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 1: voted by the players as like the best 500 or 75 00:03:32,419 --> 00:03:35,100 Speaker 1: their favourite 500 on tour. You played there a couple 76 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:36,760 Speaker 1: of times and had quite a lot of success at it. 77 00:03:37,220 --> 00:03:38,760 Speaker 1: I just wanted to find out from you, like, yeah, 78 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:40,300 Speaker 1: what is it like to play there? What makes it 79 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:42,700 Speaker 1: so great? And why was it always one that was 80 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:43,990 Speaker 1: on your schedule so much? 81 00:03:45,150 --> 00:03:46,910 Speaker 4: Well, once I actually went there, it was always on 82 00:03:46,930 --> 00:03:48,670 Speaker 4: my schedule, but I kind of didn't go there for 83 00:03:48,710 --> 00:03:51,530 Speaker 4: a while because it was the first event sort of 84 00:03:51,590 --> 00:03:55,670 Speaker 4: on the European clay court season and being in Australia, 85 00:03:55,690 --> 00:03:58,310 Speaker 4: I would have just gone to the Middle East, play 86 00:03:58,330 --> 00:04:01,130 Speaker 4: all through the US for five weeks, come home. And 87 00:04:01,330 --> 00:04:03,590 Speaker 4: so I always wanted to have like a week or 88 00:04:03,650 --> 00:04:06,390 Speaker 4: two at home before you go again. So I sort 89 00:04:06,410 --> 00:04:08,150 Speaker 4: of avoided Stuttgart for the early part. 90 00:04:08,010 --> 00:04:08,550 Speaker 2: Of my career. 91 00:04:08,590 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 4: And then once I got myself into the, you know, 92 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:13,780 Speaker 4: main draw, I guess, played and thought, oh, gosh, what 93 00:04:13,790 --> 00:04:14,510 Speaker 4: have I been doing? 94 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 2: I love this tournament. That was a real mistake. 95 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:19,340 Speaker 4: But. 96 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:25,260 Speaker 4: I think the arena is spectacular. They get really great crowds. 97 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 4: You know, the hospitality, the food we would eat in 98 00:04:30,670 --> 00:04:34,589 Speaker 4: the main hospitality area with all the big sponsors and 99 00:04:34,670 --> 00:04:37,010 Speaker 4: corporates and stuff. So if you wanted a fillet steak 100 00:04:37,050 --> 00:04:40,490 Speaker 4: for lunch, you could and whatever. So it was just 101 00:04:40,510 --> 00:04:43,220 Speaker 4: all laid on, really done well. 102 00:04:44,070 --> 00:04:46,690 Speaker 2: Um, and the court I genuinely loved. 103 00:04:46,750 --> 00:04:49,029 Speaker 4: I was like, if I could ever build a tennis 104 00:04:49,050 --> 00:04:50,810 Speaker 4: court at my house, I would put the indoor clay 105 00:04:50,850 --> 00:04:52,150 Speaker 4: court from Stuttgart in there. 106 00:04:52,170 --> 00:04:55,730 Speaker 2: So, um, yeah, it was just always a great week. 107 00:04:56,190 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 1: I think I chatted to you last year as like 108 00:04:58,390 --> 00:05:01,900 Speaker 1: a clay court preview and you told me about the 109 00:05:01,940 --> 00:05:04,060 Speaker 1: Stuttgart clay and I can't remember exactly what you said, 110 00:05:04,100 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 1: but it sounded interesting. You said about the way the 111 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:09,110 Speaker 1: court is constructed and it almost, yeah, I maybe you 112 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:10,810 Speaker 1: can tell our listeners like, yeah, because it's not a 113 00:05:10,850 --> 00:05:12,370 Speaker 1: typical or traditional clay. 114 00:05:12,170 --> 00:05:14,790 Speaker 2: Court, is it? No, because it, well, one, it's indoors. 115 00:05:15,150 --> 00:05:19,470 Speaker 4: So because it's indoors, they've done, there's something in the clay, 116 00:05:19,490 --> 00:05:21,970 Speaker 4: whether it's a special type of oil or something that 117 00:05:21,990 --> 00:05:24,450 Speaker 4: they've created so that it doesn't get dusty and it 118 00:05:24,500 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 4: doesn't dry out too much. So you don't water it, 119 00:05:27,339 --> 00:05:31,779 Speaker 4: but it keeps its consistency, I guess, you know, outdoor clay, 120 00:05:32,020 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 4: when it gets really hot, it can get really dry, 121 00:05:34,180 --> 00:05:35,279 Speaker 4: wind blows, it's all gone. 122 00:05:35,300 --> 00:05:36,539 Speaker 2: Then you've only got the base layer. 123 00:05:36,580 --> 00:05:39,159 Speaker 4: So, Um, yeah, the base, I don't know what the 124 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 4: base is made out of, but it's rock solid hard 125 00:05:41,980 --> 00:05:46,040 Speaker 4: and then they compact all the clay on top. And yeah, it's, um, yeah, 126 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 4: really unique because it's not too many, I guess it's 127 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:51,830 Speaker 4: like building a roof on Wimbledon Centre Court. There's more 128 00:05:51,870 --> 00:05:53,190 Speaker 4: to it than just putting a roof on top and 129 00:05:53,210 --> 00:05:54,870 Speaker 4: thinking that the grass is going to be fine. It's, 130 00:05:54,890 --> 00:05:57,089 Speaker 4: you know, the humidity and everything else plays a part. 131 00:05:57,130 --> 00:06:01,010 Speaker 4: So however they've done it, um, yeah, has worked. 132 00:06:01,270 --> 00:06:03,030 Speaker 1: Often if you did well in Stuttgart, you would do 133 00:06:03,050 --> 00:06:06,620 Speaker 1: well at Roland Garros. but the clay sounds quite different 134 00:06:06,660 --> 00:06:08,860 Speaker 1: to a traditional outdoor clay court. So was it good 135 00:06:08,940 --> 00:06:11,510 Speaker 1: preparation at the start of your clay court season to 136 00:06:11,529 --> 00:06:13,530 Speaker 1: kind of get you going? Because your ultimate goal is 137 00:06:13,550 --> 00:06:17,750 Speaker 1: always Roland Garros at the clay season. So did it 138 00:06:18,430 --> 00:06:19,550 Speaker 1: serve its purpose in that way? 139 00:06:19,750 --> 00:06:22,740 Speaker 2: Oh, I think so. I mean, it's a pretty true court. Obviously, 140 00:06:22,750 --> 00:06:25,280 Speaker 2: there's no elements outside. There's no wind. There's no sun. 141 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 4: There's no rain to deal with. Often, even on the clay, 142 00:06:28,460 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 4: you'll play in light rain or drizzle sometimes. So I 143 00:06:32,140 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 4: think from that respect, you kind of, it's a nice 144 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:38,779 Speaker 4: week to start your season in. I mean, the tournament 145 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 4: to get into, you ought to be top 26, 28, 30, 146 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 4: depending on the year. 147 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:45,980 Speaker 2: Does it, it has the best cutoff almost of any 148 00:06:46,020 --> 00:06:47,239 Speaker 2: tournament in the world. It's phenomenal. 149 00:06:47,260 --> 00:06:49,170 Speaker 4: It's like the week before a Grand Slam. Like it's 150 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:51,770 Speaker 4: like a, what used to be a, you know, Sydney 151 00:06:51,810 --> 00:06:57,930 Speaker 4: week or Adelaide, sorry, Adelaide week, Eastbourne before Wimbledon. They 152 00:06:57,970 --> 00:07:01,909 Speaker 4: get the highest, basically caliber field they possibly could imagine. 153 00:07:01,990 --> 00:07:04,430 Speaker 4: So A, to get in, you've got to be ranked high. 154 00:07:04,630 --> 00:07:06,349 Speaker 4: You know, you're going to be playing quality opponents. So 155 00:07:06,370 --> 00:07:09,440 Speaker 4: that's a great test straight up already. You know, it's 156 00:07:09,460 --> 00:07:11,180 Speaker 4: a practice course. And like I said, just the all 157 00:07:11,220 --> 00:07:14,580 Speaker 4: round feeling of the event is nice. So you can 158 00:07:14,620 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 4: do that kind of, all right, easy way in, hopefully 159 00:07:17,580 --> 00:07:19,810 Speaker 4: play well, you know, you never know if you're going 160 00:07:19,830 --> 00:07:21,730 Speaker 4: to win a tournament or not, but do well. And 161 00:07:21,750 --> 00:07:23,690 Speaker 4: then it can really set you up. And I ended 162 00:07:23,730 --> 00:07:26,580 Speaker 4: up loving playing there because I love playing on clay. 163 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:28,580 Speaker 4: So it was an opportunity to play like a full 164 00:07:28,620 --> 00:07:31,780 Speaker 4: clay court season. And it's pretty short. It's not that 165 00:07:31,820 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 4: much longer than the grass now. So I wanted every 166 00:07:34,180 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 4: chance possible to be on the surface. 167 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:39,350 Speaker 1: And you played some amazing players there in your career. 168 00:07:39,370 --> 00:07:42,050 Speaker 1: So you made the final in 2010 and you lost 169 00:07:42,090 --> 00:07:46,390 Speaker 1: to Justine Enner. You also played a great match. I think, sorry, 170 00:07:46,410 --> 00:07:48,630 Speaker 1: I'm mentioning your losses, but you played Sharapova and it 171 00:07:48,650 --> 00:07:51,330 Speaker 1: went for like three hours or something in the quarterfinals. 172 00:07:51,390 --> 00:07:53,460 Speaker 1: And I think you went deep another time. You played 173 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: Lina there, Bartoli. Like, these are all Grand Slam champions. 174 00:07:56,080 --> 00:08:00,010 Speaker 1: What were your particular highlights there over the years? 175 00:08:00,430 --> 00:08:05,170 Speaker 4: Well, I mean, definitely playing Justine in the final. That was, yeah, amazing. Like, 176 00:08:05,250 --> 00:08:09,430 Speaker 4: I hadn't had heaps and heaps of experience playing someone 177 00:08:09,510 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 4: like her. And she obviously, her record at Roland Garros was, 178 00:08:12,700 --> 00:08:16,220 Speaker 4: you know, a joke. So playing her in the final 179 00:08:16,260 --> 00:08:19,020 Speaker 4: and managed to win the second set and was, oh, gee, 180 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:21,010 Speaker 4: I have I might have a chance here. And I 181 00:08:21,010 --> 00:08:24,470 Speaker 4: ended up losing it 6-1. But, you know, that was 182 00:08:24,630 --> 00:08:28,950 Speaker 4: a great experience. And then, you know, what, five weeks later, 183 00:08:29,010 --> 00:08:30,390 Speaker 4: four weeks later, I ended up playing her at the 184 00:08:30,450 --> 00:08:33,050 Speaker 4: French and beating her in three sets. So, you know, 185 00:08:33,090 --> 00:08:36,410 Speaker 4: having had that experience a few weeks before, knowing I 186 00:08:36,450 --> 00:08:39,290 Speaker 4: could match it, you know, absolutely helped me then beat 187 00:08:39,330 --> 00:08:41,530 Speaker 4: her at arguably. 188 00:08:41,150 --> 00:08:44,740 Speaker 2: More important tournament in Roland Garros. So, yeah, that was great. 189 00:08:44,770 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 2: I mean, I won the doubles there a couple of 190 00:08:46,059 --> 00:08:48,670 Speaker 2: times and, yeah, How much. 191 00:08:48,550 --> 00:08:51,410 Speaker 3: Did that impact your love of clay generally or your 192 00:08:51,450 --> 00:08:52,449 Speaker 3: relationship with clay? 193 00:08:53,330 --> 00:08:56,309 Speaker 4: Oh, I mean, well, like I said, it was the 194 00:08:57,070 --> 00:09:00,270 Speaker 4: first real red clay court tournament of the season. I 195 00:09:00,390 --> 00:09:02,900 Speaker 4: would have played in Charleston a number of times on 196 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:04,740 Speaker 4: the green clay, but it's a little bit different. But 197 00:09:04,860 --> 00:09:06,819 Speaker 4: once I, I mean, early on in my career, I 198 00:09:06,860 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 4: did not like playing on clay whatsoever. It was, you know, 199 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 4: so foreign to me. My first junior trip when I 200 00:09:13,660 --> 00:09:16,579 Speaker 4: was 15 in the 18th team, I lost first round 201 00:09:16,620 --> 00:09:18,809 Speaker 4: every week. It took me five years to win a 202 00:09:18,830 --> 00:09:21,110 Speaker 4: match at Roland Garros, whether it was through juniors or 203 00:09:21,190 --> 00:09:25,229 Speaker 4: qualities or major or whatever the case. And I just, 204 00:09:25,410 --> 00:09:28,150 Speaker 4: in anything, singles or doubles, I just couldn't get my 205 00:09:28,170 --> 00:09:29,429 Speaker 4: head around playing on clay. 206 00:09:29,450 --> 00:09:32,860 Speaker 2: I couldn't move. And then eventually, I. 207 00:09:33,420 --> 00:09:37,140 Speaker 4: Guess, learnt about my style of tennis and realised, oh, 208 00:09:37,220 --> 00:09:38,760 Speaker 4: I should be able to play on this. It could 209 00:09:38,780 --> 00:09:43,620 Speaker 4: actually work and enhance what I do naturally well. And 210 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:45,530 Speaker 4: once I could kind of get my head around the 211 00:09:45,590 --> 00:09:48,979 Speaker 4: sliding and the movement and everything else, Um, yeah, it 212 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:51,219 Speaker 4: became my favorite surface. And like, looking back now, I 213 00:09:51,260 --> 00:09:53,240 Speaker 4: wish I'd had, you know, a bit more insight to 214 00:09:53,260 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 4: that when I was younger to be able to adapt 215 00:09:56,110 --> 00:09:58,750 Speaker 4: earlier in my career than what I did, but certainly, 216 00:09:58,770 --> 00:10:02,200 Speaker 4: you know, plan. a full clay court season was a 217 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:05,380 Speaker 4: high priority for me once I understood how I could 218 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:09,340 Speaker 4: play on it. And yeah, I mean, like ultimately the 219 00:10:09,380 --> 00:10:11,199 Speaker 4: goal was to try and win Roland Garros and I 220 00:10:11,420 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 4: fell just short. But it was, yeah, that was always 221 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:17,200 Speaker 4: one of the, you know, best times of the season 222 00:10:17,220 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 4: for me. 223 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 3: Tell us about the European clay court season and how 224 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 3: it's different to tennis in Australia. 225 00:10:23,780 --> 00:10:27,030 Speaker 4: Well, I mean, it's, I don't know, like clay court tennis. 226 00:10:27,070 --> 00:10:29,450 Speaker 4: I love watching clay court tennis. I think that, again, 227 00:10:29,470 --> 00:10:32,330 Speaker 4: the points are longer. You can kind of see the 228 00:10:32,370 --> 00:10:35,830 Speaker 4: tactics playing out, the construction of points. It's not always 229 00:10:35,950 --> 00:10:39,330 Speaker 4: easy to, you know, hit winners early on in points. 230 00:10:39,350 --> 00:10:41,610 Speaker 4: So you've got to be willing to grind a little bit, 231 00:10:41,730 --> 00:10:45,140 Speaker 4: open up the court, you know, kind of I guess 232 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:46,860 Speaker 4: a lot of people might be surprised how many points 233 00:10:46,940 --> 00:10:50,219 Speaker 4: actually finish up at net on clay because you'd see someone, 234 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:52,839 Speaker 4: you know, pulled out wide and the racket faces open. 235 00:10:52,860 --> 00:10:55,300 Speaker 2: You've got time to knock off a volley. But I 236 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:55,819 Speaker 2: don't know. 237 00:10:55,860 --> 00:10:58,040 Speaker 4: I just love the tactics and like the cat and 238 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:00,339 Speaker 4: mouse type play. 239 00:11:01,020 --> 00:11:01,940 Speaker 2: That the clay creates. 240 00:11:02,260 --> 00:11:05,710 Speaker 4: And, you know, even now, like doing some commentary last year, 241 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:07,550 Speaker 4: commentating for Roland Garros, I. 242 00:11:07,510 --> 00:11:09,050 Speaker 2: Was like, oh, that's what I love. 243 00:11:09,130 --> 00:11:12,490 Speaker 4: Like I don't know, watching it again with the, you know, 244 00:11:12,510 --> 00:11:16,510 Speaker 4: a purpose of commentary and, But yeah, I don't know. 245 00:11:16,550 --> 00:11:18,770 Speaker 4: I think it is a style in the way that 246 00:11:18,950 --> 00:11:20,089 Speaker 4: I love to watch tennis. 247 00:11:20,750 --> 00:11:22,870 Speaker 3: And what was it about your game that brought out 248 00:11:23,230 --> 00:11:24,150 Speaker 3: your best on clay? 249 00:11:25,290 --> 00:11:29,270 Speaker 4: Well, definitely my heavy topspin on my forehand. I was 250 00:11:29,330 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 4: able to use that as a real weapon because clay 251 00:11:32,179 --> 00:11:33,660 Speaker 4: is a little bit slower. So the balls might be 252 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:36,340 Speaker 4: quick through the air, but obviously landing on the clay 253 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:38,340 Speaker 4: in the dirt, it kind of holds up on the bounce. 254 00:11:38,420 --> 00:11:40,740 Speaker 4: So I had time to run around my backhand a 255 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:42,740 Speaker 4: little bit more and use my off forehand, which was 256 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:45,510 Speaker 4: my favourite shot. Um, and cause I hit it with 257 00:11:45,550 --> 00:11:47,960 Speaker 4: heavy spin and a bit higher over the net, typically 258 00:11:47,980 --> 00:11:50,140 Speaker 4: it's quite bouncy. So I could put the ball in 259 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:54,300 Speaker 4: difficult positions for my opponents. Um, and then, yeah, being 260 00:11:54,340 --> 00:11:57,500 Speaker 4: able to use my kick serve, um, it was great 261 00:11:57,559 --> 00:11:59,460 Speaker 4: on that surface. Again, being able to get the height, 262 00:11:59,980 --> 00:12:04,900 Speaker 4: you know, already kicker doesn't bounce, I guess like a 263 00:12:05,220 --> 00:12:07,500 Speaker 4: typical sort of top spin bounce or a flatter bounce. 264 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:09,579 Speaker 4: So you could like, you know, it might hit a 265 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:11,580 Speaker 4: little funny spot on the court. You get that extra 266 00:12:11,620 --> 00:12:14,260 Speaker 4: little hop, which was always good. So, I guess my 267 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:17,900 Speaker 4: two best shots, my kicker and my forehand, that's what 268 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:19,560 Speaker 4: you want to be able to use on that surface, 269 00:12:19,580 --> 00:12:21,180 Speaker 4: and that's what I had naturally, and then I was 270 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 4: able to kind of use that even more so on 271 00:12:23,660 --> 00:12:24,970 Speaker 4: the clay rather than a hard court. 272 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:28,109 Speaker 3: Do you miss competing at this time of the year? 273 00:12:28,910 --> 00:12:29,610 Speaker 2: You know what? 274 00:12:29,730 --> 00:12:32,610 Speaker 4: Last year was the first year I wasn't playing. Watching 275 00:12:32,650 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 4: Roland Garros was kind of the first time I was like, oh, 276 00:12:34,830 --> 00:12:36,189 Speaker 4: It'd be nice to be there. Oh, it'd be nice 277 00:12:36,210 --> 00:12:40,390 Speaker 4: to have a hit on the clay. So, I mean, 278 00:12:40,429 --> 00:12:42,890 Speaker 4: obviously it's a Grand Slam and then, you know, Wimbledon 279 00:12:42,929 --> 00:12:44,320 Speaker 4: comes along and then, you. 280 00:12:44,260 --> 00:12:45,240 Speaker 2: Know, everything else. 281 00:12:45,260 --> 00:12:48,860 Speaker 4: So, obviously those bigger tournaments are always lovely to be 282 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:53,380 Speaker 4: part of. But, yeah, I think it's probably that comes 283 00:12:53,420 --> 00:12:55,939 Speaker 4: around and you're like, oh, I'll just have a hit. 284 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 2: Let's just go have a hit. 285 00:12:58,380 --> 00:13:00,860 Speaker 1: You said something earlier about eventually you worked out that 286 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:03,590 Speaker 1: your game suits it. Did a coach say to you, Sam– 287 00:13:04,290 --> 00:13:05,770 Speaker 1: you could be great on this surface or was that 288 00:13:05,809 --> 00:13:09,050 Speaker 1: just a realisation you had yourself? I don't remember a 289 00:13:09,110 --> 00:13:13,020 Speaker 1: specific conversation with anyone or anything, but absolutely working with 290 00:13:13,059 --> 00:13:17,699 Speaker 1: Dave at that point in my career, he definitely would 291 00:13:17,740 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 1: have kind of, whether he said it as blatant as 292 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:24,100 Speaker 1: that or kind of worked the practices and things for 293 00:13:24,140 --> 00:13:26,340 Speaker 1: me to eventually work it out myself. I can't remember 294 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:30,230 Speaker 1: exactly how it all played out, but yeah, it certainly was, 295 00:13:30,250 --> 00:13:33,350 Speaker 1: I think, a big part of working with him that 296 00:13:33,429 --> 00:13:36,620 Speaker 1: it was like, okay, these are your best shots this 297 00:13:36,660 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 1: surface can help you create those shots more often and 298 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:44,250 Speaker 1: use it to you know create more spin or bounce 299 00:13:44,270 --> 00:13:46,870 Speaker 1: whatever it may be you can do well here and 300 00:13:46,890 --> 00:13:48,910 Speaker 1: then yeah you work on your movement about it and 301 00:13:49,050 --> 00:13:51,010 Speaker 1: you know put the time in and the effort and 302 00:13:51,290 --> 00:13:54,699 Speaker 1: and and um you know I've said it plenty of 303 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:57,420 Speaker 1: times before, like you get a couple of wins here 304 00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:01,069 Speaker 1: and there, you know, in a more of an uncomfortable situation. 305 00:14:01,130 --> 00:14:03,170 Speaker 1: And all of a sudden you start believing, oh, it's 306 00:14:03,210 --> 00:14:05,630 Speaker 1: not so uncomfortable anymore. So I think it just took 307 00:14:05,670 --> 00:14:08,840 Speaker 1: time for me to understand my tennis, how to use it. 308 00:14:09,140 --> 00:14:10,200 Speaker 2: And then, yeah. 309 00:14:11,059 --> 00:14:14,340 Speaker 4: Get over that five-year loss of matches on the surface 310 00:14:14,380 --> 00:14:15,960 Speaker 4: and you're like, oh, this isn't so bad. 311 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:18,870 Speaker 1: Yeah, the extreme in going from not ever being able 312 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:20,380 Speaker 1: to win a match to it being like your most 313 00:14:20,450 --> 00:14:24,030 Speaker 1: productive and successful surface. Like actually listening to you talk 314 00:14:24,070 --> 00:14:25,710 Speaker 1: about it, it sounds like you have quite like a 315 00:14:25,750 --> 00:14:26,990 Speaker 1: romantic relationship with clay. 316 00:14:27,010 --> 00:14:28,490 Speaker 2: It says, oh, I love it. I love the points. 317 00:14:28,510 --> 00:14:30,310 Speaker 1: Like there's a beauty about clay court tennis that you 318 00:14:30,350 --> 00:14:33,490 Speaker 1: seem to really love. It's surprising you've ended up there 319 00:14:33,830 --> 00:14:35,109 Speaker 1: after having your relationship with it. 320 00:14:35,620 --> 00:14:37,520 Speaker 2: Oh, absolutely. Yeah. 321 00:14:37,540 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 4: If you asked me that when I was 15 or 16, 322 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:40,260 Speaker 4: you'd be joking. 323 00:14:41,460 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 3: Fantastic. Well, it's been great to talk to you today, Sam. 324 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:45,420 Speaker 3: Thank you for your time. 325 00:14:45,660 --> 00:14:46,780 Speaker 2: No problem. Thanks for having me. 326 00:14:50,020 --> 00:14:53,500 Speaker 3: Well, Matt, that was a fascinating interview with Sam. I was, 327 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:56,170 Speaker 3: with the benefit of hindsight, it was really interesting to 328 00:14:56,230 --> 00:14:59,130 Speaker 3: hear her evolution as a clay court player. 329 00:14:59,410 --> 00:15:00,170 Speaker 2: Yeah, for sure. 330 00:15:00,290 --> 00:15:03,150 Speaker 1: I actually didn't quite know just how much she loved it. 331 00:15:03,350 --> 00:15:04,970 Speaker 1: And I think it was really cool to kind of 332 00:15:04,990 --> 00:15:07,470 Speaker 1: get a bit nerdy with her. And we got into 333 00:15:07,490 --> 00:15:10,270 Speaker 1: the construction of a clay court in Stuttgart and heard 334 00:15:10,290 --> 00:15:12,510 Speaker 1: about like her movement patterns and how her game suits 335 00:15:12,530 --> 00:15:15,140 Speaker 1: the surface and how, yeah, as you said, that evolution 336 00:15:15,180 --> 00:15:17,239 Speaker 1: of the game. I love that kind of nerdy clay 337 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 1: court chat. 338 00:15:18,060 --> 00:15:18,359 Speaker 2: Yeah. 339 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 3: Fascinating insights from Sam. And isn't it great that she's 340 00:15:21,460 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 3: sort of guiding the next generation of Australian tennis as well? 341 00:15:24,780 --> 00:15:26,820 Speaker 2: For sure. Definitely the game's in good hands with her 342 00:15:26,860 --> 00:15:28,110 Speaker 2: at the helm. Absolutely. 343 00:15:28,350 --> 00:15:30,490 Speaker 1: We'll be back again next Monday and chatting to another 344 00:15:30,530 --> 00:15:33,510 Speaker 1: legend of Australian tennis in Paul McNamee. And in the meantime, 345 00:15:33,550 --> 00:15:35,220 Speaker 1: you can listen to John and the team on Thursday 346 00:15:35,290 --> 00:15:36,380 Speaker 1: with the AO Show Weekly. 347 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:38,740 Speaker 3: Details for how to contact us are in the show 348 00:15:38,780 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 3: notes and please subscribe, rate and review. Matt, it's been 349 00:15:42,820 --> 00:15:43,620 Speaker 3: great chatting again. 350 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:44,540 Speaker 2: Always a pleasure, Viv. 351 00:15:44,740 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 3: Bye for now. 352 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:45,580 Speaker 4: See ya.